She couldn't deal with this. She seriously, seriously couldn't deal with this.
Strauss groaned, breathing in the strangely thick early morning mist as she performed her usual stomach twist stretch. Four days had passed since Luffy had been assigned as chore boy. Four long and painful days, that usually ended with her passing out the very moment her back touched her hammock.
It wasn't that he was clumsy… it was his complete idiocy that was the main problem. Or lack of common sense, she hadn't properly decided which was more to blame quite yet. But one thing remained clear; Monkey D Luffy caused more trouble than he solved.
He never wrote down orders other than 'meat'. He couldn't calculate people's change correctly. He somehow managed to break not just one, but twenty seven full sets of chinaware. And if (by some goddamn miracle) he managed to get all that right, he actually ATE THE FOOD OF THEIR PLATES?!
She sighed once again and changed her stretch. This was getting ridiculous. How could she deal with another day of this madness… let alone a full year. It was going to be… uuuuuuuugh…
"Someone's groaning a lot."
And here was the cause of it all. Seriously, if Sanji could just go and make up his damn mind already so that the Straw Hats could leave, she would be eternally grateful. Okay she didn't actually want that. Not in a thousand years. But still...
"So... Care to tell me what's up?"
What to say… That she was fed up with Straw Hat's antics and wanted him to be booted out, debt or no debt? That she hated how that swordsman of his was drinking his way through their entire supply of sake? Or maybe she should comment on how that ginger haired girl was using Sanji's infatuation towards females in order to get herself free meals WHILE HER CREW WERE STILL IN DEBT TO THE RESTAURANT?!
That long nosed boy was alright. A bit naive though, he must have got roped in without thinking too much about what he was about to go through. But he was fine. She could tolerate him.
"It's nothing."
He snorted. "Yeah as if I believe that."
Damn why did he have to be so perceptive…
"But think on the bright side-" He gave her a playful nudge with his shoulder- "It's Wednesday tomorrow."
Oh… thank god!
It took the last remaining shreds of her willpower to stop herself from screaming and punching the air. One more day. One more day of that madness and she could switch off for a day. Hell, she might as well go on the supply run. Have a complete change of scene. Just anything not to deal with those damn Straw Hats for a day.
But… Her nose scrunched. That just meant she had to deal with today.
One step at a time, Strauss. That's all it is. One step at a time… It was just one more day… then she could take a break. One more day…
...before everything shattered.
The man at the door was massive. Not massive in size, although he towered over the majority of the people in the room, but rather in… presence. He looked terrifying despite having to be practically carried by his scrawnier crew member. Perhaps it wasn't his physical appearance… but his reputation that was more intimidating.
Don Krieg. Scourge of the East Blue and great pirate admiral. Standing directly at the Baratie's entryway.
Strauss inwardly sighed.
Why did she even bother sometimes.
She should have seen that feeding the poor pirate from yesterday would have repercussions. She really should've. Especially one as obvious as the guy bringing his whole crew to the place which saved him.
Not that she really regretted anything that Sanji'd done. She would have done the same in his shoes. It was just… more work on top of an incredibly tough day.
The customers murmured and shook around her. Unsurprising really. They were face to face with one of the worst pirates in the East Blue, and in a location they typically considered 'safe'. They must be scared out of their wits. Why hadn't they been evacuated already… Ah.
She glanced up at the rows of white hatted faces peering nervously down at her on the stair case.
Because the rest of the staff were idiots. That's why.
"S...sorry…" The figure shifted, finally mustering enough strength to properly lift his head. "C-can I… have some food and… water?"
That face… skin so pallid it seemed translucent… and eyes that looked like they were sinking deeper and deeper into his skull… Strauss felt her stomach churn. She knew that face, but it wasn't quite one of starvation. It looked nothing like the human skeleton who was being forced to carry Krieg's weight. No, this was not as severe.
Was it…? But then again she had never starved. What if there were various degrees of starvation she had never experienced. So she let it slide.
"We have money… tons of gold… I… I don't even remember the last time I ate…" Krieg dipped his head. "Please… give me some food and water…"
She was no fool. Don Krieg was notorious for playing dirty. Chances were he would repay their kindness with a gun barrage to the face. Hell, they could easily end up losing their lives thanks to a bowl of rice...
But it didn't matter.
