Smoke Breaks and Misunderstandings

You got out of bed early, having not slept much that night due to your own excitement. You went to the bathhouse to wash yourself, grabbing a small satchel from your dresser and the pajamas from last night so you could wash them too. You started the bath and left the tub to fill. Grabbing your clothes, you stepped into the shower and cleaned yourself up. Sitting on one of the stools, you gave your pajamas a thorough hand wash, a good rinse, and wrung them out, smacking them against the stool for good measure. Stepping out of the shower, you hung the cotton fabric on a hanger. Turning it in your hand, you brought your lips together, blowing gently at your pajamas, and within seconds they were dry. You hung them by the door and made your way to the now-filled tub, turning off the faucet.

Grabbing a small bottle of green liquid from your satchel, you shook it and rolled it in your hands, opening it to pour a few drops of the now bright blue liquid into the bath. The liquid immediately turned the water a deep shade of purple, and the water started to bubble as if it was boiling. As it bubbled, it would fluctuate between that deep set purple to bioluminescent blue. Slowly, the bubbles subsided, and you stepped into the purple bath, the water that made contact with your body turning that shade of blue as you moved deeper into the tub. You walked until you were standing in the middle of the tub, and chanting to yourself, you submerged completely under the water.

You rinsed the entire tub out thoroughly when you finished, making sure to leave the bathhouse as you found it for the next crew-mate, then slipped into some baggy jeans and a t-shirt. The ship was pretty quiet; Robin and Nami were still asleep when you had returned from your bath. You dropped off your things and retrieved two items from your backpack, stuffing one in your pocket and tucking the other behind your ear. Scooping up your boots, you headed towards the kitchen.

When you opened the door, you found the cook already busy with his morning prep. Leaning against the wall, you admired him as he moved around the kitchen so gracefully. You couldn't help but think of the missed opportunity back in the house on Santon as you watched his skilled hands move through their tasks. He was so focused and efficient, so well-dressed and striking. Walking closer to the counter, you cleared your throat, one grey-blue eye catching yours.

"Good morning, Indigo, my sweet! You're up early!" Sanji beamed at you. 'Maybe he does like me?' You thought to yourself, seeing those now familiar heart-eyes.

"Good morning, mister ocean eyes. How's your morning going?" You replied with a smile, causing him to blush and smile even wider.

"Better now that you're here!" He swooned. "Is there anything I can get you?"

"I was just coming to grab a glass of water and head outside."

"Please, allow me." He said, grabbing a tall glass from the cabinet. "Ice?"

"Yes, please!"

He went over to the fridge and came back after a few seconds, handing you a glass of ice-cold water with lemon and mint.

"Ooh, fancy! Thank you, handsome!" You smiled at him and took a sip as he floated around the kitchen for a few seconds, making you giggle. You threw on your boots and headed towards the door, taking the blunt from behind your ear. Holding it up, you asked, "Join me for a smoke break?"

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Standing by the railing to the left of the kitchen, Sanji pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Taking a drag, he held out the flame from his lighter for you to use. You smiled, rolling the tip of your blunt in the flame gently to get an even cherry going before bringing your lips to it and taking a drag. Satisfied, you pulled back, inhaling and letting the feeling wash over you.

"I didn't know you smoked," Sanji stated, his eyes glued to you as he put his lighter back in his pocket.

"Not cigarettes, but the leaf on the outside is tobacco; the contents on the inside are just different," you explained.

"So… weed," he replied knowingly. Taking another hit, you closed your eyes and shrugged, the gesture causing you both to chuckle. You stood there for a few moments, smoking and staring at the sea stretched out in front of you when Sanji broke the silence.

"I never got to apologize for the other day," he said, his eyes still looking away.

"Don't sweat it!" you offered him a reassuring smile. After watching him fawn over Nami and Robin yesterday, you came to the conclusion that, considering the differences between you and the two women, you probably weren't his type. All the flirting was probably just him being nice. Which, although a little disappointing, was fine by you. Albeit, you felt a bit guilty about how hard you came on to him. Had you known, you would've found some random, harmless favor to quell his need to be a gentleman instead of throwing yourself at him.

"Look," you said, pointing to your forehead to show him that you were unharmed.

"Not even a mark. Plus, you'll be feeding me from now on so I'm sure you'll more than make up for it…" You took another hit and exhaled, adding, "and if last night's dinner is anything to go off of, I'm lucky you owe me."

Sanji beamed at you. "You're too sweet, ma chérie!"

"Not as sweet as you, cariño," you figured a little playful back and forth was harmless. You laughed to yourself as you watched him flit around you. "I should apologize myself," you said, causing him to stop and look at you confused. "I mistook your chivalry for flirting and went too far. I shouldn't have assumed you were into me and lured you away to have sex in a random house," you explained.

"Spend enough time in isolation and you forget how to act around people," you added with a lighthearted laugh.

"Is that why you slept with Marimo last night?" he said, closing his eyes and taking a drag of his cigarette.

"No," you replied.

"So you still would've hooked up with him even if we had?" he asked, looking at you again.

"Yes, both times."

"BOTH TIMES?!" he said, shocked. "You hooked up with him again last night?"

"No, but what's with all the questions?" you asked with a smirk. "I thought you weren't into me like that?"

"What?! What would make you think that?"

"The part where the sight of my naked body caused you to faint and have a nosebleed. Again, I'm sorry about that," you smiled apologetically.

"You're wrong, Indigo."

