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It had started with a small cough and a few sneezes. Roger had been keeping a close eye on his apprentice. Shanks was doing everything he could to hide the fact that he would go into small fits of coughs. Trying to keep his sneezes quiet, but it was clear that the child was coming down with something.
The flush to his face came next. Tanned skin turning a shade of pink and red as he worked on his daily tasks. Shanks looked physically exhausted as he cleaned up the tables and the deck of anything that could be on them. Not once had Shanks said a word about how he was feeling, but he could see it clear as day. Even Buggy could see it, giving sharp words to his fellow apprentice and only getting the “I’m fine.” Feedback.
Roger sighed.
This was going to be a long day.
It became more apparent at lunchtime when lunch was served, and Shanks wouldn’t even touch his meal. He held his silverware to make it look like he was at least eating, but Roger never once saw him actually put food in his mouth. His face was redder than before. He was also trying to cover his face with his hair and conceal his eyes with his hat.
Roger got a sad smile on his face as he looked over at Rayleigh to see the same look on his face. “Never wanting people to know that he doesn’t feel okay.” Rayleigh whispered.
Roger nodded, “Yeah.”
The sudden shout from Buggy had caught his attention, pulling it away from Rayleigh and back over to the boys to see Shanks turned on his seat and bent over. The movement of his shoulders had told Roger exactly what he needed to know as the entire dining hall went into an almost dead silence. The retching sound reached his ears as Roger pushed himself up, rushing over to where Shanks was sitting.
The Captain knelt down, uncaring that the vomit and bile was landing on his pant leg as he reached over and placed his hand over the entirety of the red head’s back. He whispered quiet reassurances as he looked over to his shoulder at Rayleigh and few of his straggling nakama. He could hear the whispers of a few of them saying to go get the cleaning supplies before they were taking off to do just that.
When it appeared like Shanks had finished, Roger moved his hand to his arm and stood up, “C’mon, buddy. Off to bed.”
Shanks immediately shook his head, “I’m fine. I promise.” He got an even better look at his face. How flushed he was. The glossiness of his eyes. He was surprised that Shanks was even standing at this point.
Roger couldn’t help but bellow out a laugh. “I think that says otherwise.” He stated as he pointed down to what Shanks had just purged out on the floor.
More denials came from Shanks despite his shaking shoulders, “I’m okay, I swear.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Roger sang-songed, “Off to bed.”
Roger reached forward, pulling Shanks up without a thought, hooking one arm underneath his thighs and the other on his back so the child couldn’t wiggle away. Almost instantly, Shanks’ head was against his shoulder and small hands curled into his shirt. A soft smile came to his face as Shanks all but curled into him.
“You’ve always been bad at lying to me, Shanks.” Roger muttered, lifting his hand up enough that he could run it through the red locks of the child. Shanks just made a noise of content, not actually replying to him. “I’m going to go put him to bed. I’ll be back.”
Rayleigh nodded before he was turning to look at the others, “C’mon, let’s go. Let’s get this cleaned up!”
Roger turned towards the entrance of the cabins, being careful not to shift Shanks to much in his arms. Mostly using his feet to get through things until he got to where he was looking for. Getting to the room that belonged to Shanks and Buggy, he pushed open the door with his foot. By the time that he was placing Shanks on the bed, the red head’s eyes were already closed. Roger smiled, reaching for the boy’s straw hat, and pulling it off. Placing it to the side for him to find. He could feel how sweaty and clammy Shanks’ skin was. Roger could read him like an open book. He just hated that Shanks thought he had to lie to cover up that he wasn’t feeling good rather than just telling them.
Roger sighed, pulling the blanket up to Shanks’ chin. He would need to grab some medicine and water and hoped that Shanks was able to keep it down. His skin already felt hot to the touch so a damp rag would be good too.
When he moved to start out of the room, he paused his movements as he felt the tug on his shirt. Looking back over his shoulder, and still within his sleep, Shanks was clutching onto his shirt. “Shanks, buddy, I have to go get something to help you.”
Shanks shook his head. At this point, he was wondering if Shanks was actually asleep or not. The red head curled onto his side; his eyes squeezed together but his hand curling tighter in Roger’s jacket. “Don’t… go.”
The Captain exhaled softly, his smile returning back to his face, “Alright.” He reached over for the chair that was kept in the room, pulling it completely up to the bed and taking a seat in it. “I’m not going anywhere, Shanks.”
It hadn’t taken long before the door was opening again, and Rayleigh and Buggy were walking in with the exact supplies that Roger was planning on getting before. Roger gave them a smile, bringing a finger up to his lips to notify them to stay as quiet as possible. “He just fell asleep a little ago.”
