Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Condoriano Shepard Academy. Bosom of the elites, where the rich dumped their babes to be weaned only to grow into man-children still fully dependent on them. The classical-styled, red-brick-and-white trimmed edifice crowned the top of a lush knoll, overlooking rows of arborvitae hedges, splotches of star magnolia, and a man-made lake. At its front, pristine marble steps led to a portico adorned in lavender wisteria. At its sides flanked longitudinal walls scored top-to-bottom in lattice windows. Its central courtyard even boasted a campanile.

But all of this extravagance was lost on the two dubious figures bumbling about just outside the gymnasium. Dressed head-to-toe in suits, paired with dark sunglasses and conspicuously fake facial hair, the duo sidled close to the building's corner, where they had clear vantage of the descending steps and all those who might leave or enter the premises.

“There he is, right on time.” The mustachioed one smirked, almost predatory, as he watched a lone figure depart from the school.

“Yeah, but we almost weren't!” his bearded companion chirped, peaking his head around a brawny arm, only to be shoved back, closer to the wall, out of view. “Why'd I let you convince me to follow you anyhow?”

“We got here, didn't we? Loitering around before the capture will only draw unwanted attention.”

“You say that like you intended it that way.” The bearded one was unperturbed, digging a pinky into his nose.

“Give it a rest already! Hurry and get into position!”

His partner obediently dashed off, but not before getting a childish word in: “Zoro's dumber than a south bird~”

Zoro felt a forehead vein throb in irritation. He quashed the feeling, focusing on the task at hand. Snatching one last look at their idling getaway vehicle, he lackadaisically made his way down the steps, trailing after the solitary student. Gradually, he picked up his pace, timing it so he overtook the target at the final step.

“Oi,” he called out, “You shouldn't smoke at school.”

“Hah?” The answering voice was belligerent, acerbic. The student swerved around, features curled into a snarl, fingering a freshly drawn cigarette— altogether it was a look that belied his prissy boy image. “I just got off the premises, dumba— ”

Zoro wouldn't let him finish. In a single fluid motion, he drew one of his katanas and pressed its tip to his prey's throat. “Shut up. Don't do anything stupid and start walking.” He indicated the direction with his chin.

The only reaction he got was a crinkled brow. If the student was frightened, he didn't much show it. In fact, he had the audacity to finish lighting up his smoke. “Just my luck. A triple-sword-wielding maniac. Not enough machetes in Looneyville?”

Zoro raised an eyebrow. “You're sure cocky in a life-and-death situation.”

“Whose?” The abrupt taunt was succeeded by an abrupter flash of movement. The student fell back, flipping onto his hands to launch a vertical shoe, knocking the sword away but not out of grip. In the instant it took Zoro to regain control of his weapon, his prey had somersaulted out of reach.

Well, temporarily. With no obstruction between them, it would be easy to reclaim the distance. Still, for an operation that had been expected to be seamless, the nimbleness of the target was a surprise.

The student slowly rose to his full height, expression cool but stance guarded. “Surprised? That's what you get for underestimating a guy because of clothes on his back, shithead.”

“You're right.” He smirked, enjoying the challenge as he withdrew his remaining two blades. “I won't make that mistake again.”

A scoff. “You missed your chance. I don't care to know what you're planning, and I don't intend to find out.”

“Oh? I think you'll find out really soon,” he said, looking past him.

Too little, too late, the student made to dodge, but the one who had crept up on him from behind was faster.

Wham!

A sandled foot to the groin was all it took for the target to crumple to the ground. Zoro winced at the force of it. The boy wasn't even allowed the chance to curl protectively in on himself before Luffy had a knee on his abdomen, pinning him in place. He was quick to join him, once again using a sword to threaten obedience. “I told you not to do anything stupid.”

Thus incapacitated, Vinsmoke Sanji could only curse.

“You let him get away, Zoro!” teased Luffy, peering up at him from over sunglasses and under wide-brimmed straw hat.

He tsked. “I drove him in your direction. That was the original plan, wasn't it?” He stepped back, sheathing his blades, as Luffy hauled their capture upwards, forcing him in the direction of a rapidly approaching, beaten-up jet van. “I thought his hobby was cooking, not self-defense acrobatics. What kind of surveillance did Nami do?”

Luffy brightened. “So he's strong?” The back door flew open, and a thin pair of arms emerged to assist in propelling Vinsmoke inside. They clambered after him.

Usopp lurched the dial-powered vehicle into motion before Zoro had his other leg inside. Bam. He slammed the door and assisted Nami in binding Vinsmoke's hands behind him. The back seats had been removed, allowing breathing space to maneuver as well as making available a track system to anchor the rope restraint on.

Only after the process was finished, dropping against the moving frame, admiring their handiwork, did Zoro answer: “Looking at him now, not strong enough, I'd say.”

Vinsmoke coughed, slowly straightening. Zoro guessed he was still adjusting himself from all the manhandling. Wary eyes darted all over, hastily taking in their surroundings, scanning each of their faces in turn. Their group watched on with mild interest. Nami climbed into shotgun.

“Do you think anyone noticed?” Usopp asked.

“Probably,” said Nami.

“Yeah,” Luffy echoed, chucking his facial disguise without a care where it went. “We were pretty obvious.”

“And the school's on a hill,” Nami added, “You look out the window, and you can see the whole neighborhood.”

“Well, that could be good for us,” Usopp noted.

The van sped steadily and carefully on. The troublesome part was over now. Usopp only had to ensure they weren't pulled over by traffic patrol.

Nami turned in her seat to address their captive. “You're awfully quiet. No freaking out? No questions?”

Vinsmoke cleared his throat. “None, Milady. It's obvious I've been abducted in a very premeditated manner. I doubt you wish to tell me much more than that.”

Nami shrugged. “Suit yourself.” And faced back towards the front.

The start to all this had been with Ace and Sabo. A low profile gang for thefts and other petty crimes, eventually developing into a kidnapping for ransom operation to scam noble families. Both men had since gone their separate ways, joining bigger and badder organizations. (Whereas Ace had assimilated into the Whitebeard crew, a vigilante group policing the lawless land of Sphinx, Sabo had gone into politics, quickly climbing the ranks of a terrorist organization internally christening themselves the “Revolution”, last heard to be based in the hidden town of Baltigo.) Three years later, and the group was reborn as the Strawhat gang, boasting twice as many members.

Thanks to careful planning and tedious surveillance, even paying off an insider from the household staff, their first capture has now gone off without a hitch. He was the third son of Vinsmoke Judge, head of the tech giant, Germa 66, secured on his way home from a rich private school, targeted precisely for this careless gap in security. Though they did what they did for the money, and wouldn't pretend otherwise, they chose the Vinsmokes particularly because they knew them to be fraudulent and corrupt. The unsavory rumors they unearthed in their research abound, ranging from knowingly putting untested products on the market to threatening their competition to stealing trade secrets to conducting secret cloning research in the basement of Germa 66 headquarters. Yeah, that last one wasn't very believable. But it wasn't their job to verify the information; they just needed to know enough to stuff a profitable body into Ace's hand-me-down, midsize Flame Wagon.

The rest of the ride to their base was quiet and uneventful, no one wanting to make conversation over a prisoner's extra pair of ears, much less those belonging to one so privileged, so foreign. Midway, they blindfolded Vinsmoke to obscure their route.

Then they were there. The abandoned sector of the city's pier. Rows of derelict sailing ships slumped against skeletal docks that could barely contain them. Boats hung on by the bare threads of their mooring. Splintered planks sagged in their own weight. Rust coated hulls and seeped into the cracked paint of wheelhouses. It was both graveyard and junkyard, ribbed with naked masts for bones, festering in the smell of wet decay, decomposed with gaping sores. The perfect place to stowaway undetected.

Usopp parked them at the edge of the stone quay near their dock of interest. Still blindfolded, Vinsmoke was untethered and dragged from the van. There, he was wedged between Nami and Luffy. The only words they spoke were in order to guide him over the wooden water-bridge towards their ship— a caravel called the Going Merry

Intended to be a personal pleasure vessel for family day trips, Merry had been forsaken shortly after construction. This was because its owners, the parents of Usopp's rich childhood friend, Kaya, had passed away unexpectedly three years ago. Kaya could neither bear to use it nor part with it all this time. She had no knowledge they were using it now for underhanded dealings, but that was more for her own sake than theirs.

Fortunately, it wasn't as in sorry of a state as its neighbors. The sails were missing and the cabins stunk of must, but they had been airing it out for the past two days, which seemed to help a lot. Vinsmoke was promptly roped to the mast. Then, without prelude, all four of them dipped inside the storage room to type up the ransom note.

“We're still going for seventy-seven million?” Usopp asked, once he was situated with his forty centimeter, triple-type-dial-based laptop. He was sitting atop a propped barrel, one of the few intact items left on the ship. The rest of them huddled around him to watch him work, kicking up some of the dust at their feet.

“Like I said, we should round up and make it one hundred million!”

“Does anyone have any input who's not Nami? Ouch!”

“They're rich and corrupt! We have Vinsmoke Judge's son! Let's milk him for every belly he's worth!”

“Not anyone can liquidate their assets in the time frame we're giving them.”

“I could do it for them!” Usopp gave her a look. Nami huffed. “Fine. But we better get it in three days tops.”

“Make it tonight!” Luffy— technically the leader of their gang— demanded.

They ignored him. “Okay, I'll say that, but there's a good chance it'll be longer depending on how the negotiations go. What pic are we using?”

“Here.” Nami slid out her smart den den mushi (aka smushi) and swiped a few times across the shell screen. “I snapped some shots on the way over.”

“Couldn't they recognize the vehicle model from that? Not many jet vans have detachable back seats.”

“Then we'll use the shot without the tracks. Just his face. Taking a picture in this location is riskier.”

“True, though we might need to do it eventually.”

“Shouldn't he look a little more roughed up?” Zoro asked, speaking up for the first time since they started on the snail-mail. He placed a hand on the hilt of a sword in a knowing gesture and smiled.

Nami sighed. “Barbarian.”

“What, witch? I'm not going to maim him. We should show them we mean business.”

“And what if they reduce the price because of that, hm?”

“They won't have the luxury. We're threatening death.”

“Threatening. We're not committing to murder here. The money is the most important thing.”

“Then we should make it believable!”

“It's more believable if we can show we have restraint and can keep our word. We could even ask for a higher price for keeping him in an almost pristine condition!”

“I agree with Nami,” Luffy said, interjecting, “I like him.”

“Luffy, you don't know him. Don't make friends with our captures,” said Usopp, hitting a final key, “Okay, done. How does it look?”

Nami peered over his shoulder. “That'll work. Are we sending it from his smushi? I have that too.”

“Yeah, it's powered to sleep, right?” Usopp accepted the device as he stood, keys in hand. “I'll head out to pick up some supplies and send it while I'm away. We told them a time to respond by, so one of us we'll need to go again then.”

“That's sure inconvenient.”

He shrugged, stuffing both laptop and smushi into his satchel. “Everything's traceable. Even if you turn off SPS and Sni-fi, if you make or receive a call, you're a moving target. Better to be cautious. You guys have fun babysitting.” Then he was off.

Luffy was soon to follow, heading right toward their charge. Zoro went too but only as far as just outside the door. He dropped to the deck, swords carefully laid over his lap to grab at a moment's notice, hands going behind his head. He didn't yet close his eyes but watched carefully.

Luffy squatted in front of Vinsmoke to examine him. The latter raised his head at his approach. “This a boat? Am I tied to that sail thing? The mast?”

“Yep,” Luffy admitted easily.

Nami appeared then, whacking him over the head. “Don't answer.”

“But he already knows!”

“Yeah, and let's keep it at that.” She looked to the prisoner. “Listen closely, we've taken you for ransom. If you behave, and if your family's quick on payment, you'll get out of this unharmed and can be on with your merry life.”

Vinsmoke seemed to consider that carefully and took his time to respond: “And if things don't go to plan?”

“Don't count on it. We can get away in a pinch, but we can't guarantee your safety.”

He shut up at that.

“Glad you understand.” Nami took Luffy by the collar of his shirt. “You're coming with me.” And dragged him away with her back inside.

Zoro tuned them out and went to sleep.

Chapter Text

There was no reply snail-mail at the designated time. Nami even stayed over a couple hours at a public park risking several calls, trying to connect to someone, all in vain.

Needless to say, she was miffed when she returned. “Why won't your family answer your number? Do you have another smushi? This was the only one on you.”

They were rhetorical questions, and the third son maintained his silence.

“Did you try someone at the company?” Zoro asked.

“Yes! But they just put me on hold only to disconnect me! I tried again, but the number was blocked!”

Usopp made a puzzled face. “They blocked his number? Why would they do that? They don't know who it belongs to?”

“I don't know! It's like I'm blacklisted, but the smushi obviously still works. All of the calls to his father and four siblings went straight to voicemail. And they never replied.”

“That's weird... They should be on alert from the ransom note and maybe reports from his school, but this is the opposite response we expected.”

As their words died down in their confusion, their gazes naturally fell on the one concerned. The student's face remained impassive, lips pressed in a thin line.

“Oi.” Zoro stepped close, drawing Wado to shove under his chin. “You're being strangely quiet about this when it's your life at stake. If you know something, spill it. Now.”

To his credit, Vinsmoke didn't even flinch. Instead, he turned his face from the blade, dismissing him.

