Chapter Text
Shanks leaned back in the armchair of his hotel suite, staring out at the London skyline.
He had to admit, the author of this story clearly had no idea how a First Officer’s schedule actually worked. However, since the rules of reality were being treated as mere suggestions, he was currently enjoying the perks of a very convenient landing at Heathrow.
After touching down on that Tuesday, his duties had been a whirlwind of post-flight checklists: securing the flight deck, completing the technical log and conducting the exterior walk-around to check for any bird strikes or airframe damage. Most of the time, a crew might turn around quickly, but Heathrow was a major hub with strict slot restrictions. Because their aircraft was scheduled for a 48-hour maintenance check in the hangar and the crew had exceeded their legal flying hours for the week, Shanks was officially on a mandatory rest period. He was stuck in London for at least three days, which was exactly the kind of bureaucratic luck he needed to track down a certain blue-haired chef.
Actually, who was he kidding?
There was no need for any dramatic tracking or high-stakes detective work. Shanks had managed to snag Buggy’s hotel address and phone number before they had even cleared customs. Even better—or perhaps more terrifyingly—he was currently babysitting Luffy.
He was already at the co-parenting stage. Could you actually believe that?
The jump in the relationship timeline was enough to give even a seasoned pilot whiplash.
Shanks noticed a rustle from the bedroom and watched as Luffy finally stirred from his nap. He stood up and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed as the boy sat up. Luffy looked ridiculously small and soft, his chubby cheeks flushed from sleep as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands. He was dressed in a pastel blue sailor outfit that made him look far more innocent than he actually was.
Shanks reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from the boy’s forehead. “Have a nice nap, Anchor?”
Luffy didn’t answer with words, but he crawled into Shanks’s lap, leaning his sleepy head against Shanks’ chest.
“I am hungry,” Luffy mumbled.
Shanks let out a chuckle as he wrapped his arms around the boy.
“Of course you are. Why am I not surprised that those are the first words out of your mouth?” He stood up, hoisting Luffy onto his hip, and carried him into the living area. The fridge was stocked by Buggy, and there were several neatly labelled containers of food that the chef had packed earlier.
As Shanks settled him down at the table, Luffy gave a tiny, sleepy giggle. “Buggy said that even if I was reborn in this modern day, my stomach came with me from the old one.”
Shanks started pulling out the boxes, reading Buggy’s precise instructions on what to reheat and when. “I can certainly see that,” he remarked, eyeing the sheer volume of food meant for one small child. “Your appetite is truly a force of nature.”
He pulled out a stack of containers, spotting one labelled ‘Mid-morning Snacks’. Taped to the lid was a small, neon-yellow post-it notes in sharp, elegant handwriting: ‘There is enough for you too. Try not to burn the hotel down.’ Oh… Shanks certainly felt like he was well and smitten.
The hotel apartment, provided by the airline, was sleek and modern, equipped with a high-end induction hob that Shanks navigated with practiced ease. As the smell of braised pork and rice began to fill the air, Luffy scrambled up to stand on his chair, balancing with confidence.
“I am a D, you know,” Luffy announced. “In the old world, it meant we were the natural enemies of God!”
Shanks chuckled, leaning against the counter while the microwave was on. “Is that so? But in this world, the ‘D’ is just a rare middle initial—ancient origins, very prestigious. And not everyone can just claim to be a D.”
Luffy giggled. “Everyone can be one! I already gave Sabo a D. His name is now Sabo D. Pipe-Smasher!” He paused. “Sabo is my brother. Ace’s brother too. The three of us drank sake and became brothers forever.”
Shanks froze for a second, the name Sabo ringing a distant, hazy bell in the back of his mind. He shook it off and focused on the task at hand. He moved to the table, but before he set the plate down, he grabbed a clean tea towel to use as a makeshift bib. “Right then, let’s protect the finery. That’s a very posh sailor suit and I’m not having you ruin it on my watch.”
Luffy pouted as Shanks tucked the cloth into his collar. “I’m not a baby! I’ll be careful because Buggy bought this for my birthday. I know it was expensive.”
“You can never be careful enough—Pilot’s motto,” Shanks teased. Then, it clicked. “Wait, Sabo! He’s Ace’s best friend! Good grief, it really is a full house. It’s like everyone you and Buggy knew from that pirate life is popping up here. Funny thing is, piracy isn’t even part of the Thai culture, yet everyone seems to be around.”
