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Shamrock wouldn't normally bother with a place like this.
The island is small, unimportant. The tiny village along the shore isn't even the true, proper city of this nothing island. Shamrock doubts it even has a real name. The ground he walks on is worth nothing and every moment makes him long more for the familiar, polished streets of Mariejois. The fact that he had to come here is insulting.
Unfortunately not an insult he'll be able to pay back until he has found his brother. Found him and made him see sense, made him understand that whatever fool notion that brought him back to the Lower World should be forgotten.
Shanks does not belong in a place like this, not any more than Shamrock himself.
Shamrock will show him that. He will bring his brother back home, where he belongs. Nothing irreversible has happened yet, nothing unforgivable. A few marines vessels? Shanks has every right to destroy them on a whim, should he so wish.
As Shamrock will make sure he knows. Shanks has to understand that nothing has to change, that one lapse into old habits does not make him any less a Figarland, Shamrock's other half.
His Observation does not immediately reveal Shanks in the village, but Shamrock is undeterred as he walks down what can barely be called streets. He won't be leaving empty-handed.
The bar he enters is far below the standards of anywhere his brother should be visiting, of course. Wood, and basic. Nothing like the lounges he showed Shanks, when he would relax enough for Shamrock to take him places. How low his brother had fallen.
"Shanks?" A woman turns around at the bar, catching sight of Shamrock. Not showing anything near the proper respect, a fact that has Shamrock frowning. "Back so soon?"
At least she does obviously know his brother, if not anything else.
"No." His answer is sharp. Shamrock does not want to be dealing with things this way. A common human doesn't deserve to talk to him. But as Shanks is not here right now, Shamrock will have to. He needs information. About where Shanks might be now, what he has been doing.
If he's alright, in the Lower World all by himself.
"You aren't Shanks." The woman's words are sure. At least she has realized one of her mistakes, even if she still isn't showing the proper amount of respect.
It is easier to get what you want from someone that is cooperating, Shamrock reminds himself, as he enters further into the hovel.
"No, I am most certainly not." His arms fold across his chest. Shamrock doesn't want to touch anything in this place, even on accident. "He is my younger brother. Where is he?"
That is all that matters.
"Not here." She places a cup on the counter. "Shanks is a drifter, you know?"
"When will he be back?" Her words say that Shanjs returns often enough that she has grown to expect him. Shamrock doesn't know why that would be the case, but he will take advantage of it.
"He's also a pirate." Her voice is light, as if that isn't a crime and an insult and a thoroughly unnecessary thing for his brother to be. "Not the bad kind, but Shanks doesn't exactly stick to a schedule."
"But he keeps coming back." The words are forced out through gritted teeth. Shamrock does not understand. "He keeps returning here, to this place."
He won't even return home, yet he has come to this nothing island more than once. It does not make sense.
"Why does he keep coming here?"
"Well, Shanks likes Foosha." Shamrock, not expecting an answer interrupting him when he wasn't actually asking a question, turns a glare on the woman. Who, unfortunately, doesn't look properly cowed in any way. "Or at least he likes my bar well enough."
"If he wants to drink, he has better options."
"Well, clearly he doesn’t want those." If Shamrock had heard a single note of smugness in her tone, he would have struck her down on the spot. There would be other leads to find his brother.
However, her tone is simple. Not as respectful as it should be, but also not insulting. So he stays his sword.
"What are you talking about? Nothing here is of the standard he could, and should, be enjoying." Shamrock lets the scorn in his voice speak for itself as he glances around. Wood and worn, nothing of any true value.
The woman smiles, quite unlike any that Shamrock has seen before. He doesn't know quite how to describe it, what emotion she could be feeling. The closest look he has seen is on Gunko, at a rare party where she approves of the music. Or perhaps Sommers.
But it is still different.
"Cost and value aren't everything, you know. Sometimes it's the simple things that matter most. And what I have here isn't fancy, but I'd like to think it's good."
"Good is not nearly enough." Those of holy blood deserve to have only the best.
"Well, why don't you try it and see for yourself then." A glass is put on the bar, one that is quickly filled. Shamrock can't believe– "I'll even put it on Shanks' tab for you."
The last is said in a way that makes is sound almost like she's laughing, despite the fact that Shamrock has no idea what she means.
"Tab? What is that?"
"It means he promises to pay me later. His crew is quite fond of a party you know. They rarely have the berri to pay for it all." She giggles some, as Shamrock tries to wrap his head around the idea. "I know they'll pay eventually though."
Money is not quite a foreign concept, though the thought of ever not having enough of it is. Especially here, nothing in this place could possibly have that much value. Shanks just being here is an honor for this entire village.
But what kind of life is his brother living, to have this tab?
Absolutely ridiculous. And foolish of him.
But, as his older brother, Shamrock can easily take care of such a thing. With no hesitation, Shamrock pulls off one of the buttons of his jacket. The whole thing can just be thrown away later.
"Here." He drops the small diamond on the bar. "This should more than cover anything my brother wants to buy here."
The woman picks it up, looking at it for a second, before putting it back down. "Thank you, I'll be sure to let Shanks know his tab has been settled the next time he stops by."
"Do so." Shamrock orders with a nod. "And tell me everything you have learned about my brother when he visits "
Shamrock does not touch the drink. There's no need for him to ever bother with something like that.
Instead, he just listens as the woman describes a man entirely unlike the Shanks that Shamrock had grown to know. One that jokes and laughs, fits in with this place.
Somehow, despite knowing Shanks is doing well in some ways, this does nothing to comfort Shamrock.
~
"I know it's not all that we owe you, but–" Shanks slaps the bag of berri down on the counter. Really not a lot to show, all things considered, but Shanks had never thought about how the East Blue just didn't have that much. The Grand Line is full of treasure and rivals to fight for it.
