Mihawk was the first to wake up and he groaned in pain. He had two bony elbows pressing into his ribs and two faces pressing up into his neck making it harder to breathe. He gently maneuvered himself out of their grasp and chuckled when they just clung to each other instead.
After a few bone popping stretches, he left the small cabin and headed back up to the deck. A snort left him when he saw the assortment of crew training in the only way any one seemed to know how with observation Haki. He shook his head and headed up higher knowing he would find both Captain and First mate up by the helm.
"Ah, Mihawk." Roger said when he finally made it up onto the top deck. He must have sensed the remaining anger as the Captain's smile dropped. "I really didn't know he was sensitive to observation, Dracule… and Shiki was a surprise. He wanted me to give him information I wasn't willing to share." Roger relented as he looked back out into the sea and Rayleigh wisely bowed out of the conversation, leaving the two to talk.
A deep sigh left Mihawk and he walked over, leaning back against the railing as he crossed his arms. "Listen, Roger. I'm less mad about Shiki and madder that you didn't think about the kids in your care. I'm not saying drop them off because you're the closest thing to family that they've got… I'm just saying that you need to prepare them more for this life. Train them and get them started because they'll be the generation that takes up what you leave behind."
Roger was quiet for a long while as he gripped the wheel. "I know." He finally spoke with a tired sigh. "It's not fair on them. I picked them up and I should take responsibility for their well-being and safety. I was more concerned with the adventure and thrill then if my crew was up for the tasks set before us." His voice quieted down before the man leaned forward, hitting his head to the wheel as his shoulders shook.
Mihawk stood and he forced his magic once more, threading it with the shadows so no one would bother or see them. He walked over and pulled Roger into a hug with a knowing sound. It was hard… leading a bunch of people to war and then realizing what you could have lost. What he would have lost had that storm not hit when it did.
"You have the ability to be great, Roger. Don't let blindness take that from you." Mihawk said and he leaned back, patting the man's shoulders. "Take this moment and remember it. Grow from it and make your crew into the finest Pirate crew this world's ever seen. Heck, become a King in your own rights!" The man joked and watched as Roger cracked a familiar smile.
"Stop it. People may think you're growing soft." Roger joked and he wiped his face clean before standing a bit taller and looking more relaxed than before. It was a lot better at least and Mihawk would let it slide for now… though he still needed to find out if there was a way to save the man from his own body.
"Yeah, yeah. Big mean Pirate Captain." Mihawk snorted in amusement as he dropped the guise for them. "I'll leave after the two teen's wake up. My Sensei is going to be pissed either way and I am not looking forward to that conversation." He said with a groan, tilting his head back at the thought.
Roger laughed loud and long at that only to get an elbow to the ribs. Mihawk's smirk only incited the bickering that followed and soon the two were wrestling on the ground with the crew shouting their bets around them. It was probably the first time that Mihawk ever truly felt like just himself. Nothing special. No titles or obligations, just him and a friend trying to beat the crap out of each other surrounded by people they trusted.
The two ended in a draw and let go, falling onto their back on the decking covered in sweat. Mihawk laughed breathlessly along with Roger before sitting up. He ran a hand through his hair as it was getting a bit longer and looked up.
Shanks stood in the crowd and they locked eyes for a moment before the teen's face went red and he fled. A hum left Mihawk in confusion when he saw Buggy just shrug and he decided to leave it be wondering if Shanks' stomach got upset or something like that.
He stood and helped Roger back to his feet, leaving the Captain to yell his orders as he went over to Buggy. Mihawk wrapped an arm around the shorter teen and ruffled his hair with a deep chuckle, "Feeling better, Bugs?" He asked with a soft smile and watched the grin pull on the other's face.
"Whatever you did made it all stop! It's like I have my mind to myself again!" He said in excitement as he hopped alongside of Mihawk.
"Good, Roger and Rayleigh will be taking a more hands on approach to yours and Shanks' training. They'll help you control that." Mihawk said and watched as the kids eyes seemed to sparkle. Buggy didn't wait for any more information before running back over to where they had left the bruised up Captain.
Mihawk shook his head and he went down below deck, following along to where he thought Shanks had gone. He opened the door and leaned against the frame when he walked in on Shanks pacing and muttering to himself. It stopped when he caught sight of Mihawk though and he froze like a deer in headlights… though the saying would be lost on these people…
"You okay Shanks? I was coming to check in before I head back out." He said and stepped in more, shutting the door behind him.
"I…uhm…yes. I'm fine." Shanks said, flush still across his cheeks and now growing to the tips up his ears.
"Are you sure you're not getting a fever?" Mihawk frowned in concern and he walked over. He didn't wait as he leaned down and touched their foreheads together. A hum left him when he felt how hot Shanks' head was, "Make sure to drink plenty of water and get rest okay? Or whatever you have to keep hydrated." He said and pulled back a bit in concern.
