A/N: Thanks to all of you guys who left reviews and read this story! I'm glad some of you are actually enjoying this ;)

Guess I'll have to bump the rating up a bit because there's some mild sexual contents in here, still nothing too graphic but you never know. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Sanji ended up spending the entire weekend at Zoro's. Everyone was more than happy to enjoy the quality cooking they got in return for their hospitality. Yes, even Shanks, who didn't like having his kitchen and cooking duty stolen, in the end really appreciated what Sanji did.

Murder of Crows only practiced on Saturday night to get some well deserved rest from an intense and productive week, but the brothers called rain check on going out for drinks since they wanted to save some money.

Sanji wasn't happy about the decision. Being in the same room with Nami and Vivi for more than two hours, and for having ignored at least ten calls from Zeff stressed him out and all he wanted to do was getting wasted and fuck. Zoro had told him that he could have gone ahead without them, he would have also given him the keys to their house in case he wanted to be stay for long, and that was when Sanji decided that he could definitely do without a couple wild nights.

On Monday morning Sanji decided it was time to face Zeff (and no, not because Zoro had insisted he'd do it) so he shouldered his backpack, thanked Mihawk and Shanks for their hospitality a few too many times and left their house.

Even if he'd kept waking up at the ass crack off dawn like he was used to, Sanji felt somewhat regenerated, be it the homey environment he'd lived in for the past couple days, or just being with his friends, or probably having avoided to stay out all night. He was ready to go back to work, hell he needed to work or else he would have gone mad, waiting for practice that night all day long.

Sanji decided to take his sweet time walking in the crispy morning air, a hand firmly buried into the pocket of his leather jacket and the other brought up to his lips as he puffed on the third cigarette of the day. Or maybe it was the fourth? He couldn't tell.

The streets were already trafficked and a few bikes threatened to make him fall as they sped past him on the sidewalk, the sky was hazed by a few clouds and he really hoped it wasn't going to rain. He didn't particularly like rainy days, they made him moodier than he already was and that morning he wanted to be a bit serene at least.

Sanji stopped right outside the front door of the Baratie to admire the elegant wrought iron door and the sign he had helped his father paint when he was younger, then moved towards the door that was just a few meters away from the restaurant. He pulled out a bunch of keys from an inner pocket of his jacket and unlocked the door.

Sanji had lived with his father in a beautiful apartment right above the restaurant all his life. It was always tidy and clean, no matter the fact that the two men worked a lot and didn't spend much time at home – they wanted it to be as impeccable as their kitchen down at Baratie.

Sanji shut the door of the apartment behind his back. He contemplated whether he should just go to his room and get ready to wash the dirty clothes he had inside his backpack, or walk up to the kitchen where he was sure that Zeff was having breakfast.

Apparently he never had to make that choice, since Zeff called out for him as soon as the door clicked shut "Son, is that you?"

Sanji rolled his eyes "No, it's a burglar. I'm here to steal your ceramic knives." he announced as he decided to at least drop his backpack into his room before going to the kitchen.

"You'll have to tear them off my cold, dead hands." came Zeff's hoarse, sarcastic reply.

"Don't tempt me." Sanji sighed as he tied back his hair into a ponytail and finally went into the kitchen.

"Why didn't you return my calls, you stupid Eggplant. I thought you were dead." Zeff glared at him from above a steamy mug of coffee.

"If you really thought that you'd have called the cops." Sanji deadpanned as he poured some coffee for himself.

"I called Mihawk, that equals calling the cops."

Sanji almost dropped the cup as he turned around to stare at Zeff "You did what?!" he yelled out in a semitone higher than usual.

"I was worried! And you little shit wouldn't talk to me!" Zeff shrugged "What was I supposed to do?"

Sanji raised his eyebrows "Fucking nothing! You wanted me out of the house and I did! You should have been happy!"

Zeff shook his head "You're such an idiot."

Sanji gestured towards Zeff "I take after the best." he muttered as he focused on stirring his coffee. Suddenly a flying spoon hit Sanji in the forehead, making him squirm and glare at his father.

"I should have thrown the entire table at you but I'm having breakfast." Zeff explained calmly as he sunk his teeth into a croissant.

"Stupid Old Fart, you could have chipped the mug!" Sanji muttered before taking a sip of his warm coffee.

"I have an impeccable aim, I would have never hit the mug and you know it," Zeff went on and took a bite of croissant as he started checking the list of things that needed to be bought for the restaurant that day. "Have you been eating?" he asked as his eyes didn't leave the paper.

