Whumptober 2021
Summary: Whumptober 2021: Day 27: Collapse. An incident leads to Shanks getting shot that causes panic to run through the Roger Pirates when Dracule Mihawk brings him back to their ship covered in blood. Mihawk/Shanks.
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to Whumptober! So, I've been vibing with whump right now so there might be an influx of them from me. I hope you guys enjoy! On with the fic! Alright, I do want to add, ROGER IS ALIVE IN THIS! So, Shanks is actually older than the age of fifteen that he would have been when Roger was executed. Before I get yelled at for Shanks' age, just thought I would throw that out there. He is sixteen in this.
Warnings: Gun Violence, Blood and Injury
Whumptober 2021: Day 27: Collapse (Mihawk/Shanks)
It didn't surprise him anymore if he ran into the Roger Pirates. They seemed to be anywhere and everywhere. He had traveled the seas, gaining more strength as he went. Fighting many enemies. Many that were stronger than him. Going as far as to fight against Marines whenever they dared to look at him. Even gaining himself another nickname.
There were so many of them, and not one of them did he care to remember their names.
Except for one.
There was only one person who he cared enough to remember their name. The impression that they left on him. A young apprentice who was with the Roger Pirates. The legendary crew of the Pirate King himself, Gol D. Roger. His apprentice, one year shy of leaving and forming his own crew, Shanks. His striking bright red hair. His sharp but somehow soft grey eyes that reminded him the clouds that came with a thunderstorm.
To him, Shanks was exactly that. A thunderstorm that was building up before it would erupt with a mixture of powers. Shanks was incredibly strong. He was an excellent swordsman, excelled with his haki usage, and he had a strong head on his shoulders. There was just something about him that completely intrigued Mihawk. He kept finding himself coming back. Coming back to Shanks.
Before he knew it, they had a sort of relationship. He would say they were friends, but there was something more there. A romantic feeling that Mihawk didn't quite want to thread on. Relationships were dangerous within the life of piracy. Anyone who was your enemy would dare to use that person against you.
He wouldn't say it was a fear he had. Shanks was incredibly strong in his own right, but Mihawk had made far more enemies than those who knew who Shanks was. Shanks had no bounty and had been under the protection of Roger. Shanks had told him during their last meeting that he was waiting for the moment that Roger disbanded the crew. That Roger had decided that they would be traveling to the South Blue to visit someone from Roger's past there. He didn't know much after that.
This was going to be the last chance that Mihawk had to see him for a while, so he took it. Normally, they would go off together and start a duel. Clash swords for hours on end until either one of them one or it ended in a draw.
They had instead started their day going into town together. Shanks had been going on about the last adventure that the Roger Pirates had been on. That Crocus was optimistic that they might have found something that would cure the illness that Roger had. It had shocked Mihawk to his core to learn that Roger had a terminal illness. One that he had been fighting for five years before finding the One Piece and Laugh Tale. It was such determination that Mihawk strived for. His name was known – and feared – on the seas, but there was no reaching the status that Gold Roger currently held.
From what he had been told, Roger had been wanting to disband the crew quietly following their departure from Laugh Tale. That was, until Roger had a breakthrough with his health. That had been the first time Mihawk had ever witnessed Shanks cry. How he broke down when they met again for the first time following the Roger Pirates finding Laugh Tale. How happy he had been as he explained his entire past with Roger and his crew.
How Roger had found him as a baby and raised him as his own. That it was believed that he had been originally from the West Blue after meeting some villagers there that seemed to recognize Shanks or at least his mother.
Mihawk could listen to Shanks talk for hours. Seeing the many emotions that Shanks attempted to hide, but his eyes always showed the truth. There was one thing Mihawk knew, Shanks wore his heart on his sleeve, and he was a goner.
As they moved throughout the town, Mihawk had started noticing it. The way that the hairs on the back of his neck were standing as if eyes were on them. As they stopped at one of the many booths, Mihawk took the moment to look over his shoulder just in time to see a man ducking behind a different booth. He narrowed his gaze, but he pushed off the feeling. Maybe, it was just from the fact that Shanks belonged to a notorious pirate crew and Mihawk had his own bounty. That he might be reading to much into it.
