Take You In
Summary: When Sanji's great uncle dies, Sanji is told to empty the house and take what he wants. That's when Sanji finds something not human living inside the mansion.
Pairing: Sanzo Usopp/Kaya Franky/Brooks Ace/Smoker
This is my first fanfic. Not sure where this story is heading but hope you enjoy
Disclaimer: All one piece characters belong to Oda
Italic: Character Personal thoughts
Bold: Flashbacks
"What is that?" Zoro asks, pointing at the offending material in the blonde's hand. The towel Sanji had thrown to him loosely around his waist.
"This? This is the clothes you're gonna wear until I can get you something better. You can't go out wearing nothing." Sanji points out, while walking closer to the shivering cat. "It would look good on you.~" He moves the orange dress up and down from the shoulders, as if it were dancing.
"Like I would wear something like that!" He complains, a frown on his lips. "I can just stay here until you get back or... something." Zoro offers, taking a step back, away from the approaching blonde.
"Nope, I can't do that. You're coming with me." Sanji says with a smug smile.
Zoro gives Sanji a glare, clearly meaning he is not going to put that dress on. "I rather be dead before putting that on!" Zoro bares his fangs.
Sighing, Sanji tries to reason. "Tell you what, I'll buy you something nice. Today is like your birthday, right?" He questions.
Zoro raises an eyebrow. "Birthday?"
"Yeah," Sanji says while pushing the dress over Zoro's head, now that he is distracted. "Most of the time." He starts to explain. "A pet's birthday is the day the owner gets it. Unless, however you know what day you were born."
Zoro shakes his head. "No." He pushes the dress back off his head. "I told you already, I'm not wearing that. It's a dress! I'm not some kind of pretty girl! It's not my style either!"
The blonde chef glares at the green cat. "You're right, you're not a PRETTY girl." He doesn't blame Zoro, he wouldn't want to wear a dress either, but there is nothing else- plus he had to go through a lot to get this, so he better wear it. Placing his fingers behind the cat's ears, Sanji scratches until Zoro becomes limp. Taking the opportunity, Sanji is able to dress the cat.
"Stop doing that… that's… cheating!" Zoro argues, using Sanji's chest as support to stay standing. He hates when the blonde takes advantage of his weak spot.
"It's November 11th." Sanji continues talking, ignoring the cat's rants. "So from now on, every November 11th you can ask for anything and I will get it for you." He bites his bottom lip, hoping not to regret it later.
Turning around and grabbing a hat, Sanji places it on Zoro's head, pushing Zoro's ears back first with his other hand. "There we go. No ears, no green, and no tail. You know, a dress would really suit you, it hides your tail perfectly." He says with a genuine smile.
Zoro blushes while pushing Sanji's hand off his head. "I'm only wearing this humiliating thing once! This hat hurts my ears and everything sounds muffled." He complains.
"Maybe if you didn't have such a big head it wouldn't hurt." The blonde comments to himself. Lucky enough Zoro doesn't hear him. Taking a pair of his black dress socks, Sanji places them on each of Zoro's feet. This would have to do. He thinks. Standing up, Sanji opens one of the bathroom cabinets and takes out a small box. He opens it to reveal a makeup set.
"Why do you own a makeup set?" With a sly smile, the cat adds "To help improve your hideous face or hide that curly thing on your face?"
Sanji whirls back around, blushing furiously. "Wah?! Are you talking about my eyebrow? I'll have you know girls go crazy for this!" Sanji screams, offended by what Zoro said.
"You sure you don't mean "crazy" as in dizziness? Cause when I stare at it for too long, I feel like I'm gonna throw up."
"You little-!" Sanji grabs Zoro by the collar of his dress, bringing him up to his face. "Say that to my face short stuff!" Growls Sanji.
Zoro hugs his stomach while throwing his head back. "It's too close, I feel like I'm going to throw up-ohhhh, the agony!"
Sanji grits his teeth. "You're pushing your luck, Marimo!" Releasing the cat, Sanji turns around to grabs the right color powder that matches Zoro's skin tone. He grabs the cat's chin roughly and turns it to face the side. "You should be thankful I have this to hide these marks on your ugly face." Zoro growls in protest by the way the blonde is treating his poor face- but allows Sanji to put powder on his face. Sanji also conceals the scar that goes over the cat's left eye- Now it looks like Zoro has two different color eyes.
