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It was common knowledge that omegas were very needy. They needed their comfortable nest to feel reassured, they needed to be close to their pack at all time to feel protected, they needed to spend time with their family to feel happy, or, to put it simply, they were a pain in the ass, especially when things needed to be done because they knew nothing except how to get in the way.
Not all omegas were the same, obviously, like not all alphas were aggressive and territorial, ready to fight anything and anyone threatening their dominance, but it was a fact that most omegas preferred to settle somewhere calm with a pack and seemed happy about it.
It was rare to see one at sea, even more in a pirate crew, but Sanji was not an ordinary omega. Maybe it was because he was a man, or because he had been raised on a floating-restaurant, but the omega broke every preconception known about his second gender.
For one, he didn’t have a nest. He said he didn’t need one and clearly, he didn’t, because his pheromones never acted up on their own, only betraying his worries when they were fighting a powerful enemy. When everything was over, everyone more or less bruised from the tough fight, Sanji would cook a very comforting meal for them that would sooth their aching bodies and put smiles on their faces, and he didn’t need more than this to get his own calm back.
Sanji was also one of the strongest members of the crew and he could take care of himself without too much trouble. He matched Zoro’s strength easily and the beta wasn’t weak, far from it, proof that an omega could be good in fight.
Sanji wasn’t just good though, he thrived, easily kicking enemies with a satisfied smile, a cigarette between his lips. Many prides were bruised, matching their few broken bones, but not even alphas could really touch him to put him in his place, like they often angrily shouted at him.
It was almost endearing to see him smirk and put them at their place, under the heel of his shoe.
Until it became old because, seriously, everyone could see at first glance that Sanji wasn’t weak!
Another thing that everyone noticed was that, contrary to popular opinion, Sanji wasn’t a touchy-feely omega. It wasn’t like he hated to touch others, just that he only did it when it was necessary or when he felt truly relaxed and happy, so it was never overbearing. A pat on Chopper’s hat, a slap against Luffy’s hand, a kick to Zoro’s side, a light squeeze on Usopp’s shoulder… There were more, obviously, but the touch was never intrusive, never too much for those among them whose only known solitude and violence in their life before joining the crew.
Nami liked it this way. Sanji loved to flirt exaggeratedly with her but never crossed the invisible line, and more often than not, she loved the stupid interactions and the easy conversations between them. The touch was friendly but she only realized how tamed it was when Vivi joined their crew and started to be more comfortable with them.
Vivi was an omega, strong and brave, and even if she had been forced to leave her country to protect it, she clearly loved sailing with the Straw Hats. Nami hit it off pretty quickly with her and she witnessed for the first time how an omega prepared their nest. It was in the girls’ room and now it looked so cozy that Nami almost asked if she could join her.
She didn’t need to because Vivi practically dragged her inside once it was done, releasing a content sigh after they both settled comfortably inside for the night. Nami smiled, happy and proud to have gained the trust of her new friend, and slept till the next day without trouble.
Vivi hung out all the time with the crew, her body close to them, her arm brushing against them, warm and easy, her soft scent pleasant to their nose. She loved when Luffy, Usopp and Chopper hugged her unexpectedly, and Nami surprised herself to take her hand in her own just to show that she was here for her.
Vivi often woke up Zoro from his nap before lunch, kindlier than any of them could. She would sit on the deck next to him and put her head on his shoulder, releasing happy pheromones while telling him to wake up because the food was ready, and he didn’t want to miss the good meal that Sanji had prepared for them with care and love, did he?
It was very funny the first time it worked, because Sanji was almost offended by the compliment and completely flustered when Zoro’s eyes opened at that very moment, and they started one of their usual stupid fights until Nami had enough and punched them both so they could finally eat.
Vivi’s presence was a breeze of fresh air, a welcoming change in the dynamic of their crew, helping to consolidate their already very close friendship. It was like they were starting to become a true pack thanks to her and Nami knew then that the people who thought that omegas were a hindrance at sea didn’t know what they were missing.
Vivi’s behavior made Sanji stand out even more as an omega, but in a good way, because being different from what the rest of the world expected them to be was almost a requirement to join their crazy crew.
Cooking made him happy and he always released strong happy pheromones whenever he was occupying his hands with his craft, even more pronounced whenever he looked at the crew eating his snacks, so it was easy to miss how often he used them, light as they were, so as to sooth the worries of the crew during a hard time, or simply because Chopper was scared of one of Usopp’s stories.
It showed that he cared, and more and more, the crew felt like home the more they spent time together, like a pack would. So, even if Sanji wasn’t an ordinary omega and didn’t touch them often, he was theirs and anyone who would say otherwise would face the wrath of the Straw Hats!
Nami jerked up awake and sat in the nest, probably waking up Vivi next to her, but she had felt something and her eyes immediately landed on Sanji. He was sitting on the floor, back against the frame of the bed, in her bedroom in the middle of the night, and she hesitated between anger and worry.
“Sanji-kun! What are you doing here?” She half-whispered in the dark.
She was met with surprised big blue eyes and her anger instantly vanished, looking more closely at her nakama. He was in his comfortable clothes to sleep and barefoot, something she didn’t see often, but nothing in him showed any distress or anything alarming so now she was more curious than worried.
Just in case, she sniffed the air and apart from a drier wind than last night, she didn’t notice anything special, Sanji’s pheromones not even acting up a little.
“I’m sorry Nami-san.” The blond yawned, wide and easy. “I didn’t mean to wake you. Can I stay here for a little while?” He asked, clearly tired and almost candid with his bold request.
Nami was stunned, wondering what the hell was happening because Sanji would never enter the girls’ room without invitation and yet, here he was, wanting to… what? Spend the rest of the night on the floor next to her?
She felt Vivi move and the female omega sat while rubbing her eyes, sleepy.
“Sanji?”
The blond seemed a bit more embarrassed now, probably because he really didn’t mean to wake them up, but fortunately for him, Vivi was prompt to reassure him.
“Is this because of your pre-heat?”
Or maybe not.
He opened his mouth before shutting it quickly after, hiding behind a hand the bright red on his cheeks that stood up even in the darkness of the room, and Nami blinked several times, realizing that Vivi was right.
And if she was, then at least it explained why Sanji had come to their room in the middle of the night, even if it felt a bit weird that the first thing he would do was to seek their presence.
“I can leave if it bothers you.” He said with a steady voice but it was obvious that it was the last thing he wanted to do.
“You don’t bother us at all! You can stay, right Nami?”
Vivi looked at her with a shy smile and Nami could only sigh, even though she felt the corners of her lips going up in a small smile.
“Alright, but no funny business. Are we clear, Sanji-kun?”
“Very clear!” He smiled, a pleasant scent coming from him, betraying his joy.
