Senju Riza sat at her desk, late one night. She cast a bleary eye towards her research with longing. She sighed and slumped back into her chair. As the Doctor for Shanks' crew, it was extremely tiring and busy work. It didn't help that half of the men that passed through her bay weren't even injured. They just wanted her attention. They ended up injured in her care due to the many scalpels and medical grade scissors that she kept on her person.
She has been a doctor for the Red Hair pirate crew for about eight months, now. Riza loved the life of adventure that she had with them. It beat the bland life of the snowy island that she was born on. Her life has been in danger on multiple occasions but they always ended on top.
The rocking of the ship seemed to lull her into a light doze. "Heya, Goldie." A deep tenor greeted, snatching her out of her dreamy state.
"Jesus!" Riza cursed out, jolting up in her chair. Nearly falling out of the chair in the process. Her heart pounding inside her chest as she shook. She didn't have to look up to know who nearly gave her cardiac arrest. Her captain, the infamous Red Hair Shanks. "Fuck off, Shanks." She sighed, tiredly. It was too late for her to deal with her goofball of a captain. Riza let herself sag against her desk.
"Mmmh." The captain hummed. "Your bedside manner is dreadful. Here, I came seeking medical attention." Riza looked up at him, she didn't believe for one second that he was injured. She still looked to humor her captain. He was leaning against the door frame of her office. His arms were crossed over his chest.
He was lean with tanned skin and dark eyes. His mouth was framed by scruff that only made him handsomer in Riza's opinion. Shanks wore a white buttoned shirt with a brown shorts with brown sandals. A bright red sash tied around his waist, holding his sabre. He had wide eyes that reflected mirth and adventure. A dark cloak whipped around his slim form. To complete his trademark look was a straw hat that sat, snugly a top his head. A red band wrapped around the base. The hat was precious to him. Nothing about his appearance screamed dangerous or even pirate but a dangerous pirate he was. He beamed down at her with one of his grins.
"You look fine to me but you won't be if you stay in my medical bay." She growled. She was too tired to deal with his antics, tonight.
"But I did." He insisted, cutely to her. "It hurts right here." Shanks pointed to his cheek, he bent down to her level. Shanks turned his head so she could view the unblemish skin of her captain. "Kiss it better, Riz'?"
Riza peered up at him, trying to solve his game. A slim hand reached up and pinched his cheek, hard. The captain cried out as he pulled away. "Really? You seem just fine, Captain. I'm sure Stormy could give you a kiss if you really needed one." She remarked.
Shanks glowered at the violet haired woman. "But I want you too." He pouted, rubbing his cheek. Riza stood and dusted her clothes. She reached up on the tips of her toes and brushed her lips against his cheek, giving in to his request. Shanks' face heated up and sucked a breath in. Shocked at his doctor.
"Good night, Shanks!" She called over her shoulder as she walked away, heading to the girl's quarters.
"W-wait, Riza!" Shanks called with a stutter, snagging her hand. She halted looking up at her captain, curiously. He pulled his hand back to scratch his red locks in embarrassment. A light blush stained his cheeks. Riza laughed at him. Her captain was such a dork. "Me and Benn are drinking in my office. I came to invite you to join us."
"Sorry, I really shouldn't-"
"Captain's orders, Riz'. Come on!" Shanks said and he didn't give her the chance to protest as he was already dragging her down the hall to his office. His calloused hand holding hers as prisoner.
"Shanks!" Riza struggled but found herself inside his office.
Benn Beckman watched Riza over the rim of his drink. "So, he got you?" He asked with the beginnings of a smirk.
"Yeah." She sighed.
Shanks thrusted a glass of rum into Riza's hand. He wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and so, she was forced to keep her drink. Riza sat in a chair in front of her captain's desk and Benn was sitting parallel to herself. Riza sipped the rum, enjoying the flavor. Shanks poured himself a glass and sat in his chair behind the chest.
"How's the research going?" Benn asked, neutrally. Breaking the comfortable silence.
Riza wanted to strangle the first mate in that very instance. She wasn't intending to tell anyone about what she was looking into but Benn found out when he stumbled upon her book on the subject. She desired to reverse the effects of a devil fruit.
"Research?" Shanks questioned, leaning forward in his chair.
Riza shot Benn a glare and responded with a face of mock innocence. She made a mental note to make his next checkup very painful. She hadn't wanted her captain to know about it. Riza knew he'd interfere, trying to help her. He would only mean the best for her goal.
"Yes. I've been looking into Vegapunk's research about devil fruits. My goal is to reverse the effects of the devil fruits." Riza muttered, staring into her glass. The research alone was weighing down on her shoulders. "It hasn't been going as well as I hoped. I am a doctor, first. A scientist, second." She growled, frustrated.
Benn nodded. "Crew not helping? Maybe you should stop throwing scalpels at the crew? Not give them a reason to stay in your bay." He said, dryly.
"Maybe they shouldn't come into my mrs bay if they weren't sick." Riza shot back with a huff. Shanks and Benn shared a long look. She frowned at the two men. "What?" She asked.
"Nothing." Shanks responded, quickly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's personal, it didn't relate to anything that you needed to know. I never let it interfere in my duty." Riza waved his question off. Not noticing the expression that crossed Shanks' face or Benn's frustrated groan. "I can't find much, can't do much. Makes me wonder if I should continue..."
"Of course, you should!" Shanks' shout made Riza jolt up to meet his fierce gaze. She was trapped by his darker eyes that bore into her own. His gaze stole her breath, how they blazed with determination. "It's your dream? Then follow it!"
"I didn't say I was giving it up, Shanks." Riza murmured at him, eyes still locked with him. "But I have a duty first to the crew, then to myself. I knew that the moment I joined your crew." She finally tore her gaze off of his and she stared into her glass of swirling amber liquid.
Benn opened his mouth, to try a break up the atmosphere and change the subject. Riza had felt a strange air full the room, a deadly calm. She frowned and looked to Shanks to ask what it was but he had launched himself out of his chair and over the desk. Knocking Riza out of hers with his body. Riza cursed as the back of her head hit solid wood, pain exploded. Shanks put his hat in between him and Riza for safe keeping.
"Stay down, Riza!" He growled to the startled woman. He was using his body as her shield. His breath was hot on her face, one of his hands went up over her head for protection. Riza clumsily reached around to clasp her hands over the back of his neck offering some protection to his spine as she now could sense the approaching danger. He let out a string of colorful curses as whatever stirred him into action hit the Red Dawn.
*boom*
*crash*
Riza cried out as a cannonball tore through Shanks' office. Splinters and broken glass flew in every direction, her body recoiled into Shanks. The sharp smell of burning gunpowder filled her senses, seizing her and she squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to find ground to stand on. Her hands falling down to knot themselves into Shanks' shirt, Riza used him as her rock, her way of stabilizing. Fear pounded into her. Her heart couldn't seem to slow down at all. Another curse left Shanks' lips as the ship rocked.
"Benn!" He shouted and stood up, reaching down to pull her back onto her feet. He held her, close as Riza swayed. Blood rushing to her head. Benn hurried out of the office, his pistol in his hand. "Are you alright?!" He asked, hands skimming over her body. He was searching for injuries. "Get to your med bay and stay. Prepare to receive any injured." He ordered. Riza stood, shellshocked. She stare into the face of her captain. She stayed there for a brief second before she nodded and took off.
"Please, keep everyone safe." Riza whispered her prayer to no one but the wind. She had a job to do and she be damned if she allowed anyone to pass before their time in her watch. Death would wait another day to take anyone of her crew from her.
Her crew could fight their adversaries, she would battle death on their behalf.