#wurm.fic

The sounds of clinking glasses and soft music drifted into the cool, nighttime breeze. The last of the men from G-5 could be heard pouring back out into the streets, continuing their night of debauchery. It was a hard fought day, so naturally there was a need to celebrate. Captain Tashigi had left on her own to get a well deserved night of sleep, it was exhausting to keep the wildest of the Marines in line. 

Vice Admiral Smoker hunched over the bar, pulling a fresh cigar from his coat to light. Smoke billowing from his lips, he turned his gaze back to you from across the room. You waited patiently on the balcony ledge just outside, chin in your hand as you looked out at the sea. He figured you’d have your own plans for the evening, but you decided to keep him company for another drink. You’d always had your own motivations. Whatever those were, he was glad you’d stayed behind. Two crystal tumblers of whiskey appeared with a thud against the bar, breaking his focus on you. Placing his cigar between his teeth, he made his way back to you with drinks in tow. 

He wasn’t sure what to make of you when you were first assigned to him all those years ago. New Marines were typically too green or too foolish to stand on their own, not without firm guidance and a good kick in the ass. But you learned quickly, took pride in your duties, and became a fine Marine quickly. So much so, you were whisked away by former Captain Hina for your talents. He’d hear a passing word about you from time to time, admiration from your superiors, even your ascension to officer ranks. As you rose higher and blossomed in your career, he pushed an unnameable feeling deeper within himself.

And now here you were, back in his life after all this time. He handed you your glass as you smiled, silently raising it towards his own before tilting your head back for a gulp. Observing you out of the corner of his eye, he noted the curve of your jaw, the flex in your neck, the subtle remnants of liquor that lingered on your lips as you pulled the glass away. A curious, confident grin spread across your face as you swirled your whiskey glass between your fingertips. That sinking, burning feeling returned in his chest stronger than ever.

“Mind if I try?” you nodded towards the cigar that he held between his teeth. Smoker raised an eyebrow at your request, taking another drag before exhaling over his shoulder.

“Didn’t take you for the type.” he commented, maintaining his eye contact with you before offering the cigar between his fingers. 

“Yeah, well… spending time with Rear Admiral Hina must have rubbed off on me.” You plucked the burning roll of tobacco from his gloved hand, grazing his fingers along the way. You watched his eyes follow your hand to your mouth, your heart drumming in your chest. After all, it was your idea to be reassigned to G-5 and reunite with the man who taught you everything you knew, the man who never ceased to cross your mind.

“Old habits die hard, I guess.”

He swallowed hard at your remark, breathlessly following the smoldering cigar as it connected to your lips, spellbound through the lingering cloud of smoke. 

Unfortunately for you, your time as a smooth talker was over as you took the overly ambitious drag of his cigar. Fire spread through your lungs as you coughed, hot tears welling up in your eyes. “Fuck–” you reached for your glass of whiskey to ease your suffering. “How can you stand those?”

“Heh,” he scoffed, a smile curling at his lips as he reclaimed his cigar. Your face was red with anguish and embarrassment, eyes glassy with tears below your furrowed brows. “You can’t be good at everything, Rookie.”

“Vice Admiral,” you croaked, glaring at the name you could never shake from him. “With all due respect. Shut up.”

Smoker belly laughed, taking another puff triumphantly. You were never afraid to push his buttons, even as a subordinate. You had guts and he admired that about you greatly. As you finally broke from your frustration with a weak chuckle, he couldn’t help but note how his heart swelled, that feeling that only came from you. He took a swig from his whiskey glass before turning to face you fully.

“You know, I can help you. If you want.”

You took your last sip from your glass before setting it down. You carefully observed the gentleness of his features, the softness around his tired eyes.

“Alright, I’m listening.”

Smoker took a few puffs of his cigar, eyes not leaving yours. He reached his hand out in front of your face and motioned you closer. Your eyes widened, but you complied. His large hands were gentle to the touch, cradling your chin between his fingers while his thumb ever so slightly pushed your jaw further open. 

Your lips drew close to inhale the tobacco Smoker passed to you. The tinge of liquor off his breath and warmth of his skin millimeters away intoxicated you, the intimacy made it hard for you to even breathe over the sound of your own heartbeat in your ears.

As you drew away to exhale, your bottom lip grazed against his accidentally. His lips were softer than you imagined, even the fleeting touch sent your head spiraling. You opened your eyes to meet his warm umber gaze, your face still held in his hand like a precious object. You turned your head slightly to exhale, but didn’t leave his grip. His eyes flickered down to your lips, a slight pink tinging his face below heavy lidded eyes. A moment had presented itself and you decided to seize it.

