Chapter Text
It had been an average day for the Roger Pirates, deciding to go on a small treasure hunt was just to entertain the children. Buggy and Shanks have been bouncing around since they informed them of the hunt for treasure, Buggy’s smile never dwindling at the thought of gold. However, they hadn’t expected to end up in a cave, a giant stone before them with strange symbols carved into the wall. Shanks and Buggy were whispering to each other in the back, the rest of the crew looking over the stone wall.
Suddenly, a flash of light had thrown them off guard, and they opened their eyes to an even stranger room. The room had a screen in the front and several couches around it. Rayleigh examined the room around them, but everyone was distracted by a sudden panicked shout from Shanks.
They all turned in a panic, instinctively grabbing their weapons. What they saw was Buggy lying in Shanks’ arms, seemingly having passed out. Rayleigh's brows furrow, and Roger speaks up, tightening his grip on his sword as he glances around the room. They both disliked how their haki seemingly stopped working past the walls of this room.
“Shanks, my boy? What happened to Buggy?”
Before the red-haired boy could respond, the screen lit up with words,
‘Hello, Roger Pirates! You will be reacting to Buggy’s future.’
Crocus had rushed over to Buggy, checking over him while everyone else stared at the screen.
Roger was the first to break the silence with a laugh, although his grip on his sword combatted his calm demeanor.
“The future of Buggy, eh? Sounds fun!”
Rayleigh sighs at his captain, but doesn’t fight against his decision. They couldn’t get out of here anyway.
“Crocus, how is Buggy?”
Crocus purses his lips, looking over at Rayleigh and Roger,
“He’s perfectly fine physically. I don’t see a medical reason as to why he suddenly passed out.”
The room flashes with light again, and they all find themselves seated on a couch. Buggy is lying against Shanks, who flushes a bit at the contact, but his face remains stuck in a worried frown. He looks up as words appear on the screen again,
‘Buggy is fine. I have put him to sleep so that he will not have to watch.’
Shanks frowns; he doesn’t like that this person messed with Buggy. Rayleigh and Roger are seated next to the kids, with Crocus, Gaban, and Oden seated on the other side. Roger ruffles Shank’s hair,
“Don’t worry, kid. He’ll be fine.”
Shanks relaxes a bit but keeps Buggy pressed to his side. They all look up as the screen starts to form an image.
An older boy, around 17, sits at a piano. He has ocean-blue hair and matching eyes.
Shanks’ eyes light up with recognition,
“That’s Buggy!”
They all look at the boy, observing him. Crocus frowns at how thin the boy looks; everyone else notices he isn’t wearing the usual beanie. His hair is finally shown, and Shanks’ eyes go wide with admiration, a small ‘pretty’ leaving his mouth. Roger laughs at him; his boys are so in love, though they don't realize it.
The boy, Buggy, starts to play a melody, and slowly his voice joins in,
“My heart doesn’t have any room for apologies. I’ve held them back for a while.”
The adults were a bit surprised; no one had known Buggy could sing. Shanks smiled brightly, Buggy had the best voice! He should ask him to sing more. Oden speaks up in surprise,
“The kid can sing?”
The screen faded from Buggy’s image, revealing a new image alongside his voice.
Shanks and Buggy are seen together. Buggy sits on his hammock, watching Shanks play with his hat. Shanks turns to Buggy, his face a bit worried as he asks something they can’t hear,
“And I think you should know, when you asked if I’d cried, I lied.”
Shanks frowns; he had known Buggy wasn’t feeling great, but he hated that he felt the need to lie to him. Rayleigh frowns,
“Why did he cry?”
Shanks hesitates, pulling Buggy closer to him before speaking up,
“It was after that huge battle, the Edd war with the Golden Lion Pirates. Buggy… wasn’t feeling great afterwards.”
Roger sighs, nodding, a small frown marring his normally joyful face,
“I remember. He awakened his observation Haki; everything had been way too intense for him during that battle. Not to mention he has naturally sensitive haki.”
