Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

    Sanji stared at her reflection in the mirror. And she dreamed of smashing it into a lot of small pieces.

   The morning had begun like any other. The girl made breakfast, styled her hair, put on makeup and moved on to get dressed. Her favourite pants(the ones she cherished so dearly) had been ironed the day before, so without a second thought, she grabbed them from the hanger and rushed to brew coffee. Hopping on one foot, Sanji turned on the coffee machine and began buttoning up the pants.

    But they didn’t close.

    First came bargaining. She must’ve eaten too much last night and that’s why they wouldn’t button. Then came depression because after all, she was a chef, and this was bound to happen someday. Between tasting hundreds of dishes daily and skipping workouts for months (overtime left no room for sleep, let alone self-care), it was inevitable. Next came denial. Maybe the pants just shrank! How old were they, anyway? Acceptance crept in soon after, and she admitted it: she’d gained weight.

    Then rage hit. She forced the button closed, but so tightly she could barely breathe. The coffee machine beeped. Sanji sighed, took a step, then another — the button flew off, and the zipper burst open.

    This was the end.

    Sanji had a peculiar childhood, and the people around her were actually happy when she gained weight. The doctors and nutritionists, who’d spent years rehabilitating the girl’s body, rejoiced when her organism finally showed even a hint of softness. Her mother and the old man — likely because Sora had forced her stubborn chef of a husband — threw a genuine celebration when Sanji developed breasts. The festivities were short-lived (she never grew past an A-cup), but those moments highlighted just how fraught the topic of weight had always been in her life.

  And now, it had become excessive.

    Until her early twenties, she’d been fiercely athletic. Men feared her kicks; her punches were legendary. Even Zoro, a sport fanatic, admired the definition of her arms and thighs. But then she got swept up in the whirlwind of adulthood, where carving out time for her passions became a luxury. And now, she’d gained weight.

    The scale was found behind the wardrobe. When Sanji stepped onto it, she expected a high number — just not this high. She even checked the mechanism, wondering if the needle was broken. Then she sank to the floor and buried her head in her hands.

    Truthfully, Sanji didn’t care about others’ weight. At all. Her social circle included rail-thin beauties, curvy goddesses, athletic powerhouses — you name it. But at that moment, she felt uncomfortable in her own skin. Especially after remembering the endless parade of flawless social media posts.

    Hints about her weight had been there before, when she started getting short of breath after walking or feeling unusually tired, but she had always blamed it on the cigarettes. After all, so many years of smoking couldn't pass without consequences. And now, here she was.

    Memories of her athletic legs flooded her mind. She raised her hand and touched her bicep — it was soft. She rubbed her cheeks — too round. She touched her stomach — now, this she liked. She had always loved a slightly fuller figure. With hope, she cupped her breasts, but alas, they were still small.

    Standing there, in front of the mirror, Sanji firmly decided to return to sports and reclaim her former shape. Even if it meant finding out which gym Zoro went to, even if it meant serving less delicious dishes(though she was already bluffing here) even if it meant...

    She would once again be a sporty diva. For herself and her health.

"So, that's why you're here, cook?" Zoro teased, loading a plate onto the barbell. "Maybe you should try yoga instead? There are lots of girls. You'll definitely lose a few kilos from blood loss."

"Shut up," the girl rolled her eyes. "I feel sick enough as it is."

"Sanji-i-i..." Luffy whined. "You don't need to lose weight! Losing weight means not eating, and I forbid you to stop cooking!"

    They were in the local gym, in a wood-panelled room lined with mirrors. Small windows near the ceiling stood wide open, framed by abstract art. The exercise machines were lined up, and for some reason, small tables and flowers were nailed between them.

"Franky put in the work," Zoro remarked. "Got tired of what he called a ‘dungeon gym with bare walls,’ so he spruced the place up. And you know how he is."

  And Sanji did know. The craftsman’s touch was everywhere. Honestly, she loved it here because the space radiated a warmth she wasn’t used to. In her memory, gyms were cyberpunk dungeons: minimalism, sweat stains, cracked plaster. But here, everything was done with intelligence, beauty, and love. Especially the group exercise room and Sanji was willing to bet that Robin frequented that place; otherwise, she couldn't explain all that chic and glamour. 

 "So, where do you want to start?" Zoro asked, sliding under the squat rack.

 "No clue," she admitted. "Haven’t set foot here in ages. Maybe I'll go stretching my arms."

 "You can stretch them while making meat," Luffy grinned. "I haven’t eaten in, like, an hour."

 "Why is it me who gained weight between the two of us…" the woman sighed.

    She looked at the guy and his athletic form. Then at herself, and immediately thanked the gods that Luffy's brother didn't come to this gym. If that Apollo saw her like this…

"I’m having… inappropriate thoughts," Sanji muttered.

"Yeah, no shit. You’ve been spiralling like a top," Zoro sighed. "Enjoy the ride."

"Luffy. Tell me I’m beautiful. Several times," the girl ordered.

"You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, you’re beautiful…" The boy paused. "Wait, why?"

"I felt like an ugly monster because of this weight."

"How does weight affect beauty?" Luffy tilted his head to the side.

    Blessed innocence. How Sanji sometimes envied him.

"Sounds like someone needs to delete their social media," a low voice cut in from the side.

    She spun around, ready to snap back, but hesitated for a second.

    In front of her stood a tall man whose hoodie hid most of his torso, and headphones casually hung around his neck. Wide gray pants pooled around his shoes. Dark hair, gloomy eyes, a tired gaze — the stranger embodied two traits that attracted Sanji in men.

    No, she swore goddesses were women only. But damn her traitorous orientation, because men like this still wrecked her.

"Law!" Luffy cheerfully exclaimed. "You're early today!"

"Surgery got postponed," the man replied, lifting his gym bag. "The patient's relatives snuck in some soda, and he had to drink it right before we were supposed to cut him open. Penguin ranted for an hour afterward. He's been in anaesthesia for so many years, and they still find ways to surprise him."

    That voice should be used for streams and ASMR. And he's also a doctor. What kind of sitcom is this? What kind of romance from the golden years of cinema? A girl who came to lose weight, a handsome stranger-doctor who intervened in their conversation. All that's missing is a label "very conservative" and "that kind of romance."

    And Sanji's anxious mind quickly painted a picture. Law had just approached, and she had already come up with a beginning for their relationship. The guy hadn't even shown any interest in her. It's all those books she read; they're to blame for developing this sentimental ability in her.

"Are you new here?" Law asked.

"I was around before the rebranding," Sanji replied indifferently, to keep the people around from guessing the panic in her stomach and heart.

"Sanji, this is Law," Luffy grinned and extended his hand. "Law, this is Sanji."

"Oh, I've heard about you."

    Law said the words as if he were disappointed. And Sanji even knew why. Her friends' stories didn't paint her in the best light. And let's be honest, she wasn't a gift. After all, the girl was hot-tempered, sharp-tongued, and now also overweight... Zoro was right: she’d spiraled hard, and maybe a therapist would be smarter than waiting for this to implode. Before she fully lost her damn mind.

"Didn’t expect another Straw Hats to show up," Law said. "Group classes?"

"Heavy weights," the girl replied.

"No."

    Sanji wanted to boast about old lifting stats, but the man's answer stunned her. She stared at him, and he looked back gloomily.

"No?" Luffy asked cheerfully.

"A girl who hasn't done sports shouldn't lift heavy weights," Law replied. "As a doctor, I wouldn’t recommend Sanji do weightlifting at all."

"Sexist much?" Sanji crossed her arms.

"The only doctor here at the moment. Which means I’ll be the one resuscitating you. And trust me, there’ll be a lot of blood."

    A chuckle came from the side.

"Oh, come on," Zoro unexpectedly chimed in. "Sanji won’t drop anything on herself."

"I’m not talking about dropping. I’m talking about ovarian and cyst ruptures."

    This man frightened her. She took back her words. There should be no romance with him. Her imagination received an order to cancel any scenarios of that genre, as it had now shifted to horror and body horror.

"Don’t worry! Sanji makes great food!" Luffy laughed, making Law pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration. 

    Of course, this guy didn’t know what the doctor had said. 

"And I used to lift weights just fine in the past," she replied.

"When you were regularly training?" Law crossed his arms. "Not after years of slacking off?"

"When I was shutting up damn know-it-alls like you," the girl snapped, showing her temper. "What’s your problem?"

    The guy glared at her angrily :

"I wouldn’t have interfered if I knew you’d consulted a doctor or decided to train with a coach. But you’re from Straw Hats. Asking about such things is pointless here. And if your friends are fine watching you ruin your health chasing some ideal, I’m not."

"What makes you think I’ll ruin it? Do I look stupid to you?"

    In response there was silence and pursed lips.

"You…" Sanji’s nerves flared.

"Why is Law causing trouble, and why is it with a woman this time?" Marco walked up to them. "Maybe you two should just get a hotel room?"

    The girl rolled her eyes. She turned to the newcomer and smiled weakly in response. Sanji knew him. Ace often hung out with Marco. He was supposedly a doctor too, although by his appearance, he seemed more like an IT guy who hadn't slept in a long time. 

"She decided to lift weights after a long break from sports," Law said.

"And that's great," Marco patted him on the shoulder. "Exercise is healthy."

    Law gave him an unreadable look. Disappointment flickered in his eyes.

"Your youth speaks for itself," the second doctor continued. "She'll be fine. And even if her uterus falls out, just stitch it back in."

    Sanji got goosebumps on her arms. Are all doctors like this? She was so used to sweet little Chopper that these rude guys seemed less like licensed professionals and more like underground mad scientists.

"Wouldn’t it be better to prevent it beforehand than to paint the floor scarlet?" Law clarified dryly.

"Hi, guys," Marco ignored him. "Sanji, what brings you here?"

"Trying to lose weight," the girl sighed, also choosing to ignore the man.

"Then you don’t need weightlifting, you need cardio," Marco laughed.

"Marco, are you even a real doctor?"

   Luffy burst out laughing at Law’s remark. Sanji snorted too, then tried to cover it up with a cough.

"I've definitely been treating people for thirty years," the man replied evenly. "And then they stop doubting your abilities."

"And they shouldn't," Law sighed heavily. "I'm tired of this conversation. If Sanji lifts heavy weights, she won't be able to cook."

    At first, there was silence. Then Luffy sighed. And Sanji swore to kill this smug bastard who called himself a doctor. How did he find out about this weakness in their company? Why did he bring it up now? Telling her friend that the girl might never be able to cook again was like a death sentence for him. Luffy would surely collapse to the floor and starve. He would refuse to eat anyone else's food and would endlessly whine that he would only snack on Sanji's cooking.

"Nooo," Luffy wrapped his arms around her and hung on the girl's stomach. "Sanji can't stop cooking. I forbid it!"

    His voice echoed off the gym walls. She looked down at her friend and sighed heavily. Her day had gone completely wrong: she tore her favorite pants, got worked up over her weight, overheard a condemning conversation, and now this. She desperately needed a cigarette. Or several.

"...Soft," the guy said and nuzzled her waist. "Sanji, you're like marshmallow!"

    In an instant, the whole group of guys got hit on the head. Luffy and Law crouched, holding their hands to the tops of their heads, Zoro tried to lift the barbell he had dropped due to the impact, and Marco dodged just in time. The girl angrily walked towards the exercise machines, continuing to grumble. Everyone always knew what was better or worse for her. As if she couldn’t figure it out herself. 

    Cardio. Sanji had heard about it somewhere. Maybe from that blogger who promised a beautiful figure in a month, or perhaps from the past. For now, the girl decided to go to the familiar exercise machines where she still remembered the technique. She would figure it out from there.

    Sanji didn't feel like going to the gym the next day. Her legs were aching terribly from the workout, and her arms felt like they were about to fall off. All she wanted was to lie down, but she forced herself to get up and gather her things. She didn't even bother choosing a T-shirt. She put on the most stretched-out one she usually wore for cleaning.

"Oh, didn’t think you’d actually come back," Law greeted her, sounding more surprised than welcoming.

    She gave him a tired look. Today, the guy was wearing a white tank top that exposed his shoulders, and that alone was enough to short circuit Sanji’s brain. Law’s arms, which turned out to be as muscular as Zoro's, were covered in tattoos. A double heart peeked out from under his sleeve, and below it…

    Her gaze drifted to his fingers, and she blinked in surprise. They were inked too, though she somehow hadn’t noticed yesterday. And they were… long.

    Her thoughts took a sharp detour into dangerous territory.

"I just wanted to see the face of the loser who sticks his nose where it doesn't belong, so I came back," she said, walking over to the shoulder press machine.

    Law looked at her strangely. Sanji pretended not to be thinking anything inappropriate at the moment and prayed that her nose wouldn't start bleeding. She was about to respond with another cheeky remark, but he beat her to it:

"You should warm up first."

    A light bulb went off in the girl's head. That's right; she had forgotten the most basic gym rule. Her tired brain was laughing at her.

    And then came the shame. Because deep down, she knew Law had been making valid points since yesterday and he was just worried about her health. But she couldn’t help but be rude to him. Honestly, she had to bite back aggression daily to avoid snapping at everyone around her. And here? Not only was this guy meddling where he shouldn’t, but he was also (just a little, the tiniest bit) attractive. Which activated every single cell in her body to respond wrong.

"Thanks," Sanji mumbled quietly. "Too tired to think straight."

"Maybe take a rest day, then?" Law, once again, made sense.

"Not until I drop at least two kilos."

    She stepped closer to the machine. The girl could feel the guy's piercing gaze on her but decided to ignore it. Then it hit her: the shirt! Oh god, it definitely still had grease stains from cooking! And it was stretched to hell making her look three kilograms heavier than she actually is. She couldn't imagine a worse situation!

"Did someone say something to you, or…?" Law asked suddenly.

"Huh?" Sanji snapped out of her thoughts.

"About your… unhealthy weight loss goal."

"It’s not unhealthy," she sighed, turning to face him. "I just started feeling uncomfortable. And when every health app screams that you’re ‘overweight’ for your height? Doesn’t help. Plus, my job’s a fast track to diabetes if I’m not careful."

    Law fell silent, thoughtful. Meanwhile, Sanji scanned the gym for a spot to warm up. Despite it not being crowded, there still wasn't enough space.

 "What's your current weight?" Law asked.

    The girl looked at him, her eyes full of sarcasm and mockery. Oh sure, let her just tell him about her weight right now. Maybe he should ask about her age and salary next; they've known each other for so long! Almost a full day!

    As if reading her thoughts, Law rolled his eyes. Then he stepped closer, suddenly slipped his hands under her arms, and lifted her up effortlessly. He did it so smoothly that at first Sanji didn't even realize what was happening. Then she blushed, praying her nose wouldn't start bleeding, because this little performance definitely made her heart do a flip.

"I lift twice this weight normally," Law muttered, more to himself than to her.

 "So am I your new barbell now or what?" Sanji was still in the air.

 "It's just surprising that a woman would feel uncomfortable at such a light weight."

    The scenario in her head suddenly switched genres to "romance." Damn it, what is Law doing? No, what is her brain doing? Why was it painting indecent pictures for her again? Especially at a moment like this?

 "...It's light for you..." she said quietly.

 "And no one else has the right to judge whether that weight is small or large," Law set her down.

    At that moment, trying to distract herself from the sudden rush of excitement, Sanji realised Law and Luffy actually shared a common trait. That inner strength that could both lift people's spirits and completely dominate them. If they were a sports team, these guys would definitely be the captains.

 "I'd recommend you walk on the treadmill for an hour and then go home," Law walked over to the machine she'd been eyeing and adjusted the weight for himself. "There's no worse feeling than overtraining."

"But I need to do at least a little weight training," she argued.

 "No. Otherwise you won't be able to get up tomorrow."

 "Looks like you two are getting along just fine."

    The mocking voice made them both turn simultaneously to see Zoro standing there. He was still in his work clothes, with a gym bag slung over his shoulder and a strange smirk on his face. Sanji had almost forgotten that expression; the guy rarely smiled these days.

"And hello to you too," she sneered. "What, is your mossy head jealous?"

"Jealous of you?" Zoro shot back. "As if. Law, I see you're early again today."

"The patient with the soda pulled his trick again," Law replied, settling onto the machine. "So I won't be at the gym tomorrow."

"Gonna work yourself to death?" the green-haired guy asked.

"Got about sixteen hours of surgeries lined up. So yeah, most likely."

    Zoro nodded in understanding. Meanwhile, Sanji realised that the guy had come without Luffy. It was strange because they were always together. If the mosshead was somewhere (it wasn't ‘somewhere’ without a reason. No one ever knew where this guy would end up), you could bet the straw hat wouldn't be far behind.

"You two are similar in that regard," Zoro shook his head. "So? How many hours did you pull today?"

"None of your damn business," the girl replied irritably.

    Law raised an eyebrow, while Sanji mentally cursed out her friend with every insult she knew.

"Fifteen hours," she finally admitted. "So what?"

"And you're working out now?" Law's voice dropped, either from shock or disapproval.

"Back at 5 AM again?" Zoro cut in immediately.

"The port season has started," Sanji sighed. "People stop by before work. What else can I do?"

"Hey, don't ignore my question."

    Law was starting to get on her nerves. Sanji turned to him and said sharply:

"Yes, I'm at the gym. What's the big deal?"

"Do you even have a self-preservation instinct?" Law asked, his tone dripping with judgment. "Then again, you are a Straw Hats. Should've known..."

  Zoro smirked, but his expression darkened as his gaze fell on Law's workout machine. His fists clenched, crumpling the poor bag handles in his grip. A flash of realization sparked in his eye that went unnoticed by everyone else. Meanwhile, Law grabbed his water bottle from the table.

"Pack your things," Law ordered.

"What?" The words were clearly meant for her, and Sanji was taken aback. "Where to?"

"I'm taking you home."

    Silence fell. The clang of weights echoed from behind them, while soft music played from the corner speakers.

"Why all of a sudden?" Sanji finally managed to ask.

"I don't intend to listen to someone who hits the gym after a 15-hour shift," Law said angrily. "Get your stuff from the locker room or I'll drag you out without it."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Yes, you are."

"Nope."

"Then I'll tell Luffy you're switching to vegan cuisine."

   Damn it. Sanji's teeth ground together in frustration. She wanted to fight this man. Two days in a row he'd managed to get on her nerves. Zoro let out a low whistle:

"Someone's got it bad, I see."

"What are you on about now?" Sanji turned her irritation on the mosshead. "More of your stupid jokes?"

"Zoro! No fighting in the gym! Unless you want another session with Mihawk!" a voice called from across the facility.

"He kicked me out anyway," Zoro shouted back, ignoring Sanji completely.

"I'm not responsible for your relationship with your father," the manager yelled angrily. "Then lift furniture at home!"

"Got it, no fighting," he sighed.

    Sanji realised she still hadn't seen who Zoro was arguing with. The manager was a mysterious figure in this gym. He always knew where and what was happening, and yet he was never seen.

"See you tomorrow, cook," Zoro said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"What? I'm not going anywhere!" Sanji finally found her voice again. "You really think you can make me leave after I just got here?"

    They drove in silence in the car. The scenery changed outside the window, showing different streets of the city. Sanji frowned; it was a stupid day, she should have stayed home from the start. On the plus side, she was getting a free ride home. On the downside, she'd been practically shoved into Law's car under the amused gazes of Zoro and their friends. Now they'd have teasing material for weeks.

"Something's rattling in your car," Sanji noted to break the silence.

"It's nothing," Law replied without taking his eyes off the road.

    Her father always said that any strange noise meant you should check the carburettor immediately. Otherwise, you'd end up stranded in the middle of the road and create a traffic jam for thousands of kilometres. But Law didn't seem surprised by her comment or the sound that repeated methodically.

"So... what do you like to do?" Law suddenly asked.

"What kind of basic small talk is that?" She snorted with laughter.

"The radio's broken and silence is overrated."

    At least Law noticed the awkwardness too. Too bad he was ignoring what were clearly mechanical issues. Although Sanji understood that she was currently riding in a rare gem, a car that true connoisseurs would fight over just to touch,what good was that if it might fall apart mid-drive? 

"I like cooking," she answered.

"You realise you just opened yourself up to endless jokes, right?" Law smirked.

"Don't worry, Zoro already monopolised all the sandwich and stove humour. You'll never reach his level."

"Do you want me to talk to him about that?" Law's voice turned unexpectedly serious.

    Sanji rubbed her cheek with a sigh:

"Don't bother. His sisters raised him right. Those jokes are just for me. To piss me off."

"Sisters?" Law raised an eyebrow. "I thought he only had one?"

    The girl herself was confused about how many relatives everyone had. From Luffy, she learned that family isn't limited to blood relations and that sharing genes doesn't necessarily make you family. This topic was a sore subject in her life, so Sanji always asked about people's relatives.

"Kuina. They trained at the same dojo before Mihawk adopted him. They still keep in touch."

"Surprising," Law sighed. "If my sister texts me once a week, it’s a miracle."

   Sanji smiled:

"Well, with a brother like you, I can see why. Is she also a doctor?"

"She's studying. I don't ask about her specialty."

"Some relative you are."

"I call every weekend. I fulfil my duty as a son and brother. I can't do more than that."

    She laughed, picturing the kind of steel-nerved mother Law must have. A son like him would’ve grayed her hair prematurely. And his father? She wondered if he was as ‘normal’ as Sanji's biological father. Law didn't seem like someone who spent his early years being raised under the thumb of a tyrant, so the answer to that question was probably no.

"My sister only calls on weekends too," Sanji smiled weakly, trying to hide the melancholy in her eyes. "But we text constantly."

"Didn’t know you had a sister," Law remarked, turning at the intersection.

"Maybe because we’ve known each other for a day?"

"Maybe." Not a flicker of embarrassment crossed his face. "But I’ve trained with the Straw Hats for years. I know things. Like how you’re San-ji but the fourth child."

"Well," she admitted her mistake. "Luffy often jokes about it. Or maybe he doesn't joke but states it as a fact. He's hard to understand..."

"And that your brothers are legally prohibited from coming within three meters of you by court order."

    Sanji's eyes widened. Her entire body froze, and her brain took a few seconds to process the guy's words. This was not the kind of information many people knew, nor was it something she wanted widely known.

"Wow, that much?" she asked, shocked.

"Your friends are talkative," Law said flatly.

"But how do they know that?"

"You're asking me?"

    The GPS beeped. Due to the conversation, Sanji hadn't noticed the familiar neighbourhood houses appearing outside the window. A couple of meters later, the car stopped. It was already dark, and only the streetlights illuminated the lonely silhouettes of people returning from work.

"Thanks for the ride," she said, getting out of the car.

    Law gave a noncommittal grunt. She expected him to drive off immediately, but he just stayed there. Without hesitation, Sanji opened the door to her house and went inside. Only then did she hear the engine rev up. Peeking out the window, she watched the car disappear around the corner.

"Weird guy," Sanji confessed to herself, tossing her bag by the doorway.

Chapter Text

    She felt inspired. Sanji arrived at the gym early, did her warm-up, worked out, and chatted with friends. A day without Law was so peaceful.

    At least, that's what Sanji thought until she got bored. She had forgotten how monotonous exercises could quickly become tedious, and how much harder they felt with each repetition. Her boredom was also due to the fact she hadn’t brought her headphones. How had she made such a fatal mistake?

    The first day had infuriated her so much that she worked out purely on hatred and aggression, not noticing anything else. On the second day, her nerves were frayed again, and she was sent home early. Over these two days, she had neither the time nor the opportunity to realize that she hadn't thrown her headphones into her bag but had left them on the hallway table.

    Zoro trained without them and seemed comfortable. On the other hand, where Zoro was, there was also the talkative Luffy, and maybe the guys didn't need music for their workouts. Kid and Killer always had headphones, big ones that Sanji always wondered which company produced. Wouldn't it be more logical to just use speakers? The divine Nami and sweet Robin didn’t bother with them, but then again, they came to the gym more for gossip than fitness. They were often joined by Ikkaku, Nami’s sister, and sometimes Robin’s mother would swoop in, dragging her daughter away for some "incredible discovery." According to the others, that girl which worked with Sabo occasionally showed up too, though very rarely.

    Sanji could’ve been there among the goddesses, basking in their beauty and charm, but, unfortunately, she had to punish her body to burn off stubborn fat.

    Law definitely wore headphones. She had noticed them the first time they met. It was strange that the thought of her own missing earbuds hadn’t crossed her mind back then. Then again, it wasn’t strange. At the time, he hadn't opened his mouth yet and seemed like a decent person to her.

    Law, Law, Law… Somehow, every train of thought she’d had over the past two days always circled back to him. She even felt uncomfortable that no thought could end without his interference. Sanji knew the foolproof way to purge him from her mind, but first, she had to finish her workout. She was an adult, after all and she knew how to set priorities in her life.

     Another machine, another set, a water break, a shower, the walk home — and finally, she was back. Luffy had been spamming the group chat nonstop, arguing with Usopp and Chopper, so Sanji shamelessly decided to ignore them. She tossed her clothes aside, thought it would be nice to start the laundry, and went to the far drawer in the corner, where even burglars wouldn't look. What she needed was a remedy for that feminine loneliness that sometimes made every halfway-decent man seem irresistible.

    When the buzzing finally stopped, Sanji lay there, glassy-eyed, staring at the ceiling.

    It hadn’t worked. Her thoughts still wandered back to that jerk. And she didn’t even have his phone number or social media. Though the latter wasn’t an issue. She quickly pulled up his profile among her friends.

    What she found wasn’t what she expected. She’d assumed his feed would be full of car pics, party shots, tattoos, and group photos — the usual fare for guys like him. Instead, his profile was strictly professional. A couple of license photos, certificates from advanced training courses, conference snapshots of him in a white coat, and grateful testimonials from patients. Yeah, people were right,  growing up really did make everything duller.

    Another social network — he wasn't registered. The next one — an abandoned page followed only by close friends. Without hesitation, Without much thought, Sanji dubbed the guy a messenger man rather than a social media one. And then she realized that she had spent an hour of her free time on a man she wanted to get out of her head.

    Another attempt, another buzzing session — failure.

