Archive of Our Own

“Get up.”

He frowned, his mind and body already feeling exhausted as he heard the voice trickle into his consciousness. He knew he should get up but, at the same time, he really didn’t want to listen…

“Now!”

Sanji’s eyes popped open as he felt the sudden, now familiar feeling of an electrical current coursing through his body, having been whipped by the person talking. He gritted his teeth as he let the current take its toll, a sharp reminder of what was going on.

“Had a good rest?”

Sanji’s head lolled forward, but he still looked up to the man through his bangs, giving him the best glare he could. Sleeping on the floor wasn’t what he would call a good rest.

“At any rate, Saint Fodrino’s hungry.” Caretaker said from above him, unconcerned about the look he was receiving. “He wants something sweet and salty, sandwiches with duck meat and some fruit that look like birds. Enough for three people. Get to it.”

As Caretaker turned around and walked over to his usual spot, Sanji rubbed his face, trying to get his eyes to open and function. Bracing himself, he wobbled up to his feet, stumbling as he placed one of his hands on the cool wall for balance.

His other one hovered lightly to his neck, brushing against cold metal, a reminder of where he was and what he was supposed to be.

There was no time to linger on his body’s pain, or fatigue. He had a meal to make.

They were on an island, not too far from Mariejois, a tropical island that was common for Celestial Dragons to use for villas apparently. The kitchen was immaculate like the one he had used on top of the Red Line, and it felt just as cold. There was no personality to the walls or the appliances, there was no warmth felt in pots or pans, no love in the knives he used.

He tried not to think about it.

Sanji began to chop, prep, and stir, the flames coming alive on top of the stove but his head was in a near constant fog, his mind just barely functioning and running on muscle memory. The instructions he had been given were vague, but something he could work with, any and all ingredients were at the tips of his fingers after all. A chef’s dream.

For Sanji, it was a nightmare.

He at least wished that the collar could be taken off, the steam that came from some of the dishes irritated his skin when they wafted upwards.

”Almost finished?”

Sanji stumbled with his knife as he cut an apple, saving his fingers from being sliced. He peeled his lips apart to rasp out a confirmation grunt. The drugs constantly flowing through him made his hands not as nimble as he would like, but they could get the job done in good enough time.

Sanji heard footsteps approach him, the rustling of cloth as the man leaned down to take a look at what Sanji was cooking. ”With that kind of skill, Saint Fodrino is sure to be pleased.” Caretaker mused, a slimy smirk on his face. 

Sanji didn’t know the guy's name. He was told he was his caretaker, and everyone called him that, so that was what Sanji called him. Even if ‘asshole’ was more appropriate.

He wanted to kick the guy’s face in.

Finished with his work, Sanji loaded it up on the cart he was supposed to use, Caretaker not helping at all, merely an observer until something went wrong, and rolled it out of the kitchen. He paused, waiting for the next instruction.

”Lounge room in the east wing.” Caretaker announced.

Sanji began to push the cart in that direction, having memorised the layout of this forsaken place like he was supposed to, Caretaker walking casually by his side, slightly behind him. To observe, to judge.

Sanji ignored him. It was a breath of fresh air, to be out of the kitchens, carrying the food to where it was ordered to. Besides the occasional guard, there wasn’t anyone along hisbpath. It allowed Sanji's mind to wander to better things.

Like the Sunny. His crew. Zeff.

He wondered how they were all doing, if they were eating alright. He knew how hard it was to feed Luffy if you weren’t prepared, and he hoped they were using all his recipes and notes to help with their groceries and meal prepping. If two of them coordinated, they could probably make a decent meal. 

In the early days of being here, Caretaker had gone on and on about how Sanji had been sold and the crew accepted it along with the large sum of money, leaving him in the Celestial Dragons capable hands. 

Sanji had never heard a more blatant lie in his life. 

He didn’t doubt that the Straw Hats had not agreed to this stupid contract, and that he was going to be rescued. Not even after it had been so long. He knew his crew was working tirelessly to get him back, it couldn’t be helped that he had been moved again to another villa.

One didn’t just fight the Celestial Dragons without some preparation. 

So what Sanji will do to help them is stay alive, stay alive so that he could cook for his nakama again. Survive so he could see their smiling faces when he told them a meal was ready.

He wanted to cook for them again so badly. He hoped that day would come sooner rather than later.

They reached their destination, and all Sanji could think of was finishing this up and returning to the kitchen to see if he could get any more rest.

Sanji went for the door handle before the caltrop was back, whipping the back of his hand. He immediately retracted it, giving the man a glare as his hand twitched from the shock it received.

“What do you do before entering a room with a Celestial Dragon?” Caretaker sighed, slumping his shoulders in an exaggerated manner. “It’s been almost two months and you’re still not getting the basics. If Saint Fodrino didn’t love your food so much you wouldn’t have lasted a month.”

Has it really been nearly two months now…?

Almost two months since that faithful day at that shitty cooking competition he of course won. Two months since he found himself on a strange ship, being told he had been acquired by a Celestial Dragon, where none of his crew were in sight. Almost two months of being collared, of being a slave, of feeling stretched, scarred, skin along his back.

He remembered seeing some tall black broccoli, being carried by some moss, and then being dropped on the ground.

The next thing he knew, he was on a ship that wasn’t the Sunny and was being taken to Mariejois.

“Well?”

Sanji frowned, his mind struggling to remember everything he’s been taught in his drug induced state. “Knock three times, wait for a reply, state my reason for being here with Saint Fodrino…open when allowed and be gracious for the permission.”

Caretaker nodded, gesturing for Sanji to continue with those exact steps. 

Caretaker was to make sure to train Sanji in all of the Celestial Dragon cultures and manners, so that Sanji could become a true chef to the god-like individuals he now served. He’d give Sanji his daily dose of drugs and beat him when he stepped out of line, telling him the right way to do things, and he would inform Sanji of when the Celestial Dragon required his services.

Because unlike other slaves, he was an exception, something to be trained and treated differently. 

Where others would be killed for doing less than what he had, he would only be beaten and trained for stepping out of line,

At least for six months.

If he bent to their will and did as he was told for six months, Caretaker told him that he would be handsomely rewarded. He would be allowed some form of power, be given things like money, clothes, luxury and women. He would want for nothing as long as he made delicious food and cooked for Fodrino on command. Like an extravagant pet with an explosive collar on its neck that could be discarded and killed at a drop of a hat. 

A falsehood of freedom as he ever saw it.

If he failed after the six months he would be killed, and a cooking contest would be hosted once more, to look for another chef to replace him, the participants none the wiser, and the cycle would continue. The other option that was told to him was to be used as an actual slave, and whatever that may entail. 

Sanji already knew his preference of the two.

But while Sanji heard all those rules, and knew staying alive was important so his crew could come and save him, Sanji couldn’t help but rebel occasionally, if only just to show he still had humanity left in him from watching so many atrocities that these so-called gods would commit on a daily basis.

