The Dark Knight of GLU

Chapter 24
Explosive Emotions

Yasopp had scouted ahead and was waiting for the group at the corner of the first building. Fighting could be heard from the inside and Ben put a heavy hand on Sanji’s shoulder to keep the blonde from charging in unprepared. The tall professor pointed to a lone figure that had just appeared carrying a machine gun and a high-powered flashlight. He was soon followed by another man and the two began complaining as they continued their patrol.

“I don’t know why we’re still bothering to do these patrols, the guys they were waiting for are obviously inside,” the first complained. “We’re missing all the action, damn it!”

“Buggy said to wait until he called for us. Besides, it’s just one guy and there has to be at least twenty of our guys in there and also half a dozen of Krieg’s men as well.” The second sentry stopped and lit a cigarette. “Did you see that man leading them? Fucker gave me the creeps.”

They continued to discuss the mysterious man as they neared the waiting group. As soon as they were within range, Shanks signaled two of his men to action. In seconds, Buggy’s men were disarmed and unconscious on the ground. Luffy slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle a giggle, Usopp paled and looked like he would faint, Johnny and Yosaku’s eyes shone with excitement, Chopper rushed to make sure the fallen men were ok, and Sanji continued to stare at the building where the gunshots were coming from.

Sanji kept repeating to himself that the asshole had been shot once already and lived; he could do it again if needed. Besides, Frank was in there with him so at least he had backup. Maybe some of those shots were coming from him. Luffy’s whine broke him from his thoughts.

“It’s not fair that Ace got to go with them. I bet he’s in there right now having all kinds of fun.” The straw hat bowed forward and hid Luffy’s pouting face from the others.

“Ace!” Several hands rushed forward to cover Sanji’s loud mouth. He angrily knocked them away and glared at the redhead. “You let your own nephew go in there with two obviously insane men in an attempt to take out an unknown number of enemies?”

“Hey, I tried to get him to let me come too.” Shanks said in defense. He gave Sanji a crooked grin and turned to the sulking boy.

“Come on; let’s make a little fun of our own.” Lucky Roux patted Luffy on the back in an attempt to help cheer him up. “I’m willing to bet there’s a big group of them hiding around the other side of the building, just waiting for that call to come in and help.”

The other echoed his thoughts and turned to Shanks to seek his opinion.

“Yasopp, take your kid and see if you can find a way up to the roof, we might need some cover. Ben, pick a few of the boys and take the left side. We’ll take the right. I’m fairly sure that they will be waiting outside the main bay doors. If we come at them from both sides at once, we can catch them off guard and end this quickly. Make your shots count; we don’t need any of our men taken out by friendly fire.” Shanks issued orders with ease, this obviously not being the first time he had done something of questionable nature.

Halfway down the length of the pathway, the firing ceased. Sanji and Shanks shared a worried look, concerned for their loved ones and what the silence might mean. Quickly, they began running to their designated points only to find chaos. The remainder of Buggy’s men were banging on the building, trying to get the door open. Shanks looked over to the other end and saw Ben signal that they were in position. A small pebble hit him in the shoulder and he looked up to see Yasopp and Usopp waving excitedly from the opposite roof. Shanks looked over to Zoro’s friends and was pleased to see fierce determination set firmly in their features. The redhead nodded to his sniper and Yasopp took aim.

One of the men next to the door fell into a heap on the ground, startling those directly around him. Shots rang out from the right and the left and two more men fell. Weapons were drawn and Buggy’s men began to return fire, shooting blindly into the night.

DK*DK*DK*DK

Cabaji scoffed at the sight before him nervously. The idea of fighting with three swords was ludicrous, but he had to admit, seeing Zoro with all three blades was quite intimidating. The single sword in his hand suddenly felt very inadequate and his confidence began to falter. In the blink of an eye, the demon had closed the distance between them and was unleashing every ounce of his fury. Even with his quick speed, Cabaji was having a difficult time blocking the viscous attacks. The moment the man facing him had put the black strip of cloth over his head his eyes had changed. Any speck of humanity had faded away and was replaced with animalistic rage.

Zoro was driven with the need to inflict as much pain as possible to whoever it was in his way. Fire burned in his eyes wherever he looked and images of Sanji’s face haunted him just outside his line of sight. A bullet whizzed past his nose and he turned to growl at the shaking white haired man. Mohji was still huddled over the bleeding dog and holding a 9mm in his unsteady hands. Zoro broke off from his pursuit of the swordsman to eliminate the dog lover, only to be shot at again from across the room. The man was tackled and immediately knocked out by a sheepishly grinning Ace.

“Sorry, he just about got away.” Another gunshot knocked Ace’s hat from his head and the raven spun around cussing.

Zoro snarled and grunted at the impact to his left side, grinning evilly around Wado’s hilt at the look of disbelief on Cabaji’s face when the sword didn’t penetrate. There was a small tear in the green fabric of his haramaki now, showing off the dark Kevlar beneath. Johnny and Yosaku definitely deserved some significant homage after this. Cabaji jerked the blade back and kicked Zoro hard in the sternum, sending him sliding back a few inches, but nothing more. The black haired swordsman reached into his pocket to pull out a small can of something, and threw it onto the ground between them.

Smoke began pouring out into the open area, causing tears to well up in Zoro’s eyes. His lungs burned with every breath and he swore loudly when he realized that his target had disappeared. The air shifted to his left and he barely blocked the strike aimed at his shoulder, then the attacker melted back into the smoke again. A leg swept at the back of his ankles, attempting to knock him down, but after months of messing around with Sanji, Zoro had developed a fairly good counter measure. He leaned into the fall, arching his back and extended his hands above his head. The instant his fists hit the floor, he kicked his feet up and over, doing an improvised back flip and landing with perfect grace.

An explosion was heard somewhere behind him, sending debris and more smoke into the room. Cheering could be heard from the men outside and Zoro knew that reinforcements had finally arrived. Fortunately for him, he was under the cover of the smoke bomb and could keep hidden, but what of his father and Ace? Those two would be easily identified, and if he remembered correctly the men outside had automatic weapons, not single round shots like what they had faced so far. Muffled commands were heard along with a mournful cry that tugged at his soul. Zoro growled in frustration. Frank’s angry voice drifted to him, yelling something about senility, and the fight seemed to take on a whole new level. Zoro searched out any familiar figures through the shifting haze and began chuckling when he caught sight of a strip of long checkered material. The three-bladed swordsman crossed his arms in front of him and charged.

“ONI…”

DK*DK*DK*DK

Sanji sent his knee into the underside of a random man’s jaw, ignoring the sickening sound of the bone breaking upon impact. He ducked down and the bullet meant for his head slammed into the broken man’s neck, sending a spray of blood across Sanji’s chest, face and hair. His hands were filthy from flipping over earlier to send a whirlwind of kicks at the group of men that had surrounded him. In a vain attempt to rid himself of the red splatter, Sanji wiped a blackened hand over his face, dirtying his features further. He looked around to all the fallen guards and couldn’t help but feel satisfied. Even if Zoro wasn’t dead, these fuckers had wanted him that way and Sanji was happy to point out their mistake. They missed.

