Whumptober 2021

Summary: Whumptober 2021: Day 25: Escape/Hiding. Mihawk/Shanks. When Shanks is cornered by Marines, he didn't expect to see Dracule Mihawk standing in their way.

Author's Note:

Warning:

Whumptober 2021: Day Twenty-Five: Escape/Hiding (Mihawk/Shanks)

His ribs were screaming at him. The blood coating his hands, arms, and face as he heaved. Coughing and sputtering from the pain going through his chest. He pushed himself up, the brim of his hat tilting into his eyes as he glared ahead of him. The blood going down his forehead from the cannon ball that he been fired at him. He had barely dodged in time. Going through a nearby wall from the blast. They weren't holding back from trying to capture him.

He was barely sixteen and they were acting like he was some big-name pirate. Roger had always been so careful. Teaching him everything that he needed to know. He was surrounded now. Just him against the Marines before him. There were so many of them, and he was alone.

Shanks grimaced as he pushed himself up, gasping from the movement. They couldn't see him at the moment. He just needed a few seconds to recuperate. He had to get the hell out of here. His body was exhausted. Muscles screaming at him with each attempt to move. That cannon fire had done more damage than he initially thought it had. He had glass sticking out of his leg. Making it hard to even try and stand up.

It wasn't going to end here.

Not yet.

He looked back down at his leg, bloody fingers touching the cut skin. If he could at least get the glass out, he could attempt to get away. He had cuts littering his entire body at the moment. His head was swimming from his head hitting the hard floor. He could get out of here. Roger had faith in him in the past. He had to use that now.

"This is gonna suck." Shanks whispered.

Shanks reached down, untying his sash from his waist. He bit down on his lip as his hand wrapped around the piece of glass. He sucked in sharply, jerking it out at the same time. A whine of pain falling from his lips. He was quick to tie his sash around his leg to put pressure on the bleeding. If he got out of here, he could take care of it properly.

The wound burned as his own blood soaked his sash. He had to think. How the hell was he going to get out of this one?

He paused as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, notifying of someone approaching. He placed his hand over his mouth, shuffling down enough that would hide his body as he held his breath. This wasn't good. He had to get out of here.

"Find him immediately!" He heard the shout. Shanks' heart was racing, his leg was throbbing. He wasn't even sure how he was going to be able to move.

"There's no way that he's conscious after that blast." Another said. "It hit him almost dead on."

"If he's even alive." The other shot back, laughing slightly as they walked by.

Shanks shuffled, pulling himself under some of the rubble. Trying to force himself to stay quiet as the footsteps around him echoed. Getting closer and closer by the second.

He was sure he was concealed enough. He wasn't completely defenseless. He had his sword and what energy he had left to use haki. He didn't want to wear himself out completely by using his haki, so he would use that as a last resort. This was going to hurt like a bitch the second he started moving again. He could barely conceal himself as it was.

He could hear the Marines laughing and talking among each other. Stomping on the rubble as they talked about what they would do the second they found him. It made his stomach twist. He hated Marines. Their power trip just because he was branded a criminal for being on Gol D. Roger's ship.

He grimaced as he moved his leg the wrong way, hitting his knee against concrete. He hoped with everything that his hand muffled the noise. He heard the footsteps stop, catching, "Did you hear that?"

Shanks could only hold his breath again, waiting for the moment. He used his other hand to grip onto his sword despite the cut he had on his palm. He jumped as he noticed a pair of black boots hitting the ground directly by his face. Facing away from him but standing between him and where he guessed the Marines were.

"Oh, Hawkeyes, it's just you."

Shanks felt his heart skip a beat. Mihawk was here? "If you're looking for Red-Hair, he was spotted heading into the woods."

He listened to the exchange and still, Mihawk didn't move. Standing directly by his hiding spot. "Why should we believe you?"

"I am a Warlord after all." Mihawk simply said back. "I have no reason to lie to you."

The entire room was tense. Not a word being said. A movement coming. Just thick air that Shanks was sure he could cut directly through. He didn't even try to move. Hell, he couldn't even breathe. Did Mihawk know he was here? That's why he was covering for him. He was just seconds away from being caught.

"Even if you are a Warlord, you are still a pirate." One Marine hissed. "Pirates and Warlords alike. Only working for their own gain. Don't think we don't know about your rendezvous with Red-Hair."

Mihawk didn't make a noise. Shanks couldn't risk looking up at him without revealing himself. As far as he knew, the Marines didn't know this is where he was.

"My time with Red-Hair is none of your concern." Mihawk replied. "Try and attack me, I can cut you down without even hardly lifting a finger. Small pests like you are nothing. A waste of my energy."

Shanks wanted to laugh at that. He was sure the looks on the Marines face would in fact gain a laugh from him judging by their choked sounds. Mihawk sounded irritated, which was not a good mood to catch the Swordsman in.

