Cherry Blossoms and Strawberries

Summary: One Piece Bingo: Pirate Crew. After the death of Gol D. Roger, Shanks moves on to start forming his own pirate crew when he meets Benn Beckman who seemed to recognize him. Omegaverse.

Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to Bingo! I hope you enjoy! This is Omegaverse even though it's not too heavy within the plot! On with the fic!

Warnings: Omegaverse, Canon Character Death

Cherry Blossoms and Strawberries

Shanks knew that one day he would have no choice but to leave the Roger Pirates. Roger's illness was starting to progress, and it was becoming clearer that their time was soon going to come to an end. Roger lived his life at top speed and Shanks wanted to take his time. He just hated that he didn't have much time left here. There was so little time.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do leaving the ship. He knew what he wanted, but he had one thing playing against the odds. The fact that he had been born an Omega. It was not often that he came across an Omega that belonged to a pirate crew, and he had never met one who was the Captain. The closest that he had seen had been Rayleigh. Rayleigh didn't actually seem like an Omega. Always appearing more like an Alpha. More than once, the elder Omega would tell him to never let anyone tell him what to do with his life. To live his life as he pleased and how he wanted. That he would find someone out there that would have no issues following an Omega as their pack leader.

He really hoped that he was right.

Even Roger had said so. Roger was an Alpha, but he would never truly understand what Shanks felt. He would never tell him what he would hear whenever they were on islands. Buggy often told him that he needed to stand up for himself more, especially if he wanted to be a Captain. He didn't want to. He would rather keep peace, and only fight if he had to. Civilians on an island didn't fit into either of those categories for him. Roger had strict rules that civilians were off limits. Not to harm them. Don't steal from them. If they were not criminals or Marines, they were off limits. It was a rule that Shanks was going to follow by.

Though he was starting to wonder if maybe he did start speaking up that maybe it would change.

That didn't feel right.

He would do it his own way.

Just like he had always known, the Roger Pirates had been disbanded quietly as Roger finally made it to Laugh Tale. Shanks had to fight back tears, biting down on his lip as he choked down the cries. He had thanked everything that his straw hat was blocking his face from view as he could hear the others talking around him. He hadn't moved. He hadn't said a word. That was until Roger's hand landed on the top of his head. Much like he had always done over the years.

This was the end.

And there was nothing that he could do.

X

Not long after Roger had disbanded the crew, he had left the ship and one by one, they all started to leave. Shanks still wasn't sure what he was going to do from this point. It felt so soon. He was only fifteen, but he had to start somewhere. He had no other home than the Oro Jackson. It was all that he had ever known. Roger and Rayleigh had been the only parents he had ever known. This crew was his family. His heart hurt knowing that he would probably never see any of them again. Maybe a few since all of them were going to go into hiding. Except him and Buggy. They were the only two that didn't have bounties on their heads. They could go out into public and be safe. At least for the time being.

Departing from the ship had practically torn him apart. He had a bag with what belongings he could fit into it and that he wanted to take with him. Buggy had already left the ship before him, deciding to leave almost as soon as possible.

He had been slow getting off. The last person that was going to depart from the ship was Rayleigh. He didn't know what was going to happen to her after he got off. All he knew was Rayleigh was the final one left on the ship.

With his bag over his shoulder, he had made his departure, going off on his own for the first time in his life. This was all new to him. It felt so strange that he didn't have Buggy by his side. That he wouldn't look over his shoulder and Roger would be there. That Rayleigh and the others would be. Crocus had made sure that he had everything he needed before he had been dropped back off at Reverse Mountain. Going back to care for Laboon the whale that lived there. Crocus had made sure that he had suppressants, scent blockers, patches, heat reducers. Anything that he could think of that Shanks would probably need if a heat started to hit.

Rayleigh had made sure that he had plenty of food and supplies that would last him. Money. Anything else that he would probably need.

Though, what he needed was his crew.

Even if they weren't technically his crew anymore, they were still his pack.

Roger's words still reflected in his mind. Ringing through his ears any time that he started to think that he couldn't do it. You'll make an excellent Captain. You'll find nakama who will do anything for you. Follow you anywhere. When you find them, you will know.

That's all he needed to hear to keep pushing on.

X

He had found himself in the East Blue, Loguetown, not long after Roger's execution had been announced. The announcement saying that his life would come to an end at the same place of his birth. Shanks had ran right into Buggy while he was there much to his shock.

