A/N: Tessaโs communication skills are not the greatest teehee Also Iโm sorry for how short this one is but hopefully it can hold yโall over while i get into the niddy gritty of Tessaโs backstory ๐
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"That's enough, Tess!" Makino cried, pushing aside the first mate and frantically leaping in between the older woman and the captain.
"Get out of the way, Makino." Tessa warned, her voice a low growl, but Makino refused.
"He helped us, Tess!" she said, trying her best to keep her tone even and calm.
"His disputes with the mountain bandits are going to get you and Luffy killed!"
Makino desperately tugged at her sleeve. "Tessa, please-"
"It's bad enough that he's already been injured! What about next time, when none of us are there to protect him?" She took a deep breath, looking directly at Shanks.
He stood there, calm and silent, looking at Tessa like she wasn't holding a pistol to his chest. Looking at her like they were the only two people in the world. She couldn't tell the exact meaning behind his eyes, but the longer she looked into them the softer they became. It angered her. He really wasn't taking her seriously, was he?
She gently pushed Makino aside and raised her pistol to Shank's eye level, ignoring how numb she felt doing so.
โYou best point that gun somewhere other than at our captain, miss. Or they'll be hell to pay!โ That was Benn from behind her. She ignored him. Other members of the crew made similar threats, but none of them made a move to stop her. So she ignored them all.
"We have an agreement with the mountain bandits.โ Tessa continued, โWe accommodate them, they leave us alone. That is the way it's always been. We don't need help and we don't need saving, especially from the likes of you." Tessa's voice was hard and direct.
Shanks looked down at the barrel of her gun, then back up into her eyes. His expression had shifted. A smirk slowly formed on his face. It was a smile she did not see on him often; one that meant he wasn't happy. She stood her ground.
"Do you think I'm joking?" Tessa demanded.
Shanks didn't answer. Instead, he raised a hand and slowly lowered the tip of the pistol away from his face, all the while never taking his eyes off of hers. His smile was gone. Tessa couldnโt even react. He took a deliberate step closer to her and she felt her heart leap from her chest. She tried everything not to show it, but he knew; he could see she was trembling. "I think," Shanks said finally, his voice surprisingly gentle, "that you would do anything to protect the people you love."
Tessa faltered. The sounds all around them - the bustling docks, seagulls flying to and from the thatch roof above, Makino's whimpering beside her - all faded into silence. All she could see was Shanks and all she could hear was his voice. Her hands were shaking so hard now that she was having trouble keeping her grip on her pistol. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. But her brows remained furrowed and her glare stern, despite the pit in her stomach. "I would." She took a deep breath, attempting to ground herself. "You'd be wise to remember that." She felt Makino slip a hand into her palm, but she kept her gaze on the captain.
Shanks' expression didn't change. "I don't forget," he said. "However, it was not the bandits who injured Luffy. Do you think - Tessa, do you honestly think I'd have let them just walk away if they had?"
"I can't say for certain what you would or wouldn't do, Captain." Shanks flinched. Her voice had a sharp edge to it, causing a pain in his chest at the harsh way she uttered his title. "The solemn fact is that if you hadn't arrived this morning, none of this would have happened." Tessa said bluntly, uncocking her gun and placing it within her skirt pocket. "You're to be gone in two days."
Her abrupt demand caught them all off guard, especially Makino who yanked harshly at her arm in protest. "Tessa," she whispered urgently, "please don't do this."
Tessa looked at her friendโs pleading expression and felt a pang of guilt in her chest. She knew that Makino liked Shanks, that she saw the good in him and trusted him, and that she didn't want to see Luffy hurt by sending the pirates whom he loved so much away for good. If he knew Tessa was banishing them, it would crush him. But, Tessa and Makino were similar in that they would both do anything to protect the lad. And the older woman couldn't ignore the fact that these were pirates, notorious for their ruthless tactics and lawlessness. Even if they had a considerably noble reputation, in her heart she felt like it was the right thing to do. If not for Luffy's sake than for her own.
Tessa took a deep breath and looked back at Shanks. "This has always been a quiet, peaceful village,โ she began, โYou've come and gone as you've pleased for a year, despite the mayor's protests. He may have conceded to you, but I refuse to continue to put this village in danger by allowing you to stay," She said, her voice struggling to remain firm. "Two days, Captain."
Makino gripped Tessa's shoulders. "But they've always been kind to us. They've done nothing wrong!"
