One of the less savoury episodes in the formation of the Red-Haired Pirates...
Title: Homewrecker
Theme: Set #1 - Slingshot
Claim: Shanks
Words: 396
Rating: PG
Warnings: Slightly out of sync with the canon timeline.
Disclaimers: I don't own One Piece.
"You sure about this, Yasopp?" He's nervous now, wishes he hadn't spouted all that glowing nonsense about the life of a pirate - well, it wasn't nonsense, being a pirate really is the life. But still, he wishes he hadn't talked the man into going out to sea - well, that's not true either, he's glad he has a nakama now, and if the man's shooting abilities are half what everyone says they are, he's the best sniper in the world.
But, dammit, a wife and child? He hadn't expected that. He hadn't known he was talking a man into giving that up. He's going to be the man's captain, he's responsible for him now, which means he's responsible for talking a family out of a husband and father.
Oh shit.
That's his problem, right there. He talks way too much. He makes a mental note to find a first mate who'll know when and how to shut him up, and soon.
"Yes, captain, I'm sure," Yasopp replies softly, and Shanks doesn't know whether to give in to the thrill at hearing himself called that, or the guilt trip at the implications of the word. Guilt trip, he decides, when he follows Yasopp's gaze to the cradle in the corner, where a curly-haired baby with an improbably long nose gurgles happily as he plays with a tiny slingshot.
"But you'll want to teach him things," Shanks argues. "He's just a baby. Maybe in a few years..."
"He won't need to be taught marksmanship," Yasopp replies, a note of pride in his voice. "He'll just know." He catches the pang of guilt on his new captain's face and reassures him, "I've always known this day would come. I've resisted the call of the sea all my life, always told myself it was calling to some other damn fool, but now that it's asked for me, personally..." His dreamy voice trails off as his wife steps into the room, and he opens his mouth to tell her the news, his brow furrowed with regret.
Shanks decides it's best not to stick around for the revelation. He bows apologetically towards Banchina and slinks away, feeling like the biggest asshole in the world.
.....
Note: Shanks actually meets Yasopp before Usopp is born, according to the timeline given in Chapter 0, but I only found that out after I wrote this. Oh well, let's just call this Alternative Timeline...
Theme: Set #1 - Slingshot
Claim: Shanks
Words: 396
Rating: PG
Warnings: Slightly out of sync with the canon timeline.
Disclaimers: I don't own One Piece.
"You sure about this, Yasopp?" He's nervous now, wishes he hadn't spouted all that glowing nonsense about the life of a pirate - well, it wasn't nonsense, being a pirate really is the life. But still, he wishes he hadn't talked the man into going out to sea - well, that's not true either, he's glad he has a nakama now, and if the man's shooting abilities are half what everyone says they are, he's the best sniper in the world.
But, dammit, a wife and child? He hadn't expected that. He hadn't known he was talking a man into giving that up. He's going to be the man's captain, he's responsible for him now, which means he's responsible for talking a family out of a husband and father.
Oh shit.
That's his problem, right there. He talks way too much. He makes a mental note to find a first mate who'll know when and how to shut him up, and soon.
"Yes, captain, I'm sure," Yasopp replies softly, and Shanks doesn't know whether to give in to the thrill at hearing himself called that, or the guilt trip at the implications of the word. Guilt trip, he decides, when he follows Yasopp's gaze to the cradle in the corner, where a curly-haired baby with an improbably long nose gurgles happily as he plays with a tiny slingshot.
"But you'll want to teach him things," Shanks argues. "He's just a baby. Maybe in a few years..."
"He won't need to be taught marksmanship," Yasopp replies, a note of pride in his voice. "He'll just know." He catches the pang of guilt on his new captain's face and reassures him, "I've always known this day would come. I've resisted the call of the sea all my life, always told myself it was calling to some other damn fool, but now that it's asked for me, personally..." His dreamy voice trails off as his wife steps into the room, and he opens his mouth to tell her the news, his brow furrowed with regret.
Shanks decides it's best not to stick around for the revelation. He bows apologetically towards Banchina and slinks away, feeling like the biggest asshole in the world.
.....
Note: Shanks actually meets Yasopp before Usopp is born, according to the timeline given in Chapter 0, but I only found that out after I wrote this. Oh well, let's just call this Alternative Timeline...