You can only reblog this today.
heart - shaped scallion found In pho . reblog for good luck & yummy soup 500000 forwver
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Summary: Shanks comes back to you before he leaves your village once again. Except this time, it may be your final goodbye.
Authorâs Note: I just watched the live action One Piece show and I have to say... I am a slut for Buggy, Shanks, and Mihawk.
Fluff Ending | Angst Ending
Readerâs Pronouns: She/Her
Warnings: angst, some fluff, mentions of smut, reader and Shanks being Luffy's adoptive parents in a way
Side Note: This is a secondary blog. If you comment a question down below, I will not answer since this is not the main blog. Please send the question to my inbox if you want a response back!
Do not repost this anywhere!
You were Luffy's caretaker and teacher. While his grandfather was a high respected Marine, he entrusted you with his grandson whenever he wasn't available to take care of him.
"I'm bored of this," Luffy said as you two were going over some reading.
"A good pirate should know how to read."
"Yeah but I should be preparing to set sail when Shanks comes back," Luffy said.
"How about this? We can go see Shanks today since he is suppose to be back today after we finish our lesson?" You asked him.
"Alright!" Luffy smiled before looking down at his book.
True to your word, you both headed over to the dock where you saw Shanks's ship. You watched as Luffy rushed over to the deck before helping out.
"Luffy! I was wondering when you'd pop up," Shanks said as he finally noticed the small boy. You leaned against the edge while Shanks looked around before finally seeing you. His smile widen a little more before walking over towards you.
"And how are you, my dear Y/n?" Shanks asked as he raised your hand to his lips.
"Nice to see you again Shanks," you smiled at him.
"I'm not joking! I'm ready to join your crew," Luffy insisted to Shanks.
"The sea isn't a child's game. It's dangerous. The scars on my face are proof of that. Besides, I need someone to watch over Y/n and I trust you," Shanks told Luffy as he continued to help his crew unload their ship.
"I can do it, Shanks. I swear," Luffy said.
"You're not ready."
"I am. And I'll show you!" Luffy said before rushing off in the ship. You walked over to Shanks before placing your hand on his. He looked over at you as you gave him a look.
"You really need to be more easy on him. You know how he can be," you tell Shanks.
"Better a disappointed kid now than a dead one later."
"I blame you for being a good pirate and influencing him," you tell him.
"I missed you. Let's celebrate my return tonight together shall we?" Shanks asked you.
"Hey, Shanks!" You heard Luffy. You quickly turned around to see Luffy standing on the top of the view port making you gasp once you saw the knife.
"Luffy! You better come back down here and put that knife back where you found it!" You tell him.
"Listen to Y/n, Luffy. Before you hurt yourself," Shanks called out.
"I'm not afraid of getting hurt. And I'll prove it to you," Luffy yelled before stabbing right below his eye.
"Luffy!" You screamed in shock and horror.
"Get the first aid kit! I'll get him down," Shanks told you. You nodded before rushing out of the ship to grab your first aid kit.
"Why would you do that to yourself?!" You asked Luffy as you stitched him up.
"You could've stabbed your eye," Shanks told him as he sat next to you.
"I was aiming for it, but I missed," Luffy told you.
"Ow," Luffy said as you tightened the stitches a little.
"I thought you said you were tough," Shanks asked him.
"I am! Y/n is just being a little too rough. I want everyone to see my scar," Luffy said.
"Scars don't make the man, Luffy. It's the lesson behind the scar and you didn't earn this one," Shanks told him before tapping his cheek.
"Then let me earn it. I'll be the best pirate ever. Look, I've been practicing what my face is gonna look like on my wanted poster," Luffy said before making a face. You shook your head at him as you gathered your things.
"You are going to give me a heart attack, Luffy," you tell him as you ruffled his hair. You stood up and walked away to put your first aid kit back.
When you made it back to the bar, you saw Shanks walk up to your with your favorite drink. You sat on the chair next to the bar as you faced Shanks. He raised the glasses to you with a smile.
"Have a drink with me," Shanks told you.
"I need to look after Luffy."
"One drink. Then later tonight, you meet me at my ship and we can have our little reunion?" Shanks insisted.
It was no doubt that the two of you had feelings for one another. Shanks loved how soft and caring you were while you loved his gentle touch when it came to you.
"Fine. I hope I don't find anything that belongs to another woman in your ship again," you tell him, remembering the last time you went to his ship after Luffy was asleep.
"It was one time and you know I changed my ways for you," Shanks said as he wrapped his arm around your waist. You took a swing of your drink before giving him a light kiss on the cheek.
Once it became nightfall, you got Luffy ready for bed so you could meet with Shanks. After finding out that he ate a devil fruit, you were livid but you knew that Luffy didn't understand what power and weaknesses the devil fruit had affected him.
"I don't know why you won't let us go with Shanks," Luffy said as you tucked him in.
"You know that the sea isn't for me and you aren't ready to be a pirate. Even if you did eat a devil's fruit," you tell him.
"But you and Shanks love each other. Why can't we just sail with him? I can learn how to be a pirate and I'm stronger now," Luffy said.
"Your grandfather will kill me if I just took you away. And like I said, I am not too fond of the sea. Now it's time for bed for you," you tell him.
"Fine. Goodnight, Y/n."
"Goodnight, Luffy."
Once he was fully asleep, you walked over to Shanks's ship where you could see his quarter's lights on. You walked over to his room where he lied on his bed with his shirt off.
"Getting straight to the point now are we?" You teased as you closed the door behind you. You locked the door before walking over towards his bed. Shanks sat up so you could stand in between his legs.
"I missed you, my love," Shanks said as he pulled you down on the bed with him.
He cupped your cheeks as he kissed you passionately. You cupped his cheeks as well, smoothing your thumb against his scars below his eye.
"I missed you too," you tell him in between kisses.
"Let me have you for tonight," Shanks said as he undid your dress. You sat up before slipping it off of your body.
"You're as beautiful as the day I met you," Shanks praised as he sat up to kiss your body.
-
"How long are you staying this time?" You asked him as you both lied in his bed. Your naked bodies was covered by the thin blanket as you both held onto each other.
"Till tomorrow," Shanks told you.
"How long will you be gone?" You asked. Shanks stayed quiet making you look up at him.
"Shanks. How long will you be gone?" You repeated.
"We're not coming back this time, my love," Shanks told you.
"What?"
"Come with me. I'll take care of you and-"
"Shanks, my home is here. And I can't leave Luffy. He's still a growing boy and I could never forgive myself if I were to abandon him," you tell him as you sat up.
"My love-"
"Shanks, I'm not joining you in the sea and you know why. I'm sorry," you tell him as you got up and put your clothes back on.
"Stay the night. Please," Shanks said as he held your hand.
"I can't. I think it's best if we ended this," you tell him.
"I don't want this to end. Please, Y/n. Come with me to find the One Piece and we can live our lives out together," Shanks told you. You shook your head at him before giving him one last kiss.
"I love you, Shanks. But I can't leave here. Not yet at least," you tell him before walking out.
-
The next day, you watched as Shanks says his goodbye to Luffy. You stared as he gave his hat to Luffy before making eye contact with you. He walked over towards you before taking something out of his pocket.
"I saw this while I was away and wanted to give it to you," Shanks said as he held out a beautiful ring.
"Shanks-"
"I just want you to know that I want you, my love. Will you wait for me?" Shanks asked.
"You need to find that one piece soon so you can come back and get me," you tell him with a small smile.
"I'll come back for you. I promise," Shanks said before sliding the ring onto your finger. He quickly gave you a kiss before walking away.
You put an arm around Luffy as you watched Shanks's ship sail off. You both waved at him as he stared at the two of you.
"When I become King of the Pirates, I'll give you a nice home where you and Shanks can live the rest of your lives together," Luffy tells you. You smiled down at him before ruffling his hair.
"I'll hold you to that," you tell him.
When soulmates are suddenly thrust upon the world, you are one in a million who wishes they weren't -- and that's before you meet the person (people?!) making your life much harder than it needs to be. And before someone asks you to sign an NDA.
genres: comedy disguised as romance and romance disguised as comedy, soulmate au, technically an alternate universe but they're still idols, fluff, angst?, short chapters
relationship(s): SVT ot13 x reader
warnings: 18+ (there will be no smut but perhaps suggestive parts and multiple references to/jokes about sex and I honestly just don't feel comfy with minors reading my writing of that stuff sorry). coarse language. everybody's a little bit very stupid. individual chapters will have their own warnings
01 "you are not alone"
02 "fuck you and your interview"
03 "this day will make the you of tomorrow"
number of chapters undetermined
the names of chapters are subject to change. updates are not on a schedule and there will be no taglist. thank you for reading!
