Chapter Text
Belonging to a pack composed of pups was, as one could expect, conflicting to Zoro’s parental instincts. He was the self-proclaimed protector of the crew, and wouldn’t weigh the methods of doing so. Until they were old enough to care about themselves, he would take care of their backs. Luckily for him, they accepted his role without any complaints — especially Usopp and Nami.
Yet, he couldn’t deny that it puzzled him how they were risking themselves at such a young age. Luffy and Usopp didn’t even lose their milky scent, for god’s sake, and were getting prepared to face Grand fucking Line. Nami tried to give the impression that she was more mature and such, but she still didn’t have a growl of her own, sounding more like a dying cat than anything.
The only one that allowed Zoro to take a break from his protective duty was Sanji. He was the only adult, besides him, in the crew. He was a strong, independent Alpha who was sure of his actions and was already developing his courtship skills. He had much to learn, but he surely had more experience in that area than Zoro did.
Both of them had the job of being the pillars, the soldiers. They would be the first to bump into a fight, showing their canines and snarling, while making sure the others wouldn’t be hurt. Zoro was proud to have a partner to rely on, even if he wouldn’t say it, knowing he wouldn’t hear the end of it. Sanji was an arrogant Alpha who would be a pain in the ass if praised.
He had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, but he didn’t mind it. He enjoyed being there for the curious and careless puppies. He enjoyed snuggling and scenting the adorable little ones, Nami included, despising her skittish nature. And he liked being Sanji’s support. It didn’t matter if it was weird to lower his head to a cub, swearing eternal loyalty for a boy that hadn’t seen half of the world yet: Zoro was happy with the way his life was leading.
That, until his routine was broken by a shocking discovery.
It happened after they left Loguetown. Sanji got a huge and rare fish after winning a cooking competition. He prepared one of the best dinners he had made until then. The ship was filled with an energetic and excited scent. It was domestic.
Zoro couldn’t stop purring, immersed in a good mood, even allowing Luffy to invade his personal space non-stop, as he was starting to learn how to scent other people. Apparently, he was the young Alpha’s favorite person to test his new learning. He didn’t mind it, as long as his captain didn’t get addicted to it. That was why he usually put a limit. That night, he decided to turn a blind eye and let him cling to his back.
He was too distracted by Luffy, enough to not pay attention to the individual chirps of every pup of his pack. Everyone had their own, specific sound, but they were all mixing up, so it was more of a background noise. However, when Nami kissed Sanji’s cheek, complimenting his food, the rough and staid chirp he heard did not belong to their navigator.
Zoro froze on his seat, with his eyes slightly open as he stared at Sanji. The chirping stopped the moment Nami left his side. At that, there was no doubt. The sound did come from him, which broke everything the swordsman believed because Alpha’s weren’t supposed to chirp once they reached adulthood. Omegas were the only ones who could do that. But Alphas? They couldn’t. They crooned.
Which meant that Sanji was a pup!
All this time he was letting a young one protect him during battles. All this time he depended on a puppy to fight and destroy their enemies. Zoro was fooled because Sanji’s scent was so strong and steady that he thought he was an adult, when he was just a baby all along.
He felt awful and nauseous. He had put so much pressure on Sanji’s shoulders when he wasn’t old enough to deal with it.
And now Zoro didn’t know what to do.
. . .
“Why are you staring at me like that? Do you want to fight, brainless marimo?”
Zoro cringed at the accusation, remembering their clashing. He injured Sanji so many times. It was so different from the play-fights he did with Luffy, since they were to educate and not to relieve stress. He was feeling so guilty and regretful. He should have been more attentive. He should have been a better Omega to the pup.
Sanji was weirded out for his lack of words and calm demeanor. He took a polite sniff, detecting distress-worriness-I’m sorry! on Zoro’s scent. He frowned, but not in an angry way. More like confused at why he was feeling those things. “Did something happen?” He asked, thinking of what could be responsible for doing that to Zoro, oblivious that he was the answer.
“How old are you?” Zoro was direct, lowering his head to the point his chin almost touched his chest, examining his reactions. Sanji twisted his lips, taken aback by the question. Now that he was aware of what he was, he noticed that his annoyed face resembled a pout .
