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“My name… is Pedro…  Please help.  I beg of you…”  The sunshine-haired man had instantly leapt into action, steps steady, hands sure as he pulled Inuarashi and Nekomamushi down from the crucifixes Jack had erected for them.  Moments later, the man was at Pedro’s side, a gentle touch on his shoulder as he placed the cloth he had been using to cover his own mouth over Pedro’s nose.

“Take it easy, Pedro,” he said, a small smile on his handsome face, “Everything is going to be okay.  My name is Sanji.”

Pedro only had one working eye, was half-crazed from pain and fear for his people, and was just about as desperate as any creature could be for assistance, but if Sanji had walked by while he was sitting at a cafe reading a newspaper, he would still have felt the undeniable, unbearable pull toward the man who arrived on Zou and saved his country.  When the poisonous gas drifting in the air suddenly disappeared, Pedro remained breathless as Sanji stayed by his side, directing his crew to care for Pedro’s comrades.

When the little mink-but-not-mink doctor arrived with a syringe in his hand, Sanji stood, rolled his sleeves up, and said with a grin, “I don’t suppose you have a kitchen I could use?”  Pedro nodded dumbly, pointing toward the residential district.  Sanji gave him a small salute and left, leaving Pedro to battle with every emotion under the sun warring in his chest.

---

Pedro hovered outside the kitchen, listening to the sounds of Sanji chopping vegetables.  The chef had been working nonstop for the past few hours, sending out bowl after bowl of a hearty stew that brought smiles to the faces of every mink who held Sanji’s food in their hands.  Pedro hadn’t allowed himself a bowl yet, despite Carrot constantly trying to shove one toward him.  His people would eat first.  Guardians would eat after.

“Brook, is that you?” Sanji called, and Pedro froze.  He must have been particularly agitated if Sanji could sense him outside.

“Stop lurking, Brook, can you find me some more leeks?” Sanji continued, and Pedro finally stepped into the kitchen, embarrassed.

“Oh, it’s you,” Sanji said, blinking, “Sorry, I thought you were my crewmate.  Did you get anything to eat yet?”

Pedro shook his head, “I will eat once everybody else has, including you, Sanji.”

“No no,” Sanji said, “The chef eats after everybody is satisfied.  I’m making the last batch, the gorgeous perfect Wanda said just a few more meals.  Sit, I’ll get you a bowl in a sec.”

Pedro sat immediately, almost surprising himself at his obedience.  What was he, some kind of dumb dog mink?  He sat stiffly, watching Sanji’s back as he moved confidently around the kitchen, tossing various cut vegetables and cubes of fish into the large stockpot bubbling on the stove.  It smelled heavenly.  The chef was dressed in loaned mink clothing, a comfortable lined jacket, white shirt, and tight black pants.  Pedro was seldom physically attracted to humans, finding them a bit too doughy and fragile for his tastes.  But he had seen what Sanji was capable of; the way he moved was liquid, not unlike Pedro’s best fighters.  His muscles rippled under his clothes as he chopped food with frightening speed.  And yet his face was soft, eyes gentle, smile warm.  He was kind in a way Pedro knew humans seldom were.

“Thank you,” he finally said, “For everything, Sanji.  I have not had the opportunity to express my gratitude, and I am not sure I will ever be able to do so properly for everything you have done for my country.”

Sanji turned, a surprised look on his face as he regarded Pedro with a bright blue eye, the other covered by silken hair that Pedro longed to touch.

“Of course,” Sanji said, “Of course, we would help.  You don’t need to thank us.  You’ve all been so… hospitable.”

“You have spent the last day fighting for us, healing us, and then feeding us,” Pedro pointed out, “You have shown us a gracious hospitality in our own home.”

“I—I dunno, it’s just cooking,” Sanji said, rubbing at his neck, “Honestly, this is just about as much as I have to make for my captain on any given day.  And you all are much nicer to me about it than my crew is—”

Sensing that he was making Sanji uncomfortable, Pedro simply nodded, and Sanji turned back to cooking.  The back of his neck was red, and Pedro sighed to himself.  He had interacted with humans during his pirating days but had forgotten how uneasy they could be with directness of any kind.  It must be exhausting, he thought, having to depend on context and hidden signals to gauge what another was thinking.

Sanji put a bowl in front of Pedro and stood watching him until Pedro relented and began eating.  At the first taste, Pedro found himself confronted by one of the most difficult decisions he had faced to date—whether to shovel the delicious food into his mouth all at once or savor each bite.

“I’ll make you more,” Sanji said, eyes twinkling at him, “Don’t hold back.”  Pedro eagerly began stuffing himself, the food in the bowl disappearing faster than he would have liked.  Sanji reached for the empty bowl immediately, ladling out more and placing the refilled bowl in front of him.  Pedro took his time now, hunger mostly sated.

“I have never tasted such complex flavors,” he said, “Our chefs are excellent, but there is a depth to your cooking that can turn a simple bowl of vegetables and fish into fine dining.”

Sanji blushed, and Pedro preened that he had caused the reaction.  “There are so many fresh herbs in the forest,” Sanji said excitedly, “When we’re out at sea, I can raise a few plants myself, but I mostly rely on dried seasonings.  When I have time, I’ll show your chefs where I found the mountain oregano and thyme.”

“You are an endless blessing to us,” Pedro rumbled back.  There it was again, the creeping flush on Sanji’s pale skin.  This was helpful, at least, the strange physical reaction to praise.  Humans’ hairless bodies betrayed themselves so easily.  Not that he was much better.  He knew his tail was swishing behind him.  His comrades would surely know how infatuated he was with the human in front of him if they were present.  He snuck a quick glance to the window to make sure none of them were spying.

“I’m glad you like it,” Sanji said, “Stew is easy to make, I’ll try something more complicated tomorrow when you’re all not at death’s doorstep.”

“How long will you be staying with us?” Pedro asked, holding his breath for the answer.

“Until you’re all better,” Sanji grinned, “And at least until my captain gets here.”

“I wish him a safe journey,” Pedro said, secretly hoping Sanji’s captain could get just a little sidetracked.

“He’ll love it here,” Sanji laughed, “And so many of you fight with swords, I’m sure my crewmate Zoro will want to spend some time sparring with you.”

“I will gladly allow him to test his mettle against my steel,” Pedro said, hackles rising slightly at the sound of fondness in Sanji’s voice.  Again, Sanji was making him behave peculiarly, he wasn’t usually predisposed to childish bouts of jealousy.

“I would love to see that,” Sanji grinned, beginning to do the dishes.

---

Sanji was strange when it came to the mink’s customary greeting.  He seemed perfectly content with garchus from female minks, but withdrew when male minks approached.  Pedro could take a hint, though he did so sadly.  Pedro knew humans were often uncomfortable with touch, but how he longed to greet Sanji properly.

“Pedro,” Sanji smiled when Pedro bowed his head to be able to enter the kitchen.  Pedro stood a respectful distance away, “How are you today, Sanji?”

“Great,” Sanji nodded, “Have a bunch of fish baking in the pit outside for lunch.  Just getting some things marinated for dinner.”

“Do you have time this morning?” Pedro asked, “I can give you a tour of Zou.”

“Oh?” Sanji said, surprised, “Do you have time?  Roddy mentioned the Guardians protect Whale Forest pretty much 24/7.”  Pedro cursed his fellow Guardian for his honesty.

“Blackback and Milky are currently on duty,” Pedro replied, “And I will always have time for you, Sanji.”

