What You Mean To Me
Summary: One Piece Soulmate Bingo: Matching Scars. Requested by AlfredTheHero. Scars were the sign of a soulmate. Each soulmate would gain matching scars to their soulmate. In some cases they matched perfectly, in other times, they didn't. Shanks and Mihawk find out in their own ways that they are connected in more than just crossing swords. Mihawk/Shanks.
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to One Piece Soulmate Bingo! I hope you are enjoying these! Alfie, I hope you enjoy this! Thank you for always enabling me xD Anyway, not much to say here! On with the fic!
Pairing: Dracule Mihawk/Shanks
Warnings: Blood and Injury, Hurt and Comfort, Scars, Soulmate AU, Canon Divergence
What You Mean To Me
There was one person in the entire world that was believed to be a person's "perfect other half". They became known as a soulmate. That their souls were somehow connected through a mysterious power that no one could explain. Identification of soulmates came through the form of scars. The scars typically matched perfectly to the scars that their other half got. Rather they appeared somewhere on their arms, chest, neck, etc. There were times that they didn't show up in the same spot. It was believed that if a soulmate was ashamed or even insecure of said scar, it would show up somewhere else on their soulmate's body.
It was a fascinating and scary concept when Shanks first learned about it. Part of him was ecstatic to know that there was a possibility that he had a soulmate. It was like something directly out of a fantasy. At the same time, it scared him knowing that a soulmate could end up with a scar from an injury. Soul marks didn't just disappear. They remained on the skin for years. If the scar started to heal more on the person who had the injury, the more likely it would become lighter on their soulmate.
Roger had started to teach him about soulmates when he had discovered a scar on Roger's arm when he was around four. Seeing it and knowing that Roger didn't have that scar the day before.
"It's said they are supposed to be your other half." Roger had told him. "That you are so connected that it even appears on the skin. Sometimes, you can use these to know if they need your help, but you can only do that if they allow you too."
Shanks never knew what he meant by that. They had spent the entire day talking about soulmates. The stories that Roger had heard. His own experiences.
There was for a moment, Shanks couldn't wait to meet his soulmate.
He had learned of it one day when he was six. A scar had showed up on his forearm. One that had not been there when he had gone to sleep. Roger had sat him down, explaining to him exactly what it was. Shanks had a soulmate. There was an excitement that he felt. At the same time, a fear. His soulmate already had a scar. How old were they? Were they a lot older than he was? Were they the same age? What was happening to them? Were they safe?
"Even the simplest of injuries will cause a soul mark." Roger had said.
It had calmed his fears well enough for the time being.
That was, until they repeatedly started showing up.
It was making him panic with each and every single one that started to show on his skin. They were always so light. Blending in with his skin tone but he could see them all. It was clear that no wound was ever inflicted on him, but it was clear that he had a soulmate out there.
It terrified him seeing each new mark. It was too much too quickly.
He could only hope that his soulmate was okay.
X
Mihawk hated but also was intrigued by the idea of soulmates. He had seen many soulmates in his home village. Many of the married couples were in fact soulmates. His first introduction to soulmates was seeing a wife and mother pruning roses and she had accidentally cut her hand. A second later, her husband had a mark showing up on his skin.
These people were two of many that helped raise Mihawk. His parents had died when he was just a baby, so he had never got to know who they were. Only what he was told. He was told his parents were also soulmates. His father had apparently been a swordsman and his mother would always know when he had gotten injured from the scars that would appear on her own body.
They had explained the entire concept to him. He wasn't sure if he could see it as something romantic. There was something bittersweet about the idea of another person seeing injuries gained. It could be from something as small as falling and causing an abrasion on the skin to something fatal.
He had been told they discovered his father's death from a scar that appeared over his mother's heart. Like he had been stabbed directly through the chest. Sure enough, when his body was discovered, that was exactly the case. He had been stabbed through the chest defending the island from intruders.
One thing that Mihawk had decided was, he was never going to let that happen. He always been inclined towards swords and knives. Wanting to know how to use them. Get stronger with them. Become the best.
He had decided it at such a young age that he had begun training himself in the art of Swordsmanship in his own backyard. Staying awake for hours at a time and not stopping as he worked on his own physical and mental strength.
If there was one thing he knew, he would never let his soulmate know that pain. If he even had one. He never wanted to feel it, and he refused to let them feel it.
Throughout his training on the island, he gained many injuries. Usually accidental from the way that he was holding his blade. Either he would miscalculate a movement and accidentally hit himself. Other times, he would get some help from the others on the island and would end up with marks of his own from them.
He refused to ever gain a scar on his back.
His father had apparently lived with the same mindset.
Scars on the back were a Swordsman's shame. He would not run from a fight. He would not allow himself to be marked on his back. It would remain the one place without a single scar within his life. If his soulmate couldn't do the same, they weren't good enough for him.
When he was about thirteen years old, he left home and set out on the sea.
X
As he grew up, he was taught everything that he needed to know about defending himself. He had learned haki from Roger and Rayleigh. He learned how to properly use a gun. He had learned how to use swords and knives. His preferred weapon of choice was a sword. It felt like an extension of himself when he fought.
They had ended up with another apprentice named Buggy, who also had taken a liking to using knives. The two were never allowed to fight pirates or Marines full out, but they were trained to act just like the veteran pirates of the crew. They could defend themselves if they needed to. If they fought other pirate crews, they were to stick with fighting against other apprentices. It was an unspoken rule on the sea that the apprentices were off limits except to each other.
If anyone broke this rule, they would face the consequences of the crew who was wronged.
Shanks had seen it firsthand. When an apprentice of another crew was attacked out of the blue, the Roger Pirates had assisted in catching the man responsible for it and handed them over to the other crew. Shanks didn't know what happened after that, but he could speculate.
