Author's Note: Hi! I hop you like this fanfic. I love this pairing and wanted to write about it. The fight with Arlong is different in this story. It is more about Luffy and Nami and his anger and compassion for her that fuels his rage and strength. Enjoy!
1 Memories and Confessions
Nami leaned on the rail looking out across the sea and breathed in the air. She looked around and rested her eyes on her captain. He heart fluttered a bit when he smiled at her. She would always need him. She thought back to that faithful day with Arlong. She had sat crying on the ground defeated. Luffy stood behind defiantly not moving after she had said so many things to him she regretted. The one person who was always by her side when she needed him. She looked up at him with tears streaming down her face.
"Luffy...Help me." She pleaded looking into his eyes. He placed his hat on head which took her by surprise. The one thing he treasured was given to her for comfort. He sprinted down the road passing his crew.
"What is he doing!?" Sanji asked looking at the trail of dust left.
"We better follow." Zoro said getting up. They ran after him. Luffy burst through the door to Arlong park ignoring the villagers. He quickly defeated the lackie fish men and walked toward Arlong. Three men stopped him. He grabbed Choo's lips and ripped them off. He then knee'd him in the solar plexus. He fell with a thud.
"What the hell?!" Arlong shouted. Luffy then grabbed Kuroobi by the throat and landed a devastating kick to his temple. He too fell. Hachi stood before him preparing to attack. Luffy quickly wrapped his eight arms behind him tying them up. He then assaulted his now bear chest. He screamed in pain before gurgling then falling with the others.
Nami ran to see the crew with the villagers stopped. Not even they could pass, this was only Luffy's fight. Luffy is alone fighting...for me. She blushed. I hope he's ok! She rushed around to and opening in the wall where she could see. All the fish man lay on the ground defeated. Arlong stood before the straw hatted boy.
"Now listen kid, I don't know what you deal is but you just beat up all my guys and I'm starting to get pissed." Arlong said frowning. Luffy reared back and punched him in mouth sending him flying.
"YOU BASTARD! YOU MADE NAMI CRY!" he screamed anger welling up inside him. "SHE IS MY NAVIGATOR!"
"So let me get this straight." Arlong scoffed standing up. "You want to fight me for her? Why?"
"Because I love her! and she is a valued member of my crew and a dear friend!" he said clenching his fists. Arlong laughed walking up to him. Nami gasped flushing red slightly. Luffy just said he loved me?! I don't understand.
"You are a worthless human and will die quickly, She will makes maps in that room up there until she dies." he said glancing at the room in the park. "So why don't you..." Luffy grabbed his nose and broke it clean off. He stabbed into Arlong's neck. He howled with pain. Luffy reared back "GUM GUM PISTOL!" He sent Arlong flying into the map room. He jumped up to meet him in the map room.
"You little shit *cough* you'll die for that." Arlong said lying on the floor coughing up blood but still far from dead. Luffy looked around the room and became even more furious. This was the place she was kept and was forced to work as his got up but was quickly knocked down by a desk. Luffy began to throw all of the furniture in the room out the hole he created earlier. Nami saw this and began to cry again. He was destroying her map room, he prison. She smiled with tears in her eyes. Luffy...Thank you. Arlong grabbed Luffy's throat and threw him to the ground.
"I'm done playing around!." Arlong screamed. "You know...I may just have to kill this girl once I'm done with you." he said laughing. Luffy became enraged. Nami was special to him. The fury rose in him. He became an animal violently striking his foe. He punched Arlong. Arlong dropped him. His fist had gone through Arlong and there was large hole in his chest now spurting with blood. He began to cough and sputter up blood. Luffy retracted his hand and picked up the evil keeper of his navigator. He tossed him to the ground below and jumped down. Everyone cheered and danced. They were all safe now. Luffy collapsed to his knees. He was starting to cry. Nami rushed to him embracing him. Their heads rested on each others shoulder and they both began to cry. They were silent for a long time. Silently acknowledging each others pain.
