In Sickness and Health
Summary: When Buggy gets unexpectedly sick before heading to Laugh Tale, Shanks stays behind to care for him. While waiting for the Roger Pirates to return, Shanks presents. Omegaverse. Roger Lives AU.
Author's Note: And we are finally here! It is Shanks' time to present! I've been dying to do this one but I've been so busy working on other things plus watching Oden's backstory that I put this on the back burner. I hope you enjoy! On with the fic!
Warnings: Omegaverse, Presenting, Sickfic (for half of it), Scenting, Awkward Sexual Situations
In Sickness and Health
Shanks stood there, listening to Oden, Rayleigh, and the others talk as they mapped out the location of the final island. A smile lingering on his face. He paused as he heard a loud crash, his eyes lingering on the door that he was Captain was through. "Captain?! Are you okay?!" Shanks yelled out as he pounded his fist against the door.
Shanks was still standing there when Roger opened the door, placing a grin on his face as he questioned, "Have you figured out where the last island is?"
"Yes, we have." Gaban confirmed.
"When should we leave?" Rayleigh questioned.
Roger's grin only got larger, "Immediately!" His pack called back their confirmations immediately. Shanks could only stand there grinning the entire time.
"All right! Let's go!" Buggy exclaimed in excitement. It was almost as if a switch flipped. Shanks felt the air catch in his throat as he watched how red the Alpha's face got as he fell down, hitting the deck below.
Shanks gasped, running forward, and falling down to his knees next to his fellow apprentice. "H-Hey, Buggy?" The red-haired boy's hands grabbed at Buggy's arm and torso shaking him as he tried to get an answer. "Buggy?!" Shanks could feel just how hot Buggy's skin was against his palms. The Alpha was practically burning up.
Crocus stood up, walking over, and placing his hand on Buggy's head. "He's burning up." He muttered. Shanks took a step back as the doctor scooped Buggy up and started for the medical room. His eyes lingering on Buggy for the moment.
X
"Only a damn kid would catch a cold right before a great adventure." Shanks stated, almost in amusement. They were just about to head to the final island and of course Buggy ends up sick. It was almost comical that the island rumored to be covered in Joy Boy's treasure was this close to their grasp, and Buggy ends up falling ill. The most treasure driven person that Shanks had ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Buggy growled from where he was laying down, sitting up as he yelled, "Shut up! I said I'm better now!" It only seemed like his face got redder by the second.
"Your face is red and you're burning up so lie quietly." Shanks replied, the smile still playing on the red head's face. Even sick and exhausted, Buggy still could manage to argue with him.
Almost as soon as Shanks finished talking, Buggy was shooting out of his bed, grabbing Shanks by his shirt with a scream of, "Whose nose is red and big, you said?!"
Shanks frowned, pushing at Buggy's chest to try and get him to lay back down. He wasn't going to get any better if he didn't rest. This wasn't helping his case at all. "I never said that!" Shanks fought back, shoving Buggy's shoulders, trying to find the strength to push the Alpha back down. His annoyance running deeper as Buggy kept fighting back.
"Go, go!" Roger exclaimed from where he was sitting behind Shanks.
"Fight!" Oden called out next.
Crocus frowned from where he was, practically glaring at the two. "Don't incite them, Roger, Oden!"
Shanks tried again to shove Buggy's shoulders back onto the bed, move to stand on the bed itself to try and get leverage as the Alpha screamed, "Flashy treasure is waiting for me!"
Shanks scowled as he returned it with, "Don't push yourself, idiot!"
"I'm coming too!" Buggy shouted. Shanks gapped for a moment as Buggy split himself in half, leaving his bottom half on the bed, the top half bouncing across the floor almost comically until he had reached Roger. Buggy's arms wrapping around his leg. Roger only sat there, blinking down at his apprentice as the Alpha practically clawed at his Captain's leg. "Captain, take me with you!"
Shanks sighed, sitting on the bed as he placed his chin on his palm. A frown on his face as he watched Buggy and Roger. "Are you a monster or something?" Shanks grumbled. This idiot was never going to get better. That damn stubbornness over treasure being a priority over his own health.
