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It was a quiet evening, the crew having just finished dinner and spread around the deck doing various pre-bed activities. Sanji and Usopp were washing the dishes in the kitchen, Usopp having drawn the short straw for the evening. Nami was going over her logbook and making sure everything was updated correctly. Zoro had been resting against the galley wall, watching as the stars began to appear in the dark sky when Luffy had joined him, the other crawling into his lap.
“Hey, Zoro?” Luffy’s straw hat had fallen down to rest against his back as he twisted to look Zoro in the face.
Zoro let out a small grunt to show he was listening, his gaze still on the sky.
“We haven't been on a date yet,” Luffy said. “You said you loved me with the kissing and romance and stuff and going on a date is romantic.”
Lowering his gaze to his captain, Zoro raised his eyebrows a bit. It wasn't that he was opposed to taking Luffy on a date, he just hadn't thought the other would be interested. Not to mention, nothing ever seemed to go their way and Zoro had a feeling that if they tried to have a nice, peaceful date they were more likely than not to either end up running from the Marines or getting into a fight—or doing both.
“We should go on one on the next island,” Luffy decided, seeming to take Zoro's silence as a positive response. “We can go somewhere fun with lots of food and do whatever you do on a date.”
“Okay,” Zoro said with a shrug. If his captain wanted to go on a date, then they would go on a date. It probably wasn't going to end well, but he would do it if that was what Luffy wanted. And the smile Luffy gave him in response was definitely worth it.
That was how they found themselves several days later on a small island right before the Grand Line. Nami had made them promise to stay out of trouble, threatening to double their debt if they didn't. Zoro didn't think that was fair since it seemed that trouble often found them rather than the other way around, but the witch refused to budge, threatening to double his just for challenging her.
“Fucking witch,” Zoro grumbled as they left the Merry, Luffy bounding along at his side. Luffy merely laughed at his annoyance, one of his hands slipping into Zoro's as they walked.
“Zo-ro. Be nice to Nami.”
“You should tell her to be nice to us for a change.”
Luffy laughed louder at that, the hand holding Zoro's swinging back and forth. “She'd hit me if I did.”
“Exactly.”
They chattered aimlessly as they walked, aiming for the market in the center of the town. According to Nami, there wasn't much on the island other than the market and a small water park/splash pad. Zoro didn't understand the point of the water park, but Luffy had insisted that they go there—along with the food market, of course.
The market held little interest to either Luffy or Zoro as they walked through, only a few trinkets catching their eyes here and there. Luffy found a gaudy haramaki that he tried to buy for Zoro while Zoro protested. He didn't want to come out and say it was ugly as hell, but there was no way he would ever wear it. He was able to convince Luffy not to buy it when he reminded him that they still needed to pay for food, the other dropping the garment as if it was on fire before he pulled Zoro out of the shop and up the hill.
“Food is the most important thing,” Luffy told him seriously as they entered the food market, his eyes widening comically as he took in the sight around them.
There were probably twenty stalls in all, selling a variety of meats, vegetables, and deserts. The sweet and savory aromas filled the air, the scents competing with each other for dominance. Vendors called out, trying to attract more customers to their stalls while customers weaved around the tables, arms loaded with food as they tried to find spots to sit.
“We have to try everything!” Luffy exclaimed, turning towards Zoro with big eyes and a watering mouth. “Everything!”
Zoro was unable to do much more than snort in amusement, even as he followed after Luffy. They had eaten breakfast maybe an hour ago on the Merry. Only Luffy could be so hungry so quickly. Though, Zoro did have to admit that some of the smells were making his stomach rumble a bit.
True to Luffy's wish, they got food from every stall, their trays loaded high with all kinds of dishes. Zoro had happily handed over the berry, not minding that Nami was definitely going to yell at him for spending so much. It wasn't his fault their captain had a black hole for a stomach and Zoro couldn't tell him no.
“This is delicious,” Luffy exclaimed around a mouthful of fish, already shoving another forkful into his mouth. “We need to tell Sanji to make this sometime.”
“Sure, captain,” Zoro agreed, idly scanning the crowd around them. He didn't think anyone was going to attack them here, but you could never be too sure. The last thing they needed was to be caught unaware and unprepared.
A fork was suddenly shoved in Zoro's face, a large piece of fish and rice hanging off of it. Zoro looked questioningly up at Luffy, the other shaking the fork a bit. “Eat,” Luffy ordered, pushing the fork closer to Zoro's mouth.
