Hi I'm back. I've spent a good few weeks holidaying in Vietnam, Taiwan and China but now school is back in action and now it gets more serious TT^TT being the final two years of high school. It's only been 2 days but I'm already exhausted.

Anyways, enjoy!

Shoutout to the random guest who has been recently reviewing this story. XD

Sanji lounged back in his chair. He watched a ring of smoke dissipate into the air and spun the cigarette in his fingers. Tonight was interesting. The fight was good. Finished, of course, but seeing another person's power up close was amazing. Even though he knew Zoro was out of practice by a few years, his strokes were flawless and ensured minimal effort was exerted. The essence of muscle memory. The swords were an extension of his body. A part of his limbs. Zoro was so damn powerful. He might have put himself down and played the submitting dog but his whole being rebelled against it and it showed easily through his half-hearted façade of 'pride' and apparent refusal to fight. The way he grinned when issued a challenge and how he taunted his opponents. Heck, even his facial features were proud. Arched eyebrows always constantly drawn in a frown and his slumped mouth, like his was constantly pursing his lips in disapproval. Seeing Zoro clash against an opponent, mouth ripped in a snarl and muscles straining was a sight that amazed Sanji.

It was very tempting to go against that wall of muscle.

Too bad Zoro kept denying his feelings though. Sanji would have to change that. He leaned over and snubbed the cigarette into the ash tray. It was getting late.

Zoro crashed into his bed and it creaked ominously. He sighed. Today was… strange. Strange the way he reverted to his old life in just one night. It felt… really good. He thought he was going to stay bitter about the trick and kidnapping but he forgot. He forgot to stay angry, which was strange. He usually held onto his promises and grudges like a limpet.

Then, who or what made him forget?

How?

The only answer was the person who fought with him.

The shitty blonde cook.

Sanji.

He was irritating, arrogant and a shameless charmer. He fell to his knees for any woman and submitted himself to slavery. Everything that came from his mouth was either useless, annoying or some garbage for complimenting a woman. He started a fight with every intent to finish it by smashing his opponent's face into the ground and Zoro would grudgingly admit Sanji probably did but Zoro would be the exception.

Watching him struggle would be entertaining.

There was also another part that bothered Zoro. Sanji said he heard 'her', without knowing what he was talking about but he openly admitted it. It was definitely a first, Kuina acknowledging someone else almost immediately, especially a stranger Zoro himself hadn't familiarised with.

Sanji was definitely strange.

Zoro sighed and turned over, restless. The adrenaline from the fight had yet still to fade and the conversation didn't help.

Tonight would be long.

Zoro woke up with a strange feeling of exhaustion. It was familiar somehow, when his muscles were subjected to a good workout. He sighed as he recalled last night's events. The fight. Sanji.

Speaking of him…

They made a bet right?

He grinned. Rolling over to pick up his phone, he called Ace. Usually Luffy had better chances of contacting Sanji but that rubber idiot never picked up his phone. He already lost it at least three times this year and Ace resorted to giving Luffy cheap ten dollar phones for emergencies.

"Yo Zoro," Ace greeted.

"Hey is Luffy there?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I need a person's number."

"Who?"

"The cook."

"Oh, well, Luffy wants to talk to you but before that-"

"Zoro!" Luffy chirped. There were scuffling in the background and Zoro grinned as he heard indignant protests.

"Hey Luffy, do you know Sanji's number or something?"

"Uhm… do you want to visit him right now?"

"Actually, yeah." Zoro decided.

"Pick me up! Ace's bike is at your place! It's still mine though, ok?" Zoro rolled his eyes.

"Dream on Luffy."

"Let's go!" Luffy jumped on the bike, gripping the handlebars.

"No! Luffy!" Ace ran out after him. He swung a reprimanding glare at Zoro. "Promise me you'll never let him drive it."

"I'll try." Zoro pried Luffy's fingers off and squeezed in front. The rubberman whined. "What did I tell you? Ace would never let you have one. Stop complaining otherwise I'll cram you in seat storage." Luffy gasped. Once, when Ace was particularly mad at Luffy, he crammed his brother in the space where helmets were usually kept and drove for around five minutes before letting him go. It was enough for Luffy to be traumatised for life and always provided effective blackmail material when someone wanted their way, especially on a motorbike. He felt Luffy's chest vibrate against his back as the back haired urchin groaned in protest. "It's not that bad alright? At least we're going to Sanji's." Luffy straightened up.

"Yeah!"

"Sanji!" Luffy unwrapped his arms from Zoro's torso and launched himself at the chef, who was laden with trays of food. The blonde cursed as the rubberman disrupted his balance and he teetered, straining against gravity. Liquid lapped up against the walls of the cups, precariously close to spilling. He spun on one foot and swung his leg, kicking Luffy clear so he could continue his work.

"Stop annoying me!" he snapped, placing the orders on the respective tables. Luffy got up, dusted himself off and charged.

"Mea-" His voice was muffled against Sanji's shoe.

"Go sit down." Luffy cheered, making a grab for the cutlery as he sat down. "You too, idiot marimo. Do you come just to annoy me as well?" Sanji spun the tray like a basketball, balancing it on the tip of his index finger.

More like middle finger.

Zoro flipped him off in return. Sanji laughed.

"I thought I could get away with that."

"Seriously?" Zoro shook his head as he made his way over and pulled out a chair. Luffy was busy chanting while clanging together the knife and fork in his hands.

"Meat! Meat! Meat!"

"You'd be surprised." Sanji caught the tray and battered it against Luffy's head. "You're too noisy."

