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sh4nksslvt · 10 hours ago

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Heyo! :>

Hope you are doing good! Can i please request an angst scenario with Shanks where Reader is the older Sister of Makino, who is a crew member of him. Both in a relationship but Reader kinda always knew that his affection was not for her but for his sister, he connected with everytime they visit Foosha Village but since she loved him so much, she couldn't let go. Maybe they go back to Foosha Village and she saw the differnece how he treats them both (how his eyes soften when he talsk to Makino, his longing gaze, etc.) and she decides to go without saying a word after the others start to joke drunkely how much in love their captain is. Make it 2 years later and Shanks sees her with a child in her arms with the same red hair he has while she works in an orphanage or a bar. You can decide how it ends for both of them! :>

I hope it is understandble, Thank you for your hardwork 🙂‍↕️ Stay hydrated and don't forget to take rests! :>

here ya go hope i delivered it well!

The One He Looked At

She was always the one by his side—until she realized she was never the one in his heart.

shanks x fem! reader | ONE SHOT tags: angst, sfw, hurt/no comfort, oc, heartbreak, secret child, emotional betrayal, secret relationship(?) a/n: this js me trying to write ffs, this is experimental and for fun only so expect this ffs cringe n akward words count: 1.4k

masterlist | ko-fi

: 𓏲🐋 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊

The rocking of the Red Force was no longer soothing.

You stood by the railing, arms crossed, eyes on the horizon, but your thoughts were nowhere near the sea. You’d spent years sailing under Shanks's flag, years of laughter, blood, drink, and whispers in the dark. Years of pretending he loved you back.

But now… now you were headed toward the place where it all began—and where it always seemed to return.

Foosha Village.

Home.

Where your younger sister still lived.

Makino.

She had always been warm, gentle, soft-spoken. You? You were louder, fiercer, a protector ever since your parents passed. When you joined Shanks's crew, it was Makino you missed most. And every time the Red Force docked at the village, you noticed something shift in Shanks.

It started subtly—how he stood a little straighter before getting off the ship. How his eyes darted toward the tavern the moment it came into view. How his laugh seemed warmer, his voice softer, when he greeted your sister.

And this time, it was no different.

“Foosha Village, ahoy!” Lucky Roux called.

Benn walked past you, nodding in greeting. “You alright?”

You nodded. “Yeah. Just… seasick.”

He snorted. “You’ve been at sea for a decade. Don’t lie to me, Y/N.”

But you said nothing, and he didn’t press.

When Shanks disembarked, his boots touched the sand, and you watched from behind as his shoulders relaxed, as if he’d finally come home.

And then you saw it again—his eyes scanning, lighting up when they found her.

Makino.

You stood awkwardly by the barrels near the dock as the crew dispersed. You hadn’t been back in two years. Makino smiled brightly, welcoming everyone, arms open, the same as always. She hugged you tight too, and you tried—gods, you tried—to pretend nothing had changed.

But when Shanks stepped forward, it was the way his voice dropped an octave, the way his gaze lingered on her hair, her hands, her smile. It was the way he didn’t even look back at you.

The party at the tavern was loud, drunk, joyful. Music, food, barrels of sake. Makino served with grace, laughing as the crew called her name, telling old stories from their first visit to the village.

You sat at a corner table, half a glass of wine in your hand, watching Shanks laugh with Benn. Makino walked by, and your captain’s eyes followed her without shame.

And then it happened.

“Oi, Captain!” Howled Yasopp, slurring slightly. “When you gonna make an honest woman outta that barkeep, eh?”

The others roared with laughter.

Even Benn chuckled. “Yeah, you’re not exactly subtle, boss.”

“C’mon!” Lucky Roux raised his mug. “To Shanks and Makino!”

The tavern echoed with cheers.

Your stomach twisted.

You glanced at Shanks, hoping, pleading, that he’d correct them. Laugh it off. Deny it. Say anything.

But he only smiled… wistfully.

That was all the answer you needed.

