Another couple of days had taken them out of China, through Nepal, and into the bustling hubbub of India. Travelling across the massive country to reach Mumbai had been a delightful journey that had been suspiciously uninterrupted aside from a single unfortunate detour. A dense humidity hovered across the highway which had been crammed with traffic and lined with Dhabbas – local shoppes where people served heavy food and crisp tea.

They enjoyed the food while crawling along with the pace of traffic, windows rolled down to endure the summer heat as the radio blared old Hindi songs. Sanji spent most of the drive with his feet resting on the dash, head bobbing along to the music as he watched the diverse landscape roll past. The entire place a dramatic shift from the small rural community he had spent half his life in.

It took them a total of two days to reach Mumbai in which there had been a close call while stopping at a local tourist spot; where a man had been following them for several minutes before Zoro had gotten fed up with his indecisive stalking. When Sanji had his back turned, Zoro slipped away long enough to subtlety wrap an arm around the man's neck and place a hand on the man's mouth, smothering him before knocking him off the viewing platform; easy enough to make it look like an accident when people were far more distracted by the view than with what was going on behind them. When people had begun to gather over the railing to check and see if the man was alright, Zoro had taken the opportunity to wrap an arm around the curious blond and lead with him away with an innocent moue plastered across his face.

It wasn't long before they were driving beneath the large signboard welcoming them to Mumbai and the subsequent city traffic within. The streets were packed – an orderly chaos set about as pedestrians and vehicles intermingled – street lights, street sails, tall buildings, and attractive shopping centres, as well as some areas that were reserved for the slums. The small houses the poor lived in were vividly coloured and beautifully adorned; kept as clean as possible to garner respect.

The drive to South Mumbai was long, but went unnoticed by the blond who kept his head out the window for nearly the entire ride. Zoro had been here a few times before and he supposed that from Sanji's perspective this was practically a vacation. Aside from the ever present threat of murder...

Taking a reprieve from his sight seeing, Sanji ducked back into his seat with an excited grin as he alluded to a conversation that had taken place the other day, "Your old partner lives here?"

"Yeah," Zoro noted absently, beginning to keep an eye out for a secluded area to stash the car, "He used to work for the Embassy in Delhi before getting married; he's been stationed here undercover ever since."

A lecherous grin split Sanji's face as he teased, "You're allowed to tell me all this? Not too confidential? No one's going to come after me?"

While stopped at a red light, Zoro took the opportunity to turn a flat gaze towards the blond - having spent the last week stuck in a car with the man and gotten well acquainted with his biting small talk and childish behaviour - and muttered, "The worst has literally already happened."

"True." Sanji agreed with a congenial shrug, letting the snide comment go without so much as batting an eye, "But when we get home it won't become an issue?"

Sanji's choice of words piqued Zoro's interest immediately as he noted Sanji had said when, not if, but when they got home. He had known Sanji had trusted him - just the fact that he had allowed Zoro to drag him halfway across the world was a testament to that - but at no point could he recall the blond talking about when this whole ordeal was over. Zoro had admittedly been wavering in his belief, but Sanji's words suddenly made him realize he needed to make sure he didn't make a liar out of the blond.

A soft smile touched Zoro's lips as he grunted fondly, "It'll be fine."

"Alright." Sanji cajoled, gaze turning out the window once more as he added, "I'm holding you to that."

"Fine by me." Zoro chuckled, circling a few side streets and twisting roads before finding an adequate area and parked the vehicle near an abandoned construction site. While he set about replacing the licence plate to help them blend more seamlessly into the city, Sanji climbed a few floors of the unrestricted shell of a building and took in the scene of the city in awe.

Casting a cautious glance at Sanji before flipping open the burner phone, Zoro scanned through the multiple dossiers that Johnny had made until he found the number he was looking for. Punching it in and waiting as it rung, he kept an eye on Sanji who was distracted by the view of the city afforded to them.

A click and an answer. "Hello?" Was grunted into the phone carefully.

"Hey." Zoro couldn't stop himself from grinning, propping the phone against his ear with his shoulder as he began collecting all the papers he had been digging through and shoving them back in his bag. Pulling the zipper shut as he noted, "Been a while."

There was a long pause before a deep voice chuckled down the line, and an American accent muttered sardonically, "I was wondering when you were going to call..."

"Word's reached you, huh?" Zoro chuckled, relieved to hear such a familiar voice from such an old friend. Taking the phone up in his grip once more as he turned his gaze back to Sanji, keeping a wary eye on the blond as he waited for a response.