Sanji knocked three times on the door, as he was taught and went through the proper routine, earning his entry into the room. 

“Ah, our meal is here. Prepare yourself, Saint Julinostro, for I have found the greatest chef once again! In fact, perhaps the best ever!”

Sanji schooled his features at those words, as his fingers twitched on the handle of the cart. This bastard wasn’t the one who found him, nor did he deserve his food like this. He listed off the foods as he was trained to, served them as he had been instructed, and bowed when he should, before retreating to being beside Caretaker.

Sanji stood at his designated spot, head slightly down as Fodrino began to eat his meal along with their guest. He used the opportunity to scope out the others in the room. Three girls on what appeared to be a day bed, luckily this time still dressed and not looking too worse for wear. They eyed longingly at the food he prepared, probably having not eaten in days. Sanji wanted nothing more than to smash that greasy dragon’s head in and offer the ladies all the food he had cooked, promising to make them more while they ate off of that bastard’s back.

But he stayed where he was, playing the part of an obedient slave for now. Acting out in front of the Celestial Dragons, especially when they had guests over, made for worse punishments, and the girls would suffer even more. 

Sanji had learned that the hard way.

Fodrino smacked his lips as he took a large bite of one of the sandwiches, making a mess on his face, hand and bed. “Delicious, absolutely divine. Wouldn’t you, say, Julinostro?”

The other man chortled. “I must say, this is most exquisite. I’m quite jealous, my chef is nowhere near this quality. You must allow me to borrow him some day.”

Fodrino chortled, fanning himself at the praise. “Perhaps in time, but I need to keep a tight leash on this one for now, the feisty thing. He still needs to be broken in.”

“You always did enjoy making games of the strangest things.” Julinostro laughed in turn, swirling his wine in a large goblet. Another female slave pouring a refill. “You are too kind to have me as the first guest to showcase this new slave. I’m sure in no time, the other families will beckon you to want to have a taste. And not just for his cooking.”

Sanji didn’t need to have his haki activated to feel the leer that the other Celestial Dragon was giving him. He did his best to hold his anger and disgust.

“Truly, truly. They will owe me much indeed for such things in due time.” Fodrino chuckled again before he raised his hand, making a waving gesture. “I’ve had enough. Take it away.”

Three people’s worth of food…wasted.

Fodrino smirked. “Oh alas, I almost forgot.”

The tray of food the man had been eating was backhanded, making it tumble to the floor and the food to splash and fall everywhere, the sauces intermingling, the sandwiches falling apart, the fruit bruising.

Sanji clenched his jaw to almost the breaking point. He felt the dragon’s eyes on him as the words came.

“Clean it up.”

Sanji twitched, shutting his eyes. Breathing slowly through his nose and steeling himself, he got onto his knees and crawled towards the wasted food…

And began to eat it off of the floor.

Was this his breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? He couldn’t recall, but it had been at least a couple of days since he had eaten and was allowed to eat.

“You’re allowing that one so much food.” Julinostro noted, watching with a sickening satisfaction.

Fodrino chuckled. “He’s an excellent chef, but he seems to bemoan when food is leftover. So as a reward, he can have it back. For now, it’s an amusing little quirk.”

His first week here, hell maybe even his first day his mind was still so foggy, when Fodrino wasted food he had ordered Sanji to cook, he had thrown a fit. No food gets wasted. How dare he take a few bites and throw the rest away?

That led to Sanji being beaten the harshest he ever had, as a wake up call to where he was and what he was in the eyes of these monsters that were human who treated others less than.

“What do you say to Master Fodrino?” Caretaker demanded before Sanji could take another bite, shoving his foot onto Sanji’s back, making him fold over even more. To make him bow, to make him submit. His face being plastered into some of the duck meat, his hair going into a yogurt dressing.

“Thank you…” He mumbled through gritted teeth.

The foot on his back put more pressure. Sanji winced.

”Thank you for the meal, Master.” He said as neutral as he could being forced to speak those words. Forced to play a part.

The man giggled and squealed like a spoiled child, slapping his hands together in delight. “Good boy! He’s coming along nicely, isn’t he Caretaker?”

Sanji could hear the smile on Caretaker’s lips. “Yes, all thanks to your wisdom, patience and care, Saint Fodrino. He will be a wonderful chef in your establishment in no time. The best of any other Celestial Noble.”

Sanji’s stomach rolled and he bit his tongue to avoid throwing up. It had happened once before, and he had to clean that up the same way he ate his food.

He was supposed to be the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates.

The cook to the King of the Pirates himself.

Not to these slavers.

”I think he deserves a reward for such good behaviour!” Fodrino snapped his fingers. “A bed. In the kitchens for him, for now.”

“Of course, your Holiness. It will be done.”

He hated how good that sounded.

”Thank you very much for your kindness, Master.” Sanji bowed his head.

He hated how he said that so easily.

He hoped that his Luffy would find him soon.

~

Sanji laid a plate down on Fodrino’s tea table, just like how he was taught. He wasn’t even acknowledged in doing so, but he knew if he didn’t put in properly, he would be scolded.

It was tea time for his so-called master and his son, which meant that Sanji was in charge of the tea and desserts that came with it.

Sanji had never hated tea time so much before coming here.

He looked on with pity at the slave that was underneath the son’s feet. He looked to be in rough shape, struggling with kneeling in that position. It didn’t help that he looked black and blue, some of those bruises along his body shoe shaped. 

He had seen this one around a fair bit. Judging from some of the tattoos, he used to be a pirate. Sanji was isolated from the other slaves, at least for now, but he saw many of the girl slaves brought to Fodrino’s chambers and the families ‘favourites’ that stayed with them. Not by name, but by form, by presence.

Sanji thought about how lucky he was to not be in that position. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The son kicked his slave. “You’re supposed to be more comfortable!” He whined, acting more like a child then whatever age he was.

The man wheezed, readjusting himself. Sanji caught sight of the others eyes looking at him in sheer defeat.

”Xandros, your birthday is coming up shortly.” Fodrino prattled on, taking a sip of his tea. “You had said you wanted to go to Sabaody, correct?”

”Yes! My friends and I are planning a Mermaid hunt!” Xandros boasted, kicking the man again. “We want to see if we can catch any for ourselves. Heberatin even said he knows of some bounty hunters that can help us! And if not we can try and kill some fish-men while we’re there!” He laughed at the thought.

His father joined him in his amusement. ”You and your friends always have such wonderful events planned. I might join you if only to check out some human shops there for myself, see if anything of interest is for sale. It’s around that time of year.”

“In that case, Father, I want to bring our best ship, the Raconia! I’ve been meaning to show it off to my friends, Alterb will be red in the face seeing it—-ARg! So lumpy. That is it!” Fodrino’s son scoffed, kicking the slaves side, having him topple over. “Useless!”

