Title: From Here On Out
Author: AoiTsukikage
Rating: R-ish
Characters/Pairing: ZoSan, other secondary pairings
Chapters: 7/?
Word Count: 4049
Summary: Sequel to 'This Is Your Life.' Sanji had thought that balancing real life and working to take down a new crime boss would be easier the second time around. He was wrong. Modern!AU, ZoSan primarily, other secondary pairings.

Chapter Seven

Sanji wasn't exactly sure how he ended up inside the house, wrapped in a blanket and with a mug of…he sniffed at it…some sort of strong-scented tea in his hands, but it was probably good he was. All he could remember was pulling up to the place, a rather quaint little home with a well-tended front garden and looking absolutely nothing like what a man who looked like Law did would own, but he was thanking every god and lucky star he could think of that Law was actually home and could help.

Maybe.

Fuck, he was an idiot.

"Don't beat yourself up."

Sanji looked up as Law came into the room, obviously fresh out of the shower (and Sanji didn't want to think about why he had to shower even though the answer was obvious) and he rubbed a towel over his short hair before tossing it aside and moving closer to Sanji.

"I just…I didn't think…"

"None of us could have anticipated that, not even Mr. Hawkins. It was probably the foulest luck in the world," he settled his hands on his hips and Sanji noticed for the first time that he was shirtless, and his eyes roved over the other man's bare chest without really meaning to, taking in the stylized heart tattoo that covered most of his upper torso and the swirling hearts over both shoulders. It might have looked strange on somebody else, he thought, but it suited Law.

"Um," Sanji cleared his throat and sipped at his tea, wincing at the harsh taste. "H-how is he?"

"He'll live, if that's what you're worried about. His back's a mess, and it's going to be extremely painful while the burns heal, but his life's not in any danger at this point. It's probably good you brought him here as fast as you did, though," he added and Sanji let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding, downing about half the tea in one go despite the bitter flavor.

"Ugh."

"Sorry. Couldn't risk you going into shock so I brewed up something that would relax you, even if it doesn't taste that nice," Law almost smiled and Sanji set the cup aside and stood up, legs quivering a little even as he took two or three steps forward and threw his arms around the taller man. "Hey," Law seemed at a loss for a moment or two before he pulled Sanji closer, fingers combing through his tousled hair while Sanji shuddered against him, too overwhelmed to even cry.

"Thank you. I just…thank you. So much."

"You don't have to thank me. I know well enough that sometimes people can't be saved, but if they can, I feel obligated to help. And besides, I quite like Mr. Portgas, if my natural inclinations weren't enough motivation," he added, sensing that it was taking a lot of effort for Sanji to even be upright as he tugged them both over to a bench running along the window, seating himself and letting Sanji scramble as close as he wanted. "He'll be okay, Sanji."

And yeah, Sanji knew by now that when Law used his actual name, he wasn't bullshitting. It was comforting, in a way.

"I guess I owe you some thanks as well."

Sanji looked up, fingers curled in the edge of the blanket as Marco paced into the room and sat on the edge of the bed, looking far more worn and older than Sanji had ever seen him before.

"How is he?" Law asked and Marco shrugged, scrubbing a hand through his hair.

"Sleeping. He…well, he was pretty much out of it even when he was awake, but…"

"Good. He'll need to rest, and what I gave him should knock him out until at least morning," there was an undercurrent of something like relief in Law's voice, even though Sanji was sure he was probably imagining it.

"Well, like I said, I appreciate you helping like this."

"I didn't do it to earn any sort of points with you, you realize," Law's voice was cold and expressionless now, and Sanji still couldn't quite figure out the distrust that seemed to naturally exist between these two men, but he was getting tired of it.

"Guys, can you just…get along? For one night?" he asked, and Law sighed but didn't say anything in response.

"I do trust you," Marco said slowly, but the way his eyes narrowed told a different story. "I just have…questions."

"As do I," Law responded. "So maybe if we ask each other those questions it might satisfy us for the moment?"

