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It was a peaceful day aboard the Oro Jackson.
The Roger Pirates had just left a big island, their supplies fully restocked with fresh water, barrels of food, and of course, rum. The sea had turned gentler and the wind kinder since yesterday, signaling a spring island ahead.
Good weather always put the crew in a better mood. Even the usual complaints during morning chores sounded half-hearted and filled with laughter. Nothing felt out of the ordinary, even with their two cabin boys fighting.
No one bothered to look twice. It was just another normal morning on the ship, even if the fight had been dragging on longer than usual.
Buggy hadn’t talked to Shanks for a week. Everyone could tell Buggy was avoiding Shanks. It was obvious, especially when the two of them were always glued together.
Buggy spent most of his time with Rayleigh, trying to figure out the full extent of his new Devil Fruit power. It was the only time Shanks stopped hovering and whining about why Buggy wouldn’t talk to him.
Rayleigh lowered his sword thoughtfully. “This power is even better than we expected. I can’t touch you even with Haki.”
They had been running tests all week. Crocus checked in often, making sure Buggy’s body was adapting well.
“No signs of strain,” the doctor noted. “It’s almost like your body was meant for this power.”
It was strangely true. Buggy didn’t even have to think about it. His body and the power simply moved as one.
“Alright.” Rayleigh wrapped up his notes then reached for the next tool. “One more test, and we’re done.”
By the time they finished, it was already lunchtime. Crew members were heading toward the dining hall, following the rich smell of food.
Rayleigh handed Buggy a towel. “Let’s eat first, Buggy. You should be able to rejoin normal training tomorrow,” he said. “Try using your ability in practice. It’s a good match for you.”
Buggy only nodded, pressing the towel against his face. Everyone said the Chop-Chop Fruit was perfect for him. And the truth was… Buggy thought so too.
He hated getting hurt. But with this power, Buggy didn’t have to fear being cut anymore. If he could master the timing and the control like Rayleigh said, he could avoid taking any damage completely. But Buggy had never said it out loud. Because no matter how useful it was, he would never have chosen it. Not if it meant losing the sea.
That was why Buggy swore he would never forgive Shanks.
The moment he stepped into the dining hall, he caught sight of Shanks sitting with Roger, laughing like nothing had happened. Buggy’s grip tightened for a second before he turned away and headed straight for the opposite side, only giving Rayleigh a quick excuse as he passed.
Buggy dropped into a seat beside Gaban. The navigator glanced at him with a knowing smile but didn’t say anything.
Buggy hadn’t even picked up his spoon when he saw Shanks start walking toward him. Buggy’s jaw tightened. He had made it obvious he wanted nothing to do with Shanks. But the other boy kept coming anyway, just like every other time they fought.
“Hold it, Shanks.” Gaban blocked Shanks’s path with an arm. “You can fight all you want, but not next to my food.”
Shanks pulled a face. “I’m not here to fight…”
“That’s not how it’s been going lately.” Gaban cut in. “You two start throwing punches the second you open your mouths.” He gestured toward Buggy. “Let him eat first. He’s been training all morning.”
That stopped Shanks. He looked over at Buggy, who was shoveling food into his mouth without even glancing up.
Shanks pouted, but stepped back when he noticed Buggy was indeed hungry, though not without making his annoyance clear.
Gaban watched Buggy for a moment, amused by how his eyes were glued to his plate.
“You know you can’t ignore him forever, right?” he said lightly. “This already beats your usual record of… what?”
“Five days,” Buggy muttered.
They fought often, stupid little things, sometimes big arguments, at least twice a month. But they never lasted. Most of the time it was Buggy holding onto them. Shanks had never stayed mad at him for more than an hour.
Their longest fight had been years ago, when Shanks ruined his favorite map with a spill of ink. Even then, Buggy had gotten over it the moment Shanks gave him the first piece of jewelry the boy had ever won in a fight. The necklace still sat on top of Buggy’s treasure box. He polished it often. But this time, Buggy had sulked long enough that he hadn’t touched his favorite treasure in days.