You stood up. No one noticed. Not even him.

You didn’t leave a letter.

Didn’t take anything that wasn’t yours.

Didn’t wake anyone.

You simply walked out in the dead of night with a small bag over your shoulder, heart heavier than any anchor.

You’d stayed because you loved him. Because you hoped.

But hope had become a knife.

And you were done bleeding.

Foosha’s sun was warmer than you remembered. The breeze gentler.

The bar had changed a bit—new paint, a new sign, a few extra chairs. You leaned out the door, swaying a baby in your arms, humming softly. A mop of red hair nuzzled against your chest, small fingers clinging to your shirt.

“Easy, Kaz,” you whispered, kissing the crown of his head. “Mama’s got you.”

“Mama!”

You turned. A child ran toward you—one of the orphans, barefoot and grinning. You crouched to scoop her up with your free arm.

“Yes, sweet pea?”

“A pirate ship’s here!”

You blinked.

And then you felt it.

That presence. That shadow in the sun.

You stood slowly, heart thudding.

Shanks.

He stood by the dock, eyes wide.

His crew lingered behind him, uncertain.

Your gaze met his, and for the first time, he looked shaken.

Not you.

Not anymore.

You shifted your weight, pulling Kaz closer. His tiny hand gripped your necklace—the old, tarnished trinket Shanks gave you long ago.

Red hair. Amber eyes. Mischievous smile that mirrored his father’s.

Shanks took a step forward.

Then another.

“Kaz…” he whispered.

You raised your chin. “Don’t.”

He stopped.

“I’m not here for a scene,” you said. “This is my life now.”

“I didn’t know,” he croaked.

“I didn’t want you to.”

The silence cracked between you.

Kaz wriggled. “Mama, up!”

You lifted him easily, pressing a kiss to his cheek. You saw Shanks's eyes mist over.

“I never…” He trailed off. “Was it ever real? Between us?”

You let out a dry laugh. “It was for me.”

His shoulders hunched.

You wanted to scream at him. To ask why he led you on, why he looked through you like a ghost while worshipping someone you had protected since childhood.

But you didn’t.

You’d said goodbye once already.

You weren’t going to bleed again.

Later, Shanks found you alone by the cliffside. Kaz was asleep inside, the orphans playing nearby.

“I won’t stay long,” he said.

You didn’t respond.

“I came back to see Makino.”

That didn’t surprise you. “She’s inside.”

“But I didn’t expect to see you. Or… him.”

You looked at the horizon, arms crossed. “You never saw me before either.”

He flinched. “I did. I just… didn’t know how much.”

You turned to face him.

He looked older. Tired.

“I loved you,” you said. “More than I should’ve. And you loved someone else. That’s not a crime, Shanks. But pretending otherwise hurt more than the truth ever could.”

“I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know. But you did.”

He stepped forward. “What now?”

You hesitated.

Then smiled—gently, bittersweet.

“You go be a pirate. I go raise our son. That’s all.”

“…Can I see him?”

You nodded. “Maybe. One day. When you’re ready.”

He looked down, hands clenched. Then back at you.

“I missed my chance, didn’t I?”

You swallowed hard. “Yeah. You did.”

The Red Force left that evening.

No fanfare. No goodbyes.

You stood on the porch, Kaz in your arms again, waving politely as the ship faded into the horizon.

He waved back with tiny fingers.

You smiled softly.

It hurt. But less than before.

You had something worth holding onto now.

And he? He had his regrets.

#one piece #one piece x reader #one piece x you #one piece x y/n #idk man #idk what im doing #angst #shanks x reader #shanks #red haired shanks #shanks one piece #red hair shanks #akagami no shanks #red hair pirates

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hummingbird24220 · 5 hours ago

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please plsplspslpslps shanks x reader where shanks saves reader from drowning because they're a devil fruit user (idk what fruit tho) and was thrown overboard by some pirate shanks had come across that had the gall to attack him

also idk when this is maybe when he still had both his arms or just sent benn to pull reader out of the sea

daddy shanks 🛐🛐

Thank you for your request! Sorry it took so long <3 Hope you like it

He has both arms in this just FYI ^^ Kinda a rollercoaster, bit random and convenient for plot sake, but hey ho its fanfic.

