Hello everybody,

thank you for all the feedback I got on this site and on others. I will stay with the weekly update for now, until I feel more confident about keeping up with my schedule.

Thanks for your lovely comments and messages, have fun with the next chapter ;-)


Chapter 2 – Point of View

-Mihawk-

Absently, he turned his desk lamp on and off, bored by his current conversation partner, the silent click almost more interesting than the dialog.

A few seconds ago, he had finally received the expected recall from Mary Joa and now he organized the necessary formalities, but actually he was dealing with completely different things.

He had not expected the day to turn out like this and it was very rare that he was mistaken with his expectations.

Roronoa's irritated mood was understandable, not pleasant, but understandable, and who was he to let himself be influenced by the mood swings of an uneducated child?

Nevertheless, he was confused that the other had decided to not return to his crew. After all, that had been the plan. After all, they had not worked towards anything else during the last month.

Mihawk could not deny that this unplanned surprise did not displease, and yet he could not deny that Roronoa's parting from had crew had moved him. He did understand the pain of having to lie to his own friends and of having to let them go.

He felt sorry for Roronoa, well apparently, he really had grown soft. That was actually the problem. Usually, Mihawk was very good at predicting and exploring other ones' feelings and motives.

But Roronoa had always surprised him, straight from the beginning, had always behaved differently than he had calculated, and the better Mihawk got to know the other, the less he could predict his actions.

However, the undesirable presumption seemed to slowly confirm that this problem was not due to the unpredictability of the youngster – because everyone's actions were predictable, even his own – but because of Mihawk himself, because of him and his relationship to the other.

He sighed and answered insignificant questions from the official at the other end of the line.

But although he was pleased in a certain way that the younger one had asked him to train him a little longer, to take care of him a little longer, he could not hinder being surprised about the reasons behind the other one's decision.

And because you see me.

What an odd reason.

What exactly did Roronoa mean by that?

"I see..."

"Excuse me?"

Confused, he noticed that he had just thought aloud and that the employee on the other side of the line apparently felt addressed.

"Would you like to have a transmission snail installed for Lady Loreen so that she can receive the Marines' channel, your Lordship?"

It was only now that he realized that he was still in a conversation.

"Of course," he replied briefly, "my guest would of course like to be informed of all events in the world."

His interlocutor agreed and assured him that he would take care of everything.

Mihawk did not address this any further but focused on the next topic. His thoughts, however, were already leaving the conversation.

Roronoa could not possibly have meant the ability to see, right?

No, it had to be about something personal, one reason why the other one had stayed here. If he did not care if he would ever turn back into his original body, why had he not returned to his friends?

Was it because of something Mihawk had said, or were Roronoa's friends responsible for it?

Because you see me.

So, it was obvious that he could see the younger one, unlike his friends.

"Oh, I see," he muttered when he finally understood. Today it took him an unusually long time for things that were so obvious.

"Yes, of course, your Lordship," replied the employee, who could not even guess Mihawk's inner course of thought, "if you wish, we will of course do as you ask."

Again, he was annoyed with himself for not paying attention.

"No thanks, this won't be necessary," he replied, before being connected to Vice Admiral Tsuru a few seconds later, who organized the upcoming War Council.

He had regarded the situation from the wrong point of view.

Having taught Roronoa the ability to see, which meant that the user was able to recognize and predict the movements of another, he had assumed that the other had referred to that in some form.

Of course, Mihawk had not told Roronoa what this ability really was about, but they would talk about that soon enough.

That was why he had believed that his little frog had been talking about this ability, he had thought that Roronoa could have been able to realize what Mihawk had been keeping from him.

But he had been wrong. Perhaps Roronoa's decision was not at all about the strength of his crew, perhaps not even whether they could protect him as Loreen or not. Perhaps he had meant something else, something that was so self-evident to Mihawk that he had not thought about it at all.

Roronoa was a proud man and, in some form, even vain. He had forced strict rules on himself to become the person he wanted to be, but also to make sure that the self-image he had of himself was true.

