AN:
There have been a couple of comments about certain things like Luffy's mentioning of his brothers or everyone knowing about Shanks. In the manga, the emperors aren't mentioned very much. It's the same with Luffy's brothers. I feel like it was a way for Oda to build the story in the right way. I know I know, very presumptuous of me. But, that's beside the point. The point is that we already know the story. With that in mind, I want everything to feel a little more connected if that makes sense. Hopefully, it will as we get further into the story. That's kind of why I'm mentioning some things the way I am. I do want this to be true to the source material but I'm also not trying to rewrite the manga, it's fanfiction so I want things to be different. Anyways, again, I love talking about this kind of stuff so keep the comments coming in. I always enjoy reading them. Hope this didn't seem ranty lol. But again I love the comments they give me a chance to talk about stuff like this.
Also, I am caught up on everything so don't worry about spoiling me in the comments. I'm a little bit of a One Piece nut if you couldn't tell.
I don't have too much to say about this chapter other than it's a slower one, but you guys know how it goes. Still, I like it and hope you guys do too.
Chapter 13: Fish and Ships
Nami sighed. It was a beautiful day out on the waters of the East Blue. The sun shone brightly in a sky filled with big beautiful white clouds, the blue water reflecting its rays. The orangette's eyes roamed the deck of their new ship as the wind blew through her short hair, looking for her companions.
Luffy slept on the figurehead of their vessel, sprawled out and uncaring of the fact that he could fall into the water below at any moment. He'd dubbed the perch as "his spot" as soon as they'd set off. The girl scanned for the other occupant of the boat and her eyes found a green head of hair doing some exercising just outside the storage room. It was where he'd decided to keep all of his… Equipment. She scoffed remembering when he and Luffy had brought his 'weights' on board. She still couldn't really believe it was possible for humans to be as strong as they were. She shook her head. No use dwelling on it.
Her eyes stopped scanning for passengers and began to roam the deck once more, her smile growing. She couldn't help it. The ship was perfect. The Going Merry. The three companions had taken to calling her Merry for short. She walked up the steps toward the galley and turned when she reached the top. The girl leaned against the railing and looked out once again, the memory of the first time she stood there flashing through her mind. She didn't stop it as it took her back to seeing the ship for the first time.
"Ship?!", Nami exclaimed. She'd totally forgotten, but she'd been planning to ask Kaya if she had one she was willing to part with. Obviously, if the blonde had asked for compensation, Zoro would have paid for it but that was beside the point.
The point was, she wanted to get to Mad Treasure's hideout as quickly as possible. She'd already been away for a while and Arlong didn't like it when she was gone for too long. The girl resisted the urge to scowl. She wanted a bigger ship so they could sail straight to the hideout rather than having to stop on the way. It would definitely cut off some time. Not too much, but enough to make it worth asking. The problem was, it had totally slipped her mind. And with everything that had happened, it was coming as a shock to her that Luffy had actually managed to get one.
"Yeah!", Luffy exclaimed excitedly, "Kaya said that no one really uses it anymore!". The straw-hatted boy stood to his feet and nodded toward the door, "You think you can make it down to the docks?".
Nami groaned but slid her legs back out of the bed and placed them on the wood floor, slowly standing to her feet. Her muscles groaned slightly but it wasn't too bad. She tried to take her first step and, instead, yelped when she was lifted into the air.
"Too slow!", yelled a laughing Luffy as he carried the girl toward the door. "Zoro! Come on let's go show Nami the ship!", he said to his green-haired friend. He was really excited. He just knew she was going to love it!
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.", Zoro replied. He stood up and grabbed his swords from where they were sitting by the windowsill, tucking them into his belly warmer, "She's got legs you know.".
"SHUT IT, YOU IDIOT! I DIDN'T ASK HIM TO PICK ME UP!", Nami screamed from Luffy's arms.
Zoro only smirked as he listened to Luffy's laughter echoing through the hallway.
As they came upon the docks, Nami could only think one thing. It was beautiful.
