Birthday Boy

Birthday Boy

Shanks x GN!Reader. Mostly Shanks's POV. 1704 words. This is fluff. Comments welcome. :3

Desc: It's Shanks's birthday but it starts to seem like only he remembered, from his perspective.

Shanks’s consciousness slowly stirs as he wakes up, it's his birthday. He thinks it is, anyway. He does actually keep track, especially since it’s also Mihawk’s. “Wonder if I should go visit him…” He mumbles to himself as he gets dressed. There’ll probably be a party for his birthday, right? I mean he’s not exactly super excited for a birthday party but he wouldn’t be against one per say. They’ve had small celebrations of his birthday, nothing grand after 25, but this should be special since it's the one before his 40s, that’s special. You’re here too, extra special. However when he peeks out of his room, no party poppers. Well that’s fine, they could be hard to clean up anyway. He heads into the kitchen and there are no balloons, or cake.

“Looking for something, Captain? You’re up early” Lucky Roux asks him, still not done with breakfast.

“Uh.. err..” Well maybe the cake is too much. He’s an old man now, forcing your already busy cook to make you a sweet treat at his age would be immature. “Nothing.” Lucky gives him a raised brow but goes back to cooking, Shanks settling on the table to wait for breakfast.. which is uneventful too. No one wishes him happy birthday, or gives him extra food, or is nicer. Nothing, but it’s okay. Decorations are childish, giving birthday wishes is too. They’re pirates. There’s only so much you can do for a single person’s birthday on a ship, even if he’s the captain. His birthday wish would be just that today is a good day, and today is a good day, no pirate or marine attacks or anything. That’s all he needs. When he goes looking for you he spots Hongo instead.

“Oh, (Y/n) went ahead. Said that they knew someone on the island we’re gonna dock at and couldn’t wait to see them.” That’s.. not ideal. So you’re not here and they’ll only be at that island once it’s almost dark.

‘At least they’re happy. I wonder who it is.’ Shanks thinks to himself, feeling bummed but still wondering who it is. When they dock the people are friendly and there's no dangerous weather. You’re talking to someone and not to Shanks but the alcohol at this bar seems good. Everyone is happy, enjoying themselves, including you. This is the best birthday present. Eventually he walks outside in the night with his mug, alone and leaning forward onto the wooden railing around the bar.

“Happy birthday.” Well he was alone. Your voice proves he no longer isn’t, his eyes trailing to you. You remembered, though that means you’ve been off with someone else even if you knew it was Shanks’s birthday.

“Aw jeez you remembered something like that?” He chuckles, taking a sip from his mug. Weird, it doesn’t taste nice, even if he can tell it factually is. Maybe he’s just not in an alcohol mood. “I’ve already had almost 40 of them.” That’s right. There are much more dire things in the world going on. In the grand scheme of things, someone like him, and something like his birthday, isn’t important.

“I hope to celebrate many more.” You rustle in your bag and pull out a wrapped box, putting it in front of him. “Sorry I’ve been ignoring you, I’ve been trying to get this perfect.” His eyes widen and he puts down his mug quicker than he intended.

“Is this for me?” So you weren’t just ignoring him, you were getting something for him! His eyes twinkle looking at the present.

“Is there another red headed captain having a birthday today?” He puts his hand to the wrapping, faltering. “It’s okay, just pull the ribbon.” He tugs the ribbon a bit and the wrapping falls apart, he didn’t have to struggle with one hand to get it open. He opens the box and there’s a clip, golden with a yellow flower accessory next to it.

“A hair clip?”

“You can put it on.” You’re right, he struggles a bit at first but the clip is easy to handle and clips his bangs out of his face. One half of the clip for one side, the other for the other side, then they snap together at the back of his head. “The flower is optional, I thought it would look pretty in your hair.” He looks at the flower, then puts it on. You pull out a pocket mirror and he looks at himself.

“It looks too fancy for me.” He mumbles. “And I’m still a pirate captain and emperor, I can't be going out with a flower in my hair.” You try to take it and he pulls back from you. “Hey, no take backs.”

“Relax.” You crack up a bit and he gets a little embarrassed.

“It’s my present.” He pouts, trying to play it off as you take the flower, clipping it onto his shirt pocket instead. “Oh.”

“Is that manly enough for you?”

