Whumptober 2021
Summary: Whumptober Day 4: Taken Hostage/Taunting, Benn/Shanks, Marco/Ace. When Teach takes Shanks as a hostage, the Whitebeard Pirates realize just how much they might have misinterpreted their nakama when he gives an ultimatum. Shanks' life for the devil fruit Thatch found.
Warnings: Taunting, Kidnapping, Hostage Situations
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to Whumptober 2021! Rather you read the others or not, welcome and I hope you enjoy. Just note for plot purposes, Shanks has both arms in this. He still saved Luffy and gave him his het. Just the iconic moment of him losing his arm did not happen. Just a warning before you read and wonder why he has both arms. This is also an alternate to the events of canon since Thatch has yet to die/almost die (in my fics anyway) so Ace hasn't left the Moby Dick AND Luffy has already been to Enies Lobby. So, I'm putting another one of my headcanons/self-indulgent ideas in here of Shanks being Ace's biological brother.
Whumptober Day Four: Taken Hostage/Taunting (Benn/Shanks, Marco/Ace)
Shanks has had a dangerous feeling pooling in the pit of his stomach. He wasn't even positive what had made him seek out the Whitebeard Pirates. He had always decided to trust his gut on situations, and one now screamed at him to speak to Whitebeard.
That's what brought him to the Moby Dick with some medicinal water behind him as he boarded, activating his haki as he went to watch the others falling around him. His own crew walked behind him as he strolled towards Whitebeard. He pulled the jug around him and placed it in front of him. "You have to excuse me. It's hard to relax when I'm on an enemy's ship."
His gaze moved over to Ace, who was snickering behind Marco as the rest of the Commanders didn't look the slightest happy to see him. He didn't blame them when he would knock out most of their men whenever he was near. It was almost a game to him at this point. He enjoyed seeing which ones fell as he walked by. He could never take the chance of someone getting too cocky into thinking that they could take him on.
Also, as a warning.
He wouldn't sit idly by if someone tried to attack him. Most of the time he would look the other way, but not with a Whitebeard Pirate. They weren't some wannabes that Shanks knew he could easily fight off. He didn't trust one man aboard this ship with possibly Whitebeard and First Division Commander Marco. Except one for positive and that was their Second Division Commander, Portgas D. Ace. Though, he had his own reasons for that.
He wasn't the least bit surprised when Ace ended up as a Whitebeard Pirate. When Ace told him back in the cave that he was going after Whitebeard, it wasn't hard to figure out that Whitebeard would see the same thing that he had within the rookie.
"What do you want, brat?" Whitebeard questioned almost immediately.
Now, Shanks didn't actually have an answer for that. He was still going off his own gut at this point. The feeling was almost worse now that he was actually aboard the Moby Dick.
Maybe he should just say he wanted to party.
That was until he saw that shit-eating grin on Ace's face.
Within seconds, Ace had lit himself on fire, pulling exclamations from the others around him. Marco reaching out for him as Ace catapulted himself forward. Fist back with a swirl of fire dancing around his skin.
"Commander Ace!"
"ACE!" Marco screamed the loudest out of all of them. That peeked Shanks' interest. Marco actually looked panicked.
Shanks sighed, coating his hands in haki. Activating his Observation haki. A smirk came to his face as he simply side stepped, grabbing ahold of Ace's wrist and a hand to the back of his neck. Slamming him into the deck below. He panted one knee into his lower back, directly under the tattoo decorating his back. "Really, Ace?" Shanks questioned. "Still too slow."
Ace growled, huffing as Shanks turned, sitting directly on Ace's hips but letting him go and placing his chin on his palm. "Let me up, Shanks."
"Eh, you ever going to learn that I'm stronger than you?"
"Why are you such an ass?!" Ace retorted.
"In my defense, you attacked me." Shanks stated, a fond smile on his face as Ace wiggled to try and break free.
"I wish that sea king ate you." Ace hissed.
"If it ate me, who would have saved Luffy?" Shanks questioned.
The question made Ace stop, huff and fold his arms under his chin with a pout. "Fair point. This isn't over." The younger pirate said.
"Never is." Shanks stated, standing up and finally letting Ace free. Ace was still glaring at him as Shanks just cast him a smile and started back over to Whitebeard. "I brought some medicinal water for you." The red-haired Yonko stated, directing it at Whitebeard as he peered over his shoulder to see that Ace had decided to stand back up.
