As the Son of Mihawk in One Piece

Chapter 19: Baratie



The Baratie floated serenely, its fish-shaped hull gliding under an endless blue sky.

Inside, the restaurant hummed with the quiet conversation of its patrons, the clink of silverware against fine china, and the occasional shout from the kitchen.

Near the entrance, Leon sat at a corner table, looking relaxed. His Marine coat hung over the back of the elegant chair, Yubashiri propped carefully against the wall within arm's reach.

Before him sat a plate of exquisitely prepared seafood pasta, steam still rising from the perfectly coiled noodles.

"This is... incredible," he commented, twirling another forkful.

Across from him, Koby sat ramrod straight, his pink hair freshly combed, clearly uncomfortable in such an upscale establishment.

His eyes darted nervously around the room, noting how other patrons kept stealing glances at their table.

"Yes, sir! The food is excellent!" he agreed with unnecessarily loud, causing Leon to raise an eyebrow.

"Relax, Koby. We're here to eat, not conduct an inspection."

Standing a few paces behind Leon, Lieutenant Commander Aria Blackwell - Leon's ship's 2nd-in-command maintained a vigilant watch, her posture perfect, twin pistols holstered at her hips gleaming in the restaurant's warm lighting.

Her short black hair was impeccably styled, the small scar across her right eyebrow adding to her striking features.

"The establishment appears secure, sir," she reported professionally.

Throughout the restaurant, whispers followed in their wake.

"That's him - the Golden Blade..."

"They say he's cleansed almost the entire East Blue of pirates..."

"Yeah, he's incredibly strong. Called the Terror of these seas by pirates, and a Hero by the people..."

A nervous waiter approached their table, hands trembling slightly as he refilled Leon's water glass.

"Th-thank you for dining with us today, sir," he managed, nearly spilling the water.

Leon looked up with a casual smile that seemed to surprise the man. "The pasta is exceptional. My compliments to the chef."

The waiter's tension visibly decreased. "I'll let Chef Zeff know, sir!"

As if summoned by his name, a gruff older man with a magnificent blonde mustache and a wooden peg leg thumped across the restaurant floor toward their table.

His tall chef's hat added to his already imposing presence as he stopped before them, arms crossed.

"Not often we get Marines of your caliber here," Zeff remarked, his sharp eyes assessing Leon. "Especially ones with your... reputation."

Leon dabbed his mouth with a napkin before responding. "I heard the food was exceptional. I'm pleased to find the rumors were accurate."

Zeff's expression remained neutral. "And that's the only reason you're here? Just passing through?"

"Can't a man simply enjoy a good meal?" Leon replied, twirling more pasta onto his fork.

Zeff's mustache twitched slightly. "In my experience, men like you don't do anything without purpose."

Before Leon could respond, the kitchen doors swung open as a tall, blonde man in an immaculate black suit emerged carrying a fresh plate. He moved with confident grace, his visible eye immediately noticing Aria as he approached.

"For the gentleman, our house specialty," he announced, placing the steaming dish before Leon with a flourish. "Seafood linguine in white wine sauce with capers and fresh herbs."

Turning to Aria with a smooth smile, he continued, "And perhaps the lovely lady would care for something sweet? Though I doubt anything could match your beauty."

Aria's professional demeanor cooled further. "No, thank you."

"Are you certain? Our chocolate soufflé is-"

"I'm on duty," she interrupted crisply.

Sanji's disappointment was visible but brief before he composed himself. "Of course. Perhaps another time."

Leon observed the interaction with subtle amusement while sampling his new dish. "The balance of flavors is remarkable," he commented genuinely. "The acidity of the wine perfectly complements the sweetness of the seafood."

Sanji's attention immediately shifted, pride evident in his stance. "You have a discerning palate. The secret is in the reduction - we use a particular method to concentrate the flavors without overwhelming the delicate seafood."

"You clearly take your craft seriously," Leon noted.

"Food is not something to be taken lightly," Sanji replied, his expression suddenly intense. "Especially when serving those who hunger."

Leon studied him for a moment, recognizing the conviction behind those words. Their conversation was interrupted by the restaurant door suddenly bursting open with a lot of force, banging loudly against the wall.

