Polar Planes [Luffy x Nami]

15. Dark Sky

Nami focused on the small weight of the dog tag hanging from her ankle. She still remembered that day like it was yesterday: when her mom had given her that horrendous - but necessary - haircut, and told her something that she would keep with her forever but never really understood.

A shred of Nami's dignity had been lost with the last snippet of her long hair as it fluttered down onto the wooden floor.

Her mom snickered. "You look like you're about to cry."

She pouted. "And what if I am?"

"Don't be so dramatic." She set the scissors down. "Your hair will grow back. Besides, I think this cut looks pretty cute on you."

"You're wrong, mom. All your haircuts are bad."

Her mom feigned offense. "Well I'm sorry, my princess. Would you have wanted me to leave the gum in there as a new fashion statement?"

"After seeing this..." Nami gestured to the mirror she was miserably glaring at. "Then maybe."

"Why? Are you afraid the other kids will make fun of you?"

"Yes!"

Her mom turned her around and cupped her cheeks in her rough, gentle hands. "Don't let anything they say get to you. You are better than that."

"I'm tired of it."

"Then you better make them tired of you too."

Nami blinked. "You're saying I should put gum in her hair too?"

She rolled her eyes. "Geez, who taught you to think like that?"

"You did." She pointed accusingly at her mom. "You're always talking about getting back at people."

"But you are not the same as me, Nami," her mom said. "You can be very mature and kind."

"You're the one raising me," she remarked.

Her mom softly smacked her shoulder. "Don't get smart with me."

"Oh. And..." Nami pulled out her mom's dog tag necklace from her pocket. "The chain broke."

"What happened with this?"

"There was a guy who said I shouldn't be wearing it because I didn't serve in the military, so he yanked it off my neck."

Both of her eyebrows shot up. "So that explains the red mark on your neck."

"Yeah... can you fix it?"

"Mmm... not sure if I have the tools but I'll figure something out."

"I think only you should wear it."

"Hm?"

"I don't think I should be wearing that."

She sighed. "Nami... how are you going to let a boy like that tell you what you don't and do deserve?"

"Isn't he right though?" she asked. "I didn't serve in the military. You did."

Her mom took the tag and held it against her chest. Nami felt the cold of the metal press against her skin.

"Which is why it's important that you hold this close to remember me when I'm not around."

"They're just going to break it again."

Her mom tapped on the bathroom counter in thought. Then, she took what was left of the chain and wrapped it around Nami's thin ankle three times.

"How about that?" she proposed. "That way, if they bed down to yank it out, you can kick them in the face."