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It was uncharacteristic for Sanji to be nervous about something as silly as going to the dentist, but he was. He really was. Something about the environment of the bright white lights, the machines making noise, and the sharp shit they stuck in his mouth, he never liked it. He hated it so much as a kid that Zeff had to drag him to his appointments by the ear.
Now it was Nami dragging him there. "You have to, Sanji. You've been smoking and drinking everyday for the four years I've known you and not once did you go to the dentist? That's disgusting!"
Luffy, who had tagged along for moral support, smiled wide. "I wonder if they'll let me grab something from the toy box." He spoke to himself, and walked ahead of the other two.
"Naaaaamiiii- I brush my teeth everyday, it's not a big deal." He groaned as he was dragged into the bright white building, practically blinding him.
"That isn't enough. Especially since you're a smoker. I don't mind your bad habits, but it's not good for your mouth." Nami sighed.
Sanji sighed, accepting his defeat as Nami checked him in, while he stood there like a dumbass. It was like she was his mom and he was the bratty child. He even huffed and dragged his feet like a child when Nami led him over to the waiting area.
Luffy was being his childlike self, jumping on the furniture and playing with the toys set up for the children that came through. Luffy was an adult, but that didn't stop him from being himself.
Better than Sanji could say for himself. He was with his closest friends, but neither of them knew about his relationship with Zoro. Sure they knew about the bickering and the teasing, but they didn't know what happened behind closed doors. They didn't know that Zoro treated him like a prince, in and out of bed. They didn't know that Zoro was a rough and passionate lover and held him down while he-
"Sanji? Your face is red." Nami speaking suddenly pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I'm fine… uh… can I tell you something?" He leaned towards her. Zoro said he'd be okay if Sanji told others about their relationship, and for some reason he was trying to rip the bandaid off now.
"If this is another confession of your love I don't want to hear it-"
"No no- nothing like that."
"Then spit it out."
"W-well… I'm sorta… uh… I'm kinda-" Sanji sputtered, trying to say the words 'I'm dating Zoro' but for some reason it wasn't coming out of his mouth.
"Vinsmoke, Sanji?" A voice of an older woman rang through the waiting area, effectively interrupting him.
"I'll tell you after." He said to Nami, standing up and taking a couple steps forward, before the pit of anxiety in his stomach made itself known once again. God he didn't want to do this.
"Follow me young man. Your wife can come along too." She said, before Sanji practically choked.
"Sh-she's not my wife… or girlfriend…" the thought would've tore him apart a few years ago, but now the thought of being with anyone other than Zoro felt wrong.
"Oh my apologies! Well she can still come." She said, turning on her heels and walking down a brightly lit hall.
Nami laughed and nudged him. "Why so quick to say I'm not your wife? We could've faked it. Luffy could've been our kid!" She obviously didn't mean it, but it was pushing Sanji's buttons.
He quickly followed this older woman and sat down on the chair she instructed him too. The cold temperature and the whites and grays weren't helping with his anxiety, and so he kept quiet and stared at his lap, pulling and pushing his pastel blue button up. He couldn't help but fidget when he's nervous, and nothing could really help.
Nami rubbed his shoulder, and squeezed it. "Seriously, are you alright? You seem scared out of your mind."
"I'm alright, I swear. You just… you know how this stuff makes me." He sighed, leaning his head back against the chair. "I mean this as just a friend's thing, but can I hold your hand… I think I'm going to tear my shirt."
She moved to grab Sanji's hand, squeezing it. "You've really grown as a person you know."
"Don't flatter me right now. I should not be this nervous."
The older dentist finally turned to him and smiled. "I'll try to make this as painless as possible." She pushed the little button so he'd be lowered down in his back.
Nami felt him squeeze her hand. His heart raced. He didn't like this. Not one bit. His breath wavered and he felt as if he couldn't do it all of a sudden.
That's when Luffy swooped in to save the day. He grabbed Sanji's knee and leaned forward. "Oooh Sanji! I had this awesome dish at that new Italian restaurant! I can't remember what it's called, but it was delicious! Think you could make it for me?"
Sanji had no idea if Luffy knew the effect he had on him, but it worked, his body relaxed, the hand that held Nami loosened in her grip. Luffy talking about food brought him to his happy place. As Luffy described this meal he had, Sanji was building it in his mind, imagining the different techniques and spices he could use. He let the dentist into his mouth so that she could do what she needed to do.
The momentary peace was interrupted but the woman cocking an eyebrow and making a confused face. "Usually I only see that on women." She said to herself. "Sir, I have a couple of questions."
