Kinda big chapter, forgive me!

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And take him to the amusement park she did. The captain was overflowing with happiness exactly the same way when he hears Sanji shout that it was time to eat. His contagious joy ended up passing to Nami who was laughing like a child.

But Luffy was usually a lot of work because he couldn't stay still. If she looked away even for a second, the boy was already inside a ride and she was left to run after him. When they managed to be finally together in the middle of so many people, he would take the redhead's hand and pull it to another ride or even to one that they had already gone.

Since she had already set aside a certain amount of money to spend with him before leaving Sunny, she let him have fun and go to whatever attraction he wanted. She really missed this particular Luffy, who was stupidly happy and always knew how to enjoy everything life had to offer. Especially after everything they went through in the hand of the Emperors. It had been a while since she saw Luffy so relaxed.

I really wish we could do this more often.

Nami allowed a loving smile while looking at Luffy making friends with the popcorn man ("Oe old man with the funny beard… is it real? Let me pull it… anyway, your beard is ugly but your popcorn is really good! Gimme more!") and the said man laughing at the captain because of the naive but funny jokes. It's super incredible how he manages to attract everyone around him. Probably this fact plus the confidence he has for the whole crew is what made the Straw Hats to be loyal even to Luffy's last strand of hair.

In fact, everything they are today is due to him. The Straw Hats are a force to be reckoned with because of him. Because of how much he inspired them to be the best version of themselves. You changed the lives of us all, Luffy. Do you realize how important you are?

The rubber boy said goodbye to the old man on the stool and started walking towards her carrying a bucket and a bag of popcorn.

"Hey, Nami! I bought for you!"

"Well, well, well... the glutton sharing food. I am impressed that you didn't devour it on the way."

Nami gave him a wry smile, but she was really puzzled. Luffy always ate everything he saw in front of him. He pouted and looked away the same way he did every time he was going to lie.

"Yeaaah… I didn't even think about it..."

"You goofball! You don't even know how to lie properly!"

A hit in the head.

"Anyway, airhead, it's almost lunchtime and if we don't go back to Sunny, Sanji-kun will kill us. Let's go, one last ride, okay?"

"Aaaah Namiii, but-"

"No, no 'but'. Let's go. How about going to the paintball and I kick your ass and then boast about my victory?"

"...Don't you think you're being overconfident?", Luffy raised his eyebrow and looked at her as he devoured the popcorn.

"There is no such thing as overconfident, you idiot. Or are you afraid of losing?", Nami gave a mocking look and wiggled her eyebrows in order to provoke him.

"Haaaaaa? I'm not afraid of you, stuuuuupid."

Nami just needed to glare at him.

"...I'm lying. Yeah, I am afraid."

.

.

.

.

.

"Luffy! Stop picking a fight with the children, you fool!"

"They started it, Nami! Oeee your little demons, you never shoot anyone in the back!", Luffy was gesturing wildly and the kids were just laughing at him.

Splash.

The noise from a balloon bursting behind him was what stopped him from shouting at the children, which gave them time to escape.

"What…"

Nami was laughing out loud at his wide eyes but Luffy started shouting at her completely outraged.

"OE NAMI, I HAVE JUST GIVEN A MORAL LESSON TO THESE CHILDREN AND YOU GO AND DO THE SAME THING!"

"EVERYTHING IS VALID IN LOVE AND PAINTBALL, STUUUUPID!"

"I'm pretty sure that's not as the saying goes! You are such a child, Nami!"

This boy's audacity has no limits.

"ME? A KID? HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR?"

Splash.

The nerve of Luffy to shoot a paint ball at her face. And laugh. A lot. Rolling on the floor.

"LUFFY, YOU BETTER START RUNNING!"

And he ran. According to the rule, the winner was simply the one who got the best of eleven hits until the time they bought was over. Nami was not Usopp, but she had a good aim - the problem is that Luffy had it too. It was going to be very difficult to beat him just with aim and strength, so she would have to be much faster and more acrobat than him. That wouldn't be so difficult considering the years she spent breaking into and out of places in her old days as a thief.

At least she managed to convince him not to use anything from his Akuma no Mi claiming that it would be unfair to her. After all, the redhead had nothing to compete against his Gomu Gomu no Mi. Luffy whimpered, but, competitive as always, accepted.

Nami went into the most unlikely places where Luffy would have a hard time getting in and being fast - toboggans, little houses with a bridge, ball pool, even in rappel climbing. She managed to be faster than him and had already hit four times - one in the chest, one on the back ("Namiiii, have honor!") and two in the arm.

However, the captain wasn't that far behind - he already had three hits and Nami started to get worried. Then she started to hide behind places and provoke him sticking her tongue out and mocking him. It worked because Luffy let himself be provoked and Nami had even more fun. But soon he'd laugh without a care in the world and ended up getting distracted.

Splash.

Great, one more hit! Just one more, Nami, just one more!

