Finished!
Title: I Have Seen The Spider
Theme: #11 spider web
Claim: Shanks
(Words:) 1096
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Disclaimer(s): Nope, the manga is not mine
“My captain will get you for this!” Shanks yelled at his captors. He was duly ignored, much to his ire. Moodily, his fingers continued to pick at the ropes that bound his hands, but he was having no luck there, even after an hour.
Footsteps neared, and the man Shanks recognized at the enemy captain came to a stop in front of him, looking down at him disdainfully. The boy glared back.
“C-captain, are you sure this is a good idea?” a member of the crew asked shakily. “Haven’t rumors said that the Roger Pirates are a powerful lot?”
Squard scoffed. “That crew has what, ten members? And one is a child, who knows what kind of lousy people they have. I don’t care if their captain has been called a super rookie or some shit like that, they can’t match up to the power of the Maelstrom Spiders.”
The entire crew looked much more encouraged at their captain’s words.
Shanks, however, was angry. “Don’t underestimate my crew! I bet Captain could squash all of you without even breaking a sweat.”
“Now listen here, brat,” a man pulled him up painfully by his hair, “Don’t you go insulting us. You never know when someone may decide that you’re too much of a nuisance after all and off you just like that.” He roughly threw the boy back onto the floor, adding a sharp kick for good measure. Shanks gasped, curling into a fetal position at the sudden pain.
The rest of the crew guffawed as they left the room, confidence regained after their captain’s speech, unaffected by the boy’s threatens.
“I am here, Squard! Return my boy!”
“I don’t think you are in any position to make demands, Roger! Why don’t you ask in a nicer way, and maybe we will consider giving you back your brat. Come, let us hear you beg!”
“Don’t talk to my captain like that, you ba-”
Wincing as the punch hit his bruise already bruised stomach, Shanks could only let an unidentified member of the enemy crew drag him roughly to the deck. The moment he reached the open space he heard enraged yells from his crew. Relief coursed through him. They really were here. His eyes, though one was almost swollen shut, greedily took in the sight of the Oro Jackson and its crew. And that man who stood proud and strong as always at its bow.
“…Please. Return him to me.”
The Maelstorm Spider Pirates burst out laughing. “That’s more like it! Looks like he knows his place! But it’s not enough, is it?” Squard looked cockily over his shoulder at his crew, who hooted.
“Get to your knees, cur!” someone yelled out.
“Why you-!” Gaban yelled, but a raised hand from Roger silenced him. He stepped back, but very unhappily.
Shanks could only watch helplessly as his captain dropped to his knees. On the Oro Jackson, the crew looked positively murderous, but could not act without Roger’s orders.
Squard snorted at Roger’s decision, no doubt seeing it as a lack of backbone. He threw back his head and laughed. “Well, since you asked so nicely…” he gestured at the man holding Shanks. “Let the brat go.”
The enemy crew member untied him and kicked him roughly towards the Oro Jackson. He stumbled forward clumsily, his legs numb from being tied up. He winced as he put pressure on his sprained ankle, tumbling down onto the deck halfway. The enemy jeered at his plight. Shanks bit his lip as he struggled to get back up, ignoring the pain. He pushed himself halfway up with his arms, but his wrists, raw from rope burns, groaned at the pressure.
In his line of sight, a pair of booted feet appeared. Familiar ones, the boots being a pair that he had picked out as a present with Master Rayleigh’s help. His gaze traveled upwards, and sure enough there was that dearly missed face.
“Captain!” the relief in his voice was apparent. He smiled, rather painfully with the bruise blossoming on his right cheek, at the man he saw (rightfully) as the strongest in the world. In his young mind, he registered that his captain was here, and by that merit everything would be alright.
He didn’t realize that his captain in turn saw the boy he had come to see as his own son, battered, bruised and bloody, lying in pain on the wooden deck when he should be up and smiling.
Strong yet gentle hands lifted the boy effortlessly off the floor into a comforting embrace. Eyes half hidden in the shadow of a straw hat sent a warning to the enemy pirates not to advance before he turned to head back to his ship. The Maelstrom Spiders flinched involuntarily, hands going to weapons at the threat, but none attacked.
Shanks looked up at his captain’s face and a shiver ran through his spine. “C-Captain?”
