'We can 't go today. ' Luffy said, gaze harsh and leaving no room for arguments.

It was rare for their little brother to get this serious, to the point where it was something like trying to move a rock with only a stick ' something very difficult to do without the stick breaking. Normally, when their brother got like this, Sabo and Ace would listen and bend to his whim ' but not because they weren 't afraid to go against what their brother said, but because he always seemed to know what was going to happen.

But today was the perfect day to pit-pocket some nobles and to dine and dash. That ramen place was just calling their names!

'Trust me. ' Luffy said, and that was when Sabo noticed the fear in his eyes.

'Luffy, why not? ' Sabo asked instead.

'Your dad. '

Two words, just two, and Sabo felt dread flood his system. How Luffy even knew who his dad was in the first place 'Sabo had no idea it could have happened. He had been careful in keeping his heritage from his brothers because he was scared.

'Eh, Sabo you know your dad? ' Ace asked, suspicion in his gaze.

'Yeah, ' Sabo bowed his head, no reason to lie if Luffy already knew, 'I 'm sorry, I lied about being an orphan. '

'Why the hell did you even lie? ' Ace frowned, but he just looked curious, not angry.

'I was born

noble

, ' Sabo spat the word out, 'But I hate it. So I ran away! '

'Okay, ' Ace shrugged, 'So we stay away from High Town today, whatever. Let 's just go get some breakfast. '

'I want alligator! ' Luffy cheered, and Sabo felt light at the way Ace turned with a smile on his lips ' always one to hide his affection.

'Wait for me! '

? '------ {. ' '? ' '.} '------ '?

The changes in Luffy were subtle, but the brothers noticed it. Months ago, Luffy woke up one day, and just changed. He was still Luffy, no doubt about that, but he was different ' hardened in a way no child should be, not even them.

He had this presence about him that was different from the crybaby Luffy who couldn 't throw a punch without either tripping over himself or punching himself in the face. Two weeks after this subtle change happened, Luffy 's aim and ability to use his Devil Fruit 's power was practically perfect. He could throw punches with ease, even turned his leg into a whip!

It was easy to role with because this was Luffy they 're talking about! But one day he just 'disappeared. A note was left on his pillow, telling them he 'd be back in colorful crayon that Sabo wasn 't even sure where Luffy found. They had waited patiently for their brother to return (not really, Ace ran himself up the wall in silent worry and Sabo tried to keep his mind off of it by chattering to himself after Luffy was gone for an hour) but they had ended up running to Dadan when Luffy didn 't come home that night.

Five days later, Luffy came back with a cheerful smile, a giant and a kid trailing after him.

'This is Cora-san and Torao! ' Luffy had introduced them cheerfully, waving his hands at them to emphasize who was who, but the brothers hadn 't cared.

'Luffy! ' Ace and Sabo grabbed their younger brother and tugged him close.

'Where the hell did you run off to!? ' Ace yelled, hitting Luffy over the head.

'We were so worried! ' Sabo added.

'I wasn 't worried! ' Ace sputtered, face red as he realized he was hugging his brothers.

'Shishishi! Sorry! ' Luffy smiled sheepishly, 'They were in trouble. '

'How 'd you even know that? ' Ace asked, almost a sneer, 'Better yet, how did you even help them if they were in trouble. That guy 's huge! '

Luffy blinked at them, 'Size doesn 't have anything to do with strength, Ace. ' He said helpfully. 'Anyways! They 'll be living with us from now on! '

Dadan blinked. Once, twice, thrice, 'NO WAY! You three brats are enough! '

'Torao 's a doctor! ' Luffy said, like that helped any.

'We don 't want to intrude! ' The giant, Cora-san, said nervously, waving his hands.

'It 's not a problem! ' Luffy said, beaming. 'Torao is Nakama, and you 're Torao 's treasure, so you 're Nakama too. I protect my Nakama. '

Sabo 's breath held as he watched his brother. Again, he was seeing someone else, someone who 's older and wiser and has been through more than one could imagine. He blinked, and his baby brother was looking at him, brown eyes wide and curious.

