Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shanks stopped when he heard Makino say that, there was no way he had heard that. There was no way the child had survived. He couldn't believe that he had heard that, couldn't help but ask Makino to make sure.

“M- Makino, can you repeat that? The names, those names of Anchor's brothers.”

A giggle sounded over the den den mushi, before Makino started to speak again, “I said that Luffy found himself two brothers, Ace and Sabo. They grew up in the forest and on the trash heap. While they aren't as wild as Luffy is, they are certainly feral. It's adorable to see the three of them together. If I didn't know better, I would say that they are all brothers too, Ace and Luffy especially looking so alike. Sabo is blond, but the structure of his face is quite similar to Ace and Luffy's”

It's the name that does it, taking him back to a ship he once called home and a man seemingly larger than life who was like a father to him.

“If I ever have a son, Shanks, I'm going to call him Ace. And if it's a girl, she'll be named Ann. They are going to be amazing, mark my words. I won't have anyone telling me differently.”

His captain had laughed, before his eyes turned softer as he added that Shanks and Buggy would be the child's big brothers. Looking towards the South, where they knew Rouge was. Knowing what he did now, it made sense that Rouge would be the one that carried his child. Still, at the time, he hadn't believed that it would happen. They were younger, the Captain had just become Pirate King and they were on top of the world. There was no time for children, not at that moment. But they hadn't let that stop them, Buggy and Shanks adding to the what ifs and future planning. Dreaming about what might happen in the future. A future that would never be, as Captain Roger was executed about a year after that moment and while rumors about a child circulated, Shanks was certain that not even Portgas D. Rouge could live though that.

The things the marines did in the South, and on Baterilla especially weren't a secret on the seas. More than one of them had lost family there, he knew that several of the Old Man's commanders joined him because of what happened to women they knew.

But now, that name. Hearing the name the Captain always mentioned calling his son, the same name as his sword. No matter how absurd, while Ann had been Rouge's. It seemed so unreal, but here a child was who carried that name. A little boy, that could be the child that Roger had been dreaming about at that moment.

There was just one more thing to check, making him speak before thinking it through.

“Makino, Ace, what is his last name?”

The woman stayed quiet for a little bit, “Portgas, Portgas D. Ace, he told me.”

His break catches in his throat, to know that at least the child survived. That is hadn't been the end of his captain's life. There had indeed been a child, but he had been kept hidden. He didn't want to know how, but he was grateful for whoever had helped in making sure that Ace survived.

He wants to turn around and head back to Dawn. He never should have left there so suddenly, Luffy's tearful eyes still haunt him. However, he can't just leave now. He's more than ready to be a power in the New World, but to do that he needs to be in the New World too.

But hearing that, knowing this, he feels something pulling him back East. He'll go back there before he planned on it. He needed to see those boys.

“I... Is he... Does he have freckles?”

Huffing, he can hear that Makino finds it an odd question to ask. She hesitates for a moment, but she answers, “He does, as well as gray eyes and wavy shoulder length hair. Shanks, what is this all about?”

Biting his lip, Shanks takes a moment to try and find the right words. For all that Makino was used to his antics, he didn't want her to think that he meant anything bad to Ace or Luffy, “I knew his parents, I'm quite sure who they were and it hurts that they're not around to see their son. He sounds so amazing, I'm happy he lived.”

Makino also sighs, “He doesn't talk about his parents, seems to hate his father even, the few times he was mentioned. He never talks about his mother either, every time she gets brought up he runs off. Dadan, she's the woman raising them, he told me that Ace's mother died in childbirth not long after Garp arrived at her bedside. It... I wouldn't put it past the old man to tell him that.”

His heart hurt at hearing that, thinking about the woman who stole his captain's heart and who had always been there to look over Buggy and himself. She was perfect as a mother, she had been his mother in a way, so to know that she wasn't alive anymore hurt.

Knowing that Garp had saved Ace, especially as he had been the one led Roger to his dead seemed to double. But as Makino said, he wouldn't put it past the old man to tell a child that thinking he would be able to understand what was meant. Without anyone present to tell him about his parents he can understand his hatred for Roger. The rumors that circulated about the captain that he saw as his father hurt even him and he's a grown man.

“I see... That's unfortunate. She was a wonderful woman, Portgas D. Rouge. A real spitfire.”

Makino laughed at that, mentioning that Ace looked like her in that regard, although if he had to believe the barmaid then the boy had the captain's glare.

Laughing, feeling like a weight let go of his chest at the knowledge that not all was lost. Another reason why he might just need to head back to the East soon. He missed Luffy and he would love to meet the kid that could have been his little brother.

“Give Anchor my regards, Makino, as well as Ace and Sabo. I can't wait to see the two of them as well.”

As he disconnected the call, Shanks couldn't help but think that his heart soared. There was still a piece of the captain and Ms. Rouge out there, alone he might think he was, he knew that as soon as he told Blue and Ray, they would be just as happy as he way.

“A part survived, that's all that I need.”

Looking at Beck, he sees his first mate piecing together the pieces, looking at him with that knowing look in his eyes. He knew that he had chosen well when he took Beck as his first mate. No matter that later on their would be more blossoming between them.

He was also aware that it had hurt Beck so much to leave Luffy behind, a chance to see their Anchor again sooner than expected wouldn't stop him.

“Let's check in on the New World before he set back out to the East, love.”

Grinning at Beck, Shanks nodded in agreement, he would be more than able to wait that long. He looked forward to it already.

“Let's do that.”

It was after checking up on their territories and setting out back East, that Makino called frantic as she mentioned that something was going on with the boys. She couldn't explain it but the few times she had seen them they were skittish.

“It's like someone is hunting them, which is quite a feat as they are able to hunt the game on Dawn. I don't know about this, Shanks, something seems wrong here.”

Exchanging looks with Beck, they pulled their sails and made use of the wind picking up. They needed to get to Dawn and it seemed that the seas were in agreement with them.

Assuring Makino, Shanks was off of the Red Force as soon as they were docked. Letting his haki spread and make his way to where he could feel Luffy.

His anchor seemed stressed, almost as he was held captive or detained while in distress. It had him making haste and fuming when he saw the group of grown man around the three kids. They were defenseless and the stuck up idiot doing the talking seemed to be a noble.

“And just what do you think you're doing?”

His last word was laced with haki, making a good number of the thugs sway. It was nice to know he still had it, their eyes were directed towards him, knowing he didn't seem like much now with just one arm.

But a ping of his haki let him know that Beck was in place, his husband would kill anyone who tried to hurt those boys.

One of the thugs tried his lugs and fell back screaming as he clutched what had once been his hand. Three fingers were shot clean off, the same hand he had tried to grasp Luffy.

“Well? Taking on children, aren't you ashamed of yourself?”

The noble huffed and puffed, before Shanks turned his eyes on the man and let his haki loose. It was almost laughable how the man started to sweat, trying to break eye contact and finding that he couldn't.

“You're going to let go of the kid, man.”

He did as much, giving Sabo the possibility to run towards Luffy and Ace. Both who were looking at Shanks. Ace in distrust, and how the boy looked like his father at that moment.

Luffy on the other hand, looked star struck. Stepping forward to bury in his side, “Shanks.”

Patting Anchor on his head, grinning at the strawhat he had placed there and the way it was still so big on his little head, “Hey Anchor.”

Turning his eyes back onto the thugs, he tilted an eyebrow and made to step forward. Making them all fall over themselves to get away Except for one of them, who charged towards Shanks and the kids. Never coming even close before a bullet from Beck hit him in between the eyes.

“Are you all okay?”

Luffy nodded in his side, still, Shanks pulled him back a little to look him over. Seeing the way Ace and Sabo tensed but let him do as much. They stood there, obviously not knowing what to do now. They didn't seem to be used to a lot of adult supervision.

“Makino told me something was going on, I guess that they were the something?”

Luffy nodded, before he just started talking. Even when Sabo and Ace tried to stop him from spilling everything. Shanks was well aware that this was Luffy coping with it all, mentioning that Bluejam had been able to find them a while before and when they slighted him he had taken offense.

Sabo's biological father found out and instead of forgetting he had a son, he did everything he could to get Sabo back.

“Don't worry, kid, he isn't going to come back anytime soon.”

Taking a hold of Luffy's hand he led them towards Makino's bar, seeing Ace and Sabo follow at a distance that was enough for now. He would bring them to Makino so either the Doctor or Hongo could look them over.

Luffy was swinging their hands up and down, making Shanks smile all the more. Especially when Beck showed up and Luffy hugged him too, almost too tightly even, going from Beck's face.

“Anchor, let him go. Beck still needs to breath, we're going to Makino's so you can all be looked over. That had to be scary and downright horrible what had happened.”

Part of him wanted to go back and hunt down every one of those sorry bastards who had hunted these boys. But that might be for another time, right now he needed to make sure the boys were alright.

Beck's hand on his back told him that his husband wanted to do the same thing, that he wished he had shot more of them when he had the chance. They would get their revenge, or at least make sure that none of those people were able to get to the boys.

What to do had to be decided, but leaving them here alone wasn't an option.

Chapter Text

Hongo was at his side as soon as he opened the door to Makino's bar, looking over Luffy first. His blond hair in a bun so he could move without it getting in the way. His eyes lingering on the other two, but seeing that they kept to the side he concentrated on Luffy first.

Beck and Shanks caught his eyes, making sure their Doctor knew that they had gotten there in time. There shouldn't be any large wounds, but better to be safe then sorry.

Taking his time with Luffy, making the youngest laugh and grin as if they were back here during that one year hiatus from the New World.

Mostly because the two other brats were too skittish right now. Maybe Luffy could get them to calm down and see that they were truly trying to help.

As much as he wanted to have them looked over too, Shanks was glad they had followed them in the first place. Given what they just went through, their distrust of adults was valid. With what he had seen in the short while he had been there on the trash heap they all were used to that part of the island, which brought pain to his heart. Knowing that Luffy, and two other boys barely older, had to fend for themselves in such a way. If he hadn't been there, he couldn't think about what could have happened to all of them.

Yet, a part of him was proud that Ace and Sabo kept to the side, they were looking over the proceedings, trying to see what was going on. Keeping an eye out for Luffy, much more taking in and waiting beofre acting. Where Luffy had been a little too familiar even with strangers, Ace and Sabo seemed to be the total opposite. Given what had happened that might be the best thing right now.

After patting Luffy down, Hongo Asked; “Anchor, does anything else hurt?”

Luffy looked from Shanks to Hongo and back, before he shook his head. A blinding smile on his face, at least comforting all of them that he wasn't truly hurt anymore. He'd been scared, which was understandable when faced with a gang of grown ups. Seeing Shanks had eased some of that, but being in a familiar and comfortable place with people he knew cared must have helped too.

Sighing in relief, Shanks pulled him closer in his one arm, feeling Luffy sink into the embrace as he listened to Makino trying to convince Ace or Sabo to go and see Hongo.

She was glaring at the two of them as she spoke:“You both need a doctor, I don't care if it's Hongo or Doctor. I know neither of you believe in all of this, but there are still adults here that care.”

It took a lot of grumbling and a glare but Sabo went to the Doctor while Ace made his way to Hongo. His eyes fixed on Luffy who was still tucked into Shanks' side, the way he was looking it was like he was seeing Rouge all over again. Back when they just got to know her, when she was still a bounty hunter. She had looked like that at Captain and Ray when they fished her out of the water.

Despite the name, it was his mannerisms, coloring and the freckles that made him realize that the child Captain had spoken of did survive. Despite everything the Marines tried to do the bloodline was still around.

Given who Luffy was related to, as well as Captain's relationship with Garp (if one could call a semi-friendly rivalry a relationship) it was obvious that he was the one who took care of Ace all these years. Shanks didn't know how to feel about that, he knew he or Buggy wouldn't be able to. But Ray or Gabban should have been considered, at least if either of them raised Ace they would know he was safe.

“You look just like your mother, you know.”

That brought everything to a halt, Luffy peaked out to look at Ace. While Ace's eyes went to Shanks, wide and almost fearful. What was it that made him look like that, had someone told him Shanks would want to kill him for that. Then again, he did know what they said about Roger, how he was a monster and it was a good thing he was dead. All Shanks could think about was what a great father the man had been. How he looked out for Buggy and him, and rue the person who tried to touch or harm either of the cabin boys. Ace, as his biological son, would have been so loved by both Roger and Rouge. But seeing the absence of the woman his Captain had adored, it was clear that she wasn't alive anymore. It hurt, almost as much as it did to loose Captain, but seeing Ace also brought a certain relief. It was a balm for the grief he still had, that knowing he was still here.

While he can't see him, heavy eyes on the back of his head tell him that Sabo is most likely glaring at him.

All the while, Shanks starts smiling, “I assumed from the surname, seeing as it isn't a common one, but it's seeing you standing here that I know for sure. It's nice to know that at least a part of them survived.”

The bar goes silent, Ace looking away. It doesn't take a genius to see he is holding back tears. In that moment Shanks can't help but hate Garp, he knew the man saved Ace, but knowing Garp he didn't have a lot of good to tell the boy about his father. Additionally, except for the altercations, he knew he had no connection whatsoever to Rouge.

“I take it Garp took you in?”

Ace nodded, before Luffy started explaining that they were brothers now. Sworn on a cup of sake, much like he and Buggy did then, not that long ago.

Makino sighed, before reprimanding them about the dangers of alcohol consumption with children. While she tried to sound stern, it was clear that she was happy the boys had each other.

Remembering before, Shanks knew that Luffy lacked friends his own age. He had been alone and hated it. Knowing he had brothers who had sworn their brotherhood meant that at least he wouldn't be alone anymore.

Smiling as he patted his had, Shanks grinned at Luffy, “That's nice, Anchor. You deserve amazing brothers.”

There is that blinding smile again, which also makes Ace and Sabo relax. Hongo declares that Ace is fine, some bruises where the thugs had grabbed him but nothing major. The doctor said the same thing about Sabo, so at least that was one less worry.

They stayed silent, now that Luffy was done sharing the story of how he, Ace and Sabo became brothers. Makino had gone into the kitchen to get them all something to eat, while the town's Doctor left them all standing there with a nod of his head.

Shanks' eyes stayed on Ace, taking him in. Luffy was still tucked into his side, and if he didn't know better he would think the kid was asleep. Sabo had come to sit next to Ace, still a distance away from Shanks and his crew, but closer than before. That counted as a win, didn't it?

“Can you tell me... About her?”

Blinking once, Shanks looked at Ace, a soft smile curving on his lips.

“Rouge? Sure thing, she was a spitfire that one. Used to be a bounty hunter when it became clear that she wasn't made for the provincial life. She wanted adventure, but while she didn't want to garner too much attention from the Marines she knew that she didn't want to join them either. When I met her she was a bounty hunter, ending up in the New World because her strength, as any D's was legendary.”

Sitting back as he reminisced about those times, Shanks took a deep breath before continuing, “She found her way onto our ship by accident, one of the others she had been hunting had gotten the better of her and thrown her overboard. Captain threw her a line and she climbed up, grumbling all the time but thanking us all the same.”

It was clear that Ace, Sabo and Luffy were listening in rapt attention and even his crew not at all aware of his life before them joining in.

“She kept on showing up all the time after that, wanting to take Captain's head to gain the bounty or just to have a moment of peace with people who didn't try to kill her. I guess somewhere along the way they fell in love. It was quite the thing, Blue and I ran into them kissing more than once. Which is when it became clear Rouge would be there to stay.”

He's looking at Ace as he mentioned, “He was dying you know, your father. He had this New World disease that we couldn't cure, so he decided to go to his death on his own terms. Trying to buy everyone he loved time to hide, to settle and to make sure that the marines didn't have a chance to capture us as well. The crew dissapeared into all corners of the world while Rouge went back to her home island. They were so looking forward to you being born, though.”

There is a wet gasp, before Ace gets out, “He was sick?”

Shanks nodded, “Some kind of lung disease, I didn't know how bad at the time, but Ray – Rayleigh – told me some later time. He didn't have long left, maybe just long enough to see you be born, but people had already started talking. The marines became aware of the possibility of a child and acted soon after his death.”

Ace shivers, “She held me in, for eleven more months, extended her pregnancy to be twenty months to make sure that no one could think that I was his. I... I thought he abandoned her and to save her own life she did this. I killed her...”

