Chapter Text
Pouring over your textbooks, you rubbed the bridge of your nose, your vision was starting to swim and words were starting to blur together. You knew that you should probably get some sleep, but you really wanted to finish this up before you went to bed. Looking out the tiny window, you sighed, it was well past nightfall and, from what you could tell, it was probably pretty late at night. Standing you, you did a quick stretch, you could use a snack before returning to your work. The Red Force was quiet as you walked towards the kitchen, the rest of the crew already asleep, some passed out in hammocks, others passed out on deck. Not that it really mattered to you, you were looking for brain food, not people. Entering the kitchen, you noticed Benn and Shanks sitting on the kitchen counters, talking and laughing.
“Y/n! We’ve barely seen you all day! Where’ve you been hiding?” Shank asked as you opened the fridge, pulling out some cut up fruit.
“In my room studying, captain. You know, my school work?” you said, reminding the man of your studies before popping some fruit in your mouth, letting out a slight pleased hum at the juicy food.
“You study too much, Y/n. I know that there’s a lot you want to learn, but you need sleep, and clearly you’re not getting enough food if you’re grabbing a late night snack.” Shanks said, gesturing towards your plate as slice after slice of fruit disappeared into your mouth.
“I just want to finish my work, it’s important to me. If I finish it quickly, I can move on to the next thing, and one day it’ll pay off.” you explained, devouring more of the fruit before retrieving more from the fridge. You were hungrier than you realized, perhaps you had been working too long if you were this hungry, it wasn’t like you were skipping meals, there was no way anyone on the crew would let you miss meals.
“Just promise me you’ll get some sleep tonight, alright?” Shanks asked, Benn nodding in agreement.
“That Captain’s right. I might work hard, but I know when to take a break, you need to learn when to take a break too.” Benn added, watching you nod.
“Food, sleep, and then more work in the morning.” you said, watching as the two men sighed. They knew that there was only so much they could do at the moment, so instead they simply agreed.
It was 2 weeks later, as you pushed through your latest work that Benn knocked down your door.
“W-what? Benn, what’s going on?” you demanded as the man picked you up under his arm.
“Captain said he wants to see you, said you probably wouldn’t come immediately so he sent me.” Benn explained, carrying you all the way to Shanks’ cabin.
“Captain, what the hell? I was working! Furthermore, sicking Benn on me was unnecessary, I would have come if you needed me!” you shouted, glaring at the man.
“Then why didn’t you come see me 2 days ago? Or last week?” Shanks asked, making your eyes widen. Had he asked for you on those days?
“I uh, didn’t… realize it was an emergency.” you lied, watching as Shanks rolled his eyes.
“Sure, sure. Listen, you’ve been working very hard, so I’d like you to take a short break.” Shanks said, leaning back in his own desk chair.
“I really should finish what I’m doing, captain.” you protested. Shanks sighed and nodded, he knew how important this was to you.
“I know, but I know what burnout looks like. I’m not telling you to forget about it or to not return to it. I’m telling you to take a break. Once you’re not burnt out, you can go back to studying to your heart’s content. You’re the youngest crew member here, you should be having more fun, not spending all day studying. Even Benn doesn’t work this hard.” Shanks said with a grin. You smiled and nodded before yawning, you had been working hard lately, returning to your school work no matter how tired you were.
“In that case, I’m gonna take a nap.” you muttered, the need for sleep hitting you like a brick all of the sudden. Shanks chuckled before picking you up and tucking you into his bed, placing his coat over you. He may not be the father figure to you that Roger was to him, but you were still his nakama and he’d take care of you just as much as Roger cared for him.