Chapter 31: Bringing Together
Ace winced as Masked Deuce's fingers delicately touched the wound that was from that female sniper on Akainu's ship. "Damn." He cursed. "It's still in there and if it's not removed it could cause sepsis."
"Then we'll remove it." Came Marco's voice as he entered the medical room.
"What's going on out there?" Ace asked as Marco handed him a cup. Drinking it, Ace made a face at the taste of medicine.
"Drink it." Marco commanded him. "It'll make it easier on you and us to remove the bullet."
"Or I can give you a local anesthetic." Marco gave Masked Deuce a glare. He wanted to knock Ace out so the dipshit didn't do anything stupid, like challenging Akainu. That was a fight that would definitely end with Ace's death.
"Pop has ordered that you're to stay below deck." Marco told the teen. "We almost lost the entirety of second division. Izou is still shaken from almost becoming buster call dust."
Ace sighed as he shook his head. "I should've realized it was a trap sooner." He stated. "The town was quiet. No children running around laughing but I didn't sense anything wrong." He carded his hand through his hair. The sound of the door to medical opening caught the attention of those present. Marco placed himself between Ace and whoever was entering the room.
Ace grinned. "I don't need protection from him." He stated as Marco relaxed as soon as Sabo stepped into the room.
"ACE!" Sabo yelled as he darted across the room and hugged his older brother. Ace groaned in pain. Sabo released him immediately. "What happened?" He asked as soon as he saw the wound.
"Sniper." Masked Deuce answered curtly as he decided that since Ace wasn't saying yes or no on the medication, that he'd do it anyway. Taking the needle he had prepped he stabbed his friend.
"Ah!" Ace screamed before turning back to his former first mate. "What the fuck man!"
"Has to be done." The blue haired man muttered quietly before taking a scalpel and forced Ace to lay down so he could actually cut into him and remove the bullet.
"Shouldn't we leave?" Sabo asked as he watched the knife begin to cut into his brother's side.
"Only if you're squeamish." Deuce answered as he pressed a finger into the cut he had made. Ace groaned at the pressure he felt. There was a dull pain but it was weird to feel his friend's finger moving inside his side. "Got it." Deuce said as he pulled the bullet out before he began to clean up when Marco placed his hand over the wound. His Phoenix flames burst to life as he healed Ace's side.
Marco then looked pointedly at the young man. "Stay. Below. Deck." He looked at Sabo. "He's your responsibility."
Sabo glanced nervously at his brother. "Oh, this should be good." Ace said with a wicked grin. Sabo had a feeling that his brother was about to do something stupid and he was going to be one at fault.
Two Days Ago
Shanks was on watch, relieving his commanders for the night, which is why he never expected a call from an unknown ship. It had been a long time since he had heard anything troubling from one of his territories. He expected even less to hear his Anchor's voice to come from the snail when he answered. His voice deep with lack of sleep, Benn sat next to him wide awake; lucky bastard. "Hello? This is-"
"Shanks!" Luffy's cheerful voice yelled happily, the snail's face turning to an impossibly wide grin.
"Anchor?!" Shanks yelled in shock followed by the thought. What the hell? He grinned at the sound of the young man's voice. Pride swelling in his chest.
"Shanks, I didn't call you because I'm ready for our fight, because I'm not." Luffy deadpanned. "I called cause I need your help."
Shanks knew as a captain it would take a lot for another captain to call for help, even if that person was a friend. "What do you need, kid? I know you wouldn't call me for anything small." He said as his voice grew serious, the teasing tone being wiped away and Akagami no Shanks was in his place.
"Have you read the Coo News? The marines have Ace and they'll kill him if I don't come help him! I'm not going to let that happen. Ace is my sworn brother and even if it'll embarrass him if his little brother comes to help him, I'm coming." Luffy said seriously before sighing. "I'm not stupid. I know it'll be dangerous, especially since my crew is missing thanks to Warlord Kuma; so I need your help."
