Chapter Text
They were screwed.
It hadn’t been a complicated plan to follow; Robin had considered Luffy’s low attention span and Zoro’s lack of direction. They were supposed to be in and out of the reverie undetected and laden with jewels.
But tip-toeing down their second corridor, Luffy just had to swing open the colourful door to a cafeteria full of high level marines.
Stew falling off their forks, the marines stared up at Luffy, matching the Straw hats stunned expression.
With a clink, heavy cuffs locked around their wrists. The Straw hats were captured five minutes into their mission. Well, all but Franky who’d stayed to man their boat, probably smiling into the distance with one hand on the wheel expecting a quick getaway.
Nami’s frown could have soured milk, each step forced upstairs a rip in their plan. Zoro would now be disorientated enough he’d never make it back to the boat, Luffy had seen the marines' food and would be completely distracted, and Sanji was trying his hardest not to be charmed by the lovely female marine nearly holding his hands as she forced his wrists together. He stretched out a pinky to run over her soft skin, frame shaking.
Even so, through the haze of beautiful smooth dark skin, Sanji would eat his shoe before letting the crew be thrown in impel down. Zoro caught Sanji’s eye, waiting for a signal to cause havoc. Sanji wasn’t sure why he was waiting at all. The moment they got sea stone on Luffy and realised it was his legs that needed to be cuffed not his hands, they would be doomed. Sanji’s nod got lost as the person holding him threw him against a heavy oak door. It opened to an office.
“Now Marimo,” Sanji hissed, but the man in question only raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“I thought you were waiting for me, why were you staring-? Never mind do something! Go for that guy and I’ll go for that one-.”
“Don’t be so hasty Straw hats.” A nasal voice scolded. They were jerked apart, hissed conversation lost.
They faced a thin man sitting behind a desk. Sanji rested his weight back on his left foot, tapping the floor to get some heat ready. He could see Nami shift the hand she’d slipped free from the cuff, down to her pocket.
Pain flared, The inside of his cheek bit harshly between teeth. Whatever it took to get out of this, he’d do it to protect them. All of them. It was his purpose. If he failed here, he may as well throw himself out the window.
It would be hard– these were not normal marines, they hadn’t rose to their position with weak bones and kindness, but they had faced worse odds and if they were able to take down the eight or so people in the room (excluding the lady of course (she-they could just tie up in the corner with a cool rag on her forehead as the room was rather warm, maybe a cool glass of lemonade in easy reach) Then they could steal the jewels Nami had heard were being stored somewhere in the castle.
He felt his face distorting with glee as he thought about presenting the large blood diamond to her, maybe on one knee...
“Jones, you idiot.” It was the marine who’d already been in the room when they’d arrived who’d spoken. Initially disinterested, his face had now lost colour. Sanji followed his eyeline, expecting them to be on Luffy. They were on him. Open mouthed and skin, pale. “This is- uh-I’m so, so sorry, your highness.” To accompany these words, he strode out from behind the desk and bowed low in front, low enough for his knees to creek alarmingly.
Highness, Sanji ran the words around his tongue, studying the soft hissing at the end.
His stomach dropped through the floor.
It wasn’t even his eyes the marine was staring at but his eyebrows. In an act of childishness he moved to try and slap a palm over the hair but was stopped by the jolt of the cuffs. wrists still held together. Saliva filled his mouth.
“Huh?” Luffy tilted his head, looking between him and the marine. “You know this guy, Sanji?”
“What are you doing? These are the Straw hats.” The commander was shaken off, failing to pull his colleague up.
A ripple of unease ran through the marines holding their cuffs. Insubordination wasn’t something well regarded in the military.
“Sir, I have been working with royalty since I was a teen, that is a Vinsmoke, sir,” The marine whispered angrily. “One of the princes of Germa, I can get you the guidance, sir, I was advised to expect the entire Vinsmoke royal family today, all bearing those eyebrows.”
Expecting the entire royal family, huh.
The entire royal family.
The ground beneath Sanji’s feet felt remarkably weak. Tissue paper and PVC glue all that kept him from plunging into the earth's core.
Somewhere below, above or next door was his entire family. The woman holding his cuffs stumbled as all his weight leant back on her.
“This must be a mistake.” The other marines were murmuring to each other. None had made a move to take their cuffs off yet.
The commander pulled open a file, paper flying across the room.
