Chapter Text
Vivi is noticeably taller than her now. Even if it is only by a small margin.
Nami is annoyed about it for a solid five seconds until Vivi is on the same platform as her, those sweet doe eyes so easy to peer into from her shorter height. Those sweet doe eyes that somehow stayed just as sweet even after two years, yet had a tinge more maturity in them.
There was also confidence that wasn’t there before. An air of authority that floated around Vivi like some sort of external power she could command.
It was hot, in Nami’s very objective opinion. Snapping herself out of her daze, Nami watches as she formally greets each member of the Straw Hat crew one by one, greeting each with a handshake, probably as per some royal code Nami could really care less about. (Oh, but truly, she would. Anything for Vivi.)
All of the crewmates that had sailed alongside Vivi greeted her with enthusiasm. Nami swears she even sees tears of joy in some of their eyes—Usopp, Chopper, and, of course, Sanji. Well, it was basically everyone except Zoro, who merely greeted Vivi with a proud smile as he gladly shook her hand.
Luffy, on the other hand, looks like he’s barely restraining himself from jumping all over the place, excitedly asking, “So, are ‘ya gonna join the crew now? I mean, you’re already a part of our crew, but you aren’t sailing with us!” to which Vivi responded with a giggle and an, “I’ll think about it.”
Oh, how Nami’s heart jumped at the sound of Vivi’s laughter once more.
Oh, how Nami’s heart jumped with hope.
Robin and Vivi’s handshake leaves a lot unsaid, but Nami can already see in Vivi’s eyes that she’s long forgiven the older woman. Robin visibly relaxes at the kindness in Vivi’s tone, a grateful smile on her face. That was just the kind of person Vivi was, after all.
Franky, Brook, and Jinbe all exchanged introductory pleasantries with the princess whom they’ve never met beforehand. At least, not in person, for Jinbe has certainly seen her in passing previously. Thankfully, Brook doesn’t ask his usual question courtesy of the glare Nami’s was digging into his—quite, literal—skull.
Then, after exchanging one last handshake and laugh with Franky, who made the princess promise to let him check out some of Alabasta’s greatest engineering feats later that day, Vivi moves on to the final member of the Straw Hats.
When Vivi meets her eyes, Nami immediately catches the way they change ever so slightly. How they widen with anxiety for a few, short seconds before immediately softening. The air of authority Nami had originally observed melts away like ice, baring another, more vulnerable version of Vivi that could be seen by Nami and Nami only.
Vivi hesitantly holds out her hand. A formal handshake. There’s an awkward smile on her face, a clear lack of the confidence she had showed off to Nami’s crewmates.
Nami’s heart swells pleasantly. It makes her feel special.
Instead of accepting the handshake, she tugs Vivi by the wrist and brings her into a hug. It’s painfully familiar. Vivi’s now at a perfect height for Nami to press her cheek to where the princess’s jaw meets her neck. Nami breathes her in. The smell of sand and that deliciously addicting perfume that had distracted Nami from their crewmates who were not so well-off in the odor department all those years ago.
The seas always smelled like home to Nami.
So were the tangerines of Cocoyasi Village.
She supposes she could add this. Maybe, she should have asked for Vivi’s perfume all those years ago, but that would take away the excuse that allowed her to stay so close to the princess. She feels Vivi’s breath hitch, but the princess does not pull away. She hugs back just as tightly.
And Nami knows all eyes are on them now, but she’s always liked being the star of shows, anyways.
Yet where her lips are dangerously close to pressing against the shell of Vivi’s ear, Nami finds that they have their own little world. Something just for the two of them. So, Nami’s honest in what she’s wanted to say since forever.
“I missed you more than anything.”
Vivi mumbles something under her breath. When Nami pulls away, suddenly aware of the silence of anticipation draped over the room, she playfully raises an eyebrow seeing the miniscule blush spread across Vivi’s cheeks along with the way the younger’s eyes seem to stare back at her like she was the rain in a drought. Nami tries her hardest to dim the raging fire of hope in her heart.
“I…I missed you more.” Vivi finally says after what felt like forever, and Vivi seems to realize that judging by how her blush deepens. Nami giggles, causing Vivi to smile shyly. She thought Vivi would change a lot after two years, but Nami’s glad to see she’s still the same Vivi she had fought alongside.
Nami also hopes Vivi’s mumble of, “I think I still love you.” wasn’t just a hallucination.
Vivi welcomes them back with a speech.
Her voice is powerful as she delivers each word with frightening intensity and emotion. Talks of the state of the country, of the civil war, and of the crew that had aided the country immensely. It was a deserving welcome, and yet the crew couldn’t help but feel slightly shy with every compliment that flowed from Vivi’s lips.
“You all truly were not lying when you said she was a force to be reckoned with.” Jinbe says, a sense of awe in his voice as he looks up at the Queen of Alabasta. “She is a wonderful queen and an even more wonderful woman. It must have been an honor to sail with her.”