But before you had the chance to make your move, Smoker’s lips enveloped yours, the scratchiness of his stubble striking against your skin. He was tender and purposeful, every inch of contact savored as years of pining from the both of you finally came to a sweet conclusion. You ran your fingers through his ashen hair as he pulled you closer, melting under your touch. The two of you had long forgotten the world around you, all there was to do was to pour yourselves into each other.

You broke your kiss for a much needed breath, only to find Smoker’s eyes widened in panic. He smoothed his hair back and took a final swig of his drink, cheeks fully reddened. “That was– I shouldn’t have– we–”

“Hey,” you reached for his hand that kept messing his hair. “Do you wanna get out of here?”

Sunlight peeked through the gossamer curtains as you awoke. You stretched your aching limbs between the silken sheets of the bed you laid in, a soft pink that made you feel like you were still swaddled in a sweet, cotton candy dream. With lids still heavy with sleep, you inhaled the familiar scent of strawberry and peony only to have your attention drawn by a sing-song voice.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” 

A gentle whisper guided you back to the waking world, punctuated by a soft kiss on the cheek. You opened your eyes to see Uta’s warm smile greet you, her amethyst eyes sparkled with adoration. 

“Mornin’. ” You smiled sheepishly, your voice was still groggy with sleep. You rolled over, arms spread wide. “C’mere…”

She cocked her head to the side and lowered into your arms. Uta was usually busy this time of day, running off to rehearsals or spending time in her studio recording her next song. But today, she took extra care to slow down and spend a lazy morning with you. She opted for a baggy t-shirt and adorned her head with a red and white messy bun instead of her signature hair style and headphones. She worked so hard to be the best idol she could, so it brought you comfort to see her taking the time to relax. You brushed her long bangs back behind her ear, drinking in the sight of her eyes dilating before your lips met. She tasted like peppermint tea and honey sweetness, each time your lips parted your smiles grew bigger and sillier, giggles erupting between you as she melted under your touch. She was beautiful, her joy infectious and magnetic. She was as yours as you were hers. With a kiss on the tip of your nose, she settled her head on your chest.

“Have you been up for a while? I feel like I slept forever…”

Uta hummed in thought, drawing dainty circles on your chest. “Not too long… Long enough to watch you sleep a little.”

“Yeah?” You raised your eyebrow, “I hope I didn’t do anything too embarrassing in my sleep.”

“Not at all! You slept like a baby. It was very cute.” Uta propped her chin in her hand next to you, peering down at you playfully. “You only drooled a little bit.”

“Hey!”

Uta laughed and sprung from the bed, taking your hands in hers and dragging you to your feet. “Whaaaat? Babies can be cute and drool, so can you!” 

You rolled your eyes and pulled her to you, wrapping your arms around her shoulders in a giggly embrace. She always had a knack for making you smile, even if it was at your own expense. And as she planted kisses on your shoulder and rubbed the small of your back affectionately, you knew that neither of you would have it any other way. 

Whether you liked it or not, you were awake.

The black vignette of sleep slowly receded from your vision as you rubbed your eyes. You sat up from your bed and looked out the window towards the vast horizon, the soft glow of the sun awaited to kiss the edge of the sea. It was beautiful and serene. These were the last few hours of peace before the hustle and bustle of the Thousand Sunny would soon awaken.

Beautiful, but far too early for your liking.

You turn to your sleeping compatriots. Robin slept peacefully in her bed, a pair of reading glasses barely hanging from her fingers from her late night reading. Nami was asleep at her desk, arms crossed underneath her face as she laid on top of her latest map. A great feeling of peace washed over you even more than the impending dawn. You had only been a part of the crew for a short time, you became close to your shipmates rather quickly. Friends weren't something that came to you easily and family was a complicated concept to you. But seeing the dreaming faces of your fellow nakama warmed your heart. You quietly left your bed and walked to Robin's side, softly plucking the dangling glasses from her fingertips and setting them on top of the book she was reading. Grabbing the soft throw blanket at the foot of your bed, you gently lay it across Nami's shoulders. You can't imagine sleeping like that was comfortable, but you didn't dare wake her.

Making your way to the vanity, you stare back to your own puffy eyes and messy, tangled hair. Hey, good lookin' , you quipped to yourself. You always had a sleepless, unkempt look about your appearance no matter how much rest you got. You grabbed the worn, baggie hoodie you brought from your home and pulled it over your head, brushing your voluminous waves to one shoulder. You noted the special feeling of being wrapped in something soft to cut the chill of the morning ocean air. Carefully opening the cabin door, you intended to make your way to the washroom. Suddenly, a tall, slender figure appeared from the corner of your eye.

