Making Believe.

One Shot Summary:. Nami's rendered blind after a great tragedy. Now that she can't see Nami realizes that there's a lot more touch and feel now that she can't see. Blind Nami. AU LuNa One-Shot

A/N:I Kinda just thought of this out of the blue. I might continue this if there's demand for it but it's a one shot for now.

X X X X

"Nami" a voice rang out to the left of her. The orangette recognized it, it belonged to her mother. Bellemere.

"Yes Mom" Nami replied, as she looked in that general direction of the voice.

The sounds of beeps and buzzes and voices filled the entire area. Nami never knew how much you could hear, as the various sounds of the hospital and the outside world peaked and prodded to her eardrums.

"I'm going to go work Sweet Pea, your sister will be back after school okay? And I'll be back after work I promise Sweet Pea Just get some rest okay" Her mother Bellemere told her. Nami was taken by surprise as she felt her mother plant a kiss to her forehead. It felt so foreign to the girl of twenty, a feeling of something of genuine skin, other than tubes, Latex Gloves, and other hospital equipment.

"I love you sweetheart. I'm so glad you're okay!" Her mother told her in the voice of compassion Nami had heard so much as of late. As Nami received a hug. The feeling of comfort crept over her as her mother embraced her into a bear hug.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you Sweetie!"

Her mother started crying, and that made tears stream down the orangette's face too. The tears were cold and they left an equally as cold trail down the sides of her face.

Soon after, her mother left, the orangette was left in the hospital room alone, silence over took the room. And the girl who couldn't see was left all alone.

X X X X

Nami heard the flicker of a light switch, after the door promptly swung open. Nami looked to the sound as she heard the sounds of uneven footsteps. More than one person had come to visit her today. Which was strange, she rarely got visitors.

"Nami! Wonderful news!" A Male voice rang out, Nami recognized it, it belonged to the man she called doctor.

"What is it Doctor Tony" Nami asked, as she turned her head to the direction of their voice. Nami assumed she was speaking to him, But she then heard the voice of him on the other side of the room.

"Actually Nami I'm over here." Doctor Tony said with a chuckle. "That's your Nurse"

"Hello" A young woman's voice spoke. It sounded so calm and laid-back. It strangely comforted Nami.

"Oh" Nami cheerfully smiled at her small mistake. "I'm Sorry Ma'am" Nami let off a small giggle.

"No worries Nami-san I'm here to help you with anything Doctor Tony thinks you might need assistance with." The calm voice spoke at Nami. But it only caused Nami to frown. As pride swelled deep within the orangette.

"I'm not helpless. I just can't see, does that mean I need my hand held?" Nami spoke in a malice filled tone. She was upset everyone had taken to babying her. As if the young woman of twenty was just born yesterday.

"I'm not saying that Nami-san, it's just that well...I'll let Doctor Tony explain it to you." Her voice gestured to the doctor who now cleared his throat.

"Well Nami, Tomorrow is the day we finally get to take your bandages off! The swelling and burns have receded down to minimal levels! After tomorrow you can finally use your hands again!"

Nami's demeanor change completely as the news was broke, she was so happy she started crying again. As Nami would gain some much needed Independence.

"T-that's good news Doctor!" Nami cried out as tears started falling again. She was so happy at the news the tears didn't stop.

X

"Alright Nami-san, Doctor Tony has informed that you can be allotted some fresh air." Nami's nurse spoke at her her voice was filled with joy. Well in a voice like hers joy sounded no different from her regular voice.

Nami smiled at the young woman named Conis. Who Nami pictured was in front of her.

"Finally" Nami said out loud. "I was growing crazy from being cooped up in here"

Nami then scooted down towards the end of the hospital bed, Nami couldn't see but that didn't mean she was helpless she used her sense of touch to tell when to stop so she wouldn't fall off, Nami was not crippled in her legs, she could still walk, but Nami was bound to a wheelchair until her leg muscles could support her weight. Crutches were not an option.

As Nami got to the end of the bed her nurse hugged and spoke up in that same babying tone Nami had gotten sick of the first day here.

"Okay On Three, Nami-san!"

The worst thing about being blind was you couldn't roll your eyes anymore. Nami giggled at that.

"One!" Her nurse said out loud.

"Two!" Nami quickly replied outloud to mock her.

