Chapter Text
“Teach, get that table, will ya?!” The bartender called out.
“Sure thing!” A black haired boy replied, racing towards a table of laughing pirates. Teach smiled at the group. “What can I get you boys?”
The one with the eyepatched, smirked. “A way into your bed would be great!”
Teach’s smile twitched. “Not on the menu. Now would you like to order something or am I okay to take orders from the other customers you aren’t trying to get into my pants?”
The pirate’s friends snickered as his face turned red. “Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?! I’m a pirate!”
Teach sighed. “Yeah yeah. We’re on the Grandline. You’re Shadow Claw Pete. Captain of the Shadow Claw Pirates. You recently came to the Grand Line in hopes of finding the One Piece that our recently departed Pirate King has left. Bounty of 40,000. Now your orders?”
Pete glared. “If you know who I a-”
“Imma stop you right there. I ain’t got time for your fragile masculinity. Let me level with you, you’re never going to be the next Pirate King. He won’t be setting sail for a long while.”
Pete slammed his fists on the table. The bar went quiet as Pete slowly stood. The bartender rolled his eyes as he made his way over.
“What seems to be the problem?” He questioned.
“This bitch-” Pete started before he was shushed.
“Not you. Teach, what’s going on?”
Teach gave a shrugged. “I asked what they wanted and Pete here asked to sleep with me. I rejected him and he asked if I knew who he was. I answered and I’m guessing he didn’t like my answer. Sorry Alvar.”
Alver nodded. “How much is he worth?”
“40,000 berries. Second bounty for him.”
“Okay. How about you go to the back and get something to eat. You skipped breakfast again.” Alvar said as Pete began throwing a fit about getting ignored.
Teach rubbed the nape of his neck. “I’m not that hungry. It’s all good. I could just start taking orders from another table instead.”
Alvar scoffed as men began circling the Shadow Claw Pirates and holding them down. “You’re a D Teach. The fact you’re not really eating is worrisome. Now go eat something.”
Teach crossed his arms. “I’m not hungry.”
“Go eat something or else I will take your job.” Alvar threatened as Pete and the others tried to fight.
Teach gave a look before sighing. “Okay okay. I’m going to go. No need to get your panties in a twist.”
He turned his back at the sight of Pete and a few other members of his crew being held down. Alvar scoffed as he watched the boy disappear to the back, face soft. That softness vanished as he faced Pete.
“Pete. Pete. Pete. Pete. Pete.” Alvar tutted, “Why would you try to sleep with my staff, let alone my 17 year old? Surely you've heard the rumors? You’re not stupid are you Pete?”
Pete’s faced morphered to one of pure terror. Alvar chuckled as the Shadow Claw Pirates flinched at how empty it sounded. Pete tried his best to slow his breathing but nothing stopped the horror creeping into his bones.
“Please forgive me! I wasn’t aware that the rumors were true! Why would someone like you stay in a backwater town like this?! I wouldn’t have tried anything with that boy! I swear!” Pete pleaded.
One of the guys holding the pirates down, chuckled. “Captain always wanted to open his own bar. Most of us wanted to retire. This town happened to have all we needed.”
One of the Shadow Claw Pirates squirmed before yelling. “We’ll report you to the Marines! They’ll lo-” The pirate started before stopping short.
Pete watched with wide eyes as his right hand’s head rolled on the wood panels. It stopped with the pale eyes staring up at Pete. He screamed and began thrashing about. The others took one look at their captain before doing the same. Anywhere would be better than there, even if it was to the Marines.
Alvar sighed. “Why must they always scream? It’s so annoying.” He was handed a rather sharp sword. “Thank you, Edsel.”
The lady gave him a savage grin. “O' coorse captain! Sharpened it juist this efternoon!”
He gave her a grin as he swung out the sword. It sliced through the skin without a problem. Pete stopped screaming as his head fell from his shoulders. The others soon joined their captain in Davy Jones Locker.
“Much better, isn’t it? Don’t you all agree?”
“Aye Captain!” A chorus of voices agreed.
“Good! Now go get these bodies out of here before Teach can see em!” Alvar ordered.
Edsel chuckled. “Cap, he's 17. He's seen fowk murdurred afore. This wilnae fash him.”
