Thinking about Marco and Shanks with an established long-distance relationship meeting up after Wano... Marco feels like a failure and thinks Shanks is no longer interested in being with someone so weak and Shanks is just like dude what the fuck? I think about you all. the. time.

Shanks is like listen, I know you'll always be part of Whitebeard's crew and you're their captain now, but what if you come with me for a while? Just until we figure out the next step, I don't want you to be alone.

He doesn't think Marco will say yes because he never has before

After Whitebeard, Thatch and Ace's death, Shanks is probably the person Marco is closest to in the world which is something Marco could never have imagined years ago.

Marco still has his brothers, yes, but none of them know him as well and intimately as Shanks does now.

And Shanks is annoying, frustrating and straight up a moron at times but he's also ridiculously strong, smart and probably the only person in the world Marco can be around because he knows Shanks can take care of himself. Everyone else, Marco can't help worrying about.

Shanks can take care of himself! Having Marco around won't pay a bigger target on his back like it would Marco's brother and even tho Marco doesn't deserve him... he just can't stand being alone any longer.

OK so last night I fell asleep thinking about this and I actually think Marco would say no at first because he's an idiot and he thinks having him around will put Shanks crew at danger and Shanks is just. so angry.

Angry at the world, angry at Blackbeard, angry at Marco for being such a fool! So he ends up pinning Marco to the wall and letting all his haki flow through into the room because Really of all dumb fucking things to worry about, Marco thinks he needs protecting?

And it's only after Shanks kinda lowkey threatens to destroy anyone who comes Marco's eye and looks entirely capable of doing just that that Marco thinks yeah, yeah ok. I'll come with you.