#is that weird to admit. sorry. zoro is just cat to me

[wtfforged]

yeah fine sure i can post this a year later on here too

[asexualzoro]

list of reasons i find Brook ridiculous

for brook’s birthday, ive decided to follow up my other two posts of this genre by dragging yet another idiot swordsman. i have everybrook open on my phone next to me. here we go

- first and foremost his most ridiculous crime is existing. as he’s already so ridiculous as a character, im going to talk only about things hes done

- i want to know, did Brook make a conscious effort to change his laugh to sound like his favorite song? how long did it take? what was the in between period like? what did his crew have to say about this? the rumbar pirates were big on playful teasing, did they let Brook live this down? 

- ALTERNATIVELY: was brook’s laugh already like that? is that why bink’s sake is his favorite song? is that why it was York’s favorite-- oh we only made it two bullet points before i made myself sad

- relatedly i cannot make fun of anything Brook did in his backstory it will make me too sad. hes spared for now

- i DO want to say from a writing standpoint its so fucking ridiculous to me that he mentions twice being a convoy captain in the past and it never comes up again. oda?? why even bother to include something that cool if you weren't even going to do anything with it?? you could have said hes just always been a pirate but no. oda?? oda

- there was that bit where a bunch of people thought Brook was satan and addressed him as such (i think Satan-sama in the original, and the translation i read was like... Lord Satan or Lord Demon or something). not only did Brook never correct them, but he also ran with it and later used this case of mistaken identity as a reason to threaten to eat a man’s heart 

- also both men and women were showing him their underwear in that bit. bi rights

- those satanists let Brook get kidnapped while saying they would try to summon him back. do you think they're still at it

- Brook is older than... basically every old man in the series. Garp, Whitebeard, Rayleigh... all of them. something about that is so weird to me and i cannot place why

- Brook has seen and can prove the existence of an afterlife in One Piece canon and its then never addressed again

- Brook missed so many huge events while being dead. im looking at a timeline rn and these include the obvious, like, roger’s execution and subsequent effect on in-world culture and society and whatever. but also things like the destruction of ohara (which was in his home sea), the founding of the world power known as the revolutionary army (which was about 20yrs ago), and the births of every other member of his crew. wack

- he seems to know about stuff related to the pirate king post time skip, and i wonder if thats because someone told him or he’s just playing along now. maybe he just thinks Luffy made up the term pirate king cuz it sounds cool and he wants to support his captain’s interests

- if he DID ask though, like, who did he ask? his managers? did he pull aside some fan asking for an autograph at a concert like “hey, you look like a knowledgable young lad, mind helping me out?”

- i would love to be there when someone takes the time to explain roger, the pirate king, raffle, the One Piece.... and Brook asks them “what is the One Piece?”.... and someone has to look him in the eye (...or not) and tell him “i don't know” 

- Brook has technically died of fright (his soul left his body), like... at least once? it was luffy’s fault

- Brook was an urban legend on the florian triangle and i doubt he even knows that about himself

- when they're heading to fishmen island Brook gets all scared when they encounter a possible ghost ship and Usopp slaps him

- when captured by big mom he sleeps so godamn soundly and securely that he is harder to wake up than she is and this fact nearly gets a bunch of his crew killed

- Brook is the only character i can think of who has ever broken the fourth wall. he only did it once. maybe seeing the afterlife means he now knows hes in a manga. or maybe being isolated for 50 years just made his head be not screwed on right

- speaking of, there’s a bit in WCI at the wedding where Brook is decapitated. i don't know how it goes in the anime, but in the manga like... no one is shown to have decapitated him. his head just pops off. maybe he was just having fun

- also the bit where he rips the fake face off in wci. when someone calls him gross he cries

- there’s a bit in fishmen island where Brook is trying to ask Nami if he can see her panties (disgusting bastard) and he inadvertently protects her from being dehydrated by some guy they were fighting. except the panel setup reminds me a lot of / mimics ace protecting Luffy from Akainu, and it haunts me

- speaking of bits from fishmen island that haunt me, there's a page where it’s strongly implied Brook fucked a mermaid (maybe two). i will of course include the page here

- yeah. sorry. 

- when Brook first meets the strawhats he invites himself inside because “it’s cold out!” but he later admits in punk hazard that he cant feel cold. he was just lying

- no one introduces himself to Brook except Luffy for the entirety of thriller bark

- half related, Franky cradles Brook in his arms / carries Brook around for like a full scene in thriller bark 

- there's a link two second bit in film gold where the crew is just relaxing while they're planning for how they're going to get Zoro back and they're all shown eating burgers from pirate mcdonalds or whatever. and Brook is eating a burger and hes so messy that hes got burger on his forehead, and Franky is next to him just looking at him

- Brook also wears fake skin in that movie

- Brook has a running gag where he gets upset when things refuse to eat him and i was going to make a joke about it but im wondering if maybe hes just afraid of being left behind........ made myself sad again

- he cries when a dragon won't eat him tho

- Brook admits to reading monster hentai when talking to Sanji and Kin’emon and if i have to be burdened with knowing that so do you

- when hes trying to figure out the weakness of the zombies on thriller bark he overhears one ate a salted fish and lost its shadow and immediately assumes “oh, must have been the fish!” idiot man

- where does his sword cane go when hes not using it. it just appears. where does he store it

- there's a bit where the strawhats all use a combo attack at thriller bark and the first step is firing an electrically charged Brook in a slingshot through oars/oz. he ends up in a wall and no one ever pulls him out. i don't even think the manga shows how he got down

- enemies post time skip regularly assume Brook is dead when they manage to knock the crew out and it makes me wonder how popular of a rock star Brook actually was

- Brook goes on a mini rant to no one while they're descending to fisherman island where he wonders aloud how he sees without eyes and it makes me lose it

- this isn't Brook technically but Nekomamushi is based on a song Brook’s voice actor wrote about his cat.

