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Not fine. But if you ever feel it's too much, just tell me. ( The hug is something at least, a small step in some unspoken direction that even Luffy isn't certain of. It's better than a smack and he takes his time, quietly enjoying the warmth of it all before eventually Nami shifts back. He doesn't say anything on the sniffling, simply gives Nami's fingers another squeeze as he lets them twine with his own.
He knows whatever this is, is nowhere near over. But if he can at least be there for them both as they figure it out, Luffy supposes that's the most he can do for now. He just wishes he could read Nami's mind, reach in there and pluck out the part that eats at her the most. His smile tightens a fraction at the mention of Shanks before the expression quickly passes and Luffy gives a small shake of the head. )
We haven't talked much since the games happened, and then Koby's haki went wrong and just.... ( A shrug. Luffy has decided to simply not think on it too hard, to focus on anything and everything except for what had happened. He doesn't understand it and Luffy has found it's all too easy to begin picking it apart until the hurt feeling threatens to firmly take hold. ) I don't really know what to say to him these days.
He knows whatever this is, is nowhere near over. But if he can at least be there for them both as they figure it out, Luffy supposes that's the most he can do for now. He just wishes he could read Nami's mind, reach in there and pluck out the part that eats at her the most. His smile tightens a fraction at the mention of Shanks before the expression quickly passes and Luffy gives a small shake of the head. )
We haven't talked much since the games happened, and then Koby's haki went wrong and just.... ( A shrug. Luffy has decided to simply not think on it too hard, to focus on anything and everything except for what had happened. He doesn't understand it and Luffy has found it's all too easy to begin picking it apart until the hurt feeling threatens to firmly take hold. ) I don't really know what to say to him these days.
( i can't be with you, because i just need you to be with her. it's been hours and it keeps fucking echoing in zoro's head, making his throat tighten every goddamn time, trying not to let it consume him, trying not to spiral like he really fucking wants to.
it's after midnight, and maybe zoro should have called or texted first to let nami know that he's on his way to see her because sanji needs zoro to be with her, and zoro needs zoro to be with her. he needs to give himself to her — lose himself to her? maybe it's the same thing. it doesn't matter.
after whatever the fuck happened on that post today, the harsh words to and from nami, who knows if she's even here? she's probably rightfully upset, and she could be holing up at koby's, for all he knows. fuck. he really should've thought this through. it's too late to turn around now, though, because here zoro is at her door, deep emerald leather collar clenched in one hand, knocking with the other. )
it's after midnight, and maybe zoro should have called or texted first to let nami know that he's on his way to see her because sanji needs zoro to be with her, and zoro needs zoro to be with her. he needs to give himself to her — lose himself to her? maybe it's the same thing. it doesn't matter.
after whatever the fuck happened on that post today, the harsh words to and from nami, who knows if she's even here? she's probably rightfully upset, and she could be holing up at koby's, for all he knows. fuck. he really should've thought this through. it's too late to turn around now, though, because here zoro is at her door, deep emerald leather collar clenched in one hand, knocking with the other. )
( in fact, nami is home. she spent most of the day with luffy, bulldozing her way through convincing him that she's fine, which had middling success, only to come home and rot in bed, staring up at her ceiling. she doesn't really give a fuck if alina likes her or not — it's more the principle of the thing, that nami opened her mouth when she should've stayed silent, and now she's mad at alina and shanks and set, and doesn't have a solution for dealing with any of it. well, alina's the easy part actually — she just doesn't go near her, ever, doesn't interact with her, doesn't look at her. easy. shanks and set? apparently they come as a pair, and she can't have one without the other, so she's made the very nami decision to not have either. shanks is clearly happy without her. who needs a dad anyway? she barely needed a mom, as evidenced by becoming an orphan twice over, before she even hit puberty.
when she answers the door, she has white eye masks under her eyes, the hair on either side of her head drawn back in two french braids, knotted at the nape of her neck. nami half expects it to be sanji, though she's not sure why — it seems like him to make a midnight plea for forgiveness, and she probably would forgive him, or at least fuck him, because she's sad and lonely and sanji is no longer the person who's hurt her the most. he's just a number on a list of them.
