Chapter 2

The Cook Wears Gucci

I am I'm too fabulous, I'm so fierce that it's so nuts

I live to be model thin, Dress me i'm your mannequin

J'adore vivienne i really want

Pucci fendi and cardin valentino armani too, Madame love them jimmy choo

Fashion put it all on me, Don't you want to see these clothes on me

Fashion put it all on me

I am anyone you want me to be, I am anyone you want me to be

We love designer, I need some new stilettos

Can't walk down the street in those, You are who you wear it's true

A girl's just as hot as the shoes she choose, J'adore weitzman i really want

Louis dolce gabbana alexander mcqueen, Madame love those minolo

-"Fashion", Lady Gaga

~0~

"All right! We're done with that set-up! Great job Sanji!", the photographer, a young man with bushy black hair, long black eyelashes oversetting big brown eyes, and a strange long nose threw the blonde male model a thumbs up, "I've got some amazing shots!"

"Yeah? Good, 'cuz I'm dying of the heat in this fucking fur coat. Seems like you always pick the weirdest things for me to wear, Usopp. The weirdest and the most uncomfortable.", Sanji paused to throw the photographer a look of faux suspicion.

Sanji shrugged out of the heavy brown Gucci fur coat and threw it lightly at the long-nosed photographer, then stretched, relishing the cold air on his sweaty body. He had only been wearing the coat and a pair of tight black satin Armani dress pants for this particular shoot.

"Maybe, but I'm the best photographer in these here parts!", Usopp boasted, puffing out his chest and striking a pose, "I used to work with Farah Fawcet and Marilyn Monroe when I naught but a wee tyke."

"You're an idiot; you weren't even born back then.", Sanji said, rolling his eyes and toweling the sweat from his body with a small towel. "What's next?"

"The bar scene, I think. I'm in the mood for it.", Usopp said, rifling through the clipboard in his hands, "Yeah, the bar scene…Hey! Set up the bar everyone! Come on people, get your asses moving!" The two dozen or so people who were mulling around, either working lights, cameras, or special effects jumped to it quickly, chatting cheerfully as they went.

"Franky! Get the bar hooked up to the light source," Usopp called out, "And then hang that chandelier right in front of the bar!"

"SUPA! Leave it to me!", a middle-aged man with obscene electric blue hair swept up in the epitome of all duck-ass hairdos, wearing only a unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt so loud it could have caused permanent eye damage, and a tiny dark blue thong, rushed to follow the photographer's bidding.

"Nami! Get Sanji the black fur coat again!", Usopp threw the heavy coat at a nearby red-head.

"Right away Captain Usopp! Should I get him his smokes too?", Nami caught the fur coat gracefully and looked to the young man with attention.

"Say that again please Nami….", Usopp stroked his chin suavely.

"Should I get him his smokes too?"

"No, no, the other part…."

Nami just giggled and shook her head; and walked to where Franky had finished dragging out the set-a large, cut-off of a bar, and hung a huge, ornate crystalline chandelier. Sanji was leaning against the polished mahogany counter of the bar and chatting with the thonged man.

"Sanji dear! Your coat!", Nami handed it to him with a flourish.

"Nami~ Thank you so much for helping me…you're such an amazing woman…", Sanji said, maneuvering Nami near him and slipping a lecherous hand around her shoulders.

"Save the tone, Sanji," Nami laughed, shrugging out of the circle of his arms and moving to stand with Franky, "I'm engaged. And you have a lover." The blue-haired man grinned and put a large hand on the red-head's slim waist, "The wedding is going to be SUPA. I'm going to playing guitar and dancing for everyone!"

"Ah, I always forget that you two got together…", Sanji shrugged and smiled cheerfully, not in the leasr put down, "Franky, I already got your wedding present all picked out-picture this: a thong made out of solid gold."

"SUPAR!"

Nami whacked him on the back, "Idiot!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Enough chit-chat over there.", Usopp yelled, banging his fist on a nearby table, "Everybody, to their places!"

