Disclaimer:
The following is a fan made fiction. I do not own One Piece or any of its characters. One Piece is owned by Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, Shueisha, Shonen Jump Manga, and EiiChiro Oda. I only own my OC and am writing this for my own amusement with Missus Sunstreaker 3143
Author's notes:
Laslyth's viewpoint
21. Ice and Fire
I snarled in anger as I ran out on deck just in time to see Sanji and Luffy being flung away by a man who wore two large shields front and back and then two on each of his arms. The shields themselves were engulfed in white hot flames.
Fuck
I hated heat
"Burn! With this flame and the flame shield, you have no idea how invincible I am!"
Luffy was running around with his ass on fire and screaming, while Sanji was glaring at the man, most of the fin now on fire from the intense heat.
"Sanji!", I yelled as I ran to him, dodging Zeff from trying to grab me.
"Laslyth! Where the hell have you been?!", One of the cooks shouted
"Put the fire out!", Another yelled their tone frantic
As I stopped next to Sanji I grit my teeth at the intense heat, my skin already starting to redden.
I listened halfway as some of the cooks began panicking about the fire and how the restaurant would burn. I focused on Sanji however, as he was obviously moving to jump towards the bastard who was screaming manically "Burn! Burn!", fire raging around him.
"I'm not just going to let you… burn down this restaurant!", Sanji yelled as he leapt forward and over the flames, his foot slamming down onto one of the shields. Sanji cursed as the intense flames caught his pants leg on fire.
I surged forward jumping after him ignoring the Pirates comments about us being reckless or Zeff shouting, "Laslyth don't be a fool!"
"It's okay! I've got this!", I yelled back as I ignored how my skin was now beginning to blister from the heat. I moved to Sanji swiftly coating his legs in ice and extinguishing the fire.
Sanji let out a sigh of relief as he grunted, "thanks…"
"Aww anything for you Hun", I purred as I winked at him
"Will you quit that you pervert!", Sanji yelled as he moved to kick me, only to curse waving his arms awkwardly in the air as he nearly lost his balance. We both looked down at his legs. Which were now encased in ice.
"Oops…", I muttered sheepishly as I realized I may have overdone it.
"What the hell's wrong with you?!", He yelled his teeth seeming to sharpen in his anger
"What?! Another devil fruit user!", Some random pirates yelled out
"I might like fruit but you won't see me eating one of those.", I scoffed "besides any idiot would know a winter elf when they see one.", I muttered as I poked at the ice which only made it grow thicker instead of melting. I never could get it to melt.
"Stop that!", Sanji shouted as he attempted to yank his feet free
"Sorry!", I yelped pulling my hands away
"Get me the hell out!", He snapped
I winced rubbing the back of my head, "you know I can't melt it… you'll just have to wait…"
"What do you mean I'd have to wait!?", Sanji screamed
"It's okay… I can handle him…", I said as I jerked a thumb at the weird guy with a pearl on his head who was staring at us.
"You don't have to be so rude you know.", the man complained, making me scowl in his direction.
"Us? Can't you see I'm talking to my husband", I scowled gesturing to Sanji
"I'll kill you! You fucking pervert!", Sanji shouted as he attempted to strangle me, only for the ice to stop him from going forward causing him to lose his balance and fall onto his ass.
"You're too tense Hun. Here, take a load off while I deal with this idiot.", I teased as I handed him a cigarette
"Like I have a choice!", He snapped, my lip twitching as he took the cigarette and leaned back, stretching his arm out and using the fire to light it.
"Fuck", I murmured softly as I watch him take a long drag of the cigarette, "you're hot"
"Get the hell away from me you damn pervert!", He shouted as he tried to yank his legs free of the ice once more.
"If only I didn't have to fight this idjit, ", I whined forcing myself to step away, "you look damn sexy trapped in my ice and all flustered"
"Someone get me the hell out! So I can kill him!", Sanji screamed at the other cooks as he waved his cigarette in my directions.
"It's really making me all hot and bothered,", I groaned as I fanned myself in show unable to resist fucking with him.
"We're surrounded by fire you idiot!", He shouted as he through a pebble at me
"Oi! Pay attention to me!", The weird guy screamed out, "my name is pearl! I'm-"
"Yeah I don't care,", I cut him off before snapping in anger, "you hurt my husband!"
"I'm not your husband, you son of a bitch!", Sanji screamed at me
"Boyfriend", I corrected
"I'm not that either! Stop telling people that!", He shouted, throwing another pebble at me, "I like girls! Women! You hear me! Women!"
"It's a work in progress,", I shrugged ignoring the slight hurt at his words as I shrugged, "either way you hurt him, I kill you. It's nothing personal.",
"Kill me? You can't kill me!", Pearl shouted
"Oh? No your right", I said with wide eyes, "I sounded way too much like my father for a second there", I shuddered at the thought before shaking my head, "I'll just beat you up", I corrected myself
Pearl yelled as he began beating the shields together, the heat growing more intense and making me wince. I ignored the intensifying heat as I moved towards the bastard.
As I approached I reached up and casually flipped a pair of slender metal earmuffs down over my ears. I always wore them, usually hidden by my hair or my ears themselves. If one did spot them, it looked like nothing more than a fancy piece of jewelry. I tilted my head as everything around me fell quiet and I stared at Pearl who was yelling and banging the shields together like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
Pearl finally stopped and stared at me as if waiting for a response and I smirked before merely pointing at the ear muffs. This in turn sent Pearl in another rant. I sighed annoyed and lunged forward ice forming around my right fist as I slammed it against his chest. I cursed as the blow landed the fire easily melting the ice, with me being so close, and my skin burning badly from the flames.
I dodged as Pearl threw a punch at me intent on hitting me with one of his fire pearls. The skin on my side blistered as the sheer heat got close. How the hell was I supposed to beat this guy if I couldn't touch him? My gaze went towards the fire raging over the fin and Sanji who was still trying to get loose, the ice starting to melt rapidly but still holding him in place. I couldn't let him get hurt further…. I glanced towards the wreckage of the other ship. Perhaps...I could move Pearl away… than use snow to extinguish the flames? But to do so...I sighed before gritting my teeth knowing this was going to hurt like hell.
