Working for the Baratie was a loose term in every meaning of the phrase. Luffy did the bare minimum as horribly and slowly as possible. Over the course of the few days the crew of the Going Merry - and friends - had been on the floating sea restaurant, the young captain had broken half of the dishes, eaten just as many meals while he was serving, thrown three people into the ocean - which he had no plans to apologize for - and had managed to piss off every single one of the chefs aside from one.
Sanji, in all honesty - though he'd never admit it - was enjoying the show. Life on the Baratie had always been exciting, but monotonous. He was having a lot of fun watching their newest worker get yelled at for everything. It was a nice change of pace. Owner Zeff had long since given up and had started praying for the week to end, not that he'd ever admit it. It was hilarious and Saji was here for it. Nami, the beauty who had come with Luffy, only made this whole experience that much better with her existence alone.
It was a particularly good morning for the chefs because Owner Zeff had told Luffy to not do anything until he had finished eating breakfast. While it was going to kill their stocks, they were safe from whatever trouble he was going to cause. This was the case until Luffy was on his last three plates of food.
The doors to the Baratie were slammed open and a man dragged himself over to an empty table and slumped into a chair. His probably naturally dark skin was pale, he was sweating, his hair was matted and filthy, his clothes - dirty and so full of holes that they could barely be clothes - were hanging off of his body. The one thing that caught Sanji's and Zeff's attention, though, was the fact that his bones were basically visible through his skin. Malnourishment and starvation.
"Excuse me, sir." Patty, a large chef who obviously skipped leg and bicep days, said to the man with a disgustingly fake smile, "Do you have any money to pay for your meal?"
The man simply pointed a gun at the chef's head, "How 'bout I let you keep your life? Is that a good enough payment?"
Patty didn't like this answer. "If you have no money to pay for your meal, then I'll have to ask you to leave."
Luffy sat and watched the exchange between the two, finishing almost all of his food as he did so. He was told to work once he'd finished his breakfast. If he didn't finish his food, he didn't have to work. He'd finish it eventually, though.
The entire ordeal lasted only a few minutes and ended with Patty throwing the poor man out the doors and going back to his work. While he wasn't a saint by any means, even Luffy got upset at the chef for that. His job was to feed people! If one couldn't pay, it really didn't matter in the long run! There were plenty of paying customers; what's one who doesn't pay? But, alas, money runs the world.
Finishing what was left on his plate, he followed Sanji, who had followed the man, to the back of the ship. The blond sous chef grabbed a plate of food from the kitchen as he went. Knowing what was to happen, Luffy jumped up onto the second floor railing and watched the two he'd followed. He was well aware that Owner Zeff was on the third floor, also watching them.
Gin devoured the food Sanji gave him like a vulture, not leaving anything on the plate. He hadn't ever had such good food before! Maybe, though, that was just his starvation talking. Either way, he would forever be grateful and indebted to the blond chef. "Thank you."
Sanji took a long drag from his cigarette before answering the man. "It's my job as a chef to provide food to those who need it, regardless of if they can pay or not."
That's when Owner Zeff made his - and consequently Luffy's - presence known, "That's coming out of your pay, brat!"
In response, the sous chef picked up the empty dishes and dropped them into the water with a smirk, "No dishes, no evidence. You can't blame shit on me, old man." Zeff only scoffed and walked back inside. He was still listening, though.
"Hey, Sanji," Luffy jumped down to join the two men on the first floor, "You should join my crew!"
The blond took a second to absorb the request. "No."
"What do ya 'No'?"
"It means that I refuse."
"Well, in that case…I refuse."
"What are you refusing?"
"You're refusal!"
"You can't do that!"
"Of course I can!"
"That's not how this works!"
"Yes it is."
"No, it's not."
"I refuse your refusal anyway!"
"Doesn't matter if you 'refuse my refusal', it's my decision to make, and my decision is no."
Gin, who had been quietly laughing at the two from his spot on the floor, said, "I don't really think he's listening to you, Sanji-san."
Sure enough, Luffy had stopped listening to Sanji at some point in the chef's small monologue about why he wasn't going to change his answer. Looking back at the raven haired boy, Sanji was a bit concerned. In the few days he'd known the small captain, he hadn't ever been this quiet.
Before either of the other men could say a thing, Luffy spoke without taking his eyes off the horizon, "What's your dream?" He didn't direct the question at either of them, but they both thought of an answer.
"To sail." said Gin, following Luffy's line of sight.
"To find the All Blue." Sanji answered, "Heard of it?" Luffy shook his head. He loved to hear his Nakama talk about their dreams. "It's the Ninth Sea. A place where all the fish and creatures and sea life of all the Eight Seas can be found! It's every chef's dream to find it, but I'm gonna be the first one to get there!"