He stood on the stairs, leaning against the wall to light his first cigarette of the day. Radiant blonde hair fell in his face as he lifted his head to take a drag and exhale slowly, opening his brilliant blue eyes. Those same eyes slowly met yours, followed by a head tilt and a soft smile.

"Well, good morning, beautiful. Didn't expect to see you awake this early." Sanji spoke coyly with a dash of pleasant surprise.

Despite what your heart was telling you, you scoffed and rolled your eyes at the compliment. You gesture at your haphazard appearance, "In all my glory".

Sanji chuckled, which made you return a sleepy smile back. "Whatever you say, sunshine. Join me in the kitchen, will ya? I'll make us some coffee."

"Sounds great, be there in a sec." You turned and waved as you made your way to the washroom, slightly holding your breath. As soon as you close the door, you let out a long sigh.

You figured you'd run into him at some point this morning. As the ship's cook, he was often the first crew member awake. He loved his crew just as much as he loved his craft, so he rose early to prep ingredients for the day, check inventory (especially if Luffy was seeming extra devious around the meat stores), and began breakfast for the Strawhats.

You put your face in your hands and squeezed it hard enough for stars to dance around your vision before looking at your beet red complexion in the mirror. Sanji was a chronic flirt with literally every woman with a pulse and two tits. But something about him made your heart flutter and your brain turn to mush. And that feeling made you nauseous. After all, nakama was the name of the game in piracy. And though he drove you crazy (in more ways than one), he was your friend and family above all else. You would much rather be eaten by a Sea King than damage the very precious bond you had with your crew. Cold water slapped your face, hoping to wash away the residual sleepiness and school-girlish infatuation from your eyes. Pull it together, Y/N . Taking one last deep breath, you exit the room and make your way to the kitchen.

"Hey, Y/N!" Sanji turned towards you as he poured hot water from a kettle. The smell of coffee wafted towards you and you feel your senses come back to life. You take a deep inhale as the warm, caramel aroma fills your lungs. "Give it a few minutes to brew, then I'll pour you a cup."

"Thanks, Sanji", you reply with a smile. "Need any help with breakfast?"

His head turned to you again, eyes a little brighter. You were one of the few crew members he allowed in the kitchen while he worked and the only one he let help him. You never tried to steal food out from under him or pestered him about how hungry you were. You were typically silent, helping clean dishes as they were dirtied or minding the pot while Sanji attended to something else for the meal. You occasionally asked about his cooking techniques, watching with wonder as he effortlessly deglazed a pan or fileted a fish. You'd listen to him talk about the dishes he made, how important it was to care for every ingredient no matter how small. Sometimes, he'd share a story about his time growing up on the Baratie , fondly reminiscing about his teachings from Chef Zeff.

"Why don't you do the honor of choosing today's meal? I'll cook whatever your sweet heart desires.", he said with a boyish smile that made your heart sing. Though, that was a tough choice. Sanji took care in preparing meals that were balanced, filling, and delicious, perfect for a life at sea with some of the hungriest pirates you'd ever met. One dish in particular stood out in your mind. He made it a short time ago, but the delicious and comforting taste stayed in your mind, beckoning your thoughts back to your childhood. You thumbed through one of his cookbooks until you finally found what you were looking for. 

"This one,” you finally said. It was a humble dish with not a lot of substance, made on a whim as a snack for the female members of the crew. Not something that would keep the crew filled for very long. "I know it's not much, but I haven't stopped thinking about it since you made it. It reminds me of home, I guess."

A small smile curled on the edges of Sanji's lips, eyes softening again when you finally look back at him. You feel a flush beneath your skin. "As you wish! I'm glad know it was well received," he said, proudly. You couldn't help but notice the slight tinge of pink on his own cheeks. You gave him a very high compliment, after all.

"I'm sure Luffy will give you a hard time looking for his next meal." you stammer, slightly embarrassed, wishing you could take the suggestion back.

"I'll prep some extra meat, don't worry. I can't pass up a special request from a very special lady, you know!", his heart-eyes practically popping out of his sockets. Your heart beamed, but you quickly tried to swallow the feeling building within your chest. You were special to him, but not that special. Not in the way you truly wanted to feel. There was no point in getting your hopes up for that.

