A/N: For the first time since 2016, I am back from the One Piece grave! I've finally finished the Whole Cake Island arc and am nearly caught up on the Wano arc (late, I know, but I like to wait to watch till there's a shit ton of eps to binge, haha!), and that combined with reading the incredible Taizi's new One Piece works on AO3 ( /users/taizi/pseuds/taizi/works?fandom_id=10767), I was hit with a massive burst of inspiration! Suffice to say, this won't be the last One Piece idea you see from me for a bit (between continuing to work on my Naruto AUs, ofc)!

This fic came about after I watched Sanji despair at his 'Vinsmoke' rejected last name being added to his Wanted poster. That, the fact that AO3 also (about 3 or so years ago, AFAIK, but still! lol) added it to his character tag, and the fact that Taizi mentioned in the Notes of one of my fave Luffy & Sanji OP fics ( /works/14552559), and I quote, "hmmm i sure don't like that sanji's tag was updated to the family name he rejected...but What Can Ya Do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯", I knew I had to write something! Haha!

Funny thing I realized: the last fic I wrote for OP was Luffy & Sanji-centric, and this one is, too (and more of the ones I have coming are as well)! Haha! I just love their relationship so much, and Whole Cake Island only drove that home all the more!

For the purpose of this fic: let's just pretend that, instead of splitting up sooner, all the Straw Hats are together for this little mini adventure, okay? ;A; After all, they were all together for Arlong Park, all together for Enies Lobby, and I just wanted all my precious babies together to rescue Sanji, too, and I'm sad they weren't (especially with that badass 'We Are Hope' opening depicting otherwise)! So, I'm having them all together for this! Hope that's cool! :D

What's Mine

"Let's change it."

Around him, everything stops. All eyes turn to Luffy but Sanji's, which never left—haven't, really, since escaping Big Mom. "Huh?"

"Your Wanted poster," Luffy says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. He grins like the scoundrel he is, no doubt already gearing up for a fight in his mind. Hell, the fire in his eyes and excited fist-into-palm say more than enough. "Let's make them change it back!"

Sanji's eyes widen and mouth drops open with a gasp, cigarette falling from his lips. If this were anyone else, he'd ask if they were serious, but he knows doing that with Luffy is an exercise in futility. His captain doesn't say a single word he doesn't mean.

It's true Sanji's been upset since his Wanted poster updated two days ago to his rejected family name instead of Black-Leg Sanji, the nickname he's always been so proud of that's not only proof of how far he's come, but is also a nod back to the old geezer in East Blue. It's also true that he seethes every time he thinks about his sperm donor's smirking face as he grinds the new page to dust under his boot. It's just another small way for the bastard to feel like he's won.

But…is it really worth detouring for, possibly putting their Wano plan and his precious nakama in danger? After everything he's done, everything he's cost them, all the shit he's put them through in the last half-week, his reasons be damned…Sanji doesn't think so. There's no way. Hell, even if he'd thought of this plan to change his poster back himself, he wouldn't have the heart to bring it up. He doesn't have the right to ask anything more of them, in his mind, but especially not this.

Particularly not with Luffy still healing. Chopper says it'll still take a few more days for his body to recover. And knowing how quickly Luffy usually heals, knowing that this slowdown almost certainly has a shit ton to do with the period where Luffy starved himself in a threat of faith Sanji's sure he'll always hate himself for and never be worthy of…

Guilt churns his stomach and shakes the hands he buries his face in. He has to violently kick back the memories of his own time starving on that barren rock in the middle of an endlessly empty ocean before the trauma and remorse swallow him whole. He's done his absolute best to make up for Luffy's suffering since, but he knows it'll never truly leave him, the horrific sight of Luffy as all but skin and bones after barely two days starving as he was after sixty.

