The Dark Knight of GLU

Chapter 5
The Heat Is On

In shadows walk
In daylight dream
At night stalk
At day scheme
Dancing, dreaming, scheming fun
For rogues who walk under the sun

by Dark Epiphany


...

Sanji had just laid down in bed after saying good night to Ace at the door when his phone rang. Fur Elise was beginning to be a welcome sound, as it usually brought something of interest with it.

�gHello, Sanji here.�h

�gAh, yes, Mr. Black, it�fs Igaram Igarappoi. So nice to hear your voice again. We miss seeing you in the administrative office this semester. Perhaps you�fll visit again soon.�h

Confused as to why the strange man would be calling him at this hour, Sanji tried to keep his voice pleasant and patient. �gIt is good to hear from you as well, but it is strange to hear from you at such a late hour. Is everything ok?�h

�gWell, you see a strange thing happened to us on our way home from a charity auction tonight. We were taking a shortcut through a vacant parking lot when we were attacked.�h

Sanji immediately jumped out of bed and began pacing.

�gOh, God! Are you alright?�h

�gYes, yes we�fre just fine. Miraculously, out of the shadows came this menacing figure dressed in dark clothing and carrying a sword,�h Igaram continued on.

�gYou saw him? Can you give me a description?�h Sanji ran his hands through his hair as he tried to contain his excitement.

�gUnfortunately, no. At first we were so scared that we couldn�ft think. The man�fs gun went flying and blood splattered everywhere, I�fll never get the stains out of this shirt.�h

�gWait? Are you sure? He�fs never hurt anyone before. He leaves them bruised and all, but he�fs never cut them.�h Sanji was concerned that his savior wasn�ft as much of a good guy as he had first thought.

�gI don�ft think he had a choice on this one. The gunman was going to shoot us if that brave young man hadn�ft done something to stop him. Besides, it was only part of a finger that was severed. It will sure make using a gun hard for that man from now on. Regretfully, the police took it in as evidence. They said that they could use the finger to get a print off of and maybe identify one of the hooligans.�h Igaram paused for a moment. �gVivi said that the two of you met and talked about the attack. I was wondering if you would be willing to do the same with us. I gave my word to the gentleman that we wouldn�ft say anything to the police, but since he allowed you to print articles about both yours and our dear niece�fs attacks, I didn�ft think he would mind us talking to you as well.�h

�gOf course, I�fd be delighted. When would you like to meet?�h Sanji was dancing around the room in joy as he listened to the old man speak.

Unfortunately, Igaram was busy most of the week but promised to meet Sanji at the Baratie on Thursday evening. This week�fs paper had already been printed anyway so Sanji wasn�ft pressed to get it done in a hurry. He agreed to the time and place, and assured the couple that he would keep their names from the paper if that was what they wanted. Excitement kept the blonde from sleeping most of that night; his thoughts centered on the mysterious black figure that had almost taken over his every waking moment.

DK*DK*DK*DK

Zoro woke on Tuesday with a pounding headache and a strong reluctance to even begin to show up to class. His clothes had been put aside to soak in hopes that he could get the blood out of his favorite jeans. The hoodie would be fine since it wouldn�ft show stains, but the splatters of blood on his jeans bugged him to no end. The detached finger lingered at the back of his mind all week.

Zoro avoided Sanji by performing some fancy disappearing acts to keep from talking to the blonde. He could hear the blonde�fs rants when he seemingly vanished into thin air, slipping into the shadows like a ghost. Zoro had ended up outside Sanji�fs apartment again, just staring up at the windows he knew belonged to the sexy young man. He promised himself that he wouldn�ft do it more than once a week.

Meanwhile, Ace had tried his best to get more information about Zoro�fs �eoh so fuckable�f cousin and received a very nice black eye for his efforts. The dark-haired man decided that maybe he should try a different approach and began making plans for the rest of the week.

