part one // was supposed to be a 2 part thing, now i guess there'll be a third some day orz
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Sanji stands stiffly at the grand entrance of the reconstructed and once abandoned palace. Windows have been restored, pillars and marble flooring have been replaced, every nook and cranny has been cleaned of dust and rust and decade-long splattered blood.
Sick fuck, Sanji thinks of his father the King.
He knows that the palace had been fixed up not long after the Shimotsukis were murdered. He also knows that it'd been a simple and badly done job. He knows, because he remembers.
Sanji remembers the blood, the shattered windows, the stained walls and carpets and marble floors. He remembers finding a circlet fit for a small child and feeling utterly gutted, not knowing if it'd belonged to Kuina or Zoro.
They didn't even get graves.
Fuck, it makes him so sick.
They'd just been dumped in a ditch, unwashed from the blood they'd spilled, fatal wounds unattended. No ceremony, no prayers, no decency.
It's been ten years and Sanji fought his way to the top. He may not be the best of the four princes of Germa, but he isn't far behind any longer. He'd done it just as much in honor of his dead friends that believed in him as he did for himself. He has his own faction now, a league of soldiers pledged to serve him.
Never in a million years did he think his father, King Judge himself, would decide Sanji the perfect candidate to preside in the conquered Shimotsuki, becoming it's royal constable. To let the people know there's still a monarch, Judge had flippantly said, keeps them from getting the idea of a revolution. Their last royal constable, Scien, has recently died due to an ill-fitted and very humiliating death.
So, King Judge has made the decision to send one of his children to govern the palace. And who better than Sanji, third born Prince and fourth in succession? Surely it wouldn't be the crown Princess or the first born Prince.
In Sanji's opinion, the only reason he's been chosen in favor of Niji or Yonji is because both are seas away. In the country of Arabasta and the in the country of Dressrosa, respectively.
Sick fuck, Sanji thinks for the hundredth time since this new arrangement came to be.
Judge knew what Zoro and Kuina meant to Sanji. Now he has him living in their former home, the mausoleum for their souls.
"I think it decent, brother," Reiju says as she walks out from the throne room. She walks with a straight back and squared shoulders, hair bouncing with every step. "Once you settle in, you can give it your Sanji flare. Make the best of this."
Sanji rolls his eyes, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his trousers. He could go for a smoke. He feels an incoming migraine.
"You know why that can't be, Reiju," he finally responds, lifting his elbow up enough so his sister can slip her slimmer arm through his. He looks up at the grand ceiling, the cream and gold details that extend down to the pillars. "This is the cruelest thing Father could ever do to me. And what's worse, he doesn't even know."
"Oh, I wouldn't say he doesn't," Reiju sighs as they walk through the halls, their footsteps echoing. "Do not underestimate Father, Sanji. It's how Arashi met his end."
No one talks about it. It's well known, of course, that the massacre that happened here was orchestrated by the King of Germa upon his proposals being rejected by the humble and noble King of Shimotsuki. But Judge wanted the East and, so, the East he got.
Speaking it out loud for what it actually is, though, isn't allowed. Judge loves to be seen as a conqueror, loves to be feared rather than adored. But if he's to continue to try and extend his grimy claws to all other countries and charm their rulers, then, he must appear as easy to work with and just as charming.
All of what he is not.
"Look," Reiju says as they've wandered to the gardens. She extends her unoccupied arm, fingers spread as she slowly moves it across the empty gardens. "Picture flowers here. Gorgeous arrangements: rose bushes, those tulips you are fond of. Mother's favored peonies. All of which we can't have in Germa, you can have here."
He knows his sister means well, that she's trying to ease the blow that's already been dealt. And for her efforts, he tries to smile. It's a wonderful idea, sure; Sanji's always hated Germa and it's singular season of snow. Shimotsuki, though often wet from constant and consistent rain, seems to be perfect for a grand garden filled with flowers and trees and perhaps a pond.
Perhaps being the key word, of course.
They hear the unmistakable noise of carriages and horses arriving, the hooves on pavement echoing all the way here. Reiju purses her lips as she pauses, adjusting their course.
"Your staff seems to be arriving," she mentions.