“Why do you want to know?” He was defensive, crossing his arms. Better, he was being petulant. Fuck it was so obvious he was young. Zoro was feeling so stupid. How could he let himself be mistaken by his features? Just because he looked like an adult Alpha it didn’t mean he was one.
Zoro stepped forward. Sanji stayed in his place, but the subtle flinch showed that he was intimidated by his authority. Damn it he was blind as hell. Everything in the cook screamed ‘Puppy!’ and ‘Don’t be mad at me, I’m little!’. “Sanji,” He was rash and demanding. He wanted to be obeyed. Sanji winced once more. “How old are you?”
“Sixteen.” Sanji sounded proud and unfazed, or that was what he wanted Zoro to believe. He was one year older than Nami, but a pup nevertheless. The only difference was that he lost his milky scent. Other than that, Zoro was pretty sure his canines hadn't even fully developed, although he did know how to growl. “Why are you interested in it?”
Memories of the times they competed appeared in his mind. Even their bickering was explained now. Sanji was being defiant towards the adult of the pack, wanting to prove himself by challenging Zoro. Normally, he would do that to other Alphas of his age. Though, since there was only Nami available, and he saw her as a potential mate, he didn’t dare to challenge her. Thus, he was the target of Sanji’s testosterone outbursts.
But that was wrong, because Zoro struck to hurt. He struck to submit and made the other part yield. Sanji might be strong and retaliate in the same intensity, but that wasn’t supposed to happen, because Zoro was stronger and more experienced. It would make him have high standards of strength.
It might make him think he wasn’t enough, when all he was doing was picking the wrong opponent to test his abilities.
Zoro yawned to disperse his stress, not wanting Sanji to absorb this energy and get distressed too. “For no reason. I was curious.” He lied, waving his hand. The Alpha relaxed, but still didn’t understand him.
“Uh.” He took one of his cigarettes. “Weirdo.”
Luffy called, wanting him to teach Usopp how to knock an enemy down in case the Beta got himself in hand-to-hand combat. Zoro gave one last, inspecting look at Sanji, as he promptly started flirting with Nami, attempting to court the girl with his never ending obsession towards women. This was the first time he found this display cute, knowing that it was a pup trying to give a larger step than he could.
Zoro turned, a thin smile decorating his face. He just won another little one to look after. What a nice acquisition.
. . .
At first, Nami hated being scented, as it triggered her traumatic experiences with Arlong and his crew. Scenting, although unharmful, still was a demonstration of ownership. What made the act healthy and familiar was consent. The ginger Alpha had everything except that. She never explicitly said it, but Zoro knew those assholes impregnated their scent on her by force.
He, on the other hand, loved having his scent lingering on his pack. It didn’t have to be a lot, just a whiff of his bamboo fragrance was enough. However, he waited for Nami. Even though he could see in her eyes and gestures that she wanted to be included, he waited for her to take the initiative. Zoro had to prove that he was different, and that Nami’s voice and wills would be listened to.
Nami came to him at her own time and pace. Zoro had just finished scenting Usopp when he felt her hiding her face on his back. No words were said. All he did was turn, lean over and rub his chin on the top of her head. She rumbled almost in the same instant, a consequence of neglect, which had made the most basic and casual action more intense. The poor little thing trembled in his arms. He wished he killed that motherfucker fish.
Zoro never scented Sanji, because he never showed interest in it. Or so that’s what he thought. That’s what he deduced since the cook wasn’t the most affectionate member of the crew. Besides, he used to think he was a mature Alpha. Unless Sanji vocally or bodily expressed that he wanted, he wouldn’t act upon it. Now that he knew their cook was a pup all along, he had to look for other ways of indicating that Sanji wanted it.
For example, the subtle side-eye he was giving him during his session with Nami. He did that before. A thousand times, to be precise. Back then, Zoro thought it was jealousy for not being able to do the same with the girl. Now he was seeing it in another perspective. He was seeing yearning in eyes. A mistreated call that Zoro misunderstood for three whole months since they met.
Sanji wanted it, he was simply too shy to say it out loud.
