For the sanji and his overprotective step brothers
Sanji is precious to all of them not just because it's Sanji, it's also because they associate seeing him to some of their happiest memories.
Seeing the old man happy is amazing even with how much they complain about him being to mushy, he's happy and content enough to want to retire and they always wanted that kind of peace for him someday.
And that's what visiting the Baratie is to them, peace. They were sceptical in the beginning, thinking he was probably just another kid the old man got attached to. The kid is probably fine, and another brother is always welcomed. But then they actually meet him.
This kid doesn't really care about who they are of what they accomplished, doesn't expect anything from them, he's clearly scared when he meets them but is still unwaveringly kind. He's snarky and funny and it makes them wish that spark stays with him forever.
Marco is stressed the first time he gives Sanji a check up, the kid has tears in his eyes the entire time, by the end of it so does Marco, but he still tells him he did a really good job, that he is really brave, Sanji leaps into his arms crying telling him "Thank you, you're a good doctor", he doesn't let go for a long while.
Sanji looks at Izo with pure wonder from the beginning, tells him he looks beautiful, asks him if he's royalty, asks him to tie his hair the same way. The wonder and praise is so pure, not wanting anything from him just wanting to let him know, how can he not love him after that.
Sanji looks up to Thatch in a way he wasn't expecting given who his guardian is, but Sanji is relentless with his questions and admiration. And the most surprising part, he's barely allowed to cook while on the Baratie, both blonds scream at him about being on vacation. One day the kid turns to him and says "I'm gonna be even better than you one day just you wait" and Thatch realises, he wold love to see that.
So they protect Sanji, not because they think he's incapable or to innocent they just want to keep the world from hurting him more than it already has.
Hi this is great and heartwrenching and also just so sweet I love it, thanks!
Yeah, the older brats are all probably pretty tired of being Pops’ victim of mushy feelings and then there's word from the guy Zeff has retired, has a kid. It's rare for their captain to be that bright and happy. The man explains to them all Sanji is skittish, he's nice and kind but he is scared of men. Pops also warns them if his boys ruin his retirement plans he will kick their asses. The look Marco, Thatch, and Izou share is one of disbelief. Their father doesnt know peace if it shot him in the face.
Then they see Zeff again, and they're so excited. Then they see the kid. Too small and scrawny to be ten, more skittish and jumpy than their father said. Sanji is his name and Zeff had Baratie built with enough nooks and crannies for the kid to hide in like Moby does. Its just their first visit though, the kid'll get used to them. Sanji stays by the people he knows, but at night he's coaxed into the emperor's hand who takes him away with soft words while the boy tries not to fall asleep from the way they can feel his haki acting.
The next few times go about the same, there's one shift Sanji is waiting tables and Izou is probably keeping a closer eye than he needs too. Izou is chatting with someone at the bar who is probably too drunk to understand anything about him and is getting to be pretty shitty when Sanji comes to deliver some food and the guy won't quit. He's saying something stupid and moves a bit too fast and the good spills on Sanji, the plate falls and shatters and Izou tells Sanji to stay, chucks the guy over board put of the mouth of the bar and then picks Sanji up and carries him away to change.
“But I'm getting your clothes dirty.” Sanji whispers trying to get down but Izou isn't letting them go.
“So we'll both change, big deal.” Izou responds as someone hands him fresh clothes for the kid and Izou starts cleaning the kid up once they're away from everyone, wiping down his face after his chef coats off. It's in both their hair and Izou offers the kid a bath and Sanji takes it hesitantly.
Sanji won't stop staring at his hair when he takes it down to wash it. When he washed Sanji's hair the kid melts at the attention. Izou brought a new kimono to change into and someone had brought clothes they had to take to the kids in his captains hometown and Izou helps Sanji get gressed in something that Izou can't tell if it's a dress or what. Sanji looks like he wants to sk something, and Izou coaxes it out of of him slowly.
“Will, can you you do my hair like yours? It's really pretty.” Sanji's voice is so quiet and Izou smiles.
“Of course I can, sweetheart. It'd be my honor.” He smiles and he does do a Wano style on him, one for shorter women's hair.
“That guy was an asshole, you're really pretty.” Sanji says abruptly in the middle of Izou doing his hair.
