Ophelia

"What were you even thinking, Luffy?” Ophelia asked the young boy in front of her as she tightened the last stick beneath his eye.

“I just wanted to prove that I am brave enough to become a pirate”, the young boy in front of her exclaimed, causing the dark haired woman to sigh as she put everything back into the first aid kit and closed it carefully.

“Luffy, what you just did was not brave. It was foolish and I have to explain this scar to your grandfather the next time he comes to look after you. Besides, you could have taken your eye out” Ophelia continued, as she washed her hands and dried them off in a nearby towel before turning back to Luffy who was pouting.

“I was actually going for my eye” he mumbled silently and as Ophelia turned around to scold him the door to the room opened and Shanks entered.

His hands crossed in front of his broad chest he sighed and shaked his head a little before looking at Luffy, who had started to look at the floorboards beneath his sandals.

“You were a fool, Luffy. And that right there”, he said as he pointed at the stitches underneath the boys eyes before continuing to speak, “is a scar you did not earn”.

The look on his face was rather stern as he kneeled down beside the young boy and put his hand on his shoulder.

“One day you will become a great pirate but that day has not yet come. So for now please look if you can help with cleaning" Shanks explained to the young boy who begrudgingly agreed and left the room.

As soon as Luffy was gone the Red Haired pirate leaned against a bunch of boxes and looked at the dark haired woman in front of him who was still busy cleaning everything up.

"Thank you, Ophelia. What would I do without you?"

She stopped in her tracks, standing right before him, still avoiding his glance as her green eyes drifted towards the floor.

"I don't know. And… I can't stand the thought of being alone again when you leave" she finally admitted, her voice shaking as she felt tears creep into her eyes.

Shanks noticed that something was up with her and quickly pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her as he carefully stroked her dark hair and placed a soft kiss on her head.

"You know that you can always come with us. Just like back then" Shanks reminded her and Ophelia sighed.

"I would but I am sure that Luffy's grandfather would kill me if I left without warning. And besides… everything on this ship reminds me of her"

The words had barely left her lips before Ophelia could feel tears build up again.

Once again Shanks pulled her closer towards his chest and carefully caressed her back, a sigh leaving his lips.

"I miss her too. But it was her choice to stay on the island to become a proper musician", Shanks reminded Ophelia and even though she knew that he was right it still hurt to think about Uta.

Especially since that little girl was the reason the two of them found each other once again after their ways parted all those years ago following the execution of Gol D. Roger.

Night was starting to fall upon the village and after Ophelia made sure that Ruffy was asleep she put on a nice dress and made her way to the town's tavern.

The dress she wore was simple and dark red, exposing her pale shoulders and the hem was just below her knees. The raven hair, which she normally wore in a braid, was being held back by a silver clip- one of the first gifts Shanks got her all those years ago while they still were part of the Roger pirates. The whole outfit was rounded of by a pair of black flats and her signature black velvet choker which she wore to hide the scar on her neck.

Ophelia knew that she looked good.

As she entered the tavern she was greeted by the familiar smell of booze, seawater and sweat. And even though she hated to admit it, she kinda loved the smell as it reminded her of her own pirate days.

But those were long over.

Her eyes were still wandering through the room which was filled with the members of the Red Haired Pirates, when a familiar voice called out to her.

"Did not expect to see you here tonight" Ben Beckmann exclaimed as he put his arm around Ophelia who just smiled at him.

"Originally I wanted to stay home but… plans changed," she replied, shrugging her shoulders before looking up at the first mate of the Red Haired Pirates.

Ben had always treated Ophelia with kindness and always listened to her when Shanks could not understand her situation. She often felt like the pirate acted like the older brother she never had and for that she was extremely thankful.

"If you are looking for the captain, he's at the Bar. Drinking" Ben explained before taking his arm off her shoulders and once again smiling at her.

"I think he misses you"

After her conversation with Ben Ophelia walked towards the counter where Shanks sat, surrounded by both Crew mates and the locals who were all listening to his tales of adventures.

“Look who finally decided to join us” Shanks laughed as he spotted Ophelia from the corner of his eye before easily pulling her towards him, causing the dark haired woman to slightly blush as she looked at him, one eyebrow slightly raised. Ophelia wanted to ask him something but before even one word could leave her lips Shanks spoke again, this time calling for Makino.

“Makino, dear, please bring Ophelia one glass of your best wine” he exclaimed, causing both women to blush as he was once again laughing and pulled Ophelia closer to him, causing her to almost end up on his lap.

“Someone has been drinking too much again” Ophelia laughed as she looked at the red haired pirate next to her and carefully stroked a few strands of his hair back behind his ear, revealing the three scars above his eye.

“You can be lucky you didn’t lose that eye” she repeated the words she said to Luffy this morning, only that this time her tone was a lot more teasing and sassy as a sly smile flew across her lips.

Shanks could not help but laugh as he handed her the glass of wine, from which Ophelia drank a deep sip.

“Someone is in a good mood” he teased her as she lifted her hands into the air and laughed as well.

