Ace groaned as Luffy begged to go out in the woods again. His younger brother was making up for the enforced bed rest with relentless quests for adventure and sure, there were many pirates who would love to go out with him but since THAT call, Ace was struggling to let the kid out of his sight again.
"Come on Lu. We went out this morning."
"Yeah that was like a billion hours ago." Luffy flashed his puppy eyes.
Ace snorted. "More like 4. Seriously I'm beat."
"But I'm boooorrrred"
"Maybe I can help." Came the laughing voice of Shanks from the doorway. "Benn and Mihawk have insisted that we begin training now that Zoro is healed enough to begin."
"Finally!" Luffy cheered, leaping at Shanks who grunted as the direct hit in his gut. "Do we get to fight the monkeys - blindfolded? Or sword guy? Or you?"
Shanks choked for a second. "No. You get to sit and watch a demonstration of the different types of haki."
Luffy wilted. "Thats boring. I wanna fight!"
Shanks sighed, tucking the kid under his arm and Luffy shot out a hand to pull a grinning Ace along.
Luffy was plopped down beside a lounging Zoro and floating Perona. He laughed and then immediately rolled over and settled himself into Zoro's lap. Ace watched, expecting the man to shrug him off but Zoro just wrapped his arms around him and rested his chin on his shoulder. Ace narrowed his eyes and studied the two of them, not sure how he felt about his brother choosing to snuggle with someone else but Zoro met his glare evenly until he huffed and sat next to them.
"Horohorohoro. Awww who knew that you could actually be cute. Look at you two, all cuddly and adorable." Perona cooed.
"I am not cute! Crazy ass ghost witch." Zoro muttered but tightened his grip on his captain.
"Alright children, that's enough." Benn interrupted, drawing the focus back to the older men. Shanks was leaning against the wall cooing, while Mihawk perched on a stone, staring blankly at the group. "Now I know Luffy and Zoro just learned about the different types of haki but how much do you know, Perona and Ace?"
Perona wrinkled her nose. "Why would I want to learn to use haki? Effort is so not cute, besides my ghosts keep me safe."
Ace blushed. "I know of it but I never learned how to use it. Marco used to get mad that I wouldn't try. Said I was to reliant on my powers…"
"He's right. Your devil fruit is powerful but your enemies are just as strong and there are plenty of powers that won't be affected by yours. Akainu's magma powers for example will overpower your flames, though your flames will work well against Aokiji. Still his haki would allow him to battle you." Benn lectured. "And Perona, your ghosts can't protect you from everything. A skilled haki user will be able to protect themselves from their power and then you're vulnerable."
"Now Shanks and Mihawk are going to show you the different types." Benn waved over Shanks and helped tie a blindfold around his head.
"Alright Hawky. Bring it on." Shanks said laughing.
"It isn't sporting to fight someone with a handicap." Mihawk said with a glare.
"Ha! I can still take you asshole. Come on!" Shanks said easily and Benn sighed.
"Mihawk, it's a demonstration, not a fight. If you like, why don't you tie one of your arms back to make it even."
"I was talking about his missing brain." Mihawk grumbled but reluctantly drew Yoru and coated it with his armament haki. Shanks grinned and then casually dipped his body under the quick swipe of Yoru. The two men proceeded to dance across the courtyard with a blindfolded Shanks gracefully dodging every attack. Suddenly Shanks went on the offensive, coating himself in haki and using his arm and feet to drive Mihawk back. After a couple of minutes Benn cleared his throat and ended the demonstration.
Shanks released his blindfold and smirked at his friend before he stiffened and looked towards the bay. "Someone is coming. They just entered my range. Small ship, containing 2 people." He turned back to the group and ushered the kids up. "You 4 get inside, stay together and hide in the boys' room. Don't come out until I give you the all clear."
Instantly 3 voices rose up in complaint and Shanks snarled. "This is not up for debate boys. Your only choice is if you go on your own or if I have to send someone with you. Ace, your brother and Zoro are still healing and I'm trusting you to keep them safe. Now go." Luffy still went to complain but Shanks had uttered the magic words to activate Ace's over protective side and he scooped the wriggly kid up. Shanks sent a wave of haki to his Pa, who had been hanging out nearby, trusting that his father would watch over the kids for him. Another wave directed to his crew, alerting them to the threat, before he raced to see who was coming. Mihawk and Benn had already disappeared, making their way to the bay and preparing to face their unexpected visitors.
