When Sanji woke back up, he was still in the examination room. He was alone, for now, his chart and ultrasound still out on the counter. It made his skin crawl and the first thing he did was check his phone for the time. It had gotten really late and he had missed calls from Zoro and Zeff. He clenched his jaw. Zoro. How the hell was he supposed to explain to him something like this?
He reached over, grabbing the ultrasound and staring at the two lumps apparently inside his body. Babies. Twins. It was definitely nothing he'd thought he'd ever have to deal with in his life, being pregnant. On a count of being male, he shouldn't have to. He ran his fingers through his hair. What was going on? Was this even medically possible? Was he some freak of nature? He guessed he had to be.
Sanji quickly put it back down when the door opened and a Dr. Kureha came back inside. He kind of hoped it'd be Chopper, he seemed the only weird but actually sane one here. She gazed down at him, snickering at the way Sanji unconsciously but a hand on his stomach. He moved it quickly though.
"So who do I gotta call and explain this to?" She asked, sitting down on the chair.
Sanji glared away. He didn't want to tell anyone about this. What was he supposed to tell Zeff? That even though he was a little shit he was also expecting some little shits. Oh but it's okay, apparently guys can do that now? He had to stop thinking about that though to avoid another hormonal break. He hadn't admitted to those happening before, simply because they only usually happened when he was alone, but now he wasn't sure he could control them.
"You're really serious about this?" Sanji asked, looking back at her with a pained expression. "I mean, is it even possible?"
Dr. Kureha sighed, taking the ultrasound picture again and gazing down at it. Then she nodded. "A lot of people refuse to talk about it, they don't want to start some kind of wide spread panic, but there's always been some men who just could conceive, all linking from one greater ancestor. I've never had a case like it myself but I know the families always took extra measures to protect their men and their adaptations." She lightly brushed across where each baby was located.
"But you didn't know that did you? You were adopted weren't you?" Her piercing gaze drilled a hole, right through Sanji. "It's the only way you'd be surprised about hearing this."
Sanji rested his elbows on his knees, ruffling his hair in frustration. Great, he had come to get a checkup and find out if he still had a cold or not to find out that not only is he pregnant, he's from some abnormal family line where the men can give birth. Shitty fantastic. What was he supposed to do now? Dr. Kureha seemed to read his thoughts, crossing her legs.
"I can take care of your medical costs and help you, if you'd like. I might have never seen a case like this before, hell I don't think one in five hundred doctors have either, so I'm probably your best bet unless you want this to be some kind of nationwide find."
Sanji considered it a moment. He'd need the free care and the not being used as a lab rat, he'd actually prefer that but, something about not being a nationwide find didn't seem a reality.
"You don't think people won't notice when I'm showing? I do go to school you know."
Dr. Kureha shrugged. "So a few people say something and find out, you act like the military would come after you. You are only bothered by the words you let bother you, Blondie."
Sanji hid his head in his arms. "And you are positive they aren't just tumors?"
Dr. Kureha just snorted again, standing up. "They're tumors alright. Now, just let me know when I need to call to let your dad know." She sassed.
Sanji looked up at her, confused. His dad? She knew about Zeff. "You know..." He began but she nodded, giving another equally creepy and broken smile.
"Oh yeah, me and Zeff are good drinking buddies. Don't worry, I can handle my liquor."
The next day at school Sanji definitely had a tumor attached to him, in the form of a mini Doctor named Chopper. He had barely been able to sleep last night, finding himself staring at the ultrasound, his mind a maze. He'd decided he'd have to tell Zoro. There wasn't really a way around it, after all he was having twins and they were pretty unforgiving to the body – there was no way in hell he'd be able to hide it for long.
The other thing he decided he at least went ahead and did. Sanji withdrew from his club activities, stepping down at the captain of the swim team and the home ec club. It pained him a little to leave the adorable ladies he'd been teaching how to make pastries the last three years of his life but, he knew some sacrifices had to be made. The swim team was a little more upset, being stuck with a lanky rubbery kid who could barely swim to guide them. Sanji didn't mind that though, Luffy was his friend and always wanted to be swim captain, he felt comfortable leaving the title with him, despite his lack of talent.
