Sanji's heart ached fiercely as he gathered everything he would need, his hands trembling. Luffy was hurt by taking a hit that was meant for him, his stupid, idiot, loveable captain… Chopper had looked him over and had patched all the wounds but he was in dire need of a bath and Sanji readily stated he would do that.
In fact he gave no room for arguments to the point that even Zoro didn't say anything against it.
After all, normally it was Nami – mostly Zoro – who could wrangle Luffy into the bath and Sanji had joined the seaweed brain once on bathing duty, he will never admit to how jealous he was that Zoro got to see such vulnerability in their captain.
Setting the soap basket down by the warm water he began to strip, placing his clothes off to the side and out of the way before turning towards Luffy. He was currently resting on the nest of towels Chopper had made for him, eyes closed and body languid.
"Let's get you clean Shitty-Captain," Sanji murmured as he gently picked up his captain, holding him close and making sure to keep an even pace back to the bath. He didn't want to jostle his captain and even though Sanji knew that Luffy's pain tolerance was high, that he probably wouldn't even feel the pull on all the stitches, he didn't wish to risk it.
A pang hit Sanji as he cradled his Captain, his eyes taking in the numerous scars and signs of a life on the seas. Not only that, but he was light, too light… almost like he was on the brink of starvation and it brought back terrible memories, even though Sanji knew better.
How many meals did Luffy miss over the two years, how many did he miss because of him? Sanji shook that thought away, shook what happened on Whole Cake Island and turned his attention back to Luffy.
"M'kay." Luffy slurred as Sanji stepped into the bath, lowering him slowly into the warm water so he could adjust to the sudden drain at a steady pace instead of all at once.
Humming a soft melody he could barely remember from his childhood, Sanji shifted till Luffy floated in his non-dominant arm his head resting on Sanji's shoulder while he reached over to grab the washcloth. Gently, oh so gently, Sanji dipped the cloth into the water and began to wipe away the blood and grime, making sure to not press too hard near the wounds and stitches.
"You shouldn't have taken that hit for me Shitty-Captain; I would have been okay." Sanji admonished as he began to lather the soap, rubbing soothing circles over the grime that hadn't been washed away from the first wipe-down.
Luffy blinked back blearily at him through his lashes, a soft shishishi escaping him. "I know but Sanji is mine."
The soft burst of Haki settled over Sanji's shoulders like a warm embrace, a fond smile pulling at his lips as he ran the damp cloth across Luffy's brows, down his cheeks, over the bridge of his nose in a way that Zeff had done for him on the rare times Sanji was sick.
There was a warmth that spread throughout him as he bathed his captain, as his hands washed away the pain, the marks of war. His hands were his treasure, they were hands that fed his Nakama and that Luffy trusted to hold him up and steady.
It was a heady thing this trust, and Sanji would do all he could to make sure he never betrayed it, not again.
Sometimes he thought he didn't deserve this, didn't deserve the trust his captain placed in him after everything he had done. Yes, he may have had a reason but still, he had struck his Captain, had said such terrible things and used Luffy's pains against him. He had starved his captain.
But that was only added ontop of the guilt and agony of what happened before. They all had failed Luffy, every single one of them who he had saved, who had held out his hand in their darkest hours and pulled them into the light… he had leant them his strength when they couldn't go on, his voice when they couldn't speak…
Yet, none of them were there for him in his darkest time. None of them could lend him their strength when he needed them, had stayed away for two years – under his orders – when they should have gone to find him anyway. Because all knew how much Luffy hated being alone.
Sanji will regret that for the rest of his life. They all would.
"Sanji is thinking too hard." Luffy hummed tiredly, his hand coming up to curl around Sanji's neck, pulling him down till their foreheads met. "Sanji shouldn't feel guilty for this."
Of course, Luffy would see right through him, of course, he wouldn't allow Sanji to continue to feel that way. He may be an idiot when it comes to certain things, but the mental health of those Luffy considers his, well he was always there in a flash when they started to feel bad.
He never let them stew in their depression for long, always dragging them back into the bright light of his warmth and love.
"I can't help it," Sanji sighed as he began to lather soap in Luffy's hair, pressing firmly along the scalp and savouring the contented sigh that escaped his lips. His eyes tracked to the scar of Marineford, the mark that would be forever a sign of failure on their part and then to the newest wound near it… it was a small thing really, but it would scar and that would haunt Sanji too, he just knew it.
"I'm okay Sanji," Luffy reassured, eyes closed and smile serene. "I have you and the others to take care of me."
Sanji smiled softly at the utter conviction in Luffy's voice as he began to cup the water in his hands and tip it over the suds in Luffy's hair, careful to not wash the soap into his eyes. He started to hum once again, this time a lullaby his mother used to sing.