A gunshot ran through the foyer garden, and Sanji started, watching with shock as the man slumped from where he had been sitting up, red began to seep from under him. 

The man never sat back up.

“Xandros!” Fodrino scolded. “Must you have done that in this room? You know the floor is difficult to clean here.”

“Sorry Father, but this thing was irritating to no end! I couldn’t take it anymore!” Xandros whined. “I want a better foot rest than that one! Father, for my birthday I want a stronger pirate!”

Fodrino sighed. ”I suppose it can’t be helped, that one was getting on in years, we’ll find you a nice, strong pirate. In the meantime you can use—”

Both of the Celestial Dragons and Caretaker heads snapped as their conversation abruptly ended, looking at Sanji as he had dropped one of the cups in his hand from shaking with rage.

Damn it.

Fodrino clicked his tongue. “Caretaker.” He called out, looking none too impressed. “Discipline him.”

Caretaker bowed, hand coming up to his heart. “At once, Saint Fodrino. You have my utmost apologies for such a careless mistake and poor behavior. It won’t happen again.”

”See that it doesn’t.” Fodrino began to fan himself. He frowned, looking almost disappointed. “And after he was doing such a good job too. But I am merciful master, and won’t remove any of his previous rewards. He will learn it’s better this way in due time.”

Sanji felt the grip on his arm squeeze and twist. He was supposed to do something.

There was no winning with this.

“…Thank you for your mercy, Master.” Sanji bowed his head. He knew better than to push more buttons at this point. Not if he wanted to live, or get back to his crew relatively unharmed.

While Caretaker made him fall to his knees to receive his punishment, he caught a glimpse of the pleased smile on Fodrino’s lips at his words, the giddiness on his sons, and Sanji wondered what it would be like to kick such lumpy folds of human scum.

As much as Sanji didn’t want to be punished, he almost welcomed the beating he was about to receive, because how he had reacted wasn’t what the Celestial Dragons wanted. That it wasn’t normal to kill a slave, a human being, for something so trivial. 

Sanji’s eyes followed to the body of the slave, his mind wandering but still taking in those tattoos along his skin. Perhaps to remember the man, he didn’t know.

“Repeat after me: The Celestial Dragons are gods!” Caretaker stated, raising his arm, then striking down onto Sanji’s back.

Sanji winced. “The Celestial Dragons are gods.” He repeated, his voice deadpan.

He tried to think of bringing drinks to Robin and Nami instead, even when cold water splashed on him and the stick struck his skin. Even when he repeated each word like a mantra or spell that Caretaker wanted him to learn. This type of weather, perhaps a tropical drink, banana and mango, with some strawberry. 

“The Celestial Dragons words are law!”

”The Celestial Dragons words are law.”

Nami’s would have to have some tangerine syrup made from her trees of course, Robin’s a cherry on top or two, she seemed to enjoy eating those recently. Perhaps a light cherry cake, made with almond flour would go well with the drinks.

“Saint Fodrino is your master!”

”Saint Fodrino…is my master.”

Franky’s he could make it a float. Chopper’s he’d add some chocolate curls on the top and maybe some chocolate sauce inside as well. Brook always liked those little umbrellas for some reason, he’d put two of them on top for the skeleton, have Usopp draw little whales on them. 

“You belong to him.”

”I be…belong to him…”

Speaking of Usopp, he’d add perhaps a maple syrup to it, Usopp would sometimes talk about the winter in Syrup village and the fresh maple syrup his hometown would make, having a fondness for that kind of sweetness. 

“You obey his word.”

”I obe-obey his wo…word.”

He was still figuring out Jinbei’s preferences, and seafood didn’t translate for fruit desserts. But he had been learning to make mochi, so perhaps he could add it to the drink as a topping. He remembered Jinbei eating some at the festival in Wano. Maybe add some red bean as well.

“You have a merciful and kind master.”

“I h-have a…merciful and kind m-master.”

For Zoro’s there was a matcha mango combination he could try to make the drink less sweet, he had made that into a cake one time and he had seen the swordsman take a third piece when he’d normally take only seconds. 

“You will do everything for your lord and master that he asks of you.”

“I-I…wi-will do eve…everyth-thing for my lord…lord ‘n master that he…that he asks…of me...”

And for Luffy, he would add more banana. Not just because he was more monkey than man sometimes, but he enjoyed that fruit the most ever since he had known his captain. Perhaps it meant something to him from before he went on his grand adventure.

“Apologise for your outlandish behaviour and ask for forgiveness!”

Sanji all but fell forward, letting his forehead hit the ground. It felt so cool on his skin, while his body was on fire. ”I…Apologise for my behavior. Please…forgive me Master…”

“Marvelous! Splendid! A good showing, Caretaker!” Sanji heard the clapping, his eyes hazey. “And what a wonderful apology. Of course this one forgives you, Chef, you know how painful it is for me to punish you. But you took that punishment so well.” The sickening sweet tone washed over Sanji, as if he was a child that needed comfort. “Good boy.”

He was thrown onto the kitchen floor when they were done with the discipline. Sanji laid there for who knows how long before he slowly lifted his head up, looking at the bed that he had acquired just last week before he closed his eyes.

He didn’t want to make it bloody, sleeping on the floor was good enough. He’ll heal while he sleeps.

Maybe if he laid down here, it would feel like the slight sway of the Sunny…

Sanji awoke to a foot slamming into him. He peeled an eye open to spot a familiar looming shadow over him. It felt like he had just blinked before he was awake again.

”It’s time to wake up! Saint Fodrino’s hungry.”

~

Sanji trudged in front of Caretaker, his eyes barely open after another grueling day of serving this family of barbarians.

He had survived through dinner without any incidents. Praised for his good behaviour, even though Sanji wanted to spit in his face.

He was so tired, his body aching from all the bruises still wrapped around his body from the other day. Not to mention he had just been giving his dose of drugs shortly after dinner. The cart was aiding him in his ability to walk upright and back to the kitchen luckily. 

He wanted nothing but to sleep and hope for an easier tomorrow.

“…Cook?”

They were about to turn a corner, then head up back to the kitchen but stopped short, as someone else walked out from where they were supposed to go.

Someone who wasn’t supposed to be there.

Sanji blinked slowly at the sudden title that came from the newcomer. He stared at him for a moment, seeing the utter baffled look on the other’s face, that started to morph between relief and rage. Sanji’s mouth worked slowly, because he wasn’t meant to speak unless ordered to, but seeing the man there made whatever he learned here seem so trivial. “Mari—?“

He was cut off by Caretaker, his black form appearing at his side to come in between the two. ”Who are you?” He demanded. “And what is your business in Saint Fordrino’s ho—?”

And the man was gone, his presence wiped away from Sanji’s vision as if it never existed near him ever since he came to this place. Sanji blinked again, turning his head to the newly formed crater in a wall, his caretaker in the middle, with a puddle of red growing around him. There was no movement.

