Work Text:
If you asked Blackleg Sanji, the best part of the year on Paradise Island is winter. Besides the festive decorations, warm home cooked meals families share together, and the joy that people have around the holiday season, Sanji could never get enough of the compassion people tend to have at this time of year. It wasn’t out of the norm to see people tipping a little extra at restaurants, helping their neighbors string lights, and occasionally catching a cute couple sharing a kiss under the mistletoe.
While most of the island didn’t get snow, there was one part of the island that seemed to always be gloomy and have a chill in the air even in the summer months. That place would be the top of Mt. Kuraigana, where one mansion stood alone amongst the foggy, densely packed forest surrounding it. A long winding road leads up the mountain to the estate. Cars were a rarity on this desolate course. Despite the rumors of the mansion being haunted by a cursed spirit, there was in fact a person living there. The man who lived in the mansion would make the drive down the mountain once a month to buy groceries and whatever else he needed. Nobody in town knew his name but he wasn’t outwardly mean or scary like some people said. He had even stopped into Sanji’s restaurant once, only asking Sanji for a hot meal between the stores he needed to visit in town. While yes, he did dress a little oddly, he didn’t seem like a bad guy. He even left a twenty percent tip for Sanji after he quietly ate his lunch and sipped a single glass of high quality wine that he ordered based on Sanji’s recommendation. He had neatly placed his utensils on the plate after finishing his meal and exited the restaurant quietly.
That was a few months ago. Now that December had rolled around, people seemed to see the man more and more. He would make the trip down the large mountain more frequently for supplies. This wasn’t his typical pattern but Sanji had only lived on this island for two years now. Maybe this was something the man had done before Sanji arrived. Regardless, he didn’t pay much mind to the rumors that swirled around the man. People would always talk negatively about things they didn’t quite understand.
~December 14th
“Okay everyone, it’s officially time!” Nami cheered as she held out a metal container with popsicle sticks poking out of the top. Around her stood Robin, who was bundled up in a soft fleece sweater, Frank,y who for some god knows what reason was wearing sandals and a button-up shirt even though the temperature was cold enough to freeze standing water, and Sanji, who had paired his usual dress suit with an eloquent scarf wrapped around his neck and a matching pair of gloves. They were going to each pick a stick randomly, it was a gamble of sorts.
This year, Sanji and his friends had signed up to volunteer with the community's town council to help people who were in need of some holiday help. Paradise Island only had a small coastal town but every year people showed their love for the holidays about as much as Sanji did, and the streets would light up with decorations and festive lights on houses. There were a few elderly people who would special order food for the occasion to celebrate. Sanji would be more than happy to be able to help his community by feeding them a freshly prepared meal or even help a family decorate their home. What could possibly go wrong with drawing lots for community service? If anything he could always back out, should the task be too much for him to handle. Right?
Nami chose first, then Franky, followed by Robin, and finally the last stick was given to Sanji. “THIS IS SUUUUPER!” Franky burst out after they had all been given a stick. “Robin, what did you get?” He asked, hoping that they’d be working together.
Robin flipped her stick around and giggled to herself. “It appears I’m helping with the annual toy drive. I’m going to be passing out presents to children.” She was smiling behind her delicate hand, “I have to dress up as an elf.” Her attention soon turned to Nami and she pointed to Nami’s stick. “What about you Nami? What did you get?”
Nami took a deep breath and flipped over her stick. There was a joyful squeal in happiness before Nami read out what job she had received. “Heck yeah! I get to help organize the Christmas parade! I used to go every year with Nojiko before she moved back home a year ago, how nostalgic.” She hummed and held the thin stick to her chest before glancing up at Franky and Sanji. “Well… don’t keep us waiting. What did you guys get?” She excitedly asked as she bounced on her heels.
Both Sanji and Franky flipped their sticks at the same time but their reactions couldn’t have been more different. Franky was smiling bright while Sanji looked like he had just had his heart crushed in a vice. “Hey Robin, looks like I’ll get to be an elf too!” Franky cheered loudly as he held out his stick for everyone to see. He had drawn the job that Sanji had been hoping for. Franky got the task of passing out snacks and hot cocoa to the families in line to see Santa. Sanji was happy for him because no matter how Franky tried to hide it, anyone with a brain could tell he had a crush on the brilliant and beautiful Nico Robin.
“Sanji? Is something wrong?” Robin's soft raspy voice broke through the haze that had filled Sanji’s mind after reading his assigned job. “What did you get?” She asked and looked down at what was written on his stick. It wasn’t what she had expected. She could understand the glum look painted on Sanji’s face now. “Oh,” she said with a sigh before putting a hand over Sanji’s, trying to provide some form of comfort. “Maybe it won’t be that bad?” She tried to reassure him.
“Come on! Tell us!” Nami grumbled impatiently as she crossed her arms. Of course Sanji didn’t want to upset his friends so he threw on a fake smile and held up his stick, “I get to decorate the mansion at the top of the mountain.” His smile faltered for a moment but he quickly corrected himself and cleared his throat. “It won’t be too bad, I love decorating and-,“ he thought of the immense size of the mansion before swallowing down a sigh, “I get to decorate such a huge estate! I can’t wait!” And while most of his excitement was a lie, Sanji did have a knack for decorating. Even Zeff said so after Sanji had spent his entire day off decorating the Baratie in seemingly endless string lights and food-themed Christmas decor.
~December 16th
It was established that when each person arrived at their designated task, they would be given more information on their requirements and expectations. For Sanji, that came in the form of the man who lived in the mansion at the top of the mountain showing up to the Baratie in the middle of his shift, specifically asking for Sanji. This wasn’t too odd, seeing as the volunteers’ assigned task manager was responsible for contacting the person who submitted the request. He must’ve heard from the task manager who to contact. If the amount of bags he had with him were any indication, he had already spent time in town buying extra supplies and produce for the winter season. It appeared that he decided to stop by the Baratie while he was close.
“You’re Blackleg Sanji, correct?” He asked when Sanji approached his table. “I remember you served me the other day.”
Sanji nodded in confusion before clearing his throat, “That would be me. Is there something I can help you with?” Sanji asked in his usual customer service voice, upbeat and welcoming. The Baratie was known for its heated arguments between the staff and patrons sometimes, but Sanji wanted to make Zeff proud of him, so he was trying to earn extra tips for the season.
“Well, you see..” the man paused briefly. “My name is Dracule Mihawk and I own the mansion at the top of Mt. Kuraigana. The town council informed me who received my request last night and I wanted to discuss what I’d like to have done.” Mihawk was upfront and left no room for argument. He didn’t seem like the type to beat around the bush.