The point was that this man was starving. His body was eating away at itself until it couldn't possibly function. What was the point of a sea restaurant if they didn't help people like that? Strauss's knuckles whitened. She never, never, wanted to go through that pain again. And she never wanted anyone else to experience it either.
She turned, glancing up at the staircase once more. Sanji stood there, hands in his pockets and a fresh cigarette in his mouth, and met her gaze instantly. Strauss dipped her head. Sanji cocked his, narrowing his eyes. She shrugged and nodded. He glared at her, but eventually shook his head and started to climb the stairs.
So they had decided then. That was that.
"Sir, welcome to the Baratie." Walking purposefully forwards, Strauss reached a few steps ahead of Don Krieg and gave a low bow. "Your food will be arriving shortly, so allow me to guide you to your table."
The reaction was instantaneous.
"WHA…?! S-STRAUSS?!" Patty raced down the stairs, tripping over the final two, and clapped his meaty hands on her shoulders. "D'you even know what you're doing you shitty waitress?!"
"I am serving a customer. What else is there?"
"No you're helping a criminal." His hands dug deep into her skin. Deep into her bones. But they were shaking… so much. "That guy's an asshole! If we let him eat he's gonna go on a rampage around the restaurant. He deserves to starve because of everything he's do-"
WHAM!
Strauss lowered her leg and watched the burly chef slump down to the floor. "I'm sorry, Patty. But no one deserves to starve."
"Tha…" Don Krieg thumped to his knees, his weight finally too much for his crew mate to handle. "Thank you… Thank you so much… I-I don't know…"
"I think you're mistaking something here." Face hardening she crouched down before him. "I'm not doing this to be nice. You eat your food, then you get out of here without a fight, okay? Oh-" She jerked her head towards his crew mate-
"How many other crew members are in need of food?"
"Wha…" The man blinked. "Just over a hundred, why?"
She grimaced. "Well they need food too don't they? Or do you want your crewmates to starve?"
Gin gulped and shook his head.
"That's what I thought. Now then, can you stand or would you prefer sitting, sir?" She practically spat the final word out. It sickened her to suck up to such a terrible man… but she'd done it before and she'd do it again. If it would help her and the rest of the customers to survive…
She would sacrifice her pride anyday.
"Oi Strauss." Sanji grinned as he sauntered towards them, a heaped bowl of rice in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. "What was the count for the crew members?"
"Just over a hundred."
"Right then." He knelt, setting the bowl and bottle down in front of the two pirates. "I've got my work cut out for me." A small smile played at his lips. "Here, Gin. Let him eat this."
The crewmate, Gin, gulped. "S...Sanji… Miss…"
"THANK YOU!" Krieg cried, shovelling mouthful after mouthful of fried rice into his mouth so fast he barely had time to breathe. It was disgusting, food and tears and snot splashed over the tiles, Krieg's face, his clothes, their shoes… But neither she nor Sanji stepped away. There was something there. There in the way such strong pirates had been dissolved to tears.
It was the sort of happiness that lit a tiny flame of pride.
"Hey, Sanji! Strauss! Take that food away from him right now! Do you guys realize what kind of man he is?!"
"Of course we do." Strauss glanced towards the irate chef. "Which is why the customers need to be evacuated."
Carne lowered his finger. "E...Eh…?"
"You're right, this man is dangerous. So we need to get every person without combat experience out of here. Look, we can call the Marines and tell them he's here." She shrugged at Gin. "That's fair, right?"
He nodded, tears still streaming down his face.
"But in the meantime…" She trailed off. It seemed that after hearing the word 'evacuate' the last few customers who had been bold enough to stay had vanished back onto their boats. Now there wasn't a soul left in the restaurant save for her, Sanji, Luffy, the chefs, Gin…
...and Don Krieg.
Her heart was pounding. What was going to happen next? Would he keep his promise, would he really? She would like to believe but… No. No he probably wouldn't. Why would he; it wasn't like he was a particularly courteous man to begin with. With an epithet like 'foul play' what else could they expect?
The man snatched up the bottle, ripping the cork from the neck and took a desperate slug.
If he was truly starved there would be no worry. It took far more than a single bowl of rice to get back to his former self. However if he was what she thought he was… and her gut instinct really had been right…
The silver bowl clattered to the ground, rolling around and around the brim until it shook to a stop.
Empty.
