Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It hadn't been a week since Sanji traveled to the Flower Capital of Wano to setup his soba stand before the citizens knew the delectable taste of his cooking. His heart soared to see the townsfolk line down the street, waiting in the bright sunlight to taste his soba. It was even more satisfying to witness people leave with full bellies.

His stand was especially popular with the ladies which may or may not be because Sanji prioritized them over his male customers. True to his moral of a cook, no one left his stand hungry but the least he could do to help these delicate flowers bloom was to give them the care and attention they needed.

"Ooo," A young seamstress marveled as Sanji readied her bowl, sweet smells wafting in the air. "It's like a magic trick."

Sanji grinned and handed her the bowl, "Only the best in ingredients for a beauty such as yourself."

"Thank you Soba-man." The seamstress hurried to join her friends at a bench not too far away. Sanji happily watch them take the first bites.

As content as Sanji was acting in his role as a soba chef, there was still a heavy feeling in his heart. He must be longing to cook for Nami and Robin again but his beautiful nakama had their own missions to complete. He had not seen Robin and the other shitheads since Dressrosa, with all that happened between Big Mom and the Vinsmokes, it felt like ages since he last heard Robin's sweet laugh. Sanji wondered how they were, he wondered when he would see them again and he wondered how he would apologize for all the trouble he caused.

The next customer stepped forwarded while Sanji was pondering these thoughts and said in a warm voice, "One bowl of soba, Mr. Cook."

Sanji whipped his head around, gapping like a fish. "R-r-r-r"

The woman before him, dressed in a fine purple kimono with intricate floral design and her long black hair was done up into a bun. Her painted lips turned up into a smile before disappearing behind her sleeve so she could let out a soft laugh, "Fufufu,"

"R-Robin-chawwwwwn!"

After many sweet praises, one serving of soba later and "O-Robin" was seated on a stool next beside the stand to enjoy her meal. Sanji needed to keep serving the lunch rush but Robin waited patiently.

Sanji hummed as he worked.

It was inevitable that Robin found him first. Rumors travel fast, especially when there was a new vendor stand serving food that tasted like it was worthy to grace the plates of the shogun. Word of a new soba chef in the city quickly spread like wild fire. Men could do without the chef's shitty attitude towards them when they purchased a bowl but women had no complaints. So the news reached the courtesan house and to the archeologist's ears.

When the last customer left with a happy smile and a steaming bowl in their hands, Sanji brewed up some herbal tea and placed it in front of Robin. "On the house,"

"You're too kind," Robin complimented.

With her praise warming his heart, Sanji got to work cleaning up and preparing for his dinner rush, he was barely able to contain his excitement. Though he was happy to see Robin again, Sanji found himself at a loss for words. What could he say to one of his darling angels after he left - even if it was to protect the crew?

"How are the others?" Robin asked.

Ah, a neutral question. Nothing loaded about it. Sanji could work with that.

"They're good, Kin'emon gave us all roles so we're spread out over the country now…. expect Luffy." Sanji sighed. "That dumbass picked a fight with Kaidou and got arrested."

"I saw the newspaper. I'm glad the rest of you got away." Robin replied.

"…. Have you heard from Usopp and the others?" Sanji asked, genuinely curious.

"Yes, I see Franky and Usopp regularly. Unfortunately Zoro stirred up some trouble and got lost soon after. I heard rumors of a ronin in the wastelands of Kuri not long ago. I'm assuming it's him."

"Che, that dumbass swordsman. What's he thinking?" Sanji grumbled, scrubbing the pan harder.

Robin watched him viscously eradicate every stain. "How was the wedding?"

Sanji paused before going back to cleaning with more vigor. "Shitty."

"Mmm," Robin hummed, undeterred. "I wish you waited for us to help you."

Sanji made a noncommittal sound. "I knew there was a chance that Judge would drag me back to that family. As a kid on the Baratie I used to lie awake wondering if tomorrow would be my last day of freedom." Sanji glanced back at Robin with a smile, "But I got over it. Why worry about stuff that could never happen? If it did, I would be ready to protect my nakama."

"No matter the cost," Robin murmured. "As a scholar, I can't ignore the parallels between us."

Sanji heart skipped a beat as he twirled around, "To hear you see such intimacy between us makes me want to-"

"Between Enies Lobby and what you experienced at Whole Cake Island." Robin remarked.

Sanji deflated, "Oh."

"We both left the crew to protect them, even pushed them away in a vain and misguided attempt to shield them from a deadly fate," Robin said. "But no matter how much we screamed and hurt them, they refused to let us do things our way."

Sanji remembered how he stood with his crew at Enis Lobby. How Robin looked down at them, tears in her eyes, telling them to go away. She'd been heartbroken and terrified for the ones she loved but Luffy wouldn't have it. Luffy was determined to save her.

He's thoughts turned to when he first saw Luffy and Nami on Whole Cake Island. He never felt so terrified in his life. He probably could truly understand how Robin felt on the Tower of Justice, wondering if she led her nakama to their death. At the time, Sanji could only drive his nakama away to protect them even if he hated himself for it. He vividly remembered how it felt as each kick crushed into Luffy who refused to fight him even as Sanji used every ounce of strength he could muster at that moment. Every kick that Sanji inflicted on his captain made him self-consciously cringe.