As the time began to pass. The scars he gained from his soulmate started coming less and less. They were mostly in places like his abdomen, his thighs, or his arms. As if he was being cut by something. He had gained his own injuries over the years that resulted in scars, but not to this amount.
It made him wonder what was really happening with his soulmate. All the worst-case scenarios had came to mind originally and now he was getting the thought. What if they were training like he was?
It gave him some peace of mind. At times, he would find himself looking at them. Wondering if his soulmate cared for the wounds properly. They didn't look nasty or like they could have possibly had an infection, so he would guess it was the case.
He always thought of the day of what it would be like to meet his soulmate. What they looked like? Their personality? Where they a boy or girl? Did they identify as neither? Both? He didn't know. He didn't care either. He just wanted to get to know his soulmate. There was a part of him that didn't care if having a soulmate could be dangerous. He wanted to meet his. At least, if he got the chance to.
He found himself letting his fingers glide over the scars on his arms. They always tended to litter his forearms. They were so light that it was almost like he didn't have him. He had a few of his own and he wondered if his soulmate wondered about him.
Honestly, he was waiting for the day that they meet.
He wondered if they were just as excited as he was.
X
When Shanks was thirteen, he could say his life changed. Even if it felt like it was small. The Roger Pirates had stopped on an island to gather the supplies that they needed to keep traveling. Both him and Buggy had gone into town with Gaban.
Shanks wasn't even sure when he found himself separated from them or how. He just knew he was not where he was supposed to be. No matter where he went, it seemed like he couldn't find the way back. He wasn't even sure how he ended up here or what lead him here. One second, he was with the others and the next they were just gone.
As he walked, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing. Feeling the impending danger that was screaming in his head. He reached for his weapon and turning but being stopped as he felt a hand cover his mouth and another knocking his sword out of his hand.
He clawed at the hand, feeling his vision starting to turn dark as he caught a strange scent in his nose that was making his entire world spin before he was losing consciousness completely.
X
Mihawk had only stopped temporarily to get some more supplies. He never had plans to stay long but there was this itchy feeling underneath his skin that was bugging him as he moved throughout the shops and getting what he needed. There wasn't a necessary thought in his mind as his feet seemed to just carry him.
He had ended up wandering right into the nearby forest when his haki started to warn him of people with malicious intent were nearby. He stopped in his tracks, narrowing his gaze as they fell on a rather large group of men. Fifteen to twenty from what he could tell. He wasn't going to drop the idea that there might be more nearby.
From what he could tell, they were pirates. He hung back. Observing. They were cackling, talking among each other about some "catch" they had gotten. Catch? He moved, getting a bit closer before he was secluding himself behind a tree to keep out of their line of sight. He took the moment to climb it, to get a better line of sight on them. These men clearly didn't have good intentions. People like these men got under his skin. This island was lawless. It had no governing family and no Marines to protect the island. Though, he heard the island was under the protection of a pirate crew. Which one, he wasn't sure.
For a moment, he thought these men were going to attack the townspeople. It wouldn't be the first time there were people disguised as pirates or even Marines to capture innocent civilians and into slavery.
Though, that idea was trumped when he heard, "You are sure this one belongs to the bastard Roger?"
Another hummed, making a noise of confirmation as he said, "Saw them together myself. Those two were quite close to each other. If anyone will make that man break, it would be him."
Mihawk moved his gaze, letting them settle on a boy. Teenager? He looked like he was a younger teenager. Maybe twelve. At most fourteen. Appearances could be deceiving. The first feature he caught immediately was his bright red hair. It was such a specific shade. It reminded him much of a red rose in color. His eyes were closed and there was a gag in his mouth and arms bound behind his back. Half of his face was in the dirt and a straw hat was hanging behind his neck. If he had a weapon before, it wasn't there now.
He was going to sit back and watch for a moment.
"Do we kill him and leave him to be found?" Another questioned.
"It wouldn't be smart to do anything in front of the Roger Pirates. You know their reputation."
"I will do anything to get revenge on that bastard. So be if it I have to use a child for that." The one that Mihawk guessed was the ringleader stated, standing up and pulling a knife from his pocket. Mihawk didn't even think twice as he was watching the man approach the red head as he jumped from the tree, letting his presence be known.
Eyes were immediately on him, many of them freezing in their place as they saw him. "Wait, your Hawkeyes!" One exclaimed.
"Captain!" Another shouted in fear.
"We are fucked." The next person whined out, pleas falling from his lips towards his Captain for them to get away. Mihawk smirked as he noticed the fear that came over their faces. The way they seemed to cower back at just his mere presence. Through the corner of his eye, he could see the boy stirring. His eyes fluttering and starting to open. He needed to keep the attention on himself and not the kid.
He made his about him now.
"The Roger Pirates, huh?" Mihawk drawled, "I'm not going to be your problem once they notice. Have you not heard how dangerous that crew can be?"
He was actually wondering if any of these so-called pirates had brains. If they did, they wouldn't have kidnapped who he guessed was an apprentice. Did they not know the unspoken rules of the sea? He reached behind his back, going for his sword as he watched the way the others started to waver.
"Think about your choices here. Either let him go with me or face the Roger Pirates once they hunt down your sorry asses." Mihawk drawled, "From what I've heard, they are already searching the island." It was a bluff, but they wouldn't know that. "I would say, you might have about ten minutes at most before they find you. It wasn't that hard to track you down."
What was he even doing?
Why did he care?
This was none of his business. It had nothing to do with him. He should just walk away and leave it to Gold Roger, but there was something bugging him. Telling him to stay.
"How can you even call yourself a man if you have to kidnap a kid? Couldn't face Captain Roger yourself, huh?" Mihawk smirked at the way the one he guessed was the Captain was reacting to his words. He was hitting him right where it hurts without even putting a mark on him. Hurt his pride and ego. Mihawk had to admit, he was having a bit of fun with this one.
