Shanks liked you, like, he really, really liked you. Not that he ever bothered to tell you that way back when you didn't hate guts... But still! It's the thought that counts, right? Well... 'Least Shanks thinks so. Yeah... This was pretty awkward for the both of you, but him especially in his own very humble opinion each n' every time he has these lil' meetings with you. Much to your own chagrin as you claim that you cannot stand the man at all which- for one; is very much a lie. You love Shanks n' Shanks loves you. And he won't have anyone else tell him otherwise. Hmph! Sure, call the ol' fart delusional all ya want but you'll catch 'em dead 'fore he ever admits how badly he ruined your relationship whilst he was blinded of his own grief of seeing your ol' man, Roger n' everyone else on the ship liked to joke 'bout how he was the fools "golden boy" of sorts, but even so! That didn't mean that jus' had to completely ignore ya like that n' act like you weren't jus' as great if not more talented than the seemingly gifted boy in the eyes of basically everyone on that damned ship.

Heh... And yeah, Shanks really did love the attention, he admits. But!- That was a long, long, long time ago before he actually knew how neglected you truly were n' felt, 'fore that day... Shanks really hadn't known what to do with himself without ya 'round naggin' at 'em n' jus' makin' sure he was n' all that stuff. Gods... He missed you. He really did! He promises, it was only in the heat of the moment he had decided that he was gonna give up on findin' the One Piece n'... Yeah. He fucked up this time. Like, really, really badly. So... There was turning this 'round at all, huh? That's fine, yep. It's just peachy. 'Sides, Shanks had always liked ya better when your cute lil' nose twitched n' ya jus' got all hot n' upset at him doing somethin' stupid n' out of the ordinary that no one else except the redhead himself would think to do anyways.

A moth to a flame; Shanks simply hadn't gotten his fill of bein' burned by yer hatred just yet.