# BABYSITTING

As soon as they left the shore, everyone didn't warm up to Oden yet-- as M/n had expected.

It wasn't easy to accept someone so remotely new, someone who came from their rival's crew. And to have brought his whole family with him-- M/n simply didn't know what to say to ease the tension between everyone.

"M/n! M/n! Look at that!" Shanks, the loud one, urged for his friend to look at what he was looking. He was leaning so far against the railings, eyes shining as something had caught his attention.

The brunette joined him, jumping to lean against the railings.

"What is it you're pointing?" He questioned.

"A fish! Look! It's humongous!" Shanks exclaimed, full on energy and awe. M/n can't see what's so impressive with a big fish, they've seen sea kings and creatures before.

"It's big." M/n agreed. Now that he looked at it, it was a fish, nothing special, but it's height and weight was unordinary despite not being a special type. "Looks like an overfed goldfish."

Shanks only snickered.

"What are you two looking at?" Roger seems to be in a particularly good mood, and he happens to notice both of his apprentices marveling something far off the ocean.

"Big fish." Shanks replied.

"Oh? Where is it?" Roger seems to have the excitement of a child, fitting well in their dynamics. Shanks and M/n hopped off the railings to give their Captain the way and space.

"It's right there."

M/n chose to go on with his duties instead of watching the big fish swim. It seems like Buggy and Shanks were forgetting that they were apprentices, meant to scrub decks.

"What adventures are we going to next, Captain?" Shanks suddenly asked, making M/n look up slightly before returning on cleaning the floors with a scrubby sponge, ears open to hear the conversation.

"Now, that's a question!" Roger exclaimed. "Well, first-- we'll be exploring the whole of Grand Line!" Then he went on about the lands and how Oden will be of great use.

M/n has heard of this conversation before, only because Roger's voice was always boisterous and loud, making it difficult to ignore especially when the topic was interesting. The first time he heard of this was when Roger was drinking with Oden and Rayleigh, the usual.

Standing up as he wiped a sweat off his forehead with his forearm, he released his hold on the sponge, letting it fall into the bucket. They clean often but with dirty shoes from stepping on land-- it was hard not to dirt the floor.

"Need some help?" Buggy crouched down to M/n's level as the boy started wiping with a dry cloth.

"No, not really. It's my schedule today anyway."

"Are you sure?" The red nosed boy arched a brow suspiciously-- not believing his words. "We don't have a schedule." He pointed out.

"Well, we do. It's right here." M/n pointed on his forehead, watching Buggy's skeptical look. He was really slow. But M/n actually liked being of use to the crew, he knows that he can clean way better than the two other apprentices combined so he'll aid them this way.

A clean ship they can return to.

"Are we on land yet?" Shanks was starting to get land-sick, missing the adventures he would be able to access usually when they dock.

"Rather than anticipating for an island, maybe help clean the ship instead, yeah?" Buggy retorted, having enough with Shanks lazing around-- in which he believes to be the reason why M/n keep cleaning in the first place, always catching the irresponsible boy's duties since he's too nice to tell Shanks off.

"I just scrubbed the top decks an hour ago! I need to catch some break too." Shanks pouted, draping over the railings. At this point, Roger was already joining Oden on his schemes of being loud, leaving the three to deal with themselves.

"Does it look like I care? Come on!"

"I think I did spot Shanks clean the top decks earlier." The brunette spoke up. "It'd be unfair if we get him to labor again after performing his chores."

Buggy obviously disagreed with his words.

"He's a lazy bum! Just a while ago, he purposely spilled orange juice on the table I was wiping! Bastard didn't say sorry too. . ."

"Hey! In my defense, it wasn't on purpose!"

And so, they fell into another pointless bicker. M/n can only sigh and leave them be, remembering how they were exactly the reason why he started getting more confident with people in the first place. It was all thanks to their high spirits, he should at least appreciate it.

"I see land!"

All of them perked up.

"Land! Land! Land!" Their Captain started chanting while clapping his hands like a little child. M/n could guess he drank a little sake.

"Finally!" Shanks groaned out. "It's been a while." He started swinging his arms, stretching it. "I can't wait to explore it!" There was a grin etched on his face as he desperately peered from the railings to get a better view.

"I'll be the first to explore it! And then maybe. . . And then maybe I can find some gold in an ancient cave, and then I'll be rich, and perhaps I can buy all the money in the world--" Buggy was stuck in his delusions.

"Idiot, you can't buy money with gold!"

"Can do! I just need to exchange it for currency!"

"But gold is prettier than beli, right?" This time, M/n chimed in, standing between them to avoid physical fights. He, too, was peering from the railings to get a better view. He can't ignore the excitement filling him.

The other two were doing the exact same.

"Gold has a pretty and shiny color, it's quite enticing. Beli, however. . . Well, it's just copper coins and paper-made bills." M/n continued.

