Dragon's claw (Shanks X Reader)

10- issues

After everything with the straw hat in the papers were over, something about it still felt sour. A question stuck in your head, like a bad song, "would your dad have been happy with the life you've fallen into? That you've fallen into his footsteps or would he be mad that you were putting yourself in danger?"

It worried you, even though you'd probably never get the chance to see him again, it mattered to you, why? You didn't know, you had never understood your thoughts.

"(y/n). You okay?" a worried crew mate walked over as you showed a smile and nodded, "yes just fine." you laughed.

You made eye contact with shanks on the other side of the ship, he had a... Worried look on his face. 'was he okay?' shanks wasn't one to worry, this made you a little worried but mostly scared.

He looked away when he noticed you saw him staring, you decided to approach him about it, a little nervous about the outcome.

"Shanks!" you called, he had seemed to vanish in the short time it took you to get to him, was he avoiding you?

Then you felt a hand take your hand and a husky "Yes~?" was whispered into your ear. You turned your head slightly to see shanks, taking his hand into yours once more. You took a moment to think about where he had came from and rethought if you wanted to ask him, coming to the quick decision and rushing into it,"Are you okay?" you asked him, taking a seat as a deep chuckle rumbled out of his throat.

"I was just gonna ask you the same thing." he said still laughing, "Y-yeah... I'm fine." you stated unsure as you scratched your arm.

Shanks raised a brow, "oh really?" he asked observing your nervous state. You nodded answering his question, he scoffed, "well, if that's the case I won't pester you about it... Even though your a horrible liar." he mumbled the last part although it was obvious he knew would could hear him.

"I'm not lying." you blurted, "so, maybe I've got a lot on my mind." you defended. "Mmhm...?" shanks nodded, "it's not funny!" you accused, shanks took a seat as well, "no, It's not. So just tell me what's wrong then... Problem solved." he smiled like a little kid. You laughed, "not how it works... And I don't think you'd understand.." you looked at the ground. As shanks searched for eye contact, "why not?" he raised a curious brow.

"I-I've..." you been wondering about my dad..." you said sadly, "I mean... I've been thinking about how'd he feel about my choices and...stuff." you made eye contact again and gave a sad smile.

For a moment there was a silence between the two of you, you observed shanks as he looked unsure of what to say or even think. You were really just as unsure if not more.

True they were your feelings, thoughts and emotions but that didn't mean you understood them. For the past five years, you've had thoughts and emotions you didn't understand... What was worse you had no one to share them with, no one to tell... because no one cared.

For shanks the silence was almost unbearable, he wanted to say something but he feared making it worse. True shanks was a strong pirate and an amazing fighter, he was infamous. But when it came to you, you did something to him, that he didn't understand. He was scared of hurting you, you mattered to him.

However for you the silence showed you something, that shanks was carefully thinking about what you had said. That he wanted you to know he cared and not just rush to an answer or a conclusion.

"I Don't know..." he said, you looked at him, his deep brown eyes filled with not only concern but confusion. He looked down at your hands which were placed neatly in your lap, he had his on the arm of the chair he was sitting in.

"Neither do I." you said, he looked back up at your face, his chocolate eyes felt like they were trying to sell into your soul. "...What?" he asked, "I have no one to share my feelings or my thoughts with... Honestly, I don't know what to think about what I think."

"that's gotta be the most confusing sentence to ever leave your mouth." he said, to which you shrugged and smiled. "maybe I'm just a confusing person." you shrugged, shanks smiled and shook his head, "maybe." shanks laughed.

"one things certain." you dropped your cheery attitude and frowned as you looked down at the floor. "I've got issues." you said. Shanks picked your chin up with his hand, you tried to avoid eye contact but failed, "don't we all?" he asked. You shook your head and laughed, "maybe." you mocked, causing him to laugh.

"I was nervous to talk to you about it." you said, earning his attention, "why?" he asked as he retracted his hand. "I don't know." you said, "I-it was stupid to tell you that." you face palmed. "(y/n)." his voice was filled with sympathy and kindness, which were odd traits for a man like shanks to show.

"don't ever feel like you can't talk to me...  or anyone else on this crew for that matter, a crew is a family, we stick up for one another, we watch out for one another. Pirates tend to not have good family's which means we make up for it in our crews... well we do at least." he smiled.

"wow. I should take notes." you said, you both laughed, "you wouldn't need notes. Your already amazing." he said. You frowned a bit, "the question remains, 'how would my father see me?'" you asked breaking the mood.

I think he'd be proud." shanks said, "I mean your perfect and I feel if he has any kind of since he'd be proud of you... And if he's not there's always the 'pirates way out'" he said and pecked your cheek as he got up, he walked off laughing and stole one good look at you, all flustered.

You were as red as his hair and what he had said put a smile on your face, you weren't used to taking compliments. You looked behind you as you saw him walk into his quarters.

"wait! What's the pirates way out?" you were kinda concerned, "shanks?!"

1086 words.

Hope you enjoyed, tell me if you know what the pirates way out is. 😂😂😂