Author's Note: Here's an update for ya'll! This one is kind of angsty but also a little longer than normal (and full of Shanks' pack!). Thanks so much for your continued support and I hope you all enjoy the chapter~
To FawnTheFox: I'm so glad you like it! Yeah, Shanks is a bit of a villain, bad Shanks indeed! Thanks so much for the review and look forward to more to come ;)
To Wishfull-star: I hope you enjoy the update and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
To Zinlo34: Haha you're welcome for the update! Lots of Shanks and Luffy coming up soon :)
To nagareboshi1249: Lol I'm so glad I could give you something fun to look forward to at lunch!
To 94Insane: Things are definitely picking up! Lots of drama incoming and interesting interactions ;) Thanks so much for the review and I hope you enjoy the new chapter~
WARNINGS:
- Angst/past trauma
- Makino being protective
- Luffy's confused
- Shanks is a mess
The first thing Luffy realized when he woke up was that he was laying on something soft. With a groan, he forced his eyes open and instinctively grasped what felt like a blanket between his fists. He felt his ears flicking back and forth on top of his head as he tried to get his bearings. Behind him, his tail stirred under the blanket, moving slowly because of the weight.
Blinking the blurriness out of his vision, Luffy pushed himself up onto his hands and winced. His body was sore and felt stiff. How long had he been sleeping?
After swallowing to wet his parched throat, he looked around the room that he now found himself in. It was…cozy, if he had to choose a word. There were wood panels on all the walls and patterned curtains around the only window that revealed mostly just trees. The bed he was in had four posts and was also made of wood, giving the room a cabin-like feel. A glance down revealed he was covered in an old quilt and that he still wore the clothes he'd changed into before…
Suddenly nervous, Luffy brought his knees up to his chest, inadvertently bringing the heavy quilt along. His memories of right before falling asleep were fuzzy at best, but he distinctively remembered his conversation with Sabo before the blonde had passed out.
"If you stay…they will take you away from here. Do you u-understand?"
'I hope Ace, Sabo, and the others are okay.' Luffy thought, feeling his ears droop against his messy hair.
Once he'd composed himself, he raised his head and sniffed the air on instinct alone. As expected, the scent of the red-haired lycan was strong but surprisingly…not as overwhelming as it had been at the Happy Rabbit. There were other smells around as well but one in particular seemed to dampen the savory scent. Whose was that?
He jumped in surprise when the door to the room shook suddenly, letting him know he was about to have company. Unsure what to do, Luffy pulled the quilt over his head and lay back down on the bed. Maybe he could trick whoever it was into thinking he was still asleep. That might buy him some time before having to interact with his kidnappers.
The door opened with a quiet creak and light footsteps entered the room, closing the door behind them. Luffy tried to keep as still as he could but felt himself starting to sweat under the quilt, both from the heat and the stress of trying to keep himself calm.
"…Luffy, dear?"
He felt himself tense in surprise at being addressed, no doubt revealing that he was awake. Still, he kept the quilt wrapped around him like it was a shield.
"I'm so glad you're awake." Luffy registered the fact that his visitor was a woman before tensing again when she sat on the edge of the bed, her weight creating a small indent in the mattress. "It's okay…you don't have to be scared. My name is Makino."
Luffy didn't move despite the kind introduction, prompting the woman to gently brush her hand over the quilt.
"Will you please move the blanket? It may be hard to eat under there."
At the mention of food, Luffy felt his ears perk up and his stomach growl against his will. He was hungry and this lady sounded pretty nice…
Slowly, he peeked out from under the quilt and looked up into the soft eyes of 'Makino'. She was fairly young and had her green hair pulled back into a ponytail at the base of her neck. Her scent, now not obstructed by the quilt, was soothing like that of a mother. Luffy, of course, had no experience with 'mothers', but thought that was the best word to describe the woman currently sitting next to him.
As he emerged more fully from the safety of the quilt, he also realized the unknown scent he'd identified earlier as a 'dampener' belonged to Makino. She seemed to calm the savory nature of the red-haired lycan's smell with her own sweet one.
