Zoro wakes up uncomfortable. The sun is shining through the window straight into his face, and there's something hard and pointy pressing painfully into his calf. When he opens his eye, it takes him a moment to realize he's on the floor with one hand tucked awkwardly underneath him and the other thrown over the coffee table. Sanji is spread-eagled on the sofa face down, with one of his legs hanging off and the knee pressing into Zoro's foot.
He grins when he realizes Sanji probably kicked him off the couch.
He sits up and takes a moment to study the fox up close—his first chance to ever do so. Asleep, the always-present smirk is gone. His hair is pushed back, revealing that second eyebrow that curls the same way and makes him look—while not exactly ugly—silly. His tail is tucked in between his spread legs and his ears twitch where they lay flat on his head.
He takes a deep breath and the scent of spices and nicotine surrounds him, but he also gets a stronger scent of dried sweat and wrinkles his nose in distaste. That's right, they fell asleep after sparring. He really wants to stay and watch Sanji a bit longer, but that's kind of creepy, so Zoro gets to his feet and heads to the shower.
When he's done and he's sneaking back into his room because he forgot to grab clean clothes, he hears Sanji working in the kitchen and smiles.
"You made me miss my class, marimo," Sanji says instead of a greeting when Zoro joins him in the kitchen. "So you have to drink your brethren."
Sanji nods to a glassful of green smoothie, and Zoro scowls at the joke. "It isn't my fault you didn't wake up, cook."
"My phone was dead so the alarm didn't go off, and it's your fault I fell asleep so late," Sanji declares, setting a plate with two slices of toast spread with peanut butter and topped with banana and chia seeds in the center table. "The breakfast is simple, but it'll fill you up."
"You don't have any more classes today?"
"One, in the afternoon."
"You wanna go down to the gym and spar again?" Zoro asks hesitantly. He wants to spend more time with Sanji. It certainly feels better than ignoring him. And they're friends now. Or at least, they're trying to become friends. Zoro doesn't know how close he can get to the fox while still maintaining a friendly distance, but he intends to find out. And maybe…with all of the misunderstandings out of the way…he and Sanji can become something more. Sanji did reassure him yesterday that he wasn't afraid of Zoro, but he still wants to keep things slow. Just because his tiger was stupid enough to mate with Sanji at first sight, it doesn't mean that Sanji will want him in that way.
"Okay," Sanji answers his question. "I need to go grocery shopping first, so I'll meet you there say… one?"
"That's fine."
Because of the simple breakfast, it doesn't take long for them to finish. Sanji takes a shower and leaves for the grocery store, and Zoro—for lack of anything better to do—goes to Luffy and Usopp's apartment. He immediately feels irritated when he sees Kaya and Nami sitting on the kitchen bar, and Nami looks up at his annoyed huff.
"Don't tell me you're still pissed at me?" the cat asks, rolling her eyes. "It was a little kiss!"
"Shut up," Zoro snaps. "I don't like you like that."
"I don't either, moron. But it made your puppy notice you, didn't it? I bet he was jealous."
"He left!"
"I know. It was adorable."
Zoro rolls his eyes and takes a sit on the sofa next to Chopper. The young boy is too busy studying to pay too much attention, but Chopper's scent has always been able to calm him down. It's the most soothing scent he has ever smelled, and if Chopper weren't so young and Zoro had never met Sanji, he wants to say that maybe he could've mated with Chopper. It feels wrong and dirty to think about it now, though, since he sees Chopper more like a little brother.
"Hey, you know I don't mean anything by it, right?" Nami asks, her voice soft. Zoro glances at her, apprehensive, and feels a little guilty when he sees her upset frown. He knows Nami has the best of intentions—well, maybe not the best, but they're friends and Nami would never seriously harm him—but he's been pretty pissed at her ever since she refused to help him switch roommates. He thinks of last night, of falling asleep in Sanji's arms, lulled into the best sleep of his life (despite being kicked off in the middle of the night) by Sanji's amazing scent, and he can't help but think that maybe Nami is on to something here. "I just wanted to help," she adds.
"I know," he finally answers.
"You two are bumming us out," Usopp snaps from where he's seated on the floor way too close to the TV trying to beat Luffy at Mario Kart and failing miserably.
