Chapter Text
It hadn’t been too long since they sailed away from the iced over waters that the strawhats found themselves fixed in yet another battle. Not that the majority of the members minded, they were raring for a fight to breeze over the whole flag snatching incident. While Luffy had seemed to let it go earlier, the canon fire and adrenaline certainly made it a distant memory by now. The flag still whipped in the sky with the proud, hat-wearing jolly roger, which also tended to make them a target. This case was no different - the pirate ship they found themselves against was certainly after the bounties they all gained after that fight.
“Watch your back, moss head. Unless that green growth is sentient enough to keep watch.” Sneered a snide Sanji, kicking away a pirate who thought he could land a hit. The target of this remark was the swordsman behind him, who used his newfound annoyance with the cook to slash away his own opponent.
“HEH? Speak for yourself, you shitty ero-cook.” growled Zoro, to which the cook laughed. ‘Shitty’ and ‘Cook’ together in some way or another seemed to be his go-to. Not that he was any better, as ‘Mosshead’ was both used as an endearing and an insulting term when it came to that lunkhead.
“Don’t they have enough opponents without fighting each other?” Nami growled, bashing a man over the head with her trusted clima tact. She hung back on the Sunny, which was still seeing bold pirates that swung over on ropes. A wail cut into her grumble, as Usopp was running away from a guy who surprised him from behind.
“If they have time to fight more people, they can have my guys! WAAAAH!” Even though the sniper was always panicking, he was one quick load-and-fire away. Which, eventually, he managed to do. Robin was smiling, every new battle after enies lobby became her favourite. She just loved seeing them all in action. Franky was being rather adamant about shooting down the swinging men before they could make it onto sunny - he was suuuuuper protective of it! Chopper was already preparing a scold for the reckless crew, and getting buttered up by Robin calling his worries adorable.
“Haha! Usopp watch this!” called the cheery voice of their captain, who was now swinging on a vacant rope like the little monkey he is. Goofing off again, no one was surprised. But that smile was damn contagious. Sanji couldn’t help but let out a laugh upon seeing it, and Zoro gave a slight grin himself. Nothing got that grass top to grin like that shitty rubber… Sanji would never admit his jealousy of that.
“Hey, curly, don’t get sloppy now.” Zoro jabbed, the two fighting back to back.
“Hah, sloppy? Not a chance. The only reason I’m taking on more work is because you’re not doing enough.”
“Yeah? Don’t see you taking down 20.”
“Keeping count?” Sanji teased, before kicking away another guy.
“Shouldn’t even bother, since that was 24 for me.” Really, he couldn’t help himself. Every battle the two would tally their hits. It was easy to pretend to get higher - but where was the fun? In the end, no matter who scored the most, their little competition turned into them fighting each other steel to leg. It was the favoured part between both of them. Something about fighting each other made them feel closer. Nothing was more enthralling to them both then strength. Well, except women, in one of their cases. But that was something that may never be overtaken.
“Well, since I’m clearly going to win.” Sanji started, getting a scoff from Zoro.
“..I’ll back off to give you more targets.”
“Runnin’ away?” This remark made Sanji bite down in irritation. Finally, a reaction. Zoro was grinning smugly, which made the cook look more ticked.
“HAH? I’m being a good sport here, you dense algae. Plus, you and your clumsy swords are getting in my way. I could be at 30 by now.”
“Sure it’s not cuz you’re a damn klutz?” Zoro was satisfied by the sound of Sanji grinding his teeth, thinking up a retort. The verbal battle was good, too. He basked in it.
“You moldy excuse for a–”
“SHISHISHI!” the loud laugh of their captain cut into the quip-to-be, and both men clam up.
“From above?”
“Mm-hm.” Sanji sighed, lighting the cigarette that had been laying limply in his mouth the whole time. Zoro eased in his stance too, making the group of pirates question why such foes would lower their guard. Not letting this chance slide, the mass of men charged at the blond and green… only to have a massive part of their own mass crash into them from above, a straw hat boy standing on top of it, holding a limp rope in his hand. Sanji and Zoro both effortlessly jumped back, now observing their chaotic captain.
“Oi, Luffy. That’s a fowl.” Zoro called, to which Luffy just turned with his usual sunny expression. Ironic - their ship had a name that went so well with the captain.
“My bad! I was swinging around but then the wood broke!”
“HOW HARD WERE YOU SWINGING?” Sanji barked, but it was completely ignored as Luffy instead strode up to him with big, begging eyes.
“Sanjiii I’m hungry.”
“Yeah? Well, why don’t you see what food these guys have? I’ll cook up whatever you swipe.”
“REALLY?”
“Sure. But don’t take it all. Don’t want these guys to starve.” Luffy beamed brightly, giving the cook a big, dramaticized salute.
“Aye-aye!” he chirped before dashing off. Funny, wasn’t that a line a crew member should be using, and not the captain? Zoro sighed, shaking his head and pointing after the boy.
“I’ll keep tabs on him.”
“What? You? You won’t even make it to the helm let alone the pantry.”
“EH?” Zoro bit back. Sanji just grinned, before he motions to another part of the ship.
“Well, moss head, I’ll be over there. Winning.” he sneered.
“Sure ya will.” Zoro shot back. The two of them exchanged a glare, before parting directions. Naturally, Zoro did not go the same way as his captain. No surprise there. Sanji made his way over to the side of the ship, where he had caught eye of a pirate foe who was doing anything but fighting. The fellow was rummaging around a stack of boxes, even with a fight. Looked bloody determined, too. Sanji couldn’t let such a suspicious action slide. Maybe he was hiding loot? Lucky! Sanji dreamed of the expression on beloved Nami-swan’s face if he handed over a crate of gold.
“Her golden knight~” he said blissfully to himself, hearts in his eyes as he imagined the scene so perfectly. If only there were a horse here he could ride to her upon.. Oh well, he’d make do. Upon approaching the scavenging pirate, Sanji removed his cigarette in order to blow what he just dragged in.
“Oi.” he announced. He already outclassed this random guy, no sense in sneaking up on him. The guy perked up and twirled around fast, a gun in his hand and an angry look to his face.
“Hiding something?” Sanji asked with a wide grin, which made the man grit his teeth and fire. It was easy to avoid the bullet, and then slink himself in close enough to throw a knee into the man’s chest. It didn’t take that much strength at all to knock him out. After setting the limp man on the deck, Sanji approached the crates with a giddy hum.
“Nami~swan, Nami~swan, Nami~swan.” he chirped to himself over and over, now puffing smoke that resembled delusional hearts. He neared the crates, looking to the crate the man was working on before. Though, as he started to slide the crate, Sanji’s eye snagged on a small figure that was behind the crate. Slightly surprised, Sanji stepped away from the crate. His eye met the green iris of the figure…
“..Huh?” he blurted. Standing fearfully behind the crates, there was a boy. Small, slim, and terrified. Boy didn’t look older than 6! Sanji was taken aback, closing his teeth on his cigarette to prevent it from falling. The boy stared, looking at Sanji as if averting his gaze would make the blond hostile. Sanji knew that look. Knew it all too well. He himself wore it at that age, too. Slowly, the cook observed the boy… then presented a soft, greeting smile.
“Hey..!”