A long while had passed since Mihawk and Shanks did their first mission together from Death and then a few more after as well. Mihawk was currently on his way to visit the red head, not for a mission, but to spend time with him while they were in the East Blue. It was calmer there and Mihawk knew it would give him an excuse not to go to any more meetings Sengoku felt they should have. If he had known becoming a Shichibukai would be this much work he would have opted out, but now he was stuck with the title. Plus, he felt he deserved a break from them. After all, dealing with Moria and Doflamingo was not a simple task.

The water lapped at the side of his small gothic boat and he watched as Draco leaned over the edge and dipped his furry paw into the water. When the water splashed him in the face though he snorted and laid back down in the safety of the boat. Neville and Luna were perched on either side of him on Yoru's hilt as they preened and cleaned any muck from their beautiful feathers. For Mihawk this was just another normal day on the waters, but for some reason everyone who saw him seemed to think that he was in trouble and had to either be woken up or saved. It made for a very bad day and he always made sure to see that they never disturbed his naps again.

Draco growled and stood as land came into sight. Mihawk recognized the ship in the docks clearly and stood as well flicking his fingers to make his small boat go a little faster. After all he was the Master of Death, not patience. The dock seemed old, but well-kept and stained a light brown color. Barrels lined it and there was extra rope lying around that he used to attach his boat to the dock. He jumped up on the docks and watched as Neville and Luna flew off with Draco running after them to the forest. They were most likely going to hunt and the foliage was green and thick with life so he had no doubt they'd be successful in blending in to get their meals.

As he walked along the docks and into town he watched as people avoided him or otherwise ignored him. Being a Shichibukai meant that you were well known. He had no doubt they thought he was here for a rather different reason. Although it meant he wasn't disturbed so he took it in stride making sure his head was held high.

It wasn't hard to find where Shanks was as he followed the loud noise into a bar and stepped in. Shanks' crew seemed lively as ever as they drunk and sang. Yassop was standing on a bar stool drunk as a dog as he started talking about his young son that he had to leave behind. Mihawk raised a brow and walked over pulling him down and it made the bar go silent.

"Do be respectful, Yassop." He said in annoyance before going over to Shanks. Laughter had followed his words and as he sat he grabbed Shanks' chin and pulled him forward inspecting the three scarred lines that ran over his left eye. "Are you putting the medicine on this still so it doesn't reopen?" He asked Shanks with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, Mihawk. I haven't missed a day. Three times a week and twice when I use it for morning and night." He said as if reciting from a book. He might as well have been, since Mihawk asked him the same question every time they meet since the younger man got the wound. It frustrated and irritated Mihawk that Shanks wouldn't let him heal it though. The man's excuse had been because the scar made him look cooler and while he never would admit it added to Shanks looks, he would rather his friend be healed.

"Good." He said and rested his sword against the counter and asked for a glass of wine. "So is this where we'll be staying for your little vacation?" He asked his companion with an amused smirk.

Shanks made a face, "It's our home base, but we'll be exploring all of the East Blue to see if anything's changed since we were last here." He told Mihawk as he grinned. "And I found this!" He said and turned.

Mihawk gave him a deadpanned look as Shanks held a small child in front of him by the collar. The boy was grabbing at his throat as his face began to turn blue. He took the boy in his arms and gave a light glare to the man as the kid tried to catch his breath. "That is not how you pick up a child, Shanks. You've choked him." He said in a reprimanding tone that had most of the bar looking at him in shock and disbelief.

"Mihawk…you like children?" Shanks asked him having not believed that the man could have liked people younger than him.

"You of all people should know why I am protective of children." Mihawk bit out heatedly making Shanks cringe a little at his blunt words. After all, the man should have remembered what Mihawk had shared with him. With such a harsh lifestyle growing up, Mihawk was fond of children and small animals. It made him calmer to help them and happier to know that he helped a child from a similar situation that he had grown up in. Of course any abuser he found was dealt with in a more violent manner then the Dursley's ever were, but that's how he dealt out his frustration.

"I didn't mean it like that Hawky…I was just surprised is all." He said and put his hand on Mihawk's shoulder and flashed a charming smile. "But his name is Luffy. Makino here has been looking after him." He explained and gestured to the woman that served his drink.

Mihawk nodded and took a sip of his wine. "I see. And why did you find interest in him?" He asked Shanks with a raised brow as he handed Luffy a glass of milk and carded his fingers through the young boy's hair. He didn't like the fact that the child seemed alone with only Makino to watch him. It meant he was an Orphan and that he was alone in the village.

Shanks grinned, "He wants to be a pirate." He said as if that was the only answer Mihawk needed to here.

The boy shook his head and gave an eerily familiar grin that reminded him of a certain Marine that he liked to avoid at all costs. "Yeah, I'm gonna be the greatest Pirate ever!" He yelled and his eyes glittered in excitement and glee. Mihawk indulged the boy and pat him on the head.

"Of course," He said simply before placing him on another stool near Benn. "Why don't you ask Benn about how much of a crew you'll need to start with." He said and Benn glared at him as Luffy began to rattle off all kinds of questions. Some of them were reasonable, but there were a few that made no sense so Mihawk was glad to just turn his attention back to Shanks.

The red head laughed and clapped Mihawk on the back before wrapping his arm around the man's shoulders. "I'm glad you could make it though, Mihawk, really." He said and Mihawk watched feeling his eyes soften before scoffing turning his head away to sip at his wine. Everyone around laughed at their interaction and it must have confused Luffy as it became one of the questions he prattled on about to Benn.

