Chapter 8

Don't own One Piece.

The sun is rising and Sanji has yet to come back.

Zoro stayed up all night waiting for him, he is truly worried. What if that woman is doing something to him? What if this is revenge against him? Hurting his friend for what he did? No, no, no…don't think things like that, he is fine…

Zoro is exhausted, but he can't sleep, not until the cook is here. He's trying to fight against it, but his eyes seemed to be closing more and more…

"Fucking love cook…" Zoro mumbled.

"Well…fuck you too, brainless marimo."

Zoro jumped and looked up.

"Sanji…about time you fucking idiot, I wa...we were getting worried, you asshole!"

"Oooh, I missed you too." Sanji said sarcastically while walking away to the kitchen.

"So…how was it?" Zoro asked, following behind.

"It was fine."

"Just…fine?"

"Yeah…fine."

"Really?"

"You have brain damage or something? Yes, fine…"

"I'm asking, cook, because it's fucking nine in the morning for just a fine date."

"Can we not talk about it?"

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"It's just…forget it."

"Oh, come on! What happened?"

"Well…it's a little embarrassing and besides…I don't think you want to hear this…"

"Try me…"

Sanji stared at him for a while and then sat next to him. "Well, everything was going fine, she is a really classy lady, but who would have thought…. Anyway, we ate dinner and she was delighted with the place and the gifts. We walked for a while, then we arrived at her house, she asked me for one last drink and…"

-FLASH BACK-

"You can wait for me on the living room…I'll be right back." She said a bit tipsy.

"S-Sure…" Sanji said nervously. How is he going to get away? He needs a plan.

After a few minutes of waiting, Sanji sat on the sofa in the living room and sat on something uncomfortable, he took the item from under him to see what it was…a leash? What is a leash doing-

"Who's been a bad boy?" a female voice purred.

Sanji looked around, spotting his date. She is wearing a very slutty black leather dress with really high heels and a whip.

'Well…shit.'

"How many times do I have to tell you…" She almost fell thanks to the alcohol in her system but she continued. "…not to sit on the couch, bad dog." She approached Sanji and put a pair of fake ears on his head.

Sanji is freaking out. "You know, it's getting late and-"

"Bark!" She commanded.

"What the?"

"D-Dogs can't talk, silly. Besides you can't go outside without…without your leash on and I still need to punish you for disobeying…" She said before she whipped Sanji.

"Shit…" 'Well fuck my luck…'

-FLASH BACK END-

"A fucking dominatrix…she whipped the hell out of me, what a nightmare…" Sanji said lighting a cigarette. Zoro hasn't said anything.

"Hey, Marimo, were you listeni-"

Zoro burst out laughing. It was too much for here.

"Fucking asshole, you promised not to laugh!"

Zoro, still laughing, gasped out. "I-I promised to listen! E-Even…Even when you're no longer dating…women, you still manage to find the c-crazy ones!"

"You found her, not me, asshole!"

"It doesn't matter…man, am I glad I ran away from that crazy bitch! Sorry for putting you through that though,"

"It wasn't that bad, besides, she let me keep the fake ears…see?" Sanji took the ears from his jacket and placed them on his head.

They both laughed.

"You look nice…"

"Fuck you…" Sanji stood up to make breakfast and coffee.

But it was true…he looks cute with them. Zoro is relieved that Sanji is alright except for some mental scars of course…but wait!

"Wait a minute…so you slept with her?!" Zoro asked.

"No!" Sanji yelled. "Fortunately, she was quite drunk, so she fell asleep on her bed, so I snuck around, after making sure she was alright, of course. She is a lady after all and then ran for my life…and…Oh, my God!"

"What?" Asked Zoro in alarm.

"I didn't close her door…" Sanji realized.

There was a moment of silence.

Zoro chuckled. "Again? That's fucking priceless… Let's just hope that no one steals another necklace from her…or Luffy will be the one dating her this time."

Sanji nodded his head and began making some coffee. Zoro is just sitting there quietly looking at him when he noticed a deep bluish purple spot on Sanji's neck.

"It's that a hickey?!"

"What?! Where?" Sanji looked at himself everywhere.

"So you did have your share of fun, huh?" Teased Zoro with a sick feeling is his gut. He is not happy knowing that that bitch took advantage of Sanji. And knowing Sanji, he can't deny a lady anything even if he is not into them anymore, the fucking moron.

