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Maybe it was cheesy, but Christmas was definitely Perona’s favourite time of year. She loved the cute lights, the masses of sweets one could eat without judgement, and getting to dress up all cosy in her fun winter jackets. Every year, her dad would let her have free reign over decorating their home, including his ballroom (because yes, of course, Mihawk had one of those). Perona had spent all day hanging up reems of pink, black, and silver tinsel, decorating a huge tree in the corner with each sparkling bauble expertly placed. Mihawk had sprung for a real tree for the ballroom, a classic evergreen that stretched right up to the ceiling. For their cosy lounge, Perona used her sparkling, artificial black tree. Both were cute in their own way.
Perona hung the final ornament on the black tree,—the cutest little bat in a Santa hat! She squealed in pure delight. A mug of hot chocolate was waiting for her at the bottom of the ladder, and the room smelt of the first batch of cinnamon Christmas cookies.
The only thing ruining her Christmas spirit was the loud snores from her annoying little brother.
Perona glared at Zoro. He was lying upside down in the recliner chair, his legs sticking straight up towards the ceiling. She pouted, sliding down the ladder and giving his chest a sharp slap.
“Wake up!” She ordered. “Take the boxes back down to the basement.”
Zoro scowled, opening one eye to glare at her.
“You got them out, you take ‘em.”
“I decorated the house; you can put the boxes away.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
Perona shook with frustration but managed to take a deep breath. She would not let her punk brother ruin her Christmas. She sat down in front of the log fire, wrapping her hands around her mug of hot chocolate.
“What time is your cutie boyfriend getting here?” Perona asked.
“Hum?” Zoro pulled himself up, frowning at his sister.
She leaned down and tapped his forehead.
“Or…” She grinned, “is he finally your cutie fiancé?”
Zoro huffed. He flipped himself right way up and walked off to find the kitchen.
“You still haven’t asked!” Perona called after him, running down the corridor. “You must have been carrying that ring around for two months now! Did you lose it?”
Zoro didn’t turn around. He just reached into his pocket, took out the ring box and held it up.
“Why haven’t you asked yet?” his sister persisted. “You’ve had plenty of opportunities.”
Zoro found the coffee maker and switched it on. He frowned at his reflection in the shiny metal. He hated it when his sister was right.
Sanji and Zoro had been dating for four years. They had known each other for seven years in total. The first few years they had been at each other’s throats almost constantly, taking offence to the tiniest little thing and escalating to all-out fights with the smallest bit of prompting. Then, all of a sudden, after college, they’d actually looked at each other. They’d both acknowledged that they had a mutual attraction to each other. After a long night of talking, the occasional punch or kick, a lot of wine and beer, and a whole packet of cigarettes on Sanji’s part, they agreed to try dating.
A year after that, Zoro moved into Sanji’s apartment. Two and a half years after that Zoro bought a ring.
It was perfect for Sanji. Nami had helped him pick it out and even managed to get Sanji’s ring size. Zoro had tried on multiple occasions to sneakily measure Sanji’s ring finger in his sleep- every time he’d woken Sanji up and earned himself a kick to the face!
Nami had gone up to Sanji, asked him to try on a measuring device she’d swiped from a jewellers and Sanji had done it no questions asked. Because of course he had. Sanji told Zoro he loved him every night before they went to sleep and several times during the day, every day, but still the cook fell victim to the charms of a beautiful woman. It was just who he was Zoro supposed.
The smell of the fresh coffee tickled Zoro’s nose. He swallowed.
Mihawk had a state-of-the-art coffee machine. It probably cost more than Sanji’s car. The coffee it made didn’t hold a candle to Sanji’s.
The ring was silver, with a tasteful wave design around the band. In the centre was a small star sapphire gem. The ring was absolutely perfect for Sanji- and it didn’t empty Zoro’s bank account. The cook would have gotten pissed if he’d done that, even if Zoro wanted to.
Zoro had put the ring in his pocket the moment he’d picked it up from the jewellers. He’d started planning the perfect proposal straight away.
He’d taken Sanji down to the pier, to the long stretch of grass on a slope overlooking the ocean. Zoro had brought a blanket, sat down next to Sanji with his arm around him and taken his hand. He’d looked into Sanji’s beautiful eye, his kind smile and ran his fingers through that impossibly soft blond hair. Zoro was just about to tell him that he loved him with all his heart and wanted to spend the rest of his life with him.
Only the words never came out.
Zoro stared at Sanji, his boyfriend smiling at him. He’d leaned in and kissed him instead.