The female lycan's smile widened when he pushed the quilt back and she reached for a tray she'd placed on the bedside table.
"I wasn't sure how hungry you'd be, but I hope this will satisfy you for now."
Luffy felt his mouth water at the smell of hot oatmeal, toast, and sausage. Without another word to Makino, he took the tray and began shoveling the food into his mouth. She simply sat nearby and watched him eat, radiating a calm, motherly presence that made Luffy feel…safe.
"Thank you." He muttered quietly after cleaning his plate, handing the tray back to Makino. She simply smiled at him and gracefully took the dishes from him.
"You're very welcome. Now…how are you feeling? Any pain?"
Luffy shrugged and looked down at his hands. His kidnappers must've cleaned most of Sabo's blood from his hands, but he still felt dirty.
"No…no pain. I'm just kinda sore."
"Well that's good." Makino replied before standing and straightening her skirt. "Why don't you come with me, dear. I'll get a shower going for you and find some clean clothes. Does that sound okay?"
Luffy nodded and reluctantly followed her prompting to remove himself from the bed. Very much aware of how his ears and tail were on display, he walked stiffly behind Makino towards a door to the left of the window he'd seen, clearly a bathroom. Luffy stood awkwardly in the doorway while Makino turned on the water and set out a towel for him.
"Take your time. I'll be right back with some new clothes. Is there anything else you need right now?"
Luffy shook his head and scratched at his arm nervously. It was weird that he was being treated so nicely by the pack his father had so sternly warned him about. Makino startled him out of his thoughts by placing a gentle hand on his tense shoulder.
"…I'm so sorry." He looked up in surprise and was met by Makino's kind eyes misted over, like she was holding back tears. "You didn't deserve any of this."
Luffy remained still even when Makino moved her hand to his cheek and brushed over the scar under his eye. As if suddenly realizing what she was doing, the woman just as quickly removed her hand and smiled sheepishly at him.
"Forgive me, I didn't mean to startle you. Please let me know if you need anything else, okay? I'll be back soon."
With that, Makino left the bathroom and closed the door, leaving him alone. Confused by what just happened, Luffy decided to follow the woman's advice and get himself clean. A hot shower would probably feel good. Once he'd removed his clothes and left them on the floor, Luffy stepped into the shower and sat on the wooden stool someone had placed there.
It felt good to let the water run over his head and down his back…as if his aches and pains were being washed away. With a huff, he dropped his head into his hands and let his tail brush wetly across the shower floor.
…what was going to happen to him now?
Makino let out a long, forlorn sigh when she left Luffy's room and leaned heavily against the door. Though she'd readied herself for what she might see when she finally met the infamous pup, she wasn't prepared for the fear…the hopelessness that radiated off him and influenced his scent, giving it a sickly tinge. The poor thing had been through so much already and now woke up in an unfamiliar place, unsure of his future.
It angered her. Made her want to confront Shanks again despite already letting her husband know exactly how she felt about his actions when he'd first returned.
"S-Shanks…what have you done?" Makino stuttered, a hand over her mouth in horror at the sight of the unconscious and pale pup held tightly in Benn's arms. Her stomach had been tied up in knots since hearing of her mate's sudden return from San Faldo, fearful of what happened. Shanks hadn't been himself since the incident with Dragon and his men…but this-
"Makino…this is Luffy. I finally found him." Shanks put in quietly while gesturing to the unmoving boy. "Could you get a room ready for him?"
Makino, shocked into silence, turned her attention to her husband's men with a searching gaze. Searching for answers. They all looked anywhere but her. Only Benn looked her in the eyes and his expression told her everything she needed to know.
Shanks had finally gone too far.
She'd known her husband had been…unstable…since they lost their child, but she'd never expected her kind Shanks to do something so against his nature. How far down in his heart had he buried his grief that his instincts had so much control over his actions? It was unacceptable and she could no longer ignore it.
With a hard gulp to steady herself, she stepped forward and began dismissing the men.
