A/N: Well, writing this took longer than I planned :P [School work + random interruptions = not a good writing week.]

This story takes place after my Nami VS Hancock fiction, and it does make references to the other story. I do hope you enjoy [although I'm not sure what else I would hope for XD]

I'm planning for this to be another multi-chapter story, so we'll see where this first chapter takes me :) I have some ideas in mind already, but I have the odd feeling that my mind will definitely take me in different directions. But that's the way I work normally, so it doesn't surprise me. I am afraid that this may not contain as much adventure as N VS H, but it definitely contains a lot more Luffy-Nami moments, soooooo like I said, enjoy :D

Rated T -the book Nami is currently reading within the story will never get to "strongly" suggested adult themes, and after a week or so since the Hancock incident, I'm not pushing Luffy and Nami that far so quickly. If any of you disagree with the rating, just tell me, but I feel the scenes more like make-out scenes rather than M-rated.

Tongue Tied

His hand slid down her arm, his touch the gentlest he'd ever been with her. He licked his lips, trying to restrain himself as his fingers reached the tips of hers. He leaned closer, his breath hot on her ear as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Her breath caught as his hands fell to her hips, finding their way underneath the fabric of her shirt, his hot skin leaving a trail of warmth as -

"Na~mi," Luffy appeared out of no where, sitting beside my chair on the lawn deck and resting his head on my lap. I could feel my face go red, having been reading such an intimate scene in a novel that Robin had suggested –and now I knew why; she had wanted to see me get flustered like this when Luffy interrupted me.

And as I glanced up to the second floor deck across from me, I met her eyes. She smirked before turning away. I took a deep breath and let it out.

"You're not busy are you?" He asked, staring up at me.

"No," I told him, closing the book and putting it off to the side. Even if I were to tell him I was busy, he would have probably sat there until I finished.

"Oi! Luffy, get away from my Nami-swan!" Sanji shouted at him.

"Shishishi," Luffy laughed, not moving an inch. "She's my navigator."

"You're going to make my tan weird," I sighed, pushing his head away playfully. When I was flirting, I was fine with open displays of affection, but when I was with Luffy I felt embarrassed.

He pouted slightly and I tried to contain my smile as he sat up. He picked up one of my hands, pulling my fingers apart from each other. He held up our hands between us and looked me in the eye, "I love you."

The corners of my lips twitched until I was smiling brightly. All I could remember was our first kiss when he said it. It was one of my fondest memories. After such a chaotic week with Hancock, and being kidnapped, and becoming sick –Luffy suddenly looking up at me and telling me that he loved me before sweeping me off my feet with a breathtaking kiss –yeah, it was something worth cherishing. It'd been two weeks since that moment. He hadn't kissed me since, but he stuck close, always seeming to want to hold or play with my hand.

"I –" For some reason the word was just stuck on the tip of my tongue. I did love him. I really and truly did, but for some reason I couldn't say it. "I –"

"Nami!" Franky called me from the helm.

I was saved momentarily, though I did want to tell him. This was strange for me, I always thought of myself as the assertive type when it came to dealing with guys.

"I'll be back," I told Luffy, taking my hand out of his and touching the top of his head as I got up and passed by him. I went up to the third floor deck and saw Franky at the helm. I checked the log pose, ready to redirect him.

"A little to starboard," I told him as I approached. He did as I said, also stopping when I told him to.

I waited a few moments, watching the log pose before turning to walk away.

"Actually, that's not why I called you here," Franky said.

"Oh? Then what do you need?" I asked, facing him once more.

"I was just wondering when we were supposed to arrive at the next island," He glanced over.

"Shouldn't be too much longer now," I told him. "Are we running low on cola?"

"Yes, actually," He grinned.

"Well, you're not like Luffy. Your reasoning –and most of the time, the others' reasoning –is rational."

"But you like that about Luffy," Robin walked over to us. "His impulsive and irrational nature."

I crossed my arms and looked away, "I never said that."

"Don't start putting up walls now," Franky said. "We both know you guys have something going."

"I'm pretty sure I just heard Luffy say he loves you," Robin added.

"Progress!" Franky practically whooped. "Our little captain is growing up so fast."

"Yeah," I murmured.

"What's wrong?" Robin asked.

"It's nothing," I told her, walking to the railing. I spun on my heel and grinned. "I challenge you to a game of chess."

"If I win, you'll tell me what's on your mind," Robin said.

"And if I win, it's ten thousand beli."

"I'm surprised Nami actually won," Usopp said, looking over the board.

I brought my fist down on his head, "Oi!"

"And it was three times in a row!" Chopper exclaimed.

"Yohoho," Brooke laughed, coming down the stairs. "Do my ears deceive me? But I don't have any ears! Yohoho!"

"Thirty thousand beli," I ignored them and grinned at Robin. "Hand it over."

"Mm," She said, getting to her feet. I followed her to our room, watching her as she took out and counted the money. She held it out, but took her hand back before I could grab it. "So you really won't tell me?"

"It's nothing I can't handle on my own," I pulled the money from her hands and weighed it in my hand making sure it was the right amount.

