The entire ride back had been awkward and uncomfortable, whatever had happened Franky didn't seem concerned and had just spent the journey lounging in his seat.

Once they were back in the large courtyard they thanked the driver and headed back inside.

Robin was waiting for them inside 'Dinners ready I'm afraid the others have already eaten so it will just be us'

'I'm going to skip dinner' Zoro started to turn to leave, Sanji found himself grabbing his arm 'You have to eat' he found himself shaking slightly and surprised at his own reaction.

Food was always a sore point, he couldn't stand to see people hungry and had a rule that you should never skip a meal, you never know when you might run out of food and….

He shook himself and let go of the swordsman he gave out a forced chuckle and made himself grin 'Can't have you feeling faint when we fight now can we'

He saw confusion on the other man's face but it was interrupted by Franky slapping the swordsman on the back 'Come on Zoro-bro, the sake shipment arrived'

Franky walked over and wrapped his arm around his wife and the pair walked towards what Sanji guessed was the dining room.

He glanced at Zoro who just look beat down, his shoulders were slumped, his eyes glaring at the floor, he noticed Sanji's attention and straightened up and removed all emotion from his face.

Zoro ignored him but he was at least relieved to see him going through the same door as the couple, whether that was on purpose or his lack of direction he didn't care.

He walked through after them, the dining room was large, a huge wooden table down the middle, the seats were the same solid wood down the walls were banners with…..

Sanji stopped and stared, he had expected the family crest but every single banner was black with a skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat. He tried to remember what the sigil for the Monkey royal family was but he drew a blank, to be honest he hadn't really learned anything about this royal family.

He sat at the table next to Zoro who was eating his food so fast you'd think it was going to be taken from him.

'Hey Marimo slow down you're going to make yourself sick' he elbowed him in the side to get his attention.

'Luffy isn't here Zoro you can take your time' Zoro glanced around as though checking she wasn't lying before eating at a slower pace.

This place was really confusing him but hopefully he would be leaving soon.

'That's an unusual sigil you have up' Sanji mentioned as he tucked into his food, it was cooked well but bland, he couldn't help but miss his own cooking.

Robin smiled 'Our King is rather unusual, to be honest most of us here are too.'

Sanji nodded with another mouth full of food. Speaking of strange he noticed something small and brown attempting to hide behind one of the chairs.

More than half of the…..deer? was poking out from behind the leg. It wore a yellow and white striped top on and orange shorts, it had its antlers poking out of a huge blue and pink hat.

Robin noticed him staring at the trembling creature 'Ah Chopper-san what brings you out?'

'You said Zoro had been fighting again, I came to make sure he wasn't injured'

It talked... Sanji let his jaw drop, the animal had just spoke to Robin and she wasn't in the least phased.

'Sanji this is our medic Tony Tony Chopper'

How could that tiny animal be a medic? He wanted to ask but he was a guest after all but the name Tony was ringing a bell.

'Tony are you the one that trained Zoro's bird?'

The scared doctor nodded from his hiding place.

'wow that's amazing' he grinned at the deer

'That doesn't make me happy you asshole' he said whilst smiling and looking exceptionally happy.

The deer creeped out from behind the chair watching him warily as he walked towards the swordsman.

'Don't worry Chopper he won't hurt you' the swordsman was smiling gently at Tony.

He wasn't sure whether it was the way Zoro stood up for him or that smile but Sanji felt himself soften more towards him.

'I'm not injured Chopper' Zoro looked at the approaching deer

'I'm the doctor I have to check you' Zoro sighed and stood up and took his coat off the deer moved around him inspecting him closely.

Sanji only paid attention to the half naked man because the deer was, honest.

Zoro hooked his thumbs into his waistband 'Want me to take them off?' he grinned cheekily at Tony

'No!' Franky said loudly sharply reminding Sanji that he and Robin were there to.

Robin was staring straight at him, his face went red before he could stop it. He wondered how many times this had happened that Franky reacted so strongly

Zoro gave a deep throaty laugh ' Sorry it seems you're going to have to take my word that I'm ok. He patted the deer on the head gently, the deer looked annoyed.

'Stop getting in stupid fights Zoro, I don't want you to get hurt' he huffed at the swordsman.

'I'm afraid you'll have to convince him of that' Zoro pointed at him.

The deer turned round, as though he had forgotten Sanji was in the room, his eyes widened in fear and he hid behind the swordsman.

