Chapter Text
You woke up, as you always did, before the crack of dawn. Like clockwork, you got up, put on your necklace, showered, brewed the coffee and while it brewed ambled up the stairs and shut off the light in the tower as the sky above the ocean became a few shades lighter, finally a line appearing between the abyss of night. You go back down the stairs, grab your coffee and go outside to watch the sunrise. You settle in your chair outside, and watch the sun slowly emerge from the inky depths. A small, tired smile crosses your face. As much as the monotony of your life dragged on you- this you could never hate. No two sunrises were ever just alike.
Sometimes the clouds prolonged the appearance of the sun, making the oranges and reds muted and billow like a fire ill-concealed by smoke and ash. Sometimes the stars would melt away like sugar and snow as the sun rose, other times they would have long blinked out and faded away. Sometimes the sky was just a shade too pink, too red, too orange- sometimes it was indigo that melted into the azure to bypass all the warm colors all together. You took a sip of the coffee, the bitter taste masked with your preferred creamer. You hum. You needed more creamer. More creamer meant going into town. If you were going to town, you would need a list of things you needed to not waste the hour walking down the cliff to the town below. More things meant more money in order to buy said things. Meaning you should check the traps for fresh fish to sell. You hum, unsure to be pleased in your break of routine, or mourn the loss of it. For now, you choose to be pleased depending on the state of your traps and the day. You finished your coffee, got up and re-entered your humble cabin built into the bottom of the lighthouse tower.
It was small, meant for only one keeper. A bed tucked into the corner, a bathroom wall behind it with a small flimsy door you needed to replace the lock on. But what was the point? You had no visitors to intrude upon you anyhow. The kitchen took up another wall, and your bookshelf was lined with the novels you rarely treated yourself with. You hummed again. Perhaps it was time for another, if you had the budget for it. You started compiling a list. Soap, vegetables, milk, cooking sherry, beef, coffee and creamer, a new brush. You tap the pen against the pad of paper thoughtfully. If you had caught a few fish, a new book would not be out of the question. Something to keep your mind at ease.
You get up, grab your cooler and head out, walking once again into the cool morning. You ambled down the small, narrow cliff path to the beach at the bottom. Rocks skitter and fall as you make your way down; you pause, however, as you hear the telltale signs of a bell ringing. You rush down, and... sigh in slight disappointment. It was no more than a rather large tuna that had got caught in the rope attached to the small dock on the private beach. Mumbling you haul it in, cut it loose and toss it into the cooler before reeling in the trap. A decent haul, you muse, tossing the fish inside into the cooler. Enough for a new book at any rate. You grab the snare and look out to sea, remembering the reason why you attached a bell to the snare in the first place...
*One Year Previous*
You get up in the dead of night, hearing a crash down nearby where the cliff path down leads. You sit up in a cold sweat, hastily throwing on your coat, and grabbing your father’s old flintlock. You rush out and look up, fearing that you had been careless, and the light had gone out. Relief floods you as you do not hear yelling, or see flames, and that the lighthouse light continues to circle gently to signal out to ships. There was a light fog that night, but not so dense that you could not see. You frown, so what had been the crash? You grip the flintlock tightly and head down the path. The sea breeze was cold and biting against your skin as you walked down, the rocks skittering about. “Probably nothing, the trap got busted, or that old dock finally collapsed.” You mumbled to reassure yourself.
You round the corner and stop dead in your tracks. The first thing you see, illuminated in the pale moonlight, is red. A deep, burgundy red that is bright in the darkness of the night, shimmering scales, and soft damp hair. A tanned, handsome and scarred face stares wide eyed back, a net wrapped around his arm and tail- his one arm. You gape at each other for a moment, unsure of what to do. Of how to make the first move.
The words of your father ring in your ears. Things you had dismissed due to his old age and poor health. “Sirens, girl, are not something to be trifled with.” He had said, waggling his finger at you.
“They’re vicious creatures, meant to lure unsuspecting sailors and maidens to their deaths with the promise of vices.” He took a hit of his pipe, the vice that had killed him a couple months later. “If ya see one, call the marines- or don’t you dare hesitate to pull that trigger.”
