Sanji stood on the balcony, enjoying a quick smoke before resuming dinner preparations.

He wondered whether this Zoro-guy had already found out about his eye. Probably.
Sanji sighed, flicking the bud away and returning inside.
There he was confronted by the greenhead, skin still damp, only a towel wrapped around his hips, showing off with his fine, muscled torso.
He looked rather uncomfortable.
"What's up?," Sanji said, trying hard not to stare at the huge scar, "Need clothes?"
"No... Yes... But... can you lend me a hand, maybe?"

Was he blushing?

"Sure, I guess," Sanji said, hesitantly. "What with?"

The muscular man fidgeted for another moment, then mumbled hardly audible, "I... can't wash my hair with this", he motioned to his bandaged face, "so... could you... maybe... help me?"

Sanji stared at him for a few blinks, than struggled hard to fight down a giggle, but succeeded.

"Uh, yeah, sure."
But his lips curled into a tiny smirk nevertheless.
So he trudged right behind Zoro into the bathroom.

Cocking his head to the side, Sanji remarked, "I guess it'd be easiest at the tub..."
A hushed 'whatever' was all answer he got, before Zoro got onto his knees and bent over slightly, carefully arranging the towel around his waist.
Sanji watched the half-naked, tall man kneel before him with a smug smile.
This is gonna be interesting.
Zoro pressed his eye closed, feeling embarrassed like never before in his life.

Sanji massaged the shampoo into the other man's short green hair after soaking it wholly.
It felt like a way too intimate gesture to Zoro, Sanji's chest and arms brushing his bare shoulders.
Especially his lack of clothing made him feel uncomfortable. Then again... he didn't quite know what to think of the whole situation.
No one would expect it, seeing the muscular, manly man, but Zoro was gay.
And he didn't tend to hide it. But in this situation it seemed... inconvenient to tell just like that.
He doubted this pretty blond was into guys. And even if, it was rather improbable that he was into him, of all people, just because he knelt here...

Sanji was oblivious to it all, and focused on his task, rinsing Zoro's hair.
Zoro tried to stifle a sigh, but failed. The blond noticed and asked, "Is the water too hot, or did I hurt you?"

Zoro shook his head, saying nothing; he didn't quite trust his voice at this moment.

Sanji frowned, but didn't ask any more questions.
"So now you need some clothes, I guess?," he said instead, getting up, carefully not to tug at the towel.
"If you don't mind, yea... But I could also just wear mine and head home to..."

"No way. Follow me," Sanji ordered, guiding Zoro to his bedroom, rummaging through his wardrobe until he found a pair of black jeans and a gray hoodie, handing both to Zoro.
Before he left the room, he pulled a dark piece of fabric out of a drawer, tossing it across the room.
Zoro caught it with one hand, realizing it was a pair of black silk boxer briefs.
He blushed crimson, though Sanji had already left the room and closed the door behind him, in order to let Zoro have some privacy.

The situation felt surreal and awkward, and so Zoro hesitated before dropping the towel and dressing. Good thing they were about the same height so it wasn't all that bad wearing some other guy's clothes; but the jeans were a little tight, however.

Zoro took a few deep breaths, and then returned to the kitchen.
Sanji had already prepared the table.
"Come on, you must be hungry. Have a seat."
The blond's open, hospitable attitude still confused Zoro. But he had to admit, he really was hungry.
So he crossed the room and sat across from this bartender-turned-cook guy.
The meal – Zoro wasn't too sure what it exactly was, but some kind of stew – smelled wonderful, and Zoro's rambling stomach reminded him that he had missed about 5 meals altogether.

"Thank you," Zoro mumbled between mouthfuls, "I don't know why you bother, but thanks, I guess."

His opposite only chuckled, before stating, "I like to feed people. And I didn't really do much, other than letting you sleep on my couch and lending you some clothes. Not that big a deal."

He shrugged to emphasize his words. But Zoro couldn't help but doubt all this kindness.

"Your cooking skills are...woah... Why do you have a bar and not a restaurant?," Zoro asked to distract his suspicious mind.
"Ah well. Couldn't afford one at first. And now, well... Maybe I'm waiting for an opportunity or something. I'd like to serve actual meals at the bar, but I wouldn't know where to cook. And I'd need service people and all that," he trailed off.