Merry and Kaya stood next to the boat chatting with one another as the three approached. Merry, noticing the teens, pointed over Kaya's shoulder and she turned in their direction, a small smile coming to her face.
Luffy carefully stepped onto the dock and set Nami down. "Hey, Kaya!", said the straw-hatted boy, waving in the blonde-haired girl's direction.
"Hello, Luffy.", Kaya said, returning his wave and smile. She turned her eyes to Nami and they visibly softened, "I'm glad you're feeling better, Nami. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up.".
The orange-haired girl smiled back at the blonde, "It's ok. I'm alive and that's all that matters.". She meant it too.
"We can talk more, later.", Kaya said, "Right now, I know you want to know about the ship.". Her smile turned into a small smirk as looked at Nami, knowingly.
"I believe I could be of some use in that department.", came Merry's voice from over Kaya's shoulder. He walked forward and looked Nami in the eyes before bowing his head, "Before that, however, I must express my most sincere apologies to you, my lady.".
Nami's eyes widened. She hadn't been expecting an apology. In her mind, it wasn't anyone's fault but Kuro's for being the damned pirate he was. So, the fact that the butler was apologizing surprised her. "Merry, there's no need for that.", she said, waving her hands in front of her, "Kuro was the one at fault.".
Merry looked up in curiosity, "Kuro?".
The orangette let her hands rest back at her sides. "It was his real name. At least that's was he told me.", she replied.
"THAT'S IT!", yelled Zoro all the sudden. He stepped up next to Luffy and addressed the group with his revelation, "I knew I'd seen his face somewhere before. It was on an old bounty poster!".
Luffy looked at the swordsman weirdly. "What the hell are you talking about, Zoro?", he asked.
"A while back when I first really started bounty hunting, he was one of the biggest bounties in the East Blue. I can't remember the exact number but I remember it being high.", said Zoro, "But HIS name was Kuro of a Hundred Plans. And his bounty expired almost two years ago. Some marine got 'em I think.".
"That lines up with what he told me.", Nami chimed in. She went to continue but her eyes glanced over at Kaya and she paused. She was putting up a good front but Nami could tell that the current topic was bothering her. Maybe it was best to leave it be for now. "Enough about that.", said the orangette, quickly changing the subject. Her eyes roamed over the lamb-headed ship that sat at the edge of the dock. "Merry.", she ordered, "Stand up and tell me all about this beauty.".
The butler's back immediately straightened out like a soldier in the presence of his commander and he began to rattle off all of the specifications of their new vessel, "The ship's name is the Going Merry. It is a caravel with one main mast and a mizzenmast. No foremast. It's equipped with a jib and central steer rudder. Instead of the traditional steering wheel, a whip staff attached to the rudder is used to steer. The whip staff is located in the same room as the galley.".
The man paused to take a quick breath and began again, "The ship's armaments consist of four cannons. One in the bow pointing forward, one in the stern, and two pointing out either side of the ship. Next I'll explain the rigging. Firs-".
"TOO MANY WORDS!", Zoro and Luffy yelled simultaneously.
The butler jumped almost a foot into the air, not expecting the interruption, but recovered quickly. "Yes, of course.", he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "I suppose you can go discover the rest for yourselves. If you have any questions afterward, don't hesitate to ask. I did design her after all.", he said before bowing once more and moving to take his previous place behind Kaya.
"You heard him.", Kaya said lightly laughing, "Go see what else it has in store.".
Luffy didn't need to be told twice. "Let's go!", yelled the boy, jumping from the dock to the boat.
Nami smiled as she walked past Kaya and Merry to the ramp and up to the deck, Zoro following her closely. As she slowly stepped on the wooden planks of the ship she couldn't help her largening smile, Luffy's laughter echoing in the air was making it even harder. Time to go explore her new home for the next month or so.
Nami was interrupted from the memory by Luffy yelling from his perch.
"Guys! Quick! Come look!".