A Hand Through the Waves

Shanks x Reader

The sea didn’t care that you were screaming.

It was too loud. Too heavy. Too cold. Your voice didn’t even reach the surface — it was swallowed by the swell and crushed under the weight of the Grand Line’s cruel embrace. You thrashed in vain, your limbs sluggish and clumsy, every movement dragging you deeper. A Devil Fruit user with a bounty high enough to warrant attention — but clearly not enough to earn respect.

You didn’t see who pushed you.

The crew that ambushed you was small, cocky, and stupid enough to try and pick a fight with Red-Haired Shanks. You happened to be at the wrong port at the wrong time — or maybe the right one, you’d later wonder.

Because the moment your vision began to blacken, a ripple tore through the sea.

And then there was fire in the water. Not literal fire — but something burning bright, cutting through the blue like a sword. A splash above. A hand. Large, calloused, warm despite the water. You couldn’t see his face — just red hair, wild and waving like a flag.

Then the world twisted, and air hit your lungs again like an explosion.

You gasped, coughing seawater onto the deck of a ship that wasn’t yours. The wood beneath you was warm. The voices around you were muffled. And one, clearer than the rest, laughed low and easy.

“Well, that was dramatic.”

You looked up, dazed. Shanks.

Red hair slicked back from diving in. Shirt soaked, clinging to his chest. One hand holding a half-empty bottle, the other holding you steady by the shoulder.

“Next time someone throws you off a ship,” he said, “aim for somewhere less deep.”

You blinked. “You—why would you—”

“Save you?” He grinned. “Couldn’t just let a Devil Fruit user drown in front of me. It’s bad manners.”

You tried to push yourself up, but your arms trembled. He immediately dropped the bottle and helped you sit, more careful than you expected from a pirate so feared.

“Besides,” he added, brushing a soaked strand of hair from your face, “I liked your glare when they dragged you across the dock. That’s the look of someone who doesn’t go down easy.”

“I would’ve… gotten out,” you wheezed.

He smirked. “Sure. Eventually. I just sped things up a little.”

You were quiet for a second, staring at him. “Why were you even there?”

Shanks leaned back, propping himself up on one elbow. “Coincidence. Or fate, depending how poetic you are. Either way—” his grin returned, easy and warm, “—I’m glad I was.”

A beat of silence.

“…I owe you,” you muttered.

“No, you don’t.” He tilted his head. “But if you insist on repaying me…”

You braced for a smug flirt.

“…you can share a drink.”

You stared.

He raised the bottle in offering — then looked at it, frowned, and chuckled. “Ah, sea water. Guess we’ll need a fresh one.”

You surprised yourself with a breathy laugh.

Shanks helped you to your feet. His grip never faltered. His crew gave you space, friendly enough to not overwhelm you but curious enough to watch. You stood beside him on the deck, shivering from the cold but steady.

He draped his cloak over your shoulders without a word.

“Let’s get you dry, yeah?” he said, voice low. “And then… you can tell me how someone like you ended up in that mess.”

The clothes were soft. Loose. A bit too big.

You didn’t know whose they were — someone from Shanks’ crew, probably — but they smelled faintly of salt, citrus, and something warm. You sat tucked into a corner of the captain’s quarters, wrapped in his heavy cloak, both hands curled around a steaming mug of hot cocoa.

Not rum. Not sake. Cocoa.

You didn’t expect pirates to stock it, let alone serve it in chipped, homey mugs like it was just another Tuesday.

Shanks sat opposite you, sprawled out in a chair with one leg hooked over the other, a faint grin tugging at his mouth every time your nose dipped toward the cup.

“You’re staring again,” you muttered.

“I’m not,” he said, still very clearly staring. “You just look different when you’re not soaking wet and furious.”

