Vivi hadn't expected Luffy to give her a clear answer right away.
She knew his goal was to become Pirate King. Most of his focus was on getting stronger and on adventure.
But feelings like this—they had to be expressed.
And tonight was the perfect chance. With them alone under the stars. With the uncertainty her bounty poster had brought, and the way he had calmed her.
Besides, there was Nami on the ship. And Robin. Even Merry.
Vivi didn't need to be first. But she didn't want to be last either.
Suddenly, Luffy moved.
He pulled her up from the ground, so fast she gasped.
Then he wrapped an arm around her waist and moved them both behind a massive ancient tree trunk, so wide it would take several people to wrap their arms around it.
Her back and head met his hand—he had cushioned the impact.
His body pressed close, covering her completely. The thick trunk blocked any view from the clearing.
Vivi's heart nearly stopped. Her face went scarlet.
She had been the one wanting to do something. But now, cornered like this, her mind went blank. She could only stare at Luffy, so close.
Luffy saw the panic in her eyes—and something else, something expectant. He pressed a finger to her lips, lowering his voice:
"Shh. Someone's coming."
Vivi went still. Tenser. She stopped breathing.
Her Fūfū no Mi perception spread out. She caught two familiar presences approaching.
Robin and Nami!
Why were they here?!
Vivi's panic mirrored Luffy's. She clung to him, burying her hot face in the hollow of his neck, not daring to move.
From beyond the trees, Nami's nervous voice drifted over:
"Robin, are you sure this is the right place? It's so dark."
She clutched Robin's arm.
"Merry said it was around here. We shouldn't be lost."
Robin's gaze seemed to sweep over the area.
They had come back to the Going Merry looking for Vivi. According to Merry, they had taken a wrong turn.
Luffy gritted his teeth inwardly.
When he got back, Merry was getting a spanking!
She had done this on purpose—led Robin and Nami right to them!
But he couldn't move. Couldn't even spare attention for the penalty warnings flashing in his head.
If Robin and Nami found him and Vivi like this—hiding together, this close—he could already picture Nami's sweet smile, her too-sweet voice asking:
"What are you two doing, hiding in a dark place like this, all alone?"
When you were this tense, multitasking was impossible.
The warnings sounded in vain. The penalties hit.
Vivi, pressed tight against him, felt it immediately—the change in his body from the penalty and the stress.
"Mm!"
Her eyes went wide. Her body locked up.
A small, startled sound escaped her.
"Robin, did you hear something?"
Nami was even more scared now. Strange noises in the middle of the night, in the dark?
Robin turned toward the big tree. Her eyes lingered for a moment. "Should we go check it out?"
"No, it's probably... an animal."
Behind the tree, Vivi's mind went completely blank.
Her body trembled. She couldn't tell if it was fear, or the shock of being so close.
The footsteps came closer. Her heart hammered.
She clung to Luffy's neck, her voice a desperate, tearful whisper:
"What do we do?"
Luffy didn't answer. He pulled her closer, hoping the shadows would hide them.
He could feel her heartbeat. Her quick breath on his skin.
She was shaking. He held her free hand, trying to steady her.
The warmth of his grip helped a little.
Then Robin and Nami were almost there. Just on the other side of the trunk.
And then—Robin stopped. She laughed softly.
"Forget it, Nami. Probably just an animal. It's too dark here. Let's go back."
"Right, right! Definitely an animal! Let's go!"
Their footsteps faded.
Vivi and Luffy let out their breath at the same time. Their bodies relaxed.
But with the danger gone, Vivi looked at Luffy's relieved expression—and something flared inside her.
Why was he so relieved?
Was she something to hide?
Or was he just worried about Nami and Robin finding out?
Women could be so contradictory. Vivi had forgotten she had been just as scared—had nearly stopped breathing.
But she had a point.
Luffy's body hadn't fully calmed down yet.
Pressed so close—he had felt something too!
Luffy tried to pull back, to put some distance between them, to explain.
The moment he moved, Vivi's arms tightened around his neck. She wouldn't let him go.
"What is it?" Luffy asked.
The danger was gone. Couldn't they separate now?
Vivi didn't answer. Her blue eyes in the darkness were stubborn, hazy.
She lifted her face—and kissed him.
Soft, cool, her scent sweet.
Luffy froze.
Their breath mingled.
The kiss was defiant.
Robin was like this. You're like this too.
Luffy looked at her, remembered Robin on the Golden Bell Tower, remembered her boldness—and something stirred in him too.
Why did they all have to be like this?
So he kissed back—with something like retaliation, like claiming control.
***
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