“How dare you treat me like a commoner.” Sanji’s crew looked at him in shock. So unnatural was his speech that he felt almost certain they would laugh. Instead, they only starred in fear. “You treat me like a criminal after I travel all the way here to the Reverie.” To his limited knowledge the Vinsmoke’s weren’t royalty anymore and therefor weren't invited to the Reverie something his father had a tantrum about and nearly declared war on the world government. Although the memory carried a murky sort of tint that meant it could have very well been a dream, it certainly felt like something Judge would do, but then again, he was never very good at reading his father.
“Your highness, what are you doing in the company of pirates?” The commander was almost swayed, a dip in his head with respect, but one eyebrow cocked.
Now, that was a good question.
“Protection, the noble prince employed us to oversee his visit to the Reverie.” Robin interjected. “I’m sorry your highness that we took you in the wrong entrance.” Even with cuffs forcing her into an awkward position, she managed to look poised.
“Please forgive us for capturing you.” The marines joined their colleagues on their knees. Thump, thump, thump as they hit the ground. “What can we do to make this up to you?”
Unable to stop the urge, his eyes widened, sweeping over the marines pledging fealty to…him.
“A plate of meat!”
Nami hit Luffy over the head and said, “First, get these cuffs off then we want rooms overlooking the harbour and assurance we will be treated as guests.”
Rooms. His heart dropped through his chest and the tight grip he had on his emotions threatened to go with it. The tissue paper that made up the floor had just been torn to shreds. Rooms implied multiple days. Multiple days of being in the same building as his family. Molars against molars, his teeth ground together, using every inch of will to say, “Germa will not be happy if my guests are not seen to.”
-
He strode ahead, hearing frantic footsteps of his crew behind and questions he ignored, mostly from Usopp who kept asking him how many made up his army.
“You're a prince and you never told us!” Nami’s scream echoed down the corridor, chasing after him. “They made a mistake, right?!”
He’d put his hands over his ears if it wouldn’t be a display of just how out of it he was, show his crew he was completely inept. His stomach flipped, throat blocked. He rapidly inhaled through his nose.
Metal clinked on metal in Nami’s hands. Long silver keys. “Whatever, look, here's our room key’s. Sanji, they wanted to give you this big one, but me and Robin wanted-.” He couldn’t stay to listen, grabbing one of the smaller keys and throwing open the door with the corresponding number on it, slamming the door closed before his stomach emptied itself into the nearest bin.
A waterfall of yellow into the plastic wastebin. His knees gave out, thudding to the floor. Eyes squeezed shut to pretend he was somewhere far, far away with Zeff’s hand on his shoulder, chef coat brushing his back. But he was in an empty room, in the dark, with stomach acid dripping from his lips.
The sound had echoed, most certainly reaching the Straw hats still in the corridor.
Click. somebody's hand was on the door handle. His door re-opening
Sanji swallowed repeatedly but it was too late and a splash echoed as his stomach clenched. Free entertainment for whomever had just come in.
“Apparently-.” Zoro’s voice. Sanji’s eyebrows moved lower down his head. He didn’t dare look up but he could feel grey eyes piercing through his skull to pin him to the floor where he belonged. “- We are sharing rooms, the witch wanted to have a room alone.” Through his racing thoughts Sanji noted that Zoro sounded different. Words in the same low groan, but they were quieter than his usual tone. He used careful enunciation.
Blue eyes flicked up, only to check the door was still closed. His shoulders dropped, satisfied that it was still just Zoro who met his eyes.
If any of the crew had to see him weak he had mixed feelings about it being Zoro, Zoro was supposed to rely on him, trust him to look after the crew. It was also pride, the man who he competed with daily seeing him truly close to hiding in a corner, but at least it wasn’t Chopper, Nami or Robin, if their eyes softened in pity at him, he’d truly lie down go to sleep and prey he never wake up.
Sanji looked down again at his stomach contents pooled inside the bin, what a waste of food. “Perfect.” He hummed, wiping a hand over his wet mouth. He didn’t think he could stomach the questions from the other Straw hats, at least Zoro wouldn’t ask-
“I knew you were prissy, but a prince?”
“Shut up.” Sanji hissed. Neck down, he retched nothing but bile. There was an awful second where he couldn’t catch his breath. Throat blocked, he choked. Spit strung down from his chin. He gasped “I’m not a prince, not anymore.” The words echoed in the bin, loud in his ears.
Zoro hummed in response to his question, scanning him with accusing eyes, or at least Sanji imaged he was. Unable to confirm when his own eyes were fixed firmly down on blue wiry carpet, rather than witnessing the expected look of betrayal.
“Here.” Was said, before a wad of tissues smacked Sanji’s shoulder. Caught on instinct, he left his safe space to sit up, tissue squeezed into a tight ball.