He saw Luffy fighting with the door, trying to get it open and Shanks talking with Usopp and Yasopp who had come down from the rooftop. Ben shook his head and walked up to the bay door silently. He slapped an explosive charge on it, set the timer for ten seconds, pushed the button and began walking away. Everyone paused for the first two counts and then scrambled away for safety, Luffy screaming insults to the door as Johnny pulled him off and threw the lanky young man over his shoulder. The door exploded and everyone began cheering as they entered through the crude entryway.

Sanji instantly began searching for Zoro, but ended up stopping short when his eyes fell on another creature from his past. He never realized that the broken cry he heard had come from his own chest. Dazed he began to walk over to Gin when he heard Frank’s voice call out. He looked to see the older Roronoa struggling to keep four sharp blades from penetrating his neck. The lunatic holding the weapon had Frank pinned to the ground and was laughing insanely. Shanks pulled out his gun and shot the joker wannabe in the shoulder, knocking him off the masked man.

“You’ve gotten weak in your old age, sweetheart,” Shanks called out in amusement.

“And you’re senile. There’s no way it’s been an hour.” Frank was clearly pissed.

“On the dot!” Shanks laughed and emptied another round into an advancing attacker.

Sanji ignored the arguing couple and continued through the fighting to his ex-boyfriend. He knelt down and pulled the lifeless body close to his chest, whispering ‘idiot’ over and over. A fierce growl made his head pop up and he searched again for his reason for being here tonight. The back of a tall figure in a
sleeveless duster came into view through the smoke. He had a long blue and white checkered scarf covering his mouth and nose and a bloody blade gripped tightly in one hand. Carefully, Sanji laid the still form back on the ground and kissed him softly on his forehead.

“ONI… GIRI!!!”

The voice sounded almost inhuman, but with the faintest hint of something recognizable. Something crashed into the man with the scarf and blood went flying. The smoke was finally clearing with the help of the new opening and the extra bodies moving around. A dark figure came forward and Sanji’s eyes widened in awe. Tight leather molded to his lower body like second skin, tucked into a pair of lace-up boots. The green material at his waist accentuated the chiseled abs and rippling pectorals. Thick lines of blood were running from the jagged marks in his arm while each hand held bloody sword. His green hair was hidden beneath a black bandanna tied firmly around his head and there was fresh blood splattered over his face. Finally, Sanji’s eyes came to rest on the white sword held firmly in Zoro’s mouth between clinched teeth and dripping blood onto the ground below.

“Sanji.” Zoro stepped out of the fog towards the blonde, removing the sword from his mouth.

Sanji trailed his fingers over Gin’s arm as he stood up to face the warrior. “You could have told me.”

Zoro stood there in shock as he watched Sanji’s lips move. No one else seemed to be paying attention to the blonde as the fighting continued around them, further convincing him that Sanji couldn’t really be there. In a daze he began walking towards the fallen men.

“Gomen. I thought if I came here tonight I could keep you safe. I should have told you the truth. I never meant for you to get hurt because… daisuki dakara.”

Zoro’s speech ended as he stopped before what he imagined was a ghost. When he had seen Sanji there hovered over Gin’s dead body, all bloody and blackened with grime, he thought that the blonde had come to help guide his old lover into the afterlife. He embraced the chance to finally tell the man how he felt, even if it meant confessing everything to a room filled with strangers. The sound of his name being called from every direction didn’t register as he reached out to touch the apparition with the fingertips of his hand still wrapped around Yubashiri. Ghost Sanji’s eyes widened in fear and suddenly Zoro found his arm grabbed in a very much solid hold. Zoro was yanked to the side for a second time that night, the bullet nicking his arm and continuing into Sanji’s shoulder. Zoro began screaming as Sanji’s body was kicked back with the impact, a dark wetness spreading across the black shirt. He reached out and grabbed for the blonde only to come up empty.

Sanji had ducked out of Zoro’s grasp and had somehow skirted around the puzzled man to face the gunner. The heel of his favorite, worn out dress shoes… the ones he had been wearing the first time he had been attacked and won the fight… connected with Mohji’s windpipe, crushing it and blocking off the man’s air supply. The gun fell from the white haired man’s grip as he fell to his knees, grabbing for his throat futilely.

Frank continued to battle against Buggy on the other side of the battlefield. Though the painted man was bleeding heavily and showing signs of fatigue, the bladed brass knuckles still proved to be a difficult weapon to avoid. Fortunately, the force behind it was dwindling. Frank’s kama met across the exposed throat of his enemy and he pinned the defeated man against a support beam. In a last minute attempt to gain some satisfaction, Buggy yanked the mask off Frank’s head.

“Like you don’t already know who I am Doke. Who else do you know with green hair?” Frank ridiculed.

“At least one more,” Buggy sneered as he glanced over to Zoro’s paralyzed form. “I’ll see you both pay.”

Shanks hurried to Frank’s side and happily divested his old partner of the sharp weapon, tossing it off to the side for one of his men to catch. “Not in this life, Buggy. You won’t be getting out of prison this time when we’re done.”

Ace pulled out a pair of cuffs from one of the pockets of his shorts and tossed them to Frank. The older man grinned and winked as he locked Buggy’s hands behind his back. “There’s enough evidence in this warehouse to put you away for centuries. If not, we’ll be waiting for you. We all will.”

With that Frank gestured to all the men in the room who were glaring at the restrained man. From the seasoned men in Shanks’ crew to the newly recruited members of his son’s group, they all stood firm, echoing their affirmation to be prepared.

The taste of defeat was bitter in Buggy’s mouth as he realized the strength in the men surrounding him. He hung his head and began wracking his brain, trying to think of an escape plan. He turned his head away to hide the malicious smile that had appeared when he remembered one last trick he had hidden up his sleeve.

DK*DK*DK*DK

Zoro kept his back to Sanji, still trying to process what had happened. Seeing the photos, having the most important thing in his life taken away, only to find it was a lie, was hard enough to try and accept. The feel of Sanji’s hand on his arm gave a sudden jolt to his heart that turned into stabbing pain when blood began to pour out of his lover’s chest. Sanji’s life was being taken right before his very eyes and there was nothing he could do about it.

Everyone around them hurried to secure any living members of the opposing groups. What few men that were left surrendered when the reinforcements that came were for the opposing side. Though all of Zoro’s men wanted to step in and aid their friends, Shanks’ men held them back, insisting that they let the lovers settle things in their own way.

“What… the FUCK… is going on!” Sanji began yelling between labored breaths. He pivoted on his left foot and aimed the right at Zoro’s head.

Still pumped and somewhat focused on the battle, Zoro quickly replaced Wado in his mouth and blocked the powerful kick with all three swords.