    Yes. Law had taken up permanent residence in her head. Maybe she should check her cycle because hormones could be playing tricks on her. Sanji wondered if she would find information about him in a global search. Quickly copying his surname (she made a mistake in it four times while writing) she began browsing the internet. Unsurprisingly, the first pages were medical forums and doctor ratings. She wasn’t shocked. The same thing happened when she searched for Chopper. Next came a university site, and then…

    A lawyer’s services?

"Corazon, former undercover police officer, shot in..."

"Why am I reading this?" Sanji muttered but finished the article and saved the lawyer’s contact info just in case.

    With her family, it paid to be cautious.

    She set her phone aside. Outside, the night was pitch black. The girl decided to go to bed.

    If her usual method hadn’t worked, she’d give herself time to figure out what these feelings really meant.

"Law, what’s on your face?" Nami asked, pausing her warm-up.

    Sanji turned toward them. She hadn’t seen Law in four days — unless you counted her internet stalking — and his appearance surprised her. Strange stripes were painted across his face, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his usual gold hoop earrings had been replaced with dangling feathers. She smirked.

"Had a difficult patient," Law sighed. "It was easier to play shaman and call the surgery a ‘ritual’ than explain it in medical terms."

"You look…" Sanji nodded slowly. "Exotic."

"You haven’t seen Marco yet," Law muttered in his deep voice. "The nurses had way too much fun with him."

    Nami glanced between Law and Sanji, frowned, but instead of commenting, she went back to her warm-up.

"And why didn’t you wash up and change?" Sanji asked, sounding completely "uninterested."

"I barely had time to come at all. I was afraid I’d miss the gym’s closing hours."

"Law! Super! You look a hundred percent!" Franky called as he approached.

    At that point, Sanji decided to mind her own business. She grabbed a pair of five-kilo dumbbells and stepped aside.

    Fatal mistake.

    Her eyes landed on Ikkaku, who was working her back muscles. The girl was the epitome of beauty; with a body like that, she should have been walking the catwalk. Her lush, thick hair fell over her shoulders, perfectly complementing her most beautiful skin tone. The muscles in her back and arms were admirable. 

"She chose a career," Law’s voice murmured behind her, "so there’s no point staring like that."

    Sanji's heart rate quickened. She kept her gaze forward, afraid she wouldn’t be able to hide the faint blush creeping up her neck. Especially with the brush of his feather earring grazing her skin. He was close.

"She has the perfect body," Sanji sighed in admiration.

"She was born with it," Law replied. "Genetics. You can’t fight those."

    Right. Ikkaku and Law had known each other forever. Luffy once called their company the "Heart of something" or whatever. Many of them probably knew each other from school, if not earlier. So, it was no surprise that Law spoke of her that way.

"I used to be thin too," Sanji said, sighing.

Law let out a short laugh. "Sure."

    She turned to the guy. The urge to kick him was strong, to land a foot on his face even stronger. But one look at him was enough to understand — it was better not to touch him today. He was already painted, with incredibly tired eyes and without his signature smirk. His dark pupils reflected no light, and at some point, they reminded Sanji of a dead fish. At the same time, he seemed... Soft to her. She couldn't explain this feeling, but it was the most accurate description that came to her mind.

"I’ve seen your old photos," Law continued.

"Not skinny," Sanji agreed, "but definitely athletic."

"You looked like a half-baked teenager. Now you’re a woman. Accept that your body will fight to keep every kilo."

    Sanji frowned. Law clearly didn't like her idea of losing weight, and she couldn't understand why. They weren't exactly good friends; they hadn't crossed paths before. The girl understood why Luffy didn't approve of this idea, why Chopper’s lectures, or why Usopp stopped sending her pictures of beautiful girls. But Law definitely had no reasons, even more so: he had no right to have them. So Sanji, crossing her arms over her chest, said:

"I will lose weight."

"You might as well say you'll remove the fat from your lower belly."

    Was she his makeshift therapist now? Why was he like this?

"And what if I do?" Sanji challenged.

    Law yawned. 

"Then I’ll applaud you. If you can do it without surgery and within the next few months."

" ...Is it really that hard?"

"It’s protecting your uterus. Once it’s there, you’ll be fighting it for at least three years."

    Law was half-asleep. She realised that quickly and smiled. But then her gaze dropped to her own body, then back to Ikkaku. Three years. That was… quite a long time.

"I’ve been thinking about liposuction more often," she joked, expecting a reaction from the sleepy Law.

"Why bother?" he murmured softly. "Didn’t you come here for your health?"

"Maybe," Sanji clicked her tongue.

    This version of Law was uninteresting. She wanted to send him to sleep or pour him a cup of coffee. He was also standing in this strange outfit, resembling someone far removed from society. Someone like that should be washed, fed, put to bed, and dressed. Just like a stray puppy.

"Honestly, I’m surprised you’re not lecturing her about the dangers of heavy lifting," Sanji teased, nodding toward Ikkaku.

"Because I already know she’d never harm herself."

"I thought you were just a sexist."

"Sadly, no. I’m just a doctor. I’ve seen how strong women can be and met a few who lift more than I do."

"Then why am I different?"

    Law opened his mouth and then shut it, lips pressing into a thin line. A strange spark passed through his exhausted eyes, unnoticed by Sanji.

"You’ve just gotten back into training," he said bitterly. "And in the first three workouts, you've already made mistakes that are unforgivable for a beginner. "

"They’re not that bad. I spaced out a couple times."

    Behind them, Franky suddenly burst into tears.Sanji turned around immediately and saw an interesting scene: Robin was hugging the man, gently patting his back.

"What’s wrong with him?" Sanji asked.

"He watched too many romance movies," Robin smiled.

    Sanji nodded. When she turned back, Law was already gone. He had approached Ikkaku and was talking to her about something. The girl thought that the guy should still be sent home to rest, but decided that he had the right to decide what was best for him. So, she picked up the dumbbells and continued her workout.

    The next time she managed to make it to the gym was only on Wednesday. That was a pretty long absence. When she walked in, she expected teasing from Zoro or Law, but surprisingly, the guys were silently working out. She wasn’t used to this.

    As mentioned before, many came here to socialise, so it wasn’t uncommon to see five or six people standing around a machine while someone else was using it. For example, Marco and Penguin were currently surrounded by a small crowd, but for some reason, the area near her was occupied by lone wolves who just focused on their workouts. Since no one was talking, Sanji decided to simply train. She plugged in her earphones and started with a warm-up. She didn’t know how long she’d last without gossip, but it was worth a try.

    She did bench presses, crunches, and then it was time for squats. Sanji loved them — that’s why she used to have such great legs. She enjoyed lower-body exercises where she could feel powerful again. Not that she felt weak, but proving her abilities was always satisfying.

    She squatted again. The dumbbells rubbed against her hands, pulling her toward the floor. Her strength was already fading, and her legs burned. She let out a heavy sigh before lowering herself once more.

"Eyes closed," Zoro’s voice rang out.

    Sanji genuinely wanted to know who her friend was picking a fight with this time, but she only had a few squats left in her set. So, gritting her teeth, she kept going as if she hadn’t heard anything. Which was a lie, because right after, she went to interrogate Zoro and pester Luffy. She hadn’t seen her friends in over five days and really wanted to talk. Nami and Usopp quickly joined them, their stories making her laugh, and then Franky showed up. When she asked which hemisphere Brook and Jinbei were in right now, no one answered, but Law helped her find out that Chopper was on call today. And no, Sanji had only asked him out of concern for her friend. Even if her friends’ smirks suggested otherwise.

"Law, you look awful," the girl admitted when she approached the guy.

    Law didn’t just look bad. He looked sickly. Over the past month, the man had always been tired, gloomy, and irritable, but today, his appearance had reached its worst. Sanji even though Law had paled several shades, and the bags under his eyes had turned red.

"I’ll manage," the guy said, lifting a dumbbell.

"We’ve been trying to send him home all day!" Penguin complained. "We even called Bepo! But this guy…"

"I’m fine," Law insisted.

    Sanji grinned: here was her chance to get back at him for humiliating her last time when he sent her home. She planned to make him pay in full.

"Well, uh…" The girl was immediately cut off.

"I. Am. Fine," the guy said, staring straight at her.

"Well, judging by your looks, you’re more likely to turn into a corpse soon," she clicked her tongue. "And you can’t train like this."

    Law muttered something under his breath. Sanji didn’t catch it, but Penguin clearly looked surprised. He glanced at his friend, then at the girl, then back at the guy.

"Or have we suddenly become grumpy coaches who don’t follow their own advice?" the girl mocked.

"What advice?" the guy grumbled.

"The same one that made you send me home last time, Mr. ‘I’m Fine.’ Or should I shove you into a car and send you off to rest too?"

"You were pushing yourself like crazy back then. I’m just a little sleep-deprived today."

"Uh-huh. And how do you expect anyone to take you seriously after this? When you don’t even follow your own words?"

"Don’t you think you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong?"

"YOU’RE saying that to ME?"

    Law muttered under his breath. Shachi moved closer to Penguin, and the two silently watched the exchange.

"I see you don’t respect me at all, huh?" Sanji played her trump card.

"What?" Law sounded surprised.

"You boss me around, pretending it’s about my health, but then it turns out you don’t even…"

"You’ve got quite the imagination, I see."

    She was tired of being interrupted. Planting her hands on her hips, she spoke sternly:

"Naturally. I have to live like this thanks to liars and hypocrites like you."

Law closed his eyes — whether from exhaustion or anger — and let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine. I’ll go home. But after this, don’t you dare call me a liar."

"The biggest liar there is," Sanji shot back.

    Law put the dumbbell back in its place and headed toward the locker room. She watched his slow steps and clicked her tongue.

"...He actually left…" Shachi said, surprised.

"Told you…" Penguin whispered.

    A moment later, Law emerged from the locker room and shot her a glare before walking out. Sanji stared at his retreating back. A wave of shame gnawed at her. This wasn’t how she’d meant to get back at him for humiliating her. She didn’t like it. And could this even be called revenge? They’d just argued like a married couple in front of the whole gym.

    But Law really did look terrible. On top of the guilt, she now felt pity for him. Why was it that others could treat her like this, but the moment she retaliated, she ended up feeling awful? Thanks to this stupid trait of hers, she’d probably still save her brothers from a burning house, no matter what they’d done to her.

"What’s his address?" the girl asked.

"Why?" Penguin said.

"A bad feeling. Like that idiot might pass out or collapse on the way."

    And she wasn't lying. The girl genuinely worried that Law simply wouldn't make it home. The feeling of guilt intensified a hundredfold when she remembered his tired gaze. She shouldn't have treated him that way. After all, Law wasn't a bad guy. He definitely wasn't in the top of the worst personalities in Sanji's opinion.

"Unfortunately, Law sometimes forgets," Shachi said, "that he’s a doctor and doesn’t follow his own advice."

 "Why would you tell her that?" Penguin asked, surprised.

 "Because Law will absolutely murder us if we barge in on him, but I’m worried! He’s been like this for days! What if he lets a simple cold spiral out of control again, like last time? I honestly thought we’d have to order a coffin back then!"

    Another story was added to Sanji’s "Blackmail Material on Law" collection.

 "Besides, Law…" Shachi tilted his head and gestured vaguely in the air. "He went home… Hey, Sanji. Maybe you should actually check on him? I’ll even lend you his apartment keys."

    She shouldn’t go. The girl checked her watch, absolutely certain she had no obligation to babysit Law. He was a grown man who knew what was best for himself. And no, she wasn’t being eaten alive by guilt and pity right now.

 "I’ll give you a ride," Shachi offered.

    Damn it.

    Standing in front of the door, the girl let out a heavy sigh. The drive had taken longer than expected, giving her plenty of time to think. Though it still wasn’t enough. But one thing was clear: now or never. She grabbed the handle, and it turned easily — the door wasn’t locked. A cold sweat broke out on Sanji’s skin as she stepped inside.

    One of Law’s sneakers sat by the door; the other was nowhere in sight. After quickly flipping the latch, she moved down the hallway. Finding Law’s room wasn’t hard, but seeing him like this was. He lay sprawled on top of the still-made bed, still in the same clothes he’d worn at the gym. His brow was furrowed, sweat beading on his forehead. This was definitely not "fine."

     Sanji approached to help him lie down properly, then startled at his body temperature. Law was burning up so badly she could probably fry an egg on him. She nearly called an ambulance, but Penguin’s and Shachi’s words flashed through her mind. Instead, she decided to search for the first aid kit.

    She found it in the kitchen, sitting right on the counter. Next to it were scattered cold medicine packets, and Sanji almost saw red. So, Law knew he was sick and still let himself suffer like this?! She was ready to strangle him the second he opened his eyes. But first, she had to make sure he could wake up.

    Thermometer, cough syrup, a couple of pill packets — she grabbed what she needed and returned to Law’s room. He hadn’t moved an inch, which made Sanji’s job infinitely harder. She needed to change his clothes and get him properly under the covers, but she’d been out of the gym for a while. Lifting 20kg weights was hard enough, let alone a full-grown man. And Law was the typical tall, muscular type, probably weighing at least 100 kg if not more. So, she performed all sorts of tricks to take off the guy's T-shirt and to move him from the blanket. Meanwhile, Law still didn't wake up.

    Finally, with him settled, she wiped the sweat from her brow and exhaled. Then blood gushed from her nose. Dammit, he was hot but now was not the time for that. She quickly threw the blanket over him and grabbed the thermometer.

    38.3°C.

    Sanji was going to murder him.

    She tore through the entire first aid kit but found no fever reducers. The idea of sprinting to a pharmacy shattered immediately. It was too late, and everywhere was closed. Maybe there was a 24-hour one somewhere in the city, but it’d take too long to get there. So, she had no choice but to resort to home remedies, pressing a cold compress to his forehead.

    Time passed, and Law's breathing was still heavy. Sanji somehow found a piece of chicken in the guy's fridge and decided to make some broth. She wasn't a nanny, but she wouldn't be able to sleep until he opened his eyes.

    The guy's apartment was surprisingly lived-in. The girl was used to the bachelors in her circle living with just three sets of things: a mattress, a laptop, and bare walls. The exceptions were only Franky and Sabo (who dragged along Ace and Luffy, since they lived together). But in Law's rooms, there was a sense of life. Photos were placed here and there, magazines lay around, there was a nice tablecloth on the kitchen table, and on the balcony, there were even chairs and a table. There was also an ashtray, but the girl didn't remember him smoking.

     The only downside was a bit of a mess. Not critical, but the kind that often happened to the girl herself after several workdays in a row. When there wasn't even time to wash the dishes, and you had to put them not in the sink, but next to it. And there was a very strange cabinet with a collection of comics, figurines, and coins. Sanji didn't remember Law talking about a younger brother or son, so the girl made a mental note to ask about it later.

    The kettle whistled. Sanji turned away from the cabinet and went back to the kitchen.

    Law woke up with an awfully dry throat. His head was splitting, his lungs felt like they were being scratched by cats. It felt like sand had been poured into his eyes, and his limbs ached so much that he wanted to tear them off.

"Here, drink," someone said, handing him a glass of water.

    He took it without thinking then realised there was someone else in the room. His first instinct was to flinch back and reach for the bat he kept by the bed, but then he saw Sanji. The girl was sitting in a chair, scrolling through her phone.

"What are you doing here?" he rasped.

"Playing nurse to someone who obviously can take care of himself," she said, sighing as she locked her phone.

"I can."

"Oh? Is that why you passed out in your gym clothes on top of the blanket? And left the door unlocked?"

    Law looked away. He had nothing to say to that. The symptoms of the cold had appeared at the beginning of the week, but he genuinely thought he had it under control. He had good meds, remembered to eat and drink, even slept more than usual. But today had proved him wrong. His body had started to fail him that morning, yet he’d still performed several surgeries. At the gym, his eyes were heavy, but he could still lift weights, so he figured it wasn’t that bad. And yet, here he was, with a girl who absolutely should not have been in his apartment, clearly playing caretaker of a sick person.

    Most likely, Law had pushed himself too hard, giving the illness a chance to take root. He sighed, then glanced down at his bare chest. He distinctly remembered Sanji scolding him for lying on the bed in his street clothes. A realization dawned on him, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Why am I naked?"

"You needed to be undressed. You weren’t planning to sleep in those clothes, were you?"

"Nothing… bothered you?"

"What haven’t I seen before?" the girl retorted, hoping he wouldn’t notice the hastily wiped traces of blood under her nose.

    It always betrayed her.

"The broth will be ready soon," she said. "After that, you’ll take your medicine."

    Law exhaled heavily and turned his gaze toward the window. Darkness had already fallen over the city. Light pollution usually drowned out the stars, but by this hour, the streetlights were already turned off, so the stars slowly twinkled in the sky.

"How long have you been here?" he asked.

"The entire time I was supposed to be working out," Sanji sighed. "Damn my soft heart. I should’ve just let you die…"

    Law noted how Sanji’s sharp words never matched her actions. He touched his forehead, feeling a damp cloth there. It had been a long time since he’d seen anyone use this old-fashioned method to reduce a fever.

"Your first aid kit is a mess," she explained. "Couldn’t find any paracetamol. Had to resort to home remedies."

"It’s probably in my work bag."

    Sanji stood and left the room, returning shortly with a bowl of something steaming and a sling bag over her shoulder.

"Eat," she said, pulling the pills from the bag’s pocket before grabbing a pack of cigarettes from the table. "I’ll step out onto the balcony."

"...Thanks."

    She left again, leaving Law puzzled. He had no appetite, but he knew he needed to eat. The warm broth immediately made him sleepy, and keeping his eyes open became a struggle. He didn’t even want to reach for the medicine, but he did and now he waited for her return.

    When she came back, the scent of smoke clung to her. Law relaxed for a moment before shaking his head weakly. He couldn’t fall asleep yet.

"I should see you home," he muttered.

"Please," Sanji smirked. "Just rest. There’s no point in me leaving now. Otherwise, I might as well not go to bed. I’ll head straight to work from here. Unless, of course, you mind." She paused. "Oh, and take a sick day."

"But I…"

"If you say ‘I’m fine’ one more time, I’ll kill you," she scowled.

    Law stared at her strangely. The interplay of tender feelings mixed with confusion and bewilderment in his gaze. If there had been another girl in the room besides Sanji, she might have been embarrassed and blushed, but Sanji didn't notice anything unusual.

"You’re… really kind," he finally said.

"Shut up and sleep already. Where do you keep the spare bedding for the couch?"

"Closet. Top shelf."

"Did you take the pills?"

"Yes. Even drank the water you left."

    Sanji nodded and turned to leave but then immediately poked her head back in.

"Can I borrow some clothes to sleep in? Don’t wanna stay in these."

"Sure. Take whatever’s on the drying rack. Just washed them."

    She disappeared again. A second later, the hallway light flicked off, plunging the apartment into darkness. Law sank back into bed, warmth spreading through his chest. His eyes fixed on the ceiling, his thoughts leading him to one undeniable conclusion:

"Damn it…"

Chapter Text

“And whose new tank is that?” Zoro walked into the hall.

“It’s such a cool ride!” Luffy exclaimed, jumping up and down.

    Sanji, who had been talking to Law, turned around. For the past week, she had managed to consistently come to training which was a rare stroke of luck for her, and a miracle for her schedule. Work was always overwhelming, but she had pushed through and carved out time in the evenings for the gym. Of course, twice out of those five times, Law had kicked her out and sent her home to rest, but even that was an achievement.

    The guys approached them. Luffy was practically glowing with excitement, while Zoro scrolled through something on his phone. They smelled like fried cheese mixed with meat. They probably stopped for dinner before training, which, in Sanji’s opinion, was an unhealthy habit.

“Knew your "baby" wouldn’t survive the year.”  Kid walked into the hall.

“It would’ve,” Law replied, which surprised the girl. “The parts are shipping overseas. They’ll arrive in about five months. But I can’t go without a car.”

    The guy bought himself a car and didn’t even mention it? Sanji was shocked. If she had gotten a car, she would’ve started every conversation with that. Though, judging by Law’s tone, this was more of a tragedy for him, so he probably didn’t want to share it with anyone.

“On credit?” Usopp appeared from the side. “Or are you leasing it?”

“Renting a ride like that for a night costs more than some people’s salaries.“ Kid laughed.

“A year to pay off the loan.”

    His words silenced the noisy group. Most of their faces fell except for Luffy’s. Sanji had brought him some baked chicken that a client had refused, and the boy was happily and quietly eating. And honestly, he probably wouldn’t have understood the connection between a year-long loan and a new car anyway. As for Sanji, she was trying to shut down her inner voice, which was going crazy with surprise. Just how much does Law earn to afford something like that in just a year? Sure, he said he was the best in his field, but are surgeons really that well-paid these days? She remembers someone recently complaining about doctors’ low salaries, so how does this add up?

“Wow,” Zoro finally put his phone away. “So you seriously decided to replace your car?”

“A year?” Franky’s head was practically smoking. “Law, are you stealing stuff at night or something? Where’s the money coming from? If you’re a scammer, that’s not super.”

“ I have a car too” Luffy chimed in. “And no loan!”

“Because Franky hooked you up, Lucky,” Zoro clicked his tongue and leaned over his friend. “Gimme a piece”

“No! Sanji made this for me!”

“Just share, damn it!”

    The guys started bickering. The food container was pushed closer to Usopp, who immediately grabbed it. And just like that, Luffy lunged at him. Sanji pinched the bridge of her nose and swore to herself never to feed that boy again.

“By the way, Law, can you show me and Franky your "baby” ?" Usopp asked once he fended off his friend’s attacks.

“If my guys threw their hands up,” Law got up from the exercise machine, “then I’m not betting on you two.”

“Yeah, your mechanic friend’s pretty good,” Franky rubbed his chin. “That ride’s su-u-uper. Paid a lot in taxes on it?”

“Less than I thought. Domestic auto industry support and all that.”

“Did you celebrate it properly?” Zoro grinned.

“Still hungover.”

    Now that surprised Sanji even more. She straightened up and planted her hands on her hips:

“When I come to the gym right after work, I get sent home. But when you stumble in here drunk, that’s fine?”

“Nice to see you too, Sanji,”  Law rolled his eyes. “We’ve been here together for an hour, and you just noticed? And this gym’s seen me drunk more often than my mentor.”

    Ikkaku, who had walked up recently, smirked:

“I doubt Corazon saw you sober any less.”

“Oh, Corazon!” Luffy perked up. “We need to mooch a pie from him today! Is it Friday?

“Saturday,” Marco answered, walking over to see why such a big crowd had gathered.

“Nooo!” Luffy was devastated. “Pie day’s over. Sanji, I want pie!”

The girl gritted her teeth:

"I'm on a diet. No flour for me."

"Stupid diet," Luffy frowned, crossing his arms.

"I hope I don’t have to ask about balance?" Law clarified.

"Not something I want to hear from someone with booze breath."

"Well, it seems like a lot of people in this room are like that today, huh, Penguin?" Kid nudged the guy with his elbow.

    Penguin swayed slightly to the side, and Marco had to steady him. Kid's laughter echoed through the room.

"Next time, call me to drink too," Zoro said. "I'll join."

"You're gonna have alcoholism soon," Usopp sighed.

    It was true. Sanji was also worried about her friend and his passionate love for alcohol. He drank anything flammable or even not.

"Cook, what about your diet?" Zoro changed the subject.

"Nothing," the girl rolled her eyes. "I know the importance of proper nutrition. If my diet had even one major deficiency, all my weight loss plans could go to hell."

"Because of whom?" Law asked in a strange voice.

    Some in the group exchanged glances. Marco rolled his eyes, Kid grinned, and Ikkaku shook her head disapprovingly.

"My father," Sanji didn't pay attention to it. "He doesn’t respect my decision to lose weight."

    Law visibly relaxed. Penguin immediately started patting him on the shoulder, nodding.

"Well, I don’t approve of a lot of your actions either," Law suddenly said, irritated, his eyes scanning everyone around.

"I was tired then, okay?" Sanji replied. "No more mistakes."

"I heard sexual activity helps with weight loss," Penguin said.

    Marco snorted, while Usopp made a face. The girl rolled her eyes: they were like schoolboys.

"Yeah, that’s why you're such a big man," Shachi said.

"Not the best idea," Law muttered, staring at the floor.

    But Sanji actually considered it:

"...How much does it help?"

"Definitely not as much as exercise," Law quickly replied. "What, got someone in mind?"

"If only," Sanji sighed, then remembered she was in company. "I-I mean, none of your business!"

    The guys laughed, and then everyone started dispersing. Someone patted Law on the back, congratulating him on his acquisition, while others headed straight for the gym equipment. Some hurried to the locker room, while Luffy, still sitting in place, licked an empty container clean. Sanji watched him and wondered how someone with such an appetite could stay in good shape. Meanwhile, she, who watched her diet but just forgot about exercise for a while, had gained so much weight. Where was the justice in this world?

"Franky," Robin's voice came as she approached. "What’s wrong?"

  Sanji turned around: the man was crying again.

"Nothing, don’t mind me!" he burst into fresh tears.

"There, there," the girl hugged him and led him away.

    Franky had been crying a lot lately. He should see a therapist — better yet, after being fed and given a drink, Sanji thought. But she’d leave that to Robin, who was comforting him. The girl looked at the time and decided that now she could do some back exercises.

"If it makes you feel any better," Nami sneaked up behind her, scaring her half to death, "Luffy’s got more than enough money to buy a car too."

    Sanji wasn’t as concerned about money as her friend was. Until now, she hadn’t even thought about how much the doctor had actually spent on his purchase. And Luffy's assets were of no concern to her either. What bothered her right now was something else entirely: Nami had come in such a wonderful top! This goddess was clearly trying to kill her with indescribable beauty! How perfectly it hugged her figure, how flawlessly it matched her trousers!

"I just give him the bare minimum," Nami continued. "So he doesn’t eat through it all in a day."

"He totally could," Sanji said, then sighed. "I never would’ve guessed Law… had money"

"Kid does too. They just don’t flaunt it and wear the same T-shirts for years. If I had that kind of cash, everyone would know it just by looking at me."

"Well, one look at Kid’s arm tells you that this kind of prosthetic doesn’t come cheap."

    Nami smacked her on the head. Ah, her wonderful queen always made sure Sanji didn't say anything bad. She was so kind!

"Honestly, it’s hard to tell who’s got what around here," Nami mused. "Take you, for example. You’re the best chef in town, people line up for your food, you’ve won competitions. You work overtime. And yet, I don’t see mountains of gold lying around."