Sanji was frozen in place. A small part of him had hoped this was some kind of sick joke, that the request was just a prank and he would be reassigned to work at the soup kitchen. Alas, the undeniable proof of his worst nightmare coming true was currently sitting at a booth in his restaurant. “I, uh… Give me just one moment and I’ll be right back. I'll take an early lunch so I can sit down with you and-,” Sanji was stopped in the middle of his quick-worded, anxiety-addled excuse when the man lifted his hand in dismissal.
“That won’t be necessary. I’d like to order a glass of another wine you’d recommend and the same sandwich you prepared for me the other day. I wouldn’t ask you to take even more time out of your schedule for me.” Mihawk’s voice sounded eloquent and cultured, not what Sanji would’ve imagined from the supposed recluse who lived in an allegedly cursed mansion.
“Absolutely, I- Uh...” Sanji pulled out his order booklet and wrote down the order. “A glass of wine you had the other day and another house special on rye. I’ll have that right out for you.” Sanji tried to sound pleasant but he was on the verge of an anxiety attack as he sped to the kitchen.
What could this guy want? Sanji wasn’t scheduled to help him decorate the mansion until the next day, December 17th. What could be so important that the man sought him out one day early?
After Mihawk had finished his first glass of wine he asked for another, which Sanji was happy to get for him. Before Sanji could run off to fetch him another glass, he took a deep breath and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Sanji,” Mihawk started in an almost strained voice which made Sanji whip his head around.
“Y-Yeah?” Sanji asked nervously.
“Christmas really isn’t my type of thing. You may have heard some rumors regarding me and while yes, my manor is rather gloomy it’s not haunted or cursed, I assure you. I do live alone, however that is my own decision.” He quickly shook his head and looked up at Sanji with a seriousness in his sharp eyes. “What I’m trying to say is that this year is special. My children are flying in for Christmas and I want to surprise them with a fully decorated home with a big tree and all of that,” he waved his hand in the air, “ridiculous tinsel stuff.” While Sanji didn’t exactly expect the reclusive man to want such elaborate decorations he could understand the desire Mihawk had to make his home inviting and festive for his children. Christmas is always a special time of year for kids.
Sanji took a moment and straightened his back so he was standing taller. “Well Mr. Mihawk, you couldn’t have been assigned a better volunteer, I adore decorating!” Sanji smiled warmly but that didn’t smoothe the crease between Mihawk's brows, nor Sanji’s constant-aching anxiety sitting in his stomach like a bag full of bricks.
Mihawk sighed heavily and looked down at his crossed hands. “I know you’re not supposed to start until tomorrow but, if possible, I’d like for you to start tonight. I will give you my personal credit card so you can start shopping for decorations tonight and meet me at my manor after you get off work. That is, if you’d like to. Also, I know this is a volunteer project but I’d like to compensate you for your time.”
Of course Sanji wanted to argue about being paid but he knew that this task wasn’t going to be easy. Instead, he merely nodded and took the card. Was this guy serious? What if Sanji decided to steal from him? He wouldn’t do something nefarious like that, it wasn’t in Sanji’s personality, but still, they barely knew one another. For all Mihawk knew, Sanji could be a terrible person who would steal from others happily.
“I can come to your manor after I get off tonight, but uh...” Sanji paused to look down at the card in Mihawk's outstretched hand and then back to Mihawk's eyes. “Is there… a price limit to how much I’m allowed to spend on decorations?” He asked nervously and waited for a response.
“There is no limit. If you think something will look nice then buy it. I trust you.” Mihawk finally spoke and there was something in his eyes that made Sanji not only believe him but also want to do his best for him and his kids.
That night, as promised, when Sanji got off work he headed straight to the local home goods store that he loved shopping at this time of year and found himself at a loss for what to buy. He barely knew the guy, let alone his children. All he ended up leaving with were four large potted poinsettia plants, also known as a Christmas cactus.
“Okay Sanji, you can do this. He trusts you. Think about how happy his kids will be.” Sanji said to himself trying to rid his mind of the nerves racking his body as he drove up the winding road to the mansion. Nearing the start of the driveway, he realized it wasn’t as long of a drive as he had assumed it would be. Sanji peered around through his car windows–the mansion actually had a great view of the town below.
Having only ever seen the outside of the mansion from a distance, Sanji had no idea what he had signed himself up for. He was stuck, though. He had thought of getting someone to swap with him the day after they drew their lots. But, he’d never ask Nami or Robin to trade with him. How could he possibly ask lovely ladies such as Nami and Robin to spend this joyful time of year cooped up in some gloomy, stale mansion with a strange man? He tried to swap with Franky but Franky declined saying, quote, ‘Sanji, bro.. my idea of Christmas decor is a single string of lights and a case of cola.’ Sanji even tried bribing him with a homemade pie and Franky’s favorite cola but was unfortunately shot down again. It only made sense though, Franky had the chance of a lifetime to spend time with his long-standing crush in some type of romantic cliche Hallmark movie scenario. Not to mention, Franky also had to prepare for his annual Christmas party.
When he arrived at the imposing front door, Sanji set the two potted plants on either side of it before ringing the bell. The sound rang loudly through the mansion but before the echo had a chance to reverberate, Mihawk opened the door and glanced at Sanji with a quirked brow, looking the blond up and down. “Are the decorations in your car?” Mihawk asked, seeing as Sanji was empty handed.
“Well...” Sanji bit his lip and looked down at the potted plants, and Mihawk's eyes followed Sanji’s gaze down to the plants.
“Oh, these are, um… festive?” Mihawk sounded confused.
Sanji quickly piped up after taking a deep breath, “You see, Mr. Mihawk, I did try buying decorations but I wasn’t exactly sure what to buy. I figured I’d start with these and get a feel for your style, then base the decor selections around that.” Sanji was less than confident that Mihawk would give him a moment of his time after this.
Mihawk mulled it over for a moment holding his chin between his fingers before inviting Sanji into the abode. “I can understand your hesitance,” Mihawk told him as they sat in front of his large flickering fireplace. “But as you may be able to tell,” Mihawk looked around at his current gothic decor, “my style isn’t exactly suited for this holiday.” Both he and Sanji chuckled at that.
“I actually like your style, it’s classic and regal, but you’re right, if you’re looking for the traditional Christmas decorations then we may need to ignore my idea,” Sanji said with a warm smile, trying to reassure the man who seemed desperate to make his children happy. It felt like he was talking to Zeff somehow. This guy didn’t seem scary or intimidating at all, just misunderstood.
~December 17th
This was when the real work began. Sanji had spent the entire morning shopping for decorations. He nearly bought out the entire home goods store during this second visit, and ended up having to go to three other stores across town just to have enough lights for the outside of the large mansion. Since Mihawk was younger than Sanji expected him to be, Sanji had assumed the children he was decorating for were also young. He bought classic decorations featuring candy canes, bows, and a variety of Santa-themed trinkets, as well as lots of tinsel as per the man’s request.