“Two days past your usual, then,” Gaban hummed. “No wonder the kid looks like he’s about to explode.”
Buggy scoffed. “He can explode into pieces for all I care.”
Gaban laughed, then lightly pressed his knife against Buggy’s hand.
Before Buggy could react, his power kicked in and detached his hand on its own to avoid the blade.
“You’re the only one who can explode into pieces now.” Gaban grinned.
Buggy snapped, “Hey! That’s not funny!”
Gaban only chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Look on the bright side, boy! You’re the only one on this crew with a Devil Fruit. Shouldn’t you feel flashy?”
“It’s not flashy if I can’t sw–” Buggy cut himself off. His lips pressed tight. He pushed back from the table abruptly, already turning to leave.
“Hey, hey. Buggy.” Gaban caught his wrist before it could attach back and gave it a light tap. “Sorry. Was that too much?”
Buggy shook his head slowly. He wasn’t mad at Gaban, or anyone else. They were just happy that this power would keep him safe.
“I’m fine,” Buggy muttered. “I just… I’ll finish this later.” He picked up his plate.
Gaban watched him for a moment, then sighed. “Alright. Just don’t skip meals. I’ll spar with you this afternoon.”
Buggy had been pestering everyone to spar with him these days, anyone but Shanks, even if he wanted to punch that idiot properly.
“Really? I’ll see you then!”
Buggy returned to his cabin, or rather, their cabin. He had been trying to spend less time there. Everywhere he looked, there was something of Shanks’s. Their things always mixed together, like they were never meant to be separated.
It only made Buggy more irritated.
He grabbed a change of clothes and turned to leave for a bath just as the door opened. Buggy didn’t need to look up. Of course he couldn’t even get ten minutes alone.
Shanks stepped in and caught sight of the clothes in Buggy’s hands. His face lit up. “You’re taking a bath? Wait for me.” Shanks was already moving toward the closet.
“Who said I wanted to bathe with you?!” Buggy snapped.
Shanks paused, then frowned. “How are you gonna wash your back then?”
“I’ll ask someone else. You’re not special!” It was a lie. Buggy loved when Shanks washed and massaged his back. But he stubbornly pushed that aside, he could survive a bath without Shanks.
“What? No!” Shanks rushed after Buggy just as he turned toward the door and grabbed his wrist. “Then what about my back? Only you do it right!”
Trying to flatter him into mercy? Buggy scoffed. No matter how pleased he was to hear it, no way he would fall for that.
“I don’t care about your back, or anything else about you!”
Their bickering only grew more ridiculous.
Some crew members had finished eating and were heading back to their cabins. They barely reacted, just shaking their heads as they passed. If anything, they would be more concerned if a day went by without the two of them yelling at each other.
“But! What about…” Shanks kept going, throwing out one reason after another as Buggy tried to push past him. “It’s water! You’ll get weak. So let me…”
That did it. Buggy’s fist flew and landed solidly against Shanks’s face.
They fought all the time, punches and kicks and anything they could throw at each other. But they never meant to hurt. Buggy hadn’t meant to hit that hard. His hand lingered in the air for a second, a flicker of regret crossing his face.
Shanks made no move to hit back. He just stood there, looking a little stunned.
“Hey, that hurt!” Shanks rubbed his cheek. “I was just worried you might drown…”
Buggy’s regret vanished quickly, replaced by even more anger. “I’m not some weakling for you to worry about, asshole!” He turned and bolted for the door.
“Wait! That’s not what I meant!” Shanks reached for Buggy again.
But before he could, Buggy’s body already split apart, scattering into pieces so that Shanks grabbed nothing but air.
“Leave me alone!”