"A little too late it seems." the voice noted, "Good to hear you're still alive."

"You probably know why I'm calling then." Zoro noted cryptically. While he trusted that with the disposable device there was no one listening in on their call, he didn't want to take any chances. The less spoken between them the safer it was for everybody involved, and while he trusted the other man with his life, he certainly didn't want to put him in danger for his own selfish reasons.

"Obviously. You've gotten yourself in trouble and now I have to bail you out," A pause and a humorous jibe, "just like old times."

"That's about right." Zoro admitted with a shameless grin. Already able to think of the multiple times the man was no doubt referring to. Too many incidents to count, but each of them fresh in his memory like any one of them could've happened only yesterday.

"Alright." The man sighed decisively, "Meet at the spot we did last time you were here. I'll find you."

"Thanks."

A grumble was all Zoro got in return which immediately had a smile splitting his face, the man was as amiable as he had remembered him. Snapping the phone shut, Zoro watched as Sanji bounded down the last few steps of the cement stairs and made his way back to where Zoro remained by the car. Curious look on his face as he took in Zoro's relieved smile, "Who was that?"

"An old friend."

~X~

Taking everything Zoro deemed important, he left only what he could in the car just in case they wouldn't be able to make it back to it, or if it happened to get towed or broken into. They slowly made their way towards the waterfront and to the designated cafe that he had been ordered to wait at.

Sanji was far too polite as he practically danced to avoid bumping into people, and apologizing profusely to far too many people that he did end up hitting. Most of them looking at him a little strangely as it was very apparent from his American state of dress and loud accent that he was a tourist. Zoro didn't fair much better, but his mother's soft Japanese features tended to make many people assume he was from the North-Eastern states rather than overseas.

Zoro allowed the blond his kind antics since they weren't in any particular rush – not to mention it gave Zoro an opportunity to get his bearings which had more often than not, sent him in the wrong direction. They eventually reached Marine Drive amidst the bustle of activity and sightseeing taking place along the oceanfront.

If everything went according to plan then by tonight he might have an idea of who had set the bounty on him, and Sanji would be in the careful watch of Kohza. Once Zoro had enough of a head start and had gotten the trail off of Sanji, he would ideally have Kohza take Sanji home and begin getting him set up once more. New apartment, expenses covered, back and settled down like none of this had ever happened. There would no doubt be questions and curious, nosey neighbours, but nothing Kohza couldn't handle.

In that time Zoro would find the bastard that had caused this whole mess and put a stop to it. Then he'd make his way back home, where he too would continue on as though nothing occured between them, harbour his emotions as he would no doubt run into Sanji from time to time and have to endure a pitying glance, and resign himself to growing old with his wife.

A flare of guilt had him pulling the burner phone from his pocket and flipping it open, thumb hovering over the keys as Kalifa's memorized number came to the forefront of his mind. With their history, she no doubt trusted his abilities to get out of this situation alive, but it probably didn't stop her from worrying about him. Despite how distant they had become in their relationship they hadn't stopped caring for each other and he felt horrible for dismissing her so easily as soon as this whole mess had started.

"Moss!"

Snapping the phone shut, pocketing it as he turned to look up at the chipper blond coming up beside him with two servings of street vendor food in his hands. Trying to push the massive amount of whirling emotions to the back of his mind, Zoro tried to focus on enjoying the here and now. Even though it meant nothing to Sanji, and somehow felt like an illicit affair to him.

"It's called Bhel Puri." Sanji explained with near child-like glee on his face, Zoro's heart flipping over itself at the man's expression before immediately deflating once more in muted rejection. He desperately reminded himself that his only job here was to get Sanji home safely, and not intrude on his life anymore...

This whole ordeal was such a mess.

Stamping down the incessant well of negativity threatening to drown him, he instead took a seat with Sanji and took a massive bite of the aromatic food Sanji had purchased, wondering if he crammed enough of it into his face it might fill the gaping hole in his chest left there by the man currently sitting beside him.

They sat and ate quietly as Sanji made small talk about the city and the food, and how excited he was to try cooking somethings for himself when he got back home, conveniently not mentioning the fact that his apartment was in shambles. They watched the sun crawl closer towards the horizon before a voice pulled them from their isolation.

