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pairing: sanji x fem!baker
Prompt: Red
word count: 1924
TW: mentions of getting drunk, drinking, kisses. This is Fluff -- as requested @stray-kaz making the love cook happy! sorry meant to post this this morning (almost 12 hours ago) but our hot water heater went out and ended up having to boil water to get clean and between the process and the warmth of the bath... took most of the day (including my taking an impromptu nap afterwards) but please, have this unbeta'd first edition to the #rainbowdrabblechallenge <3 I hope you like it. this is yet another continuation of my series of one shots and commit to the bit for Sanji and his baker! i love them your honor.
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Giggles echo harshly outside of the kitchen, bouncing off the walls and resting at Sanji’s feet well before you actually come stumbling through the door. He pauses in his cleaning to watch you, your eyes flickering around the kitchen in confusion until they fall on him, a large smile crossing your face. The sight is enough to cause a painful thump in his chest as a smile of his own eases onto his face.
“Hello, sweetheart.” he hums, straightening from where he had been scrubbing at something, another scuff on his otherwise pristine floors – but what is he to expect with the likes of pirates around?
Another giggle escapes you as you stumble further in, your eyes never leaving his. The action nearly earns your face to his floors as you catch yourself on the table. His hands linger in the air where he had lurched forward to catch you had you fallen.
“I should sit,” you sing, slumping into the seat beside you.
“You should” he agrees, eyes softening over your drunken form as you lean back to take another drink from the bottle. “Have you been drinking with zoro?” he inquires, leaning against the countertop, watching you. You hum in agreement, earning a scoff from the tall cook.
“That was a bad idea,” he sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. You shrug with a sloppy grin.
“Maybe!” you nearly shout, but, catching his wince, lower your voice considerably. “But the wine you got was too delicious. And then I thought of you… so I had to see you.” you state as a matter of factly, nodding firmly. You groan at the action, your vision swimming around you – his brilliant eyes the focus.
He chuckles.
“You’re drunk,” he can't help his smile. You sought him out while you were drunk, and for some reason, that felt like an accomplishment.
you don't pay his comment any attention as you lean forward on the table, eyes zeroed in on him, resting your head on your hand.
“Goodness, you're gorgeous.” you murmur, meaning to speak more to yourself. Unfortunately, you might as well have screamed it, your voice echoing perfectly back to the blond man who had begun trying to scrub at the dishes in the sink. He pauses again, quickly coming to the conclusion that he won't be able to get any work done with you like this.
“You’re really drunk,” he comments with an exasperated sigh, hands stilling in the water. You nod with a sheepish grin.
“Sure,” you slur. “But you're still hot.”
His movements are slow, well aware of your eyes on him as he dries his hands before stepping over to you. Your smile seems to grow the closer he gets, the unbridled excitement in your eyes earning another painful thump in his chest. That smile drops when he leans for the bottle of wine.
“Last drinks, pretty girl,” he hums as you try to tug the bottle away from him. You whine, eyeing it.
“But it's good.” he nods, trying to keep from laughing at you outright. It may not be taken well with you being so far gone.
“That is why I bought it,” he agrees. When you continue to pull it away from him, he sighs, settling into the chair across from you. “Can I have a drink?” he asks, hand outstretched. He is shocked when he finds it in his grasp moments later, your drunken giggles settling around him again.
“You’re going to drink with me,” you sing, elongating several of the words drunkenly. He swirls the bottle in his hand, noting how light it already is. There are perhaps only a few drinks left in it. With a shrug, he tips the bottle back, swallowing the rest. The weight of your gaze causes the heat to rise up his neck as he gives you a sweet smile.
“Not much to drink, love.” he states. “We should get you to bed.” you shake your head quickly, fumbling forward as you reach for his hand. He lets you take it, palm resting upwards so that he can wrap his fingers around yours – an anchor as your head sloshes like the sea fumbling along the shore line not too far away.
“But I just got here,” you whine, looking up at him pleadingly. “Play a game with me?” you request sweetly, jutting your bottom lip out in a pout. He sighs, setting the bottle off to the side, nodding.
“What game?”
“20 questions!” he snorts, shaking his head.
“Fine,” he agrees. “Who goes first?” you tap your chin slowly, the movements clumsy and over dramatic as you pretend to think.
“You.”
“What is your favorite color?” he asks plainly, motioning for you to answer as your nose scrunches, a pitiful frown twisting your face for a moment.
“Awe,” you grouch. “You’re no fun!” The implication that you were hoping for something more, either naughty or personal, does not escape his attention. Though neither of those things are good options with how far gone you are.
He is sure you won't even remember this come morning.
“Just answer the question,” he hums, offering you a smile. You pause, staring up at him, eyes softened with wonder as you watch the ocean in his eyes, the way the waves seem to calm as he smiles. The gentle sloshing of the ship resting in the harbor doesn't help as you tip back and forth, clutching his hand like the lifeline it is.