Sanji sighed and sat down and began eating his food in silence. From Alvida he had heard how dangerous the people here were, she had focused specifically on King Luffy and his guard Zoro. Luffy was a monster who not only killed her beloved husband Buggy but had called her ugly. Zoro was a cursed demon, a loyal servant to Luffy and a monstrous fighter. He glanced up at Zoro who was currently laughing with the little doctor, he didn't seem to be a monster, he had came here with a grand plan and he could almost feel his resolve crumbling, maybe Luffy would make this easier if he truly was as bad as he'd been told by Alvida. He was still staring at the swordsman, the man who he would have to fight and probably kill if he followed through with his plan, his gut twisted and he could almost feel the ground crumbling beneath him.

He was snapped out of stupor by a voice by the door.

'Zoro he's staying in your room' a beauty with long curly red hair said from the doorway, he saw the Marimo starting to object 'You brought him here, you deal with him'

'Nami…'

'Don't start Zoro you didn't do your job properly, now he stays in your room and you make sure he doesn't leave or I'm doubling your debt'

Sanji couldn't quite hear the muttered response but he was pretty sure he heard the word witch.

He glared at the Marimo 'You shouldn't talk about a beautiful woman like that moss head'

'What the fuck? She's glaring at you and basically locking you up with me for the night and you're defending her' he was glaring at Sanji 'And she IS a witch'

Nami sighed from the doorway 'It's not magic you idiot, it's science' she swung round her beautiful light coloured dress swirled as she made her exit.

'Your a fucking idiot when it comes to women' Zoro had stepped closer still glaring angrily

Sanji felt his temper flare and he stepped closer so their heads were almost touching. 'Your a mannerless asshole who doesn't know how blessed he is to be surrounded by such beauties'

'Now now boys' Sanji turned in time to see the smile creeping into Robin's face 'Get a room' and she winked at him, he stepped back from Zoro as suddenly his face flushed. He really didn't want anyone to think he liked men that way especially a woman. Thankfully Zoro didn't seem to get what she meant and instead grunted at Robin and started leaving.

When he realised Sanji wasn't following he turned round his brows furrowed in confusion 'Coming Curly?'

Sanji swallowed hard, bid goodnight to Franky and Robin, he turned and followed the man that was single handedly destroying his resolve.

As they moved into the main hallway the bird landed back on Zoro's shoulder he wasn't sure when the bird had left but he guessed even it had to eat. They went up a large stone staircase and went to turn left, only to be corrected by the bird. This pattern continued all the way to the door that appeared to lead to Zoro's room.

'You really have no sense of direction do you?'

'The corridors move around' Zoro responded sounding serious.

'Just like the path through the woods?'

Zoro nodded sagely. Sanji waited for him to laugh or say he was kidding but nothing, he decided that the swordsman was delusional as well as directionless,as they walked through into the room.

It was a decent sized room, it had no wall decorations but had a nice thick rug on the floor that was a dark emerald green, the same green was used on the drapes on his large four poster bed. The wardrobe, chest of drawers and a fancily carved chair were all the same dark wood as the bed.

To the side of the room was two doors, Zoro was currently pointing to them. 'One leads to the toilet the other has a bath in it' Sanji nodded and opened one finding the toilet first, he'd been desperate for a while now but hadn't found the time to ask.

He walked back in and found Zoro had already changed into a loose pair of trousers for bed, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of disappointment and relief.

'So uh where do I sleep?' he glanced round the room wondering if he should set his bedroll up.

'In with me' he responded as he climbed into bed.

Sanji stood there surprised not quite sure what to do.

'Look there's plenty room, Luffy sleeps with me all the time and there's still space even with the amount he takes up'

'Right, I'll em go and change then' he went back to the toilet to get changed, once inside he put his head against the wall and sighed.

Of course there was something going on between him and the King, they way people talked about how he would guard his king even if it meant death, he was probably in love with Luffy but with him being a King they couldn't be public. He was glad he'd worked this out maybe he could quell the strange emotions that had been building and focus on finding a good woman to marry.

He quickly stripped and change into some light linen trousers that he liked to sleep in and returned to the bedroom. Zoro seemed to be asleep already, he carefully climbed into the bed and made sure he was as far away as possible from temptation.

He was trapped awake as he wondered what this Luffy person was like, if he took up a lot of space he must be tall, probably really muscled. He was apparently a very strong fighter and a well liked King, dammit this wasn't the time to dwell on this. He searched his mind for the sound of the ocean and let himself drift off to the familiar calming sound.