Zoro knew he wasn’t the most affectionate person ever — but he obviously knew that. But at least he was trying.

He wasn’t like other people who showed their affection with hugs and kisses and empty promises — he wasn’t a big fan of that kind of behavior.

Instead, he preferred to express his feelings in other ways. He wanted to show you he loved you with actions, not words.

Zoro was a constant presence. Even if he was just hovering around and not really doing anything, he always liked to keep an eye on you whenever you were around him.

If anyone were to be cross with you while he was around, swords would be drawn.

How else would he keep you safe otherwise?

Everyone on the crew knew that he prioritized your safety above his own. They always thought he was selfless, but even more so after you joined the crew.

Not even he knew why. All he knew was that the moment he laid eyes on you, he couldn’t let you slip out of his grasp.

He didn’t feel this way about other people. You were something special. Someone meant to be protected.

He didn’t get jealous often. There weren’t a lot of people that could rival him.

If he ever was jealous, he wouldn’t show it. He was too prideful for that. But he would take you away and give the person he was jealous of death glares.

People usually backed off whenever Zoro was with you. One look from him and they’d cower with their tail between their legs.

He preferred it that way. Zoro liked keeping you all to himself. In that matter, maybe he was a bit selfish.

Zoro knew you had your own mind. You could think for yourself, after all. You could hold your own in conflicts. But sometimes, he wished you’d just let him do all the talking.

Zoro was sitting on the deck of the Sunny, completely shirtless because of the hot weather. His swords sung in his hands as he polished them, the newly cleaned blades shining in the sun's bright rays.

He wasn’t too far away from the kitchen door. It was wide open.

From his angle, he could see both you and Sanji inside.

Earlier that day, Sanji asked you to help him cook because he was making separate courses for each crew member. It was a big deal, and he couldn’t do it on his own.

Zoro watched the encounter happen from a distance, his eyes narrowing at the cook's words.

He knew Sanji could handle it. Sanji only wanted an excuse to spend time with you.

After all, Sanji was probably the only person on the ship who could one-up him in ways of being able to show someone they care. He was everything Zoro was not.

Sometimes, it even made him fearful. Zoro was a little worried that one day, Sanji would sweep you off your feet in ways he never could. There were even times when he'd imagine scenarios if it did happen. He’d still reach over in his bed to make sure you were always there with him.

Sanji was openly caring and affectionate — Zoro was reserved, but warm on the inside.

It’s like the two of them were in a silent competition of who could steal your heart first.

Of course, he knew Sanji would never compare to him in the long run. You’d choose Zoro over him any day.

But it didn’t make the slight ache in his chest any less bearable.

As far as everyone knew, Zoro and Sanji were complete opposites. Zoro would rather keep anyone at arm's length than let them in, and Sanji was too trusting and kind, especially of women.

Zoro had tried his hardest to show you he loved you in ways that weren’t obvious, but clear if you looked into it. And one encounter with Sanji seemed to erase all that progress.

He could hear the sound of your laughter and Sanji obviously gushing over you coming from the kitchen.

It ignited a fire inside him. One that no other person could have stoked in him before.

The fire inside his heart was burning. He felt his ears turn red and his muscles tense the longer your noises in the kitchen taunted him. It seemed to stretch on for hours.

For the first time in a long one, he actually felt that jealousy rising up again.

"Shitty cook.." he muttered under his breath as his polishing slowed to a stop. His eyes never left the two of you.