"I'm not bummed. I just beat you again!" Luffy cheers.
"Shut up! Another!"
"You two are such idiots!" Nami snaps. "Don't you guys want to see Zoro happy!?"
"Eh? Of course," Luffy says absentmindedly. "He's happy."
"He just needs to man up and talk to Sanji," Usopp says, yelping when Zoro kicks him in the shoulder.
"I don't want to hear that from you, wimp. And I don't need your help—any of you."
"Ha! You would've never even talked to him if I hadn't invited him to the basketball court!"
"Shut up! That started this whole mess," Zoro snaps. "And just so you know, Sanji and I are sparring partners now. In fact, we're meeting at the gym in a couple of hours to spar again!"
He knows as soon as he says it that he's made a grave error. Luffy actually presses pause on the game, and Chopper puts his book down to look up at him with wide eyes.
Nami is the first to react, jumping from the counter to tackle him into a tight hug and squeal in his ear way too loudly. "Oh my god, that's great news, Zoro!"
"It really is!" Chopper agrees.
"Oi, it's not that big of a deal!" Zoro snaps, trying to get her off, but she's surprisingly strong for having such a small body. "Don't make it weird!"
"Don't worry, Zoro. We won't embarrass you in front of your crush," Usopp says deviously. "I mean, why would we retell the story of how you spent hours outside of his apartment—Kaya, help me!"
Kaya laughs as Usopp scrambles to her to escape Zoro's punch. Nami drags Zoro back to the sofa and he resigns himself to be used as a cuddle buddy. It's not usual for Nami or Zoro to do this, since they're both solitary by nature, but they've known each other long enough that it doesn't feel weird when Nami settles more comfortably in his lap and rests her head in his chest.
"You should tell him how you feel," Nami whispers into his skin. "He probably feels the mating bond, too."
Zoro sighs. He's thought about it, of course. If they're mated, then Sanji is bound to feel the same things Zoro feels for him. Sanji demonstrated an insane amount of trust yesterday by allowing Zoro to sleep with him—unusual, in a fox. But Zoro mated him when they were six. He doesn't know how, he doesn't even know why, but he knows it was way too early. And until a few hours ago, he'd thought that Sanji was terrified of him.
But like his father has always told him, they're human before they are beast, and humans don't mate. Zoro has no idea whether Sanji likes him as a person. If they weren't hybrids, if they had been born without tails and ears like Usopp and Luffy, would he still like Sanji? Would Sanji like him? Their animal sides are already mated, but Zoro wants their human sides to bond, too.
"Not yet," Zoro answers, and the air of finality in his voice is enough that she doesn't question it.
Sanji is already in the gym when Zoro arrives. He finds the fox near the pools, talking to a dark-haired man he mildly recognizes. The guy is only wearing a pair of swimming shorts that look like they weight more wet than he does. Zoro frowns a little when he sees the ridges of his ribs, the fades scars, and the day-old bruises. His left ear is ripped a little, like somebody took a bite out of it, and his tail is thin and a little bit dull—Zoro has seen guys like this, back in the rabid rings. What the hell is Sanji doing talking to this guy?
"Hey, cook, are you ready?" Zoro interrupts rudely, not that he cares. Zoro doesn't like that mutt.
Sanji glances at him, a strange expression on his face, and Zoro sees him hesitate before he answers. "Yeah. I'll see you later, Gin."
"Sure," the mutt answers, his voice a lazy drawl that instantly annoys Zoro. He can't discern a scent other than chlorine from the man, and it makes him feel on edge.
Zoro lets Sanji lead the way, putting himself between the fox and the mutt as they make their way to the sparring rooms in the back. "Who was that?" he asks, biting at his lower lip as soon as the question is out there.
"Gin? He's a classmate," Sanji shrugs. "Why were you so late, marimo? Thought about chickening out?"
"As if!" Zoro snorts. "I was working off some excess energy." Completely destroying Luffy and Usopp in Mario Kart always leaves him feeling rested and satisfied, especially since when they were younger the two humans always beat him at video games and constantly made fun of him for it.
"Is that so?" Sanji murmurs, ducking his head to let his curtain of hair cover his face. "You better grab that third sword, moss head. I'm not taking it easy on you today."
"Don't mess with me," Zoro growls, reacting to the clear challenge. "I beat you yesterday; or have you forgotten that?"
Sanji tightens the strings of his sweatpants and taps his toe on the matted floor. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Zoro should have really known better than to underestimate the fox. Sanji barely gives him enough time to withdraw Shusui and Kitetsu before he's on the attack, driving Zoro back with the force and speed of his legs. Zoro has no fucking idea how the fox can fight on par with his blade using only his legs, but fuck if it doesn't get him going.
Sanji is absolutely gorgeous fighting like this, and even as Zoro fights to get the upper hand, he can take the time to appreciate that. He can tell that Sanji is fighting better than before, but it isn't until he tries to tackle him to the ground like yesterday, that Sanji shows what he's truly made of. The fox bucks and twists away from Zoro, hissing and snarling as he pivots and flexes his body impossibly to deliver a resounding kick to Zoro's jaw that sends him crashing against the wall, unarmed.
"Fuck," he groans, spitting out blood.
"Told you not to underestimate me," Sanji growls, putting his hands in his pockets. "My win."
"Like hell!" Zoro snarls. "Again!" he demands, but Sanji rolls his eyes and doesn't move.
"I have a class at 3:30, and you have one at 3:00…we can do this tomorrow, but for today, it's my win," Sanji says.
"C'mon, skip it!"
"Fuck you, I already skipped my morning class! You lost, deal with it!"
Zoro growls, a deep rumbling that has made more than one person cower in fear, but Sanji only snorts and walks leisurely to his duffel bag to look for a water bottle. Zoro can see his submissive ears, but the fox looks nothing more than a bit annoyed.
Damn, Sanji must have a hell of a will to fight his instincts like that every day. He feels kind of like an ass for trying to coax Sanji into another fight, so he stops his rumbling and sheathes Kitetsu and Shusui. "Fine," he gives in. "Tomorrow, then. Let's see if you can keep up with Wado Ichimonji."
"Named all your swords, huh? Is that like a swordsman thing?"
"The blacksmith who creates the sword names them in most instances," Zoro explains, grabbing a bottle from his own bag. "But sometimes the swordsman does."
"The white one—Wado—that's your favorite, right?" Sanji asks curiously, staring at the beautiful white katana inside the bag.
Zoro zips it up and shoulders it, breaking Sanji's contact. "You could say that. It's not about favoritism, it's about the bond. Wado has been with me the longest, and we both share the same dream." He leads the way out, Sanji walking by his side.
Not many people can understand the bond that exists between Zoro and his blades. He knows his father understands, for he shares a similar bond with his blade. Luffy, too, seems to have an inkling to what it means, though Zoro has never been able to see just how deep Luffy's insight goes. But the others always nod and smile when he talks about his swords, almost as if they're indulging a child. Sanji, however, shows curiosity. Zoro can't tell if he understands or not, but it is clear that he wants to know more.
For some reason, though, he doesn't ask.
"Sanji, you're still here?"
Zoro stops when Sanji does, and he wants to wrap his tail possessively around Sanji's when the mutt from before returns. He's still wearing the swimming shorts, though he still isn't wet. What is he doing here, then? Stalking the fox?
"Yeah, but I'm on my way out. We have class at 3:30, remember?"
"Yeah, but I don't get off until 3:00. Anyway, I kind of wanted to ask you if you wanted to come with me to the Wild Cherry this Friday? I know the lead singer in one of the bands that plays there, so I could probably get us in for free."
Zoro can practically taste the mutt's nervousness. He kind of feels sorry for the poor dog—it must take a lot of bravery to ask out someone like Sanji, knowing you're gonna get rejected. But it's a little bit funny, too—imagine, Sanji with the mutt! Hah, it's utterly ridiculous!
"Yeah, sure," Sanji says easily, surprising both Gin and Zoro. "It's a date!"
Zoro's heart hits the floor probably at the same time Gin's face splits into a wide smile. "Alright! I'll, uh, I see you later? Um, I gotta go…work and—."
"I'll see you in class, Gin," Sanji cuts him off, a gentle smile on his face. "Go back to work."
"Yes! I'll do that! Well, bye. Uh, you too man."