You raise the gun, prepared to shoot and ask questions later... but now, looking at the male siren, you can’t help but feel conflicted. This siren isn’t trying to lure you in, or sing to you, or even bat his pretty dark eyes at you. Instead, he stares, wary, exhausted and ashamed- as if embarrassed he had been caught. His skin is bruised, and the deck cracked slightly from where he had been pulling. He seemed to have been trying to get loose without breaking the dock but had given up. You lick your lips. They taste of salt. “Can you speak?”
He hesitates, tilting his head, his red locks sticking to his skin slowly falling a bit to the side as he does so. “I can.”
You swallow thickly. “How’d you get caught?”
The red-haired merman grimaces. “Got hungry.” He nods to the fish trapped in a net nearby. “Didn’t realize you had two traps,” He grins. “Clever girl.” His teeth are sharp, deceptively normal looking until he actually smiles.
“It’s...common around here. For two traps. One bigger than the other in case a shark or something goes for the other trap.” You say lamely. “Not as common for your kind to be caught in them.” You glance at the path. You should run up it, call the marines, have them collect him and be done with it.
The red-haired merman notices and swallows thickly. “Wait- I, I can get you whatever you desire if you free me. I’d do it myself, but as you can imagine, it’s a bit hard when you’re one handed.”
Sympathy hits you, no matter how much you wish it didn’t. It was one of the things your father had tried to get rid of when it came to you.
“You’d be a damn fine marine or lighthouse keep,” He had clicked his tongue. Your father always clicked his tongue when he was displeased with you. “If ya weren’t so damn soft hearted.”
“If I free you,” Slowly, you lower the rifle. “No funny business?” You ask, cautiously approaching.
“Not even a little bit!” The merman perks up, grinning, his scars around his left eye moving as it sparkles with delight. Three of them, uniform. You wanted to ask how he got them. Slowly, you approach, and start to detangle him, your hands shaking. But true to his word, he doesn’t move a muscle to hurt you, instead staying stock still and listening when you instructed him to turn a certain way. After a few moments, he is freed, and you yelp as he grabs your hand. Your heart races and you wonder if he’s going to pull you in and drown you- but instead you feel warm lips pressed to your knuckles.
“Thank you,” he says, grinning slightly. “I’m Shanks, you are-” You didn’t let him finish before racing away.
You turn just before the path, seeing his bewildered face. “You’re welcome!” You then race up, your cheeks hot. You were stupid to go that close, even if nothing had happened. You had done a good deed, and now you never had to see the merman again...is what you told yourself until the morning when you felt a hand grab your ankle as you checked the traps. You gasp, eyes bulging as Shanks pulls you down into the low tide water below the deck, grinning down at you as his arm wrapped around your shoulders.
“You’re back!” His tone is warm, as if he is genuinely glad to see you again. “Was wondering if you’d be too chicken to wander back down.”
You sputter, trying to find words, your heart racing. “You-You’re still here?!” You finally say your voice a few octaves higher than normal.
“Yep.” Shanks’s tone is proud. “Had to know your name so I know whom I’m indebted too.”
You flounder a bit. “You- you’re not indebted to me-”
“I beg to differ,” That grin is almost as blinding as the sun. All white, sharply lined teeth. “You saved my hide instead of selling it to the highest bidder or shooting me with that gun of yours. That’s worthy of some payback, don’t you agree?”
“No, no, it’s fine.” You wave your hands, turning to climb out, but instead a warm palm cups your face as his arm leaves your waist, red lashes flutter against tanned cheeks as deep brown eyes steal the breath from your mouth. The smooth, hard scales of his tail gently wrap around your ankle as you float. You become painfully aware of how much bigger he is than you.
“C’mon love, throw a man a bone or two.” His voice is almost a purr. “A name, a desire you have.” His nose is inches from yours, any closer and you’d feel his facial hair against your skin.
You smack him reflexively, before choking on air. That had been stupid to do, smacking a merman twice your size when he could drag you under in seconds. But to your surprise, after a moment he just laughs. “You’re a tough little thing,” He grins. “Maybe I’ll just call you Current for now.”
“Current-” You blink in confusion.
“Because you’re either helping me or beating me up.” He boops your nose teasingly. “Like a Current. Stubborn, confusing little thing that you are.”
