I'm a week late and nobody told me XD Sorry about that, I really thought I was on time. Enjoy anyway ^^

Thanks to Vergina and Thérèse for reviewing again :)

Hot as Fire

Chapter 14

He was still cursing himself for talking bad about a lady when the doorbell rang. Wondering who it could be, as it was already pretty late, the blonde hoisted himself off the couch and strolled to the door. Much to his surprise it was Zoro who was standing on his doorstep.

"What the hell are you doing here?" the chef asked, their usual greeting.

"I heard your date didn't go well."

Sanji froze for a second, but then snorted. "Then you heard wrong. The date went amazing. She even invited me into her house."

"Then why are you back already?"

"Because, unlike you, I don't have a roll in the sack with the first person I see," he snapped.

"Oh, really?" The swordsman had an unsettling grin on his face. "Because I heard you found her annoying."

He froze again. How the hell did he know that? "Wha– How?" he stammered unintelligently.

"I was at Nami's when you called."

Sanji groaned and slammed his head against the door. This was it. His life was over. Zoro would never let this rest!

"I thought you could use a drink." Zoro held up a crate of beer.

The blonde stared at him surprised. The swordsman wasn't here to rub it in? He mentally slapped himself. Of course he was, he just would drink at the same time. Still, getting drunk sounded very tempting, so he stepped aside to let the green haired man pass.

Zoro let himself fall on the couch in what was close on being his second home. Sanji sat next to him, having grabbed a bottle opener.

"You wanna talk about it?" the swordsman asked, while handing his friend a beer.

The chef groaned. "No, I rather just forget." But the booze loosened his tongue and after his second bottle he burst out: "It's just because I haven't dated in such a long time, right? And because I'm surrounded by men all the time. Can you forget how to date? Or is it like riding a bicycle?"

The swordsman listened to Sanji's rant, laughing silently. The blonde was pretty upset about insulting a woman, while he talked like a sailor when it came to him!

Four beers later Sanji started to feel the effects of the alcohol. He was getting woozy, glad he was sitting on the couch. Zoro must have had twice as much already, but still wasn't showing any sign of tipsiness, the annoying bastard. He tried to count the empty beer bottles, but they kept doubling before his eyes, so he gave up.

"You know what's weird?" he said musing, while accepting another beer from the swordsman. "I may have called Porche annoying, but you're like ten times as annoying and still I'm drinking beer with you!"

Zoro started to laugh. "Yeah, you're weird." He received a lazy kick in the side.

"That's not what I said."

The crate of beer was getting empty. The green haired man still wasn't bothered by the alcohol, but Sanji was drunk already. If the swordsman hadn't noticed it before from his flushed cheeks, he knew it when the blonde crawled onto his lap and straddled him. He raised an eyebrow when the cook studied his face. "What?"

"Just wonderin'."

"About what?"

"Why someone like you would like me."

That caught him off guard. "Someone like me?"

"Yeah, you know, being all Greek god-like."

Zoro snorted. "Weren't you the one that said I have an ugly mug?"

"Yes, but…" Sanji's cheeks turned a shade darker. "But I could see why some people would call you handsome."

Now it was Zoro's turn to flush a little. Did the blonde just call him handsome? And why was he looking – dare he think it – cute?

Before he knew what was going on, Sanji pulled his head forward and pressed their lips together. It only lasted a few seconds, leaving Zoro breathless and flabbergasted. "What the hell?" he stammered.

The blonde shrugged. "Just wanted to see what it was like."

"We've kissed before." The words came out before he realised it.

"I know, but at Vivi-chan's wedding I had to pretend I liked it and at the beach you caught me off guard. So I still didn't know if I liked it," Sanji said blandly.

Zoro frowned, but suddenly he got an idea. While drunk, he could take a little advantage of the blonde, right? "I wasn't expecting it now."

The chef looked at him confused.

"How am I supposed to know what it's like when you caught me off guard just now?"