I dodged a few more punches, one managing to come close enough that it knocked one of my earmuffs off, causing me to yelp in pain as the heat blistered my ear.
with the earmuff gone sound rushed back in and I could hear the roar of the flames and Zeff yelling, "Laslyth! You damn elf!"
I smirked at the old man's furious tone before looking at Pearl and the large piece of wreckage that was behind him. Well it was now or never. I sprinted forward ice quickly spreading over my skin in what I knew was a futile effort to protect myself from the heat. I bit my lip harshly as I slammed into pearl grabbing ahold of the bastard, leaping up and out towards the wreckage.
I couldn't hold back the scream of pain that left me feeling my skin burn and blister, the ice having melted away like cotton candy in water; my very nerves feeling as if they were on fire. Which came to think of it, they were. As Pearl and I crashed into the wreckage I rolled off him quickly and flung a hand out towards the Baratie sending out a large amount of snow and ice that landed on the flames and quickly extinguished them. I let out a sigh of relief at seeing Sanji was alright, along with the others of course.
"You're going to burn!", Pearl yelled in outrage and I grit my teeth as flames flared around us obscuring my vision of the restaurant.
I fucking hurt.
And the heat around me was making the burns I had even worse.
I hated heat.
Hated.
It.
I scowled as I focused on Pearl and with a frown of concentration flung a ball of ice at the bastard. I cursed as the damn thing melted before it could even reach him.
I yelped as he flung several fire pearls at me which swiftly set more of the wreckage we were on, on fire. I glanced around before smirking, "that might work…", I hummed. I darted over to one area that wasn't on fire and mocked Pearl, "you know you look utterly ridiculous right? How do you even fit through most doors?"
Pearl screamed in anger shooting more fire pearls at me. I laughed and danced away from them, a pattern forming. I would move to a new area and mock him and Pearl would promptly set it on fire.
At one point I paused hearing Sanji yell in anger and managed to see through the flames Ghin standing with his foot on Zeffs back. I watched as Sanji sprang into action, having obviously gotten free of the ice, and he and Ghin began fighting. My frown deepened as I noted that the fin had also been broken at some point, though I'd been too busy to notice it dodging Pearl.
"Shit Sanji", I called, moving to help him only to scream in agony as Pearl slammed two of his shields into each side of my head, I collapsed as Pearl laughed, feeling blood running from my ears, mouth and nose. I coughed spitting out a globule of blood. I shouldn't have let myself get distracted. I forced myself to my feet in determination swaying as I did and glaring at Pearl. Pearl just grinned at me and we once more fell into the pattern of dodging and attacking.
After a while the entire wreckage was aflame and I was struggling to breathe from the heat, the burns covering me feeling oddly numb. My vision kept swimming and my hearing was going in and out. I knew I couldn't last much longer.
I eyed Pearl and smirked at him from where I was kneeling on the wood, "You need to cool off.", Before with a grunt of effort I slammed a lance of ice through the deck, the burnt and weakened wood cracking. Pearl's eyes widened in horror as he watched the ever widening cracks before the wreckage broke apart, sending him into the sea the water boiling around him as the cool water extinguished the flames. I gasped swaying before allowing myself to fall in the water, I whimpered as the hot water hit my burns, my skin reddening further and some of the burns blistering open. I painfully swam towards a part of the fin and kicked to the surface. With a groan of pain, I pulled myself onto the piece of wreckage collapsing against the scorched and cracked wood not bothering to move.
"I hate heat...", I mumbled as I glanced over to see Sanji being pinned by Ghin. I groaned wanting to get up and help but finding I didn't have the energy to move. Every part of me was screaming in pain, the sounds around me seemed oddly distorted, unable to make out what was being said. I frowned as several pirates and cooks seemed to scramble away and into the water not sure what they were running from. My eyes unerringly drifted back towards Sanji, who was looking at me and yelling something...my name...why was he yelling my name? I blinked as I saw Luffy grab something tossing them to Ghin, masks? Why was he throwing masks?
I watched as Luffy grabbed another one that was on the floor before looking at me with wide eyes. I vaguely heard someone shouting something about poison and gas.
The masks. They must be gas masks.
"I'm immune!", I yelled knowing I had a better chance of surviving whatever poison it was. Luffy nodded and quickly put on the mask just before a massive explosion rang out and I squeezed my eyes shut at the blinding light. A few seconds later a massive billowing cloud poured out and over me.
I coughed violently curling up on my side from the pain, my eyes stinging and throat burning. I groaned as the gas filled my lungs, which felt as if they were burning making it hard to breathe. My stomach roiled in nausea and I let my head thump back against the deck as I wheezed. The gas seemed to hang around forever before it slowly cleared.
My eyes watered, blurring my vision but I could make out Sanji grabbing Ghin as he fell backwards, blood dripping from his mouth and seeming to be struggling to breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt my stomach rebel and I promptly threw up a nauseating mix of blood and bile.
"Fuck…", I groaned as I spit trying to clear my mouth of the taste.
"Laslyth!", I heard Luffy shouting alarmed and I tilted my head to look towards him.
"You said it was fine?!", He screamed at me in terror
"Is fine…", I grunted, "like eating bad fish …", as I groaned and threw up making me whimper as it made my throat burn sharply, "kick his ass…"
Luffy grinned, giving me a thumbs up making me chuckle slightly as I closed my eyes. I could hear shouting and the sound of fighting. I gasped as I felt someone pick me up suddenly my eyes snapping open and frowned at seeing Patty.
"Patty…?", I frowned.
"Come on you shitty bartender", he grunted as he began carrying me somewhere
"Just…", I grunted, my eyes closing, "set me on Sanji…."
Patty laughed and I cursed as I found myself falling and landing on someone the smell of clove cigarettes filling my nose.