"God dammit! Luffy completely ignores what you want." Sanji throws his hands up into the air. "Never mind the fact he bulldozes headlong into danger and he doesn't care what anyone thinks."

"He is a pirate," Robin chimed but her comment did not dissuade Sanji's growing frustrations which increased as he rambled.

"He challenged an Emperor! On her turf! He went in halfcocked without a plan! He was asking to be killed! It was suicidal! He just pushes and pushes and he doesn't stop!"

"It's overwhelming isn't it?" Robin asked, propping her chin in her hand. "To be loved unconditionally?"

Sanji stilled and let out a shaky breath.

Robin acted as if she didn't just see him react and continued, "It's incredible to find that special person. To have someone who will fight against the world to keep you. You think to yourself how can you ever earn your place to be worth of such love but that's the thing,"

Robin smiled, "Because you already are."

Sanji chewed on his lip trying to hide a smile. "Thanks."

Robin merely tended to her tea and said, "Your part of the crew, Sanji. I want you to know without a doubt that you can rely on us."

The cook was quiet for a moment, a warmth of joy heated his cheeks, "I'll keep that in mind."

"Fufufu," Robin took a sip of her tea and tacked on. "And you don't have to worry about the others. They've missed you too."

"Che, like I care," muttered Sanji.

Leave it to Robin to deduce he was worried about what the others would say, what would they think of him. Though he had his reasons, Sanji did abandon the crew when they were preparing to fight one emperor and stirred up complications with another one.

But having one of his darling angels enjoying his cooking as he worked reminded him of the time spent on the Thousand Sunny as they traveled to Wano. Luffy had laughed off Sanji's troubles when he fretted over what the others would think of what he done. Nami outright dismissed his worries, stating that he shouldn't over think things that aren't even a problem.

Sanji went away for a while, made some dumb decisions, almost got married but who in this crew didn't trip over their own feet on occasion? With his talk with Robin, Sanji wondered if he could dare to hope he still belonged.

Chapter Text

A day after Robin came to visit, Sanji was out gathering supplies for his stand but quickly found himself distracted by brightly colored stalls and the menagerie of goods other vendors were selling. Ranging for carved crafts, weaved rugs, and fresh fruit, there was just so much to explore and see. The weather was sunny and many citizens were out doing their shopping. Vendors sang out deals and exclusive offers to entice potential buyers.

Still feeling in a good mood from meeting Robin the other day, Sanji took his time to enjoy the market.

Two children ran by, screaming with delight as another wearing a mask of a tengu chased after them. The mask the child wore had Sanji stopping his stroll. Its long nose reminded him of a certain cowardly sniper and just like that, Sanji was back to thinking about his crew and what they were doing.

Sanji noticed a group gathering around a vendor. It sounded like quite the commotion coming from the center of the crowd. Mingling with Wano's citizens, Sanji managed to get close enough that he could barely see the vender over the heads of others. It was an older man in a green haramaka with a dorky green toad on his shoulder. His most notable trait was his long nose. Sanji smiled to himself, he's been thinking so much about the crew he's starting to see them everywhere.

"Gather 'round everyone! Gather 'round!" The man hollered, making wild gestures in excitement. "See the miraculous healing properties of East Blue's special toad oil!"

Hearing the salesman talk about the East Blue, Sanji joined the rest of the crowd that was gathering. Wano was a closed country so there was no way for the salesman to acquire toad oil from the East Blue. Even if the man was running a scam, Sanji figured the salesman's pitch would be entertaining to watch. Unfortunately, there was a relatively large crowd around the stand so Sanji couldn't get close but the old man was loud enough for his voice to carry over the crowd.

"—ere's a sheet of paper – no gimmicks or setup! One sheet becomes two…" Sanji could faintly hear paper being torn as the man talked, cutting the paper smaller and smaller and finally said. "I give you the fluttering dance of a springtime cherry blossom shower and the snowfall of Wano's early evening Hi-eiy!"

The crowd awed as the confetti rained down on them. Sanji had to admit that the salesman was pretty good at showboating.

"Now you see how sharp this great sword is! Just by grazing it a bit…."

The crowd gasped and Sanji assumed that the man cut his arm.

"See how easily you get cut. But watch this!"

Sanji craned his neck and could barely see the man rubbing the oil into his arm before holding it up for the crowd to see. As far as Sanji could tell, the wound was gone. The people around him whispered excitedly but Sanji wasn't convinced. He was a cook and had limited knowledge on medicine but Sanji had never heard of toad oil being able to make wounds disappear.

"Toad oil is the upcoming miraculous salve. You don't want to miss it!"

Sanji furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. That voice…. sounded familiar. And then it clicked.

"How does it work for burns?" Sanji called out. The crowd part enough for him to squeeze closer.

The old man perked up and quickly looked across the crowd until his eyes landed on Sanji. His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. He grinned. Sanji knew for certain the old man was Usopp. Sanji wanted to call out to him but it crossed his mind that they were supposed to be under cover. Robin was going by O-Robin so Usopp must have a cover name as well. Sanji couldn't carelessly approach this situation. Who knew if Orochi had spies milling about.