You blink at him, your mind reeling. All your life people had told you that sirens, fishmen and mermaids were savage creatures. Beautiful like snakes and thrice as deadly because they appealed to those alone at sea when humans are most vulnerable to their instincts as social creatures. What people failed to mention was that they were playful, and apparently, extremely social as well. You wondered in your stress if Shanks was planning on killing you later, if this was a test to see if you were worthy of living, or if you had helped him for something in return. “So, Current, as we established, I am in your debt.” He tilts his head, staring down at you curiously.
“I- I uh, don’t need anything.” You say nervously. “Really, we’re good.”
Shanks smirks, as if in knowledge of a joke you don’t know. “We’re “good”, hm?”
“Well,” You clear your throat. “Yes.”
“We’ll see.” He turns to look out at the sea. “Hm, we’ll continue this another time, and maybe you can tell me your real name. Bye Current.” You sputter as his tail splashes you as he dives back down, disappearing into the dark waves. Nervously you collect your fish to sell and quickly depart from the beach. You go about your schedule, relishing the normalcy as you turn on the light and you sit with a bowl of strawberries, enjoying the summer night when you hear it.
“CURRENT?!” A loud voice calls. “CURRENT!?” You wince, sighing as Shank’s voice carries over the cliff edge. You walk over to the edge, glancing over. Shanks beams at seeing you, so wide you can see it from where you are. “Current! Come down here!” He calls to you, making an honest to the gods grabby motion with his hand. “I missed you! Where have you been?”
“Missed me!?” You shout back. “It’s been a few hours - And you don’t know me! I told you that I don’t need you to repay me!”
“Not how this works love,” He grins. “Now come down here! Unless you want me to keep shouting at the top of my lungs for you?”
Your brow twitches and you storm down, grumbling as you clutch your robe. Flustered and quite frankly, annoyed at how he had disrupted your life, you storm all the way to the dock. “What?” You hiss down at him, this time careful to not be close to the edge.
“Aw Current, don’t talk to a new friend that way.” He grins, climbing up with terrifying ease despite being one handed.
“I don’t know if I’d classify us as friends.” You say uneasily, backing up a bit. He pouts up at you.
“Well, I count you as a friend, and perhaps-” Shanks grins, holding up a rum bottle that he pulls from the sash around his waist. And no , you do not stare at his abs and faint scarring on his torso, dark hair gathered in a line down- No. Not one bit. “This can change your mind. Good rum, for you.”
You shift awkwardly. “What if I don’t drink? Besides, I don’t have one glass let alone two.”
“We can share it from the bottle, and if you won’t drink, more for me.” He says, almost smug.
You raise a brow. “And I thought it was for me?”
“Guess I’ll find something else you like then.” He hums, opening the bottle and taking a swig before holding it out to you. You sigh, sitting down and taking a small swig. You cough a little, the rim of the bottle tasting salty before the smooth rum hits your tongue.
“That’s the ticket Current,” Shanks grins. “Now we’ve shared a drink, we’ve got to be friends now.” He takes the bottle back, taking a swig. He hums in thought.
“What?” You ask, raising a brow.
“It tastes like strawberries.” You blush, and slug him on the shoulder, making him laugh.
“Don’t make it weird!” You shout, standing up and storming off in your embarrassment, ignoring how his laugh made your stomach flip nervously.
A few weeks pass of him showing up intermittently, always disrupting your schedule with playful grabs, hugs, and attempts to get you drinking with him again. It is on one of these visits that he grins mysteriously at you.
“I brought something for you.” You back away a bit, but glance down, seeing a small bag in his hands. The material seems to be made from old sails and cloth, tied and sewn together with frayed ropes.
“What is it?” You ask, shifting nervously before kneeling down onto the hard wood of the deck.
“A gift.” He says, holding the bag out to you.
You sigh, opening it. Inside was a cluster of beautiful sea glass, pearls, and shells. Bright, vibrant colors that shine in the moonlight, and probably gorgeous in the sun. “Pick what you like.” Shanks looks excitedly as you stare in awe of the sea themed beauty in the bag.
“Pick what I like?” You say, unsure.
“Mhm, no pressure.” He says, calm, his damp red hair shining in the fading sunlight like rust. You sigh and start rooting through the bag picking particular things you like.
“So,” Shanks looks to you. “Why is a pretty thing like you living by yourself?”