Zoro only nodded, savoring the taste filling his mouth.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Zoro caught Sanji staring at him.
Any other person would have asked what was wrong. Not Zoro. He motioned at Sanji with his head, as if giving him permission to speak.

"So, you're a bookseller?"

Zoro smirked. "Got a problem with that?"

"Well... no one'd guess that..."

At that, the 'bookseller' couldn't help himself anymore and laughed.

"You're right," he started to explain his outburst, "it's not my actual profession. I'm a security guy. Mostly work at exhibitions and official happenings, taking care nothing happens."

"Oh, and that's how...," Sanji began, but broke off, not wanting to seem too nosy.

Zoro gave him a long look, and nodded. "Yes," he said, "that's how my scar happened. Some weirdo had a katana at an exhibition and I was to protect the attending crowd, so..."

Sanji stared at him, wide-eyed. "An actual katana?! That guy could have cut you in half!"

Zoro sighed, nodding, taking a sip from his beer. "Yeah, and he almost did. Too bad I had no swords on my own, back then..."

"Woah, now, don't tell me you're a motherfucking swordsman pretending to be a bookseller! That's just too weird..."

"I don't pretend to be anything. I'm only helping out at Marimo's, since some of their workers were robbed and badly beaten... Let's just say they had security issues. That's why I was hired."

"I see. But then the same happened to you..."

"Yeah, and here I am now. End of the story," the green-haired man said, taking another swig.

"Intense."

As Zoro inhaled to reply, a knock at the apartment door could be heard.

Sanji frowned; he wasn't expecting anyone for dinner. He opened the door to find a young smiling woman with long fox-red hair standing on his doormat.

"Nami!," he stated bluntly as the woman pulled him into a tight hug.

"Hey, Sanji. Vivi's taken over so I could have a break and see what you've made for dinner. Can I come in?," she asked, though she was already walking inside, kicking her stilettos off.
And suddenly stopping still at the sight in the dining-room.

She turned back to face Sanji, who had just closed the door, her face a mask of barely restrained irritation.

"Sanji, don't tell me that guy at the table is the one you saved?!"

"Huh? Why, yes, He's Z-"

"Zoro, I know."

Nami shook her head, a sneer replacing the smile on her face.

"So you know each other?," Sanji asked, trying to ignore Nami's antagonistic attitude.

"Then sit, eat with us," he continued, offering Nami a chair.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Nami said, glaring at the still sitting Zoro.

Zoro eyed her for a moment, not yet used to his newly impaired eyesight.

"Oh, Nami. Hi."

"Yeah. Oh," she snapped, putting both her hands on her hips.

"You know that Vivi's working down there, in the café? And you dare come here and enjoy yourself..."

Her voice had gone all hostile.

Zoro gave a sigh. "No, I did not know. And Sanji brought me here against my will, after all..."

"Against your will?!," Nami interjected, "You gotta be kidding me!"

Sanji looked from one to the other, understanding nothing at all.

"Can someone please explain what is going on here?," he asked, polite as ever.

Nami grinned evilly. "I'll tell you what's going on. That's the asshole that dumped Vivi because he discovered he was gay all of a sudden."

Zoro focused on his beer, avoiding any eye-contact.

"Oh. Oh."

Sanji studied Zoro as if he'd just met him anew.

"Vivi's just gotten over him, so she better not see him. Tell him to leave," Nami hissed.

Sanji stared at Nami. He knew she was right; Vivi was a good friend of his and having the guy who had caused her pain here was...plain wrong. Then again, hospitality...

"Nami, see, I can't just throw him out. He's wounded and..."

"Whatever."

Nami glared at Zoro, who sighed and got up.

"Thanks for the meal and all. I better leave. I don't want to cause you any more trouble."

Zoro crossed the room, his eye still fixed on the floor.

"No, wait," Sanji tried one last time but Nami butted in.
"The world's better off without this guy, Sanji. Trust me," she said, sitting down at the table.

Sanji felt torn. He wanted to agree with that; he felt he should agree with that. But something was off. He'd wanted to get to know that weird, silent greenhead.

But there would have been problems anyway, if that Zoro-guy really was gay.

Because Sanji wouldn't know how to handle such a situation. Again.