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It was a day like any other. The sun shone bright. The wind blew steadily, taking the ship along course. Waves splashed against the hull, and gulls squawked in the air. The weather was warm. Inviting. It was the kind of day you wanted to spend outside. Enjoying life.
The Strawhat Pirates were scattered across their ship. Usopp and Chopper sat on the railing, fishing while the older boy regaled the younger with tales of his daring do. Zoro snored away beneath the shade of the main mast. Sanji was attempting to grill burgers on the grass deck, but Franky kept peering over his shoulder, offering too many critiques for the chef’s temper to handle. Robin sat at a table, sipping tea and enjoying a conversation with Jinbe while Brook accompanied them with his violin.
Nami reclined on a lounger, soaking up the sun in her favorite chair, her orange hair whipping in the breeze. Today, she had dressed in red. A carmine bikini top with a pair of cut-off jeans. Strappy, brown sandals sat strapped to her feet. In one hand, she held a refreshing cocktail, whipped up by Sanji, complete with a tiny umbrella and a cherry. In her other hand, she held the ship’s ledger, usually the cause of endless frustrations. But as the crew was currently sitting on a surplus, she couldn’t be happier.
A board creaked, grabbing her attention. Looking to her right, she saw her captain taking a seat on the deck next to her. His wide, innocent eyes were trained squarely on her. Had this been Sanji or Brook, she might have been concerned about the skin she was showing. But this was Luffy! He didn’t have a perverted bone in his body!
Trying to return to her wonderful, so much money numbers, Nami found herself unable to focus. Not only had Luffy, normally boisterous and needy, sat silently, but he was also still staring at her. A slight blush crept across the navigator’s cheeks; she could feel his eyes trailing across her. She shifted in her seat, crossing her legs and brushing a finger down her cheek.
“Do I have something on my face?” she asked with a mix of curiosity and teasing in her voice, though she made sure not to sound annoyed. Luffy may have been acting weird, but he wasn’t bothering her. Not yet. She closed the ledger and set it aside, taking a sip of her cocktail. “You’ve been staring for a while now.”
Rather than answer, Luffy leaned closer. And closer. And closer. In seconds, his face was inches from hers. His eyes were locked so intently on hers that Nami couldn’t look away. Whether he had crawled over to her lounger or stretched his neck over, she didn’t know. All she knew was that her blush had deepened, spreading down her neck.
“You’re really pretty. Like, really pretty,” Luffy finally said, his breath tickling her nose. “Have you always been this pretty?”
“W-What?! Luffy! Back up a bit!” Nami said with a nervous laugh, placing a hand on his forehead to push him back. “You can’t just get that close to a girl’s face and say things like that!”
Despite her words, she didn’t push him back too forcefully. Her heart was beating faster, and she wasn’t entirely sure why she wasn’t more upset about this. She looked away, fidgeting with the hem of her shorts.
“I… I mean, thank you? It’s good to see your eyes finally started working.” She adjusted her position on the lounger, sitting a hair more provocatively. A small way to reward him for his appreciation. Something she knew deep down she wouldn’t do for anyone else. But no one else had gone years ignoring how smoking hot she was, so he had earned himself this much, at least.
She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. “What brought this on all of a sudden? Did you hit your head or something?”
Cocking his head to the side, Luffy stroked his chin ponderously. “I dunno,” he shrugged. “I looked over at you, and my brain said, ‘Nami’s really pretty today.’ But you always look like that, so I got confused. Had to check.”
Nami couldn’t help but let out a small, somewhat exasperated laugh at that explanation. She shook her head, her hair swishing with the movement.
“You’re so direct sometimes, it’s… actually kind of refreshing,” she admitted, though she still kept some distance between them. “But you could have just said that normally instead of getting all up in my business.”
She took another sip of her cocktail, using the moment to collect herself. Her cheeks were still flushed, and she wasn’t entirely sure how to process this interaction.
“So… You think I’m pretty every day? Not that I’m complaining or anything, but…” she trailed off, looking at him with a mixture of amusement and genuine curiosity. “What made today different enough for your brain to speak up?”
