Chapter 8: Back to the Skies - Part 2
The Straw Hats were gathered at the entrance to Rubber Band Land, squinting in various degrees of bemusement at the statue supposedly commemorating a certain long-nosed sniper.
"Is…Is that…?" Usopp couldn't even formulate a coherent sentence in his utter disbelief.
"Wow, Usopp!" Chopper exclaimed in awe, his wide eyes shining in reverence. "That looks just like you!"
Everyone else disagreed, but most opted to hold their tongues.
"I don't recognize him," Zoro drawled, always one of the few who didn't care about sparing anyone's feelings. That elicited a dark glower from the statue's inspiration. "This guy has been working out." He gestured to the statue's well-defined abs and muscles.
"Your name's spelled wrong," Sanji announced with a snicker. Indeed, it was tragically but proudly labeled as "Usop."
"At least I have multiple statues around the world," Usopp quipped, puffing his chest out conceitedly. The cook shot him a menacing glare; that was a sensitive topic for him.
"So this amusement park is all about rubber bands?!" Luffy interjected in amazement, his mouth hanging open.
Amazon, Skypiea's former gatekeeper, grinned widely at them. "Yes, we have plenty of attractions for everyone to enjoy."
"Can the rubber bands stretch as far as I can?" He asked with his arms crossed over his chest and a stern expression on his face.
Nami nudged him and his irrelevant question aside, leaning down to accommodate Amazon's short stature and smiling sweetly at her. "There's no admission fee for us, right?"
The elderly Skypiean chuckled and batted her hand, as if deeming the very idea nonsensical. "Of course not, dear. You're honorary guests."
While there was a chorus of ecstatic cheers among the others, Nami continued to stare the other woman down. "And you're not going to report us to anyone for not paying?" The hard edge in her voice and intimidating glint in her eyes made Amazon fidget a little nervously.
"I give you my word. Things are very different now," Amazon said a little ruefully. She recognized that Nami was referring to their very first encounter many years ago. "You will always be welcome to Skypiea."
"Nami, you're making her feel bad!" Usopp chastised, although a little distractedly as he was still preoccupied with admiring his statue.
"I'm just making sure we don't somehow become intruders again with law enforcement chasing us down," she insisted defensively. "We're here to relax."
"So then relax!" Luffy cackled as he grabbed her hand, proceeding to tug her away and calling over his shoulder, "Thanks, basan!"
His action effectively shifted her focus, her eyes immediately darting down to their joined hands. The only coherent thought that crossed her mind was if she would ever get used to him initiating physical contact. She dazedly allowed him to lead the way, leaving behind their staring nakama and a slightly shaken Amazon.
"What's that?!" Luffy enthused and broke into a sprint without warning, his arm stretching behind him as his fingers remained interlocked with hers. Abruptly snapping out of her trance and rolling her eyes in resignation, she picked up her pace to close the growing distance between them. As usual, she was sporting a pair of high heels that weren't meant for such action, but she was nonetheless able to keep up due to the impressive ability she'd developed over the years to do pretty much anything in impractical footwear.
Nami gaped at the sight before them; they were approaching an unmistakable giant python that was, for whatever reason, part of a park attraction. "Is that…Nola?!"
The greedy thief in her immediately wondered whether the snake still housed the remaining hoard of gold and treasure they hadn't been able to take with them. But she wasn't about to find out. Nola appeared to have several long rubber cords dangling from its mouth. As they drew closer, Nami was stunned to hear terrified shrieks and see small children attached to the ends of the rubber cords being flung into the air.
"Nami, remember when you were eaten by that snake?" Luffy doubled over in a fit of laughter, slapping his thigh with his free hand.
"You were eaten first, idiot!" She snapped back heatedly.
"Oh, you're right! That looks like fun!" His attention had switched back to the attraction. "Let's do that!"
Having anticipated his reaction, she snatched her hand back as if she'd been burned and stepped away before he could force her to move against her will. While the loss of touch was regrettable, she valued her safety more at the moment. "No way, you go ahead. I'll stay here and watch."
Pouting, Luffy gave her his best pleading look. Folding her arms over her chest, she locked her jaw and held her ground—sure, she loved him and he was downright adorable right now, but nothing he said or did could convince her to bungee jump from a flimsy-looking cord hanging out of a snake's mouth. Certain things were just out of the question. Being a rubber man, he would come out of virtually any accident just fine, but that wasn't exactly the case for her. Noise coming from behind her signaled that the rest of the crew had caught up.
"I'll go with you, Luffy!" Usopp declared with gusto, throwing an arm around Luffy's shoulders. "I have the duty to enjoy every attraction in this park I inspired!"
"It looks scary, but I'll try it!" Chopper contributed.
Nami waved them off and smiled, appearing very much like a mother sending off her children. "Have fun!"