One of Zoro's eyes twitched in irritation. “If you're begging for a bruising, I'll hand it to you.” However, his shoulder was pulled back to make way for another. “Luffy?”

Luffy came forward, again squatting before the prisoner. Though this time, he laid hands... ripping open the top buttons of the school uniform— “H-Hey!”— revealing a bluish-green welt on pale skin, at the junction of the neck and shoulder.

Usopp whistled low. “That almost looks like a handprint...”

Vinsmoke jerked free from the touch, but the evidence was still damningly in sight. They could only wonder if there were more like it under the sleeves or across the back.

A beat.

Then... “No, all our hard work!” Nami bemoaned, “Why did we have to pick the expendable one? I knew we should have snatched the heir!”

“Ichiji is impossible to nab,” Usopp pointed out, “He's the same age, but he's already attending university classes and spends most of his time at Germa headquarters. He has his own security detail!”

“So we went after the low-hanging fruit, and look where it got us... Ugh, I wish we had Sabo. He was always in the know.”

“This is insane. He's still their family. They really are monsters.”

Vinsmoke snorted. “Look who's talking.”

Nami waltzed up to him, seizing him by the lapels. “This isn't a laughing matter! They abandoned you!”

“...It's worse than that,” Vinsmoke replied quietly, “You're doing them a favor. To be honest, I thought they hired you as a ploy to get rid of me for good. I do feel bad, Milady, but they're not going to give you a belly of that ransom.”

Nami slowly let him go. “Then what are we going to do? What are we going to do with you?”

Vinsmoke wet his lips and bit the bottom one, constrained fingers at his side twitching, as if seeking an object to hold. But the nervous tic passed quickly. “This brute did threaten to kill me.”

Zoro scowled. So did Nami. “Ignore him. But we can't release you either. Our group would lose all credence, and no one would take our threats seriously.”

“That does sound like a conundrum, although I'm grateful for my life.”

Nami sighed, putting a palm to her forehead, closing her eyes. “Well, we can't keep him out here. The storage room has the bathroom, but it connects to all the other rooms as well and has who knows what else is in there. The anchor room has a stuck door. I have valuables stashed away in the room I'm using. It doesn't make sense to put him in the largest room.” She removed her hand. “Let's keep him in the galley. None of the appliances are working anyway since we haven't generated any electricity and the heat dial's a dud.”

At that decision, Zoro moved to make the transfer. Luffy helped with untying the ropes. “Zoro,” he began seriously, and Zoro gave him his undivided attention, “You're the best at treating wounds. Make sure to treat his.”

They were already on their way to healing, by the looks of the one, but he didn't voice that protest. “Okay, Captain.”

Four days and a night passed, and they hadn't heard a word from the Vinsmokes. They had left scarier and scarier messages, dropped off physical evidence in the form of a ripped-up school blazer and sent a few staged photos. But there was nothing. Nothing except a threat to call the police for trespassing from a company no-reply address.

Then, the news erupted on Punk Records. “Third-born Son of Germa 66's Technocrat & CEO Kidnapped for Ransom, Assumed Dead.” “Negotiations Fell Through for the Kidnapping of Vinsmoke Sanji.” “A Parent's Worst Nightmare, Will the Vinsmoke Family Ever Get Closure?” “No Body Yet Found in the Search...” and on and on they went. All lies that proved the family's intentions beyond doubt.

Furious, Nami had a tantrum, near-throwing her smushi if Usopp hadn't stopped her in the nick of time. “They're mocking us! We can play that game too! Let's go to the press, expose Vinsmoke Judge for all he truly is!”

When she got in that state, it was impossible to talk sense to her. Luffy and Zoro had to step in to attempt to restrain her, but there was much collateral damage, mainly to them.

Usopp tried his best at damage control: “Hey, you know? Nothing will be solved being so worked up. Let's all calm down and start on some brunch. And then we can do some brainstorming. I bought a working heat dial, so we can try out the stove. Have something nice for a change instead of takeout. Who wants to cook?”

“Oh, me! Me!” Luffy raised his hand enthusiastically. “What meat do we have?”

“Um, mackerel because that was cheapest. Have you even cooked before?”

“I did it once.”

“And?”

Luffy looked up, blowing off to the side— a mannerism that always gave him away. “It was delicious. Sabo and Ace loved it.”

“Okay, yeah, I can imagine what really happened. Not you.”

Nami's anger simmered to a sullen glare as she sat herself down at the galley dining table, arms crossed. “I could cook, but it'll cost everyone.”

Usopp blew out a breath, wisely saying nothing but looking imploringly to Zoro, who was on the floor against the wall. “Don't look at me. All I can do is sashimi.”

A sigh. “Fine, I knew this would happen. I'll do it, but we're having fish and chips. Good thing I picked up tempura batter mix...”

There was a clearing of throat from across the room. The four of them looked to their captive hitched to the beer rack, now without blindfold, remembering him. “I could cook for you. I'd love to, actually. It'd be a welcoming break from not quite sleeping and staring out the porthole all day.”

Usopp lit up. “Oh, yeah! We were told you train at the Baratie after school with real high-classed chefs!”

“You could say that, I suppose.” A fond look crossed Vinsmoke's face.

“Oh yeah,” Zoro mocked, “I'm sure he's itching at the chance to poison us.”

“I would never! Not my food!” Vinsmoke shot him a glare, and the look was evenly returned. He probably realized, however, that those words weren't very convincing for them. “I can't create poison out of thin air. You're giving me the supplies and watching my every move, aren't you?”

“I believe you,” said Luffy.

“Luffy!” Nami cried.

But Luffy disregarded the warning, marching over to untie Vinsmoke's bonds. “Ah, thank you.”

He grinned. “Make something delicious, Sanji!”

Sanji smirked— an honest first smile. “You got it. Also, can I smoke? You confiscated my supplies, right?”

Luffy shrugged. “Sure.”

“I'll get them,” Usopp volunteered, approaching to hand off the groceries, “Here's the goods. Thanks, Sanji! I'll get you the dial too.”

“You guys are being chummy because of an untold sob story,” Nami muttered, cheek on hand, still obviously upset.

Sanji swung on her, hearts in his eyes. “Mellorine! I could be kidnapped by you any day. You've already kidnapped my heart!”

“Did you just hear what I said?”

“Idiot,” Zoro scoffed, eyes closed despite the wariness he professed before.

Sanji swung on him next, expression plummeting to its opposite. “What was that, Marimo?”

Eyes flung open. “What?”

“Your hair, moron.”

“Thanks for the childish explanation, Dart-brow.”

Sanji bristled in offense, but the just-billowing argument was quickly swept aside by Luffy's laughter. “You two are funny!”

The fight was further dispelled by Usopp's deliverance of the promised items, Cigarette stick happily seated between sated lips, Sanji did a deep-clean of the already wiped-down kitchen area before he began on the meal. Once he got started, their brunch was whipped together in a matter of minutes. The old but unused gimballed stove came to life under his hands, flames licking up around the pan to bathe the fillets a golden hue. Practiced, stylized movements manifested the chef's professionalism. The presentation of the end product was just as captivating as the aroma, even for such a simple dish.

“Voilà! Lightly fried but extra crispy and juicy goujons, paired with just-bronzed chips. If I had the ingredients, I would have marinated them in a vinegar citrus bath, added my special spice blend, and served them in my favorite dijon tartar sauce. Oh, and you can't forget the cornichons. But I think you'll like these anyways.”

Three of the four kidnappers looked at each other, shrugging at the esoteric prelude, while the remaining one dug right in. Or tried to. He was promptly kicked away. “Lady first, you mannerless oaf.” Luffy whined, but Sanji got his way. Nami was served a beat before the rest.

“Ah, aif burf mai taung.”

“That's what you get for being impatient. This is delicious.”

“Only the best for the prettiest jewel on the sea!”

“Luffy, you need more willpower training. Try meditation. Oh, s'not bad.”

“That's rich coming from the booze-guzzling alcoholic. Wow, really, this is so much better than what I could ever dish up. You really are a pro!”

“I don't want to hear any compliments from men!”

“This is really good! Hey, join us!”

All utensils stopped, everyone looking to Luffy.

Usopp gave a nervous laugh. “What kind of kidnappers ask their kidnappee to join them?”

“He's a good cook,” Luffy replied, as though that explained everything.

“Sure,” said Sanji.

Usopp did a double-take. “Wait, what?”

“I said yeah, I'll join,” Sanji reiterated, lighting a new cigarette between his hands as he leaned against the sink. “I'm supposedly a dead man now, so it's either this or pack the hell out of here... but I have my reasons for staying.”

“As long as those reasons you mentioned don't put us at risk, I'm for it,” Nami spoke up to everyone's surprise, “You've accumulated debt from all the room and board we provided up till now that you need to work to pay off. Plus, you can be our new Sabo, give us the low-down on the ins and outs of the filthy rich and help us figure out who to target so we don't make this same mistake again.”

“You can count on me, Nami-san!” cried Sanji, twirling pirouettes to her side.

“You're agreeing to the debt even though you were taken against your will?” Zoro muttered to no one in particular.

“That being said, let me make this very clear...” Nami leaned forward, face ominous. She grabbed Sanji's chin and jerked it up to regain his attention away from her cleavage. “...If you betray us, there will be no safe place for you. Anywhere. Ever.”

Sanji gulped. “You have my most solemn oath, and I never break a promise to a lady!”

Nami drew back, all smiles. “Then it's a deal. Welcome to the team.”

“Hold on,” Usopp said, “aren't we deciding things too fast? I mean... are you really okay with it? This is a life of crime, y'know? You've been clean your whole life. Once you take the plunge, you can't take it back. We hope for the best, but you always got to be prepared for the worst.”

“...I understand. I can't say I'm prepared, but I'm resolved. There's worser fates.”

“And you're committed to cast your lot in with us?” Zoro questioned, staring as though to see through him, “It's not just to betray or not betray, you're here to stay,”

Sanji returned his gaze, taking his time to consider. “...I couldn't think of a better group to join. You steal from people, yes, but you don't do anything out of measure and you don't terrorize.”

“How would you know that?”

“Well, your actions precede you. Not once have you beaten me, whether for intimidation, interrogation, to provoke a response from my family, or just for the hell of it. Even my capture was rather tame, all things considering— and I know you're not short on strength. You talk money troubles morning and night, yet still feed me two square meals a day. My holding cell is not even a cell. I've been allowed access to the amenities. I can breathe fresh salty air, see the open sky through the porthole, sometimes walk more than three meters in a single direction... Not that I'm complaining.”

Usopp frowned thoughtfully. “I know you must have some expectations, but you talk like you're comparing to experience. I think most ordinary people would be either screaming or bawling to be tied up for days.” Sanji said nothing, lips forming a grim line. “Have you been kidnapped before?”

“No, this is definitely my first time.”

“You're probably glad to be escaping your shitty family situation,” said Nami, pushing away her plate, “I've come from a cesspool too. Abysmally poor with loan sharks hounding our door. My mom was murdered and no one would do anything about it.” She waved her hand out toward her companions. “These three are all orphans, if you count out deadbeat, useless dads.”

“I had my brothers,” said Luffy proudly, still gorging himself, “But we all set out to find our own crews.” He grinned. “This is mine. I'm the only one that made my own. And now it's yours too.”

Nami stood up to bring her dish over. “We're putting you straight to work, though. I'm going to freshen up, and then meeting in fifteen, everyone. We need to start on our new target pronto.” She was off in a scurry.

Usopp followed suit. “Afterwards, I can give you a tour. Show you the ropes around here. It's good to have you on board!”

Zoro was next, grabbing Luffy's and the serving plate as well. Wordlessly, he started on the dishes. Sanji joined him to help dry, saying nothing, probably wary of the interaction. Zoro surprised himself by speaking first: “There won't ever be any leftovers with Luffy around.”

Sanji smiled wryly. “I got that impression from him. You concerned about me?”

Zoro rolled his eyes. “Don't assume unnecessary things.”

“Well, you needn't be. I did some sampling while I was preparing.”

“You could subsist on the wood of the cutting board for all I care.”

And that was the extent of their conversation.

Chapter Text

For the meeting, Nami brought out the laptop to situate between the five of them on the galley table. The screen displayed the profile of a young woman with long blue hair. “This is Nefertari Vivi, age sixteen, only daughter of— ” She cut off upon seeing Sanji's hand shoot up, quirking an eyebrow. “Yes?”

“I vote for her!” he declared, heart eyes fully evident.

“Oh, and are you prepared to play the bad guy? Make her despise you for putting her through a probably traumatizing experience?”

Even before she finished, Sanji was crossing his arms into an 'X'. “We absolutely cannot target her.”

Thirty seconds later, and he was sporting a rapidly swelling lump on his head as Nami sat back down at her seat, smiling with fake cheer. “Anyone else care to interrupt me?” Several vigorous headshakes from the group answered her. “Good. Let's continue. Nefertari Vivi is the only child and deeply beloved daughter of the widower Nefertari Cobra, owner of Alabasta hotels and casino. For those of you who don't know, last year, there was a huge stir in the market because an influx of contraband goods were making its way into people's hands. Then, earlier this month, the authorities discovered six rooms full of the stuff in one Alabasta hotel. Now everyone is speculating that Nefertari is the ringleader of a smuggling ring and is using his hotels to conceal and distribute the goods. To me, it sounds like he was caught red-handed. A prime candidate, don't you think? He and his people are going to be so busy wading through hot water that it will be much easier to nab his princess from under their noses.”