"Hawkeyes?" Mihawk looked back over to Shanks. Seeing the red head looking at him with worry laced in his features. "Are you alright?"
Mihawk smiled and nodded, "I'm fine."
As they moved on, he stopped as he noticed a golden and red jewel encrusted necklace. The pendant was kanji for love. He looked up, eyeing Shanks for a moment to see that he was distracted by another booth before turning to face the shop keep. "Ah, that piece is a beautiful one." The shop keep stated, "It'll look lovely on him."
He wasn't even sure what compelled him to buy it, but he handed over the correct amount of berries that the shop keep had told him a moment later and left with the necklace in his pocket. With the trinket in his pocket, he found himself following after Shanks again.
He paused once more as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing again, and he looked over to see the same man ducking out of his vision again.
He frowned.
Who the hell was that guy?
X
Over his time traveling with the Roger Pirates, Shanks had met many people. Only a few that that Roger didn't know by name, did Shanks actually care to remember. It wasn't like they would ever meet again since Roger was living his life at top speed. That was until he had met one person.
Dracule Mihawk.
The teenager known on the Grand Line for traveling alone and challenging anyone and everyone and winning.
Mihawk had to be one of the most intriguing people that Shanks had ever met. Who they also happened to run into a lot. Shanks was starting to wonder if Mihawk was doing it on purpose. They had gotten into a routine that they would fight each other each time they saw one another.
It also wasn't long before Shanks found himself developing feelings. Noticing it first when he would feel the butterflies in his stomach whenever their swords would cross. Seeing the smirk that would be on the older Swordsman's face whenever their blades would connect.
It almost felt like a dance as they would move around. They could spend hours doing just this. Shanks almost didn't want to admit that it was one of his favorite times. He didn't get to do it often since they never hung around an island very long anymore. Always going from one place to the next. There would be a moment where he would just like to have a breather. No stress from having to be constantly on the move.
It definitely wasn't because of the twist that would come to his stomach whenever he was around the older Swordsman. That wasn't it at all.
As they finished their most recent duel, Shanks sheathed his sword back into place, a grin coming to his face as he looked at Mihawk. Mihawk had been the victor this time. It was like they were swapping wins. Even at times finding themselves in a draw. Shanks did have a sneaking feeling that some of his wins weren't his actual doing, rather Mihawk had let him win. He didn't even want to think about that. Mihawk didn't seem like the type to do that.
He smiled as he walked over to Mihawk. Pausing as he felt like eyes were on him. He frowned as he looked over his shoulder, seeing nothing that was there. He shook his head, laughing it off as he turned to look back at Mihawk. Stopping short as he felt the pain erupt through his shoulder, seeing the splatter of blood that landed on Mihawk's shirt and face.
All he could mutter was, "Mihawk… your shirt." Before he felt his eyes slipping shut and his knees were buckling out from underneath him.
X
Mihawk was stunned. He could feel Shanks' blood on his face. It had only taken him a second to snap back into reality before he was surging forward to keep Shanks from hitting the ground. His heart was pounding in his chest. Shanks' eyes were closed, but he was still breathing. Mihawk reached up, pulling Kogatana from its small sheath. Looking around for any sign of anyone. He couldn't see any signs that someone was around. He didn't have time to go looking. He could already feel the red head's blood seeping into his clothes and hitting the ground.
Without another thought, he moved his arms, using one underneath his legs and the other under his back before he was hauling Shanks off of the ground. He had to get Shanks to medical care immediately. If he didn't, there would absolutely be the chance that he bled out. He couldn't risk it.
He wouldn't risk it.
Ensuring Shanks' life meant more than going on a hunting spree. Who the hell would want to shoot Shanks? He was just a teenager. Had no bounty. Was under the protection of the Roger Pirates. Anyone who would dare target him lacked any brain cells. It was not a smart thing to do. Whoever did this would have all the Roger Pirates ready to hunt them down. Gol D Roger especially. That man did not take kindly to anyone who dared to hurt one of his nakama.
Mihawk was ready to go hunt them down. Tear them apart for daring to hurt Shanks.
First, he had to make sure that Shanks survived this.
He had put haki into his legs. Using as much power that he could to quicken his speed.
