Work Text:
It was like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.
...
"Lot 124."
The contents of Sanji's lungs left him in seconds at the sight before him on the stage.
He felt like he could throw up right then and there.
Luc's eyes were red raw from crying as a slave collar sat round his neck.
"Shall we start the bidding at one-thousand beri?"
Nami immediately raised their paddle.
"Two-thousand."
The navigator rose it again and again and again, determination in her expression as she did so.
But they only had so much.
"Just keep going Nami, we'd rather starve then lose him." Usopp spoke up.
Chopper, Robin, and Franky all nodded firmly in agreement.
"Fifty-million beri!"
Stood stunned for a few seconds, his legs gave way beneath him shortly after sending him crashing to the floor of the auction house.
Usopp dropped down beside him offering a comforting hand on his back.
"Where the hell is Zoro... our son... our son is..."
"He'll be here, so will Luffy."
"All done now at fifty million, fifty million going once, going twice-."
'BOOM!'
The building shook as two of the fish motorbikes came crashing through the wall. Through the clouds of dust and plasterboard emerged-
"ZORO!"
Sanji raced to his feet and over to his husband.
The swordsman’s eyes had already fixed on their son down on the stage as he was pulled close against his chest, fingers stroking through his hair softly.
"Where have you been?" He hated how pathetic he sounded, how weak his tone was, but faced with the concept of losing their son...
"I'm sorry; I'm here now."
"Sanji, Zoro, they're not getting Luc, I'd rather die than let them." Luffy stated firmly as he took his position in front of them and pushed up his sleeves.
It all happened in an instant.
Luc spotted the two of them on the stairs and began to sprint over.
In the corner of his eye he saw the movement of the Celestial Dragon.
Saw the weapon he drew from his pocket and rose towards their son.
"ZORO!"
But no matter how fast his husband had responded it wouldn't have made any difference.
'BANG!'
Luc stilled, his breath catching as his head shakily looked down at his chest, his hand coming towards the hole which now lay there.
"LUC!" His scream of unadulterated horror blended with that of Zoro’s as they sprinted over.
His husband was the first to reach their boy, the swordsman catching him before he fell and laying him down gently, his arms still wrapped around him for reassurance although he was too panicked to really give any.
"Luc! Luc! Hey buddy, stay with us! Daddy and Papa are here!"
The guy in the hoodie from earlier had no traces of humour in his expression anymore as he rushed to join them.
"Out of the way, I'm a doctor."
Sanji growled something fierce.
"Just who the hell do you think you are?! Do you really think we'd let some random-."
Chopper had reached them now.
"I'm a doctor too." He supplied.
Hoodie guy nodded.
"Look, I am a doctor, and my devil fruit makes me able to do a lot more than most. I'm gonna' help your son so just sit tight." He explained. "What's his name?"
"Luc." Zoro was the one who spoke up this time.
Hoodie guy nodded before he finished cutting away their son's upper layers.
"Hey Luc, you're being really brave; just keep breathing nice and slow for me, that's a good boy." He took a breath. "Room."
A blue light appeared before a bubble like thing expanded around their son and the two doctors.
The bullet clinked as it hit the floor.
Hoodie guy furrowed an eyebrow before leaning closer to Luc's mouth, his eyes widening a few seconds later before he quickly began chest compressions.
"He stopped breathing." He informed Chopper.
The little guy gasped before jumping straight in to assist.
"We need to get him back to my ship, now!" Hoodie guy turned to the two of them. "Your doctor, do you trust him?"
"With our lives." Sanji nodded.
"I'm taking your son to be treated, there's equipment on-board my sub that he desperately needs; we're docked by the cove not too far from you."
And then, just like that...
"Shambles!"
They were gone.
Neither of them said a word before Zoro looked around at the scene unfolding around them that they'd missed.
It was all out chaos.
"ZORO! SANJI! WE'VE GOT THIS! GO BE WITH LUC!" Luffy screamed from the stage.
Zoro’s hand came to clamp around his own as he pulled him up the stairs and out of the auction house.
His mind seemed to come back to him as he growled in determination and took the lead, giving the hand a squeeze of reassurance as they headed for the cove.
‘He's going to be okay... he's going to be okay... he's going to be okay...’
Finally reaching the submarine, numerous members of his crew were waiting for them as they arrived.
They were rushed inside, quickly stopping to wash up in case of infection, before they headed back into the patient room where Luc lay still on the bed.
"Sanji! Zoro!" Chopper rushed them immediately, his husband crouching down to lift the little guy into his arms.
Hoodie guy stood up from a seat at the side of the room as they entered.
"He's alive and stable, he's just a little too tired to breathe on his own right now so we've hooked him up to a ventilator. He won't need it for too long though, his body just desperately needs some rest before it can start functioning properly again."
"You can sit with him; he'll know you're here."
