Beat the Heat

It was a bright, sunny day out on the Grand Line. It was, in fact, the eighteenth bright, sunny day out on the Grand Line and while most would consider that a good thing, Sanji had been stuck in the disgustingly hot galley for all eighteen of them and odds were high he’d be stuck there for the duration of the good weather. Oh he could look out the tiny porthole in the door and see the clear blue sky, the birds soaring lazily on the breeze, everyone else out on the sun-drenched deck having fun and playing, but he had work to do. Feeding this crew was tantamount to working in a restaurant all day, what with not only preparing enough food for a small army every meal, but also dealing with snacks, refreshments, cleaning, planning, inventory, and keeping Luffy out of the damn fridge so everything else on the list wouldn’t go out the window and starve them in the process, well, that was a full day. Oh well, someone needed to feed this crew and it sure as hell wasn’t going to be anyone else. He could grab some sun on his cigarette break in a few minutes, and hopefully catch Nami sunbathing. The memory of that would keep him warm all day. Not the he needed help staying warm in this damn room.

Setting the last pot to simmer for a few minutes, he was preparing to head outside for a smoke when none other than the glorious goddess of the mikan grove herself walked in. Well, more like opened the door and stopped on the threshold to gasp and wilt a little at the heat. Poor thing had probably come in to ask for a drink to cool off and this was the thanks she got. He really needed to be more diligent about making sure she had enough refreshments.

“Sorry about the heat, Nami-san. I’ll bring you a drink if you’d like to go back to your chair.” He’d be damned if he’d keep her in this fissure to Hell longer than she needed to, she had a cool breeze and a nice sunny day to get back to. Plus, her already clinging cami top and miniskirt were beginning to stick to her and he doubted she’d appreciate him jumping on her in sheer desperation. Needing a distraction badly from her form-fitting outfit, he turned back to the fridge and started preparing a quick drink for her.

Much to his surprise, he heard her close the door and take a seat at the table. “No thanks, I’m actually looking to get away from it for a while.” He heard her sigh and a glance back to her revealed her with her chin on her hand, looking heartbreakingly forlorn. Why she would possibly consider staying in here instead of enjoying the good weather while it lasted was beyond him, unless one of those shitty bastards out there had done something to upset her. Kicking some ass might do his mood some good anyway, especially if it’d help bring her sunny smile back.

“Is something wrong?” Done with the drink, he added a straw and a sprig of chilled mint and brought it over to her, watching intently to be sure she liked it. She took a drink and her expression softened a little, so he relaxed.

“Mm, this is good, thank you.” That made his whole day in this oven worthwhile. “And no, nothing’s really wrong, I’m just a little bored. Guess I’m getting a little sunned out.” She resumed drinking and he felt a little disappointed that he wouldn’t get to kick someone’s ass, but it was still nice to have her there. Almost like having his own ray of sunshine to brighten the room.

“Well, I’m always happy for the company,” he smiled, and a quick glance out the window showed the coast was clear, so he leaned down tantalizingly close to her ear, “I missed you last night.” Far too tempted to close the small distance left between them and wind up with a smack and another lonely night for his trouble, he quickly pulled back and returned to the stove to fuss with things. Jeans may have been a mistake– sure they were easier to wash than his nice slacks and it wasn’t too big a deal if they got sweat on, which is why he’d chosen them, but damn if they weren’t constrictive. The fact that they hadn’t been able to make love regularly was certainly not helping things any, and Usopp had started waking him up several times a night by smacking him with pillows for moaning her name too loudly in his sleep. He was pent up, physically, sexually, emotionally, and constantly feeling like he was on the verge of exploding but it was anyone’s guess as to which way. The past month had seen him deliriously happy, but a little frustrated that he couldn’t share the source of his happiness with anyone. He couldn’t even brush her shoulder or give her a peck on the cheek if he wanted to, and trying to keep his attention between Robin and Nami about equal so as not to arouse suspicion in the others was bordering on torture. And the fact that the ship was so small was making their secret rendezvous even harder to orchestrate; sneaking out of the guys’ room wasn’t too difficult, but there was no way he could sneak someone in, and Robin’s sleeping schedule made it almost impossible to get into Nami’s room. So he had to content himself with all-too brief moments when they were alone or Robin had night watch and, greedy as it was, they just weren’t enough. He wanted more than quick sex and a brief cuddle before sneaking back to his lonely hammock surrounded by ugly, stinky men, he wanted to watch her sleep, and hold her as she did so, wanted to bring her breakfast in bed, hold her hand or give her a kiss or brush her cheek. But she wanted it to be a secret for now, and if that made her more comfortable, then that’s what she’d get, no questions asked. He would do whatever it took to make her happy.