Fortunately for him, to Sanji's drunken mind, this actually made sense. "You're ready now?" When the swordsman nodded, he leaned in again and pressed their lips together for the second time that night. This time Zoro made sure it lasted longer by wrapping his arms around the cook's waist and holding him. The other man didn't protest, until the swordsman tried to use his tongue. At this, the blonde pulled back and slit off Zoro's lap. "No French kissing."

"I thought you liked everything about France," the green haired man said teasing.

"I do. But I don't like you."

The swordsman snickered. "Oh, really? Tell me the verdict then. How do I kiss?"

Sanji thought for a moment. "You're a pretty good kisser, I guess."

"So you do like kissing me, then." He leaned in. "Y'know what else I'm good at?"

"Sword fighting," came the immediate response.

Zoro grunted a bit annoyed. "Yes, of course, but that's not what I was aiming at."

"Being an ass."

The green haired man face palmed. But then he made sure his voice was low and seductive when he said: "Actually, it has more to do with your ass."

The chef looked up, cheeks still flushed – by the alcohol or embarrassment, Zoro didn't know – and his blue eyes shining. For now, the swordsman couldn't care less about the consequences and he leaned in again.

Their kiss became passionate. Zoro let his hands roam the cook's slender body. To his surprise the blonde moaned into their kiss. So he was actually liking this? Or was it just the alcohol and dry spell he was going through?

Suddenly Sanji pulled back a little, though not as much as Zoro would have expected. "Marimo," he said in a small voice, "please don't take this personal."

"Take what person–" Before he could finish his sentence, the blonde pushed him off him and ran up the stairs, slamming a door shut.

Zoro sighed and closed his eyes. So the chef had really drunk too much tonight. There was only one reason why he would run like that, and that was to reach the bathroom in time. Wasn't that a mood killer. Sighing again he stood up and collected the empty beer bottles. It was a good thing Sanji told him not to take it personal. Otherwise he probably should do something about his breath.

The next morning he woke up with a headache and a foul taste in his mouth. Groaning he sat up. What happened last night? He must have drank a lot, otherwise he wouldn't feel this lousy.

That's right, Zoro came by with beer. Lots of beer. Why again? Because he had called a girl annoying. The humiliation made him want to crawl under the covers and die. How could he have done that?

Sighing he got up. He'd rather stay in bed all day, but the only reasons Zeff would accept for not showing up was being dead or dying, and even dying was a tricky one.

On his way to the bathroom a memory from the night suddenly flashed through his brain. Him sitting on Zoro's lap, leaning forward… Oh shit. They'd kissed?! Or was this a dream his still slightly numb brain confused with reality? He didn't know which one was better.

Reluctant he looked in the mirror. He looked like hell. His hair was a mess, his complexion even paler than usual and his eyes were bloodshot. Groaning he opened the shower cabinet. While the water ran down his body, more of the previous night came back to him, making it undeniably memories and not a dream. He remembered how Zoro had laid on top of him, kissing him and making him moan. Despite the low temperature he had put the water on to wake up, his cheeks heated up. What the hell was happening to him? First he was on a date with a lovely girl, who does nothing for him, only to come home and jump the first guy he meets? No, not any man. Zoro.

Was he actually starting to like the marimo?

He took a deep breath before starting on another length. Swimming helped him to clear his head. He hadn't slept all night, thanks to a certain drunk cook. He still couldn't believe they actually made out for real, sort of. After all, Sanji had been pretty wasted.

When he had noticed that sleeping wouldn't be an option, he had tried working out by lifting weights. After all, he never needed Ace's assistance as a back-up – were he to drop the weights – even though he knew his friend would be happy to help him out, even at three in the morning. He would get an encouraging speech to go for Sanji as a bonus, no doubt.

At a certain point he had lost count, so he decided to go for a run. Of course like always the streets changed while he wasn't looking, so he ended up – not being lost! – running for a couple of hours. By the time he got to his house again, it was seven in the morning. He remembered the swimming pool opened at that hour. He should be exhausted already, but he wasn't, courtesy to his sexual frustration. So he started on his one hundred and fifty three length.

Why had the cook kissed him? Sure, the blonde's excuse had been that he wanted to see what it was like – but what exactly? Kissing a guy or kissing him? And didn't drunk people do things they secretly wanted to do when they were sober, but were stopped by their inhibitions or whatever? Did that mean Sanji wanted to kiss him soberly too? It were thoughts like these that drove the swordsman mad. Why couldn't the chef just make a decision and stick with that?

Growing bored with swimming, Zoro hoisted himself out of the water. Still dripping he walked to his towel. He got quite a few stares, both female and male. He could probably pick a random admirer to sleep with – a man of course – to finally end his dry spell that started after that blonde came into his life. He was getting tired of waiting for the chef. He didn't even know why he started in the first place, after all, Sanji had made clear on their first encounter he wasn't into men. And later spelled it out for him again, because Luffy couldn't keep his big mouth shut.

But somehow the swordsman couldn't bring himself to sleeping with someone else, let alone date. Something inside him told him that he needed to be patient, that Sanji would come around. After all, dating girls didn't seem to work for the blonde anymore, he had proven that last night. Smiling he remembered the chef's words: 'You're like ten times as annoying and still I'm drinking beer with you!'

And of course he had admitted he thought Zoro was a good kisser.

Sighing he made his way to the showers. Was he kidding himself in thinking that Sanji was bi? Ace sure thought so, but well, the fireman thought everybody was, or at least should be. While the warm water sprayed on his skin he made a decision. He would give the blonde one more chance. If he gave rise to Zoro into thinking he might like the swordsman, soberly of course, the green haired man would jump to the occasion. If not, this was over.

"So are you excited?"

Sanji leaned with his head on his hand, completely lost in thoughts. "Eh, what?"

Usopp looked at him, a little annoyed. "You could at least pretend to listen. I asked if you were excited. Only two weeks until the grand opening."

"Hell yeah, I'm excited." A grin broke through on his face. "Finally I can do what I love, instead of being an errant boy. Still," musing he looked around, "are you sure you will be finished in time?"

"Don't worry, Sanji-bro." Franky just came by carrying a pile of tiles. "In two weeks time this place will be SUPER-ready." He gave the thumbs up. "Usopp-bro, you on your break?"

"No, Mr Franky." Quickly the architect jumped up and ran back to his bucket of paint, leaving Sanji grinning behind.

The blonde was just about to take a smoke break, when he heard the door open. "I'm sorry, we're not open ye–" he started, choking on his own sentence. The person that had entered was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen. She was slender, a little pale and was wearing a yellow dress. Shyly she brushed a blonde pluck of hair behind her ear.

As fast as he could Sanji made his way over to her, kissed her hand and led her to the table he was just sitting at. "Please, how can I help you, Ms…?"

"Kaya?"

The girl looked up at hearing Usopp's voice. "Usopp?" she asked disbelieving.

The architect dropped the bottle he was holding and ran towards the table. "What are you doing here, Kaya?"

She stared at the table and didn't respond. Frowning Sanji looked from one to the other. Obviously these two knew each other. It didn't feel like they had dated, though. Less awkward. Still the silence was a little unsettling. Only then he noticed the paper she was holding in her hand. "Are you here for a job as waitress?" he asked friendly.

She looked up, finally making eye contact with her beautiful brown eyes. Almost invisibly she nodded.

"Why would you want to be a waitress?" Usopp asked. "You're loaded!"

She hid her face in her hands. The architect's face grew gloomy. "Franky, I'll take my break now."

The contractor, who had been working nearby and had overheard the conversation, nodded and got back to work.

"What has happened to make a beautiful angel like yourself so sad?" Sanji asked, offering her a handkerchief. Usopp gave him a look that was obviously intended to kill him. The chef shrugged. It wasn't his fault he was smooth when it came to ladies.

Kaya wiped her tears away and swallowed before she started: "I inherited a lot of money when my parents died. But soon after you went away to college, Usopp, the man who was supposed to take care of me, Klahadore, threatened to kill me if I didn't give him the money. I fled." She sniffled.

Usopp hit with his fist on the table. "I told you that guy was bad news! Why didn't you come to me?" he asked in a gentler voice, one Sanji hadn't heard him use before.

