Chapter Text
1.
Luffy didn’t feel too well and how could he when he saw the cook being around that many women? They had been at an island buying some things so they were supposed to be concentrated in that. Instead Sanji was all too distracted with the girls. At first that hadn’t been a problem at all, but with time that changed and he was now suffering from Sanji’s behavior with women even if he shouldn’t feel surprised or annoyed. Ever since he got that he was probably in love with him he knew that it was better to keep it a secret and forget about it as time passed. Nevertheless, for the time being he still felt that way even if he didn’t want to and tried his best to let his sentiments disappear. He thought he had been particularly good at hiding his feelings for no one from the crew seemed to know about them and he hoped it stayed that way.
He couldn’t believe the he would get that way for a man. He knew Sanji was great and everything, but he feeling that strongly for him was unexpected and even uncalled for. He would never like him back and while he was optimistic to an extreme he also knew when things weren’t going to happen. He was also sure that it was better to keep focused on searching for the One Piece, but even if he told himself that, hearing Sanji laughing and being playful with those women was driving him crazy.
When it was time to go back to the Sunny so they could continue with their journey, Luffy was still upset, but was careful enough to hide it. Sanji was still feeling great from having spent most of his time with those ladies and he couldn’t help but feel miserable. He was really going about this in the wrong way and he knew he shouldn’t waste his time expecting for something to happen between them at all. He was too much of a dreamer and was always thinking about them getting together or kissing when it was impossible. He was someone that didn’t know that word and never used it for anything, but he also knew what battles to fight and which ones to pass.
After they had dinner they all decided to hold a party since they were days away from getting to the next island. They had lots of rum, wine and beers so it would be great according to everyone. They had prepared a table in the deck with food and the drinks ready for everyone to enjoy. Of course Luffy had asked Brook to play songs while they were eating. He needed that since he wasn’t feeling like himself yet. It was so hard to see Sanji being with other people without him noticing how he felt for him. He seriously hoped no one got his sad demeanor or the reason behind it.
He hid everything with an expertise he hadn’t thought himself capable of and apparently everyone was having a great time. He tried his best to forget about Sanji, but every time he looked at him he felt a mix of sad and happy because it was amazing he was there with him, as if that was enough for him to be glad. Ah, he had it bad.
Luffy ate and drank from everything that was on the table with no restriction. For some reason the booze was incredibly good that day so instead of eating as much as he used to he imbibed everything that was close to him. Since the only one drinking something different to alcohol was Chopper no other option was available for him. He continued that way even when the rum burned his throat. He felt that with each passing minute and the more he drank he could feel his problems slipping away from his mind. In the back of his head he remembered that Shanks used to say that alcohol always calmed the sorrows of love. He hadn’t understood what that meant when he was young, but now he could get that it made a lot of sense.
Since he was usually a whirlwind when eating he guessed no one noticed that he had drunk a lot. He felt as his head was starting to feel different as if something funny was about to happen soon, but he didn’t know what or when. Luffy started to laugh out of nowhere and after that his mind was completely blank of anything the crew said to him.
***
It was interesting, if not incredibly hilarious, to see Luffy that way. It was the first time Sanji had seen him wasted like that. The captain drank alcohol in parties, but never to that extent. He had always thought he just didn’t like it that much, but apparently that night he was really into it. Maybe he had been hanging out too much with the moss head that was a bad influence to anyone. He should have to keep an eye on Chopper so the doctor wouldn’t fall to this type of behavior.
He was seated next to Luffy that was talking of him being sad about something, but he slurred so much in his speech that he couldn’t get clearly what he was unhappy about. He never could finish or explain properly what made him upset and no one could get him to answer what was wrong. That continued for some time and the whole crew was either laughing about the way he acted or the weird things he said or worried that what he was saying was actually true. He didn’t know any reason for him to be sad so he just laughed along with the rest.
Suddenly, Luffy put his jar with rum down and seemed to almost wake up. Almost because he kept talking unintelligible things, but his eyes shone in a way that made it look as if his head wasn’t as foggy as before. After that he began speaking clearer and got closer to him and put an arm around his neck and started talking to both him and the crew.
“Okay, I know I said I was sad, but have you seen Sanji? I can’t stay that way if I’m close to him,” he said with mirth in his voice and while he appreciated the feeling it was kind of odd.