“Great,” Sanji said, cheeks a pretty pink as he wiped his hands dry, “I would love a tour.”  He followed Pedro outside and waited expectantly as Pedro tried to decide where to start.

“Would you like to see Zou from the treetops?” Pedro asked, resisting the urge to reach back and grab his waving tail to stop it from starting small tornadoes behind him.  Sanji nodded, his eyes shining, and Pedro moved toward him, prepared to carry him up, remembering Sanji’s gentle touch on his shoulder when they first met.  Before he could do so, the thin man kicked against the ground, and then he was flying, making his way on his own to the canopy above.  Torn between admiration that made the hair on his back stand up and disappointment that he didn’t have an excuse to hold Sanji, Pedro followed until they were both balancing on a branch high above the ground.  Pedro stood a few inches away, hands awkwardly clenching as he prepared to reach for Sanji every time the man so much as swayed.

“It’s incredible to see so much forest.  I grew up on the ocean my entire life,” Sanji breathed out, looking at the sea of trees, “Only spent time on land to restock and wait for log poses to set.  Though I suppose it still feels like I’m at sea when Zunesha takes a step.”

Pedro opened his mouth to speak, to say something poignant, to offer a bit of himself in return, but only a hum slipped out.

“Have you ever left Zou?” Sanji asked, curious.

With a soft chuckle, Pedro nodded, “I was considered a pirate once, though I still maintain I was merely an explorer.  I traveled the world looking for a Poneglyph.”

“Oh,” Sanji blinked, “Sorry to have assumed—”

“It is perfectly fine, many of us never leave Zou.  Most minks are content spending their lives on Zunesha’s back.”

“Have you ever thought about leaving again?  To do more exploring?” Sanji asked.

Are you asking if I would travel the world with you?  I would, Pedro thought.  Aloud, he shrugged, “If duty calls.  When the Pirate King came to Zou many years ago, I asked to travel with him for the sheer adventure, but he declined.  I’m a little more pragmatic now.”

Sanji laughed, “Luffy is going to become Pirate King.  He would definitely let you join us.”  He looked quizzically at Pedro, “How… how old are you?  That you met Gol D. Roger?”

Pedro contemplated how to answer the question.

“Sorry, that was rude,” Sanji stammered, “I shouldn’t—”

“Very little is considered rude in mink culture,” Pedro laughed, “I was merely struggling with how to answer with precision.  By number of years lived, I am 32 years of age.  By number of years I have left to live, much older.”

Sanji stared at him until Pedro explained his interaction with Big Mom with as little fanfare as he could manage.

“That’s… reversible though, right?” Sanji said, “If a Devil Fruit can take your life away, it can give it back.”

“Big Mom is not answering my calls,” Pedro said dryly, “Do not worry yourself over me, Sanji, I have long accepted my fate.  My life is now for serving my country.”  And you are ruining me.  Pedro watched the way Sanji frowned.  Humans had lips that were so very expressive, capable of turning down at the corners, of pouting slightly as Sanji was now doing, of kissing—.  Pedro hurriedly faced forward again, wondering if he might actually be the one to fall off this tree branch.  To prevent this inevitability with Sanji so near, he sat down, and Sanji copied him, swinging his legs as they continued looking out over the treetops.

“Luffy won’t stand for that, when he hears about it,” Sanji said, “He’ll want to go beat Big Mom up right away until she gives you your life back.”

“He is too generous, and I will encourage him to consider his own dreams and best interests.”

“You’ve not had to argue with Luffy yet,” Sanji said, pulling out a cigarette, placing it between his lips, and fumbling with his lighter, the slight breeze making it difficult to spark.  Pedro hesitated a moment before reaching his hand toward Sanji’s face.  Sanji’s blue eyes flashed toward him, but he didn’t move away.  Blue static crackled, the cigarette was lit, and Pedro pulled his hand back before he could do something insane like caress Sanji’s chin.

“Handy,” Sanji said, taking a drag of the cigarette and blowing out rings of smoke.  Again, the lips.  To distract himself, Pedro pulled out his own smokes.  Sanji looked at them, interested, as Pedro lit one and left it perched between his lips as he blew smoke out through his teeth.

“We grow some tobacco,” Pedro said, noticing Sanji’s curiosity, “But I’ve added a few other things.”

Sanji handed his cigarette to Pedro.  “Trade?” he asked nonchalantly, and Pedro nearly choked on a lungful of smoke.  Cautiously, he offered his cigarette to Sanji who immediately put it to his lips.  He took a long drag, then coughed and began wheezing.  Pedro scooched closer to him, anxious and wondering if the human was allergic to something in his cigarettes.  How awful if he ended up murdering the savior of Zou with a poorly thought-out decision to share his home-made smokes.

“That’s strong,” Sanji managed to say, “Wasn’t expecting that.  But it’s good.”  Pedro nodded dumbly as Sanji put the cigarette to his lips again.  Speaking of, he quickly tapped the ash off Sanji’s cigarette and brought it to his mouth, wondering if he’d be able to taste the chef on the filter.  It was certainly not as strong as his cigarettes, almost floral.  He hummed, pleased, and blew out his own ring of smoke, albeit larger and not quite as precise as Sanji’s.

Sanji laughed, “Our sharpshooter likes shooting pebbles through smoke rings.  Yours is big though, it would be too easy.”  He flushed unexpectedly and looked down, his bangs obscuring his eyes.  Pedro realized he was embarrassed about the accidental innuendo.  Humans did have such a hang-up about sexual organs.

“Much about minks is larger than humans,” he said kindly.  He held out his hand, and Sanji hesitantly placed his into Pedro’s palm, comparing the sizes before drawing back quickly.  Sanji really did not like to be touched, but even the slight contact made Pedro’s tail flick up happily.

“Shall we see more?” Pedro asked, “We are not supposed to bring pirates outside of Whale Forest, but I am certain, for you, my people would agree to an exception.”

Sanji nodded enthusiastically, standing up and brushing himself off before making the descent back to the forest bed by himself.

---

After dinner that night, Pedro ordered some minks to do the dishes, whispering to Carrot to physically drag Sanji away from the kitchen as he protested that, this too, was his job.

“No more working,” Carrot pouted, “Come sit with us.”  She led Sanji toward Pedro and draped herself over Sanji’s lap, her ears twitching happily.  Pedro smiled at the scene.  He had a soft spot for the Musketeer-in-training, and Sanji looked happy as well, his face glowing in the light of the campfire.  Other female minks joined them, similarly cuddling close to Sanji, whose face was growing redder by the second.

“Give him some space,” Pedro growled, when a deer mink traipsed over, “You’re overwhelming him.”

“Sanji,” Carrot asked, “Do humans do this?”

Sanji blinked, “Sometimes.  But usually only with humans we’re particularly close to.”

“Do you do this with your crewmates?”

Pedro’s ears perked up, as Sanji laughed, “No, well, my captain is very grabby, but only when he wants food.  And Chopper likes cuddles, but mostly with another one of my crewmates who is essentially a space heater.”

“That’s so sad,” Carrot sighed, “You must be so lonely.  You didn’t even know how to garchu before you came here.”

“Garchus are nice,” Sanji admitted.

“How come you don’t garchu Pedro?” Carrot asked, her eyes shooting over to the jaguar mink.

“Do not ask such questions of our guest,” Pedro cautioned, “It is his choice how he wishes to greet us.”

