If protectiveness was a person, it would be him.

For as long as you’ve know him, Shanks has always been known for being a fierce fighter and protector. For himself, and for everyone else around him. The absence of his arm after protecting Luffy from a shark was proof of that.

So you could only imagine his shock when he found out you had a significant other.

When he first caught wind of this news, he was floored. Baffled. Befuddled. His jaw hung open so wide, he swore a fly would enter. For what it was worth, he didn’t tell you about his feelings. He couldn’t.

"I'm not jealous.. I’m not jealous," he’d repeat to himself in the mirror as he went down a spiral of absolute psychopathy.

He swore your partner was out to get him. Every time the crew was having a party or celebration of some sorts, they always made an obvious ploy of showing you off like some kind of prized possession rather than a human being. Wrapping their arms around you, flashing you around to gawking onlookers, and worst of all, taunting you in front of the man who actually loved you for who you were, and not what you could give him.

It made Shanks' blood boil. You knew they were stuck up, maybe even a bit of a jackass, but like everyone does when they’re in love, you made excuses.

"They just wanna fit in," you’d excuse. Every single confrontation Shanks tried to have with you led to the same result — you talking in circled and him looking like he was about to lose his mind trying to get through to you.

Oh, how he’d just wish you’d listen to him.

Shanks wanted you to be safe. He wanted you to be cared for — to be treated like the only thing that mattered on planet Earth.

This one wasn’t doing it for him.

Your partners ways never satisfied him. And it filled Shanks with a deep-seated feeling of jealousy. If you had just given him a chance — if you had just heard him out — he’d bet his life on the fact that you’d never choose that kind of love over his.

But there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t just force you to break up with them because he wanted you first. You’d resent him. And the last thing he wanted you to do was hate him.

He knew this would happen.

After months of manipulation and control, your partner dumped you like a piece of trash. Let you go as if you were worth nothing more than his personal gain.

You were heartbroken. They left you that way. No proper food, no sleep, none of it could sustain the extent of your pain for long.

On the other hand, Shanks was thrilled. Not for your suffering — but he was glad to see you finally come to your senses — rather for the fact that parasite was no longer leeching off of you.

He comforted you like any person with basic human decency would — said all the right things, held you in just the right way you adored, and even brought you your comfort foods when you didn’t wanna get out of bed.

Secretly, he was jumping for joy. At least now, he finally had a chance with you. A chance to show you what true love looked like.

Sea shanties were being sung and cheers were being had as the Red-Haired Pirates partied in a bar. He literally had to drag you out of bed with his one functioning arm in order to attend.

In the midst of it all sat Shanks, a drink in his hand as you sat in the seat next to him, sulking.

"Why the long face?" He asked gently, turning you to face him.

He listened with an attentive ear as you laid out all your feelings bare — the warning signs, the blatant lies, and the fake promises.

Wrapped up in all your emotions, you began to shed tears of a multitude of emotions — anger, sadness, and regret. You closed your eyes and looked away, not wanting him to see you cry.

But it was too late.

You felt a calloused hand reach up to touch your face, gently wiping the tears away from your now reddened cheeks.

"They don’t deserve your tears." He said matter-of-factly, his face darkening as he looked you over.

"You know I don’t like seeing you cry like that."

"From this day forward, I don’t want you wasting another precious moment thinking about that bastard. Understand?"