You turned your attention to the piping hot carafe of coffee and decided to make the first move, pouring Sanji a cup of coffee first, followed by yourself. You smirk and raise your cup in half-hearted cheers as he nodded in return. "You should grab a seat and keep me company. I don't want you slinking off and acting all mysterious and distant" he said, eyeing you knowingly, somehow reading that you wanted to take your coffee to go.

" Mysterious , you say?" You played along. You admit that you were sometimes rather closed off, but the crew noted recently that you had been dropping your walls little by little. And you tended to be rather cheeky with the cook, using playful banter to deflect your own feelings towards him while keeping the air light.

"Yeah, you tend to brood," he said. "You kind of look like this. " The tall man somehow managed to make himself look small, squinting his eyes and holding his coffee cup with both hands and staring out at the sea. He let out a wistful, elongated sigh and placed one of his hands under his chin. After a moment, he perked back up and shot you a wide smile, chuckling at himself. "Did I get that right?"

You couldn't help but laugh. It was pretty spot on. "You're an ass, you know that?" You felt the insecurity in your body fade as you gave in to the joy of the here and now. This was your relationship with Sanji, friendly teasing and companionship, admiration and respect. Despite your desire to hide your romantic feelings towards him, there was no denying the fact that you had a certain chemistry together.

You found an unused surface of the counter and hoisted yourself up to sit. Sipping your coffee, you watched a master of his craft work his magic in the kitchen. Though Sanji never used a weapon in a fight, you were always impressed with how he handled a knife. He made quick work of the vegetables he retrieved from the pantry and set his mise en place in an orderly fashion. Every movement was intentional and effortless, like a well-oiled machine. No, more like a dancer artfully displaying great skill motivated by passion. Between the Sanji's movements and the relaxing sound of the knife hitting the cutting board, you became entranced by the man before you. Your eyes trailed the many details you admired about him. The strands of wispy golden hair that fell in front of his eyes, the cigarette dangling from his lips, the veins that protruded from his strong hands, the powerful stance of his muscular body...

"Getting hungry over there?" Sanji's gravelly voice snapped you back into reality. You forced your eyes to connect with his, hoping to all the gods that he didn't catch you staring. Judging by the flirtatious tone in his voice and the devilish smirk he gave you, there was no god that could save you. Shit. Your ears rang with the sound of blood rushing to your face. Was there any way out of this?

"I am!", you squeaked. "I'm always excited for your cooking, I was just admiring your technique. I can barely chop an onion without bursting into tears, haha!" An uncharacteristic chuckle rattled from your throat. You weren't doing yourself any favors, you were way too flustered. 

Sanji raised a curly eyebrow at you, not buying your half-assed excuse for a moment. But alas, he decided to humor you. After all, when a woman lies, a real man forgives her. You were just too cute fidgeting on the counter, trying to hide your flushed cheeks from view. It was endearing to see the vulnerable parts of you that you rarely let show. Behind the quiet, sarcastic exterior you tried to front, you were secretly soft, gentle, and oh so obviously infatuated with him. He may have been girl crazy, but you made it very easy to figure it out. Guess it took one to know one. 

“Whatever you say, sweetheart,” he cooed to you. The term of endearment made your face feel like it was on fire. Maybe you could make up a new excuse to leave? Maybe you left the stove on? Wait, shit, that makes no sense. You’re literally in the kitchen right now! Think, think, thi-

A soft hand touched your clenched fist. The sensation was tender and warm. Its thumb lightly rubbed the top of your hand, coaxing you to relax. You looked up towards the hand’s owner to see Sanji, watching you with gentle eyes. “You know, if you have something you want to say, you should probably breathe first.” 

You swallowed hard, hoping to dislodge your pounding heart from your throat. It was then that you realized you really had stopped breathing, taking in a sharp, cold breath of air that settled your body again. Sanji chuckled, relieved to see that his teasing actually helped. His radiant smile was adorned by the rosy apples of his cheeks, a sight that threatened to melt your heart all over again. You knew in your mind that he must have found you out at this point and the growing surge of courage in your chest beckoned you to finally break your silence. “I guess there has been something on my mind, something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about...” 

Before you could get lost in your thoughts again, Sanji lifted your hand from your lap. Your eyes widened as he raised it towards his face to plant a small, delicate kiss across your knuckles. The warmth of his lips made the tentative butterflies in your stomach burst into a swarm, flitting through your every extremity by the gentlemanly gesture. As he placed your hand back on your lap, you needed to remind yourself to breathe once again. 

