The Going Merry sailed across the waters, leaving Drum Island behind. Although the air remained cold, the atmosphere on deck was as fervent as midsummer. To celebrate Nami's recovery and the addition of their new comrade, Chopper, a grand banquet was in full swing.
"Cheers!!!"
"Meat! Meat! Delicious meat!!"
Luffy had both hands full of bone-in meat, his mouth stuffed to capacity. He was engaged in a meaningless "eating contest" with Chopper and Klay, who had both transformed into fellow gluttons.
"Whoa! So good! Is this what a pirate banquet is like!" Chopper sniffled with emotion, clutching a piece of cake larger than his face.
In the corner, Zoro held a massive ale barrel, already deep into his "man and blade as one" drinking mode. At the center of the festivities, a high-spirited Nami stood on a wooden crate, grandly hoisting a giant beer mug.
"Come on! Marimo-head! Big sister is happy today—don't stop until we're under the table!!"
The joy of surviving a brush with death, combined with the lifting of the heavy illness that had plagued her, let Nami truly let loose. She downed mug after mug, a charming crimson flush spreading across her cheeks.
"Tch, don't get carried away, witch," Zoro grunted, though he still raised his glass to meet hers.
After several rounds of heavy drinking...
"Hic... I... I can still drink..."
The mug in Nami's hand wobbled, and finally, her strength gave out. Her body softened, and without warning, she began to fall backward.
"Nami-san!!!"
Sanji, who had been laser-focused on his goddess's every move, instantly had hearts for eyes. He let out a shrill cry and surged forward like a whirlwind. "Let my warm embrace catch you... Wha—?!"
Thud!
A foot wearing a green boot "accidentally" tripped him. Sanji slammed face-first into the deck, sliding several meters across the floorboards.
"Bastard Marimo! You want to fight!!" Sanji scrambled up, roaring.
"Sorry, foot slipped," Zoro said calmly, taking a sip of his sake.
In that split-second opening, a pair of strong hands had already firmly caught Nami's slender waist. Viktor held the drunken navigator, looking at the girl's flushed face and hazy eyes, and shook his head helplessly.
"Honestly, you just recovered. Why drink so much?"
Viktor swept Nami up into a bridal carry and spoke to the bickering Zoro and Sanji. "Alright, that's enough. I'm taking this drunkard to her room to rest."
"Ah! A task like that should be handled by me, her knight—" Sanji started to protest.
"There, there, Mr. Cook. Go back to the grill! Luffy is about to eat the plates!" Viktor laughed him off and carried Nami toward the second-floor cabins.
Away from the rowdy deck, the corridor was exceptionally quiet. Inside Nami's room, the orange lamplight was dim and hazy. The air carried a faint scent of tangerines—Nami's signature fragrance.
Viktor set a glass of water on the nightstand and looked at the girl on the bed. His expression softened. "Get some sleep, Miss Navigator," he whispered, turning to leave.
The moment he turned, a hot, small hand shot out from the covers and gripped Viktor's wrist tightly. He stopped and looked back. Nami had opened her eyes. Those large eyes, usually filled with Berries and calculations, were now veiled in a watery mist.
"Nami?" Viktor blinked. "Not dead to the world yet?"
"Don't go..."
Fueled by the alcohol, her grip was surprisingly strong. She sat up, the blanket sliding down to reveal her shoulders in a thin nightgown. Her orange hair was slightly disheveled, clinging to her cheeks. Her voice trembled as she looked into his eyes.
"Since Cocoyasi Village... to Loguetown... and then that snowy mountain..."
Nami's voice choked up. "Every time I'm in danger, you're there. Every time I'm in despair, you stand in front of me. That mountain... it was so high... so cold..."
Recalling the sensation of the furnace-like warmth of his back while she was semi-conscious, tears began to fall. "Why are you so good to me?"
"Because you're a comrade," Viktor said softly, trying to use the "standard answer" to deflect.
"Liar."