“Sanji-kun,” her angelic voice called from behind him, interrupting his somewhat depressing train of thought, “when you get a minute, could I get another drink?”

“Of course, Nami-swan!” Damn! He hadn’t been paying attention again and she was thirsty. He made a new drink quickly and delivered it to her, noting she looked pretty flushed and he chastised himself again for making her wait. “Here you are, a sweet drink for my sweet Nami-san.” Strange, usually that sort of line would earn him an eye roll with his thank you, but this time she smiled at him. The sort of smile that made his insides twist into balloon animals and seemed to shrink his pants by two sizes.

“Thank you, Sanji-kun,” she said, then wrapping her lips around the straw and taking a long, slow pull from it. He didn’t think it was possible, but the room got even hotter. “This is so tasty.” He could swear she almost moaned. “It’s so hot in here, this really hits the spot.” Then she smiled again, that same lazy, sexy smile and he really needed to go stand in front of the fridge before his jeans strangled him.

“Of course, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. I’m glad you like it.”

“I always do.” Then she winked at him.

Holy hell, he needed to get control of himself. *Just turn around and walk away before she blinks and you come in your pants, you horny fucking loser.* Concentrating on the food helped a lot, food was simple and he knew it backwards and forwards and it didn’t wear skimpy clothing and smile at him like the models in the magazines he only read for the articles.

“Oh Sanji-kun,” her voice sing-songed behind him, “I seem to have dropped my straw, could you get me another one, please?”

Taking a breath and doing his best to calm down, he turned to answer her and felt the sound dry out in his throat. There she sat, legs crossed, one elbow leaning on the table, doing unspeakable things to a dripping ice cube with her lips, completely unaware of the chaos this was causing his hormonal system.

Valiantly, he tried to force something besides air from his mouth and finally succeeded. “Right away, Nami-san!” Straw straw straw she needed a straw! Where the hell were they?? He almost tipped the entire box over getting one out for her, righted it hastily, then almost tripped over himself getting it to her. Plucking it delicately from his hand and placing it into her drink, she then took the ice cube from her mouth and started running it over the skin right above the swell of her breasts. Somehow, he remained standing although he honestly had no idea how, and through a haze of lust he dimly realized she had spoken to him again. What was it? He needed to backtrack his brain a little. Melting liquid cold on hot skin, running down over her breasts, hint of nipple peeking at him over top of shirt, slick-looking skin on smooth legs that disappeared into that short, short skirt, those delicately pointed toes with their perfectly painted nails– straw! The straw, he needed to pick up the straw, that was it!

Kneeling down to pick it up, he looked at her to say something when she happened to re-cross her legs in a bit of timing you just couldn’t plan and he caught an ever-so-brief flash of deep red silk and gold lace that finished short-circuiting his brain. He wanted her, there, now, desperately, wantonly, he didn’t care who heard them, he needed to bury himself in her, feel her hot and wet and soft around him until they both came in a sweaty tangle of arms and legs and tongues and hearts. He needed to hear her pant his name in his ear, to feel her arch into him and grip and pulse around him, to hear her gasp in pleasure and know that he was the one who’d given it to her.

“Yes?” Her voice sounded confused and maybe a little amused and he realized he’d been staring. Was still staring, as a matter of fact, but he just couldn’t rip his eyes away.

“N-nothing, I was just....” Ogling her blatantly like a side of beef in a shop window? Wanting to take her on a horizontal mambo, maybe? Planning a cock sandwich (yeah, she’d love that one)? Staring at her naughty bits in the vain hope that he’d be able to feel them again if he just concentrated hard enough? “Uhhh....”