To her astonishment, Luffy whipped off his straw hat and tossed it to her, beaming all the while. She scrambled to catch it in time, looking at him inquisitively.
"Keep it safe!"
Usopp wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and grinned in a manner that she didn't appreciate. Without another word, the trio ran off, and she felt Robin's presence next to her.
The archaeologist hummed in amusement. "The attraction is called Nola Bungee."
"I wonder how Nola even became an employee here," Nami remarked with a chuckle. She looked behind them and was surprised to find that the others had disappeared. "Where did everyone else go?"
"I believe they went to explore and eat. Franky, Brook, and Jinbe were especially eager to try Skypiean cuisine, since this is their first time here. We agreed to meet at the entrance of the park in two hours."
The navigator nodded and gazed down at Luffy's prized possession, noting its state of wear and tear. For everything that it had been through with Luffy and all of its previous owners, the straw hat was seemingly indestructible. She'd had to patch it up a handful of times over the years, but she reckoned that its condition was good enough to fulfill his desire to pass on this hat…
"You should wear it." Robin's voice interrupted her train of thought.
Blinking a few times, Nami tore her attention away from the hat to meet Robin's twinkling eyes. "Huh?"
"The hat," the older woman clarified with a mysterious smile. "Why don't you put it on?"
Nami felt her face grow warm, and Robin continued, "Is this the first time he's given his hat to you outside of strenuous circumstances?"
The navigator thought about that for a few seconds. "Yeah, I guess so. In the past, he entrusted me with his hat in moments where I was…vulnerable."
"I wonder what the intention is this time," Robin mused thoughtfully, although her expression suggested that she knew exactly what was going on.
Nami attempted to shrug it off, feeling a little overwhelmed by the possible implications. Now was not the time to analyze. "I just happened to be there—I'm sure he would've given his hat to any of you guys to hold onto."
Before Robin could respond, someone behind them enthusiastically shouted, "Heso!"
The women turned and were greeted by the sight of Conis and another girl Nami didn't immediately recognize. Conis looked nearly exactly the same, with the exception of a different hairstyle. The other girl appeared to be in her teens, and she had a cap on with the Rubber Band Land logo.
"We're so happy to see you both again! It's been so long!" Conis gushed in delight. "We received word that you had just arrived to the park, and I happened to be in the area."
"It's nice to see you again, Conis," Robin said warmly. "And…" She trailed off as she appraised the younger girl.
Nami did some quick mental math, and her lips parted in surprise at a sudden realization. "Could you be…Aisa?!"
The teenager in question bobbed her head, a large grin stretching across her face. "I've grown up, haven't I?"
"I didn't recognize you at first!" Nami admitted and stepped forward to embrace her. "Your hair is so long now."
"So is yours!" Aisa laughed as she leaned back from the embrace. "Did Luffy come too?"
Nami involuntarily snorted at that. Yet another female inquiring about Luffy's whereabouts. But Aisa was a friend and way too young, hence there wasn't a single ounce of jealousy involved. Coincidentally, at that exact moment, rowdy hollering and laughter could be heard from the direction of Nola Bungee.
"That would be Luffy," she supplied.
Aisa bounced up and down gleefully. "I want to tell him that I've started training to become a warrior!"
"Oh really? That's great, Aisa!" Nami grinned at her.
"Do you also work in this park?" Robin questioned, having noticed the cap she was wearing.
"Yeah, I just work part-time selling cloud balloons," Aisa responded, pointing at her booth in the distance.
Conis clapped her hands together. "I want to invite everyone to visit Pumpkin Café later. My father would love to see you all."
"We never say no to food." Nami chuckled. A thought occurred to her then. "Conis, if it's not too much trouble, would you be able to arrange for me to borrow two wavers for the day?"
"Of course, I'll have those ready for you," Conis promised. "If I remember correctly, you were exceptionally gifted at controlling the waver."
The navigator colored a bit at the praise. "I just hope that I have what it takes to teach Luffy."
"You're going to teach Luffy?!" Aisa piped up eagerly. "Can I come?"
Nami was just about to agree to her request when Robin spoke up. "It's actually a date," the archaeologist emphasized slyly.
"Robin!" Nami hissed at her nakama, glaring daggers as a new wave of embarrassment flooded through her. Conis merely giggled behind her palm.
"Ohhhhhh." Understanding instantly dawned on the younger girl's face as she nodded sagely. "I take that back then."
"It's not a date!" Nami insisted futilely, unconsciously clutching the straw hat to her chest.
"It may as well be," Robin responded calmly. "I believe you two could use some quality time alone. I know it's not easy to find time to yourselves on such a full ship."
She wasn't wrong, but Nami wasn't about to expose her feelings in the company of others. The navigator grumbled under her breath and put the straw hat atop her head without another thought. "I'm tired of holding it," she explained defensively when Robin flashed her a look that was entirely unnecessary and unappreciated.
