---------------- Chapter 8 / Baratie
Chopper sat back in the driver's seat of his car and rubbed a hand at his face as he suppressed a yawn. He was still tiered having not got much sleep at all last night thanks to two assholes who didn't have the decency and modesty to even try to be quiet about what they were doing all night and for a good part of the morning. It was not all just from the noise either, well it was but with the sounds they were making it had Chopper worrying about Sanji's wound. He had been half tempted this morning before he left to go in and check on Sanji but Luffy had said the door was locked and he was not about to go busting it down. Chopper would just have to hope the others could keep Sanji there till he and Robin got back.
At the thought of his current company he lowered his hand down and looked over to her in the passenger seat. Even in simple clothing she was stunning. Black long pants that made her legs seem longer and fit adoringly over her firm small ass as Chopper well remembered having gotten a good look at as he held the car door open for her as she got in this morning. The red sweater vest she wore as well Chopper found very attractive on her though it did not ride low on her chest it fit snuggly to help outline the form of her body and with her hair pinned up the whole look with clothing so tight to her body made it easy for one to fantasy what she might look like nude.
A bright blush came to his cheeks as he let his mind slip just to that and he quickly looked away and rubbed his sweaty palms on his pressed well fitted white jeans he wore. He as well had on a simple short sleeve light baby blue button down shirt. The light colors standing out strongly against his caramel skin making him look much more exotic.
Robin looked over to the young doctor and smiled. It seemed she had not been bothered at all by the noise the ship had, had to put up with last night. "Growing impatient doctor-san?" she asked calmly as always.
Chopper looked back at her with wide eyes. How could she know or even…then it hit him what she was talking about. "Oh, … well not so much. I guess just nervous that this might be another dead end. It really is only a shot in the dark as I'm sure Sanji enjoys food from many restaurants." Chopper quickly answered.
The pair was currently sitting in a small parking lot by the ocean front where the restaurant ship Baratie was docked at along with many other small businesses that didn't have the money for a plot of land to hold their businesses on. The fact that it was also on the edge of the city made the docking rent damn cheep too though not a very desired location as not many people would come out this far when there was other places much closer and not in such shady districts.
The fact Kaya had come down here and partook of a meal was not really a surprise since the woman was always trying new things and seemed not to care how dangerous it was or not. Having lived her life so sheltered for so long due to an illness and now being better she was busting at the seams to explore the world. Often causing her husband Usopp to worry like mad over her wellbeing and always keep tabs on her or at lest try.
"Ah I sups that is true but the way he eyed the bag the food came in last night might prove it had more to do with the place then the food its self." deducted Robin.
"Eh really? I thought that pervy bastard was just eyeing Kaya." Chopper admitted and was once more amazed at Robin's observation skills. If she was not so rooted in the study of history she could have made a remarkable doctor.
Robin gave a half giggle to that. "He does not seem that bad. Maybe you like bushido-san are jealous when he gives others any kind of attention that not directed to you?" she harmlessly teased.
Chopper was taken off guard by that. "N-no not all! I assure you the only thing I feel for that bastard is friendship…wait you think Zoro likes Sanji?" the doctor then blinked in surprise.
The woman turned in her seat so she could sit facing the doctor. "Well why not?"
"Well for one thing everyone knows Zoro likes Luffy …besides Sanji and Ace... I mean…If Zoro were to… it would cause problems!" a bit of a panic was setting in Chopper now. If this was true it would need to be put a stop to right away.
A soft frown came to Robin's face. "Love is a very problematic thing doctor-san. We as humans can not help but be selfish creatures and already when we have one thing, desire another."
Chopper stared at Robin his heart hammering in his chest due to her words. Could she mean?... Did she feel for him as he felt for her? Chopper gulped as Ace's words from the other day rang in his head and one thing stood out the most of all in those words, Love is about risks…
He took a deep breath and did the bravest thing he ever did in his life and hoped it would also not become the biggest mistake as well. Chopper placed his hands to Robin's arms and pushed his lips to meet hers giving her a sound closed mouth kiss that he poured all of his heart into and much to his surprise Robin didn't pull away and even leaned into the kiss, kissing him back in return.
