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Sanji really meant to just go on an afternoon stroll on the island they had docked and then go back to the Merry, he really meant to do just that.
How he ended up bossing waiters and staff alike in a restaurant of said island was quite the funny story if you ask him.
He was just passing by this restaurant, and by the look at its facade, seemed to be the fanciest one in town, it kind of reminded him of The Baratie in some way.
But as he was walking past the establishment, he heard yelling, the familiar sound of things breaking and what he assumed was someone groaning in pain.
And he was only human and sometimes he couldn’t resist his curiosity, okay?
So he went in and what he found inside was nothing short of a clusterfuck .
People yelling, running around, the person he assumed to be the head-chef, a tall old man, running his hand through his face, a stance and expression Sanji was quite accustomed to.
Stress.
The place was devoid of customers, which let Sanji know that the restaurant probably worked at night hours.
It wasn’t his place, but he couldn’t help but be grateful for that discovery because if he was a customer and the sight of people losing their minds was the first thing he saw when entering this restaurant, he would leave so fast and never return.
Which in hindsight, wouldn’t be a good move for business.
He stood at the entrance in silence for a long while and it wasn’t until the head chef focused his gaze on him that Sanji realized that fact, cursing himself for not leaving when he could.
“You boy!” The head chef yelled at him, walking towards him. “What do you think you’re doing standing there?”
The tone of voice he used reminded Sanji of Zeff, which made him feel irritated and nostalgic at the same time.
The chef was still staring at him with a raised eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
“I’m sorry for overstepping,” he said. “I was just passing by and I heard a commotion.”
“And you decided that entering the place was the best choice instead of going on your merry way? What if it was a robbery or any other assault?”
Sanji decided that it was in his best interests to not disclose that he could have taken care of that if that was the case; so he just settled on shrugging his shoulders.
“You’re a strange one, boy.” The chef sighed. “But if you want to know, I have a situation here, my sous chef is sick and I mean, really sick, so he can’t come to work today which sucks, because she is the heart and brains of this place and as you can clearly see, without her, this fucking place is falling apart.”
Just as he finished saying that, the sound of something breaking resonated through the room from the direction of what Sanji thought was the kitchen.
The chef sighed again, exhausted. “See what I mean?” he shook his head. “And as if I wasn’t cursed already, today is usually one of our most busy days, so I really don’t know what I’m going to do, I’m seriously considering closing the place before this band of idiots I have for staff burn it to the ground.”
He sounded like he really, really didn’t want to do that, but the circumstances left him no other choice.
The words were out of his mouth before he could even think about it twice.
“I can help you, if you want.” He offered. “I used to be the sous-chef at my old job.”
The chef looked him up and down, a skeptical look on his face.
“You? No offense boy, but you look a little bit young to be a sous chef.”
Sanji frowned. “I’m 19,” he didn’t like that his expertise was being judged because of his age. “Do you want my help or not, old man?”
The man let out a laugh at the way he was addressed. “Well, I’ll be damned, alright boy I’ll bite, I’ll let you help tonight, but if we’re gonna work together, I need to know your name.”
Sanji smiled placidly. “My name’s Sanji.”
“Well Sanji, I’m Rob,” he introduced himself while extending a hand for him to shake. “I hope I’m not making a mistake in trusting you, but I’m desperate.”
Sanji took the offered hand. “I promise you won’t.”
“Alright people, no distractions, we have a full house, so c’mon everybody focus on your work so we can fill our customers' stomachs, this restaurant has a reputation and we must maintain it.”
Sanji smirked, watching the staff do exactly as he said, everyone in their stations doing their respective duties, be it washing the vegetables, cooking the food or washing the dishes.
If he was being honest, he kind of missed this, being in a restaurant’s kitchen, don’t get him wrong, he wouldn’t change what his life has become for anything, but sometimes he did miss that grumpy old chef and all those idiots back at the Baratie.
So this was bringing back memories and he wasn’t too upset about it.
“Sanji,” one of the younger chefs called his attention. “Come take a bite of this.”
Sanji approached his attention, as a sous chef, he had the duty to taste test every dish to assure that it met the standards of the restaurant.
He took the offered bowl, taking a sip of the soup and then immediately grabbing a fork, taking a bit of the fish to his mouth, he nodded.
“This is ready, serve it and tell the waiter to take it out to the table.” He ordered, the younger chef smiled, nodding, a boisterous laugh behind him made Sanji turn, coming face to face with the head chef, who was sporting quite the big smile.
“You really weren’t lying about being a sous chef.”
Sanji raised his eyebrow, not taking offense. “Did you think I was?”
“Don’t get me wrong lad, but at first glance, you don’t exactly look like an experienced chef, at least not to the extent you have shown this evening.”
Sanji shrugged his shoulders, “Well, I hope my work speaks for myself.”
The head chef smiled, clapping his hand on Sanji’s shoulder. “It sure does, boy.”
Just then, a waiter came into the kitchen, his hands full of plates, some of them with quite a lot of leftovers, and Sanji felt his eyes twitch at the sight.
“Those customers didn’t finish their food,” he pointed out.
The head chef looked at him with an odd expression on his face. “Yeah, I noticed, unfortunately, it happens quite a lot around here.”