He packed his car with these purchases and made his way up the mountainside. It took both Sanji and Mihawk several trips to get all of the bags loaded into the mansion. By midday he was already feeling worn out, but he pushed through it by eating his packed lunch alongside Mihawk whom he had also packed a lunch for. Though it wasn’t anything fancy, he knew Mihawk’s affinity for the sandwich he had made him at the Baratie, and Sanji made sure to make one for him for their official start to this gargantuan task.
Following their lunch, Mihawk had surprised Sanji by taking him out to the thicket behind his mansion and showing him a tree he had picked out. “This is the one. I’ve had my eye on it for years now.” Mihawk had said with a smirk creeping up the sides of his usually stoic face before brandishing a large sharpened ax.
Sanji looked at him doubtfully, expecting this process to require more than a single ax. As he began to open his mouth to offer assistance, Mihawk had the tree falling to the snowy ground in an epic flurry of powdery snow that swept around them like the dancing white flecks in a shaken snow globe. “Well, okay then,” Sanji laughed loudly. “Can I at least help you carry this behemoth inside?”
Mihawk chuckled to himself before nodding in agreement, “Of course.”
By the end of the first day Sanji had managed to string half of the lights outside of the mansion and had begun decorating the inside. He replaced all of the more gothic decor with Christmas-themed ceramics and large glittery bows. Stockings were hung dutifully above the impressive fireplace. Together, he and Mihawk were able to wrestle the stupidly large tree inside and firmly secure it in its stand. Of course the tree had to be huge, it was going in the foyer of the mansion, after all.
Sanji’s muscles were achingly sore by the time he finally drove down the mountain's long road back into town. That night when he finally got home, he ran a bath for himself and soaked in a steaming hot tub as he smoked his way through a pack of cigarettes.
~December 18th
The next day held much of the same tasks as the previous day. Stringing lights inside, replacing dusty gothic decor with sparkly wintery decorations, hanging Christmas-themed tapestries along the banisters of the staircases, and placing Christmas quilts on each bed. With the help of a large ladder, he was able to finish stringing the lights on the outside of the mansion. He left early in order to buy even more tinsel and all of the ornaments he could get his hands on for the tree. That massive tree would be the heart of this entire design project. Unfortunately, by the time he got back to town all of the stores had closed. Sighing heavily, Sanji drove back home and practically collapsed into the warmth of his inviting bed.
~December 19th
Sanji spent the entire day shopping again. He bought so many ornaments and decorations for the tree he couldn’t see out of his car’s rear windshield as he drove up the road to Mihawk's mansion. The sun had sunk low in the sky and dusk was starting to turn into the darkness of night as he arrived.
Mihawk met him at the door once more, his expression a mix of slight concern and relief. “I was worried you had grown tired of my crazy demands.”
Sanji smiled and lit a cigarette. Shaking his head, he blew out a plume of thick smoke. “My apologies, I had to do a lot of shopping today.” Sanji smirked and pointed to his tightly packed car. “I’ll bring everything in and-,” Sanji was cut off by Mihawk laughing loudly and without restraint.
It was such an odd sound, had he ever heard Mihawk’s laugh? It was rare to see him smile, so that laugh was definitely out of the norm. “What?” Sanji asked nervously.
Mihawk just shook his head. “You work too hard, Sanji.,” he said, heading toward the car. “I’ll help you carry all of that.”
By the time they had unpacked the contents of Sanji’s car and brought it all inside, it was past midnight and Sanji had to retire for the night. He waved to Mihawk as he left, assuring him he’d be back tomorrow.
~December 20th
This was the day of the parade, and Nami had so sweetly asked Sanji to help her provide snacks and coffee to all of the stressed out parade conductors and volunteers. He couldn’t deny Nami anything, even if that meant he would be staying late at Mihawk’s mansion later that night. He made large to-go carafes of hot coffee and brought not only drinks but also his favorite arrangement of homemade Christmas cookies. He used the leftover ingredients from making a batch for Mihawk the night before.
The parade ended up being a huge success and Sanji stayed with Nami until it was officially over. He even bought her a few drinks at their favorite bar afterwards. “Sanji, you're an angel!” She had said in a drunken stupor as Sanji drove her home because once again, he couldn’t say no to his beautiful Nami. It was later than he had imagined once he dropped her off, and by this time he wouldn’t be able to make it up the mountain. Not unless he wanted to spend the night at Mihawk’s mansion, that is, and he didn’t want to be an inconvenience to the man. He’d have to make it up to Mihawk later somehow.
Nami had insisted Sanji stay with her and once again, he couldn’t deny her. Unfortunately, that meant he ended up passing out on her couch listening to the dull lull of infomercials trying to sell him the perfect knife.
~December 21st
Sanji woke up in a panic. He had severely overslept and when he checked his watch it read 12:35pm. “Shit!” He gasped and rushed to fix Nami breakfast, set out two pain killers for her, and left a note on her counter saying he had to leave for his volunteer work and that he was happy they got to spend time together. Before leaving, he gently woke her up with a cup of water and a light touch to her shoulder. That’s all it took though, Nami was awake instantly with a panicked look in her eyes.
Sanji couldn’t even get a word in before she was dashing to her bathroom like a crazed child hyped up on caffeine. Of course he held her hair as she threw up but she quickly shooed him away saying, “I know you have work to do. Go! I’ll be fine.” Sanji didn’t want to leave her like this but when she started batting at his leg he got the hint.
“There’s a fresh pot of coffee ready for you and if you can stomach it, also I made breakfast for you my beloved Nami-Swaa-,” Sanji started.
“GO HELP THAT GUY ALREADY!” Nami growled back at him, throwing a roll of toilet paper in his direction.
After that Sanji started heading out. “You’re still beautiful even when you’re angry Nami-Swaaaan!” He hummed as he walked out the door.
Thankfully, he had already brought decorations up to the mansion so he didn’t need to do any shopping today. When he finally arrived, Mihawk seemed to be in a similar state that Nami was when he left her. Mihawk was brooding over a steaming cup of coffee in his living room as he stared blankly at an opened newspaper. He didn’t seem to be in a chatty mood and when Sanji took a peek in the kitchen he understood why. Two large empty bottles of whisky sat in the sink. They weren’t the cheap stuff either, Mihawk had clearly intended to drink himself to sleep. Had he even slept? The bags under his normally sharp eyes seemed to provide that answer. Sanji shrugged off the thought and began decorating. What Mihawk did in his free time wasn’t any of Sanji’s business.
An hour into his decorating, Mihawk approached him with a grumpy look on his pale face. “I don’t mean to sound cruel but please… take the rest of the day off. You’re making too much noise.” Mihawk was clearly feeling unwell and as much as Sanji wanted to argue that he could be more quiet he didn’t want to disturb Mihawk more so he just set down the string of lights he had just plugged in and nodded.