Shanks and Buggy are training together, Rayleigh overseeing them and yelling out instructions. Buggy had lost his balance when trying to attack with the sword, causing Shanks to be able to disarm him. Buggy pouted, but looked up with wide eyes at what Rayleigh had said.
”But does that really matter? I was taught to lose with my head high.”
Rayleigh smiles, pride filling his chest,
“I’m glad he actually listens to me. After all, winning isn’t everything in the world.”
“So when I shake your hand, don’t you dare think that’s me being kind.”
Buggy now stands on the deck of the Oro Jackson, surrounded by all the other Roger pirates. Roger is then seen waving at them, walking away from the ship with a bag of supplies.
Oden speaks up, feeling a mix of confusion and disappointment,
“Eh, captain? You're leaving the crew?”
Crocus stays silent; he knows exactly why Roger would leave the crew. Roger merely laughs,
“Don’t worry, friend! I won’t leave until we finish our journey!”
“Would you rather I left all my dreams in a ditch? Set fire to all of my plans.”
Both Roger and Shanks both frown at this. Buggy was a dreamer, and it was almost impossible to deter him from trying to fulfill them. Roger felt especially guilty that Buggy was feeling this way because of his actions, although he knew why he acted that way.
“I don’t want him to give up his dreams. I’ve always encouraged both my boys to fulfill their dreams!”
Shanks and Buggy are seen in a crowd, it’s not clear exactly where they are. They’re both wearing a cloak that covers their face, and their conversation gradually morphs into an argument. The boys are older, and they look weary. After a bit of unheard back-and-forth, Buggy runs off through the rain.
Shank's eyes go wide. They fought a lot, yeah. But never to the point that Buggy would run from him, and he didn’t seem to intend on coming back. Roger frowns, looking over at the two boys cuddled up together. How did these two end up separating? He hoped it wouldn’t be long before they met again. Besides, where was the rest of the crew?
“‘Cause I can’t help from thinking we’ll meet in five years, and fall in love again.”
Rayleigh can’t help but perk up at the fact that Buggy has actually admitted they're in love; it took long enough. However, their separation wasn’t good. Where were the rest of them when the two youngest needed them?
Shanks flushes, his mind racing with thoughts. Buggy loved him? Why did they argue? Did Buggy really leave? Will they meet again? Why did he let him run away? He looks down at Buggy asleep in his arms, slowly sliding a piece of the blue hair behind his ear. If Buggy truly loved him… could they be…?
It shows them both older, 16 maybe, and on a small ship with a pirate flag. Shanks and Buggy are side by side, talking until Shanks seems to get upset. He shouts at Buggy, his face full of worry, panic, and concern. Buggy only laughs in return, smiling as he says something back.
”And you’re right, you know? I’d let you kill me.”
Shank's eyes go wide, dread filling his chest,
“I… I don’t wanna kill Buggy!”
Crocus's brow furrowed; he didn’t like how Buggy was speaking, as if he didn’t care much for his own life. It was no surprise he’d let Shanks hurt him; he protected the boy enough to show he cared an abnormal amount. However, there should be no reason for him ever to accept dying, even if it’s by Shank's hands.
”Tear me, flesh and blood. Baby, you got the best of my love.”
Rayleigh and Roger both frown at that. Love isn’t letting someone hurt you unconditionally. Rayleigh looked over at the two kids beside him, so young and dependent on each other. Maybe he should teach them a bit about healthy relationships…
”I’ve never once in my life been allowed to hold on to something that makes me feel good.”
Buggy is smiling brightly, standing on top of the deck of the Oro Jackson as the crew works around him. Shanks is by his side, laughing along with Roger while Rayleigh watches with a content smile.
The image changes to Buggy frowning, once again wearing that cloak. He’s standing alone in the rain, staring at something in front of him with wide, horrified eyes.
”So I don’t know why, when I found you, I thought that I could.”
Roger frowns, speaking up,
“I know the crews disbanded, but why did the kids end up alone?”
Rayleigh crosses his arms, nodding,
“That’s right. Even if the crews disbanded, we can't just leave them alone; they’re still kids.”
