Chapter 1: Blue Boy
Blue and red. Those were the first colors known to the unnamed boy. Born from a prostitute with the same hair coloring. A child would bring nothing but hardship. So at the ripe age of two weeks old, the woman left the unnamed boy at an orphanage. By three years old he had heard every word in the book. Freak. Red nosed freak. Blood boy. Blue boy. Clown child. Jester. Feral child. Bastard boy. Unnamed. Unwanted. Unloved.
At an even older age of five big blue eyes stared out at the enormous ship in front of him as he stood between two warehouses overlooking the port. The mop of hair on his head had long been turned brown with dirt and grime. Same as his ostentatiously big red nose. He hated his nose. He hated how round it was. How big it was. How red it was. He hated red. Red was the sign of danger. Red was the color the sky got before a storm rolled and he HATED storms.
He liked watching ships. Big ships. Little ships. Marine ships. Fish-man ships. Fisherman ships. But most of all, he loved pirate ships. They were unique. Some ostentatious with figureheads so big and oddly shaped. Colorful sails. Sails devoid of color. Some black. Some red. Some with odd shapes embroidered into the sails. Some had words across them, though he couldn't read the words.
Today a big ship with red sails and white sails pulled into the harbor. The pirate Jolly Roger was flying from the crows nest. The gold trim highlighted the red painted wood. He was about to step forward to get a better look at the beautiful ship. He had never seen a ship like that one before and it pulled him towards it. Adventure was screaming at him. COME! HERE!
Just then he saw the orphanage warden walking the stone walkway of the port. Quickly, quietly he hid himself in the dark alley between two stone warehouses, near the trash. He didn't want to go back! He couldn't go back! Not when the caretaker would strip search him. Touch him in places, even he knew were wrong to be touched by an adult! He held his hands over his ears.
You can't see me. He thought as the black boots of the warden walked closer and closer. His heart beat so loudly in his ears. He could feel each beat in his throat. It was making him sick. No. No. No. Don't see me! His thin tiny body shivered with fear as the one eyed black leather dressed man peered into the alley. Not sensing what he was looking for, he slammed his baton onto the metal cans.
The unnamed boy slapped a hand over his mouth to stop the fear filled whimper from leaving him. Tears streaked down his face. No. No. No. Don't see me! Echoed in his mind when the man finally walked away.
Several minutes passed before shaky hands left his lip. Sniffles and more tears came. Why? Why? Why!? He screamed mentally. Why was I born? There isn't anything here for me! I'm not needed! Not wanted! Griping his hair he pulled at it. Tears fell from his eyes as his nose got wet from them.
He hated his life!
Come! Blue boy. My child.
The whisper was almost too soft for him to hear. Snot running out his nose, he turned his head to look at the red sailed ship again.
Come. HERE!
The voice grew in strength and volume. Could others hear it? If so, why weren't they reacting to it?
Come.
He felt as if a hand was caressing his chin. Pulling his arm to come to that ship specifically. His feet moved on their own. Moving to the platform that was putting supply crates on the ship. Pushing a lid to a barrel open, the unnamed boy climbed into it.
Adventure was calling and he was answering it.
M-Angel: This is going to be a Shanks/Buggy story when they were kids. No romance. Just best friends turned brothers.