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uchihashisuii · 2 years

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the trouble with flowers. - Sai/Ino

Summary: Words can be fallible and imperfect, but the language of flowers can speak volumes.

or: in which Sai confesses in an unorthodox manner.

Pairing: Sai/Yamanaka Ino

Rating: Gen

Word Count: 2865

Author’s Note: for my beloved @yamanaka-shin who I was lucky enough to write for in a discord server exchange. on all levels except physical i am wrapping you around my neck like a scarf. there's a small mention of my oc who took Sai under her wing. and also I forgot that they started dating like right after the Land of Silence shh

Ao3

-----

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and a man cannot live without love." -Max Müller

Ino keeps finding flowers around her apartment.

Not - unusual, given her predisposition towards all things blooming, with her family's florist shop and a few of her own ninjutsu utilizing poison plants and the like. Someone who doesn't know her might assume her comfortable little home would be filled to the brim with all assortments of flowers, in every conceivable shape and colour; she'd like to, maybe one day. But truth be told it isn't practical, when she's called off at all hours for missions or anything the Intelligence Division might need of her. Green thumb she might be, but even her flowers will wilt and die if they haven't been watered, if there's no one around for long enough to pull open the curtains and let sunlight in.

Unless she had the mokuton. Perhaps it could be used for regrowth, once flowers are withered and roots are broken. The Shodai was possessed of incredible instinctive regenerative healing, maybe there's a connection there; she should ask Sakura about it, she knows Tsunade better than almost anyone -

Ino shakes her head to dispel her wandering thoughts. So, she only has a few; too busy being pulled in a dozen different directions to focus on a small hobby. Some cheerful camellias growing in a little pot in the corner of her small balcony. A cactus from Suna that Temari had given her when they'd become closer friends. And - she flushes pink from her ears to her chest, reaching out to run the edge of her thumb over the impossibly soft petal of the snowstorms growing in the windowsill of her bedroom. The clustered blooms hate too much sun, content to sit in the shade and grow only the smallest bit at a time. But once they bloom, they're as lovely as the brightest rose. Snow-white petals dusted with black. Unusual, for customarily colourful things like flowers. But they remind her of Sai, and so she keeps them close.

A keen eye for detail is something that had been learned from a young age, necessary as a Yamanaka who has to pick apart the endless threads of memory to find any discrepancies or deception, a quick and clever mind the least someone needs for that particular line of work. It even helps with the shop, remembering dates and numbers and the sheer amount of different care that goes into each species of flower. Soil pH levels and moving pots around to chase sunlight, orders and organization and -

Still. It doesn't take an expert to notice that flowers keep ending up in her apartment. Elegantly drawn kinmokusei on an otherwise blank and unsigned page, slipped under her door. Some origami lotuses left on her balcony, the brightly coloured paper so impossibly thin and delicate that she'd been terrified they'd fall apart in her hands. And, most recently, a bouquet of blue hydrangeas and morning glory, tied with a ribbon and sitting beside her forgotten cup of coffee from the night before on the coffee table.

A bit weird. Slightly terrifying, even. But she knows they're from Sai, knows that he's a bit different. Doesn't understand boundaries, not quiet yet; or maybe he does, and thinks it better to leave her small tokens without saying a word in order to keep her comfortable. Regardless he's ... uniquely him. And she loves it, loves all of it; thinks it sweet, endearing, almost admirable. He doesn't lie, heart an open book; wants to learn all he can about everything around him, after so long kept locked in the dark. Not many would make that choice.

Although breaking into her apartment to leave her floral tokens might not be the best way of going about trying to talk to her.

Anyone could take one look at Ino's life and know she loves flowers. Takes pride in her family's bush clover symbol -a symbol of love, most commonly unrequited; she wonders if her father's last words of comparing her to the delicate purple blooms might be a bit more on the nose than even he realized- and finds respite in running Yamanaka Flowers. Ino may be working to rise through the ranks of the Intelligence Division, with the rest of her time outside her squad and friends spent in the little flower shop. She finds a certain level of comfort and familiarity, breathes deep in the greenhouse at the rear of the building and hears her father's laughter. She's been surrounded on all sides, all her life, but nature and growth and beauty. It's a Yamanaka staple, as much as their cold and calculating eyes and the ghost stories of broken minds.

Flowers are everywhere. And yet nobody had gotten her any before.

Ino guesses that they all assume she'd hate it, find them boring, seeing as she's surrounded by them all the time. But flowers have an intrinsic beauty and deeper meaning, and knowing the language of them -hidden and yet obvious in different colours, in each bulb and leaf- is something she's proud of. Flowers have long been used to express emotions that words cant always convey, and a blushing and girlish part of her thinks it's all rather perfect, wrapped up in a neat little package. Sai's trying to tell her something, the best way he knows how when it comes to her. The flower girl and the boy unknowing. Sakura would laugh herself blue.

Ino knows the flowers aren't from her shop. Her mother is many things, but coy doesn't happen to be one of them. She cant keep a secret to save her life -another irony, considering which clan she married into- and loves nothing more than to butt into her daughter's love life. If Sai had come to the shop, she would know; she'd made the mistake of telling her mom about her budding crush before the war, and then brought him up again when the dust had settled and they'd forged ... something, after she'd helped save him in the Land of Silence. So no, if he'd come around the florist, Ino would never hear the end of it.

They haven't even sold any morning glories in the past week, either; and still the rounded blue flowers are spruced throughout the tightly clustered hydrangeas. She knows it's Sai, being endearingly and mystifyingly silent for once, instead of the blunt presence he usually is. She also knows there isn't any other florist worth a grain of salt, and can hedge a guess that he wouldn't pick another even if there wasn't. He undoubtedly would have asked Sakura for advice, as she's Ino's friend and knows at least the basic language of flowers from their time in the academy. Blue hydrangeas for gratitude at being understood, morning glory for affection. Her blush returns; maybe it's a coincidence, and he'd picked the flowers because the pale blues and dusky purples are reminiscent of her -

She's thinking in circles again. Ino picks up the bouquet and deposits them into a pretty glass vase with fresh water and a pinch of sugar to keep them bright. She's the town gossip, and a Yamanaka to boot. She knows everything about everyone, before anyone else. So where the hell is he getting the flowers?

-----

The answer, it turns out, was right under her nose. Maybe Ino does need to listen to her mother and keep the hair out of her eyes, she might just start seeing the things laid plain right in front of her.

The pieces drop together when she spots a book on flower language tucked beneath a haphazard pile of medical texts on Sakura's table. Her best friend laughs it off, pushes it further under the loose papers and thick books; it makes Ino narrow her eyes, but she lets it go. Tucks the information away for later.