Zoro instantly opened his mouth and accepted the fish, his lips closing around the fork before Luffy pulled it back and speared another piece to put in his own mouth. The flavor was good, Zoro had to admit, though it really wasn't anything astounding. Still, he smiled at Luffy and told him it was really good, accepting the next forkful when it came his way.
Luffy fed Zoro a bit of every dish, ensuring that he got to try them as well. Zoro tried to protest, to tell him that he wasn't hungry, but his captain insisted and who was Zoro to disobey him. By the time they finished the last of the food, Zoro was sure he wasn't going to be hungry again until dinner. Maybe not even til breakfast the next day.
“Come on.” Luffy grabbed Zoro's hand and began to drag him away from the table once all the food was gone. “Let's go to the water park next!”
“You can't even swim,” Zoro reminded him, following along after him nonetheless. “If you drown I'm not going to save you.
A laugh floated out of Luffy at that as he turned a blinding grin onto Zoro. “Yeah you will. You always do.”
Zoro couldn't say anything to that because yeah, he always did. And as much as he griped and moaned about it, he always would too. Didn't mean he couldn't pretend he wouldn't occasionally. Not that it would make the captain any more careful.
They used the last of the berry Nami had given them to get into the water park/splash pad, Luffy instantly trying to drag Zoro towards the nearest thing he saw. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any actual swimming pools in the park, most of it being confined to water rides and shallow pools with fountains. Not that it really eased Zoro's nerves. He had seen his idiot captain almost drown in the bathtub before.
“We should do that! No that! Or that?” Luffy spun around, trying to take everything in. “Maybe the slide?”
“Whatever you want, captain.”
Luffy turned to look at Zoro, his grin still in place. “What does Zoro want to do?”
“Whatever you want.”
“But what do you want?” Luffy pressed, tugging a bit at their joined hands.
Zoro frowned a bit but cast a glance around, picking the first thing he saw. He had agreed to come to this place because Luffy wanted to. Had it been just him he would have walked by without a second glance. But, if his captain wanted him to pick something, then he would.
“How about that slide thing? It looks like you sit on a blow-up tube of some kind.”
His assessment of the ride was mostly correct. Though what he hadn't noticed was that the water that carried you down the slide shot out at high speed and you all but went flying down the slide. He was a bit green in the face when they got off the tube, though Luffy was laughing and immediately wanted to do it again, dragging him back to the line.
Along with the several trips they made down that slide, they went down several others that went at slower paces and with more extravagant loops. They tried to do a lazy river but Luffy decided it was too lazy and had catapulted them out of there, the two landing in a heap in one of the shallow pools. A jet of water instantly splashed out, dousing them in water.
“This place is so fun!” Luffy laughed as he tugged on Zoro's arm as he grumbled about getting doused from the fountain. “We should do the splash area next!”
“That wasn't enough for you?” Zoro asked, shaking some water out of his hair. Luffy merely grinned up at him, pulling him along after him.
Thankfully there were no rides in this part of the park and it was just fountains of water that sprayed at irregular intervals. Luffy, of course, had a blast, running back and forth between jets and getting soaked to the bone. Even as the water tugged at him, slowly sapping his strength away, he kept on going, laughing the entire way. Despite himself, Zoro joined him, following him through the water spray and getting soaked as well. It was worth it to see his captain so happy.
Evening was beginning to roll in when they finally left the park, both of them thoroughly drenched and leaving a trail of wet footprints behind them. Luffy dragged a bit behind Zoro as they walked, his feet scuffing the ground with every step. The water was finally getting to him, all the strength it sapped finally catching up.
With a small yet fond sigh, Zoro stopped. “Get on, captain.”
“Huh?” Luffy asked, a hand coming up to rub at his eye.
“Get on. I'll carry you back to the Merry.”
A small smile tugged at Luffy's lips as he scampered forward, wrapping his noodly limbs around Zoro's body. Zoro used his inner arms to hold Luffy up as he began to walk forward, the other resting his head atop Zoro's.
“This was a great day. I had a lot of fun, Zoro.”
“I'm glad you did. I had fun too.”
“We should do this again,” Luffy added around a yawn. “Do more dates, I mean.”
Zoro smiled at that, patting one of Luffy's legs—at least, he was pretty sure it was a leg. It was kind of hard to tell when he got all stretchy. “Of course, captain. I would love to.”
They walked a little longer in silence, Zoro continuing to keep an eye on their surrounding. It had been a perfect day so far but that didn't mean he was going to relax. With his captain so tired he was actually on higher guard than usual, determined to make sure that nothing would happen to him.
“Hey, Zoro?” Luffy suddenly asked, his chin digging a bit into the top of Zoro's head as he moved.
