The Puppet Master [One Piece]

Waking In Your Arms

~Shanks’ POV~

                I woke from the best sleep I’d ever had in my entire life. I’d never slept so well before, what changed? Something warm was draped over top of me, not something, it was someone and one of their small hands was gripping my shirt lightly as the other rested against the side of my face as if they’d been playing with my hair when they’d fallen asleep. Cautiously, I opened my eyes fearful of whom I might find lying across my chest and smiled as I spotted her silken white hair spilling over my chest in pale waves.

                Trying to be careful not to wake the sleeping girl, I attempted to roll her off of me so I could check our heading. We’d be close to Whitebeard by now, I needed to be ready. Echo protested with a cute half grumble half groan as I attempted to move her and I chuckled as she retaliated by entwining her arms around me possessively in her sleep.

                My mind began to wander as I held the sleeping girl close. Not that I minded, but why was she in my bed with me? I didn’t remember falling asleep, I remembered feeling exhausted and so relieved when she’d finally snapped from her state of unconsciousness, but nothing more. Perhaps I’d pushed myself a little too far and made myself sick with worry.

                The small girl woke with a cute yawn and stretched, splaying herself across me in the process. I held back a laugh as realization settled in and her pale cheeks burned crimson from her embarrassment. She scrambled off of me with a squeak and immediately bowed her head to hide behind her snow white locks.  “Sorry!” Her voice came out almost breathless.

                I chuckled and sat up slowly before arching my back and stretching with a big yawn. A small smile played across my lips as I sensed her lingering gaze and I turned to meet her murky green eyes. Another blush spread across her ivory cheeks and she forced herself to look away from me. “How did you sleep, Echo?”

                Her face was a brilliant crimson by now and I chuckled to myself, she was so innocent and vulnerable. “Well.” She replied meekly still looking anywhere but at me. “You?”

                “Best sleep I’ve ever had.” I smiled and tried to gauge her reaction.

                Tentatively she drew her gaze to mine and a small shy smile claimed her rose petal soft lips before she nodded her head in agreement.

                I extended my hand to her and felt warmth spread from my fingertips to my core as she placed her dainty hand in mine. My grip around her hand tightened as I pulled her toward me and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the small frightened gasp that escaped her from the sudden action. Her body trembled slightly as I wrapped my arm around her and held her close. Because I was sitting on the edge of the bed and she was still on her feet she was taller than me by a hair.

                “You could make it a permanent stay.” I noted and felt her body tense against me as her body temperature went up a few degrees and I could just imagine her face reddening. “It is your room too, after all.”

                “Boss!” Someone called outside the door but had the decency not to throw it open in their haste, “We can see Whitebeard’s ship!”

                I sighed softly and released the fragile girl from my hold. Her small hand reached out and caught the back of my shirt as I attempted to slip away from her to change into fresh clothes.

                “Echo?” I looked to her concerned as I saw worry etched into her face, her gaze was blank and I realized she was seeing something, something that nobody else could.

                After a moment she snapped from her daze and offered me a meek smile, “You should take your sword with you.”

                “Eh? The Old Man’s a good guy-.” I chuckled.

                “He’s not going to like what you tell him.” She breathed softly, “Just take your sword.”

                I opened my mouth to protest once more, but froze when I saw tears welling in her beautiful murky green eyes. “Echo?”

                “Please, Shanks.” She begged desperately causing my heart to flutter in my chest, “I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Who could refuse such a request?

                I smoothed my hand through her silken hair placing it to the back of her head before pulling her against me. “Alright. Just don’t cry.” Before I knew what had come over me I was leaning forward and placing a tender kiss to the top of her head.

[If your curious why I chose Aiden as a romantic song choice, it's because my bf and I had our very first kiss while listening to this very album so my opinion is biased and I will always think Aiden is a perfectly romantic band :P]