Chapter Text
Chapter 3: Blue
The unnamed boy squirmed in Shanks’ arms again. The red haired boy tightened his grip on him. “Why’re you so scared?” He asked the dirty boy. “Papa and uncles won’t hurt you!” He tried to assure the older boy.
“I’m not wanted here!” The boy answered. “I snuck on to get away from the orphanage guard and the officials.”
Shanks’ eyes widened. “Are they bad?” He asked as his arms tightened even more.
The unnamed boy stayed quiet before nodding. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes. I won’t cry. He willed them back. “Y-Yes.” He stuttered, his voice tight with his emotions. Why did I tell this kid that?
Suddenly Shanks moved his hand and petted the other boys head. “It’s ok. Yer safe here!” He pulled away from the other boys head. “Papa will keep you safe.” He grinned up at the other kid and noticed his eyes again. They were so blue! Like the sea. “What’s yer name?”
The other boy looked away, embarrassment causing him to feel shame. “I don’t have one!” He yelled angrily. “Nobody ever cared to give me one!” He pushed the red haired boy away only for the other boy to change from holding him still to hugging him. He didn’t want hugs! He wanted to punch something! He growled in frustration as struggled to get away from the boy.
Shanks suddenly let the other go. “I know! I can name you!” He said excitedly.
The unnamed boy fell onto his butt after being let go all of a sudden. A name? He wondered. Looking at the other boy he frowned. “What kind of name?” He asked suspicious of the redhead. He had held every name there was. He narrowed his eyes at the other. Kids are cruel, sometimes worse than adults.
“Ba-lu!” Shanks said happily.
The boy groaned. “Why’s that?” He groused, clearly not happy with that name.
“Because of yer eyes.” Shanks answered so innocently. He loved the color of the sea and sky.
The boy frowned at him. Ba-lu? Was that a color? Realization suddenly hit him. “Blue?” he asked with a cock of his head to the side.
Shanks nodded his head enthusiastically. “Yep!” He said with a wide happy grin. “Now ya have yer name and nobody can take it!” He exclaimed before hugging Blue once more.
I have a name? He wondered before a wide grin appeared on his face. He then felt the hug from the other kid tighten around him. I still don’t like hugs. He groaned inwardly. They’re too tight.
Suddenly the doors crashed open to the room. The wooden door splintering as both the dark haired man and blonde man burst into the room toppling over each other as they did so. “Shanks!” The dark haired man yelled out excitedly. “He caught the kid!”
Shanks suddenly put himself between Blue and his father. “Papa, don’t hurt Ba-lu!”
The other boy looked down at the other annoyed. “It’s pronounced Blue! Ya idiot!” He yelled before hitting the younger boy on the back of the head.
Shanks rubbed his head. “Oh!” He said with a grin as he looked back at the other boy. “Blue!” He yelled as he looked back at his father. He grinned widely as Rayleigh rolled his eyes at the two children. Rayleigh stood up and walked over to the dirty child who seemed to try and shrink in on himself as Rayleigh reached for him. “Don’t touch Blue!” Shanks yelled as he slapped Rayleigh’s outstretched hand away from his new friend. He wrapped his arms around Blue. “He’s mine! You can’t take him away!” His eyes narrowed at Rayleigh.
“Now Shanks-“ Rayleigh began when Roger spoke.
“Looks like the boy has been claimed.” Roger stated causing his first mate to glare at him.
“One kid I understand!” He growled, looking at Shanks. “He didn’t sneak onboard.” He looked at the new stray. “This one did!” He pointed at the dirty child who looked absolutely terrified.
Roger stood up off of the floor, walked over towards the two boys and gathered both into his arms with a chuckle. “Well,” he began as he looked Blue over before looking back at Shanks. Both boys were in either arm, which tightened around them. “I guess you’ll have to catch us then!” He took off in a mad dash out of the room and down the hall before Rayleigh could react.
“Damn it Roger!” He yelled at his captain whose larger than life laughter boomed throughout the ship. Followed quickly by the screams of the two children, one from joy and the other from total unadulterated fear.