He barely registered the hand that grabbed under his elbow, beginning to move him, his hands easily slipping off of the cart handle. He probably should be more startled by this, but for some reason, he didn’t seem to mind.

”’m supposed to stay with him…” He mumbled out, stumbling as he was half dragged away.

”Unless he was the nicest person in the world to you, Cook, I don’t care.”

He shook his head. “He was my trainer. Had a stick that zapped me.” His legs still stung from this morning.

“Should’ve gone slower then.” There was a growl in Zoro’s voice that Sanji strangely appreciated.

They had turned around another corner, and Zoro propped Sanji against the wall, his body practically hiding him from the view of the villa. Shielding him so that Sanji could think maybe he wasn’t here anymore.

How nice.

”…The hell did they do to you?” Zoro grumbled out, low enough that Sanji wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or not.

For some reason, Sanji felt the urge to grin so he did, showing all of his teeth. ”Drugged. On probation, and some other shitty words I don’t want to think about right now.” Sanji continued to stare at Zoro because he was pretty sure that he was talking to a hallucination, but this one was strangely more real than the others that happened.

He watched as Zoro raised his hand so slowly and carefully, as if he was trying to approach a nervous stray. Sanji only felt the collar around his neck lean slightly more on one side to figure out where the hand went.

Sanji stiffened as he felt the weight shift. It was weird that he was being moved by his daydream, normally they went away after a few minutes. Maybe this was Caretaker afterall, was he being jostled awake to make another meal?

Deciding he had enough of this non reality, Sanji lifted one of his hands and poked the fake Zoro in the chest, trying to pop him like a balloon. That would teach his brain to mess with him.

Huh, he didn’t pop.

Weird.

“…What are you doing?” Zoro raised an eyebrow.

“Figuring out why you’re solid...” Sanji mumbled, his finger pressing further onto the fabric. There was some give, so he was making progress but something solid was in the way. 

Bone?

But only Brook was all bones. Sanji quirked his lip at the stupid skull joke he made.

”Why?”

”Because I don’t want to wake up just yet.”

When Sanji looked back up to stare at Zoro’s face, trying to decipher the sudden look that appeared on his face. It looked so pained, like he just lost someone important right in front of him. “Zoro?” He asked, slumping his head to one side. Normally the crew wasn’t sad when they saw him in his dreams.

Maybe because he was with the dream moss, maybe because he was just so tired, Sanji began to slide down the wall he was up against. Zoro was quick, catching him by his shoulders and steadying him in his feet. Sanji flopped onto the heat that was Zoro’s chest. He should probably not be doing that. But this daydream Zoro felt oddly warm and supportive and he can’t remember the last time he felt warmth like this.

“S-sorry…” Sanji mumbled into the cloth. He crinkled his nose. “Still smell like a shitty marimo…”

“Shut it.” There was an exasperated sigh. “Let’s get you to Luffy…and Chopper.”

It was so quick, one moment he was staring at fabric, the next, he felt his arms loop around a neck and the familiar feeling of being lifted onto a back, gently yet quickly. 

Sanji blinked. This was new. ”They’re here?” He asked.

”Yeah, everyone’s here, Cook.”

It took awhile to form the thought he hadn’t wanted to entertain until now. “You’re real then…”

Zoro scoffed, sounding between a snort and something a little sad. ”I’m real, Curly. The others too. They’re all here. We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Sanji felt warm at those words. Of course they would never sell him, and of course they stopped their adventures to find him. Just like Luffy did back in Whole Cake. Just like when he asked Robin for help. Hearing it through his nakama’s voice, though, made the feeling so much more real than in his own head and heart. 

”They said you sold me off…” Sanji mumbled, his mind a bit jumbled. No matter how many times they gave him this shitty drug, the first while always hit hard.

“And you believed them?”

He wanted to say no, of course not. “I don’t really remember much about that day…” Was what came out of his mouth instead.

He heard Zoro click his tongue. ”We didn’t sell you, Cook. It had been a trap. We tried to get you but…”

“It’s okay…” Sanji slid his eyes close and smiled to himself as he still felt the warmth from the body beneath him. It really wasn’t a dream. “Figured you guys wouldn’t want to deal with Luffy’s appetite on your own for much longer…”

Sanji felt the barked out laugh ripple through Zoro’s body, but it felt strangely forced, sad. “He’s been nothing but a pain, so make sure to feed him a feast once we get you back on the Sunny.”

Sanji remained silent for a moment more, absorbing the warmth and familiarity of this interaction, he’ll take the mosshead over the Celestial Dragons any day, not that he would ever tell him that. Trying his best not to dig his collar into the swordsman, he shifted his head.

”…Does that mean I can go home?” he asked, his voice childlike and filled with hope.

Sanji felt the grip on him tighten, and while that aggravated some of his injuries, it made him feel all the safer somehow.

”Yeah. We’re bringing you home, Cook.”

~

The cook had fallen asleep.

Which was fine, he had looked like death himself warmed over when he had found him and that suit bastard. Which did little to help with the guilt of having taken so long to find and rescue him. He didn’t want to think about how much longer the cook could hold on if they took their time.

But that also meant that he didn’t have help finding out where the exit was. If anyone would know this palace it would be the idiot cook on his back.

It didn’t matter, because at least the cook was with them again, the weight on his back loosening a knot in his chest that had never left since that day. He could make another exit if he had to.

Now it was time to bring him home and get the hell out of here.

Zoro started to run through the corridors, hoping that he could find the others that had gotten lost again, regroup, and head back out to the Sunny. 

Kicking a fancy looking door down, he walked into the room. This looked like an exit…

”Gadzooks!”

“Who the devil is this man?”

“Father, what is going on?!”

”Guards!”

Zoro clicked his tongue. “Damn it. Wrong door.”

At another glance, it looked more like a fancy dining room, with a family of Celestial Dragons, a few slaves, some more suit people, and knights.

Zoro eyed the dining room table, filled with extravagant food. It was a meal made by the cook for sure. It smelt familiar, like a home cooked meal greeting you after a long day.

How dare they take that away for themselves.

The one at the head of the table got up from his chair, gasping. ”What are you doing with my Chef?!”

”He’s not yours.” Zoro growled.

What a frustrating event, how he had been delivered these Celestial bastards on a silver platter but he couldn’t do anything about it. Not while Sanji was sleeping on his back, without a care in the world.

Stupid idiot, falling asleep like he trusted Zoro to get him home safely.

Another door was kicked open and Zoro smirked, not even having to look in that direction to know who it was. It didn’t matter now that he couldn’t do anything to these slimey people.

His captain was here.

”Zoro!” Luffy called out happily, raising his arms. “So here’s where you wandered off to!”

”I didn’t wander off!” Zoro hissed. “You idiots just got lost again!”