"Well, I'll be damned." Both glanced up to see a man striding towards them with a grin plastered across his face, once lighter skin much more tan now from the years spent working in India, and his short blond hair made even fairer by the constant sun. Stopping in front of Zoro with a cheeky grin, tilting his shades back to properly take in Zoro's - no doubt - harried deposition and commenting bitingly, "Good to see retirement is going well."

"'Bout as well as expected." Zoro shrugged with a chuckle, rising and offering his hand which Kohza snagged before pulling him in to an aggressive one armed hug. Eventually stepping back, Kohza brought both hands up to grasp Zoro's upper arms in barely restrained excitement.

"Good to see you!"

"You too." Zoro affirmed, the relief in his voice tangible.

Kohza's hands gave a final squeeze before falling away and his gaze rounded on the blond who had also risen from his seat to join the conversation. Staring Sanji directly in the eye, Kohza asked Zoro cautiously, "Who's your friend?"

"This is Sanji." Zoro gestured vaguely as Kohza reached out to take Sanji's hand in a firm shake with a nod of greeting. Zoro found himself failing in providing a suitable explanation for the events that lead him to having to drag Sanji along without having to out himself to Kohza in the middle of a crowded street. So he managed a regretful, "They're after him too."

Zoro could tell Sanji was casting a glance his way, but refused to acknowledge it as he kept his gaze firmly on Kohza. The man mulled over the words with a suspicious air, and Zoro could tell by his expression that he would be having a conversation with the man about it later.

"Well," Kohza finally muttered, "That's unfortunate."

"It's my fault." Zoro clarified, "I can't have him getting hurt because of me."

Kohza watched him critically for several moments as years in the field together had afforded them the ability to share an infinite amount through a glance. It wasn't long before Kohza had no doubt assumed what Zoro was implying and he began stating carefully, "Any friend of yours is mine..."

Gaze shifting to Sanji as he muttered with a smirk, "Considering he doesn't have many."

Zoro didn't have to look at the blond to tell he was dramatically rolling his eyes before agreeing cheekily, "Tell me about it; I like to think he got lost and couldn't find them back."

"Appropriate." Kohza commented through a snicker, Zoro already regretting what he could very easily see was going on between the two. A passing couple caught sight of them snickering, before looking away and they were reminded of how in public they still were. "Probably best we get you out of sight sooner than later. I assume you have a car with you?"

Zoro nodded.

With a smile and a polite gesture Kohza murmured, "Then lead the way."

~X~

Upon entering Kohza's house they were met with an instant wave of spices and warm home cooking. The place kept impeccably tidy, but with a well lived in feeling to it. Casting a cautious look about Zoro muttered, "You sure it's safe having us?"

"It's fine." Kohza assured as he finished toeing off his shoes and placing them aside, "Nowhere safer than here with us."

"No one knows we're here?"

"Nope." Kohza confirmed, before patting Zoro on the back consolingly, "As soon as I heard you had bounty on your head I knew it was only a matter of time before you showed up on my doorstep. I planned to have you stay here until we got this whole thing sorted; Stussy is completely on board."

"That means a lot but…"

"But nothing," Kohza interrupted firmly, "It's worth the risk. Hell, if I get court martialed for helping you then I couldn't think of any other way I'd rather go."

"Court martialed?" Sanji interjected in horror. "You never said you could get court martialed?!"

Both men turned to look at the appalled blond as Zoro gave a small shrug, "If someone is manipulating the CIA to have me killed then it's inevitable; and even if they're not and we get out of this - if they find out what's happened then I will definitely get reprimanded for everything I've done."

"I - I had no idea…" Sanji stammered, looking utterly torn. Zoro couldn't help feeling a little guilty over Sanji's misinformed horror, his assumption that the blond understood exactly what Zoro was risking was entirely his own oversight.

"It's fine." Zoro reassured with a small shake of his head, "With or without you I would have done this anyway."

Sanji seemed like he still had much more he wanted to say, but his gaze flickered to Kohza before eventually shutting his mouth and looking away. Zoro wasn't sure if Sanji's silence was making it easier for him or not, but he was certain he hadn't heard the end of this conversation.

"I have an undercover contact who's helped me on several occasions." Kohza informed Zoro while breaking the jilted silence, "He should be here now to see if we can get an idea on who's trying to get you killed. Though that list could be in the hundreds..."

Sanji cast a wry glance towards Zoro and murmured, "You said the same thing."

"A lot of people would be happy if this guy were dead." Kohza agreed, "I'm just hoping it's not anyone from back home; getting involved with a Burn Notice is not my dream scenario."

