Chapter Six: Town Center

Chapter Summary: Shanks sets sail for Town Center so he can meet Buggy, along with some very special passengers. He and the twins have an enlightening conversation and Luffy makes a big decision about his future.

AN: This is a slower, transitory chapter. Not too much going on, but there is fluff, angst and my attempt at humor as well as some important lessons for the twins. I'm not totally happy with this chapter but it's a necessary waypoint for the next few chapters.

Shanks has always had a special relationship with the sea.

All pirates would likely claim the same, but he liked to think his connection with Mother Ocean ran a little deeper than most. From the moment he was born, an unwanted child destined to be stuffed in a treasure chest, the ocean had played many roles in his life: guide, teacher, equalizer, adversary, parent, friend, rival.

Most of all, she had been his home. She provided him with a reliable place that he knew would always be there. No matter what else changed or shifted in the world, the ocean would be right where he left it, offering him the freedom and adventure that he craved. No amount of time could change that and Shanks' days as a land dweller on Dawn Island hadn't changed that either. The ocean welcomed him back with open arms when he stepped aboard the Red Force again, ready to sail to the other side of the Goa Kingdom to see Buggy.

It had only been a few months since he last saw him, but he was even more nervous now than he had been when he docked at Mirror Ball Island. He didn't delude himself as to why that was.

A frustrated groan followed by a melodious giggle caught his ear. He glanced behind him where Benn was sitting on the steps leading up to the bow of the ship, an amused tilt to his lips as Luffy, Uta and Ace sat at his feet, each with a bundle of rope in hand and practicing the knots Benn was teaching them.

Ace was staring at the rope with a look of utter concentration, his gaze so heavy it nearly burned a hole through the twisted cord. He had already advanced to more difficult knots and seemed to be in his own world, taking the simple act of knot tying as seriously as Shanks suspected he took weapons training.

Luffy was glaring as well, though in frustration at the ropes he had managed to knot up so hopelessly Shanks didn't even know where to begin untying them.

Uta was faring a bit better than her twin, though not as well as Ace was. She had managed to create a loose facsimile of Benn's knot but had abandoned it in favor of rubbing her success in Luffy's face.

Shanks' lips tipped in mirth as he watched Benn attempt to correct Luffy's creation before he turned his gaze back to the churning sea, losing himself in the water that flowed past the Red Force as she cut a path to their destination.

After Benn had informed him that Buggy was on Dawn Island, Shanks had spent days contemplating what to do with that information. Apparently, Buggy had gained the patronage of a foreign noblewoman who was sponsoring his show and secured him a residency in Town Center.

Benn had described the island outside of the rural villages as rigidly segregated, with the cities divided based on class and walls or gates set up between each section. Town Center was the most populated part and housed those who were neither noble nor lower class. The people there lived largely normal lives which was in contrast to High Town, where the nobles and royals lived, and Edge Town where criminals thrived along with Gray Terminal where the country had dumped its trash and their poorest residents. The country went so far as to strip the people living in Gray Terminal of citizenship and gave them no protection, leaving the place a lawless trash heap. Shanks was not surprised. The things nobility did to people they viewed as beneath them no longer shocked him, but it never failed to disgust him.

Still, Town Center appeared to be a relatively safe place to visit outside of Windmill Village and Buggy was there. He had seen him only months prior, but things had changed since then. Back then, he had been hesitant to tell his brother about the twins and ultimately, he hadn't. It wasn't as much a matter of trust as it was a matter of Shanks not wanting to reopen old wounds any more than he already was.

Being with Buggy meant dredging up all the things he had left unsaid when it came to Roger, Rouge, the old crew and how things fell apart. Shanks had spent years ignoring and chasing away those feelings in booze and adventure, in his new pack and establishing himself in the New World, in Mihawk and fighting and proving himself to the world. Those were easier points of focus than the raw feeling that was left in his chest when he thought of the look in Roger's eyes when he declared the crew had disbanded and he was giving himself up, the frantic fervor in his voice as he babbled about prophecies and the new era, the sound as the polearms impaled his body. He couldn't deal with all that and the loss of his pups on top of it, so he hadn't told Buggy.

However, things were different now. Shanks had found his twins again and the wound that their separation had left in him was healing. It still clogged his throat to think of all he had endured when he gave them up and all that they had been through without him there to protect them, but the agonizing feeling was tempered by their presence, full of light and love freely given.

Shanks would not be in the East Blue forever, he'd be leaving soon, but Buggy would be here. He had said himself he had no intention of returning to the Grand Line any time soon. He was doing well for himself in the East. He had built a new pack and he seemed comfortable in his new life, but Shanks hoped his brother had enough love left for him to at least keep an eye on his kids every once in a while.