    Because there were none.

"Or Luffy. No idea what he even does for a living. If he works at all. But his income tops everyone else’s in our group combined."

"Using Luffy as an example is cheating. His connections are insane. One brother’s deep in Whitebeard’s business, another’s in the party — the one his dad runs. And his grandpa…"

    Both Sanji and Nami shuddered. They exchanged a glance and swiftly changed the subject.

"...I want a car too," Sanji whined.

"Same. But Vivi said she’d give me one for our anniversary, so I’m holding off on loans or rentals."

"No one’s buying me one. And I don’t have that kind of money."

    Nami gave her a strange look. Her eyes flickered with calculations and disbelief. That expression wasn’t rare for her. If anything, it was weirder not to see question marks in her pupils. She sighed heavily, adjusted her hair and said:

"I keep forgetting you’re hopeless at recognizing when someone’s into you."

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Sanji blinked.

"You’ll save up," Nami smiled. "A year, maybe two — and you’ll have the down payment."

"I should have looked for a politician for myself too."

    Nami laughed. Sanji gazed at her magnificent face. God himself must have sent her to earth, no doubt!

"Well, Sabo's technically still single," Nami mused. "But then you'd end up enslaved to Luffy's family. Ace and his brother would absolutely take advantage and demand meat every single day. The other option is medics. As we recently found out, they make pretty good money."

"Medics also usually know their way around drugs," Sanji groaned. "And with my temper, I’d get poisoned by year two of marriage."

    Nami gave her a pitying look:

"I know one medic who’d kiss your hands and never dare even joke about that."

"Are you serious?" Sanji blinked in surprise.

"You’re unbelievably dense," Nami finally snapped. "Do you seriously not get it?!"

    Why was her friend so mad? Because Sanji didn’t understand who she meant? But she didn’t know that many doctors in her life. One of them was Chopper, whom some jokingly called her adopted son. Surely Nami couldn’t be talking about him?

"Not even a single guess, huh?" Nami sighed dramatically. "Well. I tried playing for the other team, but even I’m powerless here."

"What are you talking about?"

"Let’s hit the abs. While you think."

    Nami grabbed her wrist and dragged her along. At that moment, all thoughts vanished from Sanji's head. Her skin was so soft! She definitely used the best skincare. And her shampoo? What an elegant scent.

    Too bad no one warned Sanji what Nami’s "abs workout" entailed. By the end, the girl practically crawled out of the training room, bent double in agony. Her stomach wasn’t just burning — it was full-on lava. She couldn’t even straighten up from the pain. Now she understood why Nami’s abs were so impeccably toned.

    Sanji hobbled over to her friends, hoping someone could help her uncurl. Luffy was working on his triceps while Zoro and Franky — who was, once again, in tears — were deep in conversation. She tried to straighten up and look like a functional human being. A loud click of tongues answered her effort.

"What?" she grunted.

"Law lifted so much weight today…" Franky wiped his tears. "It’s… It’s…"

"And? He’s always on the heavy stuff," Sanji said, confused. "Dude’s a freak of nature…"

    Zoro bared his teeth in a grin:

"Yeah, but even that meathead’s never pushed himself like this before."

"Trying to get his act together?" Sanji wheezed. "Or impress someone?"

   The green-haired man raised an eyebrow and was about to open his mouth when a hand landed on his shoulder:

"It's useless. Don't even start this topic. I've tried," Nami said, appearing beside them.

"You sure you weren’t dropped as a kid, cook?" Zoro deadpanned.

"Pretty sure I wasn’t dropped as hard as you were!"

    Franky burst into even louder sobs.

"So romantic..." he mumbled between sobs.

"Why is everyone speaking in riddles today?" Sanji snapped in frustration.

"Because you're just dumb," Zoro chuckled.

"Hey!"

"No fighting while I'm on this machine," Luffy commanded, sweat already dripping into his eyes.

    Nami rolled her eyes while Zoro just smirked. Usopp approached them with another incredible story but Sanji wasn’t listening. She couldn't get her friends' words out of her head. What were they hinting at? Okay, fine, she’d admit it, she wasn’t great at picking up on attraction. But after growing up with those brothers, it was a miracle she could function in society at all. If someone didn’t spell it out for her, she’d never get it.

    Robin came up from behind and ruffled her hair. All of Sanji’s thoughts instantly vanished, replaced by floating hearts in her eyes as she spun toward her. Around them, laughter erupted again, another argument flared up, Nami yelled something, and Franky’s sniffles grew louder.

    Just another perfectly ordinary evening.

    As the barbell clanged back into place, Law gave an approving clap. Sanji gasped for air, her vision swimming, legs threatening to buckle, arms feeling like they might detach from her shoulders entirely.

"Two more sets like that," Law said, then effortlessly lifted the barbell and placed it back on the rack, "and you'll finally hit your target calorie burn."

"I'm gonna die," Sanji wheezed.

"But it's the only way to lose more than two kilos in a week."

    She needed water. The girl reached for the small table, but the guy had already handed her a bottle. She instantly pressed it to her lips but didn't manage to take more than three sips. Law took the water and screwed the cap back on.

"I'm gonna die," she pleaded.

"Yeah, your heart and organs definitely can't handle more right now. You'll drink again when your breathing steadies. And don’t even think about sitting down."

"Law, I’m gonna die."

"Come on, let’s get you on the treadmill. Walk it off."

He hooked an arm under her shoulders and half-dragged her forward. She felt like a squeezed lemon; every step was difficult. Part of her wanted to just go limp and let him carry her dead weight.

"Should I carry you in my arms?" Law sighed. "Told you this was a bad idea."

"Not even a full moon, and you two are together again," Usopp greeted them.

    The guy had just arrived and hadn't yet put on his sports gear. His smile bloomed, and his hair was tied in a high ponytail. Sanji, who could barely lift her head to greet her friend, said:

 "Usopp, I’m gonna die."

"Sure, sure," he waved her off. "Don’t drag me into your weird roleplaying game. Seen Luffy around?"

"He was in that part of the gym," Law said, trying to sidestep him.

    Usopp blocked his path, stepping left when Law did, then right – the same.

"Aren’t you gonna ask," Usopp smirked, "why do I need him?"

"Not interested."

"I’m gonna die," Sanji whispered faintly.

"We’re thinking of throwing a party for the gym’s anniversary."

"And why should I care?" Law raised an eyebrow.

    Usopp’s eyes flicked to Sanji, then back to Law, grin widening:

"You know... There'll be alcohol... Everyone from the gym will be there. Maybe you'll get a chance to..."

"If this woman drinks alcohol after brainwashing me with her diet for a month —- I'll personally kill her."

"No need..." Sanji whimpered.

"Or I'll make her drink all the tequila at the bar and finally eat that damn cake she's been eyeing at the café for two weeks," Law glared at her.

"I'm losing weight... It's too many calories..."

    The guy sighed and rolled his eyes. Usopp watched them with undisguised admiration.

"Usopp, there you are," Zoro approached. "What's with the drama queen?"

"She's dying," Law replied uninterestedly.

    Zoro nodded as if this was perfectly normal, while Usopp scratched his head.

"What about Luffy?" he asked.

"Decided he wants it outdoors," the green-haired man answered.

"And the manager?"

"The manager lost his voting rights the moment Luffy said 'outdoors'."

    Zoro turned to Law:

"You're coming, right?"

"Take a wild guess," the doctor replied sarcastically.

"Your “girlfriend” is melting into the floor."

    Law looked down: Sanji had given up and was now half-lying on the floor. If not for his grip, she would have completely dissolved, just as Zoro observed.

"And why did you even bother resisting..." he shook his head, lifting her up.

"What's wrong with her?" Usopp asked.

"Overtrained. She stalled on the weight and thought the solution was to die on the equipment."

"And you let her?" Zoro raised an eyebrow.

"Wanted to see how far she'd go. Now I know she might actually die during a workout."

"That's just Sanji being Sanji," Usopp shook his head.

"Sanji can't die before the party!" Luffy's voice boomed across the gym. "Law! Revive her!"

"Don't order me around!" Law shouted back.

"And I want the ocean! We need a beach venue!" Luffy continued yelling.

"The ocean... I love the ocean..."

    Sanji mumbled deliriously. Law clicked his tongue and finally scooped her up completely. She never imagined someone would carry her like this. Maybe at a wedding photoshoot, but certainly not like this, in the gym.

"We're going to the hospital," Law announced. "She needs checking."

"Then tell Chopper to pick up his phone," Zoro said. "He's not answering messages."

"He's been loving night shifts lately," the doctor replied.

"And don't forget protection," Usopp laughed.

"Oh screw you."

    They reached the car in minutes. Law carefully settled her into the passenger seat, gently maneuvering her legs inside before buckling her in and reclining the seat slightly. The interior smelled of strawberry ice cream: a gift from Sanji that proudly hung from the rearview mirror. There was also a figurine of a strange superhero from Corazon. The mismatched decorations looked absurd in such a luxury vehicle, but Law had never cared about conventions or others' opinions.

"Law," Sanji murmured weakly.

"Hm?" He clicked his own seatbelt into place.

"Why is losing weight so hard?"

"Because you're obsessed," he replied, starting the engine without glancing at the parking assist display.

    Sanji watched him curiously. The screen clearly showed proximity alerts — red warning lines near a motorcycle, green clearance on the other side. Maybe old habits die hard; someone used to manual transmissions might struggle to trust automated systems.

"I just want to be thin," she confessed.

"Why?" Law exhaled sharply through his nose.

    Sanji stayed silent. She couldn't admit the truth that she hoped becoming slender would finally make him look at her the way he looked at Ikkaku, the only woman who ever held his attention. Until last month, he hadn't even known Nami's name. Robin, Ikkaku, and herself – apparently that exhausted the list of women worth his time at their gym.

    First, admitting this would get her killed. Law already disapproved of her crash diet, her workout regimen, even her dark jokes about surgical shortcuts. Given his way, he'd probably force feed her beer-braised meat and vegetables every night.

    Second, she couldn't risk their friendship. She had many male friends, but Law had risen in importance almost to Luffy's level. The latter would always be in first place, but still! This almost made the guy her family. And losing someone so close just because of her silly feelings…. Losing Law over unrequited feelings wasn't a gamble she'd take.

    Third, acknowledging that she was losing weight for a man would be a significant blow to her self-esteem. The girl already fit into her pants, and she could have stopped, but she really wanted her figure to be admired. And admitting this was admitting that therapy had been in vain and society's opinion had won. She wasn't ready for that. Definitely not when she was in the same car as Law.

"Got it," Law finally broke the silence, shaking his head. "Thin for the sake of being thin. Biology be damned."

"Shut up," Sanji muttered. "Why do you even work out then?"

"More leverage when punching faces."

"Says the surgeon with insured hands."

"Who said I use my hands?"

    Sanji clicked her tongue. She'd learned to distinguish Law's sarcasm from jokes from genuine statements. The tells were surprisingly clear.

"Seriously though?" she pressed.

    Law unexpectedly fell silent. His knuckles whitened around the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead. He wasn't just thinking about the answer; he was seriously contemplating. After a long pause, his frown deepened as he finally spoke:

"Control. When you grow up with nothing — not your body, not your choices, not even your pain – you learn to claim it wherever you can."

     A muscle twitches in his jaw. 

"The weights don't lie. The numbers don't care who you are. It's the one thing no one can take from you. And I need to be strong enough so that people finally see a worthy man in me."

"That's... a good reason. A respectable one." Sanji felt a pang of guilt for even asking. Clearly this was a sensitive topic for Law, something he didn't want to talk about.

"Wow," she said, genuinely surprised. "I had no idea you had that kind of motivation. Maybe I should come up with something like that too? Something that sounds impressive. Hmm..."

"You're taking your time," Law remarked after a minute. "Still nothing?"

"I'm thinking, don't rush me..." she quickly changed the subject. "Why isn't your radio working again?"

"I usually connect my phone, but didn't get around to it this time. If you want, you can connect yours."

"Too tired to lift my arms."

"We'll hook you up to an IV then."

"How many calories is in that?"

    Law looked at the laughing Sanji:

"How have you survived this long?"

"By being fat, apparently."

"I'll pay for your therapy. Just send me your card details."

    Sanji smiled and closed her eyes. Law's car was always so comfortable. The interior still smelled new, and the seats were unbelievably plush. She had no idea how much he'd spent on it, but he clearly knew what he was buying.

"Law, I'm falling asleep."

"We still have ten minutes. You can sleep."

"I'll pay you back later..." she mumbled. "Cook something for you..."

"Sleep."

    She closed her eyes for just a second. The girl woke up already in Chopper's office as he was taking her blood. Judging by her arm, it wasn't the first time he had done so. Her tolerance for pain was sometimes frightening.

"Ah!" The medic was startled.

"Chopper?" Sanji groaned.

"Hi, Sanji," her friend smiled.

   He quickly pulled out the needle and removed the tourniquet. In his hand was a small bottle of blood, which Chopper labeled with her name a second later.

"Rest up!" he said cheerfully. "Just need to run a few tests to see what to give you."

"Where's Law?" Sanji asked, surprised.

    She assumed he'd handle this himself.

"Got pulled into emergency," Chopper sighed. "If he steps foot in this hospital, they will put him to work."

    He turned to her with a thermometer, then grabbed some tablets and dropped them into a glass. A fizzy sound filled the room.

"Why do I feel so awful?" Sanji asked as she finally fully woke up.

    Her body felt like it was dying. The last time she'd felt like this was after her brothers had beaten her up. Her legs were buzzing, her arms felt like cotton. There was a strange noise in her head, and her throat was parched.

"Overtraining," Chopper wheeled his chair over and helped her drink the water. "Law said you'll feel like this for about three days."

"This is horrible..." she groaned.

"Probably."

    Silence fell, broken only by the beep of the thermometer. Chopper turned to his computer and a textbook, burying himself in them.

"Hey, Chop," Sanji murmured.

"Mhm?"

"How am I getting home?"

    Chopper closed the article on overtraining and sighed.

"Right now? You're not. Metro is closed, buses run rarely. Could wait for Law, but he'll be tied up for at least two hours or maybe five. Bad accident, two minors involved."

"I hope they'll be okay," Sanji muttered, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "Where did this blanket come from?"

"Oh," Chopper smiled, scratching his head. "We end up sleeping here a lot, so it's good to have spare bedding."

"...It has superheroes on it."

"But it's soft."

    Sanji smiled. Sleep was attacking her again. She was barely holding on, so she said:

"Will you wake me up later?"

"Of course! The test results should be in by then, and I can prescribe you something."

   She sighed. For some reason, the blanket smelled like Law's cologne. That strange cabinet, that weird figurine in his car, the superhero blanket... Pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together.

"Sanji," Chopper suddenly spoke up, his tone unusually serious. "You do keep up with your... reproductive health, right?"

"Huh?" she murmured, half-asleep. "Yeah, sure..."

"And you've been to the gynecologist recently?"

"No... Why?"

    The doctor turned toward her, holding a syringe. Carefully, he pushed the blanket aside to expose her forearm.

"Just being cautious," he said as the needle pricked her skin. "You are a quadruplet, after all. The risks can be higher. I just heard a case about twins recently..."

"My sister was born alone. Lucky her..."

"Law's side seems to have single births too. Still, better safe than sorry. Oh, and this vitamin should help with your overtraining symptoms! I read a study…"

    But Sanji was already asleep. Chopper sighed and gave her shoulder a gentle pat.

"Rest well," he murmured, adjusting the superhero blanket over her.

    Law was counting the bottles. He looked at his phone, then at the box, and frowned. Sanji stood nearby and loaded some dishes into the trunk. Having a car sure beat calling taxis for deliveries.

"Are you sure this is enough for your company?" she asked, looking at the modest alcohol supply.

"We don't drink that much," Law said. "I'm more worried about yours. What if Luffy runs out of food?"

"He'll sprint to the 24/7 store. I'm done cooking for today."

    The guy pressed the button, and the trunk closed. Blankets and pillows were loaded onto the seats. Transporting things in such a car was a sin in Sanji's opinion, but Law himself had offered help, and she couldn't refuse.

"I'll drop this batch off first," he said, opening the driver’s door. "You prep the next load, then we’ll head to my place."

"Aye, boss!"

"Call me captain," the engine roared.

"In your dreams. Next you’ll ask me to use some comic book title."

"Like you’d remember any names."

    True. She’d finally uncovered the mystery behind those figurines. It was surreal. Sanji was very surprised when she listened to a licensed doctor with vast experience, who also went to the gym and generally looked like a serious person,passionately explaining superhero lore. It wasn't that she expected such a hobby from Law, but she found it incredibly endearing. The man was nothing like the image he projected.

    She glanced at the remaining supplies and turned back toward her apartment. They’d gathered at hers. While Law’s place was closer to the beach (damn Grand Line; Luffy had laughed for an hour upon learning they were neighbors), her kitchen still won over his one. The guy had a standard set for a bachelor: two pots, several spoons, plates, and non-stick pans to which everything stuck. Sanji even asked Law if he knew the point of non-stick cookware, to which she received a laconic "leave me alone."

    She sat on the doorstep and lit a cigarette. They’d spent all day shopping and cooking. The girl was incredibly tired, but the party hadn't even started yet. Sanji would have liked to just lie down and not go anywhere.

    Leaning back, she realized the door was ajar. As she reached for the handle, her gaze snagged on a pair of heels tucked aside. She rarely wore them because of her height and profession (she had to spend hours bustling around the kitchen; her legs didn't just fall off after that — they were ready to explode), but an excellent and interesting idea came to mind. She could tower over Law. Just this once.

    Sanji had long come to terms with the fact that most of the male population in her circle could completely hide her with their bodies. When she stood behind Zoro, sometimes people walking behind the man even wondered where she had gone. And if her height was at least roughly the same as her friend's, then behind Law, she disappeared completely. This gave food to her twisted mind. And now, a momentary boost in mood, because she definitely wouldn't go where he planned to drink in such high heels.

    Stubbing out her cigarette, she slipped inside, changed, and strapped on the heels. Straightening before the mirror, she paused. Why didn’t she wear these more often? Sanji seemed not only taller and thinner but also more graceful. She even ran her hand down her waist, admiring herself.

    The door swung open. Law froze, staring. He’d returned faster than expected, catching her mid-admiration. Victory, though — she now matched his height. Not taller, alas, but close enough to tease.

    Law’s expression remained neutral, though something flickered in his gaze. Slowly, his eyes dropped to her feet. Or at least Sanji thought he was staring at them, because the shoes had already started to chafe her, and she couldn't think of anything else. 

"...Can you actually walk in those?" his voice was low.

“Well, I can definitely look down on you," she smirked.

"I’m used to blondes doing that."

"What is this phrase even supposed to mean?"

    Sanji sighed: the game wasn't worth the effort. She reached to take them off and thought that the idea was ridiculous from the start. Law looked like the last person over whom she could tease for being shorter or who’d care about a height difference.

"So," she decided to press the issue, "you don't have those thoughts that a girl should be shorter than a guy?"

"If nature gave you those proportions," Law steadied her elbow as she wobbled, "you should own them."

"That phrasing leaves you wide open for jokes."

"We're strictly discussing height here."

    Sanji frowned and glared angrily at Law. He looked at her with the same strange gaze. She always sees it and still can't figure out what it means.

"Keep this up and we'll be late because I'll be digging out my push-up bra," she said angrily.

"...What?" Law blinked.

"And I'll punch you for good measure."

    Sanji herself didn't understand how her brain made that leap, but from the very beginning, she wanted to see Law's lost face, and she achieved it, even if not in the way she had planned. The man quickly realized where he had slipped up and what he had said wrong, and sighed:

"...If nature gave you those proportions, you should own them..."

    She weakly hit him with her bag, pushing him out onto the street. Law smiled as the girl cursed him out loud.

"They do fit nicely in hands though," he remarked.

"Is that because you work with small objects?" Sanji flushed deeper. "Damn, because of you, I'm making fun of myself! Now you'll drive me to consider implants."

"Liposuction, breast augmentation..." Law shook his head. "You really should log off the internet. Next you'll be filing your teeth down."

    They settled into the car. The girl buckled her seatbelt and pondered.

"...Is that not allowed?" she said jokingly.

"How to put this..."

     Silence hung in the air. Sanji was definitely getting on Law's nerves, as he was biting his lip and frowning. Despite this, he calmly said:

"I'd recommend therapy the moment that idea occurs. Or straight to Shachi."

"He's a dentist?"

"Psychiatrist."

    Law turned fully toward her:

"You seriously thought I'd send you to a dentist?"

"I thought you'd offer your services when I mentioned implants."

"What exactly do you take me for..."

"Well clearly as an excellent surgeon."

    Sanji connected her music, and Law finally pressed the gas pedal. On the way, they discussed all the necessary things for the party and the people who would be there. When they arrived, the sun began to gradually descend towards the horizon. A path that stretched all the way to the sea awaited them at the celebration site. Somewhere out there were gazebos and tables. Sanji got out of the car and approached the trunk, but she was only allowed to take two plates. Luffy immediately snatched her away and then disappeared, leaving her alone by the table with one plate. Law, of course, had driven off to leave the car in the garage, so the girl went to serve the remaining dishes.

    She spent an hour on her task. Usopp and Killer helped her, and sometimes Robin would come by and place bottles of alcohol on the table. Sanji, who had finally decided to take a smoke break, looked around for Law and was very surprised when she finally spotted him. He was standing next to Zoro and Luffy, engaged in a serious conversation. Or rather, the green-haired man was sternly saying something while his friend whined about wanting to eat, and the doctor, frowning, looked at the sand.

    Sanji shrugged: not her concern. She took the glass handed to her by Nami and clinked glasses with her friend. They immediately started chatting, and then the same Usopp approached them, this time with a smile on his face. In his hand was a bottle of beer, and in his words, another workplace gossip.

    In the middle of the evening, Chopper arrived. He immediately pounced on the spaghetti prepared especially for him and cried that Sanji was the best chef of all. Next, they called Brook and Jinbei on a video call. The latter was having tea with President Neptune and his wife. During the conversation, they showed their sons and daughter, and Sanji almost died from the beauty of the "Mermaid Princess." Brook, on the other hand, had just come from a concert and was sitting with his old friends. They all sent their greetings.

    Sanji felt that the alcohol was going down too smoothly. Sabo was telling her something while Ace finished his third salad. Why was she even in their company? Oh yes, that's right, Luffy had asked for a grill. Wait, she hadn't planned to cook anymore. And who was that guy next to them? She didn't remember his name. But he had cool pink hair and a strange scar on his forehead. She should tell Law about him. So why was she here?

    Grill. She was marinating the meat right now. Her body was doing it, but her brain didn't understand.

"Ace," she slurred, "you're on grill duty now."

"Yes, princess," he winked.

"Sabo," she turned, the motion making her vision spin, "make sure Luffy gets at least something."

"No promises," Sabo sighed, spreading his hands. "When it's your meat, they turn feral. Would kill each other for it."

"Says you," Ace snorted.

    A shout then echoed across the shore:

"Sanji-i-ii!" Luffy materialized as if summoned. "Where's the meat?!"

"With Ace," the girl said, trying to pull herself together.

    She grabbed the edge of the table. That's why the alcohol was going down so easily: she was already drunk!

"What?!" Luffy instantly flew to his brother and jumped on him. "Ace! Give me back my meat!"

"It's not ready yet!" the older one growled, trying to shake the guy off his back.

"Don't fight near the grill!" Sabo shouted.

"Sabo! Ace is bullying me! Help!"

"You attacked me first! Sabo, did you see?!"

"Both of you, get away from the fire!"

    Sanji clicked her tongue. These guys were always causing chaos. The brothers had lived together for so many years, and yet they still behaved like little kids.

    The girl watched the scuffle for a bit longer and then decided to go find some water. There were many people around, half of whom she didn't know. She was gently pushed to the side and ended up landing on someone's lap. Vivi immediately started apologizing and petting Sanji's hair. The person whose lap she had landed on carefully lifted her and sat her down beside him.

"Law! I'm so sorry!" Vivi fretted.

"Relax. Sanji's so light, only an insect would feel it."

    Of all places, she ended up here. Well, it must be fate. Sanji looked around: Shachi and Hakugan were drinking whiskey nearby, Penguin was arguing with some Bepo on the phone, and Ikakku was still a goddess. The rest were unfamiliar. So Sanji turned to Law and asked:

"Why aren't you drinking?"

"I am, just much less than the others," he replied.

    She wanted to scold him for not joining the fun and poked his cheek but then something short-circuited in her brain. Her fingers lingered, tracing the softness of his skin, though not all of it was smooth. Some patches felt rough, like old burns from scalding water or something similar. Her touch drifted lower, stopping at his stubble.

"Done?" Law asked, voice oddly strained.

    She didn't see it, but the entire group around them exchanged knowing smiles.

"I love this so much," Sanji murmured. "If I were a man, I'd grow it too."

    Law closed his eyes, his breathing suddenly heavier. But Sanji didn't stop, now lightly pinching his face. She didn't know why, but she wanted to savor this chance as long as possible. Her palm cupped his cheek, fingers brushing against his earrings. Then her focus shifted, and she began playing with the golden hoops.

"Did it hurt? Piercing your ears?"

"...No," Law rasped.

    Today was a day of strange impulses, because suddenly she wanted to bite his ear. And the alcohol in her system said do it. Sanji leaned in, tugging his head closer. At the same time, Law's hand settled on her waist, turning to face her. Their lips were just centimeters apart, but Sanji's thoughts were elsewhere: What color are his eyes? She swore they were yellow, but right now they looked gray.

"Law! Don't you dare! I'll punch your face right here!" Zoro's voice cut through the air.

    Laughter erupted around them. Law lowered his head and forcibly pushed Sanji away, but her urge to bite him hadn’t faded. She immediately leaned right back in. Penguin whistled from the sidelines, and Law exhaled sharply.

"Curly," Zoro barked, still glaring, "you better calm down too!"

"But I wanna bite him…" she whined, fingers toying with Law’s earrings again.

"Don’t you dare bite Law! We didn’t talk for half an hour just for you to be the one jumping him! Get off him already!"

    Sanji wrapped her arms around Law’s neck instead. Yeah, she wasn’t just tipsy. The girl was drunk, and she knew full well she’d black out soon. And Law was so warm. She suddenly felt sleep pulling at her.

