Rain cascaded from the sky in buckets worth hitting the deck in a mantra of splat. The air was heavy around him, the clouds above a gloomy grey. Beneath him, pools of water had developed, and with each twitch of his leg, it rippled. No one was on deck, barr Shanks, and he preferred it that way.

They were anchored on a remote island, undetectable by any Log Pose. Thanks to the Straw Hat's talented navigator—Nami. Shanks recalled that this island was close to Elbaf and considered warning the pirate crew but decided that it was their journey, to begin with. Luffy wouldn't like warnings. He always had a sense of adventure, even at seven. And from the newspapers and the little information from Luffy's crew, this only appeared to ripen with age.

Luffy. Little Luffy, on the decks of the Red Force, once more. And how awfully familiar it was to a man who'd been swept up by the currents of time; it almost felt like nothing had changed. Shanks could walk out further on deck and make out the shapes of windmills and little huts, or even Makino's smiling face. But time had passed. Yet, Luffy was once again on his ship. And not for the reasons he would've liked.

He had imagined his reunion with Luffy several times over. He would finally have grown into his straw hat, a daring smile to accompany it. His hair might have been longer—he'd have more scars, probably. But mostly, he'd smile at Shanks and challenge him—it was always a challenge. And in each scenario, Shanks would lose—not without a valiant fight but he would be okay with his loss. Because Luffy would be ready to be Pirate King and could handle what that would entail. Handle the after.

There was a tug at his sleeve, startling him from his stupor. Looking down, it was Luffy—little Luffy. He was so small for the title that he wore. Shanks smiled, "It's raining," he remarked, watching as Luffy's eyebrows twisted in bemusement.

"Duh," Luffy retorted, and it was easy. Speaking with him like this; it was as though no time had passed at all. And that was the truth, wasn't it? Luffy was the same—Shanks, decidedly, not. But that didn't matter, right now. His heart thrummed with fondness, as he kneeled to guide his fingers through the course black locks atop the boy's head. "Why are you out here?" Luffy asked, and there was that ache again. Shanks found that with each day that passed with Luffy on his ship—he found that he had regrets.

What would've happened if he had taken Luffy with him? Would it have been better?

Would Ace have lived? But then Luffy would never find himself brothers.

"Someone has to watch the ship," Shanks murmured. Luffy blinked but easily accepted the white lie; Shanks couldn't tell him the truth. For every second he spent inside, he went stir crazy, over long-healed scars and regrets. "What are you doing out here?" Luffy huffed and pulled away sharply.

And for once, he seemed contemplative. Shanks tried not to let the astonishment show on his face. "Everyone is being weird," his nose wrinkled adorably.

Shanks hummed, fixing his position until he was sitting cross-legged on the wood. Luffy joined him. "How so?" He asked if only to fill the silence.

"Sword-Guy," Luffy began, hands fidgeting in his lap. Shanks' gaze remained fixated on the rocking of the ship below him and the sound of water lapping at the flanks. "He keeps..." Luffy trailed off, trying to form his words but the harsh wind nipped at his skin. His cheeks were rosy from the cold. "Shanks he's being mean!" Luffy whined and Shanks nudged him with his shoulder.

"Why's that?" Shanks didn't recall the patience he has now that he offered Luffy freely, in the past and he wondered if it made Luffy uneasy. He pondered how Luffy felt about the future—about everything. And for as much as Luffy was an open book at times, Shanks could never predict him.

"He says I can't touch his sword!" Shanks wasn't sure why he expected something serious. It was Luffy, after all.

"Is that all?" Luffy let out an offended gasp.

"What? No!" Luffy's cheeks puffed out, akin to a hamster. It was, frankly, adorable. "The skeleton guy is moping all the time! Oh, and the raccoon dog is pulling out his own hair." As Luffy continued to list things that bothered him, Shanks felt a sense of sympathy for his crew. It was as obvious to him as anyone with two working eyes that Luffy—their Captain—was their anchor. The very thing that kept them all tethered and sane. And without him, they were quick to fall apart.

Shank opted for a different approach to the conversation. "Do you not like your future crew?" It was teasing, mostly, but Shanks found himself nosy.

Luffy paused, then pressed on: "I love them!" He admitted, as easily as breathing. Of course, he did. "If I chose them, then it's for a good reason... right?"

Shanks smiled, "Right."

