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It was the season of Christmas. Everywhere you looked, colorful decorations hung across the streets. The weather was so cold that surely it was finally going to snow this week. On this beautiful, freezing day, a blonde and green-haired man walked side by side in the mall.
“You could’ve brought anyone– anyone , but you took me with you shopping,” Zoro grumbled as he carried three baskets worth of presents.
Sanji rolled his eyes and turned with a twirl of his feet. “Look, marimo. I always give the best presents, and to do that I need to bring a mule to help me carry everything.” he pointed at Zoro and said, “You. You’re my mule.”
Zoro groaned. “I could’ve been at the gym.”
“You’re still lifting, aren’t you? Think of it as a gym alternative!” Sanji snickered as he walked forward. Then, he smiled and locked his hands behind his back.
The truth is, he wanted to spend time Christmas shopping with Zoro. Sanji loved buying presents for his loved ones, and it would be even better if the guy he liked was with him as well. Wasn’t it nice and domestic?
Zoro was complaining, but Sanji knew he wasn’t completely opposed to this. After all, he knew Zoro would never come along if he didn’t want to. Even right now even though the marimo was grumbling, he was still obediently carrying and helping Sanji with everything. Even answering Sanji when he asked about present preferences for their friends.
Sanji knew Zoro would be alright coming with him, after all…
The blonde glanced back over his shoulder to check on the gym-addicted man and found Zoro looking at him with gentle eyes and a hint of red on the tips of his ears.
Zoro liked Sanji, and Sanji knew it.
The problem is, Zoro’s never done anything about it. At some point, Sanji started to suspect maybe Zoro wasn’t aware of it. For quite a while now Sanji had so many thoughts simmering in his head. Did he like me? Am I reading too much into it? Maybe I’m just flattering myself? But, it’s moments like this when Sanji catches Zoro looking at him with an indecipherable expression he doesn’t see him give to anyone else.
Sanji gave Zoro a smile, to which the marimo returned with a guffaw before Sanji laughed and looked back forward. The chef in training spots a bright red Santa hat and jogged towards it.
“Hey, check this out!” Sanji laughed as he put on the hat. He turned with a bright grin and asked, “How do I look?”
Immediately, Zoro’s gaze softened and his shoulders slumped at the sight of Sanji. However, just as quick as that expression came, it left when he turned his head to the side and coughed. “Ugly as fuck,” he responded.
But it was too late. Sanji already caught that look.
Sanji grabbed a green elf hat and slapped it on Zoro’s head. “Jackass!” he teased. Since Zoro’s hands were full, he won’t be able to take it off without first having to put down all the baskets.
Sanji walks ahead to another aisle while Zoro fumbled with the baskets. He found one with scented candles and immediately started browsing. He was having a fun time. Sanji wanted to spend more days like this with Zoro, and he couldn’t help but let his mind wander, entertaining thoughts of them dating.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice cut in. “Hey,” greeted another man with a smile.
Sanji blinked and gave him a wave. “Hi,” he greeted plainly.
“Do you like candles?”
“Kinda yeah.” was this guy attempting to make a friend or hit on Sanji? Sanji was still trying to decipher.
The man reached out for a candle in front of Sanji, just getting in the blonde’s space by just a fraction, and pulled out a rose-scented candle. “You should get this one,” he said as he placed it in Sanji’s hands.
“Oh, thank you,” Sanji responded politely.
Then, the man smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. “It smells sweet. Just like you.” Ah , he was hitting on Sanji.
“On second thought, maybe I want another candle,” Sanji said in a flash and attempted to return the candle. However, it was at that moment when Zoro finally returned.
“Fuck off,” spat Zoro, suddenly appearing behind the two of them. His grass hair was free of the red Santa hat, but his hands were still full of the present-filled baskets.
The man immediately raised his hands and backed away. “Oof, sorry about that. I didn’t know you had a boyfriend. I’ll be on my way. Merry Christmas!” with that, the stranger left the scene.