Sanji returned to the pan on the stove to stir, the familiar sound of sizzling vegetables returned you back to the present moment. A flash of orange caught the corner of your eye as you looked out the window. The sun finally peaked its head from beneath the horizon to meet the new day. Feeling Sanji’s gaze on you, you turned back to him. The pools of his blue eyes looked at you with breathless affection, watching you as the sunrise bathed your face with a warm, golden light. 

“Beautiful, isn’t it?,” he spoke with a voice like honey, his attention not breaking from yours. You nodded slowly, still processing the surge of emotions swirling in your mind. He raised the remains of his cigarette to the lips as your eyes trailed behind, taking one last slow drag before ashing it in its tray. A final puff of smoke escaped the smile that curled on his princely face. “We still have plenty of time before the crew wakes, if you want to share what’s troubling that pretty head of yours.”

Katakuri

It’s widely known that the Sweet General is a stoic, intense man. He has a reputation and presence that commands attention and respect, even a bit of well deserved fear. But underneath it all, Katakuri has a soft, sweet heart for those he cares for, and that includes you. And as a master of Observation Haki, he’s highly observant of not only the world around him, but the subtle details and mannerisms of those that cross his vision.

That’s why he knew something was wrong as soon as he saw you. The brightness in your eyes were dimmed, a cloud of sadness following you around as you mindlessly went about your day in silence. 

He’s a busy, dutiful man. But the sight of you barely holding it together by a thread? Duties be damned, you were his priority right now. “Come with me,” he’ll say as he takes your hand in his larger, gloved one and leads you to an unoccupied room in the Chateau. 

As you hear the sound of the door close, you turn to protest, wanting to say you’re fine. But your eyes meet those of the man you love. Even with his face covered by his large scarf, his eyes tell you everything he’s thinking without saying a word. Katakuri’s normally intense expression is soft and full of concern. He tends to let his guard down around you, but seeing this particular expression pulls at your heart strings. He knows something’s up, you can’t pretend otherwise.

Katakuri sits down next to you in silence. He’s never been one for words, but honestly that’s ok. It’s not like you had your own words formed about what was bothering you, so sitting in silence in his presence was quite comforting. There wasn’t any pressure to bare your soul. When and if you were ready to talk though, he would happily lend you his ear and his undivided attention.

He’d offer you a snack or perhaps a nice cup of hot tea. He always feels his most relaxed when he’s able to unwind with a sugary treat to take the edge off. He’d also offer his lap for you to lay your head down, stroking your hair. Though Katakuri isn’t a man of words, he’s a man of actions. And everything he offers to you is full of love and devotion.

And when you finally want to talk, he’s there. His mind is far away from his responsibilities, he could handle those later. At this moment, it’s all about you.

“Is this going to last forever?” you ask, your mind exhausted looping through the events of the day. “I don’t need Haki to tell you that it won’t,” his comforting hand still carting through your hair. “It’ll pass with some time, love. For now, just try to relax.”

Law

You love your crew, you really do. Most of the time, it’s easy for them to bring a smile to your face with their antics. But today was an extra shitty day for you, and the crew could tell. They bombarded you with attention to try and cheer you up. But it felt like the harder they tried, the more stuck in your own head you felt. They meant well, but this wasn’t what you needed right now. 

However, Law notices the growing overwhelmed look on your face. With a single pleading look to your love, your captain, he knew what he needed to do. With a flick of his hand, he roomed the two of you to your shared cabin on the Polar Tang.

The silence was a welcomed relief, you felt like you could breathe again. Law will hold you in his arms eventually. But for now, he knows you need the chance to regain your wits. He knows what it’s like to battle his own thoughts, how overwhelming it can be.

After a few moments, you turn to face him. His tired, steel-colored eyes don’t look at you with pity. There’s concern there, but he knows you’re strong enough to get through this. You just weren’t strong right now and needed his support, which was more than ok. 

Unlike Katakuri, food isn’t really a comfort to Law. Hell, if he could operate without food, he would. But everyone has something that brings them comfort in times of mental distress. Law’s is touch, namely the feeling of something warm and soft, grounding and familiar. He’ll direct you over to the bed the two of you share and cover you in a blanket. He’ll even toss you his Heart Pirates branded hoodie that he knows you love.

Law is also not really a talker, but he knows a welcomed distraction can also help set your mind at ease. Never underestimate the power of parallel play with this man. He’ll offer you volumes of Sora of the Sea from his collection or maybe a tactile game with your hands. 

