Morning came too fast and Naia snuggled into the warmth of the body lying next to her, allowing the smell of musk and the sea to surround her. A husky chuckle vibrated from the chest she was burying her face in and Naia whined as it shifted away.
"Good morning, my nymph," Shanks whispered, lightly kissing her cheek. Naia sighed into him, nuzzling into his neck.
"Good morning, beloved," Naia hummed.
"Beloved? I like that." Shanks smirked, carding his hand through her hair. Naia flushed as his hand wandered over her body only to whine when he poked her cheek. "You haven't changed a bit since I last saw you."
"Oh?" Naia raised an eyebrow.
"Honestly, you haven't aged a day! It makes me feel old!" Shanks whined, pulling her close. "Tell me your secret."
"I'm actually an immortal being who has wandered this world for centuries, trapped in a mortal's body and constantly searching for a way to return to my original form," Naia deadpanned. Shanks stared at her for a moment before bursting out into laughter. "You asked for my secret, you can't laugh at it!" Naia pouted.
"Dahahaha, it sounds as unbelievable as the story about your island." Naia huffed, rolling out of his bed. "Naia, if you could go home, would you?"
"I've told you before, Red. It's been gone for years."
"But if you could, would you?"
"No, I wouldn't," Naia said softly, kneeling in front of the man. "I have no need to go back there, but for you, it would be quite the adventure."
"Adventure?" Shanks sat up fully, his eyes glinted with interest.
"Tell me, Captain, if I could lead you to the ends of the earth, would you go?"
"You mean to Laughtale?" Shanks scoffed. "One can not simply be led there."
"No, to the ends of the earth. Passed Laughtale, passed the Grandline. Would you go?"
"Passed?" Shanks echoed.
"I could lead you there," Naia purred, tracing a finger down Shanks' scars. Shanks tensed under her finger but didn't move away. "It's said the sea beyond the island is crawling with sea monsters and creatures beyond your wildest dreams. Treasures that have been lost to time and history that has been erased." Naia cupped his cheek, letting her voice softly caress his ear. "Imagine, Captain. You would be the first of this generation to go further than any pirate has ever sailed. Experienced an adventure one could only dream of."
"Yes," Shanks breathed out. Naia smirked.
"Then so it will be," Naia chuckled, brushing her lips against his.
"You really are like a siren." Shanks murmured.
"Excuse you?"
"You could ask me for anything right now and I would say yes," Shanks said softly, his hand cupping her cheek.
"Anything?"
"Anything you desire, my nymph." Naia grinned and a sense of satisfaction ran through her like a wildfire.
"Then make me yours, Captain."
"With pleasure," Shanks growled, a sharp grin on his face.
The sun was shining high in the sky by the time they emerged from Shanks' room. The ship was just beginning to wake up as the sounds of stumbling crewmates beat against the wood. Lucky Roux and Yasopp were quick to steal her for breakfast, forcing her to sit next to them and listen to their stories. Naia smiled and a relaxed atmosphere set over the crew as breakfast was served. Hangovers didn't dampen the liveliness of the crew in the slightest and Naia was envious of their quick recovery.
"How did you and the Boss meet?" A newer crewmate asked, Gunner (Naia was sure he was called).
"We met when he decided to visit the East Blue. They made a small island their base and I happened to be babysitting on said island."
"Babysitting?" Crowley grumbled. "I didn't know merchants babysat."
"We don't but I was on an extended leave and Garp needed someone to watch over his grandsons."
"Garp!?" Gunner exclaimed.
"You're looking at one of the few people to have ever survived Garp and not have to run away from it!" Roux boasted, slapping her on the back. Naia grunted, throwing a quick glare at the large man.
"I didn't survive him. I survived his grandkids which were arguably worse!"
"Who exactly are his grandkids?" Crowley inquired. Naia froze.
"Didn't you say one went on to be a fishmonger on the island?" Yasopp inquired.
"Yes, I believe the two older boys stayed in the village and the last one joined the navy." Roux bit his lip, no doubt thinking about Luffy in a Naval uniform.
"Then let's hope he's nothing like Garp when he grows up!" Gunner shouted. The table erupted into laughter and Naia couldn't help but join in.