“I understand,” he said in a hushed tone out of courtesy, “but can I at least make you some food? Maybe refresh your coffee?” Sanji offered and the spark that lit up Mihawk's eyes was all the permission he needed. “I promise I’ll be quiet,” Sanji said with a smile before running off to the kitchen.
To his surprise there were plenty of ingredients to work with. Sanji was almost blown away at how immaculate this kitchen was, almost like it had never been touched. Did Mihawk even use it? He must, he had so much food and clearly he didn’t buy it just for it to spoil. Maybe he enjoyed keeping his kitchen spotless. Sanji could respect that. Mihawk was a man of taste, it stood to reason that he’d take pride in maintaining his home.
After Sanji got a fresh pot of coffee brewing and Mihawk a meal that wouldn’t upset his currently sensitive stomach, he was given the rest of the day off. Not only that, Mihawk told him he could have the next two days off. That wasn’t exactly something Sanji would complain about but it meant he’d have to get the tree decorated on Christmas Eve. He could do it. It wouldn’t take too much. All he had to do was string another set of lights and get the ladder to put the star at the top.
~December 22nd
Taking the day to rest, Sanji didn’t even leave his house. The temperatures had dropped low enough for snow to start falling in town and all Sanji wanted to do was lay in his warm bed and listen to the soft jazz coming from the record player in his living room. He slept in and made a late lunch for himself. It looked like his friends were back to their normal antics on social media, Luffy was posting videos of himself on some summer island throwing sand at his brother before being chased down the beach by said brother as the phone recording them was flung into the sand. Sanji sighed to himself as he wrapped up tighter in his blanket and scrolled down his feed. Franky and Robin appeared to be in desperate need of a Santa for the toy drive they were volunteering with.
The unfortunate part is that the toy drive was set for tomorrow at noon. Apparently the Santa they had paid to give out presents had canceled leaving everyone scrambling. They were desperate for someone to fill that position. When he clicked on the comments he got a good chuckle. Apparently their other friend Jinbe had offered himself up to fill the position. “That will be funny, Jinbe as Santa.” Sanji laughed into his cup of coffee before he kept scrolling.
He went back to bed after washing a few leftover dishes. The sun was clouded over by the snowy sky, making it difficult to tell what time it was; some time after 3 p.m. if he had to take a guess. His eyes shut heavily and before he knew it he was fast asleep. The next time he woke up it was the following morning.
~December 23rd
When Sanji woke up he was met with a harsh chill that made his breath plume up when he exhaled. “Oh, god, it’s cold!” He said through chattering teeth, fully awake and in panic mode. Finally after a mental pep talk, Sanji climbed out of bed with his entire comforter wrapped around himself. Sanji dashed to his thermostat. “THIRTY degrees?!” He gasped and quickly cranked his heat on and turned the temperature up to eighty. “I can’t wait all day for you to heat up,” Sanji growled at his ceiling before rushing back to bed. When he was back in the warmth of his bed he took a moment to check his phone. It was flashing, notifying him of a message.
1 message from Franky
Sanji sighed but opened the message anyway.
“Hey bro! So you know how I usually throw my Christmas party on Christmas Eve? Well I decided to have it tonight after the toy drive. Could you possibly help out with food?”
With a heavy sigh Sanji hoisted himself up from the warmth of his bed and headed to the shower. As he waited for the water to heat up he sent a text back.
“Sure, I have to buy supplies first but I should have time to make everything if I beg Zeff to use his kitchen. You owe me.”
Thankfully the hot water warmed his body enough for Sanji to be able to think about what exactly he wanted to make. More so, what he had time to make. He’d have to not only beg Zeff for the use of his kitchen but also his stock of ingredients.
When he finally got to the Baratie, Sanji was surprised to see it was closed for the day. “Looks like the geezer took the day off. Good. He’s probably freezing too.” Sanji laughed before unlocking the door and helping himself to the kitchen. He’d rather ask for forgiveness than wait for permission. Zeff wasn’t fond of modern technology so trying to call him would be fruitless.
Sanji was most at home when he was able to prepare food. It was like the world around him faded away into a pleasant haze that moved around him instead of with him in tow. He was always told by his coworkers that he just went into this zone when he cooked, whatever that meant. All Sanji knew is that when he put his hands to work in the kitchen he felt like all of his life slotted into place. For him it went beyond food. He enjoyed taking care of people. The geezer beat that into him at a young age. He was raised to not only have respect for women but also to respect the delicate nature of life. People shouldn’t have to go without or suffer needlessly and Sanji strived to make sure that never happened. If he cooked food that could both warm a stomach and a soul, then he’s done a good job as a chef.
-
It was a mighty close call but Sanji got everything made and prepared just in time for the party. He might look a little underdressed right now wearing his clothes covered in oil and sauce but he had a backup suit he packed before he left and was looking forward to getting a chance to dress up for a holiday he loved so much.
“Okay,” Sanji took a deep breath and recounted everything he had made.
“Drinks?” He nodded to himself, he had made a few.
- The punch, a tequila-based cocktail. The signature Christmas flavor: cranberries, various sodas, and last but not least; pineapple juice.
- Robin’s martini mix, vodka being the base. Coffee grounds for espresso, a rich coffee liqueur, fresh simple sugar, and most importantly, a shaker.
- The decanter of a tangerine-centered old-fashioned for Nami. He added honey and rosemary to balance out the bitters.
A case of Franky’s favorite cola.
Appetizers? Of course. He took the most care to find something for everyone to enjoy. He prepared not only a favorite of his but something people could never get enough of.
- A signature garlic lemon butter seared scallop dressed with a sprig of parsley to garnish. Not content to leave it at that, he also made fried pickles and various dips for his hummus chips.
The main courses took the longest because Sanji could never cook something boring and without passion. So of course, he had to make more than one main course.
- Smoked salon for himself as well as a generous portion for his friends.
- Beef Wellington for Franky, seeing as he practically lived off of burgers.
- To add some balance along with a decadent flare, a large pan of Ratatouille.
He couldn't forget the dessert. Especially when he knew how much his beautiful ladies loved his pastries.
- He made Nami’s favorite tangerine tart.
- A coffee cake for Robin, along with fresh coffee he planned on giving her for Christmas.
- Even Franky got his own dessert, no matter how much Sanji would complain that a cola float wasn’t suitable for winter.
-
He arrived at Franky’s house a mere five minutes until the party was to officially start. Everyone was already there of course but they all seemed happy to see him and even happier to see he brought food. Nami came to greet him first, dressed in a beautiful dark red sparkling dress with her vibrant orange hair put up into an eloquently styled updo. She looked stunning, Sanji almost dropped the trays he was carrying. Almost.
