A/N Yo! Had a Shanks story in my head for a while, thanks for reading and let me know what you think!
'Has she remembered me?'
'After all this time…'
'Two long years?'
Shanks stretched out in his hammock with a contented smile, dangling his legs, one over each side, of his swaying bed. His fingers played with the precious jewel hanging from a chain around his neck, it had become a self conscious act, often he would toy with the gift and think of her, drift off to remember the first time they met and feel the very same butterflies fluttering in his stomach. Every second of each night they had spent together was etched in his memory, he would call upon them whenever he felt disheartened and just like magic he was back there sitting at the docks, hand in hand, with the most beautiful woman in the world.
"You not going to sleep, Captain?" His first mate Ben's words found him and lured him back from the dreamy state that had engulfed him.
"Can't." Captain Shanks replied with an excited grin, grasping his amber trinket tightly. Ben rolled his eyes but couldn't help but feel happy for his friend, he hadn't seen him so alive in a while, from the moment he caught a glimpse of the lady that afternoon his face had been lit up like a lighthouse. If she hadn't been accompanied by her father, the governor, no doubt he would have dashed to her side already. Out of respect, the red haired Captain was patiently waiting for his moment.
On the Island Pirates weren't openly welcomed but they were definitely allowed to moor and spend their hard earned, or robbed, beli around the numerous Inns, taverns and shops. The Governor distanced himself from piracy but allowed criminals to roam free on his land for the sake of the gold. Because he couldn't officially condone the pirates he made sure that his daughter maintained the same attitude aswell and rarely let her leave the protection of their manor house alone…or so he thought.
She wasn't like her old man, she was naturally inquisitive. She sought out trouble instead of shying away from it, the pirates, sailors and merchants that visited fascinated her. The kind of stories she had heard from back alley taverns would stay with her forever. But how did she manage to indulge in the night life when it was forbidden? Donning a hooded clock and plain, male attire she could easily blend in among them after escaping her prison. No one ever knew who she was, that is until she met Shanks.
When the moon was at its fullest among a night sky of charcoal black and the glitter of a thousand stars, Shanks headed out. Leaving his ship in the reliable hands of his crew, he made his way through the busiest part of town. Avoiding brawlers and dodging vomiting passers by he went from Inn to Inn, tavern to tavern until finally he spotted her, perched on a bench outside of 'The broken vase' listening intently with huge eyes of wonder to a femal pirate bragging about her recent conquest. He just wanted to sprint to her side and throw his strong arms around her dainty body but he remembered only too well that she was always armed. It wasn't like he could just call out her name either, he didn't want to get her in trouble! So, he settled on something inbetween, creeping up to her like a randy predator whilst whistling to draw her attention. The female pirate spun round first, pistol at the ready. She wasn't as intoxicated as Shanks had thought.
"Woah! Woah! I just wanted to talk to your friend!" Shanks cried out in frustration, abandoning his stupid plan.
"Shanks!" She shrieked, spotting him aswell, her voice was the same, one that enchanted and comforted him at the same time. She was so excited that she ran to him, her hood blowing off in the process and her mass of thick black hair began to billow around her face, covering her blue eyes like a blindfold. She couldn't see a thing but was so excited that she just continued to run until she was in his arms.
"You remembered me after all, then, Bluebell?" he chuckled as she almost knocked him to the ground.
"Just about." She coughed, regaining her ladylike composure. As the wind blew fiercely around them, battering their clothes and tangling their hair, they stared at one another. They shared a similar lovestruck, doe-eyed look until Bluebell's face started to crinkle. Her smile was replaced by a pout and her eyebrows narrowed into a furious frown, the moment of relief had passed, she was no longer overcome by happiness to see him alive.