The fireworks Usopp had set up, rockets in blue and green, lit up in the sky above them. Sanji had just thought it was a coincidence and snuggled into Zoro to watch the show.
So, Zoro had set up plan B.
He’d booked them a table for two at a high-end restaurant. It was ‘hip,’ classy and perfect for Sanji. It was called Nul and its deal was that it made high-end food with minimal waste. Sanji had been talking about going there for months and every time they passed it in the street, Sanji would stop to look at it. The building was plain white, with a metal sign with a zero hanging outside like a pub sign. The tables and chairs were hardwood, and there was a log fireplace at the back. There were rustic beams over the dining hall that Zoro was pretty sure had just been put there to make the place look pretentious. He’d pointed this out to Sanji, who’d laughed, then pointed out to Zoro how beautiful the food looked, organised so meticulously on the blue and brown plates.
They walked past it the night of the fireworks. It was so obvious, Zoro wondered why he didn’t think of it before.
Zoro called in a few favours, mostly from Franky who somehow managed to get them a reservation for the next weekend at seven o’clock for a table near the fireplace. Zoro didn’t know how Franky knew and was owed favours by everyone in the city, but there were some things about your friends that you didn’t pry into.
He didn’t bother telling Sanji where they were going. He just told his boyfriend to dress up nice. Sanji had frowned at him in confusion but done as he was told- spending two hours picking out his suit, getting dressed and styling his hair while Zoro sat in the living room playing Assassin’s Creed.
Zoro had walked with Sanji down to the restaurant, holding his hand. When Sanji realised where they were going he almost fainted. He threw his arms around Zoro and gave him the biggest kiss, declaring that Zoro could be a ‘romantic piece of shit’ when he put his mind to it.
They sat down at their fireside table. It was surprisingly not too hot. Zoro wondered if they wasted energy keeping the place cool, rather spoiling their environmental message. Sanji ordered for both of them like he normally did whenever they went somewhere classy. The food tasted like food to Zoro. To Sanji, it met all his expectations.
Sanji talked Zoro through all the flavours. He described how each dish had been cooked and prepared, the waiter confirming he was right every time he asked. Sanji explained why the spices worked well together. They sipped their way through the wine pairings that Sanji had picked out.
Zoro listened to his boyfriend talk all evening. Occasionally, he’d stroke the velvet ring box.
He didn’t want to interrupt Sanji. So, he didn’t.
They went home, arm in arm, the ring still in Zoro's pocket. And Sanji was none the wiser. So far as Zoro knew.
Finally, there was the trip to Paris.
This time, Zoro drove to his father’s house to ask if they could stay in the flat Mihawk had in Paris (which unfortunately meant that his thirty-year-old sister who still lived at home found out exactly why he wanted to go. Zoro hadn’t even brought up his planned proposal. Perona had asked if he was planning to propose, and Zoro took too long to say no.) Mihawk had agreed, even booking the train tickets for his son and his boyfriend before Zoro could tell him not to.
Zoro drove home with the ultimate proposal plan. He had a weekend in Paris planned for his boyfriend- who didn’t need to know it was at his father’s expense. There was nothing that could go wrong this time.
The biggest problem that Zoro could think of was that Sanji would surely figure out what was going on. Who wouldn’t after being suddenly taken to a fancy restaurant they’d been desperate to try?
Sanji blinked when Zoro told him. He looked more confused than anything else.
“Why?” Sanji asked.
Zoro shrugged. “I um… Thought we could do with a break?”
Sanji tapped his fingers on the counter. He shrugged and went back to making dinner.
“It’ll be nice,” he said, “I can pick up a few things while we’re there.”
Zoro nodded. He turned around, hands in his back pockets.
“Oh, and Zoro?”
He clutched the ring box.
“I’m packing for you this time. I’m not letting you waste all my good shampoo because you forgot to pack yours.”
They went to Paris.
Zoro walked with Sanji all around the city. They had lunch in fancy cafés next to the Saint-Martin Canal. They’d taken the train down to see the Palace of Versailles. The couple had done every sweet, touristy thing that crossed Zoro’s mind. He’d even taken Sanji to the catacombs.
Sanji had stood, reading some information next to a well-organised wall of skulls. Zoro had reached for the ring. For the first time, he took it out of his pocket.
He imagined getting down on one knee, surrounded by all the human skulls. Perona would have slapped him for it and told him it was the most uncute proposal possible. Robin would have enjoyed the story, and Luffy probably would have found it funny. What would Sanji think?
