puppycrush2 | week four

Sanji-kun.

[ trembling but strong. anna really is going to cross immediately over to him and wrap her arms tight around him, please don't bleed on her. the circumstances -- she doesn't know them, all this "your majesty" thing or why his father would be mad, this whole cell... but. she does know one thing for certain. ]

Your food's always brought a smile to the people you love, huh? I'm glad.

[He goes rigid in her arms, because it's Anna—and because he dreads to know what she's learned while she was in here by herself. He hates it here, despises it so much that he wants to scream any time it pulls him inside, except he can never bring himself to do even that much. Most of all, he doesn't want to hurt anyone; if he knew of a way, he'd bar them from being able to enter.

Worry and paranoia crawl up his spine. The flush from a gesture so affectionate meets them halfway down, and he shudders in her embrace. He won't bleed on her, though his face prickles. It's a little uncomfortable, given the environment, but not at all unwelcome and perhaps more comforting for it while his heart tingles.]

S-so does yours . . .

[Having said that, he reaches up to gently grasp her by the shoulders and pull her back, enough so that he can look her up and down in concern.]

But are you all right? You're not hurt, are you . . . ?!

[ yeah fine she'll let herself be looked over. a little teary, but she's smiling wider. reassuringly!!! sincerely okay, physically anyway. ]

I'm fine, I'm fine! The atmosphere's really dragging my mood down, but I'm fine. No injuries. Are you okay?

[Why is she teary?! There's nothing in here that's worth her tears!]

I am.

[He has to be. His hands drop away once he's ascertained for himself that she's all right. If he falls apart from this, it'll only make everything worse.]

Let's leave, Yanami-san. This place isn't for you.

[ his hands drop and hers do too, briefly, before she reaches to hold one. ]

Be more than happy to, Sanji-kun, as long as you promise to answer my questions... and let me make something for you.

[ it doesn't seem like... a nice conversation to have, but. anna does want to know. about her friends, who's lives are different than hers. who have bigger troubles and worries then she ever will.

it's like, the least she can do. ]

[His hand spasms faintly at the unexpected hold . . . and then closes around hers at her words as he holds her gaze and nods slowly.]

. . . I promise.

[Tugging her toward the bars, he moves past the bent pair and stops a leg's distance from the door. He gives the latter a swift kick, ripping it off the lock and hinges before it hits the wall on the other side with a screech. The gap left behind comes up to his waist—he remembers when it used to loom over his head as a child, but he's no longer a kid—and he bends down to pass through it, slowly guiding Anna to follow him by their joined hands.

A staircase lies to the side, and he escorts her up the flight to the door at the top. As they walk, the voices of a man and a child echo in the dark:

"This was His Majesty's decision. He said he wished to make it so that you were never born."

"Please, Father! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for being born weak! Help me! Father, help me!"

Then silence. Sanji pauses at the door before pushing it open—and they're back in the house.]

[ jesus. he kicks like a horse.

... the voices again. his majesty, again. anna tilts her head up at him, letting him lead without a word. he said he'd answer her questions; she's okay to wait until they're back, out of the despairable dungeon and into the safety of a space they've shared many talks before. ]

What're you hungry for?

[Gratitude washes over him that she starts with the safest question. There are things that shouldn't be said in a public space, and she's gracious enough to put her curiosity second to her end of the promise, even though she was the one inconvenienced by his memories. Exhaustion lays over him like a blanket, and Sanji answers with a wan, but no less sincere, smile.]

If it's your cooking, I'll eat anything.

You're as bad as Will-kun.

[ god. what is she supposed to do with such loving people... not so much a matter of indecision, after all. just sincerity. ]

Alright. Something easy on the stomach then, since I think we're gonna need it.

[ something that'll go down easy... nothing too heavy, but something that'll keep the appetite up too. maybe rice porridge. and plums. ]

[He nods.

While she gets to work on that, he'll claim a seat for himself atop a barstool and watch her with a fond smile, his heart eased by the love in the kitchen air. That's the silent agreement they have between them, after all. It's a wonderfully precious thing, and one that soothes the weeping child buried deep within himself after years upon years of abandonment.]

[ she will, blessedly, let the quiet stay comfortable between them as she aprons up, pulling her hair into a ponytail like before, and set out to make the okayu she'd been thinking of. as few times as she'd been sick... it had always warmed her heart and eased her stomach.

it's with this in mind that she cooks the way her mother used to, the way her mother's mother had before her, a line of love that drew back generations and embodies itself in their latest descendant. love she'd give to her own children one day, but for now gives to the people she'd befriended.

it was never that anna was a stupendous cook when it'd come to those bentos she'd made nukumizu after all. it was the care taken in preparing them by the end of her debt, before he'd finally cleared her, both in what was in the boxes and the aesthetic of the appearance. humming softly as the rice cooks, carefully pulling down two bowls and deep spoons to match, she adds is a few slices of umeboshi on top, the light purple a striking sight placed against the stark white of the rice beneath it.

kinda soupy with the ratio she used but. it'll thicken as it cools a bit. ]

Ta-da~! Granny's Cure-All Okayu With Umeboshi For The Soul! She said it could even cure heartbreak, but I never tried.

[ she was too busy stuffing her fact with sweets. anna'll take off her apron, but the hair is staying up!!! out the way... ]

It's hot, so be careful.

[The witty comment draws a grin out of Sanji as he accepts the bowl.]