"San—Buddy old pal!" Usopp remarked, pushing his way through the crowd to sling an arm around Sanji. "I haven't seen you in ages! We need to catch up right now."

Sanji grinned at Usopp's antics and let him pull him out of the crowd. Little did Sanji know what his dear friend "Usohachi" meant by catching up.

He didn't think he would find himself in the woods, hunting through the long grass with a net in hand to catch the toads Usopp needed to make his oil. He would much rather be catering to Robin and Nami than getting friendly with gross amphibians.

Sanji pulled back some reeds and found a fat toad sitting on a rock. Taking a deep inhale of his cigarette, Sanji blew out a puff of smoke into the toad's face. He was reward with the toad lashing its tongue out. He cringed as the slimy tongue hit his cheek.

"Gross,"

Sanji glanced over his shoulder to see Usopp crawling into a rotted out tree log in pursuit of a pink toad. Sanji chuckled to himself. When he and Usopp managed to leave the crowded streets, Usopp didn't even bother with any pleasantries and just got right down to business. Usopp was a doer. He'd rather be working with his hands than traversing an awkward conversation.

Neither Sanji nor Usopp knew how to talk about the time Sanji left for Whole Cake Island. Usopp understood that Sanji kept his family a secret from them and he respected that Sanji needed space. Talking may be out of the question but Usopp was trying to make Sanji feel at ease by carrying on like they just saw each other yesterday.

Judge and his brothers made Sanji's life a living hell. He endured jeers, choruses of malicious laughs and endless beatings that left his body sore and bruises decorating his skin. Sanji was ridiculed for his kindness and he wasn't strong enough to defend his ideals. After he escaped Germa Kingdom, Sanji spent years thinking he had to prove he had value. He owed a lot to Zeff for helping him find his strengths and confidence. Judge merely saw Sanji as a broken tool, one that was a blemish to his reputation.

Unconsciously Sanji went to rub his wrist. He started developing a habit after they left Big Mom's territory. It felt surreal he was able to rejoin the crew without losing his hands, he couldn't help but double check that bracelets were gone. His fingers brushed over a bump encasing his wrists and Sanji tensed. It was a familiar and unwelcoming sensation. Sanji looked down and sucked in a plume of smoke when he saw the yellow bracelets encircling his wrists

It was wrong. But they were real. Sanji could feel how the bracelets constricted uncomfortable against his skin. Sanji stumbled back and land on the ground as he coughed out the smoke he inhaled. His lungs burned and his chest seized in panic. The beating of his heart pounded in his ears as it tried failingly to provide nonexistent oxygen. Sanji scratched at them, digging his finger nail under his skin but unable to get any grip.

A rough hand squeezed his shoulders and Sanji could breath, sucking down a gulp of need air. Sanji guessed he must have made some noise to attract Usopp who was kneeling beside him with a face contorted with worry.

"Sanji? Are you okay?"

Sanji hated how hoarse his voice sounded when he replied, "Get them off."

Usopp examined his wrists and lightly smacked Sanji's hand away from where he was trying to tear the bracelet away.

"Don't pull." Usopp said. "It's going to make them tighten around you. You gotta stroke them."

Usopp ran his finger down the middle of one of the bracelets which quivered under the stroke. It popped off and landed on the ground. Sanji's stomach felt queasy at the round suckers on the underside of the supposed bracelet which matched the red, round markings on his wrists.

"Coiled Leeches," was all Usopp said as he stroked the other one. Like the first, the leech on Sanji's wrist quivered and dropped. "I forgot to warn you. These guys live in the reeds and like to latch on to large mammals to suck their blood."

Usopp scooped up both leeches and tossed them off into the woods. Sanji just stared at the red marks on his wrists. A small quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he came to terms with the fact that he mistook slimy leeches for cold metal. He sighed and slumped back against the sniper.

"Sanji!?" Usopp asked in alarm, unprepared for the unexpected weight. "I'm sorry okay?! I forgot, honest!"

Sanji glanced over his shoulder, "Want dinner?"

They took a break from frog hunting and sat under a tree together. Sanji took out the soba he brought along and poured it into their individual bowls. Usopp fidgeted quietly, watching the liquid slowly pour from the container.

"I forgot how creeped out you get about creepy crawlies," he joked.

Sanji's one visible eye narrowed in frustration, "Tell anyone what happened and I'll kick you back to the Bolin islands."

Usopp gulped at the clear threat but found a bowl of soba shoved in his direction minutes later. To avoid anything else stupid coming out of his mouth, Usopp took a large slurp of soba. He savored the taste in his mouth before swallowing, "So good."

To that, Sanji smiled.

"I've missed your cooking. Nothing can come close."

"Yeah," Sanji shifted uneasily. Not really wanting to talk about his time with Germa, Sanji found something else to talk about. "I heard you cheered little me up when I wasn't around."

Usopp scrunched his face in confusion before he realized that Sanji was talking about, "You mean the little you from the Devil Fruit incident? That… was forever ago. What brought this up?"

Sanji shrugged. "Nothing in particular. I just never thanked you for cheering that brat up."

Usopp's reddening face hinted that the sniper was flustered by the sudden praise. "I didn't do much, just told him something you told me."

"And what was this great advice, oh humble one?" Sanji drawled.

