A/N: I lost some motivation but after some snooping on Pixiv, found it to get this guy out! God, I miss my laptop...D:
Naghi-Tan: Things will get there, eventually! After reading most of the old manga, I'm convinced Luffy does, too. He's unusually protective of his cook ;)
RR: I had most of the document written, and just edited and added on my phone, later. It's…a struggle, considering it's an iPhone SE. (so smol!) I had most of that chapter written on my computer! D: And I'm afraid to deviate from what I'd written, so I'm impatiently waiting for the funds needed to repair my laptop so I could continue that one. It's so close - ! Trying to stick close to the info I gathered – near realistic and not. I don't want to just throw things together willy nilly and leave it…pretty. Hah! As for the ED, it's not a topic explored too much – but it'll be explored here for sure! 8D
Happy Balon: I'm glad that you do! Doodles are power!
Guest: This is true – but we've yet to hear from Zoro on his thoughts as to why he's truly that angry. There's more chapters to explore of his side of things – I, as a writer, tend to make it very difficult for characters; it's more fun for me. I don't like to make things easy and light and conflict free – I like to make my borrowed characters work.
: : 12 : :
That night, while Brook released some nighttime songs, watching over the moon's reflection on the water, Luffy used what stealth skills he had to sneak into the kitchen from Chopper's office. Seeing that Sanji had left it gleaming with a brilliant sheen of polished clean, he gave a disappointed expression. He'd hoped something would've been left out. The meals the cook had been making lately had been wondrously filling and delicious – it was a tinge on the tongue, a pleasant weight in the stomach, a warmth in the mouth minutes later that seemed to leave Luffy constantly starving for more. His stomach rumbled in reaction, and he quickly opened and closed cupboards, looking for something left over, something tasty.
He heard the creak of weight on floorboard and quickly ducked up against the sink, grimacing as he anticipated being kicked. But whoever it was strode past the kitchen and headed for Chopper's office, and Luffy peeked up and over to see who it was. He wasn't fast enough to see them, so he relaxed. Exhaling, he turned to face the fridge, frowning at the lock in place. He glared down at the keypad, hand on his hip, churning out various numbers. He liked '3', so he pressed that a few times and heard the negative chime ring out moments later. He liked 3 with 6, and pressed that, but the chime rang out again. Pressing up against the metal, he listened for any movement within, pressing random buttons at the same time. He wondered if he should retrieve Chopper's stethoscope, and turned to do so when he stopped short, Sanji glaring at him from the end of the counter.
"I heard a sound, so I investigated," Luffy said hurriedly, sweating as he eyed those set feet. "I thought we had an intruder on board. I was hearing voices! From inside there. Uh…doesn't sound like there's anyone in there, after all, but I was going to go get that heart hearing thing from – "
"Right."
"I'm honestly starving…now that you're here, care for a snack?"
"I have one," Sanji told him shortly, opening a container that had been sitting on the sink amidst some other containers that Luffy had looked over, because they looked like spice bottles. He then retrieved a couple of spoons. "You may have a bite, if you'd like."
"Oh, yay!" Luffy cried cheerfully, pulling himself onto the counter and taking the spoon held out to him. Sanji took the first scoop and bit into it with a pleasured hum, so Luffy followed suit. It looked like custard with sugar crystals on top, so he took enough to fill his mouth and chomped down enthusiastically. Then let his bottom jaw fall open with realization, the lump falling out onto his lap amidst long lines of drool. "Blah, that's not custard…"
"No, it's butter with sugar crystals, and a bit of sea salt. There's caramel mixed in at the bottom, and I layered butter over it, froze it, and it thawed out just right. The mixture is amazing. I can't stop eating it," Sanji said, chewing awkwardly, sucking pieces out from his teeth. He was amused at Luffy's expression, seeing it twist with utter disgust.
"…Butter?"
"Don't tell anyone, Chopper told me I'm not supposed to be eating it like this," Sanji told him, snickering as it looked as if Luffy's soul was slowly leaving him. Drool dripped from his opened mouth, faintly glittering with sugar crystals. Sanji threw some napkins at him. "Clean yourself up!"
"Whhhyyyy?"
