[ There are so many moments where a small piece of him worries that he’s seen the last of their home— that they’ve all seen the last of their homes— but hearing the excited joy that bubbles up in Tifa’s voice as they make a plan for the future, it’s hard to have any worries at all. It makes him grin— that sheer, unbridled excitement and the lack of any qualifiers— without holding back, completely at ease in the moment.
For all that Sanji can feel like the ebb and flow of the Peacock is slowly wearing away at him, grinding down that spark of angry resistance he manages to keep tucked away until there’s nothing left, moments like this give him hope. He’s stubborn, and not the type to give up, and unwilling to give this place the satisfaction of having the last laugh, but even those traits need a little help, now and again. It reminds him of life back on the Baratie, a little, of how deeply he’d yearned to journey forth and find the All Blue, and how crushing forcing himself to stay had felt. This place doesn’t even give the illusion of choice, not if you ask him, and while he’s started to find things he’d lacked in the past— affection, belonging, love— and while those things are good, they’re as much a part of the trap as anything.
Yet something as simple as making plans for a future that might never happen with someone who’s as audacious of a dreamer as he is— well, it’s a sweet reminder to keep fighting, no matter how subtle the act of resistance.
And it all leaves him laughing with her as talks about it as a forgone conclusion, nodding enthusiastically without a hint of restraint. It almost reminds him of Luffy, of the easy way he simply assumes he’ll become King of the Pirates, as if fate itself couldn’t stand in his way. Not that he’d ever really make a plan— or know what a plan is— but it’s careless and free and the reality of their situation doesn’t matter a whit. This isn’t really the same, but the similarity is close enough that he’s utterly captivated in that quiet moment. Maybe to someone else, it wouldn’t seem like anything special, but her positivity is almost infectious. ]
That’s what friends are for, yeah? To help do the things you can’t, to push you along when you need it. [ No wonder he doesn’t think of flirting. No wonder he misses the moment where his hand covers hers, only just barely perceiving that gentle way her breath catches. ] It’d be my pleasure to enjoy any drink you—
[ No wonder he’s looking close enough a heartbeat later to notice— ]
Ah, shit— [ It’s a soft, hissing exhale as soon as he sees it— that familiar mark stamped on the skin that’s only just visible because, as he realizes, he’s been watching her intently, drinking in every subtle reaction and miniscule expression on her face. He blinks, once, twice, thrice, just to make sure he isn’t seeing things, a worried expression settling on his face. ]
Hey, Tifa? Are you feeling okay? [ With almost tender gentleness, his other hand lets its fingers seek the mark, sweeping back a few strands of inky dark hair to gingerly touch it directly. It’s like his, he realizes in that moment, a diamond, though smaller and far more exposed. ] Your, uh, suit mark is looking really bright. Like it’s gonna flare or has already. [ And while for the past few moments, the Red Cardinal itself has faded into an almost insubstantial blurr, irrelevant as they talk about dreams and plans, it crashes back into his sense of reality now. ] We might wanna get you outta here if it is. Anyone ever tell you about them before?
no subject
For all that Sanji can feel like the ebb and flow of the Peacock is slowly wearing away at him, grinding down that spark of angry resistance he manages to keep tucked away until there’s nothing left, moments like this give him hope. He’s stubborn, and not the type to give up, and unwilling to give this place the satisfaction of having the last laugh, but even those traits need a little help, now and again. It reminds him of life back on the Baratie, a little, of how deeply he’d yearned to journey forth and find the All Blue, and how crushing forcing himself to stay had felt. This place doesn’t even give the illusion of choice, not if you ask him, and while he’s started to find things he’d lacked in the past— affection, belonging, love— and while those things are good, they’re as much a part of the trap as anything.
Yet something as simple as making plans for a future that might never happen with someone who’s as audacious of a dreamer as he is— well, it’s a sweet reminder to keep fighting, no matter how subtle the act of resistance.
And it all leaves him laughing with her as talks about it as a forgone conclusion, nodding enthusiastically without a hint of restraint. It almost reminds him of Luffy, of the easy way he simply assumes he’ll become King of the Pirates, as if fate itself couldn’t stand in his way. Not that he’d ever really make a plan— or know what a plan is— but it’s careless and free and the reality of their situation doesn’t matter a whit. This isn’t really the same, but the similarity is close enough that he’s utterly captivated in that quiet moment. Maybe to someone else, it wouldn’t seem like anything special, but her positivity is almost infectious. ]
That’s what friends are for, yeah? To help do the things you can’t, to push you along when you need it. [ No wonder he doesn’t think of flirting. No wonder he misses the moment where his hand covers hers, only just barely perceiving that gentle way her breath catches. ] It’d be my pleasure to enjoy any drink you—
[ No wonder he’s looking close enough a heartbeat later to notice— ]
Ah, shit— [ It’s a soft, hissing exhale as soon as he sees it— that familiar mark stamped on the skin that’s only just visible because, as he realizes, he’s been watching her intently, drinking in every subtle reaction and miniscule expression on her face. He blinks, once, twice, thrice, just to make sure he isn’t seeing things, a worried expression settling on his face. ]
Hey, Tifa? Are you feeling okay? [ With almost tender gentleness, his other hand lets its fingers seek the mark, sweeping back a few strands of inky dark hair to gingerly touch it directly. It’s like his, he realizes in that moment, a diamond, though smaller and far more exposed. ] Your, uh, suit mark is looking really bright. Like it’s gonna flare or has already. [ And while for the past few moments, the Red Cardinal itself has faded into an almost insubstantial blurr, irrelevant as they talk about dreams and plans, it crashes back into his sense of reality now. ] We might wanna get you outta here if it is. Anyone ever tell you about them before?