It wasn't long till Luffy's familiar snores filled the room and Sanji took that as his queue to get out. He cradled his captain in his arms once more, smile soft as Luffy instinctively curled and snuffled into the crook of his neck, a murmur of his name.
He continued to hum the lullaby as he towelled Luffy dry, careful of the stitches. He read the note Chopper left alone with the salves and bandages, applying the salves to the wounds with delicate touches, eyes flicking to Luffy's face for any sign of discomfort out of habit until he managed to cover each wound with it. The bandages were easy, he's had learned a lot more on the do's and don'ts since the Baratie.
"Let's get you to bed Captain," He murmured once the last bandage was tied and he too was dressed.
Meal plans and recipes floated to the forefront of Sanji's mind as he heard the slight rumble of Luffy's stomach over the soft snores. He needed to pack more protein and calories into dishes, needed to find more ways to fill the food full of nutrients Luffy would need to recover.
"He asleep?" Nami whispered as Sanji stepped around the corner towards the kitchen. He jolted slightly, eyes widening as a slight whine left Luffy's lips as his head was jostled from Sanji's shoulder, both Nami and Sanji freezing.
After a moment both relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief. "Yes, I'm going to take him to the kitchen with me, he'll be hungry when he wakes up and I… I need to keep an eye on him just…"
He didn't know how to word what he was feeling, this itch under his skin that prickled at the thought of letting Luffy out of his sight.
"Ah," Nami exclaimed with understanding. "I was like this too; I just couldn't let him out of my sight. He got hurt because of me and I just, I needed to be there just in case he needed something or if he hurt himself more… the feeling is because I love him, he's… family and I hate when he's hurt because of me."
Oh… Sanji thought as what Nami was saying clicked in. With a nod, he smiled at Nami and began his trek to the kitchen once more, a lump in his throat. He's family… because I love him. Love, it was a strange concept to him. He could count on one hand how many people he loved, his mother, his sister, Zeff… but… that also wasn't true.
His eyes drift down to see Luffy smiling in his sleep.
He loved his captain, the man who listened to his dream and believed with him. He loved his Nakama like he loved his sister, they were indeed family, even the shitty-mosshead and he didn't even realise till Nami pointed it out.
Zoro was waiting for him in the kitchen, napping in the corner with a bottle of booze by his elbow and Sanji couldn't help but sigh in fond exasperation. A soft laugh escaped him as he gently placed Luffy down on the small futon near Zoro and immediately latched onto the mosshead, dragging him into the sharp edge of it.
These idiots of mine…
"Sanji, hungry…" Luffy slurred.
"I'm making you something to eat now Shitty-Captain, go back to sleep okay, I'll wake you when it's done." Sanji chuckled as he threw the blanket over them both, hand coming up to brush the dark strands away from his captain's face. "Want anything in particular?"
"Mm, something of home," Luffy replied with a snuffle.
"That doesn't help me, I don't know any recipes from your island Shitty-Captain." The words were of a fond exasperation.
A soft laugh escaped Luffy as he peered up through narrowed eyes, causing Sanji to step in the way of the light that shone across his face. "No, something of Sanji's home… I want a Sanji hug in food."
A Sanji hug? Sanji thought before something clicked into his brain, a whispered conversation long ago before they even left the East Blue.
"Sanji makes the best food, the soup you made in the fish was delicious! Felt just like a hug!" Luffy giggled, shoulders shaking as he swung from the rafters.
A chuckle escaped his own lips, pleased that his new captain liked his food. "A hug huh?"
"Yeah! A Sanji hug!"
His eyes roamed over the spice shelves and mentally recalled what he had in the fridge and pantry, please when he realised that he did indeed have everything he would need to make the soup.
"Alright Shitty-Captain, a Sanji Hug coming right up, now sleep." He chuckled, finishing with a stern tucking of the blanket. "I'll wake you when it's ready."
"Mm, Sanji is the best. Best cook, my cook." Haki coated the last words, the claim like always and this time Sanji understood the meaning of it. My Sanji, my cook, no one can hurt you, I won't allow it.
Blue eyes met green, both nodding to one another in a silent promise and understanding.
Sanji never wanted to be owned, and he never will be because his Nakama would never allow it, and Luffy would never allow it. He had proved as such when he tore apart Whole Cake Island for him but to be claimed by someone not out of greed but because Sanji was genuinely wanted? Because he was loved? Well, he quite liked that.
It was hard not to love being claimed by someone who shone like the sun, who pulled you into his orbit with several others and called you family.
And after everything, all the hurts and failures, Sanji couldn't be happier. Even if his idiot captain got hurt because of him.
With a shake of his head, Sanji left Luffy in Zoro's care, he had soup to prepare, and a hug to make and give.
After all his Captain requested it, and Sanji could never say no.
Author Note: GAH what even is this!? *stress shake* just 2k of word blergh...