I Hate Flirts (Sanji x Reader)

I Hate Flirts

To say your first impression of the cook, as you first joined the Straw Hat Pirates, was bad was one hell of an understatement. You weren't a fan of pretty boys, and most of all, you weren't a fan of flirts.

Hell, you hated flirts.

When Luffy had introduced you to the crew, you'd tried to put on your best smile. Everyone seemed nice enough—Zoro, with his comfortable demeanor; Nami, who welcomed you with a knowing smile; Usopp and Chopper, who were immediately friendly.

And then there was Sanji.

He'd approached you with that cheeky smile, a bouquet of flowers seemingly conjured out of thin air. "For the beautiful new member of our crew," he'd said, taking your hand and kissing it with far too much charm.

You'd yanked your hand back, not being able to keep the sneer breaking on your lips at the gesture. "Don't do that," you snapped almost immediately.

It'd been entirely reactionary and the guilt you felt at the hurt in his eyes only served to widen the rift you'd created.

Sanji's grin had faltered, just for a moment, before he replaced it with an exaggerated bow. "As you wish, mademoiselle. But my admiration knows no bounds."

Your eyes narrowed at his answer. Something about it irked you beyond comprehension.

From that moment on, it was war. Sanji flirted relentlessly, his attempts becoming more and more ridiculous as he tried to win you over. You, in turn, shot him down at every opportunity, sometimes with a sharp retort, most of the time with a well-placed punch to the shoulder.

Despite the ongoing one-sided battle, you couldn't deny that Sanji excelled in many places. He fought well and in the boredom of the endless sea, the meals he prepared were a highlight of your day. After all, you most definitely had a taste for the finer things in life.

As his cooking slowly broke away your apprehension towards him, you started to grudgingly admire his dedication to his craft. There was something about the way he moved in the kitchen, all precision and passion, that you couldn't help but respect... Not that you'd ever admit that to him.

The rest of the crew found your dynamic endlessly entertaining. Nami would give you knowing looks, Zoro would snicker behind his sake, and Luffy, bless his heart, was just happy to have another person on board.

Despite everything, you had to admit the cook had his moments.

You weren't sure what had taken you over but one extremely boring afternoon, your feet mindlessly brought you to the kitchen. Just as expected Sanji was there, elbow deep in preparations.

You leaned against the doorframe, quietly observing as he twirled the knife in his hands, as he chopped at a speed that was lightning-fast. "Need any help?" The words left your mouth before your mind could register them.

Sanji looked up, surprise clear on his features but a certain pleased glimmer filled his eyes. "A lady—" he started to protest, the words dying on his lips as he saw your expression start to shift. "I-I'd love the help," he muttered uncertainly instead.

You stepped into the kitchen, rolling up your sleeves as you moved to stand beside him. The countertop was cluttered with various ingredients, a testament to the elaborate meal he was undoubtedly preparing.

"What can I do?" you asked, glancing at him out of the corner of your eye.

Sanji handed you a knife and a cutting board. "Can you, uh, chop these vegetables? Uniform pieces, please."

You took the knife from him, noting the gentle brush of his fingers against yours. Ignoring the slight warmth that spread through you, you focused on the task at hand. As you worked, the kitchen filled with the rhythmic sound of chopping, accompanied by the occasional clatter of pots and pans.