After a moment, Shanks stood up, arms wrapping around Buggy's torso as he struggled to pull him back to the bed. Buggy's pheromones were flaring, trying to influence Shanks. Which wasn't doing him much good since Shanks had still yet to present. With some wrangling, Shanks finally managed to tie the Alpha up into his blanket. Three separate ropes tying the blanket together. It was almost instantly as Buggy started to flail on the bed in pure anger as Shanks sat back down in his seat. A small smile lingering on his face either way.
X
It had taken into most of the night, but Buggy had finally succumbed to exhaustion and had fallen into an almost peaceful type sleep. Shanks stuck by his bedside the entire time, not leaving once the entire time. Taking it upon himself to care for Buggy while he was ill. Shanks couldn't allow for his nakama to be ill all on his own. Fighting through a fever when he could help. The red head stood up, getting damp rag to place on the young Alpha's forehead. He could hear Buggy's mumbling in his sleep, "Take me with you…" just as Shanks placed the cool towel against his burning forehead. His face still flaring bright red. Almost comically as red as his nose.
"He's still saying it." Roger said, the impressed tone to his voice.
"Buggy-jiro has guts." Oden stated. "Buggy-jiro is making such a fuss over it, but you're okay with it, Red-taro?"
Shanks had turned in his chair, that same smile still lingering on his face as he turned his attention to his Captain and Oden. "Oden-san, Captain… If we wanna go there, we'll make it with our own ships someday."
Roger didn't say anything back, rather he stood up and crossed the room. His hand landing on the top of Shanks' head. The pup looked up at him with a sharp look with one that Roger returned to him. His smile only getting bigger at the grin placed on Roger's face. It was a silent communication between the two of them, but Shanks understood what his Captain was trying to communicate with him. No words were needed.
X
They had been left on an island not far from where they were. Roger setting them up in a local inn to stay in until they returned. Giving Shanks enough funds to cover for anything they could possibly need, already getting a hefty sum to the innkeeper for allowing them to stay. Buggy was tucked in bed, fast asleep, as Shanks found himself at the docks waving off his nakama as they made their journey.
As much as he would love to adventure with them further, taking care of Buggy meant more than that. It wouldn't be the same without Buggy by his side. He would rather not go to the island at all.
Once the Oro Jackson was out of sight, he turned back on his heel and started back for the inn. Crocus had left them plenty of medicine to get Buggy through his illness. The walk to the inn wasn't far from the port, barely even five minutes away. Shanks could only smile as he got back to their room. Buggy was still fast asleep in the bed. His breathing even. His fever had gone down considerably, but it was still too high to keep him on the sea. Even the redness in his face had gone down.
Shanks walked over, pulling off the towel that had been there, moving over to the sink and rewetting it with fresh cool water. Ringing it out and folding it back up, he crossed the room and placed it back onto Buggy's head. His fingers roaming over Buggy's soft blue hair for a second. Buggy leaned into the touch, bringing another slight smile to Shanks face as he pulled his hand away from the Alpha before he was sitting down at the table.
He shuffled as he felt the twinge of pain in his stomach, the heightened heat of his body. "If you got me sick." Shanks mumbled, folding his arms in front of him and placing his chin against them. He sighed as he let his gaze move over to Buggy. The Alpha still sleeping soundly. Just as long as if Buggy got better.
X
It had taken roughly a week for Buggy to fully recover from his sickness. He was back to be his loud, brash self once it had made its course. Shanks, on the other hand, was starting to feel more heat building up on his skin. The thin layer of sweat that had started to build up on his body no matter how many times he bathed. The twist of his gut. The way his nose would twitch even more whenever he got too close to Buggy. How intense Buggy's scent had become.
He did notice small changes. His own scent getting stronger by the day. His instincts screaming at him to stay closer to Buggy. Buggy had been staying just as close. Almost territorial whenever they would go out and get anything they need. Glaring at anyone who dared to look their way. It was… odd.
He felt as if he was on edge. That at any moment he would break down. It didn't feel like he was sick. Though his body felt a little weaker compared to usual.