His smirk only got bigger as he heard the battle cry come from the pirate before he was lashing out. Mihawk moved almost instinctively, pulling out his sword and twisting it just in time to take down the Captain. The man's crew was left in complete shock as their Captain fell as Mihawk stood there as if nothing happened, sheathing his sword back into place as he crossed his arms.
"Who's next?"
Seconds later, they scattered.
He scoffed, rolling his eyes. How could they even call themselves men?
He walked over, kneeling down next to the red head. Keeping the stoic look on his face as the younger pirate seemed to be coming back to reality. His gaze coming in and out. A second later, he saw the panic flash on his face as Mihawk muttered, "It's alright. You're safe again. I'm just going to cut your bindings of." Mihawk stated, reaching up for Kogatana before he was cutting through the ropes. He removed the gag first, but the boy stayed silent.
The red head quickly set up, looking like he was reaching for a weapon, but Mihawk watched as he instead reached for the hat that was hanging behind his neck and placing it back on his head. "Thank you." The boy muttered. He looked confused, rubbing at his wrists for a second. "Why did you help me?"
Mihawk shrugged. "I was bored."
He stood up, reaching a hand out for the red head. He took his hand and for a second, he saw a scar on the inner part of his wrist. It matched almost perfectly to the one that Mihawk had in the same place. He shook the feeling as the boy muttered out his thanks again. "I'm Shanks. You are?"
"Dracule Mihawk."
In that moment, Mihawk didn't know what about this moment would change his life forever.
X
Mihawk had made sure that Shanks got back to the Roger Pirates with no issues. Despite his bluff, he found a raging Gold Roger. The Roger Pirates appeared to look just as angry, looking ready to destroy anything in their path. Many of them were rushing around.
It stopped the second Shanks screamed out, "Captain!" and bolted towards Roger.
The instant change in Roger's demeanor had caught Mihawk's attention. Roger's arms were around Shanks almost the second he got to him. Hands moving to check him over. Eyes roaming in an attempt to find any injury on his body. The relief that came when he saw nothing. It had taken Mihawk by surprise. It didn't seem like a Captain and apprentice relationship, but a father and son relationship.
"Are you okay?" Roger exclaimed, the panic in his voice as he kept trying to see if there was something that he missed.
Shanks nodded, trying to swat at Roger's hands. "I'm fine. I promise." He stopped, turning to look at Mihawk, "Actually, it's thanks to him." Shanks had recounted what he remembered. Being grabbed from behind, passing out, before waking up to see that he was surrounded by men and Mihawk getting them away from him.
Eyes turned to Mihawk as Roger moved away from Shanks, walking straight up to Mihawk. Mihawk didn't want to admit the chill that went down his spine from the sheer amount of power that he could feel radiating off of the man. He had never met Roger in person until now. Only heard his name on the sea. His reputation. The reputation of his crew. This man was not someone to mess with. Mihawk knew this man was far out of his league. If they attempted to fight, there would be no way that Mihawk stood a chance. It was a fight he was not willing to get into. Mihawk would not survive.
"Captain Roger." Mihawk stated.
Roger grinned, bowing down in front of him slightly before he was back to full height. "You have my thanks, young man." Mihawk blinked. That was a lot. Just a simple statement, but it had hit him full force. A pirate showing another gratitude was not something shown often. He had heard rumors of the sort of rivalry and friendship that Whitebeard and Roger had but they always fought. So, he had written it off as just that. Rumors. He was started to wonder if it wasn't actually a rumor.
Roger had extended an invitation to him to party with them that night.
For some reason, Mihawk accepted it.
X
When Roger said they were going to party, they did. Everyone was drinking and he wanted to say he was surprised to see the two youngest on the crew also drinking. They were pirates. What else did they do during parties? He wasn't surprised to find out that Shanks was only thirteen. He looked really young and the more he got to see how he was outside of the setting they had been in; it was becoming clearer.
Shanks was drunk.
His face was flushed over, cheeks tinted pink and eyes glossy. Mihawk, himself, was also tipsy but he hadn't drunk as much. Even though he had been invited and he didn't think they would do anything, he couldn't be too trusting.
Shanks was practically glued to his side. Roger and Rayleigh wanted to know more about him and Mihawk had answered vaguely for the most part. That was until the alcohol hit his system and he found himself saying more. It had surprised him to know that they had heard of him. That his name was reaching even the likes of the Roger Pirates. It was the biggest ego boost he could have.
It had taken a couple of hours, but Shanks had grabbed his hand, pulling him away from the party. He had noticed how Shanks didn't take them that far away but just to the shoreline out of ear shot. Shanks was practically a giggling mess as he stumbled over his own feet. Mihawk snorted as he watched it.
Even as no words were being said between the two, his eyes settled down on Shanks' wrist again. His sleeves were pushed up and he got a better look at it. There were a few small scars but there was something about that one that kept his attention. It looked different than the others. For a moment, he remembered the pain he had felt the first time he accidentally got himself with his sword but quickly pushed the thought away.
"You're drunk." Mihawk stated. He wanted to mentally slap himself. It was dead obvious. Shanks just giggled more, leaning over and into Mihawk's side.
"I'm not drunk, you're just spinning."
"If you say so." Mihawk stated, he sat down, ushering Shanks down with him. Part of him thought to let Shanks continue, but they were really close to the ocean and many of them were drunk. It didn't seem like a good mix. Hell, sometimes he wondered how pirates partied and didn't fall off of a ship if they were in the middle of the ocean.
"So, why did you bring me over here?" Mihawk questioned.
Shanks smiled, leaning his cheek onto his knee as he looked over at Mihawk. "I just wanted to thank you in private." He stated, "Honestly, I don't know what I would have done. I was really out of it."
