Well it seems like noone is reading this fic, but to those of you who are thanks for giving it a go! Things are now going start happening in the fic, rather than just kinda rambling set up of Zoro and Sanji's relationship. There is still alot of nothing happening in this chapter too but I hope you enjoy it anyway

I'm gonna dedicate this chapter to Amywilleat-you, simply because she reviewed last and spurred me on to finishing the chapter thats been hanging around on my laptop two thirds complete for weeks.

Please review, constructive criticism welcome also, it'd really help.

I'm gonna warn that this chapter starts with Yaoi. There is little to no reason for it, just another glimpse into Zoro and Sanji's relationship because relationships do involve sex. If you don't like it, just skip the first paragraph. If you aren't bothered by it, enjoy!


Chapter 3

"…stop fucking teasing…"

Zoro's growl was breathless, muttered out through pants and kisses and layers of lust. He lay naked and aroused; half sprawled out on the bed and half leaning up to taste the skin of his lover. Sanji, enjoying the control he held, pulled away as Zoro's mouth moved towards his and gently moved the fingers he currently buried inside Zoro's tight hole. The green haired man groaned into Sanji's shoulder, trying to grind down on to the intrusion to gain more friction. More fingers ghosted around hard cock, pale, long fingers teasing, trailing along and occasionally pulling gently, and always leaving a trail of longing in its wake along the throbbing hardness. Zoro bit down on the cook's shoulder and bucked into the touch, fruitlessly trying to further Sanji's ministrations.

The cook was often like this, when in the right mood. He always preferred to be on the giving end of the relationship, which Zoro didn't mind one bit, but when Sanji felt like teasing with him like this it could drive him up the wall. And at this very moment in time, it took everything the swordsman had not to push Sanji down and ride him until he was raw. Because Sanji enjoyed; he liked the way he could make the stoic man unravel, and the cook was in such a good mood with the restaurant and everything he was more than obliging to play along.

The fingers hooked inside him, resting near, so near those muscles that ached to be touched. Zoro shifted, squirming to move the fingers closer to his prostate, but Sanji didn't move them. Instead he kissed Zoro, who seared up into the kiss and plundered the warm mouth with his tounge.

"Enough Sanji, I'm ready."

He murmured around Sanji's lips. The cook moved down Zoro's neck, biting and kissing. His mouth met the three earrings in Zoro's ear and hot breath fogged them, tounge lapping them lazily. Voice deep and throaty, Sanji muttered into the ear as he slowly dragged the hooked fingers down and against that spot he knew Zoro loved.

"Haa…is this not enough for you Marimo?"

Zoro shuddered, voice lost in pleasure, but Sanji felt the head he rested by shake. He tugged on the golden drops.

"What is it you want Zoro?"

Fingers pressed again into the muscles and Zoro could only manage two choked words.

"Sanji…please…"

Sanji felt those words heave in his groin, his dark flesh throbbing at the plea. Like a flash, he eased his fingers from the warmth and he placed them on his slicked cock, used his knees to knock Zoro's legs further apart, moved nearer to the tight ring of muscles and pushed in.

There were no more words involved, just Zoro's legs wrapping around Sanji's body, the blonds' arms dragging him upright; and both sat and rocked into eachother in a knot of limbs and sweat and sex. The heavy sounds of flesh slapping on flesh echoed around the bedroom as Sanji pulled Zoro down as he thrust up, both meeting each other's movements. Kissing moved to sloppy, open mouthed exchanges as both were wrapped up in the passion.

Zoro choked as Sanji angled deep into his prostrate, his body clamping down with the pleasure and he felt Sanji bury himself deeper and harder into his tightness. He could tell the blond was building, and moved the cook's hand towards his own neglected arousal. With no warning Sanji gripped the already weeping flesh tightly, like he knew the swordsman loved, squeezed and pumped.

Zoro bit his lip, pushing up into the hand before moving back down to meet the cook's movements. He felt the coiling in his gut spiral and with a bitten off cry, his seed was spilling over his partner's hand. Sanji heard the cry but his world went white as he felt every muscle in Zoro's body tense during his climax. Seconds later, he was too was pulsing his seed into Zoro's body.

They paused, breathing heavily as both tried to recover. Slowly, Sanji eased out of his partner's body as Zoro flopped back onto the bed. Sanji curled up next to his partner, smirking against the kiss he administered. Zoro smiled right back.