Plus, there was Ace. Shanks did not want to spring that meeting on the boy, not when he was still in a vulnerable place. He accepted Shanks' stories but he could tell trust was not an easy thing for the child to give. He had not extended it to Shanks yet, even though he was still humoring him. Ace wanted to meet Buggy. He wanted to learn more about his parents and Buggy had been with Rouge closer to the end than Shanks had, he may know more about what was going through her head. Ace still didn't totally believe him when he told him Rouge's death wasn't his fault, that she had made a choice to save him and he could hardly blame himself for that. Perhaps he needed to hear it from someone else as well, someone who had also called Rouge 'mom'. Shanks was only too happy to help by facilitating that meeting.

And there was the other thing he needed to tell Buggy. He deserved to know what had happened to Rouge. Buggy had never been much of an optimist. It was likely he was not holding on to the same hope that Shanks had been, but it still felt necessary to let him know the truth about her.

So, Shanks had packed up enough to get him to his destination and had prepared to go. While he had planned to bring Ace along (after securing Dadan's blithe dismissal that she didn't care what he did with the ungrateful brat and assuring her he'd bring him back after picking up on the alpha's thinly veiled worry), he wasn't planning to bring the twins initially. They begged and pleaded, cajoled and cried, shouted and demanded. Ultimately, it was Makino who convinced him to bring them along. It would be a short trip to the south side of the island. Sailing there was much safer than hiking was and the whole crew was going, there was no safer place for the twins. And it'd be good for them to get out and see a place beyond Windmill. They were itching for freedom, this trip would give them a small taste of it. And it might get them off his back for a bit about joining his crew.

Shanks could see the wisdom in her words and Benn hadn't given him the usual look he did when Shanks did something stupid or reckless, so he figured it was alright. He didn't think he had seen the twins as excited as they were on the day they set sail for Town Center. The trip wouldn't take them more than half a day's sail, but that didn't seem to matter to the children so much as the fact that they were sailing on an actual pirate ship.

He wondered briefly if he was that excited when he was their age. Probably not. He had grown up on a pirate ship since he was an infant, it lost its novelty long before he was their age. There was only so much mysticism that lingered after you were woken up by the sounds of a naval battle in the middle of the night because some random pirate crew or Marine ship had decided to challenge Gol D. Roger. Or, more likely, Roger had decided he was itching for a fight and so he went looking for one.

There had still been a sense of wonder, but it was born from the adventures he had been on. Roger's wanderlust was infectious and it often seeped into the entire crew. Shanks could never tell if that was a trait he had always had or if he had learned it from Roger, but seeing as how the twins were just as consumed with the idea of going on grand quests, perhaps it was much more hereditary than he had thought.

He glanced down as he felt two familiar weights settle on either side of him as he leaned against the railing at the bow of the ship. Luffy was pouting silently while Uta was clearly holding back laughter.

"Gave up already," he asked.

"Mr. Benn says there aren't enough ropes on the ship for us to keep trying, seeing as how Luffy tangled up most of them. He sent us off while he and Freckleface tried to fix them," Uta explained.

"Is tying knots really that important to being a pirate anyway? I thought it was all about adventure and freedom. What does tying a knot have to do with that," Luffy questioned belligerently, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Learning to tie knots helps you take care of your ship, just like cleaning the deck and the windows. It's not just a punishment, it's necessary for a ship's maintenance. A ship isn't just a ship, it's a part of your crew. It's a home, so it has to be the perfect ship, matched to you and reflecting who you are to the world. If you want it to be able to take you on your adventures, then you have to take care of it."

"I get the taking care of the ship part, but is the home part really that important? What's so special about a home anyway?" Uta asked.

"Home is the place where you can feel the safest and most comfortable. It's a place of refuge, where you can be with the people you love the most. It can be your shield, your fortress, your soft place to land. Home is the place you miss the most when it's gone."

Luffy and Uta glanced at each other for a moment before Luffy shrugged.

"Eh, I don't think we have a home," he replied, scratching his head.

Shanks blinked at that.

"What do you mean?"

"We don't have a place like that," Luffy continued with wide-eyed confusion.

"Makino's—"

"Makino's place isn't our place. She made that room for us after… after the man took me because I was having nightmares. She wanted to be there when it happened. It's nice to know where we're going to sleep at night and Maki's the best, but it's not like how you described home," Uta explained.

"Where were you living before you had your room at Makino's?"

The twins both shrugged at that.

"We bounced from place to place. Some of the villagers would offer us a bed for the night, but then we'd have to find someplace else to be for the rest of the day. We'd stay with the mayor or Makino sometimes before the bad man came too," Uta replied.

"There's a windmill that we like to hang out at too. It's not the biggest but we set up some things if we wanted to sleep there," Luffy added.

"Your grandfather didn't make sure you had a place to stay before he left," Shanks questioned, anger simmering beneath the surface.

Just one more reason for him to go toe-to-toe with Monkey D. Garp over how much of a shit caretaker he'd been.