You glance at him, setting down some of your selections. Colors that remind you of dawn. Pale pinks, oranges, reds. “I’m the lighthouse keeper.”
“I gathered that, Current.” He tilts his head. “I meant, why do you not have a lover? Or at least someone to keep you company here?”
You pause. “I... lived here with my father, before.” You say quietly. “He was an old marine, took over this position when I was a baby.” You glance at Shanks. “I’ve lived in this lighthouse all my life.” You idly pick up a piece of sea glass, twisting it in your fingers, squeezing it a bit. “I never got along properly with the other children, and that didn’t change when we all became adults. I’m...comfortable here. As dull as it is.” You look at the dock, before glancing back up at him.
“And you’ve never wanted more?” Shanks cranes his head to you. “To leave, to explore the world? Too see what was beyond that horizon you stare at every day?”
You set down the sea glass. “I... never really put thought into it.” You stare out into the horizon, at the sky lighting up. The sun was painting the sky pink today, melting into the indigo blackness of the night. “Not much after I was a kid. Not much money, no drive to explore.” The lie you tell yourself comes easily to you, even years later. “I kind of accepted my fate in that I’ll live here likely until I die.”
Shanks hums. “Not much of a life.”
I huff. “Not all of us have fins and the ability to travel this ocean filled world freely.”
Shanks tilts his head. “Would you?”
“Would I what?” You look at him.
“Travel the world if you had fins?” He rests his chin on his hand, having shifted into laying down. After a moment of consideration, you lay down as well to be at the same level as him.
“I suppose so.” You say quietly. “But it feels a bit late to start my life now. I’m damn near thirty.”
Shanks hums. “So? I’m older than that, lost an arm and I haven’t stopped exploring.” He grins. “You’re only as old as you feel, after all.”
“Yeah, but you’ve probably been journeying all your life, and you probably aren’t alone.” You say, gathering the last of the materials.
“You’re right,” He nods. “I have my pod, and friends all around the world.” He looks at you. “But is it worth being comfortable where you’re lonely and miserable? Or is it worth more finally doing what you want?”
You stare at him, unsure of how to respond. He hums, gathering the last of the materials and tucking them into a separate bag tied into a red sash tied around his middle. Your selection is treated with more care, swept gently into the original pouch. “A bit of thought for you, Current.” He grins at you. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
You watch as he disappears into the waves once again, looking up as the sun rises, wondering if maybe he had a point.
You gather fish and go into town, going down the same path, the same way, passing the same homes. You can see people you had grown up with living their lives. A woman who had sat next to you in school watches her daughter playing in the yard as she hangs laundry, she had married a boy the year above you. A group of men passes by, laughing together as they head to work, just as they had ten years ago when their hair was less grey. An elderly couple who owned an orchard walked down the path ahead of you. They sold the sweetest apples, selling them for pennies to the school children. For the first time since your father had died, you realize how truly alone you are on this island. No connections, no roots outside of the ones you had dug yourself. Desperate to cling on to normalcy as everything changed. You head to the nearest restaurant, entering with your cooler held awkwardly in front of you.
“Ah,” the owner speaks up, calling your name and walking over briskly. “Fresh catches today then? I’ve been wondering where you’ve been, the fish you give are always great quality.”
‘ And cheap. ’ You think to yourself as you exchange money with him. “Not many fish, might have to change the trap location. Figured I’d sell what I have.” You give the weak excuse.
“Well good luck with that.” The owner says, carting off the fish, not even attempting a conversation. Your tongue feels thick in your mouth, a cool sweat on the back of your neck. Every giggle feels directed at you; every wayward glance feels like a drill against your skin. This is why you limited going to town. It felt like your own personal hell when you went. Like you were one of the fish caught and strung up, left gasping for breath as the air dried out your flesh. Idly you look at the news wall. Only to pause.
“ RED HAIRED DEMON SPOTTED NEARBY; MARINE BOATS DESTROYED”
“Siren pod headed by the infamous “Red Haired Shanks” spotted nearby the coast after the destruction of several naval fleet boats, it is believed that the pod is hiding in the coastal waters nearby. This pod is extremely dangerous with an extreme mortality rate. Any fishing or passenger vessels are highly encouraged to take caution and alert the Marine base on the island if you spot this pod.”