The door crashed open, a gust of cold air and a laugh.
Luffy.
Quick to sit back, Sanji was suddenly very busy expanding the tissue, oddly thick and soft, to run over his clammy skin. He rubbed harshly. Eyes squeezed shut, the world disappeared, drowned in soft fibre. He wanted to laugh, the sound a wheeze from his chest.
“Do you need us to get you out of here?”
He jumped.
The tissue fell to his lap to reveal Robin’s serious blue eyes. The entire crew were here, watching him with a look you’d give a very young lost child. No sudden movements. They were as still as statues, Usopp had one arm levitating in the air.
The words choked in Sanji’s throat.
Opening and closing his mouth did nothing but make him aware of the scent of vomit that permeated the room. A buzzing fell over his entire body. Chin strained to hold itself up. “Nami sans jewels-.”
“Are not more important than your safety.” Robin said softly. Nami hesitated but did eventually nod to agree.
Aware he was on his knees in front of a bin full of sick, shaking, he very nearly went back to hiding in the tissue. For god’s sake he was the one who was supposed to give the Straw hat’s strength. He stood to his feet, swaying as the room spun. He fell back into the wall. The wallpaper mirrored the skin over his arms, bumpy and slightly damp. “It’s fine. We’ll do a day.”
“Why didn’t you tell us, man, you're a prince, a real life one!” Usopp’s eyes shone. Arm dropping back to his side.
“Uh.” Sanji went to open a window, grateful for the clean fresh air that flooded the room. Thoughts came easier. “It’s complicated,” The veins in his arms stood out as he tensed. “They disowned me so It’s not accurate, I’m just Sanji, alright?”
Chopper stepped forwards. “We’ll kick their asses if they are mean to you!” He mimed a punch, fluffy arm jerked back and forth.
What was supposed to soothe him, only made him stiff. An image of Chopper, a tiny silhouette, up against his monster-like siblings. Oh god, he hadn’t even thought about what his grown up brothers would look like. The princes must have grown into giant adults, muscles and bulging veins or possibly toned slim individuals slippery as a snake to do their one purpose in life, kill.
Unable to stop the urge, he sought reassurance. Where he expected to see a signature grin, was a flat line on Luffy’s face. Hat low to almost shield his eyes. Aware Sanji had doomed the crew with his blood.
“I’m sorry.” Would a bow be appropriate to show that he never should have got on their boat?
“What are you sorry for? You just saved our asses from those marines!” Usopp laughed, breaching the invisible forcefield set up between himself and the rest of the crew.
“I’m just sorry.”
Aside from Usopp, the crew were lined up on either side of the door, a gap to allow him to walk on his own time down the middle, out of the room and down the long corridor towards the banquet hall. He stared out the window at the waves crashing against the rock, a seagull flying high above.
He grit his teeth, feeling tension mount the more he waited. Walls sliding further and further inwards to trap him.
-
In all their planning, Nami hadn’t factored in the black tie the occasion called for. Blobs of acrylic on an oil painting, their arrival raised eyes. Luffy’s torn jean shorts and flip flops, Nami’s bikini top and Usopp’s shirtless dungarees combo were all adhorant to the royal family's mingling in the giant banquet hall. At least he’d worn his suit, Sanji thought greatfully.
Even among the scowls there were some smiles. “Vivi!” Nami screamed, digging her nails into Luffy’s arm to stop herself sprinting across the ballroom.
“Hi!” Vivi mouthed, pointing sadly towards where her father was trying to smooze another nation. The excitement filled her eyes with a glassy sheen. Sanji found space for a smile. Not aware how much he’d missed her until he saw her beautiful blue locks.
“We can finally catch up, god it's been so long.” Nami hissed in excitement, feet leaving the floor to bounce up and down.
“I think the fishmen are here too.” Jinbe smiled. Waving a large hand to the Fishman royal family who were captivating most of the attention at the other end of the room. “It’s been so long since I've caught up with Titan, Shirahoshi has grown into a fine young woman.”
“Zoro held him hostage once.”
“I didn’t mean to!”
Intention irrelevant, Jimbe was not happy to hear this, and the sudden argument meant a woman was missed, slipping through on the tip of her toes to the centre of their group.
“So it's true then?” Sanji froze. Her back was to Usoop’s, blue eyes the same colour as his, peach lips quirked into an easy smile. “You’ve come home?”
