Freedom

In the gaming sector of the Pirate Festival, the crowded streets made way for a group of pirates approaching them. These pirates rode on reptilian creatures with long bodies and tall claws. 

"Make way, Peasants! Make way! The new King of Pirates is on a walk with his queen!" 

Bartolomeo chased away the surrounding pirates with a glare. He was riding on a Deinonychus that had reins and a muzzle on it. Behind him, Hancock and Luffy were following closely while riding the same type of dinosaurs. The Barto Club were riding the smaller Velociraptors. A crew of dinosaur-riding pirates easily cleared the area. 

"Luffy-Senpai, I'm afraid this is where we go our separate ways." 

Bartolomeo spoke with a bow after leading Luffy and Hancock back to the game stalls. 

"What, you're leaving already, Lomeo?" 

Bartolomeo nodded. 

"I may be a thug, but I am not a brute who will continuously interrupt a date. As you two barely see each other, this is valuable time that you should spend together." 

Hancock showed him a thumbs up and he returned one. 

"I see. Then, I'll see you in the treasure race." 

"Of course, I'll be there to help you all the way, Luffy-Senpai." 

"Nah, compete for yourself. Otherwise, you won't have fun. I'll have my crew so don't worry." 

"What a thoughtful and great man you are, Luffy-Senpai~! Thinking about someone as insignificant as me!" 

Bartolomeo started crying while Hancock nodded in agreement. 

"Alas, it's time we depart." 

He saluted Hancock who replied with one of her own. 

"Farewell, Luffy-Senpai!" 

Bartolomeo and the Barto Club left in haste. 

"See you at the race!" 

Luffy waved at them as they rode off on their dinosaur steeds. He looked at Hancock. 

"Looks like it's just us again." 

"Yeah." 

Hancock nodded with a pleasant smile. 

"So, what's next?" 

Luffy asked. 

"Ah, right. What else was on the list?" 

Hancock started going through her mental checklist. 

"Did you hear about the fortune teller near here?" 

As she was doing that, she heard a conversation between two female pirates not far away from her. 

"Yeah, I went earlier. Their fortunes are insanely accurate. I couldn't believe it." 

"Yup. I also asked them to do a love compatibility fortune telling for me and the guy I like." 

"From your smile, I assume it went well." 

"He said we'll be together before the year ends." 

"Really?! Congratulations!" 

"Hancock?" 

Hancock snapped out of her daze after hearing Luffy's voice. 

"My apologies. I was just thinking about something." 

She smiled at Luffy. 

"Are you interested in fortunes, Luffy?" 

"Not really. I believe in creating my own fate." 

(What a cool thing to say~!) 

Hancock fangirled in her head. However, her expression became bleak. 

"You don't like fortunes, huh?" 

She put on a smile. 

"Then let's do something else." 

Luffy looked at her for a bit. 

"Did you want to go?" 

"No, no. I'm fine with doing whatever Luffy wants!" 

Hancock hurriedly said. Luffy firmly grabbed her wrist, causing her to look at him. 

"You don't need to keep doing things I like. This is a date for both of us. We should both be having a good time, doing things we both like." 

His eyes narrowed. 

"Don't be afraid to speak your mind. Tell me what you desire, and I promise I'll make it happen." 

Hancock's widened. She looked at Luffy's serious and sincere expression for a bit and smiled. 

"I want to get our fortunes taken, and you're coming." 

Luffy smiled. 

"Gladly." 

Luffy took Hancock's hand and her body stiffened for a bit before relaxing. She entwined their fingers together. 

"Excuse me." 

She called out to the female pirates with a smile. 

"Where is this fortune teller you two are talking about?" 

A short while later, Hancock and Luffy arrived at a tent with a sign that said Fortune Readings. There was a long line of pirates of all ages and genders leading into the tent. 

"Looks like we have to wait a while." 

Hancock mumbled. 

"You're not going to find a shortcut this time?" 

"Huh? What do you mean, Luffy?" 

"I mean every time we saw a line you would always find a way to cut it. Aren't you going to do that now?" 

".....That's because I did it so you wouldn't be upset. I did it for you." 

"So you have no problem doing it for me, only for yourself?" 

A slight blush appeared on Hancock's face as she nodded. Luffy frowned. 

"Bullshit." 

"Eh?" 

Luffy's outburst caught Hancock off-guard. 

"The Hancock I know would've proudly forced her way through." 

He took a step closer and looked up at her. 

"What's the real reason?" 

Hancock looked away with a red face. 

"I-I don't want you to think I'm a barbaric woman, a bully without the common decency to wait in line." 

She looked him in the eyes. 