Shaking his head, Shanks took a step closer. Luffy had moved to cling to Beck, so Shanks could kneel in front of Ace to grasp his shoulders, “You didn't kill her, she chose to give her life for yours. Chose to make sure that you would live, that a part of her and her husband would live on in you.”

There is a sad smile on Shanks' face now, before he adds, “There isn't a day that goes by where I don't miss the days on the Oro Jackson, but it's growing up there that taught me that a pirate ship is no place for a child.”

Looking at Luffy as he said that, he adds, “However it is when there is no other way. Word will travel that I was here and the government will come looking. They won't be taking chances, not with this. Not between your father and Luffy's being some of the world's most wanted men.”

Shanks can hear Luffy cheer at the implications of that, he doesn't want to, but he would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to Luffy or to Ace.

Glancing up to catch Makino's eye, he can see the sad but determined smile on the bar maid's face, “Makino..”

She shook her head, “I knew something was going on, I didn't know what but they shouldn't be kept here when they want to be free. Take good care of them for me and call whenever you can.”

In the next moment, she has Luffy in her arms, Ace and Sabo following close. All of them hugging her tightly, before she lets go.

“Let's eat, before you all go. As Shanks said, word does travel fast and we wouldn't want your journey to be delayed.”

Chapter Text

It was clear from the way Makino kept on looking at all three of the boys that she was going to miss them. Shanks could understand, from their conversations he knew that she cared for all three of them as if they were her younger brothers. Especially Luffy, as she had been raising him ever since Garp dropped him off. However, he knew that she wouldn’t want them to be tied here. To be put in danger because of him showing himself again in the East Blue. People would come looking, he was well aware that he had eyes on him at all times.

“Makino?”

The woman hummed, looking up and wiping a tear from her cheek, “Sorry, I just…”, she sighed, “I didn’t think that this was the way I would be saying goodbye. Part of me knew they wouldn’t stay here for the rest of their lives but they are so young.”

Smiling wryly, Shanks can understand where she is coming from. In his opinion he also hoped he didn’t need to do this. He didn’t want them to be exposed to the violence of the seas so soon. But with all of this happening, there was bound to be an announcement soon. If the wrong people looked into this, looking into Luffy or Ace it wouldn’t turn out well for them.

“I know… but if the wrong kind of people come looking… I can’t be here every time, Makino, as sad as that is.”

She nodded, “I know that, and I’m forever grateful you came back when you could. But… I just wished we could make sure no one knew about them in the first place. Cut off any information making it out there in the world at its source.”

Mouthing the words again, a slow smile spread on Shanks’ lips. He didn’t like using this connection, but in this case he might just need to call uncle Mo and ask him to keep an eye out and delay whatever story the World Government asked to be published.

A sly grin appeared, “I think I can do that, mind if I use your snail?”

At her nod, Shanks makes his way behind the bar, into the backroom and to the snail that he knows is there. While he didn’t often call this number he had it memorised. It had been one of the last things Captain made them do. He asked him and Buggy to memorize a few numbers just in case. He felt that in an effort to keep the captain’s kid alive this waranted the use of that.

As soon as he pressed in the number, it rang once before a familiar voice picked up. Shanks let him do his speel before whispering, “Uncle…”

The other side was silent for a moment, before another voice sounded through the speaker, “Red… What… You never called before.”

Swallowing thickly at the sound of one of the men he grew up with, he laughed, “Never had a reason to. After all, can’t just call the Great News Morgans for everything.”

A sigh is his only answer, prompting Shanks to come to business, “I found his treasure, it’s still here. But I… Uncle, if they find out there is no force stopping them.”

The gasp he hears is enough for Shanks to know that the information specialist of the Roger Pirates, now known to the World as Big News Morgans, had understood the message he was trying to send. This wasn’t a secure line after all, but that didn’t mean anything. Least of all when the child of their beloved captain was in play.

“I see… I’ll keep an eye out then.”

Relief coursed through him, making Shanks smile softly, “Thank you, I… I’ll take good care of him, and the boys he adopted as brothers. Can you, could you warn the others through the normal channels?”

The answering hum is all he needs, before Shanks ends the call. Relief is still making its way throug him in knowing that their biggest ace was still in place. The World Government, nor Kaido and Big Mom, knew who Morgans really was. As such it was something they could use to their benefit. Uncle Mo would make sure that any and all information about Ace dissapears before it makes it to the papers. He’ll also warn the others, so in the event he needs it, Shanks knows he’ll have back-up.

“Captain…”

Beck’s voice has him turning around, a wry grin on his face as he shares that he managed to make sure that they had a little more time to move. As one of the only ones on board who knew his full backstory, Shanks knew that Beck had deduced what he was going to do. His first mate and husband was one of the only ones who knew the full story of where Shanks had grown up at, and who he called family. Part of him wanted to tell his crew, and he would, but another part wanted to keep that a secret a little while longer. Although with Ace on board soon enough, they would find out just the same.

“Did you manage to contact you uncle?”

Nodding, a wide grin appeared on Shanks’ face, “I did, uncle Mo is going to do anything he can to delay the news should it reach him and make sure all the others know what is going on. Even if we were here, the East is quiet enough that it will take a while for people to arrive to chech in out. Especially the Marines, as I do believe that the nearest base is still a couple of islands away.”

The way Beck’s face relaxes says a lot about how worked up his parter had been about the boys and what could happen if the wrong people found out about this. Stepping forward, not for the first time hating that he only had one arm, Shanks grasped a hold of Beck’s hand, “We’re going to make sure they have a better life. As much as I don’t like taking them with us on the ship, it’s their best bet. I can’t… I won’t let Luffy and Ace grow up abandoned and possibly endangered because of who their parents are.”

It’s the grimace on Beck’s face that makes it clear that while he isn’t on board with taking children on their ship, it’s the better of the two possibilities.

Shanks sighed, “The Nobles and that shitshow crew won’t be idle for long, even if we scared them. As soon as they are able I wouldn’t put it past them to try and get revenge. Makino and Windmill can take care of themselves, but those kids?”

He hates that it leaves a sour taste in his mouth, finding them there. Seeing the way all three of them were outnumbered and set up to fail. It reminded Shanks too much about those times that he or Buggy, or both of them, had been used as leverage against the captain and the crew. If word got out Luffy was out there, as well as Ace, and they could be used to make some of the most powerful men in the world be brought to heel, the World Government wouldn’t hesitate to use that to their advantage.

Beck pulls on the hand he has in his own, making Shanks stumble into his arms as he’s hugged.

“Don’t think too much about that, we’re doing everything we can to make sure they are safe and well taken care of. As soon as we’re back in the New World you know we’re stronger. Not only that but Newgate will lend a hand if needs be. As much as they would want to, the World Government can’t take on our crew and the Whitebeard Pirates. You know as well as I do that Newgate would jump at the opportunity if word gets out that you adopted three kids.”

Leaning against Beck’s chest, Shanks wants to say anything even if he doesn’t know what to say. Beck in right, once they’re back in the New World they’re safe and will be among allies for the most part. It would be dangerous for the kids, but staying here would be that too. At least now they would have a crew who’d look out for them.

Sighing, Shanks leans back a bit to look at Beck, “Are we doing the right thing?”

Humming, beck ran a hand through his hair, “I don’t know, love, we won’t know unless we do this. All I do know is that it feels right and I wouldn’t want to leave those boys, much less Luffy, a second time.”

Smiling softly, Shanks nodded, “I don’t think I can leave Anchor again, if I did it would break my heart. We’ll protect them, set some rules while on the ship and some when off the ship.”

They agreed to that before making it back to the main room. It was clear that everyone was tense, but it seemed that some of his men had taken the boys to get their stuff as they were packed. Makino had made something to eat so all three of them were sitting at the bar enjoying that meal.

As the barmaid looked up, Shanks nodded, seeing the relief coursing through her. It was clear she liked the three of them like her own and had done everything she could to keep an eye out, but that wasn’t always enough. Even less so when there were no direct links to any of those boys and her.

Looking on as she stepped away, Shanks smiled, “We took care of it, as long as he’s able my uncle will make sure no one knows about what happened here. We should be back in the New World by then and be able to keep an eye out on all three of them.”

More relief showed at that, making Makino sigh, “I’m glad for that, I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come.”

There is a frown on her face before she adds, “Garp left his den den mushi number but he never picks up, not even when I call several times. I called the nearest marine base this one time, asking to be connected but they laughed before hanging up. It’s like no one even knows he had grandchildren out there. He only visits once a year, if that, that is no way to raise children.”

Shaking his head, Shanks exchanges a look with Beck, chances were they would run into the Old Marine again and if they did there was no way they were letting go of the boys. It almost seemed that the Old Man didn’t care about what happened to them and wasn’t that a harsh one for those knowing the man valued family. Was it connected to Dragon’s choice to leave the Marines years ago and start the Revolution? Or was there something else to it?

Movement behind them made it clear the three boys were done eating, Shanks smiled at them, “Ready to leave?”

At three nods he turned back to Makino, not even surprised when she hugged him thightly, whispering in his ear to keep in contact and to take care of the boys.

She did the same thing to Beck, before crouching and hugging Luffy, Ace and Sabo to her in a thight hug. Whispering something in their ears before pulling back, the slightly broken smile betraying just how much she would miss them all.

Luffy cheered before he was swinging himself on Shanks’ shoulders, no dobt beaming widely at the thought of getting to set out. Ace and Sabo followed at a much more sedated pace, in step with Beck, with the other crewmembers following at the rear. Making their way onto the Red Force and ready to set out.

Part of Shanks was feeling giddy at the thought of passing through Sabaody at one point and telling Ray he was a Grandpa now. Snorting, he grinned at Beck, mouthing Sabaody and seeign the way his lover also laughed as the same idea popped into his head.

Chapter Text

All three of the boys lead to way to a treehouse in the middle of the forest where most, if not all, of their belongings are. Seeing it, and seeing the way they are proud for standing on their own feet makes him want to bash Garp’s head in next time he sees the man. Then again, if he can get word out to Ray, Gaban and Newgate, those three would gladly do that for him as they had held a grudge as it was Garp who had taken Roger in. Even if it was a staged event, that didn’t mean that the man needed to do it in the end.

Grinding his teeth, Shanks didn’t say anything. Instead he allowed the boys to show him what they were packing as well as their flag they were displaying proudly. They looked so carefree and he knew he wasa going to take part of that away once he brought them onto the Red Force. Life at sea wasn’t made for a child and he would know, being raised on the Oro since he was about a year old. Ace, Sabo and Luffy would be older, but still. He wasn’t quite sure how he felt about it, but he did know that he couldn’t leave them here.

“Let’s get packing, boys, so we don’t need to stay here one moment longer than we have to”, he offered as he carried some of their belongings and made his way down the latter. Leading the way and making his way back to shore and to the harbor. They needed to leave as soon as possible and make way into the Grand Line. At least there he would have people supporting him. The best course of action would be to get into the New World but he didn’t want to pass through the Calm Belt with children on his ship.

Looking on as all three kids raced back, he felt Beck at his side, always the comforting presence that he needed right now. A hand coming to catch his remaining one, “We’re doing good here, love. We’re making sure they’ll be alive and that’s what we need right now. Your uncle is aware and will let the others know. On top of that, you can bet that we’ll have the fleet at the ready as soon as we are able to. Make our way to Elbaf slowly and settle there.”

Nodding, Shanks sighed, “I know… It’s just a lot.”

He was still trying to deal with the fact that he had adopted the kid who should have been his baby brother. That Ace, despite everything that had been done, had survived the cleaning the marines had done as well as managed to stay hidden. That was just about the only thing he could thank Garp for, but the man trying to make all three of them into marines was asking for trouble. As soon as someone higher up or even the Elder Stars, found out who Ace or Luffy’s fathers were they would give the order to execute them. In fact, the only reason Shanks knew there was no kill on sight order on him was because of his own biological father.

Makino had taken all three of the boys into her arms again, tears streaming down her face as she said her goodbyes. She would survive, she was a strong woman and if he hadn’t been head over heels for Beck he was certain he would have fallen for her. But right now, they weren’t meant to be. She wasn’t meant to be on these seas either, too landlocked to like it there.

He could see that she had done everything in her power to make sure they were well stocked. They wouldn’t be able to stop everywhere where he wanted to stop now. The only other place would be Orange Town, as that was where Buggy resided. Other then that he needed to make it into the Grand Line as to not be noticed.

Sighing, he knew he had to face his brother again. He and Buggy weren’t on speaking terms after Loguetown. Shanks hadn’t know what he wanted to do, hearing that he was the son of a Celestial Dragon had turned his whole world upside down and he needed to check what was true about it all. He couldn’t take Buggy with him there, couldn’t allow his sensitive brother to be brought before the very people who would want to own him for all the wrong reasons.

A hand on his arm had him snapping out of it, looking at Makino as she smiled at him through her tears. Hugging her close he whispered, “I’ll take good care of them and keep on calling every other week.”

She hid her face in his chest, “You better or I’ll come out there myself!”

Chuckling as he was certain she would do just that if he let her, he tugged her into one last hug before making his way onto the Red Force. Throwing out his haki as to make sure that there was no one laying in wait. He didn’t need a marine platoon to ambush him right now as he would just sink their ship with a divine Departure, not in the mood to play games right now.

“Let’s get going, boys! Set course to Orange Town, we have family to visit”, he announced before he went to look for the three kids he now had on board. There were some ground rules he needed to make clear to the three of them. Although he was cringing at the fact that he would be doing the same thing Rayleigh did to them once upon a time. As a kid he hadn’t seen the meaning of it, but now he saw that all of those rules had been to protect him and to keep him safe in any kind of situation.

Opening the door to the rooms he had mentioned being for the boys, he knocked and waited until they allowed him entry before opening the doors. Luffy’s sunny grin met him, and instantly Shanks felt a little better. Anchor had been able to do that all the time, make them fell better about all of this and he couldn’t help but enjoy that part of having the kid on board.

“Alright brats, I need you to listen to me now as there will be some rules in place”, holding up his hand when all three of them started argueing, “There is no argueing about these rules, kids. We’re going to be on the seas from now and an believe it or not but you’re on a high profile ship now.”

Luffy blinks, and it’s clear to Shanks that despite everything Luffy had no idea just who he was in the New world. Maybe a good thing too, as the kid couldn’t keep a secret to safe his life. If the wrong kind of person found out they would be having an issue with that. But he didn’t need to think about that right now, the kids were safe and that’s all that needed to be said about it. Looking at Sabo and Ace as well, Shanks ran a hand through his hair, “What do you know about the Yonko of the New World?”

At the expected silence, he sighed again before telling them that since the World Government had little to no people in the New World they bestowed the Pirates looking over it with a title; Yonko. There was more behind it then just that, but in the end it was because of some sort of power move, he just knew it.

“Anyway, these Yonko are called that as they keep an eye on the New World in their own little way. Newgate, or Whitebeard, has the most territory to cover. Then again, he also has the largest fleet with his main crew being 1400 people and growing every day. He ‘adopts’ islands as he goes and taken them into the fold. The second largest fleet is Linlin, or Big Mom, she controls a section of islands known as Whole Cake Island where she and her crew resides. While she doesn’t adopt them, she does watch over hers in a way that I never did understand”, he tries to think back to the moments he met them all. The only one he has a good relationship with is Newgate, partly because of his relationship with Roger before.

Taking a breather, Shanks continued, “Kaido comes next, and he’s been named Yonko not because of his fleet, but because of his territory. He rules over Wano, which is a isolated state in the middle of the New World. No one has a true guess on his numbers, but he’s known to be unkillable so they slapped a title on that and called it over with. The last Yonko doesn’t have any territories, that the World Government knows of, but he does have a fleet.”

Sabo’s eyes widen as he seems to catch on, “You’re the last Yonko…”

Nodding, he pointed at the blond with a smile, “Bingo, I became one when I was young and still building my crew which is why they call me the wandering Yonko. I don’t have a homebase, not really, ans they don’t know anything about my fleet. Which is why it’s so hard for me to stay somewhere for a longer period of time. People were starting to get suspicious and that’s why we can’t stay at Dawn any longer than we have to so they don’t get ideas.”

Frowning, he explains that if the World Government believed Dawn was part of his territory they might try something and he didn’t want them to do that. In the same breath he also explained that if he left the boys there and people would come looking they would connect the dots.

