ZoSan: The Flower

Chapter 41 - Zoro

The blond let Zoro hold him like that for an hour. They had both dozed off at least twice like that before Sanji decided that they should both get some proper sleep. He'd helped Zoro get down flat again and given him another chaste kiss that left Zoro wanting more, and then left to go back to the Thousand Sunny.

Only then did Zoro allow himself to dwell further on the 'story' Sanji had told. Sanji's story, his history. A prince from an army of assassins. And they had never seen how special he was, had even abused him for not being special enough.

Hearing it had broken Zoro's heart in ways he hadn't known were possible. It had taken everything to contain the homicidal rage that had boiled in him. He should've asked Sanji what his father's name was, so that if he ever came across him, he knew who to kill. It almost scared him how far he would go for the cook. If Sanji would let him, Zoro could spend the rest of his life showing the blond how damn special he truly was... and making sure everyone else showed him, too.

And Zeff. Zoro had made it a joke, feeling that Sanji needed something to break the tension a bit. But he'd also sworn as Sanji spoke that someday he'd get back to the East Blue and earnestly thank the man for saving Sanji's body and heart.

Zoro's mind was so busy, so emotional, he had to employ meditation techniques to get himself to sleep that night. The next morning, Law checked his wound and pronounced him free to go back to the Sunny, but with very specific instructions.

"One full week of rest, no matter how pent up you feel. You don't have to stay in bed, but you lift anything heavier than a book or the average pan, and you will be hearing from me. And yes, that means one sword at a time, max. You have to give that lung time to heal properly. We'll be traveling alongside you for that time, so don't worry about protecting everyone. After the seven days, you will be allowed to resume light exercise, by which I mean if Nose-ya can't lift it, neither can you," Law smirked, clearly remembering Zoro's exercise habits from his time traveling with them before.

Zoro really wanted to punch that smirk off of him, and that desire was only growing with every word. Sure, he'd made some level of peace with Law, and had implied permission for him to pursue the captain, but that didn't necessarily mean he liked the man. Especially not when he was giving such distasteful orders. A week of not lifting more than what Usopp could carry? AFTER a week of not even that much? He had to be joking.

"Only after the second week can you resume exercising as you see fit, understand? And Tony-ya and Mugiwara-ya are both aware of these orders, so don't think you can sneak around them. I understand Cyborg-ya has already hidden your weight set."

Zoro thought about informing the surgeon that there were only about four places on the Sunny that were big enough to handle his weight set, which would make it easy to find if needed. Unless Franky split it up... Who knows how many niches and crevices he'd built into the Sunny? Zoro shuddered, deciding he would try to obey. Try.

"Where do running and swimming fall?" He asked the older swordsman.

"We'll count those as light exercise, only because I really don't want to deal with how your crew will react if you go absolutely stir-crazy. Bodyweight exercises, too. But listen to your body. If it hurts, stop or switch to something easier, and if you notice anything wrong - pain, fever, prolonged weakness, dizziness, difficulty breathing - talk to me or Tony-ya immediately. This is absolutely not the time to push."

"Fine. Now am I allowed to jump back, or are you sending me?"

Law just smirked again. "Room," he said instead of answering. That bubble expanded. "Shambles."

And Zoro was back on his own ship, sitting nicely on the bench in their 'yard'. Well, at least Law hadn't dumped him somewhere uncomfortable.

"Welcome back," Sanji said, exiting the kitchen while drying his hands.

"Thanks. I'd rather he have let me jump it though. It's only a few feet, and I don't like his teleportation method."

"Are you hungry this morning?" The anesthesia Zoro had been on for the surgery yesterday had decreased his appetite, and Sanji knew Zoro hadn't eaten a proper meal in a while.

"Starving, actually. Can't wait to eat solid food again tomorrow. What soup am I having today?"

"It's called changua. It's light and easy, but has eggs and herbs in it for protein and nutrients. You wanna try to make it to the galley? I can bring it out here if you prefer."

Zoro shrugged. "Let me try. I should be able to get that far, right?" It took some concentration to engage only the right muscles, but he managed to get onto his feet. He almost fell over — turns out the muscles in your torso are mostly for stabilization, who knew — but Sanji caught his hand, giving him something to push against.

"Use my arm to brace yourself."

"I'm not going to walk arm-in-arm like some clumsy girl with her boyfriend, Ero-cook! I'm a man, I can do this." Zoro gritted his teeth so hard his jaw hurt as he took another painful step.

Sanji tilted his head. "It's not about being 'girly'. You just had surgery less than 24 hours ago. Anyone else wouldn't have been able to stand yet and would have months of recovery planned. They told you two weeks. Get your pride out of the way for another day or two and let me help, Marimo."

Zoro was being stubborn and he knew it. He'd need to risk the weakness, even in front of the crew, for a little bit. He'd chosen this, after all. For Sanji's sake and his own. But that didn't stop him from complaining about it.

"This is ridiculous. It's like a three-inch incision! It shouldn't be this hard, it's not like I haven't been cut worse."

"He had to open up your lung for an hour and a half! It's a little different!"

"It's humiliating!"

"No one else is here to see it, idiot. I asked them to go into town for most of the day. They'll be back for dinner, but I knew you wouldn't want them to see you in a situation where you might look 'weak'. So which is worse, Zoro? Holding onto the arm of the man you love, or falling to the floor?"

"...I can't believe you really just played the 'man I love' card, curly-brows." Zoro reluctantly grabbed onto Sanji's proffered right arm, and took a couple steps, essentially using the blond as a cane. He tried not to show how touched he was that Sanji had known how uncomfortable Zoro was displaying weakness and had tried to minimize that discomfort.

"Hey, I've got lots of cards I can play. After all, you decided to have this surgery at least partly for my sake, so I'll be helping you as you recover."

"No one's asking you to -"

"No they aren't, unfortunately, not even you, and I kind of wish you would. And I'm not going to let your stubborn ass argue. If the situation were reversed, you'd be happy to help me walk for a few days, right?"

"But I didn't -"

Sanji apparently was having none of any of the arguments, because he stepped in front of Zoro, still supporting him with one arm, but the other arm wrapped around the swordsman's waist as Sanji brought their lips together firmly. After a few seconds, he disconnected the kiss and whispered against Zoro's lips, "I'm helping, even if it means I have to carry you bridal-style. So shut up and let me."

And it was that same dominant almost-purr that turned Zoro's knees to mush, only this time it was clearly intentional, and it was accompanied by the sweetest, softest emotion in that blue eye that gave Zoro entirely too much hope. And then Sanji was kissing him again, and Zoro wondered if that flower wasn't still in his chest because his heart felt warm and full and fast, like there was too little space for it.

"Get it, mosshead?" Sanji said as he pulled back.

All he could do was nod obediently and lean on Sanji's arm every other step for the rest of the short walk to the galley.