“You stupid, fucked-up, son of a bitch!” Sanji continued to attack, his anger increasing with each show of the Knight’s skill. “Something to do with your father! SOMETHING? You call this bullshit something? You’ve practically started World War III here. If we hadn’t showed up, there would be another sixty men in here right now kicking your ass instead of me!”

Sanji’s assault began to build with his rant. He ignored the hole in his shoulder as he flipped over to his hands to dish out a barrage of hits, each one meeting the steel of Zoro’s blades. Though he physically pushed on through the pain, he was unable to suppress the vocal protest to his action when he went to push back up onto his feet. Sanji stumbled slightly; his vision blurred by light headedness, and continued to reign down his punishment on his lover. This time, the swords were not there to protect the green-haired man.

Zoro let his guard drop and braced for the impending impact of Sanji’s true strength. He had failed yet again to protect something important to him and the knowledge was tearing him apart. His mother, Kuina, Jiji, Johnny, Yosaku and now Sanji; they all had suffered in some way due to his inadequacies. He was a failure, something he refused to accept. Zoro’s head spun hard to the right and he went flying into another crate. Sanji was immediately upon him, ripping the sword from his mouth and holding it to his throat.

“I should fucking kill you for all the shit you’ve put me through,” Sanji hissed.

“What I’ve put you through? I thought you were fucking dead, that I was talking to a fucking ghost!” Zoro’s dark eyes clouded for a moment before hardening. “If you hadn’t printed that fucking article I wouldn’t even be in this shit right now. I rescue you and this is how you repay me? Fuck gratitude and lead me to the dogs why don’t you? Pansy-assed shitty-cook, get the fuck off me!”

“Not until you tell me what ‘daisuki dakara’ means.”

Zoro froze, surprised by the blonde’s unusual demand. He took a moment to assess the surroundings and wished like hell that they were somewhere else. It was one thing to confess in front of a bunch of strangers to a ghost that he thought they couldn’t see, but to tell Sanji face to face like this should be done in private. Besides, he had no idea if his feelings would be returned.

“I’m waiting, shitty-swordsman.” Though Sanji’s voice was laced with irritation, the pressure at Zoro’s throat decreased.

Zoro huffed and turned his head in defiance, glaring at a piece of weaponry lying next to him. His eyes narrowed when a few giggles began to build in the waiting group. “Uruse, ahou! [Shut up, moron!]”

This caused the giggles to turn into full-blown laughter; Johnny, Yosaku and Frank to blame.

“Just tell him Zoro-aniki, or we will.”

“I think everyone knows anyway, aniki.”

“My baby boy has grown up so fast.”

Frank made the critical mistake of not paying attention to what he was doing, and was suddenly shoved back by his captive. Unfortunately, his surprised shout drew everyone’s attention so when Buggy pulled the pin on the flash bomb, the entire group was temporarily blinded. Crashes could be heard as the criminal leader made his escape and people stumbled into things as they vainly tried to pursue.

Zoro released the swords from his hands to snatch Wado out of Sanji’s grasp and roll them over so his larger body was protecting the blonde from any further possible injury. One arm around the back of Sanji’s shoulders and the other braced on a slender hip, Zoro’s face hovered less than an inch away from the startled one below him. Their hot breaths mingled, Zoro fighting against the need to devour the taste of nicotine he had grown so fond of over the past few weeks. Fumbling hands tore the bandanna from his head and found their way into his damp green tresses, pulling the tense man down into a hungry kiss. Growling, Zoro deepened it and tightened his hold causing Sanji to whimper. The injured cook then bit down on the swordsman’s tongue, making the larger man yelp and pull back.

“Fucker, watch what the hell you’re doing! Shit, how the fuck were you able to move like that after being shot?” Sanji pushed against the naked chest above him to relieve the painful pressure to his injured shoulder.

Zoro mumbled apologies as he slid off to the side and began tearing away the blood soaked fabric. “We’ll get you to Chopper as soon as we can.”

“I’m here Zoro!” The little doctor came running as soon as he heard his name, relieved that he was finally able to do his job. The environment wasn’t as sterile or convenient as Kureha’s kitchen, but the young man’s hands moved with absolute precision and grace as he cleaned away the filth around the bullet hole. In no time, a syringe was brought out and filled with a clear liquid. “It’ll hurt less if I give you a shot first. Zoro didn’t even flinch when I stitched him up a few weeks ago. But he should have come to me before you guys decided to have sex. He could have done some really bad damage. At least this time you had enough sense to stop things before they got that far.”

“You told him!” Sanji tried to sit up, but was shoved back down by the little guy who seemed to be much stronger than he looked. “Shit, Marimo, just tell the fucking world why don’t you.”

Chopper wasted no time in plunging the needle into Sanji’s muscle and the blonde gave him a dirty look as the medicine burned into his shoulder. Whatever it was, it began to immediately numb the area.

“Would it make a difference?” Zoro asked quietly.

Sanji turned the disapproving look he had been giving the doctor to the oddly reserved swordsman. There was no trace of mockery or lies, only a strangely broken man waiting for an answer to his honest question. Sanji opened his mouth to reply when several of Shanks’ men came running by them.

“We can’t find him boss.” Lucky Roux shouted as they neared. “The bastard got away.”

Frank and Shanks were standing over the table where Cabaji and Gin were holding their meeting. They appeared to be studying invoices and shipping orders, neither pleased with what they were seeing. A troubled look passed between them and both sighed heavily. Orders were shouted and people began running.

“Ben, we need to get the live ones out of here. The rest of you, grab what you can. I don’t want this shit falling into the hands of some teenager.” Shanks started shoving the papers into the briefcase, gathering as much evidence as possible.

“Zoro, round up your boys! Have your medic do what he needs and be quick about it. Everyone else can get patched up at the base. Ace is everything ready?” Frank hurried after the grinning fool currently playing with a lighter and a stick of dynamite.

“Hey, Knight.” One of the men being restrained stood up and called out to Zoro. The swordsman lifted his head slowly and met the man’s pleading eyes. “I’m Conner… Gin was like family to us. Let us help you. If he was willing to give his life to save you, so are we.”

Sanji’s cry of pain cut through the noise as Chopper dug out the bullet and held it out for Zoro to inspect while he bandaged up the wound. The green haired man took the bloody slug and slipped it under his haramaki, securing it beneath the snug waistband of his leather pants. He thought back to what the dead man had said earlier and nodded in consent.

“Keep your lives, but your help is appreciated. Nii-san, release any of the men belonging to the other group.” Zoro looked up to Ben who bowed his head in understanding, and calmly untied Gin’s followers. A hand pushing on his thigh brought Zoro’s attention back to the man on the floor.

Sanji struggled to stand without using his injured side batting away both Zoro and Chopper when they tried to help. He went over to where Gin’s body laid and looked sorrowfully down at his old lover. “Who did it?”

“The same one who shot you.” Zoro came up behind him and put a hesitant hand on the blonde’s uninjured shoulder.

