Archive of Our Own

Luffy and his gang tried to hang out at least once a month. It wasn’t easy with their busy schedules, but they all managed to carve out a night to have a party at Luffy’s apartment. Well, technically the apartment he shared with his older brother, Ace. He was usually gone when these parties happened; spending time with his own friends or working down at Marco’s shop.

Tonight was a party night for Luffy and his friends; “The Straw Hats” as they liked to call themselves in high school. It was an old nickname that stuck no matter how many years went by. 

By mid-afternoon, everyone who was coming had arrived. A few of their other friends who had joined the group later - Franky, Robin, Chopper - didn’t always have time to attend. Being an archaeology professor at All Blue University, Robin was busy putting together her lessons. Franky had to run his mechanics shop and maintain his ever-growing collection of inventions. Chopper was studying for med school. 

A couple of others had joined their group recently; two older gentlemen named Brook and Jinbe. Brook - an older professor of music and skinny as a rail - would sometimes join. But more often than not, he was preoccupied writing music or taking care of his enormous dog, Laboon. Jinbe and his star pupil Koala ran the All Blue Martial Arts Academy, so most nights, Jinbe was there instead of being able to hang out.

That meant that for tonight, the Straw Hats were just Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji. 

Sanji had just set the snack tray on the coffee table and he was already slapping Luffy’s greedy hands away from it. 

“Ow!” Luffy whined, cradling his hand in mock pain. “You’re so rude, Sanji! I’m hungry!”

“You ate an entire bag of chips two minutes ago!” Sanji replied, straightening and putting his hands on his hips. “How are you hungry again already?!”

Luffy cast his gaze to the side, his terrible poker face taking over his features. Pursing his lips, he mumbled, “It wasn’t that much…”

“It was an eleven ounce bag!” Sanji objected, tossing his hands in the air with an exasperated noise. “I swear, you’re a bottomless pit!”

Beside Luffy, Nami giggled from her spot on the couch. “He’s right, y’know.”

Luffy slouched and drew his index finger in circles on the coffee table. “I can’t help that I’m hungry all the time…”

Zoro strolled into the room - a beer can in one hand and a banana in the other - and plopped onto the couch. He was sitting on Luffy’s other side and slung an arm over the backrest. He held out the banana to Luffy, who snatched it up with a gleeful smile.

“If you’re gonna snack all the time-” Zoro chided, cracking open his beer. “-at least eat something healthier than chips.”

“No way!” Luffy said, peeling the fruit and then taking a bite. His words were muffled as he spoke with his mouth full. “Junk food is too good to pass up!”

Zoro rolled his eyes - or rather, eye. He had lost the left one to a crime lord. Luffy kept trying to get Zoro to wear an eyepatch but Zoro ignored his boyfriend’s request. Looking “like a cool pirate!!” wasn’t enough to convince him. 

“Whatever,” Zoro mumbled, taking a sip of his beer. 

“You’re one to talk about healthy habits,” Sanji scoffed, crossing his arms. “You’re sitting there drinking a beer!”

“Said the smoker,” Zoro retorted. 

Snarling, Sanji started, “You little shit! I oughta-!”

An olive-skinned hand on his shoulder made him pause. He looked over to meet Usopp giving him a placating smile. “Easy, dude. Let’s save the fighting for after the party, yeah?”

Nami batted her eyelashes at him. “Please, Sanji?”

Sanji straightened up and cleared his throat. Fixing his tie, he said, “Well. I suppose I can restrain myself long enough for that. Can’t speak for the mosshead.”

Zoro flipped him off and Sanji returned the gesture before taking a seat on an armchair. As soon as he got comfortable, the front door creaked open. Instinctively, Sanji whipped his head in the direction of it. 

Ace - Luffy’s older brother - shuffled in. He yawned as he shut the door behind him, turned, then remembered to lock the door. As he pocketed his keys with one hand, the other reached up to rake through his shaggy black hair. 

Sanji blushed lightly as Ace’s dark eyes glanced his way. He averted his eyes to the floors, but the heat on his face didn’t subside. 

“Ace!” Luffy exclaimed. “You’re home early! I thought you were at the shop with Marco?”

“I fell asleep in the shop again and Marco chewed my ear off,” Ace replied, scratching his scruffy chin. “Told me to go home and get some proper rest before I come back.”

“I thought you had a couch there?” Luffy asked, finishing his banana and then tossing the peel onto Zoro’s lap. While Zoro made a disgusted noise, Luffy continued, “Why’d you come home?”

Ace snorted. “You sayin’ you ain’t happy to see your big brother?”

Luffy laughed. “Pfft, no! It’s not like that!”

“Good! After all, I buy your groceries! I might not get you all that junk food next time?”

Luffy stuck his tongue out at him and Ace waved his hand dismissively.  

Ace yawned again and stretched his arms above his head. His shirt rode up with the movement and Sanji’s eyes flicked down at the skin on his abdomen that peeked through. Before his eyes could linger, Sanji looked away. 

When Ace let his arms fall to his sides, he announced, “Sorry for not stayin’ to chat, but I’m dead tired. Evenin’, y’all.”

With that, Ace turned to head to his room.

Before he could leave, Sanji blurted, “How are your projects going, by the way?”

Ace paused and turned back, surprise lifting his eyebrows for a moment. “Oh, they’re going fine. Thanks for askin’.”

“You work with fire, right?” Sanji added, feeling the weight of curious eyes on him. He knew his friends were staring, but he couldn’t help it; he rarely got to talk to Ace and he didn’t want this chance to slip by. “You’re a uh, pyrographer? So you make designs using fire?”

“Yeah, and Marco said I’m a damn good one, but I dunno about that,” Ace said, palming the nape of his neck. “I still got a lot to learn, y’know? It’s not like using fire to engrave stuff is easy.”

“I’d love to see your work sometime,” Sanji said, rubbing his upper arms to stave off the goosebumps on his skin. “Drawing by burning a material sounds interesting.”

Ace smiled. “Well, I wouldn’t mind showin’ you. But for now, I really do have to hit the hay.”

He sent a short wave Sanji’s way, then disappeared into his bedroom. 