Mihawk made a noise, leaning back on his arms and looking out to the ocean for a second. "It's nothing. I knew those men were trouble, but they were weak. I'm seventeen and they couldn't even stay to fight."
Shanks laughed, moving positions, and laying back in the grass. Making sure to pull his hat off and onto his chest. "That's never happened to me before. I don't remember the last time I've been away from them all."
Mihawk nodded, looking back to the Roger Pirates for a second. He didn't miss the way that they kept eyeing them both. Especially Roger. He didn't blame them. He was still an enemy, even if they were momentarily having a party together. He sighed, turning his attention back to Shanks. "Unforeseen things can happen."
Shanks shrugged, turning his head to look at Mihawk again. "I had a knight in shining armor to save me."
"I don't wear shining armor."
"Could have fooled me." Shanks retorted. The red head smiled, releasing a breath as he looked up to the sky. "So, you're a Swordsman?"
Mihawk made a noise of confirmation. "What about it?"
"Fight me one day." Shanks stated. Mihawk gave Shanks a look. He sounded so sincere about it to. The sharp look that came to his eyes as he looked at Mihawk. The confident smirk on his lips. "I'm going to get stronger, and we are going to fight someday."
Mihawk smirked. "If you get stronger, we just might."
They had fallen into a comfortable silence as Mihawk decided to lean back into the grass, looking up at the night sky. Through the corner of his eye, he could see Shanks raise up his hand, the same wrist that had that scar on it. "Do you have a soulmate?"
"What?" Mihawk questioned.
"Do you have a soulmate?" Shanks repeated.
The older Swordsman hummed. "Yeah, I do." He stated, "Mine is quite clumsy."
Shanks smiled, turning his head to look at him. "I know it's stupid, especially with being a pirate, but… I want to meet mine someday." Mihawk snorted. That was a dream. Did this kid really not know how dangerous having a soulmate as a pirate was? No known pirate explicitly admitted to having a soulmate. Yet here Shanks was. Admitting it to him. Well, Mihawk did too. Mihawk only answered it since he didn't know who his was. He wasn't sure if he wanted to meet his. Though, that thought was in the back of his mind.
"You've given it thought." Mihawk stated. Shanks replied to him with a nod before Mihawk added, "What do you imagine them like?"
There was a flush that came to Shanks' face as he muttered out, "I would want my soulmate to be like you." The heat that came to Mihawk's face was from the alcohol. Nothing else.
Mihawk snorted and shook his head. "I would be a bad soulmate."
"Why?" The younger pirate actually looked confused at his statement.
Mihawk laughed for a second, shaking his head. "I barely stay in one place longer than a few days. I want to be the strongest swordsman on the sea. That no one can beat me in the art of swordsmanship. It's a dangerous life and I wouldn't ever want to bring a soulmate into that."
"You don't want to meet them?" Shanks questioned further.
Mihawk made a noise. "It would just be easier if they never knew me at all."
"What about them? Maybe they want to meet you." Shanks replied.
Mihawk knew that possibility. It was a fairy tale to have a soulmate. It just wasn't something he saw himself doing. He didn't like the idea that the world had decided that there was one perfect person for him. When he met that person, he would decide for himself. "Someone doesn't have to fall in love with their soulmate. Just because you have one, doesn't mean you have to be with them."
With that, their soulmate conversation had ended, and Shanks had suddenly changed the topic back to Swordsmanship. They had fallen into an easy conversation. He wasn't sure if it was because of his animosity towards soulmates that caused the change in conversation, but he found it easy to speak with Shanks.
What he did know, this teenager would get stronger. It was obvious. The way he spoke.
He just knew that they would meet again, and just like Shanks had asked him, they would eventually fight each other.
Mihawk actually was waiting patiently for that day.
X
It had been two years since that day and Shanks knew this day was coming. From that moment that they had found Laugh Tale and Roger had quietly disbanded the Roger Pirates. He stood there with tears in his eyes. Watching his Captain being led towards the scaffold. The platform of Loguetown that oversaw the entire town. The ocean. Roger had a smile on his face the entire time.
There was a dead silence around them as he fought back his tears. Choking on the air in his throat as Roger made it to the top. Roger had accomplished everything that he had ever wanted to do in his life. He used to tell Shanks everything that he had wanted. What he wanted to do. Dominate the Grand Line. See every island.
He had done it. He had found Laugh Tale. Discovered the mystery of the Void Century. The Will of D. All of it. Roger was the most wanted man on the sea by the time he got here.
Shanks never wanted this to end.
That man was the only person he knew as a father.
It was all about to end.
He felt lost the second he had left the Oro Jackson himself. What was he going to do now? He knew the dream he wanted to accomplish. Travel the world. See it. Take his time. Do everything that Roger couldn't. He just never thought he would have to do it without him.
It was inevitable. Roger was terminally ill. He was dying rather it was by natural causes or an execution.
He couldn't hear the words around him as he focused in on Roger. Seeing the large smile that came to his face the second he was questioned about the location of the One Piece. What it was. Roger had issued what Shanks would call a challenge. Telling them all if they wanted his treasure, to find it at the place he had hidden it.
Then he was gone.
Within a blink of an eye.
The tears were spilling down his face now. He was choking on the sobs that hit his body. The sunny and clear day and suddenly erupted into a thunderstorm. The lightning flashing. The thunder clapping. The rain falling. It felt so fitting.
His life had completely changed.
He was alone.
Even with Buggy standing right next to him. He didn't know if Buggy would ever understand what he felt in that moment. Buggy had been more than willing to betray the Roger Pirates when he had eaten his Devil Fruit. Shanks couldn't imagine doing that. Turning his back on them in exchange for money. There was no amount of money on this planet that would ever turn him against his nakama.
Even if they weren't his nakama anymore.
