Mass x Acceleration
By Dixxy Mouri
Chapter Eight: The Daily Grind
It had been about a month since Sanji and Nami had washed up on Apple Island.
During those weeks, Mac and his new roommates had developed something of a routine. While the mayor was away during the day tending to the day to day needs of the island, Sanji and Nami minded his house, splitting up various household tasks to keep themselves busy. It wasn't hard – Mac didn't have a very messy house and Gala didn't want them doing too much work just yet anyways, but it was something to do to pass the time while they recovered and waited for their captain.
Naturally, Sanji did most of the cooking, but with the weather still cold and everyone but the blacksmith and seamstress thinking it was too soon to send them into town, he wasn't the one doing any of the food shopping. They wanted to get out into town, but Gala wanted to err on the side of caution with them, something they supposed was understandable.
That didn't mean they couldn't have visitors.
"Where are the twins? Aren't you usually towing them along?" asked Nami. Ria had stopped by the mayor's house after a delivery and been invited to have some tea. Sanji was busy in the kitchen working on lunch while the girls sat in the living room. Although sitting down to tea with another woman reminded Nami of her days with the other Straw Hats, she kept glancing in the kitchen to confirm Sanji was still there, unsure of how to feel knowing that he wasn't spinning around the two of them spouting dorky declarations of love.
She knew that things between her and Sanji were . . . different . . . now. They took each other more seriously and were definitely closer than she'd ever imagined they would get, but he wasn't actively hitting on her anymore and sometimes she wondered if it was because she wasn't pretty anymore. She was still very thin, her breasts several cup sizes smaller and sagging more than she would have liked on her nineteen year old frame. Her hair was still very short and something unhealthy looking, which the only fix for the moment was a wig that didn't quite fit or look right (although Gala was giving them some herbs to try and promote faster, healthier hair growth). She just didn't feel pretty anymore and she really couldn't blame Sanji if he felt the same, really.
Then again, the seamstress was fairly attractive – definitely pretty enough to catch the old love cook's attention – but Sanji only gave her polite, quiet greetings and mostly didn't interact with her. Nami knew it wasn't the presence of her children, which she assumed would scare off most suitors. True, Sanji probably didn't want children yet. However, as far as they knew Sanji was still sterile and it would probably be a while before he could have them again, assuming it wasn't permanent, so there was a good chance that his only chance to be a father was adoption or taking over where someone else had left off.
But ignoring the issue of children, Ria was a very curvy woman and had a smooth, pretty face with sharp green eyes and dark eyelashes. She always dressed smartly (even if it was just a blouse and jeans), applied make-up competently, and walked with a confident sway to her hips. She was definitely an attractive woman, so Sanji's failure to acknowledge that was a little concerning.
For him, anyways.
She remembered Sanji's words from the night Shanks had saved them from Tesla. Maybe he just needs to sort some things out for himself . . . maybe he doesn't feel very attractive anymore, either. Nami had to admit – for all of his faults (and there were plenty), Sanji was a pretty good looking guy. He was far and away the best dressed of the Straw Hat men, had a cute smile, and she'd seen him without a shirt on occasion – not a bad site to behold. But he'd lost a lot of weight, too, maybe more than she had, and the paleness could be a little unsettling, she guessed.
"Play date," Ria responded, bring Nami back to the conversation at hand. She shrugged. "It's good for them to interact with other kids, you know? I mean it's nice that they have each other and all but dealing with children raised by other people is probably good for their development, sugah." She sighed. "Besides, it's nice to have the break. I love my babies but I'm raising them alone and I'm outnumbered."
"Whatever happened to your husband?" asked Nami.
Ria looked down, and Nami wondered if she'd gone too far. "I was never married."
Nami put her tea down. "Seriously?"
"I don't want to get into the details but let's call what happened a one night stand," said Ria. She laughed. "It figures, you know? Twins. I think I was about ready to kill Gala when he told me there was another baby coming – when I was in labor, that is, because I didn't know I was having twins until it was time for me to deliver Sundae. I was trying to figure out how I was going to raise one by myself, and then I all of a sudden had two?" She sighed. "Braeburn and I discussed getting hitched to help me out, but I pointed out that it might cause more problems than it solved."