The instant the door clicked shut, Sanji was met with a chorus of teasing from the others.

“‘I’d love to see your work sometime’!” Usopp imitated, putting his hands on either side of his face. 

“So Ace, how are your projects going?’” Nami added, twirling a strand of ginger hair around her finger. 

Luffy was making kissing noises with his hands clasped together. Meanwhile, Zoro made an obscene gesture with his hands involving one hand making the “OK” sign and the other sticking his finger through the “O”. 

“Go to hell, all of you!” Sanji snapped. His embarrassment ebbed enough for him to add, “Except maybe Nami. She gets a pass.”

This spawned another round of playful jabs, though Nami refrained from joining this time. 

When the others had calmed down, Nami said, “Y’know, we wouldn’t give you a hard time if you just asked him out already!”

“Why would I do that?” Sanji asked, gesturing to himself for emphasis. “I - I’m not-” He stammered, his voice coming more uncertain than he meant it. “-into men…”

Zoro snorted a laugh. “Sounds like you don’t even know anymore!”

“Shut up, grass-for-brains!” Sanji snapped, crossing one leg over the other and folding his arms. “It’s not like I grew up in the most liberal household!”

“Neither did I and yet, it wasn’t that hard for me to figure out I was into dudes,” Zoro countered, shrugging. “Sounds like you’re in denial.”

Sanji turned bright red. “I-I am not!”

“Spoken like someone in denial!” Zoro replied, his smug grin getting under Sanji’s skin. 

Right when Sanji opened his mouth to fire off a comeback, Nami interrupted. “If you two start fighting again, I’m gonna kick you both out! We’re supposed to be hanging out to enjoy each other's company, remember?”

Usopp chuckled, folding his hands behind his head. “Yeah, we don’t get to hang out as much now that we’re all out of high school. Let’s try to get along.” He glanced at Sanji and Zoro, who were busy having a contest of glares. The sight made him laugh. “Although, it might just kill you two, won’t it?”

“Might,” Zoro mumbled.

“Let’s do something else, then!” Luffy exclaimed. “Something we’ll all enjoy!”

“Let’s play a game!” Nami suggested, sitting up straighter and folding her hands together. “It’ll liven this party up in no time!”

“Yeah! How about a board game?” Usopp said, then reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a deck of cards. “Or some poker?”

“Don’t let Nami play poker!” Luffy interrupted, crossing his arms over his chest. “She always wins and takes everyone’s money!”

Nami giggled. “That’s true; I’m just too good at it!”

“Then how about a video game?” Usopp replied, turning to Luffy. “You’ve got the latest Sora: Warrior of the Sea game, right?”

“Actually-” Nami piped up, her smile turning mischievous. “-when I suggested a game, I meant something else.”

“What? Like spin the bottle?” Usopp said, raising an eyebrow. “That’s a bit old school, don’t you think?”

“Not quite what I had in mind,” Nami replied with a wicked curve to her lips. “I was thinking of making up our own game.”

“That look on your face is making me afraid to ask,” Usopp admitted, then sighed. “But let’s hear it. How does your game go, Nami?”

“It’s not complicated,” Nami explained with a casual shrug of her shoulders. “You have to wear a blindfold and guess who is doing what to you without peeking. Sounds easy, right?”

Zoro snorted. “Sounds stupid. Wouldn’t it be too easy to guess who it is?”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Nami said. “The trick would be to do something you think the blindfolded person wouldn’t expect of you.”

Usopp made a thoughtful noise and stroked his chin. “That’s true.”

“I still think it’s dumb,” Zoro insisted, folding his arms over his chest.

“Then why don’t you go first?” Nami countered, a challenge in her brown eyes. “Prove to me how ‘stupid’ it is.”

Zoro narrowed his eyes. “I’m not falling for your tricks, devil woman.”

“I think it sounds fun!” Luffy exclaimed, his hands flying to grasp at Zoro’s upper arm. Tugging on Zoro’s shirt sleeve, Luffy said, “C’mon, Zoro! Don’t be such a grouch! Play Nami’s game!”

Zoro frowned but as soon as he caught Luffy’s gaze, he exhaled in defeat. “Fine, I will.”

“Yahoo!” Luffy exclaimed, throwing his arms around Zoro’s neck and planting an exaggerated smooch on his cheek. “You’re the best boyfriend, y’know that?”

“More like ‘the most whipped boyfriend’,” Sanji joked under his breath.

Zoro glared in the blond’s direction. “I heard that, shitty cook! As if you’re not already whipped for Nami! At least I’m dating Luffy!”

Nami giggled again. “Sorry Sanji, but he does have a point.”

“I don’t have to date a woman to treat her like a goddess,” Sanji said, straightening his tie. “I may not be Nami’s type but I’ll still give her whatever her heart desires!”

“Yeah, that’s called being ‘whipped’,” Zoro shot back, grinning as Sanji’s composure cracked. “You hate it when I’m right, huh?”

The blond let out a growl before Nami interrupted them. “Knock it off, guys. We’re getting distracted from our game!” She shot a mean little grin at Zoro. “Isn’t that right, Zoro? I mean, it’s not like you’re stalling, right?”

Zoro’s expression went from smug to caught redhanded, his grin turning into a grimace. “I hate you, devil woman.”

“And yet, you keep hanging out with me,” Nami replied with a smirk, pulling a handkerchief out of her pocket. “Now, let’s get started!”

The coffee table was shoved aside to make floor space. Zoro grumbled as Nami made him sit in the middle of the room. With dexterous, manicured fingers, Nami tied the handkerchief around Zoro’s eyes. He slouched as he sat cross-legged, propping his elbow on his thigh and resting his chin on his hand.

“Can you see anything?” Nami asked and Zoro shook his head. “Good. Who wants to go first?”

“Me!” Luffy cried, his hand shooting into the air. “Me, me!”

Nami sighed and put her hands on her hips. “You just gave away your identity, idiot! Now someone else has to go first!”

“But I wanna go first!” Luffy protested. “And Zoro’s my boyfriend!”