"Not… literally…", I groaned
"What the hell Patty! Like I want this damn pervert on me!", Sanji shouted and I felt him push me slightly only to pause at my whimper of pain.
"Five minutes…", he grunted with announce, "but if you throw up on me I'm throwing you in the ocean"
"Love … ya… too.", I mumbled as I shivered, feeling oddly cold despite the heat radiating from the burns.
"Don't say that you damn pervert!", Sanji snapped though it didn't hold any heat.
I hummed in response before Sanji asked, "why the hell are you burned so bad?",
"He's a winter elf. His kind are more susceptible to heat. He burns easily.", Zeff said flatly
I just huffed as I raised one hand flicking Zeff off and let it drop back down mumbling, "need water…", feeling beyond thirsty as my vision spotted.
Kamaboko
Warningfirst part has gore
Don't like skip past the Italics and to the first sentence in bold
Blood, there was so much blood. It caked the walls and blackened the floors, smearing into every crack, every crevice, not even the ceiling was left untouched as pieces of what looked like entrails were crusted into its surface, dangling, dripping lazily onto my head. Rhythmically dripping, its stench and flow feeling my senses.
One, two, three
Drip
Focus on that. Nothing else. Just that.
One, two, three
Drip
Ignore the blade, craving down my skin
One, two, three
Drip
Ignore the pain, the blood flowing freely onto the tile below
One, two, three
Drip
focus
I gasped as my eyes snapped open and I jerked upright expecting to find myself back in that room.
"Ahhh", someone screamed making me flinch as my eyes settled onto the sound or more specifically the person
"Look what I can do!", Usopp shrieked as he balanced his slingshot on his nose looking oddly like a seal.
"What are you doing?", I deadpan as I debated through him over the side of the ship before my eyes focused on Zoro who was laid out on the deck bandages wrapped tightly around his torso and was sound asleep.
"I-I'm d-distracting you… from your nightmare…", Usopp mumbled with uncertainty as his slingshot fall into his lap
I honestly didn't know how to react to that so instead, I opted to just ignore it and bury the dream as I chose to focus on Zoro, pulling him gently into my lap as my eyes focused on the bandages.
"I froze…", I said, murmuring, feeling guilty. I should have been the one to treat him, I had more experience, I knew how to stitch wounds and treat them with limited supplies. Hell most of the scars on my body had been treated by me.
"Ehh… t-that's ok… he would be a lot worse if you hadn't used your devil fruit to put his blood back in him…", Usopp tried before muttering under his breath as his body shook, "that wasn't creepy... nope not creepy at all…"
"He'd be dead if you hadn't stitched him up…", I murmured my hand gently untying Zoro's bandana from around his head. I had been so certain he was dead… I should have trusted him… should have believed in him… if Usopp hadn't stepped up…
"Uh... well…", he scratched the back of his head nervously
"You did good, Usopp", I said sincerely as I glanced up at him… maybe Luffy had made the right decision in bringing him along
"Y-you… you said my name…", he breathed in shock before grinning widely and jabbing a thumb at himself, "of course I did! For I am the great-!"
"Don't push it", I scowled, giving him a hard look making him yelp. My lip twitched at the action, "you were pretty great though. But if you claim to be captain I will throw you over board"
Usopp suddenly seemed to suck in his lips as he nodded wildly, his knees shaking. My lip twitched yet again in amusement but the feeling didn't last as I glanced down at Zoro before slowly reaching over and tying his bandana back onto his arm and making a point to cover the snowflake mark decorating his skin.
"Don't you worry about Big bro Zoro! He's as tough as they come!", Johnny piped up from the bow of the ship.
"Yeah! Big bro Zoro's invincible! He'll be on his feet in no time!", Yosaku added from Johnny's side only for my eyes to snap downwards as Zoro let out a soft groan and his head moved to the side as he took in a sharp breath of pain.
"Z?", I whispered gently, if not fearfully as I ran my hand through his hair, not entirely sure how to comfort him before checking his forehead with the back of my head in search of a fever. Zoro grunted at the touch, opening his eyes only to wince and shut them quickly as he took in a shaky breath.
"Bright?", I questioned not actually needing an answer as I leaned forward using my head to block the sun from hitting his face, "better?"
Zoro groaned as he yet again opened his eyes only giving a miner wince but otherwise too stubborn to show any other sign of it bothering him, "I'm fine…", he grunted before gritting out, "I need to train…", and attempting to sit up the action clearly painful for him
"The hell you are", I growled barring my fangs at him as I gently but firmly put my hand on his uninjured shoulder, "you could have died! Should have died! You're lucky to be alive at all! And if you want to keep it that way then you're going to shut up and rest! You, you fucking suicidal swordsmen!"
Zoro grunted his eyes forwarding but wincing as he tried to pull away unsuccessful, "you're one to talk,", before he pointedly added, "suicidal first mate.",
Hypocrite was the word Zoro was calling me without actually saying it, and for a moment I know he was right only to find my fangs baring down at him as I let out a low snarl.
"I have a damn good reason to want to die!", I snarled, jabbing him near his injury making him wince despite not actually touching it, "that wound on your chest is nothing compared to the scars on mine! And every fucking night I'm forces to relieve it! To… to...I... I can't sleep... I can't eat… I can't...", I could feel my eyes start to water, '' I have nothing… I… if not for you and Lu… I… and you… what if you had….", the flash of anger I had felt gone as it was quickly replaced with fear. Fear of losing him, fear of losing Luffy and knowing it was only a matter of time before it came true. I wasn't a straw hat… I wasn't one of them… I couldn't stay with them forever…
Join
My head jerked towards the sea in shock and horror. The very idea of taking orders from someone else…
"No…", I mumbled with a whimper before I found myself being pulled into Zoro's chest as he sat up well giving out a grunt of pain.
"I'm ok, I'm not going to die. And I'm not going to lose again", his voice soft and reassuring as he hugged me tightly to him, "but resting isn't going to make me strong. I need to train."