He wanted to take out Luffy’s arm from his neck, but he wasn’t budging from holding him at all. Instead he proceeded with what he wished to say.
“But really. Have you seen him? When he cooks he does it so good too! What would I do without your cooking, Sanji?” He pondered and everyone was laughing except for him.
It was obvious they were having the time of their lives at his expense. Why did this type of thing always happen to him anyway? He accepted his fate and didn’t care about the captain’s closeness so he kept listening to him. From what he got he was bent on praising him for his cooking and fighting style. He even said he was the coolest of the crew and when he saw the moss head face’s he snickered for that was great to hear if he was honest.
Then he stopped and drank a beer that was close to him even when Nami had tried to take it away from him. He continued with everything and he was kind of happy witnessing the captain’s apparent admiration for him.
At some point he put a hand holding his face as if he was thinking of something beautiful and started again.
“But really, Sanji shines when he cooks. He looks so pretty too,” he said with a sigh and he didn’t know if the rosy cheeks Luffy had were caused by the alcohol or it was an actual blush.
Sanji saw how the whole crew was astonished by what Luffy had said. The ones that were drinking coughed up what they were having and some even choked. He wasn’t in better shape than that and he wanted to get away from the captain soon, but he kept a steady grip on him.
“Seriously, he looks so beautiful I think I may die at some point,” he kept saying and he leaned a little on him.
Everyone was looking at both as if this was the most impossible thing to see and it really was. What was he even saying? What did he mean by all of this?
He noticed that Luffy had closed his eyes and was pouting, but before anyone could ask him what was wrong he spoke up.
“I can’t believe I have to see you going around following ladies. Why do you do that when you have so many options, Sanji?” He asked and he was so lost.
He didn’t get where his options were and the rest seemed to not know either. Luffy was being so weird that day. Who let him have alcohol anyway? He would kick their ass after this was over. He pleaded with his eyes for someone to help him get Luffy away from him and Nami was standing up when Luffy just had to say the most mortifying thing he had ever heard.
He opened his eyes, stared directly at him and said, “Hey, Sanji, don’t keep going around women, okay? Marry me instead. Do you want to marry me? Say yes, please.”
He felt his face burn and the whole crew were completely baffled by his statement. He couldn’t be real about this, right? He looked at him trying to comprehend what had just happened and was about to ask what he was saying, but Luffy fell asleep suddenly over him, hugging him all the way.
That thankfully shut him up, but that didn’t mean that anything was alright. Sanji looked everywhere for help and they were all quiet. It seemed he wasn’t the only one completely shocked by everything, but since the guys were the worst they started laughing as if they had been performing the funniest comedy ever. He told them to shut their mouths, but they continued laughing.
Usopp, Chopper and Franky were on the floor laughing while Nami and Robin were chuckling. Zoro was laughing his guts out and Jinbei looked distressed, but was laughing anyway. Brook in the middle of his laugh stated that the reason why Luffy was so sad was probably because he had seen him flirting with some women at the past island.
None of that made any sense and he kept asking the crew to help him get Luffy off him. When they were back to their normal selves they took him off from him and Zoro and Usopp grabbed him by the shoulders as dead weight. He would wake with the worst headache ever, but he couldn’t get worried about that now. Everything he had said was too surprising and it was so strange to even hear the captain saying anything like that.
He hoped it was the alcohol that made him say all those things and that he didn’t mean them. The ones that remained with him looked at him waiting for an opinion or response from him, but he was speechless. What could he even say?
He began retiring the dishes and the glasses from the table and the crew helped him do it without looking at him anymore. He was incredibly tired from this entire thing, but he also feared going into the men’s room with Luffy there. When they were done cleaning the crew bid him farewell with strange smiles and it was obvious they wanted to keep laughing again. He couldn’t believe them sometimes.
Sanji knew he had to rest, but he preferred to be on the lookout. It was like he didn’t want to confront the man even if he was passed out from drinking that much, but who could blame him? Luffy, his captain, had practically confessed his love for him in front of the whole crew. One thought wouldn’t leave him alone though; did he mean all he said? He hoped he was just joking because he had no idea where this would lead them if it wasn’t like that.
***
Luffy woke up with the worst headache he had felt in a long time. Even when enemies or Nami hit him on the head he didn’t feel this way. He felt his stomach was kind of unsettled too and for the first time in probably his whole life he didn’t want to eat. What the hell was wrong with him anyway? He also didn’t remember anything from last night and he had no idea how he had gotten to his bed.
