salmon_pink: (Hypno)
Salmon Pink ([personal profile] salmon_pink) wrote2007-04-06 07:26 pm

(One Piece) Pause For Breath

Title: Pause For Breath
Fandom: One Piece
Pairing: Nami/Vivi
Rating: PG-13
Words: 712
Timeline: Pre-Alabasta
Notes: For [livejournal.com profile] 10lilies, prompt "quiet".
Summary: Nami just won't allow Vivi that space, not when she so readily abuses it.



Vivi stares out at the horizon, and Nami can see the fate of an entire country pressing down on her shoulders, the future of her people drawing a line across her brow. Chewing at her lower lip, eyes shining with emotion and a darkness that doesn’t belong there. Fingers tapping against the railing with an impatience she tries so hard to hide from everybody.

It makes Nami ache to watch her. These snatched moments where Vivi seems to forget that she doesn’t have to be alone. Seems to forget that she’s their nakama.

Nami could never forget. Knows she’ll always remember the feelings that twist and twirl through her when she stands beside Vivi, be it in the heat of battle or on a lazy afternoon on the Going Merry’s deck. Overwhelming swell of emotion, pride and admiration and fear and sorrow and love. Knows she’ll always remember, even when Vivi no longer stands with them, and Nami knows that day is quickly approaching. Vivi is a Princess with an entire nation to save, although she will always be a pirate, their nakama, even when she doesn’t sail as one.

And Nami’s chest seizes and it hurts to breathe, but she won’t run from the truth, because that will only make it harder to face when the time comes to let Vivi go. Vivi is needed in Alabasta, needed in a very different way to the way that Nami needs her. So she’ll let go when she has to, for Vivi’s sake. Knows Vivi has suffered enough without Nami forcing her emotions on her.

But that doesn’t mean she’ll stand by and watch Vivi tear herself apart as the ocean stretches out before them, seemingly endless, Alabasta still only a distant promise. Nami can remember all too well the suffocation of carrying so many people’s lives, the orange groves of Cocoyashi Village drifting into her mind unbidden. Can’t even begin to compare her own past to what Vivi must be experiencing, doesn’t want to. Only knows that Vivi isn’t on her own, that she has her nakama there with her, even if Vivi needs reminding of that on occasion.

She steps up behind her, and Vivi jolts slightly, spins around. Surprised to see her, despite the fact that Nami’s been watching her for far too long, and Nami knows it’s because Vivi had been far too caught up in her fears for the future. She feels a flash of anger course through her, and her hands are rougher than she means them to be when she brings them to Vivi’s face, tangles them in her hair. Pulls her forward, no room for complaint, but her lips are endlessly soft and gentle, soothing and seeking. A question and a kiss, held in time, and Nami pulls away and Vivi looks more like herself, but her eyes are glazed and her lips are parted and ready.

More kisses, each stretching longer than the last, and Nami tries to take it all from Vivi, all the pain and confusion and hatred that claws at her perfect soul, tries to steal it, keep it for herself, because nothing should ever be able to taint Vivi. Pressure, lips growing more forceful, tongue twisting inside, coaxing. Licks at Vivi, receives the responding caress with a content sigh, and one hand slides down to cup Vivi’s jaw, tilting it gently. Sweeter angle, hint of friction, and she feels the tension melt out of Vivi with one long and earnest moan.

Pulls away again, but not far, never far. Kisses at Vivi’s cheek, her ear, her hair, pulling her close, arms wrapping around her waist. Chests pressed together, hips, thighs, heads on each other’s shoulders, and Nami can’t tell which of them is holding the other up.

“Stop it,” Nami whispers, and Vivi doesn’t answer, only sighs and clutches at Nami’s shirt, but Nami knows she understands. Knows that Vivi understands that Nami hates every moment of silence and regret Vivi tries to hide from her, forced quiet in their loud, energetic world. She holds Vivi, and she holds the moment, keeps it in her heart, cherishes the memory, and every one before it. Because, despite what some people may think about her, Nami knows not all treasure glows gold.

[identity profile] kitsuneasika.livejournal.com 2007-04-06 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Beautiful.

[identity profile] salmon-pink.livejournal.com 2007-04-06 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. ♥

[identity profile] mika0021.livejournal.com 2007-04-06 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
so lovely, as always. <3

[identity profile] salmon-pink.livejournal.com 2007-04-07 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
Snug fest! XD

[identity profile] mendaa.livejournal.com 2007-04-06 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I want to let you know that 4kids or Fox or Funimation or whoever butchered One Piece in the dub turned me off of the show so much that I haven't given it a second thought, but your pieces that I've read really make me want to give it a shot.

[identity profile] salmon-pink.livejournal.com 2007-04-06 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, thank you so much. *blush* The show is fantastic, it's really worth the effort, if you ever have the time to check out the subs on YouTube or PeekVid. I tend to watch the Kaizoku Fansubs (http://kaizoku-fansubs.com/), since they're made of awesome.

[identity profile] kislio.livejournal.com 2007-04-07 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
Holy crap. That was amazing. So sweet with just a little hotness getting in there. ♥

[identity profile] salmon-pink.livejournal.com 2007-04-07 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed. Sweet and hot pretty much describes Nami/Vivi perfectly. ♥

[identity profile] neontehsheep.livejournal.com 2007-04-07 09:39 am (UTC)(link)
I... I... uh.

This is so beautiful and stunning and perfect, I might need a while to get my vocabulary back.

[identity profile] salmon-pink.livejournal.com 2007-04-07 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much. ♥♥♥ Mind if I hug you and your icon extremely tightly? ;D

[identity profile] salmon-pink.livejournal.com 2007-04-07 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! *hugs like a hug monster*

!

[identity profile] hinas-otaku.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"Because, despite what some people may think about her, Nami knows not all treasure glows gold." I love this line. Poor old Nami gets a really bad press sometimes, what with her love of money and all things shiny. It's so nice when people realise what a warm heart she really has!

Re: !

[identity profile] salmon-pink.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, definitely, the things she's done for other people, the sacrifices she's made for others, she's just amazing, so I get a bit narked when I see people diss her. *waves 'Nami Rulez' banner proudly*

Re: (I don't remember typing "!" as the subject...0_o)

[identity profile] hinas-otaku.livejournal.com 2007-04-09 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes Nami rulez, no doubt about it! <3 of course, Vivi got there first =p