Ace went to the elementary school close to his apartment Wednesday to play with all the kids during recess. While the kids thought it was great, the teachers were less than pleased and called down to the station to ask for an office to be sent out. Garp, being in his mischievous mood, recognized his grandson�fs description and decided it was time to extract a little revenge. Smoker had just entered the building and received a message to go out to Imperial Down Elementary to pick up a possible pedophile that had been lurking on the playground. The detective fumed when he saw Ace hanging upside down on the monkey bars. The freckled man just grinned bigger and waved to him, asking if the older man wanted to join them. Ace was thrown into the back seat, quite roughly, and never stopped talking the entire way to the edge of town where he was unceremoniously thrown out of the car and left.

Ace decided to try something different Wednesday night. He went down to the corner store and bought a couple bottles of Jack. He then walked over to the local park and sat down in the middle of the basketball court and proceeded to start drinking. After a while, he took the basketball someone had left and started playing HORSE, drinking every time he missed a shot. Oddly, Ace missed quite a few and soon had a hard time even hitting the backboard. Smoker was getting ready to pull into his driveway when the call came in over the radio. The park was just a few blocks from his house, so he put the car in reverse and drove over.

It took all his willpower to not just drive onto the court and smash into the inebriated man. Ace grinned at him and jumped up on his hood, calling out to anyone who would listen that his gorgeous detective had come to take him home. Tashigi wasn�ft there, so there was nothing to prevent Ace from climbing over the back seat into the front this time. He lay down across the console and put his head in Smoker�fs lap, playing with the buttons on the detective�fs shirt while talking about absolutely nothing. He attempted to take the cigars from Smoker�fs mouth, but gave up when he got his fingers bent back harshly. Finding the address off the card in the wallet, Smoker drove Ace to his apartment building and deposited the now sleeping man in front of his door. Someone else could deal with him now.

Frustrated that he had drank too much, Ace thought that he should just stick to something simple for his next attempt. There was a really nice buffet downtown that served all you could eat from 1700 to closing. Ten minutes before closing, he and Luffy walked in and got a plate. Both boys piled up their plates and dug in. Soon their favorite foods had been devoured and they began complaining when the cooks refused to make any more. It had escalated to Luffy standing in his chair and Ace on the table demanding more food. Logan had been on his way home, again, and passed by the restaurant. Three cop cars were standing outside, so he stopped to see if he could offer assistance.

Seeing the fools Smoker tried to turn around and walk out, but Ace spotted him and ran over, tackling the unlucky detective from behind and almost knocking him to the ground. Luffy thought it was a game and joined in, thus tipping the scales and all three went down in heap on the ground, sending Smoker�fs cigar rolling across the floor. The deafening yell from the unhappy detective caused all workers of the restaurant to quiet immediately. Luffy and Ace merely sat there with innocent looks on their faces before being drug out by the scuff of their shirts and thrown into the back of the detective�fs car. Again, Ace climbed into the front and proceeded to try and get his hands on the fuming police officer. Luffy decided that this must be his brother�fs new boyfriend and began calling him such, much to Smoker�fs dismay. In the parking lot of his apartment building, Ace even braved pulling the frowning man in for a quick kiss on the lips before leaping out of the car and grinning madly. Luffy waved to him and said goodbye to his new brother-in-law, telling him to say hi to his grandpa for him. That part confused the detective completely.

Finally, in a fit of desperation, Smoker decided to go talk to Zoro and see if the kid could keep his friend in check. It was bad enough that Ace was causing problems during his waking hours, but last night he had woke up aggravated and rock hard; imagining that loud mouth open wide and ready to take his cock down to the hilt. He refused to believe that he was remotely attracted to the mind-numbing delinquent. Sure he hadn�ft had sex in a long time, but it was because he was busy with work. He had just gotten this promotion and job transfer so all his time had been spent getting to know his new Chief and precinct. After a short call to Yuu, he gained Zoro�fs class schedule and headed over to the campus.