"Don't ever say I never tried to share with you," Sanji said, scooping up another bite, this one colored at the bottom. As tempting as that caramel looked, seeing it swirling with butter and possible salt made Luffy's eyes water. When Sanji spoke, he could see butter clinging to his teeth. It made Luffy's expression recoil tightly into revulsion.
He wiped the substance from his lap, then gave his spoon a dejected look. Brightening, he then asked, "How's the baby doing?"
"He's fine."
"Have you named it, yet?"
"Nope."
"Hopefully, not a number, like you and your brothers," Luffy added with a frown.
"No."
"I'm glad they agreed to leave you alone, they were some characters," Luffy said with a heavy sigh, looking at the fridge with a forlorn expression. "This whole 'unfeeling' thing is weird. Like, they wouldn't be happy for you, huh?"
Sanji couldn't avoid the discussion with Luffy, but he didn't want to discourage him from speaking his thoughts, either. He was sure Luffy wouldn't pry too deeply. He answered reluctantly, "No. But I'm sure they'd have some words to share about it."
Luffy brightened again. "Maybe with Big Sis allowed to be nice, it'd be okay for her to visit."
"It sure would. Hers is the only company I'd allow."
Luffy scratched at his ear, then ventured deep inside. "Are you and Zoro still mad?"
"I'm not mad."
"I don't understand why, you guys get along good most of the time."
"I don't, either. But it's not my place to discuss these things."
Luffy examined his waxy fingertip, frowning at what he found. Sanji tried not to feel it in the pit of his stomach, but he felt nausea hit him as he noticed what his captain was doing. He had to tell himself that in a few months, he'd see a lot of such things. Fishing for body collections that weren't his own. The idea made him nervous.
"He's just freaking out because I think he feels he's losing his other half. Both of you guys are two of a whole, like, you complete each other's sentences and think the same things – "
"Not really, not in the least, and not in the same manner."
"No, this is what I think," Luffy insisted, holding his two index fingers together. The waxy lump was still on one of his fingers, so Sanji threw more napkins at him. "You two were always like this. Two pillars holding up the same support – I don't even have to say anything, or do much, because you just know what I'm going to do, or say, and you're there to back me up. Both of you know what I'm going to do automatically, and you just work with it. See! So when one is out of balance, the support wobbles, and the other gets all cranky because they're doing all the work – "
"I'm not flunking out on my end –!"
Wiping his fingers, Luffy insisted, "But that's what Zoro thinks! He thinks he has to hold more because he thinks you won't be able to carry as much as him when you're already carrying too much! See, this is what I'm saying – he feels like he's doing the work, so that's why he's pissed at you. He relied on you. But he doesn't want you, like, overdoing it because anything you overdo affects the baby, right?"
Despite his immediate denials, Sanji thought of the ogre. He took another bite. "You're right."
"I don't think it's a negative thing, Sanji, he's also guarded because of what Law did, but when I think about it, Law did it for us. He knew Zoro wasn't going to win, and there was nobody to talk him out of it. That's why things happened the way they did," Luffy said, picking at his shorts. "Yeah, I was mad because I couldn't see it at first. We were dealing with all these things, and Law did that…I was pretty mad at him. But after, when Zoro was fixed and he could fight again, I saw why it happened. That's why I let it go. In the moment, it's hard thinking clearly until later."
"Yes, you're right."
"So, maybe it's a In the Moment thing for him, and…he feels you're abandoning us because you're going to have a baby, and he's not going to find what he has with you with anyone else."
"I'm not leaving."
"I didn't say you were. I just think that's what Zoro thinks. He was mad at this entire thing happening in the first place, because…it's not…it's weird. Guys aren't supposed to have babies. But he forgets it's you, and…did you ever tell him what happened, back there?"
"No. There's no reason why I should. That stuff was…very personal. The less I say, the better – "
"For who?"
"For everyone! Look, I'm not the only one that had it bad, okay? But it's not something I need to deal with, anymore. It's my past for a reason."
"Zoro uses his to motivate him. Kuina. Kuina was the only one to beat him, and couldn't do the things that he could because he's a man – "
"That's where he gets the whole equality thing?"
"I don't know. But this is mixed. Like…you're a strong guy, but you're…pregnant. So…I don't even know if he knows how to wrap his mind about it. He has such a small brain," Luffy said with a sigh, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. Sanji thought it was more fitting that Luffy meant to say 'small mind'.
