Hot to Go

Hot to Go

Summary: A man falls for another, but is this just a one sided infatuation?
Disclaimer: I haven’t sailed the Grand Line, so there’s no way I could own One Piece.
Warning: None for now
Author’s Note: This is my first One Piece fic! *cheers* I think what I really want to do is a fic praising Buggy Senshou for his honor and hilarity…^w^ Of course, Buggy Senshou is so much better in Japanese…


Hanasu*

Luffy sat on the smiling figure head of the Going Merry hand on his hat. It was a pleasant day, the breeze filling the sails and cooling what should have been a sweltering day. The Straw Hat captain turned around suddenly, staring absently at the deck where the various members of his crew were engaged in various pursuits. Nami was reading maps, Usopp was repairing the latest thing Luffy had broken, and somewhere on back deck, Zoro was training.

“Hey…where’s Sanji?”

Usopp looked up from the fishing gear, moving up the eye of one of his goggles. “Cooking probably, that’s what cooks do Luffy!”

“Why doesn’t he come out here and play with us?”

Nami laughed at this, continuing to look at her maps. “Oh please Luffy. Aren’t you a little old to be saying things like that? We’re pirates, not kids. He’s the cook, that’s his job.”

Usopp rolled his eyes,. “Sure, cooking for you! I wish I got special treats and drinks brought to me!”

The woman shrugged. “Can’t help that I’m beautiful!”

Luffy watched the exchange, happy to see his crew getting along, but began to stare absently at the small round window that led to the kitchen. Sanji was always in there and rarely on deck with the rest of them. Surely he had other things to do than cook?

Inside the kitchen, Sanji was doing something other than cook. He stared out of the back window of the cabin watching Zoro train. Initially, he’d begun his day watching Nami tan, but when he noticed Zoro hadn’t come to the front of the ship to train, he’d quickly abandoned the sight of her peach cream legs for the taut muscled body of the swordsman.

The door opened and Sanji swung his head towards the door, cigarette relaxed between his fingers.

“SANJI!” Luffy announced, hopping over to where he was. “Hi!”

“Hey Luffy. Lunch isn’t for a while so you’ll have to wait!”

The youth shook his head. “No, me and Usopp are gonna play cards! You wanna play!?”

Sanji shrugged, taking one last glance out of the window. “Yeah, sure.”

The Straw hat laughed gleefully and exited the cabin, the blond shaking his head. He was one to talk, but Usopp and Luffy were a couple of kids. Sure, he himself was only nineteen, but somewhere in his mind he’d decided he was a lot more mature than either of them.

Guess it’s cause I spent so much time with Zeff…

He stepped out of the cabin and was immediately smacked in the forehead by a black checker piece. He scowled and took it off his forehead.

“WHAT THE FUCK!” he roared, Luffy laughing, dodging as Usopp shot checkers at him from his sling shot.

“We’re playing cards!” Luffy announced, rounding the mast.

Sanji’s eyebrow twitched. “THAT’S CHECKERS YOU IDIOT!”

Another piece flew his way and he jumped the railing, landing smoothly as he scraped up black pieces and threw them at Usopp.

So much for maturity.

Zoro put down his weighted sword and went to the front deck where Nami was shaking her head and heading into the kitchen. Below, Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy were throwing checkers, cards, and play fighting all over the deck. Usopp tackled the tall blond and Luffy stretched out of the way, waving to Zoro.

“Come play Zoro!”

The green haired man shook his head, rolling his eyes when Usopp declared in a voice shaking with laughter that it was unfair of Sanji to tickle him in a “man to man” fight.

“Kids…” he muttered.

Sanji leapt up and away, grinning. He watched Usopp and Luffy go at it, his fists on his hips. It felt good to let out some tension every now and then. He glanced over to the upper deck and saw Zoro shaking his head. He rubbed the back of his head and waved, the swordsman raising an eyebrow.

The blonde’s smile faltered and he turned his attention back to Luffy and Usopp, who seemed to be gathering the checkers and cards again, settling down.

“I’ll uh, I’ll go finish lunch…” he said too loudly. He didn’t know why, but he felt damn embarrassed.

Playing around like that in front of him…great, now he thinks I’m some dumb kid…

He walked up the stairs to the upper deck, going for the kitchen door when Zoro spoke.

“Maybe at the next port I’ll buy you all some building blocks!”

Sanji frowned as Zoro barked laughter. The cook growled and shot back, “With whose money you crap samurai?”