The kiss seemed to last forever and yet when both pulled back Chopper felt like if it had not happened long enough. He breathed harder keeping his hands to Robin's arms as his big brown innocent eyes stared into those amazing dark blue ones that he would willingly spend the rest of his life lost in.
A pained expression came over Robin's face then as she stared back at the young doctor. "Chopper-san…" she started but the man panicked at seeing her like this and looked away just in time to notice the 'open for business' sign being put out next to the ramp of the ship in the place holder for it by a large man in a cook's inform.
When the two had first got here they had walked up to the ship only to see the sign holder saying that they were closed and would not be open till eleven. That only being fifteen minutes away they decided to wait.
"Oh look they are open now!" Chopper quickly changed the subject and was already half out of the car.
Robin heavily sighed but let it drop for now. They still after all had the car ride home. With that in mind she got herself out of the car and hurried after Chopper.
Together Chopper and Robin set their own feelings aside and walked down the dock and onto the ship and once they entered the through the double doors they were greeted by the same large man that had put the sign out.
He leaned down and rubbed his head as he smiled big showing lots of teeth due to the overly cheerful act he was putting on for them. "Welcome shitty customers to Baratie! I'm Patty and I will be the one waiting on you and making you really delicious fucking food!"
Chopper and Robin both blinked at the odd greeting.
"Will it just be the two of you?...Great this way shitty customers!" he did not wait for their reply just started to walk into the dinning room area which looked like it had seen better days.
What looked like had once been a grand dinning room hall was now withered due to time. Paint was peeling, and floor boards squeaked under foot. The white table cloths had runs in them and were tore up at the bottoms of where they hung to the floor. Even the dishes on top of the tables didn't seem to be in great condition with cracks and chips here and there in them.
Patty sat them at a table for two in the almost empty dinning hall. The only other person there was an older heavy set man who was also dressed in a chef uniform. His hair was a dark blonde but was sporting streaks of grey in it and even in the long twin braids of his mustache beard. One of the chairs at the table he sat at was pulled out and he was using to set his leg on…or well, what was left of his leg as from above the knee and down the limb was missing. To his side sat an artificial metal leg. The man seemed to be in a daze looking up to the ceiling and did not even glace their way.
Chopper held out Robin's chair for her then once she sat scooted her in and then took his own seat.
"So what can I get you both to drink?" asked Patty clapping his hands together and rubbing them after he sat down menus for them both.
"Actually before we order we wanted to ask a few questions if you don't mind." Robin started and Patty blinked away the smile on his face in favor of confusion.
"We wanted to know if a guy named Sanji use to work here." Chopper went on to add.
Patty was a blur of speed reaching under his apron and pulling out a gun faster then Chopper knew what to do and aimed it at him and Robin. "And just who the fuck is wanting to know?" he asked in a no bullshit manner. The older man was now looking over with a hard glare at Chopper and Robin too.
The tension in the air was so thick one could have cut it with a knife. Robin and Chopper held up their hands to show no threat, but Patty didn't lower the gun.
"We are friends of his…" Chopper said hoping on all hope that, that didn't get him and Robin blown away.
"Doflamingo's goons?" grunted out the older man a few tables over.
"No. We wish to get him from Doflamingo and are looking for the person who he made his sacrifice for." came Robin's reasonable voice.
A laugh of sarcasm came from the older man, "And just why would you do that for cold blooded killer like Mr. Prince?"
"We want him to join our gang." Robin replied but Chopper frowned and added. "I want him free. He is not a bad person as he seems to be. He is being forced to do things and if he keeps putting himself through the life style he is living now he is going to end up dead."
"Everyone dies. It's his choice. You would do better to just find someone else." The old man replied with a mocking grin.
Chopper frowned getting pissed now. "Maybe everyone does die but no one should have to go through the hell Sanji is putting himself through. If his body does not break first it will be his mind! As a doctor I can not and will not stand by to see one of my friends and patients put them selves through something I can help cure them of!" Chopper slammed down his hands on the table making the dishes that sat on them rattle.
