Cacklin to the sound of Chaos

This does lead to the problem of discovering Sanji, despite the box thing, really liking tight spaces to nap in. Marco or Izou will get a lead on where the kid is sleeping and set up the feed. A lot of the fleet will be yawning and going to get dressed in the morning only to open a drawer or chest and then see the baby of the fleet.

Now there's a decision to make: Keep going in pyjamas, borrow clothes, or wake the little boy?

Any but the last are the good options. On more than one occasions there's been fights where half the crew is in pyjama's because no one figured out where Sanji fell asleep and they didn't want to risk waking him up. I imagine they taught him observation haki and like in Golden the kid just learned how to hide himself faster than anything and it's an immediate problem. Especially if they can't find him while he has the feeding tube.

Marco offers a solution, his dresser. After like the fourth straight night of not finding Sanji after someone spooks him. Specifically the bottom drawer because it's deeper than most, easy to push in and out from inside, and Marco can make the kid a nest. He's given the okay and now Marco is showing Sanji the nest he made and watches Sanji try it out. It's a resounding success! The quiet cheers and thanks to God's after the kid falls asleep is remembered fondly.

We've given Sanji a Laboon plush in others, he can have one here too. White Beard presenting him a plush whale. It's rather big compared to the child but Sanji immediately latches onto it, clearly Germa didn't give him the comfort so needed and desired. Sanji will put it in front of the dresser like a watch guard. Thatch sets it on a stool next to Sanji while he's in the galley, whether it watches him cook or eats with the family depends on the time.

He sets it up in front of whatever hidey hole he's chosen which makes him a lot easier to find. Sanji will hunker down with a cook book or a book of fairy tales. The issue is if he falls asleep it can be really hard to get him out sometimes. Maybe Sanji, after a while with the crew will ask White Beard to be in his pocket to sleep. Maybe after he doesn't have the feeding tube anymore and the captain agrees readily and lets Sanji pull his plush into his hand and gently helps them into his breast pocket. Sanji falls asleep thanks to the warmth and the heartbeat in his captain's chest. White Beard is moving around so carefully as to not wake the baby. Marco, Izou, and Thatch are all staring at the man who is clearly very affected and if he could would probably curl up right then and there if it meant protecting his youngest.

"You think this is going to bite us in the ass?" Thatch asks them.

"Only if he starts dating." Marco answers.

"I don't know if we'll ever approve of anyone for him to date." Izou points out making Thatch and Marco nod after a moment of contemplation.

And listening I love the idea of the plushie getting fucked up, but I don't think Teach would do it. Likely just because the reaction would have been far swifter and Sanji does, eventually, need to go after the bastard for killing Thatch, sorry. I just think emotionally Teach and the war and such are very important moments of mourning for Sanji, but that's later, it's fine!!!

Anyway, probably some newer recruits, Sanji's probably around twelve at the point and a good amount of years in at this point. Only bringing his whale out when things are rough. He's still so small, easily carried by the adults. He's still really jumpy, has food stashed away but everyone seemingly knows his habits by heart. After hearing about the dungeons and his family he was reassured of them wanting him safe and to feel safe. The new recruits have his whale plushie from Oyaji and one of the idiots has him and is covering his mouth and threatening him about his haki while another is toying with it before ripping it.

Teach and some others feel the pure fear from the kid and then rushing towards the source and sees the new recruits. When they see them, moving from the shreds towards the boy it's like autopilot clicks on and they see red. It's bloody and Teach probably disposes of the bodies with Izou and a few others while Thatch goes to refresh Sanji's hidden supplies he keeps. Kid might try to bolt after this and he'll need it likely need it if he does. Sanji's too fucking sneaky after all, he'd have probably a an eight hour head start on them if he did run away.

Marco is dealing with the aftermath in their room, the infirmary had intensified the panic attack. Sanji has a few cuts and scrapes, plenty of bruises shaped like hands and fingers. Sanji eventually starts dissociating and Marco just holds him until he starts coming back to awareness. Sanji eventually blinks and looks and Marco gives him a soft smile.

A few of the more talented crew have taken the shreds of the whale to start repairing it. Newgate keeps a close eye on his baby. The skittishness they had worked so hard now back. He jumps and is hiding in nooks that should be too small but he can squeeze in. That's probably when they realize Sanji is way too bendy and now Marco is running diagnostics and all he's got is "can sit on his own head" and "will have to see if his joints fall out of the sockets" on the page. Tate is horrified at the doctor who is defending that he's not going to pull the baby's arm, he's not fucking stupid like those fucking idiots. And he could just be like some of those contortionists! Just really fucking bendy without fruits.

Tate does not look impressed. Marco just wants to make sure the kid doesn't have a connective tissue disorder.

When the repaired whale is presented it doesn't leave Sanji's sight at all for days. Someone is often seen carrying Sanji and his whale plushie to bed. Or someone is following with the plushie. If it wasn't part of the fleet before it certainly is now. Izou puts a patch of their jolly roger on it at Sanji's request. Sanji's bright smile when seeing it is worth everything and more.

Then some years later Sanji is given a plate by Thatch and told to take it to the guy in the brig. Sanji listens and takes the plate only to see a boy around his age asleep, shirtless, with a bright orange hat in the cell. He leaves the plate and goes back and frowns at Marco.

"He's in there so Pops doesn't toss him through Moby or something worse happens. Kid keeps trying to go after him." Marco tells Sanji without even looking. "It's different, he was trying to kill Pops, still might. He fought Jimbe for like five days before it ended in a draw." He finally looks up from the paperwork.

"So what's the plan then?" Sanji asks, crossing his arms.

"Hopefully he joins, I don't want to think otherwise. He has a little brother in the East." Marco rubs his face and Sanji nods, resigns himself back to the galley where Thatch gives him a sad small smile and pats his shoulder as they continue their work.

Over the next few days Sanji sees what Ace is and isn't eating, deciding to take matters into his own hands and cooks the guy a meal he'll actually clean the plate of. Ace appears to be napping so Sanji steps into the cell and sets the plate down softly and brushes his fingers on Ace's cheek and whispers a good night before departing, maybe he sets his plush up outside the cell to watch over the guy.

Ace makes sure the guy is gone before putting his hands to his face and groaning. The hot guy was there! And he touched him! Left a stuffed whale there to keep him company! The fleet has no right to have someone that adorable on it! It's not fair! Ace looks back at the whale and sees how well loved it is. He's already been in the cell for a long ass time, fuck it.

The next day he agrees to join and a celebration is thrown. Ace keeps looking for Sanji, he doesn't know the name though as Izou chuckles and ask if he's looking for the owner of the whale to the newbie's nod.

"I think our baby has crammed himself into some nook or cranny, but unless you're as bendy as cooked noodle you'll probably not get to him." Izou laughs.

"Is there another fruit or something like the gum gum? My little brother has that one so I didn't think there was another like it?" Ace's confusion shows on his face but more in his soul. Izou waves himself lightly with his fan.

"Nah, kid's just like that. Good luck getting to him, though." Izou waves off.