Sitting on the hood of the old station wagon was Ace, clothed in just a pair of baggy cargo shorts and a pair of combat boots. There was an odd hat, with an even stranger band around it, angled across his face to keep out the sun. The sight of the light sheen of sweat on the well defined chest and abs caused an almost forgotten feeling to stir deep in Smoker�fs core. He looked around at the combination of lustful and loathing looks the snoring figure was getting. Biting down harder than necessary on his cigar, Smoker walked over to the sprawled figure.

DK*DK*DK*DK

Zoro sat in Microeconomics on the last day of the school week, wondering if this guest speaker was related to Ben Stein or not. The guy�fs voice just seemed to go on forever in the same tone, rarely even changing volume or speed. Sanji had waved to him when he entered the class. Zoro dreaded what would happen when he finally had to sit down and talk to the reporter. As long as he could stop the rescues, he wouldn�ft have to worry. Zoro never even noticed when a familiar figure entered in the back of the lecture hall and began making its way down to where he was sitting. The smell of cigar smoke hit him before he even felt the looming presence sit behind him. He took a look out of the corner of his eye and began worrying at the deep scowl that was etched on Smoker�fs face. Class was dismissed and students began filing out of the room. Packing his things slowly, Zoro tried to buy time until the room was clear and he could speak with his cousin in private. It wouldn�ft do to have someone overhear their conversation and find out he was the man from the papers, or that an officer knew and yet held back pertinent information. The last of the people walked out and Zoro stood to face his doom.

�gWhat are you here for?�h If all else fails, play ignorant thought Zoro.

�gDo you know how much I hate you? Do you have any idea what I�fve been through the last 72 hours?�h

Zoro took another look at his cousin and began to really wonder what was going on. Smoker was wearing a plain white undershirt with jeans, his hair was messier than normal, his eyes were bloodshot, and he smelled like a chimney. This was far from the normal, well groomed man he knew and hated; well sort of. Hopefully his cousin hadn�ft come here to arrest him for assaulting that guy and cutting his finger off. The prick deserved it for harassing that old couple. Zoro started to try and talk his way out of everything when Smoker cut him off.

�gAre you gay?�h Smoker refused to even look at his cousin when he asked the question.

Zoro paled a few, well many, shades and sat back down heavily in the seat. This obviously wasn�ft going the way he had expected. Smoker was supposed to yell at him and shove him around and threaten him with jail time or worse. The detective was not supposed to ask him anything in reference to his sexual preferences.

�gIf you�fre trying to make a pass, I�fm not interested.�h Zoro watched the last of the students walk out of the room and then narrowed his gaze at the grumpy man.

�gAre you fucking Portgas or not?�h Smoker growled out, a slight coloring dusting his cheeks.

Zoro burst out laughing and even had to wipe the tears out of his eyes. The more he tried to stifle the snickers, the worse it got until he ended up picked up by the front of his shirt and brought eye level to his large cousin.

�gDamn it, Kid, just answer the question.�h

�gNo.�h Zoro managed between the slowly quieting chuckles. �gThough most of my classs thinks that we�fre dating. He comes in bringing me coffee and calling me �elove�f constantly. But now that I think about it, I haven�ft seen him in a few days.�h

The door slammed open and the annoying redhead came charging through with Chopper hot on her heels. They paused, very wide eyed, when they noticed the two men nose to nose; Zoro�fs hands braced on Smoker�fs shoulders while the larger man had his hands fisted in the baggy shirt. The scene was unknowingly intimate and it looked as if the two were just about to kiss. Immediately, the newcomers began sputtering apologies and ran back out of the room. The two men looked at each other and then down at their hands. Similar thoughts were echoed.

�gFuck!�h

�gKuso!�h [Shit!]

�gEnglish you little shit!�h

�gUrasai.�h [Shut up.]

