1"Shanks?" Luffy sat on the floor of his cabin.
"Hmm?" Shanks looked up from his hands. He wasn't doing anything, just watching Luffy, plain as that.
"You got any stories?" Luffy still held the toy ship but looked at Shanks. "New ones, I mean."
"I don't know." He shrugged and smiled.
"None?"
Shanks looked out his small window into the night. "Sure." Faster than could be comprehended Luffy ran into his arms, and sat on his lap. "There was a Pirate Captain. Who sailed a lot."
"Shanks! Is this story about you?" Luffy bounced about, eggar to get to the 'good stuff.'
"Clam down and just listen. He had a crew of about one hundred men, all loyal to his cause. They were the most fierce in all the sea. Feared by all and bowed to no one."
"For real?" Luffy's eyes were wide.
Shanks continued to talk as if he hadn't been interrupted. "This Pirate Captain was strong and had no weaknesses. Nothing could kill him."
"Nothing?" Luffy raised an eyebrow, just an adult would do, quite aware that everyone can die. Shanks rested his chin on top of the mop of black hair.
"Yep, nothing. As you know Luffy, no ship can stay at sea forever. They have to come to land sometimes." Luffy nodded halfheartedly, completely enthralled with the story, regardless of the fact nothing 'exciting' had happened. "The crew wanted to make base somewhere but no matter where they went the Marines would find them..." the story continued for a good while; Luffy would nod occasionally and squeeze Shanks' arm at scary parts.
"How does it end?" Luffy yawned and Shanks pulled his sheets back laying the child beneath them. He brushed at his dark hair, pushing it away from the wide innocent eyes. "The child managed to find a way into the Captain's heart. That little boy made the pirate want to be a father. As soft as it seemed the pirate captain had to face the fact... that..." Shanks wanted to cry. He didn't know why but he did. "...he... loved...the child."
"What was his name?" Luffy stared up into Shanks' eyes. All he received in response was a smile.
"Goodnight." Shanks whispered, leaned down, and kissed him on the forehead.