Maelstrom

Chapter 25

Shanks' POV

You were a bit shocked at your actions, but held no regret. You had wanted to lay claim to the troublesome kid since she had walked into Party's Bar, and you weren't gonna take back the kiss you had shared. Warm, slightly chapped pink lips, soft skin, pure white mane of hair, and don't even get started on those eyes of hers. Mischievous and playful golden eyes, wild and beautiful.

"So, where's my shirt? I've been waiting oh chivalrous knight." Ruse holds out her hand, expectantly.

You hold in your laughter at her expression, her face still holding a faint blush. You really were glad you had finally kissed her, but also a bit nervous knowing that when Rayleigh found out about this, he'd likely try to off your other arm. You shiver slightly. Perhaps it was best not to think about that.

After all, very few knew that Argenti had been a hidden code for Silvers. Only a small handful of people were aware of the secret.

That Rayleigh's kid had survived, the 'presumed dead' Argenti had been given that last name for a reason after all. Just like Roger's kid, very few people were aware of her existence, her name seemingly odd but nothing noteworthy, but you knew what it stood for. Argenti was a survivor of one of the greatest eras of all time, and yet she was hidden in plain sight, most unaware of her bloodline, which you were thankful for.

You wondered why Rayleigh hadn't come to collect her yet but brushed the thought aside. Best not to worry about that.

Her time would come, and when it did, she would announce to the world her existence.

You grin, gesturing her to follow you, talking with her about the legendary Cave of Wonders and what she saw there, only a slight bit annoyed that she was able to find the local urban legend instead of you. But maybe it was better she had, you smile softly, watching her talk animatedly about her journey.

"And then I found this really obscure fruit looking thing, so of course I wasn't gonna let precious food go to waste, but man it tasted awful Red. Like some poor kid's parents in an urn, pan-fried in death personified. Gross." She sticks her tongue out dramatically as you realize what she just said.

"Oi kid, you're telling me you found a weird fruit there? Did it have swirls on it and an odd coloring?" You ask, earlier musings entirely forgotten with this new information she had just thrown at you. You were praying she said no and that your active imagination was just acting up, laughing it off.

"How'd ya know Red? Spot on. It was kinda silvery, had a weird texture to it, almost like it was...alive or something." She shivers, frowning in thought, before giving you a grin.

"Ah and no I'm not sharing, I ate the whole damn thing." Oh no. You sweat drop, no way.

"Ruse." You reply, your voice low and unsteady. This woman had eaten a devil fruit. Without even realizing it too. Dammit.

"I saw it first! Meaning dibs, even if it tasted like shit." She argues back at you.

"Ruse." You repeat her name, golden eyes widening at the lack of nickname, and the fact you had just called her by name...twice.

"Shanks?" She questions warily, looking back at you.

"You ate a devil fruit Ruse. Meaning...you can longer swim." You reply, a frown on your face, trying to figure out how to fix this situation, even if only a tiny bit.

Once someone consumed a devil fruit they lost their ability to swim, and gained an ability of mysterious power to said fruit, but it wasn't something to be taken lightly. Being a pirate on these seas was already dangerous enough and now the damned kid had to go and eat an unknown devil fruit on top of it.

She had said the coloring had a silverish tint to it, smelling like jasmine and sandalwood oddly enough, and had the trademark swirl of the fruit, but didn't feel anything happen to her after devouring the damn thing in five minutes.

You only hoped that it wasn't a logia type, damn woman wasn't able to stay in one place as it was already, you cursed inwardly. If she had eaten something that would double those erratic movements of hers, you honestly wouldn't be sure on how to handle that.

Her golden eyes darken, narrowing in a glare, as she curses softly.

"Dammit Red, how the unholy hell was I supposed to have known that it was a devil fruit? I mean, for fuck's sake, it was in the middle of a goddamn cave! That's not exactly the most opportune place for one, and now I'm basically cursed...lovely." She sighed, blowing a stand of long white hair out of her face, scowling.

"A pirate unable to swim? That's really pathetic, hell's horn's of course I had to have eaten something that cursed me. Tch." She growls, her earlier warm and cheerful mood quickly turning sour.

"I know you didn't mean to kid, but dammit, how am I supposed to let you venture off into the world after knowing this?" You frown, snapping your jaw closed, taking a couple deep breaths.

You had to ease down the frustration in your voice so she wouldn't think you were blaming her for the unsavory accident.

She had eaten the fruit without thinking of the consequences, but that was typical Ruse. The damn woman had always been like that, but you were also at fault.

You should've versed her better about the dangers that came with being a pirate and the double-edged sword of the power and the curse of devil fruits. Now you had two of your loved ones having consumed a devil fruit before you were able to stop them.

Maybe you should've taken up Makino on her expertise of kids, although Ruse wasn't all that much younger than you, you should've known with her child-like antics that something like this would've happened sooner or later.

You level her with an even stare, before sighing exasperatedly. The only thing you could do now was to train her a bit more before she ventured off on her own.

"Ok kid, we're gonna scratch our original plan of letting you roam wild-" She glares at you before you continue. "At least until we can know for sure what sort of fruit you ate, and train you on how best to use it. After that you're free to do whatever you want kid. I just need to make sure I can send you off safely, not watch you march to your inevitable death."

Your steely grey irises gazing back at her golden ones.

A tense silence hangs in the air, before she sighs, nodding her head in agreement.

"Ok Red, I trust you. A lot more than anyone else I've met, so I'll take your word for it." You raise an eyebrow at the sincerity of her words, pleasantly surprised at the high regard she held for you, before giving her a lopsided grin.

"Alright kid, now let's get you changed, and figure out what the hell you just ate." You ruffle her hair, giving her a soft smile.

You both make your way back to the Red Force, Ruse already jumping up and down excitedly and you smile softly.

This woman would be the death of you yet.

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