Oh no… Her eyes felt like they were weighted and ready to fall out of her head. This was bad! Sanji was standing too close. Why hadn't he moved? Even with his kindness surely he realised how terrible this situation was? Didn't he?
Beneath the pirate's cloak something was shifting. A ripple in a bolt of fabric. But where it was… and where it was spreading… if she just visualised what was going on beneath the surface… Signs like that were easy to read!
Her feet were moving before her brain had finished processing. "Sanji, move!"
Not that he could. Krieg's arm was raised, glinting and ready. There was no time! No time for him to stand and get out the way! All he could do… All she could do was...
Why was she doing this? Sanji could take hits better than her. His body was stronger, more durable, while hers was slightly more tender and fragile. Hell, he'd probably yell at her for doing this. But…
Eyes squinted shut, Strauss rammed her shoulder firmly into Sanji's side. He wavered. He toppled. He moved.
She couldn't let him get hurt! She couldn't!
WHAM!
G...gah!
"STRAUSS!"
It was… someone had hollowed her from the outside in. Like a physical hole in her chest… one the size of a dinner plate… Her lungs… her ribs… they… they just… imploded. So she… 'd been right…
That man hadn't been starved…
A sharp force slammed her to the ground… or perhaps it was the ground being slammed into her. Yeah. Things were becoming clearer now. Her vision was slightly less blotchy and her ears were… ringing a little less.
Huh. That went better than expected.
Groaning, she managed to sit up despite her body's protests and cradle her head an a hand. Geez… how hard did that guy hit her?
"S-Strauss!" A blond figure sped over to give her a shoulder to lean against. "Are you alright?!"
"Next time… don't hang around the dangerous criminal, 'kay?" There we go. Starting to see in focus again. Excellent. "But yeah, I'm fine. Just a few cracked ribs I think."
"Th… This isn't what we agreed, Don Krieg!" Was that… Gin? Yelling at his captain. "I bought you here under the condition that you wouldn't touch this restaurant! And those people saved our li-"
"Yeah." A large hand dug into Gin's shoulder and hoisted him into the air. "That was delicious." Then, Krieg squeezed. "I finally feel alive again."
The sound was agonising. No matter how much pain she'd just been in… the sound of those screams and the bones cracking… it would haunt her for weeks. If not years.
"Well. Now that the annoyance has shut up for a bit-" Gin's limp body flopped unnaturally onto the ground- "I realise this is a pretty good restaurant. I'll take this ship."
Sanji's grip tensed on her shoulders. "So that's what you want…"
"My ship became a wreck, so I want a new one." Krieg cocked his head. "You guys'll get off this ship after you take care of what I tell you to do."
But this is a restaurant. Just because it floats doesn't mean it can sail… Strauss barely bit back the words before she could say them. This wasn't a situation that could be talked out of. If he didn't get the ship, there was a chance he could destroy the Baratie completely. Although it made her blood boil… it might be a good idea to let him believe it would function. Then he wouldn't attack it.
He wouldn't want to damage his new vessel… right?
Krieg jerked a thumb back over his shoulder. "You guys were already gonna prepare food for my underlings back on my ship, right? Some of them are dying of severe injuries as well as starvation, so I'll need you to get on that right away."
"Hey Strauss? Can you stand?"
"Yeah. I can stand." Together the two of them stumbled to their feet. "You let me know if you need anything, yeah?"
"If you can help me find something that could carry that much food, that'd be great."
"Oi oi oi…" Patty's voice came from the floor. So he'd woken up again had he? "Strauss… Sanji… Where're you going, ya bastards?"
A slight smirked flickered onto Sanji's face. "To the kitchen. We have to prepare 100 more meals."
"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"
"Don't think for a second we're doing it for you though, Krieg." Strauss thumbed away the line of blood on her chin. "We're doing it for the people who were screwed over thanks to their selfish captain taking the majority of the supplies."
Sanji paused in his tracks and snarled. "So that's it is it? I knew something was up when I saw him pu… When I saw him punch you." His grip tightened on her shoulder. "My food may be good, but it can't make a starving man regain his strength that fast."
"It's not like I'm denying it." Krieg smirked and cocked his head. "Of course I took more food than them. I'm their captain after all, and they're just my grunts. My survival should be their priority. But…" His eyes took on a dangerous glint. "If you two are just gonna keep standing around and not make the food like two good little kids, then-"
"MEAT BALL OF DOOM!"
