Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Chapter Twenty

What it takes, I don't care

We're gonna make it, I swear

And we could help each other off the ground

So we never fall down again

-Faber Drive, "Tongue-Tied"

xxx

Sanji eventually had to leave, the strange tension in the room weighing on him to the point that he thought having all of them dogpile on him might have been a better alternative. He excused himself to the large washroom and stood leaning over the counter, shaking his head until there was a knock on the door. "Yeah?"

It opened and Ace slipped in, latching the door behind him and coming to join Sanji at the vanity. "I…uh…"

"Zoro told me. What you said," Sanji clarified.

"Oh. That's…okay," Ace nodded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"

"Look, I understand. You were worried and you let your emotions get the better of you," Sanji shook his head and dug a pair of square, black-rimmed glasses out of his shirt pocket to slip on. "It's no big deal, Ace. He forgives you."

"I know," Ace sighed.

"Look, if I go back out there, you guys have gotta promise to stop acting like I'm gonna yell at you or something. I know Zoro told you not to make a big deal of it, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't act like yourselves," Sanji looked at Ace and grinned. "Got it?"

"Yeah," Ace allowed a smile to slip onto his face.

"Good. Let's get back out there, then," Sanji put a hand on Ace's shoulder before letting the dark-haired man draw him into a fierce hug. "Oi; oi, don't get all sentimental on me here."

"I really was worried, Sanji. I didn't know…and then even after Zoro told us about Gin, I…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…Zoro told you about Gin?" Sanji's voice got markedly louder. "Well, who else knows? Does everyone know?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about it, though, nobody's gonna go blabbing around that you're friends with a man like that. And it isn't a big deal," Ace patted his back soothingly. "Calm down, babe."

"Alright," Sanji breathed out slowly. "Okay. I just want people to stop being weird around me."

"Then you need to tell Zoro not to threaten them about it," Ace chuckled.

"I should have known. I thought he was doing me a favour," Sanji rolled his eyes. "Remind me never to trust him with serious things ever again."

"How's Kaku?" Ace asked after a minute.

"He'll live," Sanji said firmly as he unlocked the door and they headed out of the washroom, only to run into Nami coming from the opposite direction.

"Sanji-kun! I was just looking for you," she put a gentle hand on his shoulder as he embraced her. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"Perfectly fine, my dear," he smiled winningly at her as Ace brushed by them, managing to catch Sanji's hand and give it a slight squeeze on the way by.

"Do you want to go back in? We don't have to," she assured him.

"It's fine. I left because everything was just feeling a little awkward," Sanji laughed.

"I'll knock some sense into those boneheads, don't worry," she smiled at him. "Come on, then."

He held out his arm congenially and Nami slid hers through it as they re-entered the parlour. Luckily, in the interim, Terracotta had arrived with the appetizers, and the presence of food seemed to break any lingering tension.

"Saaannnjiii!" Luffy zoomed over, but even his voice was less exuberant than normal. "Sanji; Sanji; Sanji! Lookit, lookit, lookit! This is…ah…this is…"

"Fig and goat cheese," Usopp came over, looking tired, and Sanji immediately pulled the younger man into his arms. "Sanji, I…even after Kaya told me, I…"

"Oi, Usopp, get a hold of yourself," Sanji patted him on the back. "It's fine; everything's fine."

"But it isn't, Sanji. And it…it's not over yet," Usopp pulled back to look at him and Sanji pulled him close again.

"We'll beat this, Usopp. I have all of you."

"But it almost…almost…"

"Usopp."

They turned at the name, and Sanji curbed his anxiety at the look in Lucci's eyes. Kaku was standing, one hand clutching at his chest and the other braced on the back of the sofa as he spoke. "This is certainly not the time to be losing face. We…we're coming to the end of this case, for better or worse. As soon as Krieg moves…it will end. Whether we win or lose against him depends entirely on all of you. Sanji needs to know that when push comes to shove you will be there for him. And I am not merely speaking of protecting him with your lives, although I don't doubt," his eyes flickered to Zoro and Ace, "that there are some who would. But if the time comes and you are given orders, you must be counted on to carry them through. I do it because it's my job. You've shown me that you…all of you…are doing it because you care about him. And I…" he took a breath as a spasm of pain crossed his face. "I'm beginning to think that perhaps, if it had been a person that I truly had no feelings for one way or the other…perhaps I wouldn't have blocked that tonfa ball.