“You don’t force them to finish their food?”
“Force th– boy are you out of your mind ?” he exclaimed, drawing the attention of the few employees that were near them. “Do you want me to get sued and my restaurant shut down? I can’t do that!”
And objectively, Sanji knew alright, he knew that the man was right, but he couldn’t help it, not when he knew exactly what it was like to feel bone-chilling hunger, not when he knew the feeling of dread that came with being sure that you were gonna die, not when a man that barely knew him gave a part of himself just to keep him alive.
Some people really didn’t know how lucky they were, of not having that constant stain ingrained within themselves.
Sanji sighed, disliking the situation itself, but acknowledging that he couldn’t do anything about it, no matter how much he hated it.
“My old restaurant had a policy, customers had to clean their plates, no food was to ever be wasted.”
“And the customers actually listened?”
“If they didn’t want a boot to their faces, yes they did.”
“Boy, I don’t know if I should be scared or amazed at your old boss right now.”
Sanji finally cracked a smile. “The geezer would probably be honored that you were scared of him.”
“I don’t know what that means,” the head chef said. “But, since this seems to be a big thing to you for whatever reason, we don’t actually throw the leftovers to the trash, we salvage what we can and give it to the homeless shelter, they always appreciate the gesture.”
Alright, that did make the situation better, at least the food won’t be wasted.
Sanji was about to say that, when a peculiar laugh that he knew all too well reached him, all the way down from the main hall, he grimaced.
Just then, a waiter came in, face pale.
“Sirs,” he addressed both Sanji and the head chef. “There is the most weird looking group of people I have ever seen out there.”
“Let me guess.” Sanji interrupted him. “A tall beautiful woman with a cowboy hat, a reindeer, a long-nosed guy, the most stunning girl you have ever seen, a walking moss plant and a kid with a straw hat?”
The waiter blinked at him several times. “You got it down to the bone, sir.”
“You know them?” The head chef asked him
Sanji nodded. “They’re my friends.”
“Well, if they’re your friends then whatever they order is on the house, after all you’ve been a huge help today, figures is the least I can do to repay you.”
One part of Sanji wanted to warn the chef about how it was not a smart idea to give Luffy free reign when food was involved but the other part of him didn’t want to look a horse in the mouth and to be frank, the food in this restaurant was a bit pricey, so free food also meant that Nami won’t get mad at him for spending money and a happy navigator makes for a happy cook.
“Thank you, I appreciate it.” He said, honestly, “I’ll take care of that table.”
“What are you all doing here?” Sanji asked, making his way to the table his crew was seating.
Luffy lit up at the sight of him. “Sanji!” he exclaimed. “Bring me meat!”
“Dumb captain,” Sanji breathed. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Robin saw you when she was walking by this place a few hours ago.” Chopper ratted out. “Said you were helping here tonight.”
“And Luffy decided that we were going to eat here, because he refused to eat anything else other than your food.” Usopp continued.
“Sanji’s cooking is the best.” Luffy added, “Why would I want any other food?”
And that should not have made him flush as hard as it did. Luffy was too honest for his own good.
“Are you embarrassed, cook?” Zoro taunted, smirk on his face. “Don’t tell me you’re weak to praise.”
Sanji really had to control his temper, they were in public but the mosshead really knew how to get on his nerves quickly.
And the worst thing was that Zoro knew that, and took advantage of that fact to be a little shit.
“Anyways!” Nami butted in before Sanji could actually answer the swordsman back. “I hope you’re not too bothered by our presence here tonight Sanji.”
Sanji started to move his hands quickly and shaking his head. “Never, Nami-san, your presence is always a delight and I can’t get enough of it.”
Nami smiled. “That’s what I thought.”
“So, dear cook-san.” Robin intervened. “What can you recommend for us to try tonight?”
Sanji looked through his crew, noticing the way they were paying full attention to him, waiting for him to talk.
He sighed, a smile starting to show on his face, for all that his crew could annoy him on occasions, he really wouldn’t change them for anything in the world.
“Well, the specialty is..”
Later, when The Merry was already sailing far from that town, on a starry but calm night, Sanji was leaning against the railing, cigarette in his mouth, when he felt a presence appear beside him, Luffy’s figure making itself known in the corner of his eye.
“Captain.” Sanji greeted.
“You’re happy here, right?” Luffy asked him, without a preamble and the question really did take Sanji by surprise, turning to look at him with widened eyes.
“What is that supposed to mean, Luffy?”
Luffy shrugged. “I saw you back there at that restaurant, you looked happy.”
And alright, Sanji was not going to lie and say that he didn’t enjoy being a sous chef again, even though it was just for one night.
But still.
“I liked the feeling of doing my old job back, that’s true, but.” He nudged Luffy’s shoulder. “I like being here, being your cook, so you don’t have to worry about me running off to a random restaurant.”
Luffy smiled. “Until I become the Pirate King and you find the All Blue right?”
Sanji laughed. “And even after that Captain, even after that.”
Yeah, being a sous-chef was a big deal almost half his life, but being here, with this crew and on this unbelievable adventure was worth more than any other job.
Of that, Sanji had no doubt.