Unless you want him to do an activity with you, he’s happy to also occupy himself with something else. Though, he won’t busy himself with work. He wants to have his attention available to you whenever you decide you want to talk and he certainly doesn’t want you to feel like you’re bothering him.

Maybe it was the way that even a passing glance was so intimate with Sanji. The way your eyes always found each other across the ship as you went about your day. Even if the two of you were busy, a single look was all it took to say to check in and know they were thinking about you. And an added smile? Enough to make the other’s face tinge pink and maybe turn a sluggish day into a much better one.

Maybe it was the way you and Sanji had your own language without saying a word. The way your hands and fingers brushed the other, gently asking to be held in the embrace of his whole hand, or maybe even just a single finger interlocking with your own. You giggle every time like it’s the first time it’s happened, like he’s your playground crush making a pinky swear to be your one and only. Or the way you pulse your hand in his for reassurance when you’re feeling uneasy, receiving a gentle squeeze in reply to say “I know, I’ve got you, I’m here.”

Maybe it was the way that Sanji used his own love language to show he cares. An afternoon snack of fruit making its way to you, peeled tangerines without a seed in sight, apples sliced and skins cut to look like tiny bunnies. Perfectly ready to eat without a bitter obstacle in sight, tenderly prepared just for you. Or how you’d mention memories of home and the dishes from your youth, only to find that in a few days Sanji had scoured recipe after recipe to create a little piece of home for you. With bated breath he’d watch you take a bite, hoping that he’d recreated the special magic only a dish made with love could bring. And when your eyes light up with that spark of nostalgia, he melts along with his own heart.

Maybe it’s the way that every action Sanji takes feels intentional. The way his touch lingers on your waist as he moves past you, to assure you that you aren’t in the way. It’s just merely an opportunity to feel your warmth against his fingers. Or how he treasured you in every embrace, one arm wrapped around your back, thumb rubbing gently against you while the other cradles your head, caressing your hair. For a few precious seconds, nothing else mattered in the world but that moment. Or even when among your fellow crew mates or new compatriots, he always finds a way to introduce you, include you, help you take up space when it feels too hard to do so on your own. And when that space was made, you were the only thing he had his sights set on, every ounce of his attention was given to you…

*.·:·.✧ ✦✧.·:·.*

With the familiar creak of the cabin door, you sat up from your bed as Sanji entered the room, tired eyes full of adoration. “Hey beautiful, how was your rest?”

“Just what I needed,” you spoke as you made your way over to him. He cupped your head in his hands and planted soft, sweet kisses on your face. Forehead, cheek, cheek, nose, and finally, lips. Always the same placement and order like a sacred ritual. You hum against his lips and take his hand to lead him back to bed with you. “I was just thinking about you.”

Sanji chuckled languidly, sitting down beside you with a thud. Though his eyes brightened when he saw you, his body wilted under the weight of his long day. Still, he wanted to devote his last remaining fumes of energy to being present with you. “Yeah? What were you thinking about? Only good things, I hope.”

“Of course. Always good things, love.” You pressed your thumbs into the meat of his hand, slowly massaging the hours of chopping and cooking from him. He gave a satisfied sigh as you felt him melt under your touch with relaxation. “I was just thinking about all the ways you show me you love me.”

You squeezed up each of Sanji’s long fingers, wringing each digit of ache and sealing each with a kiss. When your eyes met Sanji’s again, his face was spread in a school boyish grin topped with flushed pink cheeks. His blue eyes, though weary, sparkled like glass. You felt your heart flutter in your chest. No matter how often he gave you that look, it always felt like the very first time. Flustered, you turned your face away. “What’s that look for?”

You wished you had called out of work. If you had known how slow of a night it was going to be, you probably would’ve just cut your losses and stayed home. But instead of reacting appropriately to the news of a nearby devil attack, you thought nothing of it and continued getting ready for your shift. The attacks were becoming more common, more normal. And while the event surely led to a dead night at the restaurant, you still needed money. People still needed to drink. 

You absentmindedly continued to clean glasses behind the bar, observing the patrons who actually braved to come out. A few regulars, a couple on a date in the corner, a pack of hungry looking men prowling the floor, the dullest cast of characters for the evening. Fucking kill me. You looked up at the red, neon clock above the liquor bottles. Time dragged on and on, the end of your shift still felt so far away. You were dying for something interesting to happen.

Loud, grating voices caught your attention from the doorway, emanating from a pair of scruffy looking teenagers. Hitting each other, screaming and laughing in each other’s faces. Not the type of excitement you were looking for. Terrific.

