Simplicity and Shadows

by UnchartedDreams

Having spent the majority of her adolescence as a child laborer to a cruel, remorseless legal guardian, it's safe to say that Nami's life hasn't been… easy. So what will she do when she finds herself wrapped up in a new kind of personal hell, or as she likes to put it- "the place where self-esteem, innocence, and dreams go to die"- high school? AU. [Luffy/Nami]

4. All’s fair in love and war!

It doesn't take long for Nami to catch on that Monkey D Luffy has a crush on her.

It also doesn't take long for her to catch on that he's…

For lack of a better word, an unusual specimen.

That being said… A day has passed since she first met him, and while he definitely has had her raising eyebrows from the very first moment they met— somehow—

So far, in the short time they've known each other, she might even go as far as to say that she doesn't really mind him.

Or the rest of his group of quirky friends, of which Luffy insists that Nami befriend the second lunch rolls around.

"Fine," Nami replies, and Luffy beams.

"But if you compare me to a basketball again, I'll rip your head off."

—-

As Nami talks to some of Luffy's other friends when lunch rolls around, Luffy would gladly stay and watch, if well, nature didn't decide to call all of a sudden.

He'd run off in the direction of the bathroom stalls, if he weren't suddenly being dragged off to one of the school's empty classrooms.

—-

"Say, wonder where Luffy went?"

"Who cares?"

—-

"Ow! Quit dragging me by the ear like that, Hancock! Let go!"

The woman in question lets go once they enter the classroom.

Luffy pants.

"Ow…" Luffy moans as his rubs his ear, "Geez, Hancock! My ears aren't freaking elastic, you know!"

Luffy frowns. "Although if they were—"

"Luffy. I'm not all that interested in hearing your wishful fantasies right now."

"Eh?!" Luffy whines. "B—But— I thought you liked my wishful thinking, Hancock!"

"I do," Hancock replies, "But right now that same exact wishful thinking of yours is why I'm so mad right now."

Luffy blinks. "What do you mean?"

Hancock's fists ball.

"You like that new girl, don't you?"

Luffy blinks. "I mean, yeah. She—"

"Reminds you of a basketball. I know. You announced that pretty clearly in front of everyone at class yesterday."

Hancock's fists clench tighter. "What I want to know, is why."

"I mean… her hair is orange like a basketball—"

"No, Luffy! What I mean is why would you say something like that, in front of the whole class, when it's only been a month since I admitted I have feelings for you!"