"Son, why would you attack the red-haired brat?" Whitebeard questioned. He turned back to look at Whitebeard, a large grin on his face.
Ace was snickering as he walked by to which Shanks swiped at his head with a haki covered hand that Ace dodged. "You little shit." Shanks muttered.
"Reasons, Oyaji." Ace simply said, going back to stand by the rest of the Commanders.
"I don't necessarily have a reason, I suppose." Shanks told the other yonko.
He still couldn't get this feeling to go away. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary with the Whitebeard Pirates. Maybe for once he was just being paranoid. Even though he had no idea what had started this feeling.
He looked back over to Ace for a moment, watching as Marco slid his arm over Ace's shoulders. The blonde saying something that Shanks couldn't hear towards the younger pirate that had Ace laughing.
Figures.
Guess the being attracted to older man ran in the family.
"Something brought you here." Whitebeard replied after a moment, bringing Shanks' attention back over to him.
"It's hard to explain really." Shanks stated. "So, why don't we drink and talk."
Whitebeard snickered. "You knock out a bunch of my sons and offer me a drink? You've got balls, kid."
Shanks shrugged, the grin on his face either way. He paused as he looked over Whitebeard's shoulder, seeing Teach standing there, coming out the door that was behind Whitebeard's chair. An unreadable look on the man's face. It made the scars on his face ache. Despite the wound being twenty years old at this point, he could feel the phantom pain of the strike again.
Teach started to cackle, walking forward until he was standing next to Whitebeard. "Pretty as a picture, aren't you, Red-hair?" Teach questioned, the teasing undertone in his voice. "Those scars are a nice touch." That statement had Shanks narrowing his eyes, his own demeanor changing.
Shanks' own crew stepped forward, Benn placing himself directly between Shanks and Teach. A glare leveled on the other pirate. Yasopp looked ready to pull his gun out from his hip. Shanks reached out, placing his hand on Benn's shoulder, and giving him a smile. "No worries, it's alright."
Benn nodded, receiving the unspoken message that had him backing away. Shanks didn't want to start a fight over something as small as Teach's taunts. He came here to figure out the gut feeling he had, not to start a fight with the Whitebeard Pirates because of someone like Teach. Ace seemed to pick up on it because he was turning towards Teach saying, "Teach, we still have the reports to do. Go get yours finished."
Teach looked between Ace and Shanks for a moment before nodding. "Of course, Commander Ace." He stated, backing up a few steps before he was turning and walking away.
The feeling in his gut only got stronger as Teach departed.
There was something going on here.
Ace looked annoyed as Shanks looked back over to him and nodded. After a moment, he turned back to Whitebeard and grinned.
He could at least drink while he's here.
X
All of the Commanders ended up drinking right along with them as Shanks and Whitebeard ended up in a conversation about something Shanks did as a kid. Embarrassing the younger yonko from the event of his past.
That's when Ace brought up the devil fruit.
Apparently Fourth Division Commander Thatch had found one they didn't know anything about during a raid and according to their rules, Thatch got to choose what happened to it.
That gut feeling only got harsher the second he laid eyes on it. Thatch showing it off with a grin. Shanks had only looked up when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing, to which he had seen the glint in Teach's eye. An almost hunger to them.
He recognized the fruit. He had learned about it when studying about the Gomu Gomu no Mi, which ended up being eaten by Luffy. They had almost mistaken the Gomu Gomu fruit for this exact fruit. They looked awfully similar except for a few details. It was no mistaking what fruit Thatch had found.
The Yami Yami no Mi.
It was dangerous. Special within its class. There was nothing else like it. All because of one ability it held that would terrify anyone who came in contact with it.
He now knew that feeling he had. Why the unsettling discomfort reigned supreme over the rest of him. Teach's motives were started to become more clear, and it was because of that very fruit.
Commander Thatch was in danger.
He didn't know how to warn Whitebeard without tipping off Teach. He couldn't just tell one of the Commanders or even Ace to send him off without causing the same thing.
He had just a taste of the power that Teach had the second that his face got scarred by this man. He was hiding in the shadows of Whitebeard this entire time. Hiding his true colors. True intentions. It didn't take a genius to see it. Teach was putting a mask on as to hide those intentions from his crewmates. Why would they need to suspect him of anything? He had been on the original crew, long before Whitebeard had reached yonko status. They would never listen to him if he didn't have some kind of concrete evidence. He had already mentioned it before to them, only to get blown off about it in the past. He never brought it up again after that.
