Kitsune with the latest installment of Reverse Tide! Thanks for waiting, Mina-san! Of course, your reviews and support have been a big help and inspiration and I've got a few more ideas lined up for this...but keep in mind I DO have two other fully active stories going right now that I need to work on as well as a full time job, so I update when I can. Anyway, a big thanks as usual to Mountain97. Let's get onto the story, shall we?
Question of the chapter: "Have you ever learned more about something because you saw it in an anime/manga?" YES! I'll come across something interesting in an anime/manga, and then I'll go do research on it. It happens a lot, actually, so I can't site an example. Happens to me with books and movies, too.
Benn was worried as hell. Shanks had been trailing behind Luffy and this Ace-that-wasn't-their-Ace like a loyal dog since the strange man had arrived. Now, he more then used to his captain generally acting like a fun-loving goof. Heck, he was basically immune to Shanks' antics. So, one would think seeing the grown man hiding behind a barrel as the two went racing past intent on some game Luffy had just made up he would just ignore it. If it had been their Ace, he probably would have, or at most teased the captain unmercifully over it.
The problem was, it wasn't. Their Ace had completely vanished into thin air the same time this stranger had arrived. Benn himself had checked over every inch of the ship to be sure that he wasn't hiding away like he was prone to do when frightened. Shanks, who had been beside himself with worry for the boy, was acting like nothing was wrong. He wasn't even batting an eye over the Whitebeard pirate cavorting on their ship. A pirate with an unhealthy interest in Luffy. He was sure that this 'Ace' had done something to the captain, particularly when his longtime friend had approached him just an hour ago and asked if he thought the black haired young man looked a bit pale to him. Shanks did not worry about strangers, let alone potential enemies, not when he had the boys to think about.
Now even Ricky was acting strange. Benn had caught him watching the two play about on deck with a pensive half smile on his face. Ricky hadn't once asked where Ace had run off to, instead commenting to Benn that the young pirate on board was amazingly well adjusted. When the first mate had raised his worry over letting Luffy get so close to the stranger, the doctor had just laughed him off. He'd been told that the older Ace apparently had a younger brother Luffy's age, one that he missed quite a bit. Personally, he thought that was a little too convenient. If he didn't know for a fact that this Ace-guy was a fire-type devil-fruit user, he'd suspect him of having one that let him use mind control or something.
Lucky and Yassop were also suspicious, watching him warily any time he happened to come near, ready to swoop in and rescue Luffy the moment he did something even slightly suspicious. But it fell to him as first mate to get to the bottom of this. For that reason alone he was once again on deck listening for the two. Luffy didn't know how to be quiet after all, so all Benn had to do was follow the sounds of raucous laughter. A cooler breeze had him glancing up momentarily, spying some darker clouds on the starboard side, the signs of a potential storm brewing. The laughter stopped.
Benn raced across the deck, reaching where he knew the sound had been coming from, fearing the worst. "Luffy! Are you alr...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Ace fell asleep," the boy grinned, holding up a marker he'd gotten from who knows where proudly, "I was going to make him pretty!"
"Why does that sound familiar?" Benn couldn't help the smile as he looked at the squiggles drawn on the cheeks of the sleeping man. They'd had to stop Luffy a few times from doing the exact same thing to his brother during his narcoleptic fits. He was curious as to what had caused the guy to drop so suddenly, though. With my luck, he's got the plague or something... "As much as I'd love to let you continue, you're going to have to stop."
"AWWWWW!"
"Don't 'Awwww' me, Luffy. You know better. Now. Go give the marker back to whoever you stole it from this time." A distant boom of thunder interrupted him, causing the boy to jump and clutch the sleeping man. Benn hid his frown at the act, remembering that the boy was terrified of thunder. "Why don't you go find Shanks, eh? I'll get 'Ace' here up and we'll join you in a bit."
Luffy shook his head stubbornly, clutching even harder to the bright orange belt, "NO! I wanna stay with Ace!"
