ZoSan: The Flower

Chapter 35 - Zoro*

A/N: From now on, there will be instances of more mature content, including sexual implications and eventually actual sexual content. Chapters containing this will be starred in the title, and I will try to clearly mark where such content begins/ends, so that anyone wishing to skip it may more easily do so. I'm also going to apologize now because I'm not exactly experienced in writing such things, so sorry if it sucks.

-Mature content starts - 

If Sanji had noticed his hard-on, he hadn't made a big deal of it, which was about the only thing saving Zoro's tenuous grip on sanity right now. Unfortunately, the sensations – of Sanji's waist in his arms and legs and lips over his own - had burned themselves into his skin and mind, continuously fueling said affliction despite the chilly water he'd been under for ten minutes.

As a general rule, he tried not to resort to what he was about to do. It felt wrong, invasive, to do it intentionally, even if it was only in his mind. But now he let himself imagine the kisses they'd shared. Dwelled on them and re-lived each one. The taste of Sanji, the shape of him against Zoro's chest. The smooth, pale skin of his neck.

His cock throbbed at the memories, and he wrapped his hand around it, hearing Sanji's tiny moans over and over in his mind as he pumped slowly. Feeling those hands tugging his hair again, something he'd always had a weakness for.

Stroke after stroke. Pressure of lips. Those strong, thin legs around his. And then it moved from memory to fantasy. How those legs would feel around him as he made the blond whimper and moan and shake with just his mouth. How the cook would look spread out under him, blushing, eyes filled with lust, and hard. Waiting, wanting, begging for him.

Zoro had to brace a forearm against the shower wall as he brought himself to completion. White flashed over his vision.

It took almost a minute for him to come down enough to hear his own ragged breathing. Then another to focus enough to calm his heartbeat again. And a third before the chill of the shower seemed to finally sink into his warm skin.

- Mature content ends - 

Eventually, he turned the shower off. It had taken the edge off his lust for Sanji, but as it often did, left Zoro himself feeling a little hollow, a little lonely, and a little guilty. Sanji deserved better than to be used for cheap release like that. What Zoro really wanted was to lay beside him and whisper everything he loved about him. Hear every word that Sanji ever wanted to say. Wanted to trail his hands over the other's skin, not to seduce, but to explore. To map and memorize every bend, every plane. Wanted to play with that blond hair and trace the flow of those stupid swirly eyebrows. Wanted to kiss every inch he could reach, over and over, until Sanji had no doubts left that he was wanted, needed, important. Loved.

Instead, at least for now, Zoro was stuck with the hated cheap release that his body demanded. It almost made him hesitate to face the cook again, knowing he'd defiled him in his own mind for his own pleasure.

In an attempt to stave off the guilt, Zoro looked for a quiet place to practice meditation, but the ship was becoming noisier, presumably meaning more of the crew had returned or Law's crew had come over. Or both.

Both ended up being the correct answer, Zoro found as he wandered the ship. Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp were on deck playing with Bepo. Robin, Nami and the girl from the Heart Pirates were gossiping around a tray of cookies. Shachi and Penguin had found Franky and Brook in the crow's nest. An outburst of awed noise as Zoro passed the kitchen told him most of the other crew had found the galley, and that Sanji was probably cooking using his showiest styles.

Zoro almost stopped there and went in to watch, but he wasn't quite ready to see Sanji showing off right now. He needed to get his self-control all the way back. So he continued his search, eventually arriving at the docking system. It would have to do.

Zoro sat as he'd always been taught. Legs interlocked, thumbs and fingers together in a circle, back straight, eyes closed. He focused on his breathing, making sure to pull his haki in tight. With every inhale, he focused on bringing in good. Wisdom, honor, kindness, loyalty, patience, courage, strength. Every exhale he pushed out the bad in him. The lust, greed, jealousy, anger, weakness, and fear. Soon his back and legs began to complain, but he pushed the pain out, too, adding discipline to the good he was trying to breathe in.

He sat like that for a while until he felt another's presence entering the room. "There you are, Zoro-ya. Your boyfriend sent me to find you for dinner before Mugiwara-ya eats it all."

"Did cook say he was my boyfriend?" Zoro asked, a tiny bit of hope in an otherwise neutral voice.

"No. I assumed, based on your positions earlier..."

"We ... haven't put any such label on it."

Law leaned easily against the wall. "Why the hell not? It's easy to see how you two feel for each other."

Zoro sighed, knowing that Law would at least keep it quiet. "Because the damn flower in my chest felt like coercion. That wasn't what I wanted."

"I see. So that's why..." Law met Zoro's eyes, and the younger swordsman just nodded.

Well, that was one thing about Law. He, like Zoro, wasn't a man of many words. Once he understood something, that was all that was needed.

"Don't make him wait too long, Zoro-ya. Blackleg-ya is a good guy."

"Hm. Who says I'm making him wait? And what, you gonna try to steal him from me? I've noticed that you're softer around him...." And there it was, the heart of his resentment and distrust of Law. He'd seen Law looking at Sanji like the sight of him hurt. But he hadn't known how to interpret it, not until today when he'd seen the Heart's captain smiling at his sleepy Sanji. He'd only been able to come to one conclusion, and if Sanji's head hadn't been on his shoulder, he might've tried to fight the older swordsman. Which, to be fair, he kinda wanted to do anyways, but this time had been more possessive jealousy than professional curiosity.

"Ah. I was wondering why you seemed to dislike me when for other people you trust your captain's perception and opinions so much. Thought you were just prickly," Law said with a tiny laugh. "... Blackleg-ya, he... reminds me of someone... important to me. That person was also blond and a smoker. Kind, but with a goofy side. A strong fighter with a deep-seated sense of justice, a strong will, and a desire to protect. Died protecting me, in fact, a long time ago."

Zoro was surprised that Law was actually opening up like this. He'd never expected such a soft tone from the stern-faced older man, but it was respect and admiration and nostalgia, not love-struck. It was how he heard his own voice sound on the rare occasions that he spoke of Kuina.

"That's all. Just a similarity that draws my attention, though they have their differences, too. I have no romantic inclinations towards him.... If it helps put your mind at ease, I'm more inclined towards energetic, clingy, headstrong brunettes these days, it seems." Law put a hand to his head like he couldn't believe he was thinking it, much less saying it.

"Why are you telling me this?" Honestly, Zoro was still processing the first part. The implication that Law liked Luffy wasn't terribly surprising. Law already seemed unable to say no to Luffy, despite their polar opposite personalities. Or maybe because of them. I think Luffy would be happy to hear that Torao likes him. But who knows what that kid thinks when it comes to romance....

"Because you should be able to trust the doctor who will be performing surgery on you," Law turned to leave. "And because I respect your loyalty to your captain."

"Law." The taller swordsman turned his head back to the other, who had a smirk on his face. "Don't hurt Luffy, whatever move you make."

A moment of understanding - of both the threat and the implicit permission - flashed between them as the corner of Law's mouth lifted slightly. "I don't think I could. Nor do I want to. Now, should I tell Blackleg-ya that you're not coming to dinner? Keep in mind you can't eat breakfast before your surgery tomorrow."

Zoro groaned, forcing his legs to unbend. "I'll be there as soon as I can wake my legs back up."