"Grandpa has a house that we're supposed to stay at, but…" Uta trailed off as her twin picked up the slack.

"But it sucks! It's away from everyone in town and it's so big and empty," Luffy complained.

"We get lonely when we stay there."

The girl reached out to the Force's dragon figurehead and stroked it gently.

"It sounds nice though, having the kind of place you talked about," she continued wistfully.

"Yeah, it does," Luffy agreed, his expression just as full of longing as his sister.

Shanks remembered feeling the same way when he had lost his home along with his family. As far as the world knew, the Oro Jackson had disappeared along with most of the Roger Pirates that were not captured and executed. Shanks knew from Rayleigh that the ship had been taken to Fish-Man Island for its protection. King Neptune had hidden it away so that it did not fall into the hands of the Marines or the World Government. It still existed and he had a rough idea of where it was, that did not stop him from feeling a deep sense of loss.

Shanks felt a squeezing in his chest as he realized how much his children did not have, how much they were missing out on, how much they had been through already. Somehow, despite that, they were still hopeful for the future.

"When you're a pirate, you get to bring home with you wherever you go, right Shanks," Luffy asked.

"Pirates do have that special privilege, but home isn't just a place, you know? Home is people too. The physical space doesn't mean as much when you don't have the people you love there. And you two have each other. As long as you do, you'll always have a home."

Luffy and Uta looked at one another and gave each other wide smiles before they fell into a tight hug.

"You too though, right," Luffy asked, glancing up from where he had been nuzzling into his sister's shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"We've got you too. Don't we, Shanks," Uta clarified.

A swell of love overtook him as he kneeled down so he wasn't towering over the twins anymore and pulled them both to his chest.

"Of course you do. Always."

The twins wrapped their arms around him and settled into his lap before nestling into his chest. He could feel his scent getting stronger involuntarily and his Haki reacting as well, both settling over the twins and clinging to them, wordlessly claiming them as his own for all the world to know. He had been noticing that happening more and more lately, completely out of his control. It wasn't too dangerous in the East Blue where no one really knew him and so would not recognize him by scent nor by his Haki signature, but it was just another reason why he could not bring the kids with him to the Grand Line. He'd never be able to hide their connection, not if his body was reacting like this.

Oh, but he ached to do so. With every day and every bit more he learned about what their lives were like, he wished nothing more than to be able to take them with him, show them what the world had to offer, give them everything that they had been missing out on. He was struggling to keep remembering the reasons why that would be a bad idea, especially during moments like this when they clung to him without reservation, a man that they met months ago and only knew as the pirate captain who had decided to take up residence on their island. Nonetheless, they loved him, saw him as a father figure and wanted to be with him even without knowing the truth. Could the truth really change so much if they already felt this way?

But if he told them, then it would only be out of the selfish desire he had to keep them, consequences be damned. He couldn't think like that, not with them. He was a pirate, nothing was ever enough for him, but this would have to be.

No matter how much it broke his heart to think about the day he had to leave them.

Shanks looked behind him as he felt eyes burning into him. Ace was standing at the bottom of the stairs, staring at them. There was a jumble of emotions painfully visible on his face: longing, bitterness, anger, confusion, suspicion, resentment.

Ace had lived his life just as deprived as the twins had, all because of the decisions of people he had never met and probably never would. They had snatched Ace's family and home from him for the simple fact that he would've bore the name Gol D.

Sometimes Shanks forgot that he wasn't the only one that lost a home after Roger's death, but now that he had met Ace, he didn't know how he could possibly forget it.

Was it worse to have a home and lose it, like he and Buggy had, or to never have had a home at all, like the twins?

When Ace's eyes met his, everything melted away leaving nothing but blank coldness in the ten-year-old's gaze. The boy turned and stalked off without a backwards glance.

Shanks watched him go, sadness filling his heart. Perhaps it was worse to know that you could've had a home and it was taken from you before you ever had a chance to experience it, like Ace.

Shanks held his children tighter.

Would they feel that way when he left? Would they develop that same coldness and rage inside of them when they realized that they could've had a home and Shanks had chosen not to give it to them?

The idea haunted him. Luffy and Uta both had anger simmering below the surface, anger at the world and things that had happened to them, but they both chose to move forward with optimism and hope. What would happen if a day came when they didn't choose to follow the light anymore? Could Shanks bear to have that happen, to be the reason why it happened?

No, he knew that for certain.

He would never want that for them, but what could he do to prevent it? Yasopp had said he would figure out what the right thing was and he would do it.

He felt no closer to figuring out the right thing.