“Doesn’t matter because I made up the game, so I make the rules!” Nami replied, sticking her tongue out with a cheeky grin. “And I say that you gotta let someone else go first!”

Luffy huffed and sagged back against the couch, folding his arms over his chest. “Fine.”

Usopp raised his hand and Nami gestured for him to go for it. Usopp tapped a finger to his chin, biting his lip in thought. When his eyes widened, he brought his fist down on his palm soundlessly. Sanji could imagine the lightbulb going off above Usopp’s head and he chuckled softly at the mental image. 

Usopp crouched down beside Zoro and wet his index finger. He poised his hand level with Zoro’s ear, index finger aiming forward. Slowly, he inched his hand closer until his finger almost touched Zoro’s ear.

“Don’t even think about it, Usopp” Zoro interjected, startling a shriek out of Usopp.

“How’d you know it was me?!” Usopp exclaimed.

“I heard Luffy get disqualified earlier,” Zoro explained. “And I didn’t hear that stupid cook get out of his chair. Nami’s still close enough that I can smell her perfume - that I bought her because she hustled me out of a hundred dollars-!”

“And it won’t be the last time, either!” Nami added, laughing as Zoro aimed an ineffective glare at her. The blindfold ruined an already vain attempt to scowl at her; Nami was immune to Zoro’s sour looks. “So you used the power of deduction to figure out it was Usopp? Not bad for a guy that can’t beat me at poker!”

Usopp had managed to compose himself. “Wait, wait. But how did you know I was gonna give you a wet willy?”

“I didn’t. I actually figured that Luffy would do that-” Zoro lifted the blindfold with one hand and twisted around to shoot a look at his boyfriend. “-since he did it to me yesterday!”

Luffy burst into laughter and clutched his belly. “It was so funny! You jumped like, three feet in the air!”

“I was asleep! How was I supposed to react to a wake up call like that?!”

“Alright, alright!” Nami piped up, tugging the blindfold out of Zoro’s grip and putting it back in place. “Save your lover’s quarrel for later! Now someone else has to go.”

Luffy’s hand shot into the air again and Nami sighed. Nodding, she waved him forward with her hand. In Luffy’s eagerness, he tripped over his sandals and smacked right into Zoro’s back. 

“Lemme guess,” Zoro deadpanned. “Luffy?”

“Wait, that wasn’t what I was gonna do!” Luffy exclaimed, then puffed out his cheeks and furrowed his brows. “Dammit, now I gotta wait another turn!”

He groaned and crawled back onto the couch with a dejected expression. 

Nami turned towards Sanji and gestured for him to go. Sanji straightened up and shook his head. Nami’s big brown eyes sought his and she stuck out her lower lip. When she folded her hands together and rested them against her cheek, Sanji’s resolve withered. 

Screwing his lips into a scowl, Sanji got up as quietly as he could and crept around to Zoro’s side. He tapped the toes of his shoe on the floor once, twice. Then he raised his leg and let it fly forward. The heel of his foot connected with Zoro’s ribs, sending him sprawling onto his side with a grunt. 

A second later, Zoro bolted upright and yanked his blindfold off with a growl. “Shitty fucking cook! I knew you’d pull something like that!”

“Oh wow, the mosshead used his one brain cell to think ahead!” Sanji taunted, jumping back when Zoro swiped at him. “Missed me, cyclops!”

“Look in a mirror, shit cook!” Zoro snapped, pointing at Sanji’s hair. “You don’t exactly have twenty-twenty vision, either!”

Nami’s fist came down on Zoro’s head, then on Sanji’s. 

“Knock it off!” Nami exclaimed, her fist still poised to strike again. “Remember when I said I’d kick you both out?! Offer still stands!”

“Sorry, Nami,” Sanji muttered, rubbing the top of his head.

“Whatever, devil woman,” Zoro grumbled, shuffling back to the couch and sitting down beside Luffy. “I’m done with this game. Someone else go.”

“But I didn’t get my turn!” Luffy whined, grabbing Zoro’s collar. “Get back in there!”

“What were you even gonna do?” Zoro asked, scoffing. “Give me a wet willy?”

Luffy’s lips pursed and he glanced off to the side. “No…”

“Liar,” Zoro remarked, breaking into a grin. 

“It’s okay, Luffy,” Nami piped up. “Zoro doesn’t have to keep going if he doesn’t want to.” 

Zoro’s eyebrows furrowed, suspicion clear on his face. “For a price?”

Nami examined her nails. “I was gonna give this one to you for free, but if you want me to charge you-”

“Nope!” Zoro blurted. “No, I’m good!”

“Let’s keep going then, shall we?” Nami suggested, picking the blindfold up off the floor.

One by one, the others took their turns being blindfolded. 

Luffy guessed Zoro right away after his boyfriend kissed the scar under his eye. Usopp succeeded in giving a wet willy to Luffy, only to be chased around the apartment by him immediately after. Nami took Luffy’s hat off of the couch where he had laid it down, and shoved it on his head. The gesture clued Luffy in at once and he broke into a giant beam. As for Sanji, he held his cigarette under Luffy’s nose and chuckled at the exaggerated gagging from his friend. Luffy never did get used to the sharp smell of cigarettes, despite how long he and Sanji had been friends. 

When it was Usopp’s turn, Luffy got his revenge and gave Usopp two wet willies. After Usopp recovered, he guessed Sanji after the latter flicked him on the nose. Zoro scratched his chin thoughtfully before grabbing the strings of Usopp’s sleeveless hoodie and pulling them taut. While Usopp gasped for breath, he guessed it was Zoro. 

Nami went last on Usopp’s turn. Sanji tried (and failed) not to be envious when she stroked her manicured nails under Usopp’s stubbly chin. Usopp was halfway turned to jelly - slumping and grinning dumbly - before he guessed it was Nami. Her giveaway was that she always did that to him before asking him to do something for her. 

Nami’s turn was next. Luffy got caught when he tried poorly to pickpocket her. Usopp got guessed when he started playing with her hair. Zoro didn’t even try to be creative; he just put a hand on her shoulder and when Nami joked about his hand going lower, he yanked it away like she had burned him. 

