Chapter Text
And so he found himself, wedged between a body that ran all too hot and a body that ran all too cold, tangled in limbs on a queen-sized bed. Sanji didn’t dare move and disturb the sleep of the two men at his sides. A reel played in his head, recounting how he ended up here.
Sanji attempted to fight tooth and nail with Zeff about moving out. He begged and bartered about staying in the upstairs room of the Baratie. It had been his room since he was eight years old and no part of him was ready to leave the proverbial nest. Zeff on the other hand, was one argument about it away from kicking Sanji to the curb. He never would, but he would threaten to change the locks.
When Luffy had loudly mentioned how much fun it would be if Sanji lived with him, Zeff jumped on the idea train. He offered Luffy a meal big enough to fill a banquet hall if he could convince Sanji to move out.
“I love the eggplant, I really do, but he needs to move out.” Zeff rolled his head back, eyeing the ceiling's support beams. “It’s too stuffy for him here. He’s too stubborn to realize he’s hindering his own potential.”
Luffy gave a rather ambiguous hum in reply. “I think I can do it. Sanji should come live with me.”
Before the end of the week, Sanji had packed up most of his stuff, albeit against his will and better judgment. He left most of his big pieces of furniture and posters plastered on the wall. Most of his stuff fit between two suitcases, clothing and otherwise.
Luffy dragged him to his apartment. When he mentioned a roommate, Sanji naively assumed it was one of his brothers. He quickly learned it was not in fact one of Luffy's brothers, instead Zoro, who Sanji could barely stand. Luffy assured him that Zoro was almost never home between his job and his kendo practices, and when he was, he was asleep. Sanji wasn’t so sure.
The flat wasn’t as filthy as he expected after learning who lived there, but it was not the cleanliness level he would have liked. It was a little small for three, but seemed comfortable for two. He wasn’t even sure that there was another bedroom.
“Luffy…” Sanji began hesitantly. “I appreciate it but-”
Luffy promptly pulled the couch out, showing off that it did, in fact, make a full size bed. “C’mon, Sanji. Where else do you even have to go?”
Sanji hated to admit it, but he was right. The old man would not let him back in that room come hell or high water. As if to disprove Luffy’s earlier point, Zoro emerged from his room looking less than half awake and definitely less than half dressed.
“Huh? What are you doing here?”
“Sanji is gonna move in with us!” Luffy gladly exclaimed.
Zoro replied with a sigh. “Our lease only allows two people, you moron.” It was an endearing nickname for Luffy. “Why don’t you see if Ace and Law still have that spare room?”
Sanji internalized his sigh of relief. He wasn’t sure about Ace, he had only met the guy once or twice in passing and Law was someone he had heard about, but never met. Regardless, the idea was more appealing than this. He thought if he had to live with these two he might explode.
Luffy groaned something that turned into an exaggerated sigh. He sat down on the sofa bed and retrieved his phone from his pocket. Sanji continued to stand awkwardly in the entrance way of the flat until Luffy piped up with, “Ace said Sanji can have the room.” He got up from the couch, back to having a pep to his step, and grabbed the smaller rolling suitcase from Sanji’s side.
The drive to Ace and Law’s place was pretty short, proving to be less than ten minutes away. Firstly, Sanji noticed that it wasn’t an apartment, but a townhouse. He second noticed there were two cars in the driveway, one being covered by a blue tarp. Sanji thought it best to park behind the tarped vehicle, assuming it wouldn't be moving any time soon. Third, he realized that even the outside looked well-kept.
Sanji made his way to the door alongside Luffy who used a spare key to let them in. The inside was tiled white to match the plain painted walls, which Sanji found boring. There was a set of carpeted stairs that led to three rooms. Downstairs was a living room, kitchen of good size, dining room, and fireplace room. Sanji placed his bags by the staircase to do a loop of the house. In the living room, which was directly in front of the door, held a leather couch big enough for three, four if they squeezed, and a matching recliner. There was a television against the wall where the staircase ascended and a coffee table with a few cup rings. The further he walked, he saw a screened in back patio. To the right of that was a pool table and treadmill in front of a fireplace that didn't look like it had been used in years. The kitchen was complete with a full size fridge and electric stove; they even had a dishwasher and enough counter space for Sanji to cook a five-course meal. There was a set of three bar stools tucked under the counter and in the last room was a full dining room table, albeit scattered in papers, but a real table. Sanji would have considered this heaven.
Descending the stairs to the doorway was a tall figure in a loose fitting tank top and cargo shorts. His skin was tanned and messily freckled. He had hair dark like Luffy that stuck out in just about every way imaginable. It looked layered, Sanji thought, and fluffy as if it had been finger combed. In short, Sanji thought the guy was pretty damn attractive.