He stood up and noticed that the only one in the room was Zoro. He was resting on his own bed and when he noticed he was up he looked at him with a weird smile. He asked him how he felt and he answered that he felt like shit. The swordsman also asked him if he wanted to eat anything and he said that not really. He still insisted in that he should eat and he went down from his bed and led him to the dining room.
His head that was already hurting a lot almost exploded with the sun rays. He held it with his hands and hoped Chopper would give him something to soothe the pain. He went inside the dining room feeling as if he had been kicked many times. He saw that everyone looked at him when he entered the place. When they noticed him the same type of strange smile was on the whole crew. The only one that wasn’t like that was Sanji that wasn’t even looking at him in the first place.
He saluted everyone and sat down waiting for Sanji to give him something. He told him that he wanted something light because he wasn’t feeling too good of the stomach. He didn’t even spare him a glance, but nodded anyway. That was weird as well as the way everyone was staring at him like expecting for him to do something. He didn’t understand what they wanted, but for some reason he preferred not to know; his head hurt too much to learn anything new.
The looks continued the whole breakfast (or was it lunch?) and Luffy was seriously so freaked out. They talked about this and that, but they still kept staring at him intently. He wanted to ask them what was wrong with them, but something told him that it wasn’t a good idea. As before the only one that didn’t speak about anything was Sanji that was focused on eating and nothing more. Even like that he looked beautiful. He opted to escape from those thoughts and kept eating calmly.
When they were done he went out still feeling bad and so he asked Chopper for something that could ease his headache. The doctor gave him some painkillers and scolded him for drinking too much. He accepted and went to sit at the deck. He was of the idea that if he went to the Sunny’s head he might fall so he preferred to stay away from the sea.
As he was by himself he felt that his annoying headache started to dissipate. His mind that was calmer made him begin thinking about what could have happened last night that he was so lost. Luffy knew he should have been extremely preoccupied about forgetting of something, but he was in the hands of his crew so it didn’t bother him. What did worry him was that everyone was acting different. He remembered they were having a party and that he had drunk a lot more than he usually did because he was sad. At some point he started laughing, but after that nothing came to his memories.
He tried to connect the events that had transpired and what he could be missing. From everyone’s reaction he probably said or did something funny, but given his character that was to be expected. So, what could be so funny that they still laughed about it? There was also the fact that Sanji hadn’t looked too happy like the rest. Had he done something to annoy him? He hoped it wasn’t like that because while he knew they would never be together that didn’t mean he didn’t care about the cook’s opinion of him.
Some time passed and he was feeling better. He heard someone approaching him and it was Usopp and Chopper looking at him weirdly. It was like they wanted to tease him about something, but were afraid of him. He never got too annoyed by that so it was even stranger that they were acting like that. He tried to ask them what they wanted, but they only ran as if rethinking if what they were doing was a good idea.
He went after them and they entered the sick bay that was also connected to the kitchen. He was only fixed on capturing those two so he didn’t see Sanji on his way outside the place and crashed on him heavily. He fell over him and after recuperating from the hit they stood up. Sanji was looking nervous as hell and wasn’t saying anything to him. He apologized, but the man only nodded. Normally he would have kicked him already, but he went somewhere else in the deck so rapidly it seemed he was fleeing from there.
He was starting to get worried because it seemed Sanji had a problem with him, but he didn’t know what that was about at all. He wanted to talk with him so they could fix whatever was going on and he went to look for him. He found him in the men’s room and when he saw him he almost paled. What was so wrong?
Without preamble Luffy asked him if something was wrong with him, but he shook his head and was making his way outside again. He inquired if he had done something to him last night when he was drunk and Sanji had blushed a lot, but other than that he had remained silent and shook his head again. Then he went out and he followed him because it seemed he was escaping from him. Sanji got inside the kitchen and when he was entering too the door closed and he heard the latch clicking so he was sure he had secured the door so he wouldn’t enter. There were many forms of entering the place as he had learned while trying to steal meat in the years they had navigated, but he thought it was better to leave Sanji alone for now.
Seriously, what had he done to get Sanji so distressed? He needed to know and now so he went to Nami that was by the tangerines with Robin. He came closer to both and quickly asked them what had happened.
“Nami, what the hell happened last night? What did I do?” He inquired fearing the answer because he was so confused about everything that could have happened really.