Sighing, the tall man crouched low, deciding for now to put aside his apprehension over the stranger and humor the frightened boy. "I know, Luffy...but look. It's going to rain, right?" the boy nodded, looking upset over the fact, "If you stay out here, you're going to get very wet. Ace, too. So while you and Shanks get your room just the way you want it, I'll wake Ace up so he doesn't get all wet. Sound like a good plan?"
"Ummm..." Another distant rumble could be heard, deciding the boy, "you promise?" Benn nodded. "Ok! I'll go find Shanks then!" Luffy took off running as fast as his little legs could carry him, leaving the first mate with an unconscious pirate to deal with.
He sighed, looking down at the young man snoring soundly on the deck. Part of him, a rather big part actually, wanted to just leave him out there, but another glance at the now-dark sky had him changing his mind. "Damn conscious. Pirates shouldn't be nice guys... Hey. Wake up."
The guy snorted in his sleep, rolling on his side and continued to snore. Benn ground his teeth. On the one hand, he was sure he could easily pick him up since he didn't look that heavy. On the other, there was the whole Mera Mera no Mi thing though. Not to mention the guy was a pirate. Pirates, as a general rule, didn't take kindly to surprises, and he had a few crewmates who'd been known to come up swinging when someone had woken them up suddenly. So, picking him up is just asking for third degree burns, I bet. He glared at Ace-not-Ace who continued to sleep, oblivious to it all.
"I really should just leave you out here to get rained on. Serves you right, too. Complete bollocks the way the capt'n trusts you just like that. Whitebeard pirate or no. I don't even think you are a Whitebeard, for that matter. Bet your name isn't even Ace. Bet it's something lame, like...Bob. Or Samuel."
Ace snuffled in his sleep, still out of it as the occasional raindrop began to fall. Benn was actually fascinated to note that the few that landed on the man hissed and sizzled out of existence quickly. He wondered if maybe the guy wouldn't actually get wet if left out in the rain. Of course, if he did happen to get soaked to the bone Shanks, Ricky, and Luffy would come after him about it. He'd had Luffy kick him in the shins before and honestly, for a brat, the kid could sure kick hard.
He stood, eyeing the sleeping form with mild distaste. He could attempt to shake the sleeping fellow awake, possibly getting burned, or...Benn grinned, "Oy. Wake up, Sleeping Beauty!" he lightly kicked the man just below the ribs. More of a... firm toe-nudge. Yeah. Ace snored again, flopping back all the way onto his back, arms spread wide. "Hey. I said 'WAKE UP', Asshole!" He repeated the toe-nudge, "you wa-"
The sleeping man exploded into action. His right hand lashing out and catching his foot, digging strong fingers into to soft tendons just above the shoe while lifting up and out. Benn's arms windmilled as he tried to keep balance on his one leg only to have that one thoughtfully swept out from under him with a sweeping kick that would have broken his leg if his knee had been locked. As it was, he was going to be limping tomorrow. Benn ignored the pain blossoming in his hip as he landed poorly, flipping onto his back and answering with a strong kick of his own that connected with nothing but warm air, shit, fast!, and ready to let fly with his fists.
In less than a heartbeat the man was on top of him, a fist cocked back and a-flame, a glazed look in his gray eyes. Benn knew he was screwed, "Guess we know your true colors, eh?"
He just muttered, "Hanna, how many times I gotta tell you not to kick me awake?" blinking slowly. Benn realized then that he wasn't really awake, not yet. "No buckets of water, no kicks, no poking me with a stick. Is that so hard to remember? Now, WHAT was so important you wouldn't let me wake up on my own?"
"...It's about to storm." Benn pointed out, still not daring to move under the half-awake pyro-pirate.
"Y-yeah, so?" he yawned as the slow drizzle caused the marker to run on his face.
"I sent Luffy inside and decided to wake your ungrateful ass up."
Gray eyes snapped open, "Luffy?"
The first mate growled at him, "Yes, Luffy."
The man seemed to panic, sitting up straight and looking around frantically, "What's Luffy doing on the Moby Dick? He can't be on Moby now! Not with..."Ace shook his head, clearing the last of the cobwebs out of his mind, He looked down at his seat, "Benn?"
