#i'm not tagging him as vinsmoke

[tinukis]

who am i now in this world without him?

[cwispihae]

Some long overdue sillyness ~

[zolo-san]

So I started thinking about Skypiea/Post-Skypiea Zosan last night...

and thinking about how there's no way that Sanji had an easy recovery with the full body burns he ended up with and I could see Zoro going out of his way to help Sanji out because Zoro has been there He's been seriously hurt and had to take care of himself and while Sanji has chopper, I think that Sanji would be similar to Zoro (If not worse because Sanji has a worse self image than Zoro) in that he would be afraid of worrying Chopper or being a burden and would try to do a lot on his own or act as if it wasn't that bad But Zoro would clock that shit immediately because he does it too And I think Zoro would also be able to tell when someone is moving differently because of pain or an injury But I think some of the things Zoro would do to help Sanji would be small like grabbing something for him so he doesn't have to move too much and hurt himself or making sure he doesn't spend too much time out in the sun and get dehydrated or over heated I think he'd try to get him to sit tf down more too which would be hard since Sanji is such a care taker and gets joy out of doing things for Nami and Robin (I think Robin would be more insistent that he doesn't do this during this time tho because she's suspicious that he's not totally healed/hiding the pain while Nami may not pick up on it right away, very much to Zoro's irritation) But I think he would also try to help Sanji in bigger, more meaningful ways too, like going out of his way to ask Chopper to teach him how to change Sanji's bandages because he knows Sanji hasn't been going to Chopper when he needs too and he knows how hard it is to do something like change your own bandages, especially when in pain, because he's done it himself in the past and I think he'd know that it's something really vulnerable, so he'd be very gentle about it and not push too hard, but still insist that Sanji let him help And I think Sanji would be seriously blown away by how caring and gentle Zoro is being towards him He'd notice all the things he's doing and be really touched It's not like Zoro wasn't helpful on occasion in the past or never showed any care for when Sanji was hurt before, but I think that this being one of the first time Sanji got seriously injured and the fact that it happened because Sanji was trying to protect others would make a big difference to Zoro I think Zoro would know that Sanji really needed the help and would want to show how much Sanji and his actions meant to him

In my own little Zosan timeline, Skypiea is when Sanji sort of has to come to terms with/admit to himself that he has feelings for Zoro, but I think that he would assume that there was no way Zoro would feel the same way about him because how could he? but I think something like this would be a sort of "Oh...." moment where Sanji realizes that Zoro really cares about him but I also think it would make him really confused and conflicted (in my timeline at this point Zoro almost completely assumes that Sanji is straight and has come to a point of fully accepting that he and Sanji will never be together and he's okay with that, as long as Sanji is happy and he's still allowed to be a part of his life) Anyways.... just some Skypiea stuff I kept thinking about last night~ It'll probably make it into a fic one of these days if the universe would just give me some time to write o(-< I have a full scene in my head and I want to write it very badly, but the whole fic isn't fully cooked yet~

Also thanks to this post for getting my brain thinking about Skypiea Zosan and leading me here lol

[torttania]

Finally! Sanji is back to being just a dude with only a first name! Let's congratulate a dude!

[nehswritesstuffs]

the benefits of a lawn at-sea

Here's something short, sweet, and silly~

1783 words; this is just silly; takes place from post-Enies Lobby to just after the timeskip, with a little post-Wano in there bc Jinbe my dude you took too long to claim your bunk; it’s been a while since I wrote something this short; this is very gen, very tame, and the only cursing is a word heard in old Bugs Bunny cartoons so there you go;

The Thousand Sunny's lawn-deck is pretty nice, right? Well, what if there was an ulterior motive behind the water-guzzling feature of this seafaring craft? [Strawhat genfic]

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“Oh, Franky, this is so nice!” Nami marveled. Water 7 was just beyond the horizon and she was walking around on the lawn deck in bare feet. The plush, dense grass was soft on her skin and smelled wonderful. “What made you want to do this?”

“Let’s just say I’m being super-thoughtful this week,” the cyborg chuckled. He was watching Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper roll around on the lawn, absolutely giggling at themselves. Sanji came over with a tray of drinks, offering Nami and Robin theirs before handing one to Franky.

“Yeah, super-thoughtful that we now have to worry about grass stains despite being in the middle of the ocean,” he groused. Luffy got tossed towards them and slid, popping up on his feet as one big, green smear. “Oi, jackass, who do you think is going to get that grass stain out?!”

“Uhh… I dunno.” Luffy grinned and grabbed three drinks off the tray, bringing them over to where Usopp and Chopper were on the other side of the deck. Sanji exhaled heavily—only Luffy.

“Has he not noticed you’ve been doing all the boys’ laundry since the East Blue?” Nami wondered. She sipped her drink and kept an eye on the horizon, not liking what was on the way. A storm, maybe? Didn’t feel that imposing…

“Luffy noticing something other than food is sketchy at-best,” Sanji deadpanned. “How did we end up with such an idiot for a captain?”

“Is that you trying to defect next, Curly?” Zoro snarked from the upper deck. Sanji grit his teeth and placed his tray down on the table.

“Pardon ladies—I’ve got a sentient moss to discipline,” he growled before catapulting himself across the ship. Sanji’s foot met with Zoro’s swords and the pair began their bickering in earnest.

“It’s good to see the change in venue hasn’t dampened their spirits,” Robin mentioned. She idly turned the page of her book, not even looking at the chaos that was unfolding—how delightful to have friends like these.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

It was interesting having a lawn to care for now that the Straw Hats were on the Thousand Sunny. Franky would mow it and toss the clippings in the composter alongside the food scraps that Sanji couldn’t salvage and the various little organic things that they didn’t exactly want to toss over the side of the ship. It took up a lot of water, but that was what the purification system was for, right? It even provided Chopper with a nostalgic snack every once in a while, the grass reminding him of the fresh green shoots that would pop up during Drum Island’s springtime, not to mention the way it was cool in the mornings and not nearly ever as scorching as the lacquered Adam Wood got under the sun…

…except, it really did use up a lot of water, which led to an intricate system of sprinkler rotations. If the sprinkler was moved and subsequently ignored, mud was liable to form, and the only thing worse than Luffy in the presence of grass stains was Luffy in the presence of mud. It was more than a bit irritating for Sanji or Nami when they switched off doing the laundry, but if Franky was going to have one blunder for the design of the ship, they guessed it could be the lawn. In practice. Common consensus was that it was mostly there to be a pain (at worst) or an experiment (at best) and so they endured it, because they had bigger things to deal with.

Take the suddenly dense fog they found themselves in, for one…

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“Ooooh… this is simply wonderful…” Brook hummed happily. He was splayed out on the lawn, soaking in the sun. Once they had gotten out of the Florian Triangle, a good deal of what he did when he wasn’t playing music or eating involved being outside on the lawn, marveling in the experience. “I would have never guessed that this was how grass felt against my finger bones…”

“You never touched any of the grass at Thriller Bark…?” Usopp wondered. He was fishing with Chopper and Luffy, the trio attempting to catch some extra reserves for the tank. Brook shook his head.

“Technically I did, but I’d rarely call that grass,” he replied. “With how foggy and cloudy it is in the Triangle, it never had the chance to grow properly. This, however,” he dragged his arms up and down the grass for emphasis, “is the real deal. What sort of grass is it? Where’s it from?”

“Uh… there are different kind of grass…?” Luffy wondered. Usopp facepalmed.

“Well, yeah—that’s like asking if there’s different kind of trees,” the sniper replied. He could see his captain’s interest in the subject quickly fading. “You know, when I was little, I helped catalog over seventy types of plants for scientific use! That included twelve grasses!”

“Wait, really?!” Chopper gasped.

“Of course! Why do you think I’m so good at growing things? I’ve got an extra-green thumb!”

“I don’t know, Usopp,” Brook said. “It looks tan and fleshy to me.”

“It’s an expression and you know that,” Usopp deadpanned over the newest crewmate’s giggles. He went to look back over at Chopper and Luffy, only to see a rubbery thumb get jammed in his face.

“See? Mine’s green now too!” It was a wet, gloopy green, clearly having just been ground into the freshly-mown-and-currently-being-watered part of the lawn.

“Luffy, it’s an… wait, you know what? Whatever.” Usopp rolled his eyes and began to return to his fishing, peacefully catching things to go into the tank, that is… until he heard his captain snicker a very tempting order.

“Come on, Usopp! Come play in the sprinkler with us!”

It was Captain’s Orders, after all.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The Thousand Sunny surfaced above the ocean, the bubble coating popping as they made it back to their more-typical part of the sea. It was a sunny, cheerful day and everyone delighted at the warmth of the sun on their faces.

“Oh, this feels so good!” Nami squealed. She stretched as she breathed in deeply, allowing the breeze to ruffle her hair. “It feels like there’s a storm coming up soon, so look sharp everyone!”

“I’m so glad we’re above surface,” Usopp shivered, leaning up against the railing.

“It was too scary!” Brook added.

“We almost diiiiiiiied!” Chopper sobbed.

“Oh, quit your bellyaching,” Nami frowned. “Come on; we need to make sure everything’s secure before the storm hits!”

“You were scared too!” Usopp snapped. He and Nami glared at one another—this was not in the best interest of Normie Solidarity. They nearly started a “discussion” between them when Luffy came barreling in onto the scene, hanging off of Nami’s shoulders like a wet cat.

“Naaaamiiii… how long until the storm?” he whined. She grimaced and untangled herself from him, allowing their captain to flop onto the grass.

“Long enough for you to go take a bath—you stink,” she frowned.

“…but Naaaamiiii… it’s not Bath Day!” Luffy pouted. Nami was about to fire back when Franky’s voice cut through the air.

“Hey, Luffy! Sprinkler’s on!” That caught the other Straw Hats’ attention: there, in all its glory, was a lawn sprinkler that was an… interesting-looking cat-head, with noodles coming out of its head that wriggled and flopped about as they spread water everywhere. Luffy gasped in excitement and ran over to it, jumping through the noodly spray with his noodly limbs and generally having a great and noodly time. Brook and Chopper soon joined him, leaving Nami and Usopp to just stare in exasperation.

“You’ll super-thank me later,” Franky smirked as he walked over to his crewmates who seemed… less than impressed.

“For what?” Nami cringed. “A new set of grass stains?”

“An extra-muddy part of the lawn after that storm Nami was talking about?”

“Nah—haven’t you ever noticed that he smells better after running through the sprinkler?” Franky replied. The other two stopped all thought processes—huh…? “Still doesn’t smell great, mind you, but running a bit of non-toxic lavender extract through the hose and you’ve got yourself a slightly-less-stinky captain!”

Huh… do that’s where that smell was coming from…

“Okay, I’ll give it to you, but does it have to look like that?” Usopp wondered. “It looks like it wants to die.”

“Robin designed it! Isn’t it great?” Franky seemed to beam in pride, whereas Nami and Usopp were… considerably less impressed.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Wano was officially behind the Thousand Sunny as it traveled southeast, wind billowing the sails full and steady as their most recent adventure became a tiny speck over the horizon. Everyone was settling into their normal routines as they readied for the journey ahead of them—for all they knew the next island was weeks away yet—which meant that their newest member was finally able to get his full tour.

“Alright, any questions?” Nami asked. She and Jinbe were standing on the lawn, having already physically gone through the rest of the ship. The helmsman nodded and looked around—everything seemed normal enough...mostly, anyhow.

“Just one: when will Luffy be allowed from his cage?” He pointed towards their captain, who was currently still locked up in an overly-large birdcage that hung near the swing. Luffy perked up at that, only for his hopes to be dashed.

“Only captains who get into a moderate amount of trouble are allowed to roam free,” Nami hissed. Luffy whimpered and slumped against the bars—he was defeated. The navigator then sniffed the air and recognized a particular funk that was growing in the air. “Hey, Usopp!”

“What?!” The aforementioned sniper poked his head out from the upper deck. “I’m a little busy!”

“Hit Luffy with the hose when you get a second! I’d put an air freshener next to him, but he might eat it…”

“I would not!” Luffy protested. Nami, however, was not convinced.

“The sooner the better, Usopp!” she commanded. Her crewmate grumbled and put down his Pop Greens to head down the stairs and head for the hose caddy, turning on the water pump and unraveling the hose just enough so he could aim the nozzle directly for Luffy and wet him down, face deadpan while his captain panicked like a puppy afraid of water.

“Is that… how he always bathes…?” Jinbe wondered cautiously, pointing at Luffy. Nami shook her head.

“This is just a mid-week stopgap. Also a punishment. Depends on how I feel.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked away, headed towards the table where Robin was reading and leaving Jinbe to shudder.

What kind of a crew did he sign up with after all?

[beanghostprincess]

"Hate it that I wish you were" - Lusan Fanfic

Summary: Sanji finally has found his way to Luffy. The rain has stopped. It's sunny enough to be warm, but it burns. Luffy burns. Sanji wishes things could be different because even now, he's still not free. "I wish you were a girl." Because everything would be easier. Because loving his captain has never been more painful. Luffy will not let that sentence go without taking care of his beloved cook first.

Tags: @latinokokonoi

[loony-d-toon]

would love to write sanji stuff because as a cook i too fucking hate oregano and i could go off on nitpicky cooking details like yea give me sanji yelling about artificial vanilla flavor and how fucking shitty it is and how he wants to make this one specific dessert but this motherfucking fruit is across the world and out of season

anyway i'm rotating him in my mind like a rotisserie chicken

[chibinasuu]

I absolutely love how you write Sanji! The tenderness you give him is so comforting. Could you possibly write something where he has a nightmare and how the reader would help him through it?

hi anon!! thank you so much for your sweet words 🥺🫶🏻

i hope that tenderness is also present in this story, and i really hope you like it! not gonna lie, this was pretty hard to write. i just wanna wrap sanji in the biggest hug. our boy has been through so much 😭😭

Nightmares | Sanji x Reader

Tags: major spoilers for sanji's past and whole cake island arc, sfw, hurt/comfort, GN but written with F!Reader in mind, no use of y/n

Sanji was no stranger to nightmares.

Unsurprisingly, many of his nightmares involved losing you. But believe it or not, those were the easier ones to get over. As soon as he woke up and saw you sleeping next to him, all of his panic and worries would dissipate.

No, the worst nightmares were the ones where his bitter memories blurred with even more horrors that his mind made up, tricking his brain until it was no longer aware of what was real and what wasn't.

He'd often dream of that solitary rock in the ocean. He'd dream that no ships passed by until his skin withered and only his bones were left to dry under the scorching sun. The hunger and thirst would feel so real that more often than not, Sanji would end up in the kitchen in the middle of the night, chugging three glasses of water and scarfing down a slice of bread before heading back to bed.

He sometimes relived being electrocuted by Enel's lightning, his whole body burnt into a crisp. In other dreams, it was Usopp and Nami who were struck, while Sanji watched helplessly, frozen by an unknown force that prevented him from reaching them.

Many times, he dreamed that he was still trapped in that dungeon, a heavy helmet locked to his head, the key nowhere to be found. He'd pull and pull, but the helmet wouldn't come off. He'd shout and shout, but no one would come and help him. Those dreams would always leave him waking up in cold sweat, grasping at the invisible iron upon his head.

Tonight, he was back on Whole Cake Island, looking down and seeing those wretched golden cuffs fastened on his wrists.

Vinsmoke Judge was there, sneering at him, "Useless—can't even do something as simple as getting married. You just needed to stand there and say ‘I do’. Was that too hard for your little brain to manage?"

His brothers were there, too. Their hard-as-steel legs finding his stomach, his back, his knees…

"Where are your little friends now?"

"Give it up, they're not coming."

"Why would they ever care about a weak coward like you?"

With a click of a button under Judge's fat thumb, the cuffs exploded and blew his hands off to bits.

Sanji woke up screaming.

