Chapter Text
Sanji pulls up to the giant manor just as the heavens open up and the torrential downpour begins. He reaches the door as the rain patters down on him, thunder rumbling in the distance as he knocks on the door.
The storm only gets worse the longer he stands there, and he half wonders if maybe he should just leave. His invitation to this party was vague at best, the addresses scrawled on the corner of a napkin along with “Come join us!!” and the invitee’s trademark hat as the signature.
He raises his hand to knock one more time when the door is yanked open, leaving him standing awkwardly in the rain as he’s greeted by someone with short black hair and too much eye makeup.
“Oh wow, aren’t you cute,” they offer him a smile and a wink as they lead him inside, “Mr. Black, I presume? We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Yes,” Sanji feels a little self conscious as he steps into the hall, the door slams shut behind him with a degree of finality, “And, you are?”
“You can call me Bon-Chan, everyone else does,” they laugh as they take Sanji’s soaked coat, “I take care of the household. If you need anything, and I mean anything, don’t hesitate to ask!”
“Thanks,” he nods as they shake the excess water off his coat and stash it in the closet.
“Mr. Black,” they shoot a look at him over their shoulder, “Is there a Mrs. Black I should be worried about?”
Sanji laughs, “No, just me. I’m afraid my work doesn’t offer me much time for romance.”
“Really?” They sigh as they lead him further into the house, “Such a waste for a cute guy like you to be single.”
Sanji sighs wistfully as he follows after them.
It’s not that Sanji’s against love and romance, he’s all for it, but his work always comes first, and everyone he’s dated has had difficulty keeping up with him. Someday perhaps he’ll find the right partner, one that can be his tried and true equal, but until then he’s doomed to lonely singledom.
Another peel of thunder sounds overhead, the sound echoing throughout the manor and bouncing off the walls, seeming to come from everywhere.
“Ooh, sounds like it’s shaping up to be a nasty storm,” Bon-Chan says with a wink, “Luckily we have plenty of space for all of you, should you need to stay the night.”
“Are you expecting many people?” Sanji asks as he glances around. He can hear a crackling fire and a murmur of voices in the room to his left, a shiver wracking his body letting him know just how welcome that warmth would be right now.
“You were the last to arrive,” Bon-Chan informs him, “The others are around here somewhere.” They laugh, “This bunch is always wandering about, so it’s hard to say where for sure.”
“I see,” Sanji says, looking to the right. There’s a pungent odor coming from somewhere down that way that has him intrigued, “Is the host around? I should at least greet him before dinner.”
“Yes,” Bon-Chan nods towards the left, “They’re both in the dining room.”
Sanji raises a brow. Only one person invited him tonight, so he’s curious about this apparent second host.
“But they have no need for such formalities,” Bon-Chan assures him, “What they want most of all is for you to enjoy yourself, so feel free to go wherever your heart desires.”
Sanji glances around the manor, eyes darting between the fire room, the smell, and the dining room as he makes his choice.