Even if Roger was gone.
He turned on his heel, rushing away from the square as the Marines took Roger's body away. He wasn't going to stay for this part. He knew what they were going to do, and it sickened him. He refused to see Roger in that way.
X
Shanks had found himself sitting in the rain at the docks of the town. Looking out on the ocean. The ocean is all he ever knew. He didn't know what his life would be without it. He could remember his last conversation with Roger. Telling him to reach for his dreams. To get back out onto the sea and find his own nakama. To do as he pleased. To find the soulmate that he had been wanting to meet for years. Roger had told him his plan. What he was going to do. He was going to go see his own soulmate one last time then he was going to turn himself in.
It felt all unobtainable now.
Everything had been ripped from him in that moment.
Roger had gained everything even if he had given his life in the end, but Shanks had lost everything.
His clothes were sticking to him almost uncomfortably. His hair was wet, at least on the ends. His hat was balanced on his head. Tilting a bit more into his eyes than he normally wore it. This was the last remaining thing he had from the Oro Jackson. Of Roger.
This hat became his single most valued treasure in the blink of an eye.
At this point, with the rain, the only way to tell that he had been crying was if they looked him in the eye. He was sure they were bloodshot and puffy at this point. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Notifying him that someone was approaching. He turned his head, seeing Dracule Mihawk standing there.
Shanks paused. He thought he felt Mihawk's presence earlier but had been so focused on Roger that he didn't really notice all that much.
Mihawk was looking down at him, an umbrella propped on his shoulder. "You're going to catch a cold if you stay out in this rain."
"Why do you care?" Shanks snapped.
Mihawk hummed. "I don't, but you're putting yourself at risk just sitting out here in the rain. Your Captain would not like to see you like this."
The red head glared, feeling the anger that flared through his system as he jumped up, "Don't you dare —"
"Am I wrong?" He wasn't. Shanks knew it.
"It's not like you know anything." Shanks hissed.
Mihawk shrugged, the bored look on his face as he leaned back slightly. "It's pitiful to be sitting out in the rain crying like this." Shanks felt his eye twitch. "Seems like I might have been wrong about you."
The red head felt the flush come to his face. He wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger at this point. What he did know was he wanted to punch Mihawk right in the mouth.
Through his anger, he went to throw out a punch, but he was stopped as Mihawk managed to grab ahold of his hand before he could actually land a hit. It's all it took before he had completely broken down again. Leaning forward and sobbing directly into Mihawk's chest. "He's… gone."
"I know." Mihawk muttered. His hand dropping Shanks' fist as the red head moved to curl his hands into Mihawk's shirt. If Mihawk cared about the fact Shanks was drenched. He wasn't saying anything to him. Instead, the hand that had been grabbing ahold of his landed on the back of his head. Fingers carding through the slightly wet locks. "Let's get you out of the rain."
He wasn't even sure why exactly he did it, but he complied. Allowing Mihawk to pull him back into the direction of the inner parts of Loguetown.
X
It had been fairly easy to get Shanks back to his room at the local inn. Mihawk was waiting for the weather to turn back into a suitable state that he could travel again. At this time, he would just end up wrecking his boat trying to navigate the waters. He was sure he could do it. He could do it on the Grand Line.
In the end, he was just making excuses.
He was already planning on departing from Loguetown before he had noticed Shanks. He had turned back around, going, and renting a room before he went back. Finding Shanks in the exact same spot as he was in before. He hadn't moved even an inch. Like he was locked in place. He just wasn't going to tell the former apprentice that. He was even going to lie to himself at this point.
It was unsafe to travel.
That was what he was going with.
He got them into his room, pulling in Shanks a second later before closing the door behind them. Shanks was soaked from head to toe. His bag that he had was also completely drenched. It probably meant all of his belongings were also wet.
Shanks hadn't moved from where he was standing as Mihawk went through the room, grabbing one of the complimentary towels. Shanks muttered out a thank you as he handed it over. Mihawk had taken the moment to go into his own clothes. Pulling out some of the clothes that he preferred to wear in his down time. They weren't as tight as his other clothes, but they wouldn't be completely baggy that they would fall off of Shanks' smaller frame.
He stood back up, turning and placing the clothes on the bed. "Take a bath and change into these. I'll wash your clothes."
"Why are you helping me?" For a moment, Mihawk's mind went back to the day they met for just a split second. Shanks was looking down at the clothes, eyeing them from a second as he toweled off his face and neck.
"I was bored." Mihawk simply replied.
Shanks looked at him this time, the quirk of a smile come to his face before he was starting for the conjoined bathroom. Mihawk sighed as he heard the door close, and he sat back down.
Why was he trying to help Shanks so much?
They were technically enemies. Well, even if Shanks in all technicalities didn't belong to a crew anymore. He was still a pirate.
He looked down at the clothes, shaking his head and grabbing them before he was starting towards the bathroom. He knocked on the door, announcing that he was walking in before opening the door. He had stopped in the tracks from seeing Shanks without his shirt on. The white button up sitting on the sink and the water running. His eyes had immediately landed on the various scars littering Shanks arms, stomach, and abdomen.
It wasn't the fact that he was just had scars. Within a life of piracy, that was a given. It was where they were located. Mihawk could recognize his own scars. He recognized marks on himself that he knew were soul marks.
It all made sense to him now.
Shanks was his soulmate.
He shoved the thought as far back into his mind as he could, placing the clothes down. "You left these out there." He quickly excused himself from the room. Closing the door behind him as he released a sharp breath.
He had never thought he would actually meet his soulmate.
It all made sense to why he felt so inclined to help him two years ago. Why he didn't want to leave when he saw how much pain he was in.
It had been right in front of his face this entire time. That scar he had seen that day. Was the same scar that Mihawk had first gotten. His very first scar that he accidentally gave himself.