Luffy opened his mouth to speak before closing it again. This action was repeated several more times as his brain needed to crunch the numbers.
“I think it’s the sun?” He turned and looked directly at it for a bit too long. “It’s hitting your hair and making it extra shiny. Plus…”
Reaching over, he raised one of her wavy curls and tucked it behind her ear. “Smells really good too. Tangerines, right?”
Nami inhaled sharply as Luffy touched her hair, a shiver running down her spine at the unexpected contact. She blinked rapidly, trying to register what he had said.
“Y-Yes, I put a bit of tangerine juice in my shampoo… You’re pretty observant today, aren’t you?” she said, still blushing slightly.
She took another sip of her cocktail, trying to hide her flustered expression behind the glass. She could feel the warmth of the sun on her face and the gentle tug of the sea breeze in her hair.
“You know, most guys would just say I’m pretty and leave it at that. You’re… You’re different, Luffy,” she remarked, setting her drink down and turning to face him fully now, her earlier nervousness fading. “But I guess that’s what I like about you. Your honesty, even if it’s a bit much sometimes.”
She reached up and tucked another strand of hair behind her ear, mirroring his earlier action. She couldn’t help but smile slightly, shaking her head.
“You’re lucky you’re you, or I might have to smack the shit out of you for being so forward,” she joked, but there was no real heat behind her words. “Just don’t go making a habit of it, okay? A girl likes to be wooed a little more gently than that.”
“Wooed?” Luffy latched onto that word like it was a life preserver and he was a drowning man. “How do you like to be wooed?”
Nami paused, caught off guard by the genuine question. She hadn’t expected him to actually ask. She looked away, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Well… I don’t know, I never really thought about it,” she admitted, fidgeting now with one of her bikini straps. “If it’s not gross catcalling or Sanji’s antics, I’m usually the one doing the flirting. And I don’t often go past that step.” She glanced back at him, her expression softening just a little.
“But I guess… Flowers are nice. And maybe some thoughtful gesture. Something that shows you actually put thought into it instead of just saying whatever comes to mind.” She twirled her pen around her fingers, lost in thought. “And not being all weird and touchy-feely out of nowhere, obviously,” she couldn’t help but add with a slight smirk, though she didn’t actually mind his touchy-feeliness as much as she probably should.
“Why? Are you planning something, Luffy?”
Flinging back like he had been struck, her captain’s eyes went wide, and she could have sworn she saw a touch of red in his cheeks. “Puh- Wha- I- No!” With his obvious lie delivered, he stumbled over his feet, fleeing the scene.
Watching as Luffy scrambled away, a genuine laugh escaped Nami’s lips. She shook her head, still smiling. “Liar! You totally are planning something!” she called after him, though she wasn’t actually upset. If anything, she was… amused? Maybe a little curious? She leaned back in her chair, recrossing her legs and polishing off her cocktail. Her smile lingered as she watched him disappear inside the ship.
“Well, I guess it’s kind of cute that you’re thinking about it at all,” she muttered to herself, picking up the ledger once more. “Not that I’m expecting anything. I’m just…” She trailed off, opening the ledger and trying to focus on any expenses she may have missed, though she found her mind wandering a bit more than usual.
************************************************
Later on, when the wind picked up to not-quite-concerning-but-too-strong-to-enjoy-sitting-outside levels, Nami decided to spend the rest of her day surrounded by her precious maps. The crew had made several stops recently, providing her with ample cartographic data. Three different islands within a single week’s span. She had started work on two of them, but set aside the third and the inking work for a day when no pressing matters required her. And today was just that day. She swapped out her baddie getup for a comfy sweater and loose-fitting pants before heading to her mapping desk.
The first thing she noticed upon stepping into the library was the silence. Or the lack thereof. Scratching and grumbling came from her writing desk. Fury screamed straight from her soul, sending her marching to deliver last rites to whichever interloper decided himself immune to her laws.