but it's zoro, and one look at him has her forgetting her pity party, eyebrows knotted together. )
Zoro? ( she reaches up, presses her hands on either side of his face. ) What is it? What's wrong?
when she answers the door, she has white eye masks under her eyes, the hair on either side of her head drawn back in two french braids, knotted at the nape of her neck. nami half expects it to be sanji, though she's not sure why — it seems like him to make a midnight plea for forgiveness, and she probably would forgive him, or at least fuck him, because she's sad and lonely and sanji is no longer the person who's hurt her the most. he's just a number on a list of them.
but it's zoro, and one look at him has her forgetting her pity party, eyebrows knotted together. )
Zoro? ( she reaches up, presses her hands on either side of his face. ) What is it? What's wrong?
( it's a question that zoro could answer a million different ways — because everything feels wrong right now without him and sanji, without nami and sanji, without zoro and nami and sanji. there's a moment when he meets her bright blue eyes that it all almost comes pouring out of him: the messages. the pleading. the kiss, the confessions, before — the end. what's wrong? )
Nothing, ( he says instead, which he immediately knows sounds like absolute fucking bullshit, but what else can he say? there's no point in bringing it up here and now because he thinks he'd rather die than get nami even more pissed off at sanji, widening the rift between them.
instead, a hand reaches to tip nami's chin up so zoro can press his lips against hers, a kiss that's soft at first, but — the memory of sanji's mouth on his is still fresh, sugarette smoke and the salty tang of tears lingering on his tongue, and he wants it gone. his hand drops to her lower back, fingers flexing as he pulls her flush against him, head canting to deepen the kiss, suddenly greedy. it's ... a little unlike him, usually letting nami take the lead, but it's all a distraction, he thinks — though whether he's trying to distract nami or himself is anybody's guess.
the collar ends up pressed against nami's hand, a wordless request. please? )
Nothing, ( he says instead, which he immediately knows sounds like absolute fucking bullshit, but what else can he say? there's no point in bringing it up here and now because he thinks he'd rather die than get nami even more pissed off at sanji, widening the rift between them.
instead, a hand reaches to tip nami's chin up so zoro can press his lips against hers, a kiss that's soft at first, but — the memory of sanji's mouth on his is still fresh, sugarette smoke and the salty tang of tears lingering on his tongue, and he wants it gone. his hand drops to her lower back, fingers flexing as he pulls her flush against him, head canting to deepen the kiss, suddenly greedy. it's ... a little unlike him, usually letting nami take the lead, but it's all a distraction, he thinks — though whether he's trying to distract nami or himself is anybody's guess.
the collar ends up pressed against nami's hand, a wordless request. please? )
[ delivered while nami is out: a seashell and pearl encrusted hand mirror, a conch shell candle, and a set of handmade martini glasses holding several pieces of pearl and gold jewelry. balanced against the candle is a shimmering card written in sanji’s neat hand. ]
Dear Nami,
I hope you enjoy your gifts! I made the glasses myself, because a beautiful person deserves the most beautiful things. They’re safe to use, so make sure you share a drink with someone special during this magical holiday. It’s all of our first time celebrating, so make it count!
With love,
Sanji
( it does sound like bullshit, and ordinarily nami would call him out on it, but zoro is exuding more do not ask vibes than usual, which is saying something, given that he usually doesn't want to talk about anything, ever. besides, nami isn't exactly opposed to a distraction right now herself, reaching up on her tiptoes to wind an arm around his shoulders, her hand palming the back of his overgrown moss hair, mouth opening up underneath his. thoughtlessly, she drags them both into her room, the door shutting behind him when she pushes him against it, balancing control of the kiss between them like a knife. it's not unpleasant — new, sure, but nami finds she likes it, the wrestling, the obvious need zoro has in the flex of his muscles to have what nami is all to willing to give.
the eye masks are skewed when she pulls back, sparing the second it takes to throw them on the floor, examining the collar in her hands. she knows it well — she picked it out for him, after all. nami smiles up at him, sucking on her lip, before snapping her fingers and pointing to the ground. actually, this is exactly what she needs. )
Get down here.