The shiver felt more like a seizure, as if his body was trying to tear him away from danger in whatever way it could. Unable to place her for a long second, her skin was as flat and smooth as a rock that washed up on the beach, smoothed out by the sea. Twice he double checked the curled eyebrow and bubblegum pink hair. It had to be her, but where was the warmth he remembered? The sister who’d cried as she’d ripped open the bars of his cell was absent from the women in front. An ache grew in his jaw from how hard his teeth ground together. Had it all just been wishful thinking? Too long ago to remember correctly.
“Reiju.” Sanji breathed, nodding to himself. She was in the centre of his vision, the outskirts a mirage of his crew mates jerking back from the sudden intrusion.
“Brother.” Reiju reached for him. Short, pink painted nails slid down his arms, a gentle scratch until they reached his wrists. In opposition to his earlier thoughts her skin felt warm and pleasure lit up from the touch.
“Wooh, it’s female Sanji,” Usopp said to Nami, with a smile. This was all a novelty to them, amused to see his features on a woman.
A click echoed and a cold weight clamped onto his wrist.
“What are these?” He asked, shaking his hands, refusing to let the fear creeping across his skull show in his expression. Twin golden bands refused to move, no space between metal and skin. Claustrophobia bit at his skull, thin skin on his wrist tearing as he yanked at them.
“They are lined with explosives. If you run or try to take them off, your hands will explode.”
All he was, all he was aware of was the cold dead weight gripped to his wrist. Heavy gold sinking him underwater while running out of space in his lungs for air
A mutual dance, every one of the Straw hat’s reached for their weapons. In no way concerned Reiju smiled, dead eyes locked on him. “I gave you your chance to leave Sanji, you should have ran faster.”
“I didn’t-.” Sanji stuttered, unable to see past his memories playing behind his eyes. He swallowed. “Reiju, let me go, I’m not coming back, not for real.”
“Father’s happy you’ve come home, Sanji.” Reiju said pointedly
A chill dropped down his back, head heavy on his neck “I’ve always been a disappointment and I’m about to be another one.” Sanji hissed, shaking. “Judge can go fuck himself for all I care, I’m not about to return to him.”
“Be a good Vinsmoke and go get dressed, Yonji will beat you if you look like a peasant.” Was he mute?! She flicked Zoro’s swords away, uncaring as their sharp sides scraped across her hard skin with an audible screech. The suit Sanji wore tight, dark and fitted, suddenly felt like a burlap sack on his skin. “Oh and the cuffs will detonate if you take one step outside.”
Back exposed to the crew she’d just pissed off, she walked away towards a large blonde man. Sanji made his eyes lose focus, trying to make himself unaware that his family was right over there, as visible in his eyeline as he was to them.
“What is she?” Zoro asked, sliding his katana back into the sheath.
“I’m not sure anymore.” Sanji murmured. He’d been away too long. Disillusioned with ideas of a typical family in place of his monstrous one. Zeff had smiled at him too much, Luffy had been nice to him, he’d forgotten what family was like. “What was I thinking?” He hissed to himself, touching the pads of his fingers across the explosive bands, but careful not to jolt them. In seconds he could lose his livelihood, friends, everything.
“Did you hear what I said?” Robin asked. He looked up, seeing her bisected through strands of his hair. “We’ll get you to Franky who can disarm the bracelets.”
“They are probably fake, right Sanji. I mean what sister would do that to their own brother?” Usopp laughed, high and strained. He was trying to catch someone’s eye, clearly shaken.
“They’re not fake,” Sanji said.
“I’ll kill them.” The crew were suddenly busy stopping Luffy, informing him why they couldn’t just attack them.
“We are getting out of here,” Nami said, shoving her hair harshly behind her ear. “I refuse to let them near you again.”
“Nami-.”
“I know you're strong, but they’re threatening to blow up your hands Sanji, your hands!” She repeated the words as if he’d somehow missed the importance. “Let's go before something else happens”
Robin suddenly tensed. An indication that something much worse was approaching.
“Where are you going, brother?”
“Here, apparently.” Sanji was expressionless as he looked for the first time in thirteen years over his three brothers. Ichiji was in the middle, a statue with his arms by his side, Niji and Yonji either side, Yonji had his arms crossed and a grin that could put Luffy to shame.
They looked bizarre. The colour scheme had remained with them, red blue and green so garish it nearly hurt his eyes. Of course they were taller, a fact that made him feel he’d lost a competition despite being unaware one was taking place.
“Jesus christ, they’ve cloned Sanji.” Usopp could just be heard saying. He felt in some sort of dimension rift, his friends behind him, warm light radiating from their bond slashed by his reality in front–Small weak Sanji about to be ripped apart by his rabid brothers.