"I don't doubt that any of you have courage. I don't doubt that any of you would do anything you possibly could to keep him safe. So please, for his sake, don't prove me wrong."

He lowered himself back down to the couch, face pale by this time, but he had a determined set to his eyes that echoed the sincerity in his words.

"You're a fool, boy," Lucci muttered.

"Believe me, I know."

"Sanji?"

Sanji glanced down at Usopp, who looked far more sure of himself than the blonde had ever seen. "Yeah?"

"I won't let you down. I promise I won't let you down."

"I know you won't, Usopp," Sanji gave him a quick squeeze before letting him go. "So, Luffy, fig and goat cheese, eh?"

"Ah…oh, yeah! They're really, really good! Come try one," he tugged Sanji over to the buffet as the cook procured a plate and began to select some snacks. Managing to fend Luffy off long enough to grab a few things, he made his way over to the couch.

"Quite the inspiring speech there," he commented, and Kaku chuckled in response. "No seriously, have you ever considered a career change?"

"I'd be bored out of my mind," the older man replied, leaning against Sanji as the cook motioned him over. "I did good, then?"

"You convinced Usopp. And believe me, that takes some serious work."

"He's a good kid. They're all good kids," Kaku closed his eyes. "You're lucky to have such wonderful friends, Sanji."

"Yeah, well, they're your friends too, you know," Sanji rubbed his arm. "And don't give me any of that drivel about you not having any friends, idiot. They were all worried about you."

"Good to know."

"You don't sound convinced."

"I'm tired. That…took more out of me than I thought it would," was the murmured reply.

"Get some rest, then," Sanji suggested as Kaku mumbled something that could have been an affirmative before his breathing began to even out.

"Here," Lucci moved closer and tugged the younger man to him so Sanji could stand up.

"Thanks," Sanji nodded before reclaiming his (miraculously uneaten) plate of food and moving into the room.

Everyone seemed to have broken off into their respective groups and was quietly conversing, which he took to be a good sign, but…

"Hey, Ace?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't happen to know where Zoro went, do you?" he stuck a cigarette in his mouth but didn't light it, unwilling to do so in a house as richly furnished as Vivi's.

"I'd check the balcony."

"The top one?"

"Yeah," Ace nodded. "He was there all night when we were waiting for news of you."

"Okay. Thanks," Sanji waved and dashed through the mansion, taking the stairs two at a time as he finally burst out onto the lovely rooftop garden. It was almost…magical…at night. The multiple solar-lights that rimmed the flowerbeds had lit up, washing the area in a ethereal soft bluish-white light, and sure enough, Zoro was sitting on a bench beside a burbling fountain shaped like a statue of Isis, trailing one hand lazily through the water as he glanced at the night sky.

Sanji approached him quietly, shivering in the cool air, and sat down beside the swordsman. "Hey."

Zoro glanced at him before turning away, staring hard at the ripples his hand made in the water. "Hey."

"What's the matter, Marimo?"

Zoro shook his head, continuing to glare at the water like it fascinated him, and Sanji slid a little closer, unwilling to get angry in the soothing, mystical light from the garden ornaments. Wrapping his arms around Zoro's neck, he knelt behind him on the bench and tongued the other man's earrings as Zoro shuddered. "Unless you answer me I'm just going to keep distracting you."

When Zoro still didn't respond, Sanji huffed and swung his shoulder around, straddling Zoro's legs before sliding between them, fingers inching down the swordsman's tight t-shirt, rubbing around his pectorals as the younger man's body involuntarily responded, nipples hardening due to both the touch and the cold night air. He lowered his head and sucked at the visible bump through the shirt, dragging his teeth over it as Zoro let out a tiny groan at the friction. Sanji's hands moved to the button on Zoro's jeans, but Zoro caught his wrists with a growl. "Quit it."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong, Zoro-kun," he retorted, trying to wriggle his wrists free, at least until Zoro bodily shoved him, causing him to land on the hard concrete with a jolt.