"When did she…?" Sanji asked, looking at the deep purple spot on his neck using his knife. Sanji is mortified, he can't cover the hickey, it's too high on his neck.

The door opened. "Good morning." Robin greeted.

"Good morning, Robin." Sanji said, trying to cover his hickey with his hand.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No…not at all, want some coffee?" Sanji asked, turning around to hide the hickey.

"That would be lovely, Sanji. How was your date?"

"I manage to survive…"

"Oh, you have to tell me everything…"

"It was pretty much me having bad luck with women again right, Zoro? Zoro?"

Sanji found Zoro asleep, sitting with his arms crossed.

Robin giggled and Sanji turned to look at her.

"Mr. Swordsman didn't sleep last night, you know. He was worried sick for you. He stayed up all night in the crow's nest…waiting for you."

"He did?" Sanji asked softly. 'Why did he do that?'

"Yes, but we all know how he is about his mate."

"His what?!" Sanji squealed.

His best mate…what? You are his best friend after all, aren't you?" Robin questioned, faking innocence. 'It's so easy to mess with these two…'

"O-oh, y-yeah, best friend…I guess" Sanji's heart is beating rapidly.

"So, about your date… kinky, wasn't she?"

"How could you possibly know that?" Sanji asked raising an eyebrow.

Robin pointed her finger to the fake ears still on Sanji's head.

"Oh, yeah." 'Now he feels bad…Robin is a classy lady; she would never eavesdrop on someone else's conversation…'

"Mr. Swordsman was right…you look nice."

'…Yes, she would.'

"Namiiiiii, I'm bored…" It's been six weeks. Six weeks without stepping foot on land and their captain can't take it anymore. He needs adventure…more like trouble.

"Luffy, shut up… we all are." Nami sigh without strength behind her words. She is too tired of doing nothing. Funny, huh?

They all love the sea, sure, but…after a while of doing the same every fucking day, the same routine over and over again…well it gets to you, more so if your captain doesn't shut up about it. The only member used to it, is Sanji. Well, he lived almost his whole life on a floating restaurant, cooking every day, so he is the least stressful one of the lot. Well, him and Franky of course. Nothing can stop that cyborg guy from being overly enthusiastic about everything.

"Nami, how much longer?" Usopp asked, sprawled out on the floor and looking at the sky.

"I told you guys already…one more day to reach land. As long as we don't have any problems." Nami wants to hit all these idiots, but that would be too much effort.

"Nami, Robin… here, some fruit punch for my beautiful flowers." Sanji brought refreshing drinks for the ladies.

"Thanks, Sanji." Both replied.

"Awww…Sanji, no fair! I'm your captain…where's my drink?"

"In the kitchen, you lazy bastard, go get it!" Sanji yelled back.

"Can't believe it…" 'Those idiots do nothing all day and they begged me to bring the drinks outside.'

"You should have told them 'no'…" came a smooth voice from the table.

"You're blaming me? You know our captain, somehow he always gets what he wants…"

Zoro drank his drink in one gulp. "Yeah, you're probably right…"

"Anyhow…shouldn't you be outside training?" Sanji asked, taking Zoro's glass to wash it.

"Yeah… what are you making?" 'Way to change the subject smoothly, Zoro.'

"Hmm? Oh…baked spaghetti."

"Spaghetti?"

Sanji looked at Zoro. "You don't like it? I can cook something else for you…perhaps some…"

"No!" Zoro interrupted. "Spaghetti is fine, you know I eat everything you cook anyway…"

"Yes…but I also remember you criticizing my cooking skills every single time you do."

"That's just to mess with you…I like everything you cook."

"Oh…" Sanji didn't expect that.

There is an awkward silence.

'Shit.' "I should probably go to train some before dinner…"

Sanji nodded his head. "Z-Zoro?"

"Yeah?" Zoro has his right hand on the door knob.

About what happened on that island…you know…with me and your lady."

"She was not my lady…" the marimo grunted back.

"Yeah, yeah…could you…not say anything about it? It's too embarrassing and if Nami and the others start asking questions of why I ran away from a lady, they're gonna to suspect something and I can't deal with that right now…"

'Is he afraid to tell them about him being gay?' "Yeah sure…"

"Thanks…"

Zoro feels bad looking at Sanji like this, like he is ashamed. He must be afraid of the crew reacting the same way he did. Great, now he feels even worse now… he apologized already but still…

"Don't worry…you're my best friend after all." Well, all he can do now is being there for him…as a friend.

Sanji blushed a little. "Aah…don't mention it. That is so sappy…"

They both chuckled and stared at each other fondly.

"I'll get going…" Zoro said. He broke the stare because he felt his face heating up and he needs to get out of there right now.

Sanji just nodded. Zoro left the kitchen and closed the door.

Yes…they definitely need to get off of the ship as soon as possible, the boredom is messing with his mind.

The Straw Hat pirates had finally arrived at the next island a few hours ago.

Sanji is walking alone. It has been a long time since he had time to himself. He is looking for a cheap place where he can eat and drink, he doesn't have too much money but he is not looking for a shithole either, he spotted a place with a nice view just ahead, It will do just fine, he is in desperate need of alcohol.

The place is…clean at least. Sanji sat down and ordered wine, thank God they have some and not only that disgusting booze that Zoro likes so much. 'Zoro…'

Sanji is so confused. He likes being Zoro's best friend, of course he does, but… Zoro is making it so difficult…why is he so perfect? Sanji is afraid to do or say something stupid at any moment now and lose his friendship. Not only Zoro, but Ace too.

He misses Ace so much… "What is he doing right now? Is he eating properly? Is he thinking about me? Talking about me? Is he even missing me?"

"Hello."

Sanji looked up. A man, good looking one, actually with red hair is looking down at him.

"Can I keep you company?"

"Yeah, sure. Be my guest." Sanji said.

"Name is Ron…sorry for being so forward, but I saw you walk in and you looked…interesting." the red haired guy said, looking straight at Sanji.

"A-Ah, sure, no problem."

"You look familiar…have we met before?"

"I don't think so…"

Ron smiled. "You are right…I would definitely remember meeting a hot guy like you…"

'Is he hitting on me?!' Sanji has no idea what to do now…this his first time being hit on by a man aside from the time he spent on that fucking island with the shitty crossdressers. He could kick him like he did to those freaks but he was doing nothing wrong…

Thanks…uh, I should probably go…"

"Great idea, let's leave this shithole." Geez, get a hint…what can I do? Oh, yeah…

"Thanks, but I don't think my boyfriend would like that…"

The red haired guy looked at Sanji. "Your boyfriend, huh?" It seems he does not believe him.

"Yes, my boyfriend Ace. He's a famous pirate, you know?"

"Ace?" Ron asked in shock. "Ace Portgas?"

"Yes, that's the one…" Sanji nodded with a smile. 'Ace is really famous, huh?'

"Oh, so you must be Marco. Shit, sorry, yes, I heard something about you guys being together."

'Wait…what? Who's Marco?' Sanji feels sick. 'Is Ace cheating on me? But…everything Ace said…was he lying?'

"Sorry, I had no idea who you were…I'll leave you alone…" Ron stood up. "Portgas is a really lucky guy…" The red haired man said before he walked off.

'Is Ace really cheating on me? But…he said he loved me, he was the one going after me, making me like him back…he was the one asking me to be his boyfriend…lies, lies…'

Sanji chuckled. He should have seen this one coming. Why would someone be happy with him? How stupid of him to think that for once he could be happy… well, he was a failure with women, so it should be the same with men, right? First Zoro and now Ace in just a few months. Sanji feels like a moron…he picked up his glass of wine and saw his own reflection in it. "What a joke you are…" he said to himself. He saw drops falling in his glass, great…now he is crying again. He is so sick of crying…

Zoro is walking around with no direction. He has his booze, so everything is ok, well, not everything. He is looking for a nice spot to drink his booze and think…yes, the moss-head can think every once in a while. He spotted a hill not too far away. Perhaps he can go there, no distractions, no annoying people...

He climbed the hill…it's not too high so it's perfect. The green grass, the view, the blond dude sitting there looking at nothing… wait…Sanji? Zoro approached him quietly. Something is wrong, he can feel it.

Sanji is lost in his own thoughts, he took a sip of wine, and yes, he bought the bottle before leaving the bar.

