Chapter Text
Nami knows these two idiots are going to get themselves killed. But she tries not to acknowledge that fact because that means she'll probably be killed alongside them. No matter how much her head is telling her to run; her heart begs her to stay. And her gut just tells her to strap in. Which really says something about her decision making ability.
When the three of them have to restock their torn little dinghy at a small little island, she takes pity on the pair (mostly Zoro for having to fish Luffy out the sea four times in under an hour) and leads them towards the local bar.
She offers to buy their drinks and Zoro eyes her with suspicion while Luffy lets out an exuberant cheer and begins to order everything on the menu.
"What's your angle?" Whispers the Demon Hunter. A few days ago Nami would have been terrified, but that was before she'd seen him walk into the ocean trying to find a bar.
"Nothing! Can't a gal just buy a drink for her dear friends?" Lie. Nami is under no illusion Zoro doesn't know that. Luffy however...
"Aw, thanks Nami! You're the best." He says while shoving a third of the bars food-stock down his throat. Zoro takes the beer that the barmaid hands him cautiously; but as soon as he takes a sip, all his gripes fade away.
Truthfully, Nami is trying to earn their trust and rob them blind. She knows that she cannot beat them in a battle of strength, but wits is a different story.
Or at least that's what she tells herself. Because the idiots have already given them all their measly treasure, she's using it to pay this bar tab. The fools already trust her enough for it to be a shock if she disappears in the night.
Yet for some reason, she's still here. And she likes being here, and she doesn't know why. But she does know that she can't be here, because she doesn't get to be happy while Cocoyashi is suffering. That's just not fair, yet she's still here and why is she still here -
"Nami should eat, too." It is not a question. Luffy's eyes are too blank for Nami to convince herself that they are empty.
Nami looks at the man no, boy in front of her. Everything about him screams childish, down to the way he sits. One leg crossed over the other like a little kid trying to copy their parent. Nami looks away and tries not to think of how she keeps the front of her bangs short like her own mother.
"I'm not hungry, Luffy. This is my treat from me to you."
"Hmm." Luffy chews on a chicken bone. It reminds Nami of fishmen taking a bite out of humans. Zoro takes a swig of his drink. "Nami will eat with us later, then." It is still not a question.
"Of course, Luffy." Nami denies it anyway.
Luffy immediately brightens and turns to Zoro situated on his right. Nami sits on Luffy's left and tries to be in the moment. She fails.
An hour later, her stomach growls and a plate is pushed towards her. The majority of it is already eaten, but Nami still accepts. She pairs it with a half empty cup of sake. It's the best meal she's had in a while.
When the sun starts to set, after the bar had stopped serving Luffy and kicked them out because Zoro broke a chair over someone's head; the three idiots drunkenly make their way down the street. Well two drunk idiots and one fool a breath away from a food coma.
Nami puts her arm around Zoro for support, Zoro leans some of his weight on her for guidance. And Luffy wraps around them like a blanket koala. What a sight for the villagers, she thinks, the three of them.
Surprisingly, they are not the only drunks on the street. A few marines stumble past them, Nami and Zoro tense but Luffy continues on his carefree stupor.
"-its not like it was a challenge." Nami eavesdrops. She considers stealing their wallets.
"And then Captain Morgan said-" Zoro huffs from beside her and Luffy snickers.
"Did you hear that the Jackal is back in town-" And Luffy pauses.
So Zoro pauses. So Nami pauses. What a sight they are, three drunken idiots suddenly a lot more sober.
"Yeah, I heard they're looking for someone-"
"I heard from a cabin boy that it was about a birthday present-" And Luffy, honest to god, shudders.
Zoro touches the hilt of his sword and Nami wishes she didn't leave her bo staff in the boat.
"I heard Vice Admiral Garp was furious when he came home-"
"Yeah! Whoever's running from him doesn't stand a chance-" Murmurs of agreement follow.
The marines walk past them, none the wiser to the conflict happening behind closed doors. Nami thinks she hears Zoro growl.
And like a switch, Luffy is back to being an overgrown plant wrapped around his crew. The same can't be said for the crew in question, though.
"Captain." Zoro calls, "What was that?"
"What was what?" Luffy responds, but doesn't. He registers as genuinely confused, which makes it worse.
Nami and Zoro look at each other in solidarity, an action that's becoming more common since all three of them started sailing together.
And that was that.
Later on the Merry, Zoro drops a newspaper in Nami's lap. A marine vice admiral is sprawled on the front. Nami skims through it, something about a recent altercation with the Whitebeards, whoever they are. She places it in the corner of the kitchen.
Zoro continues to give her newspapers detailing the same subject. Soon enough Usopp and Sanji join in. A small stack is created.
(One night, Luffy stalks his way into the kitchen, hoping to steal a late night snack. Instead, he spots the newspapers piling up in the corner of the room. He sees an old man, the old man laughing, 'Justice' cape flowing behind him depicted on the front cover. Luffy grimaces and chooses to go back to sleep, instead.)