#alpha zeff

Sanji crept out of bed and left the stuffed toy behind on the bed. As he made his way across the floor, a whine escaped from his lips and looked back at the bed and the toy. It felt wrong to leave it. He wanted to crawl back into the nest, but his curiosity was too strong. He snatched the stuffed goat from the bed, ran back to the door, and refused to look back. He felt better with it tucked against his chest as he left Zeffs room.

He headed towards the stairs, and the silence of the empty restaurant was deafening. The sun was too high in the sky for The Baratie to be this quiet. He tiptoed down the stairs, his curiosity urged him on. He forced himself to ignore the trail of flowers that followed him down the stairs. The blue blossoms were a reminder that he was an Omega, a failure. There had to be a way to stop or fix it.

He finally heard voices coming from the dining area and slowly pushed the door open enough to poke his head through. The typically busy dining room was nearly empty. The only people present were Zeff, Patty, and Carne, who were sitting at a table opposite the staircase.

Patty crossed his beefy arms over his chest and looked at Zeff pointedly. “What now?”

“Chef, can we really afford to close every time the kid’s in heat?” Carne asked.

“Eggplant’s health and safety is more important than the restaurant. He’ll need his own room and nesting materials.”

Sanji removed his head from the gap in the door. He worked his fingers into his hair and pulled. Zeff had closed the restaurant down? For him? Sanji couldn't understand it.

He knew he wasn't worth closing the Baratie. He wasn’t worth saving. He wasn’t worth saving in the Storm. He wasn’t worth Zeff giving up his leg. He wasn’t worth the food Zeff had given to him. Sanji didn't need his own room, and he didn’t need a nest. Why did Zeff keep doing these things?

Sanji wasn't aware of the small sounds he was making until Zeff spoke again. “Did you hear that?”

He looked around for a place to hide when he heard the familiar steps of Zeff moving towards him. Before he could hide, the doors opened, and the blond Chef’s shadow covered him like an imposing monster.

“Eggplant? What are you doing out of bed?” In an instant, the monster was Zeff again.

“Why'd you close the restaurant? You shouldn’t’ve.” Sanji accused him.

“It's more important that you're healthy than the restaurant is open. You must be hungry, food, then back to bed.” Zeff let the accusation slide before he started ushering the Omega towards the kitchen.

“I don't need to go back to bed, I can work!” Sanji protested. “You don't have to close the restaurant for me.”

“Who's the damn owner here?”

“You are.” Sanji quietly admitted.

“Then let me run my restaurant the way I want to. You're not a Beta, one of the dregs of humanity, or an Alpha. There's already too much of those around here. I’m getting you something to eat, and then you’re going back to the nest before I have to force feed you and strap you there myself. Now go on get.” Zeff kicked him towards the kitchen.

Nami sighed and she pulled back the borrowed blanket, it smelled like Zoro and Sanji. The Omega had given her one of the blankets from his nest, that wasn’t going to dispel any anxiety.

She needed air.

She crept onto the deck and noted at the waxing gibbous moon overhead, it would be full soon and she didn’t have much time. She was greeted with the familiar scent of cigarette smoke as she stepped onto the deck, for a moment she saw Bell-mère’s form at the railing.

“Oh, Nami, did you need something? A midnight snack?” Sanji pulled her from her thoughts.

She shook her head and moved to stand next to him. For a moment she stood in silence before she rested her arms on the railing and leaned into the night air. “What does it feel like?” She asked as she stared at the calm sea. She looked for a distraction in the conversation. “I mean, when an Alpha Commands you?”

“Oh, it's not bad.” Sanji said with another exhale of smoke and a placating tone, “You don't need to worry about me, Nami.”

“Maybe you’re fine, but what about the others? I want to know, it's never been something I've given much thought to.” Nami admitted. She had just done everything and anything to survive, and the lives of others weren’t usually high on her priority list.