"It's alright, Makino." Shanks spoke up then, placing his hand gently on shoulder until she released Tessa from her grasp. His eyes never left Tessa's face.
Shanks was grateful that none of them could sense the inner turmoil raging within him. It was incredibly unlike him to want to stay in one place for very long; he had always been a bit of a wanderer. But here in Windmill Village, he found himself wanting to stay against all his instincts. The rather remote village had become their headquarters for the better part of a year as Tessa said, and Shanks couldn't deny the comfort and familiarity it brought him. Nor the attachments he felt to some of its villagers. Even if she were to lecture him every day of his life, he knew he could be happy here.
But even as he reveled in this newfound sense of home, he understood deep down that he didnโt have a choice. Staying would complicate things - not just for himself but for Tessa. Her bitterness towards him and his crew, her anger toward him specifically: she truly did hate him. He knew that pirates had a less than honorable reputation and though he'd fought tooth and nail to rewrite that prejudice, there were always going to be those who hated him simply for what he was, and not who. He couldn't blame her, however. And he wouldn't risk losing her completely by going against her very clear wishes. At least by leaving he could guarantee them all a long, happy life far away from the dangers of his world.
Shanks' lips curled into a small smile and he bowed his head in agreement, the brim of his straw hat obscuring the grief in his face. "We shall resupply immediately," he said, his voice determined yet gentle. "I swear, miss, we will not set foot upon your shore again."
Makino's breath caught in her throat as she gazed up at Shanks, her eyes widening in disbelief. Her gaze then flicked back to Tessa, who stood with a resolute set to her jaw and an unwavering determination shining in her eyes. Makino's shoulders slumped in defeat, knowing that there were no words she could speak now that would sway her friendโs decision.
Shanks stepped aside from Tessa and walked past her, his loose sleeve brushing up against her arm. The small touch was enough to ignite her chest. Her heart pounded so violently in her ribs that she was certain Shanks himself could hear it, but on he walked.
"Shanks." Tessa said, suddenly.
He paused, standing utterly still between the parted body of his crew. His name filled the air like dense fog, heavy and all-encompassing, rolling off her tongue with a firm yet thick determination. Tessa's fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt, the rough material digging into her skin. When she spoke, her tone was empty, "If you do, I'll kill you myself."
The words hung in the air, drowning out the sounds of the surrounding waves and villagers. None of them had ever heard Tessa speak so bluntly. None of them had ever heard her voice come so close to breaking. But all Shanks could hear was his own heartbeat. It was loud in his ears, deafening, paralyzing almost. Her words struck him, like a knife in the gut. He felt the air escape his lungs and his heart break. And then he heard the rap of her boots echoing away until he was certain she was gone. He stood straight, not meeting any of their eyes as he passed through the crowd of pirates, ordering them all to โstop lollygagging, there's work to do!โ
The bar was empty within seconds, but not as empty as Makino felt at that very moment. She needed something to steady her. The wooden floor creaked under her boots as she walked, the rough surface reminding her of the discomfort she felt in her own skin. Her fingers brushed against the bar counter, holding herself upright, and she poured herself a large drink which she downed it in seconds.
Fools, she thought to herself. If two idiots could be more in love . . . She poured one more drink, gathered herself together, and went back to work.
The first non-commission drawing Iโve finished in over a year. And it took me 2 days?? The second I decided to draw Iรฑaki, it was already finished. Thereโs just somethinโ about him. ๐๐
No one better comment on the fact that his name is in Korean and not Japanese. Iโm learning Korean rn, pls.
Synopsis: Tessa, due to a complicated past, has an opinion about pirates. An opinion that's become a bit muddled since he came to the village for the first time. It's all inconvenient, really. Falling in love.
Warnings: Swearing, Alcohol Use, Guns, Mention of Facial-Related Injuries, Fluff (may be subject to change)
A/N: Thank you Thank you THANK YOU to all the notes I got on the last chapter. I wasn't sure if people would like it. I was proven wrong! I apologize on the wait for this installment - My life is a mess and doing things is hard. I don't particularly like this chapter. Writing dialog for characters I don't know very well is intimidating and I tend to overthink it. But anyway, here's part 3!
