A red-headed path

3. A connection?

The situation seemed like it was escalating. Shanks, although he wasn't the tallest man around, seemed pretty threatening when standing up to look down at the "smaller" people. His thinking face was often scary, and the smile wasn't helping.

Makino was still bowing her head confidently, and unmoving. She wouldn't let anyone lay a hand on her kids-...or wait, she meant, on those kids.

Shanks lowers his head with a slight chuckle and daring grin. "Heh.." his lowered head rises with a friendly confidence, encouraging eye contact. "Don't worry about it." Shanks started to amble forward with slow steps, approaching Makino. "Kids will be kids." He edged forward a little more making Makino tighten her eyes and tense up. Swallowing a choked nervousness, she stood firm as Shanks continued to approach.

The villagers that lined the streets had mostly gathered by now, shifting nervously watching and waiting in fear for Makino.

Windmill village was an overall peaceful place, and so the people that resided there hadn't had much experience with pirates nor war. Garp, as well as one other, had been keeping the place safe from any potential harm, for the most part.

Shanks lifts her head up with his left arm to make eye contact smiling making makino ease up some and stand up with more confidence.
The corners of Shanks mouth rose just slightly at the sight of her confidence. He closed his eyes and gave a soft laugh which surprised Makino.

"What's so funny?" She tilted her head slightly to the right with a raised eyebrow.

Shanks reopened his eyes and gazed into hers; giving a warm smile. "Nothing." He laughed again. "I just don't often meet ordinary people who aren't afraid."
Makino let out huff; bringing her hands to her waist, she stepped closer to Shanks just enough so they were an inch away from the other's face. "Well, don't go thinking I'm any other woman." She gave with a smug face.
This caught Shanks off guard, he backed off quickly with wide eyes and a reddened face.

"Now what's wrong? Aren't I the one who's supposed to be afraid of you?" She teased him.

Shanks gained his ground again, this time closing in on Makino with slowed step. "I'm not afraid." He approached, his large figure she now started to notice approaching so dominantly.

She couldn't help but look down and his unbuttoned shirt, he was so muscula- 'NO MAKINO!' She forced her eyes back into his and stood her ground. 'I ain't no simp!'
(A/n: I am 😩)

But to her surprise, Shanks just walked past her and made his way towards the kids. He slowed his steps and tried to seem friendly, but the two older brother vanished as if out of thin air.

. Shanks whistled. "They're fast!" He laughed while swinging around to face Makino once more.
. She smiled like a proud mother. "I know they are." She thought to herself, 'he doesn't seem to bad...but I'd like to get to know him more, for the kids of course.' she lied to herself. "Hey." She caught his attention. "Why don't you come down to my bar and have some alcohol."
. "WOULD I?" His attitude seemed to change completely at the word alcohol. "Now I didn't know you owned a bar!" Shanks walked up to her quickly and grabbed her by the shoulder, which made her face pinken. "I like you already!"
. He smiled like an idiot, almost as if he was a child. Makino couldn't help but laugh.
. "What're laughing at?" Shanks lowered his face to hers.
. "You silly." Makino replied.
. "WHAT!? ME!? WHY!?" Shanks swished around and grabbed both of her shoulders. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT ME!?"
. Makino couldn't help herself, she turned away and hid her face as she laughed.
. Shanks pouted. "You're being mean!"
. "HAHAHA!" Makino pushed him away, but quickly returned her gaze. "You're such a child!"
. Shanks looked offended. "EXCUSE ME!?" The laughs of his crew could be heard in the background, while the villagers left seeing as Makino seemed to have this handled. "How!?"
. She just looked up into his eyes and smiled. 'Adorable..' Shanks thought. He started to lose himself in his mind; but Makino grabbed him by his collar and dragged him to the bar.

. "You're too slow! Hurry up already!" Makino let go of his collar and walked off to her bar, leaving Shanks to stand there alone as he watched her walk off.
. He was a little stunned.