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Chapter 25

Blues

Sanji was always cooking with passion. Ingredients were so many music notes he was setting down on the score of his plates to make the tastiest symphonies without even needing to think about it. This expertise was particularly useful to him today while he was running his moves routine a little more mechanically, lost in thought. His unconscious was therefore attentive to the cooking of the meat and the right dosage of spices on the crunchy vegetables while his mind was drifting out of his kitchen.

He had reviewed all the elements in his possession and he always came back to the same incongruous conclusion: he had become sensitive to certain behaviors of the swordsman. Whether addressed to him or not, these distinctive characteristics inherent to Zoro were causing him disarming chills and inner turmoil when he shouldn't even have noticed it. Like when the swordsman was excessively taking care of his swords. Or when he was grumbling when woke up too early from sleep. Or when his smirk was making his opponents back down even before he made a single move in their direction.

Even worse, when his moves were directly addressed to him, he was feeling his heart beating a little faster and his mind becoming confused. Like when the swordsman had taken the time to undress him. Or when he had left his hand lying around on his hip when he had woke up.

It was ridiculous and stupid given the fact this was about that idiot fencer and Sanji was well aware of this but it didn't change reality. His sad reality.

Why did he have to perceive differently the marimo attitude? he wondered, turning furiously at his salt mill. And above all, why did Zoro sometimes give him the impression of acting differently too?

Sanji sighed and added some broth for cooking. Was he getting the wrong idea about the swordsman's attention toward him? Zoro had seemed less expeditious to him in recent days, but at the same time he didn't seem to be giving it any special meaning either. Knowing the man, if he had wanted to be intentionally considerate, he would have betrayed himself in some way as this attitude wasn't tallying with him. But so far, nothing. He was settling for being perfectly normal, as if his moves weren't meant to communicate more than the blond seemed to see.

The cook bit his lower lip. Was it possible Zoro didn't realize the impact of his actions? It was hard to believe but once again, if the swordsman was acting knowingly, how did he keep this natural attitude in front of him? For his part, since he had realized what was going on inside him, he was feeling nervous and terribly uncomfortable.

Sanji cut the fire under his cooker, noting the meat had reached ideal temperature, and put a lid on his pot. He sighed then as he was staring half-heartedly at what he believed was the greatest passion of his life. He knew he needed an answer but the subject was way too tricky to rush into things without thinking and ask him the question abruptly.

Seriously, developing feelings for the marimo while so many pretty girls were waiting for him to be worshiped? No doubt he was cursed...

The Sunny was moored in the middle of the afternoon away from the main island of a small archipelago in a pretty flowery port literally swarming with Marines. Nami tried to prevent Luffy from disembarking but it was a lost cause and she eventually gave up. Immediately ashore, this one threw his hands towards a bird he wanted to see on the menu of his dinner and was spotted by conscientious soldiers who suspected that the presence of an elastic man was rare enough to mean the straw hat crew had disembarked.

While the captain was opening hostilities without even noticing it a few seconds later, the navigator put all her hopes on the rest of the crew she drew aside.

"Luffy is going to draw everyone's attention to him so let's try to take advantage of it", she sighed. "We're going to part ways to go unnoticed and do our shopping as quickly as possible. Brook with Franky, you're the most recognizable so you go back to the Sunny. Get it ready and keep in touch with Robin who will be watching Luffy so he doesn't get too far from the port. Sanji-kun and Ussop, try to bring some food in. Zoro and Chopper, take care of the cola reserves."

"And you, what you gonna do?" the cyborg inquired.

"I'll manage to know the charging time of the Log-Pose. I'll also take the opportunity to keep up with the news."

She then turned to her friends and gave them the starting signal.

"See you in an hour. We'll take Luffy at the last minute."

Everyone approved and speeded through the city to get the most out of things in such a short time.

When the crew met on the ship at about the appointed time, Nami told them with disappointment it would take two days for the Log-Pose to charge again. She then had decided to get the Sunny under cover on a small island nearby so they remain discreet enough time.

At her request, Robin tried to exfiltrate Luffy from the herd of Marines who was running after him at the top of the port but he was having so much fun he didn't intend to leave any time soon. Sanji and Zoro were then dispatched to help the archaeologist to get him back manu militari and they went to the place of battle.