“Well, it's different when a family member does it. Zoro’s never used it on me, and outside of training, Zeff’s only used it twice and only in times of danger. It was more reassuring to know that I was safe than any discomfort that the Command caused.” He looked over at her in the moonlight, “When an Alpha that is not Pack gives a Command it feels like someone has you by the throat. Then your body moves on its own, and if you try to fight or stop it can slowly drive you mad. It's exhausting and when it's over you want to crumble and wash every inch of your body. It feels like someone turns you into a puppet while you’re still inside screaming to be let loose.”

“I-I never knew it felt like that.” Nami could relate, she had felt like that before. Between the deal she had struck and all the work she had done to fulfill it, she had felt the desire to scrub every inch of her body. But, it wasn’t exactly the same, she had never had anyone crawl inside her mind and pull her strings. Nami didn’t want to think about how that would have changed if she had been born an Omega.

“It's okay, Nami, I could never be mad at a beautiful woman, like yourself.” He grinned at her just like the Strawhat Alpha had.

Sanji joined them at the table and lit a cigarette before reaching for the Denden. “The dinner rush should have calmed down by now.” He remarked as he called the Baratie.

“Baratie, how can I help you?” A vaguely familiar voice answered.

“Takashi, it's Sanji. Get the old geezer for me, will ya.” Sanji responded. That would explain why Zoro couldn't put a name to the voice unless it was Patty or Crane. There was little chance that Zoro paid the other chefs any mind.

“Owner! Sanjis on the denden!” The voice on the sanil yelled.

After a bit of shuffling, Zeffs voice came from the sanil. “Eggplant and broccoli about damn time you two called. What took you so long?”

“Ran into a bit of trouble is all.” Sanji replied to switch Zoro snorted at.

“Come on, Curly, you know it was more than just a bit of trouble.” Zoro ignored Sanji's glare, his hand never leaving Luffy's hair. The other Alphas hat lay on the table. “Might as well tell him about Luffy.”

“Who's Luffy? You two pick up a stary?” Zeff asked Zoro, laughing.

“Hmm honestly you're not entirely wrong. I did feed him, and now he's hanging around. Long story short, we joined a pirate crew.”

“Hold on, I'm gonna take this to my office. Oi! Patty, you're in charge! Don't burn the place to the ground, or I'll kick your ass!” Zeff yelled.

“Did you really have to tell him we became pirates?” Sanji asked him.

“Better now than when we get our first bounties.” Zoro said with a shrug. After the call was over, he was dragging both men to the nest. The nap earlier had him missing Luffy.

“Now what the fuck is going on?” Zeff's voice returned the snail copying his annoyed yet concerned exception perfectly.

“Well we ran into some trouble in Shell's town, Luffy saved the both of us and invited us to join his then one man crew. Zoro was in the stockade for nine days. We headed for Buggy's crew in orange town after my heat was over. We picked up a fourth member, Nami! Oh Zeff, she is stunning!” Zoro glared at his husband before he could gush about the damn women.

“What sorta trouble are we talking about?”

“I made the fucking terrible mistake of stopping a little girl from being mauled. Got locked up in the stocks without food or water. Was supposed to be for a month but Luffy saved me before I was shot to death by ax-hand.” Zoro briefly explained. “He's our mate and our captain.”

“You know his grandfather, by the way. The old fart you flirt with.” Zoro laughed at the way Sanji wrinkled his nose in disgust.

“Huh, I think he mentioned it like once back when he first met you. Grap, and I don't exactly talk much.”

“Ewww I didn't need to know that!”

He wouldn't let Zeff leave him behind. Sanji would work even harder if that meant he would get to stay. It worked when he had been caught two years ago when he snuck aboard the orbit.

“Eggplant, come out of there.” Zeff's gruff voice spoke from above him. Sanji burrowed deeper, tucking his head in his arms, keeping quiet. Maybe if he didn't make a sound, Zeff would think he was somewhere else. Sanji heard shuffling and groaning. “Shit, come eggplant, tell me what's wrong. Thought you were excited to see your cabbage headed friend again.” Zeff spoke again, Sanji peeked up from his arms, Zeff was sitting on the ground, his peg leg spread out while his other knee bent, his arm braced on the knee. There was no chance of escape.