"Don’t wanna…" she replied to Zoro. "Law’s comfy…"

"What are you doing to me…" Law muttered, pressing a hand to his mouth.

"And you’re so nice. And your hair’s soft."

    She ran her fingers through his hair. It really was soft. She stroked it a few times before giving in to temptation and giving a light tug. Law hadn’t taken his eyes off her the whole time, his breathing growing even heavier.

"No more drinks for the cook!" Zoro laughed.

"If only you were a little better-looking," she sighed, patting Law’s cheek.

"Alright, I’m taking you away from here," Zoro finally stepped in, hauling her up by the armpits.

    Sanji blinked up at her friend. He still hadn’t told her how he got that scar over his eye.

"Why is Law so pretty and you’re not?" she slurred.

"I’m dropping you on the sand right now. And didn’t you just insult Law’s looks too?"

"Why are you moving me?" her gaze drifted downward.

"Take a guess."

    She blinked a few times, then started squirming.

"Wanna dance."

"What’s wrong with you?" Zoro let go, and she plopped onto the sand.

"She’s been on a strict diet for over three months," Law said, downing his second whiskey in a row. "Then alcohol hit her system. She never stood a chance."

"She barely drank anything," Zoro frowned.

"Yeah, and that ‘nothing’ was enough to push me over the edge, abandon me and go dance with Luffy."

    Zoro raised an eyebrow and looked down. But Sanji was already gone. He turned just in time to see her bouncing between Luffy and Sabo.

"Damn it…"

    Sanji’s vision swam. She was vaguely aware of Luffy and Nami nearby. Oh, and the pink-haired guy was there too. Sabo had been around earlier, but he’d left to check on Ace, who’d passed out at the table. And the music was so fun! Brook definitely knew how to write hits!

"Sanji, you should sit down," a voice cut in.

    Someone gently took her arm and guided her away. She didn’t resist much. Her vision was too blurry anyway. She giggled, tripped, but was steadied before she could faceplant.

"Sanji, you need water."

    The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. And she didn’t want water. Why drink water when there was so much alcohol around? She laughed again and closed her eyes.

    She woke up at home.

    Only it was her parents' home.

    This was clearly her childhood bedroom.

    Sanji tried to get up, but everything around her immediately started spinning, and she fell back onto the pillow.

"Lie down, lie down," Sora placed some soup on the nightstand and stroked her daughter's head. "You have a hangover."

"How did I… —” Was that really her voice? “— how did I end up here?"

"Your boyfriend brought you," her mother said.

    Sanji's eyes widened. She didn't remember anything. What boyfriend? Sora definitely knew everyone in her circle and couldn't mistake her friends for a boyfriend. What had she done yesterday...

"...I don't have a boyfriend," she said softly.

    Sora was surprised. She adjusted the blanket and quickly said:

"Then you’d better fix that immediately!"

"Mom!"

"He's a sweetheart! You can't let someone like that slip away!"

"Who are we even talking about?"

    Her mother placed a finger on her chin. She looked up, trying to remember the guy's name. But it was clear she couldn't. So she sighed and said:

"Well, the one who came this morning to set up an IV for you."

    Sanji's gaze shifted to the side. Next to her was indeed an IV, and only after looking at it did the girl feel the pain in her arm. It was definitely Law. What shame she felt now. Sanji was afraid to even imagine what she might have said to him.

"He's not interested in me," she said, leaning back on the pillow.

"Sweetheart, let me get this straight," Sora adjusted a curl, voice dripping with skepticism. "The man who brought you home isn’t interested?"

"Not even a little."

"Right," her mother smiled. "So, despite you passing out in bushes, alleys, and once a public fountain, the one who personally ensured you got home safely and then returned at dawn to hang your IV — has zero romantic intentions?"

"Mom."

    Her head started to buzz. She wondered what would have happened if Sanji hadn't had the IV. Would she even be able to live?

"This man will definitely want to start courting you," Sora stroked her daughter's head. "I'll even say more — he has already started, and you still don't see anything."

"If only..." Sanji sighed, enjoying her mother's tenderness.

"Sanji, listen to your mom. Women in our family are foolish when it comes to relationships, so we need each other's advice."

    The woman turned and picked up the plate. Her daughter tried to sit up, and she even managed, although the whole room was spinning around. The girl knew: she needed to eat and sleep some more to completely get rid of the hangover.

"Who knows," Sora continued, handing her the spoon, "if it weren't for you taking the initiative, your father and I might never have gotten together."

"That old grump would've been lonely forever without you," Sanji muttered, accepting the soup.

    Sora laughed as Sanji took her first spoonful. This was Zeff's recipe. So her father knew exactly what state she was in. And why had Law brought her here instead of her own apartment?

"Quite possible," Sora smiled. "Which is why you should let your mother help you."

    She stood up and returned with a bottle of water.

"Don't focus on harsh words and look at actions. Your biological father made all sorts of promises, but you remember how that turned out. But Zeff? He's never once said 'I love you,' yet I always wake up under a warm blanket with fresh green tea. Not a single morning without breakfast, not a single evening without dinner."

    Sora lifted Sanji's surprised face.

"I've seen how this man looks at you, what he does for you. Why not give that rough-but-reliable shoulder a chance?"

"How do you even know he's rough?"

"Mother's intuition."

    This wasn't the conversation Sanji expected after a wild party. Welcome to adulthood — her mother wasn't scolding her for drinking, but for being blind to a man's interest.

"What if it all goes wrong?" Sanji sighed between bites.

"Your father will handle it. And that Luffy friend of yours certainly wouldn't forgive anyone who hurt you."

    Sanji set the bowl aside and stared at her mother:

"I don't even... have his number."

"You have zero feminine intuition," Sora tutted, wiping her daughter's mouth with a napkin.

    Sanji hissed. Her lips stung terribly. Sora immediately smiled, winked, and left the room.

    Alone, Sanji sighed and reached for her phone. Hundreds of messages, photo tags, and notifications waited. She turned the screen off, staring at her reflection, then switched to the front camera.

    There, just below her lower lip, was a faint bite mark

Chapter Text

    The following days of Sanji's life were boring. She worked, went to the gym, chatted with friends, texted with Law at night, and so on in a loop. Occasionally, she managed to carve out time for a walk by the sea, but that was rare. Because of her schedule, she seldom saw the ocean, even though she missed it terribly. Their restaurant used to stand right over the water at one of the docks, but once her father saved up enough money, he rented a building closer to the city center. Ever since then, Sanji had been nostalgic for the sea breeze.  

    After the party, most of her friends swore off alcohol for a month. She wasn’t the only one suffering from its terrible consequences. Everyone had a story, each more incredible than the last — Ace even woke up in a fountain. It seemed like only Zoro and Luffy were unaffected by the wild night and were ready to do it all over again.  

    Since the party, Sanji had started paying closer attention to Law’s behaviour, but she hadn’t noticed anything unusual. He still drove her home, still talked to her the same way, still joked around and teased her. There was none of that thing her mother had described. It even made her a little sad, as if she’d been given false hope.  

    And it was also sad that she still didn’t know where the bite mark under her lip had come from.  

    Her memory seemed erased. Sanji couldn’t recall most of the evening. And her friends weren’t much help either: Nami complained that she had amnesia. Vivi said it was the first time she’d seen her like that and was scared they’d have to go to the hospital. Usopp was no better. He’d lost his sneakers and never found them.  

    Zoro and Luffy, as usual, were off doing their own thing and hadn’t been paying attention to anyone. And it was better not to ask what they’d been up to. The same went for Robin and Franky, who, when asked how their evening had gone, blushed furiously and gave a different version of events each time.  

"Can I ask you for a favor?" Nami approached her.  

    Sanji was ready to die for her, so she immediately put down the dumbbells. She’d come to the gym late today, and honestly, there was no point in her being there anymore. The clock was ticking toward closing time, and her legs were screaming for mercy. But a voice inside her insisted she had to get just a little better so that someone would finally give her that promised attention her mother had mentioned.  

"Can you ask Law to drive me and my sister home?"

    Nami gestured behind her, and Nojiko waved. If Sanji’s pupils hadn’t already been heart-shaped, she had no strength left to resist such beauty. The request didn’t strike her as odd. Since morning, the streets had been foggy and drizzly, the kind of weather that made people beg their alarms for five more minutes under the covers. Sanji herself hadn’t wanted to walk in this weather.  

"Why don’t you ask him directly?" she asked, already ready to confront Law.  

    What had this man done to make these magnificent women need her help?  

"Dealing with Law without you is…" Nami glanced away. "Difficult."

"Weird," Sanji said — though no, not really. She just wanted to keep talking to her friend. "I always thought he was the most helpful guy after Luffy."

"He might be helpful," Nojiko laughed. "But that damn mouth of his… One word from him, and your mood’s ruined for the day." 

"Well, can’t argue with that."

    She sighed. It was true. Even her mom had said Law had a sharp tongue. And Sora had been married to Vinsmoke and was now engaged to Zeff. That woman had an immunity to things like rudeness and grumpiness.  

    Law was found in the neighbouring gym area. He was lying under a barbell while Shachi talked to him. The guy frowned as he lifted the weight, and Sanji took a second to admire him. Today, he was wearing an oversized T-shirt that gave a clear view of his biceps. The muscles in his arms were especially visible now, glistening with sweat, veins prominent from the workout.  

    Without greeting him, Sanji walked over and loomed over him, her shadow falling directly on Law’s face, blocking the yellowish light from the overhead lamp. Realizing it had gotten dark, he stared up at her, still holding the barbell.  

"Law!" Sanji asked bluntly. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Finally decided to find a good psychologist?" Law replied, racking the barbell.  

"In your dreams," she straightened her back. "I need you to drive Nami and her sister home."

"Do I look like a taxi?"

"More like a grumpy killjoy. So cut it out and let’s go. You can still finish your workout later."

    Penguin, Shachi, and Ikkaku were grinning way too noticeably. Law shot them a glare, and Shachi actually laughed. Nojiko raised an eyebrow and smirked.  

"... I’ll grab my stuff from the locker room," Law finally said, sliding out from under the barbell.  

"Wow," Nojiko said, turning to Sanji. "And you’re still not wearing a ring?"

"Hmm?" Sanji looked at her. "What did you say?"

"She’s really bad at this," Nami whispered.  

"We noticed," Penguin grinned, already removing the plates from the barbell. "As has probably everyone who comes to this gym."  

    Sanji looked at them all with a raised eyebrow:  

"I’m clearly being insulted, but I don’t get why. What am I bad at?"

"Easier to say what you’re not bad at," Law returned a second later.

    The girl rolled her eyes. Lately, it felt like he completely lost his filter and didn't miss a single opportunity to tease her. The day before yesterday, the guy even ordered pizza for dinner and spent the whole evening spamming her with its photos. Sanji hadn’t hesitated to show up at his place in person and tell him everything to his face. Of course, the argument didn’t go as planned — the second Law opened the door, he’d looked so horrified, scanned her up and down, then immediately started scolding her for being out so late. After that, he’d dragged her inside and put on true crime as "prevention against late-night walks." And heavens knew how badly she’d wanted to snatch that slice of pizza he’d totally "accidentally" left on the coffee table.  

"Shutting you up," Sanji sighed. "Did you grab your keys?" 

    Law held up his keychain, the pink teddy bear dangling from it looking not just out of place but downright bizarre.  

"...You seriously kept it?" she asked, surprised.  

"You gave it to me," he smirked. "Did you expect me to let it collect dust on a shelf?"  

"I wanted to annoy you," she admitted honestly.  

    To be fair, Sanji wasn’t exactly innocent either. She didn't know why, but she really enjoyed teasing the guy. The girl also didn't miss an opportunity to play with Law's nerves. For example, the morning after the pizza incident. She’d made toast and coffee, knowing full well Law hated bread. While making it, she’d wondered how someone who despised flour could eat pizza, but then remembered he had no issues with spaghetti. So maybe it was the same principle.  

    Of course, she’d had a second pan with a normal breakfast ready, but not before enjoying the look on Law’s face. He was like a kicked puppy. Only then had she told him. She’d never let anyone go hungry, after all.  

    So, when she’d first seen that keychain, her immediate thought had been: "Law’s gonna hate this." And her second thought: "I HAVE to buy it for him." She’d even wrapped it in a tiny box, just to mess with him. Law had shaken it a few times, opened it, then let out such a heavy sigh that Sanji had laughed for a solid ten minutes.  

"It doesn’t suit your image at all," she sighed, holding out her hand. "Hand it over before you embarrass yourself."

"We’re responsible for the gifts we give," Law raised the keys higher, just out of her reach.  

    Sanji stepped closer, stretching for them. She knew she’d only be able to grab them if she stood on her tiptoes. Law’s gaze immediately dropped to her face, and he smirked. That strange spark was back in his eyes — the one she still couldn’t decipher.  

"A grown man with tattoos, piercings, and a pink teddy bear?" Sanji said. "Especially on a car like yours. People will think you’re some sugar baby. Just give it back." 

"No wonder Franky cries every time," Nojiko muttered.  

    Law calmly shifted his gaze to her, then took a step back. He showed the keys again, just to annoy Sanji.  

"Franky hasn’t even seen half of it," Shachi chimed in, spotting Penguin on the bench press. "After all, Law recently had his lip bitten so badly that we thought he had been in a fight."

    Nami gasped, and her eyes widening. She clapped a hand over her mouth, the other already reaching for her phone. There was no chance she wouldn’t text Usopp and Zoro about this. Sanji still couldn't understand how such a gossip circle had formed in their company. Luffy had been part of it once, but the guy was very frivolous and couldn't focus on the topics being discussed for more than an hour.

    Law shot his friends a glare.  

"Did you meet a girl?" Sanji blurted out, surprised.  

    An unpleasant pain arose in her chest, but she hid this fact. It would pass. She was used to being the loser and in second place. It was offensive that they had given her hope, yet she’d long since made peace with it.  

"...Give me strength," Law muttered under his breath before answering flatly, "I fell during the party."

"Was she at least pretty?" Sanji pressed.  

"I feel like I’m in a teen comedy," Nojiko sighed."I think it’s time we go." 

    Law nodded and headed for the exit, the girls following behind. Sanji crossed her arms, unable to shake Shachi’s words. The idea that Law might’ve met someone that night was unlikely… But then again, with his looks, he probably just had to snap his fingers to get a crowd of admirers. Hell, she’d be in that crowd too.  

"So…" she turned back to the guys. "He didn’t say who it was?"

"He face-planted into a table corner in front of us," Penguin lied, lifting the barbell.  

    Shachi raised an eyebrow at him, then smirked at Sanji.  

"Hey, Sanji," he said. "Don't you want to come to my appointment?"

    That was unexpected. Sanji was even stunned for a second, then laughed:

"Sure, Law says I need a psychologist, but that's not true."

"I am a psychiatrist. And you definitely have issues in that department." 

"Don’t worry. My last psychiatrist said that this is the maximum that can be done with me. So I'm healthy and fine." 

"...That phrase usually means the opposite."  

    Penguin racked the barbell, breathing heavily, and reached for his water bottle. Ikkaku, next in line, had already loaded her weights and was waiting her turn. The girl was clearly interested in the conversation but hid it. Sanji had noticed Ikkaku didn’t seem to like her much, but she couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t like they’d ever clashed. They’d barely even spoken. Yet the disapproval radiated off her.  

"You went to a psychiatrist?" Penguin asked.  

"Once. My brothers broke my arm right in front of me. Hard to stay mentally healthy as a six-year-old when you’re staring at your own bones and muscles."

    Sanji laughed weakly — a defence mechanism. Oh well, the long-forgotten past. It's good that it's all over. But when she looked up, the guys’ faces were frozen in horror. Ikkaku even covered her mouth. Maybe Sanji had misread her? She was reacting the same as everyone else.  

"Law would’ve laughed…" Sanji muttered. "I forget not everyone finds these stories funny."

"...Now I understand why they told you then that they did the maximum," Shachi cleared his throat, brushing nonexistent dust off his clothes.  

"So…" Sanji changed the subject. "Law really fell that night?"

"Uh…" Shachi shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah…"

   Sanji rolled her eyes. She hated this kind of atmosphere.  

"Forget what I said," she waved. "Ancient history."

"Like anyone could forget that," Penguin muttered. "It felt like I was listening to Law’s ‘why I became a surgeon’ story all over again…"

    Does Law have a story like that? Sanji remembers that he comes from a family of doctors and has never even questioned why he chose that profession. It’s like asking why she became a chef — just take one look at Zeff, and everything makes sense.  

"So, what is it?" Sanji asked.  

"Let him tell you himself," Penguin shuddered. "He thinks it’s funny too..."  

    An uncomfortable silence fell. Sanji lowered her gaze to the floor and changed the subject:  

"Weirdly enough, my lips were busted after that night too... Did I maybe fall with Law?"  

"If that’s what we’re calling it now," Ikkaku chimed in, "then yeah. Three times in the parking lot and twice while waiting for a taxi."  

    Damn… Sanji immediately understood what was meant. But she was way too drunk… Maybe they really had just fallen? Though that seemed unlikely.  

    Sanji always gets kissy when she drinks.  

    That’s why her mom got the wrong idea. That’s why Law’s been so tense. He was just trying to help, but thanks to her little habit, he got dragged into something he clearly didn’t want. Yeah, it all made sense now. Puzzle pieces falling into place, mystery solved.  

"...I should apologize to Law," she muttered quietly.  

"Dunno," Ikkaku said. "Which one of you even should."

"I used him..."

    Penguin and Shachi exchanged glances. At this point, all their little group needed was some beer and popcorn.  

"You do know how men work, right?" Shachi clarified.  

"I do,” Sanji said, embarrassed. "But that doesn’t mean you enjoy getting kissed by drunk friends."

   The guys let out a long, drawn-out "Ohhh." Ikkaku snorted and reracked the barbell. She covered her face with her hands and laughed again.  

"So that’s why it took so long..."

"I was starting to think he was a loser..."

"God, he is a loser. All that time and still just a ‘friend’..."

"If you’d told me this would happen to our Law, I’d have laughed for days."

"Yeah. This is more like a Bepo-level story. Fate’s a cruel mistress."

"Don’t worry," Ikkaku smirked at her. "If Law had a problem with it, he would’ve brought it up." 

"Brought what up?"  

    Law’s voice cut through the conversation. He smelled like the cold outside, his hair slightly damp from the drizzle, dark spots staining his T-shirt. But Sanji was distracted by something else. She instantly forgot the previous topic and snapped:  

"You were sick just a few months ago, and now you’re trying to catch something again? Where’s your jacket?”

"In the car," he replied flatly.  

"Why is it ‘in the car’ and not ‘on you’?"  

    Law stayed silent. He looked up at the ceiling.  

"Law."

"It’s two steps from the car to the gym," he said. 

"Go dry your hair. Now," Sanji ordered fiercely.  

    Memories of that night flashed in her mind. She ruffled her own hair and followed him to make sure this idiot actually listened. The last thing she wanted was to see him sick again.  

"Yeah, totally just a ‘friend’," Penguin laughed. "More like a wife."  

"Did you say something?" Sanji turned around.  

"Absolutely nothing, Sanji..." his grin widened. "Absolutely nothing..." 

    Sanji was furious. It was that kind of anger where even Zoro, upon seeing her, would look away to avoid trouble. The girl walked straight ahead, ignoring the greetings of friends and acquaintances. Nami waved at her, but upon sensing her mood, quickly busied herself with other things. She knew Sanji wouldn’t harm her and would probably still fawn over her, but even she found this version of Sanji terrifying.  

"Trafalgar D. Water Law," she said, stepping right up to him.  

    Curious eyes and ears immediately turned toward them, but Sanji couldn’t care less. She grabbed Law by his shirt and yanked him down to eye level. He hadn’t expected that, so he was still holding a dumbbell in one hand.  

"Why do you smell like my expensive luxury shampoo? That one I explicitly forbade you from touching under pain of death?"  

    If she could have ignited, she would already be burning with fire.

"Because I... forgot?" Law offered.  

"Wrong answer. Think harder about what you say next, because I will decapitate you right here."  

    Marco, who had been chatting with Law, stepped aside. He didn't want to get involved in this conflict.

"I’ll buy you a new one," Law said.  

"It’s not about whether you can buy it. It’s about the fact that I asked you, in plain human language, NOT to touch it. It’s like the fridge. I hope you remember what you had to treat Luffy for after he raided it?"  

"...I’ll buy you a more expensive one?"  

    Sanji was ready to strangle him. She was about to make good on that threat when Penguin’s voice cut in:  

"Sanji, why did Law even have your shampoo?"

    He wisely kept his distance, ready to bolt if needed. Breathing heavily, Sanji released Law and smoothed out her clothes.  

"My water got cut off, so I had to crash at his place," she said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.  

    And it was true. That day, Sanji had been mid-shower when the water suddenly stopped. In shock, she’d even smacked the showerhead three times, but all she got were two pathetic drips. Some genius had wrecked the pipes down the street, leaving the whole block dry. And with plans the next day (plus zero desire to sleep unwashed) she’d needed a solution.  

"And out of everyone, you picked Law?" Marco asked.  

"Nami first. She’s closer. But then I realized how weird it’d look and how hard it’d be to explain to Vivi why I was standing on their doorstep, soaking wet."  

"And Law just... wasn’t surprised?" Penguin asked, then immediately answered himself. "Right. Dumb question."  

    Sanji blinked a few times before grabbing Law again. He’d already set the dumbbell down, silently accepting his fate.  

"Now, where were we?" she wrapped her hands around his throat and started lightly choking him.  

"I’ll buy the shampoo," Law rasped.  

"First, I will kill you. What should I wash with until then? ”  

"Use mine."

"That 21-in-1 abomination? Or that bar soap that’d make my hair fall out on the spot?"  

"My hair’s silky, though." 

    She tightened her grip.  

"I’ll pluck every strand out myself."  

"Can I ask one more question?" Penguin interjected.  

"Busy."

"How’d you even realise the shampoo was gone?"

    Sanji released Law and exhaled slowly. The man coughed lightly and eyed her. He wisely decided not to mention that, with her grip strength, she might as well take up hand training. She hadn’t squeezed that hard, but the sheer intent was there. Still, he kept quiet. Who knew if he’d be choked again soon? And Sanji guarded her hands more fiercely than her life — criticizing them would’ve lit a fuse.  

"Stopped by to shower quickly before the gym after work," Sanji gritted out.  

"At Law’s place?" Marco asked, now hiding behind Zoro.  

"My place still has no water," she snapped. "And he gave me the keys. Should’ve known the risks." 

    The water was turned on for a few hours in the evening and morning, but due to the schedule, Sanji couldn’t finish her routines. So after her third request, Law simply handed her his keys. She hadn’t wanted to bother him, but out of all the options, this was the best one. The girl had considered showering at different friends’ places, but the guy assured her she wasn’t a bother at all. Plus, he said that standing on someone’s doorstep with a bag full of skincare products, begging to use their shower, would look like a really awkward attempt at flirting.  

    Sanji felt guilty for taking advantage of Law’s kindness. Even now, that feeling seeped through her anger. To repay him somehow (to which he had just twirled his finger near his temple and told her not to overthink it), she started cooking dinner, breakfast, and lunch for him. Of course, she had done this before when she stayed over at his place, but now she was practically living there. She’d even had to bring her bathrobe over because the plumbing repairs seemed to drag on forever.  

“Uh-huh…" the doctor muttered. "Got it…"  

"She’ll start moving her stuff in bit by bit," Penguin chuckled quietly to Shachi. "Soon, Law’s gonna have curtains."

"Only a tombstone," Sanji growled, making the two flinch.  

    Law sighed heavily and adjusted his clothes. There wasn’t a single ounce of remorse in his eyes. That pissed the girl off more than anything. She thought about her shampoo, and a wave of anger clouded her mind.  

"Let’s go to the store now," Law said.  

"No. I just got here to train. So get ready to go after the gym. You’re coming with me to that boutique on the outskirts of town — the only place that sells that shampoo! And pray they haven’t sold out, because last time I only got it thanks to a pre-order!"

"I once drove my sister to another city at five in the morning after my shift just because some merch from her favorite idol was dropping there. So your threats don’t scare me."

"I!…"

"And I drove my parents to that damn church on the other side of the continent the same day I got my finger tattoos." 

"And!…"

"And I took Corazon to a commanders’ meeting while being on their wanted list."

"On a wanted list? How did they even let you in?" Sanji asked, momentarily distracted.  

"I have more questions about how Corazon even got in there. Him? A commander?"  

"He’s a good man. Loyal to his cause. Was. Maybe… Are you trying to distract me on purpose?!"

    Law smirked. She pinched his ear and yanked it down.  

"You!… After my workout, you’re dead!"

    The girl huffed and walked off to another part of the gym. He watched as her silhouette disappeared behind the wall and figured he’d have to feed her after training. Otherwise, he really might be saying goodbye to life.  

"She hit me with a frying pan." 

    Law turned. 

    Zoro was talking to him. He stood with his arms crossed, looking thoroughly unamused.  

"When I took her shampoo, she hit me with a frying pan, and I ended up in the ER. So run while you can."

"She has my keys," Law said. "She could easily strangle me in my sleep." 

"Mistake, Law. Big mistake. Remember, the cook has a few triggers: when someone messes with women, when people go hungry, and when they touch her skincare products. She picks them based on their ingredients. Sometimes I think she should be brewing something illegal with how much she knows about this stuff."

    Law shook his head. The description fits Sanji perfectly. He only needed to glance at one face cream to know that she was scarily good at this. Which, honestly, wasn’t surprising. In the world of food additives and weird chemicals, people like her had to read labels carefully and know every ingredient inside out.  

"Well, when she saw my shampoo, she threw it in the trash,” Law sighed. "I had no choice."

"Better to stay dirty than deal with a pissed-off Sanji. Ask Luffy."

"Does he even shower?" 

   At that, they exchanged a look.  

"So, got it," Law said. "Be prepared for total annihilation."

"Yeah. And one more thing," Zoro frowned. "Stop making scenes in public. It’s impossible to train with you two around."

"Tell that to Sanji, not me."

"Do I look suicidal to you?"

"You’re a Stray Hat. All of you have a weird relationship with death, one way or another."  

