Sanji had spent the rest of the day in the kitchen prepping for Luffy's party that Zoro had somehow triggered. The rest of the staff had wished him luck and left, Luffy had announced they could have the day off. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, this kingdom was crazy he had came to that conclusion the fifth time he had kicked it's king out the kitchen for trying to the steal food. He'd felt uncomfortable about it the first time but Nami had then given him full permission, after that it had been easier.

He now sat comfortably near the huge bonfire that Luffy and the others had built whilst he cooked. Luffy had invited some villagers that he was close to and a large group of bandits as well.

'They looked after him for a while when he was younger' Sanji glanced up as Zoro came and sat next to him.

He couldn't help the happy feeling that came along with the green haired man he had been trying to come up with ways he could approach him naturally but had been to self conscious to do it.

'The villagers?' He asked the Mossball.

'No the bandits' he pointed at the woman who appeared to be in charge of the group.

'There was a time that some princes went missing'

Sanji remembered that but he was in to good a mood to dwell on it.

'Well Garp was busy and I was training with a local swordsman, so he sent him to stay with the bandits, there was another prince there as well, Luffy adopted him as his brother' Zoro laughed 'We'll never have trouble off Gol. D Roger thanks to that.'

Sanji was impressed, he had heard of him and alliance with a nation that strong was something any kingdom would kill for. Though he hadn't known that Roger had a son, he stored that information away for later.

Luffy came bounding up and sat down between himself and Zoro, Sanji didn't feel jealous, not at all he was just irritated that they had been interrupted. He figured if he told himself that enough he may actually believe it.

'Sanji be my nakama' Luffy grinned at him.

'But' Sanji hadn't expected this.

Luffy interrupted 'You already are, Nami said I had to ask though' he bounced up onto his feet and started running towards Nami

'He said yes Nami, I asked like you said' he yelled.

'I didn't say yes' he looked to Zoro who was fighting not to laugh.

'Do you have a reason to say no?' Zoro asked shifting closer.

Ignoring why he came here, because clearly no one here gave a damn, the only reason he had to say no was his dad. He really should go home but he was to embarrassed, he'd made that mistake in Kamabakka, then instead of just going home he'd left to prove himself.

He pulled his knees closer and wrapped his arms round them and let his head fall onto the gap.

That was clearly a screw up too, his stomach twisted making him feel sick, everything recently had been one fuck up after another. Maybe he could spend sometime with Zoro…..sometime here and then when he'd worked everything out he could go home.

He felt a hand moving through his hair gently, a sense of calm slowly seeped through his body and he sat just enjoying the feeling. After a few minutes he lifted his head and met the dark eyes next to him.

'Hey Curly you ok? You can say no to him if you want' Zoro sounded worried.

He looked at the Marimo and realised just how badly he wanted to stay, he had been fighting it and lying to himself but he wanted to stay and he wanted the man next to him.

Sanji let out a chuckle 'I'll stay Marimo'

Zoro grinned at him and finally Sanji let go of everything he had been worried about and grinned back, he'd send his dad a letter tomorrow to say he was fine.

Sanji watched as Nami got closer dragging Luffy behind her.

'Did he actually ask or did he just decide?' Nami asked him holding a grinning Luffy.

'Well Zoro translated for him, so he sort of asked' he wouldn't lie to her.

She glared at the King who didn't look even remotely sorry 'How many time do I have to tell you to ask people? You can't just order them to join' she looked back at Sanji 'Did you actually say yes or did he just decide you did?'

'I said yes' he just cut out that he'd said it to Zoro after Luffy was gone no need to get the poor kid in more trouble. Kid? Dammit this was going to take some getting used to.

Her face lit up and he felt himself swoon a bit at how beautiful she looked, he caught a flash of confusion on the Marimo's face.

'Brilliant, I'm just gathering everyone up so that Luffy can tell everyone what's happening' she pushed Luffy down towards Zoro 'Keep him out of trouble will you'

Luffy leaned back so he could look at Zoro 'Miss me?'

'Nope, it was nice and quiet with you away' Zoro grinned

'Well I didn't miss you cause you're moody' the king stuck his tongue out at the swordsman.

Sanji felt a bit uneasy, he still hadn't worked out what kind of relationship the two had. He wanted the swordsman but no way could he compete with Luffy, not only was he Zoro's King but he had taken him in when he had nowhere else to go; if they were just having fun he stood a chance but if they were serious he would just add this to his list of screw ups.

'You ok Curly?' Zoro's voice pulled him out of his head.

Zoro looked worried about him and Luffy was tearing into a plate of food he had somehow gotten a hold of, Sanji smiled at him.

'Sorry Marimo, just lost in my thoughts'

'Hey guys' he heard a voice calling over at them.

He glanced up and noticed Nami motioning for them to follow her into the castle.

He got up and followed after with Zoro and Luffy, he heard Luffy correcting the swordsman a couple of times and laughed; it was a straight line for fucksake how the hell could he get lost.

He walked into the dining room and sat in what seemed to now be his seat next to Zoro, whilst Luffy took his spot at the head of the table. Everyone was present and he could almost feel the excitement in the air.

Luffy looked around the table with a grin on his face.

'We're going on an adventure' he yelled 'A village keeps getting attacked and we're going to go save them. We leave first thing tomorrow!'

'A village?' Usopp looked confused 'What village Luffy?'

Even Sanji found it odd that he hadn't named the village, ok he may not know the area but he assumed everyone at the table did.

'And Sanji is going to join us' Luffy grinned either ignoring or not hearing Usopp

'That's Super' he heard Franky say as the rest congratulated him too.

'What village Luffy?' he heard the tension in Zoro's voice clearly he wasn't the only one that found it odd.

Luffy looked at Nami.

'Fine you can tell them' she sighed

'Shimotsuki Village, you're still going to come though right Zoro' Luffy looked at the swordsman hopefully.

Sanji could feel the tension in the man next to him, he felt bad for him. After the story Zoro had told him he wasn't surprised.

'Of course, I'll go with you Luffy' he watched as Zoro stood up and walked out of the room.

He wanted to follow but felt himself trapped in his seat by the unease in the room.

'Ok, I want everyone up and ready to leave early tomorrow. I've got the route planned but it will still be abour a week's travel from here' Nami explained

He looked over at Luffy who seemed to have lost some of his enthusiasm at the swordsman's reaction.

Everyone nodded in agreement and started to head off to prepare what they needed, it was only Sanji and Luffy left.

'I'm glad you're coming with us' Luffy grinned at him 'Your foods amazing'

'Um thanks' he grinned back 'I'm just glad you're not throwing me in jail' he laughed.

'Here' Luffy handed him a piece of paper 'I'm going back to the party see you tomorrow'

The teen ran off outside as Sanji opened the piece of paper.

Luffy

I found you a chef. He wants to fight you but trust me, he'll be worth it.

Zoro

He stared at the paper, he felt a mixture of happy that Zoro thought highly of him and pissed that the moss head seemed to have predicted that he wouldn't hurt the King.

He stood there alone, the king had returned, he was officially a member but no one had said anything new about sleeping arrangements.

He grinned to himself oh well he would just have to keep sleeping with Zoro, maybe they could even share a tent as well.