Starved
Summary: A certain rubber boy will never understand what it means and that drives him crazy.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
The cupboards were empty. Again. The fridge was cleaned out, possibly even licked clean. Who knew with Luffy? This happened a lot, but the same feeling washed over him, as it always did. It was inescapable.
As he gazes into the empty cupboard, his legs would get weak. His stomach would growl, never forgetting the pain it had once endured. His mind would race with thoughts. What would he do? How long would they have to wait before reaching land? What if the ship sank?
Could Chopper really be used as food?
It was the last one he hates the most. Chopper is his friend. He would never hurt Chopper, even if he was that hungry again. Of course, in that state of mind, he'd been ready to chew off his own flesh. Your perspective can really change when you've gone mad from hunger.
"Sanji,"
"Yes?" he turns to face Nami, snapping to attention. Even half-mad, he would never ignore her.
"We'll reach an island in a few hours. It's okay. That will never happen again, I promise."
He wishes he could believe her, but the feeling of dread will always be there. Not just for himself, but for the crew. What kind of cook would he be if he let that happen to the others? It is never far from his mind. Nami knows this. She never scolds him if he spends a bit more than necessary. It's an unspoken worry only she knows about.
She knows because she saw his face the first time it happened. Luffy had helped himself to dessert after dinner. Everything was gone. Sanji looked ready to explode at first, but then the worry set in. He was suddenly glad the kitchen was free of the rubber boy's presence. His chest tightened as his anxiety rose. He had no plan. No rations for himself this time, let alone enough for the four other people whose job it was for him to feed.
She found him in the corner, staring glassy-eyed at the open cupboards. She asked what was wrong. He told her everything, how the old man attacked his ship, how he was stuck on a rock for 85 days, why he never, ever wasted food. She listened without a word as he told his story, so engrossed in telling it he almost forgot she was there. He had never sounded so scared.
"It happened before,"
"That was a long time ago. You have us now." She wraps an arm around his waist and gives him a side hug. He leans into her slightly, grateful for her understanding.
The rubber boy would never understand what it was like to starve.
Author's note: I thought it would be interesting to see what goes on in Sanji's mind when he sees that Luffy ate everything. Based on his past, I'm sure he'd be scared. Please review!