"I had my suspicions." Zoro agreed quietly, "I'd like to think they wouldn't be so sneaky about it. However, I haven't decided to let the idea go just yet-"

"Roronoa…" Came a shrewd tone that had all three looking up to see the woman standing confidently in the archway leading to the dining area. Arms crossed over her chest, a finger tapped impatiently as she mused, "Three years now I believe?"

"Just about." Zoro managed a little sheepishly.

A smirk flashed across her face, "Not going to empty my entire liquor cabinet again are you?"

Zoro chuckled as Stussy's snide attitude was just as he remembered it, "No promises."

Stussy let her hands fall to her hips with a derisive shake of her head, initial showboating over as her attention turned to Sanji, a flicker of interest gleaming in her eyes. "And who is this fine fellow?"

Before Zoro or Khoza could introduce the blond, Sanji was inclining his head before introducing himself, "I'm Sanji; it's an absolute pleasure to be invited into your home."

Stussy looked thoroughly confused by Sanji's actions before snorting loudly as she sauntered over to Kohza, "You ought to take some manner lessons from him, Roronoa. Might do you some good."

Zoro just grunted, not needing yet another person reminding him of how too good Sanji was for him. Focusing on removing his own shoes as Stussy walked past them to give her husband a peck on the cheek to welcome him home. Kohza pulling back to ask, "Coby here?"

"Upstairs." Stussy gestured with a vague tilt of her head as she released Kohza and began to meander back towards the kitchen, "Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes; so don't take too long."

"Mind if I lend a hand?" Sani offered congenially as he made his way towards her, placing his hand near his mouth as he falsely whispered, "I feel like I will just be getting in the way."

"Come along then." She simpered, "You can help prepare the Kulfi while I finish with the chicken."

"Fantastic!" Sanji boasted eagerly, already beginning to roll up his sleeves on his button up while following after Stussy. Zoro watching them go before turning a wary glance towards Kohza, the man already watching him with narrowed eyes but refraining from commenting. Instead, he politely gestured towards the stairs before leading Zoro further into the house. They made their way by the spare bedroom - that he noted they would be able to use for the next few days - before reaching the den at the end of the hall.

Upon entering, they found a young man who could barely be out of his adolescent years - lounging in an office chair, phone in hand, thumb scrolling numbly across the screen as he vaguely glanced up to see the two men entering. Several large monitors were set up behind him - all running different programs - and there was an impressive amount of surveillance equipment as well. It appeared to be Kohza's home office, though judging from the bags near the young man's chair and the gear he had haphazardly set up some of it belonged to him.

"Zoro Roronoa!" Coby exclaimed sharply, bounding out of his chair with fervour as his hand shot to his brow in a salute, before lowering and extending it. Wide eyes unblinking in his excitement, "It is an honor, sir!"

"Thanks." Zoro grunted awkwardly, taking the excitable man's hand and shaking it while muttering, "Don't call me sir."

"I'm sorry, sir!" Coby stuttered, ignoring the request as the young agent gushed, "It's just I've heard the stories; you're a legend!"

"They're likely exaggerated." Zoro said, forcefully retracting his hand from Coby's.

"Jeez, Coby." Kohza grunted, "You've never shown me this kind of respect. What the hell, man?"

"Eh, you're kind of cool." Coby offered with a lazy shrug, bursting out into a cackle when the older man attempted to slap him across the back of the head.

"You ungrateful…" Kohza growled, though there wasn't any malice to his tone, watching as Coby fell back into the office chair with a guffaw before ordering, "Get to work."

"Alright!" Coby jeered happily, spinning around in his chair as he clasped his fingers and extended his hands in front of himself until the knuckles cracked audibly. Shaking the fingers out, he brought them down to hover over his keyboard with an excited wiggle, "What am I looking for?"

"The bounty on my head." Zoro explained simply, "And who set it."

The boy let out a low whistle and set to work pulling up some coded screens and search engines as he began furiously typing away. Zoro was completely lost on what the boy was doing, but assumed it must be akin to the tech work a lot of the lab work down back at the CIA. Field work was his area of expertise but he could hardly do his job if it hadn't been for the desk jockeys that made the mission dossiers that let him know everything he needed for his assignments.

However, this kid was much faster than any of the people he had seen back while working in America, and he seemed much more proficient. Every once in a while Zoro would recognize a digitized map with longitudes and latitudes pinpointing locations, or the occasional bit of language naming a city or place. But most of it was complete gibberish.