“So, that’s why there are certain rules in place”, as he gets three nods, he explains, “If I tell you to hide, you hide. You don’t come out, don’t try to help, you need to stay hidden as whoever boarded or is trying to board isn’t above harming children.”

At another nod, he speaks again, “Every island has its own rules, if I tell you one thing or another. Or Beck or Hongo tell you to do or not do something, I need to be able to trust that you would do that. Trust me when I tell you we don’t want to find out that children aren’t something seen on one island, or that another things they are food.”

His face remains straight as the kids laugh, with Sabo, Ace and Luffy realizing that he’s serious. He doesn’t want to ellaborate, but he does know a couple of islands where cannibalism is still a thing, especially with children.

Waiting just a second, he explains his last rule, “Any of this rules can be adjusten and in the end it’s my decision on what happens. You’re on my ship now and we will be going back to the New World as soon as possible. I need to be able to trust that you’ll pull your weight in the chores I give you, just as I need to be able to rely on the three of you to listen to me when I tell you to do something.”

Looking at Luffy, he adds, “That’s the main reason I didn’t want to take you along last time, there are a lot of rules that come with all of this and I know you love your freedom. The devil fruit you ate just proves that. But I… I didn’t want to take that away from you. Things have changed now, and I can’t, in good conciousness, leave you on Dawn when they might come looking and find something they shouldn’t find. So promise me, you’ll follow as I say and we’ll figure this out as we go.”

That last nod had him sighing in relief, opening his arm as Luffy burrowed into his side. Ace and Sabo stayed at a distance, but he could see the way they were warming up to him in their eyes. They would all need that, especially once they did enter the Grand Line. For now though, the basics had been set and he’d deal with everything else later on.

Chapter Text

Part of Shanks is happy he started out in the East Blue with the boys. Partly as he knows that not a lot of pirates here would be too much for him. There is also the added benefit of having Buggy living here. His brother settled here to be away from the stress of the Grand Line, losing everything they had called their own when their Captain died.

Looking at Ace, Buggy needed to know that a part of their Captain and his lover survived. On top of that Buggy was the only one he knew who would have a visual den den mushi to talk to the others. Uncle Mo had been notified and he’d work double time to let the others know, but they would need to see him, see the kids, see Ace.

“Shanks”, Luffy was at his side, pulling at his cloak with that look in his eyes, “Are you alright?”

Sighing, he shook his head, “I once promised my brother that I would never do like Captain did. I’d never take kids on my ship, but I can’t leave you there, I refuse to leave you there too. He’s going to be mad at me, which is the last thing that I want.”

Thinking about Buggy hurt, their last conversation and how empty he felt ever since they parted ways and this wasn’t the way he wanted to see him again. Part of him had hoped he’d see Buggy again on the Grand Line once his brother had healed. Once he was able to start sailing again instead of staying landbound because of all the traume.

He can see the three boys looking at him, making Shanks sigh, “There was a reason I didn’t want children on my ship and that was one of them. The ocean isn’t safe for kids and we experienced that when we were on board the Oro as children. I… I never expected to be in this situation, and don’t get me wrong, I do want to keep you safe but it’s complicated.”

Ace and Sabo obviously know what he means by that, even if it’s just partly. Luffy does not and Shanks is happy he doesn’t. Part of him hates that Sabo and Ace do know, that they had to grow up already even though they’re still so young. He had seen where they had been when he saved them, had seen the look in their eyes that first moment they saw him. How both of them would give it their all if it meant surviving another day. To know that Garp had done that to children, he didn’t understand.

“I don’t want to force you to grow up too soon. Buggy and I, we saw things we weren’t ready to see at that age and it changed us in a way neither of us wanted for others”, he looks at Ace and Sabo as he continues, “But I know that on a ship or land locked, there are always possibilities to see things that you shouldn’t have to see at that age. If I can protect you, even a little bit, I want to take that chance and see what I can do to at least help you through it all.” Glancing at Luffy and the blisfully unaware look in his eyes, he pulls the youngest close, “I wanted to protect you, Anchor, that’s the main reason I said no last time. But now, knowing that someone might come looking and does who knows what makes it an easy choice to have you with me. That’s another reason why there are rules, it’s to protect you.”

Luffy hums, before his eyes also change, giving way to old eyes in a way that made it clear that Luffy had seen things too. Shanks’ heart broke at that, opening his arm and pulling Luffy into a thight hug. One that had Sabo and Ace joining when it became clear that Shanks was planning on making sure this didn’t happen anymore. He and his crew would be there to protect them from now on. There would be no more Bluejam or thugs trying to take from them.

The tears started not long after, with Shanks crying at the fact that he hadn’t been able to protect Luffy from this. On top of that, he had three kids to keep safe from now on. He needed to have others to look out for them too. There was a reason he called Uncle Mo, he needed help and he needed people he knew would have good intentions towards the kids. Dawn hadn’t been safe, regardless of what Garp might have believed. Dragon wasn’t an option, he had seen the man’s face on more than one bounty poster laterly so he would be too deep into whatever he was doing. He had been building on something since Shanks was a baby, so he had to have some plan going there.

He had an inkling as to who Luffy’s mother was, but that didn’t mean that he wanted Wani close to him right now. Crocodile was only just making a name for themselves and he hadn’t been in the right headspace for a long time. Shanks didn’t even know if they knew about Luffy, if Newgate knew about Luffy.

Shanks hadn’t connected the dots before, but Garp appearing as he was back in the New World for a short while made it clear. The man warned him away from his grandson, which was the first clue. His aversion towards pirates was the second, especially now that Shanks knew Ace had been there too. In his own way he knew Garp was protecting the kids, but he did a shit job at.

All three kids were crying now too and he let them. There was no judgement from him, they were young and going by what he knew he was the first adult outside of Makino who looked after them. Tears were a freedom no one could take from you and he wasn’t about to make them stop of he could protect them from losing their sense of selve by closing themselves off too much. Things were about to happen, he was certain of that, but he needed to make sure thatregardless he would be able to keep them safe in any way possible.

Beck left the room not too long after that, smiling softly as Shanks as he did so. Leaving him to wrestle three children onto the bed to cuddle them close. Luffy had fallen asleep even if he didn’t let go. Ace helped him put Luffy onto their bed before he laid down next to Shanks. Sabo laid down next to Luffy and was out like a light. Obviously he hadn’t been able to show a lot at home, to know he had a parental figure (even if it felt odd to see himself like that) who didn’t care and who allowed him to express himself. There would be a lot of things to address at one point in time, but not tonight.

“Your parents would be so mad at Garp that he let this happen, you know”, Shanks whispered to Ace, seeing the way the eldest looked up with something akin to awe in his eyes.

Smiling softly, he went on to tell Ace how Rouge had acted the first time she found out that Shanks and Buggy had been on board. How she had raged about children on a pirate ship, “She just about got a nervouw breakdown seeing the way that Buggy and I were raised. But she saw the love that the crew held for us, but it also made her swear she would do everything she’d be able to do to protect her own children.”

Pulling Ace close, as much as he can, Shanks whispered, “She did everything she could to protect you, never forget that.”

His words had Ace crying, hiding his face in Shanks’ shoulder as it seemed he finally could properly grieve for the parents he had never met. Shanks had every intention to make sure he knew who his parents really were from the people who knew them first hand. None of that bullshit Garp must have told him, as it had to be clouded by the same judgement that made him bring his ‘best friend’ to the scaffot.

Weighted down by the kids laying close to him, Shanks let sleep pull him under too. Beck and Yassop would be able to look out for the crew for a little while, he needed a nap and to make sure his kids were safe. On top of that, he needed to deal with having to see Buggy again, the way his brother was going to chew him out for a number of things and how Pops and the others would react to not only the loss of his arm, but the kids he now took with him, as well as Ace who had survived.

-0-0-0-

The following mourning brought them close to Buggy the Clown and Shanks could feel it in the air. His brother’s haki rubbing up agianst his own, testing, poking, as if Buggy had trouble believing what he was feeling.

As someone with very advanced observation haki, it wasn’t odd that he had sensed Shanks from this far away. He didn’t know what he needed to do, so he poked back, trying to convey that he was sorry and that he would be there soon. It seemed to have worked too, as Buggy was standing on the docks with his first mate at his side. Looking on as Shanks dropped anchor, keeping his face carefully masked as he walked off of his ship, “Request for Safe Harbour?”

He wasn’t even finished speaking before Buggy was halfway up the plank and hugging him close, “You- Red, what are you doing here.”

Relief was the first thing he felt, before Shanks was wrapping his arm around Buggy and knew from that moment that his brother knew. Buggy leaned back and took him in, “What…”

Sighing, Shanks smiled softly, “A lot has happened in the last couple of years, Blue. But I… I need you to forgive me.”

Buggy’s eyes narrowed, before Shanks leaned back, “Boys?”

Luffy was off of the ship first, stopping just behind Shanks’ leg to look at Buggy, “You’re Blue, Shanks used to tell me about you! You also ate a devil fruit and you’re an amazing arcomat!”

Sabo was next, sighing before he corrected Luffy to Acrobat, grinning at Buggy and Mohji as he stayed behind Luffy and Shanks.

But it was Ace peaking out and coming down that had Buggy’s breath catching, he could see Ms. Rouge in Ace. Could see the Captain too. The way he looked at Shanks as if it was too much to even comprehend made it clear. There was anger there too, but his brother should know that Shanks wouldn’t have done this if there was no other choice.

“He’s…”, Buggy started, looking at Ace. Shanks nodded, “He is, I met Luffy about a year ago and I told him that a pirate ship is no place for a child. But… Circumstances changed.”

Buggy nodded, “If there was no other option, I take it this was the lesser of the two. Fucking hell, Red, what happened to your arm.”

Luffy whined, “He lost it saving me. I… Some thug tried to get back at him when he wasn’t there and he took me hostage. Threw me into the water and there was a sea king and…”

Shanks shook his head, pulling Luffy close, “I said it then and I’ll say it now. Not your fault, Anchor. I’d rather loose an arm and have you than the other way around. I’ll adapt, I’m good at that. You’re safe and that’s all that matters.”

Another whine left Luffy, but Shanks hushed him. Looking at Buggy he mentioned to Ace, “Garp had him, of all people, Ms. Rouge died during delivery and the asshole felt the need to mention that. He’s… I’m certain he’s Captain’s greatest treasure.”

There is a soft smile on Buggy’s face as he looks at the three kids next to Shanks, “I see that’s not the only one whose treasure they are, Red. I know what we said, what we swore, but if there was no other option I know Ms. Rouge would come to tan your hide if this was the lesser of two evils and you didn’t do it.”

Shivering at that, Shanks nodded, before he grinned at his brother, “I also hoped you have a visual den, I already claled Uncle Mo, but I think Pops needs to see Ace too. He needs to know and I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop at Sabaody.”

Huffing, Buggy nods, “I do, even have a White Den too. Let’s get inside and call on the Old Men.”

Chapter Text

Shanks had known that Uncle Mo would tell the others, he had asked Uncle Mo to tell the others. But nothing had prepared him for seeing the men who had practically raised him looking back at him on the screen Buggy used, calling in from all around the world as he sat down.

Buggy was a welcome presense at his back, it almost brought him back to the days on the Oro Jackson. Because seeing them all there also reminded him of the years missed. Since Captain’s death none of them had sailed together again and it showed. On top of that, he was about the share that he had taken three kids onto the Red Force to keep them safe and one of those kids was Captain’s child.

Rayleigh was the first one to speak, “Red, what even?”

Laughing somewhat hysterical, he sighed before telling them that he had been in the East for a bout a year not too long ago. Wanting a break from the Line and ending up at Dawn Island which is where he met Luffy.

He’s almost breathless when he shares, “He was just like Captain. That same unbending will, a smile as big as the Grand Line and a presense that I believed could make him a reincarnation if I believed in such things. I stayed around, which ended up with him eating a Devil Fruit.”

Shanks grasped his arm as he shared what had happened after, about the bandits who didn’t think he was worth something and tried to intimidate him. Lucky shooting one of them and Beck dealing with the others. Until the lead bandit took Luffy out to sea and dropped him right in the path of the resident Sea King. “It cost me and arm, and I know that I should have used Haki, but I was much more concerned with making sure the kid was alright then that.”

The gasps it gets as the old men see the absense of his dominant arm has Shanks settling back. At least they care still, as part of him had wondered about that after he and Buggy had been left alone after Logue Town. He truly wondered if the men he had called Pops and Uncle wanted anything to do with them now that the glue holding them together was gone.

“I kept in contact with the barmaid in Fooshia, Makino would call at least once a week to tell me how Luffy was doing. Which quickly became a shit fest on the boy’s grandfather when he came to take him away as he hates Pirates”, he chuckles when more than one person explaines that they hope he set the man straight. A shit eating grin on his face as he shares, “I can do a lot, would do a lot, but I ain’t telling Garp the Fist that.”

Silence is his only answer, before Buggy is on him and holding onto his shirt, “What do you mean by that, Red! Don’t tell me that this Luffy Kid is Garp’s Grandson?”

Nodding, Shanks smiled, “He is, Dragon aparently dropped him off at one point. Garp on his turn dropped him off with Makino and just came by once every year or so to ‘train’ him in an effort to turn him into a Marine.”

His face darkens before he shares that Makino told him Luffy had been by again. This time followed by two other older boys. Ace and Sabo had been living in the forest before, with Ace having been there all his life and Sabo joining when he ran away from home. He shared how Makino had described both boys and how his breath had caught after hearing Ace’s description because that sounded like someone he knew. Add the last name he used and it wasn’t that hard to connect the dots. The only thing he hated was how Garp had known and none of them had, when Ms. Rouge had been a very welcome part of the Oro Jackson.

“I honestly didn’t know what to do when I heard, I wanted to call then but they were safe at least. There can’t be a lot that happens on Garp’s home island that the man doesn’t know about. How wrong I was when Makino told me she hadn’t seen the boys in a while and when she did they were looking skittish and on edge”, Shanks sighed, “I turned around, even if it was nothing I made the decision to turn around and now I’m glad that I did.”

Taking a deep breath, he continues on, “I found them on the trash heap on Dawn, being held down by thugs and a noble. Said noble seemed to be Sabo’s biological father who wanted him back and wasn’t about killing other kids to get it, but then again what else is new.” Part of him hates that he had seen that happen before. Seen the way Nobles (and especially World Nobles) value the life of a normal human. He knew that if he hadn’t done anyting, they would have killed the boys unless Sabo went with his father and even then.

He also knows that because he interfered people might get interested in Dawn, Buggy’s hand on his shoulder tells him his brother came to the same conclusion and that this, while partly his own fault, is a good reason to take children onto the Red Force. Looking up, he sees the old men looking at him with interest. No doubt all of them have gotten the same conclusion he did when they made it back to Fooshia.

His shoulders slump as a admits, “I know that I interfered and that would cause a reaction. If not from Garp than the marines when they realize I was there all of the sudden. If they had found the boys, especially Luffy and Ace…” Shanks doesn’t have to finish that sentence, he knows the others were there when the reports came in about Batrilla and other places Roger frequented. They all knew at least one woman or one family who had lost everything when the Marines searched for a child that could be Roger’s. Every unmarried or single Mother, as well as any who couldn’t verify the child they carried or had was their husband’s were brought in for questioning. No one ever mentioned why those women returned without their child or not at all. But it was all there, they had been killed in their search for Ace who had been taken away by Garp of all people. Still, if Marines found either Luffy or Ace and tied them together with the names they carried they would get to the answer way too fast.

Looking at Rayleigh, he whispers, “He hates Roger and I… I don’t know how to deal with that when every memory I have of him is so different from the idea the world has of the Pirate King. He also hates himself because Garp felt it was needed to tell him Ms. Rouge died giving birth to him. I still don’t know how she managed that, his age doesn’t add up either, so whatever she did must have taken a tole on her.”

Rayleigh opens and closes his mouth before he speaks softly, “There are a lot of ways you can use Haki, not a lot are known but Rouge was proficiant enough that I don’t think it’s that farfetched to think she managed to keep the baby inside of her from growing until it was safe. She…”, his voice cracks, “She loved us, enough to retreat when Roger gave himself up so she could be safe. I wondered if it was because she was expecting, but I never…”

A tear runs over his cheek and none of them can blame him for that. Rayleigh had been their rock through so much, but he too had broken when Roger was killed. They all knew there was something there, that he was their Pops, as much as Roger was their dad and Rouge their mom. But to know he was the only one who survived must have been hard. To know there is a son there he never met until now.