He then crossed his arms on the bed and put his head on them, apparently planning to sleep like this for the rest of the night.
It didn’t look very comfortable and Nami knew she was going to regret it, but one glance to Vivi and they both silently agreed that Sanji was not going to spend the night on the floor.
Nami gently placed her hand on his arm to have his attention.
“Come here, idiot.” She made a movement towards the nest to show that he was welcomed in it and he hesitated, looking at Vivi for confirmation.
She nodded, a big smile on her lips while patting the bed between her and Nami. He didn’t need to be told twice and immediately climbed inside the nest to lie down with ease on his stomach, letting a content sigh escape him once he was settled in the mess of their cushions and covers.
Nami chuckled and exchanged a smile with Vivi before they too lied down in the nest for the night. Sanji was already out, completely relaxed, something Nami didn’t witness often, and she was surprised to really like their unexpected close proximity.
She then closed her eyes, easily lulled by Sanji and Vivi’s soft breaths next to her.
Sanji moved carefully around her and left the nest, before leaving the room entirely. When Nami finally opened her eyes, she noticed that it was around the time he usually woke up to prepare breakfast, and she intended to immediately go back to sleep.
Except, in a deep foggy corner of her mind, something was bothering her. It took her a while to simply try to think about it, too comfortable in the nest surrounded by the two pleasant omega’s scents to want to completely wake up.
What was it again?
Oh yeah, Sanji-kun’s heat was about to start.
Oh crap!
She opened her eyes again and immediately met Vivi’s who was looking at her with a knowing smile. She put her index in front of her own lips to stay quiet.
“We should let him have his space before joining him in the kitchen.” She whispered even if Sanji had already left the bedroom and couldn’t hear her at all.
Nami nodded, and now that she was a bit more alert, she could smell how Sanji’s flowery scent blended nicely with hers and Vivi’s in the nest. She had to admit that it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. She was a beta and she had never really trained her nose before to pick up on emotions through pheromones so she wasn’t entirely sure, but from what she gathered, Sanji had left the nest happy.
“Is this the first heat he’s spending with the crew?” Vivi asked.
“Yeah. I was really surprised to see him here.” Nami paused, thoughtful. “We haven’t really discussed about it, there’s always so much happening at once.”
Vivi’s smile grew bigger, probably remembering some of the crew’s antics or one of their past wild adventures.
“Well, at least he’s comfortable enough to want to share his pre-heat with us.”
Nami frowned, a bit embarrassed to know so little about omegas’ heats apart from some very crude stereotypes.
“Yeah, about that…” She hesitated and Vivi waited patiently for her to continue. “I thought that before their heat, omegas spent their time to gather soft things to make a new bigger nest. Did Sanji-kun came here only because he wanted to borrow yours?”
Vivi shook her head, a small smile on her face, clearly a bit amused but not in a mocking way.
“Every omega is different when it comes to their pre-heats. Personally, I loved sleeping in my nest with Karoo and Igaram." Her smile faltered a second before coming back stronger. “It made me feel safe and loved. It was the best feeling ever! And during my heat, even if I preferred to spend it alone in my nest, Igaram would always stay close to keep guard and make sure that nothing bad happened to me…”
Nami placed her hand on the omega’s arm, knowing very well that her time with Baroque Works had not been always pleasant. Being a young omega in the middle of these wolves proved again how brave Vivi was and Nami was really glad that she hadn’t been alone to face the danger, at least.
“I think Sanji just didn’t want to sleep alone last night.” Vivi said before shrugging. “I don’t really know why he came especially here though, sorry.”
Nami gently smoothed her hair with a reassuring smile.
“That’s okay, we’ll just ask him. I’m starting to get hungry. You?”
“Same! Let’s see what Sanji cooked for us!”
When they opened the door to the kitchen, they were hit by the scents of delicious fresh food and happy omega. Sanji had taken the time to take a shower but he wasn’t in his usual outfit, favoring a blue sweatshirt and trackpants instead of his familiar three pieces suit, even if he still wore his traditional black dress shoes.
He looked restless, as if cooking was a way to burn off excess energy and not just to provide food for the crew, the plates piling up on the table while something was always cooking on the stove. When he saw them, he gave them a huge smile but didn’t fawn over them as strongly as usual.
“I made your favorites! But if you want something else, don’t hesitate to tell me, I’ll do my best to fulfill your every wish!”
“I think I’m alright, thank you Sanji!”
Vivi quickly sat at the table and took one sample from each of the many plates in front of her. Nami did the same, more slowly, but when she took her first bite, she hummed with pleasure, finally completely awake from her usual morning fog.
“It’s delicious, Sanji-kun.”
She was immediately hit with very strong happy pheromones and Sanji’s smile was now taking half of his face.
“You’re welcome, Nami-swan!”
The rest of the crew joined them one by one, and if at first no one commented about it, everyone quickly noticed Sanji’s very cheerful mood. It was hard to miss anyway, with all the food steaming on the table and his pheromones saturating the air.
“It’s so good Sanji!” Luffy shouted, releasing his own happy pheromones in the room.
“Yeah! Is there a special occasion?” Usopp asked. “Not that I’m complaining!” He added while eating his croissant.
“Not really.” Sanji dared to answer, the liar, and Nami glared at him.
“Yes, there is!” She immediately intervened.
Sanji looked embarrassed but he couldn’t hide this from everyone. It was too important!
“Well, it’s not a big deal…” He tried to convince her, but Nami wasn’t going to let it go.
Vivi put a hand on her arm to calm her and spoke softly.
“It’s not, but it’s better if everyone’s prepared, especially at sea, don’t you think?”
Sanji opened his mouth and shut it, exactly like last night, clearly feeling awkward to talk about his upcoming heat.
“What’s going on?” Chopper said with a worried voice. “Are you sick? Do you need a doctor?”
Before the little reindeer could panic, Nami patted his hat and shook her head with a smile.
“Nothing like it. Sanji-kun’s heat is coming up, that’s all.”
“Oh, I see!”
Among the crew, Chopper was probably one of the few who knew exactly what it meant because Nami saw Zoro, Usopp and Luffy tilt their head in unison, their confused expression almost comical. Sanji’s face was completely red and his pheromones betrayed how uncomfortable he was about the whole conversation.
“I’ll take care of it on my own, don’t worry.” He hoarsely said.
Nami raised an eyebrow and he fumbled with empty plates to take with him to the sink.
“Is this the mystery period of an omega?” Luffy asked with innocence. “Are you going to be mean like Nami during her mystery period?”
The punch landed before she could think about it, but he deserved it. Vivi giggled, the traitor. Nami sighed, already tired by the stupidity of her captain. Meanwhile, Sanji simply ignored the question entirely, his back towards them while clearly faking to be busy with the dishes.
