Next Stage (They Don't Know About Us)
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to Next Stage formerly known as They Don't Know About Us! Thank you so much for all your comments and kudos! They mean a lot to me! I still can't believe how well this fic has been doing, especially when I first started I was skeptical about it. I'm so glad that I did decide to post it cause you guys are enjoying reading just as much as I enjoy writing it! So, thank you so much for supporting the fic!
Additional Notes: Just a side note: If you do like the darker side of Omegaverse, I will be doing a dark version of this fic where it's basically no holds barred. I'll be posting that one soon. So, if that is something you would want to read, I'll see you there.
On with the fic!
Chapter Warnings: Mental Breakdown
Chapter Twenty-Five: Breathe Me (by Sia)
Chapter Summary: A party breaks out from the reveal of Ace and Marco's engagement as Ace tells Luffy and Sabo. Shanks' traumas start to worsen. Rouge confides to the Whitebeard Pirates about Roger and Shanks. Later, Sengoku speaks to Garp. Ace, Luffy, and Sabo discuss their future and renew their vow.
Word had spread quickly about the engagement between Marco and Ace. Ace hadn't had a chance to breathe properly since. It was almost as soon as Izou had seen the ring on his finger that a Whitebeard had announced they were having a party the next day. The party moving not only between the Moby Dick but the Red Force as well.
Ace couldn't help the grin that was on his face the entire time. Everything was finally falling back into place. After everything that happened, and aside from his parents finally getting married, he was able to stand here with a smile on his face. As the music started to play and alcohol was being passed around, Ace moved throughout the dancing bodies of his nakama and towards the deck of the Red Force that had less people on the deck. Marco had been dragged away by Thatch and some of the other Commanders at one point. Ace couldn't even recall when he disappeared.
The party was initially and technically for Ace's decision to return back to the Whitebeard Pirates, but quickly added into the celebration of Marco's proposal. It was something that Ace still hadn't seen coming. He couldn't believe it really. Not after he had broken up with Marco – even if it was just for a day, he had broke up with him – and had put Marco through hell because of Marineford. Marco still wanted him.
Shanks had taken his relationship with Marco a lot better than Ace thought he originally would. Shanks was happy for him. Smiling that grin that never failed to make one come to Ace's face. He wasn't sure if Mihawk had heard yet. While he still had plans to tell him himself, he wouldn't necessarily be surprised if Mihawk threatened to cut Marco up again. Mihawk was giving Ace whiplash at this point. He seemed supportive and glad that Ace was happy, but at the same time was fully prepared to serve Marco up on a platter.
Ace was laughing as he stumbled onto the deck, Dragon catching him before he could falter over his feet. "Careful there, kiddo." Dragon said.
Ace could only laugh harder as he sucked in a deep breath. "Sorry, Uncle Dragon." He replied as he continued on, hearing the chuckle come from the Revolutionary Leader as he passed by.
The Omega scanned the others for the two heads he was looking for. It was easy to find the Strawhats and Law wasn't far from them. The Heart Pirates also on board now to get out of the submarine for a while. They were with their Captain. The poor guy still trying to fight off Luffy. Ace couldn't lie and say he wasn't entertained by watching the two. Especially after what Law had told him.
It wasn't that hard to find Luffy. Luffy was always loud when he wasn't sleeping. Sabo wasn't far from him as he approached. Ace had decided to keep Luffy's hat hanging around his neck. He had to protect it until Luffy won it back from him. Though, he would probably put it into the safety of his room instead so he could wear his own hat again. He missed his hat, but he was going to honor Luffy's request. Luffy wanted him to keep the hat until it was time for him to go to the New World. Ace would do that for him. Now, he wanted to see if Luffy could actually beat him. Right now, he couldn't but maybe in two years he actually could. Ace had no intentions of keeping the straw hat if Luffy lost to him in two years time. It would go back to who it belonged to no matter what. Honestly, he didn't understand fully why Luffy wasn't wanting to keep his hat for his training. Luffy never took it off.
Luffy was laughing to whatever Usopp had said as he approached. Sabo was next to Luffy, leaning back against the rail with a smile on his face as he spoke with Law. Some of the Revolutionaries were hanging around. The girl, Koala, that Sabo liked was lurking near him. There were a couple more that Ace couldn't exactly remember the name of but seemed to be on the same team that Sabo usually worked with from what he could tell.
He smiled as he looped his arm around Luffy's shoulders, poking at his brother's cheek. Luffy looked up at him, grinning, "Hey, Ace."
"You doing better today, Luffy?" Ace questioned. Luffy had practically clung to Ace all night the night before. Not even letting Ace return back to the Moby Dick or even their old room without practically hanging off of him. He had tried to make it clear to his Alpha brother that it wasn't his fault with what happened. Though, Luffy's actions showed otherwise.
Luffy grinned and nodded. "I am."