Nami dragged Franky off hurriedly, and Sanji quickly slipped back into the heavy confines of the fur, waiting patiently for further directions.

"Dim the lights Franky! And then turn on the blue lights.", Usopp yelled, focusing his camera. "Sanji-get on the bar and lie down on it, stretch out full length."

Sanji resisted an urge to roll his eyes again, but he obeyed-clambering onto the bar and lying on his side.

"All right! Now, open your jacket a little more and turn up the collar."

He did, pushing the sides of the coat apart to reveal his abs and pecs, looking hard enough to cut diamonds.

"Push your jacket to the side on the top. Reveal your hip!", Usopp ordered. Saniji did, and placed his hand and wrist lazily over the curve of his waist.

I seriously would think he's gay if he wasn't banging Kaya. And if he didn't wake up in mortal terror after we had sex that one time…Sanji thought, grinning suddenly, as he remembered that not-too-faraway night where he had managed to persuade the long-nosed photographer to come home with him for a 'harmless sleepover'.

The sex had been good, as it always was, when he was involved. Kind of strange, afterward, thinking that he had just fucked his photographer and friend. But, it had been worth it. Usopp definitely had that 'pretty guy' thing going in his favor; and anyway, he didn't like being around people he hadn't fucked.

"Stop smiling Sanji! It ruins the mood! Try to look like you own the place, and you are silently, yet seductively inviting anybody to enter your lair of dark sexuality!"

Sanji adopted the said expression, and tried not to laugh outright. Usopp had a way with words, that was obvious. He should have been a writer-Usopp had missed his calling when he had entered the photography biz. But he would be lying if he said that Usopp wasn't a good photographer. The long-nose just had a knack with all things that involved shooting.

Usopp zoomed the camera in and out, adjusting the blurriness around the edges with the computer that was close at hand, adding a layer of shadow there, illuminating an object there…"Hmmm, no, I don't think so, nope-not gonna work…Franky!", Usopp yelled, after shaking his head and muttering for a few seconds-"Kill the blue lights! They're too cold…this is supposed to be a warm, rich, inviting scene in which the model is beckoning to the viewer into the heat of his glory.."

Franky frowned, "Sooo…turn on the orange light?"

"Yes! But put the brown filter over it so that it's not Halloween orange, but more of a golden atmosphere.", Usopp ordered.

"Supa.", Franky switched on the appropriate light, "This better?"

"Perfect!", Usopp called, "All right, Sanji-look cool, look bored-but look as if though you're observing the viewer-beckoning to him to enter into your domain of carnal lust…"

"Okay, Usopp, calm down now."

"Sanji! You can't talk! You'll ruin everything! Okay, now smile a bit, but only a bit! Just a slight curve to your lips that is reminiscent of a jackal hunting his prey. A promising hint of a smile that makes the mind wonder to how you would look sweaty and naked.."

"I get it."

"Stop talking!", Usopp screeched, "I'm going to take the shot in a few seconds! But everything has to be perfect! Are you in the mood?", Sanji watched in amazement as his photographer seemed to enter a fever pitch, he swelled up and hissed, "Usopp SPEEEeeeL~ Imagine your whole body quivering with need! Imagine hundreds of scantily dressed ladies and, er, men surrounding you waiting to be invited in! Imagine the passion of being made love to by all of them…at the same time!"

I would think he's a little touched in the head if it wasn't for such genius, Sanji thought, but he already could feel the words working on him-calming him, relaxing him, arousing him…

He could feel every pore of his body open up and respond to the chant; the studio faded away and was replaced by an admiring throng of handsome men and beautiful women. Sanji threw his head back and whipped it forward again, sending his dirty blonde hair tumbling down his face-a hint of sexual disarray.

Sanji shook the fur coat a little more open, and with one hand opened his pants sipper, letting a small triangle peep through-a teasing suggestion to what was underneath.

