Chapter Text
Zoro fucked up. Hard.
On the last island they were on, he couldn't find a doctor in time to stock up on heat suppressants. He thought it would be fine because he had his emergency stash, but after going weeks without seeing land, he ended up using all that he had hidden away.
He had been suppressing his heats for years and he knew it was going to hit him hard and fast, so he actually prayed for an island to be found soon. Luckily, the next day Nami announced that they would reach land in the coming hours, so Zoro thought his prayers were answered.
He was dead wrong.
The island was actually pretty big with towns, harbors, bars, and markets instead of being uninhabited like the swordsman feared. They were even having a week-long festival with food stalls, games, and fireworks. There was plenty of stuff to see and the whole crew agreed to stay for a few days so they could enjoy the festival and anything else on the island.
There was something there that everyone was looking forward to. Luffy and Sanji were excited about the food (in their own ways). Robin and Chopper were excited about the huge library that was at the heart of the island. Brook couldn't wait to see the nightlife and to hear plenty of music. Usopp was mostly excited about the games he could play during the festival and Nami definitely made plans to hit up the shopping district to look at clothes. And Franky- Franky was never not in a state of excitement.
But Zoro? Zoro wasn't so much as excited as he was desperate. He didn't know how much time he had left before his heat would start, so he needed to find suppressants immediately. He made sure to cover himself in scent blocking patches and stayed clear of the rest of the crew. He was a ball of anxiety and was absolutely paranoid that the others would smell him.
Once they did reach the port, Zoro dropped anchor and vaulted himself over the railing onto the dock before they could even put down the gangplank. He could hear Nami and Sanji call out to him to not get lost, but getting lost was the last thing on his mind.
He quickly found out that the island has banned all suppressants for omegas. It's rare, but not completely unheard of because heat suppressing medication isn't good for the body. Especially if abused, it can lead to long term damage and a resistance to the medication. Along with a wide range of side effects.
He snooped around town to find a back door doctor for illegal suppressants, but no matter who he talked to (threatened) not a single local spilled. All of them saying something along the lines of “an omega's heat is precious and should be cherished” or “the body knows best”. What a load of bullshit. The only thing he could get his hands on were more heavy duty scent patches.
He could just go to Chopper. Of course the little doctor would be able to make some, but there's a bit of a problem with that:
No one knows Zoro is an omega.
He's not ashamed of it per say and he doesn't look down on other omegas. Neither does the rest of the crew from what he understands. Nami is an omega too and everyone still respects her and doesn't treat her differently for it.
It's just that omegas can go into heat multiple times a year for up to a week at a time. Even if he used suppressants properly and scheduled his heats; only doing the minimum recommended time, he could still lose up to three weeks of his life a year writhing in a sweaty nest instead of training.
His dojo master was also concerned that Zoro being an omega could be used against him while out at sea, so he decided to keep it a secret to ease his mind. That and the time he would lose if he did go through his heats led him to the decision to- well- abuse heat suppressants and hid it from everyone.
If he went to Chopper and asked for heat suppressants, the reindeer would probably freak out because in the time that they have known each other, Zoro hasn't gone into a single heat cycle. Which would lead to Chopper forcing him to schedule his heats. Something Zoro does not want to do, so he doesn't want anyone to know that he's an omega.
Which brings us back to the problem: Zoro can't find any suppressants.
Which is fine. He has a plan b; he's just never been in a position where he had to use it. First, he needs to get back to the ship, which is easier said than done.
He already feels hot and like his insides are in knots, but he can work through it. He just needs to get home first and thankfully his scent is still masked because walking through the markets in heat is asking for trouble.
Which is what he gets anyway because as he makes his way through the vendors and merchants he feels the clasp of a hand on his shoulder that makes his fight or flight response almost kick in. He turns and sees the last person he wants to see at this moment.
Sanji.
“Good timing, mossy. Help me carry this back and I’ll think about feeding you tonight,” he asks, but is already handing Zoro supplies to carry.
This is not what he needed right now. He needed to get to the ship. He only has a few hours until his heat sets in at most and was planning on getting to the ship, packing a bag, and staying in a heat hotel until it was over. If he can't suppress it, then he'll just have to ride it out away from the crew. He could easily excuse his disappearance as him being drunk and lost or training in a rural part of the island.
“I'm kinda busy,” he snaps back, and Sanji just laughs.