Roger wordlessly handed Shanks into Rayleigh’s care, and then turned back to his opponents, his sword unsheathed from its scabbard with a menacing scrapping sound. By the horrified expressions of the other crew, Shanks knew that his captain must be still wearing the monstrous, terrifying glare he had glimpsed just now. With wide eyes, the boy stared at his captain’s back which was moving away with slow, predatory steps.
Rayleigh let out a small gasp that made Shanks’ attention snap to the first mate. The older man’s expression was almost panicked.
“Dammit, he’s snapped! Roger!!!” Rayleigh yelled, but it was too late. With Shanks in his arms, he could not go forward to stop his friend. He knew that Roger had deliberately made it so.
Their small crew stood aboard the deck of their ship, frozen and unable to act. They knew that their captain had gone to a place that it was not wise to follow. Their eyes were all drawn to the bloody scene, as one always is when witnesses something grotesque.
Crocus took Shanks gently from Rayleigh then, saying that he needed to look over the boy’s wounds in the infirmary. They left the deck with quick strides, the wooden wall of the cabins blocking out the sight and sound above. But the sound of men screaming still rang in Shanks’ ears. The doctor didn’t say anything, and Shanks didn’t ask. Both knew very well what was going on above.
The foolish crew had thought that they had caught Roger in their spider’s web. But they hadn’t realized one thing.
The doom that had been woven was not his, but their own.
Title: Forever and Ever
Theme: #29 proposal
Claim: Shanks
(Words:) 2201
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Disclaimer(s): One Piece is not mine
“Please, marry me!”
Silence. Stunned stares from all around. A cricket chirps.
“What the hell!?”
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“Once upon a time, there was a brave pirate who sailed the seas along with his strong crew. They travelled far and wide, encountering adventures in the most unlike places. But one day, the crew arrived at an island, where a lady fell hopelessly in love with that dashing pirate and immediately proposed to him! Now it turned out that the lady holds considerable influence in the island, and thus the locals are extremely reluctant to let the pirate leave, not wanting their beloved lady to be sad. The situation soon escalated into a battle of wits between the lady and her reluctant intended husband. Now who will win, you may be wondering? No one knows yet! Place bets here on who you think will triumph in the end! My dear round friend over here will be collecting your-”
“You’re not helping matters, Yasopp!” the subject of the story ground out as he passed the storyteller and his crowd of enraptured listeners.
The sniper just laughed, not in the least intimidated by his old friend’s irritated tone. He winked at his audience, who were mostly made up of the crew and the odd townsfolk. As promised, Lucky Roo went around collecting the bets.
The aggravated man muttered something and chose to ignore them, heading up the stairs of the inn to the rooms. Reaching the first one, he knocked and entered. The single occupant of the room pointedly ignored his entrance.
“I told you, captain, I have no idea who that woman is.”
At this, Shanks turned to glare at him balefully. Still, no reply was given, a sure sign of the captain’s annoyance.
“You’re being childish, Shanks. And you know it.”
The captain pouted a little before sighing. “Fine, I believe you. But that still doesn’t solve the problem. I’m not leaving my first mate behind.”
Benn ran a hand through his dark hair (which he was aware was greying rapidly, thank you very much) in frustration. “It’s a real muddle, isn’t it?”
Shanks rolled his eyes. “That’s putting it lightly. And for the record, I’m completely innocent this time.”
“Rare as it is, I’ll have to give you that,” a new voice piped out from the door as Yasopp poked his head into the room. “So, any solutions yet? If it helps, all of the crew placed bets on you.”
Benn was about to say no to both cases, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shanks’ face light up in sudden inspiration.
“As a matter of fact, I think I have just the thing. Yasopp, come in, we’re gonna need your help in this.”
------------------------------------------------
“I really, really hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Come on, trust me. You do, don’t you?”
“I would trust you with my life, but not my dignity,” was the dry reply.
“…I’m not sure whether I should be flattered or insulted. Anyway, Yasopp is already putting the first part of the plan into motion, so we can’t stop it even if we wanted to.”
From the top of the staircase where the two were hiding in a less than elegant manner, they could faintly hear their sniper weaving another elaborate tale that was astonishingly believable. The master was at work, indeed.
Yet as he listened, Benn felt like banging his head against the wall. Or better yet, strangling his captain for cooking up this idea. “Why did I even agree to this?”
“Because you love me,” was the cheeky reply.