“Excuse me, if I may say something, Nami-san,” Sanji spoke up.

“If it's something productive, go ahead.”

“I've met Vivi-chan and her father... It's really hard to believe they'd do something like this. They're old money; their family has been running a reputable hotel business for generations, and they're very proud of it. From what I've heard, Cobra's employees love him. Vivi-chan's very involved for her age, and even more popular.”

“Then what about the police report?”

He shrugged. “There are a number of parties involved who could be the culprit. I will say it's a bit hasty to assume an owner knows everything that goes down in each and every one of his rooms, though I don't deny there was some oversight on his part. Maybe he chose to trust someone in management he shouldn't have. I feel sorry for their trouble.”

“Fine,” Nami begrudged, snatching the laptop back towards her, “We'll strike her from the list. What do you have to say... about the Riku's?” She turned the screen back. Displayed was a social media photo of the entire family, spanning at least three generations. “The youngest member is Rebecca, age fourteen, a granddaughter, but first and second daughters, age thirty-three and twenty-seven, are candidates too. The patriarch, Riku Doldo III, is the current head of Corrida Colosseum Inc.”

Zoro, who had been dozing off, snapped awake at that. “We're targeting the city's largest fighting-for-entertainment company?”

“If you were paying attention, you would know they're just an option for now.” Nami sighed. “You and Luffy are the founding members; tell me again why the rest of us always do all the planning?”

He shrugged. “Luffy and I are fine with whatever. Just tell us the plan, and we'll do it.” Said leader had his face planted on the table, zonked out and drool coating his arm.

“You're fine with people deciding things for you when you're the one risking your neck?” Sanji asked dubiously.

“On things like this? Yeah, I trust Nami and Usopp.”

“Alright, alright, I accept your trust, sleep away.” Nami waved him off. “Now, going back to the Riku's...”

In the end, the family decided upon was the Donquixote family, head of the Donquixote Group, a conglomerate consisting of a chemical plant, a pharmaceutical company, an auction house, and a toy company. There were dozens of rumors tying Donquixote Doflamingo to underground operations, even the mafia, and the man seemed untouchable. Nami and Usopp originally wanted to go after the heir, Trafalgar D. Water Law, or one of the four executives, but Sanji managed to talk them into a likelier target, the stupid Buffalo. He assured them that despite his corruption, Doflamingo cared deeply for each of his found family members.

Their modus operandi would be the same as before, with Usopp starting on surveillance and Sanji joining him. Luffy and Zoro would head the capture, and Nami would be in charge of their getaway route. However, if the worst of the rumors ended up being true, they had to take extra precautions. And that was by entering the public sphere, for their own protection. Joker could stab them in the night and none would be the wiser, but Doflamingo— a heroic philanthropist who found homes for children in orphanages— had an image to maintain. If news outlets got wind of what was going on, as it was happening, he'd have no choice but to show the city he was reacting appropriately by requesting help from the authorities and not doing anything to jeopardize the hostage. It was a risky gamble, but if they pulled it off, they would gain a lot of notoriety that would be good for business.

Their meeting ended on that hopeful note, Nami lost to herself, seeing nothing but bellies.

As promised, Usopp gave Sanji a tour of his new home. He seemed mighty proud of the ship, though it was someone else's trash.

“Oh yeah, before I forget,” Usopp suddenly interrupted himself as they exited the storage room, “Do you pay for your smushi's telepathy network plan, or does your family?”

“Me.”

“I figured since it was still working and all. Sorry, but we'll have to get you a new one and a new number, once we have the money.”

“Figures.”

“When we do, I got a mini garden to feed it with. We live on smushi eyelights here. There's a manual water-drawing machine under the stairs that generates electricity, but there's no point in getting that running since we can't turn on any lights.”

“Having lights would be a neon sign saying someone lives here?”

“Exactly. You catch on quick. Always make sure the coast is clear when you go out on deck...”

Sanji would stay with the boys in their quarters, Nami alone with her treasure in hers. There was an emergency exit in between them, but it was sealed shut. Sanji made sure to check. Having to rebuy certain possessions was a pain, but...

“Honestly, the one who's probably benefiting the most from all this is me,” Sanji confessed as they wrapped up the tour. He leaned against the taffrail, gazing out at the endless sea, “I was looking forward to reaching the legal age, but I never would have been free. Not like this anyway.”

Usopp grinned. “That's a feeling we can all relate to here. We don't operate by anyone's rules but our own.” He approached the railing as well. “Sometimes, when I'm alone with Merry, looking out at the water, I imagine we're pirates.” A thumb jerked back to indicate himself. “I'm captain!”

“Pirates, huh?” Sanji couldn't hold back his own grin. “It's shitty fitting.”

They watched the rippling waves for a good time. The mid-afternoon sun shone brightly this time of year, casting a halo around it, occluding the pastel blue sky and catching upon the water as a flaming trail of glimmers that connected the boat to the beyond. That beyond was a horizon veiled in the nothingness of looking over the curvature of their world, a bit hazy and gray and diluted, as if a stubborn seam Mother Nature's painter couldn't cover in the illustration of the heavens and vearth. Still, the sea was pulsating and beautiful.

“Well, let's get started on surveillance. You'll need a disguise. Let me go see what I have.” Usopp dove down into the men's berths as Sanji continued to observe and smoke, wondering at this new direction life had taken him.

Soon, he was joined by a springing form, bounding up to sit on the railing like it was always meant for that purpose. “Do you like it here?” Luffy eagerly asked, facing him.

“So far so good,” he answered.

Luffy appeared appeased enough by the reply. “What's your reason for staying?”

Initially, he wasn't going to tell anyone, but for some reason, staring at this guileless young man made him want to tell everything he never could before. “I owe someone my life. They gave me refuge, taught me to cook and to defend myself. I'm not done paying them back.”

Luffy frowned. “Will you stay here forever?”

“No... not forever. Eventually...” He looked to him, lighting up. “Hey, have you heard of the All Blue, the impossible sea?” He gestured animatedly as he recounted his greatest dream. He couldn't help himself, especially when his newfound leader seemed so content to listen.

That's when he knew he'd like it here.

Usopp came back, hoodie with cold mask and car keys in hand, motioning to leave with him. “Alright, we're setting off. Wish us luck!”

They discovered very quickly that Buffalo had a gambling problem and didn't try at all to hide it. The thirty year-old could be found most afternoons in a pachinko parlor. At times, he'd borrow from his sister and try his luck at Rain Dinners, no intention of paying it back. There was a sizable debt to his name, but no one dared kick him out knowing who he was tied to. This confirmed their suspicions about Doflamingo, though mainly, they had no qualms with targeting this man.

They nabbed Buffalo in the underground parking lot of the casino, just before he headed in. Once he was secured onboard Merry, the first ransom note was sent to the local branch of the World Economy News Paper to be published, along with a threat on the kidnappee's life if they didn't comply. As expected, it caused an uproar among the populace. Unexpectedly, their demand was answered immediately by an intermediary.

It turned out Doflamingo had K&R insurance on the members of his family, though Buffalo clearly hadn't been informed, going by his excessive threats in Joker's name. It seemed, despite his strong attachments to them, Doflamingo didn't quite trust them. Knowing Buffalo's faults, it was easy to see why. The insurance's professional negotiator ran up against Nami, and before a full two days could pass, they had ฿100,000,000 in their hands. The drop-off had been made after-hours at an amusement park called Sabaody Park, no police involved as was promised.

That was cause for celebration.

They threw a party. Sanji barbecued as much meat as he normally would have at Baratie for an entire catered event. He had absolutely no complaints. During the meal, he quickly got drunk, tried to kiss Nami, received a sandalprint to the face for his efforts, danced arm-in-arm with Usopp, and eventually blacked out curled around the tiller.

The following morning subjected him to a bit of headache, but he found he couldn't care less. He did some cleaning up, then fixed Nami and himself some tea, listening to her talk excitedly about their future: “We can take our time for our next abduction, really do our research right. Now that the police are looking for us, things are going to be a little trickier. But the Strawhat name is known. People will talk. That works in our favor. We could even target smaller prey more frequently. Express kidnapping is a growing trend right— ”

The galley door burst open, revealing a frazzled Usopp. He opened his mouth, once, twice, but nothing came out.

“Oi, are you still drunk?”

The question seemed to snap him out of it. Usopp quickly shook his head. “No, but... Sanji, someone called your smushi. They say they have the ransom money we asked for. For you.”

“Wha...” Now it was him who was floundering, head spinning as he tried to put two-and-two together on what he was told. “Who was it?”

“They didn't say in their message.”

“Female voice?”

“No, male.”

“That can't be...” Of the men in his life, there was only one he could think of who cared enough, but there was no way he could scrounge up that kind of money.

An emergency meeting was called.

“It sounds like a trap,” said Zoro, after he and Luffy were brought to speed on the situation.

“It's definitely suspicious,” Nami agreed, “To call so soon after the return of our last kidnappee but so long after the ransom note of our first. Is it the police? Are they hoping we're greedy enough to go after their bait regardless of whether or not Sanji is still alive? If the Vinsmokes are cooperating with them, it explains how they know negotiations were never started for him.”

“That's impossible,” Sanji said.

Nami sighed. “That's what you've been insisting, but you can't explain why this is happening, can you?”

Sanji fell silent. Brow furrowing, he looked to each of them in turn. “You... You don't think I've betrayed you, do you?”

Nami waved his worries off. “It's too late for that. You're just as guilty as the rest of us now. If you were going to betray us, you should have tipped the police off right before we nabbed Buffalo.”

“He wouldn't have had the chance,” Usopp said, quickly coming to his defense, “I have his smushi, and I've been with him the entire time we were out.”

“See? Don't worry, none of us here suspect you.”

“Oh.” Sanji was taken aback by the trust he wasn't usually used to seeing. “Th-Thank you.”

“Tell them he's dead,” Luffy asserted, arms crossed, “Sanji's staying with us anyway.”

“Luffy it's not that simple,” Usopp explained, “What if it's actually someone who cares about Sanji? That would be devastating to them,” He looked to the one in question. “What do you want to do, Sanji?”

“It would be nice to know who made the call...”

“Yeah, if we knew that information, it would make this a whole lot easier. Should we take the bite?”

“We can't just ignore an offer of seventy-seven million bellies.” Everyone looked to Nami. “What? If this turns out to be the real deal, then this is exactly what we wanted and set out to do.”

“Boo...”

Irked, Nami jumped up, slamming the table. “Don't make me the bad guy! You all knew from the beginning we weren't doing anything noble here, no matter who we target! You can't get cold feet now; we're already knee-deep in this! And look, someone seems to want his return, right? That should be enough, shouldn't it?”

“Nami-san's right.” When all eyes were on him, Sanji blew out a deeply inhaled breath of smoke. “You should go with your original plan. It's not like you need me here. Things will just go back to how they were for me. And I'm curious who called.”

“We do need you here.” Sanji's visible eye shot to Luffy. He was surprised by his tone. Without elaborating, Luffy got up and left the room.

“Luffy!” Nami called after him and followed him out.

At the resulting awkward silence, Usopp sighed. “Sorry, Sanji, Luffy gets... attached. But he means well. I think he knows you have a life here, and others might need you too, that's why he's not pushing it. We would love if you stayed with us, but it's your life and your choice.” He stood. “I'm going to go ahead and make that call, to get things started. I usually do these while I'm on the road on some random streets. Do you want to come with?”

Sanji nodded, slowly joining him in rising. He felt a lump in his throat, and he didn't think it was the smoke.

“Hey.” A voice caught them before they left, though Zoro wasn't looking their way. “Be careful.”

Sanji's lips upturned, just a little.

“'Careful''s my middle name!” Usopp declared proudly, and they headed out. “Along with 'Brave', 'Gorgeous', 'Mighty', 'Dependable', 'Talented'...”

Chapter Text

“Let me hear him. If I don't know he's alive, the money's off the table.”

Those were the first words that greeted them when they put the smushi on yelling.

The voice sounded familiar, but Sanji couldn't put a name to it. Although maybe it was just his mind tricking him into thinking he knew it. “Who are you?” he bluntly asked.

“Sanji-san! Thank God I made it in time! It's me, Gin! Do you remember me?”

“Gin?!” He was astounded. “How in the world— ”

He cut off when Usopp threw a hand before his face, signaling him to stop. “Alright, you heard him, alive and unharmed. Do you really have the seventy-seven million?”

“Yeah, I got it, not a belly less and no tricks.” There was a half-snarl in Gin's voice, his tone doing a complete one-eighty. “I'm just as interested in a safe deal as you. Name the place, and the money will be there. I want him out as soon as possible.”

“You're not with the Vinsmokes?”

“No, they're scumbags who abandoned their own kin. I'm a friend who's indebted to him. But why should it matter to you who it is as long as you get your prize?”

“You'll hear from us by snext.”

Usopp ended the call and put the smushi on sleep mode, leaving it in the cupholder between them. “I guess we can rule out it being a trap. But how close are you to this guy, really?”

