My World

If it weren't because the date would be at Sanji's restaurant, he'd probably have arrived an hour before (not first, nor the last time his ass would've gotten lost). So, he settled for a nice black shirt and some fitted slacks and went on his merry–albeit nervous–way.

He ended up arriving 15 minutes early.

He kept fidgeting with his buttons, cuffs, and his usually unruly hair was a little tamer today. To anyone else, he'd look to the point of boredom, but when Sanji caught sight of his friend, it was obvious to anyone who knew him that he was anything but.

He looked like a fish out of place, and before Sanji could say it, he noticed the empty hands of his so-called friend. "Hey, asshole, where are your flowers?"

"Flowers?" Zoro's confused look only made Sanji angrier, but luckily for the idiot, there was a flower shop at the corner. "Don't tell me you didn't bring anything for the first date, you idiot! Didn't you say you liked her?"

"I do!"

"Then why am I looking at a flowerless idiot!" Sanji quickly caught one of the staff's attention, sending him on this mission while quickly giving Zoro a knock on the head.

"Hey, watch it–" "She's not one of your little fitness influencers, right? You said it yourself, so act like you care and stop being so airheaded."

Thankfully for Zoro, you arrived just a little after the flowers. And arrive you did, with the prettiest smile and even prettier dress in a gorgeous shade of green that had Zoro's nervousness skyrocket.

If he were a weaker man, he'd be weak at the knees by now. But he wasn't, so he strode to welcome you, letting Sanji himself look for a nice corner table surrounded by pretty plants and a sheer curtain for privacy.

"These are for you." Zoro's palms were sweaty, even if his voice sounded calm, but you didn't need to know that. And apparently, Sanji's berating was worth it as your eyes lit up in the most beautiful way once you saw them.

He swore he would do it for the rest of his life if you let him.

"Zoro! You didn't have to!" You said that, but he could see the way you cradled the pretty bouquet, as if it were something delicate and special. "They're gorgeous. I guess you're very lucky you got my favorite flowers right."

You wink at him as you sit, watching him mimic your actions with a slightly confused look. "These are your favorites?"

You nodded as you beamed a smile that had Zoro already wondering if you'd like gold or silver. "Since I was a kid."

"I guess I am very lucky," he answered back, feeling as if in a trance in your presence, but there was not much room for fawning over you–even if he'd deny it to death–as Sanji was back with appetizers and a good wine.

"Since my dear friend told me you were dying to try my cooking. I'll be your personal chef for tonight. Please trust me with your palate for tonight's rendezvous."

"Oh my–it's okay! You don't have to do that–"

"He owes me, so it's okay," Zoro quickly adds, smirking at the glaring Sanji before he bows politely and leaves once again.

"So..."

"I just wanted–"

You both chuckled softly, then he motioned for you to take the lead. "So he owes you? What would a chef owe to a gym trainer?"

"His girlfriend," Zoro states matter-of-factly. "I might have helped them to date. So he owes me for the rest of his life."

"That's a big debt–so... since this is a date. Does it mean it's repaid?" You're quick on your feet; he can see it. He's laughing softly and shushing you. "Don't tell him that, I want to take advantage of this for as long as I can."

You laugh softly, noticing how they seem to be pretty close before remembering he was about to say something. "I'm so sorry to interrupt you from before. You were saying?"

Zoro seemed lost for a minute before saying, "Oh, yeah. You look..." He paused, the words feeling like cotton in his mouth. "Really pretty."

Now, this had your cheeks feeling a bit too warm for your liking.

"'Been thinking about seeing you all week... didn't think it'd be this hard to wait."

You looked down–probably feeling a bit too shy due to his attention–but not before he caught the little smile adorning your pretty lips.

Your flustered face was probably the best thing he'd seen so far today, and if he had to turn into Sanji by the end of this date with all the flirting, then so be it.

The appetizers come and go as the conversation warms up. Sanji is quick with his work and doesn't tease the marimo too much, as he could see you were both quite hitting it off. You had to be blind or something, because Sanji could only see how out of his league you were.

Main dish and another cup of wine are shared between childhood stories, dreams, and more, you and Zoro talking each other's ear off. Even Sanji was impressed with how many words you could get out of the marimo.

At some point, probably before dessert, his hand seemed to linger closer to yours, the warm radiating of it feeling like a welcoming change. Not touching, but present.

"Dessert is served." Sanji comes back one last time with the cutest brownie a la mode shaped like a yummy heart. "Wanna try it first?" You ask Zoro out of politeness, but he can see you the way you eye the melting dessert with a little greediness. You were so cute.

"Nah, you first." He replies, watching the way you take a piece and bring it to your mouth, only to see the way your face looks in pure bliss. Your eyes close in pure bliss as the brownie and soft vanilla ice cream melt on your palate beautifully.

He can only watch in slight envy as you savor the dessert with every part of your body. From the way your nose scrunches up and your shoulders soften a little, as if you're melting just like the ice cream.

"Someone's enjoying that dessert," Zoro speaks up, getting you out of your little bubble with a cute oh! that has him smiling a little to himself. You raise the spoon once again and put it close to his lips. "Now it's your turn. It's pretty delicious!"

