Her eyes widened, "Are you...are you serious? You'd let me come with you?"

Smoker nodded. He wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. Not in the slightest. If this girl knew the Straw Hat crew, she may know some weaknesses to exploit or some vague idea on where they were heading. It was clear that she wouldn't give up this information under interrogation, not if she was as close with that cook as he thought she was, so perhaps she would let something slip by accident.

And it wasn't as if she had any other option. She wouldn't get another opportunity like this, and he knew it.

He thought she'd jump at the chance. But instead of answering an immediate 'yes', she merely furrowed her brow.

"You're just going to let a potential acquaintance of pirate tag along with the Marines?" Shaking her head, she let out a low chuckle, "Have to say, I didn't see that coming. Just...give me a moment here, would you? I need to think this through."

So she had a level head on her shoulders. Smoker's lips curled. It was a pity that she wasn't a Marine herself. He knew too many officers who had unfortunate tendencies to run into situations blind. Himself included.

But desperation was a powerful drug, and was known to cloud the clearest of judgments. He would just have to rely on that.

"I guess I have no choice do I?"

He extended a hand towards her, "Welcome aboard, Miss Strauss."

"Please take care of me, Captain Smoker." They shook.

A powerful drug indeed.

~0O0~0O0~0O0~

"Geez this hurts!" Sanji growled, trying to force his legs to go straighter.

Strauss chuckled, perfect at ease in her oversplit, "I thought that you would at least be able to do the splits. I mean come on, you fight with kicks!"

His visible eye widened, "How can you even bend like that…"

"Practice." She shrugged, leaning over one leg to further the stretch, "So shut up and get stretching."

"Uh, fine."

She rolled her eyes. Sanji looked so strange without a collared shirt on. It had been just over a week, but it was all she saw him wear.

At least until a day ago.

Wednesday had finally come, leading to the highly anticipated shopping trip. Ironically, Sanji was more excited than Strauss was. All he did was point out shops with 'good taste' (and high price tags) and shops to buy cologne. Cologne! It made Strauss wince just thinking about it. Did he realise just how frivolous he was being?! It was ridiculous!

Well...not that she'd told him that. He was her senior at the Baratie after all. As much as it pained her to do so, she had to treat him with at least a little bit of respect. She might get fired otherwise.

At least it made sure that the clothes she got were somewhat durable. Sanji did have an eye for quality, she'd give him that. He even offered to pick out underwear for her, but Zeff had slammed his head into the pavement and told him to pick up the supplies. Probably for the best. Strauss didn't know how knowledgeable her co-worker was in the ways of female underwear, but she sure as hell didn't want to find out.

An errant gust of wind blew through her baggy shirt, sending shivers up Strauss' back. Flinching, she ended her stretch.

Ideally, she would be wearing something tight fitting when it came to training, but one look in the shop mirror had ended that. There was something about seeing the scrawny husk in the mirror which made her want to look away. It was pitiful. Weak.

Useless.

She'd taken the largest shirt she could find.

"You okay?"

"Hm?" She blinked. "Sorry, I must've zoned out. Guess I'm just a little tired."

Sanji smirked, "Tired? Does that mean you can't handle the next step?"

After seeing her buy training clothes, Sanji had asked if they could work on that deal of theirs. Which created this new morning routine to improve both flexibility and sparring technique.

Well...that was the idea at least.

Strauss frowned, "Next step? But you haven't finished your stretches!"

Sanji gaped, "There're more!"

"Well yes. You need to do ten repeats of the cycle I just showed you, followed by another set of breathing exercises."

"HUH?!"

"Is that not enough?"

"Oh it's enough alright." Sighing, he pinched his nose, "Look. It's our first day of doing this. We don't want to push our bodies more then they are physically able to."

Strauss nodded. He made a good point. She thought she was being lax already, but Sanji was already struggling with the proper posture. She would have to let up a little. "Nine repeats then."

"... Three."

"Nine."

"Four?"

"Nine."

He groaned, "But then I'll be too sore to coach you… And I need to do food prep too!"

Too sore? Too sore?! Strauss couldn't believe her ears. How could he be that good at fighting when he didn't do the proper training. Fine. She'd placate him today, and pick up the slack tomorrow.

"Okay," she frowned, crossing her arms, "You only have to do a few repeats."

"I don't get why I should have to do any."

Her eyebrow quirked upward, "I thought you actually wanted to get stronger. My mistake."

Sanji bristled, "I do want to get stronger. What I don't understand though is why you have to repeat the same thing over and over again. You get the idea after the first couple of times."

Her eyes narrowed, "What're you talking about? Preparing your body is so important, especially if you are going to spar.."

"Yeah, but you only need to do those stretches a few times, right? Then it's just muscle memory."

She couldn't believe it. She just couldn't believe it. What...what an idiot!

He didn't get it at all.

