If you are a Sanji/Luffy fan, don't read this because you will try and kill me and if you are an SL fan, what the hell are you doing in a ZoLu drabble area anyway? Oh well, Luffy probably wouldn't do this but, hey, ya never know what goes on inside that rubber noggin of his.

Rejected

Roronoa Zolo watched him carefully. He was so vibrant, so full of life and so unafraid of what anyone thought of him, even when he did the most embarrassing things, eg, tripping over his own feet and falling down the stairs of the Merry Go to land in a tumbled heap at the bottom.

But, the thing was, Zolo noticed he wasn't the only one watching his captain. It seemed as if Sanji had taken an interest as well. This annoyed Zolo to no end and Sanji seemed to notice this as well.

The two men then made it a point to go out their way to piss the other off. They often got into fights over frivolous things and then proceeded to tease the other, when they were alone, about their attraction to the captain. It was a bright, warm day when Zolo won.

Luffy was sitting upon the figure head, as usual, and Zolo was asleep next to the mast, as usual.

Sanji snuck out of the kitchen, plan in mind. He paused at the asleep swordsman, resisting the urge to kick the bastard up the arse there and then. He shook his head and continued towards Luffy.

"Hey Luffy." he said. Luffy turned to him with a smile.

"Is dinner ready Sanji?" he asked. Sanji frowned, is that all this kid thinks about? He thought.

"No Luffy, I want to tell you something else." the blonde haired man said. Luffy waited, a bright smile on his face. Sanji paused a moment, working up the courage to tell Luffy how he felt.

"I, well, you know when someone likes someone else they call it love, right?" Sanji asked trying to be subtle. Luffy probably wouldn't get it, but, heck, it wouldn't hurt to try. Luffy thought a minute.

"Yeah, what about it?' Luffy replied. Sanji sighed.

"Well, I…love you." he said. There was a silence so deep that Sanji thought he might drown in it if Luffy didn't reply soon. Luffy's smile faded a little.

"Love me?…Sanji, you're my friend but…I don't love you that way…" Luffy said quietly, his serious side showing through.

Sanji stayed still, afraid that a single movement would send him falling to the deck in tears. But, he composed himself, turned away and stuffed his hands deep into his pockets. "Sanji, I'm sorry." Luffy's voice said behind him. Sanji paused a moment and then shook his head, taking long strides back to the kitchen and locking the door behind him.

Zolo opened an eye and saw Sanji walking back to the kitchen, his footsteps heavier than usual and the distance between each step was a little erratic. Zolo looked up to see Luffy with his head bowed. Oh, so that's what had happened. It seemed Sanji had told Luffy how he felt and the captain had rejected him. Ouch. But, Zolo knew he had gotten in early. He smiled at the memory.

"Luffy." Zolo said as he jumped into the crow's nest. The rubber man who had been sitting on the edge of the pit, his legs dangling over the side, looked around.

"Yeah?" he replied, his eyes glittering in the moonlight. It must have been around midnight and the moon was casting light exactly onto the two men. Zolo sighed and walked over to him.

"It's time for my watch." Luffy yawned, his arms stretching, literally, above him to twist together and then snapped back down to their owner. Zolo chuckled.

"Does that make the stretching better?" he asked. Luffy nodded, a smile on his face. Zolo chuckled again. Luffy hopped back into the crow's nest and was about to jump onto the ladder when Zolo grabbed his arm. Luffy paused and turned back, a confused expression on his face.

"Luffy, I want to tell you something." Zolo said. Luffy tilted his head and then smiled.

"Well?"

"Can I show you?" he asked carefully. Luffy shrugged.

"Sure." Zolo didn't think Luffy realised what he had just agreed to, but, he was sure he could show him.

He used Luffy's own arm as a lasso and pulled the younger man to him. As soon as Luffy had reached him, he pressed his free arm to Luffy's back and held him tight. Leaning down, he pressed his forehead to Luffy's and pushed the smaller boy's head back a little, so his lips could touch his captain's. Luffy didn't pull back, but it seemed like the younger man was surprised. So Zolo continued to kiss him, there under the moonlight, Luffy even pressing a little back. They broke apart and Luffy rested his head on Zolo's shoulder.

"Zolo, I don't know if this is gonna work." Luffy said after a little while. Zolo paused.

"Why? Anyone who doubts us, I'll just grind em' into the ground." the swordsman threatened, drawing a light chuckle from Luffy.

"No you won't, not without my permission. No, I mean I think Sanji likes me as well. I don't want to have to reject someone." Luffy explained. Zolo frowned.

"But, do you love Sanji back?" he asked. Luffy shook his head.

"He's a fantastic cook and an awesome fighter and friend but, I don't love him."

"Then, you have to tell the truth. If you don't love someone, then you can't lie to them and tell them that you do like them." Zolo said still holding Luffy against him firmly. Luffy nodded.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Zolo sighed. He silently promised that he wouldn't tease the chef…much. He chuckled a little before letting himself slip off to sleep. But, before he did so he couldn't help but think, 'Rejected.' towards Sanji.

The end

Hmm, a bit rushed and a bit stupid but, anyway