Cook

Characters: Heart Pirates, Shachi. Rating: K. Warnings: None

It did not take the young pirates long to realise that entrusting Law with cooking anything edible was not a good idea. The younger boy swore he could cook, and while they supposed that technically the charred stuff piled on the plate was edible, it was hardly palatable (after finding out about Cora-san and how Law had had to cook for them both, they marvelled at the man's taste buds).

Law was promptly banned from the kitchen, to his derision. Neither Penguin nor Shachi could claim to be competent cooks, but as they pointed out, at least they didn't burn everything. Fish-based foods were easy enough to prepare for the pair, who had spent several years learning to fish and the various uses that could be gained from a fish as children. What they served up – primarily done by Shachi, who was voted as the least worst cook – tended to be fish-centric with little accompanying ingredients, at least to begin with.

A balanced diet was important, so once they found the Polar Tang and discovered her kitchen was stocked up with various foods, Law began to sort through until he found things to go with Shachi's latest fish concoction.

It was safe to say that, in those early days, meal times were merely a necessity rather than an enjoyable part of the day. Out of necessity, Shachi's meals improved over time with Penguin, and even Bepo, chipping in to help out and learn a few tricks themselves. Shachi got knocked around a lot, both in training and real fights, relying on him to be in a state to cook every day was foolish.

It took them ten years before a cook joined their crew. Time had necessitated improvement, but having an actual cook on board was a blessing they had never had a chance to take advantage of before. No more did one of them have to dart off to prepare the meals when the Tang's engines needed a clean, or any other immediate requirement of the submarine came to light. With a designated cook, their meals could finally work around their schedule.

There was one thing that remained Shachi's domain. While cooking was not his forte, he both loved and was good at making hot chocolate. Law and Bepo never asked how he had learned to make the drink that ended up an addiction for half the crew, and Penguin had had the same lessons, only had never been able to get the mixture quite right. Their new cook knew how to make hot chocolate, but that was a responsibility Shachi was not quite ready to give up.

It was still nice to not have to make it on occasion, however. Days when he was the one down and in need of a pick me up, the cook would make one for him (Shachi maintained it was the best hot chocolate, despite the rest of the crew saying his was the best, but Penguin suspected the fact that he wasn't the one making it had a lot to do with that). Nursing the mug in his hands, it almost never failed to cheer him up.

Hot chocolate aside, however, bequeathing the cooking responsibilities to someone who could actually cook was a great relief to the Heart Pirates, despite ten years of fending for themselves.

Well they had to feed themselves somehow. I know Law cooked at least some of the time when he was with Cora-san, but considering the alternative was burnt fingers minimum, I don't think that means he was any good. It was just safer.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari