A/N: Correction in Zoro's age, it was pointed out, that the time line didn't match up (thank you by the way) so Zoro's age will be 34, not 32
A Devil's Mystery
"So? Something fun happen?" Usopp asked as Zoro came back into the apartment
Zoro didn't know whether to smile, or worry. "Sit down; we need to have a talk"
Usopp sat on the couch, half shocked at Zoro's tone "Something wrong?"
Zoro sat down beside his son, and turned to face him "Um, sort of, and sort of not. Sanji has something in his past that might be coming after him. He thinks that if it, whatever it is, does come for it, that he would be putting me and you in danger, if we were in a relationship. So I wanted to ask you, do you mind if I take this risk?"
"You must really like him" Usopp responded "Most of the time, if you thought you'd be putting me in danger; you would stop and get away from it"
Zoro felt slight shock at the comment, he didn't even realize that himself "Damn kid getting to smart for your own good" Zoro smiled "Well, I want you to take some time to think this over, don't feel like you have to say your okay with it for me, okay bud?"
Usopp nodded "Alright"
Zoro frowned a little "Okay well, I have had a long day, so I'm going to hit the hay, night"
"Night" Usopp responded still sitting, it was a big choice that required some thought.
…
Sanji sighed into his breakfast, his eggs falling back onto his plate as he went to grab the phone; he flipped it open and scanned through a few numbers before he hit the call button
"Egg plant? What do you need?"
"Good morning to you too shitty old man" Sanji moved to his back porch sliding the glass door open
"Whatever, I'm not on a break right now so make it fast"
"I think I fucked up last night, I kind of said that I wanted to date Zoro, to his face"
"Patty, Crane, I'm taking a break, so don't burn down my place while I'm gone!"
Sanji pulled a cigarette out and lit it, taking a few greedy drags off of it
"What the hell are you thinking eggplant!?"
"Wow, thought you might be a little bit more surprised to hear that I'm bisexual" Sanji laughed weakly
"Oh hell, we all knew you played both ways, the only one that didn't know was you! Now, you need to fix this, you know why you can't date. They won't hurt Chopper, but they'll hurt anyone else you know!"
Sanji let out a shaky breath "I know, I know, but, I can't spend Life, alone, I need Friends and Someone to bond with, romantically, and he said something, something that I really want to fight for"
"Sanji…"
"Zeff, just hear me out!"
"No, you know why you can't have those things, you're a father, you're lucky enough right there!"
"He wants a family! Me and him, our two boys! A nice house!"
"Sanji!"
"God damn it! Zeff, I can't live that life, I fucked my dream up once, but I can make it work this time, I'm not that person anymore!"
"That doesn't matter to them; you're still that person to them! Anybody you drag into this will get hurt!"
Sanji hung up his cell phone, and threw it into his yard. Small tears made their way down his face as he went into his room.
…
"OI Usopp, I'm home for my lunch hour, well my first one, you home?" Zoro asked into his apartment
"In my room! Be out in a sec"
Zoro nodded to himself and went to the kitchen and started making himself some lunch
Before long Usopp emerged from his room, paint marks on his arms, and a little bit of black ink on his long nose "Hey, your friend Ace called, he's having a barbeque tonight, wants you to come"
Zoro shot his head around the small wall dividing the kitchen from the living room "What? Ace called?"
Usopp nodded then sat at their small table "Yeah"
Zoro walked to the table with two plates and set one down in front of Usopp and the other for himself
"What are you surprised about? You two are like brothers" Usopp noted as an after thought
"Don't worry about it, so did he say a time and place?"
"Yeah, like I said, his place, around 9 pm"
"Okay, so how's your day so far, making any progress and that painting you've been telling me about?"
Usopp nodded excitedly with a mouth full of food, and then swallowed "Yeah, tons, a few setbacks, but it's finally coming together"
Zoro quickly finished his lunch, and intently listened to his son talk about this master piece he was creating, but, the hour came do an end far too soon and he hand to go
…
Sanji woke up on his bedroom floor, fully dressed. He slowly stood, hearing the steady stream of knocks coming from his front door.
He looked around, he had thrashed his room, and he found his clock "9 pm, fuck I slept the day away"
The knocking got louder
"Okay! I'm coming!" Sanji started off towards his door
…
"Yeah, go ahead, he's at my place" Robin said to Zoro "He needs to talk"
Zoro nodded "Thanks"
…
Sanji exited his room and walked to the living room, the knocking still causing a ruckus
"I said I'm coming!"
…
Zoro pulled into Robin and Franky's drive way, spotting Ace on the patio Smoking a cigar, he gave a wave and started up towards his friend
…
Sanji walked to the door way, laying his hand on the door knob
…
"Hey Zoro, long time no see" Ace smiled
Zoro kept a calm demeanor, but let a small smile creep onto his face "So, I thought you and you brother were locked up in impel down"
…
Sanji turned the knob, slowly creeping the door open, the knocking stopped
…
"Well, we have some unfinished business with some guy, so we broke out" Ace responded
Zoro smiled bigger "So where's Luffy then?"
Ace smiled
...
Sanji's eyes went wide as he stumbled back, tripping and falling onto his back and stared at the man in the straw hat, unable to find his eyes
…
"He's taking care of it" Ace winked at Zoro
TBC
Okay, and there's a cliff hanger… I am going to start writing the next chapter after this is posted so don't fear, just because school starts tomorrow doesn't mean I won't be updating!
Wow this story took a turn down a street I didn't expect… this should be fun, hope you liked it! Please Review!