COAST - Luffy x Reader

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

This is a bit of a short chapter... Wanted to fill in some blanks to ensure that everyone can keep track of where we're at timeline-wise. Throughout these next few arcs there will be a few of these shorter chappy's scattered here and there; It helps me out since I get extra time for storyboarding, planning future chapters, and pursuing some side projects!! :)))

Also... Don't forget what I said in the last chapter. We're about to face some trying times, so prepare yourselves.

(I don't even think I'm ready, tbh ;-;)

Happy reading <3333

—

"Luffy!"

The blissful background of my dreamless, soundless slumber is ripped away by the sheer panic Nami displays as it emanates from the rooftop over – And I jolt awake.

My soulmate's name amplifies the anxiety induced, caught unawares by her startling distress. I don't bother with the when, or the where as my eyelids fly open, blinded by the morning light. Rather, it's the why, the how; Why did she sound so worried? Was something happening? Did something happen to my soulmate?

I tear myself from the warmth at my side, wrenching upwards to assess the situation, readying for some terrible development to kick us while we're down–

'Konk!'

Only for my forehead to collide into said soulmate's jawbone, the dull noise that's born from our bones hilariously overexaggerated.

Immediately, my initial reaction is to groan, then followed by a relapse to limply fall backwards, back into warm arms. The pain grants me some increased awareness of the 'where and when' that I mentioned before, palm reaching to soothe the throbbing of my skull, indecisively sliding down to cup at the soreness that spreads along my jaw – pain that's not mine.

"Ow..." I whimper, eyes tightly shut with the sting of fresh tears. Even if his body was fairly squishy most of the time, hitting Luffy so quickly seemed to make the rubbery flesh rigid... Like oobleck, or something.

"Why're you so jumpy all of a sudden?" Luffy laughs a bit under his breath, mostly unaffected. "Relax, it's only Nami."

The hand at your back glides towards the dip in your waist, righting you so that you're tucked snug to his front – stubborn in the refusal to change positions just yet – right where you belonged, Luffy thought to himself.

"You're so weird. You were dead asleep before– Do ya always wake up like that or something?"

Opening my eyes to vivid skies and affable winds, Luffy's quiet smile is the first thing I find, followed by our seating arrangement. Scarce, hazy memories of having swapped spots during our conversation last night are late to come forward... Nami's voice had thrown me so off-kilter that my body must've woken up before my brain.

"I... I fell asleep?" The question is an obvious one, although I'm too perplexed to care much. It's more of a confirmation for myself, to see if I'd really wound up falling asleep on him (in the middle of such an important conversation, of all things).

"Mhm." Luffy hums, stare unwavering.

Damn. So much for being helpful.

While he doesn't appear exactly bothered, that doesn't stop the dusty pink blush to surface at my nose and cheeks, drawing my gaze to the side sheepishly. How embarrassing. It was also sorta nice, I guess... I mean, I didn't have any nightmares, and I felt super refreshed, but– Yeah, no. It was embarrassing. Plus, that meant he must've stayed awake for the rest of the night while I basically used him as a pillow.