Work Text:
Gaban woke up to the sound of Buggy crying. He jumped to his feet and ran before his mind had time to catch up, his head hurting from last night celebrations. They reached an island with a real harbour and a sizeable town yesterday after weeks at sea. Everyone had been merry and happy, the kids most of all, Buggy already planning a shopping trip. The Roger Pirates found an all-you-can-eat buffet which managed to satisfy even Roger appetite, partied until late in the night and Gaban carried a sleeping, happy Buggy to bed and tucked him in, Roger following with Shanks snoring on his shoulder. What went wrong so early the following morning? He reached the deck and blinked owlishly, the bright sun hurting his eyes. A sun so high in the sky it was probably around noon and not early morning. Maybe he partied a bit too hard last night.
He quickly forgot about his hangover when he took in the crime scene in front of him. Buggy sobbed like someone was torturing him. The poor kid’s head shone in the sunlight like a bowling ball. The blue curls he was so proud off littered the deck around him, helpless victims of a terrible slaughter. His captain, the obvious culprit, stood there, guilt written all over his face, holding the murder weapon, a very efficient hair clipper they bought years ago when the whole crew got lice. Roger tried his best to calm Buggy down but he mostly succeeded in hovering awkwardly. For a man his size and width, it was a lot of awkwardness and a lot of hovering.
Rayleigh arrived on the scene, followed by several members of the crew, his voice as sharp as his blade, his cold tone and dark presence which made more than one enemy flee for his life before the fight even began targeting their Captain. Roger, who laughed in the face of death, flinched. Ray, even hangover and having just woken up, was terrifying when angry and here, Roger managed to make his favourite kid cry in a way that broke Gaban’s heart a bit. Poor kid was insecure enough, still struggling to realise he was loved and part of the crew, he didn’t need this Roger’s blunder.
- Roger, what did you do?
In this situation, a man with a bit of common sense would’ve immediately grovelled and apologised. Unfortunately, Roger had a lot of great qualities but a bit of common sense wasn’t one of them.
- I just wanted to even out his hair because he complained about it, just a little trim you know? So, I took the scissors.
Shanks arrived then, barefoot and barely awake, running towards Buggy. He took him in his arms, rubbed his back, trying to comfort him. It was very sweet but between the very loud whispering of the crew members and his own barely concealed worry, he only added to the chaos.
- Oh no, it’s okay Buggy, they’ll grow back, I’m sure…
- I bet 20 berry Captain is sleeping on the deck tonight.
- I’m not taking that bet!
- I cut a bit on the left but the right side was shorter so I cut a bit on the right but the left was longer…
Buggy sobbed harder. Rayleigh got angrier as Roger grew more and more sheepish but still kept digging his own grave. Shanks seemed on the verge of crying too, confronted with Buggy’s distress.
-Don’t cry Bug’, I’ll give you all my desserts for a month and my new action figure and...
- ...and I couldn’t get it right then I remembered our old hair clipper!
- Explain to me why you thought the hair clipper was a good idea.
- I’m changing my bet, Captain is sleeping with the fish tonight, joked someone.
Things got worse with each words pronounced by Roger.
- The hair grows back stronger after, I swear Ray!!
- I’ll give you my own hair for a wig, I swear Buggy, whatever you want!
Time for Gaban to step up before Shanks gave Buggy everything he had and the kids witnessed their Captain’s murder. He kneeled near the poor bald child, smiling softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
- Come with me kiddo’, I can help.
- Really? Said Buggy, sniffing.
Gaban gently wiped away his tears and gave him a rag to blow his nose.
- I promise.
His calm, the assurance in his tone, helped calm Buggy enough for the worst of the crying to stop. Shanks, on the verge of tear himself, calmed down too and both kids followed him hand in hand. It was very cute and he really wished he could take a picture but he had to resolve the hair crisis first. Then, he would have a talk with Shanks. If he kept promising everything he had to upset loved ones, he would end up a pirate poorer than a beggar.