Sanji was actually kind of surprised to find that he had all his classes with Chopper. Had he really been that distracted before to not have ever noticed? Maybe because he sat in a completely different part of the room, but he really hadn't a clue. The doctor was thrilled at this fact as he had already decided on becoming Sanji's at school caregiver. Which he tried to enforce several times already that day.
"Sanji! You shouldn't be holding you're bag, it's too heavy! Please let me hold it for you." He begged on their way to their third period.
Sanji rolled his eyes. This was like the fifth time the doctor had asked, but he was not about to have Chopper carrying his stuff like he was his lackey or something. It was bad enough rumors had already started, like they often did, about why Sanji seemed to be dropping all his clubs and what not. Though Sanji wasn't sure he minded, it made some of the girls who usually just turned away as he swooned to them, turn and notice him, fearing he had some horrible disease making him unable to do his extra activities.
The blonde really hadn't notice how popular he was around, other than being known as the skirt chaser, a title he regretfully held with honor. He really wanted a smoke, but knew he couldn't anymore. He'd already thrown them all out, Chopper watching over his shoulder to make sure. It was an annoying feeling, being in withdrawals, but the need only got stronger as Sanji's worse fear began approaching him from down the hall, Zoro.
At first the cook had thought about turning around and walking away, but he felt those dark eyes on him. He knew Zoro was targeting in on him and where he'd go, Zoro would follow. He didn't understand though, why Zoro was trying to find him since he did seem to be the Marimo's main objective. After failing to answer any of his calls Sanji had sent him a text message the previous night letting him know everything was fine and he'd talk to him later, so why?
They never got together during school, they would rather be caught dead. It was true that they had the same circle of friends, but the pair fought like it was their jobs. If they entered the locker room at the same time the rest of the students just fled out, valuing their lives. It was only in secret, away from the school that they met together. This had been on Sanji's suggestion, to help ease the hearts of the maidens of their class finding out he was dating a Neanderthal.
Though Zoro didn't really care about that, leading to the other reason Sanji tried avoiding him more during school. He'd kiss him in the hallway and not give a rat's ass what anyone said, Sanji however would kill him if he tried. He sidestepped toward some of the lockers and froze, holding a little tighter onto his bag where he'd carefully stored the ultrasound picture, reminding himself he'd need to tell him eventually.
Zoro stopped a foot or so in front of him, leaning on the lockers. He scowled, looking Sanji down, as if looking for something. It sent shiver's up Sanji's spine when he looked across his abdomen. Chopper, who was fairly intimidated that two of the strongest out of their class had just met in the halls, was preparing for anything. If he had to, he was willing to throw himself in front of Sanji to protect those babies, his patients.
Zoro's expression instead seemed to soften, his shoulders un-tensing. "Cook," He said lowly, ignoring the stares they got as people walked down the hall. Some might have been waiting for a confrontation, but they wouldn't get one. "The hell is going on with you? I heard you quit the team and your prissy shit. What's up?"
Sanji pursed his lips, looking away. He couldn't handle that honest worried gaze right now, not when every inch of him told him to lie and flee. Instead he looked back up at Zoro, an unreadable expression.
"It's nothing bad." He said first, to ease the swordsman's worries. "Meet me in the computer lab during lunch. I'll tell you then."
Then he began to walk off, because he didn't need to be seen not killing the Marimo more than necessary, but Zoro grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"You're sure it's nothing bad?" He asked, wanting reassurance.
Sanji hissed, taking his arm back, then grinned. "You're cute when you worry about me Marimo." The blonde decided to tease. The red on the swordsman's face always made it worth it.
He glanced down at Chopper and motioned him to keep walking with him. They continued onto class, feeling the swordsman's stare, but ultimately Sanji tried to ignore it. The only time he really needed to worry about how those eyes looked at him would be after he delivered the weirdest news in his life.
"Do you think he'll take it well?"
Chopper's voice took him out of his thought process. Honestly Sanji wished he could've said yes, but he knew Zoro more than anyone. He doubted he'd be believed, but this is why he had the ultrasound with him. He shrugged and gave his reply.
"Maybe."
It was all he could really say. He couldn't control what Zoro thought and really he couldn't blame him if he didn't believe. Had it been the other way around, he wouldn't have believed that bullshit. It was different though when it was he who had the babies inside him. Two.
