Baratie – The Restaurant of the Sea
The sea left a lingering chill on Fuwako's feathers. Salt clung to their body like tiny crystals—remnants of determination, proof of their swim alongside Zoro. They stood between the swordsman's legs, wings slightly puffed, neck feathers flared from the humidity that curled against the edges of their plumage. Zoro said nothing—he never needed to. Even resting with his arms folded and his swords to his side, he felt like a pillar of steel. Fuwako felt… safe.
Then the doors opened—loud and swinging—ushering in the Baratie.
Heat. Noise. Spice. Life.
The moment the dino-bird waddled inside, their senses were assaulted by a whirlwind of chaotic energy. The Going Merry felt tiny compared to this place—this was a jungle made of silver trays and iron skillets. Steam rising from pots, pans tossed through the air, orders screamed across the kitchen like battle cries.
"Eight beef fillets—table six!"
"Where's the salt? I SAID WHERE'S THE SALT?!"
"Who burnt the sauce AGAIN?!"
Fuwako's feathers ruffled. They inhaled with a long, deep sniff. The scent was bold and wild—pepper mixed with seared meat—something sizzling so intensely it crackled like fire in their ears. The bird felt their stomach twist with curiosity… and hunger.
They chirped once. Zoro glanced down, but said nothing. That was his way.
The cooks were at war, flames roaring behind them like artillery fire—but amidst all that frenzy, one man stood still.
The blond from earlier. Cigarette tucked between his lips. Calm in the storm.
His hand held the collar of the beaten-up pink-haired pirate from before—and everyone stared.
"AH! Our customer!" yelled a strange-looking cook with a pink bandana and ridiculous proportions. "Damnit not again Sanji! What're you doing to our customer! Can't you see he's a marine Lieutenant?!"
Sanji barely blinked.
"You're a terrible cook. What makes you think you can talk to me like that?"
The room split into whispers and shock, but Fuwako… simply turned away. They had already lost interest.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Tap… tap.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
They waddled deeper into the restaurant like a tiny feathered explorer. Workers stumbled over each other to avoid stepping on them. Someone yelled about hygiene. Another said the bird was "actually kinda cute." Fuwako ignored all of it—eyes darting between the shiny mugs on the counter and the plates stacked tall like tiny buildings.
Eventually, they found an empty hallway—quiet, darker, tucked away like a forgotten corner of the world. The dino-bird turned once… twice… and nestled down, wings folded neatly.
Sleep took them quickly.
Even when a gunshot echoed from somewhere nearby—
Fuwako didn't stir.
Half an Hour Later…
Light trickled through a nearby window—subtle, golden. Voices drifted in like ghosts.
THUMP.
Fuwako's reptilian eyes snapped open. They walked out the open window.
"And please never come back. Hmph."
A familiar tone. Aggressive. Judgemental. The bandana chef.
The door slammed shut.
"Pyu?" The bird tilted their head, blinking slowly.
Outside lay the bandanna man from earlier—face down, barely breathing, stomach flat from starvation. Sand clung to his cheek where he had collapsed against the wooden floorboards.
Fuwako stared…expressionless. Their blank face somehow mirrored Luffy's perfectly.
Then they walked over…
Peck.
Peck.
Peck.
"Pyu?"
—You dead?
The man twitched. "…What the—"
Fuwako ignored the reaction and tried pushing his shoulder with their beak, attempting to lift him.
'You dead?' became 'you should sit up.'
"The hell are you doing, chicken? Get lost before I make you my lunch!"
The dino-bird stood still, staring at him with judgment written in every feather.
…Then resumed shoving him.
From above, Luffy watched from the balcony.
Blank stare. Arms draped over the rail.
"Hey," the captain finally called, "you're not hungry by any chance are ya?"
Fuwako froze mid-push and looked up at him.
"No, I'm not. Just leave me alone."
GROWL…
A starving stomach betrayed him.
The door creaked open—soft at first, then brighter as light poured into the hallway. From that light walked the blond cook again… but this time he held a tray.
Rice. Shrimp. Meat. Veggies. Steam rose from it like hope made visible.
Without a word—he placed it in front of the pirate… then sat against the railing.
"Eat up."
Fuwako stared.
…then waddled over and nested in the cook's lap.
Sanji didn't react. He simply placed one hand over Fuwako's head.
Warmth spread behind the bird's skull. Comfort. Safety. They leaned into it without shame.
"Take it and leave me alone! I won't accept charity, it doesn't matter how down and out I may be. Just take this stuff away now!"
Fuwako huffed sharply. A gust of wind came from their wings—blowing the scent of food directly into the pirate's face.
Sanji didn't even look at him.
"Stop your whining and eat. I don't care what they say in there. To me, if anyone's hungry, they're a customer."
The man froze. Eyes widened. Words failed.
GROWL…
Moments passed.
Then Sanji's voice softened—like embers fading into a quiet fire.
"It's amazing how beautiful and cruel this ocean can be… it's almost a death sentence to lose food and water out here. How difficult it is to survive… I know how difficult it is to go hungry because of the sea more than anyone. You can die for your pride if you want—but listen—if you eat and survive won't that give you the opportunity to fight for pride truly worth having now and in the future?"
Something broke inside the man.
His breath hitched—
He sat up.
He ate.
And then…
Tears.
That scent was strongest of all. Saltier than the sea.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… thank you so much… I thought it was over… I truly thought I was gonna die… It's delicious… this food is delicious… I've never eaten food this good before."
Sanji smirked.
Fuwako chirped softly, content.
"Pyu!"
Luffy grinned down at them from above.
"Shishishishi! I think I just found my cook!"
He jumped down to join them and landed with a thud. Fuwako instantly hopped into his lap and nuzzled against his chest. The captain laughed.
"So you're a pirate?"
"Uh-huh!"
"Is that why you went and did a crazy thing like shoot a cannonball into the restaurant?"
Fuwako sighed.
So that's what happened.
"That was an accident. Self-defense that turned into a stray shot."
"A stray shot? In any case, you don't want to do anything stupid to this place—"
But before any more conversation could glue itself to their memory…
Fuwako drifted off to sleep. Slowly. Calmly. The steady rhythm of Luffy's breathing became a lullaby. Their last thought as they dozed…
…my captain is warm.
They didn't hear Luffy's stubborn declaration—
"I refuse to accept your refusal!"
—but even in sleep, their tiny body sweat-dropped (as much as a bird could anyway).
Time passed. Voices blurred.
The world moved—
And when Fuwako opened their eyes again…
They were perched on Luffy's hat—
While he did chores horribly.
Eventually they got kicked out of the kitchen—
Then they helped take orders—
Before finally sneaking off and nesting in an empty chair near the crew.
Another nap claimed them instantly.
The aroma of cooking filled the air again—
and this time…
Fuwako dreamed of meat.