[What a surprise, to find out Sanji's doesn't (can't) play fair in his own friendships. Of course he didn't tell Baren the reason why until this exact second.

It still took a lot of nerve for him to say that much, and for a brief pocket of time feels something like hurt cross his expression, too willing to assume that first statement is just another form of rejection. Old habits and all. You can't get hurt if you expect the blow somewhere.

But it isn't rejection -- "I won't go anywhere" -- and he... calms down. Enough that when Baren decides to be his usual flavor of asshole and peek at his face, there's only a flash of that vulnerability before Sanji is irritable again.]

Oh shove it. [No bite to his tone. Where did all his fire go? This is why he can't stand friendship.

He pours Baren his glass and slides it back to him.]

We're not the sharing and caring type, first off. And s'not like I didn't do fine for myself in the end.

[Gonna put that to bed immediately because Sanji will barf all over this counter if he so much as sniffs sympathy in the room.

...]

I didn't think it'd matter, so I never brought it up.