The scenery the south side of Goa offered sharply contrasted where the Red Force had initially docked. Where Windmill Village was all farmlands and small shacks set between towering windmills, Town Center featured taller, sturdier buildings with the town large enough to have clear demarcations of where the shopping centers were located versus the living spaces. The town was bustling and so were the docks, full of fishing boats coming and going along with pleasure boats and party boats launching and mooring. Above it all, the royal palace stood, looming over its citizens and casting its shadow wide, engulfing all that fell beneath it. Shanks could also see the massive wall separating High Town from Town Center as well as the expansive gate between Town Center and Edge Town. Gray Terminal was not visible as they pulled in, but he could smell it as they passed by, though the smell grew fainter the closer to downtown they sailed.

Uta and Luffy were practically vibrating next to him as the Red Force drew nearer. Shanks had been slightly worried about where to dock and had initially figured they'd leave the ship in Edge Town and walk the rest of the way. The reception pirates got could vary drastically from city to city, and he wasn't looking to ruffle any feathers when he had three children with him. However, he recognized the Big Top anchored in a reserved spot in a hanger installed on the dock and as the Red Force got closer, he could see through his telescope that Cabaji and Mohji were stood next to a dockworker who waved the Force into a slip next to Buggy's ship.

Shanks quickly grabbed both Uta and Luffy's hands as the gangway was lowered, already foreseeing that they were likely to run off ahead of him and go who knew where.

"Ah, ah. Remember what we talked about. You stay close to me where I can see you at all times. This place is new for all of us, I don't want anything happening to you."

Uta and Luffy pouted a little but nodded in agreement.

"Benn says a pirate's word is their bond. To be great pirates, we've gotta mean what we say, so we'll listen," Luffy said solemnly.

Shanks shot a look at the kids' godfather, acknowledging the sly logic he had employed to get them to fall in line. Relate something to piracy and they'd take it as the gospel truth. Shanks hoped that kept their inherent chaos at bay long enough for them to get to Buggy.

"You can't even walk without an adult holding your hand now, Princess? What? Do you need a red carpet too," Ace taunted from behind them.

"Maybe someone should hold your hand so you don't trip over the weight of your fat head, jerk," Uta shot back, sticking her tongue out at him.

"I know it seems like a baby move, but Shanks is a cool pirate, so it's okay," Luffy assured him.

"Whatever," Ace replied, rolling his eyes as they made their way towards the trio while the other dockworkers started securing the ship.

"Welcome back, captain. We were told we might be seeing your jolly roger again," the lead dockworker said, greeting Benn.

The crew looked at each other in amusement at the woman's mistake.

"Eh? But Shanks is the captain not Benn, even though he's cool too. Can't you see the jolly roger? It's got Shanks' scars and everything," Luffy informed the woman, giving her a look like she had grown a second head.

"Yeah, you blind or something, lady? Or are you just talking to Benn first cause he's an alpha," Ace added judgmentally.

"Luffy, don't be so blunt. Ace, I know manners are foreign to you but it's rude to just blindly accuse people of being a bigot," Uta chastised both boys before looking to the woman with a disarming smile.

"You're mistaken I'm afraid, ma'am. Shanks is the captain, not Mr. Benn. You should greet Shanks first. That's just good sailor etiquette," Uta explained patiently, like she was talking to a child.

Shanks bit his lip so he didn't laugh at the poor woman who looked between the three children with clear bewilderment before she inspected the jolly roger and then directed her gaze to Shanks, who smiled at her in greeting.

"Oh, um, I apologize for that, captain. I didn't realize… I mean, I didn't—"

"It's alright. Benn was here with the ship before, it's an easy mistake to make. I'm sure you meant nothing by it," Shanks cut in as the beta dockworker blushed heavily and stammered over her words.

She took a deep breath to gather her bearings before speaking again.

"Welcome to Town Center. I hope you have a lovely stay here. Lady Eudora has procured the use of this hanger for her guests and has extended its use to your crew for as long as you need. If there is anything you would like done for the ship, our workers are at your disposal. And, of course, the ship will be under constant guard to deter any thievery."

Shanks blinked a little in surprise at that.

"We tend to like handling our ship ourselves, so you'll likely see us here often. We don't plan to be here too long at any rate, but I'll keep the offer in mind."

"Captain Buggy said much the same thing. I believe these gentlemen will be able to direct you to him and Lady Eudora."

Cabaji and Mohji both snorted at being called 'gentlemen' which caused the dockworker to blush again, but she powered through it.

"If you need me for anything or have any inquiries, here is my card with the number to my den den mushi. I will answer at any time. Welcome again, captain."

The beta bowed before walking off towards her colleagues, who had secured the Force next to the Big Top and were now setting up to guard both ships. Bonk Punch nodded at Shanks before he and Monster followed the woman so they could stay with the ship.

Shanks turned back to Cabaji and Mohji who nodded in greeting.

"Red Hair, long time no see," Mohji greeted with a bow of the head.

"Not long enough," Cabaji muttered loud enough to be heard.

Shanks wasn't surprised. Buggy's chief of staff hadn't warmed to him despite Buggy's forgiveness.