"Because it would be a mixed race marriage?" Nami asked. "I mean, I don't have a problem-"
"Oh, I didn't think you did, and believe me, I don't have any qualms about it, either, sugah, but, well . . . my babies are pale little girls. Braeburn and I wouldn't be fooling ANYBODY. And second . . . I love Braeburn, I really do, but I don't love him the way a wife is supposed to love a husband, and I don't think he loves me that way, either. It would be weird trying to fuck each other."
Nami stared at Ria, who was casually drinking her tea like she hadn't just talked about the implausibility of "fucking" her best friend. Apparently no one ever bothered to teach her about tact. Then again, that probably described the Straw Hats to a certain degree as well. She decided to shrug it off and continue with her tea.
"It's not like I haven't dated since coming here – I've been on a couple of date but between the shop and the girls I just don't have a lot of time for it," she said. "But that's okay. I'm not that old yet – I'm twenty-two for gosh sakes."
Nami's eyes widened. "You're not that much older than us. Sanji-kun's going to be twenty-one in a few days, and I'm nineteen." She looked at her hands – they looked like the hands of someone much older than nineteen. "I feel so much older, though. I must look it, too."
"Don't talk like that," said Ria, rubbing her arm. "Time. It's all you need."
Sanji was in the middle of cooking dinner – something a little complicated that required his concentration – so Nami was left to wander around Mac's house looking for something to do. She'd read through most of the books that had interested her in the study, and the house was pretty clean (aside from the kitchen, but it was being used so that didn't count).
She heard a frustrated grunt from Mac's first floor office and decided to investigate. She politely knocked on the door. "Mac? Are you okay in there?"
"Budgets," he whined through the door. "I'm missing one hundred thousand berries."
Nami opened the door a crack and poked her head in. Mac looked disheveled and stressed out, papers and folders strewn about his desk. She frowned. "I used to manage the books for Luffy – want to see if I can help?" Mac looked up at her, studying her for several moments with wide, tired eyes. He finally nodded, and Nami stepped into the chaos.
"I'm not very good with budgets," he said. "I do well with decision making, but not this end of things."
"Didn't you used to be a town clerk?" Nami asked, starting to organize the paperwork on his desk by type. "That's what Shanks said – you were the town clerk before they made you the mayor. So didn't this used to be your job?"
"No, I did a lot of filing and documentation, meeting scheduling, errands for the old mayor, I was really more like a secretary," said Mac. He sighed. "Budgets were always something the mayor handled. That's something I've never gotten the hang of, but . . . everyone likes me as mayor and I don't think anyone else wants the job. They think I'm the town hero – you know, when they don't think Shanks is the town hero."
"You were very brave to do what you did," Nami said. She straightened a pile and set it aside.
"Maybe, but . . . I feel like there are some things I can handle well. I'm really good at settling disputes. Not everyone is as happy as they'd like, but they're usually happier than when they came into my office in the first place." He coughed. "But budgets and numbers are beyond me. I don't understand them. At all."
"Hey Mac, I think I found your lost money – you didn't carry a one over here," she said. She put the paperwork down, pointed out the error, and Mac slumped into his chair, relieved. Nami smiled.
"Really? I didn't carry a one? It took me three hours to not figure that out and three minutes for you to hunt it down?"
Nami shrugged. "I've got a good head for numbers."
Mac looked at Nami quizzically. "I think I've got an idea."
"Hmm?" asked Nami.
"Well, Shanks was encouraging you two to blend in on the island . . . do you want a job?"
Nami looked in the mirror as Sanji straightened and adjusted the silky scarf around her neck. "You think this looks good?" she asked.
"You don't look half bad in a skirt suit at all," said Sanji. He spun her around to look her up and down, tugging a little on the bottom of the jacket. Ria had come up with the outfit – matching navy blue blazer and pencil skirt, dark grey tights (because it was too cold for pantyhose), and a pearl pink shirt. Sanji had discovered the red scarf and tied it around her neck, leaving a loose knot off the side. It successfully covered the number on the back of her neck and stay out of the way of the off-color wig she was wearing. "All you need now is a little make up and voila – brand new assistant to the mayor."
"I don't know," she said, shuffling in her stalking feet. "I'm new to the island."
"And?"
"Won't people be upset if they see some strange girl acting as Mac's right hand?"