“Hn,” Sanji nodded, somewhat satisfied that he had been the one to deal the final blow. He reached up and covered Zoro’s hand with his own, letting the tears fall for a man he once gave his heart to. “That could have been you.”

“But it wasn’t. He pulled me out of the way, just like you did. You were just a little faster than him at moving yourself.” Zoro gently traced the edge of the tape holding the gauze. “It still wasn’t fast enough. You shouldn’t have been here. You were supposed to be safe at home.”

“Right, safe with exploding cars and bumbling morons,” Sanji half laughed as he sniffled and wiped away the wetness from his cheeks.

“I’ll send them home and buy you a new car.” Zoro stepped closer, pulling Sanji’s back against his chest.

“I’m minus a table lamp, a chair and two vases.” Sanji laced his fingers with Zoro’s and squeezed.

“I’ll buy you new ones.” Zoro mumbled into Sanji’s hair, letting chapped lips skim over the pale skin at nape of his neck.

“My favorite shirt is ruined and I doubt the blood will ever come out of these pants.” The blonde tilted his head so the lips were now brushing the top of his ear.

“I’ll give you my favorite shirt, but you won’t need new pants.” Zoro slipped his arm around Sanji’s waist, ignoring the burn from the damage the dog had inflicted, and rocked his hips into the blonde’s firm ass.

“Fuck…” Sanji moaned. “You’re gonna spoil me.”

“If you’ll let me,” Zoro whispered, nuzzling into his neck.

“COPS!” Usopp ran in screaming. “Zoro’s granddad said they’re on their way!”

“Chikushou! [Shit/Damn it!]” Zoro yelled and left a slightly dazed blonde standing alone so he could gather up his swords. As soon as they were back on his hip, he began pulling Sanji towards the doors. “We have to get out of here. Tousan, Ace… Yosha! [Let’s go/let’s do it]”

“Yokai! [Roger!]” Frank snapped to attention and saluted. His shoulders slumped and he began to pout when Johnny, Yosaku and Zoro groaned and rolled their eyes. “What? Come on, I thought it was funny. Damn kids…”

Shanks laughed and patted him on the back as he hurried by to help finalize things. Everyone filed out and climbed into the vehicles that had been brought around. Yuu smiled at the sight his grandson, pride evident in the way his posture changed. Zoro stood gaping at Logan’s Dodge, wondering how in the world it had been acquired. Luffy was standing in the back of another 4x4, helping load up the prisoners into the bed with the help of Gin’s men. Ace was messing with a remote and arguing with Ben about when to set the explosives off. Despite the tragedy of the night, everyone was running around in high spirits and laughing. Almost everyone.

Frank walked out last carrying Gin in his arms and laid him down at Sanji’s feet. “He needs to be returned to his boss with an explanation and our condolences.”

“Yah…” Sanji nodded solemnly.

“I’ll do it.” Zoro offered.

“No, Don Krieg will just assume you did it and kill you on the spot,” the man named Conner interrupted. “We’ll take him back, and let Krieg know that it was all Buggy’s doing. His men were the only ones we saw tonight.”

Zoro reached out and clasped forearms with the man. “See that he is respected properly.”

The man nodded and motioned for the other two to pick up their fallen leader. Zoro watched them load up in their own cars and drive off. Yosaku came up beside him and touched his arm gently. Zoro gave him half a smile before pulling his close friend into a tight hug. He did the same to Johnny when the crying buffoon joined them. Zoro whispered his thanks to them, promising that if they ever needed him, he’d be there. He looked over their shoulders to see Sanji searching his pockets. The tweedle-twins gave him a knowing look and took off to help Yuu and some of the others. Zoro stepped up beside the blonde just as Sanji began pitching a fit.

“Damn it! This is shit has to stop! I’m so fucking tired of losing smokes.”

Zoro chuckled as he watched Sanji rip apart the pack looking for a cigarette that wasn’t soaked in blood. Remembering that the authorities were closing in prevented him from teasing the blonde like he wanted, but he vowed that there would be time soon enough when they got back to the dojo. “Oi, love-cook, let’s go.”

Zoro put his hand on the small of Sanji’s back and guided him over to the passenger side of Logan’s truck. Zoro climbed into the driver’s seat, after handing his swords over to Luffy, and reached for the keys. From behind, Usopp tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention, then leaned over from the back seat and messed around under the dash, quickly bringing the engine to life. Zoro studied the long nose man for a moment before smirking and clapping him hard on the back. “Welcome to the dark side.”

Usopp began sputtering excuses, denying that he had anything to do with stealing the truck. Luffy put his arm around his friend and began laughing, clearly happy that the coward had finally done something exciting. Chopper climbed in on the other side of Luffy, scolding Zoro for not letting him tend to the Knight’s injuries. Sanji had opened up the passenger door and was looking over the previously pristine cab, wondering if all the stains would come out. Ace draped himself carefully over the blonde’s back and whistled low.

“You guys are so screwed…”

“Like them stealing it wasn’t bad enough?” Zoro asked curiously, as he reached out to pull Sanji over next to him on the seat. “Get in, we need to hurry.”

Ace tossed his provisions into the back and jumped up on the step, yelling out to everyone. “OK! You guys have 20 seconds to get your asses out of here. This baby’s gonna light up the sky!”

One look at the pretty detonator in the pyro-fanatic’s hand and tires began to squall. Ace’s laughter made the others in the truck uneasy and Zoro began to wonder if Logan would kill him for leaving his new boyfriend to die in the explosion. Ace flopped down in the seat and closed the door, almost bouncing in excitement. The instant the latch clicked, Zoro slammed the truck into drive and sped off after the others. The shockwave from the explosion sent them skidding into a dumpster, putting a long scrape down the side of Logan’s ‘baby’. Zoro pulled Sanji towards him to shield the blonde from the intensity of the blast. Hesitantly, he turned to see the column of fire encircling the area where they had just been. The lights from different emergency vehicles were seen approaching from several directions. Zoro kept an arm around his cook as he hit the gas again and prayed that they would make it through the night alive.

DK*DK*DK*DK

The still fuming detective waited impatiently on the curb. Zeff had kicked him out earlier, literally, and told him not to come back until he had cooled off. It annoyed him that he was being treated like a child, but in a small way it was true. He had stormed in, complained that someone had taken something from him, pitched a fit, and threatened to beat them up. Smoker tried taking deep breaths like his partner kept insisting would help enhance his calm, and found that oddly it was working. Maybe Tashigi deserved a little more credit than he had first given her. Seeing her slowly driving down the street wiped the previous respect out of his mind. Didn’t she know how important this was?

Logan jerked the door open even before Tashigi had put the car in park. “Get out! I’m driving.”

“But sir, I don’t think it’s wise of you to drive when you’re so upset. I know that the explosion at the apartments earlier has you worried, but that’s ahh-“ Tashigi screamed as she was yanked out of the driver’s seat. When she saw him sitting down and buckling, she ran for the other side. The door wasn’t even closed when he began driving. “Sssssirrrrr!”