He took the kids to a chest in the crew’s quarters, full to the brim with all kind of hats. Everyone put their caps, headscarves, beanies and other head accessories in there and picked up stuff without caring who the original owner was. In retrospect, it probably explained their old lice problem.
- I can’t magically bring back your hair but I’m sure you can find something flashy who will suit you until they grow back in there.
The little one immediately began to rummage in the chest and trying the flashiest things, the more colourful the better. Shanks stood near Buggy, letting his friend put more and more discarded item in his arms without complaining. He disappeared under everything accumulated over the years until only the top of his straw hat was visible. Finally, Buggy settled on a red and yellow stripped beanie with a huge pompom on top. Very flashy, very eye-catching, very Buggy. This one would grow up to have a very excentric fashion sense thought Gaban fondly.
- It’s a little big but I can resize it, said Buggy, admiring himself in the old mirror on the wall. What do you think Shanks?
Buggy realised what Shanks had been doing all this time, his eyes wide as he stared at the precarious mountains of headgears Shanks held.
- What the…? Why are you carrying everything?
- I thought you wanted me too!
- No, I thought you wanted to try them on too! It’s just hats, they can be on the floor for a bit! Idiot, just put them back in the chest!
Buggy helped Shanks put everything back. Gaban smiled at the sight, gushing internally on how cute his sons were. It worried him sometimes, how much his kind-hearted son seemed ready to do and endure for the people he loved but at least, he had Buggy by his side. He trusted Buggy to not take advantage of Shanks, their little clown cared deeply for his friend under his insecurities and pride. Buggy had the opposite issue, always bracing for betrayal and quick to anger but Shanks easy-going and friendly nature helped him a lot. They completed each other well these two and he hoped they would stick together as adults. They would be great, greater than Roger, he knew it and he didn’t think that only because they were the sons of his heart.
As the kids closed the chest, a very sheepish Roger showed up accompanied by a glowering Rayleigh. He kneeled near Buggy and apologised softly and sincerely.
- I’m very sorry about your hair Buggy. I should’ve asked someone else to help you with it. I promise I won’t do it again. You look great with this hat.
- It’s fine, said Buggy, calmer now and still looking surprised by an adult, a captain, apologising.
It broke Gaban’s heart sometimes, how hard the kid’s life had been for any kind of kindness or basic decency to surprise him. At least, he didn’t act like the Roger was going to murder him or throw him away, the way he did his first weeks on the ship.
- I’m still sorry. Turn out shaving someone’s head to get rid of lice isn’t the same as cutting someone’s hair.
- It’s obvious, said Buggy. Everyone knows that!
Gaban stifled his laughter. The kid saw Captain as larger than life and was still blind-sided by how stupid he could be sometimes. Captain laughed without shame.
- It wasn’t for me and I’m sorry. We can go look in the shops for something to help your hair grow back.
- Yes, and Captain Roger is paying for it, added Rayleigh pointedly.
- Are you coming too Rayleigh-san?
Their angry first mate gaze softened as he immediately said yes and complimented Buggy on his hat. The little clown was definitely his favourite even if he acted like he didn’t have one. Gaban thought privately than being somebody’s favourite could be good for Buggy but Ray was adamant about not treating the kids differently which wasn’t what Gaban meant, he just wanted Ray to tell the kid he loved him. This issue should be resolved later on, once the kids out of earshot. Right now, the most important thing was to get everyone to breakfast as Shanks and Roger’s stomachs began to rumble. Gaban gently led the kids towards the mess followed by Rayleigh and a very-well behaved Roger. He had to stifle his laugh a few times at breakfast as the kids shamelessly stole food in their guilty Captain’s plate. Good thinking, use your enemy weakness my little pirates!
Buggy hair grew back eventually but not before he gained a genuine taste for wearing beanies. Rayleigh forbade Roger to use the hair clipper ever again. The Roger Pirates kept having adventures for a long time, long enough for the accident to become a funny memory they could laugh about.