He slid a hand across his hip and rested it on the ridge, seemingly on the verge of pushing the rest of the satiny material off. The other hand he entangled in his hair-letting nothing get in the way of his body.

Letting his eyelids droop, Sanji opened his mouth a little, relaxing his jaw-looking and feeling as though he were getting an excellent handjob by some young, stilettoed beauty.

But what's more, Sanji didn't stop at looking like a porn star, he willed his whole body to respond,

"Perfect! Sanji, perfect!", Usopp yelled, "Cut! People, cut! We're good! Sanji-you're great!" The photographer was nearly dancing in joy. Sanji smiled in response, coming down from what he called 'the model high' only slowly. "All right! Everybody, you guys can take a small break while we move on to the next scene-what I like to call, 'Lovely Stranger meets Fate in a lonely bar'" Usopp looked smug.

"Amazing, bro!". Franky called out, walking with Nami towards the bar set, "I was seriously getting goosebumps for a second there!", his mouth was smudged with lipstick.

"Let me guess-you got so horny that you had to have some?", Sanji asked wryly, giving Nami a oh-how-could-you-I-thought-you-loved-me! look.

"How'd you know?", Franky asked, looking sheepish, "Were we to loud? OW~" He was interrupted by Nami grinding her heel into his bare foot. "BABY~"

"Idiots! Why do I put up with you? Sanji-that will cost you $150 dollars. I almost broke my heel! Franky feels as hard as steel! And these are Jimmy Choo stilettos you know!", Nami barked, a strange glitter in her eyes.

"Yes, my sweet~", Sanji twirled around enthusiastically, "Anything for you~"

Franky was guffawing, "That's not the only part of me which is hard! OW!"

"Hmmph. You guys are perverts.", Usopp harrumphed, walking in and joining their little circle, "Good job Sanji. Are you ready for the next shoot?"

"What? Is our break over already?", Sanji complained, putting on the puppy-dog face.

"In a few minutes. We have to clear out by one o' clock-someone else booked the studio for the day." Usopp frowned, "I thought I booked it for the entire day, but I guess not."

"Hey, long-nose bro…Are you going back to cook-bro's place tonight? Huh? Huh? Huh?", Franky nudged the photographer's ribs lecherously, "Going to discuss the nest shoots, man-to-man? Maybe over champagne?" Nami giggled and quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes darting back and forth between the long-nosed man and his model. Franky looked simply devilish.

Sanji grinned just as Usopp turned beet-red, and catching on to the joke, he slipped a hand around Usopp's shoulders and yanked him in front of him, letting no space enter between their bodies, "I don't have a problem with that…", he whispered into Usopp's ear, letting the words carry for the other's benefit.

Franky and Nami looked as if they were trying not to burst out laughing and Usopp had nearly frozen in shock, "Uh, uh-Sa-Sa-Sanji, you promised not to talk about that anymore!", he squeaked, his hand strayed towards the pocket of his jeans, where his pepper spray was located.

"Talk about what? Oh, I know…you mean when we had sex together…is that what you're talking about?", Sanji dropped his voice seductively, his hands wandered across the trembling body in front of him.

"Um-yes, that. You said-"

"What? You didn't like it?", Sanji whispered, sounding hurt, knowing that he was going to hell someday for all the torture he inflicted on his photographer. Franky was turning a dangerous shade of purple with repression.

"No! Of course, I, um, did. But it shouldn't have happened…I mean, I have Kaya-"

"So you didn't like it when I fucked you? Or when I sucked you off? You didn't live it when I cried out your name?", Sanji let his voice drop, Franky and Nami certainly did not need to know just how far things had gone between them.

"Um-er-Sanji-", Usopp was babbling, and Sanji marked down a silent victory. The day he couldn't reduce anyone by just his honeyed words, was the day he put down the fur coat and went down and got a real job. He silently grinned into Usopp's neck.

