Work Text:
Luffy was reading the note Sanji had left them.
" Ran into problems with a woman. I'll be back. "
Women it's always something with women. As long as Luffy has known him Sanji has cherished and loved women, way more than anyone in the crew.
They're always his top priority yet even through his rough exterior he treats men all the same.
He'd risk his life for anyone he thinks deserves it.
His usual neat handwriting seeming a little rough around the edges, like it was written in haste; or nervousness.
Luffy gives back the note to Nami and contemplates.
He said he'll be back. Be it a day or a week or a month. He'll be back and that's what Luffy is gonna hold him to.
Nami worries, but Luffy doesn't. Sanji has always been a free bird. He makes his own decisions and usually has the best interests of the crew, so Luffy lets him.
Let's him go on his own missions, let's him plan what he wants to do and even now he let's him go. He said he'll be back and all he has to do is wait.
Yet it irks him. Something's wrong. Surely if Sanji wanted to leave, he could've waited till they were back. Didn't he, as his captain deserve an explanation for this sudden departure?
Luffy shakes his head, trying not to think of the worst. He'll be back. He'll be back. He keeps chanting in his head.
They hop on the crocodile pets of the mink tribe to get to Pekoms who is a member of the big mom pirates, the ones who took Sanji away.
Luffy notices the distress of Nami, Chopper and Brook. They seem to have so much to say.
And Nami tells him there's more to this than that.
" He didn't want to go and saved us till the last second. He said he'll be back but I'm worried for him, "
"We don't know what he's thinking so let's just go ask him, "
Yes. Luffy deserves to hear what's going on. Why Sanji would leave like this. There has to be more to it and he will find out what it is.
He's met with a lot of disagreement.
"Forget about him Luffy, "
"You can't go to a emperor's territory without a plan. That's equivalent to suicide, "
Plans and schemes. Luffy's never liked them. He knows what he has to do and that's all. He's never needed to follow plans, they don't work well for him anyways.
"No, we don't have a choice, "
Luffy chooses to trust Sanji yet he can't shake off the feeling that's bugging him. He needs to know if he's okay.
And he feels selfish. Selfish that he wants him back. Right here, right now. That he can't wait for his arrival. That it's more painful than he likes to admit.
So he suggests, he will go there alone.
In this way his crew doesn't have to risk their life because Luffy can't let Sanji go.
"Luffy, he left. He made a choice. He wrote a note and he said he'd be back. Kaido is after our heads we can't get involved with the big mom pirates right now, "
Zoro says irritated at Sanji's actions.
"That's why I'm saying I'll sneak in there and bring Sanji back. You guys can just go to Wano as planned I'll join you guys later. Besides Sanji would be helpful in a war. We can't go against Kaido without him, "
And I refuse to move on without him.
"He should've just given us a proper goodbye. Should've written thank you for all you've done until now; went his way, getting married and what not. "
Nami screams at Zoro for being an inconsiderate prick.
And Luffy can't process the words. It already hurts even thinking about Sanji leaving. Zoro putting it into words stings. Plants doubts in Luffy's mind.
What if he does want to leave?
" Luffy, don't you want to give Sanji some time? He's kept all his promises until now hasn't he? "
Robin chimes in. Being the voice of reason that maybe this is something Sanji wants to face by himself. That their involvement might cause more harm than help.
" No I'm going, "
Luffy says stubbornly. He's made his decision.
"Luffy don't be fucking stupid. I won't let you go and get yourself killed for that cook because an emperor of the sea is no joke. Be sensible. We can deal with that later when we get through our current hurdles. That cook can handle himself, "
Zoro's sits up this time. Putting his foot down about this topic because he thinks Luffy is making a horrible decision.
" I want to go, "
Luffy says this time. Voice a little lower. A little broken.
And he gets a lot of concerned looks. He doesn't like this one bit. Feeling weak.
"I'm going and it's final. I'm not going to Wano without Sanji. "
"You don't even know if Sanji wants to go to Wano, "
Luffy takes in a deep breath.
"That's why I'm gonna go and ask him, "
He says with more firmness this time. Crew disagreements always draining him.
He misses Sanji. Sanji would know what to do. What to say to comfort them and bring them to the right track.
"What if he decides to get married? What of his wife? "
Luffy feels like there's a lump in his throat. What then? Luffy never really cared for marriage. Too busy chasing after his dreams to give such things much thought. Yet Sanji getting wed hurts his chest a little but he answers.
"Then his wife will join the crew, "
And I will still be his captain.
" If Sanji gets married we will become a part of Big mom's crew, "
"That's unacceptable, "
Luffy has never been anything but the captain of the crew. He's not gonna start now. He'd feel suffocated, having to follow orders. He wants freedom, he needs the space to breathe.
" Then sanji leaves, "
"That's even more unacceptable, "
And if it meant being with Sanji then Luffy is ready to give up anything.
Luffy lays down on the crocodile, his brow furrowed. Brook strums at his guitar playing a song to cheer them up and Luffy smiles.
He smiles for his crew. He wants them to trust him. To trust him that he can and will bring Sanji back.
Pekoms gives him more context.
"He was invited to mamas tea party. Where he will be wed as Germa's third son to Charlotte Pudding. "
"Everyone invited to the tea party must come. If they don't a loved ones head will be sent to them, for Sanji that maybe someone from the Baratie, someone from the strawhats or even someone from Peachy Island, "
Luffy feels angry. But also relief, for which he feels like a demon.
So he doesn't want to get married?
Luffy decides not to think much of it. Just because he may have been taken there, doesn't mean he doesn't want to be wed.
" You will take me to Tottoland, "
Luffy demands. He is going to go there. He will rescue Sanji and bring him back.
"I will go there alone and I will attend the tea party and ruin his wedding, "
And Luffy couldn't help himself from saying the last sentence.
Brook, Nami and Chopper want to accompany him. They feel guilty. The guilt of being saved, the guilt of not being strong enough to protect Sanji.
But it could've just been a choice. And Luffy is just being selfish.