Jacksonbanner now known as Jackson Burner, the once feared Master Gunner of the Roger Pirates, now a simple and humble facilities manager to the one and only resort that resided on the South Grave side of Jaya. He never intended to stop here, but he decided to stay after helping Yamon get back to Skypiea via the Knock Out Stream.
He was lucky in a sense, that though he was a Roger Pirate, his hairstyle and weapon of choice was the only thing he was recognised for. He missed his blonde curls and his claws, but it was a small price to pay to stay on a key island in Paradise.
Most pirates stopped here, partook in the growing violence of piracy in Mock Town, trade their goods and pick up a few more. A small well-known island free of marines and acted like a Black Market. He made his home here, made connections with the store owners, the brothels and the taverns. JB kept his ear and eye close to all that happened on the island in search for Red.
Everyone was worried, even more so when days turned to weeks and weeks to months and then years. He had kept in contact with many of his family that he could, when it was safe enough to do so, none of them had even heard a whisper of their Red until Gaban found him in the North Blue. Jaded and cracked but whole, a Captain in his own right with a crew of three but all loyal members.
Their Quartermaster had stated he had handed over his vivre card book to them all, and had given Red their den den numbers but so far, no one had heard from their Red. Blue was nearly frantic in his worry, stressed and desperate for any news they had if they had any news on Red.
It was two months after Gaban left Red that a new stack of bounties were delivered across the seas, there smiling in the newest stack of bounties was a familiar face. Jackson nearly choked on his ale as he saw Red, smiling with a vengeance and fire of a destroyed marine base behind him, had practically torn the paper from whoever held it to see clearly.
Red had grown, was still swimming in their Captain's hat, no longer was he their Cabin Boy but a man now. A fresh bounty of 56,000,000 berri, it was a decent first bounty for the kid to have and earned even if it was higher than most starting bounties due to his past connections.
Laughter tore from JB as he held the image up high and proud, not giving three fucks for what all the people thought of him in the tavern. He didn't care if this broke his cover, he'd take on every Marine that even dared to try and come for him, he'll remind them all why he was considered just as deadly as Scopper and Rayleigh. He was too happy, his nephew was now among the ranks of Pirates!
His laughter only rose as he saw the name on it. Akagami no Shanks. Red-Haired Shanks. He always said he would never name his own crew after himself, but here he was, naming his crew after his hair colour. Oh, JB couldn't wait till that brat crossed his path, he was never going to let that kid live it down, not until JB joined his captain in the depths of Davy Jones' locker.
He eyed the rest of the stack as he tucked away Red's bounty into his jacket, taking note of names and crossing ones that wouldn't last off in his mind. There were some to watch out for, Dracule Mihawk, Crocodile, Donquixote Doflamingo, hell even some of Newgate's brats finally got their own… but on the bottom of the stack was a face, a name that had his laugh abruptly dying, heart lurching.
Benn Beckman, First Mate of Akagami Pirates starting bounty 45,000,000 berris. Benn, the name that they were all told to watch out for. Gaban had told him, told them all that Shanks had found his Benn, had found the man who would someday be his husband and the second parent to the kid they all had to look out for.
Benn D. Luffy was their Captain's successor, the reason they were all doing what they were doing now, hoping to disrupt the ripples of Fate's design enough that the loop he had been cast in, would change.
No one would ever forget their captain's face as he left that cave system on Laugh Tale, the broken look in his eyes, the devastation on his face and the blood of his grandson on his hands. They would not forget how their Captain's voice broke as he told the tale, haki washing over them in his grief. Every single one of them swore to follow their Captain's last request once he had finished telling them the tale he was told, all of them loving their youngest member yet to be.
After his death, they scattered as planned, keeping in contact of course, longing for the open seas and a presence that will no longer grace them. They were a family, tied together by a singular man and a dream, solidified in laughter and blood.
"That Blackbeard scum is back, he tried to take Crane's…" JB's ears twitched, gaze locking onto the two who were whispering disgustedly in the corner about Blackbeard.
The pirate seemed to pop up every year or so, comes to Jaya with goods to sell, breaks a few places, takes a few people. He had been keeping his ears on the ground for him, because everything within JB said that whoever this pirate was, was a danger to his task. That he needed to be taken care of and JB never ignored his gut instincts.
He got to his feet and gave a tip of his hat towards his friend behind the bar, making his way out past the two gossipers and towards home. There was no point in trying to find Blackbeard, no matter how hard JB looked he seemed to always miss the man, it made him irate.
But today felt different, there was a ripple in the air that had JB gathering his claws and rifle from their hidden compartment in the floor, he brushed his fingers over the worn dark blue vest and the Jolly Roger on it before laying his weapons on the kitchen table as he began to put together a meal.
