Hugs to my prereaders and to you lot as well ;)
Enjoy ^^
Hot as Fire
Chapter 13
On Wednesday Sanji came over at Vivi's place to return the borrowed clothes. He had washed them, of course. As a thank-you for letting him borrow them he had promised to cook a meal for the newly-married couple. Vivi, the sweet angel she was, let him in smiling, looking like a true princess. He almost swooned, but pulled himself together when Kohza appeared in the hallway.
He had made pilaf with meat and dried fruit, knowing Vivi had Middle Eastern roots. They chatted about all sorts of things. Sanji asked how the married life suited them. Vivi smiled, looking radiant, and grabbing her husband's hand said she had never been happier. Kohza seemed to feel the same.
The chef couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He hadn't dated anyone since Conis and the closest he came to a relationship was with Zoro. He shivered. But he kept smiling politely.
After dinner Kohza had to go to a meeting of some animal rights group. Reluctantly he left Sanji alone with his wife, but not after kissing her passionately.
Sanji made coffee – as he wouldn't allow a beautiful woman like Vivi to do that as long as he was around – and they sat down on the couch together. The blonde told her how things were at the restaurant and that the renovations were making progress.
"I'm glad. It must be nice to work with your friends," she said smiling.
"Yeah, Franky and Usopp can be a bit goofy, but they're passionate about their work. We wouldn't have been this far without them," he added.
"So, what about you? I know you're passionate about your job as well, but… Are you passionate about someone?" She giggled adorably.
He flushed a little. "Vivi-chan! I… No, not really…" Not really? There wasn't anyone he liked at the moment!
"Nami told me you broke up with your girlfriend a few weeks ago. How long were you two together? If you don't mind me asking," she added hastily, considerate as she was.
"Of course not, my princess! Conis and I dated for about three months." It had been his longest relationship in quite some time. He had really started to fall for her, making the blow of their break-up even greater. But by now he had gotten over her, though he would get back together with his angel if she would ask.
"That's a pretty long time. I'm sorry it didn't work out. But…" She hesitated for a moment. "Ace seems to think you now have feelings for Zoro."
Sanji's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, not by Vivi of course, but because of Ace and his assumptions. Which weren't even close to the truth! "I do not. Ace likes to think I do, and probably wants to get us together for some reason, but I do not like that green haired idiot. I know we pretended to have a relationship at your wedding – I'm so sorry for deceiving you, my beautiful flower! – but it was just acting. Nothing more."
She stayed silent for a while and then said: "Well, you are a great actor. You really had me convinced."
"You're so kind, Vivi-chan!" he swooned. "Your compliments make my heart flutter!" It was probably for the best Kohza wasn't home, hearing Sanji's exclamations of love. Not that he would seriously hit on a married woman, though a part of him wished that he could have met Vivi before Kohza.
"That reminds me. Zoro told me you and Ace dated for a while. He doesn't really seem to be your type." He said it carefully, afraid to offend her.
She blushed a little, making his heart beat faster. "It was a short but… passionate relationship. I liked him the moment I saw him. He's so handsome… But I noticed pretty soon after we started dating that he much rather would like to be with a man. But Ace and I stayed friends, even if Kohza isn't much of a fan of that."
"Well, it seems to have turned out well for everybody," the chef said smiling. "You're married now and Ace seems perfectly happy with Marco." His face grew gloomy. After what he witnessed them do on Sunday, he'd almost say they were too happy.
On Friday morning he received a text message and much to his surprise it came from Zoro. The swordsman asked him if he was still up for a spar session together. Sanji smiled. They did agree on doing that, before everything between them got all weird. But now things were fine again and he was pumped for a fight. So he texted back he would book a hall for that night, he didn't have to work then anyway.
He received as an answer that Zoro would meet him at the gym, but that he could still back out if he was afraid to get his ass handed to him.
'How are you planning on doing that if I'm gonna kick you to pulp first?' he texted back.
'I'd like to see you try, Curly.'
This hostile conversation lasted the entire day, much to Zeff's annoyance, as every few minutes Sanji fumed and yelled obscenities at his phone. Still, after the younger chef told him it was the idiot marimo he was talking to, the restaurant owner backed off a little.