Sanji mirrors her earlier sour look. Soon, this palace will be filled with maids and guards and cooks. Oh, Sanji thinks, maybe he'll be able to cook without anyone telling him otherwise now that he'll be ruling here.
Now there's a silver lining.
"Father is impressed with your duress, brother," Reiju says softly as she leads them both to the entrance to receive his staff. "You have risen in rank, you have endured and proven yourself time and time again. Perhaps his ill intentions reign true, but perhaps he's also extending this olive branch as well."
"You're too kind to assume he has the capability of such," Sanji mutters. "I refuse to believe there's any good will in his decisions. Much more, I refuse to believe he sees me as anything more than the failure he always has. If anything, sister, I'm pretty sure this is a surer way to keep me on a short leash."
Reiju's blue eyes meet his and the downward tilt of her mouth tells him she knows this true but wishes otherwise.
-
His sister stays with him for a few weeks. She says it's to help him settle in and, though he has no doubt of that, Sanji has an inkling that it's also at their father's order.
He pretends not to notice, much like he pretends not to notice many things. He feels like a specter as he roams the halls, taking note of new portraits being hung, elegant and antique tables with equally elegant and antique vases on them. Carpets of rich navy blue, garland as a reminder of home that Sanji will order be taken down the second she leaves. He hates garland.
Around him, the palace starts to fill up with maids that smile and bow at him when he passes by. Guards also pass by as they change shifts; half of his faction has come with him for the time being, the other half scheduled to arrive near the year mark of the move.
It all makes Sanji a bit twitchy. He definitely smokes more frequently since he's moved in. He feels icky, like he wants to claw his skin off, in constant need to crack the kinks out of his neck. It's ridiculous to allow all this to affect him so much, but deep under the armor and walls he's placed around himself protectively still sleeps a soft boy in mourning.
It's perhaps a few nights before his sister is due to depart that Sanji finally wanders into the kitchens. They're enormous and beautiful and leave him breathless. They're currently occupied with cooks and chefs and line workers as they prepare a feast to not only feed the crown princess and the prince, but all others in the castle. They're in clean and pristine garb and toque hats and it looks like dinner is going to be bluefinned elephant tuna.
"Outta the way!"
Sanji sidesteps, blinking his blue eyes as he watches an old man with an impressive moustache pass by.
"Pardon," he murmurs, though he supposes he goes on ignored.
He tries his best to stay clear while still admiring the kitchen and when the same old man yells at him for the third time, he thinks it really is a stupid idea for him to try and be in here while dinner is being worked on.
"If you're going to be a nuisance, little eggplant, at least put yourself to work so you can be a helpful nuisance," the old geezer snaps.
Sanji narrows his eyes. "That's contradictory, old man."
The old man's gray eyes shine with amusement as he gives him a once over. One of the cooks has leaned in to whisper in his ear. No doubt to mention that he's the royal constable governing this palace and one of Germa's princes.
"Prince?" he asks with a scoff. "Not in my kitchens he ain't."
Sanji grins despite himself. He catches the apron the old bastard throws at him. "Downright disrespectful, you bag of bones."
"Respect is earned, boy," he says as he clears a station for him.
Sanji washes his hands, taking off the rings he's known to wear: one a birthday gift from Reiju, another an heirloom from his deceased mother, two that he'd fancied from his stint in Goa and one that only fits his pinky finger that he'd found in this very palace. Morbid, but it serves to remind him of the goodbye he never got to give.
After that, and after pocketing his rings, he jumps to the station and loses himself in his work. He grills the tuna just so, and sears asparagus watching them carefully while he makes a soy based sauce from scratch.
He smiles when he's done, staring at it lovingly the way he does with all his creations.
"And what is this?" asks the old head chef, a bushy eyebrow raised.
"Elephant tuna, seared asparagus in a sweet soy reduction," Sanji beams. "I'd call it True Bluefin Sauté."
The old man rolls his eyes. "You're one of those."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Sanji asks, crossing his arms.
"Exactly what you think," he scoffs as he grabs the plate and takes it away.