A wave of haki burst across his skin, staggering him and stealing his breath, his head snapping around to the direction it had come from. He was out the front of his home, overlooking the bay to see an orange glow in the distance. Mock Town was on fire, black billowing smoke wafted in the air and as the wind shifted, JB swore he could hear the screams.
Go. Run. Fast. His mind screams, familiar in his Captain's voice.
It was a voice he never ignored, in a blink he had his weapons on him once more, claws slashing through the air as he skywalked across the bay and to the burning pyre that was Mock Town. The heat was phenomenal, reminiscent of times they versed the bearer of the Mera Mera before she was defeated. Screams tore through the air as he watched people flee, the sound of snarling, breaking wood and cracked stone guiding him.
The view he shaved to was one that had his breath being punched out of him, Red, his Red, was lying bleeding in the street, a blonde desperately pulling out medicines as the First Mate, Benn Beckman, raged like a demon further down. Black hair whirling, rifle spinning and slamming down on a larger body, a cry tearing from the bastard's throat.
"What happened?" He demanded as he skidded to Shanks' side, hands pausing as he felt the end of a gun pointed at his head, turning he saw a large man in stripes, meat bone in hand glaring at him. "He's my nephew, tell me what happened."
"Don't know, we were in the bar, Cap'n said he was goin' to spar an old friend in a friendly match, put on a show, then haki exploded out." The blonde doctor stated.
A frown pulled at JB's face, there weren't that many people he could recall Shanks would know or fight with for fun besides someone on Newgate's crew and as far as JB knew, Whitebeard rarely jumped to Paradise these days. "Who?"
"He wouldn't say but people who came in once the fight started said they hoped Captain beat Blackbeard, that'd be nice he'd get what's comin' to him for once." The Doc replied as he pulled away the blood-soaked bandages, revealing Shanks' face to JB for the first time.
The world slowed, his vision narrowing till all he could see were the three slices across Shanks' left eye, he knew those wounds, had caused many of them. His nephew could lose his eye and if he didn't, his vision would be forever impaired. JB felt a furious snarl build in his chest as he looked up, eyes locking down on the bastard who had done this to see a familiar face.
Marshall D. Teach. The kid that Blue hated ever since they met, the very same kid that Blue told them was wrong and that he never took his eyes away from Red at all. Each interaction with Newgate, every single one of them kept their eyes on Teach, Rayleigh having to hold back Roger when they saw how intensely he looked at their Red. The kid never knew how close to death he was every time their crews met up, never knew that it was only because of Roger's respect for Newgate and their respect for Roger that he stayed breathing.
But now.
Stop him. His captain's voice roared.
JB didn't hesitate, zipping through the flames and debris as his nephew's First Mate used Teach as a battering ram into the thickly built walls of the traders store, sending the man through several houses and into the church spire after that. His chest heaved, hands and face splattered with blood as he went to charge forward, gun now aimed at the bleeding waste of flesh trying to crawl out of the debris.
"Tend to Red," JB ordered as he grasped the rifle, eyes never leaving Teach. "I'll deal with this, you cannot face the reckoning his death will bring yet."
Molten Mercury eyes peered back, assessing him with a frightening observation and glint that he had only ever seen in Rayleigh before vanishing back to Shanks' side. Good. JB cracked his neck as he strolled leisurely towards Teach, pulling his shoulders back and standing, once more, at his full height.
"Well, well… Blackbeard." Jacksonbanner chuckled tauntingly as he tapped his claws together in an ominous beat. "Or should I say Marshall D. Teach. You fucked up boy, crossed the wrong pirates and hurt the wrong man. Always knew you were an idiot, thanks for proving me true."
Threat! Kill him!
Blackbeard spat, fury evident in his eyes for a flash before recognition. JB watched as that ire faded and be replaced by shock and a tearful fearful face. "Jacksonbanner, please, it was an accident. Please, you know I would never…"
"Save it. If I didn't know better I would have probably believed it, but I do know better. '' JB deadpanned, coming to crouch next to the bastard, arms resting on his knees as he peered at the battered and broken man before him. He took the time to admire the skill and the amount of injuries that Benn Beckman had delivered in non-threatening but painful places. It was impressive.
The facade dropped and the sneer was back on the man's face once more. "You can't touch me, Pop's will never let it lie, he'll come looking for me if I don't return soon."