"Fine. You go first," Marco crossed his arms as Law dug a cigarette and lighter out of the pocket of his jeans and passed them to Sanji. The blond hadn't even realized that he'd gone far longer than normal without smoking and right now anything that would relax him was welcome, so he lit it and inhaled gratefully, watching the two men in front of him.

"What was the real reason you came out here? I'm sure Mr. Portgas was a nice bonus, but a man of your ranking wouldn't take a pleasure trip across the country for a month or two without there being a deeper purpose," he sounded sure of himself and Sanji looked to Marco, who nodded.

"No, you're right. Obviously I care about Ace and I wanted to spend more time with him, but Blackbeard is the real reason I'm here. He used to be part of Pops' bunch, and then he…he got greedy, he went too far, he ended up killing one of my brothers," there was a dark tone to his voice that Sanji had never heard and God, most of his friends were scary people when it came down to it. "I wanted revenge for him, of course, and while I won't interfere with the Navy, when I'd heard he was spotted around Vancouver…I needed to see for myself."

"Well," Law looked down at Sanji and squeezed his shoulder, and the other man shifted so that he was leaning against him a little less, fingers idly tracing the swirls of the tattoo on Law's upper arm without even realizing it. "It seems like we have a bit more in common than I'd thought. But I digress. Ask me your question," he tilted his head and smirked, and Marco regarded him impassively.

"Why did you sell Doflamingo out to CP9?"

Law outright laughed at that one, a sharp sound that had Sanji flinching before he remembered himself, and the dark-haired man sighed and pulled him closer again.

"Well played, my friend. Suffice to say that, while I was in line to become one of his top four men, he did…something I couldn't forgive him for. I was loyal to him, but that shattered all the trust I had in him. And I didn't want to work for a man who based his principles on that sort of justice, so I did the only thing I felt was right and cut ties with him, disappearing out here and hiding in the underground, and when CP9 all but dropped into my lap I thought it wouldn't hurt to give them some…information on his hiding spots. Everything else they did by themselves," he waved his hand vaguely. "I've no doubt he'll kill me on sight if we ever cross paths again, but at the time it was what I needed to do and I don't regret it. Maybe it was vindictive, but you know what they say about payback," he flexed his fingers on Sanji's shoulder and Sanji wondered if he should be reacting more than he was, because that was some pretty heavy information although, in the long run, it made sense.

"I can accept that," Marco decided, and Sanji could feel the tension seep out of the air with those words. "And, if I'm being honest, Ace was a bigger reason than I'd like to admit about why I came here in the first place. Not just because…" he stopped and looked up, and Law shrugged.

"He knows. Guessed before I even told him," Sanji put in and Marco laughed and shook his head.

"I guess we weren't nearly as subtle as I'd hoped. Well, anyway, I do like him a lot and I know Sanji will make me pay for it if I hurt him…"

"Damn right I will."

"But I guess he…intrigues me, what with his lineage and all, how hard he's trying to hide from it," Marco said this completely neutrally but Sanji could feel Law stiffen beside him and he couldn't keep the shock off his own face. "Yes, I know who his father was. I met him."

"You met Roger?" Sanji was definitely interested now and Marco nodded.

"It was pretty soon after I'd fallen in with Pops, but that was back when he was still a big name in the underground and Roger showed up for a chat…I wasn't nearly highly ranked enough to listen in on it, but he was…he was a man, you know? He wasn't the demon the stories make him out to be, he wasn't evil, he was just…a man. And Ace doesn't know that I know because I'm convinced he thinks I'll look at him differently if I ever find out," he finished, looking a little uncertain, but Sanji was rather glad he'd admitted this because at least he knew for sure that he could trust Marco with Ace's heart, if nothing else.

Because Ace, for as flippant as he liked to behave, fell hard and fell quickly, and he needed somebody who would catch him when he did.

"Fascinating," Law sounded intrigued. "It's rather amazing what connections there are between all of us when you get right down to it, considering that most of us would never have met in the first place if not for…" he looked down at Sanji, who sighed.

"Is this why I'm kind of the go-to guy between you and CP9 and everybody else?"