“I don’t want to be hit but, hum…” Usopp raised his hands in front of him when she glared at him. “Don’t heats usually last for a few days? If Sanji can’t cook-”
“SANJI CAN’T COOK?!” Luffy screamed, already by Sanji’s side to look at him more closely.
“Of course I can, idiot!” Sanji kicked him away and finally turned around to face the crew, his visible eyebrow furrowed. “I’ll prepare enough for everyone, you’ll just have to heat it up afterwards. It’s not the best but at least your shitty ass won’t starve!” Then he fawned over the girls. “Of course, I’ll prepare something special just for my sweet Nami-swan and Vivi-chwan!”
“Do you need something specific?” Chopper asked seriously and Sanji quickly reassured him with a smile.
“No. I’ll just lock myself in the storeroom and wait it out. It’s not for a few days anyway so I have time to prepare everything we need.”
Everyone seemed to relax at the confident answer of the blond and they picked up their breakfast peacefully, if Luffy trying to steal from their plates could be called peacefully.
Sanji spent a good part of the morning in the kitchen, probably to make sure they wouldn’t starve during his heat, while the crew busied themselves with their own favorite pastime. Nami and Vivi decided to lie down comfortably on the lounge chairs on the deck to enjoy the warm sun on their skin. It was a nice day and from Nami’s expertise, it didn’t seem like the weather was going to change anytime soon, which was good news, because she really wanted to spend her time in peace today.
Sanji came over with fancy drinks that he placed on the table next to them, before sitting on the deck back to Nami’s chair and casually putting his head on her leg.
She didn’t jump but she was truly taken aback by the sudden closeness.
“Can I?” He asked when their eyes met, a bit shy.
She blinked, trying to steady her heart and her breath, the tinkling of his warm scent in her nose intriguing but not unpleasant. She nodded and was unexpectedly hit by strong waves of happy omega’s pheromones when he closed his eyes and went completely limp against her chair.
He trusted her, she realized. Vivi had said that every omega needed different things during their pre-heats, and because Sanji was such an odd omega, Nami had thought he wouldn’t need much, but he clearly needed this, whatever this was.
She glanced towards Vivi who smiled at her and went back to her magazine, not even a bit surprised by the strange sight of Sanji’s head resting on Nami’s thigh. And maybe Nami didn’t feel as awkward as she thought she would be in other circumstances. It wasn’t like Sanji wanted to touch her or anything, he just wanted to be close to her, his breath already slowing down as he started to doze off.
It was like last night, when he had sought her out, and it was obvious now that Sanji was a bit more honest with what he wanted just before his heat. She took her glass and sipped at the delicious cocktail he made especially for her, and something became suddenly clear.
She relaxed and brushed Sanji’s blond hair softly, a little smile on her lips.
“Idiot.”
If he really wanted to be by her side, he didn’t need to ask because she would always happily welcome him with open arms.
The rest of the day was slow going, but it helped to notice Sanji’s new habits more easily. He cooked a lot in the kitchen, banning everyone from it, even the girls, and when he wasn’t cooking, he was napping.
Nami’s leg had only been the first pillow of the day, because his blond head took over Vivi’s lap after that, forcing her to stay on the lounge chair for the rest of the afternoon. She didn’t seem bothered by the intimacy, and it was still odd that Sanji would even selfishly steal one of the girls’ free times for himself like this, but everyone still made sure to not wake him up. The crew even found it amusing to see him lazily sprawled on the deck, completely relaxed, instead of his usual fussing around.
After dinner, Sanji stayed in the kitchen for a very long time, until he went to the boys’ bedroom for the night, as usual.
But contrary to usually, he grabbed a lot of blankets and cushions before kidnapping Chopper from his hammock to curl up with him on the makeshift bed of Karoo.
Chopper was a bit surprised when he woke up slowly in their too warm bed, but Karoo reassured him quickly, telling him that he was used to Vivi’s need of cuddles from time to time, and Sanji probably felt the same right now. It wasn’t uncomfortable at least, and Chopper went back to sleep without too much trouble.
It wasn’t until early morning after Sanji left the bed that Chopper woke up from probably one of the best nights since he joined the crew. Sure, it was a bit hotter than he was used to, but it had felt very nice. There was a lingering scent on Karoo and on his own fur, and Chopper knew it came from Sanji, even if he couldn’t smell pheromones like humans. It was light and soothing, meaning that Sanji had been happy to share his night with them, making him happy too.
The kitchen was filled with so much food that it was hard to see the wood of the dinner table and even the counter. Not everything had been made for breakfast and Sanji had to fiercely defend their future meals from an ecstatic Luffy, and he won, fortunately for everyone. It showed them how much food they ate just for a few days and it was impressive how Sanji was able to keep up with their crew all alone.
Chopper was keeping an eye on him still, even if Sanji had said that he didn’t need any help, both from genuine concern for his nakama and from medical curiosity. He didn’t have a lot of experience with pre-heats but he knew they easily reflected the omega’s mindset and were very important to prepare them for their heat, and right now, Sanji seemed fine. A bit tired but clearly happy, relaxed among the crew.
The rest of the morning, Chopper played with Luffy, Karoo and Usopp on the deck while Zoro trained on the stern of the Merry, and Vivi and Nami spent their time talking of this and that. Sanji remained in the kitchen and every time someone tried to see if he was alright, they were quickly reassured and kicked out, more or less violently for some people.
“You know, I still wonder how Sanji is going to spend his heat on his own.” Usopp said after seeing Luffy fly in the air after one of his many attempts to enter the kitchen. “He said he was going to lock himself in the storeroom but there’s nothing comfortable in it that could make for a good nest and I haven’t seen him prepare anything except the huuuuge amount of food in the kitchen.”
Chopper nodded, understanding his nakama’s concern for the omega.
“Since he usually doesn’t use a nest, maybe he’ll just hang his hammock in the storeroom and it’ll be enough for him. But I’m more worried about who will be allowed to approach him during his heat. He’ll have to eat at some point and omegas have the tendencies to forget to take care of their own basic needs.” He paused. “I don’t want to press him because it should come from him but I’m pretty sure his heat is going to start soon, if not tonight, then tomorrow, and I prefer to be prepared.”
He frowned and Usopp gently pushed his forehead with two fingers to smooth his eyebrows.
“Don’t worry. We’re not going to let him starve.” He said and it put a smile on Chopper’s face, reassured. “Plus, if anything goes wrong, we have the best doctor in the world on board!” He added with confidence.
“Don’t think it makes me happy, bastard!” Chopper shouted, hitting his shoulder for good measure, missing the way his body betrayed his joy at the same time.
After lunch, and before Sanji tried to kick him out, Chopper approached his nakama with a serious face.
“How do you feel?” He asked and Sanji sighed while putting out the last of the clean cutlery in the drawer.