"No… you need to rest…"I mumbled before arguing into him, "working out breaks down body tissues. Resting allows your muscles and even nerves time to rebuild which is an equal part in the process of building your strength, endurance and, yes, muscle",
He gave out one breathy laugh as he laid back will still hugging me, "one hour…", he grunted as his eyes closed
"8", I argued as I tilted my head up at him
He grit his teeth as one eye opened before grunting with announce, "2"
"Meet in the middle?", I asked reluctantly
"3", he muttered as his eye closed tiredly
"And a half", I pushed getting a grunt from him in agreement as his breathing slowly evened out.
"Usup, keep track of the time", I sighed as I glanced at him knowing full well I wouldn't be able to.
"What happened to Usopp?", He whined indignantly, "say it with me, U-s-o-p-p, Usopp"
"Wow you're like some kind of Zoro charmer", Yosaku gasped, staring at me in awe making me frown.
Did he mean like an eel-charmer?
"I've never seen anyone convince big bro to rest!", Johnny gasped with wide eyes
"Ha! That's our first mate for you!", Usopp grinned, "always knows what to say to tame even the most stubborn, fowl, irrational beast like Zoro!"
"I'll make sure to let him know you said that", I purred at him not moving from my spot as I rubbed my head into Zoro's uninjured shoulder feeling rather content to just lay in his arms and get some sleep myself.
Usopp let out a squeak of fear as he stammered, "please don't"
My lip twitched once more as I ignored Usopp and relaxed against Zoro. A few hours later or maybe only a second I found myself frowning. Though we had told Luffy who Nami was going to, we in no way told him where that was… I had been so focused on Zoro dying that it didn't occur to me Luffy didn't know where to go to meet back up with his crew.
"Oi, which one of you is the better swimmer?", I asked with a frown as I glanced at the three
"Ha! That would be me!", Usopp proclaimed proudly, "I'm the world's strongest swimmer! Why one time I out swam a huge whale! That was as big as a mountain! It too tried to swallow me up whole!",
"Did it now?", I hummed my lip twitching at the amusing tale though it obviously a lie
"Really?!", Johnny and Yosaku shouted
"Yeah! It was mad because-", he continued and I was tempted to let him ramble on but we had other things we needed to focus on. Maybe later I'll bring it up in front of Luffy so Usopp can tell his fictional story then.
"Joe, yake, which one of you two is the strongest swimmer?", I asked as I decided it was probably best not to split up Luffy's crew any more than it was.
"That would be me.", Yosaku hummed
"Oi! Aren't you listening?! I'm the-", Usopp started to scream
"Alright whoever is the best needs to swim back and inform Luffy… huh…", I frown, "actually informing him would be pointless, he sucks at navigating so just go and bring him to the Going Merry, no since on a long winded conversation over coordinates"
"Wait… you… you want one of us", Usopp gestured to the three of them, "to swim all the way back?"
"Yes", I nodded not seeing why he would need clarification
Usopp's eyes stared out into the vast ocean and then slowly glanced towards Yosaku. His arm then abruptly shoved Yosaku over the railing as he said, "oh look we have a volunteer!"
"Good luck bro! I believe in you!", Johnny yelled over the side of the ship as we continued sailing away. The action made my lip twitch as it seemed both of them were afraid to swim it. I sighed, closing my eyes and snuggling my head into Zoro as I vaguely wondered how Chou-Chou was faring with Nami.
Chou-Chou
I am a good boy.
I am a good boy.
I chanted in my head over and over as I lay hidden under Nami's bed. She had opened the door to her room over an hour ago, calling my Nami and for the first time
I didn't go to her. I had heard Johnny ask if she needed help finding me but she turned him down saying that if I was here I would have come running as I was a good boy, so I had to be with the rest of the crew. I had to be in the restaurant.
I was not in the restaurant.
I was not a good boy.
I hadn't come running. I whimpered before shaking my head.
No.
I was a good boy.
Boko, the beta aka the first mate, had ordered me to stay hidden and go with Nami.
So that meant I was a good boy. I wasn't being bad. Id followed orders. I had stayed put in my hiding spot long after I felt the ship moving and now I was fairly confident I could go out and give her the note, Boko had entrusted me with.
I slowly peeked out from under the bed and seeing it was clear, crawled out from under it and stretched before shaking out my fur. I yawned before I clambered up the stairs and into the storage room. I glanced around the room before moving towards the door and pushing against it. Luckily whoever had closed it last hadn't done a very good job, this allowed it to swing open. I snorted proudly as I trotted outside quickly spotting Nami who was leaning against the railing at the bow of the ship.
I quickly trotted to her and sat down at her feet giving her a loud woof, "reporting for duty!"
"No that sounds stupid…", I huffed my tail wagging at her, "I have a note!", Though I supposed it didn't matter what I said to her as she couldn't understand me.
She gave a yelp of shock as she jerked away and looked down at me with wide eyes, "Chou-Chou?...", She breathed in horror as she quickly looked around
"No... I…", she looked genuinely upset to see me making my ears pull back as I whimpered with my tail between my legs.
"I... I'm sorry…", she murmured quickly as she picked me up and hugged me, "I called you… I thought… what am I going to do?... I can't take you… and I sure as hell can't go back…"
I whined again this time licking her face and tilting my head so she could see the note in my collar.
"Huh… a note?...", She murmured quickly, taking it and opening it. I whined as I attempted to see it only for her to scowl and ball the note up, "that idiot… I bet he thinks I'm going to come back and return you doesn't he? Well I'm not so there", she snapped as she shoved the note in her pocket only to groan, "but… they were nice guys… I wonder if they'll let me join them again… I mean... they'll have to after all… I will have to return you one day...maybe when I see them next time...I wonder if I'll ever be able to see them again… I wanna be free...bellemere-san", she let out a chucked sob as she hugged me tightly and barred her head into my fur, her tears matting it. I whined, licking her face not at all understanding what was going on but determined to comfort her.