Here? Well, just keeping the ship supplied can be hard enough. At least without being the kind of pirate that Shanks decided not to be years ago.
Still, he will pay Makino back later. Get something worth selling or something.
"Oh, don't worry about it!" She's far too kind as she waves a hand at Shanks. Shanks just watches her smile for a moment.
Before realizing that he needs to say something. "Really, Makino. I'm not going to stiff you, I promise."
"You can't." She puts a new cup, filled to the rim, down in front of him. "Your tab has been paid and then some."
What?
~
"You missed him by about two weeks." Makino doesn't bother with a greeting. This might only be her third time meeting Shamrock, but she knows that he doesn't care. He's only here to find out about Shanks.
Hmm. Maybe next time, Makino will see if she can convince her favorite pirate to stick around a bit longer. Just to give Shamrock a better chance.
Because the way his face falls, lips twitching down into something that is almost a pout before he catches himself, makes it clear just how disappointed he is. And while Makino isn't normally one to get in the middle of family matters, it's clear that they could use a bit of help.
And really, a little bit of help is the least Makino can do for such good customers.
(Even if Shamrock turns his nose up at everything Makino offers him. Eventually she'll get him to try something, she's sure of it. There's a good heart in there, hidden beneath all of his lace.)
"Did he say where he was headed?" Makino doesn't know who he thinks he has to pretend for, trying to sound detached. Certainly not her, she knows how desperate he is. And she doesn't get the feeling he's the type to care much about what she thinks of him.
Maybe he's pretending for himself. She's met a few men like that. And he seems like he might be. Probably lives up in High Town.
"No, he never does." Shanks isn't really the type to explain much. He comes to town with stories that excite Luffy, and Makino some if she's being honest. Though she's more interested in the places he's been than the details of his adventures. "Mostly he's just another traveler that stops by, one that I'm always happy to see."
"Of course you are." He walks closer to the bar, and Makino considers telling him that he can remove his cloak. It's still summer, that many layers can't be comfortable.
But if he wanted to, he probably would have by now. Shamrock isn't shy.
So instead she puts a glass on the bar, filling it with one of the wine bottle from her shelves. Not something she serves often, but the diamond he gave her on his first visit more than covers it. "Just got this in from the West Blue."
"No. Why would I drink something so common?" He doesn't even look at it, the glass or the bottle. Posture still stiff and he is so different from Shanks, who Makino doesn't think she's ever seen stand so straight.
Shanks isn't shy, of course. Doesn't hunch over and make himself small, always fills the space around him effortlessly. Like him being at her bar is just natural, that there's nowhere else he should be and no one else that should be in the spot he fills.
Shamrock, on the other hand, doesn't belong here just as much as Shanks does.
Which just won't do. No if he's going to keep stopping by like this. Makino won't have a regular that isn't happy with her bar.
So she meets his disdain with a smile. Smiling tends to work well; at the very least it's hard to be upset with an honest smile. "Well I did get it just for you."
"Excuse me?" He might be frowning, but he sounds more confused than anything. Before he glares at her. "Explain."
"You're from the West Blue." Makino knows that for a fact. Doesn't know how Shanks and Shamrock ended up here, though maybe Shamrock ended up in Hightown for some reason. There's no way he'd be on any other part of Dawn, he'd stand out like a sore thumb. "Shanks has told me before. I thought you might like a little taste of home."
Makino knows that she would. Though she's not very likely to ever leave Dawn. The bar can't exactly run itself and she'd miss everyone. So she'll just be happy here.
It's not like it's hard, Foosha is a lovely place.
"Don't be ridiculous." Shamrock scoffs. "I might have been born there; it is not my home. That Shanks would claim it is ludicrous."
Oh. "That's unexpected."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, everyone in High Town always seems proud to be from there, at least from what I've heard." Makino doesn't exactly get people from there in her little bar. Well, other than Shamrock. But she's pretty sure that that's a good thing. Shamrock is rude and arrogant, but his obvious concern for his brother is kind of charming. And the way he just doesn't seem to know a lot of basic things. Last time he came, he'd asked her what her rubbing alcohol was for. "And I know I'm happy to be from Foosha."
"Really?"
"Of course!" Makino ignores his tone, instead just answering the question. Because it's such an easy thing to answer, Makino actually feels bad that he doesn't get it. "It's my home. Aside from everything else, I wouldn't be myself if I was from anywhere else."
"And you are happy with this?" Shamrock gestures around, at her bar, and Makino nods with no hesitation.
"If I wasn't, I'd be doing something else."
"Unbelievable." He turns, walking towards the door, only to pause right before he reaches it. "I'll be back in two weeks. If my brother arrives, try and make him wait."
Shamrock is out the door before Makino can respond, leaving her to just shake her head with a small laugh.
What a strange man.
~
"He never stays." The wood cracks slightly under his fist. It hardly matters, Shamrock can just have someone sent to fix it, but it's still annoying. One flaw in many, but this time Shamrock is the one to make it. "Why does he keep coming here if he never stays?"
"Why do you keep coming?" There is something too clear in her eyes as Shamrock looks up and meets them. And she shouldn't meet his eyes, it's an insult from someone of her station, but Shamrock finds himself being the one that looks away.
"To find my wayward brother, of course."
"Right." Silence hangs in the air for a moment. The weight in his jacket pocket seems too heavy, suddenly. "Well, I just don't think Shanks is the type to stay in one place. He's, well, Shanks."
"By which you mean my brother is a rogue and a scoundrel." Shamrock's voice is dry. The possibility had been exciting, when he first met him. A pirate turned brother. Then, of course, Shanks had disavowed that life and Shamrock had put the idea of it to rest.
Now, however, it's increasingly obvious that his brother is exactly those things, and a liar besides.
