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The Strawhats were invited to a party. A pirate one, of course, there was almost no place on Earth that wanted them in a regular celebration, which was understandable but it was their miss anyways, the crew loved to give a show. They didn’t get to read the invitation very well before Luffy shouted they were going to go because a party is a party and the Strawhats captain was not going to miss it. for anything in the world.
And while the thought of it being a trap followed them through the entire way to the little island the event was being hosted at, (and stayed with them for some more time after their arrival) some hours partying and having a great time made those worries disappear partially.
Besides the complaints of the hosts, a pirate couple who wanted to celebrate their retirement with the new generation, and the prideful negatives from the old couple's crew chefs, Sanji insisted on helping in the kitchen until the first round of meals was served. Then he was “kindly told to enjoy the party instead of staying there”, and to everyone’s surprise, he didn’t resist and left.
He sat in a chair next to the table designated for the crew, a pretty big, far more than recommended, glass of wine (he deserved it) in one hand and a fresh cigarette in the other. Sanji was watching Luffy cause havoc around all the tables, eating everyone’s food as Brook sought the chance to jump to the scenario and show everyone his talent when from the corner of his eye he noticed their sniper coming close to the table he was seated at.
Usopp had tried to dress more elegantly for the occasion but there was nothing to do, mixing a suit jacket and shirt with his usual loose pants was a crime not only to fashion but to every person who dressed slightly decently. (But oh well, it’s not like he had a better style outside of suits either, having to get advice from Nami from time to time to get better outfits.)
Still, in Sanji's lovesick eyes, he could be in the worst outfit the world has ever known and to him he’d still be stunning. Handsome, beautiful, gorgeous, whatever you wanted to call it, Usopp was all of those adjectives for him.
The blonde's internal praise and love speech for the sniper was interrupted as Usopp let himself melt into the chair in front of him with a tired groan, and Sanji took it as an invitation to talk.
“Already tired? The party just started.”
“I’m not tired…” Usopp mumbled, staring at the ceiling as his body slowly slipped out the chair.
Sanji rolled his eyes with a smile and asked with feigned disinterest “Then what?”
"Everyone's busy dancing with someone else and I don't want to do it alone, I'd look ridiculous." Usopp replied immediately, a giveaway he wanted Sanji to ask and he had his answer ready. "Do you think if I ask robin to lend me some hands or create a double of herself to dance with or whatever, she will do it?"
At that point Sanji had almost drunk all the wine in his cup, and he was not precisely as resilient with alcohol as the crew’s swordsman, so ideas he would normally let stay in his mind only became a real thing.
The cook took a long drag of his now almost finished cigarette, enjoying the taste for some seconds before throwing it away and stepping on the bud. He got up from his chair in a quick movement, hands dug in his pockets
"If you want to dance with someone so bad then let's go, I just finished this service but I don’t think I will be able to enter the kitchen again, those fuckers don’t want me do their job better than them."
Usopp looked at his eyes with a deadpan for some seconds, then at the almost empty glass on the table, and up again "...Are you drunk?” (Drunk wasn’t the word, just a bit tipsy, thank you very much) ”You, Black Leg Sanji, woman lover, the lady's man, want to dance with me?" He made emphasis in that last word, pressing a hand against his chest for a more visual representation.
Of course I want to
"I didn't say I want to, I'm just saying I could do it." His attention drifted to the archeologist and shipwright of their crew far away from them. They were dancing together and close to each other, sharing smiles and laughter.
We could be like them
"And looks like Robin-chan is busy, I don't think she can help you right now."
Usopp winced at that and tried to turn the grimace into a half smile. It didn’t work.
"Hey, it's okay, I don't want you to do it just because you feel you have to make me feel better, and I bet you prefer to be here than there with me.” He gestured to Sanji to sit down again, but the cook ignored it. “I can stay here, it's not like I really wanted to dance, you know? In fact, I don't want to do it at all! I wonder if there's some food left? It's never late for a second dinner, especially if I get those things you made... What was the name of the pastry dessert? Anyways, they tasted amazing, I hope Luffy hasn't found them yet because I want more!"
And there it was, that rambling Sanji hated that much. If only Usopp could see himself the way Sanji saw him, if he could tell him everything he wanted to say, words he didn’t want anyone but Usopp to hear. But between the two Sanji was the cowardly one.
Still there are things he could do without having to say anything.
Fuck this, fuck everything
He grabbed Usopp’s forearm, pulling him until he was standing and successfully shutting him up, the sniper looking at him with a frown, confused.
I want to do it and he wants too, what's the issue then?
The taller teen just gave him a quick reply “Come on, before the song ends.” He somehow was able to hold himself in place and not melt when Usopp looked at him wide eyed, with an even wider grin appearing slowly on his face.
“Are you sure? You promise there won’t be take backs?”
“Yes, yes, I promise."
“And…” The younger teen trailed off, eyes fixed on the ground, “What about slowdance?”
Usopp’s hand found Sanji’s when he lowered the grip on his forearm. His fingers brushed against the cook’s, not daring to touch closer, asking a silent question that was answered by Sanji moving his hand and intertwining their fingers in a tight grasp and a wide, genuine smile.
"Let's see about that later, now let's go."