He brought his hands up to his eyes, flipping them back and forth to ensure they were still there, not a scratch upon them. He clutched his precious hands to his chest, a sob threatening to escape him. His chest heaved as he struggled to fill his lungs with oxygen.

You were there in an instant.

Your hand was there, brushing his hair—damp with sweat—away from his face.

Your voice was there, gently hushing and comforting him.

"Sanji, love, breathe. It's alright. You're okay." You grabbed his face, guiding his sight to you, "Whatever it was, it wasn't real. You're okay."

You asked him to inhale with you, then exhale. His eyes slowly regained their focus.

"Tell me what's real." You'd prompt, "Your name is…"

"My name is Black Leg Sanji. I'm not a Vinsmoke. My father is Red Leg Zeff."

"That's right, honey. And where are you now?"

"I'm at the Baratie." He shifted his gaze out the window at the vast expanse of sea, the water glistening under the moonlight, "But, we're not in the East Blue. We moved this ship two years ago… to the All Blue."

He looked around again, taking in more of his surroundings, "I'm in my room—well, our room."

You nodded reassuringly, encouraging him to keep going as his breath gradually became steadier, "What else is real?"

He took your hand, thumbing the ring on your finger. Sanji's lips upturned into a soft smile—gone were all traces of the frown that marred his handsome face before—as he admired the matching ring that adorned his own finger, "You’re the one I’m married to. I proposed to you after Luffy became the Pirate King, and you said yes. I still can't believe that's real sometimes, but it is."

He placed a kiss onto your knuckles, the thin wedding band cold upon his lips, "I'm your husband."

You couldn't help but return his smile, "Yes, you are, baby."

Sanji sighed and laid his head on your chest.

You carded your fingers through his soft, golden hair as you held him close, "Feeling better now?"

"Much better." He looked up at you, "Thanks for always being here, darling."

When you first started sharing a bed, Sanji would apologize profusely whenever he unintentionally woke you up with his thrashing or screaming. You reassured him many, many times that he had nothing to be sorry about, even going so far as to reprimand him every time he apologized. But even after the apologies ceased, Sanji never failed to let you know how grateful he was that you were always there by his side.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

When Sanji shook his head, you changed your question, "Do you want to try going back to sleep?"

"Only if you do, too."

"Of course, love. Come here."

You pulled him down to lie flat on the bed, and he curled up to your side as you rearranged the covers to wrap around both of you. Sanji placed his head on your chest again, his ear resting right on top of your unwavering heartbeat.

"We need all the rest we can get." You kissed his forehead before continuing, "Luffy's arriving tomorrow, remember? I think he's picked up the rest of the crew along the way too, this time."

You booped his nose teasingly, "He definitely expects a feast, so you have a looong day of cooking ahead of you."

"Don't remind me." Sanji huffed as he snuggled closer to you, "I know the All Blue is overflowing with every kind of seafood imaginable, but with Luffy coming by so often, it won't be long until this ocean's drained."

You chuckled. He always complained, but you knew he loved it more than anything whenever the rest of the Straw Hats came to visit you two.

"Sleep, Sanji. I'll be here when you wake up."

You started humming an old North Blue lullaby you learned from Sanji long ago, back when you were still sailing on the Thousand Sunny. He told you that his mother used to sing this to him when he was little, and it was one of the only few good memories he had of his childhood. You gently stroked his hair, carrying on with your song until you felt his breathing slow.

There was never any guarantee that Sanji would remain asleep until morning. Sometimes he'd jerk awake again, but you didn't mind. You'd always be there to anchor him. To breathe with him, to hold him, to love him. You'd be there to remind him over and over that he was not alone, and that he would never be again.

⟢ masterlist

[yayakoishii]

Please please please!! Sanji x reader request during whole cake island where sanji and reader were already a thing prior to the event and how torn up sanji is over it. Especially if they still hadn't said I love you yet and sanji is realizing that yes he loves reader and wants to marry them but he can't cause he wants to protect them and everyone. Reader having a similar realization/crying to the crew about it and Luffy going, nope this is happening I'm a captain and I'm marrying you two (let's pretend he learned captains can marry people from shanks but he still doesn't know what marriage is just that he can do this so he wants to do it)

Yours To Love | Sanji x Reader

Fandom: One Piece

Pairing: Vinsmoke Sanji x GN! Reader

Word Count: 2.9k

Genre/Tags: Angst, Fluff, Happy Ending, Love Confession, Spoilers for Wholecake Island arc

A/n: I hope I'm not too late anon!! I think it's been a week or so since you sent this, so I hope you get to see this <3 I really sat down and wrote this in one sitting like a possessed person hahahah~ Thank you for the request and I hope this is to your liking (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠) I tweaked your request very very minorly but I enjoyed writing it a lot!

Also available on ao3!

Seeing Sanji again was like seeing the sun after weeks and weeks of never-ending rain.

It hadn't been more than a week or two since you had separated in Dressrosa but being a part of the strawhat crew meant you could never catch a break for too long. When you heard what Sanji had done from Nami and the others, a small part of you hurt that maybe, just maybe, you weren't enough for Sanji.

The next moment you had discarded the thought completely and felt horrible for even thinking that way about Sanji. You knew he would never lie to you. You knew, more than anyone on the crew, just how much he truly enjoyed being a part of the crew. Your insecurity over how Sanji and you hadn't yet spoken of love made no difference to the fact that Sanji would never choose to leave the crew.

Maybe he didn't love you back but he loved the crew. So him choosing to go to the tea party where he would be married off was a sign that he must believe either that he can: (a) handle it by himself and make it back no problem, or (b) the situation was dangerous and he wanted to take care of it himself in a way that wouldn't harm the crew. You were more inclined towards b, considering this was Big Mom and Germa 66 that were being talked about.

You wanted to go get Sanji back too but the rest of the crew who had fought in Dressrosa was going to Wano and you were probably expected to do the same. But Sanji was still your boyfriend. He was yours, and he was going to get married off to some girl you had never heard of before today, and your heart refused to accept it. You refused to let him go. He was yours to hold, yours to keep and yours to love. You would get him back even if you had to fight Luffy to join them.

Thankfully, you didn't have to fight him at all. When you meekly suggested joining them, your captain had just tilted his head in confusion and said, "Huh? What do you mean? Of course you're coming. I was going to take you along the whole time."

And now half of the crew was here in Totto land, and Luffy had just defeated Cracker and Kingbaum was taking you three to the castle where Sanji was supposed to be. Instead, you had stumbled across Germa 66 midway and after days, you were finally seeing the face of the man you loved so deeply that it hurt.

"We've come to take you back!" Luffy was hanging onto the coach while you and Nami were still on the running Kingbaum and you could make out Sanji's face from a distance. You were smiling so hard upon seeing him look okay. He wasn't hurt. Good. Suddenly, he turned and kicked Luffy off the coach and you gasped.

"Hey!" Nami was equally shocked. "What was that for, Sanji?!"

"Get lost," Sanji said, his face unlike any he had ever shown the crew, "you miserable inferior pirates."

You considered the possibility that it could be a Germa clone. But there was no way they would take a close to the tea party when they already had done the effort of getting the real deal to come there.

"My name is Vinsmoke Sanji and I am a prince of Germa kingdom!"

He had never told you that in the few months of your relationship. You knew there was something he wasn't telling you but you had never pried because you knew that the reason Sanji wasn't mentioning it was probably because it was something that didn't matter. Germa was supposed to be a thing of his past– and it was supposed to stay there for the rest of his life. Except it had come back, like cockroaches are apt to do, and brought a storm into your lives.

You just stood there, listening to Sanji make claims that were like stabs to your heart continuously. For your situation, your mind felt thunderously calm. You were noting the laughter of his ‘brothers’ in the back, the way Sanji was staring with steely eyes at Luffy and hadn't met your eyes even once, the rigid muscles of his face as he spoke about how he would be getting married to Big Mom's beautiful daughter.

Maybe someone would say you are in denial, but you refused to believe it. Sanji was spouting a load of bullshit and it was making laughter bubble up in your throat. You only kept it down because this wasn't the time or place for it. The Sanji you knew would never say these words, unless he believed it was the only way he could keep you all safe.

"Don't get involved! I'll drive him off."

You couldn't say a word as you watched Sanji and Luffy start fighting. You had never thought you would see this one day. Your heart was hurting and your mind was a huge mess of thoughts but all you could focus on was how much Sanji must be hurting.

He must be wanting to come back home to the Sunny with you. He had told you in the dark covers of night when you two had made love, that there was no place more appropriate than with the crew that he thought of when he thought of the word ‘home’. The boy who had said that to you could never say these words and mean them. He would only say it if it meant protecting his home and his crew.

You watched as Luffy didn't hit back even once and kept taking hit after hit. Silent tears were already streaming down your face from watching Sanji's emotional hurt and Luffy's physical one. You wished this was a nightmare.

When Sanji knocked out Luffy, you finally exhaled and slowly walked over to him. Nami had already gotten past you and slapped him in the face, saying goodbye to him. You stared at Sanji when you were close enough. His head that had turned from the impact of Nami's slap didn't turn to look at yours, as if you were invisible. You let out a shaky exhale and smiled weakly at him.

"I guess," you swallowed as you placed a gentle hand on the cheek Nami was slapped and watched him flinch just slightly under your touch, "even if I said ‘Come back home with me, Sanji’, you wouldn't change your mind, huh?"

He still wouldn't look at you and he didn't respond, but his hand came up to rest over yours. He gave it a gentle squeeze, the way he always did when he would apologise to you for anything. You told your aching heart that it was fine. This wouldn't be the last time you see Sanji.

"This is farewell then," you said quietly, just low enough for only him to hear as your hand slipped away. "I hope you are happy wherever you are. Because if you were doing this for us, then you should know that we'll never be complete without you. And, foolish as I am, I won't be happy without you."

You turned away without looking at him and instead walked back to Luffy and Nami, your eyes threatening to spill tears you did not wish him to see. If this was truly the last time you would see Sanji, you wanted his last memory of you to be of you smiling at him.

You heard Sanji get back up and the carriage drawing away. Luffy got up and started shouting again. Your lips quivered, your back to the road as you looked at your captain. "You can kick me all you want, but you're the one feeling the pain!"

For all his idiocy and no brain cell moments, you knew how well Luffy knew all his crewmates. He may not show it most days, but he understood you all the best. You watched him scream some more, crying harder and harder until he ended with, "Without you, I can't become the pirate king!!"

They were gone after that and in the silence, you could finally feel the flood of thoughts wash over you once again, one thought the most prominent of all. You truly loved Sanji. You had never told him but you loved every inch of him, more than you had ever realised until this moment, when your heart was afraid that it would never be able to tell Sanji this.

"I don't know what I should do," you mumbled, covering your face in your hands. You could feel Nami's comforting arms around your shoulders. "I love him. I love that idiot. Who cares if he's a prince, a beggar or even a Marine?! No matter what he is, in every universe, I would still fall in love with him. I love him so much and I have to stand and watch him marry someone else, all while I keep thinking that it should be me. I want to be the one next to him on the altar and I've, I've lost my chance to tell him."

"No, you haven't," Luffy said firmly from where he was lying. Your tears were starting to dry up and you turned to look at your captain. His face was determined. "Sanji will come. And you will marry him."

"How are we gonna do that, huh?" You chuckled wetly as you settled down next to Luffy.

"We'll get him back and you'll ask him to marry you," Luffy said simply, "and then he will say yes and then, I will marry you two off."

"You'll be our officiant, Luffy?" You giggled. You didn't know what it was about him, but Luffy could make you believe in the most impossible of things. There was already a big part of you that felt at peace from his words. It would work out somehow. If it's Luffy, then anything is possible.

"I heard of it from two of Shanks' crewmates as a kid," he said, giving you a wide grin. "I didn't think I'd ever need to do it but I've looked into it ever since you two started dating. It was getting a little boring waiting for you two though. I was going to ask you two to marry if you took any longer."

"Oh god," you wheezed, feeling insane for laughing at this moment. "That would have been hilarious. A crazy story to tell if someone asked us ‘who proposed’ and we would have to answer ‘Luffy’!"

Your words were cut off by the arrival of clouds from Big Mom's rage. It was time for you to get Sanji back.

•

Pudding's words should hurt somewhere, Sanji thought to himself absent-mindedly from where he was hiding. He had brought the flowers and he had tried to convince himself that his marriage with Pudding could make him happy and it would keep the crew safe. But, she didn't love him the way you did. She could be the kindest, nicest person in the whole world, but she wasn't you.

You, who had seen him through his worst, who had personally tended to his wounds both physical and emotional, who had looked like a heavenly being under him, who had smiled at him despite his secrets, who understood him on such a fundamental level– you were the apple of his eye, the love of his life.

Pudding's words should have hurt but they didn't because he knew that her opinion of him had no impact on your opinion of him. And even if the whole world hated him, you never would. Sanji had thought that this would be where you draw the line. That you would finally get fed up with him and leave. No one even stayed with him in the first place and you had done it for so long that he was afraid you would leave. What he had done at this point would have been enough for anyone else to get angry and slap him.

And yet, when he had seen you there, he knew he couldn't look into your eyes. One look and his resolve would crumble. Because there was no mistaking what he felt towards you whenever he looked into your eyes that seemed to hold the whole world. He truly loved you from the bottom of his heart. There was no one else in this world who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

It had to be you. It could only be you.

And yet, he didn't have much of a choice in this whole matter, did he? Sanji just walked away, thinking and thinking about what he should do.

About how he could get back home to you.

•

When all was said and done and all of you were back on the Sunny, making your way to Wano, Luffy just placed a hand on your shoulder and said with his most serious face, "You better do it fast or I will do it on your behalf."

"Shut up," you weakly punched him in the shoulder and rolled your eyes– but your heart was happy. Neither you nor Sanji had talked about anything the whole time you were escaping. You had just hugged him silently and he had done the same; you knew there would be time to talk later. And that time was now. "Sanji?"

"Hm?" Sanji looked up from where he was cooking in the kitchen. After hearing the mess the crew had made with cooking, he had slipped back into his role as always. The sight of him chopping vegetables on the kitchen counter of the Thousand Sunny made your heart warm up. "Sweethea–(y/n)."

He switched from the endearing term to your name, looking nervous. He was probably thinking about how he didn't deserve to call you that anymore, huh?

"Am I no longer your sweetheart?" You asked teasingly as you crossed over to stand across the counter from him. He looked at you, scared yet hopeful. "Did you change your mind about me after seeing, ah, Pudding, wasn't it?"

"No, my love!" He cried out, hands shooting upwards to take you into his arms but he stopped just in time. He didn't know if you still wanted him to touch you. Somehow, it felt like the two of you from all those months back, when you hadn't yet started dating. "This whole time… I couldn't think of anything but how I have wronged you the most out of everyone. I do not feel worthy to be on the receiving end of your love."

"Shouldn't I get to decide that?" You retorted, leaning over the counter. You grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. It had been too long since you had kissed your golden boy. "If you're the one I love and if you're the one my heart has decided it wants to marry, then you're already worthy, silly boy. You aren't a man until you realise that you're worthy of all the love in this world."

You ended up saying it all in a teasing manner but you could see the shock in his eyes at your words. The silence stretched over the kitchen awkwardly and your smile wavered for a second.

"You better say yes," you huffed to yourself, "because I don't think Luffy made a plan for you refusing my proposal."

Sanji was confused for all of one second before he was nodding, gently pushing aside the vegetables he was cutting so he could slide over the top of the counter to you. He cradled your face in his hands, holding you reverently as he placed kisses all over your face. You flushed under the attention, feeling home at last.

"This feels too much like a dream," he admitted, knocking his forehead on yours. "That you would still want me, that you would still love me… Despite all my mistakes, in spite of how I've wronged you, you're still here."

