Chapter 6: Twenty Years of Sanji

Disclaimer: I still don't own One Piece.

"I'm having so much fun!" I exclaimed as I furiously typed away at my laptop at 1:08am on a Saturday morning. Or did this still count as Friday night? Well, whatever, I was just happy to be, well, happy. Having depression really made that difficult at times. But I had amazing friends to help with that. Sure, a few of them only texted when I texted first—a quirk that still hadn't ended after high school—but I loved them. I rarely talked to Makayla outside of DnD. My friend Alyssa hadn't contacted me in months. Heidi, in years. Being an adult sucked donkey balls. Thank God for my friend, Celina (OGs of my fics know her as Raven because we were kids and kids go by cringy names on the internet lol) and so many blessings on her house for putting up with my annoying, over-caffeinated ass for this long—Hi, if you're reading this! Sanji rules, Zoro drools!

Now that I had my reject dials safely hidden away in my room on the ship, I could continue hanging out with the crew. I looked up at a knock at the door. I turned off Youtube Music. "Yeah?"

"Just wanted to see if you needed anything." Sanji smiled from the doorway. "You spend a lot more time alone than you did when you were a kid."

"I guess that's what happens when you don't drive, all your friends see coming to visit as a burden, and nothing is within walking distance. But it's okay. I have my sister Brooke to hang out with. She wants to see a movie with me soon. Anyway, I'm a little hungry. Grilled cheese, please?"

He smirked. "With extra green olives."

My jaw dropped. "You remember!"

"Of course."

As I watched him walk out of the room, I smiled to myself. Of course Sanji would remember how I liked my favorite food. He deserved all the hugs in the world. After closing my laptop and Luffy-proofing it, aka putting it in my backpack and tucking it safely behind a thick pile of blankets, I walked into the kitchen. Sanji was skillfully slicing the tiny green olives with a huge chef knife. A block of Colby Jack cheese was sitting on another cutting board.

"Sanji-kun, you didn't have to dirty two cutting boards," I pointed out.

"It's no trouble."

I threw my hands up. "You already wash a zillion dishes preparing Luffy's lunch. You shouldn't have to wash more for mine!"

He smiled that easygoing smile of his. "It's okay."

Plopping down on a barstool, I watched him for a few minutes. "I can't believe I've known you for twenty years. I also can't believe you're the most consistent man in my life. Literally. No dude, even my uncles, my stepdad, my bio dad, or my either of my grandpas have been apart of the past twenty years as consistently as you!"

This brought a chuckle to his lips. "Oh? Well, happy anniversary, my dear."

"Thank you for everything."

He set down the knife and rounded the bar to give me a hug. "You're welcome."

"I love you, Sanji-kun. You mean a lot to me." I squeezed him as hard as I could. I wanted him to know I was serious. I owed him a lot. Sanji had gotten me through some really dark shit and some days, the especially bad days when I didn't leave my room or even talk to Cel, he was all I had. I had so much to thank Oda for if I ever got the chance to meet him. Sanji was my best friend. I loved him more than anything.

"I love you too, Kerbear." He embraced me for a while until my growling stomach broke the mood. "Guess that's my cue to get back to work."

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself. "Thank you for lunch."

The mayo sizzled as Sanji dropped the bread in the pan. Once again, I was surprised. Using mayo instead of butter was a relatively new way that I made my grilled cheese and Sanji hadn't even had to ask what I preferred. My inner fangirl was squealing at Sanji being so thoughtful. His kindness was the number one reason I loved him so much. That hadn't changed over the years.

"You know what I realized?"

"Hm?" he asked without turning from the pan.

"The first time I watched One Piece was episode twenty-six or twenty-seven so my first exposure to Zoro was literally when he was tied to that mast about to be captured by Arlong pirates!" I laughed. "Omg, I wish I could remember when I was thinking back then."

"That he was a dumbass?"

"I was probably wondering why he was so injured. This was back when it wasn't as easy to go back and rewatch episodes so I didn't see the earlier episodes until later. I didn't know what had happened to him for a while. I'm sad they didn't do the bandage-ripping scene in the live action. It's one of my top ten Zoro moments!"

Flipping my grilled cheese, he shrugged. "I'm disappointed they cut out a part of my fight, but oh well."

"Oh yeah, I was sad about that too! Kuroobi didn't get to make a big deal about how you might not be human, which looking back, was massive foreshadowing. But other that that, Taz was absolutely amazing! I loved him so much! I loved the whole crew! Jacob as Usopp is pure gold! He's so naturally funny! Oda was spot-on with the casting."

Sanji set my grilled cheese in front of me. "Coffee?"

"Yes, please!"

A mocha appeared in front of me moments later, complete with a cinnamon heart atop the mound of whipped cream.

Taking a picture on my phone so I'd remember it forever, I smiled wide. "It's like the heart-shaped carrots back on Skypeia. I know it's a small moment, but I really hope Taz gets to make them."

The click of his lighter caught my attention. "I hope so too. Those carrots meant so much to the ladies."

"They meant a lot to me and I wasn't even there!"

Sanji laughed. "I remember you loved how thoughtful I was, putting in the extra work even though you knew I wouldn't get a thank you."

I took a sip of my coffee. "And you didn't."

"I don't do it for that, ya know."

"I know, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't be appreciated! Hell, Nami only thanked you after you got fried to a crisp!"

He leaned against the counter, his hair shadowing his eye. "Usopp wouldn't have survived that."

I looked down at my plate. "I know. But you almost didn't. You deserved more than a thank you for that. Nami should have hugged you."

He snickered. "If you had it your way, I'd be getting hugs left and right."

"Damn straight!" I grinned. "But I'm a hugger so I might be a bit biased."

"A bit."

"I damn near teared up when Luffy hugged Zoro in the live action. It was so damn cute!"

Laughing, Sanji went to the sink and rolled up his sleeves. "Did I mention I'm glad you're back?"

"Nope." I slurped whipped cream from my cup. "But I know you are. Zoro is too. I can feel it in my bones."

"The fuck I am!" came an angry-sounding, Chris Sabat-like voice from outside.

I smirked. "He loves me."

Sanji laughed. Once I was done with lunch, I dried and put dishes away. "Thank you."

Hugging him, I planted a kiss on his cheek. "You deserve all the hugs in the world, you know. Hugs don't have to mean romance so Oda could definitely toss you a few. Ya know, for the shippers like me. I may not always like her, but I will ship you and Nami until the end of time!"

He smirked. "Some things just don't change."

Author's note: Happy anniversary, my beloved Sanji-kun! I love him so much and that will never change. I'll get back to the action next chapter. I was just feeling nostalgic. You get that way when you get old lol Please review and tell me something you're nostalgic about!