Zoro set his weights down and walked to the stairs, wiping sweat from his brow. "What is it, Luffy?", the swordsman asked. He turned back to his weights and couldn't help but think he should probably put them up. He thought about it for a moment before deciding to do it later.
Kaya had been nice enough to donate some of the stone wall from behind her mansion. Well, he hadn't asked… He just kind of cut and ran… Literally. It was messed up anyways. She wouldn't miss it… probably. Regardless, he then used the stone to fashion some weights to lift. The stone was solid so they were nice and heavy just the way he liked them. Kaya had some nice walls.
"Stop ogling those atrocities you call weights, muscle head. It's weird.", Nami said as she passed the green-haired boy on the way up the stairs.
The verdet scowled in return but held his tongue and followed behind the navigator to where their future captain was excitedly shouting. Well... HIS future captain... For now.
"Luffy, what the hell are you on about?", the girl asked, reaching the top of the steps.
The straw-hatted boy jumped up and down on the lamb figurehead he so loved and pointed out to the sea. "Look over there!", he said excitedly, "It's a giant fish!".
"We just wanted to thank the chef that made our meal.", the finely dressed gentleman said to the figure standing at the table.
The woman across from him nodded her head in agreement. "Yes! It was so delicious I thought my soul was going to melt!", she praised.
The person they were talking to was a teenager of eighteen years old. He was a slim, muscular, long-legged boy with blond hair which he kept brushed over the left side of his face. Above his grey-black right eye, was a very distinctive eyebrow that formed a clockwise spiral at the outer end. He wore a black double-breasted suit with golden buttons, a similarly colored tie, and a blue long-sleeved buttoned shirt. It all made for a very well-put-together gentleman. Much to the surprise of the two customers, he was the sous chef of the restaurant they were currently in. The Baratie.
The blond had been working in the restaurant for most of his life and cooking for longer. He had a history with the head chef and it was how he'd ended up working there at such a young age. He wasn't always as good of a cook as he was now, but he'd learned a lot over the years and was a big help in opening the restaurant in the first place.
Now he was a sous chef and he got to cook food for beautiful women every day. The teenager smiled to himself as blonde hair, the same color as his, flashed through his mind. The feeling of a woman praising his cooking would never change. It always felt the same as it did the first time…
Wonderful.
"It was my absolute pleasure, madam.", said the chef suavely. He held his hand out to the woman and she instinctively placed her own into his. The blond-haired chef removed the cigarette from his mouth and bent down to place a kiss on the woman's knuckle. "It's the world's gift to me… To be able to serve a beautiful woman like you.", he said, gently releasing her hand and placing his cigarette back in his mouth. He then flashed her his best smile, "Please come back and see me again sometime.".
The man at the table stood abruptly, his chair screeching across the floor, and pointed an accusatory finger at the chef, "Don't you dare try to talk to her like tha-".
"SIT DOWN, SIR!", yelled the blond-haired teen. He sent the man a withering glare and said man stumbled back into his seat, "No one will tell me how I can talk to a woman.". He turned back to the pretty lady and sent her a wink to which she blushed, looking down at her lap. Swinging his head back to the man and immediately sending another glare in his direction, he asked, "Would you like to know why?".
The man only nodded.
The chef turned away from the table and began to make his way to the open area in front of the entrance, "It's because I will only ever talk to women with the absolute love and respect they deserve.". He stopped and the light from the window in the ceiling hit him in just the right way. He was suddenly shining with an ethereal glow and all the women in the restaurant couldn't help but be mesmerized.
The chef turned toward the crowd and the light perfectly framed his one visible eye, a twirly eyebrow resting just above it. He flashed the room a slick smile. "The name is Sanji.", the blond paused and pointed dramatically at each of the women he could see, "And I dig the ladi-".
A loud crash interrupted the twirly-browed teen, the entire restaurant gasping as two arguing teenagers trying to get into the restaurant blasted the front door off its henge.
"MEAT!", Luffy yelled as he and Zoro held each other in headlocks.