Arrived up to the enemy troops, they found the officers weren't very experienced but their number was sufficiently high so that they must remain on their guard. Zoro pulled out his swords with an appreciative smile and glanced at the cook who seemed annoyed.

"If you can't handle it, you should let me take care of them", he challenged him.

"Don't dream, marimo. I was just thinking that it'd hardly be a distraction."

The fencer increased his smile and looked defiantly at the group of Marines who was coming towards them. A little further, Robin dropped a heavy rock in an alley to prevent the captain from following officers who were running away this way and he turned to her, disappointed.

"You're no fun, Robin!"

"I apologize, Captain. This is a request from our navigator. She would like us to leave before ending up in jail."

"Oh, but I cleaned everything yesterday, we can have a little fun now!"

Laughing, he threw himself at a group of Marines in the manner of a bowling ball, making them flee everywhere. A little further, Sanji deflected the cannonball shot in his direction with a kick. As he was repositioning himself in a bad mood, an officer more reckless than the others moved forward towards him and stroke a too short swing of sword at him which nevertheless ripped the front of his shirt.

The cook stared at him, his eyes bulging.

"Don't tear people's clothes, you snatches!" he shouted around as his opponent was backing down, frightened. "I'll teach you some manners, Marines bastards!"

He threw his feet into a Table Manner Kick Course that sent all those within his reach crashing amid frightened cries. When he finally got up, he noticed that his shirt was even more torn apart and he felt himself boiling with anger. He then had to bend backwards brutally when Luffy's elastic leg brushed him to reach an enemy several meters away from him, and he tightened his hold on his cigarette butt as he straightened up, definitely pissed off.

At his moment, his pocket-sized escargophone rang and he picked up while lighting a new cigarette.

"What's going on?" he asked calmly.

"Reinforcements are coming from the other side of the harbor, Nami-san demands we weigh anchor immediately", the skeleton's voice answered him.

"Very well. Tell Nami-san we'll be back in a minute."

He hung up and saw Zoro disappear under a mountain of officers before resurfacing by making them flutter all around him. The cook deflected the path of one of them before he reached him and approached the beautiful archaeologist a few steps from him.

"Robin-chan, we'll have to act quickly. Other Marines will arrive."

The young woman nodded, strangled about ten officers who were threatening her, then threw her multiple arms around the captain's body to force him to turn around. Luffy enjoyed himself before struggling, whimpering he wanted to stay a little longer, but despite his efforts to free himself, the archaeologist held her ground.

"Get back here, marimo head, we're leaving", the blond shouted to the swordsman not far from him.

Zoro lowered his swords and met Sanji and Robin who were already running towards the Sunny while dragging their captain behind them.

They hid themselves as planned a few kilometers away in the creek of a small peaceful island which formed the archipelago. The navigator didn't want to see anyone on shore until the next morning to be on the safe side and the atmosphere during dinner was electric. Nami continued to blame Luffy for being a totally unconscious captain and this one was sulking because he was bored and wanted to visit their new destination. Finally, everyone left the kitchen quickly and Sanji finished his dishes earlier than usual.

He then settled against the railing in front of his kitchen to smoke but soon felt a familiar presence coming in his direction. He turned to the figure and forced himself to relax. He was determined to behave as normally as possible with the swordsman and this one might be able to help him by approaching with his everlasting smirk on his lips.

"Nice tee-shirt."

Sanji frowned and tightened his teeth on his cigarette.

"What did you say, bastard?"

Zoro snickered. The blond had been forced to put on a simple long-sleeved tee-shirt given the condition in which he had brought his shirt back and it was still stuck in his throat.

"You were downright furious when he tore it up, cook", the fencer reminded him with a mocking smile. "You got a thing with that. Every time someone touches your clothes, you're losing it."

"So what?" he replied, drawing on his cigarette in a bad mood. "Only one of my shirts costs more than all your clothes together, stupid, so of course I take care of it."

"I ain't complaining. Seeing you into frenzy gives me ideas", he continued nonchalantly, taking one step closer. "Especially when you had to bend over to avoid Luffy's kick and all your abdominal muscles were contracted..."

In doing so, he ran his hand under the cook's tee-shirt to put his fingers on it, causing an immediate firming up of the body close to his.

"... like that", he finished, smiling arrogantly.

Sanji instantly shook his hand off, red with embarrassment.

"Knock it off, moron! You think I'm a demo kit?!"

