#The idea of Zoro being a kendo teacher and instructing small children gives me life

[theyre-in-love-your-honor]

Comfort Calls

Zoro let out a soft exhale as he eyed the clock. The break between classes was nearly over and the next group of kids would be arriving any minute with their parents in tow. He ducked into the staff room, leaving it up to the assistant teacher, Tashigi, and grabbed a water bottle as he sat at the small coffee table that was tucked in the corner.

Guilt wracked Zoro as he pulled out his phone to see three missed calls from Sanji. Zoro's break was supposed to have started fifteen minutes prior but a concerned parent wanted to discuss her son's improvement, more like lack thereof, and Zoro had been stuck reassuring her that it took some kids longer to get the basics down. By the time she'd taken her son's hand and left his break was nearly over, as it was he only had a measly 5 minutes left before kids would start filtering in.

Zoro didn't know if the fact that there were no voicemails or texts scared him more than if there would have been some; but, he knew he needed to call Sanji back. It was the one time of day they both had break at the same time and Sanji liked to spend it talking. Zoro had never been able to tell him no and he didn't want to. After dealing with kids all day, no matter how nice they could be, and their parents, hearing Sanji's voice was a godsend. It gave him the peace of mind to move on calmly throughout the rest of the day until he could get home and be with Sanji again.

The dial tone rang as he moved the phone to his ear, cushioning it there with his shoulder so he could take a sip of his water. It only rang twice before Sanji answered.

"Took you long enough, mossy."

"Got caught up with a parent, sorry."

Sanji sighed, barely audible through the phone but Zoro heard it loud and clear.

"What's bothering you, Curly? Rude customers?" Zoro asked as he eyed the clock on the wall, watching as it ticked by each second and their talk time shortened.

"A group of ten came in with no reservations!" Sanji fumed and Zoro heard the click of his lighter.

"The hostess asked them to wait and they threw a massive fit over having to wait when there were tables available. Which, by the way, they weren't! They were reserved!" Sanji groaned and Zoro chuckled, taking another sip of his water.

"I'd say you should have sabotaged their food but I know that's not your style."

Sanji grumbled through a loud exhale, "Don't even joke. You know we don't waste food."

"I know, but they'd have deserved it. Did they get seated?"

"Of course they did, after a lengthy wait which they complained about the entire time."

Zoro hummed, nodding his head despite Sanji not being able to see it. It wasn't often that the Baratie got unruly customers. Most knew that if they acted up they'd be served that first time; but, the moment the check was paid they'd be told not to come back. There were always a few unfortunate souls that didn't know about it and had the pleasure of eating amazing food with hopes of returning, only to be banned due to their behavior towards staff.

"What'd Zeff do this time?" Zoro asked and Sanji chuckled.

"He sent out Patty," Sanji's voice lifted and Zoro knew it must have been a sight to see.

"Anything else? Usually bad customers don't bother you so much?"

"They made their waitress cry. She's a new hire, barely started earlier this week. Real sweet, a total charmer; there was no reason for them to treat her the way they did."

"Did they at least tip well?"

"No." A frustrated sigh fell from Sanji.

"I need to get back to work. Thanks for calling me back, Marimo."

Zoro snorted, "Curly, you act like it's not routine to call you at this point."

Sanji laughed softly and Zoro could almost picture the soft smile he wore in that moment, content talking on the phone.

"I'll see you at home, yeah?" Zoro smiled as he said it. There was the sound of a door closing and the distant excited squeals of a child calling for him and Tashigi.

"See you at home, Marimo. Love you."

"Love you too."

The call ended and Zoro got up, ready to wrangle the next group of children into little kendo masters.

The day moved by slowly and by the time the last class ended Zoro was ready to head home and collapse into bed. He was certain some of the parents had to be giving their kids something to get them so energetic, like candy or some other sweet, just to unleash them on him when they got to kendo practice.

All throughout cleanup Zoro kept checking his phone. Sanji wouldn't be off work for another couple hours and had taken his last break about a half hour before Zoro was off the clock.

"I can get the rest," Tashigi offered as she rolled up the mats.

"It's fine, th-"

"If I have to see you check your phone one more time I'm going to lose it. Just go home, I'll see you on Monday, yeah?"

Zoro rubbed at the back of his head and gave a curt nod. He didn't like leaving things up to Tashigi, but it was hard to turn down an offer to leave right away. He could only hope she wouldn't break anything in one of her lapses of clumsiness.

"Thanks, Tashigi." He said as she waved bye to him, dropping the mats she'd just picked up in the process. Zoro pointedly ignored it as he made his exit and dug his keys out of his pocket.

The drive home was short and as he pulled into the driveway, he was surprised to see Sanji's car already there.

That usually meant one of two things, either Sanji and Zeff had butted heads enough for the older chef to send him home or Sanji and Patty butted heads, resulting in Zeff sending him home. Zoro unlocked the door, kicking his shoes off and placing them on the rack next to the entrance.

Sanji appeared in the entrance hallway, popping out from the direction of their living room. His hair was pulled back with a headband, eyes lowered and sleepy, his suit was long gone and instead he'd gotten comfortable in a pair of sweatpants and shirt that Zoro was almost certain was his and not the blonds. Zoro cracked a small smile at how soft Sanji looked and with a few long strides he had his arms wrapped around him, face buried into his shoulder.

"You're early," Sanji said, breaking off into a yawn.

"I could say the same for you. What happened?"

Sanji's arms slinked around Zoro as he sighed, resting his cheek on his husband.

"I may have snapped at Zeff," Sanji answered, voice trailing off at the end.

Zoro frowned. Zeff and Sanji often got into little tiffs with each other but it wasn't often that Sanji got sent home early for it. It couldn't have been too bad though or Zoro knew he'd have found Sanji out front on the porch swing while he chain smoked his problems away.

Zoro leaned back and Sanji looked at him, brows furrowed with a slight pout to his lips.

"I'm not going to make you tell me-" Zoro began and Sanji seemed to slump, comforted by those words.

"What I will ask though, is do you want to go lay down?"

Sanji laughed small and low, eyes downcast as he nodded.

"Yeah, I'd like that. Maybe a short nap and then you can keep me company while I make dinner?" Sanji asked as he glanced back up, trapping Zoro with his gaze.

Zoro leaned forward, the tip of his nose brushing along Sanji's as he whispered, "Yeah, we can do that." Zoro's lips ghosted over Sanji's as he watched the blond's eyes widen, cheeks tinging the softest of pinks. Then Sanji sighed against his mouth, eyes closing as he leaned in and pressed firmer.

Sanji moved, placing soft kisses across Zoro's mouth, cheeks, nose, and finally one on his forehead that he stood on his tiptoes for so he could look down at Zoro as he did it.

Zoro chuckled, pulling Sanji back to his normal height and pressed their foreheads together.

"Come on, the bed's calling our names."