"BOOZE!", the swordsman screamed back smashing his forehead against the straw-hatted boy's.
Nami carefully followed the two idiots through the now-destroyed entrance of the restaurant. As she stepped through it, she noticed how extensive the damage was. How the hell had they even done it?... She shook her head in exasperation. However they did it, she so wasn't paying for it.
"We are spending the last of MY money on what I want!", Zoro screamed in his friend's face. Neither of them even noticed the person laying under the doors they'd caved in.
Nami sweatdropped. They literally had both meat and alcohol back on the ship…
"I'm the captain! You have to listen to me!", Luffy argued back. He wanted meat!
"You're not the captain yet! Dumbass!", the swordsman yelled back with shark teeth.
"Both of you… SHUT THE HELL UP!", Sanji raged from underneath the smashed-in door. Damn those bastards... And just when he'd been about to make such a good impression on all the ladies too! He scowled to himself as he kicked the door in anger. It flew upward and smashed into the ceiling with a crash but Sanji didn't care at the moment. He stood up, wiping the dust from his suit, and reached into his pocket to grab a new cigarette. Placing it between his lips, he lit it as he walked toward the two guys making a ruckus in his restaurant. Zeff was gonna be pissed about the door. His eyes glanced up at the ceiling… 'Shit.'.
Zoro and Luffy paused in their screaming as the blond-haired guy walked toward them. They glanced at each other before letting go of each other's necks and standing up straight to face the angry boy.
"Where the hell do you two get off busting up the restaurant?!", yelled Sanji as he found his way directly in front of the two.
Zoro and Luffy looked at each other in silence before they each pointed a finger in the other's face. "It was his fault.", they said in perfect synchronicity.
A tick mark appeared above Sanji's eye, "I don't give a shit who it was! I asked, where do you get off busti-".
"Excuse me.", Nami said from over Zoro and Luffy's shoulders. She put on her cutest face and continued, "We're really sorry about the door. Could you please forgive us? Just this once?". She finished it off by sticking her tongue out and winking at the blond teen.
Sanji felt an arrow pierce straight through his heart. He dashed to Nami's side, completely ignoring the two boys and kneeling before the orange-haired girl, "My beautiful swan. There is nothing I wouldn't do for a goddess such as yourself. Consider it forgotten. As if it never happened in the first place.". Sanji looked up from the ground and to the two brutes standing next to the orange-haired beauty, frowning, before turning back to the orangette, "My lady, first, may I have your name?".
"Nami.", the girl replied. She sweatdropped to herself. That had been really easy. She was totally right… The boy was a total sucker. She'd seen his type before. Just never so… over the top. She thought about it for a second before deciding that it was actually kind of cute.
"A perfect name for a perfect woman.", sighed the twirly-browed teen. He looked up into Nami's eyes, "Secondly, I must ask… What has possessed you to bless these two brutes with your heavenly presence?".
A tick mark appeared on Zoro's forehead and Luffy began to laugh. "Zoro! He called you a brute!", the younger boy giggled. The twirly-browed guy was funny.
"He called you a brute too! You idiot!", yelled Zoro with shark teeth.
Luffy did like he usually did and just laughed harder, drawing more of Zoro's ire.
Nami sweatdropped at her two idiots. "Just ignore them…", she paused, looking for the blond-haired boy's name.
Sanji caught on and immediately provided it, "It's Sanji, my lady.".
"Sanji's a cute name.", she flirted, winking at him.
The chef's heart was speared with an arrow by the woman for the second time. Women were such wonderful creatures.
"These two are my bodyguards, so just ignore them.", the girl said with a smile.
The twirly-browed boy visibly relaxed. Of course someone as beautiful as her would have bodyguards. It was the kind of beauty that should be protected.
"What the hell are you talking abou-", Zoro stopped and held his head in pain as Nami lifted her fist from it.
"Don't worry about him, he's all muscle and no brains.", said the girl. She smirked at the look of indignation resting on Zoro's face. Oh, sweet revenge.