“If you wanted a better look,” she started and he braced himself for the shutdown and inevitable yelling, “you should have just asked.” And then, as though touched by magic, her legs slowly opened in front of him, begging the question of if he’d finally snapped and was hallucinating. At that point he didn’t care, there were panties staring him in the face and he’d never been so happy.

“Oh Nami-san,” he heard himself say quietly, “what are you doing to me...?” Which was a stupid thing to ask, since it was pretty obvious what she was doing to him, but given the circumstances it was the most intelligent thing he could come up with. Closing his eyes, he leaned in and buried his face in the soft fabric that sheltered her softer flesh, inhaled her scent like he would a fine wine, then snuck his tongue out for a taste. He heard her gasp and felt her quiver slightly as he licked the thin silk that separated them, felt her hands on the top of his head, encouraging him, telling him it was good, that this was what she wanted too. Not that he couldn’t tell she was enjoying herself, her panties were damp and slick from more than just his mouth and he could feel her legs quivering under his hands. Her soft gasping turned to a short moan and he answered it with his own, more muffled noise as he slipped his tongue under the edge of the silk and lace to tease the slick, soft flesh underneath.

“Nnn... don’t stop.” Her legs were around his neck now, keeping him there as though he might have anywhere he’d rather be, and he moved his hands to the outside of them to keep them exactly where they were. She ground into him softly and he licked and teased and sucked at her obediently, longing to replace his tongue with his aching cock but not until she was ready for it. He was her servant, her willing slave, and if she wanted him to wait forever he’d happily lick her boots in thanks. She wanted his tongue and his tongue is what she’d have until she wanted something else.

“Mmmm, Sanji-kun... you’re such a bad boy.” He could hear her smiling and she ground against him with more emphasis. Yes, he was bad, wasn’t he? Having a snack this delightful before lunch, he’d absolutely ruin his appetite for anything else. He made a noise of amusement against her and ran his teeth over her clit through her panties to show her just what a bad, bad boy he was. “Ahn! Nnnn, what am I going to do with you...?”

That sounded like a cue for some variety and he gave her clit a parting suck before raising his head to give her a grin of his own. “I’m not the one who started this.” Almost of their own accord, his hands went to her hips and hooked under the straps of her panties, gently sliding them down. She looked down her body at him, her eyes dark, her face flushed, her smile hungry as she raised her hips to allow him to slide her underwear down her legs to dangle off one ankle. She wanted him, he could tell, wanted him to fill her, make her writhe and pant and moan and tremble right there on the bench, in his domain, the space on the ship he truly felt was his and his alone. In the middle of the day, no less, with everyone right outside, unaware of what was happening on the other side of that wall... unless they happened to come in.

He looked at her, legs spread invitingly, totally exposed to the air and the eyes of anyone who came in for a glass of water or to pester him about lunch as someone always did, and that thought sloshed over his libido like ice water. There was no way to lock that door and he didn’t have anything to brace against it to keep the idiots out. He couldn’t do that to her, no matter how inviting her soft pink flesh was, glistening invitingly at him and how badly his flesh pulled at him to ignore his head and push between her soft folds and forget the rest of the world for a few sweet minutes.

“Ummm,” he said with a dry mouth, still torn and aching, but knowing this was best, “maybe we should wai–!” He suddenly found his arms full of her, her hot, wet mouth sucking at his own, her legs around his chest, grinding a wet spot into the front of his shirt, and he felt his resolve crumble. He could deny her nothing and she wanted this here and now, despite the risk. He felt his cock pulse in expectation and he had no more will to resist her.

“Be fast,” she breathed, looking at him with eyes starving for something other than food, that only he could give her. An appetizer just wouldn’t do for either of them and he could be fast, before she starved, before he did as well, and before anyone else could interrupt them. The best fast she’d ever had.

First course: Kissing hungrily, sloppily, not caring for table manners at all as he raised her to the table. Her hands went to his belt as his went to push her skirt over her hips and he moaned in agony when her wrists would brush his erection trying to strain through his pants. She smothered his moans with her mouth, their teeth scraping, their tongues sliding over each other, their lips sucking and pulling wetly at the others, both swollen and pink. Finally, he felt her undoing the button on his pants and sliding the zipper down, and then her hand was on him, gripping him, guiding him as he moaned into her mouth, and then the world was hot and slick and soft and tight around him and she was moaning too. Still for a moment to adjust, to keep from coming then, her hands pressed against his ass and he started pumping, giving her what she wanted. Or what he thought she wanted.