Rayleigh walked over with a bowl of water in hand, a rag sitting over the side of it. Buggy had the small medical bag bundled up in his arms. The First Mate moved around, dipping the towel into the water before ringing it out. Reaching over Roger’s arm, folding it into the perfect size for Shanks’ forehead and placed it gently over the flushed skin. Shanks made a small noise, his face contorting for a split second, and moving slightly. Thankfully, he had stayed asleep.
“We’re going to have to wake him up to give him medication.” Rayleigh whispered.
“I know, but we can let him sleep for a moment longer.” Roger replied.
Buggy crawled up onto the bed, moving around Shanks until he was leaning against the wall, “Idiot.” He muttered, “Who doesn’t tell anyone when they are sick?”
Roger snorted, shaking his head, “Buggy, you do the same thing whenever we encounter other pirate crews.”
The blue-haired child made a grumbling sound as he crossed his arms, “I just don’t want to do all the work.” It was clearly a lie. Roger could see right through it. Buggy and Shanks were always attached by the hip. Even when they were driving one another completely crazy. They fought like no other but would always stand back-to-back when it came to a fight. It was like a sibling rivalry through and through. Always fighting, but in the end, the caring would always show up.
“Sure. That’s the reason.” Roger replied, the amusement in his voice. He smiled down as he felt the movement against his jacket. Shanks’ hand gripping on tighter to the fabric. He quietly shushed him, reaching forward, and carding his fingers through Shanks’ hair. “It’s alright. Ray is here with some medicine for you and Buggy is here too.” Shanks blinked his eyes open, the almost distant look in those stormy eyes. “Hey, there.”
“Capt—” Shanks’ voice was cracking, which he was guessing was from a sore throat that he was sure that Shanks had.
“Don’t try to talk right now.” Roger stated, “Let’s get you nursed back to health as soon as we can.” He turned his head, giving Rayleigh a nod and motioning for him to come on over. The Captain reached out, careful in his own movements as he helped Shanks sit up. He looked out of it, but at least he was still rather responsive. It wasn’t too much of a concern. They had seen this kind of thing many times on the seas. Nothing that some medicine and proper rest couldn’t handle. They would need to stop at an island just to get him off of the sea for a bit. It would do him some good.
Roger took the medication from Rayleigh, holding it out in his palm towards his apprentice. The red head eyed them for a second as Roger nudged his hand. Trying to silent urge him to take it. Shanks’ gaze flicked up to him for a second before he was reaching up with a shaky hand to take it. The red head popped them into his mouth, throwing his head back as Rayleigh handed him a glass of water to wash them down with.
After Shanks had taken the medication, Roger urged him to lay back down. Giving him a soft smile. Letting his fingers run through his sweaty hair.
“It’s alright, Shanks. Just get some more rest.” Roger whispered.
Shanks curled over onto his side, curling his hand back into Roger’s sleeve again as he buried his nose into the fabric. “Don’t leave me, Captain.”
“I won’t, Shanks.” Roger stated, letting the soft smile continue to grace his face as the silence came over the room. It only took a few more minutes before the red head’s eyes were slipping shut again and his breathing was starting to level back out. Shanks was exhausted. That much was clear.
“I’m sorry.” He was practically inaudible. Roger had barely heard him say it. It was so soft but scratchy. That was their Shanks.
“You have nothing to be sorry about, kiddo.” He replied. “Just get to feeling better. That’s all I could want as your Captain.”
Humming to the tune of Bink’s Sake, Roger had managed to lull Shanks back into sleep.
It had taken a few days, and a countless number of hours that Roger was sitting at Shanks’ bedside before Shanks had gotten well enough to get out of bed. His fever breaking and able to keep food down now.
Shanks had clung to him like a lifeline the entire time. Not wanting to let Roger leave his side for a minute. When Roger did have to leave the room, he would throw his jacket over him. Using it as a comfort item to distract the young boy until he could get back. He was always back before Shanks opened his eyes again.
Now, that he was much better, Shanks was back to his normal self. Working on his daily tasks and sticking to Buggy’s side.
Roger stood not far from them, a smile on his face. Shanks hadn’t clung to him like that since he was little. It reminded him of the days when he was so small that all he wanted to do was be Roger’s little shadow. Following him around everywhere that he went.
Despite it being an illness that had Shanks doing it, it made him think of it. It was almost like an instinctive thing that Shanks had done. Shanks never truly liked to be alone. Even in his most silent moments, he was typically always near someone. Rather it was Roger, Rayleigh, or Buggy. He liked the closeness of his loved ones.
Even all this time later, Shanks still went to him when he needed something.
Even if he wasn’t completely honest at first.
Shanks turned, bouncing on his feet as he smiled at Roger, “Captain! C’mon!”
Roger just chuckled for a second, readjusting his hat on his head before he was making his way over to Shanks. It was just how Shanks was. Putting his concern for others over himself. Even Shanks needed people to rely on. Roger would be that person until Shanks didn’t need him anymore.
There would be a day that would be.
But today was not that day.