On the agreed time the blonde was standing in front of the sports centre and of course there was no sign of Zoro. He sighed and wondered how long he had to wait before calling the green haired man. Or filing a missing person report.
Fortunately he was only standing there for several minutes when a panting swordsman stopped next to him. Still, he was too late and Sanji couldn't resist rubbing it in. "Got lost again, Marimo?"
The man looked up, still trying to catch his breath. "What the hell? I went through this street like three times and now suddenly there is a gym?!"
"The gym was here the whole time, idiot. As was I," the blonde added accusingly.
The swordsman snorted. "If your knees are shaking with fear, you could have sat down, Curly."
"Why the hell would I be scared?!"
Still yelling at each other they went inside. From a surprised and slightly frightened employee they received the key to the hall they had rented. In the men's changing room Sanji started to unbutton his jacket.
Zoro, who was already wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, sighed deeply. "Seriously Cook, who the hell wears a suit to the gym?"
"I still have to be seen in public on the way here, Moss-head. And unlike others, I care about how I look." He eyed the other man in disdain. "Just go warm up already. I'll be there in a sec."
He was right, Zoro had just finished stretching when the blonde entered the hall, wearing black sweatpants and a loose shirt. He smirked at the other man. "You're so going to eat your words."
"Bring it, Curly."
"Give me a minute to warm up."
Before Zoro could protest, the chef stretched out and slowly lowered himself to the splits. To warm up he put his body in all kind of impossible positions, warming up Zoro as well – but not in the way intended. Finally, the blonde got up and stood in a fighting stance.
Sanji wasn't wearing any shoes and Zoro had brought his wooden swords, so they didn't fight at full power. Still, they were equally matched and could go all out. At some point Sanji managed to kick one of the green haired man's swords out of his hand. He didn't give him a chance to get the weapon, but right away went for the others. Zoro let go of his swords and suddenly their fight turned into a wrestling match.
Somehow, Sanji ended up on top and pinned the green haired man down with his powerful legs. Both their faces were red and sweaty. "Told you I would make you eat your words," the blonde said panting.
"Who says you've won yet?" But unfortunately, a certain part of Zoro's body didn't mind this position at all. He tried to breath normally and to get his body to listen to him, while praying Sanji wouldn't notice. Not again.
Sanji on the other hand had his own problems to deal with. How did they end up like this? Their faces close together, both breathing heavily… His heart was suddenly beating fast and his face was flushed, and not from the exertion from just now. What the hell? Was he so deprived from human contact that he even enjoyed a man's… no worse, Zoro's touch?! Something was very wrong with him.
A careful cough made his head snap up. A few feet away from them a gaunt man was standing, looking quite scared. "E-excuse me, sirs," he stammered, "y-you booked this hall for one hour. It's already fifteen minutes past… Other people want to use the hall as well…" The last few words were mumbled.
Sanji got up, just like Zoro and they exchanged a look. Together they headed for the dressing room, the employee cringing in when the two men walked past him.
"It's a good thing that employee came by. I was just about to kick your ass," the green haired man said smirking, pulling his sweaty t-shirt over his head.
"Oh really? And would that be before or after you begged me to release you?" The blonde tried to sound smug, but he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Zoro was taking off his cloths without batting an eyelid…
Of course he was! It was a changing room for crying out loud!
Still, he didn't know if he wanted to shower with the swordsman. When he thought about the things he felt when he had the man pinned under him… He shook off those thoughts. He was straight, dammit, and he didn't have feelings for that moss-head. He just needed to find a nice girl to go out with. That was all. He wanted a date and some physical contact if possible.
Deciding that was all it was, he followed Zoro into the showers. They weren't the only ones there, causing Sanji to heave a sigh in relief. He turned on the shower and let the hot water run along his skin. When he turned around he saw the swordsman soaping his hair, he himself had forgotten to bring shampoo. Not that he would want to use Zoro's cheap stuff, anyway.
"You need to scrub harder if you want the green to get out, Marimo," he said teasing. The other man scowled at him.
Once again he noticed the large diagonal scar running along the swordsman's chest. He had seen it before, at the beach for one, but he never asked. "So, what's with the scar?"
