Category: Mild Romantic Fluff
Characters: Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, and Red-Haired Shanks
Requested By: Scarlet (Ao3)
Nami groaned heavily as she tapped the end of her pen repeatedly against the sleek wooden surface of the bar counter, her irritated gaze fixed on the dismal calculations of the crew's financial accounts. She sipped at her beverage as she quickly ran over the sums in her head, validating that they were indeed quite miserable excuses for pirates. We're going to be flat broke at this rate! She thought sourly and flipped the accounting book shut before downing the remainder of her drink. She motioned for the bartender to refill her, then laid her head down against the smooth varnished wood, enjoying the coolness against her forehead, which was currently hot to the touch.
Due to the stress of the entire Big Mom disaster, Nami had developed a small fever from exhaustion, or so Chopper had said. The ship was lacking in provisions, and so they had stopped on a small island to restock; though the little reindeer had been adamant she remain on the ship under strict bedrest, Nami had been in no mood to laze about in bed, and so she had compromised with the doctor for a change in locale. He had permitted her to stay in a bar near the docks while the rest of the crew went about their business, and to basically abstain from doing anything too strenuous. Nami was sure that the fever was nothing to worry about, but to spare herself the annoyance of sending Chopper into a meltdown she had done as bid, even going as far as to order a water from the bar rather than alcohol. Though I could use some booze after running these numbers, she thought bitterly. The idea that they were all out spending more money certainly didn't improve her mood.
"I had better figure out a budget before these fools make us bankrupt. Imagine a broke Pirate King," she snorted and flipped open the accounting book again, scribbling numbers across the lined pages with a growing satisfied smile. She became so absorbed in her work that she momentarily forgot her exhausted, vulnerable state, and also failed to notice when a large group of raucous, rowdy men came pouring into the bar to settle themselves at the available tables and cram themselves at the few seats remaining on the bar. Nami only glanced out of the corners of her eyes as one of them settled into the open stool next to her; he was a red-haired man, with three parallel scars across his eye and one of his arms missing, leaving a flopping black sleeve. He was an attractive man, not that Nami really cared. When he cast her a sidelong glance and smirked at her, she blushed faintly and returned to her calculations. She didn't want to give the impression that she was interested, after all. The men continued to laugh heartily and talk loudly as they guzzled down ale while the petite navigator dutifully went about her work.
"Namiiiiii!" a squeaky voice called within the cacophony, and Nami turned around to see tiny little Chopper scampering through the many pairs of legs traversing the beer-soaked floor, panting heavily while toting a little vial in his front hooves. After a tough time navigating the constantly shifting maze, he appeared at her feet wheezing loudly. "Your medicine!" he puffed and held up the vial for her to take. "This should help bring down the fever." He clambered up into the stool on the other side of her when a rather drunk man vacated his seat to stumble to the bathroom, his little back legs flailing as he struggled to pull himself onto the little stool. Once he did, he plopped down with a contented sigh. It was then that he noticed the sums she was currently working. "Nami! You shouldn't be working right now!"
"Oh, Chopper, I'm fine," she tutted as she unscrewed the cap of the vial and downed it in one go, screwing up her face at its bitter taste. "How long will this take to work?" she asked and passed the empty vial back to the concerned reindeer, who tucked it into his pouch for safekeeping.
"About thirty minutes," he answered, then frowned deeply at her. Though he was trying to seem stern, with his puffed-out cheeks and narrowed eyebrows over his big, bright eyes, he looked more cute than anything. "Nami, you really need to take it easy. You remember the last time you had a fever, right? When we first met? That was really serious! Plus, Luffy is worried about you, you know! Imagine what it would be like if you collapsed!"
Nami was about to respond that that particular fever had been the result of being bitten by a disease-carrying bug and she doubted that it was that serious, but when he mentioned her captain worrying over her, all words died in her throat. He's worried about me…? For some reason, that warmed her heart. She looked back down at her calculations, then slowly closed the thin book. She didn't want to give her captain cause to worry, after all…
The hair on the back of her neck began to tingle, and she glanced out of the corners of her eyes again to see the red-haired man gazing intently at her. Thinking he may be working up the courage to flirt with her, she hastily returned her attention to their resident doctor. It was then that she realized just how tired she was; working on the sums had taken more out of her than she had realized. She slumped against the wood, panting slightly, and raised a hand to her face. She was startled to find a thin sheen of sweat coating her skin, and the heat radiating from her had intensified. "Nami!" Chopper squeaked and shuffled forward to feel her forehead. "You're burning up! We need to get you back to the ship. You need rest!" he insisted. Nami was so tired that she was inclined to agree. She nodded wearily and set a few bills on the bar and turned in her seat to stand up, but froze when a familiar cackle echoed through the already noisy bar.