Scribbling away on a piece of parchment, one of her good, high-quality map parchments, was Luffy. Her quill sat clenched in his grip, his fist so tight she was sure he had already broken it. Stomping over, she growled, “Luffy!” and tried to snatch the parchment away from him.
“Wait no!” the idiot cried, pulling it back. “It’s not done yet!”
Freezing mid-yank, Nami’s eyes widened as she saw what Luffy was drawing. The irritation immediately drained from her face, replaced by surprise and curiosity.
“Wait, you’re… You’re drawing a map?” she asked, her voice softer now as she carefully took the parchment from him, being more gentle than she had initially intended to be.
Holding it up to the light, she examined his work. It wasn’t perfect. Luffy’s artistic skills were limited, to say the least. But there was an undeniable effort there. The island was roughly drawn, with some landmarks visible, and he even attempted to show the shoreline and some of the terrain features. A notebook sat open on the desk beside him.
“You followed my notes?” Nami looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and… Something else. Something warm that she wasn’t ready to name. “How did you even…?”
She set the parchment down on the desk, turning to face him fully. Her expression was softer now, almost vulnerable in a way she rarely showed. “Why would you do this, Luffy? I mean, have I even mentioned I was behind on charting…?” she trailed off, looking down at the map again. “This is really thoughtful.”
Luffy rubbed his arm sheepishly, making himself meet her eyes. “You work too hard,” he said, his voice soft. Was he bashful or respecting the library’s rules? “I wanted to help out so you can relax some more. Just… Just tryin’ to… you know…”
Nami felt her chest tighten at his words. She looked up at him, her eyes softening even further. A small, gentle smile tugged at her lips. “Trying to woo me?” she finished for him, her voice barely above a whisper.
When he didn’t deny it, her heart skipped a beat.
She reached out and gently touched his arm, squeezing it slightly. It was a small gesture, but it was more physical contact than she typically allowed. “Luffy… that’s… That’s really sweet,” she said, looking down at the map again, though she could feel her cheeks warming. “You didn’t have to do this. But I appreciate it.”
Glancing back up at him, her expression was a whirlwind of emotions: Surprise, gratitude, and that something else. Something she wasn’t quite ready to examine too closely. “Thank you. Really. You’re… You’re making it really hard to stay mad at you for going through my stuff,” she added with a laugh.
“Oh man, that’s a relief,” Luffy wiped a layer of sweat from his brow and pushed the chair back. “I thought you were gonna charge me for this!” Jumping to his feet, he hurtled himself to the door. “I got more for ya!” he called before disappearing down the hall.
Watching as he hurried out, Nami couldn’t help but let out a soft, amused laugh. She shook her head, looking down at the map again with a fond smile. “More? What could he possibly have done next?” she muttered to herself, though she was genuinely curious. And maybe a little excited to see what he came up with next.
She carefully folded the map and tucked it into her desk drawer, making sure to keep it safe. Standing up, she smoothed out her clothes and headed toward the door, listening for her captain’s clamoring footsteps. “Luffy! Where are you going?!” she called out, following after him with genuine interest tinged with a hint of exasperation.
He stood out on the main deck, holding something behind his back. She approached cautiously. Excited, but wary. “This is all I can get,” he grimaced, holding the gift out for her. “If I tried to take any flowers from Robin’s garden, she’d kill me.”
Nami took the… flowers?... from Luffy, examining them with a raised eyebrow. They were not the kind of plants she would normally be happy to receive. In fact, based on the odd, colorful petals and the slightly unnatural appearance…
“Luffy, these are from Usopp’s garden, not a flower shop,” she said, though her smile only grew at the gesture. “And Robin would never actually kill you. She’s too nice for that.”
She held the flowers up to her nose, inhaling their scent. They actually smelled quite pleasant, albeit a bit unusual. “I got the ones that smell the best!” Luffy puffed out his chest with pride.
“Thank you,” Nami chuckled at his bravado. “I… I really appreciate that you thought to get me flowers.” She looked back at him, her expression soft. Fully invested. “You’re full of surprises today, aren’t you?” Setting the flowers down on a nearby crate, she turned back to face him fully. There was a warmth in her eyes that had been steadily building since she saw his attempt at cartography.
