Archive of Our Own ^beta

The first thing Shanks learned from his father was the reason his forearm had been blank his entire life. It had seemed like everyone in the world except him had a soulmark, and he’d often wondered why he was so broken that there wasn’t any person meant for him. Garling was the one who told him that Celestial Dragons had no soul marks. He claimed they were above such frivolous connections and could therefore marry strategically, for the good of the family.

It had killed Shanks to play along with it, to agree that the behaviors he’d seen in the lower world were base and disgusting, something he was happy to be free from. Still, he kept the precious memories close to his heart:

Roger greeting Rouge after months apart, Shakky and Rayleigh laughing and toasting a battle won, Oden and Toki chasing after their children

Everyone he knew described it so beautifully, that flutter just under your heart that you knew belonged to the person you were meant to be with, and their name on your wrist so you could recognize them easier. There was more than just the name, everyone said, there was also a tug on your heart every time you were near them, like your very soul was reaching out. It hurt to know that Shanks’ very DNA stopped him from being able to have that, but he resigned himself to it.

Then he met Law.

It was the night after what became known as “The Battle of the Four Emperors” and the party had been wild. They’d woken up together in Shanks’ bed and Law had somehow just kept coming back. He was one of the handful of people Shanks had met who had no blood ties to Celestial Dragons, and did not have a soulmate. Despite not having that pull towards each other that soul mates had, the months they spent together proved that Law was everything Shanks didn’t know he needed in his life.

–

The final battle ended just as dramatically as Shanks expected. Everyone knew immediately when Imu had been defeated. It was impossible to miss with the way the dark clouds over the Island faded, the raging and rising waters suddenly receding.

It was finally over.

He looked over the battlefield to where Law had been fighting atop a collapsed building, carefully avoiding the floodwaters with the help of his devil fruit. Still, Shanks had been keeping a thread of Observation haki on him, just in case his lover fell into the water. It had taken so long for them to find each other, there was no way Shanks was going to lose him so easily.

The marines who had been taken by Imu’s influence were dropping to the ground, and the one Law had been fighting–Koby, Shanks remembered, Luffy’s soulmate– had lost the strange dark markings on his body and was slumping forward, leaning on Law.

Shanks couldn’t let his guard down too much though, and turned back to his brother, holding Gryphon up. Shamrock though… Shamrock was staring into the sky, his eyes wide and sword held loose at his side.

“Not possible.” Shamrock said, his eyes meeting Shanks’ for a brief moment before…

Pain.

A shot of pure agony slammed into Shanks and he fell to his knees, Gryphon clattering to the ground just as he heard Cereberus do the same and Shanks didn’t need to look up to see that his brother was also clutching his heart. There was a terrible loneliness building up inside of him, like his mooring line had been cut and he’d been sent to drift in the sea. It was awful, and even though Shanks knew this had to be Imu’s doing, had to be his people as a whole finally being free of the being’s influence, his eyes welled up with tears as the feeling of a great loss overtook him.

“This is what you wanted, brother?” Shamrock’s gasping voice reached him and Shanks looked up to see that he was also on the ground, his eyes wild and wet as he wrapped his arms around himself, shivering with pain. “The loss of our god? Of our purpose?”

“Imu’s not a god.” Shanks replied, his voice as even as he could keep it. “Not anymore.”

The pain was radiating from his heart down his arm and it just wouldn’t stop. It was pulsing through him and he closed his eyes. Wondering for a brief moment if this was what life would be like from then on. Would the loss of Imu doom him and thousands of others to a life where they could physically feel his absence?

“They were!” Shamrock yelled, pushing up, trying to stagger to his feet but ending up kneeling on one knee, taking in deep, steadying breaths, “They were everything to us! Imu was…”

Shamrock cut himself off, and Shanks knew exactly why because he also felt the change. The pain that was pulsing down his arm suddenly turned into a surge of heat that faded to a warm, soft, tingling sensation. His heart as well started to calm from its frantic beats into something slower. There was… something strange to it though. Like an echo of its rhythm just behind his breastbone. Shamrock’s eyes were just as wide as his and Shanks knew he must be thinking the same thing. For all their differences, they were still twins.