He should have known.
He had sat down on the bed. Waiting for Shanks to come out of the bathroom. Did Shanks know? He didn't think he did. He remembered that night. Shanks had gotten drunk. Talking about how he wanted to meet his soulmate. How he wanted a soulmate like him.
He never thought that Shanks was his soulmate.
Shanks didn't know. He was going to keep it that way. He was going to keep his word from what he told him that night. It was just better this way. As far as Shanks knew, his soulmate was still out there.
When Shanks came out of the bathroom, he was in the loose-fitting pants and the button up shirt. It cracked Mihawk up seeing the way that Shanks looked like he was drowning slightly in them. It was clear they were not his clothes.
Shanks smiled at him, coming over and taking a seat on the bed. "Thank you, Hawkeyes."
Mihawk shook his head, "Just get some sleep, Red-Hair."
Shanks didn't say anything as he laid back, settling against the pillows as he muttered out, "Why did you look at me like that?"
Mihawk turned his head, looking back at Shanks. The red head was looking back at him with curiosity. He could see just how tired Shanks was and how close to sleep he already was just from the moment of relaxation. Mihawk just smiled. "It was nothing. Get some rest. You need it."
Shanks' eyes were fluttering, and they were closed before Shanks could reply. Mihawk could see the movement of his lips, but he didn't actually say anything verbally.
Mihawk sighed, leaning back against the pillows.
Gol D. Roger had started an era.
Shanks had lost his Captain.
Mihawk had found his soulmate.
What else could happen now?
X
As the time passed, Mihawk's name had became well known on the sea. There wasn't a person he came across that didn't know his name. He had acquired a new sword. Only the finest for someone like him. Yoru. The Black Sword. One of the twelve supreme grade swords. It was a beautiful blade and it was perfect.
The next time he had come in contact with Shanks, he was known as Red-Haired Shanks on the seas. The Captain of the Red Hair Pirates with the likes of Benn Beckman on his ship.
Shanks was doing well for himself. He had his own bounty and somehow being able to travel in lesiure and slowly. It was easy enough to find him.
He had kept his word. Coming back when Shanks got stronger and the two had entered their first duel. Both had put everything into it. Their haki had clashed and it had rang out over the entirety of the sea. It was loud enough that it made even Mihawk's ears ring.
Shanks had a smirk on his face the entire time. It was the first time they found and Mihawk was not disappointed. It brought his own smirk to his face.
He had thought about his own thoughts when he learned about soulmates. What he wanted his soulmate to be. Shanks was everything that he wanted. He wasn't just going to tell Shanks they were soulmates. He was going to let him find out on his own.
There was almost a sexual tension between the two during their duel. The way they crossed blades. They were at a stand still. The Red Hair Pirates were off and getting supplies, leaving Shanks to fight his own duel after he told them to go ahead without them.
When the duel came to an end, Shanks had smiled at him. It was so soft. Fond even. They were so close to each other when they lowered their blades. Breathing heavily. He definitely didn't miss the way that Shanks bit down on his lip as his grey eyes moved from Mihawk's own golden ones to his lips.
Mihawk had made their first move, crashing their lips together as he let his sword clatter to the ground. Shanks' followed in suit. Hitting the ground next to Mihawk's own. The older pirate's hands snaked around the red head's waist, pulling him almost impossibly closer as Shanks brought his arms up to wrap them around his shoulders. His hands moving into black hair. Mihawk's hands curled into Shanks' shirt. There were sparks going down his spine. As cliché as it sounded.
When they pulled away, he could see the lust blown look in Shanks' eyes as he let his eyes flutter back open.
"Are you sure about this?" Mihawk questioned.
"More sure than I've felt about anything else." Shanks said back, connecting their lips again.
That had started it all. The duels they would get into. Duels they became known for. Their duels would always end the same way. They would end up falling in bed together. Mihawk was lost for Shanks, and he knew it.
And he didn't care.
X
It had been over a year since the death of Gol D. Roger. Shanks had formed his own crew. The Red Hair Pirates. He had found nakama that he could trust. They were reliable. Just like he wanted them to be. It had been over a year since he had seen any of his old crew. The last person that he had seen had been Buggy. Their last conversation happening in Loguetown just before Shanks had departed from the island.
Shanks wondered what Roger would think of him now. He was getting stronger. Using all the knowledge he had gained from the men of the Roger Pirates. From Roger. Just like the promise between him and Mihawk, the two had entered duels often. Whenever they saw each other before they would have a party for the rest of the night.
It also hadn't taken long before he had fallen into bed with the newly titled Warlord of the Sea. He was everything that Shanks knew he shouldn't be sleeping with. He was more than just an enemy now.
Still, Shanks couldn't and wouldn't stop.
There was so many things that he had wanted within his life and he was achiveing it.
What he wasn't expecting was getting into an altercation with the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates. Shanks had found himself going one on one with Marshal D. Teach. He remembered him from the last time they fought. He had been an apprentice back then just like he was.
He was putting everything into it. He wasn't screwing around. He knew the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates, but he had been completely blindsided when he had gotten separated from the others. The way that Teach's clawed blade came down on his left eye. The eye around his eye breaking over and blood pooling over his face and into his eye.
His heart had practically stopped.
He never detected that kind of power coming off of this man.
Teach had smirked at him, going in for another attack. Shanks had put everything left into it. Fighting off Teach and getting him away from him as some of his own crew came to his aid. He had activated his haki from the movement. Watching as Teach stumbled and fell back but he didn't fall unconscious. His crew had came to his side. Preparing to help fight off the one who had hurt their Captain. All of them noticing the wound to his eye immediately.
He wasn't even sure what happened through the sound of his heartbeat in his ear. Seeing the way that the Whitebeard Pirates who were there were starting to retreat. Hearing words about his haki and that they needed to get away from him. Shanks was on pure fight or flight mode. Staying in such a state until Benn was pulling him away and towards the direction of their ship.