Anything. Anything to get Shanks to someone who could help him.
X
Roger had a bad feeling. The hairs on the back of his neck standing. Everything in him screaming that something was wrong. He couldn't place why he was having that feeling. Everyone was safe. They were having a good time. Shanks was off with Hawkeyes having a duel. He could trust Hawkeyes not to hurt Shanks. There was always this look that the young man had in his eyes whenever the two were near each other. It made him confident that Shanks was in good hands for the time being. His apprentice should be back by dark or the latest by morning.
He never questioned if Shanks stayed out. He always came home. Safe and sound.
Yet, he couldn't shake this feeling that something was going on.
"I should go looking for him." Roger stated.
Rayleigh chuckled, taking a drink from the bottle in his hand. "It's better to leave the two alone. He's fine. You're being a Momma Bear, Roger."
Roger shook his head. "Something's wrong, Ray."
"I'm sure it's nothing."
Sure, Roger knew he could be overprotective of Shanks and Buggy. He knew they could take care of themselves. He just worried. They were young and definitely could be reckless. He sucked in a breath, trying to push the uncontrollable feeling away. He hadn't had a feeling like this in a long time. His radar was going off. Finally, he stood up. Ready to go check out what could be causing this. He was almost sure that Shanks was completely fine. He would just sneak by, check in on him and leave. Shanks would never know he was there.
"I'll be back." Roger stated.
"You might see something you don't want to see." Rayleigh teased. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Roger made a noise waving his hand, "I already know he's not that same little boy anymore, but I can dream."
"They are growing up, Roger." Rayleigh hummed, "Can't stay little forever."
"I wish they could." Roger grumbled.
With his decision made, he started for the gang plank. He paused as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing. Within seconds, Rayleigh was coming up next to him. "That isn't nothing." The First Mate whispered.
Roger's eyes widened the second that the incoming person came through the tree line, and he felt his heart drop. Mihawk was breaking through the tree line and what he noticed immediately was the blood on him and Shanks secured in his arms. "Shanks!" He shouted, not even using the gangplank as he jumped. Landing on the shoreline before he was rushing forward. Meeting Mihawk in the middle. The young Swordsman's breathing was quick. The panicked look in his eye as his lips moved but no words came out. "What happened?!" Roger shouted. He reached out, not even waiting for Mihawk to say anything. Shanks' shirt was covered in blood. Mihawk was covered in blood, and he couldn't see a mark on the Swordsman that would indicate that he had been injured. Shanks' eyes were closed but there was a small flutter there. He could hear how Shanks was struggling to breathe. Small wheezes that came in short succession to the last. This wasn't good. Roger's gut had been right. He had just wished it wasn't. "CROCUS! Get your ass over here!"
He turned on his feet, already starting for the Oro Jackson. His mind wasn't on anything but getting Shanks some help at the moment. Crocus was too him in almost seconds, rushing up next to him and already barking orders to the others on things that he would need. Roger looked down, hoping for any sign that Shanks would open his eyes.
He couldn't hear anything as he practically ran to the infirmary. Rayleigh and Crocus were ahead of them. Rayleigh pushing all the supplies off of one of the tables and into the floor as Crocus went over to another and started pulling out supplies.
Roger moved, placing Shanks onto the table, careful of his head and pulling his hat off of his head. Reaching behind him to grab a pillow to put Shanks' head on. "There you go. We'll get you fixed up."
"Cap—" Shanks' cracking voice caught his attention, forcing him to look down at him. "I'm fine. I prom…"
Roger shushed him. "Don't talk, Shanks. We've got you. You're safe." He reassured the red head, moving to give Crocus the room he needed, but not leaving Shanks' side. What the hell happened?
He had barely caught Crocus saying, "It's through and through."
He looked up in time to see that Mihawk was standing there and without another thought, his feet were carrying him over to where the Swordsman was. "Roger!" Rayleigh exclaimed.
Rayleigh didn't get to him in time as Roger's hands found the front of Mihawk's shirt, forcing his back against the wall as he hissed out, "What the hell did you do?!"