"Leave me alone, cook."

Sanji bit his lip and stood, rubbing his tailbone absently before he staunchly walked forward, seating himself on Zoro's lap one more and locking his legs around the other man's. "No."

"Sanji," Zoro's voice was low; warning, but Sanji ignored him, wrapping his arms around Zoro's torso and dropping his chin over the other man's shoulder. "Sanji, get off of me."

"I said 'no,' and I meant it," Sanji shifted his hips forward, clinging to Zoro and swearing to himself that the other man was not going to push him off again. "Just tell me."

"I'm worried."

"Oh, don't give me that drivel. I just went through that with Usopp; I'm not dealing with you, too…"

"Not about that, idiot," Zoro attempted to pull free again, using his considerable upper body strength to turn sideways, hands coming to push against Sanji's chest as he dislodged him.

Sanji managed to hold on with his legs for a moment longer before realizing belatedly that he was horribly off balance, and with a rather ungainly squawk he fell nearly sideways straight into the fountain.

"C-cold!" he gasped as the near-freezing water seeped through his thin clothes, shudders wracking his body as he scrambled out of the basin, the right half of his body completely soaked as water dripped from the tips of his golden hair.

"Oi…" Zoro looked pained as he dropped down beside the blonde.

"Don't touch me!" Sanji raised a hand but Zoro caught his wrist and pulled him close, his natural warmth doing wonders to ease the chill. And Sanji really, really meant to pull away, but…he was warm. Wet, but still warm, and he gave into the inevitable and let himself curl close to Zoro.

"Sanji…Sanji, I'm sorry, I…"

"D-d-don't worry about it," Sanji shook his head. "J-j-just…keep me warm."

"I…"

"And tell me what's going on."

"I told you, I'm worried."

"Yeah," Sanji shuddered bodily, "And I've told you that that won't cut it, so spill."

"I'm worried that…I'm…" Zoro huffed in annoyance. "I'm worried that you're compromising my dream."

"You're…you're what?!"

"Mihawk. Mihawk is in that room and I don't want to fight him. Because right now I'm more concerned about your well-being than about being the greatest swordsman. I made a promise, cook, and I can't let you get in the way of that.

"I won't let you get in the way of that," he amended, eyes dark and stony.

Sanji gaped at him, probably looking rather like a fish, but he couldn't believe the words coming out of the swordsman's mouth. "So. I'm less important than a dead girl, am I?" he chuckled ruefully. "I should have known. All the signs pointed to you never being able to handle a relationship, and I guess I should have paid more attention to them. Fine. Okay," he attempted to pull away, but this time it was Zoro who wouldn't let go. "Look, Zoro, I get it. Go fight Mihawk, if that's what you want. When this whole thing is over I'll move back to the Baratie or something…I mean, we'll still probably see each other…we're friends with the same people, after all, but we basically ignored each other before and we can go back to that," his shivering was abating, even though Zoro's arms had suddenly become irrationally cold. "I mean, after all, it's not like we were anything to…"

"I love you."

And Sanji blinked, mouth hanging open once more as he turned to slowly look at Zoro. "You what?"

"I…I love you," Zoro stared at him. "It's…I've never felt this way about anyone else. I never thought anyone could pull me away from my dream. I was too young to love Kuina, but I don't doubt that eventually it could have turned into that. And that was the closest I've ever come to feeling anything close to what I've always imagined love to be. But this…this is something else. And it scares me, Sanji, because I can't…"

"Bakayarou," Sanji muttered under his breath. "Look, Marimo, if you think for one second that I'm ever going to insist you give up on your dream because of me, you have less brain cells than I thought. I know how important Kuina was to you, and how important the promise you made to her is. I'll never come between you and that, you should know that by now."

"You…"

"I give love away too easily and too freely for me saying it to mean something, Zoro, but…" he shrugged. "For what it's worth, I don't want to lose you. I've never worked so hard for a relationship…usually I'm the one being courted, and this time I had to do all of the work," he chuckled. "If I'm willing to put that much energy into it, it has to mean something to me. And it does. You do."