Nami bit her lip, staring intensely at him. The wildness of a "cat burglar" combined with the directness of the alcohol finally erupted. "Just a comrade? Do comrades look at me the way you do?"
"Viktor... look me in the eye and tell me." She sat up further, wrapping her arms around his neck. Their breathing intertwined, their faces inches apart. "You... you like me, don't you?"
"Don't leave... tonight, stay."
Looking at the girl whose bravery made his heart skip a beat, the string of "logic" in Viktor's mind finally snapped. The red light in his eyes flickered briefly, and a smile curled on his lips.
"Heh..." Viktor reached out, gently tilting Nami's chin upward. "What a greedy little thief."
"Since you've put it that way... if I keep playing dumb, I won't be much of a man, will I?"
The moment the words fell, Viktor leaned down and captured those lips that tasted of light plum wine and sweet tangerines.
"Mmph..." Nami's body shuddered, then she closed her eyes, responding clumsily but fervently. The shadows in the room grew blurred as Viktor pressed her back into the soft mattress.
"Wait... the... lamp..." Nami gasped, frantically pointing toward the desk lamp. Viktor didn't speak, simply looking at her with a gaze that made her pulse race. The sound of clothing sliding away was sharp in the silent night.
Nami trembled slightly—a mix of nerves and anticipation. She gripped Viktor's shoulders, completely surrendering under the weight of his gaze.
"Viktor..."
"I'm here."
Outside, the waves gently slapped the hull, and the Merry swayed softly in the tide, as if the sea itself were singing a lullaby for the lovers. That night, the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates found more than just medicine for her body; she found a harbor where she could always drop anchor with peace of mind.
The next morning.
Bright sunlight poured through the porthole. Nami's eyelashes fluttered as she woke. She instinctively reached out to the side of the bed. It was empty, but the sheets still held the lingering warmth of his body.
"That bastard..."
The hangover headache was gone, replaced by a dull ache throughout her body, as if she had been taken apart and put back together. Memories of the previous night flooded back—the orange sea, the heated breath, and that man's anything-but-gentle, intoxicating...
"Eek!!" Nami pulled the blanket over her face, spotting the faint marks on her collarbone and arms. She felt like a steamed lobster. "Wh-what was that!! That jerk!!"
Just then, the door clicked open. Viktor walked in carrying a tray with steaming breakfast. He looked refreshed and energized, wearing that same signature, teasing smirk.
"Good morning, Nami." He set the tray on the nightstand. Seeing Nami huddled under the blanket with only her eyes showing, he smirked. "What? Still reminiscing?"
"Reminiscing your head!!" A pillow flew accurately at his face.
Viktor caught it with ease and sat on the edge of the bed. Noting Nami's stiff movements, he raised his hand, a green glow of chakra illuminating his palm. "You look uncomfortable. Want some help?"
"This is my secret Mystical Palm Technique. It's perfect for bruises, strains, and lower back pain. Results are instantaneous."
"Who wants your treatment!!" Nami felt like she was going to spontaneously combust. "It's all your fault! Pervert! Wolf! Get out!!"
Despite her shouting, when Viktor leaned in and dropped a gentle morning kiss on her forehead, her voice died away. She flushed red and looked away, but she didn't move. She just muttered under her breath:
"...The porridge is getting cold."
In this moment, the "window paper" between the Vice-Captain and the Navigator had been torn down, replaced by a much more intimate bond. However, this cozy world for two didn't last long.
"AHHHHH!!!! A HUGE FISH!!!!!"
A vibrant roar shattered the morning silence. Luffy's booming voice pierced through the door. "HEY!!! EVERYONE COME LOOK!! A SUPER HUGE FISH!!"
"Meat! It's all meat!!"
"Hey! Zoro! Go down and catch it!! We're having grilled fish!!"
From the deck came Zoro's annoyed, sleep-deprived voice: "Ha?! Why me?! Can't you catch it yourself!!"
"I want to eat it! Hurry, hurry!!"
Inside the room, Viktor and Nami looked at each other and laughed helplessly. "Honestly... those guys."
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