Whatever he did– roll his shoulders back, run a thumb over his carton of cigarettes in his pocket, replay the way yesterday Zoro had tripped over Chopper and nearly fell overboard, his skin wouldn’t stop crawling. Run. run. run, screamed over and over, louder and louder in his mind until it took over every other instinct.
“I barely recognise you without your helmet.” Ichiji ran his eyes like the back of a knife down Sanji’s face. “Still a runt.”
“Are these your new pirate friends you’ve paid to protect you?” Niji leant in. “You always were worthless.”
God, they couldn’t wait five seconds to start insulting him. Cold sweat ran down his back. It wasn’t the words, although he couldn’t help shuddering as the labels that haunted him from childhood were reapplied with fresh glue, but it was his crew listening, his worth spiralling lower and lower. They finally saw who he was.
Who had he been kidding? He couldn’t protect them, Vinsmoke label locked on with gold bombs attached to his wrists, he was the reason they were in danger.
“You guys don’t seem very much like brothers,” Luffy’s lip curled in disgust at the men. An action that would have most pirates running in fear.
“I’m taking that one, it can live in my wardrobe.” Niji was pointing at Nami. His long finger outstretched at her confused face. In the shuffle of his crew reacting to the Vinsmokes, the Vinsmoke’s caught sight of Nami, it would be comical if it wasn’t so alarming, near heart shaped eyes and open drooling mouths. Luffy's head twisted looking confused.
Sanji looked between them, eyebrow twitching at the sudden fury that flooded him.
“If you touch her-.” Sanji started to say.
“You'll do what? Do you want a reminder of how much getting your arm broken hurts?” Yonji appeared above his air space, looming above to sneer down. Sanji stayed his ground. Placing both hands in his pockets. He didn’t know for sure how he’d match up with his grown up siblings but he was sure willing to throw everything he had at it.
“They really your brothers? God, now I feel sorry for you, being raised along these morons.” Zoro’s boots landed next to his.
Blonde hair swung as Sanji studied the unexpected back up, Zoro looked irritated, a expression best scene when something was between him and booze.
“I’ll beat the-.” A heavy arm slammed across Yonji’s collarbone before he could take a step. The unexpected back up came from Ichiji of all people.
“We were told we cannot make a scene,” they said.
With a guarantee for semi-peace, Sanji smiled for the first time since their reunion. The Straw hats were safe, for now.
The thought was abstract. Never before on their long journey had he ever needed his crew out of danger. The Straw hats had no need to be safe; they would keep fighting till the battle was won. They had Luffy, for god's sake. As Sanji’s eyes flicked between his brother's, he couldn’t rationalise why he was so scared for the safety of his crew. Child-like scared–Monsters in a cupboard or ghosts at the bottom of a cellar scared. He wanted to throw his arms out and make them stand behind him.
“It's time for dinner. You can bring your bodyguards if you like, although I'm not sitting next to it.” Ichiji said. The remote connected to his explosive bracelets shook back and forth in Ichji’s hand.
They were so close to sea soaked air, grand door propped open at the other end of the hall. A desperation akin to a rabid dog being dragged back by a noose around its neck, Sanji’s teeth wanted to nash and gnaw off whatever limb necessary to get outside and see the sea.
“Sanji, no.” Nami said firmly and his head swung forwards, he’d been leaning forwards, legs about to run for it. “Did you not hear them? Your hands will literally explode.”
“How quick can Franky be here?” Zoro asked.
“It’s best to do what they want for now, we don’t want them to make any drastic actions, then when the dinner’s over we can coordinate an escape.” Robin met Sanji’s eyes, an attempt to reassure.
“We’ll go with Robin’s plan but if they threaten Sanji or make any demands we don’t like, we go all out.” Luffy smiled.
A calloused hand crept under his arm, taking a grip under his armpit to force him straight. It was hard to unscrew the tap on his anxiety now it had overfilled, heart a war drum in his chest. If he could have a wish it would be that he wouldn’t go mute under stress, sometimes his anxiety had a way of turning off his speech and he needed to remain poised and quick thinking if he wanted to survive this.
They were led to a table. Germa 66’s table. “Go, now.” Sanji told Nami. He’d distract whomever necessary. The jewels had taken on a bigger meaning, an element of success or failure that waged on his ego. Painfully important he gave his crew a win. To his relief Brook and Jinbe went with her.
He sat down. Zoro to his right and Robin to his left. The rest he’d physically pushed to the Alabaster table. Luffy couldn’t be trusted and Usopp would only be traumatised.
