Chapter Text
“You’re the navigator that got all your friends into this.”
The reminder of her words made Nami grit her teeth as she loomed over her maps. She was trying to draw one of her own of Reverse Mountain to at least try to occupy herself while still being stuck in a gigantic whale, but she couldn’t seem to focus. Loud, feminine, mocking laughter echoes from one of the lower cabins of the Going Merry. At the sound, Nami nearly crumples the paper she was working on out of pure annoyance.
“And you're the thief that stole my compass. Where is it?”
“Went for a swim.”
Miss Wednesday is infuriating.
Enraging, almost. Absolutely unbearable—
“Are you sure you’re okay with watching her?” Usopp asks as he passes by Nami, arms full of ship parts he and Sanji collected from the surrounded junkyard. “I know she got a bit on your nerves there,” He inhales sharply, “And, you know…Captain Usopp can handle just about anything.”
Nami remembers the past hour or so and almost considers the offer.
“Oh please, you’re the only one here that knows even the littlest bit about all the handiwork.” Nami pats him on the shoulder. “Besides, it’s just a girl. How difficult could it be to be in the same room as her?”
Nami seriously wishes she took up that offer.
“Seriously, how could you not know what a log pose is?”
“How many times are going to remind me of that?”
Nami’s eyebrows were furrowed to the point where it nearly hurt. It had been only ten minutes since the start of her shift watching over the unbelievable assassin, and absolutely nothing was going the way she wanted to.
“It’s just…baffling.” Then, Miss Wednesday laughs right in her face. The laugh feels almost forced. Nami has seen so many lies in her lifetime for that to get past her. She doesn’t bother bringing it up.
“If it weren’t for our captain, I would want nothing more than to throw you overboard,” Nami almost growls. “You know that, right?”
“Oh please,” Miss Wednesday rolls her eyes. “Would you really want to kill a face this pretty?”
Nami looks up and freezes, because Miss Wednesday is looking right at her, allowing the navigator a better view of her face than ever before. Her eyes are adorable, for one. Sharp yet elegant, with her hair framing her face perfectly. She’s clearly dangerous. She’s the perfect image of an assassin.
Yet, for some reason, Nami’s breath still hitches.
She curses mentally, seeing how the edges of Miss Wednesday’s lips curl upwards further at Nami’s silence. It almost reminds her of a cat, and she’s the cat burglar!
“And since you can’t kill me, you are going to be stuck with me for awhile.” Miss Wednesday scoffs. “If your crew is going to continue to act idiotic around me, then get used to it.”
“Oh please, we are not going to be stuck together for a long time,” Nami confidently argues. “Our captain is going to get us all out of here, including you and your little friend, because he’s that nice.”
Miss Wednesday looks almost incredulous. “How can you even trust someone that much?”
Undermining Luffy’s ability was a gigantic no-no on the Going Merry. All of them witnessed it firsthand. Doubting him didn’t even seem like a possibility. So, Nami snaps, sounding much louder than she initially intended.
“Do you like giving lectures to every pirate crew you come across?”
“You should be grateful.” Miss Wednesday seems unaffected. “I didn’t become an assassin to give out warnings to people that clearly don’t know what they’re getting into.”
That makes Nami stops in her tracks. There’s an opening, and Nami doesn’t hesitate before running towards it.
“Then why give us such advice?”
Miss Wednesday is silent for a few moments. It was as if she didn’t know the answer herself.
“It would be…” She inhales sharply. “A shame, really. To see a pirate crew like yours go out in such a foolish way.” For the first time, Miss Wednesday seems to be the more unsure one out of the two of them. Nami revels in the feeling far too much to be any normal.
Nami grins. “You think we’re a good pirate crew?”
“Without a log pose? Without even knowing what it is?” Miss Wednesday scoffs, but it lacks its usual venom. “Hardly.”
“But you see potential in us.”
Miss Wednesday goes silent. Nami smiles victoriously. Then, the light returns to the assassin’s eyes.
“It is as if you want me to see you in a positive light.” Miss Wednesday cocks her head, a sly smirk forming on her lips. “Do you wish for me to take a liking to you…er, what did the blonde boy call you?” Her next word comes out as more of a purr, and suddenly all of Nami’s former bravado melts away with the snap of a finger.
“Nami, ma chérie?”
“Don’t call me that.” Nami hisses, atmosphere suddenly warmer than she last remembered. Was it always this hot inside a whale? It was strange. When Sanji called her that, she could easily shrug it off.
When Miss Wednesday called her it?
“You can’t insult me, then call me that.”
“But I quite like the nickname.” Miss Wednesday smiles, clearly proud of herself. “And considering I’m all tied up and at your mercy.” She brings up her tied wrists as if to prove a point, and Nami frowns at the mischief pooling in her eyes. “I think I can call you something sweet.”
Nami hasn’t even felt this incredulous at the agents of chaos she calls her crewmates.
“You don’t even like me.”
Miss Wednesday raises an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward to rest her chin on her fists. “What makes you say that?” She then makes an effort to very visibly scan Nami from head to toe and for the first time in her life, Nami feels almost self-conscious of her looks.
Yet there’s a flash of something in Miss Wednesday’s eyes. Something almost vulnerable. As if Miss Wednesday had realized something she didn’t want to accept.
It disappears in the blink of an eye though, and Miss Wednesday clears her throat.
“I think you’re a pretty little thing.”
It’s supposed to be sarcastic, demeaning, and nearly insulting. The words sound just like every other pirate who “complimented” her right before she scammed and cheated them out of all of their wealth. Yet, for some strange reason, this one sounds almost truthful, considering how Miss Wednesday can’t even seem to hold her usual sharp eye contact.
Nami doesn’t know if she wants to melt into a puddle or wack the girl in front of her with her staff.
“You’re impossible.”
Miss Wednesday is about to come back with another one of her smart retorts, Nami can tell, but thankfully, Zoro’s sarcastic drawl carries down into the room they’re in. “Nami, lunch is ready. Usopp will take over watching Miss Thursday.”
“Wednesday.” Miss Wednesday drawls with a roll of her eyes, leaning back against the wall to cross her arms. Suddenly, she’s back to her usual self. “Your crew can’t even tell the days of the week apart?”
For the sake of her mental health, Nami ignores her.
“Yes, ma chérie!” Sanji sings excitedly. “I have a few more dishes for you to try with the food we still have.”
“That sounds great, Sanji!” Nami calls back, blood pressure rising once more when Miss Wednesday scoffs. To try and escape whatever she might say, Nami quickly makes her way towards the door. It is far too late.
“Oh, look at that,” Miss Wednesday remarks, “your boyfriend’s calling.”
“Not my boyfriend.” Nami responds tiredly, turning around to look back at the spy. Her murderous intent only builds seeing how Miss Wednesday raises an eyebrow out of what seems like interest.
“So, you are single?”
Nami doesn’t respond to that one, slamming the cabin door shut.