"No…" She couldn't see straight. Her hands were shaking. All her senses seemed to numb and freeze over. Just from a glance at the paper's daily headline. "That's… That's impossible…"

Law cocked his head in a strange mix of irritation and curiosity. "Are you going to tell me what the matter is, Strauss-ya, or am I being left to figure it out by myself. Your comments are getting annoying."

"Oh quit your whining!" Eustass Kid sneered, taking a large swig from the tankard of beer before him and slamming it back down so hard the froth sloshed onto the counter. "The kid doesn't have to answer to you in the slightest. She ain't your crewmate to boss around."

"I believe you are forgetting a 'yet'."

"Pssh! I dunno what you even see in a scrawny retch like her in the first place. She ain't even that strong. 'though I guess with a weakling crew like yours you need all the help you can get!"

"If you are here to annoy me, just leave. I'm not in the mood to deal with a meat head."

"Oi I ain't here for you! Everyone knows the booze here is the best on the archipelago. You're just part of the furniture to me."

"Just goes to show that I arrived here first. Much faster than you, Eustass-ya."

"What was that?!"

THWACK!

"Both of you shut up!" Strauss snarled, lowering her leg back down behind the counter. "Eustass, violence will get you kicked out of here for good. I don't care if you are a Supernova. And Law, don't provoke him. You of all people should know better than to poke fights here."

"I take it back…" Kid grimaced as he nursed the bitter lump across the back of his head. "How the hell can someone like be that fast…"

"Just remember, I saw her first…"

Strauss tsked- "Idiots"- and went back to the newspaper, smoothing out the remaining wrinkles. How many times had she read the same line over and over again… just to stand and gape in disbelief.

'Execution of the decade: Whitebeard Second Commander 'Portgas D' Ace being led to the gallows'.

"Shambles."

The paper abruptly turned into an empty sake glass.

"So this was what got you so worked up hm?" Law crooned, blatantly ignoring the scowl sent in his direction as an empty glass got juggled off the floor. "You really do have friends in high places Strauss-ya."

"He just helped me out a while back." The glass got harshly set back on the counter. "I owe him one, that's all." Her lips pursed. "Which is why I'm gonna help him out."

"But it ain't like you can take on the World Government just 'cause of a favour." Shrugging, Kid swigged down the final remnants of his drink. "No need to get so worked up over something you can't control."

"As much as it pains me, I have to agree with the meat head."

"Oi!"

"Something like this isn't exactly a minor event. It'll be near impossible for someone such as yourself to sneak in, and even if you did there is a high chance you won't even be able to do anything. As much as I respect you, Strauss-ya-" Law added before she could butt in- "You must admit that you can't possibly face a Vice Admiral, let alone anyone higher."

Her shoulders slumped. "Yeah. But I still have to try." Ace wasn't quite close enough to be a friend… but nor was he a mere acquaintance. They had travelled together, and even done a Marine 'heist' together. Sure they had had their arguments, but they were never anything harsh. If anything, he helped her out a lot, both in terms of her goals and for her own combat skills.

"If that is the case…"

She did not like that slow smile flitting over Law's face.

"... How about I propose a deal?"

.

How long did she stand there. Staring. Just watching that awful scene. She had seen it coming, that argument over the soup had been loud enough to hear from the kitchens, but a reaction like this one… it was…

That Fullbody was in the wrong, that much was certain. Absolutely no one should deliberately put an insect (ignoring for a moment that this was a seafaring restaurant and so finding a cockroach was near impossible apart from the customer's boats) into their soup just to complain about it. Not to mention that destroying the restaurant's tables because of damaged pride was completely uncalled for. Anyone who did that would be kicked out in no time. No one was allowed to remain with that sort of behaviour.

But did it really warrant… this? Being on the receiving end of a one way beatdown that seemed to step from pure rage? At least… that's what it looked like on Sanji… was that really Sanji...

No. She mentally pinched her cheeks. Snap out of it. There were customers around.

One thing at a time. Just work through this… one part at a time…

"That's enough… Sanji." It felt impossible to keep her voice steady. All her energy channeled in to keep her from stumbling over her words.

Keep a level face. Keep a calm exterior. Just move one foot forwards, and then the next, and the next after that. Up until she was right behind him. Everything was normal. Everything was fine.

