Luffy slid back in his chair lethargically, yawning as he tried to keep awake. "It was an all you can eat....masterpiece."
Zoro nodded. "I have to admit, that annoying bastard is definitely a good chef."
Soma sat to the side, grinning. "How was the food? Delicious?" He eyed the bloated Luffy.
Luffy nodded and gave a simple thumbs-up, while Zoro and Orion nodded with him.
"Good." Soma then stood. "Because it's time for you brats to pay up." His grin widened into a full smirk.
Orion's head shot up at his words. "Pay up!? You said it was on the house...." He stood as well, staring down Soma.
Soma simply waved him off. "Quit the glaring, brat. Your face could get stuck like that. And you're not paying with money, just shut up and follow me." He walked toward the back of the restaurant. The Straw Hats followed and soon enough they were in a room, Sanji and Zeff already waiting for them.
The room was empty, except for the sole table in the middle of it. Soma led them to Sanji's side, before crossing to the other side of the table with Zeff.
Zeff cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "I have a job for you pirates. You won't be paying for your food in money, so do something for me."
The first to speak up was Zoro. "You said it was for free? What's with paying you in a different way? We can just give you some mon–"
Zeff cut him off. "I don't want your money. Just do this simple job." He pointed down at a map on the table. "You boys need to head for Syrup Village in the Gecko Islands. They have some of the best Syrup in the East Blue and we're almost out. And in case you boys thought you could take this chance to escape, Sanji's going with you."
Sanji quickly scoffed, slamming his hands on the table. "You want ME to join THEM!? First, you make me cook for them....NOW THIS!?"
Zoro tilted his head toward Sanji. "What is it that you're trying to say? You got a problem with us, you curly-browed cook?" He crossed his arms with a scowl.
"Of course I do! You're obviously friends with that fish braine-!"
*BAM*
Zeff's peg slammed into Sanji's chin, knocking him to the ground. "How many times must I tell you to respect your elders, Sanji! And it's not a request, you ARE going with them, you brat!"
Sanji picked himself up, rubbing his sore chin. "....crappy geezer." He muttered to himself. He snatched the map off the table and exited the office.
Zoro scoffed. "That cook..."
Orion patted his shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry about it, he'll come around....hopefully" He said that last part quietly.
The Straw Hats left the office soon after. The door to the office swung shut behind them with a dull thud.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Sanji was already halfway down the hall, cigarette clenched between his teeth, tense as if every step forward was taken against his will.
Luffy tilted his head. "He's kinda grumpy."
Zoro snorted. "Kinda?"
Sanji stood at the railing of the Baratie's outer deck, staring out at the sea. Smoke curled lazily from his cigarette, carried away by the breeze.
Luffy approached first, hands clasped behind his head. "So, curly-brow, when do we leave?"
Sanji clicked his tongue. "Don't call me that."
"Okay, cook." Luffy grinned.
"My name is Sanji. Not curly brow. Not cook either." He sighed.
Zoro leaned against a wall, arms folded. "You gonna complain the whole trip, or are you done?"
Sanji turned slowly, his glare sharp. "You think I want to be dragged along by that damn old geezer?"
Orion stepped in before Zoro could answer that. "You don't have to like us," he said calmly. "Just do the job. We'll get your syrup and bring you back."
Sanji scoffed.
He flicked his cigarette overboard. For just a moment, his gaze drifted back toward the Baratie's windows.
Then he turned away. "Let's get this over with."
Back inside the office, Zeff watched Sanji disappear down the deck with a long, quiet exhale.
"He's angry," Soma said mildly.
Zeff snorted. "That boy's always angry."
"And still, you sent him anyway." Soma stated.
Zeff didn't answer right away. He reached up, scratching at his braided mustache, eyes fixed on the door. "That brat's too attached to this place." he said at last. "He would never leave if it was up to him...so I forced his hand."
Soma smiled faintly. "You've grown soft in your old age."
Zeff let out a short, humorless laugh. "Soft?" He shook his head. "If I was soft, I'd have let him rot here forever."
Soma raised a brow but said nothing.
"That boy's been staring at the horizon since he was a kid," Zeff continued. "Talks big. Kicks hard. Acts like this place is a cage." His eyes narrowed. "Truth is, it's a nest. And he's too damn comfortable."
Soma folded his arms. "So you threw him into the stormy sea."
"I gave him a push." Zeff grunted.
Soma's gaze drifted toward the window, where the Straw Hats' ship was slowly pulling away. "That crew… they're reckless."
Zeff smirked. "Good. Reckless people won't let him stay put."
The Baratie shrank behind them as the ship cut through open water.
Sanji stood at the bow now, arms crossed. "This is just another errand. In and out. Syrup, then back." He muttered.
Still, his eyes kept drifting to the horizon.
"Hey," Luffy said suddenly, popping up beside him. "When we get syrup… can we put it on meat?"
Sanji stared at him.
"…What?"
"Like, a lot of syrup." Luffy grinned
Sanji clenched his jaw. "If you pour syrup on perfectly good meat, I'll throw you into the sea."
Luffy's grin widened. "So that's a yes."
Sanji didn't answer. Instead, he turned away again.
Orion watched the exchange quietly from the deck rail. His ribs still aching beneath the bandages. He didn't miss the way Sanji's stance softened just a fraction when the Baratie finally slipped out of sight.
Night settled in as the ship sailed on, the sea calm and peaceful.
Zoro resumed his training beneath the moonlight, blades whispering through the air with renewed focus.
Luffy had already fallen asleep near the helm, snoring loudly.
Sanji watched them all from the shadows of the mast.
"…Tch," he muttered. He lit another cigarette. "Just an errand," he reminded himself.
To Be Continued.....