Yeah, I'm still at the restaurant
I donât want to be the only first year who has to sit out
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i love love love the clingy fic. do you think youâd be open to making one for all the members?
thank you so much for this request! I turned it into a headcanon, so I hope you won't mind it.
âŸâ âč currently playing: blue hour by txt
side note: the length of each member's headcanon has nothing to do with who I like more or less. It's just easier to write for some than others.
*à©â©â§âË CHOI SEUNGCHEOLÂ
okay, we all know that Seungcheol is the presidentâą of clinginessÂ
hand holding, hugs, cuddles, kisses, head pats, you name itÂ
he would have no problem stopping whatever he was doing just to give you a hugÂ
btw, his hugs must be the best (silently crying in the corner)
they make you feel so safe and fluffyÂ
would sometimes tease you for your clinginess, but then you can just say âno cuddles tonightâ and heâll be apologizing on his knees
morning and goodnight kisses are mandatory, and there is a big chance heâll get pouty and sulky if he doesnât get oneÂ
wouldnât mind a clingy and affectionate significant other whatsoeverÂ
and if you werenât a person that liked physical touch, he would respect that 100%
nonetheless, would slowly but surely try to warm you up to the ideaÂ
I think cuddling him would be one of the best ways to comfort him in any situationÂ
simply holding him tightly and stroking his hairÂ
he would love if youâd poke his dimples (it only makes him smile even wider)Â
I think heâd love the idea of cuddling with you before sleep, but somehow would end up on the other side of the bed, in the weirdest position in the morningÂ
would also love when youâd fall asleep in his arms during a movie night, for exampleÂ
it makes him so so happy, and he thinks youâre the cutest thing in the world (because you are)Â
*à©â©â§âË YOON JEONGHANÂ
another very cuddly and affectionate memberÂ
I think he is more low key than Cheol though
he loves the quiet and intimate aspects of physical touch
definitely holds your hand in public, especially when there are a lot of peopleÂ
loves laying and napping on your lap, while you play with his hairÂ
there is a 90% chance that he has his head on your shoulder whenever you are sitting next to each otherÂ
plays a lot with you hands too (youâre basically his fidget toy)Â
loves the quiet nights when there is only the two of you, when he can you full out with his clinginessÂ
if youâre in the kitchen doing whatever you can bet heâll stick to you and follow you everywhereÂ
has the biggest heart eyes and a soft smile whenever looking at youÂ
will definitely tease you from time to time, but we all know he loves when you smother him with loveÂ
maybe not the BIGGEST fan of PDA, but would definitely not shy away from showing his affection around the boys
if they have a problem they can leave = Jeonghanâs mindsetÂ
strives for forehead kisses, they make him so soft and appreciatedÂ
just give him all the love he deservesÂ
*à©â©â§âË HONG JOSHUAÂ
HUSBAND MATERIAL RIGHT HERE
so so so softÂ
very low key with his affections, might not be all over you, but is always right by your sideÂ
always has a hand around your waist when youâre at big gatherings and never lets you go in a big crowd of peopleÂ
the main hand holder in seventeen, and Iâm going to stand by thatÂ
sitting down? holding hands. waiting in a line? holding hands. going on a walk? holding hands.Â
gives the softest, most reassuring hugs known to mankindÂ
generally, heâs very soft and his aura just radiates with love and reassurance, so there is not a single moment in your relationship where he lets you doubt yourself
head pats specialist - you can do the smallest, most insignificant thing and heâll still pat your head lovingly with a soft smileÂ
even though he is not that into physical touch, heâll never decline your hugs, kisses or cuddlesÂ
I donât think he would tease you that much, but sometimes might find it amusing how clingy you get (sometimes he jokingly avoids your kisses just to see you sulk until he doesnât burst out laughing and give you tons of kisses in apologies)Â
expresses his affection through actions, is always there for you
sometimes you donât even have to ask him for help - he just knows and is there right by you in a secondÂ
such a attentive listener, you could be rambling about the most random thing and heâll still look at as if nothing else existed in the worldÂ
everyone can see how in love he is, simply by the way he looks at you
*à©â©â§âË WEN JUNHUIÂ
on the first glance may not seem like it, but he gets clingy more often than youâd thinkÂ
he loves giving back hugs, just clinging onto you, while you do your thingÂ
nuzzling his head in your neck has become a big habit for him (and overall, a BIG fan of neck kisses)
now heâs a menace, so beware, he will tease youÂ
but it is all out of love, he would never seriously decline your affection
sometimes, heâd just come up to you and stand there waiting for kissesÂ
will lay in your lap after a tiring day, and not get up, no matter how badly you need to go to the bathroomÂ
would hug you for the longest time if heâd see youâre upset or anxiousÂ
is very gentle, but sometimes underestimates his own strength, which ends up with you laying on the floorÂ
once, he lost you in a big crowd, and since then he has always an arm wrapped around you or at least is holding your handÂ
*à©â©â§âË KWON SOONYOUNGÂ
tiger who? more like a koalaÂ
will cling to you 24/7Â
ESPECIALLY when heâs drunk, he will hold onto you for dear life
comes up with the most random, weird and cliche nicknames for you, and will use it in the presence of other peopleÂ
sometimes his love can get a bit aggressive, especially if heâs full of energy (but would never do anything to hurt you)Â
can get super cheesy, to the point where you have to shut him upÂ
sometimes heâs just too cute for you too handle, so youâd have no other choice then give him kisses all over his face
which he likes A LOTÂ
sometimes, to tease you, heâd act like he doesnât notice your affection and clinginess, just to tackle you in a hug a second laterÂ
this man WILL BLUSH, and you use that fact a lot to your own advantage (usually when youâre with the boys, just to mess with him)
expects a good morning kiss, because he swears heâs days are always better when you kiss him in the morningÂ
pouts if you let go of his hand, and he will in fact let you know, that heâs upsetÂ
*à©â©â§âË JEON WONWOO
(this man is going to be the death of me)
at first very very shy with affection, but as he gets more and more comfortable youâll get to see a whole another side of himÂ
definitely not the biggest on PDA, even in front of the boysÂ
but I can guarantee you, heâll always be touching in some way when youâre in publicÂ
whether itâll be linked pinkies, holding hands, a strong arm around your waist or just simply standing very very close to you
heâll never kiss you around the boys, but he will not shy away from pecking your forehead or giving quick cheek kissesÂ
look like he hates when you cuddle into him, but on the inside heâs freaking out from how cute and adorable you areÂ
also whenever you show him any type of affection it makes him feel so loved and appreciated (so please give him all the affection he deserves)Â
sometimes will come up from behind, give you a quick hug, and leave as if nothing just happenedÂ
loves loves loves to cuddle when youâre reading, itâs usually him initiating the affection in situations like theseÂ
itâs just his silent way of showing you his love
okay, I know that this is so basic and cliche, BUTÂ
cuddling him while heâs gaming (can you just imagine sitting in his lap, watching him doing what he loves, giving him kisses and cheering whenever he wins)Â
I can already see his shy smile after you press a sweet kiss on his lips after he wins a battle or somethingÂ
sometimes if youâre being too clingy, heâll just send you a side eye and sigh, but not stop you at allÂ
*à©â©â§âË LEE JIHOON
now, we know that this man is not a fan of physical touchÂ
and he still isnât, except when the affection comes from youÂ
he has came to terms with the fact that youâll never stop hugging him, simply accepting his destinyÂ
definitely will let you know if it gets too much, but he tries to be more open minded when it comes to youÂ
over the time spend with you, heâd notice the small acts of yours, that heâd miss when you weren't around, like gently holding his handÂ
heâd notice, that from time to time heâd feel like somethingâs missingÂ
and itâd turn out that he just misses you holding his hand
will link pinkies in public, but thatâs the furthest he will go (heâd never leave your side though, heâs always there to keep an eye on you)Â
if heâs really tired, he will come up to you without saying a word and lay in your lap
gets so happy if you play with his hair then (would never admit this to you)Â
is so grateful to you that you respect his boundariesÂ
*à©â©â§âË XU MINGHAOÂ
*sigh*
when it comes to Hao, I think heâs a bit similar to Wonwoo, in the sense that in the beginning of you relationship he would be more closed off and shyÂ
but as the time goes, heâd open more and more up
his affection would come in waves - heâd have days where heâd need to be left alone (always tells you this, as not to cause any miscommunication) and on others heâd smother you with loveÂ
he is very gentle with giving and showing affection, will always hold you in a delicate wayÂ
big fan of hand holding and head pats, as well as just simply being next to youÂ
your presence in general is very comforting and calming to him, you know each other so well, that sometimes no words are needed to know how the other person is feelingÂ
he always checks up on you during any parties or gatherings, if your having fun or if no one is making you uncomfortable (will fight if someone is mean to you)Â
loves whenever you put your head on his shoulder, his heart will probably beat a little fasterÂ
also loves when you cling to him in search of comfort, heâs the happiest knowing that he can be a safe place for you
not the biggest fan of cuddling while sleeping (he needs his space), but will always cuddle before, catching up on what heâd missed from your dayÂ
sometimes, youâre just so cute to him that he canât contain his gigglesÂ
then youâre like (âąàžŽ_âąàžŽ) what did I do?Â
but then, Iâm the biggest believer in a tired, clingy Minghao (u cannot tell me that this man wouldn't cling to you like a koala, while being already half asleep)
*à©â©â§âË KIM MINGYUÂ
is there even a point of saying anything about this man?Â
cuddles, kisses, hugs, hand holding, playing with each othersâ hair, resting his arm on you, WITH THIS MAN YOU GET A WHOLE PACKAGEÂ
definitely one of the most clingy, cuddly and affectionate members (nothing knew)Â
I mean, he would drop everything and run to cuddle with youÂ
never leaves your side, follows you around everywhere, and will DEFINITELY always be touching you in some wayÂ
a hand holding yours, on your thigh, around your shoulder, around your waist, THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESSÂ
unsurprisingly his hugs would solve like 99 of your problems, itâs like they heave some kind of healing propertiesÂ
would confidently sulk and pout if youâd reject any of affections, acting like a five year old until you didnât apologize with tons of kisses and at least an hour of cuddling himÂ
usually is the big spoon, loves the feeling of having you wrapped up in his strong arms
on occasions, especially when heâs having a hard time, heâll want to be the little spoon and would not shy away from itÂ
sometimes you have to remind him that heâs like ten times bigger than you, so throwing himself at you is not a good idea
but, the thing with this menace is that he will tease you
there are times when youâre just so done with him and leave him alone on the couch (which is not that fun for him anymore)Â
BACK HUGS !!!