"We noticed your jolly roger as you were sailing in and were able to secure the space for your ship, but we haven't told Captain Buggy you're here yet. Mohji will go back to the villa with Richie to see if he wants to see you."

"I told you he'll want to, I don't know what your issue—"

"In the meanwhile, I'll show you around town. It's Saturday, so there's a pop-up bazaar in the square downtown," Cabaji continued, smoothly cutting off the lion tamer.

Shanks didn't push. He was fairly certain Buggy would see him but Cabaji was determined to hold a grudge against him for Buggy's sake. He couldn't say he blamed him, not if the graphic stories Buggy shared while drunk were any indication of what he had been through.

"A market sounds nice. It'll give the kids a chance to see what the town has to offer."

Cabaji and Mohji looked down, seemingly just noticing the children. They looked back at Shanks inquiringly but he didn't bother trying to explain. Mohji shrugged and began walking towards the exit, whistling as he did. Richie stalked out of the shadows, the large, purple maned lion yawning and stretching before trotting up to his master.

"A kitty," Luffy exclaimed, trying to run towards it but he was stopped by Shanks' grip on his hand.

"Whoa, it's huge," Uta gasped.

"I've killed bigger," Ace shrugged.

The comment garnered strange looks from most of the adults who weren't aware of Ace's upbringing and extracurricular activities.

"Nobody asked you, show off," Uta snapped at him.

Ace stuck his tongue out at her in reply.

"Right, let's go," Cabaji said, giving the kids another look before turning and leading the group into town.

Town Center was a clean place, Shanks noticed as he walked past the many modern buildings. The architecture made it clear each one was made with care and an artistic eye rather than for utility unlike the houses and buildings in Windmill. He could see why the Goa Kingdom had the reputation of being the most beautiful island in the East.

Uta and Luffy were looking around at everything they passed, their heads practically on a swivel and their eyes wide as they took in every sight they could. Shanks smiled as they were awed at simple things like billboards, lampposts and fountains.

"Everything is so big here," Uta commented, looking at the storied buildings that dwarfed the houses in Windmill Village.

"Are you sure this is the same island, Shanks? Everything is so… different."

"It's Goa, alright. I'd recognize that stupid, pompous castle anywhere," Ace commented, glaring up at the royal palace looming above them.

"Have you been here before, Ace," Luffy asked.

"A few times with Sabo. Needed to sell what we found in Gray Terminal," he explained before immediately looking like he wished he hadn't said so much.

"You've been to Gray Terminal too? So cool! You should really be my friend."

"I don't want to be your friend."

"You will soon."

Ace rolled his eyes in response.

"Uta says Gray Terminal is mountains and mountains of trash but if you look hard, you might find some treasure. It sounds so awesome. No fair that you guys got to go and I didn't," Luffy pouted.

"That's cause you're a baby. If you went, you'd probably get scared and start crying or something," Ace replied.

Luffy squawked angrily at that.

"Would not. I'm strong."

"Yeah, he is. You better not be insulting my brother, or else."

"Or else what? You gonna sing me to death?"

"And look at that, we're at the shops already," Shanks interrupted, silently thanking the seas that they reached their destination before Ace and Uta's bickering could reach the stage of graphic threats followed by wrestling.

Uta was perhaps one of the most mannered children Shanks had ever met, courtesy of Makino, but when she and Ace were together it was like fire meeting oil. Rayleigh would probably say that Shanks and Buggy acted the same way. He vividly recalled an argument between he and his brother about whether the North or South Pole was colder, which devolved into a wrestling match that most of the crew egged on, including Roger, until Rayleigh showed up and knocked their heads together for making so much noise.

Benn gave Shanks a knowing look. Yeah, Benn was right, this was payback.

"How about we split up? You kids can get whatever you want," Shanks suggested.

"I want food," Luffy piped up.

"Of course you do."

"I want clothes," Uta added.

"Naturally."

"I want weapons," Ace said.

Shanks paused, staring at the boy who gave him a dead-eyed glower in return. Shanks shrugged his shoulders after a moment.

"Fine."

Benn shot him a glare at that.

"What? He lives with mountain bandits and hunts animals three times his size regularly. Plus, Yasopp's been teaching Luffy of all kids how to shoot a gun, I think Ace can be trusted with a weapon. He needs an upgrade from that pipe he's always lugging around."

Yasopp shot Shanks a betrayed look at being thrown under the bus as Benn's gaze turned to him. Yasopp snatched Ace's hand and started dragging him towards the smithy.

"Let's see what weapons this place has to offer while I still have my head, huh, kid?"

Ace snatched his hand away, grumbling about not being a baby, but followed after Yasopp with Limejuice not far behind.

"Mr. Snake, Mr. Gab, will you please come with me to try on dresses? I want to find the perfect one for Mr. Buggy's show."

Building Snake and Gab both practically melted and quickly nodded before they followed Uta towards a dress shop.

