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She couldn't let Sanji go through with this wedding, couldn't let him give himself up to the Big Mom Pirates of all crews. The others, notably Zoro, could say what they would about Sanji, but Nami knows his heart, knows his unyielding loyalty to Luffy, to the entire Straw Hat crew. Most of all, she knows of his unwavering loyalty to her.... She couldn't lose Sanji, not like this. She couldn't, no, wouldn't lose to Charlotte Pudding. The daughter of one of the four emperors of the sea would never be deserving to be the cook's bride, would never know Sanji the way Nami has come to learn him.
Oh, but the navigator is coming to terms with just how much Sanji truly means to her.
Of course, this being the eve of Sanji's arranged marriage would make her overly sentimental.
Nami is forced to confront her own feelings surrounding the lovesick cook, clutching the pillow to her chest as she tosses and turns in bed, sleep alluding her at every turn. For someone whom trust does not come easily for, the fiery navigator implicitly trusts Sanji. She always has, ever since one of their first interactions between the two being the chef saving her from Arlong Park despite knowing next to nothing about her at the time. It is easy to express herself to Sanji, to know that anything she tells him will stay between the two of them, that level of trust going both ways. Prior to Robin joining their crew after their time in Alabasta, Sanji was easily Nami's best friend above Usopp.
Despite all of his amorous advances on her, Nami finds she can relax the most in the cook's company.
Recently, Nami has even found herself less annoyed by Sanji's attempts to flirt, allowing him to even press a small kiss to her cheek prior to being taken away from the crew on Zou.
"N--No, it can't be," Nami breathes, a sudden weight settling on her chest, constricting her heart at the thought.
Was she truly starting to fall in love with Sanji?
The navigator shakes her head, desperately trying to fall asleep to regain more clarity to her feelings. She still, regardless of her current sleep-deprived state, knows one thing for a fact.
Charlotte Pudding would marry Sanji tomorrow over her dead body.
"I-- I think I'm in love with Sanji," Nami whispers, coming to terms with the current feeling settling like a weight on her chest.
"Nami? Did you say something?" Luffy slurs, raising his head from the floor where he sleeps next to Brook, Chopper sleeping soundly next to Nami in the bed.
"No, you can go back to sleep, Luffy," Nami gently says, ruffling her Captain's jet black hair affectionately.
"We'll get him back, Nami. Promise," Luffy quietly murmurs, gently squeezing the navigator's hand in his own.
Just as quickly as he awoke, Luffy falls back asleep with Nami following quickly behind.
The next morning, Nami feels drawn to wear a backless red dress as they prepare to save Sanji from potentially the biggest mistake and trap of his life. Her mind instantly goes to the old saying Nojiko taught her several years ago.
"Wear red to a wedding and you're practically announcing your intentions to sleep with or steal the groom," Nami remembers Nojiko saying to her several years ago before the fiery navigator set out to sea.
Since Nojiko is older and remembers more of Bell-mère's life lessons, Nami takes her word on the matter to be absolute. What does that say about Nami herself and the true feelings she harbors for Sanji, then?
"Nami!" comes Luffy's voice, loud as ever even this early in the morning. "Wow, you look beautiful," the Captain of the Straw Hats compliments, whistling slightly once he sees Nami's chosen outfit.
"Thank you, Luffy," she gently smiles, the compliment warming her heart to its core. "That means so much to me."
"But, Nami, Ace always said you can't wear red to a wedding!" Luffy suddenly remembers, his eyes widening in an instant. "He said it means you're gonna steal the groom away or something!"
"Well, we are intending on stealing Sanji away, aren't we? Red's the best color of revenge," Nami deviously smiles, knocking her shoulder against her Captain's.
"Right! Do ya think I should change into red, too?" Luffy inquires, not waiting for a response before answering his own question. "I'll go change into a red suit where we're united in our intentions!"
"I don't quite think that message will have as much of an effect on Sanji, but the spirit is certainly there," Nami softly smiles, proud of having a Captain who will support her in anything.