Sanji smacked Zoro’s shoulder and said, “I could’ve handled that myself, bastard.” that’s what went out of his mouth, but his cheeks were still tinted red from Zoro’s obvious response to another man flirting with Sanji.
Zoro shrugged and grumbled. “You were taking too damn long.”
Sanji stared in the direction the guy disappeared into and said in a whisper, “He called you my boyfriend.”
Zoro huffed and left the aisle with a stomp in his feet, but ears burning red, even more so than earlier. “That’s stupid.”
Sanji could only laugh at the sight. With the marimo huffing and puffing like that, while carrying a bunch of baskets, he looked like an angry elf on the way to deliver presents to Santa’s slay.
However, Sanji also wondered just when the fuck this blockhead of a man was going to confess or realize his feelings for Sanji?
…
When Sanji arrived home he had a bunch of presents to unpack from the eco grocery bags. With the amount, his dad had to help him out.
The experienced Chef huffed as he inspected the choice of gifts. “You sure bought a lot. Goes to show you’ve got a lot of friends, Lil eggplant.”
Sanji grinned and started arranging the presents on the table for wrapping. “Sure do! I picked the best presents. Can’t wait to see their faces when they see how specific and thoughtful I was.” he puffed up his chest and reached out for the wrapping.
“Good for you. Have fun out there,” Zeff commented after he let out a bellowed laugh.
Sanji’s hands got to work as he started laying out all the wrapping, bows, and scissors. Christmas wasn’t far away and it would be best if he got the presents ready as soon as possible. However, as he wrapped each present one by one, he found himself drifting to another kind of Christmas celebration. One that would be spent beside a certain marimo.
The blonde paused in his wrapping and sighed. Would that be possible this year? How was Sanji supposed to initiate something like that? He grumbled and aggressively cut the wrapping. If the stupid caveman would just own up to his feelings already then maybe Sanji wouldn’t be so hesitant.
Zeff quirked a brow at Sanji’s grumbling and asked, “Somethin' bothering you, Lil eggplant?”
“Pops… let’s say someone likes you… but they won’t say it outright… and you like them back… what do you do?” Sanji asked hesitantly.
The older chef hummed and puffed out his chest. “Make the first move!”
Sanji nodded and looked back down at the unwrapped present. “Yeah, but… what if there’s a reason he didn’t say it outright to me…He’s been with me for so long and yet…”
“What? So, this guy’s been hanging around you for a while now and he hasn’t had the guts to say he likes you? Not even your boyfriend yet?” Zeff clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. “It’s either you have no game or he just doesn’t actually like you, eggplant.”
Sanji sputtered. “I got no game ? I didn’t even know you knew how to use that term!”
“Don’t underestimate me! I installed that app you youngsters use nowadays. Tiktok.” Zeff then waved off his hand. “Don’t worry about a man like that, eggplant. Guys like him are cowards.”
A fire sparked in Sanji. Something inside him didn’t like how his old man was insulting Zoro. “J-just so you know, he actually is my boyfriend!”
Sanji didn’t see it since Zeff’s back was turned, but the older chef smirked. Then, he turned around with a baffled expression. “You had a boyfriend this whole time and didn’t invite him over for dinner!? Why, I’mma need to beat your ass!”
The younger blonde paled and then jumped out of his seat in defense. “I-I was! I was gonna–uh, invite him over for Christmas dinner!”
“That’s more like it.” Zeff brushed off his apron and then headed for the kitchen. “Can’t wait to see this guy you’re so hung over.”
Sanji watched as Zeff disappeared into the door before he sat helplessly in his seat. “Fuck…” he whispered. “What do I do now… It’s not like I just call Zoro and go–”
“--So, I accidentally told my dad that I had a boyfriend but the thing is I don’t have a boyfriend so now I need help to bring a fake boyfriend otherwise he’s gonna one-up me and whoop my ass for lying.”