"I would like to think I raised him better than that."
"She sure did!" Shanks said behind her. "Her lessons were the best, especially when she would read."
"The stories she used to tell were so fantastic, but the way she would tell them made you think they were real!" Yasopp explained. The table looked at her with such intensity, it had her shifting. Shanks squeezed her hand, but somehow it didn't fill her with as much comfort as she wanted it to. Naia wanted to make a good impression on the crew, but doubt crept into her head like a spider. She would most likely never share this table with them again.
"They weren't anything special." Naia flushed.
"Nonsense! When she joins us, we'll have nights spent listening to her stories," Shanks said, his arms wrapping tightly around her. "They will be nights to remember."
"She's joining us?" A voice asked harshly.
"That she is! She's just tying up some loose ends; although, she's taking too long," Shanks pouted.
"Boss, isn't it a little dangerous to have her with us?" Rockstar insisted.
"Dangerous?" Naia echoed.
"Dahahaha, I've taken on a whole pirate crew with only her as backup," Shanks smirked. "She will keep up."
"You can keep up with the Boss?" Gunner gasped. "How!?"
"Sheer will power and the need to take this one down a peg." Naia jabbed her elbow into Shanks' ribs. "Gotta keep him humble somehow."
"Did that happen when you guys went away for the day?" Yasopp inquired.
"Yes. It wasn't nearly as fun as he likes to think it was."
"What are you talking about? It was the most fun I had had in a while," Shanks said loudly. "We should do it again."
"You and I remember it very differently."
"I think even you remember how much fun it was at night." Shanks' hand slid up her leg, his fingertips tapping a beat against her inner thigh.
"Pervert!" Naia slapped his hand away, relishing in his crews' delight at her actions.
"Not what you were saying this morning," Shanks hummed in her ear. Naia felt her cheeks burn but she refused to goat him on.
"I don't think it's a good idea to keep her around." The room went silent and Naia could feel Shanks tense behind her.
"Why is that?" Shanks hissed.
"Because of what we discussed earlier," Rockstar said confidently. Naia could see the rest of the crew shrink away.
"Then it's a good thing this isn't a democracy but a dictatorship," Shanks said hotly.
"It would put the crew in danger!"
"Rockstar, that is enough!" Benn stood abruptly.
"You agreed to follow Shanks in any decisions he made when you joined this crew," Roux stated.
"Naia's seniority outweighs your judgement," Yasopp agreed.
"I don't want to cause-"
"Hush, Naia," Shanks snapped. "He has no right to speak to me that way nor does he have the right to speak so crass about you."
"Seniority? She hasn't even joined the crew!" Rockstar argued.
"What's gotten into you, Rockstar." Shanks shook his head. "First, you talked back to Whitebeard and now you're talking back to me. Do you honestly think you can take on an emperor?" The air stilled as Shanks left the challenge in the air. "I have been taken down by exactly 2 people since I became an emperor and I guarantee both were of a higher caliber than you."
"Two? Naia asked softly.
"We've recently met with an admiral who is quite unique," Roux explained.
"And we think it's you!" Rockstar jabbed an accusatory finger at her. Naia blinked.
"Me?"
"Yes!"
"Does-does that mean I get all the perks of ordering this one around?" Naia jabbed her thumb towards Shanks. "This could be fun! Like an endless game of tag!"
"You need a ship for that, Naia," Benn interjected.
"Oh right." Naia wilted. "My little dingy probably won't survive."
"If anything it would be us hunting you down," Shanks chuckled.
"I could outrun you!"
"I would pay to see that!" Benn laughed.
"I can outswim him so why wouldn't I be able to escape?' Naia pouted.
"You cheat when you swim!" Shanks pointed out. "I think only a mermaid could outswim you."
Naia felt her eyebrow twitch. "I find that incredibly insulting."
"To you or the fishmen?" Roux quipped. The crew burst into a fit of laughter, but Naia could feel her anger rising.
"I know when I'm being made fun of," Naia moaned. She sniffed lightly, burying her face in her hands. "So mean."
"Come now, Naia, we were only joking!" Shanks fretted.