( once he assumes the position on his knees, she sets to the task of winding the collar around his neck, meticulous and affectionate, making sure it's sized right, that it's comfortable on him. )
When you put this on, that means you're my kitty. And you'll do whatever I say, without complaining. ( hands cup his cheeks, squishing them together a little, rocking him in a babyish sway. ) Okay?
the eye masks are skewed when she pulls back, sparing the second it takes to throw them on the floor, examining the collar in her hands. she knows it well — she picked it out for him, after all. nami smiles up at him, sucking on her lip, before snapping her fingers and pointing to the ground. actually, this is exactly what she needs. )
Get down here.
( once he assumes the position on his knees, she sets to the task of winding the collar around his neck, meticulous and affectionate, making sure it's sized right, that it's comfortable on him. )
When you put this on, that means you're my kitty. And you'll do whatever I say, without complaining. ( hands cup his cheeks, squishing them together a little, rocking him in a babyish sway. ) Okay?
[Koby has a list of things he wants to try, but they've been more or less on hold since the summertime. The holidays are the quietest things have been in months, so...]
Never? I would've thought
Well.
If you ever wanted practice, I was thinking maybe
I mean
They used to tie me in the brig. Before.
So I might freak out. At first.
And I don't want to be naked if that happens, you know?
Plus you've seen me freak out before, you know what to do.
And I trust you. I know you'd make it safe.
But if that's too much that's okay too. That's fine.
So
Yeah.
Never? I would've thought
Well.
If you ever wanted practice, I was thinking maybe
I mean
They used to tie me in the brig. Before.
So I might freak out. At first.
And I don't want to be naked if that happens, you know?
Plus you've seen me freak out before, you know what to do.
And I trust you. I know you'd make it safe.
But if that's too much that's okay too. That's fine.
So
Yeah.
( a weird thing to stumble on — intersecting points between nami and koby, the places where the pirates who owned them overlap. she offers it up because it's over text, because it's easy, because it's koby. )
arlong used to chain me in bed
( she would literally rather die than admit that to anyone else, though. )
so i get it
i'll take care of you. promise.
i'd like the practice too, anyway. i'm always super under prepared when it comes up.
safeword?
arlong used to chain me in bed
( she would literally rather die than admit that to anyone else, though. )
so i get it
i'll take care of you. promise.
i'd like the practice too, anyway. i'm always super under prepared when it comes up.
safeword?
[It's not surprising -- Koby knows what it means for a pirate captain to own you, how everything you are, everything you can give them is utilized, how protective pirates are of their things. But it is, because it's Nami, because everything about her is ferociously independent and determined towards freedom. Maybe this is why. Maybe this is why it needs to be her.
She knows. She says bed and Koby wonders, wonders a little too close to the darkest, deepest aches in his heart, and has to reel his mind back before it goes there. Not there.]
He did? [An invitation, for more, if she wants to give it, if she feels like lancing the wound, like letting it bleed clean. He won't tell a soul, won't write a single note about this. Not this.]
Okay. Thank you. I've heard it's good, too. I mean
The people I've talked to who've done it have liked it. Zoro certainly seems to.
And you make it look pretty, on him at least.
Marine. [That'll kill any sort of mood immediately.]
She knows. She says bed and Koby wonders, wonders a little too close to the darkest, deepest aches in his heart, and has to reel his mind back before it goes there. Not there.]
He did? [An invitation, for more, if she wants to give it, if she feels like lancing the wound, like letting it bleed clean. He won't tell a soul, won't write a single note about this. Not this.]
Okay. Thank you. I've heard it's good, too. I mean
The people I've talked to who've done it have liked it. Zoro certainly seems to.
And you make it look pretty, on him at least.
Marine. [That'll kill any sort of mood immediately.]
yeah. you know what pirates are like.
