Chapter Text
Sanji's lips were pressed into a thin line as he faced the rest of his crew. They were all gathered at a private bar, sitting on couches set to make a circle, with various food stuff in the middle table. They had all been in different states of drunkenness, having landed on an island not far from their recent escapade on Fishman Island. Sanji was not drunk at all, which is why he wondered how he had allowed someone to get behind him and stick a knife to his throat. His Haki switched between warning him (belatedly) of the enemy and sending him 'friend' signals, which only served to confuse him more.
All eyes were in rapt attention on him. Robin, Franky, and Zoro, previously in a drinking match, all watched with sober attention towards the knife held at his throat. Luffy had stopped eating at the drumstick held in his hands, and narrowed his eyes at the stranger as he cataloged the danger. In addition to the knife, the man had a sheathed sword attached to his hip.
A deep voice softly spoke in his ear, "Back away from your crew, imposter, and come with me".
Sanji tilted his head in further confusion, locking eyes with Nami as he started backing away. The further he got from his crew and towards the exit, the more his crew started warily getting up from their seats, eyes trained on the threat ahead of them. Zoro started slowly unsheathing one of his swords. In response, the cloaked man pressed the knife further into Sanji’s throat. He made a soft noise as it broke skin, sending a small trail of blood down his neck and collecting at the rim of his shirt. Zoro's sword paused in its movements, along with his Nakama on their cautious advance.
The back of his mind probed backwards in time, searching for the familiar presence, the familiar voice, and why his Haki was chanting FRIEND, FRIEND, ENEMY, FRIEND repeatedly. Sanji cleared his throat.
"It's okay guys, I know him. Think he's a friend." Sanji had started to cross the room, eyebrows twitching in disbelief at his own words. His captor let out a sharp inhale at that, grabbed him by the arm, and hurled him through the exit.
Sanji's back hit the wall of the store across from the bar. The cloaked man put down his hood as Sanji crashed to the ground, then scurried to his feet to get to a proper fighting position. He gasped in recognition when he saw the other man's face. Surprise, elation, love, worry, along with a myriad of other emotions crossed both men’s faces.
"Arty?! Is that really you?" The man across Sanji gasped again in disbelief. Straw Hats took positions surrounding the two men, curious and still on the defensive.
"Sanji? I watched you die!" Sanji momentarily reeled back at the memory, then stepped forward and wrapped him in a deep embrace. Zoro and Usopp glanced at each other in concern.
"It really is you! I did die, but I came back." Sanji smiled widely.
Neither man seemed to want to let go from the hug, but suddenly the other remembered, "You're in danger. I've been sent to kill you, Sanji. We have a lot of catching up to do."
At the alarming news, the Straw Hats let down their weapons and agreed to reconvene at the Sunny. With terse glances at each other, questions were held back in favor of letting Sanji have his reunion with his old friend.