One of my friends has never watched the anime in her life, but she’s really hooked on the live action, and she texted me yesterday like: “What’s wrong with that fucking clown guy and the other guy he’s always talking about??? Girl, he’s worse than *insert our other friend’s name* with her annoying ex.”
A/N: Like I said in my previous post there's been some family stuff happening that's been going on and left me a bit down and drained so I wanted to be a little self-indulgent. So I decided to bring out another part of an idea I loved doing the first time around. There'll probably be more of this prompt at some stage but I hope you enjoy this one for now. [It was ages ago but Shanks and Buggy were requested by @selenexblack and Mihawk and Zoro were requested by @asura0nepiece]
*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*
DIRECTORY | PROMPT LIST | KO-FI
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SHANKS
Shanks had a simple rule as Captain, ‘unless it was actually serious, try not to panic.’ It was a good method that fit Shanks’ laidback attitude and it helped keep the newer additions to the crew at ease while the longterm members of the Red Hair Pirates were more than used to it. Although this rule did bring a slight problem at times; for someone who took everything in his stride with a smile and a joke as easily as Shanks did, what exactly did count as ‘serious’? The day Luffy was abducted by bandits not long after eating his Devil Fruit for instance was definitely serious. The time a battalion of Marine ships pursued them before he earned his Emperor status on the other hand? Barely cracked Shanks’ threshold of mental capacity of even considering that was possibly serious.
You were the anomaly to the rule. No matter how big or how small, if it concerned you it was always going to capture Shanks’ attention and today was no exception. Shanks rose from his bed with a long yawn and stretch. As he stepped out onto the deck of the Red Force he bid a good morning to the crew members that were already up and seeing to their duties. With the sun beaming down on him and the gentle winds blowing Shanks grinned, feeling today was going to be a good day. The only thing that would make it perfect would to have woken up next to you but you were currently on an island on the outskirts of his territory and he was expecting you back any day now. As he settled into his seat he looked to Beckman as the vice-captain sank into the other and lit his first cigarette of the day. As Shanks lazily kicked his feet up onto the table, Beck grabbed the rolled up morning paper and unfurled it.
This was the usual routine, passing the time until Lucky shouted for breakfast, or until an island came into view. As Shanks tipped his head back and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his skin he frowned to realise he hadn’t heard the lazy turn of the page from Beckman’s side of the table. Glancing over Shanks frowned to see his friend’s hardened expression. “Beck? What is it?”
Wordlessly, Beck looked up and Shank’s stare sharpened and sat up properly as the paper was set in front of him, unopened with the front page staring him in the face. With lightning fast movements Shanks had the paper snatched into his hand and was on his feet, the chair slamming back and crashing to the ground so loudly that a silence fell over the crew. Every set of eyes on the ship zeroed in on their Captain, watching his vicious glare fixed on the paper in his crushing grip that trembled in a ferocious, silent fury.
Shanks knew that what he saw was real but still had yet to fully believe it. How could it possibly be true? But there is was in black and white. The headline was simple but hit hard. “CAPTURED!” Underneath it was your picture. There you stood flanked by Marines, your hands behind your back in heavy iron shackles. In the photo Shanks could see the cuts and bruises against your face and arms, your clothes disheveled. Your gaze was sharp and dangerous, glaring at something or someone out of shot. It was clear your attention was elsewhere, not bothered about the Marines surrounding you in the least. There was no fanfare with a story detailing your capture last night, no how and why it came to happen. They were smart to also leave out where you were. You had a reputation and the last thing the Marines wanted was to let an opportunity like this slip through their fingers. “What are your orders Shanks?”
His eyes flashed as he finally looked away from the paper to turn his attention to Beckman, only now seeing that the others had gathered. Well, those that were able to withstand his fierce haki that had been that he’d been rolling off of his body in waves. “We set a course to get them back. If we have to mobilise the other ships in the other territories on our way then so be it.”
“Bit early for a war meeting, isn’t it?” Shanks froze and turned sharply to see you climbing over the railing of the Red Force and onto the deck. You cast a slow look over the slumped forms of the crew members unused to Shanks’ haki and back to your lover. “What’s got you so-”
Before you could finish your question, Shanks was across the ship and pulling you tight against him, kissing you deeply. You felt worry to feel Shanks so tense and when he finally pulled back he concerned you even more when his hand moved to touch the bruise against your cheek. “Shanks I’m fine.”
