Just Like Fire (Ace x Reader)

Chapter 3: Two Jobs

A week in the house turned into three weeks. The end of the third week was also the end of your first week of work. You got your foot in the door at a firm not too far from where Sabo worked, and your job was just some basic data analytics. The pay was decent, and the hours were stable, so you managed to get yourself set up as the de facto cook for the house.

You were the only one with a set start and end time, so it was easiest for you to plan meals and prep for everyone else. You'd bought a lot of bento boxes and thermoses so you could start organizing things, and even out some nutrition for the others. Sabo did the laundry, and Ace and Luffy kept the house clean.

So far it was working out well, and you all managed to get time off Friday evening and were currently celebrating.

All Blue was a jazzy bar and restaurant that was run by another of Luffy's friends. You were fairly certain the young man was simply friends with the entire city at this point, and Ace and Sabo couldn't disagree. Sanji was a phenomenal cook according to all three boys, and had decent taste in music as far as you were concerned. The vibe of the venue was also on point, as there were well organized and maintained aquariums built into the bar, walls, and ceiling in a few places.

Sanji came to the table to bring your meals.

"Ah, the mysterious sister!" He says, setting down plates with grace and skill. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Welcome to the All Blue!"

"It's a pleasure to be here," you say, just loud enough to be heard over the live jazz band. They weren't playing too loud – it would probably harm the fish – but it was loud enough to make you raise your voice a little. "Your restaurant is beautiful, Mr. Sanji!"

"Not nearly as beautiful as some of my customers." He replies with an easy smile. You feel the heat rise in your cheeks, but Sanji shifts his attention to the rest of the table. "Luffy said you were celebrating?"

"(Y/N) has survived a week at her job," Luffy says, putting his hands up in victory.

"She's also survived three weeks with us." Ace adds before taking a drink.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful customer." Sanji says with a wide smile. He bows with a little flourish. "May you enjoy your celebration, Miss. Please enjoy the food."

"I'm sure I will, thank you." You reply as he walks away. You turn toward Sabo. "The way you talked about him I expected him to be a lot more cringey and a lot less smooth."

"Three years ago, he was awful." Sabo assures you. "Then he finally settled down, and I guess he settled down in other ways too."

"Oh, did he find his soul mate or something?" You ask.

Ace grabs your shoulder and guides your gaze toward the bar. "See the bartender?"

Your eyes go a little wide. "Yeah." A young woman was behind the bar with long dark brown hair and a feisty countenance. She was maybe a little shorter than Luffy and had an easy smile. She was laughing with some patrons, when Sanji walked by and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before disappearing into the kitchen.

"That's the fiancé." Ace explains. "The one person in the New World who managed to settle Sanji."

"Well." You lean back and begin to dig into your main course. The appetizers had been delicious and had been brought out by someone who wasn't the bartender or Sanji. "Did Sanji have this place before or after they got together?"

"After. It was part of their agreement." Luffy answers.

"Agreement?"

"She made him woo her for a year, and in that time, they got everything for this place sorted." Ace explains.