Chapter Text
Your father avoided the subject of surgery for the rest of the day, and you decided to give him some time before approaching it again. You had shared your thoughts with him at the clinic, and you were certain he was reflecting on your words. If he was still too stubborn by the end of the week, you were prepared to use your ‘daddy’s girl’ privileges and maybe even shed some tears to guilt him into agreeing to the surgery.
In the meantime, both of you arrived home almost at dinner time and despite being totally exhausted, you told your father to eat the pasta you had cooked for lunch - and stored in the fridge - and for him to go straight to bed afterwards - he was still groggy from the pills - while you would feed the farm animals before closing up.
You had helped him yesterday with those chores, so you know where everything is and, even though he offers to call Ace to help you, you refuse. First because you want to show your father - and yourself - that you are capable of doing this on your own, and second because you are still mortified about his vibrator comment from before.
By the time you finish and finally close everything up, you are ready to drop into bed and sleep as if you’re in a coma. Except you can’t do that. Because you can almost hear Dr. Law’s voice in your ear telling you to eat something.
So you do. After blushing hard and slapping your face two times with both hands because imagining Dr. Law's voice in your ear purring ‘ good girl’ managed, yet again, to do some unholy things to your body.
After you calm down, you heat up a plate of pasta and force it down with a full glass of water.
As your head hits the pillow, you realise you should’ve showered because you kind of smell, but you can’t find any strength to get up, so you don't. Even if you smell like horse.
You'll just change the sheets tomorrow.
The unforgiving crow of the rooster comes, without fail, at six in the morning and you groan into your pillow. Maybe you should buy some earplugs to help you in the mornings.
Yet you hear your father rustling and grunting while his bed creaks and you're up in a moment's notice, eyes wide and already rushing towards the door.
“Dad?” You call from your room, not wanting to barge in on his privacy. Who knows how he sleeps? Your ex liked to sleep naked and there were plenty of times the two of you took advantage of that fact. Shaking your head to rid yourself of those painful and angry memories, you call again. “Dad, are you alright? If you don't answer me, I will barge into your room!”
His bed creaks again as he makes another low grunt. “I'm up, bug. I'm alright. As soon as I take my pills, I'll be ready to face the day!”
You sigh in relief. “OK, daddy. I'm going to take a quick bath and then I'll make you breakfast, okay?”
“Yeah you better bathe.” His head peeks from the door of his room and he wrinkles his nose. “I can smell you from here.” He chuckles at the look of murder you give him and, as you can see he is well, you chuckle back, and go back inside the room to collect your essentials.
After you’ve bathed, you go down to find your dad already busy making breakfast. You give him a good scolding but it’s all in good spirits because the pancakes smell delicious and you are actually hungry today.
Shanks remains by your side until you clean the plate and he nods in satisfaction as you wash the dishes. You know he wants to make sure you eat, just in case you faint again!
“Do you need my help with the chores?”
“No, bug. Ace is coming over to help me today. You mentioned you were going to meet with your friends so I asked if he could come by.” You swallow a lump in your throat as you feel your cheeks heat up. Are you ready to face Ace again after that whole fiasco?
“So is it okay if I go to town now? I wanted to see if I could find a part-time job and start pitching in with expenses before I meet the girls.”
Shanks cleans his hand with a cloth and raises his brow your way. “Why would you need to do that?”
“Because I want to help dad. Besides, maybe you should think about hiring a permanent helper for the property. To ease some of your load.”
He huffs angrily. “I don't need a helper! I can still work!”
You close the tap with more force than necessary and place your hands on your hips, facing him. “Really? The two times per week you are able to walk? Or the other times when you're at the clinic?”
Shanks grunts and turns his back on you, grabbing his straw hat. “We'll talk later! Be careful in town.”
Gritting your teeth you follow him with your eyes. “Don't think you can get off so easily! We will talk about the surgery!”
Your father slams the door as you curse. That man is unbelievably stubborn!
After you finish cleaning up the kitchen, you go to your room and choose a pretty sundress to wear with your white sneakers. It's a very hot day outside and you don't want to feel stuffy in jeans.
Your dad is using the pickup so you take the keys to the beaten-up 90’s red Ford Mustang that your father bought for you at a yard sale but you never got to use. It's a stick shift again! But now you hope you're more used to it, after the crash course you had yesterday.