Selfishness had him allowing Robin and Zoro to stay, safely tucked between them, a small sick part of him needed someone on his side. The way Zoro had stepped in line with him earlier replayed in his mind, the sneer he’d aimed at the three princes without a thought. That was Zoro all over, no lord, prince or even god would make him stand down.
Complimenting Zoro had always made him feel weird and he’d previously promised himself he wouldn’t do it anymore. It always made him feel like he didn’t match up in comparison. Wasn’t worthy to stand by his side.
Clinks of glasses and scraping of forks on porcelain plates became audible as food began to appear, waiters with their eyes down in respect.
“Did the runt come limping back?” Yonji smiled. “Couldn’t live in the big bad world.” His voice took on a sickly quality. Slamming his fist on the table when Sanji refused to answer. “I asked you a question, failure.”
“Nice to see you again, hiding behind Judge is really treating you well.” Sanji raised a fake toast. Maintaining eye contact as he sipped. Hadn't Yonji already said this.
“Hiding? Did you forget that we are his successful children, we are Germa, the reason we’re here at the Reverie.”
There was a hint of an over step. Sanji's eyes flicked to Judge who was sipping his own drink. Ah, he’d caught that too. Sanji sat back in his chair.
“Enough. I never expected you would come crawling back, I thought you made my dream come true dying somewhere in the open ocean.” Judge said. Stirring his soup.
“How did you even escape? I spose everyone needs a cabin boy.” Niji said with no humour.
“I was eight.” Breathe. One step at a time. Each second was one Nami could use to find gems. Sanji swallowed, feeling all of about five years old. He wasn't sure how to respond, sure that anything he said would sound as pathetic as he currently felt. His bracelets hit the table and he winced. Holding them carefully in front. “This seems like a lot of effort to capture someone you don’t want.”
“Even a king needs cannon fodder.”
“Bastard.” Sanji hissed, unable to stop himself. There was an undisclosed plan for him, sure to be degrading. He bit down on his tongue.
“You have shown that you haven’t changed, no son of mine would speak to me that way!”
“The other royals will like that we are together as a family.” He’d almost forget Reiju was there, overshadowed by men. “It’s good to keep appearances.” A robot, her thoughts appeared buried behind layers of smooth expressionless skin.
Ah yes, the appearance of a family who are bound by love, not chains and chemicals.
“Then why are they there?” Yonji pointed at Robin and Zoro. Finger lingering on Robin.
They are my family, He wanted to say, but he couldn’t give them any reason to target them, for all they knew these people meant nothing to him. “This is my date for the evening and my-,” He gave a tight lipped smile that Zoro echoed. Their eye contact was a reminder of his world outside this room. This was going to hurt his pride, “Bodyguard.” Unbeknownst to him he’d looked at them in the wrong order, date for Zoro and bodyguard for Robin.
Ichiji frowned. “What Vinsmoke prince needs protection?” He scoffed. “Can we trial more serums on Sanji? It will hurt our reputation if we are seen with him.”
“Serums?” Robin questioned. “Excuse me, I am new to Germa technology.”
“Girl, I am a king, if you won’t address me as such I’ll have you beaten.” Judge’s lip curled, before turning to his eldest son. “It’s not worth the money, Sanji won’t be with us long.”
“Oh, won’t I? Can I ask what you're planning to do with me?” Sanji found a strange sort of calmness falling over him, a detachment to reality.
“We’ve found you a good buyer.” Yonji snickered, the sound stark on the table of stiff faces. Sanji jerked from the sound. Yonji’s laugh was childlike, large and open, one you couldn’t help wanting to laugh along with. He’d only heard it once as a child, when Sanji had been swimming and had been thrown against the cliff walls by the tide. Just before he’d passed out he’d heard it. Sinking below the surface of the ocean to a kinder world.
“You’re going to sell me?!” This was a new low. Sabody, the auction house. Slaves to the whims of their masters. The more he swallowed the more fluid rose in his mouth, he was going to be sick again. Vomit over the meal that had just been placed in front. “Excuse me.” A corridor was nearby, a bin out of sight for him to just reach. He coughed bile. Back prickling at being so weak so close to the Vinsmokes. “Fuck, Sanji.” Eyes squeezed shut, he hated himself, nails deep in his skin.
When he returned to the table there was an unexpected victim taking his place.
Judge’s face screwed up but his eyes weren't on Sanji, they were on his youngest son. “Yonji, that is the second time you’ve disobeyed me this evening! I won’t stand for another.” He pulled something out of his pocket and suddenly Yonji was jerking. Fingers white knuckled over his own wrist. Mouth open but no sound emerged.
“He can’t even handle it, he could be weaker than Sanji-.”