The homicidal feeling doubled. He had used that phrasing on purpose, Benn knew. A glare. “You’re awfully cheerful about this.”
Shanks winked. “Anything for you, Benn.”
“Stop it. Just… stop.”
“But we haven’t even started yet!” Shanks complained, but his dancing eyes belied the unhappy tone.
“…Then… at least save it for later.”
A feminine voice cried out angrily. “You’re a liar!”
Shanks’ grin widened. “That’s our cue! Let’s get this show on the road. Get out there, Benn, I’ll join you soon enough.”
Benn grumbled something unsavory under his breath but allowed the captain to push him towards the staircase. Schooling his expression to a more neutral one, he walked down the staircase, trying not to look like a man about to meet his doom.
The moment he stepped into the taproom, he was assaulted by an enemy that he was helpless against. “Bennie! Tell me that it isn’t true!” Snickers were heard all around as ‘Bennie’ fidgeted uncomfortably with the woman hanging off his arm.
Benn sighed and sat down at the bar without replying. The woman immediately sat beside him, pulling the barstool closer. A short way down the bar, Yasopp bit his lip to keep from laughing and gave Benn a thumbs-up as encouragement.
“One black coffee, Innkeeper,” Benn called, ignoring the persistent woman for the moment. But he knew it was only a moment of time before he had to deal with her, especially since she was sticking to him like a leech. He sighed. Might as well have it over and done with. “What is it, Gloria?”
“This man,” a finger was pointed at disdainfully at Yasopp’s nose, “was spreading unsavory rumors about you, dear. (Benn winced a little at the endearment, but she didn’t seem to notice) But I don’t believe anything that he said, of course.”
“What type of rumors?” he asked, though he already knew the gist of it. Shanks had given Yasopp the basic structure and allowed the man free reign of his story-telling. Benn hoped that the sniper hadn’t been too outlandish with his elaborations. But then, this was Yasopp they were talking about. Benn decided that he didn’t want to know what the blond had said. He wished that Shanks would hurry up and execute his (self-proclaimed) great plan.
As if summoned, the red head appeared. Shanks always did have impeccable timing.
“Benn…” Shanks murmured sleepily as he stumbled into the taproom and promptly draped his arms over Benn’s shoulders, hanging there like a limp ragdoll.
Gloria bristled at the sight of the captain, but kept silent. When Shanks didn’t seem inclined to let go of her man, her expression grew more murderous by the second. Her heated glares would have cowed a lesser man, but Shanks was… well, he was the master of obliviousness and being thick-skinned. Thus, as it was, Shanks just smirked inwardly as he let out a yawn.
“Just woke up?” Benn’s face was a picture of fond exasperation.
Shanks nodded in answer to the first mate’s question, yawning again. Dazedly, he buried his face in the crook of Benn’s neck. Benn jumped a little as Shanks’ hair tickled his skin.
Gloria’s glare multiplied tenfold.
Behind her, Yasopp had his lips pressed tightly together, his face going slightly red and his shoulders shaking. To his credit, he didn’t make a sound.
Hidden by a curtain of hair, Shanks smirked, satisfied with his success in riling up the woman who dared to even think of stealing his first mate from him. Lifting his head, he propped his chin on Benn’s shoulder. Casually, an arm reached over to the bar to grab Benn’s cup of coffee. Taking a sip, he made a face. “I’ve never understood why you drink your coffee black.”
“It’s healthier than the sugary monstrosity that you drink.”
“Mine tastes better,” was the childish reply.
Benn just smiled. “Innkeeper, bring us another cup of coffee, will you? With milk and sugar. And whatever you have for breakfast today.”
Shanks finally let go of Benn, slumping into the empty seat beside the first mate. He pouted. “I want rum.”
Benn rolled his eyes. “You’re not drinking alcohol this early, Shanks.”
“Drunkard,” Gloria muttered venomously. The sound of her voice made Shanks ‘realize’ that she was at the bar. He tilted his head to get a view of her, his face full of innocent surprise.
“Huh? Oh, you were there. What was your name again? Gory?”
Yasopp’s face was turning purple.
Gloria’s face matched his, though obviously for a different reason. “It’s Gloria,” she ground out between gritted teeth, glaring venomously at the captain.