Second course: Shallow thrusts, bodies pressed together with her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck, kissing hungrily. Finding each other’s rhythm, feeling her grip his hard flesh with her soft muscles, almost like she was trying to draw him deeper into her. Adjusting, exploring, setting the pace, trying to feel every inch of one another’s bodies and only feeling the hunger for more growing as a result.

She was amazing, better than any dream or fantasy he’d ever had, and each time they had made love it only seemed to get better. That first night, after coming back to the ship from shopping and a secret date, their fifth, and finding themselves alone, he’d been so nervous and clumsy and afraid he wouldn’t please her, and then she’d made him leave in case the others came back and he had been sure that was the end. Two nights later, Robin had watch and Nami had told him to come see her after the others were asleep; it had been the first hint he’d gotten from her that she was still interested after their first time, and that night he’d made damn sure she was happy, not willing to blow his chance to show her he could be better. She’d come twice and let him stay for a half hour afterwards, just holding her, but in the end he had to go back to his bunk with the promise to still keep it a secret. ‘I’m just not ready yet,’ she’d said, smiling sweetly and caressing his face the way she did when she wanted something from him, as if he could ever deny her something anyway. Since then they’d had to steal moments here and there whenever they could, all too brief and never enough for either of them, but still she didn’t want the others to know, and so he obeyed what she wanted. This was just another one, a stolen moment that would be over all too soon, and who knew when their next one would come, but he’d take what he could get for now and wait patiently for the day when she was ready and they wouldn’t have to steal their moments anymore. She was soft and wet around him now, panting, gripping, grinding, flushed, and looking at him like he was the only thing that existed in the world. He’d be damned if he’d take that amazing gift for granted because of his own weakness and greed.

He felt her hands slipping down from his back to cover his ass and he looked down to find her smiling at him, meeting his gaze as she squeezed him. Involuntarily, his hips jerked forward into hers, hard, and he saw her gasp. But his apology got lost when he realized she’d enjoyed it, her gaze never breaking from his as she moaned softly, and he now found himself confused. She’d seemed to like the more gentle strokes he’d always used with her, which had suited him just fine since he hated the idea of being rough with a lady in any context. He really wished he knew what she wanted.

As if in response to that, she leaned in to tickle his ear with her breath and whispered, “I want you.” He felt her squeeze his ass again and felt her hot little mouth on his ear and a jolt went through his cock. Usually the only thing she’d say during sex were instructions, he really had no idea how to respond to this. Saying he wanted her too seemed a little too base, and besides, he was pretty sure she could tell by this point. So he just slid his hips back and tried to regain his rhythm.

“You feel so good,” she continued breathily, the muscles around his shaft constricting as he pulled back, causing him to shudder slightly and wonder what she was trying to do to him, exactly. “Your cock’s so hard inside me,” she moaned, giving him another squeeze on both sides of his hips and said body part twitched slightly as it slid into her again. She was dirty-talking him! His sweet little Nami-san was giving him verbal nasties, he couldn’t believe it. And like some crude jackass, he was responding to it, too; he tried not to, tried to block it out but when she started moaning about how big he was and good he felt and how wet he made her, his big dumb ego got in the way and made him want to show her exactly how much he could please her.

Third course: Lying her back onto the table, careful not to fall out as their position shifted and trying not to grunt as he felt her muscles grip him in response, he slid one of her legs up onto his shoulder, feeling his shaft slide deeper into her. Her eyes fluttered and she arched a little, her inner muscles gripping him, and he knew he’d hit that spot that she loved so much. She licked her lips and rolled her head from one side to the other, trying to keep her voice quiet as she made little noises and he knew she was getting close. Her rhythm was becoming erratic in spots and more dramatic, her hips lifting off the table to meet his and her hands pulling his ass again, trying to push him in as far as he’d go with each thrust. She gripped him hard each time and he could feel his control slipping, knew he was getting as close as she was and could probably time it so they’d fall over the edge together... and be like every other time they’d made love. Hadn’t she said she was bored? What if she started getting bored with this, too? She wanted variety, surprises, things to spark her interest and damn it, he was the one who could give them to her. He was the chef and he could damn well manage more than three courses at a time.