Sanji's heart pounded in his ears again, immediately assuming the worst. "Wh-what?"
"First thing, are either of these two previous or current partners, romantic or sexual?" She asked, very bluntly.
"Wh- No no! These two are just friends!" He looked back at Nami and Luffy, who looked just as confused.
"Second, do you feel you can speak freely and are in no current danger of a partner?" She asked, stone faced.
"Yes- what is prompting these questions?!" He asked, more upset that he was left in the dark.
"Sir, it's just protocol. Would you like your friends to leave for these last questions?"
"No, whatever you want to ask, just ask!"
Nami grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back down to the chair. "Calm down."
"Are you aware there's a bruise on your soft palate?" She asked, tipping her glasses down. "And do you know what that means?"
"No?"
"A bruise?" Luffy popped up. "You're hurt? Who hurt you? You didn't tell me, Sanji, I'll kick their ass!" He was as protective as ever, and at the mere thought of Sanji being hurt made him upset.
"No one hurt me- I'm just as confused-" He turned back to the woman and furrowed his curly brow. "What the hell does that mean?"
She put down her clipboard and sighed. "A bruise there can be an indication of sexual abuse. These questions are merely for us to know if you're safe."
"Abuse?" Luffy was hot with anger at the thought. "Who the hell-"
"Luffy, no abuse happened. I appreciate the concern but there's no way that that happened. I mean…" Sanji looked at his two friends, and suddenly it clicked. "How do those bruises form?"
"Repeated pressure to the soft palate. Or quite rough oral sex." She grimaced. "So filthy these days."
Luffy looked confused and Nami looked shocked. "You- with- you sucked- a- what?!" Nami sputtered out.
"Can we just move on with the appointment!" He blushed bright red at his secret being exposed. "Nami, we'll talk later."
The rest of the appointment went smoothly, if not awkward, Sanji's face red hot with nerves and embarrassment. Of course THIS is how Nami finds out he's with another man.
As soon as he was done, he hurried out of the building and to the passenger's seat of Nami's car. He really, really didn't want to talk to anyone, so anything to push the inevitable conversation away.
Nami and Luffy followed after and got into their respective seats, Nami sitting at the driver's seat, turning on the car and gripping the wheel. She sat there for an uncomfortable amount of time.
Luffy pouted. "Nami, why aren't we moving? I'm hungry-"
"Sanji, you have some explaining to do." She looked at him, not upset, but worried. "After she said that stuff I looked it up and… that stuff happens from really rough stuff. If someone hurt you, please tell me."
Sanji couldn't help but smirk. "I appreciate the concern. But really, I'm okay. It's actually what I wanted to talk to you about…"
Nami raised an eyebrow and turned to him. "Hmm?"
"Well, I'm seeing someone. I feel as if that much is clear." He chuckled dryly. Damn this conversation was uncomfortable.
"Is she trans? Is that why you're hesitant to tell me? Sanji, I'm gay and Luffy is ace, we don't care about that sort of stuff. It doesn't make you any less straight to love and have sex with a trans woman-"
"IT'S ZORO." he blurted it out, immediately covering his mouth in shame.
Nami stopped dead in her tracks and stared wide at him. "Z-zoro? Well… that makes you… not straight."
Sanji moved his hands from his mouth to his face. "Yeah… I'm not… I think I'm bi? I still think women are gorgeous but… some men… Zoro…" his ears turned pink from embarrassment.
Nami sighed and patted his shoulder. "You're so pathetic. Did you think we'd care?"
"I care!" He leaned back and groaned. "I think I'm scared of it… of myself. I was so secure in my sexuality for so long that when I started to find men, specifically the one I hated most, attractive- It ate me up inside. Now that it's real, I think I'm in denial. I'm happy, but… something deep down feels like I'm accepting this too fast."
She listened and flicked his forehead as hard as she could. "You damn moron! Your internalized homophobia is stupid. So you like it up the ass, boo fucking hoo. And obviously you like to suck it. It doesn't matter. At all. Luffy?"
Luffy, who had zoned out of the conversation suddenly perked up. "Huh?"
"If Sanji likes guys do you care?"
"...No? Why would I?"
"See? He doesn't care, I don't care, and I guarantee every other person you know doesn't care. I bet your old man Zeff wouldn't care."
Sanji rubbed his forehead but sighed, smiling a little. "Alright, I get it. I'm just not used to being myself."
Nami finally put the car into drive and pulled out of the parking lot. "Go at your own pace. We'll be there to support you. But I hope you know the whole 'I sucked dick so hard I bruised my mouth' will be made fun of until the end of time."
"I figured."