would do it 24/7 if he could, also loves it when you back hug him as wellÂ
(If I donât get a Kim Mingyu, I donât want him)Â
*à©â©â§âË LEE SEOKMINÂ
you become a giggly mess in each othersâ presenceÂ
sometimes, youâd do the annoying âcouple stuffâ, just to piss of others (insert: Seungkwanâs side eye)
He will return every affection that you give him - you kiss him? He kisses you back. You hug him? He hugs you back
youâre just going back and forth, never getting tired of each otherÂ
when youâre out together, YOUâRE TOGETHERÂ
you two are connected by the hip, seeing you apart for more than five minutes is almost impossibleÂ
likes to hold your hand, and sway it back and forth like a kid when youâre walkingÂ
a fan of giving and receiving sweet kisses on the forehead (it makes him so smiley and warm inside, give him all the kisses)Â
seeing you being so open with your affection towards him, makes him so happy - itâs a reassurance for him, that heâs being a good boyfriendÂ
*à©â©â§âË BOO SEUNGKWANÂ
now this drama queenÂ
in the beginning of your relationship he would scoff at you whenever you initiated any physical contact, which made you think that he didnât like itÂ
after some time, when he asked you why youâd stopped hugging and kissing him, you explained how heâd react in those situationsÂ
was so angry and disappointed with himself and since then he would never complain about any of your affectionÂ
itâs not that he disliked it, on the contrary - he loved it, he was just being a dramatic ass and trying to be funnyÂ
as your relationship progresses the drama in him doesn't stop though - if you let go of his hand or refuse a kiss, heâll throw a tantrum and make it appear as if it was one of the biggest problems in his lifeÂ
he could be arguing with Soonyoung and screaming his head off, but the second he heard your voice heâd turn into the biggest softieÂ
in general, he is the biggest baby when heâs with youÂ
loves loves hugs, could hug you all day if he couldÂ
also kisses (cheek kisses especially), makes him so incredibly soft and mushy â„âżâ„
gets shy in public, but never lets go of your hand (I think he needs you more, than you need him)Â
also, has the biggest heart eyes for you, and you onlyÂ
gets so happy when you comfort and reassure him through physical touch, there is nothing better than a cuddle or a hug from the person you love the mostÂ
*à©â©â§âË CHWE VERNONÂ
(Iâm so sorry, but the only thing I see when I think of Vernon is his NPC walk)
would just let you do whatever to him, and he wouldnât even bat an eyeÂ
although he is one of the least affectionate member, he wouldnât mind your clinginess AT ALLÂ
it makes him so reassured that even though heâs not the best with expressing his love through physical touch, you donât mind it at allÂ
the only time heâll refuse your cuddles is when sleeping (WE ALL KNOW HOW HE SLEEPS, THERE IS NO WAY HEâD CUDDLE YOU)Â
his way of showing you affection is calling you bro and dudeÂ
sometimes youâre like (ÂŹ_ÂŹ) seriously?Â
likes to be near you wherever you are - even if there is no more space on the couch, trust me, heâll squeeze himself in thereÂ
when he laughs, there is a big chance heâll lean on you or even hide his face in your lapÂ
movie nights often ends up in cuddle sessions and since clingy Vernon is rare, those moments are even more specialÂ
*à©â©â§âË LEE CHANÂ
MY BABYÂ
the softest, most precious human being out thereÂ
loves all the affection, whatever it is, heâll accept it with open arms
kiss him, hug him, cuddle him PLEASE, he adores all of itÂ
would not tease you that much, scared that accidentally youâll think that it annoys him and youâll stop, which is like the last thing heâd likeÂ
we all know that heâd baby you, and would not be ashamed to do soÂ
for once he wants to feel like the strong man that he is, so please let him open the jars for you
will protect you 24/7 (we stan a short, but confident king)Â
so sweet and careful with you
not afraid to hold your hand in public, sometimes when feeling bold will even peck your forehead
speaking of, I think it would send Chan into a coma anytime youâd peck his forehead or cheekÂ
gets all smiley when you hug him, especially from behind (overall, he can never seem to stop smiling when heâs with you)Â
kisses with him are so playful and sweetÂ
Iâm also sure when youâre alone heâd be all over you, cuddles during movie nights are A MUST, otherwise youâll end up with a pouty boyfriendÂ
just about 300 smau fics iâve read through the years for different groups,, iâll be adding moreÂ
Ateez
NCT Pt.1 (taeil â ten)
NCT Pt.2 (jaehyun â jeno)
NCT Pt.3 (haechan â jisung)
Stray Kids Pt.1 / Skz Pt.2
Seventeen Pt.1 / Svt Pt.2
The Boyz
TXT
Questions (!!!)
a/n - my first One Piece fic. absolutely terrifying but definitely a needed change of scenario to get out of my writing block. please be kind; I'm taking all my inspo from the live-action as that is what I am currently the most familiar with. but, well, we just have to see how it goes. bon appetite
Shoutout to my dear @mydearzero for encouraging my newfound obsession with this show and this character, as well as generally encouraging me to write. this is all your fault. And to everyone else who had been expecting me to finally post one of the other million fics I had promised... I'm sorry
And kind reminder that reblogs is what makes tumblr work. Please, if you enjoyed the story, reblog
word count: 9.9k
warning: 18+ only. MDNI. smut. piv sex. oral sex (f!receiving). unprotected sex [wrap up your eggplants yall]. semi-public sex. several FDA regulation code breaks, probably. afab reader. swearing. little bit of angst. shitty and fat-shaming [oc!]boyfriend/date. fist fight. alcohol consumption.
âLook at your waiter's face. He knows. It's another reason to be polite to your waiter; he could save your life with a raised eyebrow or a sigh.â
â Anthony Bourdain,Â
The first thing you saw was the red, bright sign spelling out the restaurant's name.
Baratie. You had no clue what it meant but could only hope that âthe best restaurant in the East Blueâ was somewhere down the list of its definitions, especially after the months that they had kept you on the waiting list and the tumultuous trip that it took to sail there. Next, as your ship approached, you saw the⊠fish head. The sight of the sculpture at the front of the ship structure buried some worry in the pit of your stomach, but surely, if so many people had given it such fond reviews, the exterior was not to speak for what awaited you inside.Â
âBelieve me, baby, youâll love it here.â
âI really hope so,â you smiled as you got off your boat. Your legs shook at the knee as you stepped onto the sturdy dock planks. Days at sea, which had never been your friend, had clearly done more damage than you expected. You would have been on the floor if it wasnât for the pair of arms holding on to you.
âThanks, Chosi,â you said towards your boyfriend as he helped you steadily get back onto your feet.Â
âCanât have you faceplant the second we get here,â he brushed some invisible dust off your shoulder, and with his arm entwined with yours, he led you to the entrance of the establishment. You grabbed at the skirt of your dress to keep it down as the wind blew by.