"Oh, so we're awake, now." he gave the man still sitting on him a dirty look, "Mind getting off me, then?"
"Huh? Oh..." Ace sheepishly moved and offered the other a hand. "Sorry about that...Don't tell the Hannas about this, please. You don't look anything like them."
"I should hope not. Mind telling me what that was about?" Ben refused to let go of the wrist after standing, ignoring the cold raindrops that hit him.
Ace looked up at the sky, "Can we do this later? Luffy doesn't like thunderstorms. I don't want him to be alone during one at sea."
"Captain Shanks should be with him right now." Benn shot back, filing away how odd it was that this stranger knew that about their Luffy. He wondered what else the man knew, and more importantly, how he knew it.
"Shanks? Are you sure he's not going to just tease him about it?"
"The capt'n knows better." Ace gave him a disbelieving look, "Either way, you're not going anywhere near Luffy again till you answer some questions."
"Typical Benn. Should have known." He smirked at him, daring him to ask his questions.
Benn glared at him as he fixed his hair back into a ponytail, "Why'd you just fall asleep like that?"
"Narcolepsy. Annoying as hell. Usually it isn't quite so bad, but I've, uh, had a rough week." He rubbed the back of his head, looking away.
"How'd you get on the ship?"
"Not a fucking clue." When Benn gave him the evil eye he shrugged, "Seriously, hell if I know. One minute I was somewhere else, next minute Shanks is yelling at me. Trust me, if I knew how I got here, I'd fix it. I've got...things...that need taking care of back home."
"Right. How about telling me where our little Ace has gotten to, then?" Benn crossed his arms, still blocking the man's way. When Ace refused to meet his eyes he tried another tactic, "Alright, what exactly are you up to? What did you do to our captain?"
"Huh?" Ace blinked at him, "What do you mean?"
He watched the young man carefully, "Like you don't know. Because pirates are so welcoming of strangers on their ships. I'll tell you what I think. I think you're a marine spy, sent to capture Ace and possibly Luffy." Ace's eyes became cold, very cold.
"Let's get one thing straight, Luffy is my precious family. I'll kill anyone who threatens him." He pushed past Benn, "As for me 'doing something' to your captain...other than giving him a near-heart attack, nothing."
"And Ace?" Benn questioned, following him into the hall past the crew who was studiously ignoring them. His mind wasn't really on the question, though. Instead he was thinking about what the man had just said. He didn't think this guy was related to Luffy in any way, but there was no doubting the conviction in his voice. The question became why.
The man gave him a dirty look over his shoulder, "I keep telling you people I didn't do anything to him. Trust me when I say it's in my best interests to keep that kid safe."
They arrived at the captain's room, where Benn assumed Luffy had bunked down. When the ship echoed with a peal of thunder the yelp that could be heard confirmed it. Ace sighed and threw open the door, revealing a smiling Shanks sitting on the bed next to a quivering lump of blankets Benn assumed was Luffy. He shared a rueful look with his captain as the bundle squeaked in fear.
Ace wasted no time walking over to the bed, "Hey, Lu-"
"ACE!" The boy practically flew, latching onto the young man who stumbled back a step. A trail of blankets connected him to the bed still. "Ace! AceAceAce!"
"Hey there, Luffy. What's wrong? Is Shanks teasing you again?" Ace had such a gentle smile on his face as he rubbed Luffy's hair.
"H-he said only b-babies are s-scared of thunde-r..." Luffy whimpered as another peal could be heard. There were tear streaks on his face, and Shanks looked mildly contrite. For Shanks, that is.
The Whitebeard pirate was not amused. He gently picked up Luffy before sitting on the bed and wrapping the blankets firmly around the boy as he held him tight. He shot Shanks disgusted look over Luffy's head. A look that Benn found oddly familiar for some reason. "Hey Luffy...wanna know a secret?"
"Secret?" The boy repeated, perking up a bit. The three had to stifle their chuckles, Luffy always did love secrets and mysteries. "YES!"