“I...” Sanji tried to blink away his stupefaction. “He came to the Baratie out of the blue one day, wounded and starving... You could tell he was some type of penniless thug. Scared our customers with the threats he made, demanding free food. Of course he was kicked out. I couldn't leave it at that. Hunger's not something I can overlook. Ever. And you know he wouldn't go to a soup kitchen even if it killed him because of his damn pride. So I gave him a bite to eat right in the alleyway after some persuasion. And that was it. That was the last I saw of him.”

“Wow, he must think you saved his life.”

“But this is seventy-seven million bellies. I just gave him a plate of food.”

“Some people are like that.”

Sanji couldn't deny it. He was one himself.

“Look, Sanji, you're a good guy. You're super good at what you do. You have people waiting for you. You shouldn't squander all that by being with us.”

“Thanks, Usopp. You're half-decent yourself.” As Usopp squawked with indignation, Sanji laughed. “I'm kidding. You're really good at putting a person at ease. You should give yourself more credit. And really, thanks. For everything.”

Usopp sniffed, settling down. “No problem.”

A decision was reached shortly after they returned. They would go through with the deal. The promised snext was sent to Gin to deliver at Gray Terminal, a junkyard that also doubled as a camp for the homeless.

The exchange, of course, was set for well after dark. They arrived in their usual disguises of silly beards and masks, Sanji tied, all for the sake of appearances.

“Stop sniffling,” Zoro complained as they disembarked from their vehicle, now shielded behind a mountain of trash, “You're going to give us dead away. If you want him to stay, then call off this dumb charade.”

“Brute.”

“Neanderthal.”

“Dumber than a South Bird.”

“Marimo.”

“What, ero-cook! I'm opening up a bottle of sake after this to celebrate!”

“Good riddance to stinky, directionless oafs.”

Bam! “No fighting!” Their verbal scuffle was ended as soon as it began, Nami whacking them simultaneously across the head. “Let's get on with this. It's sad, but Sanji-kun's going home and I get my seventy-seven million!” Her sparkling eyes said otherwise.

“Glad to be of service, Nami-swan! Make use of me as you wish!”

“Are you really leaving us, Sanji?” Luffy asked him seriously.

“Yeah.” Sanji likewise sobered. “Like I said, I still have something to do.”

Luffy's hat overshadowed his eyes. “Fine, I'll give up.”

“Ow, ow, your hand's not giving up!” Sanji spluttered, near-choking from the hold on his collar, “Easy on the shirt!”

They went to the appointed spot, finding Gin already there, a heavy bag at his feet. The air seemed to drop twenty degrees as they locked eyes.

Zoro stepped forward, brandishing a sword. “This is how this is going to go, quick and easy. I'll walk him to the middle, you toss me the money so I can count it. Then I'll release him.”

“I'll agree to that only if she does it,” said Gin, indicating to Nami with his chin.

Zoro shrugged. “Fine.”

The instructions were followed in the deafening quiet of the night, only broken by a dog's barking from the homeless camp.

“It's all here!” Nami called out, then more softly, “Good luck, Sanji-kun.” She shoved him forward.

He easily caught himself after a misstep, but Gin was there to steady him all the same. “You alright? Injured anywhere?”

“I'm fine,” he replied, “Thanks, Gin.”

“I'm just glad to have you in one piece.” Gin proceeded to remove the bonds and tossed them toward one of the massive piles of refuse. When Sanji next looked, the Strawhat gang was gone. Just like that. “Let's get out of this dump.”

After Sanji assured he could walk without issue, Gin led him to his jet car. There, he was eyed and patted more thoroughly, but he brushed the careful hands off. “I really am okay. They only scuffed me a bit when they first caught me.”

Gin looked surprised at that but didn't press it. “That's good to hear.” He opened the door to the driver's seat. “Go ahead and get in, front or back. The back is clear if you want to lie down.”

Sanji hesitated. “Gin, I— ”

“I know you probably have a lot of questions, but trust me when I say I'm on your side.” Gin smiled at him over the door, looking earnest. “I'm glad I can pay you back for earlier... though the circumstances could have been a lot better.”

He could neither affirm nor deny it. Already, it felt like he was walking out of a dream, memories getting fuzzy. Wordlessly, he got in the car's shotgun.

Gin started in reverse, maneuvering them out of there. “Anywhere you want me to drop you off at? If not, you're welcome to stay at my place for the time being. You're not thinking of returning to your old man's, right? He probably thinks you're dead, and I think you should take advantage of that.”

“Don't worry, I have no plans to return.” Sanji rolled down his window, starting up a cigarette.

“Good.” They reached the road. ”Do you want me to pick up food on the way? Fast food? Convenience store? I have stuff at home, but it won't be as quick.”

He couldn't say he recently ate a farewell feast he whipped up himself, for himself. “I don't think I can stomach anything right now.”

Gin nodded in understanding. “Well, take it easy. We'll be to my apartment in a little over an hour.”

“Thank you, but I rather have some answers now.”

“Are you sure? We can leave it for tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Alright, I guess I'll just say it how it happened... I first learned of your situation a few days back from the news. Never would have pegged you as a rich kid considering I met you at the diner you worked for and all. But it just goes to show no one's their parent, everyone has their issues, life's not so simple. Anyway, of course I was shocked. Don't know if you know, but they were already pronouncing you likely dead. It just didn't sit right with me. There were so many unanswered questions. So of course I had to ask around. (You probably already figured out, one look at me, I'm not in honest business.) But none of the groups I knew claimed you. That worried me, to be honest. It meant you were taken by some upstart gang who'd likely spook easy and jump the gun. (Glad I was wrong.)

“I got a little desperate, so I went to your boss.” Sanji closed his eyes at that, intruding thoughts imagining how that went down, how Zeff and geez, even the damn cooks, were taking everything. “Long story short, he eventually came around to seeing I was trying to help. He acted tough, but you could see it in his eyes that he was falling apart a little. He took one look at the article I'd gotten ahold of and ripped it up, saying he didn't believe any of it. It's how I learned how shitty your family was.

“Anyway, that gave me some hope it wasn't too late. But I was at the end of my rope trying to figure out who had you. Your boss had your smushi number but didn't want to risk any calls that might put you in danger since he didn't have the ransom. You two seem close. He was telling me all the avenues he had been looking into to get the money. Taking out loans, starting a fund with the employees and their friends and family, selling the restaurant—“ Not allowed. Not ever. Sanji resisted the idea with every fiber of his being. “—I didn't have the heart to tell him nothing was going to be quick enough, even if he could scrape together the total amount. With the news being what it was and no negotiations going, we really were racing against the clock. It was as stupid as it gets, but I infiltrated your dad's place—”

Sanji jerked up in his seat, staring aghast at his companion. “You what?”

“I know, it was stupid. Especially with the press and the security system. I didn't think there was any other way though. Threatening and stealing are my craft. Although I was caught right away by your sister.”

Sanji deflated with relief, even though this was in hindsight of a danger already passed. “You lucky dog...”

“Yeah, your sister's pretty chill,” Gin continued, “Actually. I don't know how to feel about her. She seemed to care at least. Knew exactly why I was there even before I said it. She pulled me aside in some room so we could talk. Said she couldn't disobey your father, but she gave me her savings and wished me luck. Then I was out of there, barely making sense of what happened.”

“The money she gave you couldn't be enough.”

“No... That's why it took so long to get you free. I had to make up the rest. There wasn't much time, so I borrowed our earnings from my gang's last weapons deal—”

“Please tell me I just misheard you.”

“I know it sounds bad! But no one saw me. If worse comes to worst, I planted some evidence on the capo of our second unit. Pearl's had it coming to him for a while. Anyways... when I had the money, I managed to contact the ones who had you, and the rest you know.”

By the time the story was done, Sanji had an arm pressed over his eyes, weighed down by everything he was just told. “You are insane, Gin. Thank you so shitty much.”

“I'd do it again, if I had a do-over. For you.”

“I hope to God you don't get in trouble. I've caused you enough already.”

“You don't need to worry about me. Don Krieg trusts me like a right-hand man. I've never betrayed him— I've taken the fall for him before, even. He has no reason to suspect me.”

“I hope you're right.”

The car fell to silence. Sanji had suspected dirty money might be involved (though the specifics still had him reeling) and had known it wouldn't be as simple as telling Gin he could keep the ransom (if someone managed to convince Nami). It seemed his induction into the kidnapping crew and subsequent crime-making would have to be a secret he would take to his grave.

At least no one had been hurt. Yet.

“You chose the wrong man to follow, Gin. You need to get out of there.”

“I can't betray the don.”

“You already have!”

“It's borrowing! I'm already thinking of ways to pay it back! It couldn't be helped given the circumstances.”

“Borrowing usually involves consent from the other party...”

“Yeah, well, no use crying over spilt milk.”

Eventually, they made it to the apartment. Small but surprisingly well-kept. Gin explained it away, saying he wasn't really home that often. He made sure Sanji was well-situated, wanting to give him the bed (Sanji refused), and asked multiple times if he had everything he needed.

When Sanji was at last alone, he laid there on the couch, jumbled thoughts keeping him up.

A rush of disorientation hit him when he found himself awake in a foreign place, though it passed quickly.

Gin was near him, smushi on his ear. “Sorry to wake ya, but I have your boss on the line. I promised to let him know.”

Sanji jolted up at that. He coughed, clearing his throat, and held out his hand. “Here.” Taking the cold shell in his hold, there was nothing. But pressing the screen to his ear suddenly held his insides suspended. “Hey.”

“So it's true.” The gruff voice was unmistakable. He was pretty sure it haunted the most mundane of his dreams.

Sanji smiled. “You can't get rid of me that easily, shitty geezer.”

“Don't try to act tough, cheeky brat.” An audible sniff came through. “I can't believe I'm hearing your voice.”

“Are you tearing up?” he teased, his own voice catching.

“I'm not.”

“Is that Sanji?” Distant, muffled words made themselves heard before sudden clarity. Patty. “Sanji, you knucklehead, you owe me for all the sleep I lost because of you!”

“You better come down here and let us see that you still have all your limbs and all your teeth!” Carne.

“We missed you, dammit! The kitchen hasn't been the same without you!” Saute.

“Hey, tell that punk bastard we're sorry for kicking him out!” Poussin.

“We'll do better than that.” was heard in the background before Zeff reclaimed the smushi “Eggplant. Make sure you tell your hoodlum friend that his meals here are on the house for the rest of his life. He can swing by any time.”

“Sure.” He knew he wasn't hiding anything. He couldn't hold back the sniffles anymore than he could the tears. Goddammit, did they all have to gang up on him like this?

“Don't start crying, I'm going to start crying!”

“You assholes! Look what you started!”

“I'm so happy, dammit!”

It erupted into complete chaos. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

“Your position's waiting for you when you're good and ready,” Zeff told him, signaling the end of the call, “Take your time.”

Smiling, Sanji let the smushi hang limply in his hand. Gin kindly gave him space to compose himself, but he made sure not to take long.

He passed on the messages from the chefs when he gave back the device.

Gin smirked. “I appreciate the sentiment, but that's going to be bad for business, customers seeing a guy like me there often.”

“Owner Zeff wouldn't offer if he couldn't keep his word.”

“You're very loved.”

“Pah.” He sat back down on the couch to hide his rattled emotions. “You should see how they treat me on a normal day. Call me things like 'crap-cook', yell at me for a little flirting, say my food is poison.” He took out his trusty lighter and a cigarette, noting how much he had left of the stock he coerced Usopp into replenishing. “I admit I get more customer complaints than the lot of them together, but that's because I don't take crap from anybody.”

Gin laughed. “Even I have to please customers, Sanji-san. You're lucky your food's so good!”

Sanji laid back, resting one arm on the backrest, and looked up, blowing out a plume of smoke. “I've been thinking... I got roughly one more year until I'm twenty and legal to rent accommodations, plus I'll need to start over with my savings, so the only thing to do is crash with one of the cooks. That, and my identification is invalid now. Or will be eventually. Not sure what to do about that. Work's not a problem, but I won't be able to show my face in front of customers for a while.”

“I can get you in contact with someone who can forge new identification for you,” Gin offered, coming to stand before him. “New name. If you want to be a year older, we can make you a year older. But, Sanji, a fake identity won't work in your hometown. I mean, don't you want to get out of here and away from your family? I have a couple recommendations for where you could go and routes to follow if you— ”

“I'll make it work,” he insisted, “Judge only cares about power, money, and appearances, so he's more than glad to be rid of any pretend obligations towards me. He won't look for me, I won't enter any of his circles, and even if he happened to come across me by accident, I doubt he'd do anything. My siblings are a slightly different story, but they wouldn't dare cause him any trouble.”

Gin closed his mouth, looking dismayed.

Sanji got up. “Anyways, that's enough of my matters. Let me cook us some breakfast. Any requests? You got groceries?” He found the kitchen area and entered, eyeing the space he had to work with.

Gin followed him. “Sorry, I do have to go now, regrettably. You're welcome to use whatever's in the cabinets and fridge. I have some takeout too, I think. I can go shopping when I get back. Sorry to abandon you.”

Sanji looked at him, unable to formulate anything to say. “Oh.”

“As long as you feel safe here alone. Don't hold back on my account if you need something. I don't have a resident den den mushi, so you'll have to hold off on any calls until I get back. I'll try to return as early as I can. Latest by three. The proko is old but still does its job, though you might have to shake it awake a few times.”

“Actually, is there any chance you could drop me off at the Baratie on the way?”