"I love you with all my heart," you admitted to him. "I love you for who you are Sanji, flaws and all. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. If, if you happen to feel the same…"

"Don't be silly," he interrupted you, so unlike himself. "If I shouldn't doubt my worth, you shouldn't doubt my love either. I may not have ever said it before this, but I truly do love you so much."

Sanji pulled you into a kiss and you let him, your arms tightening around his waist. You had been so wrong back then. You had been scared that that would be the last time you're seeing him but right now, you knew that this was the start of seeing Sanji every day for the rest of your lives.

"C'mon then," you giggled after the two of you had made out for a while. "Gotta tell Luffy."

"Why?" Sanji was baffled. "What's Luffy got to do with any of this?"

"Hey now, our captain kindly offered to marry the two of us off, you know."

"He what?!"

"He was also ready to propose on my behalf. You better be happy I beat him to it."

"I don't even know what to say."

"Just let me do the talking, how about that?"

"But of course, sweetheart! ♡"

°•❀•°

All likes, comments and reblogs are appreciated! ♡

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[asce-of-hearts]

Could i have some yandere (he probably is a yandere canon wise 🗿) Ichiji Vinsmoke with

🍜Don't have fun with anyone else in my presence! Don't laugh when I'm not around! Don't think of anyone else when you're with me!

Or

💥Look only at me, think about nobody else but me, talk only with me, and only touch me.

With Whichever you want :)

Tyrant

contents: Yandere!Ichiji with prompts: 🍜 and 💥(gn!reader)

more Ichiji content here

WARNINGS: YANDERE, OBSESSIVE AND POSSESSIVE BEHAVIOR, UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS, ICHIJI IS AN ABUSIVE POS, USAGE OF THE TERM "WIFE" TO DESCRIBE READERS ROLE OTHERWISE GENDER NEUTRAL, BORDERLINE PHYSICAL ABUSE, MANHANDLING.

You're a good wife. You really are. Ichiji couldn't have asked for anything better. Quiet, submissive, compliant. It was worth it settling it for you.

You're a blank canvas, made for his liking, for him to turn into whatever he likes whenever he likes. For you to cry prettily as he pounds into you without a care in the world. For you to ask sweetly for his affections, even if they come after the humiliation of his harsh words calling you needy.

But lately, something has been bothering him. Something you do.

You engage with servants. You thank them with a smile, with soft words. You shouldn't do that. You shouldn't be doing that with anyone but him. He already beat Niji's ass black and blue for even suggesting that you become his friend. He's not about to start giving you permission to interact with those things that serve his family.

— Ichiji, a maid said dinner will be ready so- — You can't even finish the sentence before his hand is already clamped around your cheeks, pressed over your mouth. Your breath hitches, eyes widening as you look at the man towering over you.

— Do not speak with the maids. — He growls, his eyes dark. — Do not speak with my father, with my brothers, with the butlers. Do not speak! — He lets go of you with force, causing you to stumble backwards. — You're mine. My own personal property. My plaything. Look only at me, think about nobody else but me, talk only with me, and only touch me. — He yanks you back to your feet again, his nails digging into your arm. You wince away, but his grip only tightens. — I could kill you, ___. I really could. I could crush you against this wall and forget all about your pathetic little existence. But I won't, because I wouldn't find anybody as perfect for me as you. — His grip softens, his free hand tracing your tear stained cheek with unnerving gentleness. — You're such a perfect little bride, so quiet, so compliant. Stay that way, won't you?

He smirks, and finally lets go of you. Pushing you against the bed with ease. He stands at the door.

— For disobeying, no dinner for you tonight. But don't worry, I know you're a smart little thing. You won't commit the same mistake again, won't you? — You can't answer, you're frozen in place. He comes back to you, pinning you against the mattress. — I'll tell you once again, just so it comes through your mind. Don't have fun with anyone else in my presence. Don't laugh when I'm not around. Don't think of anyone else when you're with me. Are we clear?

You can only nod at his words. Watching as he walks away, leaving you trembling in the empty bedroom you share.

hope you enjoyed this!

have a great day/night

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[zolo-san]

Love your thoughts on Law 🥰👌. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Sanji and women. Is he really a pervert? Why does he claim that women need to be treated with respect but goes crazy for their boobs every time he sees them? 🤔

Okay, Okay so I actually do have a lot of thought/opinions about Sanji and his view/treatment of women~ (gonna put think in a read more because otherwise this post is gonna be so long lol) Also, I just want to say, thank you so much for asking anon, I'm always looking for an excuse to ramble on about my One Piece character thoughts (And I'm glad you liked my thoughts on Law!!!)

Oda and Toei's Writing and it's Effect on Sanji's Character

In order to fully discuss this topic, we have to get a little more meta about it all and acknowledge Oda as a writer as well as common Anime/Manga tropes and gags and Anime filler to pad run-times

Sanji going crazy over women and tending to have over the top and often perverted reactions to them is very much a result of a common trope in Anime/Manga - It's meant to be a gag and not taken too seriously (Tho imo, that gag gets quite tired and escalates over time throughout the OP series) We see the same gag with Brook - it's normally not meant to be a defining character trait or something that's seen as harmful/predatory, it's realistically just a dumb (honestly immature) joke The pervert gag/trope has never been one I care for but alas, I choose to consume a type of media that is primarily written by men who think that type of thing is funny~ (I will give Oda a bit of a break since he started writing One Piece when he was in hi early 20s, so he was still pretty immature himself) I do think, however, that Toei is very responsible for some to the more obnoxious "Sanji pervert" moments Yes, Oda does write a good amount of them, but the writers for the anime will often take the joke and run with it to buy them some time and stretch out an episode (We see this a lot with the whole "Usopp is a coward bit" too) If you're not aware, a lot of anime of current, on-going, manga series will often add a lot of filler and gags to fill up their episode run time They do this for two main reason: The first being to swap off animation teams or give the main team more time (often times filler episodes are animated by a different team than the main story episodes) and the second being a way to give the mangaka time to write more chapters and insure that the anime doesn't catch up to the manga too quickly (both giving animation teams a break/more time to animate and giving time for more chapters to be written is also a huge factor in why shows go on hiatus as well) That being said, dumb gags like "Sanji's a pervert" and "Usopp is a coward" are very easy ways for the animation team to waste time in an episode (I would also like to point out that some of the more egregiously perverted shots and moments in general are really just a choice by the Toei animators and I have some beef with that, but we're not gonna get into that right now)

Now, I truly believe that a lot of Sanji's more perverted behavior when it comes to women is not truly meant to be a defining character trait I think this because when we first meet Sanji and right up until about Thriller Bark, his behavior around women is fairly harmless and more of an admiration and appreciation (I'm also talking about his cannon behavior that is seen in the manga, not the additions from Toei) Thriller Bark is the first time that we truly see Sanji say something that implies him to be a real pervert when he talks about how ever since he was a kid he became obsessed with the Suke Suke no Mi so he could sneak into a women's bath house and spy on them naked This is truly the beginning of, as my sister's fiance likes to call it, "The Sanji Character Assassination" While this addition is very 🙄, to me and feels a bit out of character from everything we've seen and known about how Sanji really thinks and acts around women, I can't help but feel like this and a lot of the following "Sanji Pervert" moments are mostly a result of Oda running the joke too long and finding a dumb joke a bit too funny

I truly fear sometimes, when it comes to Sanji and women, that Oda has lost the plot~

but I still stand by it all being a gag and not really meant to be a defining character trait or Sanji's real feelings While yes, we often see Sanji act a bit perverted at times, when push comes to shove and Sanji has to act, regarding a woman in any way that is actually plot relevant, he tends to drop the "pervert" persona and return back to what I feel is his true feelings towards women

Sanji's Real Feeling about Women

When we're first introduced to Sanji he's shown as a guy who has a great appreciation for women He treats them nice, pampering them, he talks about how beautiful and wonderful and graceful all women are He puts them up on a pedestal, but he also sees women as complex people We see this first with his reaction to Nami leaving and "betraying" the crew when it comes to Arlong park While he does swoon over Nami, he also doesn't hold her actions against her because he believes that she must have her reasons for doing what she did and he's proven right when Nojiko tells them about Nami's past (Something that Sanji is very sympathetic towards - he immediately recognizes her suffering and sees it as a valid reason for her actions) This same behavior is seen again with Robin during Water 7 Even though Robin tries everything she can do to get Sanji to hate her and leave her be, he refuses because he believes Robin to be a good person who must have her reasons for acting this was and correctly assumes that she must be being backed into a corner somehow Sanji forgives a lot of women throughout the series who act in ways that would push most people away or most people would see as unforgivable because he recognizes that most women don't have a choice He recognizes that women, in general, are not treated equally to men and that as a result they don't have as much freedom or self agency as men in the world And I think that's something that Sanji can relate to I think he truly understand how it feels to not have control over what happens to you and what you can and can't do He grew up (partly) in Germa after all...

I think that Sanji sees women as strong and brave while still being gentle and kind And I think he truly hates how often they suffer oppression and mistreatment And this is a major contributing factor to his over the top nice treatment and pampering of women Sanji sees the unjust treatment of women around him - people he views as so naturally good and kind - and he wants nothing more than to be able to do something to stop that mistreatment and he does so by trying to protect them at all costs, including refusing to ever hit a woman A lot of people give Sanji shit for this character trait, but I think it's much more complicated than him seeing women as "weaker" than men I can't help but feel that it's more motivated by a refusal to add to a woman's suffering

I also think there's an interesting conversation to be had when it comes to Sanji and "feminism" compared to other characters like Zoro or Luffy It feels like a gag when Sanji gets pissed at Zoro for fighting women, but I think there's something there~ A perfect example is the first time Zoro fight Tashigi in Louguetown and Sanji gets SUPER pissed about it He accuses Zoro of being disrespectful of Tashigi as a woman because he's fighting her, but I think Zoro sees his choice to fight her as just the opposite And I think a lot of that has a lot to do with the women in their lives that shaped them For Zoro, one of the most important and influential people in his life growing up was Kuina And I truly think that her not only being a better swordsman than Zoro, but telling him about her dream and the fact that she didn't think that she'd ever be able to achieve it due to being a woman really affected him and the way he sees woman and how they should be treated Kuina was someone Zoro deeply respected and I think he hated that the world made her feel that she was inadequate and unable to achieve her dream just because of her biological sex I think this felt like a great injustice to Zoro and he wanted to prove her wrong So while Sanji sees fighting a woman as disrespectful, I think Zoro would see not fighting a woman as disrespectful and an insult to Kuina's memory (I could go on about Zoro meeting women as his equal is further supported by many fights he has, including his later refusal to "help" Tashigi during Punk Hazard, but that's a different rant for a different day lol)

In a similar way to Zoro, Luffy also treats women as complete equals He doesn't discriminate He just sees them as people, choosing to fight them when necessary, befriend them if he feels it's right, and never putting them above or below himself And just like with Zoro, Sanji had scolded Luffy multiple times for fighting women because Sanji just doesn't see it that way

And I think that all of this: Sanji putting women up on a pedestal, wanting to protect them, refusing to fight them, viewing them as both angelic, but also complex people all goes back to the influential women in Sanji's early life

Sanji, Sora, and Reiju

*I'm going to give a quick disclaimer at the top of this part because I literally just started Whole Cake, so most of my knowledge here comes from bits and pieces that I've learned/picked up about Sanji's backstory and family (I'm not someone who seeks out spoilers, but I exist on the internet and have obviously learned spoilers for Whole Cake and Sanji's backstory/family)

For Sanji, two of the most influential women in his early life were his mother and sister And I think that they had a great impact on how he views women in general

Sora was clearly one of the few people in Sanji's life in The Germa Kingdom who truly loved him She loved him from before he was born to the point that she risked her own life for him She went out of her way to encourage Sanji to be a kind and caring person and follow his dreams even though that was something that she would never get to do herself She was such a good a caring figure in Sanji's life and I truly think that she is the main reason why Sanji believes women to be naturally good and caring people Sanji sees his mother in all women even if it's to his own detriment

Reiju also had a very big and interesting impact on Sanji as a kid She was never anywhere near as kind to him as his mother, but she still reached out a had to him and was the most caring of all of his siblings Despite how she really felt about it, however, just like Sora, Reiju was trapped She was unable to escape her family or her upbringing, she was forced to become what was expected of her and to, at the vert least, assimilate into the family in order to survive And I think that it is because of Reiju that Sanji has the belief that women are complicated people He saw his sister, who was clearly a good person at heart, forced to act a certain way and abide behaviors she clearly did not agree with simply to protect herself She was forced to act and become what their father and brothers made her for her own safety She didn't have the strength or will to defy them, but despite all that she still found kindness for Sanji in her own way Reiju was far from perfect, but she did what she could manage and I think that meant a lot to Sanji and made him very aware of how often women are forced into a corner like his sister and mother were

And I truly think this is why in Dressrosa, Sanji is so willing to first help and then later forgive and continue helping Viola even after everything she does to him I think Sanji sees his sister in Viola and would do anything and endure anything to help a woman in such a terrible situation like that Yes, when Sanji first sees Viola and swoons over her, it feels like the "woman crazy" Sanji gag, but as things develop it's clear that Sanji very genuinely wants to help her He sees a woman who is clearly trapped and asking for help and he can't refuse her Then once she betrays him, he's still unwilling to believe that she isn't still trapped, he saw genuine good in her and a genuine call for help (just like he saw in his sister all those years back) and this time he can actual do something about it

So yes, while there are for sure some real moments where Sanji seems like he's just a little horny pervert when it comes to women, but I think there is a lot of evidence that that is not his real feelings toward women and more of an overplayed, and frankly out of hand, gag

Even if you look at moments like when Sanji is in Nami's body during Punk Hazard While yes, Sanji does initially have the pervert response of "Ohhh!!! Boobs!!" I think that the more notable moments are when he stops and considers how he needs to be careful in Nami's body (he's the only one involved in the body swaps that really does this too - rip Chopper, Franky really fucked him up lol) Despite his obvious anxiety, he refrains from smoking until Nami gives him permission He makes an effort not to get Nami's body injured in combat And even considers and how fighting in his normal way and using techniques that his body is accustom to would probably hurt Nami and tries to avoid it when possible (tho he does push Nami athletically to a degree that makes it clear that she's much more physically capable then I think even she realizes lol) I personally feel that the moments that Sanji is considerate and respectful of Nami's body far out weigh the moments when he's not (He's also far nicer to Nami's body than she is to his lol)

To summarize, I don't think that Sanji is just a pervert, I think Oda just thinks the pervert joke is funny~ There's much more evidence (especially during character defining moments for Sanji) that Sanji has a deep respect for women He appreciates their beauty and believes them to be good and kind All he wants is to be able to protect them, especially now that he is actually capable of doing so He understand the inequality, injustice, and oppression that a lot of women face and understands that in part due to all that, many women must act in ways that seem, on the surface, to be unforgivable He sees women as complex people who often times have to make difficult decisions for the good of themselves and others and Sanji gives them grace for that

[leftsidebonfire]

I swear I'm gonna start biting all the "Vinsmoke" taggers. Sanji could not have made it more explicitly clear in the Anime that he HATES that family, those abusive pieces of shit, and wants NOTHING to do with that name or even any association with them.

And every day I come on here and see such lovingly crafted fan arts of Sanji by people who seem to love him so much, only to be TAINTED with that fucking #Vinsmoke Sanji tag.

Like??? Are we blind here??? That's not his name. It's BLACK LEG Sanji, named after his FATHER, Red Leg Zeff. Get it right.

He has no connection to those abusers anymore.

[azaleakoneko]

“Every inch of you…”

Sanji Vinsmoke x Fem|Reader

A/N: Hey Everyone, thanks for voting on the poll and helping me out! This is my first public fanfiction, so hopefully you like it ♡ Feel free to leave feedback in the comments!