Ace hummed. He didn't exactly believe what Luffy was saying. Luffy had always been able to take anything life threw at him and bring a positive from it. Ace was sure he could do it now. "So, Luffy do you know what this party is about?"
Luffy gave him a confused look for a moment before saying, "Because you went back to the old man's crew?"
Well, he wasn't necessarily wrong.
"Yes and no." Ace stated. "Try again."
His question had caught Sabo's attention, who had gone to Luffy's other side. Grinning as he threw his arm on top of Ace's. Ace had brought his left hand up to his own cheek, placing it to where his new ring was in full view. Sabo noticed first, a grin breaking out on his face as Ace motioned for him to be quiet.
Luffy was humming to himself as he frowned, looking back over to Ace, pausing as his gaze landed on Ace's hand. He blinked as he said, "Since when did you wear a ring?"
Ace snorted, letting out a laugh as he heard Sabo crack up. The Strawhats didn't even look the least bit surprised at Luffy's question. "Since two days ago."
Luffy still look confused. "Luffy, why would Ace be wearing a ring on his ring finger?" Sabo urged. "Maybe, look around his neck."
Luffy's eyes moved down before he gasped, looking back at Ace's hand before back to the necklace. The Alpha grinned as he bounced, legs wrapping around Ace's hips as his arms twisted almost awkwardly around Ace's shoulders and torso. "Oh my God, bird guy won you back!"
Ace laughed, patting Luffy on the back for a moment. Despite the slight pain that followed from the sudden added weight.
Law growled slightly as he walked forward, flicking Luffy on the forehead as he said, "Dumbass, he just had surgery, get off of him."
Luffy mumbled an apology as he unwrapped himself from Ace, grinning widely as he bounced on his feet. "I'm so happy for you, Ace!" The Alpha shouted, turning towards Law for a moment as he grabbed ahold of the Omega's hands. Ace had to hold back his laughter as he watched Law get flustered all over again. The poor guy had been nothing short of a cluster of awkwardness since the second they had left Marineford and Luffy had decided not to stay in bed. Ace probably would have felt bad for him, if it wasn't for the fact it was slightly entertaining. "Traffy, you gotta come be my wife! Join my crew and stay with me!"
Law growled, "Don't say such things, Straw Hat-ya!"
"You might have more of a shot if you stopped saying wife." Sabo snorted. The blonde Beta looked over to Ace, leaning in and whispering, "Poor guy is screwed."
Ace made a noise of agreement. "Absolutely."
It almost felt odd watching them all so happy. Not after what he had witnessed the night before. Shanks had fallen asleep on the deck, waking up screaming and a wave of Conqueror's Haki following. He couldn't get his Omega father's words out of his head. The muttering that had followed. Quiet reassurances to himself that Ace and Luffy were alive. Even Shanks was having nightmares about Marineford. He had always been so good about putting on a mask and hiding his own turmoil to put Ace and Luffy first. Sure, he would openly cry in front of them sometimes even if it was just a few tears. Otherwise, he always kept a smile on his face. Shanks wasn't always so outgoing and partying like most people knew him as. He had his moments where he was just as quiet as Mihawk. Just as serious. It had taken Ace back to the night he witnessed the fight between his parents. Just how distraught Shanks had looked.
Shanks had been trembling against them while he held them. Ace had been able to get a better look at him in that moment. His tanned skin looking almost pale. Bruises underneath his eyes. The more he thought about it, the more he noticed the change within his Omega father. He was eating less. Always awake after Ace went to sleep and up when Ace was waking up. Shanks looked utterly exhausted. Ace had been worried about Luffy. Seeing how his brother was dealing with his own traumas, and now he was witnessing Shanks'. Just like how they had ended up in their impromptu cuddle and nap session. It was a rarity, but it was always something that Shanks did whenever something was weighing on his mind.
Ace actually couldn't believe he had missed all the signs.
It had happened when Ace found out he had narcolepsy. When Luffy had decided to stab himself in the face. Once again when Luffy ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi. When Sabo died.
It had concerned him even more. If he were to ask Shanks what was going on with him, he would just cover it up like he always did. Shanks wasn't out on the deck at the moment, probably within the comfort of his quarters or within a conference room. Which was odd all on its own. Shanks always partied whenever there was one. Mihawk was even on the deck with a glass of wine in hand speaking with Rouge.
Ace sighed as he looked back to his brothers. Sabo was trying to convince Luffy to stop with the impromptu proposals to Law. Attempting to tell him proper etiquette when it came to trying to court someone. Which was failing. Sabo should know this. It was Luffy after all. Luffy did whatever the hell he wanted. He was sure after a bit of time, Law would get used to it and the fluster would stop. It was only a matter of time.
The Omega felt the twist of his stomach. An odd feeling bubbling within as his mind once again went to Shanks. It wasn't too odd for him to see the difference in Shanks' appetite or sleeping patterns. It was definitely not right to not see him at a party. He made sure that his brothers were distracted before he was slipping away, heading towards the cabins.