Zoro stared into his bedroom wall with eyes wide enough to bulge out and a jaw on the floor. “S-so,” he said and then swallowed. “You need me to be your… boyfriend.” needless to say, Zoro was freaking out.
There was a bit of silence before Sanji spoke again, “It’s okay, marimo. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. I can also ways choose someone else to–”
Zoro panicked at those words and said in a rush, “I’ll do it!”
“...Really?” Zoro would rather die than let anyone go with Sanji to be introduced as the cook’s boyfriend to his dad .
Zoro swallowed and breathed shakily. “I’ll do it,” he started with a voice full of conviction. “I’ll be your boyfriend.”
On the other end of the line, Sanji’s heart skipped a beat. I’ll be your boyfriend. He cleared his throat and patted away the heat gathering in his chest. “Great. Next week at 7?”
They were really doing this holy shit.
…
When the next week came, it was colder than before.
Zoro found himself blowing into his hands, his hot breath turning into mist as he did so. In his hand were a bouquet of flowers (as recommended by Sanji) and high-quality alcohol (something he decided to choose and bring himself).
He inhaled, feeling the cold hair sting his lungs, and then breathed out. He rolled his shoulders and shook his legs. “Let’s go. We can do this…” then, he rang the doorbell.
Nervousness wracked up in his body with every second that passed by. It felt like forever until the door opened, though, in reality, ten seconds had only passed.
When the door swung open, Zoro was greeted with the flushed face of a beautiful blonde wearing an apron. “You’re here!” Sanji grinned. “I’m surprised you didn’t get lost along the way.”
“I don’t get lost,” Zoro grumble and shuffled his feet. His cheeks were a dark red, but he’ll blame it on the cold.
As a matter of fact, Zoro did get lost, but that’s why he left three hours early. It’s a miracle he got here on time, really.
Zoro cleared his throat and then held out the flowers to Sanji. “I got this,” he said almost robotically.
Sanji laughed and then took the flowers. He held them close to his chest and then playfully fluttered his eyes at Zoro. “Oh, for me?” the damn cook was pretending like he didn’t coerce Zoro into buying them.
In reality, though, Sanji’s heart was beating fast in his chest. This was the first time that Zoro’s ever done something like bring him flowers (even though he was the one who told him to). He was going to keep this dinner close to his heart.
“Eggplant! Where are you!” called out a strong voice from inside the house. Suddenly, a much larger man walked into view. He immediately caught sight of Zoro and crossed his arms. “Hmph, so it’s you.”
“Uh, yeah. It’s me,” Zoro said awkwardly as he stepped into the house. Sanji took his coat while Zoro held out the bottle of alcohol to Zeff. “This is for you.”
The bottle was roughly taken from Zoro’s hands and the chef inspected it with a close eye. After a second, he glanced at Zoro and said, “Heh, you know your alcohol, now do you?”
Zoro grinned, his canines peeking out, and crossed his arms. “Fuck yeah I do.”
Sanji laughed and hooked Zoro’s coat over the hanger. As expected, Zoro pick a fine bottle of alcohol. “I’ll go set the table.”
When the table was ready, the three of them sat and ate the food prepared by Sanji. Zeff refused to help his son prepare the food and said it was his responsibility to do so since it was his guest. Well, Sanji didn’t mind. After all, this meant he could cook all of Zoro’s favorites without hesitation.
Zeff took a bite of some roasted chicken and asked, “So, if you guys were dating why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Sanji and Zoro glanced at each other and nodded. The blonde cleared his throat and put down his utensils with a practiced smile. “Well, we got together one month ago.”
“We were still testing the waters,” Zoro added with a mouthful of rice that he mixed in with some thick, creamy soup.
“Testing the waters ey?” Zeff quirked a brow. “So, what does it mean now that you’re here right in front of me, boy? Do you still have plans to date my son for the heck of it?”
“Old man, don’t be like that,” Sanji sighed.