- Brook literally doesn't have a brain. like i know we all know that but its so fucking funny. we make jokes about other strawhats only having one braincell or whatever but Brook straight up 100% just has a seashell where his brain is supposed to be 

-  why does he have rubber glove looking hands when hes haunting the castle at wano i fucking hate them

- relatedly, there’s a bit where Brook mentions he’s been, at kinemon’s interaction, sitting in a well for like... possibly days? is he okay

- honestly i love everything about Brook’s actions as a ghost in wano bc its so fucking funny but my FAVORITE fact is that Brook is in the wikipedia article about starving skeletons

im leaving you with that. appreciate ur local skeleton today

[cherryblossom-chopper]

Straw Hat Parent Headcannons

So while I was writing Sanji’s headcannons I was thinking about how much I love parent child relationships and now I can’t stop thinking about the Straw Hats as parents.

Luffy

The fun dad

He’d probably have oopsie babies

I’d be really poetic if Luffy had three sons, that’d make my little heart explode

He’d love playing with his kids but his poor S/O would probably have to make sure he wasn’t being too rough with them

Luffy would cry the first time he got to hold his child

I think he’d be really proud of all their milestones and brag on them

He’d teach his kid to steal food from Sanji for him

I can imagine him carrying his baby around in one of those chest pouches (??) 

As his kid got older Luffy would probably let them do more dangerous activities, but I think he’d know where to draw the line

Not a super responsible parent, but still a good dad

Zoro

Probably encourages his kid to be athletic

Has a strict schedule for them especially when the kid is little

Zoro puts his toddler on one of those baby leashes so his kid doesn’t wander away from him

Papa Zoro is the best to nap with

He has the best dad hugs

Zoro is overprotective and a strict dad but he tries to let his kid be independent as they get older

I think Zoro would have a hard time with the idea of his kid growing up, like that's his baby and they’re getting older and going off and having their own life. He’d never admit that though

Zoro is kinda like a sports dad so I think he’d have a hard time connecting with his child if they were a book worm or just not all that athletic

His kid would probably be tasting alcohol at a young age, they’re first real drink would be a very proud moment for Zoro

Responsible parent, but a strict bean dad

Nami

THE WINE AUNT

Her kid is probably an accident, or adopted due to bad circumstances

I think due to her past Nami would be more likely to adopt a younger kid

I’m not sure Nami 100% would want a baby or a toddler, but a six year old would be better for her

I could imagine Nami being like Whitebeard where she just adopts an army of children and she’s just their mom

Any child of Nami’s would learn how to at least pickpocket people

She’d never let them get to far into harms way though

Nami’s babies would be frugal as all get out and be finance experts by the time their ten years old, I swear

As her kids got older I think Nami would be less patient with them and start getting real sassy with them about their life choices

Sanji

The most responsible dad out on the sea

Would not raise his kids the way he was raised, especially if their his daughters

His daughters are going to be precious princesses that much be protected at all times

He would of course love his kids no matter the gender (or lack of) they associated with

His kids would be taught to be well mannered at all times, manners are key to being successful

No toddlers in the kitchen it too dangerous

Carries his newborn child around in a baby sling?

Co sleeping at least for a few months

Every milestone is going to celebrated with cake and cookies and whatever else his baby wants

There will be tears

Usopp

He’s going to be a nervous wreck, oh my lord

“The baby won’t eat! What if they die!?”

“I’ve lost my child”

I cannot express how freaking stressed his going to be this poor boy

Usopp won’t have a leash or anything but he’s probably thought about

“I’m the Great Dad Usopp!”

Getting his kids to fall asleep is hard because he gets too excited with his stories, but he can always entertain them

Usopp would be stressed when his kid was a newborn, but when his kid starts walking that’d be a while new level of actual stress

He’d follow his toddler around the ship making sure they didn’t fall over board

Helicoper parent to the max

Probably a lot more chill when his kids get older though

Yasopp will get so many letters begging for advice

Chopper

His kid would probably a child he found that was really sick or injured that he got attached too

Chopper would be a worry wart but nowhere near as stressed as Usopp

At least every six months his kid would get a full body check up, just to be safe

He’d be sure his kid knows basic first aid and CPR

OHMY Matching hats; Chopper would totally try and let them have matching hats. Oh thats so cute

Chopper would 100% send a letter to Dr. Kureha that she’s a grandmother, this lady would totally cry

Chopper would try to dress his toddler up in little matching onsies a lot 

I think he’d cry when his kid got taller than him, which wouldn’t take long but still

Robin

Please allow me to introduce the best parent of the entire crew

she’s already the mom friend so like it’s time for a baby

I’d adore a Frobin baby but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen

Robin would read her child to sleep every night even if she just read them a history text book

Her kid would be able to read poneglys and when the got older Robin would recruit them to help her learn more about the ancient writing

I think Robin would be absolute elated to have a baby, but I think she could experience a bit of post partum depression

I think she’d be extra careful when her kid is young. Robin deeply fears losing her baby or passing away and her child has to live on without her

She doesn’t want the past to repeat itself and she’ll do everything in her power to protect her child

Her devil fruit lets Robin be the absolute master at tickle fights

Other than Sanji’s kid her child would be the most well behaved

Best parent on the crew hands down

Franky

Dad jokes thx

Franky would be all over his kids.

