Of Feelings and Emotions

Nami held onto Sanji, clawing his shoulders while she looked directly into his eyes.

"It had been seven minutes", Nami said amused looking at the clock on the wall, trying to catch her breath, as was he, before he laid his forehead on her shoulder, sweating slightly.

"Yeah..." Sanji murmured, "And I don't even regret it"

She could feel that Sanji felt tiered and was nearly dozing of.

"Hey! Don't sleep. You need to get back to work and I go back to our friends. They are probably already waiting for me to return. And I should check myself in the mirror first."

She already knew that some of her orange strands went loose from her bun during this act and that her lipstick, although a nude color, was smeared. And she wanted some perfume, since she had the feeling that she smelled like Sanji. Not that she minded. She really liked that smell, but she didn't want anybody to notice and also didn't she want to explain herself.

"Just five minutes..." Sanji mumbled, bringing his upper body closer to hers, inhaling the smell of her hair "..., with you in my arms."

"Sanji, no" Nami merely said, pushing him away from her. "No cuddling today. Besides, it was only a fast number"

It was not that she didn't want to be close to him. Yet, they were just friends, she recalled to herself.

He smiled sadly at her, but nodded.

"You are right, Nami-swan. I am sorry." He dropped the young woman back on the floor and let go of her very slowly, before he got back dressed probably.

"Why the sad expression?" Nami asked after fixing her dress, stepping back up to him, to fix his tie for him. "Is everything alright Sanji-kun?"

"Everything is fine" Sanji answered, laying his hands on hers, before she did let go of his tie, keeping her in place. He smiled again, more confident this time.

"Just a long day of work for me. Need to get to bed right afterwards" Sanji explained and Nami had the slight feeling that this wasn't the whole truth. She was hiding the fact that her heart was speeding up for a moment, while she studied his features and met his blue eyes. His smile alone got her to melt. And there she needed to remind herself, that Sanji was just her friend, lowering her eyes again.

"That explains everything, I guess" Nami said with an unsure voice, heading for the door and turned the key. Then she stopped for a moment, turned back around, taking a deep breath. She needed to know, but wasn't really sure what the answer would be.

"There are still no feelings involved, right?

Sanji blinked for a moment, clearly confused about that question, but then nodded.

"Sure" he said "Just friends with benefits, I still remember this condition. Why are you asking? Do you want to end it?"

"No" Nami answered immediately, shaking her head. "I just wanted to give a little reminder. And now lets get back to normal."

With that and without waiting for another response she opened the door, peering outside to be sure that nobody would see them.

"The coast is clear" She whispered, leaving the room shortly before him.

"I will go to the kitchen and prepare your meals. I suppose that Luffy is already starving. See you later then." With that he moved past her, smiling and touching her shoulder before he left. Her skin still tickled there and she felt warm inside.

Nami headed straight to the bathroom, opening it without care.

"Oh my gosh! Nami? Where have you been?!" she could immediately here a well-known voice from the other side.

"We were already looking for you"

Vivi and Robin were standing inside the bathroom, looking seemingly surprised, happy and a bit shocked when they saw her.

"Where have you been?" Robin asked, while Nami was just walking calmly towards the mirror, finally being able to see the mess that she and Sanji had made of her face. Not only did her hair look as if it was a birds nest, which was probably the case since Sanji pushed her with her back against the wall, but also her whole lipstick and her mascara clearly weren't in place. Nami totally looked like a mess.

"Just catching some air outside" Nami told them, trying to avoid their gazes through the mirror, trying to get rid of the make-up.

"Did something happen to you? You look like you had a fight", Vivi stated concerned, looking as if she was ready to get the police and an ambulance.

"No. Nothing happened" Nami lied, reapplying her lipstick.

"She doesn't look like that..." Robin mused stepping closer to Nami's side, folding her arms. "Who was the lucky guy, if I might ask?"

"I really don't know, what you mean."

"What guy?" Vivi asked, too innocent to understand what Robin was implying.

"The guy she had sex with."

Nami stopped and stared at her best friend, while Vivi gasped in shock. There was suddenly this strange silence between the three of them.

"Should I guess who it was, or do you want to tell me?"

Nami pressed firmly her lips together, avoiding Robin all together and letting her hair loose. Her locks were still a mess, but it was better than before.

"It is him. It is his aftershave I can smell and the two of you were gone for to long. Our dear chef. Sanji. Am I right?"

"Oh, then you two lovebirds are a couple! Why didn't you tell us, when we met at church?"

Nami looked down at her hands. She knew that there wasn't a turning back now and there wasn't any way left of denying it. Robin was far to intelligent and Nami would never lie to Vivi.

"Yes you are right. But it's not what you are thinking! We are no 'lovebirds' and we are definitely not dating. It's just sex!"

"Just sex?" Vivi wondered, also getting closer. "How can somebody have 'Just Sex'? I mean, there are always feelings involved."

"Don't worry. There aren't. We are just meeting now and then, sleep with each other and that's all. There are no feelings. No kissing or going to a date together. It's just to relive the current stress and for fun. We both can end it, whenever we want."