“Though, next time, maybe try a real flower shop? These are a bit too unique for my tastes.” She stuck her tongue out playfully at him, hoping to quell any trembling feelings with light banter.
But once again, Luffy latched onto only one part of her statement. His smile lit up the deck even though the sun was still out. “Next time?” he grinned. “You want more flowers from me?”
Nami felt her cheeks warm at his eager response. She looked away, trying to hide the smile that had been tugging at her lips for minutes now. “I… I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant… You know, if you’re going to keep trying to woo me, at least do it right,” she said, though she continued to tease him rather than actually be harsh.
Reaching out, she gently poked his forehead. “But yes, I suppose I wouldn’t mind if you got me flowers again. Real ones this time.” She paused, her playful expression becoming more genuine. “You’re really making an effort, Luffy. I… I don’t know what to say.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking at him with a soft, almost vulnerable expression. “Why are you doing this, really? What made you decide to… To woo me?”
Luffy scratched his cheek, thinking it over. He pursed his lips, lost in thought, but his beaming smile quickly grew back. “I dunno!” he laughed. “I think about you a lot but today… I dunno.” He shrugged. “I just wanted to make you happy.”
Nami’s breath caught slightly at his words. She looked away, her heart beating faster. A genuine smile crossed her face as she tried to process what he just said. “Make me happy…?” she repeated softly, almost to herself. She glanced back at him, her eyes searching his face. “Luffy, when did you get so sweet?”
She took a step closer to him, her voice dropping, becoming even softer. “You know, I’ve never really had someone go this far for me,” she admitted, allowing herself to be vulnerable with him. “When men look at me, they aren’t seeing me. They’re just thinking about what they want to do to me. Sanji doesn’t, but he looks the same way at every other pretty girl. He doesn’t make me feel special. Luffy, you make me feel special. You make me feel cared for.”
Reaching out, she gently took his hand, squeezing it softly. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Luffy. I don’t know how to handle this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But… I like it. I like that you want to make me happy. I like… you.” She looked down at their joined hands, her cheeks flushing with a deep red.
“Nami…” Luffy’s voice was low, rumbling in his chest. The mere act of saying her name caused a reaction within him. His eyes were dark, filled with need. Brimming with desire. “I wanna kiss you. Nami, can I kiss you?”
Nami’s eyes widened in shock as Luffy leaned in. Her heart hammered in her chest as his face approached hers. She froze, caught completely off-guard by the suddenness of his advance.
“W-Wait! Luffy, I-”
But before she could finish her protest, his lips met hers in an awkward, clumsy kiss. It wasn’t particularly skilled, but there was an earnestness to it that made her heart skip several beats.
After a moment of shock, Nami found herself responding, her hand moving from his to cup his cheek gently. The kiss was brief, just a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. When they finally parted, she was breathing heavily, her face flushed a deep crimson.
“W-What the hell was that?!” Nami gasped, her hand moving to her lips as her mind struggled to comprehend what just happened. Despite her words, she wasn’t angry. More like flustered and surprised.
She took a step back, her eyes wide as she stared at him. “You can’t just… You can’t just kiss someone without warning them first!” she squeaked. She may have tried to sound angry, but she was too breathless to match it. She looked away, her heart racing.
“That was… that was my first kiss,” she admitted quietly. “And you just… took it.”
Her second came without warning. Nami let out a startled yelp as Luffy kissed her again. And again. Each one as clumsy and earnest as the first. She stumbled backward slightly, her hands coming up to push against his chest. “W-Wait! Stop! You can’t just keep-”
But he kissed her again, and she found herself reciprocating. Her hands slid up his chest to grip his shirt. The kisses were overwhelming in their intensity, each one making her head spin more than the last.
After what felt like hours, Luffy finally pulled back. Nami was breathing heavily, her face flushed, her lips tingling. She looked up at him with wide, dazed eyes, her mind struggling to catch up to what happened.
