Parted Lips
This SFW oneshot was inspired by This Post by @hufflefluffy about how Sanji would be with someone who struggles with eating such as with sensory issues, eating disorders, etc.
That post made me so happy, so I wrote this fic about Sanji helping his crewmate who has severe chronic TMJ pain.
Pairings: Sanji x Fem!Reader
Word Count: 1734
Ao3 Link
Summary: Sanji has made another meal just for you, but it's still too painful to eat. You open up to Sanji about your jaw pain, and he offers to help you work through it
Rating/Warnings: SFW, Fluff, Angst, they aren't together yet but there's tension, and it is mildly suggestive, Mostly just sweet Sanji being a lovely human, Chronic Pain, TMJ Disorder, Difficulties with eating such as chewing and appetite, Grief
A/N: I've been struggling with this, and this past year has been awful. Sometimes I couldn't even eat soft cheese. I'm so lucky that my partner is very much like Sanji, and has learned to cook things for me that I can enjoy, and held my hand through this. I hope we can all find that kind of support for our pain. 💜💜
“Mm, this smells amazing, Sanji.”
The bowl of stew he’d placed before you had your mouth watering the scent of the meat and spices making pleasant chills run over your skin.
Sanji smiled as he sat across from you, and the sight of his own matching bowl made you frown.
“Why are you having mine?”
“Oh, ma chérie, are you hungry enough for more tonight, I can make something else.”
With a heavy sigh, you leaned away, your small appetite growing smaller at your sour mood.
“You know what I mean, Sanji. You don’t have to eat what I eat.”
His soft eyes made you tense up, reaching up to massage your cheeks.
“There’s nothing wrong with what you have to eat, Y/N. At least I hope not. Will you calm this poor chef’s nerves, and let me know how it tastes?
Swallowing your self pity, you reached for the spoon.
Probably the only utensil I’ll ever be able to use now.
Your hand spasmed around the metal slightly, and you felt Sanji’s eyes on your every move.
“Sanji, can you please not stare at me while I eat?”
“Oh, um. Of course, sweetheart, sorry.”
He turned his face down to his own bowl, and you steeled yourself.
It smells so good.
You filled your spoon, not taking too much, but making sure to have a piece of meat and carrot.
Very small pieces.
The meat was so tender, the flavors overwhelming you.
It had been so difficult to enjoy food, but Sanji’s cooking was bringing your love back.
But that almost made it worse sometimes.
Even with how small the bites of meat and vegetables were, how wonderfully tender, it was still enough chewing to make you sore. You knew if you ate the whole bowl, you would be hurting. It had been a bad week.
“It’s delicious, Sanji. Thank you so much.”
You couldn’t keep your voice from cracking, and his brows tensed as he set down his spoon.
“Is it too much, darling?”
You sat back, heat building in your throat as you started massaging your jaw.
“I don’t want to eat puréed food for the rest of my life.
It was such a dumb sentence. It sounded pathetic. But the weight of it fell down on you, crushing your joy.
Sanji reached out, your skin tingling as his hand touched yours, pulling it away from your face to hold it. He squeezed it gently, and his soft skin was soothing, even through your frustration.
“I know what it is to be hungry, Y/N. I won’t let you suffer like this. No matter what it takes, I will find food that nourishes and satisfies you. Please let me help you.”
Hot tears welled in your eyes, and you swallowed, trying to push them down.
“What else can I do?”
Looking away from his pleading eyes, you stared into your bowl of stew, the small pieces taunting you.
Your hands reached up to rub at the sore muscles again.
“Does massaging your jaw help with the pain? I could… Would you feel comfortable letting me touch your face?”
Breath catching, you felt tingles go over your skin.
Is he just trying to touch me? Does he really care, or is this just him…
The thought felt sour as you looked at his earnest face. Sanji was always flirting with you, but he flirts with all the girls, with every woman he meets. You didn’t think he was serious about being interested in you, so you had tried not to think about him that way. You weren’t always successful.
But he was also one of the kindest people you’d ever met. You set your hesitation aside, and took the cook’s offer.
Sanji came around the table now, facing you as he sat in the chair beside you. Your breath was still too light, and you started pinching your fingers in your lap, fidgeting as he moved close to you.
A small gasp escaped you as his warm fingers touched your cheeks. His skin was so amazingly soft, and your eyes fluttered shut as he started to lightly press in circles along your jaw.
“Does this feel alright?”
You nodded with a small sigh, then guided his fingers with yours, showing him what you needed.
It felt so much better with his touch than your own, and you let yourself relax into it for a few minutes.
Sanji kept going as he cleared his throat softly, bringing your attention to his face.
“What are other things we can do to help you, love?”
You had to breathe, bringing yourself back to the moment.