Mihawk understood this view, he was similar in many ways, and so he could understand how important it had to be for the other to hold on to this self-image. It was important for Roronoa to live up to his self-image.

But of course, Roronoa's new figure did not want to fit into that perception at all. The lovely Lady Loreen, who was liked and admired by everyone, who had to be protected and conquered, who was gentle and kind, all these things did not fit his self-image. All these things that were told about Lady Loreen were not Roronoa's qualities and, of course, Roronoa had also noticed by now that he, as Loreen, had this inexplicable gift of gaining the trust of strangers no matter his words and deeds.

But with Mihawk, that ability did not seem to work. For him, Roronoa was Roronoa, no matter what shape he took or how much he changed, and that was exactly what the other had meant, the other must have meant.

Mihawk could see him.

"You seem to be very absentminded today, Hawk Eyes."

Slowly he raised his head and looked at his old transponder snail.

"What makes you believe that, Tsuru?"

The old woman laughed softly. "Your concern for Lady Loreen stands above everything else, am I mistaken?" She replied instead.

"I shoulder my responsibilities diligently; you should be aware of that."

"Oh, really?" She replied with false surprise. "And I thought I knew you."

"Please let us return to the essential. This chatter is a waste of time."

"That sounds a lot more like you."

They continued their conversation.

But his thoughts were still with his little frog.

In conclusion this meant that Roronoa had not stayed with his crew because he thought they could not see him? Because he believed that they could not understand him or because he could not trust them? Or did Mihawk interpret too much into his words? Was it perhaps something completely different?

He sighed deeply. Why was it so hard for him to identify Roronoa's motives?

"Do you also want me to set up guards to protect your companion?"

He raised an eyebrow.

Useless Marines should guard Roronoa? That sounded like a joke.

"No, it won't be necessary. I do not assume that there is any danger to my guest in the Holy Land, or am I mistaken?"

It knocked on the door and Roronoa stuck his head in.

Mihawk noted him to enter, quite surprised that Roronoa had even knocked. Since when did the other one pay attention to manners?

"Well, if I'm honest, I can't quite understand why you want to take a defenseless girl to a war zone." Tsuru sounded truly worried but also a bit disdainful. "Mary Joa is not evacuated for nothing. It's too close to Marineford."

Roronoa leaned against the desk and looked at him with serious eyes, not saying a word.

"Your concern honors you, Tsuru, but I think I am able to take care of the well-being of my companion," he replied coolly, looking at his little frog.

Roronoa wore oversized floral t-shirt and wide trousers. He had not done anything about his hair, which was flying into every direction, like the mess it was.

So, he could see him?

"Oh, by all modesty, Hawk Eyes, that may be true for the next few days. But what is when the war begins? Don't you think it makes sense to second some soldiers to protect the young lady while you're on the battlefield yourself?"

He made eye-contact with Roronoa, who listened quietly, raising an eyebrow in obvious doubt.

"I hardly believe that the seat of the World Government will be stormed in the course of the war. Unless the enemy is in fact capable of defeating us all, and if that is the case, I do not assume that a few minions will be able to protect my companion."

For a moment, the woman on the other side of the line was silent, but when she spoke it was clear that she was losing patience: "So let me repeat myself, Hawk Eyes. I think it is reckless and naive of you to take a child to the scene of a war and strongly advise against it. Lady Loreen may be an entertaining playmate for you, but attention-seeking fashion dolls have no place in a crisis area."

Mihawk could not prevent a grin. Tsuru was a wise woman, wise by her age and capable of fighting, but years in an administration dominated by men had made her condescending towards women who did not try to assert themselves in that male world.

He thought about answering, but it seemed as if Roronoa wanted to take matters into his own hands. Irritated, his little frog cleared his throat, his lips pursed. Clearly, Roronoa would not stand for such an accusation.

The eyes of the transponder snail widened in surprise.