Sanji spent the entire time coming up with different things he could do - kiss her hand or her cheek or up her arm like they did in the movies. But when his turn came around, he was so overwhelmed that he opted to (lamely) lay his hand on top of hers. The teasing from the others was worth it when Nami thanked him for being a gentleman. 

“Your turn, Sanji!” Nami announced, pushing him into the center of the room. 

He sat down and let her tie the blindfold over his eyes. He heard the tap of her shoes as she retreated, so he figured she wouldn’t be the first to go. That left three others for him to account for. 

Sanji heard someone kneel down in front of him, their knees bumping the wooden floorboards. A moment later, he felt a hand curl around his. 

The fingers and palm were callused and rough. Sanji threw out Zoro as a possibility. He figured that any hardened patches on Zoro’s hands would be limited to his palms since Zoro was an avid practitioner of kendo. (That and Sanji didn’t think Zoro of all people would willingly hold his hand.) 

The hand was about as big as his, the blunt nails giving away that it couldn’t be Nami; her nails were longer and smooth. Sanji put his other hand on top of the one in his, fingers tracing over the knuckles and fingertips of whoever it was. He could feel the nails and noted that while they were short, they weren’t ragged like Luffy’s. Luffy had a nasty habit of biting his nails down to the quick. So that left only-

“Usopp?” Sanji guessed. “Is that you?”

Usopp chuckled. “Yep! Got it on the first try!”

“Not bad, Sanji!” Nami added, and Sanji felt a grin spread across his lips. “Next person, go!”

A sudden, sharp pain in Sanji’s side caused him to cry out. He slouched, clutching his side. “What the hell?!”

“That was for kicking me earlier, shitty cook!” Zoro said. “A kick for a kick. Now we’re even!”

Sanji flipped Zoro off, aiming the gesture in the direction of the man’s voice. 

After he recovered, Sanji sat up straighter. “Okay, I’m ready. Who’s next?”

The jingle of bracelets caught his attention. The floorboards creaked softly as someone knelt in front of him. The scent of tangerine perfume hit Sanji’s nose right before soft lips brushed his cheek. Tensing, he could have sworn that his brain short-circuited as he realized that it could only have been Nami that did that. 

Sanji opened his mouth but all that would come out was a strained, “Uh-”

Nami’s giggle - like the sweet chime of a bell in the wind - brought him back to his senses.

“Guess I’m just too much for Sanji to handle, huh?” Nami joked. Sanji heard the tinkling of her bracelets and imagined she was flipping her long, curling ginger locks over her shoulder. 

“Hope ya didn’t break him!” Usopp added, laughing at Sanji’s stupor. “Who else is gonna cook for us?”

“I-I-” Sanji cleared his throat and readjusted his tie unconsciously. “I’m fine now. I wasn’t expecting a kiss from such a beautiful woman!”

“And that’s exactly why I did it!” Nami replied, and Sanji heard her heels clack on the floor as she returned to the armchair. “Looks like it’s someone else’s turn now!”

There was a scrambling of footsteps as whoever was next rushed to take their spot in front of Sanji. Though the blindfold kept Sanji from seeing who it was, he had a pretty good idea. After all, Luffy was the only one who hadn’t gone yet and the only one who kept tripping over himself in his excitement. 

Wonder what Luffy will do? Sanji pondered while he waited. If he gives me a wet willy, I’m gonna kick his ass all the way to-!

Lips touched him for a second time. But instead of Nami’s soft lips on his cheek, Sanji felt chapped lips covering his own. It lasted only a fraction of a second - more of an affectionate peck than a romantic gesture - but it was enough to throw Sanji off.

“Uh,” he said, for the second time in the last five minutes. 

Luffy giggled and lifted Sanji’s blindfold. “Surprised ya, huh?”

“You can say that again,” Sanji mumbled, fingers brushing his lips absently. 

The kiss itself wasn’t a complete shock; Luffy liked to give his friends platonic kisses from time to time. But he’d never given one to Sanji until now. And Sanji wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

I know Luffy meant it platonically and I know I don’t have feelings for him, Sanji thought to himself. But I expected to feel more...put off by it? I mean, I’m not into men, right? So why don’t I feel more weird about it?

Sanji sat there, oblivious to Luffy losing interest and hopping onto the couch. While Luffy pestered his boyfriend, Sanji stroked his chin in thought.

Unless...I’m more interested in guys than I realized? 

Before he could think about this new revelation deeper, Nami’s hands tugged the blindfold back down.

“Let’s keep going!” Nami said, holding the blindfold in place even as Sanji’s hands came up to grasp it. “I mean, Zoro didn’t technically go. He just kicked you like a dumbass.”

“Hey, watch it, devil woman!” Zoro said, then groaned. “Luffy, stop trying to kiss me after kissing that shitty cook! I don’t want his horny germs!”

Underneath the sounds of Zoro and Luffy’s banter, there’s the creak of a door’s hinges. Then the shuffling of feet, both near the door and around Sanji. As much as he wanted to lift the blindfold to see what was going on, he resisted the urge. If this was part of Nami’s game, he didn’t want to ruin it. 

Footsteps approach Sanji - too heavy to be Nami but not quite as lead-footed as Zoro. There was no slap of sandals, so it wasn’t Luffy. That left only Usopp.

Is Usopp going again to throw me off? Sanji wondered. I mean, I heard the door open. I suppose Ace could’ve woken up. But wouldn’t he make himself known somehow?  

Sanji didn’t think Ace would enter the room without acknowledging everyone; he was too polite for that. 

Whoever was next knelt down on the floor in front of Sanji, knees clicking audibly. He heard a soft sigh before warm lips pressed against his own in a chaste kiss. 

Is it Luffy again? Sanji wondered, surprised that Luffy didn’t immediately break away. The first kiss he had given him was more of a peck; too quick to be anything but platonic. This kiss lingered for a few seconds before Luffy pulled back.  Huh. Maybe he’s trying to throw me off?

“Okay Luffy, I know it was you,” Sanji said.

When Luffy’s voice came from the couch area, Sanji’s heart jumped in his throat.