“Oh, yeah! That was it.” Shanks had mastered the air of supreme nonchalance, it would seem. (Modern language would call him the ultimate troll.)
Breakfast arrived, and Shanks bit into a piece of buttered toast. He tore off a bite-sized piece. “Have some, Benn, it’s good. Say Ah~”
Benn shot Shanks a long-suffering look that told volumes about his thoughts of this whole charade. Shanks pouted and a silent conversation seemed to occur between captain and first mate that ended with Shanks successfully popping the piece of toast into the older man’s mouth.
Gloria fumed, unhappy at being ignored. She leaned forward to attract Benn’s attention again, but the dark-haired man didn’t even spare her a glance.
“You have food on your face.” Benn reached out a hand to wipe away a crumb from the red head’s cheek. “For goodness sake, what am I going to do with you?”
“Oh come on, Benn, you know you love me,” Shanks repeated his previous statement with no less audacity. This time, besides just exasperating Benn, it made Gloria gnash her teeth in obvious frustration.
Yasopp made a strangled sound that made all three of them look in his direction. He immediately burst into a fit of coughing. “J-Just swallowed the w-wrong way, don’t mind me.” He waved them off. Gloria returned her attention to Benn, but the captain’s fake concerned expression almost ruined the sniper’s already paper-thin control. Yasopp glared at the red-haired man reproachfully. The corners of Shanks’ mouth twitched as he returned to the show that must go on.
Benn seemed to have matters well in hand, though.
“I’m not staying, Gloria.”
“B-But…”
“Gloria, be mature about this.”
“But…” she whined.
“Gloria.”
The woman spared a hate-filled glare at Shanks. “Why would you want to stay with this… this boorish imbecile!?” she spat.
The moment that left her lips, she knew that she had said the wrong thing.
The temperature of the room seemed to drop several degrees. “I don’t appreciate you insulting my captain, Gloria,” Benn said in a chilling tone that surprised even Shanks. “I have tolerated a lot from you for the past few days. But this went one step too far. I will say it one last time. I will not leave him.”
The woman’s face was pale, shaking slightly at his uncharacteristic coldness. Her face scrunched up. “I… I hate you!” Gloria ran out of the inn in tears.
The rest of the crew, the only ones left in the inn besides the innkeeper, gaped at the door that slammed shut behind her. No one moved - or even dared breathe, really - for a long moment.
Yasopp broke the silence with slow meaningful applause, grinning at Shanks and Benn. “Well, you two… What I can say? Good show.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” The majority of the crew’s attention swiveled to him, still perplexed about what had just happened.
“What’s going on, you ask?” Yasopp laughed. “My dear friends, I’m afraid that I’m going to have to relinquish my position as World’s Greatest Actor to our dear captain and first mate.” He let the information sink in.
The crew erupted with laughter and cheers. “Nicely played, Okashira!”
“You had me fooled for a while there!” someone called out from the crowd with a whistle. Choruses of agreement rose.
“You know, the best part of it that none of the actions looked out of place. It was just like a normal morning aboard the Force,” Yasopp teased. “I hardly had to embellish the tale at all.”
“Are you trying to imply something, Yasopp?”
“Why, not at all, captain,” the sniper feigned innocence.
Shanks rolled his eyes before turning to the rest of the crew. His face broke into a grin. “Well, what are you still waiting for? We’re getting out of here!”
---------------------------------------
“Hey, Benn…”
“What is it, Shanks?” the dark-haired man asked as his captain came to lean against the railing with him. The redhead looked pensive as he gazed out at the rapidly shrinking outline of the island they had just left.
“You’ll never leave me, right? We’ll always be together?”
Benn grinned and playfully tousled the other man’s hair as if he were still the teen that he had been when they first met. Shanks pouted at the treatment. Benn’s eyes were warm. “I’ll never leave you, idiot. After all,” Benn couldn’t help but tease a bit, “what would you do without me?”
Shanks smiled at the reassurance and started to retort in kind but was cut off by a commotion in the middle of the deck.
“The boss proposed and Benn accepted!” a voice that was unmistakably Yasopp’s yelled.
“Oi, Yasopp!” Shanks squawked out indignantly as the men hooted.
Leaning against the railing, Benn just laughed. It didn’t matter what others said, or what obstacles came their way. All the mattered was that he was standing beside his captain, as he always had been since their fateful meeting almost ten years ago. He was standing there… As he always would be.