“There’s no fucking way.” Shanks said, and watched as Shamrock slowly lifted his wrist.

Shamrock’s face fell and grew even paler as he looked at what Shanks assumed was a name scrawled onto his wrist. Shanks looked down at his own hand, not turning it around to see what name might have manifested on his own skin. He wasn’t ready. He had just found Law, found someone he thought he could spend life with, and now fate was thrusting some unknown soulmate at him. He couldn’t look. Couldn’t see some strangers' names marking him as theirs. Instead, he looked back over the battlefield, his eyes quickly finding Law and seeing that his lover was already looking at him, Koby standing on his own and saying something to Law with a wide, tired smile. Law’s wrist was lifted up like he’d just been examining it, he frowned and looked away from Shanks, his gaze drifting over to…

Shanks followed the line of his gaze to see that Shamrock was staring back in Law’s direction, disbelief written on his face and all at once, Shanks knew what was happening.

It was commonly known that twins often shared a soulmate. There were theories as to why, but Shanks had never paid all that much attention. At the time, he didn’t think it was relevant. Now though… Now he slowly brought his arm up and turned it around, his heart jolting with a mix of joy and apprehension when he saw the name *Trafalgar D Water Law* in familiar handwriting.

A blue glow surrounded him and then a hand wrapped around his wrist, obscuring that precious, perfect name. Shanks looked up to see Law looking down at him, his eyes wide and hopeful and Shanks couldn’t do anything but surge up onto his feet and kiss him. The fluttering under his heart settled as Law’s arms draped around his neck, pushing up into the kiss like a drowning man seeking water.

“What the fuck is happening?” Law said as he pulled away, gasping and breathless.

“It has to be something Imu did.” Shanks said, though he had no idea how. “Replaced the soulmate bonds of celestial dragons with bonds to him.”

“Shit.” Law said, pulling away and shaking his head in disbelief. “That is so…”

“Fucking evil?” Shanks completed and Law nodded, shivering in disgust.

It was over now though, and Shanks could hardly believe it. Not just that Imu was gone, but that he had a soulmate, and that soulmate was Law.

The next second though, Law was pulled away from him, the fluttering in his heart increasing in an odd way until he saw that it was Shamrock who had pulled Law around and was looking at him with an expression Shanks recognized. Oh no. If Shanks was right, and Imu had bonded all Celestial Dragons to him in the mockery of a soulbond, then Shamrock was going to have a very specific reaction to it.

Law was really not going to like this.

–

Law had been so over the moon at seeing Shanks’ name on his wrist that he hadn’t really had the chance to process the other one. Koby had been excited for him, had refused to let Law stay and make sure he was okay, encouraging him to go to Shanks. Too much had happened in the past few minutes for Law to think about having two soulmates. Now though, Shamrock was staring at him and the twin pulsing sensations in his heart were telling him that this was meant to be, and Law just wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

He wasn’t sure how to feel about anything at the moment. His body was buzzing with the pull of a soulbond, with a sense of completion that he hadn’t even realized was missing. Now that it was gone though, he recognized that what he’d been feeling his entire life was a soul-deep, agonizing pain. It had been such a part of him that he hadn’t even known he was hurting. Now it was like some unknown wound inside of him had been soothed, the agony replaced by fluttering in his heart and two names on his wrist.

Law could feel how tense Shanks was, frozen and watching them, probably just as curious as Law was about what Shamrock was going to do. Shamrock was looking at him with a determined expression, and it was starting to make Law feel uneasy.

“What do you want, Knight?” Law said, guarded. Whatever ties to Imu Shamrock had might be gone, but he was still powerful, unpredictable.

