Chapter 2: Chocolate

Nami grumbled, pulling her sheets over her head. The sunlight streamed through the small window, hitting her right in the face with brightness. She suddenly heard a 'clunk' in her room. She peered through her sheets, looking to see what it could be.

Luffy appeared, squatting at the bottom of the bookshelf, moving books around. He repeatedly looked at the covers, opening it for a few moments, and then putting the book aside to repeat the previous action.

She started to study his expression; he looked quite interested in everything, but it wasn't quite enough to satisfy his interest. He face seemed to have lit up when he came across something very interesting. He sat down on the floor, reading the text intensely, the smile on his face growing. "OH! THAT'S SO COOL!" As soon as he said that, he covered his mouth, looking over at Nami, hoping not to have awakened her. Luffy saw her gaze through the sheets, causing her to just roll over, ignoring him. He frowned for a moment, but then started reading again, mumbling comments every so often.

Nami rolled back over and faced him after a few minutes. "What are you reading?" She asked. He looked up at her and blinked.

"'Cosmology and the Universe', it's so awesome!" He smiled brightly.

"Oh." She replied simply. She slipped out from under the covers and approached Luffy. "May I ask why in the world you are in my room at this time of the morning?" she inquired, pointing towards her clock on the wall. It happily displayed the time '8:41'.

"I woke up, and couldn't get back to sleep. And all the books are in your room." He replied, staring eye-to-eye with her. His gaze after moment shifted to her disheveled appearance. The left strap of her top was hanging off her shoulder, wild curls in her hair were going in odd directions, and her pajama shorts were hanging onto her hips just barely, revealing lace embroidery on her panties. He realized that his mouth was hanging open just slightly as he was taking in the view. "You look very sexy in the morning."

As soon as the last word left his mouth, her fist collided with the side of his head, sending him into her bookshelf. "I don't need your crap this early in the morning!" She yelled at him. "Clean up the books!" She stormed out of her own room to the bathroom, slamming the door. He rubbed his face in mock offense, and started picking the books up and placing them back onto the shelves.

"I wonder what she's all bent up about." Luffy spoke under his breath, finished with books, and grab his own book, walking out of the room. He walked out on to the deck, the sun floating just above the eastern horizon. He sat on Merry's head, and started reading again, waiting for breakfast to be started.

He skipped around in the sections of the book, not sure what to read first. The introduction was too boring. Landing on black holes and neutron stars, he decided to go from there. Nami's foot steps were heard on the deck, and Luffy looked up to acknowledge her.

"'Morning Nami!" He chimed, smiling his usually bright smile at her. Sliding down to the deck, he tucked the book underneath his arm, and walked towards her.

"I think you're hiding something." She stated simply. "You have been putting up some sort of act so we don't grow suspicious, but you're up to something."

"Nami, what makes you think that?"

She gritted her teeth, "the eating habits, the well behaved afternoons, and the rational actions, the perverse-!" Nami put her hand over her mouth before finishing her sentence. Remembering last night was embarrassing to think about. Her face flushed, causing her to look away from Luffy.

"Nami, I was just playing, I won't do it again if you tell me not to." Luffy chuckled. "And I'm not hiding anything; I'm just starting to take this a bit more seriously. Nami, why is this really bothering you so much?"

She couldn't talk herself into looking at him. He kept saying her name differently even. It was tender compared his usually chiming of her name. She decided to walk away, hearing Sanji bump around in the kitchen. "Did you hear that, sounds like breakfast is being made? Let's go see what Sanji is going to make this morning!" She walked rather quickly, avoiding Luffy's grasp.

"Nami, don't avoid my question!" Luffy spoke, getting softer as she walked away. 'I'll talk to her later.' He grumbled, walking towards the kitchen.

The orange hair woman almost jumped when Luffy opened the door. She gasped, thinking he might pursue the conversation. He just calmly sat down next to her and smiled. "How are you this morning Nami, Sanji?"