"Well, you were the first one to ask to be involved in this mission, if I recall correctly," Law replied. "And yes, because of you being the intended target last time everybody on our side knows who you are and, it's safe to say, likes you a lot. So you're the obvious choice," he shrugged because there was really no disputing it and Sanji knew he just kind of had to…accept that.

"Your tattoos," Marco put in then, and Law looked over at him. "Doflamingo had commanders named after card suits, so you…"

"I was being groomed to take over the Heart seat, yes," Law smiled and Sanji went back to studying the intricate swirls on his skin. "Most of these I had done after the fact, a reminder of what I'd given up but also a sign that I didn't answer to anybody any longer. And I know it's probably hard to see, but…" he shifted away and Sanji let him, watching as he turned and revealed the rather large stylized smiley-face on his back.

Marco started laughing then and Sanji had no idea what that was about because this whole underground subculture meant little to him, but it seemed to be important.

"That's as blatant a 'fuck you' as I've ever seen," Marco grinned and Law sat back down, tugging Sanji over to him once more.

"Doflamingo had a crossed-out symbol like that as his signature," he explained and Sanji suddenly got it, because if there was any way to unapologetically flip the bird at somebody, it was mocking something they were known for.

Law, whatever else he might have been, was definitely not a coward.

"And you?" he asked then, Marco shrugging and undoing the buttons on his shirt to reveal what looked like a cross with a crescent moon over it on his chest. Sanji probably should have noticed it that first day at Ace's when he'd seen them…well…but he'd been rather understandably distracted.

"Is that Whitebeard's…"

"Yeah," Marco grinned. "Totally voluntary, I'll add. We're not in the market of branding people," he leaned back a little on the bed. "Speaking of tattoos, Sanji, what's up with Ace's? Did he have a tattoo artist who couldn't spell?"

"No," Sanji laughed, because it would probably look like that at first glance. "No, the 'S' is there for a reason. You'd have to ask him to get details, but it's for…a friend of his and Luffy's, he was lost at sea a long time ago so Ace got that in his memory," he explained, because that was about all he knew.

Ace, he'd learned, was really, really good at keeping secrets when he didn't want anybody to know about them. Probably largely for his own safety, but sometimes Sanji wished he'd be a little more open, at least around people he could trust.

He yawned widely then, the tea apparently starting to take effect in relaxing him, and Law brushed his hair back off his forehead gently. "Go to sleep, Mr. Blackleg. Phone your boyfriend first, because I'm sure he's worried sick about you, but then go to sleep. You can have my bed; I owe you after you gave up yours," he added and Sanji was too beat to even argue at that point.

Although shit, Law was right, Zoro was going to be either anxious or angry…probably both…and the sooner Sanji let him know what was going on, the better.

"I'll go back to make sure Ace is doing okay," Marco made to leave but Law stopped him with a tiny flick of his hand. "What?"

"He's welcome to stay here as long as he needs. I'm more than able to take a few days off of scouting since I trust Mr. Kid and my men to handle it…"

"Your men?" Sanji looked up, surprised, and Law nodded.

"You don't think the two of us could run an entire underground operation on our own, do you? I've got some other friends that help out, and I think I'm more needed here," he looked at Marco, who nodded in thanks. "And you're free to stay or visit whenever you want to, as well. I think he's going to be bored and wanting visitors soon," he had a tiny smile on his face and Sanji knew he was right.

Ace was, generally speaking, not really a patient man.

000

"Thought I smelled smoke."

"Shit!" Sanji flailed a little and nearly ended up falling off his chair, but he caught himself and righted it before it could topple over and bring him to the ground with it. "Fuck, don't do that!"

"Thinking deep thoughts?" Ace had a grin on his face but it was a pale imitation of his usual smile, and he pillowed his chin on his arms and turned his head toward Sanji. "How long have I been out?"

"Sixteen hours or so," Sanji figured it was about mid-afternoon but truth be told time wasn't at the forefront of his mind right then. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay. Sore. My back's gonna be a mess, isn't it?" he didn't look overtly put-out but Sanji nodded.

