Chapter 50

The Straw Hat Crew's cook

Malek closed the door to the Sunny's galley before leaning against it slowly. The ship had set sail as soon as he had come on board a few minutes earlier and he had barely taken the time to put his things in his new room, the boys' quarters, before coming up here. The whole morning had been a vast whirlwind of emotions and he was not unhappy to be alone for a moment. The galley was now his landmark, and it didn't take him long to find refuge there. The last hours came back to him then and his fingers tensed against the wood of the door behind him. He closed his eyes.

Announcing his departure to Shuri had been as painful as he had imagined and his cries of distress still echoed in his ears. Shuri's tears had almost made him change his mind. The cook had really had the impression of betraying him: the day before, he had presented the little boy to this competition and when he had won, Malek had believed that his little protege would only have to make the pirate crew dinner. In this way, he had hoped that Shuri would gain confidence in his abilities while realizing the immense task that awaited him if he really wanted to become a cook. Indeed, his student was still unaware of all the skills and perseverance that this exciting profession required. So this morning, when Malek had explained to Shuri that he had accepted the offer of the straw hat boy, he had known that the boy would be angry with him for taking the place he had obtained.

At that moment, Shuri had stared at him in disbelief for long seconds before looking at the straw hat boy at their side as if to check the truth in what his mentor had said. The captain had looked back at him without blinking and Malek had tried to add something but his protege had realized at the same time the scope of his decision and he had burst into tears.

The cook had felt his heart tear with guilt. He had tried to remind the boy that he was doing it to learn and thus make their dream come true on his return, but Shuri didn't listen and Malek had ended up falling silent, devastated. He had tried to take him in his arms but the boy had violently resisted. Malek had then got up to walk away in order to respect his wish and it was at this moment that the little boy had run into his arms, suddenly frightened to see him disappear.

And that is when, while Shuri's hands had closed around his mentor's neck and his tears had soaked his tee-shirt, Malek had realized the boy's true misfortune: Shuri didn't blame him for becoming the cook of the Straw Hat crew, he was only reacting to the consequences of that choice. Malek was going to leave and he refused to see him go, even if he was convinced of the necessity of this trip in view of their common goal. Shuri was still a child and he didn't want the man he was so attached to to escape him. Nothing else.

The cook had felt his own eyes water over realizing how much he was going to miss the little boy. He had set foot on Cartaga for almost three years, but the bonds he had created with the children and especially with Shuri during this period seemed to be as deep as those with his family.

Gathered around them, the Straw Hat crew had walked away respectfully and Malek and Shuri had remained alone on the deck for long minutes during which the cook had reminded his protege of their dream and promise to open a restaurant. The little boy had ended up drying his tears but he had remained clinging to his friend's hand and in the end, Malek had asked his new captain to give him a few more hours ashore. Luffy had approved and the cook had disappeared with his student until the young man had come back at the beginning of the afternoon after gathering his things and informed the school of his departure.

When he had returned, Malek was alone, but the emotion had been just as strong and everyone had felt his restlessness. The cook had indeed spent the whole morning with the children of his school and if he had been proud to see Shuri defend their project in front of the other students, he had felt his heart sink again when time for goodbyes had inevitably come.

Regaining control of his breathing, Malek finally opened his eyes to let his gaze take in his new den. He was here for a good reason and he had to get his bearings as soon as possible. He then took a few steps towards the worktops and let his fingers absently touch the immaculate wood despite the traces of use. He opened several cupboards and took a look at their organization. Most of them were meticulously sorted and he spotted their particular arrangement as an association of ideas reflecting the inspiration of their creator, typical of professional cooks. Conversely, some other cupboards reflected more of an ordinary organization where the sweet was separated from the salty and where the condiments didn't mix with their side dishes.

Malek gently closed the doors he had opened and once again, he stared thoughtfully around the room. Cooking was his domain and he usually always felt good amid the utensils and worktops but here, a disconcerting sense of exclusion took hold of him as he detailed the comfortable sofa, the warm decoration and even the surprisingly locked fridge. Everything breathed intimacy and comfort and yet Malek knew why this impression of strangeness seized him at this sight. Every kitchen has its story and this one was no exception.

The day before, he had already had a glimpse of it but today, a detail was obvious to him: the care and affection that characterized this galley were undeniable and he had pointed this out to the captain. This specificity wasn't of secondary importance. Indeed, as a professional, Malek knew that a kitchen reflected its owner and even if Sanji had been absent for several months and the rest of the crew used the room daily, they didn't really have invested this space. They have stored everything they needed in two cupboards, leaving all the others in their original state and using the same dishes one time to another. That's why Malek already had an important clue about who had occupied the galley before him: the crew members had never ceased to imagine him among them and they only occupied the galley in a superficial way, leaving the ghost of his presence floating every time they entered the room.