Buggy is 10, sitting around a table in the kitchen, wearing a birthday hat. Rayleigh sets a glowing birthday cake in front of him, the candles flickering as his smile widens. Shanks is beside Buggy, encouraging him as he goes to blow out the candles.
”I watched you love me like I deserved it.”
Shanks smiles, that had been only a few weeks ago, and the joy still lingered. He was glad that Buggy felt loved in these moments, he wanted to make sure Buggy felt loved all the time! He was really pretty when he smiled, and the candles lit up his blue eyes just like the sea when the sun set…
Rayleigh and Roger share an amused look at the lovestruck look on Shanks face. Buggy had turned ten only a few weeks ago and they had wanted to make sure it was perfect for the kid, his ninth birthday had been just a small cupcake after all, as they hadn’t been able to find an island in time. They had managed to get him a cake and some decorations to ensure he had a great birthday.
He's now 13, standing on the wooden deck in loguetown, watching as the crew rushes around the ship, everyone packing and gathering supplies. He stands beside Shanks, both wearing cloaks and a blank stare on their faces. Time moves fast, and everyone eventually boards the ship, Rayleigh giving them one last smile before boarding the ship and slowly sailing away.
”Then like I deserve nothing at all.”
Rayleigh watches the screen in pure astonishment. Why? Why would he ever leave his two kids alone? Even if Roger disbanded the crew he couldn’t imagine leaving his children to survive on their own.
Roger looks over at Rayleigh who seems almost devastated. Roger isn’t much better, he feels guilty, he trusts Rayleigh but this shows him leaving their kids by themselves. He knows why he couldn’t take the kids with him, it would be cruel to make them watch their father figure die. He trusted Rayleigh with his life, so why did this future show him leaving the most precious people to them behind?
Crocus frowns, he wasn’t as close to the kids as everyone else was but they were kids. Why would they all agree to leave them by themselves? Sure, marines may be after them but wouldn’t sticking with them be better? The marines have seen the kids' faces, of course they have, it’s too dangerous for them to be alone.
Oden looks over at his captain, the second-in-command, and their two little cabin boys. Everyone on the ship was a family, but those four were on a different level. He couldn’t imagine them ever separating from each other, why would the captain disband the crew? Why would Rayleigh let him, and leave the kids behind? Why did they look so dull.
Shanks stares at the screen, dread filling his stomach as he watches the people he trusts most, his family, leave him and Buggy alone on that dock. He bites his lip, looking over at the two people beside him. He trusted them, loved them, they were like his parents. So, why was he seeing himself and Buggy being left behind?
Roger and Rayleigh notice Shanks biting his lip, recognizing it as a nervous habit. Roger pulls both Shanks and Buggy closer to him, wrapping an arm around them as Rayleigh speaks up,
“Dont worry Shanks. I won’t let this happen, I promise. I won’t leave you two alone.”
Shanks is sitting on a wooden stool, the image of a bar filling the rest of the screen. Buggy is behind the counter, wiping down a glass before filling it with alcohol.
Rayleigh frowns, Buggy seems to be only 16, why is he working in a bar? Why is Shanks in the bar with him?
Shanks is frowning, his head leaning on one of his palms as he mutters something towards Buggy. Buggy frowns in response, turning away to serve another customer, Shanks is visibly drunk and upset when Buggy turns.
Roger frowns, they’re pirates, of course they drink. But seeing his cabin boy actually drunk and sitting in a bar is different. And Buggy, he’s working there, why?
”You tell me you miss me, then I have to beg you to call.”
Shanks frowns, why would Buggy have to beg him to call? That doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t ignore Buggy, he had always been the first to initiate contact! What’s wrong with him in the future?
Both Rayleigh and Roger frown, their kids are practically inseparable. Especially Shanks, ever since he was a baby he would cry when Buggy was taken from him. To see them so distant is wrong, what happened to them?
Shanks is standing in front of Roger, both of them smiling brightly as they converse. Buggy is standing a bit away from them, sitting on a wooden crate as he watches them with a smile.