"Let me ask you something." She muttered, hands balling into fists. "How long exactly do you think it took me to perfect the stretch I was just doing?"

Sanji hummed, tapping his chin, "I dunno. It looked complicated, so maybe a week? A month at tops."

A month. He thought that much work only took a month.

There was no getting through to him. Strauss sighed. She couldn't deal with this. She had to cope with his obnoxious behaviour while waitressing, she shouldn't have to go the same thing in the mornings as well. Slinging her small towel over her shoulder, she made her way towards the door.

"Whe...where do you think you're going."

"To get a cold shower." She glared back, "Your whining is giving me a headache."

"Did I get it right?"

Strauss slammed the door behind her without saying a word. Ridiculous. He was ridiculous.

The first rays of the morning sun shone through the window panes. They'd got up early to do their so called 'training'. Hopefully, it meant that none of the others were awake yet.

She needed a long, long shower.

"I don't get him, Zeff!"

Zeff licked his finger and flipped over the page of his newspaper. "Mhm."

"He's…ARGH!" Sanji tore at his hair, pivoting on his heel to march back down the small length of the office. Zeff hoped he wouldn't keep doing it. He didn't want to replace the floorboards again. "Why the hell does he have to be so...so...annoying! Do you think he's doing it on purpose?"

"Mhm."

"I knew it! Of course it's on purpose! And after I was so nice to him too. That arrogant little prick! He's so inconsiderate. He shouldn't be allowed to wait tables anymore."

"Mmmmmmmmhm."

"But he's really good at his job… He's the best we've ever had. All the other guys were absolutely pathetic. So...what do we do? It isn't as if we can fire him, can we?"

"Mhm."

"...You're not listening to me are you."

"Not in the slightest."

Sanji scowled, but it quickly faded as he realised the section Zeff was scanning. The obituaries. "Any...anyone we know?"

Zeff's lips tightened into a fine line. Part of the problem with running one of the best restaurants in the East Blue was that they didn't have a very large customer base. There were many times when either Zeff or Sanji had grown attached to customers...only for them to pass in tragic accidents.

However safe this ocean was, it still carried a sea of difficulties.

He closed the paper, folding it in half with a flick of the wrist. "No one we care about. It was mostly another article about the major figures who died this month."

"I see." Sanji sagged. "That's good…"

Sanji never liked it when he lost people he cared about. Zeff knew that much. The damn boy was too emotional for his own good. It worried the old man a little. Although he could still kick whichever ass he pleased, Zeff wasn't exactly getting any younger. And he knew it. Perhaps that was part of the reason why he hoped that Strauss and the eggplant would be friends. He needed someone to take care of the kid after he was gone.

Not that he planned on dying anytime soon, obviously. There was still life in him yet.

But he couldn't take chances.

"So…" He laced his fingers together, leaning back in his chair, "You don't like Strauss because you don't think that all the training is necessary?"

"It's not just that! Well it kinda is...but it isn't! Dammit..." Sanji threw his hands in the air, "He just...doesn't listen to me. Ever. It's like… like he doesn't get it. There's no reason to be so straightlaced."

"Makes sense to me."

He cocked his head, "Really? Why?"

Zeff sighed. He was honestly surprised at times by just how inexperienced this kid was sometimes. "Listen here, you damn eggplant, and listen good. People are different."

"Well obviously-"

"I told you to listen, so shut your trap!" Zeff thunked Sanji on the head with his long chef's hat. "People are different. They're good and bad at different things." He pointed at him, "You, you damn eggplant, are abnormally good at fighting. All you really need is someone to copy, and then you can fight. It's like it's built into you or something."

He did not miss the slight flinch that rippled through Sanji's body, but paid it no mind. If it was important, he would open up by himself. Zeff had no right to push it.

So he pushed on, "Most people have to work to get that good. Hell, how long did you have to practice to get your cooking to where it is now?"

Sanji grimaced.

"Exactly. It took absolutely ages, and more practice than you can think about. So-" Now was the crucial step- "Just imagine if someone waltzed into your kitchen with no culinary experience at all, hasn't even boiled an egg, and tells you that cooking is the easiest thing of all and takes barely any time to learn."

"I'd kick his head in obviously!" Sanji growled, "He hasn't done it before, so what right does he have to tell me…" His eyes widened. "Oh."

So he got it. Well that was a relief at least. If only he was more observant about other things. Zeff tilted back his chair, "You don't know what exactly Strauss has done to get to this point, and Strauss doesn't know what exactly you've done to get to this point. It's not your fault for not knowing, but you shouldn't blame the other person for getting upset because of your misunderstandings."

Sanji slowly sank onto the stool opposite Zeff's desk, "I genuinely thought that training was easy for everyone."

"I figured that much," Zeff sighed. "Otherwise I'd see you training more."

"I should probably apologise."

"Yeah. You really should."

