Chapter Text
“Beeeeennnnnn. Get off!” Shanks whined loudly. “I order you to get off.” Shanks tried, letting some steel enter his voice. “Damn it Benn! Please?” Shanks kicked his legs uselessly before going limp on the deck. “You suck.” He mumbled into the wood.
“Luffy will arrive when he arrives. Harassing the Den Den and the crew will not change that Captain.” Benn said sternly from his perch on Shanks’ back. “I told you several times to sit still and stop wearing a hole in the deck but you refused to listen. You’ve got the whole crew on edge, so now I’m stepping in.”
“He should have been here by now! Pa said he left Sabaody a week ago! It doesn’t take that long to get through Fish-man Island. What if he’s hurt or lost? I just want to call him!”
“You know very well that a lot of ships take their time. It’s an exciting moment to cross into the New World and Fish-Man Island is fascinating. I bet he’s exploring and reuniting with his crew.”
“Then why didn’t he answer the Den Den!”
“He didn’t answer because he spoke to you before reaching Sabaody and you promised to give him space. Which you promptly broke by calling 6 times. Honestly Shanks.” Benn sighed in exasperation.
“He’s hurt and needs me. I know it. My dad instincts sense it.” Shanks wailed.
“I’m sorry, your dad instincts?” He laughed. “Shanks, when has that ever been right? You also insisted he was in danger when he was with everyone on Kuraigana, and he was fine. You thought he was in danger when Rayleigh was training him like every other day. And what was he? He was fine. You’re just being over protective.”
“Seas, when Pa was training him he probably was in danger every other goddamn day.” Shanks whined, flailing under Benn’s weight.
Benn raised an eyebrow and ground his heel harder into Shanks’ side, ignoring the yelp. “Just because your lazy ass thought his training was torture doesn’t mean Anchor agreed. Hell knowing that chaos gremlin, he probably was having a blast. Besides, Fish-Man Island is under Whitebeard’s flag. What danger could he have possibly gotten into?”
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Nami didn’t know who, but someone is the world had obviously cursed them. How was it, that after two years apart, they reunited and entered a peaceful kingdom, protected by one of the sane emperors, only to have it fall into a bitter civil war while they were there. And instead of staying out of it and minding their own business, her captain had to throw himself and his crew into the middle of it.
And sure, a lot of good fish-men and merfolk would have been killed if they had stayed out of it. And okay, Hody needed to be stopped and Shirahoshi hadn’t deserved to be Decken’s victim. And there was no way the royal family would have survived waiting for word to get to Whitebeard and for him to return to them.
Okay fine! They didn’t really have a choice but was it wrong for her to wish just once, to visit an island and not have it end with her almost dying?
And to top it all off, Luffy had given their hard earned treasure away- after insulting a different emperor! Most crews don’t have to deal with this kind of thing. Especially not before they even enter the New World.
And treasure! So much treasure. It would have made up for all the fear and pain. But no… Luffy had to eat the candy shipment for Big Mom and then insult her.
Well at least they were back on track now, and Emperor Shanks was waiting for them in the New World. They would be safely backed by Luffy’s father and maybe he would help warn off Big Mom. After all, even Luffy would admit that they weren’t ready to face an emperor of the seas. Right?
Her thoughts were interrupted by her captain who was giggling by the rail with a smirking Zoro. “That can’t be good.” Came the slightly panicked voice of their sniper behind her.
“My thoughts exactly.” She said shooting a venomous glare at the duo. “What are you two idiots laughing about?” She said stalking towards them.
“None of your business witch.” Zoro crossed him arms behind his head and met her gaze evenly.
“You say that and yet I will be stuck in whatever disaster you two drag us into.” She stood with her hands on her hips and lightly kicked at Zoro’s leg.
He glared at her but Luffy just giggled. “Don’t worry Nami! We’re just talking about how we’re gonna kick Big Mom’s butt.” Zoro elbowed him harshly and he grunted. “I mean- we weren’t talking about that.”
“We’re gonna die!” Yelped Usopp as he flailed and hid behind Nami
“I knew it!” She shrieked. “You idiots! If you think I’m going to let you get us all killed then you are dumber than you look - which I didn’t think was possible!”
“Hey!” The boys exclaimed angrily. “I’m the captain and I get to decide where we go!” Luffy insisted. “I’m gonna kick her butt and you can’t stop me.”
“Oh really.” Says Nami menacingly.
Luffy hesitated, glancing at Zoro before glaring back. “Really.”
“Well I happen to know a certain somebody who would be very interested in knowing your plans.”
“Really? Who?” Luffy said cluelessly.
“She’s going to tell Shanks.” Zoro glowered.
Luffy gasped and stared at her betrayed. “What! No! Dad would ruin the fun. You can’t do that Nami.”
“Oh yes I can. If you won’t listen to reason then I will make sure you are forced to.” Nami watched smugly as Luffy deflated to the ground.
“Nami’s mean.” Luffy pouted. “Fine. I won’t kick her butt until later.”
Nami smiled sweetly. “Thank you Captain. Now we’re breaching soon and will be meeting up with your fathers. So remember that and I won’t have to tell them that you almost died all ready.” With that she strode off to check in with Frankie.
Zoro looked at his best friend. “She’s going to kill you when she finds out you lied about the meeting point.”