Zoro kept laughing and Sanji muttered obscenities under his breath, going inside. Nami was there, smiling at him as she leafed through the paper.

“Hi Sanji.”

“Hello Nami-chan!” he returned musically.

“When’s lunch ready?”

“I’m starting right now! Why don’t you go relax and I’ll bring you a drink?”

The woman stood up and gathered her paper. “I think I’ll go below deck, I don’t want Luffy and Usopp to start throwing checkers again. I never expected you to get involved though.”

The youth shrugged, smiling. “Ah, I was bored.”

She started to leave, staring out of the round window at Zoro. She gave a soft whistle and Sanji flinched.

“God, all that working out is really doing Zoro a lot of good…too bad he doesn’t have any money or he’d make a good boyfriend!” she left then, Sanji gripping a towel.

Zoro!? Zoro?! What the fuck!? What does Zoro do for her that I can’t?

He slapped the towel down and leaned against the sink, gripping the edges. Stupid samurai…


Lunch was on. Sanji leaned against the sink as usual, eating his meal casually, knowing he wouldn’t have much time to enjoy his food as Luffy was already clearing plates that he’d have to wash soon enough. He couldn’t, however, casually watch Nami and Zoro as they sat at the table. Why hadn’t he seen it before.

Her eyes continuously roamed the swordsman’s body and the way she smiled at him, was a lot different than she smiled at anyone else. Of course, Zoro seemed oblivious, and that only angered him more.

He went to the fridge and got out some of the pudding from last night. He put a chocolate one in front of Nami, a cherry garnish on the top. The woman didn’t even say thank you, she was looking at Zoro who was still digging into his second serving.

“Zoro…” she purred, “You can have mine since you didn’t get to taste any last night. Sanji’s a really good cook.”

A graceful arm replaced the pudding in front of Zoro and the swordsman didn’t even look up from his place. Nami just smiled and Sanji cleared her dishes.

“Thank you Sanji-kun…” she murmured absently.

“Your welcome.” He said, gathering Usopp’s two plates and using all his skill to gather Luffy’s mountain of plates.

He turned immediately and began washing dishes, his own food forgotten.

“Sanji!”

“Yeah Luffy?”

“You gonna finish that?”

He was about to respond when he heard Luffy squawk indignantly. He saw a hand go for his plate and looked to see who it was. Zoro finished off his meal then put the plate in the stack.

“That was good…” he rumbled.

“Hai…” the cook muttered, fighting the urge to add “Zoro-chan”.

The man patted his stomach and put down the tiny ramekin. “Good stuff…” he left the kitchen then, talking about a nap to which Luffy agreed.

Usopp sighed. “I still have to fix the fishing gear you guys broke…what the hell was Zoro trying to catch? A whale?!” the long nose left the kitchen, stretching while Nami gathered the remaining dishes and put them to the side of Sanji.

“Need help?”

“I’m fine. Thanks Nami-san.”

“We reach port in about half a week, but if we can catch this wind I’m detecting, we can be there in around three days!”

The blond nodded. “Good, I need some supplies…”

“Say…” the sneaky woman said. “Do you know if Zoro needs anything? He’ll need money for sure and that’s when I’ll get him! I love it when he owes me money!”

Usually, Sanji would have complimented her on her intelligence but today he just shook his head and kept washing dishes. The woman shrugged and left, closing the door.

In a flash, the blond whirled and a dish shattered against the door.

Who cares right? Who cares if she cheats him! He’s just a stupid samurai!

He watched through the back window, watching as Zoro stretched and laid out on his side on deck, absorbing the sun. Sometimes he wished he could –

His thoughts were interrupted by Luffy sitting on Usopp and declaring in a loud voice that it was nap time and everyone had to take a nap, captain’s orders. Usopp groaned, his fingers twitching around broken lures.

“LUFFY!”

“HEE HEEE!”

The blond shook his head.

Just another day.

****

Today wasn’t good. They’d caught a good wind to be sure, but after riding carefree for two days, they’d hit the wind Nami was talking about, but it wasn’t one that would take them to port. It was a storm wind.

At first it’d started with harmless drizzling, but now it was an out and out storm and as far as Sanji could tell, it was approaching sundown. They had a rule for times like this, two people would have to stay up on watch and since usually Usopp and Nami were forced to do it, it was someone else’s turn.