"You even manage to piss me off during a fuck, shit-tease."

Sanji chuckled as he lit a post coital cigarette.

"You love it Marimo, I can tell."

Zoro snorted in a non committal way, looking away indignantly. It only served to make Sanji chuckle further, the stubbornness was one of the things he loved about the green haired man. And how good he was in bed, of course.

--

"Did I tell you what happened yesterday at the restaurant?"

Sanji was sat up in beg, reading yesterday's paper again as he had his morning coffee. Zoro was still curled up next to him, only now being fully roused as Sanji spoke. His brain was far from being able to answer normally.

"Nnghuh?"

"At the Baratie, yesterday, did I tell you what happened?"

"No, you were a bit too preoccupied to tell me much last night."

Zoro smirked; placing a gentle kiss on the cook's hip as he dragged himself up and in the world of the living. Sanji gave an amused scowl at batted his head, trying to stay on track of the conversation.

"While I was on my break, this vision of loveliness came to talk to me."

"You cheating on me cook?" Zoro jested; he was too used to Sanji's adoration of women to be threatened by them.

"Tsk, stupid Marimo. Her name was Paula; she said she worked for Morning Menu."

"That show you like?"

"The show I'm going to get up and watch in about 15 minutes, yes. She asked if I wanted to guest a spot in it."

Zoro looked disbelieving.

"You're gonna be on TV?"

"Maybe. I don't know yet. She and some man came to talk to Zeff and had some dinner; they said they're gonna mention the restaurant as one of their favourites in town and they'd be in touch in a few days about going on the show. But still, it's kinda exciting."

Sanji grinned, looking every ounce like a child in a sweet shop, and Zoro grunted in agreement.

"I mean, if I do go on the spot then that's one step closer to being on shows regularly, that's the best way to be well known, and maybe I can get my own restaurant and maybe my own cookery books and even a show. And it'll let give me so much more chance of winning that Blue!"

As much as he tried to be the supportive boyfriend, Zoro felt a stab of something in his gut. Winning an All Blue, the most prestigious award in the culinary world, had always been Sanji's dream. He learnt about that early on, after a long night of drinking and listening about a man with one leg and being too lost for too long with no food. Knowing his lover was moving towards his goal, when his own was still so far away…

"Zoro, are you even listening to me? I asked how was your training yesterday?"

"It was okay. The damn kids kept distracting me again."

Sanji snorted fondly as he got out of bed. Zoro trained regularly at the local rec centre, and was constantly hounded by the young children who also practiced there. But he knew that no matter how much the green haired man complained about them, he was quite fond of his, well, almost students.

"Are they ready for the tournament yet?"

"I reckon they'll do okay. Kappa needs to work on his form if he's going to get anywhere."

"And your training? When's your next contest?"

Zoro sighed, shaking his head as he got up to start his morning calisthenics.

"I don't know. The pro's haven't long finished but the amateur league doesn't start for another two months."

"You gonna fight in the meantime?" Sanji stretched his legs on the sofa as he eyed Zoro stretching his on the mats, admiring the muscles tightening in the morning light.

"Johnny's looking into some leads, but I need to avoid any of the major pro players for a while, after what happened with Ohm."

Sanji frowned. One thing he and Zoro had in common was the pursuit of their dreams. Ever since Sanji had first met Zoro he heard about his goal to be the greatest swordsman in the world, and as their relationship progressed he was taught of a girl named Kuina, the promise they shared late one spring night and the tear stained white sword Zoro kept close.

Zoro had been chasing his dream since before Sanji knew him, how his life was driven by the need to win. Zoro spent each day training, earning money in fights, barely enough to scrape by, just to take a step forward.

The steps had halted. Sanji knew the only way to reach his goal was to beat the current greatest, and to fight him Zoro needed to be in the Professional leagues. Yet they wouldn't go near him; claiming he's too dangerous to be a professional fighter after what had happened in the ametuer leauges. The undergound fights made things even worse, and Ohm was a perfect example; Sanji saw the effects of his underhanded tactics when Zoro came home with his shoulder torn and his leg weeping where Ohm had used his dog in battle. Yet the grief they had from referees for the damage to Ohm made Sanji realize Zoro was definitely the better off, he tended to get a bit overzealous.

Not knowing what to say in the face of such frustration when his dream was taking a step forward, Sanji turned to his show, the future of his dream right in front of him and answered optimistically.

"I'm sure you'll get something soon. Just keep training."

