Return to me in Windmill Village | Shanks 1 / 2
Return to me, in Windmill Village - Shanks X Reader Part 1 of 2 [Outfit]Windmill [ˈwɪndˌmɪl]: They are the universal symbol of life, serenity, resilience, self-sufficiency, and perseverance in a harsh environment. A more playful and colourful representation of the windmill is the pinwheel, which symbolises diversity, potential, transformation, wish fulfilment and childhood innocence. ~“Mama! Papa! Please…! Don’t…!”~The Red Hair Pirates decided to dock on a nice kingdom known as the Goa Kingdom, but specifically, Shanks and his crew decided to reside within Windmill Village, which was located far from the city, for a little vacation. It was peaceful and the residents there were welcoming, and he was lucky to have met little Luffy – a spunky and ambitious six-year-old child, who wanted to become a pirate.But he was not the only one that Shanks met on that wonderful island. There was a rather interesting female that was introduced to him in Partys Bar, she went by the name of (name). She had (hair colour) hair and a unique shade of (eye colour) eyes and Luffy spoke quite fondly of her before Shanks was formally introduced to her. Accordingly to Luffy, she was strong and smart and accordingly to Makino, she was extremely kind-hearted and an overall sweetheart. But to Shanks, she was an independent lady acting tough on the outside and he wanted to protect her sunshine smile, it was something that reminded him of the old days back on Oro Jackson.(name) was always smiling be it rainy days or gloomy days, lightening up the mood no matter but Shanks could see through it all. It was not a smile for others but a lie, a lie to convince herself that whatever was hurting would brew past soon enough.“Yo, (name)-chan!” Shanks greeted, as his crew slowly flooded into the bar. As always, (name) and Makino would fill up mugs after mugs and placed them on the counters for the pirates, and (name) would always prepare Shanks’s favourite lunch. “Ah, yes my favourite! You always know what to cook for me,” Shanks’s tongue in cheek smile bloomed as (name) served him, “you’d make for a wonderful wife for me, wouldn’t you say?”“Wo-Captain!” Makino was shocked beyond compared and swapped her glances between a smirking captain and a blushing mess of a (hair colour) hair girl. “What are you saying…!” (name) blurted out before slapping her rag onto Shanks’s face out of pure embarrassment and confusion, her own face glowing like a red sun, eyes widen bigger than dinner plates. Makino could not help but laughed at the adorableness from the girl, knowing the little crush she had on Shanks, even if she does not want to admit it.Makino stood by the side-line as Shanks began to dig in his lunch, savouring every mouth of (name)’s cooking. The (hair colour) haired female swiftly shook it off and refilled Yasopp’s alcohol, getting away from Shanks. Makino walked up to Shanks to retrieve the cloth, to only see a big smirk plastered on his face. “You need to stop teasing her, captain.”“I can’t help it, she’s adorable when she blushes.” Shanks chuckled and glanced back, watching her interacting with his crew with a bright smile on her face. “Well then you better make a move soon, she’s quite popular amongst the boys you know,” Makino informed, warning her friend of his potential rivals in courting (name).After a few months of spending time together, Shanks had developed strong feelings her. The two would always chat till sundown, and the captain even walked her home when it got too late. He would always make sure she had eaten on time, even if she was busy, he would pull her down to have a meal. ~Today marked the sixth month after the Red Hair pirates’ arrival but it also marked the day (name) was gone. Shanks entered the bar expecting the same greetings as every day. He expected a cheerful “good morning” from a certain (hair colour) beauty but instead, it was Makino with a slightly faltered smile.“Hi there, captain. I see you’re here alone today?” “Shanks!”“Yeah, the crew wanted to head to another nearby island for today. Hm? (name) isn’t around today?” He asked lightly as he took a seat next to Luffy, who was still trying to persuade Shanks to let the boy join his pirate crew.“Oh… She won’t be around for a while.” Makino said as she served Shanks’s favourite, “might not taste as great as (name)’s, just warning you.” Makino laughed, knowing how hard the girl tried to perfect the dishes just for Shanks and eventually became quite popular amongst the villagers.“Where’d she go?”“She says she’s going on a small adventure!!” Luffy informed, devouring his own meal which Makino had prepared. Shanks stopped eating and looked over to Luffy. Why was Luffy informed and yet he was not? Granted, she took care of Luffy since young but over the course of time when Shanks and (name) opened up to each other, he would have expected the female to inform him in the very least.“Do you miss (name)?” Luffy asked innocently, his large eyes peering into Shanks’s. The man laughed it off, waving his hand to dismiss the child. Makino could see, though, Shanks being rather crestfallen at the fact that (name) was not around. Knowing (name)’s past and how much the two liked each other, Makino felt guilty. “Captain, do you know of (name)’s past?”“No, I never enquired, and she never said anything about it either. I only know that she’s an orphan. Why?”