Sanji grumbles. All day his body has been feeling heavy, he's been hot and thirsty. Zeff is too busy working to take care of him so he's been doing what he can to take care of himself but it's not working out.

He opens his blurry eyes to see his room covered in an orangy red glow. The sun is either setting or rising. How long has he been out? It sucks he missed school but there's nothing he can to about it. He doesn't think the others would appreciate it if he came to school sick and got them sick to.

He takes a deep breath in, finally his lungs can take in air. His nose has been stuffy all day. Sanji blinks opening his eyes. He smells the same scent of mint and fresh grassy field. What an unusual scent to smell. Especially for him, they live in downtown, he never smells that being in the middle of the city.

Something stirs next to him, curious he turns his head to come face first with Zoro's sleeping face. His heart about leaps out his throat. He jumps back, getting a better view of the sleeping rabbit. Questions rise in his mind but they pass quickly as he takes in the sight of Zoro's sleeping form. His face relaxed so his features are smoothed out. Sanji takes in his face. Sharp eyebrows, straight nose, long black lashes, high cheekbones, and plush lips.

Sanji swallows the lump in his throat. It's now or never. Reaching forward Sanji feels Zoro's cheeks. Smooth to the touch. Reaching further up, his finger touch the edge of Zoro's rabbit ear before they move, straightening out as they listen. Surprised Sanji stays still, watching and waiting for Zoro to wake up and be as dumbfounded as he is.

Instead Zoro grumbles something, turning away from the blonde to lay on his stomach. With the new angle Sanji can see more of Zoro's neck. Sanji smiles at the rabbit. He is curious to why the other is here but at this point he doesn't care. Having someone here feels nice.

Feeling greedy Sanji moves forward, getting a smell of Zoro's scent. He really enjoys it, and he should be worried about getting addicting to it but he doesn't care. He's sick so he'll let himself have this.

Sanji pauses, eyes widen, his blood boiling. There's a mark on Zoro's neck. It can't be a bug, it's too cold for that. It has to be a hickey. Who did that to Zoro? Who touched him? Who kissed him? Sanji sees red, he needs answers now. But also he doesn't like it. Not thinking right Sanji opens his mouth. As hard as he can he takes a bite.

"Ow! Fuck!" Zoro shouts jumping. He twists around, hand going to the bite mark. He blinks, waking himself more. He takes a second to remember where he is. Not at home taking a nap. He frowns seeing the blonde. Then he remembers he's at Sanji's because the blonde is sick and in heat. "What the hell?" Zoro asks rubbing the mark. Luckily it's not bleeding. "Feeling better?" Zoro states, obvious by the fact the blonde is awake and he looks better. Without thinking Zoro reaches over, touching the blondes forehead with the back of his hand. His body temperature is lower than it was before.

"Sorry, what are you doing here?" Sani says rubbing the back of his neck.

"Came to check on you. Everyone else was busy so they couldn't come." Zoro answers touching the bite mark on his neck. "Did you bite me?" Zoro asks, looking confused and he is. Why would the blonde fox bite him? He was just napping. Unless... looking around he can see he's now on the bed with Sanji. He had gotten off the bed after putting Sanji to bed, getting the fox to take medicine for his fever. He would give something for his heat but he's not sure if the fox has any, or if he even takes them. He didn't want go snooping around for it either so he stuck to just treating his fever.

"Yeah... sorry." Sanji says looking away, not able to meet Zoro's gaze. The rabbit let's out a sigh.

"That's what I get for being in your space during your heat. At least your fever is down." Zoro says. Sanji blinks. His heat? He snaps his head to the small calendar by his alarm clock. A big circle over the day. His heat is today. No wonder his fever felt bad. He feels fine now though.

Wait...

If he's in his heat does that mean he attacked Zoro? Was he the one who gave him the hickey? No way Zoro would have gotten it from someone else. He's not dating anyone. He hasn't told them he is. Sanji blushes. Did he get jealous over himself? That's embarrassing.

"You're red again." Zoro points out. Sanji turns away.

"It's nothing. Did anything happen at school?" Sanji wonders, knowing his group of friends, he's wouldn't be shocked if he missed something. Zoro shakes his head.

"Nothing. We were mostly studying." Zoro says, "oh right I have you assignments." Zoro says reaching over the edge of the bed to grab his school bag to get the folder.

"Marimo... when's your birthday?" Sanji questions watching Zoro move across him, wanting to think about something else than the way Zoro's spine curve. Zoro looks at him.

"What?" Zoro asks back, not knowing where this is coming from. They've known each other for years. They all have. No one has ever asked him for his birthday. No one knows.

"What can't ask you questions?" Sanji wonders a bit defensive.

"Didn't think you cared, especially you." Zoro says getting the folder out of his bag. He sits back handing the folder to the blonde who takes it with a frown. Sanji can't answer that because it's rather true. Even he doesn't understand why seeing Zoro without his bandanna, seeing the true Zoro, is effecting him so much.

"Well I'm asking now." Sanji puts the folder on his nightstand, taking a second to examine the top, seeing the medicine. He looks back to Zoro watching him. "So... are you going to tell me?" Sanji wonders. Zoro gives a frown which now Sanji finds more cute, it looking more like a pout.

Zoro looks away. "It's... tomorrow." Zoro answers slow and low. Sanji blinks thinking he heard it wrong.

"Tomorrow?!" Sanji yells stunned. That's no time to prepare, he doesn't even know if he's well enough to go back to school tomorrow. He doesn't have time to buy a present.

"Yeah." Zoro nods.

"Green bunny!" Zeff exclaims opening the door, he pops his head in. The older blonde fox interrupting whatever the younger blonde fox was going to say. "Your ride is here." Zeff says.

"Oh, Tanaka. They must have been worried." Zoro says getting off the bed. He looks around for his shoes. He didn't remember even falling asleep let alone getting onto the bed with Sanji. He finds them neatly set to the side. He puts his shoes on then grabs his coat. He turns to the blonde with a large smile he waves bye, "see ya." Zoro leaves, letting Sanji sit there reeling by how cute that was and the fact that Zoro's birthday is tomorrow.

And Zoro is younger than him.

Only by seven months.

Zoro's birthday! He doesn't have time to do anything.