X
No matter what he tried he couldn't get the images out of his head. The lingering thoughts that clouded his mind. The images of his sons' burning vivre cards. Seeing Ace's execution announcement in the paper. Watching Marineford go down while he was on the way there. Almost witnessing the deaths of his children. Arriving at Marineford and seeing a magma fist heading straight for his sons.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the worst. He saw Akainu's fist straight through Ace's back. Luffy's new scar was burned into his mind. A scar he received because of the attack from Akainu. If it hadn't been for Law, Luffy wouldn't even be alive right now.
He couldn't sleep. He barely had an appetite. Only managing to eat enough to sustain himself. He felt like he couldn't breathe properly. Ever single time he closed his eyes. Every time he tried to sleep. His mind would be instantly raided by the nightmares that he had almost lost his children. The only amount of peaceful sleep he has had was when he decided to have a nap with his three boys. No matter what Dragon said – or instincts for that matter – Sabo was his boy too. Somehow, miraculously, Sabo was still alive.
He couldn't be more thankful that they managed to get out of Marineford with the boys alive. Not when Akainu had been so dead set on executing them. While they had been completely wrong about the blood that ran through their veins, Shanks was only able to get them out of it because of Rayleigh and Rouge's lie. If it hadn't been for that, they probably would have had to fight their way out. Gaining more causalities as they went.
Shanks never wanted to have this feeling. It had been one of his greatest fears ever since he had found out he was pregnant with Ace. The fear would always be there. They were his kids. It was his job as their Omega father to give them exactly what they needed to survive in this world. Continue to protect them until the day he died.
Even with all the horrors that had happened within the last few weeks, so many good things had came from it. Ace was pregnant. Shanks had finally got to marry Mihawk. Luffy seemed to be crushing and – very horribly – attempting to court Law. Ace was also engaged now to the same man that Shanks could take one look at and knew that he was just right for his son. Age be damned. Marco treated Ace well. If Ace was happy, Shanks couldn't say a thing.
He wanted to be able to close his eyes and not see that almost deaths of his sons. See them die right before his eyes. All because he hadn't gotten there quick enough. If it had been even a second later, Ace would have died. Luffy would have been next.
Even though his sons were safe now, he couldn't get it out of his head.
A party was going on outside on the decks of the ships and Shanks couldn't find it in him to go out and enjoy himself. Instead, choosing to sit within the confines of his room. Sitting at his desk, staring straight at the photograph he kept there. Even if he got drunk, he still had those fucked up dreams.
He dug his nails into his palms as Akainu flashed before his mind. Gritted his teeth when Teach appeared. The smell of magma filling his senses. The feel of his feet being lifted off of the ground. So much could have gone wrong. They had gotten lucky. All due to the undeniable strength and courage of the Whitebeard Pirates. Their family showing up to rescue their own. The allies of Whitebeard. Without all of them, Ace would have been executed.
Shanks felt his breathing pick up. No matter how much he tried to keep it even, it failed in every attempt to remain calm. He could feel his anxiety spiking as he ran his fingers through his hair. Gripping tightly at the strands.
A low growl left him. No matter how much he tried to tell himself that his children were okay, the worry still remained. The helpless feeling he had in the pit of his stomach ever since he had started watching the broadcast of Marineford from the Red Force. He still felt helpless in this situation. His sons were hurting. Experiencing their own traumas as they got closer to Sabaody. They were probably just a night away at this point.
He was trying to be a peacekeeper. Trying to be a comforting force that people could go to. That his sons could go to. Their packs. The sinking feeling was always there. When Teach had taken Ace right off of the battlefield, leading to their final confrontation. Shanks defeating Akainu in a frenzy of instincts.
It was all a sinking pool of terror that he felt whenever he took his eyes off of his children. That it would be the last time he ever saw them alive. Saw their smiles. Heard their laughs. Held them close like he had done since the day they were born. He knew they were safe. Knew they would continue to be safe. At least for now. Not matter where they went, they would always be his pups.
The tears welled in Shanks' eyes as flashes of Marineford came back. He hadn't even been there that long, and he could still see the horrors of what took place. His own fears coursing through him. He stood up abruptly. His chair crashing into the floor as he growled out in frustration. Sengoku's words. His actions coming to mind as he swiped his paperwork off of his desk. Letting it fly into the floor. Frames falling off of the desk and crashing against the wood.
The second his eyes landed on his reflection in the mirror that he kept hanging there, he swung, enjoying the sound and feel of the mirror breaking against his knuckles. With each thing that he tore up, a new flash would come to mind. A new sound overflooding his senses.
Each time the swords almost came down on Ace's neck.
Each time Luffy was attacked by a Marine.
If you had been just one second slower, they would be dead. You weren't there.
"Shut up!" Shanks screamed, throwing his head back, hitting against the wall as he slid down it with his back. His hands back in his hair as he tried everything to force his breathing to even back out.