"I slept pretty well, I suppose the best anyone could sleep on a hammock." Sanji chuckled, "Nami-swan! ? How did you sleep?"

"Well, I suppose." She spoke softly. To be honest with herself, she didn't sleep very well at all, considering what Luffy did kept her up all night. She smiled despite being rather tired.

The morning grew into noontime, everyone doing what they always did on the ship. Usopp was fishing beside Luffy, laughing at whatever they were talking about at the time. Robin smiled to herself, reading underneath her umbrella on the upper deck. Zoro was also on the upper deck training. Nami was working on her mapping of the Grand line. Sanji kept her company, starting idle chat, and bringing her tea whenever she desired it.

The day continued, nothing of interest taking place. By dinner time, they were all thoroughly bored.

"Naaamii! When will we reach the next island? It's been eight days!" Luffy whined, growing impatient with the lack of action.

"Yeah Nami, it's been forever!" Usopp and Chopper agreed.

"I know guys, this is just a bit tricky, that's all. We haven't had much wind, but the weather has stabilized, so we will probably the next island tomorrow." She explained, a little satisfied with the normal Luffy behavior. "Just wait it out a bit longer." Nami pushed her hair out of her face, and got up from the table to walk outside.

Chopper went to bed after dinner again, having played all day, with a side of medicine work. Zoro went to Nami's room, and decided to copy Luffy's idea for reading. Robin and Zoro sat together, well, not quite, but they both read in silence.

Luffy went outside onto the deck, watching the moon light on the waves. He sat on Merry's head like usual, enjoying his spot. He heard Nami's sandals on the deck, causing him to look in curiosity. "Nami!" he called out.

She looked up at him at the edge of the ship, he was smiling at her. She walked over, feeling compelled to keep him company. "Yes, Luffy?"

"Want to sit up here with me?" he asked her, "The view is really awesome!"

Nami blinked not expecting such a suggestion. She couldn't do anything about the grin tugging at her lips. "Alright."

He stretched his arm out to her, pulling her up right beside him. She felt the sudden urge to check her log pose, and saw that they were right on course.

"Nami, guess what I learned today!" he chuckled, looking straight at her.

"What?" She responded, taken a back from him saying the word 'learn'.

"That the when you enter a black hole, an observer would never actually see you enter, but hanging on the edge. It's due to the space and time being distorted by the rapid rotation of the black hole."

Nami almost let her jaw drop in surprise to his little lecture on black holes. "Wow Luffy, that's incredible." She said, not sure what else to say. She looked back out on the sea, watching the shimmering waves. 'He seems different than last night. This is the playful Luffy like I've always known,'' she chuckled inwardly, 'the one who can't distinguish boy from girl, ha ha.''

"Nami, you look pretty in moon light." Luffy bluntly told her, his expression serious but soft. He turned his face back the sea, humming to himself.

Nami blushed profusely, not sure if she needed to respond. "I'm going to get a drink, would you like something?" She suddenly said, wanting to hit herself for being so dumb.

"Sure!" he smiled radiantly, feeling a bit thirsty. He jumped down from Merry's head, turned to face the navigator. "I'll catch you."

She slid down the neck, landing in his arms. He held her tightly for only a moment, breathing in her scent. He released her, turning to the lounge. "I want chocolate milk."

"Ah, I haven't had chocolate milk in a very long time." Nami said, following in step with Luffy. They entered the lounge, noticing that everyone had gone to bed. Nami opened the fridge door, pulling out a pitcher of milk and a container of chocolate syrup.

"I want a lot of chocolate!" Luffy demanded childishly, standing over Nami's shoulder. She squeezed the syrup into the cups, a whine coming from Luffy in the background. "More!"

She turned to face him, grinning mischievously. "Then do it yourself!" She suggested, squirting syrup on his cheek. He looked at her in disbelief.

"What was that for?" He questioned, snatching the bottle from her grasp. He returned the favor, pouring syrup on her neck.