Malek bit his lip as he opened a drawer filled with loose sheets scribbled in thin, tight handwriting. He had trusted his instincts and the straw hat boy when agreeing to sail with them, but now he realized the magnitude of the task that awaited him: it wasn't just about cooking and taking advantage of the trip to discover new recipes. It was also about finding his place among a crew which had obviously let one of their own leave reluctantly. He needed to be up to the task on all fronts.

The cook reached into the drawer and pulled out a scrap of paper at random. "Long-Nose doesn't like green peppers. Possible allergy. Maybe for his stupid projectiles."

Amused, he grabbed another. "The mixed peppers are a success! ~Robin-chan~"

An endless series of hearts followed and Malek felt his eyebrows rise. Clearly intrigued, he was about to grab a third sheet when a dark-haired tornado tumbled into the galley and he turned quickly.

"Malek, come on! You've gotta visit the Sunny!"

"Oh, sure. I'll be right there."

The cook closed the drawer and was about to follow his captain, but Luffy had already disappeared. He then headed towards the door in turn and after casting an umpteenth glance at the room, he closed the door gently behind him.

When he found the straw hat boy on deck, he could see that the almost complete crew was also waiting for him.

"We're gonna make the official introductions!" Franky decided when Malek stopped next to him. "You've already met Luffy, he's our captain and he ate the Gum-Gum fruit!"

"That's why I'm rubber!" The latter approved with a big smile. To prove it, he launched his arm up to the top of the crow's nest before retracting it a second later and Malek couldn't help but stare at him in fascination. His captain sure was something.

"I'm the shipwright, I built the Sunny," the cyborg continued, "Just tell me if you need anything, bro. Don't be shy!"

"That's very nice."

"Brook is the musician of the crew," Franky continued, pointing to the skeleton at their side.

"It's a great honor to meet you, Malek and I can't wait to enjoy your dishes!" Brook elegantly introduced himself. "Regarding my appearance, I ate the Revive-Revive fruit and when I died, I came back to life! Yohohohoho!"

"I am, uh, pleased to meet you too."

"The guy with the long nose is Usopp," his guide went on," He's good with his slingshot."

"The Great Captain Usopp," the sniper bragged, "Dear Malek, do not hesitate to call on me for I have more than ten thousand men under my command and…"

"He's also a professional liar, you'll see," the shipwright whispered as the new cook stared at the man in amazement.

Franky then pointed to the little reindeer who was stamping in front of them, a tray and a pen in his hand. "Chopper is our doctor. He doesn't look like much, but if you refuse to follow his recommendations, he can force you to do so. He's really good at his job!"

"Shut up, you fool! It doesn't please me at all if you praise my abilities in front of Malek!"

"He's a reindeer who talks!" Luffy added excitedly.

"A devil fruit?" The cook inquired, curious.

"I ate the Human-Human fruit," Chopper confirmed before tapping his tray. "Malek, I need you to come see me quickly so that I can make your complete medical record," he then added seriously.

"My medical record?"

"I need to know as many things as possible," the doctor said in a professional tone. "Blood type, allergies, past or current health problems, potential operations. I have to stock up and be ready for any eventuality! Of course, everything you tell me will remain confidential!" He assured him then.

"All right."

"The guy with green hair and swords who sleeps against the mast is Zoro," Franky resumed, showing him the fencer a few steps away. "He's our swordsman. He doesn't talk much and he's often grumpy, but don't let him scare you, he's a nice guy. Don't trust him with directions though, his compass is broken."

"I'll remember it."

"The redhead is Nami," he continued, pointing to the two girls leaning towards the mandarin trees upstairs. "She's got quite a temper but you won't find anyone better than her to navigate the Grand Line! Be careful though, she tends to manipulate to get what she wants…"

Malek nodded and even if he had trouble imagining this beautiful young woman capable of such a thing, he had learned long ago not to judge a book by its cover.

"And the dark-haired woman is Robin!" The cyborg finished cheerfully. "Mysterious, clever and talented archaeologist! She has the power to grow as many limbs as she wants and if you look at her too often, you take the risk of being bewitched!"

"Bewitch?" The cook repeated, astounded.

"Exactly, bro! She's so beautiful you won't be able to take your eyes off her! She's really super!"

At these words, the shipwright whirled before striking a pose on the deck and while Luffy and Brook applauded him, Usopp sighed.

"Franky has a soft spot for Robin and he can't be objective," he explained to their new friend who was gazing at them in surprise. "I mean, Robin's nice but she's also creepy. She's got a sense of humor that borders on the pathological. Anyway, you'll see…"

Malek then burst out laughing when he saw Chopper cry out before rushing towards Franky who had started to smoke from spinning too much, clearly carried away by his passion for the beautiful archaeologist.

