Substitute

Promp: Chocolate
Characters: Sanji
Fandom: One Piece

This was a contest prize for a contest I held over on deviantart.

Sanji had decided to quit smoking. Some might think that it was down to the fact that there had been a string of islands than banned tobacco. His attempts to refill his dwindling supplies had been futile and sometime between islands he'd run out. This wouldn't have been a problem if he had been able to restock on the next island or the one after that... or the one after that. Unfortunately for said chef, the ban on tobacco spread across the neighbouring islands and so he had no smokes.

The affects didn't really start to show for a few days. Spars with Zoro grew more often and in most cases tended to be more violent. Luffy's face was a convenient kicking bag and Sanji found himself on one of two occasions luring the Captain into the kitchen for one reason or another just so he could kick him out again upon the inevitable thievery attempt that would follow. These only sated his building temper to a certain degree and when he found himself snapping at the lovely ladies aboard the Sunny-Go, Sanji knew something had to change.

He was a smart man. He knew the affects of the smokes he'd carried since he was a boy. He knew their addiction and subsequent withdrawal. He felt like shit because his body was craving a drug he had readily supplied for so many years. He thought long and hard and came up with the solution that he should probably ask Chopper for help.

Chopper had been more than happy to assist. His delight in hearing of the chef's decision to quit his unhealthy smoking habit prompted him to drop all current projects and concoct a medicine that would help sate the withdrawal. Sanji had to wait a couple more days until they docked for Chopper to gather supplies he needed, but as soon as he had them the medicine was ready within an hour.

Sanji had to admit, their doctor was pretty good. The drug worked almost instantly although the niggling in the back of his head still remained. He found the answer one afternoon upon preparing a delicious chocolate cake for his delightful damsels. Throughout the cooking process as always he had sampled the treats himself to make sure each stage of preparation went perfectly. Upon finishing he found himself in an excellent mood, better than he had been in weeks. He spent the rest of the day contemplating why, but eventually left the question unanswered and enjoyed the happiness.

It was the next time he prepared a treat laden with chocolate that Sanji realised it was the sweet treat that affected his mood. The combination of the neutralisation in Chopper's medicine and the release of endorphins with the chocolate made Sanji a happy chef. It was from there he decided to make his choco-sticks for when he was out and about. Edible sugar paper and ground up chocolate – rolling them was reminiscent of his precious cigs. Those days were over though. He was a new man with a new addiction – chocolate! And so he put on a couple pounds... there was just more the for the ladies to love, damn it!