Sanji would call him a dumb, morbid Marimo.
For the first time since actually buying the ring, Zoro wondered what Sanji would say. He’d taken it for granted that Sanji would say yes. Maybe Sanji wasn’t ready? Perhaps they needed to sit down and talk about it.
Or maybe, Sanji was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Maybe Sanji was the most beautiful person he’d ever met and he knew that they were going to be together forever. No one made him feel like Sanji made him feel. He could say something dumb and corny like that- he wanted to spend forever with Sanji because Sanji made him feel alive. In a room of six million, Sanji would always be the one who called for him.
“Cook?”
Sanji turned around. The dim light of the catacombs seemed to illuminate behind him.
“Yes, Marimo?”
“I wanted to say-”
A tour group came around the corner. Two loud children ran past, their parents calling after them to come back. Another couple started taking selfies of themselves next to the skulls- not turning the flash off on their cameras despite several signs telling them to.
Sanji rolled his eyes but smiled fondly at the children. Hairs on the back of Zoro’s neck stood up. Did Sanji want children? Sanji was good with children, sure, but they’d never talked about having them. Did Zoro want children? Not especially- but he would be willing to have that conversation with Sanji. Should they have this conversation before he proposed?
“Marimo?”
Sanji was standing there, staring at him with a smile. Zoro shoved his hands deep in his pockets.
“I’m hungry.”
Sanji rolled his eyes, linking his arm through Zoro’s.
“Come on. We’re nearly there.”
They went to dinner after that. Then they walked all the way across the city back to Mihawk’s flat. Sanji refused to let go of Zoro’s arm for even a second.
He stopped when they got to the Eiffel Tower. Sanji turned to look at it, leaning against Zoro’s shoulder. He sighed, shivering a little from the cold. Zoro wrapped an arm around his boyfriend.
The tower lit up in sparkles. The sky behind it was dotted with silver stars, an almost full moon shining above them.
It was picture-perfect. The sort of proposal people dreamed about. Isn’t this what every romantic sap wants? To be proposed to in front of the Eifel Tower, the city lights of Paris surrounding them and the moon reflected in the water.
“Cook.” Zoro took a deep breath.
Sanji stubbed out his cigarette. Zoro turned to face him, taking his hands in his.
“Cook…”
Zoro tried to focus on Sanji. His beautiful, wonderful Sanji.
While the image of the Eifel Tower at night looked perfect, it didn’t sound perfect. Zoro could still hear the horns from the cars, the crowds of people walking through the street and even the cameras from tourists. He was pretty sure someone was about to come up to them and ask them for money.
“Hey.” Sanji brought his attention back to him. He leaned in, kissing Zoro tenderly on the lips. “Don’t worry, we’re nearly there.”
He cupped Zoro’s cheek, giving him a reassuring smile. They turned away from the tower, walking back to the flat.
Zoro stared at himself until he heard the coffee machine beep. He took the ring box out of his pocket, placing it on the counter and taking a mug from the cupboard.
“How have you still not asked?” His sister squeaked from the doorway. She ran into the kitchen, grabbing one of the fresh Christmas cookies.
“It hasn’t… Been right.”
“You took him to Paris!” Perona argued. “You’re running out of 'right' places!”
Zoro wanted to argue. He just couldn’t put his finger on the problem.
“You never answered my question anyway,” Perona pointed out, “what time is he getting here?”
“Oh.” Zoro poured himself his mug of coffee. “I think around seven or eight? Not until after the party has started.”
The ‘party’ happened to be Mihawk’s pre-Christmas ball. It was a huge extravagant event Mihawk threw every year. Everyone Mihawk knew was invited- acquaintances and friends from all over the world. Even Zoro’s friends were invited. Franky even put on trousers for it, although Luffy would still turn up in a three-piece suit with his straw hat. Once a year, Mihawk would pull out all the stops. The event would be catered, with trays of the best appetisers in the city, an open bar with champagne, a quartet and a huge Christmas tree reaching the ceiling that he let his daughter decorate.
Everybody who was anyone knew about Mihawk’s annual Christmas ball on the 23rd of December.
If you were one of his children, then you would know that the only reason why Mihawk put so much effort into his Christmas ball was so he could spend the rest of the year in his library sipping on brandy or out on his boat without having to talk to anyone. Even this year, when Mihawk was bringing his new gentleman friend (who also happened to be a longtime friend of Luffy’s) he would probably spend most of the party sitting in the corner, greeting people politely when they came to thank him.
