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The straw hats laughed as they celebrated another win, Zoro drinking away whatever free booze this island made, Luffy eating till he was full, the rest just happy that it wasn't a big fight so soon after Wano. All in all, it was a good time, which of course is when their luck changes. No one notices at first as the atmosphere in the large town square began to change. Only when they noticed Luffy slow in his eating, stopping completely with an unhappy look did they realise something was wrong.
The whispers are what they heard next, unhappy ones of the villagers around them and cheering jeers further in the distance on the other side. Brook, Jinbe and Franky could see over the head of everyone that a small pirate crew on the other side was joining the festivities, some even falling into familiar arms with glee.
A wave of haki roared through the crowd, stilling everyone. They had felt that power, that presence many times before, this one familiar in a way that it was what liberated their island from a band of mercenaries the day before. All eyes snapped to their new protector who had given them a flag to fly only hours ago.
"What did you just say?" His voice was pitched low but seemed to roar through the packed space.
"I said that me and my crew need to celebrate! We took down that old man who is supposedly the first mate of that Red-Haired Yonko, such a poor excuse of a pirate, the captain must be ashamed to have an old man like that on his crew if he was alone." The captain chuckled, not noticing the tension those words had just created. "Wot's his name, Bentham? Brockman? Ah! Beckman!"
The villagers looked from their saviour to their mayor's son who had fashioned himself as a pirate long ago but never went further than the three islands surrounding them and the waters between, bullying small ships for their wares and causing chaos. The mayor immediately knew that something was wrong, that there would be no saving his son from his fate. "Jontan, I suggest you..."
"And you Father, taking down my flag and letting this child Yonko take it's place!" The man continued but this time with a sneer, hand clenching tight around his stolen gun. "You'll point him out to me so I can beat him like I did that geezer, maybe take the hat as my prize like I took the geezer's old worn rifle, not much of a trophy, might scrap it or use for tinder."
Luffy got to his feet abruptly, turning to face the man with a blank expression. He could feel Sanji and Zoro at his shoulders as he walked slowly towards the voice, the crowd around them parting like the red sea. His eyes landed on the man, he was medium build and Sanji's height but dressed far too nicely to be a pirate truly, hands fresh and callus free… though his eyes landed on the rifle next, heart lurching because that was his Da’s rifle, could see his initials carved into the stock along with Luffy’s as it was to be his when his Da passed on, a family heirloom.
“Tell me, how did you take out the First Mate of the Akagami Pirates?” Luffy asked, pitching his voice in a childlike curiosity, widening his eyes and relaxing his stance. “They are pretty strong!”
The man puffed up with pride, completely missing the way the crowd was stepping back, how his crew shook under the pinned glares of the Straw Hats, continued to ignore his father trying to stop him or the fact that the kid before him was a Yonko and the one to beat the monster Kaido singlehandedly.
“He was on one of the other islands, didn’t know who he was at first till Jan pointed ‘im out, he told us to fuck off and when he turned his back on us BAM! Shot him! He went down, took all the berri on him, this thing and made our escape.” Jontan explained with a puffed-up chest of pride, nudging his crew closest to him with a grin.
Luffy cocked his head to the side, heart hammering, the beat of the drums growing ever so louder in the distance. A flicker of red in his eyes and a cloud of white around his shoulders made him look inhuman as he did in the new bounty.
“So, you’re a coward.” Zoro snarled through gritted teeth; hands clenched tight around Wado.
Jontan whipped his head to Zoro affronted, pointing the rifle at his chest. “I am not!”
No one dared to breathe at the act of threat, they had seen what the swordsman had done to the last person who tried, yet this time he didn’t move. His lone eye only drifted to his captain and back. “Shooting a man in the back like that, only cowards do that.”
Sanji scoffed, dropping his smoke to the ground and stomping on it. “I don’t think he knows what he has done, to be honest.”
There was confusion on the idiot's face as Zoro and Sanji spoke, his eyes flicking from their faces, to the others behind them and then to the child before them all, a sense of foreboding and fear now sinking in. Because, no, this wasn’t a child, he could see that now. Teenager he may be, he was far from the child his bounties made him out to be. His body was covered in scars, a gruelling X exposed to all resting on his chest, but Jontan could see burns and bites.