    Zoro fell silent. His face grew thoughtful. And that much so that Law wondered if he was solving a complex math problem. The guy even frowned before finally saying:  

"...But not me."

"Sure," Law replied, completely deadpan.  

"Also, I have no idea if Luffy showers."  

"Exactly the information I ‘wanted’ to know before my death."

    Law sighed and picked up the weights again. The evening promised to be interesting.

    The fact that Luffy had a driver’s license was the clearest proof that nowadays, they’ll hand them out to anyone, even the blind. His driving style could make even the most hardcore seatbelt haters buckle up. Sanji was about to start praying when the guy swerved around the house. She genuinely feared this might be her last ride.  

    She should’ve gone with Law — that thought wouldn’t leave her mind. But, of course, as a self-proclaimed defender of women, she had given up her seat for them. So the doctor ended up chauffeuring the most beautiful ladies in the world while Sanji, squeezed between Zoro and Franky, begged Usopp to calm Luffy down.  

    They stopped and the screech of tires was heard. The car spun, leaving skid marks on the asphalt. Breathing heavily, Sanji went out on shaky legs. Never again would she trust this guy behind the wheel.  

    The girls arrived shortly after. They stepped out of the car, smiling, and took deep breaths of the sea breeze. Today their company had decided to gather at the beach. The trunk was packed with food, the footwells stuffed with alcohol. Somewhere in the mess were blankets and dishes.  

    Sanji lit a cigarette and took a drag. Luffy was already sprinting toward the shore (impressively fast for someone who couldn’t swim), Zoro was hauling crates of bottles to the beach, and Robin was looking for the best spot to plant the sun umbrella.  

"You’re really not staying?" Sanji asked Law.  

    Today, the guy was wearing a light white linen shirt and black pants. The last few buttons were undone, but not enough to reveal his tattoos. He radiated summer vibes. And expensive cologne. Sanji had personally made sure he wouldn’t forget to wear it today, even though he kept grumbling that he’d have to shower at the hospital afterward.  

"Surgery in half an hour. Marco would rip my head off if I didn’t show up."

"What a shame. You’re starting to feel more like a taxi service."

"If you guys had just agreed on a designated driver, other than Luffy, you wouldn’t have needed my help." 

"If I skip beer one more weekend, I’ll lose my mind."

    Sanji frowned, and Law flicked her forehead lightly. She immediately covered it with her hands, earning a soft chuckle. He took a few steps backward, waved goodbye, then turned toward the car where Nami was grabbing the last things from the back seat before heading to the beach.  

    This day was the perfect weekend. Sanji had slept in, finally gotten to shower (her street’s plumbing was fixed at last), made a delicious breakfast, and even managed to con Law into giving her friends a free ride to the beach. Now she stood under the sun, just steps away from the cool ocean water. Finishing her cigarette, she walked over to the umbrella where Robin was relaxing.  

    The archaeologist was recounting how they’d discovered another ancient burial site that could reveal a lot about history. Sanji listened attentively while slicing watermelon and cantaloupe. Once done, she handed Robin a chilled drink and lay down beside her. Of course, she’d asked a hundred times if her friend needed anything else, but after Robin’s magical wink, she decided to just relax for once.  

   Luffy’s laughter mixed with Nami and Usopp’s shouts in the background. Franky was already building something out of sand, and Zoro had plopped down next to the alcohol crates. Sanji immediately scowled and marched over to fight him. She had clearly told him to put the crates in the water so the drinks wouldn’t get warm.

    At that very moment, Nami stepped onto the shore in her swimsuit, and Sanji was gone. She could already feel blood trickling from her nose, but she couldn’t stop gushing over her friend. Nami was the epitome of beauty. With that figure and face, it was no wonder she sometimes worked as a model.  

"Vivi will arrive closer to evening," Nami sighed, grabbing her beer bottle.  

"So will Chopper," Sanji replied. "They had a pretty tough surgery today."  

"And why are you still dressed?"

    Sanji glanced down at her T-shirt. She wanted to explain why women usually covered up their swimsuits and bodies, but she knew they wouldn’t understand. If even Law kept telling her she needed therapy for her thoughts, what hope did the others have?  

    Sanji bit her lip. The temptation to strip down and fully enjoy the beach outweighed common sense. She decided that everyone already knew her anyway and didn’t expect miracles, so she took off her clothes. Instantly, she felt better and cooler; the sea breeze became even more pleasant against her skin.  

“Sanji! Food!”  Luffy came barreling toward them.  

    He attacked the watermelon in seconds, fending off Usopp, who also wanted some, with his free hand. The yelling was loud enough to wake Zoro, who yawned and lumbered over to grab a slice. Franky followed, enthusiastically explaining his latest sand construction.  

    The water was heaven. Sanji didn’t want to get out, soaking in the salt waves that seemed to heal her soul and body. The sun warmed even the deepest corners of her mind.  

    A few unfamiliar figures appeared on the shore. Sanji sighed and decided to step out for a quick smoke. Only when she got closer did she recognize Chopper. Robin was already slathering him in sunscreen while listening to the doctor’s stories.  

“I didn’t expect you to finish so fast,” Sanji smiled, heading toward her bag.  

    Chopper turned to her, beaming:  

“Law switched shifts with me! He said I needed a break too!”

    Sanji was happy for the little guy, so she reached for the ice cream hidden in the secret compartment of her cooler bag. Chopper immediately beamed and turned away: he knew Luffy shouldn't spot it. 

    When a ball smacked into Sanji’s head, she thought she was imagining things. She even patted her scalp, deciding it was time for a hat but no, it was just Luffy, who’d somehow produced a ball and was now rallying everyone for a game. She shook her head, hoping to enjoy the cool water in peace, and soon their spot was nearly empty. Only Nami and Usopp remained, deep in gossip for the past hour.  

    The sun began dipping toward the horizon, painting the sky in gasoline hues, the clouds looked like strawberry cotton candy. It was still warm, but sometimes the chilly breeze brushed against Sanji’s skin. Smiling, she packed up her things, finishing her cigarette. This was the kind of rest day she needed — quiet, warm, and full of beer.  

“Not cold, maiden?”

    Sanji shuddered. A grin spread across her face as she turned:  

“Law! Chopper said you took his shift!”

“Well, if you look at the sun and remember what season it is, you might be able to guess what time it is.”

    Law stood relaxed, two beer bottles in one hand, his shoes in the other. The pink sunset tinted his skin and clothes, the wind tousling his hair. He looked incredibly cinematic. Like he’d stepped off the cover of some vintage magazine. Add a luxury watch or a pendant, and he’d be a walking ad.  

“Not too late for a swim,” Sanji said, pointing at Luffy and Zoro wrestling in the water.  

    Thanks to his navigational idiocy, the green-haired one threw the ball in the wrong direction, and it floated too far from the shore. That's how the confrontation of the guys began.

“Next time,”  Law sat down. “Right now, I just wanna breathe something other than disinfectant.”

    Sanji stood, sand cascading off her legs. She grabbed an orange from her bag and tossed it at him. He caught it effortlessly, though his eyes never left her.  

“That color suits you,” he said, cracking open his beer.  

    He leaned towards it. It was clear that he was tormented by terrible thirst.

“It’s the only swimsuit I have left. Until I lose weight, I don't want to buy a new one.”

“You’re already skinny.”

“Yeah, right.”  

    She gave a sad smile. Law sighed and shook his head. Oh no, she knew that look. She’d seen it too often in the last few months.  

“Then what’s skinny to you?”

“Someone who is five kilos lighter than me.” 

“So someone who a light breeze could carry away?”

“Possibly.”

    Law exhaled and leaned back slightly. Sanji figured it was easy for him to say. First, he was a man and society wasn’t half as harsh on them about looks. Second, with his body, he could seduce strangers without trying. Third, he wasn’t the one counting dinner calories just to fit into old clothes.  

“Pretty sure I could wrap my hands around your waist,” he smirked.  

“That doesn’t mean I’m skinny. And no way your fingers can span an 80-centimetre waist.”

“Worth a try. Prove you’re chasing imaginary standards.”

“Smooth move, Law,” Vivi chimed in, walking up with Nami. “But sorry, no one’s falling for it.”

    Law rolled his eyes. The girls sat nearby, still smelling of sunscreen: lemon and orange mixed with hops. They radiated summer. Sanji immediately perked up around them.  

“Good evening to you too,” Law greeted. “How’s the water?” 

“Lovely,” Vivi smiled. “You should take a dip.”  

“I can’t.”

“What, your pants too tight?” Nami teased.  

    Law clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes again.  

“Sanji,” Vivi turned to her. “Why’re you still on shore?”

“Packing up. It’ll be dark soon, and those idiots will definitely forget everything again.”  

“Let’s swim one last time.”

    Vivi stood and grabbed Sanji’s hand. Knowing her heart-eyed expression was hopeless, Sanji didn’t resist much as she was pushed toward the water.  

“You’ll thank us later,” Nami said, plopping down next to Law and grabbing a drink.  

“If I feel like a Victorian gentleman right now, what exactly are you plotting?” Law asked. “And what’s your price?” 

“Absolutely nothing… How could you think that of us?!” Nami gasped dramatically. 

“But if you pay me…” she leaned in, whispering a number into his ear. “…Vivi will steal the top half of Sanji’s swimsuit.”

    Law bit his lip. The temptation was strong. He was exhausted from work, the alcohol on an empty stomach was hitting fast, and Sanji looked so good he wanted to kiss every inch of her skin. But there was one major problem — he respected her. He couldn’t humiliate her like that. The thought of her feeling ashamed made his stomach twist.

“Do you really think,” Law asked, “I could do something like that to her?” 

“I guarantee Sanji won’t find out about our deal,” Nami smirked. “And just imagine her delight when Vivi pulls it off. She’d be on her knees begging for this to happen to her.”  

“Is she really that obsessed with women?”  

    Silence was his answer.  

    Law frowned, then pulled out his phone and handed it to Nami. She quickly entered her details, confirmed the payment, and dashed off to Vivi. Law took another swig of beer, his gaze drifting back to the horizon now painted in deep purples, heralding the approaching night. The sea darkened, but the last traces of sunset still shimmered on the waves.  

    A shriek, laughter, and splashing erupted from the water. Sanji was chasing Vivi, one arm covering her chest while the other flailed dramatically. The dying sunlight bathed the girls in soft hues, the wind tangling their hair like something out of a dream.  

“Feels like a movie scene,” Usopp admitted.  

“I’ll knock your teeth out,” Law said, not even glancing away from Sanji.  

    Usopp immediately turned his head. No one else was around to witness this spectacle.  

“So,” Nami plopped back down beside Law, “was the investment worth it?”  

“I’m feeling such burning jealousy right now that I’m tempted to march into the ocean fully clothed and wrap her in a towel myself.” 

“Oh my…”

    Nami fell quiet. The two of them watched the chaos unfold, feminine laughter echoing across the beach.   

“You do know,” Nami began, “she has every right to show her body to whoever she wants, right?”

“Yes. Doesn’t stop me from wanting to punch someone right now.”

    Behind them, Usopp gulped.  

“I can’t even enjoy my investment because of it.”

“Turns out you’re possessive,” Nami laughed. “And greedy.”  

“With your level of greed, you’d be the leader of some bloodthirsty gang,” Usopp muttered.  

“Or a pirate!” Nami’s eyes sparkled. “I just read about a sunken ship full of gold they found! Can you imagine? A life of freedom! Stealing whatever you want and just sailing away! No one could ever catch you!”

“And I’m the greedy one?” Law deadpanned.  

    Nami laughed, flopping onto her back, her hair spilling into the sand. Law rolled his eyes and stared at the sunset.  

“Oh no!” Vivi’s voice rang out.  

    She tripped, crashing into the water and Sanji tumbling in right after. Both girls vanished beneath the surface, leaving only ripples in their wake. Law and Nami shot to their feet, ready to bolt toward them until two heads finally broke through the water. Vivi was laughing while Sanji coughed up seawater.  

“God, I adore her,” Nami sighed.  

“I lost it!”  Vivi’s voice was muffled as she held up empty hands.  

    Sanji, momentarily forgetting her own predicament, hauled Vivi up.  

    Nami gasped. Law’s gaze sharpened predatory, unwavering. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wanted to remind Sanji to be careful, to keep an eye on her swimsuit. But he knew better. Right now, she was in her own little world and it was the best not to disturb it.  

    Vivi shielded Sanji’s silhouette from shore as Nami rushed forward with a towel. Sanji wrapped it around herself, completely forgetting about the missing top. She couldn’t stay mad, especially not when her friends were being so sweet.  

    As the three girls stepped onto the sand, Law shrugged off his shirt and held it out to Sanji. She blinked at it, tightening the towel around her shoulders.  

“Saltwater will ruin your suit,” he said. “And standing in a wet towel isn’t the best idea.”  

    Sanji sighed and took the shirt. She disappeared with the girls to change, returning moments later draped in white fabric. The places where her swimsuit had clung to the shirt darkened instantly. Law bit his lip painfully.  

"...You're paying me more, or I'll tell Sanji that the shirt is very see-through," Nami whispered in his ear from behind.

“You can have my second bottle of beer.”

“Deal.”

    Law glanced back at Usopp. The man was staring straight ahead, sweat dripping down his temple. He was clearly fighting for his life.  

    Law’s gaze returned to Sanji. The setting sun outlined her silhouette. The lines of her waist and hips were visible through the fabric. The outlines of pink lace could be recognized under the heap of folds. He’d seen plenty of women’s bodies, but Sanji was not just special. Now, under the pink rays, she seemed like a goddess descended from paintings. As if the artist had forgotten that masterpieces weren’t meant to come to life.  

    Law swallowed. Then smiled but just slightly.  

“Law!” a sopping-wet Luffy launched himself onto his back. “Hi!”

“Luffy!” Law snarled.  

“Shi-shi-shi! Zoro, look who’s here!”  

“Law! How’s the hospital? Any crazy cases?”

“Hey, bro!”  

“I said GET OFF!”

    Sanji laughed, then reached into her bag. There was the sound of wrapping paper, and she took out an ice cream. Luffy instantly changed the target of his attention, laughing and telling them about the big crab they had seen.

    The sun finally disappeared behind the horizon.

    She had been in a bad mood all day. 

    Everything had gone wrong since morning. Her kettle broke, forcing her to boil water in a pot. Her phone died in the middle of the workday, and she hadn’t brought a charger. Additionally, the regulars at the restaurant had been flirting with her less and less lately. Sanji knew she’d gained weight again, but having those thoughts confirmed only made her eyes sting with unshed tears.  

    Today had been so bad that she didn’t even push through her usual gruelling training. She just left with the others. Now, her friends stood near the parking lot, laughing over the latest gossip. These post-training moments, when no one wanted to leave just yet, always felt like lingering outside school as teenagers.  

    Marco waved goodbye and got into his car. Law stood with his arms crossed, actually listening as Zoro rambled about his new sword. That was unusual, since he normally tuned things out. Nami and Robin whispered about something, while Sanji lit her second cigarette in a row.  

    Then screeching tires.

    A teenager on a scooter swerved right in front of her, shouting curses before disappearing around the corner. At first, Sanji thought the insult was aimed at her, souring her mood even further. Until she saw it.  

    A mouse.  

    Its hind legs were crushed, but it still twitched, front paws scrambling uselessly against the asphalt, trying to escape the pain.  

    Something inside her snapped.

    She rushed forward, but it was too late. There was nothing she could do. The guys called after her, but her vision tunneled. 

    All she saw was damp stone walls.

    The basement of the estate.

    Months of isolation.  

    And the only living creature for months was her little friend Lily — a white mouse that helped her cook and cheered her up. It was with her when her brothers tormented her, when her father yelled, when it seemed like she would spend eternity there. When the doctors came and repeated the same words. When she hadn't seen the sun for so long that she drew it on the wall, with the ocean below. When the thought that she would be forgotten forever kept her from sleeping on the damp mattress.

    Of course, there was an escape later. A fateful meeting with Zeff. Then trials, a staged accident where a man protected her from the blow at the cost of his leg, her stomach's refusal due to stress and months of starvation, more trials, her mother's move, and finally, a free life. But she never forgot Lily. Never forgot the days when hope slipped further away with each new awakening.

    The unfortunate creature gave a final squeak and then froze. Sanji felt like she was having trouble breathing. Her friends had already come up behind her, but she felt as if she were underwater.

    Sanji turned around.

    Usually, she would have put on a stone face and continued on, only allowing herself to cry in the shower at night. She was used to swallowing pain, to hiding when her heart was breaking and her legs were almost shaking.

    But then Law was there.

    And for some reason, her eyes burned.  

    She was strong. She could have forced the tears back. But the moment she met his gaze, the dam broke.  

    With her friends, she could be herself. She wasn't ashamed of them and loved them very much. But some wounds were too deep to share, even with them. Some grief was too heavy to show.  

    But with Law she could be the person she hid from others. With him, she could be someone she never thought she could be. She was used to being strong, independent, and tough. She was used to crying at night, pulling her hair out in anxiety alone, and begging for some things while hiding in the shadows.

    But with Law, she could be weak.  

    With him, Sanji didn't have to wear the mask of eternal confidence and joy. With him, she could be vulnerable. She showed this side of herself to Luffy only once, but none of her other friends had seen her like this. Broken, tired, depressed.

    Law had become the one person she could lean on. And she knew it. Despite his roughness and sharp words, she could relax with him. She didn't have to think about being judged or told not to whine. She didn't have to think that he would start joking about her worries. That her father might restore his parental rights and marry her off to a fat businessman, that her mother's health would deteriorate and no one would be able to help, that her father's leg constantly ached in bad weather, and that if he hadn't saved her then, his life could have been a hundred times better.  

    Sanji felt a tear run down her cheek. If Law hadn't been there, she definitely wouldn't have cried, but with him, she simply couldn't help it.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” Law crouched beside her, voice uncharacteristically soft.  

“...I feel bad for the mouse,”  she said in such a pitiful and quiet voice that she didn't recognise it herself. 

    Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the stunned expressions of her friends. Around them, she had always been strong and confident, only occasionally letting her guard down in front of Luffy and Robin. Zoro and the others had never seen her cry like this before. She wouldn’t be surprised if they had assumed she never cried over something like this. Only over beautiful women, nothing more.  

    Luffy frowned. He hated seeing his friends cry. She knew that, but she couldn’t help herself. The wave of emotion crashing over her was too strong to hold back.  

“It’s just a mouse,” Zoro cut in. “I’m sure you’ve got plenty of them poisoned in your restaurant.”

“No,” she scoffed weakly. “I… I had a mouse when I was a kid. And my father… Father doesn’t touch them. He knows I…“

“Shh…” Law’s hand settled on her back. “Easy. Let’s get you up.”  

    He helped her stand carefully, but the moment she was upright, her head spun.  

“It’s in a better place now,” he murmured. “No more scavenging for food or hiding from predators.”

“She was… so small. So weak…”  

    Law wiped her tears, but they only fell harder.  

“This isn’t really about the mouse, is it?” he asked. 

    He already knew the answer. The way Robin and Luffy lowered their heads confirmed it. Law sighed.  

“Cook, what the hell?” Zoro pressed.  

    He wanted to turn around and punch him.  

“Zoro, shut up,” Robin interjected before he could.  

    Nami was staring at Sanji with the same bewildered expression as Zoro. They were completely thrown by this side of her. Usually, it was Franky who wore his emotions openly and cried from joy, shame, grief, or excitement without hesitation. But Sanji? Crying over a mouse?  

“She’s sobbing over a damn rodent,” Zoro muttered.  

    Fresh tears spilled down her face. Law hesitated for a second then pulled her into his arms. She buried her face in his neck and let herself break. Everything — the stress of the past weeks, the exhaustion, the memories, the frustration with her weight — came crashing down at once. Her fists clenched in his shirt, gripping it like an anchor.  

    Everyone shot Zoro a glare.  

“What?” he huffed. “Maybe we should arrange a funeral for her? What kind of joke is this?”  

    He shouldn't have said that.

    Now they stood in the field where Sanji had laid flowers over the mouse’s tiny grave. Her eyes were red and swollen, her hair a mess, her expression so drained she looked seconds from collapsing. Law stayed beside her, letting her have this moment of silence.  

“Are we seriously standing at a mouse’s funeral right now?” Zoro whispered.  

“Hope there’s meat at the wake,” Luffy whispered back.  

    Usopp and Franky, who had missed the start of Sanji’s breakdown, exchanged confused looks. They quickly went into the hall to get their things, and when they returned, Sanji was already in tears and having a panic attack, from which Law and Robin were bringing her back to normal. The girl was choking, Law calmly guiding her through it, Robin soothing her with gentle strokes to her hair. Zoro had a fresh bruise on his head, Nami was shaking out her sore hand, and Luffy stood there holding a random box. No one could properly explain what had happened.  

    Even now, back in Sanji’s kitchen, they still didn’t fully understand. Sanji had thrown herself into cooking, barely hearing their chatter. The others lightened the mood with stories and jokes. Luffy was already laughing again, Nami scolding him between sips of tea. Only Law sat in silence, arms crossed, his gaze distant.  

“I’ll get wine,” he announced suddenly.  

    Sanji set the knife down and turned. Zoro perked up too: mention alcohol, and he was in. Especially after today’s weirdness.  

“And candy. Need to raise the hemoglobin level in the blood”

    She didn’t answer, but her expression said enough.  

“No refusal accepted,” Law said, standing.  

“Grab pork!” Luffy demanded.  

“Go get it yourself.”  

    Luffy shot up, instantly at Law’s side.  

“Not with me!”

“Shi-shi-shi! I want meat! And beer! Let’s get steak!”

“Quit bothering me!”

    They disappeared down the hall, their bickering and laughter fading. Sanji went back to chopping vegetables and then fry them in a pan.

“Cook, have you lost your damn mind?” Zoro said abruptly.  

“Quiet,” Robin ordered from beside him, sipping her coffee.  

“I’m just shocked we’re all acting like this is normal.”

    Sanji finished dicing the vegetables and drained the rice for the pilaf. She swirled the pan, drizzled oil, and finally spoke:  

“What’s your damn point?” 

“Not something he should be saying at this table,” Robin said coolly.  

“I can say it. You cried over a mouse.” 

    The girl sighed heavily and leaned on the countertop. The vegetables sizzled in the pan, the water wasn't ready yet for cooking the rice, and her mind was in chaos. She grabbed her hair, then took out cigarettes and lit one right there. Without turning to her friends, she decided to confess:

“When my father locked me in the basement as a child, the only living creature with me for months was a mouse. I didn't see the sun, the grass, nothing but three gray walls, bars, a mattress, and a set for cooking. The only joy my father allowed me to keep. But she was with me. Day and night, week after week. And the sight of a suffering mouse just took me back to the past for a second. So yeah, I lost it. Happy with that answer?” 

    Silence.  

    She kept her head down, hair hiding her face. She couldn’t see their expressions, but she could imagine them. It made her feel even worse.  

   Then something clattered to the floor beside her.

    She turned toward the sound and froze.

      Law and Luffy stood in the doorway. The horror on their faces made Sanji instantly regret opening up. It seemed like the guys had even slowed their breathing. She didn't know when they had returned, but they had clearly heard enough.

"Why aren’t you at the store yet?" Sanji asked, stirring the vegetables.  

"I forgot my wallet," Law muttered.  

"Then go. Why are you just standing there?"

    They hesitated. But Law lowered his head and left. Luffy, on the other hand, clearly had other ideas. He took a step toward Sanji, but Law’s hand yanked him back by the collar. She was grateful for that. She didn’t want to talk about it. Didn’t want comfort. Didn’t want to explain. Right now, she needed silence, cigarettes, and the familiar rhythm of cooking.  

    After that, silence settled in the kitchen, broken only by the sound of the stove. But Robin quickly steered the conversation toward the university where strange lizard fossils had been delivered. The atmosphere came alive again, allowing Sanji to continue cooking without feeling guilty.

    The guys returned just as she was transferring the rice to the pilaf pan. A massive slab of meat hit the table, followed by the clink of bottles. Luffy rummaged through the drawer without asking, pulling out a bottle opener. Sanji had banned any other method of opening beer in her house.  

    Unlike Luffy’s chaotic energy, Law moved methodically. He set a plate of apples on the table, then stashed three wine bottles in the fridge. Along with a can of gin for Zoro — the message was clear: “Keep your mouth shut.” Zoro narrowed his eyes but took the bribe.  

    Then came the cake.  

    Pink cream glistened under the light, one side adorned with marzipan and icing roses, the other dripping with honey-glazed cherries. It had started melting slightly, but that didn’t make it any less stunning.  

    Nami instantly snapped a photo and sent it to Vivi. The others braced themselves to defend it from Luffy but to everyone’s surprise, he didn’t even glance at it. He was too busy hovering near Sanji, begging for potatoes to go with the meat.  

    Law picked up a knife and sliced the cake with surgical precision. From his smooth movements, one could guess how often he wielded this essentially cold weapon in his daily life. He portioned it out, giving the largest piece, of course, to Sanji. He carried the plate to her.  

“I’m not hungry,” she said, still stirring the pilaf.  

“I can tie you up and force-feed you.”  

    Sanji sighed.  

"Open your mouth."

    She gave him a pitiful look. He didn’t budge. A forkful of cake was already poised in front of her.  

    The girl didn’t resist long. She didn’t have the energy or will to. Sanji opened her mouth and let him feed her. Behind them, the others marveled at the cake’s flavor or fended off Luffy’s attempts to steal their slices. Usopp yelled at him, smacking him on the head, but by then, the cake was already gone from his plate.  

“Thanks…” Sanji murmured when the plate was empty.  

    Law nodded, set it in the sink, and headed to the fridge. Meanwhile, Sanji brought the pilaf to the table and gathered the dirty dishes to replace them with clean ones. In her daze, she didn’t even realize she’d served dessert before the main course.  

    Wine glasses materialized in front of the three girls — sometimes, Sanji swore Law had a supernatural talent for moving things unnoticed. She meant to bring out the vegetables, but he guided her to the table instead, making her drink with everyone. He sat beside her, sipping his own wine.  

    Franky launched into a story about groundbreaking production tech that had blown his mind. Usopp translated the technical jargon for the others. At one point, Nami asked how much all of this had cost only to be met with averted eyes. She scowled and repeated the question.  