Shamrock looked at him again, his eyes searching Law as if he had all the answers. Then, to Law’s horror, Shamrock kneeled.

“I know I’m undeserving of you, but I will do my best to prove my place.” Shamrock punctuated his words by bowing his head, turning his face away from Law.

“Why are you doing that?” Law looked at Shanks when Shamrock didn’t respond, panicked, “Why is he doing that?”

“I think...” Shanks started, concern written on his face, as he stepped forward slowly, like he was approaching an easily spooked animal “I think it’s all he knows.”

Shamrock looked up, his eyes flashing in annoyance.

“You should show our soulmate more respect.”

“Don’t tell him what to do.” Law snapped, the same type of thing he usually said when someone got bossy with either of them (Usually, it was Luffy).

Surprisingly, though, Shamrock nodded, bowing his head quickly.

“Of course, My Liege.”

Law cringed and backed up a step. He had not meant for that to be an order, hadn’t expected Shamrock to defer to him so easily.

Shanks didn’t say anything, just frowned down at the still kneeling form of his twin brother. Gods, this was a mess. Law knew that twins shared a soulmate, knew there were many ways to make something like this work, but that was without all the crazy shit the three of them had been through. Shanks had talked about his brother before, the kind of man that he was, and Law had always felt a sort of pity for him. He’d never had a chance to be normal. None of them had, but that didn’t mean he was someone Law could just easily trust.

“You don’t…” Law cleared his throat before continuing, “You don’t have to do that. You’re… safe. Now.”

The words sounded unconvincing, even to Law’s own ears and Shamrock looked up at him, confused for a moment, a tightness around his eyes. He looked like someone who was desperately trying to hold themselves together. Law was very familiar with that feeling.

“I don’t need to be safe. I need to be useful.” He said, his voice steady despite the shake Law could see in his hands before he clenched them at his sides. “I need to be yours.”

Oh. That was so broken and Law didn’t even know where to begin to fix it. He looked desperately at Shanks, knowing his heartbroken expression was mirrored on his own face. Shanks took a breath and moved to Law’s side, still looking at Shamrock.

“Law, don’t you think Shamrock looks a little tired?” He looked at Law pointedly, “Like he needs to rest before we figure the rest of this out?”

“I assure you, I can accomplish whatever you ask of me.” Shamrock swore, still kneeling.

But Law could see what Shanks was saying and had already noticed how Shamrock seemed to be hanging by a thread.

“Yeah.” Law said, voice hoarse, “Shanks is right. You should… you should rest for a bit.”

Before he even finished speaking, Shamrock’s eyes fluttered shut and he slumped forward. Law and Shanks reacted almost as one, stopping him from landing face first on the ground. He really hadn’t expected that reaction. How much influence did Law have over this man? Without a word, Law summoned a room and Shanks didn’t even want to know how much he taxed himself teleporting them as close as he could to the Red Force. Between the two of them, they easily carried him aboard, settling him onto Shanks’ bed.

Law looked down at the prone figure on the bed for a long moment before he felt Shanks pull him in, wrapping his arm around Law’s waist and placing a kiss to his temple.

“Thank you, for picking up on that.” Shanks murmured into his skin. “I could tell he wasn’t doing well. He just needed the nudge.”

“I don’t want to be just another person giving him orders.” Law confessed, leaning heavily against Shanks’ side. He wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to stay awake himself.

“Give it time.” Shanks reassured, “His bond with Imu was as deep as you could get. I’m sure it feels like half his soul was torn out and then replaced with something better.”

“And you?” Law asked, tilting his head at Shanks in curiosity.

“Just a quarter of my soul.” Shanks responded, and craned his head down for a kiss.

“What the hell do we do now?” Law said, pulling away.

“What do you mean ‘we’?” Shanks said with a teasing grin, “He’s your soulmate, not mine.”

Law glared at him, unimpressed, which just made Shanks laugh before kissing him softly.

