Shanks was pretty sure this was what a heart attack felt like. Luffy was happily chatting away next to him and he was struggling to breath. So far his kid had told him all about his travels in the East Blue and up to Arabasta and yeah he was pretty sure that he was going to kill Crocodile.
"Wait Anchor, slow down. He stabbed you and buried you in the desert." Shanks repeated.
"Uh huh. And then I got to fly on the bird guy and we went to the palace where he was hurting Vivi. So I saved her and then I fought Croco guy again. But this time I figured out how his powers work so I drank all the water so that he couldn't use his sand. But then he sucked all the water out and left me all weak and wrinkly but the old guy had given me special water so I drank that and then went to find croco again."
"Right, right. Of course." Shanks was pretty sure he wasn't crying.
"Did you know there's the big rock thingy under the palace? Cause I found them there and then he stabbed me with his poison but I still kicked his ass and saved Vivi's dad and Robin. Then they gave me mystery meds and I slept for a few days. Then the nice man lady made me so much food. It was awesome. I was just sad that Ace had left and missed out on my adventure."
"Yeah that's too bad Anchor." Shanks nodded along as the chatty boy beamed.
"Then Vivi decided that she had to stay and be the princess instead of a pirate, which was sad but she's still nakama and one day she'll come back and you can meet her!"
"Princess Vivi?" Shanks repeated dumbly as Luffy nodded. "Right. Why don't you tell me about the next time you saw Crocodile?"
Luffy sat there thinking hard for a moment, his tongue poking through his teeth. "Oh! When me and Iva made it to level 6 and found out that Ace was gone! They blocked the stairs and elevator and released gas so we were stuck but then Croc guy broke through the floor for us!"
"You just let him loose? After the whole Arabasta incident?"
"Hmm, yeah I didn't want to at first but then Iva said he would share his secret if he was mean. Then he helped us fight our way out cause he wanted to fight Ace's pops. Oh, guess he didn't get to do that. Maybe we can bring him with us when we give Ace back?"
Shanks snorted. "I think he was hoping that Whitebeard was weakened by the war Anchor."
"But then he wouldn't be as fun to fight?" Luffy said blankly.
"Dhahahaha. You're right bud." Shanks smiled fondly and knocked his hat back to tousle his hair. "Well now that you're safe and don't need him anymore, do you want me to deal with Crocodile for you?"
"If you're sure he won't want a ride with Ace, then I guess he can go find his own adventures now." Luffy said nodding.
""I meant… you want to just let him go Anchor? Even after everything he did to you and your friends?"
"I don't want him for nakama and he helped me get to you and Ace." Luffy said confused.
Shanks sighed in defeat. "All right bud, he can get off with Buggy at the island… but if he ever tries to hurt you again, he's done for."
"Shishishi Dad. I can handle Crocky. I don't need you to deal with my opponents."
"Yeah kid but as your dad it's my job to worry about you and I swear, you have scared years off my life. Now let me coddle you, we've already lost a whole decade."
"A whole decade gone! Isn't it tragic." The two looked up to see Bon Clay in the doorway. "Oh straw boy, I failed you. There you were facing Magellan, and I ran off and left you alone. And to know you lost a decade due to me deserting you. I don't deserve to call myself your friend!"
"What?" Shanks asked freezing.
"Bon! You saved me and brought me out of the cell to Iva!" Luffy protested.
"Yes and then you saved me from the wolves! Strawboy! Hearing your screams was its own torture. The bond we share."
"What?!" Shanks said louder.
"Bon!"
"Strawboy!" Luffy leapt at his friend who preceded to spin around the room until Shanks managed to interrupt.
"Wait, go back. Lost a decade? Wolves? Screams?" Shanks questioned in a panic as he held his kid close.
"Ooh, you haven't heard the heroic story of Strawboy's sacrifices!" Bon Clay cheered.
"Before I found Crocky, the first time I fought the stinky poison guy. Me and Bon fought him together for a bit but when I got poisoned Bon went to get help. He came to level 5 and pulled me out of the prison to try and find Iva. Then there were these wolves and then Crab guy found us and brought us to Iva. I got Iva to help Bon and then they gave me mystery infestion."
"injection." Shanks said dazedly.
Luffy grinned. "Yeah infestion. Then I got locked up cause they needed me to stay still."
"I woke up and was told he had to fight to survive the treatment. It was awful. My good friend was in agony, screaming. So I screamed with him. Cheered him on and told him to keep fighting! Then it went silent… All the candies and Iva thought he had given in because the treatment was meant to last 48 hours but my bestie woke up after 20 and burst out of the chains." Bon Clay said doing a series of jumps and kicks.