You pale greatly at the picture. Several wrecked marine vessels are depicted. Burning, two are broken in half. It’s carnage that befits the bounty poster that promises billions of berries for the capture of such a pod. No proper pictures available due to the sneakiness of sirens, able to hide deep under the waves. It feels impossible that your- that Shanks could have done this. Shanks who had such a bright smile and eyes. Who while flirty, and touchy, had never made a move to hurt you.
“Here you go dear,” The owner came back, carrying your cooler, pausing. “My- are you alright? You seem rather pale.”
“I’m alright.” You rasp, taking the cooler. “Thanks.” You rush out, the walk home a blur- or perhaps it was a run. All you wanted was to get home fast. You close the door to your cabin and sink into your bed. You curl up under the blankets, staring at the wall as you rock back and forth. It was fine. It would be fine, you just had to avoid Shanks. This time, with conviction.
But this time it’s worse. At first, he playfully calls for you. Then it becomes more solemn, sad. Then sometimes he even sounds frustrated or angry. Then, after a week, you hear it. A deep, throaty rumble. Singing. A lure to bring you to him, to enchant you to come down to him. But you refuse to let it work, wearing ear plugs, trying to sleep. However, none of it worked, it was only your will that kept you in place as Shanks sang for you. You slept less and less each night, until you more or less could only sleep a little during the day. Your money started running tight as well, your salary as the lighthouse keeper could keep your bills paid- but not your groceries or repairs to things. Finally, you reluctantly sneak down the cliff path after two and a half weeks. Shanks had stopped singing for the last two nights, and for once you had slept a little. You step onto the dock, seeing no telltale sign of red hair. You kneel down, gathering the fish.
You don’t notice the red until it is far too late, yelping as Shanks burst out of the water, your back hitting the old wood of the dock as thick rivulets of sea water run off of his body onto you. You gasp, staring wide eyed up at the less than pleased merman. “Hello Current.” He says coolly, tilting his head. The sunlight filters through his red hair, making it look like the sunset. Gold and vibrant red that filters through his wavy hair. Your breath gets caught in your throat. He leaned over you, slotted between your legs, his arm bent next to your head and his hand clenched around something as he gives you a displeased look. “You know, it’s very cruel to ignore someone, Current.”
“Where-” You choke out. “How did you know-”
“I smelled and saw you,” He huffs. “This is for you by the way.” He drops a familiar pouch, before you look back at him. “But before I give you that, I’d advise that you tell me why you thought it alright to so blatantly ignore me and my song. And don’t lie and say you haven’t been here- I could smell you from a mile away.”
You debated lying, but the words fail you. For everything that had happened, Shanks to your knowledge had never lied to you. He deserved the same from you. “I, I saw the news-” You swallow thickly. “I saw your name on it. Did... did you really sink seven boats?”
He stares at you, and sighs. “Yes. I did. And many more before that.” He gets off of you a little, sitting on the dock next to you instead. “... You’re scared of me.” Shanks stares out into the water, sighing as he rubs his face. “I had thought so, but had hoped I could convince you not to be.”
You can’t help the guilt you feel in your heart, he looks so tired, and downtrodden. “Why did you sink those ships?”
“They had merfolk trapped aboard.” He glances down at you, before looking back at the ocean. “That’s what they don’t mention, in the papers. They are always quick to call us the monsters- yet we’re not the ones kidnapping humans and selling them off as pets to the nobility.” Shanks snorts. “No, that’s a strictly human activity.” He looks at you and looks back out to the waves. “Maybe not all humans...but you are all scared of us at the end of the day.”
You look down. You hug yourself, cold from the water he had splashed all over you. “... I wasn’t scared of you beyond the second meeting. Until I learned that you had sank all those ships and you were wanted.” You confess quietly. “I couldn’t believe that it was you, but the “Red Haired Shanks” was kind of hard to brush off.”
He hums, looking at you from the corner of his eyes. “And now?”
You hug yourself a bit tighter. “I don’t know.” You confess softly, staring out into the sea. You feel a gentle tug as a warm, tan hand tilted your chin up.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me, you know.” Shanks spoke softly, as if reassuring a scared animal. “I don’t hurt the innocent.”
“And how do you define innocent?” You ask, pulling away a bit.