Shanks studied the ship as it moved through the fog. From this distance he couldn't make out much but he picked out two slight forms moving around. The brunette figure was standing at the front of the ship while a blonde scurried around.
Mihawk sighed and gestured him back and he slipped back into the cover of the woods. The ship finally moored and they disembarked.
"What the hell do you think you are doing here?" Mihawk spat as he glared at the duo.
"Do you really think I want to be here?" Sniffed Boa Hancock. "On this filthy island full of mindless apes."
"They're called humandrills." Mihawk informed her.
"I wasn't talking about them." Hancock snarked back. "You can tell the men lurking in the woods that they can come out. I will allow them to be in my presence if they stay out of my way."
"How kind of you, but I fail to see what business you could possibly have with me and why I should allow your presence."
"Don't assume it's anything to do with you or that you could stop me. You won't try because I am too beautiful. Now I am here to see my fiancé."
"And what poor soul thinks he's going to be married to you?"
Hancock giggled and blushed. "Why my beloved Luffy. Now bring me to him."
There was a loud shout from the woods and then Shanks was there glaring at the two women. "Fiancé?! There is no way in hell you are going near Luffy!"
Hancock flung her head back and looked down her nose at the Emperor. "You think you can keep us apart. We are soulmates and we will be together. Slave arrow!" She shouted at the men only to freeze in shock when they both stared back in boredom.
"Impossible! I'm too beautiful to be rejected. Everyone wants me." She exclaimed angrily.
Mihawk laughed. "Maybe you need to meet more people because I assure you that there is a multitude of people with no interest in you."
"Do you really think I'd feel attraction to you, knowing you're after my son?" Shanks drawled.
"Your son? Oh my," She giggled. "You're Luffy's father!? He didn't say. I can't believe it, me, meeting the parents and without having time to prepare."
"Listen here, I'm not letting you anywhere near-"
"Hammock!" Came a yell as Luffy flew into the clearing, slamming into Mihawk and sending the both of them rolling. Mihawk let out a string of curses as he threw Luffy off him, directly into the bay.
Shanks would deny it later but he let out a high pitched shriek at the sight of his kid sinking like his namesake. Before he could think to move, there was a blur and the young swordsman was diving in the water and hauling Anchor back to the surface where an exasperated Benn appeared, plucking the soaked boy from the water and kicking Mihawk sending him in with a splash. "Honestly Shanks." He sighed as he knocked Luffy on the back a few times causing him to cough up water.
"Shishishi, thanks Zoro." Luffy wheezed out. "Marguerite, Hammock! What are you guys doing here?"
"Oh no! Luffy are you ok? We were worried about you Luffy and I wanted to see you again and make sure you were being looked after properly." Hancock said eagerly, reaching for Luffy.
"Absolutely not-" Shanks began blocking her reach.
"Luffy! You idiot." Yelled Ace running into the area and forcing his brother behind him.
"I told you dummies to stop! Now they know we are here and we're not going to get any information." Perona snapped as she joined the group.
"Give me back my beloved."
"Hi Luffy!" Marguerite chirped.
"He's not your beloved!" Shanks yelled
"Ha, you look like a wet cat." Zoro snorted as Mihawk dragged himself out of the water.
"Careful Roronoa, or I'll lose my benevolence."
There was a loud whistle and everyone froze, turning to look at a glaring Benn Beckman. "Thats enough! Shanks, Mihawk, I'll remind you two that you are adults, so kindly act like it. Hancock and your friend, you are trespassing and I advise you to shut up and keep your hands to yourself if you care to keep them. And you four," He turned his glare on them and the group shrunk under his gaze. "You were told to stay inside until you were given the all clear." Luffy gulped and stopped trying to get out from behind his brother. "Explain boys…now."
"We were going to but then we got worried that you might need our help… so we were just going to come part way but then Luffy realized who it was and we had to come after him." Ace started.