“You're just gonna leave me there, leave me behind. I promise I'll work even harder!” Sanji pleaded. “Please let me stay!” Sanji wiped away the stay tears from his eyes sniffling when he felt a hand grab his ankle and drag him out from his hiding spot. He looked up at Zeffs face. He couldn't read the man's expression.

“Eggplant…” Zeff sighed. “There's nothing I can say that will make you believe that you're not being left behind?” Sanji shook his head. He wanted to run and find a new place to hide, but Zeff still had his hand on his ankle. If only he had grabbed a knife before hiding. “I have something for you.” Zeff took out a book. Its pages were wrinkly and wavy. Sanji recognized it right away. “Here.” Zeff placed the book in Sanji's hands.

“But this is your captain's log! You said it was the only thing you had left of your crew!” Sanji examined.

“What the hell do you thi…” Zeff started to yell until he saw what exactly they were all yelling about. Patty held Sanji arms length from his body by his armpits, Sanji hadn't hit a growth spurt yet, so he was still small for his age. The eleven year old was struggling kicking and clawing in antep to free himself. Blue flowers were blooming from his blond hair. Sanji was an omega, far too young to be presenting. Most omegas were rather late in presenting, typically not until fifteen to seventeen. They were usually the last to present. 

“Let me go!” Sanji yelled. “Fuckers!” 

“Fuck, Koushirou was right,” He owed him a drink and a call. 

“What do we do?!” Carne asked in a panic. There was not a single omega on this ship…except for Sanji. 

“Put him on my bed and bring me the den den, I have to make a call,” 

The chefs deposit the kid on his bed and scuttle out. Zeff sighs as he watches Sanji huddle in the corner of the bed, glaring at him, one hand gripping his hair thighly, and then the other arm warps around his knees. Soon enough, they brought him the den den and Sanji's stuffed goat. It was the only toy the kid had…he should probably rectify that mistake. For as small as he was, Sanji didn't act like other children. But seeing the boy clutching the goat like a lifeline was proof that he was still a child. A child going through a scary and confusing time. Zeff waited as the call was made. 

“Hello?” Koushirou's familiar voice came threw the snail. 

“You were right,” Zeff got straight to the point, the other omega had been right about Sanji. 

“It's a bit early but I'm not surprised, I suspected he and Zoro would be compatible. Zoro is in his first rut at the moment also early,” Zeff huffed a second warning would have been aprishted. “What flowers is he growing? “

“I've never seen em before, they're blue, ” Zeff admitted as he turned to Sanji, the blue flowers were scattered around his bed as the boy plucked the flowers from his hair, tears streaming down his face. “Shit!” Zeff took Sanji's hands in his own. Their hands were so small he could hold both with just one of his own.

“What's happening?”

“Sanjis plucking his flowers,” 

“Try scenting him, help him make a nest,” Koushirou instructed over the den den. 

Zeff let out a soothing scent, rubbing his free hand over Sanji.

“Noo! I gotta stop it! Fore he finds out!” Sanji whimpers out. “Were suppose ta be alphas! Fathers gonna be so mad at me! He cant find out,” 

“Eggplant it's OK, you don't have to be an alpha,” Zeff had assumed that the boy had been an ophen. 

“Sanji,” Koushirou's voice said. “Did your father tell you that omegas were weak?” 

“Yah,” Sanji sniffles. “He said they were weak and useless like me, even mom had been an alpha,” 

“Omegas are just as strong as alphas, I am an omega and a master swordsman. After your heats over, you should come visit. I'll be more than happy to teach the ways of the old country, where omegas were equal to alphas,” 

“Can I really?” Sanji asked, sounding hopeful,  Zeff wasn't sure if he was asking if he could visit or if he could be strong. Either way was the same answer. 

“Of course, what are you and Zeff going to make with your flower?” Koushirou asked, Zeff never had the opportunity to cook something with the flowers from an omega. He knew it was a common practice. 

“No! You can't eat delphinium! It's poisonous,” 

“Shh it's OK, eggplant. we won't eat it,” zeff reassured his boy. He tucked his blanket around his small body the best he could in a poor attempt at a nest.