“I won’t say much, but I believe she will tell you soon. Just know that she needs you more than anyone, right now. Give her a call if you can. I’m sure she’d love to have that.” Makino took out a small piece of paper and wrote down the number to (name)’s transponder snail, which she always carried, knowing Luffy might call.~You wandered boundlessly and aimlessly as you did your best to search for any happy memories on the island you were on as you hid your face in your hood. There were virtually none. Every street reminded you of how many people ignored your cries, every alley and corner reminded you of the pain you felt as you were getting bullied and beat up. Every house reminded you of how many families were happy and none of them was yours. Every tree reminded you of all the times your face was slammed and dragged across its barks. You made your way up the hill, towards the windmill where you used to always escape to. It stood tall yet weak, vines and weed invading its once white bricks. “Oh look at you, abandoned and unwanted. We’re more alike than I want to admit. Insentient building, what a great metaphor.” You climbed the steep stairs, remembering how painful it was back then to run up with your terribly bruised thighs. It was so distant yet still fresh in your mind; the desperate pleas of the little girl back then still rang in your ears. It was empty at the top, not even a hint of life. It was expected, for it was, like you, abandoned by the rest of the kingdom. Maybe because you were a freak. No, you knew you were a freak. Who in the world possessed white eyes when they were born? No one and that was why you were a freak, monster. Today marked the day everything changed. When you were given the smallest gleam of hope, but you knew it was not enough to continue the spark, the spark needed to ignite the will to live on with a sense of purpose. You were grateful for Garp, and that was why you took care of Luffy and Ace and adhered to his wishes to not let the two meet as of yet.You placed down your bag and headed towards the small little balcony. There, was a large metal telescope, and you looked through the lens, a small smile surfaced. “There it is… Loguetown…”The memories of travelling to that place as a small child and witnessing the execution of your hero were something that shook you to the core. He was the figure of freedom to you; one you had longed to taste. That momentous day, that image was forever burned in your eyes.Maybe that was why you always ran back to this windmill, to hide and to wish for a better life, to escape this harsh reality. You wanted to persevere on, you wanted a change and maybe staying in this windmill, it might give you a chance.“Maybe he’s forgotten about me… But that’s for the best…” You chuckled inwardly, as you watched the sunset. The image of Shanks’s trembling shoulders as he wept for Roger flashed in your mind. What was the point of having an attachment to a pirate, when they were never meant to anchor in one place? You were never meant to be loved, you were a human scum, a real piece of work. The bright sun in the sky slowly set and stars became visible to your naked eyes. You awed as a river of stars came into sight, stretching across the sky and towards the direction of the Goa Kingdom and Loguetown. It was mesmerising and serene, you had almost forgotten where you were at. Your transponder snail rang in your bag, cutting off the tranquil silence. “Can’t even have a day to myself…” You sighed, though you were glad to have someone call you, so you would not get too deep into your thoughts.“Hello? Is this Luffy again?”“Take his age and plus 21. That’s how old the person that’s calling you is.”“Shanks? How did you- Makino, isn’t it?”“Smart as ever, (name)-chan~” You sighed deeply, purposely letting the captain know how you felt without a single word. It was an important anniversary for you, the day you were saved from the verge of death. You had a weird way of celebrating it, wanting to drown in the pain to remind yourself just how lucky you were.“I asked for your number from her, miss having you around!” Shanks said and you saw the smile the snail mirrored. It was so genuine that it hurt. You did not want to be any more attached to him than you already were, you did not want to have to see his back faced to you as he set sail.“You liar, Makino gave you my number, didn’t she? Anyway, I won’t be back so soon.”“Then I won’t stop calling you~” “Oh Shanks, why would you?”“I care about you, of course silly! You can’t just become close to me and suddenly disappear, you know?” Shanks replied a chuckle accompanied. “It’s been a week, how’s your little adventure coming along? Luffy’s been telling me how you would go travelling East Blue once every few months.”“Oh what a big mouth that child has,” you snickered as you strolled into the small room and sat on the couch, “yeah, I’m back… Home?” You realised how uncertain you sounded as if you were finally slowly being honest. Shanks caught on to your tone but did not push on.“I won’t force you to speak but know that I am here. I am all ears.”“Pfft!” You let out a laugh because it was not the first time you have ever heard those words. Makino said it to you, Garp has, so did the Mayor but you were unable to relieve yourself of the pain. But to think, a man you had just met lesser than a year ago, was saying the same thing to you, how laughable. “Aw, come on, not going to speak to me anymore? Aren’t we friends, (name)-chan?”