He could see the hard life of a pirate written across his body like a tapestry of tales. He could see the age in those dark glinting red eyes framed by wisps of white that left him feeling that he was being seen down to his very marrow and was found lacking. The power that radiated off him, a suffocating hand at his throat and threatened to drop him to his knees. No, this was not a child, but an Emperor that stood before him.
It was at this moment that Jontan knew, that he fucked up.
“Is he alive?” Luffy asked, voice as flat as he stared down the man before him.
Jontan felt his arm waver, the rifle dipping in his hold but he couldn’t move, his entire body was locked in fear now that he sensed it. Swallowing Jontan eyed everyone around them, begging silently to his father, his crew, someone to help him here.
A low rumbling hiss of a snarl escaped Luffy’s throat as he moved, his hand pushing the muzzle away from his crew, free hand swinging under and up to grab the flint and lock plate firmly and moved closer using the hand to push the muzzle to swing low and grab the butt with a twist. In a blink he had the gun in his hand, aimed at the bastard that shot his Da in the back faster than anyone else could see.
The Straw Hats blinked in awe and surprise, Usopp’s jaw dropping slightly as stars began to form in Chopper's eyes at how amazing that move their captain just did was. But the others, the older ones, were surprised because they didn’t even realise or know that Luffy could use a gun, and knew how to disarm someone when one was pointed at him.
Because after all, what was the point of disarming someone if the bullets merely bounced back?
Gasps and screams tore through the crowd as Luffy pulled the trigger twice, taking out the man’s kneecaps without hesitation, without even blinking, uncaring of the wails that left the man's throat. He didn’t care about the people of this town who cried or the Mayor who blubbered not to kill his son or even the people who would now fear him.
He simply didn’t care because all Luffy wanted was an answer to his question, was his Da dead? Did he lose someone else that he loved, someone that he wouldn’t be able to ever tell he loved them, see them, say goodbye to?
“I will ask you again. Was. He. Alive!?” The last word tore out of Luffy’s throat in a snarl, haki flooding through with it like a roar and making him sound even more inhuman. The rumbling hiss of an alligator was still a constant noise, so low and dangerous that it even had Zoro on edge.
None had seen their captain this dangerous, not in Ennis Lobby, Alabasta, not in Thriller Bark or Sabaody… He was angry on Whole Cake, angry in Wano, yes… They had seen him angry, but this? This was something else, something wild and dangerous and thirsted for blood.
It was the fury of a King.
“I… I don’t know!” Jontan sobbed as he clutched his knees, blood leaking out through his fingers. “You s-shot me! Please, I’m bleeding, s-someone help me!”
Luffy snapped his gaze to anyone that twitched towards the begging man, baring his teeth towards the Mayor when he ignored even that. The only one who would be free from the rage that simmered under his skin was Chopper and his Doctor didn’t move an inch though he twitched side to side. Luffy hummed and jerked his head, letting Chopper dash forward to bandage the wounds, waiting with his Da’s gun still aimed.
He took his eyes away from the man, focusing on the weapon in his hands. It was older, worn but well-loved, and well-maintained. He knew how to pull this apart and clean it, assemble it, many nights he spent sitting in Benn’s lap as he watched him clean it. Those nights were some of the best ones, the simple ones he treasured along with laying in the hammock on deck with Shanks as he taught him the stars.
Yet, Luffy could see the places this idiot had damaged, that it had been used and not cleaned in the days leading up to their return. Luffy’s fingers itched to clean it, to set out and find his Mamãe and Da.
“You better hope and pray that he is,” Luffy whispered once Chopper was done, slipping back behind him to stand with Usopp. “Franky, take Usopp and Jinbe and go cripple their ship, tether it to Sunny or have it docked if it is small enough. Brook, Robin, Sanji, make sure the rest of his crew are on it.”