"Chains?" Shanks shuddered. "You were in that much pain?"
"It hurt then but it's all better. Then I had to go get Ace, so I ate all the food and got a dragon line shot and then we went down and found Crocky."
"And you just went on and faced Magellan again, despite the torture you'd already gone through?" Shanks croaked.
"You ok Dad?" Luffy asked confused about the tears. Shanks nodded and Luffy grinned as he wrapped his limbs around him tightly. "Oh and Iva said the mystery cure takes ten years but that's ok cause I saved Ace and got to see you."
Shanks world froze… ten years, a whole decade lost forever. All because he had failed to make sure his anchor was safely unaware of his brothers imprisonment. Because he had failed to save Ace before his kid was forced to try. Because he had failed to get through to Whitebeard and prevented Ace from foolishly running off alone. Hell because he had let Ace rush off to attack Whitebeard when he knew from personal experience about the man's proclivity for 'surprise adoption'.
"Dad?" Shanks realized he had closed his eyes and he opened them to see the concerned face of his son in front of his face. He forced himself to breathe in as he unclenched his hand that had been wrapped around Luffy's arm. It was a good thing the boy was made from rubber because he'd been holding tight enough to injure a normal person.
"I'm sorry Anchor. I need to go for a bit. But we'll talk more later. Why don't you say bye to your friend for now." With that he forced himself to walk away, knowing that his control was slipping and not wanting to lose it next to the impressionable kid. He gestured at Snake to take over watching the infirmary and bee lined to his Pa.
"Pa, I need to- can we-" his haki prickled and he clenched his jaw as he fought for stability. "I need to not think."
Rayleigh felt the weight of his son's haki and instantly moved to his feet. They were just nearing the island they'd intended on leaving the non-nakama at so he whistled at Benn who immediately took note of his captain's condition and nodded. "Get to land kid so we don't wreck your ship."
Shanks leapt in the air and raced for the beach, sensing his Pa a step behind him. He dropped on the beach and dove into a roll, coming up holding gryphon just in time to catch his Pa's sword as he lunged from the sky. He let his haki go in a direct blow, only to crash into Rayleigh's. While their haki fought for dominance, he let his feet dance across the sand, gryphon a blur as it sliced through the air.
Rayleigh laughed as he met his son's blows, fondly recognizing the same moves that he and Roger taught him as a lad. He was proud to see how strong their kid was as he was forced to retreat under a particularly heavy barrage of attacks, the loss of his dominant arm not having impeded him. He pushed himself even harder, needing to make Shanks keep all his focus on their battle and not whatever had set him off. With Shanks skill and power, there were very few people capable of pushing him to that point and Rayleigh knew that he wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.
The Red Force finished berthing in the harbour and the two men continued their violent dance, leaving felled trees and carnage in their wake. Benn watched in concern, worried about Shanks mindset after another near loss of his famed control and scared because there was only one thing that could set him off. Luffy. What could their anchor have revealed to drive Shanks to this mindless fury? Did the kid know that every one of his stories was making it harder for Benn to convince Shanks and hell, himself, to let him go?
Buggy silently hovered next to his brothers first mate. He counted himself lucky that he hadn't been locked in the brig with Crocodile, but there was always a Red Haired Pirate in his periphery. He watched his brother and Pa, flinching every time there was a clash of swords and hated that for the first time in his life, he was scared of his brother's strength. Growing up, he'd known his brother could easily over power him but had also known that he never would. Shanks' loyalty was alway unwavering and he'd been happy to let Buggy be the dramatic, emotional one while he would laugh off any issues. But he'd seen the change in his brother when he learned that he'd gone after the kid. His relationship was no longer the highest priority and it was scary to know that his actions could push Shanks' past a point of no return. Buggy hated himself for thinking, even for a second, that killing the kid was the right choice. Now that he'd actually interacted with the boy, he knew that he was special. Even after everything he did, Straw Hat was full of love and acceptance. He was too pure and kind for the world and he knew that Luffy wasn't ready for the danger of the New World, or for the level of enemies that would be after his head now. Oh god, Buggy was going to do something stupid.
Finally the battle ended with Rayleigh flat on his back with a heaving Shanks holding Gryphon to his throat. "Bloody hell Red, I think you bruised my spleen with that one blow." Rayleigh groaned.
"Maybe you need to work on your armament haki some more Pa… or are you too old to keep it up?" Shanks grinned as he sheathed gryphon and pulled Rayleigh to his feet.