Theme: #11 spider web
Claim: Shanks
(Words:) 1096
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Disclaimer(s): Nope, the manga is not mine
“My captain will get you for this!” Shanks yelled at his captors. He was duly ignored, much to his ire. Moodily, his fingers continued to pick at the ropes that bound his hands, but he was having no luck there, even after an hour.
Footsteps neared, and the man Shanks recognized at the enemy captain came to a stop in front of him, looking down at him disdainfully. The boy glared back.
“C-captain, are you sure this is a good idea?” a member of the crew asked shakily. “Haven’t rumors said that the Roger Pirates are a powerful lot?”
Squard scoffed. “That crew has what, ten members? And one is a child, who knows what kind of lousy people they have. I don’t care if their captain has been called a super rookie or some shit like that, they can’t match up to the power of the Maelstrom Spiders.”
The entire crew looked much more encouraged at their captain’s words.
Shanks, however, was angry. “Don’t underestimate my crew! I bet Captain could squash all of you without even breaking a sweat.”
“Now listen here, brat,” a man pulled him up painfully by his hair, “Don’t you go insulting us. You never know when someone may decide that you’re too much of a nuisance after all and off you just like that.” He roughly threw the boy back onto the floor, adding a sharp kick for good measure. Shanks gasped, curling into a fetal position at the sudden pain.
The rest of the crew guffawed as they left the room, confidence regained after their captain’s speech, unaffected by the boy’s threatens.
“I am here, Squard! Return my boy!”
“I don’t think you are in any position to make demands, Roger! Why don’t you ask in a nicer way, and maybe we will consider giving you back your brat. Come, let us hear you beg!”
“Don’t talk to my captain like that, you ba-”
Wincing as the punch hit his bruise already bruised stomach, Shanks could only let an unidentified member of the enemy crew drag him roughly to the deck. The moment he reached the open space he heard enraged yells from his crew. Relief coursed through him. They really were here. His eyes, though one was almost swollen shut, greedily took in the sight of the Oro Jackson and its crew. And that man who stood proud and strong as always at its bow.
“…Please. Return him to me.”
The Maelstorm Spider Pirates burst out laughing. “That’s more like it! Looks like he knows his place! But it’s not enough, is it?” Squard looked cockily over his shoulder at his crew, who hooted.
“Get to your knees, cur!” someone yelled out.
“Why you-!” Gaban yelled, but a raised hand from Roger silenced him. He stepped back, but very unhappily.
Shanks could only watch helplessly as his captain dropped to his knees. On the Oro Jackson, the crew looked positively murderous, but could not act without Roger’s orders.
Squard snorted at Roger’s decision, no doubt seeing it as a lack of backbone. He threw back his head and laughed. “Well, since you asked so nicely…” he gestured at the man holding Shanks. “Let the brat go.”
The enemy crew member untied him and kicked him roughly towards the Oro Jackson. He stumbled forward clumsily, his legs numb from being tied up. He winced as he put pressure on his sprained ankle, tumbling down onto the deck halfway. The enemy jeered at his plight. Shanks bit his lip as he struggled to get back up, ignoring the pain. He pushed himself halfway up with his arms, but his wrists, raw from rope burns, groaned at the pressure.
In his line of sight, a pair of booted feet appeared. Familiar ones, the boots being a pair that he had picked out as a present with Master Rayleigh’s help. His gaze traveled upwards, and sure enough there was that dearly missed face.
“Captain!” the relief in his voice was apparent. He smiled, rather painfully with the bruise blossoming on his right cheek, at the man he saw (rightfully) as the strongest in the world. In his young mind, he registered that his captain was here, and by that merit everything would be alright.
He didn’t realize that his captain in turn saw the boy he had come to see as his own son, battered, bruised and bloody, lying in pain on the wooden deck when he should be up and smiling.
Strong yet gentle hands lifted the boy effortlessly off the floor into a comforting embrace. Eyes half hidden in the shadow of a straw hat sent a warning to the enemy pirates not to advance before he turned to head back to his ship. The Maelstrom Spiders flinched involuntarily, hands going to weapons at the threat, but none attacked.
Shanks looked up at his captain’s face and a shiver ran through his spine. “C-Captain?”