He smiles broadly. “I’m a great judge of character.”
“...It’s that simple for you?” You say flatly, raising a brow.
He only grins in response. “I never gave you my gift. Close your eyes.”
You give him a doubtful look, furrowing your brow.
“Come on, trust me a little.” He goads you.
You hum in discontent but close your eyes anyway. You feel him gently grab your hand, something cool and bumpy resting on your palm. You open your eyes, and gasp softly. In your palm, arranged carefully, is a necklace made of sea glass, pearls and shells. Arranged in such a way that resembles your favorite time of day. Smooth reds that fade into orange, pink, indigo and finishing with an inky black pearl at the center. “I would have had it to you sooner, love,” He grins. “But it’s tricky making jewelry with one hand- and even trickier when the recipient avoids you like the west blue virus.”
“You...made this for me?” You ask softly, gently running your hands over the bumps and ridges of the necklace.
“I did, you could ask members of my pod!” He says proudly. “I got a bit of help, but rest assured I did all the work.”
“You made it look like the sunrise.” Your tone is full of awe, looking at him.
“I did, I can see you most days, staring at the sunrise and sunset- figured it was your favorite time of the day.” Shanks looks out at the ocean, his tanned cheeks a tint darker.
You grip the necklace tightly, your cheeks burning red. “Nobody...nobody has ever given me something so nice. Thank you.”
He blinks, then smiles warmly, patting your head. “You’re welcome.”
You smile back, yelping as several mermen popped out of the water below the dock. “Shanks!” Grins a silver-haired one. “You give her the necklace yet?”
“I did,” Shanks grins. “But you didn’t have to scare Current like that lads, show your manners to a lady.”
“Ah, sorry about that miss.” The silver-haired one says as the others laugh. He raises his hand out of the water towards you. “Benn. Nice to meetcha.”
You hesitantly shake his hand, giving your name, raising your brow as you see Shanks pout. “What?” You ask him, shifting nervously.
“You told him your name with no trouble but not me?” He pouts, wrapping an arm around your neck and pulling you in with a grin. “You’re going to have to make it up to me Current.”
“Huh? How-” You gape, flustered.
“By drinking with us tonight,” He winks. “And perhaps letting us have the fish you caught today?” You huff.
“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?” You rub the back of your neck, slipping the necklace on and tying it.
“Nope. I’d just keep you here anyway.” He grins. So, party you do, well into the night. Getting into drinking contests with the pod, even eventually feeling comfortable (or drunk off of the wine and rum they carried with them) enough to swim in the ocean. You float, talking with Benn as the sun dips below the horizon. You jolt as you feel an arm wrap around your waist, relaxing as you see that it is only Shanks who seems pleasantly buzzed like you are. “C’mon Current, you owe me a dance.” He grins, pulling you slightly away.
“But there’s no music, and...” You glance down at his tail questioningly. “And when do I owe you something? Aren’t you dead set on paying me back?”
“This is repayment for you leaving me high and dry for days on end,” he pouts. “You could have caused some grey in this red hair you know.”
“Then I suppose I do have to make it up to you.” You smile, a bit guilty. “But how do merfolk dance anyway?”
You shiver at feeling the end of his tail wrap around your ankle, the scales cool and smooth to the touch. “I can show you, although, it’s a bit harder above the water.” He hums. “Would you be down for going under so I can show you how the dance can really go?”
You think about it. “I can’t see down there like you can. I mean,” You look to the lantern you had set up. “That’s not going to illuminate much.”
“I wouldn’t let you go.” Shanks tilts his head. “Do you trust me?”
You nod, and gasp as he presses you a bit closer with a grin. “Then hold tight and take a deep breath.” You take a comically large breath, your cheeks puffing up, causing him to laugh. “Seas below that’s adorable." You turn red and make a sound of discontent as he takes you under the water. It’s brighter than you expected, the moonlight penetrating the surface of the water to the sand on the sandbar. It was breathtaking, serene, fish swimming lazily around the seaweed and rocks lining the bottom. Shanks grinned; arm wrapped around your waist firmly, twisting lazily with you. You smile, gently kicking your legs as you both cut through the water, similar to dolphins swimming around one another. You look around, your back pressed to his chest as he swims through the wooden posts of the docks, seeing the barnacles, crabs, and algae underneath it.
