Chapter Text
Sanji usually worked as the sous chef at the Baratie when he wasn’t too busy with college, or a cashier at Miniso (damn college student loans…), he was a good worker too, something that no one could really deny, even with the constant arguing with Carne and Patty, sometimes with Zeff. Due to being short on staff– specifically in waiters, he normally went to work as a waiter, instead of being inside the kitchen, much to his disappointment.
Today was a relatively long day, Sanji didn’t notice the sky had gone dark until he went to gaze at the ocean for a while. As always, the sound of the ocean waves were overlapped by various clients talking, which wasn’t a surprise to anyone because it’s something that always happens at the Baratie. Thankfully, the view of the beach and the ocean weren’t ruined at all by this small inconvenience.
It didn’t take long before he’d find himself walking towards a particularly loud table, I can hear this table from the other side of the restaurant, he thought to himself. He noticed a guy with a straw hat which he swore looked familiar from afar. He also saw a guy with long hair, wearing what looked to be a… cowboy hat? Weird, Sanji thought to himself, he’s never seen anyone wear a cowboy hat to a place like this. But, there’s a first time for everything, I suppose.
He walked up to the table for two, and saw a familiar face, “Sanji!” The boy with the straw hat said with a big smile, trying to win the other guy in an arm wrestle from what it looked like. The guy with a cowboy hat looked at Sanji, “So you’re the cook that Luffy has talked about non-stop, huh?” His eyes checked Sanji up and down, getting distracted. THUMP! Luffy spoke up, “I won! I got to order first!” He smiled widely, the guy in the bright orange spoke up, “What?!
“Could we get a bunch of meat and-” the boy with the straw hat was suddenly hit in the head, soon interrupted by the guy in the orange cowboy hat, “Please forgive my brother, he doesn’t have any manners!” He said, as the guy in the straw hat, who Sanji recognized as Luffy, was rubbing his head, wincing.
Sanji, who was surprised by the sudden action, replied, “No worries,” he paused, his gaze shifting to Luffy, “is he… okay?” His tone is more curious than concerned. “That hurt, Ace!” Luffy whined. Ace looked at Sanji, “He’ll be fine, he just has to learn manners.” He leaned his head onto his hand, which was resting on the table, as Luffy rubbed his head. Sanji soon connected the dots, Luffy has a brother?! He was shocked nonetheless, even more because he didn’t expect Luffy’s brother to be this handsome.
“Uh- alright then.” Sanji opened the small notebook, clicking his pen, ready to write down the order of this table; knowing Luffy, it’d be long. “So, what’s it going to be?” Ace opened the menu again, before Sanji knew it, Luffy blurted out, “The whole meat section as a starter!” Ace couldn’t help but smirk, “Uh-huh,” he paused, of course he had the same appetite as Luffy. He looked at his writing pad, sighing, this table’s order was not expected for the dinner rush.
Sanji walked back to the kitchen, lifting the sleeves of his suit, putting on a pink apron. There was no way in hell that he’d get his suit dirty. The other chefs looked at him, Patty telling him that he should go back to working as a waiter. The comments stopped when he told his co-workers that someone ordered the entire meat section as a starter, and that he’d go back to being a waiter once this order was finished with helping them.
***
The doors of the kitchen opened up, with perfectly balanced plates of food on his arms, and one on his head, he placed the very first plates of food onto Ace’s and Luffy’s table, going back to the kitchen to grab the rest. Surprisingly enough, it didn’t take that much time to get the rest of the plates onto the table. Once he delivered the last plates, the brothers looked at him, ordered something else, and thanked him. Sanji gave them a kind smile in return, not something he’d give out frequently.
He glanced at a nearby clock on the wall, it was almost closing time, that was fast. He paid the clock no more attention, getting back to working as a waiter almost immediately. Thankfully, the restaurant was a lot calmer by now, having less noise, grateful for being able to hear the waves of the ocean by now. The only noise was Ace and Luffy who would start fighting, suddenly go quiet, some laughing, and start fighting again.
Sanji couldn’t help to wonder what was happening over at their table, but knowing Luffy, there was definitely something fun going on. For some odd reason, Ace was in Sanji’s mind for the rest of the night. Why? He’d never been one to feel attracted to men, at least not frequently. Maybe he’d find himself staring at a man in one of his magazines for too long, wondering how their touch would feel against his body, but it wasn’t a big deal! At least he didn’t think so.
When that’d happen, he’d simply dismiss it as envy. Maybe he’d felt envious of a guy to be on the cover of a magazine, and all the ladies would gush about how attractive the model looked! He’s never thought of another guy like that! Suddenly, he wants to be kissed by someone he barely knows, plus one of his best friend’s brothers! That’d be kind of nice… Sanji wondered, thinking about what his lips would taste like, maybe caramel apples?
He shook his head, he’s getting sidetracked! He could feel his face start to heat up, his mind already imagining Ace like the front cover of the magazines with the guys he’d used to envy. He can’t have these thoughts at work, especially not at the Baratie when Luffy’s and Ace’s table is a few steps away! He'd been used to having thoughts about the ladies in his... explicit magazines in his private time, but this is different. He just didn't know how to make it make sense in his mind.