Zoro scowled at the crash mat and continued his reps.

- -

Three weeks had passed since Paula first came to the Baratie, and a week since Sanji went on the show.

He made a quick Bouillabaisse; perfect for the summer months with a good fish season at the moment. The producers and Paula – the Baratie's new biggest fan – said he was a big hit.

Zoro said the TV added ten pounds, but he'd seen Zoro watch the recording back with a slight something resembling pride in his gaze, so he didn't get too pissed about it.

And Sanji loved every second of it. He loved the screen, he loved the fame and he loved how more and more people at the Baratie were there because of that spot. Yet the popularity was coming at a price. The chef was forced to pull extra shifts as the restaurant got busier; and thanks to Gin's growing popularity with his drinks menu they were sometimes throwing out stragglers at midnight, long after service had ended. On more than one occasion Sanji was so tired after clearing up he ended up sleeping in his old room above his father's establishment.

So after another busy night leading to crashing at the Old Man's, and finally being allowed a day off, he trudged up the stairs to his apartment ignoring the cheery breakfast greeting from Luffy as he passed their door.

The last thing he expected was to see Zoro sitting in the kitchen, chewing away on some slightly crispy bacon with what suspiciously looked like Sanji's favourite frying pan soaking the burnt parts off in the sink. Clearly Zoro didn't expect to see his partner either; his gulp was audible from across the apartment.

"Didn't expect you back 'til tonight." Sanji shrugged. If the Marimo was going to be blasé then so was he.

"Shitty Old Geezer sent me home, said I need a day off. You made bacon?"

"Don't be surprised, cook, I did feed myself long before you came along."

As Sanji dragged himself over to the sofa he pinched a piece of bacon from the almost finished plate, carelessly swatting a hand to dismiss his partner's protests. It was gone when as he leaned against the back of the chair.

"Not bad...bit overcooked but I guess some people prefer it that way. Good job Marimo. Don't think I won't kill you for ruining my pan though."

"Tsk, just try it shit cook," Zoro smirked "you can barely stand."

"My feet hurt asshole, so would yours if you knew what busting your ass to earn a living was like."

Sanji bit out, and instantly regretted it when he saw the angry guilty look on the unemployed man's face.

"Forget it. I didn't mean it like that. M'just tired that's all."

Zoro looked away, sliding his empty dish in the sink. The next thing he knew, a large, calloused hand pushed the blond backwards so he toppled over onto the couch.

"Just lay your ass down cook."

He was so tired and confused he didn't even have time to think before the swordsman dropped down next to him, flicking the TV onto some old film he had no interest in.

"If you're gonna be sleeping all day at least I can spend time with you without bitching at me."

The heavy hand rested on Sanji's thigh comfortingly, and for the first time in days he instantly fell into a deep sleep.

Zoro's gaze alternated between the TV and the blonde, wondering how long until Sanji would notice his pan was not salvageable.

-

Sanji woke hours later, when his tired and aching feet were being given a massage; it was so good it made him want to weep with joy. The best thing about having a boyfriend who fought was he knew how to look after one's body. He was about to thank him when Zoro blurted out awkwardly.

"Gin called. He said he needed to speak to you, and he'd be here in an hour."

"Mmmm, how long ago was that?"

"About an hour ago."

With that, the doorbell buzzed sharply, making Sanji bolt upright with an alarmed "Shit!" Glancing despairingly at his disheveled appearance he tried to flatter his hair as Zoro chuckled on his way to the door.

Gin stood nervously in the doorframe, eyeing the swordsman with apprehension. After all, last time the pair met outside the Baratie he was watching a particularly bloody fight, Zoro left his opponent in tatters and himself with a bloodthirsty appearance that haunted Gin for weeks. Zoro only glared. Gin was young, tall and slight, with dark hair and even darker, intense eyes, but he had this mysterious aura that exuded attractiveness. The fact that he made great drinks didn't distract him from the fact he thought Sanji talked about him a bit too much.

"Gin, is that you? Come in!"

Sanji waved the barman into the apartment and he stumbled past the green haired man quickly.

"Sanji? You look so strange."

"Nice to see you too." He clucked, hastily flattening his crumpled sweats. He could see Zoro chuckle at him silently as Gin backpedalled.

"No, I mean you look fine…um, great…uh..I'm just not used to seeing you out of a suit."