Usopp chuckled and scratched his chin. "What you told me at Enies Lobby…." Usopp trailed off when Sanji's smug grin grew bigger. "What?"

"I can't recall getting a chance to talk with you at Enies Lobby," Sanji teased, flicking him in the nose. "I was stuck with Sogeking. You do have similar noses though, like that giraffe guy."

Usopp let out an aggravated sigh of frustration, "That joke is so old."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sanji deadpanned, but he maintained his devilish grin.

Usopp shoved his nakama in retaliation. "Be serious."

Sanji held his hands up to placate him. Taking it as his sign to continue, Usopp did so. "You said, that we all have things we can't do. That's why we do the things we can do and rely on everyone for the rest. Back then that… really put things in perspective for me. And it helped little you too."

"You remember that cheesy one-liner?" Sanji chuckled lightly.

"It's not cheesy!" Usopp defended, face reddening more. He crossed his arms in a huff. "You should have taken your own advice."

Sanji quietly thought on that for a moment and instinctively rubbed his hands again. He was not prepared for Usopp to suddenly reach out. The sniper's calloused fingers gripped his forearms and pulled him closer, forcing Sanji to lean forward while Usopp inspected his hands. After a careful inspection, Usopp sighed in relief. "Nothing,"

Sanji frowned, confused. "What?"

Usopp didn't reply. Sanji realized that with his hands in Usopp's, his nakama was able to see that his hands were shaking. Sanji was ready to pull his hands away when Usopp spoke up. His voice was quiet and weak. "What did they do?"

Usopp had loosened his grip enough for Sanji to take back his hands but he was willing to admit, "Nothing that'll last. A little therapeutic, I guess."

"GAH!" Usopp exclaimed and sat back. "You get threatened by your evil family into a political marriage with a fiancé who wants to kill you and you call that therapeutic?"

Sanji chuckled and leaned back against the tree. "I could have gone without seeing my family ever again. Believe me. But it did let me remember what really mattered." His furrowed swirly brow expressed an air of seriousness, "Nami and Robin's happiness."

Usopp rolled his eyes. "Good to see you didn't lose your personality."

Sanji smiled ruefully, "I know I can thank my mother for that."

Usopp waited for Sanji to go into detail, but the blond just stared at his bowl of soba with a tender smile on his face so Usopp said, "Moms are awesome."

"Yeah," Sanji finally looked at him. "My mom is the reason I'm a failure."

"….. What?"

Sanji nodded sagely.

"Look Sanji. I beginning to think I'm underequipped – and underqualified – to have this conversation."

"She saved me humanity." Sanji elaborated.

Usopp frowned in confusion. "And that makes you a failure?"

"To Judge, it does." So Sanji told Usopp about his biological father and his experiment to create the ultimate soldiers. Sanji explained his mother taking the counter drug and what life was like for him in Germa. He finished with summarizing the events of the wedding. Usopp listened carefully and did not say a word while Sanji talked. When Sanji finished, the sun was setting, painting the sky with hues of red. Usopp sat back from his attentive position into a comfortable slouch as he processed everything that Sanji told him.

"Man, that's rough,"

Sanji scoffed as he pulled out his cigarette pack. "That's all you got to say?"

"No wonder Little You was so keen on proving yourself." Usopp muttered. He didn't look at Sanji, occupying his attention with his fingers. "Are your hands alright?"

"Yeah,"

"You keep playing with them."

"I do, don't I?" Sanji mused. "Judge knew I valued my hands as a chef so I was made to wear explosive bracelets. If I ran, I would lose my hands."

Usopp's eyes widened in horror and mouth dropped in shock. "That's… I – uh…"

"Shitty?"

"Yeah," Usopp managed to utter out. "Your dad did that?"

"He is not my father." Sanji snarled.

"Right, right. Can of worms I shall not touch." Usopp said quickly, but it was clear that he was trying to quell his own anger towards the Vinsmokes. "Why would he do that?!"

"I don't mean anything to him. I was a waste of space and a stain on his great life." Sanji stated, bitterly.

Usopp twiddled his thumbs, nervously, "…..Sanji, you do know you don't have anything to prove to us?"

Sanji paused to think. Usopp watched him stand up to pace and smoke. Sanji thought about Usopp's question as he watched the sun set. Finally, he turned back to his friend, the orange light catching in his yellow hair and illuminating his smile. "No. I know my worth."

Usopp smiled back and said in a teasing tone, "You have no right to look cool with a sunset at your back."

That comment earned him a kick to the side. "Shut up, I'm always cool."

Usopp laughed as he stood up to join Sanji, "The coolest, Mr. Prince."

Together they gathered the toads and empty bowls and walked back towards the city, jabbing at each other with their elbows and good natured taunts.

Chapter Text

Sanji sat on a grassy slope, overlooking the capital's water canal. He sucked in a deep breath of nicotine before blowing out a large plume of smoke in irritation. The sun was rising in the distance, the light reflected off the water giving it an orange glow, but not even the picturesque view of the shinning rooftops of the Flower Capital could give him peace of mind. The object that plagued Sanji's mind was the Raid suit Judge passed to him during their last encounter.

