"Dahahahaha, I'd like to see those brats beat this." Shanks grinned as he dropped his hunt in the yard. Benn looked over the impressive pile of 3 deer, and 2 boars as he collapsed next to him breathing hard.
"Uh captain?" Benn said hesitantly.
"And I didn't even use my conquerors so they can't accuse me of cheating." Shanks grinned brightly.
"Shanks." Benn said more firmly, pointing behind him as the man finally focused.
Shanks turned around and froze in shock as Sabo and Ace arrived. Sabo hauling a large pair of wolves, and slinging down 2 boars. Ace looked smug as he dropped a bear besides his own wolf and badger.
"I win. Pay up." Ace gloated.
Sabo glared at his brother and shook his head. "I caught more than you."
"Since when is that a factor? Mine are bigger and that bear was a fighter."
"Whatever. We still have to wait for Lu and Zoro anyways."
"You're just being a sore loser." Ace said and Sabo glared at him before cracking his knuckles threateningly. Ace grinned and beckoned him forward and Benn sighed as the two of them began to brawl.
It was about five minutes later when Luffy came bouncing in, one hand firmly wrapped around Zoro. Zoro dropped his 3 cougars but all eyes were glued to Luffy who had just deposited a bear, 2 eagles and 4 crocodiles on the ground with a bright grin.
"Did I win?" Luffy asked.
Sabo and Ace looked at each other and Ace smirked, stepping up to his younger brother and squeezed his shoulder. "Lu, how many times do we have to tell you. It's never gonna happen."
While Ace blocked Luffy's view, Sabo surreptitiously tossed a boar from his pile and Shanks to Ace's as well as one of his wolves. He sneered a bit as he grabbed one of Shank's deers and added to his own pile.
"Yeah Lu. Ace got way more than you." Sabo said as he bumped Ace away and shot a glare at a chuckling Zoro.
Luffy stared at the pile in awe. "Wow Ace! Thats so cool! But just wait, one day I'm gonna beat you."
Ace basked in his brother's praise for a moment before grinning and ruffling his hair. "Maybe some day baby brother, far far in the future." The three brothers walked inside with Sabo and Ace doing a fist bump behind their brother's back.
Zoro meanwhile was staring in concern at a frozen Shanks. "Is he ok?" He asked Benn who was watching some of the crew gathering up the animals.
Benn hmmed thoughtfully and studied his friend. "Just give him a few seconds. He'll snap out of it."
Suddenly Shanks flailed and fell off the wall. "They're monsters! All of them. And they're multiplying!" Benn nodded soothingly and helped Shanks back up. "Seriously Benn! Hunting is supposed to be about deer and rabbits. What kind of demons go after predators! I was raised by pirates and even I didn't do that!"
"Well the way Luffy tells it, they've been hunting tigers, bears and crocodiles with pipes since he met them. His favourite growing up was crocodiles." Zoro said helpfully and Shanks flailed some more.
"Come on Captain. Let's go inside and get you a drink." Benn soothed.
"Yes! Drinks for everyone." Zoro grinned.
"Dahahaha. No." Shanks said, playfully swatting the boy on the back.
"Why not? I'm finally done all the meds."
"You're too young to be doing day drinking. Besides, you were complaining that there was no one to fight with. Well, I'm no Mihawk but I'm sure I can show you a thing or two."
Zoro grinned sharply and stared at Shanks. "I land a strike, I get to drink as much as I want." He challenged.
Benn sighed and sat back down heavily. "Seas save me from cocky brats."
Shanks snorted. "Sure thing kid. Hell, you land a strike, I'll even take the blame from Hawky."
"Oh it's on." Zoro said as he put on his bandana and drew his swords.
'Purupurupuru' Rang out from Sabo's personal Den Den. He smacked Luffy's grabby hands away as he glared warningly at his brothers and Ace quickly dove on Luffy, pinning him down. "Go" He said as he answered the line.
"Oh now you answer. I have been trying to get in contact with you for days after you ran off. You naughty boy!" Came the loud voice.
Sabo winced slightly. "Sorry Iva. Please tell me Koala is still on her mission."
"Oh you wish Sabo Boy. She got back a couple days ago and that girl is going to thrash you when you get back."
The wince wasn't so slight this time. "I left a note saying what I was doing! That should buy me some goodwill."
Iva laughed. "Oh Sabo boy. 'With N. R., finding brothers. back soon.' Does not give nearly enough information for goodwill."
"Dragon would accept it." Sabo muttered.
"Only cause he is worse. But Sabo boy! Thats not why I was calling. Did you find Straw Hat boy?"
Luffy finally managed to squirm enough out of Ace's grip to extend his head to the Den Den. "Iva! You know Sabo?"
"Straw hat boy! Me and Sabo go way back. What an interesting family you have. The son of Dragon, brothers with the son of the Pirate King turned commander of Whitebeard and with the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionaries, and adopted son of yonko Shanks and Benn."
"Shishishi. You forgot Gramps, Papa Ray, uncle Buggy and uncle Mihawk!"
"Luffy!"
"Oops, I wasn't supposed to mention uncle Mihawk… forget that."
"What! How did the warlord get family status and I didn't!"
"Iva. Thats not really important right now. Why were you calling." Sabo interrupted exasperated.
"Oh Sabo boy, so rude and dismissive of my poor feelings…. I could cry." Iva wailed loudly. "Or not! Hee Haw! Actually I wanted to let Straw Hat boy know that I arrived home on Momoiro Island and ran into a new candy. I believe you know them. Come here you sweet thing."
"Luffy, well bless my soul. I'm so relieved that you are well." Came a high pitched voice.
Luffy tilted his head curiously before shrugging. "Sanji! I'm starving! Zoro wouldn't let me eat some cool mushrooms I found hunting."
There was a loud curse before Sanji's usual voice rang out. "Stupid Captain! For once that stupid moss head is right. Of course you shouldn't eat random mushrooms you find in the woods. Are you trying to poison yourself."
"But Sanji, food!" Luffy whined. "I'm so hungry."
"You better be eating proper meals, Luffy. I expect whoever is keeping you fed to be making sure you are getting the proper balance of nutrients and not binge eating."
"Shishishi, don't worry Sanji. We're eating lots of meat!"
"Thats not what I meant!"