"Whatcha growling at, Luffy?" Shanks asked as he came up behind the young teen. Luffy glanced at him before looking back out over the waves, a low growl rumbling from his chest. Shanks had the urge to ruffle his messy chewed-short hair but thought better of it at the last moment. Luffy might tolerate him more than his brothers, but he'd still bite if Shanks crowded him. Keeping this in mind he took a place against the rails and looked out over the ocean for whatever had the boy on high alert. He was expecting a seaking, not the small vessel heading towards them. A low curse at whichever (drunk likely) sod was on lookout and Shanks was scaling the mast himself.

"You call this being on lookout?" He snapped, kicking Rockstar awake as he snatched the spyglass from his lax hands.

"S'rry Cap'n." The drunk pirate slurred. "'ll get right on it..."

"You'll do no such thing." Shanks growled out, slapping his hands away and looking through the glass. "Dammit!" He spat, "You, get down there and let Benn know we have incoming."

That sobered Rockstar up. "Marines?"

"I wish. Whitebeards." He growled out in equal parts annoyed and confused.

The Whitebeard crew rarely sailed these waters despite a few of the surrounding islands being under their protection. Shanks himself tended to avoid these waters just in case word ever got back to Newgate and the old man took it as a challenge. Not that it was likely to happen, but some of his younger sons and daughters were quick enough to take offence. Since it wasn't part of his usual routes he and Benn had decided to take the chance and lose the marines that had been tailing them. A brilliant idea up until now. He cursed again as he watched the tiny ship grow, flag flapping in wind. The smaller ship had a good headwind and would catch up in an hour, less if they tried to change the course of the Red Force.

"What's the plan, Shanks?" Benn called from down below, standing calmly at the base of the mast as the crew readied themselves for a fight.

"Drop anchor. There's no point in running." The captain grumbled after he dropped down. "We are trespassing, technically. No need to give those idiots any more reason to attack."

"If that's what you want." Benn replied, eyes flitting over to the railing where all three brats were now leaning.

The gunman didn't even have to voice his concern because Shanks was thinking the same thing. Since the first battle with the marines, their crew had faced two other warships. The boys had acted with surprising violence to the intruders on the ship each time. Though they'd yet to actually harm any of his crewmen, Ace had taken to bullying those he apparently found weak since the second battle. Sabo had yet to actively take part, but Shanks had seen the calculating look he'd given some crewmen when they'd make to leave the area the boys were in. Luffy... well, he didn't exactly bully anyone, but he wasn't above bouts of temper that had him snarling at any passing crewmen. It was a situation that grew worse each time another ship crossed their path for any reason, making any confrontation dangerous. He and Benn had tried to curtail the behavior with the help of Yassop but nothing seemed to work. Shanks knew in his bones if something wasn't done soon someone on the crew was going to get seriously hurt. Especially if the crew lashed out at the brats. The thought worried him a little more than what would happen if one of the brats attacked one of Newgate's boys.

That wasn't to say he wanted to find out what such an act would cause, either. Rubbing the bridge of his nose against the rising headache he sighed. "I'll... try and get them settled in my cabin."

"Need a hand?" Benn offered.

"No, thanks." He replied before approaching the three teens.

Shanks was sure to keep his walk controled and looked down at them with a calm expression when the three glanced at him. Ace let out a growl while baring his teeth, likely knowing he wasn't going to like why Shanks was there. "Ace, stop that."

"Nnn-ooo." The boy warbled, turning back to look over the waters towards the approaching ship. "Theat."

"No, not a threat."

"Theat!" Ace snapped back, his brothers repeating him until the word bled into a yapping growl.

Shanks wanted to growl himself in frustration. "Hey!"

All three paused and looked at him, eyes fixed on his chin.

"Stop that. Not a threat. No fighting." He glared down at them.

"Yssss! Feiiight!" Luffy whined. Sabo sneezing in apparent agreement.

"No." All three bared their teeth at him, unhappy and willing to argue. He let out a controlled burst of haki, cowing them temporarily. "Come. Follow."

Still growling and huffing under their breath all three followed. Once or twice he had to stop and remind them he was in charge as they'd turn back to watch the fast approaching ship. All said, it took a quarter of an hour to get them across the deck to the door of the cabin he'd claimed for himself. He'd expected them to balk, but was still surprised when Luffy took one look at the door and turned to run. Usually the brat enjoyed exploring the room with the things he'd taken to deliberately hiding in there for them to find. "Oh no you don't!" Shanks snapped out, lunging and catching the boy. His greater weight pinning the squirming youth by the middle before he manfully hauled Luffy into the room. It was hard to ignore the bites and scratches he received while doing this. The other two boys, interpreting his move as aggressive had each latched onto a leg and were attempting to savage him though his armement coating. It was a fight to get them all into the room, and after shutting the door Shanks leaned against the wood, feeling it shake as the three threw themselves against it. He knew it was possible he had damaged their tentative trust in him, but he saw no other way to prevent a war with the Whitebeard's over the brats attacking one of Newgate's boys.