“I…” Sanji said hesitantly, “I guess I didn’t know if Pedro wanted to be garchu-ed?  Is that even a verb or are you using that just for me?”  He scratched his cheek, “And humans can be a little weird about… gender, so I wasn’t sure.”

“Pedro definitely wants to garchu you,” Carrot said, sitting up.

“Carrot,” Pedro warned, the beginnings of a growl rumbling in his chest.

“Um, that’s fine,” Sanji said, “I—I don’t mind.”

“Sanji, it would be a disservice to you to ask you to do something that you simply did not mind,” Pedro began.

“N-no, I’d like that,” Sanji interrupted, and Pedro was sincerely glad his fur covered the heat rising up his own face.  “If, if that’s okay with you?”

“It would be an honor to greet you in the mink way,” Pedro said quietly.

“Why don’t you try it right now?” Carrot giggled, “Make up for all the garchus you didn’t get?”

Pedro decided he no longer had a soft spot for the meddlesome mink.  But Sanji shifted, and the minks around him sat up until Sanji had a clear path to Pedro, who found that he could no longer move.  Sanji walked toward him slowly until nothing else could possibly occupy Pedro’s vision.

“U-um, do you prefer a particular cheek?” Sanji asked.  Pedro chuckled and stood, his heart racing as he leaned down toward Sanji.  Slowly, he touched his cheek to Sanji’s face, placing a hand as gently as he could on Sanji’s shoulder.  He heard Sanji take in a sharp breath, before his small hands came up to rest lightly on Pedro’s chest.

Before Sanji, Pedro had not felt any particular need to greet any of the loathsome pirates he had met.  It was strange, garchu-ing a human.  There was more friction than greeting a mink; rubbing against skin was not as smooth as rubbing against other minks, more tacky without the slide of fur on fur.  Pedro longed to touch Sanji’s warm cheek with the pads of his fingers.  Instead, he whispered, “Garchu” in Sanji’s ear, shivering at the return word accompanied by a soft breath across his neck, and pulled back. 

Sanji looked dazed, still standing close to Pedro.  His hands had dropped to his sides, and Pedro saw that they were trembling.

“We do not have to do that again,” Pedro said anxiously, worried he had broken the safe companionship he had built over the past day.  Then, Sanji reached up suddenly and placed a hand gently on Pedro’s jaw.  Pedro closed his eyes, certain that if he were a small cat, he would be purring at the feeling of Sanji’s fingers on his face.

“Your fur, it’s softer than I thought it would—”  Sanji quickly pulled his hand away and stumbled back.  Pedro resisted the urge to follow him, caught between wanting to reassure the human and wanting to give him space.

“I don’t need to be a mink to know that was inappropriate, even humans would find that inappropriate,” Sanji stammered, “I’m sorry.”

“Sanji,” Pedro said, trying to find the words, “To minks, touch is a form of kinship.  The forming of a bond that is welcomed from all, including strangers or new friends.  It is a rule of sorts, not an exception.  We will let you know if there is a form of touch we do not like, but you will be hard-pressed to find a mink who does not appreciate a touch to the cheek.” 

Sanji still looked upset at himself.  Pedro smiled lightly, trying to give him a reassuring look, “And I have been told my fur is particularly soft.”

Sanji laughed, throwing his head back and exposing his neck in a way that definitely did not make Pedro’s breathing accelerate at the comfort and security the action displayed.

“I guess I’m the only one all in my own head about this,” he said finally.  No, you are most certainly not, Pedro thought.

“Eruption rain,” Carrot cautioned, bringing Pedro back to reality.  They hurried back to the raised shelter in the trees.  Rather than go inside his quarters, however, Sanji stood outside, letting the rain beat down on him.  Pedro stood with him, wondering if he should cover him with his cloak, but the human looked extraordinarily happy.

“You really are okay with touch?” Sanji asked again, turning to peer up at Pedro through his wet bangs.  He looked like a miracle, and Pedro was having a hard time remembering a life without this human, wanting a life without this human.

“Extremely,” Pedro replied.

“I can be pretty needy,” Sanji laughed.

“We minks are well-equipped for that,” Pedro chuckled as the rains died down.

---

It turned out that Pedro had misjudged Sanji from the very beginning.  Sanji very much liked touch.  Pedro stopped by after the minks had received breakfast the next morning to check that Sanji had everything he needed, and was greeted by the sweetest garchu he could ever remember receiving, accompanied by a tight hug.

“Good morning,” he said, when Sanji let go and returned to the stove.

“Good morning,” Sanji replied, a sunny smile on his face.

“You look… happy,” Pedro said.

“Do I?” Sanji laughed, “Sit, I’m making a special breakfast for you.”

Before he could protest that he didn’t deserve a special breakfast, Pedro was being guided by a hand at his elbow to the table.  Sanji pushed down on him until Pedro sat, and he gave Pedro’s shoulders a slight squeeze before fussing around the stove.  Then, a plate was placed in front of him, Sanji leaning against the table beside him watching expectantly.

Pedro frowned.  He had never seen anything like the meal in front of him.  There were circular discs stacked up five high on the plate, with thick syrup and a pad of butter on top that was slowly melting.  He picked up a fork hesitantly, noticed that there was a knife laid out and grabbed it as well, switching hands.  Carefully, he cut into the stack, releasing a billowy waft of steam that smelled sinfully sweet.  He placed the bite in his mouth and could not suppress a soft moan.

“Good, eh?” Sanji smiled, “I noticed you like sweet things, so I thought I’d try pancakes for you.”

Pedro could not comprehend how he could fall in love with Sanji even more.  And then Sanji scratched behind his ear.

“Is this okay?” Sanji asked, “We had a ship’s cat on the Baratie, and, actually fuck, I should stop comparing you to animals.”

“No, Sanji,” Pedro replied, surprised he wasn’t slurring his words from the complete sense of satisfaction he was currently experiencing, “It—it is pleasurable for me.  Your fingers are more dexterous than my own, as it turns out, and I very rarely receive—”  He didn’t finish the sentence, tilting his head and feeling Sanji’s fingers switch to his other ear.  He melted into the feeling.

“Oh.”

He looked up, eyes hazy, at the woman who had just entered the kitchen.  Nami, Wanda’s good friend.  Sanji’s hand dropped abruptly, and Pedro bit back a growl of irritation at her interruption.

“N-Nami, let me get you some breakfast,” Sanji said quickly, “It’ll just be a minute, I’m making pancakes.”

“Take your time, Sanji,” she said sweetly, sitting down across from Pedro with a very not-sweet grin on her face.  Pedro nodded at her, turning back to his plate.

“Pedro, right?” Nami said.  Pedro nodded again, trying to keep food in his mouth at all times so he had the excuse that it would be rude of him to speak.

“Thank you for taking such good care of Sanji,” she crooned.  Pedro swallowed the food in his mouth and opened his mouth.  This was something that he needed to respond to.

“For what you all have done for my people—”

“Yes, yes, I have never met so many so intent on gratitude,” Nami said, waving her hand at him, “I’m speaking specifically about your taking such good care of Sanji.”

Sanji placed a plate in front of Nami.  Nami’s pancakes were heart-shaped, Pedro noticed with slight annoyance.

“Nami, I adore your new clothing,” Sanji said, hands clasped in front of him as he smiled at her.

“Thank you, Sanji, the minks have such great style,” she replied, “Your new outfit really fits you too, doesn’t it, Pedro?”