"I see. Well, if it would please you so, I offer you and your brutes a table. It would mean the world to me if you'd let me cook for you.", Sanji said. He glanced over at the two teens with the girl and scowled at them, "I guess you two can eat as well.". He wasn't very happy about it but at least he would get to feed the beautiful orange-haired girl.
"Meat!", exclaimed Luffy, jumping up and down. He was hungry and all the laughing was making it worse! Plus he wanted to see what the funny eyebrow guy could cook!
"Booze!", Zoro yelled happily. Surely the dumb love-struck blondie would give him some booze to drink. He did offer to cook for them after all.
Sanji scoffed at the two, now happy, boys. "You two will be paying for everything you eat or drink.", he turned and looked at Nami, his eyes turning into hearts, "Unlike you Nami. Your meal will be on the house.".
Luffy and Zoro both screamed in outrage before freezing and slowly turning toward one another as if realizing something. They looked at each other for a moment before tick marks formed above both of their heads. The quiet was shattered as the two brought their heads back and smashed them into one another.
"MEAT!".
"BOOZE!".
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE HELL UP!", Nami screamed with shark teeth, smashing a fist over both of the boy's skulls.
The two friends quieted as large bruise bumps formed on top of their heads, pouting from their places on the floor but complying nonetheless.
Nami turned back to Sanji and replied to him, "I'm flattered Sanji. And I would love to try some of your cooking.". She pointed to the two pouting boys on the floor, "I'm sure they will have no problem paying for their meals. Isn't that right boys?". She shot them a menacing look and they both nodded their heads, gingerly touching their bruise bumps.
"Perfect.", said the black-suited chef, standing and gesturing in the other direction of the dining room, "If you would please follow me, I can show you to your table.".
Nami walked in the direction he'd gestured, to a table directly ahead. It sat against a wall with a port window, just above the table, shining light onto its white cloth.
Sanji pulled out the chair at the head of the table and gestured for Nami to sit, to which she complied. "Oh and I almost forgot.", said the black-suited chef, pushing the girl's chair in, "Welcome to the Baratie.". He bowed before standing and turning back in the direction of the kitchen, "I'll go grab a bottle of wine for you to start off with, my lady.". The teen spun on his heel with a giddy look on his face and headed toward the kitchen as Luffy and Zoro pulled out their chairs, sitting at the table.
"Hey! I want meat!", Luffy yelled at Sanji's back, banging his fork and knife on the table. Where the hell did he keep getting those?
"I want some booze. Shouldn't be too hard for a server like yourself to get some for me.", Zoro insulted. The damn cook was pissing him off.
"Patty! Carne! Come clean up all the shit at the entrance!", Sanji yelled in the direction of his destination before turning back toward the table. "First of all... Why is a piece of moss on your head?", he said pointing at Zoro's green hair, "Second of all... I'm no damn server. I'm a chef.".
Zoro scoffed, trying to ignore the blond's insult, "More like ero-chef.".
"The hell did you say?", Sanji growled. No one insulted his love for women.
"Sanji!", Nami sing songed from her place next to Zoro, "I was really looking forward to that wine.". She sent him a dazzling smile that had the chef wrapped right around her finger.
"Your wish is my command, my swan!", exclaimed Sanji, his eyes turning into hearts. He quickly disappeared into the kitchen to get the requested bottle of wine. He couldn't keep his queen waiting, after all.
Nami sweat-dropped as the chef left the table. He was certainly excitable.
"I like him! I think he's funny!", Luffy laughed as he leaned against the wall, pointing at Zoro, "He called you moss-head!".
The verdet growled at his future captain. "That idiot chef shouldn't be throwing around insults when he's just a big perv.". He'd seen the way he'd been ogling Nami and every other woman in the place. It didn't bother him for any other reason than it was just annoying as hell.
That made Luffy laugh harder. "Hey! Nami! Maybe you guys can go peeping together!", exclaimed the straw-hatted boy, his laughter increasing dramatically as Nami's face glowed cherry red with anger.
