"Luffy. Cora-san and I are going into the forest. I'm going to show him the cliff that your grandpa threw us off of. Can I trust you to stay in town and not get into trouble? Shanks should be back today." Law said hiking his pack onto his shoulders. He told Luffy the cliff story, but really they were going for a picnic and to spend time together talking. They hadn't done that in a while, and he missed it. Plus, Luffy would eat all the food.
Luffy grinned and nodded, "I can stay out of trouble Law!" he said then held up his pinky finger, "I promise." he said.
Law snorted, but took the pinky anyways, "Very well. We'll be back around noon. That should be when Shanks arrives too. He called Cora-san earlier." he said, then waved as Luffy ran to the bar. He rolled his eyes, and turned towards Cora-san who was smiling brightly. Law smiled in return and they started on. It was a nicely sunny day, and the weather was warm. It was a perfect day for a picnic. Law felt excitement fill him. He didn't often get to do something that he really enjoyed, besides, it would take his mind off of Ben. It was hard to believe that the man was the same age as the captain. (It didn't matter to Law that the man was thirteen years older than him. Love was love, and he knew how precious it was.) He missed him.
He shook it off as they started trekking up the path. The forest was beautiful with beams of golden sunlight streaming through the emerald foliage. He was a bit surprised when Cora-san started humming some strange tune about half an hour into their hike. "What are you singing Cora-san?" he asked.
Corazon looked back at Law and grinned, "It's a song Luffy made up about the jungle." he said. Law just blinked at him then shrugged. He just snorted a bit in amusement when the humming started again.
Back in the village Luffy was enjoying spending time with Makino. He'd decided to help her run the bar. He figured that he'd stay out of trouble that way. He'd made a promise after all. Makino had set him to washing dishes, and he was trying really hard not to break anything. He did really well for an hour, then he got bored.
Makino watched the little boy start wiggling. It was obvious that he wanted to do something else, so she took pity on him, "Luffy. Why don't you sit down and eat some lunch now? Shanks and Rocinante should both be back soon." she said, a plate of food already ready for Luffy.
Luffy grinned, "Thanks Makino!" he said happily, and started to eat.
He hadn't been eating long when the doors to the bar burst open and the mountain bandits entered. Luffy wrinkled his brow, but ignored them. Shanks had told him that he didn't always need to fight, plus he'd promised Law not to get in any trouble. He saw how Makino's face paled, but she smiled anyways, and moved to serve them.
They were loud, and obnoxious, but Luffy studiously ignored them until the leader, Higufa, Higashi, Higuro, Luffy couldn't remember the name, started talking about the pirates.
"It's much nicer in here without those cowardly cleaning pirates stinking up the place." the leader said.
"You said it Higuma-sama!" one of the bandits laughed.
Luffy ignored them as long as he could and then he turned around, "Take that back you damned mountain ape! Shanks is way cooler and braver than you could ever dream of being." he snarled. All eyes turned to him, and Higuma stood up.
A short distance away, the Red Force was drawing closer to Foosha, and a certain red haired captain was really excited, and, to a less noticeable extent, so was the first mate. "Roci said that they should be going back to HQ soon, Ben." Shanks said, then he slid a sly grin over to his first mate, "That means Law too. So when we head back to the New World, they'll be really close at hand, eh?" he said. It amused him (probably way too much) that his first mate had feelings for a thirteen year old. Not that Ben had any plans to do anything about it till the kid got older, but it was still amusing.
Ben shot a glare at his captain, and long time friend, "Hm." was all he said, and Shanks pouted. The long haired man was no fun to tease because he didn't react much, no blushing, or denial, or anything. Shanks sighed. He could see Foosha drawing nearer, and with the little village, so did his lover. He slipped a hand in his pocket, and fingered a slim banded ring that rested there.
As they got nearer to the shore, Shanks was surprised to see that no one was there to greet them. It was unusual, and made his stomach twist a bit. "Ben." he said, and Ben nodded, something was wrong.
They docked quickly, and walked through the village to where they could hear people talking. Shanks felt his heart stop, but he put on a smile, "Mah. What's this? I was wondering why no one was at the dock to meet us." he said, his words directed at everyone, but his eyes on Luffy who was on the ground under the mountain bandit's boot.
The bandits snickered when they saw them, "What? Done cleaning everything?" Higuma taunted.