"I'm sure you never get bored!"

Usopp sighed louder. "You have no idea…"

"Well, let's show him Sunny now!" Luffy excitedly grabbed the cook's arm to pull him in the direction of the aquarium and Malek let him, a smile on his face. Even if they missed Sanji sorely, the crew was particularly warm towards him and his desire not to disappoint them redoubled.

Malek cleared the plates of pumpkin and carrot soup he had served as a starter before placing a large dish of sautéed veal on the table and then another of white rice alongside an appetizing pan of crunchy vegetables. He then cut large slices of bread and as the crew eagerly rushed for the food, he took a seat at the end of the table so he could continue to serve. Facing him on the other end, Luffy had emptied the whole tureen and was already grabbing the next dish. On his right, Brook had settled down beside Robin, herself at the right of Nami who was handing a piece of bread to Chopper. Facing the little reindeer, Usopp happily helped himself while Franky gave a bottle to Zoro seated at the left of his captain.

"There's something I don't understand," the cook said, flipping through a small notebook he'd found in the drawer while the crew ate noisily, "Sanji noted incredible amounts of food…"

"It's because our captain is a glutton," Usopp growled, trying to get his share of meat from the plate of the straw hat boy.

"Really? I thought last night was exceptional because you hadn't had a real meal in a long time."

"Luffy has an elastic body and some of his attacks use a lot of energy," the little reindeer explained while trying to save his part in turn. "He needs to eat a lot."

"That's why there's a padlock on the fridge," the cyborg showed him with a nod, devouring his plate with gusto. "Without it, he'd swallow everything, he can't restrain himself."

"Our captain defies the laws of nature at all levels," the skeleton approved.

"Robin and I are responsible for the key but I'll give you one," Nami added while helping herself to a portion of vegetables.

Malek glanced at the pot of rice still steaming on the fire. Fortunately, he had made more because he was used to always planning a little more than the recommended quantities. He turned his attention back to the table and his gaze fell on Luffy who shoved his food into his mouth with one hand while the other reached into the others' plates to steal their shares. He then jumped when Nami's fork planted in one of them. The straw hat boy retrieved his hand, wincing, and the young woman grabbed her glass of water.

"You'll have to learn to be respected," she said to their disconcerted new friend. "As a cook, your function is strategic as you can see. All our stock will depend on you."

"Uh, I see but… How are you doing with money? These figures are astronomical," he got worried while detailing the recipes in the notebook.

"Sanji took care of the shopping and if he needed something special, he asked me," the redhead answered. "The boys can also fish, it's very useful during long non-stop journeys."

"Oh, okay."

"Let's be clear, Malek." At the sharp tone of the navigator, he looked up at her, immediately attentive. "On this ship, I am the one who keeps the accounts and there's no way we're throwing money out the window so I expect you to have a precise and tight budget. Save money and we'll be best friends in the world, got it?"

"Uh… Got it."

"Perfect," the redhead replied, immediately relaxed, "By the way, this sautéed veal is really delicious," she added, savoring her share.

"Yes, it's very good!" Chopper agreed happily.

"Uh, I… Thank you."

Nami nodded in satisfaction and everyone went on with their meal as if nothing had happened. The young man tried to resume his reading then.

"Malek, I'm hungry!" Luffy suddenly begged him.

"Oh, of course."

The cook got up quickly and put down the second dish of rice after clearing the first, now empty. Luffy cheered immediately before throwing himself on it and the battle started again. Shaking his head, Malek decided to sit down to study the notebook further and he flipped a page.

"There are interesting indications, it'll allow me to familiarize myself with your tastes," he noticed after a few moments.

"What kind of indication?" Usopp asked, curious.

"I think these are dishes you tasted and Sanji noted to remake or rework them."

"Did he write a recipe for me?" The little reindeer inquired, his eyes shining.

"I think so." Malek flipped through the pages quickly before settling on one. "Orange madeleines from Vrali. He made a lemon version apparently," he read.

"Yes! We had bought some on an island and I really liked it so Sanji made some more with several other flavors, it was delicious!" The doctor remembered with delight.

"Did he select a recipe for me?" Usopp asked in turn.

The cook turned the pages again. "He's found several fish recipes and there's one with olive oil that seems to have won the prize," he pointed out to him as the sniper leaned in beside him.

"Oh, that's when he barbecues them!" He then remembered. "I tried to make some myself but mine are always too dry…"

"I think I figured out that you like cola a lot," Malek said to the cyborg then. "He noted loads of variations in very different dishes."

"Sanji-bro knows everything about our tastes!" Franky agreed enthusiastically, "I love cola!"

"What other discoveries did he make?" Brook asked.