“Pretty sure we can do anything we want now.”

--

Epilogue

It had been one hell of a year. All over the world, Pirates were celebrating their hard won freedom, and things were no different in the All Blue. Shanks didn’t find himself there as much as he wanted, but he could admit that Black Leg’s restaurant was one of a kind.

He took another swig from his sake (brought as a gift from Wano) and leaned back against the bar, looking around the room.

Luffy was in the middle of the improvised dance floor, swinging his soulmate around, both of them laughing. Law had been so worried that he’d left Koby behind in order to get to his soulmates, concerned that he’d let Luffy down. Koby had been fine, though, and Luffy had been extremely grateful that Law had been the one to make sure Koby was safe when Imu had possessed him. Shanks watched them tumble over, bouncing softly as they landed. He still wasn’t sure how Luffy could use his awakened powers outside of his transformation, but Shanks had learned to stop questioning him years ago.

Kuma’s daughter darted across the room, tugging the girl from Wano along with her. She’d been so excited to finally meet her soulmate the day before, and it warmed Shanks’ heart to see them giggling and teasing Luffy together.

He continued taking stock of everyone at the party, noting who was there and who wasn’t. It was hard, sometimes, to let go of the instincts that had kept him safe for so long. His eyes were, of course, drawn to Law, who was flipping off Eustass Kidd, saying something to him before turning sharply and making his way over to Shanks. He stood next to him, facing the bar and waving the bartender over and ordering himself a drink.

Like clockwork, Shanks could sense Shamrock pulling away from his corner, no doubt having been doing the exact same thing Shanks had been.

“You’re doing it again.” Law said, turning to look at Shanks, “Both of you.”

“You know what they say about old habits.” Shanks said with a grin.

Shamrock reached them then, sidling up behind Law and wrapping his arms around his waist. Law relaxed back against him with a pleased hum.

“Having a good night, my Liege?” Shamrock said and it was a testament to how far they’d come that the words came out teasing, a clear joke–clear to Shanks and Law at least. What had started as an almost compulsive honorific had become a term of endearment that Law had been bashful to admit he kind of liked.

“I would if you two would stop hovering from a distance.” Law said with a roll of his eyes and tilted his head back enough so Shamrock could lean down and give him a quick kiss. Shanks leaned in immediately after, just as Law was looking to him for a kiss as well.

Things weren’t perfect Shamrock still had a hard time feeling like he needed to be useful, to have a purpose that revolved around their soulmate. He was still working through the lingering loyalty to Imu mixed with the betrayal at realizing Imu had ultimately kept him from his soulmate. Shanks, as well, was still working on forgiving his brother, and on forgiving himself for not being able to stop what happened to him. It was good, though, the three of them together, nice.

The bartender set Law’s drink down and he took it, sipping it before turning in Shamrock’s arms, taking another swig as he looked up at him.

“You feel like dancing?” Law asked, still so careful with his words to not issue an order or imply that he wanted Shamrock to behave in a certain way.

Shamrock frowned and looked out at the dancefloor filled with all types, moving freely to the beat.

“I don’t think I know how to dance like that.”

Shanks took pity on him, gulping down the rest of his drink before placing the glass on the counter so he could clap Shamrock on the shoulder.

“I know exactly what kind of dancing you can do. Come on, let’s give our soulmate a show.”

A few whispered words to Brook and the raucous music faded into a lively waltz. Shamrock still looked a little unsure as Shanks led him into the middle of the dance floor, but Shanks held out his hand.

“You’re gonna have to take the lead.” Shanks said, nodding down to his missing arm.

Shamrock’s lips ticked up before pulling Shanks in and Shanks counted it as a win that he’d made his brother smile.

It had been awhile since Shanks had danced so formally, but the two of them moved together like they did when fighting, like they could read each other’s minds. It was honestly fun, especially with the glimpses they got of Law watching them with heated eyes.

It was going to be a great night.