His captain's metabolism is out of this world, and Sanji swore to himself in that moment (and many more since) that he'd never, ever let that idiot pull a stunt like that again. Hell, he'd never give him another reason to. He already told Luffy as much the second they reached safe waters, but the boy's face had been unreadable at the time, those glowing-amber eyes piercing and mouth set in a firm, thin line, and Sanji, already knowing what that meant—I'll do whatever it takes for my nakama, no matter the cost—silently fed his resolve to his heart instead. He just couldn't bring himself to fight Luffy on it, not after everything. The important thing is that his captain knows, and Sanji's will to keep it is just as unyielding as Luffy's hold on all of them.

At the same time, Sanji has to force himself to swallow back the shocked gratitude and elated hope that had filled him at Luffy's idea. He curls his fists white around the Wanted poster he's stomped on and torn to shreds and screwed into as small a ball as possible.

He can't be selfish right now. He won't. It's not worth the risk. He's not.

He opens his mouth—

"There just so happens to be a Marine base a few hundred kilometers northeast of here."

Sanji snaps up, blue eyes wide. Nami…!

"Luck is also on our side! This particular base is small and isolated because they deal specifically with verifying bounties and printing anything the Navy needs, including Wanted posters, so they're not likely to have much security. The chances of us getting caught are slim to none."

Robin…!

"Really?! That's great! We should go right now!"

Chopper…!

"I'm with Chobro! We'll get in and out so fast, they won't know what hit them!"

Carrot…!

"As long as we're not followed and we can still meet up with Kin'emon in the end, it should be no problem!"

Usopp…!

"Sounds like a super idea to me!"

Franky…!

"I'm so excited, I'm getting goosebumps! Or I would if I had any skin! Yohohohoho!"

Brook…!

"If it'll stop the shitty cook's sulking, I'm all for it!"

Even that damn mosshead…!

Sanji can only stare at them all, jaw on the floor. "But—but what about—? The Land of Wano is—"

"Still two weeks away at best," Nami assures, stopping his protest in its tracks. The way she's looking at him lands somewhere between gentle and stern, and Sanji gets the impression that this is her way of saying she's starting to forgive him. An olive branch if he's ever seen one. "This little detour will take half an hour tops," she waves a dismissive hand, "and that's only if we run into any real trouble!" She winks. "It'll be fine!"

The others all throw in their own agreements and reassurances, and Sanji can't hope to stop the lump that forms in his throat or the tears that well in his eyes. Even after everything, they still…! Guilt threatens to flare up in his chest, clog his throat, but ultimately, his heart just pounds and overflows with how damn lucky he is. "You guys…!"

In the middle of it all, Luffy laughs delightedly, stepping up to Sanji with a wide smile and arms folded over his chest. "See? It's already decided!"

The shadow he casts over Sanji's kneeling form is tall and broad and makes him feel small, but not in a bad way. On the contrary, Sanji feels safe and precious and so incredibly, undeservedly loved, the same way he felt while crying to Luffy on his knees in that torrential downpour on Whole Cake Island, when he'd confessed to his captain he wanted to save his former family.

And just like back then, Luffy gives him that reassuring as hell, never-say-die beam that's started wars and saved countries and brought all of his nakama back to him from all across the world—

And Sanji feels like he can breathe again when Luffy holds out his hand and quietly says, an ironclad promise in every word, syllable, letter,

"No one hurts my nakama."

For the Marines, it's all over embarrassingly quickly.

And really, for all they were trying to make this a relatively peaceful visit, the particularly vicious way his nakama are taking the soldiers down leaves Sanji breathless. They're doing this for him, fighting for him, as if they haven't already been doing that virtually nonstop for the last week, and even though Sanji knows for a fact they're exhausted, right now, they couldn't look more alive.

Luffy, especially, is an army on his own. Not that that's surprising, not where his nakama are concerned, especially not after coming so close to losing one of them, but still. If not for the bandages covering almost every inch of visible skin, no one would ever know he's so hurt.

"Sanji!"

Speak of the devil, Luffy calls him over from the doorway of a huge room right smack in the middle of the base. Sanji hurries inside, trusting his nakama to watch their backs. Judging from all the paper and printing and research materials, he's guessing this is the main office. Luffy's already taken down the men inside, keeping a single one of them conscious so he can help them.