Zoro wished he was alone, so he could slap his own face.
“Oi, cook.” Zoro called immediately after finishing scenting Nami. The female Alpha got away from the deck, heading towards her workplace. Luffy and Usopp were around, but they were distracted by fishing. It was the right moment to do that. “Come here.”
“Why?” Sanji clenched his teeth on his cigarette, tensed by his request. Damn he was sensitive. Always on alert and suspicious. Poor baby. Zoro needed to change the image he had of him, whatever that was.
“I wanna scent you.” He was transparent, patting the empty side in front of him. Sanji’s mouth opened, dropping the cigarette. He was quick to step on it before it could burn the wooden floor.
“W-What are you saying out of nowhere?!” He stuttered, nervous and confused, pointing his finger at Zoro. “The fuck you mean?!”
Zoro’s face was neutral, but he couldn’t wait to pass through this barrier and bathe Sanji with his aroma. “I meant what I said.” He was sure of his words, giving confidence to him. “But it’s fine if you don’t want to.”
Sanji calmed down a little. He frowned, walking towards him with heavy and loud steps. “Why now?”
Because I didn’t know you were little, and I’m regretting it with my soul.
“I dunno. Felt like doing it.” Zoro answered instead, lying, something he would have to do a lot nowadays to justify his actions. “So?”
Sanji took a while, but he finally gave in. He complained all the way towards Zoro, sitting with a loud bump , turning his back at him. “You better be quick. I have more important things to do.”
As if he would believe this lie, he knew Sanji prepared food one night prior. He was basically free during the afternoon, unless Luffy wanted to eat snacks. “Ok.” Zoro engaged in his lie, hiding his smile.
With a soft trill, Zoro rubbed his wrist on the most important scent gland. Sanji’s response was to curl up, bracing his legs as he pretended that he wasn’t enjoying it. He moved to the top of his head, nuzzling the blond streaks, rubbing his chin a bit rougher than he did with the neck. This was the spot pups deserved to be scented the most, as it was the first part of the body adults came in contact with.
Screw that Sanji was the tallest of the group and that Zoro couldn’t reach his head if he wasn’t on tip toes. It was about time for the Alpha to be treated as the pup he was, no matter his early maturity. So, he spent a while there, sometimes combing his golden locks with his fingers, being careful to not lift his bangs and reveal his other eyebrow. He knew that was a sore spot.
Zoro took Sanji’s hand. He pressed the palm, massaging it with his thumbs, releasing the tension from the glands in there. Those were the most used by him. He was constantly marking the kitchen as his territory, going around passing his hands in different places, so the crew knew it belonged to him. Sometimes even the plates and silverware had his smell on them.
Rain water fragrance mixed with bamboo. Zoro didn’t hold back a content chirp. Their scents blended well with each other, creating a refreshing new one that put both in a relaxed state. He could tell that Sanji was fighting back his instinctive need to rumble, being the stubborn little shit he was. But that was fine. He wouldn’t press him.
Zoro grabbed his forearm and pressed his nose on his wrist. Unfortunately, Sanji still carried Zeff’s claim on his left wrist, while proudly having Luffy’s on the right. It was petty, but he was annoyed that the Dam role was already taken. All of them had the Omega leader mark, except him. Under his irrational, paternal understanding, it was unfair.
If he was going to spend more time with Sanji than Zeff did, why was he the one who couldn’t claim the Alpha? Still, he wasn’t impeded from placing a bite on it, even if it would fade away in two days at maximum.
He leaned on, opening his mouth, sinking his fangs on the skin. Sanji grunted from the pain, staring holes at Zoro, though not pushing him away. He was okay with getting a pseudo-claim that held no influence on him, neither negative nor positive.
“You just proved to me that you’re dumber than I thought.” Sanji spat, caressing the useless, yet not meaningless, mark. Zoro chuckled, watching him get up. “Why do that if it won’t work?”
Zoro grinned. “Because I wanted to.” Sanji might have turned fast, but he saw his shaky smile and his rosy cheeks. With a satisfied expression, the Omega leaned on the mast. He suspected they would soon start to form lines to be scented by him, as the number just increased.
He couldn’t wait for it.