Rayleigh snorted, smacking the back of Shanks head with a haki enforced palm. Shanks yelped and pouted at his smirking dad. There was a small cough behind him and Shanks tensed up. "Blue." Rayleigh acknowledged.
"Shanks, Red… brother. Please just let me talk." Buggy pleaded. "Let me make it right."
"Make it right." Shanks said bitterly. "Like that's possible."
Buggy flinched but forced himself to continue. "Let me try. I've got a plan." Rayleigh prodded Shanks and he reluctantly turned around to face his brother. "We hide your connection to Luffy, buy him time to get stronger without being targeted by people trying to get to you."
Shanks snorted. "And how do you suppose we do that after the marines find out I went on a rampage for him."
Buggy gulped. "You use me. They are going to piece together that I was part of the Roger Pirates. The only reason they haven't til now is because I laid low. So we use my network to put out that you came for me, you came for your brother and." Shanks glare faltered. "And if they reveal Ace's bloodline, well even more reason for you to have been involved. We will put it out there that Straw hat just happened to get caught up in the rescue. His ties to Ace are known but there's no reason to connect him to you, not if there is someone with an obvious connection that would have drawn you out. "
"Blue.." Rayleigh sighed.
"I'll put on a flashy show, draw all eyes to me and away from the kid. You can hide him away and train him til he's ready for the flashy threats ahead."
"You would be painting a huge target on yourself Bug. Revealing not only your connection to me, but to Dad. Marines and pirates will be after you." Shanks said.
"Better me than the kid. Besides they've all under estimated me my whole life… I'll give them a run for their money."
"Blue… it's not going to fix it but…" Shanks fought with himself. "It's a start. It's a good plan and it will help protect Lu for now." Buggy nodded tearfully. "Theres a village on the other side of the island. You should be able to get a ship and get yourself out of here. Take care of yourself Bug." Shanks clapped his palm on Buggy's shoulder and walked away, leaving their Pa to say goodbye.
Shanks jumped back on his ship and smiled sheepishly at his first mate. "Captain.. thanks for taking it on shore." Benn said dryly.
"Yes well we don't have time to do any repairs." Shanks said flushing. "What are your plans Captain Jinbe?"
Jinbe stepped up from where he's been observing the chaos. "I make my departure from you. Now that Luffy is awake and healing I need to settle some personal business." He hesitated. "I will be stopping in with the Whitebeard Pirates. They deserve to know what is happening with Ace but I will reiterate that they need to keep their distance."
Shanks smiled. "That would actually be helpful. As annoying as the old man is, I know that he cares deeply for all his kids."
Benn grumbled but bit his tongue. "You know the marines will be rescinding your warlord status."
Jinbe laughed. "Of course. I believe my actions have made it clear that I was through with them. I will ensure they regret their decisions. If you could let Luffy know I look forward to seeing him in the future and one day I hope to accept his offer." With that Jinbe disappeared into the sea.
"And our other guests?" Benn asked calmly.
Shanks snarled but reluctantly sent one of his men to retrieve the two men from the brig. "Luffy was adamant that he wanted them released."
"But?" Benn cocked an eyebrow.
"But nothing… I'm just going to ask them an easy question." Benn hummed and Shanks watched as the man who tried to kill his kid walked across the deck. "Well Crocodile, I've heard from Luffy and you and every part of me wants to drive your own hook through your spleen." Crocodile blanched but Shanks kept talking. "But Luffy says you deserve another chance. Says you helped him escape. But I can't help to wonder why you would help the person who destroyed years of planning."
Crocodile hesitated before sighing. "The kid risked himself to save me. I watched as he fought for a kingdom who didn't know his name. Watched as he saved friends and marines without hesitation. I thought he was stupid and weak. I mocked his efforts. Then in my weakest moment, when I was lying unconscious in a collapsing tunnel, when he was dying of my poison… he risked himself to save not only his ally's father, but me, the man who'd nearly killed him and my second in command. He was on the verge of death and he carried three full grown adults out of certain death. Later I learned that Miss Sun- Nico Robin had joined his crew, how Bon Clay had played bait to save him. The way he turned his enemies in allies. He's fascinating."
Shanks studied him for a moment. "Count yourself lucky Crocodile. Get off my ship and forget we ever met. Just remember, if I ever hear that you came near Luffy, if I ever hear your name tied to him at all, well it better be because you did everything you could to keep him safe. Any harm or manipulation, I will find you and you will not be lucky again."
Shanks strode into his ship, relieved that the ship was finally free of everyone that wasn't HIS nakama. His crew was finally alone except for his Pa and the kids and he knew exactly where they were heading to lay low.