“Nope!” Luffy replied, his tone of voice giving away that he was grinning. “Wasn’t me, Sanji!”

“Then, who-?” Sanji began, but he didn’t get to finish his sentence. 

Whoever was in front of him kissed him again. What felt like scruffy, short hairs grazed Sanji’s chin. Though a bit scratchy, the sensation wasn’t entirely unpleasant.  

Stubble? He thought, his heart skipping a beat as the realization sank in. A guy is kissing me like this?! Sanji hesitated before kissing him back. A warm, fluttering feeling erupted in his chest when the person went with it, returning the enthusiasm. Huh, it’s actually...not bad.

When the person pulled away slightly, Sanji’s lips parted on instinct to catch his breath. But as soon as they did, they were being covered again. The kiss became more heated; too ardent and deliberate to be a casual, platonic kiss between friends. 

Instead of helping him deduce the person’s identity, it only confused him more. 

Sanji’s brain was torn between wanting to figure out the identity of the mystery person and wanting to throw the game out the window. His willpower was strong, but the kiss was chipping away at his resolve. The urge to throw his arms around the neck of his mystery person surged through his limbs, but he held himself back. 

Okay, um, w-who is it? Sanji asked himself, his brain doing the equivalent of fumbling around in the dark. His ability to focus was rapidly dwindling. Alright, it’s not Nami. Not Zoro or Luffy. Could be Usopp; he has a goatee.  

A heated palm cupped the nape of Sanji’s neck, holding him in place. There was a groan from Zoro and a belly laugh from Luffy.

“Get it, Sanji!” Nami called, busting up into her own laughter. 

The only one left is Usopp, but I don’t think Usopp would kiss someone like this in front of others.  

Sanji tried not to shiver as the stubble of whoever was kissing him scratched at his skin. Every scrape was a pleasant burn that slowly stoked the fire in his belly. His hands curled around the fabric of his pant legs, trying to keep what was left of his composure in check.

But when the tip of a tongue passed his lips, Sanji knew whatever remaining willpower he had would break. It almost did, his hands flying to fumble into the chest of whoever it was. His fingers curled into the fabric of the person’s shirt for a half-second before flattening. With a firm push, Sanji broke the kiss.

Reaching up, he yanked the blindfold off. It slipped out of his hand when he looked into the freckled face of the last person he expected.

Ace.

Heart pounding, Sanji’s face burned red and ice flooded his veins. Instinct told him to look around the room at the others; gauge their reactions. But he couldn’t tear his eyes from the man in front of him. He was too stunned to be aware of his expression, but it must have been bad because the mood of the entire room suddenly shifted. 

Ace - who had been smiling sheepishly at the reveal - dropped his smile. A wrinkle formed between his brows, guilt tilting them up towards his hairline. 

“Uh, S-Sanji,” Ace started, the hand that had been on Sanji’s neck coming up to rub at Ace’s nape. “I realize you’re probably embarrassed, huh? I mean, you didn’t exactly uh... consent to that. B-But when you kissed me back, I figured-”

Sanji said nothing. Not because he didn’t want to, but because no words would come to mind. Shock had numbed him into stillness.

“I’m - I’m sorry,” Ace said, glancing down at the floor. “I shouldn’t have agreed to your friends’ game and gone that far.” He raised his eyes back to Sanji, hope glinting in them. “B-But please, don’t get the wrong idea! I didn’t do it to mess with you! I’ve-” Ace cleared his throat, his cheekbones dusting with pink. “-I’ve wanted to do that since I first met you.”

Sanji opened his mouth but all that came out was a strained, desperate “fuck!” before he was bolting for the sliding door to the balcony.

Ace got to his feet and chased after him. When he caught up with him, he shut the door behind him. But not before having the foresight to pull the blinds closed for added privacy. 

After Ace and Sanji fled the room, silence descended on the others. 

There was a pregnant pause and then Usopp said, “Maaaybe we shouldn’t have shoved Ace in the ring?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Nami added, hugging herself. “I thought if they interacted, it would jumpstart things between them. I didn’t know Ace was going to kiss him, though!”

“I did,” Luffy stated.

Everyone rounded on him with a synchronized, “What?!”

Luffy shrugged. “After they met, Ace told me about his crush on Sanji right away. Then I forgot about it. And then you guys never asked.”

Nami ran her hand down her face. “Typical Luffy.”

“That’s such a ‘you’ thing to do,” Usopp remarked, shaking his head. He crossed his arms, rubbing his upper arms with a slouched posture. “Still, I hope Sanji doesn’t hate us for this.”

“Eh, he won’t,” Luffy replied, shrugging. “He might be pissed, but I think it’d take more than this to make him hate us. We were just trying to help him. He’ll see that eventually, even if it takes him a while.”

“Wow, that was...surprisingly wise,” Usopp said, bending at the waist and peering in Luffy’s ear. “Did something happen in there while we weren’t lookin’?”

“Why would you be looking in my ear?” Luffy asked with a blank expression on his face.

“And he’s back,” Nami said, a halfhearted giggle coming from her lips. “But yeah, I think Sanji will forgive us. At least, I hope so.”

Meanwhile, on the balcony, Sanji was leaning against the railing. A hand covered his mouth while the other clutched the metal railing in an attempt to ground himself. The evening was upon them; a warm summer breeze rustling his hair and the glow of sunset. But it’s beauty was lost on Sanji, who was too busy trying to decide whether to cry or not.

I woke up this morning thinking I was straight. Then I got a whole two minutes to question it before I was kissing the man that I think I have feelings for? What the fuck?!

“Hey, Sanji,” Ace said quietly. There was the sound of the blinds being pulled and then the click of the sliding doors being shut. “I um, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

A mirthless laugh escaped Sanji without his permission. “I don’t even know anymore.”

“Are you mad?” Ace asked, carefully coming up by Sanji’s side. 

“I don’t...I don’t know yet,” Sanji replied with a shrug. “That depends on what your answer is.”

“My answer?” Ace stepped a little closer. “To what?”

“Was it real for you?” Sanji asked, eyes flicking over to Ace’s hands as they rested on the railing. He couldn’t bring himself to look at his eyes yet. “The kiss, I mean? Or was it part of the game?”