"Don't worry, you'll see them again! Our pack is on their way", I reassured softly as I licked her despite her not understanding
Laslyth
I groaned as I heard Luffy yelling about his hat and forced my eyes open, "loud…", I complained as I rolled over and curled into the sheets more which I noted smelled like Sanji. Was I in his bed? I buried my nose in the sheets breathing in deeply and relaxing at the scent of citrus and clove cigarettes filled my nose.
"It's right there.", I heard Sanji reply, cutting Luffy off.
There was a momentary pause before Luffy's voice could be heard saying calmly, "oh yeah. Here it is."
I opened one eye to glare at them and spotted Luffy grabbing his hat off of a nearby bookshelf.
"So you're awake?", Sanji asked and I was unsure if he was talking to me or to Luffy. I let my eyes close once more as I curled up under the blankets. How did I not realize his scent was so relaxing?
"Oh? Where're are those guys?", Luffy asked confused
"They left… thanks to you.", Sanji hummed and I heard him exhale a puff of cigarette smoke.
"Me?", Luffy questioned his tone still confused
"Ghin said, "I'll see you again in the grand line.", Sanji replied
"Ghin did? To you?", Luffy asked curiously
"No, too you!", Sanji yelled angrily. I whined at the volume, my ears still ringing and sensitive from the battle, and curled up more. I was determined to stay in Sanji's bed as long as possible.
I heard Sanji groan before hissing, "just… be quieter will you…", before I heard him step out onto the deck outside his window
"oh? Shishishi ok. Don't want to wake up your husband.", Luffy laughed not at all quietly, "But Speaking of the grand line, since I drove them away, that makes today my last day to do chores, right?"
"Congrats.", Sanji muttered flatly, surprisingly not protesting the husband's comment making me smile.
"By the way, will you…", he began only for Sanji to cut him off saying "I'm not going! I won't become a pirate. I'll continue to work as a cook here until I get that damn geezer to acknowledge my skills.",
"Okay, then I give up.", Luffy said.
My brow furrowed as I heard Sanji suddenly say in an oddly choked voice, "your hand hasn't given up yet!",
I sighed opening one eye to glare at them and smirked as I saw Luffy's arm stretched out from where he was sitting on the bed in front of me, and out the window, clutching at Sanji's collar.
Luffy let him go after a few seconds as Sanji spoke once more "I can't leave here...since they're all undependable… but I'm hoping to go someday… to the grand line."
Luffy let out a laugh as he flung himself out the window to sit on the railing as he said excitedly, "then let's go now."
"It's not the right time yet… say… Do you know the All Blue?", Sanji suddenly asked and I smiled at his excited tone, one I had heard only once before when he had asked me the same thing. I sighed softly as I buried my head into his pillow breathing in his scent unable to help it. Who knew when I would get another chance to do so. Perhaps I should steal his pillow? Replace it with another?
"No…", Luffy said
"Oh, you don't?! It's a miracle sea! The east blue, west blue, north blue and south blue...fish from all these four seas live in that sea! To us cooks, it's a dream like paradise! That's what the grand line is like. So have you heard…", Sanji continued his voice, luring me to sleep.
I gasped as I jerked up, the sound of a bell going off startling me and the sudden movement made me curse as I grabbed at my side in pain.
"Guys! Meal time!", I heard Patty's voice yell.
I groaned, "I don't think I can eat… I already feel like I've eaten Patty's pudding…",
"Laslyth!", I heard Luffy yell happily, making me cringe, "Sanji! Look your husband-", only for him to be cut off with a yelp as Sanji kicked him
"He's not my husband!", Sanji shouted in anger before pointing at me, "stop telling people that you damn pervert!"
I chuckled slightly only to grimace at the action as it just seemed to make my chest and lungs ache. "You do have my mark…", I mumbled as I rubbed at my face, frowning as I realized my hands were heavily bandaged. Had they been so earlier? I looked down and realized that pretty much every part of exposed skin had been bandaged.
"Stop saying that!", Sanji snapped
"When was I treated?", I asked, confused as I bit at one of the bandages on my hands wanting to pull it off.
"An hour ago", he scowled at me, "and that damn old geezer spent the entire time scolding me for your dumbass!"
"Why?", I questioned as I jerked my head, ripping part of the bandage off. I hated having my hands confined.
"Stop that! I just finished fixing it!", He shouted at me as he slapped my hand
"Aww bandages of love", I cooed as I glanced down at them causing Sanji to let out a strangled scream
"Fuck it I'm going to eat! Do whatever the hell you want! Jump in a pit of lava for all I care!", He screamed as he walked away making me chuckle
"Love you too!", I called as he left before sighing and getting to my feet, wincing a bit as I moved. I glanced at Luffy as I asked, "How are you? Are you ok?..that's stupid of course you're not… one of your crewmates just died...",
Luffy frowned tilting his head as he asked, "what do you mean?"
"Zoro? The swordsman? He fought against my… I mean the world's greatest swordsman…", I said confused
"Ohhh", Luffy said before grinning, "his fine. Him, Boko and Usopp went to go get Chou-Chou and find Nami so I can convince her to join my crew", he pouted as he started muttering, "she already joined my crew. Stupid Nami running off for stupid reasons"
"He survived? Against Mihawk?", I asked, surprised, "impressive, I only know of two people that have done so.",
"Yeah but next time he's going to beat him!", He declared proudly, "Zoro's going to become the world's greatest swordsman!"
I smirked with amusement at the idea of someone beating my father before saying, "good for him.",
Luffy grinned at me before exclaiming, "Let's go get food!"
I grimaced at the thought of eating, my stomach still feeling nauseous, before saying, "come on than"
I led Luffy out of the room and down towards the main dining room where I could hear the other cooks talking. I frowned as I heard Patty yell, "Hey! Who prepared the soup this morning?!"
"Hey I did! Isn't it good?! I made it especially good today!", Sanji exclaimed happily and I walked in to see him raising his hand from where he was sitting on the floor.
