high_seas | A Water Park with Hammers

[Quiet for a moment before cracking an eye open to peek at Zoro, a small smile working its way onto his face.]

You're not bad at it. Could be worse. Could still be the you from a year ago. Compared to that guy, you're way improved. You've learned a lot, right?

[In terms of emotions and shit, at least.]

...Anyway, the feeling is mutual. [Turns his head a little more, looking at Zoro fully now.] You know that, right?

...yeah.

[it's soft and heavy, laden with all those feelings he has trouble putting into words. Some part of him might have always assumed that the love-cook would be adept at experiencing and dealing with emotions, regardless of the target of his affections, but maybe it hasn't been so easy after all. Zoro matches that smile with a small, shy one of his own. He knows, indeed.]

Shit, it has been almost a year, hasn't it? I know it started after Usopp's birthday, which is sometime next month...

[Easy? No. Definitely not. Not in the beginning, at least. Accepting that he had feelings for Zoro -- and having to do so twice, at that -- was the challenge, but...after that... Sanji isn't one to not express himself. Having to repress his emotions would probably be an even bigger challenge than accepting them in the first place, so on that end, yes, these things are simpler for him.

It's been a long road to get to where he is right now, but he doesn't have any regrets either.

He lets out a soft laugh.]

Hell, my shitty brain is still confused about how long we've actually been doing this. Technically a year, I guess, but sometimes it feels like two or even three. Lemme tell ya, I don't recommend having to live a year of your life twice. But yeah... [Squints a little.] What was it, like two weeks after his birthday, right? That's on the first.

Something like that. I don't remember the actual date.

[sorry, no sappy anniversary for you, cook.

Accepting isn't his problem, it's identifying. Knowing, being certain of what it is he feels. And, yes, expressing it in ways other than trying to jump Sanji at every other turn. Zoro is getting there, though, little by little.

He shifts to take his leg down out of Sanji's lap and moves in closer to him, gliding through the water up in front of him and resting his arms on the rim o the bath on either side of the cook's shoulders. For once he doesn't quite pounce, just sort of hangs out there gazing at him.]

Guess if we can make it a year, it really is a thing, huh?

[lol he'll survive.

Sanji looks up at Zoro as he moves in but doesn't answer right away. Instead, he reaches out to place a hand on Zoro's chest, idly stroking his thumb over Zoro's scar as he just gazes back at him for a moment.]

...Yeah, marimo. It's a thing.

[breathes a soft purr under his breath. He's gotten rather attached to the sensation of fingertips on his scar - never stop, cook.]

It's still weird. But a good weird. I can feel you all the way in the deepest part of my chest, like you've settled there and won't leave and I don't want you leave.

[has he mentioned he's bad at this? But he knows that sensation in his chest, a pang that squeezes him every time he makes eye contact or feels a hand brush his arm. Zoro bends his head to nuzzle at the wet strands of hair around Sanji's face, just to keep them close and in some kind of contact.]

[He would keep going!! But Zoro leaning in prompts him to slide his hand further up and curl it behind Zoro's neck. He turns his head a bit, nose pressing against Zoro's cheek and his voice a soft, amused murmur when he speaks.]

Hey, look... Words.

[Lots of words even. Hell, Sanji definitely wouldn't call that being bad at it. In fact, he can't stop the grin that spreads over his face as he sits there and replays them in his head again. That familiar warmth explodes in his own chest, as well, and he sits up out of the water slightly so that he can wrap his arm completely around Zoro's shoulders. His other hand finds Zoro's bicep, just sort of hanging on as he draws the other man in close and buries his face against his neck.

Hearing anything like that from Zoro feels precious somehow. It's hard, Sanji gets that, which means every time he unexpectedly powers through and shares anything emotional, Sanji's damn well going to tuck that memory away somewhere safe and probably revisit it time and again.]

[Mmm, warm, wet Sanji, all up in his space. Zoro shifts one arm off the edge of the bath so he can reciprocate, sliding it around Sanji's back. He's treated to the scratch of that goatee across his neck, an extra shiver to add to everything he already feels. His hand slides up out of the water to bury in Sanji's hair, ruffling it a bit.

He's content to cling for a while, but eventually lets go, drifting back a little and dragging his lips across the cook's exposed eyebrow as he goes.]