"So you're…you're not…"

"I'm not angry. I knew there would be complications…it was inevitable, us being who we were, but that doesn't mean…" he sighed and curled even closer to Zoro, closing his eyes. "We can work through this, right?"

"Like I said, it scares me, Sanji, knowing how much you've come to mean to me. I know that you won't let me compromise my dream, but what if I do it myself because you become more important? I'm afraid of losing you, but…I'm more afraid of breaking my promise," Zoro finally admitted.

"Well, I just won't let you do that, then," Sanji lowered his voice and hooked an arm around Zoro's neck. "Believe me, Marimo, as long as I'm around I'll make sure you remember."

"That's a big promise, you know."

"Yeah, well, sometimes you have to make big promises," Sanji replied with a shrug, reaching to kiss Zoro as the green-haired man finally obliged him. He pulled back after a few seconds. "Want to go back inside? I'm still wet."

"Yeah. Sorry about that," Zoro laughed nervously. "I didn't…"

"I know. It's fine," Sanji attempted to stand but Zoro moved with him, scooping him up and proceeding to carry him toward the doors. "Oi, I'm wet, not an invalid."

"Shut up. I'm apologizing."

"By manhandling me? Yeah, that normally goes over really well…"

"I told you to shut up, cook," Zoro shoved the door open and made his way down the hall to the room he had stayed in the first night. Vivi had told him that if they ever needed to get away from the gym her house was always open, and he shoved the door open to find that sometime in the last day somebody had gone through the trouble of grabbing whatever clothes he hadn't and bringing them over from the apartment. "Here. Change."

"Thank goodness," Sanji unbuttoned his wet shirt and slid it off, shaking his head to remove any lingering drops of water from his fringe while Zoro grabbed a towel from the adjacent washroom and handed it to him. "Aw, man, even my underwear's wet," he growled as he took off his pants, balling them up and flinging them at Zoro while the younger man caught them easily and tossed them into a nearby hamper. "And that water was cold, by the way," he added, sliding his wet boxers off and beginning to root through the suitcase for something else to wear. "And you'd better not be staring, idiot."

"The thought didn't even cross my mind," Zoro began to whistle rather innocently, and Sanji rolled his eyes before picking out some new clothes and tossing them on the bed. Although…Zoro was doing better than he would have been: he was turned the other way.

Walking silently across the carpet, Sanji slid his arms around the taller man's waist and let himself lean against Zoro, kissing the back of his neck as Zoro finally turned. "So. We chalking that up as our first official fight as a couple?" Sanji asked, only half-serious, and Zoro chuckled and held him close.

"I'm sorry for doubting you, cook. I know you're strong, and I should have known you'd never let yourself interfere with my goal," Zoro murmured into the blonde's hair, and Sanji felt a smile creep onto his face.

"Well, you should be. But I think I can forgive you," he drew back before making his way over to the bed and getting dressed, buttoning up his slim-fitting shirt and glancing in the mirror in order to adjust his hair. "There. I think I look respectable again," he nodded, whipping his glasses off and cleaning the lenses on the towel before sliding them on once more.

"I think you do too, cook," Zoro put in from the door. "Now, should we get back downstairs? The others are probably waiting."

"Yeah," Sanji held out his hand on the way by and Zoro took it as they made their way back downstairs into the parlour.

"It's rude to leave a party held for yourself, you realize."

Sanji glanced up before shaking his head. "Long story, Kalifa."

"Love problems, then?" she arched an elegant eyebrow.

"None of your business," Zoro grumbled.

"Love problems," she nodded firmly.

"Why are you guarding the doors?"

"Why shouldn't I be guarding the doors?" she shrugged. "Jyabura's here as well, but he's generally unreliable."

"Who says I'm unreliable, woman?" Jyabura stalked down the hallway, looking unhappy. "I just don't see why Lucci and his little boy-toy get to be all comfy and eating good food in there while we're stuck in the dark hallway."

"You're a rather inconsiderate brute, you do realize that," Kalifa looked unimpressed. "We can't very well expect Lucci to be out here. He's worried."

