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Home. Love. Family.
Sanji doesn’t really know what any of those words are supposed to mean.
Love?
He once knew that, in the arms of the only person who ever showed him affection, the one that ate every plate he made her, the one who never turned him away, the one who always had a smile on her face, even as her body was fading away by the minute.
Then she was gone and Sanji knew love no more.
Home?
He’s just seven, so he can’t say he knows better or what a home should really look like.
But what he did know was that Germa wasn’t and would never be a home.
Something so cruel, something so vile, something so heartless, could never embrace the warmth, could never show the calidity and could never represent the safety that a home should be.
A home should be filled with love, exploding in joy and more importantly it should be something you look forward to, at the end of the day, your safe place, that’s what a home is.
Instead, what Sanji got was a cold dark cell, an iron mask on his head and the rats as his only friends.
Family? Don’t make him laugh.
He doesn’t have that, not really, a father who despises his very existence, brothers who beat him up just for the fun of it and a sister that tries her best but can’t risk herself too much, on the fear of being discovered.
Family shouldn’t hurt you.
Family shouldn’t hate you.
Family should protect you.
Yet his never did.
So when he left Germa, tears in his eyes and fear grasping his heart at the unknown, he was only certain of one thing.
He had no surname, he had no home, he had no family.
So here he was, going into the great unknown, and hoping that wherever he ends up, please, don’t be like Germa.
From that moment on, his new life began.
Home. Love. Family.
The Baratie was a beautiful place, a restaurant built in the middle of the great ocean Sanji had learned to love. Built on spite and determination, its purpose? To feed the hungry and never turn them away. No matter how good or how bad, no one deserved to feel hunger, no one deserved to starve, no one should ever go through the traumatic event that was feeling your own stomach trying to eat itself; begging for sustenance that wouldn’t come, no matter how much you prayed.
A restaurant that never stood still, always sailing on, getting the best the East Blue had to offer to every corner, leaving people satisfied with its food, even though customer service could really use an upgrade.
This was his home now and he intends to protect it and he damn sure is not going to let anyone disrespect it.
If only the rest of these idiots would let him do his damn job.
“Patty you asshole! Why did you stop me? That fucker wasted his food! He didn’t finish it all, he deserved a good ass kicking!”
Sanji stormed into the kitchen, fury written all over his face; Patty from his part, just rolled his eyes at him, a scowl forming on his face.
“Listen you little shit, how many times do we have to tell you? You can’t kick the ass of every single person that doesn’t finish their food, that’s not how that works!”
“And especially when the person you’re trying to attack is the goddamn mayor of the island we’re close to!” Carne added.
Sanji huffed, “I don’t give a fuck of who they are, you should have let me just show him a lesson!”
“You showing customers ‘a lesson’ has cost us thousands of berries in repairs.” Patty deadpanned.
“We make enough money to cover that.” Sanji snapped, though his cheeks did flush a little in embarrassment.
“Can you idiots just stop talking and finish cleaning!” Another voice joined in on the fray, the three of them turning to where it came from only to be met with a very tired and pissed off looking head chef. “Both of you,” he pointed to Carne and Patty. “Go the fuck outside and finish cleaning those tables, I want them fucking shining for the breakfast rush tomorrow. Go!” In a cloud of smoke, the two other chefs were gone, leaving only two in the kitchen.
Sanji started talking before Zeff had the chance to. “I know what you’re going to say.”
“Eggplant.”
“But that fucker really pissed me off! He not only didn’t finish his dinner, he was acting so fucking smug about it as if I couldn’t do anything about that!”
“Eggplant.”
“So in my defense, me kicking his fucking teeth off his mouth was justified because how dare he waste a perfectly good plate when there are millions of people out there starving every single day, when people are dying of hunger and no one in this fucking world does anything to stop that! And we try and we try but I know it’s not enough and--”
“Sanji!” Zeff finally yelled to get his attention, and it worked.
Sanji stopped talking, lifting his head to meet Zeff’s serious stare, his shoulders tensing, expecting his next words.
Whatever he was expecting, he was not expecting the chef to grin. “Kid, I’m not going to reprimand you for showing that asshole a lesson.”
Sanji relaxed a little, but he knew the chef was not done. “But…”
Zeff rolled his eyes. “Next time, if you can bother of course,” he said sarcastically. “Could you at least make sure you’re on the deck so you don’t damage the inside of my restaurant? Patty was not lying when he said that because of you we keep spending money on repairs that could have been avoided.”