“Yeah?”
“Does this mean that we're romantic now? Like....boyfriends? I mean, we already do the kissing and I tell you I love you all the time. I know this was our first date but that's part of it too, isn't it?”
Zoro's heart began to beat a little bit faster, the thumping a bit stronger. “If that's what you want.”
“What does Zoro want?”
“I would like to be boyfriends.”
Luffy's face suddenly appeared in front of Zoro's, it taking almost everything he had not to startle. He knew Luffy was rubbery but fuck there were times when it was just too much. The grin that split Luffy's face quickly made up for it though, the smile more blinding than any sun had ever been. “Good! Because that's what I want!”
Dinner was waiting for them when they got to the Merry, Nami not even asking how much they spent or even seeming to think they had any berry left over since she didn’t ask for it. They all sat down to eat and Luffy cheerfully told the crew about their day and all the different foods they tried and the fact that him and Zoro were boyfriends now. Thankfully no one really reacted to that beyond Ussop’s “I thought you already were” and Nami’s “finally”. Not that Luffy seemed to notice since he had already moved on and was telling Sanji that he had to recreate the dishes, the cook promising to despite not having tried them.
By the time they finished eating the sun had completely set and it was time for bed. Since neither Zoro nor Luffy had watch duty that night they both headed to bed, Luffy clambering into Zoro's hammock as soon as he had laid down.
Unbothered by the intrusion, and very used to it, Zoro merely shifted a bit so that there was more room for Luffy even though he pretty much immediately draped himself over Zoro.
“Mm, I love you, Zoro,” Luffy murmured, pressing a sloppy kiss to Zoro's lips. “And thank you for today. It really was fun.”
Zoro responded by kissing him back, the smoky taste of dinner lingering on his lips. Their kiss was slow and unhurried despite Luffy's tongue slipping into Zoro's mouth almost immediately. It rubbed against Zoro's, the motion soft and almost comforting. One of Luffy's hands tangled up in his hair, tugging gently on the green strands as he maneuvered Zoro's head into a better position.
The door opening interrupted their kiss, Sanji fake gagging at the sight. “If you two start making out in here I'm kicking you out.”
“Fuck off, curly brows,” Zoro growled at him, his arms tightening possessively around Luffy's waist. “It's Luffy's ship. He can do whatever he wants.”
Sanji glowered at him, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. “Mosshead.”
Luffy's soft laughter stopped the argument from escalating, his hands rubbing circles against Zoro's skin. “Sorry, Sanji.”
The cook's glare lessened as he looked at Luffy, no one able to stay mad at their captain for long. “Just don't get carried away. I am not sleeping in the same room as you two if you start fucking.”
The pillow Zoro threw at Sanji hit the asshole right in the face, his face instantly morphing to rage at the movement. Well worth it, in Zoro's opinion. Besides, the cook deserved it and Zoro wanted to hit him.
It was a couple more minutes before Zoro had settled back down against Luffy, the lights in the cabin having been extinguished. Luffy instantly engulfed him in limbs, burrowing his face against his chest. Even breathing sounded from across the room, Sanji having evidently fallen asleep almost immediately after laying down. Zoro was half tempted to throw something else at him but he resisted the urge, knowing that the motion would dislodge Luffy.
“Hey, Zoro?” Luffy whispered—or at least, as close to whispered as Luffy could get.
“Yeah?”
“When do boyfriends start fucking?”
Zoro did not choke at the words nor did his face heat up. Nope, none of that happened. He remained perfectly unaffected and didn't miss a beat. “Um....it's not....there's not really a set time or anything. It, uh, just happens, you know?”
A soft hum of thought left Luffy, his face leaving Zoro's chest as he sat up a bit. “Kinda like we did?”
“What?” Zoro definitely did not splutter out that word.
“You know, how we kind of just happened. We kissed and then said I love you and then went on a date. Most people do it in a different order, don't they?”
“There isn't an order to relationships, Luf. You just do what feels right.”
Luffy stayed quiet for a moment, the head of his silhouette tilted as he thought. “How do you know when its right then?”
Fuck, Zoro really didn't want to have this talk right now. “You just do.”
“That's not an answer.” Despite the darkness Zoro knew Luffy was pouting, the motion evident in his voice. A finger repeatedly poking his chest further confirmed this fact.
“Yes it is. It just....I don't know, it just happens.”
“But how?”
A hand scrubbed across Zoro's face while he racked his brain for ways to explain this, not even really sure what it was that Luffy didn't understand. “Okay, um, you know what sex is, right?”