"It's very inappropriate to stare at people in the shower," Zoro said teasing, conveniently forgetting he had just been checking out Sanji's naked ass. "Besides, which scar?"
The blonde rolled his eyes. True, the man had more than one scar, but seriously? He needed to ask? "How about the one that looks like you have been cleaved in half?!" he snorted.
Zoro looked down to his chest, as if he had never noticed the enormous scar before. "Oh, that."
They walked out of the showers together. The green haired man grabbed his towel and started drying off, while he began his story: "It happened two years ago when I was in Japan. I was entering a kendo tournament – the kendo tournament, I should say, only the best enter there. I was so close on winning, when I entered the finale, a fight against the best swordsman in the world, Dracule Mihawk." His eyebrow twitched at that.
"And he sliced you up?!" Sanji asked disbelieving. Surely there would be some safety rules with tournaments like that?
"Of course not! Well, actually he did, but not during the tournament."
The blonde gaped at him.
Irritated, Zoro combed with his hand through his hair. "Would you just let me tell the story? Anyway, I lost, but in the tournament we weren't allowed to use real swords. I figured I could win when I did use real ones, so I sought out Mihawk. Then he sliced me up."
Sanji shook his head in disbelief. "You could have died! Didn't he care about that?"
"He's the head of some drugs organisation, so probably not," Zoro shrugged. "I was young and naïve, of course I still have to train more and get stronger. And when I do," a grin crept up his face, "I'll challenge him again and become the best swordsman in the world!"
Sanji snorted. "You're such an idiot." But deep down he respected the man for his dream. After all, his own was just as impossible. He shook his head again and continued drying himself off, something he ceased to do during Zoro's story.
The green haired man watched from the corner of his eye how a strong pale leg disappeared into a tight, black trouser leg and sighed. He needed to get laid, and soon.
They walked out of the sports centre together, Sanji lighting up a cigarette. He inhaled deeply the nicotine into his lungs, before turning to Zoro. "Aside for me kicking your ass, it was nice to spar with you. Since you're almost as good as I am."
The swordsman snorted. "Like I said, you were lucky our time was up. I was just getting warmed up."
It had started to rain and much to the chef's surprise Zoro had thought about bringing an umbrella, unlike the cook himself. Exchanging insults they walked home under the umbrella – or actually, Sanji was silently leading Zoro to his own home, to prevent having to look for a lost marimo later. They passed a grocery shop when the blonde remembered he was now finishing his last cigarette. "Oi, I'm going to buy a new package of these," he held up his cigarette, "I'll be right back."
The green haired man sighed dramatically. "Fine."
"If you don't want to wait, you can go on ahead," the chef said a little disappointed. He actually enjoyed walking home together with the marimo. Not that he would tell him that, of course.
"Just hurry up, Love-cook." Zoro folded in his umbrella and stood under the lean-to. Sanji entered the grocery, a ring of a small bell welcomed him. The grocer was an old man with a friendly face, who was probably just happy to have a customer. Fortunately he had Sanji's brand of cigarettes, but in the stockroom, so the old man had to go to the back. It took him forever to return.
Sighing Sanji pinched the bridge of his nose. Usually he didn't mind waiting, but now Zoro was standing outside. Well, whatever, the swordsman could come into the shop if he wanted.
Sanji looked up, debating whether or not to tell his friend it was going to take a while, when he saw through the shop-window that Zoro was talking to someone. Two persons to be exact. One was a tanned, slim man with a goatee and a white hat with black dots. The other guy was more pale, but muscular and had bright red hair and black painted lips. His clothes looked punk or whatever. The blonde cocked an eyebrow when he noticed the green haired man's posture. He could only see his back, but the man was definitely tense. He knew that pose: Zoro was talking to an ex.
Finally the old man came back and Sanji hasted himself to pay. With a quick thanks he rushed out the door.
"Okay, let's go," he said to Zoro, like he hadn't seen the other two men. He hadn't really thought about a plan, but the swordsman was obviously uncomfortable around these men, his ex and the new boyfriend. His eyes flicked to the tanned man. Yeah, he could see the swordsman dating a guy like that. He grabbed Zoro's hand and looked at the dark man challenging.