Nami looked at Robin and sighed. She stayed quiet for some time and was seemingly trying to tell him whatever it was in a collected way perhaps to appease him, but that only made him more nervous. She was also trying to hold back a laugh and that only made things worse for him.
When she was ready she began. “You drank a lot last night and now your head hurts a lot, right? You kinda passed out at some point so that’s why you don’t feel too well. It’s called a hangover. Welcome to the adults’ world, I guess.”
She said and it was obvious she was hiding something else. He looked at her expecting for her to continue, but she started reading some book she had in her lap. He pleaded at her to tell him the truth and she seemed to be very against the idea, but at the end just gave up.
“Okay, I didn’t want to tell you because it’s a little problematic. Though I must admit that it’s kind of funny too,” she said trying to contain a laugh in the same way as Robin. When she was done she continued, “I thought Sanji would speak with you, but I guess it’s too troublesome for him, so I’ll tell you instead.”
He was getting anxious from all this. Really, what had he done?
“When we were having the party you drank a lot and it seemed like you didn’t know what was going on anymore and started talking a lot. And by a lot I mean a lot. You started saying good things about Sanji and everything was alright, but after some point you said that he was really pretty and that you didn’t want him chasing girls anymore.”
He paled. He couldn’t have done that, right? Of all the possible ways for him to find out of his feelings that was the worst one. He could try to play it cool and make it seem as if that attitude of his just annoyed him since he was the captain and he had to pay more attention to their mission or maybe blame it on the alcohol. He would do that.
He thought they were done, but Nami kept speaking. “That’s not the only thing you said though. You proposed to him, Luffy. You asked Sanji to marry you.”
She finished and the laugh she had been trying to hold escaped through her lips. Robin was in the same state and both laughed well-naturedly about his misery. He couldn’t have done that. If it was going to be difficult to make it look like he was mad at Sanji’s attitude now that option was completely out of the picture. He would have to blame it all on the alcohol.
He was starting to feel out of breath and his headache came back in full force. He was getting nauseous and dizzy. He went to the bathroom running because not only a headache was what his first hangover had provoked.
***
Sanji had been asked by Chopper to prepare some light food for Luffy since he had thrown up the whole afternoon. Now it was already past dinner time and it seemed he was better and could actually eat without expulsing everything from his system. He wasn’t worried because that was what happened to light weights that couldn’t hold their alcohol and he felt he deserved that too for making things difficult. Still, since he was a great cook and crewmate he cooked something that wouldn’t upset his stomach anymore. He wasn’t going to give it to him though, so he let the plate in a table and made Chopper grab it to give it to Luffy.
The doctor had given him a look that meant he should have been the one to serve him food, but he wasn’t getting close to Luffy not now and possibly not ever. It wasn’t like he hated Luffy now, but if what he said was true then things were going to be complicated for both. He was still his captain and he would always respect him, but after he literally asked him to marry him he looked at things with a different perspective.
For starters Sanji seriously didn’t see when or how Luffy started to feel that way for him (if what he said was true), so he guessed he had hidden it well. There was also the fact that things were going to be awkward for him and Luffy because he didn’t like him and he rejecting him was extremely weird. It was like one of those things that never crossed his mind. He didn’t think Luffy would try to woo him in any way because he hadn’t before so there was no reason for him to begin now. And if he did it would make things even weirder. Seriously, why did he have to say those things?
When it was night time he went out of the kitchen and made way for the men’s room. Luffy was going to sleep at the infirmary in case he wanted to throw up again, though Chopper had already given him some medicine for it. He had the impression that Luffy was avoiding him in the same way that he was and for that reason remained in the sick bay. It was kind of funny since he had spent most of the time in the kitchen that was next to the infirmary anyway, but neither had looked over to see the other and he was grateful for that.
After Sanji entered the men’s room to sleep he saw that everyone was looking at him wanting to clearly laugh. These guys were really the worst. He asked them angrily what they wanted, but they remained silent. He changed into his pajamas and put the covers over him. When he closed his eyes he heard laughter and he didn’t need to be a genius to know that they were making fun of him. He tried to keep focused on sleeping, but the laughs got louder and then he heard Usopp saying something about him being the best man for Luffy’s part and that Chopper could be the one for him. Both laughed like madmen, but he wouldn’t make a fuss over it for now; he preferred to sleep.