The abrupt movement caused Leon's table to shake violently, his pasta sliding toward the edge of the plate. With lightning reflexes, Leon caught the dish, but not before some sauce splattered onto his pristine white Marine coat.

The entire restaurant froze in collective terror, all eyes darting between the newcomers and the infamous Golden Blade, now decorated with pasta sauce.

In the doorway stood a young man with a straw hat, grinning widely and completely oblivious to the danger. Behind him, a green-haired swordsman and an orange-haired woman looked around with interest.

"Wow! This place looks amazing!" Luffy exclaimed, stepping inside without noticing the looming threat.

Leon rose slowly to his full height, his expression unreadable as he carefully set his plate down. The restaurant patrons began edging toward the exits as he approached the newcomers, his shadow falling over the straw-hatted boy.

Zoro tensed immediately, hand moving to his swords as he sensed the threat. "Luffy," he warned quietly.

Nami paled, her eyes widening as she spotted Leon with pasta sauce on his uniform. "Luffy!" she hissed urgently. "That's-"

Too late. Luffy finally noticed the shadow and turned around, eyes going really happily wide, his face breaking into an even bigger grin.

"Hey, Leo-" he began cheerfully, only to be cut off by a powerful fist slamming into his head.

"YOU MADE MY FOOD NEARLY SPILL, YOU IDIOT!" Leon roared as Luffy flew across the restaurant, crashing into the far wall.

Gasps echoed throughout the restaurant. Aria already had a hand on her pistol. Koby had fallen out of his chair in shock.

Luffy peeled himself from the wall, rubbing his head with an exaggerated pout. "That hurt!" he whined, though his eyes showed he wasn't truly injured.

Then, defying all expectations, Luffy launched himself across the room and tackled Leon in a rubbery hug.

"I missed you!" he exclaimed, arms wrapping around Leon multiple times in typical rubber fashion.

The restaurant watched in stunned silence as Leon's stern expression softened, and he returned the hug with one arm.

"You're still as reckless as ever," Leon said, his tone warm despite the criticism.

Zoro approached cautiously, still confused by this turn of events. "Luffy, you know this guy?" he asked, hand still resting on his sword hilt.

Before Luffy could answer, Nami appeared behind Zoro, smacking him on the head repeatedly.

"You idiot!" she whispered fiercely. "That's Leon, the Hero of the East Blue! The Golden Blade!"

Zoro rubbed his head, annoyed. "I know who he is. I'm asking how Luffy knows him."

Luffy turned to his crew with his characteristic wide grin: "He's my big brother!"

"EEEHHHHH?!" The collective shock from everyone in the restaurant was deafening.

Only Zeff remained unperturbed, watching the scene with interest.

"Your brother is the Marine who's been systematically eliminating piracy in the East Blue?" Zoro asked incredulously.

"Yep!" Luffy confirmed, still hanging off Leon's side. "He's super strong!"

Leon disentangled himself from Luffy's rubbery embrace, straightening his sauce-stained uniform. "I see you've started gathering your crew," he observed, looking over Zoro and Nami.

"This is Zoro! He's gonna be the world's greatest swordsman!" Luffy announced proudly. "There's Usopp, he's outside guarding our ship, and he will become a great warrior of the sea! And Nami here is our navigator! She's gonna make a map of the whole world! "

Leon's eyes met Nami's briefly, noting how she quickly looked away, a flush rising to her cheeks.

"We've met," he said simply, before gesturing to his companions. "This is Koby, my apprentice. And Lieutenant Commander Blackwell, my second-in-command."

Koby bowed nervously. "It's an honor to meet Luffy-san's crew!"

Aria maintained her professional demeanor, though her eyes lingered assessingly on Nami. "Welcome to the Baratie," she said formally.

Luffy had already lost interest in introductions, his attention captured by Leon's half-eaten pasta. "Are you gonna finish that?" he asked, reaching for the plate.

Leon caught his wrist with ease. "Touch my food again and lose the hand, rubber or not."

"So mean," Luffy pouted, before brightening immediately. "Hey, let's all eat together! I'm starving!"

Minutes later, they were seated at a larger table, Sanji bringing additional chairs and place settings with grace. His attention immediately fixed on Nami as he approached with menus.

"Mademoiselle, what vision of loveliness has graced our humble restaurant!" he exclaimed, presenting her menu with a flourish. "I am Sanji, chef of the Baratie, and I am entirely at your service."