“Sure, it's when a man and a woman sleep together and then make a baby.”
Oh yeah, this was going to go great. “That....that's one way.”
“There's more than one way?” Luffy's voice was definitely louder than a whisper now, his body shifting so that he was sitting fully upright, his ass pressed right against Zoro's crotch. Great.
“There's a lot of ways. Two men can have sex. Two women can have sex. More than two people can have sex. And, a man and a woman having sex doesn't always make a baby.”
“Does that mean we've had sex?”
Zoro definitely went red in the face at that. He was very grateful that it was dark inside the cabin and that Luffy couldn't see his face right now. He managed to let out a very strangled “no” as he collected himself, mentally hitting his head against the nearest surface for being the one that has to explain sex to Luffy. “Sex isn't literally sleeping together, people just use that phrase as a euphemism for it. Sex involves....other things.”
Luffy was quiet for a second, his head tilting even more. “Your private parts, right? At least, I think that's what I was told.”
“Yeah, those.” Zoro was going to die of embarrassment and then he was going to kill whoever decided that Luffy didn't need a sex talk. After that, he was probably going to kill himself again and the shit cook for bringing the topic up.
“So, what, you sleep together naked? Is that sex?”
Zoro face palmed at that. “No. That's just....sleeping naked. Sex involves....doing things with your private parts.”
“Like touching them?”
“Yeah. Usually to someone else's and whatnot.”
Another silence sounded, Luffy appearing to be in deep thought. “Is it fun?”
Yup, definitely killing the cook. “It is.”
“Can we do it? Can we have sex?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely not!” Sanji shouted from his hammock, an item crashing into the ground a foot from their own hammock. “And if you two don't stop talking about it right now I'm going to throw you both overboard.”
“You brought it up, you fucking pervert!” Zoro shouted back, trying to clamber out from under Luffy to grab his swords. Luffy, however, refused to move, his weight pushing Zoro down. Despite being smaller than him and lacking defined muscle he was strong, keeping Zoro pinned without much effort.
A growl came from Sanji at Zoro's words, another object thrown towards them. “Shut up!”
“You shut up!” Zoro snapped back, finally stopping his futile efforts in getting up. “Fucking ass,” he grumbled under his breath.
“I heard that!”
A bang from the cabin next to theirs had both of them going quiet, Nami's furious voice shouting at them to be quiet through the wood. They remind silent for several long seconds after she stopped, no one daring to move out of fear that they would further incur her wrath.
Luffy's fingers flexed against Zoro's chest, the tips digging into his skin a bit. “Is sex a big deal then? Is that why Sanji is all angry?”
There came a loud huff from Sanji's direction. “It's a private thing that should be done away from those who aren't participating. So not in the crew's shared dormitory!”
“Hmm,” was all Luffy said, laying back against Zoro. He snuggled back against him, his arms automatically wrapping around him.
The room fell silent for several minutes, Sanji's breathing turning deep as he fell back asleep. Zoro however remained awake, fingers tracing random patterns against Luffy's skin.
“Can you explain more about sex to me later? When Sanji isn't around to get mad?” Luffy asked, his voice actually quiet for once.
Zoro grimaced a bit but nodded. He had hoped that he would have dropped the topic or have gotten bored of it by now, but luck was on his side it seemed. The problem wasn't that he didn't want to have sex with Luffy, the problem was that he wanted to. But having to be the one to explain it to him....now it felt wrong to be thinking those thoughts.
“Or you could show me?” Luffy pressed when Zoro didn't respond. “I mean, it's something you do with someone you love, yeah?”
“It isn't an obligation,” Zoro murmured, his fingers stilling against Luffy. “It....it's something people do because it's fun and it feels good. You don't have to if you don't want to.”
“But what if I want to?”
And now Zoro really didn't want to be thinking about sex. He was acutely aware of the way Luffy was pressed against him and completely draped across him. “How about we talk about this later, okay?”
There was a small huff of displeasure from Luffy but he nodded nonetheless, his hair tickling Zoro's chest at the motion. “Okay. But I'm going to hold you to that.”
Zoro swallowed thickly. He should have expected that he wasn't going to be letting him off the hook. “Of course. Goodnight, Luffy.”
Luffy mumbled a goodnight against his skin, falling asleep quickly once he stopped talking. Zoro, however, remained awake, staring up at the dark ceiling above them. They had such a great day. Such a great date. But that fucker had to go and ruin it with his perverted ways and now....now....fuck, now Luffy wanted to have sex. Zoro was definitely going to kill the cook.