I have a 1,819 word draft of the first chapter but im not finishing it so here you go:
It all started after the cook joined their crew. Zoro tried his best to be as distrusting as possible, but the blond just... fit.
He quickly learned the crew's eating habits, and their favorite foods and even made a menu for each of them for their individual dietary need.
Zoro knew that, because one of the times when he was trying to catch Sanji red-handed, the cook noticed him. He then sat him down because "if you're curious I can explain it" and then proceeded to tell him about his notebook and his observations.
Of course, that was a bit suspicious... taking notes on the crew... But Zoro decided that someone who talked with such passion about their occupation and goals, someone who looked so stunningly enamored in their elaborations, couldn't be of any harm.
One of the most attractive things, however, that Zoro found about the cook was when he fought. Especially when it wasn't in a life-threatening situation. When he could just watch him without the additional adrenaline.
The first time he saw Sanji kick Luffy across the deck for trying to take Nami's tea biscuits, Zoro was enamored. It was love at first kick. The more he observed his movements: the way he maneuvered around his surroundings, his fighting style - elegance and raw strength; the more he learned to appreciate Sanji's legs.
They enjoyed each other's company. They drank together, they sat in the crow's nest at night. Sanji even sought him out a few times during the Cocoyasi Village farewell party for Nami. He asked after his health and sat with him to drink. Still, Zoro felt like his feelings hadn't come across the way he wanted to.
Zoro wasn't sure if Sanji was giving him hints. But there was some kind of bond that was left unspoken. Or at least a closeness they didn't have with Usopp and Nami. The swordsman wanted to try courting him by taking extra shifts on the lookout when it was the cook's turn and helping him with the dishes. He even asked him out to drink on the deck a couple of times. The options were limited on a ship after all. But it seemed Sanji didn't think much of it.
So that was when he decided: he was going to try and flirt more aggressively with him the moment they reached the next island.
They finally landed at Little Garden.
Zoro felt like he'd been on the ship for forever. He needed to stretch his legs a bit. "I'm bored," he sighed "I'm gonna take a walk."
Usopp's jaw dropped "Take a walk?"
"Yeah," he grunted as he jumped off the ship.
Sanji walked over so he could look at Zoro while addressing him. "Hey, Zoro, wait up."
"You know, we're kind of short on food, right? If you find any animals that appear edible bring 'em back" Sanji shrugged.
Zoro thought to himself that this would be the perfect opportunity for a date.
"Okay, got it. I'll bring back one that you can't possibly capture." Like this, Zoro thought, he was showing that he was strong and could take care of not only himself but also the crew. And if Sanji picked up the hint, he'd want to come with. Right?
"Hmmm?" Zoro turned to see Sanji put up a leg on the port.
"I can't let that remark go unchallenged! You can capture a bigger one than I can, you say?"
The conversation didn't go as Zoro intended, but he didn't mind. Sanji was so openly flirting back, it was going so well.
"Of course," Zoro answered. After all, what was flirting if there wasn't a bit of a tiff? That would be boring. Not to mention that Zoro would scarcely choose to go for someone passive in all endeavors.
They looked into each other's eyes and Zoro could practically see the sparks flying. Finally, he thought, they were getting somewhere, and he caught the hints.
"Then, it's a hunting match," Sanji said and jumped down. "Look! We'll compete over how many kilos of meat we get," he proposed.
"Didn't you mean to say how many tons?" Zoro offered teasingly.
"You can talk cocky once you've brought some prey," Sanji started walking into the forest.
Zoro huffed proudly, he could imagine the rest of his life with someone like this, "I'll take you up on that!" He hunched over and continued walking in the opposite direction. He couldn't let the cook see how happy he made him just yet. He was so shy until now, that he might think Zoro's getting ahead of himself and that's not something he'd want.
The swordsman walked for a while before spotting a weird lizard-like creature with three horns on its face. "I guess we both use the three swords style," he laughed to himself. Beating it was easy. It was big, sure, but it had nothing on his speed and strength.
He started dragging it to where he thought the ship was.
At a crossroads, he saw the cook.
"Zoro," the blond greeted.
"Sanji," the other returned.
"I win," they said simultaneously.
Both their smiles disappeared in favor of furrowed brows.
"You lose!" Both of them said again.
There was only one way to resolve this. They pushed both their prey next to each other. They put them so that the heads were on one level. Looking at them from the top to the tip of the tails, Sanji's animal was longer by half a meter.
"Look! My prey is bigger!" Sanji exclaimed.
"What? This competition is about how many tons of meat we can get, right?" Zoro argued, "Mine is obviously hunkier than yours!"