"I can't eat damn nasty soup like this! What is this pig feed?!", Patty exclaimed in disgust
I frowned heavily, my eyes narrowing as I stared at Patty. I knew damn well that Sanji never made a dish that didn't taste good. Patty turned to the side and spat as if to get a bad taste out of his mouth.
I grit my teeth as Sanji's smile faded and it turned into a glare before he stood up and asked, "hey, is human food not to your liking, you damn raccoon dog?"
Patty scoffed as he said, "ha! When it's this bad it's art now. It makes me sick to my stomach!", Patty said as he once more turned his head and spat.
Sanji's eyes narrowed before he walked forward calmly saying, "I'm sorry, but I'm really confident about today's soup."
I moved to stand behind Sanji in silent support as Luffy moved away and began grabbing food, filling up a plate.
"There's something wrong with your taste buds!", Sanji snapped angrily
I glanced over as Carne took a bite of the soup wiping his mouth carefully before he suddenly exclaimed, "Ugh! This is nasty!"
"I can't eat this!", Another cook yelled as he slammed down his spoon. "Right guys?!", He yelled as several more slammed down their spoons making various exclamations of disgust.
"What do you think you're doing you bastards!?", Sanji yelled
"You're a sham spud chef after all…", Patty declared
"you're just an old timer. We're sick and tired of you settling matters with violence", another yelled
"If the food is bad we're going to say so!", Another snapped
I resisted the urge to pull Sanji towards me wanting to shelter him from the words that I could see were visibly upsetting him. I glared at the cooks as Sanji shouted, "What'd you say?!"
My focus went to Zeff as he said, "Were seafaring cooks. Don't waste even a drop of soup.", As he finished off his bowl before he stood up and threw it on the floor, shattering it.
I felt anger blaze through me at seeing the hurt expression flicker across Sanji's face before he snapped "what the hell old geezer!?"
"What is this damn nasty soup? It's like sludge! If we serve something like this, our restaurant would go out of business!"
Sanji stepped forward grabbing ahold of Zeff as he shouted, "Don't be ridiculous old geezer! Just how is this soup different from yours?! Tell me!", He demanded
"My soup?", Zeff growled before he lashed out punching Sanji shouting "Don't flatter yourself!",
"Owner punched him! He didn't kick!", One of the cooks gasped
I snarled in anger as I strode forward stepping in front of Sanji as I snapped, "What the fuck is wrong with you!"
Zeff ignored me as he said, "it'll be a billion years before you can give me a lecture on cooking, little brat! I'm a man who has cooked on seas around the world.", He declared
Sanji made a choking noise snapping my attention towards him as he cursed, "Damnit!", And ran out of the room.
I glared at Zeff as I hissed, "There's a difference between tough love and outright cruelty.", Before I hurried out the door after Sanji. I grabbed a hold of him keeping him from running away as I held him to me.
"Wait.", I grit out as the burns protested the movement.
"I'm not-", he began to snap out in anger but it looked like he was close to tears
"Their idjits", I stated firmly as I hugged him tighter, "you're a good cook, Sanji"
I felt some of the tension leave him and I rested my head on his shoulder, "you're a damn good cook. Don't you ever doubt that.", I said firmly, fighting the urge to kiss him wanting nothing more than to give him all the comfort I could.
"Their idjits. It's just a new tactic to get you to follow your dream", I said softly as I moved him back to the door, "just listen...", I pulled him gently down so we were both sitting next to the door.
Sanji looked uncertain as he shakily pulled out a cigarette only to pause as Luffy could be heard saying, "This soup is super good you know"
"We know that", come Zeffs reply
"Of course they do", I murmured softly
"Sanji's cooking skills are recognized by everyone here.", Zeff continued
"See?", I murmured softly as I rubbed his shoulder as we listened in on our friends
"It's not bad at all",
"Yeah this soup is very well made."
"Boy that was scary… he really snapped...",
"Yeah but that idiot won't listen unless we go this far…"
"Say kid", Zeff could be heard, "you were saying that you wanted a cook for your ship right? This isn't a favor I would ask of anyone, but would you take that little brat with you to the grand line? The grand line is his dream.",
"Man, owner, you really made us put on quite a show.", Patty said with a laugh
"I was worried that he might figure it out because of your bad acting.", Carne scoffed at Patty
"my acting? Your acting was horrible too.", Patty retorted
"I'll have another bowl of soup!", One of the cooks cried
"Me too!", Another yelled
Sanji made another attempt to light his cigarette only to give up as he laid his head on his knees. I bit my lip before reaching forward and gently taking the lighter and cigarette from his hands after some difficulty I managed to get it lit and took a drag on the cigarette before tilting Sanji's head up and offered it to him.
"Knock it off before I kick you", he grunted his usual bite not there as he took the cigarette from me and once again put his head in his knees, while taking a long drag from it.
I hummed watching him before I continued to rub his shoulders gently.
"3", he grunted beginning to count down in warning
"Alright, alright", I sighed as I pulled away lifting my hands up in surrender, "still though… their idjits but their hearts in the right place. Zeff just wants you to follow your dream, find the all blue and you can't do that here and you're not getting any younger"
Sanji scoffed as he said, "You make it sound as if you're not going to age."
I hummed pulling away slightly as the question was an interesting one for sure, "I don't know", my tone intrigued.
"Great… I've been being hit on by an old man…your more of a pervert then I thought", he grumbled to himself
"No worries Hun, I may be an elf but I'm half human too and so far I haven't stopped aging like most purebloods do.", I smirked, "I am half human after all so maybe I won't stop like purebloods do"
"I'm not worried", he snapped
"Oh?", I asked curiously, "confident we'll grow old together, are we?", My tone teasing
I could see a tick mark appear on his forehead but before he could kick me away from him he paused and leaned back as we heard Zeff ask, "So what do you say kid?"
I tilted my head, listening as well, wondering if I'd finally be able to leave this place with Sanji.
"No.", Luffy said flatly, making me frown heavily.