“W-What are you… Why are you…” she gasped, trying to form coherent sentences between ragged breaths. “Are you… Are you hungry? Because that’s not how you… Oh god, I can’t think straight right now.” Her eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to process the overwhelming sensations still tingling through her body.
“Nah, not hungry,” Luffy grinned, pulling her flush against him but otherwise keeping himself restrained. “But I wanna keep doin’ this.”
Nami let out a shaky, breathless laugh at his response. Her hands were still gripping his shirt, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
“I mean… I’m not opposed to it or anything,” she admitted, her cheeks still flushed. “But you’re being really intense right now. Like, really really intense.”
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Her hands slid up to cup his face, her thumb gently stroking along his scar. “What has gotten into you?”
“Dunno,” he answered simply. “Just feels right.”
And he kissed her again.
Nami melted into the kiss, her eyes fluttering closed as Luffy held her close. She could feel the warmth of his body pressed against hers, the strength in his arms as he pulled her near. The kiss was just as intense as the others, making her heart speed back up and her head spin. But just as she was losing herself to the sensation, a loud, booming voice snapped her back to reality:
“OI! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING, YOU RUBBER BASTARD?! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY NAMI-SWAN!!!”
Jumping back from Luffy, Nami’s eyes were wide and startled. She looked over to see Sanji standing there, his hands balled into tight fists and his expression thunderous. Behind him, she could see Usopp and Chopper peeking out from behind cover, their eyes just as wide with surprise.
“S-Sanji! We were just… I mean, Luffy was just…” Nami stammered, her face burning a deep red. She tried to smooth down her hair and straighten her clothes, feeling suddenly very exposed.
She glanced back at Luffy, bubbling with embarrassment and frustration. They needed to strategize in an instant. To blow this over without causing an incident.
Instead, Luffy grinned, waved at Sanji, and said, “Hey, Sanji! Is lunch ready yet?”
Nami stared at Luffy in disbelief, hardly comprehending that he could be thinking about food at a time like this. She glanced back at Sanji, bracing herself for his explosion.
The cook’s visible eye twitched, his jaw clenched tight. He took a step forward, grabbing the skin on Luffy’s rubber chest and stretching it like it was his shirt collar. “LUNCH?! Are you fucking serious right now, you dumbass? I just caught you pawing at Nami like a dog in heat, and you’re asking about food?!” he snarled, his voice dripping with hate, disgust, and unending jealousy.
Nami flinched at his harsh words, feeling a pang of guilt and embarrassment. She knew they had gotten caught in a compromising situation, but Sanji didn’t have to be such a dick about it. She stepped in front of Luffy, putting herself between him and Sanji. She held up her hands in a placating gesture, trying to calm the situation.
“Okay, okay, let’s all just take a deep breath,” she said, her voice still a bit shaky. “I know this looks bad, but it’s not what you think, Sanji. Luffy and I were just… It didn’t mean anything… We were just…” she trailed off, realizing she wasn’t quite sure how to explain what they were doing. She glanced back at Luffy, feeling her cheeks flare up once again.
But where she had expected ignorant gluttony, dreaded him nose-picking, and hoped for back up, she instead saw a flash of pain.
“It didn’t mean anything to you? But I…” His voice was soft. Weak. Defeated. “Okay. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad. I won’t do it again. Sorry.” He turned and walked away.
Nami had never seen him look so small.
She felt a pang of guilt watching him walk away. She turned back to Sanji, her expression hardening. He is still glaring in the direction Luffy went, his fists still clenched at his sides. Nami reached out and touched his arm, trying to get him to calm down. “Hey, Sanji… It’s okay. Really,” she said sternly, looking up at him. “I know you’re just looking out for me, but… It wasn’t anything serious. Luffy just got a little carried away. That’s all.”
Sighing, Nami rubbed her forehead. She wasn’t sure why Luffy was so eager to kiss her, but she couldn’t deny the way her heart raced when he did. It was intense, and a part of her wanted to explore it further. But she knew that wasn’t possible right now.