Everything his kids did would be worth celebrating. Each milestone woud be absolutely super

I can only imagine how much he’d purposefully embarrass his kids when they’re teenagers

Franky is crying all the time. His kid is born; crying. His kid starts walking; crying. His kids first word; crying. You get the picture

Franky would film his kid in shitty home videos all the time. ALL THE TIME.

He made a specialized baby pouch on his body so he could carry his child around

This kid will not have pants on. A pantless child will be running around the Sunny

Dad Franky is going to be giving his kids fun hairstyles on the daily

Probably the most involved Dad other than Usopp maybe

He’d be the type of parent to fight PTA Moms and stuff but also bring cookies to the little league games

Brook

I’m sorry but I cannot imagine this man with a baby. Like... I dunno if it’s because he’s a skeleton but I can only imagine him with a bunch of cats. I think Brook would take in a child if need be but I just don’t think he’d want one of his own. I honestly just can’t really imagine it. I think he’d be a decent baby sitter and the fun weird uncle that everyone has tho

IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT BROOK

Alright so user, Sanny-chan5 mentioned that Brook is like a grandpa and omfg yes. I didn’t think of that so now I have Gramps Brook Headcannons for ya’ll

Weird pocket candy

Tells the same like six stories over and over again to his grandkids

Special grandpa-grandbaby music lessons

“You wanna comb my Afro?”

Grandpa Brook just 100% for carrying his grand baby on his shoulders

They could wear his hat and he’d cry

Brook likes to make his soul exit his body to scare them but he’d feel bad if they got real upset

Lullabies

Is the crews official grandpa

[sanjisock]

against all odds

Three: the first time soulmates meet, they exchange eye color with one another. ao3

Zoro knows nothing about soulmates and divine interventions. It doesn’t matter, anyway — all he cares about is the way the stranger’s hand is placed all too casually on Sanji’s shoulder, and Zoro suddenly feels the irrepressible urge to cut something.

Nami narrows her eyes at a couple of figures in a distance. “Is that Sanji-kun?”

Zoro huffs and shrugs, as if he couldn’t recognize Sanji’s figure from a mile away with his eyes closed, but Nami taps his shoulder insistently as she goes on, “it’s really him, Zoro, look at him!”

Zoro glowers at her, but his, what the hell , witch , dies in his lips as he has a good look on Sanji. Sanji and some other people, actually — a good number of them, a total of six men to be precise, standing way too near around the cook. Zoro can see the discomfort visible in Sanji’s expression, and the only reason Sanji hasn’t kicked them all away is probably the rows of marine ships docked at the island’s harbor and Nami’s stern warning of, do not attract any attention before they got off the ship .

It’s totally okay, though. Sanji is as good with words as he is with his legs, and he could talk his way out of anything. It’s fine.

Except when it’s not, and Zoro can’t stop himself from approaching the Cook. He thinks he can hear Nami calling out for him, but there’s blood roaring in his ears and a hot surge of anger he can’t exactly explain, and before he knows it he’s putting a possessive hand on Sanji’s shoulder from behind.

Sanji turns, eyes blinking wide in surprise. “Marimo?”

Zoro presses slightly, hard enough that Sanji instinctively leans towards him. The movement doesn’t get unnoticed by the men, and one of them raises a nasty eyebrow at him. “You got problem with us?”

Zoro clenches his teeth, resisting the urge to take out his swords. “Depends,” he growls, taking a firm step that puts himself between Sanji and the men. “Whether any of you are planning to do something stupid.”

The tallest one, who seems to be the leader of the pack, steps in front. He seems scared — all of them clearly are, having to face a man with one eye and three swords — but still stares Zoro down, probably out of ego. “What, it’s a crime to talk to people now?”

“Zoro,” Sanji says, probably trying to defuse the tension, but the leader interrupts with a, “You two together?”

They’re not, Zoro knows. They have fooled around for the past two years, but at the end of the day they sleep in their own hammock and Sanji still flirts with the girls. Sanji is most definitely the type who’s just looking for something casual, and it’s not like Zoro ever asked for something more. He doesn’t care, and they’re not together —

“Yeah, we are,” Zoro blurts, free hand moving towards his swords. “So if you’re smart, you’re going to back off.” He pushes Shushui out of its hilt, and the blade glints under the sunlight. “ Now .”

The men visibly gulp at the sight before scrambling away from them. Zoro watches them trip over nothing in fear before disappearing into a corner, hopefully never to be seen again.

Zoro feels a flare of satisfaction, but it was short-lived, soon replaced by the rush of shame, settling uncomfortably at his gut. He doesn’t know what came onto him; he rarely lost control to his own emotions like that, but Sanji has always been the exception, and he’s struggling to understand what that means .

One thing is clear, though. He turns towards Sanji. “I’m sorry.”

Sanji frowns, confused. “For what?”