"So you're into skinny blondes now?"
Surprisingly the words didn't come from the sleep deprived looking slim man, but from the redhead. Sanji's head snapped towards Zoro, who was still staring at their hands like it was an unknown animal species. When he noticed the blonde looking he shrugged, but looked a little guilty as well.
The chef turned to the pale, muscular man. "Who're you callin' skinny, No-brows?"
The face of the red haired man darkened. "What did you call me? I'll break you like a twig!" He pulled a dagger out of his belt, previously hidden by his long coat, and lashed out.
Sanji let go of Zoro's hand and dove underneath the redhead's arm, kicking him in the stomach. The other man stumbled back, surprise written all over his face. The green haired man stood dumbfounded, because Sanji a) had held his hand, b) had just picked a fight with Eustass Kid, one of the most violent persons he knew, and c) seemed to be winning.
The tanned slender guy started to laugh. "It seems like you're being beaten by that skinny blonde, Mister Eustass."
Kid looked at his boyfriend pissed and lashed out again to Sanji. This time he managed to graze the blonde's side. Now it was Sanji's turn to be pissed off. He let his hands fall back, while throwing up his legs, kicking Kid in the jaw.
"Bastard," the redhead hissed, holding his cheek.
"Lemme see." The tanned man pushed his boyfriend's hand aside. "Doesn't look too bad. You need to put some ice on it, though."
"Right after I kill this son of a bitch." He jerked his head towards Sanji, who had lit a new cigarette.
His boyfriend shrugged. "Weren't we going to do something else?"
Kid hesitated. Whatever it was that they were going to do — and unfortunately, Sanji had a pretty good idea what that would be – beat trying to kill him. The redhead put away his knife and let his boyfriend drag him away, meanwhile threatening Sanji he would get him later.
Sanji snorted and took a long drag. Zoro finally came out of his trance. "You're bleeding!"
"It's nothing." Through the shop-window he saw the old grocer holding a phone and looking outside. "Fuck, he's calling the cops. Come on!" He grabbed the swordsman's arm and dragged him along.
When they were a safe distance from the grocery, Zoro exclaimed: "What the hell, Cook?"
Sanji said nothing, just took another drag from his cigarette. The green haired man shook his head. They were close to his home and before the blonde could protest, he pulled him inside. "Take off your shirt while I get the first-aid kit."
"I told you, it's fine," the chef protested. "It's just a scratch."
Zoro ignored him and walked to the bathroom. When he got back he was holding the first-aid box. Sanji had reluctantly unbuttoned his shirt and was now fingering the hole in the fabric. Great, his shirt was ruined.
"Care to explain?"
The cook was caught off guard by that question. "Explain what?" he mumbled.
"Start off with the hand holding."
He sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "When I saw those guys, I knew one of them was your ex – and by the way, what the hell? The redhead?"
Now it was Zoro's turn to look a little embarrassed. "Yeah, so?"
"Are you kiddin' me? Together you look like a fucking Christmas tree!"
The swordsman shot him with a questioning look.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Whatever. Anyway, despite the fact that I put my money on the wrong guy, I was right about one being your ex. So if he was showing off his new boyfriend, so should you."
"But you're not–"
"Of course I'm not your boyfriend, shit-for-a-brain! But he doesn't know that." He sighed. "I didn't think it through. But apparently you didn't either if you dated this guy."
Zoro knelt down and applied disinfectant on the blonde's wound, making him hiss in pain. "I wouldn't call it dating, per se…"
Sanji raised an eyebrow.
"It was just sex," the green haired man shrugged.
"Seriously? Do you ever date anyone?"
"Sure I do," the other man replied offended. "Just not Ace and Kid."
The chef rolled his eyes. "Okay, then tell me what ended this fairytale relationship."
A mischievous smile appeared on his face. "Neither of us wanted to be bottom."
"Bottom of what–?" A flush crept on his cheeks when the meaning of his words got through to him.
Zoro smirked. Then he got bandages out of the first-aid box, before he continued: "Besides, we wouldn't go well together anyway."
"Tell me about it," the blonde mumbled.