Mihawk could only roll his eyes as he finished sipping on his wine and stood. He looked at Shanks before grabbing Yoru and headed for the door. It didn't take him long to hear Shanks following behind and they left the bar and headed to the forest just outside the town. It would give them the most privacy, though no one would dare to follow two pirates.

"It's been a few months, hasn't it?" Shanks asked as he laced his fingers behind his head and glanced to the side towards Mihawk. The man could practically feel the red head looking over him checking for any wounds or any new nuances that he may have gained during their time apart.

"It has," Mihawk nodded and a small smile pulled at his lips and he uncrossed his arms so they hung at his sides.

Shanks saw this as an opportunity and put his arms down taking Mihawk's hand in his with the faintest blush on his face. It darkened slightly when Mihawk squeezed his hand gently in recognition. Their actions were hesitant and new. It was a different kind of relationship that the two teetered on the edge of and neither really knew how to respond to it so they had become hesitant, watching the other for any bad reactions. So far their slow dance around each other was succeeding.

The Hawk like man stopped once they were a little ways into the forest and he set Yoru down against a tree. Letting go of the red heads hand he also sat and was pleased to see the other man sit close beside him. "It's been a busy few years." Shanks said and leaned back against the tree with a smile.

Mihawk nodded, "It seems this world has many problems Death needs to fix." He said in amusement, but it faded quickly. "I just wish he hadn't sent you on the last one." He said and looked away.

"I was fine, Hawky. It was just a scratch." Shanks said and wrapped his arm around the man's shoulders. "I'm okay."

"You almost died, Shanks. Forgive me if I'm a little upset about that." Mihawk bit out and glared at him as he crossed his arms. A simple, unconscious way to try and block out the world and keep his emotions in check.

By now Shanks was used to Mihawk's moods though, so he just smiled. "Yep, but you saved me." He said and his smile turned into a grin. "I knew you would. Besides, it was the cliff that almost kill me not the Nefreem." He said.

Mihawk rolled his eyes, "Neferi, not Nefreem." He said though he relaxed against Shanks and took comfort at the other man's presence. "And I had told you multiple times that fire was the only real solution for it. Because of you Nepo got away, again."

Shanks cringed a little at that and bowed his head, "Sorry, Mihawk…" He said quietly feeling guilty of the escaped mad man.

The elder of the two rolled his eyes, "Next time, listen a bit better. I don't want you to get yourself killed." He said seriously looking at his longtime friend. He could hear Scath in the back of his head urging Mihawk to close the space between them, but he ignored it. He wouldn't risk his friendship even though they bordered on the edge of a new relationship.

"Alright, I will." Shanks said and looked in Mihawk's eyes. There was a soft smile on his face and he leaned forward a bit so their foreheads touched. "But no matter how stupid I can be, I know you'll be there to help me out of it." He said.

"Not always, Shanks…" Mihawk said quietly. It was one fear he always held. One day Shanks would do something stupid and Mihawk wouldn't be there to save him or heal him. He could bring Shanks' soul back, but it just wasn't the same and would curse the red head to a half-life.

"Close enough," Shanks said and brought his hand up to Mihawk's cheek and brushed his thumb over it. The space was closing between them and they could feel each other's breath on their lips.

Before they could touch though, a branch snapped and they pulled apart. Following the snap was the sound of a frustrated child. Then Draco bounded into the clearing holding a young boy like he was his kit and looked very smug and content about it. Mihawk sighed and rubbed his face tiredly while Scath told him he should have been quicker on kissing his mate. All Mihawk knew was that he was going to have a headache after talking to the kid and he was going to blame Garp because no matter what the man says it's always his fault.

He stood and took the kid from Draco and stood pinning the child with narrowed eyes. "Do not fight against me," He warned dangerously as he fixed the kid's hair negating the tone of his words.

The kid glared at him though he was wise not to move. Shanks pushed himself up to stand and leaned over Mihawk's shoulder to look at him. "Oh he's cute." He said teasingly and poked the kid's cheek. He was bit for his actions.

As Shanks yelled and started blowing on his sore finger, Mihawk shook his head and started walking. "It is not polite to bite people, child. Even if they deserve it." He told him and smirked in amusement at Shanks' indignant yell.

"My name's Ace," He mumbled childishly and crossed his arms.

"Well, Ace, I'm going to take you to meet someone and you can have something to eat." He stated having no intention of letting the beat up child go back to the forest. Especially when Draco had so easily caught him. To be fair though, the tiger did train with him on a regular basis.

"We're taking the biter with us?!" Shanks yelled and Mihawk turned to see Yoru on the red heads back as he ran to catch up with the two. Draco nipped at Shanks' heels and Mihawk felt his headache come back two fold.

"Yes Shanks," He sighed, "We're taking Ace with us." At that time Mihawk had just meant to the bar. He did not know that his words would affect the two children's lives in a very big way or that he made the possibility of Ace's life and knowledge to grow. All he knew in that moment was that Shanks could not manage to walk through a forest quietly and that Scath was complaining about the loss of private time with Shanks and Mihawk didn't know who to attack first. Shanks was the more obvious choice though as he was there physically and Scath was not.


Death: ...I'm still not happy with how this chapter came out...but now Ace and Luffy are here so it should be easier. Especially when the two can cause loads of chaos and with Shanks there it will be interesting I guess.