Chapter Text
Sanji sighs, hanging up the phone and staring down at it. His ryes are nearly closing of their own accord, despite all his efforts to stay wide awake. He’s so exhausted.
This isn’t what he pictured taking over the family business would be like. Then again, a lot of things didn’t go according to plan.
See, from the moment Sanji was born, he knew he was destined to take care of his mother’s little pizza place in the city. He loved the craft with a passion, was enthusiastic whenever his mother tried to tell him about the business side of things.
By ten years old, he knew how to operate the register. By thirteen, he was making pizzas in the back along with the other workers.
His dad and siblings may not be the greatest, and they may not understand his love for the pizza place, but Sanji was happy. And his mother was, too.
That is, until she got cancer… It wasn’t one of those ‘one month and she was dead’ ordeals. No. It was worse. Sora Vinsmoke agonized for nearly a decade. She hung on to life with all she had, because that woman loved to be alive. Cancer is always unfair like that.
Sanji tried to be strong for his mother. And at fifteen, he intended to take over the entire pizza shop on his own. Who else was gonna do it? It wasn’t like his dad and older siblings were actually interested in lifting a finger for the place, right?
Wrong.
Judge, Sanji’s unfortunate biological father, decided HE would be the one taking over. Not only that, his brothers, Idiot, Moron and Stupid, were gonna help run the place.
His mom tried to protest, said they couldn’t just cast Sanji aside when he’d been so invested on the shop for all his life. She insisted that if they were to take over, they had to include him.
And that they did. While Judge operated as the owner (and paid himself a handsome salary), and his three brothers worked as managers of the business side of things (and got paid for essentially sitting around with a coffee and making a few calls)… Sanji was essentially, a poorly paid worker.
And by poorly paid, he means they didn’t pay him. At all. After all, they reminded him he was supposed to do this out of ‘love’ and any other worker could take his place in a heartbeat.
Their little pizza place started growing exponentially, he’ll give those idiots that much. Whatever they did, it worked. Probably had a lot to do with how talented his older sister Reiju was at marketing. Suddenly, they were overtaking the pizza business on their side of town, and people were coming in droves.
Sanji decided not to protest the arrangement. He’d been debating telling his mom about the unfairness of the situation, but seeing as she had enough to deal with, he only came with the greatest news.
“Mom! Wanna guess how many we sold today?” he asks excitedly, bursting in the room with his mom’s dinner on a tray.
“Hmmm… lemme think…” she smiles, actually taking her time to ponder his question.
As Sanji was setting down the tray, the suspense is too much, “More than 200!” His proud smile grows even wider, “I made a hundred of those, too!”
She gasps, extending her arms for a hug, “I knew my baby was good, but I didn’t know he was so fast!” The praise made Sanji chuckle, “I’m so proud that these very beautiful hands-“ she says, pulling back and grabbing his hands in hers, “-are the ones keeping my dream alive”.
Things like that, made Sanji just suck it up. He worked tirelessly, barely got out of school because he was too busy working part-time (unbeknownst to every other adult in his life) and started properly training to be a worker under their manager, Zeff. The man was an actual chef, and a personal friend to mom.
Honestly, he’s like the father Sanji never had. Although if the man heard that, he would probably puke.
When he was eighteen and got out of school, he confronted his dad, asking for a salary.
By that point, their little shop was a big rival to some well established pizza chains like Domino’s and Pizza Hut. Not only that, Dad was really getting richer by the second, and he decided they needed to open more restaurants.
Sanji didn’t love the idea, but he was there when mom and Judge negotiated the terms. As long as the workers in other restaurants respected the recipes and reflected the values of Sunshine Pizza, and as long as they could guarantee the same quality of product, she was on board.
That’s all he needed to hear, so Sanji decided to mind his own business. He attended cooking classes in the morning and immediately clocked into their original restaurant by noon. From then on, he made pizza after pizza until his arms gave out trying to knead another ball of dough.
It was an exhausting time in his life.