She glanced back at Sanji with a mix of exasperation and gratitude. “Just… Don’t be too hard on him, okay? I can handle myself,” she said, though her voice lacked some of its usual conviction. “And thanks… for caring so much. I know you have my back. Even if your delivery could use some work.” She gave him a small, wry smile, hoping to lighten the heavy atmosphere a little.
Sanji’s expression softened at her words, though he was still clearly fuming under the surface. Nami could see the anger simmering in his eyes, but it was all directed at Luffy.
Suddenly, Sanji turned to her, his hands coming up to cup her face. She stepped back, avoiding his touch. One man was enough for today. Taking the hint, Sanji let his arms drop, but kept himself collected.
“Nami-san, I’m sorry you had to deal with that idiot like that,” he said softly, though his fury spiked at the mention of their captain. “I promise you, I won’t let him bother you like that again. You… You deserve so much better than a dumb bastard like him.”
His gaze was intense as he looked into her eyes, but that feeling just wasn’t there. When Luffy looked at her, it was like she was the whole world. With Sanji… He made her feel like a defenseless little girl to be locked away in a tower. He would pamper her like a princess. But she would have no control.
Nami shook her head. Luffy and his lips had really churned her brains up if she was considering what a relationship with Sanji would be like. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to pick up on her discomfort, having turned to glare in the direction where Luffy departed, his jaw clenched tight.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure our dumbshit captain pays for his indiscretion,” he muttered darkly through his teeth. “That bastard is getting single servings for a week! At least!”
Nami couldn’t help but feel guilty at the thought of Luffy being punished for their shared actions, even if they were a bit misguided. But she knew Sanji meant well, in his own, overprotective, stubborn way.
************************************************
Over the next few days, Nami couldn’t help but notice Luffy’s distant behavior. He had been avoiding her, only speaking to her when absolutely necessary. Usually about the ship’s heading or weather reports. It was clear he had been putting some distance between them ever since… that day.
At first, she tried to brush it off. He was just giving her the space that she wanted. He was being considerate. A gentleman. It was out of character for him, but so was making out with her in the middle of the main deck. She appreciated his courtesy. But as the days went by and Luffy continued to keep his distance, she couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of frustration and confusion.
One evening, as Nami was finishing setting their course for the following morning, she saw Luffy sitting alone on the figurehead, staring out at the setting sun. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to approach him. But her frustration outweighed her curiosity.
She made her way over to him, her sandals clacking on the deck. As she approached, Luffy didn’t even look up, keeping his gaze fixed on the horizon. She cleared her throat, trying to get his attention. When he still didn’t look up, she reached out and grabbed his shoulder, giving him a firm shake.
“Luffy, what’s going on with you? You’ve been avoiding me for days,” she said, her voice tight with barely contained anger. “I thought we were on the same page about this. So what are you still giving me the cold shoulder?”
She hauled herself onto the figurehead, carefully moving around the spherical surface to face him directly, her hands on her hips as she glared down at him. Her hair whipped around in the sea breeze, and her eyes flashed with irritation.
“Look, I get that you’re trying to respect my wishes, but this is ridiculous. You can’t just ignore me forever,” she snapped, her patience wearing thin. If you have something to say or something you want to talk about, just spit it out already. But if not, then at least have the decency to look me in the eye when I’m talking to you!”
She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for him to respond. She could feel the remaining heat from the setting sun on her back, and the salty sea air filled her lungs as she breathed heavily, trying to calm her growing anger.
He looked up at her. For the first time in nearly a week, he met her eyes. And his were so tired. So weary. This wasn’t the Luffy she knew. This was a man who had suffered in silence. For her benefit? She couldn’t say. Not if he wouldn’t talk to her!
“You said it didn’t mean anything,” he said, his voice rasping, as if it were the first time he had spoken all day. For all she knew, it had been. “You don’t like me. That’s okay. You don’t have to.” He sighed, his eyes falling back down to the sunset. “I’m just… staying away. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I won’t do it again. It’s what you want, right? It’s what’s best.”
