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Shanks was surprised that he made it to thirty-seven at this point because of the sheer amount of stress and worry that his idiotic little brothers had put him through. Hell, if he was being honest, he had absolutely no idea how they got to adulthood. He wanted to sum it down to pure stubbornness and a twinge of insanity thrown in. The number of life-or-death situations that they had all found themselves in, and somehow when they were kids, even more than they did now. He didn’t even know that was possible. Even growing up on the Oro Jackson and being a pirate from pretty much the second he could walk and talk, he still had more self-preservation within one finger on his body than those three combined.
When Ace was just a baby – a newborn infant at that – he had brought him onto his ship at Baterilla in the South Blue. Making a promise to his mother when he did so. Also meeting Monkey D. Garp, the same Marine that had been sent there by Roger and making a deal with him in order to get Ace.
Ten years later, they ended up in Foosha Village where they met Monkey D. Luffy. Just a village boy who lived there. A boy who kept begging Shanks to take him out to sea with them, and Shanks kept denying it. Luffy belonged to this village. Plus, he knew the name Monkey. He was not risking that. He just told him since he couldn’t swim, he wouldn’t fare well on the seas as a pirate. Which wasn’t farthest from the truth. Swimming was a great asset to have on the sea.
If it couldn’t get worse, Luffy had accidentally consumed the Gomu Gomu no Mi that Shanks had plundered from a Marine vessel. It was Buggy all over again. There was nothing that he could do about it. Luffy was now a Devil Fruit user because of it.
Sabo… well, he was a boy that Ace met in a place called Gray Terminal. A junkyard located on the island.
Then, the three became inseparable. It was hard to get Ace to even go back on voyages with them. Sometimes, Shanks would let him stay with the other two. Their bonds were certainly something special, and he would be honest, he was glad to see Ace with other kids his age. They wouldn’t be able to stay, but he was sure they would meet again in the future.
Not long after, he found that he had a missing sake bottle, which the three terrors had used to form a bond of brotherhood over a shared glass of sake. He had watched it happen. The three proclaiming their dreams for the future and forming a bond over it.
He almost didn’t want to rip them apart.
Not long after, the incident happened. Luffy had picked a fight with a group of mountain bandits that they had previously had a run in with. Which ended with Luffy ending up in the coast, being threatened by a Sea King.
Shanks had jumped into action upon finding him and lost his arm in the process. His arm was worth the life of a child any day. He would do it again in a heartbeat. Luffy was worth it.
Another reason that Shanks was pretty sure he wasn’t going to make it to the age he was now, was not long after that, Sabo came close to death after Ace almost got shot in the head by a pirate named Bluejam. He had finally figured out what the three boys were always up to after that. Managing to get to Sabo just in time as a Celestial Dragon shot down a little boat that Sabo had gotten.
These boys were dead set on giving him heart failure.
Just when he had thought everything had fallen into some sort of peace – through all the chaos that the three boys seemed to just be surrounded in – they were preparing to leave Foosha Village for the last time. Shanks had gifted his treasured hat to Luffy, making a promise with the boy to give it back to him one day when he became a great pirate.
He had thought that would be the last they saw each other until Luffy did become a pirate. Until Sabo followed that dream to see the world.
Until, they had sailed out and were too far from Goa Kingdom as he discovered that Ace had stowed the two on the ship. Ace had planned it out perfectly. Waiting until they were on the Grand Line before letting either of the two come out. How Shanks and no one else noticed them, he would never freaking know. He didn’t know what pissed him off more, the fact that he didn’t realize the two got stowed away back at Foosha or that he didn’t realize until they were on the Grand Line.
That led to the panic.
More so because of Luffy.
It was one thing for a deal that he had made with Garp for Ace, but this was Garp’s grandson. Luffy had told him as much when he asked about him. He knew he had recognized the name, and Shanks knew that the consequences would follow.
But he would take the blame.
Or so, he thought.
The second Garp had showed up in search of Luffy, Ace had stepped forward, refusing to give Luffy back over. It had ended with a very angry Garp standing above all of them with their faces planted on the wood of the deck. With some miracle that played in Luffy’s favor, Garp allowed him to stay, further making another deal with Shanks over Luffy.
By the end of it, Garp had somehow initiated Shanks into his family. Now claiming him to be one of his brats, another grandson, and Shanks ended up with two more little brothers.
It was a lot.
He was still confused about it, but the three boys got to stay together.
Though, Shanks was a pirate and lived a life of freedom, and that’s what he would allow for the boys. They would get to make their own decisions rather Garp liked it or not.
When Ace turned seventeen, he had returned to Goa Kingdom. Long enough to drop all three of the boys off. He had given them all the tools that he needed. Now, it was their turn on what they did with it.