Warnings: +18 MDNI, Angst (self inflicted anxiety, feeling inadequate), Comfort/NSFW, Praise, Begging, Cunnilingus, Fingering, Nicknames (My love, Sweetheart, Baby, Pretty girl), Vaginal penetration, unprotected sex, overstimulation, creampie.

Word Count: 3.7k

Tags: @downforsanji @stephisokay

“Oh come on, you still haven’t told him yet..?” Nami asked with an exasperated sigh as she crossed her arms and looked at you with a frown. “Do I have to tell him myself? Or are you going to wait for another Pudding to steal him away again?”

You couldn’t help but glare at the navigator, but deep down you knew she was right. You had been head over heels in love with Sanji ever since you’d joined the Strawhat Crew as the sous-chef, and it was almost painful how obvious it was to everyone on the crew.

Well, almost everyone.

The clueless chef had somehow overlooked your affections all this time, assuming your overt kindness and consideration towards him was nothing more than common courtesy, and you were too afraid of rejection to confess your true feelings to him.

Because of this, things had been uncharacteristically tense between the two of you since his reunion with the crew after the Whole Cake Island incident. He had assumed you were upset with him for turning his back on Luffy and the crew, but truthfully you were nursing a shattered heart from the exact situation Nami was referring to; Pudding.

“That’s not going to happen, Nami.” You practically growled at her as you stopped in your tracks. Just the mention of that girl’s name made your heart clench and made you feel sick to your stomach and she knew that; which is exactly why she said it.

“Oh yeah? You’ll tell him yourself and stop torturing yourself then? I don’t understand why you haven’t just put your big girl panties on and fessed up.” Nami huffed as her hands firmly dug into her hips. She wasn’t about to back down and let you sulk around the Sunny anymore. “This is Sanji we’re talking about. What are you so afraid of, y/n? Just tell him.”

Instead of snapping back with anger you wore a distraught expression on your face, shoulders sagging forward as your gaze fell to the floor. “That's easy for you to say. You're his precious 'Nami Swan'. I'm just the sous-chef, nothing special...”

“Babe, you are waaaay out of his league so I better never hear you say you're 'nothing special' ever again." Nami quipped as she rolled her eyes and grabbed you by the shoulders, giving you a few firm shakes to snap you out of it before she lifted a hand to grasp your chin-forcibly making you look at her. "Go. Tell.

Him. You know what? I'll help you."

“N-Nami..?” You were about to ask what she meant, but before you could protest she was already dragging you down the all too familiar route to the kitchen with a grip that didn’t allow you any squirming room. “Jeez!”

At this point the pair had garnered the attention of a few of the crew mates, but they knew far better than to interrupt Nami when she had that look on her face. Everyone acted like it was business as usual, purposely averting their gaze to avoid getting a chilling gaze from the woman.

“Listen to me. You are going to at least tell him the truth and give him a chance to respond at the very least.” She commanded as she haphazardly burst through the door to the kitchen and shoved you into the organized space. “Hey Sanji, would you be a dear and come over here for a sec? Y/n here has got something she’s been just dying to tell you.”

You looked at Nami with a look of deep rooted betrayal from the ambush, feeling your heart thump painfully in your throat accompanied with a wave of nausea from the anxiety you were experiencing upon realizing her intention with isolating you here.

Nami was too busy ensuring there was no way for you to escape as she inched her way back towards the doorway, reaching for the handle. “This is your chance, y/n. Don’t you dare try to leave now or I’ll start charging you berries for every time you whine about this guy. Got it?” She said as she flashed a playful wink before slipping out and hastily closing the door behind her.

A simple “Good luuuuck!” was the last thing Nami uttered through cupped hands against the kitchen door as you stood there in a state of panic.

You didn’t have long to process your situation however when your favorite sound drifted into your ears making you grip your fingers into your palms firmly in an attempt to quell your racing heart, causing small crescent moons to indent your skin.

“Y/n, is everything alright my love?” Sanji asked cautiously as he approached from the storage room, immediately noticing how tense her stance was.

When he saw you were hesitant to respond, or to even turn around for that matter, he gently urged the conversation forward again. “Why don’t you come sit down and I’ll make you something and then we can talk?”

You heard a few more light steps approaching and then felt a gentle tug on your hand coaxing you to turn around and acknowledge him. You felt a deep ache in your heart from how kind he was still being to you despite you brushing him off and avoiding him for the past few weeks.

Sanji wasn’t too bothered by the silence; at least you weren’t brushing him away like you had been lately. His fingers slipped across your palm as he gripped your hand tighter to seat you at the kitchen island and his brows creased when he felt the little marks in your skin. “Sit here for a moment, alright?”

You nodded and took a seat, gradually lifting your gaze to watch him as he meticulously assembled an assortment of snacks while brewing a pot of tea.

The longer you watched him the harder it was to rationalize why you had been pushing him away when all you truly wanted was to hold him closer.

You hadn’t even realized you had begun to cry, but Sanji did and he promptly abandoned his pursuit of making you snacks to immediately return to your side. Even if you were upset with him, he would never leave a woman in distress in his presence.

“Oh sweetheart... Please talk to me. Are you alright? Be honest.” Sanji urged as he sat beside you and took your hands in his, rubbing his thumbs soothingly over your trembling hands.

Hearing him ask if you were alright only made matters worse and you already felt like you had no right to take comfort in his touch, but you tightened your grip on his hands anyhow. “I’m fine...it’s stupid.” You said in a weak attempt to deflect, but the way your eyes refused to hold eye contact was enough to tip off that lie—not that you really tried.

Sanji’s expression softened as y/n finally started to speak to him again. He freed one of his hands to wipe your tears and give you a reassuring smile that made your heart flutter even in this state of mind. “Darling, nothing that makes you cry is stupid. Whatever it is, let me help you. Please? I want to see that beautiful smile of yours again.”

You reached your hand up and pressed his palm flush against your cheek, nuzzling into its warmth and for a moment forgot what was troubling you, but you knew it couldn’t be avoided forever. “Sanji...” You whispered meekly with your eyes squeezed shut— voice quivering as if it would break like fine china. “Did you love her?” Even asking him hurt, but you had to know for your own peace of mind.

Sanji realized none of her behavior the past few weeks was about Luffy at all, and suddenly everything started to make sense. “Is that what you’ve been worried about, y/n..?” He asked sympathetically, his curly brows knit together in concern. “Hey, look at me gorgeous. I didn’t love her, okay? I Promise. I’m right where I belong.”

With his gentle consoling you couldn’t help but feel terrible for letting something so silly put so much needless tension between the two of you, but you shoo’d those pesky thoughts away and gave in, allowing yourself to look up into those breathtaking blue eyes of his.

“Let me ask you something in return, y/n... Do you love me?” Sanji asked hesitantly, afraid that you would laugh at him for even suggesting it. His luck with women in the past wasn’t exactly much to brag about, but this didn’t feel like those situations at all; you were sitting here vulnerable in front of him. “Please.. be honest with me, y/n.”

At his question the floodgates broke again and you couldn’t help but cry as you nodded, not wanting to hold it in any longer. “I do, I love you Sanji. I love you so much that it hurts to breathe sometimes.. and when I thought I lost you, especially to her—” You began to explain but were cut off almost immediately by the sudden feeling of his warm lips crashing against yours, effecting stopping any train of thought.

Sanji slid his other hand around your waist and pulled you in closer as his lips refused to part from yours; deepening the kiss instead until he felt you finally begin to relax under his touch. “You could never lose me,” he said as he pulled back slightly, lips brushing yours as he spoke again. “I love you too, y/n.”

It felt like the air in your lungs had abandoned you as you looked at him with widened eyes, feeling like you had to be imagining this, but there was no way your imagination could perfectly replicate the smell of his cologne and cigarettes or the feeling of his hands on your body.

“Let me prove it to you, my love.”

───── ⋆⋅ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋅⋆ ─────

“Mm... you’re so beautiful, y/n.” Sanji hummed against your skin as he trailed kisses down your jawline, beginning to nip and suck at the delicate skin of your neck with his teeth and eager tongue, loving the taste of you but enjoying your reactions to him even more. “Mine..”

You couldn’t help but whimper and lean your neck to the side to give him better access as he eagerly attempted to leave marks all over your neck and shoulders.

Everywhere his lips touched felt hot and filled you with a need for more, and before you knew it he was between your thighs, lifting the plush flesh over his shoulders with a hungry gaze. “S-Sanji...” You panted when you felt his lips press against your inner thighs, slowly trailing to where you needed him the most.

“Shh, my love.. let me take care of you.” Sanji vocalized as his breath fanned against you, making your stomach clench in anticipation. “I want you to keep your eyes on me, alright baby? Just relax and watch..”

He pressed a tender kiss against your clit before slowly rolling his tongue between your folds, eliciting a whine from your parted lips as you obeyed, not like you even could rip your gaze away from the sight of him between your thighs; he looked so attractive with his determined expression and flushed cheeks from the intimacy.

“Ngh, Sanji..” You sighed as he latched his mouth on your entrance—his tongue lapping against your heat while he gripped your thighs to keep your from squirming away from him. “T-That feels... r-really good..”

Knowing how easy it was to get you to talk for him now made him smirk against you before he plunged his wet muscle past your entrance, relishing in the taste of your fluttering spongy walls with a self indulgent moan as the tip of his nose nuzzled against your clit to give you some much needed friction, making your body jolt from the pleasure.

“God, you taste divine, my love..” He groaned against you before he dove back in, not caring how messy his face was getting from your slick as he explored your depths with one thing on his mind; making you feel so good that you couldn’t focus on anything but him and how much he loved you. Not Pudding — just you.

Your fingers tangled through the gorgeous gold of his hair and gripped the strands you’d always wished you could run your fingers through as you mewled and ground your hips against his mouth, aiding his tongue in reaching deeper inside of your core. “Fuck, p-please don’t stop Sanji..!” You stuttered out as you felt the heat in your abdomen grow to an almost unbearable degree as you looked down at him with a half lidded gaze, absentmindedly pushing his face into your dripping fluttering cunt.

Sanji loved that you weren’t being shy with your needs any longer because he could barely contain himself as your moans made his erection press almost uncomfortably against the mattress below you. He growled sensually and gripped your thighs tighter, pressing your pussy as close to his face as possible; wanting to make you completely lose yourself to the pleasure he provided as he rutted his hips in tandem with your desperate grinding against him.

“M-My love, I’m gonna..” Your voice came out in a low whine as your back arched beautifully off of his mattress, plush thighs clamping tightly around his head as your juices began to gush from your pussy, “Ngh oh fuck, I’m cumming Sanji..!”

Sanji’s ministrations didn’t relent however, there was no way he was going to waste even a single drop of your well deserved release. He withdrew from your walls to lap at your folds and swirl his tongue against your throbbing clit like a starved man. “Good.. that’s it my pretty girl, let go for me...” He coo’d as he greedily cleaned you.

Helpless whines of his name fell from your lips as he continued to pleasure you through your high, not being able to get enough of the adorably lewd faces you were making as you trembled and jolted from his every slow touch.

“Sanji, baby p-please...” You begged with a high pitched tone as your feet dug into his shoulders, eyes rolling back into your skull from the sensation of his touch gradually sending your body into a state of overstimulation. “I c-can’t take it.”

If this were any other situation he would’ve given in to your pleas and eased off, but he could only feel how badly he wanted.. no, needed you right now. “Mmm... I think you can, sweetheart. One more please, just for me..?” He said as he pressed kisses to your tense thighs, rubbing his hands along the bare flesh tenderly.

Goosebumps erupted along your skin as you watched him, swallowing hard before caving in to his request with a firm nod of consent. There was no way you could deny him - not when you had wanted him like this for so long.

Sanji ran a hand down between your thighs and inhaled shakily with desire as he pressed one and then another of his digits against your heat, slowly sinking inside of your walls to loosen your muscles as his mouth latched onto your engorged clit with soft kitten licks. The way you clenched around his fingers while they scissored and stretched you for him made his neglected cock twitch, but your pleasure was all that he cared about in that moment.

“Haah.. Sanji, can you please kiss me?” You begged with a yearning tone as you tugged gently on his hair to make him look at you. All you wanted in this moment was to feel closer to him - to have his body against yours.

Hearing you ask him so sweetly made his attention snap to you. He pulled away from your pussy with a trail of saliva and slick connecting his mouth to your clit before he started to trail kisses up your stomach and chest, wanting to build the tension again before he had you right where he wanted you; begging for more. “Of course, my love. I’ll do anything for you.” His hands dug into the soft flesh of your breasts and kneaded them with his fingers as his lips finally hovered over yours.

Patience was something you lacked as you draped your arms around his neck and pulled him flush against you to kiss him. You nipped his bottom lip and took the opportunity to roll your tongue into his mouth when he gasped in surprise. He tasted like a mixture of his cigarettes and your slick which, made it even more addicting to kiss him. “I need you, Sanji...” Your leg hooked over his hip to press yourself up against his erection.

That was much sooner than he had expected but he wasn’t about to deny you what you wanted, especially when you looked so cute while you were being this needy for him. “Then you’ll have me, y/n.” He said with a breathtaking smile that reached his eyes as he slipped his hand down to hook your other leg over his hip as well. “Just tell me if things get uncomfortable alright? The last thing I want to do is hurt you, my love.”

“I will, baby.” You mumbled as you nodded eagerly, locking your lips with his again as your bodies pressed together; his throbbing dick now rubbing against your folds and making your breath catch in your throat.

Sanji reached down between the two of you and guided himself to your entrance, slowly pressing into your heat inch by inch with a sensual moan as your gummy walls squeezed his cock. “You’re so tight, my love..” He growled sensually as he bottomed out and began to gradually thrust in and out of you to get you accustomed to him. “You look so pretty taking my cock like this.. My pretty girl.”

You winced a little as you felt your walls stretch to accommodate his girth but the pain was gone almost as quickly as it had surfaced due to his mindful attentive movements; it was clear he was constantly being considerate of your pleasure even with his rapidly crumbling restraint. “Ahn.. Sanji, h-harder please..” Your voice was timid, not yet used to making demands of him in the bedroom.

“What was that, my love? You’ll have to speak up.” He said with a smirk as he kept the same pace, leaning forward to latch his mouth on the delicate skin under your jaw, trailing pretty bruises down to your shoulder that he could admire later. “Use that pretty voice of yours.”

“F-Fuck... Please, please go harder!” You whined as you bucked your hips up against his, pressing his cock deeper inside of you but at nowhere near the roughness that you craved. “Please don’t tease me baby, I need you!”

There it was again - those beautiful magic words that flipped Sanji’s switch and made him want to give you everything you could possibly handle. His grip tightened on your hips as his rhythm picked up, causing lewd slapping and pleasurable panting to fill the silence around them. “Can’t leave my pretty girl unsatisfied now, can I?” He hummed as he watched your eyes roll back from the faster pace. “Tell me, how does it feel my love?”

“S-So good..!” You choked out as his tip repeatedly battered against the entrance to your cervix, a ring of your arousal building up around the base of his shaft. “D-Don’t stop!” You slid your arms around his back, fingers digging into his shoulders and causing thin scratch marks to form down his back as you clawed him.

“Good girl.” Sanji groaned and leaned down to kiss you deeply as he felt the last of his restraint burst into flames. He began to pound himself into you so roughly that your legs were forced apart as you were fucked senseless into the mattress. He knew he was getting close but he couldn’t stop when you felt this heavenly. “God you feel amazing, sweetheart..”

All your fucked out mind could manage to utter was mindlessly babbled praise and cries of his name as his thrusts brought you to the edge once more, your walls fluttering around his cock as your legs locked behind him. “Ah..! M’gonna cum Sanji...”

“I know you are, my love... Cum for me.” Sanji commanded softly as he slowed his pace but continued to roughly slam his hips against yours, chasing his own high as you looked up at him with teary overstimulated eyes. He slipped a hand down to rub his finger gently against your throbbing clit. “You did so well. Such a good job for me, my love..”