"I'm going to see what medicine this place has. Might do well to restock on some things," Hongo informed them before he left as well.

"Just us then," Shanks said down to Luffy, who eagerly started dragging him towards where he could smell food, Lucky Roux excitedly chatting about the possibilities with the younger black hole.

"Is your crew always like this," he heard Cabaji ask Benn behind them.

The alpha snorted in reply.

"Please, this is us on a good day."

"The Buggy Pirates run a literal circus and I don't think even we're as much of a clown show as you guys."

"Trust me, I'm aware," Benn replied with a long-suffering sigh.

Which, fair. Actually, they were all probably better behaved with the kids around.

Part of Shanks felt bad for all he put his first mate through but on the other hand, he knew Benn secretly enjoyed corralling all of them and being the voice of reason.

The foursome eventually made it to the food stalls and Luffy bounced from one to another, eagerly accepting free samples and trying to decide what he wanted, which was looking to be everything. Lucky Roux was gearing up to buy out the entire market for him and Luffy to chow down, but Shanks quickly took the boy away after they scarfed down three bowls of ramen in a row in under a minute while the vendor looked on in disbelief. He wasn't going to be able to stop Luffy from eating everything in sight, but he could at least try to get him to pace himself.

Shanks started him off with some juice and three lamb kebabs. He was certain he would need more than that, but that should settle his stomach for the time being. Shanks got the same thing and sat with Luffy on the edge of a large fountain set in a small garden near the food stalls while Benn and Cabaji smoked a cigarette on the other side of the square.

"This is delicious. I've never tasted anything like this before," Luffy praised, scarfing down his food.

"That's one of the best things about getting to see so many new places. Food is different depending on the island. Sometimes it's not so great, but when it is, it's amazing."

"Just one more reason to be a pirate. Food! Nothing is more important than food."

Shanks snorted in reply.

"I don't doubt that you believe that, Anchor."

"You know, Uta and I would probably get to eat a lot more cool things like this if we joined your crew."

Shanks closed his eyes and sighed.

Well, so much for the theory that this trip might stave off this desire for a bit.

"Anchor—"

"You saw how Uta and I were on the ship. We didn't get seasick. We didn't touch anything without permission. We didn't run away without one of the crew when we got to the island. We've listened to everything you said. Come on, you have to let us join your crew. We'll be good, I promise."

"It's not about you being good, it's about everyone else."

"But you were sailing when you were our age."

"Yes, and because of that, I was wanted by every Marine and bounty hunter and pirate on the seas. I had a bounty on my head before I hit my double-digits and I had to kill a man to survive before my ninth birthday. I don't want that for you. I don't want your childhood, and Uta's, to be soaked in blood."

Luffy stopped short at that.

"You never told us any of that."

"No, because I wanted to spare you the gory details."

"But why would you be wanted when you were a kid? You hadn't done anything wrong, had you?"

"No, but I wasn't what the World Government wanted me to be and that was enough to make me an enemy."

"What did they want you to be?"

Shanks nodded Luffy closer and pulled the boy on his lap while indicating to the royal palace and the walls surrounding it.

"You see that place? What do you notice about it?"

"It's tall and far away. You can see it no matter where you are in the city. It's high above us. There are walls separating us," Luffy pointed out as he observed the sight.

"But what's the big deal about all of that?"

"The reason those walls exist is because the people on the other side of it don't see us as people."

"What do you mean?"

"Most nobles and royals see anyone who isn't them as an enemy, as beneath them, as subhuman. There are many who act accordingly."

Shanks could see Luffy still didn't get it.

"You know those people in Windmill Village who judge Uta, call her names, look down on her."

Luffy's lip twisted unhappily as he nodded.

"They do that because she's different and they're afraid of her," Luffy recalled.

"That's right. Well, the people who live beyond those walls see us like those people see Uta. They don't see the real us, just what they want to see because we're different from them."

"Different how?"

"We weren't born into money or nobility or status. They have a certain family name and history and legacy that they think elevates them above us. The World Government agrees with them and places their needs above all others'. The Marines protect those privileges and in turn, those people get to decide what happens to everyone else, even though there are more people who live on this side of their walls than lives inside of them."

"But that's not fair."

"No, it's not. Which is why people like me and you, who long for freedom and a life outside of their thumb, find that freedom on the sea. Because, try as they might, they can't control Mother Ocean. She is an entity unto herself and she won't be tamed by the likes of them. She is freedom and she grants it to those who choose to live their lives under her domain rather than theirs."

"I want that," Luffy replied, his voice full of yearning.

"And you will have it, but for those who seek that, the nobles' hatred and disregard is even worse than it normally is. They will come down on you as hard as they can if you're not among the most powerful of pirates. It won't matter what age you are or what your second gender is, though both could make what they do to you worse. You can't just be any pirate on the seas, you have to be the strongest to escape their wrath. I'm not the strongest, if you're with me, then you're in danger. I won't be the reason for that, Anchor. I'd rather not have you than lose you to them. But one day, I'll be strong, so strong they wouldn't dare cross me and when I am, things will be different."