"Nami, your feelings are so obvious," Aisa interjected with an air of smugness. "I can feel them strongly."
Dammit, she'd forgotten that the kid had Haki. Stifling a groan, Nami found herself suddenly immensely regretting not going on Nola Bungee.
After the Straw Hats unapologetically depleted the entire food supply at Pumpkin Café, Luffy and Nami broke off from the rest of the crew to head to the beach with their borrowed wavers. Nami was currently gathering her windswept hair, piling it into a bun that she secured at the top of her head. She felt his eyes burning into her skin the entire time and glanced at him when she was finished, flushing from reasons that had little to do with the nice weather or thrill of being on this island. The word "date" kept ringing in her head.
She cleared her throat. "What are you looking at? Do I have something on my face?"
Luffy swiftly looked away, turning his attention to the sea clouds before them. "Nope."
Nami stealthily adjusted her floral-patterned bikini top and bottoms, inexplicably feeling a little self-conscious. It wasn't that she wasn't confident about her body—no, she had always been proud of her curves and frequently flaunted them. It was the fact that she was actually alone with him in a setting outside of the Sunny. There were a few other Skypieans nearby enjoying the beach, but none of their nosy nakama were around.
She took a deep breath, willing her fluttering heart to slow down. "Were you listening to what I was saying about controlling a waver?"
Gripping the handlebars of his waver, Luffy nodded absentmindedly, already poised to take off. "Let's go already!"
"Not so fast!" She stepped in front of him, effectively halting him. "Since I'm the only one around, I'm responsible for your life. We both know that you're going to fall into the water, so lose the baggage."
"Baggage?" He glanced down at himself, lips pulling downward in confusion.
"All of the cloud balloons attached to you?" She gestured pointedly. Aisa had gifted him an elaborate cloud balloon wreath that he was wearing around his neck. "Although they don't weigh you down, they'll get in the way. It's probably best to leave your hat behind as well, just in case."
For a few seconds, Luffy looked like he wanted to protest but ultimately decided to comply without a word. Nami watched him carefully set his belongings down next to her heels, clothing, and a basket containing a few towels. He then proceeded to shrug off his unbuttoned shirt, adding it to his pile. Nami found herself ogling him, her mouth going dry as she openly admired his chiseled arms and torso. Her gaze softened as she regarded the scar on his chest. They all had scars, both physical and mental—but this particular scar of his had always held the most significance in her eyes. Aside from the fact that it was impossible to miss, it was a reminder of the two years they'd spent apart, of the time he'd grieved without any of his nakama beside him. She had silently vowed back then to never leave him alone again, and she fully intended to follow through with that.
"What are you looking at?" He asked curiously, tossing her words back at her.
Her eyes darted up to his face, and she straightened, placing a hand on her hip. "Just enjoying the view," she said with a wink. It was time to unleash her charm, full force. "Ready?"
"Yeah!" Luffy bolted to the edge of the waters and situated the waver, hopping onto it in one fluid movement. He froze when two hands settled over his own on the handlebars, and Nami's face was suddenly right next to his.
She leaned closer, pressing herself against his back and settling her chin on his left shoulder. "Did you really think that I'd let you ride on your own right off the bat?"
He gulped, partly in trepidation but mostly because of her unexpectedly close proximity. He wanted to scratch the cheek where he felt her lingering breath but didn't dare move.
"I'll steer, you step on the pedal," she instructed, leaning back a bit and setting her hands on the handlebars.
With another audibly shaky swallow, he floored it.
"You idiot!" She screeched into his ear, doing her best to keep them from toppling over as they practically flew across the water.
He laughed, exhilarated. "This is awesome!"
"Lighten up on the pedal!" Nami commanded, half-enraged and half-terrified.
He grudgingly obeyed, and they slowed down to a much more manageable speed. While she itched to hit him, she logically decided that it was in both of their interests to keep calm and remain in control. She inhaled the soothing scent of the sea clouds surrounding them.
"Now, try to get a feel of maintaining your balance on the waver," she ordered. He shifted around a bit in an effort to do so. "This model is actually much easier to control—it seems like they've improved it over the years to allow more people to utilize it."
"Then can I try riding this by myself now?"
"I'd be crazy to let you do that," she scoffed dismissively before switching on the charm again, her voice adopting a low and seductive tone. "It's more fun together anyway, isn't it?"
He was silent, and they continued to cruise over the water.
"Let's try some turns," Nami suggested. "I'll ease up a little on steering, but don't get too confident now."
"Nami," he started, his voice strangely tense.
"Hm?"
"There's something I wanna say," he said seriously.
She arched an intrigued eyebrow, most of her focus still on controlling the waver. "What is it?"