"I'm sorry," Luffy groaned, leaning his forehead on the table. Smoke drifted from his sizzling head.

"Don't threaten him too much. I just brought up his worst nightmare." The chef raised as eyebrow. "He got crammed in the seat storage of a motorcycle because he annoyed his brother." Sanji sputtered a laugh.

"He's like an octopus or something."

"He is rubber."

"I don't even know how that works."

"It's Ace. The normal rules of chemistry doesn't apply to him."

"I want his skills. You know what you could do with that?"

"Explode and die?"

"Sanji, meat!"

"I know, I know!" Sanji ground his teeth, flattening the propped up menu in front of Zoro. "Pick something."

"I don't care. Anything will do." Zoro shrugged, barely glancing at the pages.

"Give me an idea. I only remember you ordering booze, even back then." Zoro folded his arms.

"Then work from there." Sanji rolled his eyes.

"There's takoyaki, takoyaki and takoyaki here. What do you expect me to work with?"

"Takoyaki." Zoro grinned. Sanji snorted.

"You'll eat anything right?" Sanji grabbed the menus off the table and tucked them under his arm. "Just wait."

"Luffy! Catch!" A chunk of meat sailed through the air. Luffy cheered before trapping the morsel between his teeth and chewing. He hummed, oblivious to the grease and crumbs staining his face. Zoro laughed as more chunks flew and Luffy snapped them all up with uncanny speed and accuracy. Sanji placed a dish in front of Zoro. "Takoyaki."

"Are you sure?" Zoro frowned at balls.

"Yeah. What's wrong?"

"Why is it –Luffy!" Zoro slammed his hand down on the rubberman's wrist.

"Don't be stingy!" Luffy whined, straining to free his limb. Zoro paused for a moment.

"No."

"Please!" Zoro sighed.

"Just one." Luffy grinned, snatching a few and before Zoro could protest, inhaled them.

"Hey Zoro. Is this a new kind of takoyaki?" He licked his fingers. Zoro glared at him.

"That's what I was going to ask." Zoro turned back to Sanji, who pressed his lips in a hard line.

"What is it?" Sanji mimed innocence. It was getting hard not to laugh.

"Why's it green?"

"It's a special kind of takoyaki."

"Hm…" Luffy scratched his cheek.

"Guess the name and you'll get extra." Sanji beamed at Luffy. Luffy frowned.

"Green… takoyaki?" Sanji's smile wavered slightly.

"Try again."

"Erm…"

"I'll give you a clue," Sanji said, leaning into Luffy's ear. "Zoro's hair."

"Ah! Marimo! Marimo!" Luffy cheered. Zoro folded his arms, staring daggers at the blonde and the cheerful urchin.

"Fucking cook," Zoro muttered. Sanji grinned. "So," Zoro leaned forward, businesslike. "How many bruises?" He smirked as Sanji's smile faded. "I think that answers the question."

"No fuck you!" Sanji protested hotly. "How many?"

"Seven." Sanji's heart sank. He was so fucked. Zoro's smile widened. "Well?" Sanji chewed his lip, scowling.

"Eleven." He never felt so ashamed at a number.

"We both broke the bet but you lost. Sucked in." Zoro leaned back on his seat, satisfied. "You're my punching bag."

"Punching bag?" Never.

"Sparring partner," Luffy interjected. He leaned on both arms, watching the face off like a tennis match. He burped.

"Sparring partner?" Zoro sneered. "As if you could ever beat me, number two."

"Just you wait and see. I'll be the first person to organise plant life in outer space by kicking you to the fucking moon," Sanji countered. They stared each other down.

"Uh, Mr. Sanji. A customer is waiting." Sanji jerked his head at the sound of his boss, cursed under his breath and made his way over.

He couldn't admit though, but he was really looking forward to the spar.

"When are you going to fight?" Luffy bounced on his chair. Zoro shrugged.

"Why do you have to work so late?" Sanji stacked the dishes and balanced the lot on his arm with minimal effort.

"Fuck off. It's called night shift."

"More like hell shift." Zoro couldn't argue with that.

"It's not like I need sleep anyway." Which was true. His sleep was often interrupted, so he slept in hour time chunks.

"You need sleep to build muscle. You're flabby you know that?" Truthfully though, Zoro was still muscular and quite fit. Sanji just needed an insult.

"Shut it, you."

"Just meet at the club after you're done. I'll be there."

"Whatever. Get ready to lose, asshole."

"You've been skipping out on work Zoro." Zoro glanced at the shadowed form approaching from the door.

"Well, I was kidnapped yesterday, so I didn't really have a choice." He zeroed in on the yellow leopard-like eyes. "And Luffy always gets his way." The eyes narrowed.

"That isn't going to stop me. Do you want to be fired?" Zoro said nothing. He bused himself in buttoning up his shirt. "Answer me." The form stepped closer, crowding in Zoro's space. "Luffy can't save you from everything."

"No." Zoro's clenched his hands into fists and stuffed them in his pockets. He felt the leering smile on Lucci's face.

"Then you'd better behave."

Zoro released his breath slowly, glaring at the wall. Fuck this. Was he insane to be doing this fucking job for half a year already? Being pushed around a tool, a slave and losing his dignity, his pride every time he took an insult or sneer or some joke he heard whispered behind his back. Why was he here?

Just hold on for now. It's fine.

Well at least there was something after work. He grinned, anger evaporating. Sanji. It was going to be fun, sparring against those explosive kicks and mouthing off against each other. He felt a rush of adrenaline.

Zoro couldn't wait.

Work was going to be so excruciatingly slow today.