"And how did he realize who it was if you guys weren't close?" Benn questioned.
"Perona was using her ghosts to spy." Zoro said bored.
Perona shrieked, sending a ghost through him and he fell over comparing himself to a worm. "They made me do it! I only came along because you said to stay together and since they made us come out here, I thought having more information would keep us safer!"
"I wanted to say hi. They're my friends!" Luffy said cheerfully.
"Friends! He called us friends. My beloved is so modest." Hancock sighed dreamily.
"No! You're not good enough for him!" Yelled Ace.
"He's too young to date! He's a baby." Snapped Shanks.
The loud crack of a gunshot interrupted the rising argument and Shanks jumped in front of the boys, before realizing his first mate was holding the gun.
"Mihawk, escort your guests to the castle. We will deal with them after. The kids and us need to have a talk in private." Benn said firmly.
Mihawk wisely didn't complain about being bossed around and glared at the kids before quickly waving the 2 women ahead of him as they moved away from the group.
Shanks inched back a step from his angry first mate but Benn shot a hand out, gripping his captain's arm hard. "Now there are several important things we need to discuss. Captain, why don't you start us off." Benn said sternly.
"Right. So first off - Anchor, you are way too young to be married! And what do you even know about her? Did she try to force you to do something cause I will kill her slowly. Do you even know about sex? And no! Anyone but her…. Actually no- no dating til you're 30." Shanks nodded firmly and then yelped as a haki coated fist smashed into his head. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Because you're an idiot." Benn snapped. "Forget that and listen here kids. When we give you an order we expect you to obey it. If you have an issue with it we can discuss it but not if it is to do with your safety. You absolutely don't sneak around behind our backs and you don't spy on us. That is a gross betrayal of our trust. I don't care if you kids are adults with your own crews, we are still the parents and we need to know that you will follow directions."
"Parents?" Perona mouthed to Zoro who shrugged.
"Second," Benn continued over their confusion. "Luffy, just because you think people are your allies, doesn't mean they are. Flinging yourself into a gathering without proper care and planning is not ok. One, you took out Mihawk, two you ended up almost drowning and three, you positioned yourself in reach of the intruders who could have grabbed you before Shanks could have stopped it. And the rest of you just barged in after him! Think ahead, don't just throw away your advantages."
"And third, Shanks is right Luffy. You are simply too young to be in a committed relationship with someone. I know Hancock is very beautiful and alluring but you are not ready to settle down with anyone and she is quite vindictive and cruel when she is upset. It isn't safe to be with her. And please tell me someone told you about the birds and bees."
Luffy nodded. "Nami told me all about the bees and how they polish-"
"Pollinate"
"-Polish the plants. Including her trees so I can't catch them." Luffy continued.
"No Anchor, I meant-"
"Uh huh, Nami said so!"
Benn sighed. "Right, never mind for now."
Ace laughed. "He knows about sex. I told him when we were younger."
Shanks snorted. "And who taught you Firefly?"
"I saw animals." Ace said defensively.
"Oh seas." Benn groaned, rubbing his temples. "Ok group lesson later but we got off track. The important thing was the sneaking out and spying. So punishment time."
The kids all groaned and Ace spoke up. "Isn't the threat of a sex talk enough of a punishment?None of us want to hear it, seriously."
"Hey! I'll have you know that I've got some mad skills to pass on." Shanks smirked at the flushing, horrified kids. "But Benn is right. You ignored a safety rule so now you have to face the consequences. You four are going to be cleaning the castle, starting with the kitchen."
Luffy brightened and Benn hurried to interrupt. "Zoro and Perona will do the kitchen. Luffy and Ace will start with the library. And someone will be supervising so don't get any more ideas."
"First though, let's go find out what that woman wants. And you!" Shanks turned and yelled up a tree. "Get down here and stop enabling the brats. Honestly you never would have let me get away with this shit."
A grinning Rayleigh easily leapt down from the tree where he had perched and the kids jumped in surprise. "Aw Red, you asked me to watch them and I did. Besides you finally made me a grandpa and now it's my job to spoil them."