Mihawk didn't react, instead looking at him with a blank look. His eyes were another story. There was so much panic in them. Like everything around him was falling apart. He shook his head. "I don't know. We were just standing there… then there was blood and he fell."
"Bullshit!" Roger roared. "You did something! You—"
"Roger!" Crocus snapped. "It's a gunshot wound! Hawkeyes doesn't carry a gun!"
Roger stopped, eyes narrowing. "Who would target him?!"
Mihawk shook his head, his eyes going over to Shanks before he was looking back at Roger. "I don't know, but if I ever find out who did this. I'll kill them myself."
The Captain gritted his teeth, his fists curling tighter in Mihawk's shirt. "What makes you think that I don't suspect you are involved in this."
Mihawk shook his head. "I wouldn't."
"You're the enemy." The Captain continued. "How do I not know that you haven't been purposely doing this so you could get closer to him. Make him drop his guard."
"I wouldn't!" Mihawk snapped. The anger coming to his face from every word that Roger spoke to him. "If I wanted to hurt him, I would do it myself! I wouldn't do something as cowardice as shoot someone in the back! Wounds to the back are a swordsman's shame!"
Roger recoiled slightly, exhaling sharply as he stood there. Mihawk was sincere. Not letting any sign that he wasn't telling the truth. Though, he had seen in the past how well of a liar that Mihawk could be. Roger didn't trust him. Shanks was with him, alone and he got hurt. He was shot.
"Rayleigh." Roger hissed.
Rayleigh stepped forward, just into the line of sight through the corner of Roger's eye. He didn't even have to say anything, and Rayleigh nodded. "Already on it."
Roger put his attention back on Mihawk. "If I find out you were involved in this. I'll kill you myself. He is my boy. No one lays a hand on him and lives to tell the tale. No one does this to any of my friends. My nakama. My boys. You saw something. You know something."
Mihawk shook his head, almost a denial about to fall from his mouth before he stopped, looking over to Shanks. He frowned for a second before he was whispering, "When we were in town."
"What?" Roger questioned.
"We were in town. There's was a man. I kept seeing him." Mihawk muttered, "I didn't think anything of it since we were in a busy area with shops." The Swordsman stopped, looking like he was thinking again for a moment before he frowned.
Before anyone else could say anything, Roger heard the sudden gasp and the whisper of, "I can't breathe." His hands released from Mihawk's shirt as he rushed to Shanks' side. The red head was wheezing. Attempting to breathe with each inhale that he took. His chest rising and falling with each breath. Shanks' eyes moved to him. The panic that was laced in those rose gold-colored eyes. "Capt—I can't—"
"I know, Shanks." Roger muttered, shushing him quietly as he made eye contact with Crocus for a second as he was rushing to gather the supplies that he needed for this. Sterilizing his hands and putting on a pair of gloves. Roger's heart was racing. He did not survive his illness, beating it, just to see this happen.
Roger looked back at Shanks, pausing as he heard Shanks wheeze out, "Hawkeyes—is he…"
"He's fine." Roger interjected. "Just think about you right now." How was it that this sixteen-year-old kid could get shot and still think about everyone else but himself. He almost wanted to not believe it, but it was the truth.
He could hear Rayleigh talking to Mihawk now, trying to get more information out of him. Roger couldn't focus on more than one thing at this moment. His only focus was Shanks. Crocus was moving, reaching up and pulling Shanks' arm up and leaning it back by his head. "Shanks, this is not going to feel good." Crocus stated as he dropped his stethoscope onto the table.
"What's happening to him?" Mihawk questioned, the panic clear in his voice.
"His lung collapsed. The bullet went through his chest and allowed air into his chest cavity." The doctor explained, quickly grabbing the tools that he needed. Grabbing a pair of scissors and cutting away the side of Shanks' shirt. Moving it out of the way. "Keep him still, Roger."
Roger knew what was about to come and he hated every second of it. He reached over, keeping the red head's shoulders pinned to the table as Crocus worked to sterilize his skin. Shanks' eyes were fluttering again. Like he was in and out of consciousness.
Roger hated what had to be done as Crocus got everything ready and shared a look with him before he was nodding. "Keep him still." Crocus instructed.