"R-Right!" Shanks nodded quickly.
Mihawk nodded and then pulled him into a tight hug, "Well stay safe and do what Roger says. He'll be training you and Buggy more now so you'll be safer." He said and then backed up.
The red head only nodded quickly and Mihawk hummed and he gave a wink before going back through the travels using Deo once more. Though the two did pause and share a look when Mihawk made a sound of question.
Deo laughed where he stood, holding his arms to his chest, "You are so oblivious it isn't even funny! No wonder Death chose me!" He said in mirth before shoving Mihawk back into the waking plane.
Mihawk groaned and he looked up through the leaves at the dwindling sunlight. It darkened though when Lupus loomed over him with a scowl on his face. "And where do you think you were off to? Leaving your cat behind to make my day a mess?" He snapped out and ignored Mihawk's state of dress.
"There was trouble… had to go make sure they were safe." He said and let out a loud yawn before sitting up. Mihawk paused though and then fell back down.
It seemed that Draco had panicked when he had disappeared and took to… rearranging everything. The tiger had rooted out all of the blankets and bedding, scattering them across the clearing along with barrels of fruit being scattered and knocked over. The cat in question was laying in the middle of the chaos looking as pleased as a peach for the chaos he had caused.
"Right… I'll clean that up…" He muttered with a long sigh only for a pained sound to follow at the stick that hit his head. "Fuck."
"Watch yer language!" Lupus yelled and then hit Mihawk again with a stick on his head.
The next year followed in a routine.
Mihawk woke early to do his stretches and exercises before eating. Then he did Haki training along with some of the seven powers that Lupus felt like teaching him. By evening they would go to town and help out with this or that in order to get supplies in exchange for work. Night followed with meditation, shadow training, and training to control his magic.
That was the weekdays though. The weekends he left solely for potions, runes, and other magic. He didn't want to forget anything not that much ever did escape him anymore after Death cleansed him from all his mental blocks… That being said he was still looking for something that could help Roger to no avail.
The thing that lightened up the weeks was, of course the letters he got from Shanks, Buggy, and Roger. It seemed that the Pirate Captain claimed him as a younger brother and they both took it in stride much to the crew's amusement. They didn't know that it really was the other way around and neither man was going to tell them about it.
Then of course there were the random… adventures that Lupus drug him on with a near regular bases… None of them led him any closer to home though and he was beginning to become tired of it. He wanted to go home and rest for a while without having to worry or train.
Mihawk sighed as he followed Lupus down the pathways of another town. They were on a different island this time and he had no idea where in the grandline it was. The man knocked him out before they travelled saying something about secrets and snot nosed brats.
"Give it to us you freak!" Mihawk froze at the tone and words. He watched as Lupus' back disappeared in the crowd and took a deep breath.
He veered off and followed the shouting.
It seemed like a group of kids were bullying up to a blonde boy who's cheeks were filled. Mihawk looked to the sky for a moment almost in prayer before stepping forward.
"Problem here, kids?" He asked and watched as the bullies turned, paling at the sight of an obviously well-armed sailor.
"N-No, sir… we were just… on our way." The lead bully said and all three scattered, running into the crowds with Mihawk watching their backs as they faded away.
Mihawk hummed and he looked back and watched as the kid finally swallowed whatever it was that was in his mouth. With the way he paled though… it probably wasn't what he had wanted to do and so the Potter saving people thing butt into Mihawk's brain with a ferociousness that he hadn't felt for a while.
He ran over and knelt down, grabbing the kid's arms gently and made him look at him. "Hey, hey it's okay. I need you to calm down okay?" He said gently and ran his hands up and down the kid's arms. Mihawk was unfazed when thin arms wrapped around his neck and the kid started sobbing into his neck.
Mihawk wrapped his arms around the kid and lifted up into his arms knowing he wouldn't talk until he was calmer. He tucked the blonde close and walked back out into the streets. It didn't take him long to spot an inn and he walked over with purpose, sliding in quietly through the door as the kids crying slowly dimmed.
"Can I get a room and lunch brought up?" He said having seen the sign at the front. It was a slightly wealthier town so he was glad they had these sort of conveniences available.
"Can you pay?" Came the nasty reply as the woman eyed the boy in his arms.
Mihawk narrowed his eyes and shifted so his sword was in view. "If you tell me the amount." His voice took on a sharper edge and when the price was prattled out he paid it.
He took the key and headed up the stairs. Mihawk walked in and he set the kid on the bed before filling a bowl with water. One of the easier things he could do with his magic. "Here, let's get you cleaned up a bit." His voice was soft and gentle as he began cleaning the kid's face. Couldn't have been more than seven or eight…
"I…I didn't….didn't mean to eat it!" The kid sniffled and rubbed at his bright blue eyes.