"We were only-"
"Are we actually going to disregard everything?" Rockstar slammed his hands on the table and Naia jumped back, rocking her chair. She fell backwards into Roux, who caught her with ease.
"Naia, are you alright?" Roux whispered. Naia nodded, biting her lip. "Naia?"
"I'm causing you all so much trouble." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I didn't think about what the newcomers would think of me when I told him I would join."
"Why would you?" Yasopp asked.
"Because-"
"Because nothing! You made me a promise, nymph, and I intend on having you keep it." Shanks gripped the scabbard of his sword. "Now, Rockstar, why don't you come out and say what you've been dancing around," Shanks growled, stalking towards the man. Rockstar showed no outward signs of fear, but Naia could see the sweat beading on his forehead. "Don't lose your wits now, it was only just starting to get interesting."
"Shanks!" Naia hissed. "That's enough! You don't need to do this!"
"Naia, this is no longer about you," Benn spoked gravely. "Rockstar has been stepping out of line for a while now."
"This is insane." Naia shook her head. "I will leave you to resolve your issues, I do wish to see Ace before I leave and before he does."
"You can't possibly be okay-" Shanks started.
"I'm not!" Naia snapped. Shanks' eyes grew wide as the air grew heavy. "I don't want him anywhere near that man, but there are some things in this world we can not fight against no matter how hard we try." Naia spun on her heels, leaving the crew in her wake. She didn't want to keep arguing the matter. Not when there were more important matters to oversee. A small bridge connected the two ships and if Naia was being honest, it was more like a piece of spare wood than an actual bridge.
"So, if I push you in, would you gain a tail?" a male voice chuckled.
"Very funny, Marco, but no that's not how it works." Naia rolled her eyes at the phoenix.
"Have a good night?"
"Almost as good as yours."
"I don't want him going alone." The statement made Naia pause.
"I don't either, but the war was pivotal," Naia whispered. "I don't want any of this. If I had my way, I would hide him and his brothers away from prying eyes."
"I know."
"Well, you little sea urchin, when do you leave?"
"Soon, Weisman tells me Akainu is questioning my whereabouts."
"That man is bad news," Marco ground out.
"Believe me I know," Naia said, rubbing the back of her hand. "I don't understand where his obsession is coming from."
"You told him no," Marco hummed.
"You don't think… it's not possible." Naia shook her head.
"You think he might remember?" Marco inquired.
"He must have an inkling or something, why else would he be so-"
"Naia?"
"Ace?" Naia raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you over here so early?"
"It seems I'm being called away once more."
"You're going to have to tell him soon."
"I know, my dear," Naia murmured. Her hands cupped his cheeks. "You've grown into a fantastic young man. Your mother would be so proud of you."
"Are you?" Naia blinked. Ace looked so unsure of himself and Naia was sure she had heard him wrong.
"Me?" Ace looked as confused as she felt.
"I-uh-" Ace's eyes bounced around at their audience. "What are the chances we could go talk somewhere else?"
"Pretty slim. Shanks is currently looking for me and Akainu is most likely monitoring the currents." Naia smiled sadly. "Ace, there is little in this world that could take the pride I feel whenever I see you away. All I ask is you never give up," Naia said warmly, her hand cupping his now red cheek. "Even when it looks like the end, it never is. Death is but the next great adventure."
"Are you saying I'm going to die?" Ace asked incredulously.
"No, I'm saying don't go waltzing to your death with your head down!" Naia pinched his cheek. "You're too fiery for anyone to snuff out."
"Can't say she's wrong, Ace," Marco chimed in. "Let your fire always burn."
"Marco!" Ace whined.
"You're too cute when you're embarrassed!" Naia squealed. She pulled him into a tight hug, keeping him pressed into her chest. "And you're so warm!" She pushed him further into her chest, relishing in his warmth.
"Naia~ Mom! Stop it!" Naia blinked. Her hands fell to her sides and Ace set about righting himself along with his hat, but Naia couldn't move. Surely, she hadn't heard him correctly.
"What did you call me?" Naia said faintly.
"I called you by your name!" Ace stumbled over his words, his hand scratching at the back of his neck. "What else would I call you?"
"Of course, I must've misheard you." Naia wasn't prepared for the shot of disappointment she felt in her chest.