“I’m fine Chopper, don’t worry.”
“I’m not.” He quickly said with a smile. “I just want you to know that if you need anything, you can tell me. And I mean, anything.”
Sanji closed the drawer and eyed him, curious, a small smile on his face.
“I’m not sure I know what you mean. I don’t need anything.”
They were all alone so Chopper wasn’t too worried about being overheard, but he still lowered his voice.
“I mean, if you plan to spend your heat with someone, I can give you some contraceptive, oral or-”
“Wow!” Sanji cut him rapidly, red on his face and probably very embarrassed by the look of it, his hand immediately covering Chopper’s mouth while he glanced at the door to check if someone could have heard them. “I don’t plan anything like that!” He hissed between his teeth.
He crouched at his height and sighed before releasing him, bemusement in his eyes still.
"Sometimes I forget that you’re a very caring doctor.” He murmured and Chopper blushed, making the omega smile when he danced to hide his joy.
“I’m just doing my best, idiot!”
Sanji brought them closer and softly rubbed his forehead against Chopper’s cheek, stopping him net. His nakama seemed to notice his surprise but didn’t move back, his scent becoming stronger while he rested leisurely his head on Chopper’s small shoulder.
“I’ll spend my heat alone, so you don’t have to give me anything. But thanks. For… you know.” He hid his face in the crook of Chopper’s neck and it made the little reindeer smile.
He kindly patted the blond head, happy that the omega was honest with him.
“You’re welcome. But I’d like to know something else too.”
Sanji gently released Chopper, waiting for him to speak.
“Have you decided who will be allowed in the storeroom with you, at least to bring you food and water, maybe even help you to refresh yourself sometimes? I’m just asking now because your heat is close but I’ll understand if you prefer to wait a little longer before telling me. Still, as your doctor, I’d like to know in advance just to make sure that everything goes well.”
“Oh.” He looked surprised, and Chopper wondered how Sanji really had taken care of himself during his heats before. “I haven’t really thought about that.” He admitted. “Even at the Baratie, I took care of everything alone, but maybe that was possible only because I had everything I needed in my room.”
“You cooked your meals during your heat?” Chopper asked, suspicious.
“I…” The blond looked away. “No. I ate dried food.” He lowered his head and closed his eyes, ready to be yelled at.
And Chopper had already opened his mouth to yell at him, because it wasn’t good to eat dried cold food during a heat, but he closed it and took a deep breath to calm himself instead. It wasn’t his nakama’s fault and, anyway, it was in the past now.
The blond opened one eye and when it was clear that Chopper wasn’t going to scold him, he opened the second.
“No dried food anymore during your heat! Understood?”
Sanji rolled his eyes, the corner of his lips raised in a small smile.
“Yes, doc!” He cooled his face, more serious. “And I think it’s better if you’re the one to…” He gestured vaguely at the kitchen or himself. “… help me, I guess. If it doesn’t bother you too much.”
“I’ll be honored!” Chopper answered with confidence, knowing how vulnerable omegas felt during their heats and wanting to put his nakama’s mind at ease.
“Thanks.”
Sanji rubbed his cheek against his again, and Chopper giggled at the friendly touch.
During the afternoon, Sanji finally started to gather covers and cushions and a few things from the crew to put in the storeroom, still saying he wasn’t making a nest, but it was a bit hard to believe when the soft materials started to pile up inside of the room with an alarming speed.
Except, when Usopp quickly glanced inside, curious, it really didn’t look like a comfortable nest at all, more like a cluster of things to hide the floor, everything untidy and messy. He didn’t ask though, fearing Sanji’s wrath for just looking at his not-nest without permission.
He took the initiative to prepare some props for his future story, something about giant robots that were going to save the world, with the help of the great Captain Usopp, obviously, and since the kitchen was probably still out of limits, he started to tickle with his tools on the deck.
He almost jumped when Sanji decided to take his back as his new pillow, sitting behind him with his head lazily resting between his shoulder blades. Usopp had seen him nap against Nami and Vivi’s side the day before, even saw him curled up around Chopper and Karoo last night, but he was completely caught off guard by Sanji’s laid-back attitude with him.
It was surprisingly very intimate and Usopp was a bit proud to be trusted that much by the omega. It wasn’t even awkward to have one of the strongest persons he knew casually relying on him to not fall on the floor. It wasn’t hard per se, but Usopp knew that Sanji never really let his guard down around people, and that was why to him, the moment felt even more precious.
Chopper joined them at some point, helping Usopp when he needed to grab his tools without risking to jostle Sanji too much. When Luffy came over though, the blond woke up and yawned, immediately asking their captain if he wanted a snack.
Of course, the alpha agreed right away with joy and Usopp lost the warmth against his back, but the comforting scent of the omega lingered on his shirt, and he continued his task with a big smile on his lips, humming a pleasant air he remembered from his childhood.
Sanji appeared with a mountain of snacks for everyone and kicked angrily Luffy’s hungry hands to protect them. They all ate with enthusiasm, even Zoro who woke up from his own nap against the mast to grab his treat and swallow it whole, before putting his arms behind his head and going back to sleep immediately after.
What no one expected, and certainly not the swordsman, was for Sanji to simply let himself fall on him after tidying up everything, a content sigh escaping his lips when he stretched like a cat on Zoro’s belly.
Zoro had no idea how to react. First, he wanted to hit the cook, because it was very painful to be woken up by a sudden weight crushing his stomach, but then he realized that the blond wasn’t there for a fight, in fact, he was looking for a very cozy place to nap!
“Don’t start.” Nami warned, and Zoro was pretty sure it was meant only for him.
She eyed him with a suspicious look so he glared back at her, but when he looked at the cook sprawled across his body, he was completely lost with what to do with him.
It didn’t even look comfortable!
The head of the blond was resting on the wooden deck and only his back was on Zoro’s stomach, but the stupid omega had already dozed off, as if the situation was completely normal.
Well, maybe the best thing to do was to ignore him entirely and go back to sleep. He couldn’t move anyway, and he surprisingly didn’t want to, the warmth coming from the omega not so bad after all.
“Nap time with Zoro and Sanji!” Luffy shouted before jumping on the both of them.
Sanji kicked the alpha violently away from them without even opening his eyes. Luffy came back with less force but the omega’s foot pushed him away again, and the captain was starting to get a little bit impatient.
“But Sanji, I just want to nap with you!”
All he received was a kick to his face.
“Luffy, let him be.” Nami intervened carefully.
Sanji clearly didn’t want Luffy to come closer and the reason was evident for everyone, except for their alpha of captain. The blond had been a bit distant with him since they knew about his upcoming heat and Luffy was naturally not pleased about that.
“But-”
“Luffy.” Vivi called him over, waving at him to sit with her, and he did, pouting a little.