“Enough.” The brothers all sat ram-rod straight again at Judges voice, even Yonji. Twitching left hand betraying the strong desire to clasp the right tight in it's grip once again and soothe the sting.
He felt pain?
Their dinner continued, snapped orders from Judge and teased insinuations on Sanji’s fate. They thought little of the surrounding guests and thought themselves of a higher race, but Sanji, Zoro and Robin all looked longingly at the Alabaster table.
Reiju was a betrayal that stung, there was nothing he recognised in his sister. Sensing his stare she looked up at him, a smile that felt more from politeness than love. He weeped for the girl he’d thought she’d grow into, wanting to take her in his arms and drag her away. But she'd remained the perfect Vinsmoke princess. Exactly what Judge made her to be.
Ease of mind from the cuffs, his family allowed him to roam further away from them after dinner, able to stare at the wall and pretend he was anywhere else.
Zoro looked worried for him. Alarmed by his lack of expression. “We ain’t gonna let them sell you, cook. You're annoying but not that annoying.”
“It’s not sell in the traditional sense, I eavesdropped on the den den call Judge just had and it appears to be a marriage pact.” Robin chipped in, voice a higher pitch she used when stressed.
“Marriage!” Sanji didn’t think he had enough addrealine left in his system to feel surprised. “To whom, I’m supposed to be the failure, who would want-? Where is Nami?” His last nerve was attached to that sentence, sanity hinged on his angel appearing so they could leave.
“She must be close now.” Robin smiled. “I’ve also contacted Franky to come remove the cuffs. He’ll be here soon.”
He felt frozen, on the precipice of freedom. So much to gain but so much to lose. Luffy rejoined them. “How are you doing?”
Sanji couldn’t find the words so he just shook his head.
“Don’t worry so much, we got your back,” Luffy said with a grin. “I don’t care if they’re your family, I’ll still punch them in the face.”
“I appreciate it.” Sanji’s fingers let go of the cigarette carton, folding his arms over his chest.
Nami’s smile could have lit up the sky, gasping for air as she appeared out of thin air. Her bag bulged. “We’ve got them, all twenty of the Goa sun diamonds.”
“Fuck yes, let's get out of here,” Sanji said while noting Zoro was uncharacteristically angsty. A sheen ran across his forehead, shoulders rolled back as he angled for the exit. “Frankys here, we can get the cuffs off and go, right?!”
“Yes, Frankey should be by the door, I’ll go grab him.” Robin stepped away.
Purpose done, the Straw hats gathered in a loose circle around him, a lovely gesture, but one obvious enough to attract attention.
Blue, red and green angled towards them.
“You guys go, I’ll meet you there when Franky frees me.” Sanji tapped his foot on the floor.
Zoro’s shoulder knocked him. “Stupid plan, I don’t like it. You can’t handle yourself around them.”
His words stung– The acknowledgement that he was weaker than his brothers. Sanji leant back unconsciously as Ichiji came into view between Usopp and Luffy’s shoulders. “I don’t need to defeat them, I only need to buy time,” Sanji hissed.
“I never said you couldn’t defeat them.”
“Good.”
“I’m saying that you let them walk all over you.”
“Let them!? I don’t ask to-.” Sanji let out a grunt of frustration. They were close, Zoro’s good eye staring through him. He thinks you're weak.
“Nami, Usoop and Jinbe, go back and get the ship ready.” Luffy said with a smile stepping out to meet the brothers. That left Chopper, Zoro, Brooke and Luffy to ready themselves
“Why is this thing in my face?” Ichiji questioned, lip pulling up to reveal yellow teeth as he stared down at Chopper’s sweet face.
“They’re his bodyguards. They think they are protecting him, how pointless.”
“Am I not allowed to talk to my own brother?” Ichiji’s question would have sounded reasonable had he not placed a hand on Luffy's collarbone, sparks starting.
Blue hair in his peripheral made him jump, but it was only Frankey. “Wooh, put that leg down, bro.”
“Franky! Get these cuffs off me so we can leave!” Sanji threw out his hands, neck at a painful angle to keep an eye on his brothers. The sound of fighting started behind them.
An image came to him, his crew running for the boat while he was trapped in the doorway, unable to take another step or his hands would fly off at the wrists. Blood coated his tongue as his teeth sunk into his cheek, the crew would be getting out here with or without him.
“You got it, bro, You’ll have to stay very still.” Franky was unaware of his thought process, humming. “I didn’t know you had brothers, Robin filled me in with her devil fruit. Are they the ones attacking us?”