Upon returning to the capital after his incident in the woods with Usopp, Sanji had been driven in ridding himself of any trace of the Vinsmoke family - specifically the Raid suit - but no matter what Sanji tried, he couldn't destroy the canister.

He first borrowed a hammer from Usopp and attempted to smash it. When that failed, Sanji upgraded to a boulder but it didn't get scratched. He went to the blacksmith and asked for it to be melted down. The blacksmith burned his furnace at its full capacity but when he pulled the canister out, it was still cool to the touch.

Sanji spent the entire night thinking of new ways to destroy the Raid suit but all attempts ended in failure. If Sanji couldn't break the canister, there was no way he would be able to damage the Raid suit itself.

Pulling it out, he traced over the glossy yellow three.

Even after all Sanji has done to separate from the Vinsmoke family, they keep trying to maintain their connection to him. He doesn't see why they bother since he is considered a failure.

Sanji clenched it tight. Just looking at it made his blood boil in anger. He refused to be a Vinsmoke. He would rather die than use the Raid suit. Sanji had half the mind to throw it in the river and wash his hands of it but he couldn't risk an unscrupulous individual acquiring the suit and reverse engineering the technology. It was too dangerous.

So Sanji sat, smoking through his dilemma. He would never use the Raid suit and he certainly didn't want to keep it but there was no sane way to destroy it.

While he pondered if there was a nearby active volcano he could run to, Sanji heard a woman scream. "Pervert!"

Instincts kicked in as Sanji identified the young lady in distress. There was a hulking man standing before her, only covered by a jacket and a loin cloth. Sanji sprinted forward, his leg catching fire.

He could see the pervert leer over the woman, "Pervert? Ow! You don't have to complimen-"

"Collier!" Sanji's kick connected with the man's neck and the momentum carried through, sending the pervert into the river with a splash.

"You are safe now, my sweet angel." Sanji swooned, gracefully landing and twirling like a limp noodle around the woman.

The woman gave a slight nod, looking quite astonished at Sanji's flaming leg.

The river erupted as the pervert broke the surface with a loud roar, ready for vengeance. Sanji readied for the next attack but the man slammed his box shaped forearms together and posed. "Get ready for a SUPER counterattack!"

Sanji let out an exacerbated sigh, "Should've known."

The "pervert" took a second to examine Sanji before breaking out into a wide smile. "What's up Sanji?"

"You're harassing an innocent young lady! That's what's up! Couldn't you go a day without being a weirdo!" shouted Sanji.

Franky laughed, "It's hard being this super!"

"I'm not trying to praise you! Godammit!" Sanji huffed in frustration but instantly changed his tune as he turned to address the lady, "Please ignore this oaf…. My lady?"

While the two had been arguing, the lady found it best to slip away while the two weirdos were distracted by each other. Sanji quietly mourned the loss of being in the presence of the beautiful woman. Franky trudged out of the river, ringing out his jacket as he did.

"Now my clothes are all wet and I'm cold." He stated.

"You're a cyborg. Don't you have an internal heating system of something?" Sanji asked, lighting up his next cigarette.

"Like warm food?" Franky hinted with a grin.

Sanji rolled his eyes.

Forty minutes later, Franky happily slurped down a bowl of warm soba. When he drained the last drop of broth, he put the bowl with a satisfied sigh, "Super job. Wish I could wash it down with some cola! With the country be'in closed and all, I have to keep my stash hidden for fueling."

"Cola isn't the ideal drink for every meal." Sanji stated flatly.

"Agree to disagree then. Anyways, it's great to see you again. You had us worried for a bit." Franky said.

Sanji shrugged, "I didn't think my family would seek me out."

"Speaking of your family. I can't believe you're a part of Germa's royal family. That country's technology is serious stuff."

"We may share blood and once a name, but they're no family of mine." Sanji sat down across from him and said, "I have a favor to ask actually."

He placed the canister containing the Raid suit. Franky recognized the technology immediately, face morphing through multiple emotions of surprise, confusion, and curiosity. He picked it up to get a closer examination, "Is this Germa technology?"

"It's called a Raid suit. Exclusive to the royal family… and me. It's basically an indestructible suit that enhances my physical abilities." Franky's excitement of the new technology was squished when Sanji added, "I want you to destroy it."

"Destroy it?" Franky echoed with a frown. "This is an advanced piece of technology. The fact that you got this is super lucky. Luckier than winning the jackpot."

"I don't need technology to be stronger." Sanji rebuffed.

Franky shook his head. "No, that's not it. What's got you bothered?'

"Franky. This suit was made by evil hands to do evil acts. It needs to be destroyed."

"Does it though?"

"This isn't up for debate!" Sanji exclaimed.

"But the possibilities!"

"Can you get rid of it or not?!"

"Who do you think I am?" Franky asked, playfully tossing the canister in his hand. "I'll find away, but before that." He placed it down on the table and looked Sanji squarely in the eye, "I want you to reconsider. This technology isn't evil."

"It is." Sanji insisted.

"What makes it evil?" he asked.

"Germa uses suits just like this one to conquer entire nations and hurt innocent lives."

Franky rubbed his chin in thought, "So are standard muskets."

"Muskets and Raid suits are two entirely different things."

"Is it though? What makes them different?"

"The Raid suits were made because of Germa."

"What if Germa made muskets?"

