[The honest truth is that Sanji wishes Jae-Ha wouldn't leave him, impossible a dream as it is. His brothers might hurt him, mock him, maybe even scare him occasionally, but the boy doesn't care if he loses or gains their respect. He doesn't really care about them at all.
But Father...
He watches the boy hop away and his hand twitches for something to squeeze before Sanji steels himself, forcing his legs to walk the familiar route that will take him to his Father's room. It's deep in the mansion on the second floor, practically a suite, and the door is cracked open. He gives an uneasy sweep of his clothes before slipping inside.
Everyone else is there - Ichiji, Niji, Yonji, and Reiju. The boys in particular sneer when Sanji comes to stand beside them. Reiju, at least, remains mercifully silent, and besides the way his father's nose lifts like he's smelling something foul, Sanji goes ignored by him. The large, towering man continues on without a hitch: in a few month's time, their household will be entertaining the Water Tribe's general, and during the occasion, he hopes for his sons and daughter to demonstrate their physical prowess to one of the highest-ranking officers in the land. It's the chance they've been waiting for, to prove that his specific line of work will benefit the country.
He will accept nothing less than perfection from any of them. Any of them.
... And after the pause, they're dismissed, with Judge not so much as looking in Sanji's direction. He turns away instead and only says this: for the boy to wipe the dirt off his clothes and face, for heaven's sake. He looks like a commoner, and it's exactly this kind of attitude that proves what a disappointment he is.
At least try to pretend you give a damn, Sanji. Act like a noble. He heard from his brothers already - jumping for apples, when he could be training? He'll be expected to work three times as hard to make up for this nonsense.
Sanji doesn't cry on the way back to his room. Frankly, the tears are already spent. Once he clears the doorway, he slips over to the bed and sits beside it, burying his face into his knees]
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But Father...
He watches the boy hop away and his hand twitches for something to squeeze before Sanji steels himself, forcing his legs to walk the familiar route that will take him to his Father's room. It's deep in the mansion on the second floor, practically a suite, and the door is cracked open. He gives an uneasy sweep of his clothes before slipping inside.
Everyone else is there - Ichiji, Niji, Yonji, and Reiju. The boys in particular sneer when Sanji comes to stand beside them. Reiju, at least, remains mercifully silent, and besides the way his father's nose lifts like he's smelling something foul, Sanji goes ignored by him. The large, towering man continues on without a hitch: in a few month's time, their household will be entertaining the Water Tribe's general, and during the occasion, he hopes for his sons and daughter to demonstrate their physical prowess to one of the highest-ranking officers in the land. It's the chance they've been waiting for, to prove that his specific line of work will benefit the country.
He will accept nothing less than perfection from any of them. Any of them.
... And after the pause, they're dismissed, with Judge not so much as looking in Sanji's direction. He turns away instead and only says this: for the boy to wipe the dirt off his clothes and face, for heaven's sake. He looks like a commoner, and it's exactly this kind of attitude that proves what a disappointment he is.
At least try to pretend you give a damn, Sanji. Act like a noble. He heard from his brothers already - jumping for apples, when he could be training? He'll be expected to work three times as hard to make up for this nonsense.
Sanji doesn't cry on the way back to his room. Frankly, the tears are already spent. Once he clears the doorway, he slips over to the bed and sits beside it, burying his face into his knees]