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Shanks wonders why some crews they fight against are more friendly than others.
The Whitebeard Pirates are a nice bunch. Quite strong but fair in battle, and pretty fun when they all party together.
Buggy doesn't like that they're almost evenly matched, because it means they don't get to loot them as much. Now he's complaining that they're basically exchanging stuff and that they won't get anything of much value... More accurately, he complains that he gave them a nice compass from earlier loot, and that it'll take him ages to find a new one.
Rayleigh-san tells him that he'll need one when he's older, and he'll have plenty of time until then to make up for his loss.
Buggy still grumbles until nightfall that he shouldn't have given that away.
Shanks tries to cheer Buggy up, showing off what he got in the exchange, but nothing seems to change his mind. Shanks is sad about the whole situation, and decides to do what he can to make Buggy smile again.
Shanks offers Buggy the nicest jewels he finds in the loot, buys him things he thinks he'd be interested in.
Buggy's confused at first by those gifts, but accepts them nonetheless. He enjoys being spoiled, Shanks guesses, and the redhead is more than happy to provide.
Shanks even gets him a pretty dagger once.
Buggy's eyes shine as he examines the blade, and he's thankful for the thoughtful gift.
Shanks grins in return, and wonders how to please Buggy even more. As time passes, he tries different kinds of gifts, and examines Buggy's reactions each time, trying to determine what he likes the most.
Several years pass before they meet the Whitebeard Pirates again. This time they fight for three days straight, and on the fourth day when their Captains declare a truce, they exchange gifts like they usually do.
While looking for items of interest here and there, Shanks opens wide eyes as he finds Buggy's compass from a few years ago. He trades it for part of his personal loot and hides it until they're back at sea, waiting for the night to reveal his latest gift.
Buggy joins him in their shared bunk, getting ready to go to bed.
Shanks, already installed in the top bunk bed, hands him the compass, wrapped into a blue cloth.
"What's that ?", Buggy asks as he turns towards him.
Shanks simply smiles. "A gift."
"Hm ?" Buggy snatches the gift from Shanks hands, and unwraps the blue cloth, revealing the compass inside. He lightens up in recognition, and lifts his head up to curiously gaze at Shanks. "Where did you get that ?"
"From the Whitebeard Pirates' loot. I got it back for you", Shanks beams.
"Why ?"
"To make you happy."
Buggy frowns. "Why ?", he asks again, more quietly.
Shanks blinks. "I like to see you smile. I want to see you happy, because I like you."
Buggy flushes red. "You didn't say that."
Shanks tilts his head to the side. "Uh ? Yeah, I did. I like you. I thought you knew..."
Buggy's gaze drifts to the newly found compass in his hand. "Is that- is that why you keep giving me all those gifts ?"
"Well, yeah."
Buggy stares down, and remains silent.
"Buggy... ? I thought you liked those ? If you don't I'll stop, but-"
"Shut up", Buggy snaps, "I do." He looks up and purses his lips. "Thanks for getting this back", he says, "that's... nice."
Shanks beams again. "Anything to make you happy !"
Buggy's cheeks flush red again. "Shut up, I said !"
Shanks laughs as he snuggles back under the covers.
Buggy discards the compass and slides into the bottom bunk bed, then turns off the light. After a quiet while, he murmurs, "Did you mean it ?"
Shanks blinks in the dark. "Yeah."
"Hm. Thanks, that's nice."
Shanks grins against his pillow.