Sanji slammed his fist against the table, rattling the empty bowl. "Nothing good comes from that place, muskets, soldiers, any of their technology."

Acknowledging that this line of questioning was annoying the cook, Franky said, "Because Germa is evil, all they create will be used for evil."

"I have to make sure that Germa can't live through me." Sanji said, looking away.

"You're not Germa." Franky replied.

"Of course not!" he ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "That's not the point. Anyone who uses crap like this won't use is for good intentions." Sanji stated.

"Let's look at another perspective. My teacher, Tom, was sentenced to Enies Lobby for execution."

"Spandam orchestrated the attack with battleships and put the blame on your teacher," Sanji recalled.

"An attack with my battleships," Franky added, "It was my battleships that fired on Water 7, blew apart buildings, hurt the citizens and condemned a good man. By your reasoning, my battleships were used for evil and that makes me evil."

"That's not what I meant. You didn't build your battleships to hurt others. It was Spandam's fault."

"It's not up to the craftsman how their work is used." Franky remarked wistfully. "It doesn't matter what we intend for our work to be. But that's the story for the creator, you are the user."

"….And?"

"Take ownership of that suit. You are the one who can choose what this technology is used for."

Sanji was quiet.

Franky rolled the canister back over to him. "I want you to hold on to it. If you still want to destroy it, I will, but think over what I said."

"… Why do you want me to keep the suit? Nothing good comes from Germa." Sanji muttered sullenly.

"That's super wrong, bro." Franky replied and smiled brightly at his nakama.

"…" Sanji scowled, he snatched the Raid suit back and tucked it away.

A while later, when dinosaur tore through the streets in search for a fugitive soba stand vendor, Sanji would be glad to have the Raid suit on hand to disguise his identity. As he dashed over the rooftops, evading the teeth of the dinosaur, Sanji had to acknowledge what Franky said. The Raid suit was created to further the glory of the Germa kingdom but he could use it to protect his nakama. He could live with that idea.

Germa's symbol left a bad taste in his mouth. Maybe Franky could alter the design….

Chapter Text

In the coming days before the raid began on Onigashimas, allies gathered in the forest. Many friends were reunited. including the Strawhat crew, and such a reunion called for a party in celebration.

Or that was Luffy's reasoning and everyone else went along with it.

Sanji prepared gallons of soba for the occasion and served everyone as the partying went into the night. Throughout the time of the party, he would scan the crowd for one certain patch of moss to make sure it hadn't come too close to him.

They had met much earlier during Yasui's execution when both of them stepped in to save Otoko from a horrible end by firing squad. It was so natural to be fighting alongside each other and bantering as they escaped. Sanji attributed it to the heat of the moment: there had been a little lady in danger after all. That moment had passed down and the fighting was over.

In retrospect, Sanj should have thought through how he would have approached the remaining member of his crew. It wasn't like Sanji was avoiding Zoro. Not at all. It wasn't like he excepted Zoro to give him an indignant reprimand for abandoning the crew when they were facing off against a Yonko only to get them mixed up with another one. It wasn't that Zoro had said something to Sanji that bothered him. It was the fact that he acted like nothing had changed.

Nami joined him and seamlessly aided in serving the group. It was strange when he didn't stop and encourage her to enjoy the party. She suspected he didn't notice her. That wouldn't do. "Sanji~"

Sanji's head snapped to her attention "N-n-Nami! Don't worry about serving these idiots!"

Nami smiled. That's a bit better. "I'll add it to your bill."

"Yes Nami-swan!"

Quiet settled between them too quickly for Nami's liking. With Sanji's not too subtly glancing in a certain swordsman's direction, it was obvious what was on his mind. "Have you talked with him?"

"What!?"

"Something more than 'Hey' or 'Idiot'" Nami said in her best, gruff, Zoro voice and gave him a reprimanding look, "Well?"

"There's nothing worth talking to Moss-for-Brains about." Sanji grumbled. Nothing at all.

He just didn't understand why the swordsman acted no differently than when he left. After everything that happened with his family and the Big Mom pirates, Sanji couldn't go back to how things were. He caused the crew so much trouble and yet nothing has been said about his fault it the whole debacle, not even from the swordsman. It was frustrating. If Zoro tried to talk with him like they had done before Zou, Sanji just might explode on him.

To his credit, the swordsman hadn't approached Sanji since the execution, taken to training with his swords in the nearby forest.

Zoro watched Sanji serve soba out of the corner of his eye and drank his sake. He was well aware the cook was avoiding him, he just didn't know why. The answer probably laid in what transpired in Big Mom's territory but Zoro wasn't keen on teasing out the details so he let the cook stew until he got himself out of whatever funk he was in. Once the cook was back to his old self, then Zoro could bring his grievances to him but it's been over a month since he left and Zoro was feeling impatient.

Luffy chased Otama and Otoko around the party, the girls shrieking in joy. The two girls had bonded over the past couple of days, improving Otoko's mood tremendously. Luffy abandoned his chase and joined his swordsman, squatting down next to him. Not thinking much of it, Zoro made room for him and passed him a drink. They went about eating and drinking.

"Zoro have some soba!" Zoro held out his hand and Luffy shielded his bowl. "Get your own."

