Something familiar and new
It took him time, but Sanji's body recovered his weight and strength. He would have been great, but his mom kept crying sometimes in front of him. She became overprotective of him more than she'd ever had his entire life. He guessed some things really can change a person's heart and feelings. She never let him out of her sight now. It drove Sanji nuts. As much as he appreciated her protective side and loved her, he felt suffocated and just wanted his freedom back. Especially to go back to the kitchen, she didn't let him go back there no matter how much he tried to convince her he was fine.
He wanted to see if the old man was still there, if he still was cooking and just waiting for him to come, but he couldn't since his mother became his security guard twenty-four hours a day. It made Sanji angry, but he knew he could not get angry at his mom since he made her worry in the first place. But what could he do to avoid been kidnapped: it was impossible for him.
In the end, his father stepped in and took his mom away from him for a while. He never liked his father, but in that moment, Sanji appreciated his actions. She really was going too far with her extreme protectiveness, and it scared him a little. So he finally could visit the kitchen, and he hoped the stupid old man was still there…even after all that had happen, Sanji found himself missing him a little.
In a hurry, he ran to the kitchen and was happy to hear his annoying grumpy voice. He stepped inside and found him working with the maids instead of cooks, which surprised him a little.
"It's about time for you to show, up little eggplant: now get to work!"
"What the hell, why do they let you work here ?! And where all our cooks?" he screamed back, but he really was relieved to see him.
"Your cooks were going to kill all of you. It was their plan" He smiled proudly and played with his mustache
"As for why I am still here, some eggplant didn't stop screaming my name and how he wanted to see me while he slept. Didn't know you had that in you, eggplant." His smile grew, and Sanji wanted to die and bury himself somewhere. His face went red, and he looked at his feet. Shit, that was embarrassing.
"Sh..Shut up! I don't give a shit about you, shitty old man! I still hate you!"
"Just shut your trap and start working, you lazy spoiled brat!"
"I'm working, I'm working, just shut it already!"
"And you're going to cook too since your maids are useless at the simple things"
They argued again like the old times, and everything seemed to be back to normal finally. Zeff kept making him lunch boxes, and Sanji found out later from the maids that he didn't stop cooking for him when he slept, even when no one asked him to. So Sanji assumed he had been worried about him, but with the old man, you never know.
All in all, Sanji was happy to work with him and actually cooking. Zeff taught him all kind of recipes, and Sanji learned them all. In spite of his mom prohibition to get near the kitchen, Sanji still worked with Zeff. He managed to do both things - be with her and work in the kitchen when he needed to.
With time, she let him go a little more but still was hysterical about his whereabouts when he went on walks. Sanji didn't mind it, but he wished she would calm down and be happy again like she was, since he came back safe and sound.
His father, on the other hand, didn't change at all! He still refused to acknowledge his existence. Some things never change. At least he listened more to his mom since he was worried about her health more than ever. Which was good, his mom was good at making decisions too; she just never bothered to do it. But now she didn't let go of the idea of hiring bodyguards for Sanji, which of course his dad refused since he said it was a waste of money.
Sanji didn't like the idea at all. That was the last thing he needed now – some annoying people to follow him around like he was useless and weak in protecting himself. No way, Sanji has to found a way to prove his mom she was wrong about him and fast or he be screwed.
How – that was the big question, so he turned to the only one he knew that was strong, Zeff. Yes, he might be a criminal kidnaper who hated his father, but he was good help. For his big surprise, Zeff laughed and nodded at his request.
"The wimp wants to fight, now does he?! You're a thousand years too weak to learn from me, but we can try to teach a wimpy eggplant like you something. If you don't die from gentle kicks, that is, shitty eggplant"
Sanji glared at him. God, he was such annoying fart.
"I'm not a wimp. Stop calling me that! I'm strong, and I'll prove it!" Sanji insisted with a glare, and Zeff only mocked his stubborn attitude.
From then on, Zeff taught Sanji how to fight, and all he knew as a criminal, and Sanji learned hard and slowly how to fight and protect himself. Zeff also taught him his special moves and skills that only he knew how to do, even when he hurt Sanji's head or body it the process. It puzzled Sanji since he didn't ask that of the old man.
TBC