�gOne of these days I�fll pound some sense into you.�h

Zoro�fs only response was a sinister scowl and he gestured with his eyes over to the again open door and the gaping group of girls entering for the next lecture. Smoker released him and began muttering to himself about ungrateful youths and perverted teenagers, his dark aura causing the girls to part quickly for him to exit the room. Zoro finished packing up his things and left out the opposite doorway only to be met face to face with aforementioned friend. Ace gave him a sickeningly sweet smile as he draped his arm over Zoro�fs shoulders. He was wearing a button down shirt that was obviously too big for him and smelled strongly of cigar smoke.

�gI was about to give up on you, Love. What took you so long?�h

�gI was having a chat with your new boy-toy.�h Zoro raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly at the out of place shirt. �gSo just what were you doing during that time?�h

�gWait, he�fs still here!?�h Ace whirled around looking for any trace of his new find-and-conquer victim. �gBut he didn�ft even say hi?�h

Zoro chuckled at the pout Ace continued to sport all the way back to the car. �gNormally, you just show up in class. Why wait outside this time?�h

�gOriginally I was taking a nap on your car. Then I was suddenly surrounded by this intoxicating scent and found this very nice, high dollar shirt draped across my chest. It could only belong to one person, but he was no where around. I stayed outside just in case he happened to show up again.�h Ace pulled the shirt tighter around him. �gI guess I should have gone in, huh?�h

�gYa, but now those people that thought we were dating probably think I�fm cheating on you with him. He wasn�ft very happy with me laughing about his problems with you.�h Zoro stopped and cocked his head to the side in question. �gJust what did you do to him anyway?�h

The pair laughed all the way back to Zoro�fs home as Ace filled his friend in on the previous day�fs events. They decided to grab a few movies from Yuu�fs collection and then head back to Ace�fs apartment to have dinner. It wasn�ft until they pulled up in the parking lot that Ace realized Zoro had driven there without any assistance. Knowing the green-haired man�fs sense of direction, it was very odd.

�gHow�fd you know how to get here?�h Ace asked him as they walked up to the front door.

�gHuh?�h Zoro gave him a blank look as he tried to understand the question. Suddenly it dawned on him that Ace had never given him the address or guided him at any point on the way. Zoro had driven this route so many times that it was second nature to him now. How to explain it himself was a different matter. Time to pull a rabbit out of his ass. �gOh, I saw your address on your application.�h

�gOh, yah. I forgot about that. Hey, the elevator gives me the creeps so we�fll take the stairs.�h Ace watched as Zoro started moving towards the unmarked stairwell without prompting. Suspicions started to arise and Ace began keeping a very close eye on his friend. His slight glances at Sanji�fs door were caught and the raven began to wonder if the two had met previously. Zoro took one last look at the blonde�fs door only to turn and face Ace�fs curious grin. He mentally cursed himself as he walked through the doorway and removed his boots, preparing for the onslaught of questions he was sure to hear.

�gSooooo?�h Ace flopped down on the couch and gestured to the empty seat across from him. �gYou�fve been here before, haven�ft you? I mean how else could you find this place knowing your sense of direction?�h

�gIt�fs complicated.�h Zoro started. Maybe if he confided in Ace, the man could help him figure a way out of the mess.

Ace watched the scowl on Zoro�fs face turn into more of a contemplative frown and scooted to the edge of his seat. Whatever was happening had to be good and he was sure not going to miss a moment of it.

�gHas Sanji told you what happened the week before college started?�h Zoro decided that things couldn�ft get any worse than Smoker knowing, and if the two of them actually did somehow start dating, Ace would be pulled into this anyway.

�gHmm. Not that I remember. Wait, you mean you guys really have met before?�h Ace�fs eyes widened as he thought about his neighbor possibly being intimate with his new friend. �gLucky bastard. How could he sleep with you and not tell me? He always tells me.�h

Zoro choked and sputtered denying that anything like that had happened. �gI mean I did undress him and shit, but I swear I didn�ft touch the jackass otherwise. Was fucking torture, but I respected him. He was out cold and I couldn�ft take advantage of him like that. It wouldn�ft be right. I�fd want him awake and screaming.�h His voice trailed off on the last part as he thought about the blonde�fs pale skin against the dark sheets and how much he had wanted to ravish the man right there. He was brought out of his musings by a deep chuckle.