"Benn…you can get him settled in the guest suite of the west wing. I'll be there shortly."
The beta nodded and quickly walked away, taking Luffy with him. Makino glanced at his pallid skin with regret and anger unlike anything she'd felt before. No pup deserved to be treated like this…not even Dragon's son.
Once they were alone, Makino turned and began walking towards the east wing, where their bedroom was. She could feel Shanks following her silently and didn't stop until they were isolated with the door closed. Without wasting a breath, she swung around and slapped her husband across the face.
An action she'd never taken before.
"You never answered me…what did you do?"
Trembling slightly at the memories of their heated discussion, Makino straightened up and began to walk towards the hall that led to one of their many linen closets. The guard they'd posted at Luffy's door simply nodded to her as she left, not saying anything. She had no doubt that the pup would try to run eventually…it was a natural response to being kidnapped.
A part of her hoped he would be successful.
Once she'd collected some clothes that would hopefully fit Luffy, she headed back to his room. The sound of running water still came from the bathroom, letting her know the pup hadn't finished showering. Makino knocked lightly and cracked the door to place her bundle down just inside the threshold. She wanted to let Luffy know that she wouldn't invade his privacy.
"Here's some clothes for you, dear. Let me know if they don't fit."
"…okay. Thanks." The teen answered, his voice echoing behind the glass of the shower. With that, Makino closed the door, allowing Luffy to finish getting cleaned up in peace. Knowing there wasn't much left for her to do but wait, Makino went about changing the pup's sheets and folding the quilt on the end of the bed. She didn't miss how wet the sheets were, indicating Luffy had been sweating under the layers.
A knock at the door prompted her to stop folding and look up into the familiar eyes of Hongo, their resident doctor. He was a kind man with blonde hair and more than a few scars from his younger days. Makino's gaze moved to the medical bag hung casually over his shoulder.
"I heard our guest was awake. How's he doing?"
"…as well as can be expected." She answered, turning back to her work straightening the bed and its blankets. "He's scared."
"No surprise there…" Hongo replied softly with a sigh, "Poor kid. You mind if I take a look at him when he's finished?"
Makino silently shook her head. Though she hadn't noticed any injuries on the pup, it was a good idea to make sure he was okay. A few minutes later, the water in the bathroom was shut off and some shuffling could be heard behind the door. Eventually, Luffy peeked his head out and peered at the two of them nervously.
"All finished?" She asked while walking over to him, making sure to keep her scent calm so as to not scare the pup. He nodded and stepped out of the bathroom. Makino looked over the clothes and was pleased to see they fit, though there was a bit of an awkward gap where his tail protruded from his lower back. Still, they would work. She'd chosen simple black sweatpants, maroon socks, and a dark gray shirt to go with it.
Long-sleeved to cover his furry his arms. Makino figured it would help to have at least some of his unusual features hidden from plain sight.
"This is Hongo, he's a doctor." She introduced the blonde lycan, drawing Luffy's attention to the man. The teen shrunk back a little, likely remembering the last time they'd seen each other. "It's okay, he just wants to make sure you're not hurting anywhere."
Luffy eventually did allow Hongo to examine him, though he clearly didn't trust the older lycan. Makino didn't blame him…not after everything their pack had done.
"Looking good, kid. Glad to see you're not hurt." Hongo said with a friendly smile while packing up his instruments. "When you're feeling up to it and want to explore, come out to the commons area and I'll introduce you to everyone. I hear Lucky's going to barbecue some meat for lunch today and, let me tell you…. it's to die for."
Luffy just nodded in response (though he did look interested in the meat Hongo mentioned). Makino knew the doctor was trying to help the teen feel more comfortable, but it would likely take more than some food and niceties to win Luffy over.
"Thank you, Hongo. I'll take it from here." She put in, prompting the doctor to bow shortly and take his leave. Once they were alone again, Makino turned her attention back to Luffy. "If you'd like to go have lunch with everyone, I can take you…but no rush, dear."