She took his hand in hers and squeezed it to comfort him.
“You can’t force him. This is a very special moment for him and it’s important to let Sanji decide when he spends his time with you.”
She paused while Luffy looked at their joined hands, frowning still.
“You know you’re important to him, right?”
She had whispered to be only heard by him and he stared at her, absolutely confident, without even bothering to confirm her words because, of course he was important to Sanji! She smiled, knowing exactly what he wasn’t telling.
“But you know, as an alpha, and his captain, he can’t treat you like everybody else.” She said, and Luffy wasn’t sure if he understood.
He never really troubled himself with genders, any of them, but he could make an effort if it concerned his nakama’s well-being. He had been a bit jealous to see the sudden closeness of Sanji with the crew except him, but Vivi was right, he couldn’t force Sanji to do anything, not now, not ever.
Plus, as much as he liked the stronger scent of Sanji lingering on the Merry, Luffy had the feeling that it was pleasant to his nose only because Sanji felt completely safe with them. He looked at his cook and his swordsman on the deck, their limbs now messily tangled together in their sleep, and he felt something deep in his chest, warm and soothing, washing away the last of his remaining doubts.
He looked back at Vivi and put his free hand above their clasped hands, smiling confidently at her, letting his pheromones free for just a second, the intent clear for everyone. His crew was his and he would protect everyone from anything that would dare try to hurt them.
“I think I understand.” He said before letting her go, standing back up to go sit on the head of Merry.
He felt the look of his nakama in his back for a second, between surprise and happy relief, and he relished in the feeling. His crew trusted him to protect them, following him not because he was an alpha, he knew, but because he chose them and they chose him, and it was all he ever wanted.
If Sanji needed to spent time with the others without Luffy, he wasn’t going to complain about it anymore. It wasn’t like he was completely ignoring Luffy’s presence or even refused to feed him, and it wasn’t going to last anyway, because after his mystery heat, his cook would go back to his old self again.
It didn’t mean that being the only one to be denied a nap with Sanji didn’t hurt. Luffy knew it couldn’t be helped if Sanji’s reason to refuse was because he was an alpha, and he was going to respect his decision, because as much as Luffy didn’t care about genders, it wasn’t the case for everyone in the crew, and Sanji’s peace of mind was more important to him than some naps, as nice as they looked.
Luffy wasn’t just an alpha though, he was the captain of the Straw Hats too, and it meant he had a responsibility to his crew.
No matter where, when or why, Luffy would always be there for his nakama and protect them. So right now, he was going to watch over Sanji, shielding him from the rest of the world if it was what he needed, whether from up close or from afar.
Sanji’s heat began in the middle of the night, when he was sleeping with Nami and Vivi again, but he quickly left the nest to go to the storeroom like he promised, his strong intoxicating scent following him around, red cheeks and sweat sticking his blond hair to the back of his neck.
Vivi followed after him, even though Sanji asked her to go back to bed several times, while Nami went to bring Chopper over, the doctor having requested beforehand to be informed whenever Sanji’s heat would start so as to not let anything amiss during the omega’s first heat with the crew.
Vivi took a glance at the nest of Sanji, and it really didn’t look like hers, so maybe he was right to not call it as such. It was even a bit out of character to see such a mess when everything about the cook was so well organized, from the kitchen to his wardrobe, but maybe he didn’t want to trouble himself with this during his heat.
He had taken his pillow with him, one of the big cushions from Vivi’s nest, and he threw it on the floor before sitting on it, looking for something in the chaos of his own clothes and some of the crew’s. He perked up when he found his pack and immediately after, he lit a cigarette and took a long drag, sitting lazily back, eyes closed and shoulders relaxing at last.
“Do you need something else?” Vivi whispered, not wanting to disturb his quiet peace.
Sanji’s eyes opened slowly, his gaze already a bit blurry, and he shook his head.
“No, thanks. Sorry for waking you up.”
“It’s no trouble.” She smiled, reassuring, and he nodded, taking another puff before putting the cigarette out and back in his pack.
Chopper arrived with Nami in toe, still looking a bit sleepy, but he quickly shooed the girls out and assured with confidence that they could go back to sleep without worry.
He stayed a little with Sanji to check his temperature and force him to drink something before letting him rest alone in the storeroom.
A few hours later, while Chopper was drooling on the couch, unable to resist sleep any longer during the calm night, Luffy entered the kitchen and sniffed silently the air, conflicted with what to do. His instincts were telling him to join the omega right now, to make sure he was happy and felt safe, but he wasn’t sure if his presence would really be welcomed.
Sanji’s scent was drowning everything else, potent and comforting, and it was impossible to ignore. Luffy could smell it even in the boys’ room, and that was what woke him up earlier and irresistibly attracted him here. He ran a hand in his dark hair, trying to cover Sanji’s scent with his own, and it worked a little, calming him for now.
Alright, he couldn’t join Sanji in the storeroom but he could look after him with Chopper, at least.
He sat next to the little reindeer, smiling fondly at his cute furry face, before beginning his watch. He tried not to be overbearing with his own scent, not wanting to bother Sanji, but he couldn’t help himself and protective pheromones started to spread in the air of the kitchen. It wasn’t as heavy as the omega’s nice scent but it was there, and Luffy hoped it was comforting.
A few hours passed without any movement, whether from Chopper or the storeroom, and Luffy tried to get some sleep, to fail miserably.
He couldn’t stop thinking, something he wasn’t used to, usually preferring to put his ideas in practice without waiting, but it was hard this time because of his instincts.
He was starting to get hungry. But even with the fridge in reach, Luffy’s instincts were against stealing the omega’s food and now he was stuck with an empty stomach and the want to open the storeroom’s door and join Sanji inside.
Both things weren’t the best but Luffy held on and didn’t move from his spot. He wasn’t used to ignore his hunger like this, but the feeling of protectiveness towards Sanji was stronger and anyway, Luffy was okay to wait a little longer for a meal he knew would be delicious, prepared in advance by the omega with love and care, like he always did.
And so he waited, ignoring his rumbling stomach, almost expecting Chopper to wake up from the noise, but his little doctor was sleeping soundly. There was no danger, nothing but the calm sea around them beyond the wooden walls, a flowery scent coming from Sanji filling up the ship.
It was so calm, in fact, that Luffy almost jumped on his seat when the doorknob of the storeroom creaked and the door opened. He blinked at the now ajar door, his heart suddenly beating fast in his chest. The pleasant scent of Sanji became even stronger and he swallowed slowly, tasting it even on his tongue.
Nothing happened next, no movement nor sound, and after some time, Luffy wondered if it was possible that the door had opened itself. He was curious so he finally stood on his feet to approach the storeroom’s door, peeking inside as soon as he could.