    But Sanji had no strength left. She couldn’t even touch her pilaf, letting Luffy devour her portion. She didn’t finish her wine, either. All she wanted was to curl up under a blanket and sleep.  

    Her eyelids grew heavy. The murmur of her friends’ voices lulled her. Her heartbeat had finally steadied. She leaned sideways, resting her head on Law’s shoulder, letting herself drift for just a little longer.  

    She didn’t even realise she’d fallen asleep.  

    When she woke the next morning, she was in her own bed. The kitchen was spotless and no trace of last night’s gathering remained. Only a note on the nightstand:  

"Know that we’re always here."

    Sanji smiled and picked up the note. Tears welled up in her eyes again, but she decided to thank her friends first. As soon as she opened her messaging app, a text from Robin filled the entire screen:  

"Don’t push Law off the bed. He spent all night cleaning up after us."

    She blinked a few times and turned her head toward the bed. There, buried under the blankets on the other side, was Law. He was so thoroughly cocooned that without Robin’s message, she wouldn’t have even noticed him.  

    With a quiet laugh, she headed to the kitchen to brew coffee. It was still early, but for her, this was the perfect time to start the day. Breakfast came next.  

    An hour later, an alarm blared from the bedroom, followed by grumpy muttering. Sanji grinned and set the cezve on the stove. A sleep-drunk Law shuffled into the kitchen, eyes half-closed, clearly forgetting where he was. He reached automatically for his coffee machine only to freeze when he found a different one in its place. The way he blinked in confusion made Sanji burst out laughing.  

“Sit down,” she said. “Breakfast and coffee’ll be ready soon.”

    Law looked at her and then followed the instructions precisely. During the water problems, the girl found out that the guy wakes up an hour before work. So she calmly stirred the coffee and served the food on the table. He was still not fully awake and still trying to figure out what was happening.

"Thanks," Sanji stepped closer and ruffled his hair. "For yesterday."

"How about thanking me with a kiss instead?" he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.  

"Hard pass. Your breath could kill a man. When will you start brushing your teeth before breakfast?"

"Dentists recommend brushing after eating."

"Pretty sure you just made that up."  

    She turned back to the cezve. The coffee was bubbling, so she quickly turned off the heat and poured it into a cup.  

"Sanji," Law said suddenly, more awake now. "Just so you know… I’m always here. You can count on me."

    Sanji smiled. Handing him the mug, she replied:  

"I know."

Chapter Text

  City Championships.  

  Sanji hated them.  

  Back in the day, she had spent months preparing — skipping sleep, studying, proving time and again who the best chef was. She had rivals whose sole goal was to surpass her and drag her through the mud. But ever since she started working, she barely had time to hit the gym, let alone compete in some token contests. Though, supposedly, the results of these championships could help with career advancement. But even if Zeff were handed an honorary diploma from God Himself, he’d still keep Sanji as his sous-chef.  

  All week, Luffy and Zoro had been training nonstop. The green-haired guy had a chip on his shoulder and the eternal status of second place. Last year, even TV crews had filmed his sword duel with Mihawk, but that still didn’t save him from yet another loss to his father. Right there on the battlefield, the man had started explaining his son’s mistakes while Perona plopped a ridiculous pink hat on his head — no one even blinked when Zoro made a bet with his sister over it and ended up wearing the accessory for a whole week afterward.  

“Do you think Zoro’ll become the best swordsman this year?” Nami asked, swirling her smoothie.  

  She took a sip and immediately grimaced.  

“Not while his father’s alive,” Sanji admitted bluntly.  

  And honestly, most people knew that. Mihawk was just better than his son. Sure, Zoro improved every year, but his old man wasn’t exactly slacking either.  

“What about you? Competing?” Nami turned to Law.  

  He was still trying to recover from his last set. His hair was drenched, face flushed red. His chest heaved so violently it looked like he was having a heart attack. The girls wouldn’t have been surprised if he hadn’t even heard them: blood was probably roaring in his ears loud enough to drown out everything else.  

“We already talked about it with the company,” Ikkaku cut in. “Instead, our hospital’s putting money into some courses.” 

“Chopper too?” Nami clarified.  

“Let him finish his degree before upgrading it. Poor kid’s already suffering under his advisor.”

“Yeah,” Sanji smirked. “Having your own father as a mentor is one of life’s hardest trials. Hey, are you alive?”

  She nudged Law lightly with her foot. He turned his head toward her, though his eyes were clearly unfocused.  

“...I’ll get you water. And pills, just in case…” 

“I’m competing in cartography!” Nami exclaimed. “They’re demoing some new satellite-linked software at the event this year! If it’s legit, it’ll make work way easier!”

“Bepo wants in too. But the poor guy’s schedule’s packed solid that day. If he can’t find a replacement, he’s withdrawing.”

  Sanji sat across from Law and waved a hand in front of his face. Good news: his pupils tracked the movement. She clicked her tongue, unscrewed a water bottle, and handed it to him. His hands shook so badly she ended up holding it for him.  

“Heard Franky wants to try his hands at the competition this year. People are losing their minds over it. Sanji, what about you?”

“They won’t let me.”

  She stood up, checking again if Law could follow her movements. Result: his eyes were still glued to the empty space where she’d been.  

“I have won every year since I was 17. They politely asked me to sit on the judges’ panel instead.”

“Boring…” Ikkaku muttered, crouching next to Law.  

“What was I even expecting…” Nami sighed. “How’s he doing?”

“...He’s gonna need an ambulance,” Sanji said flatly.  

  Ikkaku snorted at that. She planted her hands on her hips and grinned.  

“Nah, he’ll snap out of it. This bastard’s not that easy to take down.”

“You could give him mouth-to-mouth. Help him breathe,” Nami teased.  

“Maybe you need it?” Sanji perked up hopefully, but at her friend’s glare, she exhaled. “Law really should go to the hospital, though.”

“Sanji, if Law gets hospitalised after a workout,” Ikkaku examined her nails, “it’ll invalidate all his past achievements: the biker brawl, the motorcycle race, that godforsaken sword stunt…”

“If he stays healthy, it doesn’t matter what he thinks it invalidates,” Sanji hooked an arm under his shoulder and yanked upward. “Let’s go.”

  His head turned toward her. She strained with everything she had, but he didn’t budge an inch.  

“...Keep this up, and you’ll be the one hospitalized for overexertion,” Law rasped.  

“If it gets you checked out too, then it’s worth it.”

  She pulled again. The girls watched as their friend practically slid across the floor trying to haul him up. But Law remained an immovable object.  

“Law, maybe you can help a little?” Nami asked, already tired of the circus act.  

“Your wifey’s working so hard. Wouldn’t want her to throw her back out,” Ikkaku smirked.  

“...Wanna see her deadlift a hundred kilos…” Law wheezed, voice dripping with sarcasm.  

“I’ve done it before, in case you forgot!” 

  Sanji dropped his arm with an irritated huff. She desperately wanted a smoke. Cigs and IQOS were banned in the gym, but vapes technically weren’t an issue. Except for one problem: sitting right in front of her, gasping for air. He never said anything about tobacco, but something told her the sight of a vape would short-circuit his brain, and then she’d be stuck on nicotine patches. Annoyance flared, and she yanked at him again. Why was he so damn stubborn?!

“...When?” Law asked

“When I undressed you! Now get up!”

  Nami and Ikkaku's eyebrows shot up. They stared at the scene before them, exchanging glances at one point. The redhead immediately pulled out her phone, opening the "Gossip Chat," while the other woman pinched the bridge of her nose, visibly fed up.  

“...Could you yell that louder? Make sure everyone hears,” Law's voice was hoarse but dripping with sarcasm.  

“Shut up and st…” a flush crept up Sanji's face.  

  She finally realised what she'd said.  

“THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT! You were lying on the bed and…”

“I don't wanna know,” Nami cut her off.  

“It's not what you're thinking!” 

“We didn't even get to think yet,” Ikkaku chuckled. “Calm down.”

  Sanji could feel her face burning. Her eyes watered, breath turning ragged. Her tongue had always been her enemy, but now, in front of the two most wonderful ladies in the world, it might as well have been a death sentence.  

“...Usopp competing this year?” Law smoothly changed the subject.  

“Yeah,” Nami sighed. “He invented something again and wants to show off to his nerd squad. You know how it is. That weird brand of fun.”

“...Says the cartographer.”  

"Oh, shut up. You're no better. What’s your event?"

  Law looked down.  

“None. Ikkaku already said.” 

“If you two keep ignoring Sanji, she’s gonna die of embarrassment,” Ikkaku interjected.  

  Sanji was crouched, trying to hide her red face, tugging at her hair and biting her lip. She desperately needed nicotine. Nami smirked. Law exhaled heavily.  

“Don’t worry. Everyone believes you can lift me,” he said.  

“SHUT UP!” Sanji wailed. “That’s not the point!”

“Then what is?” he grinned.  

  She lifted her head, tear-filled eyes locking onto him. Despite his dazed expression, the mockery in his gaze was unmistakable.  

“I’ll kill you,” Sanji hissed, attempting to stand, and collapsed back onto the floor.  

  Nami sighed tiredly.  

“Anyway. If you’re not competing, why torture yourself?”

“...Wanna be sure,” Law’s eyes lingered on Sanji, “that I can hold seventy kilos in the air for over an hour.”

“Why?”

  He gave Nami a look. They had a non-verbal communication, and she grimaced.  

“Disgusting,” she brushed imaginary dust off her hands. “Why would you say that?”  

“You asked.”

“Sanji,” Ikkaku tilted her head. “You’re seventy kilos?”

“...More,” Sanji’s voice was tiny. Another blow on this horrible day. “But I’m losing weight!”  

  She couldn’t take it anymore. Jumping to her feet, the girl went to the table and took her water bottle and locker key. She needed that smoke break.  

“Want me to add another plate?”Ikkaku asked.  

“No need,” Law sighed. “I’ll end up naked only in stories I don’t even remember.”  

“I almost feel bad for you sometimes,”Nami admitted.  

“There is no need to feel bad for him” Sanji finally couldn't take that anymore. “He enjoys this! Ruining reputations! Teasing everyone!”

  She was halfway out but paused, curiosity getting the better of her.  

“Only you suffer,” Ikkaku smirked. “Such is the fate of wifey.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?!” Sanji whined.  

“It’s your new crew nickname. Or are you not the one cooking dinners for this rascal lately?”

  Great. Another woman no longer took her seriously and thanks to Law this time. Worst. Day. Ever.  

“My only excuse is that I still have water problems,” Sanji muttered. “But please change the nickname.”

“Until you don’t see the obvious,” Nami grinned, enjoying this too much, “it’s perfect.”

  Sanji rolled her eyes, unable to take it. She could never stay mad at her darling flower, but Law was still here.  

“Is this about playful flirting or the dumb hints?” she crossed her arms. “‘Cause I’m losing track of the local humor.”  

  All three stared at her weirdly. Literally weirdly. Ikkaku looked like she’d seen a monster or a maniac in front of her. Nami’s jaw nearly hit the floor. And Law’s expression… Sanji could barely read him on a good day, let alone now, with nicotine deprivation fogging her brain.  

“...You notice those?” Nami coughed.  

“I’m not stupid,” Sanji huffed. “And after Ace, I’m immune to ‘jokes’ like that.”  

“So that’s who I should thank…” Law muttered.  

  Nami leaned toward Ikkaku, whispering just loud enough to be heard:  

“Ace wasn’t joking."

"Ladies," Sanji cut in. "I adore you, but please stop. Smoke break."  

  She finally left, leaving them behind. If Law died now, it’s not her problem anymore. He’d drained enough of her sanity today to deserve it.  

“Care to explain that?” Nami shot Law a disappointed look. “Romance genius.” 

"What’s there to say?" He leaned back. "I got an apology for a kiss because ‘someone’ thought it was harassment."

"Ever tried talking?" Ikkaku deadpanned. "People do that, I hear."

  Law sighed, gaze fixed on the ceiling as his breathing steadied.  

"I have," he opened his water bottle. "More than once. She has my keys. Last week, she slept at my place more than hers. Her dad keeps swearing to slit my throat, and her mom invites me over for dinner. People literally call her my girlfriend and wife. I’ve tried pet names. But she’s bulletproof. I’ve never been friendzoned this hard."

  Nami patted his shoulder.  

"...At least she’s pretty," Ikkaku offered weakly.  

"And talented." 

"And willing to tolerate you for free."  

"She even feeds you! I’d have kicked you out."  

"If he weren’t my leader, I’d never believe anyone could follow him seriously."  

"I can’t imagine. Luffy’s exhausting enough. And this guy’s whiny!"  

"And boring. Start with history, and you’ll wish you were in a retirement home." 

"With that attitude, I’m shocked he wasn’t left in kindergarten." 

"I’m right here," Law interjected.  

  The women turned to him, momentarily forgetting their roast session. (At least, he hoped they had.)

"So you're just giving up?" Nami asked.  

“Didn’t expect to be stuck in a teenage sitcom at thirty," Law scowled.  

"Then you’d never survive our crew," the redhead laughed. “Ever give her flowers?"  

"Red roses with some fancy designer arrangements. Ask Bepo. He’s the expert."  

  He stood and grabbed a dumbbell. Nami blinked. She’d thought the weights on that rack were welded to the beams as decoration. The girl had never seen anyone actually use them. Even she wouldn’t dare lift that much, and apparently, neither would anyone else. Weird that Kid and Zoro never touched them because those two were always under the barbells, joking about needing to deadlift trucks just to feel challenged.  

"And she didn’t even squeak?" Nami raised an eyebrow.  

"Take a guess," Law deadpanned.  

"Maybe she’s faking it to milk you for cash?" Ikkaku suggested.  

"Hey!" Nami’s voice sharpened. "She’s my friend. Don’t talk about her like that. I know her and she’d never do something I could actually respect her for!" 

  Law paused for a moment, trying to process that sentence. Realising that his tired brain hadn’t deceived him and she’d indeed said that, he frowned. 

"Doubt anyone could fake being that dense," he muttered, reracking the weight. "Shachi says it’s probably trauma-related. Like she can’t believe someone would love her just because, even when she’s not cooking or ‘useful.’ Imposter syndrome, but twisted."  

"Whoa," Ikkaku whistled. "What kind of childhood messes her up that bad?"  

  Law’s grip on the dumbbell turned white-knuckled. He resumed his set in silence, tension radiating off him. Nami looked down. She didn’t know much about Sanji’s past, only that it was bad. Not many people could say they’d been locked in a mansion’s basement for months or beaten by their siblings. Well, maybe Luffy, but his stories always sounded happy. And if you remember his relationship with Sabo and Ace… Yeah, in his situation it could be one of the best memories of his childhood.  

"...You’re not…"Nami hesitated. "Gonna give up on her, right?"

"Ask Ikkaku what I’ve done for past partners," Law exhaled, pulling the weight to his chest.  

  Nami glanced at the other woman. Ikkaku crossed her arms, eyebrow climbing.  

"He’s had no partners," she snorted. "Unless you count one-night stands. Which, trust me, you shouldn’t. Sometimes I think he picked the most oblivious girl on purpose just to dodge relationship talk."  

"And that," Law cut in, "is how you know she’s dug into my skull. Pathetic. It's so humiliating."

  He stood, wiping sweat off his face with his shirt. That was his limit today. One more set, and he would end up in the ER. The girls’ pitying looks burned into his back. He didn’t need it.  

"Why the long faces?" Sanji chirped, returning with a radiant smile.  

"Nicotine withdrawal," Law said flatly. "Smoke a whole pack just now?" 

"None of your business," she walked past him. "Mind if I grab these?"

"If you can lift them." 

"I can’t lift moody gorillas, but iron’s been with me my whole life! Where’re you going?"  

  Law glanced at the girls. Sanji was currently trying to move the dumbbell from its place.  

"Water," he said quietly. "Be right back." 

  As he walked away, their voices followed:  

"Did they glue this thing?!"  

"Thought they were welded. Look, it’s even dusty!"

"Wow. And you seriously thought Franky would weld dumbbells?"  

  Law stopped in the locker room. Stared at the wall. Exhaled hard.  

  He didn’t come back before her workout ended. 

  The sun was shining so brightly that Sanji had to put on her sunglasses. She slathered sunscreen on her own face, then on Luffy's and Law's, and even covered every inch of Chopper's body. This was the group that had piled into the car to head to the competition venue. Though the person behind the wheel was not who she wanted driving.  

"LUFFY, YOU SON OF A…" Law roared as they swerved straight into oncoming traffic.  

  He slammed into the passenger-side door. Sanji clutched Chopper tightly, shielding him from the impact. She had miscalculated again: she had given up the front seat to Law, hoping that he could at least somewhat calm the driver down. Now she was rolling around in the back of the car with a boy in her arms. 

"Shi-shi-shi! Look, Law! No hands!"  

"LUFFY, PLEASE, GRAB THE WHEEL!" Chopper shrieked.  

"There’s a shortcut. Let’s go."  

  Law lunged for the steering wheel, wrenching it hard. The car skidded to a stop on the shoulder, blocking the bus lane. Law was out in a flash, yanking open the driver’s side and hauling Luffy out by the collar. He tossed him into the backseat and took the wheel himself, immediately steered onto a quieter side road.  

"LAW! That’s my car!" Luffy whined. "I’m the driver! Get out!"  

"I’d like to live until tonight!" Law snapped.  

"LAW!"  

"Stay. Put."  

"Torao!"  

"Call me that one more time.."  

  They finally found parking in a different block entirely. Cars were everywhere. Competitors had come from neighboring towns, flooding the venue. Luffy burst out into the fresh air of the car the second it stopped, dragging Chopper with him as he bolted off. Sanji, hands still shaking from the near-death experience, lit a cigarette.  

"He forgot the keys," Law dangled them in front of her.  

"Thank god. Maybe we’ll survive the ride back."  

  She exhaled a slow stream of smoke and checked her phone. The group chat was already blowing up with schedules and locations.  

"Most anticipated event is still Mihawk against Zoro," Sanji grinned. "Nami said there are cameras set up."  

"No surprise. Same thing every year," Law checked the time. "You done?"  

"Gimme a sec. We’ve got time."  

"Penguin and Bepo already saved us seats. And they’re texting that it’s getting harder to hold them."  

  Sanji smirked, then nodded toward the building. Inside, they were met with a sea of people. It took some shoving, but they eventually found Penguin. Bepo was already gone. No one expected him to stay long, not with the singing competition in the next pavilion. (Last they saw, he was in a pink merch T-shirt, looking way too excited.)  

"How’s it going?" Law asked, shaking Penguin’s hand.  

"Everyone’s waiting for Mihawk. Rumor is he’s gotten even better."  

"Well, he is a single dad to Zoro and Perona," Sanji chuckled. "Gotta stay sharp."  

"Hey, wifey. Competing in anything today?"  

"If you keep calling me that then only in the ‘how fast can I punt myself into the animal rights violation zone if I beat up one Penguin’ event."  

  Penguin beamed and stared back at the ring. The girl followed his example. She didn't quite understand the hype of the whole event, but Zoro was fighting. And no matter how much they bickered, he was still her friend. 

 The crowd became incredibly lively with Mihawk's appearance. If it had been loud before, now Sanji couldn't even hear her own voice. And after Zoro came out, she even stopped trying to speak. The two men bowed and then moved like lightning.  

  The first clash of steel sent sparks flying. Sanji’s eyes widened. Those weren’t practice blades — they were real, and from the glimpses she caught, the kind usually locked in museums or private collections. And was Zoro seriously using three swords? She squinted, but they moved too fast to track.  

  When the first bell rang, the fighters broke apart. Zoro gripped three katanas (Law’s eyes lit up like kid’s ones explaining it), while Mihawk hefted a massive two-handed sword. That was when Sanji was told that the fight before had just been a warm-up. 

  When the men clashed in earnest, Sanji finally understood such a hype around them. It was terrifying to watch: steel ringing nonstop, bodies twisting mid-air with each strike. Law couldn’t stand still and kept fidgeting. 

"I’m a swordsman too," he muttered during the pause 

  The break was literally five-minute, so the men could catch their breath.  

"Then why aren’t you out there?" Sanji asked.  

"Because I wanted to be here."  

"I think I'm going to be sick," Penguin announced.  

  Law shot him a glare.  

"We can sign you up real quick," Sanji offered. "Doubt they’ve closed registrations."  

"What’s the point?" Law crossed his arms. "Look at them."  

"The point is doing it. Win or lose, it’s about knowing you’re still in it. That you’ve still got it, even if you’re not the best." she ruffled his hair. "Don’t you wanna fight Zoro? See how you stack up?"  

  Law exhaled sharply.

"...Miss competing that much?"  

"Like hell. But if I can’t, you should. Let’s go sign you up."  

"After the fight. I wanna see how it ends."  

  And it ended predictably. Three swords scattered across the ring as Zoro knelt. Mihawk was declared victor again. The crowd began to thin noticeably, making it easy for Sanji to drag Law to registration. He vanished immediately after, leaving her to return to the stands.  

  Penguin stood with his phone camera on. He hadn't even filmed the fight between Zoro and Mihawk, so the girl quickly concluded about Law's abilities. She even felt a little sorry for him. She didn't know until now that he was a swordsman, which actually said a lot about his skill, and now there was Penguin filming, clearly expecting his friend's disgrace.

  Law stepped onto the ring. The carelessness with which he held his sword was striking. In front of him stood a man with light hair, who somehow reminded her of Usopp. Sanji took out her phone and instantly took a few photos for memory. Law would thank her later if he could survive the bitterness of defeat.

  She opened her mouth to cheer..  

  Two moves.  

  That’s all it took.  

  The blond guy was flat on his back before the crowd even processed it. Penguin lit up, punching the air. 

"LAW’S STILL GOT IT!"  

"Thought he’d gone soft! Still a monster of the Worst Generation!"  

  Sanji glanced at the guys standing next to her and then at Law. Well, she had never been able to read the situation correctly, so it was no surprise that she had misjudged his abilities. The girl even took her phone and texted Robin about whether he was a good swordsman. She just needed to be sure once and for all.

"I remember a time when he wouldn't let go of his sword

He even managed to prove at the university that it was a necessary thing and not dangerous at all

Back then, my classmates and I were a bit surprised.

I think he even gave it a name, so I suspect he's pretty good"

  Named his sword? Freak. Sanji looked up, but other people were already fighting there. Penguin was deeply engrossed in his phone. So she quickly went down in search of Law, hoping to demand some explanations from him, but instead she ran into Zoro. He sat with his head down while Mihawk told him about his mistakes.

"Congratulations on your victory," she said.

  Mihawk looked up at her — his gaze always sent shivers down her spine. Those bright yellow torches were terrifying. He remained silent for a moment before asking:

"Your friend?"

"Zeff’s daughter."

"Red-Leg Zeff?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks," the man said, turning to her.

  That was the end of their conversation. He turned back to Zoro and began scolding the young man.

"Zoro," she decided to save her friend’s pride, "wanna help me find Law?"

"That man dared to compete again?" Mihawk asked, turning around.

"I asked him to. What, is he not allowed?"

  The man stared at her without blinking. Chilling.

"His style…" Zoro rasped, "is kinda cheaty. It feels like he can cut you without even touching you."

"Law!" Perona’s voice suddenly rang out as she appeared out of nowhere. "That goth guy! My friend said her boyfriend’s scared of him. Apparently, with his sword, Law can carve out a heart in a perfect cube!"

  She was holding three bags of popcorn. Today, she looked even better than usual. Sanji was afraid her eyes would turn to stone in the shape of hearts.

"Well, he is a cardiothoracic surgeon…" she muttered, trying to hide her admiration for the girl.

"During our last duel, I realized this man is not a true swordsman," Mihawk said sternly. "He reminded me of the red-haired one."

"Shanks?" Sanji blinked. "Wait, is he competing?"

"Nah," a low voice came from behind. "He just got a new prosthetic, and they strictly forbade him from overexerting himself."

  Law stood right behind her. There wasn’t a trace of a smile on his face despite his victory. At that moment, he seemed too stern and serious. The kind of guy you didn’t want to mess with.

"I was looking for you," she said.

"I didn’t expect," Mihawk said, "that you’d dare to compete again."

"Sanji asked me to," Law replied indifferently.

  Mihawk looked at her:

"Don’t ask again."

  She burst out laughing. Perona giggled too. But the men’s expressions remained unreadable. Sanji even felt uneasy and coughed a couple of times:

"When’s the next match?"

"Any minute now," Law replied. "First and second place are already decided, but the rest can fight each other just for fun."

"Convenient. Also, someone complained that you’re a cheater."

"Medical education does give me an advantage, I won’t argue."

  Zoro lifted his head. He looked incredibly frustrated:

"Maybe I should get one too?"

"If your style shifts toward Law’s, I’ll cut your arm off," Mihawk said, polishing his sword.

"Wow," Sanji intervened. "That’s… kinda harsh… I think we should get going. Luffy’s competition is coming up soon."

  Zoro looked up and stood. He handed his swords to his father and exchanged a few words with him. Then, the three of them headed toward the right section. Penguin didn’t join them. He went to Bepo, not even trying to hide the edge of his pink shirt under his white hoodie.

"Did you name your sword?" Sanji finally asked.

"Like any proper swordsman," Law replied.

"You guys are insane. I hope you know that."

  Zoro glared at her angrily.

"Don’t forget," Law said, "we have the example of a son whose father named him after a sword."

"Is that transmitted through the air or by touching the sword?"

"My Wado Ichimonji has a history you couldn’t even dream of," Zoro interjected.

"Uh-huh," Sanji smirked. "And you fight with them in the age of firearms… why, exactly?"

  They instantly squared off.

"Wanna fight?"

"Yeah."

"Not in front of me," Law’s hand slid between them.

  He pulled Sanji aside and stood in the middle. Then, they moved on as if nothing had happened.

  Their group wasn’t hard to spot even in the crowd. Nami and Vivi’s hair practically glowed, drawing attention. Usopp stood in a weird hat, and Chopper sat perched on Franky’s shoulders.

  As they got closer, Nami’s outrage became apparent. Turns out, her competition had been canceled, and no one even told her. A strange memory from last night flashed in Sanji’s mind. She twirled around her friend, remembering how Law’d complained to her about Bepo’s situation. How he had rushed through paperwork, worked overtime, and pushed himself to the limit just to get the contest canceled. He’d been furious, but Sanji had been distracted by something else — how had her friend not known about the cancellation in advance?

