Chapter Text
This world was easy enough to acclimate to.
Sanji would never regret joining the Strawhats. Luffy had believed in his dream, had given him a purpose and a place to belong without hesitation. His foolish captain could have chosen any cook on the Baratie, but he wanted Sanji. His nakama were his everything and there was nothing in the world he would ever give the years with them up for.
That being said, he wasn't complaining about not being constantly on the run.
It had been about two weeks since he and Zoro had woken up here. The Mosshead had been pissy with him, more so than usual. He had no idea what the hell that was about and frankly he didn't care. Let him sulk if he wanted to.
Currently, Sanji was strolling next to Lucy in the hallway. Apparently, they had study hall together on Wednesdays (and used that time to wander the halls normally). She was rambling on about something or other and he was trying his best to listen. It wasn't easy, but he was used to it after living with Luffy for so long. Suddenly, Lucy faltered. She was tense for a split second, her shoulders hunched slightly.
Sanji was immediately alert, eyes darting around to see what had upset her. "Lucy?" he asked warily. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
But as soon as it had fallen, her smile was back on her face. "Nah, it's nothing," she told him. Like Luffy, she was a bad liar. "Just remembered I haven't done my homework for next period."
Sanji knew she was hiding something, but didn't press her. "Not to worry, love, I'd be happy to do it for you."
Lucy have him a dull look. "Last time you did that we got caught," she reminded him (it took him entirely too long to realize that the Sanji from this world had done that, not him), then grinned in amusement. "Sabo was so mad at you!" He winced. Apparently, while he and Ace got along well in this world, Sabo seemed to hate his guts.
Anyone from Lucy's family disliking him didn't sit right. The reason he had made sure to be so polite to Ace in Alabasta was because he hadn't been sure how protective the man would be over his brother. There had been a bit of apprehension, the irrational fear that Fire Fast would decide they weren't treating his precious baby brother right and whisk him away. He had been extra careful to stay on Ace's good side.
So what the hell had he done in this world to piss off Sabo so bad?
"Lucy," he said before he could stop himself. It couldn't hurt to ask, right? "Why does your brother hate me?"
Lucy looked at him with those pretty dark eyes of hers, then snickered. "Sanji's silly," she remarked. "Don't you remember? It was the first day we met." Before Sanji could even begin to question this, a memory overtook him.
"Brat! Go and tend to the folks who just sat down."
Fifteen-year-old Sanji scoffed. "I'm not a damn waiter," he snapped, but knew better than to argue. Zeff didn't care for complaining and wouldn't change his mind anyway. It wasn't as though they mad much choice considering they were shortstaffed tonight. He simply took a notepad and prepared himself to face their new guests. "How many?"
"Three."
He nodded and left the kitchen, moving towards the booth as he fiddles with his apron. "Welcome to the Baratie," he greeted without looking up yet. "Can I start you folks off with drinks?"
"Hi! I'm Lucy!"
Sanji's heart stopped as soon as that angelic voice reached his ears. Finally lifting his head, he came face-to-face with the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. A strawhat sitting on her head, she was short with rosy cheeks and adorable dimples. Her smile was blindingly brilliant, accented by the freckles adorning her face. Her large dark eyes were what drew him in the most, he was in awe of them.
Sanji was so starstruck that he blurted the first thing that came to his mind. "Marry me."
"Oi, you little brat!" intervened one of the men that was with her, the one with curly blond hair. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" The other who had dark hair and freckles like the pretty girl simply chuckled. Sanji blushed, but didn't let their reactions dissuade them. He just focused on the angel in front of him, her answer was the only one that mattered.
The girl, Lucy, just grinned. "Shishishi, only if you feed me all the meat you have!" she answered innocently.
Sanji hurriedly ran to the kitchen, ignoring the threats following him.
Well, that explained things.
Sanji held his throbbing head as the memory faded. What the hell? That had never happened! At least not to him. He hadn't met Luffy until he was nineteen. If it had happened in this world, why would he be getting the memories? Up until now, no memories had been given to either him or Zoro unless it was something mundane like driving.
Lucy frowned. "Sanji?" she asked. "Are you okay?"
He gave her a smile. "I'm fine, my dear," he assured her, brushing the memory away. He could ponder that later. "Just a little headache is all."
She didn't look like she believed him. "If you're feeling crummy, maybe we should go," she suggested, eyes- that classic Luffy bad idea glint in them- darting towards the door.
Wonderful, if her brothers found out Sabo would hate him even more. Unfortunately, it wasn't in Sanji's nature to deny a pretty girl anything, let alone his captain. "I'm guessing you want food?" he assumed, smiling.
"Yes!"
~~~
Sanji ended up taking her out for ice-cream. He fondly watched her get the frozen treat all over her nose and laughed, thumbing it away. "Love, you're making a mess," he chided, but had no intention of stopping her. Watching Lucy act carefree was a blessing, and a far cry from the last time he had seen Luffy: broken, bloody, dead.
He would keep a smile on Lucy's face no matter what.
But something was still bothering him. "Lucy," he spoke and she momentarily stopped tearing into her ice-cream. "What was really wrong in the hallway earlier? You looked really bothered."
She suddenly went quiet, her dark eyes refusing to meet his. "I told you it was nothing," she murmured, a hint of frustration in her voice.
Sanji took her hand. "And I know you well enough to know that isn't true," he said firmly. Luffy had been like this too, refusing to let anyone in. Hiding his troubles and his turmoil. The guilt of that had eaten away at Sanji back then; Luffy never hesitated to help them when they were in pain. Why wouldn't he let them help him?
Lucy finally looked at him, something delicate in her gaze. "Bellamy's just being a jerk," she finally admitted softly, then gave him a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing new there, right? It's no big deal."
Her valiantly held back the anger suddenly gnawing at him. He hadn't even remembered who in the hell Bellamy was right away, but the fact that someone dared to pick on her fanned the flames of his temper. Who the fuck did he think he was to make her feel like this?
(Later he would realize that in this world, Bellamy was a twenty-year-old still stuck in school because he was a fucking moron. The fact that he was twenty made Sanji hate him even more; what twenty-year-old spent time harassing a sixteen-year-old girl?)
But Sanji reigned himself in. "I see," he replied calmly, lighting a cigarette.
Lucy, however, saw right through him. "I promise it's nothing," she emphasized. "And don't tell Zoro either, he'll freak out!"
Sanji reluctantly agreed. Mosshead was going to lose his shit when he found out, but this wasn't about him. "Fine. But promise me you'll tell me if things get serious?"
She smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Sanji!" she said, obviously relieved. She went back to eating her ice-cream and it was almost as though the conversation had never happened.
But Sanji knew better and he couldn't fight off the bad feeling in his gut.