[ Months spent basking in Nami’s company— a true delight if there ever was one— have sharpened Sanji’s awareness enough that even when she tries to hide how touched his reaction leaves her, he can still feel it radiating off her, a gentle warmth that tugs the corners of his lips into an even brighter smile. It doesn’t surprise him— neither her delight nor her relief when his kiss helps hide it— not when she’s spent so long hiding everything behind a mask of cool snark and disaffected sarcasm, but that she trusts and loves him enough to let the cracks show as freely as she does means the world to him. ]

Thanks, love. Meet you over there soon.

[ But even if he’s content to just enjoy the knowledge of how much she enjoys pleasing him, that doesn’t mean he lets her slip away without one last sign of freely-shared affection, head twisting and hand gently guiding hers so he can brush soft, sweet kisses to the backs of her knuckles before she disappears. A part of him quietly wishes she’d refuse and choose to be distracting, lavishing him with soft kisses, teasing touches, and arousing promises that are sure to divert him from everything he’s got planned. They both know how enjoyable it would be— it always is— but he’s still grateful that she gives him space to work. Much as they’d both enjoy him bending her over the counter, she deserves a bit of spoiling and pampering, deserves to see how much he cares laid bare before her, deserves this show of adoration and love.

Even at a distance, though, he can still feel the way she watches him, intent and pleased, as he puts the finishing touches on lunch, bringing the sauce together in the blink of an eye. Even focusing on the task at hand does nothing to keep that lovestruck grin off his face— especially when he glances over at her and sees the way her eyelashes flutter, heart clenching and warmth pleasantly flooding his chest.

And as he walks over to the table, plates of pasta and salad precariously balanced on his arms, there’s just one thing he’s thinking.

Fuck, he loves her so much. ]

Mhmm. Just like you deserve, you know? I wanna show you just how special you are to me, Nami.

[ Not that he doesn’t do that on a daily basis— or, well, tries to— but it never feels like enough, not after how warmly she’d welcomed him into her life here and how deeply at ease he feels being around her. There’s nowhere that feels quite so like home as being with her does. After setting the plates down in their spots, he’s quick to kiss her again, a brief but firm press of lips against hers, still full of fond affection, restraint just good enough to keep his tongue and teeth out of it, no matter what he burns to do. Sighing, he pulls away and takes his seat around the corner, a sappily soft grin plastered on his face as he looks at her. ]

Figure we can go to all of your favorite clothing stores and let you buy anything you like after lunch. And then we’ll see where the day takes us, yeah? But treating you like the perfect princess you are is my number one priority today.

[ It isn’t a meticulously planned out date, but he doesn’t think that’s a bad thing. Leaving time and space for whatever strikes their fancy is never a bad idea in Sanji’s experience, especially with how good she looks in the dress he selected for her. For now, though, he gestures down at the plates of food. ]

But let’s dig-in, yeah? I wanna try your cocktail again and we gotta eat before we can do anything else.