Dragon's claw (Shanks X Reader)

11- when the cat's away

A few days had past since you and shanks' conversation, shanks was currently getting ready to take a 'business trip' as you found it a fitting thing to call it. All you really remember was him saying "he had to talk to white beard about fire fists Ace." or something.

You were a bit nervous, how was the crew going to react to his absence?

Shanks must have noticed your worried aura because he walked over to you and gripped your shoulder with a hand. "If anything happens I'll have my den den, okay? You don't have to worry~" he whispered huskily in your ear, sending a shower down your spine as you pondered his words for a second.

You nodded, wanting to engulf him in a huge good-bye hug sending him off like in the movies, but you stuck to your better judgment and stayed in the chair you were planted in.

"and hey, you could always accompany me I'm sure ol' white beard would love to meet'cha." he offered. "Shanks I'll be fine." you gave him a small *fake* smile.

Shanks smiled as well, wrapping his arm around you, you wrapped your arms around him. Enjoying the warmth and comfort all until the final moment when he pulled away, he went to walk off leaving you with nothing but a small kiss on the cheek and a light rose tint on your cheeks.

He walked and got on a small boat of the side of the ship, you got up and walked to the side of he was. Benn was handing him a small bag of something probably a change of clothes then he grabbed a tankard of sake. The tankard was rather large, knowing shanks it would probably be gone before the night was up. "Take care cap'n" the crew mates cried, "Bye shanks, have a safe trip." you reached out your hand as he took it with his and placed a small kiss on it, then looked up at you and with a wink and a smirk, he was off leaving you and the rest of the crew.

"it'll be awhile before he's back." someone spoke up, "I say we bust out the alcohol." someone else commented.

You headed towards your barrack, "hey (y/n)~ where ya going the fun ain't started yet?" one of the men called. "I think I'm going to hit the hay." you waved to them.

"Oh okay." Yassop said drinking a bottle of sakè. He stopped and looked at the sky, "wait! It's still morning." he looked back up at you but you had already left. He shrugged it off and went back to his drink.

Being the only woman at a party with a bunch if rowdy, drunk pirates... not the best plan.

You walked in the small room and sat down on the bed, you put your face into your hands as you let out a deep and distressful sounding sigh. It wasn't that you had a lot on your mind nor that you were worried, just a bit stressed. You had never been left alone with the crew... with out shanks.

after a while, you heard a knock on the door, "(y/n)?" Benn's voice seeped through the door and lingered in the room. You stayed quiet, not really wanting to associate with actual living people. "(y/n). I know your in there." he said, "come on, it ain't a party with out all the crew... Minus the captain." he laughed.

You opened the door, as you saw the light of the moon and stars filled the deck most people were ether already past out drunk or still drinking. Benn was rather... sober.

"thought you would've felt... Uncomfortable if everyone got drunk, so I made the sacrifice. I have had a bit, though." he said truthfully. You had thought about what shanks had said about this crew being a big family, this proved it in a way... You felt overjoyed, that he had thought of you.

"Thanks! Yeah, I was a bit worried about that..." you stracthed the nape of your neck, embarrassed to admit your doubtfulness for your crew mates.

"It's fine," he laughed, "plus, shanks asked me to keep an eye on ya." he nudged you with his elbow. A smile and light blush rose onto your face, as Benn handed you a small glass of sakè. Only a bottle left, thought we could share?" he said pouring him a glass, you nodded as he rose up his glass.

You copied his actions as you hit the two together, "cheers!"
you said in unison as your words were accompanied by a 'clink' noise.

You both drank as you and Benn engaged in meaningless chatter and small talk. The glistening stars above head, provided all the light needed, "better be careful, Benn." a drunken Yassop called, "Shanks might get jealous~"

You laughed, spitting out your drink while still managing to choke on it.

"Yassop, your drunk. Go away." Benn shooed, "what else is new." you smart assed, as soon as you could breathe again. "I bet that's where all the alcohol went." you said jokingly, Benn chuckled and nodded, "him and Roo, most likely."

The two laughed, but your mind still wondered to shanks. Had he arrived safely? Is he safe? And many more paranoid thoughts ravaged your thoughts but the alcohol seemed to make it all disappear as the warm and fuzzy feeling overcame all of your senses.

Benn wouldn't let you get drunk, although you were damn near close. He took your drink and took you to your room.

As you slept off your tipsy state, your dreams were filled with happy thoughts of the sea and your amazing life with Shanks and the crew.

However on the other side of the big, blue ocean, a certain red head's thoughts were filled with worry for a fellow emperor's 'son'.

As Benn and Yassop being the last two still awake although not so sober anymore, engaged in drunken small talk. Much like you and Benn's earlier, it wasn't about anything in particular, just dead ended conversations.

Although, when Benn looked around the ship one last time, a chuckle rose up and out of his throat as he shook his head.

"Oi, what's so funny?" Yassop's words were slow and slurred, "nothing." Benn said taking another sip of the last bottle of sakè.

"It's just like they say, when the cats away~"

"the mice get drunk off their asses and pass out on the floor under the stars"

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