Nami feels her heart fill with pride, as Luffy excitedly chatters to Jinbe about all their stories with Vivi. Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper all eagerly join in, while Zoro contributes his little tidbits from the side. They’re all clearly proud of how far the princess has come, their four post-Vivi crewmates laughing with every word that comes out of their mouths.
And as the crowd roars when Vivi concludes her speech, Nami falls in love all over again.
She vividly remembers her and Vivi’s first and last kiss.
It all started when Vivi entrusted Nami with her decision first and foremost.
“I’m staying.”
To Vivi’s half-surprise, Nami doesn’t yell or do anything of the sort. Instead, Nami simply gives her a smile of understanding. A pained smile, but a smile nonetheless. No words managed to escape her throat, which suddenly felt too constrained. She can see Vivi’s heart break cleanly into two pieces in front of her very eyes. She would know, for her heart was similarly ripping apart at this very moment.
“I knew you would.” Nami whispered, as if that fact would make their goodbye hurt less.
With shaky hands, Vivi gently takes Nami’s hand in her own and brings it to her lips, pressing them softly against the inside of Nami’s palm.
With their titles, Nami felt as if this should have been done the other way around.
“When you come back,” Vivi whispers against Nami’s palm. Her voice was raspy from a day full of screaming and fighting. Despite the roughness, it manages to carry so much love. Nami didn’t know what miracle she had displayed in another life to have a princess so hopelessly infatuated with her.
“When you come back, can I keep you?”
Nami isn’t one to be kept. She’s uncontrollable. A force to be reckoned with. A rolling thunder cloud that could never be silenced.
And yet, Nami had given Vivi an unreadable look before pressing a kiss to the princess’s lips. A kiss that the princess would feel for the next two years during late nights at her desk and long afternoons at meetings. A kiss from the ghost of the thief of her heart that would run rampant in her dreams for months to come.
“If I see that you still want to by then, Vivi.”
Was Vivi avoiding her?
Nami frowned from where she sat in one of Alabasta’s many communal areas.
Ever since their little hug the morning the crew arrived, it was almost as if Vivi had become a ghost to Nami, entertaining quite literally everybody but her. It upset her immensely, and her damp mood seemed to be affecting everyone around her judging by how a majority of her crewmates look afraid to even approach her. Even Sanji seemed cautious when handing her one of the newest dessert recipes he had learned from one of the palace chefs, a feat he would normally be loud and proud of.
When Nami had asked Luffy, trying not to look as upset as she felt, the captain, who was still stuffing his mouth with the many servings of food the castle had very gladly served them, merely shrugged, “Dunno. Think she wanted to get to know Franky, Brook, and Jinbe. Have a good talk with Robin too.” He said, his voice muffled, before digging into his fifths (and everyone else’s seconds) once more.
And that pissed off Nami even more because it was a genuinely good reason to not talk to her.
Maybe, Nami shouldn’t worry too much. After all, Vivi truly loved their crew and if that meant reconciling past conflicts as well as meeting new friends, she would certainly jump at the opportunity to do so. Maybe, Nami was just overthinking this.
Or maybe…
Or maybe, Vivi didn’t want to keep her, anymore.
“Oi, Nami, why do you look like you’re about to give Vivi a debt for the first time ever? We just got here.” Usopp quips, half-joking yet you could sense the overwhelming curiosity. Nami huffs, blowing a stray hair of her’s out of her face. Anything to keep all of Vivi in her sight at all times.
Vivi, who had just laughed so brightly at another one of Brook’s dumb skull jokes.
And Nami was very sure she could be funnier than Brook, thank you very much!
“Usopp,” Nami starts, “How did you feel when you found out Kaya had lots of suitors over after we left Syrup Village?”
“Horrible.” Usopp replies as if it was the most obvious thing in the world without even missing a single beat. His face grows scrunched, as if the memory hurts to even think about. “I wondered if she would even wait for me.” Another memory seems to get him to relax, a fond, light laugh following, “Then, she assured me.” He sighs happily, “I never knew how much her mere voice could soothe all the burdens in me.”
Nami pouts. “Must be nice to be assured.” She grumbles, eyes still trained on a particularly infuriating princess, giggling the day away like Nami wasn’t right there.
Confusedly, Usopp follows Nami’s line of sight—
“Ah.” Usopp makes a noise of realization before he grins teasingly. Nami’s feels her cheeks heat up, yet her annoyed pout persists. Mercifully, the man doesn’t voice any of his teases aloud.
“Oh, come on, Nami, we all know Vivi loves you.” Nami’s cheeks somehow grow redder. Usopp’s grin widens seeing this. “She probably just wants to catch up with the crew.” Usopp tries to comfort, despite his urge to tease the usually unaffected ginger so badly. “I’m sure she’s giving others attention right now, so she can focus on you later.”
Too bad Nami wants all of her attention all the time.
Nami frowns, crossing her arms and relenting. Her eyes stay attached to Vivi, the girl seemingly unaffected by the holes getting drilled into the back of her skull.
“Fine.”