"But...how?"

"Oh sweet Jes…" Zeff ran a hand down his face. "Are you seriously asking me how to apologise to someone?"

Sanji flushed, turning to the side, "I dunno how to talk to guys my own age. Only girls."

Well it wouldn't be a problem then, Zeff thought. Since Strauss WAS A GIRL FOR HEAVENS SAKE!

"It's not that different." He reached forwards to pat him on the shoulder. "Just do what comes naturally."

What came naturally? Easier said than done. Sanji didn't know what natural was in front of Strauss. He wasn't normal. Or at least what Sanji thought was normal. Ladies didn't seem to interest the guy, no matter how gorgeous or how enchanting each one was. All ladies were gorgeous and enchanting of course, so to ignore them like that was a sin! But Strauss didn't seem like a bad guy though…

Oh! He tapped his fist down. Maybe Strauss was gay! That would explain why he didn't pay enough attention to the ladies. But it wasn't as if he gave preferential treatment to the guys either, so that didn't really work. Sanji let out a mini sigh of relief. He wasn't sure how he'd react to Strauss being gay, considering he shared a room with the guy.

No! He squared his shoulders. If Strauss was gay, he would be a good friend and support him. All the other chefs would probably laugh at him for being a sissy (even though Strauss could probably take them all on single handedly) so he'd probably appreciate someone being at his back. Yeah! And that would help with his apology. It was perfect!

"What the hell are you doing?"

Sanji span round to see Strauss' incredulous face from the doorway.

Ah. Right. Standing on his bed striking a power pose probably wasn't what his roommate had expected to see. Let alone with his floppy fringe pinned back as it normally was when he groomed his eyebrows.

Come to think of it, he should probably think of "I...I was…"

"Forget it-" Strauss groaned, flopping onto his hammock with a sigh- "I'm not sure I want to find out."

Sanji winced at the cold edge in that voice. So he was still mad at him. Zeff had said to make up with Strauss by the end of the day or else, which sounded ominous. Sanji knew he didn't want to get whatever that was. It was probably painful.

"Can you turn down that light?" Strauss waved a hand, "Some people have training in the morning, and they really want to get some sleep."

"Oh. Okay." With shaky fingers, he flipped the switch to turn off the light and tucked into bed.

Silence, broken only by two sets of breathing. Neither heavy enough to be asleep.

Sanji's lips tightened. Here goes nothing, "You came back faster than I expected."

"I'm trying to sleep."

He sagged. "I...I see." He was obviously having none of it. Sanji cursed himself for making such a dumb mistake like that earlier. He was almost friends with Strauss, but he just had to go and ruin it didn't he. And why did he even say that. 'You came back faster than I expected' yuck! That sounded like he was waiting for him, or being really strict or something. It sounded so bad. Gah, he was such an idiot!

"Patty was in the kitchen."

Sanji blinked.

Strauss sighed, shifting his weight a little, "He offered to wash our dishes for me. I had nothing else to do...so I came back."

"Strauss…" He blinked, sitting up to stare at the hammock. "I-"

"Can I say something quickly? Before you go ahead and...say whatever you're going to say."

The apology caught in his throat. "S...sure."

"Thanks." Strauss hesitated, sucking in a deep breath. "I...I'm sorry. For reacting so badly this morning."

How could Strauss always manage to catch him off guard like this? He always said the most unexpected things, and the most degrading to himself. It was like he wanted to be cast under a spotlight of blame.

Taking Sanji's silence for an invitation, Strauss continued, "It's just… I didn't get where you were coming from. I know I can be intense at times, particularly when it comes to training, and I haven't ever trained with anyone else, so I wasn't sure how to deal with it, and I should've taken it back a notch-"

He had to interject now or he'll go on forever, "It's okay! It's completely fine."

"It is?" It hurt Sanji to hear that much relief in his friend's voice. "Oh that's great. I thought I might have offended you, which really I didn't want."

"If anything I should be the one apologising to you."

The silhouette on the hammock sat up, still managing to keep perfect balance, "You? You don't have to, you're my senior after all."

"But I didn't consider the effort you put into your flexibility. I…" The words choked in his throat. Apologising to someone he knew was a lot harder than making forced apologies to customers. And he didn't even make those that often. "I was rude. And inconsiderate. It's my fault, and I'm sorry."

Strauss sniffed, "There were better ways of phrasing it."

"Yeah… But I really am sorry."

"I know. And I forgive you. Do you...forgive me?"

He smiled, "Yeah."

There was a loud thump in the darkness, and a pair of legs being lit by the sliver of moonlight they got through their tiny porthole, "Phew! I'm glad that's out the way. I was worrying about that for so long…"

He let out a chuckle, "Me too."

"God" Strauss we're pathetic."

"We really are, aren't we."