"Well, well, well! What do we have here?" Nami's mouth almost dropped open when she saw who had sidled into the door. Zappa?! What is he doing here? Nami had encountered the silver-haired marine before they had landed in Big Mom's country, when they had infiltrated the Marine base to acquire much-needed provisions. The crazy man had fallen in love with Nami on sight and harassed her thoroughly in her time at the base, and Nami had been glad to leave him behind. She would have never dreamed that she would see him again, yet here he was, sneering at her like the first time they had met. "Nami! It must be fate for us to meet again!" he announced and strode right over to her, grabbing her by the hands and bringing his face close. Nami recoiled visibly, turning her face and scowling. "Marry me!"
"In your dreams, creep!" she spat and shoved him violently away. This was a bad idea on her part, considering her weakened state, and the swift action sent a cold rush flushing through her body. Her mind went fuzzy and her vision fogged as she danced dangerously close to unconsciousness, and she clutched the edge of the bar for support as her legs gave out beneath her. She was barely away of Chopper springing off the chair and running out the bar screaming, "I gotta go get Luffy!" As she reeled, her breath coming in ragged gasps while she struggled to stay awake, Zappa advanced on her again.
"That's not ladylike," he tutted, and firmly grabbed her wrists. She gasped in pain as his fingers curled around her small wrists, practically crunching the bone beneath, and she could not resist in her feeble state. As his evil grin widened, Nami feared the worst, until Zappa let out a strangled cry. The sharp edge of a sword had been placed against his throat.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say the young lady isn't the least bit interested," purred the handsome, scarred stranger as he turned the blade against Zappa's neck, causing a trickle of blood to appear and stream down to stain his white Marine uniform. The Marine, though in a dangerous position, did not quail; instead, he jumped back and drew his own silver blade. Immediately the bar burst with hostility, as every member of the rowdy crew drew blades and guns to point them threatening at the daring Marine. "That was rather bold of you," he snorted before turning to Nami, who was still clinging to the bar and light-headed. "Miss, are you all right? You're very pale."
"I feel faint," she stammered, and the taller man gently took her elbow to support her while her legs could not. Begrudgingly, Zappa sheathed his sword, and only after the man waved his hand dismissively did his underlings put away their weapons and return to their drinking. Conversation resumed, but it was quieter now; many pairs of eyes still rested on the angry Marine, who was still staring adamantly at the ill navigator. Nami was afraid he would make yet another pass at her, with the feral look in his eyes, until the door to the bar was literally kicked off of its hinges.
"Oi! You!" Luffy shouted, his face bright red with pure fury, and pointed at Zappa. "Who the hell do you think you are? Don't you ever touch my navigator again!" he snapped. Nami was a bit startled at the sheer amount of rage her captain was exuding; it was rolling off him in waves, not unlike the intense fever gripping her body, and seeing him that angry for her made her feel a bit faint for an entirely different reason. With a grunt, he extended his hand across the bar to wind it firmly around her waist, pulling her through the crowd of people. She landed against his chest, red-faced and breathless, and Luffy just glared at Zappa with murderous hate. "Nami is mine, got it?" Nami had never heard him refer to her in such a way, and it made her heart race for some reason. What is this feeling? All the excitement certainly didn't help her poor condition, and she slumped against him as another wave of dizziness washed over her; her head landed against his chest, and in her delirium she wondered if it had always been that muscular. It feels nice… As she swooned, Luffy became aware of her weakened state and glanced down at her.
All the anger had vanished. He was smiling kindly at her, something soft hiding in the edge of his expression that she could not place. He gently reached up to sweep a strand of her orange hair from her flushed, clammy face, and in his eyes she could see genuine concern. "Nami, you work too hard. I hate to see you this way," he sighed quietly. The way he was speaking to her was so unlike him, gentle and loving, lacking all the harsh bite he had used on Zappa only moments ago. It wasn't the Luffy she knew, boisterous and loud, but for some reason she didn't mind. Actually, it made her feel special, that she was the only one he had talked to in such a way. That she was the only one he cared so deeply for. He put a hand on her forehead, feeling the volcanic heat pouring off her skin. "You're really sick."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you worry." He gave her a lop-sided smile, his hand drifting down to cup her cheek. If she were in a normal state of mind, she would have recognized the touch as blatantly affectionate, but trapped in the thrall of the fever she was more concerned with how nice his cool hand felt against her burning flesh.