Sanji furrowed his eyebrows at that question "Uh, yeah?" he hitched himself up on the counter and placed both hands on the mug, relishing the heat radiating from it.

"Yeah. You got a better color than usual." Zeff wore his reading glasses and started editing the list here and there "You usually don't eat enough and drink too much."

Sanji snorted and rolled his eyes "That's bullshit!"

"It's true," Zeff raised his eyes from the paper to look at Sanji from over his glasses "and get your ass off the counter!"

Sanji ignored that last part and just kept sipping his coffee.

"You're an adult, Sanji. Quit being a fucking idiot and take some responsibilities." Zeff continued, his tone was harsh and made Sanji want to fling the mug at his face.

"I am a responsible adult," Sanji began as he set the mug down on the marble surface of the counter "what the fuck are you talking about?" he grimaced.

Zeff huffed and took off his glasses "I'm talking about the fact that you're supposed to be a sous-chef not a party animal, you damn Eggplant."

Sanji's jaw dropped slightly at those words "Are you saying I'm not doing my job right?" he asked as he pointed to himself "I bust my ass all day at the fucking restaurant, I'm a great cook! Don't you dare judging my skills as a chef by what I do outside of the workplace." he pushed himself off the counter.

"Watch it, young man," Zeff warned, lifting a threatening finger at him.

"What?" Sanji spread his arms, challenging "You wanna fire me? On what basis?" he cocked his head slightly "Being butthurt?"

"You little shit!" Zeff stood up so suddenly that he nearly knocked back the chair "You should be grateful for having a job and a roof above your stupid head! And if you do keep heading down this way I will fire you!"

Sanji listened to him with a hollow smirk tugging at his lips "Do you really think I'm gonna rot in this house? You think I'll work in that shitty restaurant for my entire existence?" by the end of the sentence he was practically yelling "I'll be a famous singer one day, and that day you'll be kissing my ass!" and with that last growl Sanji left both the kitchen and the house, ignoring the incoherent shouting coming from behind him.

After slamming the door shut behind him, Sanji lit himself a cigarette with shaky hands, his breath was itching in his chest from the anger that was still thrumming through his body.

Zeff had never been the most tender father ever, just like Sanji wasn't the easiest son, and Sanji knew his father cared about him but he had a pretty detestable way to show it. Maybe it was because they were too much alike, both so stubborn and proud, Sanji could still remember his mother laughing at their stubbornness and then bringing peace between them again. Had she still been alive things would be so much easier. Had she still been alive things would be so different – Sanji and Zeff themselves would probably be different.

Sanji rubbed at his forehead, trying to ease the headache that was threatening to start pounding in his head and let the nicotine have its calming effect on his body. He checked his phone, it was barely 10:30 and he already needed a drink. Sanji muttered a few curses and dragged himself to next door – at least he could take it out on his colleagues and the pieces of meat he was going to have to chop or tenderize.

–

The morning went painfully slow, between stupid arguments with his colleagues and restocking the pantry, and all Sanji could think was venting to Zoro during lunch break and going to practice that night. He was nervous and annoyed, so much that he could fill his skin itch – he needed a nicotine fix really bad.

"Oi, stupid assholes, I need a smoke. Don't burn the entire place down." Sanji growled as he moved to the backdoor of the restaurant. He ignored the insults that were thrown back at him and pulled his phone out of his pocket while he took the first drag of tobacco.

There was a text from Zoro.

'how'd it go with the old geezer?'

Sanji snorted and typed up his answer.

'i wanna smash my head into a wall'

He hit send and tipped his head back, exhaling the smoke and watching it coil up towards the sky. God he really needed to scream his lungs out into his microphone, drink half his weight in booze and get his brains fucked out, it was the only way to get his skin to stop itching like that.

Buzz-buzz.

"Well that was fast." Sanji grumbled to himself as he checked his phone again.

'that bad huh? i gotta train a dude in five minutes, guess you'll tell me more at lunch.'

Sanji couldn't really help the small smile that curved his lips. Zoro was a fucking neanderthal most of the times, but Sanji's sanity depended on him more than he cared to admit.

'you only think about your wallet and stomach. later, moss-brain.'

Sanji stuffed his phone back into his pocket and took a deep drag of tobacco. He needed to think about what he could bring Zoro for lunch that day – maybe some rice, it was the Marimo's favorite food after all, maybe that Beef Pilau Rice recipe he'd been talking about with Patty a few days ago.

