Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Chapter Five

To being an 'us' for once,

Instead of a 'them!'

-Mark Cohen from RENT, "La Vie Boheme"

xxx

"ACCCCCEEEEE!!!!"

"Oh no," the freckled man slurred and prepared for impact, and soon after a heavy weight landed forcefully on his legs, causing the man beside him to wake up and curse violently. "Luffy, get off."

"But I'm a visitor! You have to treat me nicer!" the younger man crossed his arms and pouted.

"Yes, well, I'm a visitor too, and you just jumped on me!" Sanji protested, and Luffy looked at him and blinked.

"Oh, Sanji! It's you!"

"No kidding."

"Why are you in my brother's bed?" he blinked again.

"Luffy! I told you, if he's asleep, just let him…" Nami reached the doorway and trailed off, her eyes widening. "H-hello Ace; Sanji."

"Nami-my-sweet," Sanji stretched and sat up, ruffling his hair. "How are you? How was your date last night?"

"Good," she admitted with a nod. "And you? Looks like you had a bit of fun," she grinned.

"If Luffy is anything like his brother in the bedroom department, I envy you," Sanji returned the smile, and Nami blushed.

"We haven't…ah…that is…"

"Nami says she's not letting me have sex with her," Luffy pouted.

"I don't blame her," Sanji said with a nod. "You have to respect a woman's wishes in this, Luffy. There's a lot more on the line for her than there is for you."

"You're such a woman yourself," Nami walked over to him and leant across the bed to ruffle his hair. "I swear, if you weren't notoriously bisexual…"

"Only go for the straight ones, eh?" Ace grinned.

"Less chance they'll leave me," she agreed with a nod. "So, are you officially together now, or what?"

"Nah," Ace slung an arm around Sanji's shoulders and leant against him. "We're just…good friends."

"Who occasionally sleep together," Sanji added.

"And enjoy it immensely," Ace nodded. "Besides, Sanji here has got his eye on someone else."

"Really? Who?" Nami leant forward, obviously interested.

"His hot roommate," Ace supplied.

"What? Zoro?" Nami looked amazed. "I thought you hated each other!"

"We did, but…"

"Two years changed a lot, huh?" Nami sighed and crossed her arms. "You'd make a wonderful couple, though. Too bad Zoro doesn't look at anything besides his swords."

"Believe me, I've noticed that too," Sanji looked wistful. "That's why Ace is gonna help me win him over."

"You are?" Nami's eyes widened even more.

"Yeah. I mean, I love this guy, but we're not meant to be together. Sanji needs someone mellow to balance him out; someone who can keep their emotions inside even when he's raving like a lunatic. Someone to be his rock, not to be a loose cannon. I'm a slut," Ace almost looked ashamed before he broke into an ear-splitting grin.

"And proud of it," Sanji kissed his nose. "I didn't know you'd thought this through so extensively."

"Hey, Sanji?"

"Yeah, Luffy?"

"Since you're here, could you…I mean, would it be a bother if you…"

"Sure I'll cook breakfast."

"Yahoo!" Luffy pumped his fist in the air. "So? So?"

"Leave so I can get out of bed, first," Sanji ordered, and Luffy obediently shuffled to the door and out into the condo.

"Alright, dear, go make something spectacular," Ace prompted him, causing Sanji to roll his eyes.

"I guess you want me to leave, too," Nami looked somewhat disappointed.

"If you wouldn't mind, Nami-swan."

"What?"

"Sorry…I really have to stop using Japanese suffixes," Sanji chuckled ruefully. "They use –san to show respect, but –swan is more a term of endearment."

"Oh, like when you called Vivi Vivi-chan?" she asked.

"Exactly."

"Well, I've been looking up some Japanese too, Sanji-kun," she grinned at him, and he blinked in astonishment. "It's right, isn't it? I mean, that's how it's supposed to be used?"

"Yeah…I mean, yeah, -kun is mostly used for boys below the age of majority, but…I like it," he admitted.

"So do I," she agreed. "Well, I'll make sure Luffy doesn't break anything before you get out here," she gave him a swift smile before darting out into the apartment, and Sanji crawled out of the bed, finding his discarded jeans and boxers and pulling them on before sliding his shirt over his shoulders, electing to leave it unbuttoned.

"How do I look?"

"Like you've just had mind-blowing sex," Ace supplied, also sliding out of the bed and adjusting Sanji's hair, smoothing it over his normally concealed left eye. "It's a good look on you."

"Shut up and get dressed. I'll make you and that other bottomless pit out there some food," Sanji gave him a light kiss before striding out into the kitchen.

"Food; food; food!" Luffy chanted.

"Hold your horses," Sanji rooted around in the fridge for eggs and pulled them out before digging out a frying pan. "Eggs and bacon alright? Ace doesn't have much else."