Don't let anyone see the storm inside… Please don't let them see.

"Sanji," she repeated when he didn't respond, reaching a hand out to tap his shoulder, "That's enough for now. Just let him go-"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Thwack!

Strauss grimaced, more from shock than from the hit itself, but still clamped her hand down onto his back. "I know you're angry… But please. Think about what you're doing."

"I have thought about what I'm doing, and it's teaching this shitbag a lesson!"

"Sanji, there are children present."

"As if I fucking care!"

"There are ladies present."

It was almost insulting how fast that stopped him.

Fullbody's body flopped unceremoniously down into his discarded soup, the lieutenant gasping for air with every fibre of his being. "Take that as a warning, and get out." Sanji managed to hiss through his teeth. "Before I change my mind."

"Wha… what's with this restaurant?" Fullbody's metal knuckles grew taught amidst his skin. "No res… heuk! No restaurant should treat its customers like this…"

"No." Strauss shot a pleading look towards Sanji. Please, she could deal with this. "They shouldn't."

The man smirked, but for once it lacked his usual swagger. "Yeah… you see… I knew you'd understand, girl. You'd see it my w-"

"That is, we should not treat our actual customers like that."

"H...huh…?" Fullbody blinked. "B-b-but I am a customer… I'm paying you! So you should do exactly as I sa-"

"Now that is where you're wrong." God it was getting hard to hold Sanji back. Just a little longer… please… "There is a certain etiquette to being a customer, and you've broken them all. You insulted our staff, you insulted our food, and worst of all insulted our experience and expertise." She flicked her eyes back to Sanji. "I'm fairly sure I speak on everyone's behalf on that account. Therefore I think it's clear to say that you are not our customer any longer. So we can treat you like we treat the rest of the riff raff."

"Ri… RIFF RAFF?!" A pair of metal fists pounded into the floor. "DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?! I AM A MARINE LIEUTENANT! I'LL CONTACT THE GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY AND… AND..."

"And they will find out how appallingly you have acted."

He slumped back. "Wha…"

"We have witnesses, Lieutenant." The eyes around the room seemed to stare more intensely. More suspiciously. "It won't do to see a defender of the people threaten a service worker with violence. I doubt anyone in the government will agree with that."

"No… Y-you guys started it first…"

Cr…

Huh? Strauss glanced up above her head. There was… a crack in the ceiling? A crack that was getting larger and larger by the second…

Crrrrr...

Her face paled.

Oh no.

CRRRRRAAAACK!

"You really need to be more careful," Sanji muttered as he added another layer of bandages around his coworker's head.

Strauss scowled. "Well I'm sorry that Zeff and that kid just so happened to break through the ceiling and whack me on the head. I promise it won't happen again."

"It'd better not." That had scared him… far more than he'd actually realised. One moment she was there, making him back away from that utter bastard, and the next she was smacked to the ground by a slab of concrete. And he hadn't even had time to properly process it, thanks to that captured pirate needing food.

"He ate up, didn't he?"

Sanji nodded, unable to stop the grin flitting across his face. "Sure did. Every last grain of rice went down the hatch."

"Ah…" Her face softened into a smile. "That's good to hear. I'm glad you managed to get him something."

And she pretended to be so tough… That was Strauss for him. "Have to say…" He smirked at her, leaning forwards to snip away the excess gauze. "He reminded me of someone, y'know?"

"Did he now?"

"Uhuh. Someone who once thought a bowl of rice was the most delicious thing ever."

The scowl reappeared. "I did not!"

"I seem to remember you calling it delicious…"

"But that doesn't mean it's the best thing ever! Everything you make is good!"

"Still. A bowl of rice?"

"I was hungry okay?! You of all people should know how that feels!"

"Oi, you two." Zeff's voice grumbled through the door. "Quit flirting with each other and get your asses out here. The floor ain't gonna wait itself."

"Yes Manager."

"Sure thing geezer."

"I need the two of you to keep an eye on that Luffy kid." The old man gave a loud sigh. "I swear… That brat causes more trouble the longer he hangs around here…"

Strauss cocked an eyebrow. "Luffy? Is that the pirate from earlier?"

"With the straw hat? Sure is." Rolling his eyes Sanji let out a tired, tired sigh.