Thank fuck he wasn’t alone during that time. He found friends in that little community college he attended, and they’d been inseparable since then. Well, not literally inseparable, but spiritually. They have jobs to do but they all text daily on their group chat.
It was an unexpected support, to have people cheer him on during those times. Luffy was probably the place’s biggest supporter, and he seemed to get what it meant for Sanji, to do things right with his mother’s dream.
Having friends truly kept him alive. Not only through those few years of studying and working his ass off, and through that year he had to go from new restaurant to new restaurant teaching the workers how to do things and overseeing that they did everything right for a month or two.
He was also supported when his mom finally lost her fight against cancer. The moment she started feeling badly that time, she called Sanji in her room. “Honey” she started, tears in her eyes but a peaceful smile making the expression confusing, “I think it’s time”.
“Don’t say that, mom, we’re gonna keep fighting until—“ he tried.
Her thumb brushed gently over his lips, shushing him. “In case I’m right” she conceded, “Can you do me a favor?”
Sanji gulped, “Anything”. Her hands trembled as they cupped his cheeks.
Her face twists a little with fierce determination, “Listen to me carefully” she says, leveling him with a look, “Your father is gonna do anything in his power to turn my dream into a cash cow”. Her clarity was concerning, but the words that came next, really broke Sanji, “But as long as you’re alive? Our dream is alive”.
Fighting the stinging in his eyes, the blonde grabs his mother’s hands, “Mom…” A knot in his throat kept him from saying anything else.
“This isn’t just my dream anymore. It never was. You’re the sunshine I named the place after” she reveals, “Don’t let it die”.
Those words echoed in his head for the next month, and all the way to his mother’s burial.
All his friends went to support him, telling him it was okay to cry, to let it out, to talk about it. But Sanji couldn’t. Not yet. He had to save his mother’s dream.
And so, his plan went into motion.
First things first, he got Zeff on his side. The man was extremely easy to sway, and he was ready to go out guns blazing if it came down to it. Sanji appreciated it profoundly.
Next, the reading of the will. As he’d discussed with his mother, the original shop was to his name, and was left to him. Not only that, but any earnings that shop made were now his. Dad and the lot of idiots got the rest of the restaurants and Reiju was left some land somewhere else for her to do with it whatever she saw fit.
He’d expected the offers. Ichiji came around first, with his lawyer. He offered a ridiculous amount of money for the shop. Sanji refused. Then came Niji, trying to argue he also wanted to run his mother’s original legacy. He was sent packing. Yonji tried to intimidate him into selling, but his threats were so general it was laughable. Idiot was sent home pouting.
Finally, the man himself, Judge came around. Unlike his sons, he didn’t beat around the bush. “I want that original shop”.
“No”.
Nodding, Judge takes out a few papers, “The trademark for the name is on my name” he states. He’d expected this, too. His mom warned him. “You either rename and restart forms the ground up your marketing, or we work as a united front against-“
“I already changed the name” Sanji revealed. “They’re coming by Thursday to put up the new sign”.
Judge freezes. “What?” he huffs.
“Baratie” he states, “That’s what we’re called”. Mom used to read him a book that had a gigantic restaurant in the middle of the ocean, and it looked like a giant fish. The fish-restaurant was called ‘Baratie’.
Narrowing his eyes, Judge crumples the paper in his hand, “You have no clue how to run a restaurant”.
It’s true. He doesn’t. “Zeff does. And I already made him manager. He’s staying with me” he smirks, knowing his father was probably counting on Zeff taking over the brunt of managing the shops.
“If you do this, and it blows up in your face, don’t come crying to us. We made this place successful” Judge declares, lifting his chin in defiance.
Any other day, Sanji would’ve taken the bait. He would’ve said that was bullshit, the quality of their pizza was what made them popular. But alas, he didn’t want to get into it. “Okay” is all he said.
Fuming, Judge makes his way out of his small apartment, “If you’re not gonna act like family, don’t expect us to treat you as such”.
Sanji could’ve laughed. He’s never been treated as family by those four. And the only reason Reiju is different is because she’s so tired of everyone’s shit, she prefers to do her own thing. “I’ll change my last name next week” Sanji replies cheekily, and the door slams shut.