After several minutes a map was pulled up across the larger monitor above and all three men looked up in mild concern over what was displayed. A map of world was laid out with dozens upon dozens of markings alight across all continents and within multiple countries. Zoro wasn't entirely sure what it meant but he had a suspicion it wasn't going to be good.

"What's this?"

"That..." Coby murmured with a hint of confusion in his tone, "is showing every location that the bounty was originally posted from."

"How?" Zoro scowled.

"Well, it's clearly not being sent out from all these IP addresses simultaneously which means someone has done some fantastic coding to trick my systems into believing it. Also at the rate this message is being sent out it has also closed itself off from multiple addresses linked with all sorts of high end government affiliates." Coby gave a low whistle, hand coming up to rest atop the scarf tied up to keep his bangs from his face, "Whoever wants you dead wants the baddies to know and wants the big guys to stay out of it."

"English please."

Heaving a dramatic sigh Coby gestured at the screen and rephrased, "Someone better than me is making a false trail; I can't trace it."

Zoro made a dissatisfied noise.

"I'm not sure who you made enemies with… but this isn't some second rate job." Coby murmured before looking over his shoulder at Zoro, "You pissed off someone. Have anyone in mind?"

"There's one guy I could think of." Kohza butted in thoughtfully.

"No."

"Think about it-"

"No." Zoro denied for a second time, not wanting to even entertain the idea that Sanji had already mentioned. Not because he would hate for the blond to be right, but because he didn't think he could handle it if he was. Zoro was already prepared for the notion that whoever wanted him dead was not going to be a pleasant individual, but having it be his old nemesis would be too much of a headache.

"Alright, well. Suspects aside, we still need to find out where this damn bounty originated from; it's our only lead." Kohza murmured, before directing his attention to the younger man, "Any ideas?"

"Well, there's Law. You guys could go get him." Coby offered with a shrug, "I... I don't even know where to begin with this coding, but he would probably have some ideas."

"That's true…" Kohza contemplated softly, fingers tapping against his lips softly in contemplation before admitting, "Forgot about him."

"Alright." Zoro goaded, glancing between the two men impatiently, "Where is he?"

Coby looked up at Zoro incredulously, before snorting, "I don't know."

A low growl rumbled in Zoro's throat at the kid's tone.

"No one does." Coby defended nervously as he back tracked, "He likes his privacy."

Zoro tilted his head in clear confusion, "Then how do I find him?"

"Viola Riku." Kohza muttered, Zoro turning his attention to the older man as he continued as Coby returned to his computer and began hurriedly typing, "She gets you a meeting with him."

Straightening his stance, Zoro crossed his arms wearily as this whole thing was becoming more of a headache than it already was. Working under the radar was always much more complicated compared to when he had the full might of the American government behind him. But in this case he might actually be fighting against them. Heaving a sigh, he grunted, "Anyone else more convenient?"

"Not on the coast." Kohza murmured, "Unless you want to go on a goose chase; and I'm assuming you don't want to deal with anyone within an agency either."

"Alright." Zoro conceded quickly as he knew exactly what Kohza was getting at, "How can I contact her?"

"She will only deal with you in person," Kohza clarified, "You'll have to pay her a visit; I'll get you her contact information. She owes me a favour anyway after I got one of her brothers cleared of false charges."

"She just got married." Coby noted, both men glancing down as the pink haired boy continued to filter through the multiple social media accounts he had open simultaneously on his browser. Fingers once more skittering across the keys as he added, "Her reception's tomorrow."

"We don't have that kind of time." Zoro shook his head as his gaze remained on the monitor. Noting amongst the many photos and websites littering the screen that he could make out the same attractive Indian woman in each photo that was no doubt Viola, "The longer we stay in one place the worse it is."

"I mean..." Kohza shrugged, "You could always just go. I don't know if bothering her at her wedding is the best way to get on her good side, but it's either that or wait a couple weeks until they're back from their honeymoon."

"You know that's not an option." Zoro shook his head begrudgingly.

"True." Kohza mused before glancing at Coby, "How easy will it be to get in?"

"It's a huge reception; you'll probably be able to slip in fairly easily." Coby noted as he had continued cataloguing the other days of the wedding ceremony. It also appeared as though he had already found the location of the ceremony and was scoping out the venue it would be held at, "Just keep a low profile."

"You'd have to go alone…" Kohza added wearily, "If we get seen together you and Sanji will get traced back here."

