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Shanks thinks as he walks about what being a parent could mean. Is it helping make a child? No that can’t be it. Luffy doesn’t even remember his biological father. What does Luffy think a parent is? Does he think it is just a person who lets you live under their roof for free? Does Luffy think Shanks is a parental figure in his life? To his precious anchor, what does he mean to him? Why can’t he just take Luffy with him-
Shanks is broken out of his thoughts by Luffy stirring up from his nap beside shanks under the tree they stopped at.
“Shanks! Your face looks weird, are you doing that thing when you think too hard again?” Luffy asked in pure innocence.
“Nooooo, of course I’m not! Ben says I haven’t had a single thought my entire life!” Shanks argued back.
“That's not true!” Luffy pauses, “I think you’ve had at least one thought!”
“That's brutally honest, Anchor, I’m hurt!” Shanks fakes feeling a pain in his heart.
“Wha!” Luffy looks up at Shanks in a shocked way, “I didn’t mean to hurt you! Shaaaaanks!” Luffy cries out.
“Sorry Anchor, but you’re too easy to tease!” Shanks laughs, “Hey Anchor, do you know what it is to have a dad?”
“A what?”
“A dad,” Shanks restates, “Y’know, a father.”
“I don’t know what you're talking about! Are you teasing me again? Is this a joke? What’s a dad?” Luffy questions.
“Y’know, a person who takes care of tiny buggers like you! Um, a guy who nurtures and teaches things to a child or something,” Shanks says,
“Like you?” Luffy asks.
Shanks wants to take Luffy with him so bad, but he knows the consequences, and knows how Luffy wouldn’t last long; even with Shanks. Shanks could never raise or nurture Luffy, he could never be a father to him. Luffy would never be able to grow as much with Shanks. Shanks knows he can’t be with Luffy at all times and therefore can’t keep Luffy safe. As much as Lufffy is part of the crew, he could never truly be.
———————————
Staring down at the body of his all but son, he can’t help but imagine how he could have changed this, how he could have helped him. Ace was transported to the Moby 2 to keep him alive, to keep him from a hole in his chest.
Shanks ended the war, but he was too late to save what truly mattered most. He enlisted help from Ben Beckman to transport him to the Red Force. The crew said nothing, out of respect for a lost member, the anchor to their ship.
“No, Anchor, Not like me. I could never be a father to you, even if I tried.” Shanks answered the question said back years ago. He could never be anyone Luffy looked up to.
He just failed him in the end.