Sanji smoothed his multi-colored hair, frowning into the mirror.
The waiters had bolted, seeing that the Baratie was a restaurant with fighting. All of them, leaving Sanji to be a waiter as he was Assistant Head Chef (plus the old man had told him to).
Rolling his eyes at the memory, Sanji tugged his cigarettes and lighter out-
BOOM! C-crash!
The blond stopped and looked up, shifting his weight as the Baratie jolted. There were yells from overhead and screams from the customers. Sanji turned to stare at the door, tilting his head with an unlit cigarette lightly hanging from his lips. He squinted at the door, listening.
Faintly he could hear Patty and Carne yelling. Sanji straightened and smirked slightly as he lit his cigarette, exiting the bathroom.
'Let the shitty geezer deal with it. Repair costs will come out of his pockets this time.'
A bit later, Sanji was pouring wine for a Marine Lieutenant and his date. He got the feeling, from the man's air, that he was one of the more pompous Marines. Sanji went to collect their soup course, and made sure to zone out of the conversation between the couple, only becoming attentive when he heard Fullbody mention the wine.
Fullbody turned his eyes on Sanji, smirking cockily at the blond. "Am I right, waiter?"
Sanji ran the wine description in his hand before shaking his head. "Dead wrong, Monsieur. And I'm actually the Assistant Head Chef. The waiters left yesterday."
He slid the bowls from his hand and head respectively. "Your soup. Enjoy it while it's hot."
Tilting his head at the two, letting his eyes linger on the woman a moment, Sanji turned and headed back to the kitchen. He paused in the doorway, leaning against it.
"Oi, shitheads!"
"WHAT?" Came the roar from irate cooks. Sanji couldn't help the grin if he wanted to.
"Just wanted to give a heads up. We gotta pompous Marine out there," Sanji pulled his cigarette away, blowing out a ring of smoke. "Shithead wanted one of the fancier wines from the North."
Sal, one of the pantry chefs, whistled low. "Seriously? Ain't they one of the more expensive ones we got in stock?"
Sanji nodded, taking in a drag before releasing. The chefs shook their heads as they moved around the kitchen with ease, like a well practiced act. He glanced at the clock and straightened. "Hey, I'm gonna start my rounds, can one of you shitheads refill the pitchers?"
"Don't call us that!" More than half the kitchen snapped, aiming glares at him.
Sanji waved a hand idly at them. "I'll take that as a yes."
Sidestepping a tossed sponge, he smacked it back with a sharp slap. He earned a yelp as a reward. Smirking, Sanji left the kitchen, leaving the cooks grumbling. Sanji began his rounds, deciding to start away from the Marine. For all that the woman he was with was lovely, he didn't want to get caught in any Government bullshit.
He spoke with the customers, flirting casually with either half of a couple, earning laughter. Currently, Sanji was speaking cheekily with an older, regular couple that always came on Thursdays.
"Hah!" The older man barked, grinning as he set his wineglass back down. "I can't believe you got stuck acting as a waiter."
"Oh, I don't know, Obi. He certainly dresses the part a bit." His wife chuckled.
Sanji held a hand to his chest, feigning hurt. "Why, Madam Vivian! I'm hurt, I thought you found my ties charming!"
The two laughed, Obi opening his mouth to say something when there was a loud, "Waiter!"
His brow twitched and he glanced over at the Marine. Sanji looked back at the couple, who gave him knowing looks. "It's alright, love," Vivian said, patting his hand.
"Go ahead and deal with the ass. Just make sure to handle the lady with care, she seems to only care about Fullbody." Obi said, waving Sanji away.
The blond nodded and he headed over to the Marine. He cast a look at the man. "I've told you before I'm not a waiter."
He gave a closer look at the woman, offering a light smile. "My, what a charming woman."
The woman blinked and smiled, a light blush coming to her cheeks.
"Tell me, miss," Sanji began, idly noticing that the Marine was getting upset. He leaned a bit closer, making sure he wasn't lurking over her. "How would you like to sample my private stock? I've recently got some exotic fruit wine from the South Blue."
"Hey!" Fullbody erupted, smacking a hand on the table, slightly upsetting the tableware. He jabbed a finger at his soup. "What kind of third-rate dive serves soup with bugs?!"
"Bugs?" Sanji echoed, giving an internal flail at the mention of bugs. He looked carefully at the soup, blinking at the fly floating in the soup.
"What's this fly doing in my soup?!" Sanji noticed the other customers were paying attention. 'Wanting some lunchtime drama, I suppose… May as well add to it.'
"Forgive me, Monsieur…" he spoke lightly around his cigarette. "I could be wrong, but it appears to be the backstroke."
He let a clueless smile slide onto his face, carefully smoothing down the front of his suit. The other customers were laughing and the date was even giggling slightly.
BANG! Crack!
"EEEEK!"
