One thing one could never miss about Sanji's presence was the almost constant smell of cigarette smoke. It wasn't the most pleasant thing in the world and Nami normally wasn't a big fan of it. She could always tell where Sanji was by the smell because, despite being outside in open wind, that odor still permeated the air. She tried to get used to it and after a while the smell just seemed a part of Sanji. After two years of not being around it, Nami took the aroma in when they met and found it now to be a part of who Sanji was.
Nami didn't tune in to the smell until the talk and drinking died down a bit on the top deck. She cut the fond remembrance 'party' off early and slipped a teensy lie about how she'd drunk a little too much and was going to cut herself off. Franky encouraged Brook to hang out on the lawn and continue to remember good times of those that had lost and the trio exited the mikan trees. Nami left the empty bottles and glasses on the bar counter to take care of later.
She exited the kitchen and passed the reminiscing duo on the main mast seat for the aquarium bar. No one was there, but the smell of smoke lingered. Nami followed it to the doorway to the small balcony just outside. There was a little hidden area on the ship that you could be alone if you wanted to and enjoy watching the waves lapping against the sea. Nami peeked the door open slowly, not wanting to hit Sanji.
"I wondered where you were hiding."
Sanji turned from the railing he was leaning against, blowing a puff of smoke toward the ocean. "Nami-san…"
Nami quietly clicked the door shut and stopped far enough away at the railing to keep from getting too much smoke in her hair and clothes. "How much did you hear?"
Sanji looked out toward the ocean in silence. The pair stared at the ocean for the longest time. "I thought it was odd that you suddenly wanted a drink without inviting anyone else." He finally admitted. Another puff left his mouth.
Nami's cheeks would have flushed if they weren't already somewhat red from the wine. "It wasn't a topic that I wanted to bring the whole room down on." She muttered.
Sanji didn't say anything. Nami didn't know if he was tactfully biting his tongue or didn't know how to answer. Nami was aware that keeping Bellemere's death to herself after all that the others had done for her was kind of selfish. She knew that Nojiko told Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro what had happened that day because Nojiko reported Luffy had left instead of listening. Everyone risked their lives to free her and the village from Arlong's grip and hiding this from them at this point was just pointless.
Sanji dumped the cherry on the rest of his cigarette into the ocean and pocketed the filter into a special container he always carried. They still hadn't said anything moments later when he lit another one back up. Sanji waited to puff out the initial inhale before he spoke again. "Nami-san. I'm probably the only one on the ship who hasn't lost someone important in their lives. I don't have any way to try and empathize with your sorrow and suffering, even though I saw how Arlong treated your village. I know you still hate him and you have every right to. I just hope that you will lean on us with your troubles when they happen to you so you don't suffer alone."
Nami smiled softly at the gesture. Leave it to Sanji to wax poetic and know just what to say to soften the situation. He was like that though...able to annoy her with his perverted sneaking and yet he could very easily take a bow and be a dashing prince in a split second. "Thank you Sanji-kun. I'll remember that." Nami paused briefly. "I didn't want anyone else feeling bad by remembering those that they lost just because of me. Especially Luffy. I know it's been two years since he lost his brother, but I didn't want to remind him of it. We both know he has never shown us an ounce of emotional suffering."
"You're so very thoughtful Nami-san. I like that about you." There weren't any hearts in Sanji's eyes like there were when he proclaimed that he liked everything she did and Nami was glad. She didn't want to have to bat off the pervert in such close quarters and most likely he would end over the railing. Not that she was worried...he could Sky Walk his way back to the ship.
There really wasn't much more to say on the topic. Nami had done what she wanted to do for Bellemere and even had a good time doing so in the end. It was thoughtful comments and gestures such as this from the crew in times like these that Nami realized she would never deal with anything by herself.
"Thanks Sanji-kun. I really appreciate it." Nami knew Sanji was aware she wasn't thanking his last statement. She watched a puff snake its way through the air and dissipate. They were silent for so much of their time on the deck that it was quite easy to hear Nami's stomach protest loudly that she hadn't eaten enough at dinner. Nami's face flushed and her throat cleared. "Sanji-kun..."
"I have the rest of your dinner just waiting to be heated up. Come with me Nami-san."
Nami smiled and followed Sanji to the kitchen. She sat back on the same bar stool she took up mere hours ago before the day changed on her. Nami watched Sanji heat up the leftover plate and present it before her. She dug into the plate with renewed vigor once the smell hit her nose. Such a strange twist it'd been, but a happy ending was always a good one.
Nami looked up suddenly when a wine glass was presented before her. She didn't mind a drink with her meal, even if she already had a bottle not that long ago. Her head tilted as Sanji stood before her, also filling up a glass for himself. "Sanji-kun?"
"If you don't mind Nami-san, I would also like to toast your beautiful mother in tribute. I missed my chance earlier, but the day is not quite over yet."
Nami smiled and picked up the glass. She lightly clinked the glasses together with a quiet cheers and took a drink. "To Bellemere."
"To the second most enchanting person in the world."
Nami smirked and downed the small amount of wine. She pointedly ignored the bait and instead asked Sanji for seconds.