His captain is grinning at him like he's about to hand him the world. "Now's your chance!"

"You damn Straw Hats!" the printing officer groans, Luffy holding him to the desk. He reaches for a concealed pistol in his coat and presses it to Luffy's forehead, finger on the trigger. "I'll show you—!"

Fwip!

CRACK!

Dwrrr…!

The man howls and clutches his broken ring finger, gun lodged in the ceiling and reverberating with the force of the kick that put it there. He makes to glare at Sanji, but flinches and cows down in the face of his dark scowl. This bastard just tried to pull a gun on Sanji's captain. Never mind that it wouldn't have actually hurt him, that's not the damn point! He's just lucky they need him or Sanji would've all too happily broken his entire hand (hell, no promises he still won't, just to make things clear)!

"W-what do you want?!"

With Luffy watching the door while the rest of their nakama provide cover and distraction, Sanji pulls his Wanted poster from his suit jacket and slaps it on the desk. He taps on the offending new addition. "This shit is an insult to my good name. If you'd be so kind as to change it back to Black-Leg before things get too messy—" an explosion rings out behind them; Sanji doesn't bat an eye, "—I'd appreciate it."

The Marine looks at him like he's half-nuts. Sanji just smirks. Ha! With all the shit he's been through, he's probably way past that by now! He'd have to be, to be part of this crew! "But Judge Vinsmoke is your father! You're a prince of the Germa—!"

Sanji cuts him off with a flaming kick to the desk beside him, reducing it to splinters and embers in a second flat, shoulders heaving and face shrouded. If he were a lesser man, the remains of this desk would be the Marine himself. His foot is back between the man's shoulder blades in the next moment for insurance and as a clear warning, digging his heel in a little to make sure the little shit pays close attention to what he's about to say.

"I may be that bastard's son by blood," Sanji snarls, leg still steaming with rage, "but that's as far as it goes. He publicly disowned me, and I renounced my family name twice, once at eight and again a few days ago." His eyes burn. "I am not Germa, damn it! Those bastards are not my family!"

More destruction and explosions ring out behind him. A dancing sword whirlwind, clattering hooves, insane laughter, and so many other familiar, comforting sounds he's come to know and love and listen for as easily as breathing. And Luffy, his captain and best friend, always at his back, is standing tall and fearless between him and the danger—as ever, an immovable, unbeatable force whose heart beats only for them.

Sanji closes his eyes to take it all in.

A family is people you love who love you just as much. People who'll do something as crazy as cut off and eat their own leg to ensure your survival and then raise you as their own. People so ridiculously devoted that they'll fight a family of hell-spawns tooth and nail and teeter on the brink of starvation just to save you from yourself. People out of their minds enough to attack a remote Navy base at the risk of their necks just to give you the chance to restore your good name.

Where family's concerned, blood is the last requirement on the list.

There's a pissed off laugh, and Sanji's eyes snap open. "All this just for that?!" The Marine scrounges enough courage to sneer Sanji's way. "You no-good devils!"

Sanji shrugs, unconcerned, eyes flicking toward the door as his voice goes momentarily soft and fond, forever grateful. "For the record, it was my captain's idea, not mine. Besides," something in him goes hard and unyielding, "you attacked us. Technically speaking, we're just defending ourselves." Putting out his spent cigarette, he lights a new one. "If you Marines had just heard what we had to say instead of puffing out your chests and shooting first," he lets out a puff of smoke as another wall crumbles – from his nakama's cheering and the huge amount of sunlight streaming in, most likely the last, "this might not have gone so far."

The man rages some more, but frankly, it's coming up on the fifteen-minute mark, and even as isolated as this place supposedly is, Sanji doesn't want to take any chances. Not with his family on the line.

So, he leans down until he's eye-level with the Marine, something glinting and warning in his eyes as he taps the poster again. "Now, what do you say we hurry the hell up and correct this horrible mistake, shall we?"

"Keep his bounty the same!" Luffy orders from the doorway, proud, stubborn authority coloring his tone. He goes from glowering at the man to beaming at Sanji. "He earned it, after all!"