A voice addressing him interrupted his thoughts. "Who would have thought his highness would come here…you know this place could have spiders, right?"

Sanji grunted. "Are you stalking me or something?" Sanji said, not sparing a look at him.

"You wish…"

His green haired friend sat down, placing his booze next to him. Zoro looked at the bottle of wine. 'Is he alright?'

"So, having fun, I can see…"

No reply.

"Ok, what happened?"

Sanji is not looking at him. Zoro is getting pissed off; the shitty cook is ignoring him.

Oh, no he won't.

"Hey!" Zoro took Sanji by his shoulders and turned him for Sanji to face him.

"What is wrong with you?!" Sanji snapped, trying to get out ofhis grip.

Zoro can see that Sanji has been crying, his red eyes are a dead giveaway and he looks bad for drinking so much wine.

"Sanji, what is it? Talk to me…should I find Chopper? Robin perhaps?"

"It's nothing, Marimo."

'Are we back to the nicknames now?'

"Like hell it's nothing! Look at you! You look like shit."

"What does it matter how I look? It's not like anyone would care…"

'What?' "Fucking cook, either you tell me or-"

"God, you really want to know? Ace has a boyfriend…there! Now you can laugh at me like you always do..."

Zoro stared at Sanji…of course that fucking Ace has a boyfriend, it's Sanji. "Well, yeah, duh…you!"

"Is my name Marco?" Sanji asked.

"What?" Ok, Zoro has no idea what is going on.

"..." Sanji is getting angrier.

"…No." Zoro said with hesitation.

"Then I am not Ace's boyfriend."

'Wait a minute…' "Is Ace cheating on you?" 'This can't be…'

"Seems more like cheating on his official boyfriend with me…" Sanji feels awful again and took another sip of wine.

Zoro can't believe it. He's having mixed feelings. He's happy that Ace cheated on Sanji. Well, not happy, happy…relieved, because that means he will no longer be with Sanji, but…on the other hand, he's angry. How dare that bastard do this to Sanji after all the shit he did to him? And then hurting Sanji the same way? He's going to kill him and no one would be able to stop him…that fuckin prick. But now is not the time, he had to focus on Sanji!

"Sanji…I'm so-"

"Why can I be someone's first choice?" Sanji asked.

That seems more like a rhetorical question, but Zoro flinched a little as he remembered the time when he arrived at the ship with the woman he met at the bar a few months back just after Sanji confessed to him.

"Sanji…look, I have no idea what it's like to love someone and have that someone betray you like this. Ace…Ace is a fucking idiot…it's his loss and I promise you…as soon as I see him, I will personally send him straight to hell."

Sanji smiled a little but only for a moment. "It's just that…just for once, I want someone to be afraid of losing me, you know?"

Zoro wants to make Sanji feel better. No…he needs to. He was a jerk for doing all those things to him…he was the first one to break Sanji's heart for god's sake!

"I was…" Zoro confessed.

Sanji turned looked at Zoro, confused. "What?"

"After the way I treated you…I was afraid to lose you. Sure, we used to fight a lot or throw insults at each other but somehow, I always felt that you would be someone I could trust not matter what. I always felt you would be the only one to understand me, someone I could actually talk to about anything…why do you think I told you about Kuina? That's not something I would tell to anyone. During the last few weeks…I was able to see what I was missing and somehow I'm glad how things ended you are a great best friend, the best and only one I ever had…so…yeah."

Sanji stared at Zoro not saying anything. He blinked thrice. That gaze is making Zoro uncomfortable. Did he said something he shouldn't have?

"San-"

Sniff.

"A-Are you crying?"

S-Shut up, you idiot! I'm not crying…"

'He is…'

"I have something in my eye." Sanji took a deep breath and exhaled. He then looked at Zoro. "Thanks…Zoro."

Zoro smiled at him. "You're welcome, you idiot. Are you feeling better?"

"A bit…thanks to my best friend." Sanji smiled at him.

"Tch…you sure are high maintenance. Come on, let's get back to the ship, we don't want that crazy witch angry and raising my debt for no reason."

"Don't talk about Nami that way, bastard!"

"Whatever, princess…"

"I am going to kill you…hey…wait! Where are you going?! The ship is over there, idiot!"

"Fucking streets keep moving!"

Proofread and edited by Coco42