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Sanji knew what love was. When he was a kid, his mother's voice would soothe him like a fresh breeze of wind had just went by. Her smile, giving him comfort more than a well made bed could ever have. Her touch, assuring him, that he's safe, that he's okay, in her arms. He knew that much, and he loved his mother for that.
Even in the dark, damp cell that he was thrown into, he still felt love. From short moments of him talking to himself, to cooking food, something he never did much when he was "free". His brothers would beat him up there, he doesn't like it. But even with such wounds he ends up with gets a cure, from his sister. Her caring hands, treating his injuries and he himself, although he knows his sister doesn't say it, he knows that she cares, and he loves her for that.
At the Orbit, he loved his fellow cooks, who were more like brothers to him unlike his actual brothers. Even with the knowledge he has, they still taught him things. In that ship, was the first time he'd ever tell people about his dream. They didn't believe it of course, as All Blue was nothing more than a mythical sea. Still he believes in it, and his dream was worthy of being loved.
He had starved, he had cried, he had shouted for help, and he survived with the pirate he sympathizes with, on a rock for so long. He had eaten his first meal for days, he had laughed, he had slept well for the first time in days. It was then where he learned to save food, even scraps of it. He had learned a lesson that would keep him alive, and he loves every moment he lives.
13 years of learning and flirting on a restaurant that sails, he had grown. Top to bottom, side to side. He'd changed, as the way he wanted himself to be, he knew he was on the right path yet there's still a lingering emotion that stuck to his chest. He wanted to leave, but he couldn't. He wanted to search, but he shouldn't, since doing so would mean leaving the place he'd been indebted to for years. Messy it may be, but it only took him a cannonball to the roof, a famous selfish pirate, a bored edgy warlord, an insult to his cooking, and a damsel in distress to finally make the decision to leave. He was sure of it then, and he's sure to love it soon.
He had grand adventures with his friends. They survived the reverse mountain, met giants who were fighting for a reason long gone, stopped a rebellion in a sand country, went to the sky and fought God himself, talked to a marine who rides a bicycle to cross the seas, and declared war to the entire world for a friend. They were doing great, in Sanji's opinion. They were now getting ready for the Florian triangle and he can't wait to see the mermaids he longed for. He's going to love the adventure ahead, he knows that.
But then the bear warlord came and pawed him hard enough to hit hell. Even worse, while he was being all free with the okamas, Luffy fought in a war, lost his brother, and almost died, he blames himself for that, but he knows he can't change what had already happened. As he was trying to leave, the said "Legendary Queen" that fought with Luffy in the war had came back to their land. He fought him and in order to leave he had to win, which of course, failed. Soon he saw his captain's message. For two years, two years he will suffer, but surely his efforts won't go to waste since good beating comes with good food. He definitely didn't love the fact that he ran day and night, but he did love the progress he made, every scare was, somehow worth it.
They reunited, he was glad. They partied, and he had laughed. Every inch of him missed his crewmates and now he gets to be with them, he gets to see their faces, not in a poster, not in a newspaper. With them, he'd also met the lovely mermaids, who looked like dreams so amazing they couldn't be real. He cried then, with tears of happiness, finally seeing heaven after running in hell for so long. He loved the All Blue of his heart, surely his friends does too.
They ventured to a land, half-ice and half-fire. To a land, full of lovely, passionate women of love who would stab men for their indecency. To a land filled of human animals like Chopper on the top of an elephant taller than the sky islands. It was a crazy ride to where he was, even battling an emperor's crew to run away from them. It was great, but for now he had to talk, he needed to talk to someone from his past that he never did once consider as family, that he never did love, so that he could be with his friends that he loves, away from his stupid, stubborn ass.
He went alone as he always does, entered enemy territory with guard up but weapons, or in his case, feet down. He saw a Goddess in a picture, met talking items like caricature, and felt horror on his venture. Still he was prepared for the worse, and for the slightly better events that could happen, for the people he loves, he had survived hell, it wouldn't be any different if he went to his hell a second time.
Then the bracelets came, those who would threaten his hands if he dares to leave. The hostages were revealed, his home and his father from the ocean he was in, would be dead if he dares do something reckless and stupid. And soon, a fight between him and the person who made him free and happy the second time, it was painful to act like a the monster he should've been but didn't. He had to shove his friends away like they were harmful strangers. The fate given to him, was shoved forcefully down his throat and he had to accept it, if he wanted them to survive when it would be over. He didn't love it, at all, but for the people and his hands that he loves, he'll try to handle it, like the man he is.
Even after that resolve, he realized that even the woman that he loves, Pudding, had never loved him in the first place, it was all an act, to keep up and to fool an entire kingdom into thinking that they were too nice for a pirate. He was a lovesick fool to have believed her facade, although he was always a lovesick fool to begin with, this simple mistake would kill him and his biological family. It was then that he asked himself a stupid question he'd never thought would come up.