Zoro grunted in annoyance and glanced over to the cook who was fawning over their navigator, contemplating for a moment. "Hey captain?"

Luffy, mouth full of noodles turned, turned around. "Mm?"

"You beat some sense into the Cook?" Zoro asked.

Slurping down his food, Luffy gave a wide grin. "Yup!"

Zoro returned the grin, abet a bit more devilishly. So the cook had no excuse for being in whatever mood he was in. Zoro grabbed his swords and walked right up to the serving line. Since Sanji was distracted by Nami, he didn't notice the swordsman until he was standing before him, shoving an empty bowl into his chest.

Sanji stared at him for a long moment. Zoro grunted and impatiently shoved the bowl closer to him. Sanji snatched and filled it before shoving the food back at him, figuring it was quickest way to rid him of the swordsman. Zoro didn't move on. "Guess we're stuck with your cooking again."

After seeing the disaster Luffy and the others inflicted upon his poor kitchen, Sanji perished any thought that his crew could make a halfway decent meal without him, besides the women and maybe Usopp. Sanji scoffed and walked away. "Complain all you want, don't waste any."

"I'm not done with you!"

"Like I give a crap," Sanji said and flipped him off.

Zoro frowned when the cook did not rise to banter with him. Nami had a look of concern as well. Without taking his eyes off of the cook's back, Zoro downed the soba in one large gulp.

Nami grimaced, "Can't you just enjoy it?"

His response was to hand her the bowl. "Fill this with water, would yeah?"

She gave him a critical look, "You owe me one."

"Put it on my tab."

Sanji pointedly kept his focus on talking with the samurai he was serving and fumed that the stupid swordsman wouldn't move away from Nami.

"Hey Pervy-Cook!"

Against his better judgment, Sanji turned just in time to make eye contact with Zoro as he held up the bowl and poured the contents into the dirt. Sweet Nami's shocked expression could not convey the whirl of disgust building in him at the swordsman sheer audacity to intentionally waste his cooking in a land where people have known starvation and thirst.

Sanji was going to kill him.

Zoro had a large toothy grin as he drew out a sheathed sword and blocked a kick that would have crushed his nose –he wasn't planning on getting his face rearranged. Sanji wasn't going to let up his assault, following with the momentum, he swung another powerful kick for Zoro's temple but he jerked his head back. With one pop of a sky walk, Sanji drove his knee right into his chin. Knocked off his balance, Zoro crashed back into a table much to the displeasure of the some of the samurai. Zoro was unfazed at all the shouting samurai and wiped the blood away from his split lip.

Sanji felt a little satisfied and walked away. "Who's the nosebleeder?"

"Where do you think you're going? We're not done." Zoro grinned right back at him. "Come at me, unless you're scared?"

Sanji bit through his cigarette. His pride wouldn't let him back down from this fight anymore. Sanji dashed forward and Zoro was ready for him. He unsheathed his sword, sending the handle into the cook's gut. Shifting on his knees, he unsheathed his other sword and swiped but Sanji jumped over his blade. He came down with an axe kick to disarm Zoro but the swordsman pushed forward. Sanji back flipped away but Zoro was already closing the space and slashing with both blades.

"Is this all you got!?" Zoro challenged, swinging his swords down together. "We're taking on Kaido. Are you going to go at him half-ass?!"

Sanji turned sideways so that the blades passed by him. "I want to defeat Kaido! Just as much as everyone else!"

Zoro clamped down on Sanji's leg, pinning it between his forearms. "You went galivanting off over a woman!"

Sanji shifted his weight onto his trapped leg and drove his other knee towards the swordsman's face, forcing him to let go. "It was not over Pudding! It's more complicated than that!"

"Because you make it complicated!"

It wasn't Sanji's fault he was put into an impossible situation of trying to protect the crew, keep the Vinsmokes alive, not anger Big Mom to the point she would go after the Baratie in retaliation and not lose his hands in the process. It was complicated. He didn't mean to leave or run away. He wanted to protect the crew and return but the longer he stayed, the more trapped he became in a large web of schemes. He got in over his head.

"I was trying to protect the crew." Sanji declared and then lowered his voice to say. "You should understand."

"Yeah right." Zoro scoffed. "There's a huge difference between us."

As the blunt end of Wadou dug into his side, Sanji figured that was the distinction between them. Zoro didn't have to be saved from protecting the crew. For all the time that Sanji's known the swordsman, he found him to be a frustrating and uncivilized asshole. They weren't rivals in the typical sense but they pushed each to be better than who they were. Under all the antagonize there was a strong sense of trust. A trust in their capabilities. To protect the crew. To accomplish their goals. To lead in their captain's absence. To fight.

Was he no longer on equal footing with him? Even now, Zoro only used two swords. Sure, he hadn't received his replacement for returning Shusui but fighting him not a full potential left a bitter taste in Sanji's mouth. When had Zoro gone beyond his reach? It was insulting that Zoro didn't acknowledge the change.

Luffy happily ate his soba and listened to Brook tune a Wano instrument he salvaged, blissfully ignorant of the disruption his two crew members were causing as their fight carried them all around the party.

O-Kiku, carrying Chopper, walked up to him to express her concern. "Is alright to leave them like this?"

"Who?"