“If you stare at the sun, you are bound to go blind”
Shanks frowns, why does that image make it seem like Buggy is an outsider? If Buggy saw him as the sun then Buggy was the ocean, he was the dream of every sailor, especially Shanks. Shanks didn’t think he would be able to be a pirate without Buggy. Buggy was to Shanks what the ocean was to pirates, freedom and dreams.
Shanks and Buggy are seen standing in front of each other, both soaked by the rain. Buggy looks devastated while Shanks seems to be drowning in despair. Nevertheless, Shanks smiles and extends his hand to Buggy, saying something unheard that seems to anger Buggy.
”Maybe that’s why I couldn’t see the end.”
Buggy yells something back, slapping Shanks hand away as he turns and runs off. Shanks looks at his back, a tired and devastated expression on his face, yet he makes no move to run after Buggy.
None of this makes sense to Shanks. Why would he let Buggy run? What did he say to upset him so much? Why do they both look so dull? He wouldn’t let Buggy run away from him, if this really was their future, he would change it. Buggy would stay by his side and they wouldn’t be separated. They were meant to build a crew together one day!
Rayleigh knew Buggy tended to let his emotions control his actions, but to the point of leaving Shank’s side? He didn’t understand this situation, his kids alone and upset, separating, and they are nowhere to be found. Where the hell were they!? He knows, he watched them sail away, but he refused to accept that they would do that to their kids.
Buggy is behind the counter of the bar again, watching an unknown man help Shanks walk out of the bar. He stares, but doesn’t say anything, his grip tightening on the glass in his hand.
”And I’m down on my knees, begging stay with me please”
Shanks knew Buggy hated to show weakness, he hated admitting that he enjoyed someone's presence. Shanks was supposed to be able to tell for him, to understand without Buggy telling him that he needed a hug or space. Why? Why didn’t the future him see just how much Buggy didn’t want to be alone?
”This will finish just how it began”
Shanks is staring at Buggy, an upset expression on his face as he says something unheard again. Buggy looks up at him, a baby in his arms. The baby has black hair and freckles scattering his cheeks.
No one expected this. A baby? He’s 16, why does he have a baby?
Rayleigh is the first to speak up, to calm their racing minds, “It may be someone else's kid, he could just be babysitting.”
Buggy merely smiles again at Shanks' concern, speaking as he feeds the baby a bottle.
”And you’re right, you know? I’d let you kill me, time and time again.”
Shanks frowns, again? Nevermind the baby, why does Buggy keep saying he’d let me kill him!? Shanks would never! He pulls Buggy closer to him, he’ll have to get it into Buggy’s mind that Shanks would never. Buggy is his treasure, he could never hurt him.
Roger frowns, this is the second time his boy is seen telling Shanks he would let him kill him. That’s not right, Buggy has always valued his own life. No matter how close his boys are, they should never be okay with being hurt by each other!
”Tear me limb from limb. Like an animal, like a wild, wild dog.”
“How morbid…”
Oden’s words made everyone frown, but he was right, what Buggy thought was morbid. It made no sense that the once cheerful child was now talking in such a violent way. Rayleigh looks over at the small blue-haired boy sleeping peacefully in Shanks arms. Why did such a bright boy change so much?
Shanks frowned again, pressing his face against Buggy’s hair to try and hold back his tears. Why? Why would Buggy talk as if Shanks would hurt him? And why would Buggy let him?
A 12 year old Shanks is seen sparring with Rayleigh, light snow falling over the deck of the Oro Jackson. Buggy is sitting a bit further away on a wooden crate, wearing a heavy coat and smiling while watching Shanks. It zooms in on Shanks face, bright and smiling, while a bit flushed from the cold. Buggy’s eyes go wide, and his face flushes.
“I fell for you like a french, winter snow”
Shanks eyes go wide, staring at the screen with a dumbfounded look, his face flushing as red as his hair. Buggy had a crush on him? Buggy loved him too!?