He continued his efforts to stay calm until he heard Zoro saying that he was going to be Luffy’s best man and he wasn’t having any of it. If there was something he wasn’t able to withstand was the stupid moss head making fun of him so he stood up and started yelling at them to shut up. Everyone that was on the room laughed and it seemed that for much that he tried to keep them quiet they wouldn’t. He would have to use force then.
He went closer to Usopp and Chopper and kicked them in their heads, but Zoro got away faster and he wasn’t able to land a kick on his stupid head. With that everyone got silent and he warned them that if they continued with that shit they would be eating exactly that so it was best not to look for a fight with him. Everyone knew that he was capable of making them eat the worst ingredients ever without caring if they would pass out from them being rancid since it was food at the end of the day anyway.
Sanji went back to his bed and put the covers over his entire body as to not perceive any light or sound. He wanted to rest and with these brutes it would be impossible, but he wouldn’t let them have their way.
When the morning came he woke up feeling better than yesterday and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the band of morons and of course the lovely ladies. He entered the place and he was apparently still sleepy for he didn’t notice Luffy’s presence there. When they saw each other both widened their eyes and Luffy tried to say something, but seeing that nothing was coming out he went back to the sick bay and ran through the dining room rapidly. He wanted to know what he was doing in his kitchen, but that would mean he would have to talk with him and he didn’t feel ready for that so he let it pass.
Some time passed and the whole crew was there getting ready for breakfast minus the captain that said he wasn’t feeling too well yet. He had to prepare some light food again for him even if he knew well enough that he was probably lying and just didn’t want to see him. It was further proved because Chopper that wasn’t perceptive of anything stated that it was weird that a reaction to alcohol lasted that long, but that he would give him time to get better.
When the crew was done everyone left him alone to wash the dishes because they were lazy like that. The only one that hadn’t left was Chopper that went to check Luffy’s state. When he was done he informed him that Luffy seemed to be better than before, but that he would be staying there to rest. He nodded and the doctor seemed to want to say something else. He made a sign for him to speak and he said between laughs that Luffy would probably feel better if he were to visit him since he liked him and stuff.
He kicked him out of the kitchen rapidly and Chopper protested for the violence, but he had earned that himself. After he was done cleaning everything he felt someone watching him and he didn’t need haki to know that it was Luffy staring at him from the sick bay like a shy toddler. He wanted to tell him to stop doing it, but that would mean that they would be speaking so he opted to just get out of the kitchen to the deck.
When he turned around he noticed that Luffy hid and went back to lie on the bed of the infirmary. He didn’t make it obvious that he had seen him and simply went out to smoke. When he got to the deck he sat on the wooden floor and lighted a cigarette to try to calm himself. He didn’t want to recognize or admit this, but the more Luffy avoided him the more evident was that he knew what he had done and that it was probably true what he had said when drunk.
He preferred to think that he was embarrassed by his actions because they were awkward as hell and he wouldn’t want to be in that position. But at the same time if he was so abashed by everything it was more probable he would want to clarify things soon and not avoid him. Damn it, everything was so bothersome. He couldn’t handle the thought of Luffy liking him and the crew laughing about Luffy’s apparent crush on him.
In his opinion it was kind of cruel to make fun of them since things could get ugly between them, but as it seemed nothing was confirmed only the drunk “confession” remained on their memories. However, if he was honest if something like this happened to Zoro he would be laughing along with them because looking at it from the outside the thing was freaking hilarious. Since that wasn’t the case he felt distressed and in a really bad mood, which only got worse because he couldn’t get inside his kitchen to cook something good for the ladies and distract his mind.
As lunch time approached he feared going inside the kitchen to prepare things, but he knew he had to do so anyway. Why out of all the places to hide in the ship Luffy had chosen the sick bay that was literally next to the kitchen? Damn it, he was so stupid.
He damned his luck and went to cook something since he knew those beasts would start demanding food from him soon. He entered the password to open the fridge with care since the captain was close and it would be counterproductive to let him find out about it. He took out meat and some vegetables for he was going to cook a beef stew. He would prepare rice with chicken for Luffy even if he knew he was fine already.
Sanji called the crew when the food was ready and they entered the place happy to eat. He asked Chopper to get the rice and chicken to Luffy since he was his patient and everyone wanted to laugh again. The doctor nodded and went to give the captain his food. When he was back he told him that Luffy seemed to want more food than what he had given him, but he only said that since he was sick he couldn’t eat more.