“What can I say? I wanna enjoy the time we have” she replied as her leg rubbed against his and their eyes met once again.

“So you wanna have me to yourself?” Shanks teased her and Ophelia could not help but blush as she stumbled over her own words, trying to figure out what she wanted to say as he was right but he hated to admit it.

“Maybe”

A few hours later the two of them were walking across the island, their hands occasionally touching each other, causing both of them to blush.

Ophelia silently sighed to herself as she thought about how stupid that was- especially after everything that has happened between the two of them over the course of all those years.

After all- Shanks was her first love, her first everything. And for a while… they even were somewhat of a family. Uta regarded them as her parents and they were so incredibly happy. But all good things must come to an end sooner or later… especially when loving a man who is as wanted and feared as Shanks.

Suddenly the red haired pirate stopped in his tracks and looked at the woman beside him who had grown increasingly quiet over the last few minutes.

“You still miss her” he said because even though Ophelia said nothing he was fully aware that her thoughts were once again wandering back to Uta and the life the three of them once had.

And if he was honest with himself he had to admit that he missed this life as well and most of all, he missed Ophelia. For the first time ever he felt complete, like he finally had someone who understood him and who supported him and his decisions. But ever since Uta decided to stay behind on Elegia to become a proper musician and Ophelia made a deal with Garp to stay here… he felt lonely, like a part of him was missing.

“Of course, she was like my daughter. Our daughter. I know we have to respect her decisions but it still hurts and to be honest… I miss you as well. It still feels wrong to wake up alone in the morning. The house is too quiet. Luffy is currently the only thing that brings joy to my life” she admitted, looking at dirt under their feet, suddenly stiffening up as she realized the words that had just left her lips.

“Then come with me. Please” Shanks begged her and Ophelia carefully put her hand onto his cheek, feeling the soft stubble of his beard on the palm of her hand as her green eyes looked into his brown once.

“I can’t. Grap only dropped my bounty under the condition that I teach Luffy” she reminded him and Shanks could not help but sigh as he put his hand onto hers.

“I know”

The silence between the two of them grew once again as they continued their walk, their fingers now intertwined with each other as they came closer to the port where Ophelia looked at the Red Force as it was dimly lit by the lights coming from the village.

“If you can’t come with me let us at least spend the night together. I Still miss you” the red haired man admitted as offered her a sip from the rum bottle he had been carrying with him all this time.

Ophelia could not help but smile as she took a deep sip before looking back at him and slightly tilting her head, a smile on her lips.

“If we do that we are gonna miss each other even more and you know that” she reminded him, taking a step towards him and now there were mere inches separating the two of them.

Shanks laughed as he quickly pulled the smaller woman towards him, holding her waist with his free arm as she looked up at him, her cheeks once again blushing slightly. But this time Ophelia was not sure if it was from the alcohol in her blood or because of how close she and Shanks suddenly were.

“But what will your crew think when I leave your quarters once again in the morning?” she giggled and Shanks could not help but laugh as well while carefully running his hand through the dark waves that fell onto her back.

“Let them think whatever they want. I don’t care” he said as he placed a kiss onto her soft hair and Ophelia laughed into his chest.

“And besides… I have a present for you”

As fate would have it one thing let to another and once again Ophelia ended up in the captain's quarters, lying in bed with him, their bodies only covered by the crimson bedsheets.

Shanks was running his hand through Ophelia’s hair when he finally noticed that silver hair clip he gifted her all those years ago.

“You still have it” he commented, causing Ophelia to look up at him, blushing and smiling as she fished it out of her messy updo.

“Of course. It is basically my most prized possession” she admitted as she looked at the pirate who could not help himself but smiled a little before softly pushing her off of his chest and getting out of bed- completely naked.

“As I said.. I have something for you” he reminded her, causing Ophelia to ist up while still covering herself with the crimson sheets while slightly tilting her head and watching him as he walked towards a small chest that was sitting on his dresser.

“Close your eyes” Shanks commanded her and she did as told as she trusted him.

After a few steps on the hardwood floor Ophelia could feel Shanks ist back down on the bed before he softly put something into her hands.

“You can open your eyes again”

After opening her eyes Ophelia first spotted a simple golden necklace but as she looked closer she also noticed the ring that was attached to the necklace, covered in light green stones that reflected the light of the candles that surrounded them.

“It’s beautiful” was all Ophelia was able to stay, still marveling at the present the red haired pirate just gave to her.

She wanted to ask him what this was supposed to mean but Shanks was faster than her.

“This is a promise, Ophelia. That one day our paths will cross again and when they do I will not let you leave my side again. A promise of forever” he explained, his cheeks turning a slight red as Ophelia was looking for the right words to say.

“It’s beautiful” she said but before he could reply anything she once again spoke up, putting her hands into his and looking into his dark eyes.

“But before we can fulfill this promise I need to finish what I started after our ways parted the first time. I need to find the Marine who killed my family and stole the devil fruit my father found. And I will make him pay”