“Blue,” you hum, laying your head on your arm that is outstretched for his hand. He softens, reaching over to tuck your hair behind your ear gently.
“Your turn,” his voice is soft, slow. Sighing contently, you shift your head to rest your chin on your arm instead, looking up at him through your lashes.
“Favorite color,” you grumble, hiding your smile. He snorts.
“Ah, no fun,” he mimics, eyes sparkling in the low light of the moonlight glittering through the galley window behind you. He goes to answer, his mouth open to speak when you perk up quickly, jerking back. With your hold on his hand, you jerk him forward slightly in your excitement.
“Can I guess?” he pauses before nodding, head tilting to the side, smile stretching in amusement.
“Sure, sweetheart. Give it a go.” there isn't a moment's hesitation as you bounce up onto your knees to get closer to him, tugging him down to you until you are nose to nose.
“Red,” you state as a matter of factly.
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Since that night, Sanji has not been able to see the color the same. He sees it in everything, and in it, he sees you.
He could live in it, now.
“What do you think?” you call out to the cook, catching his attention from the gourds he had been staring at for what seems like forever. Blinking quickly, he refocuses on you, a broad smile tugging at his lips as he steps closer to you.
“Perfect,” he breathes, rubbing the crimson fabric between his fingers, delighting in how your cheeks seem to warm, darkening to nearly the same color. Clearing your throat, you turn back to the vendor with your Berry as she laughs quietly at the exchange.
“Thank you,” you smile, trying to ignore the way your cheeks seem to warm further when his fingers brush yours. His fingers wrap lightly around your finger tips, tugging them lightly to lead you away from the stall.
“Come, love,” he grins, his voice a rumble in your ear. “I can hardly wait to see you in that.” he looks pointedly at the dress hanging limply over your arm.
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“Where did you bring these from, again?” you ask from the kitchen as Sanji goes to lock the door for the night. You can hear the clipped sound of the open sign being flipped followed by the click of his heels as he makes his way back to you.
“Island in the south seas,” he hums, settling in behind you with a smile, his hands resting on either side of you.
Smiling brightly, you turn in his arms to look up at him, a large vibrant strawberry in hand.
“They're perfect,” you giggle, lips stained red from the last one you ate. He swallows a bit before forcing a teasing smile to his lips.
“I brought them thinking you could bake something with them,” he grouses playfully. You laugh, tapping the strawberry to your lips.
“Have you tasted them?” he shakes his head.
“I did well to keep their existence hidden from the crew,” he huffs. “Mainly Luffy.” grinning up at him, you take a bite of the strawberry, your eyes never straying from his. Your eyes flutter closed with a sigh, tongue darting out to catch the juice threatening to slip past your lips.
“Would you like to?” you hum, looking up at him through your lashes, the strawberry resting in the open between you. His breath shakes as he presses closer, fingers tugging your chin towards him.
“Yes,” he breathes desperately.
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The evening has been calm, both of you settling into the familiar rhythm you've created every time Sanji is able to drift to your shores. He grabs the basket he put together, topped by the blanket he had insisted on buying at the market the other day.
“Red?” you question, fiddling with the edges. He just smiles, shrugging.
“It’s my favorite color.” he insists gently.
Beaming up at him, you link your arm with his when prompted. His visit had been peaceful, no need to duck and hide from various marine patrols as you would usually have to. Their ships have yet to dock for the month, and Sanji plans to be gone by the time they do.
“You’re in your thoughts again,” he states, calling your name gently, poking your cheek as you shift on the blanket. Blinking quickly, you turn to face him, smiling softly. He is laying out on the blanket beside you, one arm resting behind his head watching the sea without a care in the world.
“Sorry,” you mumble, shifting to grab a snack from the basket. He shakes his head, turning his gaze back to you.
“What is bothering you?” he asks gently, tugging your hand, imploring you to not bottle it up, to share your burdens.
There is a pause as you stare at the blanket, picking at it before lifting your eyes to meet his again, smiling sadly.
“The marines will dock again in a few days' time.” he nods slowly, knowing where this is going.
“Indeed they will,” he agrees, bringing your hand to him, brushing his lips along the knuckles. “Will I lose what little time I have with you to the thought of my leaving?” he asks gently, frown twitching at his lips.
Humming in thought, you set the sandwich down as you shift to settle over him, your back to the ocean. He stares up at you in open appreciation, one hand coming to rest on your hip as you lean forward before you start to pepper kisses all over his face – his cheeks, nose and forehead before hovering over his lips, admiring the brilliant crimson marks littering his skin.
The red he had picked for you two trips ago, and his favorite. You grin to yourself, noting how the red brightens his already brilliant blue eyes, making them pop.
Red may not be your favorite color, but it is a close second.
“No,” you answer him, leaning down to kiss him properly.
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@stray-kaz @fanaticsnail @sordidmusings @rainbowpitofdoom @gingernut1314 @short-honey-badger