“I’ll think about it, Shanks. Or just ask Makino, she’s a better teller than I will ever be. I’m ‘bout to hang up-”“Wait!”A frown found its way to your face and Shanks knew it. “Come back soon.” His words tugged on your heartstrings; you bit your lips, trying to use the pain to distract you from your tears.“I’ll wait for you, (name).” He was serious and firm on his words. As hard as it was for you, the side of your lips twitched up.“Thank you.”“Anytime, (name)-chan~” You were appreciative to Shanks, he always knew what to say. ~“I see… She probably doesn’t want to cry in front of you.” Makino grinned, knowing how (name) was. “She thinks that crying means she admits her past was atrocious. Forgive her, captain.”“You know I can’t ever be mad at her, Makino. She’s too precious to stay mad at. Her smile is everything I could ever hope for.” Shanks smiled to himself as he poked his food.“Hey captain,” Makino started, “why do you love (name) so much?” The green-haired teen wanted to know if Shanks was truly the one that could bring (name) back into the light, to show her what smile she was capable to show. She noticed the red hair pirate having the brightest smile she has ever seen since his arrival and she knew she could trust Shanks with (name)’s past.“Is there a need for any reason to love someone, Makino-san?” The answer was obvious. The sky was already dark, the bright lunar moon shone on a specific path as Shanks and Makino made their way to (name)’s home. It was far from the main village area, a standalone home covered in flowers of varied species. “Have a seat inside, (name) probably expected you to enter anytime soon,” Makino stood aside and let the man entered the house. It was so plain and monochrome, the only thing that stood out was a rainbow pinwheel was left on her coffee table.“A pinwheel. A symbolism for childhood innocence, transformation, wish fulfilment, diversity, huh.”“That’s her little hope. Something that gave her the courage to smile, to start the day. It was what gave her strength. She was always alone, going into Grey Terminal, going around looting.” Makino sat down across Shanks as the former began to recall (name)’s story. Shanks picked up the pinwheel and blew at it gently, watching it rainbow flaps spun, its colours merging.“You know… She never always had her (eye colour) eyes, it was originally pure white.” Shanks looked up in shock.“White-eyes!?” A sweat broke down and fell from his forehead at the revelation.“That’s right… People called her names, isolated her, almost got her killed as a child, throwing rocks, pushing her off the cliff, dragging her face across the gravel roads… Her parents left her for dead, pretended she never existed as if she was never theirs. (name) never felt that she belonged, was always chained up in her own house, but she always wanted to just be free from her pain and smile from the bottom of her heart. She was saved by Garp-san, and he brought her back to the marines to have her eyes checked out and nursed her back. She once told me, that she looked up to Gol D. Roger. He was like a hero in her eyes, someone she hoped to become – a free man, to be able to live with a smile.”Shanks listened attentively, saddened. He did not need details, but he could imagine how much the person he held respect and feelings for had went through. He looked down and continued to spin the flaps on the pinwheel slowly with his finger.“Such a divine angel suffered so much.” He glanced around the house, noting the minimal lifestyle she stayed, barely anything to show her personality, as if she was an empty shell. Makino grimaced, remembered when she first met (name). She was so scarred, yet a hopeful smile was doing its best to show as she carried the little infant in her arms, which grew up to be Ace.“(name) is probably back in her home island…”“You mean, back to the place that brought her misery?” Shanks was speechless, why would anyone voluntarily live through their nightmares?“She’s a strange one, I’ll tell you that. She’s been doing it for years now, saying that it helped to remind her that she was lucky enough to be saved, and remembering all the pain she felt back then would keep her being grateful. But if you asked me, it just proves that she is still chained to her past.”Shanks nodded in agreeance.“I’ll bring her a smile back.” He promised Makino, a confident smile on his handsome face.~You put on your hood and headed down the windmill. It was time to look for your parents, you needed closure. It was still the same rundown house, on the same ol’ street, the same haunting scene.You weakly knocked on the door and took a step back, your heart pounded loudly as you waited for the door to be opened. The creaking hinges whined as the door slowly opened and the shadow behind revealed it to be your mother.“Who are you?”“Forgotten about me already?” You questioned dully, pulling off your hood. The woman took a double-take before freaking out, and backtrack, swiftly shutting the door but you were faster and slammed your hand against the door, preventing the woman from closing it.“What do you want!? You were supposed to be dead! Gone for good!!” She screeched and ran into her room, but you followed and trapped her inside. “Why do you want me dead! Aren’t I supposed to be your child!?”