Conis chuckled at her. "I'm sorry about that Nami-san We don't get many Patients like you."

Nami stuck her tongue out at her cheeky nurse. "So what? They all like being babied?"

Her nurse scoffed at that, like Nami had insulted her entire livelihood.

"You'd be surprised Nami-san"

"Three" Conis told out loud. And that was the que for Nami to help move her. With her leg muscles she used to stand up for maybe a fraction of a second. Before Conis pulled her over to her wheelchair.

Nami uncomfortably was put on the wheelchair, Nami grunted as she felt the feeling of the no cushion cold piece of the seat. Nami rubbed her hands up and down the wheels of the new foreign object. The wheels were rough and definitely had seen some miles. They had little cracks in them and felt like sandpaper. As if it were some Atv and had been going over all types of terrain.

"See that was all you Nami! I barely had to help!" Her nurse spoke up in that same babying tone.

The orangette frowned, she hated when people lied. And she hated feeling helpless even more so than she already had.

X

"Okay Nami-san I'm going to leave you here, well...you can't watch the television you can enjoy the air here"

Nami ignored her her nurse as she heard her leave, and just basked in the glory of air that didn't fleet in from a small window. Nami was wheeled into a small common room. No one else was present. The orangette could hear the faint sound of a television. She could hear the commercial in the background advertising for some minute product that would have no impact on Nami's life.

There was nothing, all Nami had now was the touch and feel of the room. She was placed at a cold metal table. Nami didn't like resting her burned up wrists on something so cold and fringe. It didn't hurt it irritated her skin. So Nami left her hands in the comfort of her layered hospital gown.

"I wish I could see" Nami said with a sigh, the orangette didn't cry. She accepted this. All her tears were gone. So all Nami was just left to do was contemplate. And think, that's all she could do. Well at least she had music as the TV switched to a radio station.

It played an old song, something you'd hear in The forties or fifties.

~I'm making believe that you're in my arms, though I knew you're so far away..And here in the gloom of my lonely room we're dancing like we used to do

Making believe is just another way of dreamin', so till my dreams come true~

It was peaceful in this gloomy feeling room until Suddenly, Nami heard the door slowly open.

Nami turned her head to the noise, it was another wheelchair. As it screeched forward as Nami heard the rugged wheels on the thing rotate.

"Nami-san I brought you company!" The voice of her nurse spoke. She sounded so excited.

"Shishishi!" A cheery laugh rang out, it sounded masculine while at the same time sounding just a bit feminine.

A small smile grew on her lips, it was so nice to know people could be happy in this place of glum and respite.

Nami assumed the person who was wheeled in was sat directly across from her. As she felt the and heard the clanging of the wheels against this cold metal table.

"Nami-san, this is Luffy. He recently tore his ACL and Meniscus in his right leg, So he's gonna be here for a while just like you! I just thought you two could get to know each other since you two will be spending an awfully a lot of time together! We'll see you two soon!"

Nurse Conis giggled as she left. With the door closing she looked back to the person in front of her on instinct. Despite having no sense of vision anymore.

"Hi Luffy, My names Nami it's nice to meet you." Nami told him, as she offered him a smile.

She didn't know what his reaction so Nami just assumed it was a happy one.

"Shishishi, it's nice to meet you too Nami! So what are you in for?" Luffy asked her with a small snicker.

Nami held her head in shame, though she couldn't see. The person who was plopped in front of her did. He couldn't tell that her beautiful amber eyes were now lifeless.

"There was a fire…." Nami spoke in a low tone as she continued to stare down. "and now I can't see anymore." She trailed off. From him. Now she was expecting the babying and then the sympathy she didn't want to hear any more.

"Oh…I'm sorry Nami. I didn't know, the nurse didn't tell me anything."

Nami sighed and shook her head before speaking up. "it's fine Luffy, you had no way of knowing."

She heard the kid sigh. Before he started asking questions.

"How old are you Nami?"

"Oh, I'm twenty."

"Shishishi Cool. I'm nineteen."

Nami's interest perked up at that. Luffy was even younger than her and he was going to leave this hospital with an injury that would affect him the rest of his life just like her.

Nami giggled at how laid back he said it. Growing up naturally was cool and he sounded so proud of her for doing it like everyone else.

Nami was curious about the cat in front of her.