Luffy hummed and nodded. He and his crew hadn't gotten to find the All Blue, but he knew the most likely place for it to be was either in or around Laugh Tale. "What about you, Gin? Why do you want to sail?"
Gin thought long and hard for a moment. Why did he want to sail? Was that really his dream? "I…I don't know, actually. I never really thought about it."
"If sailing is really your dream," the young captain said, "Then you should probably find a new one. After all, you've been sailing for a while, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Then you've fulfilled your dream! And if you've fulfilled your dream, then you can't be on my crew."
"Huh?" Gin and Sanji were now both staring at Luffy. What in the world was he talking about?
"My crew is a crew of dreamers." Luffy said, looking the two men in the eyes, "If you don't have a dream, then you have nothing to work towards; If you have nothing to work towards, then you won't get stronger; If you don't get stronger, then you won't survive." The way he said it made the two he was speaking to feel beyond stupid. They couldn't tell you why, though. "I refuse to get attached to people who won't even try to survive. I'm not gonna lose anyone ever again." With that, he turned around and walked back into the building to wreak more havoc in poor attempts to get out of work. He wouldn't leave the ship, though. Not without Sanji.
The ship that carried the remaining members of Don Crieg's pirate fleet slowly creeped up to the Baratie. Most patrons had started to freak out and evacuate, the chefs getting them out as soon as they could. The only ones who did leave were the staff and the Straw Hat crew. Luffy had been anticipating their arrival since Gin had left and he'd told Zoro about the upcoming fight, as well as reiterating the fact that he would not stop the two swordsmen from fighting. He also grumbled about not supporting the fight, nor liking the inevitable outcome when he was out of ear shot of everyone.
Luffy quickly found this entire day to be boring. He already knew everything that was being said and every movement that was being made. He didn't ever let it on, but he remembered almost everything he'd ever seen, done and heard. He didn't dwell on any of it, though, and came off as forgetful. Even if he usually forgot the smaller details. But when you go back and repeat the same things while already knowing everything about what is going to happen, you lose interest very fast.
His attention was turned to Nami. He didn't say a thing and only watched her to see what she would do. He had made it abundantly clear that he was going to help her, but she had to ask for his help. It was a formality, really. He'd help her no matter what, but he didn't want to come off as a hero to the rest of the world. His title was 'Pirate' and the Marines and World Government were going to treat him as such, so he was going to act like they perceived him as much as his morals would allow him to.
Nami was very quiet as she thought. She'd seen Johnny and Yosaku looking over bounty posters and had spotted Arlong's. She knew she still technically had a few days before she had to report in, and she also knew that her deal with Luffy would end in a few hours - it would be exactly one month since they encountered Buggy - but she couldn't find it in herself to leave Luffy and Zoro behind! She hadn't liked them at first, and she would never admit this aloud, but she'd grown attached to the two directionally challenged idiots.
When she looked up, she locked eyes with Luffy. The fierce determination was hidden behind the curiosity in his eyes, but she could tell he was waiting for her answer. With Usopp, Sanji and Zoro not paying attention, she spoke to her not-yet - but also former because his time travel story was too detailed to be made up - captain, "I need your help."
"With?" was his simple and equally quiet response.
"I don't know what to do." She admitted, "I need to free my home, but I want to stay with you; but if I stay with you, then my friends and family will all die; but if I go back and free them, then I won't have any purpose anymore. I'll be alone."
"But you'll be surrounded by the people who love you and wish to see you grow."
"I know. But I'd have to stay in one place and I don't think I'd be able to do that."
Luffy didn't say anything for a long moment. "What is your dream, Nami?"
"What?"
"What is your dream?"
"My dream?" She started to cry. "My dream is to be free."
Luffy smiled softly at her, "Then I will help you as best I can." At some point he had moved to stand next to her. Still smiling, he pulled her into a warm hug and just let her cry silently onto his shoulder. When Zoro looked back, Luffy said nothing. The green haired man respected the obvious need of privacy and made sure to keep everyone's attention off of the two.
It took a few moments, but Nami had stopped crying. "Thank you." she muttered.
"Don't thank me yet, I haven't helped you yet."
"Do you have a plan?"
Luffy looked around the room to gauge the situation. Zeff had come down and given Don Crieg the hundred meals he'd asked for and was now being yelled at by his own staff. Sanji wasn't saying anything as Owner Zeff lectured his staff about starving and how to do their jobs as chefs. It was funny to watch, but no one laughed.