Kaya looked at the table again. "I was ashamed. You tried to warn me and I called you a liar…"

Sanji snorted. She wasn't the first.

"But I'm still trying to become a doctor," the blond girl continued more optimistic.

"That's great! But why haven't you gone to the police?" Usopp asked.

Embarrassed she played with her hair. "I'm scared…"

"Leave it to me! I'll help you," the dark haired man suddenly said confidently. "First by getting you a job. Sanji, she can be a waitress, right?"

The cook almost started to laugh. Was this the same man that was afraid of his own shadow? But of course he wouldn't let a lady down. "Of course you can be a waitress, my beautiful–"

Suddenly a familiar stab of pain went through his head. Zeff placed his peg leg back on the floor. "I'll be the judge of that."

"You can let me handle the waitresses, shitty old fart!" Sanji lashed out.

"No, since you are an idiot around women. Come with me, girl."

Kaya looked at Usopp a little frightened, but after he gave her a nod she followed Zeff to his office.

The architect looked after the girl and sighed. Sanji tapped on the table thoughtfully. "So, how do you know such an attractive girl?" he asked. Even after living with Usopp for a year, he hadn't mentioned her before. Probably because they had a falling out right before Usopp went to college.

A nostalgic smile appeared on Usopp's face. "I met her when we were kids. She was very sick then, and it got worse when her parents died. I came to her window every day, trying to cheer her up by telling the adventures of the brave Captain Usopp," he told proudly. Then his face grew gloomy again. "But I never trusted her butler, Klahadore. When I told her, she got mad and refused to talk to me again. That's when I went to college." He shook his head. "I can't believe I left her with that creep."

Despite the depressing nature of the story Sanji had to smile. "You're so smitten," he said teasing.

"Am not!" But the blush on his friend's face told him otherwise.

"Yeah, you are." The blonde got up. "I'm gonna smoke now. And you should get back to work before Franky 'SUPER' kicks your ass."

The back ally was deserted aside from some trash cans. Sanji lit up a cigarette and sighed contently when the smoke hit his lungs. With all the drama surrounding Kaya, he hadn't had the time to think about his own problem. Now, sitting alone in the ally, thoughts about a certain green haired swordsman entered his head again.

After his date with Porche he had realized that the feelings he might have for the marimo weren't there because he lacked physical contact. If that was the case he would have gone on a second date. But what was it then? Maybe it was something he needed to get out of his system? His mind probably had the feelings for love and hate reversed.

"So we meet again, blondie."

His head snapped up at hearing the voice. Before him stood the red haired man he had met a few days before. He snorted. "What, you followed me?"

"No, this is just a happy coincidence. Fortunately, I'm always prepared." Kid flung his long coat back so Sanji could see his knife. He took a drag from his cigarette unimpressed. "Look, I wasn't scared of you then and I ain't now. So put that shitty knife away and tell me what this is really about. You jealous?"

Kid started laughing, sounding almost maniacal. "Jealous? Of what? That you have Roronoa? Please. I was just as interested in talking to him as he was in talking to me. Unfortunately, I told Law about our days in college, so the bastard dragged me along."

"You sound like a lovely couple," Sanji said sarcastically. "So we're done here?"

"Almost." A very unsettling smirk appeared on Kid's face. "I promised I would bring back a souvenir." In a blink of an eye he had drawn the knife.

"Exploding star!"

Out of nowhere something exploded near Kid. The redhead stumbled back a few paces, covering his eyes.

"It's a good thing he had no eyebrows to begin with," Sanji mumbled, but he was wise enough not to say it out loud.

"Damn it! As soon as I get my vision back, you're dead, blondie! Dead!" Kid shouted, pointing in the completely wrong direction and taking to his heels.

The chef smirked and turned around. Usopp was standing in the doorway, holding something that looked suspiciously like a slingshot. Sanji put out his cigarette against the wall and strolled back inside. "You always carry that around?" he asked mocking. He turned around to see if the door was properly closed, as it only opened from the inside. He didn't need a furious Kid messing up the restaurant. He smiled lightly. Not that Zeff or Franky would let the redhead get that far.