Buggy shot down the hallway, his body flying in separate pieces, pulling itself along toward the baths. Some crew members stared with wide eyes as he passed, but he ignored all of them. He only glanced back once, just to make sure Shanks wasn’t following.
Under the shower, Buggy scrubbed himself harder than necessary. Luckily, no one else was around. Most of the crew were still out on deck, enjoying their break before the afternoon chores started.
The water still felt… off, but not wrong. Buggy couldn’t tell if it was real or just in his head. He could still move fine, nothing like that day.
His eyes drifted toward the bath.
He hadn’t touched it since he ate the Devil Fruit. Not after that feeling of not being able to move, of the water that was supposed to support him closing in around him.
But after days of training, the water seemed to affect him less and less. Buggy hesitated, then quickly glanced toward the door, making sure no one was nearby. Rayleigh had forbidden him to step into the bath alone.
Slowly, he moved closer to the bath.
Buggy put one foot in first, watching carefully. When nothing happened, he felt a bit of confidence return and slowly lowered himself into the bath.
The water rose to his chest. The moment it surrounded Buggy, a wave of discomfort hit. His body tensed, and for a brief second, panic flared when his limbs didn’t respond the way he wanted.
But then, after a few seconds, Buggy let out a deep breath. He cautiously lifted his arms. They felt heavy in the water, but not impossible. When he raised them out of the surface, they moved freely again.
Buggy’s tension eased. He lowered himself a little more, still feeling nothing. If anything, he could even feel his body growing lighter as it relaxed. Buggy suddenly burst out laughing. After spending an entire week afraid of the water, it turned out it had all been in his head.
Buggy leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. The warm water settled comfortably around him, easing the soreness in his body from training just like it always had taken care of him.
When voices drifted in from outside the door, Buggy immediately stood up. Others would probably overreact seeing Buggy in the bath alone. They had never had another Devil Fruit user on the crew, so no one really knew the limits. Buggy had assured them he was fine, but they still treated him like a kid who needed to be watched every second.
He dried himself off just as two crewmates stepped in.
“Oh, Buggy! You’re bathing alone? Where’s Shanks?” one of them asked casually.
“…I just took a quick shower. It’s fine,” Buggy said, avoiding their eyes.
Luckily, they didn’t think much of it and continued their conversation. Buggy slipped past them and walked out, feeling better than he had in days.
***
Buggy volunteered for lookout duty that night. He had been taking as many shifts as he could, just to avoid sleeping in the same room as Shanks.
Avoiding Shanks had turned out to be more trouble than expected. It made Buggy realize how often they were always together. How much of his day, his routine, everything revolved around Shanks. Buggy had to change his entire schedule, even had to time his laundry differently just to avoid running into Shanks.
But leaving the room had never crossed his mind. The Oro Jackson was big enough, they had multiple spare cabins in the back. Still, no matter how much Buggy complained about the lack of space, he never wanted to leave the room he had grown up in, or the boy he had grown up with.
Buggy’s thoughts drifted as he sat in the crow’s nest beside another crewmate. The sea at night was calm, stretching out endlessly in the dark. The moonlight spilled across the surface with every gentle wave. It was the sight Buggy had loved all his life.
Buggy looked down at the ocean blue. His family was there. His first steps, first laugh, all of them tied to the sea… And tied him to another boy.
But now, all of it had been taken from him because of a stupid curse.
Buggy stood up abruptly. There was no way the sea would abandon him like that. Not the sea that had raised him and taken care of him all this time. Buggy had been fine in the bath. He just needed time to get used to it. If he could handle the bath, then maybe…
Buggy glanced at the crewmate beside him, the man was already half asleep. Buggy knew the ship would be fine. Roger always had everything covered with Observation Haki even in his sleep.
Quietly, Buggy climbed down from the crow’s nest and made his way to the edge of the ship. Below him, the waves rolled gently. Buggy watched the deep ocean blue, knowing it could be beautiful and deadly at the same time.