“I should thank you for the other day. Good thing it’s a holiday where we get to give gifts.” Nami smiled and helped Sanji to the kitchen where Robin and Franky were laughing. That was pretty common for them. Sneaking away to have secret time to themselves. They both turned to greet Sanji, Franky helping to set everything down and then giving Sanji something everyone referred to as Franky’s signature move: a back cracking tight hug where you either tap out or pass out.
“You’re the best bro!” Franky smiled as he squeezed Sanji who could only squeak out a “Y-you're welcome,” before he had to tap out. It never ceased to make Robin chuckle, Franky was the one person who made her face light up.
“It’s good to see you Sanji, thank you so much for making food. You look very handsome tonight, might I add.” Robin smiled fondly and Sanji’s nose nearly started to bleed. She was dressed in a long black dress with a fresh haircut that was short and framed her face.
“I could say the same for you..” Sanji mumbled, then shook his head before taking Robin's hand and crooning about her beauty.
They all laughed happily before helping Sanji get set up in the kitchen. They knew he preferred to cook alone but if they stuck around he’d ask for them to help and it was always an honor to help Sanji in the kitchen.
The party came to its head when Nami pulled out a glass jar, a small candle, and a cork. She also held a few pens and a sheet of paper. “Who’s ready to write down their Christmas wishes?” She asked with one of her genuinely warm smiles. Everyone set their drinks down and gathered around. This was a tradition for his friend group. Even Luffy who was in Brazil, Chopper who was visiting his mom for the holiday break, and Brook who was presently on tour. This little tradition began for them four years ago when they all got to spend a Christmas together. Surprisingly, it was Luffy’s idea. It was fairly simple, write down your most desired wish for Christmas and fold it up, put the paper into the jar, finally seal it with a cork and wax.
When Sanji was handed his slip of paper, he took a moment and stared at the blank page. What was his wish? He was content with his friends and he felt like he had it all. Well, there was one thing he could ask for, even if it was a long shot.
In soft curving lines Sanji wrote his wish:
Someone to kiss under the mistletoe
After everyone put their wishes in, Nami sealed the jar with wax and set it above the fireplace. “Until next year!” She smiled at them and crossed her fingers. “Let’s hope we all get what we wished for.” Though Sanji didn’t give it a high probability of happening, he smiled nonetheless and crossed his fingers.
As the party drew to a close, Franky pulled Sanji into the kitchen and pulled a wrapped present out from behind himself. It was one he had set aside from the rest that they had already opened. “I know I owe you for this last minute request but Robin wants me to spend Christmas with her. I can’t turn that down.” Franky was blushing slightly if you looked closely.
Sanji was a bit surprised. “I’m happy for you Franky,” he smiled.
Franky handed him the present and grinned wide like an excited puppy. “I didn’t have much time to shop this year but I owed you one so go on! Open it!”
Sanji shook his head with a chuckle and began to unwrap his gift. The second he realized what it was his smile dropped into open-mouthed gape. “Franky... how did you…?” Sanji stuttered as he looked down at this gift.
“Well that’s a secret now isn’t it,” Franky laughed. “I remembered you going on and on about that Damascus knife set so I asked my buddy at work to make you a one-of-a-kind set.” Sanji couldn’t stop thanking Franky, he even took them out of their case to admire the bevel and grip.
When all was said and done Sanji ended up bringing home quite a lot of food but that was perfectly fine. He could bring it to Mihawk as a gift. That was something he’d prepare in the morning. For now he was beat and in need of well earned rest, nearly passing out in the moment before his head hit the pillow.
~December 24th
Today was the day. His final day to get everything at Mihawk’s mansion decorated. The finishing touches would be his most eye-catching features and not to mention the food he wanted to make for the arrival of Mihawk’s children. Thankfully he had more than his fair share of leftovers and it would be easy to get something whipped up after he finished the tree.
Speaking of that behemoth of an evergreen, Sanji was elbow deep in pine when Mihawk strolled in casually tucking the day’s newspaper under one arm. He was dressed up in what Sanji could only assume was his best attempt at Christmas attire. A blood red smoking jacket and a cup of coffee in one hand paired with his posture made him look more like a vampire than ever. Sanji smiled and nodded down to him, “You look really nice. Is that the brightest red you own?” He asked with a smirk and Mihawk rolled his eyes into his mug.
“It might be.” Mihawk hummed and glanced at the tree. “This looks amazing Sanji, I can’t wait for the brats to see all of your hard work.” He touched a small pink ornament and chuckled to himself. “My daughter Perona will be here first, she’s a bit of a whirlwind but don’t mind her. There was a delay on my son Zoro’s flight though he shouldn’t be too far behind her. Unless that idiot gets lost.” Mihawk chuckled to himself.
Perona and Zoro. So those were his kids’ names. Sanji had never thought to ask before. “I can’t wait to meet them, I bet they’re one-of-a-kind just like you.” That made Mihawk laugh loudly for the second time in Sanji’s presence.
Mihawk let the pink ornament settle back in place before nodding, “Those two sure are something... Either way, if you need anything I’ll be next to the fireplace. Perona shouldn't arrive for a few more hours.”
Sanji nodded and waved him goodbye before going back to wrapping the string of lights all the way up the trunk of the tree from the midpoint where it began to taper. With one strip finished he went to add the next but realized he wasn’t able to reach far enough. Even at the very top of the ladder with his arms outstretched he was still a few feet short. “Hmm, that’s a problem,” Sanji sighed and set the next roll of lights on a nearby branch before coming back down the ladder and heading to the living room where Mihawk was unsurprisingly reading the news. For a guy who is a self proclaimed recluse, he sure did like to keep up to date on what was happening in the world.
“By any chance would you happen to have a taller ladder?” Sanji asked as he lit up a fresh cigarette in the doorway. Mihawk had given him permission to smoke inside the first time he caught Sanji taking a break outside in the snow to smoke.
Mihawk slowly folded his paper up and sat up before rubbing his chin. “Well, the ladder you’re currently using is the best one I own. I do have another that is taller but…” he trailed off and took a moment to think it over. “But it’s been a long time since I’ve used it.” While that didn’t sound safe in the slightest, Sanji wasn’t about to leave the tree half way done. Over his dead body.
“I’ll take it!” Sanji gave a quick thumbs up regardless of Mihawk's audible protest and concern.
“Fine. But I warned you,” Mihawk grumbled as he headed out to the shed to retrieve his larger ladder and when he returned Sanji nearly choked on his cigarette when he saw the state of it.
“Is that thing even able to hold weight?!” Sanji asked nervously.
“One way to find out.” Mihawk shrugged and started setting up the old metal ladder for Sanji. He even tested the strength of it by climbing a few steps and actually jumping which made Sanji nearly faint. “It might be old but it still works, have at it. I’ll put the other one away.” Mihawk seemed satisfied but there was a deep-rooted nervousness in his grin.