He was more surprised that Teach hadn't made his move yet.
He could push anything down as Teach left the small group. Shanks took his chance, turning his expression from his normal relaxed one to completely serious. Making sure that Teach wasn't within earshot when he stated, "Commander Thatch, I would watch your back if I were you." Thatch gave him a puzzled look as Shanks motioned towards the devil fruit in his hand. "That Devil Fruit. It's a dangerous one."
"Dangerous?" Ace questioned.
"Well, not for the user per say. For opponents." He replied, keeping his voice low as he looked back towards the door that Teach had disappeared into. "It's called the Yami Yami no Mi."
"Yami Yami no Mi?" Thatch muttered, looking down to the fruit in his hand. "Darkness?"
"Yeah. From what I know about it, it can counteract gravity itself, but most of all… it's most dangerous ability…" He was unable to finish his sentence as he felt an arm wrap around his neck and pull him backwards. The air catching in his throat as he was being dragged backwards. Surprised shouts coming from those around him.
"Shanks!" He heard from Ace. The panic in his voice.
"Teach, what the hell are you doing?!" Marco called out next.
Shanks felt a hand cover his mouth, blocking off his airway. Then just seconds later something pressing into his temple. His entire body went rigid, eyes turning towards his nakama. Their faces of shock telling him exactly what he needed to know. The hot breath on his ear as he was stumbling backwards, hands trying to claw the hand away from his mouth. That was until the hand on his mouth moved just long enough to move to his place a cuff around his wrist, wrenching his arm backwards until he was cuffing the other one and the hand moved back to his mouth before he could utter a word. Using his own shock as an advantage to confine his arms behind his back. The hand with the gun only shifted momentarily to grab Gryphon from his waist and discard it off to the side. Clanking against the wood before it was sliding away from them. He could use his haki, but his Conqueror's Haki has never been able to knock Teach out before. He had tried in the past and failed.
His back was flush against Teach's chest as he continued to back up, pressing the barrel of the gun harder into his forehead. "Anyone moves, he dies." Teach growled.
Benn even looked stunned, hand on his rifle. Shanks made eye contact with the man. Pleading him not to move. Not to react to Teach's demands.
How did he not notice Teach sneaking up on him? He had his Observation Haki activated this entire time. He should have been able to notice him.
It only rose more questions in his mind.
X
Ace was in absolute shock. Eyes wide to see his own subordinate manhandling Shanks away from them. It had all happened to quickly for them to react. Teach had already placed the gun against Shanks' head before they could respond. Just as Shanks was telling them the abilities of the devil fruit.
Something that Teach apparently didn't want Shanks saying because he had covered the red head's mouth. "Teach, let him go." Ace stated, on his feet and standing prepared to fight.
This was an unusual situation. One he didn't know what to do in. Shanks was technically an enemy pirate. The Captain of a rival pirate crew. Teach was his nakama. A man within his division that he commanded.
Shanks wasn't a devil fruit user. Just a regular human like ninety nine percent of the population. A gunshot to the head like that would kill him. The man that saved his kid brother all those years ago. Passed on the straw hat as a promise to one day reunite with Luffy. He couldn't die here. Not when he had his own promise to fulfill.
Shanks was more than that. More than just the man who saved his brother.
A secret that he was never supposed to tell anyone.
Why was Teach doing this? Why would he just attack Shanks out of the blue like this? Though, the same could be said for his reaction when Shanks first arrived on the Moby Dick. When he had jumped at Shanks. Though that was all fun and games. He didn't have the intention of hurting the red head. They had done this enough at that point that Shanks knew his intentions weren't to harm him.
This put him into a tough spot. He eyed Marco through the corner of his eye. Marco had been on the crew the longest out of the Commanders. Even longer than Teach was. He could see the questioning laced in those blue eyes.
Would his nakama allow Shanks to be killed knowing full well the Red-Hair Pirates would act in response?
They had to figure out what Teach was after. He had to want something if he was willing to take Shanks hostage like this. Shanks was bound. His arms behind his back to keep him from attacking and moving. A gun to his head to keep him compliant. A hand over his mouth most likely to keep him from giving an order to his crew.
Teach sure put them all into a tight spot.
"Son, what is the meaning of this?!" Whitebeard exclaimed, hand moving towards his Bisento, even if it was hesitant.