At least the description of Shanks makes her laugh, a pleasant enough sound as it rings through the air. Pure joy, simple. So different from the laughter that he's used to.
Is this why his brother always comes back here? For this?
Finally, the laughter stops and she shoots him a wide smile. Shamrock's own lips twitch up in response. He probably shouldn't, but he wants to. And there is no reason for Shamrock not to have something, even something base like this, if he wants it.
"Maybe. But at least he's the fun kind, who always comes in with stories of other places and a charming grin."
Fun and a charming grin. Very different than the brother Shamrock had known, during the short time he'd had his brother.
It isn't fair. Not that Shanks had done nothing but lie, every moment they were together. That he'd be happy here, with someone else, and deny Shamrock that same happiness.
If Shamrock wasn't somewhat fond of her himself, he'd cut her down now. Get rid of the jealousy in his chest, give Shanks some pain to repay all the hurt he's caused Shamrock.
But, after visiting half a dozen times, he finds that he doesn't want to. That just the thought is unpleasant.
"You know a very different version of my brother than the one I'm used to." Shamrock settles on saying.
"Really?" The way her head tilts to the side as she asks has a strange kind of charm to it. "What was Shanks like growing up?"
She leans forward in a way that Shamrock easily recognizes. She's looking for gossip.
Shamrock will have to disappoint her. While he has heard plenty about his brother, Shamrock will not repeat things that are likely to be false.
"I wouldn't know. Shanks was stolen as an infant. I didn't meet him until a few years ago." Shamrock's fists clenches in anger at the reminder. All that time lost, time where Shanks was obviously turned against them. If only the other Knights hadn't been such incompetents.
Shamrock would have been able to bring him home, had he been older. He's sure of it.
And then things would be as they should be, the two of them together, instead of like they are now. Shamrock wouldn't be missing his other half.
"What was he like when you met him, then?" The question, honest in its curiosity, refocuses Shamrock.
"Angry." It's the first word that comes to mind when he thinks of his brother. Shanks had been so resentful of his life. And it made sense, at the time, even if Shamrock wanted to help him. Shanks' life and birthright had been stolen from him. "And ambitious. Skilled."
Everything a Figarland should be. More than Shamrock had ever imagined his brother could be, back when having him by his side was Shamrock's greatest wish. The only desire he'd ever been denied.
"Huh. I don't think I've ever seen Shanks lose his temper." Lucky her. "But that reminds me. Let me see your hand."
"Why should I?" Shamrock replies immediately. "And what makes you think you have the right to command me?"
His visits have obviously left her feeling far too familiar with him, to presume such.
"You're the one who punched my bar, hard enough to damage it." Yes, and he'd been planning to have it repaired but if she's going to try and hold it over him the thought of it doesn't sting. It doesn't. then she'll have to make do with what he's already given her. A mere human cannot blackmail him. "You had to have gotten splinters. So let me see."
She holds her hand out, while her other puts a box on the table. Shamrock thinks it must be some sort of first aid kit, though he has little experience with such things.
And now she's gotten one out for him.
Of course. She doesn't know that he's a Knight, one of Lord Imu's chosen few. That the mere idea that splinters could even count as an annoyance to him is laughable. She only knows that what he did would injure a normal man.
And that made her worry. About him.
"That's not necessary." Shamrock says quickly, reaching his hand into his pocket to grab the book there. "I am fine. And I need to go, anyway. I can't waste the entire day on my disgrace of a brother."
Shamrock doesn't glance at the book as he puts it on the counter, before turning for the door. "I'll be back another time. Maybe then, you'll have information about Shanks for me."
"Shamrock–"
The door closing cuts off whatever she was about to say.
Good. He needs to return to Mariejois.
~
"I feel bad for her."
"I think that's rather the point." Shamrock raises a hand, gesturing. These talks are the most animated Makino ever sees him. "Her reputation is in tatters, her family in peril because of it. The Devil Fruit that she invested so much into acquiring has proved useless, and her enemies are only growing. But that's what makes the story interesting. If things were easy for Lucille, it wouldn't be a good story."
"Not that." Makino gives her head a shake, because she hadn't been talking about the plot of the book. At least not that part of the plot. "That's all hero things. I mean the love triangle."
Normally in books like these, it's obvious where the plot is going. And Makino could guess, but this is one of the few times where she honestly feels torn between the two love interests.
"Why? The obvious choice is Trenton." Makino waves a hand, asking Shamrock to continue, because it doesn't seem obvious to her at all. "He represents adventure. For all that Lucille is dedicated to her family, is doing her duty admirably, her eyes stray to the horizon. Her dreams are of places she's heard about but never been. Trenton is everything Lucille dreams of, the dashing rogue that cares enough to help her. Regardless of what is proper."
That's true, so Makino nods. Trenton is all of that, for Lucille. But..
"He also scares her, some. And Riven knows all the little things about her. Remember when he brought her the rose tea, with just the right about of sugar? And he actually listens to her, instead of just deciding things and running off." Those were very important things. Sure, Trenton might be the more exciting option. But Riven loves her in a way that shows he actually knows her.
That, the quiet moments together, seem to her like they easily matter as much as Trenton's dramatics.
"Hmm. I suppose we shall see. Though my prediction is that the end of this book will see Trenton whisking her away. Perhaps straight into a sequel." Makino's excitement at that idea must show, because Shamrock's eyes brighten for a moment. "I will, of course, bring a copy should that be the case."
"Thank you!" The books that show up in Foosha can be random, so Makino rarely gets to read a complete series.
"Of course. Our discussions are enjoyable and could hardly happen if you didn't have the books." It's odd how he always have to have an excuse for every nice thing he does. "Do you have anything to report?"
