COAST - Luffy x Reader

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Hihi!

June is a very busy month for me... But the next chapter should be our official introductory chapter for Water 7!! I'm so excited lol <33 Been trying to hammer away at drafting stuff up, and can happily say that I have quite a few chapters planned ahead so far!

Also, since we've reached 300k, I'm introducing a new addition to the chapters... Tidbits! Little things going on behind the scenes that might not be seen or known by the readers directly, including headcanons and scenarios. Thank you to those who reached out to me in discord for this idea! You'll start to see them at the end of each chapter posted :)))

Finally, so you are all aware, another event regarding these tidbits will be shortly underway over on the discord! Link in my bio if you are looking to join.

Alrighty – Happy reading everyone!! <333

—

"I can't believe you didn't tell me that you kissed Luffy after The Davy Back!" Nami's red hair resembles flames that twist and writhe in the clear skies, eyes burning with her distraught emotions. With hands on her hips, she berates me over my 'betrayal' for the third day in a row. "You owe me at least ten-thousand berries, with interest– Besties are supposed to tell eachother everything, y'know!"

I wince. With every resurface of the topic at hand, my debt would increase sufficiently. The first day had only been three-thousand... It was a reminder to never again incur the girl's wrath.

"I know, Nami. I'm sorry, I know I should've told you, I just..." I trail off, the skin of my cheeks warming as I think back on each time Luffy's lips had touched there, or vice versa – And now everyone knew about it, apparently. Embarrassment flooded my veins like lava. "I-I guess I still haven't really gotten used to it yet, so..."

Nami, expression dropping with disinterest at my cast-aside gaze – knowing I'm off in la-la land as more flashbacks commence – leans forward and extends an arm.

Flick!

"O-Ow, Nami!" I whine pitifully. The spot where her finger met my forehead throbs, and I shrink with hands seeking to soothe the sore. "I already said I was sorry!"

"So? Quit drifting off and listen to me!" Nami scolds, her arms returning to their propped position. Lowkey, it appears as if she's pouting as well. "I'm trying to talk to you, but every conversation we've had over the past few days it's like you're not even paying attention! And after everything I did for you, too... You could've at least told me you both had made some progress!"

I groan, once again looking off to the floorboards, condemned.

I have been a little out of it for the last few days... Not for the reason she was thinking – because no, I wasn't fantasizing about my soulmate, rather I'd been focusing on more disparaging, unforeseen issues – It wasn't purposeful, yet it couldn't be helped.

It was like clockwork. I could never settle for too long, the parasites of my brain creating a routine where even a smidge of calm brought upon their incubation, then they'd proceed to hatch new concerns, new anxieties; A restlessness stemmed from their infection, burying into every tissue, every organ and muscle they could find. This meant that, conveniently, I'd been troubled by entirely new problems recently... But, what else was new, right?

My own brain was so frustratingly exhausting.

It began like a haunting. The hint of a ghost floating on the wind, barely-there aside from the pricking of discomfort that I couldn't entirely place;