She runs into Akari just outside the Hokage Tower, exchanging smiles and hellos before going about their business. Only, the former ROOT nin stops and asks her if she'd had time to speak to her adopted son about his troubles with flowers.

Sai, she says, had been asking her for advice on how to keep a small garden alive. She and Obito had been tending one together for some months now, apparently; nowhere near the expert, Akari smiles at Ino and vaguely nudges her in Sai's direction, citing that she could give him far better advice than Akari could.

Ino smiles and laughs, mentions that she'll find him when she can, and wanders into the Tower as though the integrity of her knees hadn't just fallen apart. It all comes together: the mysterious source of the flowers dropped by her home had come from Sai in every definition; and he'd gone a step further to find out what they mean. All the information coming together in her mind in a rush of rampant affection, as Ino touches the tips of her fingers to her mouth and grins unashamedly.

"Oh," she murmurs to herself, a breathless sort of laugh leaving her in a gust.

-----

Ino goes to his apartment, after she'd spent time meticulously planning (snooping) to ensure they'd both be in the village at the same time. Had cornered Sakura and convinced (threatened) her to spill the details on Sai's newfound appreciation for all things floral, and had discovered through her clever means (buying all the drinks and snacks for girls night) that Sakura had indeed been digging through her old academy books on Sai's request for anything to do with the language of flowers. He doesn't do anything by halves, and research is a trusted friend of his. Small and silly as it all sounds to say aloud, Ino finds herself even more besotted with him when she stands at his front door, spotting the telltale bits of soil scattered over the mat.

She carefully shifts her bouquet from one hand to the other, smoothing out her hair before reaching out to rap on the door with her knuckles. The leaves on the gardenias tickle her collarbone -the flowers are red, for secret love- when she cradles them to her chest, the camellias filling her nose with their sweet scent. Pink, this time. For longing.

She'd always been the one to wear her heart on her sleeve, telling anyone who would listen just how she felt. She thinks back on her crush on Sasuke and how she'd let it dictate her whole life for too many years, and thinks, not for the first time, that maybe she should really think things through this time.

And she has, she has. She'd seen his mind, his heart. Glimpsed what he craved -stability, acceptance, peace- and knew without a shadow of a doubt she could provide. And Sai, in kind, would cradle her heart in scarred and blood-soaked hands that could never, would never, hurt her as others had.

The door opens, and all her planning and consideration ceases in a breath. Sai stands there with dark brows raised, and all at once she feels a fresh wave of anxiety grip her heart.

"These are for you," Ino blurts out before he can say anything, all but shoving the bouquet at his chest. "From me. To you." Let him understand, she silently begs any who will listen.

Sai blinks once, head tilting to the side as he looks from the flowers to her face and back again. There's a light dusting of pink across his face which really shouldn't be as sweet as it is, but even still Ino feels her heart thunder beneath her ribs. She doesn't - know how to come out and say it, not something like this. Even after everything, she's still almost afraid; an alien sensation, but this, Sai, is more important than anything that has come before.

"Pink camellia," Sai murmurs as he carefully plucks the bound stems from her hand. He studies them for a moment, holding them delicately. "And red gardenia. Interesting."

...

That's all he has to say? After she'd spent hours pouring over notes and books and rushing back and forth between her place and Sakura's, after nearly talking herself out of this? After her mind rushing in circles, thinking his gifts had been coincidence and not a declaration for how he felt, after days spent worrying over what to say and how to act, before finally deciding to let the flowers speak for her as he had done, after -

"Thank you," Sai says to her, in a tone far more gentle than she has ever heard from him. It's enough to have her blinking up at him, blowing a lock of hair from her face as her cheeks go as red as sunset. "I wasn't certain how to go about telling you, but it's a relief you understood. Sakura called me an idiot an uncharitable amount of times."

"You are an idiot," Ino responds breathlessly without a second thought, words tumbling out before she can think them through, though the corner of her mouth quirks up. "You should have told me."

"I did," he says with a quirk to his brow, before stepping back from the door and gesturing behind him into the sunlit hall. "I just wanted to get things right, first."

Ino glances past him, taking a step closer to get a better look. And stares.

His walls are filled with art, classical and elegant and bright and bold, each of them a piece of his heart and feelings. But what takes her breath away, is the sight of numerous pots and vases and the odd hanging planter. His home is filled to the brim with greenery at various states of growth, from fresh buds to full and healthy leaves. A few of them are dead or dying, but it's - it's beautiful. Ino steps past Sai to enter, hit full force with the scent of flowers and damp soil, as familiar and comforting to her as the florist. She reaches a hand towards him without even glancing his way as something warm and bright and bursting fills her veins, fingers tangling in the loose sleeve of his shirt.

"You've been growing all of these," she whispers needlessly as all at once the realization hits her harder than a chakra-packed punch, fingertips pressed to her mouth. He's long been making an effort to understand people better, and now he's gone the extra mile to understand Ino, specifically, better. How to speak to her through the flowers she grows, how to make them bloom.

Her hand drops back to her side, the burn of unshed tears at the back of her throat making her breath catch. She's touched, honored, humbled. She's loved.

"You wanted to learn about what I loved, so you could love it too." She thinks of the messy canvases and chipped paint bottles she has stuffed into her closet, of the hours spent sitting on her living floor with her tongue peeking between her teeth as she aggressively attacked blank pages with grays and yellows and purples. Trying to see and feel what he does. Finding peace and delight and a dozen other emotions, and thinking to herself that she understood why he preferred tangible things to words, sometimes.

The bouquet gets crushed between them as Ino throws her arms over his shoulders, burying her face in his neck. Sai makes a panicked noise, low in his throat, in concern for the flowers; she smiles at that, laughter puffing over his skin when she only squeezes him tighter.

"Thank you," she whispers, unable to form the proper words but knowing he'll understand regardless.

Sai doesn't hesitate, this time, when he carefully wraps an arm around her middle, hand splayed over the small of her back. Presses his nose to her hair, and inhales the smell of flowers. "You're welcome."

-----

The trouble with flowers doesn't always lay in helping them grow. Helping hands coming together to nurture and to heal, to find commonality and bonds even with things left unsaid. But - they aren't unsaid, not really. Just because no words are used doesn't mean that there is the lack of transparency or honesty. The trouble with flowers, it turns out, seems to be when two people bond together over a mutual love and appreciation for one another as well as their passions. Ino realizes this one day when she notices Sai's apartment positively overflowing with bush clovers and hydrangeas and roses, the both of their efforts combined making something utterly beautiful and so very them. She decides, then and there, that she wants her home filled with tangible affection; to be his home, too.