"NAMIIIII, YOU'RE PLAYING DIRTY! YOU'RE DISTRACTING ME!"

"You're the one who always falls like a chump!", Nami gave a sarcastic laugh.

"AAAARGH!"

I haven't had this much fun in a long time.

Nami continued her relentless onslaught, but the last hit was proving to be very difficult to achieve. Luffy was playing safe and she started to get anxious because it was about ten minutes before the reserved time was over. She needed to hit just one more and she would win overwhelmingly.

And then she could rub it in his face that she won at least one thing against him.

I'm sorry, God, but I'm also competitive.

Luffy ran like crazy after her and incredibly, got two more hits and that way, left him with five points just like her.

Damn it!

The boy's aim was getting more precise as time went by, as well as his speed without using any power and Nami started to get worried. What's with this boy, my God? If I get a little closer, I'm sure it's the end!, she thought. They only had five minutes left and Nami decided to take a chance. She ran in his direction really fast, which made Luffy startle and let his guard down for a few seconds.

Great! A breach!

Nami collided with him, wrapping her arms around his torso and the boy was really startled but laughed out loud when the two collided in the hay scattered on the floor. For a few seconds, she even felt bad about what she was about to do, but winning is winning. And deep down… she also wanted to spend some time there listening to the beating of his heart.

Splash.

Nami's eyes widened as she popped an emergency paint balloon they gave them for melee attacks in his head.

Splash.

Luffy had done the same.

Smart.

"Shishishi, I think it's a tie, Nami!"

"Haaa? There's no way to tie it, you moron. I hit you first."

"What?! No way! It was at the same time! It's a tie, stuuupid!"

"Luffy, it can't be a tie! It's a six-out-of-eleven series! I got six, so I automatically won, stuuuupid!", she scoffed using the same tone he used, "And... you hit my... MY HAIR, LUFFY! I SWEAR I WILL DROP THE PAINT BUCKET IN YOUR HAT!"

Nami put her hands around the captain's neck and shook him in the same way as she did every time he was being stubborn, but Luffy just laughed out loud such a nice and happy laugh that she immediately reduced her strength and only supported her hands on his shoulder while looking at him laughing like the happiest person in the world.

They were still close and his arms still held the redhead's waist in such a sweet way that Nami's heart started beating very fast out of nowhere. What the hell, Nami.

"I had a great time, Nami!"

The rhythm of the music that played on the paintball speakers was so contagious and the lyrics had… so so much to do with what she had been feeling these past few months and way more at that moment. The navigator listened carefully and decided that she would keep another moment in her heart.

"I'm surprised that you've never been told before

That you're lovely and you're perfect

And that somebody wants you"

I'm also surprised, Luffy.

She had already kept the hug he gave her hours before at the ice cream shop. Now she would keep this music and the gentle feeling of Luffy's hands on her waist under lock and key.

"Me too, Luffy. I told you I was fun too!"

"Nami, I didn't want to-"

"I already said that everything is fine."

A lie.

"Are you sure? But anyway, we have to do this more often, Nami!"

"Yes!"

And with those words and all this closeness, Nami felt very greedy, dying to collect another memory. She had only realized now that she had her legs around Luffy, straddling him while the boy was lying in the hay smiling peacefully. She knew that she should be embarrassed and get off him urgently because if someone caught them in that position, they would certainly not interpret the situation correctly.

However, from where she was, it was such a lovely view. Luffy, his face dirty with paint and laughing at her, made her suddenly yearn for him. All those years secretly craving for him without realizing it and not even in a sexual way, but just yearning to hear his voice or feel his body heat when she wakes up.

A suffocating longing for someone who was not even far away.

However, the captain probably had no idea that their position was a compromising one, but the redhead is not innocent. If it were any other man who she was interested in, she would have been a lot bolder.

But it's Luffy and this time, the only thing I can feel is fondness.

Nami leaned in until she was closer to the rubber boy, held his face with both her hands and gave him a tender kiss on his forehead.

An innocent kiss that I didn't even think I could give.

The navigator was amazed when she thought how bold she had just been. But at the same time, she never thought in her life that she would call it a bold move. I think this is what happens when you are infected with the virus of this fool. It was a completely innocent kiss, but she couldn't get her heart to stop beating fast. Even more so because she knew that Luffy was incredibly close and she could feel his breath on her collarbone.

But how silly could she be to let a kiss like that melt her inside?

You are very stupid, Nami.

"Hey, N-Nami?"

His voice came out in a low whisper underneath her, which ended up awakening things she had never imagined… and now it was really quite bold. She started to get so intoxicated that she couldn't think of the risks or that it could come back to bite her in the ass later.

"I'm surprised that you've never been told before

That you're priceless and you're precious

Even when you are not new"

Nami began to give small kisses starting on the forehead, running from the beginning of the nose to the tip and hovering just inches from the captain's lips. Now she was basically able to breathe the same air as him and feel that his breath smelled like blue sky ice cream, strawberry, and chocolate.

