I.

Nami bit deeply into the well-buttered muffin. "Why don't you ask him out on a proper date?"

"How does a grown-ass man ask another grown-ass man out on a freaking date? Wish I'd done that in high school," Sanji grumbled, nimbly slicing through the vegetables.

Nami rolled her eyes. "Just like you've asked all those women out, Mr. Prince ."

Sanji paused his work to give Nami a look.

"Alright I'm sorry," she raised her hands in mock-defeat, "but it doesn't have to be as complicated as you're making it out to be."

"Well it isn't easy either," Sanji replied, seasoning the meat pies and pushing them into the oven. Then he straightened up and sighed. Nami smiled fondly.

"The last time I saw you this nervous was back in college, and this isn't even a proper date."

Sanji laughed and blushed slightly. "You've seen the man yourself. Do you really blame me?"

"Well he's a looker alright. How old is he?"

"28. Same as me."

Nami's eyebrows rose in surprise. "He looks like he's at least in his mid-30s."

"Thanks to his job, I guess."

"Oooh, look at you defending your crush," Nami wriggled her eyebrows and gave him a sly grin. Sanji blushed harder.

"Nami-"

"Ok, enough teasing, got it," she relented, "which brings us back to the first question- why not a date?"

"So I really am bothering you?"

"No, idiot!" She punched him playfully. "You KNOW that's not it! I was the one who I invited him, remember?"

"At MY request," Sanji pressed on.

Now it was Nami's turn to give him a look. "You gonna tell me or Nah?"

Sanji smiled, his gentle, handsome face lighting up.

"Because it makes me feel safe to have all of you around, when I'm trying something new. My safety net!" He beamed.

Nami didn't experience any weather, not did she see it. Never had, and probably never would. But she was sure that if she could, that in that moment, she'd see Sanji shining as brightly as the midday sun.

She stared, then threw her hands around his waist.

"Smile twice at him just like that and see if he isn't on his knees for you by next weekend."

Sanji hugged her right back. It was an awkward one-armed hug, since she was sitting and he was still on his feet, but it was full of warmth and gratitude, and Nami felt it.

"You tell me if he tries anything funny."

Sanji smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"I will."

II.

"I'll be off then," Sanji called out as he opened the front door.

"Drive safe!" Chopper and Nami called back from the hall. The entire place had descended into chaos, Luffy had to be physically tied down with ropes and the kitchen locked. The pies were still in the oven, because leave it to Luffy to gobble the first batch as soon as he arrived.

Sanji drove smoothly through the streets, a rising sense of anticipation building in his gut, a small chill running down his spine. He'd really outdid himself with those pies, and all that remained was to pick up Zoro, bring him back and watch his face as he took a bite.

III.

Zoro stood in the slowly fading golden sunlight, and wondered if he should have worn something more formal. But Sanji had told him it was more of a hang out than anything else, so he'd gone along with a white T shirt and a blue jeans shirt over it, two buttons done, sleeves rolled up as usual. Perona had teased him to no end when he'd asked her to choose clothes for him, so Sanji better be impressed.

A sedan rolled into the parking lot, and he saw Sanji step out of the driver's seat, looking like a sculpture. The sun hadn't set completely, the rays bouncing off Sanji's hair and his cheeks and his untucked yellow shirt, making it seem like he was bathed in gold dust.

"You're early," Sanji greeted him as Zoro made his way to the passenger's seat. "Were you that excited?" He teased.

Zoro huffed and snapped his seat belt on. "Huh. Thought you'd forget to pick me up or something."

Sanji rolled his eyes and pulled out of the parking lot. "Boss gave you the day off?"

"Yeah."

"Must be tough."

"Yes and no," Zoro chuckled. "Working with the Government has its perks too."

"Like?"

"Like if ever I wanted to leave Mihawk and join the police or something, I'd get a recommendation and depending on the level of work that I've done for the government they could let me skip a few posts and directly start at a higher post."

"Whoa," Sanji whistled, impressed. "Then why not join the Police after your current assignment is over?"

Zoro turned his gaze away from the window and looked directly ahead. No change in Sanji's demeanour, as visible from the corner of his eye.

"Inertia."

Sanji laughed. Nothing to worry about, Zoro thought. He'd told Sanji he worked for Mihawk's company which provided security to elites and often collaborated with the Government, which was... true enough, in a way. He hadn't told him about that actually being a FRONT company, and a few others details, like how his current assignment was literally Sanji.

"How did you get away?"

"These hang outs are a regular thing," Sanji answered. "Zeff was glad to have me out of the Baratie for a change," he added with a small laugh.

They sat in silence for sometime, then Zoro asked," How many people?"

"Nine, including you. You'd fit in right away." Sanji smirked, then added, "Do you want music?"

"Why not." Anything to keep his mind away from how tempting Sanji's thighs looked.