You're The Captain. {Shanks x Reader}

One More Night.

Your eyes peer up at the man above you, beads of sweat pouring down your bare body and your heart pounding in your chest as you try to catch your breath. 

The man above you, better yet known as your captain, Red Haired Shanks rolls off of you. The male panting softly as his arm pulls you into a hug. It's a wonder how a man with a limb missing has this much stamina but hell, you're certainly not complaining.

"Damn." The redhead murmurs under his breath, a cheerful smile on his face as he gazes down at you. You could barely see his face with your messy hair blocking your view but you can see his smile at least.

It shines brighter than the sun on the worst of days. Right now, he looks like he could toast the giant star just by smiling into it's direction.

"Yeah, you're not bad, Caps~" You giggle as you sit up, causing his weak arm to slide off of your back, flopping down by his side. "Well, for an old drunk anyway~"

"Hey," The man grumbles his smile still present although his eyebrows knit together as he playfully glares up at you. "I'm not old, I'm younger than...uh..." You couldn't help but relish in this side to him, the thoughtful look on his precious face has your stomach doing cartwheels.

"Are you gonna say Rayleigh?" You mock playfully, pressing your finger to his nose. "'Cause most people are younger than him~" The male sighs at your teasing as his eyes stare past you at the ceiling, a small hum leaving his lips.

"Ben. I'm younger than Ben." He finally answers, a cheeky grin gracing his lips as he sits up. The man picking up his pants in the process. "I better make sure the crew haven't fallen overboard, they've been drinking since the early hours and not all have the tolerance I got~"

You watch patiently as he picks up all his clothing, skillfully using his teeth to tug his shirt over his missing arm before fastening the buttons with one hand. "Shanks," Murmuring quietly as a sudden thought creeps into your mind, your voice causing the man to pause as he glances from his buttons up to you. "Why do you drink so much?"

The question was one that you had wanted to ask for a long time now but just never knew how but considering he just mentioned his alcohol tolerance, you assumed it was the best time.

"It...helps me cope with things. Things that I've seen, things that I want to forget and things that I still stress about." The man sighs softly as he fastens his last button, leaving a lot undone to show off his muscular chest as usual. "I suppose you could say, it helps me find the humor in those things." 

He finishes as he flings his coat over his shoulder, sending you a charming smile before he speaks again. "Although, I've been sober two weeks straight because of you." The man hums, causing anxiety to set in your stomach as you quirk a brow.

"What do you mean?" You question, beginning to pull the covers over your chest. Silently dreading his answer. For two weeks now, you and your captain have been having these sexual encounters but you hadn't planned on them developing into anything else.

"I don't need to drink to be happy. Just you." Shanks chuckles as if the answer was obvious as he leans down, going to plant a kiss on your lips. But you move your head to the side, his lips grazing your cheek instead.

"About that." You rasp awkwardly as a sigh leaves your lips, your eyes darkening as they land on him. "I thought this was just a casual thing." Your heart clutches as you witness Shanks' face beginning to go slightly pink as his smile fades, confusion written all over his features. The male stumbling away from the bed.

"Casual thing?"

"Yeah," You slowly nod your head, your whole body beginning to feel cold as you speak. "I don't love you or anything like that, Shanks." Your voice flat and blunt as you stare cruelly into his saddened eyes. 

"What? B-But you do love me," The red-haired Captain corrects, his voice sounding uncertain as he takes a single step toward you hesitantly. "You always protect me when we're fighting enemies, I don't need protecting but you always insist on it. You told me that you loved me and my habits--"

"I lied." You cut him off before he could elaborate anymore. You had said that you loved a lot of things about him before, yes. And you said that you loved him many times these past two weeks. And no, you weren't lying, you do love the man. 

But the last time you had fallen in love with someone, they were on Whitebeard's crew. And you had honestly thought that crew was indestructible. But he died and it completely shattered your heart. You just know you can't go through that again. 

"You don't lie..." The man retorts, with a slightly shaky voice. Which is true. You normally don't lie, not until now anyway. The heartbreak in Shanks' face is screaming and begging you to look away from his gaze but you know that if you do that, it'll give you away. "You've always been the most honest of my crew members, the one I trust most."

"Shanks, if you want honesty..." You harshly hiss, your eyesight never breaking contact with his gaze. Your heart feeling like it's sinking more and more by the second. With a deep inhale, you close your eyes, your brows furrowing. "The whinny puppy attitude doesn't suit a man of your stature." 

The hate that you feel for yourself at this particular moment is just simply indescribable. You watch the emotion drain completely from his usually-cheerful face, his gaze finally breaking contact with yours as his dark orbs look down at the floor instead. 

"I see." Is all he murmurs, the man turning on his heel and making his way to your cabin door. He pauses in his steps before looking over his shoulder, a slight glare in his eyes as they land on your figure. "Perhaps next time you want a one night stand, you should go to a drunk villager. They won't expect any strings."

"Come on, Shanks." You voice, trying to calm the tension slightly as you shift to the end of the bed, the duvet still being the only thing to cover your small frame. "Surely you've slept with women who have wanted more than what you could offer them."

A pang shooting through your heart as his face fills with confidence, his upper body turning slightly as he stares straight into your eyes. "I don't sleep with women if I'm not interested in them." Is all he says, his voice cold and clear as he spoke. 

You watch him leave the room, your body jolting as he tugs the door shut a little too hard behind him, making it slam closed. Hearing the crew greet him loudly on deck shortly after, a bunch of them offering him a drink but his response to the proposals has you hurting most.

"Yeah, I think a sake would be my best friend right now."

A tidal wave of regret and guilt sinking into your mind as you think about a different outcome. Shanks has suffered in his life too. Could you two have fixed each other if you hadn't been so scared to try?

Would Thatch be proud if he could see what I've become? Would he even recognize me? 

Yeah, right. He'd be ashamed...

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