A mixed chorus of ‘Aye Captain’ and ‘Yes, Captain, with pleasure’ followed his order. Pride swelled within him as his crew did as asked, without question or hesitation, snarling or glaring at the men who protested.
“Nami, find out which one of those crew members is this man’s Navigator and plot a course to where they encountered Beckman, take Chopper with you,” Luffy ordered his Navigator who was grinning with glee, clima-tact out and eyes shaded as she followed the others, Chopper at her side.
“Please, he’s my only son. He didn’t mean to cause offence… please have mercy, please don’t kill hi…” The Mayor begged as he dropped to the ground on his knees, only to choke on the words as Zoro drew his sword.
“Mercy? No. Your son has done more than offend my Captain.” Zoro’s face was bland, but there was a hint of dark amusement in his eye. “It is not his mercy you should be begging for but that of Akagami no Shanks, to which we will deliver your son and his crew to.”
Jontan choked out a cry as he scrambled back a bit, fear sparking higher and even at this point both Luffy and Zoro could see how fast his heart was beating. “Why? Why do you care for some old geezer? You’re a rival Yonko!”
A low bark of laughter escaped Luffy, accompanied by Zoro’s huff of a laugh. “It seems you are unfamiliar with who stands before you. Let me introduce you to my captain, Mugiwara no Luffy, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Future Pirate King also known as Benn D. Luffy, son of Benn Beckman and Akagami no Shanks.”
Wide petrified eyes snapped to Luffy as he grinned and grinned with all his teeth, stretched wider than humanly possible, an unsettling shishishi left his lips as he reached back and pulled the Straw Hat up on top of his head once more. He could see now that all knew that this man’s fate was sealed, had been since the first words left his mouth in a brag about taking down Benn Beckman.
He didn’t utter another word as he slammed the full force of his haki down over the island, watching unflinchingly as the entire population dropped into slumber. He reached down, grasped the man’s foot and began to walk back towards the Sunny, Zoro at his side.
“He’ll be fine Luffy,” Zoro spoke up once they were far enough away and could see how tense his captain was. “He’s strong, death won’t take him.”
Luffy chuckled at that, “True nor would Da allow something so simple as being shot be the reason that finally takes him. He always said nothing short of an all-out war or a buster call. I worry though, and furious beyond belief that… Shanks and I have a promise, this will be breaking it but if Da…”
Zoro paused and grasped his Captain’s face with both hands as Luffy failed to continue speaking, the words coming out more animalistic than human. “He’ll be fine, you’ll see. I’m sure in this case, Shanks will understand and tell you that the promise will still stand.”
Glinting red eyes searched Zoro’s face shrewdly and nodded. They continued back to the Sunny in silence, their footsteps and the ‘shhhh’ of the body being dragged the only thing that broke it. There was no other sound, not even a chirp of a cricket and it said so much as to how far Luffy’s haki blast went. It didn’t take them much longer to return, Luffy could see his crew waiting for him ready to set sail at his command. The crew of the so-called ‘Pirate Captain’ in his hands tied and gagged around Sunny’s mast.
“I have a heading Captain, Jinbe said it shouldn’t take us too long if we spam Coup de Burst,” Nami stated as he stepped on deck, dropping the unconscious man on the grass.
Chopper rushed forward and checked over the wounds, seeing if there was anything else or if it was just Luffy’s Haki that kept him unconscious before nodding, stepping back to allow Usopp to tie him to his crew.
“Then let’s set sail.” He ordered as he stretched his hand back and flung himself onto the Sunny’s mane. He planted himself firmly, hands grasping tight as he heard Franky and Jinbe talking, walking through the activation of the Coup de Burst.
Even as furious and worried as he was, Luffy couldn’t help but grin and laugh at the exhilaration that surged through him as the Sunny soared through the sky, wind whipping through his hair. Like this he felt free, truly and honestly, his worries slipping away for the briefest of moments. Once they landed, once the last of their cola ran dry, Luffy dropped back onto the deck.
“Usopp, do you have anything I can clean the rifle with?” He asked watching as his Sniper dropped from the crow’s nest and rushed off down to his workshop.