"I just wish," Luffy glared at his sandals—too small for his growing body. "That they'd stop looking at me like they do." Shanks halted, entirely, his stare turning to rest on the boy at his side.

"What do you mean?"

"They look sad and I don't like it," Luffy remarked, idly, picking at his rubber skin. "They're fun but—" Luffy stopped himself with a sigh. "They're not like Ace and Sabo."

Shanks froze.

Several minutes worth of silence encompassed the pair, as Shanks mulled over his next words. Both crews had agreed to not mention Marineford to Luffy.

There were times that Luffy referred to his brothers with fondness seeping into his words and each time, it stole their breaths. Because how did you hide away something which could destroy an entire person's world? How did you act normally when Luffy mentioned his dead brother like he was still living and breathing among them? He had yet to ask where they were and that was a blessing in itself, but he would. It was only a question of when.

"I suppose they're not, huh?" Shanks finally spoke, his heart clenching as he forced the words from his mouth. He was quick to change the topic—even as flashes of Ace's relaxed features upon death were fresh in his mind. "It's cold, isn't it?"

Luffy blinked, "Yeah," just now noticing the chilly weather, he wrapped his arms around himself. He was shivering as he said, "Shanks! It's cold!" Shanks laughed, loud and boldly. Because Luffy would always be the same. Seven or nineteen, he would still carry that naive and trusting nature along his shoulders like a king's cloak. The only difference truly between the two versions of Luffy was that present Luffy had proven himself worthy of being so careless. However, Shanks supposed this Luffy would eventually do that too.

Shanks stood to his feet, effortlessly—even with one hand. He disregarded the way his clothes felt heavy against his skin and the way droplets of water poured down the slope of his cheek and down to his collarbone. He would dry himself when he knew Luffy was taken care of. "Come, let's get some towels." He took Luffy's hand in his; it was small in his grasp.

Luffy trailed after him, the slap of sandals echoing against hardwood as they made their way below deck and into a narrow hallway. The ceiling curved and therefore Shanks had to duck, but it came naturally to him. This was his home, after all. This fact didn't stop Luffy from giggling at Shanks. He muttered something about Shanks being tall and Shanks tried not to laugh with him—he failed.

-

It was another day—the third, maybe? When the transponder snail rang loudly across the deck of the Red Force. Shanks jumped from his seat on a barrel and watched as Yasopp answered: "Hello." It was hesitant but firm.

Shanks could not hear the other end but by the beckoning of Yasopp's hand, he was being called over. Dropping the cards he was playing with to the table, he disregarded Lucky Roux's protests and took the receiver promptly from Yasopp. Shanks didn't get a chance to talk before somebody was speaking.

"Hello, is this Red-Haired Shanks?" The voice was collected and masculine and Shanks did not recognize it. He frowned.

"Yes," he replied briskly. "Who is this?"

"Sabo," and just like that, Shanks' breath was stolen.

"Luffy's brother, then." He remarked, his fingers drumming idly around the steel in his hands. "I'm guessing you heard about his situation?"

A pause on the other end, the sound of shuffling papers and then, "Yeah. Robin informed me. Is he... is he alright?" It surprised Shanks, how uneasy the second in command of the Revolutionaries sounded. But this was also Luffy's brother.

Shanks thought of the boy who was in the ship's galley and eating to his heart's content. "Yeah, he's doing fine." Great, more so.

Sabo breathed a relieved sigh, "That's good—great, even." Sabo rushed out and Shanks wondered if this was his natural self or if he was just overly concerned for his little brother. Shanks could not rule out either option. "I've made arrangements to arrive at your current island, in about..." More sounds of shuffling papers before Sabo was talking, once more. "One day." Was that even possible? Shanks didn't know his current location but he was pretty sure the Revolutionaries base was somewhere in Paradise.

Instead of questioning it, Shanks asked, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

The snail's features twisted into a frown, "I'm prepared to lie." Shanks' eyebrows rose at the man's words. "He's my little brother," his only remaining brother, was left unsaid. "I'm going to protect him."

"He's safe with me," Shanks wasn't sure why he said it—he understood it would sound like empty reassurance to a man who had practically lost everything in one day. But he still did.

A scoff, "I know. But I'm not leaving an opportunity to fate." Sabo muttered tersely, leaving no room for argument. "I've given you 24-hour notice, I expect my brother to be in one piece when I arrive." The or else was implied. Shanks didn't bother to bite back the smile that bloomed on his face. He knew the man's threats weren't empty—all the more exciting!