“What? Busy getting lost? Just carry this stuff and I'll take you back to the ship. That's where you're headed right?” The blonde asks as he digs through his pockets to find his cigarettes.
“Fine, but we're leaving right now. You stop for anything- food or flirting, and I'll dump this shit on the side of the road and go home by myself,” he says and Sanji puts his hands up appeasingly after lighting his cigarette.
“Whatever you say, marimo,” he replies mockingly and picks up the other half of his haul. They walk to the docks together with Sanji filling the silence with idle chatter.
When it's just them, Sanji's a little nicer- calmer, and loves to chat Zoro's ear off. Zoro doesn't really mind listening. Right now he's actually a little thankful for the distraction from what's going on with his body. The knots in his stomach slowly turning into cramps and he starts to feel sweaty, but Sanji's voice keeps pulling him away from dwelling on the pain and panic. So the swordsman puts in the effort to make more conversation. Making sure to ask questions that he knows the blonde can't help, but give a drawn out answer to.
Strangely this kind of backfires because the more Zoro asks questions, the slower the pace Sanji sets as they make their way to the Sunny. On the other hand, it's helpful because Zoro feels out of breath just from walking and trying to converse at the same time.
Eventually they make it to the ship and Zoro quickly sets everything down in the galley, but he can feel Sanji's eyes on him. Can he smell him? Is it obvious?
“Hey, are you okay? You look really red in the face,” Sanji asks and there's not one bit of teasing in his tone which means Zoro must actually look like shit for him to ask so genuinely.
“I'm fine,” he barks, but quickly reels in his tone. “I just have- uh- A headache. I just need to lay down,” he says softer as he walks away. He needs to get better at lying.
“Oh- okay... Well let me know if you need anything,” Sanji offers, but Zoro doesn't catch the last half because he's already out the door making his way to the bunk room leaving behind a confused cook. Zoro pretty much never feels ill and Sanji pretty much never offers the swordsman anything, so he was a little caught off guard by Zoro's behavior, but also his own offer.
As he enters the bunk room, Zoro quickly realizes that he's definitely running out of time if not already too late. He's dizzy, feverish, sweaty, and in pain. An ache deep inside of him that feels like he's being torn apart. There's plenty of side effects from suppressing heats over a long period of time, and the swordsman definitely believes he's experiencing all of them in rapid succession.
He moves to his locker to find a spare outfit. He needs something fresh to change into after his time at the heat hotel or else he'll come back reeking of omega or worse- omega after heat.
A sudden wave of dizziness and nausea falls over him; bringing him to his knees. He knew it was gonna be bad, but right now he can't even see straight. Fuck getting to a heat hotel; he's not even sure if he can walk anymore. He moves to get up, but can't. He lets out a pathetic whine and finally drops his full body on the ground. He feels like he can't breathe.
In the back of his mind, he knows someone is going to find him like this, but he can't find the strength to get up. He starts to pant and closes his eyes to focus on his breathing, but can't catch a meaningful breath. Panic wells up inside him and he can't tell if it's because he's going to get caught or because of how awful he feels. He curls up, desperate to comfort himself.
He hopes Sanji unpacked everything and just left. He mentioned wanting to try some of the food stalls and watching the festival fireworks. The cook is the last person he wants to see while in heat.
If someone does find him here on the bunk floor, he prays it's anyone but Sanji. Nami might tease him lightly, but it wouldn't change anything for her. Luffy, Franky, Brook, and Usopp wouldn't care. Robin would probably give him cryptic words of wisdom that he would never figure out. Even Chopper would be better than Sanji. He would lecture Zoro, but he would still make him suppressants as long as Zoro scheduled time for a planned heats throughout the year.
He doesn't know what Sanji would say or do and he doesn't want to think about it.
But today Zoro has absolute shit luck.
“I'm gonna head out, but I made you some tea and- ” Sanji appears in the door with a tray, but stops when he sees the mossball laid out on the ground like a withering plant. “Don’t just sleep in the middle of the floor. Doesn't your head hurt? Lay in bed like a normal person,” he chides, but all Zoro does is continue to lie there. The blonde approaches him, gearing up to kick the man for ignoring him, but once he's close enough to see Zoro's face, it becomes obvious how poorly he's doing.