"I don't want to look bad in front of you." 

Luffy silently looked at her for a while before walking away. 

"Huh? Luffy?" 

She called out to him with a pleading tone. 

"Don't worry, I'm just going to get us a spot." 

He walked to the front of the line. Hancock watched as he talked to the ones in front. Soon, she could see the pirates yelling at Luffy, who remained calm. He talked a bit more and the pirates became more hostile. Luffy sighed and punched the pirate nearest to him. The pirate flew threw the air and crashed into a stall. Luffy looked at the rest of the pirates with a grin before attacking all of them. Less than a minute later, dozens of pirates lay on the ground and the long line was no more. He walked over to Hancock with a smile on his face. 

"Hancock, we're next." 

Hancock looked at him in shock. 

"Luffy, why did you do that?" 

"Why? Because you would've done it for me." 

"But...I don't want you to dirty your hands for me." 

Hancock's eyes drifted to Luffy's bloodstained fists. 

"Why shouldn't I when you're more than willing to do so for me?" 

She looked up and was faced with Luffy's hardened expression. 

"Just as you are willing to do anything to make me happy, I'm willing to do the same." 

He held her hands. 

"I don't know how you see me Hancock, but I'm not a good person. I am a pirate, just like you. I do whatever I want, no matter what others say or think." 

He lifted her hands up to his face. 

"And now, I want to make you happy even if the world views me as a demon in the process." 

"Luffy..." 

Hancock softly mumbled his name as she felt his warm hands stained with blood. 

"I said it earlier, didn't I? Don't be afraid to speak your mind. Tell me what you desire, and I promise I'll make it happen. If you think you doing something that will upset me, still do it. Even if I get mad, I will never hate you. Why? Because you're someone with a good heart. So, I know you will never do anything to make me hate you." 

He showed her a radiant smile that grasped her heart. 

"Boa Hancock, you are free and I swear on my life you will be free forever more." 

"......" 

Hancock silently looked at Luffy's face. Her vision blurred as tears flowed from her eyes. 

"Huh? Hancock, are you okay?!" 

Luffy started panicking and let go of her hands. 

"Did I say too much?" 

Hancock chuckled a bit and wiped the tears away from her eyes. 

"No, I just felt like crying." 

She smiled. 

"I'm free to do as I want right?" 

She playfully stuck her tongue out. Luffy sighed in relief. 

"Yeah, but you nearly gave me a heart attack." 

"Hahaha, my bad." 

She started laughing. Luffy watched her laugh and a small smile appeared on his face. Hancock stretched her hand out to him. 

"Shall we?" 

"Yeah." 

He took her hand and the two of them walked towards the tent. They ignored the groans of the pirates they stepped over and walked into the tent. 

"Welcome." 

Once they were inside the tent, they were greeted by a group of hooded people. They stood near a man who was sitting behind a table. He had blond hair, black marking where his eyebrows should be, and an eery face. This man was Basil Hawkins. 

"Strawhat and the Pirate Empress, a pair so unusual it must've been guided by fate." 

Hawkins started shuffling a pack of cards in front of him. 

"So, what kind of fortune do you wish to be read?" 

"I want to know if my dreams will come true." 

Hancock spoke up. 

"Most couples ask if their relationship will fail or not, and here you are asking about your personal future...." 

He picked up a tarot card with the High Priestess in reverse. 

"This was the card I was going to show you if you had come in earlier and asked about your relationship." 

"Thanks, but I no longer need your help to tell me the future of Luffy and I's relationship." 

She lifted her hand that was holding onto Luffy's. 

"We will decide our own future." 

Luffy wore a proud smile while standing beside Hancock. 

"I see. So, you got over your problems and changed fate already." 

Hawkins brought the card down. 

"That's right, However, since we're already here and Luffy went through the trouble, I thought we should still give the fortunes a try." 

"I see. Then, I have the perfect card for you two, your relationship, and your individual futures." 

He took up a card. It was The Fool upright. 

"Huh? Are you mocking us?!" 

Hancock instantly became enraged. 

"I am not mocking you. For the two of you, especially, the Pirate Empress, this is the best card you could get." 

Hawkins put the card away. 

"Simply put, you're just starting your journey. The possibilities are endless for you. The world you desire is yours for the taking, but whether you claim it is up to how much risk you're willing to take. In other words, how much of a fool are you willing to become to achieve your goals despite the odds being stacked against you?" 

"I see." 

Hancock pondered his words for a bit before nodding. 

"I understand." 

"You do? I don't." 

Luffy mumbled. 

"Well, you seem happy so I guess it's ok." 

Hancock nodded. 

"I'm very happy."