How could he ever say no to you?

He lowers his face and takes a bite of the spoon without even breaking eye contact, the act feeling weirdly intimate. The hum that leaves his lips has your thighs tightening just a fraction before you can even avoid it.

"You're right, it's amazing." The way he cleans the corner of his mouth, then brings the residue ice cream to his lips shouldn't make you feel the way you feel right now.

But this is Zoro, and you're just a mortal, right?

If he noticed the way you stuttered a bit before agreeing with him and directed your look away from him, he was kind enough to not say anything.

He wishes for this moment to never end, really. Zoro tries to come up with an excuse to share more time with you, anything, but ultimately falls short as the bill is handled–you don't even know how much it was; he didn't even let you look at it–and you're both outside under the cold air of the city.

"Thanks for this, Zo'." The nickname rolls off your tongue, and he feels strangely warm. "I had a great time with you."

"Can I take you home?" It's the first thing he blurts out. He's desperate, you see, for this to never end. "Oh, I live nearby. I came walking," you answer softly, dilly-dalling with your purse in your hands, feet feeling extremely heavy at the idea of parting from him.

"Then let me walk you home, it's kinda late," he adds, reveling in the way you smile at him and nod. The walk is silent, the noise of the city night filling the space comfortably.

He doesn't have much to say. Zoro never does. He's more of a man of actions, and it should come as no surprise–even if it does anyway–when his hand comes on top of your own as you walk side by side.

Is it too late to feel like a blushing teenager? You feel like a blushing teenager. Are you blushing?

You let it happen with a smile he has quickly come to love, and start talking about something he can only nod as you ramble on, too engulfed in the feeling of your hand on his own.

It was true. The walk wasn't very far away, and sooner rather than later, you're at the entrance of your building.

"I guess this is me," you say, voice tinged with a little disappointment at the end of this moment, but even as you halt in front of the building, Zoro doesn't seem to want to let go just yet.

"Next time, I'll take you further away," he muttered. You laughed at that, finally letting go of his hand to fumble with the chip to unlock the door.

"Sure, I'll take you up on that." You finally grab the small, round blue plastic between your fingers, a question that died between laughs and food resurfacing again with nagging intent. "Hey, Zo'. Can I ask you a question?"

He nods as you face him, feeling a little scared at knowing the truth. "I heard you were more of the... fitness type, so I've been wondering... why me?"

He tilts his head to the side as he puts his hand in his pockets. "Why you, what?"

"C'mon Zoro, you know what I mean. I didn't even think I'd be on a date with you." You feel a little frustrated, and the hand that's not holding the bouquet feels clammy, but you want to know.

If this is worth all the effort.

He seems a little angry, and you might think it might be at you, but the next words completely halt your unraveling thoughts: "Is it so crazy to believe that I think you are one of the prettiest women I've ever met?" You're gaping like a fish, but he just goes, "And you're fun to be around."

"I mean–yeah! You're so... well, you–and I mean–"

Your name rolls off his mouth in a way that you feel like you never felt before. It stops your rambling and makes you look at him–really look at him, and the sight is just a beauty to behold.

His eyes, for all his usual stoic expressions, seem to hold a certain tenderness that you'll learn in the future–it's just reserved for you. His hands coming out of his pockets to hold your face as he gets so close you could see how pretty his eyelashes were. "Well, allow me to clarify."

And just like that, his lips drop onto yours.

The kiss itself is rather soft–simple, even. But it's in the way his calloused hands hold your face, and his body gets closer–almost flush to yours that does it. You feel yourself melting against him, your lips moving against his, and a slow, soft kiss that has him holding your waist against him to support you, but never stopping.

Never. He'd rather die than have this kiss end.

You don't know how long it lasted. It could've been an eternity or a minute, but by the time air is inevitably needed, your hands are around his neck, and he has lifted you clean off the floor by hugging your waist.

Neither of you would even be able to explain how this happened. But does it really matter?

"Oh, Zo–" "You don't know how long I've wanted to do that."

You forget that your feet can't touch the floor for a moment at his confession.

"What? Kiss me?"

"Yeah. You are very kissable." He does prove it to you before landing a few innocent pecks on your lips before setting you down.

"Oh my–thank you," you're flustered, and honestly? A little disoriented, but take it to him to sweep you off your feet like this. "I forgot you're very strong. Not everybody could make it feel so easy to lift me like that."

"Weak guys, pretty girl." He tucks a loose curl behind your ear. "But that's okay, it's what I'm here for, right?"

"Oh–mmm." You're trying not to combust; whatever took over this man needs to calm down. "I guess? I–I'll see myself inside. Text me when you're home, okay?"

You turn to leave, but decide to turn around at the last minute and bring Zoro down by the front of his shirt a little and place a quick peck on his lips. "Thankyouforthedate–bye!"

And before he could even process it, the door was closed, and you were gone.

It takes him a minute to gather himself, but ultimately, just chuckles and walks all the way to his car like a smiling-looking idiot.