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Makino's ears picked up the thunderous rage echoing from Tessa's boot heels long before she heard her voice, which called out to her in a viciously anxious tone. Makino sighed, having already been nursing a headache from a lack of sleep without being demanded upon every ten minutes, and set the large crate of bottles she'd been carrying on top of the bar to create some form of barrier between her and Tessa. "I thought you'd still be at the cottage," was all she said in response, keeping herself busy.
"I would be, had a certain 8 year-old not knocked my front door from its hinges." Tessa said, studying the sudden wide-eyed expression on Makino's face with an intense look of her own. She leaned against the bar and set her palm over Makino's hand, gripping her fingers so tightly her knuckles went white. "What - happened?" She demanded in a stern, yet calm voice.ย
Makino sighed again. Her mouth parted, ready to offer an explanation, but her words were cut off by the bustling of laughing pirates from the other dining hut. One of which, Yassap, was stumbling towards them with a nearly empty bottle pressed to his lips. Upon spotting the newly arrived older woman, his arms flung open in an inviting gesture and a wide, intoxicated grin stretched across his face. "Tessita! You're just in time!" he bellowed, positioning himself beside her. "Makino's new shipment just arrived. Come, drink with us!" He extended the bottle to her in offering.
Tessa's gaze flickered with a mix of gratitude and annoyance, while trying to hide the latter. "Thank you, Yassap. But I'd actually like to have a word with your captain. Where is he?" Her eyes darted past Yassap's shoulder, scanning the area for any sign of the man in question.
The pirate snatched another bottle from the nearby crate, popping the cork to savor its aroma before swiftly grabbing another and tucking it under his arm. "He and Benn took the cargo to the trader's," he explained, slightly more focused. "They should be returning shortly." His attention quickly shifted back to Makino, who was placing a second crate onto the counter. "You're a savior, my girl!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with inebriated gratitude.ย
Makino nodded, her lips pressed in a thin, tense line. She made a conscious effort to steer clear of the intense look displayed on Tessaโs face. Yassap, however, continued to encroach upon Tessa's personal space, thrusting the uncorked bottle towards her. The intense odor of rum burned her nostrils.
"Join us for a drink! Before the captain makes his return," he urged once more. Tessa's annoyance etched itself deeper onto her face, yet Yassap remained blissfully unaware of her frustration. "There'll be nothing left when he does." He added, suddenly erupting in laughter as he found amusement in his own joke. Tessa was developing a headache of her own.ย
Suddenly, Benn's voice pierced through the air from behind them. "Is that mutiny I hear, Cap'n?" he playfully inquired. Tessa's tension eased as she turned around to find the first mate and Shanks ascending the stairs into Party's, mischievous grins adorning their faces. The minute Tessaโs eyes met the Captainโs, her face flushed a deep burgundy and she whipped her head around to catch her bearings - now was not the time to let her heart disrupt the reason sheโd come here.
"Mutiny? It's barely midday," Shanks interjected, embellishing a mixed expression of astonishment and annoyance as he stepped under the thatch roof. He sauntered up to Makino and asked her how they should handle Yassap's treachery, a playful wink accompanying his words. The question elicited the first genuine smile from her all morning. She slid an empty glass to him and disappeared around the corner with one of the crates of rum.
There was a heavy silence that followed. Tessa was sure the three men present could hear how hard her heart was pounding in her rib cage. After a moment, Yassap and Benn conversed quietly with each other at the end of the bar, essentially leaving her and the captain alone. Shanks, while pouring himself a drink, exhaled Tessaโs name and she felt the room start to spin around her. She took a quiet deep breath and regained herself, setting aside the unsolicited ache in her chest at hearing her name cross his lips. She swiftly pivoted on her heel to fully face him, her expression indifferent yet determined. โYou carry enough tension in those shoulders to anchor a ship,โ Shanks observed, but with enough certainty to avoid glancing up to gauge her reaction. "I hear youโre looking for me." She watched him throw back the small glass with hardly any effort and immediately pour another, and yet he still would not look at her, which intensely deepened her frustration. She scoffed, her knuckles clenched around the skirt of her dress.
"Have you completely lost your senses?" She asked finally, her words dripping with unbridled anger. "Indulging in the boy's fantasies is one thing, but allowing him to eat a Devil Fruit is completely irresponsible."
Shanks shook his head and chuckled. "You think I'd be so careless?" he asked.ย
"Was it not you who brought the cursed thing here?"
"Aye -"
"Yet you stand there and deny accountability?"