Though Usopp mainly used The Kabuto as his main weapon, Luffy knew that his sniper practised with every ranged weapon, including guns, had been since their separation stating that Luffy had wanted them to get stronger. So, he did, he became proficient in all ranged weapons to better help his crew, so he was no longer limited to one thing in case it broke or he had to improvise.
Luffy had never been prouder of his Sniper.
“Here Captain, I picked it up just before Wano when we restocked,” Usopp stated as he passed over a drop sheet and the supplies Luffy would need.
“Shishishi, thanks Usopp! You’re the best!” Luffy praised, grinning wide at the proud puff of Usopps’ chest and pleased smile as he made his way back up to his lookout duty.
Zoro seeing what Luffy was about to do got up and dropped down in front of him, pulling his weapons free and the cleaning kit he carried with him out. They sat in silence, Zoro cleaning his swords while watching Luffy pull apart the rifle with familiarity and ease. In fact, the entire of the Straw Hat crew watched from their perched positions in wonder. All ignoring the pleas and sobs of the crew of the pained moaned curses of their idiot captain.
Never had they seen their Captain so still, so focused. Then again, this was important and all on the ship knew that when it came to Important things of those he loved and called Nakama… then Luffy would recall, remember and do all he could to retain what was needed or said.
Once the rifle was gleaming, cleaned and the minor damage fixed, Luffy let his eyes slip closed and stretched out his observation haki as far as he could, staying exactly where he was till the familiar spark of his Mamãe flared brightly in his mind's eye.
They were close, closer than intended as they had been sailing for several hours now even with the coup de burst. His eyes snapped open to see the Red Force several miles before him and got to his feet, flinging himself back onto Sunny’s figurehead, his Da’s rifle hanging off his back.
It ached and it burned that the first time Luffy saw his Mamãe after so many years was like this. He had always intended to see him once he was king, once he was a great pirate and return the hat to where it belonged… in Luffy’s mind their meeting again was one of joy. Not this.
Shanks stood on the figurehead of the Red Force, eyes dark and haggard as he watched them sail alongside them. When his crew had spotted Anchor’s Jolly Roger in the distance Shanks was both anxious and gleeful, but also, very much terrified of what he would tell his son when he asked about Beck. Very much terrified of the reaction it would get and what he would have to do if Luffy went after the people who did it.
“Permission to come aboard?” Luffy asked never taking his eyes off Shanks.
“Granted,” Shanks replied tiredly, shoulders slumping as he turned and jumped back onto the deck before putting a mask on once more. Luffy dropped down not far in front of him, Black Leg Sanji and Pirate Hunter Zoro joining him a mere blink after, their faces set in stone.
Fear slithered up Luffy’s spine as he stood, eyes snapping from face to face and seeing dark tired eyes and no Beckman. He could see his uncle’s shift, how they refused to look at him and instead turned their gaze to Shanks. He forced on a smile, tilting his head back to knock back the Straw Hat enough to uncover his eyes.
“What brings you here Luffy? I did not think you would come to see me so soon, last I heard you were on your way to Egg Head.” Shanks asked with a forced grin and cheer, heart twisting as he took in the clear sight of his son for the first time in years. He didn’t wish to tell him what had happened, didn’t wish to break whatever joy his son would be feeling at what he would assume was a pleasant reunion.
However, that thought died quickly as he watched Luffy’s smile drop, hand slinking back to bring forth a hidden object from behind his back. Shanks felt his breath hitch along with his crew as Beckman’s rifle was revealed. It gleamed in the midday sun, very much like it did after Beckman had cleaned it and Shanks snapped his eyes up to Anchor’s, because besides himself there was only one other who could service that rifle exactly the way Beck preferred.
“I bring gifts,” Luffy stated. “We were not far from here when a Pirate returned home, interrupting the celebration after we saved the island… bragging that he had taken down the so-called First Mate of the Akagami Pirates. Bragging that he shot Beckman in the back!”
“Captain,” Zoro’s voice was firm, jolting Luffy from his snarling haze and the haki that he had unleashed upon them all.