You laugh as he is distracted, hitting his head on one of the wooden posts of the dock. Bubbles escape your throat, and he is quick to take you back to the surface before you even struggle for breath. “Are you ok?” You ask, still giggling as you reach up and check the back of his head for lumps. Instead, he closes his eyes, leaning into the touch.
“Perfect.” He opens his eyes, soft and tender. “Right now, I’m perfect.” Shanks pulled you into his side, floating in the ocean with you. “Having fun Current?”
“A lot actually, it’s funny. Usually, I feel itchy at parties like this.” You say, staring up at the stars, relaxed.
“Itchy?” His tone is teasing, but not malicious. “How does a party make you feel itchy?”
“The eyes, the laughter- I get self-conscious.” You admit after a moment. “It makes my skin crawl normally, but I don’t know.” You glance over to where a playful spar is taking place between the pod. “I don’t feel it here. I think it’s because none of you are ashamed or judgmental, you’re all so...free.”
“Do you like it, with us?” He asked quietly.
You look at him, your mouth dries at seeing the serious look on his face. “I think I do.” You admit quietly. Shanks grins and you swear that you see your precious dawn in the middle of the night.
“We enjoy having you around too.” Your heart pounds in your chest, feeling yourself lean in, eyes slowly sliding shut... Only for the pod to go deathly silent. You yelp as Shanks sets you upright immediately, quickly swimming over to the dock. “Current you need to go,” He says quietly. “Please, be quick and stay low.”
“Shanks?” You ask worriedly, hearing rushing waves in the distance as you climb onto the dock. “What’s the matter?”
He smiles sadly, reaching up and stroking your cheek. “We’ll be fine. Go home and stay quiet. I’ll see you in the morning.”
You bite your lip, but nod and run away, staying low. You run up the narrow path to the top of the cliff your home resided on. You pause, tensing as you see a naval ship slowly approaching. You enter your home, watching intently as it comes closer, not stopping but instead focusing heavy spotlights on the water. You lay down in your bed, staring at your ceiling as you clutched your necklace tightly. Terrified that the silence of the night would be broken by the naval ship opening fire. But it doesn’t, and for the first time in years you don’t go outside to watch the dawn. You had already seen it that day anyway.
You spend the day sleeping, venturing out when the sun sets, relieved to see no naval boat today as you rush down the path. In your haste you slip down, scrapping your knees but you pay no mind as you go to the docks. “Shanks?” You call out hopefully, looking around. “Here Current.” You turn to the side, seeing Shanks floating below you, staring up at you with sad eyes.
“Shanks! You’re alright!” You say, relieved as you stare down at him. “I was so worried you were going to be caught.”
“Nah, they’d need a lot more than one boat if they wanted to bring me in.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. It falters and he sighs. “But...we’re going to have to keep moving. The longer we stay, the more likely it is they might get the drop on us,” He reaches up and takes your hand. “And the more likely you could get in trouble for being associated with us.”
Your heart aches, and your mouth becomes painfully dry. “But...” You bite your lip. “I understand.” You say quietly, as much as you hate the idea of being alone again. Shanks squeezes your hand gently.
He says your real name reverently, drawing your attention to his face again. “Did you mean it? That you were happy with us... with me?”
“I did.” You say softly.
“Then one year.” He says, his eyes earnest. “Wait here, one more year, and I will come back for you. If you want to come with us.”
“You mean it?” You ask hopefully.
“I never go back on my word, you know that.” Shanks is deadly serious. “One year, after all,” His eyes go to the necklace hanging low, catching in the sun. “I already made you a promise.”
“Then one year,” You say, leaning down. “I’ll miss you.”
He rises up a little, a breath away. “May I kiss you before I go?”
A part of you wants to tease him or make him wait until you see one another again. But you can’t cause that pain to yourself. “I’d be very mad if you didn’t.”
Warm lips meet yours, slightly chapped and tasting of salt and wine. It’s sweet, tender and loving. If not for the need to breathe you don’t think you ever would have pulled away.
“Strawberries.” He muses, somber. “One year.” Shanks places a soft kiss on your palm. “One.”