Once Sanji finishes, he feels pleased with himself. The cat actually looks human. The dress covers his tail just fine and the hat covers his ears. The orange dress is short sleeves, so he had to also cover the markings on the cat's biceps. Overall, the dress suited him well. Sanji just hopes people wouldn't notice that the 'girl' isn't wearing any shoes- he is only wearing his socks. He also notes that he will have to put some weight on the poor malnourished cat. Hopefully, no one will call human service thinking he is the one starving the poor thing.
"If anyone asks, you are a distant relative or something."
Zoro is looking at himself in the mirror when he asks, "Am I your distant relative or am I something?"
Sanji thought that Zoro was joking, but looking at the cat's serious reflection through the mirror, Sanji knows he is serious.
"You're my niece that came from… France to visit. I'm going to introduce you to someone. Keep your tail and ears hidden. Ah, and your name will be…" Sanji thinks hard, eyebrows furrowing before he gets a name. "Tora!"
"That's the best you can come up with?!" Zoro exclaims, while turning around to face Sanji, his face in clear disgust. "You're making me wear this thing and you're also burdening me with such an awful name!?"
"I think you look nice in a dress. Orange complements you well." The blonde chef says, giving the cat a grin. "Let's get this over with." He starts to head out.
But Sanji soon realized he has one other problem. Zoro walks on all fours. The blonde chef almost face palms. "Zoro, that's not how girls walk, heck, that's not even how humans walk."
Zoro gives Sanji a glare. Studying Sanji, the cat tries to walk just like the blonde. Standing on his two unsteady feet- the only result is Zoro looking like a walking monkey. "This is hard!" He complains, going on all fours again.
Sanji sighs. Grabbing onto Zoro's hand, Sanji helps him stand up straight. "Use me as leverage, just please don't humiliate me." Sanji says tiredly. "Also, if possible don't speak. At all. Don't. Say. Anything. Keep yourself unnoticed."
If Zoro's ears were perked up, they would have dropped after hearing what the blonde told him. It was close to what Roronoa said to him. The blonde notices the cat's spirit drop, but decides to ignore it. He has too much to deal with right now to worry about it. He'll ask later if he remembers.
Upon reaching Kaya's door, Sanji breaths before he knocks and waits for the blonde girl to open. His eyes wander to Zoro. He can't see the cat's face from the angle he is, the hat is blocking his view, but he can tell Zoro still looks down. Sanji's attention returns to the door when he hears it open.
"Sanji!" Kaya greets when she opens the door. She instantly notices the girl next to Sanji the moment she opens the door. "What a pretty girl you are. The dress looks marvelous on you." She coos. "What's your name?"
"Tora." Kaya hears the blonde answer for the young girl. "She's from France. She came to stay for a bit." Kaya's eyes light up when she hears this. "JE 'ma pelle, Kaya." The blonde female says, addressing Zoro. "I only know a bit of French. I took a class but found it hard. I feel like I didn't learn anything" She giggles, placing a hand over her mouth while doing so.
Sanji smiles, wanting to say that her French is horrible, but since she is a girl he opt to give her a warm smile. Zoro on his part keeps his head down, shielding his face with the rim of his hat from Kaya's curious eyes.
"Sorry, she's really shy." Sanji apologizes for Zoro, while scratching behind his head. "Well, I have to get going… I'll see you later." With a firm tug, Sanji pulls Zoro towards the elevator.
"Bye Sanji, and nice to meet you Tora!" Sanji hears Kaya say from behind him.
Once inside the elevator, Sanji scowls at the cat. "What was that? She was talking to you. You don't ignore a lady."
Keeping his gaze to the floor, Zoro answers, "You told me not to say anything, so I didn't"
Sanji frowns. "I guess I did say that. Fine, don't talk unless spoken to. Got it?" Zoro nods his head in understanding.
To Sanji's delight (for the first time in his life) Nami is not in the lobby. Don't take him wrong, he loves Nami, but right now he prefers not to see her, especially with Zoro next to him. Nami is smart and will know something is up the moment she sees them. Relieved, Sanji reaches his car and drives to the nearest mall.