He straightened himself up, right now wasn’t the moment to experiment with his sexuality, and even if it was, he wouldn’t like to hurt someone in the process. He looked back at the ocean, its waves seemed to sing a tone, nice and relaxing. It reminded him a lot about his mother. He smiled, getting back to work, wrapping up the day with that same smile. The faint and vague memories of his mother always cheered him up, he missed her. Her soft smile, her laughter, her voice, her hugs. Everything.
Something about it motivated him more than most things, he never really thought about it. He was glad he was able to hear the waves a lot more than earlier, that no one could talk over it. In the meantime, the ocean sung its sweet lullaby as Sanji swept the floor with the broom, making it seem as if he were dancing to it. To him, it was like hearing his mother. Maybe there was someone who understood how he felt, maybe he’d find that someone if he knew how to explain it.
He waved Luffy and Ace goodbye as the two left loudly, much to Zeff's relief, the two loudest customers had finally left. Though Sanji's mind replayed the soft and tender smile Ace had given him, in that moment, it was as if Cupid struck him with a couple thousand arrows because he could not stop thinking about that smile! It made him realize how much of a hopeless-romantic he is, and that took a lot to do.
***
The moon was finally at the top of the sky, Sanji turned his phone on to check the time, 10:09 PM, not his ideal time... but a good time to be leaving Baratie. Zeff was in the kitchen still doing God knows what. Normally, Sanji would tell him he'd be leaving back to his college dorm, but even he dreaded saying goodbye to his father to wrap the day up.
All those thoughts about a certain someone were starting to weigh on him, his mind punishing him for not getting Ace's number. He swore this day was against him. He looked at the ocean, the waves clashing against each other, thankfully nothing could ever ruin its beauty, even if the ocean itself could be terrifying.
He sat down on a nearby booth, then lied down, no customer was there to see him the restaurant empty, and the only noise being faint chatter between workers. He entered his password once his phone didn't recognize his face, soon scrolling through the countless of unread messages in his group chat. He really should've checked it during his break, and maybe then he wouldn't have 99+ unread messages.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
The Strawhats 🏴☠️‼️
Sanji:
@NAMI-SWAN❤️❤️ can you please tell me when is that essay due again?
;)
NAMI-SWAN❤️❤️:
it's due tonight, i'm just finishing mine
#1 liar 🤥:
i'm still working on mine 😭😭😭
is it me or did the teacher get more strict?
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Sanji stared at the messages in utter shock, he could've sworn that it was due tomorrow night, seeing this message meant he had to rush back to his dorm, and write a whole essay that he had procrastinated. Oh, he was doomed if he didn't catch the last bus.
He stood back up almost immediately, heading to the back for his stuff, his dress shoes clicking against the marble flooring, getting his bag. Zeff seemed to have noticed his rush, raising an eyebrow at his rush.
As Sanji's hand touched the door to finally leave, and try to catch the last bus, Zeff's voice boomed through the room, "I knew you were a brat, but I never thought you'd lose your manners for the elderly." Sanji looked back at him, a sigh escaping him, looking back. "Goodnight."
Zeff looked at him and nodded, "Take care." The door exited, and soon Sanji ran towards the nearest bus stop underneath the moonlight. Shit, shit, he needed to write an entire essay in less than an hour, he could make this work. Totally. It was no issue at all, it'd be alright, he'd just plan it on his way home.
As he stopped at the bus stop sign, checking the schedule, his shoulders relaxed as his eyes landed on the last bus, which would arrive at 10:30 PM. That's only 10 minutes away! His foot tapped against the concrete, he'll be just in time for curfew. It's about a 15 minute drive over to his dorm, so he'll have a little more than an hour.
The breeze brushed against his suit, his dress shoes scraping against the concrete, the bus was taking an eternity. It had already felt like 10 years had gone by as he waited. He couldn't believe he was actually hoping to get to his dorm, and see his roommate, Zoro. He's never wanted to be insulted by him, and flip him off.
He searched his pockets for his lighter, finding in the golden box in his pant pocket, the cigarettes in his coat pocket. He lit one up, taking a long drag, a trail of smoke appearing around him, humming to himself. The tip of his dress shoe tapped against the concrete, seeming as a metronome to his hum.
After what felt like hours, the bus arrived, causing him to put out his cigarette, and walking into the bus. He sat down with a sigh, noticing how empty it was. He couldn't wait to finally get that essay off his shoulders, his mind already writing it. He didn't have time to figure out the whole essay once his laptop was in front of him.
Unfortunately, his mind would drift back to Ace, and that sweet smile of his, the way his freckles painted his face. He felt his face burn up again, leaning back in a groan. Why? Why when his grades are on the line was he thinking of distractions? At this point, he was madly in love with a stranger. A miracle would have to happen for him and Ace to end up together. Maybe it'll happen. It was nice to think about for a while, but right now, he needed to focus on that essay.