And as Sanji finished off his cigarette he kept flipping through the imaginary pages of the recipe book in his head, completely forgetting about the itch on his skin without even realizing it.

–

Sanji had dodged meeting his father at the restaurant as he sneaked out with Zoro's food from the backdoor, he didn't have the energy for another fight and he sure as hell didn't want to waste his time.

He arrived to the gym's backyard at the usual time, so he hopped on the bench, lit himself the umpteenth cigarette of the day and waited for Zoro to come out.

Sometimes when he sat there in that yard he remembered when he and Zoro were younger and reluctantly hung out in the elementary school courtyard.

Everyday it was always the same situation and no one seemed to notice or care enough to change it. A group of bullies would come over and make fun of both of them: Zoro for being an orphan adopted by his godfather, moody and weird, unable to speak with anyone other than Sanji; and then they'd push Sanji around, telling him that he looked like a girl, that Zoro was his boyfriend and that he probably looked like a girl because he was such a mommy's boy.

Those were memories he wanted to erase permanently from his brain. Sanji had been bullied through all his childhood, unconditionally hated by pretty much everyone except for that weird moss head who stuck with him through thick and thin for so many years, and fuck him if Sanji knew how and why all of that happened.

"Oi, is it a stroke?"

Zoro's hoarse voice brought Sanji back to reality, making him realize that he had spaced out for longer than he thought, especially when he realized that his cigarette had turned into nothing but a small pile of ashes on the concrete ground.

"What?" Sanji asked scrunching his face as he looked up at Zoro.

The Marimo arched up an eyebrow "I thought you died or something, you weren't answering." he shrugged a shoulder.

Sanji flicked away the burnt out end of his cigarette "What the fuck are you talking about? I'm more alive than you'll ever be!" he growled as he thrusted the box of food into Zoro's hands.

"What's this?" Zoro asked as he peeled off the top of the box.

"I shat inside a box!" Sanji groaned "It's food, what do you think it is? See it for yourself!"

Zoro stared at him for what felt like ages, then hit him in the head with the clean side of the box top "Calm down or you'll have a heart attack."

Sanji felt the urge to knee Zoro in the face but restrained from doing so "Get off my back, okay?" he fished a cigarette from the packet and brought it to his lips to light it up "Everyone's taken up residence there, apparently." he watched as Zoro frowned down at the rice and poked the meat with his fork "It isn't poisoned, you dumb shit."

Zoro didn't move his eyes from the food and stabbed a piece of meat with the fork, bringing it closer to his eyes to examine it "I wouldn't be so sure, you're the culinary Heisenberg." he ate it quietly, savoring it and trying to figure out what it was.

Sanji smirked as he watched him eat "Or I could be feeding you the flesh of my enemies."

Zoro's expression didn't change and he just shrugged a shoulder "Your enemies taste nice."

Sanji sniggered and took a deep drag of cigarette, letting it fill his lungs as he looked up at the clouds and the milky color of the sky. He exhaled the smoke in long drawn out sigh, then relaxed against the back of the bench.

"So, why did you want to smash your head into a wall?" Zoro asked, still focused on his food.

Sanji turned his head to look at him and took another puff of tobacco "He says I don't act like an adult enough, then threatened to kick me out of the house and fire me," he shook his head as he stared down at his feet "I don't even know, I stopped listening when he started shouting and telling me that I act like a kid."

Zoro didn't reply, didn't speak at all and just kept eating. Sanji looked over at him with a quirked eyebrow, expectantly.

"You gonna say something?"

"I don't think he really wants to kick you out or fire you," Zoro said suddenly, then dropped the fork inside the box and put the top back on it. "He just worries."

Sanji snorted "Right, nice way to worry." he shook his head and went back to stare ahead as he sucked on his cigarette. He felt Zoro stretch and crack his neck, then resting back against the bench.

"You get back home drunk almost every night and puke everywhere, of course he'll worry." there was a pause, not exactly brief, then Zoro went on "You don't get home at all for the night, and he'll worry. No matter what age are you."

Sanji stared at Zoro and the somewhat uneasy expression on his face with furrowed eyebrows. "Well I'm not a kid, he shouldn't worry. And he shouldn't stick his nose in what's none of his business."

Zoro sighed "He's a parent, it's his job to be nosy and annoying."

Sanji huffed and flicked the butt of his cigarette away "Whose side are you on?" he blew out the rest of the smoke through the side of his mouth "I thought you were my friend, not Zeff's."