He moved to retort but the line was promptly cut short by Sabo. He stared incredulously down at the transponder snail.

A chuckle from behind him garnered his attention. Robin, Luffy's archaeologist. The one who watched after her child-Captain, most days. "He does that," she said. Luffy was at her side, too, clinging to her legs and watching Shanks with open curiosity.

"Who was that?" He asked and Shanks opted for something toeing the lines of truth and lies.

"A surprise," he settled on.

A mistake on his part, as Luffy promptly began badgering him for hints. Robin watched on fondly.

-

True to his word, Sabo arrived twenty-four hours later, on a dingy propelled by flame. Shanks tried not to be reminded of Ace when he saw it. With an arch of fire, he threw himself in the air in a brilliant show of oranges, reds and yellows. And just as gracefully as he had flung himself, he landed on the deck, soundlessly.

Sabo was different, compared to his brothers—maybe it was the way in which he carried himself; reserved but observant. Quiet but destructive. Distant but kind. But also his features; striking blue eyes and a scar that marred the left side of his face. Blonde hair that fell to his ears in waves and a top hat that dwarfed his head. Not to mention the certain aesthetic he paraded around with.

Draped in noble-like clothes, from the navy trench coat to his cravat, he certainly had a message to tell with his clothing choices.

Not that Shanks could judge with his rather simple white blouse, red sash and green-yellow baggy pants, with a hideous floral pattern.

"Hello," Sabo greeted, smiling as Robin embraced him. "Robin," he murmured, fond. "It's nice to see you. Though, I wish it was under better circumstances." At his shoulder, flame trickled off into smoke.

"Nonetheless, I'm happy to see you again." She was the only Straw Hat on board today—most of them had figured to give Luffy and Sabo their space. Shanks was just about to do that but Sabo was speaking again, catching his attention.

"And where's Luffy?" There, there was the tension Shanks had expected. It lined his shoulders like an anvil, weighing Sabo's every step as he pulled away from Robin and moved towards the Emperor. A shared trait among all three brothers, then. Ace had proudly declared his intention of fighting Whitebeard—and Luffy had challenged Kaido—now, Sabo openly tested the limits with Shanks.

"He's here," Robin jumped in expertly, sensing the way flames began to dance at Sabo's fingertips. "And safe."

And just like that, with one little reassurance from Robin, the anxiousness seeped from Sabo's frame into something more relaxed. Shanks watched it all, impassive. He wasn't remotely threatened by the man if only concerned for his mental state.

"Right—right, yeah." Sabo exhaled, shoulders drooping. Any fire that had been created had promptly been returned to little clouds of smoke. "Sorry, I—"

"Don't worry," Shanks said, finally speaking. It caught Sabo off guard as the blonde whirled to stare at Shanks. "It's been weird for all of us." Not exactly true. Luffy being seven again was a walk in the park for Shanks—after all, that's all he had known Luffy as. A little boy lost on the shores of Windmill Village.

But it did come with a basket of regrets that Shanks had desperately tried shoving and hiding in a closet. Like how he wished he had kept his son on board. But those were thoughts for another time.

"Red-Haired Shanks," Sabo spoke with reverence, "Luffy used to talk about you all the time." It shattered the pressure that was mounting between them and Shanks' crew behind him, settled in their seats. Suddenly, Sabo bowed deeply and Shanks felt a sense of deja vu, "Thank you for saving my brother all those years ago!" Sabo's features were stern but as honest as they could mould themselves to be. "I should've thanked you long ago, but I was... incapacitated."

Ah, hadn't Ace done the same? The apple didn't fall far from the tree, then.

Shanks waved him off, "It's alright, really." Sabo's head lifted to stare openly at Shanks' missing arm. Shanks didn't feel anything from the empty gaze. It was hardly judging, more so... curious. "I was just doing what any—" father, "—person would do."

Sabo hummed, accepting his answer. "Maybe not any person, but sure. Thank you, anyway. Unfortunately, I'll have to cut this short. I need to see my brother for my own sake." Shanks nodded and offered to lead him to where the boy slept, below deck. He had refused to leave the Red Force since arriving, to the annoyance of his crew. But they mostly understood—he was still a seven–year–old in a new and terrifying situation.

