Welcome aboard for the new readers.

Enjoy your reading.

Chapter 16

Straight in the eye

The next morning, the crew parted ways to fill the Sunny's reserves. Sanji, Luffy and Ussop took care of the food, Chopper and Brook of the medical stock, Franky and Zoro of the cola and the girls went to visit the museums and exchange some treasures against berries. Nami also took the opportunity to buy a gift to her sister and after having dropped off her parcel with the address of her native village, she felt more relaxed.

At lunchtime, they met on the ship before going to eat outside. Luffy wasn't leaving his stuffed animal and had put it on the figurehead with him. He was showing Chopper how he had tied a thread with a hook on one of his legs so that it could fish with them.

"Pay attention to your stuffed animal, Luffy", Nami wheezed as she passed by. "It'll fall into the sea and I'm not the one who'll go get it!"

"Don't worry, I'm holding it! We're having too much fun with it!" he showed her, laughing.

"It's so soft!" Chopper gushed while stroking it.

"It's awesome!" his captain agreed.

"We'll be eating soon, you should find it some shelter while we'll be gone", the young woman suggested him with a calculating smile.

"We're gonna eat?! Great!"

He took the huge stuffed animal in his arms and ran to the boys' quarters to put it down.

"I advise you not to come in right now", Robin's voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Luffy turned around and glanced at the archaeologist who was reading quietly on her lounge chair a few steps away.

"Why? I need to put my stuffed animal away, we're gonna eat!"

"What's going on?" Nami asked, approaching with Chopper.

"The place is taken", her friend replied in a neutral manner.

The navigator raised her eyebrows before grasping the implication and rolling her eyes. At her side, the reindeer also understood and blushed in spite of himself.

"Luffy, you'll put your stuffed animal away later", Nami decided.

"But I'm hungry!" the captain got impatient. "I put it away and let's go!"

"Don't you dare go through that door until Robin gives you permission to do so, is that clear?" the navigator ordered him, threatening.

"But why?" he whimpered.

"Zoro and Sanji are busy, we must not disturb them", the archaeologist explained quietly.

"Oh. What are they doing?"

Nami bit her lip and Chopper blushed again.

"It's a private thing so don't bother them, that's all!" the young woman concluded irritably.

"Okay but they need to do it fast otherwise I'd go get them myself! I'm hungry!" he pouted.

"Let's go fishing with your stuffed animal while waiting", the little doctor kindly offered him.

The red-haired woman nodded with relief and Robin smiled as she was turning her page.

When the swordsman and the cook came out of the room a little later, they didn't miss Nami's exasperated glance and Robin's sweet smile in their direction. In front of their perplexed faces, Ussop pointed to his watch and Luffy who was running around the deck.

"Why didn't you warn us?" the blond wondered.

"We didn't want to bother you", Franky replied with a big conniving smile.

Sanji froze and felt himself blush in spite of himself.

"But we didn't do... that!" he protested, lowering his voice after understanding what he meant.

"Anyway, believe me, next time I won't bother", the navigator grumbled while walking towards the dock.

The cyborg winked at the two lovers before following her and the cook tried to retort to prove his good faith but he changed his mind. They had done nothing because they had ended up fighting after Zoro had sneakily pointed out to him he would prefer him as docile as in the presence of the girls. Of course, Sanji had become enraged and the languorous caresses had turned into kicks and blows. In fact, he didn't know if he was more inclined to have Nami catching them kissing or fighting because she would get furious in both cases. The blond sighed, definitely uncomfortable.

Getting him out of his thoughts, Luffy pounced before him.

"You finally came out!" he exclaimed. "It's about time, I'm hungry!"

He made off to the room to drop his stuffed animal and stormed out to jump on the dock.

"Let's eat!"

Sanji tried to ignore his torments by lighting a cigarette while the swordsman was walking quietly to the dock as if nothing had happened.

The crew had settled on the mountainside away from the tourist bustle. They were overlooking the coast not far from a ravine where the green sides of the volcano were greeting them for a lavish picnic. Sanji had made a multitude of dishes to satisfy the captain's appetite and the tastes of his friends and he arranged the food harmoniously on a huge tablecloth on the ground. Everyone then sat around and enjoyed the landscape while savoring his meal although Luffy engulfing his share loudly ruins a little the sweetness of the moment.

"This is the life", Ussop sighed as he dropped into the grass after finishing his plate.