“Perhaps.” His eyes twinkles as he looks down at the accessory, pleased. His hair is out of his face and now he’s got a pretty flower on his chest.

“It’s true you may not look fancy enough for the occasion though. Missing just a little something.” He looks back up at you when you speak, then feels something placed on his head.

“That’s better.” Shanks looks up to see Beckman, who adjusts the birthday hat strap under the captain’s jaw. Limejuice peeks out from inside the bar, blowing a party horn and wearing a party hat.

“Come in, Captain Birthday Boy.” He says and you watch as the redhead’s eyes widen and he runs inside to see that the bar he was in before has now been decorated with balloons and streamers. His cheeks are tinted with wonder and he gasps lightly.

“We knew you’d start moping outside when you thought everyone forgot your birthday, so we took the chance to decorate.” Beckman explains, pulling a chair open for the captain to sit on.

“I was not moping.” He states with a huff, sitting down. “I just needed some air.”

“You were moping.” You pull up beside him, rubbing your cheek against his affectionately. “Just a tiny bit. It’s okay.” Lucky sets down a large cake in front of the captain, decorated and with candles lit on top. You clap and then everyone starts to sing happy birthday, Shanks immediately getting embarrassed.

“You don’t-” He turns to Beckman, who’s also singing, then to you. “I..” You give him a warm smile and he sits there until the song is done. Once it’s ended everyone claps and he fidgets sheepishly before blowing out the candles. Yasopp sneaks behind him and reaches over to Shanks’s head until his wrist is gripped harshly and he turns to see your murderous gaze.

“Don’t.” You mouth to him and the sniper quickly backs off once he’s released. Shanks is given a nice slice of cake, it's wet.

“What is it?” He asks. It smells good, a twinge of alcohol. You motion for him to try it and he takes a bite, his eyes shining. The flavor of cake, sweet milk, and rum exploding in his mouth. He shouldn’t like sweet things, but this is good. Plus has alcohol so it’s not childish at all, that’s what he tells himself as he scarfs more down. You stare at him, pleased. He looks cute like this, happy, like he’s a boy again. A day where he’s the focus as different crew members give him their presents and he eats his favorite foods. Right now the world revolves around him, he’s the birthday boy. Your clip ends up helping a lot too, no food or cream in his hair; and no one made fun of his flower. They weren’t even allowed to think of making fun of it, ‘less they incur your wrath. By the end of it he’s wearing a comfy sweater, warm socks, his birthday hat is a little off center, and his heart and stomach are full. It isn’t much long after that he yawns.

“C’mon. You’re getting tired, right?” You lean beside him. It’s his party, his day, he doesn’t need to keep drinking or entertain the crowd even if he’s tired.

“That’s..” He hesitates, this party is for him. Shouldn’t he have to enjoy all of it? The food isn’t done and there’s still a good chunk of people that are lively.

“It’s your choice, Shanks. Do you want to go to bed?” You look him in the eyes, understanding. You look so comforting, it’s making him sleepier. “It looks like a yes.” He hums, almost looking behind him as if for approval from the rest until you stop him with a hand on his chin. “It’s you.”

“Me..” This is hard. For him? For him. This is his choice that he makes for him that isn’t in thought of anyone else. He slowly stands up, still hesitant until you grab his hand and lead him away. This bar must be connected to an inn, but he doesn’t think much about it as you bring him to a room. He trusts you, you must've prepared this beforehand. Once he’s inside you lay him down on the bed and wow.. it's like his body immediately recognizes all its tiredness and relaxes. He lets out a content sigh, closing his eyes and feeling you lay beside him. His face is peaceful, but you can do more. Your arms wrap around and hold him, cuddling him, and as you thought you feel him metaphorically turn to mush. “Thank you.” You hear him mumble quietly and you kiss the top of his head.

“I love you, Shanks, my birthday boy.” Your words, your heartbeat, your warmth, all of it has him slowly falling asleep, feeling warm all cozy inside and out. This is bliss. His last thought as his mind goes to sleep.

‘So cute..’ You think to yourself as you hear his breathing stabilize and feel his head roll limp onto your chest. He’s held onto you vulnerably like you’ll protect him from everything. You plant a kiss on his forehead, because at least for this night, you will.

I know this is late since his birthday is on the 9th of March but I wasnt in a writing mood so i wrote this late. Isn't Shanks a cutiepie? We need more cutiepie characters, if i do say so myself.