Shanks feels bad for this, but he also needs to know if he has their help with all of this. Part of him wants to call the boys and see if they will help convince those he called a family to help them given that eyes are going to be following them at all times. But he’s willing to wait and see if the Men he grew up with will have his back even when he’s almost at Yonko level and will be in the spotlight like Roger had been. With children on the Red Force that would draw too much attention, especially once word got out as to who those children were.

He finds that he doesn’t even need to pose his question, not does he need to resort to blackmail in the form of the three brats he has waiting outside with Beck. Almost as one all of them apologize for not being there, none of them had known that they had been in Logue Town for the execution, Roger had told his crew to scatter and they did so. Rayleigh especially seems to break at hearing that Shanks and Buggy had been there, “I knew you weren’t with me, but I… I didn’t think you’d be there or I would have come to collect you. Roger asked me not to be there, but I was following alone on Sabaody as I felt I owed him that”.

Feeling the hand on his shoulder clench, Shanks places his one over that, “We wanted to give him a propper send off, the Marines wouldn’t have done that. None of them would have and we… this was still the man that raised up despite everything…”

Buggy sputters before he gets out that he was certain they were all happy to be able to do away with the kids they had been forced to raise. That he knew he hadn’t meant anything to them so he settled in the East to keep watch. To make sure that no one could get to the Grand Line if they weren’t able to survive him. For all that he had settled in the East now, he had grown up on the Line and that meant something.

Glancing at Buggy, Shanks bites his lip before realizing that he needs to bring this up before it gets revealed, “Are you still in contact with Wani, Blue?”

The change of subject has all the attention on Shanks once more, grinning somewhat sheepishly as he knows this is sudden and seemingly out of context. But he wants to know and he thinks Wani would like to know too. For all that they call themselves Crocodile now, they had been Wani once before and that meant something, at least to Buggy and Shanks.

Frowing, Buggy nods, “I do… We call at least once a month. Why?”

Smiling softly, he looks away, “Because they did have that crush on Dragon for a while and from everything that I have seen, I’m quite sure they’re Luffy’s mother.”

Again, silence is the only answer, before Buggy is reaching for another den den mushi and dialing a number Shanks doesn’t know. This isn’t how he wanted to go about this, but again he does need all the help he can get so why not deal with it now. Wani also needed to know, for all the issues they had with their gender identity and their father, that didn’t mean that they shouldn’t have the chance to know their own child.

He doesn’t want to give Luffy up, but he will do so if it’s to one of his oldest friends who deserved so much better than the cards they had been dealt before.

The den den mushi rings two times before a voice speaks, “Blue, I was not expecting you to call today.”

Buggy chuckles, “Me neither, but Red said something that I think you might need to know.”

Crocodile hums before Shanks sighs and asks, “Is there a possiblity that you had a child with Dragon before?”

Chapter Text

Wani had always known she was a boy, but as a child she hadn’t needed to speak up about it. Growing up on a Pirate Ship meant that she was dressed as a boy all the time anyway and that was fine. It was once she got older, once she started to develop in other ways that people seemed to notice and act.

One of the main people who started treating her differently was her Pops. The man was a Pirate Captain of his own merrit by then, with a small crew that only kept growing. Once where there was one rule that became clear, he didn’t want women fighting on the front lines. That included his own daughters, adopted or biological, to the point that more than one of his ‘daughters’ left the ship to become their own captain.

But Wani wasn’t able to just do that. At first she had been too young, anyone younger than 17 wasn’t even considered actual crew but more an apprentice. Often that meant Marco, Teach and her were left to sit out a fight or a raid. She hadn’t minded then, but once all three of them turned 17 things changed and she didn’t like it so much then. Often she was shoved towards the infirmary, suggested that she learn their crafts and stay out of sight and out of danger. If there was one thing she hated, it was that, Wani hadn’t been made to sit on the sidelines. She was the biological daughter of Edward Newgate so to be sidelined hurt her ego more than it did anything else. Looking back now they knew he didn’t do it to harm her, but rather to keep her safe any way he knews how.

“Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I cannot fight, Pops! Why can’t you see that?” She had yelled at her father one time as he had sent her away once more.

Tears ran over her cheeks as she looked at the tattoo on her hand, a symbol for her dedication to her crew. A Dedication that was slowly waning as she wasn’t allowed to do anything but aid the nurses or the cooks. She wasn’t allowed on deck when there was a fight or a raid, she didn’t even have a bounty as no one ever saw her while both Marco and Teach did and were proudly showing it around whenever it went up.

She held on until she was twenty-one, until it was clear that nothing was going to change and she wasn’t allowed to be herself here. She couldn’t even prove herself because she was a women and not a man. Which only added to the feeling of being in the wrong body and not feeling comfortable with what was going on. So, she left.

Looking at the tattoo on her hand, she bit her lip before taking one of the few weapons she did have on her (a dagger that had belonged to her mother at one point), heating it over the fire in the kitchen to deal with what was coming next. She knew she couldn’t just use the knife as the bloodloss alone would kill her. Once the knife was red hot, she heaved it high above her head and brought it down on her wrist and cut of her own hand. Tasting blood in her mouth as shhe bit through her lip to prevent someone from hearing her. The pain was bad, but she didn’t see blood around her wrist so at least the wound was cautorized, leaving only a stump in it’s stead. As much as she hated having to cut off her own hand, it was freeing in a way even if it brought about a whole other set of trouble.

Leaving the cut off hand and the dagger behind, leaving Wani behind, and getting off of the Moby Dick during the night as they docked at one of their harbours. Dissapearing into the night and only stopping to find some place to sleep once she was certain no one would be able to sense her or follow her that easily.

They had met Dragon on one of the nearby islands, where the man was helping people escape from one of the Celestial Dragon’s Game Days. Being roped into helping, and accidently finding one of the prices they had brought before eating the strange looking fruit and becoming a devil fruit user, Wani felt like they had found their people.

Dragon didn’t care that they were a biological female, all he cared about was making sure the way the World Government operated was disturbed as much as possible. He didn’t want the Celestial Dragons able to own slaves, have their twisted games, or decide to wipe a country off the map for something as small as having the wrong meals prepared. He wanted to bring freedom to others and she could support him in that.

Wani was an integrated part of the Revolutionary Army by the end of the next three years, someone who reported directly to Dragon and worked with him the most. To the point that their relationship shifted from professional to a more personal nature. One Wani never expected to happen, as a lot of doubt and disphoria came with their current body. But Dragon made them forget a lot of that whenver they were together. Leading to them getting into a relationship, and eventually leading to her being pregnant with a little hatchling.

The baby was born too early, at only 34 weeks, tiny despite his tall parents and pale in a way that Wani never expected a child to look. He didn’t cry either and when the nurse who delivered him gave the devistating news that it was a still birth Wani couldn’t take it anymore. They had left in the middle of the night again, left Dragon to his own grief, as they went to visit one of the higher officers in the Revolutionary Army to ask to be transformed into a man and be able to start a new life without the weight of the past.

Crocodile hadn’t thought back about what had happened to him in years, he hadn’t even thought about his child either. But to hear Red of all people ask that of him, it was unreal that this had happened and a lot of thoughts ran through his mind. He had known Shanks and Buggy since they were all children, knew that neither of them would ask something like that if they hadn’t been completely sure.

There are a lot of emotions in his voice as he speaks, “They told me it was a still birth.”

Shanks’ haki roared through the den den mushi, before he calmed himself slowly and explained what had happened. How he had been in the East for a while now before setting out back to the New World and making his way back East once he heard that the child he had adopted in a way had been in danger. Hearing that Uncle Roger had a child, and that child was also there, was a surprise but not an unwelcome one.

He had been there when Roger had been killed, saw the way it broke his crew apart and knew how the World Government had killed more than enough women and children in an effort to make his bloodline run out. They hadn’t succeeded and that alone was a win.

“How… How is he called”, Crocodile asked softly.

Shanks has a smile in his voice as he answers, “Portgas D. Ace, even though he told me that Ms. Rouge gave him Captain’s last name originally. Yours on the other hand is Monkey D. Luffy, sweet kid, if able to get in trouble just by breathing. They adopted a third kid as their sibling, one Sabo, who could be Ace’s twin although blond, if he grew his hair out.”

Mulling over the name, Crocodile smiled, “I always did like the name Luffy, and Xebec is too dangerous a name to have, even I don’t carry it. How did you know he was mine?”

“His eyes, they’re the same purple as yours are, they appear brown in certain light and red in others. But for the most part they’re that rich purple you always had and I knew when I saw him. I just wanted to make sure and wondered what could have happened for you to leave a child behind, I didn’t even know you were pregnant”, his voice went on in wonder.

Shaking his head, Crocodile explained almost no one knew, he didn’t want people to know as his father was still looking for him. Despite his own wanted poster being out now, he hadn’t been in contact with him or the crew and didn’t plan on doing so even with this information being revealed. He did add that he had been certain his child had been dead when it was born, it didn’t cry or move and he had taken the word of the nurse who had delivered him before making a run for it.

“Dragon never reached out either, he was gone at the time when I gave birth, early as it was. I don’t… Now I wonder what it is that people told him when he found out I wasn’t there…”, Crocodile’s voice is soft. For all that he had hated his body back then he had loved the child growing in his womb. To hear that despite what he ws told, the child lived, brought about a whole different set of feelings. Feelings he wasn’t prepared to deal with, even less so finding out from Shanks that Dragon didn’t care for their child either. He gave him to Garp of all people, and the old man was never there to look after his biological grandson or the boys he claimed as such.

Sighing, Crocodile spoke again, “You’re taking them with you.”

Shanks agreed, “They were being treatened by a Noble and a group of thugs. Apparently the Noble couldn’t stand that his son was happier in the forest then at home and decided to take matters in his own hands. Sabo had been ready to go with him when I interevened and I have never been happier I managed to do so. Given that I went back and made quite the spectacle, I knew that things would escalate if people found out about it and went to look, Ace looks just like his father if you knew him as a young man, while Luffy looks like a copy of Garp when he was younger with purple eyes. It won’t take a genius to make that connections.”

It takes him a moment to take it all in, to know that his son had survived despite it all. That he had left Baltigo, thinking everything he wanted was gone and without Dragon there he hadn’t been able to check and left. A heavy feeling settles in his chest, the knowledge that he had left his son and only now found out he survived. For a second he’s Wani again, scared and so full of rage at not being able to fight or to stand for what they believed in. Family had meant everything once upon a time and he wonders if he left that behind too when he left the Moby Dick.

“I know you didn’t mean to leave me”, A child’s voice comes over the receiver, making Crocodile snap out of his thoughts and spiral.

Shanks’ voice comes through again, “Luffy! You were told to wait outside!”

Luffy huffed, “Baba needed me, so I came here to speak to them.” Then, towards Crocodile he said, “You didn’t mean to leave me and neither did Papa, She told me that and I know She’s always right. Someone else wanted you to leave that place and thye succeeded just as they managed to get Papa when he wasn’t paying attention and I got hurt. That’s why he geve me to Jiji, to protect me and I’m sad I won’t be seeing him again. But Shanks can be my Dad now, can’t he? He’ll take care of me and we can figure out everything else after that.”

Chuckling wetly, Crocodile nodded, “I’m sure we can do that, Hatchling. I’m glad to hear your Papa didn’t just abandon you.”

Giggling, Luffy leaned in closer, “He passes by now and again, but I know he can’t be seen. He doesn’t know I know either, so he’ll turn up at one point or another.”

He can hear Shanks choke at that, but it does sound like the Dragon he knew once upon a time. Sighing, Crocodile realized that despite it all he would be stepping into the World once more, making a name for himself in a different way then as a Warlond. Sighing, he spoke to Shanks, “I’m in Alabasta, I’m sure we can meet up either there are somewhere in the middle. Keep me posted, please.”

As soon as he got an agreement Crocodile ended the call, sitting in his chair and hiding his face in his hand. Not knowing what to do now, but he did know that Shanks and the kids needed him for this too. Sighing, he dialed a number on the Den den Mushi and waiting for it to connect, “Ed’s Famous fish and Chips, what can I get you?”

Snorting, he sighs, “Marco, It’s Wani, I need to speak to Pops.”

Chapter Text

A part of him wanted to stay mad at his father, the man had never come to look for him once he left and that alone hurt more than Crocodile wanted to admit. Then again, they hadn’t exactly parted on the best of terms. As a woman at the time, Oyaji wanted to protect him as his biological daughter, something Wani hated as she had wanted to explore.

The topic of feeling more like a boy never came up. But he had thrown it at Oyaji’s head when he left, how none of this would have happened in the first place if he had been born a boy. He knew his bounty poster would be recognized, knew that his family would know and for the first time since he cut off the mark on his hand, Crocodile hated how all of this had ended.

Biting his lip as it took a while, he just hoped Oyaji wanted to talk to him still. The silence was almost deafening, until he heard someone sit down close to the snail, “Son, this is a surprise.”

The care in that voice was easy to hear. Oyaji hadn’t ignored him, or he wouldn’t be there talking to Crocodile. Which was more than he deserved right now, a sob passed over his lips before he’s speaking about everything that happened since he left the Moby Dick. What really happened over the years and how he’d been screwed over royally by someone who he believed loved him. Only to find out that Dragon hadn’t done that, a mole in the organisation had done so, making Wani lose everything and allow herself to dissapear and become Crocodile.

It takes a moment before Oyaji speaks, “I hope Dragon disposed of that mole, or I will make sure to do it for him. How are you dealing with all of this, child?”

Sobbing, Crocodile admits to not knowing what was done with the mole. He hadn’t been there since he left after giving birth, only now knowing that the baby didn’t die because Buggy and Shanks called to let him know. Luffy even interjected and wasn’t it odd to hear his hatchling he didn’t even know he had missed all these years.

While he breaks, his father only listens and offers advice. Making sure that regardless of what happens, he knows that there is someone out there for him. Crocodile apriciates it more than he can say, for all that he left on such bad terms to know that his father was still willing to listen and offer comfort is more than he could have hoped for.

“I believed you would hate me, would not want to speak to me, but I needed to try and tell you about Luffy”, Crocodile whispers.

His father chuckles, “I could never hate you, my son, I was scared you’d lost your way. But I could never hate you when all you needed to do was find yourself and I am so glad you did. Part of me is sad I didn’t get to be there for the first seven years of my grandson’s life, but I am sure I can make up for that soon.”

Sniggering, Crocodile nodded, “That’s not everything.”

Hearing the interest in his father’s voice, Crocodile takes a moment to gather his thoughts and make sure that no matter how he said it no one could get any useful information out of this transmission. Checkign his throat, he added, “Uncle had a son, Red also found him and is keeping him safe with another boy.”

He expects the choking sound he hears, waiting until Oyaji is breathing normally again. Marco’s voice sounding out close, so the blond had to have been there to keep their father from actually choking. His younger brother had always been a mother hen, it’s nice to know that hasn’t changed.

Licking his lips, Crocodile speaks again, “Red is making his way to the Grand Line with the boys and he’s looking for people to look over them when he’s otherwise engaged. I know they’re making their way to Alabasta as we speak so that I… That I get a chance to meet Luffy. I can tell you more then, and as I mentioned, I believed you should know you’re a grandpa now.”

Even Marco sounds shocked from what Crocodile hears, but they keep their conversation light after that. For all that they had shared, some things were already known and others wouldn’t be able to be linked back to anyone. Crocodile also meant what he said, Oyaji needed to know there was more family out there. What Shanks was doing right now and if the former Roger Pirates could be babysitters why not Oyaji?

“Wani”, Oyaji breaths, to which he hums, smiling as he hears, “Thank you, for telling me. Keep in contact, please. Twelve years is too long to not hear from your son. If you’re ever close, let me know and we can come and pick you up.”

Agreeing to that, Crocodile ends the call still feeling out of it. He hadn’t believed that this would be what happens when Buggy called out of the blue. For all that they kept in contact, he knew that the yougner man wouldn’t just call at random. He had known this was urgent and hearing Shanks speak, he could see why.

Running a hand over his eyes, he sobbed once more, ralizing that there was so much he had missed out on. He had ran before he knew the whole truth and almost lost his son because of that. He also knew he would be talking to Dragon once he met the met again, if only to ask what he was thinking when he left their son with Garp.