(If she asks him to move in with her by way of moving all his flowers to a bigger house located just down the road from the florist, well. She left him a sprig of marigolds sticking out of his shoe. He'll figure it out.)

The trouble with flowers isn't helping them grow. The growing is the easy part. The trouble lays, instead, in helping them thrive. They have grown, they have blossomed. In their own private garden of warmth and hope and peace, together they will flourish.

#saiino #sai x ino #inosai #ino x sai #ino yamanaka #sai #yamanaka ino #yamanaka sai #sai yamanaka #naruto #jules writes #akari #shes here for like three lines it counts

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mrsackermannx · 7 months

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she misses me | ino takuma

tags: mdni, nsfw drabble, fem reader, phone sex, smut, not pet play but he calls her “puppy,” not beta read, boyfriend!ino!

Nanami groaned into his whisky. He had a feeling that this was a bad idea six months ago. Ino was all bright eyed as he gushed about the pretty girl he’d met at the mall.

But Nanami was weary, and wondered if things would work out, even after Ino told you about his real job.

Ino sighed before he took a large gulp of his beer, “She’s just…worried I’m cheating on her,” he said, delicately.

“Don’t worry. We check out in the morning and then we’ll be back in Tokyo by noon. You told her we were here on a mission, right?”

“Yeah,” he wistfully gazed out to the town they were in. He was missing you, a lot. He’d been out in the countryside with Nanami for five days and had barely had the chance to text you. He hadn’t been away from you for this long before, but he was admittedly nervous by how much it was unsettling him. It was scary.

“I like girls who are a little clingy though, you know? She’s not even overbearing either,” his voice trailed away. “it’s just that I’ve not been able to text her much. So she misses me.”

“I suppose that’s normal then.”

He grinned, “Buut…she misses me!”

“Then, she’ll have to get used to it,” Nanami said gently. “That it won’t be like dating a non-sorcerer.”

“Oh she will, she’s a tough girl. Takes everything life throws at her.”

He hmphed at the thought, all triumphant like he could imagine your face right now. It was always so full of determination, and when you looked at him, affection that ran so deep it brought him to his knees. Nanami couldn’t deny that he was happy to see his junior so smitten, so he promptly changed the subject and they continued their evening.

But it’s when you send a photo of yourself, lying on your front with an adorable pout for the camera, that it casts his mind back to the last time you were together. Not only because you had that same look in your eye, but because you sent a message just afterward that said.

“Your little puppy misses you.”

His cock throbbed in his jeans.

The last time you were together he’d used those same exact words…

You had both been both so tired it was laughable, but still you clung to each other in the dark comfort of his bedroom.

His arms supported his head, enough that he could lean up with minimal effort to meet your lips. He whistled and watched with his eyes half-lidded, as you eagerly tugged down your panties and then his waistband. You sank yourself down onto him until your bodies pressed together, kissing all over his throat.

He groaned at the sight of you, “Dirty girl with dirty thoughts, huh? Here I thought you were too tired to fuck.”

You laughed into his neck, lifting your hips up and down. “Changed my mind.”

You were already so breathless, your pants sending shivers down his spine. So his hands shifted to your ass where he suddenly halted your movements by sinking his hands into your soft skin.

By the grip, he fucked you on his cock with minimal effort, using his hands to control your hips as he rutted his own into yours. “Fuck.”

He was making you moan so loudly you had to cover your mouth.

“You’re like a needy little puppy. So, fucking, precious. You need me, huh?”

“Yes, Takuma! You feel so good.”

He moaned between each thrust, drilling up into you until your noises synced together. “I love it when you’re like this,” he groaned. “I’ll give you everything.”

His heart raced as he carefully slipped into his hotel room, Nanami was downstairs luckily, still drinking, so he could be as loud as he wanted.

He yanked down his pants, and took his cock into his hand. He gave it a few careful pumps before he took out his cock and took to FaceTiming you.

Heat rushed through your body when you were met with the sight of his large hand wrapped around the fat shaft of his dick. “Hey cutie,” he hummed, groaning as he squeezed his tip and pre oozed out.

“Is this what you wanted to see from me, huh? That you got me all worked up on the job.”

You hummed a shy hello, pointing the camera between your legs to where you had the dildo he’d bought you slick and lodged inside. “Sort of.”

His voice was strained and raspy as it pulled through the speaker of your phone, “Good girl. I didn’t even need to ask. You’re feeling needy, huh?”

“I know you liked it when I send videos but…” You rubbed on your clit and moaned, your fingers visibly slick as you pulled them away and started to thrust in the toy. “Had to show you.”

He laughed, smug and relaxed before he joined you, thumbing the tip of his dick. He shuddered from the pleasure, imagining your mouth. “So? How was the exam, pretty girl? Did you do your best?“

Ino was never shy with his moans, not ever. Your eyelids fluttered at the sight and the sounds. Wishing you could be with him right now more than ever.

You whimpered to yourself, syncing your movements with his. “Of course I did. You helped me study after all.”

He lowered his voice, flipping the camera to his face where he pointed at his tongue with a wink. “Gonna eat that pussy as soon as I’m home, cutie. Be ready to drown me in it.”

You moaned, removing the toy to show him all the slick that was dripping from you. “Want you to fuck me, wish you were here,” you groaned. “So wet for you, Takumaa—“

“Imagine I am, baby. Put that deeper,” he cooed, jacking himself off tortuously slowly. “Imagine I’m inside.”

You flipped your camera to your face, pouting, “Aren’t you gonna finish with me?”

“Wouldn’t you rather I save my load for that sweet little pussy baby? Just you wait until I’m home.”

You rolled your eyes, but your smirk was full of mischief. “Is that right mister sorcerer?”

He grinned at the nickname, it wasn’t as if it was still as filled with disbelief. If anything it made him hard, your worlds were so separate but he didn’t care at all. He worshipped you.

“Oh yeah, I’m wrecking you as soon as I get home baby. I can’t just accept this slutty behaviour of yours, can I?”

#ino takuma #takuma ino #ino takuma x reader #ino takuma smut #he’s on the brain <3 #I wanna be his non sorcerer gf so bad <3 #he thinks about us so much <3 #legend says he put her in a mating press and fucked her brains out the next morning <3

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ravewoodx · 11 months

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#saskue uchiha #sasuke #sakura #haruno sakura #sasusaku #saskue x sakura #ino x sai #ino #ino x sakura

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leewritestoomuch · 28 days

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Hii!! I love your writing and was wondering if you could write something w the k13 + ss and whether or not they would catch you if you fell. Mybe also if you jumped into their arms, like that one trend a while back (like if they were holding something but you jump at them, what would they do)/and maybe how they are with trust falls!