“It does,” Pedro said, “He cuts a dashing figure.”  Sanji flushed and hurried back to the stove, muttering to himself.

“Very smooth,” Nami said to Pedro, “Though I’ve noticed minks are good at giving compliments.”

“We prefer honesty to dissembling.”

Nami peered at him, and Pedro felt as though he were being subject to a test of some kind.  He gazed evenly back at her.

“You like Sanji, don’t you?” she said finally.  Pedro heard a clatter behind him and a curse.

“I do,” Pedro responded.  Simply the truth, though he felt uneasy on Sanji’s behalf that he had to be present for the conversation.  The woman was… conniving in ways that minks seldom were.

“Oh great, that’s all I wanted to know,” Nami said, standing up and walking out of the kitchen, the plate of heart pancakes in her hand.

The kitchen was silent when she left, and Pedro steeled himself before looking behind him.  Sanji was still facing the stove, but he was standing stock-still.

“Sanji?” Pedro asked, “Are you well?”

“Y-you,” Sanji said, turning to him, face mortified, “You told Nami that—”

“That I like you.  It was a direct question, and I answered with the truth.”

“What do you mean, ‘like’?” Sanji asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“Adore?  Have fallen in love with?” Pedro said, “It is difficult to find the right way to describe how I feel about you.”

“L-love?” Sanji squeaked, eyes wide as saucers, “How?”

“You are very easy to love,” Pedro said, “I am certain many others feel as I do.  I must also say that you have no obligation to me.  I am assuming your compassionate heart makes you feel pressured to return affection in kind, but I assure you I seek nothing from you but friendship, Sanji.  And should you not be comfortable with that, at least allow me to offer you protection during the remainder of your stay.”  He stood and prepared to leave Sanji in peace.  It had been blissful, the past two days, but perhaps a swift end would be better for his sinking heart.  And he had been too distracted by Sanji when his country was slowly recovering.

“You have to finish your food,” Sanji said quickly.  Pedro looked down at the plate on the table, only half-eaten, “I can take it with me.”

“No, stay, please,” Sanji said, cheeks a violent red as he looked determined at Pedro.  He really was breathtaking.

“As you wish,” Pedro replied, sitting down and continuing to eat.  Sanji stood next to him, fiddling with his apron strings.  Pedro saw him open and close his mouth a few times.  When he was certain Sanji would not manage further conversation, he spoke.

“I know I must be very different from who you are used to,” Pedro said, ear choosing that moment to flick involuntarily, “I understand human aesthetics err on the side of less fur.”

Sanji looked at him, a shocked expression on his face, “That’s not it at all, I think, I think you’re really handsome.”

“Do you wish that I had kept my feelings hidden then?” Pedro asked, a contented rumble in his chest at the compliment.

Sanji shook his head, “No, and I am flattered.  It was just sudden.  I’m not really used to—”  He gestured in the air as if to conjure words above them.  “Affection or interest returned?” he said finally, looking shyly at Pedro out of the corner of his eye.

“Can I take this to mean that you have interest in me as well?” Pedro asked, ears flicking back and forth again.  He adjusted himself slightly to keep his tail trapped under his leg, feeling it trying to wriggle free.

“I… I made you pancakes,” Sanji said helplessly, “And I garchu you.”

“Humans rely on so much veiled symbolism,” Pedro smiled, letting out a few excited chuffs.  He allowed his tail to break free and it swished enthusiastically, brushing against Sanji’s leg.  The human giggled, holding a palm up on his thigh.  His tail would on occasion listen to him, so Pedro directed it toward Sanji’s hand.

“Is this weird?” Sanji asked, running his thumb along the tip.  Seeing Sanji’s pale, thin fingers rub against the thick fur made Pedro shiver.

“It is a very sensual act,” Pedro said.  Sanji quickly dropped Pedro’s tail and brought his hand to his mouth, horrified.

“I am only joking,” Pedro laughed, enjoying the torrent of emotions on Sanji’s face.

“You’re an ass,” Sanji glared, “Very ungentlemanly of you.” 

Pedro smiled, “I will help you with dishes, Sanji, then would you be interested in accompanying me today on my duties?”

Sanji nodded, reaching for the empty plate in front of him.  Pedro placed a hand over Sanji’s before he could retrieve the plate.  “To be clear, on the topic of courting,” he said quietly, “I would like to do so.  I would like to court you, if it is agreeable to you."

“Yes,” Sanji said, just as softly, “What does that… look like, for minks… to court?”

Pedro chuckled, “If I were to make something up, you would be none the wiser.”

“Don’t make anything up then,” Sanji glared.

“Courting is whatever we desire, Sanji.  There are no rules or regulations.  Whatever would make you happy, I will provide.  As much as you try to hide it, you appear to desire touch and you appear to desire praise, both of which I am aching to give to you.  Beyond that, you may let me know what your boundaries are.  I do not have many boundaries of my own, should you wish to court in a more carnal way.”

Pedro was beginning to learn the map of Sanji’s blushes, as his face went from residual embarrassment at having fondled Pedro’s tail so openly to shyness at Pedro’s description of courtship to flustered at the hint of more that Pedro offered.  Pedro tried to keep his breathing even as Sanji scrunched his face in an extremely adorable way and shook his head.

“Right, well, maybe let’s just start slow,” Sanji said finally, “You may give me as many compliments as you would like.”

“How very brazen,” Pedro chuckled, “But it would be my pleasure.”

---

Pedro had never been a particularly possessive mink, but he could not help but keep a hand on the small of Sanji’s back as they wandered around Whale Forest toward where the Guardians-in-training were warming up.  Nobody paid them much mind, waving and greeting them as usual.  Minks were pleasant like that, understanding the boundaries of a courting couple.

The corpse did not do as good a job.

“Yohoho,” he/it said, “What have we here?  Do I sense romance in the air?  May I serenade the lovebirds with a tune?”

“Fuck off, Brook,” Sanji muttered, and Pedro felt him shift uncomfortably under his hand.

“There once was a man and a cat,” he began in singsong, but a swift kick to his face silenced him.  Sanji stomped away, fuming, as the skeleton began moaning something about undergarments.

“Would you prefer that I give you some distance while we are in public?” Pedro asked carefully.

“No,” Sanji said, “No, I like it, just need to get used to it and for my crew to stop being assholes.”  He shyly grabbed Pedro’s hand, or most of it, and Pedro gently closed his hand around Sanji’s smaller one.

“My hand’s going to get sweaty,” Sanji smiled.

“My apologies, it is likely too warm.”

“Eh, my hands are always cold, this is nice,” Sanji said, with a shrug.  Pedro’s heart swelled as he felt a slight squeeze from Sanji’s grasp and began leading him toward the training grounds.  When they arrived, he reluctantly let go of Sanji’s hand and marched toward Keith.

“One of the new recruits is still not recovered enough to train,” Keith said, “Down a member, if you want to join.”

“I’ll spar.”  They turned to see Sanji, hands in his pocket, seemingly nonchalant but with an air that demanded attention.

“Been a while since I’ve sparred,” Sanji continued, “I’ll fight anybody with swords.”

“A human against a mink, I’m not sure that’s a good—” Keith began, but Pedro silenced him with a wave of his hand.  “Give Sanji the most promising recruit,” he said quietly, “It would be an error not to.”

