Luffy silently slipped out of the infirmary, making sure to look around for any Red Hair Pirates as he snuck on deck. He wasn't going to do anything bad, honest. He just really wanted to check in with Bon Clay and Jinbe, make sure that they were ok after escaping. But the deck was so full of people and he could see a table of food set up. A small snack was probably needed.
He had just reached the table when he heard the familiar voice of Lucky so he dropped down and crawled under the table. He heard Lucky put down a plate and telling the prisoners to dig in and he immediately shot an arm out, grabbing whatever he could before gorging himself under the table. He'd cleared 5 plates and was about to grab another one when he heard another familiar voice.
He froze, not daring to move. He remembered how good Yasopp had been at hide and seek when he was a kid. His sniping abilities had taught him to see the smallest details and he had the hearing of a bat.
"Did we find a nearby island?" Lucky asked quietly.
"Yeah thankfully we are approaching what seems to be an uninhabited island. You and me are on restocking duty. Hopefully we can get enough food to get us and all our guests back to familiar territory. Ideally before Cap loses it."
"I can't blame him for it this time. Seeing Anchor in that place was enough to make me panic and I didn't even get there until he was safely with Benn. And who knows what else he dealt with before we got to him. Kid is a danger magnet."
"Well we have him now. And after hearing about Ennies Lobby from Iceberg and then the whole disaster at Sabaody, I doubt Captain is going to be willing to let him loose again any time soon. Seriously, Shanks almost sunk the ship when he found out that Rayleigh lost them. At least now we can give them our protection and make sure him and his crew are trained and ready for the new world."
Luffy couldn't help the sound of offence at hearing that Shanks was getting updates on his progress and planning on using his position to coddle his crew. He bit the noise back but froze when he heard Yasopp shushing Lucky. "I heard something." Luffy stopped breathing. He didn't want to be forced back to the infirmary and he had experienced enough lectures from the sniper to know he didn't want to start one on the middle of the crowded deck.
There was one time when Luffy had been practicing his new devil fruit. He had been trying to grab onto the railing of the pirates ship despite being told by all the crew not to goof around near the water. Of course he'd missed and instead shot himself into the box of rum bottles Yasopp had been in the process of loading on the ship. He had smashed several crates of bottles and was drenched in the alcohol. Luffy had then decided he wanted to know why Shanks loved the smelly drink so much and had decided to grab one and hide in the jungle. It was awful by the way. Yasopp had tracked him down and dragged him back by his ear, lecturing the WHOLE way. The man could talk forever. He then made Luffy stand in front of everyone and say what he'd done wrong and apologize. Benn had given him the look of disappointment which was awful and Shanks had fallen out of his chair, crying from laughing uncontrollably… at least until he realized that they were down multiple bottles of his rum and then the laughter stopped but the tears didn't.
Now Yasopp and Lucky started moving closer to the table and looking around and Luffy got ready to run. Luckily thats when the call of land ahead was heard and the two men got distracted from their discussion, moving over to watch the approaching land.
Luffy meanwhile was vibrating in excitement. The thought of a new island with new adventures was too exciting. Especially with the threat of weeks in bed looming over him. He didn't understand why everyone was freaking out. Sure the poison wasn't fun and the hours struggling with Iva's treatment was its own brand of torture but he had felt fine and really awake since eating and getting dosed with Iva's dragon line shot. No more rest needed.
Peeking out from under the table, Luffy could make out a vibrant jungle that went as far as he could see and he bounced in excitement. It reminded him of home and he felt a wave of nostalgia for his childhood. Maybe he could go and do a quick hunt without anyone noticing. In fact it would be helpful! More food for everyone and a chance to prove to Shanks that he didn't need his protection.
He grinned as he shot out his arms and flung himself over the sea. He laughed, as the wind whipped against him, clearing the last of the gloom of Impel Down from his soul. Seas he loved the freedom of the open air.