"Sanji, I hope you're not cheating on me with that photographer.", a deep voice called out. Sanji stiffened and then relaxed, releasing Usopp reluctantly. The long nosed man nearly bolted to hide behind Franky's wide frame the second Sanji hold relaxed.

"Of course not, darling…", Sanji turned and slid himself up the newly-arrived man, conveniently letting his fur coat fall open, "I was merely…getting ready for you…" He tilted his head perfectly, accepting the rough, achingly chaste kiss from the man.

Another blonde, like himself. No model this one. And maybe that's why Sanji had chosen him to grace with his breathtaking presence. Paulie de Cuerda was one of the stage crew workers who worked with Franky; his loving was rough and sincere; to the point. Sanji had found it a little too addictive for his own good. He had been with Paulie for three, four weeks now-amazingly the longest affair he'd ever been in. There were rumors that he had been 'caught'.

Sanji kissed Paulie a second time, making it slow and lingering, "Hmmm…I would never cheat on you…", he snuggled his hands into Paulie's bell.

"Hey, your reputation is what it is.", Paulie replied, "When do you get off, baby?" His hands affectionately closed the fur coat, drawing the sides together to cover the revealed skin.

"At one. Why? Want to take me home? You can spend the night.", Sanji pressed himself closer, "But, unfortunately, there's only one bed…"

Paulie kissed him again gently, "All right." That was it. Gentle acceptance.

Sanji felt a wave of affection pass him for the other blonde, he could be a total whore and this man still treated him with gentleness and respect. That might not seem like a lot, but it was. Abruptly, he dropped the sexy model act, "Yeah? Okay. You want to go to my place right now? Pick up some beer and maybe take a shower, get some rest? You don't have to wait up for me."

Paulie grinned and shook his head, taking his time to pull out a heavy Cuban cigar from the pocket of his baggy blue pants. Sanji's hand slid into his own pocket and pulled out his Givenchy, plated gold, lighter and he wasted no time in lighting up the tip for his lover.

"Nah," Paulie said, "I'll stick around, watch you pose. I'll take a shower when you're there."

Sanji smirked, "You're making me want a ciggie…or at least something in my mouth."

"Wait 'til we get home, Sanji.", Paulie said, taking his cigar out and leaning forward to kiss him again. Sanji let his tongue slip in for a moment, tastebuds straining to absorb the smoky flavor.

They pulled apart, slightly, noses touching, "Home?", Sanji asked softly, his sultry blue eyes boring into Paulie's blue glacier ones.

"Home, to me, is where you are.", Paulie answered calmly, "It's fine if you don't-WOAH, WOMAN!", his eyes dilated suddenly, "What the HELL are you wearing?", he backed away from Sanji suddenly and pointed at something behind him. "How many times do I have to tell you to wear LONG PANTS!"

"Sanji, I'm so sorry to interrupt your little cozy chat but Usopp wants you to get back on set, he's too scared to approach you right now.", Nami said sarcastically, "And there's no way in HELL I'm going to cover up these legs you know! I don't keep myself in shape for nothing, you know!" Her eyes were daggers at Paulie. "Anyway, look at your lover! He's barely covered!"

"That's because he's a model! It's his job! And he looks better that you-ARGH!" Nami dealt him a swift blow to the jewels.

"I dare you to say that again.", Nami snarled, great flames seemed to burn fiercely about her as she shook her clenched fist at the prone body of Paulie lying cradling on the floor, cupping his privates, his eyes streaming tears.

"S-Sorry…"

"Nami, sweet, Don't kick Paulie in the balls-I use those!", Sanji cried, looking mortified, indignant, and fearful all at the same time.

"I'm sure you can kiss them and make them feel all better, tonight.", Nami declared smugly, "Usopp wants you to get in place Sanji. Hurry up, or we won't have enough time to finish this shoot before we have to get out. Time is money, you know."

"Yes, Nami~", Sanji floated off to the set, clambering on the wooden stage and leaning on one of the spinning barstools. "Ready!", he called to the long nose.