The cook frowned as he turned more pages. "Well, I couldn't find any recipe or reference for Robin or Nami," he admitted. "I don't know why; those are the only ones missing…"

At his side, Usopp sneered. "Don't worry about that, he must have written entire books about it and kept them under his pillow to reread them every night!"

"He probably has enough to publish a collection!" Franky laughed in turn.

"Unless our friend had memorized them all," the musician suggested dreamily, "His memory on this subject is quite phenomenal…"

"Sanji always remembers everything about Nami and Robin," Chopper explained to the cook.

"Don't be jealous," the navigator who was folding her napkin chimed in, "Sanji-kun was just doing his job for us."

"Yeah, right," Usopp muttered, "You say that because you were always served first with Robin and we had to manage on our own…"

Malek raised an eyebrow when hearing the conversation and Robin stifled a laugh. He then noticed that the crew had finished eating and he got up to bring a salad and the cheese platter. He also filled the jug of water and switched on the coffee maker while making sure that his shortbread cookies were still hot.

Satisfied, he finally settled back at the table and took back Sanji's notebook. "Brook, he's encircled several milk-based dishes and drinks with your name, does that ring a bell?" He asked him.

"Absolutely!" The musician answered, "You see, as a pile of bones, milk is a must for me!"

"Interesting," the cook said, grabbing his own pen and a sheet of paper, "I love inventing new cocktails, I'll see what I can do."

"What wonderful news!" The skeleton got enthused.

"What did he write for me?!" Luffy suddenly wanted to know, visibly pausing in the middle of his raid.

"Recipes with meat," the cook replied. "Heaps of different cooking and monstrous quantities…"

"Awesome! Make them all!"

"Luffy, Malek has just arrived and he surely has his own recipes. Give him time," Nami sighed.

"I already have some ideas," the man approved.

"What have you got planned?" The little reindeer inquired curiously.

"Oh, well, I'd like to test the pa-"

"Hey, Malek, wait! You didn't say what he marked for Zoro!"

The cook turned his attention to the captain who was stuffing himself with bread again, suddenly embarrassed. "Actually, he didn't exactly write down any recipes for him…"

"He didn't write anything about Zoro?" Luffy wondered, grabbing a whole cheese under the angry gaze of the redhead.

"He did. He wrote things. Just… not recipes," he admitted then, glancing furtively at the swordsman whose indifferent face betrayed no emotion.

At these words, Malek had the feeling that the crew froze around him but the captain didn't seem to notice. "Tell us then!"

"I don't know if…"

"Luffy, there's no need to make a fuss about it," the navigator tried to help him.

"But I wanna know!" The straw hat boy pouted.

"Okay…"

Malek slowly turned the pages and everyone seemed to be holding their breath around the table, except for Luffy who grabbed new pieces of bread to better throw them in his mouth. The cook took a deep breath.

"This evening, the alcoholic mosshead didn't say a word in front of the terrine sea with seaweed I made. He must have thought he was eating his fellows (...) Yesterday, this shitty bastard knocked back my bottles so I made him eat my shoes to teach him good manners (...) This idiot swordsman pulls a face at all meals, his taste buds must have burnt at the same time as his sense of orientation (...) This morning, the Marimo Man missed breakfast again because of his stupid training and he had the nerve to complain. He just has to eat his fucking swords if he loves them so much!"

Malek looked up shyly, blushing, and met the deafening silence of his crewmates. The very closed face of the fencer at the other end of the table made him uneasy and he cleared his throat. He was about to attempt to come up with some comforting words for the swordsman when the crew suddenly burst into laughter around him, making his eyes widen.

"That is so like Sanji and Zoro!" Luffy exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

"Even in his cookbooks, he couldn't help it," Nami noticed, shaking her head.

"His pen is as sharp as his speeches," Robin approved with amusement.

"I-I can't believe what he wrote!" Usopp stammered, trying to catch his breath while laughing.

"It's like hearing him!" Brook marveled.

"Sanji-bro was super fired up!" Franky got enthused.

"If that stupid cook knew how to do his job, I wouldn't have had to skip meals," Zoro growled, his jaw clenched. "As if he could make me eat dirt anyway, that shitty curly brow!"

"I'm sure he wrote real recipes for you somewhere, Zoro," Chopper tried to appease him.

Malek stared at the crew who were happily commenting on his reading, flabbergasted. Yet he quickly noticed that all the tension in the room had disappeared and he instinctively glanced at the small notebook he still held in his hand.

In the end, he cracked a smile and closed it. He then got up to start grabbing cups and as he heard more laughter, he carefully put the notebook back in the drawer where he had found it.

Tonight, he was sure. Sanji's shadow still floated over the Sunny but it wasn't about standing in for him, on the contrary. It is Sanji who would help Malek to find his place.

We're halfway through this story!

I hope you're all doing well.

In the next chapter, we'll check in on our favorite cook!