What the hell, Sanji thinks. He isn't truly offended, which is surprising. He's incredibly amused, actually. He isn't even bothered that this old bastard doesn't care that he's talking to a prince like this, though Sanji's always preferred it this way. He thinks of Pedro, who he's so glad has arrived to stay here with him. Though it took forever, the Mink refers to him by name and that's all that Sanji ever wants.
"I'll take your disdain as a compliment," he laughs, untying the apron. "Jealousy is a disease, old man."
-
Zeff, the old head chef, makes this new stage in Sanji's life bearable. Though, in true Sanji fashion, he'll never admit to such a preposterous thing out loud. The old man's taken him in as, almost, a mentor, helping refine Sanji's already mildly impressive cooking skills. Part of the blond prince even wonders if this is what a true father-son relationship is supposed to be like as opposed to the one he and Judge have always had.
Zeff is brutally honest and he scoffs at Sanji's more extravagant dishes. He laughs loudly when he sees Sanji sneak in to try and join the line for lunch or dinner but he never truly kicks him out. He calls out any and all mistakes Sanji makes and clicks his tongue to his teeth, shaking his head in obvious disapproval. And when something is to his approval? Well, he never mentions it. But Sanji's starting to learn he has his telling signs.
Tonight, he limps in as if he'd known Sanji would be in here, sitting on the break station in the far corner near where the gated doors to the gardens are. Elbows resting atop the table, he holds his head in his hands, hair in disarray.
"What's eatin' the little eggplant?" he asks as he heads towards the refrigerators.
Sanji bites at the inside of his cheek. How does he tell him that he gets nightmares every so often? Restless dreams that have the deceased family that once lived here that he hadn't had until he moved here.
They're memories of the one and only time he'd met them: dinners where Kuina grinned sharply as she bested Ichiji in her history knowledge, Zoro sitting on the floor of Sanji's bedchambers with a dopey grin as he talked about his life here, the Shimotsuki King and Queen doting on their young, giving Sanji a glimpse of what a real family is like.
It's horrendous. Claustrophobic, even.
"Old man," he sighs, his eyes clenched shut. "Why is this guilt eating me up, if I'm not the one at fault?"
Zeff doesn't answer, but he's still here. He's rummaging around: the sound of fine china, the opening and closing of cupboards and pantry doors, his limp. He has a bad leg, Sanji knows.
"Because you have a heart," Zeff finally says as he sets a teacup down in front of him. It smells herbal, a little milky, a little sweet. He scoffs, which means he's going to follow that nice comment up with a rude one: "A stupid one, though. You're not your father's keeper. You shouldn't be letting it eat you like this. Doubt your friends would want that, hm? Now drink up. No food is wasted in my kitchens and that includes tea."
Sanji runs his hands down the length of his face, eyes looking down at the cup of tea set in front of him. He's more of a black tea person, but unless he doesn't want to get any sleep, herbal will have to do.
He sighs as he takes the warm cup in his hands, letting the warmth settle in his palms, blowing lightly at the steam. Zeff doesn't really have anything to do in the kitchens this late at night, but he continues to rummage around like he does.
He's developed a Sanji alarm in the few weeks they've coexisted in this castle along with everyone else. It's... warming, he thinks as he hides his smile behind the rim of his teacup. To be taken care of like this. He hasn't felt this way since his mother grew ill and passed, since Zoro and Kuina were murdered.
"Damn," Zeff mutters as he comes out of one of the pantries. "Looks like I need to go down to the markets in Kuraigana tomorrow. We're running low in some of the vegetables I need for tomorrow's dinner and my chore boy has grown ill."
"I'll go with you," Sanji quickly announces, his eyes growing wide with interest. He hasn't left the palace grounds in weeks.
Zeff spares him a glance but a glance is all required to let Sanji know what he thinks of that idea.
Sanji sucks at his teeth. "I'll wear a cloak. I'll carry the bags, even. C'mon, old geezer!"
"Yanno," Zeff drawls, unimpressed with Sanji's enthusiasm. "The only one keeping you from leaving the grounds is yourself. No rhyme or reason." He jots a couple of things down on a piece of paper with a pencil that has seen better days. "Pedro won't like it."
Oh, and Sanji dislikes disappointing Pedro. But this is different.
