PART 5 — A Promise and a Hat
The Red-Haired Pirates were already gathering their things by the time Luffy circled back to the bar.
Crates were stacked near the door. Weapons were being checked, slung, secured. The easy sprawl from earlier had tightened into motion with purpose. Luffy slowed—just a little—as he took it in.
Just a little.
"Leaving already?" he asked, hopping onto the counter before Makino could stop him.
Shanks glanced over, one hand tightening a strap on his cloak. "That's usually what boats do."
"Oh." Luffy rocked forward on his toes. "Where to?"
"Somewhere loud," Yasopp said. "Somewhere dangerous."
Luffy's grin stretched wide. "Take me with you."
Several pirates laughed.
Shanks didn't.
He stepped closer, crouching until they were eye level. "Not yet."
Luffy's smile didn't falter, but something sharp flickered behind it. "Why not?"
"Because you'd die," Shanks said easily.
Luffy blinked. Then he laughed. "No I wouldn't."
Shanks smiled back, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You will," he said. "Just not today."
The moment hung there—light, but heavy enough to notice.
Luffy hopped down from the counter and planted his feet, fists clenched at his sides. He puffed out his chest.
"I'm gonna be a pirate," he declared loudly. "A real one. I'm gonna get my own ship, and a crew, and I'm gonna find the One Piece and become Pirate King."
The bar went quiet.
Not shocked quiet. Familiar quiet. Like they'd heard this song before.
Some of the pirates chuckled. Lucky Roux wiped his mouth. Benn watched carefully. Makino leaned against the counter, expression soft.
Shanks stared at Luffy for a long moment.
Then he laughed.
A big, booming laugh that broke the tension clean in half.
"Pirate King, huh?" he said. "You've got a long way to go."
"I know!" Luffy said proudly. "That's why I gotta start now!"
Shanks reached up and lifted the straw hat from his own head.
Luffy froze.
The bar seemed to hold its breath as Shanks lowered the hat and placed it gently on Luffy's head. It slipped down over his eyes, and Luffy squeaked in surprise, grabbing at the brim.
"Hey!"
"Take good care of it," Shanks said, his voice quieter now. "It's important to me."
Luffy looked up at him, eyes wide.
"I will!" he said immediately. "I swear!"
Shanks smiled. "Return it to me someday. When you've become a great pirate."
Luffy's hands tightened on the brim.
"I will," he said again, just as loud, just as certain. "I promise."
The moment didn't linger.
Shanks straightened, clapped Luffy on the shoulder, and turned away. Orders were shouted. The pirates moved. The bar filled with sound again like nothing important had just happened.
Luffy stood there, hat a little too big for his head, heart pounding, grin threatening to split his face in two.
He bounced once.
Then again.
He couldn't help it.