He could feel the panic spiking. His pups were hurting and there was nothing he could do. They had almost died, and he hadn't been there.
He slammed one of his hands back behind him. Hitting whatever was behind him. He didn't even know what it was. Just that it had shattered underneath the hit, feeling the pieces piercing into his skin.
Why couldn't he get this feeling to go away?
His pups were here with him. He knew they were alive, but the lingering images remained. They just wouldn't leave.
Why did he feel like it wasn't safe?
That this wasn't over?
X
Ace couldn't place the feeling he had in the pit of his stomach as he went through the cabins. Shanks' room door was closed. He couldn't see the light from the lantern that he kept on his desk. Shanks' room had no windows, so the lantern was the only way to have light. Maybe Shanks was just asleep?
He sighed as he went to turn, pausing as he heard a loud crash, making him stop completely in place. "Mom?" He called out, gaining no answer in return. He reached down for the knob, it turned but the door didn't budge. He huffed as he tried with a bit more strength to open up. He paused, noticing the way the door slightly opened but wouldn't completely open like something was blocking it. He froze as he heard a growl quickly followed by another crash. "Mom!" He slammed his palm into the door again, trying louder to get Shanks' attention. He was definitely in there. He could smell Shanks' lingering scent.
The distress that quickly followed.
"MOM!" He was slamming his fist into now.
A couple more loud bangs followed. The sound of glass breaking. He called out for his Omega father again, gaining nothing in response. "How the hell am I supposed to get in?" Ace questioned to himself as he slammed his shoulder into the door. "If this damn thing won't fucking budge." He slammed his hand against the door again, trying one more time to call out for Shanks. Still gaining no reply. He backed up with a huff, pausing as his gaze moved over to the next door. Which led right to his old bedroom that was connected to Shanks' quarters.
He rushed over to his own room, entering into it and heading straight for the connected door. He felt some relief as it opened almost immediately. He froze as his gaze fell onto the condition of Shanks' normally spotless room. It was completely destroyed. Papers flung all over the floor. His lantern broken next to the desk. The dresser on its side in front of the door. Clothes and other random items that Shanks kept were sprawled everywhere. Glass was broken on the floor, spread out throughout the room.
He stepped in, eyeing each area of the room as finally his gaze settled on Shanks. His heart felt like it stopped for a moment as his eyes widened. Shanks was in the corner, hands curled into his hair. Blood moving down his hands from the broken open knuckles. "Mom!" Ace screamed out. Shanks didn't even move as Ace rushed forward, dropping down to his knees next to the red-haired Omega. Reaching out and moving some of his hair from his face.
Shanks' eyes were wide, and tear filled. Tear tracks moving down on his face. His entire body trembled. Almost exactly the same as it was the night before. "Mom, can you hear me?" He questioned, trying to force Shanks to look at him.
Was this exactly what happened to Luffy? When Luffy had relived Sabaody, Impel Down, and Marineford? How he had actually seen them? Shanks' eyes were still their normal shade of storm clouds. His nails were still short from where he kept them cut. From the shape of his mouth, his canines weren't extended.
No, it wasn't that. Luffy had dissociated during a Post Traumatic Stress episode. This was different. Even when they spoke to Luffy – even if he didn't realize it was them – he looked at them, reacted.
Shanks' breathing was labored, his chest rising and falling quickly. The panic and distress that was rolling off of him was almost too empowering that no matter what Ace did, he wouldn't be able to combat it with his scent alone. He reached out, pulling Shanks away from the wall. The Omega Captain almost following a little bit too easily.
Ace's eyes settled down on his hand again, cursing as he noticed the pieces of glass sticking out from it. "Mom, what's going on with you?" It almost put fear into Ace at the thought. Shanks was always so strong near them. Never really breaking his façade. Sure, Ace had seen him cry before. He knew Shanks wore his emotions in the open, but he was almost in a catatonic state in the moment. His head leaning against Ace's collarbone.
Shanks was too quiet. Not making a noise anymore.
He needed to get someone. The cuts on his hands needed checked. Who knows what else had happened. He was completely still. It was actually starting to freak him out a little bit.
He could use his Conqueror's Haki to try and notify someone, but he wasn't near as calculated as Shanks. He would end up knocking people out that he didn't mean too. He didn't want to make anyone panic thinking they were getting attacked.
"Hang on, Mom." He muttered, carefully leaning Shanks back against the wall, careful of the injuries to his hands as he pushed himself back up. Hearing the crunch of glass underneath his boots as he took off back out through his shared room and towards the deck. He didn't want to leave Shanks alone, but this was the only thing he could think of.
X
Luffy was grinning, sitting on the rail as his nakama conversed. Sanji and Zoro as well as Franky and Robin were dancing among the Whitebeard Pirates. Sabo and Koala had joined them too. Not being to far from where Luffy was now. Brook had gone off to play music with the other musicians again. Enjoying having more people who did the same as him around.