“I wasn’t furious.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“…Okay, I was a little furious.”

“You cursed at them in three different languages.”

“And I meant every word.”

Shanks laughed — a full, belly-deep sound that filled the room like sunlight. You looked away, ears hot despite the chill still clinging to your skin.

He didn’t press. Just let the silence settle. The room creaked with the gentle rock of the ship. Somewhere outside, his crew laughed and shouted over something completely unrelated. For a moment, you felt like you were sitting in a little pocket of peace.

“So,” he said, voice quieter, “you wanna tell me who those bastards were?”

You sipped your drink. “Low-level pirates. Cocky. I didn’t recognize their flag.”

“And they still had the guts to throw you overboard?”

“They knew I couldn’t swim.” Your tone sharpened slightly. “The moment they figured it out, they used it.”

Shanks’ smile dimmed. His one visible hand clenched slightly.

“They’ll regret that,” he said simply. No threat in his voice. Just truth.

You believed him.

He watched you for a moment more, then reached into his coat pocket and tossed something your way. You caught it on instinct — a small, carved wooden token.

“What’s this?”

“A charm,” he said. “For good luck.”

“…Do I look like I need luck?”

“No. You look like someone who deserves a second chance.”

You stared at him, confused. His expression was unreadable now — steady, thoughtful. He leaned forward slightly, elbows on knees.

“You’ve got that edge to you,” he said. “Like someone who’s been through a lot and doesn’t trust kindness when it shows up.”

You didn’t answer.

He smiled anyway. “Doesn’t matter. You’re here now. Alive. And welcome to stay until you figure out what’s next.”

“…You’re offering me shelter?”

“I’m offering you cocoa, warm clothes, and a damn good crew to lean on if you need it. The rest is up to you.”

You looked down at the token again. It was warm from your grip.

“…Thanks,” you muttered.

He stood up, brushing crumbs from his sleeve. “You can rest here as long as you want. There’s food in the mess if you get hungry.”

As he turned to leave, you glanced up. “Shanks?”

He paused in the doorway.

“I didn’t say thank you. For saving me.”

He looked over his shoulder with a grin that could disarm a navy fleet. “You’re welcome. Just try not to fall in again — I can’t keep jumping into the ocean every time someone picks on you.”

You huffed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He winked — then was gone, leaving you alone in the warmth, the sea humming just outside the walls.

You didn’t stay forever.

As comforting as Shanks’ ship was — as warm as the crew, the cocoa, and the laughter had become — you weren’t meant to be tethered for long. The sea called to you in a different way. One day, with a smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes, you handed Shanks back his cloak and stepped off the Red Force with a nod and a promise.

"Don't go getting thrown overboard again," he had teased. You had grinned. "Only if you promise to be the one to save me."

You had walked away before he could respond.

Years passed. You made a name for yourself, slowly but surely. Smaller adventures. Quieter ones. You stuck to the edges of chaos, learning from the currents instead of fighting them. Still, every so often, you’d catch wind of Red-Haired Shanks — his name whispered with awe, in taverns and bounty posters, drifting like seagulls on the wind.

You never asked. Never wrote.

But you always listened.

You didn’t expect the push.

It came sharp and sudden, a shove from a group of rowdy, half-drunk pirates you’d brushed shoulders with at the port. You cursed your balance, cursed your timing — cursed the damned Devil Fruit as your body hit the water with a splash and everything turned to cold, cruel silence.

Just like before.

But this time, you didn’t see fire. You saw green.

A blur cut through the surface — a strong arm hooked under yours, and suddenly you were rising fast, coughing and gasping as the sun stabbed through your eyelids. You hit the dock hard, sputtering on your hands and knees.

"You alright?"

The voice was low. Calm.

You blinked past the water in your eyes and looked up — and saw it.

That hat.

Straw-brimmed. Familiar. Beloved. Your heart thudded painfully against your ribs as your voice broke through the panic.

“...Shanks?”