"That won't be an issue." Zoro dismissed easily, "I'd rather you stay behind with him anyway."

"Honey!" Stussy's voice from downstairs injected heir conversation rather pointedly, "Come help me set the table for our guests!"

"Moment, dear." Kohza called as he made his way out of the room, giving a brief, "We can finish this later; you both must be hungry."

"Be there in a moment." Zoro muttered absently, turning back to the monitors stationed above that were still displaying the multiple locations which his bounty had apparently been posted from, trying to come up with possible explanations as to why someone would want to order him dead but go to such lengths to keep themselves hidden. The whole thing reeked of foul play and perhaps a much larger issue that he wasn't aware of.

There had been questionable black-ops cases he had worked, there were definitely some political deaths - in and outside of America - that he was responsible for. For all he knew, someone might have found out, or perhaps decided, that it was time to shut his mouth for good, just in case. Though how far this stretched and who was involved was still a baffling mystery…

Eyes falling to the younger man still enthralled by his computer, Zoro decided to make a point. Just to be sure. Leaning down so he could get a better look at what Coby was doing, his gaze narrowed as he mused, "You honestly can't track the bounty?"

Coby visibly jumped, head snapping to the side to look at Zoro in mild confusion as he stuttered, "N-no, sir!"

"If I find that you're lying to me..." Zoro whispered under his breath to the younger man, hand falling to his shoulder as a terrified chill was already causing the kid's spine to snap straight as he whimpered softly. Baring his teeth in a demonic grin, Zoro growled, "I will take whoever is dearest to you; and kill them while you watch. Do you understand?"

A death rattle slid from the young man's throat as he wheezed in terror and nodded stiffly in response, going limp the moment Zoro released him - but not before giving the boy a friendly pat on the should and smirking amiably, "Good man."

Zoro knew Kohza wouldn't call over anyone he couldn't trust with his life, but it didn't hurt to put a little bit of fear into the man - just in case. Though judging from his behaviour there was nothing off about him, however Zoro couldn't pass up an opportunity to strike some fear into the newer generation. A humorous smirk tugging at his lips as his hands slid into his pockets, he made his way back towards the dining room where he could already smell the tantalizing aromas of Stussy's cooking.

~X~

"A wedding?" Sanji inquired curiously, fork hovering above his plate absently as Kohza had gotten them caught up on their plan over the dinner table. A colourful array of dishes were spread across the table - there was rice, dal, butter chicken and Palak Paneer. Zoro quietly nibbled at the chicken, savouring the taste. It reminded him of home… and that in turn reminded him that it had been over a week since he had had any form of home cooking - something he didn't think he would come to miss.

"Don't abuse their open bar like you did ours." Stussy piped up as she finished topping up Coby's glass - the boy looking remarkably less terrified now that he wasn't alone in a room with Zoro, "I think you drank more than everyone else there collectively."

"Probably." Zoro conceded easily. Before he had been forced to get sober by his therapist, there had been a lot of recreational drinking to make up for his boredom and lack of a job; his drinking had been awful before, but after his mental breakdown, he had gone off the deep end. There was a vague memory of Kohza and Stussy's wedding, as well as one of him waking up in the rose bushes the next morning.

"I must know," Sanji interjected with an imploring grin as Stussy finally took a seat, "What kind of drunk is he? Is he even more of a broody, shut in grandpa than usual?"

Stussy cackled wickedly and her eyes snapped to Zoro, "Oh, Zoro. I do love your friend."

"Everyone does apparently." Zoro muttered, catching Sanji's playful grin from across the table and refraining from groaning. It seemed like Stussy and Sanji had become fast friends in the time they had been left alone and he wasn't sure he could handle two conniving blond's at the moment.

"And Sanji," Stussy ignored Zoro's comment and turned back to the paramedic with a conspiratorial whisper, "Most chipper drunk you've ever met; all smiles and laughter. Well, until…"

Stussy's words trailed off as she realized she had overstepped her bounds, guilty snatching up her drink to take a hasty sip as an odd silence fell on the table. Sanji clearly a little at a loss as Kohza immediately butted in with a loud crow as his hand fell to Zoro's back in a hard smack, "My boy's sober now though! Two years, right? Can you believe it?"

"Barely." Stussy snorted lightly, trying to maintain her early facade so as not to turn the whole dinner into a pity fest that she knew Zoro would not enjoy. Zoro knew she only meant well, most of their relationship had been cutting remarks and jibes at each other, but as he forced out a chuckle, it felt hollow. Despite her teasing, it was hard to ignore the fact that the idea of a drink had been becoming more and more welcoming as the week had drawn out. Not only with everything that was happening, but the stress of Sanji was also starting to get to him.

