Chapter 2 - Talking It Out

A/N: HOLD UP! STOP BEFORE READING THE CHAPTER AND READ MY (QUICK) AUTHOR NOTE!

I know Ace has a crew and all but I'm changing the crewmates because well, I can. But except for Masked Deuce, he's staying. Why? Well...

BECAUSE I CAN!

So that's it, bye!

"You can't be serious."

"I'm serious."

"You're never serious."

"Ouch."

Benn sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm being honest, he won't accept the offer. He won't leave his crew," he pointed out.

"So his crew can join us!" Shanks fired back. Benn looked up and met his Captains stubborn gaze. Shanks rubbed a hand over his face and huffed in frustration.

"Benn, he's the son of the Pirate King! Imagine hearing the stories about him as a child from strangers, he probably thinks he's some son of a monster! Probably thinks he's also a monster, can you imagine thinking that as a child?" his voice was harsh but Benn knew he wasn't angry at him.

"We don't even know if he knows for sure," he argued. Shanks gave him a disbelieving look. "Really? Not even Garp could keep that from him."

"We're not even sure if he is his son!" Shanks raised his eyebrows and said, "Now you're saying this? Benn, I know we don't have that many facts, heck probably none at all, but I know he's Rogers kid! It makes sense, at least to me."

Benn scrubbed both hands over his face and sighed. Shanks carefully set Rouge's poster back safely and faced his First Mate, his face dead serious.

"Benn, I know he's his son. He looks exactly like Rouge, who was the only woman ever to be close to Roger. And those eyes, those eyes are exactly Rogers," Shanks took a breath and closed his eyes.

Without opening them he said strained, "Ace is their son. I know he is."

Benn knew it also. He just didn't want to believe it only because if Ace was the Pirate King's son, then his life would be of him having to look over his shoulder constantly. Worried if someone found out and ready to kill him.

But if anyone did found out, then possibly he was going to be more wanted than Monkey D. Dragon.

They were both silent for a while, until Benn broke it first. "What if Ace doesn't want to join? He clearly loves his crew and his crew loves him."

"Then he doesn't have to, he can be a close ally if he wants. Heck, he doesn't have to be an ally at all. I can, and will, give him my Den Den number and he can call whenever he wants… I just want to be there for him if he needs someone," Shanks said, sounding slightly pained.

He wanted to be there for Ace because from it sounds like, Ace had no one to look out after him. He had Luffy, but an older brother would never tell their younger sibling if they were hurting or going through a rough time. Because they had to be strong.

He wasn't expecting to be a father figure to Ace, but as someone he could talk to if he wanted to. Ace could talk to him about anything if he wanted. From the color of the sky to the color of peas if he wanted to for the heck of it.

Shanks just wanted to be there.

"Alright, I'm in. But you better come up with some darn good arguments cause that kid won't give in easily," Benn said suddenly, breaking his train of thought.

Shanks grinned and laughed. "Of course! You think of me like an idiot?"

"Yes."

"...rude."

Ace was trying very hard not to laugh at his hungover crewmates. The poor idiots were groaning and stumbling around like newborn ducks.

"Captain, never let me drink again," Pakky, the crew's sniper, groaned. Ace grinned and slapped him on the back, causing the poor man to nearly cry.

"Aw c'mon Pakky! You know that's not going to happen!" Ace exclaimed cheerfully. Pakky and the others around groaned and held their heads.

"Cap, please, shush. My head is going to split open," Nora, the only female crewmate, whined. Ace simply smiled and said, "Welp that seems to happen when you decide to drink lots of alcohol, sleep, and wake up. It's a hangover."

Nora whined pitifully and slumped against Tiny, the tiniest crewmate. "Why are you waking us up anyway? Let us sleep," she mumbled. The others grumbled their agreement from where they were sprawled out.

"Well we're heading off tomorrow and I want to make sure we have everything, and that we're ready to go first thing. So let's move!" Ace clapped his hands loudly which made everyone moan again.

But just before Ace could join his hungover crewmates, he saw Benn approaching them. "Oh, hi Benn!" Ace greeted cheerfully. The older man couldn't help but smile.

"Hello Ace. I just came to tell you that Shanks wants to see you, he's where you guys were last night," he explained casually but inside he was nervous. He was sure the kid was going to react badly probably to what Shanks was going to say.

Ace nodded and looked back towards his crew. "I'll be back in a bit guys, but hop to it while I'm gone!" he shouted the last part on purpose

The Spade pirates cursed at his retreating figure.