"You have a point!" Shanks immediately agreed, only because it was better than agreeing with his least favorite rival.

"Gold is nice." Now that Buggy thinks about it.

"Once we get on land, I'll be off to the city first!" Shanks started enthusiastically. "And then with my saved pocket money, I'll buy something that catches my eye!"

"I rather save all my money." Buggy stuck his tongue out.

"What are you planning to do, M/n?" Shanks looked at his friend, eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation, looking as if his ears were all open to hear every single word that comes out of the brunette's mouth.

M/n scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. What does he plan to do?

"I don't know. . ." He hesitantly started.

"What do you want to do?" Buggy emphasized, at this point, also looking at him curiously. M/n could feel the pressure under their gazes.

"Nothing, really." His answer was probably too lame for them to handle.

"Then, you wouldn't mind babysitting Momonosuke, right? Oden and Toki will be helping us refill the supplies." Rayleigh approached them, having heard them from the other side of the ship by how loud they were. "You'll be rewarded in return if you manage to do it without trouble."

M/n glanced at the Vice-Captain, feeling flattered that they trusted him enough to deal with a toddler. But as flattering it can be, he had to admit that he was starting to feel the pressure. He was babysitting Oden and Toki's son! If anything goes wrong, he's sure he'll be flung to the other side of the Grand Line.

"But--"

"That's great! That's really nice of you, M/n." Oden came excitedly, he seems too happy to notice that he had unintentionally interrupted the boy.

"Are you sure? Momonosuke can be quite a lot of work." Toki glanced at them with a worried gaze. "It might be troublesome for M/n."

By how nice they all were being, how can M/n ever earn the guts to refuse?

"Don't worry about it, Toki-san." He spoke up, forcing a smile. "You guys go have fun." If restocking was even fun to begin with.

He's sure that Toki will be buying some baby things for Momonosuke and Hiyori since her husband isn't informed about those things. And Oden will probably help the crew supplying with the more heavy things.

"Scopper Gaban will be guarding the ship, so if you need anything, you can ask him." Rayleigh assured him, patting his back.

"How about Hiyori?" M/n asked curiously.

"Hiyori is a different matter since she's still a baby, we'll be bringing her with us." Oden said with a smile, an arm wrapped around his wife.

"Are you sure you'll be all right, M/n?" Shanks asked his friend in concern, peering at him. The brunette only nodded reassuringly with a hint of a smile.

"Of course."

"We can stay back and help you, you know." The red haired boy offered, arching a brow.

M/n shook his head immediately. "No, you guys go and have fun. I don't really have anything I want to buy anyway." He stated firmly, leaving no room for objections. He wouldn't want to hold back their adventure, plus, he really didn't have anything better to do.

"We'll bring you back something good, don't worry!" Buggy exclaimed. "Rayleigh-san's going to give you a reward in return to." He then leaned in to whisper. "If ever it's gold, you know I'm always up for a trade, right?"

He earned a light bump on the head for that.

"I was joking!" Buggy complained.

"If you ever do need immediate help, don't be afraid to find me." The spectacled man handed him a piece of his vivre card, making M/n hold it tightly in his palm.

"Well, we'll be off!" Oden exclaimed, jumping off straight to the shore, the others following closely behind him.

Shanks and Buggy went to the brunette, amused by the look on his face.

"Lighten up, M/n! Just think of it as an experience. One day, I'll have a kid and I'll totally have you babysit them." The redhead offered a grin as if what he said was the best comfort that could ever be given.

M/n blinked blankly at him.

"Shut up, loser." Buggy smacked the back of Shanks' head. "As if anyone wants to have a kid with you. And you see that, M/n? He's already planning on using you for the future! I say you should join me instead, I might even share you my gold."

"Nah-uh, I already decided to make M/n my righthand. Unless you want to join my crew too, eh? I'll consider you as my lefthand." The redhead grinned.

"Sod off, as if I would ever consider joining your lame crew. . . I'll be making my own!"

M/n sighed at them. They were already considering making crews. It must be nice to know what you want.

"You guys go, time is limited on the docks, remember? The log pose will be turning soon." The brunette stated plainly, ushering for them to go. And upon hearing it, the two scurried away, pushing each other just to be first.

"I'll bring you something back, M/n!" Shanks yelled out, genuinely must have felt bad for him.

"I'll bring you a rock!" Buggy on the other hand. . .

M/n only sighed in exasperation before looking behind him. "Well, I guess it's just you and me, Momonosuke-- and Gaban-san too." But he doubts the man is currently awake.

Hearing no gibberish reply worried him.

"Momonosuke?"

No reply.

As he looked around further, he found no traces of the boy. So, in pure worry for the toddler and himself-- he quickly tried tracking him down. Knowing for sure that he would be a dead man.