“Yeah, but he was easy to ignore ‘til he knocked into you.” Izou laughs. “Thank you, though.”
“Are you royalty?” Sanji asks.
“No, I'm not.” Izou chuckles. “I just like being pretty, and if an asshole doesn't know what pretty is then they're missing out.” Izou isn't dumb, the kid has eyed him every time he shows up. He looked at him with this sort of wonder and interest. “You can be pretty too, you know? Grow your hair out like mine. I can teach you to style it. Zeff won't care about what you wear either.” Izou tells him and Sanji's eyes are filled with even more wonder than before. Now Izou gets to play dress up with Sanji every time he visits. White Beard and Zeff are just glad the kids get along.
Thatch is surprised when Sanji starts asking him questions and stuff. Kids being raised by Zeff and in a restaurant after all. But Sanji is rattling off questions to him at lightning speed and Thatch is keeping up easily. Sometimes Thatch will try to go help his step dad and get kicked out not even through the door way. He's barely allowed to cook unless he wakes up before literally everyone else to start breakfast for everyone.
One morning Thatch is beaten by Sanji. Thatch is blinking at the kid, he looks tired as he flips pancakes at the flat top. Thatch washes his hands goes and checks what the kid has done already. Bacon and sausages are made, there's coffee brewing. Thatch looks at the kid, he's quiet, maybe because he's tired or focused. Thatch moves to start the eggs when Thatch holds up a finger to make him stop.
“I can treat my step dad and his kid every once in a while. Sleeps important kid. You are missing out.” Thatch tells him.
“You cook for a whole fleet.” Sanji grumbles.
“Not really, and I have a whole division of said fleet.” Thatch counters. “I've been doing this most of my life like Zeff. Just got a lot more travel experience.” Sanji stares at him before pulling the pancakes off to keep warm in the oven. Sanji keeps cooking, and it's kind of quiet so Thatch fills the quiet in with stories. Sanji listens, asks questions, Thatch answers happily.
After breakfast done and staff and crew start slowly trickle in the questions don't stop. It's becoming clear to everyone that Thatch is his favorite cook on the seas, even more than Zeff.
“I'm going to better than you, watch me.” Sanji grins at him and Thatch grins back in challenge.
“I’d love to see you try, kid.” He responds. Everyone knows he will be. It makes them want to see it though.
The first time it’s brought up that Sanji needs a check up is a shit show for lack of better words. Sanji fucking hides from everyone and they spend hours looking for him. When Marco finds him and the quiet whispers of begging for him not to examine him are heart wrenching and concerning. Kid has tears in his eyes the entire time and Sanji looks terrified of the infirmary. Marco goes slow, explains, constantly checks in.
The giant ‘Y’ carved across the kid’s skin is what does the CMO in. He just wraps his baby brother up in a blanket and rocks back and forth with him on his lap. Whispering apologies to him that the kid is owed a million times over. They stay there for a while. Long enough that people will peak in and witness the scene and the righteous fury Marco has in his eyes and the tears Sanji has falling down his face.
“You’re a good doctor.” Sanji whispers, head against Marco’s chest from the way he’s held.
“Well, I care about people. My brothers especially.” Marco tells him. “We’ll finish up tomorrow, yeah?” Marco asks and Sanji nods. Marco doesn’t let the kid work and no one can pry Sanji from his hold for the day. Or the next day for that matter.
There’s still tears as they finish up the second day of his check up, but it’s a lot better than his first. Marco even has a ton of lollipops for the kids he normally sees. Maybe it’ll help Sanji cut back on the smoking while he’s at it. He doesn’t answer the questions from his brothers, says what he has to to Zeff. It’s been clear to everyone something happened to Sanji before any of them knew him, the rock exacerbating things.
Marco uses Sanji's check up days as his solo days with Sanji. Its just them, no one bothers them. It's the most peace the CMO knows, the days and nights with his baby brother.
To them, just like their captain, Baratie is peace. They take care of him and protect - not because he can't, kid could kick their ass probably, but because he deserves it. A break.
And if they means taking Sanji to join the piles of fleet members stargazing and sleeping on deck or killing a straggler of Germa so be it.