As Roger was led to the scaffold, the two stood side by side. Neither of them even attempted to hide their tears as they watched their Captain being led towards his demise. Roger didn't even need to be touched as he held his head high as he walked the streets of his place of birth. Going straight up the scaffold before turning on his feel and sitting with his legs crossed as he grinned.

Shanks was choking on the air in his throat. Trying his best not to let the tears fall from his eyes. This was the moment where everything would change. It was one thing with the crew being disbanded and Roger leaving, but he was about to witness him die. This was going to be the end of Roger's life, even if it was inevitable. He could smell Buggy's distressed scent next to him. Even if Buggy didn't have the best relationship with most of them, Roger cared for him the same as he did Shanks. They were his sons.

As Shanks locked eyes with Roger, it felt like time stopped for a second. I will always be with you. Those had been the last words Roger had told him. He nodded, preparing himself for the moment that everything changed.

As the executioners were preparing to do their job, a sudden shout in the crowd caused a stand still. A man begging to know about the One Piece. About Roger's treasure. Shanks didn't care about that. No treasure would ever amount to the lives of his loved ones.

Roger smirked as he started saying, "You want my treasure? You can have it. I left it together all in one place. Now you just have to find it."

With that, Roger had been executed. The blades piercing through his chest that had Shanks wanting to scream out. The tears had started to fall as he felt his shoulders start to shake. It took everything in him to keep him standing on his feet. There had been a stunned silence before it had been followed by the loud roars of cheers that followed. The once sunny day turning into one of a storm. The thunder clapping that made Shanks jump involuntarily. The rain that started to fall a moment later that drenched everyone that was standing there.

It was fitting.

The calm that had been before a storm. Then the second Roger's life had been taken, the rain had started.

It had washed away his tears as they fell but he couldn't stop himself. He stood there, not caring of anyone who would possibly look in his direction. He had broken down.

It was okay to cry. He knew that. Just as long as if he overcame it in the end.

X

He had stayed in Loguetown for a few days. Drinking away his sorrows before he was placing a mask on his face to cover the pain that he was in. He could feel the hurt that even his inner Omega was in. Begging to have Roger back. To have the others back. He was all alone now. Truly. He would have to do this on his own, rather he liked it or not.

Buggy had turned down the offer of forming a crew with him. Telling him to pretty much screw off before walking away from him. It left a smile on Shanks' face. At least some things never changed.

He had decided from Loguetown that he would travel the East Blue for a while, gather some people for a reliable crew before he would attempt to head back out to the Grand Line. Though, he needed to find people more than willing to follow an Omega. There was still that feeling that no one would take him seriously just because of that. He never really faced that issue other than hearing snide remarks, but he just really hoped that wasn't going to be the case.

He had set out as soon as he made sure that he had everything he needed, tucked away in his small boat before he continued on to the next island. It was going to be lonely for a while, but he was sure he was going to get there.

X

Benn wasn't sure why he had been in Loguetown for the execution of Gold Roger, just that he was. He had seen it all. Heard his words and the way that those words seemed to hit him. While he was standing among the crowd, he had caught it. The scent of cherry blossoms and strawberries. The distress that lingered within the floral and fruity smell. It had happened almost immediately following Roger's execution as the rain started.

He couldn't find where it was coming from, and it was hard to pinpoint the exact location through the mixture of the smell of the rain. Whoever it belonged to was screaming out silently. So much pain that was going through them. If he didn't have a good grip on his Alpha, it would have knocked him straight off of his feet. There was a part of him that wanted to seek out whoever the scent belonged to and comfort them. Let them know whatever pain that they were feeling would leave eventually.

He had to shove the instinct away, leaving Loguetown almost immediately. He couldn't say why he had decided to come here but he had and was leaving with a new sense of determination in him.

Though, his curiosity was even more spiked by that scent he had caught.

X

Shanks had found himself on one of the many islands located within the East Blue. He needed some more supplies, and his heat was quickly approaching him. This was going to suck. He would rather just be back out on the sea and just go through his heat there. He didn't want to go through it on an island if he didn't have to. He didn't like the idea of going onto an island and starting a full-blown heat and being completely alone.

During his bit of time traveling alone, he would get unwanted attention, but he had also noticed the way that people would immediately jump to his defense. Though many of them who made passing advances at him were drunk out of their mind. Probably completely blacked out and not realizing what they were saying. Many people within the sea telling another person to back off. It was such an odd feeling. On the Grand Line, he didn't see that really happen. Normally, people just stayed out of it. It was a nice feeling.