Shanks staggered forward and pulled his son into a bone-tight hug, tucking Luffy’s head under his chin like when he was little and let a few tears slip free. He silently thanked every deity he knew and then the Sea, for she had thrown the bastards who shot his husband and stole the heirloom of his family into the path of his son… had directed their Anchor towards them.
Luffy gripped Shanks tightly, wrapping his limbs around him several times and savouring the feel of his Mamãe’s arm around him, being in one of the places he ever felt safe and loved. He knew now like he knew when he was younger that he would always be safe here, that Shanks and Beckman would tear the world apart before anything got to him while in their presence.
“Da?” He choked out, letting the visage of Mugiwara no Luffy fade away.
“He’s confined to the medical under Hongo’s orders.” Shanks chuckled wetly. “We got to him in time, he was lucky that whoever shot him had poor aim, it tore through his shoulder but broke his collarbone, but an inch lower it would have hit his heart.”
A snarl tore from Luffy’s lips, causing Shanks to grasp him tighter and whisper soothing words, could feel the tremble of his son’s haki, the rage and grief that roared within it. He felt his crew near, each resting a hand on their little Anchor, who wasn’t so little anymore. He had grown into a man, had earned the crown that rested upon his head even if he didn’t know it yet and oh, Shanks was so, so proud of his little Prince and King to be.
“Do you want to go see him, Anchor? He will be happy to see you.” Shanks asked as he pulled back, hand coming up to wipe the lone tear that escaped his son’s eye, brushing over the scar gently.
Luffy nodded vigorously, a grin, a true grin pulling at his lips. “Yes!”
“Let me take you to him, I bet you he’s thought of several ways to get past Hongo and will be in mid-scolding when we get there.” Shanks chuckled softly.
Yes, the entire of the crew were exhausted, terrified still because Beckman was still very weak, even after several days. They had set out the day after the Pirates who shot him left, heading in the direction that the dockhands pointed them in, two of those days Beckman barely woke up, the blood transfusions wiping him out completely. His husband had never looked so frail, so still as death.
In fact, he had only woken up late last night and has already demanded to be let out, though he could barely stand or even sit up without aid, could barely keep his eyes open long enough to even make a full protest. He had worried Shanks and the crew half to death. Though, in time Shanks knew that he would have to make reparations to the island they left, his haki tearing through the town in force when he felt Beck’s voice flicker and nearly die out.
“I know where to go Mamãe,” Luffy replied softly, his eyes flickering over to Zoro and Sanji. “Plus, I have a gift for you on the Sunny, let Zoro and Sanji show you.”
Shanks paused briefly, eyes scanning his son's face for something only to come up with nothing, he turned to look back over at his son's ship, seeing the rest of his son's crew lined up on the railing, each face set in grim look. “Alright Anchor, I’ll be down soon okay, let your Da know.”
Luffy grinned wide. “Of course! Shishishi, I hope you like your gift, I brought it all this way. Zoro, Sanji, show Shanks where to go, plus the crew has free reign of the ship!”
“Aye’ Captain.” They replied, shooting each other a sidelong glare at the jinx.
Shanks waited till Luffy had vanished down into the depths of the Red Force before turning towards the two, following them overboard with Yasopp and Lucky behind him. His eyes took in the deck of the Thousand Sunny with awe, even wondering if he could incorporate the grass near his own trees… but all awe vanished the moment his eyes were pulled towards the group of Men kneeling in the middle of said grass, terror in their eyes.
“Oh, and what’s this?” He asked as he stepped forward, hand resting on Gryphon’s hilt.
It was Nico Robin who stepped forward with a grin. “Your gift, the pirate crew and the captain who shot your first mate.”
Shanks straightened, gaze narrowing down on the man who was curled up in front of his men, shaking like a leaf in a New World typhoon. “Oh, really now. Stand up.”
“I… I can't!” The man sobbed.
“You’ll find that he has no longer the use of his knees Red-Hair,” Jinbe informed politely as he came to a stop next to one of his oldest friends. “My Captain was displeased with his slow answer, when asked if Beckman was indeed Alive and proceeded to shoot him twice in a span of a blink with Beckman’s gun.”