Strauss barely had enough time to raise a hand over her eyes before a blinding light shot through the entire room, quickly followed by an overwhelming stench of gunpowder. The shot hit Krieg directly, erupting the restaurant with thick pungent smoke.
Gin crawled himself forwards along the floor. "D-DON!"
"Heh!" Patty shouldered the lobster cannon triumphantly. "I might've broken the doors again. Owner's gonna yell at me for that."
"Well, you did it to protect the restaurant," Carne muttered, "So it's a small price to pay."
Sanji's lip tensed. He'd lost his cigarette in the blast. "What're you gonna do about the people on Krieg's ship."
"Who knows?" The lobster gun got reloaded enthusiastically. "Maybe we'll spread butter on the ship and stir-fry it…"
Strauss whacked him on the head. "I say we still help them out. It's not their fault they had an asshole for a captain."
"Was that supposed to be some sort of entrée, you lame cook?"
Strauss's heart dropped.
"How dare you serve me such shitty food?!" A pair of bloodshot eyes pierced through the lingering smoke. "THIS IS THE LOUSIEST RESTAURANT TO HAVE EVER EXISTED!"
Of course he wouldn't have been that easy to take out… Of course…
With a swish of a hand the smoke swept aside to reveal a golden set of armour and more gun barrels than she was capable of counting. So many… hidden in crevices and secret compartments… It was as if she was staring an armada in the face.
She gulped.
"YOU'RE ALL SO DAMN ANNOYING!"
Just another tick… another step towards the inevitable...
"Oi! I drove those Krieg dudes away didn't I?" Monkey D Luffy cocked his head gleefully. "So today is my last day of chores!"
A long line of smoke twisted upwards. "Congrats."
"By the way, will you-"
"I'm not going!" Sanji whirled on his heel, leaning back against the railing. "For the last time, I won't become a pirate! I'll continue to work as a cook here until I get the Shitty Geezer to acknowledge my skills."
Luffy pondered. And mused. And just generally took a while to think before throwing nodding properly. "Okay… then I give up."
"Heh. At least you get it. It's just…" He sighed, staring wistfully out over the ocean. "I… I can't leave here. Since they're all so undependable. Except Strauss. But I guess she gets hurt pretty easily…"
"Oh yeah the cool lady who fought that dish guy! I'll ask her then!"
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!"
"Awww…"
"But-" Sanji's shoulders sagged, finally dropping the tension they'd been carrying for a full day. "I am hoping to go some day. To the Grand Line I mean."
A rubber arm (god that took some getting used to) zipped over and latched onto the railing. "Let's go right now then!"
He scoffed. "It's not the right time yet."
The sky rumbled as an ominous cloud drifted past several miles away. Not close enough to affect anything. But enough to be uncomfortable.
"Say… do you know about the All Blue?"
Luffy pursed his lips. "Nope."
"Oh you don't?!" Sanji's eyes grew wide as the words just seemed to spill out of him like oil fresh from a pan "Oh I've gotta tell you! It's a miracle sea where fish from the all the Blues, East, West, North, and South, all come together and…"
"He's happy."
Zeff grunted, leaning further forwards from the railing above. "Yeah…" He hadn't seen that kidlike face for some time… Quite some time indeed. The eggplant actually looked his age for once. "... He does, huh?"
"So?" Strauss lent back next to him. "What do we do? He's not going to go just like that. He has to make the choice himself."
"For a friend, you're awfully eager to see him go."
"Tch. Don't make assumptions about me. I just… think he deserves to move on. See the world and all that. Follow his dream." Her fists clenched. "Since he obviously can't do that here."
Was it just him, or did she sound somewhat bitter? And in a way that had nothing to do with her injuries. His bushy brow furrowed. "He never told you?"
Strauss's face darkened. "About the All Blue? No. No he didn't. I… I think I stopped him before he ever could."
"Ah."
Silence. Only split by the animated murmurs of the two people below.
"So. I'll repeat my question. What do we do… to make him happy?"
What to do what to do… Zeff tugged his moustache with a little more force than necessary. Well there was only one thing for it. But it wouldn't be easy. If anything… it would rip their hearts out. Everyone's hearts. What else could he do though? His boy didn't deserve to keep living in the shadow of a decrepit old man. He needed to spread his wings and soar…
He glanced back at Strauss, who was still staring at Sanji's jubilant face with a hand clenched over her chest.