So Luffy.

She had been staring at his lips for a long time until she decided to look into his eyes with the intention of asking for permission. But the boy's expression was one of complete confusion and if she was correct, a little suspicious. Luffy was not flushed, his eyes were not wide and he didn't even look at her lips once, he just stared at her all the time with a frown.

Nice. Brilliant idea, Nami.

The captain's lack of reaction really hurt her. It's not like she didn't know, but the redhead had that little hope kept in the far corner of her heart. Now she was sure that there was nothing.

Maybe now she could finally move on, who knows.

You're an idiot for thinking that something would happen.

Immediately, the girl got off him, pulling him with her so that they could hand over their equipment and go on their way. And the whole time, Nami was racking her brain to find some excuse, something that wouldn't break their relationship once and for all, but nothing came to her mind. Luffy isn't so stupid as to not understand what she would do next.

Nami let herself be carried away by the moment and it didn't come out as expected. But honestly, she just needed to be straightforward. Apologize to him, tell him that she didn't know what she was doing and ask for him to forget it completely. Then smile and hope that the captain would just brush the subject aside.

She had already handed the safety clothes, straightened her own, fixed her hair and left to wait for Luffy outside. It should take a while since it was a real struggle for him to get dressed. But when she left the establishment, she didn't expect to find him leaning against the wall waiting for her. He was looking down with a frown and was pouting exactly the same when he was trying to understand something.

She shook her head and just grinned watching his squirm face. Better to get this over with, she thought. She used her thumb and forefinger to undo the frown, making him look at her. He kept opening his mouth a few times and then closing it.

I'll get him out of this misery.

"Luffy-"

"Nami, why-"

"Why I did that? It was just a loving gesture, Luffy. A kiss on your forehead, you fool. A way of thanking you."

"No… I mean, after-"

"Luffy, don't worry about it, okay? I just got carried away, so forget it, all right? I don't want you to fry your brain cells for something silly."

"But-"

"Luffy, it's okay. I apologize for having crossed the line. Please, forgive me."

Nami rested her hand on the boy's face. This made Luffy lean in and the redhead widened her eyes because… she never saw the captain make such a loving gesture. Hugs? Okay, she had one earlier and others, even if not very often. Hold her (usually around by her waist) to get her out of harm's way? Okay, no problem. Give her his straw hat to hold? She never understood why it was usually always her, but she thought it was a way of him saying "I trust you".

But that… that seemed so intimate. Something she never thought she'd have a chance to do. Luffy had his eyes closed and sighed very softly.

Nami shuddered.

She turned her eyes to his lips again and suddenly, the redhead took a step forward.

And if she gave one more, there was no going back.

So, Nami, what are you going to do?

She took another step.

The last step took her so close to Luffy that she could see his scar up close, could see how it looked healed, but the stitches were still prominent and highlighted. She could see how he had a few little wrinkles in his eyes that Nami supposed it was from smiling so much. She could see that his nose was kind of thin and particularly cute.

She could see that his lips were thin, but it didn't stop the urge she had to kiss them. Then, without thinking twice, Nami leaned in.

She closed her eyes and kissed him.

Simple as that - innocent, but full of things she wanted to say but couldn't. Things like I wish I could say that I love you every day or how I wish you were the only guy I'm going to date for the rest of my life or I don't mind not being the queen of pirates, as long as I stay with you.

So many other things that wouldn't fit in one kiss.

Nami also couldn't help noticing how soft his lips were (even if they were made of rubber, exactly as she thought!) and wondered briefly how it was possible for someone so strong and in constant battles to possess such softness.

And suddenly… it was over. Nami slowly opened her eyes and found his startled. Arched eyebrows and wide eyes, but other than that… no reaction. None of his arms wrapped around her waist, no hand held her face, no hand got lost in her hair, no tongue found hers, no response from him during the kiss.

Nami stepped away from him and smiled bitterly at the reality of the indirect rejection. She knew how it was going to end and even so, she wanted to take a chance. If she really wanted to be sure or just live a fantasy for a day, she didn't know anymore. What she did know was that it could turn into a snowball if she didn't fix it here and now.

The redhead has never been truly a coward (except when she needs to fight and even so, she takes a chance) and she wouldn't start being one now.

Luffy was still staring at her in confusion and if there was ever a time when he looked more like a child, that would be the moment. Nami stifled a laugh, swallowed her pride and disappointment - which, in particular, had the bitterest taste of all the drinks she'd ever drunk - and kindly looked at him. If she managed to lighten the mood, it might be more natural.

"I stole your first kiss, Captain. Hope you don't mind."

She chuckled, winked and turned away, walking in front of him so Luffy wouldn't see her struggling to not cry.

Luffy didn't say a word during the trip back.

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1. I used the song F.N.T from Semisonic.

2. The paintball scene is a tribute to the movie 10 things I hate about you.

Again, thank you for reading! :)