New Life

Title: New Life
Author: Genuinelie(s)
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Characters and world are not mine.

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Chapter Four
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"Ungh-"

Sanji's back arched as pleasure rippled through his body. He was trembling, but for some reason it didn't bother him that he had lost so much of his control because Zoro, buried within him, was also shuddering uncontrollably. The swordsman's eyes were closed tightly, a look of abandon covering his features.

"Unh." Zoro replied, lowering himself onto the cook's slick stomach and sliding his hand off of Sanji's cock. A moment later gentle lips traced a path up Sanji's throat, ending their quest at his own.

Sanji smirked against the other man's mouth. "If you'd told me this was an option, shit swordsman, I would have spent less time kicking your head in."

Zoro's chuckle vibrated against both their stomaches. "I thought you'd kick it harder."

Sanji gave a small shrug, closing his eyes and relishing the afterglow. "Maybe." He wrapped his arms around Zoro's broad shoulders, pulling him down until they were nestled like pieces of a puzzle, legs entwined. Zoro's hands still rested on his hips.

"Because of Nami." Zoro breathed against his ear. There was a curious note of resignation in his voice.

Sanji was hit with a sudden craving for a cigarette. Neither man had talked much about their former life since Zoro returned, more specifically Sanji's multiple feminine obsessions. In particular the name Zoro had just dropped into the thick, sleepy air.

"Did you really - I mean," Sanji fumbled for words. "Back then. You really wanted this?"

Zoro pressed his forhead to Sanji's. "Yes." He breathed.

The answer was simple, and terrifying.

For a moment the soft slap of waves against the sides of the Going Merry and the distant snores of the crew were all that could be heard in the room where Nami used to draw her maps.

Finally Zoro gave a soft sigh. "You were always pushing me away, love-cook." Zoro murmured against his cheek. There wasn't any emotion in the words. It was just a statement of fact.

Sanji frowned. "You were the one always picking fights with me."

Zoro snorted. "Yeah, because you were always acting like a fool over the girls. It was embarassing to watch."

Two and two suddenly clicked in Sanji's head. The sum was jealousy.

A lot of things suddenly seemed clearer.

"That's because ladies aren't supposed to be treated the way you treat them, marimo."

"Oh yeah?" Zoro lifted his head, his eyes narrowing.

"Yeah."

"And why's that? Seems to me she just left you anyway-"

Sanji shoved Zoro off of him and pushed himself upright. It was time to find that cigarette. Without bothering to cover himself, he began rooting through the pile of clothes strewn across the floor for his jacket.

Zoro's voice was grim. "Women are devious, Sanji. You treated Nami like a princess, and she still left you, in the end. Made you pay off your debt, too, if I remember."

Sanji found his jacket and pulled out a cigarette with a hum of relief. He didn't turn around as he sat back on the bed, not touching the swordsman. "So did you," he answered quietly. He lit his nicotene and inhaled the smoke deep into his lungs, holding it until some of the edge was gone.

"What?"

Sanji ran a hand through his hair. "I said, so did you. Mihawk chop off an ear or what?"

A warm arm circled his waist. He let it pull him backwards until he rested against Zoro's chest.

The room was silent, Sanji's head moving up and down gently in time with Zoro's breathing. Zoro held him tightly, not answering him, and suddenly the image of Zoro's guilt-stricken face on the day he left formed in Sanji's mind. Sanji felt a sharp wave of regret.

"Forget it," Sanji said. "Forget I said that. You had to."

Zoro's hand tightened around his chest. It was both apology and gratitude.

Sanji snuffed out his cigarette, and eventually they dozed off together to the quiet sound of the waves.

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