"I am your friend, stupid Cook. I was just saying." Zoro explained as his face went back to the usual unreadable frown.

"Don't just say then!" Sanji replied, frustration audible in his high pitched tone "You get on my nerves just like my old man!" he growled and crossed one of his long legs over the other.

"Tell me something I don't know."

"I fucked Ace." Sanji said casually as he pulled out his lighter and began to play with it.

Zoro's eyes turned the size of the moon as he stared at Sanji "You did what?!"

Sanji bit back a laugh and shrugged a shoulder "You wanted me to tell you something you didn't know."

"You fucked my brother?!" Zoro snarled. Sanji could see the vein in his neck enlarging and throbbing furiously under his skin.

"No, I didn't." Sanji paused for effect and added with a smirk "Yet."

Zoro threw the box at him "You damn asshole!"

Sanji's reflexes allowed him to catch the box just in time, then he sighed "You're such a drama queen! What do you care, even if I did? He's a grown man, I won't break his heart."

Zoro shook his head and muttered something under his breath before standing up. "I have to get back to work."

Sanji grimaced up at the other man "Oh, c'mon! Don't be an idiot!"

"I'll see you at Franky's tonight." and with those words Zoro turned on his heels and headed back inside the gym.

Sanji gritted his teeth as he watched Zoro leave, he didn't even know what other insults he could spit at him because he knew that they wouldn't affect him. God, why was the Marimo so damn cranky? It was just a joke! Sometimes it made him think that maybe Zoro nursed some kind of a crush for his brother or something like that.

Whatever it was made Sanji's stomach feel slightly sick and he was back to square one, where he just felt nervous and uneasy and wanted to tear the skin off of his body.

–

The rest of his shift at Baratie was hell.

Sanji kept being pestered and made fun of by everyone, he did reply of course, still he felt like his skin wasn't thick enough to bear with it all, that day. Zeff entered the kitchen a couple times to check on everyone's work, Sanji avoided any kind of contact with his father and darted outside for a smoke more than usually. He just needed that day at work to be over.

When the shift ended Sanji left the kitchen without saying a word and sneaked out from the back door to get home and change into something more appropriate for the night, then with his hair untied, a pair of black ripped jeans, a black button down shirt, combat boots and black eyeshadow he was ready to meet the guys at Franky's.

Sanji was slightly early, probably because he had literally ran out of the restaurant like the place was on fire, but he didn't care. Once he arrived outside Franky's house he saw Zoro sitting alone outside on the steps, playing with his phone.

"Oi, you shitty hobo! Get off my friend's porch!" Sanji yelled out as he approached the other man.

Zoro raised his eyes from his phone, a murderous glint shone inside them until he realized who had just shouted at him "Asshole. I was already about to kick your ass."

Sanji snorted as he stopped in front of his friend "You wouldn't stand a chance." he buried his hands into his pockets and bent over until he could peek at Zoro's phone screen "What are you doing? Looking at naked boys?" he teased.

"Texting Luffy, he and Ace will be ten minutes late or something." Zoro pushed Sanji's head away "You're the one who watches porn, not me. So fuck off."

Sanji sniggered and sat down next to Zoro, making sure to lean completely into his side "Dude, if I wanna get off I fuck, I don't watch twinks going at it on a screen." he smirked, then hit Zoro's knee with his softly "How come your brothers are late?"

Sanji felt Zoro shrug "Ace was still working, apparently he's just finished repairing a dude's water heater."

Sanji raised his eyebrows "Sounds kinky." he chuckled and Zoro groaned "What? You jealous?"

Zoro turned to look at him with furrowed eyebrows "What are you even talking about?"

Sanji rolled his eyes "Are you jealous of Ace fixing some dude's water heater 'til this hour?" he explained in a monotone.

Zoro shook his head and looked at Sanji puzzled "Why the fuck would I? It's his job!"

Sanji waved his hand "Whatever, nevermind." then jumped slightly when a voice came from behind them all of a sudden.

"Are you two doves going to come in, or you wanna stay out here forever?"

Both Sanji and Zoro turned to look behind them and saw Nami resting against the doorjamb.

"Have you been lurking?" Zoro asked as he glared at her.

Nami shrugged "Why, was he sucking your dick?"

Zoro stiffened immediately and Sanji couldn't help but laugh, throwing his head back. "I probably should, he needs it." Sanji smirked and stood up to greet Nami with a kiss on her cheek.

Nami squeezed one eye shut when Sanji pressed his lips against her cheekbone, then nodded towards Zoro "He sure does."