Shanks blinked and he turned his gaze towards Jinbe with raised brows, surprise and pride swelling up within him because his son was more of a brawler, a biter, pipe wielder than a weapon user. He could faintly hear Lucky and Yasopp’s own noises of shock behind him. “Anchor did what?”
A faint chuckle escaped all the Straw Hats besides the little Tanuki.
“We didn’t know that Luffy could shoot, took us by surprise.” Cat Burglar Nami stated. “But he told us to bundle the crew up, cripple the ship and he arrived not long after dragging the captain on board.”
“It is your right as the one slighted to punish them as you see fit.” Zoro continued as he stood across from them all and behind the crew.
A dark smirk pulled at Shanks’ lips as he turned his attention back to the crew. There were many questions forming in his mind with everything that had been revealed to him, like when exactly did Luffy get taught to shoot? Was it when he and Beckman had their bonding days? Yasopp? “My son has brought me a gift; one I will never be able to thank him enough for. You nearly took the life of my First Mate, my husband and in nearly doing so would have broken me, would have broken all of us. There would have been nothing to stop mine, my crew’s or Luffy’s rage.”
He turned away from them then, his haki lashing out and causing the ship below his feet to groan. He was pleased to note that none of his sons’ crew wilted under the force of it, stood steady as a rock in a storm, not even those he was informed were the weakest of the crew.
“I want the ship and the crew on it, cripple it beyond repair, cut their lines and slash the sails. Let them drift for all I care with whatever is left on their ship.” Shanks ordered, turning his gaze towards his two commanders knowing that they will see it through. “Take the captain and lock him in the holding, it will be Beckman’s decision on what happens to him when he is strong enough.”
It bit at him that the man would be on his ship, alive till decided otherwise. He wanted to rip the man to pieces, leave nothing but a fine mist in his wake, and slam the entirety of his haki down upon him. He wanted to break him. Wanted to remind the bastard who he exactly was and the reason why he was an Emperor of the sea, why he was feared so much.
But he couldn’t, it was Beckman who was wronged so it was Beckman who got to decide the punishment for the man who shot him.
“Please, you can't do this!” One cried out, pressing their forehead into the sodden grass, many of the men around doing the same.
“We’ll die!” Another sobbed.
The captain of their crew was in the same position, but he could see the begging on his face, the regret and pleas. “Mercy, please…”
“Mercy?” Shanks asked lowly, anger coming in full force, a snarl rumbling low in his throat as his haki arced out. “You beg me for mercy? You shot my husband in the back! You nearly tore the largest reason for the joy in my life away from me and you beg for mercy? No, you will get none here. You wanted to play pirate, then you will be treated as a pirate.”
Robin stepped forward once more. “Allow us to aid you Akagami-san, Franky will be able to undock their ship from within Sunny easily enough.”
“I’d appreciate that. Yasopp, go with them, Lucky can you take this pox marked gobshite to the Red Force. Get the boys to come take the rest of the crew.” Shanks ordered, not needing to look to know his men would carry out his orders quick as lightning. They were, after all, just as pissed as he was.
He stayed long enough to watch the crew toss the others on their broken ship, mast broken, ropes cut and sails slashed. The rudder was shattered and even if it could be fixed, whatever Franky had done to the ship was irreversible, when asked all he said was you don’t mess with a Shipwright or his captain. He didn’t watch for long though, ignoring all the cries and pleas, he didn’t care one bit for the crew who cared not for the life of another.
Shanks would have torn the world apart looking for them if Beckman had died, would have sunk islands and dyed the ocean red. He knew that Luffy would have done the same, would have done worse if they were together. None would have been safe in their wrath, the wrath of a broken man and their son who was king in his own right.
With a sigh he turned his back upon the view and made his way towards the medbay, giving instructions that Anchor's crew were free to move about the ship and were welcome. It was time to go join his son and husband, woe be it on anyone who interrupted them.