At last, the pirate captain shifted his position to directly face her. The intensity in his dark eyes sent a powerful wave coursing through Tessa, leaving a tingling sensation in the back of her throat. He held her gaze for just a moment during the strained silence, his irises dancing back and forth between hers. She pressed her lips firmly together, her breath frozen in anticipation. Then Shanks sighed, his shoulders already drooping in defeat. He leaned toward the glass beside him and took another drink.
"The lad's stronger than we give him credit for," he stated in a calmer tone than she'd expected. "We shouldn't underestimate him."
Something in Tessaโs chest tightened. Braver than she'd ever been, she took an intimidating couple of steps toward Shanks as another surge of anger shook through her. Was he not taking this seriously? she thought.
He could feel the intensity of her rage radiating from the warmth of her closeness, her amber eyes brighter than they'd ever been. Even as he recognized the mistake in his words amidst the hazel universe ablaze within her glare, he couldnโt help but secretly admire the radiance in those eyes, despite the clear warning they illustrated.ย
"He's just a boy!" Tessa shouted, disrupting the rhythm of Shanks' heartbeat, though his features remained stoic. โHe may think the world of you, Captain, but you are not responsible for him!โ
โI never claimed to be.โ he said, simply.ย
โAnd yet you consistently welcome him at your heel like some lost pup.โย
At that moment, Shanks could feel the overwhelming curiosity emanating from his nosy crewmates. From his peripherals he could see Yassap and Benn huddled at the end of the bar, sharing a bottle between them, while the rest of the crew inched closer from the neighboring dining hut, their chairs not so subtly scraping against the catwalk. He sighed again, already missing the sea.ย
Tessa went on, deliberately closing the distance between herself and Shanks. He raised his hands in defense, retreating from her fury alongside the bar until the stools behind him pressed against the back of his legs and he almost stumbled backward. "You fill his head with nonsense and then vanish for months on the seas while he's getting into all sorts of trouble, pretending to be a pirate. Just to impress you when you return -"
Shanks couldn't help but feel a hint of fondness at Tessa's words, though he refrained from showing it, given the intensity of her grief. He couldn't quite grasp why she was so furious with him specifically, considering he hadn't actually given Luffy the Devil Fruit in the first place. However, he doubted that explaining this would make a difference at this point. He was content allowing her to vent at him. This was after all, the most entertained he'd been in months.
Shanks had rarely encountered Tessa outside of Party's, yet her presence commanded his attention almost as strongly as Luffy's insatiable need for it. Wherever she went his curious eyes followed, as discreetly as he could manage anyway. Despite this, he never sought her out directly. Their interactions had been limited to a few polite exchanges, always tinged with a lingering trace of the bitterness she had displayed during their initial meeting. She'd made her bias known and with as much confidence as when sheโd lectured his first mate, which he had to admit was in his list of top ten favourite moments in all of history. She was a fire, that woman. And he admired her resolve.ย
From what little he could get out of Makino throughout the months, he could at least discern that Tessa was a great friend to have - provided you were on her good side. Shanks would see the two women at Partyโs, always huddled in some corner or another laughing together but quietly enough to never be heard over the raucous noise of pirates. And Tessa would conceal her smile behind a bar rag as if keeping her joy a secret from everyone. Him, especially. When the lull of the sea crashing against the hull of his ship would finally begin to ease him into a deeply intoxicated sleep, he would sometimes dream of what her laugh sounded like.ย
"You claim no responsibility-" Tessa's voice snapped Shanks from his thoughts," but Luffy's actions these last several months have been solely due to your influence," she said, a slight tremble at the ends of her words.ย
Shanks looked past Tessa and met eyes with a worried Makino, who approached tentatively from the catwalk, leaning into Yassap to most likely ask what was happening. "It's the Captain's turn for a lecture, miss," Yassap remarked with a not-so-subtle chuckle. Makino attempted to approach Tessa, but Benn held his arm in front of her and advised they wait to see the outcome. Shanks made a mental note to have a word with them both later.ย
"Whether or not you deliberately gave him that Devil Fruit, him eating it is a result of your carelessness," Tessa went on. "There are dangers here other than sea kings, Captain. Dangers that don't just disappear when you do."
"Yeah, we met those 'dangers' this morning." Yassap spoke up from behind Tessa, him and Benn chuckling into their cups. "Didn't we, Captain?" The sharpshooter didn't notice the red hot glare Shanks gave him in response.ย
Tessa spun on her heel, her sharpened, slivered eyes suddenly wide in what Makino immediately recognized as fear. "You what?"
