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Gol D. Roger was the most annoying man/ghost on the Grand Line, probably in the world. You still weren’t sure why you were chosen of all people for him to haunt but here you were, wiping down the bar counter of the tavern you owned while he leaned against the counter. He was handsome. There was no doubt about that even if he was a ghost. You still weren’t sure how you could see him or talk to him but you could. But he talked more than enough for an entire town and he talked about anything and anyone and everything. You never knew what you’d get with Roger. You had taken over the bar from your father after he had decided he wanted to go sit by the docks and shoot the shit with the fisherman down there. Once a pirate, always a pirate. You had grown up on a pirate ship, your father’s, when he had his own crew before settling down on this island. He and you had known Shanks when Shanks was starting out and getting into the new world and thanks to that, he had your island under his protection as one of his territories now that he was an emperor. You wanted to murder him half the time too just like his quasi father. You glanced at Roger as he leaned against the bar, yapping about nothing at all, and you shook your head.
“You’re as annoying as Shanks.”
“Well, I did raise him.”
“I’m aware.” The grin he gave you was bright and you shook your head as you continued to wipe down the counter with a hum. Your hair was tied back and you wore shorts and a cropped top. It was easy, convenient, because you never knew when a fight would break out but it didn’t normally. The pirates and locals knew the rules, no fighting in the tavern or you’ll be thrown out. They respected it and since it was mostly the Red Haired pirates who came and Shanks’ allied crews..
They knew not to cross you because by proxy, they’d piss off Red Hair. It was not something they wanted to do even though they all knew, you’d take care of them with ease, but that didn’t matter. Shanks still wouldn’t tolerate it. Your tavern was his favorite to come to.
“You know.” Roger started out as he watched you with a stupid smile. “I can see why Shanks likes to come here.”
You raised a brow at the King of the Pirates, glancing over at him. “And why is that?”
“You’re beautiful.”
You threw your rag at him, causing him to laugh as it went right through him.
“I hate you.”
“It’s the truth!”
“He comes because I have good sake.” You pointed out with a huff, a blush on your cheeks as well. You refused to admit Shanks thought you were beautiful and besides, it wasn’t any of the ghost’s business. “Why don’t you go haunt him instead of me?”
“You’re more murdery and fun.”
“I think we need to talk about your definition of fun.”
“Like you don’t enjoy it just as much as me.”
You scoffed at him, refusing to admit that you did enjoy the chaos and his and Shanks’ definition of fun. You had been a pirate too, though, you were more retired than anything now. You never denied that you still felt the sea and chaos that came with it calling to you. You knew that Roger had realized that too and that was one of his other favorite topics to discuss with you. Returning to the sea but you liked your life here and besides, you sometimes gave information to Benn when the Red Haired Pirates came in about movements of marines, other crews, and little things you had heard. You were loyal to the Red Haired Pirates even if you didn’t want to admit any feelings for Shanks.
“You know, I think you’d miss me if I just left.” Roger broke you out of your thoughts and you shot the ghost a glare.
“I think I’d actually get to sleep peacefully at night.” You told him as you tossed the rag underneath the bar into the basket you had there. You grabbed a new one, placing it in the back pocket of your shorts before you turned to grab some of the glasses. Roger laughed, a booming laugh, and you smiled for just a moment. His laugh was loud much like he was but even after everything, it was still filled with joy.
You ignored him as you went on about opening the tavern. You had a few employees who worked for you but you enjoyed the morning shift with the regulars that came in and the little old ladies who always showed up.
You were already setting out their normal drinks. Doris loved a good rum while Louise wanted a cocktail. They were in their seventies and they looked sweet but those old women were menaces.
They each had their own little stand in the market district right down the road and would come in for an hour for a little break and lunch before going back. Doris sold flowers while Louise had vegetables from her garden. You often got both for free in exchange for their drinks being on the house. They were very much like your grandmothers in the way that grandmothers cared about you and also annoyed you to no end in a very loving way too.