Ace had slipped off somewhere. Luffy would assume it would be to go back to Marco. It put a smile on his face seeing how much better his brother was doing now. It hadn't been that long since they left Marineford, but Ace had always been so strong. He had finally broken through his own hardhead to finally say what he wished for. Ace never thought of himself. Always thought of others. It made him happy to see that Ace was actually putting himself first. Even if it had taken his almost execution to do so.
Luffy knew that the same should apply to him. Especially after what happened. He couldn't stop the ping of guilt any time he looked at his brother. Thinking that he could have caused something to happen to his niece or nephew. To Ace. He had managed to hit Shanks, though he would sum that down to his Omega father flipping out of fighting mode to his maternal instincts that had left the opening. Luffy didn't even recall actually hitting him, so it didn't count as ever being able to land a hit on him. Even Sabo had been hit. He had blooded up his face. All they were trying to do was help him. He would show them that he was okay. That he was strong enough to cope with whatever this world could throw at him. That nothing would stop him.
This would be his driving point. A reason to get stronger. His nakama and pack needed him to be able to lead and protect them. He was their Captain. They put their trust into him to make the right decisions – though the brains behind everything usually was not him because of his love of diving head first without a thought – and to be able to guide them throughout the Grand Line. They had put their faith in him that he would be the King of the Pirates. That they all belonged on the crew of the future King. He would make that possible. Nothing would ever stop him from becoming King one day. It wasn't about the treasure. It was about being the strongest and the freest. Making a change on the seas.
He would overcome whatever was happening to him. He had too. If just a simple fight against Shanks caused this, fighting against Ace, and getting his hat back would end up the same. He knew he could do this. He would get stronger. Get passed his demons. The reason he was having these very fears was because he was helpless in helping his nakama. His brother. It was because he didn't have the strength he needed to protect them. If he could find it in him that he was strong enough, he was sure it would help with the nightmares. The fear that his nakama would disappear. That his brother would die.
That had been his plan.
He would do it.
His gaze had moved from the others and down to where Law was. Law was leaning against his bear nakama with his eyes closed. Luffy wasn't quite sure if he was asleep or awake, but he wasn't going to bug the Omega. He had been working hard to help all of the nakama among all of the crews and they weren't even his nakama.
He paused as he noticed Ace rushing past him. His expression being one that he had only seen on his face back at Marineford. The Alpha eyed his brother for a second, stopping as he noticed his hands were coated with blood. "Hey, Ace!" He called out. Ace ignored him, starting in a different direction. Luffy jumped down from the rail, uncaring of the attention he brought to himself as he took off after his brother.
"Marco!" Ace called out the second he got to the rail that was facing the Moby Dick. Marco had turned to face him, the joyful look on his face turning into a serious one in seconds. The blonde didn't say anything back rather started over towards the Red Force.
Luffy had finally caught up to his brother, grabbing his wrist and lifting his hand up. "Ace, you're bleeding."
"It's not my blood." Ace said immediately, not even looking back over at him.
Luffy looked at the Omega's hand in confusion. If it wasn't Ace's, whose was it? "Ace?"
"Something's wrong with Mom." Ace merely said as he finally looked over, noticing that others had gathered around from Luffy's statement. Mihawk had stopped what he was doing completely, dropping everything in his hands and starting off towards the cabins. Ace was hot on his trail as soon as Marco got to him. Rouge hurried after them without a second thought. Luffy looked over to the concerned faces staring at them for a moment before he nodded to Sabo, and they started towards the cabins. "You have to go through our room! The dresser is blocking his door." Ace exclaimed.
Luffy felt his heart beating against his chest. What was going on?
Mihawk disappeared into their room, the others following after him. Luffy rounded the corner, entering into Shanks' room and stopping dead in his tracks at the absolute mess that was the room. Mihawk was kneeled in front of Shanks, trying to get the red head to look at him. The Omega was curled up in the corner, hands still in his hair. Luffy didn't miss the way his eyes almost looked distant from them.
Mihawk reached out, hands cupping either side of Shanks' face and forcing him to look up. "Shanks?" He started, thumbs moving over tanned cheeks as Marco placed himself next to Shanks' side.
"Any first aid?" Marco questioned, surveying the shape of Shanks' hands. "I can't do anything with the glass in the cuts."
"Here." Luffy almost jumped at the sound of Law's voice from behind him. The Omega passing by him and handing him the bag he recognized that belonged to Aki, the Red Force's doctor.
"What's wrong with him?" Luffy questioned.
"My guess…" Law muttered. "A mental breakdown."
Marco had moved quickly, pulling out a pair of tweezers and starting on the glass that Luffy could see poking out of the cuts. Mihawk was still muttering to Shanks, but the red head was still completely silent. Not saying a word at all as Marco worked on the cuts. Cleaning the blood off, pulling out glass before his hand lit up in the blue flames that Luffy had seen at Marineford. Pressing against his skin and working to heal the cuts that were there. Being able to get Shanks to release his grip from his hair to allow him to work.
