An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
(illustration by the amazing @envy-soda )
Chapter 19: Wherever I may roam On land or sea or foam You will always hear me singing this dong Show me the way to go home
Shanks allows himself half a moment to watch as the ocean starts to swallow the sinking island. Half a moment to reassure himself that the Marines are definitely leaving, fleeing away from them and from the sinkhole trying to drag everything to the bottom of the ocean.
Half a moment, and then he turns around, and his eyes finally meet Buggy’s and fuck but his friend looks wretched and it makes Shanks wants to destroy Marineford a second time, makes him want to go back to that Marine ship and slaughter Monkey D. Garp in the most painful way possible, because he hurt Buggy and that is not something Shanks will ever tolerate, not now not then not ever, but Buggy is right there and his shaking even if no one else has noticed it yet and there’s a wild desperate look in his eyes and his skin is three shades too pale, so Shanks boxes it all in, the anger and the rage and the fury, because Buggy needs him to be right here with him and not miles away making Garp regret all his life choice, needs him to be his rock and keep him from drowning and Buggy will always, always take precedence.
___________________________________________________________
Hey everyone! This chapter is slightly later than planned - Shanks had A LOT to say and also refused to let go of Buggy. So the plot doesn't actually advances that much in this chapter :/ Sorry! On the plus side, more hugging time and Protective!Shanks! And the next Crocus chapter is going to be new material only, since it will focus on the Oro Jackson's journey to the meeting point!
This chapter is also late compared to me answering you guys amazing comments, because the coffee shop I was writing in closed at 6, the second coffee shop at 8, the McDonalds I settled down at for supper hoping to use their wifi to post had wifi trouble, and the wifi at the cinema where I was waiting for my family to show up for "Red Joan" worked for my phone but not for my computer. Everything was against me today xD
As usual, this chapter is tagged for Bring Your Own Tissues, FEELS, and co-dependent Buggy-and-Shanks. Violent on-screen character death, but it's STILL Blackbeard, so who gives a damn? (i got to kill him on screen three times, it's very satisfying)
Added tags for this chapter: Shanks' anger issues, Protective!Shanks, Shanks really wants to kill someone, preferably Monkey D. Garp.
Also, I wasn't kidding when I say Shanks had a lot to say. This chapter is over 10.700 words long. Please make sure you stay hydrated, keep a tissue box nearby, and bring your own snacks!
Hope you'll enjoy Shanks' point of view! And here's hoping I'll get the plot moving in Buggy's chapter and manage to get these co-dependent hot messes to let go of each other by then!