Zoro doesn't answer, and Gin doesn't expect one. Sanji leads the way out, that fucking stupid smile still on his face, and Zoro follows him on autopilot. What just happened? Did he just witness Sanji being asked out? And why the fuck did Sanji say yes? And to that fucking mutt!?
Sanji is his mate!
"Isn't the Wild Cherry a little dangerous?" he asks, his brain scrambling to find an excuse, anything to convince Sanji not to go ahead with this date.
"Is it?" Sanji asks, flippantly. "Never been there."
"It's a seedy bar," Zoro says quickly. "There's a rabid ring underneath; it belongs to some guy named
Doflamingo."
"Huh, you seem to know a lot about this bar."
Of course he does. The Wild Cherry is down at the docks, where Zoro used to go fight. The Wild Cherry is a bit different, though, trying to keep the image of an upscale club to gather the attention of idiots who go there to watch the up-and-coming bands perform. If you're a girl, it's suicide to go there alone. You either get kidnapped and sold overseas, you get hooked on some kind of new drug being tested, or you get roofied and—well, it's a bad idea. You run the same risks if you're a guy, though the market for male sex slaves isn't as big. Instead, you get thrown down in the ring, forced to fight until you either die or you get crippled and put down.
The only way to be safe in a club like that is if you go in a group, or if you know someone. Zoro was lucky enough that his father's reputation preceded him, not to mention the fact that Luffy is a serious badass in the underground world. Zoro has seen the human fight on par with hybrids so pumped of meth and cocaine that they can hardly be called anything but monsters anymore.
And Gin is taking Sanji there?
"Sanji, don't go," he says, stopping the fox in the middle of the street. A person walking behind them huffs and gives them a wide berth, but Zoro couldn't care less.
"What? Why?" Sanji questions, his eyes shifting over Zoro curiously. Almost…eagerly?
"It's a dangerous place," Zoro repeats, frowning when Sanji's face closes off. "You could get hurt and—."
"I can take care of myself," Sanji growls, pushing past him. "You know, I'm glad you care and all, but if you want to be friends, you seriously need to stop underestimating me."
"I doubt it. Not in this place; Cook, you don't—."
A long leg stretches out and a foot presses into Zoro's throat, slamming him against the side of a building and cutting off his air supply.
"Listen to me, you shitty tiger," Sanji growls, his lips pulled back in a snarl that shows off the wicked glint of his extended canines. "You may be the king of the rainforest, or whatever the fuck it's called, but you're gonna respect me, alright? I'm a predator, just like you, and it looks to me like the one in trouble of losing his head right now is you."
The foot is presses down more, and Zoro is seriously starting to see black spots, but the fox's leg is unmovable.
"So whatever overbearing, big alpha, macho man act you're trying to pull, you better put an end to it right now. Got it?"
Zoro tries to nod, but he's not getting any air, and his head is going fuzzy. Suddenly, the force holding him against the wall is gone, and Zoro falls to his knees, gulping in air. His eye sight is blurry, and he can only make out his own hands holding him up, and Sanji's black shoes.
Holy shit, he seriously underestimated the fox.
"I don't—." He's prevented from gasping out the words by a cough that leaves him shaking, but he gulps in more air and trudges on. "S-sorry. I just…worry…I'm—."
"It's fine," Sanji mutters. Zoro feels him kneel down, then there's warm hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. "I just hate being looked down upon. People don't exactly like foxes, you know."
He knows. He's well aware of the reputation that proceeds foxes, but he's not one to pay attention to things like that. He's beaten up more than one person for insulting the race of his mate, to be honest. Not all foxes are the cowardly, conniving tricksters people make them out to be.
"Come one, moss head. On your feet," Sanji says, pulling him up. "Hands on your head; that's right, breathe."
Is easier to breathe now. Sanji is still holding him up, his hands on his hips, and he looked a bit worried as Zoro continues to take in deep breaths.
"You've been holding out on me," Zoro says in one big breath, glad that his lungs don't protest.
"Nah, you just pissed me off," Sanji shrugs. "Come on, let's go home."
Zoro wants to argue some more. He wants to tell Sanji not to go with Gin, not only because the Wild Cherry is a dangerous place, but because Sanji shouldn't be with that mutt. But he doesn't argue. Instead, he wonders if Sanji would get terribly mad if Zoro accidentally-on-purpose crashes his date. Oh well, only one way to find out.