"Sanji, I want you to be leaning on the edge of the counter, right next to one of the barstools," Usopp called out from his vantage place, still sounding a little flustered, "But not yet, we're waiting for Robin."

"I have been ready for a while, Mr. Mentiroso.", a tall, black-haired woman wearing a long, flowing dark purple dress walked out from behind one of the changing screens, had her make up and hair checked and perfected one last time and walked elegantly on the set.

"All right, thanks Robin. Sanji, you know Robin, right?"

"How can I forget?", Sanji answered smoothly, "Ms. Nico, if I am not mistaken?" He bent forward to raise her hand and kiss it. Robin Nico, a great beauty, no doubt about it. The kind of woman he would be chasing after if he hadn't had a steady partner for a while now.

"You presume correctly Mr. Ceja.", Sanji smile widened as he heard Robin pronounce his last name correctly, with a soft C and the J pronounced like an H. Definitely a woman after his own heart. Though he knew he would never cheat on Paulie.

Franky strolled over to where Paulie sat in a folding chair, watching Sanji and Robin, and smoking,, "Hey bro. I don't know how you can stand Sanji's fooling around." He grinned and patted the other blonde on the back hard.

Paulie tried not to wince at the heavy touch, "Sanji hasn't cheated on me."

"SUPA. Yeah, I know, bro. The last thing he did was his little fling with Usopp over there, a month ago. That was SUPA funny! Then, you kind of caught his eye and he hasn't been strutting around like he always does. I mean, he'd have Robin's number by this point, but I didn't even hear him ask."

Paulie grunted, "I trust him.", he sighed and closed his eyes, the puffs of his cigar floating in lazy circles, "You know, when I first saw him, I didn't think much of him-thought that he was just like any other model…but then I'd hear him joking around behind the sets with you guys, and he was just a normal guy. He cussed, he drank, he smoked. And…"

Paulie turned red and coughed, "And he was pretty handsome, kind of turned my head whenever he passed by. And he wasn't a stranger either, as soon as he recognized me as one of the engineers for the set, he'd always say hello, ask how I was, you know, the usual." Paulie smiled, "Small stuff…but it was nice."

The engineer's ice-blue eyes followed Sanji's every move on the set, as if remembering, " And I was always there when he was doing his thing, up in front of the cameras, smiling, waving, stroking himself, sometimes barely wearing anything…and then I kind of realized that I kind of liked him…I mean, women never really caught my eye. "

Paulie dragged in another long smoky breath, then let it out, continuing, "It seemed like he was posing for me, that he was doing it for my benefit. But I didn't do anything, I never thought he'd ever be interested in one of the blue-collar people like me. I mean, he was a star, and I was just the guy in the back who tinkered around with tools, got dirty, got grease in my hands and dirt under my fingernails."

" I knew he liked guys too, but I never thought in terms with me. I thought he just liked models and celebrities like himself. And me? I've always liked guys too. Then one day, I went out for a smoke break and he was standing there, looking through his pockets for a match and cursing. And I offered my lighter, and he said thanks and we smoked together. And I was getting ready to go inside. Kinda said something stupid like, 'If you need a light, I always carry one with me' and before I could even open the door he kind of grabbed be and slammed me on the wall."

Paulie chuckled, not opening his eyes, but leaning back his head and stretching out his long legs, "I thought he was pissed! Man, he was strong, too. I know I'd seen his muscles when he posed for the cameras, but it surprised me. It was like I thought they were just for show or something. Well, he slammed me and it hurt and my mind was racing, thinking I'd pissed him off bad, and I was kissing my job good bye.", Paulie grinned suddenly, remembering, "But it turns out that he was the one who did the kissing."

"Wahhhhh~ what a TOUCHING story, bro! The story of two men and their blossoming romance~, Franky, who had been listening to the entire story, enrapt, burst into tears when it was clear that Paulie had ended. "It makes me feel like singing~", Franky paused to unstrap a heretofore hidden guitar from his back, "Two Sultry Peach Flowers in the Spring of their Lives…chop!"