"But I know that I shouldn't say it," he continued, seemingly conflicted.
"What?" Puzzled, she pressed herself close to him again, peering at the side of his face.
His neck abruptly twisted 180 degrees so that they were face to face. He appeared comically determined, his eyes unwavering with a sense of urgency and nostrils flaring a bit. But this was hardly the time for him to be exhibiting his abilities as a rubber man.
She wanted to release her hold on the waver to turn his face around, but that would obviously be unwise. "Luffy, face forward and pay attention—"
He interrupted her brusquely, his next words shaking her to her core. "Zoro told me to not tell you that I love you, but—"
"You WHAT?!" Her brain short-circuited, and she immediately lost control of the waver. Her arms instinctively flew up to hold onto him, and the last thing she saw before they crashed into the water was Luffy's round, terrified eyes.
They surfaced shortly after, gasping for air as Nami hoisted Luffy up. "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah…just weak…" He was limp in her arms, and she focused on getting them back on land. She would have to come back to search for the missing waver, but first things first.
Dragging him onto the beach, Nami swiped the back of her hand across her eyes and frowned down at him in concern. He had only been completely submerged underwater for a few seconds, but that was all it took for him to be out of commission for a few minutes. Looking around for their belongings, she spotted them a few yards away and made her way over to grab a couple towels. By the time she returned to his side, he had recovered just enough to partially sit up.
"Thanks for saving me," he started, still panting.
She chucked a towel at him and towered over him threateningly. "Explain. Now," she growled in a tone that promised dire consequences if he misspoke.
Luffy blinked blearily up at her, holding the towel protectively to his chest. "Explain what?"
"What you were saying before we fell into the water!" She exclaimed, a little more angrily than intended. She desperately wanted to just believe him, but she refused to back down until he coughed up an explanation. Perhaps she was being more impatient than necessary, but he couldn't just spring something like that onto her so out of the blue and expect her to sit quietly. Her mind was racing with countless thoughts, her heart was hammering inside her chest, and she needed answers now. She had been patient for so long, dammit.
His eyes dropped down to his lap. "I can't," he said quietly, still not looking at her.
"You can't," she repeated slowly in disbelief. She had been so disciplined in controlling her violent tendencies for the past few weeks, but something inside of her was snapping. He wasn't getting away from this unscathed if he kept this up.
The silence stretched between them. At some point, the few Skypieans in the vicinity had wisely decided to leave, so they were actually completely alone. She'd really much rather take advantage of this rare opportunity to do other things, but he wasn't going to get anything from her at this rate.
"Luffy, you can't say something like that and not have an explanation prepared!" She huffed in agitation, brushing a shaky hand over her hair. "Why did you say anything at all?"
"I just needed to tell you," he stated, still avoiding her eyes and fiddling with his towel.
"And you felt that struggling on a waver in the middle of the waters was the perfect moment to tell me," she intoned dryly. "Why? How long have you even felt this way for?"
He shrugged and said truthfully, "Dunno, but I didn't know what it was until recently."
"How recent?" She pressed, her voice noticeably softer.
Sensing her change in tone, he felt it was safe to look at her then. "When we were in Alabasta, I talked to ex-king ossan—"
"Wait," Nami interrupted, holding out a palm as she struggled to grasp his words. "You mean Vivi's father, the former king?!"
"Yeah, who else?" He frowned at her flabbergasted expression. "He told me about the different kinds of love, and I think that's when some things started to make sense."
She felt an uncomfortable heat prickling up the back of her neck as she tried to comprehend the fact that Luffy had talked to the former King of Alabasta about this. She wasn't sure what to feel—horrified, astonished, embarrassed, confused, amazed (that a mature adult had actually been able to get through to him), all of the above? For her own sanity, she figured it would be best to not dwell on this for the time being.
"So somehow…" She was starting to feel lightheaded; this onslaught of new revelations was incredibly overwhelming. Nami hastily draped the towel around her shoulders and settled down next to him, trying to wrap her mind around this. Her next words sounded insane to her own ears. "You love me, but…you don't know why."
"Zoro told me to not tell you until I knew why, but I just didn't wanna keep it to myself anymore," he confessed somberly. "It didn't feel right."
Nami couldn't help the incredulous snort that escaped from her. Zoro hadn't given any indication that he'd talked to their captain about anything, but she supposed she wasn't surprised. The swordsman definitely cared more than he let on. "You should've listened to him. When did he tell you that?"
He scrunched up his face. "Maybe a week ago?"
Hilarious. He'd only lasted one week, whereas she'd been grappling with her feelings for months. Maybe even years, if she had to be completely honest.
"Are you mad?" He asked tentatively, peering over at her.
"Absolutely livid," she confirmed, although a smile tugging at her lips was threatening to betray her.