Sanji lost his smile as Fullbody slammed his fist into the table, breaking it and sending everything on it to the ground. The wine glasses and bowls were broken, spilling out on the floor. Absently, in the back of Sanji's mind, he was swearing over the price of the replacements they'd have to buy. The woman had shot out of her seat, staring in shock at the mess.
"You have no clue who you're messing with," Fullbody said lowly, his eyes narrowed at Sanji in an intimidating manner.
The blond ignored it though, having earned more dark looks from Zeff to be affected. His blue eyes were locked on the wasted soup. Said eyes lingered for a long moment on the fly floating aimlessly in the soup. The sight of wasted food filled Sanji with a cold fury (memories of nights of being stuck on a rock, seeing Zeff, a tall, broad man scrawny and bony from starvation, missing a leg - No, it's been years, Sanji, Zeff is fine, just breathe -).
He took a breath in, releasing it and taking a deeper one in, slowly removing the cigarette from his lips. Sanji let his eyes rove towards the Marine. He let Rain flames come from his finger, dowsing the burning cigarette before letting Storm flames disintegrate it. Cold eyes settled on Fullbody. The man was staring at his flames with wide eyes.
"Ya know," Sanji began in a soft, light tone. "If you'd just removed the bug, you could've eaten that soup."
Fullbody bristled, lifting his hands up and forming fists. "What?! I am a CUSTOMER! How dare you take that attitude- You're just a lowly cook!"
"Stop it, Fullbody!" The woman cried, hands fisting her dress as she gazed between the two men. "Let it go!"
Sanji, though it pained him a bit, ignored the woman and began a slow walk towards Fullbody. "Does money make up for lack of courage?"
Not waiting for an answer, Sanji moved.
A bit later, he was holding Fullbody up by his jaw. "To offend a cook at sea is asking to meet Death. Remember that." A vein on his forehead throbbed and he glowered at the Marine, clenching his fingers tighter around the man's jaw. "And food must never be wasted."
"Again, Sanji?!" Sanji let the glower drop as he turned his head to Patty, who was staring and pointing at him angrily. "What're ya doin' to dat customah? A naval officah at dat!"
Sanji blinked at him, wishing for another cigarette. "Hey, shitty cook. Say my name with the proper address."
"How dare ya call me 'shitty cook,' ya shitty server!" Patty snapped back, huffing, before waving his arms around. "Customahs are da life's blood of a restaurant! So why's his leachin' outta him?! 'Splain yerself!"
Sanji dropped the Marine, letting Storm flames appear around his hand to get rid of the blood as he walked over to Patty. He tugged out a cigarette, lighting it as he paused beside the other cook. His brow went up. "Customer? The shithead wasted precious food and insulted the other cooks. I simply taught him differently."
"Th-this place stinks!" Was wheezed out and the coworkers looked at Fullbody in slight surprise. "The food's full of bugs... the service's horrible… I'll inform the authorities and see you closed down! A restaurant shouldn't-"
"Oh ho?" Sanji cut him off, tilting his head and shading his eyes. "Close us down?" A slight, dangerous smile slid onto his face. "Not if I close you down first, Jabjong." (1)
Fullbody's eyes widened and he shrank backwards. "What..? What?!"
"Don't do it, Sanji!" Came from behind and arms and legs were winding around his limbs as he strained to go forward.
His smile dropped as he scowled and glared at the Marine. "Now I'm really pissed!"
"Hold him or the Lieutenant's dead man!"
"Get off!" Sanji snarled at the three, digging an elbow into one of their sides. "I can't stand ignorant snobs like him!"
"Ow! Cool down, Sanji!"
Eyes shifting, Sanji growled lightly. "I'll get you, big shot!"
"Eeek…!" Fullbody shrank back fully at Sanji's expression.
Crack! Bam!
"AAAAAAHH!"
Still straining against the cooks holding him, Sanji let his eyes flicker over to where Zeff and another person had just dropped through the ceiling. 'Yet another thing coming from the old man's pocket. Guess it's a good thing we needed to call the shipwrights anyway.'
Brushing it off, he focused on the old man as the cooks restraining Sanji called for him. "Chef, you've gotta stop Sanji!"
Sanji promptly shoved the man who yelled that in a backbend and raised his elbow to dig it into a man's upper ribcage. He blinked casually at the old man.
Zeff was looking at him, unimpressed, as he stood in front of the blond. "Attacking clients again, Little Eggplant?"
"Shove it, Shitty Geezer."
"He sure is!" Patty said. "An' dis one's a Lieutenant!"
Thwack! "Do you want to ruin me?!"
Sanji staggered backwards, the cooks releasing him right before Zeff kicked him. He rubbed his face with a slight scowl, holding his cigarette as Sun flames washed over his cheek on instinct. He let out a small, "Oww…"
"Hey!" A loud, childish voice cut in, catching their attention. Sanji stared at the strawhat-wearing raven in confusion. "I know that guy! He's the cannon guy!"
'Cannon?' Sanji wondered, putting his cigarette to his mouth. 'That's what it was earlier?'