"Um…when is lunch?"
"A few hours yet."
"…the meat sounded good." Luffy muttered to himself, tail wagging ever so slightly behind him. Makino's smile widened slightly at the adorable sight. "M-Maybe I'll go. You'll be there, right?"
"Of course!" Makino answered, pleased the teen seemed to trust her. "How about this? You rest for a while and I'll come get you when the time comes."
"Okay!" Luffy replied, actually cracking a tiny smile as he sat on the edge of his bed, "Thanks, Makino."
She beamed at him.
"Think nothing of it!"
True to her word, Makino returned to his room hours later to escort Luffy to what the blonde lycan had called 'the commons'. Now that it had been a while since he'd last eaten, he was ready to taste some of the meat they'd mentioned.
Luffy eyed the unfamiliar lycan sitting just outside the door to his room warily when they entered the hallway. Makino assured him everything was fine, but he was pretty sure the man was there to make sure he didn't escape. His theory was proven correct when the burly lycan stood and began to follow them. Unsure what to do with himself, Luffy just did his best to stay close to Makino.
The idea of escape had occurred to him while 'resting' alone in his room, but he quickly decided against it. If his experience at the Happy Rabbit had taught him anything, it was that lycans were very difficult to get away from.
Besides, Sabo promised that he and Ace would come save him no matter what. All he had to do was wait. The memory brought a tiny smile to his face and made him feel a little better.
He followed Makino down many hallways and eventually they came to a curved staircase that overlooked a foyer of some kind. Luffy gazed up at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling with awe, admiring its size and glittering crystal. The rest of the space was made up of those wooden panels he'd noticed in his room with the exception of the floor that had been tiled, though most of it was covered in a variety of patterned rugs.
Now out in the open, Luffy could smell something in the air that made his mouth water.
Meat.
"It seems Lucky has already started." Makino said while also giving the air a discreet sniff, "He's quite the cook, though he isn't quite as talented with food that can't be tossed on a grill or roasted over a fire." The lycan following them chuckled at that while Luffy simply inhaled deeply. It smelled amazing.
Once they'd stepped off the stairs, Makino took him across the foyer and into a spacious room filled with couches and tables. Luffy deduced that this must be the common area they'd mentioned where the pack gathered to eat or enjoy each other's company. Thankfully, there weren't many lycans around, but the ones who were present raised a hand in greeting to Makino.
"Come to join us, Makino?" An older lycan called, drawing their attention. Luffy balked before they reached the stranger, taking in the man's long hair, large build, and multiple dragon tattoos. He was significantly larger than even the jellyfish man and his instincts told him to be careful. Against his will, his tail dropped like it was going to fall between his legs.
The man looked surprised at his sudden stop and quickly softened his gaze. Luffy blinked in confusion when the unfamiliar lycan's smell seemed to disappear, like someone had snuffed out a candle. Was he doing something with his scent?
Luffy didn't really understand but he was grateful nonetheless as he felt his tail emerge and lift up into a curious wag.
"Yes, if you'll have us." Makino replied while gently leading Luffy forward so he could see the lycans gathered before them. The only one he recognized was 'Hongo' who'd already introduced himself. The blonde smiled and waved at him.
He simply shuffled in place, feeling nervous.
"Of course! Make yourselves at home." Another one put in, standing to his feet. He also had blonde hair but it was very curly and framed his somewhat wily grin. Luffy tilted his head as he focused on him.
…had he met him somewhere before? He looked sort of familiar.
"I'm Yasopp, it's a pleasure." Luffy was startled out of his thoughts when the man thrust a hand his direction. He looked between the lycan's eyes and his hand for a moment before reaching out and shaking it. This just made 'Yasopp's' grin widen. "'Atta boy! Why don't you come take a seat, food should be done soon."
Once they made themselves comfortable at the table, the larger lycan introduced himself as Snake and the third one said his name was Lime. Thankfully, they didn't seem all that interested in questioning Luffy about himself and or his extra features. He just listened for a while, trying to get a read on this new pack.