Later that night not much had visibly changed. Luc still continued to breathe thanks to the machine beside him and his husband’s hand remained over their son’s as he lay asleep against the side of the mattress.
The door clicked open as hoodie guy entered.
"Okay Luc, let's see how you're doing."
Sanji's eyes followed each and every movement as the doctor checked him over.
"I'm happy with what I'm seeing so there's a good chance he'll be off this thing and breathing unaided tomorrow, no promises though; we'll see how he is in the morning."
"Thank you."
"I'm Trafalgar Law by the way; I probably should have introduced myself earlier."
"Sanji; this is Zoro."
"So you're the parents?"
He nodded.
"Child of a devil fruit, huh? He's a cute kid."
"He got his Dad's hair." Sanji smiled softly.
"And your eyebrows I noticed."
He took a breath.
"Law."
The doctor paused.
"I know you're not an ally of our Captain, and we're not crew, but if you need help with something, no matter how big the ask, we'll be there, we owe you as much."
"I'm pretty sure you need consent from your Captain to be making offers like that."
"Luffy would understand and hell, I'm sure you'd probably end up with all of us helping out knowing our nakama."
"I don't like kids getting hurt, there's nothing more to it than that."
Sanji nodded.
"Still, the offer’s there if you need it."
The next morning Sanji looked out the porthole of the sub to find their crewmates camped out on the cliff face.
With a smile he turned back to Luc, stroking a hand gently through his green hair before pressing a kiss to his son's crown.
"I won't be long baby; Daddy will be here with you the whole time, okay?"
Zoro stirred.
"Feeding time at the zoo?" His husband teased, yawning with a stretch before returning his hand to Luc's.
"Yeah, I should only be about ten minutes max, I'm just making something simple, I don't have the energy for anything extravagant."
The swordsman leaned up to press a kiss to his lips.
"Be safe."
He nodded before heading off out the room.
After disembarking Usopp was the first to approach.
"Sanji? What are you doing out here, you should be in there with Luc?"
"He's still asleep; I need to make you guys-."
Nami walked over, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder.
"We'll be fine."
"Nami-san..."
"We can survive, go be with Luc."
With a soft exhale he looked around the reassuring smiles of his crewmates before giving a nod.
"Thank you."
“Oh wait, Sanji!”
He turned to Robin who was holding something familiar.
“Here, Luc wouldn’t want to be without him.”
"Zoro! Zoro!"
He startled awake to his husband’s cries, immediately scoping the room for enemies before his gaze fixed on their son on the bed, eyes open wildly as he coughed and spluttered.
"LAW!"
Hat guy rushed in, heading straight for Luc as he offered a smile.
"Hey kid, I'll get rid of that for you in a second but first let's take some nice slow breaths, okay? That's it, bud, just like that, there you go, don't fight it."
The blonde rubbed a hand up and down their son's arm in comfort while he maintained a tight grip on Luc's hand.
"Now I won't lie, this isn't going to feel very nice but it'll be pretty quick. I need you to cough for me, nice big coughs. Ready?"
It took only a minute for the tube to be removed but it felt like hours, each of their son's pained and scared whimpers cutting him deeper than anything he'd ever felt before.
"There now, just rest, you did great, Luc." The doctor praised.
Their son noticed the soft toy which lay atop the bedsheet and smiled, his weak little arms coming out to hug him.
“Eye… Eyelash.”
“Yeah, Auntie Robin brought him for you; he’s missed you.” Sanji explained.
A polar bear with a nervous expression appeared in the doorway holding a glass of ice chips.
"Oh hey Bepo, good timing."
He watched as Luc's eyes lit up in wonderment at the sight.
Hat guy smirked.
"Here you go." 'Bepo' spoke up as he gave him the glass.
Their son giggled happily, the previous trauma seemingly forgotten over the appearance of an animal from one of his storybooks.
His husband took one of the ice chips before popping it into Luc's mouth.
"Just let it melt, it'll help cool your throat."
He nodded.
"Luc was really brave, wasn't he Daddy?" Sanji invited.
"Definitely! Just wait till Luffy and the others hear how brave you've been."
Their son looked thrilled by the thought.
Sanji continued to tend to Luc as he turned and walked over to hat guy.
Despite the pull from his still healing wounds from their last adventure in Thriller Bark, he came to his knees much to the confusion of the doctor.
"Pirate Hunter?"
Leaning forward he pressed his head to the floor in a bow.
"Thank you for saving him... thank you."
The doctor came to crouch before him.
"Roronoa please raise your head."
A hand was offered to him which he took before he returned to his feet.
“As I said to Black Leg earlier, neither of you are in my debt.”
He gave a nod.
One Week Later
After Law was happy that Luc wasn’t going to face any complications he released him from his care into Chopper’s.
Their son was still weak and only managed to stay awake for short periods of the day, which according to the doctor was completely natural considering the extreme stress his body had been through and the nature of the procedure he’d undertaken, but he smiled and ate which was more than enough.