Despite those last words, Sanji smiled. “I won’t promise that geezer, but I’ll try.”
Zeff didn’t look like he believed him, not even a little. “Alright eggplant,” he finally sighed. “Let’s just finish cleaning around here and then you can show me what new recipes you have come up with.”
Sanji knew his face lit up and he knew that Zeff was aware of that, with the way his grin grew bigger and his eyes softened just a little, something a regular person would probably not have noticed.
Not him, though.
After what they lived through, they both learned to read each other so damn well, it was amazing yet frustrating how they could never really lie to the other.
“You just wait geezer! I’ve been experimenting around with some new spices I got on the last supply run, I think we can up the menu one notch with them!”
“I’ll be the judge of that, eggplant.”
It’s been seven years, since that fateful day they met, it’s been seven years since they were up close and personal with hell on earth, it’s been seven years since that old man that didn’t know a little brat at all gave up a part of himself just so that brat could live.
Seven years since Zeff took him in, when he could have gotten rid of him.
Seven years since Zeff decided to be a father, something he never asked for.
And it has been seven years full of learning, of Sanji finally being able to do what he loves the most, of experimenting with recipes, of trying out spices, of creating new mouth watering plates.
And every step of the way, Zeff has been there, guiding him, training him and teaching him.
Sanji thinks this is the closest to love that he has felt and received ever since his mom passed away.
It was different, whereas Sora was hugs and kisses on the cheeks, Zeff was tough love with an ass kicking if it was necessary.
Yet Sanji loved him, even though he would probably not admit it out loud, he owed Zeff everything and that was something he would never forget.
Which is why, four years down the road, when a boy with a straw hat and a smile that was more blinding than the sun itself came abruptly into his life and turned it upside down; Sanji was so reluctant of going with him, even if his mind was screaming at him to take the chance and to go chase that ocean that he knows exist in the great beyond of the seas.
In the end, it took Zeff and the rest of the cooks at the Baratie trying to lie to his face, for him to finally accept that opportunities like this one would not come knocking twice at his door.
So he packed his belongings and decided to leave the first real home he had ever known.
Hey Sanji. Don’t catch a cold.
With tears in his eyes that he tried his hardest to not let fall, he bowed his head and thanked the old man for everything he did for him since they met.
For loving him when no one else did.
For giving him a home, as crazy and chaotic as it was.
And as he looked at the rest of the cooks crying at his farewell, he tried to thank them with his eyes, for being a family, something he never really had.
It was with a heavy heart that he saw the Baratie disappearing from view, his chest still aching at the notion of knowing he was not going to see them again for a very long while.
“Everything alright, Sanji?”
But-
As he looked at his new captain and as he remembered those who are meant to be his crewmates, he felt excitement blooming inside of him, a new thrill going through his body.
“Everything’s fine, Luffy.”
As his words were met with a brilliant smile, Sanji knew he made the right choice.
And who knows.
There was no written text where it said that you could only have one family.
Home. Love. Family.
First it was The Merry, a beautiful ship, it wasn’t the biggest ship on the seas, it was small but it was theirs.
It was the home of five teenagers, one talking reindeer and one gorgeous archeologist.
His kitchen was small, there were barely any rooms on the ship, but they made do and they sailed on, in search of their dreams.
Then they lost her and it hurt.
They got The Sunny, she was not Merry, no one could ever replace her, but the new ship soon became their new home, ready to take them all across the Grand Line and beyond, its purpose to reach the end of the seas, if such a thing even existed.
In addition, they got a kind of cyborg shipwright and then a skeleton and on both occasions Sanji remembered the fleeting times where Zeff talked about his adventures, about how nothing is really strange around the Grand Line, because even the impossible could be possible on those waters.
His galley was perfect, his kitchen the one he pictured only on his dreams, it had everything he needed and then more.
“So, do you like your new kitchen, cook-bro?” Franky had asked him the first day they spent on The Sunny, around dinnertime as everyone was enjoying their favorite plates, Franky’s face dirty with ketchup because of the amount he put into his burger.
Sanji, trying to conceal a smile around a mouthful of pasta, just nodded his head.
That seemed to be enough for the shipwright whose grin could have lit up the entire room; everyone around him just laughed at the sight, knowing that Franky was going to fit right in among these strange group of misfits.
Home.