Would they catch you if you fell?

This’ll be short and sweet

Naruto Uzumaki

He would catch you if you jumped, but he doesn’t even realize he did.

Then he’s confused because… what just happened?

He slowly puts you down

He’d always catch people in a trust fall too, but he can’t bring himself to fall back when doing a trust fall.

He wants to trust, but he can’t.

Sasuke Uchiha

Depends…

He might step out of the way if he’s not in a good mood or didn’t even process what you were doing.

If he likes you, he’ll likely catch you. Then complain.

Doesn’t trust anybody for a trust fall, but he’ll catch you if you do a trust fall.

Sakura Haruno

Catches you with full intention to do so.

She’ll hold you for a second cuz she’s strong and you don’t bother her.

When she does put you do, she asks what you did that for.

She’ll trust you for a trust fall. She doesn’t trust just anybody, so that’s a compliment.

And of course, she’ll catch you.

Sai

Catches you.

Tells you he read about something like this.

Tells you what it means.

If that’s not what you mean, or if it’s outlandish, you choose rather you slap him or explain to him how that’s not okay. Then probably slap him for his response (I don’t agree with slapping ppl, but canon typical violence guys)

He’ll catch you if you do a trust fall. Thinks it’s good for bonding so he’ll fall too!

Shikamaru Nara

Catches you, but is shocked and like “what??”

Puts you down like immediately.

Somewhere in there, he said “what a drag.”

He’s not doing a trust fall, he doesn’t care.

But if you screamed, “trust fall” and just fell back, he’ll catch you.

Choji Akimichi

Catches you without question. He didn’t fully realize what was going on, but he would do it over and purposely catch you too.

He will carry you around if you want afterwards.

Always catches you in a trust fall.

He trusts you and Shikamaru to catch him in a trust fall, but Shikamaru always loudly complains about it so more so you.

Ino Yamanaka

She catches you, but probably scolds you for just jumping on her.

Like give her some warning??

Especially if she had anything in her hands.

She can’t bring herself to fall back in a trust fall, even if she trusts the person. She’ll shout about not wanting to do it, but eventually she’ll do it to prove herself.

She always catches you, but some people will get dropped if they try.

Kiba Inuzuka

He probably does the same thing to you.

Like “CATCH ME” and a man that is way too big and buff is flying through the air, right at you.

So yeah he’d always catch you, but it comes with a cocky comment about how much you wanna be in his arms. Beware.

Randomly springs trust falls on everybody and gets pissed if they let him fall.

He will catch you.

Shino Aburame

He’ll catch you… but he’s so confused.

Don’t do that again…

He’s a little scared?

Might think something is wrong, but he kinda finds it cute when he finds out there is no real reason for it. Like you jumped in HIS arms? 🥹

He’s not up for the trust fall shit, but he’ll catch you if you do it anyways.

Hinata Hyuga

Catches you, but she is nervous and startled.

She probably says something heroic sounding like “I will never drop you.”

She’s sad when you get down out of her arms.

She’ll trust you in a trust fall and catch you too.

Neji Hyuga

Probably steps back and then gets just a little upset that he didn’t catch you, especially if you get hurt.

That or you knock you both down to the ground.

He’ll tell you that you shouldn’t have done that, but he’s sorry.

Same goes for trust falls.

He’s not doing them though, not unless you annoy him half to death to do it.

Rock Lee

He catches you enthusiastically, probably hugs you tightly too.

Now he’s got an idea, and next time, when you least expect it, he’s gonna do the same thing. He ends up knocking you both to the ground because at the speed he jumped, even if you catch him, you’re both going down…

Another type to scream “TRUST FALL!” And fall, and expect you to catch him. He will get up like nothing and say “let’s try again!” If you don’t catch him

He’ll always catch you though.

Tenten

Catches you and wraps her arms around you as she processes what you did.

She’s startled and maybe even a little alert, but when she pieces it together and realizes it’s you, she slowly puts you down.

She’s willing to do trust falls. She’ll catch you if you catch her. But if you prank her, she will give you that energy back.

Gaara of the Sand

He got startled and the sand blocked you…

He apologizes and probably lightly warns or scolds you about not jumping at him suddenly.

Tells you that you can try again.

He won’t do trust falls, but he’ll catch you with his sand if you do one.

Kankuro of the Sand

He let you fall.

Thought it’d be funny at first, but he’d feel like a total dickhead if you get hurt.

He won’t apologize though, but it’ll be obvious he regrets his decision.

Probably still tells you not to do sudden things like that, or more so, stop putting yourself in danger.

He’s not doing trust falls. If it’s the first time you attempt to jump or fall, again, he’s letting you fall.

Temari of the Sand

She’ll catch you, but immediately puts you down.

Tells you not to jump so suddenly.

Won’t do trust falls, even if she trusts you. Thinks it’s stupid and definitely not happening.

She’ll catch you though, then scold you for doing it.

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sentimental-idiot25 · 10 months

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{Modern SasuSaku Head Canon} Sasuke had taken on the role of inviting Sakura to hang out, starting with casual walks, then progressing to breakfast outings, and eventually dinners—all of which he insisted on paying for. Ino couldn't help but wonder if these encounters were actually dates. "So are they dates or what?" she would ask Sakura, seeking clarity on their relationship.

Sakura, torn between her desire for these outings to be romantic and her fear of potential heartbreak, would respond cautiously. "I don't know... I don't want to get my hopes up." While she yearned for something more with Sasuke, she also wanted to shield herself from the pain of unrequited feelings. She chose to protect her heart rather than risk being hurt.

Ino offered a possible explanation. "Maybe he's waiting for you to drop some hints? After all, Sasuke doesn't do this with anyone else. He rarely takes the initiative to meet up with any of us."

During one dinner, they shared an enjoyable time that felt like a date. Sasuke cherished the way Sakura smiled, the stories she shared, and the sense of security he felt around her. As she placed her hand on top of his, which was resting on the table, Sakura hoped to make her interest in him obvious. Sasuke glanced down at their intertwined hands, intending to reciprocate the gesture, but their moment was interrupted by the arrival of their food. Their hands reluctantly separated, leaving Sasuke with an unsettled feeling that made his leg bounce nervously beneath the table.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back," Sasuke excused himself, standing up to go to the restroom. Sakura smiled at him and replied, "Yeah, of course." However, as Sasuke turned away, her smile faded, replaced by a tinge of sadness. Had she done something wrong?

In the bathroom, Sasuke stared at himself in the mirror, grappling with his own emotions. He couldn't pinpoint his exact feelings for Sakura, but he knew he cherished her presence more than anyone else's. The thought of losing her made him inexplicably sad, and the intensity of these emotions frightened him.