Teach was cackling, a look that Ace had never seen before coming to his face. It looked almost menacing. None of them had to react to Teach. They could just stand there and let him do what he wanted. Teach was one of them. They didn't have to listen to a word Teach was saying. They could let Shanks die.
It made Ace beyond angry. He was furious. The flames flickered on his hands as he clutched his fists. "Teach. Let him go." He demanded once again.
"Can't do that, Commander Ace. I hope you understand." Teach replied, only pressing the gun harder into Shanks' temple. "If you want him to live… pass over the devil fruit."
Ace stopped completely. The devil fruit?
"What…?" Thatch questioned, looking down at the fruit in his hand. "You want the fruit… for his life?"
Teach chuckled again, tightening his hold on Shanks. He could see Shanks getting red in the face. The erratic rise and fall of his chest. He was struggling to breathe. If he could at all. "Son, let Shanks go." Whitebeard ordered.
Teach's gaze moved over to him. "Like I told Commander Ace, Oyaji. I can't do that." Teach stated. The way he had said Oyaji had been almost taunting. It sent a chill down Ace's spine.
"What do we do? Red-Hair isn't one of us." Izou questioned, looking over to Whitebeard for guidance.
"Say, Commander Ace. Why don't you come join my crew once I'm done here? I'll kill a yonko while I'm at it." Ace sucked in a breath; he was prepared to fight Teach. No matter the cost. "Once I have that Devil Fruit, I'm going to go kill Straw Hat Luffy as a present for the World Government."
The air caught in Ace's throat. Shanks' eyes went wide, his body jerking against his restraints and the hold by Teach. The Red-Hair Pirates all froze as well, collective growls leaving them all. "Straw Hat Luffy? The rookie who challenged the World Government?!"
Ace couldn't contain it, despite the look that Shanks had thrown him. "Isn't Luffy who Shanks mentioned before?" Jozu added in.
"Why is he doing this?" Curiel questioned immediately after. "Could what Red-Hair spoke about before be true?" Shanks had warned them before about his fears about Teach. It was no secret to any of them just how Shanks had gotten the scars over his eye. Teach had given them to him. It had originally been written off just as Shanks possibly fearing Teach. No, it went much deeper than that. Ace was starting to see it now. Teach was using Shanks as a way to try and get a devil fruit. He must have known what it was before and didn't say a word to Thatch. It made the chills go through him again. If he was willing to go after a yonko, what would he have done. Thatch must have been thinking the same thing because he was looking in horror at the fruit in his hand.
"Oyaji, we have to do something." Marco stated. Marco knew. Knew who Luffy was to him. He had shown off Luffy's bounty poster to him and Whitebeard when it had came out, proudly proclaiming the idiot was his little brother. "Ace, you have to remain calm." Marco whispered to him. He was, unfortunately, right. Ace really wanted to charge Teach and attack but Teach would fire on Shanks before he could even get to him. If they failed here, Teach would go after his brother.
One that had been busy within Paradise. Last, he had seen Luffy was back in Arabasta. He had been on a mission and stopped on the island in hopes of running into his kid brother. He ended up having to save him from the Marine Smoker. He had reported back to the Moby following that.
"Luffy, huh? You're out of your mind." His statement had eyes turning to him. The Red-Hair Pirates knew who Luffy was to him. Shanks knew. That's how they found out about each other. Well, Shanks had told him. It wasn't just him and Luffy anymore. They had even more of a connection then they had before.
"Ah, you know him?" Teach smirked.
"Of course, I know him you sack of crap!" Ace exclaimed. "I'm not going to let you kill my little brother!"
Teach looked shocked, mouth dropping open. Shanks had used the moment to his advantage, throwing his head back and hitting Teach in the jaw. Setting off the gun in his hand. The two fell onto the deck. "CAPTAIN!" The Red-Hair Pirates screamed out. Shanks was now on his stomach, arms still pinned behind his back but a cut on his cheek and blood pouring out of the wound from where the bullet grazed his face.
Benn went to run forward but was stopped short by Teach scrambling back up and pointing the gun directly at Shanks again. Kneeling over and placing his knee into Shanks' lower back, directly over his hands to keep his arms pinned again. Placing the barrel of the gun into the back of Shanks' head.
"Don't do it, Commander Thatch!" Shanks suddenly shouted. "That fruit can cancel out devil fruit powers! That's why he wants it!"