"You damn idiot!", she screamed at him, "For the last damn time! I! Wasn't! Peeping!". She huffed angrily and crossed her arms, looking away from the giggling boy. Sometimes he could be so irritating.
Across the dining room, two men came out of the kitchen and couldn't help but gape at the state of the entrance to the restaurant. One of them was a stocky average-sized man with brown hair and tan skin. He wore the classic Baratie uniform and a pair of sunglasses, even though he was inside.
The other was a muscular man with somewhat oversized forearms. He had a prominent pair of lips on his face and his black hair formed an elaborate goatee around his chin. Instead of the classic uniform, like his companion, he wore a customized version of the restaurant's uniform consisting of a dark double-breasted shirt, matching shorts, and a white apron. The last thing of note was the pink ascot that hung around his neck, tied in a knot at the front.
"What the hell happened here!", Patty screamed in outrage, throwing his muscular arms in the air and looking wildly around the restaurant, "The whole damn door is gone!". He looked at the destruction and his eyes watered. Who would want to do such a thing to their precious Baratie? His eyes glanced up toward the ceiling and the tears came fully when he saw the front door stuck halfway into the wood above him. "I'll kill whoever did this.", the man spat through his tears.
"Calm the hell down, Patty. It was somehow probably Sanji's fault. I can bet you a woman was involved too.", Carne said from Patty's side, scowling, "Well, no use in dwelling. Might as well get to fixing." He sighed looking at the work ahead of him. How the hell was it even their job? They were cooks for god's sake! He shook his head and grabbed Patty's sleeve. Time to get to work.
Just as the two moved to grab the supplies they would need, Sanji walked back out of the kitchen holding a tray with a singular glass of wine and the bottle it was obviously poured from. He quickly but carefully weaved through the other tables and found his destination. "I hope I didn't keep you too long, my lady.", the chef said from over Nami's shoulder.
The girl turned from her conversation with Luffy and Zoro and smiled at the blond. "Of course not. I'm still here aren't I?", she joked, "I still need to try your cooking.". She sent him a wink, "I'm sure it's wonderful.".
Sanji kept his eyes from turning to hearts but it was a close thing. "I shall return to the kitchen then. When I get back, I will be carrying a meal fitting of a queen such as yourself.", he promised, turning to head back to the kitchen. He had work to do.
"Where's my meat?", Luffy moaned childishly as he lightly punched the wall he was leaning on. The stupid chef didn't bring him anything to eat. He was hungry damn it!
"And where the hell is my booze, twirly brow?", Zoro growled at the the teen's back.
"Stupid brutes.", Sanji whispered to himself before turning back in the direction of the table, "I'll have your stuff when I come back. Don't expect anything special.". The chef turned away and practically ran back to the kitchen, beginning to plan what he was going to make for his beautiful orange-haired guest.
"SANJI!", a gruff voice yelled from the front entrance.
An older man was standing there looking at Sanji with black eyes that said they'd seen a lot over the years. The most noticeable thing about the man was his long mustache. He needed ribbon to tie the braided strands at both ends to keep it presentable. Along with the mustache, he also had a small blond beard that covered his chin. His body was relatively muscular for someone of obviously older age. However, his right leg, from the middle of the thigh down, was made of wood instead of flesh and bone. A peg leg. He wore a classic white chef's uniform, with a matching apron tied at the waist, and around his neck hung a blue ascot. The most eye-catching thing about the man, besides his mustache, was the tall chef's cap he wore that was much taller than a normal one.
The boy turned toward who he knew was the head chef, "What the hell do you want, you old geezer?". He wanted to get started on Nami's meal, he didn't have time for the old man.
"What the hell happened to my restaurant?", the older man growled.
Patty and Carne looked over the chef's shoulder with smirks. "That's right Chef Zeff. It was his fault! He probably insulted some guy for getting too close to a woman and he got mad or something!", the muscular-armed man accused. Maybe Sanji would think twice before making them clean up after him.
