Only One
Shanks x Child Reader. 1880~ words.
Desc: Shanks learns his unconscious actions affect you.
CW: Angst, Small hurt/comfort, VERY fluffy comfort, uta mention.
You take a big bite of your apple, something healthy but sweet for you to munch on since you were craving sugar. You wanted candy, obviously, but you already had your one-a-day this morning. You hear your dad cough from behind you and look down at your apple. One a day keeps the doctor away. You walk over to him reading the newspaper at the deck table, a mug in his hand, and hold out the half eaten apple for him.
“What’s this?”
“Healthy.” You state, holding it out closer to him. He doesn’t seem that enthused about the apple. “So you can be healthy.” The moment you say that his expression changes like he can’t believe how cute you are.
“That’s so nice, thank you! Can you put it on the table for me?” You drop your hand and then nod, hopping up to place the apple on the table. “I’ll eat it once I’m done reading this.” You nod. He has the newspaper in his hand, you won’t force him to take the apple directly from you. That would be selfish.
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You run around the sandy beach happily, the waves blowing wind at you while you giggle. Something pretty catches your eye and you skid to a stop; it’s a seashell. Dad looked sad earlier, he gets like that sometimes. An idea pops into your head to give him this as a gift and you snatch it up. You run where Shanks was to the side, still nearby so he can supervise you. He takes a sip of the cheap sake in his hand, you aren’t sure he’s even tasting it.
“What is it?” He asks without looking at you and you stop, a bit nervous to disturb him while he’s in these moods.
“Seashell.” You mumble, holding it out. He still isn’t looking.
“Don’t get into the habit of picking those up all the time, there are animals on the beach that need those.” Your heart stings, you disturbed him and now you’re in trouble. “I’ll take it though.” The heaviness in your heart lightens a bit. “Just know for next time.” He motions with his head to his cloak pocket, you put it inside before giving him a hug.
“Love you.” His previously sad smile widens.
“I love you too. So much.” He loosely hugs back, careful not to splash you with the alcohol.
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You’ve stopped reaching out when Shanks has something in his hand. He only has one, and he usually asks you to place it nearby, so you just place it in his pocket or in front of him beforehand. Something in you still wants to hold his hand, to hope that he’d put down his drink to make direct contact with you, but he only has one hand. You need to be considerate of him. So you let him smile and coo at you from where he is. He’s still there, even if he doesn’t reach out to you the moment there’s a drink in his hand. You can deal with that much, he still loves you and makes that known in his kisses and words and affection when his hand is free.
The two of you walk through town, the crowd starting to get thick enough you risk getting separated from him. He has a drink in his hand, something to sip on. You had juice earlier but already finished it. Your dad stops and you do too.
“Hold onto me, sweetie. You don’t want to get lost.” He says softly, but his hand isn’t free; you see the drink in his hand and already know what to do. You reach out and hold onto his coat instead. “No, give me a moment. I’ll drink the rest of this.”
“It’s okay.” His consideration is shut down and he frowns. You don’t wanna hold his hand? He has been starting to notice you reaching out to him less, maybe you’re going through a need for independence? He was hoping that would wait until you were older, though...
“Alright.. if you want.” He won’t force you, you’ll come to him if you want to. Right?
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Your chair is too big for you to reach the ground and only your head meets the table; you had climbed up yourself since your dad’s holding his drink. You do have a chair that's taller for you but wanted the “grown up chair” even if it’s less convenient. Still, you don’t really know what to do now. Your eyes scan the crew, reaching out to them. They all reach back to you, giving you high fives or little holds; since they all have a free hand. Once you’re done with that you look at your dad, Shanks. There’s a longing in your heart. You.. want to reach out to him. You outstretch your arm slowly and his eyes meet yours with a smile. He clinks his tankard softly against your hand before giving you a smooch on the forehead. That’s good enough.
“Having fun? Do you need anything?” He asks you and you hum. “Ah, knew it. You’re getting bored, aren’t you?”
“A little..” You shift around and his smile turns elegant before he turns to Limejuice.
“Lime, the finest paper and crayons.” He commands and Limejuice salutes before leaving. He comes back with drawing supplies for you, making space on the table so you can draw before placing a pillow under your butt so you can reach. You start drawing and the party continues. Every so often someone comes to check on you and you say you’re okay. In the middle of the party Lucky looks over at your drawings.
“Oohh!” His eyes twinkle behind his goggles. “Is that us?” You’ve drawn a picture of the two of you holding hands, the other hand of his holding a belonging. You flip through different pages to the others, every single one has you and them holding hands with something in their other.