“I’d never date your son just for the heck of it,” Zoro started, eyes strong and unwavering. “I ain’t a dick. I’m serious. I don’t know if your eyes are still good, old man, but just take a look at your son. I’d be a damn idiot if I ain’t gonna try my damndest to stay by his side. The love I have for him as is strong as the grip he has on my balls.”
A sudden silence came over the table and Sanji was trying his best to pick up his jaw from the floor.
At that moment, Zoro realized what he said and he ended up coughing into his hand. “Uh, I mean that… uh, respectfully… sir.”
Sanji’s face was full on tomato red and suddenly he was waving around his hands. “R-right, right. Let’s–” he gave Zoro a sudden slap behind the head for the crude, fake love confession and then said, “Basically what he said.”
Damn. This man was way too good at impromptu. Despite the ridiculousness of Zoro’s words, Sanji still found his heart skipping a beat. How nice it would be if it was a real confession. Well… maybe a better one with fewer balls in the sentence.
Zeff laughed at the two men’s interaction and continued to gobble down his food. “Continue taking care of my lil eggplant. You got guts, kiddo!”
Dinner went smoothly after that.
…
Dinner finished without a hitch. Zoro and Zeff got along very well, and it wasn’t just because they both had Z in their names. They bonded over fishing and alcohol, talking as if they were old friends.
Now, as the clock struck 10 PM, the two of them were outside on the porch, Sanji ready to see Zoro off. “Well,” the blonde started he helped Zoro put on his coat, “I guess that’s that.”
Zoro grunted and adjusted his coat. “Yeah.”
Sanji smiled and gave Zoro a light punch on the shoulder, “You’re really good at impromptu words, marimo. That love confession was kind of stupid, but it worked nicely.”
However, Zoro didn’t respond playfully to Sanij’s words as he thought he would. Instead, the marimo stared at him for a few seconds, eyes full of a whirlwind of emotions, before the man said, “I wasn’t lying.”
The blonde paused, surprise gripping his heart along with nervousness. “What…?” he asked breathlessly. Oh God, is it happening? Is it finally happening? Sanji didn’t have enough time to emotionally and mentally prepare.
“I meant every word,” Zoro said, voice filled with a drop of nervousness surrounded by a sea of determination.
“H-huh…?” Sanji stuttered dumbly as he tried to process the situation.
“Curly,” Zoro started, a red tint coming to his cheeks, and this time Sanji was sure it wasn’t because of the cold. The green-haired man fisted his hands and looked down. “Will you be my boyfriend?”
At that moment, it started snowing softly. It was a beautiful scene. The neighborhood’s Christmas lights shone and sparkled in a range of colors. In fact, this would be the first snowfall of the year.
It seemed Sanji had been silent for too long because Zoro’s determination was washed out with a wave of uncertainty. “Look, cook, you don’t have to accept it…”
“I’ll be your fucking boyfriend you stupid ass marimo!” Sanji laughed as he jumped onto Zoro for a hug.
Zoro caught Sanji in his arms out of pure reflex, eyes wide as he did so. “Y-you will?”
“Fuck yeah!”
“F-fucking hell yeah !” Zoro cheered with a stutter as he rapidly blinked away his shock.
“Is that all you’re gonna say to me?” Sanji teased as he leaned back and slapped Zoro’s shoulder.
Zoro grinned, the feeling of happiness finally taking over the shock. “What else do you want me to say, shitty cook?”
Sanji smiled and pressed their foreheads together. “I don’t know… maybe a kiss?” he whispered.
“A kiss?” Zoro breathed.
“Well?”
Then, with Sanji’s full permission, Zoro leaned in to press their lips together for a kiss. It was a soft kiss. Their first. It was quite innocent, but it made the two men’s hearts pound like drums against their chests. It felt like forever when it reality it was just a second or two.
When they finally pulled apart, Sanji placed another kiss on Zoro’s cheek and whispered, “Merry Christmas, stupid marimo.”
“Merry Christmas, shitty cook.”