Makino knows he means about Shanks, but he hasn't stopped by since Shamrock's last visit. And Shamrock always seems so lonely.
So, she can share something else with him instead. "Hmm. Luffy lost one of his baby teeth."
"Your ward."
It's not quite a question, but Makino decides to explain anyway. She might have mentioned Luffy before, but Shamrock has never seemed all that interested. And she hasn't tried to introduce them, because Luffy has never been around when Shamrock has stopped by. Plus he seems like he could be a bit much for someone like Shamrock.
"Not officially or anything. He's just a lonely little boy, Garp is gone so often. And he's a good kid. It really isn't hard to feed him sometimes and give him someone to talk to."
"Hmm. Monkey D. Garp?"
"Yes." Makino tilts her head to the side slightly, not sure why Shamrock seems to have focused in on Garp. "Do you know Garp?"
Makino can't think of any reason why he would. She's pretty sure Garp spends most of his time on Dawn either in Foosha or up the mountain. She can't imagine Garp, loud and as unapologetically himself as he is, in Hightown.
"I have never had the displeasure of meeting the Vice Admiral in person." That's an unhappy expression for someone who has never even met Garp to be making. Or maybe it makes more sense that way. Garp does have his own charm, though she's not sure Shamrock would see it that way. "Do you recieve a stipend caring for this Luffy?"
Makino laughs.
"I don't need to get paid for that. Luffy’s a sweet boy." He might eat a lot for someone his size, but the local fishermen are always happy to bring in a few extra fish.
Shamrock just makes a humming noise.
He's obviously thinking about something, but Makino decides not to push. She's sure that whatever it is won't be too bad. Besides, there's something else that she wants to talk with him about.
"Why don't you ever sit down for these talks?" Because not once, no matter how much he's relaxed, has Shamrock ever done anything but stand at the bar. And he's in for at least a half hour almost every other week at this point.
He also hasn't ever accepted anything she's poured for him, but that's something Makino is sure she'll solve eventually.
She just needs to keep trying.
"Should I?" He raises an eyebrow as he asks, and Makino notices again the symmetry of his face. How perfect it looks. Shanks' scar is interesting and hides a story she's never asked about. Shamrock, though, looks like any prince out of a fairytale. Or princess, maybe, with his hair.
"Well, that's what the barstools are for." Makino answers with a grin.
"But I'm not a patron."
"No, though you always could be." Makino taps the rim of the wineglass she set out on the bar for him. "If you'd just tell me what vintage you want."
"You couldn't afford to stock what I drink." Makino can believe that, easily. Though she's sure she could find something that he would like if he would just be willing to try some of what she offered. "Would you be happier if I brought one of my own bottles and let you pour it?"
It's a joke. Makino can tell from the dry way he asks it, how the corners of his lips pull up.
Still, that does sound better, so she nods. "Yes, please."
Then she can also get a look at what he likes and see about getting something like it.
"Alright."
Makino ignores the hesitation before his answer. He agreed, which is all that really matters. And she knows Shamrock well enough by now to know that, like Shanks, she can trust him to do what he says he will.
"Great!" Makino claps her hands together. "Now have a seat."
He looks at her, and Makino can't tell what he's thinking. But slowly, Shamrock nods. "I will sit at a table, on my next visit. If you will join me."
~
"Thanks." Shanks sends his favorite bartender a grin as she slides him his third glass for the evening. Or maybe his fourth? Shanks isn't sure if he should count the one Luffy knocked out of his hand.
Either way, the rum is as good as always. Out of all the bars he's been to, this one is definitely his favorite.
(A fact that he's never going to let Shakky find out. She might get offended, at least enough to charge him more. Even worse, she might get curious.
Shanks doesn't want Shakky or Rayleigh poking around Dawn, even if that's a bit selfish of him. But this place has become somewhere that's just his, and Shanks isn't eager to share.
Plus, for a reason he can't quite pin down, the thought of Rayleigh meeting Makino is a nightmare.)
"Of course!" Unlike the other few times, Makino doesn't have to serve someone else as soon as he has his glass. All of Shanks' crew is settled and Beck is entertaining Luffy.
Which means that Shanks can ask a question that he's been wondering about since he came in. "What's with the new bar?"
Because Shanks knows the Party Bar by now. The smooth wood, showing age but also the shine of something well taken care of. Or at least it had, up until the last time he was here.
Now it's new. Polished, of course, Shanks can't imagine Makino not taking care of her place. But the wood itself has definitely been replaced.
And Shanks has no clue why Makino would do that.
"The last one got a bit damaged."
"Oh?" This is a bar, things get damaged when people get drunk.
"It was an accident; you know how tempers can flare up sometimes."
"Is someone giving you trouble?" His pleasant buzz vanishes at the thought. "If they are, I can take care of it."
It can't be anyone from Foosha. This is a quaint little village where people take care of each other. And Shanks knows appearances can be deceiving, but he's never seen a single hint of anything worrying here. Plus he can't think if a single reason anyone would have a problem with Makino.
But it's not like everyone on the island lives in Foosha. Shanks might have never visited Goa, but he knows that it exists. That it's larger. Someone could have come from there.
Hopefully not someone that would get the marines involved. Shanks would hate to have to stop visiting.
"Oh, nothing like that." Makino waves a hand. "And definitely nothing I can't handle."
""You sure?" It's not that he doesn't believe her. Makino never blinked, not the first time a bunch of pirates walked into her bar or any time after. But if she does need help, he wants to help her.
"Yep. Really, I think you trying to defend my honor would just make a mess of things." There's something she isn't saying, Shanks is suddenly sure of it. "Though if you really want to, you could join our little book club next week."
A book club? "No thanks, reading isn't exactly my thing. Though it must be some story, how a book club caused property damage."
One that Shanks wouldn't mind hearing.
"If you have to ask that, you've never met someone that really likes reading." Makino looks beautiful when she smiles like that. It's not a new realization, but Shanks enjoys it every time. "But the two things weren't related."
"But you like the person who ruined your bar enough to keep meeting them afterward?" Shanks can't help but probe.
"Yes. I enjoy him stopping by every couple weeks."
Makino sounds sure, so Shanks ignores the sour feeling in his stomach at the fondness in her voice. It's good to know that Makino has friends. Maybe even a nice old man who comes in with stories about his grandkids or something.
A nice old man that got mad enough to break a bar top.
"Well, I'm glad you aren't having problems then." His smile is a bit forced, but that isn't a big deal. "And your new bar is nice."
Not that Shanks really knows anything about wood, but it's smooth and polished and looks solid. Looks nice. Bit brighter than the rest of the room, maybe.
"Thank you." Shanks watches as she runs a hand over the surface of the bar. "I didn't pick it out or anything, but I think it's nice. I'll pass on your compliments!"
She didn't pick it out? That's weird. At least Shanks thinks it's probably weird, he doesn't know much about bars. Maybe the carpenter or whatever decides what's best. Shanks wouldn't tell a shipwright what to do if they were making him a ship.
"Sounds like everything turned out fine then." Shanks takes a drink, so that he doesn't ask anymore questions. It's not really any of his business what Makino does, even if he'd like to think that they're friends. He shouldn't be interrogating her.
Maybe he'll ask Luffy about this bookclub later though. Just to satisfy his curiosity.
"You know, you've been coming by for a while now." All planning stops as Makino talks to him. And it wasn't really a question, but Shanks nods anyway. "But I realized that, while you tell a lot of stories, I don't really know much about you."
"Sure you do." Shanks can't stand the thought of Makino thinking of him as a stranger. "You've seen me drunk and partying and all that. And I'm an honest sort of guy. What you see is what you get."
Sure, she's never seen him fight. Or really seen him serious. But Shanks doesn't really want her to see that side of him. She's too good a person for that.
"Still. I don't know much about you." Shanks can't look away as her head tilts slightly to the side. "What's your family like?"
"My crew is my family." It's that simple.
"Your entire family?" Shanks doesn't know where this is coming from. But he can't not tell her something.
"Well, I do have a brother. I haven't seen him for a few years though. We got into a big fight. And boy is he good at holding grudges." Seas, they were both still kids the last time he saw Buggy. "He's not a bad guy though. Better than most people realize."
"It sounds like you miss him."
"I do, a bit. But we have different goals. I'll live my life and he has to live his." Shanks takes a big drink. And decides that he needs to change the subject. "By the way, I have something for you."
~
"That is new." Shamrock can't help but frown slightly as he looks at the necklace around Makino's neck. The green stone in the pendant matches her hair perfectly.
Still. He decides to replace it with something better. He's sure he could find something else of that same shade, but better make. Perhaps a flower. Or a four leaf clover, for good luck.
"Thank you." A blush looks good on her, Shamrock notices. "It was a present. From Shanks."
Shanks have her a gift?
"I didn't know that was a habit of my brother's." Shanks continues to be a source of endless surprises. How very consistent of someone who can be relied upon for little else.
Other than the fact that he keeps returning here.
"This is the first time." She bites her lip, Shamrock doesn't even know if she's aware of it. "Probably the only time. You know Shanks, he sometimes seems to just do things."
"Yes." Trying to understand Shanks is a pointless endeavor. "Regardless of my brother's whims, tell me. What did you think of the first part of the book?"
~
"Shamrock?"
"Yes?" He stops, hand on the door, turning back to face her.
"Next time you come, bring a way for me to contact you." From anyone else, that would be presumptuous. From Makino, Shamrock will accept the opportunity. "Okay?"
It shouldn't be difficult to arrange for a den-den. A secure den-den.
"It would be my pleasure."
~
"Would you want to leave this place?"
Makino blinks, startled at the question. Shamrock has been a bit quieter than usual today, but she doesn't really mind. No matter what she says, Makino hasn't managed to get him to stop chasing out anyone who might be having a drink when he stops by.
It's only been a problem a couple times, he doesn't come during busy times. And after the second time, when he literally tossed Peralo out the door, the message was pretty well sent. Even if Makino really wishes he hadn't done that.
It's been a long enough week, though, that today she didn't mind when he emptied out the room with just a look. A bit of peace, with some slow conversation, has been nice. Even if Shamrock has obviously been distracted.
But that question, coming from nowhere, is a surprise.
Shamrock is full of those, though, so she just makes a considering hum instead of asking where this is suddenly coming from. She always can later, if he doesn't explain.
"I don't know. Sometimes I think if might be nice to visit another island or two, see some different things." Not often, but sometimes. When Shanks is sailing away, or late at night. "Maybe Logue Town? It's supposed to be something special."
Though it hasn't ever featured in any of Shanks' stories.
"I did not mean like that." Shamrock's hand moves over the cover of the book in front of him, but he's not looking at it. He's looking at her, and Makino's heart beats just a little bit faster. "And Logue Town isn't anything unique."
"Really? I thought it had to be." It leads to the Grand Line, which is where anything can happen.
"Only in books, unfortunately. And even then, it's just the point where things often change or begin. If you want a truly interesting place, you have to actually reach the Grand Line. Sabaody has entertainments than many enjoy."
"I think I've heard of there. They have a theme park, right? Have you been?" She knows that Shamrock isn't from the East Blue, so he might have been other places before he came to Dawn.
"To Sabaody, yes. To the theme park, no." He gives his head a small shake. "But none of this is relevant. I don't care about sightseeing. I meant more permanently."
"Oh. No." Makino answers simply. Dawn, Foosha, is her home. It always has been. "Why?"
