Chapter Text
What was he thinking? Agreeing to this?
There he stood. On the front step of one freaky looking mansion. It looked like something out of a trashy vampire novel. It was a 2 story- no. A 3 story building? Wow. It had detailed architecture all over, it even came with its own gargoyles. Truly, straight out of a trashy vampire novel.
Zoro had told him that his family was quite gothic and honestly, didn't believe him. Even after Zoro insisted, nothing could have prepared him for this place. He was worried he wasn't dressed properly for dinner now. He wore a loose but nice, short sleeved, dark blue button up with black slacks and matching dress shoes. Paired with a silver necklace and matching rings on both hands.
He couldn’t believe he agreed to do this. Pretend to be Zoro’s boyfriend? He really thought he had more dignity than that.
He stood in the doorway, hands full, trying to prepare himself.
In his left hand he has a bouquet of Black Dahlia’s, Zoro said those were his sister's favorite. Named after some famous murder. If you asked Sanji, he would call that a bit morbid. Zoro said they fit his sister perfectly though.
In his right hand he had a very nice red wine from the cellar at the Baratie. Zoro had off-handily mentioned his father enjoyed wine awhile ago so he decided to bring a fresh bottle.
Sanji took a deep breath, centered himself, and rang the doorbell. He stood there for what felt like an hour or 2, why was he so nervous? His nerves subsided when the door opened and there was Zoro, peaking out.
“You actually showed up.” Zoro said with a gentle smile on his face. A look of relief washed over him. Sanji's heart skipped a beat. Why did it do that? “You still have time to turn around.” he said with a laugh following it.
“Don't be stupid Mosshead. I came all this way, now let me in.”
Zoro got a slight pink on his face like he was embarrassed as he opened the door. Sanji could now see what he was wearing. A black button up with the top few buttons undone. Paired with dark green slacks and black dress shoes. A few black brackets on his wrist. Wearing his 3 gold earrings in one ear.
Sanji was speechless for a second. He has never seen Zoro in anything other than sweats or workout gear, and occasionally in his Kendo attire.
“Wow, so you DO know how to dress.” Sanji finally said, teasingly.
“That would be thanks to me of course!” said a woman's voice from behind Zoro. He moved out of the way reluctantly, rolling his eyes, revealing a young lady wearing gothic attire. Her bright pink hair clashes with her outfit a bit. “You must be Sanji! Zoro talks about you all the time.”
“Perona! Shut up, I do not!” Zoro yelled. His face still showed a pink flush.
“You do too!” she yelled, right before she began to mock Zoro. “Oh my gosh! Sanji is soooo handsome! He cooked my favorite food today! His eyes are so pretty-”
Zoro interrupted, yelling as he swatted at her like she was a bug, “You're so dead!”
“You brute! You wouldn't hit a lady!” she yelled as she dodged out of Zoro grasp.
“You're right.. but I don't see one here!” he yelled as he ran after her. Zoro had a wicked smile on his face and Perona was giggling. “Come on in, Sanji!” Yelled Zoro over his shoulder.
Sanji's heart skipped another beat. Did Zoro just call him by his name?
Zoro talks about him? Sanji would be lying if he said he wasn't a little confused. He was sure the plans for dinner were only a few days old and that he had only just told his family about them ‘being together’ a week prior.
Nonetheless, Sanji let go of the breath he didn't realize he was holding and walked in, closing the door behind him. As he took off his shoes and sat them down, he realized he had been left alone in the front room.
He admired the inside of the house. It was just as cheesy gothic as the outside, very different from where Sanji would have assumed Zoro grew up. If you asked him, he would have said a jungle or something. It fits Perona very well though. He stood there awkwardly looking around until a tall man in a Victorian style white top and black pants started walking towards him.
“Did that buffoon seriously just leave you here?” he asked as he approached Sanji, rolling his eyes and sighing. This must have been Mihawk, he guessed.
“Haha yeah.” Sanji laughed out, “Perona said some stuff that I'm guessing embarrassed him and he started chasing her. I'm Sanji Blackleg, it's a pleasure to meet you sir.” Sanji bowed his head, normally he would shake his hand but his hands were still occupied.
“I'm Dracule Mihawk, but you can just call me Mihawk or Hawkeye. Everyone else does. Do you need a hand with those?”
Sanji quickly lifted his head up with a smile, “Oh! This is actually for you sir!” He went to hand Mihawk the wine, “Moss mentioned awhile ago that you enjoy a good wine. I do too, so I brought you my favorite red from our cellar. I hope it’s to your liking sir.”
Mihawk raised a brow as he took the wine from Sanji, “From your cellar?”
“Well my father's, I work with him at Baratie. We have a wonderful selection of wines.”
“Oh I love Baratie- wait. Your father- are you Zeff’s kid?” Mihawk questioned, a smile creeping onto his face as he examined the wine. “Should have guessed from the last name.”
“You know him?” Sanji asked, surprised.