Maybe, it was because he was alone. Maybe it was his age. He couldn't be sure. But he was glad to know that there were people out there ready to defend others. Not that he needed the help. He could absolutely defend himself when he needed to. He would never let the training he received from Roger and Rayleigh to go to waste. All the time they spent making sure that he had every piece of arsenal that he could use. He could even kill a man without even moving or raising a finger. It didn't really concern him. He just didn't like being alone.

Shanks had decided to start wearing some scent blockers on his clothes. Use the neutralizing smell to try and combat his normally strong aroma. It definitely helped tone it down. He had always been told instincts tend to flare more when someone was intoxicated. That it was harder to control their primal urges. He still hated it either way.

He had found himself on an island that was hosting a large festival. It made his stomach twist seeing that many of the people were wearing masks. The alcohol reached his nose. Everyone was practically drinking. Music was playing loudly over the streets that were flooded with civilians. He wanted to get out of there quickly. He had already bought up everything that he needed.

He had been trying to get back to the docks to his small ship when the hairs on the back of his neck started to stand. The impending danger that was coming his way. He couldn't even react before he felt a blade being pushed against his lower back. He choked on the air in his throat for a second.

"If you try and scream, I'll gut you before you can even get a sound out." Shanks straightened his back, lower his head to allow his hat to block his eyes. He was surrounded by people. He didn't want to just unleash his haki and risk causing more people to get hurt. No one was even looking in his direction. Probably too drunk to realize what was going on. Too engulfed in festivities to care.

"And if I don't?" Shanks questioned.

"I'll still gut you." Was hissed directly into his ear. A hand landed on his shoulder, trying to push him towards the opposite direction. Shanks stood his ground, refusing to let his feet move. The man had grunted trying to get him to move. From his pheromones, Shanks had quickly deducted that he was a Beta. He probably wasn't working alone. He was probably sent towards him because his scent wasn't as sharp. What Shanks didn't know was what exactly he wanted from him.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't do that." Shanks replied.

"I'm not giving you a choice here." The man growled, digging the knife further into his back. It was over his shirt, so it was pinching his skin, but not making contact to actually cause an injury to him. He had also noticed the way that the man's hand was shaking slightly.

"You haven't forced me to move yet." Shanks hummed, "You have a knife to my back, but can you use it in time?" He was already starting to raise his hand towards where the grip of his sword was, preparing to use it with a smirk coming to his face.

"What?" The man questioned.

Shanks wasn't actually able to make a move before the man was being jerked away from his back. Well, it was more that the barrel of a rifle clocked him in the side of his head. Shanks' jaw dropped and his eyes went wide as he watched the man fall to the ground unconscious. He blinked as he looked over, catching the sight of a tall Alpha male with long black hair, a cigarette hanging between his lips as he slipped the rifle back into the sash that was around his waist.

That wasn't what Shanks meant, but he supposed it worked.

"Sorry, but I figured you might have wanted an opening." The Alpha male stated, "But it appears I might have knocked him out."

Shanks looked down at the unconscious Beta, using a sandaled foot to kick away the knife that was still by his hand. "Thank you." Shanks stated, looking back at the Alpha. "I had that handled."

The Alpha shrugged, taking a drag from his cigarette, flicking off the ashes as he exhaled the smoke. "You did but from what I've heard a group of men like to stir up trouble on the island. There's about ten of them surrounding this fair. They are looking for women and Omegas alike. Probably to send them off to Sabaody Archipelago."

Shanks hummed, taking a few steps back but a bit closer to the Alpha. "Well, thanks for your help." Shanks stated, smiling as he reached his hand out, "I'm Shanks."

The Alpha returned the handshake, giving him a firm grip on his hand. "Benn Beckman."

X

It had been a while since Roger's execution as Benn found himself on that fateful island. The festivities of the locals going on around him. He had been bouncing around from place to place, but through the different smells he had picked it up. The scent that he had caught in Loguetown.

This time there wasn't a hint of distress but laced with a strong tenacity of defiance and confidence. Even a hint of daring someone to act. It was a complete one eighty from what it was before. Benn almost hated to admit that he had immediately left his spot. He had been hearing the rumors from the locals. About a possible group that was involved with a slave trade that were attempting to use the festivities to separate women, children, and Omegas from their groups.

That scent belonged to an Omega.

That he was positive about.