Despite the cool sea wind rushing through the now-open base, Sanji can't help but feel warm. Luffy really is something else… "Thank you, captain."

A few short hours later, when they're far away from that base and Sanji's helping change Luffy's bandages (the least he can do, he feels), a News Coo drops off the paper.

Opening it, a certain Wanted poster falls right into Sanji's hands. The picture's been changed to a rather scary-looking one from this afternoon's raid on the printing base.

The others crowd all around, holding their breaths in anticipation, and as soon as they lay eyes on it, the entire crew jumps up and cheers as one.

"We did it!"

Thousands of kilometers behind them in a floating restaurant in the East Blue, Carne thanks the News Coo that drops off their paper.

Rolling it open, his eyes move to the Wanted poster right on top. He laughs out loud.

"What's so funny, Carne?" he hears Zeff bark from the kitchen. "I don't pay you to laugh at the funnies! Come help prep for the dinner rush already!"

Hurrying inside and tying his apron back on, he protests, "But Boss, you'll like this!"

Zeff grunts without looking up from the salad he's tossing. "I'll be the judge of that."

Stepping up at the go-ahead, Carne unfurls the Wanted poster so it's in full view. "It's Sanji!"

Now that gets Zeff's attention. He stops his salad-tossing in favor of taking a look. Patty and the other cooks stop what they're doing to peek as well. "Sanji, huh? What's that little brat o' mine gotten himself into now?"

Black-Leg Sanji

300,000,000 Berries

The fiercely proud, knowing grin that spreads across Zeff's face could light up the restaurant for weeks. He throws his head back and laughs, the others around him joining in. "That's my boy!" Waving toward Carne, he says, "Put it up with the others! And while you're at it, tear down that offense to his good name and burn it!"

Carne snorts. "Right away, sir! With pleasure!"

Every Wanted poster Sanji's ever had is displayed proudly in the middle of the restaurant on the center stairway. Carne makes sure to do as Zeff asked first thing, watching till the very last scrap turns to ash. They'd only ever put it up out of respect for Sanji's increased bounty, and he knows Sanji would appreciate this, particularly on the off chance someone were ever to try to use his parentage against him someday (not that they'd get very far with Zeff, of all people, but still).

Putting up the new one with utmost care, Carne smirks. Figures the kid and the other Straw Hats would make quick work of that 'Vinsmoke' farce! Sanji already has a father, thank you very much, and it certainly isn't that abusive bastard!

Gently patting his handiwork the way he would a fresh cake, Carne has to work to swallow a growing lump in his throat. Their little sous chef is tearing up the New World with his crew like nobody's business! He feels like a proud uncle!

"Carne, aren't you done yet?! Your station's not gonna work itself!"

Startled from his daydream, Carne hurries to scrub his eyes and head back to the kitchen. "Sorry, Boss! Just got some ash in my eye, that's all!"

Later that evening, once the dinner rush is over and the Baratie's closed down for the night, Zeff pauses on his way upstairs to really take in the new poster.

This one suits Sanji much more than the laughable others he's had so far. Zeff can clearly see the ferocious rage and protectiveness in his expression, and he knows Sanji's straw-hatted kid of a captain must have been close, perhaps in danger, to inspire that fierce of a reaction.

Light blue eyes pass over the restored Black-Leg nickname again, and he can't help but smirk. There's only one reason the Navy would go back on their naming decision so quickly.

He chuckles, warmth and pride filling his chest.

"Be safe out there, Sanji!"

A/N: Manga vs Anime differences (for those unaware): in the manga, instead of losing it in the shipwreck, Zeff cut off his leg and ate it to survive on that rock, but that was considered too gruesome to be on TV/in a kids' show at the time, so it was censored in the anime. But I wanted to include it 'cause it's so feelsy! lol. Also, in the anime, Sanji's day markers on that rock indicate they were there 45 days, 20 days without any food, but the manga says it was 85, 60 days without any food, so I went with the manga again, just to keep things straight! ;)

Thanks so much for reading!