"It'd be nice..."

"Peeper."

The fencer snatched his cigarette from his lips and flung it to the sea before boldly putting his lips in the cook's neck. After the initial shock, this one tensed up, feeling chills running down his body in all directions. In spite of all his good will, he could no longer abandon the idea of being just a toy in the swordsman's hands now. As long as he had enjoyed it in the same way as Zoro, he hadn't seen any objections, but tonight the situation seemed terribly uneven to him.

The latter was continuing to play his lips along his jaw, neck and shoulders without any restriction, leaving the blond muddled between the pleasure of his body and the torments of his mind. However, when the swordsman ran his hands under his tee-shirt again, Sanji tried to react.

"S-Stop, marimo."

"Why?" the other grunted against his ear.

"B-Because... Because... The-the others haven't gone to bed yet..."

In answer, Zoro grabbed his arm and dragged him to their room, making him hurtle down the stairs. Sanji panicked for a second before being caught by the sensation of the broad, calloused hand that was powerfully gripping his forearm. He didn't understand why, but the idea of being so desperately desired by the swordsman was leaving him almost intoxicated.

Zoro didn't wait for the intimacy of the room to resume what he had started and he pressed his lips brutally against those of the cook when they arrived in front of the door. As the blond was protesting, he made him enter while staggering, not wanting to take his mouth off his.

He then slammed the door behind them and pin his crewmate to it, who shuddered under the force of his move. He then kissed his skin with eagerness, moving from his neck to his collarbone while raising his hands against his back. The swordsman wasn't growing tired of his body against his, of his smell, of his stifled sighs against his mouth. Despite his resistance a little earlier, the cook seemed now to be more inclined to let himself go and he fully intended to enjoy it.

For his part, Sanji felt like drowning without making a single move to rise to the surface. His hands tightened instinctively against the hot body of his lover who was continuing to shower him with sensations. He then let the fencer get rid of his tee-shirt and felt his hands caress his chest with an impression of disconcerting unreality.

"Shit, how did we come to this?" he suddenly whispered.

The cook had no answer other than the hot kisses that were now coming down to his belly. He tried to close his eyes to take advantage of the situation but he was no longer able to. Yet his desire was rising, fueled by the fire the fencer's lips were spreading in him. Nevertheless, the pleasure was fading to only give way to a feeling of misunderstanding that was entirely consuming him.

"Zoro..."

Sanji grabbed his hands on his hips to stop him and forced him to come back to eye level.

"I need to know", he whispered to him.

"What are you talking about now?" the swordsman groaned, annoyed.

"How did we manage to share a room?"

Zoro sighed. He had initially wanted to disregard the idiotic questions of the cook but his worried look told him there would be no way around it.

"Nami thought we were too loud so-"

"No, I know all that", the cook interrupted him with a tired hand, escaping from his grip against the door. "How did we go from all this hatred to all this... passion?"

"I don't know and I don't care", the fencer calmly confessed, coming closer to resume wherever he had been interrupted.

"How's that? You never wonder what happened?" the blond inquired, stepping back again.

"What would it change to know?" Zoro pointed out, annoyed by the turn of events.

"Probably nothing", he admitted. "But I'd feel like I've got a little control over of my own life..."

The swordsman surrendered and sat down heavily on the bed.

"No less", he sighed.

"Yeah."

Sanji grabbed a cigarette but didn't light it and just chewed the edge a few steps away from him.

"We always had a hard time to put up with each other and what we're doing now is a bit like our fights", the swordsman suggested.

"It's still fucking different", the blond protested.

"Yeah but that's how it started", he reminded him. "We were fighting and no one wanted to give up. A fight is a battle between two opponents for the supremacy of one body over another, to submit it. What we do is also a struggle even if the purpose isn't the same."

"If we follow your logic, it'd mean you wanna fuck everything you beat up! You gonna tell me you do?" the cook got annoyed.

Zoro answered with a predatory smile.

"I only say that a physical confrontation awakens our instincts and that's surely what must have happened. Just like earlier..."

Sanji didn't hear the swordsman's suggestion and was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Maybe you're right. To believe that we've just moved on to another form of expression. And yet..."

The blond went quiet for a few minutes, uncomfortable. Zoro had perfectly summed up the situation that had taken them into each other's arms. Apparently, it was also the way the fencer continued to see things today and all the gestures the cook had thought he had seen towards him no longer made any sense.