�gYou�fve got it bad. But what were you doing there in the first place? And why was he passed out?�h Ace got up and went to the fridge, pulling out a beer and silently asking if Zoro wanted one as well. At his friend�fs nod, he grabbed another and headed back to the living room.

�gThat�fs where it gets hard. I don�ft know if I should tell you or not. If you know then you�fd be an accomplice and if I ever got arrested you might be in trouble too.�h Zoro took his cold drink and drank half in one go.

�gDamn, now you have to tell me. �eCause if you don�ft I�fll just ask that luscious cousin of yours about it and then you�fd still be in trouble.�h A mischievously evil smirk adorned Ace�fs face. �gBesides, it�fs not like you�fre that Dark Knight that�c everyone�fs�c talking�c Oh my God you really are? Oh shit! You are! Whoa!�h

Zoro groaned and leaned back into the chair, covering his face as he began regretting his decision to say anything. He listened to Ace go on and on about how he was best friends with a crime fighter and how cool it would be to have kicked the ass of the guys that had attacked those people. Then he suddenly went quiet.

�gYou do realize that I�fm gonna give you shit about this for a long time, right?�h

Zoro sighed and sat up so he could finish his beer. �gDon�ft think threatening to tell Logan will get you any leverage. He already knows, and I have no intentions of ever doing it again.�h

Ace looked puzzled for a moment before going wide-eyed with realization. �gHis name is Logan? You mean like Wolverine? I wonder if he�fs as hard as steel too?�h

Zoro tuned him out and headed to the fridge for another beer, praying that his cousin wouldn�ft kill him for divulging that bit of information. He called the local pizza place and gave them his order thinking that this night couldn�ft get any worse. Well, at least until Ace�fs little brother came home.

The door burst open about ten o�fclock and in fell a giggling mass of tangled limbs with blonde and black hair. When they straightened themselves out, Luffy and Sanji sat on the floor still snickering and very red faced.

�gAce! You should have seen it! There was this lady on the corner with her dress all shoved up her ass, so I reached over and tugged on it so she wouldn�ft have to be seen like that. I thought I was doing her a favor, but she slapped me really hard. I assumed she wanted it there so I shoved it back in and she decked me!�h Luffy started laughing again so Sanji took over.

�gI tried to explain what the moron was trying to do and she refused to listen. She even threatened to call the police.�h Sanji tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably.

�gI told her to go ahead, Grandpa would love the story!�h Luffy looked over to the chair and noticed the new person in the room. �gHey, who�fs this? I thought you already had a new boyfriend. Did he dump you already?�h

This time it was Zoro�fs turn to laugh, his deep baritone voice filling the room and sending shivers down Sanji�fs spine. The blonde stood up and looked him over as if seeing him for the first time. Something seemed different about the strangely dressed man, and it irked the reporter in him to not be able to figure out what it was. When Zoro noticed him looking he quieted down and masked his features into that of indifference.

�gYou bringing home strays now, Ace?�h Sanji asked. He pulled out a cigarette from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. �gNice shirt by the way. A bit big, but nice.�h

�gHey, lay off the shirt, it was a gift. But yah, I found this pitiful thing scampering around campus and decided to bring him home for dinner. I think there�fs a piece or two of pizza left if you want it. Oh and Luffy, this is Zoro.�h Ace looked to the kitchen to see Luffy shoving a slice in his mouth so he could wave and holding another in his other hand. �gOK, so there�fs not anything left, but I bet you�fre not hungry for it anyway. Hey Zoro, did you know that Sanji here is hands down the best cook in the city?�h

Zoro raised an eyebrow and studied the smirking blonde closely. Just how many different suits did he have? Sadly Zoro could distinguish almost all of them and even tell you which color shirt he preferred to wear with each one. This one happened to be an almost blue-black with a deep burgundy shirt and a thin matching tie. Realizing how long it was taking for him to answer, he threw out the first thing he could think of. �gHow could a skinny piece of shit like you be good at anything to do with food? I thought the really good cooks were hefty.�h

�gFuck you, asshole. Being good in the kitchen doesn�ft have shit to do with my weight.�h

�gIf you say so, beanpole.�h

�gI could kick your ass any day of the week, doughboy!�h Sanji bit back.