"Nah. It's my job to worry about you," he smiled down at her. Nami smiled weakly back, her heart singing with happiness. Why was she so happy? She wasn't really sure, but she knew that Luffy was making her feel this way somehow. He came to make sure I was okay…
"Are you finished?" Zappa spat. He had regained some of his courage and drawn his sword, grimacing with disgust as he watched Luffy be so intimate with the object of his affections. "I want Nami to marry me! I'll fight you for her, Straw Hat!" He snapped. Luffy clenched his teeth, the anger resurging, and pulled off his signature Straw Hat to set it on Nami's head. He turned to carefully set her in a sitting position against the wall, making sure as she was as comfortable as could be.
"Sit tight and watch my hat for me. Chopper is gonna get you patched up," he ordered before turning back to Zappa and rolling his shoulders. "Normally I would tell a pest like you to beat it, but you've really pissed me off!" he snapped. The red-haired man and his crew made no move to interfere, perhaps recognizing that Luffy's pride would prevent it anyway. As the two sprang at each other and began to tear apart the bar in their little spat, flinging tables and chairs and smashing glasses, Nami hung her head and focused on keeping herself awake. She was so tired, but Luffy was fighting for her, so the least she could do was stay awake. Chopper, who had been huddled in the doorway, scampered over to her now that the situation was less precarious for him and set about applying a cool rag to her forehead and giving her another dose of the medication in an attempt to lower her fever.
By the time Nami's fever had receded enough for her senses to return, Zappa was lying in the street among the shattered pieces of the bar wall covered head-to-toe in bruises and bleeding from a busted nose. She vaguely heard Luffy apologize to the bar owner and promise to pay for the damage, to which Nami smirked. So much for that budget. She raised her head when Luffy returned to her side, and he leaned down with a small huff to pluck the straw hat from her head and place it back on his own. "Thanks," he grinned, and then plopped down beside her. He barely had a scratch on him. It had been child's play for him to handle Zappa. "Man, I could go for some meat right now." That was to be expected of Luffy, and she giggled. Then, he did something totally unexpected- he wrapped his arm firmly around his shoulders and pulled her close to him, looking at her worriedly. "Are you better now, Nami?"
"Yes, much better." Though she was still feverish, she was of more sound mind. Though, she was beginning to flush again, and not from illness; he was holding her so closely, so personally, that it was making her heart race. That foreign feeling was washing over her again. Was it joy? Partly, but there was something deeper to it, something she dare not name…
"Good! Promise me you'll be more careful, Nami," he frowned at her, tilting his head to the side to look at her with his wide eyes. Were they always that adorable? "I worry about you. You work really hard. Sometimes you need to take a break." Nami looked shyly down at her lap, flattered by his level of concern for her. Before she could answer, a shadow fell over them, and they both looked up to see the red-haired man.
"So, I see our little Luffy has gotten himself a girlfriend." So many things raced through her mind in that moment. How did he know Luffy? Who was this guy? And Luffy's girlfriend?
"Shanks!" Luffy cried with delight, grinning from ear to ear. Nami was floored. This is Shanks? I see why they nicknamed him "Red Hair." It was like the color of fire. "I didn't even realize you were here! I was too busy kicking that loser's ass," he huffed disdainfully with a nod to the unconscious Marine captain. "I have so much to tell you!"
"I'm sure you do," Shanks mused, one hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his hip. "Why don't you grab a seat? We want to hear all about your journey." The bar erupted into happy cheers and alcohol went flying around as they toasted to their reunion with the young boy. Nami was content to just sit on the floor and let Luffy have his fun. She knew how much Shanks and his crew meant to him, after all, and she didn't want to ruin his long-awaited reunion.
"Nah. I'll sit here with Nami, if you don't mind." At such a blunt statement, Nami went pink, and even Chopped gasped and looked at Luffy with surprise. He was perfectly calm, though, like it was a reasonable thing to say, with his arm still slung nonchalantly about her shoulders.
"So Nami really is Luffy's girlfriend. Nice to meet you! I wish we could have met under better circumstances, when you were well," Shanks beamed down at her.
"I'm not his girlfriend! I'm just his navigator!" she insisted hotly, burning now from embarrassment. The bar erupted into amused laughter.
"There's no need to be shy, darlin'!"
"Yeah! Tell us how a cute girl like you ended up with our little idiot!"
"Got any pretty friends, sweetheart? It's not often we see girls as cute as you!"
"Hey! I'm not an idiot!" Luffy protested, apparently not concerned at all that the entire crew thought they were an item. Nami hid her feverish face in her hands, not sure whether to be embarrassed or shamelessly delighted.
Deep down, she wondered if being thought of as Luffy's girlfriend was really that bad at all. Maybe it was the fever still wreaking havoc on her body- or maybe, just maybe, she cared for Luffy as much as he seemed to care about her.
Nami didn't know what these feelings were, but maybe they led not only to happiness, but love, too…