Chapter Text
The Fire Festival truly lived up to the hype. Everywhere Sanji cast his eye, there was a gorgeous woman (or two or three) in resplendent kimono, elaborate hairdo tied up and adorned with decorative comb like a pretty package waiting for the unwrapping. And oh, how he was more than willing! Each time he met a doelike speckled gaze or mischievous twinkling smirk, he passionately reintroduced himself as Sangoro, the gentleman soba cook, hoping they'd grace him with their remembrance. And many did! He was practically thrumming with joy at the compliments and well-wishes. But as attentive to the celebrations as the ladies were, they couldn't stick around for long (and he wouldn't hold them up). It was a shame, but it couldn't be helped. He just moved his love pitch down the line.
The party fare was enjoyable as well (though not nearly as delectable as the ladies). Even now, his cheeks were stuffed with mouthwatering takoyaki bites, and he openly eyed the candy apples of the stall across the stage. Brook's exuberant music and Usopp's far-fetched tales filled the lantern-dappled night air in the spaces squeezed between bustling, warm bodies, taiko drumbeats, and exploding fireworks. It was jubilant, it was hectic, it was pure freedom shouted out after a twenty-year-long famine. Tonight, the people of Wano could forget their shackled past and rise tomorrow to a new dawn. He was truly glad for them.
And as for themselves? Well, they had offed two of the biggest figures of the pirate era, and Luffy was now an Emperor. Everything that for so long had merely been a dream was quickly becoming a reality. At this moment, it was hard not to believe All Blue lay somewhere at the end of their voyage.
On the way to the apples, Sanji got sidetracked time and time again. He detoured around the minks and found himself at the edge of the lantern circle, in front of a stall that was handing out sparklers. The attendant greeted him warmly, lighting one up and offering it. He took it in hand, twirled it about, marveling at the simplicity of fuzzy sparks dispelling a bit of darkness, and turned around--
Someone seized his arm from behind, effectively stopping him. To his bewilderment, he found it to be Law. The Hearts Pirate captain was half-risen from his state of pseudo-slumber away from the crowd, staring wide-eyed at him as though he were a ghost. “Ah...” Law let go, seeming to realize what he was doing. “Sorry, I didn't mean... For a moment there, you really resembled someone I used to know. Someone incredibly important to me.”
Sanji blinked a few times, scrutinizing the man before him and processing his words. Law didn't appear to be hostile or insincere. His face had always been long, brooding, and intimidating, but there was an element of genuine reverence to it now, like a crack in a carefully crafted mask.
It was at this subtle expression, that Sanji understood.
“Oh?” he intoned, framing his chin with splayed thumb and finger, “My unique dashing looks?”
Law deadpanned. “Your golden blond hair, black-on-magenta kimono, and cigarette stick, to be precise. The sparkler too, I suppose. In my sleep-haze, I was sure you caught on fire.”
“But I do catch on fire,” he pointed out seriously, well-aware he was missing the point.
“Your diable jambe is not near as dumb and clumsy, trust me.” Law crossed his arms, shifting awkwardly. He seemed out of his element, but perhaps the relaxed, festive air made him more talkative. Or the reminiscing. “You have nothing on his height though.”
“How old were you when you knew him?”
“I met him when I was 10. I wouldn't say I really knew him until two and half years after that though.” Law frowned, looking off. “Just before I lost him.”
Sanji tossed his spent cigarette butt underfoot, smashing it, before lighting up a new stick. “Not long at all then.” He threw away the sparkler as well, this time in the trash. “But long enough.”
The doctor didn't reply. His silence was his acquiescence.
“I have someone like that. I know a little what it's like.” He smiled amicably. “What would he say now?”
Law looked up at him, a bit curiously, definitely thoughtful. “'You have too many tattoos, you damn emo-brat.'”
He laughed at that. Emboldened, Sanji took a step forward and placed a hand atop Law's fur-capped head before he could question what he was doing. He even ruffled and patted the material a bit. “'You've come a long way, brat. And grew up strong and healthy... I'm proud of you.'”
To his surprise, Law grasped the front of his kimono and inclined forward, resting his forehead against Sanji's stomach. “I finally did it, Cora-san,” came the soft murmuring, “I eradicated everything of Doflamingo's. The crime syndicate, his de facto rule on Dressrosa, the SMILE factories. He's in prison; Kaido's gone.”
And that was just the beginning and end of the tale. The Donquiote family had been broken up, Caesar's laboratory demolished and the mad scientist on the run, Vergo's marine face exposed, the man dead. Then there was everything related to Wano. The Underworld, for all its extent, power, and secrecy, was sure to be fraying at the seams right now. Trafalgar Law was truly a formidable force of a man. Much like his own captain.
But... “'Good. There's one more thing left to do.'” The head under his hand jolted at those words, but Sanji clamped down, locking it in place, and continued, “'Make yourself happy. Start doing things for you. You have a lot of future left.'” There was a pause. Slowly, the head nodded against him, seeming to have lost its voice. “'You know I'll hold you to it. You've grown into a good man, Law.'” As an afterthought, he added, “'Oh, and don't catch a cold.'” The answering chuckle was just loud enough to be heard.