  The starting bell rang. Luffy was competing in strength and endurance. When he stepped out, a lot of people cheered for him. Two brothers in the front row and an incredibly beautiful girl in the upper stands stood out the most. Sanji spent the first few minutes staring at her instead of her friend.

  This year, the challenge was to hold a massive weight overhead for as long as possible. Minutes passed, and fewer people remained on the field. Soon, only two contestants were left and one of them being Luffy. Tension grew as the clock ticked agonizingly slow. Sweat poured down Luffy’s forehead, but he kept going.

  When the whistle blew, Sanji’s heart dropped. It took her an extra second to realize: Luffy had won. Nami jumped up, Usopp screamed. Franky burst into tears while Zoro laughed uncontrollably.

  Sanji didn’t know what came over her, but she leaped onto Law, hugging him tightly. A second later, her lips pressed against his forehead, and she giggled. Horror immediately gripped her as she realised what she’d done, but she quickly played it off as excitement, cheering loudly for Luffy

  When the crowd settled down, another bell rang. New participants entered the field, now competing for second place. Sanji tried to wriggle out of Law’s hold but realized he was gripping her rather firmly.

"…You can let me go now," she said.

  He glanced at her, then turned his gaze back to the field.

"Law," she pressed.

"Can’t hear you."

"Don’t be a child."

He kept staring ahead, indifferent.

"Usopp," she called to her friend, "help me out."

"You’re asking ME to go against Law’s decision?" the man clarified.

"Zoro?"

"Don’t drag me into this."

  The girl glared at Law. He didn’t even look at her.

"Law. You’ve got lipstick on your forehead. Let me down so I can wipe it off."

"This is your punishment for doing it without warning."

"How was I supposed to warn you about being happy?"

  He finally looked at her. She smiled and rubbed his forehead.

"Now will you let me go?"

  Law sighed heavily and finally set her down.

"Good boy."

"Am I a dog to you?"

"You do bark a lot."

  Luffy crashed into them. Zoro immediately squeezed his friend in a hug, laughter ringing out. The boy was shouting something about meat and how heavy the weight had been this year. He also grinned mischievously upon hearing the green-haired guy came in second. Luffy instantly started bragging about his first place, thoroughly pissing off his best friend.

"Now, run to section A! My contest starts in minutes!" Usopp yelled.

  She grabbed Law’s hand and dashed forward. They made it just before the participants even began presenting their works. Usopp disappeared behind a curtain while the others scrambled for a free spot. Another reason to hate these competitions — the eternal crowding that made watching them unbearable.

  Luffy shouted from somewhere above, and the group climbed up to the stands. But even here, it was packed. Sanji thought her feet would get trampled to the bone. In her mind, she heard Brook’s laughter, and a pang of longing for her friend hit her. But she quickly shook it off and focused below.

  Rows of tables stood on the field, each usually crowded with two people. Red tablecloths showcased the most bizarre gadgets — things not even seen in futuristic movies. Well, except maybe that hovering board, though it was clearly struggling to stay afloat.

  Sanji suddenly felt Law standing way too close behind her. She turned and, to her surprise, found him looking down. The space on either side of her was taken, so he’d probably given Nami his spot and ended up behind her. Sanji knew Law and this nerd definitely wanted a better look. He could spend hours ranting about miracle tech from his comic book universes, so it was almost sad he got pushed away from what was essentially a piece of his identity.

  So Sanji tugged his hand and offered him her spot. He gave her a mocking look:

"In case you forgot, I’m taller."

"But you can’t see anything far away without your glasses," she countered.

"First, those glasses are for something else. Second, that’s my problem."

"You’re impossible."

  Sanji frowned, staring ahead. She hated how Law always gave way for her. He deserved to see this too and maybe even more than she did. And then her twisted mind spun into action, nearly making her jump. She bit her lip and decided to take a risk.

  Finding Law’s hands behind her, she placed them on either side of her waist. He was clearly flustered, and she could practically picture his stunned face. It was always the same: one eyebrow raised, not a hint of a smile. Sometimes his shock had an edge of aggression, but never once had it been directed at her.

"What are you…" Law didn’t get to finish.

  She pulled forward, pressing him flush against her back. Now they were touching, and she could even feel his heartbeat.

"If you won’t switch spots," Sanji explained, as if this wasn’t her sneaky plan, "then you should stand closer so you can actually see."

  Law peered at her face from over her shoulder. She smiled; he exhaled heavily. Inside, she was triumphant. Sometimes she forgot that the guy was a sexual mountain of muscle. The kind that belonged on magazine covers. But now she could feel his solid frame and prayed blood wouldn’t start gushing from her nose.

  His hands settled on her waist first, making her shiver, then crossed in a loose embrace. He sighed again and stared down, leaning even closer to get a better look at the inventions.

  At least, that’s what Sanji told herself.

  Among the exhibits were plenty of fascinating things. She didn’t even understand half the names. Maybe Usopp could’ve explained them with stars in his eyes, maybe even described how they worked. But right now, the boy was down below, adjusting parts on his whatever-that-was.

"Who do you think will win?" Sanji asked.

"I don’t even know how to judge these things," Law admitted honestly. "That machine that sucks things in, the router with a cooling system, the engine, the new irrigation device… I can’t even imagine how to compare them and decide which is better."

"It’s like with food: what tastes better?"

"Cake will always taste better than salad, but you can’t judge them the same way."

  The girl laughed and, out of habit, leaned her head back, resting it against Law’s shoulder.

"Agreed," she said with a smile. "Robin just texted that Franky’s contest got pushed back two hours. They’ll be here soon, and she suggested we hit a café after Usopp’s thing."

"Not a bad idea."

  And there it was again - that strange look. Sanji had searched on the internet it multiple times, even asked around what it meant, but never got a clear answer. Law just rolled his eyes whenever she brought it up, telling her not to overthink it. So now, without hesitation, she lightly flicked his nose, trying to extinguish that unreadable spark in his eyes.

"Hey, Law," Nami’s voice chimed in from the side. "How many horror stories have you remembered in the past hour?"

  At her words, the man rolled his eyes.

"Nami!" Vivi interjected. "Don’t tease him! He’s fighting for his life here. His rebellion is going to cost him dearly! Imagine the willpower he’s exerting right now!"

"What are you talking about?" Sanji asked, confused. "Also, Vivi, that dress is stunning! Just like you…"

"They mean Law’s sword," Zoro cut in, laughing.

  Sanji raised an eyebrow.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"They think," Law’s low voice rumbled right next to her ear, "that if I start carrying Kikoku around again, it’ll be some kind of rebellion. So they assume I’m mentally listing horror stories to resist the urge."

  What kind of nonsense was this? If not for Law’s firm grip, she would’ve turned around to check if he’d lost his mind or maybe if he’d had sunstroke. She could still do it from this position, but it would look weird.

"...That’s kinda childish," she muttered.

  Nami crouched down, and Vivi started shaking her shoulder.

"I can’t take this…"

"Honestly," Sanji continued, "I thought you were talking about something indecent. But how could I ever think that about the magnificent Nami?! Silly me!"

  Nami groaned, and Zoro burst out laughing. Luffy, who had been distracted by the inventions, turned toward them and grinned along — if the redhead was annoyed and the swordsman was in a good mood, something entertaining must be happening.

"By the way," Sanji added, "Law, if anything…"

"Don’t worry," he cut her off. "I’m not a hormonal teenager."

  He rested his chin on her shoulder. Instinctively, she ruffled his hair and checked if his head was too hot.

"Pathetic man…" Nami sighed.

"We’re gonna miss the whole contest like this," Vivi laughed, and everyone turned their attention back.

  By the time they started demonstrating some kind of accelerator, Sanji yawned. She gave in to the moment and leaned back a little further, nearly falling asleep on her feet. Law tightened his hold, pulling her closer. God, what she wouldn’t give for those hands to.. Just in case, she subtly scratched under her nose to check for blood.

  When they announced the winner, she was barely listening. Years in the kitchen had taught her to nap in the most awkward positions, and now, with near-perfect conditions, she simply gave up. If not for Law’s grip, she would’ve face-planted onto the floor or straight through the railing. So Luffy's laughter literally woke her up, making her rub her eyes comically and blink.

  The group decided to head down and find Usopp. Law’s hands vanished from her waist, and he took a step back. Sanji felt a pang of disappointment but didn’t let it show. She couldn’t afford to look sleepy and sulky.

  Usopp was grinning, clutching a participation certificate. All contestants got one, along with a discount at some store. Judging by his expression, the prize wasn’t bad — not as good as first place’s university grants, but still decent.

"Winning isn’t the point of this contest!" Usopp laughed. "Kidd gets it."

"Yeah," a voice chimed in. Sanji barely recognised Kidd without his usual makeup. "If we were here for first place, there would be such boring things. Not a tank barrel with custom rifling or a half-disco-ball, half-alcohol fridge."

  He burst out laughing and high-fived Usopp before heading back to his crew.

"So, where to now?" Usopp asked, packing up his gadgets.

"Cafe! Cafe! Cafe!" Luffy chanted, bouncing up and down.

"Cafe! Cafe! Cafe!" Chopper echoed.

  There were plenty of places near the venue, but they opted for their usual spot. Finding a table for their big group was always tough, so on competition days, it’s nearly impossible. But they were used to challenges and eventually managed to push a few free tables together.

"The way they connected those wires was insane," Usopp marveled, flipping through the menu. "I’m totally using that method from now on."

"Su-u-uper! Wish I could’ve seen the other entries! I can’t wait for mine!"

  Law stared blankly at the menu. Sanji skimmed hers too, though she practically had it memorised: Luffy loved food too much to pass up any chance to eat.

"Zoro!" the aforementioned guy laughed. "At least you still have your second eye!"

"That's not something people brag about," Zoro frowned. "And my dad used me as a test dummy for his new technique! That wasn't fair!"

"Why are the prices so high now…" Nami complained.

  Chopper's laughter erupted across the table.

"You should order something with eggplant. You haven’t replenished your…" Sanji whispered to Law.

"You literally just made ratatouille," he countered just as quietly.

"And how much eggplant was in that?"

"Enough."

  He set the menu aside.

"And I want the sizzling skillet."

"With pork?" she flipped to the meat section.

"Are there other options?"

"The one, where I’ll slap you if you don’t order the eggplant salad too."

  Law’s quiet chuckle said it all.

"And you? Gonna nibble on leaves again, little goat?" he asked.

"I want pumpkin cream soup with shrimp. It’s not that high in calories."

"Your taste preferences terrify me."

"Are you two done?" Nami cut in loudly.

  Sanji looked up. While Zoro and Luffy were arguing about something, the rest of the table was staring at them. A shiver ran down her spine under the weight of their attention. She quickly glanced down at her clothes — was something out of place?

"Well, I’ve already been scolded enough," Law sighed. "So yeah, we’re done."

"Then for the fourth time," Nami said, "what about pizza?"

"Does it have eggplant?" Law asked without even blinking.

"I’m gonna strangle you," Sanji hissed.

  Her hands were already halfway around Law’s neck when Vivi sighed. Sanji paused, distracted, as Nami continued:

"Regular pepperoni and julienne. Luffy also wants to try the pizza-burger, but the name alone scares me."

"Are we all collectively deciding to die of cholesterol today?" Sanji clarified. "I’ll pass on the pizza."

"As a doctor, one slice won’t kill you," Law interjected.

"As a chef, I know better. So shut it."

  The waitress arrived. First, the poor woman painstakingly wrote down Luffy’s mile-long order before moving around the table. She turned to Sanji, who was about to speak, but Law cut in:

"Pumpkin cream soup with shrimp, sizzling skillet, eggplant salad, strawberry cheesecake, beer and lemon balm tea."

"A whole teapot?" the waitress asked.

"Do you want a teapot?" Law turned to Sanji.

  She was still processing his audacity, arms crossed tightly. Chewing her cheek, she muttered:

"...Zero-point-five liters."

"Coming right up," the waitress tapped her phone and nodded.

  The second she left, Sanji shot Law a glare. He ignored it.

"You don’t even like cheesecake," she said.

"It’s not for me," Law replied calmly, pulling out his phone.

"I’m not eating it either."

"If someone had just agreed to pizza, dessert wouldn’t go to waste. Oh well. Guess it’s trash now."

  He knew exactly where to hit her. And the worst part? She couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

"I’ll eat it!" Luffy’s voice rang out across the table.

"Shut up, Luffy," Law said flatly.

  Drinks arrived, and the table’s chatter grew livelier. The man took a sip of his beer. Having no desire to talk to Law about anything, Sanji turned to the magnificent ladies and tried to pull them into the discussion, but then her cream soup was served. She silently began to eat.

  When the sizzling skillet landed on the table, Sanji nearly choked on her own saliva. The sight of fried potatoes with tomatoes, patissons and carrots made the taste of her soup bland. And the juicy, slightly fried meat made her hungry again. The dish had just been taken off the fire, and the oil in it was still bubbling in places.

  She swallowed. Damn it.

"You’re gonna drown in your own drool," Law remarked, sipping his beer.

  He speared a piece of meat and held it out to her. The dish looked straight out of a commercial. Defeated, she took a bite. Holy hell. So calorie-dense. So delicious. She mentally made a note to suggest to Zeff to serve something like this at their place. 

"Luffy, slow down!"

"Shi-shi-shi!"

"That’s my beer!"

"Should we grab cotton candy after?"

"My contest’s in an hour. Hurry up!"

"Don’t rush or you’ll choke."

"Hey, Usopp, what’s that?"

"Hands off!"

  The noise of their company was interrupted by the waitress who brought the desserts.Vivi and Robin immediately took theirs, Chopper was struggling with Luffy, who had seen the dessert and was now asking to share, and Usopp turned completely in the other direction to eat quietly. Law slid the cheesecake toward Sanji without a word, still focused on his meat. She scowled. He really didn’t want her to be thin.

"Why did you even order cheesecake?" she said angrily.

"For you." zero shame.

"I’m not eating it. Why won’t you listen?"

"Because you’ve always had a normal figure, yet you’re chasing the look of people who break ribs or carve them out."

  Law turned, his gaze dead serious. She sighed, pouring tea. He overstepped constantly. Deciding for her. She didn't like it, and the girl planned to clarify this point right here at the table. And at the moment when Law took the fork without asking and speared a piece of cheesecake, Sanji was ready to fight.

"I’ll never lose weight," she seethed. "Thanks to you, Law, I’ll be fat forever."

"What a tragedy," he deadpanned.

"No one will even look at me!"

"More for me," he said, unfazed.

"I don’t stop you from bulking up," her temple twitched.

"Keyword: up."

  Law took another sip of beer. Sanji wanted to smack it out of his hand. Deep down, she knew she couldn’t win this argument. Hell, she couldn’t even start it. He refused to see the problem.

"If I decided to cut," Law said suddenly, "would you help me?"

"Not anymore," Sanji exclaimed louder than intended. "You can suffer like me!"

  He smirked.

"And now you’re grinning!" She wanted to punch him.

"Eat. Or else you’ll also have to finish sushi rolls tonight so they don’t go to waste," Law shook his head. "And Luffy. Try reaching out again, and I’ll pin your hand to the table with a fork."

"Shi-shi-shi!"

  Sanji grabbed her fork and took a grudging bite. The second the cheesecake hit her tongue, she almost cried. It was too good. The sweetness clung not just to her taste buds but to her heart.

"What was even the point of that whole circus…" Nami muttered, shaking her head.

  Then she checked her phone and gasped. They had forgotten about the time, so they all had to run together to Franky's contest. The group almost arrived late, but almost doesn't count. So Franky happily scampered off to find tools while the rest went to find places to sit: this pavilion was one of the few with chairs.

"Franky's brother is here too," Robin smiled.

  At the word "brother," Luffy scratched his head and pulled out his phone. He typed something quickly and grinned. That’s when it hit her that Ace and Sabo had disappeared somewhere.

"Hope I don’t run into my siblings here," Sanji joked.

"They should hope the same," Law replied, way too seriously.

  From somewhere, he pulled out a bottle of beer and discreetly opened it with his keys. An incredible skill, learning which had cost the girl many nerves: she had cut herself on the edge of the lid when the doctor showed her the sequence. There wasn't much blood, and the cut wasn't deep, but that didn't mean Sanji was okay. She cherished her hands more than herself, and everyone who had seen her more than three times in their life knew this. So, she spent the whole evening of that day lying on the couch with her hand bandaged and a good dose of sedative (what was called wine in Law's apartment).

"You know alcohol isn’t allowed here, right?" she muttered.

"Not caught, not guilty," he said before taking a swig.

"Gimme a sip."

  He lowered the bottle and raised an eyebrow.

"Who gave me the hour-long lecture on alcohol being worse than sugar?"

"Since we're out, let's go all the way."

  Law handed her the bottle. She nodded in thanks and drank. The music in her soul swelled. That's what had been missing all this time at the competitions: beer vending machines. If there were alcohol here, many of the losers wouldn't be crying, and the winners would be much happier.

"Can I have some?" Penguin materialised behind them like some kind of magic trick.

  Bepo and Clione were with him, all wearing their trademark smirks. They plopped down nearby.

"You weren’t even coming to this event in the first place," Law said.

"We invited everyone to the bar after," Penguin said. "But it seems like you and your wifey forgot friends and phones exist. Check the group chat."

"Hi to you too," Law rolled his eyes. "I did reply. Said I was in."

  Ikakku's gentle hand ran through Sanji's hair. The girl was ready to jump for joy, but then she saw her goddess's outfit and was stunned. Sanji had never seen her in a dress, and of such a tender color. In it, the girl looked like a princess, so the heart of one chef was ready to break right there.

"Oscar-worthy actors," Ikkaku sighed, sitting down. "Sanji, don’t believe a word these guys say. Law invited everyone to the bar, then asked us to cover for him."

"I’m in!" Zoro shouted from the other end.

  How did he even hear that? Sanji shook her head.

"So you’re a full-blown alcoholic now?"

"And that’s why I needed backup. Thanks, Ikkaku," Law leaned back. "But yeah, I do like drinking."

"Buy me a ‘Thriller Bark Fairytale’ shot," Sanji grinned, "and I’ll let you drown another evening in gasoline."

"He doesn’t pay for you everywhere?" Clione asked.

  Penguin and Bepo clicked their tongues in unison. Bepo pulled out his phone, and Penguin rummaged through his bag.

"Why should he?" Ikkaku frowned.

"Ignore him," Law cut in. "Different courting customs where he’s from. We’ve been over this."

"I’d be offended." the girl continued. 

"You’d be ripping hair out if, after a month of living together, you still had to split bills," Clione countered.

"Plenty of couples in marriages pay separately and…"

"How many times are we circling this topic?" Law interrupted.

  Silence. Then Penguin and Bepo jumped back in, heads snapping up. Sanji immediately concluded that they had chewed over this topic more than once. In general, they were strange guys: to begin with, their fame did not at all correspond to their abilities. She clearly knew who was good at what, but only thanks to Law. This was completely opposite to what they had. Even poor Chopper had gained fame, not to mention the others.

"Speaking of," Sanji said, "I completely forgot in the rush. Did you paid for my order earlier, right? How much do I owe you?"

"Remind me tonight," Law said. "I’ll tell you the amount."

"Dirty play, Captain," Ikkaku laughed.

"Bepo, how was the music contest?" Law ignored her.

  But Sanji couldn't stop thinking about her words. These two conversations went one after the other, creating a magnificent picture in her mind. The stage light went down, the colors became much warmer. A guy secretly courting a girl, and she, who can't sleep at night because of him. The surroundings, who tell her to her face: "Wake up and see! One step between you!" and the setting of a big city. Yes, it was such books that touched something special in her soul.

  And then it hit her. 

  She and Law were living that trope.

  The fantasy shattered. The light disappeared, the colors returned to normal. The atmosphere of romance vanished, replaced by routine life. Sanji thought, and she became terribly offended, because unlike her novels, in reality, the guy she was interested in didn’t feel the same. Even worse — with someone like Law, she never stood a chance. He was smart, educated, successful, with a killer body, a car, and a loving family.

  All she had was a job, an old man and a mother, friends, and a suitcase full of trauma.

  But dreaming was free, right? If she could imagine a loving family while locked in a basement at night, she could certainly imagine him loving her now. Just a fleeting illusion before reality iced her over again.

"You’re blushing."

  Law’s voice popped the bubble of her dreams. She ducked her head, hiding behind her hair.

"Your friends are teasing me. You’re all shameless."

"Law, wanna pay for my next order too?" Nami chimed in. "Won’t hurt your wallet."

  Vivi’s eyebrows shot up. She glanced at Nami, who smiled sweetly:

"I’m preserving our family budget."

"Pretty sure you’re sabotaging it," Vivi said.

  Sanji forced a smile. Glassy-eyed, she stared at the floor, trying to ignore the ache in her chest. Same old story. Knew it’d hurt, yet she’d daydreamed anyway.

"You know," Sanji spoke up, just to distract herself, "I was really surprised when I found out most people split the bill on dates. It's supposed to be romantic, how can you let a lady pay?"

"Is that your birth place talking, or just your love for women?" Nami asked.

"I had the opposite reaction," Law took a sip of beer. "I was shocked when I learned people don’t split bills. Where I’m from, everyone pays for themselves."

"Well, Law," Robin unexpectedly joined in, "where I come from, a woman only pays for herself if she’s not interested and finds it easier to pay and never see this man again. Just something to consider."

  The way she smiled made the guys behind Sanji visibly shudder.

"Vivi," Nami turned, "who should pay between us?"

"Haven't you been dumping all the bills on me since the very first day?" Vivi crossed her arms.

  Nami bit her lip, then grinned.

"Hooray!"

"The kept woman," Vivi corrected.

"Happy to serve!"

  The girls laughed. Then the competition bell rang. Midway through, Sabo and Ace joined them: the latter with Yamato in tow. He greeted everyone, and Sanji finally put a face to the name Ace had mentioned so often.

  Her chest tightened a bit. Again, not her. So many conversations, so many hints, actions, and yet it wasn’t her. She was second again. After all, when it came to sincere feelings, the girl never won. Neither Ace nor anyone else would ever choose her. Judge was right when he said that someone like her was worthless and unlovable.

  Law would never choose her either. Sanji smiled sadly and stared ahead. She was used to it. She’d survive.

"You’re upset," Law murmured.

  She turned to him. He’d shifted from his relaxed slouch into something more awkward, just to lean closer. His eyes were worried. Damn it. Not only had she ruined her own mood, but she had also worried the guy. Her momentary sadness would pass, and the girl wouldn't even remember it by the end of the day, but he’d stew over it for hours.

"Just tired," she lied.

"If you think I haven’t learned to tell the difference between your tired face and your sad face, you’re wrong."

  She smiled silently and turned back to the arena. Law kept watching her.

"Sanji, what’s wrong?" he pressed, more urgent. "Did you see someone?"

"If I say yes, will you…"

"Where?" his voice turned so cold it chilled her from the inside out.

  She stared at him. The concern in his gaze had vanished, replaced by something predatory. The way he looked now reminded her of ruthless killers.

"One of your brothers?" he asked.

"It’s not important," Sanji waved it off, her back prickling with sweat.

"It is," Penguin’s voice came from behind her.

  She turned and found the same sharp glare mirrored on his face. What the hell was wrong with them?

"If they’re still here, just nod in their direction," Vivi said calmly from the front.

"Or describe them," Sabo added.

"Wow, I’m flattered, but you’re scaring me," Sanji forced a laugh. "Relax. I’ve forgiven them. It’s all in the past."

  Law took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, then grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"If anything, then just point them out," he put an end to the topic.

  He went back to watching the competition but didn’t let go of her hand. Sanji knew her eyes were glassy, but she refused to let the tears fall. She’d already dumped too much emotional baggage on him last time; she wouldn’t let him comfort her over something as silly as being moved by her friends’ protectiveness.

"I’ll buy you more than just the alcohol shot, okay?" Law whispered. "Just don’t cry."

"Do you think I can be bribed?

"I’m really hoping so."

  Sanji sighed internally but decided to take the offer while it stood.

"Then get me some pizza," she said.

  She expected a snarky remark, but Law stayed quiet. Guilt gnawed at her; this emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. When his grip on her hand tightened, she finally broke, turning away to hide her tears.

  She only pulled herself together by the time they left the bar. Now, in the back of a taxi, Law stared out the dark window. The streetlights had long since turned off, plunging the city into shadows.

  The sound of a key turning, shoes shuffling at the doorstep, water running — why was she at Law’s place again, and not her own?

  Tonight’s thoughts crashed over her. Law was in the shower, giving her a moment to think. It took a mental siege to finally admit it: her feelings for him had crossed every boundary she’d set. That’s why she clung to every chance to be near him, why it hurt so much knowing he’d never choose her.

  With Ace, it had been thrilling, a flirtation but when he chose someone else, it didn’t cut as deep as the mere idea of Law doing the same. Honestly, she was happy for Ace. At the bar, she’d talked with Yamato, and they were perfect for each other. He glowed around her. She genuinely wished them well.

  But if it had been Law? She wasn’t sure she could’ve survived that. No, she would have, but could it even be called living? The very thought of it echoed pain in her heart, let alone reality.

  Law stepped out of the shower, towel-drying his hair. Sanji looked at him again. He was handsome, no debate there. A guy like him probably had a line of admirers: slim, beautiful, successful women (or maybe not just women). No wonder her heart had latched onto him.

"Hey, Law," she called.

  He hung the towel on the door and turned.

"Sleep with me tonight?"

  She was risking it. This battle wasn’t over — it hadn’t even started, and she wasn’t about to surrender. When had she ever backed down without a fight? Okay, maybe a few times, but that wasn’t her style. Maybe she did have a chance with him. And if not, why not try before the self-loathing kicked in?

"Why?" Law asked.

"I’m just…" she scrambled for a believable lie. "Really sad."

  He sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. Droplets hit his shirt, leaving dark spots. When he looked up, his expression was unreadable.

"Then let’s go to my room. The bed’s bigger than the couch."

  She lit up. Her excitement was too obvious, her retreat to grab her things too hasty. No way he hadn’t seen through her. But she didn’t care. Even if his smirk pissed her off.