Roger took a breath just as Crocus moved, creating the incision to Shanks' upper torso on his side before he was using a gloved finger in its place and reaching for the nearby tube. Shanks had gasped in pain for the moment, the pain contorting on his face before he was relaxing again. Roger felt sick his stomach. That was all about to change. He just really hoped Shanks' insanely high pain tolerance would kick in. He refused to close his eyes as Crocus moved, inserting the tube but the scream that came from Shanks had his gut twisting. He had to almost put haki into his hands to keep Shanks pinned down. Finally, he stilled, still slightly wheezing before his breathing started to even out.
"I know, I know, Shanks. Stay still. Just like that." Crocus muttered. "It's over."
If Roger found the man that caused this, they were not getting out alive.
Rayleigh was by his side now, checking over Shanks for himself. The two of them had raised Shanks since he was a baby. As far as he was concerned, he was their child. Rayleigh, normally, was the one telling Roger to calm down, but Roger coils see the anger all over his face. The blonde reached out, grabbing ahold of Shanks' hand that Roger had pinned. "He'll be okay." Roger wasn't sure if he was telling himself or Rayleigh at this point.
Roger could feel the chill that went down his spine when Rayleigh looked up at him, the dark look glazed in his normally beautiful soft eyes. "Someone hurt our kid, Roger. I'm going to kill them with my bare hands."
Roger lifted up his other hand, placing it on Rayleigh's lower back and he leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead. He understood. He had the exact same thought as him.
"You two might not have too." Crocus' voice made them both look over to see the doctor looking back at them. He ushered his head and Roger turned to look to see that Mihawk was gone. "He left a minute ago."
"Where's he going?" Rayleigh muttered.
"To finish this." Roger turned back to Rayleigh. The understanding coming to his lover's face immediately. "Stay with him."
Rayleigh nodded. "I'm not going anywhere."
Crocus hummed, turning away for a moment, and peeling off the bloody gloves. "He's stable for now. I need to do a small surgery to get his lung expanded again and I need the room sterile." He explained, "Rayleigh can assist me, but I need you to sterilize yourself."
Through the corner of his eye, he could see Rayleigh nod before he was moving to do exactly what Crocus had said. Roger went to walk out of the room, turning and stopping as he looked back at all of them. "We've got this." It was a small reassurance, but he left the room a second later, only stopping as he saw Buggy standing by the door, his back pressed against the wall with a knife in hand. "Buggy?"
There were many emotions on Buggy's face. Many of them that even Roger couldn't pinpoint. Buggy's gaze moved up to him as he muttered out, "He's alive… right?"
Roger let the fond smile come to his face. "Yes, he is." He replied, reaching out and placing his hand on the top of the boy's head. "Our Shanks is a fighter."
Buggy was gritting his teeth again as he glared straight ahead of him again. "I won't let anyone through this door."
Roger chuckled slightly, "You've got this, Buggy." He stated before he too was leaving.
He was going to end the man that caused this.
Well, if Hawkeyes didn't beat him to it.
X
Mihawk was on auto pilot as he left the Oro Jackson. Not one of the Roger Pirates had dared to step in his way. The face of the man he had seen earlier stuck in his mind. That man had been the only suspicious man that he could think of. One that had seen the two of them together. He was going to end this. He was going to avenge what happened to Shanks.
Shanks' blood was still on his face and shirt. On his hands. He never wanted to witness something like this again. Who would shoot someone with no bounty? Out of the two of them, the one who was technically wanted currently was him.
This was personal.
Insanely personal at this point.
He had gone back to the same place where the two of them had entered their duel. Standing where he had before and looking up rather than where Shanks had been standing. The bullet that hit Shanks had gone straight through him. Mihawk turned, looking behind him to the trees. Sure enough, one of them had splintered wood. His guess, that tree now held the bullet that shot Shanks. He walked over to it, letting his fingers move over the hole in the tree before he was pulling Kogatana from around his neck. Using the blade to dig out the glint of a bullet that he could see. It popped out, falling into his open palm. It made the anger flare through him even more. This bullet had harmed Shanks. He was going to find the person who had caused this.
He turned again, walking back to the place he had been like he was before. Looking ahead of him once more. It only took him a moment to find the best vantage point for someone wielding a long-ranged gun. Most likely a rifle had been used. Especially judging by the bullet.