His flirtation was smooth and charming, to Leon notably more restrained than his future self would be. Nami smiled appreciatively at the attention.

"Thank you, Sanji-kun. Everything smells wonderful."

Aria watched this interaction with visible relief, clearly preferring Sanji's attention directed elsewhere.

She maintained her vigilant posture, standing rather than sitting despite Leon's gesture toward an empty chair.

"Lieutenant Commander, join us," he said, making it more command than invitation.

She hesitated briefly before complying. "Yes, sir."

As food arrived in generous portions, conversation flowed naturally. Luffy's hand darted across the table, stealing from everyone's plates except Leon's - a lesson clearly learned years ago.

"So you set sail just over a week ago?" Leon asked, skillfully deflecting one of Luffy's attempted raids on Koby's plate without looking.

"Yeah! First we beat up this fat pirate lady-"

"Alvida," Koby supplied nervously.

"-and then we went to this Marine place where Zoro was tied up-"

"Shell Town," Leon noted, exchanging a glance with Koby.

"-and then we fought this weird hypnotist guy and a cat-man!"

Zoro snorted. "You're making it sound random. There was a plan."

"Was there?" Nami asked dryly.

"The Marines at Shell Town were corrupt," Zoro explained between bites. "Had the whole town terrified."

"Were being the operative word," Leon replied with emphasis.

Koby fidgeted uncomfortably, remembering the harsh justice Leon had delivered at the base.

As the meal progressed, Nami remained unusually quiet, stealing glances at Leon when she thought no one was looking.

Aria noticed these glances, her own expression carefully neutral.

Luffy, oblivious to the tension, reached across the table toward Nami. "Oh! I finally understand!" he exclaimed suddenly, his rubber arm stretching.

"Understand what?" Nami asked suspiciously.

Without warning, Luffy's hand darted toward Nami's neckline, pulling at the chain around it and fishing out something hidden beneath her shirt. "Why you carry this little Leon-angel thing everywhere! You got it from him!"

Revealed in Luffy's hand was a small, exquisitely carved wooden pendant. It showed a perfect miniature of Leon with angel wings, the craftsmanship remarkably detailed despite its small size.

Nami gasped in horror and slapped Luffy's hand away, quickly clutching the pendant protectively. Her face flushed deep red as she realized everyone at the table was staring.

"Luffy! You can't just grab things from people!" she hissed, hastily tucking the pendant back beneath her shirt.

Aria's expression froze in perfect professional composure, but her knuckles whitened around her fork.

Sanji, who had been approaching with dessert, looked devastated. Dramatic tears formed in his eyes as he set down the plates. "Such a beautiful lady already has someone in her heart!" he lamented.

"You carved that for her?" Koby asked Leon curiously, innocently.

Leon's expression remained neutral, "At her request," he confirmed simply, taking another bite of his meal.

"It's just a souvenir," Nami muttered unconvincingly, avoiding everyone's gaze.

"It's really good!" Luffy declared, oblivious to the tension he'd created. "Leon makes the best carvings! He made me a pirate ship once, but I accidentally broke it."

"Because you tried to see if it would float in soup," Leon reminded him.

As the awkward moment passed, Leon observed the dynamics around him carefully.

He noted Aria's subtle jealousy, recognizing her feelings despite her professional demeanor. Similarly, he acknowledged Nami's attachment to the pendant, understanding that she saw it beyond mere souvenir.

While romance wasn't his current priority, he couldn't definitively say it never would be.

For now, maintaining outward obliviousness seemed the most compassionate approach for everyone - since he didn't want to hurt the girls' feelings, and neither hurt his own future ones, if he actually wanted one day to be with one of them.

For now, better to let these feelings resolve naturally than address them prematurely.

His thoughts shifted to his true purpose at the Baratie - the possibility of meeting his Dad.

Had his manipulation of Don Krieg's journey created the opportunity he sought? Only time would tell.

A commotion outside interrupted his thoughts. Shouts carried from the deck, growing louder by the second.

Sanji moved to investigate, returning moments later with a grim expression. "A pirate ship approaching," he announced. "Looks badly damaged."

Aria immediately stood at attention. "Your orders, sir?"