Yassap reiterated what he'd said, goading Shanks for his performance with the mountain bandits as if he himself hadn't simply sat there laughing with the rest of the crew while their captain mopped a mess of glass and whiskey from the bar floor.
"Higuma and his men?" Tessa asked Makino directly, the anger in her eyes now overshadowed by worry.ย
Makino slowly nodded. And with a sharpness in her tone she said, "Shanks made sure they didn't do any harm." She'd meant to reassure Tessa that she needn't worry, but it was no use. The very thought of that scum being anywhere close to Tessa's friends without her being there to protect them made her stomach churn into knots. How could she have left them to be defended by a pirate? And then Tessa remembered the stitches on Luffy's face and her mind went white with rage.ย
Quicker than any of them could register, Tessa's shaking hand disappeared into the folds of her skirt and reappeared clenching a large black pistol which she directly extended back toward Shanks. The second they heard the click of the gun loading, every pirate in Party's jumped to their feet and drew their weapons.
Synopsis: Tessa, due to a complicated past, has an opinion about pirates. An opinion that's become a bit muddled since he came to the village for the first time. It's all inconvenient, really. Falling in love.
Warnings: Swearing, Alcohol Use, Facial-Related Injuries, Fluff (may be subject to change)
A/N: I've barely read or seen ANY of the manga or anime so pls don't murder me about inaccuracies. I'm in love with OPLA Shanks and needed to get my frustrations out in writing. So have a fun, angsty short story filled with fluffy goodness. Will be updating as I can.
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Shortly after the Red Force settled into port, Tessa left Makino to tend to her business with the pirates. She wouldn't be caught in the middle, not with her heart racing as fast as it was and sleep coating her eyelids so heavily. She thought to look for her street urchin, but realized halfway to his nook beneath the docks that he most likely would have snuck aboard the ship by now. He'd have bolted to see Shanks the moment he woke, having been counting the days until his return, of that Tessa had no doubt. The young woman sighed, unsure of what to do.ย
Makino's voice rang in the back of Tessa's mind, warning her of regrets once more. But it was too early in the day to think of regrets. So, she turned back toward town, careful to avoid the main docks, and began the long trek from the beach to the cottage on the outskirts of the village.ย
It was a small thing, Tessa's cottage, with a charming and rustic allure. The vibrant blue of the wooden planks that adorned its exterior had long faded from the coastal sun. The once bright yellow door, now tinged with a soft gray hue, hadn't welcomed visitors aside from Makino or Luffy in years. Inside, its worn walls were decorated with flattened bouquets of flowers that Tessa had picked during her hikes through the hills and paintings by her mother that were older than she was. She hung seashells with discarded fishing wire in an intricate path connecting the only two windows, which cascaded together in blissful chimes whenever a soft breeze caught the milky, lace curtains.
A large, peculiar-shaped piece of driftwood sat above the hearth, a gift from Luffy just one year prior. Not long after the Red Hair Pirates came and left Windmill Village for the first time, he'd found the driftwood on the beach and attempted to shape it to look more like the dragon figurehead of Shanks' ship. Tessa couldn't perceive the resemblance, but she never had the heart to tell him. So, above the hearth it stayed.
Inside the cottage was cold, as she had no need to light a fire last night, having spent the entire evening at Party's with Makino. Tessa reached for the dingy, red shawl hanging beside the hearth, wrapping it around her shoulders, and went to work on starting a small fire. Moments later, she swung a kettle over the open flames and nestled into the large quilt she'd spent most of the spring working on, which draped over an old wicker chair in the corner of the open room. The salty air of the sea drifted through the windows with the cool breeze, mingling with a scent almost like cranberries as Tessa poured the boiling water from the kettle through loose hibiscus petals. It was a tart drink, but one that served better to wake her than most things. She let it rest for a moment and sat back in the chair, turning her head toward the window.
Her gaze immediately fell to the pirate ship.
Despite the feelings Tessa held for their captain, she still remained uncertain of the Red Hair Pirates. She rarely spoke to any of them, usually just in passing and never for very long, despite the fact that they'd been coming and going from Windmill Village for over a year now. They'd established a mutually beneficial relationship with the islanders over that time, so much so that greeting the pirates at port became almost a tradition for some of the villagers. But not for Tessa. It was not completely lost on her that a band of respectful sailors was possible. But a band of respectable pirates? She'd never heard of such a thing.