Nami felt her anger rising as Luffy spoke, his words hitting her like physical blows. She took a step closer to him, her eyes flashing with barely contained rage.
“Don’t tell me what I want, Luffy!” she snapped, her voice shaking with emotion. “You don’t know a goddamn thing about what I want or how I feel!” She jabbed a finger into his chest, her face flushed with anger. And that something else. The one she had left beside days earlier.
“I never said I didn’t like you, you idiot. I said it didn’t mean anything… But that was just to calm Sanji down. And it was before you started running away from me like a coward!” She was yelling now, her voice echoing across the deck.
Nami grabbed his chin, stretching his head to force him to meet her eyes as she glared at him, her face mere inches away. Her heart was pounding in her chest, adrenaline coursed through her veins.
“I’m not a child, Luffy. I can handle my own feelings, and I can sure as hell handle yours,” she growled. “So stop running away and start facing them like a man!”
She shook him slightly, her eyes searching his, looking for any hint of the man she had come to know. The man who kissed her with such earnestness, such hunger. The man who made her heart race and her skin tingle.
When he still refused to respond, she felt something inside her break. She threw him back, watching for a moment while his head snapped back to his body. Her chest rose and fell with each heated breath. Waiting for him to do something. To salvage this. To make all of those twisting feelings worth something.
“Dammit, Luffy… Why are you so determined to push me away?” she whispered, turning from him to face the sunset. She wrapped her arms around her chest, holding herself. “What are you so afraid of? What are you running from?”
Luffy was a man of action, not words. He shuffled to his left, widening the space on Sunny’s head. For her. She turned at the sound of his clothes ruffling. Seeing him there, with his hand lying on the figurehead. An open invitation to join him on his special seat.
Nami stared at him for a long moment, her heart still racing and her breath coming fast. She could see the confusion and vulnerability in his eyes, and it made her anger soften slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
When she didn’t immediately sit, Luffy wordlessly patted the space. She hesitated for a moment before taking him up on his offer. She sat down heavily, her shoulder brushing against his as she turned to face him. She looked down at her hands, twisting them in her lap. She wasn’t sure what to say, not sure how to bridge the sudden chasm between them. But she knew she couldn’t let this go on. Not like this.
“Luffy… I’m not going to lie to you. What happened between us… It scared me.” Those words made him flinch, but she barrelled through. “It caught me off guard, and I didn’t know how to deal with it.” She admitted her feelings softly, her voice carried to him by the wind. “But that doesn’t mean… It doesn’t mean I didn’t feel something too.”
She glanced up at him, her brown eyes searching his face. She reached out and took his hand, lacing their fingers together. His hand was warm and strong in hers, and she could feel the calluses on his fingers from his years of hard work and adventure. And from that day, when he held her so tightly.
“I’m not asking you to label what this is. I’m not even asking you to have all the answers. I just… I just need you to stop running from me. From this,” she said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re my captain, Luffy. You’re my friend. And I… I think I want to be more than that. But I can’t figure it out on my own.”
Looking down at their joined hands, Nami’s heart fluttered in her chest. She put herself out there, being vulnerable with him in a way she rarely let others see. But she knew, deep down, that this was what she needed to do. She needed to take a chance. To leap into the unknown.
Just like Luffy would.
Another moment passed with the only sound being the gentle gusting of the wind and the waves lapping at Sunny’s hull. That something else twisted in Nami’s gut. He wasn’t pulling away from her now, but he still wouldn’t say anything to her. The part of her that easily gave way to fear screamed out, panicking that it was all over. That they would never solve this rift between them.
Every other part of Nami told the coward to shut her mouth.
Because he was moving. She watched as Luffy took off his cherished straw hat. His greatest treasure. A symbol of his lifelong promise and dream. He looked at it for a long moment, a thoughtful expression on his face. Then, to Nami’s surprise, he reached over and gently placed it on her head.
Her breath caught in her throat as the hat settled on her hair, shading her eyes from the setting sun. She looked up at Luffy, her heart swelling with a warmth she had never known before. At that moment, no words were needed. They couldn’t possibly convey the depth of emotion she saw in his eyes.