"By the way, of all people you shouldn't judge someone's eyebrows, Curly-brow."
He looked down in the smirking face of the swordsman. He snorted. "Then you should stay clear of the hair department, Moss-head."
Something was wrong here. Their insults were like usual, but there was something wrong with the atmosphere. Zoro was bandaging his wound, his rough and calloused hands gentle and careful. His skin tingled under the swordsman's touch. Man, this was bad!
The green haired man took a bit of distance to admire his work. "Perhaps I should let Chopper have a look at it," he said thoughtfully.
"No!" Shaken from his thoughts, he realised he had to leave as soon as possible, before these feelings turned into something. "It's fine, really. If you can get cleaved in half and live, I should be able to survive this." Muttering something about checking the restaurant, he ran out of the apartment as quickly as he could, leaving behind Zoro dumbfounded.
He let himself fall on the couch groaning. What was happening to him? He had better taste than to like Zoro? Zoro, for crying out loud! The annoying, stubborn, arrogant marimo, which whom he could get along surprisingly well.
He shook his head violently, as if that would rid it of those thoughts. No, he did not have any feelings for the swordsman, none whatsoever! He just needed a girlfriend, that's all. Someone to kiss and touch and care for. He needed to meet a nice girl.
But where to start? He was still busy with the restaurant and his friends – and in particular the marimo – absorbed a lot of his time. He wouldn't ask out an employee. Where did he usually meet girls? In bars, sure, but he didn't feel like going out. Suddenly he had an idea. He got his phone from his pocket and scrolled through his contact list.
"I only gave you this number for emergencies," Nami greeted him.
"I know, Nami-swan, and I'm really sorry to bother you, but this is an emergency," he pleaded. "Sorta."
She sighed. "Okay, what's the matter?"
"I need a date."
It stayed silent on the other end of the line. He probably caught her off guard. Finally she said: "Look, Sanji-kun, as you know I'm dating Luffy and–"
"No, no, no!" he hastily interrupted her, immediately apologizing for it. "I mean, could you please set me up with one of your girlfriends? Please, I'm desperate!"
"If you just want to get laid–"
"Oh God, no!" He really needed to be careful that interrupting a lady wouldn't become his habit. "I would never! I'm looking for a girlfriend."
"Hey, Sanji!" suddenly the voice of Luffy sounded. He probably had diddled the phone out of her hand, the brute! "Girlfriend? But what about you and–"
He heard a smack, Nami had hit her boyfriend well-deserved. "Sorry about that," her lovely voice sounded.
"No problem, Melorine~!"
"I think I can help you with your problem," she continued. He wanted to thank her, but she cut his compliments short. "There's a girl at my work. I'm sure you will make a lovely couple."
If he didn't know any better he would think her voice sounded mischievous. He shrugged off that thought. What could possibly be her motive for that?
A few days later he was sitting in a restaurant, waiting for his date. Normally he would have taken her to the Baratie, but that wasn't an option right now. So he settled for the next best place in town.
Nami had told him the girl from her work would be wearing a pink dress. She had showed her friend a photo of Sanji, so the blonde didn't have a dress code.
To be honest, he was a bit nervous. It was months ago since he had had a first date. He mentally smacked himself on the head. Nervous? He was Sanji Prince! Women adored him!
"Sanji?" a lovely voice behind him asked.
He almost jumped, but immediately recovered and became his old charming self. He rose and turned around, standing face to face to the most lovely creature he had ever laid eyes on. The girl had long, dark blue hair, wearing a pink dress and thick black glasses. "I'm Porche."
He bowed, kissing her hand. "It's an honour to meet you, my darling. My name is Sanji." The blonde pulled back a chair for her, admiring her slim figure. He sat down and studied her. Now that he had a closer look he noticed her brilliant blue eyes behind the spectacle lenses.
The waiter came and he ordered a bottle of whine for the table while they looked at the menu. The blonde told her he was a chef and they were currently rebuilding the restaurant he worked at. After that he let her talk.
And she did a lot of talking. Mostly about her cats. She had seven of them – she named them all, but after the third Sanji lost count. Apparently , they were super cute – he couldn't hear the word 'super' without thinking of Franky anymore. When the main course arrived, she was still talking about them.