“I saw the paper!” Shanks insisted, even having you in front of him did little to calm the spike in fear that he’d felt. “I was ready to tear through every Marine ship I came across and destroy every base.”
“Paper?” You repeated in confusion, looking over when Hongo lifted the dropped newspaper from the floor and showed it to you. Your gaze looked over the image and you let out a small scoff. “Someone got ahead of themselves publishing that, can’t wait to read this afternoon’s edition.” You faced Shanks again and smiled lovingly, cupping his face. “I promise I’m fine. Remember your rule? Unless it’s serious, don’t panic.”
Shanks let out a small huff, pulling you close again, finally beginning to relax. “I’ll always be serious when it comes to you. You should know that by now.”
BUGGY
Buggy had a flare for the dramatic, everyone knew that. Those that served under his command also knew not to do anything to upstage him. Even if they drew attention their way, no matter if it was unintentional or not, they had to be sure to make it anything they did seem as though Buggy was responsible or in the spotlight. If they didn’t they knew they would have hell to pay and a very large headache to contend with. The crew collectively could feel a headache forming one morning when they spotted the morning paper and scrambled to come up with a plan. There was no way they could think of a way to fix this. So they all decided they would do their best to hide it, to hide what you’d done and stop Buggy from seeing it.
“What are you idiots whispering about?” Buggy’s voice demanded from behind the huddled group of his crew, eyes narrowing when they all let out a yell and spun to face him. “Well come on spit it out already!”
“It’s nothing Captain!” Mohji insisted, hastily shoving the newspaper he kept hidden behind his back into the hands of the crew member beside him. “We just didn’t know if you were awake yet, didn’t want to be too loud and disturb your flashy self!”
“Exactly! A-and now that you’re here we can be as loud as we want! Right everyone?” Cabaji added, cheering out with the others in the room in the hopes this unified display and excuse were enough to convince their leader nothing was wrong. Buggy stared hard at the group and after a tense moment of silence he grinned and they visibly relaxed when he turned away from them in supposed acceptance of their odd behaviour. However it wasn’t until Buggy was out of the room that they struggled to find the paper they’d all been hiding amongst themselves. “No, no I definitely handed it over to-”
Suddenly they realised too late there had been an extra set of hands. Quickly the group raced out of the room and slid to a halt on the deck to see Buggy standing and staring at the paper open in his disembodied hands, eyes zeroed in on one page in particular. On a full page story detailing the daring and flawlessly executed theft of a high ranking Marine vessel that occurred less than a week ago there were two images, one of the vessel itself and along with it was your photo as you were finally named as the sole criminal responsible. Because of their irrefutable conviction you were the thief of the ship, your bounty had been dramatically increased, the updated poster also held within the pages of the crumpled newspaper. Enraged, Buggy spun on his heel and yelled out your name.
Confused for the sudden call you poked your head out from the Crow’s Nest and stared down at the assembled crew and your Captain on the deck. “I’m right here.” You called out, watching Buggy’s upper half split from his legs and sail upwards until he was eye level with you. Lightly you folded your arms on the wood and smiled at the man in front of you. “What can I do for you Captain?”
“Explain this!” Buggy demanded practically shoving the story in your face. Blinking you looked at the story, eyebrows raising slightly to finally see you were named.
“I think the paper has all the details, sir.” You explained softly, not understanding why he was so worked up about it. “Is something wrong?”
“Why did you steal a Marine ship!?”
“Because you told me to.” Your answer was stated so simply and sweetly that Buggy bristled when you followed it up with a smile. His eyes narrowed slightly, he wasn’t sure why but you always seemed to bring out a feeling of unease with him. Not that he would ever admit to feeling flustered or nervous around you. He was the great and amazing Buggy. He didn’t show weakness at all.
“No I didn’t!” Buggy insisted fiercely with a sharp shake of his head. “I didn’t tell you to steal a Marine ship!”
“Well not specifically but you did send me out to gather money and track down that treasure map you wanted.” You explained with a shrug and your smile growing. “Selling the ship to dismantlers to strip it for resources got you the coin as well as the map that was on the ship our navigator’s using right this second. So see, it was all done on your order and it was a success, just like you knew it would be.”
“I…did?” Buggy asked, his anger slowly fading. Yes he ordered you to go out and search for that map because he always knew you’d get results. So when you returned with the vast amount of money and map he didn’t feel the need to question how you accomplished it. He just hadn’t anticipated this would have been the answer.