The class ended quickly, probably because Sanji was dreading the moment it would end the whole time. He tried playing several scenario's in his head, both of a positive reacting Zoro and of a negative. He didn't know what he'd do with either though. Before that day it had just been about him and taking care of himself, now that he had two other completely different lives to take care of, he wasn't sure how he was planning really.
As per usual when it came down to lunch, Sanji made his way to the lunch room. They had a good half hour and the least he could do before he went to meet up with Zoro was say hi to their friends. Usually he'd see Zoro there too, since they all shared the same lunch, but the swordsman had already apparently went to find their meeting place, which could easily take up the half hour itself.
Luffy, the raven haired boy who would always wear his hat, regardless of how many suspensions he got in result of it by breaking dress code, waved Sanji down to their usual table. He was grinning ear to ear excitedly, mostly because Sanji would bring him left over's from the restaurant. Next to him was their liar of a friend Usopp, who liked to do nothing more than doodle on his notebook and write stories. Which was fine, sometimes they were interesting. Though Sanji refused to believe so after he ended up being the content of one.
But then there was Nami, sweet, sweet Nami. The goddess from heaven Nami. She was scolding Luffy for being so loud about calling out to Sanji. She was the woman Sanji absolutely loved to spoil. Well her and Ms. Robin, but that was a whole different story on its own.
Sanji wanted to do nothing more to please them. He smiled to them in greeting and put his bag on top of the table, fishing out the contents that were made especially in their honor. Some sweets and pastries for the beautiful Nami of course, which she thanked him nicely with a cute smile and then Luffy's left overs which were pretty much devoured on impact. Sanji was no longer amazed watching the lanky kid's strange eating habits, his shadow Chopper however, nearly fell over.
"Luffy! You shouldn't eat that fast!" He protested!
Sanji had nearly forgotten that that was the reason he knew Chopper in the first place, like several other kids randomly in the school. Through Luffy. The weird straw hat kid had a weird way of making friends, he had tons, yet always seemed to just stay with the same few at this one single table. He also did this weird thing they all found awkwardly endearing, by calling them his crew, though none of them agreed he'd be the one in charge of it, if they were to form any such thing.
"Chopper!" Luffy laughed, sneaking some of Usopp's lunch while he wasn't looking. "What are you doing here? You know Sanji?"
Chopper smiled and nodded. "Yeah! We're biology partners!"
Nami sat back in her seat, taking a bite seductively out of her cookie because she knew the blonde was watching. "Chopper, what did I tell you about helping people out?" She rolled her head over to look at him. "You should be charging for that, you'd make tons."
Chopper blushed and rubbed at the back of his head, obviously flattered. "Yeah… Well… You know..."
Sanji raised an eyebrow. Okay so maybe Luffy wasn't the only other one that knew who Chopper was. Usopp looked up from his notebook, smiling as well.
"Yeah, Chopper saved me from failing anatomy last year."
And now Sanji just felt like an ass. Had he like also been sitting at their table for a long time too and he'd never noticed? He sighed irritably at himself and zipped up his backpack, making it obvious he wasn't about to stay.
"Oh, Sanji-kun? Where are you going? You aren't going to sit with us?" Nami asked, sitting up in her seat. She valued his half hour of swooning for her ego.
Sanji shrugged. "Nah, I gotta go write something in the computer lab." He explained plainly.
Luffy let out a slight hum, unamused. He crossed his arms. "Ne, First Zoro had to go now Sanji." He complained. The cook couldn't help but chuckle.
"If I see that Marimo I'll kick him back here for ya, Luffy." He said before turning to start off. He stopped though when he realized Chopper planned to follow him there too. He gave him a gentle smile.
"Chopper, it's okay, I think I can handle this part. I'll come find you after lunch."
Chopper frowned though, unsure if he should let Sanji go ahead. He knew stress was a pregnant mother's worst enemy. But he nodded. It wasn't his business to butt in on Sanji's personal affairs, he was here as a doctor after all. He turned back and went to sit with the others at the table. Sanji sent him a silent thank you for it too. He just hoped that the doctor would also keep his promise about not mentioning any of this to his friends.