Just a second later, Teach brought the barrel of the gun down to Shanks' temple. The red head yelped in pain as the blood spurted from his head, coating his forehead, and running down his face. The disorientation clear on his face now as he stopped struggling.
Ace froze as did the others.
The fruit could do what?!
Teach was cackling again, looking back up to them as he pointed the gun at Shanks again. "Well, seems like the cat is out of the bag."
Ace growled, lighting his arms on fire that had Marco reaching out for him. A hand on his bicep to keep him from stepping forward. This man has already threatened Luffy and is holding Shanks hostage. How could he not react to this?
Maybe that's what Teach was betting on.
He wanted them to react to him.
Either give the devil fruit over or Shanks' life would be taken.
It rose the question of why Shanks? Shanks wasn't one of them. Why take him as a hostage? It didn't make sense. If he wanted the Devil Fruit, why not take a Whitebeard Pirate hostage? Ace had been sitting directly next to Shanks. Why not take him? It would make more sense to take someone who Whitebeard would do anything for. Not an enemy pirate. Even if it was Red-Haired Shanks.
Ace ran the scenario through his head again.
Shanks had been grabbed as soon as he was talking about the devil fruit. Right before he was telling them the most dangerous ability.
His eyes widened. That was it. Teach was relying on them allowing for him to pull the trigger. To keep him from revealing the true power behind the fruit.
That's why he had covered his mouth originally.
He wanted to silence Shanks.
Though, he gave himself away by attacking the yonko in the first place.
"Son, just let Red-Hair go." Whitebeard stated, pushing himself up to stand.
The click followed next to Teach reloading the chamber. "He was right you know." That had even Whitebeard pausing. "It was so easy to put on the façade behind you. Hide within your large shadow. I could do my search as I pleased on your crew with the protection that followed. Then Commander Thatch found it. I had every intention of killing him and stealing the fruit in the first place."
Ace felt like he couldn't breathe. Teach was planning on killing Thatch this entire time? All for a Devil Fruit?
"You little bastard." Whitebeard growled.
"Now, now, Oyaji. Is that really the way to speak to your son?" Teach cackled. "I was going to go kill Straw Hat Luffy to gain a Warlord position so I could break into Impel Down. Now, I think I have a better idea." Teach moved the gun, pulling up strands of red with it with that same twisted smirk on his face. "A rookie like Straw Hat has nothing on someone like him."
"I'll kill you with my bare hands." Benn growled.
Teach looked over to him, the knowing smirk on his face. "Isn't that lovely?" He paused, a wicked grin coming to his face, showing off the missing teeth in his mouth. "Say, what is it like fucking him? He's always had such a pretty face. I wonder what it would look like withering with pleasure." Benn froze. Going rigid. "He's face looked even better covered in blood. Blood that I caused. I could have done anything to him in that moment." Teach said, looking back over to Shanks and moving the gun from the back of his head towards his face. Running across the scars over his left eye. "He was so helpless. Shocked that I even hit him. I could have done anything to him. Luckily for him, that wasn't my intention in the moment."
"You bastard." Benn growled.
They were in a helpless situation.
Ace could feel his blood running cold. Teach was taunting them. Egging them on in hopes that they would react to him. He wanted to wipe Shanks out of the equation. Even moving to want to offer him to the World Government. He was out of his mind. He would never make it off of the Moby Dick alive if he killed Shanks. He had to know that.
Though it gave Ace an idea.
He didn't have to move to attack Teach.
He just needed to distract him first.
"Commander Ace." Teach stated, catching his attention once more. "Maybe instead of being my First Mate, why don't you leave Commander Marco and come join me as my wife. You would make such a pretty arm piece."
Ace shuddered. Growling as the fire exploded from his hands for a split second. Marco leveled a glare on Teach, saying, "In your dreams, Teach."
"We could rule this world together." Teach stated. "What'dya say? We can take Red-Hair and rule the seas!"
What was Teach even going at now? Going from threatening to kill Shanks, revealing he wanted to kill Luffy, to wanting Ace to join him. Revealing he was going to kill Thatch. Even going as far to call him wife? He sure as hell wasn't a woman and sure as hell wasn't going to be joining Teach.
Ace made a noise in his throat, forming the flames on his arm, readying himself for an attack. He had heard enough. Fuck waiting. Fuck remaining calm.
He was going to kill Teach.