The first time she found herself face to face with one of them, she'd been on her way to Party's to help Makino when she collided right into Benn Beckman, the first mate. He laughed it off and advised that she should watch her step. She couldn't recall what came over her that day, but his audacity sparked a fire in her chest.
"Well excuse me, sir!" She said, her voice already loud enough for everyone near to turn their heads. "I've never been made to 'watch my step' before you lot came, bounding about like you own the place. And usually when you knock into a lady, you apologize, not laugh in her face!"
The pirate laughed again, louder and much heartier than before. The pale of her face flushed pink, the anger coursing through her overshadowing any fear that might occur from the consequences of her outburst. But to Tessa's astonishment, he simply bowed, placing a large hand over his heart, and asked for her forgiveness. She didn't know what to say or do. When he met her gaze again, a genuine smile crossed his features and she stood there, completely bewildered.ย
That's when she heard him for the first time, calling the first mate from beneath the canopy of Party's. "You starting trouble with the locals already, Benn?" He asked.ย
"No more than usual, Cap'n." As Benn passed her on the dock, Tessa's eyes rose to the man that he'd referred to as 'captain'.
He was certainly tall, much taller than Makino who stood just beside him, with vibrant red hair and a grayish cape draped across his shoulders, and on his head sat a peculiar straw hat. Peculiar because it adorned the head of a pirate captain: the most fearsome sort of man one could come across. This man, with his straw hat and charming features, didn't look dangerous. In fact, as he watched her enter the bar, she found her gaze fixated on him, not in fear but in curiosity. Specifically his eyes. Dark as pools of ink under the shade of his hat, Tessa wondered in that moment the kind of stories they held within. But, as she arrived at Makino's side, she lastly took note of the three long scars that decorated the left side of his face and steeled herself at the last second, despite the man's warm smile.
"Apologies for my first mate, miss," he said to her. "A life on the seas sometimes causes a man to forget his manners."
Something inside Tessa tensed. Makino sensed it, immediately turning to look at her friend, and saw the hard expression on her face. "I'm sure manners isn't the only thing," Tessa retorted.
Though puzzled, Shanks chuckled and smiled wider in response. Heat rose immediately through Tessa's face, which irritated her more. She finally met Makino's worried stare and said, her words heavily soaked in resentment, "Since when do we do business with pirates?" She surveyed Shanks up and down, taking in the intrigued look on his face, and practically sprinted across to the other dining hut.ย
Tessa looked back on that memory and cringed. She'd been so angry with Makino for helping them that day. She couldn't believe that in only a year her opinions on pirates would become so muddled. All because of Shanks and his crew. It was hard to believe there were others like them, at least for Tessa. Her own experiences with pirates had left a bitterness in her heart that cast a dark prejudice on them. So, in the beginning, she'd hated Shanks. She hated that Luffy admired him so much. She hated that the village placed their trust in him so quickly. But most of all she hated that, despite all her animosity and resentment, she'd still fallen in love with him.
She'd known it only a few months later when the pirates had returned from another trek across the seas and their captain called cheers for both her and Makino after they'd spent a whole afternoon making sure his crew was fed. She'd known it when she watched him help a young girl collect her basket of apples that had fallen to the ground, her tears shifting to laughter as he gave her words of assurance. She'd known it when he'd placed his hand over hers that night at Party's, though she hadn't been able to even look at him since. For all he knew, Tessa still hated him. But for the first time in a year, she no longer felt content keeping it that way.ย
There was a sudden rapping at the door, which jolted Tessa from a sleep she hadn't known she had fallen into. Luffy was standing in front of her before she could wipe the haze from her eyes. "TESSA," the boy shouted, despite the fact she was already quite awake.ย
"Yes, Luffy. What can I do for-"ย
The woman's voice caught in her throat as she finally looked upon the boy's face. Her hand instinctively flew to his cheek, her thumb hovering anxiously over the tender stitches just below his right eye. "What on Earth happened?"ย
"Tessa, you're not going to believe this! Look!" Luffy bounced away from her touch and stood just in front of the fireplace, the flames mere embers now; how long had she been asleep? Her eyes wouldn't leave the fresh wound on his face.ย
"Luffy, please. Tell me what happened!" She urged him, but alas the boy ignored her.ย
He raised his arm high above his head, and with a triumphant yell, swiftly thrust it forward. Tessa's breath was forcefully expelled from her lungs, leaving her feeling dizzy, as she observed the boy's arm unnaturally extending across the room, knocking her front door wide open and causing it to dislodge from the top hinge. Luffy instantly recoiled, overwhelmed by immediate regret, and looked to Tessa with sheepish guilt. "I can fix that," He said, lunging forward.ย ย
Tessa's eyes were transfixed on the boy. She observed as Luffy attempted to hoist the door back into place, but found it unable to stay by itself, and had no choice but to let it fall once again. This time, the weight proved too much for the weakened second hinge, causing the door to collapse to the ground. Overwhelmed by an immense sense of remorse, Luffy avoided Tessa's wide-eyed expression at all costs. Fortunately for him, he wouldn't have to explain.