“You know,” Zoro makes a vague gesture at his surrounding. “Just now. You can fight your own battles, and I shouldn’t have interfered, and even…” he trails off. Pretended to be your lover , he can’t bring himself to say.

He braces himself for the kick to the gut that he knows he deserves, but it never comes. Zoro is surprised to find Sanji scratching the bridge of his nose instead, a blush creeping up his face.

“It’s okay, it’s fine,” he says, gesturing Zoro to walk with him, partly — Zoro suspects — to hide the reddening flush on his face. He clears his throat awkwardly, before admitting in a low voice, “I… like it. I mean, I don’t mind if you’re being a little possessive, once in a while.”

Sanji’s stride is fast, as if he’s trying to run away from Zoro in the middle of the conversation, and Zoro is barely able to keep in pace as he’s assaulted by so many different questions. “But,” he says, and pauses; unsure what to say. “It was a lie. We’re not even together.”

Sanji suddenly stops walking, and Zoro almost runs into him.

“What the hell, Cook?”

“What did you say?” Sanji asks, ignoring Zoro’s exclamation.

Zoro gulps. Well, here comes the kick. Late, but inevitable. “When I told them we were together,” he explains, “that was out of the line for me. We’re not together.”

But instead of lifting his leg, Sanji looks at him like Zoro just swallowed all three of his swords in front of him. “Yes, Zoro,” Sanji says, slowly, like talking to a kid. “We are.”

And now it’s Zoro ’s turn to get baffled. “What?”

Sanji’s face actually twists, like he’s being hurt. “Do you not want us to be?”

“Of course I do!” Zoro blurts out before he even realizes what he’s saying; he just doesn’t like that look on Sanji’s face, like this sad, lonely cat at the side of the road, and Zoro wants that look gone, sue him. He coughs. “But that’s not the point! We don’t even sleep in the same bed at night!”

“What are you even on about, we don’t have beds, we have hammocks and they can’t fit more than one person —” Sanji stops short. “You want us to sleep together every night?”

“Yes! No — I mean, yes, but,” Zoro stumbles, and this is all so confusing to him, damn it. It feels like someone has dumped a bucket of cold water over his head in the middle of a summer’s day. He gestures helplessly at the two of them. “How was I supposed to know that you wanted this beyond a casual thing?”

Sanji looks at Zoro like he’s stupid half the time, but his current expression takes the cake. “Well, for a start,” Sanji says, “we’re soulmates.”

Zoro blinks. He waits for the words to sink in and make sense, but it never does. “...what’s a soulmate?”

Sanji drops the bag of groceries he’s been carrying.

Some of the contents spill out of the bag as it hits the ground, and Zoro absentmindedly watches an apple roll off the ground from the corner of his eye. Sanji, for once, ignores it, in favor of blurting a questioning, “how could you not know what a soulmate is?”

“Nobody ever told me?” Zoro tries, utterly befuddled now. “I grew up in a dojo, we just… trained a lot, and — what does that even have to do with us?”

Sanji balks at that. “If you didn’t know that we were soulmates and you didn’t think we were together, why did you…?”

Zoro feels like throwing his hands up in frustration. “Becasuse I — damn it , Shit Cook —” Zoro’s always been terrible with words anyway, so he shuts up, pulls Sanji by the wrist and presses a kiss to the Cook’s lips. “I love you, dumbass. I thought I could keep it all to myself, but when I saw those guys coming on to you, I couldn’t — I didn’t like it.”

He pauses to take in breath when he catches Sanji’s shoulders shaking. Anger , Zoro guesses, and wrongly, because Sanji then throws his head back and laughs.

“You’re telling me you never realized? How the others kept giving us space?” He wipes tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes which is, frankly, kind of insulting. “Brook always plays someshitty love songs whenever we hang out. Nami sent us on dates .”

“She calls them shopping trips!”

“Franky built a makeshift bed in the crow’s nest for us to fuck.”

“I always thought that was kind of weird, shut up —” The hand on Sanji’s wrist slides down to fall into Sanji’s grasp, and Sanji does shut up as he flushes and stares at their joined hands.

How has Zoro never realized? Sanji wants this relationship as much as he does. Has been treating it as one, in fact.

“So,” he clears his throat. Rubs his shoulder. “Together, huh.”

“ Soulmates ,” Sanji corrects, and his face flushes a shade darker. “You’re okay with that?”

“You’re gonna need to explain to me about this whole soulmate thing, but I’m pretty sure i’m ready for whatever it is” he says, and squeezes Sanji’s hand. “It’s with you, after all.”

"Dumbass," Sanji says, but laughs, and Zoro’s heart does a flip. They walk hand in hand then; Sanji’s hand is warm, slotting perfectly between Zoro’s fingers, and Zoro thinks he’ll never let go.

[sanjitea]

to unite;

[ao3]

three times they slipped out of each other, one where they finally twined, another where they are separated again, and the moment they finally unite.

They were always so contrast with each other. Similar to cat and dog, or the day and night. Yet, everyone knew- especially themselves, that they can’t live without each other; that they complete each other.

All in the same time, they’re corresponding to each other.

The idea to live without Zoro perplexed Sanji. The green-haired idiot almost killed himself during their last encounter with a Shichibunkai. Everyone was pretty much knocked out during the situation, and the bastard had the nerve to knock Sanji out during such crucial moment.

