Chapter Text
For the first time ever since he was a Baby, Shanks yearns to return to land. He loves sailing with his crew but there was now a very kid shaped hole in his heart and he hated it.
Luffy was a good kid. So good that he left the last thing he had from his father with him. Shanks often caught himself looking in the direction of his island. When he left he did leave his number with Makino and they did call. Every week. That was until Garp showed up and took him into the mountains. The weekly calls turned into monthly and now Luffy had two boys with him that he introduced as his brothers. Shanks had a feeling he didn't mean actual brothers though.
There were times were Shanks caught himself staring in the direction of Dawn island with something similar to longing.
And then there was this day.
That weird feeling. The whole crew felt it. It was as if their souls were feeling something at the same time. Looks fell towards the east far more often than anyone would like to admit and soon Shanks could no longer handle it. Benn joined him at the railing when it hit him "Benn.." he says and Benn hums in acknowledgement "tell the crew to turn the ship towards Dawn..i have this....feeling" he announces. Benn nods and moves to inform the crew.
There was no vocal happiness. Everyone felt the heavy feeling. The tenseness. The almost dread.
Once Dawn came into view, Shanks froze. The flames roared. It would normally scare off any and all ships but not this one. On the contrary. It drew the Red Force in as if it was a Siren and she was nothing but a mere Sailor.
Shanks almost broke the door of the Party bar when he entered in a hurry. Inside Makino stopped what seemed like pacing. Both of them stood still for a moment. Maybe two. Then Makino leaped forward, gripping Shanks shirt as tight as humanly possible. She looked up at him with glassy eyes, the tears that were forming could only be seen upclose "what happened..?" Shanks asks as his arms came to hug the woman in an attempt to give her some sort of comfort. She bites her lip to keep the tears from rolling down her face "they set it on fire!" She says. She goes to stand on her tippy toes "the Gray terminal! They're trying to get rid of the trash AND the people!" Shanks was still confused where this is going "and the boys...they're in there!" Shanks felt his stomach drop. Makinos silent plea for him to go save them was not needed at all but he still smiled at her in understanding.
He turns to his crew and gives the orders. Benn shall stay with Makino and the rest of the crew must stay at the ship, all to be prepared in case any of the boys came here. Shanks himself went right towards the high flames. The hotter it got, the more he felt the need to push through to go save his kids. He may not have met Ace and Sabo yet but if his Sunshine boy chose them, then they would be his anyways.
He only began running once he spotted Sabo standing outside the fire. He put a hand on his shoulder, immediantly regretting it as the child flinched before looking up "Shanks..?" The blonde asks. Shanks smiles at him "hey kiddo.." he says and Sabo almost immediantly throws himself at him. Shanks lifts the kid up into his embrace "you need to save them!" Sabo says before beginning to quickly explain the situation. Shanks only nodded along.
Once he was done Shanks sat Sabo down again "you know how to get to Makinos?" Shanks asks and Sabo nods. Shanks smiles "great! Run there, yes?" Sabo bites his lip "i can't just.." the kid didn't have to continue for Shanks to know what he wanted to say "you would not be letting them down..believe me..i know....." he says. He could feel Sabo wanting to keep talking but he didn't. Instead he turned away and ran off.
Once the kid left his field of vision, the Red head enters into the fire. He hates the uncertainty of not knowing if his children were still alive. It was eating at him in a way that he may never forget.
Once he finally spotted them, his heart dropped even more. Luffy was already laying on the ground, breath uneven while Ace protected his little brother with all he had. It didn't take long for Shanks to leap over the flames and knocking the guys that were threatening them out.
In one more motion he drops down next to them to check on Luffy. Ace kept his protective stance up until Shanks looked at him. It was probably the fact that his Den Den always had the same scar when he called that made Ace realize who he was and made his stance drop. The moment Ace realized that neither of them were threatened anymore, he also sat down.