He gazed at her pleadingly. "Don't be mad. Can you help me figure out why?"
A breathless chuckle slipped out. "How am I supposed to do that? You're the only one who can figure out your own feelings."
"That's what everyone keeps saying, but I need help," he grumbled petulantly.
She bit the inside of her cheek, pondering. "You must at least know what it is about me that makes you feel this way." She nudged him in the ribs with her elbow, a little more sharply than necessary. "Is it my dazzling beauty? Winning personality? Stellar accomplishments? Give me something!"
He frowned at her and shook his head, as if disappointed by all of the options she'd presented. "That's not it."
She was going to kill him. "Then tell me what you do know so far!"
"When I look at you…" He stopped, his brows creasing, and she nodded encouragingly. "It just feels right."
Nami heaved an exhausted sigh, shaking her head in resignation. There was no point in holding onto anger when it came to her idiotic captain; she knew that this was extraordinarily difficult for him. What was she going to do with him? She shifted so that she was kneeling in front of him, snatching the towel from his grasp and promptly beginning to dry him off. He didn't protest, electing to quietly observe her concentrating face.
She vigorously dried his hair, nibbling on her lower lip as she debated what to say. Oh, to hell with it. "If it wasn't already obvious enough, I love you, idiot."
This wasn't how she'd imagined finally revealing those three words, but somehow she couldn't say that she was disappointed either.
His jaw dropped open and his eyes bulged out. Nami studied his reaction, unimpressed. "Apparently, it's been pretty obvious to everyone else."
"Eh?! I didn't know!" He exclaimed earnestly.
"I know, and that's why I'm telling you now." Luffy's jaw shut with an audible snap, and he sat up attentively. She set down his towel and took a deep breath. "I've felt this way for a long time, but only recently came to terms with my feelings. I don't know when it started, but it was a gradual development over all of our years together. And I know that it's love because I don't feel this way about anyone else. Even when you get us into the worst situations, I always have a sense of security around you—I trust you unconditionally. And really, I'm just ridiculously happy when I'm with you." She felt a little shy now that she'd bared her feelings to him, but it was also immensely liberating. "How can it be anything else when you're the most important person to me and the one I want to create a future with?"
He was unnervingly quiet for a few moments, and she could only hope that she had conveyed her feelings in a manner that got through to him. Then, his eyes were locking with hers, and she felt like they were piercing her soul.
"Okay," he said simply.
That's all he had to say after she'd essentially handed him her heart?! She fumbled for words. "O-Okay?"
"Yeah! It's all good now, right?" He was grinning widely. "We feel the same way!"
"What?!" She punched him squarely in the face before she could stop herself. Old habits die hard, she supposed. "You haven't said anything about your feelings!"
"I'm sorry! Don't hit me again!" He whined nasally, nursing his nose. "I'm not good at this stuff, but I feel that it's right! Isn't that enough?"
Nami narrowed her eyes critically and considered him with a tilt of her head. She knew that while Luffy was terrible at expressing sentimental notions, he was nothing if not blatantly honest. If he claimed that he loved her, then there was no reason to doubt him. Even though he couldn't explain his feelings at the moment, she suspected that she would be able to force something more substantial out of him in due time. It was infuriating that she wouldn't be getting all of the answers now, but she had to give him credit for even initiating this conversation. Sure, the timing could've been better, but she had to admit that it did make this day all the more memorable. She would take what she could get, and the rest would follow accordingly. Hopefully.
"For now," she reluctantly agreed. A blush bloomed on her cheeks as she questioned, "So you really see me as more than just your nakama?"
"You'll always be my nakama, but you're…Nami," he finished lamely.
Bewildered, she wrinkled her nose. "Thanks, I think?"
He fidgeted uncomfortably, and she was abruptly consumed with giddiness. This was all so surreal, and she was struggling to tamper down her bubbling excitement.
"Do you love me more than meat?" She inquired teasingly.
He thought about that seriously, and she barely restrained herself from clobbering him over the head for having to think about his response at all. The right answer would've immediately been clear to any other man.
"It's different," he declared finally.
"But what if you had to pick?" She pressed.
"You or meat?" He was starting to sweat.
"For the rest of your life," she added a little evilly. She watched him squirm with indecisiveness, extremely pleased. "Shouldn't my eyes be enough meat for you?"
"But I can't eat your eyes," he protested feebly.
"So you'd rather live the rest of your life stuffing yourself with meat instead of…" She ducked and pecked him chastely on the lips, pulling away to smirk at him. "This?"
Luffy's brows knitted together as he stared hard at her, seemingly contemplating something. She watched raptly as his tongue flicked out to moisten his lips, noting in smug satisfaction that he was gawking at her lips.