“Uh, sometimes icing it can help on bad days. There are exercises too, but it’s hard to remember until it gets bad. Then I can’t do them because it hurts too much.”
“Is there an exercise that isn’t as painful,” Sanji asked, his voice just as soothing as his fingers.
It took you another minute to respond as you melted under his touch.
“Yeah, um. I just always forget. It’s not really an exercise. I need to focus on my posture.”
“You have lovely posture.”
“Thank you,” you said with a laugh, not surprised that he would have noticed that about you. “I know I do. I’ve worked hard on it to help reduce the pain. Seems like it’s really paid off.”
Sanji gave a small frown at the light tone you tried to use with your sarcasm.
“What else, gorgeous?”
His soft hands cupping your face while he used that word made you feel dizzy. How can he make me feel like that with just his voice?
You didn’t want him to stop massaging you, but you moved his hands away.
“Just this.”
Sanji’s gaze was drawn to your lips as they parted, and he stared for a moment before meeting your eyes again.
“I’m sorry, dear. What is the next exercise?”
“Not an exercise. More posture. I’m supposed to stay like this as often as I can remember.”
He stared at your lips again as you gestured to them.
“My tongue is meant to touch the top of my mouth, and my lips should be slightly parted, as often as I can remember,” you explained, your voice trembling more with each word.
“I hate it, how am I supposed to remember to do it? And if I do, I just have to live with my mouth open all the time? And what if it doesn’t help? Nothing ever helps-”
Sanji cupped your face again, making you gulp as stinging tears finally started falling.
He brushed them away with his thumbs, and you felt your lips quivering as his face got closer. His eyes were pouring over your features, and it made you shiver.
“San-”
“You don’t have to carry this alone anymore, Y/N. I’ll help you, whatever you need.”
Your eyes clenched shut, sending a wave of tears down as you tried not to sob. All the pain, all the frustration was wearing you down.
It seemed so trivial. But not being able to eat Sanji’s amazing food, losing your appetite when you thought of what you could eat, watching the crew laugh together over their meals, it made it all harder.
You had stopped eating with the crew for a while now, with Sanji joining you after meals. But you felt sick with guilt when you couldn’t finish the food he’d worked so hard on for you.
“May I hug you, ma belle?”
Nodding, you let him pull you into his arms. You wanted to stop, to push this aside. It’s not that big of a deal, get over it.
The biting thoughts that plagued you were finally ignored as you breathed in Sanji’s comforting scent. As you let yourself weep, you sobbed onto his shoulder while he drew comforting shapes along your back.
He let you cry, and you realized that you were grieving. All the pain you’d bottled up was grief. Grief for all the things you couldn’t do, couldn’t enjoy because your body wouldn’t let you. The pain you ignored everyday until it became so sharp that you couldn’t ignore it.
The days when you had to stop yourself from laughing with your crew because it hurt too much to open your mouth.
Feeling it all washing over you, you clung to him, gripping his dress shirt in your fingers.
Your sobs were loud and painful, but you couldn’t stop them if you tried. You had never let yourself feel all of this, all at once. It was like a dam had been breached, and Sanji was holding you, anchoring you so you wouldn’t be swept away.
“I’m so sorry you have to carry this, darling. You shouldn't have to.”
He stroked your hair as his soft words started coming through your sobs. Your breathing began to slow, and you felt strange, not quite here. Still hurting, but relieved.
Sitting back, his hands seemed reluctant to let you slip away.
You were grateful that he wasn’t smiling. His brows were tensed slightly, and he tilted his head in soft concern.
“Please come to me with this, Y/N. You don’t need to suffer in silence anymore. I won’t allow it.”
You gave a choked laugh as the corner of his mouth twitched up, and you were surprised that you were ready for the smile so soon.
“Thank you so much, Sanji.”
You gripped his hands, squeezing his fingers as your breathing kept slowing down. He took one hand away to touch your chin gently.
“Anytime, my love. I’m going to whip you up something delicious, alright?”
Nodding, your skin was still tingling as his thumb traced along your jaw.
“I’m going to be your reminder from now on, is that okay?”
It took you a second to understand, but you remembered your exercises.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Perfect. Now while I cook, I want you to hold your tongue at the roof of your mouth, and let your lips be slightly parted.”
You smiled at him before you obeyed, and then you watched his eyes seem to burn as they watched your lips part.
Your breath hitched as Sanji’s thumb traced over your lower lip, delicious heat running through your body at his gentle touch.
“I’ll help you remember now, ma chérie. Your lips look too beautiful like this for me to forget.”
Thank You for Reading! 💜
TurtleTaub Fanfic Masterlist
Tag List: @astheni-a | @fanaticsnail
A/N: I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope that you have someone like Sanji to support you through your pain 💜
Buy me a coffee ☕🙏🏼
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