"Shut up idiot!", Paulie yelled, suddenly blushing, a little belatedly. "What the hell is you problem?"

Usopp's eyebrows had been twitching non-stop throughout the commotion behind him, and finally he exploded, "Both of you! Shut the fuck up! The great ME is working! Sanji! Tell your idiot of a lover to shut it! I can't focus!"

"Paulie…baby, please…", Sanji dutifully called out from where he was posed leaning on the bar with Robin.

"Sorry-Sanji.", Paulie shoved Franky away, "Get out of here Flam."

Franky went, still crying. Usopp turned back to his models, "Okay, Sanji. I want you to strike a casual pose on that bar, looking at Robin as if though you were thinking about her in bed-"

Sanji died laughing inside, Usopp was such a funky little guy, looking at him, no one would think he was such a kinky bastard inside. But Sanji obeyed, he glanced down at the black hair covered head and adopted an expression of lust, barely restrained.

"Robin, turn your head away from him, look at the bottles or whiskey on the wall, kind of twist your body away from him-but don't look as if you're avoiding Sanji-act like you don't even know he's there."

Robin did, rearranging her body to Usopp's instructions.

"All right. Good. Now, Sanji push off that coat from your shoulders, but don't slide your arms out of it, just push it down enough so it looks like a tube-top-yeah-like that-good."

Paulie unconsciously bit down hard on the cigar in his mouth as Sanji's bare shoulders slid out of the heavy coat, looking white and deceptively vulnerable, looking as if though aching for the right someone to seize them and kiss their secret hollows and dips of flash.

"Perfect-Sanji-just perfect.", Usopp grinned and flashed him a thumbs up, "Now, we just need a few more poses and-will someone get that freaking door?" Usopp turned to glare in the direction of the large studio doors, where a steady and increasingly loud knocking had been going on since Usopp had started talking.

"SUPA. Leave it to me, bro.", Franky rushed off to open it.

"Oh, there's someone already using Studio 29?", a voice came floating in and Usopp turned, his territorial hackles up

"Yes, the great Usopp is using this studio.", Usopp rose up, puffing out his chest and fixing the Prada bandana tied around his bushy hair, "Is that you Chopper?"

"Usopp? Yeah, it's me. " A young man, looking all of fourteen years old came timidly into the room, followed by a little troop of people, who, by the equipment and cameras they carried, were obviously the new comer's stage crew.

"Well, Chopper.", Usopp said, abandoning his camera and sauntering over to his young co-worker, "I already had booked this place until one. It's barely twelve forty nine."

"Oh, sorry Usopp!", Chopper shuffled his feet embarrassedly, "I must have looked at the clock wrong. I thought it was nearly two."

"Well, that's fine.", Usopp said loftily, "When you're a great photographer like me, you'll be able to tell time instantly. As well as stop and start it at your instant desire…"

"Wow, Usopp!", Chopper squeaked, his eyes going round and lighting up so brightly, one could almost see the stars swirling around his head in a brilliant cascade.

"Idiot. He's lying. Don't fall for something like that Chopper."

Usopp's eyebrows rushed together furiously as a man approached, sauntering his way over; a large brown whiskey bottle held causally in one large hand.

"Who dares to call me, the great Usopp Mentiroso, a liar!", Usopp drew himself up and looked down his not-modest nose at the offending persona, whose large cowboy hat obscured his face.

"Uh-Usopp this is-", Chopper looked nervously between them.

"I don't care who the hell It is!", Usopp said haughtily, "I am the great ME."

The man lifted his large black hat from his voice, "Mr. Mentiroso…I've heard about you; maybe you've heard of me?" The earrings glittered mutely.

"This is Zoro Roronoa.", Chopper shuffled his feet, "I forgot to tell you that I was managing his contract for this month until the new guy comes in to take over for me."

Usopp gave Zoro a perfect ninety degree bow, "I'm sorry."