"Yeah. I mean, I think Law did what he could, but some of it…"

"It's my own fault," Ace sounded resigned and Sanji moved his chair a little closer, hand twitching because he wanted to reach out but, well… "I shouldn't have tried to see what was going on, I just…"

"It's not your fault. I had a warning and I forgot about it, so if anything…"

"You're not blaming yourself for it," Ace looked at him sternly and Sanji closed his mouth and nodded. "And you probably saved my life by bringing me here."

"You wanted that?" Sanji couldn't stop himself from asking and he couldn't stop his natural instincts anymore, but running his fingers through Ace's hair seemed to relax the other man.

"You used to touch me more," Ace deliberately changed the subject and Sanji wasn't sure how to feel about that, but he nodded. "Why'd you stop? I never minded."

"It just…felt strange. You're really touchy and Zoro just…isn't, and I guess it felt weird that we'd do this more than I ever would with my actual boyfriend," he didn't really have another answer, because he was one of those people that only let others he really trusted get close to him. But Zoro and him, for as in-sync as they were, casual intimacy wasn't a huge part of their relationship and that was just something Sanji had gotten used to. Not that Zoro couldn't when he wanted to, or when the situation called for it, but he wasn't really a cuddler by nature and Sanji understood that.

"Does he mind?" Ace asked and Sanji shook his head.

"Nah, he knows that I'm touchier than he is, but as long as I'm not, like, making out with other guys I don't think he cares," he leaned forward and Ace rolled his eyes. "What?"

"Then quit acting like I'm gonna break, already," he all but whined and Sanji sighed but complied, his hand more assured now. "And to answer your question, yes. I don't want to die," Ace had something in his eyes that was reflective and serious. "I know I get down on myself sometimes, but when it comes down to it I was born so obviously I'm here for a reason, whatever that is, and who my real father is doesn't matter," he sounded far more certain than Sanji had ever heard him before, and that was encouraging.

"I'm glad you've realized that," he murmured softly, his hand faltering a little when he heard the front door open and he pulled back as the bedroom door swung inward a moment later although he knew if they were enemies they wouldn't have gotten past the entrance.

"Hey, I get visitors?" Ace craned his neck around as much as he could and then sighed. "Oh, it's just Zoro."

"I'm a little offended at being 'just Zoro,'" Zoro sniffed and crossed to Sanji, pulling him to his feet and into a rather firm embrace. " 'm glad you're okay."

"Was little Marimo worried?" Sanji kept his tone light although knowing that Zoro was and that, at this point, he wasn't afraid to be outwardly relieved, made a certain warmth bloom in his chest.

"No," Zoro stepped back and cleared his throat, looking down at the bed. "Hey, man."

"Hey," Ace smiled thinly, shifting a little and wincing as the blankets slid down his back. "Fuck, this is annoying."

"You're alive, be glad for that," Kaku stalked into the room, eyes darting around before he sat gingerly on the edge of the bed. "First question: did either Akainu or Blackbeard see any of you?"

"Not that we know of," Sanji answered because Ace was looking put-out again for some reason. "I mean, when the…explosion happened, neither of them were anywhere to be seen, and it was dark out."

"Good. Not that they'd have any idea who you were, but Akainu would know Ace and Blackbeard, from what I've heard, isn't a very popular man amongst Whitebeard's sons at the moment," he spoke with certainty and Sanji wasn't going to wonder how he knew because by now he'd learned it was best not to question CP9's methods of obtaining information. "So this can all be chalked up as an unfortunate accident, then?"

Sanji knew he was being purposefully expressionless and abrupt because his training called for it, but while he would have considered the rather insensitive questioning rude coming from anybody else he'd kind of learned to let it go where Kaku was concerned.

"Yeah, pretty much. I think we've learned to steer clear of the Admirals," Sanji shivered and Ace looked up at him.

"I was stupid. I should have listened to you and instead I just…let my sense of adventure guide me down the wrong path. The really wrong path," Ace scrunched his eyes closed as the blankets shifted again. "Shit."