He could hear the humming next before the confirmations followed and the order was given for the Marines to check the nearby woods. Shanks didn't move the entire time, waiting for the second that he was safe to come out.

Mihawk had finally moved, kneeling down, and reaching out for his shirt. Pulling him out from underneath the rubble. "Got yourself into more trouble?"

Shanks gave out a nervous laugh. "You could say that." He muttered, grimacing as he moved his leg wrong again. It caught Mihawk's attention for sure as his eyes moved to the wound in his thigh. The red head let his sword clatter from his head as he forced himself to level his breathing. If Mihawk hadn't shown up, who knows what would have happened.

"Let's get you fixed up."

Shanks was shocked by that, looking to the Swordsman. "You want to help me?"

Mihawk hummed, shuffling as he slid his arms underneath Shanks, grabbing ahold of his sword as well as he lifted him off of the ground. The younger pirate winced in pain, but Mihawk was careful with his hands, keeping them away from the injury. Shanks gripped onto his jacket, trying to keep himself up as much as possible. He was tired. He hurt and just wanted to sleep for a few days at this point.

"Hang on, Red-Hair." Mihawk murmured.

Shanks leaned his head against his shoulder, catching the aftershave that he didn't even notice that Mihawk actually wore. It was comforting to say the least.

He was almost lulled to sleep by Mihawk's walking. Barely noticing when they got into the safety of an inn. Just the two of them until Mihawk was placing him back down. Shanks groaned as his leg was settled down. His eyes went to Mihawk, watching him as he turned his back to him, pulling out a bag from the concealment of his normal one.

Mihawk didn't say a thing as he turned back, kneeling down and almost as carefully pulling the tied sash away from Shanks thigh. "This is going to sting a bit." Shanks braced himself for it, curling his hands into the blanket as the disinfectant was poured over the wound. He bit down on his lip as he felt the familiar sting. The soft taps of gauze that followed as Mihawk carefully cleaned at the wound. "Take off your pants."

Shanks grinned. "You just want an excuse."

Mihawk snorted. "I need to bandage the wound."

The red head pushed himself up, reaching for his waist band and pushing it down. Mihawk assisted with the pant leg that was over the wound, making sure it didn't hit the gash. Once the fabric was gone, he sat back down as Mihawk moved to bandage it. Wrapping the gauze around his thigh before taping it off.

"You'll need to stay off of it for a few days." Mihawk said.

Shanks smiled as Mihawk looked up at him. The Swordsman grabbed a nearby cloth, reaching up and wiping at the debris and dirt that had caked his face. "Want to spend it with me?"

"And put up with you for a few days?"

The red head laughed softly, reaching out and letting his fingers thread through the black hair. It was softer than he thought it would be. Small strands moving through his fingers. He almost paused as Mihawk leaned into it as Shanks whispered, "You love me."

"I do."

Shanks did freeze at that, his brain practically short circuiting for a moment as he blinked. He was at a loss for words as Mihawk leaned over, pressing a kiss to the inner part of his wrist. "You…"

"I love you." Mihawk stated, looking back at him.

Shanks' face broke out into a grin as he leaned forward, placing his forehead against Mihawk's. "I love you too." He whispered. He never thought that Mihawk recuperated his own feelings. It felt nice. Even if his body screamed at him. Now he understood why Mihawk didn't just leave him at the mercy of the Marines. It was something Shanks would do for him too if the roles were reversed.

Mihawk stood back up, collecting his first aid tools, and turning back to his bag, pulling out a black button up. "Put this on. I'll go get your belongings."

Shanks smiled as he grabbed the soft fabric. Mihawk didn't say anything back to him as he walked out the door, closing it behind him. The red head laughed, shaking his head as he stripped out of his dirty pinstriped shirt and slipped on the button up. Buttoning it up and leaving just a few of the top buttons undone. He could smell that same after shave on it. He brought it up to his nose, inhaling it slightly before he was pushing himself up. The fabric went to his midthigh so thankfully he was covered. His pants were done for. It would be better to just throw them away at this point. His shirt was salvageable.

He grimaced, putting weight on his other leg before he was moving to the bed and slipping onto it. He was already bored now that Mihawk was gone.

He sighed as he leaned back on the bed, careful with his leg as he waited for the Swordsman. In the meantime, he just played with his hat. Throwing it into the air and catching it.

It didn't take long before Mihawk was back, discarding his bag by his and taking his sword from his back and placing it down and slipping out of his jacket. The Swordsman walked over, sitting down on the other side of the bed before slipping onto it. Arm slipping around his shoulders and pulling him in. "Go to sleep, Red-Hair."

Shanks smiled.

This was nice.

He liked it.

Hell, he didn't want it to end.

He was lulled to sleep just like that. Curled up by Mihawk with fingers moving through his hair and the smell of his after shave filling his nose. He was safe and that's what mattered.