"Hah!" Sanji leaned back, "It's all a matter of if we can use it for cooking. Your prey looks full of bones." Sanji was smiling, he looked pleasantly challenged by Zoro. "It has no more than five grams of meat for cooking!"
"There's no way we can eat meat full of sinews like that!" Zoro continued arguing to make the date more fun.
The blond tisked. They eventually settled it with a new arrangement: they would try finding a new animal to compare until the next eruption of the volcano.
All was going well, but then Zoro stumbled upon Mr Three. Zoro watched in awe as Sanji rushed to the rescue. He risked his life alongside Luffy to free them for the wax cake statue. Hearing his endeavors while away and how he threw off the boss of Baroque Works stunned him. He could only pretend not to pay it any mind so as to not give away how fast he was falling for the man.
Once on the ship, Sanji helped Zoro with his injuries. Changed the bandages, cleaned him with alcohol, and even told him to hold his hand if he needed to. Zoro refused that last one but regretted it the moment he did. In his fear of not moving too fast with the cook, he turned down probably his last chance for a while to hold his date's hand. He at least had the courage to ask something he was unsure of.
"So," he began while the cook was wrapping his ankles, "our contest date was canceled back there..."
Sanji laughed at the words 'contest date'. "You still thinking about that, marimo?" Sanji teased.
Zoro felt the mood, his tenseness eased as he settled into teasing as well. "Just wanted to know if you wanted a "rematch", since I beat you and all." He tilted his head closer to the cook.
Sanji's face ran red as he pushed Zoro's away and stood up. "You? Beat me? In your dreams!"
The way he diverted their proximity made Zoro's suspicions were confirmed - Sanji was incredibly shy. He was all red and fussy after their first date and now couldn't even look at him without pretending this was a rivalry thing. In all honestly, the swordsman didn't mind it. In fact, he liked a challenge - both physical and emotional, so rivals on a second date was a go.
"Oh yeah? You wanna go shitty cook? I could take you any day of the week." Zoro knew this would make Sanji flustered but the way he huffed and puffed was too cute not to take advantage of. Yet just as he thought Sanji was going to kick him or tell him they could take it outside, Sanji took a deep breath.
"I'm not fighting an injured man. Get well, then we'll talk." He said in the calmest and most monotone voice he could muster. He then left to smoke.
Zoro was in awe. Sanji cared for him so much. It almost melted him on the spot, that was until the door behind him opened with a startling boom.
A bewildered Usopp looked at Zoro looking back at him. Eyes wide, not a single word uttered for a solid minute.
"You two are dating..." Usopp finally spoke a quiet and unbelieving thing.
It was Zoro'turn to get red. "Well," he looked away. "N- no..."
The sharp shooter pointed at him"Do not lie to the great captain Usopp, master of lies, you cannot fool me!" He said with such bravado that it transformed all his bashfulness into second hand embarrassment. "What was that anyway? Are you guys dating?"
Zoro looked away, "I'm not sure myself," he looked back up at Usopp. "I'm hopeful though, we will be..." A bashful smile crept on his face, he looked shy - Usopp could have sworn that he was blushing. The sharpshooter was getting chills watching the unusal sight.
"W- well, I'm sure you will be, buddy!" Usopp patted his back but it felt mkre like slapping. He expected to get a glare for borderline hitting him, or maybe even a hit back, but ge only got a pleased look in Zoro's eyes. "I'm sure he can't wait for the next date! Plus, after the third outing you guys would be officially dating!"
"You think so?" Zoro asked.
"Well," Usopp didn't have that much experience with dating, but he's had friends from his village telling him this and that, so he was pretty sure that was how it worked. "Yeah! Absolutely!... I mean, how did he act during the date? Was he enjoying himself?"
Zoro thought for a while. "Well he was smiling a lot and we agreed on a rematch..."
Usopp was stunned at the word choice. "Rematch... I'm guessing you two use that word as a substitute for "date", huh..." he crossed his arms and shook his head.
"Oi," Zoro warned "I'd watch my mouth more if I were you."
The sniper jumped a bit. But if what his crewmate was saying was true, then, "I don't think you have to worry about it to be completely honest... If he seemed to be having fun and even asked to do it again, then I reckon he must really like you!"
The murderous glint in Zoro's eyes was replaced by a thoughtful gratitude. "...yeah", he muttered under his breath, sounding content. Still, Usopp wasn't going to push his luck, so he took his leave.
While traveling to Arabasta, Nami caught a fatal illness. Vivi was tending to her.