Even as she asks, she feels her palms grow a bit sweaty. The feeling that she might know why Shamrock is asking. Or that part of her hopes she knows why, at least.
Which is silly. He doesn't even flirt playfully, like Shanks does. With how he talks about duty and responsibility, the way he looks at most things in her bar, he wouldn't be interested in her. Not in any way beyond their friendship.
And, while she hopes it will, Makino isn't even sure that will last after the next time Shanks and his crew stop at Foosha.
"Because I have become quite fond of you." Shamrock replies. "I enjoy our conversations. I would like to spend more time with you, to have you close. Normally, I may just take what I want. I could still."
"Shamrock–"
"However, if you are not willing, I am afraid you would be miserable. And I find I do not want that." Makino, in other circumstances, might have to hide a smile at how frustrated he sounds.
Right now, however, she's just feeling shocked. Completely unprepared for this.
"Shamrock." She isn't calm. And she knows it's obvious, from the sudden look of concern on his face. "What, exactly, are you asking me?"
There's no denial now. Shamrock is strange, and she thinks he must be terribly lonely, but even he wouldn't ask her to move her entire life because he likes her friendship.
It very suddenly occurs to her that he might be seeing these little meetings in a very different way than she had thought.
"For you to leave this backwater little island with me. I'll have to summon a ship, but it will be a swift one." Leave the island? "I'll have to find a different way to find my brother, of course, but it's not like this particular avenue has been overly successful. And it might be best for our confrontation to take place elsewhere, considering–"
"You don't live on Dawn?" Makino isn't sure why that's what she latches onto. But it's the only thing she can think to say.
"Of course not." Shamrock sounds offended. "Why would you think that?"
"You're here every few weeks, and Woop Slap says he's seen you arrive from the direction of Goa Kingdom." Makino informs him.
This isn't the important thing, she knows. But it's all she can focus on.
Shamrock just asked her to give up everything. And they only see each other every few weeks, but that doesn't stop him from being a good friend. One of her best.
"I arrive there. I certainly don't live there." His face wrinkled, like he's disgusted at the thought.
"Then where are you from?"
"Mariejois." What? That can't be right, the only people that live in Mariejois and are anything like Shamrock are– "I'm a Figarland, it's the only proper place for one of my blood to live."
–are World Nobles.
"You're a Celestial Dragon." Makino feels a little faint just saying it.
Shamrock has always been arrogant. And he sometimes showed up with things that Makino couldn't even begin to guess the price of, like money had no meaning to him.
Or like he has so much of it that it doesn't matter what he does.
"Yes?"One eyebrow is raised, like he does whenever she says something that he thinks is too obvious to bother pointing out. "Saint Figarland Shamrock. Did you not realize?"
"Shanks is a pirate." Makino says, feeling dazed. Liked to world has gone and changed when she wasn't watching it. "Shanks is a pirate and you turn up in my bar every few weeks. You don't have guards or–"
Makino isn't sure what else she thinks a World Noble should have. Just that she's sure there should be more than just Shamrock, walking through town on his own. It just doesn't make sense.
It's Shamrock. He's arrogant and demanding and awkward and oddly sweet. He can't be a Celestial Dragon, not with every rumor she's ever heard.
"I'm a God's Knight." Makino doesn't even know what that means. "No guard the Marines could give me would be stronger than I already am. Nor do I need to be slowed down, when traveling on personal matters."
"Shanks." Makino guesses. Because Shamrock might make sense, even if it's hard to believe. But Shanks? Shanks who drinks whatever beer she has and has clothes that she's guessing he's patched by hand?
The idea of Shanks as any kind of noble was hard to swallow, but she thought he was just rebellious. But a World Noble?
It just doesn't make sense.
"Quite." Shamrock dips his head slightly. "Father has already written him off as a loss, but I'm not so quick to give up on my brother. And, as annoying as this has all been, I can't deny the benefits of it."
Makino swallows.
She's never been afraid of Shamrock before. Aware that he could hurt her if he wanted to, yes. But she's never really believed he would. And she's been right, he hasn't.
She still doesn't think he wants to. But he made it very clear that he wants her. And now she knows how easy it would be for him to take her.
The choices that World Nobles make are seen as absolute.
But it has been months. Months and she trusts trusts him. Believes him when he says that he doesn't want her to be unhappy. That, no matter what else it turns out he may be, Shamrock is also still the romantic at heart that wants every bodice ripper to end with a happily ever after. The man who has tried so hard to find his brother.
Makino has to trust him. There aren't really any other choices left.
So she gives her head a small shake. "Thank you, but no. I like running my bar here. And taking care of Luffy and talking with the fishermen. I don't even know what I'd do in–"
Makino can't quite bring herself to say it, it's too ridiculous. Too different and alien.
"Whatever you wished, with my blessing." Despite everything, she doesn't flinch as he reaches across the table to grab her hand. "Not run a bar, no, but if you wanted to sample the finest spirits in the world, you could. Or you could read, or spend the days however you wished. We could dine together most nights, and you wouldn't have to worry about a thing."
"That sounds awful." His face goes blank, and Makino rushes to explain. "No spending time with you, but not having anything to do. I like my job, Shamrock."
What he's describing, her life being nothing but waiting for him, sounds like the worst kind of thing Makino could imagine. Boring and lonely and pointless.
"I cannot convince you to change your mind?"
"No, you can't."
"Very well." He lets go of her hand abruptly, standing. Quickly, he pulls a den-den out of his pocket and places it on the table. "A direct line to me, as you requested."
"Shamrock?"
"You have made up your mind." The words are clipped. "Therefore, it's best for me to leave before I change mine."
He's out the door before Makino can say another word.
~
"You're an idiot." The familiar, clipped voice has Shanks on his feet before he even has a chance to really process, Luffy pushed back behind him with one hand.
