A Promise to Keep
Summary: Almost a year after the Red Hair Pirates brought Ace on board, Shanks reflects on a promise. Minor Benn/Shanks. RHP!Ace.
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to the Captain Shanks' Brother series! I hope you enjoy this! There will be minor Benn Beckman/Shanks in this! I watched Film Red and it gave me ALL the vibes and fully came rushing with the BennShanks vibes too xD Someone mentioned it in the comments of another one of my fics, and they were right xD anyway, I hope you enjoy! On with the fic!
Pairing: Minor Benn Beckman/Shanks
Warnings: Canon Divergence, Canon Violence, Red Hair Pirate Ace
A Promise to Keep
Benn had been completely right when he said raising a baby wouldn't be easy. Ace tended to sleep more often than not, ate like a champ, was learning and adapting very quickly to life on the sea. He was so small. Ace could see both Roger and Rouge in him when he looked at him. His hair belonged to Roger, though it was curlier and wavier like Rouge's was. His eyes were his mother's. A soft but deep wine color that could almost look grey at times. Freckles dusted over his face just like Rouge had. Coating his cheeks in little dots that Shanks would count as he rocked the infant and sang to him.
It was like every day that there was something new to expect from Ace. He was growing up so quickly already. Shanks would just smile. A soft, fond smile as he cradled him. He took on most of the responsibility.
This boy was his little brother. Blood or not. He owed everything to Captain Roger and ensuring the life and stability of his son was something he would do. He had ran into Garp back on that island. Both of them going directly to the same place. It was the only thing on his mind when he was here. Though, he hadn't actually expected to see that Rouge was pregnant when he got here. Giving birth not long after his arrival.
He made a deal with Garp. To ensure that Ace went with him, that he wouldn't lose him in the same way that he lost Rouge and Roger. He had lost everyone by that point. The only people he had were his nakama, but now he had Ace. Ace was his life, and he would do anything to protect him. In the end, Garp let him take Ace with him. Ensuring that they both would watch over Ace. He wasn't sure why Garp actually handed him Ace. Garp easily could have knocked him on his ass and walked away with Ace without saying a word, but there was a moment of hesitation that he had seen.
Though there was one thing that he had heard Garp say that stuck in his mind, "You never should have been a pirate either."
He had absolutely no idea what Garp meant by that, but still, that didn't matter now. Ace was with him. That's what mattered to him. He knew it would have been a losing fight if he had physically tried anything, so instead he had begged and pleaded. He knew he was in no position to actually raise a baby, but with the help of his crew, he knew he could do it.
Shanks smiled down at Ace, reaching out and moving some of the black locks out of his face. Ace was fast asleep in his arm, small fist curled into his button up shirt. When he was old enough, he would tell him about Captain Roger and the courageous acts of Portgas D. Rouge.
Within their own right, both had done something to protect this baby's life.
Now, it was up to Shanks to ensure that he grew up. Grew up to be whatever he wanted to be. No matter what he wanted to be.
X
With Ace growing at a very quick rate, they had to do something about the ship. With it decided, the ship had been baby proofed. At least, what they could do. They made sure with every certainty, that Ace wouldn't ever be able to fall overboard. He wouldn't be able to get into certain things.
Though, as Ace learned to crawl, it came with its own set of challenges.
Ace was like a little speed demon. Enjoying the chaos that he could cause in a giggling fit as his nakama would chase him around the deck. It was like a game to him.
Shanks smiled from where he was sitting, head tilted with his chin resting on his palm. Watching as Ace scurried away from the others. Giggling away as he did so.
It felt like there was another light that was brough to the ship with the addition of Ace. He had wormed his way into all of their hearts in the matter of months. There would be a time that Shanks would have to tell him everything, but for now, he would see all the innocence that ran through him.
Benn came up behind Ace, scooping him off of the ground as the child burst out into a fit of laughter. Throwing his arms around and kicking his little feet.
A part of him wondered if this is what Roger felt like.
It was close to a year of having Ace on board his ship. Closer to Ace's first birthday. He was getting to see so many milestones. Seeing how fast children really grew at that age. There was another part of him that wished Rouge had never passed on. He had seen just how happy she was in her final moments. He would do anything to make sure that Ace knew just how loved he was, even if the circumstances of his birth weren't the best.
It was nice seeing Benn bond with Ace. Benn had his reservations in the beginning. Now, it was like a total change. Benn was willing to do anything just like him for Ace.
Shanks jumped down as Benn placed Ace on his feet, holding onto his small hands as Ace pattered across the deck with a smile on his face. That bit of laughter still leaving him.