“Don’t care. He’s under my care for now so no more bodies for him to see.”
She grinned. “Coorse cap. He's yer laddie efter a'.”
Alvar gave her a look. “He’s apart of our staff. He’s not my boy. He’s just a good worker.” He said to his first mate.
“Coorse nae captain. Foolish o' me tae even say sae. Och keek, Teach's comin' back.” She replied with an even bigger grin.
Alvar whipped around and rushed to where Teach was coming from the back. “Teach! You should go get more things to eat! You’re too thing after all! Come come!”
Edsel chuckled as she watched her captain try and herd the boy away. Not his son, her ass. Then again, they all treated Teach like a younger sibling or their own child. Hell, she even treated him like a son. He was the closest to Alvar though. It’s hard not to get attached or treat him like that when they found him too young to be on that ship all those years ago.
“I’m not hungry, Alvar. You don’t need to try and hide the bodies from me, I already know they’re dead. They scream quite a bit.” She heard Teach say as he was led away.
She frowned at that. There were two major things that got everyone worried. The fact that he barely touches food and the fact he’s a D. There’s also his reaction to death. Most 16 year olds still get a look in their eyes. It could mix between pity and horror. It still proves how young they are. Teach, as far as they could tell, never had that.
His eyes were terrifyingly empty when faced with anything related with death. It was like he resigned to his fate and the others were just going before him. Even when they found him, it was that look. Sometimes, Edsel wonders if that’s the reason that her Captain decided to bring him along. Maybe it was the expression of resignation like he was expecting to die that day? Edsel didn’t know the reason and right now, she couldn’t find herself to care.
“Captain! Captain! You’ve got a letter!” A man yelled as he burst through the doors, waving an envelope.
Alvar came rushing out with Teach following close behind despite Alvars complaints. “Who’s it from?!”
“Expecting a letter old man? Have a secret admirer or something?” Teach teased.
“If it’s from who I think it is, then yes. Now get back to the kitchen!” He said as he was handed the letter.
Teach didn’t move and Alvar didn’t comment further as he tore open the letter. Edsel tensed as everyone went still as they realized who the letter might be from. Teach glanced around at everyone’s expressions and slowly lost his smile. The bar was quiet as they watched their Captain read the letter.
“We did it,” He muttered after several minutes. He faced the group and his face had the largest grin they’ve seen yet. “We did it!”
All at once, the crowd erupted into cheers. Teach stood within the chaos, severely confused.
“What did we do?” He questioned.
Alvar smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “We’re officially retired from the pirate life! We were just invited to the Annual Information Swap for all bars and taverns.”
“Annual Information Swap? They have those?”
Alvar just laughed. “Don’t worry about it kiddo! Johnson!” A head shot up from the crowd partying. “Contact the old friend for me!”
Johnson grinned. “On it Captain!”
“Good. Now Teach, go pack your bags. We’re going to get picked up by an old friend and be on our way. He should be a few days out last I heard.”
Teach blinked but nodded. “Okay then Captain.” And then he left, weaving through the crowd to go to his room above the bar.
The other former pirates partied for most of the night. They’ve sailed the seas for most of their lives. They’ve watched the Pirate King raise and watched him fall. Alvar was the oldest among them, even older then Whitebeard at this point of time. Now that they were given a chance to retire, they’ll gladly accept. Anyone that wanted to keep sailing had already left for another crew with blessings from Alvar and the others.
They couldn’t keep fighting the Marines forever. They all watched friends and family die during their time apart of the crew. Not a single one regrets joining however. They were just happy to have a chance to settle down. Plus, they had Teach now.
Teach was someone they could pass their knowledge to. He was, for all sense of purpose, a sponge. He was a quick learner and soaked up everything they taught him. It helped that he was eager to learn. It worked out for everyone that way. Their fighting techniques would get passed on and Teach would have all kinds of different ways to fall back on.
A few did wonder how he’ll react to them getting a ride from the pirate he’s expressed the most dislike for. It was strange at first but they quickly got used to it. No amount of talking changed his mind. They all had that one pirate that they hated for no big reason so who were they to judge? It just had to be the pirate they were getting picked up from though…