There was a pause. Then a laugh — not deep and mellow like his, but bright, high, and joyful.

“Shanks?! That’s a first!”

You blinked harder, the haze lifting. The outline shifted, the figure sharper now — not tall and broad-shouldered with red hair, but younger. Much younger. Barefoot and wide-eyed, with a smile that looked like it had never known a day of fear.

You sat up with a shaky exhale, as the green-haired man who’d saved you stepped aside, eyeing you cautiously.

“Oi, don’t scare her,” he muttered to the boy.

The boy — the one with the hat — squatted beside you, head tilted.

“I’m Luffy,” he beamed. “You know Shanks?”

You stared. Then laughed softly, the sound cracking like a wave against the rocks. “I… I used to.”

He leaned in, almost buzzing with excitement. “He gave me this hat! He saved my life! I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”

You blinked again, heart twisting strangely at the fierce certainty in his voice. There was no fear. No hesitation. Just fire.

Something about him — the glint in his eyes, the way he talked about Shanks, the way he reached out with a hand to help you up without a second thought — tugged deep in your chest.

Like you’d seen him before, in a dream. Or maybe a story Shanks had once told over a drink.

You took his hand.

“Thank you, Luffy,” you said softly. “You saved me.”

He grinned wider. “Zoro did the saving.”

You glanced at the swordsman — soaked up to his thighs, arms crossed. “Thank you too, Zoro.”

He nodded once. “Don’t mention it.”

“You’re lucky,” Luffy added. “You fell in near our ship. If it was further out, we might not’ve seen you.”

You stared at him a moment more. “You remind me of him.”

“Shanks?”

You nodded. “Not just the hat. The heart.”

He looked stunned for a second. Then grinned again, impossibly brighter.

And just like that — without meaning to — something settled inside you.

A sense of purpose you hadn’t felt in a long time.

“…Do you guys have a ship?”

“Oh yeah! We’re the Straw Hat Pirates!”

You smiled, brushing damp hair from your face. “That’s… a very fitting name.”

Zoro squinted. “Why are you smiling like that?”

You didn’t answer. You were too busy watching Luffy bounce on the balls of his feet, already asking if you wanted food, if you could fight, if you wanted to meet the rest of the crew.

And you? You were already following him.

Because even if your path had drifted far from Shanks, somehow, you’d found someone carrying his light.

By the time you made it onto their ship — the Thousand Sunny, they proudly told you — your hair had dried, your clothes hadn’t, and your heart hadn’t slowed since that moment you saw the hat.

The Straw Hats welcomed you with open arms… and varying energy levels.

Nami looked you up and down and immediately got you a towel and spare clothes. Sanji offered warm tea and sparkled like a chandelier when you thanked him. Usopp stood behind Luffy, peeking nervously until you smiled at him. Chopper buzzed around you like a doctor on caffeine. Robin observed, polite and unreadable, but kind. Franky shouted something about “HELL YEAH! SEA-PLUCKED FRIEND!” Brook made a skull joke. You politely pretended to laugh.

Zoro, already back in dry clothes and leaning against the rail, just nodded like you weren’t a big deal.

You liked that. It reminded you of Shanks’ crew — strong, strange, loud, loyal.

And then came dinner.

The galley was alive with the clatter of plates, the smell of food, and laughter. You sat at the table, now warm in borrowed clothes, sipping soup while Luffy devoured enough for three people beside you.

“I still can’t believe you know Shanks!” he said with his mouth full.

You smiled. “I met him a long time ago. After I got tossed off a ship and nearly drowned.”

The table quieted.

“…Wait,” Luffy said slowly, looking at you like you’d just grown another head. “You too?!”

You nodded, amused. “I was thrown overboard by some pirates. Couldn’t swim. Next thing I know, he’s diving in after me. Pulled me out like it was nothing.”

Luffy’s eyes lit up. “That’s what he did for me!! When the bandits tried to drown me as a kid! He didn’t even hesitate—he just jumped in! Lost his arm and still smiled at me.”