"And then we can be with you?"

Shanks met Luffy's gaze and gave him a soft smile.

"If you still want me then."

"We will," the boy replied with certainty before a thoughtful expression crossed his face.

"Hey Shanks, the Pirate King, was he one of those strong pirates that the meanie nobles were afraid of?"

"He was. Roger would've burned their world down before he let them take his freedom."

Luffy's smile grew wide.

"Then I know what I need to do. I don't wanna be a pirate."

"No?"

Shanks asked, a small bit of disappointment hitting him, but he would support Luffy in whatever he wanted to do anyway.

"Nope, I'm going to be the freest man alive, the strongest, the bravest," Luffy vowed, climbing out of Shanks' arms so he could stand up on the edge of the fountain.

"I'm gonna be… king of the pirates," he declared loudly, raising his arms above his head as he shouted his dream to the heavens. He was so loud that he drew the eye of everyone who was walking past and so exuberant that he quickly lost his footing and went splashing into the water behind him, then immediately started panicking.

"Oh no, I'm drowning! Shanks, save me!"

The red-haired man laughed as he watched the flailing boy.

"Hey pirate king, it's a fountain. Just stand up," a new voice said.

Shanks whipped his head around to see Buggy standing there, taking in the scene with an unimpressed look on his face. There was a beautiful woman hanging off his arm, clearly a noble from the way she was dressed.

Lady Eudora, he supposed.

She was a woman of average height with dark sepia skin and violet hair in kinky curls down past her shoulders, a pink hibiscus tucked behind her ear. Her eyes were also purple and held a level of warmth and kindness that he was not used to seeing in someone of her station, at least not true kindness. Nobles were excellent at faking kindness for the sake of seeming genteel and morally correct, but it was usually just a thin veil to hide their inherent carelessness and selfish nature. He could tell right away that that was not the case with her. Perhaps that had to do with the barely concealed pain and darkness he could see lingering beneath the surface of her friendliness. He didn't think her cordiality was a façade the way that Shanks would use his reputation as being a carefree party boy to mask the deeper darkness within him, but he did think that it was hiding something deeper inside of this woman.

Beyond that though, what he noticed most was her scent. He'd been smelling it for months on Dawn from Uta, so there was no way he wouldn't recognize it now.

Eudora was a gamma.

Shanks was intimately familiar with what must've happened to her for that to be, which would explain the darkness lingering in her gaze, but he had just met this woman. It wasn't his job to uncover her deepest, darkest secrets.

"Hey Bug," he greeted happily, standing up to meet his brother who gave him a flat look in reply.

"Who in their right mind entrusted you with a child," he asked.

"I'm perfectly responsible."

"He was drowning in a fountain a few seconds ago."

Shanks glanced behind him where Luffy was spitting out water and coins and shaking himself dry like a dog.

"I almost died," he cried out dramatically.

"He's fine," Shanks replied casually, garnering a glare from Buggy.

"You should see what he and his sister get up to when I'm not around. This is tame."

"There's another one? Why exactly are you here? Just to terrorize me with whatever mongrels you've picked up?"

Shanks sobered a bit.

"No, I've got a few things to tell you."

Buggy's brow lifted in interest at the more serious undertone in Shanks' voice but Shanks shook his head a bit and indicated their location. This was definitely not something that he could discuss in public.

"Before that, I think introductions need to be made," he said, glancing to the woman at Buggy's side.

"Yes, I suppose they should. Though I feel like I already know you, Captain Shanks. Buggy's been talking about you nonstop. He's been so excited to see you again," Eudora informed him with a large smile on her pretty face.

A blush colored Buggy's pale cheeks at his friend's words.

"Aw, have you missed me, Bug?"

"I have not. Dora, don't lie to him. The most I've said is what a childish idiot my brother is and how glad I am that he's taken his stupid to another ocean so it doesn't infect me like a virus," Buggy spat angrily.

"He's missed you," Eudora stage-whispered to him with a cheeky grin.

Shanks decided he liked her right then and there.

"I can assume you're Lady Eudora then. Thank you for arranging a place for the Red Force, it was much appreciated."

"It was no trouble. You're Buggy's family, that makes you my family," she replied.

"Oh, are you two…?"

Now both of them blushed and started stumbling over their words.

"No, we're not…"

"Oh, no. We're just friends…"

"And even if we were, it's none of your business anyway you…"

"Best friends, really. I would do anything for Buggy…"

"Nosey little… no, not nosey! Damn it, that was your fault!"

"So, yes, friends."

Shanks looked between the two of them, both bewildered and amused.