A laugh bubbled up within JB's chest, starting low and soft, rising in pitch and hysteria. He wiped away a tear as he struggled to get his giggles under control, uncaring for the look on Teach's face. "I'd like to see him try and enact revenge on a dead man, truly, I do. Newgate will be getting a folder of all your misdeeds the moment your body burns in this pyre that you started. Pity Shanks failed to stop you, poor lad, may never have the vision in his eye return but, he saved so many."
Blackbeard stared up and up at the pirate, the monster before him and knew that this was where his story ended. He miscalculated, severely by hurting that red-haired brat, but ohhhh he made him so furious for spurning his affections. With a snarl, Blackbeard lunged only to find a metal-tipped fist slamming into his jaw and shattering it.
"A D dies with a smile," Jacksonbanner stated as he stood once more, staring down at him with a blank face and cold, cold eyes. His head tilted to the side and Teach felt seen. "But we all know that you are no D."
Blackbeard died screaming, JB walking away with a smile and blood-tipped claws. It had been a long time coming, he was only sorry that it took this long and that it wasn't a slow death like the bastard deserved. Shaking his head JB made a mental note to send off all he had gathered to Newgate, to inform the others what he had done as he made his way towards where Shanks was being tended to.
His nephew's crew paced and paced along the edges of the ship, weapons in hand, eyes narrowed in suspicion while on high alert. He couldn't be more pleased than this moment to see that Red's crew were so loyal, so protective. Especially when he took another step forward he found a gun pressed to his temple in a blink of an eye.
"Who're you?" The man demanded, drawing JB's gaze to him. He was young, older than Red and heavy set, a meat leg in one hand, pale eyes peering out from behind red tinted goggles. "Whaddaya want with the chief?"
JB held up his clawed hands, the drip, drip, drip of the blood that still coated them loud in the following silence. "I'm just here to see my nephew. To see if he's alright."
"You're the one that stopped me," A stern voice stated from the deck, drawing JB's eyes up to Benn Beckman, the first mate. "Nephew you said? You sailed with Gaban."
"That I did, helped raise that kid from diapers, turned me white nearly at an early age with how fast he ran around naked on the ship to avoid bath time." Jab stated with a slanted grin, impressed that Beckman knew who he was without revealing who he sailed with.
Beckman eyed the man, the grin, the blood, the way his eyes kept flickering to the spot their medical bay was and where Shanks was being tended to. Haki his mind supplied, with a sigh he nodded, waving off the crew. "He's still getting surgery, he's lucky that his reflexes are what they are, Hongo is pretty sure he can save the eye with no vision damage but just a millimetre or so…"
Relief hit JB like a tidal wave. "Good, good. I've seen the damage claws like mine can cause, I've done my fair share of causing them too. He'll have scars but at least he has his vision."
"What happened to the bastard?" Benn asked as he lit up a smoke and gestured for JB to join them on the ship, the man doing so with a grin.
"Dead." JB spat once his feet hit the deck. "It was a long time coming. Newgate will be getting a full folder by the Coo's detailing every transaction that bastard had done, every crime, every misdeed and break of code he enforces on his ship."
Benn's shoulders sagged at that, oh he was pissed that he couldn't kill the bastard himself but he knew what the man said to him was true, they couldn't face the wrath of an emperor as they were now. They weren't strong enough and though Shanks was raised by the Pirate King and on the New World waters, he was still a paradise level rookie.
"Benn Beckman, First Mate of the Akagami Kaizoku-dan." Beckman introduced himself before gesturing to the others. "The one who held a gun to you is Lucky Roux, our chef. Then we have Building Snake and Howling Gab, our Navigator and Helmsman. Limejuice is our Sailmaster and Carpenter, and Hongo is our doctor and surgeon, you'll meet him after. Yassop is our newest member, he's our sniper."
JB levelled all the ones pointed out to him with a shrewd look. Taking note of the way they moved, and stood, what weapons they carried on them and how well looked after they were. So far he didn't find a single flaw, besides the fact that it was a small crew for Paradise.
"Jacksonbanner, former Master Gunner and now humble groundskeeper of the resort here on South Grove," JB stated with a simple shrug and a grin, letting his body slump. "But you all can call me JB."
Many of Red's crew greeted him with a nod, but their eyes remained looking out for any sign of danger or flickering to the door that led down into the belly of the ship. JB hummed and ran a hand across the railing he climbed over feeling the faint pulse of the ship just like he was taught by Donquino years ago. It was well cared for, well-loved and would protect her crew to the very last splinter. Good.
"Shanks would hate me asking, but what was he like as a child?" Beckman asked lowly as he leant against the rail next to him, eyes still pinned to the door, hand clenching and unclenching in his worry.