"So have you told Luffy you loved him yet?" She asked as I went to put the beli with the rest of my money.

"So you did know!" I said, grabbing my pillow and throwing it at her. "I hate it when you play mind games like that."

"I know, but I can't help but watch over the two of you," She sat down on her bed, fluffing the pillow before returning it to my bed. "So you haven't?"

I was silent for a moment as I closed the chest and moved to the edge of my own bed and took a seat. I fell onto my back, moving my pillow underneath my head so that I was slightly elevated. I glanced at her, not surprised to see her just watching me with those dark and intellectual eyes of hers. I sighed and turned away, "Well, you know the answer to that already, don't you?"

"I don't keep tabs on you all the time," She chuckled, "Just enough to hear him say 'I love you' and you faltering for an answer."

"Is that awful of me?" I asked. "I do love him –I do. I can feel it," I placed a hand over my heart and closed my eyes, feeling the rapid beating at just the thought of Luffy, "I really, really love him."

"So what's the problem?"

I opened my eyes and let my hand fell to my side. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to say something like that to him."

"Well, there's plenty of time," Robin got to her feet and went to the door. "Don't fret about it too much."

"I'll try," I muttered, clenching my fist.

But how could I not feel vexed?

He kissed her, pulling back and giving her a devious grin before kissing her again, once more on the lips before kissing just below her ear. His fingers raking over her back gently as he left a trail of hot kisses along her collar bone.

"Sounds sexy."

I jumped at the voice and felt the chair shift under the weight of another person. A shadow fell across me, and I looked up to see Luffy there, hanging over me.

"You scared me," I said, using the book to hit him over the head. "And don't read over my shoulder."

"I wasn't, Robin told me to come over and say it," He grinned.

"Robin, hmm?" I murmured, glancing around but not seeing her.

"Zoro said there's an island in view," Luffy wrapped his arms around my shoulders, leaning over the back of the chair far so that he could see my face as he spoke to me.

"I heard him," I told him, pulling away playingfully

"A new island, Nami –let's explore it together! Shishishi."

"Mm," I smiled, giggling as he pressed his cheek against mine. Suddenly I remembered something, and I jumped to my feet.

"Eh? What's wrong?" Luffy asked, remaining bent over the chair.

"I'll be right back," I told him, hurrying up to the kitchen, to the ladder and up to the third deck. I went to the library, going to one of the shelves and retrieving a book underneath a mass of others. They toppled over and fell to the floor, but I ignored the mess. I opened the book in my hands, slowly, making sure that my precious treasure didn't fall out.

I picked up the leaf carefully, peeling it off from the pages. Maybe I was overly cautious, but it meant a lot to me. The night I had spent with Luffy on Akaki island, watching the moon while standing on the tallest tree of the island. Out of all the memories I'd had with Luffy that had to be one of my most loved.

The door opened and Luffy walked in. He looked so out of place amongst the books, but he walked over to me as if he was in there everyday.

"You still have that?" He asked, looking at the leaf in my hand. He looked like he wanted to touch it, but didn't dare with how frail it looked.

"I do," I smiled, my cheeks heating up a little as I blushed. "I'm going to make it into a bookmark."

"Can I watch?"

I paused for the briefest of moments before nodding, "Mm. I'll do it right now then."

He watched me as I got out the materials from my desk –Robin and I did like making bookmarks often enough to have the supplies. Luffy knelt beside the desk, his eyes on my hands as I laid the materials out carefully. Gradually –as I worked –he made his way around the table to stand beside me. I wasn't surprised though. I mean, it was Luffy. Sitting still just wasn't what I expected of him. By the time I finished, he was kneeling beside me, his hand innocently on my back. He removed it as I leaned back to admire my work.

"It's pretty," I said, showing it to him.

"Mm," He agreed, reaching out to touch it. When I didn't object, he took it from me, standing up and holding it up against the light, then against my hair. "It still matches."

I avoided his gaze as I blushed again.

"Shishishi, now it almost matches your cheeks," Luffy teased.

"Stop it," I said, flustered under his scrutiny, standing up and stumbling as I misjudged how close he was. But he held firm on his feet, wrapping his arm around me to steady me.

"Careful."

"I'm plenty careful," I muttered. I didn't push away though, and he didn't take his arm from around me either. I lifted my head to look up at him, only to find that his eyes were already on me. He lowered his head, and I didn't move an inch, just watched as he stared at me.

"Your breath smells like mikans," He mumbled.

"Yours smells like meat," I told him bluntly in a whisper, patting his cheek before stepping away. As much as I wanted to kiss him, I had the feeling all I'd be able to taste was meat. It made me feel like he was having an affair… with meat. Damn it, I felt like a fool!

"Shishishi," He laughed. "Sorry."

"It's fine," I took the bookmark from his hand. "I'll go put this to good use now."

"Alright," He grinned, following me out of the library. "I'm going to go talk to Sanji about lunch."

"Luffy, we just had lunch –"

"Oh, yeah," He chuckled. "I meant dinner."

I smirked as he hurried away, following him with my eyes as he went flying over the railing. When he was no longer in view, I looked down at the bookmark.

Yeah, I really did love him.