They all seemed close and were definitely friendly, but he'd seen what they could do firsthand. Ace and Sabo would probably get mad at him if he dropped his guard.
"Ah, there he is!" Yasopp exclaimed when a rather round lycan emerged from what must be the kitchen with a plate of delicious smelling meat. Luffy felt his mouth water when the sizzling food was placed before them. "Thanks as always, Lucky!"
"No problem, I enjoy it!" The newcomer replied before turning his attention to Makino and Luffy. "You must be Luffy! I'm Lucky Roux, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you…" He echoed with a hard swallow, most of his attention stolen by the stack of filet, ribs, and drumsticks sitting innocently on the table just waiting to be devoured. His lack of a response just made Lucky laugh.
"Bon Appetit, boys! Eat while it's hot!"
Luffy didn't have to be told twice.
Needless to say, the platter of meat was soon empty and all of them sat around with content expressions on their face. Though Luffy knew he should be wary of the lycans, he found himself relaxing to the sounds of their laughter and friendly banter. The other lycans had also 'dampened' their scents, making it much easier for Luffy to be close to them without feeling afraid or having the desire to run.
Though, one thing still bothered him. He'd had yet to see the jellyfish man or the red-haired lycan since he'd woken up.
Luffy took a sip of his water the lycan 'Lucky' had given to him and sniffed the air, drawing the attention of the older men surrounding him.
"Looking for something, kid?"
"Um…" He stumbled over his words, unsure what to tell them at first, "I…I was just wondering where the one with red hair is.." The lycans glanced at each other, expressions hardening ever so slightly.
"I think Shanks is busy right now, but maybe Benn will take you to see him a little later."
Luffy nodded in response to them before bringing his legs up onto his chair and crossing them. To say he was nervous to come face to face with 'Shanks' again was a huge understatement. He didn't want to have any more painful memories and, frankly, he was scared of what the powerful lycan intended to do with him.
He recalled the strange conversation the red-haired alpha had with Ace just before chaos erupted. They'd talked about 'sires' and 'pups' and other confusing things, which brought to mind what Sabo had taught him during his first few days at the Happy Rabbit.
"Your sire is the lycan who turned you."
…did that mean that this 'Shanks' was the one who'd turned him into a werewolf?
Later that day, Luffy found himself outside the pack house. After wandering around with Makino for a while, the woman had excused herself to go rest, leaving him with his ever present 'guard'. Not wanting to return to his room just yet, Luffy requested to be shown outside. Thankfully, the man hadn't protested. He was led onto a large porch filled with furniture just as cozy as he'd seen inside but with a great view of the landscape.
Eyes big, he leaned on the railing to get a better view of the mountain looming over the pack house. It seemed to reach the heavens and had snow dusting its peak.
With the sun starting to set, it provided a truly stunning view.
Luffy inhaled deeply, enjoying the crisp mountain air while his tail wagged lazily behind him. Even though he was in a bad situation, he couldn't help but enjoy the fresh air and refreshing scenery. He wondered if they would let him take a walk in the forest…
"Pretty, isn't it?" A new voice put in, drawing a startled noise from the back of his throat. Luffy quickly turned to his right to see who'd spoken and felt his tail drop to the wooden deck. It was a familiar face…the jellyfish man.
He had a lit cigarette between his teeth and was leaning against one of the porch's pillars. Luffy swallowed hard when the gray-haired lycan dismissed the guard with a single nod of his head, leaving them alone. Suddenly the crisp air seemed less refreshing and more icy as it entered his nostrils, causing shivers to run up and down his furry arms.
"Did you need me for something?" Luffy managed in a quiet voice while hugging himself, eyeing the man warily. He definitely hadn't forgotten how he'd almost been kidnapped from the aquarium. The older werewolf blew out a puff of smoke before speaking.
"Just wondering how you're doing. Hongo told me he looked you over…glad you weren't hurt."
"Mn…I'm fine."
"That's good."