“It was real for me,” Ace said, and knee-weakening relief flooded Sanji. “I meant it when I said that I’d wanted to kiss you since the day we met. I wouldn’t lie about that.”

Sanji wanted to say something, but what could he even say?

Before he could decide, he blurted, “How is it so easy for you?”

“What is?”

“Being...into guys,” Sanji replied, swallowing hard. “I grew up my whole life thinking I was straight. I had...moments here and there where I questioned it. But I thought that was something every straight guy went through before deciding he wasn’t into men.”

“I mean, yeah that’s common,” Ace said. “But that doesn’t mean you have to disregard those feelings. I didn’t and so that’s why when I met you, I knew how I felt.”

“Then why did you wait so long to do anything about it?” Sanji found himself asking. Why did I wait so long to actually consider that my feelings might have meaning?

Ace shrugged, clasping his hands together as he leaned on the railing. “Luffy told me that you weren’t really into guys. Or at least, you didn’t seek them out. I figured the best thing for me to do was sit back. If you ever expressed interest in dudes, I’d tell you how I felt then.”

“What if I never did?”

“Then I hoped my feelings would fade away,” Ace replied, fingers absently playing with the bracelet around his wrist. “But when I saw you sittin’ there, the opportunity to just... go for it was too strong. I should’ve asked you first. And I should’ve stopped after the first kiss, but when you kissed me back, I kind of lost myself.”

Sanji’s voice fell to a whisper. “I lost myself, too.”

Ace hesitated before coming closer until there was only a few inches between them. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I get it though, if you’re upset with me.”

“I don’t think I am now that you’ve explained how you feel,” Sanji admitted, shaking his head. “The others...I know they meant well. But still, you were the last person I was expecting to be a part of that game.” He gave a halfhearted chuckle. “I didn’t exactly wake up this morning with the notion that I’d be kissing you tonight.”

“I understand that,” Ace said, taking a breath and exhaling before he continued. “Um, Sanji? How do you feel about me? Did the kiss mean anything to you?”

“I think...I think it did?” Sanji said softly, letting go of the railing to run his hands through his hair. “All those times I look back on suddenly make sense now.” He blushed, his stomach turning in knots. “Why I liked being around you so much. Why I wanted to get to know you better.”

Sanji felt a hand gently touch his shoulder and he let his hands fall to his sides. When he finally looked at Ace, his dark brown eyes were shining with hope and a tender smile curled on his lips. 

“So, it’s all out in the open now, huh?” Ace said, inching closer despite how little space there was. “That kiss meant something to both of us. Now, you don’t have to return my feelings or anything, but if you want to go on a date - see if you really feel the same way - then I’m up for it.”

“I think I’d like that,” Sanji replied, mirroring Ace’s smile. “Though you might have to be patient with me. A lot of this is new for me.”

“Sanji, darlin’-” Ace said and Sanji met his eyes. They were warm and rich and full of so much affection that Sanji had to look away. “-I’ll give you as much time as you need.”

Ace moved his hand from Sanji’s shoulder and brushed a strand of hair behind the blond’s ear. His fingers were so careful - so appreciating - that the gesture instantly squeezed Sanji’s heart. And when Ace’s fingertips lingered at Sanji’s jaw, a surge of emotion welled up in Sanji’s eyes.

No one’s ever looked at me like that before. Or been so sweet with one little gesture. He does have feelings for me. 

Ace leaned in closer, his eyes falling to Sanji’s lips. “I want you to know that I’d do anything for you, darlin’.”

Oh, that’s it!

“C’mere, Ace,” Sanji said, hands coming up to frame Ace’s freckled face. Pulling him in, he tilted his head right before their lips connected. As Sanji relaxed into the kiss, his arms wrapped loosely around Ace’s neck. When Ace’s hands found Sanji’s hips, the blond’s heart skipped a beat. Sanji didn’t want to break away, but he had to in order to breathe. “Sorry, I gotta-”

“Catch your breath?” Ace guessed and Sanji nodded. Smiling, he said, “Me, too. But then again, you always make me feel this way; breathless and lightheaded.”

Sanji flushed and tucked his hair behind his ear. “I didn’t realize you were such a romantic at heart; saying things like that so easily…”

“You do it, too,” Ace pointed out, arms circling Sanji’s waist. “You’re not used to bein’ on the receiving end, huh?”

“No-” Sanji admitted, keeping his gaze on Ace’s collar bones so he could say it without getting flustered again. “-but I...I’d like to be.”

Ace chuckled, nuzzled his head against Sanji’s. “You’re so cute, Blondie!”

“‘Blondie’?” Sanji repeated, breaking into a wider grin. “Aren’t you original?”

“Don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that-” Sanji replied, pausing for a second. “-Hotshot. Yeah, I need a name to call you in return. How about ‘Hotshot’?”

Ace snorted. “Not any more original than ‘Blondie’ but I don’t mind.”

“Oh, shut up,” Sanji mumbled with a grin before tugging Ace into another kiss.

This time, Sanji let his lips part. Instead of waiting for Ace to get the hint, Sanji took the lead and slipped his tongue into his mouth. The approving sound that Ace made in response made Sanji feel lightheaded; as far as he was concerned, he was on Cloud Nine. He couldn’t help the swooning sigh that escaped him. The fire in his belly had returned, burning hotter than before now that he knew the pull he felt towards Ace was mutual. 

Inevitably, they had to break apart to breathe. And when they did, Sanji was panting softly. Only then did he realize that his hands had buried in Ace’s hair without him being aware of it. It felt nice to let go like that; to not overthink his actions around Ace any longer.

“Hey, Blondie-” Ace swayed a little as he wrapped his arms around Sanji’s lower back. “-wanna head back to my room and make out?”

“How romantic,” Sanji remarked flatly, then cracking up into a laugh. “What was I saying earlier about you being ‘a romantic at heart’?” 

“Hey, I might not recite poetry but I’ll let you know how I feel!” Ace replied, laughing. “I’ve got my more suave moments, you’ll see!” He leaned in until his lips hovered at Sanji’s ear. Lowering his voice, he said, “Why don’t we go sneak away and I’ll show you how smooth I can be?”