Hearing him praise you like that while providing the added stimulation against your sensitive nerves made you cry out again and tremble as the tension within you finally snapped practically making you see stars. You reached a powerful climax, squirting your slick all over his cock and soaking the blanket and mattress beneath you in the process with your cum. “Ngh..! I love you, Sanji.” You whimpered before your exhausted body crumpled back down against the bed.

Sanji wasn’t far behind you, moaning as he felt your pussy milking him, but it was your sweet voice telling him that you loved him that sent him over the edge. “I love you too, y/n.” He panted as he sloppily thrusted into your spent pussy a few more times before pressing his hips firmly against you, dick twitching and spilling his release deep inside.

He then followed suit and collapsed on top of you, taking the utmost care to not crush you with his body weight. “God, I love you so much.” He said as he peppered tender kisses across your cheeks, chin, nose, and then finally pressing an affectionate lingering kiss to your sweet swollen lips. “Every inch of you, my love.”

All content unless otherwise stated belongs to: ©HowlTheSanjiSimp. Please do not copy, modify, translate, repost or promote my writing or graphics on other platforms. Please DO feel free to comment, reblog or follow <3

[turtletaubwrites]

Numbers Game ~ Chapter 39

As Ruined As Hope

Pairings: Cross Guild Polycule x Shanks x Fem!Reader x ???

Numbers Game Masterlist

Word Count: 9k+

Ao3 Link

Ongoing Series Playlist: Youtube Music Link | Youtube Link

Chapter Tunes: Monster ~ Meg Myers | Lips Like Sugar ~ Echo & The Bunnymen

Summary: The end of the Hunt looms closer, and although your sister is the only hope you should cling to, it's hard to resist your favorite Hunters. It's hard not to enjoy a second date, even while the walls are closing in.

Ch. 38 Recap: Detailed recap is directly below the cut!

Author's Note: When I first started writing fics, I was a bit of a Plantser, but mostly the stories just unrolled in my mind as I went. (To be fair, I was in a very long mixed/manic episode when I started so that may have had something to do with all that Pantsing 🤷‍♀️). Then I decided to add Shanks to this sexy pot, and the Cross Guild party chapters got me HOOKED on Plotting. It's been rough getting back to my old writing speed with all the life things, but all of this has been plotted and outlined for months, and it feels SO satisfying to finally get it out to y'all. I can't wait to show you what comes next 🥰

Dark Content Warning: Uncle Cedrick is his own warning, y'all. I've also bracketed another recorded scene from the asylum, so please skip to the summary directly below the scene if doctors, mental institutions, or related topics are heavily triggering for you.

This is a core theme of the story, but I have done some time in those "grippy sock vacations" (both as a patient and as a peripheral worker), so I know how dehumanizing and painful it can be. This story has been heavy, and I wouldn't blame anyone for stepping away or taking a break. Whether you keep reading or not, I hope you know that you are not alone. You deserve to feel safe and worthy of kindness and love. 💜

Also, I hope everyone remembers the tag/warning: Cross Guild Boys are VILLAINS. It’s been there since day one, so 🤷‍♀️

Extra Tags/Warnings: The smut in here has a lot of spit. Here's your warning since I haven't tagged that before. I swear it's there for a good reason, lol 🤤

Alternate POV Symbols:

🌲 ~ Reader | 🐊 ~ Crocodile | 🗡 ~ Mihawk | 🤡 ~ Buggy | 🔴 ~ Shanks | 🐈 ~ Kat |⏰ ~ Flashbacks for listed POV | ⚫ ~ Scenes depicting Dark Content as listed in Author's Notes

!!! SPOILER WARNING !!! Fic contains spoilers for current One Piece plotlines!!! Sorry y'all, I'm trying to keep most spoilers small or vague details, but Cross Guild is endgame, lol.

Rating/Warnings: Author May Choose to Exclude some Warnings to Avoid Spoilers for Certain Chapters, Explicit Sexual Content, 18+ ONLY, MDNI, AFAB!Reader, She/Her Pronouns for Reader, Reader-Insert, Use of Y/N, Dark Content, Blood & Violence, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Dissociation, Mental Illness, Grief, Hospitals, Doctors, Mental Health Treatment, Toxic Family, Childhood Trauma, Swearing, Alcohol, Cigars, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Guilt, Drama, Jealousy, Manipulation, Pet Names, Power Imbalance, Cross Guild boys are VILLAINS, Possessive Behavior, Teasing, Threats, Relationship Drama, Inappropriate Use of Akuma no Mi | Devil Fruit Powers, Shameless Shameless Smut, Uncle Cedrick Has Become His Own Warning, Death of an Unnamed Character, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

| masterlist | about me | rules | ao3 |

Ch. 38 Recap:

Shanks continued to struggle with his guilt and failures, still not finding a way to use the advantage the Concealer had given him.

Buggy & Crocodile found what comfort they could in each other while Buggy heard his star find pleasure and sorrow across the sea.

Reader tried to fight against hope, but realizing that she wouldn't mind ending up with four out of the five remaining hunters left her feeling free, especially when one of those hunters taught her how to fly.

Kat tried to have something for herself, but pushed that hope aside when the lovely Vinsmoke princess revealed her true goal. Reiju warned Kat of her family's plans, and vowed that she would kill the reader if she married one of her brothers.

Reader promised her sister that she wouldn't choose a Vinsmoke after learning how they planned to use her, but reader knew it wouldn't be her choice to make.

Now Reader's hopes had shrunk down to two out of five, and the reader braced herself. She remembered that hope was fucking stupid.

As Ruined As Hope

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

Pretend, please pretend.

Luckily, a scowl wasn’t out of place on your sister’s face, but the violence in her eyes was too vivid.

You were good at pretending. No fear or disgust in your eyes, no hint of a snarl on your lips.

Just that smile, just warm laughter, just pretending while your green-haired suitor drooled over you at breakfast.

Kat was glaring, ignoring the princess at her side while she watched you flirt with the simpering monster.

“It’s too bad she can’t leave the island yet,” Uncle Cedrick lamented. His voice had shifted enough for you to hear through the cloud of compliments Yonji surrounded you with.

That tone of torment always pricked your ears.

“Y/N just loves snails, don’t you, niece,” he taunted. Slime crept up your skin at the satisfaction on his face. “Have you seen the Germa fleet? Incredible creatures, aren’t they?”

“Yes, Uncle, they are quite—”

“It takes a specific environment to cultivate such large and intelligent snails,” Judge spoke over you, taking your uncle’s attention again. “Given your family’s diverse real estate, you may already own an adequate forest to begin your own colony.”

“You know, our kingdom can shift however we like,” Yonji bragged while he trailed fingers along the side of your neck. Kat’s eyes were burning into him, and you were amazed that his flesh wasn’t sizzling against your skin. “I’ll let you tell my snail where you want to go, and we can take my whole tower with us on our honeymoon. Where does my pretty princess want to go?”

Visions of crumbled sandcastles filled your weak mind while you smiled at Kat until the rage in her eyes calmed into casual disdain.

“Prince Yonji, you’ve already shown me how to fly,” you purred, faking a sip of your drink so you could lean away from the green haired prince. “Now you say we can go anywhere I wish? It sounds too good to be true.”

The prince’s response was too saccharine to fully take in, especially when all you could focus on was keeping everyone’s attention away from the hate in your sister’s eyes.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

“Sis—”

“Sorry sweetheart, I need to borrow your sister for a bit,” their uncle cut in, cupping Kat’s cheek before nudging her out the door with the Vinsmokes.

Great.

Of course it was fake. Y/N was frighteningly good at pretending for the leeches she hated so much.

It’s just pretend. She’s going to drop them. It’s just for appearances, just for this stupid, fucked up game.

“Hey, Kat,” Reiju crept up behind her, that poisonous voice too soft. “Would you like to take a walk before the hunt?”

“No, thank you.”

Kat found her way outside to breathe some air that hopefully hadn’t touched any royal lips that day.

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

So many flavors of smiles to choose from, yet he had chosen this one. Uncle Cedrick had always been a master at playing pretend, but all these years of owning you, owning everything, had dulled the skill. Or he just didn’t need to hide anymore. Too much wealth and power to give a shit about what the cattle thought of him.

Or the deer.

“Take a seat, dear niece,” he commanded, gesturing for you to sit too close before pinching your cheek. “It’s about time for a check in, don’t you think?”

“Of course, Uncle,” you smiled. His smile only grew more feral, more pleased, and you tried to brace yourself.

“Do you have a favorite yet—or is it still too early to tell,” he taunted, cutting you off before the words could leave your lips. “Well, did you at least enjoy your little fantasy?”

Nausea roiled in your gut. No matter what his next words were, your body knew they would make you sick.

Uncle looked his happiest when he was tearing you down.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

Empty. I’m empty.

“Aw, and here I thought I was being so generous,” your uncle complained, the hurt in his voice so thin and brittle it was hardly noticeable over the pleasure. “I made sure you got a chance to get him out of your system. I hope you enjoyed getting violated by your daddy’s best friend. He's been asking about you for years, and it’s been ‘mm, well,’ so damn irritating. Did you scratch that itch of his?”

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Your ears were ringing. Your eyes were wide, but they stayed dry while you stayed still.

“Or did you already let him fuck you way back when,” Uncle Cedrick baited you. You couldn’t let him in. “Iceburg never struck me as a monster, but you always acted like such a little slut, even before your dead daddy trauma—”

“You’re the monster.”

No. Nonononono. Be empty. Empty.

STOP!

You couldn’t stop.

Ears were ringing. Body was shaking. Nails dug into your palms. Teeth bit into your cheek enough to draw a hint of iron. It was the only thing that kept you from tearing that slow, evil smile off his face.

“Are you seeing things,” he asked, but the concern in his voice was only there to trap you.  “Remember to breathe, niece. You wouldn’t want to hurt a family member because you’re hallucinating, would you? You know I’m your human uncle, not a monster, right, Y/N?”

There were tears of terror and rage in your throat, but you’d let yourself choke on them before letting him see his salty victory on your cheeks.

Pretend.

He was winning. He always won.

“Oh my, you’re not looking well, Y/N. Let me call for the doctor.”

“I'm fine.”

Fuzzy. Things were going fuzzy, and that was so much better. You just had to be a doll until he wasn’t looking.

The monster smiled as he reached for you. The way he stroked your hair might have felt soothing from any other hand, but you had to fight not to gag at his touch.

“I’m your uncle, remember. All I care about is protecting our family. I must make sure that you’re not a danger to yourself or others.”

“I’m feeling well, Uncle. I’m sorry.”

How strange. It seemed like words had left your lips.

“I’m relieved to hear that, niece. Run along now,” Uncle Cedrick gave a lazy snap before pointing toward the door. “Go fix your face for the hunt. You’ll be sending that shipwright home in less than an hour, and we can’t have you looking so sad about it.”

A pause went on too long, and he pulled your chin toward him, forcing you to keep your eyes on his.

“Why...”

The laughter that left him was sharp and satisfied, as though he’d been waiting for you to ask.

“Please, dear niece,” Uncle Cedrick scolded you, letting go of your face to tap the tip of your nose. “I know you’re smarter than that. It’s impressive how well Iceburg’s done for himself given he started out on a literal pile of trash. Still, there’s nothing that dockworker has that we can’t buy. Let him down easy though. I’d rather keep his business than buy it, at least for now.”

Empty.

“Of course, Uncle.”

“There she is,” he breathed against your ear while he dragged you to your feet, cruel hands guiding you toward the door. “My little smarty.”

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🐊 🐊 🐊 ~~~

He may have drunk all the scotch on the island. Bourbon didn’t quite do the trick, but the ex-Warlord couldn’t make it through this torture without some kind of burn.

Although with every night, every brutal moment he sat there helpless on the floor, Crocodile craved the kind of burn that would end this torture for good.

Something. There has to be something.

There was nothing.

All Crocodile found in those recordings was the torment he surely deserved.

He was a monster. He’d been a monster to her before he fell in love, and now he must suffer for his sins.

There was nothing to glean from Y/N’s recorded sessions except for the cruelty of the hells they were both trapped in.

“Just show me something, sweetheart,” the monster begged while his little love screamed and wept on the wall again. “Your uncle, your mother, that fucking doctor... I’ll gut them for you baby girl. Just show me—”

‘You seem calmer today, Y/N. How are you feeling?’

~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~

His sweet girl was quiet, head bowed before her torturer. If she spoke, that damned snail didn’t pick it up.

‘Would you like to return to your—'

‘I'm sorry,’ she choked out, her face stretching with pain before she sobbed. ‘I didn't mean to. I didn't want to... I'm sorry.’

Dr. Vorsan finally showed his slimy, pale face. Crocodile nearly slammed his hook through the wall when that trash sat at her table, dipping his head to meet her eyes.

‘Remorse is a challenging, but powerful emotion. Even the most monstrous of us can find peace after truth has had its moment.’

The child wept with such force, such pain that it tore through that frightening man until he could hardly breathe.

‘Are you ready to admit the truth, Y/N? Are you ready to start healing?’

‘Yes, doctor.’

His sweet girl should never have to beg, but he listened while she did.

‘What is the truth you've been hiding from?’

‘I'm... I'm a monster.’

No, sweetheart.

‘Why does that word feel like truth, Y/N?’

Somehow that bland face became frightening in its power. There was nothing the villain could do while he watched the doctor tear her apart.

‘I hurt it. I hurt— I didn’t mean…’

‘Are victims less hurt when their monsters don't mean to hurt them?’

He’s dead, sweet girl. All his words are ash, salted earth, don’t fucking listen.

‘N-no.’

‘You're making good progress, Y/N. Keep going. What are you?’

...

‘Keep going, Y/N.’

‘I'm a monster,’ the broken child cried out, and all Crocodile could do was smash another hole into the floor. ‘I'm selfish. I'm sick. I'm not well. I shouldn't— I can't.’

Y/N paused, her head slowly falling forward until her body slumped. She didn't react when her face hit the table with a gentle thud.

‘Good work. You can spend some time in the great room today once you're feeling better,’ Dr. Vorsan soothed, eliciting a soft groan from her still form. ‘Now that you're acknowledging the truth, we can begin to help you. You're a monster because you're sick, Y/N, but I can help you get well. Would you like to get well?’

The slurred moan that left that broken child sounded more like a ‘please,’ than a ‘yes.’

‘This is a huge step on the path to recovery,’ the dead man hummed while he patted her back, ignoring her flinch and the drool that fell from her slackened lips. ‘You should feel proud of yourself for accepting the truth. Acceptance is the only way to wellness.  Do you remember what your truth is?’

No, sweet girl.

‘I’m a monster.’

~~~⚫⚫⚫~~~

~~~

~⚫SUMMARY⚫~

Crocodile watched a recording of the reader in the asylum, and this time, Dr. Vorsan showed himself on screen. The reader was crying and apologized for hurting “it.” She stated that she hadn’t meant to, but her doctor reminded her that intention doesn’t make a victim less hurt.

Dr. Vorsan convinced the reader to accept the truth so that she could become well. He made her repeat that truth.

The reader stated that she was a monster, and the doctor praised her for admitting it.

~⚫SUMMARY⚫~

~~~

~~~🐊🐊🐊~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

Nothing matters. Nothing is real.

Smiling was easy when nothing was real.

“It’s cruel to keep them waiting, niece.” That voice filled the courtyard with laughs of derision and delight, but it wasn’t enough to pull you into the moment.

The arrow he snapped in half by your ear was enough. You gripped the shattered wood, shoving down all the images of what you could do with the broken pieces while the platform moved you, displaying you before your hunters.

Does the prey feel empty before it’s caught? When the deer freezes in place, when its eyes are wide against the threat of danger, does it feel fear? Or does everything fade away until the end arrives?

You hoped for that emptiness while you fought off the hope within you.