He turned up the radio and listened to the incoming calls regarding the possible gunfire down at the docks. Patrols had already been dispatched to confirm the reports and were requesting SWAT for backup. Smoker grabbed the mic and informed them that they were to keep a wide perimeter and wait until he arrived to move forward. He rounded the final corner in time to see the building explode, two of the closest patrol cars sent into the air with the force. The warehouses on all three sides received significant damage and debris was sent sailing into the water behind them.

Logan began digging for his phone and quickly hit speed dial, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for the line to connect. He swore heatedly when the automated message came on saying that the phone was not in service. Frank’s phone went immediately to voicemail, as did Zoro’s, and Yuu’s continued to ring with no answer. Fire truck and EMS services could be heard approaching over the roar of the towering inferno. Panic and anger warred within him as he began to do his assigned job, organizing men to search the surrounding area for anything suspicious. Everyone gave him a wide berth as he stormed about, extremely grateful for the distance when the large man’s phone rang and he finally exploded.

2 NEW MSG

FROM: Yuu
Zoro minor injuries
Sanji injured
Clown escaped

FROM: Ace
That was awesome. Did u c it?
Take me home and fuck me.

DK*DK*DK*DK

Zoro pulled up to the curb in front of the dojo, thankful that the damage to the truck was on the passenger side. Maybe his cousin wouldn’t see it until after they were gone. He heard Ace giggle and shook his head, knowing that whatever he had just texted was probably inappropriate. Sanji was leaning heavily against his side, blood completely soaking the temporary bandage Chopper had put over the wound. A slight amount of relief replaced his growing concern when Sanji pushed off him and exited the truck on his own. Luffy offered to carry his swords, and the swordsman tiredly gave into him, the privilege not taken lightly by the youngest Monkey. Though they should have been a little more concerned with not being seen, no one tried to hide the blood and weaponry as they entered Yuu’s training facility.

Zeff stood up from his spot on the floor, quicker than Zoro had imagined he could, and was at his son’s side in an instant. Sanji stood still as the old man peeled away the bloody gauze and scowled at the hole that lay beneath. The death glare refocused on Zoro and the swordsman felt his blood go cold.

“Pops, it’s not his fault. I did something really stupid.” Sanji kept his head bent, refusing to look at either of them.

The brief amount of relief that the admission gave was immediately swept away like a hard slap in the face when the implications of the words was realized. Did that mean that Sanji thought it was stupid to save Zoro’s life, or was it just stupid for him to be there in the first place?

“Yah you did. You got yourself involved with a Roronoa. Good for nothing idiots are always getting into trouble.” Zeff continued to glower at Zoro as he spoke. “But is he really worth it?”

Sanji’s reply was covered by the commotion of others returning as well. Johnny and Yosaku barreled into the room, searching for their dearest friend and tripping over Luffy who had foolishly lain across the floor by the doorway. The three of them laid in a pile groaning for a moment before Luffy began giggling, the emotion spreading to the other two, who soon joined in. Yuu shook his head and stepped over them to join his female companion, assuring her that he was completely uninjured. Sanji’s voice started to rise and Zoro’s attention was drawn back to the two cooks who appeared to be arguing about medical treatment.

Remembering what Kureha had said about treating bullet wounds, Zoro convinced his little doctor to finish what he had started with Sanji, causing the flustered boy to yell obscenities for being complimented on his stitching. Unfortunately, this left Zoro in the hands of the merciless Doctorine, who took pride in being able to make him scream like a little girl. The others snickered quietly, mentally checking themselves for anything that might catch the deranged doctor’s eye and cause them to be her next victim.

From across the room, Sanji studied the unmasked hero, unsure of exactly how he felt now that he knew the truth, or at least most of it. When Zeff had asked if he was worth it, all the blonde could do was stumble around, never saying anything clear either way. But, whatever Zoro was, he had been honorable in the end; Gin wouldn’t have given his life for someone who was anything less. It hurt though, that Zoro had lied to him in the first place, especially when Sanji had confessed that he wanted the idiot to actually be the Dark Knight. Still, had he known from the beginning, none of what happened in the last few months would have occurred.

Sanji sat quietly as Chopper removed the rest of his tattered shirt, and then cleaned his shoulder and surrounding area so he could be stitched up. The wound was still deadened, but the cook knew that soon it would be killing him and that meant he wouldn’t be able to work for a few days at least. He ran his hand through his hair and made a face when it encountered the blood that had dried there. What a night this had turned out to be.

“Um, Sanji?” Chopper timidly spoke. When the blonde just looked at him blankly, he hesitantly continued. “You’re not going to print who the Dark Knight really is, are you?”

Despite the fact that Chopper’s question was asked quietly, everyone in the room froze. All eyes, with the exception of the Knight himself, focused on the Grand Line Grit’s reporter, waiting to hear the words of doom. Sanji attempted to bore holes in the back of Zoro’s head with his eyes when the man in question refused to look at him. Realizing his attempts were futile, he just closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders, wincing at the returning feeling to the afflicted area. He could see Zoro’s form slump even further in his seat and wished that they had a chance to speak alone.

Chopper frowned as he took in Sanji’s dirty appearance. He left off the gauze for the moment and instructed the blonde to head for the showers and be very, very careful, but get clean. Sanji watched Zoro’s rough treatment for a moment, finally realizing just how many stitches the unlucky guy would be receiving. There was a jagged cut on his shoulder blade, his forearm was ripped in several places where the dog tried to eat him, and another line on his upper arm where the bullet that had entered Sanji’s chest had grazed him. An odd feeling occurred within the blonde when he realized that the bullet now held blood from both of them. A small nudge from the waiting doctor prompted him to follow Ace to the locker room.

“Why-“

“No,” Ace interrupted Sanji before he could get any further in his questioning. “You need to save the questions for him. I think you owe him that.”

Irritated, but knowing that the raven was right, Sanji nodded and began stripping down. It was difficult to do everything one handed, but he tried to respect Choppers orders and minimized his movements on his right side. The spray of the hot water against his tired muscles felt like heaven. He stuck his head under the stream and began rinsing out the final traces of the bloody battle. He reached for the shampoo and was surprised to find the familiar scent of his favorite brand. The thoughts that had been circling in his head began to come together and he hurried to finish cleaning up. A thick towel had been hung on one of the empty pegs by the shower door, presumably by Ace, and Sanji awkwardly wrapped it around his middle and went in search of something to wear.

Zoro practically ran from the room the instant Kureha was done with him. He heard the sound of the shower running and cursed the new bandages on his body. The wicked witch threatened him with more harm should he try to disobey her by getting them wet. Grudgingly, Zoro removed his haramaki, setting it carefully on the sink beside him and began washing up. He had just stuck his head under the faucet when he felt someone’s hand tracing up the tight leather over the crack of his ass. He jumped in surprise, slamming his head on the sharp underside of the metal fixture.

“Ite!”