"Nami, I…" He trailed off as words failed him. He tried again, more determined, "I don't know—"
She cut him off with a finger pressed against his lips, smiling gently. "Actions speak louder than words, and that's especially true in your case."
He recalled that Zoro had also said something along those lines too, that he could show her if telling her was too difficult. But how was he supposed to do that?
Nami hummed in thought. "So what are we? Are we…together?" At his blank look, she elaborated, "Dating? Romantically involved?"
He scratched his head, clueless. "Is that what you want?"
She regarded him carefully. "You know what dating means, right?"
Luffy pursed his lips, his eyes suspiciously shifty.
Nami chuckled in amusement. "I can't say I know exactly what it entails, as I've never really dated anyone before. But what I do know is that we make it what we want it to be."
"Okay, sounds easy," he concluded. "What do you want?"
"Well, first things first, we would be exclusively dating," she emphasized pointedly. "That means no paying attention to other women. And if other women try to lure you away, you shut them down by saying you're not interested, got it?"
He wasn't really sure what she meant, but he figured he should just nod along.
"Next, I want to make sure our relationship is kept a secret from the rest of the world. The only people who will know are our nakama, family, and other select friends. We don't need to attract any more attention than we already do."
He bobbed his head. That made sense to him.
"Then there's the matter of labels," she broached a little uncertainly. "Should I call you my…partner? Or maybe boyfriend?" Her cheeks flamed, and she fanned herself with a hand.
He looked at her strangely. "I'm your captain."
"And I'm your navigator, but this is different." She clicked her tongue. "We're crossing a line here by taking the next step beyond just being nakama, and I think there should be appropriate labels to correspond accordingly."
Luffy blinked at her in rapid succession, completely dumbfounded.
"Never mind, let's skip that for now," she decided with a roll of her eyes.
"Is there more?" He asked, a little antsy. He wanted to get back to riding the waver soon.
"Of course there's more." She pinned him with a disapproving look that made him pout. "I expect you to diligently shower and maintain basic hygiene from now on."
"This again?!" He pulled a face in distaste, dreading the direction of their conversation.
"Did you think I was joking last time?" She asked darkly.
He pressed his lips together and shook his head.
Nami brandished a warning finger at him. "You will shower regularly because that will make me very happy. Understood?"
Luffy quickly nodded, afraid to refuse her.
"Good. I look forward to it." She grinned victoriously, thoroughly enjoying having the upper hand. She briefly wondered if she could force him to do other things in the name of her happiness. "Now, we should talk more about the future."
They hadn't discussed anything related to raising a child since that morning on the Sunny's figurehead. She figured that it would be best to check in and ensure they were also on the same page on this matter, now that their relationship was entering new territory. After all, a child was the ultimate goal.
"Oh yeah!" He asked casually, "When do you wanna make love?"
Instantly mortified, she clutched the towel tightly around her and smacked him, hard. "You can't just say things like that!" She was positively appalled by his forwardness—who had he been talking to?!
He bristled, rubbing at his face. "Then how else are we gonna have a child?!"
Nami opened and closed her mouth. Logically, he was correct. But that wasn't the point here. "We're starting with dating, okay? I'm not ready to discuss that right now," she said stiffly. "What I do want to discuss is your thoughts on how we'll be raising a child together. Obviously, our opinions might change later down the road, but I'd like to know where you currently stand on this topic."
"I don't want anything to change," he declared resolutely.
"I thought you'd say that," she mumbled. "Well, hear me out. I'm afraid of what will happen when the world eventually finds out that we have a child on board." He visibly tensed, and she took his hand in both of hers, an attempt at reassurance. "I meant what I said about creating a future together, so I want to know how you feel about…taking a break from piracy." She voiced the last part hesitantly, unsure how he would react.
"Nami, I'm the Pirate King." His response was emotionless and straight to the point. "I can't take a break."
"Sure you can," she countered confidently. "There's no rule saying that you must continue sailing for a set number of years, otherwise you relinquish your title. You can literally do whatever you want, Luffy."
There was a spark of something in his eyes, and he licked his lips nervously. She had an inkling that the thought of being away from the seas for an extended period of time was uneasy for him. He cautiously asked, "How long of a break?"
"A few years?" She suggested tentatively. "I don't have an exact number in mind, but the thought of sailing with a baby scares me. There's no telling what each day will bring, and it just seems irresponsible for us to knowingly put the baby in greater danger."
"Momo and his sister were raised for a while on Gol D. Roger's ship," Luffy pointed out firmly.
"That's true, but it wasn't for very long," Nami returned, a little surprised that he had even thought to bring up the Kozukis. "They ultimately grew up on land in Wano."
"Yeah, but if he was able to sail with kids, then so can I!" He retorted stubbornly.
"Let's not make this a competition," she said warily with a sigh.
"It's not a competition," he insisted. "I'm just saying that I'll be able to protect everyone, so don't worry."