"Luffy! It's going to get on my shirt! You still owe me for my jacket! And the Arabasta trip!" She smeared her hand against her neck, smeared the chocolate down his cheek and neck.

"Like I'm going to pay for all that! And cut that out! Let's just..." Luffy trailed off, completely lost in thought. His eyes were glued to Nami's neck, following the chocolate flow down into her cleavage. Luffy pinned her to the counter, looking at eyes, which were ironically the same shade brown as the chocolate.

"Nami..." he whispered just before licked her collar bone. She felt her whole body shake, not expecting him to take such an action.

"L-luffy, wh-what are you d-doing?" She stuttered not much louder than a whisper. She became completely aware all at once that his body was ten times closer than before and he was yet again a completely different person.

"You are very...irresistible covered in chocolate like that." Luffy breathed deeply, "sorry I could not resist." He backed away from Nami, giving her room to walk away.

She stood still, unable to comprehend Luffy's action. Her body trembled, missing the warmth that was there before. Nami looked into his eyes, looking for his reasoning.

"Nami, if you don't leave, I will feel compelled to..." Luffy didn't finished, a small grin on his lips.

"Luffy, why have you been acting so weirdly? Tell me!" Nami insisted, aggravated that he wouldn't answer correctly.

"Nami, have we ever had a regular conversation?" he suddenly asked, looking away.

"Well, we've talked about all sorts of things Luffy." Nami answered, baffled by the new situation.

"We're always talking about the situation at hand and stuff. And I just wanted to talk more..." he laughed at himself, realizing he probably sounded silly.

"Then why don't you just talk to me?"

"Because I didn't know what to talk about!" he laughed, "So I read, trying to find a common ground."

"Alright, that answers why you've been reading, but that doesn't explain why you...well, y'know." She blushed, leaning against the counter.

"I want to touch you Nami."

"Then do it!" She demanded, covering her mouth almost immediately.

Luffy pulled her close to him, gently kissing her forehead. She started giggling. He looked down at her, wondering why.

"Luffy! We're still covered in chocolate!" She got on her tip toes, licking the chocolate off his cheek. He smiled, pleased with her laughing. Leaning on the counter, he looked into her eyes. Again he licked her, starting from her cleavage to her collar bone.

"I'm going to eat you." he laughed, nipping her neck. "Chocolate covered Nami is yummy." Nami gasped, starting to consider he might be serious. He firmly gripped her shoulders, starting become to serious in his actions. Lightly sucking the chocolate off her skin, he slowly made his way up her neck. "You're clean."

"That may be the case with me, but you are far from it." Nami the back of his neck, and pulled him closer, giving a small lick to the chocolate on his neck. She could feel him tremble like she was. Nami continued to lick the syrup off his neck, working up to his cheek.

She noticed his breath quicken, body slightly tensed. "Luffy, are you alright?" she whispered, a little worried.

"I'm fine, just trying to control myself." He assured. They stood still, listening to each other breath. He hugged her waist suddenly, kissing her forehead.

"I've never kissed anyone before." he brushed her hair out of her face, gently kissing her cheek. She giggled, kissing his nose adoringly.

"Me neither." she ran her fingers through his hair, evidence of salt water present.

Their lips drew closer, unable to stop themselves. They brushed against each other slightly, feeling their pulses quicken to each other's touch. Luffy pulled Nami closer, unable to be satisfied with any space between one another. They stood there; the only sounds were their own breathing

Luffy chuckled, "I feel kinda guilty being in the lounge with you like this. Sanji would be pretty angry." Luffy released his grip on her small body. "Goodnight." He left the lounge, going to bed.

Alright, not to upset you or anything, but I am working on a my story 'Understanding Them' more(which you should also read D), only because I have more inspiration. I am making plans for this story. It was originally suppose to be a one shot, but I seem to have gotten carried away .

Mia-san, in and out!