"Meat!" Luffy supplied helpfully.

"It sounds lovely, Sanji-kun," Nami assured him. "But then, after this long, whatever you make is bound to be good."

"Nami-swan is too kind to me," Sanji simpered, before yelling, "Oi, Ace, where're your spices?"

The older man came out of the bedroom dressed in a pair of low-riding sweats and a faded t-shirt that proclaimed "I'm hotter than you" in flaming letters. He rooted around in the pantry and came out with the spice rack, placing it on the counter beside the blonde. "Anything I can do?"

"Get drinks," Sanji replied shortly. "And I'm not quite sure how I feel about the shirt. Who exactly are you claiming to be hotter than?"

"Well, not you, apparently," Ace rolled his eyes. "Nami's right. You are a total girl."

"I'll ignore that," Sanji told him, getting the bacon out of the refrigerator and starting to fry it. "So," he hopped up on the counter and glanced at Ace. "How are we doing this?"

"Getting Zoro to fall head-over-heels for you? He's well on his way, from what you've said," the freckled man shrugged.

"Yes, but he'll never admit it," Sanji countered. "He's not the type of guy to just come out and say something like that."

"So, we keep pushing him into awkward situations," Ace shrugged. "You know, seeing if he gets jealous when we're close, seeing if he blushes at perverted innuendo, that sort of thing. Sound cool?"

"Good enough," Sanji gathered up the food and set it on the table as Ace poured orange juice, and Luffy immediately attacked. "Ladies first, idiot," Sanji slapped his hand with the spatula and he whined while Nami selected her food. "Okay, go ahead."

"FOOOOODDDDDDD!!!!"

"Nami, really, why do you put up with him?" Ace asked, wrestling with his younger brother for a piece of bacon as the orange-haired girl sighed and put a hand to her forehead.

"Well, it mustn't be for his intellect," she finally reasoned, causing Sanji to chuckle. "He's cute in a way…but you're obviously a better pick in the maturity department, and if you weren't gay…"

"How many times have I been told that before?" Ace sighed. "I'm sorry, darlin', but women don't do it for me."

"I know."

"You know what they say, anyway," Sanji had managed to steal a bit of food for himself. "It's always the best looking ones," he shrugged. "And by the way, how did Franky and Robin happen? The man is a grade-A pervert, so why is a classy lady like her putting up with him and his uncouthness?"

"She must see something in him," Nami reasoned. "I don't like him either; he's always looking at me like he wants to see something that he has no right to."

"And remember that time at the beach?" Luffy put in around a mouthful of food, so it sounded more like, " N 'memba 'tha 'ime sh'beach?"

"Oh, Sanji, be thankful you weren't there!" Ace looked pained. "A Speedo. A Speedo!"

Sanji whimpered at the thought of Franky in a Speedo as the others had various horrified expressions on their faces.

"We're never inviting him to the beach again," Nami stated firmly. "He kept trying to untie my bikini top."

"What? Trying to undermine Nami-swan's honor?" Sanji looked livid.

"It's okay. Ace saved me," Nami assured him.

"Thank you, Ace," Sanji looked relieved.

"No problem, babe," Ace winked at him.

"Ace…" Sanji sighed. "You have to…"

"Sorry," Ace looked rather dejected. "I know, I know; you don't like the endearments, right?"

"It's not that, it's just…" he picked at his eggs for a few more seconds before setting his plate to the side.

"Hey…" Ace walked over, moving himself so that he was between Sanji's legs and glancing at the young man sitting on the countertop. "It's alright. No matter what happens with Zoro, I'll always be here for you, okay?"

"I know, and I don't deserve it," Sanji chuckled wryly.

"Don't give me that," Ace put a hand on his shoulder. "You deserve everything. And you're going to have it," he promised. "Alright?"

"Right," Sanji shook his head with a smile. "How can you be so optimistic?"

"Because I'm stuck with pessimists like you and Zoro all the time," he countered, leaning to capture Sanji's lips in a light kiss. "Can I still call you babe?"

"Sure," Sanji nodded. "I kind of like it, actually."

"I know," Ace assured him. "I wouldn't call you it if I thought you didn't."

"And last night?"

"Last night what?" Ace blinked.

"When you called me 'love,'" Sanji clarified.

"Oh, that. I meant it," Ace replied.

"I figured as much. And yet you're still going to help me win another man," Sanji sighed. "Love you too, love," he leant in for another kiss, and Ace obliged him, their lips connecting gently.

"You two are adorable, you know that?" Nami sighed. Luffy hadn't paused in his eating and was consuming everything in sight, seemingly oblivious to the fact that his brother was making out with another man. "Well, Sanji-kun, if you really want Zoro, I can help you two out."

"My darling Nami-swan is too kind to me!"

"Ace is right, after all: you do deserve happiness," she winked at him. "If I flirt with you a little more…"

"But what about Luffy?"