Meanwhile, Sakura sat staring at the empty seat in front of her, deep in thought about whether their ambiguous relationship was worth pursuing. She questioned if it was worth risking potential heartbreak if they couldn't progress beyond their current status. She desperately hoped to avoid getting hurt.

Returning to his seat, Sasuke and Sakura both spoke at the same time before abruptly stopping. Sasuke, ever the gentleman, urged Sakura to go first. "Go ahead," he offered.

Summoning her courage, Sakura boldly asked, "What are we?"

Sasuke hesitated for a moment before responding, "We're friends, but..."

"But what? Are we something more?" Sakura pressed, her voice tinged with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

Sasuke took a deep breath and finally confessed, "Do you want to be?"

Sakura, her heart pounding, blurted out her feelings in a rush. "Sasuke... I really like you, but I can't continue if you don't feel the same way."

Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise, and relief washed over him as he let out a sigh. "Oh, thank God," he murmured, his tense expression softening. He reached across the table, gently taking Sakura's hand in his. "Sakura, I've been wanting to tell you for the longest time... I feel the same way."

A mix of emotions flooded Sakura's face, disbelief mingling with hope. "You do?" Sasuke nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, I do." A small smile tugged at the corners of Sakura's lips, and she squeezed his hand affectionately. "I'm so glad we finally talked about this. I was scared that I might ruin our friendship or something." She paused for a moment, "So, what does this mean for us now?" "Well formally I would like to ask...Sakura, will you be my girlfriend?" Sakura's eyes widened, her smile growing wider. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but the joy in her heart was unmistakable. "Yes, Sasuke. I would love to be your girlfriend," she replied, her voice filled with excitement and happiness. Ino, who had been eagerly observing from across the restaurant in sunglasses, couldn't contain her excitement any longer. She said looking over at her boyfriend, Sai, "Finally! I've been waiting for this moment!" she exclaimed, unable to hide her joy. "Exactly how many dates of theirs have you stalked?" He said without looking up from the menu.

Ino giggled mischievously, nudging Sai playfully. "Oh, come on, Sai! 'Stalked' is such a strong word. Let's just say I've been ...meticulously observing their blossoming romance."

Sai raised an eyebrow, finally glancing up from the menu with a smirk. "Meticulously observing, huh? Is that what they call it these days?"

Ino rolled her eyes playfully, leaning closer to Sai. "You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. And boy, am I satisfied!" Sai looked at the 'observed couple' who were both directly looking at him and Ino, "Shit. They're onto you." "Us! Sai, they're onto us!" "Ah, we gotta go!" As they stood up from their table, pretending to make a hasty exit, Ino couldn't help but glance back at their friends, Sasuke and Sakura, who were now exchanging puzzled looks. Ino gave them a playful wave, adding to the confusion. "They know we've noticed them the entire time right?" Sasuke said with a raised eyebrow. Can't believe this is the first time he's noticing Ino's been stalking all of our dates, Sakura thought to herself entirely flushed. But replied, "Jeez, yeah what a coincidence they're at the same place as us."

#sentimental idiot25 #sasusaku #sakura #sasuke #pro sasusaku #sakura x sasuke #ino x sai #modern headcanons #modern au

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tsignpro · 1 month

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The fact that the light novels said that Ino and Sakura would be soulmates if one of them were a man will always be funny to me.

#like4like #art #drawing #sakura haruno #comedy #sakura #naruto #sasusaku #ino yamanaka #inosaku #inoxsai #sai #sasuke #naruto headcanons #naruto fanart #ino x sakura #sakura x ino

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pfpanimes · 4 months

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⌕ naruto - sai.

like or reblog if you save/use.

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inoreuct · 5 months

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thinking about mermaid sanji and sailor zoro,,,

the sky is cloudless, the sun’s glimmering off the calm water, the crew’s relaxing on the deck as they’re sailing through a clear patch of ocean; by all accounts, it’s a perfect day. luffy hasn’t gotten them into another shenanigan as of yet and zoro’s chilling up in the crow’s nest, half asleep and lethargic with the heat— and then he swears he hears laughter. and it isn’t coming from the ship.

he’s up on his feet immediately and squinting against the glaring light, wondering for a second if he’s seeing a mirage or a trick of the heat shimmer, because they’re sailing by a large, flat rock.

a rock with merfolk on it.

zoro’s shimmying down the mast in record time, ropes lashing around him as his boots hit the deck and he tries not to look like he’s running to the taffrail to catch a better look. (look, he’s curious, alright? merfolk aren’t a total myth, but they aren’t a common sight either.)

(that, and he feels oddly like someone has cast out a fish hook and it’s lodged behind his sternum, tugging him forward and forward until his hands are pressed palm-flat to the railing and he’s leaning over the edge.)

he hears that laugh again, rich and bright, wide eyes snapping to the mer who made it. golden waves shimmer over a leanly muscled shoulder, curling around a sharp jaw to reveal the mer’s pale, slender throat as they tip an oyster back into their mouth. leaning back on his hands — zoro is rather sure he is a he now, as a deep, smooth voice fills his ears, though he’s had enough tongue-lashings from nami to know not to assume — and tossing his hair back affords zoro a glimpse of a beautiful smile and bright blue eyes, blue as the goddamn sky. or maybe the sea. or perhaps the bioluminescent algae that had speckled the walls of this one cave that he’d been to ages ago—

he’s getting sidetracked. some sound must escape him, because suddenly a gaze so keen he feels his skin prickle is on him and he gulps involuntarily. and then for some reason, he opens his mouth. “are you a siren?”

the man’s curly brows narrow in irritation. “are you dead yet?” he snarks, casting zoro a flat stare and sighing in annoyance when zoro just stares back blankly. “no, I’m not a damn siren. lucky for you, we happen to be their… less bloodthirsty cousins.”

“less bloodthirsty meaning…?”

he shares a bored, bemused look with the woman on her elbows beside him, a mer with the richest purple colouring zoro’s seen in his life and a one-shoulder top made of shiny black kelp. “meaning we wouldn’t drag you down to the depths and feast on your carcass, but keep running your mouth and I might just change my mind.”

the mer’s tail is folded elegantly to the side as he lounges, fan-like tail fin trailing in the water, turning his body so that he can look at zoro properly as he tips back another oyster like it’s his god-given right. a tiny voice at the back of zoro’s mind whispers that this isn’t a good idea, whatever this is. it goes ignored. flaxen hair flutters in a slight breeze, sticking to the man’s milky skin in darker spirals where the tips are wet, and zoro’s breath catches as he watches the mer smile with teeth that are just erring on the side of too sharp.

the words register all at once and zoro lurches back, away from the railing, away from golden curls and blue eyes and pale skin. “what did you do,” he grits, resisting the urge to press the heel of his hand into his chest where it suddenly aches.

the mer shrugs. “nothing.”