Rouge had sighed, working on picking up some of the room. "Sabo, help me with this." Sabo moved away from next to Luffy, walking over to assist Rouge with whatever she had asked him to help with. Ace wasn't far from him, grabbing something to wipe his hands off with from within the medical bag.
"Has this ever happened to him before?" Marco questioned.
"Not that I know of." Mihawk stated.
"When he was thirteen." Rayleigh's voice came from behind Luffy, once again making the Alpha jump and turn to face him. Rayleigh had a frown settled on his face. He heard a growl come from Rouge a second later. "When we were just about to head to Laugh Tale… and the island right before Buggy got sick and Shanks stayed with him… Shanks was attacked."
Ace and Luffy both froze. The rag in Ace's hands fell as he looked over stunned at Rayleigh. Luffy's eyes were wide from the news. "Wh… what?" Luffy muttered.
Rayleigh sighed. "Thankfully, Roger got there in time… but the days following, he wasn't okay. I've seen this exact same look on his face."
Marco nodded as he started to wrap Shanks' hands up in bandages. Luffy let his gaze settle back onto Shanks as Marco gave the okay to move Shanks. Mihawk stood up, pulling Shanks along with him. The Omega just simply leaned forward, his forehead falling against Mihawk's shoulder. "His nightmare yesterday… had been about you kids. I'm guessing that's what happened here." Mihawk stated.
Rouge and Sabo had most of the room clean by that point except for some fallen clothes that were next to Marco now. "He needs rest. He's exhausted." Law stated.
Mihawk guided Shanks over to the bed, the Omega going along wordlessly until he was falling down face first into the pillows. Still not a sound leaving him. Luffy gulped, moving forward until he was able to crawl up onto the bed, slipping under the covers and placing himself next to Shanks. "C'mon, Ace." Luffy motioned, waving his brother over. Ace smiled softly, taking up the next spot over before he was poking his head up. "That means you too, Sabo."
Sabo chuckled, placing himself down next to Luffy. Luffy barrowed further into the blankets, sighing in content. The bed dipped again, and Rouge was sitting at the pillows for a moment. Her fingers running through Shanks' hair. A soft smile on her face as she hummed. Luffy didn't miss the way that Shanks had leaned into the touch. His eyes fluttering closed. Rouge's scent moved throughout the room, sending calming pheromones over them all. Mihawk had went on to finish the room.
Luffy wasn't sure what happened after that. He could hear the others talking, but his eyes had also slipped shut. His own fatigue that he was feeling finally catching up to him.
X
Shanks groaned as he came too, pushing himself up and rubbing at his eyes. His head was pounding. His hands hurt. He rubbed at his head, blinking as he noticed that he wasn't alone. Ace, Luffy, and Sabo were fast asleep in the bed. Lounging on the other side of Ace with a book in hand was Mihawk.
Mihawk looked over at him, taking a sip from his wine before he sat the glass down on the bedside table. "How are you feeling?"
"Like shit." Shanks groaned, leaning back against his pillows, staring up at the ceiling.
"Want to talk about it?" Mihawk questioned.
Shanks turned his head to the side, looking over to his mate. Mihawk placed his book down, turning slightly so he could face towards Shanks. Ace was still fast asleep in between them. Their pup never even stirred from the movement or their voices. Shanks sighed. "I can't get out of my head. No matter what. All I can see are my pups in pain and there is nothing I can do. I was helpless while they were fighting for their lives." The Omega muttered. "I know they are alive. They are here. But… I can't stop seeing it. I felt like I couldn't breathe until I had my eyes on them again. Was able to reach out and know that it wasn't just some dream. That they were okay." Mihawk didn't say anything, reaching out and placing his palm against Shanks' cheek. His thumb running in soothing circles. "I still can't close my eyes without seeing it happening. We… we almost lost our children, and I wasn't even there."
Mihawk's fingers just curled into his air. The silent, comforting presence as he leaned forward and connected their lips.
X
Rouge had finally stepped out of Shanks' room just a little bit after he had went to sleep. Mihawk staying just in case. The party was still going on outside as Marco, Rayleigh, and Law had followed her out. Ace had done it quietly enough that no one had paid any mind to the fact that something might have been wrong. Shanks had been hiding it so well from them that almost all of them never even noticed the different. If it wasn't for Ace finding him, Rouge feared that it might have gotten worse.
It pained her to see her son like this. All she could do was be there until it was time for them to depart from each other. They, very unfortunately, had always been good at going their separate ways. Ever since Rouge had allowed Shanks to leave the West Blue with Roger. The original plan had been for Rouge to have time with Shanks as well, but her instincts had been screaming to allow Shanks to remain on the Oro Jackson. He had looked so happy. He didn't want to take away from the stability that Shanks had in his life with Roger. In the end, it had worked out for the better. With Roger's illness and turning himself in, it had given him ten years with his son that he wouldn't have been able to have if they did anything else.