Nami's heart swelled with affection for the man before her. "I don't doubt that you can, but I'd worry more about you, idiot. You're not invincible."
He shrugged in a carefree manner, a self-assured grin stretching across his face. "Nah, but being the Pirate King makes me pretty close!"
She arched an amused brow; he was utterly incorrigible, but she supposed it was part of his unique charm.
Luffy's face darkened as something crossed his mind, his eyes boring into hers intently. "Nami, will you ever want to leave?"
His voice hitched at the end, a subtle sign that he was uncertain but believed it to be a real possibility. She smiled softly and squeezed his hand comfortingly. "Honestly, I've considered different options, but at the end of the day…I know that I don't want to go anywhere without you."
He perked up at that, hopefulness beginning to shine through.
Nami grinned as she felt his hand return the pressure. "We're in this together every step of the way, right?"
His answer was a blinding smile. "Yeah! I'll show you that I can protect you and everyone else."
The fact that he'd separated her from everyone else didn't go by unnoticed. Nami cupped his cheek with her right hand, lightly tracing his scar with her thumb. She thought she heard his breath catch. "I guess we'll just have to see when the time comes—it's really too early to decide anything."
"It'll all work out," he said with conviction, and in that moment she truly believed him.
They fell into a companionable silence in which they continued to stare at each other, neither attempting to break contact. She shifted her arms to wind them around his neck, and he let her, appearing curious. An idea occurred to her, and her eyes fluttered shut as she waited with bated breath for his next move.
"Nami." He sounded hopelessly lost. She could practically feel the confusion radiating off of him, and she stifled a laugh.
"Hm?" She angled her face expectantly.
"Why do you have your eyes closed?" He asked, genuinely baffled.
"Guess."
"Are you tired?" He ventured.
"No."
"Do they hurt?"
"No." She twitched.
"Hmmm…"
"Remember what I gave you permission to do?"
"Huh?"
She puckered her lips in a way she hoped wasn't unattractive. But when another five seconds passed without any indication that he'd finally caught on, her eyes snapped open and she took matters into her own hands.
"This, you idiot," she murmured in exasperation before pulling him in and kissing him soundly. It had been too long since their last kiss, and she found that she was hungry for more, her fingers weaving through his hair. Consistent with their previous encounters, he was frozen, but as she attempted to coax a reaction out of him with her tongue, the ice gradually began to thaw. He responded with the faintest of pressure, and she couldn't help but smile as she pulled away. "Don't keep me waiting next time, Captain."
He pitched forward and pressed his lips to hers, and she practically melted. It was brief but electrifying, and she was entirely enthralled. "Sorry, I'm still getting used to this," he admitted sheepishly.
"Well, now that we're dating, I'm sure we'll get plenty of practice," she asserted playfully. "Shall we continue our date?" She shrugged off the towel and stood up, stretching.
"Date?" Luffy echoed, squinting up at her.
She nodded and sent him a wink. "I've decided that today counts as our first date. Are we in agreement?" She held out a hand invitingly.
Grinning, he eagerly grasped her hand and bounded to his feet. "What's a first date like?"
Nami shrugged, reflexively smiling back. "Whatever we want it to be. Let's start with the waver."
It wouldn't occur to her until much later that she hadn't even once thought about the possibility of adoption during their conversation. And it was frighteningly exciting.
That evening, the Skypieans and Shandians threw them a grand celebration in honor of their return. It was heartwarming for the Straw Hats to experience the natural and peaceful exchanges between the two races after several years of cohabitation. They had evolved together for the better, integrating their ways of life to become one civilization.
But to Nami's utmost dismay, the first thing out of Luffy's mouth was a very public announcement regarding their relationship, complete with the unnecessary inclusion that they'd gone on their first date today. While the crowd applauded and cheered, Nami throttled him.
"What did I say about keeping it a secret?!"
"B-But they're friends!"
"All one hundred of them?!" She released him, covering her face in shame and groaning in aggravation. Even if Luffy really considered all of them friends, he needed to learn to be more selective. Fortunately, news here most likely wouldn't reach the Blue Sea. Unfortunately, it seemed like she was officially reverting back to her violent tendencies. Why couldn't he listen for once?!
"Congratulations," Robin offered with an amused smile as she gave Nami's slumped shoulders a squeeze.
"I had noooo idea!" Usopp exclaimed, feigning shock in an exaggerated manner.
Chopper jumped into the navigator's arms, his eyes shimmering with anticipation. "Does this mean a baby is coming soon?!"
Franky pumped his fists in the air. "It's about time, you two! A super couple!"
"Yohohoho! This is fantastic news indeed!" Brook chortled. "Although I dare say that it's old news, no?"
Jinbe chuckled, a fond smile overtaking his face. "I never thought I'd see this day come. Luffy looks so happy."