Shanks was beginning to lift Luffy into his arms when the rubber boys eyes shot open "Shanks!" Said man was about to assure Luffy that he was safe now until he noticed the panic in the young boys eyes "you have to still save her!" He said right before (finally) passing out. Shanks gaze shifts to Ace who was now back on his feet but had gone crazy pale "who do i need to.." Shanks says, more to himself than to Ace, but Ace still reacted by staring at him and the Luffy before facepalming "of course he forgot to mention her.." Ace said before looking at Shanks "there is a girl deeper in the fire..we ran in to save her which is why we're here.." Shanks was still a bit confused why these kids would risk their lifes for that. Ace sighs "...she's Luffys twin sister..." he explained.
Shanks eyes grew wide. No one has mentioned anything of a twin sister and since Ace didn't introduce her as 'their sister' she must be actually related to Luffy. Shanks looked at Ace "i need you to get out of here.." Shanks ordered and Ace opened his mouth to argue but was shut up by the stern look the older man shot him. Ace turned and ran out of the fire while Shanks, with Luffy in his arms, stepped further into it.
He searched every inch for a girl he has never seen before but he would not, could not, give up. He could make Luffy loose some of the only family he ever had. So he kept up his search until he spotted a small figure coughing while kneeling on the ground. He rushes over and crouches beside her. She lifts her head slightly "hey..you're Uta?" Shanks asks and the small girl only nods slightly "great..i'm Shanks!" He introduces himself and Uta seems to light up at the introduction and allows Shanks to pick her up.
Now ,with both children in his embrace, he moves to navigate his way out of the flames. Uta slightly tucks on his shirt "will Lu be alright..?" She asks in the smallest voice Shanks has ever heard. He smiles at her "i believe so.." he says while nodding. That answer seemed to satisfy her and so she rests her head back against his shoulder as he continues to carry the two of them out.
﹏𓊝﹏
"Hongo has checked on all four of them.." Benn assured the two very worried adults in the Party bar. When Shanks arrived there Ace had already passed out on Sabos leg while Sabo himself was barely consious. Hongo had immediately taken the two into his arms and carried them to the infirmary. Benn took Uta since Shanks was really struggling with holding them both with only one arm and Shanks kept holding Luffy as they followed the ships Doctor into his office.
The kids had been asleep ever since. Sabo, being the most consious, kept waking up from nightmares which resulted in Ace being placed next to him as the four of them seemed to sleep better when having direct contact to one another. Ace was completely out. Sometimes they even had to check if he was still breathing. Luffy and Uta were pretty calm. No Nightmares or near death scares but only if they were laying next to each other.
Shanks really wanted to check on them but neither Hongo nor Benn allowed him inside the infirmary so he was stuck at the Party bar and let Makino explain everything that happened in the last few months. Once done Shanks felt only one more question burn inside him "...why didn't Luffy ever mention Uta?" He asks as Makino slides him a drink. She sighs while frowning a bit "Uta is absolutely terrified of everyone that isn't me or the boys...Luffy knows and respects that so he refuses to tell people about her.." she explains. Shanks had a feeling there was more to it than that but he wouldn't pry. He would just have tk wait till the kids decide to tell him the full story.
Later that evening Shanks stood at the railing of the Red Force. He was staring out at the sea in throught when a sudden hand on his shoulder pulled him back into reality "what's wrong?" Benn asks and Shanks sighs "i've been thinking..." he begins before biting his lip.
Benn has always been patient with him so he knew his first mate wouldn't pressure him into talking but he wanted to discuss this anyway "i really love these kids Benn..." he explains "and it does not seem safe for them here.." he continued and Benn nodded "i see.." Shanks kept his eyes on the horizon but he knew Benn was studying him "i wanna take them with us.." Shanks finally admits.
Benn hums in acknowledgement "i understand" he finally says. The conversation went on for what felt like hours and finally they came to a decision.
Once the four woke up they would ask them and whatever their decision would be, the Red hair pirates would have to accept it.