XX
Luffy slipped down the stairs with ease, fingers running along the wood of what once was his home for a year, memories of laughter ringing in his ears as he made his way towards the infirmary. Swallowing, Luffy pushed the door open slowly and as quietly as he could, his eyes landing on Beckman immediately.
He was older than he last saw him, hair a full silver now, no black to be seen. There was an old scar on the left side of his face in an X, mimicking the one on his chest. His arm was bound to his chest, skin pale and clammy, but still he was Luffy’s Da.
“He’s asleep, if you wanted to talk to him, you’ll have to wait till tomorrow.” Hongo’s voice piped up from the right, drawing Luffy’s attention to the doctor.
His uncle had his back to him, busy writing down something before him. A smile pulled at his lips as he took in the wide shoulders of Hongo, the quarterstaff he fought with leaning against the wall to his left, blonde hair pulled up into a messy bun.
“Didn’t you hear me!? You cannot speak with Be…” Hongo trailed off with a slack jaw as he turned to see Anchor in the doorway. “Anchor.”
“Yo, uncle!” Luffy greeted with a wide grin, rocking back on his heels. “Is it okay if I sit with Da?”
“Of course, Anchor, just watch his left side okay. I thought you were one of the lower crew members wanting to bug Beck.” Hongo informed and admitted with a sheepish grin, getting up to pull the kid into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you kid.”
“It’s good to see you too Uncle, I wish it was under better circumstances,” Luffy admitted sadly as he snuggled into Hongo’s chest briefly.
“I know, but Beck will be glad to see you nevertheless.” Hongo comforted as he pulled back. “He’ll wake up soon if you want to sit with him, just make sure he doesn’t get out of bed, okay?”
A soft shishishi escaped Luffy’s lips as he nodded seriously. He sent his Uncle a look, staring hard at him till Hongo started to feel uneasy, a thoughtful hum left him as he noticed Hongo looking him over, eyes lingering on the scar across his chest. “If you want to go find Chopper, he’s my Doctor, the best doctor! But! If you want to go see him, I’m sure he’ll be glad to share my medical file with you.”
Hongo forgot how insightful his nephew was and grinned, ruffling his hair. “I’ll go do that Anchor, thank you. Remember, don’t let him get out of bed, watch his left side.”
“I will Hongo, thank you,” Luffy replied as he stepped further into the room and waved off Hongo who closed the door behind him.
Removing his hat, he placed it on the table off to the side, laying the rifle on it as well before crawling onto Benn’s right side and snuggling into his Da’s side. He let his eyes slip closed as he soothed himself with the faint thump of his heart and the rise and fall of his chest. He wrapped his haki around his Da, stretching out his observation as he let the steady beat to lull him into a light doze.
He drifted in that in between, focused so on his crew and acquainting himself with his Mamãe’s crew’s voices when he was startled by fingers running through his hair. He blinked open his eyes blearily to look up and see his Da’s storm-grey eyes peering down at him.
“Anchor? Am I dreaming or are you really here?” Benn rasped softly, fingers running through his son’s hair.
It wouldn’t be the first time that Benn had awoken to Luffy in his arms, he and Shanks always dreamed of the days when they were back in Foosha, especially on the nights when Luffy’s achievements are published and reminding them both how much time has passed. Though, he and Shanks would never admit or talk about the nights they woke up screaming for their son, sobs choking them, tears blinding them that began after the war.
“I’m here Da,” Luffy admitted as he snuggled further into his Da’s embrace, careful of the bandages and wounded side.
Benn let out a slow breath through his nose as he heard the slight wobble in his son’s voice, at seeing the spark of sadness in those dark eyes. “You heard about what happened?”
“Uhuh,” Luffy admitted with a faint scowl before twisting around, grabbed the rifle from the table and brought it back to the bed, placing it on Beckman’s lap.
Beck inhaled sharply as his Rifle came into view, it was his Da’s and his Da’s before that, the only thing that he had brought with him when Shanks won him in that poker game so many years ago. It was the only thing left he had of his Da and it broke him when he realised that they had taken it, he mourned its loss, knowing he would never see it again… but here it was, clean and fixed, in his son’s hand.
