Dragon's claw (Shanks X Reader)

3- Hey Foxy Lady

It's been a good week since you’ve joined the Red Hair Pirates.

Everything was smooth sailing. It was yes, a bit difficult adjusting to the free life of a pirate, and still adjusting as most may say. You would ask to head to bed each and every night, ask to use the restroom too. And other times Shanks or Ben would catch you in the act of heavy cleaning around the ship. Sometimes they let you do your thing, it was something you decided to pick up on your very own. Other times they’d find some other task for you to do besides work like read, or cook, or even chill out for a change.

Today was one of those days nobody had to tell you anything in particular. Actually… Nobody has seen you all day. And so with the thought of you on the mind, Shanks took a stroll around the ship until he eventually found you. Your back turned, all rested up against one side of the ship and staring out upon the horizon. The sea a glistening blue so rich the sky was envious with clouds fogging up another beauty to be told. The spine of sea kings poked out and above the ocean’s surface and that made you oh and ah in pure astonishment. Today, you were doing one of Shanks’ favorite activities. Shanks rested up against the railing beside you, you were oblivious to his existence. The man in red cleared his throat, startling your being just a bit.

“We’re docking soon,” Shanks spoke softly. “What’s on your mind?”

“I don’t know,” you pucker your lips, poking at a knot in the wood. "Watchin' the… I’m watching the world from a different perspective… Man oh man, it's been so long since I’ve seen the sea" carrying out your educated response, you continued, Shanks was looking forward to your words yet to come. Something about the way you spoke or explained the simplest of things had Shanks listening to you at the fullest. “My old Master rarely left Sabaody and Mariejois… Only the times he took trips I saw the sea, even then, It wasn’t for very long cause I was always locked up like a dog in a crate,” Shanks didn’t expect this turn of events. “But as a child, my dad would always tell me to appreciate the little things cause there’s always someone who has it worse. So when I saw the sea as a slave, I took a mental picture, and I was set for months…” You grinned, it was the most purest smile Shanks had ever seen. Something told him that those years as a slave had done you some good. You were so down to earth, kind, it reminded Shanks of quite a few people, but only one stood out.

“Wow,” Shanks grinned, never once did he take his eyes off you. “I should take notes off of you.”

“I-I… Really?” You couldn’t let Shanks’ comment slip your mind.

“Really,” Shanks confirmed his previous comment. “(Y/n) I’ve been meaning to ask, you’re such a sweet girl, what happened to make you a slave? Clearly you were kidnapped, that’s how 90 percent of the slaves in Sabaody come to be. But what’s your story?” You paused, never expecting that question to come up ever. So you thought long and hard.

“I came to Sabaody to find my father,” you simply answer without any intent to continue.

“So you got snatched up searching for him,” Shanks didn’t like your answer. “Can you even protect yourself (Y/n)? Sabaody Archipelago isn’t the place to be if you can’t fight to an extent,” Shanks’ entire presence turned dark within the second as his eyes were two brown pools of darkness. This was exactly what you were trying to avoid; being frowned upon for being helpless. You tensed up, turning towards the sea once again. “That place is known for having pirates, and bounty hunters, sex and slave trafficking too. In which you shouldn’t forget that you fell victim under.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” you glared at Shanks in return. Almost passing out after making direct eye contact with the red head. Something about him made you feel beneath him out of fear alone. Was this how Shanks had the upper hand against my former Master?