It did leave her in a place that she wasn't exactly sure on how to help comfort Shanks. What she could do. All she really could do is be there.
She had made her way back to the Moby Dick, sighing as she down next to Eddie's chair. The Alpha looked down at her, a concerned look on his face as he questioned, "How is he?"
"I'm not sure." Rouge stated.
Eddie tilted his head, humming slightly, "He's a tough kid."
Rouge looked down at her lap, picking at her nails as she muttered, "Yeah, he is."
"What's troubling you, Rouge?" Eddie asked next. The rest of the Commanders had returned back around them, with the exception of Ace who was now asleep in Shanks' cabin, and were back in their usual spots. Rouge looked back up at them. They could have known for all these years about Shanks. That their own Commander had a child that she kept from them. They were supposed to be a family and she had kept her own blood from them. Not necessarily out of fear. Or it could have been, Marineford was enough to show what it was like for children born to pirates. Being condemned for the sins of their parents. Shanks even more so after the death of Roger and the title he had gained as the Pirate King. The world had searched for him, wanting him dead. She couldn't help and wonder what her life and Shanks' would have been like if she had decided to stay on the ship during her pregnancy. She had missed so much because of it.
But she didn't regret it.
Not in the slightest.
Shanks and Roger had such a special relationship and bond. One that could never be broken or severed. No matter what anyone might try. No matter what Roger had requested of them.
Part of her had wondered back then when Roger became Pirate King if allowing Shanks to be on the Oro Jackson had been the best decision. He had been permanently connected to the Roger Pirates for being an apprentice in the eyes of the World Government. Even if they didn't know his bloodline. Roger really had thought of everything back then. Asking Rayleigh to make one of the hardest decisions they would ever have to make. It was a level of trust between the two that time could not waver.
"It's really nothing." Rouge muttered.
"It's something, Commander Rouge." Thatch stated, "Ace gets that same look when something is bothering him."
Rouge sighed, leaning back against the wood as she looked up to the sky. "Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I never left the Moby. Left the crew." She stated.
"It's perfectly reasonable to wonder things like that, Rouge." Eddie replied.
Rouge let the smile slip on her face. "Am I selfish for wishing I had kept Shanks with me? Instead of letting him go with his father?" She questioned.
"I don't think so." Eddie said. "Shanks is your son, after all. Any parent would want their child with them. Happy and healthy."
Rouge looked over to her Captain, her smile getting bigger. Eddie did always know exactly what to say. "I don't regret my decision. I never will. It's just a thought."
X
The two Marines sat in silence. Garp sat across from him with a bag of rice crackers in hand – seriously what was with this man and his rice crackers? – munching away on the snack. Making it the only sound within the room. Sengoku sat at his desk. Shanks' bounty poster still sitting in front of him. They were long time colleagues. Friends even. Having a high level of respect between the two of them.
Part of him could understand why Garp kept this from him. Even lied to him at Marineford. If he had known about the so called bond between his daughter and Silvers Rayleigh, it was all he needed to pretend that the blood of Roger didn't live.
"Tell me the truth, Garp." Sengoku stated, turning Shanks' bounty poster towards the Vice Admiral. "Is he the son of Gold Roger?"
Garp eyed him, biting into another rice cracker.
That action alone was all that Sengoku needed to know for a fact that it was indeed true. Garp wasn't trying to confirm or deny it. The Vice Admiral had placed the bag to the side, dusting off his hands as he said, "The world won't believe it even if you tried to tell them."
Sengoku hummed. Garp wasn't wrong. Sengoku had even figured that out himself when he first put the pieces together. To the world, Red-Haired Shanks, Fire Fist Ace, and Straw Hat Luffy were the kin of Silvers Rayleigh. While Rayleigh was still a dangerous man, he wasn't nearly as dangerous as what the world viewed Roger to be. With everything that the world had seen, even calling for their capture would be met with even more backlash than what they were already facing.
Sengoku placed the paper back down, leaning back in his chair as he looked out the window that looked over the plaza of Marineford. Marineford was in complete shambles. It was nothing short of a miracle that they even had proper ground anymore to work on. Whitebeard had done numbers on it. His tremors sending shockwaves through all the buildings as he had destroyed the nearby area.
Sengoku could understand Whitebeard's desire to save Ace. Ace was his son in his eyes. Calling him as such and Ace returning that respect as referring to the Alpha yonko as Oyaji and even father. Sengoku would have done anything for Rosinante when he was alive.
It still left that lingering feeling as he picked up the next bounty poster, holding it in front of him as he read the name. Trafalgar D. Water Law.
The same boy that Rosinante had defied the World Government for. Went against his very brother to save. Went from hospital to hospital to try and find a cure for his sickness. Rosinante had bonded with this boy enough that he was willing to give his life so Law could continue to live his.