When he reached Shanks he could see the other leaning against a tree sipping a bottle.

Ace walked up and leaned against the tree across from the Yonko. The man offered his bottle with a smile but Ace politely refused.

Shanks shrugged and just chugged the rest of it down before tossing it behind him and wiping his mouth.

"Ace," he started, voice serious, making the young man straighten up, "I'm going to be upfront and I want you to be level headed, alright?" Ace paused, hesitant, but nodded though a bit wary at what he was going to hear.

Shanks fully turned so that he was facing Ace and made dead eye contact with him. Ace did the same and felt nerves lighting up with how serious Shanks was being.

"Do not go after Whitebeard," he warned. Ace stiffened at that and the tone of his voice. "Why not?" he questioned but not angrily, remembering Shanks's words.

"Because while you are strong, he's way stronger than you'll ever be and that's a fact," he said bluntly but truthfully. Ace looked away and narrowed his eyes at the ground, feeling upset.

Shanks paused, letting his words settle in for a moment, then saying gently, "I'm just saying this because I don't want to see you get hurt, kid. Recklessness is bad to have, and you my friend are quite reckless."

"Why do you care? I'm nobody to you," Ace said, looking at him questioningly. Shanks raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Nobody? Kid, like I've been telling you since we met, you're my friend. And friends look out for each other, so that's what I'm doing." And he was being honest. But Ace crossed his arms defensively, not really believing him.

"But why would you want to be friends with me?" he asked. Shanks raised his eyebrows and scoffed. "Maybe because I like you?" he said as if it was obvious.

Now that made Ace flush a bit red in embarrassment. Shanks smiled amusedly and while he wanted to tease him, he grew somber and remembered he needed to continue this talk.

"Ace, why do you want to go after Whitebeard? And be honest with me, please," he asked. Ace frowned at him, probably wondering if he should be honest or lie.

Shanks raised his hand and placed it on Ace's shoulder, but was sad when he saw the fire-user conceal a flinch. "C'mon kid, I won't make fun of you. I'll keep this a secret between us, ok?" he assured, hoping the teen would open up.

Ace didn't say anything for a while. He just stared at Shanks, wondering if he could trust him. But instantly he erased that thought out of his head.

This was the man that saved his little brother's life. Also the man that said he actually likes him, called him his friend.

With a heavy sigh, Ace finally spoke. "I...I never knew anything about my parents. But I've heard people talk about my...my father, and they said he was a monster. A killer, and a horrible man. Yet that he was strong and did incredible things."

Ace paused, and while he did Shanks felt a burning hot flare of anger soar through him. Roger could be the most scariest man you ever met, but he didn't get like that without a darn good reason. And to hear that your father was a killer, a monster at such a young age?

But before he could dwell in those thoughts any longer Ace started speaking again.

"So I want to become stronger than he was and be recognized for my own strength, not his...I know it probably sounds stupid but I just want to be known for me, not him.." Ace looked down and felt regret bite at him. Never should have told him..

"Kid I don't think it's stupid. It's understandable really," Shanks said earnestly. Ace snapped his head up and stared at him surprised.

"Really? I mean, you did just say I was reckless and I thought you'd say I was being childish," Ace sheepishly admitted. Shanks shook his head and sighed.

"No it's not childish and actually, I'd probably feel the same. While you are reckless, at the same time you are smart kiddo. But how you are going after Whitebeard is reckless because I'm being honest when I say you can't beat him," Shanks said carefully.

Ace huffed and looked away. What patience the Yonko had left was beginning to disappear. He needed the teen to understand but it seems that he wouldn't. So now it was time for the big guns.

"Ace, one of the many strong abilities that Whitebeard has is Conqueror's haki. That means he can make you fall before him without even lifting a finger. And the stronger the user's will is, the stronger the haki will be. Whitebeard's will is very strong, so he'll easily put you down." With every serious fiber in his being Shanks made sure he used as he said this.

Ace widened his eyes and swallowed. That itself sounded intimidating. Whitebeard could really knock him down without moving?

To Shanks's relief, it seemed Ace was starting to understand but barely. So he continued and made sure he didn't lose eye contact.

"Not only that, but he has the Gura Gura no mi. This Devil Fruit could destroy the world, and he could just easily take you down with that. Actually, he can take you down without using any of that. He's an incredibly strong giant, so he could throw you overboard like if it was swatting a fly away." Now Shanks stopped, and was starting to somewhat regret saying that.

Ace looked small, like the young man he really is. Heck, he was feeling small.

Whitebeard was that strong. Whitebeard was that strong.