Shanks uses the car once in a while so it's in good condition, has gas and it's clean. It's good to go! After you adjust the seat and settings, of course.
You pass by your dad and Ace on the way out of the property and you stop to remind Shanks where you're going. Also because Ace is shirtless and sweaty again and you don't mind the mental picture to help you sleep better.
“I'm leaving daddy! I'll be back after lunch. Call if you need anything, will you?”
“I will, baby, if you give me your number.” Ace lets out a cheeky laugh before Shanks swats his head with his open palm.
“Stop flirting with my daughter.” He growls and then smiles sweetly at you. “Okay, bug. Be careful! Oh, sometimes the car doesn't want to start. You need to give it a while, talk to it softly and then try again.”
You look at him with an unreadable expression and he continues to smile waiting for your confirmation so you just nod weirdly, not knowing what he meant by talking softly to it. It's a freaking car.
“Okay, see you later dad! Ace.”
“Bye, princess! Don't buy batteries okay?”
You snort and show him the finger behind your dad's back. “It's electrical, dumbass.”
You leave the property with his sweet guffaws still ringing in your ears.
You go by the post office first because you know they place job advertisements there but your search comes out fruitless. There are advertisements for working at the local supermarket or as a farmhand. None of them are part-time, which you need because you want to keep helping your father, and you’d rather not go for the supermarket job just yet.
You don’t want to be that person, but you do have skills that you know will be wasted as a cashier. You keep that job in mind, though, if you don’t find anything else.
You do some window shopping and stroll around town, remembering all the shenanigans you used to pull when you were younger and smiling and chit chatting with the people who recognized you.
When it’s almost lunchtime, you get in touch with the girls and they give you the location to meet them, since they both work nearby the café - which also serves lunches - and will go there as soon as it’s lunch time.
It’s a quaint little café on a corner where a video rental store used to be. It has some metal tables outside with big parasols to create shade and protection, beautiful tablecloths, and a vase with fresh flowers on them.
You smile as you read the name of the café - The All Blue - and push the door open to access the cool inside.
It’s just as quaint and beautiful inside and you keep smiling at the simplicity and the familiar, homely feeling it transmits. Some tables already have patrons but, before you can find a table, a blonde man, tall and lean - but still muscular, you can tell - saunters to you with a big smile and a menu in his hand.
“Good morning, madame , table for one?” You smile at him. He’s very handsome, maybe he’s the cook your friends want you to meet? Yet you can’t help but shake the feeling that he is familiar, somehow.
“No, for three, actually. I’m meeting my friends. I’m not sure if they made a reservation. If so, it will be under Nami or Robin.”
His eye - just one because you can’t see the other one - lights up as his smile widens. “Sweet Nami and Robin? They didn't make a reservation, but I always keep a table for them at lunchtime. Follow me, please. Is it too bold to ask for your name? I’m their good friend as well, I’m Sanji.”
God, even the name is familiar… you stutter your name but your smile vanishes from your face. Once he shows you the table, you’re scrutinising his face intently, your heart beating faster and faster against your chest.
The signs are there. The name, the swirly eyebrow…
No, it can’t be. How can this happen? How could you find someone related to your fiancé, the man you wanted to escape from, in your hometown?
His smile vanishes once he realises the worried look upon your face. “Are you alright?” He says your name with worry and you shake your head rapidly.
“I’m sorry, you’re just… so familiar…”
He cocks his head to the side, the small grin returning to his features. “Really? Maybe we’ve met in another life and are destined to meet again?” Holding the chair for you to sit, he makes a flourish gesture that you realise is rehearsed and he must use it on every girl that crosses through that door.
Being a fuckboy must be in the genes.
“Are you a Vinsmoke?” The question leaves your lips without your permission. You didn’t mean to be so blunt, but you also didn’t mean to be reminded of your ex when you stepped into this café.
He freezes instantly, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes wide.
“How do you… how… why do you ask?” He tries to smile again but only a pained grimace takes place on his mouth.
“I used to work for Vinsmoke Judge at Germa 66 Enterprises, in Grand Line City.” You leave out the part that you were engaged to his eldest son.