Mihawk grabbed his hand gently in his own larger one. "Shh. Don't worry about that right now. One thing at a time okay? Now, my name is Mihawk. Can you tell me yours?" He asked as he continued to clean up the kid. It was obvious that he was poor and if he was an orphan was still in the air. The bruising on the kid's arms and neck though were painting a darker picture and Mihawk would raze the town to the ground if he didn't like what he heard.
The kid nodded a bit, "M-Marco…" He said through his sniffles.
A hum left Mihawk, "That's a good name." He said gently and stood when there was a knock at the door.
Mihawk walked over and he nodded to the person, taking the two plates and drinks with an ease that was more practiced than it should have been. He walked back over and cast a mild spell, relaxing when it didn't come up positive for poisons. With a small hum, he put the plates down and gave one to Marco before sitting on the ground near him. The difference in height would probably make him feel a bit safer than if he was looming.
"Alright, eat as much as you can and drink some water." Mihawk said and began eating his own food. He made sure not to pay much attention to Marco so that the kid could feel more comfortable while he was eating. The fact that he only hesitated slightly before eating was both promising and sad.
After a while, Marco slowed down before stopping completely. He shifted on the bed a bit before biting his lip. "You aren't… aren't mad?" Marco asked quietly and looked down at his half eaten plate.
Mihawk looked up, "Why would I be mad, little one?" He asked softly and reached out to gently hold the other's hand.
"Because I ate…I ate that devil fruit…" Marco said and tears started pooling in the corners of his eyes once more. He looked like the entire world was about to collapse on him with no way out.
"No, no I'm not mad." Mihawk said and he very carefully and slowly moved the plates before pulling Marco down onto his lap. He wrapped his arms loosely around the boy and set a calm aura as he relaxed more as to not alarm the kid. "I know a few people with devil fruits. There's nothing wrong with it. You'll just have to be more careful since you can't swim anymore."
"Can't swim!" Marco's eyes widened comically as he shot up to look at Mihawk in alarm. "How can I be a pirate if I can't swim!" The panic came back and Marco began hyperventilating again and Mihawk searched for a way to calm him down again.
"There are devil fruit Captains." He said quickly to calm Marco. "Whitebeard for one has been making a name for himself and he is the Captain despite having a devil fruit." Mihawk said and he began rambling off the bare facts he knew about the up and coming Pirate. The man was on the same path as Roger and he dreaded the day those two meet…
"Really?" Marco had Mihawk's shirt in his small hands as he looked up with sparkling eyes.
Mihawk chuckled softly and he nodded, "Really. You just need to train to get stronger." He said and then his expression softened more. "Do you have anywhere to go back to?" His voice was soft and gentle, but he could see it in how Marco's eyes dimmed and his smile fell.
Marco shook his head, "No… M'n Orphan… and when they find out I took that fruit…" A fearful look filled his eyes and the boy let go of Mihawk so his little hands could cover the bruises of large fingers on his thin arms.
A deep breath left Mihawk and he had a quick mental debate before deciding. "Then you'll just come with me and I'll train you. Eventually we'll meet Whitebeard and we'll see about you training with him for longer." He said in a definitive tone as he looked at the eyes that slowly filled back up with hope and wonder.
"Really?" Marco asked again.
"What are you a broken record?" Mihawk teased and he tickled the boy, laughing softly at the squeals that left the other. "Alright. We'll finish up eating and then head out to go find my teacher." He said and stood up, putting Mihawk on his hip with little issue.
The boy didn't seem to have an issue with it either as he yawned. Marco cuddled close and before too long he was out cold as Mihawk carried him.
They left the building and all Mihawk had to do was glare at people to move out of his ways. Hushed whispers started filling the streets as he walked. A lot of it was 'Hawk-eyes' and swordsman so he figured he knew enough to know what they were talking about. It wasn't as if he was lying low after all and he was already starting to build reputation as a no-nonsense swordsmen that hated human interaction… obviously.
It didn't take long for him to catch up with his teacher and they shared a long look. Lupus sighed and rubbed his temples, "Death said you'd be like this…" He muttered under his breath as they continued to walk into the forest towards the opposite side of the island.
Mihawk nodded, "Before we leave, I'll have to take care of a few things." He said and shifted Marco in his arms before ultimately putting him on Draco's back. The tiger would watch over the kid and keep him safe while he was distracted. "A few lessons of my own to teach." A darker tone entered his voice and he felt Deo whispering advice on how to deal with them.
"We leave in two days." Lupus said and led Draco on while Mihawk slipped away.
Devlin: I hope that you all are enjoying the re write. I've decided to post on both sites, but i may forget this one occasionally but not intentionally. As always thank you for the support! Feel free to leave a comment! I use comments as fuel.