Sanji understood why Zoro chose to do what he did. To hear from others of what they witnessed, he understood completely. It’s a feeling, and not something that can be expressed in words. They were never here to play pirates; they were here to be pirates. Life, death, and sacrifices are common occurrence. Sanji understood Zoro so much that it hurts.

There’s this pang of pain in his chest that don’t cease to go away, and it hurts. They had partied all night for their victory and new companion, and he was more than aware to never to mention the incident to anyone else in the group. But, Zoro… Zoro… he needs to talk with him.

As he stepped into the infirmary, Sanji’s eyes naturally scanned at Zoro’s still body to find him deep in his sleep as ever. He sat down next to the bedside. The room was still and silent. An unlit cigarette was dangling still in between of Sanji’s lips as he waited, until the sleeping figure has finally stirred with a groan.

“Hey,” he called, once Zoro has sat up on his bed and holding his head. Almost naturally, he turned his gaze towards Sanji.

“What are you doing here?” It was a useless question; he already knew the answer to that.

“Just making sure you’re not dead.”

The blond handed him a glass of water, and the two returned into silence. There were these unspoken lines in their throats regarding the last events- none of them came out.

“Aargh,” Sanji ruffled his hairs, looking down to avoid Zoro’s gaze as he curled into himself. “Why is this so hard?” He said out loud, more to himself. Zoro didn’t answer, his gaze was still and silent.

“You,” Sanji began. “You- why did-” no, he didn’t mean to ask that- he knew. “…You knocked me out.” He rephrased that.

The other man took a sip from his drink before responding, “…You would do something stupid if I didn’t,”

“Yeah, I know. You didn’t have to do that,” Sanji replied, “…for me.”

Zoro didn’t reply.

“You could always have me fighting him- or with you, or… whatever-” Sanji uttered. “You didn’t have to knock me out to miss out the whole thing. You made it looked like you really cared.” He cared, he always does.

“Cook,” Zoro wanted to say, but Sanji continued.

“You never showed you care before,” And I never showed you this side before, either. “You were always so subtle, so silent, so quiet… And you are always been there. You always looked out for everyone, for me. You always spat things at me, fight me. We are drawn together but we never get along. You became a part of my life, I kept thinking about you. And after the whole fiasco, I can’t ever stop thinking about you,”

Sanji buried his face further to hid, “…It’s almost like I fell in love with you or something.”

Sanji’s face was certainly red, even if he didn’t show it. Zoro was struck by those statements. He had expected Sanji to come and talk with him, but never to expect any sort of love confession with it. Silences befall between the two once again.

Awaiting for Zoro’s reply seemed like forever, and Sanji believed he could’ve burst out of the embarrassment he spent while saying all of those.

“I’m sorry,” Zoro replied, without ever once looked at Sanji’s direction. “I needed some space,”

“I’m sorry for the interruptions,” Sanji stood up upon hearing Zoro’s response, promptly leaving the room.

But, what is this pain that won’t go away in his chest?

“Shit.”

Separation took place before any of them could do a thing to it. They were busy fighting for their lives.

2 years was a long wait, nonetheless. All of them tried to enhance in their skills, preparing for the bigger war.

Sanji tried to bury down all of those emotions in all those 2 years. There was no way for them to ever become a thing, he told himself. But why, out of all of those shitheads, fate had to be so cruel to make him the first person he encountered in this soapy reunion island?

Try to act as usual. “You’ll cause more trouble if you wander off! Stay still, damned Marimo!”

“Why should Number 7 order around Number 1, anyway?”

“Why are you ranking us in the order of our arrival? You just happen to be first by chance! Don’t get carried away!”

Maybe he forgot all about that, Sanji thought to himself.

“Sorry, Number 7.”

“I’ll fight you!”

And just like that, the bickering started again. Clashing between swords and the end of shoes sparked again after those long 2 years, it felt so natural. They were back again, they were bickering again. It almost felt like nothing had ever happened- as if they were never been separated in first place. Bodies moving and clashing, almost like belonged to be with each other.

They could care less about the world around them- making the world theirs. They continued clashing and fighting, forgetting everything- until their body signalled it was time for them to catch some breath and rest.

Zoro and Sanji stopped their sparring for a moment, catching breathes. Through their visible eyes, they looked at each other. The look of annoyance still visible in both of their faces.

“You have improved a bit, you third-class swordsman.”

“You have learned some idiotic kicking skills, yourself.”

“What did you say?”

They continued.

It took a while for Zoro and Sanji to fulfill their need to blow some stream- how they really missed this.

Just on cue, a ring from Den Den Mushi put a hold into their sparring. It was Franky, informing that there were marines on their way. The next thing Zoro and Sanji knew, they were already returned into sitting and chilling with each other. Their reunion fight was long forgotten.

If there were anyone who could turn from best friends into rivals and then back into best friends, Zoro and Sanji were one of those kinds.

It’s crazy how everything was back just like the old days in mere seconds.

“Hey, Cook.”

“Hm?” Sanji turned his attention to Zoro, now that the Den Den Mushi call was off.

Zoro’s face was straight and calm, “It’s been two years.”

“Yeah, it is.” Sanji replied shortly. It’s been quite a while; for them to meet again, for them to be at peace again. Sanji turned his gaze away from Zoro, taking a look at the place they were currently in: Sabaody Archipelago- it doesn’t look much different since the last time they were there.