"Maybe. But maybe there are other things on his mind, too. It's not always just one."
"I just think that if he relaxes and just…goes back to the way he was, he'd be fine, but he doesn't know how. Once you take that huge step, you can't really repeat it. I think someone said that to me, before, and I get it. Now, I get it. I don't know if talking can help. I think it's action that does, and you're fine, everything is fine! As a crew, we can handle these things! It's going to be fun, I think, because…it's the New World! And this is a new life! And there are going to be new things happening! So, instead of thinking that way, I think he just…has to settle something inside of him."
"That's what I think, too," Sanji agreed, closing up the container. Luffy released a heavy breath of relief, glad he was understood.
"I hope I made sense, it's kind of hard putting these things into words. Like, I get it, but does anyone else?"
Sanji gave him a small grin, observing Luffy's expression. "Was this a pep talk of some kind?"
"I don't know, but…I just think that maybe you're trying too hard to make him happy, and I don't think you should do that. You should back off, let him make himself happy."
"I'm not trying to, I'm just…trying to…well, make amends."
"I don't think you should try that hard with Zoro. He'll get it. It's like…you know how you get hit so hard that your brain rattles for awhile, where you can't really think or focus? He was hit that hard in Wano, he needs to clear his brain."
"At the cost of what, though?"
"I'm not making excuses for him, but I think it's important that you should also not give up on him, either. Him, too. I talk to him, you know, but he just grunts and nods, so I don't know if he takes me seriously."
"This isn't something that you should worry about, either."
"I can't help it, it's been so quiet," Luffy sighed. "Your fights are different."
"Luffy, I'm not that weak of a person that I need people standing at my shoulder. I'm still me. I know what's best for myself and – "
"No, you don't! Because I had to chase after you, and you would've never made it out that situation without me! See, this is what I'm saying about you! I think that it's okay to ask for help, sometimes, especially when you feel you're cornered. And I think you feel that way, right now."
"…Maybe."
Pursing his lips for a few moments, Luffy then added, "You're not alone. Okay? I think it's important to say that. It's weird, but a good weird."
Sanji nodded to acknowledge it, fiddling with the container. "Thanks, captain."
"Also…I guess now I see why you killed that guy. Back there? It was necessary. But, later, it's going to be noticeable. Ussop says you're going to get huge. And you don't like to hide, so…people are going to find out eventually."
"The later, the better. It's not necessary to bring undue attention. If my father gets wind of it…"
"They don't have a say in the matter. You don't belong to them."
"…Right."
Luffy then stretched a hand out, and patted his back. He slid off the counter. "I'm still hungry. All that talking just made it worse."
"I knew you weren't doing it for the reassurance."
"C'mon, Sanji, after all this time? You still don't know me?"
After being hounded from the kitchen, munching on a sandwich, Luffy went in search of Law. He found the older man in the library, looking over various anatomy charts he'd made while drawing lines through them, and once he caught sight of Luffy in the same area, he immediately formed a Room and hefted him up into the air, much to Luffy's surprise.
"You're so twitchy!" he complained from the air, holding onto his sandwich with both hands. He stretched his head out to look over at the charts. "What are you doing?"
Law pushed his head away, fingers moving swiftly until Luffy found himself holding onto his own head, sandwich located far from his mouth, much to his dismay.
"Did you just take me apart?" he cried, trying to stretch out to take a bite before realizing his coordination was off – or that his entire body had been taken apart and pushed into different directions.
"Your perchance into disrupting my study makes these things necessary," Law told him, removing his glasses, tucking those away. "What do you want?"
"I don't know. Just seeing what you're doing, mainly. Those are some good drawings," Luffy added, squinting at the charts.
"Is this anything related to the matters ahead of us? Because if not, I'm busy," Law said crankily, pulling his hat on firmly.
"Nami said you and I are going to go bald if we keep our hats on, all the time," Luffy warned him, reaching back to touch his own hair. "After being told what 'losing years' meant, I'm going to seriously start taking care of myself. I can't look like an old man by the time I get to the treasure."
Law's expression told Luffy what he thought of the warning, so Luffy sighed.
"Well, see, there's this thing about Shanks I wanted to discuss. Shanks isn't the enemy, not even after all that. I'm sure he did what he had to do, because everyone was threatening him. Eventually, our paths will cross, but not like this."