Luffy hit the beach hard and bounced a couple times before hopping to his feet and darting into the jungle. He knew that the best hunting would be further in so he wasted no time racing through the trees and let his instincts take over. He used his powers to fling himself further into the jungle, happily bouncing around and keeping an eye out for any cool new bugs or creatures. After deciding he was far enough in, he went into hunting mode. He climbed a tree and took a second to let his breathing and heart rate settle, keeping his energy contained and listening carefully for any animals. Once he locked on to his prey, he started traveling through the trees silently.
Shanks meanwhile was swearing up a storm. He had left an equally angry Benn in charge of the ship and sky walked to the island but Luffy had already run off. At first he had been following his presence with his haki and the clear path the kid had left through the underbrush. Then it had suddenly disappeared. He panicked at the distinct lack of the kids presence, terrified that something had happened to him and he had run through the jungle blindly for several minutes before forcing himself to calm down. He spread out his haki as far as he could, covering the island. He could feel the strain from the distance and yet was still unable to pick up Anchor or any human threats. However he did pick up several large animals energies that were spiking and with no other options he moved in that direction.
He burst into a clearing and immediately dove back as a giant body came flying through where he he just been standing. He studied it for a second and felt his heart stop for the second time in the mere 10 hours since reuniting with his son. That was a god damn manticore. A fire breathing beast with human intelligence, and a mix of lion and dragon traits. They were known for their ruthlessness, strong will, poisonous spikes and the difficulty of killing one. He gaped at his kid who was currently battling 4 of them with another 2 already lying dead on the ground.
He moved to intercept the manticore that was leaping at Luffy's back just to see the kid grab the one he was grappling with and flip it over his head on top of the other. The spikes of the tail embedded in the sneaking one's eyes and it fell to the ground twitching before falling still. Luffy then shot himself into the air over a blast of fire and landed on one of the remaining ones. He wrapped one arm around its neck and rode out the bucking, gasping monster. His other hand grabbed at a nearby tree, snapping off a large branch. Shanks kicked himself back into action and swung gryphon at another manticore which fell to the ground before him with the branch impaling its wing to the ground. He lopped off its head in bemusement before turning back to see the one Luffy had thrown earlier, spinning the manticore it had killed and whipping it at Luffy. He grabbed the kid and threw him out of the way, wincing as the kid hit a tree and rebounded off. The last manticore leapt at the boy who ducked underneath the swiping claw, punching it multiple times in the side until it collapsed. But even as it fell, its tail whipped through the air and smashed into Luffy's stomach, sending him rolling. Shanks stabbed the manticore and turned to the kid who was sitting up in the other side of the clearing.
Shanks glowered at the giggling kid. "MEAT!" Luffy cheered. "That was so much fun! Its like fighting the crocodiles and tigers from back home but in one animal and with fire! That is so cool!"
Shanks blinked before putting that tidbit of information aside for now. "Monkey D. Luffy! You are in so much trouble young man. You were told to stay in bed until Hongo cleared you!"
"Aww dad. Hongo looked at me and did all the bandages! 'Sides I was trying to help." Luffy whined. "Yasopp said you needed to restock and bed is boring."
"You want to help? Stop running off and making me come save you!"
"I didn't need you to save me Shanks! I would have been able to take them by myself. I'm not a little kid anymore." Luffy yelled back.
"Maybe not but you are hurt! I haven't even heard the whole story of your injuries but I know that you are in no shape to be doing anything right now!"
Luffy threw up his arms in frustration and wordlessly shrieked before turning and stomping away. "Stop right there Luffy!" Shanks ordered and thank the seas, the kid had some self preservation skills after all, as he stumbled to a stop. Shanks could pick up some more men heading their way and he forced himself to count to ten before continuing. "Look, I know you aren't the same little kid I met and that you are a strong captain of your own crew now. But I just saw you for the first time in ten years and you were fighting for your life in the worst place in the world. Oh and also found out you recently have battled Admirals, warlords and pacifistas and were poisoned. That's enough to take down anyone, even me. So maybe give your dad a break here kid and let me keep you safe and coddle you for a bit. Even if you don't think you need it, I do."
Luffy didn't move and Shanks stepped forward, resting his hand on his shoulder. As soon as his hand made impact, Luffy's legs crumpled, Shanks awkwardly tried to slow his fall and ending up flat on the ground with his kid in his lap.