Sanji looked at the rusted heap of metal he was asked to climb and his stomach dropped. It nearly touched the ceiling and that was saying something, this foyer could put some cathedrals to shame. “It’s a good thing I’m not afraid of heights, huh?” Sanji nervously laughed before climbing up just enough to reach the top of the tree. It was holding his weight well enough and only creaked when he shifted too hard. “Okay. Just get this tree done and you can go back down.” His mental pep talk didn’t help how his hands were shaking as he began to string lights again. “Back on the ground. Where it’s safe.”
About thirty minutes passed since he had climbed to the top and Sanji had somehow started to adapt to the feeling. Since his hands felt steadier now, he was able to finish up placing the lights at the top most branch when the front door swung open and hit the wall loudly.
“OH FATHER!” A shrill, wailing voice cut through the relaxing silence of the mansion. “Hey old fart! Where are you?” The voice came closer and all Sanji could see from his place at the top of the tree was two large pink pig tails. This girl way no child, she looked closer to his age than what he had been imagining.
“You must be Perona,” Sanji said with a smile. The girl shrieked so loud he was surprised none of the glass on the tree shattered.
“HEY! Don’t scare me like that!” She pouted with her cheeks puffed out and crossed her arms looking up at the man at the top of the frilly tree, “And who the hell are you anyway? Why is this place so…,” she waved her hand in a similar manner that Mihawk did when he spoke of tinsel, “sparkly?” She looked around the mansion with a raised brow.
“Well to answer your questions, my name is Sanji, I live in the town at the bottom of this mountain, and I volunteered to help your father decorate for Christmas.” He debated coming down but he still needed to hang ornaments. “I think your father is in the living room.” He smiled down at her. She was too far down to tell but it almost looked like she was blushing.
“Thank you! This place looks a lot more inviting.” Perona almost sounded sincere. She quickly covered herself by sticking her tongue out at Sanji. “But don’t scare me like that again!”
Sanji chuckled and waved as she went to see Mihawk. “She’s early, I hope Zoro is actually running late.” Sanji debated the ornaments he needed to place. “I’ll have to only use half of these. I’ll leave the icicles in their box.” With a game plan set Sanji started placing the ornaments he had placed on the tray attached to the ladder. Which admittedly, he was afraid of using.
It didn’t take too long for the ornaments to be placed and secured towards the top. Perona even came back to admire the tree. She didn’t stay long though, saying she wanted to get settled in. It had been about five minutes since she had left for her room before Sanji heard that shrill scream again and he nearly had to clutch the tree to keep from falling. Soon enough Perona came back out with a large stuffed doll in her hand.
Sanji recognized the large plush doll he had bought as decoration. The doll came with a fluffy Christmas hat and everything. Now in hindsight maybe that wouldn’t have been the best gift to put in someone like Perona’s room. He was about to apologize when she squeezed the doll tightly. “How’d you know?” She smiled brightly at him and Sanji could only stare down in confusion. It was a similar cold chill that spiked down his spine when Mihawk laughed. “I love getting a fresh project.” With that Perona spun on her heels and trotted back to her room.
“Fresh?” Sanji repeated and let the confusion sink in. Well she was Mihawk’s daughter. Sanji shrugged and pulled out the large box that held the star. The star and the tree were the only two things Mihawk had picked out. At first, Sanji didn’t understand why this star was the one Mihawk wanted but after thinking it over, this star was perfect. It was dark red and covered in rubies. Seeing as Mihawk was loaded, Sanji could only imagine that they were genuine. “Okay…” Sanji took a deep breath and opened the box. “Do NOT drop this,” he took another breath and steeled himself before pulling the star from its protective casing.
The sparkling ruby star sat perfectly atop the tree. Sanji didn’t quite trust its strength on such a flimsy branch so he tied a few protective wires in place at the base. With that final touch the tree was FINALLY done. It was perfect. He knew Mihawk and Zoro would love it. How could they not? He already knew Perona liked it. She would pass by on the balcony and stare at the lights before being caught and running away.
“Hawk Eyes! What the hell is all of this festive Christmas shit!? I couldn’t even park in the front an-” without looking where he was going, Zoro promptly ran into the side of the large rusty hunk of metal next to a stupidly large and bright tree that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Somehow the obtrusive oversized fern wasn’t what caught his eye. It wasn’t more than a few seconds that the blond haired stranger atop a ladder that should’ve been thrown out years ago, fell into his arms and they collapsed. In the split seconds before their collision, Zoro dropped his luggage which included one large metal plated rolling suitcase and two arm fulls of katana cases. The sound of metal hitting the floor was the exact moment the falling screaming mass of blond hair fell directly onto him.
Zoro tried and failed to catch the person fully in both arms. Only able to brace his fall, they were both laid out on the tile floor in a tangled mess. “Are you-,” Zoro was about to ask if the person was okay but when he looked up he could see what was left of a shattered glass icicle ornament sticking out of the stranger's shoulder. “MIHAWK!” Zoro shouted and gently moved the heavy body in his arms to sit up right. That’s when his eyes met a sparkling pair of eyes as bright blue as the sky but deeper than the depths of the ocean. The curl above them made Zoro blush and when that happened he had lost any sense of urgency. It was like a switch had flipped from a brooding, jetlagged idiot to a strong caring protective man holding this stranger as gently as a precious sword.
“It’s going to be okay, just take a deep breath with me,” Zoro said as he looked at the panic in the man’s eyes before proceeding to inhale nice and slow. The man in his arms also inhaled and that made Zoro smile slightly, just a slight quirk upward on the side of his lips. “Hold,” he asked and again the man did so. When a few seconds had passed he exhaled and the man before him did the same but it wasn’t the same as his softer slower exhale. When the blond man exhaled he let out a soft sighing breath. That sound was a little too warm for Zoro’s typical cold exterior to handle. That sound should be illegal to hear from a beautiful stranger who quite literally fell into his arms.
“Sanji,” the man in his arms said and raised his hand before planting it on Zoro’s chest for support.
“Sanji,” Zoro repeated, then chuckled. “Fitting,” he smirked. Teasing was his only form of retaliation at this point but he was surprised when he was met with a small chuckle in return. Not exactly what Zoro had expected.
Sanji sat up slowly using Zoro for balance, “It is fitting. I am a triplet after all, not like it matters though.”
Mihawk knew that tone in Zoro’s voice and had grabbed his emergency kit from the kitchen. “What happened?” Mihawk was already putting on gloves and handing Zoro a pair as he set down this large black box with a large red cross on it. The sight was a little unsettling, both of them preparing medical supplies with straight serious faces. Mihawk seemed to know what he was doing but he barely knew Zoro. All he knew was that he was Mihawk’s son and he’s the reason there was a glass icicle in his shoulder. Not to mention the fact that with the scramble to get everything out of the way, Perona had shown up and was peeking at them from behind the tree.