As you walked, you looked at all the other ships harboured on the⊠was this an island? Was the entirety just one large ship? Was it anchored to something then, or was it drifting around the seas constantly? You couldnât quite comprehend the logistics of it all. But you could tell that humans and other creatures of all walks of lifeâroyalty, commoners, marines, piratesâwere unbothered by each other's presence and enjoying the outing. Once inside, the shushed sound of the waves was exchanged for a whisper of swing music, as well as the chatter of the restaurantâs patrons and the clinking of their cutlery on plates. The walls were lined in crimson wallpaper as well as painted depictions of sea battles, accented in gold and bronze details matching the furniture placed spaciously around the room and the two stories above it that lead the eye to a beautiful aquamarine ceiling that gave the illusion as if one was looking up at the bright sky from underwater.Â
The maitreâd, a Fishman, stood to attention at your entrance.Â
âGood afternoon, how may I help you?â he asked kindly.Â
âWe have a reservation. Name is Chosi,â Chosi stated with his head held high. Despite you doubting that anyone knew his name in these parts of the world, he never ceased to pronounce it with a level of expectation to it. It was commendable, as well as disappointing, when nothing happened afterwards. The maitreâd simply nodded and glanced down at his long list of names, searching for the one he had just heard, ready to cross it off.
 âAh, yes, right here. Please, do follow me to your table.â And so, you did just that, walking down the grand staircase onto the restaurant's main floor, where you seated at one of the smaller tables, perfect for a romantic dinner for two. âYour waiter will be right with you.â The Fishman bid you farewell just like that and returned to his position at the door.Â
âSo?â Chosi looked at you with a raised brow as you looked around.
âIt is quite stunning.â You must admit that you did not expect this kind of splendour when looking at the carved fish that gaped at you outside. Something about that just did not exude the same essence as the timeless and classy beauty of the interior. You barely even felt the shake of the waves beneath you.Â
Maybe your response wasnât sufficient, for Chosi had opened his mouth to respond, something in the angles of his face announcing displeasure, but he was interrupted by a new presence at your table. You looked up at the tall figure towering over you.Â
âWelcome,â the man spoke, his accent clearly indicating his origin if only you had been aware of where that was. Simultaneously, he put down a plate of bread rolls, perfectly and meticulously positioned atop it. â...to Baratie. My name is Sanji; I will be your waiter this afternoon.â
âTook you long enough.â Chosi mumbled under his breath, giving you an immense urge to kick him underneath the table, but you knew better than to do that, especially when he did not seem to be ready to stop any time soon. âTrying to convince my girl this place is worth visiting, heh.â You could feel your cheeks burning up in embarrassment. Nevertheless, the waiterâSanji, he said was his nameâdid not seem to give the comment much thought as he looked down at you with a curve to his thin-lined lips.
âMy apologies, madame; I hope my service will not give you the false impression of this establishment being worth any of your precious time.â The smoothness of his voice almost concealed the true meaning behind his speech, leaving you, as well as your date, speechless. However, you felt your speaking ability to be taken away by more than just his words as you spared a second to take your waiter in properly. You just could not help but notice how his suit wrapped around his arms, and although one was covered by his blonde hair, his eyes had a glint of something that excited you despite not even knowing the root of that excitement.Â
Like nothing had happened, Sanji continued, âWould you care to see the menu? Hear the specials?â That is when you noticed the menu cards he was holding in his hand. And he must have been ready to list the special items, but Chosi was a step ahead.Â
âActually, I think we are ready to order.â That was the first you had heard of it, but you stayed put as he continued. After all, Chosi had eaten here before. He knew what was good, and you could trust his judgement.Â
âPrime rib, medium rare,â as your boyfriend spoke, you kept your eye on the waiter, noticing the appearance of the smallest of flinches in his face at the sound of the dish, but never faltering his picture-perfect appearance, âand my lady will have the salad.â
Another twitch, right below his visible eyes, followed, but Sanjiâs professional facade stayed on as he inquired: âWe offer quite a variety of salads; which would madame prefer?â And with that, he turned to you, that smile plastered on like a sticker, but he had trouble keeping it on as the answer to his question did not come from your mouth.
âWhichever is the best, of course.â Chosi rolled his eyes, and you wished you could do so as well. The waiter glanced between you and him, turning back to you momentarily. Long enough for you to give him a reassuring smile. It would be in everyoneâs best interest if he just moved on from the matter.Â
âDrinks, then,â Sanji again spoke with an unphased essence about him, as if nothing from the past few minutes had ever occurred, or at least tried to emulate this. âMadam, anything I can get you?â The way he emphasised that word didnât require any pointed glares.Â
âUhm,â you hesitated as he kept his full attention on you, completely ignoring the man sitting opposite you at the table, making Chosi stare at you just as, if not more, intensely, for all the opposite reasons. Out of panic, you just blurted out the most straightforward order. âJust water, thank you.â It being the first words you said in the waiter's presence, they came out soft. Nothing like your regular voice, which startled you slightly.Â
âStill, sparkling or mineral?â Sanji pursued.Â
âStill please,â you smiled shyly, unsure where that actual shyness derived from.Â
âIce? Cubed or crushed?â He fired the questions at a rapid pace.
âA bit of ice is fine. Thank you,â you repeated yourself, looking down at the table and letting the waiter move on to the rest of the order. He didnât say anything else but looked at Chosi with anticipation.Â
âIâll have your finest brew.â
âComing up,â his voice had a sudden coldness to it as he walked away, back to the kitchen, leaving the table to a thick silence.Â
âI could have ordered for myself, you know,â you said, with that same soft tone you had spoken with earlier, although this felt much more familiar seeing who you talked to.Â
 âAnd have you stuff yourself with some useless carbs? Câmon, you know Iâm just looking out for you, here.âÂ
âI know.â You straightened out a fork in front of you, suddenly feeling uneasy at how far away from the plate it was positioned compared to the knife on the opposite side. You were straightening out a crease in the tablecloth when Sanji returned with a silver tray in one hand. He placed the pint glass full of golden brew in front of Chosi before turning your way and setting a glass beside your plate. With a pair of tongs, one by one, he let ice cubes fall to the bottom of it, the clinking against the glass almost deafening. Then, he followed up with another pair of tongs and reached for a little tray but stopped himself to ask you: âCare for a slice of lemon, madame?â
âOh, uhm, sure,â you shrugged, unable to look away. This process of pouring a glass of water felt rather extensive, but you could not deny the fact you were enjoying it all. As he grabbed the large pitcher to pour the water, you were unsure how he had carried all of these items with one hand and did so seemingly effortlessly.
âThere we go,â he smiled, âyour food will be with you shortly, but do let me know if you require anything else.â And just like that, he was gone again, but not without leaving you feeling that he had meant his parting words especially for you and that that sentiment had undoubtedly not escaped your date.
âI donât like the look of that guy.â Chosi glared at you as he took a sip from his pint, slurping up the top layer of foam with it.Â
âI think heâs quite sweet.â You straightened out the fork again and reached for a bread roll to tear it apart piece by piece.Â
âOf course you would,â he rolled his eyes, which made you look up from your little snack.
âWhat is that supposed to mean?â You put the bread roll down as the pit in your stomach hollowed out your appetite. Right, making space for that damn salad.
âNothing.â Chosi shrugged, âJust that it's typical that somehow Iâm the only one to notice when some guy is trying to cop a feel.â
âHe was doing no such thing.â You had to bite your tongue not to raise your voice as his insinuation, despite being on the waiter's actions, seemed to be brutally judging yourself. âThe poor guy is just doing his job. Iâm not bothered by it, and neither should you be.â Usually, you would attach some sweet nickname at the end of that sentence, but this was one too many times you had said a variant of the confirmation, and you were growing tired of just the thought of it.
Somewhere in the distance, a table erupted into a shouting match that had to be broken up by a handful of waiters. While usually, you turned away from such brutalities, never having been fond of violence and not particularly having a necessity in seeing people getting their teeth punched out minutes before eating a meal, this time you stretched your neck out to glance across the room, secretly hoping to catch a glimpse of the white-blonde hair among the rousing heads. Someone had pulled a pistol, but the weapon was kicked out of the man's grip before they could shoot or even alarm people enough to hide beneath their tables. Just like that, the restaurant resumed its normal state of pleasantries, and you got back to your abysmal date and hoped it was still worth saving⊠or that saving was still even an option to begin with.Â
âFrom what you had told me about the place, Chi, it is much grander than I had expected.â You smiled, and he nodded to your affirmations.
âWell, I didnât want to raise the expectations too high, but you know I donât do anything but the best for you, sweet cheeks.â
âOf courseââ you were interrupted by the footsteps nearing your table, and the weight nearly lifted off your shoulders at the sight of Sanji carrying too large plates.Â
âHello there,â he grinned slyly, âhope I donât interrupt anythinâ.âÂ
âNot at all,â You moved your glass aside to make space for your dish, but Sanji put Chosiâs plate down first, announcing the food.