"Are you two done?!" Zoro barked as he sprung to his feet.

"Nah, making fun of you is our favorite thing to do!" Nami winked at Zoro, then disappeared into the house.

Sanji shook his head sniggering as he watched Nami stepping into the house, then turned to look at Zoro "Let's go, Marimo."

Zoro turned around and sat back down on the stairs "No, I'll wait for Ace and Luffy."

Sanji frowned "Okay. Want me to keep you company?"

"No."

Sanji snorted, trying not to sound too disappointed with the answer "Fuck you, then." he spat before storming inside Franky's house and slamming the door shut.

Fuck the Marimo and his shitty attitude.

Inside the house Sanji was greeted by Franky and Brook, and a slightly intoxicated Usopp.

"Why is he drunk before we even start?" Sanji asked with an annoyed frown.

"He saw Kaya holding hands with some guy," Franky explained "you know how this little brother gets." he shrugged a shoulder.

Sanji groaned "Oh c'mon! Don't get like this for just one girl!" he stepped over to Usopp and snatched a can of beer from his hands "You'll find plenty more!"

Usopp looked at Sanji outraged and stole the beer back from him "I love her!"

Sanji's eyes darkened as he shook his head, then before he could open his mouth to tell Usopp what his exact thoughts were, there was a bang from the door being opened too violently and a loud cry of victory.

"Sorry for having kept you waiting!" Luffy yelled out, making everyone turn around.

"Yeah, my bad!" Ace raised a hand as he walked up to Franky followed by the ever so quiet Zoro.

"Work is work, no worries! Yohohoho!" Brook laughed, as cheerful as always "Shall we go, Franky?" he suggested with a nod towards the garage stairs.

"I'm super ready for some great music!" Franky threw a fist in the air, then looked at the others "If you guys are, too."

Luffy threw him the devil horns "My hands are itching really bad, I need to scratch them on my bass strings!"

And with the laughs that followed that exclamation they all gathered into the garage.

It was decided unanimously that they were going to add a second Nightwish song to the setlist, and they were probably going to record it too. The song was one of Sanji's personal favorites 'Wish I had An Angel', and it was going to have both Zoro and Ace on backup vocals – Brook, Franky and Usopp went absolutely nuts once they heard them play it for the first time, and Sanji already knew it was going to be a success.

"So, which one of you Superstars is coming out for a drink?" Franky asked as he looked at his friends all gathered into his living room, shrugging on their coats.

"Pass." Nami replied almost automatically as she wrapped a scarf around her neck.

Ace wiggled his tongue between his forefinger and middle finger, making a few others snigger.

"You jerk!" Nami growled as she punched his shoulder with all her strength.

Sanji shook his head as he put a cigarette between his lips "You can count me in." he said calmly as he lit up his cigarette and took a deep drag. When he felt the smoke scratching at the back of his throat he knew that he had definitely exaggerated during practice.

"I can't, I've got to wake up early." Brook frowned and hunched his shoulders, apologizing with his body language.

"We're coming!" Luffy gestured to he and his brothers with the biggest grin, and Usopp cried out in happiness as he jumped on Luffy's back.

"Alright, then. Let's go!" Franky nodded and waited for everyone to be outside to lock up his place.

Brook and Nami bid the guys goodnight, then Franky, Usopp and Luffy climbed into Franky's car while Ace, Zoro and Sanji rode into Ace's beat up Chevrolet.

"God, these leather seats must be a pain to wash if you get come on them, eh?" Sanji commented as he took place in the middle of the backseat.

Ace sniggered "Not really, if you know how to treat it."

Sanji smirked at the crooked grin that Ace shot him from the rear view mirror.

"You two always have the nicest conversations." Zoro muttered as he turned on the radio.

"Sorry if we don't just speak about steroids and chastity." Sanji replied with a cocked eyebrow.

Zoro turned in his seat and punched Sanji's knee.

"Fuck! You bastard!" Sanji kicked Zoro's elbow in return.

"I'll kill you! You shitty Cook!" Zoro growled as he caught Sanji's ankle.

"Guys, guys!" Ace cried out "Knock it off! Just let me drive, for fuck's sake!"

Both Sanji and Zoro stopped fighting, and after a last deadly glare Zoro rested back against his seat and Sanji slid behind Ace's, folding his arms over his chest as he puffed on the rest of his almost finished cigarette.