“Sanji…?” He whispered when he realized that his nakama was curled up on the floor, his head almost touching the wood of the door, hugging a big cushion in his arms.
Luffy crouched down and overed his hand above the blond head, conflicted between touching the omega or not, uncertain of what would be the best thing to do right now. His instincts wanted to caress the blond locks, to put them away to see the omega’s face more clearly and make sure that he was okay, but Luffy was pretty sure that it wasn’t something Sanji really wanted. He wouldn’t want to be seen so vulnerable by anyone, and it meant that Luffy was probably going to get yelled at when Sanji was going to notice his presence.
So, when Sanji’s head moved and blue foggy eyes looked at him, Luffy didn’t expect the sigh of relief coming from his nakama. Luffy hesitated a second before touching lightly his forehead with his fingers, putting back unruly blond locks in place, and Sanji immediately melted under his touch.
Luffy felt the alpha in him take pride in being the one to make the omega so relaxed and he relished in the feeling.
“Do you need anything? Food, water?” He asked while still petting him.
Sanji hummed, eyes closed, before shaking slowly his head.
“Do you want me to wake up Chopper?”
At the question, Luffy retrieved his hand, looking at the sleeping reindeer behind him, already on his feet when he heard a soft whimper that stopped him immediately. When he looked back, Sanji had extended his hand towards him, brushing his naked ankle with his long fingers, a frown on his face.
“No, just… stay? I don’t want to be alone.”
Luffy quickly sat against the wall outside of the room, next to the door, before taking Sanji’s hand in his.
“Sure! Whatever you need, Sanji!” He smiled happily, patting gently the back of his hand.
It seemed to do the trick because the frown disappeared soon after and Sanji let escape a content sigh, even crawling closer to him.
Luffy continued to release protective pheromones and he liked the way their scents mixed together in the kitchen. Something settled in his chest and he knew he wouldn’t be able to leave Sanji’s side anymore, unless Sanji himself asked him to. From the way he was curled up against his thigh, that wasn’t something that was going to happen anytime soon.
Chopper found them like this, Sanji lying in between the storeroom and the cold floor of the kitchen, Luffy’s hand buried in his blond hair.
“Luffy!” He whispered angrily to not wake up the omega. “What are you doing? You can’t just-”
“Shh… He asked me to stay.” Luffy quickly reassured him.
“But…” Chopper looked unsure, a frown on his face. “Did you open the door?”
Luffy shook his head and smiled.
“He did it all by himself! He doesn’t want to be alone right now.” He added more softly.
“Oh, I see.” Chopper finally relaxed. “Well, if that’s what Sanji wants, I won’t stop you, but he shouldn’t sleep on the floor like this.”
Luffy looked at the blond who was sleeping soundly next to him, wondering what he should do to make him more comfortable. He couldn’t really move him, and he was pretty sure that it was a bad idea to touch any of the soft fabrics inside of the storeroom, but Chopper was already one step ahead of him and covered their nakama with the blanket of the couch.
Luffy’s stomach then rumbled loudly.
“If you’re hungry, I can give you some of the snacks that Sanji prepared for you.” Chopper offered.
Luffy frowned. He was hungry, really hungry, and he should accept Chopper’s offer without hesitation, except he was still conflicted about leaving Sanji on his own. When Luffy looked down, never stopping his gentle strokes on the soft hair, he was struck with how vulnerable his cook looked like this, soundly asleep in the doorway, and as stupid as it sounded because he knew Sanji was strong and their nakama were here to watch over the Merry, he still wanted to stay by his side to protect him.
Of course, his stomach protested again, and this time, it woke Sanji up.
“Luffy…?”
Unfocused eyes and flushed skin. Sanji was clearly out of it but he immediately zeroed in on Luffy’s face, eyebrows furrowed.
“Sanji, you’re awake!” Chopper exclaimed happily. “You should go back inside while I bring you food and water.”
The cook murmured something unintelligible, imperceptibly getting closer to Luffy.
“What did you say? I didn’t understand.” Chopper asked, patient.
“But Luffy...” Sanji repeated louder, clenching his hand in Luffy’s, and Luffy perked up, smiling at the selfish possessiveness of his nakama.
“You want me to stay with you?”
The slow nod he received made Luffy’s inner alpha purr with pride and his heart bloomed with warmth in his chest, feeling so happy to know that the blond trusted him enough to look after him right now.
“Alright! Then let’s go back inside!”
Sanji sighed softly with relief and let himself be handled with care by Luffy under Chopper’s supervision. Once he was settled comfortably in his not-quite nest, he let another sigh escape him, this time with contentment.
Luffy couldn’t ignore his hunger any longer though, but now that Sanji wasn’t half sprawled in the middle of the kitchen’s floor anymore, it was easier to leave his side for a few minutes after reassuring the blond that he was coming back as fast as he could.
Chopper made sure that Luffy couldn’t see the secret code of the fridge and was ready to fight him to keep the rest of their food safe from his prying hands, but Luffy didn’t even try to steal anything and took only what his nakama was giving him. He even took Sanji’s small snack in his hand, stewed fruits of some sort in a bowl, and brought it immediately to the blond for him to eat.
It was like something compelled him to prioritize the omega’s well-being over his own, but Luffy knew it wasn’t really a bad thing, so he didn’t fight it. They ate peacefully while Chopper checked Sanji’s temperature, reminding him to drink more water, before asking him again if he really wanted Luffy to stay with him.
To the positive answer, Chopper nodded once, serious, before a gentle smile went to his lips.
“Okay, but if you need anything, I’m just behind the door, so don’t hesitate to call out.”
The doctor left the storeroom but when he started to close the door, Sanji fidgeted before speaking.
“Wait! Can you… leave it open?” He asked, eyes pleading.
“Of course! I don’t want you to catch a cold so I’m not going to let it open wide, is this okay?”
After Sanji’s nod, Chopper closed the door almost completely after giving him a reassuring smile, and Luffy found himself looking at the layout of the soft fabrics on the ground where Sanji had put them. It felt comfortable, at least in his opinion, messy in a comforting way, like it was well-lived.
He let Sanji pull him down to lie next to him, his warm body pressed against his, a content sigh escaping his lips. The omega closed his eyes and was out in an instant, his strong pheromones saturating the air. Luffy took a deep breath, trying to decipher them, and he was pleased that it revealed only good feelings. He let his own free too, protective and happy ones, and their mixed scents lulled him finally to sleep.
He was woken up by the sound of footsteps entering the kitchen and absent-mindedly listened to the conversation between Chopper and Zoro. It was morning already but Luffy really didn’t want to get up just yet, too comfortable with Sanji tucked against him, his warmth and scent surrounding him in a very nice way.
He realized that he was a bit hungry, but like last night, he was in no rush to get some food and preferred to stay by Sanji’s side instead.
