Chapter Text
As always, despite the long distance, Sanji picked up after the first ring.
“Nami-swan! To what do I owe the pleasure of your call this fine evening?” He took a drag of his cigarette and leaned against the stone wall behind him.
Small sniffles and a muffled sob filtered through the speaker, and the tone of his voice instantly changed.
“What happened? Just say the word and I’m on a plane back home.”
“N-nothing. Don’t… don’t come back when you just got to Paris. I just-“ Nami broke out into sobs again, “He cheated on me, Sanji. He cheated on me, so I left, and now I’m at Robin’s, but her place is tiny and I can’t stay here, so I don’t know where to go.”
“That filthy mother fucker,” Sanji grumbled away from the speaker. To Nami, he brightened his tone and said, “Nami sweet, it’s going to be just fine. I know just the place you can stay.”
“You do? Where?”
“My room is still vacant, and I’m paying rent there until someone takes it. It’s all yours if you want, and I can even pay next month while you get back on your feet,” Sanji offered.
“Didn’t you live with a bunch of men, though?” Nami asked.
“They are harmless. Trust me. I wouldn’t send you there if I didn’t trust them with my life.”
“Are you sure?”
“Would I lie to you, Nami-swan?”
A pause. “No, you wouldn’t.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll send you the address when I get off my shift, and you can move in tomorrow.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
That was how Nami found herself standing in front of a rundown apartment building, backpack in hand, staring at the front door and willing herself to walk inside.
“I knew Sanji didn’t live in the best area, but is this really it?” She muttered to herself. “He did promise it was safe. I just have to trust him.” With one big breath, she summoned her courage and buzzed the doorbell.
“Monkey D. Luffy speaking! Is this the pizza guy?” A bright voice screamed through the tinny microphone, and Nami had to take a step back before responding.
“Um no, this is Nami. I’m the new roommate.”
Something crashed on the other end of the call, and a more-distant but still-loud voice called out, “Guys! The new girl is here! It’s Sanji’s friend!”
A few seconds later, another voice spoke: “Hey, Nami! Usopp here. I think we’ve met once. I apologize for Luffy’s bad manners. You should be able to get in now.” A light above the microphone blinked green, and the machine buzzed before the door clicked and Nami pulled it open.
The interior of the building, while modest, looked much better than the outside. Fake potted plants stood in the front corners, and a faded but otherwise clean rug led down the hall toward the elevator. Nami checked the address Sanji sent her one more time and pressed the button to head upstairs.
After the slow ascent to the top floor, the elevator rumbled to a halt and dinged. Slowly, the doors slid open, but before she could take a step out, something shot through the small opening and flung itself onto her.
Nami screamed.
“Nami! Hi! It’s Monkey D. Luffy, and I’m going to be your new roommate! Do you like meat? I hope you like meat, but not as much as me! You can’t steal my meat! Promise you won’t steal it! Do you like pirates? I like pirates!” The newcomer circled his limbs around her and crushed her in a tight bear hug.
“Luffy, no!” Two voices chorused as a man with dark hair and a long nose (Usopp, Nami remembered from a long-ago meeting) and a bulky man with green hair and one eye stumbled into the elevator with them. The man with one eye set to prying Luffy off of Nami while Usopp proceeded to apologize profusely.
“He doesn’t understand manners,” Usopp explained when Nami could breathe again. “Luffy means no harm; he just gets really excited at the prospect of new friends.”
“I can see that,” Nami brushed herself off. “And don’t worry too much about it. Sanji prepared me.”
“That’s good to know. Anyways, you can follow us this way, and the great Captain Usopp can give you the grand tour.” Usopp ushered Nami down the hallway and to an open door. She held her backpack close to her as she stepped inside the threshold and was met with what could only be described as the ultimate man cave. T shirts and jackets were slung over the back of the couch, and a large TV displayed a paused video game. Posters galore lined the walls, and plain, black curtains blocked out the sun from the large windows lining the entirety of the back wall. Only the kitchen appeared clean as Usopp led her through the unit.