What a strange kid… Why would he even bother inviting him onto the crew. Surely he could see that Sanji wasn't cut out to be a pirate. He was a chef and proud! And even if he wanted to leave, he wouldn't anyways. The Baratie was his home. The people there were his family. Nothing would change that.

But…

"Nope! I refuse!"

"Wha…" Sanji recoiled at the sudden upside down head appearing in front of his face. "What the hell d'you mean!?"

The boy, sat up once again. His bright yellow straw hat shifting with the light sea breeze. As if all of this was natural, and Sanji was the strange one for not understanding it.

"I refuse your refusal."

He sure was a funny one… A very rare breed

"He asked me to join his pirate crew you know?"

"Huh?" Strauss cocked her head, "That guy did? Why?"

Sanji shrugged, reaching over to the ashtray to snuff out his cigarette. "He said he wanted a cook. Dunno why he chose me of all people."

"Well duh. You're one of the best seafaring cooks around." Strauss smiled and nudged him in the ribs. "Just goes to show that this Luffy can recognise talent."

Even though she'd probably reminded him of his skills time and time again, it never ceased to stop the warm fuzzy feeling spreading through his entire body. "Well of course I'm one of the best. I trained under the geezer after all. Nobody's got as much experience as me."

"So. Are you going to accept it?"

He froze midstep, one hand on the door handle.

She… she was seriously asking? Did she really think that little of him? Did she honestly believe that he would up and leave just because someone asked?

Didn't she know him better than that?

"Why," he found himself saying. "Do you want me to?"

A pause. Heavier than he could ever imagine.

"I guess. I wouldn't hold you back or anything."

...

It… it hurt. It hurt so damn much he wasn't sure how he was still breathing. How… She was just sitting there… Why didn't she sound sad in the slightest. Did she… Wouldn't she be upset if he left? Well not that he would ever want her to be upset...

But wouldn't she…?

If they both switched places… he would...

"Sorry to disappoint you." The cigarette had long since snuffed out but he still gave it a stern twist. "But I'm not going anywhere. You're going to be stuck with me for a little while longer."

He could practically hear the slump of her shoulders. "Well… as long as you're sure…"

Of course he was sure. He was as sure as sure could be! Why was she doubting him like this? This place was his home, his lifeblood. Where his true family lived. Putting aside the immense debt he owed Zeff, there was no way he would leave the Baratie behind. There was no way he could leave h…

What?!

Sanji's hand subconsciously clapped over his mouth. He hadn't just thought that… had he? But that was impossible. It was so extreme. In all his time and experience he'd never, never remotely thought of anything like that. But he had. And although he hadn't let himself finish, he knew it was the truth. And she'd just made it so very obvious that she didn't feel the same.

"Sanji? Everything alright?"

Yeah. She didn't feel the same. There was no changing that. There was no point in the slightest.

So stand there. Take a deep breath in. And bury those feelings. Bury them down, down, down… just like you used to. Just like you once did back… there.

It may hurt at first… but it would get better. It would get better.

Not saying a word, Sanji pulled open the door and disappeared down the corridor. A hand clenched tight over his chest. Over his thumping, aching, heart.

It would… get… better...

At the time, she could just remember wondering if she had done something wrong. Although she had no idea what. She had said what she'd meant. If Sanji wanted to leave the Baratie… she would support his decision.

He had something she didn't after all. Something that could never be found by stagnating on a sea restaurant for the end of his days.

A dream.

It would hurt… not having him around. It would hurt far more than she could imagine. But she would still stand by that decision. Her pain could be shelved. Her petty emotions could be set aside. She wouldn't let that damage him or the choices he decided to make.

Sanji, kind happy and brave Sanji, deserved to follow the path he dreamed of. She wouldn't be the one to hold him back. If that meant feigning indifference, so be it.

Although...

The dishes on her arms tensed as Strauss lowered herself down the stairs, barely even moving as she walked towards the table where Luffy's three other crewmates sat.

That didn't mean she would trust him with anyone.

"Oh hey!" The ginger girl grinned, reclining over the back of her chair as she approached. "You're the waitress from earlier! The one who chewed out that Marine!"