Brook laughed. “Your stage direction can use a hand, Zoro-san! Though my hands are nothing but bones yohohoho~”

Usopp slumped forward. “Man, luckily we found you. There's been a lot of—“

”Sanji.” Luffy said, his face frozen in realisation, quieting everyone’s banter. “Zoro, you found Sanji.”

And that was all that needed to be said before Luffy began to walk towards the two.

“Halt!”

”Eek! What filthy creatures!”

”Don’t you dare move!”

”That skeleton moves! Father, I want that skeleton!”

”How dare you ignore me! I am Saint Fodrino, you peasants! You must obey me!”

The shouts were ignored, the guns forgotten, the self-proclaimed Gods and their bodyguards didn’t receive an ounce of attention from Luffy as he closed the distance between where he had stood to his cook, to Sanji. 

Zoro shifted himself so Luffy could see his cook better on his back. His eyes on the enemies in the room. If they moved before Luffy had his chance with Sanji, he knew the others would step in.

”Sanji!” Luffy breathed, his voice full of sunshine as he looked at his cook.

Seemingly hearing Luffy, Sanji twitched, his eyes slowly opening, lifting his head just enough to show Luffy his whole face. A dazed blue eye looked at him, asking a question, a little confused, but happy all the same.

Luffy grinned happily back in return, his eyes opening to land on the metal he saw wrapped around his cook’s neck.

The first thing Luffy did, the first thing that should have been done seconds ago, hours ago, months ago, was grip that collar around Sanji’s neck and tear it off with ryu-o, tossing the pieces as far as he could away from his cook. The explosion going off where it would never harm him.

He looked on as Sanji blinked owlishly at him, confused as he reached one of his hands to touch his neck, his fingers brushing over the raw and red skin. Luffy brought his own hand towards his head, taking off his straw hat and placing it delicately on top of Sanji’s head.

Sanji’s fingers flitted towards that instead, his thumb rubbing the rim. His eyes seemed to finally focus on his captain in front of him. 

He was greeted by a small but bright lopsided smile. It was a little shy and Luffy welcomed it in his heart as much as the water in Alabasta.

”Hey, Captain…” Sanji said quietly. Luffy heard the hoarseness, the tremble and the weakness. But he also heard the light, the happiness, the Sanji he knew and loved and treasured and left to be taken away.

”Hey, Sanji.” Luffy grinned in return. “You just have to wait a little while longer, but we’ll be back on Sunny in no time.”

Sanji’s smile stayed, though it grew weaker as his eyes drooped. “Can’t…can’t wait…Have to…cook…”

And wasn’t that just Sanji? Even through all of this, he thought of feeding his crew.

Luffy couldn’t help but keep his smile as Sanji relaxed into Zoro’s back again, falling asleep. He was probably so glad to finally be with his crew again, and still trusted them enough to bring him home.

And Luffy would not let that trust be broken. Not this time.

His smile disappeared as soon as he knew Sanji was fully asleep.

”Zoro.” Luffy said, a question and command in his voice.

”Aye.” Zoro replied, answering everything he needed to know and more.

Luffy loved his crew.

Zoro went to join Brook and Usopp and they began their way back to the Sunny. With Sanji still on his back. He couldn’t wait to see Sanji back on Sunny again, to eat Sanji’s food again. To see Sanji smiling and being free again.

“Guards! Stop that man!”

”Fools! Call the marines! Where are the admirals?”

”Bring back my Chef at on—“

Black lighting struck out of Luffy’s body, his Conqueror's Haki manifesting throughout the room as all the window glass shattered and scattered throughout the room, breaking precious vases, toppling paintings off of walls and bursting chairs into splinters.

Luffy stood on the dinner table glaring at each stunned Celestial Dragon’s face. He could smell Sanji’s cooking in the air and he clenched his fists. They were eating Sanji’s food and not appreciating it, not valuing it as they should.

He took one of the dishes with meat and took it all into his mouth and swallowed it.

It was delicious, but it tasted sad. 

Luffy will have to apologize for wasting the rest of the food to Sanji.

”You took Sanji as if he belonged to you,” Luffy started coldly, his hair blocking his eyes as he stood back up. “And you hurt him.”

Luffy unleashed another bout of his Conqueror's Haki, all the guards that had begun approaching him falling to their knees. He didn’t harm any of the slaves either, they were going to be free too. But he let the Celestial Dragons stay awake. Because they had to watch.

They had to learn.

”Sanji was never yours,” Luffy stated, implanting the vow into the world, and sealing it forever into the stars. His eyes snapped to the man at the table, raising his fist. “And I won’t forgive you for taking him away from me.”

The punch couldn’t lift all the guilt his crew felt from that day.

It couldn’t fix Sanji. It couldn’t protect him.

But it left a reminder to the Celestial Dragons, along with the rest of the world.

You did not steal from the Straw Hat Pirates.

~

Franky, Chopper and Nami were waiting for them on the Sunny, prepared for injuries and for a quick escape. Jinbei had taken Robin in another group to help with aiding other slaves in this villa since they were here. Sabo and his group were checking the rest of the houses on the island and dealing with the transportation of the freed slaves.

That left Brook, Luffy, Zoro and himself, the mighty God Usopp, to tackle the ‘finding Sanji and wrecking this place down’ plan.

Which was a success!

Luffy had stayed behind to deal with the Celestial Dragons. And while they had wanted to argue, to let themselves get a hit in, all objections had died in their throats at the look in Luffy’s eyes.

But that meant they were down a fighter, and Usopp was too busy shooting ahead of them, to tackle the increasing amount of guards that were running towards them from behind!

”O-oi, Zoro. I could use your help here! Why don’t I take Sanji and you can do your thing?” Usopp smiled nervously, aiming more of his pop stars at the enemy.

“Not a chance.” Zoro growled, and Usopp could have sworn that he gripped Sanji even tighter, not even looking at his swords. Rude!

”But we’re getting into serious trouble! I can’t do it on my own!”

”Deal with it.”

Usopp felt like he was going insane! Why wasn’t Zoro of all people not wanting to fight?

”Allow me, Usopp-san,” Brook said, his voice chilling to hear as he unsheathed his blade. “I feel the same sentiment as Zoro-san does, and we will not let the same circumstances occur twice!”

Oh.

Usopp could still picture Zoro’s face when they met up with him after trying to find Sanji.  The guilt, the devastation, the absolute weight that he had placed on himself when he realised that they had taken Sanji away from them when Zoro had been trying to carry him to safety.

Brook had looked melancholic, his voice filled with sorrow as he apologised for not being strong enough to protect their cook. For having to be helped by Zoro, for leaving Sanji unprotected and being whisked away to be a slave.

No one could blame them, Luffy set them straight as soon as those words were left hanging in the air, and to Nami who felt responsible too. But the three carried that burden the whole time in their search. Zoro trained even more, locking himself up in the crows nest, and Brook’s music took a sad turn. The times Nami cooked she did so without asking for any berry.

