He thought it was all in the looks.
Sanji was renowned for not only his amazing cooking skills, but the way he plated it. He passed this off as normal, while the rest of the crew was awestruck at how they got so lucky to have a cook like that.
And ever since you joined, Sanji decided to up his game.
As if it wasn’t good enough, now all his dishes looked like they didn’t belong on a regular pirate ship — but on the actual All Blue, where Sanji really wanted to go above all else.
The crew exchanged questioning looks that slowly dawned into realization each time his gaze lingered too long — every time his smile with widen even further as you ate.
He fell in love. Harder than anyone knew.
By now, all the Straw Hats had gone to their respective routines — Robin was reading, Chopper was fixing up his medical supplies, Zoro was training, Usopp was helping Franky with his latest invention while Luffy watched and laughed from his place on the Thousand Sunny — you had mother better to do, and you were getting quite famished from the chaos of normalcy that was your pirate crew. So, you ventured out to the kitchen in hopes that the smell of food — or maybe even the taste if Sanji allowed — would soothe your stomach a little.
Sanji had no problem with you joining him, although he normally prepared and cooked the food by himself. He felt the need now to make himself look good.
He seasoned with all the artistry of a refined man and balanced skewers on sizzling pans like his life depended on it.
Sanji looked especially focused on this meal because you were watching.
Every so often, he’d take a look at your face, being close to burning himself on the stoves whenever he did so.
There were times that he felt like he was just doing this to make everyone else happy, to fulfill his own purpose of being a cook — but as he saw that content smile on your face, it made all the scorches and cigarettes worth it.
It wasn’t lost on you whenever he tried to steal glances. His flipping and mixing would briefly slow down, but speed up again once you met his gaze each time.
If he did this any other time in front of the crew, they’d never let him hear the end of it.
The sun was setting over the clear blue waters as dinner was finally ready. You watched with attentive eyes as Sanji carefully plated each meal, spending more time on your plate than anyone else's. He put extra garnish, more portions, and styled yours in a way that showed he wanted to impress.
"It’s all in the detail.." he muttered, more to himself than you, not even realizing that you could hear him.
As he was busy taking care of everyone else’s dishes, some more decoratively placed than others, you called all of them over for dinner with his permission after he was done plating, open and ready to serve.
Some eyes around the dining table widened at Sanji’s new approach. His food looked especially tantalizing tonight — when has it not? — but now it looked as if it deserved its own place in a culinary museum.
His swift hands picked up each plate one by one and set them down to each crew member carefully, being mindful not to drop them.
"For you.. and you.." he said as he went along, his eyes flickering to each Straw Hat's expression before moving on to the next.
Your plate was the last — but certainly not the least — to come. It was precariously set right down in front of you, the precision and beautifully crafted approach of the dish making even your eyes widen.
"And for you, my dear."
Sanji said with a gentlemanly grin, his eyes softening even further when he watched your face light up.
He put more effort into your plate than you expected. The changes were barely noticeable at first, but you could see them.
The carefully heart-shaped skewers — the shreds of meat that were passed off as herbs — and the way all the sides were covered with a sweet sauce — your favorite. Sanji had memorized.
When you turned back to eat, the rest of the crew stared as Sanji flushed red watching you enjoy his food, stupidly dancing behind the kitchen counter like nobody was watching.