Sanji laughed. "Nami-san, you're a secretary – people aren't going to be up in arms over the girl who they think is getting him his coffee. You're not making any big decisions – you're just making sure he's doing his math right, scheduling his meetings, and yes, getting him his coffee." He kissed her cheek. "You're going to do just fine."
Maybe that was true, but she was still nervous – she wasn't just the assistant for anyone, this was the mayor's assistant. She's known Mac for what, three weeks? And he was trusting her with helping him run the island? Was he mad or something? "I've never held an honest job in my life!" She said. Her eyes widened. "Shit. I've REALLY never held an honest job in my life!"
Sanji stared at her for a few minutes before realizing this was true. "Oh. Shoot." That was true for most of the Straw Hats. Luffy and Usopp had never had a job of any kind. Zoro was a bounty hunter, but even that was a little shady. Chopper had been training under a doctor who TECHNICALLY wasn't allowed to practice on the island she lived on. Robin did whatever work came her way. She herself had been a lifelong thief.
Sanji had been co-owner of a restaurant. Franky had been a legitimate shipwright. Brook once held a job as a royal guard in the South Blue. Those three had basically ALL of the "honest" work experience in the entire Straw Hat crew (unless Mr. 2 had done something, but they were still getting used to the idea that, during their absence, Luffy had recruited the ballerina).
"You know what? It doesn't matter. You're going to do great." Sanji gave her a hug.
"What about you?" asked Nami.
"The Cider Mug, a popular restaurant slash bar slash café, is looking for a new cook. Mac asked me if I wanted to try out for it, I said yes, so the owner is coming by this afternoon to sample some of my dishes," said Sanji. "I've already got three different soups on the stove downstairs I need to go check on soon, then I've got a salad to make, chicken to bake, and cheese to grate."
"You made that almost rhyme."
"Well, that's secondary to the food tasting good," he said.
"You're a phenomenal cook – he'd be crazy not to hire you," said Nami.
Sanji beamed a little. "I was a little worried I was out of practice, but Mac seems pretty happy with what I've been feeding him, and Braeburn compared the meal I made for him to sex – specifically he said it was better than sex." He grinned stupidly. "That was a good compliment."
Nami shrugged. "I wouldn't know."
"Eh?" Sanji asked.
Nami raised an eyebrow. "I thought you knew I was still a virgin."
Sanji's eyes widened. "I, um, no, I had no idea. Really?"
"Yes, really," said Nami. "We never talked about that?"
"We might have," said Sanji, looking away. "But we talked about a lot, Nami-san."
Nami sighed. This was true. They'd shared a lot during their captivity, since there was nothing else to do in the cell at night but talk and staying up late shooting the breeze made it possible for them to sleep through a lot of the experimentation. And sometimes the topics did get personal – Nami was positive she'd talked about Arlong with him, and he'd told her about the circumstances that brought him to Zeff. Perhaps it wouldn't have been an early topic of conversation, but it was entirely plausible their sex lives had come up.
"So I take it you're not one?" asked Nami.
"Nope – I was seventeen when it happened," said Sanji. He sighed. "It was a one-time fling."
That surprised Nami. Sure Sanji was a little . . . not picky when it came to flirting, but based on his meltdown when he found out he was sterile, the idea that he had lost his virginity to a one night stand surprised her. Relationships obviously held some kind of value to him – why didn't he wait for a girlfriend for something so special?
Sanji sensed what she was thinking. "I thought it was something more than it was," he said soberly. "She'd been making eyes at me for a while, so I thought she liked me and I kind liked her because she was definitely cute, but . . . she did not want anything more than a fling. And a free meal. She got both. And then she came in a few days later . . . she made a comment about my inability to perform to her liking and then left. Never saw her again."
"Oh my God, Sanji-kun," Nami said, but he shook his head.
"Did it stop me from flirting and hitting on pretty girls while we were with Luffy?"
Nami tipped her head in defeat. "Point taken."
"On the bright side I got my awkward, terrible virgin sex out of the way on someone who doesn't matter to me in the long run," Sanji said, trying to make a joke out of it. "And I was AWFUL first time out of the gate – there was a reason she called me 'Speedy'."
"That was mean of her."
"It was true at the time," said Sanji. "But that's, ah, true for some guys. It takes practice."
"So you've had additional practice," Nami said slowly.
Sanji shrugged. "She was the first one, not the only one."
"For a while the others thought you were a desperate virgin. Did that bother you at all?"
