37 ✿ [4th wall]
There's more people, and it got loud.
...didn't this happen before?
[And outside he goes to investigate!]
(ooc: DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. brb after a nap.)
...didn't this happen before?
[And outside he goes to investigate!]
(ooc: DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. brb after a nap.)
He looks up at the sound of the reindeers voice, eyes darting between the cookies and Chopper before he finally reaches out to take one. He holds it gingerly, takes a bite as if he's afraid that it'll turn to dust the moment he does so - but it's good, so very good and sweet and--
It's quiet at first. Nothing but a tiny ripple through his shoulders as his head drops once more, eyes squeezed shut against the tears that threaten to spill over. Then, a muffled sob. Another. The knife clatters to the ground as he brings up his hand to rub firmly at his eyes, jaw clenched to hold himself together but it won't last and a few seconds later his small body is shaking with restrained sobs. ]
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This hurt to look at. It was a pain he couldn't ever cure, and the doctor did everything he could to not start crying along with his small crewmate.
He wondered if this is how Doctor would have felt if he'd been awake when Chopper had woken up in that large bed. Had curiously patted away at the bandages on his body, then noticed the loaf of bread on a plate nearby. He'd never eaten that much in his life, had never had a piece of bread that tasted that good, even when he tasted the salt from his tears at the same time.
Setting the napkin with the rest of the cookies down, Chopper moved so he could stand next to Sanji. There was no hesitation in his arm when he simply reached over to pat the sobbing boy on the head.]
They're good. B-but, I like the cookies you make... the most. All the food you ever made us. It's r-really good. Thank you.
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His eyes open at the pat on his head and he blinks, allowing the words to soak in. All the food he's ever made them..?
That's right. Chopper knows him as an adult. Strong and capable and very much alive and that's proof enough. He'll grow up. It will end, one day, soon and he'll grow up and set sail with his newfound family and nothing will ever be the same. All Blue... the reason why he has to survive, why he can't let this beat him - All Blue is out there and he has to grow up before he can find it.
A few shaky sniffles slip out before he manages to pull himself together, but the worst is definitely over. He lifts his head, peering at the reindeer from under his bangs, eyes still red and puffy but so very clear. ]
R...really?
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Sanji was a kid now, but later on he wouldn't be. He'd grow up, and everything that had made him this sad and miserable would be gone. He'd end up on a ship with pirates, and a kitchen to make food, and girls to cook for, guys to fight with, an ocean to find, nakama...
Chopper moved his arm away and sat next to Sanji, smiling a little when he noticed the tears were mostly gone. That face, which he was very familiar with after a long cry was still there, but he ignored it along with the tears in his own eyes as he smiled even more.]
Really! And things can be like that for as long as you want.
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Sanji swallowed, rubbed at his eyes once more and that was it. He even managed a small smile as he sat himself down next to Chopper, legs a little unsteady and he felt pretty light-headed after all this. Dizzy even. But it was good, it would be okay and so he opened his mouth to say his thanks--
But a loud growl interrupted him before he got a chance, his stomach once more reminding him that he hadn't had a full meal for two months. Ow. He glanced at the remaining cookies, biting his lip as he turned his attention towards the small reindeer once more.]
Can I... have another one?
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He'd make it. He'd endure through everything that met him on his path to becoming the chef that the reindeer knew now and thought of as a brother.
His thoughts were interrupted by the stomach growl, and his smile faltered for a little as he tried not to laugh. Quickly, Chopper nodded his head.]
You can have all of them! I can always get more another time. I think there's even some leftover cake in the apartment when it was Luffy's birthday. You can have that too.
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Can't waste food. Never again.
Eventually it's all gone and he grabs another one, chewing on it with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He turns his head to look at Chopper and there's definitely some more life in his eyes.]
...thank you.
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Plus, those cookies really are good. He tried one when he'd first gotten them. As he watches the small cook start on another one, he's about to suggest they head out toward the apartment now and he can eat the rest of the cookies on the way there.
But that look in his eyes and those words sort of, delay that for a bit.]
You don't, have to thank me, really! It's okay! I'm a doctor so I have to make sure you eat well! Idiot! I'm not happy~!
[Chopper laughs nervously, scuffing at the ground with his feet and shifting around awkwardly, as if he's trying not to wiggle. In other words, you're welcome Sanji.]
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Liar.
[And that's all he can say before that contagious laughter finally grabs a hold of him and he has no choice but to join in, expression breaking up into a wide grin. ]
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[He's fuming and pouting and he continues with his ridiculous tirade but when all he gets in return is laughter and a grin he's never really seen before, at least not like this, it all slowly fades away.
Except for the pout.]
Don't make fun of me Sanji. That's mean. I won't give you cake.
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There's a small voice at the back of his head telling him that this isn't true, Chopper would never go back on his word but he doesn't know for sure and so the apology is quick to find. Eyes wide with a hint of panic he scrambles up on his hands and knees, the words tumbling out of his mouth. ]
Ah! I'm sorry, I wasn't-! I didn't mean it!
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Oh. Sanji thought that Chopper was serious? But they made jokes like this all the time, why would he think it was true? Unless he never made jokes like this, before...
How could Chopper be this stupid?! He couldn't make normal jokes like this if Sanji didn't even understand them and wasn't used to them. He really thought that he'd be denied food when he really needed it. There was no way he could explain how guilty he felt right now, making his small crewmate so scared and worried like this.]
N-No, it's okay! I didn't mean it either! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that! You still get cake! I'm sorry Sanji! You can even hit me if you want!
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The boy relaxes, blinking a little at that last statement. Hit him? For that? ]
Why would I hit you? [And then a thought emerges that he's not too sure if he likes.] Do I... do that a lot? When I'm bigger?
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Because food is important to you, and I shouldn't make a joke like that when you're this hungry.
[Now that second question was harder to answer. It's not that it was all that bad that Sanji hit them when they're older. That's just how he was, and sometimes they did deserve it, but explaining it to him when he's little... this was going to be tricky.]
Um, not a whole lot. But you do, just not the girls. You don't hit girls. You don't hit me as much as the others either. You hit Luffy a lot, because he's always eating so much and stealing food. And Zoro too, but you just fight with him all the time over anything. Sometimes nothing.
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