Both of Nami's friends were looking at each other, not really happy about Nami's explanation.

"What about Sanji. He really likes you" Robin said, getting Nami to turn around to fix the hair for her.

"And so do I. We are still friends."

"That's bullshit!" If Robin wouldn't have her hands in Nami's hair, the young woman for sure had turned around. She was shocked. Never before had she hurt any cursing out of Vivi's mouth. "I have wittnesed with my very eyes, that there are giant emotions and feelings between the two of you. Not just from his side, but also from yours. There is more and you know it. You just can't deny it."

"I do not deny anything" Nami murmured, crossing her arms again and repeated: "There are no feelings"

Robin merely sighted, before she said:

"It doesn't matter if, or if not there are feelings. You just should end it. Somebody will get hurt and it will ruin your friendship, if you won't get it together and finally admit, that you like Sanji."

Nami wouldn't admit it, but deep down in her stomach she had the feeling, that Robin was right.

"Thanks" she therefore just murmered when Robin finished making a new bun for her, reaching then in her handbag, getting her perfume and using it to get rid of the smell of Sanji's afershave.

"Let's get back now. The others are probably already waiting for us."

With that Nami moved past her two friends and rushed outside the bathroom, leaving them behind. She didn't want to talk about it anymore. And she didn't want to think about this whole, damned situation anymore. Was there really more between Sanji and her? More than she wanted to admit. They said, that there shouldn't be any feelings. And that it can be ended at any time.

Should she end it? Before it would kill their friendship. Before there would be more feelings between them, that would never be explained.

All Nami wanted now was a drink with as much alcohol as possible, to get rid of all those complicated thoughts, feelings and emotions in her head.

"Hello, beautiful woman..." a voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. She stopped walking, her eyes wide in shock. She did recognized the voice.

Her breathing increased and she clenched her hands into fists, until her knuckles turned white already. But she didn't turn around. Nami was afraid to do so.

It was him!

"Don't you want to give me a kiss? My beautiful, beautiful bride..."

She was still standing alone with him in the hallway. Nobody would see her. Them. Vivi and Robin were probably still talking about her and Sanji.

Nami should scream for help. Yet, she didn't want to. She didn't want to get everybodies attention. All she wanted right now, was for him to go away.

"You are not allowed near me. Or to speak to me. You know that." She merley murmured, still not turning around. "And I am nobodies bride!"

"Yes you are. Now come here in my arms. I know, that you have missed me"

Nami could hear his steps, approaching her, and shortly after embracing her from behind.

"Don't touch me, Absalom! Get your dirty hands of me!"

She turned in his arms, pushing this beast away. He was far taller than her, having long blonde hair and a very muscular body, covered over and over in animal tattoos.
It had been an one time thing with him, inviting him over to her flat for some fun, unknowingly that he would later reveal the real threat that he was. He was some kind of stalker and pervert, even wanting to marry her after their night together, saying that he would track her down to the altar when she was sleeping, if she didn't want to go on her own. Thankfully, and with her neighbor Lola she could get rid of him and she must stay away from her and is not even allowed to talk to her.

"My bride... I did miss you so much! You are even more beautiful now... Come on, let's get married. I am sure you will bear wonderful and strong children from me. And I am looking forward to have our wedding night and to see you naked.

Her stomach was turning at this point, stepping backwards. Nami was disgusted by his words and these thoughts alone made her sick.

"Stay away from me!" Nami said, finally finding the strength to turn away from him and walked through the restaurant, to her friends, hoping Absalom would let go of his thoughts and would just leave.

But he didn't.

"Wait! Isn't that this Absalom-guy?", Usopp asked astonished, seeing this man walking behind Nami.

"Yes, but he wanted to leave right now!", Nami nearly shouted in Absaloms direction, gaining more and more attention of other restaurant goers.

„But my bride. I have prepared our wedding. Let's go, or we will be late!"

Her friends were already standing up, sensing the fear from Nami and the dangers Absalom brought with him.

Nami saw him reaching for her again, but another hand was gripping his wrist, stopping him.

"The lady said, that you should leave!", Sanji said with a stern and angry voice, still balancing one tray with plates, filled with delicious foods on his hand. "Fuck off, or I will personnaly kick your ass to the next police station!"

„What are you saying, stupid cook?"

"Fuck off" Sanji hissed dangerously, repeating what he said before „And leave Nami alone!"

Absalom snorted with anger, pulling his wrist from Sanji's grip, before stepping up to him.

"Fine, I will leave for now. I got better things to do. But you should be careful for now on, stupid cook" With this threat spoken Absalom pushed past Sanji, knocking him with his immense shoulder, which kept Sanji unimpressed.

„Asshole", was all Sanji could mutter under his breath, before Nami couldn't take it any longer, launching herself in his arms, hugging him tightly, thankfully and happy.

„Thank you...", was all she could whisper at the moment.

A/N: Thank you for reading. :D
As I mentioned in the very first chapter, there was somebody in Nami's past, who made her feel uncomfortable in her own flat. This was Absalom and I think he is fitting for the role of a stalking asshole (Still liked him as a villain, though). Also I hope you enjoy it. :D