Shanks wanted to ask how he got so lucky in life. He was a pirate of his own crew, he had a brother, he had family. It was like a dream come true.
Though, he was not excited for the day he saw Garp again.
That man could punch.
Shanks kneeled down, falling to his knees as he held his arms out, a grin on his face. Ace looked right at him, his grin only getting bigger as he kicked his feet a bit more. Benn walked Ace over to him, only letting him go a second before they got to him. Ace fell into his chest as Shanks wrapped his arms around him, sighing as he let his eyes flutter shut.
Everything would be okay.
It would all be okay.
X
The life of a pirate also came with the dangers of living their life in the way that they wanted. There was one promise that he made and nothing in this world would break it. They had been blindsided. Attacked in the mist of a group of civilians.
Shanks clutched onto Ace, using his cloak to conceal him from others as he called out, "Do not let harm come to the innocent!"
He was forced to use his right hand to fight back. Doing everything that he could to keep his left side protected. Mixing his haki into his blade and arm as he kept two men at bay. The anger that surged through him.
It didn't take him long to realize what was going on. These men who attacked them weren't Marines. They were other pirates. They were bounty hunters. Willing to do anything to get their heads. He twisted, ducking under them as he managed to get a hit in directly on their chests. Heaving as he got back to his feet. The dirt coating his face and hands from the dust that had been moving around them.
Ace was asleep. He could sleep through just about anything. He could fight at his full strength with Ace hooked under his cloak. He didn't need it with these guys. He could tell just by using his Observation Haki. There was also the risk of hurting innocent bystanders if he went full out. It was something he had been warned against in the past. Something he refused to do. If they were not his technical enemies, he would protect them.
It was not how he was raised, and he would never change that.
With it decided, he did the one thing he knew could end this quickly.
X
Shanks' heart was pounding against his chest when they returned to the ship. Somehow, miraculously, despite the fighting they had done, Ace never once woke up during the entire thing. Now that they were back on the ship, he was wide awake. Padding at Shanks' shoulders as the Captain instructed the men to prepare for departure. The faster they got out of here, the better. He wasn't taking the chance that those bounty hunters had friends with them.
With them sailing out, Shanks gave a sigh of relief, holding Ace a bit tighter to himself. That could have been bad. Though, they hadn't been expecting it.
Shanks let his back slide down the walls of the cabins, holding onto Ace a bit tighter. His fingers curling into Ace's onesie. Ace could have been hurt today. He can't just keep him stuck on the ship.
It just kept going through his head.
He wasn't Roger.
Was he fully prepared to do this?
He had Ace for almost a year now. He should know by now. He could have put Ace into some serious danger back there.
"You alright?" Benn questioned, pulling Shanks' attention up.
The red head hummed, nodding slightly as he released his grip on Ace's clothes, soothing them back into place. "Yeah, just… lost in thought."
Benn did what he normally did, tossing his cigarette away as he turned to sit down next to him. "I know what you're thinking, Shanks."
"Do you?" Shanks muttered, now messing with Ace's closed fists. His little hands curled around Shanks' fingers as he leaned forward to teeth on them.
Benn made a noise, letting Shanks lean into his side. "Yeah." He replied, "You're worried about what could happen to Ace."
"I'll always worry about that. I think I understand what the Captain felt now." Shanks whispered.
The elder pirate didn't say anything for the longest time. Just sitting there and letting Shanks vent out his frustrations.
As Shanks finished his small rant, smiling down at Ace, Benn whispered out, "You aren't alone in this, Shanks. We've told you that. We will protect him too."
Shanks nodded, leaning back into Benn, "Thank you."
Shanks was tired, but Benn was right. He had all of them to lean on. Ace had all of them to lean on. It would be all okay in the end. He let his eyes flutter shut as Ace curled up into his chest, biting at his shirt now. Benn pressed a chaste kiss to his forehead as he sighed, fingering curling through his hair for a moment.
No matter what, he would still keep that promise he made.
He couldn't wait to see where Ace went from here. What he learned. How strong he could get. Who he would want to be. There were so many questions, and he was excited to see it all. His nakama were there to back him up along the way.
Ace would be just fine.
He was.
Because in the end, he had his nakama to rely on. Roger Pirates or Red Hair Pirates. They were family.
Author's Note: So, my friends on Discord are telling me to add Uta into the mix and honestly, I've been getting so many ideas of Ace and Uta involved with the Red Hair Pirates that I'm going to do it xD anyway, thanks for reading and I will see you next time!