He pulled a small board over and pushed it out just enough to sit on, only hesitating for a moment before slowly lowering one leg.
The moment his foot touched the sea, Buggy shivered at the cool water. His body tensed instinctively. But nothing happened. Buggy inhaled sharply before lowering his leg further, then the other, until both were submerged beneath the surface.
Buggy finally let out a long, satisfied breath. He had spent an entire week avoiding the sea, feeling like a part of his soul had been ripped away from him. But now, the familiar comfort of the water returned so easily, wrapping around him like it always had.
Maybe the sea never hated Buggy after all.
Buggy stared at the dark below. It was as if the gentle waves were calling out to him.
One moment, Buggy was sitting on the board, staring at the sea. And the next thing he knew, he was surrounded by it. For a brief second, the water wrapped around him almost gently, as if welcoming him back.
Then his body reacted. Buggy kicked his legs wildly on instinct, but his body wouldn’t listen to him. Panic surged as he realized he couldn’t breathe. He reached for the surface, but it felt farther and farther away. It was the same terror as from the day he ate the Devil Fruit.
Buggy choked, water rushing into his mouth as he struggled. But this time, Shanks was not here. Buggy shut his eyes, desperation closing in around him. If he had been born by the sea, then maybe he was also meant to be…
…
Something yanked him upward.
The moment his face hit the air, Buggy gasped, his lungs dragging in breath without control.
It hurt. But there was a voice. Buggy would recognize that voice anywhere, even when he was on the edge of losing consciousness.
“Buggy!”
…
“Buggy! Can you talk?!”
Buggy’s eyes finally opened when Shanks’s fingers brushed the water away from them. His vision was still blurred, but he could make out Shanks dragging him back toward the board.
Buggy hadn’t realized how far he had drifted. He had fallen right beside the board. But now, they were far from the ship. Buggy shivered as the waves still wrapped around him gently, yet suffocating.
When Shanks pulled him onto the board, Buggy’s whole body felt weak, he nearly collapsed. Shanks caught him right away. Only then did Buggy notice Shanks’s hands were shaking.
“Hey… Hey, it’s okay now. I’ll take you to Crocus.” Shanks’s voice was shaking even more, like he was also trying to comfort himself.
Buggy slowly looked up from where he leaned against Shanks and met his eyes. It was an expression Buggy had never seen before.
They had been in dangerous situations countless times, real fights, life-or-death moments. Shanks had come back from missions with older crew members, covered in injuries and barely standing.
But Buggy had never seen the devastation in Shanks’s eyes like this, like he had almost lost something meant the world to him.
Shanks tried to pick him up. He never had trouble lifting Buggy even if they were the same height. But his arms were shaking too much, he could barely keep Buggy steady.
Buggy reached for him, fingers curling around his sleeves.
Shanks froze for a moment. Then he dropped down, pulling Buggy against him. His grip was too tight, but Buggy only felt comfort in it, those same arms that had always held Buggy together when everything else fell apart.
Buggy pressed his face into Shanks’s neck. The first tear he had shed since the incident finally slipped free.
Buggy had never been ashamed of crying. Rayleigh always said there was nothing weak about a man crying. But he hadn’t cried since that day. And once it started, Buggy broke down. He clung to Shanks, crying hard into his shoulder as his tears soaked through Shanks’s shirt.
Shanks pressed soft kisses against Buggy’s hair. Normally, Buggy would have snapped. He always got too flustered when Shanks did something affectionate where everyone could see. But at this moment, Buggy needed it, needed Shanks to show him how much Buggy meant to him.
“You scared me, Buggy. Are you hurt anywhere?” Shanks asked quietly.
Buggy finally managed to shake his head.
“Good. Good then.”
Shanks gently cupped Buggy’s face and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his eye, catching the lingering tears.
“Do you want to go to the infirmary?”