“Luffy?” Chopper’s gentle voice whispered and Luffy raised only his head to look at the gap between the door and the wall. “Are you and Sanji awake?”
Luffy turned his head and Sanji looked completely dead to the world, his breathing deep and even.
“Just me.” He said as low as possible, not used to be quiet like this.
The little reindeer peeked through the gap.
“If you’re hungry, it’s almost time for breakfast, but don’t wake Sanji when you leave the room, he needs rest.”
“I’m not leaving.” He said immediately, resolute.
He didn’t know why but he needed to be here, with Sanji, and even hunger wasn’t going to distract him from his duty.
He still softened his voice to reassure his small doctor.
“I’ll wait until Sanji wakes up.”
Chopper nodded.
“Alright.”
Luffy settled comfortably back and smiled at the relaxed face of his nakama next to him. He couldn’t resist and caressed softly the blond hair, letting protective pheromones slowly fill the air of the room. He closed his eyes, listening to the light conversations of his nakama who arrived one by one in the kitchen, the calm whispers soothing.
He felt a strong sense of possessiveness take over him and spread protective pheromones until it enveloped his whole crew. They didn’t mind and easy laughs started to enter the storeroom, along with the delicious smell of food.
Before even his stomach made a noise, Sanji stirred up with his nose scrunching up. His eyes blinked several times and he let a long and lazy yawn out. He only seemed to notice Luffy’s presence next to him after passing a hand in front of his eyes.
Luffy was nicely surprised by the genuine smile the blond gave him before he curled up back against him, making him laugh heartily.
It brought the rest of his nakama’s attention and Chopper’s head popped up through the small gap of the door, soon followed by Nami’s and Usopp’s. They didn’t dare come any closer, respecting the omega’s space, and Luffy beamed when he saw them.
His stomach grumbled then and it seemed to be important enough to wake Sanji up completely. He rose up his head and frowned at him.
“Go eat. I made enough.” He said while burying his head in Luffy’s shirt, his voice muffled by the red fabric but clear enough to be understood.
“Shishishi, alright, but let me go first!”
Luffy didn’t move until Sanji loosened his grip on his shirt and he patted the blond head before standing up.
“Don’t worry, I’ll come back!” He said to reassure him when he left the room.
He ignored the way Nami and Usopp were looking at him like he just had two heads instead of one because, now that he was in front of it, he could see it.
“FOOD!”
He was famished and so he didn’t wait to start eating as quickly as possible, engulfing the delicious breakfast that Sanji had prepared, kindly reheated by one of his nakama this morning. It wasn’t exactly the same but it was still good, and as always when he ate the omega’s food, his chest became warm with affection.
He felt all the more privileged to be able to eat this kind of food every day when Sanji’s strong scent, pleasant and soothing, reached his nose. Still, as much as he liked feeling his belly full of good food, he couldn’t wait to go back in the storeroom again. Since Sanji accepted his presence, he wasn’t going to hold himself back and was going to satisfy his alpha instincts of taking care of the omega to his heart content.
“Done!”
He put his plate on the dinner table in a loud clatter and rushed to the storeroom but Nami grabbed him by the collar before he could reach the door.
“Wait Luffy, you’re going back inside?” She asked, perplexed.
“Sanji said I could.” He answered honestly.
But before she could say anything else, he realized that he had almost forgotten something very important.
“Oh, Nami, can you give me Sanji’s breakfast? I’m sure he’s starving right now!”
“Definitely not! Sanji-kun’s food is for Sanji-kun only, so I’m not giving you anything!” She protested.
“I know it’s his food, that’s why I’m going to give it to him!”
Usopp snorted and Nami’s frown deepened, while Zoro yawned, mildly interested by the whole conversation. Vivi was about to add something when Chopper finally intervened.
“Nami, don’t worry, Luffy is really not going to eat Sanji’s food.”
“Huh?!” She only said, blinking with shock.
He wasn’t offended by her reaction until he noticed the same shock on everyone else’s face.
“What?! You don’t believe me?” Luffy almost whined.
Minus Chopper, his whole crew shook their head and he felt a bit hurt by their lack of trust.
“No offense but Luffy, you’re not really known for your restraint when it comes to food.” Usopp explained. “We literally have to fight for our share every day!”
Luffy tilted his head, not seeing the point, making his nakama sigh.
“But that’s totally different! Sanji’s food is for Sanji, no one else!” He protested, adamant. “I can’t eat it!”
“I was worried about it too last night but Luffy just wants to help Sanji right now.” Chopper added and it seemed to convince his crew that he was trustworthy, at least with Sanji’s food.
Luffy waited impatiently that Nami finished to reheat Sanji’s food and all but stole it from her hands when it was done, but he carefully opened the door and didn’t rush inside like he really wanted to.
“Sanji? I brought your food! Nami helped me this time!”
He could feel everyone’s gaze on his back. Well, even he knew how uncharacteristic it was for him to be so cautious, but his instinct was telling him to be gentle with the omega, and Luffy listened.
Sanji’s head rose up to his voice and a wave of happy pheromones hit him. Luffy smiled and quickly sat next to him, holding carefully the plate in one hand to give it to him, but the blond preferred to place his head on Luffy’s lap instead before going back to sleep.
Luffy heard whispers and fair enough, his nakama were all looking at them with curiosity and amusement, a fondness in their eyes. Chopper was the same before going back into doctor mode and shooed them all out. Luffy’s smile grew bigger when he saw them leaving with smiles and laughs.
It took a while for Sanji to eat something. After that, Chopper helped him to refresh himself with a towel, but he was barely aware of his surroundings except when Luffy was around, and it was a real struggle for him to simply stay awake. Luffy didn’t really mind the sweat and the lingering smell of pheromones on Sanji’s skin, it wasn’t like Luffy bathed often himself so he knew his own scent was probably very strong right now too, but he still went along with his doctor and cook’s request and cleaned himself lightly with the towel.
He thought it was time for a nap with Sanji and he was right, letting the omega pull him on the soft fabrics like last night, his nose buried in the crook of Luffy’s neck. The position was very comfortable and it made him very happy to be surrounded by the mixed of his and Sanji’s scents, his inner alpha pleased by the omega’s trust to stay with him in his most vulnerable state.
Luffy was starting to drift off when something painful hit his arm and he almost jerked up, Sanji’s weight on him preventing him to sit down completely, but he still growled, on high alert.
“Sorry, but I had to.” Chopper quickly apologized with the guilty syringe in his hoof.
Luffy relaxed when he realized that there was no threat, just the little doctor looking after his nakama. He still winced at the sting on his arm when he looked at it, but the pain was already gone.
“It’s just to be safe. Sanji can’t take contraceptive in his state so it has to be you.”
