Drama
Summary: In a modern world, Shanks is a teacher alongside the others. When Ace says something shocking, it has Shanks reevaluating his life. Modern AU. Shanks/Mihawk.
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome to another WIP that I shouldn't be doing but here we are! I hope you enjoy! On with the fic!
Warnings: Modern AU, the younger pirates are kids, Teacher AU, etc.
Chapter One: How Ace Started It All
Chapter Summary: When Ace tells Shanks something shocking in the car, Shanks is left in disbelief.
Shanks had everything gathered that he needed. His bag thrown over his shoulder, coffee cup in hand, car keys in between his fingers. He shoved his wallet and phone into his pockets, taking a drink of his coffee before he was moving towards the stairs, "Ace, we have to go!"
Grabbing his last-minute stuff, Ace came down the stairs, bag slung over his shoulder as he grumbled. "I was coming, Shanks."
"Well, let's do it a bit faster. First day of the new school year and the last thing we need to do is be late." Shanks muttered, motioning Ace out of the house and towards the car. He locked the door behind him as Ace got to the car. Climbing in without a word. Shanks sighed, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. He rounded the car, getting into the driver's seat.
As he started the car, he heard Ace mutter, "Someone needs to get laid."
The red head's jaw dropped open as he turned to look at Ace, "Where the hell did you hear that from?"
Ace was looking at him, shrugging, "Around."
Shanks rolled his eyes, putting on some music before he was pulling out of the driveway. He would deal with that later. Getting Ace out of bed this morning was a task and a half.
"Shanks, are you ever going to do something for yourself for once?" Ace questioned.
Shanks sighed, keeping his eyes on the road. "There's only one thing I'm concerned about, and it's you, kiddo."
"That's stupid." Ace grumbled. "Maybe if you actually had some fun, you'd be fun again."
"All I did was make you get up and get ready for school." Shanks retorted. "Besides, I'm a teacher so I can't be late."
He could hear Ace huff, muttering about missing school break already. Shanks sighed, shaking his head, and placing his full attention back on the road. Ace had been going through a phase as of recently. He wasn't exactly sure what to do, but maybe he could figure it out at some point. He had never had to do this before. He sure as hell never thought he would ever be in this position.
Twenty-seven with a ten-year-old. His parents – their parents – had passed away when Ace was a newborn. Their father, Gol D. Roger had died of a terminal illness when Ace was still in the womb. Their mother, Portgas D. Rouge had passed during childbirth from complications. It had left Ace with no parents to go home too. So, Shanks took him in. Done everything he possibly could to get custody of his brother. It had been hard, especially an adjustment but he wouldn't change it. Ace had been worth it all to him.
His friends had rallied around him. Helping him every chance that they could. He had also gotten help from friends of Roger's. Edward Newgate and Monkey D. Garp. They have given him as much assistance as he needed. Ace had two babysitters if they were ever needed. Makino and Dadan. Dadan really had been a lifeline. She often helped when she could. She adored Ace, even if she wouldn't admit to it.
The drive was mostly silent. Just the music that Shanks had playing and humming softly. Ace had chosen to start looking out the window. Shanks would eye him every so often. His demeanor hadn't changed. He should have expected something like this. The way that he was reacting. Unlike many of the kids in the school, he was an orphan. He didn't get to go home and see his Mom or Dad. Shanks just wished that Ace also got to know them like he did. Sure, he had Rayleigh and Shakky. They both did. It wasn't the same. The two who had helped ensure that the boys could stay together until the moment that Shanks was able to.
He never went out anymore like he used to. If he saw his friends, they came to him now. Everything was about Ace, and it would be until the second Ace was grown up. There was absolutely nothing else that he would do otherwise.
Besides, there weren't exactly men on the market looking for someone like him. Someone with a child. It was better to just keep it Ace and him. He was perfectly content with his life. He wasn't necessarily lonely, but he supposed it would be nice to have someone else around. Ace wasn't lonely either from what he had observed. He had his friends Luffy and Sabo. Two boys he had gone as far as to say they were his brothers.
He sighed, rubbing his hand over his jaw before settling his head against a closed fist. What he really cared about was wondering how Ace knew what "getting laid" meant. Now that was something they hadn't exactly talked about and especially the slang terms of it. He knew how babies were created and that it was an act between consenting adults. It had to be an older kid who told him. Ace was always surrounded by others. He could have heard it anywhere. Even some of Shanks' friends.
"Shanks?" Ace's voice cut right through his thoughts and the red head moved his gaze to make eye contact with him through the mirror.
"What, kiddo?"
Ace frowned for a second. "Are… are you not with anyone because of me?"
Shanks was shocked. Why on Earth would Ace ever think that? "Ace—"
"Shanks, please tell me the truth." Ace muttered.
Shanks sighed, placing a smile on his face, "No. It's because I haven't decided to put myself out there and start dating. That has nothing to do with you, kiddo. That was my decision. You're my world, Ace."
Ace huffed. The red head looked into the rear-view mirror, seeing the deep frown that was settled on Ace's face. He did not look happy with Shanks' answer in the slightest.
Shanks knew that they would have to have the conversation again at some point. Even if he didn't want to have it. Though it puzzled the question: Did Ace blame himself?
X
The rest of the car ride had been generally silent. Ace didn't even say a word to him before he was storming off towards the school when they arrived, and Shanks sighed as he started towards the teachers lounge. Some of the others were also in there.
A few of the ones in there were Mihawk, Benn, Olvia, Izou, and Marco. Shanks had immediately slipped into a seat next to Benn, not saying a word as he pulled out his work for the day. He had noticed immediately that eyes were on him that had him looking up to see others either giving him a strange look or in Mihawk's case, a cocked eyebrow.
"What?" Shanks questioned.
"You're in an… odd mood." Mihawk stated.
The red head shrugged. "It's nothing really." Mihawk always had a strange way of just knowing when his moods were off. He looked up again to see that Mihawk was still giving him a look. Seeing right through his answer. He sighed as he noticed that everyone in the room was actually entuned on him, all appearing like they were doing their own thing, but the way they were facing him told him otherwise. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head as he finally said, "I think Ace blames himself since I don't have a dating life."
Benn snorted for a second, "I don't think he realizes that you could wrap anyone around your finger."
"Benn." Shanks groaned out.
"Just saying." Benn shrugged.
Shanks huffed, shaking his head for a second, "He actually told me I need to get laid. My ten-year-old brother told me I need to get laid. So please, explain to me how I'm supposed to feel about this conversation." He could hear a choking sound behind him as he turned to see that Marco had choked on his coffee, sputtering out as he mumbled out an apology.
"He said what?" Mihawk questioned in amusement.
"Yeah. He said that." Shanks confirmed.
Benn started chuckling, shaking his head as he flipped the page of the book in his lap. "I have no idea where he heard that from."
Shanks gave him a look, tilting his head with a knowing look. "Really now." He exhaled sharply, gathering up his papers as he shook his head, "It's fine. I'm going to be talking to him later. I still can't believe that he said that to me. Took me completely by surprise."
Benn chuckled for a second, shaking his head, "Kids are really observant."
Shanks groaned, rubbing his face for a moment, "Benn, he literally said it would make me fun again. I never wanted to hide from something someone said to me before."
"Maybe, he's right." Benn stated.
Shanks clapped his hands over his ears, shaking his head as he stood up, gathering his stuff, "Oh, look at that! I have class!"
"You're avoiding!" Buggy shouted after him as Shanks made his get away out of the lounge.
"Am not!"