Sanji was of course coming to the ball. Since Zeff worked on Christmas, they would always spend their Christmases with Zoro’s family. Zoro would come over on the 22nd, and then Sanji would join them for Mihawk’s Christmas ball when he got off from work.
There was a loud squeal in the kitchen- Zoro nearly dropped his coffee mug. He glared at his sister, who was bouncing up and down, a Christmas cookie crumbling in her balled fist.
“You should ask him tonight!” Perona almost screamed.
Zoro shoved a finger in his ear. “What?”
“Don’t be gross. And don’t be a dumbass!” Perona twirled around the kitchen. “It’ll be perfect! All your friends will be there. When he comes in, we can get the band to play something special, just for him. Then everyone can raise their glasses and make a parting, guiding Sanji to you. You’re waiting at the foot of the Christmas tree. Then you get down on one knee, take his hand and ask him to marry you!”
Zoro looked at the ring box, sipping his coffee. It was perhaps the only idea more romantic than in front of the Eifel Tower- it was probably better being slightly more original. All their friends would be there, Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook and Jinbei. All there to congratulate them and share in this moment. He could probably find the sheet music to Sanji’s Moulin Rouge. It was the first song Zoro had ever heard Sanji play on the piano. When he looked out the kitchen window, Zoro saw sparkling, white snow falling from the sky. By the time the guests arrived, it would be white and fluffy on the ground.
He wouldn’t be able to write a more perfect proposal.
“Alright.” Zoro took a deep breath snatching the ring from the counter. “Let’s do this.”
~*~
The stage was set. The ballroom was packed with people in their fanciest clothing, listening to the classical music. Even Zoro was in his suit with the green waistcoat and bowtie. Sanji had made it for him two Christmases ago. He insisted that Zoro needed a suit.
The rest of the straw-hat crew were already there. Zoro had called them together for a quick meeting in his bedroom- Luffy hurrying in with an armful of canapes. Zoro had sat them all down and explained that tonight was the night. He was finally going to ask Sanji to marry him.
There had been a chorus of cheers. Franky had gotten him in a headlock with a loud cry of “finally!” Robin had pried him free, kissed his cheek and combed his hair into place.
Zoro looked at it in the window. It was so tempting to ruffle it back into its usual short sticky-up style. Sanji cut it for him twice a month to make sure it was short and manageable.
Sanji really did a hell of a lot for him.
“Okay,” Perona popped up out of nowhere, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the tree, “everyone is in place!”
Zoro tutted. Perona had been way more excited by the whole thing. She had even tried to get a ‘Will You Marry Me Sanji?’ banner made up for a big reveal, but luckily she couldn’t find anywhere willing to put it together two days before Christmas.
“Are you ready?” Perona asked.
Zoro cringed. He reached into his suit pocket. He still had the ring.
“Yeah, I guess.” He was as ready as he was ever going to be.
“Alright.” Perona looked at the grandfather clock. “It’s half past seven. Give Sanji a quick call to find out when he’s getting here.”
Zoro nodded. It was finally an excuse to step outside. He grabbed a scotch from the bar and went out into the courtyard, the snow coming up to his ankles. He reached into his pocket for his phone.
He frowned. He’d left it on silent.
From Dart Brow: Hey, Marimo <3 I’m really sorry, but I’m not feeling too well, so I’m going to head home. I’ll drive up tomorrow morning, alright? See you soon. I love you very much xxxxx
Zoro looked between his phone and the ballroom. He downed his scotch, left his glass on the windowsill and walked out into the snow.
~*~
“Babe!” Zoro called as he finally stepped through the door.
It was very nearly midnight already. It had taken Zoro almost an hour to find the train station- because the snow was so heavy, not for any other reason. During his journey home, he’d been bombarded with calls, mostly from his sister. Finally, he’d texted Nami, telling her that he was heading home to see Sanji since he wasn’t feeling well and could she please tell everyone to leave him alone.
Zoro shivered, kicking off his shoes and taking his jacket off, dropping it onto the floor.
“Fucks sake, Marimo…” A slow, croaky voice said, “take better care of your shit.”
Zoro looked up. Sanji was standing in the doorway.
He looked like shit. His blond hair was completely haywire, stuck up at all angles- except for his bangs that were settled over his left eye. His right eye was bloodshot, the skin around it grey and tired. Sanji raised a cigarette to his lips, slipping it between them and leaving it there. In his other hand, he had a steaming mug of tea. He glared at Zoro, taking a long sip, the cigarette still hanging out of his mouth. Sanji was wearing a pair of old pyjama trousers, a black t-shirt Zoro had been given at a tournament several years ago, a pair of wool socks and…
Zoro squinted, not believing it at first. Sanji was wearing his green haramaki.
