Category: Mild Romantic Fluff, Friendship Fluff
Characters: Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Shanks
Requested By: Scarlet (Ao3)
Nami gasped as the Thousand Sunny abruptly heaved, and she was thrown from her bed in her navigator's quarters in a tangle of sheets. Fumbling in the dark as she attempted to disentangle herself from her bedsheets and stagger over the door, she could hear the drumming of the rain against the wooden ship, and the sloshing of the waves against the wooden hull; she twisted the doorknob, and the was all it took for the wild wind whirling outside to wrench it open, nearly throwing it off its hinged and sending Nami tumbling onto her behind in the room. Rain sprayed across the dry wooden boards and soaked into the pretty rugs she had purchased for her humble home, and the papers on her desk went swirling through the air as the wind whisked them about. She crawled across the floor, unable to stand under the force of the gale, and pulled herself to her feet using the balustrade of the ship. As the lightning flashed overhead, it illuminated the sky above swirling with thick black clouds and the sea below frothing with foam as the waves writhed. The sails snapped in the wind, wrenched from their holdings in several places by its sharp fingers, and water was sloshing all over the deck as it spilled over the banisters. She moved to scream for the rest of the crew, but the words were ripped from her as the boat heaved again and she went sliding across the slick wood, landing roughly against the other side of the boat. If she had been fully standing, she no doubt would have gone overboard.
"What's goin- Whoa! What a storm!" Luffy cried as he stormed out from below decks, holding his hat to his head as the wind tried desperately to carry it away. He dipped his head back down to yell into the bowels of the ship and rouse his crew before hopping over the banister and landing next to Nami. "Nami! How are we gonna get outta here?"
"I'm working on it!" she grunted, pulling herself up once more to peer off into the horizon. It was dark, and hard to tell where the edge of the storm was; as she was attempted to calculate their escape, the boat tipped precariously once more, and she and Luffy went flailing head-over-heels towards the opposite side. Nami once again landed securely against the thick wood, but Luffy had been standing upright, sending him careening over the edge. She felt her heart stop when she heard the splash below, and without even thinking she vaulted herself over the side of the boat to dive into the water. It felt like knives pricking her skin as she met the cold water, but she swam through it nonetheless, grabbing her captain by the front of his shirt to drag him back up to the surface. He was impossibly heavy, and with the waves constantly swelling above her, she was afraid she would not make it; just as her lungs had begun to burn, her head broke the surface, and she sucked in as much air as she could before she focused on getting his head above the water. He coughed and hacked, still stubbornly holding onto his hat.
"This isn't good," he frowned as they floundered alongside the Thousand Sunny. Nami groped at the side of the boat, trying to find a hold, then screamed as a wave crashed down upon them and pushed them back beneath the surface. She fought her way back with Luffy in tow, and when her tangerine head popped above the water she was alarmed to find that the ship was now several yards away, and the current of the swells were carrying them further away by the minute. She tried screaming for her crewmates, but the wind tore the words from her throat, filling it instead with the bitter salt water. All she could do was helplessly cling to Luffy as the rocking ship grew rapidly farther away, and they were carried into the storm and into the night…
When Nami awoke, she thought for a moment that she may be dead. She was lying on her back on a beach, the gentle waves playfully lapping at her feet while the hot sand warmed her chilled body. The sky above her was brilliantly blue, the only remainder of the violent storm fluffy white clouds moseying along peacefully. The sun was bright, spilling its rays over the near-drowned navigator. However, she knew she was not dead from the pulsing in her muscles and the dryness in her throat. She blinked a few times, trying to find the will to sit herself up, and gradually became aware of the fact that she was not alone. She turned her head to see Luffy sprawled out beside her, and her arm was slung over his chest with her fingers still tightly clutching the fabric of his shirt. She instantly panicked, afraid that he might not have made it, but was quickly cooled by the cold flush of relief when she saw the rise and fall of his chest. His sleeping habit nearly gave me a heart attack! She thought with a slight groan, and she finally forced herself to sit up. It hurt, as her muscles were stiff from a night being soaked in cold seawater and fighting the fierce waves.
"Luffy. Wake up," she said as she leaned down to shake his shoulders. Her voice was hoarse from her raw throat, likely from swallowing a healthy amount of saltwater. She coughed, trying to clear her throat, and her voice was much stronger when she repeated the statement. He groaned as she shook him, and lazily swatted at her hand.
"I don't wanna," he muttered and rolled onto his side. At the very least, he's not hurt, she thought wryly before wrenching him back over and shaking him more violently. "Okay! Okay! I'm up! Leave me alone!" he cried and bolted upright, glaring at her grumpily. He was none to happy to be woken up from his nap. After a minute, his drowsiness was gone and he hopped to his feet to look out at the ocean. "Whoa! The storm carried us to this island, huh? I wonder if the Thousand Sunny can find us," he snickered. As always, joyful despite the completely hopeless situation, she thought and rolled her eyes. Luffy whirled on his heel, throwing sand as he marched up the beach. "C'mon, Nami, let's go find some food! I'm starving!" Nami could argue that they needed to try to signal their comrades somehow, but she knew that once he had food on his mind there was going to be no stopping him until he was satiated, so instead she got up and marched after him. The island was covered in a dense jungle, no doubt containing some sort of beast or another that Luffy would grapple with, and she groaned.
