Chapter Text
Shanks and Buggy used to be the sweethearts of the Oro Jackson.
Even though Roger's pirates were one of the most feared crew on the seas, those two were so disgustingly affectionate that Rayleigh once called them "tooth-rotting", with a straight face, no less.
Buggy had tried to resist at first Shanks's charm at first, of course; but, he eventually loosened up—especially after his secondary gender presentation.
It all began on a sunny and lazy day while the oro Jackson drifted across the ocean at a slow speed. It was hot, like any other day in the sea. They were playing cards on the deck when Shanks noticed that Buggy was sweating even more than usual.
Buggy didn't look particularly uncomfortable, so Shanks decided not to pay much attention to it. If you ask him, he will deny you having forgotten about it entirely after he won the game and Buggy had to take come chores, just as they had agreed. Buggy's angry expression had been adorable, so who could blame him?
Buggy had been furious, his face bright red from anger—but honestly, when wasn't mad and/or worked up about something? Shanks found that trait unbearably cute
But, around twilight, Shanks started to notice the whispers of his nakama. He just barely caught the word 'heat' before Crocus had come and taken Buggy to the infirmary, where Roger, Rayleigh and Gaban were waiting for them.
"Buggy, how are you feeling today?" Rayleigh asked calmly.
"Actually, I think I caught a cold, I've been starting to feel warmer than usual" Buggy answered, curious and confused about the odd situation he found himself.
The four men took turns to look at each other, like having a inner conversation.
"It's not a cold, Buggy", Gaban said.
"Nothing is going to change on this ship; you are still are out little Buggy, and nothing will ever change that, ok?", Roger added suspiciously gently,
Buggy started to panic; had he catch a terminal illness? come kind of curse? an execution order? He didn't want to die, he had a lot of treasures to find. He wasn't ready!
"Calm down", Rayleigh ever, interrupting him from his fatal scenarios. "I can hear you think" added, while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Let me handle this" Crocus said. His words made the room silent instantly.
"Buggy, we've had 'the talk' sometime ago, remember?"
Buggy's eyes widened and his face started reddening, again
"I swear I'm still a virgin, I'm 100% certain I don't have an STD. Please, you have to believe me"
Roger and Gaban burst into laughter, breaking the Crocus's solemn silence.
"I don't think I can do this" Rayleigh muttered, begging to some God for divine intervention and to be freed from this conversation
Crocus sighted deeply and, finally, decided to get straight to the point before Buggy started imagining the actual world war.
"Buggy, you are an omega". Crocus didn't get a reply nor a reaction, so he continued, "you are presenting, your scent has been intensifying since the afternoon".
Buggy tried to make sense of crocus words. He actually felt kind of funny, but been an omega never crossed his mind
"I think your heat will hit you tomorrow at most, so we will set you in a cozy room with all the things you might need to feel better until we reach an island"
What did Crocus mean with 'all the things he needs? Surely, he didn't mean... that. Right?
Roger noticed his change in demeanor, because he quickly added: "You will be safe. Nobody is gonna force you to do anything. We aren't assholes who would take advantage of someone in this situation, son don't worry"
Buggy internal crisis was appeased with this simple words; he trusted his captain... he trusted them all of them.
"Buggy, I want to apologize to you. I'm ashamed to say that I thought that you and Shanks would be betas or alphas. I always make sure to tell you not to asume things and I was the first one to not do that. I was not prepared for this. I will personally make sure you feel safe and confortable until we reach an island"
Buggy didn't blame Crocus; male omegas were a rarity. For a moment, he even felt proud, like being a treasure, but the thought quickly faded after remember how omegas suffered through heats, discrimination and even slavery.
"I'm... I'm scared. What is going to happen to me in the future?"
Roger ignored Crocus instructions to give Buggy literal space, and he hugged him tightly
"Whatever you want. You can stay on this ship for as long as you want. Maybe form you own crew when you grow up. I won't say that it'll be easy, but I... We will protect you until your time to shine comes "
Buggy cried in Roger's embrace. After he somehow calmed down, he laid down on the stretcher, waiting for his heat room to be prepared.
Shanks offered their shared room for buggy's heat. "It will be easier if Buggy has a familiar place to spend this days. I don't mind sleeping somewhere else"
The thoughtful offer made buggy reconsider his opinion of Shanks, maybe he wasn't as annoying as he thought he was.
A strange flutter warmed his stomach
"It has to be heat thing, it will pass after it's over" Buggy told himself, making his though less important.
That night, he started to feel restless, like something was missing. Just in time, Crocus arrived with clothes donated by each one of his nakama, so their scents could make Buggy feel even a little better.
Even during the best time of his relationship, Buggy still denied that Shanks shirt was his favorite
One of Crocus's fears was Buggy's presentation might trigger Shanks's, either omega or alpha; so, he made an effort to separate both kids to avoid any accidents. Therefore, Buggy spend most of his days alone in their room.
"I really miss Shanks", Buggy thought more than once during his heat.
Thankfully for him, his first heat was mostly discomfort and a desperate need for contact; thanks to that, Buggy kept thinking that if heats were usually like this, maybe being an omega may not be as bad as he imagined at the begging.
Maybe he could still be a rare person in this world, a special one.
Maybe, just maybe, he could use his secondary gender to shine over the others
Just like the most beautiful treasure.
And maybe, just maybe, Shanks saw him that way already...