"Well, they were half right – I was desperate." He forced himself to grin.
"Had a little sex drought?"
"It's been a while, not even counting last year," he said slowly. Sanji shook his head. "Not important. I'll be okay. But right now you look lovely and presentable and you're going to be a fantastic assistant today, got it?" Sanji smiled and nodded at her, encouraging her to smile and nod back. "Good! You're going to do great!" He gave her a kiss on the cheek (and Nami gave him a gentle tap to the cheek), adjusted her wig a little, and sent her on her merry way.
Apple Island's town was little bit busier than Nami expected. She had been expecting a small farming community, but was astounded to see it was more developed and populated than what she was used to seeing. There were little shops and businesses and cobblestone roads cleared of snow. Some children were having a snowball fight by some kind of candy store, and there were couples and friends walking in both directions while having quiet conversations.
In the center of town was a slightly larger building – the town hall. Mac opened the double doors, which led to a small reception area – there was a desk, several quills, a small Den Den Mushi, and a sign in book. There were two simple staircases leading up a landing with a pair of double doors at the top, directly above a pair of double doors near the reception desk. The only other noteworthy features were single doors under each stair case – one had Mac's name on the door (Mayor McIntosh Connor Smith), the other door blank.
"This is where you'll be spending most of your time," said Mac. "My office is to the left, there's a general supply and break area to the right, and behind you is the town hall. Mostly it's used for town meetings, which we typically have about once a month. The next one isn't for a while, so I'll tell you what I want to do then when the time comes."
"Okay. So am I a receptionist?" asked Nami.
"Largely. I'll probably have you do some other things as well – keep on top of my schedule because I'm horrible at that, too, file paperwork, whatever it looks like you can do well. I've wanted a good assistant for a while but they never seem to work out," said Mac.
"Any reason why?" asked Nami.
"Not doing their work? I get that there will be times you might not be the busiest and you're just waiting for someone to come in, and that's fine, but the last one just let a stack of harvest reports pile up and up and up . . . it was a nightmare to sort out." The mayor straightened his glasses. "When I was the town clerk and I had nothing to do, I had a book in my bottom desk drawer. But if there was a stack of filing on my desk, I filed."
"Makes sense . . . sounds easy enough . . ." said Nami. "Why me?"
"You seem proactive and you seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders. If you do well, I've give you more responsibility and more compensation," Mac said with a smile. Nami tried to smile back – she was a little nervous, this being her first job, but she was determined to get it right.
Sanji was almost done with dinner by the time Mac and Nami returned. "Welcome home!" he yelled over his shoulder. "How'd everything go?"
"Very well!" said Mac. He put his briefcase down in the living room and followed his assistant into the kitchen. "It was a slow day – we couldn't have asked for better first day conditions. One of the farmers came in to file a crop value change and Nami handled it beautifully." He patted her shoulder. "I think it's going to work out fine."
Nami tried to read Sanji's posture. "And how did things go for your interview?"
Sanji laughed. "He thinks most of my cooking is too fancy for his regulars," he said.
"You didn't get the job?" asked Nami.
"No, I did. Most of what I made would need to be priced way too high for what he usually puts on his menu, except for the soup. So my primary job will be rotating different soups, stews, chowders, and chilis throughout the weeks and the months, prep work, individual meals to order . . . basically what I was expecting to do." He grinned. "So excited about the soup thing though."
"Good for you," said Nami, giving him a hug from behind. "When do you start?"
"Tomorrow!"
Author's Notes
Oh man, I was dreading the writing of this part of the story, but it's going so fast! I dunno, maybe it's more enjoyable on your end? I sure don't want to write about Nami doing clerical work. Maybe it's more interesting to read about her doing clerical work. Nami's job is important, it's just not terribly interesting yet.
You can probably thank The Avengers fandom because guess what a lot of fanfiction in that fandom is? DOMESTIC AVENGERS! Oh yeah sure you can find some stuff about Dr. Doom blowing up Chicago or whatever but what are most of the fanfics? Let's all live together in Stark Tower, drink coffee, and have wild sex according to the preference of the author .
Sanji's job might be more interesting (unless you guys like clerical work – if there is a demand for Nami filing paperwork I'm curious to know, but I'm still not writing it) – the Cider Mug is an important location so I'm looking forward to exploring the characters and setting there.
-Dixxy