ZoSan: The Flower

Chapter 22 - Sanji

Zoro was visibly nervous, and Sanji found it... almost... cute? Which should have been a weird word to use to describe a buff, macho swordsman, but weird was the mood of the day, it seemed. He was also half-naked, again, but at least he didn't seem to be intentionally flaunting it this time.

"What do you mean, what can you do to make it up to me?" Sanji asked with a slight tilt of his head.

"I mean... I guess, what would be the best way to properly apologize to you? I don't feel like words are enough, but I don't want to overwhelm you with cheesy or girly gestures either. I'm, obviously, not very good at stuff like this."

Oh. That was...

Adorable.

Especially with the little blush that was on Zoro's face as he spoke.

Sanji scooted just a little bit closer to Zoro. "Well, honestly, waking up to a clean kitchen this morning, after I left it in such a state, was a really nice first step. Thank you for that, by the way."

Zoro rubbed his head sheepishly. "Least I could do."

"Other than that... maybe just save the flirting for when we're alone, at least for a while? I don't think I would've minded the flirting as much if it hadn't resulted in awkward stares from the crew after you left."

Zoro's unscarred eye met Sanji's, and Sanji liked the happiness he read in there as the swordsman answered. "Yeah. I could do that, definitely."

Sanji tried to sip his own limeade a little too quickly and nearly choked. Zoro patted his back gently, which gave Sanji another idea about how Zoro could apologize.

"Would you be willing to give me a neck rub? It's been a little stiff since we got back." It was true, but it may have also been an excuse to feel those warm hands a little longer.

Zoro's blush intensified, but he managed to stutter out, "If, if it would help, sure."

Sanji turned his back to the other, shifting to make it easier to reach. Zoro's hands gingerly touched the sides of his neck, moving in small circles. "A little more pressure, please? You won't break me, you know," Sanji asked quietly.

Zoro's fingers responded appropriately, digging into the stiff muscles around Sanji's neck and across his shoulders. He never went lower than Sanji's shoulder blades, but worked the muscles steadily for about ten minutes, and Sanji had to fight back a groan more than once at how good those hands felt as they forced his muscles to relax. His eyes closed, almost against his will.

Eventually those hands stopped their movements as Zoro asked, "Is that better?"

Yes but don't ever stop. "Much, thank you," was Sanji's out loud reply as he opened his eyes. He was definitely more touch-starved than he'd thought, because he was a little sad when those hands retreated.

"So what was it you wanted to say earlier?"

Sanji needed to think for a minute to find where his thoughts had been a few minutes ago. "Oh. Um. I'd like to discuss the rules, boundaries, for this," his hand gestured weakly between the two of them as he turned back to face Zoro.

"My rule is to not do anything you aren't comfortable with," Zoro said almost too quickly. "Well, not again. Which, I guess, means that you need to communicate to me what that might be...?"

"Nothing else?"

Zoro looked hesitantly at the floor. "Actually, one other thing, though it's selfish... would you at least try to, um, spend an hour a day with me? When we aren't, y'know, stopping revolutions or saving damsels and children in distress or fighting the Navy or the Emperors or whatever?" There was that nervous, blushy look again. "We don't need to do anything too close or couple-y if you don't want. Even just sparring or working out together. Or you could teach me how to cook something. Or -."

Zoro cut himself off as Sanji gave into laughter that made the blond lean lightly against the other's arm. "I think that's a reasonable idea, Marimo," the cook declared as his laughter faded. "Can't attempt a relationship without making time to relate. But I gotta say, I think you've said more to me in the last three days than in all the time before that."

Zoro nodded, still red, and let silence fall between them again as Sanji made no effort to remove himself from on top of Zoro's arm.

Finally Zoro spoke again. "What else?"

"Mmm... no pet names without approval. For example, not personally a big fan of the idea of being called babe or baby. I'm not against all of them, but there's a few others, so just ask. Or if you use it and get kicked, don't use that one."

"Alright. I assume nothing like that in public, either?" Zoro asked as he pulled his arm free from between Sanji and the couch.

Sanji sat up a little more to let the arm escape. "Correct."

"What about, um, other verbal expressions of affection? In private, of course."

Sanji turned to the other with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "Meaning?"

But Zoro's face was serious. "Meaning, you know how I feel about you. Am I going to get one of those kicks if I say it from time to time, even if I don't expect you to say it back unless you mean it?"

It was Sanji's turn to blush at the intensity in the other's face. "Wow. Um... I, I don't know...." He considered for a long minute. "I'll try to restrain my kicks, so long as we're not in public and you don't try to get me to say it until and unless I'm ready. Just... don't make it too often."

"Deal," Zoro said softly, taking another drink of his limeade. Sanji saw the content smile the other was trying to hide behind his glass, though. "Next, what about physical affection?" Zoro asked. Sanji's face must have shown his panic and fear, because Zoro was quickly backtracking. "Not... the big stuff. I wouldn't ask for anything like that unless this succeeds in all the best ways. I meant like... hand holding. Neck rubs, like earlier. Playing with your hair. Maybe hugging or cuddling or kissing. How much is too much for you?"

Sanji would've kicked himself for his own knee-jerk reaction if he could. Of course Zoro wouldn't push for 'the big stuff'. He'd been so willing to take things slow, so afraid of hurting Sanji. And of course he had his boundaries, his code. So Sanji gathered his courage and put the tiniest bit of flirt into his voice as he grabbed the other's hand, intertwining tan fingers among his own pale ones. "I did already admit to liking these hands, didn't I?"