His only hand.
Fuck, this is the worst possible time for Shamrock to show up. He's down an arm, a whole lot of blood. Luffy’s right here and Makino is too close and Dawn is the last place Shanks would have wanted to fight Shamrock, even at his best.
Shanks is far from his best right now.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. He doesn't, there's no plan for this. For Shamrock showing up when Shanks can't match him and he can't right now.
There's nothing he can do but awkwardly pull Gryphon, even as Shamrock crosses the beach far too quickly. Quick enough that Shanks can barely keep up and that's gotta be the blood loss.
"What, exactly, do you think you're going to do with that?" Before Shanks can think of an answer, nevermind open his mouth, Shamrock continues. "Nevermind, just sit back down."
What?
"I said sit down." Oh, did Shanks say that out loud?
A hand is on his shoulder, pushing him down. Oddly gently. Except not, Shanks remembers this. Shamrock treating every injury like it might break him. Why is Shamrock being gentle?
"You're a fool, brother. How did you manage to get yourself this hurt? I thought you were dealing with common bandits?"
Bandits? How does Shamrock know so much about what was happening here?
"Wasn't the bandits." Shanks lets Gryphon drop. Shamrock, impossibly, doesn't seem to be here to fight.
"The Lord of the Coast bit off his arm." Luffy sounds like he's about to burst into tears again. Pain shoots through Shanks as he tries to grab him with the arm that isn't there anymore. "I–"
"Not you fault, Anchor."
He's got to be completely clear about; none of this is Luffy’s fault. He won't have the kid blaming himself, when it was that group of bastards that decided it was okay to go after a kid. And Shanks getting himself like this was his own choice. Luffy has got to understand that.
More importantly, in this moment, is Shamrock understanding that.
Because Shanks has no real clue what's going on with him right now, but he remembers what Shamrock was like. Is still like, apparently. Him blaming Luffy for this at all could get bad. Fast.
"Not your fault at all." He repeats, eyeing Shamrock. Wishing Luffy was on his other side, so he could pull him closer, a bit harder to get to.
Shamrock scoffs and, surprisingly, rolls his eyes. "The brat picked a fight. You should have been able to handle it quicker. Now I'm going to have to find out if this backwater island has a decent doctor. Did you really have to lose your mark along with your arm?"
Shanks bites his tongue before he can say that's why he let the seaking have his arm. No unnecessary fighting with Shamrock right now and that would definitely start a fight.
Instead, he'll offer something to calm down the mother hen. "I have a doctor, Hongo. Just have to get to my crew. He'll patch me up. So if you'll let go…"
Shanks can get on his ship. And hopefully be gone by the time Shamrock can get a ship here to try and take him back to Mariejois. Since, despite everything, he still seems set on treating Shanks like his brother.
If he didn't know what Shamrock was capable of, he'd call it sad. He does, though, so instead he knows it's dangerous.
Shamrock's frown doesn't look it, though, not the way his face is tight with worry. "Don't be ridiculous. You aren't going anywhere. If you have a decent doctor, I'll bring him to you."
Now he's just being ridiculous. "It's my arm I lost, not my leg. Sides, doctors prefer not to treat you on the beach if they don't have to."
Especially since Hongo was probably gonna have to take more off, or something. Losing a limb isn't clean.
Shanks had hoped to be unconscious for that, hoped to be unconscious by now, but Shamrock is definitely in the way of that.
So he forces up a smile, despite the pain and not feeling like smiling at all. He's fooled Shamrock before, he can fool him again. Even if the way he's frowning at Shanks now is very different from how he ever looked at him in Mariejois.
"But the enemies are taken care of now, you can leave. I'm sure you've got other things to do." Maybe not good things but Shanks can't worry about that.
He needs Shamrock gone so he can pass out in peace.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm not–"
"You aren't the one who called me; you have no authority to dismiss me."
"I don't need– Wait." Shanks' brain catches up slower than it should. Blood loss, he's blaming the blood loss. That's probably why it's getting harder to keep his eyes open, too. But Shanks is no quitter. "Someone called you? Who?"
Nobody here could call Shamrock. Shanks is pretty sure he can count the number of people who could call Shamrock on his fingers. And have several left over.
If Garling is here, Shanks is going to have to do something. He's not sure what, just the thought makes his arm hurt impossibly worse, but he will figure it out. Somehow. Can't let everything be wasted now.
But Shamrock doesn't answer him. Instead, without another word, Shanks finds himself suddenly being picked up. Agony lances through him, it's all he can do not to throw up at it. He can't keep the pained noise in this time as he's held against Shamrock.
"Sham–"
"Boy, go fetch my brother's doctor. Bring him to Makino's."
What? No!
"Shamrock! You can't–" Can't be near Makino, shouldn't be giving orders to Luffy. Shouldn't be here, he doesn't belong. He can't be here.
Shanks left, Shamrock shouldn't care and Shanks shouldn't have to care anymore either.
"Shush." Did he really just? "You're wasting your energy, brother."
Haki rises around him, pushing down, and it should be nothing to push back. But he hurts and the world is already unsteady and Shanks can't.
Doesn't want to. No matter how much of a threat Shamrock is, his body won't listen. He is safe.
The world goes black.
~
Shamrock is the first to notice his brother waking.
Of course he is. He has not left the room since Shanks was settled in it. And Makino may be the one that has taken the chair by his bed, but she hasn't been trained to observe, not like he has. And the child, of course, passed out hours ago. Shortly after Shamrock had been convinced to allow him in the room.
(He has allowed no one else, save the doctor. His brother's crew may posture and threaten as they wish; Shamrock remains unmoved. No one that poses the slightest threat will be allowed in.