Roger wordlessly handed Shanks into Rayleigh’s care, and then turned back to his opponents, his sword unsheathed from its scabbard with a menacing scrapping sound. By the horrified expressions of the other crew, Shanks knew that his captain must be still wearing the monstrous, terrifying glare he had glimpsed just now. With wide eyes, the boy stared at his captain’s back which was moving away with slow, predatory steps.
Rayleigh let out a small gasp that made Shanks’ attention snap to the first mate. The older man’s expression was almost panicked.
“Dammit, he’s snapped! Roger!!!” Rayleigh yelled, but it was too late. With Shanks in his arms, he could not go forward to stop his friend. He knew that Roger had deliberately made it so.
Their small crew stood aboard the deck of their ship, frozen and unable to act. They knew that their captain had gone to a place that it was not wise to follow. Their eyes were all drawn to the bloody scene, as one always is when witnesses something grotesque.
Crocus took Shanks gently from Rayleigh then, saying that he needed to look over the boy’s wounds in the infirmary. They left the deck with quick strides, the wooden wall of the cabins blocking out the sight and sound above. But the sound of men screaming still rang in Shanks’ ears. The doctor didn’t say anything, and Shanks didn’t ask. Both knew very well what was going on above.
The foolish crew had thought that they had caught Roger in their spider’s web. But they hadn’t realized one thing.
The doom that had been woven was not his, but their own.
Title: Forever and Ever
Theme: #29 proposal
Claim: Shanks
(Words:) 2201
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Disclaimer(s): One Piece is not mine
“Please, marry me!”
Silence. Stunned stares from all around. A cricket chirps.
“What the hell!?”
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“Once upon a time, there was a brave pirate who sailed the seas along with his strong crew. They travelled far and wide, encountering adventures in the most unlike places. But one day, the crew arrived at an island, where a lady fell hopelessly in love with that dashing pirate and immediately proposed to him! Now it turned out that the lady holds considerable influence in the island, and thus the locals are extremely reluctant to let the pirate leave, not wanting their beloved lady to be sad. The situation soon escalated into a battle of wits between the lady and her reluctant intended husband. Now who will win, you may be wondering? No one knows yet! Place bets here on who you think will triumph in the end! My dear round friend over here will be collecting your-”
“You’re not helping matters, Yasopp!” the subject of the story ground out as he passed the storyteller and his crowd of enraptured listeners.
The sniper just laughed, not in the least intimidated by his old friend’s irritated tone. He winked at his audience, who were mostly made up of the crew and the odd townsfolk. As promised, Lucky Roo went around collecting the bets.
The aggravated man muttered something and chose to ignore them, heading up the stairs of the inn to the rooms. Reaching the first one, he knocked and entered. The single occupant of the room pointedly ignored his entrance.
“I told you, captain, I have no idea who that woman is.”
At this, Shanks turned to glare at him balefully. Still, no reply was given, a sure sign of the captain’s annoyance.
“You’re being childish, Shanks. And you know it.”
The captain pouted a little before sighing. “Fine, I believe you. But that still doesn’t solve the problem. I’m not leaving my first mate behind.”
Benn ran a hand through his dark hair (which he was aware was greying rapidly, thank you very much) in frustration. “It’s a real muddle, isn’t it?”
Shanks rolled his eyes. “That’s putting it lightly. And for the record, I’m completely innocent this time.”
“Rare as it is, I’ll have to give you that,” a new voice piped out from the door as Yasopp poked his head into the room. “So, any solutions yet? If it helps, all of the crew placed bets on you.”
Benn was about to say no to both cases, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shanks’ face light up in sudden inspiration.
“As a matter of fact, I think I have just the thing. Yasopp, come in, we’re gonna need your help in this.”
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“I really, really hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Come on, trust me. You do, don’t you?”
“I would trust you with my life, but not my dignity,” was the dry reply.
“…I’m not sure whether I should be flattered or insulted. Anyway, Yasopp is already putting the first part of the plan into motion, so we can’t stop it even if we wanted to.”
From the top of the staircase where the two were hiding in a less than elegant manner, they could faintly hear their sniper weaving another elaborate tale that was astonishingly believable. The master was at work, indeed.
Yet as he listened, Benn felt like banging his head against the wall. Or better yet, strangling his captain for cooking up this idea. “Why did I even agree to this?”
“Because you love me,” was the cheeky reply.