A tear slipped down Nami’s cheek as she reached up to touch the brim of the hat, marveling at the weight of it. The weight of what it represented. Luffy’s trust. His care. His… His feelings. They were all there, in one simple gesture. She looked up at him, her eyes shining with the tears that had yet to fall. Tears of gratitude. And something else.
Something deeper. Something profound.
Nami felt the connection between them solidify. A bond that transcended the boundaries of friendship. It was a silent understanding, a promise of something more. Something real and true and precious.
She didn’t say anything. She didn’t trust herself to speak past the lump in her throat. Instead, she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. His arm came up to wrap around her, holding her close.
They sat like that for a long time, watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The ship rocked gently beneath them, the sound of the waves lapping against the hull a soothing lullaby.
As the last light faded and the stars began to peek out, Nami tilted her face up to look at Luffy. He was already looking down at her, his eyes soft and warm. She reached up and cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing over his scar.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. “For this. For… For being you.”
And then she closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a gentle, lingering kiss. It wasn’t like their previous kisses. It was softer, more tender. A promise.
When they pulled apart, Luffy lingered. His eyes were sharp. Focused. Nami blinked at his sudden determination, but she didn’t pull away. She stayed. One of his hands found hers, lacing their fingers as she had done before. The other rested upon her back. Warm. Firm. He swallowed. Took a breath.
“I love you, Nami. I have for a long time.” Nami couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t. Not without ruining this moment. “If you can’t say it now, that’s okay. I can be patient when it’s important. When it’s you.”
Nami could feel the raw sincerity in his words, the depth of his emotions. It was overwhelming, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure how to respond. But as she looked into his eyes, seeing the love and devotion shining there, she knew she didn’t need to say the words. Not when his actions, his gestures, spoke so loudly and clearly.
She squeezed his hand, raising it to her lips. She pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles, her eyes never leaving his.
“Luffy… I… I don’t know if I can say it back. Not yet,” she admitted softly, her voice trembling slightly. “But that doesn’t mean… It doesn’t mean I don’t feel it. Your love, your care… It means everything to me.”
Bringing his hand to rest over her heart, Nami let him feel the steady beat beneath his palm. “I can’t promise you a future. I can’t promise tomorrow. I don’t know where our journey is going to turn out. How it’s all going to end,” she continued, her eyes searching his. “What I can promise you is today. And tomorrow’s today. And every today after.”
He tried his best to stifle his laughter, but it only made the snort come out stronger. “That doesn’t make any sense!” He doubled over, holding his belly as the laughs rolled through it.
Nami scoffed, shoving his shoulder playfully. “Like you’re one to talk!” she huffed, but his laughter was contagious.
Rubbery arms wrapped around her like constrictors. She squealed when he pulled her into his lap. He peppered her face with kisses. “Never gonna stop doing this again,” he muttered in between pecks. “Gonna kiss you every day.”
“Stop!” Nami cried out. Then shrieked when those arms retracted, but the hands stayed on her ribs. The ultimate tickle monster had her in his clutches, and he was never letting her go.
Until a gruff voice called out from higher up the deck. “Can you two go fuck someplace else?” Zoro groaned. “I’m stuck with swabbing duty and I don’t need to clean up any more puke!”
“We’re not!” Nami snapped, though she did have to admit their position was scandalous. The cover of night probably didn’t help either. Jumping to her feet, she snatched up Luffy’s hand, pulling him up with her. Then she paused, waited for him to hop off Sunny’s head and help her down so she didn’t twist an ankle.
Also, she wanted to be carried. She had a lot of relationship stuff that she needed checked off, and she was going to get through them all as quickly as possible.
With his navigator in his arms, Luffy followed her directions to the aquarium bar, where they could have some privacy. They had a lot still to talk about. And fewer prying eyes to get in their way.
The couple clung to each other, their hearts bursting with joy, nervousness, excitement.
And something else called love.