[ The slightly serious expression on Sanji’s face begins to soften as she teases him. It’s familiar, comfortable, and it makes him feel warm. He doesn’t know exactly what she’s thinking, but it’s a positive sign that she’s starting to feel less worried. The grin spreads across his face naturally, without him even meaning to, and he gives a little laugh of amusement. ]
Well, there is one thing. I get pretty distracted by just how beautiful and smart you are. You’ll always be a distraction, no matter what.
[ It’s just a fact of the universe that she’s going to distract him from everything else in the best way possible. Falling back on his shameless flirting and flattery to match her teasing is easy, especially when every word comes right from his heart. That exchange helps break some of the tension and lets his shoulders relax. It lets him be drawn in with a lighter heart as she tugs him closer and all that distance vanishes.
His thumb gently strokes along the side of her hand as she leans against him and relies on his strength to keep her upright. She hasn’t said anything, but he knows how difficult it must be for her to have any trust in him at all, let alone with matters of the heart. Carefully, he wraps an arm around her shoulders. It’s not a hug, either, just a gentle embrace while she stands there with her head against his chest. His head dips down and he buries his face in her orange hair, just breathing her in during that moment of silence between them. That, more than anything, gives him comfort.
A fond smile lights up his face as she talks. They haven’t come up with a perfect answer to their limited experiences. He would give anything— do anything—to keep her safe and happy, no matter what that might be. Oh, he would do anything to keep the rest of them safe, too, but Nami’s special. Some piece of him knows— knows, to the very depths of his soul— that he’s not really worthy of her, that she can do better than a man like him. Inexplicably, though, she wants him and he wants her, too. She talks about him becoming part of her dream and them being meant to be and he feels it again, that warmth flooding through his chest. ]
I want to be with you, too. [ Not that she didn’t know that, because he’s made it very obvious, but it bears repeating. He leans forward and brushes a soft kiss to her forehead, arm tightening its grip so that he really is hugging her and keeping her held close. His hand gives hers another quick squeeze. ] I don’t know much about odds and I’m not much of a gambler, but… [ He hesitates for just a second, staring intently into those gorgeous sea-colored eyes for hers. What started as some flirting with someone beautiful has become something else altogether, now.
His forehead presses flush against hers and his mouth finds hers in a gentle, tender kiss. It’s brief, but it makes his lips tingle pleasantly after all the same. ] I’ll go all-in on us with you. We'll take our time and go at our own pace and figure this out.
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Well, there is one thing. I get pretty distracted by just how beautiful and smart you are. You’ll always be a distraction, no matter what.
[ It’s just a fact of the universe that she’s going to distract him from everything else in the best way possible. Falling back on his shameless flirting and flattery to match her teasing is easy, especially when every word comes right from his heart. That exchange helps break some of the tension and lets his shoulders relax. It lets him be drawn in with a lighter heart as she tugs him closer and all that distance vanishes.
His thumb gently strokes along the side of her hand as she leans against him and relies on his strength to keep her upright. She hasn’t said anything, but he knows how difficult it must be for her to have any trust in him at all, let alone with matters of the heart. Carefully, he wraps an arm around her shoulders. It’s not a hug, either, just a gentle embrace while she stands there with her head against his chest. His head dips down and he buries his face in her orange hair, just breathing her in during that moment of silence between them. That, more than anything, gives him comfort.
A fond smile lights up his face as she talks. They haven’t come up with a perfect answer to their limited experiences. He would give anything— do anything—to keep her safe and happy, no matter what that might be. Oh, he would do anything to keep the rest of them safe, too, but Nami’s special. Some piece of him knows— knows, to the very depths of his soul— that he’s not really worthy of her, that she can do better than a man like him. Inexplicably, though, she wants him and he wants her, too. She talks about him becoming part of her dream and them being meant to be and he feels it again, that warmth flooding through his chest. ]
I want to be with you, too. [ Not that she didn’t know that, because he’s made it very obvious, but it bears repeating. He leans forward and brushes a soft kiss to her forehead, arm tightening its grip so that he really is hugging her and keeping her held close. His hand gives hers another quick squeeze. ] I don’t know much about odds and I’m not much of a gambler, but… [ He hesitates for just a second, staring intently into those gorgeous sea-colored eyes for hers. What started as some flirting with someone beautiful has become something else altogether, now.
His forehead presses flush against hers and his mouth finds hers in a gentle, tender kiss. It’s brief, but it makes his lips tingle pleasantly after all the same. ] I’ll go all-in on us with you. We'll take our time and go at our own pace and figure this out.