The homicidal feeling doubled. He had used that phrasing on purpose, Benn knew. A glare. “You’re awfully cheerful about this.”
Shanks winked. “Anything for you, Benn.”
“Stop it. Just… stop.”
“But we haven’t even started yet!” Shanks complained, but his dancing eyes belied the unhappy tone.
“…Then… at least save it for later.”
A feminine voice cried out angrily. “You’re a liar!”
Shanks’ grin widened. “That’s our cue! Let’s get this show on the road. Get out there, Benn, I’ll join you soon enough.”
Benn grumbled something unsavory under his breath but allowed the captain to push him towards the staircase. Schooling his expression to a more neutral one, he walked down the staircase, trying not to look like a man about to meet his doom.
The moment he stepped into the taproom, he was assaulted by an enemy that he was helpless against. “Bennie! Tell me that it isn’t true!” Snickers were heard all around as ‘Bennie’ fidgeted uncomfortably with the woman hanging off his arm.
Benn sighed and sat down at the bar without replying. The woman immediately sat beside him, pulling the barstool closer. A short way down the bar, Yasopp bit his lip to keep from laughing and gave Benn a thumbs-up as encouragement.
“One black coffee, Innkeeper,” Benn called, ignoring the persistent woman for the moment. But he knew it was only a moment of time before he had to deal with her, especially since she was sticking to him like a leech. He sighed. Might as well have it over and done with. “What is it, Gloria?”
“This man,” a finger was pointed at disdainfully at Yasopp’s nose, “was spreading unsavory rumors about you, dear. (Benn winced a little at the endearment, but she didn’t seem to notice) But I don’t believe anything that he said, of course.”
“What type of rumors?” he asked, though he already knew the gist of it. Shanks had given Yasopp the basic structure and allowed the man free reign of his story-telling. Benn hoped that the sniper hadn’t been too outlandish with his elaborations. But then, this was Yasopp they were talking about. Benn decided that he didn’t want to know what the blond had said. He wished that Shanks would hurry up and execute his (self-proclaimed) great plan.
As if summoned, the red head appeared. Shanks always did have impeccable timing.
“Benn…” Shanks murmured sleepily as he stumbled into the taproom and promptly draped his arms over Benn’s shoulders, hanging there like a limp ragdoll.
Gloria bristled at the sight of the captain, but kept silent. When Shanks didn’t seem inclined to let go of her man, her expression grew more murderous by the second. Her heated glares would have cowed a lesser man, but Shanks was… well, he was the master of obliviousness and being thick-skinned. Thus, as it was, Shanks just smirked inwardly as he let out a yawn.
“Just woke up?” Benn’s face was a picture of fond exasperation.
Shanks nodded in answer to the first mate’s question, yawning again. Dazedly, he buried his face in the crook of Benn’s neck. Benn jumped a little as Shanks’ hair tickled his skin.
Gloria’s glare multiplied tenfold.
Behind her, Yasopp had his lips pressed tightly together, his face going slightly red and his shoulders shaking. To his credit, he didn’t make a sound.
Hidden by a curtain of hair, Shanks smirked, satisfied with his success in riling up the woman who dared to even think of stealing his first mate from him. Lifting his head, he propped his chin on Benn’s shoulder. Casually, an arm reached over to the bar to grab Benn’s cup of coffee. Taking a sip, he made a face. “I’ve never understood why you drink your coffee black.”
“It’s healthier than the sugary monstrosity that you drink.”
“Mine tastes better,” was the childish reply.
Benn just smiled. “Innkeeper, bring us another cup of coffee, will you? With milk and sugar. And whatever you have for breakfast today.”
Shanks finally let go of Benn, slumping into the empty seat beside the first mate. He pouted. “I want rum.”
Benn rolled his eyes. “You’re not drinking alcohol this early, Shanks.”
“Drunkard,” Gloria muttered venomously. The sound of her voice made Shanks ‘realize’ that she was at the bar. He tilted his head to get a view of her, his face full of innocent surprise.
“Huh? Oh, you were there. What was your name again? Gory?”
Yasopp’s face was turning purple.
Gloria’s face matched his, though obviously for a different reason. “It’s Gloria,” she ground out between gritted teeth, glaring venomously at the captain.
“Oh, yeah! That was it.” Shanks had mastered the air of supreme nonchalance, it would seem. (Modern language would call him the ultimate troll.)
