Waypoint (drabble) - On/e Pi/ece (Zo/ro, M)
I woke up yesterday with this scenario burned straight into my frontal lobe so please enjoy!
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Still just getting to know eachother Zo/San with implied Fetish!San/ji, this is just a cozy cold fic. Characterisation is supposed to be a blend of anime/manga and live action.
Set post Dru/m Is/land, pre Alab/asta during travel.
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The Going Merry rocked gently as Sanji stirred with a small groan and opened his eyes, blinking away tired tears. He shivered a little as he sat up from his position on the cabin floor and regarded his surroundings. The strawhat crew were a few days out from Drum Island, but the chill from its winter climate still lingered in the air, damp and heavy.
The cook felt a familiar pang in his chest which made him swallow hard. He needed a smoke. He pushed aside his blanket, clambered to his feet as quietly as he could and pulled on his coat, briefly checking his breast pocket for his cigarettes.
His eyes fell on Usopp and Chopper, who had fallen asleep huddled for warmth in an adorable display of their newfound friendship. They dangled lazily in the same hammock, Usopp snoring away with the little reindeer draped across his torso. With a quiet chuckle and a smile, Sanji gingerly scaled the ladder and made his way above deck.
The air of the early morning hit his face, sharp and cold, and Sanji gasped quietly as it stung his already aching, nicotine starved lungs. It was still dark out except for a couple of lanterns that flickered on deck, and the countless stars that beamed down from a cloudless sky.
The deck of the Caravel creaked under his shoes as he looked around. He saw a figure sprawled near the bow, draped in a blanket. Luffy had clearly passed out on his watch, and now he was snoring loudly without a care in the world. Sanji didn’t want to wake him. The kid had been through a lot the last few days. Hell, they all had, and since he was awake, the cook was happy to pick up his Captain’s slack.
“Huh-NGn’xt!! H’nxt! NGxt’tchiH!”
A series of strangled outbursts sounded from behind him, making Sanji startle and look over his shoulder.
An imposing silhouette stood on the upper deck looking out over the water, his muscular back framed by Nami’s beloved tangerine trees. The figure’s shoulders jolted silently twice more, managing to fully stifle the last pair of sneezes into submission before letting out a rumbling sigh.
Taking out his pack of cigarettes and his lighter, Sanji turned and strolled up the steps. He shook a smoke into his hand and put it between his lips before pocketing the box.
“Geez, sorry.” Sanji rolled his eyes, and brought the lighter to his face. “Forget I even asked.”
“UrXsHh-! hUH'djzIUH!! Nghh…”
Failing to stifle, Zoro sneezed uncovered into the ocean air. The frustration in the swordsman’s voice made Sanji’s stomach drop. What he felt was probably something akin to concern or pity. He hated to see his crew mates suffer, even that idiot moss head, but for some reason he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
With a click he lit his cigarette and re-pocketed his lighter, taking a long drag. Fuck he’d needed that. He felt some of the stress in his body ease up as he exhaled, sending a spiralling cloud of smoke into the wind.
“How’s our heading?” He asked, leaning his forearms against the railing. "Are you absolutely sure we're still on course?"
“I’mb… snf- keeping her steady.” Zoro sat down on a nearby crate and brought his gaze to meet Sanji’s, promptly shuddering as a particularly biting gust blew in from the port-side.
“Don’t you have a blanket or something?”
Zoro nodded towards the front of the ship.
“Gave mine to the Captain.” He muttered, sniffling slightly.
Sanji’s stomach jumped again. What the hell was that feeling?! He cleared his throat and took another drag.
“Looks to me like you’ve caught a cold.”
Sanji couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course you don’t, and I’m a warlord of the sea.”
“snnrff… Over mby dead body.”
The cook glanced at Zoro as he breathed out another veil of smoke. The green haired swordsman seemed to wince at the sound of his own obvious congestion. In the slowly growing twilight, Sanji could make out a slight flush around the man’s nostrils. It seemed like his nose had been bothering him for a while now. He had made the idiotic decision to go for a swim in a freezing river, and that was before he’d frozen half to death, half naked in an avalanche.
No wonder he was doing poorly, it was his own damn fault! And yet… Sanji thought there was something almost… sweet about the way he looked right now. Sort of vulnerable, despite his best efforts to be his usual stoic self. As he watched, Zoro’s brow crinkled into a hazy expression and he scrubbed a knuckle under his septum. His attempt to quell the itch proved futile, and the swordsman geared up to sneeze helplessly over his fist.
Sanji couldn’t help the words from tumbling from his lips. His crewmate’s expression had been so desperate, needy even, and it was getting difficult to ignore how much it stirred him up inside. He swallowed and willed himself not to blush.
Zoro shot the curly-browed cook a glare, but he looked more embarrassed than he did vengeful. After a moment his brow softened.
“Snnrf...Dohd’t tell Chopper.”
“Don’t worry, I wouldn't want to wound your pride.”
“HUh-? -IHngxt! Kshh’UH! Ugh… Shit.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna go make something to warm us up.” Sanji sighed as he headed toward the steps. He put his hands in his pockets started to descend towards the galley.
“I’m fihde.” Zoro called out, punctuating his already weak defence with a counterproductive cough.
Sanji turned back to face Zoro with a smirk.
“Well I’m fuckin’ freezing, so if I don’t want to end up like your sniffly ass I’m gonna go get the kettle on.”
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After brewing a thermos of tea and retrieving his blanket from the men’s quarters, Sanji rejoined Zoro at the stern. The sun sat just below the horizon, nearly at the end of it's nightly game of hide and seek. The blond sat down beside the shivering swordsman and held out his blanket.
“Take this. Don’t be a dumb ass.”
To the cook’s surprise, Zoro took the blanket with no protest and wrapped it around his shoulders. Maybe the cold was starting to get to him after all.
Sanji poured them each a mug of tea. It was one of his own blends, peppermint, echinacea and lemon. Medicinal but refreshing, and perfectly balanced if he did say so himself. He couldn’t help but stare intently as Zoro took a sip.
"How is it?" He asked, a little too enthusiastically.
Zoro said nothing, but took another sip. And another.
Sanji knew that was the closest thing to a compliment that he'd get out of the swordsman. He smiled softly.
"Good. It should help you breathe a little easier."
"Snf-! URgh'esSCHEW!! Snrrf- ugh..."
"Bless! Seems like it's- uh... Already working?"
Sanji's breath caught in his throat and he could feel his heart pounding in his ears. Maybe he was getting sick too. His cheeks felt like they were burning... Did he have a fever? That was the only reasonable explanation why being so close to his crew mate's sneeze sent a shock wave straight to his dick.
"Hey." Zoro's voice broke through the cook's haze, laid heavy with congestion.
"Would you... wake me up soon?"
"Oh... Of course." Sanji's chest swelled with affection as he felt the swordsman tentatively rest his head on his shoulder.
The sun's first rays peeked out of their hiding place and danced on the waves. In the weeks they'd travelled together, the pair had definitely never shared a moment like this.
"The... tea," Zoro murmured sleepily. "S'good... thanks."
Sanji sipped his own tea and huffed a fond laugh.
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Ehehe thanks for reading! Let me know if you're interested in a part 2, I kinda want to write some contagion since I'm a big ol' Sa/nji simp but I'm more likely to if I get feedback ;)