�gAs if, scarecrow!�h

�gHey! I just got this place cleaned up from the last party. You guys take this macho bullshit somewhere else.�h Ace kept a stern face but was fighting to keep from disclosing exactly what Zoro was hiding under the baggy clothing.

�gJust because I�fm lean doesn�ft mean I don�ft have any fucking power. I can damn well hold my own in any fight!�h

�gHai hai, sou da ne kuso-cook" [Yeah yeah, sure you can shitty-cook.] mumbled Zoro.

�gWhat�fd you say jackass?�h

�gHe said -- �h Luffy started, but was cut off by Ace�fs hand clamped over his little brother�fs mouth. The young man was perched on the back of the couch watching the scene play out before him while finishing off the last few bites of pizza. He gave Ace a confused look before shrugging his shoulders and heading back to the kitchen to find more food.

�gWell, this meeting is definitely more two-way than the last.�h Ace commented as he walked between the glaring men. He grabbed the next movie from the stack and shoved it in. Not realizing what he had put in, Ace fell into a fit of laughter when Batman came on the screen. He was silenced by a random magazine being thrown at his head.

The rest of the evening Sanji and Zoro sat as far apart as possible, preferring to keep one of the brothers between them if they could. The atmosphere was tense, but eventually everyone seemed to settle down. Luffy�fs goofy antics continued to bring forth Zoro�fs mesmerizing laugh and Ace did a wonderful job of keeping Sanji�fs attention away from the green-haired mystery. Things were flowing smoothly until Luffy took Zoro�fs glasses and started trying to do impressions.

�gI�fm Zoro. I�fm too cool to need to worry how I look.�h Luffy crossed his arms over his chest and frowned, doing his best to imitate Zoro�fs scowl. �gI have to be careful how I move or my pants will fall off my ass �ecause they�fre so big.�h

Everyone laughed, including Sanji, making Zoro scowl more and reach for his unnecessary spectacles. He tackled the poor boy to the ground and ended up tickling him in order to get Luffy to release his hold on the glasses.

Ace noticed Sanji�fs eyes tracing every line of Zoro�fs now unmasked face and decided he needed to draw the blonde�fs attention away before he began to come to any conclusion. Ace stood up and pulled his hair down over half his face and snatched up Sanji�fs jacket from where it was discarded on the back of a dining chair. He searched the pockets for the almost empty carton and pulled out a cigarette.

�gAh, amour, I am victim to your brutality.�h Ace placed an unlit smoke between his lips and pretended to blow smoke rings into the air, the jacket thrown over his shoulder.

�gHey, fucker, give those back. I don�ft need your perverted spit soaking up the filter. And careful with that jacket, this is one of my favorite suits.�h Sanji aimed a perfect kick at Ace�fs head, unaware of the hungry gaze that lingered on his long legs during the action.

Zoro�fs ravenous look didn�ft go unnoticed by the raven; well, one of the ravens that is. Luffy lay there under Zoro grinning at the shift he just felt in Zoro�fs crotch as the green-haired man concentrated on Sanji�fs lower body. Knowing that it would probably cause a huge commotion, Luffy grabbed Zoro�fs face brought their mouths together in a soft kiss, the smaller man running his tongue visibly across the thin lips of the now very rigid and shocked male above him. A slight nibble and Zoro snapped out of his stupor and began to participate. Luffy�fs hands slid up into Zoro�fs hair and they each let out a small moan attracting the attention of the others in the room. Sanji�fs kick stopped mid air while Ace began to shout.