[Sanji settles back when Zoro does, though he keeps his hand on Zoro's arm, rubbing up and down. A quick push of his Haki ensures no one else has snuck into the bath with them while he wasn't paying attention, and the changing room is still empty, too. So he gives that arm a tug to pull Zoro back onto the bench beside him, and then lets his weight rest against the other man. Just for a moment or two -- his hands are getting pretty wrinkly anyway. Might be time to get out soon.

But for now...this is nice.]

[Yeah, the bath is hot enough that they can't just stay in all day, but for now, Zoro settles beside him, letting a hand fall over Sanji's thigh as they sit together. A few long minutes of quiet go by, and he's content with that, but eventually the stillness begs to be broken.]

So I think I get why Luffy was so squirrely the other day. It's because I asked him if we could take the cats back to their island.

[he figured as much out later when he glanced at the journal.]

Ah...yeah.

[And suddenly sending Zoro a grumpy look, though he's clearly not grumpy enough to actually pull away from him or anything.]

Asshole. I heard about that.

[very slightly taken aback at the change in mood]

What? Why am I an asshole?

[Crosses his arms and huffs.]

Because I like those damn cats.

[YES HE KNOWS IT'S TOO MUCH OF A RISK TO KEEP THEM AROUND IN CASE EVERYONE DISAPPEARS but still.]

[...oh really now?

Zoro shakes his head, his mind's made up]

You think I don't? Look, it's for their own good. They're jungle cats, not sea cats, and what the hell do you think will happen to them if we all disappear and they're left on the ship? I don't want them to die.

[Just scowls, already waving a hand before Zoro is even halfway through with all that.]

I know that, you idiot, I ain't arguing with you. Me and Luffy already talked about it. I just don't like it.

[Hmph.]

[pout] Well. Tough, then.

You don't see me jumping for joy over it. It just has to be done.

I know.

[Flicks some water at Zoro's face.]

But it makes me think of other shit we're gonna leave behind here and it puts me in a shitty mood.

[Bah, don't do that. Makes him flinch.]

Fine, geez. Sorry I brought it up, I just thought you should know. But you already do so whatever.

[huffs and looks away, though he isn't pulling away from Sanji either.]

Don't mourn what ain't dead.

I ain't mourning.

[Mutter mutter.

He sighs after a moment, though, and slouches lower, tipping his head to rest against Zoro's shoulder.]

...Gonna have to mourn the damn cats, though. When we bring 'em back.

[he moves his arm to drape around Sanji, the better to curl against his head and sneak his fingertips through all that hair to find his scalp and rub a little.]

I don't even know what Bepo named the other one. Blue's sister.

We'll say goodbye while we can. It's more than we've gotten with all the people who've disappeared...Elsa and the others.

[his voice is as even and measured as it ever is when he's serious, he hides the pain well. Or at least he thinks he does.]

[Fits himself snugly against Zoro's side, eyes sliding shut and humming a little because of Zoro's hand. Feels good.]

Mm...I guess that's better. Getting tired of saying goodbye, though. Even when it's after the fact. What am I gonna do without that little bastard around to get shitty cat hair all over my things, huh?

Just wait till he starts clawing your pants to ribbons.

[those kitties have claws coming in, all right. He's been the recipient of many a scratch lately]

They're getting really good at hunting. I don't think I can teach 'em anything more, they know how to take care of themselves. We don't get enough mice aboard to keep both of 'em entertained, though.

You can trim claws. That's what your swords are for.

[Hurrrr.

And then grumbling a bit more:]

Like you got any idea how many shitty mice are on board...

[But then he sighs.]

Mah, well. Has to be done. Hopefully they ain't too dependent on us or anything.

[Absently lifts a hand out of the water, checking to see how pruney he is now.]

[hurr, making a face right back at you, cook.]

They're wild. I don't think we could ever turn 'em into good pets.

[drops his voice for another one of those secrets] ...I just can't shake the image of them all alone on the ship, starving to death. I won't let it happen to them.

[Winces at that, his entire body going tense. His hand closes into a fist and he lowers it back into the water, forcing himself to take a deep breath and relax again before he answers.]

...I said I get it, Zoro. Don't worry, that ain't gonna happen.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject