Maelstrom

Chapter 4

Shanks' POV

The kid that just walked in the bar, he was interesting for sure.

His voice was pitched in between feminine and masculine, and his stature was rather small, almost feminine with the willowy frame.

So young, yet all by his lonesome- on the waves to add to that.

Not many could fare the ocean by themselves, so you had to give the kid credit where it was due.

Strange attire that kid was wearing. He had on a dark greyish-black and tattered cloak that was clearly too big for him. Maybe it was something given to him from his father? It didn't seem like a kid's cloak that was for sure, but you weren't about to judge him for his keepsakes. What you were curious about was how he had managed to so cleverly hide that dagger underneath him without you being able to even see it.

How the kid was able to get the jump on you though, you of all people- well that's what you really wanted to know.

One minute the kid was all smirks and smugness and the next minute, the kid had a knife at your jugular. He was quicker than your eye could follow, and that made you wonder. Maybe the kid had Haki? But at such a young age? It just didn't make any sense.

All you knew was that this kid that just walked into the bar was someone who had piqued your interest.

You grin, feeling a lot better than you had earlier today. What a find that you had managed to stumble across.

This kid, whether he had intended to or not- he caught your interest.

And like all pirates- if there was something out of the ordinary, anything eye-catching...well...then you'd be a fool to let them go.

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"So kid, you don't have a crew then?" You ask, voice even, trying to keep the surprise and curiosity from bleeding into it.

"Aye. It's just me, myself and I." The kid answers, golden eyes flashing with caution, trying to avoid looking back up at your searching gaze.

You can tell that the kid also put two and two together, and his body language shouted defensiveness.

"Hmm, that's too bad. You could join mine if you ever wanted to though. I'm sure it gets lonely out there, all by yourself." You answer back, eyes darting toward your crew in the bar.

You weren't about to risk scaring the kid off, not when he had so many interesting things about him. You grin as you wave one lazy hand around, gesturing for to them to lower their guard.

The kid whirled his head up, his golden orbs widened in surprise at your words before narrowing his eyes at you suspiciously.

"No thanks, I can't really say I trust you enough to just take your word for it and join your crew of merry idiots." He scoffs as he crosses his fingers in a figure of an "X."

How amusing.

You can feel your crew's eyes on you, curious of your encounter with the strange kid.

You quirk an eyebrow in surprise at his blasé reaction.

Has this kid really never heard of you? Who would've thought that there's people out there that could live in such ignorance. If he didn't know about you and your crew, you really wanted to keep this kid close. If he didn't know about you -the captain of the Red-Haired pirates- you honestly were worried about what he'd try to do to other big shots out there. God forbid if this kid somehow meets Whitebeard- poor thing wouldn't last a minute.

You chuckle a bit at his earlier actions. Damn kid was pretty reckless to pull a knife on you of all people. You had to give credit to the kid where credit was due. Even if he was ignorant, he had enough brains to put together that you and your crew were dangerous if provoked- meaning he didn't lack all of his survival instinct at the very least.

"Merry idiots? Well, that's one way to call us I'm sure." You chuckle again, feeling more and more curiosity piquing at just what the hell this kid was made to be so casual.

Just where was this kid from? Who exactly was he?

"But most people call us the Red-Haired Pirates. It's a pleasure to meet ya. The name is Shanks." You glance over at the kid, waiting to see if he understood.

Golden eyes stare quizzically back up at you.

You chuckle at his response, feeling rather amused.

Well, if the kid didn't know who you were, you might as well do him the honor of showing him.

"C'mon kid, let me show you my ship. And maybe you can show me yours, after all, I feel like you've got a lot of fire." You pause, throwing him a roguish smile. "I like kids like you."

The kid jolts away as you stand closer to him, defensively crouching back he puts his hands in front of him. "No way! That sounds really perverted and I think you're a bit too old for me, even if you are pretty- you're really not my type. Sorry."

Laughter rings out as you blush inadvertently. Alright then, just leave it up to a kid like this to put your integrity on the line.

Damn kid, thinking of something like that when you just asked if he wanted to see your ship- Ohh. You got it now.

You scowl.

You suppose you could see how it could be misconstrued as a bit perverse now that you thought about it- but you really had no intention of it sounding like that. Really!

"Tch. Whatever, fine old man, let's go see your huge ship then." The kid had continued after seeing your face flush red.

"What? No, that's not what I meant kid! You're the perverse one thinking things like that." You stammer a bit, feeling a little flustered at the fact that a kid just made an inadvertent innuendo and you let it fly right over your head.

Damn brat did that on purpose didn't he?

The kid tossed you a smirk of his own, but you couldn't help feeling a small bit of pride in his theatrical antics.

Kids really were something nowadays weren't they?

"Anyways, follow me, and by the way, y'know you never gave me your name, kid." You tilt your head, gesturing for him to follow you, while the kid slides off the barstool, and warily begins to follow you at a distance.

"Even if I tell you my name -which I should not- you're just gonna keep calling me kid aren't you?" The kid scoffs in an annoyed manner.

He lightens up a bit though after looking back at you, sighing in defeat.

"The name's Ruse, not kid." The golden eyed lad pauses for a moment as he looks back at you expectantly.

Oh.

"Ruse D. Argenti."

Oh fuck.

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