It was a strange exchange, surreal, neither of them quite like themselves. He imagined Zeff telling him all these things; he knew that's where it was coming from. He supposed he'd like to hear it. As a child he'd been desperate to please, now he was comfortable with himself he didn't need it. (Or so he told himself.) He couldn't see it happening, though, as neither he nor Zeff were very open or honest about their feelings. They'd probably both turn into radish-red, mortified, spluttering messes if they tried. Heck, that well-wish tacked at the end alone had brought him to his knees on the Baratie.
“Blackleg-ya.” Two large hands wrapped around his wrists; Law was pulling back. With the return of that golden gaze meeting his own, Sanji's stomach flipped-flopped a little. He realized again what he had said, their proximity. The awkwardness of the situation hit him fully.
Thankfully, he was saved from his embarrassment. “Sannjiii!” That high-pitch whine was the only warning he got before a springing rubbery body latched onto his back, limbs wrapping all around him in a capture-hold. The Heart Pirates captain even had to jerk out of the way.
All of this was lost on Luffy, of course, who immediately jabbered his purpose for being there: “Jinbe was the only one who waited for the hun-zen rorry meal--”
“Honzen-ryōri,” he corrected.
“Yeah, that! And he brought me some to try, and it's suuuper good, Sanji! They had these yummy egg cakes and lotus root and mushroom soup, and the festival food is pretty good, but this stuff was special. You should check it out! No, you should make it so everyone can try it some time!”
“Alright, I hear you, so get off me, you rubber parasite.”
Luffy ignored him in favor of staring at Law. “You should get some. The meal was for you guys too.”
“Formal dinners are not my preference,” Law said, rising to his full height and dusting himself off, “Strawhat-ya, this is a good opportunity. I was meaning to talk to you. Now that Kaido has been overthrown, the agreed-upon objective of our alliance has been fulfilled. After this point, we are no longer comrades in arms. I have no interest in subordinating my crew to your new rank. We aim for the One Piece.”
“Okay. I won't go easy on you. I'm the one who's going to be King of the Pirates and get the One Piece.”
Sanji gawked at his captain. With Luffy's unique understanding of what it meant to be an ally, and his chumminess with Law in particular, he had not expected him to agree so readily to the alliance's dissolution. He looked to Law and saw the same disorientation reflected back. Law examined Luffy carefully, eyebrows drawing together in an unreadable expression. “...I wouldn't have it any other way. You won't find the Heart Pirates shrinking from the race to the top.”
His captain opened his mouth to respond, but was preempted by a new voice: “Luffy! We're about to start the rematches for the goldfish catching!” Sanji couldn't turn to look, constrained as he was, but he knew the owner was their very own sniper. “Best 5 out of 7. No cheating this time. You have to use the wands that they...” Strangely, he trailed off. “Oh, sorry! I didn't see you there, Law. If you guys are in the middle of a serious talk, I'll grab Luffy later.”
“Nah, we just finished it.” In an instant, Luffy was off of him, recoiling with a loud snap. Freakin' finally. Sanji rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck, sighing at the lost cigarette on the ground.
“Great! You want to join in as well, Sanji?”
“Pass. Luffy just gave me a task to complete.”
“Oh,” said Usopp, sounding a bit confused but not losing an ounce of cheer, “Don't overdo it, I guess. This is a time for being carefree and happy.”
“Shishishishi,” Luffy laughed, beaming at them, “It's a yummy task, don't worry.”
“Ohh.” Usopp repeated, understanding. He was going to continue, but it seemed it was his turn to be interrupted.
“Strawhat! I'm not done with you! Let's face off! Right here, right now!” Eustass Kid roared obnoxiously as he approached their group. Already, his metal arm was amassing in size, diverting the surrounding attention as his powers stole from unsuspecting firework shows, drum bands, and Flower Capital residences alike.
Luffy frowned, puffing out to confront him. “Jaggy, cut it out! You're ruining the party for everyone!”
“Why do I have to care about some party? This is more important, dammit!”
“Idiots,” Law scoffed under breath.
Sanji gave an acknowledging grunt without saying anything. He tuned the battling captains out, lighting a new cigarette. That shitty punk supernova was persistent. He was happy for Luffy, but this kind of notoriety always brought them trouble.
Usopp had scurried out of there at the first sign of a fight. Sanji was about to head out himself, but Law continued, “I didn't expect things to blow over so well between us.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You mean with the alliance? Yeah, it was unprecedented of Luffy to give up on you so easily.” A thought occurred to him. “You didn't think it'd come to blows, did you? After everything we'd been through?”
“We're pirates, rivals.”
Sanji merely shrugged off the implication, taking a long drag on his cigarette. “...Maybe he acknowledges your bid for the position of Pirate King and is respecting you as a competitor? He can be surprisingly mature about things like this. It always catches me off guard.”
“He looked angry. At me.”
“Angry?” Now that utterly baffled him. “What the hell did you do? Luffy only gets angry if it's serious.”
“Nothing that I'm aware of,” Law said dryly, as though he was discussing what he ate for lunch yesterday, “It could just be the cynical part of my mind imagining nonsense. But I can't help thinking that's what I saw.”
“Your imagination,” he affirmed, defensive on behalf of his captain.
“Of course,” Law said in a tone that was anything but conceding.
Sanji left then, still perplexed.