“Sanji organized the kitchen when he still lived here, and even after he left, we kept it that way. The one time we tried moving something around, Zoro got lost and couldn’t find the cutlery,” Usopp explained. He led her past the kitchen and to a bedroom door. “This is Franky’s room. He’s on a trip, but he’ll be back tomorrow.” After turning back and crossing the living room to another hall, Usopp motioned to the first room. “This is Zoro’s room. He’s the one who pried Luffy off of you earlier.” Then he pointed to a door back by the front door. “That’s Luffy’s room.” Then they passed Zoro’s room to another door, which Usopp claimed as his own. The room across the hall from Usopp and Zoro sat empty, and Usopp said, “That’s your room. It’s a little small, but I hope you like it.”
After Nami thanked him, he pointed to the last room in the hall. “That’s our bathroom right there. Water heater isn’t super great, but we take turns showering first.”
Nami poked her head in her bedroom. “And where is my bathroom?”
“There.” Usopp pointed to the same bathroom he had just showed her.
“Haha, very funny, Usopp. Now where’s my bathroom?”
“I’m not being funny. It’s right there.”
Nami sucked in a deep breath and sighed out. Then she screamed, “There’s only one bathroom?!”
Usopp leapt back and cowered behind his arms. “Did Sanji not tell you?”
“I swear, I will tear him a new one when I call him later,” Nami growled. “Fine. One bathroom. I can work with that. It’s temporary anyways.”
Usopp lowered his arms, seeing the threat was gone, and said, “Do you want help bringing your stuff up to your room? We’re happy to help.”
“I appreciate the gesture, but this is all I have.” Nami gestured to her backpack.
“Where’s the rest of your stuff?” Luffy ran over as Zoro shut the front door and entered the unit.
“I left it at my ex’s place,” Nami admitted. “I was a bit frazzled, and I didn’t really have time to grab anything. I had just come back from a trip, which was why I even had this much packed.”
“Then why don’t you go back and get it?” Luffy asked.
“Arlong is… I don’t know how to say it. But he’s not nice, and I don’t feel comfortable going back. I’ll just buy new stuff. Stuff is only stuff, right?” She sniffed and bit her lip to stop herself from crying.
Luffy put his hands on his hips and squinted. “I don’t get it. You want your stuff, don’t you?” Nami nodded. “Then let’s get it back.”
“What did I just tell you?” Nami argued.
Luffy only shrugged. “I’m not scared of Argon-“
“Arlong,” Usopp corrected.
“That’s what I said. I’m not scared of Arman. Let’s go to his house and take your stuff. We’ll be right there to back you up.”
Nami wiped the tear from the corner of her eye. “You mean it?”
“Yeah! Now let’s go!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Half an hour later, the group found themselves at the outskirts of the city, driving into a quiet neighborhood.
“It’s that house right there.” Nami pointed to a house on their right.
Usopp pulled the car to a stop by the curb. “Do you want us to go up there with you?”
Nami shook her head. “I think I can do this. But I’ll wave if I need you.”
“You got this, Nami,” Usopp gave her a grin and a thumbs up.
She returned the gesture with her own, shaky thumbs up and clambered out of the car. A few deep breaths and several shaky strides later, she found herself at the front door. Hands trembling, she lifted her hand toward the door.
Before her fist could make contact, the door swung open to reveal Arlong’s tall figure. He grinned down at her and barked out a laugh. “You couldn’t stay away long, Nami. Are you done bitching about that girl I had over?” He lifted his hand and reached out to grab her shoulder.
Nami flinched back. “I’m not. I told you we’re over, Arlong. You haven’t been nice to me in a long time. I should have left before now, but cheating was the last straw.”
“Then what are you here for?” Arlong’s face darkened.
“My stuff.”
“Bullshit. If you’re going to abandon your boyfriend, then you lose all rights to your stuff.”