"Let's see how this plays out," Leon replied calmly, returning to his meal.

Patrons began to panic, some rushing to leave before the pirates arrived. Zeff ordered his cooks to prepare, though his eyes remained fixed on Leon.

"You knew they were coming," Zeff stated, not a question.

Leon met his gaze evenly. "I had my suspicions."

The damaged galleon became visible through the windows, once grand but now barely floating. Its tattered sails and splintered hull told a story of catastrophic defeat.

"That's Don Krieg's flagship," Koby whispered, eyes wide.

"Or what's left of it," Zoro commented, hand resting on his swords.

Minutes later, the restaurant door opened again, this time slowly and deliberately. Two figures stood silhouetted in the doorway - one massive and imposing, the other supporting him.

Gin and Don Krieg entered, the latter leaning heavily on his subordinate. Both men were gaunt from starvation, their clothes tattered and dirty. The moment they spotted Leon, both men froze as if they'd seen a demon.

Krieg's face drained of color, his infamous courage visibly shaken. "The Golden Blade," Gin whispered, his voice carrying in the silent restaurant.

Leon continued eating his pasta, seemingly unconcerned. He smiled pleasantly, swallowing before speaking. "Don Krieg. I had a feeling I'd be seeing you soon." Lifting his glass in a mock toast: "It seems fate has served you to me on a silver platter. Ironic, considering I am dining in one of the most distinguished restaurants in the East Blue."

Koby stared in shock at Leon's casual demeanor before such a notorious pirate. Aria already had her pistol drawn and aimed at Krieg, her movement so swift nearly no one saw her draw.

Krieg remained frozen, clearly calculating his chances and finding them lacking.

Suddenly, Gin dropped to his knees, head bowed to the floor. "Please," he begged, pride completely abandoned. "We need food. Our crew is starving."

"My captain needs strength," Gin continued desperately. "We've just returned from the Grand Line..."

"I promise, just give me food, I beg you, and I won't do anything, I swear," Krieg muttered weakly.

"Captain..." Gin muttered, with tears beginning to fill his eyes at seeing his strong and proud Captain begging.

Sanji listened to the exchange, his expression hardening with resolve. Without a word, he turned toward the kitchen, clearly intending to prepare food.

The other cooks seeing this, knowing how he is, immediately protested.

"Are you insane? That's Don Krieg!" one shouted.

"The 'Pirate Admiral' with a fleet of fifty ships!" another added.

When Sanji remained undettered, the other cooks moved to block his path, outrage on their faces. "Have you lost your mind?" one demanded.

"He's killed hundreds! Destroyed entire towns!" another added.

Sanji attempted to move past them, his determination unwavering. The confrontation escalated as cooks drew weapons - knives, rolling pins, even a few guns.

"You'll bring down the whole restaurant!" a cook shouted, pointing at Leon. "The Hero of the East Blue is right there!"

Sanji finally stopped, turning to face his fellow cooks with cold fury. "I don't turn away anyone who's hungry," he stated firmly. "I don't care who they are."

He looked directly at Leon, unflinching. "No offense, but that's who I am."

The restaurant held its breath, waiting for Leon's reaction.

Leon continued eating calmly, taking a sip of wine before responding. "No worries," he said with a casual wave. "Feed them if you wish. Your principles are admirable."

The collective shock was palpable - no one expected the infamous Marine to permit feeding pirates.

Sanji's expression showed brief surprise before settling into a thin smile. "Thank you," he said simply, continuing to the kitchen as the other cooks reluctantly parted.

Zeff watched the exchange with approval in his eyes, though he hid it quickly.

"You're just going to let him feed pirates?" Aria asked Leon quietly, her pistol still trained on Krieg.

"A man's principles are worth respecting," Leon replied unconcerned. "Even when inconvenient."

Minutes later, Sanji returned with a heaping plate of food, setting it before the starving pirates. Krieg and Gin devoured it desperately, the former's strength visibly returning with each bite.

The restaurant remained tense, all eyes darting between the pirates and Leon. Koby fidgeted nervously, clearly expecting Leon to arrest the pirates at any moment.

Krieg finally sat back, wiping his mouth with exaggerated satisfaction. "Excellent," he declared, his voice stronger now. "Now I'll need food for my crew as well."