And they would do anything to stop him looking back.
She heard rather than saw the outside door open. Strauss flinched, pretending to busy herself in her food in an attempt to avoid direct eye contact.
"Hey!" The sharp tone sent shivers up her spine. "Where do we sit?"
"Where's our food?" The boy beside him groaned.
"There're no chairs for you!" One cook muttered, hiding a smirk behind his hand.
"Yeah." Another chimed in. "Go sit on the floor and eat."
Sanji tsked. "No chairs? As if… this is a restaurant! Why the hell would we run out of chairs?! Oi, Strauss? What's going on?"
"It… Uh…." Her teeth caught on the end of her tongue, sending her into an impromptu coughing fit. "D-destroyed! They all got destroyed!"
She wanted to punch herself.
"You're acting too suspicious."
Her lip curled as she watched Sanji and Luffy begrudgingly make their way to the corner. "I'm sorry Manager…"
"Heh." A large hand ruffled the top of her hair. "Just make sure not to look or say anything stupid, okay? The others've been at this for longer. They can pick up the slack." He nodded at Patty, barely visible in the corner of her eye. Patty grinned.
WHAM!
"OI!" Patty's chair clattered to the ground. "WHO IN THIS GREAT AND SPACIOUS ROOM PREPARED THE SOUP THIS MORNING?!"
Zeff ran a hand down his face.
"Oh, I did! I did! It's good right? I tried my hardest to make it especially delicious today!"
Please… don't look so happy. The cutlery dug deeper and deeper into her palms. It hurts more when you're proud…
"Pleh!" A line of saliva shot into Patty's awaiting plate. "I CAN'T EAT SOME DAMN NASTY SHIT SOUP LIKE THIS?! WHAT IS THIS, PIG FEED?! OR PIG FEED FOR THE PIG FEED?!"
"So. I guess human food wouldn't be to your liking, you damn tanuki."
"NAH MAKING IT THIS BAD IS A...uh... An… AN ARTFORM! YEAH, AN ARTFORM! AND IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH! Pleh! Pleh! Pleh!"
"Yeah that's gross!"
"Uh, I can't eat that… bleh…"
"Shouldn't even be called soup."
One by one the rest of the spoons were slammed down, each chef looking up with resounding glares of disgust and several hacking coughs.
"You guys are pulling my leg. I'm pretty confident about todays soup." His footsteps were getting closer. They were getting closer. "I think your stupidity must have infected your taste buds! Right Strauss?"
She jolted at the sudden hand on her shoulder.
"It tastes good, right? You tell them."
Oh god… She couldn't look at him. She couldn't. Would he be angry… Or sad… Or a mix of the two…
Slowly, ever so slowly, her spoon dipped down into the clear brown broth. Her hand was shaking. Shaking so much there were tiny ripples forming on the surface. She gave it a blow, watching the swaths of steam gradually decrease, then tipped the liquid into her mouth.
Please forgive me!
"Ah…!" She clapped her hands over her mouth, trying her hardest to stop her eyes from burning.
This could be the last dish Sanji ever made her… and she was supposed to tell him it was terrible? When it was by far the tastiest thing she had ever eaten? That blend of simmered vegetables and rice broth… that tasted so simple yet so homely and complex she couldn't put the words to it? She had to insult… that?! She couldn't...
SHE JUST COULDN'T!
Hand still over her mouth she ran, practically stumbling out of the room and slamming the door behind her. The air hit her. Cold and harsh with far too much happy sunlight to make her feel comfortable.
What had she… She'd only eaten a spoonful...
With a thud her body slid down the wall and onto the deck.
She'd only eaten a spoonful… and ran off without eating the rest… That went against… it went against everything he… And it could be the last dish he ever... Oh Sanji…
Fat and heavy tears dripped down onto her lap.
I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry! I'm a terrible person, so go on and leave already! I'm sorry...
"Strauss?"
Not now! Her head tucked deeper into her knees. He couldn't see her like this, with red puffy eyes and snot dripping from her nose. It would only… He couldn't see her face!
"Did…" She flinched as a hand moved over her, only for it to be withdrawn. "Did it really taste that bad?"
Oh how badly she wanted to shake his shoulders and scream that it was the most delicious soup she'd ever tasted, and that all the other cooks were just lying… She wanted to do that so very badly.
But she couldn't.