“Oh, sorry,” Sanji gestured to the haramaki with his mug. He reached into the haramaki and brought out a tiny hot water bottle. “It's pretty good for keeping this in place.”
Sanji tucked it back into place, wandering into the kitchen. Zoro followed him. He saw Sanji standing over the sink.
“Wait.” Sanji turned. “Why are you here?”
“You said you weren’t well,” Zoro said, leaning against the doorframe, “is everything alright?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Sanji waved him off, “or I’ll be fine in the morning. There was no need to run away from your party. I said I was going to drive down in the morning. Dumbass Marimo…”
Zoro scoffed. He folded his arms, watching his boyfriend.
Sanji sighed, putting the kettle back on for a second cup of tea. His hair looked even worse from the back. Zoro looked over his shoulder.
The flat was entirely silent. There was just the gentle boiling of the kettle.
“Hey, Cook?”
“Yeah, Marimo?”
Zoro reached into his trouser pocket. He took out the ring.
When Sanji turned around, he saw his boyfriend on his knee in their kitchen, holding up a ring box.
“What the fuck?!” Sanji dropped his mug, managing to get it in the sink to stop it from shattering everywhere. He stared at Zoro as if his green hair had finally fallen out, leaving him shiny and bald. He clapped his hands over his mouth, shaking all over. “What the fuck are you doing, Marimo?”
“Well…” Zoro opened the ring box.
Sanji screamed when he saw the ring. He paced around the kitchen, tugging on his crazy hair.
“Now, Marimo? Now!” Sanji shook his head, accidentally knocking the cherry out of his cigarette. He dropped the butt in his ashtray, grabbing the pack for a second. “When I’m…?”
He screamed again, looking everywhere other than Zoro.
“Yes, now.” Zoro grabbed Sanji’s hand.
Sanji finally stood still. He realised that he hadn’t actually let Zoro say it.
“Sanji.” Zoro knew that would get his boyfriend's attention. “I’d rather be here, in our home with you, than anywhere else in the world. I’d rather spend my evening here in pyjamas than at my family’s dumb party.”
Sanji smirked. “Yeah, I know that, Marimo.”
“I know you do.” Zoro grinned at him. “Cook, you know we’re meant to be together. We knew that back when you wanted to kick my ass every day.”
“When I did kick your ass every day,” Sanji couldn’t help biting back.
“Yeah, yeah.” Zoro kissed his hand. “So, what do you say, Cook? Will you marry me?”
Sanji gave him the most exasperated look. It made Zoro want to scoop him up in his arms and hold him forever.
“Everywhere we’ve been together the past few months, and this is where you choose to propose?”
Zoro decided not to mention he had the ring in his pocket the entire time. “Yeah. I did.” He stood up, still holding Sanji’s hand. “Because right now, it's just you and me.” He brushed Sanji’s matted hair with his fingers. “Like I always want it to be.”
Sanji smiled. He leaned in, resting his forehead against Zoro’s.
“Me too.” Sanji pecked Zoro’s lips softly. “Yes.”
“Hum?”
He kicked Zoro’s shin. “About the whole ‘getting married’ thing dumbass!”
“Oh, right.” Zoro finally unhooked the star sapphire ring from its cushion. He took Sanji’s hand and slipped it onto his ring finger.
It fitted perfectly. ‘Dammit, Nami,’ Zoro couldn’t help but think with a hint of jealousy.
Sanji cupped the back of Zoro’s head, bringing him close for a long, perfect kiss. Zoro rested his hands on Sanji’s hips, feeling the heat from the hot water bottle through the haramaki.
“Maybe I am still going to be too sick tomorrow,” Sanji mumbled against his lips, “perhaps I should send my apologies to your family and keep you here all to myself. We could spend the whole Christmas in bed together.”
Zoro couldn’t think of anything better. Their first Christmas just the two of them. Maybe their last Christmas before finally being husbands.
“Let’s do it, Cook.”
Zoro looped his arms around Sanji, lifting him up in his arms bridal style.
“Fuck off, Marimo!” Sanji protested, but didn’t kick him away. He nuzzled into Zoro, wrapping his arms around his neck- remembering to drop his cigarette in the ashtray when they walked past. “I love you, Marimo.”
“I love you too, Cook.”
“Happy Christmas.”
“Happy Christmas.”