"I wanted to practice shooting after work and the munitions I make myself. And you're welcome, by the way!" Usopp added pouting.

"I could have handled it." He turned his head back, walking. "But thanks anyway, I guess."

"So who's that guy? Why was he trying to kill you?"

Sanji stopped in his tracks, causing Usopp to slam into him. "Just how long were you standing there?" he asked suspiciously.

"I-I happened to overhear some of your conversation. I wasn't eavesdropping!" his friend pressed. "But why did he say 'that you have Roronoa'? I talmost sounds like you are dating." His eyes went wide. "No way! You guys are dating?!"

The chef looked at him darkly, before saying curtly: "No."

"But he said–"

Annoyed Sanji pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, he's like Zoro's ex or something. We met him a few days ago when we came back from the gym – Marimo and I had trained together. And I may have given him the impression that we're dating, but we're not, understand?"

"Okay. But just so you know, it's okay–"

Before the architect could finish his sentence, Sanji had pinned him against the wall, pressing the sole of his shoe in Usopp's throat. "I. Am. Not. Gay," he said slowly and dangerously.

The other man gulped and nodded.

Lucky for him, at that moment the door of Zeff's office opened and Kaya came out. Sanji quickly placed his foot back on the floor and danced over to her. "How did it go, my flower?"

She waited until Usopp had joined them before answering smiling: "I got hired."

"I knew you would. After all, Zeff does anything I ask," the dark haired man said smugly.

Kaya giggled and Sanji rolled his eyes.

"Do you have a place to stay?" Usopp continued in a more serious tone.

Looking to the floor, the girl shook her head. Ignoring his natural instinct to offer up his house, the chef nodded to his friend encouragingly. A little shy the architect said: "You can stay with me if you like." And then more confidently: "And we'll figure this out together."

He barely finished his sentence before Kaya threw herself at him, Usopp flushing and turning a few shades darker when Sanji smirked at him.

Shaking his head the blonde returned to work. It wouldn't be long before those two were dating, he was sure of it.

Sanji bent down to get the puff pastry snacks he had made out of the oven. Somehow Luffy had convinced him to come over to play games, even though Zoro was there too. Fortunately, the swordsman hadn't made any comment about his drunken kiss – yet. Nami had made some teasing remarks regarding his terrible words towards Porche, but he couldn't be mad at her. And much to his relief Luffy hadn't made any remarks that Zoro and Sanji should date or something – probably mainly because the blonde kept stuffing him with food. He couldn't have that right now, not with his confused feelings.

"Need some help?"

He almost dropped the baking tray when he recognized the low voice. Shit, he had been avoiding being alone with the green haired man. Maybe he wouldn't mention the kiss, he prayed. Maybe he thought Sanji was too drunk to remember anything… He wished he had been.

"Nah, it's fine," he answered as casually as possible. He hoped Zoro would leave, but instead the swordsman moved towards the fridge. Of course, the drunkard needed more booze. He added that in his head to this list of things he didn't like about Zoro, which were surprisingly few. Shit.

He could feel the green haired man staring at him. Damn that tension. He had to do something about it. "So your ex tried to kill me again today," he said like he was talking about the weather.

Zoro frowned. "Kid? What, he's following you?"

The blonde shrugged. "He said it was a coincidence. I don't know. But apparently he wanted a souvenir for his boyfriend or whatever."

"What kind of souvenir?" the swordsman asked suspiciously.

"How the hell should I know? A body part of mine, for sure," the chef snapped, suddenly irritated.

"Which bo–" The green haired man stopped talking abruptly, that was probably not the best question to ask right now. "Well, you better be careful." Without thinking, he smacked Sanji's ass.

For a second the blonde froze, before turning around briskly. "Did you just grope me?!"

Zoro just smirked.

Sanji placed the snacks on a plate and returned to the living room, shoving the swordsman on purpose on the way. The green haired man snorted, but followed him.