These hunters were far less dangerous than hope could ever be.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

Doubt was his constant companion now that this Emperor of the Sea had been faced with his own wicked reflection. How could he trust anything that his weak, selfish mind craved to see? How could he trust his own choices after learning how fucking egotistical he’d always been?

What do you mean, he mocked himself while he watched the woman he’d hurt shine too bright for the pain she held. Shanks was caught on Y/N’s perfect smile, fixated on the way she pretended with every breath, every slight movement.

“Forgive me, princess, but I can’t tell you why you should let me stay,” the firstborn Vinsmoke prince crooned while he knelt at her feet. “I’m afraid that I’ve been called away for family duties.”

She was quiet, a few splinters falling from her grip while she waited for the smug piece of shit to finish.

“I have to leave the hunt now,” Ichiji confessed, kissing her knuckles while she clung to that shattered arrow, “but I’ll see you after the wedding. You’re going to be our pretty, perfect princess, aren’t you? I’ll see you at home.”

That smug, spoiled prince stood, kissing her cheek before flying away.

The leeches fucking loved it.

“My, my, what a shame,” Cedrick calmed them, bringing the attention back to his little hunt. “I wonder if Prince Ichiji was the one my niece was sending home. I suppose we won’t find out until they all say their piece. Which hunter failed to pierce her heart?”

Three more foes to tear down before he could claim that wounded star.

“My princess,” the green haired brat purred, “I’ll show you the world. Anywhere you wanna go. Anything for you.”

“I’m here for you, girlie,” his greatest foe smiled. “Let’s sail out of here together.”

“My cute, little bride.” The voice that poured down from that half-hidden face was sweeter than that sweet commander had any right to be. “I’ll take care of you, Y/N.”

It was his turn.

Shanks found nothing but emptiness in those lovely eyes, and it took every ounce of strength he had not to weep and beg at her feet for forgiveness.

But he was here to play the villain.

He wasn’t playing.

“You’re mine, little bunny,” Shanks breathed against her cheek, though his voice was captured, spread across the courtyard for all to hear. “I know you wanna keep playing with me.”

His little bunny gave a perfect smile, soft and coy, and Shanks wondered how many other bunnies had lied with their smiles. He never would have known.

Self-pity was fucking selfish, so that Emperor of the Sea ignored everything but the breaths he counted from her precious lips.

Only three enemies left in his path.

The perfect man that bested him at every turn.

The shitty little prince with too much confidence.

And the only hunter that might last more than a few seconds if Shanks could put them down the way he craved.

Katakuri’s crimson eyes flicked toward him as though he could sense the threat of death in the Emperor’s mind. Shanks huffed a laugh.

If only this battle could be as clean and clear as the violence he craved.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

“Mr. Iceburg,” said a voice from your lips, a voice that didn’t break like you nearly had. “I’m afraid your arrow failed to pierce my heart.”

Your favorite shipwright ignored the shattered wood you offered, staring into your eyes as though he could see the truth behind your mask. The two of you stayed silent while the vultures made greedy noises, excited or complaining over their bets.

Finally, the man of your dreams freed you from his gaze, only to glare at Uncle Cedrick with barely contained fury in his eyes.

“Don’t be a poor sport, Ice,” your tormentor smiled, wrapping his arm around your shoulders as he leaned toward the shipwright. “Your arrow may be broken, but our bonds will never break. You’ll always be a treasured friend of the Sylvad family.”

“Of course. I will always be your friend,” Iceburg spoke to you with a steadiness that stilled your breath. The gentle touch of his rough fingers against your own was almost too much to fight against, and the kiss he left across your knuckles tore a shiver from you that you couldn’t stifle. “I’m here for you, girlie. I just want you to be happy.”

“A true gentleman,” Uncle called out, dragging you away from the man of your dreams.

None of it was real. Just daydreams.

“We’re already down to three hunters? You’ve gone through them rather quickly, haven’t you, niece?” Your uncle chuckled along with the crowd while he pinched your cheek. He pinched you harder until you pretended to enjoy his teasing.

Uncle Cedrick’s little doll.

“Do you know what this means,” he riled up the leeches, and you almost missed the fucking band striking up to build the tension. “This means that one of these hunters will be joining our family in four days' time.”

So much applause, but it wasn’t for you. You were just the bonus prize; the little toy thrown in with the Sylvad wealth and power they all coveted.

“Each will have one more night to win her, and one extra day to fight off any cold feet. Then we’ll find out which Hunter will pierce her heart.”

Katakuri knelt as your buyers were guided before you, and the music dipped, building suspense instead of romance.

How fitting.

The sick humor of it helped you to smile at them while the snails captured it all. Thankfully, you were skilled at looking just close enough to someone’s eyes that you wouldn’t have to feel them, wouldn’t risk them seeing the cracks.

“To keep it fair, we’ll be drawing numbers to determine the order of the final dates. While we get that set up, why don’t we hear from our bride to be? Chinode, if you would be so kind.”

~~~🌲~~~

The young reporter seemed even more flustered to be peeling you apart than she had the men who hunted you. Mindless garbage spilled from your lips while she tried to catch your true feelings with her questions, pausing now and then for the crowd to cry out their guesses and demands, the pleasure they took at your torment only fueling your need to be numb.

They’d probably get off on your true torture even more than this glittering lie.

“Miss Sylvad, there has been a lot of speculation about your love life over the past few years,” Chinode filled her voice with too much interest, so you deepened your smile while you waited for her attack. “You’ve managed to stay under the radar, even ‘Big News’ Morgans hasn’t reported on the heiress of Sylvad’s since—”

“Come now,” you interrupted with a haughty laugh that would make any leech proud, “your boss knows what a bore I’ve been. Although, it’s been a while since the old bird came down for a movie night. Morgans makes the best popcorn, but please don’t feed it to regular birds. His feathers would get so ruffled if I didn’t warn you.”

Interviews were sparring matches, battles that could destroy the weak, the unprepared. You’d gone far too long without practice and your stamina was running out fast.

Although the laughter of the crowd was tilting, showing you might survive this little fight.

“You might think it was boring, but I’m sure the rest of us would love to hear about your past relationships,” Chinode needled, sounding too fucking sweet. “Do the three remaining hunters have anything in common with an old flame, perhaps? Or maybe you’re regretting that there wasn’t a woman on your list of suitors? It was only a year and half ago since you were spotted at your family’s resort with—”

“I’m flattered, Chinode,” you purred for the crowd. The vultures squawked with delight when you gripped her chin until her eyes grew wide, her cheeks growing pink under the bright lights. You gave every bit of heat you could, letting Uncle's ravenous guests feast on this drama instead of the past you were sick of remembering. “I do enjoy women as well, but I’m afraid you’re too late to join the hunt. You would have made it pretty far though, cutie.”

You dragged your thumb across her lips, hating the last word from your own. Watching the reporter stammer and sway was enough of a distraction for you, and for the greedy crowd, at least for a moment.

Flirting and teasing, lying and pretending; that was the only way you’d survive.

Everyone’s a fucking con artist.

“I hope you’ve all placed your bets,” Uncle Cedrick called out over his tittering guests. He pulled you to your feet to join him at a pedestal that held a beautiful, round cage that he’d spun for effect.

Dizzy.

“Go ahead, dear,” he taunted as he placed three, wooden balls in that golden cage, each carved with a name.

The order meant nothing to you, so you spun that cage again and again until those names fell into their slots. It took you a moment to stop spinning it, to stop staring into that swirling gold.

“And here we have it,” Uncle announced, close enough to jolt you out of it. “The hunters each have one more chance to claim her, although my niece will get to choose the dates this time. Tonight, Katakuri will have her, tomorrow Prince Yonji will have his go, and Emperor Shanks has won the final date.”

Somehow the order did matter, and you swallowed down your bile as the courtyard filled with noise.

So many boring, gluttonous pigs were on their feet, stomping and toasting and squealing in pleasure. It was quite the feat that they could lift themselves up under the piles of priceless fabrics and jewels they carried on their backs. The courtyard seemed to fill with the phantoms of all the people these pigs had trampled, all the blood, sweat, and tears they had sucked from the world around them.

Leeches.

Oh, that felt better. It could be just as reckless if you didn’t leash it, but hate had never left you as ruined as hope. Now your smile tasted sweet.

If only you could spill that hate like venom from your lips, like acid to burn the world around you. Their squeals turned into cries of pain in your mind, visions of violence and terror like a soothing balm. Twisted daydreams for a twisted soul.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

The scent of vanilla filled the air, and Kat was about to go violent if the crowd of makeup artists and hairstylists didn’t let her see her sister soon. Speaking privately in front of staff always felt gross, but she couldn’t even start while Y/N was hidden behind a wall of moving flesh and too many fucking smells.

“Hey, sis, I...”

Don’t do it. Don’t fucking do it.

“Fuck you, Kat.”

The middle finger Y/N flashed her made Kat’s choking laughs turn into a cackle so sharp and sweet that she forgot everything for a moment. Especially when her sister couldn’t fight off her own giggles.

“You look like a fucking cupcake,” Kat wheezed, eyes tearing up. She had to look away, the sight before her almost painfully hilarious, absurd and so fucking good.

“Shut the fuck up,” Y/N spat, annoyance killed quickly by her own snort when she caught her reflection in the mirror again.

Piles and piles of lace and tulle spilled out around her waist, soft whites and gentle pinks like so much frosting.

“Are those... Are those real fucking sprinkles?”

“No,” the cupcake squeaked, clutching at her chest while she caught her breath.

Kat found her struggling with the clasp, her hair too full of hairspray and ribbons to pull the chain of her locket over her head.

“You got this locket from—”

“It reminded me of dad,” Y/N lied softly. Even with her ridiculous makeup, Kat saw a hint of pain in her furrowed brows while she stared down at the locket in her hand. She ran her thumb over the engraved ship and its guiding star before stuffing it beneath the hot pink under bust corset that left more lace to spill over her chest and off her shoulders.

It looked like all that frosting was starting to melt.

“Don’t fucking laugh at me, you twat!”

“Twat? Did you just call me a—fuck, I’m sorry,” Kat choked, wiping more tears from her eyes while her sister failed so thoroughly at trying to look fierce under all those sprinkles and pretty, pink bows. “I just hope your lovely leather boy doesn’t eat you tonight.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind,” Y/N hummed. Kat’s jaw dropped, and for just a moment, she was the one being laughed at. It didn’t last long though.

Y/N looked like a fucking cupcake.

The Sylvad sisters giggled together until that cupcake was whisked away.

All that laughter faded, Kat’s face slipping into its most comfortable position. It wasn’t a frown, but it was too far from a smile for everyone she knew, except for Y/N. She was the only person that never pressured her to smile.

Until this morning.

Kat frowned then, walking through the cloud of vanilla perfume that still permeated the room. Somehow that scent had grown even stronger, and her frown twitched into a tiny smile at the thought of sprinkles again.

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

Uncle had almost told the truth when he made his announcement earlier. You had been given a list of themes to choose from, but since you didn’t know which hunter would claim each date, you chose the three most public options you could.

The “theatre troupe” you had picked turned out to be nothing but clowns.

Clowns spilled out of the tent that your date couldn’t fit inside, surrounding you both with so many colors and sounds, so many silly and impressive talents.

So many fake, red noses.

Your uncle’s obsession with driving you mad was so excessive, it brought tears of laughter to the corners of your eyes. Luckily the clowns deserved a laugh, and your madness stayed hidden for a bit longer.

“You look beautiful this evening, Y/N.”

That incredible voice washed over you, but your relaxed sigh turned to a gasp when Katakuri caught a clown that had launched herself toward your pedestal.

“Do not touch her,” he commanded, eliciting sighs from the audience that were watching you more than the performers.

“Thank you.” Your voice was too high. Stupid, fucking clowns. “My sister said I look like a cupcake though. Do you prefer me in leather or lace?”

It was such an effort not to snarl at the swooning crowd. They were distracting you from what could be your last chance for…

There was no fucking room for hope.

“I know you were hoping to watch the show, but I’d prefer some privacy if that’s alright,” Katakuri asked permission, and your smile was true when you gave him a nod. “Close your eyes.”

“Oh gods,” you cried out, embracing the freedom of flying, held so gently while your date saved you from the circus. Soon there was quiet, soon there was a slightly sweet scent in the air, and your body was laid onto something so soft, so comforting, that you kept your eyes closed until you could stamp out that hope again.

“Are you alright, Miss Sylvad,” Katakuri asked as softly as his voice would allow.

You fell back onto that mochi, staring at the pale dome above you while your exhausted laughs flooded the space.

“Y/N,” your only hope asked. That sweet, sweet commander tugged his scarf down as he leaned over you, but that show of trust couldn’t break through. “Can you tell me what you need? I can’t tell what you’re going to say. You just keep laughing.”

You laughed harder, the touch of his large fingers on your powdery face making you cackle when you realized what you needed.

“Fuck,” you giggled as you wiped as many sprinkles off your skin as you could. “Marry? Or kill?”

Katakuri’s sharp brows furrowed while he watched you shake off any semblance of sanity.

Nothing was real. Everything was fucking hilarious.

Katakuri was lovely.

“That’s my life. Just a game. Fuck. Marry. Kill.” You climbed to your feet, gazing up at that beautiful death wish before you tugged at all that stupid, pink lace. “Which one do you want?”

“I don’t—”

“Pick one, please,” you begged and taunted, still fighting with the laces of your pretty corset. “Unless you want all three? Let’s do all three—”

“No.”

That stunning, forceful voice made you gasp, but your hands didn’t stop their task until he lifted you into the air again.

 “Please.”

Your voice was too soft, too real, and you tried not to let the look in his crimson eyes break through. It didn’t make sense how his grip on you could feel so gentle.

“If you truly want it,” he rasped, his fangs so close to you now, “I will gladly do the first two.”

You were nothing but melted frosting on his fingers now.

“But you will be a Charlotte,” Katakuri vowed, leaning close enough for you to feel his breath on your skin. “If anyone tries to harm you, let alone kill you, then they will die screaming.”

It felt so real.

Desperately trying to turn that deadly hope into anything else, you relaxed into his hold, your body going soft and loose.

“I will do anything for my family, Y/N,” that lovely, leather boy promised. “I need you, and I will protect you with my life. I promise you—”

“No promises, please,” you reached out, trailing your hand along his cheekbone. “Just be with me now. I want to see how husband sized you really are.”

He was so pretty, especially when that concern in those intense eyes shifted into something darker.

Hope was fucking stupid, but you’d take any moment of relief you could. Your pathetic lips parted, about to beg for him to help you forget.

“Are you sure?”

Katakuri’s voice sent your eyes rolling back. The way he held you had felt safe and gentle, but that heat in his voice was a delicious warning. He was almost three times as tall as most of the men you’d been with. Charlotte Katakuri was a beautiful death wish, and you wouldn’t mind being crushed, devoured, destroyed, so long as this gorgeous man did it right this fucking second.

“Yes, Katakuri. Please,” you dared to demand the terrifying man that held you aloft, so close to those razor-sharp fangs. “Please, let me see all of you. Show me what kind of husband you’ll be.”

Gods, his fucking voice. You were sure that he could bring you with only that heated chuckle, that hum that rolled over you like a wave.

“They didn’t need to dress you like this.” Katakuri teased his breath over your skin while you pulled free from all that lace. You were shaking when he set you down, but you managed to secure your locket around your neck before you lost yourself completely.

Charlotte Katakuri was stripping for you.

“You are so sweet,” he purred, his scarf and vest tossed aside before his huge fingers trailed down his tattooed skin toward those leather pants. “I’m not used to this feeling Y/N, but you have... surprised me.”

“What... What do you mean,” you managed to ask while you tried not to squirm like a bug at his feet.

Holy fucking shit.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

All you could do was admire the very husband-sized man that towered over you, his nude body painted with so much vicious ink. Katakuri laid on his side, an adorable, wicked smirk on that frightening mouth while he observed you.

“I came here because I had to. My family needs you,” he whispered in a voice that was too large. “I need you, Y/N, but I didn’t expect to want you.”

He laughed so deep, so perfect, while you moaned for him, already twitching when he teased his fingers around your body.

“My cute, little bride,” Katakuri praised, taking in a quick breath when you spread your legs for those lovely fingers. “Do you want me too, Y/N?”

Your answer nearly came out in a sob, but he understood.

He gave you what you needed.

“Fuck,” he huffed a laugh, bringing his fingers to his dangerous tongue before returning to your dripping cunt. “So sweet for me, aren’t you?”

“Yes, please, Katakuri,” you whined, back arching against that soft, sweet ground when he shoved one of those fingers inside of you, whining again when he withdrew.

“Taste yourself for me,” Katakuri demanded, so low and soft when he pressed that finger against your lips. Pride flared in you at the heat in his eyes, especially when he stuffed a second finger into your mouth.

Just one of his fingers had felt almost as large as a fucking cock when he’d thrust it inside of you, and now two of those fingers filled your mouth while crimson eyes watched you so closely. It seemed as though that sweet commander might actually eat you up, but you didn’t care. You licked and sucked those huge fingers, giving everything to him, everything you could.

“Drool for me, pretty thing,” Katakuri rasped, his lips parting when your nails dug into his hand. “I want you dripping, so sticky and sweet before I use you.”

Your core clenched with need so hard that it ached. Spit and slick dripped from your desperate body; you didn’t even have to try.

“Such a good girl. Look what you’ve done to me, Y/N,” he praised, leaving a trail of spit when he took his fingers from your mouth. That trail of spit felt electric when he grasped his massive, leaking cock. It was too much, but you couldn’t look away while his thumb circled over his tip, mixing your saliva with that huge bead of precum. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Katakuri laughed again, such a delicious sound while you let out another pathetic moan.

“Will you let me use you? Will you trust me?”

Did you say yes? You must have, because your crimson-eyed lover brought his face to yours, stopping your breath before warm lips ghosted over your stomach. Those fangs were so close.

“I’ll be careful,” he threatened. The heat of his breath felt too good.

“I trust you,” came your reckless truth. “Fuck!”

You were deliciously lost when his tongue found you again. Your last hope dragged the taste of your need all the way up your stomach before he teased around one of your breasts, then the other. He gave a wicked smirk when he stuffed your mouth with his thick fingers again, stifling the screams he pulled from you with his other hand.

One finger, then two, and your greedy cunt already felt so full.

“Such a tasty mess,” Katakuri praised, tearing you into pieces. With all those fingers still fucking you open, the tip of his tongue over your clit was all you needed. You drooled and gushed around his fingers while you came, and you were limp and twitching when he dragged more spit and slick across your body. “I won’t try entering you today, but I want to feel you on my cock. Can I use you?”

“Please,” you begged for anything. Anything this man could give you. “I want you—fuck, Katakuri…”

Pure danger gazed down at you, but you didn’t care while his tongue left trails from your core all the way to your neck before he sat against the wall of mochi and pulled you onto his lap. So many desperate noises left your lips at the sight of him pleasuring himself. He spit in his hand, rubbing along the back of his overwhelming cock.

“Mm, so good for me,” he praised, his deep voice gone breathy while he slid you up and down his length. “Fuck, you’re so wet. Keep drooling for me, my hungry girl, just like that.”

His veins were so fucking thick, pulsing against your core. That Sweet Commander paused his movements to let you melt, and you forgot about everything. Nothing but that silky flesh against your skin. With your core pressed against his base, that swollen tip nearly made it to the center of your chest.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

“Are you ready for me,” he asked while he nudged your locket over your shoulder until it fell behind your back. Part of you almost woke up, but the feel of him twitching between your legs emptied your mind.

Nodding for him, you let yourself make a sticky mess so you could play. The feel of his tip under your hands was overwhelming. He moaned as you dragged your hands down, then laughed as your eyes went wide.

It took both of your hands to reach around him, your fingertips barely touching while you stroked up that wicked cock.

“Hang on, little bride,” Katakuri rasped. You cried out as he dragged you down, the press of skin against your ass was fucking unreal. The feel of his balls beneath you while your clit got so much delicious pressure along his base was incredible. You almost forgot his warning.

He used you.

He used you like a fucking toy, and you didn’t want him to stop.

“Katakuri!”

“Gods... I can feel you coming on my cock,” he praised, pretty eyes going heavy with need while he bounced your body over him. You held on, still adding to your sticky mess while that pulsing flesh rubbed against your core, your stomach, your chest. “Close already, pretty, fuck. Let go.”

He laughed at your whine, dragging you off him to watch you writhing in one hand while he finished himself with the other.

“You want my come, don’t you,” Katakuri gasped, looking surprised again. “I’ll drown you next time. I’m going to take such good... fuck. Such good care of you, Y/N.”

“Please...”

You didn’t want it to be over.

Your sweet, not-a-giant lover chuckled as though he knew how desperate you were.

“I couldn’t cover you in come tonight, pretty, but you’ve been so good for me,” he praised while he laid you on the soft ground he’d made for you. “Do you still want it?”

His words had sent you reeling, but it was nothing compared to the sight of his fingers dripping with his pleasure while he brought them closer.

“Yes,” came your desperate plea, a strangled scream leaving you when he fucked those messy fingers into your mouth and cunt again. His praise, and his teasing tongue against your clit had your eyes rolling back, your limbs spasming in pleasure until he finally set you free.

It felt strange to lie on the ground beside him. He was so sweet, his dangerous mouth quirked in a smile while he stared at you, fingers soothing your skin.

“I know that if I ask, you will tell me you can’t make any promises,” your lovely date breathed, “but I hope you believe me, Y/N. If you marry me, I will protect you. I’ll take care of you. We’ll keep both of our families safe.”

The heat that grew in your throat drew your attention to the chain that had pooled onto the ground beneath your neck. It was a pretty reminder of the only weakness you could afford. No more hope, no more selfishness, just a lump of warm metal to cling to.

His brows furrowed slightly while he watched you struggle to move your body until you pulled the locket free, but he returned your smile.

“Thank you.”

That was all you could say, and Katakuri didn’t push. He just held you close against that massive chest, warmth and comfort so heady; it must have been a dream.

If it was a dream, then the few, dangerous tears that escaped you were fine. He couldn’t have felt that salt on his skin anyway. Even your shame, your weakness, seemed small. Everything was small against this large, lovely dream.