It had been a very serious situation. Usopp tried to help her during those times, to help shoulder at least a fraction of the burden she felt.

And now, they would not let the same situation happen again. Zoro will not drop Sanji again even if it was to draw his swords, and Brook wasn’t going to let them become overwhelmed so that Zoro was forced to do so.

And that meant that Usopp had to work twice as hard. To make sure his nakama wouldn’t feel that way ever again.

He will do what they can’t.

“Alright.” Usopp replied to no one in particular. Knocking even more pop stars in his black kabuto. He would take the hall where they were going, while Brook would take the one they had just come from.

It was working, they moved through the halls and corridors, making progress. Getting Sanji further and further away from this horrendous place and closer to Sunny, and making sure that Zoro didn’t wander off the trail.

They were nearing the end, as Usopp still moved forward, he faltered when Brook stopped. “B-Brook? Oi, what’s going on? We’re almost there!” Usopp shouted, skidding to a halt and Zoro following suit.

Usopp didn’t want to stay here any longer than he had too.

”I have had enough,” Brook stated, the anger simmering in his words. He swiped his sword, cold air seeping through it. ”These people will not get their way any longer!”

He almost felt sorry for Brook’s opponents as they screamed in terror and fell, defeated, the ice building and building until it blocked the whole corridor. He could feel the chill of death in the air from all the ice, causing him to shiver.

Usopp knew Brook could do some cool things with his devil fruit.

But one small glance at the unconscious form on top of Zoro’s back made any pity he had fly out the window.

They were in the clear. 

At least, for now.

”Aplogies for the wait.” Brook said, calmly, returning to the group, sheathing his sword. “I believe we can continue our departure.”

“Oh…”

The three of them blinked, and turned simultaneously as they heard a quiet rasp of a voice coming from Zoro’s back.

And Usopp wanted to put that voice in a tone dial and put it on repeat. Tears began to water his eyes at the thought of never having to hear that voice ever again. It had been too long.

“Ah, Sanji-san, are you in any pain?” Brook asked, leaning down to examine their cook. “We will be at Sunny-san momentarily and Chopper-san is waiting for—oh!”

One of Sanji’s hands had lifted from their spot around Zoro’s neck, and plopped on top of Brook’s afro, giving it a squish or three.

Usopp burned that image into his memory to treasure.

”Black Broccoli…” Sanji softly mumbled, forming a small precious smile. “You’re back…”

Usopp watched Brook become slack jawed, a minute shaking in his bones. Tears began to fill up in his eye ducts. 

”Yes, I have returned,” Brook said gently, smiling as he held back tears. “and I will not leave your side, Sanji-san. Not until you are safe and sound back home. You have my word.”

The hand in Brook’s hair fell but was caught by Brook’s easily. He squeezed the hand and Usopp could tell he didn’t want to let go and he didn’t blame him, but he placed it around Zoro’s neck again, making sure he was secure.

“Let’s go.” Zoro ordered, moving ahead of the two.

”Aye!”

”Zoro wait! You can’t be ahead! Don't turn that waaaay!”

~

Nami swiveled and continued her pacing near the railing of the Sunny. Her heels clicking through the near silence of where they were anchored

She was going to get every one in this crew a vivre card after this. She wasn’t sure how, but she will get this done.

Everything was ready for their departure. The cola was set for a coup de burst, Chopper's supplies were laid out for the most likely injuries that Sanji and perhaps the others would have. And Nami made sure the weather stayed clear and everything was ready for leaving this place and never coming back here again.

Maybe she should skip this island on her map.

Hopefully next time they come through this area, the island would have something better than villas for Celestial Dragons on it.

She turned on her heel again.

She wanted to go on the island and burn it all to the ground. But, she was told to stay here, and keep the ship ready for departure and to hold it down, in case any guards got any funny ideas of attacking them.

A few singed metal armour that laid not far from Sunny, none of the men moving inside them, knew that her captain's trust was well placed.

Nami glanced at the other ships off in the distance as she turned to face it, seeing a small crowd forming to go onboard.

Another villa had been freed. Sabo, Koala and the Revolutionaries did fast work. She was impressed.

Luffy had been ready to storm Mariejois once they found out that Sanji had been taken and they couldn’t find the Celestials Dragons ship. Franky had been making plans on how to make Sunny fly up there, ready to bring them to war. Everyone was eager to get Sanji back, not caring how much blood would be spilled.

Robin, with all her wisdom, had contacted Sabo about the situation. And soon, they were working with the Revolutionary Army about tracking and locating their Sanji.

Walking into Enies Lobby was one thing, scaling the Red Line where the highest order of people were, including marines, was another thing entirely.

And it was a good thing too, because Sabo had informed them that Sanji wasn’t at Mariejois, he was on a much easier to get to island, where there were less people to piss off and hurt them back.

While Luffy wanted nothing more than to just charge in, grab Sanji and leave, leaving behind slaves, including in the other houses on that island, did leave a slight bitter taste in everyone's mouth when Jinbei asked what they would do with them. 

They didn’t have the resources for that kind of rescue.

And that was where Sabo came in. The Straw Hats would worry about Sanji, and help with that particular villa's slaves, and Sabo and the Revolutionary Army would take care of the rest, transporting the free people away.

It was almost a good thing that she had seen that cooking contest. A win-win situation, really.

She couldn’t even begin to entertain that thought before she threw it out of her mind. Nothing could bring her any consolation over this.

Remembering how that man told them that Sanji had been sold, giving them the prize money as if it was nothing.

“Nami sis I know you’re worried, but Sunny’s gonna have a groove where you're pacing.”

Nami huffed, placing her hands on her hips, but she continued her walking. “You built Sunny stronger than that, Franky and you know it.”

Franky laughed, rubbing the back of his head. “You got me there! But maybe it’s better to calm down and trust Luffy-bro and the others. They’ll be back super soon, with Curly-bro in tow.” 

That made Nami stop in her tracks, frowning at the deck below her. She knew that, she really did. But she hated this waiting.

”I SEE THEM!”

Both of them snapped their heads upwards as Chopper's voice rang out from the crow’s nest before they turned to the island. And Nami felt tears spring to her eyes, a smile easily forming on her face for the first time since this started.

There they were.

She recognized the forms of Usopp and Brook running towards their ship, occasionally taking down an enemy. It was almost surreal to see Zoro not joining in on the fray, but from the slight misshapen form, Nami could take one guess on why that is.

“Sanji-kun.” Nami whispered, almost afraid this was a dream.

Sanji was there.

Relief and worry washed over her as they approached, more thoughts racing in her head at why the other was being carried, but there was no time to worry about that. She needed to support the others so they could board Sunny safely.

A few gusts, and thunderstorms, along with some help from Franky and his strong rights and beams, the four landed safely on deck.