Fourth course: She looked at him in surprise when he paused, obviously wondering what he was doing, but he had no time to answer her, his body not allowing him quite that much leverage, and besides, she’d find out soon enough. Her other leg over his shoulder now, his aching flesh sinking into hers just a little deeper, he pressed his torso down to hers so all he had to worry about were his hips and legs, and started thrusting. Fast. Faster than he’d ever tried before, faster than she could keep up with, faster than he should have because he felt himself slipping rapidly over the edge.

Gritting his teeth and screwing his eyes closed, he thought of anything else that might distract him, his mind automatically calling up every recipe he knew and racing through them step by step, trying to block out the sensations from his groin and how she was panting and making mewling noises in his ear. Olive-stuffed chicken finished, grilled pork chops with pineapple salsa flew past, squid with wine and rosemary, fish stew, duck with raspberry sauce, chicken marengo pheasant lasagna oh god oh god she was so soft broccoli and asparagus gemelli strawberry-black pepper tart jeweled golden rice she was clawing at him and gasping god he was close oh shit oh shit he was going to come but she was coming first, her back arching off the table, her mouth open with nothing coming out but he was going to scream for both of them– He felt something on his face and realized it was her hand and his voice died in his throat, shouting silently into her palm as he finally released inside her.

After what seemed like forever, he finally stopped and tried to catch his breath, feeling her breathe raggedly under him as well. As soon as he recovered his strength enough, he pushed off her, since he knew she didn’t like to be smothered too long and leaned on a shaky elbow to brush her face with his other hand. Her hand was still over his mouth, her eyes were closed, and she didn’t respond to his touch and for a horrible moment he wondered if he’d hurt her. He remembered the frantic clawing and the gasping, but she’d never told him to stop and he’d been so caught up in his own sensations that he hadn’t thought she was in distress.

“Nami-san?” Trying to keep the panic from his muffled voice, he patted her cheek gently, on the verge of screaming for Chopper, secret and state of undress be damned, when she opened her eyes and looked at him, as though waking up from a nap. Relief flooded through him and she moved her hand, looking a little disoriented.

“You okay?” She didn’t seem angry or upset, but still, that wasn’t a reaction he’d ever seen her have and he was a little spooked and drained and his nerves were still tingling in the aftermath.

“What the hell did you do to me?” she asked quietly, a little smile tweaking the corner of her mouth. He wished he knew, he hadn’t anticipated that outcome when he’d tried that at all. She reached up and pulled him down to rest on top of her, so he supposed it was safe to assume she had liked it. Sighing in relief, he closed his eyes and held her too.

“I thought I’d try something new since you said you were bored,” he murmured into her hair. “I didn’t think you’d react like that, though. You scared me for a minute.”

“I didn’t make any noise, did I?” she asked. After all that, she was still worried about that damned secret? Was this really so embarrassing for her?

“No,” he said, shaking his head and swallowing his disappointment– it wasn’t for him to decide when the others would find out, her happiness came first. “You were quiet. I wouldn’t have been if you hadn’t muzzled me, though.”

She patted the back of his head consolingly and he leaned up to give her a kiss, moving her legs down from his shoulders, since he didn’t imagine that could be too comfortable, and started to pull out of her. They needed to get their clothes back in order and go back to pretending they hadn’t just had mind-blowing sex on the kitchen table, after all. But her legs went around his waist and pulled him back in with a wet noise and they both shivered a little as their sensitized nerves spasmed.

“Stay a while.” She was smiling up at him, not in the sweet way she did when she wanted something, but openly and warmly and he felt his heart do a little flip-flop in response. It was something, a little give here and he felt them move closer to something more open and honest and he relaxed into her arms again. Not just yet, but maybe soon, and he’d wait happily until then with only this much to tide him over.

That’s when the door exploded inward and a hundred pounds of rubber in the approximate shape of a teenaged boy in a straw hat rolled to a stop a few feet away. Frozen in total shock, unsure what to do or how to explain this, Sanji waited for the inevitable look of confusion and question as to what they were doing and if it was fun could he give it a try and then Sanji would just have to kill him, which would totally fuck up the portions for lunch and Nami wouldn’t talk to him for a month. However his captain’s attention span seemed to have been taken up entirely by some giant damn slingshot Shit-Nose had built and he ran off without even looking over at them, closing the door behind him.