Law considered his words for a few moments, then said stiffly, "That's up to you."
"I mean it! You can't be running off behind our backs and get him all twisted around just to get your way, either," Luffy said, trying to coordinate his sandwich holding hand to his face, but with how off his coordination was due to the rearranging, he couldn't figure out how to do so, so he gripped his food tightly. "Or switch us. This isn't a game."
"I never said it was. But if they're the last two obstacles in my path to Raftel, then so be it."
"What you going to do with it once you get it? Theoretically, of course…"
"What gives you the confidence in that I won't?"
"Because I am. Duh. I don't know how many times I have to say this."
"Strawhat-ya, my mind was made up. I'm going to do what I have to. If that means taking unpleasant measures to do so, I'm going to do so."
"I don't think you should be threatening me this, on this ship. This ship of dreams. My dreams. Yours? What are yours, anyway?"
"Well, wait," Luffy interrupted before Law could speak. "If it involves really nasty things, then forget it."
"I'm going to – "
"It's not like you want to be King of Pirates, anyway!" Luffy then scoffed. "Because you hate all the attention! You're always hiding!"
"I'm - !"
"I'm better in the spotlight. I like it, actually!" Luffy added, looking at his sandwich. "But then, my plan isn't even about saving the world! Don't get it twisted. It's all about myself, and the freedom it gives me."
"Am I allowed to speak?" Law asked impatiently, crossing his arms.
"Oh, sure, go ahead. But don't bore me. Don't use big words, either."
"Forget it, then."
Luffy tried to reach for his sandwich again, but since his head wasn't attached to his neck, he couldn't use his neck to stretch. He sighed heavily.
"Why do you make things so difficult?"
Law ignored Luffy's whine. "Look, all I rely upon is your success. With my help, you've gone further than you could have. Let's leave it at that. No more questions."
"I feel like I'm being used…"
"You are! From the very start, how could you not realize - ? Never mind."
"Is it for good, or evil?"
"What's the score look like, so far?"
"Well, I'm winning, so that's good…"
"Then that's all that is important."
Luffy rolled his eyes. "I feel like I'm talking in circles."
"When you are a simpleton, things like this often happen. Now, scram."
"First off…what are you doing? If it's human body related, I bet you're planning for Sanji's baby, right?" Luffy asked excitedly. "How does it happen, Law? He has to be cut out? How do you know when he's ready? It's not the same as a lady, right? Oh, and did you know Sanji was eating butter? Isn't that nasty?"
Law stared at him in revolted silence, then said, "It needs to be cut out. We have the day planned. When a timer pings from inside of him. No. We are aware of his bad habits, and if he's still consuming butter on its own, then we need to stop and refill on proper supplies. I'm sure it's fine if he's doing so, but it's disgusting for the rest of us civilized people."
"Then I'll tell Nami to stop again! Just for his supplies!" Luffy said, struggling to touch down onto the floor, but with one leg pointing up and the other pointing east of him, protruding from his back, he couldn't get the coordination to do so. "Let me walk out like this! I want to surprise everybody!"
"Strawhat-ya," Law interrupted him, lowering him to the floor, watching as Luffy struggled to maintain his balance. One hand hit the floor to settle against his leg, the other was now being maneuvered to his mouth so he could feed his mouth, his head being dropped as he did so. He looked like some living abstract painting. "Of course, our alliance allows many acts of reason, but don't take advantage of it. You are still aware that I have my own motives. Whether or not that includes the wellbeing of your crew depends on my mood that day."
"I'm not taking your threats seriously, Traffles. I know you got your own thing, but there's too much in-between that makes my mind up. If I felt you were endangering any of us in any way, you wouldn't be here."
"True, this thing now has my interest but if something else were to come up as well, I've my own mind to do it. And if that includes taking down Shanks on my own, then so be it."
Luffy snickered, waddling towards the door. "You don't have any power over Shanks, Torao. I'm not worried about him."
Then why bring it up? Law thought with a scowl, watching him struggle with the door, and finally leave. Minutes later, the outraged and surprised shouts of the other Strawhats filled the air, and he shut and locked the door himself.