“bullshit.”

“what’s the matter, sailor? feeling charmed?” that laugh, again, and zoro feels his heart throb. he watches the other man cock his head, studying another oyster in his hand, tilting the shell back and forth as he sucks on his teeth. “we can’t thrall,” he says finally, posture slackening with a sigh and a pout that seems to say what a shame as he picks up a knife and spins it deftly, shucking the shell open with a neat flick of his wrist. “only sirens can do that. whatever you’re feeling, whatever it may be, hasn’t been borne of any influence of mine.”

the oyster goes down and somehow, that sentence makes zoro feel even worse. it’s like he’s had the air punched out of him; he’s rooted, eyes wide, breathing hard as the mer makes a noise of pleasant surprise and pulls a pearl from his mouth, shimmering between his elegant fingers under the sun.

(zoro doesn’t know it yet, but he’s doomed. he was doomed from the start.)

back under the ocean, sanji has a crisis. he doesn’t see humans. he doesn’t meet humans. he and robin had just gone up to enjoy the sunshine and then this— this— brute swings by, with his stupid green hair and his three earrings and his obscenely grimy used-to-be-white shirt— sanji is fuming and he doesn’t know why. swimming laps back and forth across his cave isn’t helping either.

"might you possibly have something to get off your mind?" robin asks lightly, the pages of her book drifting in the water.

sanji does an about-turn and holds in a screech with all his might, forcing himself to relax with an exhale. "i'm just fine, my dear. peachy keen."

"you're making grooves in the floor."

"i'm redecorating."

he rolls the pearl from earlier between his fingers, squeezing it tight until his hand aches. "are you a siren, he asks," he mutters mutinously, fins fluttering as he throws himself onto a seaweed bed with a scowl. "how could a human be so stupid? if we were sirens he'd have been a waterlogged ball of moss on the sea floor by that point— and that hair. he looks like— like—"

"algae?" robin supplies helpfully.

"algae! sentient plant life, that's what he is, a kelp bed. water lettuce. duckweed, even." oh, he's so mad. that marimo pisses him off. the whole lot of them had sailed away, good riddance, because sanji never wants to see any of them ever again. they probably all smelled horrid anyway.

the merman's been following them.

the crow's nest is zoro's territory for a reason; he's the crew's lookout, and he's damn good at his job. for the past few days he's been seeing flashes of a broad tail fin and twists of golden hair. (he very firmly tells himself that he's not just seeing what he wants to see, because one, he might have one remaining eye but his eyesight is still as sharp as he keeps his cutlass, thank you very much. and two, why the hell would he want to see that merman? he isn't about to win any awards for his own manners but that guy had been stuck up and prissy and just rude. he's only been allowed to tag along this far because he hasn't presented himself as an outright threat. zoro doesn't want to see him. nuh-uh.)

(zoro sees things in his dreams, too. ocean eyes and a sly smile. a pale torso, knife in hand and teeth too sharp. he reaches out to see if the other man's hair feels as soft as it looks and he always wakes before he finds out.)

rum doesn't help to loosen the tension that settles against his spine at night, like he's waiting for something. he doesn't know what. anticipation, maybe, would be a better word— but that has a slight positive connotation, and— no. this man might not be a siren, but zoro’s enough of a sailor to know that it sure as hell doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous.

he can't afford to go off chasing pretty mermen when he has a crew to protect.

the ship docks for a few days at a barren island. sanji swims laps around the sandy coast and pretends that the thought of his the sailor being beyond his reach doesn't make an anxious itch ripple beneath his scales.

water splashes against the side of the boat, and zoro's at the railing in an instant whether he wants to be or not.

“hello, marimo.”

the merman treads water leisurely, golden hair swirling about his shoulders and gleaming in the faint lantern light. it's early enough after sunset that the stars aren't out yet and it's dark as hell. zoro squints.

a laugh echoes in his ears, light and melodious. already familiar. zoro tries to be mad about that. “a little more to your left, moron.”

“well, i can’t very well fuckin’ see, can i?” he scoffs, and bites back a gasp when the water starts glowing, what the fuck. his stupid heart stutters when he sees him, lit up with gentle blues and yellows from below, flickering with the push and pull of the tide and sweeps of that powerful tail. "hey."

"hello," the mer hums again, lashes long and wet enough that they catch the wavering light. "gonna tell me your name, sailor?"

zoro almost lets it slip. almost. but he bites his tongue as he feels a chill run up the back of his neck; sure enough, a glance over his shoulder confirms that nami is glaring at him. don't do anything stupid, her gaze says, and he turns away with a shudder. their navigator is a threat in her own right. "no."

"okay. marimo it is."

"you— that is insulting," he hisses, because it is. he is roronoa zoro. he came from nothing and made a life for himself out of it. he's one of the best swordsmen on the damn seas and he's part of the best crew he's ever known, and he's been reduced to, what? a floating ball of moss?

"it's accurate," the other man corrects with a smirk. "unless you tell me what else to call you."

zoro fumes, fingertips digging into the taffrail. he's sure his nails are gouging scratches in the wood. "no."

"marimo."

"shut up."

"mosshead."

"shut up!"

"algae-brained, kelp-haired, water cabbage-headed—"

"zoro!"

the mer finally stops, lashes fluttering as something passes over his face.

"my name," he ekes out, "is zoro." nami swears somewhere behind him.

the merman's lips part around the syllables of the word, before he draws in a breath and grins, smug. "okay, marimo."

"wh—?!" zoro throws his hands up in exasperation, scofffing. "you bastard!"

"i asked for your name. never said i would use it."

"you're a piece of shit, blondie."

"call me that again and i'll show you how hard i can bite," the mer sneers with all his teeth on show, blue eyes lit up furious, turning away as he prepares to dive and—

"wait!" zoro yells before he can stop himself, and he curses under his breath. ah, fuck it. already got one foot in it anyway. "what's your name?"

"...oh, darling," the mer sighs, half-amused and airy, his voice slipping away. "you're gonna have to work a little harder for that."

it feels like hours later when zoro steps back with a shaky sigh. the merman reminds him of a strong brandy he’d had what feels like lifetimes ago, burnt caramel and warm sugar and smoke with enough hidden bite to take you by surprise, to sink its teeth into you three shots down. enough to intoxicate if you weren’t careful.

he yelps when nami slaps him across the back of the head, faking a lunge at her with bared teeth even as he rubs a hand over his aching scalp with a huff. her nagging about being more careful barely registers. his hair's getting long; maybe he needs a trim.