Now, the sweet taste of that victory was short-lived.
They had to suffer through a rough smear campaign led by the Vinsmokes, a couple suspicious robberies that seemed far too specific and even the police agreed it had to have been an inside job, and by the end of it all… their staff was halved, they were in debt, and despite wanting desperately to run this place, Sanji had to go back to basics and make the pizzas himself.
Good thing he loved it.
Through it all, as frustrating and exhausting as it all was, it was a fight he’d promised his mother he would win. And through sheer stubbornness, he did. The Vinsmokes got tired of targeting him and soon enough, they were both coexisting in the same city.
It’s been a year since the chaos subsided.
They still haven’t cleared their debts, but they’re close. Or at least, past the halfway point. Their shop is gaining popularity again, genuine popularity, from people that love their pizza and become loyal costumers.
They’ve started actually turning a monthly profit, and each quarter is better than the last. Sanji’s hopeful it’ll slowly but surely turn around.
However, since they’re still not out of this mess yet, Sanji can’t just hire a lot of people and dedicate his efforts to running the business side of things. He takes cares of business, as does Zeff, but they both also cook, clean, open, close, and answer the phones.
Quite frankly, it’s been absolutely consuming his life, this pizza place. And he knows one day he’ll get to have free time like everyone else, and he’ll stop missing his friends and flirting with girls… and boys… and everyone, really. But today is not that day.
It works out perfectly, though. Past couple of months he realized he doesn’t really feel like dating anymore. A young woman tried to get him to go with her for what she promised would be ‘just one night’ and Sanji felt absolutely nothing. He still thanked her for the opportunity but it just… didn’t hit the same.
Maybe he’s just that tired.
The phone ringing snaps him out of his daze.
Picking it up, he goes into the familiar greeting, “Hello, welcome to Baratie, my name is Sanji, how can I—“
“Yeah, yeah, you’re boring” came a dismissive response from a very familiar voice.
It’s bizarre. Out of all his friends, Zoro is the one he usually talks to the least. Even then, whenever they’re together it’s fun and exciting, and they argue quite a bit (which Sanji feels weirdly proud of). But they never just casually talk.
And up until now, that included through this phone. All of his friends called in from time to time to order something, or came in through the door to hang around a while, but Zoro had never once done that.
And then all of a sudden, something changed. His friends had started coming around a bit more often to help him redecorate the place. He and Zoro had like three days to just argue and banter nonstop as they painted stripes onto the walls all over the place. Nobody else could really help after midnight, but the Marimo agreed for some reason.
Sanji would hate to admit it, but he had a blast those three days. He realized that, despite not talking so much, they were truly good friends. Without meaning to, their arguing turned to deep conversation, and it all flowed so easily, too. It feels weird to think they’re friends. S omething’s not clicking about it. Regardless, after the three days were up, Sanji expected a few months of radio silence. Like usual.
Instead, Zoro started calling the restaurant. A lot .
The switch up was confusing. But not unwelcome.
Face going from his usual fake customer service smile to a knowing smirk, the blonde sighs “You again”.
“I’d say it’s to spite you, but I don’t care about you that much” the moss-ball shoots back, trying to get a rise out of him already.
Not one to take it lying down, though, Sanji nods, “Right. You just care that I make the best pizza in the city”.
“Rig— wait, no!” Zoro huffs, indignant that he got tricked.
Snapping his fingers in a theatric display of disappointment, Sanji bemoans, “You almost said it”.
With a scoff, the Marimo replies, “It would’ve been a lie. Domino’s is just busy”. Oh really? Domino’s has been busy every other day for the past three weeks? Bullshit.
“Well, their trash is my trash with a wallet that I appreciate” he retorts, sickly sweet tone to his voice.
Deadpan, Zoro grumbles, “Gee, thanks”.
Sanji smiles down, headset slightly sliding forwards with the movement. When their silence stretches a little too long, he prods, “So?” This happened a lot when the moss-ball called. It’s as if every time the guy called, he forgot why the fuck he was calling to begin with.