( taking what they want, abusing their possessions, always wanting more. it's not like nami ever had the word no in her vocabulary when it applied to arlong, because a no would've seen more suffering inflicted on coco village, on nojiko. higher taxes, another raid, more dead mothers. something worse than whatever he was threatening to do to her. besides, she was just a kid — she had willingly gone to arlong, and figured the worst he could do was already done. nojiko had to scrub their mom's blood and brains out of her hair, because the red blended in too much for nami to spot. their very last interaction as sisters, until recent times.
she also wouldn't have changed anything. not now, or ever. the price of coco village was everything she had: now, in hindsight, a whole lot of nothing. why she ever believed arlong would keep his word is beyond her now — willful childish ignorance, the last glimmering drop of hope in an otherwise empty pot, or the belief arlong actually cared about her, the way she believed he did, sometimes. pirates very famously don't love to give up their things. )
i'll make it pretty on you, too. i have a whole book with pictures
when i practice i can only do it on my legs though. this'll be a big help
wanna meet up at mine? roommate's gone
( taking what they want, abusing their possessions, always wanting more. it's not like nami ever had the word no in her vocabulary when it applied to arlong, because a no would've seen more suffering inflicted on coco village, on nojiko. higher taxes, another raid, more dead mothers. something worse than whatever he was threatening to do to her. besides, she was just a kid — she had willingly gone to arlong, and figured the worst he could do was already done. nojiko had to scrub their mom's blood and brains out of her hair, because the red blended in too much for nami to spot. their very last interaction as sisters, until recent times.
she also wouldn't have changed anything. not now, or ever. the price of coco village was everything she had: now, in hindsight, a whole lot of nothing. why she ever believed arlong would keep his word is beyond her now — willful childish ignorance, the last glimmering drop of hope in an otherwise empty pot, or the belief arlong actually cared about her, the way she believed he did, sometimes. pirates very famously don't love to give up their things. )
i'll make it pretty on you, too. i have a whole book with pictures
when i practice i can only do it on my legs though. this'll be a big help
wanna meet up at mine? roommate's gone
[He does know -- he knows and he doesn't, because Arlong was different, because Nami was clever and cunning and brave, and she was half the age Koby was when he left the island he knew, when he stumbled (stupidly, stupidly) into becoming a pirate's cabin boy. Because Alvida had been a nuisance, an annoyance on the seas, whose power mainly exerted itself in control, in you can eat when the deck's spotless, in you can sleep when I can see my reflection in those boots and sometimes, sometimes in if you're too tired or hungry or in pain to work, I'm sure the crew could find some other way for you to contribute, I'm sure if I lock you in the hold with them for an hour, they'll figure out a way you can be useful, Koby.
Arlong's brutality was written all over the burned-out hulls of Coco Village, all through the East Blue, in the bounty that was quadruple what Alvida's had been at it's peak. Still: they had both been children, they had both found a way to survive, they were both left with the ghosts of those years and now, now Koby wants to exorcise a few of them, wants to see if a year of freedom balances out two of captivity.
And that's why it has to be Nami.
So:] Yeah. I do. [And he leaves it, sleeping for now.]
Sure, yeah. I'm done wrapping everything, I think.
A whole BOOK? [Oh, she's speaking his language now.]
Arlong's brutality was written all over the burned-out hulls of Coco Village, all through the East Blue, in the bounty that was quadruple what Alvida's had been at it's peak. Still: they had both been children, they had both found a way to survive, they were both left with the ghosts of those years and now, now Koby wants to exorcise a few of them, wants to see if a year of freedom balances out two of captivity.
And that's why it has to be Nami.
So:] Yeah. I do. [And he leaves it, sleeping for now.]
Sure, yeah. I'm done wrapping everything, I think.
A whole BOOK? [Oh, she's speaking his language now.]