~~~🌲~~~

There were no fluffy robes tonight.

Exhaustion felt sweet, but there was no way to restore the sugary costume you’d started the evening in. Katakuri had done his best to clean his mess, but those very real sprinkles had all been licked or fucked off you.

He took care of you, ignoring the bells and the leeches while he carried you home. It was incredibly warm. It would have been lovely to stay hidden there against his chest, wrapped up in soft, sweet mochi, like you were the center of a treat he was saving for later.

“Goodnight, Y/N,” said that sweet dream. You were still protected from prying eyes when he held you up to your window. He stretched a piece of himself, his delicious power allowing him to creep into your room to open the lock from the inside.

Katakuri seemed to catch your curiosity and hunger at the thought of what else he could do with that delicious power. He chuckled while he set you on your bed, still so gentle with you.

“Goodnight Katakuri,” you sighed. He had been far more comfortable than this lonely bed. “Sweet dreams.”

“Same to you, little bride.”

His face was covered again, but you knew he was smiling. His fingers trailed over your skin one more time, and you managed not to beg him to stay.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~

The blood left in the swordsman’s wake almost brought a smile to his cruel lips. Love wasn’t safe, especially not for the people in the way of his.

Dracule Mihawk had never let himself love, but his hunt through the Underworld reminded him of something else he had turned away from, something he had lost.

How long had it been since he felt this? How many years had it been since he’d settled for his title, for boredom, for safety?

The World’s Greatest Swordsman had a purpose again, a reason for being.

What a coward I’ve been...

“Please, I don’t know anything,” his newest obstacle cried.

“Stop lying,” Mihawk sneered. His prey was leaking tears and snot onto the floor while he pressed his boot against his chest. Pathetic. “Who’s your contact? Where have you been getting these fucking snails? Speak up before I tire of waiting.”

“I swear, I don’t know,” the gangster whimpered. “Just another rat, but the pay was...”

Yoru traced along the man’s body, but he stayed silent.

Except for his pitiful sobs.

“The pay,” Mihawk wondered, “Tell me about the pay. Unless you’d prefer to add blood to the puddle of mess beneath you.”

~~~🗡️🗡️🗡️~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

Coffee couldn’t wake you from this dream, but you drank it down, grateful that your mother had drunk from the same pot.

Delaine Sylvad smiled at you over her mug, and you envied her that impeccable skill. If you didn’t know it to be a lie, you never would have guessed that she wasn’t a loving mother. You were good at pretending, but your mother had made it her life.

“I was hoping to see Kathryn again,” Katakuri hummed, the words snapping you back to the breakfast table he loomed over. “I brought more powdered doughnuts. I noticed she enjoyed them last time.”

No favorites.

“So thoughtful,” your uncle smiled, his mocking eyes flicking to you for just a second. “I’m sure she had some maid of honor duties to attend to. I’ll make sure she gets them.”

You fixed your face, although Katakuri’s sweet gesture wasn’t enough to stave off your guilt.

Kat deserved as much joy as she could take before your life fucked hers up again.

~~~🌲~~~

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Miss Sylvad,” the eager reporter nearly panted. The two of you were perched on that little platform, but neither the height nor Katakuri’s deadly glare could keep her from risking her life. “I have to say, you had some of us quite worried after your date last night. Not me though, Katakuri. I knew you’d take care of your little bride.”

“You were correct,” he replied, and you curled your genuine laughter into the perfect, coy chuckles that sent hums of pleasure through the crowd.

Your lovely, leather boy seemed to be practiced at handling all the attention, and it was easy to play off his reactions. Even under the weight of eyes, and the pressure of snails capturing your every fucking breath, Charlotte Katakuri helped you relax.

It was nice while it lasted.

Soon you were stuffed into another stupid costume, but your sister wasn’t there to help you laugh about it. The pointy, cone hat on your head was meant for a princess, all glittering green like your pretty gown.

The ugly hat looked too close to a dunce cap for your liking.

Maybe I look stupid enough that he’ll leave the hunt, you sighed to yourself as you were carted out in Uncle Cedrick’s carriage. Dust coated the air as the horses came to a halt, and you held your breath while you smiled at the crowd. The prince knelt before you, the golden sun gleaming off his suit of armor.

“My princess,” Yonji pressed a kiss to your knuckles. He looked at you with those hungry puppy eyes again. No such luck. “You wanted to watch a tournament, huh? How about I win it for you?”

The leeches had dressed up like peasants, although they still ate like kings while they watched the show. They cheered for your eager prince, and the noise they made when you played the part nearly knocked you back.

Yonji’s mouth went slack while you pulled a bright, green handkerchief from your corset. You were glad that you’d stuffed your locket deeper than where the stylist had stuffed this fabric between your breasts, and you hoped it would help you keep this man distracted.

“Please, take this token, Prince Yonji,” you purred, letting him kiss your fingers through the cloth. “It would be an honor to see you fight for me.”

“Anything for my sweet princess,” your hunter crooned. He tucked that green beneath his platemail before revealing that his own armor must be below that shining metal as he floated. The prince lifted you, showing you off to the crowd before placing you at a raised table above a long stretch of dirt.

All that dirt was like a fresh canvas, unspoiled and waiting.

You sat there for hours and smiled at the mess he made of it.

He was a vicious, little puppy, so happy and proud to drag the bloody spoils of his hunt to your door.

Yonji had challenged the other hunters to fight him, but they were nowhere to be seen, so the eager prince showed off his skills by fighting his own men. Soldier after soldier filed in with swords at the ready, until that dirt was kicked up, until blood turned to mud at his feet.

“What did you think, princess,” the manic hunter laughed. Other people’s blood was dripping from him, and he wiped a bit of it from his face before he hovered over the railing to touch your chin.

“You’re amazing, Prince Yonji, I’ve never—”

“Do you want to—”

“I want to see more,” you lied, grabbing his wrist while you fought your own guilt. So much blood in the dirt, and you were begging for more soldiers to take a beating. “Please, Prince Yonji. I like watching you win.”

Yonji beamed, taking your bait again and again, and you praised the terrifying prince for every cry of pain, every drop of red he spilled for you.

Nothing but monsters here.

A deep, quiet darkness pulled you in while you used this brutal game as a shield to avoid being alone with that eager prince. You weren’t supposed to be selfish again, but when you were wrapped up in another fluffy robe and carted away from all that dirt and blood, you were just grateful that it hadn’t been yours.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

The clashing sound of swords was too sweet, too tempting.

Shanks had to swallow down that craving, chasing it down with whatever had been poured into his wooden mug. It didn’t help that his name seemed to have been carved into every bit of wood within his reach, always framed between the cedar leaves that branded everything in sight.

Shanks filled that branded mug again. And again.

It wasn’t enough.

“Hey, friend! How’s it—”

“I have no desire to speak with you,” his enemy drawled, and that large voice drew too many eyes.

“You wound me,” Shanks taunted. He tossed that stupid mug aside to press his hand against his blackened heart. “I just wanted to chat about... I knew it. That’s a neat trick you have there.”

Charlotte Katakuri had shifted, body going rigid before that secret had even been uttered. The Emperor was impressed with this towering haki user, but he didn’t have time to admire the talent.

He had to fix this.

“Why don’t you take me to your little mochi palace for some privacy? Unless you’d rather chat out here,” Shanks motioned to the crowd of leeches, and to the snails that captured his every failure.

Crimson eyes might have brought another man to his knees, but Shanks just smiled, chuckling when his enemy led him away from prying eyes.

“Speak.”

Katakuri towered over him, closing them inside that power of his until the world turned pale.

Shanks feared nothing. Nothing besides his own greed.

I’m the villain here.

“Well, I—”

“What were you going to say about my sister?”

Danger crackled through the air, so tempting and sweet. Violence would be less vicious than this.

“I just wanted to offer my condolences. I know how much of a beast Teach can be,” the villain purred, motioning to the scars over his left eye. “I can’t imagine your little Pudding is doing well in his care.”

“What do you want?”

Shanks almost set himself free, almost reacted to the threat in that deep voice.

“I wanna marry that cute, little bunny out there,” the Emperor hummed as he started to walk around the small, strangely sweet place. “And I want you to leave the hunt so I can take my girl home already.”

“Miss Sylvad doesn’t seem to like you,” the towering man sneered, his mouth still hidden beneath a pile of feathers. “Why would I leave her with you?”

The red-haired pirate was losing himself, letting every shitty feeling tear through him like a landslide.

How far down would he go?

“Come on, friend. You know who I am,” he scolded, watching rage flair in those crimson eyes at the condescending tone. “I’ve been meaning to pay that old bastard back for a long time, and now he’s on my path. Since I’ll be putting him down after the hunt anyway, I’d be happy to get your sister back for you, safe and sound.”

He breathed into the silence, so at ease.

“You know who I am,” Shanks finally prodded. “You know I can save her.”

“I have no reason to trust you,” his enemy noted, distance in his voice. “With Y/N, I— “

“I want that little bunny!”

Shanks almost laughed at the greedy words he’d just snarled. A true villain; entitled, pathetic, and sick. He really was throwing a temper tantrum, and he’d almost let himself slip. Instead, he let his voice turn smooth, but wicked, after that show of rage.

“If you leave the hunt tomorrow morning, I will save your sister.”

Katakuri’s posture had barely changed, but they were so close. Violence would have been better than this.