Sanji pales and you see his knuckles turn white from gripping the back of the chair. “No. I’m not.”
You’re about to protest with a lot of follow-up questions, because he’s clearly lying, but you hear a shrill sound, and soon you are enveloped by two pairs of arms in a crushing hug.
“Girls!” You greet as your friends squish you between them and exclaim your name with glee.
“Oh, we’ve missed you so much! Talking over the phone is not the same thing!” Nami says as she releases you from the strong vice they both locked you in. “I see you’ve met Sanji!”
Sanji’s easy smile is plastered back on his lips, but you can still perceive some small stress lines on his forehead and eyes.
“Yes, Nami, I’ve had the wonderful pleasure of meeting her just now.” He sets the menu on the table as his smile strains again. “I’ll send Cosette to get your order in a while.” He turns to you and his eyes scrunch. “Nice to meet you.”
As the three of you sit at the table, Nami looks at you quizzically. “What happened? Sanji is usually all smiles and he loves a pretty lady, so what did you do to him?”
Robin chuckles at Nami’s statement and you shrug. “He just seemed familiar. I asked him if he was related to someone I knew and he reacted this way.” You’re certain he’s hiding something, but you do not press the subject with the girls. Maybe he has some sort of secret he doesn’t want to share? It might not be your place to pry. “Anyway, tell me how life is treating you, girls?”
Robin crosses her arms and Nami does the same while looking at you. “First let’s talk about why you’re here. I’m all in for bad-mouthing that stupid prick that broke your heart!”
Your smile travels easily to your face, this time. They know what happened because, even though you haven’t physically met them in about five years, since they visited you, you talk every week and consider them, still, your best friends.
So lunch passes quickly while you three catch up and make plans to meet again. You tell them about looking for a job and they promise to ask around and help. Sanji doesn’t go by your table anymore but you keep catching him stealing glances your way. Especially when the food arrives.
And the food is so delicious you’re practically moaning into your fork. Robin and Nami agree that Sanji cooks the best food they’ve ever tasted and that’s why they eat lunch there every day. When the meal comes to an end, Sanji finally approaches your table. The strained smile is no longer in place and he resembles the happy blonde man who greeted you at the door.
“How was lunch, ladies?”
“Wonderful!” You exclaim as the girls sing him more praises. “It’s amazing food, Chef Sanji.” You smile back at him, trying to wordlessly apologise for having been inconvenient.
“It’s on the house.”
“No, no.” You start, but Nami gets up with a wide smile.
“Thank you, Sanji!” Robin chuckles as she also gets up.
“Yes, thank you, Sanji! We have to get back to work.” She says your name and stares back at you. “Have fun, we’ll talk later.” And the raven-haired girl drags Nami away by the arm, sensing that you and Sanji could use a moment alone.
You wave them goodbye and, looking around you realise the café is emptying since the lunch rush is over.
“Sanji… can I borrow a moment of your time?” He nods and gathers the dessert plates from the table.
“Let me just clean the table. Do you want coffee?” The strained smile is back as he knows you’ll want to speak more about the Vinsmoke and Germa 66 business. As you nod and sit back down, he swiftly gathers the dirty dishes and leaves.
When he returns, he’s bringing two cups of coffee and sets them down as he sits across from you.
“I’m sorry if I was too abrupt earlier.” You start. “It’s just… well I’m not on the best terms with the Vinsmokes at the moment and… well I was not expecting to find someone who reminded me so much of them in my hometown.” Your sigh turns into a weary chuckle.
“It’s okay.” He looks down. “I actually lied and I’m sorry too.” You knew he was lying. “I’m a Vinsmoke, yes. A… distant relation.”
You nod softly, he must be telling the truth since you never saw him at family meetings. “I didn't tell you the whole truth, either…” You inhale deeply through your nose as a soft blush creeps onto your cheeks. Why is it so hard to admit you were cheated on?
Is it because it seems as if you’re not worth it? That there’s something wrong with you?
“I was engaged to the eldest son.” You whisper.
“Ichiji?” He sounds alarmed as his eyes bore into yours and you nod. Grunting he regains some of his composure. “Was? You’re not anymore?”