He kept standing there before he narrowed his gaze, the hairs on the back of his neck standing. "Come out and face me, you coward." Mihawk hissed.
The footsteps followed. The crunching of twigs and leaves as he turned his gaze enough to see the same man from before coming out from the tree line. He started to whistle; a rifle thrown over his shoulder. "It's a shame. I was trying to get the both of you, but the look on your face was absolutely priceless."
"If so, that makes you a bad shot." Mihawk stated as he sheathed his Kogatana back before reaching up for his sword. "You made a grave mistake."
"Did I?" The man taunted. Mihawk's gaze narrowed as the man's face cracked into a sadistic smile, "How does it feel to know he got shot because of you?"
Mihawk's grip tightened on his sword as the man moved his rifle, preparing for the moment to shoot. That one movement was all it took before Mihawk was pulling his sword out and swinging.
X
It didn't surprise Roger in the slightest when he finally got to where Mihawk was. Mihawk was standing there, sword in hand and the other had a bullet that he was flipping into the air. There was a stoic look on his face as he flipped the piece of metal. It was clear to Roger that Mihawk knew he was standing there already.
It was only confirmed more by Mihawk saying, "He tried to say he was trying to shoot us both." Mihawk stated, stopping his movement as he held the bullet up. "He purposely took the shot that wouldn't hit me. He wanted to see my reaction."
Roger hummed. "You didn't give him the reaction he wanted."
Mihawk shook his head, "Unless killing him was the reaction he wanted." He paused for a moment as he toyed with the bullet more. "I've trained myself for years to never let my face show what I actually feel. All I could think when I saw him bleeding out… was that he was going to die, and it was going to be my fault."
"This is not your fault." Roger stated.
"You could have fooled me." Mihawk shot back.
They stood there in silence for a moment. Neither of them saying a word. Not making a sound. Just the noises that were coming from around them in the woods. Mihawk was still staring at the bullet, paying no mind to the man he had just killed. Roger did turn his attention to the man. A rifle was sitting away from his hand, the stab wound directly to his chest, his eyes open wide and lifeless.
This man deserved every second of pain he got.
It had also taken Roger only a moment to realize who he was. A Cipher Pol agent. Belonging to one of the lower ranks, but he was one of them. An excellent marksman if he could recall correctly.
"He was here after me." Mihawk added, cutting through the silence. "He shot Shanks because he was with me. He was toying with me."
Roger walked forward, kneeling down next to the man. "And he paid for it with his life." He sighed, standing back up to his full height. "We will be traveling to the South Blue after this. Shanks will need some recovery time, and I have someone I would like to see there." Mihawk had made a noise that made Roger turn to look at him. Mihawk looked surprised. "What?"
"Why are you telling me?" Mihawk questioned.
Roger smiled, "Because any man willing to do what you just did deserves to know."
X
It was well into the night. Everyone was on the deck. It was tense. Some were pacing around. Others let the concern show on their faces. Some were just silent. Mihawk stood off to the side, his arms covered over his chest to hide the fact that his grip on his shirt was hard enough to turn his knuckles white. Neither Crocus or Rayleigh had came out at all. Staying within the infirmary.
Mihawk was still covered in Shanks' blood, refusing to move from where he was to go clean it off. As soon as they got back, he had made his decision. He would not move until he found out the news.
He kept his gaze on the door, waiting for someone to come out.
The wait was killing him. Normally, he would be patient, but this was different.
Roger was among the ones pacing. Mostly in front of the door and having a debate with himself if he should go in or not.
Mihawk had also noticed Buggy's absence from among them. Probably still standing by the infirmary door where he had seen him last. It was clear that this had impacted everyone. Shanks was one of them. Family to them. They had found him when he was just a baby. All these men have known him for pretty much his entire life. Had been with him through all of his milestones.
That man's words were ringing in his ears.
It was all he could think about. The man was dead, and Shanks had been hanging on by a thread. Shanks was a fighter. A bullet wouldn't take him down, but he was still human.
He paused as he noticed that the cabin door had opened and Crocus and Rayleigh were both standing there. One by one as the others noticed, they stopped what they were doing and started heading closer to the two men.