âPrime rib, medium rare, for the gentleman.â Like everything else, he precisely placed it so the gold details on the plate faced the diner exactly right. The roast glistened in the restaurant's dim light, and the smell hit you right at the nerves that reminded you of your hunger. But that was for the gentleman, and the gentleman had ordered for you theâ
âAnd for the madame,â Sanji put a plate in front of you, âwhat I like to call the Sanji Special.â
You looked down at your plate of food with a stunned expression and then looked back up. Just in time, you caught the slight wink that your waiter had sent you before stepping back to then, with a nod, say, âBon appetite.âÂ
He got to take about three steps and had just turned his back towards your table when Chosi called out to him, clearing his throat. âEhem, excuse me, Sonny.âÂ
âIs there a problem?â Sanji returned with his hands behind his back, but you didnât need to see his fists to know he was clenching them. It was all visible in the strain of his upper arms and jaw as he restrained himself to keep up a polite smile.Â
âI am pretty sure we had ordered a salad?â Chosi tried to play it off with a casual laugh, but it turned out to be anything but. Sanji leaned forward to grab the plate, but then your boyfriend exclaimed, âNo, not for me; for her.â before the waiter got his hand on his prime rib.
With a satisfied smile, Sanji glanced at your plate and stated: âThat is a salad.â
Not that you did not appreciate what was in front of you, but if it was a salad, it was the loosest interpretation of the definition possible. You had to keep your laugh in as he explained that the dish was a âtwist on kensui salad with steamed components, egg, and porkâ or, in your simpler terms⊠the most delicious-looking pot of ramen you had ever encountered in your life, but no, definitely not a salad in the traditional sense. You smiled at the food, not daring to look up at Sanji while your boyfriendâs head seemed to be boiling alive, but the waiter was a step ahead of you.Â
âAh, almost forgot, for the lady,â almost out of nowhere, he made a pair of chopsticks appear for you.Â
âShe will not be eating that,â Chosi grunted.Â
âI think that is for her to decide,â Sanji didnât even bother to look at him, keeping his sweet smile on you, which, in turn, rushed a hot flush over your cheeks.Â
âChosi, donât be like that; this looks delicious.â You spoke, hoping he would calm down and let you finally sink your teeth into this gorgeous meal. After a tense second, Chosi finally huffed out and sank back down in his chair, making you realise he had been on the verge of getting up for whatever reason. Either way, his intentions could not have been good. In the meantime, Sanji excused himself once more to finally leave you to eat.Â
You had perhaps taken half a bite when Chosi, his food untouched, spoke up again. âWhy do you always do this?â
âDo what?â your throat tightened around the pork you had just swallowed.
âEmbarrass me like that?â He sighed, a vein in his forehead looking more prominent than ever.
âI didnâtââ
âCut the shit, you know what youâre doing.â Chosi slammed his fist on the table, startling you and the few people sitting at the nearest tables to you.
âPlease, can we not do this now,â you kept your head down, ignoring all the pairs of eyes that must have started catching on to what was happening. Chosi had turned red from anger by that point.Â
âWhat, am I being too much for you? Imagine what itâs like going out with a slutââ
âChosi!â you snapped, immediately covering your face with your hand as if you had not meant to shout and grab the attention of even more people.Â
Deep breath in.Â
Out.Â
âWhat the fuck is wrong with you?â You hissed at the man across the table from you.Â
âWith me? Youâre the one that has been eyefucking the waiter this whole time, and now you disrespected me like that in front of him? Do I mean so little to you?â
âI did no such thing.â You rolled your eyes, catching glimpses of the room you were in. The people that sat around, the employees. Of course, Sanji stood only a few tables away, taking an order. Could he hear what was happening? Most likely, the idea of that burned you in a new, much more unpleasant manner. Chosi must have said something, but you had been too occupied by your surroundings and too tired to even listen to what other vile things he had to tell you. The only thing that kept you at that table was the food, but no matter how good, it wasnât worth enduring him. âYou know what,â you grabbed your napkin and slapped it onto the table, âI canât do this right now. Iâll see you on the boat.â The chair shrieked as you shoved it back.
âWhere the hell do you think youâre going,â Chosi growled practically, and despite you having already turned your back to him, you heard his own chair scrape the deck floor. You had your eyes squeezed shut as you got ready for what was coming. He reached out, but nothing happened.Â
You looked over your shoulder to see Sanji pulling Chosi in by the sleeve.Â
âBelieve me, we donât wanna do that, mate.â Sanji said, his eyes filled with a new rage that made you take a step back.
âLet go of me, you sleaze.â Chosi suddenly reminded you of a feral kitten, how he tried to wriggle himself out of the waiterâs grip. âIâll make you regret ever touching me. Do you know who I am?â
âDo I look like I give a shit?â he let go with a laugh, almost pushing Chosi to the ground. As your date dusted off his sleeves, Sanji took a step forward, pressing himself against him. Now that both men were standing face to face, did you only realise how much taller Sanji was than your boyfriend. How much bigger and, most likely, how much stronger. With a hushed and reserved tone yet somehow full of intimidation, the waiter said, âDonât you ever try to touch or speak to a woman like that again, you hear me? Or Iâll make you regret you were ever born.âÂ
Chosi could only nod with his eyes blown wide open. The restaurant was dead quiet, unable to pull their eyes away from the scene unfolding before them. No one said anything or moved, and yet, somewhere, a stack of plates fell. The crash of porcelain echoed through the space, and Sanji turned his attention toward the kitchenâs double doors for a second. That quick moment was enough for Chosi to find his moment and attack.
Or at least make an attempt at it.Â
Sanji was still looking toward the kitchen, and Chosiâs fist was in mid-air, but the waiter flawlessly manoeuvred around it, swinging himself back and letting Chosi fall forward. To make matters worse, Sanji supplemented the fall by kicking him over. If it wasnât for the fact that your boyfriendâs chin had smacked against the table, you would have missed the entire thing, as Sanjiâs movements were so elegant that it seemed as if he had not moved at all. He might as well have been refilling your water, ignorant of the groaning mess of a man he had kicked down to the ground with such ease.Â
Chosi got up shakily. A nasty cut was already dripping blood from the underside of his face, but the redness didnât compare to the rage on his face. He looked around until his eyes caught yours. âWhat, youâre just gonna stand there like some dumbââ
âWhat did I just say?â Sanji said, this time much louder, not trying to hide the row from the rest of the diners. But before he could make another move, Chosi reached for the nearest thing he could reach, which in his case was your dish of ramen, and threw a fistful of noodles Sanjiâs way, hitting him square in the chest.Â
Silence.Â
He must have been too stunned at the audacious strike to move out of the way for it. Everyone must have been watching the noodles unstick from his navy jacket and slowly fall to the ground, then watched as Sanji raised his head back up, his expression unamused and cold, but his eyes filled with a passionate and furious fire. One that was enough to live up to the promise he had made the man you had come to the restaurant with. And so, just like that, without another word needing to be said by anyone, you watched Chosi back awayâone, two, three steps, whimpering and mumbling some comments that could almost make up an apology, before he sprinted up the stairs to the exit.Â
âRidiculous,â you heard Sanji mutter under his breath. âFucking waste of food.â
Before you could think any better about it, you walked up and knelt down, as he did, to reach for the spilt noodles. âI am so sorry,â you started apologising. âI swear normally heââ
 âIs exactly like that,â Sanji chuckled with a rasp. You looked up at him, a bit dumbfounded. He had managed to scoop most of the food before you had and was already getting up. âYou have nothing to apologise for.â One of his colleagues had been quick with bringing over cleaning supplies. âIf anything, I should be the one saying sorry. Let me make it up to youâa drink in the bar, on the house.â
âNo, that is really not necessary.â You couldnât accept anything for free after your boyfriend pulled off such a scene and⊠had run off without paying. The realisation hit you like a brick on the head as you cursed under your breath with a strong sense of panic, which Sanji caught on to immediately.Â
âPlease,â He reached gently for your arm. âI insist.â
You stuttered for a moment before actually answering in defeated agreement. With a satisfied smile, Sanji led you to another exit, leading to the bar deck. âRight this way, madame.â
The bar deck, located in the mouth of that giant fish head, was moderately empty. Except for you and the appointed barman behind the counter, only a handful of others were sprinkled across the couches and futons. You chose a seat overlooking the sea and the setting sun that coloured the sky and waters an array of warm colours.Â
You understood that you had to go up to the bar to order, but you felt no particular need for it, just enjoying the breeze that brought over the calm sea air towards you.Â
It was unclear how much time you spent sitting out there, looking at the waves splashing by and the clouds above you and the people around you. Only once the sun had set entirely, darkening the sky completely, and most people had left the area, you decide to finally walk up to the bartender and place an order. The man nodded and proceeded to make your drink with only a few attached flourishes to the craft, but the result was charming and tasted delicious.