"What?" his lover suddenly gruffly encouraged him.

Sanji shook his head to pull himself together.

"Nothing, it's just I realize... All of that comes down to so few things..."

The swordsman shrugged.

"Call it whatever you like, destiny or coincidence. For now, here we are and that's fine."

At these words, the cook briskly turned his gaze into his and Zoro frowned. What did he say now?

"That means you like what's going on?" the blond wanted to know.

The fencer rolled his eyes.

"No, I force myself."

"Yeah, that was a dumb question", Sanji admitted, looking the other way. "It's just that... No, never mind."

"You're real good with killing the mood", Zoro noted.

The swordsman sighed. The cook was definitely too complicated and he was obviously not in the mood to have fun.

"I got it. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Okay..."

Sanji watched as the fencer came out of the room and stood still for a moment, staring at nothing. Zoro had given him his logic and his vision but that didn't satisfy him.

It was his own reasoning he wanted to understand. Knowing why his being was screaming at him to no longer be content with this physical relationship. Knowing how it was possible to feel such a tension, torn between enmity and passion. Knowing why he was here today.

Sanji noticed a tee-shirt from the fencer he must have forgotten a few days before. Zoro had a hard time tidying up his things and he was letting everything lying around on the floor, which annoyed him tremendously. Sighing, he picked it up and headed for the door after putting on his own tee-shirt. He would drop it off for laundry in passing before drinking a very dark coffee that might help him unravel the threads of his life.

Arrived in his kitchen, Sanji turned on the coffee maker and watched the coffee flow patiently. Shortly after, he felt a discreet presence approach him and he turned around to see with wonder that Robin was coming in his direction.

"Robin-chan, do you need anything?" the cook immediately swooned.

"I came for a coffee but to tell the truth, I am now curious about your behavior", the young woman answered him quietly.

"My behavior?"

"Why are you hounding Swordsman-san's tee-shirt?"

Sanji lowered his eyes to become aware he was tearing the marimo's garment without even realizing it. Why didn't he put it in the bathroom besides?

"It's nothing, dear Robin."

He set the scrap tee-shirt down a little further while sighing and the archaeologist took the liberty of serving two cups of coffee without Sanji wanting to stop her. She handed him one, and he accepted it without flinching, which surprised her a little more.

"Long day?" she asked him, taking a sip of her drink.

"If it was just a day", he mumbled. "I'm tired I think."

The archaeologist nodded silently and was about to come out when the cook called her out in a hesitant voice.

"Robin-chan... Have you..."

She urged him to go on with a look but Sanji winced. However, he needed to put his thoughts in order and the serenity of the young woman encouraged him to confide.

"Have you... ever been in love?"

Robin gave him a thoughtful look.

"No, I don't think so", she sincerely answered.

"Oh, too bad", the blond whispered. "I thought you could have enlightened me..."

"About what?" she inquired.

"I'm in a dilemma, Robin-chan", the blond sighed then. "I don't understand why I do certain things or why I feel others..."

"Are you referring to your chaotic relationship with our swordsman?"

Sanji tensed up at having been so easily exposed but it was rather logical considering the young woman's intelligence and his question.

"Yes", he admitted reluctantly, falling into a chair after a few seconds of silence.

"I must admit that I have not been the least bit surprised by the development of your relationship", Robin quietly answered, sitting down beside him. "It was either that or one of you would have killed the other in a short while."

This observation snatched a smile from his crewmate.

"I'd have been inclined to favor the second option", he admitted. "So I don't understand why I'm here..."

"I believe that love remains one of the greatest mysteries and you will not be able to solve this equation for now. But what is important isn't it what you feel rather than why you feel it?" she pointed out.

"I know you're right, Robin-chan, but it'd be like admitting that I don't control much of my life", the cook sighed again. "Especially... given the person..."

"Sometimes you've got to be patient. It is not said that the answer would not come later."

She leaned her head toward him and smiled nostalgically.

"I have never had a real friend for a very long time. I have always been betrayed and I have betrayed so many people too. I was angry, I thought it was unfair that I could not trust anyone and I asked myself for a long time why fate dogged me. And then, when I discovered life at your side, I was hopeful. When you came to get me at Enies Lobby, I realized that I could be happy too. I do not know why I am entitled to it, but I savor being able to enjoy it every time and that is enough for me now."