“Well…” Sanji began before his eyes went to the soft fluffy mass of moss like hair above him, “All I can remember is shouting, followed by the ladder falling out from under me.” Sanji was shooting daggers at Zoro now. The one thing he left out of this retelling was how softly Zoro held him and how when their eyes met he didn’t care about the pain in his shoulder or anything happening around them. The green haired idiot that ran into the ladder was surprisingly captivating.
Sanji had to clear his throat and shake his head slightly before continuing, “I set the icicles aside because they’d be too dangerous at the top. For obvious reasons.” Sanji rolled his eyes and sighed to himself before he noticed both Mihawk and Zoro were about to pull out the piece of glass but needed to figure out hand placement, “WAIT!” Sanji shouted and they both froze.
“What?” Zoro asked. When he turned to face him, Sanji damn near blushed seeing how serious the green haired idiot’s face was.
“You can’t just rip it out, moss for brains! Do you even know what you’re doing?!” Sanji wailed plaintively to which Zoro and Mihawk looked at each other and nodded. That wasn’t nearly as reassuring as Sanji had hoped.
“Okay, fine.” Sanji took a deep breath and looked up at Zoro, “I want you to do it. This is your fault after all.” Zoro smirked and nodded to Mihawk. Under the shimmering lights of the tree, Zoro's eyes were even more captivating.
“He’s not wrong. Go grab some pain killers, make yourself useful, huh? Old man.” Zoro teased.
“You must be itching for me to kick your ass the next time we spar,” Mihawk hummed as he left them to themselves. It wasn’t often that Zoro met someone who was as driven as him or as passionate, Mihawk thought to himself. Sanji was a perfect match for Zoro. Sanji was quick and sharp as a tack where Zoro was jagged and unpracticed. If he knew anything about Zoro it was that he had a weak spot for a welcoming smile and a kind heart.
Somehow those two reminded him of a certain red haired nomad who he was close to before they got older and parted ways. “Alright. Sanji, you are in capable hands, I promise. I know he acts like an idiot sometimes but he has my respect. I trust him.” Mihawk's words made Zoro tilt his head. The older man left before Zoro could say anything to him.
“That was weird,” Zoro sat back down infront of Sanji and started getting his supplies rearranged. He planned on mulling over what Mihawk could’ve meant but Sanji took that moment to sigh loudly, the sound was long and dramatic making Zoro pause and look up at him. “What?” Zoro asked but Sanji just smiled.
“He cares about you, how is that weird?” Sanji asked and when he tilted his head, a string of tinsel fell from his hair like a stream of glitter. “He’s the reason I’m here. I was asked to help him decorate this estate for his children’s arrival.” Sanji paused because Zoro began to chuckle.
“Mihawk isn’t my real father. I can tell you the rest of that story once I have this glass removed and the bleeding has stopped.” Zoro tried to smile but Sanji couldn’t have looked any scarier if he tried. “Sorry, this might hurt.” Zoro gave Sanji a soft smile and pulled another piece of tinsel from Sanji’s hair gently before going behind him to start patching him up. “It will only hurt just a little you can-” Zoro was struck with a growl from Sanji who swiftly followed it with a sharp hiss.
“If you don’t do anything, I’m going to Mihawk.”
In ten minutes, the glass was all out and even though Sanji was shaking, Zoro kept reassuring him. Zoro didn’t realize that the goosebumps on Sanji’s skin were because of his voice, not because of the shock. That deep rumbling voice next to Sanji’s ear mixed with the sharp sting of antiseptic cleaning his wound were beyond conflicting. A bittersweet swell of adrenaline and serotonin made him want to cry but all he could focus on was the words rumbling from behind him.
“You’re doing really well, I promise I actually know what I’m doing.” Zoro chuckled as he started stitching up the wound. “I had to learn quickly,” he continued after starting the stitches. “My old sparring partner-” Zoro cut himself off with a clearing of his throat. “Well, she was more like my sister. More so than Perona. Kuina and I grew up together but she passed away before she turned twelve.” After finishing the stitch he was on, Zoro took a breath and peaked over Sanji’s shoulder. “You okay, Curly?” He asked and Sanji stiffly nodded through the pain. Zoro could tell he was gritting his teeth. “Hang in there, we don’t have much longer to go.” Zoro went back to work but decided to keep talking. If nothing else, it was a distraction from the pain.
“Before she passed, Kuina would kick my ass and I’d end up patching myself up in the dojo after practice.” There was a smile in his voice that was undeniable even though Sanji couldn’t see his face. “Then when I met Mihawk, he taught me so much. He also handed my ass to me. I would patch myself up every time after a match until the old man decided to teach me what he knows about basic medicine and all that he can possibly teach me about wielding katanas.” Zoro was finished with the stitches now and was gently starting to apply the multiple layers of bandages with ample amounts of antibiotic salve. “Thankfully the shard didn’t shatter inside of you. Wanna see?” Zoro pulled the shard around Sanji’s side for him to see how deep it went. “You did a pretty good job with the pai-Oh crap!”
The last thing Sanji could remember was Zoro talking about katanas. Something his eyes had been focused on the entire time Zoro was pulling the glass from his shoulder. The handles had jostled loose from the bag and were damn near sparkling in the light of the Christmas tree. They were beautiful and it was clear from the wrapping that these blades were handled with care. Even though he was scared he wasn’t afraid of Zoro. For all of his idiocy there was something about him that made Sanji trust him. What was it that made Sanji’s heart choke when their eyes met?
“..anji?”
His head felt heavy but he was comfortable. It was too dark.
“Hey Curly, wake up.”
He definitely knew that voice.
Sanji’s eyes peeled open to see the three of them standing over him like some gothic horror comedy. Perona was either crying tears of joy or sadness, it was hard to tell. Mihawk looked like he was impatiently waiting for something to happen. Zoro’s eyes were on his.
“My shoulder hurts,” he grumbled and that made everyone sigh. “Zoro you really are an idiot sometimes.” Sanji huffed. He didn’t attempt to move. He was quickly realizing he had passed out.
“Well, let me make it up to you,” Zoro smiled and pulled out a small box from behind his back. Sanji couldn’t have looked more confused. “Mihawk here thought it would be best to let you rest and you slept past midnight so it’s officially Christmas.” Sanji fought to sit up and grab his phone but Mihawk beat him to it.
“Perona has been answering the calls from your friend named Nami. Someone named Franky also called and we asked him to tell your other friends that you’ll be okay.” Mihawk was firm but obviously happy to see Sanji doing better. “I sent Zoro into town to get a few supplies but it looks like he got lost again.”
“I did NOT!” Zoro snapped back and almost threw the wrapped box at Sanji. “This just happened to catch my eye and I felt like I owed him.” It was all said with a defensive growl but the blush on his cheeks said something completely different. “Whatever, here!” He handed Sanji the box and started to walk away.