"How'd you tear your Knee?" Nami asked in a somewhat careful tone.

Luffy just snorted at her. "I was coming down the stairs at my park to play basketball. Then I slipped." He finished in a carefree tone. "Shishishi I guess I should have been more careful"

Nami just had a puzzled look on her face as she stared in the direction of his voice she had a face of disbelief as he finished his story.

"Shishishi I'm pretty stupid huh?" Luffy asked her in a silly voice.

Nami burst out laughing at him.

"Haha, you could say that again!" The orangette said with a burst of laughter.

"Shishishi I knew I could make you smile for real!" Luffy said as he chuckled too.

Nami on the other hand frowned. Was her true demeanor that obvious?

"Oii, what's wrong Nami? I'm sorry if I hurt your feel-" Luffy attempted to speak but Nami cut him off before the words left his throat.

"Is it that obvious?" Nami asked as she cut him off. "Do I really look that sad? Even when I pretend to be happy"

"I'm a people person Nami. I just kinda can tell when people are pretending."

Nami shook her head and smiled again, she had a bit of a cheeky Question for him. Though she had a good idea of the answer.

"You think our nurse actually likes us"

"Hmm" Luffy hummed in response before answering. "It's kinda hard to tell with her at first but I think she likes us and wants us to get better. I don't think no one works here to see people get hurt and stay hurt."

Nami scoffed and shook her head. "she's a faker."

"Shishishi if she is she's doing a good job at pretending." Luffy replied. But soon after as the chuckles faded he spoke up in a serious tone. Nami sensed the shift in mood.

"You said there was a fire. But you don't have any burns."

Nami gulped and felt her heart throb with fear. Nami felt as if she was narrowly avoiding a panic attack.

Her labored breaths showed it too as even Luffy spoke up to calm her down.

"It's okay Nami we don't have to-" Luffy tried to speak but Nami cut him off for the second time. She was not weak. She could get over this.

"Stop it, I just needed some air. I'm not helpless." Nami said with venom encased in each word. She was tired of everyone from her sister to her mother to complete strangers like Luffy judging her for her accident.

"No one said you were Nami. If you don't wanna talk about it we don't have to talk about it."

Nami sighed and apologized. "I'm sorry Luffy, it's just that I know I can't see how people look at me but I feel how people look at me. With pity, like I'm some helpless damsel in distress who doesn't have any strength to do anything on her own. But I'm strong and I'll get through this whether God wants me too or not." The last part of words hung in the air, Nami felt it too as they hung with heavy implications. Nami was a woman and she was strong and she could still be independent regardless if she had her eyes or not.

"You seem pretty strong Nami, you can do it. I believe in you." His voice spoke to her, and Nami couldn't believe the optimism in them. He was the first person to even encourage her. Everyone just told her she'd be able to live a "Comfortable" life. What the hell even was that? How was she going to get better when everyone around except a complete stranger believed in her.

"T-thank you Luffy" Nami nervously stammered out. She couldn't see him but she could feel his presence in his air. His smell also lingered here. It was strangely comforting to the orangette.

"Now Nami, you can say no if you want too. But I want to see your hands." Luffy asked her, more so than a command. Feeling as if the orange haired gal of twenty could trust him she slowly pulled them out of her linens.

She had normal clothes on of course, Nojiko helped her put on girl clothes every day before she went to college. Until Nami got comfortable with putting them on by herself. But it's not like it mattered to a girl who was blind anyways. Nojiko threatened to put her in granny clothes if she stopped caring about her looks. And that was the last time Nami protested that.

Nami slowly withdrew her burnt up flesh from her warm home. And she slowly presented them to him. She pushed forward her hands and held them out.

Nojiko told her that her hands were in really bad shape they were a still a light pale, but they swelled with burns all the way back to her wrists. Her sister told her that it looked like someone had carved a travel map on to her beautiful hands. And Nami held in whimpers as she thought of how gruesome they looked.

"They're hideous aren't they?" Nami told him as she went to pull them back but Nami felt Luffy grab them with his own hands. Her burns were growing irritated as they connected with Luffy's they started to throb not with pain but with a soft stinging.

"Luffy P-please Stop" Nami cried out in pain as the irritation grew.