And he wanted to bring his crew into this?

"Think about Luffy." Immediately Ace faced Shanks with an intense look. "What about about my brother?" he questioned. Shanks looked at him like he was an idiot.

"Really? Imagine Luffy waking up, doing his thing, maybe going over to see Makino. But he sees the newspaper and it says Fire Fist Ace Seen Last With The Whitebeards Defeated. Now I don't know about you, but I think that little boy would be in a high state of panic and fear. Filled with fear if his brother wasn't returning," Shanks stopped, only to catch his breath, and started talking again. But Ace was frozen on the spot, it all coming down on him.

"Now Whitebeard likes to recruit kids like you sometimes, sees them as potential children and whatnot. And he's a stubborn and patient old man, so who knows how long he'll keep you onboard. A month? Two months? Do you really want Luffy to wait that long, to hear news if his big brother is still alive? Maybe he'll even set sail to try and look for you, try to challenge Whitebeard like you are now-"

"STOP IT!"

Shanks did, and felt guilt hit him. Ace was trembling and looked like he beating himself up.

So he didn't speak, just letting Ace try and get himself back together. He looked over the teen's shoulder and saw Benn, a questioning and concerned look on his face. Shanks shook his head and his First Mate left, though slowly.

He looked back at Ace and said softly, "Look kid, I didn't mean you make you feel guilty and ashamed, I'm sorry. I just want you to understand and realize that what you want to do isn't smart. It'll hurt Luffy and your crew. Also yourself, including physically."

Ace didn't speak but nodded numbly. Was he really going to make his crew do that? Join him on an insane and impossible goal? To make Luffy worry about him, when he already lost one brother?

He was an idiot. He should be worrying about getting stronger to protect the people he loves, instead of going after a Yonko and getting his butt whooped.

He was endangering his crew and was going to cause Luffy pain. His baby brother.

"You're right…" he admitted quietly. Shanks closed his eyes and silently let a breath of relief out. The kid finally understood and saw reason.

Shanks once again gently placed his hand on Ace's shoulder and rubbed it soothingly. While he felt guilty he also felt glad. Using Luffy like that maybe was a bit far, but it worked so he didn't feel that bad.

After a few minutes Ace stepped back and coughed, embarrassed. "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to get all wimpy on you," he laughed bitterly at himself.

Shanks shook his head at that. "No don't be sorry. And you weren't being wimpy kid, you were realizing and understanding the severity of what you wanted to do… What do you plan to do now though?" he inquired curiously.

Ace blinked and frowned. What should he do? Maybe go on a treasure hunt? A nice adventure didn't sound too bad.

"Dunno. Adventure is on my mind so maybe a little treasure hunt, or sail around and explore islands. That is one reason why I wanted to become a pirate, to go on many adventures and have fun," he answered.

Carefully Shanks leaned back onto the tree and looked down below from the cliff they were on. Two birds flew by, chasing each other. Then a third came into view and followed them.

"You know, I think I got something in mind for you," he said casually. Ace tilted his head in innocent curiosity, which was adorable.

"Yeah? Whatcha got?" he asked with some excitement. Shanks probably knew a ton of adventures and that was exciting.

"Come sail with me."

Ace widened his eyes so big that Shanks worried if his eyes would bug out. "What?" he asked incredulously. Shanks simply gave a half hearted shrug as if it was nothing.

"Why not? You want adventure and sailing with us will bring a ton of adventure. Every week there's something explore or do. And besides, it'll be cool to hang out with you more kiddo, we can swap stories and sail around," he said with a cheery smile.

Ace opened and closed his mouth in disbelief and confusion. "Seriously? You actually want to sail together?" Shanks rolled his eyes and snorted.

"Serious. Like I said, there's adventure and we can show you some really cool islands." While he wanted to ask Ace to join his crew, he needed to take this slow.

He somehow manage to convince Ace to stop his reckless act of going after Whitebeard but he couldn't push. Ace needed time and after getting to know the Red Hairs better, he had a bigger chance of getting the fire-user to join.

Ace was quiet, really contemplating the offer. It sounded fun, and he was sure his crew would like to. Besides, Shanks had really good stories to tell and he would love to hear more.

Abruptly Ace faced the older man and nodded. "I would like to, but I gotta ask my crew first." Shanks smiled and chuckled lightly.

"That's alright. You're a good Captain to take in your crew's thoughts and feelings. Now, let's head back before everyone decides to come find us and cause a mess," he laughed good naturally.

Ace laughed also and together the two Captains walked back.