Looking out over the ocean, Crocodile sighed, he would be meeting his son soon enough. For now though, he needed to be patient and see about contacting some old allies just in case it was ever needed. If Luffy was even part Monkey he would be attracting chaos wherever he went. Ace wouldn’t be much better, being a Gol and a Portgas. Snorting, Crocodile knew that Shanks would be going primaturely grey with everything going on.

—

Once they ended the call with Wani, Shanks and Buggy looked at each other before glancing at Luffy, “You were told to stay outside, Luffy.”

The little brat pouted, once more mentioning that he needed to tell Baba he wasn’t mad at him. That things happened outside of their control and he wasn’t at fault for that. She had told him as much and he would always listen to when She spoke.

Sighing, Shanks called for Beck to bring in the two others terrors. Leading them to the still visual den den being set up to itnroduce them to the Old Men.

Rayleigh epecially did a double take as soon as Ace stepped into frame, his eyes tearing up as he took in the oldest brat, “You look just like your parents…”

Ace looked uncomfortable, which is when Shanks explained that he didn’t know a lot about his parents growing up. He had known who they were, as Garp did share that part, but had only heard what the World Government wanted the world to hear. On top of that Garp felt he needed to share what happened to Rouge.

“Ace, listen to me”, Rayleigh started, “They both were so happy to have you. If anything could have gone differently, they would still be here I can promise you that. Roger was ill, he had this lung diseace that our doctor couldn’t treat. There wasn’t anything we could do and instead of waiting to due he went and gave himself up so we all had a chance to live.”

Sighing, he added, “Rouge was a spitfire of a woman, a bounty hunter at first, before she ended up on the Oro Jackson one too many times and just kind of stayed more often then not. She and Roger had this epic love story and I hate that no one got to tell you about it, but know I would love nothing more than to do that. She would have done anything to make sure you lived, that a part of Roger lived, and she would be livid to hear that Garp told you that you killed her as you didn’t.”

Sobbing softly, Ace nodded, “Shanks told me as much but it’s hard.”

Wrapping his arm around Ace’s shoulder, Shanks looked on as one after the other of the Old Men all told Ace how his parents had been looking forward to him being born. How Rouge was such a strong woman, so it wasn’t that odd to think she used haki on herself and her own body to make sure he was born.

Rayleigh spoke softly, “She knew what she was doing, I know she did. She’d been in the New World long enough to have a great hold over her Haki. Everything she did, even if it would kill her, she did it so you would live.”

Ace is hiding his head in Shanks’ shirt now, sobbing as he hears them tell him about his parents. Shanks and Buggy chiming in now and again about something they lived through with Roger and Rouge. Making sure that Ace is aware of how loved he is, now as well, even if his parents aren’t here to give him that love he has a slew of uncles and two older brothers who wouldn’t stop at anything to do so. Luffy crawls closer and hugs his oldest brother thightly as well, cuddling Ace aggressively but it did seem to be working.

Exhainging a look over Ace’s head, Shanks and Bugge can guess Ace is touch starved, where Luffy and Sabo are trying to make sure he has enough attention and love. It isn’t enough to deal with all the previous years. It makes them resent Garp even more, to know that he had brought this upon the youngsters. Shanks once more feeling like he did the right think in taking them boys away from there.

Clearing his throat he speaks, “We should be making out way back into the Grand Line soon enough. While I don’t plan on passing over reverse Mountain, I do think it would be best if we stopped as Crocus’ for a moment if only so the boys can get a once over.”

Sighing, he adds, “It’s not that I don’t trust my own doctor, but he hasn’t dealt with D’s before. With Luffy and Ace being Ds, I just want to be sure I’m not missing anything.”

Crocus agrees to that, mentioning he’d be on the look out and making sure he can give all three of them a check up. Adding that he’ll give Hongo a speed course on D maintenance as it’s very different from regular medicine. Everone on the Oro Jackson laugh at that, as they do remember the way that their captain and Rouge dealt with their health and how most issues were ‘walked off’.

Luffy’s eyes start to shine at that, “We’re going to the Grand Line!”

Shanks agrees, repeating that he has territories he can’t leave for too long in the New World. He also knows that Crocodile is in Alabasta and the territory next to him is Whitebeard’s who would have been brought up to speed by now. Smiling at Luffy, he adds, “That’s your Baba’s dad, so your grandpa. He’s going to love having grandchildren now and with Captain gone he’ll make sure to include Ace and Sabo in that too.”

Gaban and Rayleigh agree to that, both of them asking Shanks to pass by as soon as he’s able to. Knowing he’ll pass by Sabaody sooner than Elbaf, but they can wait, “Just make sure you keep us updated, Red, I don’t think any of us want to go years with no contact again. Same goes for you, Blue.”

Buggy agrees, with Shanks close behind him. Saying their goodbyes before they get out of the tent to talk some more and to prepare for whatever else is going to happen now. They need a plan, after all, people might notice at one point and they needed to be prepared for whatever happened from now on.

Chapter Text

They stay at Buggy’s for another two days. There isn’t a whole lot they can do right now but they need this moment. Shanks needs this moment, it had been way too long and with the way they parted ways last time he needed to make sure that Buggy knew they were back to how they were before.

It was also the best time to tell the boys about what had happened to them when they were growing up. Why Shanks had been so adamant on the no kids on his ship rule, mentioning that as much as they tried to protect them both he and Buggy saw things no child should see.

“It’s why I have those rules, boys, and why I want you to follow them to the letter. Captain didn’t have people he could trust with kids, but I do and that’s partly why I am making sure my allies know. If something happens before we reach the New World you can stay in Alabasta or Sabaody for a short while. If we’re in the New World I hope Newgate is able to take you in for a couple of days”, he sighs as he shares that he is set to be come a Yonko as soon as Shiki is dealt with.

Which is one of the reasons he needs people to watch over the kids. Shiki won’t take kindly to being dethroned and even less so when he finds out about Ace. The man’s hate for Roger was legendary and he didn’t want the Gold Lion to take it out on Ace or any of the other boys. He doesn’t say it quite like that, but Buggy’s gaze tells him his brother is aware of what he is doing, which is a good thing just to make sure he isn’t alone in this.

After hearing why they need to listen so badly, all three of the boys agree to do as he says. Even going so far as to ask him what else they could do or who to call if they were ever taken from the Red Force or separated from the crew. To which Buggy was the one who handed them each a baby snail and a list of numbers to call. Starting with the Red Force’s main number, followed by Shanks’ and Beck’s personal ones. On that list were Buggy’s, Rayleigh’s, Wani’s and Whitebeard’s. Just in case they needed it at one point.

Having the boys think ahead as much does make Shanks feel a little lighter. He didn’t know that he needed that and even Buggy’s hand on his shoulder or Beck’s hand on his waist don’t help too much with that. Looking at his arm, this is the first time he hated that he lost it as it puts him at a disadvantage but he’ll make due.

“Thanks, Blue”, he uttered.

Buggy waves him off, “It’s the least I can do. I might not be able to do a lot if they call from the Grand Line, but I can make some calls to the Old Men or even to you should it need be. You aren’t alone in this, Red, and I want you to know that.”

Nodding once more, Shanks sighs in relief, “Got anything else I need to know before I make my way to Crocus?”

They talked about some of the rumors going around before ending with a nice evening in the circus tent when Buggy and his crew preform for Shanks and his crew, as well as for the boys that are now a part of that. It’s clear that none of them have every gotten a show like that so it’s something extra to give to them.

—

The morning of their departure, the snail rings before Newgate is speaking, “Wani called me…”

Buggy and Shanks wince at that, until Whitebeard starts speaking again, thanking Shanks for what he did for Luffy. Additionally, he also thanks Buggy for always being there for Wani even when he wasn’t able to be there. Going on about how he won’t stake claim but he would like to see the three kids that are now his (psuedo-)grandchildren.

“I have no right to ask anything of you, Shanks, but I would like to see them if you so allow it. Wani also told me you’re looking for babysitters and I want you to know they’ll always be welcome on the Moby if you need someone to keep an eye out”, he offers next.

There is no deceit in his voice, but then again, there almost never is. The only thing that is stopping Shanks from just saying yes is Teach. The man is still a part of the crew and despite the warnings given to Whitebeard he couldn’t see the bad in the man either. Glancing at Buggy, Shanks eventually agrees to a visit, while remaining undecided on the babysitting duty. He can figure that out later on. As he had mentioned to the boys about another grandfather he figured he could allow that at least to happen.

They catch up some more, with Whitebeard still in the New World he has news that Shanks might have missed. He knew that could have been a possibility, but he had done so anyway as the boys had been more important. Everything else would be dealt with as soon as they arrived in the New World.

Ending the call, he made sure to let Whitebeard know he would be calling him or Marco to let them know when he would be close and what could be done about meeting up, but he wasn’t in the possibility to give an exact date or time. Not with them still being in the East Blue. Luckily the old man could understand that and mentioned he would be waiting for that call and to be careful regardless of what happened now.

Looking at Buggy as soon as he ended the call, Shanks bit his lip hard enough to bleed.

Knowing his brother better then this, Buggy asked what was going on, his eyes widening as he heard from Shanks how he got those scars on his face. Additionally, he had always been wary of Teach but to know the Old Man never did anything made him uneasy. “Red, what’s going through your mind?”

Releasing his lip, Shanks looked away, “That I want Luffy to know his biological grandfather and for Ace to have someone else who can share stories about the old man. But at the same time I don’t want them anywhere close to Teach if we ever go to the Moby. Not just that, but the man will try something as soon as he realizes who Luffy and/or Ace are. He’s just too much of an opportunist not to do anything about it and I don’t want to risk it.”

There is shock on Buggy’s face at hearing that, as well as understanding. He wouldn’t want the boys to be left alone with Teach either and that was before he found out about Shanks’ scars. Frowning, he mentions that Shanks just has to be there when that meeting happens or to make sure either someone from his crew, Buggy or Wani was there to keep an eye out. Patting his brother on the back as he mentions he isn’t alone in this anymore. They won’t be alone from now on and that is why they can be a little more laid back.

Shanks smiled at that, “Thanks, Buggy. I might just ask Wani to come with me, if they do want to see the Old Man again. After making my way to Crocus I will be stopping at Alabasta, Wani deserves that much. On top of that, with everything that I have seen from Luffy I don’t think he’ll just sit still and wait anyway.”

Laughing as he heard that, Buggy couldn’t fault his brother for thinking that. Luffy was clearly in tune with the Haki around him and might even be awakening the Voice of all Things. There were just things he knew that he shouldn’t, just like their Captain had been able to. It was easy for some thing, but it also brought about a large number of dangers, even more so once they were on the Grand Line as people noticed it pretty soon and would act against it more often then not. Luffy was also young, so others might try to take advantage of that.

Patting Shanks on the shoulder again, Buggy shook his head, “See this as payback for all those times you scared the crap out of me or made Pops go gray so soon. You were a menace and a half as a kid, and now you have your own little menace to deal with.”

Groaning, Shanks knows where this is coming from and he knows that regardless of what Luffy put him through he’ll always thank the Sea and the Gods for bringing the little one onto his path. The additional find of Ace and Sabo just added onto that.

—

On the other side of Orange Town, Ace, Sabo and Luffy are hanging out in the shadow of the Red Force with Hongo and Limejuice watching over them. The two senior members of the Redhair Pirates are preparing for when they set sail and had taken the kids with them when it became clear they were starting to become restless.

“Do you think my Baba will like me”, Luffy asked, suddenly very insecure.

Ace huffed, “He’s be an idiot if he doesn’t. You grow on people like mold so I’m sure you’ll do the same to him. From what I heard he loved you for so long, Lu, he just didn’t think you survived.”

Given that Wani had been in the assumption the baby they carried died, Ace couldn’t help but thing that they had been in the exact opposite scenario he had been in. His mother did die, but still, knowing that Wani would have given everything. They didn’t say it as such, but they could all hear it in their voice. It had Ace thinking about his own parents, especially with everything he had been told about them now. Leading to him knowing that Wani would still do anything for Luffy and in return Luffy’s brothers.

“He was told I died”, Luffy whispered, “I don’t know why that means so much to him. I still don’t know how papa left me with Gramps all of the sudden.”

It’s something he’s been talking about since talking to Wani, and all of the sudden Luffy seemed scared to meet his Baba. It was odd, but Ace and Sabo could understand to a certain degree, Luffy never had anyone but Makino before. He had vague memories about his parents, and then Shanks slotted into his life so the whole of their family tree was fucked up.

Sabo spoke up, “This does mean you’ll never be alone anymore, Lu…” He whispered, but both Ace and Luffy heard him just fine. That was the last drop as Luffy started sobbing, enough that it got the attention of both Limejuice and Hongo. Both who arrived swiftly, until they heard Ace and Sabo explain what was going on and let out a burst of Haki so Shanks came running. It wasn’t that odd for Luffy to fear being alone, that had happened enough times by now that he might just be expecting that to happen.

As expected, Shanks did come running, picking Luffy up as much as he was able to with just one arm. Hushing him before looking at Ace, Sabo, Limejuice and Hongo for an explanation. His face falling once he heard what brought this on, pulling Luffy even closer before whispering that even if he did leave, it would never be for a long period of time. As Sabo had said, there were more than enough people out there who loved to have him with them, so he wouldn’t be alone from now on.

Ace even saw the hurt in Shanks’ eyes at the realization of what Luffy believed was happening when the Redhair Pirates left Dawn that first time. He was glad Shanks realized that, as much as the redhead was technically his older brother he would have kicked his ass if need be if just to get the message across.

Chapter Text

Waving at Buggy where the blue haired man was standing on the Docks of Orange Town. It’s obvious to everyone on the Red Force that he’ll miss them. But in the end, it’s better that Shanks doesn’t stay in the East Blue too long. With the provitions the Buggy Pirates gave them they’ll be more than into the Grand Line before needing to stop again. Something Shanks was making use of as they set out towards Crocus’.

Making sure he didn’t go over reverse mountain as it was a spot very well guarded by Marines, as to keep an eye on the Rookies that entered the Grand Line at any moment. On top of that, Loguetown had a larger marine base then any other place in the East Blue, which wouldn’t be a good thing to be recognized there. Lastly, and this was a reason he hadn’t even thought about, all three of the boys wanted to set out to become pirates in their own right and wanted the experience of going over Reverse Mountain at their own time. It brought back memeories of how he had done the same, once upon a time.

Ruffling their heads as they asked it, he nodded, “I planned on going through the Calm Belt as it was, not a lot of others do that with the Sea Kings that live there but Conquror’s Haki helps in keeping them at bay.”

Additionally, he hopes he can get the boys started on Haki so they have that as an ace up their sleeve the moment they do end up in the New World. He doesn’t have everything in hand just yet and if the wring people find out he has kids with him he knew what’ll happen.

With how amazing a ship she is, the Red Force is at the Calm Belt in a couple of days. Not at all taking as long as it should and maybe that’s the Sea’s way of making sure Shanks is making his way home sooner than he expected. Grinning at the wind that ruffled his hair, his eyes go serious as he lets his conquror’s haki out to be able to sail trough the Calm Belt with spades as there is no wind. Standing on the figure head and keeping an eye out all around him, only jumping down once they’re through and the wind starts to pick up again.

Letting Limejuice know to steer them back towards Reverse Mountain, Crocus should have been able to sense him and would be waiting.

“Boys, I need to know, has any of you seen a doctor for any kind of check up”, he asks.

Ace, as expected, shook his head while Luffy and Sabo both nodded. Although it had been a while and Sabo’s had been with this snooty physician that told parents exactly what they wanted to hear as most Nobles did. Luffy had been in Fushia, so at least that they could work with. It had to be enough, but that did mean he would have to ask Crocus to do a full check-up and whatever else needed to be done.

Crocus was indeed waiting for them, a soft smile on his face as he called out to Shanks. His eyes blinking as the boys disembarked as soon as they anchored in front of his little lighthouse. Going over Ace, Sabo and Luffy with a keen eye before sighing and mentioning them to go inside, “I take it none of them had a check up in the last year?”

Shanks shook his head, “It’s been a while, where Ace has never had one to begin with. So if you could…”

He doesn’t need to finish his sentence before Crocus is chuckling, “Don’t worry, Red, I’ll make sure to look them both over. The little blond isn’t a D, is he? Just Ace and Luffy?”