Nami caught sight of a familiar hat billowing in the wind as Zoro with great care, took Sanji off of his back and placed him onto the grassy deck, Luffy's hat almost acting like a pillow for him. A sight she had been wishing to see for months.

”We are back!” Brook announced happily. “It’s so nice to see everyone here! Ah, but I don’t have any eyes to see! Yohohoho~”

Sanji was back home.

”SANJIII!” Cried Chopper, tears freely falling from his face as he ran over to the cook, nuzzling his face into his shoulder.

“Curly-brooo!” Franky cried out, already bawling his eyes out. “Welcome home, buddy! We super missed you!”

Why wasn’t there a reply?

”Is he okay? Why’s he asleep?” Nami asked, her voice raising in volume as her concern couldn’t be contained anymore.

”Cook was acting weird when I found him.” Zoro explained, positioning himself in a stance Nami recognised as ready for combat, his head swivelling along every angle. “Probably still on those drugs Jinbei mentioned. Idiot was out like a light once he figured out I was real.”

Why couldn’t more of those guards come by for her to electrocute?

”I’ll get him set up in the infirmary…” Chopper began, already looking serious as he grew into his heavy point to carry him.

Nami knew that was for the best, Sanji should be treated for whatever those Celestial bastards had done to him. But something nagged at her in her soul. 

“W-wait!” Nami startled herself when she spoke up, earning a few confusing looks. “Chopper, before you take him…just wait, okay?”

Chopper looked up at her at the strange request. “Ah, but…”

”I agree with Nami-san, Chopper-san.” Brook said. “If you could wait just until everyone arrives…”

Nami was glad Brook understood where she was coming from.

”Oh!” Chopper started, transforming back into his brain point. “Yes, I think that’ll be okay…” He trailed off, already giving Sanji a look through, mumbling to himself on what he saw. Getting a headstart on his diagnosis.

Nami glanced at Zoro, who still stood at the ready, his hand on one of his swords. Every so often his eyes would flit over to Sanji, making sure he was still there, before his eyes went back to perceive a threat.

”You did good,” Nami said, putting her hands behind her. “It’ll be okay. He’s back.”

Zoro clicked his tongue at her words, but she saw his shoulders relax albeit a fraction. It was enough for now. 

He was so hard on himself.

“Jinbei and Robin coming in!” Usopp announced.

Nami was a little disappointed that the two weren’t being followed by enemy guards. At the thought she sighed inwardly. She was beginning to sound like Zoro. He was such an awful influence on her.

“How’d it go?” Nami asked as the two came aboard.

“Wonderfully.” Robin nodded. “We freed all the people from the villa and sent them Sabo’s way. Koala had already met up with them to aid in their journey. She says they’re just about done.”

Nami nodded. “That’s great news.” They had only really come for Sanji and the villa, but she was so glad that all those people will be freed and be able to start anew as well. Many families will be reunited. 

”Oh, Sanji!” Robin stated, her eyes widening as she briskly made her way over to the rest of the crew. “You found him.”

Usopp nodded. “Yeah, and let me tell you, that it wasn’t easy. These guys had giants crossed with sea beasts! How they fit into those halls I’ll never know but-”

Ignoring Usopp’s rambling, Robin lowered down to the deck, smiling softly, tears in her eyes as she gently threaded her hand through Sanji’s hair. “It’s good to see you again, Cook-san.” She said sweetly, using her old nickname.

Jinbei stuttered his breath as he joined her, blinking back tears. He folded over, lowering his head even further. “I’m so glad.” He said, his voice trembling. Nami walked over and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. Jinbei had been troubled by this whole thing, adding a different weight to the situation from his experience that she supposed everyone on board will experience now.

To the world, Sanji was now considered an ex-slave. She shivered at the thought.

He shouldn’t have been one in the first place, a voice rang through her head.

There was a large boom and everyone looked over, faintly seeing something long and thin burst through the roof of the villa. Nami recognized it as Luffy’s battle axe attack. He was probably wrapping up before heading back here.

Everyone watched in muted satisfaction as a portion of the enormous villa collapsed. A dust cloud surging upward at the sudden destruction.

Luffy landed on the Sunny as gracefully as ever soon after, looking strange without his hat around his neck. She would scold him for rocking the ship from that landing but her words died in her throat as she saw Luffy brighten at the sight of seeing Sanji dozing on the grass. 

She was glad Chopper waited.

“The Celestials?” Franky asked, his voice heavy.

”Dealt with.” Luffy replied simply, his hands clenching into fists. “They won’t bother Sanji ever again.” 

Everyone nodded, they had no doubt it was settled.

Luffy walked over to his crew, kneeling down with them beside Sanji. He studied his cook for a moment, before looking up straight at Chopper.

“Chopper.” Luffy said simply. Asking for something he didn’t need to.

”Right!” Chopper nodded, getting back into his heavy point. “Leave it to me!”

Everyone’s eyes were on the form that Chopper gently scooped into his arms, and after Luffy adjusted his hat on Sanji, their eyes trailed after the two, staying even as the door closed behind him.

With the click of the door, the atmosphere on the Sunny finally lightened. It wasn’t completely gone, there was still worry, and guilt that won’t fade away instantly after two months of festering, but there was a sigh of relief felt throughout the ship. One that was the beginning of the erosion for those feelings.

Sanji was back home.

”Let’s leave.” Luffy announced, not in his usual boisterous voice, but a steady one, a smile on his face. 

”Did you want to see Sabo before we left, Luffy?” Robin asked, tilting her head to the side.

Luffy shook his head, his face stone. “Sabo has things he needs to do.” He stated. “We’ll see each other again.”

Nami vaguely wondered what the news coo will show in the newspapers. Will it highlight just the Revolutionary Army randomly picking this island to plunder their slaves? Will it show the Straw Hats in a negative light for attacking a Celestial Dragon again?

Would the slaves wonder why they were freed so strangely? How the Straw Hats helped and left before anyone could say their thanks or gratitude? While they had only focused on one and the rest were merely a bonus?

Nami brushed her arm lightly, her hands going over the scars and tattoo. Did any of that even matter?

They were pirates after all.

“Set sail!” Luffy shouted out.

”Aye!”

~

No one left the galley while the infirmary door was closed and the curtain in the window was drawn.

Zoro sat by the wall next to the door, cleaning his swords for what seemed to be the third time.

Luffy sat across from the door, enough space for the door to swing open. His eyes staring at the door, almost willing to burn a hole through it so he could see what was inside. A barely touched sandwich beside him.

It wasn’t Sanji’s cooking, and he was so tired of not having Sanji’s cooking.

Everyone else was scattered around the galley. Sitting on the couch, the table, the bar. Robin had brought a book never turning the page it was on, some of Usopp’s equipment were on the table, barely tinkered with. Nami didn’t even try to pretend to work on something, her eyes staring into space, lost in thought. Brook plucked his guitar, tuning it several times, but not playing anything besides a few basic chords.