"I know, that's why I'm apologizing."

"No, I mean you're wrong about me not being into you," he stated as he tossed the butt of his cigarette out. "I am extremely attracted to you and I wish I hadn't missed my chance."

'Ah-ha! I was right!' you thought excitedly.

"Who said you missed it?" you purred, moving towards him. His eyes shot open at the understanding that you still wanted him only to find your eyes had gone from friendly to hungry. Grabbing his hand, you slid it under your shirt, guiding it up your torso. Sanji let out a nervous chuckle before the streams of blood yanked his hand out of yours and propelled him across the deck.

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"CHOPPER!" you yelled as you burst open the door to the men's quarters, startling the others in the room awake in the process. "I'm so sorry, everyone, but it's Sanji!" The guys jumped up to ask where he was when they noticed his body thrown over your shoulder.

"Follow me!" yelled Chopper as he scurried toward the sick bay, with you following close behind as Sanji mumbled random dreamy gibberish behind you.

"What happened?!" the reindeer doctor asked in a panic as he grabbed items from around the room. Franky, Usopp, Brook, Luffy, and Zoro trailed in one by one right behind the three of you.

"I'm not sure! We were talking and smoking on the deck, he told me he liked me, I made a move and he just flew across The Sunny, gushing blood from his nose!" You explained to Chopper as you laid Sanji on the cot carefully.

"Dammit, Sanji! You have to get this crap together!" Chopper screamed at the unconscious man in the bed.

"Is this a condition he has or something?" You asked with sincere concern.

"You could say that…" Usopp started to explain as the door opened again, and Robin and Nami walked in.

"What's going on? What happened to Sanji?!" Nami asked, seeing the blonde man's state. Robin looked at you, her hand concealing her smile.

Deciding you should leave so that Chopper could assess Sanji, you slid out of the room as everyone talked around him and made your way back to the kitchen. Stepping in, you were reminded that you had interrupted the cook during breakfast and now he was lying unconscious in a sick bay and the whole crew was awake. Feeling it was your responsibility to help considering this was your fault, you looked over Sanji's prep, piecing together what his breakfast plan was. Throwing on an apron and praying you were right in your assumptions, you got to work making breakfast for the crew. You moved around the kitchen, stirring and frying and sautéing as you tried your best to learn the layout, thankful for the complete prep laid out in front of you. Everything was chopped perfectly and organized so efficiently; he really was an impressive chef.

After cleaning the kitchen, all you could do was hope you had managed to execute his menu correctly as you set up all the food and plates for everyone. Platters and bowls of assorted foods covered the dining room table. Based on what you gathered from the ingredients, you made a ridiculous amount of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, steak, ham, porridge, bread, and sautéed potatoes with vegetables. You figured most of this was for Luffy and laughed to yourself. You used the counter to set up a station for fresh coffee, juice, cola, and tea, also laying out the fruit and pastries Sanji prepared with some preserves you found in the pantry. Looking over your work and deciding you had done your best, you went to go back to the sick bay when you stopped and laughed to yourself as Luffy burst into the kitchen.

"I TOLD YOU I SMELLED FOOD!" He yelled as he plopped down at the table and started shoving food into his mouth. The rest of the crew walked in seconds later, including Sanji with a shocked look on his face. 'Thank goodness he's okay,' you thought to yourself as you smiled at everyone.

"Yo ho ho! Looks like you managed to make breakfast before you passed out, Sanji," Brook joked, heading towards the counter.

"Actually…" Robin chimed in, smiling kindly at you. "It looks like Indigo cooked for us this morning."

"That was SUPER nice of you, Indigo!" Franky said before having a seat.

"No worries! It was the least I could do after interrupting Sanji and waking everyone up. I hope it's to everyone's liking. I know you guys have a top chef on the ship, and it's been a long time since I've cooked for anyone other than myself," you replied with a smile. "Sanji, please sit down, you need to eat too, and you must be starving." You gestured towards the table. He looked at you affectionately, and you could sense sadness coming from him as he took his seat, leaving an open space between him and Zoro.

As the crew settled in for breakfast, you went to the stove to retrieve something. Coming back with two bowls and a small basket with a cloth in it. You set one of the bowls down in front of Sanji and placed your hand on his shoulder.

"This is Caldo. It's a bone broth made with beef shanks. The vegetables are fairly obvious with the exception of maybe the chayote. I added fresh cilantro and onion, and you can add the lime. This should help with your iron, hemoglobin, and overall blood levels. I hope that you like it, but even if you don't, please eat it; I promise it will make you feel better," you explained sweetly.

"Thank you so much," he said softly, eyeing the broth, that sadness still emanating from him.

"It's my pleasure!" You said smiling at him as you took the seat between him and the swordsman.

Turning away from Sanji, you faced Zoro, placing the other bowl of broth in front of him. "I had a feeling you would like it, so we'll share this bowl. The rest of the pot is for Sanji." Zoro smiled at you, handing you a spoon.

"HEY, no fair! I want some soup!!" Luffy yelled.

"It's for Sanji, Luffy," you told him calmly, swatting his hands away from both bowls.

"I'll make you a pot of your own after we eat; finish your breakfast."

"This food is really delicious, Indigo!" Usopp exclaimed with his mouth full. The rest of the crew shared compliments in agreement with the sniper.

"Thanks, you guys!" You said happily as you passed the spoon back to Zoro and passed Sanji a tortilla to dip in his soup.