The blonde took his place at the table again, where a game of Monopoly laid out. He hated the game, but they played at Nami's request and of course he couldn't deny her anything. So he had persuaded the others into playing, which meant he had kicked them until they gave in. Nami was exceptionally good at this game, to be expected of her. The guys were almost bankrupt, which no one minded because that meant the game would be over soon.

"Oh, by the way, starting today we have a new waitress," Sanji told as he kicked Luffy away from the snacks, to serve first Nami and then Chopper, who also had joined in on their game night. The little doctor-to-be looked very tired as he had just finished his exams and could very much use a break from his studies.

"Is she cute?" Nami asked.

"Definitely. She's so beautiful!" Sanji swooned.

Zoro gritted his teeth. That did it. The blonde was still hung up on girls. He would just have to find someone to fuck and get this all over with.

"But she's annoying?" The redhead had a teasing smile on her face.

Sanji immediately shut up and flushed. "N-no, Nami-swan. She's really sweet. But," he continued in a serious voice, "apparently she's a childhood friend of Usopp. And he's head over heels with her." He couldn't help but smirk.

At that Zoro's ears picked up. He knew Sanji was loyal to death to his friends. So if Usopp liked her, he wouldn't ask her out. And if he remembered correctly, the blonde had a policy of not dating the staff. On the other hand, that didn't mean he didn't like her. Man, this was complicated.

The chef turned to Chopper. "She studies medicine as well, so maybe you know her. Her name is Kaya."

"Yes, I know her," the boy chirped. "She's a year above me, but she's really nice. She has helped me with my homework a few times."

"Then you should stay good friends with Usopp," Sanji said teasing. "I'm pretty sure she likes him too."

Chopper smiled brightly. "I hope so. And Usopp promised to take me to a movie soon."

Zoro couldn't remember seeing the young boy this happy in a long time. Ever since he started medical school he was only busy studying and was always tired. Chopper had always had trouble making friends, most boys his age thought he was weird. More than once Zoro had found the boy crying because he was being picked at. So he was glad Usopp took care of Chopper.

Sanji looked at the swordsman, his heart skipping a beat. The way Zoro looked at Chopper, so adoringly, like a proud big brother, made him want to jump the man. He knew the swordsman had a sweet and protective side, especially when it came to the doctor-to-be, and he couldn't help but wish Zoro would show that side to him. Not that he needed protection of course. Just maybe a pair of strong arms around him – and what the hell was he thinking?!

"I need a smoke," he mumbled and made his way out of the house as quickly as he could without showing he was in a hurry.

The swordsman looked after him. All night the chef had been his normal self, fawning over women. At first he thought maybe Sanji hid his feelings because they had company, but even when they were alone in the kitchen the cook hadn't said or done anything that remotely indicated he remembered the kiss. Zoro had hoped smacking his ass would lure out a reaction, like blushing or any other sign. But nothing had happened. So that was it then. He was done being driven crazy by the fickle cook.

Inhaling the soothing nicotine, Sanji calmed down again. Damn, what did Zoro do to him? Was he gay? No, he definitely still liked women. But did that mean he was bi, or did he just confuse his close friendship with the marimo with – dare he think it – love?

A car pulling up on the driveway made him look up. Marco stepped out on the drivers side. After nodding to the chef he made his way to the other door and lifted out a snoring Ace.

Sanji couldn't help but snicker, probably a lot of dates ended up in Marco bringing his sleeping boyfriend home. "Ya need some help?"

"Could you please open the door?"

The chef nodded and did as the other blonde requested. The arson inspector walked inside, carrying Ace bridal style upstairs.

Sanji looked after the two. Both of them were handsome in their own way, and of Ace he was sure the freckled man even got stared after by the straightest of men, but neither did anything for the chef. So it was Zoro or no one, hm?

Finally he could admit to himself he was attracted to the swordsman in some way. It was like someone had taken a weight off his shoulders. But it didn't answer the question of what he wanted with the green haired man. A relationship? Sex?

Of that last part he had only vaguely an idea of how two men would do it and frankly, it didn't sound appealing at all. Maybe he should first do some research before…

The chef smiled. Yes, he finally made a decision.

~ To be continued

I hate Monopoly as well XD