Shanks looked towards Benn, silently asking him what he thought as his first mate looked at the newest Coo News Newspaper. Finding the article he pointed it out to Shabks. The big bold letters catching his attention. Portgas D. Ace; Dead or Missing? Looking further he saw the name of the island in the article column; Banaro Island. That was an island in no man's land between his and Whitebeards territories. Could he chance it? Come to the aid of the young man's while avoiding a war over territory disputes.
"Shanks?" Luffy's worried voice echoed.
"It's going to take a lot more than me to stop the marines at that island, Anchor." he said this even as Benn stood to begin charting a coarse towards the island. "We'll need an army. Especially if those marines are specifically after Ace. I know who that boy is, Anchor."
"Shishishi." Luffy's iconic laughter echoed in the communications room. "Well it's not like I could ring you up and tell you that Roger had a kid and that the kid became my big brother."
"Speaking of that," Shanks began as curiosity got the best of him. "How did you get my number?"
"Shishishi." Luffy laughed again. "Oh! My new friends the Kuja Pirates and their Empress Hammock. They're friends of your friend; Rayleigh!"
"Wait, Rayleigh gave you my number?" He asked sounding shocked that his old teacher had done so.
"Yep. After he said he'd help me in anyway he could; especially since it was for his old captain's kid." The snail grinned impossibly wide. "He's neat! I like him!"
Shanks looked at Benn who was just as shocked by the news. This could be a very good thing or turn very quickly into a chaotic mess. "Anchor, don't do anything yet. We'll help, but you need to trust me."
"Hmm." Luffy hummed. "Nope! I'm coming! If you can help; great! If not; you'll miss all the fun. Shishishi." Luffy laughed before the connection ended. "That boy." Shanks mutter softly as a wild grin suddenly grew on his face.
"Once a gremlin, always a gremlin." Benn chuckled when the den den began ringing again.
"Hello this is-" Shanks began when he was interrupted again.
"Red Haired Shanks." The person on the phone finished for him. "I'm calling on behalf of Ace's brother; Sabo." Shanks raised an eyebrow at this. "Look I don't have much time to chat. That idiot asked me to call you to ask you to come to-"
"Banaro Island?" Shanks asked interrupting the young woman on the other end.
"Yes!" She yelled. "I know being an Emperor you are super busy but Sabo said something about Ace finding you and asking help at one point?"
"He did." Shanks confirmed.
"Great! He needs that help!" The woman said however before he could answer the woman began yelling. "LINDBERGH! GET YOUR ASS MOVING! SABO IS BEING AN IDIOT AGAIN IN TRYING TO SAVE ANOTHER ONE OF HIS BROTHERS BY HIMSELF!" Shanks held his laughter in at the commanding and irritated voice of the young woman on the other end of the line. Benn on the other hand was shaking with laughter. "I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT. WHO ARE YOU SCARED OF; ME KICKING YOUR ASS OR SABO!?"
There was a click as the line went dead. Instantly both pirates began laughing heartily. Oh, this was too good. "Beck, wake the boys, we've got a party to crash."
"Aye, aye." Beckman answered still chuckling as he walked out of the room. Silently the first mate wondered if this was the fight their Anchor would almost die in. Touching the weapon at his side he swore he would kill any who touched that boy. Nobody touched their future King.
Luffy grinned devilishly. "Luffy Darling," Boa's voice caught his attention causing Luffy to get rid of the devilish look. "If Fire Fist Ace is part of Whitebeard's crew, why call your friend Shanks and not his Pop?"
"Ace might be apart of the old man's crew, but he's still my big brother." He fisted his hand. "Nobody hurts Ace or makes him cry. Just saving Ace won't teach them not to fuck with my family. I plan to make them hurt." He looked at the Empress. "Shanks says I need an army." He smiled at her. "What can you tell me about Impel Down?" The Snake Empress' eyes widened as she realize what her precious darling was thinking and truthfully she was all for causing a little chaos for him.
M-Angel: Yay, another chapter out! ^_^ Since I'm working Christmas I may update this story or do a one-shot Christmas story for everyone. So be on the lookout for that!