Shanks ignored him, "Could you let my friend go?" he asked pleasantly, his stance non-threatening.
Higuma snorted, "No. He made me angry, and no one who makes me angry lives! I've killed many men! and he will be one more notch on my belt." the man declared.
Shanks started walking forward when suddenly gun was pressed to his temple, "Don't get any closer." the bandit smirked.
"So you are laying your life on the line?" Shanks asked. The bandit's face showed confusion, so Shanks clarified, "A gun is not a toy, once you've drawn it, your life is bet." he said. The bandit laughed and cocked the gun, starting to pull the trigger.
A gunshot went off, and the bandit fell to the side, Lucky Roux lowered his gun, still chewing on a piece of meat.
The rest of the bandits charged Shanks, who moved to pull his swords, but Ben stepped forward, "I got this Captain." he said, and removed his long rifle from his belt.
Law and Corazon walked into the square just in time to watch Ben take out the entire group of bandits with the butt of his rifle. Law felt his mouth go dry at the sight of the muscular man kicking ass. His heart thudded loudly, and his fists clenched. This was getting ridiculous. Why did he have to fall in love? This went against all of his future plans. He didn't notice Corazon watching him with a knowing smile. His son was so cute.
They circled around the crowd until they reached the pirates, but they didn't say anything because they didn't want to disturb them from trying to save Luffy.
When Ben was finished he pointed the butt of his rifle at Higuma, "If you want to take us on you better bring a battle ship. We're pirates, not weak mountain bandits." he said, lazily blowing smoke out.
Higuma panicked and threw down a smoke bomb, when the smoke cleared both he and Luffy were gone. Shanks panicked, "LUFFY DISAPPEARED!" he said, starting to run after the bandit, but Ben stopped him.
"Calm down Captain. We'll save him." he said. Then he pointed over his shoulder towards the shore, "The bandit probably took him to the sea, both to kill him quickly, and to attempt to trick us. Who would think a mountain bandit would go to sea?" he said. Shanks nodded thanks and took off running towards the shore. He was followed by Corazon and Law, and after them were the rest of the pirates, and the villagers. They were all right behind him, until Cora-san tripped and took everyone else out with him.
Shanks saw the bandit holding Luffy out over the boat, and drop him into the water. Shanks dove in. He could see the bandit laughing, but he could also see the Sea King opening his jaws to eat the man. He reached Luffy in time to pull him out of the Sea King's way, but a sharp pain filled his senses. He realize that his arm was gone. 'Damn it.' he thought, then turned to look at the Sea King who was making another round. "Go Away." he said releasing his Haoshoku Haki onto the thing. The monster stared at him before turning tail and swimming away as fast as he could.
Shanks held Luffy tightly to him as the boy sobbed, "Hey, it's okay Luffy! We're safe now!" he said smiling.
"B-but your a-arm!" Luffy wailed. Shanks held him tighter with his remaining arm and looked up at the sky, "What's an arm to your life?" he asked quietly. "I don't mind giving up an arm as long as you are safe." he said. Luffy sobbed harder.
Rocinante watched as a boat brought Luffy and Shanks back to shore. He'd arrived at the dock in time to see the Sea King take his lover's arm. He didn't think he'd ever forget the crimson arc that Shanks' blood had made.
He calmed his breathing, and moved to the end of the dock, and helped Shanks up out of the boat. Shanks looked at him, his gaze uncertain, so Roci smiled, "What's an arm to the life of a loved one?" he asked, "I'll love you no matter what." he said. Shanks grinned at him, and handed Luffy over.
"Thank Kami." he said, then pushed the doctor away from him, "I was going to ask you earlier, but there was something to be taken care of, and Law gave me his blessing, since I don't plan to ask your father. But." he got down on one knee. "Donquixote Rocinante, will you marry me? Even though I only have one am with which to hold you now?" he asked.
Rocinante felt tears fill his eyes, "Out of all the times to ask me, you had to pick the one where you're bleeding to death. Yes, I'll marry you." he said. Shanks jumped up and put the ring on Roci's finger.
"Oh good, I was afraid that you'd say no. Okay." he said and turned to the doctor, "You can save my life now." he said with a grin.
The sound of many face palms resounded around him, "What?" he asked as he was drug away.
A/N: I know that Ben is not Shanks' age, but in order to keep the age difference between him and Law smaller, I've fudged his age a bit. Thank you.