The chef tried to listen – he really did! And he liked cats as much as the next guy, sure, but to listen about someone going on and on about them? He blinked his eyes when she started a new anecdote about her pets. He tried to bring the conversation to another subject, but Porche had a talent on always coming back to her cats.
They ordered desert. The girl looked at him and played with her hair, fluttering her eyelashes a little too often. Crap, why did he have to be such a good listener? Or pretending to be one, anyway. He could practically hear Zoro snort and ask him why on earth he would date this woman.
What the hell was wrong with him?! Ladies were meant to be worshipped!
It felt like he got a split personality or something. One that reminded him how lucky he was to be even near a wonderful creature like Porche, his usual inner voice. But the other, which sounded an awfully lot like Zoro's voice, kept telling him how boring this was and how he would rather hang out with the swordsman – yes, he was definitely going crazy.
He did notice, however, that Porche wasn't aiming to get just his attention. Before the coffee arrived, she excused herself and walked to the ladies' room, swaying her hips, earning her the interest of nearly every man in the restaurant.
After Sanji had paid the check – of course, he was a gentleman – they left the restaurant together. "Where have you parked your car?" he asked.
"I've walked here."
He looked at her surprised, amazed she could walk at all in heels like hers, and then offered her a ride home. He opened the car door for her. Her house wasn't that far, otherwise she would have probably driven to the restaurant.
"Nami says you're an amazing chef," she suddenly said.
That surprised him, as hardly a word out of her mouth had been about anything else than her cats. "I am. I hope you will come by the restaurant after it's finished."
She pouted a little, so he hasted himself to add: "But in the meantime I would love to make you dinner sometime."
She smiled, that was probably what she had been after. He stopped the car, as they had arrived at her place, and he walked her to the door.
"Do you want to come in?" she asked, fluttering her eyelids.
'Hell, no,' Zoro's voice said inside his head. 'And being jumped by seven cats? No, thank you.'
'You're so rude! Never reject a lady's invitation,' the other voice opposed.
Seriously, if he was going to see a little angel and a devil – Zoro being the devil, of course – on his shoulders he would report himself to the first mad-house.
He pushed both voices aside and thought about Porche's proposal for a moment. He didn't know what this lovely girl's plan was, but being invited in usually meant sex. It would probably be best to take things slow. Maybe on their next date, because there would definitely be one, dammit! Because he liked girls, and now this girl in particular. Take that, Moss-head!
"It's probably best to call it a night. I have to get up early tomorrow morning." It wasn't even a lie. "Rain check, okay?"
She looked a bit disappointed, but nodded anyway. He kissed her cheek. "Good night." He was sure to make his voice sound low and seductive. It worked, he heard her gasp.
With a triumphant smirk he walked back to his car. If she hadn't want him earlier, she would definitely want him now. He still had it.
At home he picked up his phone, as he had promised to call Nami to tell how things went.
"Sanji-kun, you're home early," she teased.
"I'm taking things slow. I told you I wasn't looking for a one-night stand?"
It stayed silent for a moment. "Wait, you mean you like her?!" It almost sounded like a shriek.
"I–" What should he say? He couldn't insult a lady, but he also couldn't lie to another one. "Like is a bit strong. I mean she's annoying–" He immediately covered his mouth with his hand. It was one thing to think that, but now that he heard himself say it…. What the hell was wrong with him?
"My my! Did the lady-loving Sanji just tell me he finds a girl annoying?" Nami's voice almost sounded triumphant.
"No! No, I didn't! Please forgive me, Nami-swan! I didn't mean it!" he tried to talk himself out of it.
The orange haired woman sighed. "Stop babbling already. I think she's annoying as well. That's why– Never mind," she interrupted herself. "Just tell me this, and be honest. Do you want another date with her?"
Sanji had never felt more miserable in his life. "No," he whispered softly.
"Okay, then don't."
"Please don't tell her what I said! I don't know what came over me!"
"Don't worry. I'll make up an excuse for you." It stayed silent for a moment before she said evilly: "I'll tell her you just found out you're gay." And she hung up before he could respond.
~ To be continued