[ if the date had been a terrible idea, then this ranks far elsewhere — somewhere worse than terrible, transcending into a place sanji is both terrified and exhilarated to be. nami is still here even after all the cruel words exchanged between them, still electric and angry, red-cheeked and glimmer-eyed. his heart hurts at the sight. she’s been crying, and sanji thinks he’s been crying too, because he can’t help it, a pavlovian response to her pain. they’ve been drinking too, and sanji thinks maybe he made the drinks, or perhaps not — he doesn’t remember, because he doesn’t remember much of anything anymore, except sharp words and pleading tongues outside of alina’s shop, all the way back to the manor, to the restaurant, and now here.
here being the tattoo parlor he hadn’t known existed. he doesn’t think nami had either, because they’d both stared blearily at the sudden appearance of the door before she’d barreled inside, and, of course, he’d followed.
now, she’s straddling him in a chair, her fingers hooked in his open mouth, his lips parted as the sharp point of a needle pushes against his tongue. his knees brace her hips, the strings of her flowered dress hanging loose at her chest, the fabric spilling open so the fresh metal adorning her nipple glints in the hazy purple light. the sight turns his breath ragged, his hips straining to keep still, nami’s fingers slick with his spit.
he doesn’t remember asking for or agreeing to this, but that doesn’t matter, because he’d agree to anything with her. yes, you can pierce my tongue. yes, you can drag my heart across the floor. yes, you can call me a faithless liar even when you’re all i think about, and i love you i love you i love you.
the needle goes in like a knife through butter, his eyes squeezing shut as fire jerks through him, fingers digging into the bunched fabric at nami’s waist. a muffled groan tangles in his throat, hips pushing against nami’s knee to relieve the riotous pressure. his hand slides up her ribcage, a trembling thumb touching her flushed, swollen nipple while he tastes blood in his mouth, his jaw aching, his eyes wet from the sharp sting of pleasure.
a man that looks more like a sheep than a person comes over to cluck at nami’s work, which incenses sanji to an absurd degree, but then he has new fingers in his mouth, his abused tongue tugged at and twisted. the room spins and his cock weeps, and when he’s finally freed, his head falling back against the chair, he realizes his palm is pressed hard against the solid metal of nami’s piercing, her breast hot and supple in his hand.
he lets go, sitting up and gently cradling her waist. ] Nami —
[ metal knocks against the roof of his mouth, sending a shudder through him. the stinging pain feels good, and nami feels good, and it’s tearing him in two to think about the fight they’ve just had. ]
I only want you. [ he leans in miserably, his warm breath gliding along her bare, flushed skin. ] I thought you would be happy.
here being the tattoo parlor he hadn’t known existed. he doesn’t think nami had either, because they’d both stared blearily at the sudden appearance of the door before she’d barreled inside, and, of course, he’d followed.
now, she’s straddling him in a chair, her fingers hooked in his open mouth, his lips parted as the sharp point of a needle pushes against his tongue. his knees brace her hips, the strings of her flowered dress hanging loose at her chest, the fabric spilling open so the fresh metal adorning her nipple glints in the hazy purple light. the sight turns his breath ragged, his hips straining to keep still, nami’s fingers slick with his spit.
he doesn’t remember asking for or agreeing to this, but that doesn’t matter, because he’d agree to anything with her. yes, you can pierce my tongue. yes, you can drag my heart across the floor. yes, you can call me a faithless liar even when you’re all i think about, and i love you i love you i love you.
the needle goes in like a knife through butter, his eyes squeezing shut as fire jerks through him, fingers digging into the bunched fabric at nami’s waist. a muffled groan tangles in his throat, hips pushing against nami’s knee to relieve the riotous pressure. his hand slides up her ribcage, a trembling thumb touching her flushed, swollen nipple while he tastes blood in his mouth, his jaw aching, his eyes wet from the sharp sting of pleasure.
a man that looks more like a sheep than a person comes over to cluck at nami’s work, which incenses sanji to an absurd degree, but then he has new fingers in his mouth, his abused tongue tugged at and twisted. the room spins and his cock weeps, and when he’s finally freed, his head falling back against the chair, he realizes his palm is pressed hard against the solid metal of nami’s piercing, her breast hot and supple in his hand.
he lets go, sitting up and gently cradling her waist. ] Nami —
[ metal knocks against the roof of his mouth, sending a shudder through him. the stinging pain feels good, and nami feels good, and it’s tearing him in two to think about the fight they’ve just had. ]
I only want you. [ he leans in miserably, his warm breath gliding along her bare, flushed skin. ] I thought you would be happy.