“Oh. Oh sure. I'll give you my smushi number so you can contact me anytime about the fake ID stuff. Let me just grab one more thing before we go.”

“Gin.” The other paused just as he was leaving the room. “I know I said it already, but thank you. For everything.”

Gin smiled warmly, and he was gone.

Chapter Text

He entered quietly through the back door when he arrived. But of course, he was discovered right away and things did not stay quiet. Sanji kicked the crowding cooks away, not wanting an encore of that morning.

Then, Zeff descended into the kitchen, drawn by the ruckus, and all fell to silence. Sanji straightened, suddenly unsure what to say or do. It was ridiculous. How long had he known this man? How many times have they argued, thrown rolling pins and wet rags, and toiled over new recipes right here in this kitchen? Zeff stopped short at the sight of him, though only momentarily. Before Sanji knew it, he was engulfed in a firm embrace.

It surprised him. The surly old coot had never been quick to show affection of any kind— was much quicker with his nitpicking and grumbling. But if there was anyone who could take the role of supportive father figure in his life, it was him.

“Welcome home, eggplant.”

Sanji swallowed, blinking back tears from traitorous eyes. “I'm back.”

Zeff pulled away to look him up and down. “You eat?”

He could mean this morning. He could mean since the abduction happened.

“Not yet. I was hoping I could grab a bite here.”

He knew he didn't need to ask. In a matter of minutes, he had a line-up of the early lunch menu items before him on the area designated for plating. He ate and was pestered with probing questions he had no problem brushing off (from the cooks, though Zeff not-so-inconspicuously listened in). Eventually, they gave up, and the talk easily devolved into their usual banter.

A commotion was overheard from the seating area. Zeff clicked his tongue. “It's too early for this noise.”

“Looks like a group of school kids,” Poussin informed, rejoining them with the day's shipment of fresh produce in hand. He smirked. “Around Sanji's age.”

His eyes widened at that. There were about four hundred senior high schools in the city, a half dozen of which were on nursery-to-preuniversity campuses, and a few hundred students from his own, but in the slim chance someone was here who could recognize him, he knew he couldn't go out. Word spread fast in elitist circles, and that type of gossip would attract the attention of his brothers. If Judge knew about him because others knew about him, he would not remain indifferent.

“Playing hooky at this kind of place?” Zeff glanced out the circular window of the kitchen door. “Who the hell let one of them in with three swords?”

Sanji stilled, disbelieving his ears. There was a clatter, and he realized belatedly his fork had dropped from his hand. It couldn't be...

When he came to himself, he had already emerged from the kitchen and found himself staring at four very familiar faces, neon and curly hair, a straw hat.

Luffy caught sight of him first, brightening instantly. “Oh, Sanji!”

His legs moved on their own to carry him to their table. It no longer mattered that he was attracting onlookers. When he got there, all he could do was gawk, one of his eyebrows spasming. If Owner Zeff found out he was hosting the very kidnappers who had been plaguing him the past couple weeks...

“Shh, Luffy, we're not supposed to know him,” Usopp hissed, for his part looking a bit sheepish.

“Oh, yeah.” Luffy glanced up to the side. “We're not here because the food sounded so good, and we don't have a cook anymore, or to see you either, stranger cook I don't know.”

Zoro chugged his drink, purposely not making any sort of eye contact. “I'm not associated with any perverts with coiled-poop eyebrows.”

Sanji remembered himself then, the insult igniting his ire. He gave the finger. “Up yours! What kind of moss-brain heathen brings weapons into an upscale restaurant?!”

Zoro shrugged. “No one stopped me. It's not like I'm planning to use them.”

“I'm stopping you now! I'll kick you out!”

“What are you trying to do to our customer, Sanji!” Patty appeared, then, from the direction of the restrooms. “How many times do I need to tell you? The customer is god!” Mid-tirade, he greeted each table as he approached: “Have everything you need, damn crooks?” “Hope you're enjoying your meals, mere bastards.” “Hello, welcome to Baratie, you chums.”

He swirled on him. “Patty! I should have known it was you!”

“What? Giving excellent service?” Patty attempted to bear down on him, arms crossed, and he met him fully.

“There are things that are and aren't acceptable, shit server!”

“Whaddya call me, shit cook?!”

“Sanji! Patty!” As he called their names, Zeff whacked each behind their knees with his prosthetic leg, causing them to fall. “If you want to fight, do it in the kitchen! And you!” He turned on Zoro. “I better not see you flaunting those around.”

Even Zoro recoiled a bit at his look. “I'll keep them sheathed.”

“Hmph.” Zeff narrowly observed the four of them. “What school are you lot from? Are you Sanji's friends?”

“Yep!” Luffy answered cheerfully and was promptly kicked under the table for it. “I mean, ah...”

“I hope you've come for the circumstances. I'll mill him down if he's hanging out with truants.” He eyed Zoro again. “Or delinquents.” With that warning, Zeff turned full around and receded back inside the kitchen.

Sanji took the opportunity to seize a protesting Luffy and dragged him towards the restrooms. Fortunately, the men's was empty, and he locked the door after them.

“Sanji, I was still eating...” Luffy whined.

He clammed up when Sanji swung on him, gripping both his shoulders. “What do you think you're doing?”

“I was eating...”

Sanji dropped his head in exasperation before looking at him again. “No, I know that. But why are you here? Don't you have any shame?”

“For what?”

“Never mind. Just leave as soon as possible.” Sanji pulled away, walking off towards the sink to take out a cigarette. “You can't let any of the staff here find out how you came to know me.”

“Okay.” Luffy's expression showed sincere in the mirror. “If that's what you want. I did say I'll give up on you joining us, and I meant that.”

The flame of his lighter caught on the tip of the cigarette. He inhaled, saying nothing.

Luffy's reflection grinned. “You have lots of friends here, that's good. I was worried.” Sanji froze. “Was that mustache-ossan the one who taught you to cook?”

“...Yeah.”

“So he's the reason you're staying.” Luffy readjusted his hat. “Well, I'm going back to my food.” He got as far as putting a hand on the door handle before they heard a lady's scream. Strangely, Luffy got excited. “Is the meat here that delicious?!”

“That was a scream of terror, moron.” Concerned, Sanji shoved him out of the way to open the door and rush back to the dining area.

It was a harrowing sight that greeted them when they returned. Thirty to forty thugs had the establishment hostage, all armed. The near-hysterical clientele were up and keeping their distance. Even the cooks had emerged, only to be stunned in place.

“It's Don Krieg! Of the Krieg Gang!”

The leader of the band— a gorilla-sized man with gaudy armor— made himself known by blaring his demands: “I heard a cook here is the reason we lost our recent earnings, so to make restitution, I'm seizing this restaurant. If you value your life, hand over your licenses and permits! Anyone with firearms and pocketknives, place them on the ground where we can see them! You try to play hero, you get gunned down!” He looked to the customers. “We're taking everything of worth! Hold out your wallets, your cash, your den den mushi, any watches and jewelry, and your prescriptions. We'll collect them from you,” He smirked devilishly. “Oh, and bring out the cook named Sanji!”

Any doubts that this was Gin's gang were put to rest by this last exclamation. If he was exposed, what happened to the man?

There was no time to wonder. Before him, the thugs dispersed around the room to collect the loot. Some took up positions by the windows to stand guard and trickled into the employee area and up the stairs. He and Luffy instinctively stepped back to conceal themselves behind the wall partition of the hallway.

A forced takeover was the absolute last thing he wanted. He vowed to protect the shit-geezer's restaurant. How could he come to be the cause of its surrender?

“Don! This guy has a sword!”

Gaze jumping, Sanji realized the rest of the Strawhat crew had been caught up in this. Nami and Usopp were following directions, their valuables laid before them on the table and their hands up, looking frightened out of their wits. His stomach curled at the sight. Zoro wore a murderous expression as he was forced to give up his beloved blade. But that was strange. He was sure Zoro had been eating with all three of them.

“What kind of madhouse allows their customers to dine with katanas?” Don Krieg mocked as he drew the sword from its sheathe to admire it. He whistled. “This is fine craftsmanship.” And smiled at Zoro before sheathing it again. “Thanks for the bounty.”

He had to do something.

Luffy was quicker, making to rush past him—

But neither of them got anywhere as they were yanked from behind, back into the hallway, out of sight. Surprisingly, the culprit was Patty. “Sanji, why the hell are you still here? They're after you. Go now. Before they discover the back door.”

That didn't sit well with Sanji at all. “And put you all in jeopardy by saving myself?! Do you hear yourself?!”

“We'll figure something out. If they find you, they'll kill you.” That voice was Zeff's. Sure enough, the restaurant owner was heading right for them. He bore a worn, stuffed binder in hand, clearly intending to give in to the demands. Seeing it, all of Sanji's anger evaporated to be replaced with mounting guilt and dread.

“You can't give up the restaurant,” he heard himself protest, distant, “This is your dream!”

“I can always start another one.” Zeff didn't miss a beat, barely acknowledging him.

It wouldn't be that simple. Losing the Baratie, meant losing its business property, its recipes, its name, its employees, its reputation. Nine years' worth of dedication and effort in fashioning a culinary vision would be gone. And worse yet, it couldn't be replicated under a new name, or that would constitute as fraud.

Zeff stopped and regarded Luffy when he reached him. “This twerp doesn't listen to reason. I'm going to trust you to get him out of here, you hear?”

There he went, always treating him like a kid needing protection! It was supposed to be the other way around, dammit!

Luffy's expression was impassive. “I'll keep him safe.”

“Good.” Zeff turned to Patty. “First priority is to avoid a hostile reaction and evacuate the customers. I'll leave you in charge of the evacuation. I'll negotiate a way out. Fortunately, with the exception of this knucklehead, they want compensation, not lives.”

“Yessir!” Patty saluted.

With an approving grunt, Zeff strode into the dining area, immediately commanding the attention of all.

Especially Krieg. The flashy, gold-crusted gorilla grinned greedily. “Very good. It's wonderful to reach a mutual understanding.”

“What kind of fool tries to make off with a restaurant?” Zeff grumbled, acutely exhibiting his unwillingness.

The gorilla's smirk only grew at the insult. “You can sell anything if you know the right broker and lawyer.”

“Hmph. This place is too good for the likes of the black market.” The binder was dropped on a table between them with a thud. “I'll cooperate, so let everyone uninvolved go.”

Sanji could bear no more. He turned on his dopey, straw hat-toting neighbor and seized him by the vest. “Hey, Captain Responsible! This is your fault! Go out there and tell him you'll give him his money back!”

Luffy shook limply in his hands, brows knitted. “What money? Have I met that armor?”

Of course. The only one who knew how everything was connected was himself. He shook more vigorously. “It doesn't matter if you understand! Just do it!”

“What's this?” Patty demanded, “He took the gold lobster's money?”

“You there!” Too late; they were discovered by one of Krieg's men. “Fork over your possessions!”

Under duress, Patty gave up his smushi and wallet. Sanji overturned his pockets, showcasing his current destitution. Luffy copied him with the same result.

“Not a single penny to your name? No ID, either of you?” Sanji couldn't tell if the brute with the curled pompadour was dissatisfied or was simply pitying them, though he confiscated the cigarette carton all the same.

Luffy shrugged. “Nami doesn't trust me with money and stuff.”

“Same for me,” Sanji fibbed when the man looked to him for his explanation.

The ruffian gave them a strange look. “...Just get out there, so we can keep you in sight.”

With those words, they were coerced into the dining area to join the rest of the hostages. Already, the customers' numbers were dwindling thanks to the evacuation that was underway. Deprived of their belongings, and thus, their collateral value, Krieg disinterestedly let them go, not even paying them a glance. No, he was much more preoccupied with the documents being delivered to him, clearly not at all worried someone would call the authorities.

That didn't bode well. But Sanji wasn't surprised. The city police were notorious for their general incompetence and corruption (with a few notable exceptions). It was why gang life flourished here despite the available staffing, funding, and forensic technology. In fact, though the greater populace viewed organized crime with disdain, they considered it to be a necessary evil for the sake of protection of territory, enforcement of order, and regulation on commerce. Krieg could have men planted within the ranks of law enforcement, others bought out.

All the Baratie cooks voluntarily remained, looking on with disgust. Owner Zeff was the benefactor of them all, in some way or the other. And they were damn stubborn to boot. Still, Sanji would much rather have them out of here, far away from danger.

But who was he, the catalyst of all this, to be so picky with fate?

Too bad, he had never been one to take things lying down. “Hey, gorilla-face!”

Krieg looked up as he stalked towards their table. So did Zeff, who frowned. “Hold your tongue, sous chef. Leave me to handle what's mine.”

“Shut up! I'm old enough to finish my own messes!” He was stopped in place by a gun barrel in the face but went on speaking, addressing Krieg again: “I'm the cook you're looking for. Your business is with me, understand?”

“Hah! That's not how this works,” Krieg mocked, leering at him, “I have to recover what was taken from me. You're just an idiot for revealing yourself.” He raised an eyebrow. “That is, unless you have my money to return to me? I was under the impression that it never made it into your hands.”

“It's true I don't have the money,...” He could work with this. “....but I know who does and how they can be found. Isn't that much simpler than this roundabout method of collection?”

Krieg grew serious at that. He waved off Sanji's guard and stood. “I'm listening.”