He's panting, sweating, eyes closed, and hugging his own stomach to either soothe or ground himself. Sanji drops the tray in favor of dropping himself next to Zoro.
“Fuck, mossy. What did you do?” He feels up Zoro's forehead and it's burning hot. He looks as bad as he did at Thriller Bark and that sets Sanji into a panic. “What hurts? You said your head? What else? How long?” He shoots off question after question, but the swordsman just groans in reply. “You gotta answer me, mossy. What hurts?”
“Everything- fuck,” he whines pathetically.
“Did you hurt yourself on the island?” Sanji asks. Zoro just shakes his head, but regrets it quickly when it makes him grimace from the pain.
“Here, take off your scent patch. It might make you more comfortable,” the blonde suggests; already pulling up the back of Zoro's shirt to look for the patch he never sees Zoro without. “Why do you have so many on? No wonder you're all fucked up.”
“No- Sanji-,” Zoro pants out, but he knows it's too late. The cook peels off one and is instantly met with the swordsman's heat pheromones.
“Holy shit. Fuck-” Sanji curses, folding for a minute from the scent. “Wait- fuck. Hold on-,” he pants out. He has to tear himself away from Zoro and stumbles to his own locker, trying to ignore the scent coming off the swordsman. “This is bad,” he mumbles to himself.
He looks through his locker fervently, eventually finding what he was looking for: rut suppressant. Ruts can be triggered by heat pheromones, but just one dose after coming in contact with an omega in heat does the trick.
He quickly injects the medication into his thigh. Not even caring that he stabbed through a good pair of slacks.
“You fucking idiot,” he says to Zoro while quickly making it back to him. His tone is angry, but his hands are gentle the moment he feels Zoro's forehead again. “I thought you were an alpha! Why do you reek of heat?!” Of course he thought Zoro was an alpha. He looks the part and acts the part too. He wears scent patches non stop, but so does Sanji- an alpha!
Sanji peels off the rest of the scent patches, wondering if he should give himself another dose of rut suppressant. Zoro's pheromones are hitting him hard. Meanwhile, Nami's heat pheromones never trigger Sanji's rut. He is even trusted to drop off snacks and drinks to the red head during her heats. It was a point of pride for the cook; how good his self control was, but one whiff of Zoro's scent has him losing himself. But he can't focus on the right now, he needs to take care of this idiot moss!
“I think I should bring you to Chopper,” Sanji says out loud and Zoro whines in response. Yeah, that's a bad idea.“Fuck- no. I can't just have you walking around town like this. If you could even walk in the first place…” he bites his lip thinking.
“You think I could leave you here? While I look for Chopper?” His gut says no. Telling him not to leave the omega alone on a ship docked at an unfamiliar island, but Zoro nods.
The cook stands to leave, but is overwhelmed by the sudden strong scent of fear and panic. It was like Zoro's scent was screaming for him to stay. The fear of Sanji actually leaving hits the swordsman like a ton of bricks. Shivers wrack though his body and his panting picks up; keeping him on the verge of hyperventilating.
“Okay, I hear you. I won't leave. I'm sorry, it was a stupid idea,” the blonde admits as he sinks back down next to the omega on the floor. Zoro's scent calms slightly, relieving Sanji a little bit.
“Let's get you more comfortable, okay mossy? You think you can stand?” Sanji asks. Zoro nods and makes an attempt before crumbling back to the floor miserably. “Hold on,” the cook says, scooping up the omega into his arms. He makes his way to Zoro's bunk and sits, plopping the swordsman on his lap.
“If you can't leave the ship and neither can I, then you'll just have to ride it out until Chopper gets back,” Sanji explains. “I'm gonna try and help you out until then, okay?” He asks and Zoro looks at him confused and also delirious still panting and shaking in pain.
“Relax, I'm not gonna do anything weird,” he says as he pulls off his own scent patch. He pushes out a calming scent and the effect is immediate. He can feel Zoro's body relax a little.
“Stupid swordsman. Can I scent you? Might help a little,” Sanji offers. Zoro rests his head on Sanji's shoulder and nods, bringing his arms around the blonde to hold onto the back of his shirt. The swordsman can't even believe the relief he's feeling already. It's almost euphoric for him.
The cook nuzzles their cheeks together, lathering the omega in his scent before making sure to scent his neck and his clothes as well, hoping it might stay stuck to the fabric for a while.