“But if you don’t let me have this little bride, then I’ll just have to find myself another,” the Emperor threatened. He tried to use the hatred he felt for himself to poison every word, to prove how disgusting and selfish he was. It was the only way to fix this. “How old is Pudding again? I don’t like them that young, but I’m sure I can train her well, if Teach hasn’t ruined her already. I am a sucker for eye contact, and I’ll take real good care of her, brother… You know I can.”

That brother stayed silent, so Shanks just held onto his smile. He would do anything for Buggy, for Mihawk, for the woman he’d used for his own gain.

Y/N.

Shanks had promised that he would become a villain, a monster, to get her back.

The monster believed his own every word so that his enemy would do the same.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

It was good that Kat wasn’t here. It was better.

Your sister’s chair was empty, as was the one beside it. No pretty princesses at breakfast this morning.

Just a broken doll in a den of vipers.

Imagining Kat with a true smile on her face got you through the flattery, the promises, the lies. It helped you pretend, even when that inhuman prince wrapped his arm around you and bragged about all the battles he’d won.

“That was quite the show last night, Prince Yonji,” your uncle praised. He clapped the hunter on the shoulder, but his eyes stayed trained on yours.

What would he do without his favorite toy? His favorite doll to play with, to torment?

“Who knew my precious, little niece was so bloodthirsty? Delaine, were you aware that your daughter had such a violent heart?”

Your mother played his game, laughing and lying without saying anything but truth. She effortlessly shifted the conversation back toward the prince and his talents before letting Uncle Cedrick take the spotlight again.

Delaine Sylvad was an expert, a savant, and living under your uncle’s thumb had only sharpened her skill.

You had always been good at pretending.

I learned from the best.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

Likes, comments, and reblogs bring me much ✨dopamine✨ thank you!!

Author's Note: Welp. We've got one more date to go, y'all. What else could I possibly throw at you? (Please don't kill me for Katakuri, I'm sorry!! 😭💔🍩)

Tag List: @shewrites02 | @caniseethefourthsword | @hey-august | @chaoticqueen33 | @destinationmars | @novakitten0901 | @h0n3y-l3m0n05 | @dorky-birdie | @szired | @pinejayy | @laws-wife-things | @jadeddangel | @gingernut1314 | @urlocaltwink | @blue-rae18 | @bontensbabygirl | @bbnbhm | @0-sparkling-lace-0 | @ihearthazuki | @mikisspeak | @djloveyou3000 | @mercymccann | @horse-and-writer97 | @napagent

Chapter 40

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| masterlist | about me | rules | ao3 |

[beanghostprincess]

forever angry at people making sanji spoitify playlists including songs like "family line" for them to then call the playlist something like "vinsmoke sanji the prince of germa 66 vinsmoke vinsmoke sanji vins-"

[moldychefboyardeecan]

Happy Birthday, Little Eggplant

I'm late, i know. I posted this on time on AO3 so go support it there too!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63518863

wc: 2,082

Tags: Comfort, Panic Attacks, Birthday

A little blonde boy, washing dishes, looked up on his calendar. Today is March 2nd, his birthday. It had been a year since Zeff had rescued him, and they created Baratie. Today was his 11th birthday, and he was excited to share the moment with the man who saved his life.

The little blonde boy wiped his hands on his apron, the soapy water from the dish basin dripping onto the floor. He knew that fateful day on the Orbit led up to him being where he felt he belonged. Even though he was now running a restaurant with pirates, what was so bad? He had already left for a better life, and this found him. A gruff man with a sour attitude saved his life.There was nothing more, but a warm feeling of happiness in that little heart of his.

He’d saved him from loneliness, from despair. He’d given him a home, a purpose, and something he hadn’t had in a long time: family.

Sanji looked down at his hands, still small and slightly trembling from the cold dishwater. He was eleven years old now. It felt like a milestone, though he wasn’t sure why. Maybe because it was the first birthday he’d celebrate with someone who actually cared.

Usually, he wasn’t allowed anywhere near the old man’s office, but the silence and emptiness in and around only meant one thing; and that was always a meeting. Sanji slowly stepped away from the kitchen sink and opened the door quietly, hoping the old man wouldn’t notice.

His office was always full of old maps and pictures with his old pirate crew, still keeping the love and passion he had for the seas up on his walls.

The boy saw the picture on his desk: a small frame of the two of them when they opened Baratie. Zeff’s hands holding the little boy's body close to his side, a big, joyous smile on both their faces.

He smiled softly, and he skittered around to find what he wanted: Zeff’s spare apron, hanging next to the pictures. The little boy picked it up, as well as the needle and thread that Zeff used to embroider the name of the restaurant , alongside his employees. After all, the apron the little boy was wearing has his name on it too: Sanji. The boy usually forgot he even had a name, considering everything his past life brought him. It was even a miracle he was able to answer his name to people when they asked, since he was never called by his name before Zeff came along. 

With everything in his hand, he skittered out, as quietly as a clumsy boy could.

Sanji didn’t have the best childhood. He was born into the Vinsmoke family, a name that carried weight and fear across the North Blue. The Vinsmokes were not just any family—they were rulers, warriors, and mercenaries, feared for their strength and ruthlessness. But for Sanji, being a Vinsmoke was not a source of pride. It was a curse.

From the moment he could walk, Sanji was different. While his siblings—Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji—excelled in combat and embraced their father’s brutal teachings, Sanji struggled. He didn’t have the same strength or aggression as his brothers. He didn’t want to fight or dominate. Instead, he found solace in the kitchen, watching the castle’s chefs prepare meals with care and precision. There was something magical about the way ingredients came together to create something delicious, something that could bring people joy. But in the Vinsmoke household, such things were seen as weaknesses.

His father, Judge Vinsmoke, was a towering figure of authority and cruelty. He had no patience for Sanji’s “softness.” To Judge, a Vinsmoke was meant to be a weapon, a tool of war. Sanji’s love for cooking and his refusal to conform to the family’s ideals made him an outcast. His brothers mocked him relentlessly, calling him “failure” and “weakling.” Even his mother, Sora, who once tried to protect him, grew distant as her health declined.

The worst memory of all was the day Judge locked him away. Sanji was just a child, no older than six or seven, when his father decided he was no longer fit to be called a Vinsmoke. He was thrown into a dark, damp dungeon, an iron mask clamped over his face to hide his identity. “You are no son of mine,” Judge had said, his voice cold and final. “You are a disgrace to the Vinsmoke name.”

For what felt like an eternity, Sanji was trapped in that dungeon, alone and forgotten. The only light came from a small, barred window high above, where he could see the sky. He would stare at it for hours, dreaming of freedom, of a world beyond the cold stone walls. He dreamed of the sea, of adventure, of a place where he could be himself without fear of judgment or punishment.

He dreamed of a sea where he would see every fish, and every ocean. The All Blue.

But even in the darkness, Sanji held onto one thing: his love for cooking. He would close his eyes and imagine the smells and flavors of the dishes he had seen the chefs prepare. He would pretend he was in the kitchen, creating something beautiful, something that could make people happy. It was this dream that kept him going, even when hope seemed lost.

One day, the opportunity for escape came. His older sister, Reiju, feeling pity for him, secretly unlocked the dungeon door and freed him. Sanji didn’t hesitate. He ran as fast as his weak legs could carry him, through the castle halls and out into the night. He didn’t look back. He couldn’t. He knew that if he stopped, even for a moment, he would be caught and thrown back into the darkness.

Reiju didn’t just free him; she led him to the Orbit, a cruise ship where he found work as a kitchen assistant. It was there that he met Zeff, the gruff and eccentric chef who would change his life forever. Though their meeting was far from peaceful—ending in a shipwreck and a fight for survival on a barren rock—it was the beginning of something new. For the first time, Sanji found someone who saw value in him, not for his strength or his name, but for his passion and determination.

And so, as Sanji scurried into his small room for his 11th birthday, he couldn’t help but reflect on how far he had come. The scars of his childhood still lingered, but they no longer defined him. He had found a new family, a new purpose, and a new dream. And for that, he was grateful.

Sanji’s fingers worked clumsily, but with determination. He wasn’t as skilled as Zeff with a needle and thread, but he was learning. He stitched carefully, his tongue sticking out in concentration as he embroidered a small, crooked fish with Zeff’s name onto the apron. It wasn’t perfect, but it was his way of saying thank you—thank you for the home, the family, the small dumb arguments, and the chance to start over.

As he worked, memories of the past year flickered through his mind. The long hours in the kitchen, the burns and cuts from learning to cook, the gruff but patient voice of Zeff guiding him through each mistake. He remembered the first time he successfully cooked a dish without burning it, the pride in Zeff’s eyes when he tasted it and gave a rare nod of approval. 

When he finally finished, he held up the apron to inspect his work. The fish was lopsided, and the stitching was uneven, but it was his. A gift from the heart. A heart that has been mended by a shared love for cooking.

As Sanji took a deep breath and tried tucking the newly embroidered apron away in the room, hoping to surprise the sour old man soon, Zeff opens the door.

Zeff entered, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Sanji. “Oi, eggplant,” he grunted, using the nickname that had somehow stuck. “Why are you just standing there? There’s work to be done.” Before Sanji could say anything, Zeff noticed the apron in Sanji’s hands.

Zeff almost turned red, while Sanji almost looked white. 

“Is that..my..”

Zeff’s voice trailed off, his sharp eyes narrowing as he recognized the apron in Sanji’s hands. The color drained from Sanji’s face, his small hands trembling as he clutched the fabric tightly. He hadn’t meant for Zeff to find out like this. He had wanted to surprise him, to show his gratitude in a quiet, meaningful way. But now, standing there under Zeff’s piercing gaze, he felt like he had made a terrible mistake.

“You little brat,” Zeff growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Do you have any idea what that apron means to me?!”

Sanji’s breath hitched, his chest tightening as Zeff’s anger filled the room. He opened his mouth to explain, to apologize, but no words came out. His throat felt like it was closing up, and his vision blurred as panic began to claw its way up his spine. He dropped the apron, his hands shaking uncontrollably as he took a step back, his small frame trembling.

“I-I’m sorry,” Sanji stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to—I just wanted to—”

But Zeff wasn’t listening. He stormed forward, his face red with fury as he snatched the apron off the floor. “This isn’t just some spare apron, you idiot! This is from my old crew! It’s all I have left of them! And you thought it was okay to just take it and—?”

Zeff’s voice cut off abruptly as he noticed the small, crooked fish embroidered onto the apron, his name stitched carefully beneath it. His anger faltered for a moment, replaced by confusion as he stared at the imperfect but heartfelt design. He turned his gaze back to Sanji, who was now curled in on himself, his arms wrapped tightly around his chest as he struggled to breathe.

Sanji’s knees buckled, and he sank to the floor, his breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. His mind was spiraling, the weight of Zeff’s anger crushing him. He couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. All he could feel was the overwhelming fear that he had ruined everything—that he had lost the one person who had ever cared about him.

“I’m sorry,” Sanji choked out, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his face. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”

Zeff’s anger evaporated in an instant, replaced by a pang of guilt as he realized what was happening. He had seen this before—the way Sanji’s body locked up, the way his breathing became erratic, the way he apologized over and over as if he expected to be punished. It was a reaction born from years of abuse, from a childhood filled with fear and pain. He just triggered it.

“Hey,” Zeff said, his voice softer now as he knelt down in front of Sanji. “Kid, look at me.”

Sanji shook his head, his face buried in his hands as he continued to mutter apologies. Zeff sighed, running a hand through his beard as he tried to figure out what to do. He wasn’t good at this—comforting people, dealing with emotions. But he couldn’t just leave the kid like this.

“Sanji,” Zeff said firmly, his tone gentle but commanding. “Listen to me. Breathe. In and out. Follow me, alright?”

Zeff took a deep breath, exaggerating the motion so Sanji could see. Slowly, hesitantly, Sanji tried to mimic him, his breaths shaky and uneven at first but gradually becoming more steady. Zeff kept breathing with him, his presence a grounding force as Sanji’s panic began to subside.

When Sanji finally looked up, his eyes red and puffy, Zeff held up the apron, his expression unreadable. “You did this?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

Sanji nodded, his lower lip trembling. “I… I wanted to say thank you,” he whispered. “For everything. I didn’t know it was special. I’m sorry.”

Zeff stared at the apron for a long moment, his thumb brushing over the stitched fish. It was messy, clearly the work of a child, but there was something undeniably touching about it. This kid, who had been through so much, had poured his heart into this small gesture. And Zeff had yelled at him for it.

“You’re a damn idiot,” Zeff muttered, but there was no bite in his words. He set the apron aside and reached out, pulling Sanji into a rough but comforting hug. Sanji froze for a moment, his body stiff with surprise, before he slowly relaxed, his small hands clutching at Zeff’s shirt.

“You don’t have to thank me, brat,” Zeff said gruffly, his voice muffled as he rested his chin on top of Sanji’s head. “You’re my kid now. That’s all there is to it.”

Sanji’s breath hitched, and he buried his face in Zeff’s chest, his shoulders shaking as he cried silently. For the first time in his life, he felt safe. He felt loved. And as Zeff held him, the old man couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness for the boy who had somehow become his family.

When Sanji finally pulled away, his face was red and tear-streaked, but there was a small, tentative smile on his lips. Zeff ruffled his hair roughly, his usual gruff demeanor returning.

“Now, stop crying and get back to work,” Zeff said, standing up and tossing the apron at Sanji. “And don’t think this gets you out of dish duty.”

Sanji caught the apron, his smile widening as he nodded. “Yes, Chef Zeff.”

As Zeff turned to leave, he paused at the door, glancing back at Sanji. “And, uh… good job, kid. With the apron.”

But just as Sanji was about to start on the dishes, Zeff reappeared in the doorway, holding a small, slightly lopsided cake. It was clearly homemade, with uneven frosting and a single candle stuck haphazardly in the center.

“What’s that?” Sanji asked, his eyes widening.

Zeff grunted, avoiding Sanji’s gaze as he set the cake on the counter. “What does it look like, brat? It’s your birthday, isn’t it?”

Sanji blinked, stunned. “You… you made me a cake?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Zeff muttered, crossing his arms. “I’m not running a bakery here.”

Sanji stared at the cake, his chest tightening with emotion. It wasn’t perfect, but it was his. A gift from the man who had saved him, who had given him a home, a purpose, and a family. Tears welled up in his eyes again, but this time, they were tears of joy.

Zeff paused for a second, making sure the damn kid wasn’t going to spiral again.

“Thank you, Chef Zeff,” Sanji said, his voice trembling. “This… this means a lot to me.”

Zeff rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, yeah. Just blow out the damn candle before it burns the place down.”

Sanji laughed, a genuine, heartfelt sound that filled the kitchen. He closed his eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle. As the smoke curled into the air, he felt a sense of peace he hadn’t known in years. 

This was his life now—his family, his dream, his future. And for the first time, he couldn’t wait to see what it held.

Zeff handed him a knife to cut the cake, and as they sat together in the quiet kitchen, sharing the slightly lopsided dessert, Sanji couldn’t help but feel that this was the best birthday he had ever had.

When they finished, Zeff stood up and stretched, his usual gruff demeanor returning. “Alright, brat. Dishes aren’t gonna do themselves. Get to it.”

Sanji nodded, a small smile still on his face as he began clearing the plates. But as he turned to carry them to the sink, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Zeff standing there, his expression unreadable.

“Kid,” Zeff said, his voice softer than usual. “You did good today. With the apron, with the dishes, with… all of it. You’re a damn good kid, you know that?”

Sanji’s eyes widened, his heart swelling with emotion. Before he could respond, Zeff pulled him into a rough but warm hug. Sanji froze for a moment, his hands still clutching the plates, before he slowly set them down and wrapped his arms around Zeff, burying his face in the old man’s chest.

Zeff’s hand rested on the back of Sanji’s head, his grip firm but gentle. “You’re my kid, Sanji. Don’t ever forget that. Happy birthday.”