Buggy shook his head again. His tears had slowed down, and it felt… better. Like a heavy weight on his chest was loosening, bit by bit, with every breath. Buggy let himself rest against the crook of Shanks’s neck.
Shanks’s arms wrapped firmly around him. His presence covered Buggy completely, his warmth surrounding him, as if the cruel sea couldn’t touch Buggy at all with Shanks there.
Buggy didn’t think there would be a safer place in the world.
“I won’t tell others,” Shanks murmured once Buggy had calmed down, his hand tapping Buggy gently in reassurance. “But you have to promise me one thing.”
Buggy looked up and found Shanks was watching him closely.
“Don’t go without me. Let me be the part of the sea you can still touch.”
Shanks paused, suddenly remembering their fight from earlier. “I don’t mean that you’re weak. I just…”
“Will you hold me every time?” Buggy cut in quietly.
Shanks’s grip on Buggy immediately tightened. His hand came up to brush away the last traces of tears from Buggy’s face.
“I will,” Shanks said firmly. “And I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Buggy leaned slightly into the touch. The warmth of it gave him just enough courage to say what he had always wanted.
“I want to swim.”
Shanks went still. “Buggy, you just…”
“You’ll be here this time, right?” Buggy nudged his face a little into Shanks’s neck. He knew he was playing unfair, Shanks had never said no to him in those rare moments when Buggy acted a little clingy.
Something flickered across Shanks’s expression. But he swallowed, then nodded firmly. “Yes. I will.”
Shanks stood with Buggy in his arms, no hint of struggle this time, and made his way toward the edge of the ship. Each step was slow and careful. His eyes never left Buggy, watching for the smallest sign of hesitation.
Buggy noticed the worry in Shanks’s eyes, but even the memory of drowning didn’t scare him as much anymore. Not when he knew these arms would be there to hold him safe.
Shanks stopped at the edge. “I’m going, okay?” he said quietly, giving Buggy one last chance to pull back.
Buggy nodded without hesitation. Then he turned his gaze away from Shanks toward the sea.
When Shanks lowered them into the water carefully, Buggy immediately felt the loss of control. The weight in his body shifted all at once. His limbs went slack and heavy. For a split second, panic surged as his body remembered the feeling of drowning from earlier.
Then Shanks’s arms tightened around his waist.
“Buggy, hold onto me,” Shanks murmured, pulling him closer.
Buggy managed to wrap his arms around Shanks’s shoulders after a moment. They settled into the water, floating together on the surface.
Shanks held them there with ease. Even with another clinging to him, he showed no sign of struggle, calm and dependable as he had always been.
“How does it feel?” Shanks asked quietly.
Buggy took a small breath. “Safe.”
It was true. Even though his body felt weak and he couldn’t control it the way he used to, he could still feel Shanks steady and solid next to him, and that was enough.
Shanks smiled, the tension finally easing from his face. “Want to move?”
Buggy nodded, finally smiling.
Shanks began to shift slightly, keeping one arm firm around Buggy’s waist as he swam. They moved slowly across the water together.
And just like that, Buggy found the feeling again. All those times he had swum through the ocean blue with water brushing gently against him… only now did he realize there had always been another boy with him, just like in this moment.
Buggy had never asked any of the older crewmates to take him swimming. They would have been safe, and he knew they would have said yes without hesitation. But it wouldn’t have been the same. Not when he had to rely on someone just to return to the sea.
But if it was Shanks… The boy who had been there even before Buggy could remember the sea. He wasn’t someone Buggy depended on.
Shanks was simply… part of him.
Buggy tilted his head back and let himself sink a little deeper.
Shanks’s arms tightened immediately. “Buggy, be careful.” His voice was strained. But after a moment, he forced it down and loosened his hold just enough, helping Buggy sink a little into the water.
Only Buggy’s face remained above the surface now. His tied hair had come loose somewhere along the way, and strands of blue spread out around him, drifting softly with the water.
