The island was small — everyone knew everyone.

So it was no secret that they knew who you were. Especially after what you’ve presumably done before you left.

This entire village was completely foreign to him. And you played dumb. You didn’t want him to know that this was where you came from. You didn’t want him to know you knew this place.

They came to the village with happy faces, completely unknown to the fact that they’d be leaving with broken hearts.

Hateful and horrid names followed you everywhere as you were catcalled and criticized by the public — your image on that island ostracized long ago, before you joined the pirate life.

When he first caught wind of your abduction, he felt something ghastly physical to pain — complete and utter hollowness.

How could he have possibly allowed you to slip out of his grasp? You were with him the entire time!

It wasn’t his fault — you knew that. But every day you were away from him, the guilt for not being able to protect you — for not being the guardian you deserved ate away at him.

And the guilt for not being strong enough to hold your own, to not just let your guard down with him ate at you as well.

In the days that followed, harsh words and harsher whispers caught your ear from time to time, sick, wicked smirks plastered around the villager's faces as they stared at you like a predator eyeing its prey.

They were planning something. Something that would alter your perspective of life forever.

Call it petty revenge for you leaving all you’ve ever known behind in favor of piracy — or just the townspeople wanting to get back at you for not giving them someone to judge after your departure.

Either way, they were coming for you.

Before you were taken away from the Straw Hats — from him — he was fiercely protective.

"It’s for your own safety, sweetheart," He’d say, gently guiding you along. People stared, whispered, and he clearly wasn’t happy about it. He assumed they were just being perverse assholes — wasn’t too uncommon with someone as beautiful as you.

Not for the actual reasons why.

It was a tense day in the village. The air felt hotter and thicker than usual, leaving an undeniable impression that something was wrong. Something was about to go down.

Sanji was making his way to the food stand in search of ingredients for the Sunny's food supply, his arm protectively around your waist.

He left you for five minutes.

Five minutes.

It’s not like you wanted him to — the entire town had already turned their backs on you — what did he think they would do when they caught you alone?

He was so stupid, telling you to help him by going to another store to get utensils.

Once the townspeople knew you were alone and vulnerable, they came in like a swarm of bees, each of them attacking you with harsh words and harsher weapons.

And just like that, you were gone — slipping through his fingers like water.

After mangling you and tearing you to shreds — physically and mentally, they threw you out of an abandoned building on the other side of the village. You didn’t know where you were going, but you ran as far as your legs could carry you.

You found yourself underneath an apple tree in a beautiful, outside garden no one seemed to tend to, the Thousand Sunny just out of reach.

Scuffles of grass echoed behind you, as you heard something fall to the ground with a tssk.

A cigarette.

Sanji was right behind you.

"I.. I.." He sputtered, reaching out to touch you but holding back.

In his eyes, you were porcelain. What if you broke?

You knew he’d do anything for you.

He was absolutely in love with you, after all.

With him, the sky wasn’t the limit — he’d run to the ends of the earth — swim to the depths of hell — travel to the moon and back — and probably rob and kill if it meant seeing you safe.

Knowing him as long as you did, was there anything he wouldn't do?

He couldn’t describe how he felt in words.

All he did was take a step forward, gently taking your hand in his.

"I'm so sorry, my love," was all he managed to get out, shivering intensely.