You couldn't remember the last time you stayed on an island this long. It must've been years ago, long before you met him.

Traveling had always been a desire of yours. To traverse the world, discovering different cultures and landscapes, that was your dream.

And you've been living it gratefully for years.

Of course, it's always nice to spend more than a few days ashore once you have the opportunity.

Your Captain has business on this tropic island, and you've been enjoying the leisure time that this gives you.

Right now, you're shopping at the local markets, admiring the bright jewelry and clothing that the various vendors offer.

A raucous laugh sounds off behind you. You ignore it, minding your own business, even as you hear a loud whistle.

"Hey, pretty lady," a man's voice says.

You continue ignoring it, instead reading the price of a beautiful red jewel.

This apparently aggravates the man trying to get your attention. He grabs your shoulder roughly, expecting it to be easy to turn you towards him.

You remain in place, stronger than the man anticipated.

After he removes his hand, you turn to him with a frown, "May I help you?"

He's a tall man in a nice suit, not too shabby looking. Too bad his personality is rotten. Behind him are five more men in similar fashion. You take clear note of the weapons strapped to their sides.

"I was talking to you," he growls. "I don't like being ignored."

"I don't like being hassled," you retort, crossing your arms.

"I was just saying how gorgeous you are," he explains with a slimy grin.

You turn on your heel, "Thanks."

"Hey!" He shouts, getting closer to you so that you can feel his breath. "Don't you know who I am?"

"Do you know who I am?" You ask pointedly.

"You're a pretty piece of ass that needs to be taught a lesson," he scowls, stepping back. "And we'll gladly be your teachers."

Disgust washes over you.

"Are you trying to hit on me? Because you're doing a poor job of it. And you're wasting your breath- I'm already taken."

"I could take you better than he ever could," he tries to argue.

Your laughter is impossible to hold back, "You're delusional, you aren't even near his level. You should stop talking now."

A smirk forms on your lips as you watch the man shake with anger. His eyes are alight with rage at being shot down and humiliated in front of his friends.

Meanwhile, you've mentally checked out, comparing the red of the jewel to your man's hair. He loves seeing you in his colour.

A loud click goes off near your ear, the kiss of cold metal on your temple a warning not to move.

"You're gonna regret speaking to me like that."

You step back from the market stall, shooting an apologetic look towards the owner. The poor girl looks terrified.

One of the man's lackeys has pulled his gun on you, standing much too close for comfort.

Unimpressed, you shake your head, "How immature."

"I'm going to-"

He stops as a malevolent aura suddenly appears, causing sweat to form on his brow.

"What exactly are you going to do?" A deceptively calm voice speaks out, followed by footsteps as a red-haired man approaches.

The man in front of you has gone paler than a corpse, shaking just like the man holding the gun against your head.

"Red-Haired Shanks," a man near you whispers in terror.

They seem to be grasping the situation now. Although, you could have handled the situation just fine on your own.

You smile at your man, who raises a quizzical brow.

"These guys bothering you?"

Before you can reply, the hassler interrupts, "Please, sir we had no idea-"

A gunshot rings out and the gun pressed against your head suddenly falls as the man collapses in a display of bright red blood.

Infuriated, you kick out, knocking the guy to the floor next to his dead buddy.

"Shut up. You should have respected me regardless of who I associate with," you deliver a harsh kick to his side before pressing your foot on top of his chest.

"Scum like you are less than worms to me," you grit out, adding more pressure until you hear a sickening crack of a broken rib and the man cries out in pain. "You never know when to quit."

You reach out a hand towards Shanks and he hands you his sword without hesitation. None of this dimwit's posse do anything to try and help their leader.

They know it's a battle they could never win.

With a graceful flick of your wrist, the man below you is impaled through the heart. A clear message to anyone watching.

You fix your gaze on the remaining losers, "Don't harass people, okay?"

They nod profusely, muttering nonstop apologies as they retreat quickly.

You crouch down to wipe the blood off of Shank's sword, handing it back with a smirk.

"Darling," he sheathes his weapon, moving closer to you and pressing a soft kiss to your cheek. "That was stunning."

"Shanks, I was handling it just fine before you showed up," you say, passing a glance over his shoulder to offer a smile to Benn Beckman. "But thanks for the assist anyways."

"I know, but you know how I get seeing someone get so close to you," Shanks says, looping his arm around your shoulders. "Especially when they threaten what's mine."

You grin, pressing your lips against his and nipping at him playfully.

"Why didn't you deal with them sooner?" He inquires once you break away.

"Maybe I wanted to play the part of the damsel for once," you tease. "Seeing you all protective and possessive gets me riled up."

"Vixen," he laughs, "You knew I was watching."

"I always know, Shanks," you wink at him. "Just like I know you'll buy this for me."

You show him the jewel that perfectly matches the shade of his hair.

He laughs, handing the money over to the shopkeeper, "I could never deny you, Y/n."

He embraces you again and you lean into his warmth, inhaling the familiar scent of sake and sea breeze.

"I think I'll have it made into a ring, that way everyone will know you're mine."

The grin that breaks onto your face is enough to brighten his whole lifetime.

He hugs you closer and presses a chaste kiss to your head.

He'd never let anyone else touch his treasure, he'd destroy anyone if they tried.

But he also knows you can fend for yourself, one of the many qualities that he adores about you.

You take his hand, leading him down the market, "Now you're stuck shopping with me~"

He can't think of anywhere else he'd rather be.