She'd heard many stories about Devil Fruits throughout her life and the unnatural gifts they offered, but also the curse they bestowed upon whoever consumed one. A multitude of emotions swirled within Tessa's mind, yet one sensation eclipsed them allโan abrupt and profound anger that surged from the depths of her stomach, fixating on a certain captain with vibrant red hair.
Synopsis: Tessa, due to a complicated past, has an opinion about pirates. An opinion that's become a bit muddled since he came to the village for the first time. It's all inconvenient, really. Falling in love.
Warnings: Swearing, Alcohol Use, Fluff (may be subject to change)
A/N: I've barely read or seen ANY of the manga or anime so pls don't mrder me about inaccuracies. Im in love with OPLA Shanks and needed to get my frustrations out in writing. So have a fun, angsty short story filled with fluffy goodness. Will be updating as I can.
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Tessa could tally the number of times he'd cast his gaze on her with two hands. The occasions he had spoken to her directly were even scarcer, a mere handful. And once, just once, amidst the jubilant atmosphere inside Party's Bar, as she set a tray of drinks at his table, he unexpectedly reached out and gently squeezed her hand, wordlessly expressing his gratitude with a smile and a nod before diverting his attention back to his comrades. It had only been for a moment, but it was enough to make the world around her just a bit blurrier. She remembered standing at the bar counter after everyone had left, ghosting her fingers over her hand where his touch left a tingling sensation that still remained. Tessa had known him only a few months altogether and yet in her heart she knew she had fallen utterly and completely in love with Red-Haired Shanks.
Makino, Tessa's dearest friend, teased her relentlessly about it. She knew full well the only reason Tessa picked up extra work at Party's was in hope that she'd catch glimpses of Shanks walking back and forth from the docks, despite never putting any effort to actually engage with him. With a playful glare, Makino warned Tessa, "If you ever vanish off on romantic escapades and leave me to single-handedly manage this place, I'll never forgive you."
Tessa seemed appalled by the very idea. "You know I could never," She assured her friend, "Not even for someone as alluring as Red-Haired Shanks. Windmill Village is where I belong." And Tessa tried every day to prove to Makino that she meant it, but whenever the pirate captain sauntered into the shade of their roof, Tessa's heart ached.
But, Tessa was not the only one who admired Red-Haired Shanks so fervently. Luffy, a young boy whom she and Makino had watched over for most of his life, was perhaps even more spellbound by the captainโs presence than she was. The young boy looked up to him, trailing behind Shanks with unwavering enthusiasm at every opportunity he could. And contrary to Tessaโs initial expectations of him, having known him only by reputation, Shanks consistently exhibited an astonishing level of patience and kindness when it came to Luffy, though perhaps occationally poking fun at the lads urgency to join his crew.
In fact, Tessa's infatuation with Shanks began the first time she saw him and the young boy interact. Each time after simply added to the depths of her affections. She lingered on her duties at Party's, completely engrossed in the tales he wove for Luffy and the other attendees, painting vivid pictures of sea monsters and nefarious villains. She adored the way Luffy hung onto his every word, understanding wholeheartedly how captivating his stories could be. And when he laughed, his voice bolstered above all others without a care in the world how many eyes fell on him.