"Huh, like I believe that. The man has a heat of stone," the older man rolled his eyes.

"I don't really believe that to be the case," Kalifa sounded thoughtful. "I believe that he actually loves the boy."

"Right. Rob Lucci is capable of love," Jyabura sighed dramatically and leant against the doorframe. "I forgot."

"Don't discount the possibility," Kalifa scolded him. "But go in, boys. You don't need to listen to us snap at each other all night."

"What right do you have to give orders, woman…"

"Sexual harassment," she sing-songed, and he responded by growling under his breath as they re-entered.

"Finally! We thought you'd gotten lost!" Luffy hopped over.

"Oi, that's Marimo's thing, not mine," Sanji muttered.

"Anyway, there's more food now, and DESSERTS, and it's AWESOME, and COME HAVE SOME," Luffy tugged at Sanji's wrist again and led him farther into the room.

"Alright; alright!" Sanji wrenched his wrist out of Luffy's grip and wandered over to the newly-furnished dessert table as he cut a slice of some sort of chocolate-buttercream cake. "Zoro? Want anything?"

"Nah, I don't really like sweet things," Zoro shrugged.

"Suit yourself," Sanji shrugged. "But come on, we may as well enjoy ourselves. We might not get another chance for a while."

"Yeah," Zoro nodded and followed the blonde farther into the room.

000

"You have a decent amount of privacy here, don't you?"

Sanji turned from the balcony, a lit cigarette in his mouth as he shook his head. After it seemed like the party was set to go far into the wee hours of the morning, he had relocated to the private balcony outside the room that had been given to him and Zoro. "What are you doing here, boy? You shouldn't be walking," Sanji's voice was soft, almost contemplative, and he sighed before glancing at the starry sky again.

"You're thinking too hard about something," came the reply, as Kaku hobbled over to the railing. "I feel like an elderly gentleman with this cane. It's hardly flattering."

"You do alright," Sanji shrugged. "But like I said, you shouldn't be walking."

"Yes, Rob's said that as well."

"You should listen to him."

"When have I ever listened to him?" Kaku chuckled and leaned against the rail as Sanji slid an arm around his back for support.

"How did you make it all the way out here, anyway? You could barely stand in the parlour," Sanji wondered aloud.

"I had help," he replied simply, before noting the strange detachment on the cook's face. "Something's troubling you, young one. Tell me?"

"Zoro."

"Inevitably, I suppose. What has he…"

"He told me that he loves me," Sanji said quietly.

"Well." Kaku blinked thoughtfully before leaning his head on Sanji's shoulder. "What are you going to do about it? Forget that," he waved a hand dismissively. "More importantly, did you accept it? Return it?"

"Yes and yes," Sanji nodded. "But to hear him say it…he's an idiot. Dropped me in the fountain."

"He did what?"

"Yeah, went on and on about how I'm compromising his dream and he can't get too involved with me. Utter BS."

"Not to him. That white sword…"

"Yeah, it all comes back to it," Sanji agreed. "But I think I've talked him around."

"Well, congratulations, then," Kaku glanced over, somewhat bemused to note that Sanji was able to smoke without ever removing the cigarette from his mouth.

"You smoke?"

"Right. Me," Kaku rolled his eyes.

"Just wondering. Most non-smokers couldn't stand to be this close when I light up."

"I live with a man and a pigeon, Sanji. That bird stinks. Especially when it gets wet," Kaku noted wryly.

"Point taken, my friend," Sanji stubbed his cigarette out in a waiting ash tray (Vivi-chan was so thoughtful!) and heaved a sigh, his breath coming out in a puff in the cool night air. There was a slight rustling behind them and he half-turned before a smooth voice intoned:

"What's this I hear about young Mr. Roronoa?"

"Dracule," Kaku glanced over his shoulder. "What brings you out here?"

"The party is getting a tad too rowdy for my tastes. Your lover and that orange-haired girl are involved in a drinking contest, Mr. Blackleg, and unfortunately Shanks tends to get unnaturally boisterous once he begins to consume alcohol," Mihawk said dryly.

