This dynamic creates a beautiful “found family” narrative. El Guante often acts as the exasperated but loving brother who watches Sunshine and Puss dance around each other. He is the one who tells Puss, “She loves you, you idiot. But she’s terrified you’re another score, not a home.” El Guante’s blessing is, unofficially, the final gatekeeper for any serious romantic storyline involving Sunshine. The writers of The Adventures of Puss in Boots wisely avoided creating a love triangle, but they did flirt with potential romantic tension in other storylines. The Kid Pickles Red Herring In early season episodes, the young thief Kid Pickles develops a clear, puppy-dog crush on Sunshine. Sunshine, being a mature adult (in cat years), gently but firmly redirects this. She treats him like a protege, not a potential lover. This storyline is important because it shows Sunshine’s ethical core: she is a thief, but she is not a manipulator. She refuses to use Kid Pickles’ affection for any gain, romantic or otherwise. This subplot serves to highlight that Sunshine’s heart, once given, is given completely—and she does not give it lightly. The Mayor’s Charm: A Political Temptation? In one memorable episode (“The Puss and the Magic Map”), Sunshine briefly flirts with the idea of a “normal” life when she meets a handsome, charismatic minor official in a neighboring kingdom. He is wealthy, stable, and openly admires her. For about half an episode, Sunshine considers it. A life of no running, no hiding, no fear.

Their early interactions crackle with competitive energy. They are rivals in the thieving world, each trying to outdo the other. This is a classic romantic setup: the enemies to lovers trope, but with a gritty, Western-meets-heist twist. Their bickering is foreplay; their duels are conversations. The first significant shift in their dynamic occurs during the backstory involving the Bloodwolf. Without spoiling too much, Sunshine and Puss were once forced to work together to survive a supernatural threat. It is here that Puss sees past Sunshine’s prickly exterior. He witnesses her bravery, her loyalty to her non-romantic partner (the gentle giant El Guante Blanco), and her refusal to abandon her crew even when escape is possible.

That is Sunshine Cruz. Her love story is not a destination; it is a never-ending, thrilling, dangerous, and utterly delightful chase. And as long as there are treasure maps to be stolen and towns to be saved, that chase will continue—one sarcastic quip and one heart-stopping rooftop rescue at a time.

A vocal part of the fandom also wants a storyline where Sunshine gets her own romantic B-plot without Puss—perhaps a reconnection with a past love from before she became a bandit, or even a storyline exploring an asexual or aromantic identity for the character, given her deep commitment to El Guante and her crew over romantic attachments. Sunshine Cruz’s relationships, and especially her romantic storylines with Puss in Boots, are a masterclass in writing complex, flawed, and deeply lovable characters. She refuses to be tamed by love. Instead, love has to adapt to her —her freedom, her loyalty, her sharp edges.

Their relationship is crucial to understanding Sunshine’s romantic hesitance with Puss. El Guante represents safety. He has never betrayed her, never competed with her, and never expected romance. He is her anchor. When she argues with Puss, she goes to El Guante. When she is afraid, she stands in his shadow.