Patty lowered his gun and looked over to the other man and the older man nodded to Patty. "Then if your friends of his…" spoke the older man sitting up a little straighter his eyes back to Chopper and Robin again. "You will bring him home here…I'm the one he made that shitty deal for."
"Owner-san are you sure …" Patty was cut off by a glare of the man.
Robin and Chopper looked at each other then back to the older man. "If we bring him here you can get the deal annulled?" questioned Robin and lowered her arms as the threat seemed gone.
"And beat that brat's head in for even making the deal in the first place. I never asked him to do that…never wanted him…" the man looked down his jaw clenching.
The tension eased out of Chopper at this turn of events guessing they were only being tested or something by the man.
"Why did Doflamingo attack this restaurant in the first place? Not to be rude but it really does not seem like the area he would try to take over." Robin asked.
The old head chef leaned back in his chair, "Patty why don't you get these kids today's lunch special." He ordered not answering Robin's question for the moment.
"Right away owner-san." Patty looked over his shoulder at the pair then headed up the stairs to the kitchen.
Robin and Chopper said nothing about the order of food for them selves but of course would not be rude and refuse it.
"What are your names?" The old man asked.
"I'm Copper and this is Robin." Chopper introduced them both.
"You're that one that was in the papers that worked for Crocodile." It was not a question but a statement the man made.
"I use to work for him yes but no longer. I'm with the Mugiwara's now." Robin clarified.
He gave a nod and a tug of a smirk. "I'm Zeff the owner of Baratie …"
"Red Legged Zeff?" Robin questioned with her eyes widen a bit. Chopper looked at her and back at the man wondering just what it was she knew about this man now from just that one name.
Zeff gave a nod. "I'm not surprised one of Crocodile's people …or ex workers know that name."
"You were thought to be dead after the Monarch City Sweep in early 70's and with already the loss of your leg by then how could you have survived?" Robin frowned wondering how this man had been able to disappear after something like that in his condition. The main reason she knew so much about Zeff was due to Crocodile. As a boy Crocodile had idolized him and even now once grown had a small section of his own home a like museum in honor of the man. As for the Monarch City Sweep, it was an attack of all 7 Monarchs coming down on the targeted city and wiping out any gang they came across. Such an attack was a rare thing and only used in the most needed of situations or what the government thought was.
"Someone owed me a favor. I took them up on it and had them help me and Sanji move out here where no one would come looking for us…or so I thought." Zeff said.
"You use to fight in the Arena?" Chopper questioned.
"Yes he did doctor-san. He was on his way to becoming the next King of the Arena …never once did he lose a match nor did he even use a weapon other then his own feet. He was sups to face Whitebeard in a face off for the title." Robin answered for Zeff which made the old man smile.
"Sugoi!" Chopper turned shining eyes to Zeff in amazement. "Well...what happened, what stopped you from taking the title if you never lost a match?" Chopper questioned and that Robin did not have all the answers to so she too was all ears as she looked to Zeff.
The old chef crossed his arms over his chest as his eyes glazed with a far away look in them. "The boy I adopted …Sanji…there was a certain incident from his life before I found him that left its mark on him. I made a mistake of taken him to a butcher shop one day … it must have been too soon for him after what he had gone through and he panicked and ran out of the shop. I chased the brat …found him with his foot stuck on the railroad tracks…A train was coming and well… I got him out…"
"At the risk of your own leg?!" Chopper asked in horror.
Zeff just nodded.
"So that is why Mr. Prince blames himself so deeply…" Robin said and was cut off.
"It was my own choice …would do it just the same too." huffed the old man.
"What was the incident that made Sanji run like that… wait a butcher shop? Does this have to do with why he does not eat much? I mean I just thought it was the drugs or the desperation but was he like that with food even back then?" Chopper asked now going into doctor mode.
At Chopper's question and statements about Sanji, Zeff's eyes showed the worry he truly felt for his adopted son. "That is a story I have no right to tell… but I will say that it does have to do with why he has such a hard time with food… or use to... I guess since he has been gone the problem has resurfaced."
