Chapter 2

Don't own One Piece.

'Must….not….kill!'

Zoro is going crazy now. It's been four days since Ace's arrival on the ship, only four fucking days and Zoro is ready to kill something…or rather someone. With Ace here with his crew, everyone seems louder and more annoying than ever, so much, that Zoro can't even take a nap for more than five minutes because of all the noise. Sleep deprived and with no booze, surely Zoro is going to do something stupid.

Not too far away, Zoro can see Luffy playing loudly with Usopp, Franky and Ace. They were throwing water balloons at each other.

There was the loud laughter of none other than Luffy.

"This is so much fun, take that Franky!" Screamed Luffy, while he threw a balloon at Franky.

"THIS IS SUPERRR! You're next, Ace-bro!" Yelled Franky, trying to hit Ace.

"First, you'll have to catch me!" Ace smirked as he started running.

Zoro is meditating, trying to block all the noise when suddenly, a water balloon hits him hard in his face. Everyone froze in place, barely breathing, waiting for Zoro's reaction. Completely soaked, Zoro stood up slowly, took a depth breath and then…

"YOU'RE ALL DEAD, YOU IDIOTS!"

"LUNCH!" Came Sanji's voice from the kitchen.

Thank God everyone went running to the kitchen to avoid Zoro, especially Usopp who is now begging Sanji to protect him.

Zoro growled. 'They are not going to get away with this.' Zoro entered the kitchen, ready to teach these idiots a lesson.

"Hey, Marimo, you're soaking the floor! Get out and go change!" Sanji yelled.

'And now this guy!' Before Zoro even had a chance to think what he was about to say, the words came out.

"Shut up, you faggot, this is not your concern!"

After that, there's only silence. Everyone is shocked and they're expecting Sanji to hit the swordsman and start a fight, but Sanji is not moving at all.

"Zoro, that's not nice, apologize to Sanji, you idiot! You crossed the line there!" Nami yelled, glaring at Zoro, waiting for his apology and if he didn't, 300 Berries would be added to his debt.

"Geez, witch, calm down! Look, cook, I'm sor-"

"I set lunch already, everything is on the table and food can be served. And Luffy, try not to eat everyone else's food…I'm not feeling too well." And with that, Sanji left the kitchen.

"Look what you have done, you moron." Nami said sitting and glaring at Zoro.

"Tch, he'll get over it. You're all overreacting." Zoro muttered as he sat and started to eat.

Ace stood up and took more food.

"I'll go check on him and make sure he eats." With that, Ace left the kitchen to go look for his cook.

"Zoro, what's going on with you? Lately, you have been pretty hostile towards Sanji, are you two mad at each other?"

"Shut up Brook, it's nothing. I'll go and apologize later when he's calmed down."

The crew dropped the subject, knowing full well that Zoro is not going to say anything. Robin is now sure that the cook's behavior from a few days ago changed, not because of a nightmare about spiders but something more complicated….involving Zoro perhaps? True, they fight day and night, but they are always about something stupid and their fights or even insults were never serious or too mean but recently, those fights and insults are beginning to be more personal, more real. They can't even be in the same room without one of them making an excuse to leave. They are crewmates, how is that going to work with two members that absolutely hate each other? Robin, now more than ever, needs to find a moment to speak with Sanji before it's too late.

Elsewhere on the ship...

Knock, Knock

"I'm still not feeling well, I will get out soon." Sanji said to whoever was at the other side of his door.

Sanji is a mess and he knows it, but it's not his fault, every time he is feeling a little bit better, Zoro makes him angry or sad and he is back where he started. He hates it, hates it so much, that that bastard can have so much control over him.

"I don't love you, Sanji, not now and I never will."

Zoro's rejection proved to be too much for Sanji to handle and it hurts every fucking time he thinks about it.

Slowly, the door opens and Ace enters the room. He is not going to leave Sanji alone, no matter what the others say; he will be by his side.

"Sanji, I have food and wine. I don't want you to starve, so how about you eat just a little bit?"

"I'm not hungry Ace…but thank you." Ace stood there, looking at the cook for a few seconds when he decides to leave the food on the table and sit down next to him.

"So… you finally told him that you love him, right?" Ace asked.

Sanji's is not surprised by the question or the fact Ace knows because Ace was always there (or at least when he visits) and has proven to be a really good friend so Sanji confessed his love for Zoro to him and since then, Ace has tried to help him in everything he could.

"By the way you both treat each other, I assume he doesn't feel the same, am I right…Sanji?"

Sanji can't talk, the only thing he is able to do right now is cry. Ace feels relived and sad at the same time. Relieved because if the swordsman doesn't love Sanji, then that means he still has a chance, that he can make Sanji see that he can have so much better. Someone who truly appreciate everything he does, someone who loves his crazy and fierce personality, his smile, his curly-brows, someone who loves him. But also looking at Sanji like this weighs on his heart. He hates seeing him like this and Zoro has no idea of the power he has over Sanji. Not that he would care anyway.

"Sanji…you know you deserve better, you are truly an amazing person, anyone would be lucky to be by your side and if Zoro can't see this, then it's his loss." Ace said, sincerity in his voice.

Sanji stopped crying, or at least not so hard now, and removed his arm from his eyes.

"You must think I'm fucking pathetic…" 'God, I even sound pathetic.'