Zoro chuckled and dismissed the long-nosed photographer with a shrug of his broad shoulders, "Who are you-oh…if it isn't Sanji Ceja.", his black eyes fixated on the strutting blonde on stage who hadn't even noticed the intrusion, as occupied as he was by Robin. His grin flashed out, careless and dangerous.

"Well, Usopp, we'll let you finish your shoot, but do you mind if we just drop all our equipment in the back while you finish? That way, we wouldn't have to carry all that stuff back-", Chopper looked at Usopp hesitatingly. "We won't bother you."

"What? Yeah, sure. I'll finish this off then.", Usopp, still looking a little dazed, walked off muttering to himself.

He was nearly to his station in front of the set by the time he realized that he was being followed by the source of his surprise.

"Gah! Wha-wha-what do you want?", Usopp stammered, getting his hands into a exaggerated Karate position.

"I just wanted to tag along and see how the great Usopp Mentiroso worked.", Zoro said smoothly, knowing that flattering praise was the man's weakness, "I hope you don't mind…?"

"Wha-Of course not~" Usopp threw a warm hand around Zoro's shoulders, though he had to reach up to do so since Zoro was half a foot taller, "You, my friend, have an eye for talent…"

Sanji, who had finally noticed the new, unwelcome, presence, rolled his eyes as Usopp melted into a warm pile of goo in the bastard's hands.

"Usopp! What'dya want me and Robin to do now?", Sanji called out; deciding to ignore the other man entirely. He had class after all.

"Uh, we only have time for one more shot, then we'll finish it up tomorrow", Usopp shuffled through his notes, "This one-Robin, you're in the corner, in the shadow-going for the mysterious spider spinning nefarious webs in the eaves, and Sanji …you're sitting in one of the table's chairs and tilting it back, all cool like."

Sanji seated himself appropriately, hefting his black dress boots onto the rounded table and tilted it back, letting his six-pack show, and on a note of inspiration, he dug out a packet of Cools and lit up with the same lighter that he had lit Paulie's cigar.

"I was right about to suggest that.", Usopp commented from where he was directing the lights, "Hey, you-illuminate Robin's eyes and the leg that comes out from the slit in her dress-nothing else."

Sanji gave the camera a heated, just-between-you-and-me-look; one of his specialties. But to his indignant annoyance, from the corner of his eye he could see Zoro Roronoa watching him silently from where he stood next to Usopp. With difficulty, Sanji restrained his eyebrow from spasaming wildly or from scrunching up in a ridiculous little ball as it did when he was really angry.

Well, it wasn't like he was angry, he just had a, what he was sure was a mutual dislike for the other man. Thankfully, the other had gone off somewhere for the past half year or so and their contact had been kept at a minimal.

Paulie gave Zoro a level glance, not liking the way the other man was watching Sanji pose, and quickly motioned Franky over to him, "What's the story with him?", he whispered, cocking his thumb at the green-haired figure. "Ex-lover, maybe?"

Franky smirked, "Zoro? He's a pretty good guy actually. I've drank with him a few times-he can really put away the Jack Daniels, let me tell you."

Sanji cracked his neck, letting his head roll slowly from one side to the other, tilting it so that the muscles in his neck strained. Zoro Roronoa was nobody to him. A colleague. A fellow employee. Nothing more. Just another male model under the pay of the ever beautiful Mrs. Hancock Boa. Sure Zoro was considered one of the best in this business, but, hell so was he.

The blue-haired engineer placed a conspiratory hand on Paulie's shoulders, "Bro-Sanji's like a cat, right? A handsome, cuddly, easy-to-handle cat when he's the center of attention in a thirty mile radius. He's completely and utterly content when everything goes his own way… and when there's no other cats around."

That stupid green-haired idiot was still watching him-probably hoping to gain some tips on how a real model did it. Sanji grimaced inside- he seriously didn't know what the fashion industry was coming to is models like Zoro were rivaling him in popularity. Shit, it just annoyed the fuck out of him to have someone even near his level. Not that he would ever admit it though.