"Man, this sucks," she muttered as she plunged into the green with her captain. Luffy flitted about like a little bird, poking sticks into bushes and holes and overturning rocks to see what sort of critters were about. Nami was looking for more practical things, like berries and nuts, and wasn't really paying attention to him. As she walked along the path, eyes swiveling about, she gasped lightly as she bumped into his back. Luffy had planted himself right in front of her, and was staring resolutely into the jungle with his hands coiled into fists. "Luffy…?"
"There's someone with a really strong Haki headed this way. Just stay behind me." Nami's heart rate accelerated, not only from the threat of danger, but the idea that he was so intent on protecting her. Nervously, she peered over his shoulder, listening to the rustling of bushes and snapping of twigs that was rapidly approaching. Luffy went stiff, and she unconsciously grabbed onto his arm, as the stranger stepped out into the open. It was a red-haired man, with three parallel scars across his face and one of his arms missing. "Shanks!" Luffy gasped in shock. This is Red-Haired Shanks? Nami thought, raising her eyebrows at the equally surprised pirate lord.
"Luffy? What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" he shot back, ignoring his question completely and pointing an accusing finger at him. "I've been sailing all over the Grand Line, and you're holed up on some hole-in-the-wall island? What gives?" he whined, obviously disappointed that the man he looked up to was not out on the seas plundering and making even more of a name for himself. Shanks laughed heartily, his shoulders shaking as he regarded Luffy happily.
"I'm too old for all that tomfoolery. I prefer to just sit and watch as the younger kids go at it. Speaking of which, I've heard you've amassed yourself quite a bounty," he mused, dark eyes glittering with happiness and pride. Luffy snickered and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. Nami could feel his body shaking, and she realized with a small gasp that she was still clinging to him. She hastily let go and scurried out from behind him, bringing herself to Shanks' attention. "Oh? Who is this?"
"This is my navigator, Nami! We got swept off our ship during a storm and wound up here," he grinned and grabbed her around the shoulders to pull her close to him. Nami blushed, suddenly put on the spot, and waved sheepishly at Luffy's idol.
"That so? Well, it looks like you've had a rough time of it, haven't you? You still haven't lost your magnet for trouble, Luffy!" he chuckled before turning around and waving for them to follow. "Come on. I'm sure you're hungry."
"Fooooood!" Luffy crowed and threw his hands in the air, then dove into the underbrush after the pirate captain. Nami hurried after them, clambering through the knee-high grasses and bushes and brambles. Shanks and Luffy were embroiled in fervent conversation about his adventures, and his laughter echoed through the empty forest. She had to smile despite their circumstances. He seems so happy. She had never seen such a bright smile on his face; it was practically blinding, and his eyes sparkled with joy as he conversed with the legendary man. Suddenly, the jungle fell away to reveal a large clearing, which was stuffed to capacity with brawny men gathered around a roaring fire, over which a large boat was roasting. Luffy's mouth dropped to the loamy forest floor when he saw the meat, and he squealed with delight, catching the attention of all the pirates gathered around.
"Look sharp, lads, I brought ya a present!" Shanks chortled, and all the men erupted into shouts and cheers when they realized just who was standing there. Nami hung back as Luffy was bombarded by the men he knew from childhood, and they clapped him on the back and dragged him into the center of the campsite to shower him in affection and ale. Nami watched with a warm smile, but part of her felt in pain. I feel… Out of place. She didn't know these men, or this part of Luffy's life, and that slightly hurt, though she didn't know why. She watched with a bittersweet feeling as they gushed over the up-and-coming pirate captain, until suddenly Luffy shouted at them all to be quiet.
"I wanna introduce you to my navigator! Nami, come here!" he smiled and beckoned her over, and her cheeks took on a pink haze as he suddenly addressed her. Shyly, she walked over to the pirate crew and introduced herself while Luffy sang her praises. It made her feel nice, to be appreciated, but also that Luffy was including her.
The day deepened, the sun traveling across the sky, and the two Straw Hats settled into Shanks' crew, listening to Luffy relate his various adventures. Of course, when lunchtime came, Luffy fell onto the meat with gusto, and they became more enamored with how much food he could put away. Nami watched in amusement from a log, nibbling at her own, much more human-sized piece of meat. She glanced up as Shanks suddenly stretched out beside her with a long sigh, a tankard of ale in his hand and a smile on his face as he watched Luffy interacting with his men.
"So, how did you and Luffy meet? More importantly, how'd he rope in a smart girl like you?"