Shaking your head you take a sip of the coffee. How is it that he can make even black, plain coffee taste wonderful? “He cheated.”
“Figures.” He huffs and sips his own coffee. “I’m sorry.”
Your shoulders raise in a resigned shrug, and you smile softly. Silence settles for a moment around you as the last customer leaves and Sanji waves goodbye to the familiar face. “How is it that a wonderful chef like yourself ends up in this washed-up town in the middle of the Calm Belt? You could work at the hottest spots in Grand Line City!”
You smirk as you try to lighten up the conversation. Nami and Robin told you that Sanji had moved into town about four years ago and had quickly befriended everyone, since he was so lovable. You managed to pry out of them that he loved to flirt with girls and, since he was so handsome, you were sure that half of them ended up in his house, but neither of the girls shared that information with you.
“Ah, you see,” he smirks back at you. “Here I was on my way to become the world’s greatest chef, already having lined up competitions with the biggest names in the industry, the path of fame awaited me!”
You chuckle softly at his dramatics as he stops and looks at you with dreamy eyes. “And then I got distracted by the most beautiful woman in the world who walked right into my café.”
A faint blush creeps its way to your cheeks and you squint your eyes at him. “Does that line usually work for you?”
The prettiest of chuckles leaves his lips as he raises his hands in mock defence. “Not even once. It’s still half-true, though. The part about the most beautiful woman, at least.” He winks. “I came here exactly to get away from the big city. This place is paradise. And my café is a little slice of it.”
“And it is a wonderful slice. You’ve done a wonderful job with the place. Much improvement since the dingy video store. Unless…” You chuckle and lower your voice. “Is there a restricted section in the back as well? Adults only?”
You seem to take him by surprise as, this time, it’s his turn to blush and stutter. “Ah… no.” You press your lips together trying to hold back your chuckle. He looks so cute, all flustered. “I mean, maybe you can check out the back room yourself?”
He cringes as if he’s just said the stupidest thing ever and this time you laugh out loud.
“That was pathetic, I’m sorry. I’ve got no moves other than that other line. I don’t usually get past that point!” He chuckles back at you, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
The laughter continues to bubble up within you and you realise that everything seems to come so easily and naturally around Sanji. You haven’t felt this relaxed in months. “I appreciate the honesty, Sanji. It’s quite refreshing.”
“I can still impress you with my cooking skills, since my pickup lines are terrible.” He tries, leaning forward with a huge grin.
“Oh, I think you already covered that. Lunch was amazing.”
“Thank you, but I was thinking of something more personal… more intimate.” His fingers play with the coffee mug in a show of nerves. “You tell me what you like and I will cook you the meal of your life.”
The smiles vanish from both your faces as you also lean forward, hands on top of the table as well, close to his hands. “Confident much?”
“I am. I was on my way to become the world's greatest chef, remember?”
The blue in his eyes is nothing short of spectacular. You hadn’t noticed yet, but they almost sparkle.
“Alright. Let’s see how well you can back up that confidence. I will make a list of favourite ingredients and you work your magic.”
His lip trembles as it rises to a sheepish smile. “It’s a date. Just tell me when you’re free. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
A date? Wait… really? “It's dinner, not a date.” His smile falters and you shrug. “I’m off men at the moment, but I’m always open to making new friends.”
He nods in understanding. “I can’t argue with that. Friends it is.” You’re glad he’s maintaining his easy nature, even after you rejected his idea of a date.
You finish your coffee and rummage through your purse for some change but he stops your hand with his stronger one. “No way. I told you, it’s on me.”
“Just this once, okay?” You say as you get up and smooth your dress. “Oh!” You exclaim as you take out a pen from your purse but fail to find a paper, so you retrieve a paper napkin from the table and write down your number. “Here. We’ll stay in touch. Friend.”
You giggle and he smiles warmly at you while he accepts your number. “ Madame, I will cherish your number and look forward to our next encounter.”
You exchange warm goodbyes and he walks you to the door, holding it open for you like a gentleman. Sanji was a nice surprise. Your friends were right. Even if the biggest surprise came in knowing he was related to your ex, you won’t let that get in the way of your friendship with him.
Or, who knows, maybe his cooking will impress you in a way his lame pick-up lines never could and the friendship turns into something more.