“Hey, Luf,” Ace yawned. He was quickly tackled by his younger brother.
“Ace! You remember Sanji, right?” Luffy asked, clung to his older brother’s back. The scene reminded Sanji of a baby koala.
Ace acknowledged Sanji with a nod and a slight smile. “Yeah, I remember his really good cooking.” He made his way to the first floor before shaking Luffy off his back. “If you’re movin’ in, I hope you'll cook for us. I’m not sure what Torao even eats to be honest with you.”
Sanji noted the nickname for his roommate. He should have assumed they’d be close enough for that when he heard they were living together, but everything he had heard about Law made him think the guy was too serious for nicknames.
“Sure, I’d love to.” Sanji replied with a nod.
Ace reached for one of Sanji’s bags and hoisted it up to his chest before he made his way back up the stairs. Sanji grabbed the other and quickly followed behind. Luffy made himself comfortable on the couch.
The second floor was narrow if anything, really just a hallway with some rooms at each end. To the left of the stairs was the primary bedroom. There was a linens closet next to a full bathroom and then two smaller rooms that branched out on the furthest right of the hallway. Ace led him to the smaller of two rooms at the end of the hall.
“This one is all yours, blondie.” Ace set the bag down against the wall. It was actually bigger than his room at the Baratie. It had a large rectangular window that overlooked their driveway and a closet big enough for all his suits.
Ace pointed to a mattress laid out on the floor, made up in dark blue sheets. “It’s clean, I swear. Torao and I never got around to gettin’ a frame for it, but you’re more than welcome to.”
“What’s the rent?” Sanji asked. He’d made his way to the window, observing the quiet street he soon hoped to live on.
“No rent.” Ace replied.
Sanji snapped his head to meet the brunet's eyes. He couldn’t have heard that right. All this space and a room, and no rent?
Ace offered a smile. He rested his hand between Sanji’s shoulders in a gesture meant to be comforting. “No rent. Torao-” he paused to correct for the first time since he started talking. “Law owns the place. I don’t even pay rent.”
“What does he get out of it?”
The brunet hummed in thought with now crossed arms before shrugging. “Don’t really know. He sorta just put me up after we met. No complaints though.” Ace thought about it longer. Sanji wondered if he was too dense to have considered it before. “I fix his car. I also grocery shop.”
Sanji pressed his lips into a firm line. “Best not to look a gift horse in the mouth I suppose.” He walked out of the room, Ace following behind. Before either of them got far, the door of the room beside his own opened. Law leaned on the wooden door frame, silently, clearly sizing Sanji up.
Law wore a long sleeve hoodie shirt with a design on the front that Sanji couldn’t place. Comfortable looking gray sweatpants littered with abstract shaped dots wrapped around his calves up to his thighs. He, too, was rather sun kissed with a complexion even darker than Ace’s. Sanji internally cursed himself for finding not one, but both of his roommates incredibly attractive.
“This is Sanji, he’s takin’ the spare room.” Ace placed his hands on Sanji’s shoulders as if presenting him to the dark haired man. “He’s a real good cook, Torao. You’re gonna love him.”
Sanji felt a slight heat on the back of his neck at the unsolicited praise. “Nice to meet you.” He offered, holding his hand out for a polite handshake. Law replied with an unimpressed hum. Great , Sanji thought.
“Don’t mind him.” Ace whispered to Sanji. “He really isn’t mean. Torao can be a bit grumpy when he first wakes up.” The blond pulled his hand back and offered a nod before Law retreated into his room.
The pair made their way down the stairs. Luffy, who had preoccupied himself with something on the television, was now back at his brother's side, hanging off his shoulder. “So Sanji can stay?”
Ace ruffled his younger brother’s hair. “Course he can.”
Sanji felt like he was doing a bad job containing his true excitement. He hadn’t wanted to leave the Baratie, part of him still wished he was at home with his dad, but the idea of having a kitchen to himself and willing people to try his food had him giddy. “Luffy, I will cook for you when I get settled down. And Ace, and Law. Maybe even Nami and Robin could come.”
Luffy needed to hear nothing more from Sanji before a wide, toothy grin plastered on his face, effortlessly reaching his eyes. “I need to call Zoro to pick me up. Sanji, can you make something in the meantime?” He practically begged with sparkles in his eyes.
Sanji looked to Ace who gestured towards the kitchen. The blond took it as confirmation to rummage the pantry and fridge to make whatever he could find. It wasn’t as stocked as he would normally have it, but there was enough between the two that he could make something simple. He found a couple boxes of pasta in the pantry and luckily some fresh produce in the fridge. While it felt like a stroke of luck, it wouldn’t be surprising to know his two new roommates ate clean with how healthy they both looked. He grabbed a bag of mixed bell peppers, a zucchini, and a carton of cherry tomatoes that looked about ready to expire. A simple pasta primavera would make a nice midday snack. He had essentially wiped the fridge of all fresh ingredients, but made a note to go grocery shopping tomorrow.