Frowning at that, Shanks opens and closes his mouth to contemplate before speaking, “He doesn’t carry the name, but as far as I know he’s just as durable as the other too, eats as much too.”

Humming at that, Crocus direct them all inside, “Sometimes the Sea grants a random person the initial, they are few but they are known to happen. I’ll treat the three of them as if they are D’s then and we can see what comes out of it at the end. Can you call your doctor here so I can give him the rundown on what to watch out for?”

Nodding once, Shanks goes back out to call for Hongo. Leaving Crocus with his doctor and the three boys as he knows they’ll be looked after. He just needs to be sure that they are alright and he can set sail towards Alabasta without too many stops along the way. He isn’t a rookie crew after all, a lot of these islands have already been seen by his crew, and he doesn’t want to spoil the surprise for the boys when they set out.

—

Hongo leads the boys out about an hour after they all went in, all three of them rubbing their arm with a frown or a scowl on their faces. As expected, Crocus made sure they were all on top with their shots too. Shanks was happy he did, he knew what it meant if you had the correct shots before heading into the Grand Line or the New World and he would gladly have them all annoyed then vulnurable.

“So”, he started, to which Hongo ran over the details. All three boys were a little underwieght but nothing too problematic. It just meant that Lucky would need to start making high protien meals for all three of them, or that they needed to eat a whole lot more. On top of that, as expected, all three of them were D’s even if Sabo had been a hidden one. So they would heal faster, be stronger and make the world turn on its head soon enough.

Chuckling at that, Shanks grinned widely as he knew that was bound to happen. He had known as much when he met Luffy and gave the kid his hat. Settling down next to Crocus once they went over the boy’s medical file, he let his uncle check his arm. Hongo and the doctor at Fushia had done a good job at stitching it up but he understood the sentiment and welcomed it. Mentioning that he was adapting quite swiftly and didn’t see any trouble whatsoever in the future.

Crocus shook his head, “You are entierly too much like your father, boy. Just promise me you’ll be careful. There will be those out there who will see it as a sign of weakness and act on that.

Nodding, Shanks said he was well aware of that. But he would show them he wasn’t weak in any shape or form just for missing an arm. On top of that, he was quite certain that he was only getting stronger still, “I have something to protect now, even more so than before and I won’t let anything happen to them.”

That at least seemed to bring Crocus some peace, before he welcomed the crew into his home for a good night’s rest. Mentioning they were going to need it if they were planning on making it to Alabasta. He had been able to procure an eternal logue pose to the island, “To make it a little easier, even if I know you’re quite good at navigating the Line, Red. But better to take the means handed to you.”

Shanks grinned, “Thanks, uncle. Can you let the others know we left here once we set out again? Pops will worry, as well Blue, and this way they know you saw us so that should sooth that worry a little bit.”

Luckily, Crocus was quick to agree. A smile in his eyes that had been there when they were on board the Oro jackson. One that spoke of fondness and pride and he loved that most of all. It made Shanks think of the days back when he was a boy, Makes him wonder how he ever thought these men would have just abandonned Blue and him, maybe now that he thought about it they were trying to protect them and neither he nor Blue were supposed to be there at Loguetown.

“Get some rest now, Shanks, so you can leave here fresh and ready to rumble. I’ll keep an eye out on anyone or anything that might come into the Line and will let you know either directly or through whichever one I can get a hold of”, Crocus took a hold of his arm and lead him inside. Making sure the boys and his crew followed. All three of the boys were tired, their shots no doubt tiring them out.

While he tried to include downtime as much as possible, it was obvious that his crew liked the fact they were with someone they could obviously trust. Even Beck seemed a little lighter now that they would be sleeping in a bed on solid ground, protected by Crocus, a whale no one was able to just take on and the danger of Reverse Mountain where not a lot of people crossed just because. Shaking his head at that, Shanks realized he might need to start thinking of his own territory where he could have that more often. Maybe in the New World, once he staked his claim.

They were all out like a light soon after, sleeping well and waking up in the late morning to start going over their stock, making sure that they were all ready to depart and saying their goodbye to Crocus who left them his den den number in case he needed it to call (both Hongo or Shanks).

Ace, Sabo and Luffy were still out of it, but they did manage to wave at Crocus when he came to say goodbye. All three of them still somewhat out of it from the shots they had been given, but knowing it was medicine that would help them in the long run. Ace had also been given some signals to watch out for, seeing as the D clan often had a form of narcolepsy, but both Roger and Rouge had it so he was at a higher risk right now.

Luffy was the first one to bounce back, as they had expected. Monkey D’s were known to be very resiliant. Something both Garp and Dragon had shown time and time again. He was bouncing all over deck soon enough, asking anyone who wanted to listen to explain what it was they were doing. Even if he ws still a cabin boy right now, he would need to know what needed to be done on a ship as he would be Captain one day.

Shanks grinned and pulled him, Ace and Sabo aside at one point to go over everything. Explaining everything with a smile, “I’ll be able to go over this as much as you need, because these are important to know.”

He waits for a moment, before sharing that Roger and Rayleigh had done the same with him and Blue. For all that at the time they didn’t know they would be Captains in their own right, it was something every good sailor needed to know. You learned from those around you, or from doing it yourself, but given that they had an older pirate crew watching out for them it was best to use that as a way to get started and see how that worked once they set out or once they had their own crew.

“You’re already here either way, and all three of you have made it no secret you want to set out on your own, so the best thing I can do is prepare you as best as I possibly can”, Shanks grins. Not even surprised when he’s hugged by all three boys. All of them needed this and he meant what he said, no matter what happens now he’ll take care of them and protect them, up until that moment they were ready to take care of and protect themselves.

Chapter Text

The crew teased him for two days about the way his uncles made things so easy for him. Despite being a known name even in the New World, Shanks knew not to take things like this for granted. His crew followed soon when two days after leaving Twin Capes they got caught in a horrible storm that blew them off course. If they didn’t have the eternal logue pose there would be weeks, if not months, added to their travels.

“The Grand Line is weird”, he explains to Ace, Sabo and Luffy, “Nothing at all like the Blues were at least weather makes sense. You’ll have to throw it all out of the window once you get here on your own, let your navigator know that they’ll need a logue pose and that it takes time for it to set before you can move to the next island.”

Letting his gaze shift over the three boys sitting across from him, Shanks smiled, “The reason we can just go forward is because we’ve been here before. As well as having an eternal loge pose.” He held up the one they got from Crocus, explaining that it was set on one island and wouldn’t change that direction. He didn’t know the schematics of making an eternal logue pose, but he did know that it came in handy in moments like this.

Glancing back at where Beck is directing their ship, Shanks smiles, “If you have sailed long enough you won’t need to stick to the path your logue pose sets for you, but it is handy in knowing when an island is close. The same thing counts in the New World, but you’ll need a different loge pose for that as it’s even worse then here.”

He remembered his dads telling him how the first half of the Grand Line was seen as ‘paradise’ for those who sailed the New World and thinking back on that he could see why they believed that. For all that it was harsh weather and unpredicatble on a good day, it didn’t go through all four season in an hour. Explaining as much to the kids, and seeing the way all three of there were looking forward to seeing it, he knew that they would get used to the New World soon enough. Still, he would make sure that nothing happened there. Which was one more reason he planned on asking Wani to accompany them as he made his way to Pops and Uncle Ed. For all that he wanted to meet his grandsons, and would look after them if asked, Shanks didn’t trust Sabaosy to keep the boys safe. The better choice would be Uncle Ed, which brought Teach along, but he’s certain Wani can deal with that bastard once they’re there.

“You’ll be seeing more of this once we leave Alabasta, it’s quite the journey to get to Sabaody and I know we’ll be spending some time at Alabasta and Sabaody because of the family that’s there”, there is a soft smile. Knowing how hard it was for these three kids to realize they had a family now. Shanks wouldn’t let anyone take that away, not if he could help it, all he needed to do now was make sure that these boys knew that as well. It’s why he took the time to visit as many family members as he could. Keeping the Old Men updated as to where he was. Should something happen (although he hoped it didn’t) they would have someone to rely on regardless of what happened now.

Settling back, he looked at each of them, “Any questions there?”

There were a lot of them, but all of them had merrit. Nothing was too out there and he was glad that all three of them were taking these lessons seriously. They were young and it would be a couple of years before they set out, but he wanted to make sure that regardless of all of this, they were prepared.

A part of him thought back to his own start into piracy. He hadn’t expected to be fiveteen and out there alone, but Dad was dead and Pops was nowhere to be found. So he did the best with what he had and set out to see the world on his own. Beck was his first crewmate (after Shanks won him in a poker game and he never let his first mate and lover live that down).

He hopes that all three of them find a first mate and a crew that is as loyal as the Redhair or Roger Pirates. Those were some good examples of loyal crew, and while that is also true for most of the Whitebeard Pirates, there are too many bad apples there for him to see them as such as a whole. He’ll do his damned best in preparing them, there is not a lot more he can do right now.

—

Alabasta is close, Shanks knows from the warm winds that come their way. The way it influences the ocean and makes it rougher and more prone to storms and high waves. But they made it, the worst part of the journey is over for now, so he can at least be happy for that.

Once docking in the harbor of Nonohana, he can sense the way people are staring at them. On edge as one often is with a pirate crew such as theirs docking. But he isn’t scared that something will happen. Wani lives here and despite what others might thing there is such a thing as a Pirate Code which they will all stick to. An island under someone’s protection is to be left alone, unless you’re there to find trouble. Shanks and his crew aren’t looking for that, if anything this is a family reunion more than anything else.

What he doesn’t expect is for Wani to make their (his?) way to them as soon as they’re out of the harbor. People are watching, and Shanks is aware that Wani settleed here in a good understand with the King of Alabasta. So they either expect them to start fighting or that he’s there on business. It’s their loss when they all realize it’s neither.

“Wani”, he offers and gets hugged close as soon as he’s in range. His cousin’s larger frame around him as he’s hugged tightly.

As soon as Wani steps back there is a soft look in their eyes, “Red, it’s so good to see you. I… There are no words to express…”

Shanks smiles back just as softly, “I wish it was under better circumstances but this was the least I could do. You didn’t know…” He doesn’t elaborate, doesn’t have to do that either, even if he feels so very bad for all the shit Wani has been through. They didn’t deserve any of that and in truth Shanks feels like a shitty cousin for not noticing or being there for them when they needed it.

They hug once more, before Shanks turns and hold out of his hand for the kids. Hearing Wani gasp when he sees Ace and Luffy, before collecting themselves and grinning widely, “Hello.”

Luffy is past Shanks and in front of Wani before any of them can stop him, “Hi Baba”, there is a shyness to his voice that none of them heard before. Biting his lip to stop himself from cooing, Shanks instead looks at Wani and the shock-amazement in their eyes. It’s nice to see, just as he looks on as Wani reached down to pick Luffy up and settle him on his hip as if he’s the most delicate treassure. Then again, in Wani’s eyes he probably was.

He pretends he doesn’t hear Wani call Luffy ‘hatchling’, giving the two of them a moment to themselves. As soon as he can however, he makes sure Wani can see Ace and Sabo as well. Their eyes lingering on Ace for a secong, “You look very much like your parents, little one. I’m glad a part of them survived despite the world’s attempt at making sure that didn’t happen.”

Ace flushed at that, after everything he had been through it was hard for him to realize he had people out there who loved him for who he was. People that loved his parents and would have loved him regardsless of everything that happened outside of that. It’s one of the main reasons Shanks wants to stop at Sabaody and at Uncle Ed’s, to make sure Ace got the stories about his parents that the world didn’t know. The third is the Royal Triad and their best friend, who could give him insights Shanks himself couldn’t give as he only knew them as his parents and not as the people they were outside of that.

“Let’s take this inside”, Wani offers, mentioning to a building not too far away from the harbor. It’s obviously not his main base, but it’s good enough and seemingly secure enough for them to get in there and talk about what happened.

Swallowing thickly, Shanks makes his way after Wani first, herdering Ace and Sabo in front of him while his crew follows behind. Luffy is still perched on Wani’s hip, babbling a mile a minute and enjoying it from the beaming smile on his face.

A hand catched his own, to see Beck keeping pace with him, a soft smile on his lover’s face as he looks at the kids. Beck loved them just the same and the fact they might have lost them still weights heavy on him too. “He looks so happy”, Beck mutters as he looks at Luffy, Shanks had seen it too. But he knew Wani by now, whatever they were doing could be put on hold but they wouldn’t be able to keep up with a child all the time. Shanks could see it in the tenseness of Wani’s shoulders and part of him hated Dragon all the more for what he did.

Pulling Beck closer to press a kiss to his lips, he smiled, “As much as Wani is happy to see Luffy, they won’t take him from us. He - They - are ours now, Beck, and I’ll kill anyone who tried to take them from me.”

Wani snorts where they’re waiting with an open door, “Still a possesive bastard, I see? Good to know that some things don’t change.”

Setting Luffy down gently, they’re onto Shanks in a second, cuffing him around the head, “What did change is the fact that Blue told me you lost an arm! An Arm, to a Seaking, when I know your dad taught you better then that!”

They don’t get around to saying more as Luffy starts crying at that. Rushing forward to hug Wani around the leg and bawl that it had been his fault. That Shanks lost his arm saving him from a seaking after some thug threw him into the water after eating his devil fruit. It’s clear that from all the explinations, Wani wasn’t expecting that one. They’re shocked, letting go of Shanks’ shoulder and crouching down to pull Luffy close in a hug, “I’m not angry at you, Hatchling, I’m not even mad at Shanks either. But I knew he was taught better, but if it was to protect you, I guess I should be happy he did it.”

Holding up his hand when he sees Wani making an effort to apologize, Shanks shakes his head, “There is nothing to apologize for, Wani. Blue already berated me, hell Beck berated me for it too, but I would do it all again seeing as Luffy is more than worth that much. I’ll adapt, I’ve been good at that too, but I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t act at that moment.”

Luffy pulls out of Wani’s embrace and hugs Shanks’ legs close. He’s crouching to pick the youngest one up and cuddle him close, “I told you before, Anchor, and I’ll tell you however many times you need it. It’s just an arm, I’d much rather loose the arm then loose you.”

Chapter Text

As soon as the boys are asleep Shanks shared the whole story with Wani, starting with the bandit that tried to pull something with Makino (who had been looking after Luffy and later on Ace and Sabo) and who came back once the Redhair Pirates hadn't been there anymore. Luffy, not knowing that Shanks was well aware he could take on the bandit, hadn't let them talk bad about the redhead and ended up on the shorter end of the stick.

"We came back to find someone waiting for us at the docks, so we went to investigate", his hand clenched as he thought back about what happened, "Let me just say I wanted to unleash my full haki on those thugs but that would have hurt Makino and Anchor so I didn't. Looking back now, I wished I did, those two are Monkeys they would be fine."

Sighing, he runs a hand over his face, "Anyway, that leader bandit gets the drop of us after we take out his crew and drops a smoke bomb, getting away with Luffy. Setting off into the ocean and running into the resident Seaking. The idiot gets gobbled right up, bet it leaves Luffy alone in a ship at sea while he can't swim."

Looking at Wani, he adds, "He's everything to me, already, and I wasn't about to let it all stop there so I jumped in and swam to get him out. Using Haki but to protect him and not to ward off the seaking which is why I'm down one arm."

Wani pulls him into their arms as soon as Shanks is finished with his explination, feeling the way his friend/cousin is shaking, thanking Shanks over and over for what they had done. For the longest time Wani had believed their child had died, so to know that they had come so close to dying still was a shock.

It's like a huge weight that's lifting off of Wani once he pulls back, looking at Shanks with something glittering in their eyes, "I... I don't know what I can say, Red."

Shaking his head, Shanks waves his hand, "You don't have to say anything, Wani, I did what I have to do and I doubt regret it even a moment. Yes, it sucks that I lost an arm, but I would do it each and every time if it meant Luffy lived. He's going to be a storm once he sets out, you can already see it in the way he behaves." Then, in a much smaller voice, he adds, "If I didn't see Ace, I would think Luffy was Da- Captain's kid, they behave almost the same, even Blue saw it even if he didn't make a note of it. Something is coming, Wani, and I would bet by other arm that Luffy is going to be right in the middle of it."