“Child!? You are a monster, you’re the child of criminals! You’re no daughter of mine!! Now get the fuck out! I’ll call the marine, don’t force me!” “I was saved BY the marines!” You retorted back aggressively; all the bottled-up emotions exploded. You wanted to hurt the woman in front of you but decided against it. You needed answers, and she would not give it to you, you need another way.Once again you found yourself in the windmill, looking through the telescope. It was a good past time; the horizon was glistening under the morning sun.The timing was too much of a coincidence, for your transponder snail rang. You answered, and just as expected, it was Shanks.“Yo, (name)-chan!”“Good morning to you too, Shanks.” You honestly needed his voice right about now, it was so warm and deep, resonating in your heart. “Listen (name). Return to me, back to Windmill Village. You are not alone, you have Makino, Luffy, and me.”You kept your mouth shut, you wanted to hear his voice.“I’ll always wait for you. Always.”~It has been a full week since you came back from your island, and you were with Shanks by the beach watching the sunset. He removed his shoes and deep into the water, playfully kicking the seawater towards you as you did your best to dodge it.“Shanks! You’re gonna get my dress wet!”“Oh come on, join me!” Shanks ran up and seawater sploshed everywhere. Despite your plea, the red hair gentleman forced you to remove your sandals and dragged you into the waters.“The water’s nice, the sky’s beautiful! Why not live life to the fullest and enjoy every joy in life? What do you say, (name)-chan?” The warm sunset glow outlined Shanks as his deep crimson hair fluttered slightly in the sea breeze. He reached his hand out to you and you instantly grabbed it. Without warning, Shanks pulled you into his chest and wrapped his arms around your waist after placing his strawhat on you. “Sh-Shanks?! Y-Your strawhat!”“That’s right, it’s my priceless treasure so make sure you don’t drop it!” Shanks laughed and gave you his charming, toothy smile. You swore your heart could not take it anymore, just how much further must Shanks make you fall for him. It was painful, knowing he would leave within a few months’ time.“I missed you and your delicious cooking; you know that?”“You have Makino to cook for you, it can’t be that different! She’s an excellent cook!”“But you cook with love for me, it’s much tastier!” Shanks answered unironically and your face reddened. Without even letting you recover from his endearing flirtatious words, he swung you around, coaxing a giggle out of you with his very own.“(name),” Shanks slowed down and put you on your feet as he cupped your face, “I’m glad you’ve returned… There’s been something on my mind…”“What is it?”“I’ve fallen for your charms; will you be mine?” Time stopped at that moment, just like your heart. The burning sensation in your chest spread, your mind was in a frenzy. To you, Shanks was an especially important person in your life, even if you had only spent a little over half a year. You never thought you would ever see him again, especially not after the day of Roger’s execution.Your tiny feet did its best to ran to where the platform was, as raindrops poured down. Your pants got louder as you were getting more desperate. You had to see your hero once, even if it means pushing through the crowds or falling down, you had to see him.You were a child, never before had death ever occur right before your eyes but there you were looking up the scaffold, two sharp spears impaled into Roger. You guised your tears as rain, as you muffled your cries in the crowd. You did not understand how did a stranger’s, albeit the most well-known pirate’s death could affect you that much, but you were upset and lost. The man you looked up to, was gone.You looked up as the crowd scattered but noticed a teen in a distinctive Strawhat right in front of you, his shoulders trembling calling out for his captain. Instinctively, you placed a comforting hand on his shoulders.“Stay strong, and find your sun…” “…Thank you…” He whimpered, trying to stay strong. Upon hearing so, you quickly mixed into the scattering crowd and towards the docks, where Bogard was waiting to send you back to Dawn Island.“I’ve found my sun, and I won’t let her go,” Shanks whispered, staring deep into your orbs.“You knew it was me?”“I managed to catch a glimpse of those beautiful white eyes of yours, and I’ve been waiting for you to appear again… Now that you have, I can’t let you go. (name)… You don’t have to go back to that horrid island anymore, let me be your new home! Let me be the reason why you smile brilliantly.”Without realising, you nodded and finally let yourself break, clinging onto Shanks. Your pained cries muffled as he laid your head into his nape, soothing you and whispering into your ears.“(name)…” You cried, and cried, the void in your heart, the part you never knew what was missing, was now filled. Filled with love given to you by none other the very man you had fallen in love with.But was she truly allowed to be happy? "But Shanks...! You're a pirate, I don't want to hold you back...!""Don't be ridiculous, all that matters is that I love you, no? And why trap yourself here? COme with me, stay by my side. Welcome home, (name)."“I-I’m h-home…! I’m home!!” You whimpered out, holding onto Shanks for security and assurance. << To be continued >>
Xx-Neko-Pierrot-xX
Add Media
Style