Platonic

11

Back in their room, Luffy and Nami got ready for the day. They decided together to make the most of it and do everything that was anything.

Nami was the first to get out of the shower and while getting ready and applying her make-up in the vanity mirror, her mind filled with conflicting thoughts.

She wanted to tell him but how? When exactly was the right time to do this? Was it worth the risk? It was only the second day of their trip. Should she wait till their last?

Nami's head hurt from all the thinking and at once knew how Luffy felt. Thinking was exhausting. No wonder he went with the flow most of the time. That must be why he was reckless and carefree.

Nami stared narrowly at herself in the mirror. Luffy was her best friend. Correct. Weren't best friends supposed to tell each other everything? Secrets? Fears? Maybe everything was a stretch but still...

Just then, Luffy walked out the bathroom and Nami summed up the courage and spun in her chair to face him but words caught in her throat. He was shirtless, clad in jeans shorts with a towel tossed on his head to dab at his freshly washed hair that sprinkled droplets of water on his stone-hard chest.

The last time she saw him without a shirt was in high school when they took that group beach trip. He was skinny and lean back then. Nothing to gawk at. He made mention of joining Zoro at the gym a few times but this was vastly unexpected. No wonder his hugs were divine. His body once a plain canvas was a growing work of art. It wasn't excessive but he looked good. Too good for Nami's liking.

"Were you going to say something, Nami?"

Nami at once closed her fallen jaw and averted her eyes. She had been staring for some time and the embarrassment was enough to kill.

"Shirt..."

"What?"

"Where's your damn shirt?"

Nami flinched. She didn't mean to swear but still. She was finding it more and more difficult to calm down much less look at him.

Thankfully, Luffy took it in strides.

"My hair's wet."

"Didn't you pack a blow dryer, Luffy?"

"I don't own one."

"Geez."

Nami instructed him to sit in her seat and she went and got her hairdryer from her luggage. The bathroom probably had one tucked away somewhere but she preferred using hers. Nami didn't trust Luffy enough around electrical devices and water either.

She removed the towel from his head and rested it on his broad shoulders to hide whatever was left of his sanity.

"You should really get a hair dryer, Luffy. Especially in the wintertime. Aren't you afraid of getting sick?" Nami asked running her fingers through his hair while the machine whooshed warm air about from above.

Luffy loved it.

"I don't get sick."

"Never ever?"

"Never."

"Weirdo."

She heard him say that before but found it hard to believe. Same words. Same lame argument.

Luffy snickered and watched his best friend in the mirror seeing the exact moment she smiled to herself.

He continued staring long after the hair dryer switched off and Nami caught his eye briefly before reaching for her brush on the stand. She didn't bother asking him if he brought one. He figured she knew the answer to that as well.