Oh. So they had been watching had they? Strauss raised an eyebrow. "It was nothing. Just another ruffian disregarding basic etiquette. We deal with worse on a weekly basis."

"W-worse?!" The long nosed boy hid his head in his hands. "B-b-but that was bad enough as it was… How could it get worse?"

Did they really not know? Strauss sighed. Honestly. She might as well enlighten them. "The Baratie is well known for a variety of reasons, one of the primary ones being our staff's combat abilities," she began as she set down the various dishes. "Being a sea faring restaurant, pirates are quite common. We have to be ready to deal with them."

The final crew member, a swordsman judging by the three katanas leaning against the freshly laundered tablecloth (how rude), leant forwards onto his elbows. "So you're all fighters then? How good?"

He was dangerous. Those few fighting instincts she picked up from the streets of Zhelesk told her that this man was not someone to mess with. She chose her words carefully. "We are good enough. Everyone has their own specialties. Although…" Now this was what she wanted to test. "Sanji is probably the best we have."

"Sanji?" Long Nose cocked his head. "You mean that crazy guy from earlier?"

Ugh… Her brow furrowed. Definitely not worthy to be Sanji's crewmate.

"Call him crazy all you want," the girl gritted her teeth, "you saw him take down that lieutenant didn't you? Doesn't matter what he's like; he's definitely strong."

"And now our dumb captain wants him on the crew…" Groaning, the swordsman grabbed his nearby glass of water and drained its contents. "Which means we're not gonna leave here without him…"

She was liking this bunch less and less by the minute. How dare they not respect his wishes! He already said no, so leave it! It was their fault for being strung around by a foolish captain. Why would they even hang around him.

This simply would not do.

"Just allow me to get one thing straight." Strauss narrowed her eyes, surveying each person around the table one by one. "I don't care if your so called 'captain' wants Sanji on the crew. If he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to. That's final. I will not let you make that decision for him. And if you try and force him..." Her arms, free from any extra weight, crossed decisively in front of her chest. "Then you'll have to get through me first."

The younger two members blanched, recoiling into their chairs. Yet the green haired man did no such thing. Instead, face darkening faster than a summer storm, he cracked his knuckles together. "Is that a threat?"

…

So at least one person on the crew had some backbone. That much was good at least. She could accept that for now.

"It depends." She turned to leave, glancing back over her shoulder. "As long as you respect Sanji's wishes, there will be nothing to worry about... right?"

Ignoring the various whispers (and crunches of popcorn) echoing behind her, she returned back up the central stairs. Only to collide head on with a small lithe figure as he got shoved out the kitchen door.

"GET THE HELL OUTTA OUR KITCHEN!"

"GO TAKE ORDERS OR SOMETHING!"

"SCRAM AND CAUSE CHAOS SOMEWHERE ELSE!"

"Huh." The straw hat got realigned to reveal a small irritated pout. "Weird. I thought they wanted me to be the chore boy. Guess I'll just go down there… Oh hey!" The boy beamed, completely oblivious to the scowl before him. "You're the nice person from earlier! Hi! Looks like I'm gonna be working with you from now on! I'm Monkey D Luffy. Nice to meet ya!"

Well wasn't this just great. And from the sound of things in the kitchen they expected her to take care of him? Really. That was simply pathetic. Just look at the guy; he looked younger than she did and far more immature. How on earth could anyone possibly call him 'captain'.

"Strauss." She replied curtly, clamping a hand down onto his hat so she could move around him better. "I'm Head Waiter."

She… She wasn't really. The Baratie never had enough waiters to designate one as the head, but she'd been around for a while. And Sanji had called her that earlier. Might as well try the title out for a bit.

"Judging by those comments…" A pair of eyes rolled towards the kitchen. "You're going to be working under me for a bit, okay?"

"Uhuh!" Luffy pumped his fist in the air. "You got it! I'll do whatever you want!"

Oh? Her eyebrow quirked a little. "You seem very enthusiastic for someone working unpaid for a year."

"Uuuuuuuh… Yeah? Guess so..." He scratched his head, that straw hat shifting jauntily to the side. "Well it was kinda my fault so… I thought I should pay for it y'know? Though working for a year sucks. I'm never gonna get to the Grand Line in that case."