âI hope I had made it clear that that was one drink on the house,â you heard from behind you.Â
âDonât worry, this is my first.â You said, turning around to see Sanji standing behind you.Â
âYou might just be the slowest drinker I have ever met,â he said as he took the spot by your side.
âJeez, do your manners flush away the second youâre off the clock?â You smiled, taking a sip of your drink, most likely also proving Sanji his point as the sip you took was particularly small.Â
âFor what itâs worth, madame, I was about to tell you that your bill has been taken care of.â He leaned against the bar countertop with his forearms. âBut I will make myself scarce now.â
âNo, wait,â you stopped him before he could push himself back. âWhat do you mean it wasâ I would have happily paid. At least let me leave a tip.â You were ready to pull out your purse when he took his turn to halt your movements.Â
âI will not be accepting any tips for my service today. And honestly, you barely had a meal to eat, let alone to pay for. It is all taken care of. I promise.â
You looked up at him apprehensively, but something about hisânot necessarily laidbackâbut how he was so comfortable with the situation put you at ease, too. But something was gnawing at your conscience.Â
âAlright then, but I disagree with the review of your service. You most certainly need something for it in return.â How could you repay the man who had just gotten you out of your horrific relationship? You doubted anything in the world could match your actual gratefulness. Although, maybe the smile that pulled at Sanjiâs lips said something different.
âLet me cook for you.â
âWhat?â You blinked slowly, making him smile even wider.
âYou havenât eaten anything proper in hours. Let me make you something in the kitchenâan exclusive guest experience.â
âThat doesnât sound much like a gratuity for you.â You pointed out, but he did not seem to mind.
âIndulge me,â was all he responded with. Feeling giddy at the prospect, you glanced over at the bartender, who was definitely listening in on the conversation. Understanding what you meant with your look, he simply shrugged while wiping the glasses.Â
âOk then.â This entire thing felt utterly ridiculous, and you didnât hide the amusement you felt from it as Sanji opened the door to the kitchen for you. That is when your smile lightly faltered, only to be replaced with a fallen jaw as you looked around in amazement. Like the dining area, this room had a high ceiling but wasnât decorated as much as simply visually enhanced by all the bronze pots and pans hanging around, and the pipes leading from the ovens and stoves up to the chimneys. There were long lines of prep stations, behind which one Sanji comfortably made himself at home as he immediately got started on something.
The first few minutes, after you watched him exchange his suit jacket for a white chefâs uniform, you were occupied with the kitchen itself, but once you had gotten used to the environment, you wondered where you could make yourself equally comfortable as not a nuisance to him as he cooked.Â
âMake yourself at home, sweetheart,â he said while chopping some ingredients at a speed that made your heart skip a beat in fear. Or did that come from the new nickname that caught you by surprise?Â
âWhat happened to âmadameâ?â you walked closer to his station. Sanji just looked up briefly, eye covered by his hair but his smile evermore present. Your smile lasted longer as you forgot you had meant to look at what he was doing, not to stare at him. Noticing he was not planning on answering your question, you asked another. âSo, what exactly are you making?â
âSince Iâm sure dinner did not turn out entirely as you had planned, I thought maybe dessert would be a good pick-me-up. Rose and chocolate meringue tartes, how does that sound?â
 âMakes me wonder what I did to deserve it,â you laugh it off while speaking the question that had been on your mind this whole time.Â
âI like to show a lady how sheâs meant to be treated,â he said as he poured several ingredients into a glass bowl and began wicking at a pace that should have stopped him from looking so effortless long ago. âItâs all part of the special package deal.â
âRight, the Sanji Special, was it?â You looked around at the countertop next to him, which seemed free from ingredients and anything you could set on fire. You glanced his way, and he swiftly nodded your way. With that permission in mind, you pushed yourself up on the counter, swinging your legs lightly back and forth. âSo what exactly does this special indicate?â
âA nice meal, a little surprise, a few kind words, nothing too crazy. I would like to think that, with it, I have perfected the recipe on how to eliminate shitbag boyfriends like that prince charming you came here with.â
âMy knight in shining armour.â You rolled your eyes, hiding how much you appreciated all his actions from that day. âMust have worked on quite a few girls then?â
âCanât say it has,â he said as he pushed the oven open to prebake a few tartelette frames. The speed at which he worked truly was otherworldly.Â
âCanât because of a bad success rate or because you hadnât actually tried it before?â
He appeared next to you from beside the oven; tiny droplets of sweat were forming at his temple, but his energy was still burning like the fire under the pot where he was melting the chocolate. âLet's say the latter. For both our dignityâs sake.â It did not come as a surprise to you that he was a flirt and most likely tried these tricks out on the entirety of the female clientele, and yet, for reasons unknown, you did not mind one bit, and it still did not seize to make the smallest of his advances work on you with tremendous effect.Â
âDonât think I have much more of that left after everything that happened out there.â You cringed at the memory of the shouting, the mess, and just how many people had been sitting there watching you.Â
âThereâs been much worse out there, believe me.â Sanji lowered the fire under the pan lightly.
âI hardly believe that. He threw noodles at you. That is absolutely revolting behaviour.â And somehow, you managed not to get kicked out of the restaurant along with Chosi but even got to hang out in the kitchen after hours as a special dessert was being prepared for you⊠by the waiter that your boyfriend had tried to assaultâ no, that your ex-boyfriend tried to assault. That felt much better, but still didnât let the whole situation make any more sense.
âAnd that wouldnât even make the top ten of shit thatâs happened around this place.â
âI⊠am not sure wether to be relieved or disappointed.â For an inexplicable reason, you thought you would be more memorable to him. However, would you have wanted that, seeing the actual circumstances under which that would be? Ugh.
As if he could read your mind, Sanji added in. âDonât worry, Iâm not planning on forgetting you anytime soon.â
âI bet you say that to everyone.â You rolled your eyes, to which he just smiled. âBut really, I am sorry for what happenedâespecially to your suit.â
âI care more about the noodles, honestly, donât like seeing food go to wasteââ he drifted off with his thoughts before coming back up to the surface with another question, âspeaking of noodles, whereâd you meet this guy anyway?â
âItâs complicated,â you sighed, not wanting to burden him with your story, but from the eager attitude he was conveying as he managed his ingredients, he did not hold the same sentiment over it. âWe had been friends for agesâout dads worked togetherâand it seemed, to everyone, apparently, like the natural progression of events that we would end up together.â
âEveryone⊠except for you?â he assumed, looking up at you from the counter space.
âNo, I mean, at first I thought so too, but over time⊠well, you saw it yourself. But by the time I had realised what a mess I had gotten myself into, it felt like I was already too late.â
âHow so?â You heard the gentleness in his question like he was treading the topic lightly, not wanting to put any pressure on it or on you to answer.Â
âHeard people talking he had been planning to propose.â You shrugged it off. âBut I doubt that will be happening anymore.â
âWhat are you going to do now?â The question came with that same carefulness but perhaps a bit more intrigue. You simply shrugged again.
âWill probably have to find another ship to get back home on, as I canât imagine he would want me on board with him.â It was crazy you had not bothered to check but assumed that he had already taken off hours ago, leaving you behind to fend for yourself. âAnd then, if I see him again⊠well, not much else I can do but officially dump his ass.â
âSo I shouldnât feel bad for what I did?â He stopped what he was doing as he waited for an answer.
âAbsolutely not. I canât thank you enough for doing that.âÂ
The both of you shared sheepish smiles before you watched him work silently for a few more minutes. The tarte frames came out of the oven in a beautifully crisp golden tone, and he mixed the chocolate into a thick mousse while the rosy syrup lay back to cool off. While the two of you remained quiet, the kitchen was anything but that as his utensils clinked around the pans. You thought back to a few hours ago and how the silence at your table had been anything but this. You had sat in a cold dread, waiting for something to snap until it inevitably did. However, you sat back comfortably here, happily watching as Sanji focused on his work.Â
It really was his element. While you thought the man had been exemplary at waiting tables, it was nothing compared to the ease at which he performed here. Each move he made seemed like second nature to him.Â
âDo all the waiters here know how to cook like this?â you inquired, leaning in to see how he filled the pastries up, hands in a tight grip on the piping bag.Â
âThe ones that are cooks do,â he chuckled.Â
âYouâre a cook?â you blinked, âthen what were you doing out there earlier?âÂ
âAh, the old shitbag that runs this place likes to torture me and send me off to do the waitinâ.â He readjusted his hold on the piping bag, briefly stopping to wipe his hand on the towel tucked between his belt.Â
âDoesnât that bother you? Iâm sure youâd much rather work here.â You certainly would. Some people could be real assholes to serve⊠your former date being a prime example. But Sanji simply laughed it off.
