Disclaimer: One Piece isn't mine
Love and the pirate life I
Nami came up to him one night when he was on watch. She brought alcohol which, considering the circumstances, was unfair.
"Hey."
And for once she was bright and cheerful and careless, the burden of her job left in the decks down below.
"Uh, hi." He was confused and also kind of frightened, just on the basis that she was Nami and he was still a coward at heart. "What're you doing here?"
She shrugged.
"Catching up. We've got a lot of that to do, it's been two years."
He felt uncomfortable about how the 'we' seemed to include him and herself, but not anyone else. She took a swig of the rum (it was always rum, because they were pirates, because Zoro had so decreed) and passed him the bottle.
"I'm on watch," he said.
"Since when does it matter?" her laugh tinkled. She'd already had a go at the bottle, Usopp realized. "Jeez, Usopp, I thought you said you were braver now."
It was a conversation worthy of two thirteen-year-olds. And, as often happens in these conversations, the pressuree gave in to the peer pressurer and drank.
Nami seemed satisfied.
"Good, huh?" she didn't wait for an answer. "So, what've you been up to while we were apart?" There was that 'we' again, slipping insidiously into their talk.
He shrugged nonchalantly, but his chest was already beginning to puff.
"Not much. I was off fighting deadly plants and huge, violent insects in a remote island. I had the greatest master, of course, and he taught me all his secrets."
"Of course." Nami nodded solemnly.
Usopp just puffed up a little more. Before, he would have blustered before her light sarcasm and said that yes, of course, it was true, he was the bravest warrior of the seven seas. But not now. He had lost his bluster and he felt rightfully proud of that, thank you very much.
"I trained for long days and tiresome nights," he continued. "It was hard, and I sometimes despaired. But I didn't give up, because I knew I was getting stronger. I was doing it for myself, and for my crew."
Somehow it felt quieter after he said that. Nami was still smiling at him, waiting for him to continue, but he'd already given her an overall summary and didn't know what else to say and even though he was more at ease now, he still wasn't completely comfortable.
The bottle lay forgotten between them.
"And, um." He paused, "I was kind of scared in the beginning, everything was so…large-scale, you know? Like a world built for giants. I grew fat…" he trailed off.
Nami gave an incredulous little laugh, looking at his toned arms. Usopp felt a blush blooming, and looked away.
"But you worked it off," Nami said softly, "you became stronger, Usopp."
She put a hand on his shoulder and it was kind of awkward—but not really, because she was nakama and knew that his muscles weren't just looks; they were a sign of how he'd grown to fit himself. He was more at ease with his body now, smoother, and even though she hadn't done much physical training herself, Nami understood.
"You've really grown beautiful…" the way she said it was almost distracted, but suddenly everything was out of balance again.
Usopp flinched away from the fingers trailing down his arm, light as the touch of his softest paintbrush.
Nami looked up at him and the fingers became a hand again. She leaned in, gently, don't scare him again.
"What's wrong, Usopp?"
Her hand was exploring his bicep now, innocently enough. Usopp knew he must feel sweaty under Nami's palm. He noticed how the lantern light made her hair glow, yellow on orange—how long it had grown, how it framed her face.
"We're nakama," he said, trying and failing to sound aghast.
Nami's eyes bore into his. Bright caramel eyes.
"Exactly," her voice was precise as a compass, "it's a bond that runs deeper than anything…"
She came closer let her hair trail down his shoulder, smiling again. Her eyes were a little wider, trying to make him understand.
"K-Kaya," he managed to stutter before scrambling away and standing up. He felt suddenly sheepish, like he'd overreacted or maybe even misunderstood. "Er, sorry."
She looked down, reddish curtains obscuring her face, and laughed softly.
"Nah, it's all right. If that's the case, I won't press you." She got up too.
Nami's face showed disappointment but not sadness, to Usopp's relief.
She went to the door and paused, turning to give him a last smile.
"Don't feel bad," she said.
For a moment, Usopp wanted to tell her to stay and chat, ease his own conscience. But Nami was perfectly okay and he really didn't feel bad.
An image of Kaya as he had last seen her flashed through his mind. She had been smiling and perfect as he sailed out, no idea when (if)he would return, but knowing she would be waiting. Neither of them had ever outright confessed, but then again, they hadn't needed to.
Sorry, Nami, there's someone I have to stay true to.
Whew! Lots of last minute editing on this one-hope it didn't seem sloppy.
So this was part 1. I like to have my stories all written out before I start posting them, but this time I haven't written part 2 yet. Hopefully it won't take too long :S