Notes: Whew, so, yeah, been a while since I updated. I actually had some pretty severe writer's block this time, then my friend helped me. I was thinking of making Zoro walk in, but I think this is much better. It's really short, but I'm tired, so poo on that. I'll write more as soon as I can. Again, Read and Review, please, and you shall be loved.

They lay there for a long time. Sanji had one arm around a small reindeer who seemed to cling tightly to the cook for dear life. They had finished with their abrupt sobs, and all that remained were mixed emotions and eyes that felt too heavy. Sanji looked at the boy under his arm. By Chopper's relaxed expression and soft breathing, he guessed he was asleep. It must be tiring to over-react so much. He almost smiled, but that felt wrong. He shouldn't find happiness and friendship after what Chopper saw. He shouldn't have cried.

He looked down at the reindeer again. When he was asleep, it looked a little like he was smiling. Sanji almost grinned at this, and squeezed Chopper just a little tighter. In response, Chopper adjusted in his sleep, nuzzling closer to the source of warmth he was so pleasantly grasping. He watched the slumbering doctor and felt something rise in him. It was a feeling he didn't get very often, but he knew he could place in a moment. He had a near uncontrollable urge to take Chopper into a tight hug and just squeeze and squeeze until the feeling died down. He wanted to run his hand across his back and scratch him behind the ear. He wanted to hold him close to him and kiss his forehead. He knew the feeling. It was because Chopper was cute. Chopper was just too damn cute, and, having spent such a bonding experience with him, odd as it may have been, he felt more attached to this loaf of adorability than he expected.

He smirked at this and lay his head back against the floor again, ready to fall asleep himself when a door being slammed open jarred them both to sit up.

"Hoo-hoon!" a young man crowed, "That snake guy was so cool! Sanji, Did you see him?"

The young man wore an excited grin under a straw-hat. His breathing was heavy enough so that his entire chest puffing up and back down could be seen. He stood firm with fists clenched tight, in a way that made him almost look like a sumo.

"You mean Lani?" the blonde asked, leisurely pulling a cigarette from the shelf an arms length away.

"Yeah! That guy!" Luffy responded, with a fast nod and a wider grin, "He was tough!"

The last remark rang true as Sanji could see a bite mark and plenty of dirt adorning their captain.

"His eyes were white, though!" Luffy continued, raising one hand to point to his eyes as his other lay limply at his side, "He said he gets blind before he starts peeling. Sanji! Are your eyes like that before you peel the fruits?"

Their captain looked excited at the possibility of their chef sharing this awesome trait with snakes.

Sanji froze for an instant at Luffy's words. Sweat beaded on his neck in an instant, clammy and cold.

"No!" he said, lashing out, "I'm not a snake! Don't be stupid!"

"Waah! Sanji!" Luffy backed away, sad to take the scolding, "but it would be so cool!"

A third scream came into the mix as Chopper realized one of Luffy's arms wasn't moving.

"Ah! Luffy! He didn't bite you, did he?!'

Luffy dropped his defensive mood to trade it with one of confusion.

"Eh?" he looked at his limp arm, "Yeah, right on my arm." He tried to move his arm to show Chopper, but suddenly realized he couldn't, "Ah! I can't move my arm!"

"It's poison!" Chopper gasped, "What'll I do?!"

Then, with a sudden stroke of memory, Chopper knew what he should do. He took the arm of his startled captain and placed his mouth over two holes and started sucking out venom.

With perhaps the worst reaction Luffy could have had, he decided to run around and try his best to fling the helpful reindeer off.

"No!" he cried, "Don't eat me, sweet-meat! I'll eat you back!"

With a sudden chomp there was a set of teeth on Chopper's side as he squealed out in pain. Poison was spat onto the ground in a gasp as a foot with bandages around the ankle was suddenly on Luffy's head.

"I said not to be stupid!" the owner of the foot yelled, "He's helping with the poison!"

Luffy stood up straight to look at his crewmember, the furry fellow being released from his rubber jaw. He said only one word in response.

"Poison?"