"He won't even notice," Nami promised, and it seemed to be true: Luffy was stuffing food into his mouth with nary a regard for the conversation. "Don't worry about him." She was about to say something more when a knock came at the door, and Ace yelled at whoever it was to come in.

"Oi," Zoro slipped in and closed the door behind him. "Smelt breakfast."

"You've been eating my cooking all week," Sanji countered, wrapping his legs around Ace's and holding him in place against the counter.

"So? You and Portgas get it on last night?"

"You have no tact, do you?" Sanji looked disgusted. "There's a lady present!"

"But the lady already knows," Nami winked.

"So that's a 'yes,' then," Zoro sounded nonplussed as he went to grab the food that Luffy hadn't vacuumed up yet.

"No business of yours," Sanji informed him bluntly. "And who said you could just steal food?"

"Nobody," Zoro shrugged, continuing to eat.

"Why, Ace? Why?" Sanji moaned into the other man's ear. "Why did it have to be him? He's an animal!"

"You'll get him to come around," Ace replied softly. "You're woman enough for the both of you."

"I should hit you for that."

"So go ahead."

"No, then he'll know something's up," Sanji hissed before raising his voice. "So? How was training?"

"Good," Zoro grunted. "I was at the gym again this morning before I came over."

"Do you do anything besides train?" Sanji rolled his eyes, bringing his hands up so that he could knead lightly at Ace's shoulders. "I mean, honestly, Zoro, have you even had sex?"

"That's none of your business," the green-haired man all but snapped, a strange and not-entirely sane look in his eyes. "And I'd rather be a virgin than a slut."

Sanji visibly flinched as Ace firmly embraced him, and he let his nose drop into the dark-haired man's soft hair and closed his eyes.

"Hey, I didn't…" Zoro looked rather chagrined and held up a hand, knowing instantly that he'd gone too far. "Sanji, I…"

"It's fine," Sanji muttered into Ace's hair. "Don't…don't worry about it."

"Sanji, I really…"

"It's okay," Sanji heaved a shaky breath. "I just…Ace?"

"Yeah." Ace picked him up and carried him into the bedroom, and they had barely closed the door before they could clearly hear Nami shrieking loud enough to wake the dead.

"Hey, Sanji, it's okay," Ace set him on the bed and rubbed his back, letting the blonde lean against him. "It doesn't matter, babe. He's always been like that; you can't take it personally. He just speaks before he thinks. And after all, how many times have I been called a slut?"

"It's different," Sanji automatically replied, and while he wasn't crying, his voice was scratchy and hoarse. "You say it because it's a joke to you. But he wasn't joking. Ever since last week, when I slept with that girl, he's been looking at me like I'm some sort of monster. Not outwardly, but I'll catch these times when he just looks…like he thinks I'm scum. Not that I wasn't already scum in his eyes, but…"

"Sanji, anyone with eyes can tell that he likes you," Ace told him truthfully. "And you have to admit…"

"Oh, not you, too!"

"Sanji," Ace held him steady. "Look at me." The blonde cook did, and Ace sighed and gazed deep into his bright blue eyes. "I know who you are. I know you're incredibly talented; you've got a wonderful sense of humor; you're the kindest, most courteous man no matter what any woman is saying to you; you've got an amazingly shrewd mind; you're going to be the best chef in the world…and you're hot. There is nothing for you to be ashamed of. You're a little confused, but that's okay, and you're just getting used to being around people that don't look at you like you're some sort of museum exhibit. I know that your sexual exploits are grossly overrated, because two years ago basically all of the rumors about you taking home a different girl every week were because you were seeing me and just didn't want to tell anyone," he finished, reaching to cup the younger man's face and giving him a smile. "And if Zoro can't see those things about you, or just doesn't want to, then he's the one who's missing out."

"Ace…" Sanjiwasn't crying, but the dry sob that caught in his throat was an indication that he was awfully close. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"You got lucky," Ace replied with his normal cocky grin, and Sanji barked a pained laugh before throwing his arms around the freckled man and holding him as tight as he could. "You going to be okay?" he finally asked when the younger man had stopped shaking.

"Yeah. I'll live. Thanks again, Ace," Sanji gave him a genuine smile, eyes still tear-bright and vivid. He moved closer, looking almost unsure until Ace closed the distance between them swiftly and Sanji tangled his fingers in Ace's shaggy hair, opening his mouth and deepening the kiss as he closed his eyes.

Ace broke the kiss after a few moments, pulling back and giving Sanji an encouraging smile before climbing off of the bed. "Shall we?"

"Wait."

Ace paused and gave him a questioning glance as Sanji took a deep breath. "Now that we're alone, I want you to tell me the truth. Ace, do you really love me?"