'Torao is my responsibility. ' He said, firm.

'Okay, Luffy. ' Sabo gave in, 'As long as he can hunt, I don 't have a problem. '

'Like hell! ' Ace yelled, glaring, 'He has to know how to rob people too! '

'Oh and cook! ' Luffy added even though he was the one wanting the kid and his dad to stay.

Judging by the kid 's deadpan, he noticed that too.

'Wait! ' Luffy said suddenly, knocking his fist into his palm, 'I forgot, I need a Den-Den! Makino! '

And then he was running off, leaving his brothers to rush after him in a hurry. Judging by Dadan 's long-suffering sigh and her yell of the two needing to carry their weight, the two strangers Luffy dragged home were here to stay.

? '------ {. ' '? ' '.} '------ '?

When Shanks ' Den-Den Mushi started to ring, he had been a little buzzed. As the crew 's party to celebrate Shanks being officially labeled as a Yonko just started, the drinks were quick to come and be emptied. He watched as Benn answered the snail, his expression morphing to one of confusion, then worry before he waved Shanks over.

'Who is it? ' Shanks asked, grinning as he was handed the receiver.

'SHANKS! ' Luffy 's distinct voice yelled over the snail and Shanks paused, terror gripping at his veins.

Luffy wouldn 't call unless he was in some real danger, he knew.

'Anchor, what 's wrong? ' He asked in a rush.

'Shanks, you 'll never believe it! ' Luffy said, the snail copying the child 's grim expression.

'Hit me, Anchor. ' Shanks ' grip on the receiver tightened with his worry. Luffy should smile, not frown.

'I time traveled. ' The kid said, completely serious.

'What? ' Shanks asked flatly.

'Yeah, I was being executed and then, boom, I was a kid again! ' Luffy said, wonder in his voice.

'Executed? '

Shanks choked. 'What, why!? '

'Shishishi! I went to Laughing Tale, found the One Piece, found out what happened during the Void Century, and I became the King of the Pirates, but then the government was on my tale way more than it was before, so my crew was getting hounded like a bunch! ' Luffy started to ramble, 'And they ended up 'well, my crew, they ' ' there was a pause, and a deep breath, 'I let myself get caught because everyone was 'gone 'so I was getting executed. And then I woke up with my brothers and I 'm so small! '

Shanks tried to understand the word vomit.

Okay. So.

Anchor knew some things that only those (but not necessarily limited to) on Roger 's ship should know. Laughing Tale was a huge part of that.

But, holy shit, Luffy actually did it.

'Okay, ' Shanks swallowed, 'And you called me because '? '

He was still processing, don 't judge.

'I need a favor. ' Luffy said.

'Okay ' ' Shanks mumbled, because holy fuck, Luffy was King of the Pirates! He was also executed, fucking hell, 'What can I do, little dude? How old are you anyways?! '

'I was twenty, but I 'm seven right now! ' Luffy said cheerfully. (So fucking young, Shanks won 't even think into that.) 'I wanted to know if this really is real. '

Shanks heart cracked at the broken tone his little Anchor adapted.

'I can 't say for sure, obviously, but this is as real as it 's gonna get, Anchor. ' Shanks said softly.

'Okay 'Great! ' Luffy chirped, 'Shanks, you 're a Yonko now, right? You probably can 't leave the New World a lot, but just so you know, I 'm the Pirate King! You don 't need to stay away anymore! '

Shanks ' heart warmed, 'I 'll visit soon, Anchor. ' He promised.

'Yay! '

After the call ended, Shanks turned the curious crew gazing at him, and grinned.

'Let 's party twice as hard! Luffy 's promise was fulfilled! '

Loud cheers sounded over the deck, and tankards of alcohol rose.