"Really?" The skeleton asked skeptically. "He looks pretty defeated to me."
"Well, before. When he was announcing their relationship," the fish-man amended.
They watched in mild amusement as Sanji unceremoniously grabbed a lifeless Luffy by his shirt and proceeded to drag him away.
"Jinbe-san, should we intervene?" Brook questioned uncertainly.
"No, we should eat," Jinbe determined, completely at ease.
Sanji was eerily quiet as he waited for Luffy to recover. The captain sluggishly sat up in a dazed mess, wondering why his back was hurting and why he was on the outskirts of the party. The cook lit a cigarette and took a long drag.
He exhaled heavily. "Just look at her. She's absolutely radiant, and I suppose you're a major contributor to her happiness."
Luffy located his navigator in the distance, watching her laugh as Usopp's arms flailed around. He didn't really understand what Sanji meant by "absolutely radiant," but he knew that he liked seeing her smile.
"Let me give you some advice," the cook continued.
"For what?" The captain asked inquisitively.
There was some reluctance when Sanji clarified, "Dating."
"Oh, do you know a lot about dating?"
"Do I know—are you—" The cook sputtered incoherently for a few moments, his cigarette dangling precariously out of his mouth. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sucked in a sharp breath, attempting to recompose himself. "Yes, Luffy, how dare you. Of course I know all about the language of love!"
"Oh really? I thought you only understood the perverted aspects," came Zoro's condescending drawl.
Sanji whirled around, furious. "No one asked you, damn marimo! This is a private conversation!"
Zoro snorted and promptly ignored the cook, inviting himself to sit on the other side of Luffy. He smirked approvingly at their captain. "You did better than I expected, Luffy. I'm surprised you figured out the reason so soon."
"I didn't," the rubber man said.
The swordsman's eyebrows shot up. "And she didn't kill you?"
Unfazed, Luffy blinked at Sanji. "What's the advice?"
With an irritated scowl, the blond sat down and regarded their captain. "Continue to pay attention to her, and be sure to compliment her every now and then."
The other two men looked at him blankly, and Sanji rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't expect either of you to understand, but all women love to hear compliments."
"So…" Luffy furrowed his brows. "Like how she's smart and the best navigator in the world? I already tell her that."
"No, idiot, focus on her physical traits and appearance," Sanji reproached. "Tell her that she's the most beautiful woman in the world, that her smile is breathtaking, that the dress she's wearing brings out her eyes."
"But those are things that you say," Luffy deadpanned, perplexed. "I don't wanna be like you."
Zoro roared with laughter, while Sanji clenched his fists angrily. Clearly offended, the cook retorted, "What's wrong with being like me?!"
"Everything," the swordsman answered without missing a beat, snickering. "Luffy, don't listen to him. Nami doesn't need empty and shallow compliments like those."
"How would you know?" Sanji challenged indignantly. "She's always responded positively to them."
"Yeah, and that's why she's not dating you," Zoro shot back scathingly.
Now that hurt more than he cared to admit. Sanji fumed silently, rising to his feet and fully intending to leave the inept idiots to themselves.
"Sanji," Luffy spoke up, causing the cook to pause. "Thanks. I'll try it."
"Seriously?" Zoro scoffed in disbelief. "Luffy, she's not dating you to be fed unnecessary compliments."
The captain shrugged. "Doesn't hurt to try if it'll make Nami happy."
The swordsman slowly shook his head, almost pitifully. "Don't become whipped, you hear? We don't need another lovestruck fool around here—we already have one too many."
Sanji chose to ignore that jab, as he was still reeling in surprise at Luffy's apparent willingness to listen to him. "I'm rooting for you," he mumbled after another drag of his cigarette. "Don't make me regret it."
"I won't," Luffy promised, his attention already back on the festivities. Or rather, on a specific woman.
Zoro and Sanji exchanged silent looks as they solemnly observed their formerly asexual captain, who they knew was somehow now very much infatuated with their navigator. The winds of change had begun to blow, and the rest of the crew would have to ensure they'd be ready to brave them head on.
~To Be Continued~
End Notes: Major developments in this chapter! I like to think of this as the end of Act 1. I'm not exactly sure if this is the halfway point, but Act 2 will be pretty different as we have an established relationship. But "established" definitely doesn't mean smooth sailing, and I'm really looking forward to writing more awkward and confused Luffy in various situations as he learns more about love. And of course, a baby will be thrown into the mix at some point...surprise! I really wanted to have this chapter done by Thanksgiving, and somehow it worked out. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates it, and even if you don't I think there's always something to be grateful for! I'm so grateful for all of the support this story has gotten and to my regular readers, and I'd love to receive some more thoughts/opinions from anyone who has a minute to spare. Any LuNa date ideas? :)