Your smile faltered slightly, surprise flickering in your chest. “He… lost his arm?”

“Yeah!” Luffy grinned. “Saved me from a Sea King. I was little. Thought I was a goner.”

You stared at him — this bright, ridiculous boy who burned with so much of Shanks’ same chaotic kindness — and felt something strange twist in your stomach.

“Guess he has a habit of saving waterlogged idiots,” you murmured.

Luffy laughed so hard he nearly fell out of his chair.

The crew relaxed again, picking their own conversations back up. But Luffy stayed turned toward you, grinning like a kid at storytime.

“So then what?” he asked. “Did you sail with him?”

“For a while,” you said, swirling your soup. “His crew is good people. They let me heal a bit. Then I left. Didn’t want to be a permanent passenger.”

“That’s dumb,” Luffy said cheerfully. “You could’ve stayed forever.”

You gave him a look. “You didn’t stay with him either.”

“Yeah, but I’m gonna be King of the Pirates! I had stuff to do!”

You laughed softly, eyes fond.

He grinned back at you. “So do you think meeting me was good luck or bad luck?”

You paused.

“…Honestly?” you said. “I don’t know. It feels like the universe is laughing at me a little. Same Devil Fruit curse. Same hat. Same stupid smile.”

“Hey!”

You gave him a small nudge with your elbow. “Better teeth, though.”

“HA!” he barked, not remotely offended.

You looked around at the crew, warm and bright and loud — and felt something soft settle in your chest.

You weren’t drowning anymore.

And maybe fate did have a weird sense of humor. But this time, you were willing to see where the current led.

You’d never been good at staying in one place.

The sea had always pulled at your bones like a tide you couldn’t fight — never violent, just constant. No matter how warm the company, how sweet the food, or how loud the laughter, you felt it again: the urge to move.

So you made up your mind.

You told them the next morning.

They didn’t argue.

Nami hugged you tight. Chopper clung to your leg. Sanji swore dramatically that he’d cry for weeks. Zoro gave a low grunt that meant more than it sounded. Franky gave you an exit speech. Usopp pretended not to tear up. Robin smiled like she knew you were lying to yourself about not looking back. Brook played a few sad violin notes.

Luffy just stared at you like a kicked puppy.

“I’ll come back,” you said softly, brushing a hand through his messy hair.

“You better,” he pouted. “Or I’ll find you and throw you into the sea again.”

You laughed, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to the top of his straw hat.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

He grinned. “You’re right. Zoro would have to save you again.”

“Hell no,” Zoro muttered from behind him.

You hugged them all one last time — all warmth and gratitude and just a little bit of ache — then stepped off the Sunny with the world ahead of you and your bag over your shoulder.

The dock was quiet.

The breeze curled around your ankles, carrying the scent of the sea and something else — something familiar.

You didn’t realize you’d stopped walking until your body froze entirely.

Because there — like he’d been plucked out of memory and dropped into your line of sight with all the grace of a cosmic joke — stood a man.

A man with one arm, a sword at his hip, and a head of unmistakable red hair.

You blinked.

And blinked again.

"...Plot convenience powers," you mumbled. "That's the only explanation."

He looked up.

And smiled.

Like he’d known you were coming. Like not a single day had passed.

“Been a while,” Shanks said, voice as low and bright as you remembered.

You stared at him like your brain had short-circuited.

“I—what—how—?”

“Nice to see you too.” He strode forward casually, boots echoing against the dock. “You look good. Bit salty. That’s new.”

You gawked. “You can’t just appear. I just left them. They’re still within earshot!”

He tilted his head. “Them?”

“The Straw Hats!”

His eyes sparked with understanding. “Ah. The Straw Hat.”

“His name is Luffy—oh you know that, don’t play dumb!”

He laughed.

And you stood there, still stunned, still trying to figure out if this was a hallucination brought on by too much nostalgia and soup.

“You didn’t write,” he said softly. “Not once.”

“You didn’t either.”