“Contra-what?” Luffy asked, a bit lost by Chopper’s explanation.
“Contraceptive. Sanji didn’t think he needed them but if you’re staying with him, it’s better to take it to prevent any accident.”
Seeing the incomprehension on his captain’s face, Chopper added.
“You know, to not make babies?”
Luffy’s frown only deepened and the little reindeer sighed, albeit with a small smile on his face.
“Don’t worry, I just didn’t want to take any chances. You can go back to sleep now.”
“Okay. I trust you Chopper, shishishi!”
The doctor insulted him while making his weird happy dance and it only made Luffy laugh louder.
The rest of Sanji’s heat went smoothly. Luffy only left his side to eat and bring him his food, napping most of the time in the soft fabrics on the floor, playing gently with the blond locks and carefully making sure that the omega always felt safe and happy.
Luffy didn’t mind the strong endearing scent coming from him and it seemed to sooth the blond whenever he released his own pheromones until he couldn’t tell their scents apart.
It was a very calm and slow way to pass the time and he didn’t dislike it. He would have never thought that he would ever enjoy a peaceful moment like this since he was always looking forward for the next adventure and the new things he could see, hear or eat, but the bubble that Sanji had created with him felt really nice.
And if he was a bit bored sometimes, one of his nakama was always there, spending some time in the kitchen to keep him company while Sanji slept. Nami would draw her maps and talk about the plants and the animals she had seen on their previous islands. Vivi would chat happily with him and Chopper while releasing her calming scent. Zoro would sleep against the wall next to the half-open door, sometimes sharing a few anecdotes about their nakama, filling him in with what the crew was currently doing.
It reassured him to know that even if he wasn’t there, Zoro was, ready to protect the crew and make sure that everything went smoothly during his absence.
Usopp was probably the best to keep the boredom at bay with his fantastic tales that even Sanji wanted to listen to, fighting his sleepiness until his eyes closed on his own, his head moving up and down at the rhythm of Luffy’s chest.
Finally, the morning of the third day, Sanji’s heat ended without a hitch.
It was probably the first time ever that Sanji felt rested after a heat. The lingering aches were easy to forget and he didn’t have the need to fill his stomach with a quick and filling meal because, for once, he had eaten full and balanced meals during his heat.
He was a bit ashamed of how he had dealt with his heats in the past, but to his defense, he usually was all alone in his room and no one was allowed to come inside. Cooking was a real struggle when he couldn’t focus two minutes straight about something else than the heat under his skin so he took the easy way instead before going back to sleep.
But here, on the Merry, it felt natural to leave the door open, the need to be close to his nakama stronger than protecting his modesty. Not like he had any to protect, the only bare skin visible being his legs and his chest, when Chopper helped him wipe the sweat off his body.
The most surprising was probably how safe he had felt, even more when Luffy accepted to stay by his side, calm and soothing in a way that Sanji never thought his captain could be. He had been, and Sanji almost gritted his teeth at the idea, a good alpha, but he knew it had nothing to do with his secondary gender. Luffy’s way of thinking was simple and because Sanji had needed him, he had been there for him, no question asked.
The blond didn’t expect anything to happen afterwards, and in a sense, he was right. Once his heat was over, Luffy let Sanji alone and didn’t hang around him more than usually, only mostly when food was involved. It suited Sanji fine and just like that, the Straw Hats’ routine went back to normal, albeit some new small differences.
From time to time, Vivi would join him in the kitchen to chat with him, something she did before, and casually gave permission to use her nest if he ever felt like it, something she had never done.
“You seemed to enjoy it during your pre-heat, and Nami and I don’t mind.” She explained with a warm smile, making his heart flutter for all the good reasons.
He couldn’t thank her enough, praising her kindness and the comfort of her nest, but had to decline her offer. He had never needed to nest, it wasn’t something he yearned for and he thought that making a nest was almost a waste of time that he could put into better use for something more important.
He knew he liked soft materials when his heat was approaching, but he also knew that it wasn’t Vivi’s nest that he had really sought out. He had wanted to feel close to his nakama, closer than usual, and he liked that feeling a lot, but it was all the more important for him that it remained a precious and rare moment.
Any other time, he preferred to stay vigilant and take care of his nakama in his own way, so he knew that if he started to lazy around, he wouldn’t enjoy these little moments with his nakama as much, when he really needed it.
Something else changed too, with Nami this time. She seemed very comfortable around him now, and for a while she stopped protesting as loudly and violently as before when he was an overbearing flirt around her, smiling at his antics and making his heart jump out of his chest.
“You know, you don’t need to ask if you want to spend time with me. I don’t mind at all.” She said a few days after his heat was over, a beautiful smile on her lips.
Obviously, Sanji was more than overjoyed by the offer, but he knew what she meant. Something settled in his chest, knowing that he wasn’t a burden for her. He already trusted her before, but even more now, he felt appeased by her words.
Nothing else changed, not with Zoro, who never said anything, good or bad, about their impromptu nap the other day, but if he had been against it, he wouldn’t have been shy to push him away, or Usopp, even if Sanji had the feeling that he seemed more confident recently, for whatever reason, or Chopper, who despite his young age, had been a steady support before and during his heat.
Sanji had made sure to look unfazed when Chopper revealed, away from prying ears, that he had to give a shot to Luffy, a contraceptive shot apparently, but as soon as he was alone, he couldn’t help but get flustered, his cheeks warm to the touch when he quickly passed a hand on his face, not knowing what to think about the news.
Of all people!
Luffy was maybe an alpha but he clearly had no interest for sex, if he even knew what it was in the first place! And Sanji had spent almost his entire heat without the urge to touch or be touched intimately by his captain, so the idea of them doing anything together was even more ridiculous, but he couldn’t really blame Chopper for being overly careful.
But now that he thought about it, Sanji wondered why he had felt so calm during his heat, no sexual urge plaguing his mind as it should have, remembering the discomfort of not being able to satisfy his carnal desires in the past.
He had only slept, eaten and cuddled with Luffy, nothing more, but it had been the best heat he had to go through, ever. It probably had something to do with Luffy’s alpha pheromones since it was the first time Sanji was spending his heat with one, but, and he couldn’t lie to himself, it was most likely because he could trust him completely and let him take care of him without a worry.
He would have kicked any other alpha who would have dared to enter his space or tried to touch him, while he had sought after Luffy relentlessly, who simply stayed by his side and made him feel safe.
It made Sanji smile. It was proof that he joined the right captain and the right crew, after all. Everyone tried to help him and make sure he was okay, indulging with his whims easily, and that knowledge warmed his heart even more.
The sea wasn’t easy for anyone, especially an unbonded omega like himself, but he was certain of it now. With his crew by his side, he could go anywhere in the world, the feeling of safety forever permanent.