Disclamier: I do not own One Piece. If I did the romance between Luffy and Nami wouldn't be implied but real!
Clearly
Part I
It wasn't the first time he saved her from Arlong. No back then it was just hope, back then it was him giving her hope that there could be more to her life than what she could have ever imagined. It took a long time. She couldn't exactly pin point an exact date to it. She couldn't really even give you an estimate. It was just one day she finally realized it and everything felt right.
She started putting him before herself. His goals, his ambitions before her safety is really what told her. And as much as Nami cared about her friends it was always known that she would run during a fight, or at least stick to the side lines or fight much much weaker foes than what her friends did. And then one fight, she helped him get straight into the middle of it. He even asked why she didn't run and all she could ask back was, didn't he want to ring the bell?
She wanted him to exceed because he was the only one that could and she was the only one that could help him. That stupid wave runner required the skill that only she out of the crew possessed.
It wasn't right at that moment she knew she loved him. By then she just knew that he now took precedence over herself. She wasn't doing things solely for him, she was still thinking just about herself and what he had given her. What she could do with her new freedom. It was delicious being able to pursue her dreams while being surrounded by friends. It filled her heart with a happiness she hadn't known since she was a small child. She didn't want to give it up. She liked things just the way they were.
And then…
And then it happened. That day were Luffy wasn't enough to save her. Where everyone was too weak to be able to fight off an enemy and push forward. Scared and battered they were all separated. But it was enough. The tears she cried, the hopelessness she felt. She had to get stronger. It was enough to change her opinion and realize it wasn't just about her anymore. She knew it all along but she never thought she would have to get stronger. She had to help them, she had to protect them too. She couldn't just sit around and get a free ride, although she helped them navigate and got them places it didn't feel like enough.
She had to do more. She had to help Luffy.
And then Luffy's message, about waiting two years. It was then that she realized that she had it bad for the captain that had given her this freedom. She had the freedom to choose now, and she wanted to help him, it wasn't just about her anymore. It wasn't about keeping herself safe and out of harm's way, she had to help Luffy be the best he could be. It was such a strong feeling that shook her to her core, she wondered how the hell she had been able to ignore it all this time.
And then seeing him again. She wanted to badly to fling herself into his arms and hug him as tightly as she could and never let him go. She was scared that if she did hug him she would make a spectacle of herself. She got her hug, in private.
It was just before dinner as they ascended to Fishman Island. She pulled him aside just as the others started talking and catching up with each other. She knew he wanted to be in the midst of it but she couldn't wait. She had to hug him and she'd be damned if she did it in front of everyone else.
It surprised her that the second they were alone with each other it was Luffy that pulled her into a fierce hug. His warm arms held her to his chest and they both just stood there, wrapped in each other's limps and breathing in the familiar scent.
Luffy sighed contentedly before pulling away and smiling at her.
"You still smell like tangerines," he said grinning.
"You still smell like meat," she growled. Although half of his scent smelled like the ocean and his own musky scent, it was clear he had already munched down on meat recently. Still his scent was familiar and calming and she wanted so badly to pull him back into a hug, instead she just smiled at him.
"I guess some things never change," he said laughing as he went back out to the deck with everyone else.
"That's true," she muttered to herself as she watched him saunter up to Chopper and Usopp as they fussed over Franky talking like an idiot (robot). Still the smile that graced her lips was genuine. She might not be able to tell you exactly when, or even why but she could tell you that she was head over heels with that idiot captain and she wouldn't change it for the world.
A stolen hug in secret, that was enough for her and for him as well. They had their dreams to look forward to, and work for. They didn't need a romantic over the top relationship. She would be there once he became the pirate king. She knew he knew that. He was probably already expecting it.
She had a ridiculous amount of faith in him just like the rest of the crew did. Only she picked up on his subtle hints to her. His hat being left to her when she was feeling doubtful or when he promised he would take care of her. His strive to make sure no one made her frown, to make sure that she was having just as much fun as he was. How he would play poker games with her knowing he would come out in a heap of debt, or how he liked to share 'food' and drinks with her. How his innocent high fives of a goal accomplished had turned into long and meaningful hugs in private…
Things would progress however they did. She didn't care. She would be there for him, and clearly he would be there for her as well.
A/N: Hi guys. Just a quick little two-shot I was inspired to write. Next chapter will be up in a few days. I'm currently working on trying to develop an actual story plot for a LuNa fic. I love writting about their relationship but it is hard for me to make a STORY out of it. So I wrote this two-shot to hopefully get some of the blockage out of my system. I hope you all enjoy. :)