He returned to his work, considering his drawings while Nami pounded on the door and demanded that he fix Luffy. All he heard behind her was terrorized screams and laughter, and it really gave him a headache. He looked back at the drawings, and continued to decide on how he was going to pull the baby out when it was time. His calendar had the date was circled, but he was anticipating a shorter wait.
Already, the checkups detailed a low weight for the baby, and it appeared that traces of smoke had caused some damage to the Tobbleburg. As a result, the amniotic fluid was tinged with carbon monoxide and nicotine, and the stems that took energy from Sanji's organs were slightly damaged. While it appeared the baby wasn't in any immediate danger, the smoking effects had left permanent damage in its surroundings – it would affect the baby as he'd thought. The long term effects had yet to be determined after the baby was born; if it wasn't a stillbirth.
For someone that everyone claimed had a big heart, he sure had a hard time giving up something that had potentially affected the one thing closest to him.
But then again, with how unusual the situation was, maybe it hadn't quite hit Sanji the way it should have sooner. It seemed like he was now settling in with the inevitable birth, looking towards his pregnancy differently, so that was a positive sign. Planning for and talking of future endeavors with his child was different from the attitude he'd had when he'd first learned of it.
Lacking in maternal instinct was a male's bane for his own pregnancy, really.
It really bothered him how, when he pictured the baby, he pictured his own sister, instead. He remembered the screams Lamie emitted once she was born into the world, the ear cracking squalls of sound that made him cringe as a child, but the happy faces of his parents had been…and having his chance to hold his baby sister had been…magical. Despite all the negativity in his life after, having the chance again to hold new life was…unusually soft for him.
He abandoned his charts and found the book he had been working on, and flipped to the pages he'd doodled during his bouts of insomnia. Newborns in Bepo's designs, toddlers in animal costumes, babies with resemblances to Lamie. After all the deaths he'd experienced, this would be the first in births - new beginnings - for him. So it became personal the more he interacted with a stubborn jack-ass that carried a new life inside of him, and Law had to fight to not to show it. Not that his crew hadn't a clue – they knew him for far too long to ignore the warning signs of his attachment, and their enthusiasm was downright infectious.
His transponder snail kept ringing during the night, with various crew members calling in to see if "it were time, yet", and if Sanji was even attached to it. They were hopeful that the cook would just give them the baby anyway, and they kept pushing for Law to encourage it. Honestly, they were as dangerous as the devil in Doflamingo's clothing on his right shoulder, and as pure and defiant as the angel dressed in Corazon's clothes on his left.
It looked like he would have to give them the bad news eventually – Sanji was growing attached to the child. He was sure they'd commence with heavy drinking and despairing, but they'd get their hopes up again. He shut the book and grabbed another, stuffing the one he'd held underneath some Fantasia Island journals. He snatched the one on top, then strode out from the room, wading into the chaos Luffy had caused with his appearance.
"For the love of all things holy, fix him!" Franky bellowed at him, Luffy laughing as he awkwardly chased after a screaming Ussop, Chopper in a fainted position atop of the grass. "We can't do this, right now! We can't be allowing you to do whatever you please, just because he wants it!"
"Save it, Robot-ya," Law told him sternly, shifting his books to one side and holding up his hand with the other. "Otherwise, I do the same to you."
Franky reddened, muscles twitching as he loomed over him. "Are you threatening me, right now?"
"I'm threatening all of you! Besides, the more he's worn down, the less time he has for…nighttime activities," Law added, glaring at the Strawhat captain as Nami shrieked, and batted him away with her baton, sending him flying across the lawn. Zoro had to jump and stretch to catch him, but even he yelped as Luffy's oddly placed arms wrapped around him with a relieved shout.
Franky relaxed, and looked cheered. "Right. I didn't think of that."
Law gave him a scowl, and strode on towards the kitchen. He kicked it open, the doors slamming open, giving Sanji and Robin a start as they sat at the table, paper spread out between them, pens clattering out of startled hands.
"STOP DOING THAT!"
"I have some future suggestions," Law said, ignoring Sanji's bellow as Robin fanned herself.
Over shopping lists and what looked like notes on Fantasia Island torture practices – Law was interested in what Robin wanted to know of the group he'd left to her, but he'd pry later – Law dumped the books out of his arm. Robin rose from her seat.
"I'll leave you to it," she said, gathering her things to her and walking out.