"What?!", the cooks yell
"I thought you wanted a cook for your ship or are you saying that he's not good for you?", Zeff asked
"He's good enough, all right. I do want him to come with me. But he says that he wants to continue working here as a cook. Even if you guys ask me to take him with me, I can't.", Luffy said
"So you're saying that you can't agree to it until he tells you so himself, huh?", Zeff said
"Exactly. More, please", Luffy said
"Well...fair enough...but who knows if that twisted damn brat can just say he'll go...there's no way he can, since he's an idiot through and through…", Zeff hummed
"Says the idjit who used cruelty on you instead of just telling you the truth", I scoffed unable to help but think of my own father casing my lip to twitch, "fathers are idjits"
"Fathers huh?...", Sanji muttered as a light smile ghosted his features well he took another drag of his cigarette
"More please!", Luffy demanded
"Yea, mine just left me on a boat in the middle of the east blue without any explanation… I just woke up by myself...,", I hummed, "idjit", I scoffed realizing he probably showed up here to check on me before scowling at myself having been so flustered by the whole thing I had completely forgotten to yell at him over ditching me in the middle of nowhere without a map or compass… at least he had left me a fishing rod… though I didn't have any bait...
Sanji let out a puff of smoke drawing my attention back to him as he stated softly, "the old geezer isn't my father…"
"Adoptive father then. The man's been raising you for the last ten years he may as well be your father", I scoffed before quickly adding, "not that that makes your biological father any less important", not knowing the situation concerning that. His real father could have died for all I knew and it was why Zeff had taken him in.
"I mean I hardly saw my father till I was eight other than the occasional visit… after...well... he raised me on his own. We traveled a lot. Or he would and then he'd drop me off randomly with my uncle… well not really an uncle …. I call him uncle...I had a weird childhood…", I rambled nervously, "but… uhh… Zeff is basically your father and he's just looking out for you in an idiotic kind of way… he wants you to set out on your own and live your dream... he just went about it wrong… like fathers do… I don't think they're good at goodbyes…"
"So he insulted my cooking", Sanji scowled as he looked up though he had an amused smile plastered to his face as he added more to himself, "the old geezer's my father huh?", As if just know realizing that
"Yea.", I hummed nodding as I focused on his smile feeling an urge to draw his expression causing my breath to hitch as I murmured, "fuck your hot", only to yelp as he abruptly kicked me away from him
"Way to ruin the moment asshole!", He shouted at me
I couldn't help it as I replied, "we were having a moment weren't we?", Grinning at him despite my injuries screaming at me.
"Fucking pervert!", He shouted before shaking himself out well saying in disgust, "I need a shower",
"Me too", I purred as I eyed him up and down this earning me another kick
"That's not how I meant it! You damn pervert!", He screamed
"Fuck!", I groaned as I wrapped my arms around my stomach fairly sure I'd felt something tear, maybe a blister busted?
"Shit, are you ok?", He asked worriedly as he knelt down beside me
"I think something reopened…", I muttered before giving him a weak smile, "you want to kiss it and make it feel better?"
"I hate you", he scowled giving me a glare but focused back on the bandages as he started to unwrap them
"I won't say I love you too… not till after you've stitched me back up…", I grunted squeezing my eyes closed.
"Then I'll kick you when you do", his tone oddly soft but I honestly thought I misheard the way he said it
"Fair enough.", I muttered letting my head thump against the deck as a I flinched as he finally removed the bandages. I glanced down and grimaced at the blistered skin, some of the burns looking as if they were third degree.
"I hate heat.", I muttered as I poked at one of the blisters that hadn't busted.
"Stop that", he snapped at me as he hit my hand away before hauling me to my feet, "go to the bathroom and put more burn ointment on. And you better not half ass it! I'm not getting yelled at by the old geezer because your too dumb to do it right!"
"Right, so remove the bandages on my hands completely and then put more burn ointment on. Got it.", I smirked as I began pulling at the bandages to remove them as I would need the full use of my hands to treat my burns.
"Stop that", he yet again snapped, "why are you always trying to get me in trouble?", he grumbled with annoyance as he pulled me along heading towards the bathroom near the kitchen where we kept the ointment.
"I'm not trying to get you in trouble.", I frowned as we reached the bathroom and he began rummaging under the sink, before pulling out the burn kit.
"Sit.", he ordered flipping the lid of the toilet down
I bit my lip at his tone trying to ignore the effect it had on me as I sat down. I couldn't help the hiss that left me as he began carefully cleaning the burns, even with his touch being as light as it was.
"Why did you fight Pearl when you know how easily you burn?", Sanji suddenly asked as he began spreading a burn ointment over the injuries.
"What kind of-", I winced as he jabbed me and gave me a warning glare making me instead say, "friend... would I be if I let you fight him"
"I could have handled him. I don't burn like you do.", He said his tone annoyed
"It could have been worse…", I muttered
"It could have", he snapped as he gave me a glare, "I'm a chief and I'm used to dealing with fire. You on the other hand are an elf. A winter elf."
"Maybe I wanted to be your knight in shining armor", I mumbled as I glanced away with a light blush on my cheeks
I yelped as Sanji jabbed me hard in the side in warning as he started wrapping bandages around my injuries once more.
I chewed on my lip as I said quietly, "I didn't want to see you hurt…",
"And you think I want to see you hurt?", he snapped
"Aww-", I started only to yelp as he once again jabbed my side
"That's not what I meant!", he shouted indignantly, "I like women! You hear me! women!"
"Yeah… you've said before….", I muttered before I looked at him as I asked, "if you hate me, why did you not want to see me hurt?",
"Shut up!", he snapped shortly as he finished wrapping the bandage around me
I chuckled quietly before saying, "Alright...so… are we going to go? With Luffy?",
"There is no we", he snapped at me as he moved to the door
"As long as you have that mark on your-", I yelped as his leg came up as if to hit me causing me to flinch and squeeze my eyes shut. A moment later I heard the door open and close behind him. I scowled at the door before jerking as I heard a crash and rushing out of the bathroom and into the dining room I blinked at seeing a large shark with a set of legs sticking out of its mouth.