Tangerine’s trees standing tall and thriving, the sound of weights so big no one should be able to use being lifted over and over coming from the crowsnest, the melody of a violin coming from the aquarium, a gentle giggle as a cup of tea was enjoyed, the clank of a hammer as new improvements were made to the ship, the laughter and mischief that carried around the deck as games were played.
Later, much later, the sound of a hearty laugh and wise words would join the frays.
The sound of the oven peeping, the sound of a knife against a cutting board.
Home. That’s what this was.
A home that Sanji was hellbent on protecting, no matter the price he may have to pay.
Which is why, when his past caught up to him.
When everything and everyone he loved was threatened.
The decision had never been easier.
His life for the people that gave him a home? Something once upon a time he thought he would never know? There was no hesitation.
He would give his life for them in a heartbeat.
What he didn’t take into account, was that they were willing to do the same for him.
Without you, I can’t become the Pirate King!
Love.
He didn’t get it, he didn’t understand why they would risk so much for him, they had so much bigger things on their plate.
Why would Luffy risk it all for a lousy cook who disrespected him to his face, why would the crew put themselves on the line for him.
He always thought that love were his mother’s hugs, her kisses on his cheek.
He thought that love was Zeff's steady support and proud looks he thought Sanji didn’t notice.
He never even considered that love could be this.
Your friends, determined to take on an emperor just to get you back.
“Why?” He had asked, when his body moved on its own, when he carried himself all the way across this god forsaken town, damaged basket in his hands, to the promised place.
Luffy had just rolled his eyes fondly as if Sanji was dumb for asking that question.
Then he smiled. “Because you’re mine, you’re ours and we don’t let go of what’s ours so easily, especially when they don’t want to.”
Love. That’s what it was.
It was easy, it was pure and it was real.
“I’m sorry, Luffy.” He apologized, once everything was said and done, when the hellish island was finally disappearing from view. “I’m sorry, everyone, for what I put you through.”
The rest of his crew that was present looked at him in different states of amusement and softness.
“It’s alright Sanji, we got you back!” Chopper crawled on his back until he could wrap himself around his shoulder.
“If you ever do something like this again Sanji, I won’t be happy and I promise you, you are never going to be able to pay off your debt.” Nami informed him, arms crossed and trying to act tough but Sanji saw right through her, her relief palpable in the air.
“Yohohoho, our journey could never be completed without you my dear boy.” Brook said, pulling out his violin. “Now if I may, I feel like we all could use a tune.”
Sanji smiled once the first notes lingered in the air, feeling, at least for the time being, that everything was right where it was supposed to be.
“Everything alright, Sanji?” Luffy nudged him on the shoulder, making Sanji turn to look at him.
“Yeah captain,” he answered in a calm tone. “Everything’s good.”
Home. Love. Family.
That was what the Straw hats were to him, that’s what Luffy gave him, what he gave all of them, a group of rejects with impossible dreams, dreams that were mocked over and over; in the face of horrible odds and even worse mockery; Luffy said no, no one can tell you that your dreams are dumb.
A family, one Sanji would cherish forever.
One he would look after.
One he would never allow to see the monster he could become.
Reason why, in the face of the fear and hopelessness of feeling his own body starting to change.
He made an oath, he trusted his life to the one person he knew would not let him down if the time ever came.
Turns out, he didn’t need to worry.
He was still him and he would do everything he could in order to keep it that way.
“You’re an idiot, cook.” Zoro had said, once they left the land of Wano, onward to wherever the sea takes them next. “You’re never going to change, you’re not going to lose yourself, whatever that’s supposed to mean, we won’t let you.”
Home.
The swordsman had left after that, leaving Sanji alone, leaning against the rail, where he could see all of his crew scattered around the deck.
The sun was starting to set, the sky starting to turn orange.
It was looking to be a cold night, but Sanji could not have been feeling more warm even if he tried.
Love.
“Sanji!” Luffy yelled from below. “Can we have a barbecue?” He asked, puppy eyes showing in full glory, Usopp and Chopper joining him on his endeavor.
Sanji rolled his eyes at their antics, yet he smiled.
Family.
“Sure Luffy, let me get everything outside.”
Cheers and hollers were heard from the trio, while the rest of the crew sighed and smiled at the sight.
Sanji couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him, retreating to his kitchen to get what he needed.
Family indeed.
One he would never take for granted, one that he would always hold on to, one that he would always love.
That was his promise.