“Oh! It’s my favorites!” Roger gasped in delight as you shook your head, setting both drinks down in front of their regular stools just as the two women walked in. ”Good morning, ladies.” You said with a smile towards them. There was a mischievous look in both of their eyes as they came in. ”Good Morning, dear.” “Hello, lovey.” Doris and Louise sat down and took a drink from their respective drinks, causing you to raise a brow.
“Why do you two look so suspicious?”
”Oh, no reason.”
”None at all.”
“But Doris, didn’t you see the red sails on the horizon this morning?”
“Were there? I didn’t notice. I do hope Beckman comes by my shop. He enjoys my flowers.”
You quietly snorted at that. She had her eye on the first mate of the Red Haired pirates and it never ceased to amuse you with how much this little old lady flirted with Beckman either.
“I’m sure Roux will be by mine. I wonder how long they’re staying this time.”
“I’m sure it’ll be a week or more. Last I heard, Shanks got into a scuffle with some little pirates.”
You glanced up at that, which was the wrong move entirely, because Doris caught your eye and smirked. Roger watched on in absolute delight, and Louise batted her eyes innocently.
“I hope the poor dear wasn’t hurt.”
You snorted before Doris could respond. “It’s Shanks. I think he’s fine.”
“You don’t know that, lovey.” Doris scolded you, shaking her head. “He’s just a boy.”
“He’s a grown man and an emperor. He’s fine, Doris.”
Roger snorted as he watched you continue your routine, you had already told your cook that they were there and would want their regular order. Grilled fish with rice. They hadn’t changed their order in five years and you doubted they would now.
Doris sipped her rum and nudged Louise. “Are you sure about that lovey?” She smirked at you.
You rolled your eyes once more. “I’m very sure. Shanks can handle himself. He’s one the strongest pirates on the seas even if you don’t want to admit it. Don’t baby him.”
Louise laughed a bit and shook her head, knowing you hadn’t even realized you had defended his strength. “Oh, dear. We know you baby him too.”
“I do not.” You puffed out your cheeks a bit as you leaned against the counter behind the bar.
“You do so. I’ve seen him come out of your rooms above here.” Louise pointed out and you rolled your eyes as Roger’s brows shot up. He hadn’t been haunting you the last time Shanks had docked at your island.
“He only stays there when he’s too drunk to get back to his ship.” You crossed your arms, lips pursed because yes, you did let Shanks stay in your room upstairs when he was here but only when he was drunk and that was….
Most of the time. You refused to let them know that they had a very good point..
“Oh? Does he stay in your bed?” Roger asked as he leaned next to you but you didn’t look at him.
You didn’t need the little old ladies thinking you were crazy.
Doris, however, smirked. “That’s every time then, isn’t it, lovey?”
You narrowed your gaze at her and rolled your eyes.
“Oh why don’t you both hush? Nothing is going on with me and that red haired bastard.” You grumbled, shoving through Roger as he laughed, and turning to get some ale for one of the other regulars who had come in.
You didn’t notice him, not yet but Roger’s smirk widened when he noticed who was at your bar now.
“What poor red haired bastard is it that you have nothing going on with, sweetheart? It surely can’t be me.” His voice was low, teasing, and his smirk was fully in place.
Shanks had heard every word. Damn it. Speak of the devil. Your back straightened as you scowled at the wall, turning to look at the red haired bastard in question.
“Shanks.”
“Hello, Sweetheart. Miss me?”
“Why are you here?”
“I missed you.”
“Bullshit.”
He laughed as he winked at Doris and Louise, you were well aware of Roger beaming with pride at seeing his son in everything but blood.
“It’s true! I did. But we came a couple of days early. Supplies and what not.” He leaned against the bar, his red eyes watching you with a look you didn’t want to name and you didn’t want to smile, you really didn’t, yet you did.
“Hmm. You just wanted more sake.”
“You serving it helps me plenty.” He winked at you and you rolled you eyes, glancing at Roger as if to blame him for how Shanks was.