"Well that's something you don't see every day….", I hummed amused at the sight, deciding to draw it later.
"What is he?! A fishmen?", One of the cooks gasped
"He came all the way from fishman island to eat our food?",
"Idiot, it's a human and a pan shark!",
I sighed as my comrades bickered with each other as I realized the person was none other than Yosaku, the pirate hunter who was oddly enough friends with Luffy which I still didn't understand.
I glanced over as I heard Luffy ask, "what's going on?"
"Your friend came back.", I said as I moved over and pried the shark's jaw open and pulled the guy out of it.
"Thank you!", Yosaku gasped shakily, "I thought I was going to die! That damn Usopp pushed me over board!", As he jumped to his feet looking ticked off
"Usopp?", Luffy frowned, cocking his head, "that doesn't sound like Usopp. Oi! Are you sure it wasn't Boko? Did you try to be captain?", His tone accusing, "he'll push you overboard if you did."
I raised an eyebrow at that wondering why someone would keep a crew mate that kept declaring himself captain when he wasn't. Though it made sense for the first mate to throw them overboard not so much for them to still be on the crew.
"Oh big bro Luffy!", Yosaku called relieved, "oh, no it was definitely Usopp! Boko said one of us needed to swim back and take you to the going merry. He said you wouldn't find it and then Usopp pushed me in!"
"Ohh.", Luffy said, nodding his head, "Shishishi, that makes sense. Let's go! We can get Chou-Chou and bring Nami back!", as he and Yosaku started walking out of the restaurant
I let out a sigh as I glanced over at Sanji who was leaning against the railing not seeming to show any indication of leaving with them. The two of them walked past making me move to Sanji determined to get his stubborn ass to go.
"Wait…", he said softly making me pause in my steps
Luffy paused but didn't turn to look at him as he said, "Hmm?"
"We both have foolish dreams.", Sanji began as he looked up, letting out an exhale of smoke as Luffy merely hummed, still not looking at Sanji as he waited for him to continue.
"In order to achieve my goal, the all blue…", Sanji said
I stared at him holding my breath as I waited for him to finish. Luffy turned his head as he questioned, "Sanji?"
Sanji was quiet for a second before he said, "Yeah, I'll come along...on your journey to become king of the pirates",
I felt my heart skip a beat in hope as I bit my lip in an effort to contain my excitement. Did he really say that he would leave? Finally?! It was all I could do not to just run and grab Sanji in a hug and cheer.
"What?", Luffy asked once more as if confused
Sanji pushed himself off the railing as he stood up straight asking, ""I'll be the cook for your ship, is that okay or not?'
"It's ok alright!", Luffy exclaimed excitedly as he grinned widely
"I'm happy for you big bro Luffy!", Yosaku exclaimed
Yay!" Luffy laughed as he started jumping up and down and dancing
"Yay! Yay! We got a cook! we'll have good food!", Luffy and Yosaku yelled as they both started dancing in a circle.
I chuckled at the two's antics before focusing back on Sanji as he said, ""So that's how it is everyone, sorry for causing you all sorts of trouble.", his tone calm
I grinned widely as Patty yelled out "a! I don't like it! I wanted to kick you out from here myself! And you decide it so easily?!", though I had to admit it was a bit aggravating as I'd been trying for four months to get him to leave.
"Sorry for making you resort to bad acting", Sanji said and I could hear the amused smirk in his tone
"You knew?!", Patty exclaimed shocked
"Of course we knew. Especially with your loud ass.", I scoffed "I'm glad we're leaving so I don't have to listen to your stupidity anymore."
"We?! There is no we! Who the hell said you were coming?", Sanji yelled as he kicked me in the side.
I let out a yelp of pain as he sent me skidding along the floor. I whined as I wrapped my arms around my waist as I groaned, "Why does love have to be so painful?"
"That's because it isn't love you damn pervert!", he shouted before yelping as Zeff kicked him through a wall
"What did I say about abusing your mate!", Zeff shouted at him
"He's not my mate! Stop encouraging him you senile old geezer!", Sanji shouted as he attempted to kick Zeff
"This is great!", I grunted moving to Luffy with a wince but a grin plastered to my face as I ignored them, "I owe you big time for convincing that stubborn lug! I'm going to go pack!"
"Shishishi! Your welcome! This is great, I got a cook and an Ice bartender! Zoro's going to be so happy! He loves alcohol!", Luffy's expression shifted to a frown, "Boko won't like having a cook though…", he then grinned, "but that's ok! Sanji's a really good cook. I bet he can convince him to eat!"
"Well he can be pretty convincing.", I hummed as I smiled at him before I hurried off to pack my things.
Authors notes:
Feedback is encouraged
if you have any questions, feel free to ask :)
If interested in being a beta reader for this story don't hesitate to PM me
To see pictures for this story, go to DeviantArt it will be under the user ID blackphoenix2217
Shout out to our lovely Reviewers!
Greendragon23: Thank you! Happy belated b-day! We love to hear from our readers and are glad to hear we didn't lose some of our old readers despite how long its been
Straw hearts zoro:: we actually haven't decided if boko will be in a relationship and keep going back and forth toying with the idea but we are all ears to hear who our readers would like to see him with. :)
VKMP: We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed Mihawks and Laslyths interaction. It was lots of fun to write and we would like to put in more interactions perhaps further along in the story. Furthemore the Musical flashback with Boko was difficult but rewarding to do. We hope to continue to hear your thoughts on the story as we add further chapters.
Theinzmann111: thank you for telling us. We corrected the last chapter and gave you a shout out at the beginning of it. We also will try to cut down on the 'tsk' :P
Sarahgri99: Glad to hear you enjoyed the Chapter and we hope to continue to hear from you! We enjoy writing Boko and Zoros interactions and we're glad you enjoy them as much as we do!