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Knowing how to ask for things without actually asking was something you considered yourself to be very good at. You've swindled and guilted your way though life convincing people it was actually their idea to give you food or let you hitch a ride on their ship. It's like second nature for you, something that's integral to your being and life.
So when your tactics don't work on Jinbei you don't know what to do.
Now you weren't a touch advers person really you just didn't go out of your way to seek out touch from others. But when you overheard Luffy laughing while hugging Jinbei talking about how much of a good hugger he was. That normally wouldn't have caught your intrest, Luffy said stuff like that all the time but then everyone (save Robin and Nami who were down bellow deck and Zoro who was asleep) agreed with him.
The option to just ask him was there but the little voice in the back of your head telling you it would be weird and embarassing to straight out ask was to loud so, insted you pulled on the talent you've utalized your entire life.
How you went about it was the same as always, get the person alone and start talking about normal things till you are able to discreatly slip what ever you want into the conversation. But that didn't work, Jinbei just gave you a confused look before patting you on the head and walking away.
That was fine though you still had other ways to get one out of him.
Going through every stradgedgy one by one and getting more and more frustrated as they all failed made you consider giving up multiple times. You were even using the tactics that you only used on marines or other pirates and those still didn't work and that confused you to no end.
"You could just ask" Robin said to you as you were moping on the deck after another failed attemped and you looked at her like she had grown another head. Straight out asking was never somthing you did or were good at. Being so used to having to snake your way into getting what you want that the fact you could just ask for something was beond forin to you.
But you were running out of ideas at this point.
Now you were sitting with Jinbei on the deck, it was late and everyone else was eating. Jinbei had eaten erliere then everryone else and you simply weren't hungry at the moment. Sanji will probably be on your ass about it soon though, he wouldn't care if you weren't hungry you would have to eat. He doesn't want anyone going hungry.
You're staring at him hard trying to think of another way to go about this. You really don't understand how none of your tricks are working on him.
"What wrong?" Jinbei asks turning to look at you insted of the ocean.
"Nothing." You mumble pouting while furrowing your eyebrows.
"Really?" he sounds even less convinced then when Luffy tried lieing to him about stealing the chocolate he was saving.
Your face flushes in embressment, you don't think you've been acting weird or off. You were just doing what you allways do when you want to get something.
"Whatever is trubling you, if I can help with it, please let me know" you have to supress a flinch from how siinsr he sounds. You're not used to that from many people.
You dont say anything back right away feeling embarrassed about even considering actually asking like Robin said to but there does seem to be any other options left for you.
"You have to promise not to tell anyone" you demand but it comes out a lot more squeaky then you intend it to.
"If it is something you wish to keep between us then I will" the nonchalant calmness to his voice compared to your flushing embarrassed self is making you even more embarrassed.
"Can I have a hug…" you mumble keeping your eyes trained to the deck.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you"
"Can I have a hug" you barely manage to force the words out louder embarrassment taking over and making you curl in on yourself. This was so weird to you. You can't remember when the last time you've just asked for something like that.
"Oh. That's all?" He says genuine suprise in his voice, he had thought it was something serious not a mundane thing like that. "Why didn't you ask sooner? I thought I did something wrong"
"You would have known if you did something wrong" you say deflecting from his question the best you could, you weren't ready to think about your thought process deeply.
Thankfully he doesn't press you anymore for an answer instead opening his arms welcoming you for a hug which you very quickly respond to not wanting to have your red face visible any longer.
And as soon as Jinbei's arms engulf you, you fully understand what Luffy was talking about. You hadn't gotten many hugs in your life, most being during your time on the crew but this… this was the best hug you have ever gotten. It was warm and his grasp was tight but not to tight that it was uncomfortable, his clothes were soft against your face and hands. You felt like melting into him from how comforting his hold was. Jinbei rubbed small circles on your back making you melt even more.
You don't know how long you stood there in his grasp just enjoying the feeling of being held by him but inevitably you had to pull away and when you did you almost shivered from the sudden rush of cold that hit you.
"Was that good enough for you?" Jinbei asks smiling down at you.
You look away at the sea and the setting sun having the embarrassment start to hit you again "it was fine" you mumble.
It wa more then fine. It made you not regret actually asking for something.