Keith nodded with some hesitation, but beckoned a large tiger mink toward Sanji.  Inexplicably, Sanji began laughing when he saw the mink carrying two swords.  The mink frowned, looking back at Pedro, who shrugged.  Nobody was sure of the cause of hilarity as Sanji practically collapsed to the ground, wheezing as tears ran down his face.  Finally, bout of madness over, Sanji wiped his eyes and stood up, taking off his jacket with a quick roll of his shoulders and standing at ready, still letting out a few chuckles as he regarded the mink.

“On your own time,” Pedro said, and before he could blink, Sanji moved.  Pedro could have guessed that the human knew his way around a fight—his crew had chased off the remainder of Jack’s forces after all and usually humans couldn’t fly—but he never could have imagined the speed at which Sanji knocked the tiger mink’s feet out from underneath him.  Then a burst of flame stomped down next to the mink’s head, Sanji’s face almost manic in his exhilaration.

“Next round,” Sanji said, helping the tiger mink up, “Caught you by surprise.”

“You’ve chosen an excellent partner,” Keith said quietly as they watched Sanji knock the tiger mink down multiple times, each time pulling him back to his feet, and giving him tips on how to guard against kicks with his swords.

“I have,” Pedro rumbled back, pleased with the approval from his fellow Guardian.

“What happens when his captain arrives and takes him away?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when it comes,” Pedro responded, jaw clenching at the thought.

After training, Pedro helped Sanji prepare lunch, finding contentment in the way that they coexisted in the small kitchen.  Sanji would place a hand on his forearm, pointing at various objects placed on high shelves for Pedro to grab for him; or brush behind him, a gentle hand on Pedro’s hip, as he retrieved produce from the adjoining storeroom; or laugh at something Pedro said, a hand on Pedro’s shoulder as he clutched his side.

Sanji craved Pedro’s touch as well, leaning toward him when they stood side by side, his body automatically chasing after Pedro’s to make touches linger and last longer.  Pedro was beginning to feel slightly irritated by Sanji’s crew.  Had no one appropriately provided Sanji the connection he deserved prior to his arrival at Zou?  The idea astounded him.  Sanji’s skin was warm, soft, and perfect under his fingers, covered in downy hair.  If allowed, Pedro would maintain some form of contact with Sanji at all times, even if it was merely the touch of their hips as they washed dishes together.

“I rest in the afternoons,” Pedro said, after they finished cleaning the kitchen, already feeling drowsy, “Would you be interested in joining me?”

“For napping?” Sanji asked, “Sure, I’ll need to start dinner in a few hours.”

“That is sufficient sleep for me,” Pedro said, already smiling at the idea of having Sanji tucked in his arms.

“Um, your place?” Sanji asked, face pink.

“I’m afraid your accommodations are too small for me,” Pedro said.

“Right, that makes sense,” Sanji said, eyes scanning up and down Pedro’s form looming over him.

Pedro nearly vibrated with excitement as he led Sanji toward his home.  He lived alone in the tallest tree, far above the other minks, and now appreciated his decision to seek privacy from his otherwise communal kin.  He pointed upwards at the base of his tree.  Then, taking advantage of his new relationship with Sanji, gathered him in his arms before he could make his own ascent and jumped.  When they arrived, Sanji glanced up balefully at him, “You know I could have done that myself.”

“I do,” Pedro chuckled, “But I prefer this.”  Still holding Sanji tight against him, he walked into his home and carefully deposited Sanji on his large circular bed.  Sanji looked around him at the numerous pillows and blankets.

“Comfy,” he said, “For some reason, I imagined you sleeping on the floor.”

“I’m not a barbarian,” Pedro sniffed, quickly changing into his bedtime attire and crawling into his bed, curling into a ball around Sanji, and gently stroking his soft golden hair back into place.  His eyelids were heavy, but he tried to keep his eyes open as long as he could, watching Sanji adjust himself, squirming close and resting his head in the crook of Pedro’s arm.

“Are you comfortable?” he murmured, forcing himself to hear Sanji’s quiet “yes” before falling asleep.

---

Pedro woke to a vicelike grip around his hips.  He blinked a few times, staring up at the ceiling, and noted that Sanji had wrapped his legs around his waist, arms around his chest, and currently had his face buried in his neck.  Pedro was unused to sleeping on his back, but he didn’t wish to disturb Sanji.  When he finally dared to move, it was to try and relieve some of the pressure from Sanji’s powerful legs.  Sanji’s response was to squeeze even tighter, murmuring in his sleep.

It was maddening, the feeling of Sanji’s lips moving against his neck, the press of Sanji’s body flush against his.  Pedro was a disciplined mink, but what was he supposed to do when every time Sanji’s small form fidgeted, Pedro could feel the awakening heat in his gut?

“Sanji,” Pedro said, gently rubbing Sanji’s back.  Sanji moaned in response, the vibrations against his chest and the sound in his ear the absolute last straw for Pedro’s libido.

“Let me sleep more,” Sanji muttered.

“I am afraid I cannot do that.  Earlier, you informed me that you had a schedule to keep for dinner.”

With a heavy sigh, Sanji let go of him and pushed himself up, now sitting on Pedro’s stomach.  Carefully, Pedro held him by the waist, marveling at how his hands nearly encircled it, and lifted him off him, trying not to expose that he was fully-erect.

“Sleep well?” he asked, smiling as Sanji rubbed at his eyes before blinking owlishly at him.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a nap as good as that one,” Sanji yawned, “I don’t usually get naps.  Marines always want to attack post-lunch.” 

He sat cross-legged on Pedro’s bed, still drowsy, hair sticking up in every direction, shirt crinkled, just lovely beyond belief, and Pedro couldn’t help but smile at his good fortune of having this otherworldly creature want to be with him.

“I probably look ridiculous,” Sanji said, noticing Pedro’s attention, “I don’t usually sleep in my day shirt.”

“Forgive me, an oversight on my part, I will lend you mine next time,” Pedro said, shivering at the thought of Sanji in his clothing, “And you do not look ridiculous, far from it, I do not believe I have laid eyes on a more beautiful being.”

Sanji flushed and threw a pillow at him, which Pedro conveniently placed over his lap.  It hadn’t taken him long to realize that the human loved but responded poorly to compliments.

“I need to get dinner started,” he said, flattening his hair and attempting to brush out the wrinkles of his shirt.  “But, um, can I—” Sanji paused, “Can I sleep here tonight?  I know you probably don’t sleep at night, but if… between your duties, it would be nice to know you’re around.”

“Of course you may sleep here, Sanji,” Pedro said, ignoring the worry in his stomach, which was two-fold.  He would have to wear tighter pants to contain the erection he would surely get every time he thought about or saw Sanji in his bed.  And tonight was a full moon.  But how could he say no when Sanji’s face immediately lit up with joy.

“Great, I’ll bring my stuff over then,” Sanji said.  He leaned forward and rubbed his cheek against Pedro’s.  A soft “garchu” and then he was leaping out of Pedro’s home, heading back for the forest floor.

Pedro let out a groan and tossed the pillow aside, freeing his weeping erection and giving himself a few quick strokes before he came with Sanji’s name on the tip of his tongue.

---

Pedro bustled around his home, trying to make sure everything was set up for Sanji.  Everything he owned was too large, he cursed to himself.  Cups too big, chairs too big, nightshirts too big.

When Sanji arrived at dusk, Pedro was rooting around under his sink sorting through his spare toothbrushes, trying to find one that made sense for straight blunt teeth.

“What are you doing?” Sanji asked, eyebrow raised.