“Where am I, sweetheart?” Your dad pops in the conversation, pouting at being left out. It doesn’t last long, though; he gasps in happiness when you pull out a drawing with the both of you. “You made one for me, too?” He’s gotten drawings from you before but he always acts like it’s the first time. You set it down on the table. It’s the two of you next to each other, Shanks holding a tankard in his hand. His expression slowly fades to worry. “Why aren’t I holding your hand, baby?” He’s not holding alcohol all the time..
“You only have one hand.” You state like it’s just a regular fact, something that’s just.. life. Something in Shanks cracks. Is he holding alcohol that much, why do you think he would hold that rather than his own kid?
“I do.. but.” He looks at his hand currently holding the ale, going silent. Gently, he sets the tankard down. He doesn’t want to drink anymore.
“Alright! We’re gonna run out of space to put these.” Bonk punch cheers and the party goes on like nothing is wrong, but something is wrong; even if you act like nothing’s wrong. Your drawing is gnawing at Shanks’s heart. He only has one hand and you see his alcohol as priority over you. His kid, his heart. Who he almost broke down in another room for when your fever wouldn’t go away, who he stays up for even when he’s tired because you had a nightmare. His alcohol rather than you.
That night, Shanks sits on his bed. He puts his head in his hand, how long have you felt like this? He underestimated how much the way he acts affects you, and he’s ashamed of himself the more he remembers how many times he brushed off your gestures when he’s holding a drink; how you’ve stopped reaching out. He can’t keep acting like this. He chose to keep you with him and he wants to do it right. Self loathing fills his head, he’s messing everything up; but he can fix this. He won’t let the voice in his head telling him to leave you for your own good, that this is proof you deserve better. Until you choose to leave, or until you absolutely have to, he will stay with you as long as he can. He doesn’t want to part ways bitterly with his child ever again.
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Shanks holds a map in his hand, you walk over to him holding half an apple.
“Again?” He asks teasingly and you nod quickly. You’re about to jump up to place it on the table when Shanks puts his map down and takes the apple from you, biting into it. “Hongo will be down a patient at this rate.” Your heart quickens, you’re surprised but happy!
“Do you feel healthy?” You bounce in place excitedly.
“They’d raise my bounty to the heavens if the world saw how healthy I am right now.” He boasts, taking a last bite before tossing the apple core in the trash. Nice aim. “Any healthier and my arm would poof back. Or maybe it would be a new one in a new place.” He turns his back to you and you tilt your head in confusion. A pause before an arm suddenly comes from under his cloak as if sprouting from his back. “Like this!” You squeal and giggle as he grabs you, placing you on his lap. “How’s that?” It kinda hurt stretching his arm that far back but it was worth it.
“Again!” His shoulder pre-aches.
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You watch as your dad takes a sip of his sake while you hold your little clay cup. It’s shabby, dented, and barely holds any liquid. You came here to show him but noticed he’s in that mood again. You should leave.
“Let me see.” He says from behind you and you nervously turn back.
“It’s not good.” You murmur and he motions you over, putting down his tankard to sit you on his lap.
“Hmm.” He looks it over before setting it down next to the tankard. He gives you a quick kiss on the cheek and then pours the alcohol in the tankard into the cup. It doesn’t even fit a tenth of what was inside.
“See?” He takes the remaining liquid and dumps it out. “Ah!”
“It’s perfect.” He holds out your creation. “This is all I need anyway. I don’t want what’s not in my cup.” A bright smile forms on his face and drinks the rest before putting it down to hold you. “See?”
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Everyone is eating around you but you already finished your food a while ago. A full belly mixed with the playing earlier and you’re sleepy. Shanks sips on a light wine with his meal, noticing you’re starting to lean. The sight makes him quickly shove the rest of his food in his mouth before catching you. Carefully, slowly, he stands up with you in his arm.
“You done with that?” Yasopp asks, motioning to the abandoned wine.
“Yeah.” The captain answers while heading to your room. “This is more important.” Like that, your eyes get heavier and heavier. You nuzzle into the warmth of your dad’s chest and fall asleep. You’re more important.
Cute right? It's a bit hard for me to write sometimes just because my scope of writing is so big. But I dont want to get into the habit of just writing smut, especially since I really enjoy family care fics (i had childhood trauma, sue me.) I guess it's just difficult since I try to write what I don't see enough of but there's many things that there isn't enough of that I want.. Still i got this idea. I wrote this after reading an incredibly shanks angsty family fic by @1chaerry . So blame/thank them for me writing this to cope with the sadness lolol.