The waves sloshed against the side of the Baratie. Far off in the distance, they could vaguely make out the cry of a sea bird as it flew back to it's nest.

"I can't sleep. Can you?"

"Not in the slightest."

"So let's chat for a bit." Sanji prodded hopefully.

Strauss hesitated for a bit. "Sure." With a bit of wriggling, his head appeared over the edge of his hammock, "Do you have any topic in mind?"

"Uh…" He did, but he didn't think it would go down that well. "What about you?"

"Me?! Okay then… Uh… How do you know Zeff? You guys seem really close. Is he your dad?"

Dad… Voices echoed through his head. Voices that he'd hoped that he had forgotten by now. He shook them off. "He's as good as my dad, that shitty geezer."

"I see." A chuckle. "I won't press it anymore then."

A gentle smile made its way onto Sanji's face, "Thanks."

"I know just how toxic the past can be. So don't worry about it."

"Oh… okay."

Silence fell once more.

"This is...really hard."

"Yeah."

They both let out a deep sigh.

"We're terrible at this."

"Yup." Sanji groaned, "I would at least be able to say something if you were a lady."

"Hu-EEP!"

That scream...was almost cute. Almost. Maybe. Very cute for a guy at least. Not that Sanji was affected by it at a-

Thump!

Oh god. He scrambled upright, taking in the goaning figure that had just experienced an unfortunate meeting with the floorboards, "Are you alright?"

"I'm…" Sanji could have sworn that his roommate stifled a giggle. "I'm good. Just...surprised me. That's all."

"Did I say something unexpected?" He didn't think he did. Strauss would know by now just how attentively he took care of ladies. He'd tried to convince his co-worker to do the same, but was consistently ignored.

"N...no. I'm definitely not a lady after all." Strauss picked himself off the floor, before decisively plonking himself right back down again. "On second thought, it might be a good idea if I stay down here while we talk. I don't want you to catch me off guard again."

Sanji found himself snorting despite his better judgment. But now he could only see Strauss' head peeking above the end of his bed. It felt weird. Way too weird. "I'll join you."

"You sure? It's probably a lot cozier up there."

"Go look in the cupboard under the mirror." Sanji sat up, toes recoiling at the sudden coolness of the floor, "There should be a couple of blankets in there." Winters were always tough when you lived in the middle of the ocean.

"Which she...oh. Never mind. Catch."

He baulked at the dark mass flying at him through the darkness, letting it hit him directly on the head.

"Nice catch." He could hear the smile in his voice.

"A bit of warning would've been nice," he grumbled as he tugged the itchy blanket off and wrapped it around him.

"I told you to catch." Strauss smiled innocently, settling back on the floor opposite Sanji. "Not my fault your reflexes weren't up to scratch."

Speaking of reflexes, that make Sanji think of a new question. "How long have you trained for?"

"Oh? Now you want to know?" Sanji could vaguely make out the raised eyebrow as he crouched down and huddled his knees against him.

"Well yeah." He grinned, "You seem to like it, and I want to find out more about you, so I should ask about what you like."

"I wouldn't say I like it. But…fine." Strauss sighed, shaking the end of the sentence away. "Gosh how long has it been… I think I started when I was… 3? Yeah that sounds right."

"3?!" Sanji gaped. What Zeff had said earlier was flooding back to him. Anyone would be upset if someone insulted something they've spent so much time on. The guilt was beginning to rise up again, along with something else. Memories of being forced through flaming obstacle courses, swimming across oceans, and being hammered in the face. He shuddered, and quickly moved on, "You… you seriously started fighting when you were only 3?"

Strauss froze, before turning away, "Not for fighting, no. It was training for something else."

"Something else?" What could it be? Strauss seemed made to fight, with agile steps and nimble hits. He thought back to the first fight he'd ever seen him in. How the thought that struck him the most, was the way Strauss had read the battle like…

Like a dance.

"Were you a-"

"I'm tired." Strauss declared, getting to his feet. "All this talking has worn me out. Goodnight Sanji."

Sanji stared as he watched the dark figure flip into the hammock once more, "Oh. Goodnight…"

No reply.

He silently cursed. It had all been going so well, and he just had to go and ruin it. Obviously he'd hit a sore spot. He wasn't sure why though. Dancing was relatively harmless. If that really was what Strauss had been. It had to be. It made too much sense to be anything else.

Oh well. He got up and settled himself back into his nice, warm bed. Strauss probably had his reasons. And he'd respected Sanji's past, so it would only be right that Sanji should respect his.

However much he desperately wanted to ask.

A/N

Hallo! I'm back! Sorry for not getting another chapter out for so long, I've been having a rough time recently, and haven't been motivated to write as much. Particularly for this one, since it's the weakest out of my 3 main fics. Which sucks, since I love this fic. Hopefully, this chapter is enough to sate your appetites! I will try to get another out soon, but don't hold your breath. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Love you all :)