He stood to his full height, throwing off his tattered cloak to reveal golden armor beneath. "I have a hundred men starving on my ship," he announced. "You will feed them all."

The cooks protested immediately, but Krieg silenced them with a glare. "This restaurant is mine now," he declared, weapons emerging from his armor. "And I have no intention of paying."

Gin looked troubled, glancing between his captain and Sanji. "Captain, you promised..."

"Silence," Krieg snapped. "Did you really think I'd keep my word to these weaklings?"

His eyes darted nervously to Leon, who continued eating as if nothing was happening.

"This is the strongest restaurant on the sea," Krieg continued, clearly trying to sound confident despite Leon being there. "Perfect for my new flagship."

As Krieg continued his threats, Leon calmly wiped his mouth with a napkin. He began to rise, but Luffy suddenly stood first, his chair scraping loudly across the floor.

"Leon," Luffy said with unusual seriousness. "Let me handle this."

Leon studied his brother's expression. After a moment, he settled back in his chair with a small smile.

"Your loss," he shrugged. "I get to eat more and longer."

Krieg laughed derisively at Luffy. "You? A scrawny kid thinks he can take on Don Krieg?"

"I'm not just any kid," Luffy replied, cracking his knuckles. "I'm going to be King of the Pirates."

Krieg's laughter turned to rage. "There's only room for one king on these seas, and it will be me!"

He aimed a gun at Luffy, preparing to fire. "Die, brat!"

The weapon discharged, sending a small bullet hurtling toward Luffy. Luffy instantly dodged, the bullet embedding itself in the wall behind him.

"You know what I hate most?" Luffy asked, his arm beginning to stretch behind him.

"Pirates who steal others' food and don't appreciate kindness!"

Krieg's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. "What the-"

"Gum-Gum..." Luffy began, his arm stretching to its limit.

"Impossible!" Krieg gasped, recognizing it as a Devil Fruit power.

"PISTOL!" Luffy shouted, his fist rocketing forward with great force.

The punch connected squarely with Krieg's chest despite his golden armor. The impact sent the pirate captain flying backward, crashing through the restaurant doors and landing in a heap on the outer deck.

The restaurant stared in shocked silence at the display of power. Leon continued eating his dessert, a small proud smile playing at his lips.

Outside, Krieg struggled to his feet, armor cracked from the force of the blow. "You'll pay for that, boy!" he roared, weapons emerging from every part of his armor.

Luffy stepped through the broken doorway, cracking his knuckles as he approached. "Let's take this outside," he said. "I don't want to mess up the restaurant."

As the two squared off on the deck, Leon calmly requested another serving of dessert.

"Aren't you going to help him?" Koby asked anxiously.

"Luffy can handle himself," Leon replied, watching through the window as his brother prepared to fight. "Besides, some battles need to be fought alone."

Zoro and Nami moved to the windows to watch the confrontation, while Aria maintained her vigilant position near Leon.

"He's grown stronger," Leon observed quietly, a hint of pride in his voice. "But the Grand Line will demand far more of him."

On the deck, Luffy and Krieg circled each other, the true battle about to begin.

"Your brother is... not what I expected," Aria commented, holstering her pistol at last.

"Few things about Luffy are," Leon replied. 

As the sounds of combat erupted outside, Leon savored another bite of dessert, his golden eyes fixed on the horizon beyond the battle.

Somewhere out there, a certain hawk-eyed swordsman might be approaching - drawn by the same prey Leon had so carefully directed.

Father and son, moving inexorably toward their first direct meeting in years.

------------------------

(Author note: Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

I know, I know, some of you may not like some of the girls falling for Leon - like Aria, who is an OC, who we will get to know more about in the future, but well...

I can't see it not happening. Nami having a crush on Leon is perfectly logical.

Leon himself being such a respected figure, being really handsome to boot thanks to his Mother Elise, his Dad Mihawk and his Grandpa Imu's genetics, and his own Dream affecting his physical appearance - well, its just a concotion of someone really good looking.

Now, I personally have no intention on making this fic, a Harem. 

Who, Leon will end up with remains to be seen, cause I personally haven't decided on anyone yet, completely, but have been contemplating. 

Well, Leon and Mihawk are getting closer and closer to meeting, I hope you all are looking forward to that.

I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)


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