"Yo...You're free." he whispered through his tears.
"Thank you Luffy." she whispered pulling him closer. Her captain was her savior and would be there always.
"You're one us...my navigator." he said resting his hand on her hair running his fingers through it. It comforted her. His touch was soothing.
She blinked out of her dream looking out at the sea again. A single tear fell on her cheek and landed on her smile. He protected her, he would always protect her. It had been a month since then. She saw the light starting to dim and left to go to bed. She was the only woman on board so she had an entire room to herself. She slipped out of her clothes changing to light sleepwear. She slid into the covers and sat in bed. She couldn't stop thinking about Luffy. She soon fell asleep. Her dreams were haunted with images of Luffy being killed and dying as she was powerless to save him. She kept running after him but was too slow. She felt a pain in her heart. He was almost lifeless in her arms blood gushing from his chest. He reached to put his hand in her hair. She smiled but was still crying. Luffy! Please I need you! I love you! I can't bare to be without you! Stay with me forever!
"LUFFY!" she awoke sweating.
"NAMI!" a voice answered from the window next to her bed. Luffy jumped onto her bed. "Are you hurt? Is everything OK?" he asked worried. He tensed completely. He was her protector. If she was ever hurt he wouldn't know what to do. He cared for her...even loved? He just knew he needed her. He really wanted to be with her all the time. Was that what love was like? He felt confused but sure he needed Nami.
"Luffy...no I'm fine ...just a nightmare...come here." she said with her arms outstretched. He moved over to her. She hugged him tightly. Her face pressed against his chest.
"st...stay with me." she pleaded. He nodded and closed the window and leaned against it. She cuddled up in his lap she rested her head under his chin. Nami fell asleep and Luffy looked out the window at the water. He stroked her beautiful orange hair. She smiled still asleep.
"Luffy..." she breathed in her sleep.
"?"
"I love you."
He eyes went wide upon hearing her say that it made his heart race. Even though it was in her sleep.
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Nami stirred as she woke. She was lying on top of Luffy. He was awake and smiled at her stroking her hair. She loved when he did that. It made her feel special, even though they were just friends, right? She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Did you finally sleep well?" Luffy asked sitting up.
"Yes thank you, again." she said smiling. Then thought about last night. "Did I say anything in my sleep?" she asked.
"Yea you did." he said yawning.
"What?" she asked concerned.
"Nothing it wasn't important." he said starting towards door. He almost turned around to tell her but he couldn't, what if she didn't actually love him? He couldn't handle the rejection. His heart ached.
"Luffy go out the window!" she commanded. "It will appear weird if you come out of the woman's quarters.
"Oh yea haha." he said opening the window. "See ya at breakfast!" he said launching him self up to the top of the ship. She changed clothes and went up to the kitchen. Usopp and Zoro were already eating while Sanji was fixing food. Where's Luffy? He stumbled in moments later yawning. He sat down next to Nami and began to eat. They all talked and laughed for awhile. Luffy felt something soft touch his leg. It was Nami's hand. They both blushed. She leaned into his ear.
"Meet me in my room after breakfast. We need to talk." she whispered nervously. She was unsure of herself but remembered her reflections yesterday. It was time to talk to him. She felt her stomach hand still rested on his leg. He just smiled and nodded blushing again. Soon breakfast ended and everyone left except Sanji who Stopped Nami.
"Is there anything you need?" he asked with hearts forming in his eyes.
"No I'm fine" she said brushing past him. Usually she would play along with his lovesick tendencies, bending him to her will. But today she really didn't care and hurried to her room. There was someone more important. Sanji was confused by her actions and sighed. Luffy was already sitting in the window. He emitted comfort and strength. She breathed in his presence like the sea air.
"What do you want to talk about?" Luffy asked tilting his head. His innocence was very cute and Nami blushed slightly.
"Sit with me on the bed" she said gesturing. He plopped form his perch onto the bed. She giggled. She soon became serious. This was tough. Her heart was in her throat. He stomach clenched. She felt butterflies.