The mall is pretty empty compared to the other times Sanji has gone. Sanji keeps a low profile by not flirting with girls, even though no one seems to mind them. Sanji reaches a children's clothing store. Zoro isn't big and he is thin, so shopping here would be the best.
"Stay close to me." Confidently, Sanji let go of Zoro's hand.
The blonde grabs a cart and starts stuffing it with different kinds of clothes and sizes. Though he is shopping for the cat, he's not 100 percent sure oif he will keep Zoro. He still has mixed feeling towards the cat. He can't seem to make space in his life to fit him.
Sanji is almost finished when he notices that Zoro is way too quiet. Maybe he can take this opportunity to ask him 'what's with his sour mood all of a sudden.'
"So, marimo what's eating you?"
"..."
"Marimo, this counts as talking to you..." Sanji says while looking at some purple dress pants.
"..."
"Marimo!" Sanji turns to where the cat is, only to see that Zoro isn't there. Sanji's face literally drops. The blonde frantically looks around for anything that resembles orange. "I should have known he wouldn't have listened to me!"
Looking around the store and finding no Zoro, Sanji decides to look in the other stores. Taking the cart full of clothes, Sanji runs to the register to pay for them.
"Thank you." Sanji thanks the lady he just paid.
Sanji looks through the crowd to see if he can locate the cat. The blonde chef felt like the mall has gotten even more crowded, just his luck. Sanji's blue eye widens when he spots the Marimo not too far away. Sanji sprints towards the cat, who is in front of a store window looking in.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Sanji pants as he reaches Zoro's side. "Didn't I say to stay with me?! As in stay next to me at all times!"
"You got lost so I went to find you" Zoro shrugs, not taking his green eyes away from the store window. Whatever is on the other side of the window being much more important than Sanji.
Sanji can feel his blood boil. "What are you looking at?" Sanji leans over Zoro to look for himself, his anger subsiding a bit. Zoro didn't even seem to be minding him, the cat's attention fully on whatever item is on the other side of the window display.
Zoro points at three identical golden earrings. "I was looking for you until I saw these. Can I have them?" His eyes are big, and his mouth in a small smile.
"I'm not buying you earrings. What do you want to be, some kind of pirate? Choose something else." Sanji scuffs. No way is he buying this stubborn annoying creature earrings.
Zoro tears his eyes away from earrings to glare at the chef. "You said I could ask for anything and you would give it to me." He challenges.
Sanji pinches the bridge of his nose. Why did I have to suggest that? But he is a man if his word… "Fine, you can have it." Sanji pulls one of the belts he bought just a moment ago and ties it around Zoro's wrist. Zoro looks at his belted around his wrist before looking up at Sanji with a questioning gaze.
"That way you won't get lost."
"You mean, so you won't get lost?" Zoro corrects Sanji.
This boy is soooo going to get it soon.
Sanji buys the earrings and gives them to Zoro. "I'll help you put them on when we get home." Zoro makes a noise at the back of his throat indicating he heard Sanji, but is too busy looking at his new earrings to say anything.
The blonde chef decides to stop by the pet store to check if there is anything he needs. He wasn't the type of kid that grew up with a pet. He didn't know if cat's needed anything. Maybe if he looks around, he might spot something he might need. Maybe a leash and collar. Yeah, that could work… Sanji thinks, with a mischievous smile.
Sanji enters the pet shop while dragging Zoro behind him. Sanji looks at the aisle and heads to the one labelled as "Cats". The aisle is empty except for a man with a big afro, as he places some cat food into the shelves.
Sanji sees many cat things that he can't use. He did look at the collar and was disappointed to find them too small for Zoro. He was, at one point, tempted to buy cat shampoo, but decided against it.
"Do you need any help?" The afro man that is stacking food asks without turning to face them.
"No, I was just looking around." Sanji says, dismissively.
The afro man stands up and faces them. "Are you getting a cat? Cause cats are the best pets to have. They're my favorite animals."
"I'm more of a dog person." Sanji replays, while scowling at Zoro, who is still looking at his earrings.
"You're like my boyfriend then. He just loves dogs." The tall man's eyes shift. "And who is this?" The afroman asks, eyeing the kid next to Sanji. The afroman walks over to the blonde and the cat.