Zeff didn't even turn to look at the two men, giving Sanji a hard look. "I didn't ask you two dumbasses.", he said, over his shoulder, before addressing his sous chef, "Well, brat? What the hell happened?".
The boy waved his hand dismissively and turned to walk the rest of the way into the kitchen, "Don't worry about it old man. Patty and Carne were nice enough to offer to clean up.". He knew just what he was going to make. An excited smile came over the boy's face as he thought about serving his orange-haired angel, "Oh, Nami-Swan! You're going to love what I have in store for yo-".
"We did not!", the two chefs shouted angrily, interrupting the blond.
He turned and gave the two employees a withering glare. "Shut the hell up!", he yelled, "Obviously I wasn't gonna clean it up. I'm a chef.". He looked down his nose at Patty and Carne, "I don't do that kind of menial labor.".
"Like hell, you don't.", the head chef replied before his two employees had the chance, "Patty, Carne. Get back to the kitchen we've got orders and I want them done yesterday.".
The two chefs saluted Zeff and moved quickly to walk past Sanji and into the kitchen. "Serve's you right kid.", said Patty as he tried to shoulder-check the black-suited teen, Carne following closely behind.
The blond pulled his left side back causing Patty to brush by him instead of their shoulders connecting and the muscular man stumbled. Sanji jumped into the air and spun, smashing his foot across the back of both men's heads and sending them flying into the kitchen with a loud crash. The chef landed, clapping his hands together as if to get the dust off them, and gave Zeff a blank stare. That should show those two to listen.
"You damn brat.", the man growled walking up to his idiot sous chef and grabbing him by the collar, "You're gonna clean all this shit up. Right. Now.". He paused while he shoved Sanji toward the entrance of the restaurant, "I don't even know if it was you. And I honestly don't care. Just clean it up and stop making me look bad.".
The man turned away from Sanji and looked at the table he had come from, eyes narrowing as he approached the group sitting there. He cleared his throat when he arrived, "Excuse me.".
The three turned in curiosity toward the man who had interrupted their conversation.
Momentarily forgetting his hunger, Luffy's eyes turned to stars. "How the heck do you get your mustache to stay like that?!", the boy yelled enthusiastically. It was so cool! It stuck out so far!
Nami blushed, resisting the urge to smack the straw-hatted boy over the head.
"You three wouldn't happen to know what happened to the entrance of my restaurant, would you?", the man asked, ignoring Luffy and gauging everyone's reactions.
Nami rolled her eyes and immediately pointed at the other two occupants of the table, both of them staring at her in outrage. She certainly wasn't getting in trouble for something she didn't do. She turned, looking around the chef and in the direction of the entrance. Her eyes landed on Sanji and she sighed. Looked like the old man had gotten him too. She kind of felt bad. She'd be mad if she got hit by a door, too.
"You two,", the older man said grabbing the boys by their collars, the same as he had with Sanji, "get to help my idiot sous chef fix the damn door you broke.". He turned back to Nami still sitting at the table and sent her an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry for not only taking your chef but your friends as well.".
The orangette only laughed and smiled back at the man as held the two struggling boys in place. She had wine with her, she could wait on the food for a bit. Plus, a little peace and quiet might be nice. Maybe she could find a newspaper somewhere around the place. "Don't worry about it.", the Nami said, waving away the man's concern, "Those two should learn to fix the things they mess up.".
Zeff smirked at the girl before turning back toward the entrance and dragging the two boys toward the mess they'd created. He'd been thinking the same thing. Who knows... He shot a glance at his blond-haired sous chef. Maybe he would make a friend or two... The man sighed. Then maybe he would leave and go look for the All Blue... He shook his head. Why the hell was he getting so sappy?
The old chef threw the two boys toward the entrance and they tumbled on the ground, landing at Sanji's feet, "Fix this shit quick or you'll regret it.". He turned on his heel and walked back to the kitchen as the three boy's voices, arguing about how to start fixing the door, echoed in the background.