“Oh shut up.” You slid him a bottle of sake and a cup anyway. But you had a feeling there was something else there too but you wouldn’t question him. Not yet.
“Thanks, love.” He winked as he poured himself a cup, taking a seat next to Louise. The woman was all but fawning over him and so was Doris.
Traitors.
“Oh, Shanks, look at you.” Doris cooed to the Emperor, who was absolutely eating it up, he always had liked attention when the mood struck and clearly now was a good time. “You’re as handsome as the last time you were here.”
You snorted, shaking your head as you continued to restock the bar, very well aware of Shanks’ eyes on you as were Roger’s. They really were father and son. You tuned in some as you listened to Shanks tell Doris and Louise about his latest sea faring adventures and the scuffle he had supposedly gotten into.
Thankfully, Yassop wasn’t here to embellish details but that did bring up the question of where his crew was. You figured they were probably gathering supplies or checking in on the village. Shanks and his crew were one of the best emperors to have protecting any island, they cared about the people, and they didn’t demand anything. It was one of the many reasons why the people on the island were so loyal to them and him. They all loved Shanks.
You spared a glance at Roger, who had a shine to his deep brown eyes (if ghosts even got tears, who knew, this was all crazy to you as it was), but there was a proud gleam to them. You knew he was proud of the man Shanks had become and you knew, from your various drunken conversations with Shanks, that he always had wondered if he made Roger proud.
Maybe you’d be able to tell him about your pesky ghostly roommate. That’s basically what he was now and even if he did piss you off more often than not, it had been nice to not be alone besides the cat you had adopted a few days before Roger had shown up. The cat, however, was an orange tabby with part of his left ear that was missing and somehow he had chosen you to be his owner yet he could be a mean old thing.
He also knew Roger was there and for whatever reason he loved Roger.
You had ended up naming him Scratch mainly due to the fact that he had scratched you several times for no reason but he was an old man and you couldn’t blame the grumpy cat either. At first, you had assumed the things being moved around your little apartment above the bar was because of him. It was not as you came to find out when you had literally woken up to a ghost leaning over you that had the most ridiculous mustache in the world.
Gol D. Roger.
You had screamed and he had screamed and then you had declared you were dreaming. It turns out that you weren’t dreaming and now it had been three months and living with Roger had become a reality. He could be entertaining and also informative too but mainly he was a pest, a menace, you hated that you enjoyed it too.
“Something’s bothering him.”
Roger’s voice brought you out of your thoughts about the last couple of months and you glanced over at him.
“Hm?”
Roger didn’t expect you to talk when there were others around but he also had picked up your non verbal cues that you were listening to him.
“He’s engaged but he’s not there fully.” He told you and while Roger may have been dead for twenty years, he had raised Shanks and he knew him well enough to know something was going on. Roger was also extremely competent with just about anything too, he just chose to be a menace who was powerful even as a ghost.
You hummed your acknowledgement and glanced at the red haired emperor. Roger was right. He was carrying something. He wasn’t as joyful as he typically was, sure, he was still being a charming menace but there was just something off about him and the way he was acting.
Something was wrong.
“Could be to do with that last crew he dealt with.” Roger added and you nodded a bit, your eyes shifting the red haired pirate. You knew from the last time Shanks was here he had been worried about Teach, now Blackbeard, ever since he had murdered the fourth division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. You knew a few of them and you had known Thatch but you definitely weren’t as close to them as you were with the Red Haired pirates, but you never minded if they showed up. You were fond of Marco and Izou along with Ace. You spared a glance at Roger. It was amazing how much Ace looked like his father but you never brought it up either.
“Hm.”
“Rrooowwwww.”
“Hello, Scratch.” You said fondly as the cat jumped onto the counter. No one really said anything about it anymore, he’d shown up a couple of months ago and Doris and Louise had convinced you to take the grumpy, orange tabby. He’d been living with you ever since and he still made his rounds at the stalls, killing off bugs and mice. He also got plenty of scraps too along with the fish your cook made him.