Crocus raised his hands up and nodded, "He'll be just fine." The collective sounds of relief that he had heard came next. Mihawk had released the breath that he didn't realize he had been holding, letting his grip loosen for a moment. Crocus cleared his throat, lowering his hands as he added, "He lost a lot of blood, his lung had collapsed, but what had concerned me most was the wound itself." He paused for a moment, the unreadable look that came to his face next that had Mihawk gritting his teeth, "One centimeter over and the bullet would have torn right through his aorta." The Swordsman inhaled sharply, his eyes going wide for a moment. "I repaired the damage the best I could, and he is on bed rest until I clear him."
Mihawk nodded as Rayleigh walked over to him, clapping a hand onto his shoulder for a moment. It was a strong one, but not hard like he was trying to threaten him. Rather trying to keep him grounded to reality. "He'll be fine, Hawkeyes." Rayleigh muttered.
"I did have to sedate him because he kept trying to get out of bed and I didn't want him to injure himself more." Crocus added, "He's awake, but really groggy. If anyone wants to see him, only for a few minutes." The Doctor stopped speaking as Roger broke away from him first and he had moved to stand in front of Mihawk, "He's been asking for you."
Mihawk exhaled and nodded. He felt the slight reassuring shove to his shoulder, sending him a few steps forward before he was walking towards the cabin. His heart was pounding the entire time as he got there. Buggy was no longer at the door, but inside standing next to Roger. Roger was muttering to Shanks, but Mihawk could see that his eyes were open.
It made him relax almost instantly to see the rise and fall of his chest, the soft smile on his face. He was paler than before. The stark contrast to his normally tanner skin tone. Roger and Buggy had both looked at him the second he had stepped in. Roger turned, facing Shanks again before he muttered something to him before he was excusing himself from the room. Telling Buggy to come along with him and they'd be back.
As the door shut behind the two, Mihawk looked back at Shanks. Shanks' head was on the pillow and his half-lidded gaze on him. "You were worried about me."
"You do that to some people." Mihawk drawled as he walked over, going straight to the side of the infirmary bed. Shanks laughed for a second before he winced, bringing a hand up to his side. "Don't laugh. The last thing you need to do is ruin your Doctor's work."
"He'd kill me himself." Shanks muttered.
Mihawk gritted his teeth for a moment, reaching over and letting his fingers thread through Shanks' red hair. "Don't scare me like that again."
Shanks blinked at him, "You were… scared?"
Mihawk hummed, taking a seat on the chair that was next to the bed. "There was something I noticed in that moment." Mihawk started, looking away from Shanks as he reached into his pocket. The necklace was still there. He let his finger move over the pendant as he sighed, "I realized in that moment… I never wanted to see harm come to you again. That I want you in my life."
"Mihawk…" Shanks muttered.
Mihawk pulled the necklace out, letting it dangle in front of him for a second before he was presenting it to the younger pirate. "I want you in my life rather it's as an enemy or as a friend… or even something more."
Shanks went to push himself up, but Mihawk used his other hand to stop him. Bracing a hand on his chest to make him lay back down. "You're…"
"I think I've always known." Mihawk interjected, reaching over, and clasping the necklace around Shanks' neck. The red head reached up, letting his fingers graze over it for a second as he was staring at Mihawk with wide eyes. "I took care of who did this to you. Just rest, alright."
He went to stand up, stopping as he felt a hand wrap around his wrist. It caught him off guard that it had sent him stumbling for a moment. As he turned his head, a hand landed on the back of his neck and lips connected to his own. Mihawk felt his heart skip a beat for a second before he leaned into it. Their lips danced in sync for a moment before he was pulling away and leaning his forehead against the red head's. Shanks didn't say a word as Mihawk decided to sit back down.
"Get some sleep." Mihawk whispered. "I'll be here when you wake up."
Shanks smiled at him, his eyes fluttering as he tried to fight the exhaustion that was clear on his face. Mihawk reached forward, letting his fingers curl back into his hair. Shanks' hand had never moved from the back of his neck. Toying with whisps of black hair.
Mihawk did know one thing.
He would never let something like this happen again if he could help it.