Falaise

Betrayal

Rayleigh crossed the battlefield solemnly, getting off of his horse as he reached the two young men, and with just a nod of his head, hinted to follow him. He led them inside Buggy's camp, seeking for a private place, settling on Buggy's wooden cabin.

Only then did he turn around and face them both. Shanks looked like a kid caught red-handed, while Buggy didn't let anything show through. He was wary by nature, but it was even worse now. If Rayleigh turned out to not be on his side, he was not sure he would be able to leave unscathed if he made the mistake of looking affected.

Even Shanks, who had been so shameless and daring earlier, had the decency of looking hesitant.

At last, the Dark King broke the silence. 'How much you have grown and changed, in the little time you were away.' He said in a low voice, still so familiar to Buggy's ears. The blue-haired man wanted to reach out, dying to seek reassurance from his father, but he couldn't, not in Shanks' presence.

'Here you are, both Dukes and warriors, putting into practice what we've taught you.' He gestured into the void. His arms dropped at his side, and he sighed. 'I simply didn't think you would use it to fight each other.' He sounded dejected, as if he wasn't as much blaming them as he was blaming himself, as if he could have seen it coming, and somehow prevented it.

Shanks interjected, 'We were not fighting each other, Rayleigh! This battle's aim was to bring Blackbeard down, which we did.' He explained rather loudly, certain of himself, not once looking Buggy's way, as if he was sure that he would get the man's backing.

Rayleigh raised a hand in Shanks' direction, stopping him. 'I am not a fool, Shanks. I have informants, too, and contrary to Buggy, I know that affection is sometimes not strong enough to resist when faced with an unquenchable thirst for power.' His voice had grown colder, firmer, and Shanks watched him with big round eyes, caught off-guard by Rayleigh's words.

'You let Buggy's army face Teach's so you could stroll on the battlefield and steer the battle in the direction you wanted, Shanks.' Rayleigh stated calmly, leaving no room to doubt.

Shanks shook his head, trying to explain himself. 'This was a joint effort! Buggy's army tired out Teach's, while mine finished the job!'

Buggy stood, helpless, between the two men. The scene was so similar to ones he had experienced when he was still a boy. Rayleigh scolding Shanks for something reckless he'd done, the red-haired boy defending himself by saying that he did it out of goodwill.

But it was so much different from childhood mistakes, and now Buggy had to listen to his brother pretend that he had done all of this just to protect him. Because Buggy was an incompetent, unable to rule. That, after all, he'd done him a favour, right?

'Shanks. Do not lie to me. You met with Teach quickly after Roger's death, yes?' Rayleigh asked, just as calmly as earlier.

Across from him, Shanks froze. For the first time ever since they'd left the battlefield, he looked at Buggy. But the blue-haired man already didn't see him anymore. He felt like he was being swallowed by the ground, falling down an endless pit. The vertigo made him close his eyes, but he remained standing. Shanks did not say a word.

'Shanks?' Rayleigh asked.

The red-haired man blinked a few times. He waited for Buggy to look at him, to be seen, so he could explain himself, but Buggy kept his eyes closed, unaware.

'Yes.' He answered with a sigh. 'Yes, I did. It was nothing formal, we talked about the throne, the country's future, but we didn't reach an agreement, and we left it as it was. It was nothing more, we didn't plot anything. I killed him! Isn't it proof enough?'