TheDarkestShinobi: Ok, forget last chapter. I actually found my original third chapter. I just happened to write it a long time ago and lose it. So this is the third chapter. The other chapter will be re-written as a fourth so yeah.

Chapter Start:

The shitty stupid captain was fine, and because of that the cook was not.

Sanji watched Luffy for a falter in that smile, a crack in his laugh, a limp in his step, a taint in that aura but there was nothing. He was fine, and that bothered Sanji the most. If the captain was sad then someone would help him get over this crush and everything would be fine, If he had gotten angry then he could help him get over it by having a fight, or they could have just yelled until they were red in their faces. He halfway expected Zoro to beat him up for hurting Luffy like that.

But there was nothing. He hadn't hurt Luffy.

Why? Wasn't Luffy in love with him? Wouldn't that mean that Sanji's opinion meant a lot to him? Sanji tried to speak to Luffy about it but Luffy was always with the dammed Marimo. Is that why Luffy wasn't hurt? Did the moss head take his place? Sanji paused, why did he care? He should be happy that Luffy was okay, it got him off the hook. Why did it matter if Zoro took his place? It's not as if he wanted it. But he had wanted it to be for him.

How could Luffy just forget about him? Was he really just forgettable?

Robin walked around like nothing changed, like this was all part of some super elaborate plan of hers. Sanji had wanted, for the first time, Robin to walk in to his kitchen and tell him what was going on but she didn't do anything. No one had changed.

Sanji was itching for something to happen but nothing did. He knew there was a whole day before they docked but he kept wishing that they would be there already, that way he could find and corner the captain and find out just what was going on. The suspense was eating away at him.

Sanji currently sat at the table in the kitchen playing Solitaire. He moved a three of hearts over a four or clubs and flipped the face fown card up. It was a seven of diamonds. He tapped his fingers against the table and moved the seven under an eight before moving the 6, 5, 4, and three he put together. He flipped the other card but didn't even look at them.

"Damn it, Luffy!"

Sanji reached into his coat pocket to feel for his cigarettes. One. He only had one left. He made a mental note to buy more and the island he left it unperturbed in his pocked in case he needed it. Sanji stood and turned away from the cards to take a peek at the contents of the fridge. He smiled softly spotting a drink he had made for the ladies before he took it out and took a sip. Yeah, he thought, he was a pretty damn good cook and a good bartender too. He sighed looking back to the game of solitude on the table, it was a game for those who were alone.

Luffy tossed and turned in his hammock unable to sleep. Normally, he would talk to Zoro until he got tired but Zoro was on watch duty tonight. Luffy frowned then decided to go sit with his first mate; maybe he could get a better look at the island. He climbed the stairs slowly and quietly so he wouldn't wake anyone up.

The moon loocked bright and beautiful tonight and Luffy stared at it until his swordsman called out to him. With a smile brighter than the full moon he rocketed to the other's side. Zoro eyed the captain before speaking.

"Robin told me Sanji said something that hurt you today."

Luffy blinked. He was honestly confused. Sanji hadn't said anything to hurt him.

"but he didn't."

"Luffy…" The swordsman looked at him and Luffy looked away.

"Zoro, is it wrong to be gay?"

Zoro was happy the captain couldn't see the look of disgust that flashed on his face. Yes, was his answer. He wanted to say it too. A man belonged with a woman, it was simple biology, a gay species wouldn't survive, as they couldn't have kids. He shrugged instead and tried to remain neutral. Maybe it wasn't wrong per say, but the idea still disgusted him. He looked over the waves.

There was also the fact that Luffy sounded so unsure that he was sure whatever he said would have a huge impact.

He was supposed to build his captain up, not knock him down.

He was the first mate; his job was to support the captain, in everything. He would have to go against his values in other things if the captain asked and so he would here. He wouldn't change his views but he would just be supportive. It was all he could do; it would have to be enough.

Luffy looked back to Zoro after a moment of silence.

"Am I wrong for being gay?"

Don't ask me was what he wanted to say. Don't put me in a conflicting spot. But it was his job. It was his duty as both best friend and first mate. He had to help his captain.

"No."

It was forced and fake.

It was enough for Luffy.

Luffy let out a small smile and looked down.

Zoro relaxed a little at that. Luffy is only pinning after Nami. He told himself. It would be easier that way. He couldn't stop his mind from wandering though. He loved his captain. But as a friend, as a brother, as his captain, and as nothing more. Secretly he couldn't help but wonder if that was the type of love Luffy had harbored for his cook. Luffy seemed sure of the difference though. I love all of you, he had said, but I love him differently. Luffy had never even seemed phased by the gender obstacle before.

"Well, I was just wondering what you thought-"

"Did Sanji say something?" Zoro cut in getting a sick feeling in his gut. Luffy was like his brother, much closer that the pair that had called him "Zoro aniki" for so long. He'd be dammned if he let the cook hurt the boy.

"No."

Luffy said it quickly but naturally. He had looked straight into Zoro's eyes as he said it as well. It was almost impossible for Zoro to tell he was lying. Zoro shifted. Luffy would protect the Ero cook even if he had said something. Zoro briefly glanced at the island; he would have a chance to talk to the captain in private there.

"Zoro, Sanji isn't gay."

Zoro wanted to say otherwise just to protect the captain but he knew that it was true. The cook was a perverted man and that was towards girls. He was as straight as they came, if not a bit creepy, and Zoro was sure he'd question his own sexuality before he questioned Sanji's.

"I know."

Luffy looked away from Zoro and towards the island. He smiled widely but it didn't fool Zoro, he saw the fault in the smile and sensed the taint in the aura. Zoro's eyes soon rested on the island too. Luffy laughed as a gust of wind flew by and his hand automatically rested on his head. Zoro didn't move and he enjoyed the wind moving through him.

"I'm not gonna push him."

"You're giving up?"

Zoro was shocked when Luffy nodded and didn't know what to say. One part wanted to say 'that's good Sanji isn't gay,' the other part of him wanted to shake the captain and say 'you're Luffy, you never give up!' but in the end he said nothing. This was Luffy's decision. Sure, it'd probably be a little awkward at first but hey it's just a little crush. Luffy would get over it and Sanji would never even know.

Or so he thought.