"So, you really think that I would put my own security at risk only for a few pictures in the newspaper? Do you really accuse me of using meaningful world events as an excuse to travel to Mary Joa, at a time when even the World Aristocrats are being evacuated from there?"

Oh, Roronoa managed to amaze him again and again. Usually the youngster was too ungallant for such tactical refinements, often stumbling awkwardly like bull at a gate or being too direct for strategic tricks.

But just now, despite his cracked ego, he had found fitting words.

"Lady Loreen," Tsuru greeted Roronoa without even the slightest hesitation in her voice. "Not at all, young lady, but please do not hold it against me that I have a hard time understanding why a civilian like you would like to come to Mary Joa in the face of a war and without further notice. We are not the citizens' center here. You cannot come and go as you please. Even if you would be allowed to visit you will not be able to join any meeting and of course cannot travel close to the Marineford. So why do you take on such hardships and jeopardize your own safety?"

He watched Roronoa, watched if he had to intervene - after all, Tsuru was an experienced strategist - but once again Roronoa surprised him.

Roronoa sighed and rolled his eyes. Mihawk was not sure if the other even noticed his sigh was already enough to break any resistance.

"You are right, for a civilian the scene of a fight is probably no place to be." Roronoa's carelessly soft voice left Tsuru defenseless. "But a war concerns us all and I'm not going to close my eyes while thousands of brave men and women risk their lives for our safety. Besides, I don't need to be afraid for my safety, do I? Even if the war had fatal consequences, Mary Joa has nothing to fear, right? After all, the Marines are the guardians of justice and will win, aren't they?"

Roronoa probably wanted to seem hostile, but Loreen's voice managed to make his serious words sound like naive honesty without any evil will, whether he had intended to do so at all?

Even Mihawk threatened to fall for him, even though he saw the serious look, knew exactly who the other was.

"Of course, the Marines will win," Tsuru replied one breath too quickly. "Well, contrary to my concerns, I will accept your request, Hawk Eyes, and look forward to officially welcome you at Mary Joa tomorrow, Lady Loreen. If you would apologize, I have a lot of work to do."

She didn't even give them the opportunity to reply; the connection died with a quiet gotcha.

Mihawk could not stop smiling.

"You did well, Roronoa. You're getting better and better, even I wanted to believe you."

"So why do you really want me to come to Mary Joa?"

The blunt contrast of their voices surprised him.

He was calm and delighted, but the youngster sounded tough and controlled.

Oh yes, Mihawk had almost forgotten that there was still tension between them. What had they been arguing about again?

"Very well," he replied, getting serious. "it is obvious that Eizen has an increased interest in Lady Loreen and whether you like it or not, but I think it makes more sense if you stay in my immediate vicinity."

"So, you want me to come to Mary Joa just so that you can keep me under control?"

Sometimes he forgot how direct the other could be and he probably was not totally wrong.

Shaking his head, Mihawk tried to steer the conversation into the right direction. Roronoa was still irritated and the subject demanded a cool head.

"I doubt anyone could keep you under control. I just want to avoid that Eizen sends his henchmen after you. He will not dare as long as I am close to you."

Your protection over these islands and your protection over Lady Loreen only goes so far. Do not forget that.

EEjHe had not forgotten Eizen's words. This threat was not one he would underestimate.

However, this was not his only reason. Roronoa's aversion to use Haki had still caught his interest, and he hoped that the other would accept the need for this ability if he saw how the world's most powerful could fight.

But the other one just shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't care," he repeated the words he had said when they had returned home.

"And I think this is a very shallow-minded attitude."

Roronoa looked directly at him.

Once again, Mihawk was terrified of how easily the other could withstand his gaze. He had almost gotten used to it, but after today's events, he became aware again. It was unusual for him that someone was willingly keeping eye-contact with him.

"I'm not stupid, got it? Why should I deal with any random politician who I don't care about anyway? I have more important things to do."

Surprised, Mihawk looked at the younger man, who continued scornfully: "Eizen's influence comes from being able to put people under pressure. He finds out what is important to people and uses it against them. Even someone like you can be controlled by him for he knows your weak points: Your title, these islands, even me."