As Shanks led Sabo below deck and through narrow hallways and around sharp turns, the air was silent between them. But finally, they stopped at a door. It was tucked into the corner, a closet converted into a makeshift bedroom for Luffy. Robin and Luffy occupied it, most nights.

Shanks knocked dutifully, hopefully waking Luffy from his afternoon nap. There was grumbling from the other end as Luffy presumably stood to his feet and scrambled towards the door. He opened it, and Shanks watched with fondness as Luffy's face lit up in recognition. Despite how old Sabo was, he still found his brother in his features.

"Sabo!" Luffy cheered, engulfing the man in a hug of rubbery limbs. There were fresh tears decorating his face, pouring from Luffy's eyes like rain. Shanks held down the smile that threatened to break his calm facade. "I'm—I'm so happy to see you!" Sobs echoed in the hallway as Shanks stood awkwardly to the side, witnessing something that probably should be private. But—he didn't want to leave his anchor's side. Not when he looked so broken. So, he remained as a testament to the pure love that bound the two brothers.

"Luffy," Sabo murmured with awe. "You're... you're so small," his eyes sparkled in delight as he lifted his little brother and proceeded to spin him in joy. Luffy was less than happy, in the whirling arms of his brother and he vocally protested that, much to the chagrin of Sabo and Shanks' ears.

"Sabo," tears still fell from his round eyes but there was an edge of annoyance to them. "Put me down! I am not small. I'm just... you're just big!" Sabo's laughter rang loudly in the small hall and Shanks took a step back. The floorboard creaked beneath him, catching the attention of the reunited brothers.

"I forgot you were here." Sabo deadpanned, having crushed Luffy in a hug. Luffy made a face, likely because his cheek was pressed against his brother's chest.

Shanks flushed as he made an attempt to leave but Luffy was already objecting. "No, I want Shanks to stay." At Sabo's silence, Luffy turned his pleading eyes on his brother and Shanks watched as Sabo fell victim to Luffy's puppy eyes. Sucker.

"Okay, okay, fine." Without so much as a glance Shanks' way, he entered into the den that they called Luffy's room. Shanks followed, albeit at a slower pace. He was greeted by pitch black and the rocking of the boat. "You couldn't have given him a lantern, a candle? Luffy hates being alone." Sabo said, assumedly sitting against the mattress squished into the corner.

Shanks frowned, offended. "He wasn't alone, Robin joined him." A hum escaped Sabo. Despite not being able to make out any identifying features in the dark, Shanks knew Sabo had understood, well enough. "And as for the lights," Shanks winced, "I was worried he'd knock it over and start a fire." He could still recall Luffy moving in his sleep at any chance he got like it was yesterday.

A laugh, "Yeah, he does that." It came out fond.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," Luffy muttered. The sounds of shuffling echoed, the bed beneath creaking as they got comfortable. Shanks settled against the only remaining space. The small fraction of empty floor by the bed, he sat and listened as the brothers talked:

"Sabo, I've missed you!" Luffy cried, full of utter joy as he began jumping against the mattress. "My crew's nice—especially Robin and Jinbei! But I'm glad you came, though it sucks that we're not on the same crew." As if a thought just occurred to Luffy, he ploughed on. "Hey, where is Ace?"

Silence filled the room like a blanket. It suffocated them.

"Ace is busy," Sabo said easily and Shanks tried to even out his breathing.

Shanks could practically hear the frown in Luffy's voice, "But you came." A breathy laugh emitted from Sabo as he replied, like lying was second nature to him. Maybe it was. He was a revolutionary, after all. And they tended to work in the shadows like ghosts. Shank appreciated their work—how could he not—but they still creeped him out. They knew too much, for their own good.

"I did." Sabo conceded, "But that's because I wasn't busy." Another lie. The Chief of Staff was always busy.

Luffy huffed, "What's Ace doing, then?" How had this conversation derailed so much? No, no. This was expected—of course, Luffy would be curious about his other brother. To him, it had only been four days ago that his brother's heart still sang a song. But that was two years ago, now.

Mirth veiled the pain in Sabo's voice as he said, "Are you looking to spoil your adventures?" A gasp from Luffy, and Shanks could not hide the smile on his face, even if he wanted to.

"No! Don't tell me more!" Shanks joined in on the laughter. Luffy was humming again, as he asked: "Are you... are you both free?" Luffy asked