"Sangoro and Zorojuro," O-Kiku clarified. "They've been fighting for a while."

"Yeah, Zoro and Sanji fight all the time" Luffy assured.

"There is quite a bit of yelling..."

Chopper peered over her shoulder to watch the two combatants. "They do look madder than normal."

"I agree with Chopper." Nami said as she joined O-Kiku's side. "Zoro baited Sanji in the worst way possible."

Luffy frowned, "Why are you worried now that they're fighting?"

O-Kiku frowned right back. "The eve of the raid is at hand. I would not wish for dissent amongst our own ranks." Especially since, as much as the Scabbards did not wish to believe it, there was a traitor among them and they did not need their allies to be in conflict with each other.

"It would be weirder if they weren't fighting." Luffy said.

Nami sighed.

"Yohoho. I believe what the captain is saying is there's no need to worry now that they're talking with one another." Brook said.

"Can you really call that talking?" Chopper asked as Sanji's next strike set Zoro crashing into a tree, knocking it down. "It looks painful."

"Okay, I get it. We should have been more worried before because when they're not fighting, they're not talking," said Nami as she rolled her eyes.

"Yes, that about sums it up." Brook replied. "They haven't seen each other in a while. I'm sure they have plenty of to talk about."

"I'm not sure if this little party will survive their talk." Nami noted as both men grabbed each other and simultaneously threw the other into a table, once again forcing samurai to scatter. If the fight went on for too long, the samurai would join the fray.

Zoro landed another blow that sent Sanji sprawling over their food and into Nami. He took a moment to appreciate being able to rest his head on Nami's lap but the swordsman wouldn't leave him be, "Giving up!?"

Sanji would rather lay on Nami's divine lap but he refused to give Zoro the satisfaction of a win. He refused to believe he had fallen that much behind. "Never!"

Running forward, he unleashed a series of kicks, a trail of flame licking at his heel. Zoro weaved and parried. The longer the fight went, the larger Zoro's grin grew and added fuel to Sanji's frustration. Seeing an opening, Zoro and knocked Sanji down again.

"You're getting sloppy, did the royal life make you soft." Zoro taunted.

"You're one to talk. Master of the three sword style with only two swords." It was a Luffy-level insult, but at this moment, Sanji couldn't care.

Zoro's eye flickered over to where the tengu man sat. He glared back at Sanji. "Don't change the subject. You still have to answer for ditching the crew."

"I left the crew to protect everyone." Sanji repeated.

"If Luffy didn't go get you, were you going to come back?"

Sanji frowned, he had thought about it over and over in his head. At first he had every intention to come back but the longer he stayed away, the less likely it become for him to solve his problem on his own. He accepted that he would never return to the crew but at least they would be safe. "Like you're one to talk. You risked your life to fight Kuma."

"It's different!"

"Are you that self-centered only you can sacrifice your life!? You were willing to give up you goal of being the greatest swordsman!"

"I had no intentions of dying. You're the one who gave up on their dream!" Zoro shot back. "Your dream is part of the crew! You can't selfishly give it up!"

"Selfishly?!" Sanji exclaimed in incredulity.

But something about Zoro's words made him think back to what Luffy told him as the carriage took him to Big Mom's castle. Their dreams had become so intertwined with one another, so much so that Sanji couldn't say that finding the All-Blue was just his anymore. Nami and Franky are excited to sail and map a fabled sea. Usopp and Brook are sure such a sea would be inspiration for their stories and songs, and Robin has spent late nights with Sanji looking over tales of the All Blue in an attempt to find clues to its location. Chopper has wondered if there are unique flora and fauna that could hold secret medical properties. And Luffy, well. Sanji was originally drawn to him for he's equally impossible dream. "Just you watch! I will find the All Blue! Way before you become the greatest swordsman!"

"I'll become the greatest swordsman and find your stupid ocean before you!" Zoro replied.

Sanji scoffed. "You can't even find the bathroom!"

Both men lunged and everyone in the surrounding area could hear the skull rattling headbutt that knocked them down. Sanji laid on his back, taking in in deep breaths. A draw. He didn't beat him but Sanji felt all of his pent up frustration leave him. He was able to feel at ease for the first time since arriving at Wano. He didn't realize how much he missed their fight up until now. No wonder Zoro was grinning like a loon.

Zoro sat up and rubbed the aching welt forming on his forehead. Sanji kicked him in the gut.

"What was that for?!"

"Wasting food." Sanji said with a huff. "Don't think you're off the hook yet."

"It was stream water. Duuuuumbass."

"You baited me." Sanji realized.

Zoro shrugged. "You kept running away like a chicken."

"I wasn't running away!" Just tactfully avoiding.

Zoro picked up a stray bowl, held it towards Sanji and said with a grin, "Seconds."

Nothing had changed. Zoro didn't consider Sanji weaker than him. He didn't say it but Sanji knew. It was never a question of strength. Zoro was annoyed that Sanji gave up his dream. It was him who was worrying over nothing. Sanji rummaged through his pockets and lit up a new cigarette. "I'll serve you up a can of ass kicking for that stunt."

Nami glared at them as she tried to comprehend the levels of idiocy she was witnessing. "Did they make up while fighting?"

Luffy just laughed into his bowl of soba.