Luffy started stuffing his mouth with a piece of meat, though he was uncharacteristically careful not to let a single drop of sauce fall. He looked up, his eyes wide. “Sabo is here?! I looked for him in the bins and the dumpsters where Buggy found me, but I couldn’t find him. I’m glad he’s with Ace.”
Shanks sat beside him, napkin at the ready. He reached out to wipe a stray bit of sauce from the corner of Luffy’s mouth. “Chew and swallow before you speak, Anchor. You might have been made of rubber in a past life, but you’re a normal kid now. If you choke, we’re both in trouble.”
Luffy gave a non-committal hum, but he did as he was told, chewing his food with uncharacteristic focus. Once his mouth was finally empty, he gulped down half a glass of water and let out a satisfied “Ahh!” Then: “Buggy’s cooking is the absolute best,” he said firmly.
“Better than your friend Sanji’s?” Shanks asked with a smirk. He had spent the last hour learning every detail about the Straw Hat crew—from the swordsman who got lost to the reindeer doctor. Luffy had a knack for surrounding himself with the most interesting people in any lifetime.
Luffy looked absolutely scandalised. “Shanks! You can’t ask that! Buggy’s food is the best ever. But Sanji’s food is also the best ever. They don’t fight, they just... are both the best!”
Shanks laughed, leaning his chin on his hand as he watched the boy. It was incredible, really. Luffy had just eaten a meal large enough to sustain a grown man, and yet they were supposed to meet Buggy for lunch in a mere two hours. The boy’s stomach was a literal black hole. He took a quick photo of the scene—the remains of the feast and Luffy’s messy hair visible from behind—to brag about his newfound domestic skills.
A notification popped up immediately.
Beckman : Whose child is that?
Beckman : Tell me you didn’t just pick up a stray at the airport. Turn yourself in, it’ll be easier for everyone.
Shanks typed back furiously, a grin on his face.
Shanks : Why does everyone think I’m a criminal?! First Roger, now you. I am a responsible adult!
Shanks : AND I AM BABYSITTING! His guardian willingly left him in my care! I am a trusted member of society!
Beckman : A ‘friend’? Or a victim? Look at the amount of food on that table. You’re definitely going the Hansel and Gretel route. Are you fattening the poor lad up for a roast?
Shanks : IT’S JUST SNACK!
Shanks : And he was already like this!
Beckman : I’m doing a mental roll call. Yasopp is the only one with a child. Lucky Roux wouldn’t trust you with a sandwich, let alone a human being. This story doesn’t add up.
Before Shanks could defend his honour, a message from Yasopp chimed in.
Yasopp : Huge news! Welcome to the fatherhood club, man. About time you settled down.
Shanks : He is not my son. Please stop.
Yasopp : Don’t lie to me. Word at Suvarnabhumi is that you’ve got a little apprentice.
Yasopp : Someone said you even brought him on the plane with you. Bold move for a first trip.
Shanks : He was a lost child! I was being a responsible member of the flight crew.
Shanks : And I didn’t ‘pick him up’, I escorted him!
Yasopp : Whatever you say, Dad. What’s the lad’s name? Banchina is already picking out wool to knit him a jumper. She wants him and Usopp to look like twins.
Shanks : HIS NAME IS LUFFY. And he has a dad already!
Yasopp : Oh! You’re seeing someone with a kid? That’s serious! I’ve got to tell the others.
Shanks : Yasopp, wait.
Shanks : Hello?
He growled, burying his face in his hands. “I’m surrounded by morons. Absolute lunatics.”
“Is it your crew?” Luffy asked, tilting his head curiously.
Shanks looked over at him. “My crew?”
“Yeah! The Red Hair Pirates!” Luffy beamed. “Beckman was the smartest, and Yasopp never missed a shot. You were all so cool and stayed together on one big ship.”
Shanks leaned in, genuinely stunned. “That is fascinating, Anchor. Because those are my friends. Some from school, some from university... we have always been close, even if our lives are completely different now. I suppose some things really do never change.”
Luffy’s face beamed with pure joy. “I’m so happy I found everyone! Back home, I already found Woop Slap and Makino because they live in my neighbourhood. Makino owns a café now and her croissants are the absolute best in the world! Woop Slap is retired, and he has so many dogs now.” He swung his legs happily. “They don’t remember the old times either, but that’s okay. They love me just as much now.”
Shanks began gathering the empty containers. “That’s brilliant, Anchor. I’m happy for you—and for me, too. I’m glad you found me.” He paused, looking at the boy with a soft, sincere expression. “I’m sorry I don’t have those memories yet, but look at it this way: we get to start from zero. And I can tell you now, I already love having you around.”