“Knock it off. Both of you.” Stern, cold words broke up the commotion. A tall man entered behind the bickering teens, well put together in a neat suit and top knot.

“‘Tis not my fault! Denji started it!”

“You’re a fucking liar! She hit me first!”

“Enough,” Another cool, frustrated response. If you were him, you’d probably be over their shit too. “Quit being brats and go sit over there.”

The two punks raced to the corner booth, immediately resuming their bickering like children. No, more like wild pups. You could feel a headache start to form like an ice pick being driven into your temple. You’d kill for a smoke right about now.

“Ay, Aki. Lighten up, will ya?” A cheery, raven haired woman’s voice soothed the air as she floated through the doorway. “We killed a devil today! They’re excited, let them have their fun.” Devil hunters? Guess that explained the suits and ties, they must have been from Public Safety. They probably killed the devil that attacked the area earlier today. You continued to study the mysterious women from the refuge of the bar. For a devil hunter, she seemed remarkably chipper…

Perceiving you watch her, she tilted her head towards you to see you with her singular teal eye. And as she flashed a playful smile your way, your heart fluttered in your chest. Heat creeped up your neck and into your cheeks. Shit. You quickly returned to polishing the bone dry glass you still grasped in your hand. This is what you get for people watching a little too closely. But how could you not watch this woman?

You braved to peel your eyes off the floor and to your mild horror, she was approaching the bar. The protesting yells of her younger companions followed as she waved her hand behind her. “I’ll be back, don’t worry.” What should I say? Before you could really react, she had pulled up a seat in front of you, a pleasant, droll smile across her lips. 

“Hey, you’re kinda cute.” Each word dripped from her lips like honey as her chin lay propped on her palm. She was brazen, straightforward. Perhaps a straightforward reply was what was needed after being caught red handed.

“Likewise, it’s not every day I come across a Devil Hunter with an actual personality.” 

She chuckled, turning towards the back booth. “You should meet those guys, they’re brimming with personality.”

You craned your neck slightly to check on the group. The younger boy and girl fought over plates of appetizers, pushing each other while shoveling food into their faces. Their chaperone looked back at the women who had your attention, eye twitching and on the verge. 

“Nah, maybe another time. You’re the one who’s got my attention.”

“Fair enough,” she laughed, her singular teal eye flashing in the light. “Can I know your name?”

“That depends, can I get you a drink?” 

“Oh, you’re after my own heart. A draft– actually, make that two drafts. My buddy looks thirsty too.”

“Coming right up.” As you wandered around behind the bar, the woman kept her gaze fixed on you, observing every motion through her dilated pupil. You placed the dripping, frothy beers onto the wooden table top, leaning in a little closer to the mysterious woman who solely held your attention. “The name’s Y/N.”

She looked at you through her heavy lid, face spreading into a wider smile. “Y/N,” she pronounced languidly, your eyes memorizing the way her lips formed every syllable. “You wanna come back to my place after your shift is over?”

Your heart raced excitedly at her bold invitation. In the short time you’d spoken to her, you were already captivated. What’s the harm in getting to know her a bit more intimately?

“I don’t even know your name. Maybe then I’ll give you an answer.”

“You’re a tease,” she smiled coyly, reaching into her jacket pocket for a pack of cigarettes.  “And I do like a chase.” She placed the filtered end between her lips and lit, an exhale of smoke without breaking eye contact with you. “Want a smoke?”

“Manager won’t let us smoke on the clock I’m afraid,” you feigned a pout. Your companion tilted her head in thought before raising her cigarette to her lips again. “Then come here.”

Elbows pressed against the bartop, you lean over. She placed a warm hand on your cheek as she inhaled, labradorite eye blown wide as she brought you to her lips. Menthol smoke filled your lungs as her deft tongue swiped at your lips for invitation. Even after the smoke was gone, the two of you continued to explore each other before breaking for air. With puffy lips, she grabbed the two beers you had poured, now dripping with condensation.

White hot pain shot through your legs with each excruciating step as fire rapidly devoured everything around you. Between the heat and the smoke, you could barely breathe, your knees threatening to buckle from exhaustion at any moment. But you couldn’t stop, not when you’d come this far. The outside was so close, you could finally, barely make out the Thousand Sunny through the ashen haze. “Just a little further, Sanji,” every word burned your dry throat. You looked at the motionless man you were supporting over your shoulders, bloodied blonde hair matted against his forehead. No response.