"The situation is serious," he told Sanji. "The effects of your smoking has caused significant damage to the Tobbleborg, and we will have to prepare for an earlier birth, or side effects."
Sanji bit his lower lip as he let the words sink in. "How bad?"
"There are options we can consider," Law said, opening the journal and pointing out an entry. "This says, here, that a male breeder once underwent four months bedrest because of his condition. The Tobbleburg drained him of his energy to repair the damages he'd caused in a logging accident, and he was forced into sleep because of it. The less energy he had to expend, the more the Tobbleburg used to repair, and he went on to have a healthy child."
"I can't do that," Sanji muttered, furrowing his brow.
"This other entry detailed how the baby and the Tobbleburg were removed at the health of another islander, but both perished upon attempted – "
"NO."
"Then, we risk the full gestation, for however long or short? At the risk of the thing's health?"
For a few moments, Sanji was lost in thought. There was a sense of panic in his tight frown, fingers tapping anxiously on his thighs, but he then exhaled slowly. Forced a bright smile to his face. "It will work out! So far, the thing has been diligent with doing what it's supposed to. I'm sure it'll make up its own mind on what to do."
"You are risking the chance of birthing a stillborn."
"Every birth is a risk in itself," Sanji said stubbornly. "Anything could happen. Just…if there's anything that it could use, or need to…keep the baby going, then…then we'll abide by its choice."
"The Tobbleburg has rejected its births, too. This chapter, here, documents the instances in which it has. Rejection of breeder, rejection of baby caused by defections in the baby's development – "
"It hasn't done anything like that – it's steadily taking from me what it needs."
"We have created a temporary womb that's still viable in the Polar Tang – "
"That's a definite fuck off."
"It's not fair to the child, but…father knows best," Law said, retrieving his book. Sanji snatched it away from him.
"I'll look into it myself," he told Law, wearing that stubborn frown again. "And thanks for being the asshole, in this."
"Someone has, to. The reality of it is this – smoking has side effects everyone should take note of."
"You'd warned me, yeah, yeah, yeah."
"In the meantime, since you're still indulging in creative deviancies, I'll ask Nami to make a pause at the nearest island. Being that you're male, you lack the fat needed to provide for extra energy consumption – which is why you're still eating that shit. Add to your list, there, for things that are more beneficial to you, and not to the crew. The shit you serve is good enough, there doesn't need to be anymore flair or grand productions of things catered to our individual taste – start taking care of you and him, first."
Sanji scowled, muttering about Luffy. After that, Law strode out into the open area once again, ducking when something big flew past him. He realized that Ussop had launched something in repetitive action at the walls, hearing the splatter of something wet, and looked over the railing to see that he was shooting at a maniacally laughing Luffy with his slingshot. Brook was screaming hysterically, frozen in place as the mismatched rubber-kid somehow began climbing on him, Ussop shouting at Brook to get out of the way. Jinbei looked incredibly tired, giving up on trying to give any advice.
"FIX HIM!" Nami shrieked from the lawn.
"Stop at an island, first. We need better food supplies."
"We just stopped at an island," Zoro said from the stairway. "We're set on a destination."
"Is this an emergency?" Nami asked, hands on her hips.
"This individual needs certain things."
Zoro made a scoffing sound, shaking his head. "This is a hold up for his convenience?"
"I realize you don't care, but it's not about you," Law told him, crossing his arms.
"I can do it, no problem," Nami called out, waving an arm. "It's not a problem at all!"
"This thing has been causing us problems since the start, and if you guys can just sit down and decide what you're going to do with it, can you please just get it over with?" Zoro asked with a scowl, intending on entering the kitchen, but his path was blocked by the older man.
"Why does it bother you so much?" Law asked him curiously. "The fact that it's not yours, or that his attention was taken away from you?"
Zoro's face reddened, and his tendons bulged in his neck as it tightened. Nami sighed wearily, walking off, deciding not to get involved.
The doors to the kitchen opened, and Sanji walked out with the book in hand, immediately taking note of the tension. He walked in between them with a tired expression, not looking at either, and with a low growl, Zoro continued on into the kitchen, and Law walked back towards the library. Even after they'd left, the tension behind was strong, but once he caught sight of Luffy, Sanji's mind refused to give it anymore attention.
