Chapter Text
Shanks sat on the edge of the Red Force’s deck, the wind tugging at his crimson hair, and stared at the endless stretch of ocean. Beside him, Benn leaned against the railing, watching quietly. The sun was low, casting golden streaks across the waves, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful.
Shanks turns to Benn and says“I can’t… I can’t leave them behind,” Shanks muttered, almost to himself. His fingers toyed with the hem of his shirt. “But they’re just kids. The life of a pirate… it’s no place for them. They’d be better off with someone else… safer.”
Benn shook his head, a soft grin on his face. “You really can’t imagine leaving them, can you?” he said gently. “And why would you? The kids love you, Shanks. They’ve never stopped waiting for you. And the crew… they’re all already attached. You think they’d let anyone hurt those kids? They’d rather kill themselves sooner than let anyone hurt them.”
Shanks glanced at him, a small, reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “I know they love them… I know the crew cares, but—what if something happens? What if I can’t get back to them? What if—”
“Then the crew would make sure they’re safe,” Benn interrupted. “They’d give them a proper childhood, with laughter and care, not just surviving day to day. And you? You’d be able to go after whatever it is that calls you out on the seas without that weight on your heart. Without having to worry about whether they’re okay or not, because you’ll take care of them. And we’ll all help you take care of them.”
Shanks exhaled, letting the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. “You’re right. I… I just can’t leave them again, not knowing if I’ll see them. They deserve a family, someone who’ll protect them, not just a few scraps of attention every now and then.”
Benn clapped him on the shoulder. “Then it’s decided. Next time you visit them, that’s what you’ll tell dadan. Tell her you’re taking them with you, that they’re coming aboard the Red Force. No more waiting, no more risking them being hurt or alone.”
Shanks nodded, a firm resolve settling over him. “Next time,” he said, looking out at the horizon. “I’m going to bring them with me. All three of them.”