He had been stunned.
What the hell had happened?
He didn't even register Hongo's hands moving over his wound, cleaning the blood off of his face and checking the wound. It all sounded far away. The others were trying to talk to him. Trying to get him to speak back. It was only when Benn popped in front of his impaired vision that he snapped back to reality. Hearing Benn exclaimed, "Shanks, you're safe. Stop with your haki. You're knocking everyone out."
He released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding and settled down to allow Hongo to continue his work. He was known for his haki now. He was known for dueling the likes of the Warlord Dracule Mihawk. He had someone like Benn Beckman as his First Mate and Vice-Captain. Yet he didn't see this coming. He had trained for years. Was exceptional in haki usage and this happened.
He barely caught Hongo saying that he had just barely missed losing his eye, but his skin would definitely scar over.
He had gotten into a fight with someone who was stronger than anyone realized, and he had scarred him.
X
X
Just like Hongo had told him, his face had scarred. Three scars over his left eye. On parts of his forehead and onto his cheek. Somehow, it had missed his eye completely. It was something he could slightly be thankful for.
He hated them.
He hated what he felt when he saw them.
He felt so disgusted whenever he looked at himself in the mirror. How could he let this happen? He hated whenever someone would comment on the fact that he scars on his face. The whispers of how "such a pretty face could be scarred like that." Or how shameful it was.
It's what he felt. Shame. Anger. Hurt.
It was his own fault.
He wasn't screwing around in the fight, but did he underestimate his opponent? That didn't feel right. He hadn't even known that power that Marshal D. Teach had possessed. He had broken right through all his defenses. Aiming straight for him. It could have been worse. He could have died.
He hated everything about these scars on his face.
Then it hit him.
His scars were on his face. He had a soulmate who would have matching scars. He had hoped with everything, that maybe just maybe this time, the universe didn't hate him enough to force his soulmate to bear the same marks he did.
It was always said that marks on the back were a Swordsman's shame. He didn't have any on his back, but this was his face. The first thing people saw when they looked at him. They wouldn't see him. They would see his scars.
It made him sick to his stomach. He had gotten to the point that he couldn't look at himself in a mirror. Not one of his nakama would mention them either. It was a sore spot. He hated talking about them. He had many scars, but these ones hurt the most. He wanted to forget that they existed. Like he could with many of the ones he had.
But he couldn't.
Not with the constant reminder staring right back at him whenever he saw his own reflection.
He was dreading the moment he saw Mihawk again. Mihawk loved power. This was his weakness. It showed his weakness. Part of him would have rather died than have to explain to Mihawk how he had failed. He didn't know when his feelings had gotten so strong, but he didn't want to see the disappointed look on Mihawk's face. In those piercing and beautiful golden eyes. He didn't think he could take it if Mihawk decided to end this with him. That he wasn't good enough for him anymore.
X
Mihawk had grown so used to his scars, but the second that he saw three brand new scars in one place scared the living hell out of him. It was their location on him that made him actually feel fear for the first time in years.
They were directly over his heart. Three jagged scars on his chest.
The panic had set in. Shanks was injured and the scars did not look good in the slightest. The wound was a bad one from the way they looked on Mihawk's skin. He could actually feel pain in them. The skin was tender.
Mihawk's eyes had widened as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes glued on his chest.
He had gathered all of his belongings immediately, getting into his boat and heading directly for the last known location of the Red Hair Pirates.
Shanks had to be okay.
He had to be.
The stories he had heard had a child were running through his head. Hearing about what happened to his own parents. The scar that his mother had from when his father had died.
Shanks couldn't. He refused to believe that Shanks had fallen in a battle. That he was dead.
He could feel his pain. That meant something was terribly wrong. From everything he knew about soulmates, the voice in the back of his mind was screaming for him to find Shanks. Just make sure that the red-haired Captain was still breathing.
He refused to lose him.
It wasn't ever supposed to end this way.
He never even told Shanks how much he actually loved him. How they were connected through the universe together. That their scars were shared.
Shanks was not allowed to die without Mihawk telling him the truth.
X
Shanks had panicked the second that the look out had announced that Mihawk was approaching. He balled his fists, telling his crew to go onto the island and get all the supplies that they needed. They had just arrived at this island, but he would be in there soon enough. His scars were freshly healed but the pain was still there.
It was phantom pain. The actual pain from the wound, he had hardly felt. It felt more tender than anything.
Now that pain was spiking even more now.
He had debated between pretending that he hadn't known Mihawk was here and staying where he was. Mihawk would find him no matter where he went. Mihawk always found him.
It was a comforting feeling normally, but in this moment, it wasn't now.
He found that he couldn't move from where he was standing as Mihawk's boat pulled into the dock next to his own ship. Mihawk barely had tied the boat secure before he was starting up the dock. His eyes almost immediately falling onto Shanks. Shanks tiled his head. He had been using his bangs to hide the scar. Growing them out slightly to start covering them up. His hair hadn't grown enough.
He wasn't prepared for this.
His heart was pounding the entire time. He paused though from the way that Mihawk looked panicked before there was relief on his face from seeing Shanks standing there. Mihawk's step had quickened before he was standing in front of him. He could almost have sworn he heard Mihawk muttered, "You're alive."
"Hey there, Hawkeyes." Shanks stated, trying to have his normal confidence in his voice. Mihawk was a completely different story. He could always feel confident in front of others. Hell, he didn't care what people thought most of the time. He just did what he wanted. In that moment, he wanted to run. "Came to fight me."
"Not this time." Mihawk replied. Shanks was shocked. Feeling Mihawk's hands landing on his cheeks. Part of his palm settling on the edge of his scars, and it made him flinch. "Shanks?" He could hear the slight confusion in his voice. "Red-Hair, look at me." He stated, forcing Shanks this time to look up.