Ace had briefly become his own Captain of the Spade Pirates before intergrading into the Whitebeard Pirates.
Sabo had run off and joined the Revolutionary Army.
Luffy had stayed in Foosha for three more years before he had headed back out to sea.
What brought them all back together?
Ace’s scheduled execution at Marineford.
That’s what lead to this. Shanks showing up just in the nick of time to block Admiral Akainu’s fist from forcing its way through Ace’s back as he attempted to protect Luffy. Sabo shoving the other two out of the way just as Shanks got there.
It was an entire freaking mess. Just one giant clusterfuck of a mess.
With Akainu and the Marines had bay with the help of his crew, Shanks had finally taken the moment to address the three boys who had stumbled back to their feet at the sight of him.
“Why is it when something happens, it’s always one of you three or just all of you.” Shanks grumbled. Ace felt the sweat drop on his forehead, chuckling nervously. “First, I have to save Luffy’s dumbass from a Sea King.”
“Well… my bad.” Luffy muttered.
“Next, Sabo almost goes and gets himself blown up.” Shanks added.
“He’s not wrong.” Sabo hummed.
“Now, Ace got captured and a war started. What is with you three?!” The Yonko continued.
“Shanks—” Ace started, getting back to his feet, and raising his hands up.
“Don’t you Shanks me.” The red head tossed back, eyes narrowing on Ace now. “If you had just listened in the first place, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“We got him off the scaffold though!” Luffy piped up. “So, it’s okay now. Right?!”
“Then he almost turned himself into a donut, so no, it’s not okay!” Shanks exclaimed, sighing as he rubbed his hand over his eyes, “How did I make it to thirty-seven?!”
As the three went to speak back, only to be cut off by Shanks holding up his sheathed sword and tapping them all on the foreheads. Ace gave a nervous chuckle, “Guys… I think we should just listen. I’ve already faced death right in the face more than once tonight. I don’t want that from Shanks too.”
“I think that is the smartest thing Ace has said this entire war.” Sabo muttered.
“What?” Ace growled, the vein popping out in his forehead as he turned a glare on the blonde.
Sabo shrugged, “Just saying.”
“We made Mom mad.” Luffy snickered.
Now, it was Shanks’ turn to have the vein popping out further on his forehead, “I swear to every single being in this world, if you don’t get your asses to my ship, I’ll kill each of you myself.” He even had a bit of Haki seeping out that had Ace grumbling and rolling his eyes.
He grumbled out a quick, “He learned to much from Ray-san.”
“Whatever you say, Mom.” Sabo teased. “Ouch!” Sabo stumbled backwards, rubbing at his forehead from where Shanks had whacked him with Gryphon’s sheath. “Rude.” Sabo sounded offended and it was written all over his face as he gaped at Shanks. “You whacked me.”
“I’ll whack you again. Don’t test me.” Shanks hissed, now moving his arm to point at the ship. “Go.”
“Geez, fine, we’re going.” Luffy whined, adding, “Why does he always have to do that? It’s just as bad as Gramps.”
“Luffy!”
“Run!”
The three boys were laughing as they fell onto the deck of the Red Force. Ace was heaving, laying on his back as he shook his head. “That was… too close.” He muttered, looking up to the sky. No one would dare come onto the Red Force. Not with Shanks speaking to Sengoku. If it wasn’t for Shanks’ arrival, Ace would have died back there.
He let the smile slip from his face as the laughter from his brothers started to calm down. The reality coming crashing down on them. That had been too close. He had been just mere seconds away from his life being ripped away. He could see feel the heat of Akainu’s magma on his back despite it not touching him. Luffy wasn’t fairing that well either. Clearly in need of some medical attention at the moment. Sabo wasn’t that bad. Covered in scraps and bruises for the most part.
But they were all alive.
Their big brother saved their asses again.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he was going to have to explain that entire ordeal to his nakama.
He didn’t exactly hide it, but he didn’t exactly tell them his past either. The only person he had told anything to was Whitebeard after he told him who his father was.
This was probably going to be a shit show.
If he survived long enough after facing Shanks’ wrath.
He didn’t move from his spot, instead waiting for Shanks’ inevitable lecture they were going to get from him. He was used to it by now. He had been in enough near-death situations that he was even surprised that Shanks hadn’t gone grey at this point. Though, he was sure all of that went into Benn instead.
Slowly, the Whitebeard Pirate Commanders boarded the ship, Whitebeard, the Red Hair Pirates. Ace hadn’t dared to move, just allowing his body to rest finally. He could hear Shanks calling out orders, but for the time being, he had been left alone. This felt like too much.
He had pulled Shanks into yet another one of his situations.