He was also alive which they would never be more thankful for.
After being disconnected from all the wires surrounding him he leant down towards the bed.
“Come here, bud.”
He very, very carefully lifted their son up under the arms into a carry, the boy resting his head on his shoulder as he leaned close, Eyelash tucked securely against him.
“Everyone’s missed you so much.” His husband smiled as he came to pinch him lightly on the cheek causing him to giggle.
“Papa stop!”
He pressed a kiss to the little boy’s crown as they walked out of the submarine and onto land; the sunlight hurting his eyes after so long indoors.
Luc inhaled happily at the sight of the Sunny, bouncing up and down a little in his arms in excitement.
“You missed her?”
“Uh huh!”
“I’ll see you around, Straw Hats.”
He and Sanji turned to see the doctor leaning through the door of his ship before they gave a wave.
“THEY’RE BACK!” Came a distant cry which clearly belonged to their own doctor.
This was clearly followed by what could only be described as a cacophony of excited voices before their crewmates rushed to the gangplank waiting for them.
Luc began to wave.
He noticed the way their son winced at the motion and gently paused his arm’s path.
“You’re still healing, kiddo.”
“Awwwww…” He grumbled but did stop anyway, probably because he was in fact right and it did hurt.
As they finally reached the Sunny and climbed aboard their crewmates immediately began to fawn over their little fighter with thankful tears in their eyes.
First to approach was Nami who immediately gave him a kiss.
“Welcome back, sweetie; when you’re feeling better you can help me water the tangerine bushes.”
Luc nodded eagerly.
Then Usopp.
“Hey Luc, I have so many stories to tell you; you’ll have to wait until bedtime though to hear them.”
Chopper was next, the reindeer ready with his stethoscope.
“Any tightness in your chest or problems with your breathing?”
Sanji chuckled.
“He’s fine, Chopper, but thank you.”
The doctor gave a nod.
“Good, then I’m glad you’re back!”
Then Robin, who immediately proceeded to fuss in her very motherly way.
“Oh my dear Luc.”
Arms began to sprout before their son was wrapped up in his coat.
“Thank you, Auntie Robin!”
The Archaeologist cood as he stroked a hand gently through his hair.
“You’re most welcome, darling.”
Franky.
“Hey Squirt! I know it might be a while before you’re swinging your wooden katana again but when you’re fit and ready I have a surprise for you. Until then though, I’m working on something that you can help me build.”
Brook.
“I composed a song for you during your absence which I’m sure you’ll enjoy; it’s a new lullaby, I’ll play it for you tonight.”
And last but not least, Luffy.
At this point Luc’s gaze was downcast.
He furrowed an eyebrow and leant down a little to meet his eyes.
“Hey…” He began softly. “What’s wrong, kiddo?”
“Luffy…” Came a shaky voice.
Their Captain crouched down a little in front of their son.
“Yeah, Luc?”
“Even… even though I got hurt… can I still be on your crew?”
None of them were expecting that answer.
Luffy reached forward and gently transferred the little guy to his own arms, holding his close.
He turned to his husband and wrapped his arm around his waist, pulling him against his side.
“You’re one of the bravest pirates I know, there’s no way I’d be able to find the One Piece and become King of the Pirates without you.”
Their Captain removed his signature hat and plopped it down on their son’s head, the straw hat huge on him.
Luc beamed in awe.
“You’re Nakama, Luc; never forget that.”
After his tale of the Usopp Pirates and Brook’s beautiful new lullaby Luc was sleeping peacefully in his bunk; the safety netting up to prevent him from falling during the night (a genius invention of Franky’s making).
He would be lying if he said he would be able to sleep despite the extreme levels of exhaustion he was experiencing.
His husband was much the same.
The two of them couldn’t help but occasionally keep walking over to the hanging bunk and leaning close just to hear the reassurance that those lights breaths were still there.
“Zoro, Sanji…” Came a whisper.
They turned to find Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp stood in the doorway with Franky and Brook behind them.
“We can keep watch on Luc, you two need some rest.” Their Captain stated.
“We’re fine-.” They attempted, but their crew were having none of it.
“You’ve both barely slept the entire time, so let us help.” Chopper reassured with a soft smile.
“Yeah, we’re his Uncles after all.”
“And his Aunties!” Came a soft call from the deck before Nami and Robin also appeared.
He smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Get some sleep, Luc is gonna’ be just fine.”
With one last stop to their son’s bunk they each pressed a soft kiss to his cheek before heading to their shared bunk and climbing up into it.
“Goodnight.”
“Night.” Came a whispered collective response before the light was switched off.
He felt Sanji shuffle closer as he opened his arms to pull his close against his chest.
Their eyelids began to droop a few seconds later.
And safe in the knowledge that their son was safe, loved, and under watch from his Nakama, they were asleep in minutes.