Brook and Chopper agreed and imitated him. The wind was refreshing the skin, the sun was shining high and the birds were chirping cheerfully around them. The beautiful landscape and the peaceful atmosphere were favoring calm and relaxation.

"How about we do a rolling downhill contest?!" Luffy suddenly shouted, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"What is it?" his musician inquired.

"We climb at the top of the slope and we let ourselves roll down! The first to arrive can ask what he wants from others!"

"Are you sure it's a good idea to do that right after eating?" Ussop asked him.

"Whoever's sick gets a bonus point", Franky suggested.

"Awesome!" Luffy yelled, rushing to the top. "Hurry up!"

Franky followed the straw hat boy with a sure smile. He had a secret technique and was confident. Brook decided to join them, as did Ussop and Chopper, though more hesitant.

"You should go, too, marimo. You'd move instead of thickening by sleeping all the time", the cook scoffed.

"Speak for yourself", the swordsman grunted at his side, already dozing. "You got a paunch lately..."

The blond stopped and stared at him, dumbfounded.

"I'll have you know that I don't have an ounce of fat, bastard! Where have you seen that?!"

"I see you often enough butt-naked to notice", the swordsman sniggered.

Sanji felt his eyes widen and he nudged the fencer, pointing to the two girls who were chatting next to them.

"Shut up, you moron!" he hissed. "We're not alone!"

Zoro shrugged slightly.

"They already know. And you're the one who started it..."

He turned around and instantly sank into sleep while the blond was sighing.

He cleared the dishes and stored the remaining food to protect it from the sun. He then offered tea to Nami and Robin and sat in the grass not far from them.

He noticed that Luffy, Franky, Brook, Chopper and Ussop were positioning themselves to rush down the slope above. Lying at regular spaces, they soon dropped and inevitably began to shift towards each other. Brook collided with Luffy who pushed him back to speed and the poor skeleton ran off the road. Ussop and Chopper were letting themselves be carried by the ground and they already seemed to be about to throw up after a few meters. Despite this, they were laughing breathlessly.

Franky was literally gliding along the slope, perfectly in control of his trajectory. He had raised his arms above his head like a dancer and was rolling at a breathtaking speed. Seeing that victory was going to escape him, Luffy decided to do this the hard way.

"Gum-Gum Balloon!"

The captain's light and round body overtook the cyborg at full speed with a chuckle. Furious, Franky also launched an attack.

"Coup de vent!"

The gas accumulated in his body propelled him in front of the straw hat boy and he arrived first at the edge of the slope, stopping in a magnificent controlled skid. For his part, Luffy failed to brake and he flew to the ravine, thrown into the air. Fortunately, the captain stretched his long arms and clang on to the edge, landing with a laugh.

"That was a good move, Franky!"

"Thank you!"

"Aaaahhhhhh!"

The two friends turned around and saw Brook, body completely dislocated and moving in all directions according to the ground. The poor skeleton was taking each stone in the face, unable to stop.

"Help!"

He went past Franky and Luffy at top speed and took off over the void, screaming in the sky.

"Gum-Gum Finger Net!"

The captain caught hold of his friend in his intertwined fingers and then set him down on the ground beside him.

"Th-Thank you, Luffy-san", the skeleton said, his legs trembling. "I thought all my bones were going to break and that's the only thing I got left!"

Luffy laughed before looking for Ussop and Chopper.

"Where are they? They overtook us?!"

"No, they're here", Franky showed him.

Slowly coming down, the last two were laughing like madmen while regularly bumping into each other. Arrived in front of their friends, they tried to get up but nausea took them and they decided to lie down.

"Okay, so Chopper and Ussop have a bonus point 'cause they're sick but they came last", Luffy thought. "Franky, Brook and I finished the race but we don't have a bonus. It means you won, Franky!" he congratulated him with a big smile.

"Super!"

The cyborg started a rhythmic dance where he swirled and danced for a good minute before the wondering eyes of Brook and the straw hat boy.

"Oh, yeah!"

When at last he finished with a theatrical pose, his two friends applauded wildly.

"What are you going to ask?" Luffy inquired with curiosity.

"Um... I think I'll take you back to the panties shop. I want new ones and I need your opinion!"

"Great!" the captain and the skeleton cried out.

For their part, Ussop and Chopper exchanged a dejected glance before resting their heads on the ground again, too stunned.