About to laugh and comment to his redheaded goddess about what a close call that had been, he found himself dumped unceremoniously on the floor.

“Get off me!!” She was tugging her skirt down and pulling her panties up frantically, looking as angry as he’d ever seen her. He just stared dumbly at her, scarcely believing that this was the same woman who had just a scant minute ago smiled so warmly and pulled him into her arms. Luffy hadn’t seen them, and yes, they should probably get dressed and get back to their regular routine, but she was pissed and he had a feeling it was at him. “And zip your pants up!! What’s wrong with you??” Yep, he was in deep shit.

Realizing he was hanging limply through his zipper he did as he was told and stood on legs that were still shaky and tried to plead with her. “Nami-san, I’m sorry, I thought that was what you wanted–“

”Yeah, well you should have thought a little harder!” she snapped, storming toward the door. Shit shit shit, he should have stopped before things had gotten too serious, he should have told her to meet him in her room so they could have privacy, he should have been stronger and kept his dick in his pants altogether! It was his fault they’d almost been caught, his fault that she was humiliated right now and he chased after her to tell her so.

“Nami-san, wait, please, let’s talk abou–“

She whirled on him in absolute fury. “There’s nothing to talk about! Everyone leave me alone!!” She ran for her room and slammed the door behind her, the sound of the bolt sliding into place like a knife in his gut. That was it, it was over, she hated him. No more secret anything, no more sweet smiles when no one was looking, no more little winks or sly glances, no more secret makeout sessions in the storage closet when they could get away with it, no more hushed lovemaking while the others slept, no more tinkling laughter at one of his stories, no more cuddling, all because he didn’t have the strength to deny her one single thing. Well if he was going to start disobeying her, he may as well start now.

Dashing to the floor of the storage closet, he lay on the floor by the trapdoor to her room and knocked loudly. “Nami-san! Please, let’s talk about this! Nami-san!!” No response from within but he kept knocking and pleading, ignoring Luffy and Usopp as they stared at the strange scene.

Finally, he realized she wasn’t going to open the door yet and got up, feeling hollow and angry at himself for being such a fucking idiot.

“Hey, Sanji,” Usopp called up to him from the deck, looking concerned, “is everything all ri-“

”Sanji! Try Usopp’s giant slingshot, it’s so much fun!!” Luffy interrupted in an effort to cheer his cook up.

Kicking the stupid slingshot into tiny pieces and dropping them into the ocean like flower petals was only moderately satisfying and he stormed back to the kitchen afterward before he succumbed to the urge to do the same to the two shitheads watching him in disbelief. He returned to find one of the sauces had scorched and there was a sizeable wet spot on the table that he couldn’t leave there, since A) it was unsanitary and B) he didn’t want any of those undeserving shitheads anywhere near anything resembling, pertaining to, or a result of Nami’s naughty bits. He banged around in there for a few minutes, swearing under his breath and wondering if he shouldn’t have dropped the two insufferable idiots into the ocean for being such insufferable idiots. Then finally came to terms with the fact that he was really the one he wanted to take a walk off the side, and set about trying to salvage lunch and scrubbing the table.

He’d hoped she might come back upstairs when he called everyone in to eat, but it seemed she wasn’t hungry. No one commented on it except Luffy who asked if he could have her share, for which he would normally have received a boot to the face, but Sanji just didn’t have the energy or the motive anymore. Leaving the heathens to their meal, he took a tray over to Nami’s door and tried again, knocking quietly and asking her to please let him in so they could talk. Again he got no response, which didn’t surprise him, so he told her he was leaving lunch by the door if she wanted it, and left.

Despite the sweltering heat, he stayed inside all day, even when he didn’t have anything to attend to. He didn’t want to be around the others, who’d most likely be too nice to him and wonder what the hell he’d done to Nami to piss her off so badly. He left once to check on the tray he’d left her and found it untouched, so took it back to the kitchen before it spoiled with a heavy air of defeat. Luffy would occasionally come in and ask when dinner was, and Sanji finally gave up and started cooking again, hoping it’d at least take his mind off things for a bit.