(that little voice in the back of his head is wary. hesitant. but now it's asking what if.)

the ship docks again. this island is teeming with life, thriving, lush with rich green foliage and thick forestation— and beautiful women who all seem to find zoro the height of masculine appeal, apparently. sanji curls himself into a nook in the coral reef and lets his fins trail in the water, the corner of his mouth ticking up a little when a baby clownfish comes to nibble curiously at his fingertip. he's not sulking. he's not. that would be fucking embarrassing for so many reasons and he refuses to think about even one of them.

it's the first time that he starts to feel a little stupid. it had been all fun and games, in the beginning when he'd upped and left on a whim; curiosity and intrigue and the good old urge to stick his fingers in all the cracks this human had until sanji understood every part of him, laid out in the sand like the skeleton of a great sea beast.

but now he's so far away from home, aimlessly following a ship— no, not even a ship. following one person on a ship for no real reason at all.

the clownfish ducks beneath his hand, and sanji cups it carefully in his palm. "you're lucky you don't have to deal with romance yet," he tells it sagely before gently shooing it out of his hiding spot. the water above ripples. it's dark again; the crew must have returned to their boat for the night. sanji sighs and unfurls his tail.

it honestly seems like blind optimism at this point, but he really hopes he's not being played for a fool.

zoro's there when he surfaces, peering over the railing and backlit by the lanterns. sanji focuses and brings out his bioluminescence until the little cove they're in is filled with coloured light. "marimo."

"swirly brow," zoro greets in return.

sanji raises one said swirly eyebrow. "that's new."

"i've got more. blondie, of course. curly head. fishboy—"

"fishboy?!" he squawks, enraged. "fuck you!"

"you wish."

"more like the ladies did," sanji scoffs, and immediately wants to try drowning himself.

zoro frowns. "the hell you talking 'bout, curls?"

the burst of bitterness at the back of his throat is just enough to take him by surprise and loosen his tongue. "they were hanging off your arm like—" mm. nope. he's not gonna go there.

the swordsman's eyes widen like he's just realised something, and sanji does not like that at all. "you're jealous."

"no."

"you are!"

"fuck you," he spits, gills flaring. "i am not." he has no reason to be jealous. they are nothing. this— there is nothing between them.

zoro just grins. "catch."

a white thing drops downwards and sanji darts forward on instinct to let it fall into his cupped palms. "what, s'this supposed to be a present for me, marimo?"

"it's— yeah."

he opens his mouth to reply, before he realises what exactly it is he's holding.

the water lotus fills his hands, its soft white petals edged in pale pink, velvety against his fingertips. something catches in his throat and he dips beneath the water to submerge his gills, carefully holding the flower aloft. his heart squeezes.

the waves lap at the bridge of his nose, hiding half his face as he watches zoro rub at the back of his neck, uncharacteristically shy. zoro isn't shy. sanji knows this much. he is loud and unabashed and unashamed with everything, with how he lives, with how he talks, with how he loves his crew and everything they entail.

but he looks almost— he's blushing, just a little, red across the tips of his ears as his gaze darts away, looking very much like he's mad at himself. "nami said it means strength and resilience, or something." the breath he huffs is harsh as he scratches at his nape. "i don't know, it's stupid, curly, i just—"

"sanji."

"what?"

"sanji. my name."

sanji doesn't want to know what he looks like as he rises out of the water to cup the flower to his collar. dumb, probably. rightfully so, because all of this is a very dumb decision and it's probably going to end in shambles with his heart broken into pieces in the silt but zoro— he looks up, floating on his back, and zoro's already looking at him with something that could be wonder, if sanji dared to name it.

"where did you get this?" he murmurs, tail fin creating large ripples as he swims a circle, holding the lotus like it's fragile.

"there was a pond full of them on the island. thought you'd like it."

"you don't know what i like." it comes out breathy. his hair melts against his shoulders as he tries to push himself closer, closer, across the space between them, like a fool. "you don't even know me."

and yet, he startles back when zoro jumps the railing, splashing feet-first into the water boots and all and shaking his head like a dog when he resurfaces. sanji shrieks and shields the lotus with his body, everything else momentarily forgotten as he whacks zoro with his tail just hard enough to send the sailor back underwater with a sputtered laugh. "you fucking brute!"

"i want to."

"that made no sense—"

"i don't know you, but i want to." zoro treads closer, and sanji's light ripples off his skin. his eyes are grey. warm granite and the inside of an oyster shell. "will you let me?"

sanji wants. there is nothing between them, but he wants there to be. he wants so hard it hurts. it feels like he's holding his heart in his hands and not a flower. it's the only way to explain how he's suddenly aching, hollow, in the face of something that isn't even a goddamn confession but feels too much like one. there is a flower in his hands and he wants.

“why?”

“dunno.” he gets a shrug, blunt and earnest as ever even as zoro’s mouth twists up at the edge. “maybe i’m charmed.”

he swallows hard, his mouth dry, and he doesn't want to say it but he has to. "if this is some sick thing about me being a mer—"

"wh—? no!" zoro blurts, and he looks so fucking horrified at that moment that it settles something in sanji's stomach instantly. "god, fuck, no. no. it's not like that. i swear on my life."

there are reasons why merfolk don't interact with humans. sanji grew up with the stories. he's seen the skeletons on the sea floor, mangled with the hunting tools of man, incomplete remains of his kin tossed away to their deaths, unable to swim or save themselves— still a better fate than the ones who never returned. the ocean is gentle after the burn of her salt; her waves are familiar, and her children are raised in their push and pull. captivity, at the hands of men for whatever reason, is never so kind.

he inhales sharply as callused hands cup his.

"i'm sorry," zoro says softly, rushed and maybe a little desperate, throat bobbing as his eyes dart across sanji's face. "i'm sorry. i didn't think of that at all."

"good," he finds himself replying as he looks down. "that means it didn't cross your mind."

a muscle ticks in zoro's jaw. "that's fucking sick, curls."

"i know." sanji's tone is matter-of-fact. "but it's what we have to deal with, sometimes." he deflates with a soft huff at the expression on the other man's face, looking away. "if you start saying shit like i'll protect you or whatever, i'm gonna smack you. i can handle myself."

zoro sighs through his nose, slowly, and his hands tighten around sanji's. "i know you can. i've watched you hunt. doesn't mean i can't be mad about it."

his eyebrows go up. "you saw me hunting?"

"mhm," the swordsman hums. "you're strong. fast. resourceful, too."

sanji preens. he knows he is, knows he’s one of, if not the best, but hearing it from zoro is another thing entirely.

