One Piece: The Avengers

"Excuse me, may I come in?" A carefree voice called from outside the door—it was Shanks.

"Go ahead." Shanter's tone was indifferent. After all, Shanks had saved both him and Robin's lives. No matter how much Shanter despised pirates, it wouldn't be appropriate to lash out.

"Little brother, regarding your back injury, it's almost impossible to heal with current medical technology." Shanks delivered a heavy blow as soon as he entered.

"You're lying! You…" Before Shanter could respond, Robin reacted first.

Shanter raised his hand to stop Robin. "I know." He paused, then added, "But eavesdropping on others isn't a good habit."

"Apologies," Shanks said simply, offering no excuses, which left Shanter slightly surprised.

"That said, if you consume a suitable Devil Fruit, there's a chance you could recover," Shanks continued.

"Oh?" Shanter raised an eyebrow.

"There's a Rubber Fruit on my ship. If you're willing to give it a try, it might help you heal. At the very least, even if your injuries remain, you'd be able to move freely on deck as a rubber man. Ever seen Luffy break a bone?" Shanks added with a playful smirk.

"No need. I don't want to owe you a favor." Shanter's tone was cold. "You must have overheard—I despise pirates the most."

"Suit yourself." Shanks shrugged, completely unfazed by Shanter's hostility.

"Oh, wait!" Robin exclaimed with delight. "A week ago, I stole a Devil Fruit from Twister's ship! Hold on, let me get it!" She retrieved a bizarrely patterned fruit resembling a durian.

"Really?" Shanter couldn't hide his excitement.

"If you don't want to owe me, here's an alternative," Shanks suggested with genuine goodwill. "Eat the Rubber Fruit, then give me this one. That way, we'll be even."

"Thanks for the offer, but no." Shanter softened slightly, sensing Shanks' sincerity. "I'd rather gamble."

For some reason, Shanter felt an inexplicable resistance to becoming a rubber man. He couldn't articulate why, but he trusted this unknown fruit far more than the Rubber Fruit.

"Brother?" Robin sounded worried. Shanter was typically a rational person who wouldn't gamble on such a crucial matter. "Why not eat the Rubber Fruit? It gives you better odds of recovery… and I won't make fun of you."

"Forget it. I refuse to become a rubber man," Shanter said, his resolve firming up under Robin's concern.

"Alright, little sister, be good and feed me," Shanter said, as only his right hand could barely move. Naturally, Robin had to assist him, a task neither found unpleasant.

"Brother, brace yourself. Devil Fruits taste awful. Be prepared!" Robin warned.

"Got it," Shanter replied nonchalantly. "But, take your time feeding me, okay? This is a life-changing experience, after all." Secretly, he just wanted to savor being cared for by Robin, knowing such moments would be rare in the future.

Shanter's request made Robin hesitate, but she eventually complied.

"Brother, don't regret it later!" Robin muttered.

"Never!" Shanter declared, then closed his eyes.

The first bite shattered his confidence.

It wasn't just awful—it was beyond words. To say it tasted like feces would be too kind. It was as if fermented garbage and animal dung had been stewed a hundred times, then pressure-cooked for good measure.

And Robin, true to her promise, fed him slowly, turning the ordeal into prolonged torment. Even Shanter's iron will faltered.

"Cough, cough, cough!" When he finally finished, Shanter was left breathless, while Shanks, having watched the whole scene, was doubled over with laughter.

"Little sister," Shanter said weakly.

"What's wrong, brother?" Robin asked, looking refreshed.

"How could it taste so bad? How did you manage to eat one when you were little?" Shanter asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Well…" Robin explained, "When Mom went out to sea, I was still with Auntie, who treated me poorly. I was always starving. One day, I found a crate floating at sea, and inside was a Devil Fruit. I was so hungry I didn't think twice before eating it. By the time I realized how awful it was, I'd already eaten a good portion."

"I see…" Shanter sighed, unable to muster the strength to pity her past hardships. "Robin, promise me—if I ever do something this stupid again, you must stop me, no matter what."

"Okay," Robin giggled, though she struggled to hold back laughter at his defeated expression.

"Let's see what ability you've gained, little brother!" Shanks said cheerfully. "This is one of the most versatile Paramecia fruits. Let's check out your power!"

"It's exciting, isn't it?" Robin beamed, though inwardly she was anxious about Shanter's recovery.

Shanter tried testing his body but noticed no immediate changes.

"Maybe it just needs more time. Don't worry about it." Shanks took a swig from his flask. "Want some? This is fine wine from my hometown."

"No, thank you!" Robin rejected the offer before Shanter could reply. She recalled how a sip of wine during Shanter's birthday celebration had rendered him unconscious for days. She wouldn't let him near strong liquor now.

---

One Hour Later

"How's it going? Any signs of powers?" Robin asked anxiously.

"Could you stop asking every five minutes?" Shanter sighed, though he appreciated her concern.

"I'm just excited!" Robin pouted briefly before regaining her composure.

"No abilities yet, but… I think my legs can move a little?" Shanter tested again, his voice tinged with surprise.

"Really?" Robin's eyes lit up.

"Yes, but… it hurts!" Shanter winced.

"Little brother, I think I know what kind of fruit this is." Over the past hour, Shanks had grown closer to Robin and even eased Shanter's hostility.

"Oh? What kind of fruit?" Shanter asked.

"Let's wait and see. If your powers don't manifest in a day, I'll be certain. Rest for now," Shanks said, leaving the room.

---

"Robin, could he really be a pirate? He doesn't seem that bad…" Shanter muttered, a large question mark forming in his mind.

"Maybe?" Robin hesitated. The pirates they'd encountered before had all been ruthless criminals.

"Still, no one compares to you, brother!" Robin teased, gently tracing the twisted "S"-shaped scar on Shanter's face.

"Cheeky girl!" Shanter chuckled, playfully flicking her nose.

---

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