Shanks had done so much for him over the years. Shanks was family as far as he was concerned. No matter if they technically belonged to rival crews. He had been a Red Hair Pirate once upon a time. Even if it was just an apprentice role. They had no blood related to each other, but Shanks still risked everything to find him when he was just a baby. Finding his mother all those years ago. Shanks had told him stories of his parents. Yet, there had always been this lingering though in the back of his mind from hearing what the world had to say about him. A world that wanted him dead for merely existing. It had soon started growing into a bubbling hatred. A self-loathing that he never thought he would have. Even if he ignored it.
It was why he wanted to put his own name out there.
Why he was so protective of his family.
They were all he had. The only people who were in his corner and fighting for him.
There was a calm that had washed over the deck as he felt the movement of the waves underneath the ship. They were leaving Marineford. They had won. If only because of Shanks’ appearance. He knew how much the World Government didn’t want to get on the bad side of Shanks. Ace didn’t either, but he knew from this stunt that he was.
He sat up, running a hand through his hair as he peered over to see that Shanks was whispering to Benn. Keeping his voice low. He took a second to look at his nakama who were aboard the Red Force. Each of them looking puzzled at what they had previously witnessed.
It was explanation time, even if he didn’t want to give it.
He had been more surprised that Shanks hadn’t reacted yet. Hadn’t gone off on them until he was red in the face. Not much could send Shanks into a fit of rage or emotion. Though, there were more times than he could count of Shanks calling him, Sabo, and Luffy all dumbasses at some point within their lives. He would probably place this pretty high up on that list.
They had gone through the Gates of Justice before Shanks ever looked in his direction. He pushed himself to his feet. Sabo and Luffy were behind him, not saying a word. Sabo’s hand was settled on his shoulder, keeping him grounded. Ace’s mind was still swirling from the thoughts of everything. Seeing how far his nakama were willing to go for him. Even after finding out who his father was. They didn’t care.
Ace held a bated breath as Shanks stepped forward, his eyes locked to him in a sharp glance. Shanks still didn’t look happy as he approached. Ace prepared himself for the verbal lashing he was about to receive, only to gasp in shock as he felt the arm curl around his shoulders and pull him forward. His eyes widened as his nose buried into Shanks’ cloak.
“Damnit, Ace.” Shanks whispered, “How can you barely be like him… but just like him at the same time? You know how stupid that was?!”
Ace choked on the air in his throat for a second, involuntarily relaxing as Shanks’ grip got just a bit tighter. “I… I couldn’t stand him talking about Oyaji like that. He…”
“I know, Ace. You have nothing to apologize for.” Shanks muttered, keeping his voice just low enough that only Ace could hear him. “Never apologize for protecting your family. Even if your actions were completely idiotic.”
Ace laughed for a second as Shanks let him go. “I learned from the best.” Ace hadn’t even realized tears had came to his eyes for a moment before Shanks had reached over and wiped them away. “I’m… Everyone did so much for me back there. I finally figured it out.”
Shanks gave him a fond smile, dropping his hand with a tilt of his head. “You knew the answer all along.” Shanks replied, “You just didn’t believe it until you saw for yourself.”
Sabo and Luffy both had chuckled, surging forward as their arms wrapped around Ace’s shoulders on both sides of him. Though, Luffy took it a bit to the extreme as his arms wrapped around him a bit more tightly, looping around them multiple times. He reached up, letting his hands settle on their arms.
He would swallow his pride just this once.
He owed all of them.
He smiled, looking up at everyone, “I want to tell all of you…” He paused for a second, letting his smile get bigger, “Thank you for loving me.”
Whitebeard was smiling at him, nodding in his direction as he held his hand out, “Come home, son.”
The rest of the Commanders were standing by the Captain’s side, also giving their smiles. “You got to tell us what all of this is about though, Ace.” Marco stated, looking amused for a moment. “I didn’t know that Shanks of all people was your brother.”
Ace gave a nervous grin, “About that…”
Shanks laughed, reaching out and placing his hand on the top of Ace’s head, “This one had been on my ship since the day he was born.” The amused and shocked looks came from the Whitebeard Commanders, but it wasn’t what completely had Ace’s attention now as he heard Shanks say, “I have something for you, Ace.”
He turned his attention completely back to his sworn older brother, pausing as he noticed that Benn had something in his hands. Not just something, but his hat. “You found it?!” He exclaimed, the shock showing in his voice.
Shanks hummed. “After talking with Whitebeard-san… I followed your vivre card to Banaro Island where we found this.” He stated, moving his hand to reach out for it. He had a soft smile on his face for a second as he reached out, placing it back on Ace’s head. “Right where it belongs.”
Ace couldn’t contain his happiness as he surged forward, wrapping his arms around his brother again.
It didn’t matter how many times he screwed up, Shanks would always have his back.