“‘Course. You’re a genius after all sir.” You beamed up at him. “I’m your crew so anything I do is with your say so. The Marines know that too, that’s why they made sure to mention you too so everyone who reads that story know exactly what you’re capable of.” Buggy quickly looked down at the newspaper again and finally noticed it. In the paragraph that mentioned your identity also included you served under him. Now any rage he felt was gone and the spotlight was firmly fixed on himself once more. You could see it too and smiled again. “Congratulations on another brilliant scheme Captain.”
Buggy laughed gleefully, eagerly looking down to the newspaper once more, seeing the story in an entirely new way. Before he lowered his body back he offered you one last glance to see you’d returned your attention to the sea. Perhaps sharing the spotlight from time to time wouldn’t have been a bad thing. Not if it was with the right person.
MIHAWK
Mihawk had no time for gossip, no interest in the comings and goings of the rich and wealthy. Honestly he saw no point in the fascination with them simply because they were born or married into ‘high status.’ No, he was far more interested in people who were actually important and did something worth being reported on. Fancy galas and extravagant weddings were not worth the sickening expense wasted on them or the cost of ink and paper used to meticulously detail it for those not honoured enough with an invite. If only others shared the same sentiment he did, because if they did it would mean less mess on the dining room table each and every morning.
Stepping into the half occupied room, Mihawk slid into his seat and cast an unimpressed glance at the paper lying opened on such frivolous nonsense he detested reading about, a half-drunk coffee cup sitting on the corner of the page to keep it open on the particular story. As Mihawk poured himself a mug and relaxed into his chair his disapproving stare only grew to see Crocodile enter the room and return to his seat and lift his mug back into his hand and return to looking over the paper in front of him. Mihawk couldn’t help but let out a small click of his tongue. “Would have expected the clown to waste his morning with that kind of drivel. Not from you Crocodile.”
“And I’d expect such simple mindedness from the clown, not from you Mihawk.” Crocodile replied dryly without looking his business partner’s way. “You see idle gossip, I see potential connections, investors, targets. You never know who could be an ally or enemy so it’s best to keep an eye on everything.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Mihawk stated as he took a slow drink of coffee. That sort of work he’d leave to Crocodile. He couldn’t bring himself to care one way or the other about such matters before Cross Guild was founded, he wasn’t going to force himself to care now. As the ease settled in the room and Mihawk enjoyed the silence it was swiftly dissolved when Crocodile’s low chuckle sounded. He knew the man well enough by now to understand this was something meant to get his attention, for Crocodile to be smug about something. Knowing it was better to just get it out of the way now so his peace could be reestablished he let out a slow, bored sigh. “What is it?”
“Hm? Oh no, you’re above such things.” Crocodile mused, finally looking at the other man with a smirk. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Clearly you want to make me aware of something so out with it already. Share whatever it is that’s amused you.”
“Oh it’s just here I was explaining the benefit of keeping up with these things for potential connections and immediately find a very lucrative one.” Crocodile explained with a casual grin as he turned the newspaper and slid it across the polished table surface. “Correct me if I’m wrong but this is someone you’re familiar with.”
Mihawk rolled his eyes at the feigned curiosity and dragged the paper across the last amount of distance and set his golden eyes dully on the paper only for his gaze to sharpen immediately on a collection of photos from an extravagant wedding. In amongst the pictures of the guests his stare immediately found you looking amazing as always and engaged in a conversation with another guest. While some in the picture weren’t aware their photo was being taken you were glancing out of the corner of your eye and had a knowing smirk on your lips. Immediately Mihawk rose to his feet and began to stride out of the room all while ignoring Crocodile’s casual call after him. “I’ll leave their invite to Cross Guild with you then?”
In the sanctuary of his quarters, Mihawk went to his den den mushi and called your number, after a couple seconds the call lifted. “Hello?”
“I wasn’t expecting to see your photo in the paper.”
“Hope it didn’t disappoint.”
“You know that’s not possible. You never let your photo get taken unless you want to be seen, and you’re perfect every time.” Mihawk stated simply. It wasn’t flattery, it was fact. “How was the wedding?”
“Could have been more fun but it got the job done. That’s the main thing I suppose.” You answered with a smile in your voice.
“And what job was that?” Mihawk asked, his own lips beginning to curve at the sound of your voice. While he hated the turn of phrase to describe your relationship with him, you were both constantly in some sort of ‘on again, off again,’ meeting up and getting in contact when the mood struck. It was always a dance, a back and forth that never lost its spark.
