Chapter18: Brunch Talk with Nami

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The next few weeks went on like normal, with the exception of Luffy and Zoro's relationship taking more baby steps. So far the others didn't really take notice, thinking that it was just close friendship, but then Nami couldn't be fooled any longer as her woman's intuition was telling her that there's more than what her friend and sort-of friend are letting on.

One day at brunch, the only day that Zoro was donating blood and got a chance to drag Luffy to talk with her.

"Okay Luffy, spill, are you and Zoro dating now?"

"Huh? What brought this up?" Luffy said as he took a bite of his morning bagel sandwich.

"A woman knows when someone she's close to is in love."

He looked at her as if she was out of her mind. "Huh? Didn't you say the same thing when I was with Sanji?" He said when there was a sudden dark aura around the female that even scared the little dogs that were with their owners.

"That's besides the point…" She said as she looked evil at that point before taking a deep breath to calm herself down. "I mean the way you two act around each other is no doubt mostly friendship, but then I did the same thing with Vivi when we started hanging around together." She looked at the guy in front of her. "You're in love with Zoro, aren't you?"

Luffy knew he couldn't fool his female friend for the life of him and sighed. "We do feel attracted to each other but we're not going to be serious about it until we're fully sure."

"So… what have you two been doing when you're alone?"

"Pretty much the same stuff including kissing and hugging."

"Wow, the innocent benefit stage."

"Yep. And I'm okay with that." Luffy said with a smile. "Because he's a really good kisser and he hugs really tight that it's hard to breathe, that's the best kind."

"A bear hug?" Nami said.

"Yep. Much better than Sanji's hugs."

"Well, he doesn't have much muscle to make hugs like that." She said with a smile. "So, that's all you've been doing?"

"Yep. Zoro got to see the kids again and it was just priceless to see all of them see him again."

"I bet. He doesn't get stressed out?"

He shook his head. "No way, he's a pro when it comes to handling things like that and the kids are great with him too because they want him to come in more often so they have to follow his doctor's orders and let him rest and only bug him if they really need help."

"Wow."

He giggled. "The kids I work with are like that after a month or two with me. There's no doubt that they'll do good once I have to part with them and have new recruits."

"You had some new ones recently, right?"

"Yeah, but my crew gave them the ropes and are now part of the crew now. Soon when the old crew moves on to better things, the new recruits now would help out other new recruits to become a team and the cycle continues."

"You really have all this down, don't you?"

"I wouldn't say that, I just go along with their huge imagination and make it something they can learn by that will help them be better people, even when they reach that age."

"Yeah…"

He smiled. "When Zoro was there, only one of the girls came up and asked him about his 'wounds' and he explained it as best he could to her and she decided to be a doctor so that she could help him when she grows up."

"That's so sweet."

"That's not even the best part."

"It isn't?"

He shook his head. "This girl was really smart from the beginning and I actually had a lot to trouble getting her to join in the fun. But when Zoro came in the first time, she knew that he was playing along but she looked up to him because he was acting out the part. After his second visit she went ahead and find any books about being a doctor, in her own level of course."

"Wow, so she's going to be gunho about being a doctor now?"

"Who knows, I just give them the confidence to do anything they set their mind to."

She smiled as she paid the bill. "You owe me for brunch."

"I know." He said as he finished up his small meal and smiled. "Is that all you want to talk about?"

"Well, I was going to ask you if he's treating you right, but I don't have to worry about that. You two… seem complete when you're together."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you do."

He smiled as both got up. "That's good to hear."

"Off to work now?"

He shook his head. "I have the day off. But Zoro should be done donating blood by now and sleeping it off."

"Have either of you thought about moving in?"

"Nope, and I don't think it's gonna happen for some time."

"You really are taking cautious steps in this odd relationship."

He shrugged. "I think it's kinda fun."

"You still cooking?"

"Yep! But today is Zoro's turn to cook."

"You two sure like taking turns with the cooking thing."

"Well we ran out of questions to ask about each other."

"Oh right you were doing a questioning game a while back."

"Yep, so now it's cooking."

"Well, I have to get to my job now, enjoy your day off."

"Thanks! See you later!" He said as they parted ways and he headed to the other's apartment, where sure enough there the other was on the couch.

He went up and kissed the other on the forehead, waking the other up a little.

"Hey Luffy, how was your talk with Nami?"

"It was good, but she figured out our secret."

"And?"

"She just wants to make sure you're treating me right."

He smiled as he settled to get some sleep in. "She's a good friend then."

He smiled as he kissed the other again before sitting down on the floor and turned on the television.

"Why are you on the floor?" Zoro asked.

Luffy looked at the other and smiled. "I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable if I sat there."

Zoro got up and pointed to the spot behind him. "Sit." He said.

Luffy blinked but he did and the other laid back down on his lap.

"Much better."

Luffy blushed as he smiled. "Better than the floor." He admitted as he stroked the green hair while the other slept peacefully.