How I Met Your Father (Sanji x Zolo)

Snuggles

"Is procreation the only thing you have the mental capacity for?"

"You know I can't understand you when you get all wordy and agitated."

"Grrr... Why Zolo want do the sex so much."

"Oh! Hehe. Cause' Sanji's hot."

"Do you ever do anything else?!"

"Well, of course."

Sanji rocked James to sleep, tucking his youngest son in his crib and kissing his forehead. "Goodnight, sweetheart." Sanji whispered. Zolo hugged him from behind, brushing his lips against the nape of Sanji's neck.

"The boys are asleep." He murmured into the cook's blond hair.

"Finally..." Sanji let Zolo pick him up and quietly carry him away from the nursery. Reaching their room, Zolo nudged open the door and shut it behind them.

"Zolo... Not now..."

"I know, I know! Despite what you may believe, I am aware of the fact that beds are also for sleeping."

"Sure, Marimo. Sure."

Zolo sighed and laid Sanji down on the bed, pulling off his shoes and stripping him down to the boxers. "I knew you were lying..." Sanji muttered, tipping back his head and sighing with resignation.

"Shut up, cook. I know you can't sleep as well when you're fully dressed. Now stop doing that, I'm not going to rape you."

Sanji rolled onto his stomach and scooched further onto the bed, sighing again, this time with comfort. Zolo pulled off all but his boxers and crawled into bed next to his lover. Pulling Sanji's body closer to his own, he buried his face in the chef's golden hair. "I love you, ya know?"

"Yeah, Marimo. I know."

A warm silence, broken only by the sound of breath and the beating of their hearts, which is, by its very nature, more felt then heard. Though they were both the same height, Sanji was always the little spoon, tucked up against Zolo with the swordsman's body pressed against his back.

The warmth of Sanji's bare skin made Zolo give a quiet murmur of appreciation. He ran one hand across Sanji's body, over his chest, down his flat stomach, brushing between his legs, before moving down his thigh and back up again.

Sanji hummed at Zolo's touch. Zolo responded by leaning forward and tipping Sanji's head, so their lips could touch in a gentle kiss. There was no lust in Zolo's movements, no desire in his hands other than the desire to love and be loved.

Sanji rolled over, kissing Zolo more fully, though no less gently. Bare chests pressed together, their hearts beat nearly in sync.

Some people call Zolo a demon. Others say he's a monster. And some others say he's barely human. But here, held tight in his swordsman's arms, there was no doubt in Sanji's mind that, for all his strength, Zolo's soul was neither that of a monster nor a demon. His soul was more human than the souls of most who try to call themselves men.

Zolo's arms tightened around Sanji's slighter frame. He pulled away for air and rested his forehead against Sanji's. "Hey... Cook?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"Love you too."

"I'm not finished." Zolo shifted back enough to better look at Sanji's face, though he kept his arms around him. "Sanji Vinsmoke, I love you almost as much as I love my ambition. If you tried your hardest to make me stop risking my life for my dream, well... I honestly can't say what I'd do. To choose between you and my blades might one day be the thing that kills me. You are... You are my..."

Zolo struggled to find a way to say what his heart felt in a way Sanji would understand. He kissed Sanji again, and when he pulled away he whispered. "You are my All Blue."

Sanji's blue eyes, earlier dulled by fatigue, now glowed with a mix of happiness and love. "And...?" He whispered.

Zolo chuckled. "And, I will never let you go. You have given me a life far greater than anything I'd imagined for myself."

Sanji pressed his lips to Zolo's. "Sweetie, with all these complicated words, I'm starting to think you're quoting one of Shinji's novels."

Zolo huffed. "I'm not. And shut up, I'm almost done."

"Mmkay."

"You've given me a family Sanji. I'd never had one of those before you. Now I've got four beautiful sons, and a man that I'd die for. Sanji Vinsmoke, I'd say it's far past time I ask you something."

"Ah, is this the end?"

"Marry me Sanji, be more than just my lover, be mine in every sense of the word."

Sanji blinked, surprise in his sapphire eyes. "Of all the things, I didn't expect..." He laughed and kissed Zolo hard on the mouth. "Of course I'll marry you, Marimo! Took you long enough to ask!"

"You will?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Zolo hugged Sanji tight, kissing his neck with gentle care. "Thank you. So much. I'm sorry I don't have a ring."

"We can get one later."

Zolo held Sanji close to him, burying his face in the blond cook's hair, hoping he wouldn't notice the tears of pure joy that streamed down him face.

"I don't always make love to your father. Sometimes I just love him."

"Alright, Dad. For once, I suppose you've proven me wrong."