JB turned his gaze towards Benn Beckman and studied him, a smirk pulling at his lips as he realised that Red's first mate was in love, he loved his captain with everything, now the question JB wanted to know was if it was mutual, if the relationship had started or if it was only one-sided for now. He had to tell Gaban something when the man rang him next, spreading the gossip to all his brothers in the next letters.
"I'll tell you anything you want to know if you can answer me on something." He hummed, slipping his claws off his hands and hooking them to his belt.
Benn turned his gaze towards JB, "oh?"
"How long have you been in love with my nephew?" He asked, laughing as Beckman choked on his smoke and coughed.
spluttering still, Benn waved off the worried looks of his crew, shooting the taller man next to him with a glare and a worried gaze. "How?"
"It's obvious, the way your eyes stay glued to the door, the hands clenching, the ticks. It's all in your eyes Benn Beckman, I just wish to know." JB explained with a shrug and a grin once his laugh settled.
Beckman grimaced and looked down, taking a deep breath. "I've loved him from the moment he beat me in my own game. He cheated but so was I, he's easy to love. He's had a hard life since he got left behind, but he still smiles, still jokes and the way he makes me view the world is unlike any other I've ever seen."
"And he doesn't know I take it?" JB asked just as softly, observation extending to make sure the rest of the crew didn't hear, he had a feeling this was something Benn didn't want to share yet.
"No." Benn shook his head. "I'm eleven years older, I'm nearly thirty where he's barely into his 18th year. Shanks can have anyone he wants with a smile, with a look or a laugh than someone older than him. Even if he found someone else, my heart's been and will always be his, he's… he's home for me."
Jacksonbanner wanted to despair, he knew that these two would end up married, knew they were destined and has known since Laugh Tale. The age difference doesn't matter fuck all to him when he knows the ending, when he knew there was a twenty year age gap between Rayleigh, Roger and Rouge. Shanks was eighteen now, not that the gap mattered now anyway.
He pulled Beckman close, stared at him in the eye, and waited till the man lifted his gaze. "Do not put yourself down like that, if you love my nephew then tell him, let him figure it out, he'll know soon enough with the way his Haki is. You're a pirate and we're greedy, our life is rough and cruel, and those we love the most can be taken in one blink of an eye. The Ruling R's were twenty years apart and they didn't let that stop them."
A deep ache settled in JB's chest at the thought of his own wife, lost long before Roger found him to a sickness that their island's doctor couldn't cure or recognise. "Some people are meant to be and if you are the man that Gaban spoke fondly of, if what I have seen tells me anything, my Nephew wouldn't find anyone better than you. Don't waste time, you'll regret it."
"That… is not what I thought you would say," Benn muttered after a moment causing JB to snort.
"I don't need to make threats, kid, you already know what I can do. You know exactly what all of us can do, plus, after everything, I don't think Red would appreciate it. Though then again… I'm not the one you need to look out for, his brother is the one you need to worry about." JB chuckled. "Blue is older, not by much but he takes that seriously and though they had a falling out, he loves his brother with everything he has in him. I've seen that kid hamstring a giant for looking at Red funny."
Plus every single one of the Roger Pirates knew these two were destined and who were they to go against Calypso's wishes? He let Beckman think over everything he said as he turned to gaze back at Mock Town, watching the golden hue of it burn up into the night sky. They'll rebuild, they always do, if it wasn't a fight then it was a devil fruit user, a dispute between traders, the town was built to be destroyed and remade. Wooden walls with stone foundations, he knew most of those who had stores kept their wares hidden in the earth, safe.
His job will be busy until then, those who have lost their homes and businesses will be finding their home in the resort if they don't have a ship or a home outside of town.
It was when the sky grew lighter, indicating a new dawn did the doctor trudged up to the deck, the door slamming open and startling everyone but him. The doctor, Hongo, was tired, eyes red rimmed and black, blood coating his hands and the towel he was using to clean them but a smile pulled at his lips.
"Chief will be okay, I managed to save his eye and he's cranky as sea king during mating season over the fact he has to keep his eye covered and drink free but you can see him, two at a time for now and not for long. I gave him the good drugs, he'll be asleep soon enough." Hongo explained and JB had to blink in surprise at the way his accent shifted, huh Gaban was telling the truth about Flevance… JB was curious to know how this one man didn't end up with Amber Lead.
"JB and I will go first, we need to let Captain know about Blackbeard," Beckman stated as he pushed himself up from his spot, leaving no room for argument.
JB nodded and followed Beckman down into the ship, taking note of the layout, and the rooms beyond the open doors, smirking as he saw the Captain's cabin and the hammock that lay set up near the bed until he reached the medical bay. Red was sitting up slightly, his good eye closed and half his head wrapped in bandages.