“It got you to call me, didn’t it?” You laughed, your smile growing to hear Mihawk’s deep chuckle drift through the receiver. “So were you just calling to talk about the wedding or was there anything else?”
“If its fun you’re looking for, you could always come by and see if Cross Guild has something worth staying for. It’s a literal circus.”
“Hmmm tempting offer,” you mused playfully before dramatically sighing. “Oh okay, since you went to such lengths reaching out I guess I can visit.”
“Need an escort?”
“Thanks for the offer but I’ll make my own way. I’ll be there in a couple days, see you soon dear.”
ZORO
“I hear this island has a great range of stores to visit.” Nami began as she looked up from her sea charts and personal log to update the waters and islands they’d previously visited. “It should have something for everyone.”
“As long as you and Robin enjoy yourselves that’s all that matters, Nami!” Sanji called out in his lovesick cheer that had Zoro all but gagging. The man had no idea how pathetic he sounded. Worse still, the cook didn’t seem to care.
“I hope they have a good range of medical supplies.” Chopper said as he stretched out onto the soft grass lawn of the deck and let the cool breeze of Zoro’s sword training to glide through his fur and add an extra level of relief from the sun blazing overhead. “Maybe a bookstore too! Robin you’ll come with me if there is one, right?”
As the conversation rippled through the crew, Zoro slowly began to tune them out to focus instead on his morning training. The last few island stops had been too laidback and uneventful the swordsman was left on edge. He felt his training would dull and his complacency would grow if it continued. Their luck was bound to run out eventually. There hadn’t even been a single Marine sighting either, not even a little squad to try and apprehend them and let him unwind that paranoid tension coiling in his muscles. So until something inevitably did hit, he was going to keep training, pushing himself harder and further than he had the day before.
“Looks like we also need to be careful when we dock.” Usopp’s voice broke through, his default state of nervousness and fear of running into any sort of enemy catching Zoro’s attention. He paused mid-swing to see the sniper looking at the morning paper with a furrowed brown while biting his lip. “Says here a Marine escort carrying an undisclosed number of high ranking pirates and criminals was caught in a storm, many of them managed to escape and are suspected to have fled to one of the nearby islands, the biggest is the one we’re headed to. Nami is it too late to change course?”
“No way!” Luffy shouted out immediately “That island sounded boring if it was just for shopping but now I can’t wait to go! Think about all the possible opponents we can take on while we’re there now! Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“We have two different opinions on ‘fun’ Luffy. These pirates won’t be like us! On top of that we’ll have Marines and a bounty hunter to avoid!”
“Bounty hunter?” Zoro repeated, abandoning his training-much to Chopper’s annoyance- to walk over now that his attention had been fully grabbed. Usopp saw the bloodthirsty glint in Zoro’s eye and whined out. Now that it wasn’t just Luffy eager to go and fight there was no point in trying to ask for a detour.
“Y-yeah it says there’s a bounty hunter on the island too to help out the civilians.” Usopp groaned. “But a bounty hunter that looks this dangerous isn’t going to care we’re not with those other pirates. Thanks to you monsters, our bounties are too high to resist.”
Zoro reserved judgement on how ‘dangerous’ this bounty hunter was. Too many had just gotten lucky with their captures and boosted their reputation by swooping in at the last second to claim a bounty but when it came to a proper fight, were a severe disappointment. Reaching out Zoro pulled the newspaper out of Usopp’s hands and looked down, his eye widening to see your picture before him.
It had been a couple years but it was definitely you. The last time he saw you was just before he traded his life as a bounty hunter to become a pirate, while you continued in the line of work. Back then you’d been good, an actual threat to the pirates you hunted and from the picture alone Zoro could see from your stance and the look in your eyes that you’d continued to perfect and hone your skills. You and Zoro had once sparred and he had been impressed at the time but ultimately things had been kept friendly but now his gaze gleamed and his grin turned sharp with dangerous excitement as he wondered that if the two of you clashed in a proper fight, how it would go. He wanted to see you in the flesh, see your new techniques and face your attacks head on while also wondering if you’d still be able to stand toe-to-toe with him. Were you still worthy of his respect and the pleasant happiness your memory brought him? He hoped so.
Eagerly and hungrily Zoro looked to the sea, spotting the hazy shape of land no bigger than a pinpoint in the distance. There, that’s where you were. That’s where he’d find you and have his questions answered. As he turned and went to resume his training with a fierce spark of motivation burning through him he also wondered if you had the keen senses to track him down first.