Luffy shuffled in place, disliking the somewhat awkward conversation. The lycan huffed and straightened up, taking a moment to discard his cigarette in a nearby ash tray.
"I don't think I've had a chance to properly introduce myself yet. I'm Benn, the beta of this pack." Luffy looked up at the man as he approached, not retreating though his instincts told him to. His eyes followed Benn even when he suddenly knelt in front him, expression morphing to one of…regret? "I also haven't had a chance to apologize to you for what happened. I'm so sorry for everything you've gone through because of us, Luffy."
He gazed down at the man in shock, voice caught in his throat.
"I won't ask you to forgive us…we don't deserve it." Benn continued, gaze turning downcast. "But, while you're here, please don't hesitate to ask me if you need anything at all. I at least want to try and make you comfortable."
"Thanks…" Luffy replied, voice a bit shaky, "Sorry, I'm just kind of…confused."
Benn's mouth curled into a fond smile.
"I know, and I wish I could explain everything."
"Why can't you?"
"It's not my place to say." Benn continued with a sigh, standing up to his full height, "Hey, do you like sweets? Why don't we get you some dessert to wash down all that meat."
The lycan quickly changed the subject and led Luffy to an outdoor fridge that held all sorts of ice cream and other fruity desserts. He eagerly accepted a bowl full of chocolate ice cream and dug his spoon into it without hesitation. Benn didn't get himself anything but did sit on the couch next to him, gaze fixed on the long shadows caused by the retreating sun.
Luffy glanced at the larger man frequently while finishing his frozen treat. Though he'd been frightened of him…Benn didn't seem like a bad guy. He'd even apologized and given him ice cream!
'Everyone's been…nice.' He thought, taking a moment to lick leftover ice cream from his spoon. They weren't at all how he expected them to be. Of course, there was still the elephant in the room. His head hurt just thinking about him.
"Ne, Benn?" Luffy asked, using the lycan's actual name for the first time, "They said he's been busy…but why hasn't Shanks been around?"
It felt weird to discuss the red-haired alpha, especially by name. Benn hummed deep in his throat and sighed, bringing a hand up to brush hair from his face.
"He's…trying to work through a few things. I don't think this situation turned out the way he'd hoped." Luffy tilted his head in confusion. What did that mean? Benn turned so his body faced his. "Did you want to see him?"
Luffy had to think for a minute about how to respond. The instincts he'd identified as being his lycan side were screaming at him to find the man in question, but his human heart (that he refused to accept was gone) was still scared. This was the person his Dad had tried to keep him away from for years…who'd hurt Ace and Sabo. He felt his ears go back on his head, giving away his inner conflict.
"You don't have to if you're not ready."
"No." Luffy stated firmly, making up his mind, "I'd like to see him." Shanks was the only person who could answer all his questions and who knew about his past…the circumstances behind him turning into a werewolf. Maybe if he knew what happened, all the painful visions and scary dreams would stop. Besides, he was bound to run into him eventually in his own pack house and he'd rather not be taken by surprise like he had at the Happy Rabbit.
Benn nodded and stood to his feet, motioning for Luffy to follow behind him.
Shanks sighed into his elbow that rested across his eyes for what felt like the twentieth time. He was lying on the window seat of his office with the panes thrown wide open so a breeze could enter the stuffy room. Though the cool air felt nice on his heated skin, it didn't exactly make him feel better.
'How long has been it been since we fought like that…?' Shanks thought while bringing his arm down onto the soft, blue cushion below him. He and Makino had always had a good relationship, hardly ever fighting and always on the same page, but now…
His cheek still stung from where she'd struck him.
Shanks stood in shock while trying to register the question Makino had asked him. He brought his hand up to brush the likely reddening skin. She'd…hit him?
"Well?" Makino added in a low growl that seemed odd coming from his always sweet wife. He used to tease her when they first met about her 'voice like a mouse'. Of course, he'd heard her more aggressive tones, but they'd never been directed at him before.
"Like I said, I found Luffy."
"And you kidnapped him!?" She shot back, hands clenched tightly at her sides, "Tell me that's not what you did, Shanks."