"I'm better." Zoro managed with a smile, "Promise."

"Sure." Stussy smirked, finishing a bite of her food before continuing, "So even if you don't intend to drown yourself; how're you going about this whole wedding thing?"

Kohza let his gaze wander to Zoro as he commented idly, "I suggest you go armed."

"C'mon, what could go wrong at a wedding?" Sanji jeered playfully.

"You've clearly never been to one." Zoro drawled flatly.

"Many of her family are connected to gangsters." Kohza explained tentatively to Sanji, "The likelihood of someone recognizing him is slight, but still possible."

"I can handle a few rowdy gangsters." Zoro placated easily, there were far worse people after him than some third rate mafia thugs that might decide to start something. Enjoying another bite of Stussy's delicious cooking before muttering offhandedly to Kohza. "Have anything I can wear?"

"I think I have something nice laying around," Kohza mused while scooping some more butter chicken onto his plate, "Should be suitable enough."

"You're going alone?" Sanji interjected. Zoro's eyes flickered over to where Sanji sat across from him, finding disappointment and worry shining in his eyes. It was becoming easier to meet the blond's gaze without fighting the urge to blush, but dealing with distraught emotion was definitely more of a challenge.

"Remember what happened last time?" Zoro rebuked rhetorically, not even needing to gesture towards the hole in his shoulder that was still giving off a dull ache. "You're staying here."

Sanji seemed like he was immediately going to argue the point, but their company seemed to be enough to quiet him. Making a petulant sound, snagging up his drink and taking a sip as it was clear he was attempting to hide his pout. A cough that was clearly attempted to be smothered came from the end of the table as Coby hacked into his plate for a few moments before Zoro continued firmly.

"Besides, soon as I find where Law is I'm sending you home." Zoro explained, casting a glance at Kohza and silently requested the man go along with what he was about to say. Though ever since Zoro had introduced Kohza to Sanji, he had no doubt assumed that Zoro would be leaving him behind, "Kohza's agreed to take you back, get everything sorted, and keep an eye on you until I finish this."

"W-Wait," Sanji balked, glass coming down to the table with a tad too much force as a hint of betrayal and confusion slipped into his tone, "What?!"

"I told you," Zoro repeated simply, using all of his willpower to keep his voice steady in an attempt to not let Sanji realize just how much this situation was tearing him apart inside. He also tried to keep in mind their company - who were clearly growing more uncomfortable by the second, "I'd get you home as soon as possible; like you wanted."

"I mean... yeah," Sanji agreed slowly, considerably put out as he recalled their initial conversation all those days ago back in Merryville, "but..."

Zoro's heart skipped a beat.

"What?" It was the simplest question, but it carried so much weight that Sanji probably didn't even realize. Zoro had thought he had been imagining it, but over the past week it had seemed like Sanji's irritation at the whole ordeal was waning. He had even been hopeful enough to consider that perhaps Sanji wasn't in such a rush to be sent home after all.

"These past few days have been the coolest, most exciting of my life!" Sanji exclaimed, casting a glance around the table as though to reference what he was referring to. Stussy having the grace to hide a far too knowing smile behind her drink as Sanji ranted, "And I work in emerg; do you know how much crazy shit I've seen?"

"I'd feel better if you weren't constantly in the line of fire," Zoro argued despite the cathartic relief flowing through him at Sanji's words, firmly reminding himself that it was for Sanji's own good. Scowling through his words as Zoro could practically hear Kohza smirking into his wine, "They don't want you; they want me."

"Yeah, well...I want you too," Sanji floundered in frustration, gaze wandering to the other guests as he was reminded of their presence and amended with a stammer, "preferably not dead."

Zoro froze.

The words spoken were probably the closest to resembling any form of desire from Sanji towards Zoro. While his entire being was elated that Sanji was seemingly relaxed with being near him still, it didn't change the fact that he needed to get Sanji somewhere that wouldn't get them both killed. And if that meant that he had to start playing some dirty tricks… then so be it.

"Fine." Zoro eventually grumbled, "Last time though. After this you are staying in the safest place I can leave you."

"Deal."