The child, he would concede on for Makino's sake. Not the pirates.)
So, it is Shamrock that first sees how his breathing changes. Is aware of how he is stirring.
His agitation.
Probably the drugs, clouding his mind. And the pain. And what is it about his twin, that he keeps getting maimed? Becoming less and less Shamrock's mirror, every time he looks away?
It doesn't matter, Shamrock decides as he crosses the small room to place a hand on his shoulder. Grounding and restraining both, as Shanks' eyes snap open. Shamrock is no narcissist, his brother does not need to look exactly like him. He just needs to stay his, Shamrock's other half.
"Calm yourself, brother." He squeezes, gentle. Gentler than he imagined he would be, when he saw Shanks again. But he hadn't expected Shanks would be hurt, either. "I have things handled."
"Shamrock." His voice sounds disbelieving as he says it, which has Shamrock frowning. Surely he shouldn't have forgotten his presence? "What are you–"
Shanks is interrupted by Makino, reaching out and taking his hand. "Thank you."
Her voice is breaking. Shamrock shifts, slightly, to be closer to her as well. He should take them. Call for a ship immediately, or commandeer one and send for a more suitable vessel to meet them later. Take Shanks home, where he can recover and Shamrock can make sure no one touches him again. Where Makino can be kept in luxury. He'll even let them keep the child they're so attached to.
"Makino?" Shamrock is sure that his brother has never sounded so lost.
"Thank you so much. You saved Luffy and–" Her voice breaks, and Shamrock decides that that is quite enough. There's no need for tears.
"Shanks will be fine." He places his other hand on her shoulder. "He is not weak enough to die from this."
He shouldn't have been weak enough to get injured like this in the first place. Reckless and thoughtless, losing a limb to a beast that should never have been able to so much as touch him.
"I'll kill the seaking later." It's not a new decision. It was the obvious choice, made the moment Shamrock found out what happened. But, just in case either of them had not realized, it's best to make that clear now.
Shanks' injury will not go unavenged.
"How are you here? Why are you here?" The words seem to burst out of Shanks, like his brother can't keep them contained.
Shamrock frowns. It should be obvious.
"Because I called him." Makino answers before he has the chance to. "As soon as the bandits took Luffy, I called Shamrock. I was always going to, because you made it clear you weren't coming back this time, but–"
"What?" Shamrock's voice goes cold. "What does she mean, brother, that you aren't coming back? Is running away all that you can do?"
First from Shamrock and Mariejois. Now he intends to abandon Makino as well? Someone who, for all her common blood, is worth nothing but care?
Shamrock will not have it.
He steps back. Shamrock had not thought this would be necessary, not when he arrived to his brother already injured. But he has plans. He's had months to think of the best ways to restrain his brother.
Shanks being weakened will make those plans easier to carry out. And he sees now that Shanks is completely incapable of seeing sense. That is fine. Shamrock will deal with it.
He'll deal with everything.
"Makino, Darling," The word tastes sweet on his lips, for all that he's never said it before. It has never been proper. Shamrock finds that he no longer cares. "Keep an eye on Shanks for me. I shouldn't be long."
It shouldn't take more than a few minutes, and he could perhaps leave the task completely to Cereberus. But Shamrock wants to see it done himself.
"What do you think–"
"Where are you going?"
A demand and a query. Both have the same answer.
"I'm going to sink a ship."
~
Makino has never seen Shamrock look this way. Irritated, sure. Upset. Selfish. She's seen a lot from him, though she realizes she hasn't seen nearly everything.
But, always, he seemed contained. Controlled in a way she'd never seen before, even when he was angry enough to break solid wood without even trying. Not in the way Garp made sure to not actually hurt anyone, despite his size, but like emotions were something he tried to control as much as his actions.
That control is gone now.
He's about to lash out, just like Luffy throwing a temper tantrum, except she knows it will be a lot worse. With the way that Shanks curses and immediately tries to get out of the bed, she's pretty sure he can follow through on what he just said.
If she lets him, he'll be throwing away the relationship he's so clearly desperate to have with his brother.
(And with her. Makino isn't sure she could ever look at him the same, ever trust him again, if he actually did it. Actually destroyed Shanks ship just to keep him from leaving.)
She can't let Shamrock do that to himself.
So she claps her hands, once, to bring his eyes to her. Shanks freezes too, which is probably good. Makino is pretty sure he isn't supposed to be moving right now.
"Nope! You aren't doing that."
"Makino." She's never heard Shanks sound like he does now, as he hisses her name. He's worried, really worried, that Shamrock might hurt her. Getting ready to fight hisbrother and scared for her, all at once.
He doesn't need to be. Shamrock could hurt her, but he won't. Not like this.
"I think you'll find–"
"You're upset and about to make a big mistake." Makino tells him honestly, before he can make things any worse. "Sit down and I'll get something to drink for both of you. And you two can actually talk."
"There's no need–"
"Wine for you." Makino continues, determinedly. "I have a bottle, I think this is the perfect time for you to try it. And Shanks can have some tea."
"Makino."
"Please." Makino doesn't look away from Shamrock as she asks. Sees the way he wavers and pushes. "I don't want to see either of you miserable."
And if Shamrock doesn't stop, he's going to make them both miserable.
(Makino doesn't stop and think about him being a Celestial Dragon. How they do make people miserable, all the time. What Shamrock could do.
This is Shamrock. She has to give him the chance, or she'll never forgive herself.)
For a long moment, the only sound is Shanks' heavy breathing as he stands. Before, finally, Shamrock nods.
"Very well. A small delay won't make any difference."
"Thank you." Makino says. Not agreeing. Because it's going to make all the difference, she's decided. Has already started to, with how Shanks is staring.
Things will work out. It might be hard, but she knows both of them. Cares about them both. So she'll make it.