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In hindsight, Sanji should have expected that this would happen. With a Captain boasting a constantly voracious appetite, a sweet-loving reindeer doctor, and a mooch of a sharpshooter, the tantalizing smells wafting across the entire ship from the galley are enough to draw them into the kitchen faster than a pack of Sea Kings following the smallest trail of blood. The famous chef carefully slides the bowl of sliced pears into his heated cast iron skillet, tossing the fruit well until the melted butter evenly coats every piece of pear. He quickly incorporates the small bowl of brown sugar next before turning his head slightly to grab the pair of lemons he halved while the skillet had warmed on the stove. It’s then that Sanji notices the trio of intruders in his kitchen, drool already collecting on their mouths as their eyes widen in delight.
“Get out,” comes his command, quick, sharp, and to the point, allowing no room for nonsense, a hard look in his ocean blue eyes.
“But, Sanjiiiii!” Luffy whines, yes actually whines, drawing the ending vowel in the cook’s name out for at least three seconds. “I’m hungry and want food!” the young, boisterous Captain insists, bouncing up and down on the soles of his feet.
“I fed you no more than an hour ago, Luffy,” Sanji reminds in a flat tone of voice, mixing together flour, baking powder, salt, and white sugar, smacking one of Luffy’s rubber hands away from the pears.
“Yeah, and it smells delicious, Sanji!” Usopp chimes in, his nose crinkling appreciatively as Sanji continues to glare at the unwanted trio of onlookers all while adding ginger, cardamom, salt, and black pepper to the skillet.
Sanji scoffs, pausing with his kitchen ministrations only long enough to light a cigarette, clamping it tightly between his teeth, trying not to lose his temper.
“Can’t we sample some?” Chopper innocently asks, the tiny reindeer doctor climbing onto one of the barstools to peek over the top of the counter at the dessert cooking.
“We need some! Don’t be so cruel!” Luffy pouts, furrowing his brow in frustration.
“This doesn’t pertain to you, ya rubber-stomached glutton!” Sanji practically roars, rounding the corner of the counter and half-heartedly kicking Luffy back beyond the threshold of the galley door.
He quickly slams and locks the door, a vexed sigh leaving his lips in the same breath. Sanji just wants this to be perfect.
“Nami, love, I have something special for you!” Sanji announces approximately half an hour later, a besotted smile on his face as he approaches the fiery navigator in her study.
A pencil pokes up from behind her ear as she measures the distance between two points on one of her newest in-progress maps.
“Sanji, it looks wonderful!” Nami praises, her eyes widening at the prospect of another one of the cook’s delicacies. “What did I do to deserve this fruitful endeavor?” she inquires, accepting a fork.
“Happy birthday, my darling,” he whispers, kissing her forehead.