~X~

Pulling the strap across his bare chest a little tighter, Zoro gave a final shrug to ensure the shoulder holsters were sitting comfortably and winced as the left pressed against the bandages covering his still healing bullet wound. While Sanji's constant and careful attention had done wonders for it, the healing process was still a slow one and even though he was a little stiff, his mobility wasn't too compromised.

Snagging a gun off the bed, he released the magazine with a flick, scanned to ensure it was fully loaded before re-inserting it and sliding it into the holster under his arm. Doing the same with the second, he then closed up the clasps on each before grabbing the tunic from the bed. Carefully slinging his arms through and doing up the buttons, he gave a final glance in the mirror to ensure that both guns were perfectly concealed. Satisfied, he turned and made his way over to the large bay windows that served as a tiny balcony out of the small room.

Taking in the limited view that was given from the crowded suburban area as he took in these simple quiet moments he had to himself before having to get thrown back into the fray. These moments were few, and varied, and each time left him far more alone with his thoughts than he wanted to be at the moment.

It wasn't long before there was a click of the door opening as someone entered, judging it to be Kohza by the cadence of his steps. Waiting as Kohza eventually met him at the window with a familiar reserved look on his face. Both standing in silence as he had a feeling he was about to finally have the conversation with the man that he had been dreading.

"You didn't really mean what you said, did you?" Kohza stated flatly, both of them staring down from the balcony to the bustling streets below. Vehicles rumbling along, pedestrians milling about, and the calamitous roar of the city drowning them out enough to keep anyone from overhearing their conversation. "About letting him stay after this?"

"Nope." Zoro murmured softly.

Kohza made a disapproving noise. Leaning forward to rest his hands on the railing before commenting, "He doesn't seem like the type that will take that news well."

"Probably not."

"You're planning on making me tell him," Kohza grunted wearily, "aren't you?"

"Yup." Zoro noted without changing his resigned tone that came with his decision. Sanji's kind words unable to sway him as much as he would have loved to give in, firm in his choice to leave Sanji with someone else. It wasn't a matter of how much faith Sanji had in him, rather how much he had in himself; and at the moment he was barely certain he could get himself out of this whole thing alive.

If the location of the bounty was encrypted to this extent, then the likelihood of the identity of whoever wanted him dead was not going to be good, and the chances of him going home were getting slimmer by the minute. None of this he would ever tell to Sanji, but he could already tell from Kohza's demeanour that he was as worried as Zoro was.

"Damn you..." Kohza grumbled through a chuckle. A small smile gracing Zoro's own lips before they were interrupted by a call from the doorway.

"Oi, mosshead!" Both men turning at the interruption as Sanji murmured through the door, "Stussy says we have to head out!"

"Chill out, Curly." Zoro snapped, "We're coming!"

No bitten response let Zoro know that the blond was already long gone and the two men made their way across the room. Exiting and heading towards the stairs as a playful grin worked its way onto Kohza's face. Zoro's shoulders tensed as he already knew he was going to despise his jibes as much as he did Johnny and Yosaku's; it sometimes killed him being from a line of work with such perceptive people.

"Speaking of which..." Kohza began slowly, "Should I ask...?"

"Best not."

Nodding in understanding, Kohza just muttered, "Tell me the story sometime."

"There's nothing to te-" Zoro stopped short as they arrived at the top of the stairs and he got a full view of the blond waiting bellow chatting amicably with Stussy. Completely oblivious to their presence as Zoro's thought process ended abruptly at the sight of Sanji in the gorgeous blue Sherwani Kohza had lent him.

The long tunic fit snugly to the blond's body in all the right places and the golden silks matched his hair perfectly. The normally messy mass of curls was brushed neatly to the side in a professional combover and allowed you to see the man's eyes easily without bangs constantly in the way.

Shimmering blue embroidery curled across the entire length of the fabric in fantastic swirls and hypnotic curls, all of it highlighting the blond's enigmatic eyes in ways that had Zoro's breath catching in his throat. Sharp, sterling buttons seized the front of the jacket close across Sanji's chest and Zoro idly wondered how easy it would be to pop them free of their stitching if he hooked his fingers along the front and gave a firm jerk. Shaking off the sudden – incredibly unexpected and inappropriate thought – he dragged himself back to reality just in time to hear Kohza snort derisively.

"Tell me the story sometime." Kohza repeated with a guffaw, patting Zoro hard on the shoulder as he walked around him. Zoro was still semi-lost in his world as he couldn't tear his eyes away from the blond and the haunting notion that after today he wouldn't be seeing the blond again for quite some time... maybe never...

TBC…