"Captain," Beckman called softly once he reached Shanks' side, hesitating to reach out and take Shanks' hand in his own.
Shanks' eye opened slowly, slightly glazed before sharpening, a smile pulling at his lips as he saw Beckman standing beside him and telling Jackson everything about the fact that his nephew loved his first mate too. His Voice practically screamed it to the world. Though in a blink, that dark red eye was locked on him, JB had a second to register the pinprick of a pupil before the wave of Conquerors slammed into him.
"Ah, Red." He chuckled strained, shaking it off with mild ease. "You've gotten stronger, nephew."
The Haki let up in an instant, everything settling with a clang as Shanks finally registered who he actually was and not a threat. The smile he gave Beckman was nothing compared to the one JB got, though different.
"Uncle," Red breathed out, hand coming up to reach out to him. "I thought I dreamt you were here, why are you here?"
JB took the waiting hand, noting it was the one opposite of where Beckman stood, their fingers touching, hopeless just like Captain and Rayleigh. "I live here Red, thought it was a nightmare when I saw you bleeding in the street. What happened kid?"
Shanks swallowed and scowled down at the bed. "Teach was being an asshole, wouldn't take no for an answer, he did eventually but then asked me to duel in a friendly fight… I should have said no but he's a Whitebeard, so I didn't think I'd have to worry. I don't remember much; I was laughing and then there was searing pain."
"That fucking scum bastard of a bilge rat attacked you when you were turned," Beckman spat furiously causing Shanks' brow to shoot high, drawing a hiss as his hand shot up to press against the wounded side in pain. Beckman's hand shot up to cover Shanks', thumb brushing gently over the first knuckle. "Careful Captain."
He really didn't want to disturb this moment, but JB had to. "Teach won't be a problem anymore Red."
"What?" Shanks asked, tearing his eye away from Beckman to stare at him.
JB sighed and decided to tell him the truth. "Teach – Blackbeard – had been doing some shady shit for a while, I've been gathering evidence just didn't know who he was till tonight. Be that as it may, he forfeited his life the moment, the second he touched you."
"Uncle!" Shanks jolted, eye wide and in horror. "Whitebeard will come after you! You cannot take him!"
"Shanks he hurt you, I don't give a shit about Newgate when it was your life he threatened. Teach is lucky he lived this long with how badly Captain and Ray wanted to kill him, how badly the entire Crew wanted to kill him for how he looked at you. You're my nephew, my family, no one hurts what's mine." JB snarled furious, standing tall. "Newgate is getting a folder of everything that Teach has been doing, the murders, the slavery, the attacks… Every. Disgusting. Thing."
The fear turned into stunned silence, a tear trailing down Shanks' face at JB's confession. It made JB's heart ache because until now, he didn't believe Gaban when he confessed that Red may have convinced himself that he was unloved by them all when it was so far from the truth. Red and Blue made the Roger Pirates family, JB helped raise Red from the day they found him in a treasure chest. They were loved and though they were classed as Cabin Boys everyone, and their dogs knew that they were Roger and Ray's sons.
"Silvers-Gol Shanks!" JB stated firmly, staring down at his nephew. "You are my family, all of our family. We love you, you idiot. Gaban told you, I'm telling you. You are worth it."
"I… I didn't want to believe Gaban… I thought he was just telling me that… did… did you all really look for me?" He stammered out, reminding JB of how young he was still.
JB sighed and pressed his forehead against Shanks' own much like he did when Red was younger and stood once again. "Of course we did Red, we looked hard… Now, I'm going to go, you get some rest, heal up, and you will be here till that wound heals. We have time to talk okay, find me at the resort, Beckman look after him, he's wily."
Beckman chuckled as Shanks squawked in outrage, causing JB to laugh as he made his way out the door, pleased that his nephew was safe, that he was loved especially when he nearly crashed into the entire crew that were anxiously waiting at the upper deck door, zipping past him as he gestured for them to go.
He whistled a merry tune as he made his way home, making note of what to tell Gaban when he calls, perhaps Crocus as well.
And if later down the line, a year or two he receives a letter from Shanks telling him that he and Beckman finally decided to get together and a letter from the first mate himself saying he was right, well that was between JB and Beckman.
But for now, he'll spend time with his Nephew, get to know his crew, give them a few tips, share some embarrassing stories of Red for them to tease him with while he healed.
Whoo boy, this was a long one! Jacksonbanner is a fluffyhaired, lanky man with claws and a rifle... This is also the last prewritten chapter and I have no idea which Roger Pirate I am going to write next... maybe back to Buggy and Rayleigh.
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
P.s don't forget to join the server! You get sneak peeks!