"...also, my captain's been begging me to get you to fish for us because we're all crap at it."

that startles a laugh out of him, and he smiles so wide so quick that his cheeks ache. "that can be negotiated."

up this close, it's easy to see that zoro's hair is shorter than it was before, shorn short at the back and blunt enough that it just had to be freshly cut. the possibility of it being for him does something funny to his chest. the dark green strands are spiky, sticking up everywhere now that they're wet, and sanji wants so badly to touch.

he looks down at the flower in their hands, and he doesn't.

"this can't survive in saltwater," he murmurs instead, carefully putting his lotus into zoro's scarred palms. "take care of it for me."

he watches zoro trudge back to shore, one hand with the flower held above his head. he yells, "it better still be alive the next time i come check, marimo!" and he doesn't bother waiting for an answer. he knows zoro heard him.

sanji's gonna play this slow. he's gonna play this smart. and if zoro fucks up, well— he’s on friendly terms with a particular shiver of great whites.

zoro does not, in fact, fuck up. but now he’s constantly being given shit about his pretty merman boyfriend and as much as he pretends he hates it, he really doesn’t. luffy takes one look and declares that sanji’s crew now, zoro, you can’t hog him! dinners are now seafood more often then not, mussels and clams and all sorts of fish, even lobster when sanji finds out it’s nami’s birthday, and franky engineers some sort of transportable bathtub to get him on board.

(sanji brings robin around and franky falls all over himself making transportable bathtub 2.0, but that’s not the point.)

“bioluminescence, right? am i saying that right?” zoro asks, spinning this way and that as he tries to get a good look at sanji’s glowing tail under the water, eyes wide.

“mhm.” the mer lifts his tail fin out of the water, pulling himself closer so zoro can hold both of them up seeing as the pool they’re in is shallow enough to stand in. zoro’s hands twitch around nervously until sanji reaches out and grabs his wrist, pressing his palm flat to wet scales, and his chest aches at the look on zoro’s face.

the cave they’re in is small enough for every little sound to echo. sanji’s tail drips rhythmically, punctuated by the staggered breath zoro sucks in as he hauls sanji closer with an arm low over his stomach. careful fingers trace over the glowing patterns on his tail, fading upwards into his torso, and zoro slides a palm flat against sanji’s spine to lift him up as he presses their foreheads together.

“beautiful,” he breathes, reverent. the reflections from the water dance off his wet skin, and his eyes are mother-of-pearl.

sanji wants to touch, and so he does. he winds his fingers into zoro’s hair and pulls him down and kisses him, tastes salt and rum and the promise of blood when his teeth catch and zoro doesn’t shy from the bite. for the first time in a long time he is safe enough to let himself drift; his tail drapes itself over zoro’s side like a elaborate feather fan, and he giggles at the mental comparison.

he feels zoro smile at his laughter. feels calluses and gentle hands as zoro carries him back out to sea. tastes love when zoro pulls him in for one last kiss before saying goodbye for the night.

it starts with more flowers. then jewellery, intricate metalwork that would be hard to come by under the sea, fishnet cords and crystal pendants and pretty trinket rings, then daggers, silver hairpins with edges sharp enough to slice bone and a particularly beautiful watered-steel knife in a sheath of butter-soft leather. sanji cannot help but feel like he’s being courted, which makes no sense, because zoro knows nothing about merfolk courting traditions.

and then they talk as zoro braids shells into his hair the way perona taught him to (“you didn’t tell me you had a sister?!” “she just never came up!” “what do you mean she just never came up, marimo, what the fuck! this is important?!”) and sanji finds out zoro talked to robin about it, the sneaky bastard.

a tail doesn’t stop him from tackling zoro to the sand to kiss the crap out of him, braids unfinished and hair wound through zoro’s fingers. his heart feels fit to burst when zoro turns to ensure he takes the brunt of the fall because they both know how much sanji hates getting sand stuck in his scales.

the first time sanji gets hurt, zoro goes rather frantic.

it’s barely a scratch, just a slice near the base of his tail courtesy of a rock he hadn’t been able to avoid while hunting, but zoro bodily hauls him back to the ship between bouts of very concerned yelling and yanks off the black bandana always on his arm, scrubs it clean in hot water for good measure before wrapping up his wound, all while making sure no parts of sanji were drying out in the tub.

“marimo, i am fine,” sanji stresses for the twentieth time, shifting up to cup zoro’s face and sighing in resignation as zoro just shakes his head again.

“i don’t care,” the swordsman announces, throwing his hands up like deal with it. “i don’t care. no more hunting until this is completely healed.”

“it is a scratch. a scratch.”

“i don’t give a shit. you’re staying with me for the next few days.”

sanji groans and grumbles and bitches about it, and when zoro bickers right back it just riles him up even more.

(he stays put. he lets zoro scoop him into his lap with unnecessary care. he leans into the kisses zoro presses to his temple and he feels like crying because he is grateful. always.)

slavers attack the ship. sanji may not be a siren, but that does not mean he isn’t dangerous. he has his tail, and his knives, and his love for his crew. this is his crew.

he drags those slavers into the ocean and drowns them one by one.

now, sanji’s friend ivankov is a literal sea witch— so when they toss sanji an amulet and a wink on his birthday, sanji already knows it’s gonna be good.

the amulet gives him fucking legs.

only while he wears it, of course, but when he stumbles out of the surf like a newborn fawn zoro nearly chokes in shock. they spend the day falling over each other laughing as sanji tries to walk. he eats shit more times than he can counts and gets enough sand in his mouth for a lifetime.

later, there is a blanket beneath them and the moon above them and the endless ocean, shimmering under the light as zoro gathers his hair out of his face and kisses him so softly it hurts.

“beautiful,” zoro breathes. he preaches it like the truth. swears it like a promise.

their hands fit, calluses against calluses as zoro thumbs over the tiny patch of scales on sanji’s wrist, iridescent yellow-blue. their fingers lace in a motion they’ve done hundreds of times and still it never feels different than the first.

sanji lays back, and all he sees are stars.

#did yall catch that metaphor of the lotus being sanji's heart #and him literally handing it to zoro and saying “take care of it for me”#BECAUSE I DIDN'T #I ONLY REGISTERED IT AT THE END WHEN I WAS THINKING BACK TO IT #accidental literary device slay #LEMME KNOW IF YALL WANT HCS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT bcs there is Lore this just got too long for it #one piece #zosan #roronoa zoro #black leg sanji #zoro x sanji #one piece zosan #one piece sanji #sanji #one piece zoro #zoro #ino writes #zosan au

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