"Luffy, everyone is scared of something. Even Shanks and Whitebeard. Even me. My friend Marco? He's afraid of going bald. We never mention his hair, he gets really upset. I think I even saw him cry once. Tatch will actually run away from spoiled milk." He shrugged at the incredulous looks he received from the other pirates, "Don't ask. I've seen him do it, though." They waited as Luffy whimpered when another boom was heard, "So it's alright to be afraid sometimes."
"B-but I don't wanna b-be a b-b-baby!" Luffy sniffled.
Ace sighed, rubbing a hand soothingly on his back. Benn had to admit he was a bit impressed with how well he was doing with the boy...and he would remember those little facts about the Whitebeard crew. Never knew when it might come in handy, after all. When Shanks actually chortled, the glare he got could have peeled paint. His captain wisely shut up, though the damage was done, and Luffy was crying again.
"Alright. I wasn't going to tell you this...but..." Ace sighed, "I got one more secret."
"W-what," the boy sniffled.
Ace stage-whispered, "When you grow up, you won't be scared of thunder any more."
"Am I a pirate? 'Cauz pirates aren't scared of anything!" Luffy's eyes sparkled as he conveniently forgot what he had just been told, not even noticing as the storm got worse.
"Well..." Ace chuckled, rubbing the back of his head, "eventually, yeah." Luffy pouted at him, "What do you want from me, Lu? You sure as hell better still be in Fuusha right no-th...GAH! You're not seventeen yet!" Benn frowned, wondering how he knew Luffy's home village, or the age at which Ace had said he'd go out to sea, knowing Luffy would follow that rule.
"Oh!" Luffy grinned, "Why didn't you say so!"
"Ch. Idiot." he hugged the boy.
"What about Shanks? What's he doing?" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"Yeah, what am I doing?" Shanks smirked, and Benn noticed the nervous look on the young pirate's face. He wondered why his captain was playing along with the game.
"I don't know." The man looked away. Shanks' smirk turned into a full blown grin as he stood stretching, "Different ships and all that."
"Riiight. We'll go with that, then, Ace. Well. I'm off to go do Captain-y things. Why don't you boys try and get some sleep tonight? Make yourselves comfortable. I heard from a little birdy that someone didn't get much sleep last night because he was up half the night worrying." Shanks waved casually to the two sitting on his bed before swinging his hand around to slap his friend in the chest, "Come on Benn."
When the door clicked closed behind them the first mate couldn't help but notice the calm look on his face. Again, it worried him, but not as much as the thought of Luffy running out on deck during a storm trying to prove how brave he was. "Why don't you lock them in? You know, just to be safe?"
The look was replaced by one of horror, and Shanks shook his head emphatically, dragging him away from the door before hissing, "Don't ever even joke about locking Ace up, Benn!"
"I wasn't joking," He held up his hands when Shanks leveled his killer glare, "I was just thinking that Luffy might slip out onto the deck during the storm is all." and of course, keeping someone I don't trust secure would be nice, too. The red-head apparently saw the second part in his eyes though.
"We don't lock him in a room. Ever." The captain spoke before sighing, "Would you lock little Ace up in a room? Even if it was for his own good?"
In his mind's eye he saw the boy's broken body in that dark cell below deck again and shuddered, "What? NO! After all that kid's been though? That's just...God, no!" The thought of locking Ace in a room, any room actually made him physically ill. Hell, closed doors still gave the kid a panic attack sometimes, even if he tried to hide it.
Shanks nodded before heading back towards the deck, "Exactly."
Benn could only stare after him for a few moments, confused by what he had meant by that. Part of him was tempted to push it off as the man being six sheets to the wind like usual, but he couldn't help the nagging feeling he was missing something. Something very important that was just out of reach. Finally he trotted after the man and stopped him with an arm on his shoulder, "What do you mean by that?"
He just gave him a wain little smile, "Some things, Benn. Some fears you never get over. No matter how much time passes."
"Wha..."
"Oh, and buddy? My bed seems to be occupied for the evening, so I'm sure you won't mind me bunking with you, right? Dahahahahaha!"
"SHANKS! THAT'S NOT FUNNY!"