"Ah, Nami-san. She'll win," Sanji sighed.

"But tell me, is it true? That Mr. Roronoa believes you will compromise his dream?" Mihawk's eyes flashed in the darkness.

"Yeah. He thinks so, anyway," Sanji shrugged. "Like I said, I think I've talked him out of it…"

"I'm disappointed," Mihawk narrowed his eyes. "I thought better of him, because if you wish to know the truth, at the moment I would not fight him even if he came to challenge me. Not only because he could not yet beat me, but also because he should not be concerned about a mere title when there are lives in danger."

"It's no big deal," Sanji shrugged. "I've noticed it before…when he's worried, he just gets angry and a little desperate. The things that are bugging him come out even when they shouldn't."

"Still…" Mihawk shook his head. "I can tell you this, Sanji: Zoro will never beat me until he quits fighting for whomever that sword of his belonged to and starts fighting for himself. You cannot achieve a dream for somebody else if you do not share the dream yourself," he said cryptically. "And just because I prefer a solitary existence does not mean the greatest swordsman in the world cannot have a lover. In fact, in his case, it may be healthy."

"You're not actually saying you want Zoro to beat you, are you?" Kaku blinked.

"Of course not. Why would I so willingly give up my title? No, the boy has so much potential that I just do not want to see him waste it; it's truly as simple as that. He has a long time to wait before he's ready for me. And I'm still in my prime," Mihawk smiled.

"I think he's getting it," Sanji sighed and exhaled a puff of smoke. "He's starting to let go of her and live for himself, but it'll take him a while…"

"Just make sure he doesn't bite off more than he can chew," Mihawk warned. "I have a feeling that he might believe he's a little bit better than he is. Can he beat you?" he turned to Kaku, who shrugged and shook his head.

"To be honest, we've never had an all-out fight. It's always been training, and I have an advantage just because I can use my legs. And now we probably won't ever know," he looked a little disappointed.

"What did Chopper and Kaya say? They've kind of avoided telling me," Sanji phrased the question almost hesitantly as Kaku tilted his head to look at him.

"They haven't told me, either. I think they're worried about scaring me," he chuckled. "They shouldn't be. As for what I know…well, what do you expect when you've taken a large metal ball to the chest? Broken ribs, certainly…can't tell how many, but a good number…probably some haemorrhaging, if I had to guess, but other than that I suppose I'm lucky nothing pierced a lung or anything else."

"How can you be so casual about it?" Sanji made a face.

"As I've explained, we're trained to not overreact in situations. Panic only aggravates injuries, increasing the heart rate and consequently the blood flow," he said, eyes slipping closed.

"Oi, get some sleep," Sanji held him up. "Should I take you back down?"

"I suppose," Kaku half-opened his eyes.

"I guess I will head back down as well. I'm sure at least somebody down there isn't completely wasted," Mihawk looked haughtily unimpressed, and Sanji rolled his eyes as he carefully scooped Kaku into his arms and headed back in.

Notes:

1. This chapter was written mostly in fits and starts, but I'm generally happy with it (there's angst, but that's inevitable in my fics, I fear…).

2. I have new inspiration for this fic!!! I won't give anything away, but I'll just say that part of the idea came from watching an episode of Cold Case. I've only watched one episode of Cold Case in my life, and only because of one of the guest actors ;P And no, I'm not saying which episode or which actor. It would spoil it.

3. I went to the zoo yesterday, and I'm continually amused that the exhibit with the greatest number of guests (mostly small school-age children) was the giraffe exhibit. But their giraffes are hilarious, and since giraffes have been my favorite animal since I was about three (honestly, every single time we go to the zoo I have to photograph them ;)) I love going to that exhibit as well! This was especially funny because of Kaku's statement in One Piece where he talks about all little children going to the zoo for the giraffes. It's true, you know, it really is xP

4. …Any comments on the One Piece bombshell that Oda dropped this week? I can't say I'm especially surprised, other than that if it's the case…does that mean Ace/Luffy isn't incest anymore??...weird…

5. I think that's it. Hope everyone enjoyed!!! And drop me a review!!!