“Your hair blends into the ocean again.” Shanks smiled as he watched Buggy relax.
Buggy knew Shanks’s favourite color was blue, from the way he looked at the ocean, the endless sky they watched together during long nights on deck, or the way he had always looked at Buggy.
His fingers came to curl into Shanks’s collar and tug at it lightly. Shanks hesitated for just a second before letting himself sink a little closer beside Buggy.
“Let me do this with you every day,” Shanks said quietly.
Buggy swallowed. “Every day?”
Shanks didn’t miss a beat. “Every day.”
“And forever.”
Buggy huffed upon hearing that. He tried to lift his head but his body wouldn’t cooperate. The water still held him down. Shanks noticed right away. His hand slid from Buggy’s waist to the back of his head, lifting him just enough to face Shanks.
“Don’t say forever if you can’t keep it,” Buggy whispered.
“I can, and I will.” Shanks’s gaze didn’t waver. He pulled Buggy just a little closer. “I will guide you through the sea forever.”
Buggy looked into Shanks’s eyes. A promise of forever from a twelve-year-old should have sounded foolish. But for once, Buggy couldn’t bring himself to laugh it off. Not when Shanks was looking at him like there was nothing else in the world.
The ocean stretched endlessly around them, the deep blue of the sea, the endless blue of the sky. But the only blue in Shanks’s eyes was Buggy.
Like Shanks had already found his Blue, and never cared for any other.
“…Promise?”
“Promise,” Shanks said without hesitation.
Buggy had felt lost ever since the Devil Fruit took the sea from him. But when Shanks stayed by his side, Buggy realized. Maybe he had never lost the sea, not when the part he loved most had always been there, in every fight, every laugh and every reckless adventure they had shared.
Shank’s hand stayed at the back of Buggy’s head as he slowly guided Buggy closer.
When Buggy closed his eyes, Shanks leaned in. Their lips met gently.
…
Shanks kept that promise for the rest of their lives.
***
In the captain’s cabin above, Rayleigh had been standing by the window for a long time, while Roger had already slumped onto the bed a few minutes ago, one arm thrown over his face.
“They’re fine now. Come on. Let’s sleep.”
Rayleigh didn’t move. The moment his Haki had sensed Buggy heading toward the edge, he had been ready to jump out without a second thought. But Roger had stopped him.
“It’s okay,” Roger added. “Shanks is close.”
Rayleigh’s eyes stayed fixed on the dark water outside. “It’s the sea at night. It could be dangerous even for Shanks.”
Roger reached out. His fingers found Rayleigh’s hand and tapped it lightly. It was a familiar gesture between them, the one that always took the edge off Rayleigh.
Something in Rayleigh finally gave in, his shoulders eased just a little. He turned toward Roger.
“We won’t always be there for Buggy,” Roger said quietly. “Shanks has to be the one to help him with the sea.”
Rayleigh pressed his lips together. He knew that Roger was right. Still, those were his boys.
When the moment passed, Rayleigh still hadn’t moved. Roger knew he had to try something else. “Come here, Ray. They have each other now, someone else could use your attention.”
Rayleigh shot him a look. Roger was already patting the empty space beside him on the bed with a wide grin. Rayleigh only crossed his arms.
“Oh, come on,” Roger groaned. “I haven’t had a proper sleep all week. Shanks kept banging on my door and yelling about why I split their chores.”
Rayleigh glanced at the faint shadows under Roger’s eyes and sighed. He knew Roger had been just as worried about the boys.
Rayleigh looked back out the window one last time. The two figures were still tangled together in the middle of the sea.
A small smile tugged at his lips. It reminded him too much of him and Roger back when they were younger. The boys still had a long way to go. But for now, this was enough.
Rayleigh reached up and closed the window. He had been worried out of instinct. But he had always known. From the moment he caught the way Shanks looked at Buggy, he knew that look too well.
The kind that meant forever.