Otherwise he wouldn't be happy.
"For fuck's sake, just look at me Strauss! Look at me!" A pair of hands clamped onto her shoulders. "I… I don't want you to hate me like this."
Please… don't sound like that. It only tore another hole in her heart.
"Strauss c'mon… D-don't do this to me... Don't do this… Just… Talk to me! Please! Look me in the eye and tell me how I can make things right again!"
Deep down, something inside of her snapped.
"SAAAAAANJIIIIIIII!" Strauss lept forwards, practically throwing herself over Sanji's shoulder. "I DON'T WANT YOU TO GOOO!"
"Eh… EH…?" A pair of fumbling arms tried to figure out what to do at the sudden situation, eventually settling on a tentative pat on the back. "Y-y-you want me to stay?! But I thought you wouldn't care?"
"I REALLY WANT YOU TO STAY BUT YOU SHOULDN'T COS YOU WANNA GO FIND THE ALL BLUE AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT HERE AND WE'RE JUST TYING YOU BACK AND I REALLY WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO STAY COS I LIKE YOU AND I'LL MISS YOU SO SO MUCH BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT COS THAT'LL BE SELFISH AND I'M SORRY SANJI I'M SO SORRY!"
"You…" The hands tightened around her back. "You like me?"
"Yeah. Duh." She sniffled, finally coming back to her senses and screaming at herself for saying that much. Idiot! "Course I like you. I like you lots. You're kind, brave, strong, selfless… Why wouldn't I like you?"
"Well I dunno but…" His fingers tensed, then relaxed. "I just thought you were trying to kick me out. Ever since Luffy came you were just so… so… cold and… distant… It sounded like you wanted to get rid of me…"
"No!" She pushed him back, forcing Sanji to look at her and actually register what she was saying. "I'd never want to get rid of you! No one here does!"
He jolted back, hastily rubbing at his eyes. "You're wrong. They don't. The Geezer, Patty and Carne and the others… You saw how they acted in there. They hate me. They just think I'm a nuisance."
"We lied."
His hand dropped to his sides. "H… Huh?"
"We all lied in there." Strauss felt a smile form on her face. A sad, guilty smile amidst the tears. "Your soup was amazing, Sanji. By far the best thing I've ever tasted. I… I loved it! But this was the only way to make you change your mind."
"To change my…" His lip wavered. "But why would you want that? I thought… you wanted me to stay."
Hesitating, she moved a hand to cup his face. "Look at me Sanji. It took me so long to be willing to express myself again. What I wanted... What I hated... I locked all those feelings up inside of me and threw away the key. All because I refused to let myself dream." Her brow furrowed and twisted upwards. "I won't let you make that same mistake. You have a chance to search for the All Blue right in front of you. If you don't take it now... you'll only end up regretting it. You need to go. For you."
A single tear rolled out from under his fringe. "Strauss…"
Strauss pursed her lips, feeling her own tears start to flood down her face again. Rocking forwards just a little she gently rested her forehead against his. "Please. Go and be happy."
"What about you?"
"I'll manage. I always do."
She could feel his breath. Warm and musky against her cheek, with the slightest hint of tobacco. She breathed it in, writing every scent to memory. Writing every bit of him. And she could feel him doing the same.
So they stayed there. Foreheads resting against each other. Fingers entwined. Just… taking a moment to remember every aspect about each other.
"You'll have to show it to me. If you find it."
"Mm. I will. I'll come back and take you there. And you need to dance for me then. At least once."
"I think I can manage that."
"And you'll keep the dead beat chefs in line?"
"I'll take care of Zeff, don't worry."
"Good. The Geezer never knows when to quit."
"Reminds me of someone I know."
"Hahah… Could say the same about you."
"..."
"..."
"Stay safe."
"Yeah. You too."
Strauss yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and moving to sit up from her hammock, "G'morning Sa…"
The bed was untouched. Made up with crisply ironed sheets and a puffed pillow.
Oh. Right. He was… gone.
It had been a few weeks since Sanji had left the Baratie. Even after all that time she could still remember everything so clearly. Don Krieg. The fight. The soup. And those goodbyes. It hadn't exactly started the best way, thanks to Patty and Carne attacking Sanji the very moment he stepped through the door, but still ended up with more tears and runny noses than any of the chefs would have ever admitted. Not even Zeff managed to escape dry eyed. By the time little striped boat vanished off on the horizon everyone knew it couldn't have gone better.