Zoro tried to ignore the slight blush on Gin's face, but found it increasingly hard to do so without wanting to pummel the blush right out of him. Sanji, not wanting to further the green haired man's temper, ignored the comment.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hm oh yea! I just got a call from Paula, she wants to take us out. There's this big party for the station and she wants us to meet some people there about having a show!"

"No shit, really?"

"Yea! And it's in the Maxim Arc as well!"

"Fuck!" Sanji whistled. The Maxim Arc, owned by a pretentious egocentric bastard called Ener, was one of the highest class VIP venues in the city. It threw the best parties with the best people. "When is it?"

"Tonight! She told us to turn up about ten."

"Great, that gives me just enough time to find the Marimo something to wear."

Zoro's head perked up at the mention.

"You want me to go?"

"Of course." Sanji smiled as he stood and stretched. "I need someone to hold my drink as I schmooze, after all."

Gin chuckled quietly, not wanting to risk igniting a fight between the volatile pair, but when Sanji heard he moved to where Zoro sat and wrapped his arms around him from behind.

"If this is the night I'm gonna get signed on to do a TV show, I want you there to celebrate with, baka." Sanji muttered softly into his partner's ear. Zoro shrugged the cook off, smiling and hiding his blush.

"Whatever, ero cook."

Sanji laughed out loud. The day may have started badly, with the extreme tiredness, but now with a huge deal just one night away, his feet fresh after the greatest massage ever and managing to make the swordsman blush, things were definitely looking up.

--

"Oi, Marimo, stop fussing and get over here."

Sanji sighed exasperatedly and paused outside the club. With one hand on hip and tossing his head to rearrange his fringe, he looked every ounce the rakish put upon boyfriend. If Zoro wasn't so busy trying to rip his tie off, he probably would've died from blood loss at the sight.

"Fucking hate ties."

He tugged harder, choking himself as his desperate attempts to remove the offending cloth only tightened it. When soft and slightly calloused hands encompassed his, the desperate attempts to free his neck paused.

"You're ruining it, idiot. Can't you wear it just for one night?" Zoro huffed at Sanji's gripe, letting his hands fall aside.

"I feel like an jackass in a suit. Don't see why I had to wear one anyway."

"Because I can hardly make a good impression to people who want to put me on TV if my boyfriend is looking like an ape." Sanji countered, fixing the thin black tie and flattening the dark grey suit jacket. Zoro was scowling at the club and his petulant expression made the cook torn between hugging him and kicking him in the head.

He settled with kicking him in the shins.

"Ow! Fucking cook, what was that for?"

"That was for looking like you wanted to smash the bar up without setting foot inside. And be grateful, 'cause if you didn't look so mind numbingly hot in the suit it would've hit your thick skull. Now hurry up, Gin is waiting."

"Wai, what? You like me in the suit? Really?"

"Come on, Marimo."

"…You wanna teach me how to do that tie thing?"

Sanji groaned as he walked into Maxim Arc, praying that Zoro would forget he ever said that. No matter how hot he looked in the suit, it was not worth the hassle of teaching the swordsman how to correctly put on a tie.

--

There was only one way to describe Maxim Arc.

Golden.

It was difficult to tell if it was excessive or pure brilliance; or just the perfect juxtaposition between hideousness and brilliance that made everything work. Black and Gold, everywhere, every wall, light and surface glinted in the dim light, and the only thing overshadowing the brilliance of the décor was the club's clientele.

Sanji didn't know where to look, between the actors, pop stars and models all oozing that special charisma that made them the ones everyone wanted to be.

He spotted Gin, leaning against the bar trying everything he can to look completely comfortable. It wasn't working, but luckily Paula was there with him, all smiles and kisses and diffusing any possible uncomfortable situation with her incomprehensible knowledge of everyone in the room. When she followed Gin's smile towards Sanji and Zoro, she glided over in her long dress, hugging the blond and placing a dry kiss on each of his cheeks.

"Sanji! You're here, you're here, I thought you weren't going to show!"

Sanji shouted over the noise as she tugged him towards Gin and the bar, Zoro following obediently.

"Sorry Paula, we were having some issues with ties. Oh, this is Zoro."

Zoro bristled like a cat when Paula hugged him, and froze when she kissed him, making Gin snort into his beer. When she retreated back to her drink and cigarette he choked on the retreating smell of perfume, knocking back a glass of rum as Sanji handed him his second.