"Wh-what?" He asked, slightly concerned for his own safety. Not every part of their time together had been beautiful, the goodbye had been so sour that Shanks still grieved over it. He had been cold, ruthless. 'See ya', was all he had said. Possibly the worst chose of words since the human race started communicating verbally but, on the spot, he hadn't known what else to offer her. Promising a time to come back would have been a lie no matter how happy it made her, expressing his true feelings would have been just as painful for her too. They had shared several kisses but always maintained the pretence of just being friends, a man of the sea couldn't offer anything more to a land dweller and keep a clear conscious.
Bluebell surrendered. The discomfort spread across Shanks' usually cheerful face was too much to bare. After all the kisses were probably drunken ones, she had thought too much into them and come to the wrong conclusion. Friends, nothing more.
"Sorry. I'm glad you're alright, we don't get much news come our way so…" Feeling herself getting a little emotional she decided to abruptly change the subject, "How about a drink?"
"Thought you'd never ask!" He beemed, following her inside the bustling tavern eagerly.
Just like old times he talked and she listened, increasingly fascinated by one tale after the next. He was so passionate about his life that she could have watched him speak all night without even hearing a word, his eyes sparkled and he used his entire body to help tell his stories. At times she could have shed a tear for the horrible things he'd seen and then he would have her bawling with laughter!
Somehow a cosy little table had become free just as they entered, a rare thing indeed in a packed tavern full off drunk, sleepy pirates. Perfect. Shanks had pulled her chair out for her first before dragging his up against it. If he didn't get close enough she never would be able to hear him over the noise of rowdy drunks…at least that's what he told himself.
"So, what about you, Missy?" He asked smoothly, eyeing his date over the rim of his mug of sakě. There was only one thing that he really wanted to know.
She brushed her hair aside as she too took a swig from her own drink. Shanks' eyes instantly stuck onto the soft curve of her neck that she had just revealed, only when she began to talk could he force his eyes away from her naked pearl white flesh.
"I've been doing nothing nearly as exciting as you have, Shanks!" She exclaimed, uneasily avoiding his gaze for a few seconds. Her honesty had almost lapsed but she couldn't quite bring herself to outright lie to him. He had seriously warned her about venturing out so much alone, something she'd been doing much more of since her father had become so keen on marrying her off. For a Governor his intentions were good, he wanted to use a marriage to build a bond with another island to make his own more prosperous but for a father it was selfish.
"You don't have to tell me, Blue. As long as your being careful."
She nodded, her eyes glued to her shoes. All sorts of men had been through in the past couple of years and she had mixed with every last one of them, from the sleeziest seafarers to the physcotic pirates that struck fear into others. Some had taken a fancy to her, offering her beli for company or inviting her on voyages. She never accepted, though if it had been Shanks offering to whisk her away she would have accepted in a heartbeat.
A frown forced its way onto Shanks' face. He was worried about her, her thirst for adventure was far more powerful than her common sense. She hadn't experienced the world like he had and she was still young, eighteen, possibly nineteen when she frowned.
"How is your father?" He questioned, apparently changing the subject. He'd never met the man and didn't wish to, if ever Shanks did have the misfortune he knew that he wouldn't be able to hold his tongue, he would have to tell him that his beautiful daughter wasn't supposed to be living as a caged bird just because she was female. There was so much more to her than anyone knew.
"He's well…still hates pirates, though. He likes the profit you bring but nothing more. I've tried so desperately to change his mind but he's so set in his ways that he won't listen to a word I say."
Shanks' leaned in closer, resting his leg against hers, his eyebrows raised into the fiery red strands that sat on his forehead.
"And what do you say to him to change his mind?"
Blushing, she replied, "I tell him that the word pirate doesn't define a man, that some of them are good people…like you." Whilst she was speaking her hair had fell about her face again, she let it be in hope that it would cover her redenned cheeks. Shanks tucked the rebellious strands away and put his lips against her ear so that his warm breath tickled her.
"I'm not all good." Bluebell's stomach did a flip as his mischievous words trickled into her ear and her body shuddered with excitement.
"Shanks." She breathed, allowing her body to sink back into his. Her head began to swim with a mixture of alcohol and emotion, her eyes fluttered closed and she fell asleep in the Captain's arms.