"Luffy...that day with Arlong...when you defeated him...when...when you said you loved me..." she said her voice starting to shake. She had been thinking about this for a long time. She needed him. Her nightmare made her realize that. He was the only person that made her feel special. He broke through her tough exterior to her sweet inner side begging to be loved. Her face was red. She looked at the floor. Just ask him! You need to know.
"uh huh" he said confirming the events.
"Did...Did you mean that?" she asked hesitantly. She was always so strong, but now she seemed to be weak in need of his aid once again. The question barely escaped her trembling lips. There was a long pasue and the tension was tangible.
"Yes...I did." he said looking at her blushing again. Her face glistened with the sun. His palms became sweaty. He let go of all fear. She needed to know. He couldn't stand this pain he felt. He needed her but he couldn't bring himself to say so until now. She stood up. If I ever hurt Luffy in any way...I could never forgive myself. What do I have to offer? I can navigate but as Luffy's girlfriend I can't promise anything. I just need to leave him alone. I don't want to get in his way of his dream. I can only hinder him and end up pushing him away. Oh god make this torture stop!
"Do you...Love me?" he asked feeling his heart race. He had to know. It was eating away at him. She flinched at the question. She was completely red now. He was afraid. He wanted to always be with her and protect her. She felt the question blast past all of her barriers and cut into her heart. She yearned to scream yes and be with him but she stopped herself. She couldn't breathe. Time had stopped and just the two stood alone in existence.
"No." she stated turning with tears in her eyes. She felt her heart stab itself. The pain was unbearable. She had betrayed both him and her own feelings by lying. It hurt her. She could feel the nightmares rushing back. It was a angry pain making her just want to die. She just wanted to jump off the ship and be crushed by the waves.
"Liar." Luffy said smiling. He just remembered something important. He just desperately begged for her to say those words to him.
"What?" she forced out unable to breathe. Her heart began to pound. How did he? I...ugh! This pain it's awful. She felt her chest deepen with pain. Her heart felt like a sword was stuck in it and she couldn't move it.
"You said you did in your sleep." he said triumphantly. He felt like he had won the world. He hoped it was true. He felt a pain in his chest. He was unsure what it was but felt a word creep to his brain: desire.
"WHAT?!" she said in disbelief. Her heart almost fell out of her chest. Then she remembered why had slept so well. She had a dream they were together holding each other kissing on an island. She blushed and felt even more nervous. This was out of hand.
"Yea you said you loved me last night." he said smirking. Inside he wanted to explode.
"Luffy...we can never be together, I can only steal and navigate. I will only end up hurting you." she declared trying to appear strong. "I can offer you nothing. I'm sorry." she said holding back tears. She felt he heart shatter and fall to the ground. A voice soon picked up those pieces.
"I don't care I want to be with you no matter what I love you Nami. You are the only thing that matters and I want to protect you. I need you. I want you with me. I want you to love me. I need you to love me. I hurt not being with you. What is worse I know you love me too. Nami please...love me." he said with real power in his voice that weakened with each word. He broke down her defenses. She turned to him with tears in her eyes and tackled him onto the bed. She rubbed his chest as he held her tightly.
"You idiot!" she said looking into his eyes. Her heart danced as they held each other. "I love you."
"Don't ever leave my side Nami."
"Never" she smiled.
He wiped her eyes with his hand. They stared at each other. Luffy brought his lips to hers and they began to kiss. He kissed her sweetly and softly. She intensified wanting more but still savoring his sweet tenderness. They soon began to passionately kiss until neither could breathe and they released for air.
"I never kissed anyone before." she admitted looking into his eyes felling pure bliss. She couldn't fell her body only his embrace and love.
"Me either." he said pulling her closer. He wanted her always next him. She lay on top his body as the two passed out. Nami smiled. She was now finally really happy. A thought appeared. How are we gonna tell the crew?
Author's Note: Hope you liked it! The crew's reaction next! Please review! See ya next chapter!