Grooves and bubbles with a lot of people. Everything brought back the memories. It was quite a sight to be looked at.

“It’s been two years,” Zoro stated again.

“You don’t have to repeat that,” Sanji said, this time turning to look at Zoro’s face. He noticed Zoro’s face was unchanged from how it was. However, he began to sense the air and tense it was giving.

“Two years,” Once he was sure he got Sanji’s attention, Zoro spoke out. “About that-”

Before he could continue further, a huge explosion could be heard from the other side of the island. People were staring agape in surprise. Some of the marines began running to collect at the spot. Both Zoro and Sanji gritted their teeth, began to have guesses on what was happening.

“It’s Strawhat! Strawhat’s here! Collect immediately!”

“…Shit,” Bingo. “Luffy always have to create some big mess, doesn’t he?”

The two immediately run to the source of explosion, thus dropping their conversation off.

Zoro was bewildered.

The Cook was… not himself.

No, of course he always is- but not in that matter.

The Cook was… Nami. And Nami was Franky. Franky was Chopper, and Chopper was Sanji- not that Zoro is going to admit that he looked ridiculously cute when Chopper inhabited his body. How did it was happening again? Torao, that guy with his weird Devil Fruit power caused this. Also, who was this guy whose head was chopped off of his body, and apparently is the owner of this lower body they found?

Scratch that. All of those other details are unimportant- how long will the Cook stay in that body?

Zoro had wanted to go out to the island, but he was originally planning to talk with the Cook in the private to talk about some unfinished business. That, is something he couldn’t do when the Cook is awkwardly focusing on Nami’s body- or having a guest and a (possible) fight to face off soon. Knowing Luffy, the latter would come true whether he liked it or not. Not that Zoro was one to back off from any challenges.

Perhaps, he shouldn’t think about it for the time being and just let the Cook be. He could always approach him later, when the situation was better for both of them. Zoro decided to mind his own business.

“By the way, can I see your panties?”

“Of course! Let’s get a camera!”

“Wait!” Nami(in Franky) yelled at Sanji and Brook, who began to leave the group in search for Kinemon’s body part. She turned to Zoro with a glare, “Zoro! You’re going with them!”

“Huh?”

Being next to Sanji(while in Nami’s body) was the last thing Zoro wished for at that moment. The Perverted Eyebrows won’t ever leave his Love-Cook state at this point, much to Zoro’s dislike. Perhaps he could go and get it over with. After all, Nami’s wrath(and debt interest) was much scarier. Maybe he could wish for some peaceful time- without interruption in the next island.

Whenever Zoro ran off, Sanji was always there to make sure he comes back in one piece. This time was no different, the swordsman was chasing after his missing sword- and Sanji, ran after him to make sure he didn’t stray off as much.

Dressrosa was a big place. By running around, Zoro and Sanji easily got separated from Luffy and the others. Many people have heard that Dressrosa is a country of love, passion, and toys. The country does have that ambiance running through it. Chasing a fairy was not that easy, and the two men took a quick break to catch their breath.

“Marimo, wait up!”

Zoro has stopped running, but he was still looking around. “Don’t tell me what to do, Love Cook.” Catching some more breathes. “I’m not going to waste time here.”

“You could use a little patience, moron.” Sanji snapped. “You are never one to wait for anything you wanted.”

Waiting? Zoro was tired of waiting. How long had it been since he has been itching to talk with Sanji, to give him the answer he deserved. It felt like forever. How much he had been longing to tell him, to meet him, to see him again.

Two years. Two years and a little bit. He had been waiting. Waiting to see Sanji, to be with him again.

“You are not the one to talk about patience here.” Zoro snapped back. “I’ve been waiting enough, Cook.”

“Waiting for what?”

Zoro was tempted to answer the question. It could be the worst kind of timing ever existed to say all of these, but he didn’t care. Zoro didn’t care anymore. There was nothing romantic or special, and the Cook could complain all he wanted- but he was Roronoa Zoro; and it was between Zoro and Sanji. And maybe, they never needed any of those to begin with.

So, Zoro decided to give in into that feel- the temptation to tell the Cook how he truly felt.

“I also liked you.”

Just like how he fell into this feeling called ‘Love’.

Silence.

“…What?” Sanji blinked, confusion was written all over his face.

“Two years ago,” Zoro told him. “You confessed to me two years ago, and I told you I needed to think.”

Memories flashed before Sanji. He did confess to Zoro on that day, right before they leave Thriller Bark. He had buried those memories a long time ago, thinking Zoro didn’t want him the same way he wanted to be with him. He always had assumed Zoro has forgotten about the incident, and the confession. Sanji was convinced that he didn’t want anything to do with him.

Upon remembering all of those, and realizing Zoro’s answer, Sanji’s face reddened. He didn’t say anything, nor could he bring himself to utter a word or two. He didn’t expect any answer from Zoro- moreover, at such a moment.

Noticing Sanji’s response to his long-awaited answer, Zoro couldn’t help but to grow a little red. It was starting to get awkward. “…Did you change your mind in those two years?”

“…N-N-….No.” Sanji finally managed to say, “My feelings for you are still the same,… It’s just-” He blushed even deeper. “I didn’t… expect you to answer-”

Zoro wondered how red would he be in bed.

A kiss after 2 years.

To embrace the other felt like nothing they imagined.