He was absolutely spoiled and lived just like a king.
You reached over and scratched behind his ears, causing him to growl out in contentment. You smiled a bit until Shanks looked over and raised a brow.
“And who’s this?”
“This is Scratch. He showed up one day and didn’t leave.” You told him as Doris laughed softly.
“He’s quite a handsome boy, isn’t he?” She reached over to pet him as he walked down the bar and meowed before he sat down and glared at Shanks. Shanks met his gaze and the two sized each other up. Shanks lifted his hand up for Scratch to sniff at, he did, and then he hissed, batting at him with claws out.
Shanks hissed, pulling his hand back. “Mean little devil, aren’t you?” He glared at the cat, whose tail was flicking back and forth, as he cleaned his face. Neither of you thought much of it when red welts formed on Shanks’ hand but Roger noticed it. Shanks normally didn’t get cut unless someone was using haki. The ghost decided to file that back for later.
“He doesn’t like people. Don’t take offense to it, Red.” You shrugged but smirked a bit. “He takes a while to warm up to people.”
That only made the red haired emperor pout while Scratch jumped off the counter and headed out the door to take his midday patrol around the island. He was a very independent cat after all. You glanced at Shanks and leaned against the bar, arms resting on the counter.
“Where’s the rest of your crew?” You asked, tilting your head a bit. He turned his attention to you and smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. Something was definitely wrong.
“Taking the day. Beck’s meeting with some of the elders. I’m heading that way in a bit but I wanted to stop by first.” You knew he meant the words and part of you wondered if he came in just to see you but you absolutely refused to let that part of you have any say when it came to your feelings about the red haired menace.
“Well, I stocked up on that sake you like so you should be fine while you’re here unless you drink all of it tonight.” You threw out at him and he grinned at you.
“Me? Drink all of your sake? Sweetheart, I’m not an alcoholic.”
You snorted at that and flicked his forehead with just a slight coating of armament haki on your fingers to make it hurt. “Liar.”
He pouted again as he rubbed his forehead. “Hey, that hurt: I always forget you can do that.”
You rolled your eyes as you shook your head. “Rookie mistake, Red. I thought you were an emperor.”
“I am an emperor, I just sometimes forget that I answer to you.” He smirked before his tone lowered. “Are you working tonight?”
Your brow raised a bit and shook your head. “No, are you asking me to drink with you?”
He shook his head, leaning in a bit more. You were close now and you were well aware that Doris and Louise were watching along with Roger. “Not tonight. I want to talk to you.” He glanced over at the two ladies and his lips twitched. “Alone.” While they may have taken it that he was looking to get you into his bed, which you probably would by the end of this adventure of his, but you saw the serious gleam in his eyes and that this wouldn’t be a fun, catching up visit.
“What time?” You asked, tilting your head and he hummed.
“About seven? I’ll ask Lucky to cook that one dish you favor.”
You smiled a bit, you had always loved Lucky Roux’s cooking. “Alright, I’ll meet you on the Red Force then?”
“Hm.” He finished his sake and winked at you as he stood up and headed for the door, lifting his hand in goodbye.
“It’s a date, love.”
Despite knowing that it probably wasn’t a date, you still blushed a bit, rolling your eyes.
“Red Haired bastard!” You called out to him, causing him to laugh while he walked out the door, your eyes watching him as he left. While Shanks annoyed you to no end, there was still something about the way the six foot six, broad shouldered, red haired emperor walked out that had your thoughts rolling because you recalled, very vividly, nights where it was his bare back and ass walking away from you to get a cloth to clean you up after a night of fucking.
“A date?” Doris chimed in, causing you to glance over at them with a glare. Louise was smirking, her blue eyes twinkling.
“I do believe that’s what I heard.” She added just as Roger made himself known once again. While Roger seemed to realize the date wasn’t just a date, he didn’t care much, and joined in on the teasing.