"You can take your little offer and shove it up your—" He went rigid as his haki spiked, warning him of impending danger, a gunshot ringing out, his eyes widening as he felt the pierce through his fire. Directly in his forehead.
He blinked as he looked at Teach. The gun pointed at him instead of Shanks. Shanks' eyes were just as wide. "Teach, you bastard." Shanks growled, struggling again before Teach was bringing the gun down on Shanks again. Grabbing one of his bound wrists. Shanks screamed out a second later as they all heard the snap. The red head bit his lip, biting it hard enough that it drew blood as he heaved. The pain written on his face.
"What was that, Red-Hair?" Teach teased. "It's not like I can mark up his pretty face. Yours I can do more too. That's why you're my favorite."
"You sadistic bastard." Shanks hissed, bringing another chuckle from Teach.
Ace looked down to the deck, taking a deep breath as the heat come up on his hands. "How dare you." He muttered, looking up to see Teach looking back at him. "How dare you spit all over my father's good name! How dare you threaten to kill my brother! One of our nakama! All for some fruit?!" He exclaimed, starting to march forward with the flames dancing over his shoulder blades.
Teach was smirking at him, the gun back on Shanks' head, cocking the gun again to signify the next round had loaded. "You really are willing to let Red-Hair die?"
"Not a chance!" Ace screamed. "I won't let you kill my brother!"
"Ace…" Shanks muttered, eyes widening again as even Teach looked stunned. Ace took the moment of Teach being taken completely off guard. He had his opening.
The little balls of fire surrounded Teach as Ace set them off with a shout of "Firefly… FIERY DOLL!" The small explosions came next. Engulfing Teach as Ace took his chance to grab Shanks by the shoulders and haul him away. Dragging him away from the screeching Teach. The others took advantage of the situation, the Commanders rushed in on Teach before he compose himself.
Ace immediately went for the handcuffs, touching them and feeling the exhaustion hit him within seconds. He brought his hands back as he cursed softly. "It's sea prism stone." He muttered. The Red-Hair Pirates flooded around them as Benn sat Shanks up as the yonko grimaced in pain.
"I've got it." Benn muttered as he rounded around Shanks. Kneeling behind him as he pulled out a knife from his belt, reaching around Shanks to grab the small one that Shanks kept on him.
While Benn was working on the cuffs, Ace moved around until he was in front of Shanks. "I should have made sure... Sorry about that." Shanks mumbled, wincing as the cuffs irritated his broken wrist.
Ace shook his head. "It wasn't just you." He muttered.
"I guess everyone knows now." Shanks whispered, looking past Ace's shoulder. Ace looked over to see that his nakama were indeed looking between the two of them.
"Guess so." Ace replied, looking back to Shanks.
X
Shanks felt the pain coursing through his wrist and his hand. He mentally cursed himself. He had fallen victim to Teach because the man managed to break through his defenses again. He winced as Benn worked to get the cuffs off of his wrists, aggravating his injury more. Benn whispering apologies to him.
Benn finally got the cuffs off, the cuffs clattering against the deck forgotten as Shanks moved his arms back in front of him. His wrist was clearly broken, black and blue already appearing on his skin.
Marco walked up, kneeling on the other side of Ace, and reaching out to cradle the yonko's wrist in his hand. "This is going to hurt for a minute." Marco muttered. Shanks nodded; the sweat built up on his forehead. Marco whispered an apology as he set the bone back into place. Pulling a pained sound from him as he felt the bone shift back into place. Lighting his hands up into blue flames, Shanks watched as the coloring returned to his wrist. The red head looked almost pleased as he sat back. Marco didn't stop at his wrist, moving up with his flames to the injuries on his face. "I can't do anything about the concussion, so be careful, okay."
Shanks nodded as Ace sighed, sitting back, and bracing himself on his hands. "Red-Hair. I want to apologize to you." Whitebeard stated, pulling even shock from Ace as he looked over to see Whitebeard frowning. "Teach will be taken care of."
Shanks looked away, nodding as Benn helped him stand up once Marco was done with what he was doing. "It's alright." Shanks stated. "I guess I figured out what brought me here."
Despite the pain that was going through his head, Shanks couldn't help but think that this situation might turn out for the better.
"I think I'm going to go back to my ship now." Shanks muttered. "It's been a long day."
Whitebeard nodded. "Take care of yourself, brat."
Shanks mustered up a smile as Benn wrapped an arm around his waist. "Always do, Whitebeard-san."