Hm. Now she was interested. It was certainly strange that he would turn himself in like that… almost noble. But no. She shook those thoughts out of her head. Don't think of that. This was someone trying to force Sanji away with him. She must be on her guard at all times and make sure that this 'Monkey D Luffy' wasn't up to anything shifty.

After about ten minutes though… all thoughts had been blasted out the window by a sheer cacophony of noise. Noise… and sheer tomfoolery…

"Oh, dear ocean! I thank you for today's encounter!"

"H-huh?"

"OI ZORO HOW COULD YOU MAKE ME DRINK THAT!"

"Oh, love, I cannot bear this hardship. Go ahead and laugh at me."

"YOU… YOU TRIED TO MAKE ME DRINK IT FIRST YOU ASSHOLE!"

"I'm now prepared to be a lowly pirate or even a devil if I'm with you!"

"MY STOMACH HUUUUURTS! IT WAS NASTY!"

"WELL YOU WERE THE ONE WHO PUT THE BOOGER IN!"

"What?! You desecrated one of our fine dishes in front of this lady?"

"It was just a glass of water…"

"And?! A vulgar act was still committed before her? Now then, my dear mademoiselle, may I amend this great mistake with a complimentary dessert?"

"Ooooh! Yes please, my knight in shining armour!"

"Food! I wanna eat!"

"You get back to work already, you bastard! Orders aren't going to take themselves."

Strauss's eyebrow… twitched...

"You doing okay there Strauss?"

Knuckles whitened into fists. "Fine. You, Manager?"

A wooden pegleg tapped against the floor. "Peachy. We are in agreement then?"

Strauss kept watching her best friend chat and argue among the small group. Watching how he grimaced, how he smiled… How he somehow managed to fit himself seamlessly into their circle in the time it had taken her to so much as blink. As if he had belonged there from the very beginning.

It hurt… The pain was back and she despised how she was thinking. It made her feel so terrible. But… there was no point. She knew full well what was inevitable.

He was going to leave. And she couldn't do anything about it.

"Well?" Zeff muttered quietly near her ear. "You think we should?"

No. There was something she could do. Something only she and Manager Zeff could possibly pull off. Something that would let her best…No. The dearest person in her life… It would let him be happy. So what if that was without her.

Slowly, as if resisting a great force, Strass dipped her head. "Yeah. I'm in."

As long as he was happy… That was enough. She would be satisfied with that.

.

Eustass Kid gaped. "That… You seriously can't be asking her to agree to that."

"I don't see why not." Law shrugged, eyes never tearing away from the bartender before him. "It was only a suggestion. Whether she actually agrees to it or not is up to her."

"UP TO HER, MY ASS!" A loud slam on the table sent his empty tankard clattering to the ground. "YOU'RE DANGLING A CARROT RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER NOSE! LIKE HELL SHE'S GONNA REFUSE AN OFFER LIKE THAT!"

"Ha..."

The pair silenced. Staring. Waiting.

A slender hand reached up to clasp her forehead. "Ha ha ha…"

"She's lost it hasn't she?" Kid muttered out the corner of his mouth.

Law merely smiled, as enigmatic and knowing as ever. "I would not be so quick to jump to conclusions."

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Without a word of warning Valentino Strauss arched her neck back and laughed. She laughed and laughed and laughed. So suddenly and heartily that the remaining occupants of the bar couldn't help but stare in wonder.

Yet for a laugh it was strange. Beneath the mirth there was something… darker. More complex. Kid couldn't quite put his finger on it.

But Law knew. He knew that emotion full well.

"You know what? Sure!" Strauss slumped down across the counter, shoulders still shaking with barely suppressed… something. Cocking her head at Law, she stuck out a hand. "You've got yourself a deal, Trafalgar."

Thin pasty lips curled minutely upwards into a smile- "Excellent-" and he gripped the hand firmly in his own. He knew what sort of person this girl was. It was what had drawn him to her to begin with. That strange emptiness… like a compass without a north. He knew it well.

Just as he knew the sound of a ground shattering realisation when he heard it.

A/N

Alright everyone. I think we know what's coming next, so I'm going to keep this as brief as possible.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope each and every single one of you stay safe and happy. Especially those effected by the wild fires right now, wherever you may be.

I'll see you next time... for the final chapter(s) of season 1.