As the afroman gets closer, Sanji can't help but notice how tall and skinny this man is. The afroman is wearing exotic clothing, making him look like some kind of artist. He is pale and bony but has a smile on his face that makes Sanji relax, just a little.
The skinny guy stops in front of Zoro and crouches down to the cat's level. "Hey there." Placing a bony hand on Zoro's hat, the Afroman pulls it off.
Zoro's eyes widen, a small noise escaping his lips as he looks up in surprise at the Afroman- placing one of his hands over his head, while the other still held on to his earrings.
Sanji comically falls face first on the floor. "What… what do you think you're doing?"
Zoro looks between Sanji and the Afroman, not sure what to do at this point.
"Yohohoho!" The Afroman laughs heartily, making Zoro's ears lower, haven't heard anyone laugh like that before. "I know a cat when I see one." Taking off the bandana around his neck, the Afroman ties it around the cat's head. "Isn't that better?" The Afroman stands up, and looks at Sanji. "The name's Brook. Nice to meet you."
"Sanji." The blonde grabs and shakes the offered hand, still dumbfounded that this random man figured this out so fast. "How did you know?"
Brook pats Zoro's head. "I have a thing with cats. Know one when I see one. Though, I've never seen one quite like this one. If you ever need help, you know where to find me."
Sanji nods his head in affirmation. Can people really just look at someone and know it's not human? He thinks. "Can you keep this a secret? I don't want people to know about Zoro."
"Of course Sanji-san, but can I please show it to my boyfriend? He won't say anything, I promise!" Brook pleads, both hands clapped together.
Sanji is skeptical, but allows the afroman to do as he pleases.
"Hey Franky, come here a sec!" Brooks calls out.
Sanji hears a deep voice respond that he is on his way. In less than a minute, a broad man with blue hair and a tattoo on his hands shows up. He is just as tall as the skinny dude, but not as thin- but the complete opposite. The man is big, built and wide. Sanji finds them to be a weird couple.
"What's going on afro-bro?" Franky asks. "I can't leave the register for too long."
Brook smiles at his boyfriend as he nears Zoro again. "I want you to meet Sanji and his pet."
Franky looks at both the customers. "That's bad bro, calling someone a pet." He says while crossing his arms over his broad chest.
"Look at this." Brook crouches again to be at Zoro's height. The tall man can hear the cat growl, but ignores it- pulling the bandana off the cat's head to reveal its ears. Franky's face drops, but a smile easily makes its way to the broad man's lips.
"This can't be true. This has to be fake." Franky says in disbelief and amusement, inching closer to his boyfriend.
Brook pulls on Zoro's ears, showing Franky that indeed theses ears were in fact Zoro's'. This gesture, however, causes Zoro to hiss and scratch Brook's hand.
Sanji is about to scowl Zoro for attacking Brook, but the skinny man holds up his hand. "I wouldn't like it if someone pulled my ears either. Sorry, Mr. Cat-san." He looks at Zoro with a smile.
Zoro keeps glaring at Brook. "We should get going. Nice meeting you both." Sanji pulls the bandana over Zoro's head and picks him up, fearing Zoro might attack Brook.
"That's some suuuper cat you've got there. Take good care of him!" Franky says, waving at Sanji, as the blonde leaves the pet store in a hurry.
"I think it would be safer if you stay home from now on. I just got you and two people already know about you."
"Can you put this on now?" Zoro asks, Sanji almost shoving the earrings onto Sanji's face. The blonde grits his teeth, as he shifts Zoro's weight. Does he even listen to what I say?
/
Sanji can hear Zoro's new earrings chime each time the cat moves his ears, which is a lot. The blonde is starting to conclude Zoro does it purposely. Zoro would move his ears, shake his head, and roll on the floor, just to hear them. He figured it's ok, as long as the cat didn't bother him directly.
The chef had returned home tired from the mall. Then Zoro kept bugging him about the earrings. After that, he had to prepare lunch and then hear Zoro complain about the clothes Sanji bought for him. He didn't understand what was the big deal. So what if he chose a lot of dress pants? He had a sense of style. Then he was also stuck with the task of adding a hole in the pants for the Marimo's tail to pass through.