The dish was ready pretty quickly, plated, and served to the brothers at the barstools overlooking the kitchen sink. They both seemed eager to feast, Sanji even having to fight Luffy off while he was cooking. He noted to himself that he would stop by the meat market tomorrow as well. Ace complimented Sanji on how impressive it was that he could whip something so fancy looking up quickly. Luffy added that it was good, even without the meat.
“Oh, Traffy!” Sanji heard Luffy exclaim despite a mouth full of food. Behind him had crept Law, once more leaning in a doorway.
“You sure do make an appearance.” Sanji commented sarcastically. “Want some?” He asked, already reaching for another bowl.
Law replied with a simple, “Sure,” before sitting on the barstool closest to the wall. Sanji slid him the bowl and a fork once he was seated.
“I promise he isn’t always like this,” Ace spoke up. Law rolled his eyes at the comment. “Torao worked last night. He comes home so late in the morning and then spends all day sleeping.” It was the last thing the brunet got out before his eyes rolled back, and his head lurched forward. Law was quick to catch him by placing a firm hand against his forehead.
“And here we go.” Law muttered, pushing the bowl in front of Ace to the side before letting his head gently rest on the counter.
Law seemed rather unfazed, continuing to eat his portion. Luffy also looked less than concerned, even reaching for Ace’s bowl and making quick work of finishing what was left inside it. Sanji seemed to be the only one with wide eyes and a dropped jaw at the events. “Did I do that? Does he have some kind of allergy?”
Luffy only offered a laugh in return to Sanji’s question. “No, no. Ace has always been like this. Sometimes he just passes out like that.”
“Ace is narcoleptic.” Law clarified. Sanji rubbed at his temple, wondering now what he had gotten himself into. Between the two of them, Sanji couldn’t figure out who was going to be more of a handful to deal with.
“That’s why Ace lives with Tra-guy.” Luffy mentioned. Sanji clearly didn’t follow, and it must have showed on his face. Before he could even ask, Ace contributed a groan as he sat up. There was a nice red mark on his forehead from being pressed against the hard counter, which he tenderly rubbed at. Sanji looked at Ace with concern, which was only returned with a half smile of assurance.
“Did I mention that Torao is a doctor?” Ace asked. He regained his sense of surroundings only after realizing his bowl had been moved and stolen by his younger brother. Luffy had gotten off the barstool and stepped gingerly away from Ace as he put those pieces together. Ace got up to follow and chased his younger brother into the living room.
Law exhaled an exasperated sigh at the pair. In the light of the kitchen, Sanji noticed that both of Law’s hands were tattooed at the knuckle with lettering and the backs of his hands with what Sanji assumed was some sort of tribal marking. He could see the hints of a few others under the rolled up sleeves sitting at his elbows.
Sanji reached for the used dishes and rinsed them out in the sink. “A doctor, hm?” He inquired. “Your patients must feel so assured with ‘death’ across your hands.”
“Best to have their worst fear looking them in the eyes.” Law retorted. There was a sly, unwavering look on his face that had Sanji standing straighter than he realized. He finished the rest of his meal in silence and put his own dishes in the sink before leaving the kitchen.
Soon enough, Luffy was on his way out, leaving Sanji alone with his now flatmates. It would be fine , he assured himself, despite a lingering anxiety of being away from home at all. He worked to combat the nerves by finishing up in the kitchen, cleaning and perusing the rest of the contents of the cabinets. Sanji spent the rest of the evening setting up his room, uninterrupted from Law who had presumably returned to his own room, and Ace who had taken to something in the garage.
Sanji decided he was done setting up, at least for now, with his clothes hung up, and his bed made, that he would try and spend a little time with the men he would now be living with. As he exited the room, he heard a conversation taking place in the primary room across the hall.
“Stay still, would you?” He heard Law spit out. There was a whine in reply. “You said you wanted this.”
The blond contemplated turning around and tucking himself back into his room. He had no idea what the pair could be doing, let alone with the door wide open. Instead, his feet carried him towards the door and although it was open, he knocked twice before walking right in.
This bedroom was by far the biggest, having a walk-in closet and a queen size bed. There was a television on a stand against the wall and around the corner was a pair of porcelain bathroom sinks. Not much of the room had been heavily decorated and the only painted wall was behind the bed.
Ace was seated on the bathroom counter between the sinks, shirtless Sanji noted, with Law between his dangling legs. He had been pressed against strong thighs and had Ace’s calves pressed against his lower back, his legs hooked at the ankles behind Law’s back. Their position was… compromising to say the least.
Oh. Sanji thinks. Well that explains it.