"How did you get him to eat before?" Chopper asked letting the other stuff slide for now with the hope he could use whatever trick Zeff had for Sanji again.
"I taught him how to cook and the value of it's worth …after we moved out here there was never any problems with him not eating. He needed the food for energy to train as I taught him how to fight…guess that was a mistake on my part since that's why he was targeted by Doflamingo."
"Why would he want Sanji or even know where you were or about him?" Chopper frowned.
Zeff paused as Patty came back out with two fresh bowls of seafood alfredo and two glasses of water setting them down before Robin and Chopper then headed back to the kitchen. Robin and Chopper gave there thanks and started to eat finding the food incredible.
Zeff smiled at them as they gave praises of the food and then after went on to explain. "There is a gang that runs and claims ownership of this district, the leader is known as Don Krieg."
That got their attention and they stopped eating for a moment to listen carefully to what next was said.
"I take it from your looks you already know of him… Well somehow a rumor had got to him that there was chance I, Zeff was alive and kicking here so he planted a spy… his second in command … Gin was his name... we didn't know who the guy was but he became a part of the family and Sanji grew …very close to him." Zeff didn't say the word dating but it was clear that was the case. "With the inside info Gin was able to get working here Don Krieg sold the information to Doflamingo. Bastard came to me wanting me to let him put Sanji in the Arena to make him the new King so he could give him as a gift to Crocodile."
"But Crocodile already has once tried to kill him!" Chopper said in alarm.
Zeff frowned at this news, "For what my sources say, Crocodile does not know about Sanji's past."
"When I worked for Crocodile that was true and as far as I know still is." confirmed Robin.
"So Doflamingo did all of this just to primp up Sanji and give him away as a gift? Why?!" Chopper sat down his fork not making sense at all out of this.
"Doflamingo is very …infatuated with Crocodile. It's really no surprise he would try to go to such lengths if he thought it would gain him favor with Crocodile." Robin replied and took a sip of her water.
"That is just crazy!" frowned Chopper and could not help but think Doflamingo had a serious screw loose.
Zeff nodded, "I told the bastard just that when he propositioned me trying to buy Sanji from me…" Zeff frowned at the memory and went on to add, "When that didn't work he had Don Krieg put the pitch on me. I sent Sanji away with Gin... not knowing the bastard was in on it all and he took Sanji to Doflamingo …where the deal was made to save the restaurant and all our lives…he…" Zeff stopped there and cleared his throat his eyes watery but was unwilling to let them spill being a man of pride.
"Poor Sanji…" Chopper leaned back in his chair once more and stared at what was left of his food.
"So if we bring Mr. Prince here… you really think you can get him out of the contract he made with Doflamingo?" Robin asked again.
"I know I can." Zeff confirmed once more.
"Then why have you not done so before?" asked Chopper cautiously.
"Doflamingo sets a firm rule the brat is not allowed near here or anywhere near me …I have tried many times to get in contact with Sanji but … it never works out." Zeff sighed.
Chopper still felt like there was something the man was leaving out but this was the first break they had, had and would hopefully take it. Of course they would need the approval and the go from Luffy so the three made plans and Robin and Chopper finished there meal which was given to them on the house and they made there goodbyes.
As Chopper drove back along the back roads home he kept ranting, "There is just something that's not adding up. If it's so easy to get Sanji out of that contract it should have been done before."
"Your right doctor-san but maybe not all of his trust was given to us. Still we have gotten a very large piece of the puzzle that surly should help us out." Robin tried to ease Chopper.
"It's just so frustrating to know Doflamingo did all of this with the mindset of like if … fuck like if Christmas shopping…picking Sanji out as if human lives can be traded so carelessly about like game pieces." still fumed the doctor.
Robin reached out and placed a hand on Chopper's arm making the man stiffen and the tension shifting. She knew this was a bad time but who knew when they would be in privet again. "About the kiss…" she got out as Chopper tried to shift the conversation back.
"I mean people just should not be treated like that…" Chopper's breaths started to come a little faster.
"Chopper-san…" Robin tried again.
"I think Luffy will go for the plan of bring Sanji to Zeff tonight I mean.." Chopper rambled on.