Sanji’s heart jumped into his throat and his grin turned wobbly, matching the shakiness of his insides. He was glad Ace couldn’t see his expression at the moment because he knew how dumb of a grin he must be wearing. His teeth sank into his lower lip in a vain effort to contain his grin.

Before he could respond, he heard whispering nearby. A mix of embarrassment and exasperation shoved his fluttery feelings aside. With a sigh, he put his hands on Ace’s chest and pushed away. 

“I’d love to take you up on your offer, but first-” He crossed to the door. Grasping the handle, he yanked it back. Nami, Usopp, and Luffy tumbled onto the hard balcony floor. “-maybe we should ask the others what they think?”

Sanji put a hand on his hip as the others looked up at him sheepishly.

“It was her idea!” Usopp cried, pointing to Nami.

“Traitor!” Nami gasped, shoving a finger in Usopp’s face. “You were curious, too!”

Sanji arched an eyebrow. “And what about you, Luffy?”

Luffy shrugged. “I joined in because they were doing it.”

Sanji scrubbed a hand down his face and huffed. “There’s no privacy in our group, is there?!”

From inside the apartment, Sanji heard Zoro pipe up, “Don’t lump me in with them! I don’t give a damn about your private life, swirly!”

“Shut up, mosshead!” Sanji snapped instinctively, then turned his attention back to the three of his friends that were currently getting to their feet. “So I’m guessing you heard everything?”

“Most of it,” Nami replied, giving him a lopsided, sheepish grin. “I heard Ace tell you that he’d do anything for you.”

“And then there were the pet names,” Usopp added, trying too hard to act casual; as if he wasn’t being pinned by Sanji’s glare. “Those are super cute pet names, by the way!”

Sanji’s mouth became a flat line. “Mm-hm.”

Usopp scrambled over to Ace’s side and tugged on his arm. “Ace, help us out here!”

Ace laughed. “Sorry buddy, but you guys got yourselves into this one!”

Usopp groaned and his shoulders slumped. Then he lifted his eyes to Sanji and wrung his hands. “Sanji, we’re sorry.” He shuffled closer, clasping his hands out in front of him. Nami joined him with her own clasped hands and pleading eyes. “Really sorry. Incredibly sorry! More sorry than we’ve ever-!”

“Okay, okay!” Sanji interrupted, his anger dampened by their guilty faces. “I know you’re sorry for tricking me. I guess I can’t be too mad.” Sanji scratched his neck, glancing away with a blush on his cheeks. “I um, got a date out of it.”

“Alright!” Usopp exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “Way to go, Sanji!”

“I’m so happy for you!” Nami added, clapping her hands. 

Sanji sighed, unable to stop the grin that spread across his lips. “Yeah well, I’m still sore at you guys but I think I’ll be okay eventually.”

“Told you he’d say that!” Luffy piped up. “See? I know our cook!”

A surge of pride swelled in Sanji’s chest at being called “our cook”. It was enough that any lingering exasperation with his friends’ antics dissipated. 

“Alright, now get the hell back inside!” Sanji said, waving a hand. “We’re making a damn scene out here!”

Once they were all back inside, the party resumed - albeit, a bit slowly. But in no time, the awkwardness faded away. Ace even stuck around, pulling up a chair to sit beside Sanji in the armchair. And when Sanji slipped his hand in Ace’s, the latter had all the more reason to stay. 

As the night wore on, the remaining sunlight outside dimmed; overtaken by deep indigo sky and twinkling stars. Nami was the first one to leave, citing the late hour and needing her beauty rest. Usopp drove her home; either out of friendship or an owed debt, he wouldn’t say. Zoro conked out on the couch after they left. Luffy covered him with a blanket, then snuggled underneath it so he could cuddle his boyfriend. About three seconds later, Luffy had also fallen asleep.

Ace shook his head with a smile. He leaned closer to Sanji and whispered, “Looks like they’re out for the night? Or at least, for a while.” Sanji’s heart skipped a beat when Ace added, “Did you wanna take up my offer to go to my room?”

Fighting a wave of giddiness, Sanji bit into his lower lip. “Y-Yeah. Let’s go.”

Ace chuckled softly as he got to his feet. Their hands were still linked, and Ace guided Sanji towards his bedroom. When the door clicked shut behind them, Sanji let out a breath; he hadn’t been able to breathe those few steps from the armchair to the door. Excitement and anxiety made it too difficult. 

Are we going to make out like he suggested earlier? Or will it just be cuddling or talking? What nothing happens? What if too much happens? What if I like it? What if I don’t? What if-?

Sanji’s rambling thoughts were cut off when Ace tugged him towards the bed.

“Don’t look so overwhelmed,” Ace said, showing him a reassuring smile as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “Don’t worry, we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I just figured that you might want to get away from Luffy and Zoro.” He chuckled as he added, “I’m sure you know by now how badly they snore.”

That got Sanji to laugh. He sat down beside Ace and leaned back on his palms. He hoped he looked a bit more at ease despite the nervous energy still tumbling around inside him. He wished he had a cigarette to calm him but he had burned through his last one not ten minutes before.

Ace seemed to read his mind and pulled out a cigarette pack from his nightstand. He slid out a fresh cigarette and offered it to him. “Here. You look like you could use one.”

Sanji took it and fished for his lighter with his free hand. “I didn’t know you smoked.”

“Occasionally, I do. Sometimes the stress gets to be too much and I fall back on an old bad habit. I’ve been trying to quit but it’s so damn hard.”

“Tell me about it,” Sanji replied, unable to locate his lighter. “Where the hell did my-?”

A metallic clink caught his attention and he looked up. Ace was holding out a lighter. It wasn’t the engraved golden one that Sanji had gotten years ago, but one of those cheap ones you find at a gas station. Still, Sanji appreciated it when Ace flicked the wheel and a flame burst to life. 

“Thanks again,” Sanji said, putting the cigarette between his lips and ducking his head a little to meet the lighter. When it lit, he took a breath while Ace extinguished the flame. Exhaling, he watched the smoke climb into the air. “You sure it’s okay to smoke in your room?”