“What do you normally do to get comfortable during your heat? You nest?” The blonde asks. Realistically he knows that almost all omegas nest during a heat, but can't picture the swordsman nesting at all. He can't picture him being an omega period, but here they are. “What do you normally nest with?” He asks. Skipping over how Zoro hasn't even answered him yet, just hoping he has some kind of stash of heat supplies somewhere.
“I don't know,” the omega pants out quietly. Almost hesitantly.
“What?”
“I don't know,” Zoro says more firmly. The implication hits Sanji and rapidly changes his scent from calming to angered. The difference in scent affects Zoro immediately. The blonde can feel the other's body brace for a fight or maybe even a lecture, but Sanji just takes a deep breath.
“I'm sorry,” Zoro says meekly and Sanji can't stand the sound of such a shameful apology on the swordsman's lips. He closes his eyes and wraps his arms around Zoro before pushing out that calming scent again.
“Chopper will lecture your ears off later, so you don't need to hear it from me. Right now, I think we should move you out of the bunk room and maybe find you some nesting material,” they should definitely move. For privacy, but also so Zoro's not pumping heat pheromones into a room where everyone else sleeps. The green haired man holds on to Sanji tighter; feeling nervous about moving somewhere else or being seen by anyone.
“I'm sure Nami wouldn't appreciate you using her heat room… What about the Captain's quarters? Luffy never uses it. I'm sure he wouldn't mind, especially with the current circumstances…” Sanji asks, but the swordsman doesn't care. As long as they stay on the ship in a room with a door, but saying all that is a bit much for his current state of being so he grunts to convey his thoughts and apparently Sanji gets what he means.
He turns his body with Zoro still in his arms and leans over, laying him down gently on the bed before Sanji stands himself up. While Zoro likes the idea of laying down, Sanji no longer holding him seems to burn a hole in his heart, but his head hurts too much to voice that and (to his own horror) involuntarily whines at the loss of contact.
“One second, mossy,” he says as he walks away toward the door, making Zoro's scent flare with panic for some reason. “I'm not leaving! Just getting the laundry hamper,” he says and grabs the basket between the door and the lockers before making his way back.
“Let's see… you want something of everyone's? Besides Robin and Nami. I will not go through a lady's laundry,” he says proudly.
“For what?” Zoro rasps out weakly.
“Typically people nest when in heat… and they like to keep stuff around them that smells of their mate or pack. Sanji pulls out a few articles to show the omega, but Zoro quickly covers his nose.
“Stop- fuck. I don't want any of that,” he says as a wave of nausea passes over him. Was everyone else's scent always that strong? Or bad?
“What's wrong?” Sanji asks after stuffing the clothes back into the hamper and pushing it away. He's never seen Zoro on the verge of gagging before.
“I don't- I don't need to nest with anything just- Sanji please fuck-,” he doesn't know what he's asking for, but he's desperate. Whether it's for Sanji to hold him again or to never smell the crew's dirty laundry again (people nest with that?!) he is unsure, but he needs it.
“You were okay with my scent, yeah?” He asks concerned as he sits on the bunk once more.
“Mm,” Zoro hums, closing his eyes and reaching out for the cook. The blonde holds his hand, looking down at the swordsman at a loss of what to do. He hates to see anyone in pain, especially a crewmate, but something about it being Zoro makes his stomach twist.
“Let's move you, okay?” Sanji asks softly. Zoro doesn't respond, just lays there with eyes closed. He's still panting lightly, but holds onto the blonde's hand tightly. Sanji leans back over and gathers the mossball in his arms before wrapping his blanket around him. “I'm gonna carry you because I'm the best crewmate in the world.” This gets a chuckle out of the other man which relaxes Sanji just a bit.
“You gotta hold on to me, mossy,” he whispers, earning another small “mm” out of the man. He wraps his arms around Sanji's neck, tucking his nose into the blonde scent gland- making him shiver. “Hey! Careful, that's sensitive!” Sanji tuts.
“You smell good,” Zoro mumbles, making the blonde blush. In truth, Sanji always smelled good to Zoro, but right now… Sanji's scent was probably the only thing keeping him grounded. He smelled like how the ocean looked with bits of lemon and something herby in there. Refreshing, calming, comforting, and down right addictive.