“I don’t know how.”

“…Fair.”

There was a pause — not tense, just heavy. Full of too many years and too much almost.

“I missed you,” he said, easy as breathing.

You exhaled like you’d been underwater all over again. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“And yet,” he smirked, “here we are.”

You looked at him. At the way his eyes softened. At the familiar cut of his coat. At the wind catching his hair the same way it did in your memories.

“Don’t say this was fate,” you warned, voice weak.

“I wasn’t gonna,” he said, stepping closer. “I was gonna say it was bad luck. Like always.”

That made you laugh. A little broken, but real.

“I was leaving.”

“I can see that.”

“…Should I stay?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to?”

You didn’t answer.

You didn’t need to.

Because your feet moved before your brain did — and when he opened his arms, you were already there.

Right back where you’d started.

But different.

You were mid-embrace, forehead against Shanks’ collarbone, when you heard it.

“SHAAAAANKS!!!”

Your head whipped around just in time to see a human blur launching itself from the deck of the Thousand Sunny.

“No—wait—” you began, stepping back.

But it was too late.

Luffy hit Shanks like a cannonball. Arms and legs wrapping around him like a sea-wet koala, hat askew, laughing so hard he was nearly sobbing.

“I KNEW IT WAS YOU!!” he yelled, hugging him tighter. “I saw the hair! I KNEW IT!”

Shanks staggered slightly, laughing and patting him on the back. “You're louder than ever, huh?”

“You’re real! You’re actually real! You’re here and she’s here and wait—” Luffy suddenly twisted mid-cling, his wide eyes locking on you with way too much suspicion for someone currently attached to another human being like a backpack. “��Are you Shanks’ WIFE?!”

You spluttered. “What?!”

Shanks snorted.

“NO!” he laughed. “But…” He tilted his head toward you and gave the world’s most irresponsible, charming wink. “She’s the woman I told you about when you were a kid.”

Luffy froze. Eyes wide. Brain shaking hands with a long-forgotten memory.

“The—THE ONE WHO PUNCHED A SEA KING?!”

You blinked. “I didn’t punch a Sea King, I hit a Sea King. With a cannon.”

“THE ONE WHO TOOK ON A WHOLE FLEET ALONE?!”

“That was mostly an accident,” you muttered.

“THE ONE WHO CALLED YOU A ‘FLAMING-GINGER DRAMA PRINCE?!’”

Shanks grinned. “That part is true.”

You slapped a hand over your face. “You told him that story?!”

“He was crying!” Shanks defended. “I had to cheer him up! You were my most hilarious near-death experience!”

Luffy was vibrating.

“You’re so COOL,” he whispered to you like he was five years old again. “You were in a story. A real-life Shanks story.”

You groaned and turned away. “I swear, if he told you about the octopus incident—”

“He did,” Shanks beamed.

“And the blown-up bathhouse?!”

“Oh, that one’s his favorite,” he said, ruffling Luffy’s hair. “He’s been telling that one to his crew for years.”

You turned slowly, eyes narrow. “I am going to drown you.”

“You tried that once,” Shanks grinned. “Didn’t take.”

Luffy was cackling.

The three of you stood there in the sunlight — you fuming, Shanks glowing, Luffy clinging like a starfish — as the Straw Hat crew began cautiously wandering over from the ship.

Robin raised an eyebrow. “I take it this is the red-haired menace?”

“Yup,” you muttered.

Nami blinked. “You know Shanks?!”

“She knows him very well,” Luffy grinned, still latched onto his old mentor.

Shanks tilted his head toward you again. “She’s trouble,” he said proudly.

“And you love it,” you grumbled.

He gave a one-shoulder shrug. “I really do.”

You sighed, rubbed your face, and turned to Luffy, who finally slid off Shanks and landed back on the dock.

“…You gonna be okay heading out soon?”

Luffy nodded, still smiling wide. “Course! You staying with him?”

You hesitated. Looked at Shanks. Then at the crew behind Luffy.

“…For now.”