Zoro grabbed the back of his head, blinking to clear his vision as he stayed leaning over the sink. Bare feet and legs were directly beside him and he started to straighten up to greet his visitor. Sanji put his free hand on Zoro’s back, just below the bandage on his shoulder blade, preventing him from rising further.

“Let me help you.” Even though it was worded as a request, Sanji’s tone clearly changed it into a demand.

Zoro allowed himself to be guided back under the water and sighed contentedly when Sanji’s nimble fingers began massaging his scalp. The scent of his shampoo covered the smell of blood and sweat, which he didn’t mind, but it also blocked out the smells that were unique to Sanji; the cigarettes, the spices, the aftershave.

“Why didn’t you just take a shower?” Sanji finally asked.

“Doctor’s orders, I’m not supposed to get the bandages wet.” Zoro began growling. “I also have to get a fucking set of rabies shots if we can’t find any vet records on the dog.”

Zoro automatically shut his mouth when he was guided back under the faucet to have the shampoo rinsed out. A towel was handed to him and Zoro quickly wiped his face before rubbing out as much water as he could from his hair. He opened his eyes to find the blonde studying his body with great concern, and he briefly took in the fact that the only thing covering the cook was a white towel. However, Zoro’s own eyes kept drifting back to the black stitches closing the wound in Sanji’s shoulder.

“Sanji, I-“ Zoro stopped when the blonde shook his head.

“I’m asking the questions, Marimo.” Sanji picked up his dirty clothes and pulled out the lighter before remembering that his cigarettes were ruined. “Fucking figures… Maybe this is a sign to stop.”

Sanji sat down on one of the wooden benches and gently cradled his arm to his stomach. Zoro leaned up against the lockers across from him and carefully crossed his arms over his chest. They stayed in silence for several minutes; one nervously waiting while the other tried to decide where to start.

“Why three?” At Zoro’s confused look, Sanji tried again. “I’ve never seen anyone even try to use three swords before. What gave you the idea?”

“There was a girl in my kendo class named Kuina. I could never beat her. We vowed that one of us would become the best. When she died, I had to find a way to become better than everyone else and that’s how I came up with the Santouryu… three-sword… style.” Zoro’s eyes were unfocused, staring at some unknown point over Sanji’s head as he remembered important events in his past.

“But why hold it in your mouth?”

“Sensei said that since I already had a stick up my ass, a sword wouldn’t fit.” Zoro’s tone was steady, but the slight twitch of his lips betrayed his amusement.

“Fucker. You’re just making that shit up.” Sanji kicked him gently in the shins, but couldn’t help smiling too. “So you have a thing for threes, huh? Three swords, three earrings, three marks on your victims… Just what does that mean anyway?”

“San.” Zoro stated simply. “It’s the Japanese kanji for three. I wanted them to remember that night so they wouldn’t mess with you again and that was the first thing that came to mind. After that I just did it out of arrogance.”

“The glasses?”

“Fake.”

“The story about your mom?”

“Truth.”

“The scar on your chest?”

Zoro hesitated this time and ran his fingers over the gnarled strip. “Half truth. I got it during a swordfight in the underground of Okinawa. It was the first time I’d ever lost. My father walked in and saw what I was doing and sent me here to keep me from being arrested for illegal matches.”

Sanji frowned as he tried to take everything in. “Just who are you?”

Zoro pushed off the locker and bowed deeply. “Roronoa Zoro. Son of Frank and Haruka Roronoa. Grandson of Higa Yuu. Cousin of Logan Smoker. Disciple of the Higa dojo. Student at Grand Line University.”

Sanji stood up and walked over to the end of the isle. “So where do I fit in to all of this?”

“I don’t know.” Zoro stood back up and ran a hand through his damp hair. “He’s still out there, and he wants me dead. If you stay with me, there’s a good chance he’ll try to use you again and I don’t want that. If leaving you is the only way to keep you safe, I’ll move back to Okinawa with my father.”

“You’re going to just leave me here? Just dump me like some street whore?” Sanji spun around and glared at him. “What if he decides to kill me in spite because you left?”

Zoro’s face contorted into a sneer of deadly proportions as he envisioned Sanji’s lifeless body in Gin’s place.

“You have to be the dumbest guy I’ve ever dated.” Sanji sighed deeply, fatigue finally taking over and he sat down heavily on the wood bench. His eyes fell on the contrast of green draped over the white porcelain, a deep gash visible in the solid material beneath the fabric. “What happens now? What are we supposed to do?”

“I have to go meet everyone else at the Red Force. We have to discuss our plans since he’s still running loose. I’ll get you somewhere safe first. There are a couple people out there that owe me favors.” Zoro rummaged around in his locker and took out white Henley shirt, gripping it tightly in his hand.

“I’m not going to some shitty safe-house just because you say so. I’m not sure if you were paying attention tonight, but I’m just as involved in this as you are. I’m going with you.” Sanji reached for his blood and dirt covered pants, but was stopped by a rough, calloused hand on his arm pulling him to his feet. He faced Zoro, eye to eye, both holding their ground in being obstinate and daring the other to make the first move. “Don’t you fucking try and stop me, bastard. I…”

His words were cut off by Zoro’s mouth on his, the hunger of the kiss spreading through his body like liquid fire. Sanji whimpered slightly at the pain in his shoulder, but wrapped both arms around his lover’s waist anyway, needing to bring their bodies as close together as possible. He could feel the tremor in Zoro’s body as the swordsman ran his hands up Sanji’s back and down his arms, caressing every inch he could touch. Their lips parted and Sanji instantly thrust his tongue into Zoro’s mouth, devouring the larger man, needing to claim every piece of him. Zoro’s tongue fought back, warring for control and not willing to give an inch. One hand tangled into damp blonde hair and tugged Sanji’s head to the side so insistent lips could travel over his jaw to the sensitive spot just below his ear.

Sanji moaned loudly, slid his hands down, over the narrow waistband, onto the taunt leather, and cupped the green-haired man’s ass firmly in his grasp. It was Zoro’s turn to release a lustful sound and rock his hips into Sanji’s barely covered body. Their arousals rubbed against each other and movements became frantic. Zoro ripped the towel from the slim hips as Sanji struggled to unzip the stubborn leather. The slug, still hidden in the waistband fell to the floor, temporarily forgotten as they both began to fight with the skintight pants. Zoro continued to suck and bite on Sanji’s neck as they worked, abusing each sensitive spot and humming approvingly at every pleasured cry he drew out.

Sanji gave up trying to get the obstinate pants off and settled for pushing them down far enough to release Zoro’s rigid cock. He wrapped one hand around the impressive member and began stroking in time with the pumping of his own hips. He cried out in relief when Zoro picked him up and sat him on the edge of the sink. Sanji opened his eyes enough to search out the shampoo used earlier and quickly grabbed the small bottle. He squeezed the bottle directly onto Zoro’s cock, using much more than necessary since his lover had just then decided to add nipple play into the mix. Sanji’s passion filled cry echoed off the tiled walls as Zoro slid in without warning, the swordsman’s own pleasured moan complimenting it.