âNah, not when beautiful women are out there waiting to be served.â He stopped to look up at you with a shit-eating grin, and the unseriousness dripping off of it made you blush, smile along with him and push him back by his shoulder before you would do something else much more irrational. Perhaps a bit too hard, as he lost his balance, only finding it on the counter, exactly where the piping bag had been left behind. His palm fell right over the ending, bursting out the mousse in an unfortunate mess, spilling all over him and the counter.
âOh no,â you said, covering your mouth but not the giggles from it, âIâm so sorry.â
âYou think itâs funny, donât you?â He couldnât keep his smile, but you shook your head harshly. âYouâll pay for this,â he pointed his hand, covered in chocolate, at you. Several thoughts ran through your mind initially, but you managed to suppress most of them, opting for simply running your finger over the back of his hand where most of the mousse had spilt and giving it a taste.Â
âThat is really good.â you hummed at the sweetness. Sanji stood back, somewhat frozen at what you had done, but quickly thawed out with a few blinks.
âWell, what else did you expect?â He wiped the rest of his hand on the towel at his side, âand Iâll have you know itâs rude to eat the food before itâs done. Takes away from the experience.â
âIâm sorry,â you pouted, âbut I promise you I am still very much enjoying this whole experience.â
âYou better.â Sanji said, taking the baking tray and putting it back in the oven for the last few minutes. With the oven door shut, he sighed and leaned against the counter opposite you. âNow we wait.â
âHow long exactly?â
âIn a rush, are we?â He glanced at you from behind his hair, and the question made you heat up in the face. Because how could you explain to this practical stranger that you were feeling the opposite of what he insinuated. That you did not want this night to end at all. That being here with him, even if you were just waiting for a damn tart to bake, you were having more fun than you had had in weeks, if not longer. So, all you did was simply shake your head again.Â
âIt will be just a few minutes, and then gotta let it cool for a bit.â He reassured you. That is when you noticed the bowl he had mixed the mousse in, mostly scraped clean while filling up the piping bag, but even the best chef canât always scrape every last ounce out. Now, you might not have had any particular urge to leave any time soon, but you certainly were hungry, and having tasted just how delicious Sanjiâs food was, you couldnât help but lean in to get another little taste.Â
âWhat do you think youâre doing?â He said, bemused, reaching to stop you from taking another swipe of mousse onto your finger. His hand gently grabbed your wrist, but he had been too late. When he caught you, you had your hand directly over your lips, looking up at him. He glared down at you in a daring manner.Â
You licked the chocolate off yourself as innocently as possible without bursting into laughter.Â
âI canât believe youâd do that.â He took a step forward, nearly closing the gap between you. The presence of his body, so close to yours, almost touching, reverberated off of you with warmth, and suddenly, you felt the breath you had taken to be stuck in the back of your throat. âDid you not listen to anything I just said?â His breath was hot against your skin, and if you didnât know any better, you would have thought it was a direct source of the skip in your heart.Â
âOf course I did.â You ignored the fast beating of your heart and the feeling like it might just burst out of your chest as you took him by the arm to give you some space and let you slide down the counter back onto your feet. âSomething about experience andâŠâ you slid out from between him and the counter, and as you did so, swooped by the bowl of mousse with your finger one last time. âI forgot what else.â
âYou are unbelievable,â Sanji reached for your hand, but you were quicker and manoeuvred around him and from his armâs reach. Taunting him with the mousse, you walked around the work counters, and he, happily playing along, followed suit.Â
Like children, you ran around the kitchen, with him not far behind you, trying to catch you until he finally did, picking you up by the waist. Unintentionally, a squeak of a shriek came out of you, followed by both your laughs. You kept on laughing until you heard something outside the door. Heavy footsteps, freezing you both in your place until they moved on by. That is when you noted the time. Hours past midnight.
âAre we even allowed to be in here at this time?â You whispered as if the person who had walked by would suddenly be able to hear you.
âOf course,â Sanji said with confidence, but his expression juxtaposed this with signs that you could only read as âabsolutely fucking not.â chances were that if you were caught in the kitchen at this time of night, you would be shot on the spot by, what did Sanji call him, the old shitbag.
But before you could run away in fear of getting caught, it was Sanjiâs turn to take you by surprise. As you stood in his arms, he leaned in and wrapped his mouth around your finger, sucking all the chocolate right off. You could feel his tongue move down your knuckles and back up until he released it, leaving you stunned and wide-eyed.Â
âI thought itâs rude to eat a dish before itâs done,â you managed to sputter out.Â
âSo you did listen,â he smiled, âbut you might want to know that a good cook always tastes their dishes in the process, and that⊠was delicious.â
âAre you always this humble about your cooking?â Your heart was basically in your throat at this moment.
âWasnât talking about the food,â his tone was deep, sultry, as he leaned closer. âBut care to give me another taste?â
Your breath was officially hitched in your throat, unable to breathe properly, as you stared at him, body flooding with heat and need for him. As words escaped you, you nodded lightly and leaned in as he did the same, meeting your lips in the middle with a kiss.
As soon as it happened, his arms found their spot on your side as you fastened yourself on his shoulders. It was nothing like you expected it to be. For a man spending his entire nights and days in the kitchen, he felt nothing like it. You could smell the cologne, taste the cigarettes and the fresh mint he used to conceal the former. His tender but firm touch held you in your place as he pressed closer.
There was a force to it, but nothing that you didnât feel in yourself to copy as the need for him boiled deep inside you.Â
Your hand moved slowly up to his cheek, over to his hair at the nape of his neck.
One of his hands, in the meantime, had found your thigh, pulling it up over his leg as he squeezed your soft flesh, but before giving you a chance to even react to this new position and all its implications, Sanji moved.
Pulling apart, leaving your lips to be the last piece he detached from as he kept your bottom lip between his teeth lightly, he apologised, âExcuse me for a moment.â because while you might have forgotten all about the world around you, he had still been keeping track of the tartelettes that were baking down in the oven.Â
He pulled the tray of pastries out with a white tea towel, practically throwing it down on the counter, discarding it with a metal clang.
âNow we wait for them to cool,â he explained as he got back to you.
âAnd what were you planning on doing in the meantime,â you pulled him back in by the blue ascot tie.Â
With his lips ghosting over yours, he half-whispered, âI might have a few things in mind,â and with it, kissed you again. While the kiss itself was not much different, with that same intensity and passion running through both of you as before, now you were very much aware of what was to follow. If it wasnât your need that spurred you on, then it was Sanji and his eagerness. Despite his chefâs uniform and the navy apron, you could feel him grow harder against you as the kiss continued. A moan escaped you as his lips travelled down to your neck, leaving sloppy kisses one by one until he reached a spot that was more sensitive than others. The simple touch sparked a fuse inside you.
As he continued playing with your sensitive skin, he led both your bodies to one of the empty tables at the side of the room, pressing you right against the edge and locking you in between it and him.
Without needing him to say a word, you understood exactly what you needed to do and climbed on top of the table, spreading your legs to make space for him right in the middle.Â
Your dress might have hiked up slightly over your thighs, but it wasnât enough for Sanji, who took it upon himself to pull it up.Â
âI hope you donât mind me sayingâ,â he smiled as he kissed the corner of your mouth and as his hand reached the top of your leg, âbut I had been thinkin' about this ever since I saw you.â
âMe too,â you exhaled deeply, letting the confession sink in. Maybe Chosi was right after all. Now, with him out of the picture, you could admit that something had been there from the start, from the moment you caught a glimpse of the waiter cook. And if it wasnât for all the shit that occurred that day, maybe you would have felt a twinge of guilt as you guided Sanjiâs hand between your legs. If you had not shut that chapter behind you, perhaps you would have felt bad, but any insecurities of that disappeared as Sanji began to toy with your core. His slender fingers grazed slowly over your slit, putting enough pressure on it to make you arch your back in need of more.Â
âAlready so needy,â he smirked. âAnd I barely touched you.â
âTouch me then,â you said with gritted teeth.
âDonât need to tell me twice.â His fingers moved up in pace and barely went any deeper, keeping you on the edge of satisfaction. âAnd what would madame like me to do?â He threaded his movements, and you were growing impatient with the teasing.
âFuck me,â ready to hear his next question, you added, âI donât care how.â
His grin only grew wider at your words. Much to your dislike, he pulled his hand away to place both at your thighs, pressing his fingers into your skin and using that as leverage to make more space for himself in between.