Roger and Rayleigh exchanged a knowing glance, they had known for a while, merely wondering when the two kids would figure it out themselves. Roger laughed, ruffling Shanks hair, Rayleigh smirking as he remarks,
“About time one of you admitted it.”
Shanks flushes further, pulling his hat over his eyes and staring down at Buggy who is still sleeping peacefully.
The two boys are seen sitting on the deck of the ship, older, as the stars sparkle behind them. Buggy is laughing, Shanks watching with a dopey smile on his face, they are quite close to each other. Buggy pauses, staring at Shanks and his eyes widen, looking away and laughing it off as he pushes himself away. Shanks reaches out, taking Buggy’s hand as he speaks. Buggy pauses, looking at the ground and then back at Shanks, his eyes filled with doubt.
”You fell for me like poor impulse control”
Shanks frowns. Why does Buggy look upset? Does he think Shank’s love isn’t real? Buggy is easy to love, and Shanks' love will always be deep and genuine.
Rayleigh sighs, Buggy has always been deeply insecure. No matter what he says Buggy just can’t accept that he’s loved.
The whole crew is seen on an island full of snow, the kids bundled up in winter clothes. Buggy is caught off guard by a sudden snowball hitting him, turning to see Shanks chuckling. Buggy yells, grabbing his own snowball and running after Shanks. The kids devolve into giggles, and the screen fades to show them cuddling on their hammocks, flushed from the cold or the closeness, only they know.
”I still have dreams about us in the cold.”
Shanks smiles, that was the island they had just been on! Buggy must have had fun too if he thought about it a lot! He’ll have to give Buggy happy and fun memories on every island.
”And when you go to sleep alone in your bed. I hope you remember the things that you said.”
Huh? The things he said? Shanks stares at the still joyful picture in confusion, did he say something to hurt Buggy? Why would he do that? Shanks looks down at Buggy, frowning and promising himself he would be better. Buggy would know he was loved, Shanks won’t have it any other way.
The corners of Rogers mouth turned down, did his boys fight again? Of course they fought a lot, but for Buggy to be so stuck on Shanks words… Something bad happened between them, more than them just being separated.
The screen now shows both of the boys on a ship, a pirate ship that clearly belongs to Shanks, as he seems the most comfortable on it. They are around 14, staring at each other. Shanks looks strangely dull, while Buggy seems shocked.
Shanks doesn’t know how to feel. He got his own crew, yes, but Buggy isn’t a part of it. And why does Buggy seem so hurt? Did… Did he do something!? Say something!? He hated this future! Why was he making Buggy so upset!?
”Sticking around like a song in your head. I hope you hear it forever.”
Rayleigh doesn’t have a good feeling about this, for Buggy to be so upset at Shanks. Something really bad must have happened.
”I hope you hear all the times you got mad! When you said fucking me made you feel sad!”
Shanks looked up in shock, Buggy was terribly angry at him. He didn’t exactly understand what he said but it upset Buggy a lot. Why? Why would he let this happen? Why didn’t he apologize or just not say it!?
Rogers lips tighten into a grimace, it’s uncomfortable to hear his kid talk of such a matter. However, Shanks really upset him, why would he say something like that? Roger sighed, Shanks was a very defensive person. He would say anything that comes to his mind in order to protect his own emotional state, but for it to happen towards Buggy…
”I hope you hear the things you can’t take back. ‘Cause you can’t love anyone now that I'm gone!”
Shanks jolts slightly at the sudden increase in volume, Buggy was mad. Shanks wanted to comfort him, but all he could do was pull his Buggy closer to his chest. It’s true, however, that Shanks would only love Buggy. Buggy was his, his soulmate, he could never love anyone else even a fraction of the way he loved Buggy.
”The biggest mistake - out of all you did wrong- was dating a boy who would write you a song! I hope you hear it forever! I know you’ll hear it forever! I know you’ll hear me forever…”
The screen fades to black, Buggy’s voice slowly dying out.
Everyone sits in silence, processing everything they had learned about this supposed future of theirs. Rayleigh sighs, speaking up,
“Will we see more?”