"Shanks, are you alright?" Buggy questioned. His hand slipping to touch his forehead. His hand feeling cool against the heated skin. He practically mewled at the feel of his palm. The scent gland that was located on his wrist practically directly in front of his nose. The smell of soft cashmere and amber flooding through his nose as he leaned into it. His arms felt like they moved on their own, wrapping around Buggy's shoulders as he pulled himself against the Alpha. Biting his lip as he felt the friction between the two of them. "Hey, what the hell are you doing?" Buggy's hand dropped from his forehead, leaving him missing the way that it felt.
The Alpha's scent was still lingering in his senses. His eyes landing on the gland that was on Buggy's neck. Shanks dove in before he even had time to think. Rubbing his nose against in and inhaling as his hands curled into the blue-haired teenager's shirt.
Buggy's hands landed on his hips, fingers curling over the curve of his bottom that had the red head rolling his hips. It was barely a touch but the crave for it was there. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what was going on. Why he was wanting this so much. He wanted more. He curled closer to Buggy, the Alpha gasping in his ear for a second before he felt Buggy tensing up. "Shanks—" He choked on the air in his throat for a second as Shanks brought his hand up to curl it into the blue hair of the Alpha, his other arm bringing Buggy's shoulders close so he could bury his nose into the scent gland. "Shanks! Why the hell is your ass wet?!"
Shanks' face heated up as he pulled away, the choked sound escaping him as he dropped his hand, letting one of them move to the back of his pants. Freezing completely as he noticed that indeed the fabric was damp. He scrambled off of his fellow apprentice, the feel of his thighs sticking together was the first thing he noticed. The slick feel against them as he gaped, unable to find the words to say. It felt like his brain was short circuiting. Fighting between wanting to be close to Buggy again and wanting to find a place to hide out of sheer embarrassment. The feeling he had all week wasn't because Buggy had gotten him sick. No, he was presenting.
"Holy shit… you're an Omega." Buggy said before suddenly his own face flushed to the point Shanks couldn't see the difference between his skin color and his nose. "You're in heat."
Shanks groaned as he leaned back, covering his face with his hands as he tried to conceal it away from Buggy's sight. He had made a complete fool of himself.
"I… I gotta go." He said, pushing himself and rushing towards the bathroom before Buggy could even stop him. Slamming the door and locking it behind him without a second thought. Curling up on the floor and bringing his legs to his chest. Trying his best to ignore the foreign feeling happening in his gut. The feel of his pants sticking uncomfortably against his legs.
For a split second, he would rather die than see Buggy's face again.
X
Buggy sighed as he leaned his head back, eyes locked to the closed bathroom door. He could still feel the dampness on his hand. He could say he was surprised that Shanks ended up presenting as an Omega, but at the same time he wasn't surprised in the slightest. The Alpha huffed. Shanks was now occupying the bathroom. His hands needed washed and his pants having a noticeable wet spot where Shanks had been sitting.
This had been unexpected. Crocus only left something for Buggy in the case if he went into a rut, but since Shanks had been unpresented and without the knowledge of knowing what he could be, nothing was left for him. None of them had thought that Shanks would present pretty much after their doctor left. They didn't even know what to get for him to calm the symptoms that came with an Omega's heat.
It made sense now. His own protective instinct that had been flaring. The rise in Shanks' pheromones that were almost nonexistent before. How his scent seemed to get stronger. It had been in pre-heat the entire time.
Now Shanks was locked in the bathroom and refusing to come out, no matter what he said or did. This was just great. It would probably be soon enough, and Shanks wouldn't even be able to think straight let alone walk straight. It's exactly why they made medications for this that you just took whenever you felt a heat or rut coming on. It made them so much easier to deal with.
Now, it just left getting Shanks out of the bathroom and back into the room.
Buggy sighed as he pushed himself up, moving towards the bathroom and knocking on the door. "Shanks?" He didn't gain a reply, but he could smell the lingering pheromones. Urging him to try and get into the bathroom. Get to Shanks. "Open the door, Shanks. You can't spend an entire heat inside a bathroom."
"I can and I will!" Shanks screamed back. His voice had cracked as he spoke.
Buggy huffed, turning to place his back against the bathroom door. "You dumbass." He hissed. He could still smell Shanks' scent lingering on his clothes. The way his nose had felt against his scent gland. He placed his hand over it, a small frown settled on his face. They had slept in the same bed numerous times before. Shanks had buried his nose in his neck more times than he could count. This. This was different. He couldn't even be sure if it was purely instinctual.