Luffy was the best candidate, but after consuming more than half his weight in lunch, the straw hat was out for the count below deck, telling them to make sure “no one died”.

I love orders like that…

Nami bid him farewell and walked back out into the rain soaked world, her pink rain coat the only bright spot in the sheets of grey coming down. The cook sighed and glanced at the dishes. He’d need to finish these if anything was to get done.

The red head had offered, but once again, he turned her down. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he was gradually getting sick of her and wasn’t as enthusiastic in his responses anymore. In fact, the more he saw her pursuing Zoro, the more pissed off he became. He no longer too her special drinks and the other day, the woman had actually asked him to make a snack for her. He’d refused, lying and saying they were out of whatever she wanted.

Conniving bitch…and the biggest problem is, Zoro is so inept he’ll fall right into your trap…

The past few days had been painful. Apparently, Nami was extending some of her kindness Zoro’s way, trying to make sure Luffy or Usopp did the jobs she previously would have asked him to do.

He took a drag on his cigarette and walked over to the basin.

Better now than never…I’ve got to stop thinking about that stuff, or I’ll break all the dishes…

The door opened and Zoro came in, taking off his bandana. “Yo, Sanji. I thought you were doing watch?”

“I am…I gotta do these or I won’t have time later.” He filled the sink and grabbed a scrub brush, taking the first plate and beginning. He was well into his own rhythm when he realized Zoro hadn’t left. He looked over his shoulder, right into beryl green eyes.

“What?”

“Just waiting for you to get done. I can’t watch by myself. I tried that once and we wound up off course.”

Sanji laughed softly. Leaving Zoro alone when it came to anything but battle was begging for disaster. The swordsman couldn’t even navigate a small town without becoming completely lost.

“Yeah well, dishes take time, so just keep an eye out till I get out there.”

“You’re gonna watch in that precious suit of yours?”

The cook’s eyebrow quirked. “You gonna get us lost with those pretty swords of yours?!”

Zoro growled and Sanji snorted, going back to the dishes. It was quiet for a time until he felt a presence beside him.

“What are you –Oh.”

Zoro was drying the dishes he’d left in the empty side and putting them in another stack. Sanji watched him work for a while then continued to wash, handing the plates over.

“Here Zoro…”

The man took them.

“Oy Zoro…”

The man took another plate.

“Zoro.”

Another one was dried.

“Zo –.”

“You know, you don’t have to keep saying that.”

Silence. A few plates were handed over until Sanji started to called Zoro’s name with each one, the swords man sighing in exasperation.

“Sorry, it’s habit I picked up from the old man.”

“Oh…”

They worked this way until there were no more dishes. Sanji wiped the sink dry and Zoro looked out side, not at all bothered by the rolling waves and jumping ship. He crossed his arms and as Sanji took off his apron, asked a question.

“Do you think Nami would actually go out with me?”

The blond froze and balled up his apron, tossing it in a corner. “Not in a million years. You don’t have any cash and that’s what she likes…besides, she’s only 18.”

“Yeah and I’m only 21.”

Sanji put this information in the back of his mind, reminding himself to put it in his mind’s “Zoro” file later.

“I thought you thought we were a bunch of kids?”

“You are, Nami’s a woman, the rest of you are little boys!”

Sanji balled up his fist and snatched the cigarette out of his mouth. “Yeah, well, that maybe be what you think but I ain’t about to get taken by some conniving broad!” He shoved the man out of the way and stormed out into the rain, not caring that he’d forgotten to get his own rain jacket.

Once out of deck, in the freezing spray, Sanji cursed his decision and went back into the kitchen where Zoro still waited. He opened the small closet and fished out his jacket, yanking up the hood and walking past Zoro.

“You’re jealous.” The man stated.

Sanji froze, fists clenched. “Fuck you Zoro.”

“You did all that shit for her and you got nowhere. You’re jealous!”

Laughter echoed in the room and the blond spun around. “Shut your fuckin’ mouth! You don’t know anything!”

Zoro laughed again, ruffling water drops from his short green hair. “Yeah, I know enough! Looks like she wants a real man, not some second rate cook with curly brows!”

And so Sanji kicked, heedless of the swords at Zoro’s side. He’d shut this asshole up if it was the last thing he did.

Unfortunately he missed, but so did Zoro’s initial slash. Fearing for his kitchen, Sanji decided to take it outside, Zoro swiftly following.

Slash after slash, kick after kick, nothing hit as the ship rocked and rolled, giving them uneasy footing on the rain slicked deck.