Mihawk's eyes had widened as they settled on the scars. Shanks did the only thing that he could think of. His swatted Mihawk's hands away and backed up. Preparing himself for the inevitable words that would leave the older pirate's mouth.
"If you aren't here to fight me, why are you here?" Shanks snapped, attempting to move his head again to get his face out of Mihawk's line of sight.
Mihawk had moved faster than he had, which caught him by surprise again. Mihawk had so much relief on his face. "I came to see you." Mihawk stated. Shanks bit down on his lip, shaking his head. "I… I had to know." Mihawk was actually stumbling over his words. Like he wasn't sure what to say. "You're okay."
"Mihawk…" Shanks muttered, finally looking up, "You're—"
"I love you." The older pirate interjected.
Shanks froze as he felt Mihawk's lips pressing into his. Tears came to his eyes as he melted into it, letting his hands curl into Mihawk's jacket. Mihawk loved him? Did he hear that correctly? Mihawk's hands never moved but he did pull back after a moment as he leaned their foreheads together despite Shanks' hat being in the way. "Mihawk." It was all Shanks could get out at first. "You're not upset?"
"Why would I be?" Mihawk questioned him back.
Shanks was beyond confused. Mihawk had pulled away and Shanks looked up as Mihawk wiped the tears away from his eyes. "I let someone scar my face."
"You didn't let anyone do anything." Mihawk replied. "Not you."
Shanks shook his head. "How did you even—" He stopped as his eyes settled on Mihawk's chest. His shirt wasn't as buttoned as high as normal as it was.
Right on Mihawk's chest was matching scars to his own. The air caught in his throat as he made the connection almost immediately. It's how Mihawk knew. Why Mihawk came seeking him out. How was it even possible that the scars weren't in the same place? That they were on a different location on his body? Soul marks always tended to be in the same place, unless—It made him freeze as his heart skipped a beat.
Unless someone was so ashamed of their own scars that it would affect the placement on their soulmate.
It all made sense now.
Why Mihawk had looked at him so strangely back then in Loguetown. Why he seemed to admire his scars at night when they spent the nights together.
They were soulmates.
Mihawk was his soulmate.
He looked up at Mihawk in disbelief. That meant Mihawk knew they were soulmates this entire time. Through the corner of his eye, he eyed the scar on Mihawk's wrist. The same one he had seen the first time that he discovered he had a soulmate. The same one he had showed Mihawk when they met.
"Mihawk… you knew."
"Of course, I did." Mihawk instantly said back.
"And you're not ashamed of me?" Shanks questioned. "I was scarred on my face. You aren't ashamed to have a soulmate like that?"
Mihawk shook his head, a soft smile coming to his face as he let his thumb glide over the scar. For a moment, Shanks felt no pain in it. The air caught in his throat again as Mihawk leaned in, pressing a kiss against the scars. Right into the tear tracks that were on the younger pirate's face. He released a shaky breath as he placed his hand over Mihawk's chest. Feeling his racing heartbeat underneath his palm.
Mihawk was scared. For him.
Mihawk's lips against his cheek bone left a tingling feeling. Made his gut twist as his heart raced. "I couldn't have asked for a more perfect soulmate." Mihawk muttered as he pulled back. "I was actually scared there for a moment. I thought… I thought I had lost you. I couldn't think straight until I saw you again. I don't think you realize how glad I am seeing these scars here."
What could Shanks even say?
"You… like them?" Shanks questioned. "They are hideous to you? Showing that I'm not as strong as you thought I was?"
"You're alive, aren't you?" Mihawk, of course, didn't answer him but instead answered him with a question of all things. "You're absolutely beautiful. The most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on. Scars and all. Swordsmen get scars. Pirates have scars. Plenty of pirates have scars on their face. You are alive. That is what matters, Shanks. You are the one person I would want as my soulmate, and you are."
Shanks couldn't stop the tears that overflooded his eyes again as he leaned in and connected their lips. How did Mihawk always know exactly what to say to him? He laughed into it as Mihawk's hands moved from his face and to his hips, lifting him off of the ground for a second before his feet were back on the ground.
They broke apart and Mihawk had smirked at him, backing up and placing a hand on the grip of his sword. "Fight me." It was reminiscent of that night, and it brought a smile to Shanks' face.
"You sure I'm strong enough for you?" Shanks questioned, reaching for his own sword.
"Always." Mihawk stated, pulling Yoru from its sheath. "Red-Hair, use those scars as a strength. Not a weakness. Besides, scars show us that we are connected through more than just crossing swords."
Shanks smiled, drawing his own sword. As they moved, clashing with their blades and a loud clash of haki. All that shame he felt. The disgust and anger. It was gone. At least for now. For a second, his eyes moved to his temporary jolly roger. Use it as a strength? What could be the biggest screw you he could do? It was right in front of his face. He smirked. Mihawk helped him in more ways than one.
He looked back at Mihawk, tilting his head slightly as he smiled, "I love you." He muttered.
Mihawk smiled. "Then show my by fighting me full out."
"Oh, I will."
It was just like it always was. Dueling each other. The adrenaline that ran through his veins with each clash of their sword. Each clash of haki. The feeling that went through him whenever Mihawk's eyes were on him. Mihawk had even taken a moment during their fight to kiss his scars again. It had almost thrown him off for a moment, but he could hear the mutter of words that Mihawk would say. How beautiful he looked. How much stronger he had gotten since the last time they had seen each other.
Mihawk always knew exactly what to say and do.
Shanks couldn't have a better soulmate.
He had fallen in love with Mihawk and never knew until he had gotten these scars that they were soulmates all along.
Maybe, getting these scars were a good thing.