Franky cocked a thumb at Zoro, "That's the other cat."

God damn it! His very face was pissing him off with every second that passed and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. Anybody else he could have bluntly ordered out of the room. But Zoro had a paycheck the size of his; the same number of fan clubs; the same number of admirers; the same admirers themselves; the same level, the same height; the same fucking everything! Hell, their dick sizes were probably the same!

Paulie grinned around his cigar, "Ohhhh…So I got nothing to worry about there? Or not?"

Franky shrugged, "Who knows bro? With Sanji, it's never sure. And I hear Zoro doesn't have any qualms with who he sleeps with either. But hey, Sanji's never mentioned sleeping with him-and you know Sanji, he tells everybody who's he's slept with."

And that reminded him-even their lovers were the same! Couple months ago he'd seen a pretty little model whom he had a fling with walking around under Zoro's arm. That had hurt. Even though he was with someone else by then.

"Are we done here Usopp?", Sanji asked, his voice ragged with suppressed anger. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if he didn't fall down as soon as he got up-his knees felt like they were shaking with mere loathing.

"Yeah, good job Sanji.", Usopp grinned and winked at him, apparently in a good mood, "We'll finish up tomorrow-hey, everyone, start cleaning up!", he paused and motioned Sanji to come join them. Them being him and the idiot. Sanji groaned inside, but jumped off the stage and headed towards them.

As soon as he got there Zoro stuck out his hand, "Pleasure meeting you. Sanji…is it?"

As if you didn't know, Sanji snarled inside his head, noting the omission of the other introducing his own name, like Zoro thought the notion that everybody didn't know his name ridiculous. Sanji imagined himself kicking the fool in the face, but coolly took the offered hand, shaking it firmly, resisting the childish impulse to squeeze the shit out of it as soon as his hand grasped it "It is-"

He was jerked out of his reply, when Zoro squeezed his hand and pulled him slightly forward, finishing with a quick kiss on the cheek. It was as soft as a whisper, but it lingered.

Sanji's mouth gaped, and a hand reached up dreamily to touch the spot where the other's lips had grazed. Paulie was suddenly at his side, slipping a hand around his waist, and positively glaring at Zoro with a territorial macho this-is-mine look.

Zoro smirked and pretended to wipe the kiss away from Sanji's cheek, "Oh, fuck-sorry. I've been in Europe for the past year or so…I kind of got used to kissing people on the cheek when we meet." He didn't even look at Paulie.

"Ah.", Sanji managed to say, "Well, that was unexpected…Europe, eh?"

"Yeah. I was there for a-"

"That's nice, Zoro.", Sanji interrupted, "But I really have to go-I have a busy schedule you know. You'll understand when you're older. Maybe we can talk later." He was laughing like a demon inside. The kiss had been weird, and unexpected, not to mention awkward. But his recovery time hadn't been too shabby. Sanji congratulated himself mentally.

Turning, he seized Paulie's hand and marched off, sashaying his hips satisfactorily, not even bothering to say good-bye.

Zoro watched him leave. Chuckling quietly. Sanji hadn't changed a bit since he had last seen him nearly a year ago. He was still the self-same idiotic, sexually-deprived, sexually fixated, stuck-up, muscled, hot blonde that he'd known and disliked immediately since he'd first seem him. The idiot hadn't changed a bit.

But that was fine. Because neither had he.

~0~

Author's Note: Thank you very much for reading and reviewing. I love you who take the time and patience to read these stories of mine and tell me what you thought of them! :D

Note: Sanji's name is Sanji Ceja (pronounced seh-hah) Ceja means "Eyebrow" in Spanish. Usopp's name is Usopp Mentiroso (pronounced like it looks) which means "Liar" in Spanish. Paulie's name is Paulie de Cuerda (pronounced deh Kwer-duh) which means 'Of the Rope" in Spanish.