Roronoa was too serious to tease Mihawk right now. Although Mihawk had been unaware that his worries about the youngster were really that obvious to others, Roronoa was not saying it to make fun of him right now.

Thoughtfully, Mihawk folded his arms.

"And he has nothing to pressure your with?" He asked, dismissing his thoughts.

The other shook his head slightly but looked out the window.

"No, of course not. What could he use? He doesn't know anything about me. All he knows is my connection to you. But no matter what he wants from me, Lady Loreen can never be important enough to threaten a contract between a Shichibukai and the five elders, so he has nothing against me."

"Because the only thing he could really put use against you would be your crew."

The other one just nodded.

"Not bad, Roronoa. You impress me today, really. Your repartee towards Tsuru was also refreshing. Lady Loreen looks at the world with concern, the press will be thrilled."

"That wasn't played," murmured the other in a bad mood.

"You meant seriously what you said?"

"War does concern us all. You yourself said that the world will not be the same after that. I would be stupid to not watch from the front row. Also..."

The other fell silent and brushed his hair away.

"Also what?" Mihawk asked attentively.

Slowly he got up and walked around the desk.

He had been surprised that the other wanted to stay with him after Roronoa had finally returned to his crew. He had not been prepared for it and it had... it had unsettled him. After that he had not been sure how to deal with Roronoa.

Mihawk himself had not been so quiet at that day, long it the past. Wrong, he had been much calmer. He recalled the moment they had released Jiroushin and Egan from Impel Down. Remembered how his vice-captain and ship doctor had walked towards him. He had known it was the right decision, had not doubted it for a second, and yet had known that it felt wrong. He remembered how they had greeted him, but the warmth of their embraces had not reached him.

Mihawk had lost his self-respect that day, had disappointed himself, had taken years to get out of this low. It was not easy to betray one's own principles, even if it happened for the right reasons.

He was uncertain why Roronoa had chosen this path, but he suspected that the pirate was similar to his own former self.

Considering that, the youngster reacted quite moderately. The other one had accepted it much better than Mihawk himself would have accepted.

He thoughtfully glanced at Roronoa's wanted poster.

"Also," the other said after an eternity, "I want to know how big the gap is."

Mihawk raised an eyebrow but did not turn around.

"What gap?" He asked calmly. He really had to get used to the fact that he was underestimating the other one over and over again.

"The gap between you and me?" he added.

"That too," Roronoa muttered calmly, and Mihawk could hear the other walking through the room until he stopped next to him. "I want to know how strong the strongest are. I want to know how the strongest fight and... and whether we overestimate ourselves."

Surprised, Mihawk observed the younger, who looked at his wanted poster as well, this childlike face far too serious for the lovely Lady Loreen. Mihawk did not respond.

"Say," Roronoa muttered after a while, but whatever he wanted to say, the younger one did not speak any further, and Mihawk decided to stay silent as well.

For a long moment they stayed that way, the other took a breath and preparing to talk, but no word came out. Eventually, Roronoa sighed.

"Will it get better at some point?" He asked, though he obviously wanted to ask something else.

But Mihawk knew what he meant, believed he understood better than ever before. He nodded: "Yes, when you go back."

Roronoa stared at him, but he turned away and went back to the desk to put his transponder snail away.

Mihawk knew what the other one had actually wanted to ask and yes he knew the answer to it, after all he had made this experience himself. But he did not want to think about his past.

"But I am a little surprised," he said, steering the conversation into better directions and away from those memories, "I wonder how all this is going to help you get your original body back. I thought you were going to turn back."

The other did not respond. Roronoa had told him once that he could not tell Mihawk the details of his curse, and Mihawk had reluctantly accepted it.

"Just tell me if it has helped you."

Mihawk looked up and met this clear look of the younger.

"Yes."

"Then stop regretting your decision. You would never do anything you might regret. You said that, didn't you?"

He grinned over the other one's surprise.