It is almost noon when Sanji is finally able to sit down and relax on the couch. He can feel his eyelids drooping by the minute, he is exhausted. He listens to Zoro's earring chime like a melody, until he feels sleep overtake him.
/
The blonde slowly regains consciousness to the sound of someone talking and some barking. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, Sanji's mind finally registers. Wait, barking?
Sanji's eyes snap open. Looking around, the first thing he notices is Chopper, Luffy's dog barking at him. "What the? What are you doing here?" Sanji springs out of his seat, only to see the door wide open. This can't be happening to me! Why was Chopper in his apartment, and why is the door open!? He panics, thinking Zoro ran away, or someone kidnapped him while he slept.
Sanji bolts towards the door, Chopper hot on his heels, trying to bite Sanji's pants. He stops by the doorway, only to hear a familiar 'shishishi'. Looking into his kitchen, he sees the fridge open with both Zoro and Luffy looking inside of it. I'm going to get grey hair before this is over…
"Zoro! Luffy!" The blonde shouts angrily, marching into his kitchen. The blonde is able to see Zoro tense and Luffy hit his head with the top of the fridge. They both turn around to look at Sanji, nervous smiles on their faces.
"Luffy, how did you get in here?" Sanji demands, while glaring at the cat. Zoro glaring right back at him.
"Easy, I picked the lock." Luffy says with a smile, like it is the easiest thing to do. "Do you know that you have a cat boy living in your apartment?" Luffy questions, pulling Zoro's tail. The cat instantly growls, and yanks his tail out of Luffy's hold.
"You broke into my house?" Sanji's glare now aimed at Luffy. The chef really thought Zoro was the one who let the raven haired teen inside, but he was sadly mistaken.
"Yup! Sanji, I want cat ears and tail!" Luffy cheers.
"Too bad I can't give you any." Sanji pinches the bridge of his nose. "Go home Luffy, it's late."
Luffy pouts. "But Sanji, what about my food?"
"Luffy, I had a rough day. I'll give it to you another time. Just go home."
"But..." Luffy protests. Zoro leans over, closer to Luffy's ear and whispers something that Sanji can't hear. Luffy listens attentively, before he laughs. "Ok, Zoro. I'll see you tomorrow." Luffy skips out of the apartment with Chopper and closes the door.
"What did you say?" Sanji asks, raising an eyebrow.
Zoro smirks at Sanji. "Something for me to know and for you to never figure out, Curly-brow."
"Go to bed!" Sanji roars. Zoro runs off, laughing at Sanji. The blonde sighs. That's three people other than Law that knows. I'm I the only normal one that found Zoro weird? It's a human cat for freak's sake! Still, I can't run the risk. I need to be more careful.
Sanji finishes cleaning the mess in the kitchen both Luffy and Zoro had created, before heading to bed. The blonde takes off his shoes and shirt, before noticing a big bump under the quilt on his bed. Sanji removes the quilt only to see Zoro curled in a ball, his tail wrapped around him, with his ears flat on his head and his chest rising and falling as he sleeps. The blonde smiles- it is a cute sight.
If I were nice, I can let him sleep here. Too bad I'm not.
The blonde chef kicks Zoro clean of his bed. "On the couch." He orders.
Zoro looks up at Sanji, while rubbing his head. "What? You can't do that!" Zoro stands up, looking at Sanji, anger written on his face.
"Oh, yes I can. Now scat!" Sanji jumps onto his bed. "Oh! And don't forget to turn off the light when you leave."
"But it's cold..." Zoro says, hoping to be able to get into bed with the blonde.
Sanji shuffles a little, trying to unpin himself from his comforter. "Here." Sanji tosses the comforter hitting the cat square in the face. "I have my sheets to keep me warm. Night Marimo." Sanji turns his back to the cat, signalling that the conversation is over.
Sanji hears when Zoro's bare feet walk away. Maybe I should have let him stay in bed. I was kinda mean. Maybe I should call him back. Sanji is starting to feel bad until he notices his light is still on. Forget what I said. That little monster can sleep outside for all I care!
AN: I finished another chapter! Zoro hopefully will be aging in a few chapters. It's easier to set a relationship with Sanji with a younger Zoro. Hope you keep enjoying the story!