“Well, he does have some class after all. He takes after me.”
You shot them all glares once more and rolled your eyes. “Oh, hush your mouths. Nosy women.” You muttered as you walked off, well aware of your cheeks heating up, and you couldn’t help but wonder what the hell Shanks wanted to talk to you about.
Shanks let out a sigh of relief as he walked down the street, looking for one of his officers. Truly, he had come to check on you first to make sure you were safe. You could handle yourself, you always could, with those sharp eyes of yours, your usage of observation and armament haki, along with your skills with hand to hand combat and the occasional sword play. He knew you had grown up on a pirate ship, basically were a pirate yourself, but that still didn’t stop him from worrying. He and you had… a complicated relationship and despite popular belief, Shanks wasn’t sleeping with anyone else and he knew from his sources that you weren’t either. But that didn’t…
He ran his hand through his hair when he caught sight of Yasopp and Benn, the sniper waving him over as he headed over to them.
“You find her?” He asked, looking over the Chief of the Red Haired pirates. Shanks nodded. “Aye, she’s fine.”
“Figured she would be.” Benn Beckman commented and Shanks shot him a look but it wasn’t hateful, more so, Shanks could let his irritability show.
He didn’t like other crews and enemies knowing about you. Specifically Marshall D. Teach but he doubted Teach would try anything, he was supposedly somewhere in the Grand Line and not anywhere near you. He’d rather keep it that way. But still, he wanted your insight on it too. It was well known among his officers that you occasionally gathered information for them from what you’d overheard at your tavern and from crews going in and out. It was a fair trade, one you insisted on since Shanks protected the island, and he had lost that argument with you and didn’t plan on picking it up once more.
“You know he won’t come near here.” Yasopp added. “And I doubt you’re his target.”
“I know I’m not but that doesn’t make me feel any better when he could come after her. But I doubt he will.” He sighed, running a hand down his face. “Where’s Roux? Sweetheart’s coming aboard tonight while you llot are out. Figured he could make her favorite meal.”
“A date?”
“No, I want to talk to her in private.”
“In your cabin.”
“Possibly.”
Yasopp smirked at him as Benn shook his head, the first mate jerking his thumb towards the food stalls.
“Waiting for Louise I reckon.” he told him, taking a drag of his cigarette.
“She’ll be a bit, she’s in there with Doris.” Shanks smirked at Benn. “She’s been looking for you.”
Beckman chuckled a bit and shook his head. “I’ll make sure I stop and see her in a bit then.”
It was a well known fact that Doris had quite the thing for Benn Beckman and Beckman, being Beckman, was a natural flirt as it was. He enjoyed it probably just as much as the little old lady did. It was never a problem for Benn Beckman to get ladies as it was for some of the others. Shanks blamed his natural charm and the fact that he wasn’t completely in love with a bartender as he was.
He nodded. “Alrigh-”
Hisssssssss.
Shanks yelped when he felt claws go down his leg and he glanced down, scowling at the orange tabby who was glaring right back at him. “What’re you doing here?” He asked the cat, who hissed at him again, swatting at his leg before taking off for no reason at all.
Beckman raised a brow and snorted. “What’d you do to him?”
“No clue.” Shanks shook his head. “He’s Y/N’s cat now. Said he showed up one day, his name is Scratch. She said he doesn’t like most people anyway but he hates me apparently.”
Yasopp snorted as he watched the cat disappear into the crowd of people. “Well, I never thought I’d see the day where a pussy doesn't like you, Shanks.” He snickered and Shanks rolled his eyes while Beckman let out a short laugh.
“Fuck off, Yasopp.” He flipped the man off as he headed to go find Lucky. “I’ll see you lads later. And for the record, plenty of pussies like me.” He grumbled under his breath while his two crewmen laughed harder.
He paid them no mind as his thoughts were already filled with the excitement of seeing you later but also with the heaviness of it.
He doubted the night would end how he’d typically enjoy it with you but at least you’d be there.