“I visit the Baratie occasionally, normally after my Kendo tournaments. So I've chatted with Zeff a few times. Zoro did not mention you work there.”
“If he hasn't mentioned that then I'm honestly scared to know what he has mentioned.” Sanji chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. Trying to keep his empty hand occupied.
Mihawk let out what Sanji assumed was a small laugh and was about to speak when he was interrupted.
“Dad! Zoro hit me!” Perona came in whining. Zoro wasn't far behind her, rolling his eyes.
“You're so dramatic! I swatted you on the back of your head.”
”See! He’s admitting it!” she spat out while sticking her tongue out at Zoro, to which he did right back.
Mihawk sighed, free hand placed on the bridge of his nose, “I swear, even with a guest you two can't stop bickering.”
Sanji chuckled a little bit at the way the family acted towards each other. He was envious. He would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous of Zoro and Perona’s sibling dynamic.
Zoro stood next to him, a little awkward but still with his usual confident stance.
Sanji reached the flowers out to Perona, bowing his head the same way he did to Mihawk, “These are for you, Miss Perona. I've been told you're a fan of Black Dahlia’s?”
“Oh my goodness! Dad, look at those! They're gorgeous!” Perona took them from Sanji's hand and smelled them, “Did you know, Black Dahlia’s are named after an old-”
“Oh my god, stop being so creepy ‘Rona.” Zoro spat out.
There was that assumed laugh again from Mihawk. “I see them, Perona. These are very thoughtful of you Sanji. Thank you for the gifts.”
“Of course. It would be rude for me to meet Marimo’s family and not bring gifts!” Sanji said with a little chuckle. He raised his hand and placed it on Zoro's shoulder. Zoro’s face that had returned to its normal color was now pink again.
Perona and Mihawk chuckled. “Marimo?” Perona teased, peering over the bouquet of flowers.
“Shut up.”
Sanji looked at the way Zoro reacted to Perona's teasing and had an idea. He took his free hand and grabbed one of Zoros, “Oh I'm sorry Zoro, would you rather I not call you that around your family?”
Zoro tensed, his eyes opening wide. Hearing Sanji say his name so casually and having him take his hand, it was a little more than he could handle. He quickly turned his face away from everyone. “It’s fine, Curly..”
Mihawk and Perona chuckled as they began to walk away. “Dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes, why don't you two come join us in the living room?” asked Mihawk.
“We'll be there in a sec dad, I need to talk to Sanji.” Zoro responded, looking back at his dad as he walked away.
“Alright.” Mihawk responded.
Now they were alone, standing in the entry way.
Zoro let out a very long breath, as if he had been holding his breath this entire time. That would explain why he was pink, he wasn’t getting any oxygen. “Okay. This is okay. It’s all fine.” he let out. Sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than anything else. “So that’s my family, Cook.”
Sanji let go of his hand but kept his other hand on Zoro's shoulder. “I’m gonna be honest with you, Moss. That is not what I expected.”
”I told you they were into the whole gothic thing. Did you think I was lying?” he let out another long breath. Seriously, was he holding his breath?
“No. Not lying. I just thought you were being a bit dramatic I guess.” He finally took his hand off of Zoro’s shoulder. “I mean, this is not the kind of family I thought you would come from.” A small chuckle escaped Zoro’s lips at that.
“Yeah well, that makes 2 of us.” He lowered his head to look at the ground. “You know the plan right? And you’re sure you’re okay with this?”
Sanji rolled his eyes and then looked back at Zoro. He looked almost.. Shy? Zoro, shy? Yeah right. Sanji couldn’t help but be the one to laugh now.
“Yes, mossball. I know the plan and I wouldn't be here if I wasn't okay with it. Now breathe.” he moved his hand to Zoro's back, running a hand across it hoping to help calm him down.
“Y-Yeah.” He hesitated before he kept talking. “We just have to convince them we're together. Easy peasy, right?” He looked at Sanji like he was asking for confirmation that everything would be okay.
Sanji just nodded and took his hand, intertwining their fingers. “Let's get to it then.”
The plan in question was to get Zoro’s family off of his back. They were constantly asking about his love life, telling him he needs to get out there because they felt he was too focused on his Kendo training. What felt like every other day he was asked when he was going to start dating. His sister had even tried to set him up with one of her friends, Zoro was not a fan of that idea.
And so, he lied. Said he had been dating someone for a few months now but wanted to keep it secret. His family immediately insisted on meeting this ‘mystery person’. That was before Perona said she knew who it was and that it must have been Sanji. Because who else would he be dating other than the blonde that he constantly told stories about at the dinner table. Zoro’s silence apparently confirmed his sister's thoughts and now they were both very adamant about meeting him.
He brought this information to Sanji and practically begged him to come over for dinner the next week. To his surprise, Sanji agreed. As long Zoro agreed to now be his personal shopping assistant at the farmers market for the rest of his life.
Now they were here, standing in the walkway of Zoro’s house, hands intertwined.