Disclaimer
I do not own One Piece – So the characters aren't mine, obviously.
This story is inspired by everything I ever read or watched, so occurring similarities aren't an attempt at stealing anything. If someone feels imitated or thinks I stole something somewhere, please contact me and I'll clear up and/or correct possible misunderstandings or errors.
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I always appreciate a little feedback, so please review to tell me what you think about my writing and story.
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Still Unpredictable – Chapter two – Awake at last?
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In the end, Luffy wore the warmest and most tender expression when he breathed his reply in utter relief.
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"… Nami …
… … … you are awake …"
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After gazing all over his navigator's face with that unfamiliar warm and tender expression one more time, the black-haired pirate repeated his earlier assessment almost reverently, relaxing the tenseness in his muscles with a long, slow exhale that was close to a sigh.
" … you are finally awake … "
The puzzled female didn't quite know how to react to her captain's … unusual behavior – or his words … or his tone.
How long had she been unconscious if he sounded that worried?
And he had yet to loosen his grip on her left hand, too. Almost as if he was afraid she would vanish, if he did.
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Strange.
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She got the distinct feeling that she had missed something here ...
… something important …
But all further thoughts in this direction were forced to a complete stop, when Luffy adjusted his hold on her hand to lower his forehead onto his own clasped ones, muttering an utterly exhausted " … I'm so glad … " in the process.
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Strange indeed …
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She must have been hurt pretty badly. That was the only explanation the young woman could think of.
But except for the sound of a gunshot and the pain that followed, she didn't really remember anything from the specific incident which presumably caused her current state.
Trying to lighten the mood, Nami opened her mouth to retort something witty but went into a coughing fit before she was able to produce the first intelligible word.
That drew the attention not only of the man clutching her left hand like a lifeline but the reindeer doctor as well, immediately. The latter had been busy taking some more notes beforehand.
"Nami!?" Her captain addressed her again, voice and expression full of open worry this time. "Are you okay?" He asked further while helping the distressed woman into a more sitting position – right hand firmly on her lower back, the left one stabilizing her by carefully keeping hold of her right arm.
Unfortunately, the still hacking female couldn't answer him at all, just yet.
It wasn't until Chopper managed to offer her another one of his beverages to sooth down the severely sore throat that the orange-haired woman's cough attack finally calmed down enough for her to catch her breath and it took another couple of moments before she was able to get her bearings back entirely.
Turning around slightly in the steadying almost-embrace Luffy hadn't broken yet, the female pirate search her captain's concerned gaze and tried to make light of the rather alarming situation with a tiny grin.
"Hi!" She greeted him, still somewhat out of breath, punctuating every other word with its own exhale. "Is what … I meant … to say."
The answering bright grin appearing on her captain's face was followed by a matching retort as well as his trademark laugh.
"Hi! … Shishishi …"
Before their moment could continue, however, the furry doctor nearby insisted on checking all of his patient's vitals one more time – interrupting the heartfelt reunion in the process.
Ushering the – not-as-compliant-as-he-would-have-liked – woman to lay back down again, Chopper started his newest examination right away. While the little reindeer measured heart and breathing rate, temperature and several reflexes, Nami's eyes slowly started to droop once more.
That had been much more exhausting than she would have liked.
In the meantime, Luffy had slumped back on the chair from before as well – looking rather worn-out himself, oddly enough – while watching his furry crewmate taking care of his fatigued navigator closely, but quietly.
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Really odd.
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The latter was trying hard to stay awake by now, eyelids lowering again and again, staying down longer each time.
"Don't fight it, Nami. If you are tired, go back to sleep." Came the calm, but firm medical instruction from her right side.
" … but I don't wanna … " Was the slurred, yet almost defiant reply. " … 's too soon … " The orange-haired female added, eyes closing for good, regardless.
"Go back to sleep, Nami. You need it." The little reindeer encouraged more insistently.
Listening to young woman's breathing evening out, at last, the crew's medic finished his latest notes on her patient chart.
It was in that moment, that the black-haired pirate decided to speak again.
"… she woke up, Chopper … " He quietly repeated his earlier sentiment, as if he had to make sure it was true one more time.
The addressed crewmate smiled happily in response. "Yes. She did, Luffy."
A beat of silence.
"Is she going to be okay, now?" Concern and uncertainty were prominent in the straw hat wearer's softly spoken words.
The furry doctor didn't waste a second to reassure his worried captain, voice almost as soft. "All her vitals are stable, she aced the medical questions, appears to interact normally and her memory seems to work as good as one would expect – considering the circumstances." He elaborated.
Another silent moment.
"So … … … she'll be completely fine again?" It was barely a whisper, but the hopeful tone was unmistakable.
"From what I can tell so far, … " Chopper voiced professionally. " … there is nothing to suggest otherwise."
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A long, deep breath was followed by a strong, relieved sigh.
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"Thank you, Chopper." With that, the young emperor's eyelids seemed to get heavier, as well, words becoming slurred at the end.
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"You should get some more sleep, too, Luffy. I'll wake you up, if anything changes."
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" … m'kay … "
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She was definitely missing something here …
… and she would find out, what that was …
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Only seconds later, both – captain and navigator – finally drifted back into peaceful slumber.
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That was it – Chapter two! One of the shorter ones, but important none the less.
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What does all that strange behavior from Luffy mean?
What did Nami miss?
The answers to these questions – and some more – they are somewhere on the Grand Line! Go and get them! ;-D
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Joke aside, there will be more to come in the following chapters, of course.
Stay tuned.
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Take care and stay safe, everyone.
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