Sighing, Wani nods, "That's the D chaos, and he's a double D, just like Ace is. There is something special going on with D's, but I don't have to explain that to you."

Snorting, Shanks shakes his head. He had been raised by two D's for the most part, there was not a lot he could see or hear that would stump him now. Although it's clear that both Luffy and Ace are trying to make that happen regardless. Sabo too, now that he thought about it. Mentioning as much to Wani, how he didn't know that D's could pop up without being tied to the bloodline.

Huffing, Wani explained that he had heard about that, "Not a lot of people know it, as sadly the World Government keeps track of them and makes sure that whoever is born with the initial is killed if they aren't born on the 'good side'. We must have been lucky that Sabo was born a noble as they would never kill any child born from a noble."

Both of them sneer at that, all too familiar with the way that nobles (normal or world) seem to think that the world turns to make them happy. If someone were to act out against it, they would be killed, but a noble can't act out as the rules change for them. It's a good thing that Shanks had gotten the boys out of Goa before anyone realized or worse, before they started to look too much into it. Mentioning as much to Wani, saying he had Uncle Mo on the lookout for the odd chance someone did go and look in the East and found people talking about Ace and or Luffy.

"That's a good call, I'll make sure my own contact keep an eye out too. Uncle Mo is good, but I think regarding this we'd rather be extra careful instead of overlooking it if someone were to look too far into what happened there", Wani said.

Shanks nodded at that, making a note to keep eyes on Outlook as well. The man seemed to be pissing his pants the last time he saw the man, but he wouldn't put it above him to go and talk to the wrong kinds of people in case he feels slighted still.

They grow silent after that, before Shanks is broaching a subject he didn't want to do this early on, but he wants to know if they have a common enemy in Teach.

Explaining what happened with his eye and how he got his scar, mentioning that Uncle Ed had called and asked to meet the kids, but that Shanks is apprehensive about leaving them on the Moby Dick as long as Teach runs around there. He never liked the man, no one liked him, Roger had warned Newgate about it too and he didn't want to add any of the kids to his list of people he hurt.

Wani sighed, "I do... He's the main reason I left", there is something fragile in his voice, "He wants to conquer but keeps it under wraps for the most part. But as his daughter, back then, he felt that if he could have me as his wife he would be one step closer. I left... I left before he could try as no one seemed to see the way he was looking at me the whole time and I didn't feel safe. With Pops's way of looking at woman back then and Bay only just leaving it was like he was locking me up and I couldn't handle that so I left."

Shanks reaches out and Wani takes a hold of it, "He never actually did anything, but he did make me feel very uncomfortable at times. He would have tried, i know he would have tried given the chance and I know what you mean about not letting him near the kids as long as he can make sure of that. Pops might not listen at first, but he has to... He has to if he wants anything to do with me or the kids."

That brings some peace to Shanks' mind, his shoulders slumping in relief before he looks at Wani, "Did you want to see your Pops again? Or is that for another time?"

He knows he didn't say it right, but he doesn't know how else to ask this. To his surprise, Wani looks contemplating, his brows frowned as they go over what they can or can not do. It takes a moment, but they'e not mentioning not wanting to see their father and siblings again.

Opening and closing his mouth a few times, Wani sighs, "I want to talk to him at least, I want to make sure that he knows what is going on and to make sure that regardless of all of this that he get to know his family."

Wani goes on to say that he already called ahead and did talk to Marco and Pops about what was going on. Not everything was touched upon, but a large part of it was talked about.

"I want to see him again and talk about everything that needs to be talked about. On top of that, I also want to make sure that outside of Ray, the kids have someone out there who can be their grandfather figure as I'm quite sure we're all in agreement that Garp is never getting close to those kids again", Wani states.

Shanks agrees, mentioning that he knew Wani called, that Uncle Ed called him and Buggy before they left the East and how he is revaluating almost everything that he knows up until that moment, "He's an old man, Wani, but he shows that he still wants to change in case he can. I think it would be good for both of you to see the other again, but I wouldn't want to force you."

Chuckling at that, still holding onto Shanks' hand, Wani shakes their head, "You could never force me to do anything, Red, there is too much that happened and we know each other well enough that none of us can force the other. There is nothing to fear there, but I do appreciate you and everything you're currently doing for that."

Smiling softly, Shanks runs his thumb over the back of the hand he's holding, "I think we can pull this off and while I know you won't stay in the New World all the time, know you'll always be welcome on my ship and with the boys."

A soft grin appears on Wani face, "I know that, but it's nice to hear it being said out loud as well."

--

The following morning Wani spends some time with the kids to get to know them better while Shanks takes his crew to start planning on what best to do. They need to do a lot, even after stopping off at Sabaody as they're quite sure Rayleigh will chase after him if he doesn't pass by his Pops.

On the other hand, he tells his officers what he talked about with Wani the night before and how Wani will be coming with them to the New World, at least for a little while. It won't be a permanent solution but with everything that is going on, as soon as Teach even smells who the boys are there is a large chance he'll act. If that happens they are able to uncover everything else the man has done, as they're all quite sure it's more than they are currently aware of.

"It would also give us more people we can trust in the New World or close to it. Wani is in Alabasta and will stay there for a while still, while Pops will stay in Sabaody unless the situation calls for it. If Uncle Ed is as open to babysitting as he mentioned, that leaves enough people to watch out for the boys once we're back there." Shanks doesn't want to think that far ahead, but he knows a large number of the Rocks Pirates are still out there, if one of them hears of Ace or Luffy they'll make the correct connections and might try something. If it isn't them then he knows Linlin and Kaido will try something for certain.

Grimacing, he adds, "I just want to keep them safe. I want to make sure that they don't see the things Blue and I did as we were growing up. They don't deserve that. No one deserves that and I don't blame my parents for it all, but if they had been able to do something different I know they would have done that too."

Beck is the one who pulls him out of his spiral of what ifs and negative thoughts, wrapping his arms around Shanks to sooth him, mentioning that Shanks is doing everything he can to make sure the same thing doesn't happen twice. They're also in Alabasta so if push comes to shove they can leave the boys here and go deal with all the shit they have in the New world before coming back to gather them. No matter how much it would hurt to leave them behind that long, they would all do it if it meant keeping them safe.

"We'll get through this, but having Wani with us might just help in the long run. Plus, I think Luffy is ecstatic to have his parent here with him", Beck mentions towards Wani and the kids, especially Luffy sitting on Wani's shoulders, looking very content to just stay there and enjoy the closeness and the attention.

Chapter Text

If Shanks had been any other person he would have been jealous of the way Luffy kept on being close to Wani. But he had known the other man for so long, that he couldn't even blame him for any of this. Despite how things had gone, Shanks knew that Wani always wanted children. He didn't know if Dragon would be the rigth choice, but at least he had been happy once upon a time. Regardless of what happened, it was clear that Dragon did care for his family, no matter how fractured it was right now. He had protected Luffy too, and made sure someone he could trust took care of his son once it became clear he couldn't balance the revolution and a child all the same.

Seeing Wani and Luffy bound made it all the more clear how much Luffy deserved to have people around him that cared and wanted to protect him. Especially since he had gone to pick up the brats, he had seen how badly they had longed for contact with someone who wouldn't hurt them. The knowledge that Garp had, that he literally tried to beat them to become Marines didn't sit well with him. Even more so as Shanks knew that Dragon had been a Marine before he defected and started the Revolutionary Army. He hadn't been able to stomach what you were exptected to do while a Marine when most people joined them to help people. The only people you were allowed to help on the daily were nobles and Celestial Dragons, not the normal citizens or even other marines if they had done something to either of those noble groups.

"I'm surprised you're taking this so well", Beck said as he came to stand next to Shanks.

Sighing, the redhead nodded, "If this was anyone else, I would have been having a lot of trouble with it. But I've known Wani for so long and I always liked them. They wanted children since they were old enough to know the how and when, Blue and I saw them grow and knew that would happen at one point regardless of how much we could see they weren't the girl they were born as. We lot contact, but I got updates from Blue as much as possible. I knew how devestated they were when they lost the baby they were carrying, so I can't even begin to comprehend how shocking this must all be for them."

Then, as he took a moment to breath, he added, "On top of that, he's also a New World Pirate, so if we do go and talk to Whitebeard having more of those around can't be a bad thing. You and the boys are strong, love, but this is something else entirely. We aren't a known powerhouse in the New World yet, despite the name and fame I hold. Whitebeard is even older then that, he was there with the last generation, even if it wasn't as a captain. We need to have out act together as I know despite talking to him he'll put his on kids first."

Beck lit up a smoke, "This is about Blackbeard?"

Nodding, Shanks explained that Teach had been on the Moby Dick for decades now. He was obviously playing the long game and that was dangerous for them. If they made a wrong move and started pointing fingers before he ousted himself, they would be the ones in trouble. Especially on a ship that valued family.

"Which is anyther reason Wani is so valuable and needed, they're the only blood-related child Newgate has and the way they broke contact isn't a nice story to tell. But it also involved Teach, enough that it was shared and has them doubting the man. But that gives another reason we can't go in blade swinging." Shanks hated this as much as the next one, but there were rules he needed to play by just the same. He wasn't just going to put his crew or the boys into danger and even thinking about it would mean he'd be yelled at from at least three directions (Buggy, Ray and Wani) which he wanted to avoid as much as possible.

If he was shocked at hearing that, Beck didn't show it, instead he nodded again and took Shanks word for it all. Turning back to look at Luffy who was still sitting on Wani's shoulders as they talked with Ace and Sabo.

--

The following weeks were spend planning on what needed to happen with Wani's crew, given everything they had build they couldn't just leave it all behind. They also had time for as much as Shanks wanted to be back in the New World, he couldn't just come storming in if he didn't want the attention pulled towards him.

Luckily, it seemed that Wani had found an amazing crew while out there and they were more than happy to keep everything running the way it had been before. Telling Wani in no uncertain times that he obviously needed this, being close to someone like Red-Haired Shanks would keep them safe too and with Alabasta being not too visited by pirates and even less on the radar of the World Government or other warlords, they would be able to handle whatever trouble came their way.

"It's not like you'll be gone for year, Wani, it would be for a couple of months and once everything is settled I'm sure we can come to an arrangement on who sees the kids when", Shanks said as he saw the way Luffy inched closer to the one biological parent he did have in his life. He didn't want to break that apart, not after everything that already happened and the genuine joy he saw on his son and cousin's face. Once the Whitebeard's were cleared it would be easier to get the kids someplace safe. The Moby Dick was a large vessel but the smaller ships they had would be able to slip in and out undetected easily.

Smiling softly, Shanks added, "I don't think Luffy is ready to let go again and you know you want to talk to your Pops now that you have the chance to do so with someone you trust at your back. Tell me it isn't so and I'll back off, but Wani, I think you need this more than you think."

Whitebeard isn't the only factor here, they both know, both no one wants to tell the kids what they're running into. Teach needs to be dealt with, and not just for the scars he gave Shanks. It's much more than that, it's largely making sure the family is safe and will remain safe for now. Someone within said family that was working against it wouldn't keep it safe, with everything they knew about Teach he would mess up as soon as he figured out who Ace or Luffy were which is what they were hoping for when they went to visit.

The knowledge that his second and third in command would take over for now, especially with Bentham's devil fruit, no one would know Sir Crocodile wasn't in Alabasta, it was their best bet for now, especially as Shanks planned on only stopping in Sabaody which is where his Pops resided and the man, nor Shakky, would let it out what was happening. It was the safest they could be, as once they were in the New World the Marines didn't have a lot of sway in things.

Wani sighed, "Alright, but I want to make sure everything is in order before we leave." That had them all getting everything done as fast as possible, while still being correct. To the point that it was clear that things could run without Wani there all the time. Everyone was aware that if this did go well, chances were they were either moving their base of operations or they would be travelling to the New World more often. Both scenarios made for a great way on getting everything set up for a trial on how well this went for a short period of time.

During the evenings, as the kids were asleep, Beck, Shanks and Wani talked about what they wanted for the kids. Wani made it clear that they were Shanks' first and formost, mentioning that he hadn't been there when it mattered no matter the circumstances, but that they did want a place in their lives. Shanks and Beck agreed that was for the best, seeing how well Luffy took to them and how much it brought them joy. Especially as they knew just how hard it had been on Luffy to be alone. To think he had been abandoned by several adults, they wanted to make sure there was a safety net in place so something like that didn't happen. On top of that, if all of them had a claim on the boys there was some buffer in case someone else started to become interested. It might be the long game, but they knew all three of them would set out at one point and make a name for themselves. Once that happened there would be others interested. If the boys were able to claim alliances to an emperor (or two once the mess with Whitebeard was done) as well as a warlord, not a lot of people would try to harm them. Luffy especially as they knew his dream and the way he would go about it once he did set out.

--

Wani hadn't thought they would be on a ship fulltime again since becoming a warlord. Even less so on Shanks' ship, with his biological son and his cousin on it too. Things were changing in ways no one seemed to know how to take it, but Wani couldn't deny that he was glad that this was happening. He had been missing the companionship of people who knew the whole of him. Most of Baroque Works had only known Mr. 0 and not Crocodile or Wani. Bentham and Daz had come closest and even they hadn't known the full story until after Buggy had called with the news that his child was still alive.

Being on someone else's ship was taking an adjustment, but he knew Shank well enough to know how he sailed and how he captained. The kids also helped in keeping him distracted. Luffy was often there hanging off of them as a reassurance they were still there. Ace and Sabo were less so, but both boys had questions and wanted to know more about the pirate life. If Wani snuck in stories about Roger and Rouge when he could, that was for him to know and for the kids not to find out until he finished his story. Ace should know about his parents from people who had known them, those who had been raised by them, so that was what they would do as much as possible.

"He wanted to be free most of all, in fact if I had to liken him to someone that would be Luffy, Ace," Wani said as he looked at the oldest kid around. Buggy, Shanks and even the Old Man from a distance, had been telling stories but they knew no one made the refference on how much Luffy behaved like Roger. Given the way Ace and Luffy looked alike enough, people could start assuming there too.

Most of all, they all wanted to make Ace see the person behind the mast the World Government spreak around about Roger. He was a fool with a big heart, an even bigger stomach, and stubborness that could make him attempt to take on the World and still expect to win (if he hadn't gotten ill he would have on too).

Luffy's eyes twinkled, "He did? That's so cool."

Ace looked a little reluctant, but the look he shot at Luffy made it clear that after everything he couldn't hate Luffy and anyone who he took after. He had known a lot of what he had been told were lies, but it was hard to put that aside when it was all he'd ever known.

Wani smiled as he knew that as soon as they were on Sabaody, Rayleigh would tell even more stories. The man had tons, being the first mate of the Oro Jackson and the one who kept all the dirt on his crewmates. No doubt having a lot of blackmail stories he could share about his captain now that he had the chance to do so to someone who wouldn't misuse them.

Chapter Text

Another benefit of having Wani on board were stories from another perspective. Stories about Roger and Rouge, as well as the Roger Pirates. On top of that were also stories about Rouge interacting with the Whitebeard Pirates, Newgate and Garp. As well as giving Luffy more insight to both his parents as none of them had a lot of stories about Dragon, where Wani had plenty.

They didn’t spare Shanks either, making it no secret that they had been there to watch Shanks grow from a cute child to an akward teenager to the man he was today. Some of those stories he hadn’t wanted to share with the kids, but they liked them. His crew was also getting loaded on blackmail material, so there was that going for them as well.

At night, when the kids slept, Wani and Shanks held a lot of conversations. What happened, why Wani left and what happened with Dragon. As one of the few people around who had known what was going on and with Buggy not there to do this, Shanks felt it needed to give Wani some relief there. It was clear that they hadn’t taken a lot of time to process all of this. With Luffy back in their life, it wasn’t that odd to know that in time they would need to address everything that happened. Even more so when they entered the New World as Dragon operated there too. As an outlaw the New World was easiest, given that it was the Sea that the Marines and the World Government had the least pull in. It was the main reason the Emperors ruled it so well, as there were not a lot of brave souls who dared to venture there when they didn’t have to.

Pulling back out of a hug, Shanks smiled softly, “I think Dragon did love you, though, Wani. I know it doesn’t look like that, but Luffy told me he was given up to protect him. That isn’t an action of someone who doesn’t care. I think he became overwhelmed or too tied up and wanted to protect his own child before he was hurt.”