“SANJI?” With all of the strength you could muster, you frantically shook him, hoping to jostle him back to consciousness. Panicked thoughts swirled through your mind. He has to wake up, please wake up, it can’t end this way, not like this. 

It didn’t matter how capable you were at fighting or how loudly you protested, Sanji never failed to jump head first into danger to protect you. “If I let someone like you get hurt, I couldn’t call myself a man,” he’d say, always ready to play the chivalrous one, the martyr, the damned fool. You’d hoped after all of your scoldings, that maybe he’d finally listen to you. You were more capable of taking care of yourself. You wished he’d finally trust you…

A low, weak groan rumbled from Sanji’s battered, cracked lips “Y/N… ‘m sorry… jusht reshting…” Slurred words were better than none. He’d lost a lot of blood before you were able to reach him and drag him away with you. Your emergency bandaging could only do so much. He needed Chopper to treat him as soon as possible before… before…

You pushed the thought out of your mind, relieved to hear Sanji’s broken words as you struggled to lift him back onto your shorter frame, limp arms dangling around your shoulders. “I know, I know. You need to stay awake for me ok? We’re almost home, just talk with me a little alright?” Such brave, hopeful words said in your own shaky voice. You couldn’t help but notice the warm, sticky wetness that soaked your back where he laid. The makeshift dressing you fashioned wasn’t holding back the bleeding any longer, time was running out. Through gritted teeth, you pushed yourself to drag Sanji’s wilted frame a little faster. You were so close, but it still felt so far away. 

“L-leave me…” he whispered, barely audible over the sound of burning lumber and Sanji’s heavy dress shoes dragging behind you.

“Not happening.”

“I’ll be f-fine, just–”

“Sanji, you can’t even walk. I’m not leaving you like this.”

“‘s not worth it if–”

“Sanji!” Your voice broke painfully around his name in your throat. Hot tears bubbled over your stinging eyes, steps never faltering. “I’m not leaving you behind! I don’t care if we both die here, I’m not giving up on you!” With what little strength he had, he lifted his head to look at your tear soaked face. Somehow, even among the blood and bruises that decorated his face, his expression looked more painful than before.

“Y/N…”

“Why can’t you see that you’re worth fighting for?” you sobbed, pleading desperately to the blonde. “Why can’t you see that I’m never going to let you go?”

Crackling timber continued to crash around the both of you, plumes of ash filled your lungs with fire. You finally stopped moving forward to look at Sanji. Though weak, barely hanging on to consciousness, he gazed at you with wide glassy eyes. The thought of him being worthy of saving never really crossed his mind, even on the verge of death. It was always someone else whose safety mattered more, a savior complex that outweighed any self-preservation instinct. He was born to serve, to be useful, and if he was lucky, to sacrifice it all to protect someone he cared for. Someone he loved.

As his ocean blue eyes welled up and spilled silent tears, you felt your heart twist in your chest. How could he, the person who made you feel the most loved, not see himself as deserving of that same love? You had so much you still wanted to say, so much you were too afraid to tell him before. It couldn’t end here. You gritted your teeth and steadied your breath as well as you could. “Let me save you for a change, ok?”

Without a word, he nodded meekly as you continued forward, counting down the steps until you felt the cool air of the ocean ignite your sweat covered skin in a chill. Dizziness and exhaustion overtook you as you collapsed under Sanji’s weight. The cries of your crew members filled your ears as they rushed to your side.

“Chopper!” you sobbed hoarsely. “Please help Sanji, there’s so much blood, I tried–”

“He’ll be ok,” Chopper reassured you as he rummaged through this pack for clean bandages and anesthetic. “You did a good thing to dress his wounds. I’ll start treatment here before moving him to the Sunny.”

Nami rushed to your side to check on you, pushing your sweat-dampened hair to the side, brown eyes flooded with tears. “Thank goodness you’re both alright! I was so worried when we didn’t see you back!” 

“Nami, I need to–” you wriggled free from Nami’s embrace to crawl back to Sanji, now on his back against the cold earth. His eyes barely cracked open to see you, a weak smile spread across his lips. “You saved me. What did a guy like me do to deserve to be saved by someone as lovely as you?”

“Shut up,” you managed to chuckle. He had enough strength to flirt, that was a promising sign. You moved strands of crusted hair from his forehead, tracing his cheek. “You should say ‘thank you’ instead of the self pity crap.”

Sanji managed a labored laugh as he held your hand that cupped his face. “Thank you, Y/N.” He was alive, you both were. And judging by the softness of his tired eyes, he was happy to have been saved. You leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his lips like a whisper as Sanji smiled below you.