the quickest path to pirate friendship

[earnedmystripes]

WHO: Kotetsu and Luffy
WHERE: Some random cafe in Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Nowish?
WHAT: A superhero meets a pirate
WARNINGS: literally none, this will probably be teeth-rottingly cute.


[After hearing about the blackout incident, Kotetsu's been taking it upon himself to go through the Porter cities periodically and check in on things, to make sure things are picking back up smoothly.

He's helping a local cafe owned by a kindly old couple to get some of their new inventory back into the freezers, when he overhears an argument nearby. A kid, it seems....and he can't pay for his food? Kotetsu puts the box he's carrying away and comes back quickly, interrupting to quell the argument and offer:]

Hey, I've got this.

Comments

[nishishi]

But the cafe I went to the other day gave me my food for free because I'm a student. [His hands are on his hips, and he looks every bit irritated at the situation he's found himself in. How was he supposed to know that the free-dinners-on-Wednesdays at a local cafe didn't stretch to Thursdays, and not to other cafes? Honestly, they should have let him know that before he sat down and ate an entire dinner.

He's about to open his mouth to complain again when this guy in a hat comes to his apparent rescue. His eyes widen a little, and he almost even sparkles.]

Haaa? [Is... he going to pay for his dinner? Even the person he's arguing with comes to a pause, looking at Kotetsu expectantly.]

[earnedmystripes]

[He totally is. The employee seems equally surprised, and when Kotetsu insists that yes, he is sure...the employee rings him up. It's almost a little comical, the way his eyebrows shoot up a bit--how did one kid possibly eat that much??? Kotetsu can't eat that much, and he still more or less eats like a teenager.

But he fishes out his wallet nonetheless, and pays up. It's not like he can't afford it, after all. Registration is convenient, as much as it irritates him. Once it's done, he smiles at the kid, flashing a thumbs-up.]

You're all covered.

[nishishi]

[Honestly, the fact that Tiger still paid the price of his meal (honestly enough for at least three people) was impressive alone. Luffy's staring at the man with a blank look...

That slowly grows into a sparkling one.]

Wow, you're a really great guy--I really owe you one!

[A really loud, cheery laugh follows.]

If you ever need a hand, you just have to ask me, alright?! [He always pays back the people who give him food--... but usually never with money. He's so poor.]

[earnedmystripes]

[Kotetsu flaps a hand]

Nah, you don't owe me anything.

[He'd feel awful accepting money from a kid, honestly.]

It happens to everyone. I forgot my wallet at home for lunch like, last week.

[at least...he's assuming this is what happened .... bc surely a kid would not have eaten such a huge meal while knowing he had no money, right?]

Had to stand in line all over again, it was super lame. [He gives Luffy a pat atop his straw hatted head.] Just be more careful next time, yeah?