He watched Yonji approach, eyes flicking with intrigue between him and the cuffs held in large hands. “Yeah, they suck.” Franky twisted them till he satisfied himself, getting out the smallest screwdriver he’d ever seen. “What if I need to move and fight?”
“Oi, the failure is removing the cuffs.” Yonji shouted, finger outstretched to point.
Sweat slid down Sanji’s face. Clock ticking down.
“Well, if I move the wrong thing I’ll press on the detonators and...well, it won’t be good, Bro. So stay still.”
Sanji resisted the urge to yank his hands back to chest away from the thin metal now sliding inside the cuffs. Brushing along triggers that if pushed would ensure he’d never cook again. He made a long groan, head twisting towards encroaching green. “But we may have to run.”
“I can’t risk moving now.”
As if he was aware of this Niji was smiling, large and menacing, pure glee enemating as he walked over, aware he had all the time in the world to ensure Sanji remained locked and miserable.
Judge, to his relief was being talked to by Titan at the other corner of the room, not able to break out of the conversation and step around his wide frame despite his attempts, he suspected Jinbe may be behind that move.
Yonji was fighting Chopper but he seemed distracted…as Reiju slid past from a wind attack from Nami’s staff he shot her a look it took a second to decipher.
Huh.
He was worried about her. Yonji was emoting some level of empathy. It’s just the bright light in my eye, Sanji thought. But as a rubber fist knocked out the chandelier above and cleared his vision, he discovered Yonji vibrating with…excitement as Chopper changed form. That was an emotion! Something he wasn’t previously aware his brothers could have, or brother–Neither Ichiji or Niji looked any different then statutes. Never had he properly understood what had been done to his brothers to make them like this, emotionless was an easy label to apply but they certainly felt something sometimes. He suspected he’d never get his answer.
Niji’s tirade was stopped by muscular arms appearing from his chest. “That not fair.” He cried as more and more hands emerged. A bright red light emerged from him and multiple voices screamed in agony. Robin, Chopper and most alarmingly Luffy's voices were audable. Fuck.
A snap came from his wrists that scared the shit out of Sanji and gold clattered to the ground. “I love you, I love you!” He told his own wrists, pressing the skin to his lips.
“You can have your reunion later!” Franky ordered.
“Come back to your family!” Yonji screamed as Brooke flew from the force of his punch. “There's no other choice.”
“I waited 10 years for you to find me, every night I'd look out at the horizon and wait for you to come and kill me. I was ready for it, but not now." Eyes on Judge, he spoke mostly under his breath but the words felt like they needed to be said. Strength filling his frame to send him clearing the way of Germa soldiers and marines.
The boat had been pulled up at the shore, ready for them to sprint down the gangplank.
“Here.” His hand was outstretched for Chopper to use to get up, staying back to ensure every one of the straw hats was onboard. With their weird powers and iron skin, he couldn't honestly say if they stayed to fight what the outcome would be. He channeled the drop in his stomach into launching marines away from the boat out into the water.
Surprised there were no bright coloured enemies, he squinted and found Niji passed out, sprawled in the entrance to the reverie. Huh, it seems Luffy and Zoro had fought him off, although not without heavy blows. Blood streamed down Luffy's arm from where Ichiji had caught him. Yonji's wearabouts were less clear, until the ship started to move and a hand shot up from the side of the boat.
Water splashed over the side as the boat caught a strong gust of wind.
“Coup de burst in 30 seconds.” Franky's voice came from below.
Yonji clung onto the boat, white knuckled.
Coming to terms with the fact he was going to have to kick his brother into the water, Sanji hardened his jaw.
There it was. Fear in Yonji’s expression. He felt fear. Not for the water, unless he’d become a devil fruit user he should be able to swim, but fear to go back. To let go of the boat and be taken by the tide back to the shore. Sanji’s head jerked to a giant blonde figure waiting by the rocks.
“I’ll give you one chance to get on this boat, if you do then you cut ties with Germa.” Sanji’s words were said unconsciously, unaware he’d even spoken until he heard his own voice. He spat out seawater that had jumped into his mouth. This was the right thing to do. “Either you go back and be controlled by Judge or you get on this boat and I’ll-save you. You won’t be hurt anymore.” He swallowed. They were a set of identical twins, something everyone forgot due to their different hair colours, but green hair damp with sea water flopped into an imitation of his, alongside his curled eyebrows it was like looking in a mirror, white knuckled to the end of a boat, desperate to escape his family.
Yonji flinched after twisting his head back to the sight of Judge waiting on the shore. He placed his large augmented hand into Sanji’s, just in time for the ship to take off into the sky. Sanji had never held something as hard.