It was weird to be with a man, especially in this twisted toys country. But neither of them cared. After two long years, those long-awaited feeling was finally returned. After those two long years, they could finally be together again, see each other again, spar with each other, to finally able to love and returned, hug, and be whole.

They were finally a thing. It was awkward and rushed. Their first kiss was rough, yet soft. Their embrace was strong and comforting. There was nothing sweet or special, but they never cared, because they finally were together, to tie their tie.

Their moment together was cut short when a glimpse of sword sighted in the corner of the roads, and then they were back on the run.

And it was not romantic at all.

But no one cared, because it was just how they are. And there was nobody else in the world who could ever be like them.

Just when they were finally together, they had to separate yet again. Zoro was more than excited to see the Cook again. The idiot had to go off for his own business with the others while himself and the rest were busy with Doflamingo.

He wanted to meet him again, embrace him. They never had a proper chance to go out as a couple ever since they got together.

“Any sign of Eyebrows?” Zoro asked.

“No, not from here at least.” Usopp replied from the top.

Zoro grumbled, hoping the situation is not as bad as he thought.

Sanji was distressed. The Vinsmokes taking him was the last thing he ever wanted from the whole universe. On top of that, a marriage. Shit. Everything was so ruined. He just finally got together with Zoro and suddenly he had to deal with the whole “family” situation. He was sure claimed himself as a Ladiesman, but he was not one to marry a girl she never knew beforehand. Moreover, Sanji is a loyal man.

He could breathe out a little sigh of relief that his so-called “family” never find out his relationship with Zoro. Considering it was recent, after all. However, he was still not pleased with the fact that they were holding Red Leg Zeff as a hostage.

Sanji was tired, Sanji was sick. He wanted nothing more but to return home and continue on his journey. The thought to succumb into his death had crossed his mind a few times, but he was never been the one to give up. Yet, he didn’t know- he didn’t know what to do anymore.

Sanji thought that;

By giving in into the marriage he could save everyone. Even if that meant he had to give up on his dreams.

Even if that meant he had to give up on himself.

Even if that meant he had to give up Zoro.

Shit.

He had been violating so many rules he put into himself. He insulted and beaten Luffy, he ignored Nami to receive her anger and sadness; he had dragged so many people down with him. Sanji thought he could never forgive himself, and he wanted to give up.

Why did he find himself out in the rain, carrying a basket for Luffy?

Maybe he hasn’t gave up hope after all.

“Tell me how you really feel!”

A smack from Luffy was all he needed- to remind him that he was worth; to remind him that he could make it; to remind him he was not alone.

“I want to go home to Sunny!”

As ever, Luffy’s so-optimistic smile was coming out. It began to calm down the storm inside him.

And suddenly he believed that maybe, he could go home again.

That he can go chase after his dreams again.

That he could see Zoro again.

It took two years, and a few months.

To see each other like chasing a far-off dream.

They finally could see each other again. To bicker, to touch, to embrace.

It was two years and a few months, but they finally could be together again; to be whole again. They were each other’s dream.

Three times they slipped out of each other, one where they finally twined, and another where they were separated again.

And then, the moment they finally unite.

Future Pirate King’s ship was sailing over the seas of New World. Raftel was their final destination.

Aboard the ship, Straw Hat Pirates were home, sailing to chase their dreams without a care.

On aboard, a green-haired swordsman and a blond cook were staring out to the sea. Their hands intertwined, living their dream without a care.

Usopp approached and decided to ask the couple, “You two… When did you get so close?”

Upon hearing the question, other pairs of eyes and ears busy themselves join the conversation.

Under any normal case, any of them would’ve shrugged off the question.

“We’re dating. It’s normal.”

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH??????!!!!”

Surprise echoed from the entire ship.

“It’s been a while, to be honest.”

“But how? And when did you two start dating?”

“Why didn’t you ever tell us?”

“We just got together and never got the chance to.”

“Yohohoho~ If you told me sooner, I would’ve sung a love song for you.”

“That’s soooo suuuuuuper!”

“Congratulations,”

“I never would’ve guessed it! Zoro, Sanji!”

Under any normal case, either of them would’ve tried to hide the relationship.

“Shishishishi! Let’s have a party!”

But they have had enough- enough of waiting and longing. And they were happy.

Because after the long wait, they were finally united.

[kittypatra-zosan]

If you like our work, please consider supporting @cyriusli on ko-fi and myself, @mossybrows-draws on patreon!

Character: Sora Vinsmoke (Sola Vinsmoke) Role: Bastet!Sora / Sekhmet!Sola Pet-Name: Sanji-Mama

Mossy: I was the one who wanted Sola in the fic, honestly. If we were going to have Sanji be the son of Bastet, it had to be Sora/Sola. Even if Cyriusli had said no, I would’ve insisted, I swear I wanted it to be Sola so badly. She seriously doesn’t get enough screen or panel-time. Most of our concept development happened because of the problem we encountered with Bastet/Sekhmet cat-god Sora. I like to headcanon that Sanji takes after his mama, so I used that idea in creating a little more of Sora’s design.

Cyriusli: I admit, I was a little skeptical at first, but she grew on me and I was able to find a way to incorporate her into the plot of the story. Both parent gods make appearances, but this is more about Sanji and Zoro so their roles are minor in the main story.