Sanji smirked. Oddly, he felt more alive in this precarious moment of facing death than ever before. “If you're man enough, I challenge you to a duel. You win: I'll tell you where the money can be found and my life is forfeit. I win: you give up on the restaurant, leave quietly with all your men, and never come back. Oh, and you can keep the armor and weapons you have on you. You'll need the handicap.”

“Oi, Sanji!” That cry came from Carne. “What are you saying?!”

Krieg burst into laughter. “You think I'll blindly agree if you put yourself at enough of a disadvantage and provoke me?” He grinned wide. “Very well. I accept all your conditions!”

Chapter Text

A metallic flash was all Sanji had of warning, but he had been expecting it. He knocked over the nearest dining table and dove behind it.

Boom! Splack!

To his horror, a chunk near the top of the circular wood blew off. The preceding blast of the firearm had been jarring. He had expected a pistol, not a freakin' bazooka!

“Better be careful!” came Krieg's taunt, “If you die, I can't get any information out of you!”

Boom! Splack!

To his right this time. He was hoping for more time to plan!

A quick glance around in search of options showed everyone was ducking for cover. To his shock, he locked eyes with Nami and Usopp. They were still here, hiding behind the brick newel that centered the bar. Zoro stood off a bit from them. Though not together, neither he nor Luffy had taken cover. Idiots! One lunatic was probably risking his life for a metal stick, the other one didn't seem to know what danger was at all!

“This is hardly a duel if you don't fight back!”

Boom! Splack!

This time, the splintering wood nicked his left temple, cheek, and shoulder, the facial wounds instantly oozing warm. Fortunately, his bangs kept his eyes free of debris, though his left ear was ringing and wouldn't stop. A large severed piece of the table leg was in his sight near his outstretched leg.

“Sanji!” Luffy's cry.

“Enough! What's the use of killing him?!” Zeff's.

And Krieg's bellowing laughter, mocking.

There was no time to second-guess himself. Sanji snatched the broken leg and tossed it far from him, out of line of anyone else. At the same time, he was moving—

Bam!

As predicted, Krieg shot the feint, though Sanji was too busy sprinting for the bar to see it. He barely avoided the subsequent gunshots by leaping over the counter and ducking. There was more of a barricade here with the thicker panels and packed cabinets, but he needed more than that to fight back.

He swirled in spot, towards the cabinets, and grabbed everything in reach, quickly shifting through it all— wine, glasses, ice buckets, menus, coasters, mints, olives...

His hands stopped on the powdered coffee creamer, recalling to mind a catastrophic kitchen accident of his youth. Next to it were cocoa and dairy powders. He seized them all, pouring them into the same bag.

“Psst! Sanji, here!” Sanji looked up sharply. With some relief, he found Usopp peaking from his same position behind the newel, remembering him. He was tossed a small pouch. Opening it, he unveiled a pungent-smelling black powder. Gunpowder. He didn't even question it but added it straightaway to the concoction.

The gunfire stopped. Krieg could have been reloading. He could have more arms concealed and at the ready.

Either way, it didn't make a difference. Sanji rose up just enough to lob the open bag as far as he could, causing the eruption of a huge dust cloud. The shooting renewed, but the accuracy was way off. He took up the flame-dial torch for smoking cocktails and turned it on, blasting the cloud.

There was a tremendous flash given the limited amount of flammable aerosol, scorching everything in contact before it all burned out. He heard a holler of surprise and pain.

This was his chance. He didn't miss a beat and glided over the top of the counter, spurting straight towards his foe. If there was anything he could rely on, it was his speed—

Bam!

Sanji's right leg jolted wildly and he fell before it came to him that he'd been shot. But it hadn't been Don Krieg.

He stared dumbly at his calf, amazed so much of his own blood was trickling out. All he felt was moderate buzzing.

He looked up, searching for answers. A lot of noise he couldn't quite parse out. There. One of Krieg's men, taking center stage of the room with a stupidly loopy grin, gun dangling by his side. He was toting bulkier armor than his master, even capped in a ballistic helmet. Despite the protection, he appeared damaged. A thick gash across his cheek, a bruised lump obstructing half his vision, a nose painted red and blue, the right side of his face disproportionately larger than the left, and a limp in his stance.

“Hey, shitty tin man! That's interference!” Wait, that was Nami's voice. Sanji looked over, surprised to see her being held back by Usopp, her gorgeous face made all the more beautiful by her righteous fury. Angry on his behalf! “I know you did that because Sanji had the upper hand! If you play tricks, you better forfeit the prize, you hear?! You have to honor the agreed upon wager and—“

“Don't give me this farce,” the tin man rudely interrupted, making Sanji's blood boil, “Why do we have to do what you say? The end result is all that matters.”

He was right, in a way. Sanji knew how much he was pressing his luck. That's why he couldn't stop. He ripped a piece off the nearest tablecloth to wrap tight around his wound. It was starting to burn now, but as long as his leg could still function and his adrenaline was pumping, he would manage.

He forced himself to rise— if anything, it was the movement and weight-bearing that hurt. “This fight isn't over yet.”

“I believe it is.” Unsurprisingly, Krieg— now sporting a glistening pink burn mark across his left temple and some singed hair— had recovered first and was back to pointing a gun at him. Not a bazooka, but a double-barrel handgun. “Now talk.”

So this was it. Of course he had never been planning to give up the gang, just as the bastard had never been planning to abide by the rules of the duel.

He smiled. It was his utter defeat. “I refuse, you damn monkey.”

Krieg glowered. “Then this was a colossal waste of time.” He drew the sword at his hip with his left hand— Zoro's taken sword. “But as Pearl said, it's the result that matters. You will tell me, and I will have my money back in the end. No matter the method I must use.”

“I was waiting for you to do that.” That voice...!

It was so unexpected, so quick, that Sanji couldn't believe it was happening. Zoro was there, doubly armed. With an upwards strike, he knocked Krieg's sword back, then thrust both his katanas down the blade to pincer near the grip. A single forceful twist wrenched his opponent's weapon free and out of hand. Zoro immediately reclaimed it, grinning wide, as Krieg cursed.

“So you had more hidden, you scamp!” Krieg swung his whole right side to throw his gun in Zoro's direction, alarming Sanji. “I doubt you borrowed them from the cooks.”

Zoro shrugged, unmoved. “I put them under the table. No one checked when I lent the one.”

“You should have left quietly with everyone else...” They all knew that as the signal of Krieg about to open fire.

“Wait!” Sanji cried.

Dink! A dinner plate broke on Krieg's head. Clang! A subsequent serving platter flew into his wrist, knocking the gun out of hold and disarming him again.

“He's the one throwing crap at the Don! Get him!”

When he looked, Sanji saw the whole gang's attention was on Usopp, who was now diving inside the bar with Nami to flee bullet fire.

“Shoot them all down—!”

“—Now! We're taking back the restaurant!”

That simultaneous holler stunned the thugs. Before anymore guns could discharge, the Baratie cooks were jumping their owners, beating down on them with anything in reach. All military veterans or ex-gang members themselves, the staff of course knew how to defend themselves.

A melee broke out. Sanji could almost laugh with hysteria at watching it unfold. They were fighting back!

“You damn twink...” Largely unharmed, Krieg was still moving. He unlatched the apparently detachable shoulder plates and joined them together along the lengths, creating a complete ellipse. A mechanism must have been triggered, for a wide triangular blade sprang forth. Krieg extended a shaft from the other side. A hidden weapon. “No more chances. I'll gut you and cut down every damn employee and customer here!”

Sanji rose to his full height, dearly wishing he had a cigarette. “You're free to try. I'm not going anywhere until I drive you and your men from this establishment.”

“Sanji! Don't do any more unnecessary things!” Owner Zeff was yelling at him. “I'm not so old and feeble enough yet that I need protecting by a little eggplant!”

“You're one to talk!” he shouted back, “You always said you gave up your dream when you lost your leg to the Marines, but that's not enough to stop you from sailing, is it? The reason you settled down to start the restaurant was because of a kid who was powerless against his own family! You expect me to just stand here and watch me be the cause of you about to lose everything again?!”

He had let himself be distracted. By the time he noticed Krieg swinging at him from the side of his vision, it was too late to react—

Someone pulled him by the back of his shirt and flung him out of danger. Boom!! In his place, the spearhead had collided with the floor and not only shattered the tile but blasted away the neighboring tiles as well, leaving a gaping hole of pulverized bits and dust. The damage was much worse than all the gunshots and his flare-cloud had been.

He blinked and saw Luffy standing tall before him, cracking his knuckles, as if ready to engage in a brawl barefisted.

He couldn't have that at all. “Luffy! Forget the promise from earlier! It's not worth your life!”

“I'm not doing this for that,” Luffy replied without looking his way.

Don Krieg readied his spear again, scowling. “It doesn't matter how many of you there are. I'll annihilate you all.”

“No way. I'm stronger.”

Krieg raised an eyebrow. “You and what weapon?”

“Don't need one.” Luffy readied his stance.

“Luffy!” Zoro was hollering; Sanji had forgotten about him. “His armor's ceramic. Hard, brittle, meant to stop projectiles. Whack it good a few times, and it will break.” Zoro returned his third sword to his mouth. “I'll go after tin man and his steel.”

“As if I'd let you get the chance!” Krieg hurled his spear in Luffy's direction, but ever-agile, Luffy leapt out of the way. Boom! This time a table was hit and shattered. Krieg smirked. “Do you like my Battle Spear? I designed it myself after getting my hands on the extremely rare and sought-after reject dial. It magnifies any force acted upon it ten times.” He swung again...

But Luffy could predict his broad movements. Boom! Another crater in the floor. Some of the tile pieces that scattered from the blow cut up Luffy's leg, though the boy didn't flinch. Instead, he charged towards Krieg, who hadn't had the chance to retract his weapon, and used his full momentum to land a dropkick, ramming the don's own ceramic prison into him and knocking him over.

It would be no easy feat to break the armor, but maybe Luffy didn't need to. He could simply break Krieg's ribs or skull instead. Sanji could recognize that Luffy had the conditioning, speed, and power for it from his own training. He was probably even the better fighter.

Nevertheless, though a simpler strategy, it would hardly be any easier. As if to testify to the fact, Krieg stood back up and initiated his next attack as if he hadn't been struck at all. Boom! Boom! A double-swing, obliterating another table and blasting through the drywall. Luffy narrowly evaded and seemed to take some of the impact from the shockwave to the arm.

Looking through the gaping hole to the building next door, Sanji realized then that the outcome of the fight didn't matter at all if it caused the destruction of the Baratie in the process. What was he doing, laying here licking his wound?

Rolling to his feet, there was no time to even steady his stance. “Don't dodge!” he shouted at Luffy.

“What?!” Luffy shouted back, eyes bulging, “Are you crazy!” Of course he jumped out of the way of the incoming spear point, now making multiple quick-succession stabs. But Luffy was simply too quick.

Unexpectedly, Krieg flushed his left wrist, showcasing a concealed dart gun that shot at Luffy, who fled unceremoniously from the path of the incoming barrage. At the same time, Krieg brought back his spear, readying another swing.

“Oh no you don't!” Sanji caught the shaft midstroke with the upper side of his good foot and kicked up, successfully deflecting the attack—

But it didn't fully stop the resulting explosion. The jolt along the staff was enough to trigger the head, and he was right there under it.

The surrounding air surged, crashing into him like a tidal wave. When he came to, ears ringing, he was back on the floor.

He tried his best to shake it off. Luffy was yelling at him, he thought.

In his weakness, he staggered when he rose again. He couldn't really hear his own breathing, but he knew it was taking effort just to inhale. His calf was on fire, and his whole leg was spasming from the pain. Sweat dotted his entire hairline.

His thoughts were barely reaching him. Even so, when he saw that blasted demolition weapon moving, he flung himself forward to block it.

He only managed to reach it.

The ceramic bludgeon nailed him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. The subsequent shock channeled directly into his abdomen, sending him flying and crash-landing into a couple of chairs. His back, his head, his leg— none of that mattered as he desperately held his middle, hacking uncontrollably and simultaneously gasping for air. He was sure he had a cracked rib or two or three.

For some reason, this new pain broke through the confusion. He caught his breath, though it came short, and observed as much as he could of his surroundings.

Luffy was in front of him, not taking his eyes off of Krieg. “You alive?”

“Somehow,” he rasped.

“I'd hit you if you weren't already so broken. Why are you jumping in front of his attacks?”

“The restaurant...” He could only get his voice out in bursts. “Even if it's a second... Just a second longer... I want to preserve it... for as long as I can...”

Luffy held his hat. Krieg seemed to be taking the opportunity to recover his strength. Wielding that hefty spear in addition to lugging around his armor was definitely taking a toll. “...Is that for the mustached-ossan too?”

“I took everything away from him... which is why I don't want him to lose anything else...”

It was the truth. As a seafaring chef, Zeff had sailed all over the world in employment for the marines, doing everything in his power to seek out the world's most famous fabled sea. That was until a malfunctioning turret caused an explosion on the battleship he was on. He survived but had to have his right leg amputated and was discharged honorably. Still, he was lucky, for as long as he had his hands he could continue to cook, and prosthetics were advanced enough today to make adventuring a breeze.

He came to this city to recuperate from his injury and undergo physical therapy at a veteran hospital that specialized in orthotic and prosthetic care. Sanji was sure he had no plans at that time to stay.

