100 themes challenge #4: Seeking Solace.
It was almost noon on the Sunny, and just about everyone on the crew was out on the deck, enjoying the sun and clear sky. Luffy poked his head around the mast, turning around and looking up the stairs, on the roof, and in the aquarium before finally making his way to the kitchen.
"Hey Sanji? Have you seen Nami today?" Sanji looked up from the sandwiches he was preparing for lunch, shaking his head.
"Have you checked her room? She might still be there." Luffy nodded, turning and running across the deck and to the women's quarters, knocking lightly on the door.
"Nami? Are you in there?"
"Go away, Luffy!" The boy frowned, putting his hands on his hips.
"No way! Come on Nami, join us out here on the deck! It's so nice out!" He gestured to the rest of the crew on the deck, playing games and tanning in the sunlight.
"I said go away!" This time, it sounded like the woman was crying. This worried him even more, and he ignored all of her earlier pleas and walked right in, looking around.
"Luffy! You can't just barge in here like that!" Nami was on her bed, sitting with her back against the wall and her knees pulled up to her chest. She was cradling a photo between her knees and chest, holding it protectively in her arms.
"What's wrong? Nami are you crying?" She shook her head and looked away, pulling the photo tighter. A moment later she felt the mattress dip down, and sure enough, Luffy had placed himself directly in front of her, his usually happy expression missing. Nami couldn't hold back the rest of her sobs any longer and she lunged herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck and crying heavily into the crook of his neck.
"Oh Luffy….I'm sorry…I..I didn't mean to worry you…" Luffy smiled and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.
"It's okay, Nami. Just tell me what's wrong." The girl nodded, pulling away and sniffing.
"Today…Is the anniversary of Bell-mere's death…" She looked back down at the bed, tears falling anew. The captain stayed silent, responding only by pulling her into another hug and rubbing her back. He reached out and picked up the photo she had been holding, examining it closely. There was a young woman, about 30, with light purple hair and a cigarette sticking out from her teeth. The woman was holding two children, one with orange hair, and the other with blue.
"Is this her?" Nami pulled away, looking down at the picture and nodding.
"That's me," She stated, pointing to the girl with the orange hair. "This is Nojiko, my sister," As she moved her finger to the girl with the blue hair. "And the woman in the middle is Bell-Mere." Luffy smiled.
"She's beautiful. All of you are." He leaned in and kissed Nami's head.
"Can you tell me about her?" Nami looked up, shocked.
"You…You want to hear about Bell-Mere?" The captain nodded, smiling warmly down at the woman in his arms as she started telling the long tale of how she and Nojiko were rescued by Bell-mère, the tangerine trees, trying to steal books, and everything else. He watched as her eyes lit up as she talked, her hands waving around in wild gestures. Luffy smiled and stayed quiet, completely content with listening to his lovely navigator. And sometimes, being quiet was almost has great as talking.