"That's a hard question to answer," Ace looked surprisingly thoughtful. "The best response to that is 'yes,' I guess. I mean, you're the first person I've ever been with that I knew would still want to keep being with me after one night. And you're the first person I've ever met where I knew without a doubt that even if the two of us never worked as a couple, we'd still be close friends. I mean, maybe it isn't love, but it's the best I've got right now."

"So why…Ace, you know that the last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you, and…"

"Look, babe, what I said to Nami and that idiot brother of mine is true. Zoro's good for you. You're young; you're still experimenting. Heck, you don't even know which way you swing yet. So get out there and try it," Ace prompted him. "I never had high hopes for us; not after the first night, when we swore up and down that we'd never become an 'us.' I know that there's someone out there for me, and I have a feeling that Zoro's going to be the one for you, but…I'll always be here if you need me, so don't be afraid of that, alright?"

"Like anything that moss-headed mutation says can keep me away from you," Sanji snorted, but his face fell into an easy smile. "Thank you."

"Anytime. You coming?"

"Yeah." Ace opened the door and took Sanji's hand, lacing their fingers together as they walked back into the kitchen, where Nami's screeching still hadn't abated. "And let me tell you, Zoro Roronoa, that that man is…" she paused as she saw them and settled for crossing her arms, glaring at the swordsman with as much ferocity as she could muster.

"Hey, should we go?" Sanji shuffled his feet and glanced at Zoro, who looked surprised that he wasn't joining in with Nami's yelling.

"Yeah," Zoro cleared his throat awkwardly. "Let's."

"Okay. I'll see you all tomorrow," Sanji waved at Nami and Luffy and Ace gave his shoulder a quick squeeze before they walked out the door.

000

The ride back to their apartment was quiet, and Zoro barely looked at the man sitting beside him until they had entered the building and were back in their suite. Once Sanji had trotted into the kitchen and began an inventory of the cupboards, Zoro sat at the table and cleared his throat again. "Sanji, I…"

"I told you, don't worry about it," Sanji turned around and lit a cigarette, leaning against the counter. "Ace calmed me down."

"So you did sleep with him."

"Yeah. So?" Sanji pursed his lips around the cigarette. "Maybe if you got laid once in a while your horrible mood would disappear."

"I don't need sex to make my life worthwhile," Zoro countered, the previous argument flaring up again. "Of course, you wouldn't know about celibacy, would you? How many people did you sleep with in Japan?"

"For your information…" Sanji paused. "One."

"One? Your girlfriend?"

"No. Some chick I met at a club one night," Sanji responded. "I think I was so happy to see someone else with blonde hair that my mind wasn't processing things clearly. And it was my first time with a girl, besides."

"So, you've slept with three people in your lifetime."

"That's right."

"Two were one-night stands."

"Yes."

"And the other was a man."

"Good. I'm glad we've cleared this up," Sanji snorted and finally moved to the table with a cup of tea, sitting down and drinking. "Want anything?"

"Nah."

"Good," Sanji swung his feet up and placed them in Zoro's lap under the table as the green-haired man blushed slightly. "Hey. It's okay. Really," he promised. "I'm sure people have called me worse. I know for a fact they've called Ace worse."

"But all those rumors…"

"Think about it for a second," Sanji shrugged. "What did the worst of them say? Both of us were notorious for slipping off without giving any warning for about a year. So, the logical explanation was that we were both screwing random people every second night. But…"

"You were with each other," Zoro grunted. "So the rumors were false."

"Exactly."

They were silent after that as Sanji sipped his tea and Zoro shifted uncomfortably form time-to-time. "Well, I need to go buy some groceries," Sanji stood and stretched. "Coming?"

"Ah…sure," Zoro nodded. "You…you have anything planned for tonight?"

"Like what?"

"I thought maybe we could go catch a movie or something," Zoro shrugged.

"Yeah? Why not, I guess. Sounds good," Sanji nodded, grabbing a piece of paper and scrawling down a few items.

"Yeah. Good," Zoro agreed as they left, and Sanji shook his head and followed the other man with a resigned sigh.

Notes:

1. Still working on this story as time permits, but with last week being tech week and this week being opening, there's not much time for a busy sound designer to get fanfics done (not to mention now I have to think about my REAL schoolwork…and job training starts tomorrow…)

2. This is pretty much the last of the AcexSanji stuff, so you can all look forward to the beginnings of ZoSan from here on out.

3. After writing a couple more chapters, I've decided to make the 'random girl' from Japan somebody that we know. And because I need something to work on while the plot bunnies for this story grow, I'm willing to accept guesses as to who it is (it's not that hard, really, if you've read my other stuff you'll know what other characters I'm partial to…) and reward the first correct one with a drabble-fic request, if you so desire. Lemme know, okay?

That's about it. Thanks for your continued reviews, and I hope you all enjoyed!