Zoro looked back, locked eyes with Luffy, grabbed Usopp's attention, and made his way back to where his captain was. Usopp followed him. He didn't bother to get Johnny or Yosaku, though. They're bounty hunters. They have no business getting involved with inter-crew affairs. Besides, helping them will only sully their Bounty Hunter Title. He didn't get Sanji, either, but that's because the blond has yet to board their ship, willingly or not, so Zoro didn't recognize him as a part of the crew.
As soon as his gathered crew were sitting at the table, Luffy spoke with authority he didn't usually show, "Here's the plan: Zoro, Nami and Usopp are going to take the Going Merry to Nami's home island. She's asked for our help, she can give you the details later and at her discretion. You'll leave after Zoro finishes some business with a man who will be here soon." Then he addressed the swordsman directly, "I told you that I don't much like your decision to fight him, Zoro, but I won't stop you. Your only order is to stay alive." He then continued to explain his plan, "After you three leave, Johnny and Yosaku will probably follow after you all in their own boat. They're our friends, but we have to keep minimal contact with them. If they're seen helping pirates, then their credibility as bounty hunters will plummet. Explain the situation to them. I'll follow with Sanji after this mess here is cleaned up. When we all get to the island, we'll meet up outside of Nami's home village and go from there. Understand?" The three nodded and he smiled, slipping back into his normal personality. "Good! Uncle Hawky is going to show up soon, so me and Zoro are going to head outside with the chefs. I want you two to get the Merry ready to sail."
"Aye, aye, Captain!" Nami jokingly saluted with a smile.
"Sure thing, captain!" Zoro's eyes gained a manic spark as he stood.
"Who's 'Unce Hawky'?" Usopp asked.
"My uncle! Dracule Mihawk!" Luffy grinned, leading Zoro to and out of the doors of the Baraite. Now outside, Luffy sat on the railings and whistled at the broken down ship. "What a piece of crap."
The chefs had all filtered out just after him and Zoro and had made it very clear that they wanted the broken gallion gone. Though, their curiosity took over their hatred. "What happened?" one of them asked, knowing full well that no one knew the answer.
"Not 'what happened'," Luffy stated as if talking about the weather, "'Who happened' is a better question."
Don Crieg and his crew had all finished their food and were rejuvenated by now. "Is that your ship, boy?" The captain of the once great pirate fleet had jumped onto the landing dock of the Baratie to talk with them. He was feeling merciful today and was willing to give them one last chance to hand over the restaurant.
"Yep!" Luffy answered honestly, "She's gonna take us to the Grand Line."
Don Crieg and his still very hungry crew all laughed at him. "You won't last a day on those waters." the captain stated. He gestured to his half sunk - it was an actual miracle it was still in one piece, let alone still floating - boat, "A single man did this to us! After three days of non-stop storms and waves, a single man with the eyes of a hawk destroyed our entire fleet! Our flag ship was the only one left floating. We barely made it back through the Calm Belt."
Luffy had to laugh at this man's idiocy. "I know Mihawk!" he announced, much to almost everyone's shock, "And he isn't really one to leave anyone alive. Especially if you disturbed him in some way." he gained a dark look, "The only people he leaves alone are people he respects."
"And what would you know? How do you know him? I bet it's a bluff!"
"You don't have to believe me. I don't really care if you do! But, you're getting in my way and prolonging something that could've been done quickly if you had just taken the food and left this place. Now I have to beat your ass so I can get my chef and leave!" He ignored Sanji's despondent sigh of denial in favor of launching at the opposing captain.
The fight was fairly quick and very boring for Luffy. Those watching, however, would tell a different story. But the two fighting captains both had the same thought as they glared at one another. "Stop holding back!" they yelled together, much to the surprise of the onlookers.
"They're holding back?" a chef with curly brown hair yelled.
"No way!" another one with short blue hair exclaimed.
The rest of the audience were sharing the shock in various ways. Though, the Straw Hats, Bounty Hunters, Head Chef and Sous Chef were showing different degrees of awe at the display. This fight was of a caliber that hadn't been seen in the East Blue for nearly thirty years! To learn that the two were holding back made everyone suddenly forget to speak.
Zoro never lost his grin. He knew his chosen captain was strong - him being from the future and all - but he didn't know he was that strong! Though, he still didn't know how strong 'strong' was to his captain. He could imagine that the boy had all of his strength from his original time, but he scrapped that thought because he'd have a bigger presence if that was the case. Maybe it was a simple matter of regaining muscle memory? Or maybe he was suppressing his strength? He didn't know, so he shrugged it off. It didn't matter, after all. Luffy's strong; strong enough to be recognized by the best swordsman in the world! That fact alone made Zoro all the more determined to become better than the best. After all, the right hand of the Pirate King couldn't be anything but.