The Sunny had sailed that evening and the crew had said goodbye to the tourist island. After spending the afternoon in the sun and in the grass, the cook had wanted to refresh himself to be presentable at dinner and he had jumped in the shower as soon as he could. His timing was tight but he didn't want to overlook his appearance.

A few minutes later, Sanji dried himself and fixed his hair in front of the mirror. His dish was about to finish simmering and he didn't have much time before he had to supervise the meal. He grabbed his clothes and was going to put them on when his gaze stopped on his belly in the reflection of the mirror. He examined himself involuntarily, turning in one direction then the other to better see. Finally, he ran his hand over his slightly drawn abs and smiled with satisfaction.

"Idiot, my body is perfectly sculpted."

He finished dressing quickly and walked out of the bathroom towards his kitchen.

The cook moved again on his chair, watching that Luffy didn't grab the dish for the fifth time. He pulled on his pants and took a more comfortable position before getting up to serve Chopper and Ussop. He then noticed that Nami was finishing his glass of water and he hastened to fill it again. Satisfied, he sat down again and found that he was once more uncomfortable. He stretched the edges of his shirt with a sigh and checked that his belt was straightened.

Since the beginning of the meal, he had the impression his clothes were keeping him too tight or they were in a wrong position. He hated not looking at his best in front of his princesses, especially when he had to serve them and this state annoyed him.

Finally, the meal was over and he cleared the table before doing the dishes. He was trying not to think about it but he was feeling undoubtedly trapped in his clothes since his shower. With annoyance, he wondered if Brook had wanted to do the laundry again and if his clothes had paid the price for it. It wouldn't be the first time the skeleton, trying to do the right thing, simply misses his goal despite his good will.

After storing his dishes, Sanji made his way to the boys' quarter and reviewed all his pants with a critical eye. He then put his shirts in front of him and examined them in their turn.

No, none of his clothes had shrunk, they were all exactly the same size. Perplexed, he looked at himself again in the mirror. Could it be that the marimo man was right and that he actually got fat? At this simple hypothesis, anger blazed in his eyes at this reflection.

"What the bleedin' hell?"

The swordsman was staring at the incredible amount of clothes spread all over the room, astounded. For his part, the cook clenched his teeth and began to collect his things.

"I want to get a new wardrobe", he retorted sharply.

"What for? You already have more clothes than a chick by the looks of it!" the fencer pointed out to him, amazed.

"Stop being so macho! I like being able to choose what I want every morning, that's all. What are you doing here anyway?"

The swordsman pointed to his swords in his left hand.

"I need to clean them, my things are in my closet."

"Wait a minute, I'm almost done and I don't want you to disturb what I did."

Zoro sighed and the cook decided to make two piles with the clothes he had scattered after their fitting. A pile for those he could continue to use and a pile for those he should push aside for a moment given the latest findings. Furiously, he then stacked the clothes in front of the fencer who was watching him.

"Does this story go on much longer?" he grumbled. "Take them all at once, it'll be faster!"

"I am sorting, you moron! Is the principle so complicated for you?!"

Zoro rolled his eyes. Sanji was particularly on edge. Was it the prospect of having to change his clothes that made that effect on him?

"Why are you getting so upset, shitty cook? It's not my fault if you need to clean up your closets!"

Sanji didn't reply and the swordsman leaned against the doorframe with a bored look, waiting for him to finish. As he was following the blond with his eyes mechanically, he suddenly saw him frown and crumple a shirt he flung into one of the piles.

"What are you doing?" he wondered, pointing at the garment with a chin gesture.

"I don't like it anymore."

"Really? You can't stop wearing it every time we go out though."

The cook froze. He never thought Zoro would notice such details. In fact, he still liked this shirt but he couldn't put it on now.

"Since when are you a fashion expert, Cactus-kun?" he snickered to hide his confusion. "Are you going to advise me now?"

The swordsman shrugged.

"I thought Nami's opinion mattered more than that to you but if you stop listening to this witch, it's for the best."

Sanji barely heard the insult towards his dear navigator. Nami had actually told him recently she liked this shirt because it was highlighting him. It was also since that date that the blond was wearing it regularly. And he couldn't do it anymore! He threw himself on the fabric and unwrinkled it with all his strength. He had to put it on again as soon as possible!

At his side, Zoro was taken aback by his incomprehensible behavior.

"What is wrong with you, swirly? You really look like out of it tonight..."

"Mind your own fucking swords, you stupid musclehead!" the chief barked. "I'm telling you I'm sorting!"

"On what basis? Cause for you to forget Nami's favorite shirt is not an easy job", the swordsman pointed out to him in a mocking tone.

Sanji felt himself blushing to the roots of his hair and the fencer smirked. The blond then felt his nerves crack.

"Shitty swordsman, it's all your fault!" he exploded.

Zoro lost his smile and frowned.

"My fault? You got some balls, cook! What do I have to do with your wacky storage crisis, huh? I don't give a fuck about your rags!"

"If you hadn't pointed out I got fat, I wouldn't have to do this fucking sort!" the cook continued, throwing his shirt furiously.

The swordsman stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.

"Oh no, I can't believe it! You're sorting cos I said you got fat?!"

Sanji suddenly realized what he had admitted and his cheeks burned with shame.

"Shut up, stupid! It's not for you that I'm doing it, it's for me!"

Zoro repressed a new laugh and shook his head, amused. He then grabbed the crumpled shirt and waved it in front of the blond.

"Well, I'll leave then. I'll come back later, I certainly wouldn't want to disturb you..."

The swordsman left the room laughing more and Sanji caught his shirt he had thrown at him, red with anger. For his greatest misfortune, he was sincerely thinking he had never heard Zoro laugh so heartily since he knew him...

Zoro looked at the cook chew his cigarette angrily as he was watching the crew's meal the next morning. If it was possible, he was in a worse mood than the day before and the swordsman was certain the blond was brooding over their conversation. Everyone was chatting loudly around the table and the fencer decided to add to the ambient cacophony.

"You're not eating, cook. You're not hungry?"

The cook looked right into his eyes with surprise before perceiving the smile behind his question and his jaw tightened on his butt without answering him.

"It's true that you have to be careful but Chopper has told us enough breakfast is the most important mea-"

"Since when you're a morning person, cactus head?" Sanji cut him aggressively. "Mind your own business or you'll eat salad up to the next island!"

The smirk of the fencer stretched again but he sank back into his plate without replying. He had a golden opportunity to enrage the cook and he would never let him forget that he thought he had got fat after his remark. Zoro could only imagine with delight the blond's humiliation when he had realized the swordsman had made fun of him.

After a little training, the swordsman remembered he hadn't been able to take care of his swords the day before and he went to the boys' quarter to correct it.

He pushed the door and was surprised to find Sanji sorting his clothes again. He grabbed his equipment in silence and was going to make cutting remarks to him before coming out when he noticed the cook was still doing two piles with his clothes.

"What the hell are you doing, darts?" he inquired, puzzled.

"Get off me, shitty bastard!" Sanji snapped, glaring at him.

"Why do you keep putting your clothes away like that?" he pushed, frowning.

"You crazy or somethin'?! You doing this on purpose to fuck with me, is that it?!" the cook yelled, his fists clenched.

Zoro stared at him for a moment before realizing the real reason for the blond's anger, wide-eyed.

"Gee, you're stupider than I thought, cook", he noticed with a smirk.

"Get outta here, fucking moron or I swear I'll drown you", the other growled, ready to kick him.

The fencer thought for a while about what to do. A fight against the chef was definitely attractive and the idea that Sanji was driving himself nuts for something that didn't exist was too. But strangely, he didn't want to see him suffer needlessly either and seeing how he was, the blond had long lost his temper. Zoro shook his head.

"You didn't get fat, idiot. I said that to annoy you when you provoked me yesterday."

Sanji frowned before glancing at him.

"Don't try to confuse me, I noticed that some of my clothes don't fit me as well but I'm not going to take a long time to regain my form and when it does, I'll kick your arrogant marimo's ass even more than before!"

The swordsman rolled his eyes.

"That's amazing... You thought you got fat so you started making stories up in your head!"

"I don't make stories up in my head!" the blond persisted.

"You think I'd have fun disabusing you if that was really the case?" the fencer got impatient. "I shouldn't have said a thing and continue to enjoy the pathetic tortures you inflict on yourself!"

Zoro crossed his arms before carrying on.

"Anyway, that's so like you to make such a big thing about that, you must love suffering."

The cook wanted to answered back violently but the swordsman's disillusioned stare stopped him and he frowned again. He knew he had been the first to tease the swordsman on the subject but when Zoro had replied, he had felt particularly exposed when he usually didn't care about his remarks. And with all that thinking, he had begun to notice that he was feeling less comfortable in his clothes. Was all this only in his head? If that was the case, he would never get over feeling ridiculous in front of the swordsman...

