☆ Two In The Kitchen's a Crowd — Sanji x Chef!Reader HCs ☆
Genre: Fluff || They/them pronouns for reader || No warnings needed
A/N: Okay I lied you get two OP posts today. Simple and sweet concept; Reader is a fellow cook staying on the Strawhat's ship, and Sanji issues a challenge
──────.𖥔 ݁ ˖˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ──────
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You were just passing through, really— you were stranded from your crew and needed a little help getting back to them. No big deal, certainly not for the Strawhats! Despite some protests, Luffy allowed you to stay on board. But of course, it wasn't long before he began complaining about feeling hungry yet again
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Thinking nothing of it, you found the kitchen. You were used to feeding your whole crew, one captain shouldn't be too hard, right? The second the scent of brewing food left the door, Luffy was glued to his kitchen seat. You started up some small talk, hearing word of someone named Sanji. You didn't think about it much until hearing a side door open and someone stepping into the room
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Sanji, having just finished taking stock of ingredients, was surprised to smell something cooking. He expected to see someone about to burn down the stove, but froze when he saw you instead. You gave him a polite greeting before continuing your work. Sanji looked to you, then your hands, then to Luffy, back to you, and to your hands again. Someone else was in his kitchen, touching his tools, and using his ingredients. And Luffy just- sat there?!
ᯓᡣ𐭩 After immediately grilling his captain for information on who you were and why you were touching his stuff, Sanji turned to you. You'd tried to step in and explain, but his pride was winning out. So you think you can cook, then? Fine, how about proving it? For the next several minutes you agree to stand shoulder to shoulder with the smoking chef, aggressively cooking against each other
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Everything is a fight. Who gets to use what first, which ingredients go where, how to do the techniques, on and on and on. When you both finally finish, there's enough food for the whole ship plus some. The other members slowly entered after hearing all the commotion, and admittedly weren't at all upset at the sight of so much fresh, warm food
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You and Sanji stood back, watching with competitive tension sparking between you. The others seemed to enjoy the food equally. Every time Sanji's dish got a compliment, yours got one soon after, and vice versa. Despite himself, Sanji even tries some of what you provided. You're quick to call him out when his face can't hide how delicious it really is
ᯓᡣ𐭩 Sanji begrudgingly admits it- you're not bad in the kitchen, not at all. A part of him feels bad. Food, and cooking by extension, had always been the way he felt most comfortable showing an extension of himself that words couldn't. His care for others, for the craft, everything. He was caught between still being sour at you and his own ideals
ᯓᡣ𐭩 You broke the tension by admitting something Sanji hadn't expected; you actually had fun cooking with him. Sure it was a competition, but it was exciting to face off against someone as talented as him. Surprised and maybe more than a little flattered, Sanji relents. Maybe you can cook whenever you want— if you do it with him