"Right, he hasn't told that particular story yet," she mused. "It's kind of a long story."
"Well, time is something I happen to have in abundance," he smirked up at her. "Come on, tell me, I wanna know!" Listening to him childishly plead with her, she could tell where Luffy had acquired some of his quirks. She slipped down from the log to settle into the soft grass, getting herself comfortable.
"Well, it all started with Captain Buggy."
"Whoa! You guys tangled with Buggy? Man, me and him go way back!" he interrupted with a stupid grin. "Sorry, it's just a name I haven't heard in a while. We were apprentices on a ship together! We got into all sorts of trouble together!" Nami giggled, amused by his enthusiasm.
"That's all right." She told him about her first encounter with Luffy, how they had defeated Buggy together and moved on to recruit Sanji and Usopp. By the time she got around to her abandoning them at the Baratie to head back to Arlong, the crew had become aware that she was telling the tale and gathered around to listen. Luffy was still stuffing his face. She became a little self-conscious with the large audience, but continued nonetheless. She proceeded on, telling them of her servitude to Arlong and his ruthless hold on her village, and how Luffy and the others had fought valiantly to free her and her village. "After that, I just couldn't let him go, now could I?" she chuckled. "I knew he was going to get into all sorts of trouble, and he needed a good navigator to steer him in the right direction!"
"And a damn good navigator she is!" Luffy suddenly crowed, and his foot came down on the log right between herself and Shanks. She had been so involved in the story that she had not noticed he had stopped eating, finally, and had circled around to sit behind them and listen. "Nami's a lifesaver! Ya know, she's the one who fixes my hat when it gets torn," he beamed as he pulled it off and flipped it in his hands.
"Oh! So you're Luffy's girlfriend?" Shanks grinned, and she short-circuited for a second, bright red and sputtering.
"No! Why the hell would you ask something like that?"
"Well, that's something a girlfriend would do."
"That's something anyone would do!" she shot back and crossed her arms, fuming and embarrassed. It didn't help that everyone in the clearing started laughing, even Luffy, who probably didn't even get what was going on.
"Hehe, Luffy, Nami sure is cute," Shanks mused.
"Yeah, I guess she is," he responded nonchalantly and plopped his hat back on his head, and while Nami's heart stopped and all the blood rushed to her face, he looked around with a frown. "Is there any more food?"
After another hour or so, one of the scouts Shanks had posted around came to report that a ship was nearing the island. Luffy and Nami reasoned that it was their crew finally coming to collect them, and bade their farewells to their host and his merry companions. Shanks accompanied them to the beach, and Luffy suddenly stopped and pulled off his hat to hold it out to him. "You said the next time we met that I could return this." Nami stared at him in shock, completely floored that he would so willingly give up his prized possession; Shanks was equally shocked, and stared at the hat for a moment before smiling warmly.
"No. It's not time for that yet, Luffy," he asserted. Luffy blinked in confusion, but obediently replaced the hat back on top of his head. Shanks looked him up and down for a moment, then smiled warmly and plopped his hand on top of his head. "You've really grown strong, Luffy."
"Hehe!" he grinned cheekily. "I'm gonna get even stronger, until I'm the King of the Pirates!" He then looked to Nami beside him. "Though, I'm only as strong as I am because of all my friends! Right, Nami!"
"Mhmm!" she nodded encouragingly, then blinked when Shanks gave her the same treatment, ruffling her tangerine hair.
"You take care of Luffy now, you hear?" Nami nodded vigorously. Luffy was a handful, but she felt up to the task. They both turned when they heard Sanji shouting at them over the crashing of the waves. They had pulled out the rowboat to come claim them, since there was no dock of any kind. "Well, there's your cue. Next time, Luffy, I hope I can meet your whole crew!" he smiled to his young protégé.
"Me too! You'll really like 'em!" he snickered. Shanks gave them a dip of his head before whirling about, his black cloak billowing in the sea breeze as he plunged back into the jungle. As he vanished, Luffy's shoulders slumped slightly. "Man… I was hoping that Shanks could meet everybody. I've been looking forward to seeing him again for so long, and I didn't even give the hat back," he moped.
"You'll see each other again! Next time, you'll be Pirate King!" she told him encouragingly, and he turned to grin at her.
"Hehe! You're right, Nami!" he smiled and then whipped about to shout at Sanji. "Row faster, slow poke! I'm hungry!" Nami chuckled as Sanji yelled back some curse. Well, I guess everything turned out all right after all, she thought as she gazed out at the glittering waves and the ship beyond. It was the ship that bore them all toward the future, to grand adventures laced with triumphs and struggles, to things unknown. Though it was frightening, it was exciting, too. She looked out of the corner of her eyes at Luffy, who was waving and grinning.
I can face a lot of things now, thanks to you. You make me brave. You make me strong… she thought with a small smile.
I'm not scared of the future, because I know you'll be by my side…