That was a proper farewell, the Baratie way. Their way.
She sat up on the balcony, leaning over one leg to do her stretches. The door clicked and she turned to see… but it was just the wind. She hadn't closed it properly. Sighing, she stopped to lay flat on her back.
Just how was she supposed to get used to this.
The customers weren't helping. Every table she asked, the question was always the same. And every time she would be forced to smile and give the same answer. I'm afraid he isn't working with us anymore. To which she would have to sit through comment after comment of disappointment.
He must be sorely missed.
Was he fired for attacking someone?
I'm sure he will return soon.
But he was so popular.
How are you coping with a long distance relationship?
It made her want to scream but… she never had the energy to. Never.
A drop of rain fell onto her face. Then another. And another and another. Until the sea was covered in a curtain of pelting rain. Strauss sat up, moving the sticky strands of hair from her face.
There was no point in sitting out there.
"Oi Strauss!"
"Mmh?" She sauntered down the staircase, toweling out the last bits of moisture from her hair. "What is it, Manager?"
Zeff chuckled and gestured at her with a sheet of paper. "Come take a look at this. Seems that kid's gone and done something big."
"That kid?" She took the page, more out of duty than plain curiosity. But as she read… her eyes widened.
'Wanted: Dead or Alive'
'Monkey D Luffy'
'30,000,000 Beli'
"What did he do?" She chucked the towel aside and moved to read the paper over Zeff's shoulder.
"Doesn't give much details, but seems like he took down Arlong."
"Arlong!?" She remembered that fishman. People often tried to pass off his bounty as their own. He'd been a nasty piece of work. "He really beat him?"
"That's what it says. So-" Zeff smirked, looking as if he had been the one to take the fishman down- "Whaddaya think? We chose the right guy to dump the eggplant on, right? Good to know he'll be taken care of."
That kid… that scrawny kid… had taken down Arlong!? Really!? She had seen him beat Krieg but still; she'd written that up to the man being malnourished. This had been a perfectly fit fishman. One worth far more than his bounty, so the rumours said.
He'd really beaten him…
A smile, the most genuine one she'd felt in weeks, spread widely over her face. The King of the Pirates huh… who knew, the guy might actually do it.
Sanji might just find the All Blue.
And if he could find the All Blue… what was stopping her from… just maybe...
"I need to go."
"H-huh?!" Zeff yelled after her as she raced up the stairs. "The hell're you talking about?!"
Slamming open her door, she scrambled for a bag Carne had gotten her for her 'birthday' (or anniversary, it was a weird one) and started to shove her possessions inside. By the time Zeff had heaved himself up the stairs, she was almost done.
"Please… heh… Just slow down for a… heh… bit…" The old man doubled over, panting deeply. "You can't just say that without any explanation, kid. You need to go?! What the hell are you on about?"
"I just have to go." The buckles were fastened, and the leather strap swung over her shoulder. "I'm going after them."
"After…" Zeff squinted. "After Straw Hat and Sanji?"
"No. Well… yes but sorta. Seeing that poster just..." Her fists clenched. "I want to go and do something for me. Not just because I need money or work or anything… for me. I love working here and being with you guys, you're my family, but…" Strauss met Zeff's gaze head on and squared her shoulders. "I want to figure out what I want to do. To go on and figure out what my own dream is. And the best way of doing that is to find them."
"Is it now…" Zeff grunted, a large hand stroking his moustache.
Strauss flinched. He wouldn't let her go, would he. Sanji had already left, and the prospect of her leaving would mean there was no one to wait tables. Of course he wouldn't want to let her leave.
"Okay. You're fired."
Never had those words been so good to hear. "Manager Zeff I-!"
"Pch. Quit with the Manager business. I ain't your manager anymore." But he was smiling, a merry twinkle beaming in his eyes. "Now go on. If you're fast enough you might be able to catch them in Loguetown. That's where they should be heading, if they have any sense. Patty, you take her in the spare dinghy."
"WHAAAA?!" The burly man burst in through the door. "YA KNEW I WAS LISTENING?!"
Oh gosh… this was like her first day all over again. All the memories were flooding back to her…
Not now Strauss! She slapped her cheeks. She had cried enough already. This was a time for her to be happy. Happy and excited.