“Toothbrush,” Pedro said, holding something that to Sanji probably looked like a comb, “In case you forgot yours.”  How ineloquent.

Sanji chuckled, “I brought my own, but thank you.”  He sat down on Pedro’s bed and collapsed backwards, “I’m exhausted, I made cotton candy and turns out your little kiddos like it just as much as Chopper does.”  Pedro cursed the fact that he was on patrol duty that evening and missed the opportunity to watch Sanji care for young minks.

“Have a spare shirt?” Sanji asked, raising his head slightly, “All of mine are in the wash.”

Pedro nodded, presenting Sanji the one he had set aside, his softest.  Sanji began unbuttoning his shirt, and Pedro watched as inch by inch of pale skin was exposed.

“Normally, humans avert their eyes when someone is undressing,” Sanji said with a slight teasing tone, “Is this another mink difference?”

“If you wish, I can give you privacy,” Pedro replied.  Sanji didn’t respond, shrugging off his shirt and folding it carefully before picking up Pedro’s.  The fading evening light from the open window cast a honeyed glow on Sanji’s skin, with slight shadows around his collarbones and defined abs.  Pedro was slightly disappointed when he slipped Pedro’s shirt on, but when Sanji’s head popped out through the collar, Pedro was confronted with the sight of his clothing draped over Sanji’s thin form.  And he liked it very much.

“Do you have patrol tonight?” Sanji asked.

“For some of it,” Pedro said, lighting a few lanterns before sitting on a chair and crossing his legs to hide the obvious bulge at his crotch.  He coughed nervously, “Tonight, is a special night for minks, so you may be awoken by noises outside.  It should be fairly quiet up here though.”

“Oh?” Sanji said, “What’s the occasion?”

“Full moon,” Pedro said, already feeling electricity in the air as he looked out the window to see the sun’s last rays of light fading.

“And we humans aren’t invited to the party?”

“It’s not a party, per se,” Pedro frowned, trying to decide how to describe their sulong transformation.  “We… change under the light of the full moon, take on our true form, it is a celebration of minkhood, the power of our race.  Some of us gather, others, like me, prefer to transform alone.”

Sanji’s face fell, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.  I can go back—”

“No, Sanji, I would like you to be here.  And you will likely be asleep in any event, but it will be of comfort to me to have you near.”

“How am I supposed to sleep knowing you’re going to turn into something else?” Sanji asked, wide-eyed.

With a sigh, Pedro joined him in the bed, pulling him close, “You will sleep because you are tired.”  Sanji was so very pliant under his hands, allowing himself to be folded against his chest.  Pedro hesitated for a moment, batting around an idea that he had been thinking about while bored on patrol.  “May I call you by a term of endearment?” he asked.  Sanji nodded, his hair tickling Pedro’s chin.  He would try a term he learned from a soft-spoken woman in the North Blue with the same blonde hair and blue eyes as his human.  “Mon chéri,” he said quietly and felt Sanji shiver.

“Do you know what that means?” Sanji asked quietly.

“Darling.”

Sanji squirmed in Pedro’s grasp until he was facing him, “Where did you learn that?”

“North Blue.”

“Your pronunciation isn’t bad.”

“You’ll have to help me improve it.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Mon chéri,” Pedro repeated.  Sanji’s eyes were bright, his smile wide, so Pedro tried again.  “Mon chéri.  Mon chéri.  Mon chéri?”

Then, quite suddenly, Sanji’s lips were on his, stopping him from speaking.  They were soft and thin, his mouth fitting between the teeth that permanently jutted out of Pedro’s lips.  Sanji’s hands came to cradle his face, holding him in place.  Pedro froze, and Sanji pulled back.  “Is that touching you don’t want?” he asked, voice small.

With an animalistic growl he would be embarrassed about later, Pedro pressed his lips to Sanji’s again, trying his damndest to keep his teeth out of the equation, then carefully gave Sanji’s lips a light lick.

“Oh,” Sanji breathed out, “Oh that’s new.”

“Is it too rough?”

“No, it’s not, it’s just big.”

“Much about minks is larger than humans,” Pedro teased again.

“Is that how you kiss?” Sanji asked, licking his own lips nervously.

“It is one form of intimacy,” Pedro laughed, “But you may kiss me however you would like.”  He nearly choked when Sanji nuzzled against his neck and licked him lightly on the fur over his Adam’s apple.  Tiny, like a kitten, and so very soft.  Sanji continued, and Pedro knew the sound of Sanji’s tongue on his fur would ruin him to any other grooming in the future.

“Is that just weird?” Sanji asked finally.

“I find it infinitely enjoyable, but I am sure you have not done that before.”

“What, lick fur?  No, can’t say that I have,” Sanji laughed.

“Thank you,” Pedro said, “For trying something new for me.”

“Can we try more new things?” Sanji asked, and Pedro was having trouble trying to parse his own feelings and the expression on Sanji’s face at the same time.

“Whatever you would like,” he said finally, unable to find a hint of hesitation in the blue eyes.

“Kiss me, then,” Sanji said firmly.

“That’s nothing new,” Pedro replied, raising an eyebrow.  Annoyed, Sanji mashed their lips together, then parted his mouth, licking along the top row of Pedro’s razor-sharp teeth.  Pedro hummed, then slipped his tongue between Sanji’s lips into the warm, wet heat.  Sanji sighed, grasping at Pedro’s shoulders, meeting Pedro’s tongue with his own.  Pedro was careful not to lick too deep into Sanji’s mouth, human faces were… quite flat, but all that thought did for him was to conjure up the image of Sanji’s mouth on his—.

Sanji made a muffled noise and Pedro quickly retreated, “Did I do something uncomfortable?”

“No, my leg was just attacked by what I presume is your cock,” Sanji let out a breathless laugh, pupils dilated, mouth beautifully red and wet.

Pedro groaned, and began to push himself away, but Sanji latched onto him, face eager.

“Do you have time before your patrol?” 

At that moment, Pedro would let Zou be attacked again to be able to continue whatever it was Sanji wanted tonight.

“Not for a few hours,” he murmured.

“Not sure that’ll be enough time,” Sanji replied cheekily, and Pedro wondered briefly if the end of his life was nearer than he thought.  He wasn’t usually fatalistic about the loss of fifty years, but he could safely say he would die happy to be able to have Sanji.

With the lightest of touches, Pedro brought his fingers to Sanji’s face, retracting his claws to be able to bring his thumb to Sanji’s delicate cheekbone.  Sanji closed his eyes at the touch, and Pedro brushed the bangs out of his face with his other hand.

“You’ll let me know if anything becomes uncomfortable?” he asked.

Sanji nodded, opening his eyes, which were so very warm.  Pedro sat up and quickly shed his shirt, looking down at Sanji underneath him and trying to decide if he wanted to see Sanji’s chest again or if making love to him in Pedro’s shirt was preferable.  Sanji decided for him, wriggling his lithe body to take the shirt off.  Pedro just sat for a moment, looking down at Sanji, face determined, hair haloed around him on Pedro’s pillow, pale chest rising and falling slightly faster than normal.  He began fidgeting under Pedro’s scrutiny.

“You know, you don’t blink, right?” Sanji said.

Pedro gifted him with a slow blink.

“That means fondness and contentment in cat language, right?”