"Tony!" Robin raised her voice now calling the man by his first name that was rarely ever used. "Stop the car!" she demanded.
Chopper taken back from Robin's out burst looked at her for a moment before doing as asked and moved the car off to the side of the road parking it behind the shade of a billboard.
They then sat there silent for a moment.
"The kiss…" Robin started.
"I'm sorry!" Chopper butted in again.
Robin this time took his face in her hands making him look at her. "I'm not."
The young doctor gasped in shock of the statement and his heart flipped with in his chest.
"But I love Franky ...I can not leave him… as I said humans are selfish creatures. I can't help what I you make me feel but …" Robin let her hands drop as a pout came to her face.
"What are you wanting form me then?" Chopper questioned his heart crushing as her hands removed them selves from him.
"I would ask nothing of you … I could not…" Robin looked away as her eyes watered.
Chopper watched her and didn't know what was taking over him but he leaned over capturing her face this time, bringing her lips into another slow tender kiss.
Robin kissed him back but then stopped pulling back just enough to whisper, "He can never know…"
Chopper looked into those dark blue eyes and let himself become lost…lost in all the things he had refused himself taking hold of that single shard of happiness that was being offered to him. It could be enough he assured himself. Robin could have them both... he could bear the secret of it all for her. He then found himself nodding his head yes to her and just like that her lips returned to his.
There was no turning back now. Love was a problematic thing… and he was only human.
A/N: Whoo! That chapter was hard to write xD I hope I did ok for Zeff… lots of talking and history revealing, hope I didn't bore ya guys with it but it was for sure needed for the plot, and gasp! No Sanji in this chapter! Oh well it ok right since he was being talked about? Oh and don't worry Gin will be showing up but not yet … have to wait for him for the later chapters though there will be more Smoker! That's a few chapters away too though, so lots of stuff to look forward to at lest.
Also to help spice up this chapter and not have to dull I let one of the mini plots bust forth! Chopper and Robin... Robin cheating on Franky! I did not write the nookie for Robin and Chopper but it's implied …or will be when Chopper and Robin get home. Since this is a yaoi story and staring Sanji I didn't feel right tossing in straight couple smut xD The drama of the idea of it is good enough right?
Ah well! Next chapter! Sanji will the center of attention again and we will have some more AcexSanji time and hopefully if I can fit it in some ZoroxSanji stuff too!
Hope to see ya all next chapter. Please feel free to review…it makes me feel loved! xD
Reviewer Replies:
Dandy-red – LOL thank you so much! I thought 2012 was only fitting if I wanted a huge change to come over the modern world xD I hope you still feel the story is creative after the history lesson to part of Sanji's past. GASP! *blushes like crazy* best smut ever? I don't know about that there is a lot of good writers out there but thank you sooo much you thought so! It means a lot and gives me courage to be able to write more. After all there is still lots more smut to this story! XD Cowboy hat ftw!
Yes! AcexSanji is one of my most fav couples!(tied with ZoroxSanji) Every time I did a search for them so few results would come up. It just made me so sad I just had to do something about it! And heck the more the merry right! Humm I wonder if I should add in some SanjixSmoker stuff in there, evil plot bunnies are starting to go to work at that idea tee hee.
datErdbeerschn – Lol as long as my work does not seem like poor story telling due to the speed I'm happy. Really though it's just cause I have nothing else to do. I don't like anything on TV right now and I'm not reading any books … well I'm reading other fanfics but it seems others have more of a life then I do and no new updates yet hehe and plus writing has been really fun of late so once my housework is done I sit down look for my reviews and try to get motivated xD
Woot! I'm happy you like the nookie! Yes the 'burning' and other fire references I have been doing from the start I was wondering when someone would notice lol. I also have been trying to do that for Robin when I can. If you notice she will always have her hands tossed in the mix like cupping a hand over Zoro's mouth or catching Ace's head just a surprising hand pop up thing xD
As to the wound yush! I get even pissy when a coat goes missing then suddenly pops up out of nowhere,… so I try to watch out for that kind of stuff.
Again! Cowboy hat ftw! xD