“One year.” You say softly, lifting his hand and kissing his knuckles. “One.” After a moment you both let go, and you watch him dive below the waves. You tried not to let the crushing weight of being alone again hit you, a feat that became much harder when the next day you didn’t find the dawn quite as beautiful as you used to.
*Present Day*
You sigh, closing the cooler and rubbing your necklace. Two more days until it had been a full year, and you hadn’t seen a glimpse of red hair or charming smirk. You chastised yourself; he had said a year. And besides there could be delays in his journey, more ships to wreck, other merfolk to help, another- you stopped the thought with a slap to your own wrist, gently rubbing a piece of sea glass on your necklace, smiling softly. It was not as if he had forgotten you or anything anyway. A few more pods had popped up along the year, and the occasional solitary merfolk. The Straw-hat pod had been one of your favorites, the leader’s bright smile genuine and infectious. And Luffy had been very excited to meet Shanks’s intended.
“Huh?” You ask, your eyes pulling away from Luffy and Usopp as they excitedly devour the fish from your trap, Nami and Vivi lounging on your deck with Chopper in the sun next to you, Sanji scolding Zoro as the latter drank down your wine.
“Your necklace,” Nami pointed, her short orange hair shining in the sun. “It’s a courting necklace, you do know that, right?”
You blushed hotly. “No! That- he never told me that ! He claimed it was a gift!”
She hummed, nodding. “It is a gift, a courting gift. An engagement necklace specifically if it has pearls on it. It’s custom for merfolk to give each other handmade jewelry when starting to court.”
Vivi leaned forward and nodded. “And so much work, he must have searched everywhere for all the different kinds of sea glass.”
“Woah!” Luffy grinned, rocking excitedly, his straw-hat hanging from his neck. “You must be super cool if Shanks is taking you as his mate! I’d ask you to join my pod- but it looks like you’re already taken.” He snickers good-naturedly. “Tell him I said hi when you see him, and that the next time we meet I’ll be king of the merfolk for sure!”
You huff at the memory, walking back towards the beach. “Stupid silly man, not even asking me to marry him properly.”
“Sorry Current.”
“You should be sorry you-” You stop dead in your tracks, slowly turning your head. There, floating in the water below you with a loving grin is the subject of your ire, devotion, and love. “You...” Hot tears well up in your eyes. “You-”
“Oh, Current my love don’t cry,” Shanks says soothingly, wide eyed. “I’m sorry-”
“I missed you!” You dive into the water, knocking into him, hugging him tightly around the neck. He laughed loudly, spinning you around in the water, hugging you back just as tight as he can.
“I missed you too love.” Shanks murmurs, kissing your temple lovingly. “I missed seeing the furrow in your brow, and that smile of yours.” He pulls away, kissing you on the brow, then the lips. “There it is.” He kissed the tip of your nose before smothering your face with kisses. You respond in kind, giving him just as many kisses around his face. You wipe your eyes, your arms around his neck. “You’re two days early you know.” “Love if not for the circumstances I would have been here three weeks ago.” He huffed. “But things kept getting in the way.”
“Oh yes, which reminds me.” You bonk him lightly on the head. “What gives with giving me an engagement necklace before even dating officially!?”
He pouts. “Is that a no then?” He asks.
“Well-” You blush. “It’s, it’s...it’s a yes but that’s not the point!” Shanks laughs lovingly at you, resting his forehead to yours.
“Well, if that’s a yes, then how about a yes for this?” He pulls away and holds up what appears to be a small white fruit.
“What is that?” You ask, furrowing your brow.
“A choice.” He says softly. “This time, I’m telling you fully what it does, because I love you and I want you to make this choice on your own. No matter what, I love you, and we’ll make this work.” Shanks sighs softly. “This fruit makes it so that a human can become a merfolk- but they can never go back to being human. It’s a one-way thing.” He looks to you. “I want you to travel the world with me, you deserve to see it. To have that adventure you crave for... but I know how you feel about this place. This has been your home all your life.” He gently cups your face. “No matter your choice, I want to be with you.”
You think about it, looking down at the fruit, then back up at the lighthouse. The sun is starting to set. “I only have one question.” You say after some thought.
“Of course, Current-” He gapes as you take the fruit, shoving it into your mouth and chewing only enough to swallow it. You smile, kissing him as you feel a tingling in your legs.
“What colors you want for your necklace?"