But then they met.

To be honest, Sanji didn't remember that period of his life very well. The days of being shut away in the basement blurred together. Or maybe it's what they called blanking out traumatic events and survival situations. Though he did remember everything about how he felt. His guilt and despair for disappointing Judge. His fear, his loneliness, the terror of his brothers, his sister's cold yet merciful hands. He hated that basement, wanted with all his power to get out of there. But even worse was being let out.

That fateful summer day rang the clearest in his mind. His brothers, eight and bored, found amusement in yanking his favorite book from his hands to hold hostage. It became one of their “games”. They promised to free him (for a time) and return it (intact) if he participated. He couldn't recall if he had played this game before but he knew he had dreaded it with all the intensity of his little heart. Just as he had always quailed in the face of all his brothers' visits.

It was a hunting game. They even brought in the family's hounds. His only job was to run as fast as he was able, try to get away as best he could. That was fun for them, the sport. Though even with several head starts, he always failed their expectations.

He had long since learned no one would come if he cried for help. Not the staff. Not Judge. Not even Reiju, who pitied him. He understood she pitied herself just as much. All he could do was fend for himself. And sometimes that meant running. Running, running, and covering his neck when he was knocked down. Getting up again as Yonji held back the dogs and running some more.

At one point, he broke through the bordering hedges of the Vinsmoke estate in his desperation. He hadn't known then concepts of boundaries and property. The manor had been his entire world since birth. He had never left it, never knew what existed beyond it except what was depicted in textbooks and children's stories. He ran down the gravel of the road and cut across yet another well-kept lawn. There were more hedges, and at the moment, putting them between him and his brothers as a barrier seemed like a good idea.

That's when he found himself in a foreign place in front of the gawking faces of total strangers. A large veteran hospital, as was later explained to him. He gawked right back.

The hounds caught up to him, as they always did, but this time, Niji and Yonji dragged them off quickly instead of watched, pretending to scold the dogs for their bad behavior. There was a fuss about his injuries— scores of scrapes and bite wounds, many still bleeding. Ichiji intervened and dismissed the concerns of the hospital staff by standing Sanji on his two feet, brushing him off, and returning his book to him, which he happily accepted with much relief. Ichiji told the strangers about their family doctors who were familiar with his weak and sickly condition (that was a lie), and the nurses stopped protesting as soon as he mentioned their names. Sanji didn't care. He didn't know these people; one of them had a mean-looking face and a robot leg and wouldn't stop staring at him. He was just glad the game was over. Ichiji took his arm to lead him back with them.

But then the robot-leg man started speaking to him, asking him about his book on the All Blue. He had completely misjudged. He shouldn't do that based on appearances. Anyone who liked cooking and believed in his dream couldn't be a bad person. When the man told him he was thinking of starting cooking classes (another lie, he found out later) and asked if he wanted to join, he was so excited he accepted without thinking.

That invitation ended up being his lifeline, dragging him out of the basement and pulling him into a freer world absent of Vinsmokes. Judge had no protest sending him away after school, not bothering to investigate the ex-military cook. His brothers got bored waiting for him to turn up at home. In the meantime, he helped Zeff start up his cooking classes in a small studio with a modular kitchen they built themselves. Eventually, they earned the funds and credibility to open the seafood-themed Baratie. That place easily became his haven. He learnt everything worth learning there.

However, he could never escape the estate completely. Judge wouldn't let him go entirely, no matter how many times he told him it was a mistake he'd been born. Sanji had threatened once at age fourteen not to come back (his childish idea was to move into the restaurant). Judge's reaction was so violent, it took him by surprise. “Are you trying to ruin me?!" Judge screamed at him as he boxed his ears and beat him with a cane, “How do you think that would make me look, hm? An incompetent dolt unable to discipline his own family, that's what! I own the greatest tech laboratories in the world, but I can't even handle a little teenage rebelliousness? What a farce! And what of my enemies? God knows I have many! They'd be the first to dig up my embarrassing little secrets and use them against me. Knowledge truly is power!”

He never brought up the subject again. Zeff had his own methods of trying to get him out of there, but that only served to put himself in danger. The city police (who purchased Germa-made equipment) had a reputation for caving to big money and wouldn't do anything. Still, it was livable and wouldn't last forever. He might well have wasted away if Zeff had never reached out to him, but since he acquired many things to live for, he could endure. All thanks to the damn geezer.

And what had he given Zeff in return? Shackled him to land, away from his beloved sea. Baited Don Krieg's men into tearing up his decade-old eatery. Destroyed his life's ambition twice.

Luffy didn't respond.

Instead, he turned from Krieg, as if he had lost all interest in him, and approached the nearest standing table. There, he lifted an arm and shot down with his elbow, impressively splitting the wood in two.

“Oi—!” Sanji tried to react, but the jolt of pain to his ribs held him in place.

Luffy was still moving. Going from table to bar to knock off the remaining wine bottles and wreck the counter. Then it was throwing a chair through the window and using his head, fist, and foot to simultaneously punch three holes through the wall.

Sanji could take it no more. Willing himself forward through rage and grit alone, he seized Luffy by the front of his clothes. “What the hell are you doing?! Didn't you hear what I just said?!”

“Yeah.” Luffy spoke calmly from under the cover of the straw brim, further irritating him. “If I destroy this building, then there won't be anything left to fight over.”

Sanji pulled him closer, half-a-second away from punching his face. “If you take Krieg's place, I'll fight you too! I rather die than see this restaurant crumble!”

Luffy grew angry then, gripping him in return. “Dying won't pay anything back, you idiot!”

“Then what am I supposed to do, huh?! This is all I have!”

At that moment, the front door flew open. A solitary figure stumbled in, barely catching himself from tumbling over. Gin. He looked far worse off than Pearl, though there was less blood and obvious external wounds. His exposed skin was marred in reddened, irritated patches and purpling blisters. Every shuddering breath came as a heaving gasp for air. Dried tears ran twin tracks down his face, and he blinked constantly.

“Gin!” Sanji cried, letting Luffy go.

“Gin,” Don Krieg echoed disparagingly, “Since you're still alive, I'll give you one last chance. Take your gun and blast these two to the ground!”

The late visitor looked to the three of them, bloodshot eyes still more than alert. “I c-can't...!” he wheezed, “I can't... Don Krieg!”

“Why not?!” Krieg growled.

“Because... he saved my life! No one... No one's ever done... anything for me before... without seeking something in return... I've always... always worked for others... everything's always been cold business.. and intimidated loyalty... No one's true because they're... constantly watching... their own backs...” Gin paused to get more air. The entire floor was quiet, watching him. Looking around, Sanji noticed most of the fighting was over in the cooks' favor. He looked back, uncomfortable. In a way, it was like watching himself.

But Krieg was impatient. “Tell me an actual goddamn reason, not this sentimental nonsense!”

“Don Krieg! Please! Leave the restaurant alone! *huff* *huff* The one who stole from you... was me, not them!”

“If you're not going to tell me anything useful...” Krieg rapidly approached, readying his spear. “...then you can shut up. Permanently.”

“Gin, run!”

A flurry of motion passed Sanji. Luffy. He was chasing after Krieg while the latter had his back turned. The don swung around at the sound of him, lashing out, but Luffy easily sidestepped his attack and landed another drop-kick at full speed.

This time, this time a large crack formed in the armor.

Luffy grinned as he dodged Krieg's clumsy counterattack from the floor, steadied the golden torso with both hands, and slammed his forehead against his foe's. During Krieg's pained daze, he used his bare hands to pry pieces of the ceramic plate off the plastic underlayer. Once finished, he cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck to either side, still grinning.

Everything that followed was no longer a fight but a beating. Luffy pummeled with his fists until they returned to him bloodied and Don Krieg was rendered unconscious.

The last thing Sanji remembered before he passed out from the relief and pain was a resounding cheer.

Chapter Text

He woke up to déjà vu. Again he was in a foreign place, dimly lit. A couple blinks revealed to him that the windows were covered in thick black paper. Odd. His entire upper half was throbbing painfully, while his right leg was completely numb and immobile. Vaguely, he realized the conversation in the room had stopped,

“So you're up.” A man in surgical cap and mask drew near to hover over him. “If I was still working at the prison, I'd ask how you were doing right about now, but I'll spare you the dumb questions. I have limited painkillers, and Gin-san has forbidden me from giving you any illicit substances. There's two pills and water on the bedside table near you.”

“You are...?”

“You may call me Muchana. I removed the bullet from your leg. You're welcome.”

As confused as Sanji was on where he was, the pain took precedence. He looked for the medicine and realized he had tubing coming out of his nose hooked up to a machine. Likely an oxygen-type breath dial apparatus. It made him pause. He was accustomed to being healthy and fit (despite certain doomsday prophesies about his smoking habits) and not in need of foreign instruments to function, but now... now every deep inhale came with a sharp pang, and he was grateful for the aid, if only to alleviate the discomfit a bit. He noticed, too, Gin was in the room with him, hooked up to a similar machine, in the second bed. Bandages littered the poor man's face, arms, and torso. Even so, he offered a weak smile.

Sanji washed down the pills and watched Muchana walk over to sit at the only office desk in the room. There, he lit up a small lamp dial and began scribbling on paper. As he wrote, he continued to talk: “You have multiple rib fractures and a likely lung contusion in addition to your gunshot wound and a ruptured eardrum. You should be out of danger and can make a full recovery, but precautions are needed to prevent wound infection and pneumonia. All in all, I'd say you're very lucky. Your ribs didn't displace to puncture anything, the bullet didn't hit any major arteries, and you didn't have any internal hemorrhaging or ruptured organs from all the shockwave trauma you endured. I don't care what you do once you're out of my hands, but my medical advice is to avoid any strenuous movements over the next two months to allow your body to fully heal. You'd also be smart to limit weight-bearing on your right leg for two weeks.”

“Muchana here is pretty reliable,” Gin explained, sounding tired, “He's treated a gunshot wound of mine once or twice in the past.”

“Twice, three holes,” Muchana clipped.

“He actually finished medical school, unlike most underground quacks you come across. Though his license was revoked.”

“Stood by and watched a pedophile succumb to her injuries after being beaten by her cellmate. No regrets.”

“He's treating the both of us after I reached out to him. I didn't think you'd want to go to a regular hospital. They'd report you to the police, who'd send you back to the Vinsmokes.”

“And Don Krieg and his men?” Sanji couldn't help but ask, “If we got away, then...”

“I'm lucky because the Baratie staff covered for me, but the rest of the gang got taken in.” He snorted in disdain. “The pigs waited until the fight was over to show up and had the gall to take all the credit for the arrest. It's hard to believe, but the mighty Don Krieg has fallen. All thanks to some scrawny nobody customer in a dumb straw hat.”

“Luffy...” Sanji murmured in awe, remembering.

“Hm? You know him?”

“It's... a long story.” He looked to Muchana. “Thanks for the treatment. You wouldn't happen to have any cigarettes on you, would you?”

Pen stopping, Muchana's gaze shot up to stare incredulously at him. “Do you want to catch all of us on fire from lighting up your oxygen supply?

“Oh.” His heart sagged in despair at the news he would have to go without. “That makes sense. Um... How much is this going to cost exactly?”

“Twenty million, for each of you.”

Sanji's jaw dropped. He completely forgot all about cigarettes.

“Now hold up,” said Gin, “This is robbery. You're supposed to be cheap.”

“I was cheap. When I was paid every month by Don Krieg. I just lost my biggest customer, by your doing, I might add. It's only natural life-saving treatment would be this price.”

“Not for an apartment clinic with over-the-counter equipment and drugs.”

“Just because I acquired them by my own means doesn't make them inferior. You grossly underestimate the extent of specialty expertise needed for chemical burns and bullet surgery and all the work that goes into preventing life-threatening complications, of which there are many. The risks involved are...”

Sanji stopped hearing as they argued. He couldn't intake another word. Fortunately, the pills were starting to kick in, making at least one part of his life a little more bearable.

Without warning, the curtain on the other side of his bed yanked aside. He hadn't even realized it was there. “Sanji, are you awake?!” Speak of the devil. Grinning as wide as can be, Luffy freely entered the cordoned space. Gauze and dressings covered his leg, hands, arm, and cheek. So he too had been treated here.

“Luffy! You're not supposed to go in there! Do you want to infect them both?”

“Oh, I forgot.”

“As long as you don't cough on them or exchange bodily fluids, they should be fine,” Muchana said, returning to his notes.

Luffy drew smug. “See? He says it's okay.” As he approached the bed, he was followed by Nami and Usopp... then Zeff.

Sanji's guilt from that morning rekindled at the sight of him. He didn't like the fact that they were altogether either, wondering exactly what Zeff had figured out. It wasn't the dirty secret itself that was the problem, it was everything it had evolved into.

Zeff had that look he got when he was about to give him a serious lecture, like that time he made him vow never to hit a woman (when he was young, before he understood the meaning of it). Even now, it still made Sanji quake a little inside. “So the surgery's over? No lasting complications?”

“With my skills, he should make a full recovery, so long as he changes the bandages properly and practices breathing exercises at home.”

Zeff grunted, eyeing him from head to toe. Nervous under the scrutiny, Sanji wiggled his elevated cast. “Now we match,” he joked weakly.