"I know it's not easy," Kaku's tone softened and Sanji knew he'd dropped out of his professional mode and was back to just being their friend. "And I know how bloody irritating it is to want to get up and move around and instead every breath is painful, but it'll get better. You just have to ride this out," he said in a low voice and Ace nodded, taking a deep breath and forcing his eyes open.

"Yeah, I know," Ace replied through gritted teeth and Sanji leaned back against Zoro, his hand coming to rest over the other man's because just having his solid presence there was helping to ground him right now. He knew he shouldn't feel guilty, not over this, even though a part of him was still whispering that it was his fault he'd forgotten about the warning he'd received.

"So chances are these guys don't even know their explosion hurt anybody?" Zoro put in then, thumb rubbing the back of Sanji's hand almost unconsciously.

"I'm guessing so, which is the best case scenario for us. The more we can stay away from whatever's going on there, the better it'll be. I know Marco's got some grudge against Blackbeard, but I'm guessing he's not foolish enough to try and handle this on his own?" Kaku looked around the room at large and Sanji shook his head.

"Not from what he told me last night, anyway," Sanji replied, Kaku nodding and seeming to decide this was good enough for him.

"Well, I need to get back and 'report my findings,' as it were, but I'm glad you're going to be okay, Ace," he laid his fingers on the dark-haired man's shoulder gently and Ace flashed a tiny grin in his direction. "Talk later," he directed this to Sanji, who nodded although with Kaku 'later' could mean anything from 'in the next half-hour' to 'sometime next week', and swept out of the room as silently as he'd come.

"Hey, Zoro?" Ace looked over and Zoro straightened behind Sanji, still evidently on-edge. "Did you tell anybody besides CP9 what happened?"

"No," Zoro replied immediately. "I figured…well, you know, it's not exactly a good conversation topic."

"Good," Ace seemed relieved. "I don't want Luffy to know. I mean, of course he's going to find out, but…"

"Ace, Luffy's an adult," Sanji said gently. "I know he doesn't act like it, but he's more mature than anybody gives him credit for."

"It's not that," Ace shook his head, craning his neck around when the door opened again and Marco walked in, hesitating for only the briefest of moments before moving to sit on the bed. "It's…I don't want him to have to lose another brother."

"Another…?" Sanji asked and Ace shrugged, or at least as much as he could without wincing in pain.

"Yeah. Sabo. He's the…that's what the 'S' is for," he gestured toward his arm with a sharp nod. "He wasn't related to either of us, but we still thought of him as our brother, and Luffy was really young when he…when his boat went down. We both were, but I think Luffy took it harder, and I don't want him to be afraid of losing me, too," his voice was almost a whisper and Sanji gripped Zoro's hand a little tighter, knowing enough of what loss was like to empathize.

"You need to rest," Marco's tone was firm and Ace yawned and nodded, giving him a fond smile.

"I know. This is one time I wish my selective narcolepsy would just kick in already," he snickered quietly but he looked exhausted.

"We'll get out of your hair," Zoro promised, gently touching Sanji's back to get him to stand. "We've got some things to take care of."

And Sanji could tell from his tone that these weren't exactly…pleasant things, but he knew Zoro would have a few words to say to him about how irresponsible he'd been, no matter that Sanji had come out of it perfectly unscathed.

"Come visit me!" Ace called after them and Sanji hid his smile beneath the guise of lighting a cigarette, not wanting to look at Zoro directly until they got home.

He knew he deserved what was coming.

Notes:

1. This chapter got...really long, mostly because of backstory and not having a good place to cut it off at. And I'm kind of purposefully keeping Law's past vague because I like to keep things moderately close to canon and we really don't know what happened between him and Doflamingo yet so that's why :)

2. If you're reading this, I'd love to hear from you! Right now I'm kind of going just by the hit counter because I'm not getting any feedback, but I'm glad people are reading it, at least? And if you want to talk about anything, hit me up on tumblr at trafalgars dot co dot vu ; I used to talk to a lot of people in the fandom but most of them aren't around anymore :(