âAs madame wishes.â He spoke softly right below your ear as he descended onto his knees.Â
The kiss he left over your panties already invoked a tremble through your entire body, and it only got worse from there, in the best sense. He pushed your underwear aside and took his time giving you all his attention and care. Kissing your core deeply until his nose pressed up against you. His tongue licked up your juices like a starving man until your eyes rolled back, and you felt weak.Â
The table you were perched on was empty, so you only had Sanji to hold on to. At first, you reached for his shoulder, but it was just not high enough for you to find support. As you tried to look for it, Sanji reached for your hand and brought it up to the side of his head for you to tangle your fingers in his light locks. Before you even managed to grab onto them, simply letting your nails trace over his hair, you felt the vibrations of his moans strike you. Another deep blow to your senses pulled you further down to the edge. Closer and closer until you couldnât take it anymore. Your grip on his hair tightened as your breath grew sporadic.Â
âFuck, fuck,â you moaned, voice filled with desperation for a release, and one that Sanji would be more than pleased to give you⊠just not quite yet. As he pulled away from you, you deflated with the feeling of a ruined climax and the urge to pull him back to finish what he had started, but all you could do was whimper in protest.Â
âDonât worry,â he kissed your knee softly, âall in good time. I promise to take good care of you,â and with that, he rose back up to his feet, untying his apron.
âThat was good,â your chest still moving up and down heavily as you caught your breath. âReally good.â
âIt pleases me to hear that,â he said as he threw the apron aside onto the ground. âAnd believe me, I would love to go back for secondsââ
âDoes all your pillow talk stem from restaurant jargon?â you interrupted jokingly.Â
âYou laugh, and yet youâre the one begging me to fuck you.â God, he was so cocky, with the way he stood there in front of you, his head tilted sideways, and his lip turned up in a grin that told you he knew he was right. âSo, please, let me.â His hand was already on his belt buckle.Â
There was no time or need for either of you to undress. With your dress hiked up to your hips, he already had easy enough access, and once his belt was loose, it only took a few sharp pulls for you to release him from the material restraints.Â
âYou ready?â he asked.
âFor the love of god,â grabbing him by the arm, you pulled him in, âstop talking and just take me.â You knew he was about to respond, but before he got the chance to make another absurdly silly but nonetheless flirtatious comment, you shit him up with a kiss. Just like that, the two of you melted into one another. Sanji made himself comfortable between you and let his lips wander down to your neck again, to that one spot he found that drove you crazy.Â
He kept kissing your neck as he finally slid into you. The two feelings made your body go weak, melting you into a puddle of burning nerves as he spread your walls and filled you up perfectly.Â
First, he moved slowly, but with each thrust, he sped up more and more, putting more force into it until you were both shaking with ferocity, and the table underneath you scratched over the planks it stood upon. The sound of the tortured floor was the only thing covering up both your moans and that of the messy skin-to-skin contact.Â
While he practically pounded into you, you reached for his hair again. There was just something about it: how messy you managed to make it with a few tugs and brushstrokes. All of it, how he acted and reacted, it was all in response to you. Just how he made you see stars with each move he made.Â
âFeels so good, fuck,â he groaned over your shoulder as you grabbed for his, pulling him closer if possible. He had your legs pressed against his sides. He shook his head quickly, letting the hair flick out of his sight, but the attempt was poor as the lock quickly fell back over his eye despite his efforts.Â
âSanââ you moaned, âSanjiââÂ
âThatâs right,â he might as well have been kissing you, so close were his lips to you, but instead, the only thing you truly felt was his hot breath on your skin as he kept going deeper and harder. âGonna come for me? His voice got even deeper the longer he kept going. At the sound of it, your nails dug into his back, his striped shirt being the only thing saving him from possibly some nasty scratches, but it seemed to only spur him on more. âIââ you gasped out as you felt him hit the deepest part of you.
âYeah?âÂ
âIâm close, fuck.â the pit in your stomach tightened, your muscles strained as you tried to hold on to that feeling of pleasure he brought over you. The tension built up like a band being pulled tighter and tighter, ready to snap at any moment; he had you in his grip, waiting to let go of you at the exact right time. All you needed was that touch, just the right one in the right spot.Â
You could feel it all. Could feel just how close he was himself as his thrusts got sloppier, and his breathing grew heavier and rougher between his words. âYeah, câmon. I know you can do it. Come all over my cock. ââs gonna feel so good, I promise you.â
The encouragement might not have been necessarily what did it. It was more like a concoction of things that all led to this precise moment when ecstasy overtook your body and washed over you like a hot flash. Sanji was not far behind you, riding his high as he ensured you got to yours. His movements slowed down as you felt the cum slick down your thighs. While you both caught your breath, it became quiet once more.Â
It took you a bit longer to catch up on air in your lungs, and so while you closed your eyes and focused on your breathing, you heard Sanji zip his trousers back up and lightly walk across the aisle between the workstations. When you opened your eyes again, he was making his way back to you already, a handful of paper towels in his hand.Â
Despite the burn you already felt in your sore muscles, you spread your legs one last time to give him access to clean you up. His soft touches to your sensitive core now were in stark contrast to what he had been doing to you moments ago, but the cold of the damp towel brought a nice sense of comfort.Â
âYou think you can stand up for me?â he asked gently, and the little words in that tone were enough to make your heart flutter.Â
âYeah, I think so.â You said, but that was quickly proven wrong when your knees buckled almost immediately when your feet touched the ground. It was only because of the way that Sanji held your arm that you had not completely toppled over.Â
âWoah, alright.â He smiled, never letting go of you, âHow about we just sit for now.â Slowly, he guided you to sit on the ground, back against a cabinet. âWater?âÂ
You nodded in agreement. The question had made you realise just how parched you were.
âStill, sparkling, mineral?â
âSurprise me.â You said through a tired smile at the reference to how he waited on you earlier, but moments later, you reminded yourself of your preference, âjust not sparkling! It just tastes foul.âÂ
âAnything but sparkling water, coming right up.â He moved around the room to pour you some surprise water, and while he did so, you pressed your face into your hands, laughing at the absurdity of it all. Less than 12 hours ago, you had been walking up the deck, arm in arm, with your good-for-nothing boyfriend, soon-to-be fiance. Now you sat on the ground of a restaurant kitchen, with no idea where saidânow exâ-boyfriend was in the world, coming down from one of the best orgasms you had ever received⊠all by the hand of a stranger. A handsome stranger at that. One that you could imagine seeing much more of in the future, but it was all just too silly.Â
And you were tired. And hungry.Â
âVoila,â Sanji appeared in front of you with impeccable timing, a large ice-cold looking glass in one hand, filled with ice cubes and cucumber, and two plates in the other hand. The rose and chocolate meringue tartes look particularly inviting. âThought you might finally want to try one,â he said as he handed you a plate and fork.
âI swear, youâre a godsend.â No matter in how much need you were of a drink, the sight of the dessert made your mouth water.Â
âAh, just a little something sweet forââ
âIf youâre going to say what I think youâre going to say, I will shove this tarte in your face.â One could only endure so much of this sappy flirting, even if you found it very endearing. Sanji shut his mouth and sat beside you, poking his fork into his portion.
The two of you ate quickly but still took enough time to appreciate the flavours that oozed out of the pastry and its filling. The moan you made as it all reached your tastebuds might have been more pornographic than any sound you made while he had been deep inside you.Â
âMmm, this is delicious,â you said through another bite. The praise brought a huge smile to the cookâs lips. âSeriously, thank you. For everything.â
âItâs been my pleasure,â he spoke in a way that almost made you think he was getting shy on you. That felt unlikely, but you let him process it all for a moment as you kept eating.Â
Only once you had eaten everything off your plate did you ask your next question of the evening. âHow did you know I would like this?â
âItâs a chefâs best trait,â he pulled the fork out of his mouth with a pop, âto be able to read their customers well. To be able to tell what they like or dislike; to know them better than they know themselves.â
âBut how?â With intrigue, you moved closer to him. He had been leaning against the same cupboard as you, one of his knees raised up and an arm hanging casually over it. His hair was still messy, falling over his eye. âHow could you tell I would enjoy this specific dish?âÂ
The one unobstructed eye fell over you, looking up and down over your body as his mischievous smile reappeared. âIt felt fitting.â
âHow so?â You blinked, confused as to what he meant.
âSweet, decadent and hot; whatâs there not to like? I meanââ he leaned in over his arm to kiss you, feather-light. Then, he hummed as he pulled back. âIt is an absolutely divine combination.â
Your cheeks burned up for what felt like the millionth time that evening, and you could not dare keep looking at him as he stared down at you with that innate hunger. That kind that could only be filled with one thing, and it just so happened to have wholly exhausted you.Â
âIs this still all part of that special of yours?â
To this, Sanji shrugged, âDepends.â
âOn what?â
âOn how long you want to keep me around.â He scraped some leftover mousse from his plate, licking it off his fork.
âI think for a while,â you admitted. Yeah, you definitely hadnât had enough of him yet.Â
âWell, then thereâs so much more I can do for you, madame.â
the end
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