Sengoku wanted to know more about that night. What happened with Rosinante. What led to his demise. Marineford had given him insight and it had everything to do with Donquixote Doflamingo. There was nothing Sengoku could do. Not with Doflamingo blackmailing the World Government into letting him keep his Warlord position. Blackmailing them into even getting it in the first place. The only way those ties could be severed, and they could go after him was if Doflamingo himself had resigned from his position. Sengoku didn't see him doing that any time soon.
"You want to meet him formally, don't you?" Garp questioned.
Sengoku exhaled sharply, turning in his chair, Law's wanted poster now sitting in front of him on the desk as he looked up to his friend. "Is it wrong of me?"
Garp smiled. "It isn't." The Vice Admiral stated. "Law is the adopted son of your own son. It's only natural that you want to get to know the same boy that meant so much to Corazón."
Sengoku nodded. "I looked like a fool at Marineford." He huffed. "Allowing myself to get lost in my connection to Rosinante… that I hugged a pirate in front of the entire world."
"Like I say, I have no sympathy for criminals… but family… family is different." Garp replied, grabbing the rice cracker bag, and holding it out, "Rice cracker?"
X
Shanks was awake by the time that the three boys had woken up. Ace had been the first out of them. His stomach doing enough flips that had him pushing off of the bed and rushing for the bathroom. Releasing the contents of his stomach. His brothers looking at him in pity as he dry heaved for a moment.
Shanks was picking at the bandages on his hands when Ace had walked back out, wrapping his arms around his Omega father's shoulder, and having just one moment of quiet. Shanks had returned the gesture before the boys were excusing themselves from the quarters. Allowing their parents to have time to themselves away from them.
Ace grinned like a mad man as they made it back out onto the deck. For the most part, it was quieted down. Mostly just Red Hair Pirates aside from Law's crew, some Revolutionaries, and Luffy's nakama on the deck. Sabo and Luffy were ahead of him slightly as he paused, clutching onto the bottle behind his back.
"So, I was thinking… since Sabo is alive…" His sentence trailed as the two turned to look at him and he brought the bottle out. Revealing a bottle of sake that he had snatched from Shanks' dresser when he wasn't looking. Though he was sure that Shanks knew he had done it. Sabo and Luffy shared looks, both of them breaking out into a grin. "Let's redo our vow."
"You can't drink though." Luffy stated.
"Do I need to go get Law-san? I'm sure he would have a field day if he saw this." Sabo snickered.
Ace rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine. I'm just gonna take a tiny sip, and if you tattle on me, I'll throw you overboard." Ace stated.
The Omega walked over to the table, setting down three o-choko cups and quickly filling them up. His own having only a few drops at most. Just enough for a taste, but not enough that it was an actual drink. Sabo and Luffy reached out for theirs as Sabo held his out first, "What we said back then was true. This bond that we share… couldn't be broken. It was because of it that I was able to even get to Marineford. Return back to my brothers." The blonde Beta stated. "Ever since the moment I got my memories back, I wished I never left Dawn Island… but at the same time, I have no doubts. I gained a father. Friends. People that I wouldn't have met otherwise. No matter where we go, you two will always be my brothers."
Luffy was next, "No matter what we choose to do… where we go… we will always be brothers. I'll be King of the Pirates."
"A Revolutionary who will change the world."
"Living my life with no regrets." Ace added.
"Freer than anyone else." Luffy said. "I want to be the protector, but I know if I ever need you. My brothers will be there."
Ace grinned, bumping Luffy in the shoulder for a moment. "Our unbreakable bond." Sabo muttered. The Omega turned his grin to Sabo, gaining a smile in response.
Ace looked down at his cup before looking back up. "I'm the big brother. I'm supposed to protect you." He whispered. "I realize, I don't always need to do that. That my brothers will have my back when I need them most. Coming to rescue me when I was moments from death. I don't regret anything I did, and I would give my life for you both in a heartbeat if it meant that you got to see your dreams come true. Mine already has." He said, putting in cup in the middle next to Sabo's.
Luffy's followed seconds later, clanking the three together. "Our bond as brothers."
With a laugh they each threw back their drink. Sabo and Luffy grimacing for a second as Ace crinkled his nose, despite the little bit of liquid only touching his tongue. Making him gag slightly. This actually tasted better as children.
He placed his o-choko cup down, reaching out and pulling them to him, the grin on his face only getting bigger. They would be at Sabaody by the next day. Who knew where they would go next. "What's your plans, Sabo?" Ace questioned as they pulled away.
Sabo smiled, looking up to the sky. "I'm going to return to the Revolutionary Army. That's where I belong." The blonde stated. "You?"
Ace looked over to the Moby, where he could see Marco eyeing him from where he was sitting next to Rouge. "I'm going to return back to the New World… where I belong."
Their eyes turned to Luffy. Luffy grinning as he said, "I'm going to be King of the Pirates."