“Wait!” Sanji shouted before he could stop himself but Zoro froze nonetheless. “You should at least watch me open it.” Sanji waited. Would Zoro even listen to him? They just met each other but the way his heart raced for that green haired klutz wasn’t rocket science. Somehow, it was an overwhelming feeling that he had been craving. Zoro was interesting to say the least, down right heavenly if Sanji was being honest with himself.
“Fine, but only if you don’t strain your shoulder too much.” Zoro attempted to sound grumpy but there was still a persistent blush across his cheeks.
“Fine,” Sanji smiled and used his other hand to lift himself up with assistance from Mihawk to properly sit up. “See!” Sanji moved his legs to cross in front of him before smirking at Zoro. “I can still move around, mosshead. Now, for this present.” Sanji smiled and used his good arm to carefully rip the wrapping paper open. He hadn’t noticed until now that the wrapping paper looked professionally done. What shop in town would've been open on Christmas Eve? That really didn’t matter, though. Sanji wanted to know what Zoro could have possibly gone out of his way to buy unnecessarily for someone he barely knew.
Of course Sanji expected it to be something cheesy or a gag gift of sorts but when his hand touched canvas he paused. A canvas? Without hesitation he pulled the rest of the wrapping paper off and revealed a 16-inch by 24-inch hand painted canvas. Sanji would recognize those docks anywhere–it was a painting of the local bay during the summer season. Most of the canvas was the sapphire blue water and the way the waved crashing against rocks revealed the most beautiful green to light blue wash of color. Sanji was speechless as he looked at the painting, not quite sure what he should
“The wave breaking over the rocks is the same color as your eyes so I figured you might like it. If you don’t... well you can always sell it.” Zoro couldn’t look at him, or Mihawk and Perona who were trying to pretend they weren’t there.
“What would I sell it for? Money? Something that wouldn’t ever have the same meaning as this painting? It’s beautiful, I love it. Thank you, Zoro,” Sanji clutched the painting to his chest and smiled warmly.
Mihawk and Perona quietly excused themselves but Zoro was frozen. His heart was trying to break his ribs and no matter how hard he had trained in meditation, nothing could compare to this feeling. “I- I’m glad. You should rest.” Zoro cleared his throat and headed to the door quickly before turning to Sanji once more, “I’ll be back in an hour to check on you. Don’t fall or hurt yourself further okay?” Zoro didn’t give Sanji a chance to answer before swiftly leaving.
“That idiot,” Sanji sighed deep from his chest, almost like he had been holding his breath. When he laid back against the pillows the painting came with him. “The water is the color of my eyes?” Sanji rolled his eyes and huffed but kissed the top of the canvas gently. “It’s not like that makes me hot around the collar.”
It didn’t take Sanji long to fall back asleep, he was comfortable and something about Zoro coming back in to check on him made his mind relax from such a stressful day. It’s Christmas right? Everyone deserves to relax a little on Christmas. Even Zeff was out of town to visit warmer weather.
December 25th ~ Christmas Day
Sanji woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and a warm maple scent which, if he had to guess, was coming from pancakes. When he opened his eyes he was greeted by a snoring coming from his right. In a small circular chair, with his arms crossed in front of himself, Zoro was slumped over slightly and snoring softly. He looked so vulnerable like that. Sanji started to move but decided to clear his throat instead. “Zoro?” Sanji asked softly but Zoro was still snoring. Figures.
“Hey walking vegetation! Wake UP!” Sanji threw a pillow with his good arm but before it could collide with that head of green hair, Zoro caught it and stared tensely at Sanji.
“What?” Zoro asked through gritted teeth.
“Merry Christmas!” Sanji smiled and proceeded to get up, which made Zoro get up to help him without asking. “Hey! Cut that out! I can walk just fine!” Sanji growled at Zoro who was still holding Sanji up and helping him to walk. They bickered all the way to the kitchen.
Before they could enter past the doorway, Perona stopped them and held out a hand. “You can only enter if you honor the tradition!” She chimed to which both Zoro and Sanji looked confused. “Hmmmph, you two are hopeless!” She scoffed before pointing up at the mistletoe strung above the doorway. Sanji and Zoro looked up and it was obvious by the blush on their cheeks that they’d both be happy to follow along but of course, Zoro wouldn’t make it that easy.
“That’s just a stupid plant!” He argued with her before Mihawk came to her defense.
“I helped her hang it this morning, if you want breakfast then you have to listen to her, Zoro.” He smirked and with that he returned to the stove. Zoro groaned and looked over at Sanji who’s hair had fallen in his face.
“You need to gain your energy back so... I guess...” Zoro leaned in and brushed the strand of golden hair from Sanji’s face only to be met with a bright red blush.
“Merry Christmas, Zoro. Who knew a moss ball like you would make my wish come true?” Sanji smiled before meeting him the other half of the way and kissing him softly.
-
After his arm had healed enough, Sanji went back to his normal life in town. The Baratie was always busier around the new year and even though Sanji hadn't been cleared to cook yet, he could still help out.
After Christmas was over he had assumed Perona and Zoro would go back home. He hadn’t seen Mihawk in town but received a check in the mail in the days between holidays. It was more than enough for what he was asked to do. Sanji was grateful, and he’d put that money to good use somehow.
-
New Year's Eve felt like a slow motion scene of flashing lights, glitter, and booze. People were celebrating all around him but Sanji couldn’t bring himself to party with them. He tucked himself into a spot at the bar and drank.
“Don’t people normally celebrate the new year in this town?” A familiar voice said from beside him.
Sanji’s head whipped to the side to see that mossy green hair and a soft smile. “Zoro! I thought you left?” He asked and that made Zoro’s smile deepen.
“Well, I figured I’d stay a little while. The old man needs someone to help him take those decorations down, right?” He chuckled and ordered them a round of drinks. “There’s something about this town, it’s always dragging me back.”
Sanji smiled into his drink and downed it before the cheers of a countdown started. He was going to ignore that but something felt electric in the way Zoro stared at him. The crowd only spurred that on further.
“FIVE!”
Zoro pulled Sanji in gently, “What do you say curly brow, give me a tour of the town?”
“FOUR!”
Sanji swallowed hard and nodded with a soft smile, “I’ll make sure you don’t get lost, moss ball.”
“THREE!”
They were only inches away now and Sanji could feel Zoro’s breath on him. “If I get to spend more time with you then it will be worth it.”
“TWO!”
Sanji pulled Zoro in with a hand on his cheek, “Stupid Marimo stop melting my heart.” He smiled.
“ONE!”
“Never.” And with that, Zoro pressed their lips together gently as the crowd around them cheered in celebration of the New Year.
A new year meant new beginnings, right? At least, that’s what Sanji found himself hoping for as he chased Zoro’s retreating lips and kissed him again.
END