"No…not at all. You're feeling like this because you lost someone you love…well, in a way. I don't think it's pathetic, it just proves it was real, but cheer up, your lovely, handsome fire user is here to save the day! I promise I will make you forget about this mess and in a few weeks, you're gonna be saying, 'Zoro who?'" Ace said, smiling.

With that, Sanji allowed himself to smile, Ace can be such an idiot sometimes but Sanji is glad Ace is here with him or otherwise, he would be hanging himself by now.

"Thanks, Ace…for everything."

Ace smiled at Sanji.

"Of course, you are my Sanji after all…ahem…"

Sanji raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Ace grinned sheepishly. "Can we eat now? I'm starving."

Sanji chuckled, figures…

"Yeah, yeah, we can."

Later…

Zoro is now in front of the cook's door.

'Damn witch, damn crew, and damn cook.' Zoro is outside of Sanji's room to apologize. Well, it's that or have a bigger debt with the witch.

'How am I even gonna start? Hey, cook, sorry for calling you a faggot…which you are by the way. No, no, that will not work…eeeh, sorry for not loving you?'But he's not sorry, it's not his fault. 'Damn, I'm in trouble.' Suddenly, Zoro heard noises inside Sanji's room and stuff being moved roughly, some others crashing to the floor.

'What the hell is going on inside?'That's when Zoro heard Sanji's voice.

"Stop, Stop!"

'Are we under attack, did someone manage to sneak in?! Is the cook fighting that scum right now?'Zoro took his blade and forced his way in.

"Cook, where is that bast-" 'Ok, so we are not under attack… it's just Ace…on top of Sanji, and tickling him.

The three of them stared at each other.

"Zoro, what's with the sword? What is going on?" Ace asked.

"I came here…I thought…whatever, you look better now, cook, so I'm gonna go." Zoro placed his sword back in its sheath connected to his waist and went to the deck.

"What is that stupid moss-head thinking? He almost destroyed my door."

"Who knows…well, no worries." Ace said as he took notice that he was still on top of Sanji. He knows he should move, but he is going to risk it…just a little.

"Uuuh, Ace, I can't move…"

"Zoro is a fool for not wanting you…"Ace said suddenly.

"What?" Sanji's face is red thanks to that statement and the fact that Ace is on top of him is not doing him any good. 'Is Ace trying to embarrass me or make me feel better?'

"You are perfect, did you know that?" Ace asked, watching Sanji's reaction and upon seeing no anger, Ace took his chance to push his luck a little bit more. Ace lowered himself a little bit, closer to Sanji, and placed one hand on the back of Sanji's head, caressing Sanji's head and feeling the soft strands of hair between his fingers, Ace leaned forward, placing a light kiss on Sanji's lips just to see what Sanji was going to do next.

Sanji's eyes are wide open; he can't move or think properly. Ace just fucking kissed him.

"Sanji …" Ace whispered. "Give me a chance to prove myself, give me a chance to make you happy…"

Sanji feels hypnotized; the words that came from Ace's mouth are too enticing. He wants to feel good, he wants a chance to be happy and every time Ace is around…he is at ease. He wants to give Ace a chance, but is he ready to move on from his feelings for Zoro so soon? What if Ace fails to make him happy? He can't lose Ace's friendship.

"Ace, I'm a mess…I…I-I can't lose you too… I-"

"You won't! …You won't. I know what I'm getting myself into, and I promise you won't lose my friendship because it also means a lot to me, just give me an opportunity…besides I did promise to make you forget." Ace smiled.

They didn't move for a few minutes, Ace is looking straight to Sanji's eyes, waiting for Sanji's reply. Sanji can't speak right now, but nodded his head instead. Ace smiled at that again and leaned forward, giving the cook a deeper kiss. Sanji responded this time letting, Ace dominate the kiss. Ace's kiss was getting fierce and placed one hand on Sanji's neck, releasing their lips while he started kissing Sanji's neck instead.

"Ace…" Sanji moaned. Suddenly, Ace's full weight fell on Sanji.

"Ace? ...Ace?! What's wrong?!"

Sanji got a loud snore in response.

"You've got to be kidding me, Ace, you fell asleep?" Sanji is frustrated, but even so, he started laughing, he couldn't help it. Even in this situation, Ace makes him smile. 'You stupid narcoleptic.'

Later on…

Zoro is unconsciously looking around the ship, waiting for Sanji and Ace to come outside with everyone. It's been a while since he left them alone. This is not because Zoro is jealous, Sanji could be fucking that guy, but it makes no difference to him. But it's just that there is something in having control over Sanji that Zoro loves, not because he likes him that way, but since day one, all they do is fight and Zoro is always looking forward to this. He found someone who can rival him in power, someone who is not going to let him win or let him step over him and now being able to make that person break a little is too entertaining to him. He is proud every time he makes Sanji lose his temper because he's the only one who can…now more than ever, but with Ace around, that's not possible. Ace is ruining his fun. He knows he is being cruel, but it's not like the cook can't take it, besides he will get over it soon. Getting back to Ace, he proved to be another one who can make Sanji's emotions change and Zoro didn't like it. A twisted hobby of his, but he became addicted a long time ago and now he can't stop. He will take advantage of this situation…just a little bit more.

Finally, Zoro spotted Sanji but with no Ace by his side. Zoro smiled. 'Now, this is my chance.'

Proofread and edited by Coco42