–

Sabaody was the chosen destination and Sanji couldn't ask for a better place: the drinks were cheap but nice, the music was great and the dance floor was always crowded with good looking men.

Sanji climbed out of the car, unbuttoned an extra button on his shirt and looked at himself into the reflection of the car window. Some eyeshadow was smudged on his cheek, so he made sure to thumb it away.

"Are you done, Princess?" Zoro asked as he waited for him.

"Go to hell, Marimo." Sanji grunted as he straightened back up and hooked a finger around one of Zoro's belt loops "Stay close or you'll get lost." he added as him along and entered the club after Ace. Zoro grumbled under his breath but followed him with no objections.

Usopp, Franky and Luffy were already crammed up against the counter to try and order their drinks, so Sanji pinched Usopp's butt to get his attention.

"What the–" Usopp sneered as he turned around "Oh..." he blinked once he saw Sanji's grin. "They're here!" Usopp called out from over the music, patting on Franky's back.

The big, blue haired man turned to spot his friends and waved at them "We've already ordered, you can squeeze in and ask for yourselves!"

"Ah, thanks bro!" Ace smiled and pushed his way up to the counter.

"What do you want?" Sanji asked as he turned to look at Zoro.

"Uhh, a Corona and a Black Russian." Zoro shrugged a shoulder.

"Is it the cocktail you want or a big black, Russian stud?" Sanji asked.

Zoro groaned and rolled his eyes "Go ahead and order!"

Sanji sniggered and clapped a hand on Ace's shoulder "A Corona and a Black Russian for your brother, and a Long Island Iced Tea for me."

Ace furrowed his eyebrows as he looked back at Sanji "Even the drinks you order are gay as fuck."

"I'm extremely consistent with myself, y'know." Sanji wriggled his brows and palmed one of Ace's buttocks, making him gasp.

"You got a point." Ace gave a somewhat nervous laugh, then turned to Shakki to order their drinks.

Sanji snickered to himself and turned to look at Zoro "We can get away from all these sardines pressed together, your brother is getting our drinks."

Zoro nodded without saying a word and sneaked away from the people queuing up at the bar.

Sanji tried to do the same, bumping into a couple of girls in the process and exaggeratedly apologized for his clumsiness, but only after profusely praising the girls' beauty he left them be and walked up to Zoro.

"It's adorable how you still hit on girls even though you only fuck guys." Zoro commented once they'd reached a less packed spot of the club.

Sanji raised his eyebrows "Even though I dig guys I still find women the most beautiful and majestic creatures in all creation." he explained as a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Zoro tilted his head slightly, not really answering but getting and respecting Sanji's words. After all, the fair sex had always been the bane of Sanji's life, it wasn't that hard to believe in his statement.

"I need a smoke," Sanji sighed all of a sudden "I'll see you in a bit."

"Uh... Alright." Zoro shrugged and watched as Sanji exited the club with a cigarette between his fingers.

Sanji really needed a smoke, but most of all he needed to find his fun for the night. He lit up the cigarette, taking a long and deep drag, then took a look around, scanning the people that were smoking or chatting outside.

There were a few people he knew, three or four guys he'd already been with, and then there was him: Cavendish, in his white shirt, big blond hair, shiny black leggins and cowboy boots.

Everyone knew Cavendish, he was the lead singer of a local glam rock band, a pretty famous one, they were already touring outside of the city and the underground scene loved them. Sanji wasn't a big fan of them, but he sure as hell dug Cavendish and his gorgeous androgynous look.

Sanji bit his bottom lip, smirking to himself as he decided that he couldn't find a better company for the night, not even if he tried. He carded his fingers through his hair in an absentminded attempt to fix his appearance and boost his confidence, then walked up to the guy.

The young man was struggling with his own lighter as he spoke to a couple of girls (Sanji could tell they were fans just by the way they were adoringly staring at him), and it was then that Sanji whipped out his own zippo lighter and flicked it, extending his arm so that it was near Cavendish's cigarette.

Cavendish raised an eyebrow and cupped a hand behind the small flame, then leaned in to light up his cigarette "Thanks man." he nodded as he reared back.

"No problem." Sanji shrugged, then looked at the girls staring at him (or maybe they were glaring?) "Sorry I interrupted your conversation, it was extremely rude of me." Sanji bowed his head and took a step back.

"I know you." Cavendish cut in before Sanji could leave "You're Murder of Crow's singer, right?"

Sanji cocked his head "That would be me, yeah."

Cavendish's lips stretched into a smirk "You're more handsome than I remembered."