"Why are they acting so strange," Luffy asked, coming up next to Shanks' side now that he had regained his bearings.

Shanks was pretty sure he knew why. A part of him wanted to tease his brother about his clear feelings for the noblewoman, who also obviously shared those feelings, but he refrained. There would be time for that later.

"Ever heard of manners, kid," Buggy shot at him irritably.

"My name's not kid, it's Luffy. And yes, I've heard of manners. Uta keeps mine for me," Luffy explained, shrugging carelessly.

"And who is Uta, cutie," Eudora asked, giving Luffy a bright smile.

"She's my twin sister. She's superstrong, she's the best singer and a mountain bandit is teaching her how to hit people really hard with a barbed wire baseball bat. It's better than a mop, which is what she used before," Luffy announced.

Shanks snorted with laughter as Buggy stared at his son like he was looking at a sea beast in a corset.

"Of course Shanks shows up with the weirdest kid he can find," he muttered under his breath.

"Oh. That's… nice," Eudora said after a moment, knocking her shoulder into Buggy's in reproach.

"Yup. And guess what? She's a gamma too, just like you."

Both Buggy and Eudora froze at that, frowns appearing on their faces.

"Your sister's a gamma?"

"Mm-hmm. We've never met another gamma. She'll be really excited to meet you."

Buggy and Eudora's eyes switched to Shanks for confirmation. He gave a solemn nod of his head, the usual rage he felt when he thought of what had happened to his daughter briefly flaring up inside of him. He managed to calm himself down before his Haki could get out of his control, though the wind did pick up and cause the leaves to blow by harder. Once he was calm, he noticed Buggy was giving him a look of interest before he looked back to his friend whose grip had tightened on Buggy's arm.

"Well, your sister and I have more than that in common. I'm a singer as well. I sing during the intermissions at Buggy's show."

"Uta doesn't get to meet many singers either. This is awesome! She's going to love you. We better go find her so she can meet you now. Come on," Luffy demanded, grabbing Eudora's hand and snatching her away from Buggy so he could lead her back to where Uta had gone to shop for dresses.

Shanks opened his mouth to at least give a token protest at both Luffy running off and his lack of boundaries. Plus, he was still wet from his dip in the fountain. However, Eudora was laughing and let Luffy take her where he pleased. He noticed Lucky Roux, Benn and Cabaji join them. Benn pointed them in the right direction seeing as how Luffy had been dragging her away from the shops rather than towards them, so he decided to let it be.

He glanced over at Buggy who was still watching him with an interested look.

"What?"

"You're different from the last time I saw you."

"A lot has changed. Trust me, a lot."

"I'm guessing the kid and his sister are a part of that lot."

"They are, yes."

"Must be important if you came all the way here just to have a conversation."

"It's a necessary conversation. And I… I may need your help, when all is said and done."

"You're actually willing to ask me for help? I'd better check the newscoo quick because I'm pretty sure Hell has frozen over."

Shanks rolled his eyes at that.

"I am perfectly capable of asking for help."

"You? Mr. I'm-a-strong-proud-omega-who-doesn't-need-anyone-for-anything. You are shit at asking for help. You'll take it when it's offered, sometimes, but actually ask for it? You'd have to be bleeding out and damn near dying to do that."

"Well, this isn't about me," Shanks replied, staring ahead at Luffy as he chattered to Eudora about anything and everything.

"That kid? Who is he?"

"He's… Luffy. He's hard to describe," Shanks replied, a fond smile on his lips.

"He's covered in your scent and your Haki signature is all over him. Who is he to you," Buggy clarified.

Shanks looked back at his brother. Buggy was giving him a searching look, his gaze switching between Shanks and Luffy with suspicion.

"Not here, but I will tell you. I've got a lot to tell you. Most of it is… difficult news, dangerous news, but you deserve to know."

"What have you gotten yourself into?"

Shanks silently met Buggy's eyes. He wasn't sure what his face conveyed but Buggy's fell into a mask of seriousness.

"Let's get some place private."

Shanks nodded his head and glanced up at the shadows cast by the royal palace. He found it ironic that the king didn't realize just how close he was to five people who the World Government would gladly see executed.

Shanks, Buggy, Ace, Uta and Luffy all in one place. Shanks briefly wondered if that was a mistake after all, but there was nothing for it now. He needed to focus on trying to figure out just how he was going to tell Buggy all that had happened and somehow make it out of that conversation without his brother wanting to kill him. A possibility that was incredibly high.

Oh well, he had survived worse odds.

AN: This chapter serves as an introduction to what I like to call the Town Center-arc. We'll be here for a few chapters more and some significant events will be happening here. I'm planning a POV shift for an upcoming chapter, likely Uta's POV, for some important events that Shanks won't be around to see. I hope it'll be a sort of testing ground as well for me as I am planning to write at least one sequel for this fic focused on ASUL, if anyone's interested.