"Know that you're both here, you can come and meet Bon. Bon Clay Management are the best in the business. He's been dying to meet you. Ah, here he is-Bon, Bon!"

They didn't know whether to be disgusted or just plain horrified. The man, and it clearly was a man, twirled over to them, wearing what Sanji was sure was a ballerina outfit. His face was coated with makeup, bright red rouge colouring his already pinked cheeks, thanks to the excess of wine he had been drinking.

"Paula chwaaan! Darling it is super to see you, looking so Magnifique! Makes me want to gobble you right up!"

"Bon, dear, how are you? Sanji, Gin, I'd like you to meet Bon Clay. He wants to represent you."

Sanji choked on the cigarette he was smoking and the beer in Gin's mouth found itself over Zoro's front. This made the green haired man start but the strange man dove in between him and Gin, making a beeline straight to the cook.

"THIS is Sanji? He's even more fabulous in the flesh than you told me! I will make you a star, Sanji just you wait. And Gin? Oh la la such mystique! Such depth! You two will be brilliant!"

The loud baselines did little to hide the cook's bewildered shock at being manhandled by the outrageous Okama, and it was only the sight of Zoro almost cracking his glass at being ignored and pushed aside that brought ihm back to the real world. He entwined his hand with his partner's and squeezed as he answered the manager.

"Really? Paula said you're interested in managing us?"

"Interested? I'm already managing you, sweetie! My okama way has been busy talking to moguls and producers and...oh!"

He turned then, though it far more resembled half a pirouette than a turn, and pointed towards a serious looking man in a fur coat with a cigar.

"See over there? That's Sir Crocodile, owner of the Baroque Corporation."

Gin managed to answer, the only one of the pair managing to keep up with the conversation without their brain leaking.

"Baroque Corp? Don't they own like half the TV channels?"

Bon waved a hand airily, swinging an arm around the barman.

"Only twenty or so, and only two or three of the main channels. Either way, one of them is the cooking channel and there's an hourly slot on a Thursday evening just waiting just for you two."

Even the music seemed to stop at the dramatic pause, and the world shrank between Sanji and Gin looking lost, Zoro looking bewildered, Paula looking happy and Bon looking smug. Blonde hair shook as the response was stammered.

"No way"

Bon's smile grew wider.

"Oui. Filming starts next week, first broadcast in 3."

Slowly, ever so slowly a smile crept across Sanji's face, until he's grinning like a Cheshire cat. Gin falls against the bar, legs failing him, and instantly orders a bottle of champagne. The cook's gleeful laughter rang out like bells, and he embraced Zoro in celebration. Bon gawked as Sanji pushed Zoro into a bruising, ecstatic kiss, and he turned to Paula in confusion.

"Does he always kiss strangers?"

She laughed loudly, breaking the couple from their moment. Zoro was smirking and Sanji snickered as he introduced him.

"No, Bon, this is my boyfriend Zoro. I guess we were too wrapped up to introduce him earlier."

"How could you forget someone like this?! Zoro! It's fabulous to meet you. Can we make a show for this one Paula? Looks like that would kill for ratings! What is it you do Zoro chwan?"

Zoro scowled and blushed, taking a long pull from his drink, and Sanji took the opportunity to nudge him playfully.

"Marimo here does nothing, besides sleep and stink up the apartment with sweat."

Zoro scowled

"Hey-"

"No job? I suppose with such a fabulous boyfriend he doesn't need to worry about anything else." Bon laughed.

"Hm, well even if he is a usless layabout, he's good enough for me. Hey Bon, I think Crocodile might be looking for you, better go over there."

"Wha? Oh, can't leave him waiting, lest he ruin our deal! Look, lets meet up tomorrow you pair, here are my business cards, come to the office when you've finished work and I should have everything set up then. Bye bye, my beauties!"

And with that, Bon had dashed off, trying to kiss Crocodile and being pushed away relentlessly. All that was left were one quietly furious and two very confused men, holding pink business cards shaped like swans, trying to get everything that just happened to sink in. Before she left them to their celebrations, Paula cleared her throats and smiled.

"He may be a bit, ambiguous, but he's the best manager in the country. He'll make you the best boys, just wait and see."

-.-.-


So its all happening! Sanji's gonna be a famous chef and all is gonna be good, right. Right?

Next chapter - life now Sanji is famous. Zoro struggles with the change in his partner, and what will happen at the All Blue awards?

Thanks for reading! - Pamplemoose