Sanji sniggered before taking a puff of tobacco "Well, you must have seen me in a poorly lit room, then."

Cavendish nodded "That's very possible." he licked his lips, then took a drag of smoke "Can I offer you a drink? You know..." he held up his cigarette, meaning that he wanted to do something in return for the light.

Sanji waved his hand "No, thank you." he jerked his thumb in the direction of the door of the club "My friends are already getting me one, and well–" he gestured at the girls "you're quite busy."

Cavendish frowned "Well they were just bidding me goodnight," then he tilted his head "and the drink I was talking about..." he scrunched his nose "I meant to offer it to you at my place."

The girls turned a soft shade of red and in their visible discomfort decided to quietly leave the two men alone.

"Is that so?" Sanji's smirk turned into a grin right after blowing out some smoke through the corner of his lips.

"It is." Cavendish pressed his lips together and nodded slowly.

"Oi, Cook!" Zoro's voice thundered from the front door "Our drinks!"

Sanji turned around to look at Zoro and raised his hand "Comin'!"

"Oh, you've got Mr Broody already." Cavendish lifted an eyebrow "He's more interesting than I am, I take it?"

Sanji spun back to face Cavendish "Give me five minutes."

Cavendish grinned in pure satisfaction and went back to nurse his cigarette.

Sanji dropped his own cigarette on the concrete and stepped over it before jogging up to Zoro.

"C'mon." Zoro muttered as he moved to get back inside, but Sanji grabbed him by the elbow, making him stop.

"Look," he started as he fished a few notes out of his pockets "I'm not coming, sorry. Here's the money for my drink."

Zoro looked down at Sanji's money, then lifted his gaze over the blond's shoulder. His eyes suddenly darkened and his expression became stern, almost icy.

"Bye, then." Zoro didn't take the money, he just turned on his heels and disappeared inside the club leaving Sanji dumbfounded and unable to speak back.

"You coming, then?" Cavendish asked as he'd quietly approached Sanji.

"Uh... Yeah. Yeah, sure."

Sanji hated it when he couldn't get back at Zoro, couldn't stand it when Zoro became so unreadable and cold that Sanji couldn't even insult him. It was nearly frighting and painful, it was way better to fight.

–

It turned out that Cavendish's place wasn't that far away from Sabaody, still he preferred to drive his white Audi back home.

Sanji wasn't quite that accustomed to riding inside expensive cars, he'd been in a couple SUVs but that was it. He knew that Cavendish was a spoiled little shit, his parents being the owners of a five stars hotel downtown 'The Royalty' and that was exactly how he'd earned the nickname 'Prince'.

When they arrived to Cavendish's attic, Sanji realized that Lucci's wealth was nothing compared to the luxury surrounding Cavendish's life. The guy wasn't forced to work for a living while waiting for his band to become big, the attic they were in was Cavendish's only, he lived there by himself and didn't have to pay a cent for it.

The house was filled with the best modern design furniture one could ask and supplied with all the latest technology on the market. There were posters of Cavendish and his band on at least every wall and Sanji felt incredibly small in that place. It wasn't exactly like he and Zeff weren't doing well, the Baratie was a pretty famous restaurant after all, but it was very different from owning an inherited hotel.

"About that drink..." Cavendish started as he sauntered towards his own small, private bar "What would you like?"

It took Sanji a few moments to register the question, and when he finally did he blurted out a couple words "Uh, Martini Dry."

Cavendish placed two cocktail glasses on the small counter and mixed gin and vermouth dry in both of them. Sanji wasn't sure Cavendish knew the exact doses for the cocktail, but at least he knew what to pour together in the stemmed glass.

Sanji grabbed the glass by the stem and twirled the alcohol around, staring down at it until Cavendish raised his own glass.

"Cheers!" Cavendish smirked and sipped his cocktail.

"Cheers." Sanji replied before tasting his own. Maybe it tasted a little too much of vermouth, maybe it was a bit too strong but it still was quality booze.

"I've been to one of your shows, y'know?" Cavendish started with an arched eyebrow.

"Really?" Sanji cocked his head slightly "Hm, I'd remember seeing you to one of our shows." he tapped his forefinger on the glass "You're a liar."

Cavendish sniggered "Maybe..." he took another sip, taking his sweet time to add "Or maybe not."

"I've seen you to one of those Glitter and Dolls nights, down at the Colosseum." Sanji admitted as he swallowed down one last big gulp of liquor, then set the glass down on the counter.