“Where?” He choked out, pulling Luffy close.
“The bastard who did it was from the island I had just claimed in protection, he arrived bragging about what he had done… when I saw he had this… well, I just had to bring it back. I know how important it was to you Da, you always carried it, never let it out of your sight. Taught me to shoot with it, clean it, care for it.” Luffy explained as he sat up, bringing over a mug of water as his Da began to choke, holding it up to his lips to take a sip.
“What did you do?” Benn asked, smiling his thanks as his son placed the cup back down.
“Brought them here,” Luffy said simply with a shrug, like what he did wasn’t a big deal, like he wasn’t breaking a promise.
Beckman grabbed his son’s hand and pulled him close again, staring down at his kid. “What about your promise Anchor?”
“There are some things more important than a promise Da,” Luffy stated firmly, staring up at him with unreadable eyes. “You are more important than a promise, when that monte de merda said he shot you in the back and couldn’t answer if you were alive or not… I got so angry… scared deep down… I lost Ace, I cannot lose you too.”
Benn buried his face into Luffy’s dark red hair, pressing a kiss into his crown. “You won't Anchor, it’s either going to be old age or nothing short of a buster call or…”
“An all-out war, I know.” Luffy finished with a sniffled laugh.
Exhaustion pulled at Beckman but he fought it off, he refused to miss even a single moment with his kid. Especially when Beck asked for a story of his latest adventure and watched as Luffy came alive in his tale of his time in Wano and how he had mastered a new form of Haki called Ryou. His eyes flickered to the door and saw his husband leaning against the frame with a wide smile, pride clear to see.
“Shishishi, it was exhausting but fun!” Luffy finished shoulders up to his ears as he giggled, nearly tipping off the bed only for Shanks to catch him.
“Careful Anchor,” Shanks chided softly but the little gremlin only laughed harder and leant back languidly.
“But I knew you would catch me Mamãe, I saw it,” Luffy admitted with a wide D grin.
Shanks raised his brows but let it go for now, just filing it away as another question to ask later. He turned to his husband who was wide awake, if a bit exhausted though looking much better as he stared at Anchor. Shaking his head, Shanks ruffled his kid's hair. “Your son has delivered us a gift. I dealt with half of it but the other is in the hold, awaiting your judgment.”
Benn raised his brows. “Oh, my son huh? What did you do this time Luffy?”
“He disarmed the captain who shot you and in return kneecapped him,” Shanks replied quickly, cutting off Luffy and chuckling as he pouted.
Benn did a double take at that, staring at Anchor who was still pouting, trying to superimpose the image Shanks had just described to him over his ball of sunshine. He knew he taught Anchor how to shoot, but Luffy was adamant that he refused it as a main weapon as he preferred fighting with his fists and teeth. “Anchor did what now?”
“He wouldn’t tell me if you were alive!” Luffy said in indignation.
Shanks laughed at that, he was so proud, oh so proud of the man that Luffy had become. Before he made his way back down, deciding to let Beck and Luffy bond for a bit longer, asked Luffy’s crew what had exactly happened on the island. The story that he got in return would be one he would remember, the awe and respect his crew showed as the recounted it, the pride they had in their Captain. Luffy had indeed become a great pirate.
He recounted the story to Beckman who was alternating between grinning and a disbelieved slack jaw, Shanks was there with him in those feelings. All three of them laughed as Luffy butted in and told them the reaction when Zoro introduced him; when the idiot realised that the Yonko before him was Benn D. Luffy, their son.
“Seas Anchor, I’m so proud of you.” Beckman breathed as he pulled Luffy to his chest, uncaring if it caused a spark of agony down his side. “So very proud, truly are my son.”
“Of course I am! We Benn’s are feral and protective of all we love.” Luffy giggled, drawing a laugh from both men.
Benn ruffled his kid's hair as he snuggled in close, letting Shanks slip in behind him, it was a tight squeeze on the bed but neither of the three cared. Later, when they wished to leave their bubble there was still so much to do, a fate to decide and a crew to organise but for now, Shanks and Benn just enjoyed the company of their son.