Lightning struck from no where and Sanji cursed as he saw their crow’s nest flag on fire. He jumped Zoro’s attack and scrambled up the mast, doing his best to put the cloth out.

From below, Zoro put away his sword, tying his bandana back on. The next time they went into town, he was going to get a rain jacket for sure.

When Sanji came down, the two went to opposite sides of the boat, Sanji keeping watch in the front, Zoro content to stay in the back.

The sky was a troubling black and thunder rumbled overhead.

Tonight definitely wasn’t going to be good.

**

It’d been hours since they’d started the watch and nothing drastic had happened so far, not drastic enough for Sanji to go back there and talk to Zoro. The blond was pissed. Mainly because he couldn’t smoke, secondly because he’d been called a kid, and thirdly because Zoro was right. He was jealous.

On both ends.

Nami didn’t want him after all he’d done and apparently, Zoro wasn’t interested either.

Wait…why do you even care if he’s interested. Fuck him!

He rubbed his cold hands together and leaned against the kitchen cabin realizing dinner would be soon.

I should just make them all make sandwiches, I don’t feel like it tonight…

He watched the grey sea and thought back to his early days, before the Baratie had taken off when it was just him and Zeff. He’d listened to the man’s exploits and later, the exploits of his crew mates. Although he’d been young, he decided that women must be some sort of sacred treasure that you just had to have and after that, he’d begun to treat them that way. Free food, discounts, he’d get them whatever they wanted. Yeah, so most walked all over him. It didn’t matter, but he really thought he’d had a chance with Nami.

I thought Zeff was just teasing me when he said I’d never make it with a woman the way I’m doing it. He was right…the fucker…

Luffy appeared, not as boisterous in the rain, followed by Nami and a soaked looking Usopp. They filed into the kitchen and he followed, shocked that Zoro was already there.

“What the fuck! You’re supposed to be watching!?”

The man shrugged. “I can watch through the window.”

Sanji growled and took off his coat, going over the pantry and getting out dishes. He set out supplies and began to prepare them, putting bread and plates on the table.

“Make your own sandwiches. I’m going out to watch…”

Luffy looked worried for a moment. “Are you okay Sanji?”

“Just fuckin’ fine!” he snapped back, heading outside. He went behind the cooking cabin and leaned over, lighting a cigarette. It looked like the rain was lessening, so maybe he’d get to go sulk alone for awhile once his watch was over.

His stomach growled.

Shit, I forgot to eat.


He didn’t know how long he squatted there smoking, but his pack was empty, so he must have been there a while. The rain had lessened and there were moonlight rainbows against waning storm clouds. It was a beautiful sight, but he was still hungry and he still felt like shit.

He’d heard them in there. Well after Usopp and Luffy had returned downstairs of course. And he’d been stupid enough to look through the fucking window.

At least they hadn’t used the table.

Yeah, he was jealous. He remembered what some guys had always said about him, the way he treated girls and the way he reacted when he saw other guys treating girls the same way.

“Sanji, you’re just jealous of the girl!”

And everyone would laugh and he’d get pissed off or laugh too, talking about how he’d love a diamond necklace. So he could pawn it of course.

But now…

He walked around and went into the kitchen. Zoro was still there.

Jackass…

He saw the mountain of dishes and swore he’d kill Luffy someday then saw an opened bottle of wine. It was his best of course and before he could react, Zoro told him Nami opened it.

So he just frowned then. Really hard. And washed the dishes. Also, really hard.

He broke two glasses and dropped four plates and just decided he’d buy more later.

Fuck all of them. I’m just the cook so I’ll just fuckin’ cook! Who cares! Who cares about anything!

“Sanji…” came a voice beside him.

Zoro stood there, ready to dry plates. Sanji scowled and gritted his teeth, almost destroying his cigarette filter.

“Fuck off you bastard I can do the fuckin’ dishes. It’s what I do! I’m just the fuckin’ cook! The chore boy!”

The swordsman was stunned but nonetheless backed off. “Hey, I just wanted to help. Do you need to talk about –”

“I SAID FUCK OFF!”

With this, Zoro left, the cook shaking his head and leaning against the sink.

damn…


****
*Hansu- to talk , Miru- to see
*Ahh, this is my first One Piece fic. I don’t know how it will develop, but reviews or not, kind or not, I shall continue.
*Schwarzwald loves Buggy Senshou!