The Expert Swimmer. {Shanks x Reader}

Drowning.

There's still that sound of canon fire above the surface, muffled explosions and men yelling. Your vision slowly beginning to fade.

You were sent into the waves by one of those canons, the black ball hit your small rowboat before exploding and completely destroying your transportation. Now you're being engulfed by the freezing cold ocean water, your body in so much shock that you can't even bring yourself to move.

It hurts though, it's so cold that it feels like it's blistering your skin. You just know that you must be turning a pale blue color by this point.

I really escaped slavers just to die here... 

It's definitely just not your week. Then something suddenly stops you from sinking any lower. No, someone.

You can just about make out the sensation of an arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you into what feels like a chest. It's too flat to be a woman's but it's very muscular. Whoever it is, they're pulling you up and back to the surface. 

Struggling to open your eyes ever so slightly, you manage to catch a glimpse of a few shocking red strands swaying around in the water, as if they're dancing. Seems your savior has beautiful hair. The sight is short-lived however as everything quickly grows dark, your lungs finally taking in too much liquid to cope anymore. 

 You don't quite know why you're even dying here, why the marines were attacking you. You were a victim after all, you just wanted to live your life.

Although you still can't find the strength to open your eyes, you're so warm all of a sudden. It's as if you're wrapped in a mother's embrace or something along those lines. This must mean that there is really a heaven and you're being welcomed into it.

"Is she alive?" 

Or not.