He was just getting the pan heated for stir fry when he heard the door open again.

“I told you,” he snapped, “it’ll be ready when it’s ready!” He was getting ready to drop Luffy overboard and let someone else fish him out for a change.

“I hope it’s not too long,” came a voice far too sweet to be Luffy’s, “I missed lunch.”

Sure enough, his mikan-grove goddess stood there, smiling at him, if a little sadly. She was still upset, but she was there, she was giving him a chance and that was all he needed.

“Nami-san! I’m so sorry about this afternoon, I should have been thinking more clearly, I just–“ She pressed her finger to his mouth to silence him and he realized he’d probably been talking too loudly.

“Don’t apologize,” she said, completely confusing him, “it was stupid to have sex in the kitchen, but it was my idea, all right?”

She seemed to actually be asking for a response from him, so he nodded, still not understanding what was going on.

She sighed a little sadly and continued. “Listen, I was thinking about everything earlier, and I just don’t think this is going to work.”

Sanji forgot how to breathe.

“The sneaking around, the secrets, it’s just not fair to you,” she explained sympathetically, as though he gave a damn about either of those things right then.

“No!” She stopped and looked surprised, which hurt more than anything else so far. Did she really think he’d just roll over and let her go like it didn’t matter, that his feelings were that superficial? “No no no no, don’t do this, please.” He found himself with his arms around her, not caring if anyone walked in and saw them this way now. Didn’t she understand that the secrets were the price he was willing to pay to have her with him? That he’d do so much more for her if she’d only ask, and any inconvenience it caused him was so little compared to the idea of never being able to hold her again? “I’ll do anything you want, whatever it takes. Please, I just want to be with you.” *Don’t go don’t go don’t go.*

He felt her arms around him and he almost cried– it was too cruel to get kindness from her right as she was slipping away, and he didn’t think he’d be able to let go when the time came. He wasn’t ready to call it quits yet, even if he had to beg, plead, prostrate himself in front of her and everyone else, he wouldn’t give up.

He felt her breath tickle his ear as she murmured into it. “Then come over tonight.”

Huh?

His brain flipped and backtracked the past several seconds to be sure he’d followed everything. She... wanted him to sneak in for another quickie?

“Come over? Then...” The last piece finally clicked into place and there weren’t words to describe his happiness and relief, so he settled for lifting her into his arms for another hug. She wasn’t leaving him! She just wanted him to come in for another quickie. “But... if I come over tonight, Robin-chan...” It was Zoro’s watch that night, and Robin had been in the habit of staying up all night reading lately. Not that that would stop him if that’s really what Nami wanted, but it seemed rather odd.

“I never said we had to have sex,” she said, and he could hear her rolling her eyes even as she rested her head on his shoulder, “I just want to sleep with you.”

He was having difficulty processing this, but the slow light was dawning through the haze of shock and fear– she wanted him to stay with her, no lovemaking, just being together and she didn’t care if someone saw.

“All night?” He just had to make sure, wanted to be absolutely clear of what she wanted and expected from him.

“All night.”

And that was that. Robin had looked mildly surprised when he’d showed up that evening, but seemed to get over it quickly enough and despite their insistence that she could stay, politely excused herself to read in the lounge for the rest of the night. Which worked out well since they wound up making love anyway. He held her all night, brought her breakfast in bed in the morning, and doted on her freely all day. She seemed a little tense about the public affection at first, but as the day wore on she relaxed and enjoyed the nice weather. If they happened to disappear for short periods of time, no one really seemed to mind, and things remained pretty much as they always had. For a while, anyway, and then the little teasing remarks started when he’d dote on her too long, or he’d make her a special snack, or remark on how particularly pretty she looked at any given time, and then he’d have to beat some manners into them. Nami found it funny, so he never got too upset about it, and that was really the worst they had to contend with from them, so it wasn’t too bad. Plus they got privacy when they needed it without having to ask, so their minor offenses were forgivable.

But Sanji did inform Usopp that if he ever built another giant slingshot again, there would be consequences involving shoes and bodily orifices, and things were relatively peaceful on that front after that. But he and Nami never had sex in the kitchen again, just to be on the safe side.