Instead of stopping she felt the pain increase as Luffy intertwined their fingers together. She winced as the pain continued. As Luffy began to rub his fingers on top of her knuckles and the back of her burned up fingers.

She felt the feeling of his soft skin on top of hers as he rubbed his hands over hers. The pain continued as he did so.

"P-Please?" Nami begged as the tears finally started to come down her face. They were so cold as they trailed down from her eyes.

"Don't cry Nami. Your hands are beautiful. You are beautiful." Luffy told her, as he continued to rub on her hands.

The tears continued anyways. It hurt.

"Luffy-" Nami tried to speak but Luffy cut her off.

"Does it feel good?" He asked her. Nami shook her head no as he continued. This time he pressed down even harder on to her. The feeling of extra pressure made her hands hurt and she winced as the feeling continued. Until...finally the feeling of a stabbing throbbing sharp pain went away. And her hands felt..wonderful. As Luffy rubbed them with his fingers and palms.

"Does it feel good" Luffy asked her again, this time she shook her head yes. As she felt cared for as her hands felt euphorically good. They felt Loved...thanks to this stranger she just met twenty minutes ago.

Finally Luffy pulled away. Nami whimpering as he did so. She missed it already.

She just heard Luffy chuckle at her. "It was all in your head Nami, your burns all better."

Nami clutched her hands. They felt brand new again. Like she had never burnt them.

"T-thank you L-Luffy" Nami stammered out. As she searched for his calming voice.

"Shishishi You don't have to thank me Nami! You're my friend!"

Nami felt heat coming to her face, as she searched for the voice. She didn't know what Luffy looked like. But Nami was glad that she met him. As she heard his chuckles continue to emit through the room. Nami felt tears stream again, except this time they were tears of joy. As a smile grew on her face. Maybe Nami did get a new friend after all.

X

Nami winced as the feeling of force pressed her down, her mom just tucked her in like she was five. The hospital was closing down to the public. Nami was in the rehabilitation program and was in the rehab center. She learned her new friend Luffy was just a few rooms down. She hoped he'd come and see her.

"Mom" Nami whined, "I'm not a kid anymore"

Her mother chuckled at her. "You're my little sweetheart Nami. After what happened to you. You can't blame me for babying you sweet pea."

Nami hated that she couldn't roll her eyes. "Mom~" Nami whined.

"Hush My Sweetie, now I'll be back in the morning before I go off to work."

"Where's Nojiko?" Nami asked. She couldn't see, but Nami felt the frown grow on her face.

"Sweet Pea, This is taking a toll on her and everyone around you. Nojiko told me she wanted a break. Now don't feel bad sweetie. It's hard on her too." The words left her mother's mouth. And they sounded horrible. Nami felt tears swell in her eyes as she pondered.

Nami felt like a five year old again as she pondered on what her mother said.

"Momma, I-I'm a burden to you and her aren't I?" Nami replied with stutters and tears falling down her face. As the tears fell her mother tried to mend it but Nami ignored the pleas of her mother.

"No Sweetie! Of course not!" Her mother plead with her.

"S-save it Mom! I g-get it! That's all I am now! I'm a burden to you and her!"

"Nami Sweetie! It's not like that at-"

Nami turned her body head and buried face into her extra pillow as the tears came and came down her face. It hurt it hurt. Nami swore it hurt more than the burning feeling of the fire that took her eyes.

"Please Leave Mom, I want to be left alone." Nami told her mother, as she spoke into the pillow, and she ignored the last thing her mother said to her.

"I love you sweetie and your sister does too"

In the end, as Nami was all alone she planted a small kiss to her pillow and started to make believe.

X X X X

A/N: Poor Nami...I hate myself for writing this. :( Like the ending for this hurt to write. Like geez man everything is just going bad for her. I did feel some tears coming on as I wrote the last bits of this...

Lol but I actually really love the premise of this story. I wonder what happens next? :) If I ever continue this... I probably will after Lonely, Nami's Plunder, And Farmer's Daughter are all complete.

And by the way the song is called making believe by Ella Fitzgerald and The Ink Spots. The original title was called comfortable, but I switched it as I wrote the last of this oneshot. I was like...yeah that actually makes sense. She's blind so that's all she can do is imagine things. So making believe is actually a good title for this story/Oneshot….

Anyways if you liked the story leave a review! If not thank you for reading! Until Next time - Maplejordan22