It's not like Sanji could talk. Zoro smelled just as good- which he wasn't going to read into at this moment. So he held onto Zoro tight and stood from the bunk, making his way to the Captain's quarters on the other side of the ship with Zoro's legs wrapped around his waist.
It was odd to hold such a strong man in his arms, but at the same time Sanji felt honored. It reminded him of Thriller Bark… carrying the mossball back to everyone. Holding onto Zoro's secret. Despite how scary the whole situation was, Sanji felt closer to Zoro after that. Secretly he hopes that this will help them become closer too. He'll be there for him. Through his heat, when he's injured, if he's ever hungry, Sanji will be there.
They make it to the Captain's quarters and Sanji gently lays Zoro on the lone bed in the middle of the room. It's much larger than the bunks, but only had one thin sheet on it. The duvet being stolen and taken to the crowsnest for watch duty on those cold nights. Thankfully Sanji had the forethought to wrap Zoro up in his own blanket. The swordsman said he doesn't want to nest, but Sanji believes a comforting blanket will be helpful.
“Try to sleep until Chopper comes back from town. You wanna eat something? I can make you a snack while you rest?” He offers.
“No, I wanna- hah. Can you lay down too?” Zoro pants while reaching out for Sanji.
“You want me to lay with you?” He asks. He's hesitant. Purely because an alpha laying down with an omega in heat usually leads to something, but Sanji hasn't been able to smell an ounce of arousal on Zoro.
“D- Don't make fun of me. It feels better when you're closer,” Zoro grits out. Sanji looks at him briefly before mentally saying “fuck it” and climbs into the bed as well. He pulls the puddle of marimo and blanket closer to his chest and pushes out more of the calming scent, hoping it has the added effect of letting Zoro know he wasn't trying to make fun of him.
Zoro tucks his face in his neck again and Sanji closes his eyes, suddenly feeling content and a little sleepy. They lay like that for a while until another wave of cramps crashes over the omega. He tries to stave off any reaction, but fails miserably. He lets out a pathetic whimper and his scent changes from mildly in discomfort to actually in pain once more.
The alpha perks up to the fluctuation in the scent and pushes Zoro into his back so he can see his face.
“What hurts?” Sanji asks, already putting a hand on his tummy. “Here?” Zoro just whimpers in response and Sanji rubs soothing circles to try and distract Zoro from his cramps. “Just a little longer mossy. You're being surprisingly patient,” Sanji chuckles. “And docile.”
“When this is over I'm gonna beat the shit out of you for calling me docile,” the omega threatens.
“I'd like to see you try,” Sanji teases. “Does this help?” He asks, cocking his head to his hand on Zoro's lower abdomen. The swordsman covers his eyes with a hand, but nods. He feels pathetic for needing his tummy rubbed. He feels pathetic for needing someone to lay down with him just because he's not feeling good. He feels pathetic for acting so childish, but he can't help it. The idea of going through this heat alone makes his eyes water with tears. Those few moments of laying on the ground alone were pure agony and when Sanji scented him- it was like a wave of relief had washed over him in a way that's never happened to him before.
While Zoro has a crisis in his head, Sanji continues to comfort him. He's grateful the swordsman is accepting his help. When Zoro was down after Thriller Bark, Sanji couldn't help, but dote on him with food and he feels the same way now. But Zoro declined his snack offer so tummy rubs are the next best thing.
After a while, Sanji can feel Zoro relax again and his scent even out a bit.
“Feeling a little better?” The blonde asks hopefully now that the cramps have stopped for the moment.
“Mm,” the Omega hums.
“How about that snack now?”
“What's with you trying to feed me right now? Do you wanna leave?” Zoro hopes that's not the case. Despite not wanting this to happen, especially with Sanji here, it seems the only thing saving him from panic and pain is the presence of the cook.
“No, no! I just- I'm at a loss of how to comfort you besides making you food…” the blonde confesses.
“You're doing an alright job… just stay for now. And… and hold me?” The swordsman asks hopefully.
“I can do that, mossy.” So the cook pulls Zoro into his arms. He cradles the back of his head, guiding it into his neck again so Zoro can breathe in his scent. The other hand on the small of his back rubbing circles there to comfort him. Zoro melts and wraps his arms around the cook. He takes a deep breath, trying to take in the most of Sanji's scent that he can.
It doesn't take long for the both of them to fall asleep wrapped up in each other.