Sanji was religiously listening to the beautiful archaeologist. He knew the horrors she had lived through throughout her life and her strength of character was commanding his admiration.

"My very dear Robin, I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for."

The young woman had a new smile that melted the cook's heart. He jumped from his chair, exhilarated.

"What would you like, Robin-chan?" he asked, twirling. "A piece of cake? A cocktail?"

"I would not turn a piece of yesterday sumptuous chocolate cake down", she accepted while the blond was rushing towards his cupboards.

Sanji blew the smoke from his cigarette which evaporated in an instant in the sea air of the night. He had settled on the deck shortly after Robin's departure and was absently gazing at the dark figure of the island. He was also hearing the sound of Franky's tools in his workshop which was resounding in the midst of silence.

A little earlier, he had seen Zoro heading for the crow's nest. He had clearly invited him with a look to meet him but as the fencer had quickly guessed, the cook was still not in the mood and he had turned him away with a disapproving glance.

Sanji stared at the sea in front of him. He needed to think and take stock. Knowing what he really wanted. As the archaeologist had advised him, he then forced himself to put aside the why and focused on what he was feeling.

His new feelings seemed like a monumental slap but although he was stunned by this realization, he still had to make a decision he couldn't ignore. He could simply decide to lock up his feelings deep down and hope to forget them by putting an end to their arrangement. Or, he suggested to the swordsman another form of relationship.

Sanji frowned before pulling on his cigarette butt and enjoying the bitter taste. What a moron he was! It wasn't a choice he had to make; it was the obvious he had to accept. Because it was undeniable, he didn't want to be content with sharing the swordsman's bed anymore; he wanted to share his life. What sensible person would refuse the possibility of being loved in return and savoring the consequences with the one who occupied all his thoughts?

This banal realization left him lightheaded for a few seconds. It was still Zoro. A being whose mere presence could be enough to annoy him in the worst way. Yet, he wasn't stumbling over the fact that Zoro was a man anymore. He was seeing him. His pride, his unwavering determination and his cold eyes which were plainly piercing him. He might want to beat him half of the time, the other half, he was spending it to desire his body and hope his eyes weren't slipping on him without noticing him...

Sanji let the smoke of his cigarette get lost in the night. In the midst of this unlikely relationship, Zoro and he had woven a new link without realizing it.

Like this, the cook had learned to appreciate the swordsman's smirks and the frown of his eyebrows that told him more than long speeches. He also liked to think he knew him better than anyone else on the ship to the way in which he was clenching his jaw or was remaining totally neutral depending on the events. He was looking for the hot glance the fencer was putting on him when his eyes were darkened by desire. He was cherishing the fact of being the source of such an outburst from a usually so stoic person.

He himself had discovered the attractiveness of the swordsman's body and he was realizing with horror how much each person they were passing could notice the same thing as him. And he didn't want to share Zoro. Neither his body, nor their rivalry, nor their fragile complicity. He wanted him for him alone.

The cook sighed and let his cigarette butt burn alone in the wind. Of course he was here. He had made the remark to the swordsman several times: it wasn't in his nature to indulge in a carnal relationship without attachment. Only, he had preferred to close his eyes to continue to enjoy the situation without questioning their arrangement and tonight, he wished he didn't.

Sanji sighed again. He had to tell him. The fencer was going to notice something and he himself couldn't stand the situation. He wanted to regain some control over his life and could no longer delude himself, regardless of the swordsman's reaction. Whether Zoro had also moved on or not, whether Sanji was clinging on to hope or not, in fact, it didn't matter what he thought he had understood from the fencer's actions because he would soon know for certain.

To keep up with his principles, the blond knew he wouldn't back down and go all the way. As far as to tell his rival and lover the whole truth. And never mind if he made fun of him or rejected him. It was time for him to stand and accept the consequences of his actions and his personality. What was the value of a simple physical relationship if he expected much more anyway? His honor and his pride no longer allowed him to hide behind excuses.

He looked up spontaneously at the crow's nest and looked for the shadow of the fencer even so he didn't see it. He took a breath and his look strengthened. Tomorrow, he would play at double or nothing.

At the time, this chapter was quite a struggle to write. Ideas were there but organizing it wasn't that obvious. Hope you like the turn of events.

Next chapter is... Yeah, it's the one.