When the pirates were away, she would catch Luffy swinging wooden swords at Makino's barstools, shouting at invisible foes and claiming himself a pirate. โIf you break anything, Iโm adding it to your Treasure Tab,โ Tessa would say, a running joke between her and Makino and him.ย
โIโm good for it,โ Luffy always reassured her, exclaiming that one day he would be the mightiest pirate captain, with enough gold to keep Party's open forever. He truly was the sweetest lad she knew, with a determination that would shake the foundation of Mount Colubo one day, she was sure of it.ย
Though, in part, Luffyโs enthusiasm to become a notorious pirate did bring about a cloud of worry over Tessa and she felt comfortable enough in Makino's discretion to share these troubles with her, but only during times when the Red-Haired Pirates were out at sea and their influence over the young boy held less weight. In addition, the grip Shanksโ presence held over her heart was also loosened by his absence and she felt more inclined to talk about him without sounding entirely like a love-sick fool.ย
But Makino knew Shanks far better than Tessa did. More accurately, Makino knew everyone better than Tessa did. Even Luffy. She knew how to talk to people in a way that entranced Tessa. And if she trusted someone, there wasn't a soul living or dead who could sway her loyalty to them.ย ย
โHe may be a pirate, Tess, but you can take my word for it: Shanks is a good man," she told the older woman, on more than one occasion.ย
When they'd both stayed up past the wee hours of the early morning recovering Party's from the previous evening, Makino felt especially daring in her tired haze and asked Tessa, "Would you love him if he weren't?"ย
Tessa nearly dropped the glass in her hands and snapped around to glare at her friend, her amber eyes practically ablaze. โI do not love him, Makino. Donโt be ridiculous,โ she scorned, turning away immediately to hide the color washing the pale from her face. โItโs just an infatuation. Nothing more," she said, scrubbing the glass dry a little more aggressively. "One day, Shanks and his crew will come to this island for the last time. They'll have their last drinks, tell their last tales under this roof - and then they'll leave."ย
Makino stared at the back of Tessa's head, the laughter in her lungs knocked from her breath when she heard the shake in the other woman's voice.ย
Blood surged back into Tessa's knuckles as she loosened her grip on the bar rag. She set the cup on the counter and let out a shuddering sigh. Quietly she added, "Like all pirates do," and placed the glass beside the others before reaching for the next.
The tension in Makino's shoulders faded in the silence that followed. She sighed in a 'knowing' sort of way and suddenly wrapped her arms around Tessa's neck, taking her by surprise. Makino brushed her thumb back and forth over her friend's shoulder as she trembled beneath her weight. Neither of them spoke for a while.ย
They both watched from their place behind the bar as soft waves cascaded against the sturdy docks, causing the fishing boats to sway and bob in place. The darkness that cloaked the sky was already fading into a gradient of deep purples, then shifting to an array of pinks and reds as the sun climbed higher toward the horizon.ย
When the first rays finally hit the water, reflecting its warmth to caress their faces, Makino breathed a heavy sigh into the softs curls of Tessa's auburn hair, her sad smile hidden from view. "You and me, Tess, we're all each other needs, ey?" She said, finally.
Tessa's lips trembled. She closed her eyes and desperately reached for the other woman's wrist. "Of course, Kino," she agreed, leaning back into her.
Makino squeezed her arms around her just a bit tighter and then loosened them completely, stepping away to pick up the rag she'd abandoned. "You've always been a terrible liar," she chuckled.ย
Tessa spun on her heel with a mind to assure Makino she'd meant it, but there was a sound on the distant waves that trapped the words in the back of her throat. The faint, haunting chime of a bell echoed through the air, resonatingย four, five, six times. And then, silence.
Makino only looked back when the other woman let out a quiet gasp, but Tessa's gaze had already moved to the distant horizon, her eyes locked onto a shape materializing from the early morning fog. A ship, by the looks of it. Makino sighed, knowing very well there would be no sleep for her now. She could pay Luffy to run ahead to the traders and that would certainly give her time to prepare for visiters. "Get some rest, Tess. If they plan to stay, I'll need you for the evening rush," she said in her hurry.
But Tessa remained, her heart pounding against her ribs as she watched the ship come to port.
Staring at this painting makes me incredibly emotional, so now everyone else has to.
Side note: Yes, I know Billy Hargrove was a terrible person in general, but he was such a complex and incredibly written character, marking him as just the a**hole seems unfair to both Dacre and the writters of ST. He was simply human, layers apon layers of traumatic experiences, which he projected toward those around him . . . I could honestly go on a huge rant about how much I actually love this character, but I'll spare you guys for now.
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