  The second she hit the mattress, she nearly passed out. Those shots had been a mistake. The bed dipped under Law’s weight as he settled beside her, pulling the blanket up. He grabbed his phone, and the warmth and softness made her eyelids heavy.

  "Accidentally," she shifted closer, then “already half-asleep” draped an arm over him. She wanted to snuggle even tighter, but sleep claimed her first.

  She drifted off half-sprawled on top of Law. He absently stroked her hair and kept texting.

  Morning came with sunlight in her eyes. Soft snores rose behind her, birds chirped outside. She propped herself up and looked at Law.

  Maybe she didn’t completely hate these city competitions

Chapter Text

    Sanji put on clip-on earrings. The fitted black dress reached her knees, then cascaded down in silk waves past the slits. Her tall, dark heels gleamed under the shimmering ceiling lights, rivaling the double bracelet on her wrist. The red lipstick had been within arm’s reach, and in a second, her lips bloomed crimson — she’d gone slightly outside the natural line to make them look fuller. Just a tiny bit, so subtle even she might not notice.  

"Do I look like the best sous-chef?" the girl asked, glancing at Law through the mirror.  

    He stood leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. It was unclear how long he’d been there, but one thing Sanji knew for sure: long enough to have already assessed her outfit and helped her with this arduous task called getting ready. That’s exactly why she’d turned to him for advice.  

"Needs more stomach," he replied.  

"All the reporters will be there today. I have to give a good interview and take good photos, so no stomach."  

    Sanji looked at herself again and decided she needed just a little more bronzer on her cheekbones. Instantly, her highlighter dulled under the assault of powder, and she irritably grabbed for the glitter. Why was she the one burdened with makeup, a fancy hairstyle, and this outfit? Why could her father just shave and instantly look handsome? Or Law, for that matter — standing there in a worn-out T-shirt, with stubble, tired eyes, and still looking like a damn model. Though, admittedly, it was probably his muscles and build. No point arguing there — he spent a lot of time and effort on his physique.  

"You don’t want to pierce your ears?" the guy asked unexpectedly.  

"I’ve got enough holes in me as it is."  

    He raised an eyebrow, and Sanji laughed. She assessed her face in the mirror. Finally, her makeup looked exactly how she wanted.  

"You can try the clip-ons if you want," she said, packing her cosmetics away.  

"I’ll stick with the earrings you gave me."  

"The ones with the superhero charms or the ‘shut up’ lettering?"  

"Guess you didn’t get a good look at the gold when you saw my piercings. I can show you again."  

    Sanji smirked. Oh, she’d definitely seen the gold but she’d also spotted an opportunity to tease him, and there was no way the girl was passing that up.  

    She’d often seen unusual earrings — on social media, on strangers — but the idea of gifting them to Law had struck her completely at random. They’d been at the supermarket together that day because, once again, he’d run out of food. Sanji had wondered why it kept happening. He’d been grocery shopping way too often lately, and it was starting to annoy her.  

    Then she’d gone back to her own apartment and found her fridge empty. Blinking a few times, Sanji had finally counted how many days she’d spent at home versus at Law’s place. And when the numbers tipped in the expected direction, she sighed and admitted she’d basically commandeered his living space and his groceries. The culprit behind the missing supplies had been found, and, alas, this time, it wasn’t Luffy.  

    Anyway. That day, Sanji had seen the most adorable pair of earrings — the kind meant for little girls. Pink teddy bears dangled from them, and she’d fallen in love instantly. But her ears weren’t pierced, and she had no plans to change that. For a second, she’d considered giving them to Law until the memory of that damn keychain on his car keys punched her in the gut. He still hadn’t taken it off, and she couldn’t believe her own joke had backfired so spectacularly.  

   So the pink teddy bear earrings stayed on the shelf, but the superhero ones ordered online immediately.  

   Law couldn’t process it. For starters, he was still in shock that Sanji had taken his hobby so calmly. He’d expected to be called crazy or childish but not gifted earrings featuring his favorite characters. He was touched, though he’d never show it. He’d put them on right away, and that’s when she’d learned he had two piercings in his ear instead of one. Her worldview shattered because, honestly, she’d always assumed he just wore connected earrings, not two separate sets.  

"Who knows where else you’ve got gold? You’ve got tattoos all over. No telling where you’ve got piercings," Sanji paused abruptly. "Wait, you don’t have a tattoo… down there, do you?"  

"No," Law answered a little too sharply.  

"I mean, y’know…"  

"I said no."  

    Sanji gave him a weird look. His reaction was way too strong. A guess quickly formed in her mind, and she grinned.  

"Someone’s asked you that before?"  

"Luffy and Chopper. Then they asked me to show them."  

"What the hell even goes on in your men’s baths…" 

   Sanji glanced at her reflection again and adjusted her hair. Her golden curls cascaded down, shimmering with glitter. Law would be scrubbing the apartment for a week if he could even get rid of all the remnants of that product. Silver sparkles were everywhere: on the mirror, the table, the floor, even on the guy’s T-shirt.  

"Ugh, buzzkill," she laughed. "The earrings are cool, though. Maybe you should try ones like Zoro’s."  

"Spend less time with Ivankov."  

    Sanji rolled her eyes.  

"Oh, come on. They’d suit you."  

  Actually, no. The mental image of him in those earrings made her want to laugh. It was a miracle they even looked good on Zoro. For a second, she imagined them on Luffy and realized they had to be worn on just one ear otherwise, the result was… exotic. Then she circled back to Zoro, mentally splitting his three earrings between both ears — it suited him. Damn, were those things custom-made for him?  

"Just don’t gift them to me, please," Law said, pushing off the doorframe.  

"We’ll see."  

    She grabbed her handbag and spun with it. Something about it bothered her. So she tossed it aside and straightened up. Without an accessory, the look felt empty. She needed a quick fix.  

"Maybe you should pierce your ears? One more piercing," Sanji said, reapplying her lipstick.  

    A different shade this time — long-lasting, though. Perfect for a long, exhausting evening. She’d probably have to drink with all sorts of people just to avoid seeming rude. And she couldn’t forget her speech. How did it start again…?  

"It'll be an interesting midlife crisis manifestation," Law muttered, stepping closer until he stood right behind her.  

   Sanji winked at him and picked up the purse again. Mentally, she noted she’d need to go shopping for a new one later but for now, this would do. She turned to face him fully.  

"Well, how do I look?"  

"Still missing the stomach. People need to remember you’re the chef."  

"I worked on this for months," she said proudly. "Perfect abs. And this corset is literally stopping me from breathing."  

    Law shook his head. His eyes held a faint gleam, his expression uncharacteristically soft. He looked… domestic right now. Like a cat whose owner woke it up before leaving, forcing it to wait impatiently for them to just go already.  

"When will you be back?" he asked instead of lecturing her.  

"Hard to say. Depends on how the night goes. Some years, I’m free by ten. Others, I’m entertaining guests till four."  

"Call if you need anything."  

"Like that’ll happen. What could possibly go wrong at a banquet?"  

    She said her tongue was her enemy? She should’ve kept her mouth shut because in the end, she did need his help.  

    Sanjii was sitting in the storeroom, her head leaning against the wall. She felt not just drunk — a step, two steps, and the girl would drop dead. Her father had warned her, but she hadn't listened and had drunk one glass after another. And now the alcohol had hit her head so hard that it was even difficult to breathe. That's why Sanjii was sitting there. She couldn't go out because there was a high chance she would disgrace herself or say something wrong, but staying there was already unbearable. 

    When thr phone rang, Sanji exhaled in relief. She just needed to pull herself together, ask Law to pick her up calmly. She could do this. He’d understand.  

"Party’s over?" were his first words, laced with amusement.  

"Law…" Sanji said in a tearful voice. 

    Damn. That wasn't how she was supposed to start. Her brain scrambled for the script she’d rehearsed, but all that came up was Brook’s songs. When was he coming back? She missed him.  

    On the other end, Law’s tone sharpened.  

"What happened? Where are you?"  

    There was a strange panic in his voice. Sanjii noticed that he had such moments. Law had weird reactions to certain things. Night walks, for one. He asked, no, it would be more accurate to say he begged her not to go out alone when night fell over the city. Then there was the bat by his bed. The revolver in the cereal drawer. His mentor was a very good lawyer. What was he hiding from her?  

"I got drunk," she whined. "Dad told me not to, but the wine was so good. If he finds out, he’ll kill me. For real this time."  

"Judging by the fact that the ‘old man’ became ‘father’, you're not just drunk," Law sighed.  

"And there’s so many people…"  

"Where are you now?" he cut in, calm but firm.  

"Kitchen storage room."  

    Rustling on the other end. Then the slam of a door, keys turning. She smiled.  

"Go out the delivery entrance when I call you." The line went dead.  

    Sanji blinked, then decided to pack some food to take home. As she stuffed containers into a bag, a thought struck her.  

    Since when was Law’s apartment "home"?  

    And why did that not feel weird? Not that she minded — her stay-time stats between her place and his were telling — but still. Usually, that kind of claim came with a relationship, not just friendship.  

    Her hand froze mid-air. She took a few shaky breaths. The alcohol crept up her throat, and the girl was already thinking of running to the bathroom. Yes, that would be a good solution to the problem, but it would be better to empty her stomach at home, meds in hand.  

    Law’s call came right on time. Sanji slipped out unnoticed, locking the door behind her: no way anyone would be sober enough to receive deliveries tomorrow. She opened the car’s back door, carefully loaded the food, then flopped into the passenger seat. Law wordlessly handed her mineral water.

"You don’t look like you’ve been crying," he remarked, turning around.  

"I wasn’t," she lied honestly.  

"Sure."  

    When they got home, Sanji sent Law to unpack the bags while she put her plan into action. After this she brushed her teeth and washed off her makeup immediately, as her tears had smudged her mascara, and the remnants of saliva had managed to dissolve her supposedly long-wear lipstick. In the kitchen, a glass of hangover remedy and Law were waiting for her. He was scrolling through something on his phone.  

"Congratulate me!" Sanji grinned. "I’m sober."  

"If you can say that with a smile, you’re not fully sober yet."  

"I brought you food. Sit down."  

    Containers were spread out around them, and one of Sanji’s random playlists hummed in the background. She enthusiastically explained each dish as Law ate, pausing only occasionally to glance up before diving back in.  

"And here, we use pesto instead of plain basil. This dish is actually what earned us our first star."  

"My favorite’s still the lamb steak," Law said, carefully spearing a tomato.  

"That one needed a Tabasco marinade. Next time, I’ll make you pork steak. It’s three times better."  

    Sanji took a sip of mineral water. Her body was struggling with the alcohol. Yeah, getting older really did make drinking less fun and the aftermath worse and worse.  

"You won’t get in trouble for taking all this?" Law asked, cracking open another container. "There’s enough here for a week."  

"The event was winding down. Half the people were wasted. They won’t even notice. If no one realized I was gone, they wouldn't care about the food."  

    She pulled out a pack of cigarettes. She wanted to smoke, but Law only allowed it on the balcony. So, for now, she set the idea aside and considered switching to vapes — maybe those would get her indoor privileges.  

"Never thought," Law mused, "I’d be eating haute cuisine at home in sweatpants and a dirty T-shirt."  

"Oh, I also grabbed three bottles of wine."  

"And you didn’t offer me any with the lamb?"  

    Sanji laughed. She knew he preferred whiskey, but he’d once said anything flammable could salvage an evening. That’s why she’d taken the wine. In some ways, he reminded her of Zoro. Except while the green-haired swordsman could function perfectly after a night of drinking, Law needed hours of recovery.  

    Her hand hovered over a specific container:  

"This one pairs perfectly with this."  

    She opened it. She’d expected a wow reaction — eyes widening, disbelief at his luck. Instead, Law grimaced.  

"Looks disgusting," he admitted.  

"Oysters don’t come any other way."  

    She carefully plated them.  

"Can’t we… fry them?" Law suggested. "Just looking at them makes me nauseous."  

"I’ll slice some lemon. It’ll help."  

     She cut the fruit into thin, precise wedges, squeezing the remnants over the oyster before sliding the plate toward him. Then she perfectly poured wine into one glass and mineral water into the other.  

"Try it," she urged.  

"Just… like this?"  

"Use the spoon first, just in case. Unless you definitely will throw up."  

    Law exhaled heavily and tilted his head back. Sanji watched eagerly as his face twisted. The shell was promptly abandoned, his fist pressed to his mouth.  

"The most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten," he declared.  

"Here, have some croutons."  

"Wait, my stomach’s still deciding whether to empty itself or not."  

    She laughed and handed him the wineglass. He took it, and they clinked. Of course, her mineral water couldn’t compare to the rich notes of aged grapes and fermented cherries, but it wasn’t bad.  

"To another successful year for the restaurant," she toasted.  

"Cheers," Law deadpanned, taking a sip.  

    His face gave nothing away — no delight, no disgust. So she still had no idea if he liked the wine.  

"Lighten up," she said, stretching her arms forward. "Because I’ve got dessert."  

"If it looks like the oyster, I’m prepared."  

"You hated the oyster."  

    Law rested his chin on his fist, staring at her. That look. She knew exactly what he meant.  

"Don’t give me that face. I’m not an idiot."  

"Not at all," he said, completely deadpan.  

"Ugh, stop mocking me."  

    Finally, she found the right container. She turned away from the table for a dramatic reveal — plating it just right — then spun back with a flourish:  

"Ta-da!"  

"Cream cake?" Law blinked.  

"I read it’s a popular dessert where you’re from."  

"Next, you’ll offer me sausages and beer."  

    She chuckled and took another sip of water:  

"I’m not that cruel."  

"After the oyster, I’m not sure. And also you definitely won’t let me enjoy THE ‘oyster’"  

"There’s more, but you’ll have to earn it. And also opened it "  

    Law smirked, then dug into the cake. With surprising delicacy, he broke off a piece with his spoon, chased it with wine.  

"Same algorithm," he said. "Cake’s a bomb."  

"One more joke about my lower body part, and you’re sleeping on the floor."  

"This is my apartment."  

"And this is my fist." 

    Law frowned. His head was filled with difficult thoughts. He carefully broke off another piece and handed it to her:  

“Want some cake?”

“You turned me on, and now you’re offering dessert?”

    At that, the man’s expression shifted. He gave her an unreadable look and clearly began considering something. Meanwhile, Sanji took a sip of mineral water and came to a conclusion: she was definitely turned on. The girl looked beautiful today, felt like a goddess, had eaten and drunk well, and was now sitting in a handsome man’s kitchen. Any normal woman would feel it, and her perverted mind simply couldn’t come to any other conclusion.  

“Well, you’ve had a lot of wine,” Law began. “I don’t stand a chance, and…”  

    She glared at him from under her lashes. The guy suddenly froze and then asked seriously:  

“I don’t stand a chance? Just clarifying.”

“Keep your mouth shut more often, and maybe you will”

“How am I supposed to eat with my mouth closed?”

“Give me the cake. You don’t deserve it  

    Sanji sat closer, trying to pull the plate toward her, but Law instantly moved it away. And why in such situations, he never insisted she eat more calories? But the moment she mentioned a diet, he’d practically force-feed her sweets.  

    The guy had just finished his wine and set the glass aside. He said something, but she wasn’t listening anymore. The girl was at a dangerously close distance from him, and — as Law had correctly noted earlier — she had quite a few liters of wine in her system. And…  

    Damn her love for drunken kisses.  

    She was definitely on top of Law now, who was struggling to stay in the chair. And she was 100% sure she was the one who had latched onto his lips and climbed onto him. Why were these chairs even connected? And why wasn’t he pushing her away? Why was he letting her act like this? His silent agreement only stoked the fire inside her, making her press even closer.  

    Law slid his hand into her hair, then let it rest on her waist. In retaliation, she bit his lip and deepened the kiss. Damn it. She was definitely heading somewhere dangerous.  

“If you keep fooling around, you’ll be the one sleeping on the floor,” he whispered, breaking the kiss. 

    Sanji wasn’t listening and tried to catch his lips again. He leaned back slightly and smiled. Then brushed the hair from her face.  

“You’re cruel…” she snorted. 

“And I refuse to continue when you’re drunk.”  

“I’m not that drunk…”  

    She rubbed against his T-shirt, then stroked his cheek. What a man. Sanji really thought someone had put a filter over her eyes. Or maybe it was that time of the month. Otherwise, she couldn’t explain his beauty right now. She wanted to take a picture of him and set it as her phone wallpaper. Or better yet, ride him.  

“Sanji,” Law stopped her. “I’m a patient man. But you fed me, got me drunk, and now you’re lying on top of me. I’m not made of steel.”

“I wanna kiss…” she whined selfishly. “ If not you, I’ll text my favorite girls.” 

“Do any of them actually reply to you?”  

    Sanji sighed:  

“Law.”

“Hm?”

“Can I kiss you?” 

“You’re finally asking? After all that, what did you call it, harassment?”  

“Yes or no?” 

    Law smiled, then gave in, leaning forward. She didn’t need any more hints or movements, so she kissed him again. Her hand slid downward, but Law caught it. So with her other hand, she slipped under his T-shirt, dragging her nails across his skin.  

“You’re drunk,” he whispered again.  

“And you’re stubborn.” 

“Sanji.  

“Law.”

    They stared at each other. The girl leaned in and nipped his upper lip:  

“You’re the one who wanted oysters.” 

“I didn’t like them,” he breathed heavily.  

“Knew it. You’re only with me to get closer to Luffy.”

    Sanji stroked his cheek, then bit it and trailed kisses along his jaw. The man was breathing hard, and she smirked, nibbling his ear. Her hands immediately slid over his pants, and she smiled triumphantly.  

“You need to sleep,” Law’s voice was unnaturally deep.  

“Don’t decide for me.” 

“But alcohol shouldn’t decide either.” 

    She sat back, accidentally right over his sensitive zone. Good news that there was a reaction. Bad news — he was an immovable man.  

“Carry me?” the girl murmured.  

    She subtly rubbed against him, and he hissed.  

“…Fine.”

“Thanks.”

    Law frowned and began stroking her hair.  

“You won’t remember any of this tomorrow, will you?”

“I will.”

“Then what am I supposed to do with you?”  

“You could take matters into your own hands,” she whispered again. “I’m not as drunk as you think.”

“You need to be absolutely sure of what you’re agreeing to.”

    Her hands, still on his pants, began tugging at the waistband.  

“Trust me, Law, I know exactly what I’m doing.”

    She was about to pull them down when Law calmly pushed her away. He stood up and started putting the food in the fridge. Sanji stared at him in confusion. She’d been rejected in all sorts of ways, but this was a first.  

“…What’s this about?”

“I already said I won’t sleep with you when you’re drunk.”

    She frowned. Why did he have to be so stubborn? A turned-on girl was right in front of him and half the guys at the club wouldn’t even ask for her name in his place. She was fully consenting — just reach out and that’s it. But no, he had to complicate things.  

    When Law put away the last container, he walked over to her.  

“Give me your hand. I’ll take you to bed.”

    She sighed and held it out. With one motion, he lifted her from the chair, and damn it, if he didn’t want her, why did he do that? Showing off his strength? Normally, she wouldn’t know how not to blush at moments like this, let alone now, when she was ready to pounce on him.  

    Sanji lay down on the soft mattress. Law straightened up and was about to leave, but she had never planned to give up. The girl pulled him toward her, and the guy ended up sitting on the bed.  

“Sanji,” he exhaled.  

    She stroked his cheek, then left a light kiss under his jaw. Her other hand still held his.  

“Sanji, please,” Law begged.  

“I promise, this won’t change anything.” 

“You’re drunk.”

“But drunk people can still make conscious decisions. And besides, with your strength, if you really wanted to, you’d have left by now.” 

    She reached for his lips again, and this time, he finally gave in, crashing into them. He was so unrestrained that Sanji simply surrendered to his intensity. She revealed as Law moved lower, kissing her neck. She bit her lip and smiled.  

    And then he stood up again and headed for the door. Sanji barely managed to grab his arm.  

“And where are you going in that state?” she asked. 

“You’ll regret this.”

“Only if I don’t finish what I started.” 

“Sanji,” Law looked her straight in the eyes. “I don’t want to lose everything just because I lacked patience.”

    Sanji remembered that conversation in the car. The guy clearly had a thing about this. For her to have to persuade a man three times was a record.  

“You won’t lose me,” she pulled him closer. “Just lie with me nicely, okay?”

    His head landed on the pillow next to hers. She placed her palm on his cheek and lay down too. His gaze spoke for itself. It was filled with so much desire and resistance that the girl wondered if she was the demon tempter here. Damn, there are so many books about this. Does that make her the villain? Well, she was used to it.  

“Why do you have to make everything so complicated?” she whispered, moving closer.  

“In case you’re wondering, I’m not an idiot. I know your plan.”

    She smiled and kissed him again.  

“If you know, why are you letting me go through with it?” she murmured against his lips.  

    Sanji touched his neck, then managed to pin him beneath her. Law, with his disheveled hair against the pillow, wild eyes, and heaving chest, was a work of art. And looking at him from this angle should’ve been illegal. Every string of her soul burned so hot she was shocked she was still just sitting on him.  

    When her hand slid lower, the guy hissed. She leaned over him, and Law pulled her into another kiss. The girl knew he wouldn’t leave now and relaxed.  

“Sanji,” Law groaned. “I’m begging you

    Oh, C'mon.  

“Don’t worry…” she said.  

“But if you end up hating me…”

“I want this.” 

    She tightened her grip, and he groaned again, squeezing his eyes shut. Law instantly caught her lips, then flipped their positions.  

    Sanji smiled and closed her eyes. 

    No, she certainly knew it wouldn’t change anything. But she hadn’t thought it would change absolutely nothing.  

    Law joked, talked, and even acted around her as if nothing had happened. No questions, no mention of the topic — nothing.  

    Maybe she had just dreamed it.  

    The girl sighed. Could they become friends with benefits? Why not? She’d liked it. And Law might agree. It wasn’t like he’d complained.  

    No, that would just complicate things. You’re either together or you’re not. There’s no in-between.  

    Well… unless it’s Law.  

    Not to mention, by morning, her knees had to be treated. Her throat wasn’t in great shape either, and overall, she looked like a victim of violence. The same couldn’t be said for Law. He was glowing, as if reborn. He had the energy to get out of bed and brew them coffee while she was still trying to burrow deeper under the covers. It was him who carefully tended to her wounds, fed her, and got her back in order.  

    She couldn’t understand what any of it meant, but she was too embarrassed to ask Law. She’d been the one to repeat over and over that it wouldn’t change anything. And now she wanted to ask what they were to each other? Typical Pisces behavior.  

    It was sad, she was already at the age where a no-strings-attached night truly meant no strings attached. No book in the world could prepare her for the fact that these things weren’t actually all that special. Sanji had plenty of examples where the climax — the moment her novels built up to longer than the wedding — happened in real life in about ten minutes, after which both parties went their separate ways, never to see each other again. And sometimes, she even had to keep working after it.  

    So it didn’t seem strange to her that the night with Law had changed absolutely nothing.  

    At least now she knew that instead of a toy from the back of her drawer, she had a friend in the apartment next area. Convenient.  

    It would be hard to stay friends after this, but with Law, it might just work. He didn’t seem to mind either. She nodded to herself: right, she just needed to keep it simple.  

“Are you going to keep daydreaming, or are you going to eat?” Law asked.  

    A wisp of steam curled from his coffee. The girl sighed.  

    Her gaze drifted to the window and the weather outside. Damn, why hasn’t Law hung anything there? No curtains, no sheers, it was just empty. His whole kitchen had that aesthetic vibe, like something straight out of an internet, but this detail gave away the bachelor in him. The window looked bare and unwelcoming. Maybe he was afraid the curtains would reek of balcony smoke? That was stupid.  

“I think your kitchen needs curtains,” she said before taking a sip of coffee.  

    Law gave her a strange look, then suddenly smiled way too brightly.  

“Maybe so,” was his reply.  

    Light streamed through the window, warm hues settling on the wall and dancing among the figurines on the shelf. Law lay on his side, barely daring to breathe.  

    Sanji was right in front of him.  

    Her hair was an absolute mess, and darkening red marks trailed down her neck. Her lashes fluttered faintly, and the faintest dusting of freckles dotted her skin. Carefully, trying not to wake her, he brushed a strand of hair from her face and exhaled quietly. A girl this beautiful belonged in movies.  

   Law still couldn’t believe it. Just at the start of the month, he’d been ready to give up on the idea of being with Sanji and now, here he was, waking up beside her. He could lay his hand on her waist right now and not get smacked for it. He could bury his face in her hair and stay like that, without fear of overstepping.  

    He knew they’d crossed that line last night. Especially after another joke about dessert. At that point, he might as well have raised his hands and surrendered cause he’d lost all control. And so had Sanji: his back was a mess. Law didn’t even know how to treat those scratches. If anyone asked, he’d just say a wild animal attacked him.  

    But what he didn’t know was what this all meant. He was terrified that the moment she opened her eyes, she’d be disappointed, leave, and never want to see him again. So his heart nearly burst with relief when Sanji stayed exactly the same. The only difference was her grumbling about her scraped knees and sore throat. He didn’t remind her that she was the one begging for it last night.  

“I think your kitchen needs curtains.”  

    At first, silence. Then shock. He looked up at her, searching for any hint of a joke, but her expression was completely serious. And then his heart skipped. He stared at her in disbelief.  

    Was this finally it?  

    Everything had led to this. They were practically living together already, and of course she’d eventually come to this conclusion. And last night? It had erased any chance of them staying just friends.  

    Penguin had joked more than once about what that phrase really meant. And of course, a confession from Sanji, a woman like her, incredible yet hardened by life, wouldn’t be straightforward. Law had even thought she might never say those three words outright. Instead, they’d show in other ways: in her actions, in her cooking, in her care, in her jokes.  

    He’d often thought about discussing things with Sanji. He’d tried, but she was impossible to read. Yet it was getting harder and harder to ignore what was happening between them. And last night? They hadn’t wasted a single second. So it was no surprise that she’d finally realised and decided to give him a chance.  

   Law smiled:  

“Maybe so.”  

   Sanji huffed and went back to her coffee. Meanwhile, Law, hands slightly unsteady, picked up his phone and finally typed the long-awaited message into the group chat.