Zeff's eyes narrowed. That had been the wrong thing to say. “I stayed these past four hours to tell you something: I don't want you anywhere near my kitchens again.”

He stared back at Zeff, mouth gaping. If someone dumped him in the ocean, and he resurfaced unable to locate land, he wouldn't feel as disoriented as he did now. “...What?”

“You heard me. You're banned from the Baratie.”

Logically speaking, it was fair. It was very fair, after the armed invasion and near-destruction of his restaurant, but... “How much do you know?”

“Not much. Patty clued me in that these idiot friends of yours might be involved. I don't care if it was to get back at Judge or to get you out of there or if it was false or true. I don't even care if it was for the money. The way I see it, your companions made up for the damage they caused by kicking that insufferable Krieg out. I don't have a problem with them. It's you I have a problem with.”

“Huh?” Gin noised. Poor man, he too was piecing two-and-two together.

“I... I'm sorry,” Sanji apologized lamely.

“I can't accept that apology.”

“Wait,” Nami cut in (in her graciousness), “I think there's a misunderstanding here. Sanji-kun wasn't the one who—“ She stopped speaking when Luffy put a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head.

“Oh, he's very responsible,” Zeff said, “A little too responsible. That's the problem.”

Sanji gripped the sheets of his bed. What was that supposed to mean? “You have every right to be mad at me. You don't need to forgive me. But I won't stop working at the Baratie. I'll work there for the rest of your life! Even if it's for free!”

“I'll live another hundred years.”

“Then I'm staying with the Baratie for a hundred years!”

The anger Zeff had been holding back finally appeared on his face. “How much longer are you going to continue to remain a kid?! When have I ever told you I wanted something from you?!”

Despite his penitence, the dig at his maturity irked him. “It's the other way around, you senile old man! I'm no longer a kid, so I don't need anyone to tell me to do something I ought to do!”

“Little eggplants are little eggplants! Why would you waste the rest of your life doing something so meaningless? Seeing you in this condition makes me want to split my head open in shame!”

Everything Sanji was about to retort died on his tongue. “Wha... Why would you be ashamed?”

Zeff huffed, likewise calming down as he crossed his arms. “Because that's what it means to be a parent, Sanji. If your clueless little eggplant is happy, then you're happy. If they're hurt by something, then you're hurt too. If they sabotage themselves, then it makes you wonder where you went wrong.”

He gawked. “Then saying you don't want me back at the Baratie is because...” He trailed off.

“To stop you from doing more reckless things out of some misguided sense of obligation. The Baratie was meant to be your safe place, not your prison. You've already had enough of those.”

“Oh.” Sanji bit his lip, really craving a cigarette right now. He was embarrassed by how much he completely misunderstood everything, how much he'd been worrying Zeff by his own doing, how everything he'd been working for was counterproductive to what he'd been trying to accomplish... But he was also relieved. And damn happy. “Sorry.”

“I accept that one. As long as you understand. And while I'm saying this, you should just leave already and get started on that dream of yours.”

“It's yours too.”

“Pah. I found something else. A real piece of work he is though.”

Sanji blinked back tears, not trusting his voice. It wasn't the first time Zeff had claimed him as a son (he'd never get used to that) but as his dream equivalent too? What did he do to deserve so much love?

“If you're kicking him out, can I have him?” Luffy spoke up, “We have a boat. We can take him around the world. It sounds fun.”

Usopp lightly smacked him from behind. “Oi, oi, don't suddenly decide something crazy. Who's going to fund your long-ass vacation to nowhere?”

“But we have money—“ Usopp and Nami jumped Luffy at the same time to shut him up, and Sanji grimaced.

Zeff side-eyed them. “What do you want Sanji for?”

“Cook,” Luffy answered.

“You're the ones who kidnapped him,” Gin said in suspicion, “I'm sure of it now.”

“Ahahaha, let's let bygones be bygones,” Nami intervened, giving an overenthusiastic smile, “We're all friends now, right?”

“Then give me back my money. I got a couple outstanding medical bills to pay off.”

Usopp and Luffy looked to Nami. She glanced between them and threw down her hands. “Fine, fine! I suppose we really were the cause of this. We'll use Sanji's ransom to pay everyone's medical expenses and the repairs needed for the restaurant. Will that make everyone happy? Except you, Zoro,” she called behind her, and Sanji noticed the swordsman against the far-off wall with several of his own bandages, “I'm adding your treatment bill to your debt.”

Zoro jerked up, upset. “I'm the one who kept you from getting killed! Where's my payment for that, huh?!”

“That's your job,” said Nami, unmoved, “Which, may I remind you, Usopp and I were covering your back the entire time, keeping you from being shot, and that's certainly not our job. Should I add that to your debt as well?”

Zoro went rigid at the threat. His expression turned into a glower, lower jaw jutting out and teeth grinding. “If we're all going to hell, you're going to the deepest level.”

“Looking forward to it! I have money now, and I heard you could pay the devil off.”

Sanji snickered, which unintentionally broke into full-blown laughter. His ribs were killing him, but he couldn't stop, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He felt the tension of the last several days finally seeping out of him. All the pressure he'd been heaping on himself left his back and shoulders.

It was entirely freeing.

“Alright men and Nami, we're sailing out! Get to work on raising the anchor and unfurling the sail!” Usopp proudly decreed, striking a pose with one foot on Going Merry's prow, pointing forward.

“Hey, that's my job!” cried Luffy, running up to him to shove him off, “I'm the leader, so I'm captain of this ship!”

Usopp attempted to shove back, but Luffy met him and they started grappling instead. “No way! If there's anyone who should be captain, it's me! I'm the one who got us this ship!”

“Liar! Kaya gave it to all of us!”

“Yeah, but I'm the one who's friends with her and convinced her to sell it to us!”

“She chewed you out for using it without permission and keeping things from her but forgave you anyway. I was there!”

“Shut up! I had the idea of being pirates first, right Sanji?”

“You shut up! I'm the one who had the idea about sailing places, right Sanji?”

They both turned to look at the ship's cook, who was in the middle of loading the provisions needed for their journey. He barely paid them any mind, picking up his clipboard to write out the carefully counted inventory. “I don't give a crap. Don't involve me in your petty argument.”

Nami's head poked out of the storage room then. “Hey! If you three got nothing to do, go inspect every inch of the rigging! Make sure nothing's too sun-damaged or coming apart!”

“Hai, Nami-s~wan!”

“And what are you doing, Nami?!” Luffy accused, foolishly turning his anger on her.

“I'm busy setting up everything we need to actually sail this thing! I'm calibrating our S-Map den den mushi for navigation and brushing up on the ship owner's manual!”

“That's what the captain should do!”

Nami's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Usopp slugged Luffy at the same time Sanji high-kicked him from the front. When he dropped from the double-whammy, they picked him up, ready to drag off. Usopp saluted. “I silenced the nuisance, Navigator Nami! One round of inspections coming up!”

“That's more like it. Sanji-kun, you can stay since I see you're busy. Usopp, take Zoro with you instead. He should be done with unjamming the door to the anchor room and taking a look at things in there by about now. Make sure Luffy doesn't break anything.”

It had been unanimously decided that kidnapping wasn't for them. They had the money for travel now, so they'd try their luck at raiding cargo, passenger, and cruise ships instead. Becoming pirates, as Usopp said. In doing so, they'd leave behind the east sector of Grand Line City for good— a first for all of them— and enter a vaster world, no boundaries in sight.

Sanji wouldn't be the only one fulfilling his dream. Luffy had always wanted to travel and “go on adventures”, as he put it. Nami wanted to obtain enough money to revitalize the Cocoyashi and surrounding neighborhoods where she grew up. Usopp wanted to challenge himself to grow as a person. And Zoro wanted to test his skills against swordfighters around the globe, developing his ability to eventually overtake the current world kenjutsu champion.

He had already said his goodbyes to the cooks, plus Gin, who had taken up employment as the newest dishwasher. Zeff had gifted him fully clad stainless steel cookware— a compact, yet quality set he knew he'd use every day and treasure for the entire journey.

But, before they went, there was one last piece of business to take care of...

In the forgotten hours betwixt midnight and morning, when the veil of darkness hung heavy on the urbanscape still in slumber, and silence and stillness reigned supreme, a questionable pair of shadowy figures hugged the wall of an immense corporate property. The coast around them was clear, as they knew it would be. All surveillance cameko had carefully been diverted with offerings of banana slices. One of the hooded duo amassed a small pile of leaf litter, while the other added on wadded-up sheets of newspaper. In the center were placed five matches and a lit cigarette.

The cigarette was their time buffer. They cleared the property before the paper tube burnt down, ignited the matches, and set the incendiary device ablaze. Outside the wrought iron fence, they merged with the other half of their party, who had been deployed on the opposite side of the grounds. From there, they were met by a yellow Super Karoo skidding to a halt on the pavement.

The minivan hadn't been part of the plan. At least as far as Sanji knew. The driver's door flew open, revealing a cerulean-haired woman they could all recognize. “Get in!” she shouted. The Strawhats jumped in the back without question, so Sanji felt compelled to follow.

Then, they were off down the surface streets to join the early work traffic.

Sanji looked back, immediately breaking out into a grin as he caught sight of two budding orange glows on either side of Germa 66 Headquarters. He felt so giddy, he could scarcely believe he was awake. A voice at the back of his mind was yelling at him in warning, promising sure punishment for his act of defiance, but he felt at ease enough now among his companions that he could quash it without difficulty. Vinsmoke Judge no longer held any power over him. This realization combined with their just-now act of retributive justice sent him over the moon.

“Satisfied?” Usopp gave a knowing smile from the seat next to him.

“More than you can believe.” He looked back. “Since when has Vivi-chan been in on this? A delightful surprise, I assure you. Icing on the cake of a wonderful night. But I'm very shocked.”

“Oh, that's right,” said Nami, “You weren't there when we met her. You were still on medical rest.”

“You should thank me personally, Sanji,” Usopp began in a voice reserved for his grandest tales, “Your beloved hotel heiress was embroiled in an assassination plot on her life, but luckily, yours truly was on the scene. I fought off roughly sixty of Joker's men— that's three times what Krieg brought with him to the Baratie— and expertly warded off our pursuers for thirty-two kilometers in a high-speed chase while being shot at the entire time—“

“That's Usopp-speech for 'he was passed out at the tavern we were at before anything even happened',” Luffy interrupted.

Nami continued: “It was supposed to be a relaxing night out, but it turned into a real mess. There was a bomb planted under Vivi's table. Fortunately, her companion... What was his name again, Vivi?“

“Igaram, my personal bodyguard,” Vivi answered, glancing at them through the rear-view mirror.

“That's right. Fortunately, Igaram found it before it detonated, but it caused a huge commotion. We were accused at first since we had been sitting there previously and only got off the hook because there was a witness who saw us come in and eat. But then! Not too long after that, a second bomb in the parking lot under their car actually did go off. It was not pretty. There was debris and smoke everywhere.”

“Igaram and I would be dead if Mr. Bushido hadn't noticed that one of the blower tubes had been tampered with. He's very observant.”

“If only I was there!” Sanji lamented angrily, “I'd do one better and mince that bomber to pieces!”

“They were long gone before the bombs went off, idiot,” Zoro rejoined.

“Did you ever find out who did it?” Nami asked, ignoring them both.

Vivi frowned. “Not exactly. We think they were sent by someone who knows I'm looking into the smuggling ring. On the bright side, it means I'm on the right track. But the whole reason we chose Whiskey Peak as our base of operations was to keep a low profile. I didn't want to put anyone in danger. I was too naive.”

“I admire your bravery and determination to clear your dad's name, Vivi-chan!” Sanji praised, truly inspired. He looked to Usopp. “None of you thought to tell me what happened? This isn't your average day affair!”

“Sorry, Sanji-kun.” Nami made a cutely remorseful face, bopping herself on the head. “It totally slipped my mind, what with all the planning we've been doing to leave the country.”

“Not at all, Nami-san! Absolutely, one hundred percent understandable! No harm done!”

“Thanks so much again all of you for letting me travel with you on your ship,” Vivi expressed, “The lead I'm pursuing is pointing to the Drum Republic. I could take an ocean liner there, but I'm afraid of someone posing as a passenger and making another attack. Any kind of incident would be critical to everyone on board. Not that I wish to put any of you in danger! This is my way of thwarting that entirely. A smaller vessel where I know everyone is impossible to infiltrate.”

“As long you pay the agreed-upon price, you can stay as long as you like,” Nami assured, all smiles.

“You can stay for life!” Sanji seconded wholeheartedly.

Vivi chuckled. How melodious it sounded! “I haven't known you very well, but it's good to see you again, Sanji-san. Even if it's just manning the getaway vehicle, I'm happy to be taking part in this. We've all heard the rumors circulating the current Vinsmoke head. He's absolute scum for how he treated you. It's exhilarating to give him his comeuppance.”

“Thank you. And you could sure say that again.”

Suddenly antsy, Luffy bounded forward to seize the shotgun seat from behind. Beaming, he raised a fist. “Three cheers for Sanji and Vivi officially joining the crew!'”

“No. Luffy, Vivi's only hitching a ride—“

“Banzai!”

“Listen when people are—“

“Banzai!”

“Luffy, you—“

“Banzai!!!”

Whack! Thwack! Caplack! Bam!

“S-Sworry...”

Little did they know, this was just the prelude to their first seafaring adventure.