What he didn’t say was the wound on Luffy’s thigh, although it had healed up it looked too much like a bullet wound for Shanks to believe it to be anything else. Chances were Luffy had been shot which was when Dragon decided he needed to contact his father to protect his son. Maybe a good thing too, although Shanks couldn’t help but feel for Dragon to having made that decision.

Wani hummed, “I don’t know anymore, Red. So much has happened and I hurt him by leaving, so I don’t know if I’ll ever have the answers I need to process this.”

Shanks didn’t say anything, but he had a feeling that wasn’t true. Luffy was so in tune with the world all around him, with the voice of all things, that it might just be a D thing that Dragon might also be able to tap into. They would have to wait and see. For now they were on the sea anyway. The world unaware of what was going on and except for a stop in Sabaody, Shanks had no intention of stopping until they were in the New World. Not for anything, unless it was an emergency.

“Get some rest, okay, Wani? You can take one of the guest rooms now that you know where they are. Don’t be alarmed if the boys end up in your bed though, they managed to do that with me and Benn as well”, he pouted. Not wanting to give away that he and Benn had some alone time during the mornings that they didn’t have right now because of the kids on board. If they wanted to cuddle with Wani instead he wouldn’t mind that.

Luffy had been the one who ended up in Wani’s bed most of all, Ace and Sabo didn’t always do that even if they did enjoy being close to either of the adutls who took care of them. But it changed from day to day who they needed at that point. Wani didn’t mind, and as much as Shanks had huffed and puffed about it, he didn’t mind either. If he and Benn did need a moment alone they could easily have it on an island or ask one of the other adults to keep an eye out on the kids. They had a lot happen in the last couple of months so it wasn’t unusual for them to stick to what they did know.

They were all on the lookout for when one of the kids did have a meltdown about it all. It hadn’t happened yet, but things could happen fast so none of them were hoping for it. But it never hurt to keep an eye out.

Still, the closer they got to Sabaody the tension also rose with the adults. None of them liked coming here but it was a must given that Rayleigh lived here and they needed to make it to the New World by going under the Red Line. Wani didn’t like this either, they hadn’t ended up here, but there had been enough people who tried to capture them when they first set out, the prize of Newgate’s biological daughter as a slave had them forgetting their place. Wani reminded them, but that didn’t make it any easier in the long run.

“What’s with this place”, Ace asked as they saw Sabaody on the horizon. His eyes narrowed as he took in the tense shoulders of the adults, as well as the tension in Luffy. Mentioning to the youngest on board, he added, “Something is going on and Luffy doesn’t like it either.”

Exchanging a look, Shanks and Wani stepped closer, “I’m guessing the Ocean doesn’t like it here, does it?”

Luffy shook his head, “She’s angry, why is she so angry.”

Sighing as he picked up their son, Wani sighed, “Sabaody is the closest to Marigeose so a lot of World Nobles come here. On top of that it’s kind of known as a lawless zone, meaning that things happen here that can’t happen nowhere else like the slave auctions. I’m guessing the Ocean isn’t all that fond of them either, too tied to freedom like like others taking freedom away.”

Shanks adds, “A lot of people come here as it’s the last island before the New World. It also has a direct link to Fishman Island which is seen as the first island in the New World. My crew and I don’t like coming here either, but Pops lives here because it makes sure he knows what is going on as one of the first. His wife, Shakky, runs an information network with Uncle Mo and Blue, to the point that between the three of them the world has to be hard pressed to keep something from us.” He pulls Ace close as Beck does the same with Sabo, Luffy is still safe within Wani’s arms so there is less to worry about. “We’re not here to have fun, we’re here to see Pops and Shakky before we’re out of here and into the New World.”

Luck would have it, that as soon as they tied the Red Force down in one of the groves, the old man is waiting for them. He’s easily recognized as one of the people they saw while calling the former Roger Pirates. Silvers Rayleigh was not a man people easily forgot, yet he managed to stay under the radar in the captiral of outlaws posing as Ray, the coating specialist.

“Pops”, Shanks utters as he hugs the man close. For all that they did have their differences there is no doubt in his mind that the man would always be there for him if he needed it. He had shown that again and again, even now he was there to hug Shanks close and look at Ace in awe. He of all people had known Rouge was pregnant but hadn’t been able to go look for her or their son. Despite Ace being 10 now, he didn’t seem to care and just enjoyed the possibility of having a piece of his lovers still there with him.

As he lets go of Shanks, Rayleigh smiles, “Red, I hear you’ve been picking up strays?”

His eyes wander over Ace and Sabo, close to Shanks and Beck, before looking at Wani and Luffy. Obviously taking them in, but not saying anything about it. More than aware of what Shanks wanted to do. He hadn’t seen Wani in ages either, but the child they were holding was very obviously theirs.

Smiling, he mentions them to follow him, “Shakky would be here too, but we can’t let the bar go empty right now. Nothing has been going on, not yet, but there is this tension in the air that I don't like.”

Wani and Shanks nod, they had heard the adults talk about that before. Tension in the air, often before an island mysteriously dissapeared or a whole crew ended up vanishing. It often didn’t end up with a lot of good things happening, so Rayleigh was on edge just as much as they were.

Shanks knew that he had a lot of luck that his reappearance in the East had go unnoticed. But it wouldn’t be the first time that they hadn’t seen anyone notice him and that’s when it started to get dangerous. There were enough people out there looking for those that had ties to either the Old Crews or Marigeose (and Shanks, although unwillingly, had both).

“What do you think is going on”, he asks as soon as they enter Shakky’s bar. Rayleigh doesn’t answer him, but Shakky does, “Little Red, and even the Little Croc, so nice to see you again. They’re speaking about a boon against Dragon, but I don’t know what that could mean.”

Wani hisses, pulling Luffy closer to his chest, “Did anyone know about Luffy, except Makino and Blue? Would someone have told who he was?”

Beck and Shanks look at each other before shaking their heads, “All who did know are loyal. I don’t think anyone would have told on them, least of all those that took care of the kids.”

Sabo suddenly gasps, “My biological father, he could have… I know he could have… Ace’s name isn’t that well known and Aunt Rouge can’t be tracked through it as she wasn’t known by her last name outside of the Roger pirates. But Luffy… Luffy’s last name is known and if people dig enough, if they search for it, they can tie it to the Old Man and through him to Dragon.”

They all curse very colorfully, before Rayleigh is running for their home above the bar. He returns with several chests and a books or two. Handing them off before stating that they have to leave, “Red, you have to get back to your ship and make your way to the New World now. Rumour has it that there are Gods’ Knights on Sabaody and if one of them sees you… If that man spilled about Luffy, and your appearance then they’ll tie that together. I know you’re strong, but you can’t take them all on.”

Biting his lips, Shanks nods once before taking a hold of what he can carry, having Beck carry Sabo and asking Yasopp to carry Ace. Wani still has a hold on Luffy so that’s taken care of. But if there are Gods’ Knights there and if Outlook spilled to a World Noble or someone about Luffy and Shanks, they’re out of time. They need to get to the New World and fast at that.

He’s calling ahead to Limejuice, Hongo and Lucky Roux, having them prepare to leave again. Rayleigh can coat their ship while they’re on it so that’s what they’ll be doing but they needed to leave yesterday.

Luckily, everything does go off without a hitch and they’re underwater before long. Making their way to Fishman Island and with it the New World. Aware that they’ll have to keep eyes everywhere to make sure no one can sneak up on them. Too much is at stake for that, they can’t fail here, not now.

Chapter Text

Fishman Island was on edge, it seemed that the notion of what had been going on in Sabaody made its way there. Jinbei was waiting for them, seemingly not surprised at seeing Wani on the Red Force. He told them he could give them 12 hours before they needed to leave. The Royals had taken note of what had been happening and wanted to make sure nothing from the surface world make its way to them in a conflict.

As much as he hated it, Shanks could understand, taking the offer graciously, restocking as fast as possible and making their way out of Fishman Island before the 12 hours were up. Also making sure to call Pops to let him know they were safely on their way to the New World with everything that had been going on. They couldn’t let this stop them from getting to safer waters, even with the other Emperors in the New World, Shanks would prefer that over having to come fact to face with his biological family or the other God’s Knights. Especially down an arm.

Bursting out of the water, he threw out his observation haki and sighed in relief at not sensing anything that could harm him or anyone else on board.

“Shanks”, Luffy asked with those big eyes of his directed at him.

Biting his lip, he sighed before giving a rundown of his own history and hatred of his own father. He was currently still on the fence about his twin brother as the man had never gone against him or had done anthing (that Shanks knew) that condemed him the same as he condemned Garling. That isn’t to say that it is much to delicate a subject to wait until something happens where they are at. If Outlook indeed mentioned Luffy to the Celestial Dragon they will act in their own best interest, and with the name Dragon is making for himself that doesn’t mean a lot of good right now.

Even Wani is shocked at hearing that, not that Shanks was surprised at that. His true heritage had been kept a secret since God Valley. They didn’t need someone acting against Garling and his ilk by going after the one person they could harm. In fact; Shanks was certain that Teach did find out about that link and had used that as his justification to attack him all those years ago. Which made him all the more dangerous, and too well connected, given the dirt he had been able to dig up. Enough that Shanks was on edge, he only saw Roger, Rayleigh and Rouge as his parents, but people saw blood bonds as stronger and assumed that it was what made or broke a person.

Glancing at Ace, he smiled sadly, “It’s why, as much as it pains me to know how you think about Roger, I understand how you feel about him. He wasn’t perfect, far from it, but being fed the lies the World Government spreads about those they can’t control I know why you don’t like him. I don’t like my biological father on principle, because of what he did to my mother and to countless others.”

Wani stepped closer, “Then… The twins Dragon saved?”

Nodding, Shanks smiled softly, “That was Shamrock and me, except that he got hurt and Shamrock was taken by one of the Knights while he managed to secret me away in a chest that eventually found its way into the Oro Jackson. I didn’t know until years later, but I keep owing him a dept.”

It wasn’t something he liked thinking about, he didn’t remember anything conciously but his dads kept telling him he had nighterrors about something that happened there for years before they were able to get him to realize (especially subconciously) that he was safe and sound. It had been that which was a large reason why he and Buggy decided not to take children onto their ships until there was no other choice. There were too many thing that could happen, that would make it dangerous even. Hell, the only reason he agreed to take the three boys on was because he needed to protect them like Roger and Rayleigh needed to protect him from Garling and whoever of the Gods’ Knights came to get him. Despite publically stepping back from Marigeose after visiting once as a young adult, Garling hadn’t done the same so he still had that protection going for him (up until a certain point).

“I never did get a chance to thank Dragon, but I knew Luffy was related to him so part was to make sure he was safe on top of the fact that I genuinly liked the kid. In the end, losing the arm wasn’t the worst thing either, I don’t know the details but a lot of what happens with the Gods’ Knights are tied to symbols tattooed on your body, mine got ripped off when the Sea King took my arm, rendering me free of whatever they might want to try later on”, he hadn’t spoken about that before, too scared of what it could mean.

If he still had those markings, he wouldn’t have taken the boys on board either, too scared that someone could keep an eye out evn if they didn’t mean to. He didn’t want to have to deal with that, on top of all of the trauma that would happen to the children on the Red Force if it came to that.

He and Wani talked about that more, with Wani mentioning that God Valley was the whole reason Dragon turned rogue. He didn’t want to work for an institution that relished in the hurt they brought because they didn’t protect the people around them. He vallued freedom and the loss of the people there was just too immense.

Shanks agreed, he didn’t rememeber, but Roger and Rayleigh often spoke about it. The way they would just disregard human life or free choice, as if none of that mattered.

Of course, sadly, this wasn’t the end of it all. With the knowledge that there was indeed a child born from Dragon it made sense that they wouldn’t just give up on getting to Luffy. Shanks hadn’t expected that, but he also hadn’t expected a small fleet to suddenly make their way towards the Red Force. Kizaru at the front, the Admiral taking to the skies in a move that forwarned the release of his strongest ranged attack.

There was nothing he could do, they didn’t have land close by to go for. Shanks couldn’t, wouldn’t let the Force be damned like that by fleeing her either. On top of it, if they did manage to get away it was by swimming and with the devil fruit users on board he didn’t see that going well either.

“Fuck, Kizaru”, he uttered at the sight of the Admiral.

Beck had loaded his gun and was aiming for the Admiral, but they both knew there were no seastone bullets in there right now. Those were down in the cargo hold, which they didn’t have time to collect. Sweating bullets, Shanks didn’t know what to do, not even a flare of his haki seemed to stop them.

He saw the lights coming, grimacing as he looked around, “Take cover and hold on!”

But none of them hit, before they came close to the Red Force, someone took the hit for them. The sound of the attack hitting a person making him look up and gaping, for those blue flames were too recognizable. There was no way…

Wani gasped as well, “Marco!”

Before the First Division Commander could respond, a ripple went through the water, as the sea itself seemed to push the small fleet of Marine Ships to the side. Making some of them capsize, before he could hear the Marines worrying about something.

Relief bloomed in his heart at the sight of the Moby Dick making her way towards them. Making some speed before covering for Shanks’ ship in a way that made it clear that if they wanted to get to them they would have to go through Whitebeard and his crew.

Ace, Sabo and Luffy were looking on in awe at the ship that settled next to them. The people on it calling out to the Marines or even directly attacking if possible. Shanks was certain he could see Izou and some of the other marksmen taking aim and shooting at either Kizaru or the Marines.

With Marco still in the air, no fire from the Marines reached them, neither the Moby nor the Force took any damange. With several of the Marine’s vessels sinking before they were forced to retreat as they weren’t able to match up to Whitebeard and his crew. Not when it was clear that they had been expecting Shanks and his (much smaller) one. Assuming they’d be able to take them on and leave with Luffy. Now that it fell through, Shanks couldn’t help but be happy for that. Hoping that this would mean their safety and the possibility of a more permanent alliance between him and the Whitebeards.

“Permission to board -yoi”, was shouted from the sky, making them look up to see Marco hovering there.

Mentioning the other man to come down, Shanks looked around to check on everyone. Seeing the way Wani had covered the kids and was pulling back any sand they had used. Beck and Yasopp still had their guns aimed into the general direction of the Marines (even if they were retreating) to make sure that no one tried anything.

That left Shanks to greet Marco, and to thank him, “Marco, thanks, to you and the old man.”

A soft smile appeared on the blond’s face, looking over the people on deck and stopping on Wani and Luffy, “It’s no issue, we’re family now after all -yoi. You know how special family is to Pops, so I’m just happy we could help.”

Sighing, Shanks nodded, “We had to flee Sabaody as there were too many Celestials present, but it seemed they had expected that and reached out with Kizaru and a small fleet.” A frown took over his face, “We assume that someone we encountered on Dawn spilled Luffy’s name to a Celestial and they acted on that with everything going on.”

Blinking rather owlishly, Marco tilted his head very birdlike towards Wani. The older man flushed, “His name is Monkey D. Luffy, so you can take a guess who his father is. Given everything happening right now, it makes sense they are trying to find leverge on Dragon to use despite him having given Luffy up tp protect him. But with everything, even if he had stayed on Dawn, not even Garp’s protection would kept on keeping them safe. Not when they found the boys.”

At that moment, Ace shuffled out from behind Wani, making Marco notice him and stare. It was clear he had known, but those who had known Roger knew how much Ace looked like the man. If they had gone to look for Luffy and found him, they would have come to their own conclussions and none of those would be good.

“Now I get why you took kids on the Force, despite you and Blue promising not to do that unless nesecairy”, Marco told Shanks. Having grown up together, the blond had been aware of the promise made. But knowing Shanks as well as he did, he could see why he made those choices regardless.

Nodding, Shanks sighed again, “It would get noticed that I made my way to Dawn and the discovery of the boys, as Wani said wouldn’t grantee their safety so I made a choice and it isn’t one I’m regretting. It’s though, but they’re everything right now.”

The three blinding grins he gets in return more than make up for that. Allowing Shanks, and the others on the Red Force, to finally relax. Marco signals something to the Moby, before he’s addressing Shanks again, “There is an island not that far away -yoi. One of ours too, we can make our way there and talk, Pops wants to see you all again especially the kids, and Wani.”

Turning to his sibling, there is a smile there, one that grows even bigger as Wani settles the kids before approaching and hugging him close.