Franky and Jinbei kept themselves busy by patrolling outside interminently to make sure there was no one around. They left that island to get their distance but found a small shoal to lay anchor at while they waited for the results.

There was shuffling, then the familiar noise of hooves walking. Everyone’s heads snapped to the direction before the door even began to open.

Chopper emerged slowly from the infirmary, opening the door enough to slip out before closing it gently and quietly.

Luffy’s hands clenched in his lap. 

They were denied seeing their nakama.

They had to be patient again.

No one said a thing as they waited with baited breath for Chopper to begin to speak.

”Much of Sanji’s injuries seem to be minor in the destructive sense. He has several bruised ribs, but no severe breaks, or any improper healing.” Chopper stated, his tone even and professional. “There are a few electrical burns along his body, including his hands, but they were all treatable. Some of the older injuries will take longer to heal, and there could be some scarring, but he should make a full recovery. 

“The drugs have been in his system since he was taken.” Chopper continued. “It’s a different type of tranquilliser I’ve seen before, but I should be able to get its compounds from his blood and create some more of a lower dosage.”

”More!? Why?” Usopp asked, sounding exasperated. They just got Sanji off of those meds, why would he need more?

”To see if he needs to be weaned off.” Robin explained. Any other objection died in the wind.

Chopper nodded. “Exactly. I’ll be monitoring his condition when he wakes up to see if that is the case.”

Luffy nodded. He would leave that kind of stuff to Chopper, and if they needed to help too, they would.

Chopper touched his hooves together, his mask faltering. “T-there’s one more thing…”

They all waited patiently for the doctor to continue, trying to brace themselves for what was to come.

“The brand…”

And the room somehow churned and tasted sour. The atmosphere crackled with murderous intent.

Nami bit her lip, unshed tears in her eyes. Usopp clenched the table so hard it creaked and left indents, Robin closed her eyes. Jinbei lowered his head, remorseful and mourning. Zoro gripped his sleeve tightly, his other hand gripping the sword he had been working on.

“It was a clean marking, looking to be a second degree burn.” Chopper explained, not looking up as he continued to tap his hooves. “And no infections are indicated on his skin so it healed nicely. It’s…it’s on his back.”

The explanation was over, the medical stuff was accounted for, what needed to be said was said.

Luffy barely opened his arms wide enough before Chopper jumped into them and began to bawl, Luffy hugging him tight as he patted his head.

“Thank you, Chopper.” He said softly. “You’re a great doctor.”

”Saying that,” Chopper sniffled. “Doesn’t make me happy at all, you bastard!”

Nami and Usopp finally let go of all the tension they had been holding, slumping on the table or against the wall.

”It’s finally over…” Usopp mumbled. He felt like he could sleep for six months.

”An important part, yes” Robin mused. “But there is still much work to be done, I’m sure.”

“Sanji-san’s recovery will take some time,” Brook noted. “And not just his physical injuries.”

“We won’t know the full scope until Sanji is awake and moving.” Jinbei said, somber. “There may be some difficult moments ahead that we must be prepared for.”

“We got the cook back,” Zoro stated, finally putting down his sword. “Whatever happens, we’ll take care of it.”

“Yep!” Luffy nodded, along with everyone in the crew. He knew everything would be okay, no matter what. ”Hey, Franky.” 

”Hm? What can I do you for, Captain bro?”

Luffy grinned at his shipwright, before looking down at his doctor. “I have an idea!”

~

Sanji was warm and somewhere soft, was the first thing he thought of when he began to wake up. It was strange, he hadn’t felt like this in a long time.

Was he summoned to cook?

Sanji tried to move, opening his eyes as he tried to move his body, testing his arms and legs. His body felt so sluggish, he could tell it barely shuffled. 

It seemed, however, to cause something beside him to move.

”S-S’nji?” A voice mumbled, full of sleep. But then the motion happened again much quicker and Sanji felt something around his hand squeeze. “Sa-Sanji!”

Sanji saw a body lift up near him, eyes bright and wide, catching the dim light coming from somewhere. The familiar eyes with the familiar scar underneath them, and the familiar messy hair that surrounded them. 

It hadn’t been a dream.

“‘uff…” Sanji breathed out, his chest already feeling tight and warm as he saw his captain’s face beaming down at him.

He hadn’t imagined it.

“Hi Sanji!” Luffy whispered, his smile bright and large. An excited, happy puppy if he ever saw one.

”Where…?”

”We’re in the captain’s quarters!” Luffy said. “Robin said we should move you so you can see Sunny better and you wouldn’t be alone. And we all wanted to see you, so Franky made it nice and cozy. I call it the big lion relaxing room!”

Sanji turned his head to the side as best as he could, noting the wood, the lights, the coziness, the beds, the snores, the familiarity.

Home.

He was home.

Tears began to prick Sanji’s eyes and he shut them tight, trying to not make them fall.

”Sanji?” Luffy started, concern barely veiled in his voice. “O-oi!”

He was so grateful to be out of that hellish place. But those two months of searching for him meant that Luffy couldn’t go after his goal. After his own dream. And that’s what ate up Sanji the most.

”Thank you…” Sanji hiccupped. “Thank you for finding me…thank you…’m sorry…you had to pause your adventure…”

Warm, soft hands cupped his face, and he felt thumbs rub his tears away.

”Sanji.”

Sanji opened his eyes, seeing his captain through tears,

“I told you, didn't I?” Luffy chuckled. “I can’t become the king of the pirates without you.”

Sanji nodded, because that was all he could do, his throat sealed as more tears began to fall. He almost forgot what this felt like, what this acceptance and love that the Straw Hats gave him so freely and readily meant.

He’ll ttreasure it even more for the rest of his life.

Luffy shook his head. “I’m the one who should say sorry.”

Sanji blinked a few times, surprised by that quiet apology. ”F-for what?”

This time, it was Luffy’s eyes that began to water, startling Sanji at the intensity. “I wasted your food on the island.”

Sanji wasn’t sure whether he should laugh or cry, and a choked sob that led to some spluttering coughing was the result. But Luffy’s face stayed in his kicked puppy mode.

He had promised to himself he wouldn’t make his captain cry again.

“Idiot.” Sanji said once he could breathe better. He managed to flop one of his hands to place on Luffy’s head, giving it a few pats. “You found me.” He said quietly yet resolutely. “That’s what matters.”

He felt the warm arms of his captain wrap around him, his face nuzzling into his shoulder. He moved his head to the side, seeing each and every one of his crew sleeping, safe and sound.

”Sanji?” Came a very muffled voice from his shoulder.

”Hm?” Sani hummed, already feeling the pull of sleep beckon him again.

The grip on him tightened. ”It won’t happen again. You’re my cook.”

Sanji huffed, a smile tugging on his lips. Now that Luffy said it, of course it would never happen again. Sanji had complete faith in his captain and crew. “Always.”

He was back home.

Sanji slept.