Of course those bastards just had to turn things against him and Zoro opened his mouth to say that he should treat his fiancé better. He was going to kill him and no one would be able to stop him. They started fighting as always and Nami hit them in the heads to silence them and for being annoying. A punch from Nami was almost a caress for him so he didn’t care while Zoro protested only to get hit again by Nami’s lovely fists.
When they were settled they started eating and he thought things would be more normal, but he was so wrong. Even from the kitchen they could hear Luffy’s stomach protesting for not having enough food. He didn’t say anything or stood up from the bed as he was bent on not asking for food or getting close to him, which only further proved his suspicions and worst fears. Still, since he didn’t want to approach him either he didn’t do anything even when the crew looked at him expectantly.
The sounds kept coming from the sick bay and so, feeling guilty that he hadn’t fed the captain well and that if something happened he could die of starvation, he cooked him more chicken and rice. There was no meat if he insisted on lying that he was sick so that was all he did. Chopper was in charge to give Luffy the food again and after that he seemed to calm down.
Lunch time was over and everyone left. He asked everyone to help him wash the dishes, but each one of them ditched his request and he was left alone. Well, not exactly as Luffy remained in the sick bay. He wasn’t saying anything and he didn’t hear him moving so he was kind of amazed he was able to spend that much time without doing anything or calling anyone’s attention.
Sanji tried to clean the plates quickly because for much that Luffy’s efforts of avoiding him were impressive it was still unnerving to have him close. He went out to the deck like he had done earlier and sat by himself not wanting anyone to speak with him. It was weird that he didn’t even desire the ladies’ companies, but he was in the worst mood possible.
There were many questions plaguing his mind like if Luffy really liked him or if he wanted to marry him, but a new one had added up to the others: how long would the captain continue avoiding him? Would he get tired and would make the effort to talk with him or would he just keep quiet? He didn’t wish to think too hard about it, but he couldn’t leave the matter alone; he needed to know.
***
One whole month had gone by and Luffy still hadn’t talked with Sanji. He wasn’t a coward, but this was too difficult. Everyone looked at him expecting for him to do something or to approach the cook, but he just couldn’t and he knew that the more time passed the more obvious it was that his words had been true. He could still blame it on the alcohol, but he knew it was going to be hard to believe it at this point. He could say he was too embarrassed by everything (which he was), but he wasn’t one to be that way for too long and if it had been a simple confusion or mistake from his part he would have spoken with Sanji already.
It was killing him. The whole not-talking-to-Sanji thing was slowly but surely destroying him. The cook wasn’t going to approach him either from what he could see, but the reason was obvious. He had made him feel uncomfortable in front of the whole crew and they teased them endlessly.
He had pretended to be sick for three days, but after that he had been too hungry and he couldn’t continue eating just rice with chicken. He had asked Chopper to bring him meat, but the doctor concluded that he was fine and kicked him out of the infirmary. In a way that was better because he wouldn’t have to spend some awkward times when the crew left Sanji washing dishes or when he cooked, but to go in plain daylight with everyone looking at them was nerve wrecking.
After Luffy had “recuperated” he thought things would go back to normal and while his usual food was served again Sanji only put the plate in front of him, but didn’t say anything. Since he wasn’t prone on speaking either he thanked him looking elsewhere and didn’t direct his gaze at him not even once. The cook didn’t seem to be bothered by that at all and that hurt him in too many ways.
So, the weeks he had spent away from Sanji had been devastating and he all he did all the time was to wait outside at the deck and observe his movements from afar. Something he had always liked to do was to watch him just doing whatever he wanted as he looked so pretty anyway. He had been really proud of himself for not being obvious about how much he actually liked to see Sanji, but now that was ruined and he felt everyone’s eyes on him. For example he knew that Robin was watching him from her lawn next to Nami’s tangerines, but that didn’t stop him from continue to watch if Sanji got out at some point of the kitchen.
After some time he saw Sanji going out to ask something to someone in the men’s room and then he was back at the kitchen. He had hidden his presence, but Sanji was pretty good at observation haki so he wasn’t sure if he had noticed him. He hoped he didn’t as he hadn’t the many times before when he watched him.
Luffy felt pathetic and he hated that. He wasn’t like this. He knew he had to talk with the cook, but he was so bad at lying that if Sanji asked him the truth he would crumble easily and he would spill out the beans faster than lighting.