“I have other ways of explaining to you how fond I am of you and how content I am with you,” Pedro responded, reaching for Sanji’s pants.  He fiddled with the tiny button, frowning, until Sanji laughed and pushed his hands away, his dexterous fingers unbuttoning his pants and lifting his hips up to pull them off.

“You have more hair than a normal human,” Pedro said appreciatively, noting the golden curls on Sanji’s midriff disappearing into Sanji’s briefs and the light hair on his legs.

“How many other humans have you seen like this?” Sanji asked disgruntled.

Pedro threw his head back and laughed, “If you’re wanting to know whether I have been in bed with another human, I have not.  And now I am afraid I will be ruined for any others.”  His eyes raked up and down Sanji’s body.

“So much staring still,” Sanji grumbled, sitting up and reaching for Pedro’s pants, undoing them quickly and impatiently pulling at them.  Pedro chuckled, quickly discarding them, letting his member spring out.  Sanji’s eyes widened, the tip of his small tongue poking out between his lips.  Pedro looked down at his dick, dark red, hanging heavy between his legs.  He wondered if it was different than a human’s.  He’d never had the opportunity to compare.

“Is everything okay?” he asked gravely.  Sanji nodded mutely, so Pedro reached to pull Sanji’s last garment off, humming happily when he saw Sanji already erect.  His cock was pink, full and large, and dripping.  Pedro leaned down, giving the tip a tentative lick, and Sanji let out a gasp, arching his back as he gripped the sheets around him.

“I take it that was satisfactory?” Pedro asked.

“Fuck,” was Sanji’s response when Pedro licked again, curling his tongue around the base of Sanji’s cock and thanking the gods for evolution making this particular organ of his so flexible and dexterous.  Sanji’s planted his feet and began bucking slowly upward, letting out little pleased sounds that made Pedro’s ears wave back and forth happily.  Pedro licked a long strip on the underside of Sanji’s cock, before leaving tiny flicks underneath the tip, hoping that the same spot was as sensitive for humans as it was for minks.  It apparently was, as Sanji began panting harshly, his legs around Pedro’s head tensing.  Pedro replaced his tongue with his hand, completely enveloping Sanji’s cock in his grip and began pumping up and down, watching Sanji’s face attentively to try and divine what Sanji was thinking.

Sanji obliged him with an answer.  “I—I’m going to come, I can’t hold—” he gasped.  Pedro continued his ministrations, enjoying the slick slide of his hand along Sanji’s shaft, and licked at Sanji’s quivering thighs.

“Don’t hold back, Sanji,” he said softly, gripping Sanji’s hip as his other hand sped up, and Sanji was coming, a harsh groan emerging from his slack mouth as a warm wet liquid covered Pedro’s hand and much of Sanji’s stomach.  Pedro groaned as well, drinking in the blissful expression on Sanji’s face as his entire body tensed before finally relaxing, melting into Pedro’s bed.

“How was that, Sanji?” Pedro asked, when Sanji’s pants slowed down.

Sanji’s response was to raise his arms cutely and beckon toward him.  Pedro obliged, crawling onto him and resting on his elbows to keep from crushing the small human.  Sanji rolled his eyes and dragged Pedro down anyways, wrapping his arms behind Pedro’s back and stroking absentminded circles in his fur.

“I like your tongue,” he murmured.

“I can tell,” Pedro replied.  Sanji’s hands had moved up to the back of Pedro’s head, stroking his long hair and scratching behind his ears.  Pedro chuffed into Sanji’s neck, quick bursts of air that made Sanji giggle.

“And your hands,” Sanji continued, “Your hands are nice too.”

“As our yours,” Pedro said, enjoying the electric feeling of Sanji finding the perfect spot to scratch at the base of his torn ear, his shorts nails and quick movements so much better than Pedro’s claws or bare fingers when his ears itched.

“Let me take care of you too,” Sanji whispered.

“I am fine, with just this,” Pedro said, “You don’t need to push yourself.  It has been quite a change for you, I’m sure, and more than enjoyable for me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Sanji said, forcing Pedro’s face back with hands still tangled in his hair to glare at him, “I’m not here for half-measures.  I am not ‘fine’ until I can feel you inside me.”

Pedro licked the side of Sanji’s lips, “Very well, we will go slowly as you are small and—”

“Much about minks is larger than humans,” Sanji finished mockingly.  Pedro licked the tip of his nose before getting up and sprinting to grab the lube he had in his bathroom, running back to minimize the amount of time he wasn’t in contact with Sanji.

Kneeling before him, Pedro spread Sanji’s legs, swallowing thickly when Sanji wiggled his way further up Pedro’s lap, giving Pedro a better view of the pink, puckered hole he was expected to fit in.  He glanced back up at Sanji, who was now illuminated only by lantern light, face flushed as he looked attentively at Pedro’s member that he was stroking back to a full erection.

“I will use my fingers first,” Pedro announced, feeling silly for doing so.

“That’s fine,” Sanji breathed out.  Swallowing again, Pedro gave a generous squirt of lube on his hands and rubbed them together to warm it up.  Slowly, concentrating, he slipped one finger into Sanji who exhaled as Pedro entered.

“Oh, yes,” Sanji whimpered, but Pedro waited until Sanji fully relaxed around him before pushing in further, coating Sanji’s insides with lube in preparation.  He added another finger and this time groaned with Sanji at the tightness.  The heat felt incredible on his fingers, and his cock twitched in anticipation.  The tiny noises Sanji was making only fueled his arousal.  His powerful legs were wrapped around Pedro’s waist, heels digging into Pedro’s lower back.

“More, Pedro,” Sanji panted desperately, and Pedro nearly came right there.  Instead, he pulled his fingers out, moaning as he saw the trembling hole glistening with lube.  He applied an even more generous amount to his cock, before lining himself up.

“Breathe, mon chéri,” he whispered, as Sanji tensed at the slight touch of Pedro’s dick against his ass.  Sanji let out the breath he was holding and relaxed.  Pedro entered, the tapered tip entering easily, and Sanji’s mouth opened in a soundless cry.  Hearing no opposition, he pushed further, millimeter by millimeter, watching Sanji’s face for any signs of pain.  When he was an inch deep, he paused, waiting for Sanji’s breathing to calm.

“Keep going, Pedro,” Sanji said, voice hoarse, opening one eye to glare at him.  Pedro continued until he was halfway in.  Sanji’s breath was coming in short hitches.  This was nothing like Pedro had ever experienced before.  The tightness around him, Sanji’s body squeezing his cock in a vice grip, sending shivers up and down Pedro’s spine.  He wanted to pound forward, to fill Sanji completely, but he continued the slow slide in.

When he was fully seated, hands desperately holding onto Sanji’s hips for dear life, the impossible man began using his legs to lever himself forward and backward on Pedro’s lap, grinding against him, short thrusts that made Pedro head spin.  Pedro’s grip on Sanji tightened, trying to make him stop so he could control himself.

Sanji pouted at him, trapped as he was with Pedro’s dick deep inside him.  Pedro leaned forward, bracing an arm on the bed beside Sanij’s head, the other remaining on Sanji’s hip.  Sanji gasped at the new angle, legs raised in the air with Pedro mounting him.

After a quick roll of Pedro’s hips, Sanji shouted, hands grabbed fistfuls of Pedro’s hair.  Pleased with this response, Pedro repeated the motion, slowly at first until he was sure Sanji could take it before beginning a desperate, frantic pace.  He growled as he drove himself into Sanji over and over again, hard and deep, Sanji’s moans a constant torrent of pleasure in his ear as the man writhed underneath him, trying to meet him each time.