[The gift comes wrapped meticulously in paper that, while not strictly holiday-themed is nevertheless very appropriate, considering who it’s from. The gift is inside, nestled in pale blue tissue paper: An assortment of candied fruit, nuts and chocolates from the faire, for those of his friends who actually eat. For those who don’t, this portion of the gift is replaced with a simple calendar.
For Nami, an entirely unsuitable-for-the-current-weather dress, and, in a velvet box, a ring. The tiny gem chips are familiar colors – yellow, green, pink, orange, blue and red – clearly meant to evoke everyone from their world.
The note, on thick, cream-colored card stock, is in a somewhat wobbly, but earnest hand:]
The note, on thick, cream-colored card stock, is in a somewhat wobbly, but earnest hand:]
Nami -
I’m giving this in the hopes that this place isn’t like the village, and that spring is going to come again, eventually. Spring and maybe summer, if we’re lucky. I feel sort of bad to think about this place being somewhere I want to stay, especially since it’s caused so much pain to people I love – especially you. Especially recently.
But I’m selfish, Nami. I’m a selfish, needy, greedy person, because I don’t want to give any of this up. I don’t want to go back to a world where we’re enemies, or where we don’t know each other. I want to wake up from a bad dream and know that you’re just a few doors down, if I need you. I want to stay up too late painting your nails and listening to you complain about the latest dumb thing the boys have done. I want you to boss me around at work and make fun of me when I cry for stupid reasons and I want that forever and ever and ever.
And if I can’t have that forever, I want it right now, as much as I can. So there’s nothing you could ever do or say or be that’s going to make me not want to be close to you. Nothing at all, Nami. I promise.
I know you heard me when I said it, but I love you. Now you have it in writing, forever.
Merry Christmas.
-Koby
( she's glad to let it lie — more than that, she's relieved. it's not something that comes up often, and most people wouldn't know what to ask to get it out of her. what arlong did to her was bad enough — she doesn't need to make anyone suffer for the nitty gritty details. it was bad. that's usually enough said. )
with PICTURES
the pictures are important, so i know what it's supposed to look like
you can even pick out some designs you wanna try if they look good to you. i can do stuff that won't bind your arms at first, so we can see if you panic
with PICTURES
the pictures are important, so i know what it's supposed to look like
you can even pick out some designs you wanna try if they look good to you. i can do stuff that won't bind your arms at first, so we can see if you panic
[It’s carefully tucked away, like everything Koby knows about her, little bits and pieces of a life Nami keeps locked up, unspoken about. He knows the urge, the need to keep it contained. He knows.]
Pictures, really? There are DESIGNS?
Like an artform then, for real, not just for function. Does the kind of rope matter? Should I wear anything specific? What are the rules?
[A beat. Then:] You choose. I want you to choose. It’s
Important that you choose. [That it isn’t his choice, that the control is gone, that’s the whole point. Surrender, like in Otherworld, like on the banks of the snowy river when she’d warm her hands on his pelt and nothing else in the world existed. That’s what he wants back.]
I trust you.
Pictures, really? There are DESIGNS?
Like an artform then, for real, not just for function. Does the kind of rope matter? Should I wear anything specific? What are the rules?
[A beat. Then:] You choose. I want you to choose. It’s
Important that you choose. [That it isn’t his choice, that the control is gone, that’s the whole point. Surrender, like in Otherworld, like on the banks of the snowy river when she’d warm her hands on his pelt and nothing else in the world existed. That’s what he wants back.]
I trust you.