"Come on, stop sulking, it makes me want to take you right here right now", the suave voice of the fencer facing him suddenly muttered.

Sanji shivered because of the hot breath that tickled his neck when Zoro grabbed him between his muscular arms to kiss him but despite the delicious sensation, the blond struggled.

"Let me go, damn marimo!"

"Calm down. Seriously, you want me to say? Your body is perfect", the swordsman whispered against his skin. "If only your head could look a little more like it..."

The cook tried to push him away again but Zoro pushed him firmly against the wall before pressing his lips against his. He then let his hand ride up under the chef's shirt, grazing his abs with his fingertips. Sanji felt his breathing quicken and he gradually stopped fighting.

"You really said that just to annoy me?" he finally dared to ask him.

"Really. If you had got fat, I'd say it. And if I didn't find you attractive, I wouldn't be here."

These words, stated in the simplest way, made the cook blush in spite of himself and he shrugged awkwardly between the kisses of his crewmate.

"Yeah but one can wonder... You're so weird. You're a seaweed after all..."

The swordsman smirked and increased his caresses on the belly of the blond who suppressed a new thrill under the action of warm and firm hands on his skin.

"What if I can prove you what I'm talking about, would you like it?" the fencer offered him with a predatory look.

"Maybe..."

"That's what I thought", the man sneered, sinking back to his mouth.

Sanji felt himself weaken a little more in the arms of the swordsman. He blamed himself for taking his remarks seriously but he also liked the way Zoro was trying to change his mind so...

"You're exaggerating, marimo", Sanji sighed breathlessly after a few minutes of fiery kisses. "Anyone could come in..."

"They all know anyway", the fencer muttered in the same state as he was nibbling the thin skin along his jaw.

"That's not a reason. This makes me uneasy..."

"Stop thinking."

Zoro took hold of his lips again, silencing the blond definitely. In any case, he had defended himself far too weakly to be really opposed to what they were doing.

The boys' quarter was quiet at this time of the day, everybody being busy with outdoor activities on the deck or in their workshops. There was practically no risk in exchanging a few kisses for another minute or two and the swordsman deepened his embrace, hugging the cook tightly against himself.

Just a minute...

"Hi, guys! What are you doing?"

The two men parted abruptly, blushing. It was only a minute!

"We are... Uh..."

Sanji searched for an explanation at full speed. Fortunately, it was Luffy and he was naive enough to buy almost any explanation. He was holding his huge stuffed toy against him and was looking at them with all the innocence he could, making him look a child a little bit more.

"Dispute settlement", the swordsman said.

"Yes", the blond confirmed with precipitation. "An umpteenth fight, you know us!"

"You're too funny", their captain laughed.

"If you say so", Zoro shrugged.

"But why are you kissing while you're fighting?" Luffy asked with curiosity.

The swordsman froze and the cook by his side dropped the cigarette he had just stuck into his teeth. A silence stretched for a moment between them as the straw hat boy was staring at them, still intrigued.

"I-It's... kind of... fighting technique. A new one", Zoro finally stammered, perfectly embarrassed.

"Awesome!" Luffy exclaimed. "Can I try?!"

The first mate of the crew felt himself turning pale while Sanji was taking a deep breath. He had to get around the obstacle in a subtle way so the captain wouldn't get any wrong ideas. Ideas that were sending shivers down his spine.

"Impossible", he answered firmly. "It's a special technique. It only works between Zoro and me."

"Oh? Why?" the straw hat boy inquired, disappointed.

"Because it only applies between certain people. You could do it with Nami for example."

"Wow! It's super cool!"

"Above all, don't forget to ask her for permission before," the cook became alarmed, imagining what the captain would do with such information. "And don't use this... technique in front of everyone, you understand?"

"No problem!" Luffy said, getting enthusiastic with his eyes bright with excitement. "I can't wait to try!"

"O-Okay", the blond mumbled, feeling his shaky explanation escapes him. "Just don't try it with anyone else..."

"Yeah, don't worry!" he reassured him, already darting out of the room after having chuck his stuffed toy out. "I let you train. See you later!"

Luffy flung himself out of the room and Sanji bit his lips. Let's hope that the captain had understood his recommendations and that Nami would know how to interpret his behavior that wouldn't fail to surprise her... At his side, Zoro shook his head, doubtful, before shrugging.

See how I'm starting to subtly slide their relationship into something more complex? Well, I try to be subtle...

Feel free to give me your opinion, I'm interested!