"I'm going," he says, sticking his chin up in defiance. "I said so. It's final."
Zeff's unimpressed look grows stronger but he doesn't say anything otherwise.
-
The roads to Kuraigana are muddy from the consistent rainfall. It's autumn and it's come with a wet vengeance.
Sanji looks at the maple trees colored orange and red and yellow. So different from what Germa's like; here, everything has color, even the sky's a pale mix of blue and gray. Back home, everything was monochrome: the white snow, the graying sky, the green pine trees.
He hums appreciatively as the wagon continues to lead them away from the palace and closer to town. As he'd expected, Pedro hadn't been happy, his sharp eyes narrowed and his snout set in a disapproving frown.
But at the excitement Sanji exuded to get out of the palace walls, the Mink couldn't help but just sigh and fetch for a cloak that'd conceal Sanji's pristine clothes. They don't want to catch any attention, Pedro'd mentioned, much less have word of this going back to the King.
What the hell does Judge expect, Sanji had countered, that he stay locked in here forever?
"Now, little eggplant," Zeff begins from his left, "Don't go getting me in trouble with Pedro."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sanji blinks. Both his favorite people in the palace continuously clash because of their differing methods in guiding him.
Pedro, though he desires Sanji's happiness, wishes he'd tread with caution and care. Zeff tells him to do what his dumb heart desires and bite his thumb at anyone that opposes.
The town of Kuraigana comes into view soon enough. Houses of different stature with brick or hay roofing capture Sanji's attention, shops with wide windows and opened doors, outside vendors yelling out their wares at the crowd of people browsing as they walk by. There's children laughing, stray dogs walking by and picking at whatever they find on the ground, alley cats glaring from the mouth of streets. Everything is loud.
Sanji grins.
"Wait for us here," Zeff sighs to the wagon driver. As if annoyed, the horses kick their back legs, hooves skidding against the cobblestone.
Sanji tries to behave. He tries to stay close to Zeff because it's the only thing Pedro had asked of him. At nineteen, he likes to think he's good at listening and due to his childhood he's good at being invisible. But, he's fascinated by the stands and stalls with trinkets and knickknacks and pastries.
Soon, he's separated from the old man, a sea of people now between them. The Germa Prince feels bad for ten seconds before he shrugs, deciding he'll find him soon enough. Sanji continues to enjoy the street market.
He picks up a turquoise necklace and smiles at it, thinking his sister would quite like it. He sets it down, thinking next time he'll bring a pouch of coins and buy it.
Further into the town, further into the markets, he hears the distinct sound of a smithy pounding their hammer to their latest weapon creation. Sanji follows it, thinking he might like a Kuraigana sword, a Shimotsuki sword.
He turns a corner, seeing the wide and open space of a blacksmith's layer, the hot fire's blazing heat reaching him all the way here. There's hay strewn about, the ground muddy and making the blacksmith's boots all dirty with muck. The man is glistening with sweat, black gloves on his hands, holding a pair of pliers as he drops his hammer down on what looks to be a dagger.
He isn't facing Sanji, but he can appreciate the man's.... technique. His face grows warm, taking in the sweat-drenched henley, the smudges on his muscular arms.
Sanji quickly looks down at some of the weapons on display to stop admiring their creator. What the hell has gotten into him?
"There you are, you brat!" Zeff limps his way, his eyes a storm from how annoyed he is. "I was told to keep you by my side at all times. I knew this was a bad idea, little eggplant. I'm not a babysitter!"
Sanji's face grows hot again, staring at Zeff meaningfully so he can shut the hell up and not embarrass him any further. He spares a glance towards the blacksmith, seeing him turning around to inspect the commotion.
It's an innocent glance.
A quick one.
Too quick though, because upon seeing a gray eye that jolts something in the pit of Sanji's stomach, he has to do a doubletake. And then a triple one, just in case.
It's like seeing a ghost: one eye is sealed shut by a thick and gnarly scar but the other one is a cool gray. The golden freckles make Sanji's throat go dry. The slope of a straight nose makes him nauseous.
He opens and closes his mouth. And then he whispers... "Zoro?"
