Luffy scrambled off his chair and threw his arms around Shanks’s leg, squeezing tight. “I know! Buggy told me about past life connections. He said even if the brain forgets, the heart stays sticky. Our bond runs really deep, so it’s okay if you’re a bit slow to remember.”
Shanks laughed, hoisting the boy up into his arms. Luffy settled against his shoulder, looking thoughtful. “Anyway, it’s like the saying. Gravy is thicker than water!”
Shanks snorted. “The phrase is ‘the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb’, though knowing you, your version makes a lot more sense.” He gave Luffy a squeeze before heading towards the hallway. “Right, let’s get you to the bathroom. We need to freshen up and brush those teeth. We have to look our best when we go to meet your dad.”
Luffy shook his head, his dark curls bouncing against Shanks’s shoulder. “Buggy always says he is not my dad,” he explained, though his tone was fond rather than sad. “In the old life, he was just stupid and funny—we fought a lot! But in this life, he is a very good guy. He found me when I was just a tiny baby in a bin. I remember it, and Buggy does too. He took care of me when he had nothing.”
Shanks adjusted his hold on the boy as he nudged the bathroom door open with his foot. “It doesn’t really matter what he says, Anchor. He told me he adopted you, so legally and practically, he is your dad.”
Luffy hopped down onto the bathroom stool and accepted the toothbrush Shanks held out. “I know, right?” he agreed, his voice muffled as he shoved the brush into his mouth. He began to scrub vigorously, speaking through the foam. “But Buggy thinks it would be weird if I called him ‘Dad’ all the time because he says he is too young and too handsome to be a father. He also thinks my real family must be somewhere out there... alive or something.”
Shanks leaned against the doorframe, watching the boy. “Do you know who your parents are?”
Luffy spat into the sink and looked up, his chin covered in bubbles. “Nuh-huh. I don’t know about a mother. But my dad from the pirate life... I knew him. Buggy said if he was such an ‘important main character’ back then, then in this modern day, he must still be around somewhere.”
After rinsing his mouth, Luffy let Shanks wipe his face with a warm flannel. “Do you think Buggy refuses the title because he feels like he’s a placeholder for your other dad?” Shanks asked.
Luffy shrugged, leaning into the touch. “I don’t think so. In the past life, my dad didn’t raise me anyway, so it didn’t matter. Buggy knows that. Besides, sometimes Buggy lets me call him ‘Dad’ when we are at the doctor’s or when he wants to act like a ‘responsible adult’ in front of strangers.”
Shanks hummed, registering that bit of information for later.
“Right then. We are ready. Let us go and meet him.” He let out a long, weary sigh as they headed for the front door, mumbling to himself, “I can’t believe you just ate a literal feast and now we’re going to see Buggy for more food. Eat again? Is this entire story just about your stomach?”
Luffy giggled, swinging his legs as Shanks knelt on the floor to help him into his tiny trainers. “You know, Shanks,” Luffy began, “in the other life, people used to say you and I were the ones who were like father and son.”
Shanks perked up, his hands pausing on the Velcro straps. “Really?”
Luffy nodded with a wide, toothy grin. “Yeah! I told you, remember? You lost your arm for me and let me borrow your straw hat. You were the one who inspired me to be a pirate—no, the Pirate King! The freest person in the world.”
Shanks didn’t say anything, but he felt a strange, inexplicable warmth bloom in his chest. But then, a thought flickered. He remembered the look on Buggy’s face back on the plane—the sharp glint in his eyes, the prickliness that felt like more than just annoyance. Maybe it wasn’t Luffy’s biological father Buggy was worried about. It was him. Buggy knew that in another world, Shanks was the one Luffy looked up to most.
Was he afraid of being replaced?
“Shanks?” Luffy asked, tilting his head. “Do you need to go poop? You have a funny face.”
Shanks snapped back to the present, laughing as he stood up and scooped Luffy into his arms. He forced his own feet into his loafers without untying them. “My bladder and everything else are perfectly fine, thank you, Anchor. Already seen to.” Luffy giggled, and the sound felt like it was tickling the very edges of Shanks’s dormant memories. He loved it.
“Hey, let’s take a selfie,” Shanks suggested, pulling out his phone. “I need to show my crew that I’m surviving my first mission.” He held the phone up, Luffy’s chubby cheek pressed against his as they both beamed at the camera. With one hand, Shanks tapped out a message to his group chat, attaching the photo.
Caption: [I’ve accepted my fate as Papa. (Dad was already taken).]