Love Like You

Summary: Love Like You: Week Three: Flowers. Mihawk showed his affection in subtle ways. Including giving flowers. Even if it was cliché. Mihawk/Shanks.

Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to Love Like You! I hope you are enjoying these! I'm vibing right now and trying to get these done before February ends. Don't really have much else to say other than enjoy! On with the fic!

Warnings: None

Love Like You: Week Three: Flowers (Mihawk/Shanks)

Flowers always held a meaning. Rather it was life, love, death. It held a special meaning. Their color could signify a completely new meaning to the flower. Just about anything. It was one thing that Mihawk enjoyed knowing were the different meanings to the different types of flowers that he came across. The beauty that was within the petals. The stems. The leaves. Each individual one.

His eyes were settled on the white lotus at his feet. The only one that was there within the fields of flowers that were there. He tilted his head, humming as he kneeled down, letting his finger trace across the white petal.

Pacificism. Purity. So many meanings within the one flower, but his mind could only go to one thing the second he looked at it. The flash of red hair, the large smile that would grace the tanned face of his opponent. He had the pleasure of getting to know the younger pirate. Everything about him. His quirks. His ticks. Anything.

How one's personality could be summed up so easily.

He reached for the stem, plucking the flower, and pulling it up to his nose. Inhaling the soft scent that was coming off of it. It was perfect.

X

Mihawk had found Shanks easily. It was just something that he was able to do. He wasn't far from his crew, a smile on his face as he sat on a few of the stacked boxes, speaking to his First Mate Benn Beckman. Benn was smoking like normal, looking down at papers that were sprawled out over another one of the box in front of him.

Shanks was kicking his feet out, much like a small child would whenever they were sitting on something taller than them. A smile on his face as he pointed down at one of the papers. Mihawk could never begin to understand how Shanks could carry such a carefree type of attitude. Like he wasn't scared of anything. A smile usually always gracing his face. He seemed like a partier, but there were those small moments when Shanks was quiet. Just enjoying the company of those around. It was something that Mihawk had the pleasure of seeing. It was like seeing a whole new side to Shanks. Though there was something about it. Like he was observing. Eyes always moving around and taking in everything around him.

Mihawk and Shanks were like polar opposites. Mihawk wanted the fight. The thrive to be the strongest Swordsman on the sea. Even gaining all the notoriety in doing so. Shanks wanted to just have leisure travel. See the world without getting involved in conflict if he could. Shanks was something special that Mihawk had never seen before. Shanks was just a pacifist by nature. Choosing peace over violence. It was a nice change to what Mihawk did day in and day out.

It was a silly holiday coming up that Mihawk didn't necessarily get the point of, but the last time he had seen Shanks, he wouldn't shut up about it. Valentine's Day. A holiday used to celebrate love. Mihawk didn't like the idea of the holiday, at least that was until he had met Shanks.

He had just stood there for a moment, leaning against a nearby tree. Shanks still hadn't acknowledged him. There was no way that Shanks didn't know he was here. Not with how well trained his Observation Haki was. For the moment, he was just going to watch. Shanks loved being a Captain. It's where he thrived. His stomach would twist whenever Shanks would laugh even though he couldn't exactly hear what was being said. The smile on his face the entire time. His straw hat keeping the sun out of his eyes. The light hitting his skin just right to show how tanned his skin was from where it was peeking out from underneath his shirt.

Mihawk couldn't help but feel happier around the red head. Just like his spirit alone was enough to cheer up those around him. Like a gravitational pull that just brought others to him. Including Mihawk. Mihawk had been first interested in his power. The way he fought with a sword. His excellent haki usage. It had became so much more than just a simple duel against a rival. An exchange of words between the two.

"Hawkeyes, are you just going to stand there all day?"

Mihawk was pulled out of his thoughts to see that Shanks' attention was now on him. Benn had moved away from where he was, moving off to where the rest of the crew was. The younger pirate was still sitting on the top of the boxes, feet still moving as Mihawk pushed off of the tree.

"You were busy, Red-Hair." Mihawk stated, leaning onto the box that Benn had previously been at, peering from underneath the brim of his hat up to the other.

Shanks was still smiling at him, not actually moving to get off of the box. "What brings you here?"

"Can't come see you?" Mihawk questioned back.

Shanks shrugged, leaning back on his arms, and tilting his head back to let the sun onto his face. "You usually don't come see me unless you want something."

"Maybe I do want something." Mihawk muttered, pulling the white lotus flower from his pocket.

"What would that be?"

"You."

Mihawk had never seen Shanks' head move that quickly before. His hat almost falling off of his head as his eyes widened. Looking down at him in shock. Neither of them had ever put a title on their relationship. Always falling into bed together following their duels and a night of drinking. Mihawk wanted more. Even if they were apart. Shanks didn't seem to have the words to say as he looked down to the lotus flower that was in Mihawk's hand. The audible sound of the air catching in his throat.

"Flowers are something that is given on this godforsaken holiday, and you like it." Mihawk stated, face flushing slightly as he held the flower out towards Shanks. The red head had moved, pushing off of the boxes and landing on his feet next to Mihawk. The Swordsman turned, facing the other fully now.

"You got me a flower?" Shanks questioned, that soft smile back on his face.

Mihawk hummed, reaching up and carefully tucking it behind Shanks' ear despite his hat being in the way. "Beautiful." Mihawk whispered, letting his fingers glide over the soft waves of red that were underneath his fingertips.

This time, Shanks' face had flushed over. Almost as dark as his hair. "I never thought I would see the day that Hawkeyes would be doing romance."

"What can I say?" Mihawk replied. "Sometimes people change because of those around them. So, do you accept?"

Shanks smiled, reaching up and wrapping his arms around the older pirate's shoulders. That smile still gracing his lips as he leaned forward until their lips were just millimeters apart. "Of course, I do." He whispered before connecting their lips.

It wasn't their first kiss by any means, but it was technically the first one that had more meaning behind it. The Swordsman's arm looped around the younger pirate's waist, pulling him flush against his torso, his other hand moving to cup the back of his neck.

Mihawk was the one to break it, leaning his forehead against the red head's despite their hats trying to stop them, knocking them back slightly on their heads. "You picked a white lotus." Shanks whispered.

"It reminded me of someone." Mihawk replied.

Shanks grinned, taking a step back. "Say, why don't we duel."

The smirk came to Mihawk's face as Shanks pulled his sword from its sheathe. Reaching up for his own as he said, "You're on, Red-Hair."

"Bring it, Hawkeyes."

It may seem odd to others, but this was their language. Dueling and clashing haki, but it didn't mean that Mihawk didn't know how else to do it. The soft smile came to his face to see Shanks adjust the lotus flower behind his ear, making sure it was secure before he was standing ready. Mihawk joined in, a smirk on his lips.

Even though Shanks was a pacifist, the red head seemed to blossom the second that the two would encounter each other in a duel. Just like seeing a lotus blossom its petals. Shanks was like a white lotus. It was almost too perfect, and Mihawk would never change that meaning for nothing.

Like always, their blades couldn't even clash as their haki connected, swirling together. The loud clash ringing out around them. Their faces barely apart from how close they were. He was even close enough to smell the scent from the flower.

Because of that flower, he could say that Red-Haired Shanks was his.