Sanji wrapped his good arm around Zoro’s neck and braced the other behind him on the sink, letting Zoro finally take control; one large hand on the small of his back and another braced on the mirror behind him. The blonde hooked his ankles together across Zoro’s back as he was taken roughly, desperation clear in both of their actions. Sanji snapped his hips in contrast with each of Zoro’s thrusts, creating perfect rhythm and making the tip of Zoro’s cock hit his prostate every time. The head of his own member rubbed against Zoro’s sweat slicked stomach with teasing friction and he debated begging the man above him to do something about it.

Zoro shifted his hold on the blonde and moved his hand up to the middle of Sanji’s back, allowing him to bring the other one around to teasingly stroke the cook’s leaking arousal. The blonde’s frustrated pleas for more were whispered into his ear between the moans and sighs. Knowing that he was close, Zoro granted his request and began pumping him firmly. Kissing was next to impossible with the increased force of each thrust, Zoro settling for biting down on the pale skin of his lover’s shoulder. Sanji threw his head back and cried out Zoro’s name as he began to spill his seed over Zoro’s hand. The swordsman licked up to Sanji’s ear and spoke in a low voice as he rode out his own orgasm.

“Daisuki da, Sanji… Aishiteru… I love you…”

Zoro’s body shook as he held the blonde close, riding the waves of pure bliss that followed in the wake of their passion. Fear began to claw at his heart when all he heard in reply was silence. Slowly, he lifted his head to see a very annoyed, yet sated cook staring back at him.

“You have to wait till you think I’m dead before you say that shit?” Sanji shook his head. “Like I said, Marimo, you’ve got shit for brains.” He leaned up and kissed Zoro soundly, chuckling when the idiot was slow to respond. “Love you too, shitty-swordsman.”

The smile that spread across Zoro’s face could have lit up the darkest of nights. He crushed their mouths together, pouring as much emotion as he could muster into the kiss. Sanji’s legs fell from his back to the floor, and Zoro groaned as he slipped from the blonde’s perfect ass. They stayed embraced in each other’s arms, kissing languidly as Sanji traced the edges of each bandage. Shouting could be heard through the closed locker room door, and they reluctantly pulled apart. Zoro grinned at the mess all over their stomachs and bent down to pick up the discarded towel.

“We don’t have time for another shower right now. I really do need to get going.” Zoro helped wipe the cum off Sanji’s body and secured himself back into his tight pants. He opened a locker and pulled out a pair of training pants with a drawstring waist. “Here, these should fit you well enough. And when you have your wound properly bandaged, I’ll get you a shirt to wear.”

Sanji nodded his thanks and began to dress, noting that there was a small amount of blood oozing from between the black threads. He watched Zoro finish putting on the white shirt and replace the green band of armor around his waist. They left the room to find only Chopper sitting there waiting with his medical supplies still laying out and Ace passed out asleep on the floor.

“The others thought it would be safer to take Zeff over to the Red Force now, instead of waiting for you guys to finish.” The boy blushed deeply and avoided looking at them.

DK*DK*DK*DK

The sun had started peaking over the horizon by the time they arrived at Makino’s bar. A sleepless night filled with multiple adrenaline rushes had worn on everyone’s sanity, creating a very uneasy sense of agitation and nonchalance. As soon as he walked in, Ace was shoved roughly back out onto the sidewalk. A very pissed off detective followed in his wake and paused only long enough to scowl at Sanji who was trying his best to feign innocence. Zoro hurried them inside and bolted the door just as Logan realized the extent of what the night’s activities had done to the truck. The Dark Knight’s accomplices all looked at each other and shivered, knowing that one, if not all of them would be paying for the damage.

Zeff sat at one of the tables, glaring over the edge of a coffee cup at them. Yuu and Kureha were dozing together in one of the booths, almost looking sweet wrapped in each other’s arms. Frank and Shanks were sitting at the bar looking over the paperwork they had gathered with Garp as the Chief munched on crackers and tea. Makino came through the kitchen door, humming happily and carrying several plates of food. Her face lit up the moment she saw the three of them still hanging in the front of the bar.

“Boys! You’re just in time for some breakfast. I know my cooking isn’t as good as Zeff’s here, but this fool hasn’t died from it yet.” The sweet barmaid sat a large helping of biscuits and gravy in front of her husband, kissing him lovingly on the top of his red hair.

Sanji rushed forward, and though one arm was forced to lay stationary in the blue sling Chopper had insisted he wear, he managed to wrestle two of the other plates out of her hold.

“Please, I cannot allow such a beautiful woman to degrade herself to tending to boorish men such as ourselves.” With as much elegance and grace as he could muster, Sanji took the meals over to Yuu and his girlfriend while Makino was left to deal with a very disagreeable master chef. As soon as he had gently shook them awake, he headed through the same door he had seen the woman exit a moment ago. It took about 60 seconds for the surroundings to kick in. “That fucking bastard…”

Zoro knew exactly why Sanji was giving him the cold shoulder, so he focused more intently on what his father had been saying to avoid looking at the blonde when he came back into the room with more plates. He did notice that everyone had been served with the exception of the cook and himself, and his stomach growled loudly at the delicious smell of his mother’s old recipe. Even Zeff had joined them at the bar to discuss what was to come.

“We need to make sure that that fool is found. If he is able to regain any of his contact’s trust, we’re going to have major problems in this city.” Shanks rubbed his hand over his face, worry written all over it.

“I agree. I’ll have my best men out there sniffing him out,” Garp managed to say between bites.

“Yah, I know. I wish I had more time here. I don’t like the idea of him running loose after the threats he made against my family.” Frank gave his son a meaningful look.

“I can protect myself just fine, old man. It’s everyone else I’m worried about. I can’t be everywhere at once.” Zoro caught Sanji’s hand as he sat down the plate of food. “I don’t want anyone else hurt because of me.”

“Then stop all your shitty moping around and go kick his ass.” Sanji smacked him upside the head before looking for a place to sit. He was about to protest when Zoro pulled him into his lap, but the feel of the muscular body against his back and the arms around his waist was too welcoming to pass up.

“I won’t stop until he’s dead this time. I swear.” Zoro nuzzled his nose against Sanji’s jaw and glared defiantly at Zeff. The angry man might be Sanji’s father, but the blonde was an adult who was capable of making his own decisions, and if earlier was any indication, the choice was clear. Zoro had finally gotten the man as his own, and no one, be they a freaky looking crime boss or a powerful renowned chef, would take that away from him. Zeff’s glare hardened and a small tic started in his left eye as he slowly stroked his braided moustache. When the green haired man refused to back down, Zeff grunted and nodded in approval. Zoro relaxed and slightly bowed his head to the older man, knowing that the truce was temporary and would last only as long as he kept his promise.

“I think I’m going to call in a favor,” Shanks said aloud, though he appeared to be talking to himself. The redhead pushed away from the bar and headed for the back.