"Why are you, a shinning prince, a stupid cook, a monster, would choose to be bent on stupid intuition and love?"
He never answered it, because he didn't know how to. Maybe it's because he is indeed a prince, but instead of protecting princesses he was meant to rule a wicked rule like the king did, if so then he was really never meant to walk free. Maybe it's because he really is an idiot, if so then he really couldn't get away with stupidity, so it's normal to be a fool. Maybe it's because he is a monster, unable to give love and affection, and not worthy of both, if so then that it would make sense why was a bit of an asshole to men, and why women never did reciprocate his love, even if they did it's most likely a trap in which he always falls into. So with all his skeptical thinking, he accepted his fate, the smell of cigarette smoke overtaking the smell of the food he'd supposedly made for his soon to be wife. He left his lingering love behind and cast it away he moment he did.
It was a roller coaster, he was on his lowest point but it all went up when he had realized that his captain would starve to death if he won't eat. And knowing his captain, he is one stubborn idiot like him. He ran in circles on the syrup soaked grass, looking for his captain and his strawhat in every nook and cranny of fallen chess soldiers. When they finally saw each other, there was tension in his stomach, probably not worse than Luffy's as he looked like he starved for months. He fed him, and the straw-hatted boy munched on his bento filled with mud soaked meat and syrup sticky rice, he had said it was delicious yet Sanji didn't believe him, after all every food was delicious when you're hungry enough.
He had stated the reasons why he shouldn't, wouldn't, and couldn't go, and was met with a fist on his face. His captain told him to actually say what he wants, and tears burst out his eyes despite the strength he uses to keep it in, like a dam had finally broke after years of being repaired and fixed until it couldn't take it anymore. He cries and shouts his desires, for once, he had broken down in front of a friend, and was still accepted as the other said that he was still him no matter the intentions or the emotions spilled. He smiled, as he saw ray of hope and light broke through the cotton candy clouds. He loved them and he knew now that they loved him back.
The wedding was too much chaos than expected, but with a straw-hatted captain, that is to be expected. The wedding cake was broken when Luffy decided to have a grand entrance, Jinbei had joined the crew which earned a big shock for the Big Mom pirates and a certain journalist, gunshots and swords clinking filled the air until Big Mom screamed in anguish. He'd saved his "family" and declared to Judge that he wasn't, and will not be his son. Soon, while escaping, an explosion was heard the entire chateau tumbled down like falling, heavy rocks being thrown in a lake. The emperor had went berserk and started rampaging in the island in search for the wedding cake. Sanji decided to help Chiffon and Pudding remake the wedding cake that would make the emperor cry in happiness. He had left the crew again, but this time, he's sure to come back to the people he loves, not leaving out of the blue like then.
When they were leaving, he realized a lot had happened without him. Sure, he was there when Jinbei decided to stay to protect the crew and his former crew from the wrath of an emperor's crew, but he wasn't there when Pedro, had died. He had blamed himself for it, but Carrot says to not worry since he made the decision himself. He then comforts the crying mink, telling he that he knew what kind of man he was. He comforts her because what man doesn't care for a woman when she cries? Soon they left the not so sweet territory. He had pulled himself together strong enough to ask them if he could make a meal, but not strong enough for a hug that lasted for minutes until he shook them off.
The night finally came, he had time for himself since he couldn't sleep when others did. He goes out on the grass lawn and lit a cigarette. The skies were clear of clouds and starry like how he loves it, the smell of the ocean finally gets to him after his days of smelling either cement or chocolate, the smell reminded him of then, when ran away and became free, and he loved it. His thoughts once ran again like a burglar on chase.
"Why are you, a shinning prince, a stupid cook, a monster, would choose to be bent on stupid intuition and love?"
He hadn't answered this question from his past self full of sadness and regret. Why is he again? He wasn't sure. All he knows is he loves, because it the first thing he knew to do as a kid. He loved to play games, he loved to read storybooks, he loved to cook for his mother to make her happy. When he grew up, he still loved. He loved cooking for others, he loved women, he loved the sea, he loved the All Blue to the point he'd leave the place he grew up for it.
He didn't learn to love, he was born with it, he grew with it and lives with it. So it wasn't his fault that he would feed the hungry without price, that he was such a big dreamer that he dreams to see a mythical sea, that he was a lovesick fool that follows women and does everything for women. If there's anyone to blame, it should be fate and luck themselves, since he lived this far despite being an idiot.
So, why does he, a shinning prince, a stupid cook, a monster, would choose to be bent on stupid intuition and love?
Stupid answer, because he can.