“Sanji, you sound so perfect,” Pedro groaned, “You feel so perfect, I’m fitting so perfectly inside of you like I was made for you and you for me.”

Sanji whimpered in response, clutching Pedro closer.

“I want to feel you come, can you do that untouched, mon chéri?  Can you do that for me?”

“Y-yes,” Sanji panted, and Pedro felt his body tightening, Sanji’s moans filling Pedro’s home as he came, clenching impossibly tighter around Pedro as his hips bucked and pulse after pulse of cum landed between them.  A few more shallow thrusts, and Pedro was coming too, a desperate whine ripped from his throat as everything in the world narrowed down to the meeting of his hips to Sanji’s ass.

Pedro collapsed onto Sanji, ignoring the wet, slick mess between them and the one likely oozing out onto the bed.

“Are you seeing stars too?” Sanji giggled breathlessly.

Pushing himself up, Pedro fixed an eye on Sanji’s flushed face, and whispered pointedly, “Yes.”

Sanji reached up and covered Pedro’s face with a hand, “So fucking cheesy.”  Pedro licked between Sanji’s fingertips, savoring the taste of salt and soap.

“Damn cat,” Sanji muttered, “Get off me.”  Pedro slowly pulled out, both of them sighing when he collapsed next to Sanji.

“Can you still hold me?” Sanji asked quietly, and Pedro brought him into his arms, rubbing his cheek against Sanji’s until his human fell asleep.

---

Pedro stared at the moon, smiled viciously at the warmth flowing through his body.  Others described sulong transformations as painful, limbs growing, electricity sparking, but to Pedro, the feeling of change was power incarnate.  He could already hear howls down below, bright lights of his comrades enjoying their monthly joyrides.  He breathed deeply, letting the light wash over his still-naked body, and feeling his snout lengthen, his teeth grow, his hair flow softly down his back.  Sanji was sleeping, so he resisted the urge to snarl his thanks at the moon, simply relishing the crackle of static now flowing in his veins.  Liberation.

After he fully transformed, he toned down the electricity running through his body and headed back into his home.  Sanji was wearing Pedro’s shirt and nothing else, covering his torso and his pert, bare ass, his sinfully long legs stretched out on the bed.  He breathed evenly, face peaceful and sweet.  Pedro would normally spend his sulong nights leaping through the treetops, but for now, he felt content just sitting and watching Sanji.

He winced when a particularly loud howl sounded nearby.  He glared out the window, trying to recognize the voice so as to punish the offender tomorrow.

“Pedro?”

With a muted curse, he turned to see Sanji sitting up, staring at him.  He had hoped the chef was a heavy sleeper, surrounded as he usually was by crewmates on his ship.

“Go back to sleep, Sanji,” he said quietly, “I’m heading out for patrol in a bit.”

“No,” Sanji choked out, “Come here, I—”

Pedro found himself walking toward Sanji, magnetic almost in the way he was pulled to standing at the foot of the bed.  Sanji, face full of wonder, reached up to touch Pedro’s cheek, then stroked Pedro’s long hair.

“It is different, I know,” Pedro rumbled, “A lot to take in.”

“You’re incredible,” Sanji said simply.  Pedro had to fight to stop himself from releasing an excited burst of electricity at Sanji’s easy acceptance.

“Red eyes attractive to you?” he asked dryly.

“If they’re yours,” Sanji said, reaching for his hand and pulling him onto the bed, guiding him until he was lying on his back.

“Wow,” Sanji breathed, perched on top of him, staring down at him still, dark eyelashes fluttering prettily as he ran his eyes up and down Pedro’s glowing chest.  Pedro was astonished to see his shirt on Sanji’s body had tented up, Sanji’s interest in his sulong form very evident.

“Sanji,” he cautioned, “I am… I am bigger in this form.”

“I can take it,” Sanji said, eager and impatient as he threw nearby pillows around looking for the lube.  He let out a happy yelp when he found it and immediately reached for Pedro’s cock, barely able to circle his hand around it.

“I’m still loose, I’m ready for you,” Sanji whispered.  His eyes were wild with want, “I did so well the first time, Pedro.”  With a groan, Pedro sat up, peppering Sanji’s face with kisses and small licks, as he repeated, “Yes, you did.  Yes, you did.  Yes, you did.”  Spurred on by Pedro’s affirmations, Sanji held onto Pedro’s shoulder with one hand, held Pedro’s cock in the other, and lowered himself down, face going slack as he gasped and moaned and whimpered.

“Pedro, Pedro, Pedro,” Sanji choked out, “God, I can feel, I can feel little jolts, fuck, fuck.”  Pedro tried to pull his electricity back even further, but Sanji immediately shook his head and begged, “No, god, it feels so good.”  And suddenly Pedro had another reason to want to stay in sulong form at all times.  Here was Sanji, bathed in moonlight, Pedro’s shirt slipping to the side and exposing one creamy shoulder, stuffed with Pedro’s cock as he threw his head back, ecstasy apparent in the curve of his neck.  Pedro buried his head in the crook of that neck, longer teeth mere centimeters away from the soft flesh protected only by a thin layer of skin.  Lost as he was, Pedro retained enough faculty to keep himself as close as he could to his human without hurting him.

When he had taken all of Pedro, Sanji began moving his hips, grinding circular motions, then tiny bounces, and Pedro was prepared to travel to Totto Land tomorrow to beg, borrow, or steal his years back to stay with Sanji for the rest of his life.

Then, with a sharp gasp, Sanji stilled, and hot cum spilled onto Pedro’s chest.  Pedro growled, grabbing Sanji’s hips and pumping up a few times, howling as he emptied himself again into Sanji’s tight warmth.

Sanji was swaying now, his entire body trembling, so Pedro quickly lifted him up, both groaning at how high Sanji had to go before Pedro’s dick finally slipped out.  Pedro placed him gently on the bed and stroked the beads of sweat off his forehead, leaving little licks behind.

“Only on full moons?” Sanji asked, eyelids heavy as he grinned up at Pedro.

“Only on full moons,” Pedro replied sadly.

“I look forward to the next one then,” Sanji said, reaching again for Pedro and ignoring the way contact with his sulong form made his hair stand up.

“I’m going to have a horrible case of static tomorrow, aren’t I?” Sanji muttered, “Won’t be able to touch anything in the kitchen without shocking myself.”

“I have a rubber ball that I like to play with,” Pedro admitted, “That should help.”

“Of course you do,” Sanji grinned, folding himself into Pedro’s embrace and falling asleep again. 

Pedro cradled Sanji in his arms, just watching him sleep, ignoring the pull of the moon for the pull of the sun in his hold.  Finally, the time for his patrol arrived and he reluctantly let go of Sanji, covering him with a blanket and heading out the door, not before throwing one more look back at his human asleep on his bed.

---

“An invitation for my own damn wedding,” Sanji scoffed.  Pedro’s hand curled into a fist as he stood behind Sanji.  They were, somehow, inside Bege’s body, with Sanji’s crewmembers nearby.

“I will accompany you,” Pedro growled.

“Of course you will,” Sanji said, a small smile on his face, “We have to go get your lives back, all nine of them.  I have a bone to pick with Big Mom as well."

“You will not marry this Charlotte Pudding,” Pedro said, seeing red.

“Possessive,” Sanji chuckled, gripping Pedro’s hand tightly before turning to Bege and laying out his terms.