A Pirate's Happiness 4

Everyone had finally settled down for the night-the boys in their hammocks, Nami in her bed, Robin sleeping in the lookout post, and Zolo, snoozing as usual with his back against the mast...until he was woken up.

"Ugh..." Zolo opened his eyes to see Luffy dragging a large blanket to the back of the ship "What in the world...?" curious, Zolo stood up and followed quietly, stopping when he found Luffy curled up on the deck at his feet.

~Whoops....almost stepped on him..~ he thought, kneeling down next to Luffy and giving his shoulder a nudge.The reaction was more than unexpected...

"Hey Zolo." Luffy's eyes shot open, and he pulled the green-haired man down in a double arm loop hug. "Luffy!What the hell are you doing?!" he whispered, still not wanting to wake anyone

"Boyfriends can give eachother good-night kisses, right?" the rubber boy asked hopefully, looking up at Zolo innocently..

"Yeah...I guess they can." his expression softened as his anger melted away.Luffy grinned, and released him, chuckling and pulling him under the blanket
"Come under here, Zolo.I don't know how you always sleep out here...it's soo cold!"

"All right, all right..." they both sat with the blanket wrapped around them until Luffy leaned forward and wrapped his around Zolo's neck loosely, giving Zolo a warm gentle smooch- "Mmm...." ~He's getting better..~ Zolo thought, placing his hands on Luffy's back and encouraging him...

"Woah..."
"Dude......."
Zolo's eyes snapped wide open as he jerked away from Luffy and looked at their spectators "This isn't how it looks!"

Usopp and Chopper were staring at them in awe, and there was an awkward silence before Usopp spoke up "So....you and Luffy aren't practicing kissing on eachother..??"

~Practice kissing..?~ Zolo had some hope of getting out of this without having to come out of the closet....until..
"Nope.I was making out with my boyfriend." Luffy said with a bright smile.
They were doomed now.
Chopper and Usopp stared at them...
"You two are-" Usopp started
"Look." Zolo attempted to take charge of the situation "Don't tell anyone."
"Why?" Chopper asked curiously
Luffy smiled at them, leaning backwards and looking at them up-side-down " 'Cuz you're our friieeennds."
Usopp held his chin and closed his eyes as he spoke "Yup!Those gossip-hounds are vicious!"

"So....will you tell anyone?" Zolo asked nervously
"No." "Nope!" Zolo visibly relaxed after their promise, and Luffy pounced him, huggling against his chest.

Usopp smiled slyly "So you really are a butt pirate, aren't you?" it was directed towards Zolo.
"We haven't even done that yet!" Zolo shouted at him
"Yet?" Usopp and Chopper said together, starting to crack up as Zolo's cheeks turned red..

"Shut it..." Zolo muttered as Luffy cuddled up to his side and kissed his jaw.
"No telling, right?"
"Right!" they agreed
"You are the captain, after all." Usopp grinned

Usopp became very awkward "Um...so.....how'd you find out you were....you know.." his face was unconciously heating up, and Chopper seemed curious as well...

Luffy answered "Well....Zolo said 'you don't know unless you kiss another guy', so I kissed him."
"Really..?" Usopp
"Yeah." Luffy
"That's it?"Chopper
"I think he made that obvious." Zolo

And so, the friends went to bed, the boyfriends' secret was safe, and they were sleeping outside tonight.
In all, not a bad turn-out.
And the gossips haven't really discovered anything.....yet.