Mossy: Same reason I don’t really have a lot of development sketches for her. I got distracted and drew in a little baby Sanji just for interaction concept reasons...and then ended up making Zoro and Sanji baby chibis. But more on that later. XD

Cyriusli: The chibis are freaking adorable. You keep getting sidetracked and making new things and I am just sitting here like… you have 5 other things to finish first! What are you doing?!

Mossy: I’m sorry! But his wittle buttt butt wa so nyaa nyaa and I just HAD to! Besides, I’d already drawn the child!versions of them both anyway! So I was like ‘why not baby versions’!?? Ayway. I did have a little more trouble with Sola/Sora. I was like Bastet? Sekhmet? Bastet? Sekhmet? Like we mentioned before, we decided to make 2 different versions of Sola/Sora because of the differences between Egyptian North and South Kingdom cultures.

Cyriusli: Incorporating all the different points in the Egyptian lore is a little hard to juggle, but I think we are handling it fairly well at this point. And besides, we are completely inserting two beings that never even existed, combining Bastet and Sekhmet into one momma god probably isn’t the worst thing we could be doing.

Mossy: True, but I am having a little more trouble with her armor than I expected. Have one design up now ( could be another design up by the time I post this text on my character sheet for her.)

Cyriusli: Yeah and then I get to write her when we pretty much know nothing about how her character operated. I think our little twist of her “ignoring” Sanji a good portion of the time is good though because that plays into the part of Sanji missing her so much.

Mossy: I was thinking about the story Oda had about the Germa 66, where the hero, Sora, who has a telltale similar name to Sora/Sola, Sanji’s mom and how this hero defied the Germa 66 and saved North Blue. With Sekhmet being the goddess of war, I thought it was fitting she was Sanji’s mom. She could be waging war to fight for her babies back from Jaji of another culture or something, being an Egyptian god, maybe fight with the Roman or Greek god she had an affair with? LOL. Not that I’m being serious.

Cyriusli: Yeah, I don’t think that would really work and it would get too complicated. I do however see Sola fighting a lot of wars. Like maybe this is a time where Old Kingdom is crumbling and Unification is on the horizon. Sanji is located in the deep southern part of the Nile but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of fighting. There has to be… Zoro’s place at the scales tells us there is.

Mossy: Ahh, I love having Sola/Sora get to be here and be an active character! The possibilities are endless! I do love the lion look she ended up with being a fire-illusion instead of an actual lion face.

Cyriusli: Yeah! That’s pretty cool!

Mossy: It also helped with Nebit’s design, because...I mean, I’m not against anyone who’s into it, but I can’t exactly fall for anyone who has a lion for a face and a human body. Not into that. So I thought if Nebit was going to ‘take after Sola’ because of Sanji, then having her be a nekomimi would be ideal.

Cyriusli: I know that was my plan for Nebit all along. We cover her background a bit more in her sketch, but my plan for her was to look like Sanji and his mama, different than the rest of the attendants and guards that live in the palace and temple.

Mossy: As for Mama Sola/Sora (I still dunno which one to call her), I finally got my act together after moving houses and countries again and finished her design up. Though I did have a bit of trouble with the colors. Since Sanji’s got a lot of orange to his character (fire and all), I thought it was fitting to keep it in the golds and yellows. Though I did accidentally color part of her armor green at some point. The designs of her armor made me rethink the designs of her Bastet!form dress.

Cyriusli: I think her Bastet dress looks fine and I think her armor does as well. I really love the helm you made for her and her tail is pretty awesome as well, even if that isn’t exactly armor. I’m glad we got the color thing figured out though, you sent me those pics and my instant reaction was, gods, I know we are moss, but please not that. Slight color change made all the difference for badass warrior momma.

Mossy: Haha! I can’t wait to have her in the Chopper’s Comic Corner! I have a lot of Monster Hunter history under my belt (not that I was a good player, but I did manage to collect a lot of armor, so I did have to kill a lot of monsters). It’s mostly that stuff that helped me design her armor.

Cyriusli: This whole process is cool for me because I may think up armor, but I never get to see how it looks outside my head, so to see Mossy bring this stuff to life is just such a great thing to me. She makes it seem so simple, despite the hours we spend in skype screaming at one another over things lol

Mossy: Ahh yes, the screaming. There be plenty screaming. I was screaming about using turtle shells as armor for Sola’s/Sora’s skirt because well...shit  forgot my reasons. But yeah, I was screaming about that but then I realized Cyriusli was offline and I couldn’t call her about it and then I was sad.

Cyriusli: Oh no! I’m sorry. You didn’t tell me about that.

Mossy: LOL yeah I forgot. But I should ask now; did they have turtles in the nile? I mean...Sekhmet!Sola kinda has a turtle shell skirt.

Cyriusli: Yeah, they had turtles. The Nile used to be a huge ecosystem, not that it isn’t now, but it used to be bigger, I guess. So there were all sorts of animals that are typical of a water environment, including ibis, egret and the DEATH PELICANS.

Mossy: Oh thank god...they’re very orange though. Is that kinda weird? Ah. I’ll change it to the shell color. XDD I think this is about it for Sora/Sola-sama. Man I love her! I wish she showed up more in the manga, like many other women, we clearly don’t get enough of what kind of person she is other than the fact that she’s a good mother. 

Please look forward to her appearance in Chopper’s Comic Corner, coming soon!

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co