Thwack! "You get out of here, too!"
Sanji couldn't help the miffed expression that slid onto his face. 'Why does he get to hit him? I wanted to.'
"Da customah's king, got dat?" Patty snapped at Sanji.
He rolled his eyes, taking a drag and blowing it in his face. "Only if they're willing to eat your slop."
A growl from the right and they glanced at Zeff. "Sanji, Patty, if you're gonna fight, take it to the kitchen!"
"No way!" They snapped and glowered at each other.
There was a clatter at the entrance. Collectively, heads turned to look.
"Lieutenant Fullbody… I-it's terrible!" The bloodied Marine gasped. "I'm sorry, sir, b-but he got away from the ship's brig!"
The strange teen huffed. "This is a madhouse…"
(Patty and Sanji twitched. The older cook glanced at Sanji, who was already forming a Mist wooden spatula. The cook caught it and smacked the hatted teen with it, earning a startled noise.
He blinked at the twin glares.
"Only we can call this (dis) place a madhouse!" They hissed at him in unison.
The stranger could only blink while Zeff coughed, hiding a chuckle.)
"The pirate of Krieg's crew escaped!" The Marine exclaimed, face set in a panicked expression. "We went to question him, but he beat us and got away!"
"Impossible!" Fullbody exclaimed, staring hard at the man. "When we captured him, he was half dead from starvation and we haven't fed him since!"
The customers exploded in panic, some even racing toward exits, avoiding the main entrance. Sanji, frowning around his cigarette, glanced at Zeff, his bare eyebrow raised. Zeff simply shook his head. Sanji nodded, turning his head forward to keep an eye on the entrance.
Bang
Sanji blinked in surprise before wincing faintly as the Marine collapsed, blood spreading from the gunshot wound. He breathed in sharply before letting it out. Customers were yelling and fleeing even faster, those by the entrance frozen.
"Customah, party of one," Patty noted dryly.
"He'd better not bust up my restaurant," Zeff growled beneath his breath.
"A pirate!" Sanji stared weirdly at the straw-hatted teen.
Blowing out a breath, Sanji eyed the Krieg pirate as he walked into the Baratie. The pirate took over an empty table and Sanji rubbed his forehead as Patty walked over to him. He absently ignored their banter as he ran foods through his mind. There was a crash and loud cheer from the customers. Eyes flicking over, he saw Patty had hit the customer, breaking the chair. His lip curled as he saw Patty beating the customer. Sanji looked at Zeff before shrugging to himself and turned, walking towards the kitchen. 'Miso soup, I think, and maybe plain rice… wonder if the entremetier has some cooked already.'
Humming absently, Sanji slipped into the kitchen and slid through the bustle with years of experience. A flare of Mist and there was a bubble around his cigarette, preventing ash and smoke from filling the kitchen. He paused by the shelves containing the dishware. Plucking a small bowl, regular cup, and regular plate, and a spoon from the drawer, Sanji headed over to the middle of the kitchen, where the entrees were typically cooked.
"Got any spare miso and rice?" Sanji asked, balancing the plate carefully as he filled the cup with fresh water from a pitcher.
The brunet cooking looked at him curiously before nodding. "Comin' from your own pocket?"
"Mmm." Was all Sanji let out.
The man ladling out soup shook his head with a slight smile. "Methinks you're getting even softer, little boss."
"Don't tell anyone, wouldn't want my rep ruined." Sanji retorted dryly, sharing a smirk with the prepper.
"Never."
Sanji settled the plate on his arm, more Mist coming out to wrap protectively around it as he went out the side exit of the kitchen. Spotting the pirate on the ground (Patty must have tossed him there, Sanji figured), he dropped the napkin he'd snagged on the way out over the man's head. Ignoring the startled noise he got, Sanji carefully set the plate and cup down, sticking the spoon in the rice.
Walking a few steps away, Sanji said, "Eat slowly."
There was a stomach growl and Sanji glanced over when he heard the sound of chewing. He rolled his eyes when he saw the man was practically inhaling it. Letting Mist change into a sponge, he let it bop the man in the head, earning a startled look, which he returned with a flat look. "If you continue eating fast and make yourself sick, I'll punt you."
The pirate blinked but nodded, returning to his food. "Thank you…" Sanji heard quietly as he let his head rest on the rail, eyes closed under the sun. "I thought I was a dead man."
There was the faint sound of breath hitching and Sanji smirked slightly around his cigarette, a feeling of contentment rushing through him. "Good, yeah?" He didn't get a response, not really expecting one as they sat in silence.
"Aha!"
At least, until a voice broke it.
Sanji scowled as his eyes opened and let them move up, landing on a figure on the second floor. It was the teen from before. Out of the corner of his eye, Sanji saw the pirate had looked up as well.
"I've found you!" It was stated with glee and a bright, almost shining grin. "My cook!"
Sanji could only blink as there was something tugging at him about the teen. 'What the hell?'
(1) Jabjong - Korean for bastard.