He had started through the crowd, quickly noticing the people who stuck out compared to the festival goers. Picking out about ten men that didn't fit in. They must have been the ones that the townspeople were talking about.

When he had started pushing through the others, he had finally found the source of the scent. He didn't look older than a teenager at most. Bright red hair that was peeking out from underneath a straw hat. His eyes were hidden with his hair and his hat, but the cherry blossom and strawberry scent was coming off of him. The Omega stood there, back straight, hand on the grip of his sword that was looped into a sash around his waist. A knife was digging into his back by the Beta man behind him.

Benn could tell almost immediately that the Beta man wasn't as strong as the Omega was. He could feel it. It had sent a chill down his spine the second that he was able to see the sharp glance of the Omega's eyes. He was prepared to strike, and it was clear to him he had it handled, but if he moved, he would surely get injured by the knife in his back. The man could lash out and manage to get him if the Omega didn't move quick enough.

The Omega looked like he had the situation handled, but there was another part telling him to act. It wasn't because the teenager was an Omega. He knew that much. There was something else there. Something else telling him to move.

Maybe it was the look in his eye that was coercing him to move. Maybe it was something else. Maybe it was the sign of his strength. There were so many possibilities, but he did move. What he did know was, he did not want to risk the Omega getting hurt. Even if he did appear to look like he had complete control of the situation.

The Omega had looked shocked that he had reacted, telling him that he had handled. Benn was sure he did, but he couldn't explain exactly why. Just that he did.

He also had a name and face to that scent now.

Shanks.

X

They had ended up deciding to head to a local bar. It had completely thrown off all the plans that Shanks originally had, but it was perfectly okay with it. He was extremely curious about this Alpha. He seemed to recognize how strong Shanks was, but at the same time reacted to when he seemed like he was in trouble.

It was intriguing to him.

They had sat down at a table in the corner of the bar. Both of them ordering a drink. Benn had sat back, one leg thrown over the other. Shanks was leaning towards the table, his ankles hooked around the chair legs. They had been talking for hours at this point. A few drinks in each.

That was when Benn dropped the question, "You were in Loguetown a few months ago… weren't you?"

Shanks sighed, curling his arms in front of him as he placed his drink down. "Yeah, I was." He paused as he blinked. That would mean Benn also was as well. "How did you know that?" Shanks questioned.

Benn wasn't looking at him, rather at the glass that contained the bourbon that he had been drinking on. "Your scent." The Omega hummed, nodding as he instinctively reached up and touched the scent gland on his neck. "There was so much hurt coming off of you. You knew Gold Roger personally. Didn't you?"

Shanks nodded, looking around for a moment before he dropped his voice, "He was my Captain." Benn didn't even look surprised by his answer. "I guess I should say he was more like a father than a Captain. I had been on his ship for as long as I can remember."

They had sat in silence for a moment as Shanks reached back out for his drink, downing the rest of it before placing the cup back down. The alcohol burned his throat, which he easily ignored. He could see the way that Benn was looking at him. There was sympathy there. Honestly, it was better than looking at him like he was a lost puppy. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Shanks could only blink at that. That had surprised him. To the world, Roger was this heartless, vile pirate when it reality he was far from it. "Uh, thank you." He whispered back.

"So, where are you going from here?" Benn went on to question.

Shanks smiled, tilting his head up to look Benn in the eye. "I'm looking for a crew." He stated, "I want to travel the world at my own pace but I'm going to do it as a pirate."

"A pirate's life is all you know." Benn interjected.

Shanks nodded, but the fond smile was there. "I don't know anything else. Captain Roger always tried to make sure that me and Buggy stayed out of the public eye. Make it to where we could decide what we wanted to do when the time came… but this is what I want. I want to be a pirate Captain."

Benn's face warped into a smile. "Judging by what I saw back there, you'll make a good one."

That's when Shanks' smile turned into a smirk and he leaned forward, settling his chin on his palm. "Say, why don't you form that crew with me."

Benn sat there in silence for a second, just the two of them staring back at each other and not saying a word before Benn was humming. "I'll follow you anywhere, Captain."

That had been the day that his very own pirate crew had officially formed. He knew that Roger was proud of him. Knowing that he was doing exactly what he wanted to do with his life. Even as an Omega, he was defying the odds by showing that he could be a Captain just like anyone else. With his new first mate in the form of an Alpha. His crew was going to be strong and reliable. Judging by Benn's reaction to his offer, he would be able to accomplish it.