Nami glared him down despite her urge to turn away and run. “No. My stuff is inside, and I’m going to get it back. Now move aside and let me in.”
“Or what?” Arlong narrowed his eyes and broke out into a toothy, sharp grin.
“Let me through, Arlong.” Nami didn’t back down.
“No. You aren’t going to boss me around, bitch. Now get off my property.” Arlong lifted his hand, palm open, and swung it towards Nami.
She froze in place and waited for the impact, but it never came. Slowly, she blinked open her eyes, and there stood Luffy, gaze fierce as he stood between her and Arlong, his grip tight around the taller man’s hand.
“What the-“ Arlong started, but before he could say anything, Usopp and Zoro trundled past him.
“Sorry, bro, but we’ve got some stuff to take back,” Usopp called as he disappeared into the house.
“Don’t you dare touch Nami again,” Luffy hissed, bringing Arlong’s attention back to the shorter man. Arlong tried to tug his hand back, but Luffy kicked out. With one swift motion, he brought Arlong face down on the ground, offending arm pinned behind him. Luffy pinned the man down to the ground, then looked up at Nami and said, “I’ll keep him here while you get your stuff. Arlo won’t hurt you ever again.”
Nami nodded quickly, too stunned to thank him yet, and darted inside.
Usopp and Zoro were milling about, picking up random items and throwing them inside plastic bags. Usopp held up a lamp. “Is this yours?”
Nami shook her head. “No. Most of the furniture is Arlong’s.”
“Well, I like it, so it’s yours now.” Usopp set the lamp inside the bag and reached for the next thing he could find.
Tears sprang to Nami’s eyes as she watched the two men extract both her items and others, and she left them to grab what they wanted while she headed to the bedroom. She was careful to pack her clothes and other personal belongings quickly, and once she had gathered three suitcases full of clothes and other toiletries, she made her way back to the car. Usopp and Zoro helped load things inside as she went back for the rest of her items, and after only about fifteen minutes of hard work, all of her stuff and some of Arlong’s stuff sat in the car.
Luffy finally let Arlong go and ran back to the car, cheering. “This is cause for a celebration!”
“Everything is cause for a celebration with you,” Usopp complained, “but I have to agree this once.”
Zoro stared at the back seat of the car. “Guys?”
“Yeah?” Usopp walked over to stand next to him.
“How are we going to fit?” He pointed to where the backseat had been filled with bags and other items, leaving barely one spot to sit.
“I call shotgun,” Nami sang as she headed for the empty front seat.
“And I’m driving. Guess Luffy will just have to sit in your lap,” Usopp clapped Zoro on the back.
“You drove here! Why can’t I drive back?” Zoro complained.
“Because you’ll get us lost.”
“No I won’t!”
Luffy giggled and clapped Zoro on the shoulder. “Yeah, you will. Now get inside already.”
“I don’t want your bony butt in my lap!”
“Aw c’mon, you love it!”
“I really don’t. It hurts!”
Luffy only laughed at that, and after a little more complaint, Zoro squeezed himself into the back of the car and let Luffy plop down on top of him.
Nami spared one look back at the pair and smirked. “At least you fit tight enough you won’t need a seatbelt.”
“Fuck you, witch,” Zoro grumbled.
Nami rolled her eyes and flipped him off, but the smile stayed plastered to her face. As they drove back home, her smile softened, and she said, “Thank you, guys. I really appreciate your help today.”
“Anything for a friend, Nami,” Usopp said.
“Yeah, what he said,” Zoro muttered.
Luffy reached around the seat to hug Nami. “That monster will never hurt you again.”
“Thanks, Luffy.” Nami patted his arm.
Silence stretched across the car for a moment, then:
“Hey, guys?” Luffy’s voice was quiet, barely above a whisper.
“What is it, bud?” Usopp asked.
In the back, Zoro gagged. “Did you just do what I think you did?”
“Yep!”
Moments later, Nami and Usopp realized what Zoro meant, and as they scrambled to roll down the windows, they screamed.