( in the wee hours of the morning on christmas day, wally leaves a small giftbox wrapped in appropriately-themed paper containing a glass tangerine ornament, alongside an unwrapped bonsai orange tree. a tag hangs from one of the branches indicating TO: NAMI, FROM: WALLY. tucked under the ribbon adorning the box is an envelope addressed to nami with a bonsai care guide booklet inside and a card that reads: )
Nami —
A little birdy (sealy?) told me you like tangerines, so — just a couple things to brighten up your room. Remind you of home. I know we could all use a few reminders this time of year.
I got a basic care guide for you, too, since I wouldn't know the first thing about bonsai. I hear they can be tricky. But if you can handle a bunch of pirates, you can handle anything.
Merry Christmas!
— Wally
( zoro's absolutely fucking relieved that nami doesn't press him on his non-answer, just kisses him back as though this isn't out of character for him, just pushes him back against the door like she can read his mind and know exactly what he wants. and — she does. she knows what zoro wants more than zoro knows himself sometimes.
like now, when she smiles up at him like there's not a single thing wrong in the world. when she snaps her fingers and points towards the ground, zoro thinks that maybe there doesn't have to be. his knees hit the carpet and he sits back on his calves, chin tipping up to allow her to fasten the collar around his neck.
the way that nami cares, the way that she sneaks a pinky finger between the collar and his throat to make sure that it's not too tight, the way that she fusses with it until the engraved tag with her name on it sits perfectly centered at the base of his neck — it suddenly overwhelms him, a lump in his throat beneath the leather as he swallows. he loves her, and he thinks that she might love him, too. it's a heady feeling, dizzying, and maybe zoro's just emotionally exhausted from everything that happened earlier, but his eyes are glassy when he looks back up at her, nodding, his face in her hands. )
Okay. ( there's a beat, where zoro reaches up to put a hand on top of hers, eyes closing, letting out a long breath that he feels like he's been holding for hours now. and maybe it's the wrong thing to say, because he doesn't know what the hell to say in a moment like this, but genuinely, he really fucking means it: ) Thanks.
like now, when she smiles up at him like there's not a single thing wrong in the world. when she snaps her fingers and points towards the ground, zoro thinks that maybe there doesn't have to be. his knees hit the carpet and he sits back on his calves, chin tipping up to allow her to fasten the collar around his neck.
the way that nami cares, the way that she sneaks a pinky finger between the collar and his throat to make sure that it's not too tight, the way that she fusses with it until the engraved tag with her name on it sits perfectly centered at the base of his neck — it suddenly overwhelms him, a lump in his throat beneath the leather as he swallows. he loves her, and he thinks that she might love him, too. it's a heady feeling, dizzying, and maybe zoro's just emotionally exhausted from everything that happened earlier, but his eyes are glassy when he looks back up at her, nodding, his face in her hands. )
Okay. ( there's a beat, where zoro reaches up to put a hand on top of hers, eyes closing, letting out a long breath that he feels like he's been holding for hours now. and maybe it's the wrong thing to say, because he doesn't know what the hell to say in a moment like this, but genuinely, he really fucking means it: ) Thanks.
[ One afternoon, Astarion turns up at Dead Men Tell No Tales with a prettily-wrapped little box and a bunch of flowers, asking for Nami. When she appears, he hands both over with a visible sort of relief. Courtesy of your blue-braided friend, he says, curtailing any idea that he might be attempting to court or cozy up to the pirate of his own accord.
Inside the box is a bottle shaped like an orange slice, containing an appropriately citrus-y scent — as requested by its actual gifter. ]
Inside the box is a bottle shaped like an orange slice, containing an appropriately citrus-y scent — as requested by its actual gifter. ]
( why would you bring up the thing she's trying not to think about )
yeah
i do
( trying to find different angles to poke at this particular elephant in the room. eventually, nami finds the middle road between directly addressing it and ignoring it altogether. )
we should probably talk about it
right?
yeah
i do
( trying to find different angles to poke at this particular elephant in the room. eventually, nami finds the middle road between directly addressing it and ignoring it altogether. )
we should probably talk about it
right?
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