Chapter - 14

Weeks had passed since the crew's retreat from Wano. Sometime after the incident with his navigator the previous night, the rubber captain decided to change course to regroup with Trafalgar Law and the Heart Pirates. The crew was relieved to be seeing another pirate group after some time. It was sometimes refreshing to talk to people you didn't see everyday, especially when they were the caliber of pirates that followed Law, the former warlord. Each specially trained and hand selected by the surgeon himself.

Most of everyone has had some form of medical training. Law's ship, the Polar Tang, was not only a submarine, it was quite literally a floating hospital. Luffy remembered being told by Raleigh, the Heart Pirates worked tirelessly to save his life after the War at Marineford. Without them he would've died on the operating table. He was grateful Chopper would be getting some backup. They would need everybody to contribute to bringing down Blackbeard.

Luffy remembered the urgent call for help from his ally. Apparently most of his crew were still licking their wounds and Blackbeard was making his move on Law to obtain his Ope Ope no Mi Devil Fruit. Assuming Blackbeard could only want one thing;immortality. If he managed to obtain that he wasn't sure there would ever be a way to stop Blackbeard. The former third division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates had been the only person in known history to eat two devil fruits and successfully survive. He must be looking to eat more, Luffy could only assume. Trafalgar was also in possession of another devil fruit he claimed was of utmost importance. So here they were on their way to the rendezvous point to meet with the Heart Pirates.

Leaning on the wheel with a sigh he was hoping to get there as soon as possible. He needed a fight to get his mind right, he's been overthinking lately and it was starting to grow wearisome.

"Glad to see you came to your senses." A sweet voice pulled him from his thoughts.

The navigator approaching with a warm smile.

Luffy reciprocating with a smile of his own. "Yeah! Turns out you were right, it was a bad plan." He sheepishly grinned rubbing the back of his neck.

Nami just rolled her eyes. "Ya think!" She huffed. "I forgot you don't think before you leap do you?"

"Nope!" Was simply the captains response as he hopped off the rail flashing a smile as he headed towards the kitchen not missing the sound of his Chef calling for lunch.

"LUFFY!" Nami called out before he disappeared into the ship.

Giving a sigh she slumped forward on the wheel. She was glad things relatively stayed the same between them. Aside from occasional glances in each other's direction when the other wasn't looking, nothing happened. She assumed it was only natural to distance themselves for awhile, they still were on high alert at all times it was not a time for their own personal wants.

"LUFFYYY!" Chopper sang showing his large grin. He received a slight bump on his head.

"Ow Nami! That hurt!" Chopper cried comically rubbing his head.

"Well..." Nami said emphasizing her fist surrounded in a dark aura.

"I'm just teasing." Chopper said rubbing the sore spot on his head, his cheeks slightly pink. "I'm glad your happy Nami."

"Huh?" The orange haired woman couldn't stay mad at the cotton candy loving doctor for long he was too adorable.

"These past few weeks since we decided to change course, you seem..happier..I'm glad." Chopper added.

She was still confused as to what he was he was talking about. "This how I always am Chopper." She still sounded puzzled as to what he was alluding too.

Chopper sweat dropped, she was more like her captain sometimes then she lets on.

The reindeer wondered what to say next in order for him to make his point clear to her. It may cost him another bonk on the head or two but for the sake of his two dear friends he would gladly suffer a concussion. Maybe.

"I'm happy for you two really!" Chopper exclaimed. "I can tell you two care about each other differently then the rest of the crew. I didn't notice at first until Luffy and the others arrived at Zou. When Zunisha was injured during the attack you were first one he turned to let you know danger was coming. I remember him grabbing and holding onto you without a second thought like you were his treasure." Chopper finished looking up to see a crimson faced navigator. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

"I-I do really care about him. In my own way, I've always loved him." Nami confessed honestly clutching her chest. Besides Robin, there was perhaps no one better that read her like Chopper. He was one of her closest friends on the Sunny.

The doctor nodded. "I know. I'll always be here to support both of you!" Chopper said smiling holding a thumbs up. Eventually Chopper knew it was a possibility. It wasn't Luffy who invited him to join the crew; it was Nami. She'd been the only one besides their captain to recruit a member. He always wondered what the nature of their relationship was when he first encountered them. The reindeer was not there when the crew took down Arlong Park, so he wasn't sure what happened. But the doctor had could tell Nami's gratefulness ran deep towards the rubber captain for his actions. He remembered fondly Luffy had carried his friends up the treacherous snowy mountain trying desperately to save them at any cost.

"They're my nakama!" Luffy proclaimed grasping the doctor's arm.

Chopper smiled warmly at the memory. There was no doubt in his mind, it was them from the very beginning.

Nami quickly embraces the reindeer rubbing cheek to cheek with him. "Thank you, you brilliant doctor."

Chopper immediately flushed. "Ah stop it Nami, you praise me too much dummy." The reindeer continuing to happily prance as he soaked the compliment.

"Listen Chopper, that stuff you and I said will stay between us right?" Nami asked a little trepidation lacing her tone.

Chopper paused his dancing to give her an answer. "I'm a doctor Nami—patient confidentiality." The doctor gave his signature smile.

Nami smiled back. "Should we grab lunch?" Offering her hand to the short reindeer.

Chopper reached her hand. "Yay! Let's go see Luff-" another slight bump appeared on his previous one.

"Cut that out!" Nami yelled before grasping Choppers hand once again before making their way towards the kitchen.

Chopper couldn't help but chuckle through Nami's anger it confirmed everything he thought and she told him. She really did love her captain.

The doctor enjoyed the lunch more than he one he had in awhile. Not only had Sanji returned to his duties albeit with crutches, his food was better than ever. The crew was up to their usual antics. Luffy was stealing food from everyone as usual to the dismay of Sanji who was angry for him for eating most of the leftovers on the counter that was supposed to last them the whole day. The crew watched as Sanji hobbled to try and catch Luffy to no avail. Eventually Zoro and Usopp restrained Luffy on the ground long enough for Sanji to get in a few strikes with crutches while the other two got a few good shots in too for lurching their lunch. At the usual antics the rest of the crew laughed enjoying the company of one another. Whatever that was thrown at them they would overcome. With Luffy at the helm he knew it was possible.