"Well…" He trailed off, causing her hackles to rise even more. He didn't want to lie to her.
"He's a child! Can't you see how wrong this is!?"
Shanks huffed and began to pace back and forth a bit as he gathered his thoughts. Why wasn't Makino on his side here? She knew how he felt about Luffy!
"Is it wrong for a sire to want their pup at their side?"
"He's not your pup!" Makino yelled back, voice breaking. Shanks stopped moving and his eyes widened as tears began to stream down his wife's face. "H-He's not ours…he can't r-replace-"
Shanks immediately felt bad and tried to approach Makino to comfort her, but she pushed him away. His heart hurt a bit at her rejection of him, but he stepped back, letting her cry softly to herself.
"I know he can't replace what we've lost," Shanks said, now speaking softly, "but I need this, Makino. Ever since he imprinted on me and was taken away, I've felt like I'm missing a piece of myself. Now that he's here-"
"-you'll feel better?" Makino interrupted, turning slightly to send him a displeased look, "Luffy can't fill the hole of grief in your heart, Shanks."
He gritted his teeth and turned away from his wife.
"I've grieved enough."
"You haven't grieved at all." Makino shot back, sniffling as she tried to get a hold of herself, "You're just bottling up your emotions and projecting what's left on poor Luffy! He doesn't deserve that!"
Shanks didn't reply or turn around to face her. Behind him, he could hear Makino growl in frustration and begin to walk away from him. Her unusually sour scent filled the room, indicating how upset she was. The door opened with a creak but didn't close right away.
"Until you can figure out why what you're doing is wrong, you can sleep in here on the couch. I'm sure Benn can find you some blankets. Good night."
The door slammed behind her.
Since then, Shanks hadn't left his office. His men had brought him some food, but he wasn't very hungry. It was painful to fight with Makino. She was his closest friend, lover, and best supporter. She always had his back and was there for him when he needed someone to talk to. Shanks valued her more than anything…and now, here he was, banished to the couch. He needed to make it up to her somehow.
He brought his hand up to his chest, thinking on her words.
…where had he gone wrong?
'I suppose fighting with young Ace's pack is a good place to start.' He mused with a huff as regret coursed through his veins. Nothing had gone as he'd hoped in San Faldo and, even though he'd ended up with Luffy, he didn't feel nearly as good as he'd anticipated.
The hole was still there. He still felt...incomplete. One step away from losing himself with thoughts of the past.
A sudden knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts. He sat up on the cushion, shook his head to bring himself back to reality, and called out to whoever was there.
"Come in."
The knob turned, causing the door to open and reveal Benn. His beta stuck his head in and nodded in greeting to him.
"Is…now a good time?"
Shanks shrugged and leaned on one knee.
"I guess. What's up?"
"Someone wanted to see you."
He straightened up instinctively at that and watched as Benn stepped aside, allowing a much smaller form to enter the room. Luffy looked significantly better than he had the last time he'd seen him, all dressed in comfy clothes and cleaned up. The fuzzy ears on top of his head were back against his head but still obvious. His tail dragged on the floor behind him, limp for the moment.
Shanks' instincts screamed in happiness at the sight of the pup, but he forced them down, not wanting to scare the already nervous boy. For the moment, he ignored the still gaping 'hole' inside him to focus on Luffy. Just being near him raised his spirits and fed his alpha's pride more than anything else.
"I'm glad to see you're up and walking around. How are you feeling?"
"…okay." He answered while eyeing him with both suspicion and barely concealed confusion. Shanks knew his lycan instincts must be going haywire, especially since he'd been apart from his sire for so long. Not wanting to make things worse, he tried to suppress his scent as much as possible, remembering what it did to Luffy the last time he'd been close to him. He didn't want to cause the pup more pain. "You're 'Shanks', right?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"Who…who are you?"
Shanks smiled warmly at the obviously confused pup and motioned for him to come closer.
"Why don't you have a seat and we can talk. I bet you have a lot of questions."