�gDamn it Luffy! I wanted to do that!�h

Ace took off across the room and tackled the lip-locked couple, effectively knocking them apart and sending Zoro rolling across the floor with Ace. As soon as he could recover, Luffy launched himself at his brother with a wild yell and all hell broke loose between the three on the floor. Zoro was trying his best to not be kissed again and Ace and Luffy were fighting to see who could grab the green-haired man�fs lips first, all three of them laughing the entire time at the stupidity of the whole thing. After settling down, they lay spread across each other, sweating and panting, not realizing that Sanji had left the room.

Sanji stood there completely shocked and confused. Seeing Luffy engaged in a passionate kiss with a guy was hard enough for him to take in. Now he had the image of his class mate completely shattered with one little act. Gone was the idea of a geek that had no fashion sense and in its place was the uneasy feeling that there was more than what met the eye with this strange guy. The blonde eased his clenched hold on his jacket and turned to walk out. There were many things that he needed to sort out tonight. For instance, why did he suddenly want to join in on the fight to claim Zoro�fs kiss?

Sanji shut the door to Ace�fs apartment, frowning over the fact that he could still hear Zoro�fs laughter just as clear as if he were still in the room. There was no way he was getting a crush on this walking abomination, was there? Seriously, he was Sanji Black the famous sous-chef from Baratie; the beloved reporter for Grand Line Grit, voted most eligible bachelor on campus two years running. How could he even begin to explain his body�fs reaction to an overweight, sloppy, unattractive idiot who didn�ft even have the brains to know how to treat a woman properly?

Sanji had seen the way Zoro scoffed at women around campus, especially Nami, and would have intervened if he had been close enough to do so without causing too much of a scene. Of course, the blockhead being gay would account for why he didn�ft notice so many of the sweet smiles he was thrown by underclassmen, but still he could at least be courteous. There was no way the blonde could willingly associate with such a barbaric bastard. And seriously, what was up with the green hair? Was he trying to make a statement? What kind of dye did he use to get it that color anyway? Whatever it was, he did a good job of keeping it up, none of the roots even showed or anything.

Sanji had made it into his apartment and began taking off his suit, setting it aside to take to the cleaners the next day. He wandered into the bedroom and finished undressing slowly, letting the image of Zoro�fs firm lips play in his mind. The way his face relaxed as his and Luffy�fs tongues massaged each other through open mouthed kisses, the way his hands caressed the skinny boy�fs sides as they melted deeper together, the sound of his needy moan as Luffy had started to wrap his legs around those thick hips; it was driving the blonde mad. He knew for a fact that youngest of the D. family was straight as they come, so what was so good about that kiss that would turn him into a whimpering puddle of goo? Would Ace be the next one to find out? And why the hell did he care!? Sanji threw back his covers and crawled into bed, praying sleep would come soon.

He was still awake when the clock struck midnight. Deciding he might as well put his waking hours to work, Sanji got back up and pulled out his laptop. He looked over the article he had just finished for Monday�fs paper and made a few notes. There had to be a way for him to find out who this guy was. He had looked in every available database he could find online to figure out what the three lines (�O) meant. He thought that if they were wavy then maybe they represented water or something, but other than the third line being longer than the other two, there was nothing he could find special about the whole thing. He needed help. What better way to get it than to ask the readers?

Sanji began typing furiously on the computer, adding a short paragraph to the end of the article requesting any knowledge that anyone had on the identity of the Dark Knight. If nothing else, it would piss the caped crusader off and bring him straight to Sanji to demand that he stop. It was a win-win situation, or so he thought. Next week his phone would be ringing off the hook with every kind of person trying to give him false tips into the identity of the local hero. Somewhere in all those falsehoods there had to be a shred of truth.

Pleased with his changes, the blonde crawled back in bed to catch a few hours of sleep before his shift started at the Baratie. No longer was he plagued with the thought of his strange classmate, his mind was now full of dark shadows and light reflecting off of smooth metal.