Luffy made Shanks and his whole crew look for beetles

the warm glow of satisfaction shanks felt as he recalled bartolomeo’s actions brought his lips to curl into a soft, proud smile.

“what’s that smirk for, cap'n?” beck asked, cigarette dangling lazily from his lips. the smoke curled up, mixing with the soft breeze that stirred the sails of the red force.

shanks didn’t answer right away. eyes remained fixed on the horizon, where the sky stretched in an endless blue. “doesn’t it feel good,” he finally mused, voice carrying the faint, ever-present amusement that always accompanied him, “knowing how much they care for luffy?”

"all right, cap'n, step aside," without warning, a sharp crack split the peaceful moment. the unmistakable sound of yasopp’s musket echoed across the ship, followed by the roar of an explosion. shanks’ eye snapped to the source, just in time to see a plume of fire bloom on the horizon. the distant silhouette of the bartolomeo pirates’ ship disintegrated into flames and splintering wood, the calm sea now filled with wreckage and smoke.

yasopp stood with his musket still raised, posture relaxed, a thin smirk on his lips. “every action has a price to be paid,” he said, pride flashing in his eyes.

whatever warmth had lingered in shanks’ expression vanished in an instant. his body grew rigid, the easygoing smile wiped clean from his face. the air around him seemed to grow colder, the sea suddenly less inviting.

shanks turned slowly, deliberately, gaze falling on yasopp with a weight that was palpable. the crew knew that look, the shift from their carefree captain to the man whose presence alone could command even the most hardened pirate to stand down. the kind of silence that followed was suffocating, thick with tension.

his reputation as the jovial, easygoing captain made these moments all the more chilling when he dropped that façade. this was the shanks who had faced emperors, whose mere presence could stop a war.

yasopp, oblivious at first, still wore the faint traces of a smirk as he lowered his musket. he likely expected a nod of approval, maybe even a word of praise for his sharp shot. but the weight of shanks’ stare finally settled on him, and yasopp’s grin faltered. the realization hit him like a punch to the gut, eyes widening just a fraction as he registered his captain’s cold, unforgiving glare.

the silence stretched, thick and heavy.

shanks haven't spoke, displeasure clear in every line of his body, in the taut set of his shoulders, in the icy precision of his gaze. his authority—his sheer presence—was enough to make the message unmistakable.

yasopp swallowed hard, the pride that had shone in his eyes a moment ago now dimmed under shanks’ unwavering scrutiny.

everyone aboard the red force knew what it meant when their captain got serious.

still, shanks said nothing. he didn’t need to.