"Hello, Mr.Swordsman," Robin said, sitting down next to Zoro who was at the bar counter, bottle of shochu resting next to him.

"What do you want?" Zoro asked. She was always so perceptive, so Zoro had to keep his guard up around her.

Robin ordered a drink before answering."Mr.Cook has been blowing hearts in your direction the whole night. Why is that?"

"That ero cook? He's probably been looking at you, not me," Zoro huffed, taking a sip of his shochu.

"I could just go over and ask him." Robin smiled."I'm sure he would tell me everything in detail with that loud, excited voice of his."

"Devil," Zoro whispered to himself, though Robin heard everything.

"So?"

"We had sex," Zoro grounded out, voice low as he poured himself another glass.

"Really?" Robin actually looked a bit shocked, for once."Mr.Cook had been coming into Peach often to complain about you not wanting to go further. He said the closest he had gotten was giving you a blow-"

"We're not talking about this anymore," Zoro threatened.

Robin ignored it."But I'm curious, how did he do it?"

"...Free booze for a month."

"And?"

"Sashimi."

"You're favorite, I presume."

X

"No."

"Zoro, I've been waiting patiently for months now." He put out his cigarette."If there is some reason you can't or don't want to, tell me. If you're scared, just know I will be with you every step of the way." Sanji moved forward, cupping Zoro's face in his hands."And if you want to end this relationship, it's better to tell me now while you don't have as many regrets."

Zoro looked away scornfully."...Fine."

"What?"

"But if you do one thing I don't like, I will kill you."

"I expect nothing less."

X

"Should I make some sekihan?" Robin asked, looking far too pleased with herself.

Zoro grunted back, motioning to Nami to get him another bottle. She happily complied, ready to gain as much money as possible.

Nami handed Zoro his drink."So, Zoro, what happened last night? Sanji's acting weird," she asked.

Zoro groaned.

Sanji came prancing over."Nami-swan! Robin-chan! How are my two lovely ladies?"

"Great, thank you, Sanji," Nami said with a smile.

"We were just talking to Zoro about what happened last night," Robin, that devil, responded.

"Last night?" Sanji questioned as if he had forgot. Then he turned to Zoro."That reminds me. How are you feeling, marimo, any pain?" He moved and groped his ass a bit.

Zoro punched him in the gut, walking away with a huff."Check on yourself, shitty cook."

Sanji watched him go, and then turned to Robin and Nami with tears in his eyes.

"You deserved that," they both said back.

X

"I'm going to start a private detective agency," Sanji said to Zoro from across the bar counter.

"If that means never seeing your ugly face again, then go ahead," Zoro replied, taking a sip of his sake.

"What about my face is ugly?" Sanji huffed back. He then attempted to get back on track."Anyways, I want you to work with me."

Zoro laughed out loud, probably the most amused Sanji had ever seen him."Work for you? Never in my life would I do that."

"Work with me," Sanji stressed."I know how good you are with the sword. We would be partners."

"Doesn't matter," Zoro grunted, still recovering from his laughing fit."I wont do it."

"You need a job, don't you, Zoro? I guarantee you will be able to find strong opponents to fight so you can gain strength and beat Mihawk," Sanji said."This is perfect for you and you know it."

"And what about you?" Zoro asked."You're a cook."

"Not anymore," Sanji said with a smile.

Zoro sighed, getting up and slapping whatever spare change he had on the table."...I'll think about it." And that was all Sanji needed.

The gap was finally starting to close.

Shochu (焼酎) - distilled liquor that can be made from either sweet potato (Imo-jochu), barley (Mugi-jochu), rice (Kome-jochu), or other ingredients. It is often consumed with cold or hot water and, despite sake's popularity outside of Japan, shochu in the more consumed beverage inside Japan.
Sekihan (赤飯) - literally means "red rice". Its a sweet rice cooked with red adzuki beans, causing the rice to turn red, and is then sprinkled on top with gomashio (toasted sesame seeds and salt). The color red is said to have magical powers that bring good fortune and ward off evil so most people will eat sekihan for good luck. Traditionally, it is served on special days and festive occasions such as obi-iwai (ritual on fifth mouth of pregnancy to wish for a safe and easy childbirth) and okuizome (baby's symbolic first meal when it's 100 days old) but it can also be served for something simpler like a birthday or Christmas.

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading! All the comments and votes are much appreciated and warm my heart!
I really enjoyed writing this, it's probably my favorite work, and had fun learning a lot about Japanese food culture.
On my last reread, I felt like writing the scene of their first time (having sex) so I may do it. It will be on a separate story, but I'll update this to let you know!
All the love,
Katlnn Rotato