Cavendish bit his lower lip "You should have come say hi."

Sanji leaned both elbows on the cool surface of the counter and rested his chin on top of his laced fingers "I'm doing it now." he grinned.

Cavendish knocked back the rest of his drink and put the glass down himself "I'm glad you did." he gently took Sanji's chin between his thumb and forefinger, then leaned in to press their lips together.

Sanji tilted his head just slightly and parted his lips to welcome the other man's tongue inside his mouth. He pushed himself up, one hand went to cup the back of Cavendish's neck, the other moved to press down on the counter for support.

The kiss was rough and hungry, stripped of any sort of emotion, just raw physical need of lips and fingers on skin, teeth leaving marks, clothes rapidly being shed all over the floor until both men tumbled onto Cavendish's king sized bed.

"God, you're gorgeous." Cavendish moaned as he clawed his way down Sanji's toned abs.

Sanji shivered, more because of the words than the nails on his skin "I know."

Cavendish chuckled, just before spreading Sanji's legs and going down on him. Sanji threw his head back and his eyes dropped shut as a crooked grin curled his lips.

That was Sanji's drug.

Feeling gorgeous, feeling wanted and irresistible, that was what Sanji aimed for every single time he flirted with someone. He didn't need anything else, didn't want anything more than being praised and pleasured.

Sanji did believe in love, he still thought it could exist, he just didn't want anything to do with it. Not after seeing what love did to his father when his mother died, not after being rejected by every girl he had ever fallen for as a young boy. Definitely not after that time in high school when an older girl he fancied pretended to be in love with him, dated him for an entire week before humiliating him in front of all her friends when she confessed that it was all just a joke.

He knew had examples of love around him, he had seen how much Mihawk and Shanks loved each other but he just didn't think that love could happen to him or do him any good. That was why Sanji felt so uneasy around Nami and Vivi, because Nami had always had the same thoughts on love, up until Vivi came around.

Apparently love could happen to anyone but him.

That was why Sanji never slept with the same guy twice, he didn't want any pain or attachment, didn't want to be bothered, he just wanted a toe curling orgasm that emptied his mind, a fuck that made him feel like the king of the world.

And Cavendish gave it to him, he sucked him dry and fucked him into the mattress, and only when they were a pile of sweaty, trembling and panting limbs they did stop.

"Where are my pants?" Sanji asked as he sat up, silky hot pink sheets sliding off his torso as he moved. He didn't even want to know what could have possibly happened to his make up.

Cavendish rubbed at his forehead, grimacing as he tried to remember where and when he'd torn Sanji's pants off. "Look by the foot of the bed."

Sanji crawled towards the foot of the bed and picked his jeans from the floor "Here you are..." he grabbed his packet of cigarettes and his zippo from the back pocket and sat back down. He lit up a cigarette and put the lighter by his side on the mattress.

"That's a great idea." Cavendish commented as he stretched over to grab his own cigarettes from the nightstand, placed one between his lips then went to take Sanji's lighter.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Sanji sneered suddenly, holding his cigarette between his long, skinny fingers as he glared at Cavendish.

The man stared at Sanji completely puzzled "I... Need a light?"

Sanji snatched the zippo out Cavendish's hands and got up from the bed "Like fuck you are!"

"W-what?" Cavendish kept watching as Sanji put out the cigarette into the ashtray on the nightstand and started furiously pulling on his clothes.

"Just because you fucked me, it doesn't mean that you can get your filthy hands on my stuff!" Sanji growled as he collected his shirt from the floor and quickly shrugged it on with his lighter firmly clenched inside his fist.

"I was just fucking trying to light my cigarette!" Cavendish cried out with a dramatic wave of his hand.

"You don't just take other people stuff like this, you ask for them!" Sanji practically shouted as he slid on his boots.

"You're a fucking psycho! Get out of my house!" Cavendish yelled as he stood up from the bed and pointed at the door.

"And you don't even know what a prostate is!" Sanji shouted in return, then after he pocketed his zippo went on "And you're shit at singing."

"I'll fucking kill you!" Cavendish barked as he followed Sanji who was way quicker than him and nearly got hit in the face by his own front door.

Sanji kept muttering a string of elaborated curses as he buttoned his shirt and zipped up his coat.

No one was allowed to touch the custom made zippo that Zoro had given to Sanji as a gift eight years before.

To Be Continued...

A/N: Cavendish's band is inspired to modern Glam Rock/Hair Metal bands such as Crashdiet and/or Reckless Love.