Breakfast arrived, and Shanks bit into a piece of buttered toast. He tore off a bite-sized piece. “Have some, Benn, it’s good. Say Ah~”
Benn shot Shanks a long-suffering look that told volumes about his thoughts of this whole charade. Shanks pouted and a silent conversation seemed to occur between captain and first mate that ended with Shanks successfully popping the piece of toast into the older man’s mouth.
Gloria fumed, unhappy at being ignored. She leaned forward to attract Benn’s attention again, but the dark-haired man didn’t even spare her a glance.
“You have food on your face.” Benn reached out a hand to wipe away a crumb from the red head’s cheek. “For goodness sake, what am I going to do with you?”
“Oh come on, Benn, you know you love me,” Shanks repeated his previous statement with no less audacity. This time, besides just exasperating Benn, it made Gloria gnash her teeth in obvious frustration.
Yasopp made a strangled sound that made all three of them look in his direction. He immediately burst into a fit of coughing. “J-Just swallowed the w-wrong way, don’t mind me.” He waved them off. Gloria returned her attention to Benn, but the captain’s fake concerned expression almost ruined the sniper’s already paper-thin control. Yasopp glared at the red-haired man reproachfully. The corners of Shanks’ mouth twitched as he returned to the show that must go on.
Benn seemed to have matters well in hand, though.
“I’m not staying, Gloria.”
“B-But…”
“Gloria, be mature about this.”
“But…” she whined.
“Gloria.”
The woman spared a hate-filled glare at Shanks. “Why would you want to stay with this… this boorish imbecile!?” she spat.
The moment that left her lips, she knew that she had said the wrong thing.
The temperature of the room seemed to drop several degrees. “I don’t appreciate you insulting my captain, Gloria,” Benn said in a chilling tone that surprised even Shanks. “I have tolerated a lot from you for the past few days. But this went one step too far. I will say it one last time. I will not leave him.”
The woman’s face was pale, shaking slightly at his uncharacteristic coldness. Her face scrunched up. “I… I hate you!” Gloria ran out of the inn in tears.
The rest of the crew, the only ones left in the inn besides the innkeeper, gaped at the door that slammed shut behind her. No one moved - or even dared breathe, really - for a long moment.
Yasopp broke the silence with slow meaningful applause, grinning at Shanks and Benn. “Well, you two… What I can say? Good show.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” The majority of the crew’s attention swiveled to him, still perplexed about what had just happened.
“What’s going on, you ask?” Yasopp laughed. “My dear friends, I’m afraid that I’m going to have to relinquish my position as World’s Greatest Actor to our dear captain and first mate.” He let the information sink in.
The crew erupted with laughter and cheers. “Nicely played, Okashira!”
“You had me fooled for a while there!” someone called out from the crowd with a whistle. Choruses of agreement rose.
“You know, the best part of it that none of the actions looked out of place. It was just like a normal morning aboard the Force,” Yasopp teased. “I hardly had to embellish the tale at all.”
“Are you trying to imply something, Yasopp?”
“Why, not at all, captain,” the sniper feigned innocence.
Shanks rolled his eyes before turning to the rest of the crew. His face broke into a grin. “Well, what are you still waiting for? We’re getting out of here!”
---------------------------------------
“Hey, Benn…”
“What is it, Shanks?” the dark-haired man asked as his captain came to lean against the railing with him. The redhead looked pensive as he gazed out at the rapidly shrinking outline of the island they had just left.
“You’ll never leave me, right? We’ll always be together?”
Benn grinned and playfully tousled the other man’s hair as if he were still the teen that he had been when they first met. Shanks pouted at the treatment. Benn’s eyes were warm. “I’ll never leave you, idiot. After all,” Benn couldn’t help but tease a bit, “what would you do without me?”
Shanks smiled at the reassurance and started to retort in kind but was cut off by a commotion in the middle of the deck.
“The boss proposed and Benn accepted!” a voice that was unmistakably Yasopp’s yelled.
“Oi, Yasopp!” Shanks squawked out indignantly as the men hooted.
Leaning against the railing, Benn just laughed. It didn’t matter what others said, or what obstacles came their way. All the mattered was that he was standing beside his captain, as he always had been since their fateful meeting almost ten years ago. He was standing there… As he always would be.