He sensed a presence approaching and it was Robin that had been seemingly watching the whole situation and the way he had hidden from Sanji looking like a scared cat. She sat down next to him and she didn’t waste any time and spoke up her mind in the way she used to.
“You should talk with him. It’s hard seeing you avoiding him. Also I know it’s hurting you,” she said and laid everything in the open. She didn’t give him any time either.
“I don’t have anything to talk with him. We’re okay. I’m not hurting anywhere either,” he said trying to look as cool as if this wasn’t breaking him and he wasn’t making a fool out of himself by hiding this way.
“You don’t have to feel embarrassed about your feelings. Maybe the way you expressed them wasn’t the best, but try to look at it in a positive way: he now knows how you feel,” she said trying to appease him, but that was so hard too.
That Sanji knew was completely terrible in his opinion, but he didn’t want to admit to that as that would be the same as confirming how he felt so he kept playing the fool and insisted. “There’s nothing I feel embarrassed about. I know I said some weird things, but I didn’t mean them. I just hope he gets that.”
She laughed a little and said, “You hiding and avoiding him doesn’t help too much for him to understand that. Also haven’t you heard the saying ‘in wine lies the truth’? It describes your situation perfectly.”
He wasn’t too smart so he didn’t get anything Robin was trying to say. He asked to understand.
She began again and explained what the phrase meant. “It means that under the effect of alcohol there are more chances people speak with the truth. What I’m trying to say it’s that it’s very possible you actually meant every word you said and you want to get married with Sanji.”
Robin chuckled as this seemed to be very entertaining for her. For his part he didn’t want to accept his love for Sanji as he knew it would only bring him trouble. They just weren’t meant to be. Sanji was a ladies man and he liked meat a lot more than people. His crew and especially the cook were the only exceptions to that rule.
He kept up the farce and tried to find a possible response to what Robin was saying. “I’m not saying that what I said it’s true, but maybe I want to get married with him for other reasons other than me…liking him, you know? Maybe I want him to cook for me every day of my life and that’s a good idea to get what I want.”
He couldn’t believe he had come up with all that bullshit. He was the worst liar ever and Robin wasn’t naive so this wouldn’t hold out for too long. If he was talking with Chopper instead things would be different though.
Also he couldn’t deny that one of the main reasons he liked Sanji so much was because he cooked him many delicious things. Of course there were many more reasons, but he wasn’t going to think about them now with Robin observing and trying to elicit information from him.
“You do like his cooking a lot, but you hiding here doesn’t make much sense with what you’re saying. If that was the only reason you want to get married with him you would have told him already. Or am I wrong?”
She was so intelligent that he wasn’t catching up with her logic at all. Nevertheless, he understood that this was that moment when in chess the king got trapped with no option to keep moving. Was it called check mate and how did he even know about that anyway? He seriously didn’t see any flaw in her thinking, but mostly because he didn’t understand it in its totally so he gave up with a sigh and a pout.
“Okay, okay. Have it your way. I like him. Are you happy now?” He asked annoyed that he had to admit to this even if he didn’t want to.
“I’ll only be happy if you’re fine and for that to happen I think you must speak to Sanji with the truth,” she stated calmly and he got that she was being a good friend so he nodded.
“How can I do that though? He doesn’t want to talk with me and I have been avoiding him for some time. Do you think he’ll even listen to me?” He inquired worriedly because those were things that made it hard for him to speak with the cook.
She didn’t even need time to answer and just told him, “Approaching him and telling him how you feel directly is the best way to go. That won’t leave place for misunderstandings and whatever he chooses will be with him knowing what he’s doing. Though you must be understanding if he doesn’t feel the same way for you and respect his decision, okay?”
He nodded again and smiled at her for being such a great friend. Sure, she had laughed about his situation like the rest, but at least she wanted to help. He still needed to know some things like the exact words he had said that day so he asked her. After his questions were responded he left to find Sanji.
Luffy was extremely nervous about this since he for one hadn’t expected to do this at all. He had never thought he would be confessing to Sanji in any way for he had hoped his feelings to go away with time, but that hadn’t been the case and he had to man up and speak to him to make things right again. It hurt too much to not talk to the cook. He knew that by confessing the rest would know too, but he didn’t care if they mocked him, supported him or anything else; he needed to do this and one month had been too long. He would do it now and no one would stop him.
***