Ace shrugged. “I would’ve told you if it wasn’t.”

Silence fell over them. Sanji shifted, tucking one leg over the other. Ace scratched at the stubble on his chin. Sanji chewed on his lip between drags. Ace smoothed out wrinkles in his bed sheets with a flat palm.

All that crackling energy from before - that pull to be closer - seemed to have vanished into thin air. 

Well, this is fucking awkward.  

“Ace-”

“Blondie-”

The both paused, then broke into matching grins.

“You go first,” Sanji insisted.

“Alright,” Ace said. “Well, pardon me for saying this but you still seem...tense. Everythin’ okay?”

“Yeah,” Sanji said, then corrected. “Uh, no. I just - I don’t know what you want.”

“What I want?” Ace asked, chuckling and scooting closer. “I thought I made it pretty obvious that I want you, darlin’?” He put a hand on Sanji’s shoulder lightly, his tone leveling out. “Is that not what you want?”

“I do!” Sanji said quickly, clearing his throat when he realized how fast the answer had sprung from him. “Uh, I mean, I think I do. But when I said this was all new to me, I meant it. I’ve never dated a guy before, but...I haven’t dated many women, either.”

“I can understand what you’re feeling. I’m not very experienced, either.” Ace rubbed the nape of his neck. “I’ve had casual flings but never anyone I was serious about. Not until you, that is.”

Sanji’s breath hitched. “You mean that?”

“I do,” Ace replied. Sanji felt himself leaning into Ace’s side without thinking about it. Instantly, Ace’s arm wrapped around him and pulled him closer. “I know this is a lot for you. But I’ll take things as slow as you need me to. And if at some point, you realize your feelings aren’t what you thought they were, then-” Sanji heard Ace swallow hard. “-I’ll be okay if you need to end it.”

A sour feeling swirled in Sanji’s gut and he sat up straight, breaking out of Ace’s hold. Turning to face him, his hands found Ace’s. “Don’t talk like that; like our relationship is over before it’s even begun.”

Ace’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry ‘bout that. I’m just used to things not working out for me. And this-” Ace squeezed Sanji’s hands. “-is something I want very much to work out.”

Sanji took his cigarette out of his mouth and grinned. “Then let’s focus on what’s happening now. See where things go, yeah?”

Ace nodded and Sanji broke away long enough to put out his cigarette. Then he was back at Ace’s side, hands framing his freckled face while Ace’s arms curled around the blond’s waist.

Ace caught Sanji’s gaze. “This okay, Blondie?”

Sanji nodded, and a slow grin spread across his lips. “Make out with me already, Hotshot.”

“You don’t have to tell me twi-” 

Ace never got to finish his sentence before Sanji’s lips were covering his own.

A playful make out session followed, ending with the two of them fumbling onto the bed. Ace would be on his back one second and then Sanji would flip him over, both of them laughing too giddily for the mood to turn heated. 

What pulled them back to reality was when Ace rolled into the nightstand on accident, bumping the alarm clock to the floor. It landed on a rug, so it was spared from the impact of hitting the hardwood floors. But when Sanji picked it up, he sighed at the time it was reading. 

“It’s almost three in the morning,” Sanji said, setting the clock back in its spot. He sat back down on the edge of the bed. “We should get some sleep. Or at least, I should. I have work on Monday.”

Ace slid his arms around Sanji’s waist. “Then you’ll have all of today to rest up.”

“I know but really, I should sleep,” Sanji insisted, a yawn escaping him as Ace retracted his arms. “I don’t want to, though; this was fun.” Sanji started to get up but a hand on his wrist stopped him. “Hm?”

“Stay,” Ace said softly, laying on his side. “Please?”

Sanji laid back down beside Ace and cupped his cheek. “Are you sure we should go right to sharing a bed? We haven’t even gone on a date yet. I want to do this right.”

“We don’t have to do anything frisky; only sleepin’,” Ace replied, smirking and running his hands up and down Sanji’s sides. “Unless you just can’t keep your hands off of me!”

“Ha, ha you’re so funny,” Sanji said dryly, his smile ruining the effect he was going for. “First thing you should know about me if we’re going to date is that there’s no way I’m gonna do anything ‘frisky’-” He made air quotes with his fingers. “-while Luffy’s meathead boyfriend is so close by.”

“Want me to kick him out? I’m only half-joking.”

“Ace!” Sanji chided, busting up into laughter. “You’re a shithead!”

“And you’re adorable,” Ace replied, his nose scrunching as he grinned and nuzzled his forehead against Sanji’s. “God, you’ve got a pretty smile!”

“I - You-” Sanji stammered, blushing and unable to think beneath the warmth of Ace’s gaze. “Oh, screw it! C’mere, Ace!” 

Sanji closed the space between them and kissed Ace on the lips. The kiss started out firm but when Ace kissed him back, things turned slower and softer. Time came to a crawl and the ticking of the clock on Ace’s nightstand faded into the background. Ace’s hand on Sanji’s lower back rubbed steady, aimless circles. Sanji’s hands moved on their own, burying in Ace’s thick hair so he could drag his fingertips over Ace’s scalp. 

When they finally broke apart, Sanji found his head was no longer spinning with thoughts of what could or would happen. Instead, his mind was blissfully calm and clear. It was as if his anxieties had been put on the back burner; a boiling pot about to overflow suddenly set to simmer. 

I could get used to this. Sanji rested his head on Ace’s chest, listening to the other man’s heart beat. After all, everyone’s always telling me that I need to relax.  

“So Hotshot, since we’re officially doing this-” Sanji said, hearing Ace’s heart rate tick a little faster. “-we should have a first date, huh?”

“We should! And I seem to recall a certain handsome blond I know wanting to see my art at Marco’s shop?” Ace stroked his fingers down Sanji’s hair. “Whaddya say?”

“I say-” Sanji lifted his head so he could press their foreheads together. “-pick me up at six and we’ll have dinner first.”

Ace beamed and the corners of his eyes crinkled. “I knew I liked you for a reason!”