Thanks. It smells great.

[Since he's been here the entire time, he had the unique pleasure of sitting through the process and taking in the full sensory experience of the dish's preparation. It was also a massive bonus to see Anna in an apron with her hair made up again. He's definitely not going to take any of this for granted, so he savors the appearance of the okayu first before digging in.

As expected, it tastes divine. Swallowing the first spoonful after blowing on it, Sanji beams.]

It's even more delicious than I'd thought it would be. You've really outdone yourself this time, Yanami-san!

Heheh. Thanks.

[ blowing carefully on her own before taking a bite, sighing happily. not quite like granny's... but that's merely a difference in experience. her own touch, as it were.

... after a bite, though, anna will offer her first words on what had her so teary. ]

Your mom's a total bombshell.

[He freezes just as he's about to have another bite, which is for the best. If she'd spoken a second later, he might be choking right now.

Surely this is fine, he thinks. The subject of his mother should be safe, heavy though it is. It's not a bad weight. If anything, he's relieved that this is what Anna seems to have come away with from that awful place, because he hasn't a single bad memory of his mother.]

It's been a long time since I last saw her . . . but I remember that she was beautiful.

[Inside and out. Sanji takes that aborted bite, swallowing down the lump in his throat with another morsel of okayu.]

Yeah, inside and out. [ don't worry she'll say it. ] But I bet the meal you made her really was the most delicious thing in the world.

[ even if it looked anything but. anna's really going to take a lesson from this when her future kids bring her mudpies to try, or cook breakfast and somehow both burn and undercook what they're making. it's love. all that matters is love. ]

How long has it been since you'd seen her?

[Although he doesn't show it, something in him quavers, because he knows it's a lie. Objectively speaking, that meal was disgusting. His mother lied to him, but in doing so she laid bare a different kind of truth. That means Anna isn't lying, either.]

Over ten years. She passed when I was a kid.

Oh, um. Sorry to hear that. Guess that answered my next question...

[ everyone and their dead parents... she's gonna start sharing the yanami family name. anna scoops up one of the umeboshi slices and pops it into her mouth, eyes closing briefly at the tang of the fermented fruit before she continues. ]

... Are you-- well, were you a prince? Since I'm guessing you wouldn't be now, being a pirate and all.

[The spoon clatters loudly against the bowl after it slips from Sanji's grasp. He hastens onto his feet, scraping the barstool across the floor while he pales, voice strained.]

Ah, Y-Yanami-san . . . Could we . . . talk about this elsewhere? After the meal, I mean.

[He casts aborted glances over his shoulder, already knowing that countless eyes and ears are trained on them.]

[ ?!?!?!?!!

anna blinks owlishly, not realizing how much of a nerve that must've been? or a secret? ]

Oh-- um, uh, yeah? Sure? Of course?

[He's going to go to Tsukasa or Nene—or both—after this and beg them about scrubbing the footage of this conversation from existence later. He'll scream and get on his knees if he has to.

For now, he nods jerkily before tucking himself back into his seat and refocusing on the okayu. It smooths over his anxiety like a balm, though his hands don't stop shaking in their entirety. Damn adrenaline. He responds by taking in more of Anna's cooking, because it grounds him to be here, being treated to her heart, and he refuses to disrespect her by treating it like a chore.]

[ ...

did she... no, she definitely said something she shouldn't...?

but. okay. you can fix this, anna. she'll clear her throat after a few more bites. it's fine. she'll give them more content than ever if this needs to be cut. ]

Will-kun wants to marry me, I think.

[His head shoots up, fears momentarily forgotten in favor of staring wide-eyed at Anna. The reason for the subject change isn't entirely lost on him; he'll make it up to her later for being so gracious.]

Really?! What did he say?

[ yeah he better be gracious she feels like she wants to die talking about this, cheeks flaring. ]

We talked about the future together. Um. After this. After he does his-- stuff, and I have to graduate, but... he wants to travel, and... he wants me to come with him. [ she plays with her porridge a little, a small, nervous smile. ] After that, he'd like to... live on a farm. With me.

[ together. she waves her free hand. ]

I know-- a farm totally doesn't sound like me, but we talked about it before. [ god, when she still was thinking it wasn't. real. them.

holy shit, she's stupid. she's so mad and her tone comes out like that. ] And it sounds really nice! I told him not to promise me anything, but I kinda want him to anyway!

[Well, this is a conundrum. On the one hand, a promise should be a given; on the other hand, maybe she doesn't want to burden Will when he's already got so much on his plate.

Sanji can imagine it, though. Anna, dressed prettily for travel. Anna, layered in cute overalls for farming. Anna, bejeweled in white for her weddi . . . no! Get it together!]

Why not make a different promise, then? It doesn't have to be a farm, but something simple . . . like how he'll come back for you once it's time.

[ oh my god, girlfriend sanji time. ]

It's less the farm and more... the future itself? I can't even say I'm worried about him finding someone else he might like, because I'm pretty sure he's one track minded and head over heels for me, and I'm not falling in love with anyone else either, but--

[ how to put it. she eats another spoonful. ]

I guess I just don't want him to promise years to me unless he really, really wants to. I'd feel guilty. That's a lot of time, Sanji-kun, even if we're spending it as together as we can after this. Split worlds and all.

just wait until they feel the trauma of a teenage girl's heart

the most tragic of them all . . .

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