A small whimper caught his attention, bringing him back to reality as he cursed and stood up. Crossing the room to his back where he kept a set of tools. Ones that especially came in handy whenever Buggy couldn't get into a treasure chest he wanted to open. The Alpha huffed as he fell down to his knees in front of the knob of the bathroom door and got to work.
"If the dumbass won't come out, you gotta bring him out by force." Buggy hissed.
As he finally got the door unlocked, the first thing he caught was the mass amount of pheromones that Shanks was producing. The spike in his scent. Shanks was curled up, head on his knees and arms wrapped around them. Trying to make himself look even smaller.
Buggy's nose twitched as he felt the flare of his own instincts screaming at him, but he pushed them aside as he took a step in. "Shanks?" He muttered, walking forward until he was kneeling down in front of the Omega. "C'mon, Shanks. Let's get you back into the room."
He reached out, grabbing Shanks by his biceps, not even giving him the choice before he was pulling him up. What he didn't get, Shanks didn't fight back against him.
X
Shanks was practically mewling on the bed. Face flushed over, a thin layer of sweat over his body. He was clearly in full blown heat now. Buggy could smell those pheromones from where he was, despite the fact he had his hand over his mouth and nose to try and block it out. Crossing his legs so if the chance Shanks looked over, he wouldn't be able to see what he was doing to him.
He didn't even know what he was supposed to do in this situation. He kept his back to the door. The chair in front of it. They were in a simple inn, not a room that was made specially for blocking pheromones from seeping out if they got too powerful.
He tried not to think about the fact that Shanks currently was only in his shirt. A sheet over his hips. The way his legs moved like he was trying to create some friction. A hand over his mouth as his back lifted off of the bed. Buggy knew he should look away, but he couldn't. Even when he had his first rut, it wasn't this bad.
Leave it to Shanks to get completely lost in his own instincts.
"Buggy." Buggy froze completely as he looked over, seeing Shanks looking directly at him with glossy eyes. The flush across his cheeks. The Alpha's own face flushed over as he let his eyes linger over Shanks before his hand was shooting across the room and covering Shanks' mouth. He could feel the heat of his skin underneath his palm. The way that Shanks' breathing was labored as he leaned into the touch. "Buggy, please—" It was muffled but he could hear every word.
The Alpha stood up, crossing the room, and moving to stand next to the bed. Shanks was looking at him through glossy eyes. Almost like a plea was being sent up his way. The Omega reached up, placing his hand flat over Buggy's. Fingers curling into the Alpha's the best that he could.
Buggy moved his hand away from Shanks' mouth, freezing as the red head smiled, leaning his cheek against Buggy's palm. Looking up at him through his eyelashes. "Shanks…" Buggy whispered, not exactly sure what to say. He didn't even know what he was supposed to do.
The Alpha's breath hitched as he felt the heat underneath his own skin. His gaze moving to Shanks' parted lips. Buggy felt the air catch in his own throat as he leaned forward, letting his lips ghost against Shanks' for a second. Shanks leaned in the rest of the way, connecting their lips. It felt like a spark was sent down his spine as Shanks' arms moved, wrapping around his shoulders and his fingers curling into the nape of his hair, twisting around the small strands that were there.
His lips were soft. His scent lingering up into the air, almost putting a cloud around his own mind. He wasn't even sure what was compelling him anymore as he got out of his kneeling position. The Omega pulled him down by his shoulders, practically draping him over him onto the bed. The red head's back on the bed. Buggy had to his his forearms to keep from toppling completely over as their lips danced together. It was a foreign feeling to him. His first.
A part of him couldn't be happier that it belonged to Shanks.
X
It had taken a week for Shanks' heat to run its course. Buggy had spent the time between making sure that his nakama was alright to guarding the door and making sure no one got in. Now, it appeared that Shanks was fully back into the correct mindset, acting just like he did before.
Neither of them would talk about what happened.
Shanks almost looked embarrassed to say anything, and Buggy couldn't find the right words to say.
For now, Buggy would wait. He would wait for Shanks to come to him.