"How do the waters look?"

Benn gave his captain and long time friend a dry look. "It's called the Calm Belt for a reason, Shanks."

The bastard just laughed at him. "Fair enough. The seaking we caught still going in the right direction, or do we need to cut it loose and try for another?"

That was a better question. Benn considered it for a moment, using the sun and the regular compass as a guide. "We are a little off course but not too bad. I'd say if it keeps heading in this direction we should be fine."

"Good. I'll still prepare some bait just in case though."

"You're just saying that because you want to go fishing." Shanks just grinned at him. "You are a horrible captain."

"But yet you follow me."

"To the ends of the sea, damn you. Someone has to keep you out of trouble."

"Or be right there with me when I get into trouble."

"Only to get you out of it." Benn shot back with a smirk of his own. In truth he caused almost as much trouble himself, and when you added Yasopp and Lucky the four of them were a nightmare. But he still firmly asserted that Shanks was the worst. He was the captain after all.

"Speaking of me in trouble…. you forgiven me for the brats yet?" The captain asked his first mate, looking off into the distance.

Benn answered honestly. "Am I happy that they're terrorizing the crew? No. Do I enjoy having to watch where I step? Not particularly. Do I think this might be more than we can handle? Yes." When Shanks wilted he continued. "Would I have shot you if you hadn't taken them? In a hot second. The way I see it there's really nothing to forgive."

Shanks let out a shaky breath. "Thanks, Benn."

"For the record the rest of the crew feels the same. Even Lucky. The brats are nasty pieces of work sometimes, but so are we." Benn took a long drag on his cigarette, something he only got to smoke when the kids were nowhere in sight. "At least they're wearing pants now. Baby steps, and we might actually make halfway decent pirates out of them yet."

"Hey now, at this point I'll settle for human." Shanks said, only half jokingly.

"Being human is over rated."

"Fine, talking. I'm willing to settle for talking."

Benn let out a laugh, "You always aim so high, captain. We'll see what we can do."

Shanks opened his mouth, likely to say something snippy and flippant when the lookout called out. "Ship ahead! It's a skiff, captain!"

Shanks' face closed off instantly. There was only one bastard crazy enough to cross the Calm Belt in a skiff. Benn didn't think it was a coincidence they'd run into him, either. Not with a Vice Admiral after them.

"Distance is closing, Shanks!"

"Dammit."

Benn couldn't agree more.