“So what?”
See!? “The fuck do you want, dumbass?” Sanji prods, shaking his head. This idiot’s unbelievable.
Zoro hums, “I don’t think that’s the way you’re supposed to ask”. Oh, come on!
“Right, right” the blonde clears his throat, “The fuck do you want, sir ”.
There’s a conspicuous pause, and then Zoro coughs awkwardly. “Uh… let’s do pepperoni today” he suggests. That idiot was probably racking his brain for any pizza ingredient he could think of. “Can you handle that much?”
Goddamned bastard. “I’m gonna spit on your pizza” he threatens.
“Aw, you make mine?!” Zoro coos mockingly.
For some reason, Sanji’s cheeks grow warmer, “No!” Yes. Yes he makes the Marimo’s pizzas. “I’m just gonna walk in and spit on it”, except he would never. His mom would roll in her grave.
“Damn, if that’s standard practice, no fucking wonder they all taste like shit” Zoro huffs. He forgets he’s been almost exclusively eating his pizza for three weeks.
They both know if it wasn’t great, he would’ve stopped calling by now. “Yours is gonna arrive with chocolate sauce instead of tomato if you don’t shut up, how about that?”
The threat seems effective, because the moss-ball huffs, “I’ll ask for a refund”.
Ha! Refund. “Oh yeah? You gonna come down here and demand a refund from Zeff ?” Sanji snorts, “Your funeral”. The Marimo remains quiet. “Thought so. Behave or I’ll do it”.
“Isn’t it enough that I’m paying you already?” Zoro complains. That’s also hilarious, considering the blonde has been intentionally inconsistent when it comes to actually charging this idiot.
…He’s not sure why he’s just giving out free pizzas to this moron. It just came about as a whim and he rolled with it.
Still, Sanji doesn’t comment on their weird arrangement, “I take enough bullshit from every other customer, Marimo, I don’t have to take it from you”.
“Bullshit?!” Zoro scoffs, “Come on, you love talking to me!”
For some reason, this makes the blonde smile really wide, “Yeah. As much as I ‘love’ going to the dentist and having him pull out every tooth he can get” he remarks sarcastically.
“Flattery won’t get me to buy more pizza” the moss-ball warns, as if that was Sanji’s goal through all of this. There’s points during their chats where even he forgets what they’re doing.
Sanji shrugs, “Good. Stop buying. I like to make pizza for people that actually enjoy ‘em”.
Chuckling, the Marimo supplies, “So… Luffy? And that’s it?” Oh, very fucking funny.
“I’m hanging up” the blonde warns, rolling his eyes.
He smiles when he hears frantic shuffling on the other side. “Oi! How much is it, dingbat?!”
Without missing a beat, Sanji smirks, “A billion dollars”. The retort makes Zoro snort, and he feels weirdly proud about that.
“I’ll give you 18” Zoro offers.
“It costs 20” he clarifies. Well, it’s 20.54, but who cares about prices right now?
This makes the moss-ball huff, “You charged me 25 last time!” It must’ve been some other specialty pizza.
But he plays along, “That’s extra for the spit”.
“You motherf—“
Sanji raises his voice, “Thanks for calling, have a nice day!”
With that, he hangs up and decides to take a quick ‘bathroom break’. Seeing as he’s supposed to man the phones right now, he runs to do his business.
At the last second, he accidentally catches himself in the mirror. It’s odd, to realize he’s grinning like an idiot. Maybe it’s just a good day. He shakes his head and decides not to question it.
As soon as he catches Zeff coming out of the kitchen, Sanji runs and hands him the headset, “Gimme fifteen! That pepperoni that just went in is mine! I’ll make it”. It’s honestly the best part of his job. Cooking.
“Again?!” Zeff sighs. He likes Sanji taking care of the business stuff more than anything else, but he can never deny he turned out a very decent cook, and by extension, a master pizza maker. “Stop invading my goddamned kitchen every other day, will ya?! You got other shit to do!”
Sanji doesn’t even bother replying. He’s just in a good mood.