“I’ll have the ER staff keep an eye out for anyone fitting his description.” Kureha stood and pulled on her short jacket. “For now, I need one of you to help me take Chopper out to the car. He’s gotten a bit big for me to carry.”

Frank hopped up and gently scooped the snoring boy into his arms. He and the doctorine spoke quietly as they walked out together. Yuu said a quick goodbye to everyone and hurried after them, making a grand scene of opening the door for the old woman.

“Hey, Red? What happened to the men we rounded up tonight?” Zoro had also wondered where all of Shanks’ men and his friends were, but he’d ask one question at a time right now.

“Ben and the boys went to see what they could get out of them. Those friends of yours from Japan decided to tag along. We thought that maybe one of them would squeal on their boss and give his hiding place up. Ben will call when they know anything.” Shanks had a silly grin on his face as he walked back to his seat. The phone call had gone about as expected, so he had no idea if his request would be granted, but it sure was nice to hear the smooth voice of his old friend. It also helped that Zoro had finally spoken to him purposely instead of directing all of his questions to his father. Maybe the boy would finally accept him after all.

Zeff stood from the bar, his stool scraping loudly on the wooden floor, and retrieved his coat from a peg on the wall. “Stay home from school today, both of you. We’ll think of something to say about your injuries later. I think we are all in desperate need of sleep right now.”

“Mmmm… I can’t. I have an essay due at 2 o’clock,” Sanji said sleepily, his eyes were closed as his head rested against Zoro’s neck.

Zoro nodded in agreement. “I have a meeting with one of the advisory committees about something… I forgot what though.”

“You’re both going to go home and sleep as ordered.” Garp snapped at them, having just woke-up from his nap himself. “One of you was caught in the blast of a car explosion and the other got into a fight with the neighbor’s dog who won. End of discussion. The paperwork will be available to pick up tomorrow.”

With that, Garp grabbed his dog hat and slapped it on his head before storming out. Zeff glared at them both before following the police chief. Only Sanji, Shanks and Zoro remained sitting at the bar, one of them gradually drifting off to dreamland. The blonde shifted and slowly opened his eyes when Frank came barging back in, griping about old men and orders.

“Hey, Marimo, take me home.” Sanji pulled at the arms around him, trying to get loose enough to stand.

“With what?” Zoro reluctantly released him, and stretched his arms above his head, biting back the hiss of pain when his shoulder and back protested.

“I know we’re not completely done, but I think you deserve it.” Frank reached behind the bar and grabbed a set of keys, tossing them to his now wide-awake son. “She’s all yours.”

“Ar-… Thanks… Dad.” Zoro put his arm around Sanji’s waist and guided him through the back door, into the kitchen and out the rear exit. His mind was so focused on his new toy that he didn’t hear the grouchy blonde griping at him, wanting to know what was going on.

Sanji’s mouth dropped at the sight of the beautiful bike. The morning rays bounced off every polished inch of chrome, their reflections warped in the high gloss finish of the black paint. Two helmets sat on the seat, waiting for the bike’s next passengers to hurry up. The childish glee was matched on each of their faces as Zoro helped secure the chinstrap of Sanji’s half-shell. He pulled the blonde in for a heated kiss before sliding the full-faced helmet over his own head. Sanji’s injured shoulder prevented him from completely plastering himself against Zoro’s back, but he got as close as he possibly could, sliding his hand under the green haramaki to hook his thumb into one of the front belt loops.

Frank and Shanks stood in the doorway watching the two speed off down the alley. The seasoned pilot bent down and kissed the redhead tenderly, each movement slow and deliberate. Shanks pressed himself against the larger man and greedily deepened the kiss, sliding his leg between Frank’s muscular thighs and rocking his hips. Frank answered back with a possessive growl and almost effortlessly hefted the smaller man over his shoulder, carrying him over to the Jeep and tossing him into the passenger seat.

“I think it’s time we did some proper catching up.” Frank’s eyes traveled over his lover. Shanks nodded in agreement and quickly buckled himself.

DK*DK*DK*DK

The wreckage was cleared out of the parking lot, but most of it was still taped off. Luckily, there was a specific area set aside for motorcycles with one space still open. As soon as the engine was cut off, Sanji swung his leg over the back and stood on solid ground. Together they drug their feet, but entered the apartment building, opting to take the elevator instead of the stairs this time. A note hung on Sanji’s door letting him know that Johnny and Yosaku were fine and they would be over at Luffy’s later that day. Usopp had gone home to his upset fiancé and Ace was feared to be killed by sexual frustration from his new boyfriend.

The two chuckled as they read over the note, Sanji unlocking the door for them to enter. With the lights on this time, Zoro could see just how much damage their little spat had caused. He grinned sheepishly at the slightly annoyed blonde and began to pick up broken pieces of porcelain from one of the destroyed vases.

“It’ll still be there later, just leave it. I want to go to sleep, and this time I want you with me when I wake up.” Sanji grabbed Zoro by the back of his shirt and began dragging him into the bedroom.

Zoro grabbed the doorframe and leaned back into the front room to make sure the door was closed this time. Seeing the deadbolt locked, making it as secure as it could possibly be, he shut the bedroom door as well. Sanji was sitting on the bed looking down at the borrowed clothes still on him, a thoughtful expression on his face. Zoro left him to his own musings and began to undress.

“You know, I never thought that these would be this comfortable. No wonder you wear stuff like this all the time.” Sanji began to slowly untie the strings holding his pants up and let them fall to the floor. By the time he had struggled to get the belt holding his shirt closed undone, Zoro had stripped everything off and come over to help. Together, they removed the sling and the rest of the borrowed judo uniform.

“Sleep now. We’ll admire Ace’s clothes more tomorrow.” Zoro nudged him toward the bed and went to fill a glass of water. He handed a single pill to the blonde before tossing one into his own mouth. “You’ll want this later.”

Sanji snatched the half-empty cup from his hands and swallowed the pain pill as Zoro turned off the light. The swordsman climbed under the sheets and pulled Sanji to him so the blonde’s back was snugly pressed against his front. The clock read a quarter till nine in the morning. Tomorrow would be hell. In seconds, they were both fast asleep, oblivious to the eyes watching them from the rooftop across the street.

DK*DK*DK*DK

They slept for 12 solid hours, only waking when the incessant pounding on the front door refused to stop. Groggily, Zoro pulled on the first pair of pants his hands fell on and stumbled into the living room, cussing loudly when he stepped on broken pieces of furniture and décor. He opened the door to find Johnny and Yosaku with two cases of beer and several pizzas.

“Hey Aniki, we’re going over to Luffy’s to watch movies, you coming?”

Zoro looked at them as if they had gone insane. He ripped open one corner of the top box and withdrew two bottles, then slammed the door in their faces. Sanji came stumbling out of the bedroom and grunted in greeting on his way to the bathroom. They heated up leftovers and made the attempt to watch some television, but soon, the second pain pill they took began to catch up with them and they trudged off to bed once more. At 0500, Sanji’s alarm went off, signaling the start to a new day.