Just you wait, Sanji! I'm going to go out there and find something I love! And if things go well, I'll be seeing you sooner than you think.
So hang in there. And wait for me!
.
"I have to say, I'll be sad to see you go."
"I know." Strauss hummed as she hefted her bag, that same old leather bag that had seen her through this half of the Grand Line, up and over her shoulder. "But you always knew I was going to leave at some point."
"Yeah I guess." Her ex-boss Humphrey groaned morosely. "Doesn't mean it'll get any easier. You sure you can't stay a little longer?"
"I'm afraid not. I made a deal and I need to keep up my end of it."
Purupurupurupuru… Purupurupurupuru…
Speak of the devil… Strauss reached for her new mini transponder snail and picked up the receiver. "Strauss here."
"S…Strauss-ya we need to leave! NOW!"
"A-alright then!" Nodding to Humphrey (who slumped over once again), she rapidly sprinted out of the bar. "I'm on my way. Grove 1?"
"NO! NOT GROVE 1! It's chaos over here!"
Chaos? But wasn't that where the auction house was? She pursed her lips. Who would be dumb enough to kick up a fuss in that area?
KA BOOOOOM!
Blinding light shot pierced through a tree a couple of groves away, followed by several lasers cutting through buildings to the south. "Right." She decided to move on. "So where am I heading?"
"Grove 25. The Polar Tang should be moored somewhere nearby…"
It happened so fast. Faster than she could have ever imagined.
"Just look for a bright yellow ship submerged in the water. It's got my mark on the side, you can't miss it…"
It was there. Right in the corner of her eyes. A flash...
"Some of my crew should be nearby. I've told them you're coming aboard with us for a short while… Strauss-ya?"
A flash of blond.
She stopped. Was that really...? No it couldn't be… It was impossible, absolutely impossible...
So why was he slowing down too?
"Oi! Strauss-ya! Strauss-ya talk to me!"
They stared at each other blankly. Unable to say a word. Unable to so much as move a muscle. As if properly seeing each other for the first time and the explosions and lasers going off in the background weren't there and it was just… them. Standing there.
Together.
KA BOOOOOOOOOOM!
Until reality came crashing in.
"OI SANJI HURRY UP! WE NEED TO GO!"
"STRAUSS-YA! TALK TO ME, WHAT THE FUCK'S GOING ON OVER THERE?!"
They moved, neither turning their head away. Since they knew the illusion would vanish the moment they stopped looking.
This precious precious illusion.
But time had to move. And responsibilities had to be met. So it was with heavy hearts that they stopped, turned, and ran off in their respected directions. Not knowing if or when they would see the other again.
And feeling the distance between them increase once more.
Wow... When I say that this chapter took a lot out of me, I mean it. I actually cried while writing some sections (then my sister read it and she cried), so I was forced to take breaks to re-centre myself. It was... it was rough, but I am more than happy with the finished result. It's a loooong chapter, but that's because there wasn't quite enough content to split it into two. So here. One massively emotional chapter. Voila.
This marks the end of Season One, but don't you worry; it won't change a thing. I'm just marking this as a 'season' because there will be a slight tonal shift going forwards (as you might be able to tell). I'M GOING TO POST EVERYTHING IN THE SAME WORK. I don't see the point in having 'sequels' and the like, it just becomes a hassle trying to organise everything and it's confusing for readers trying to figure out what to read next.
THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE POSTED IN THIS WORK! I REPEAT: THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE POSTED RIGHT HERE!
So all you guys need to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy this strange angst I got for you :)
NOTE: HAS BEEN RESOLVED
On a more serious note, I would just like to take a moment to talk about what's happening in Afghanistan right now. As of posting, two suicide bombers detonated bombs outside Kabul airport, killing at least 72 people including 12 US troops. I'm just specifying this because... my half brother is part of the UK armed forces in Kabul. To be completely honest, my family's scared. At least I am. I love my half brother dearly, and he was the one who pushed me to follow my creative side in the first place. So... if I drop off the face of the internet for a while, I hope you'll know why. I really, really hope it never comes to that. But yeah. Just in case.
To anyone out there with relatives, friends, lovers, or even simple acquaintances in Kabul or Afghanistan right now... Stay strong. It may feel like the world is caving in around you... but stay strong and keep positive. There are people out there who care about you, who worry about you, and would miss you dearly if something happened.
Keep surviving. Please.