Mihawk/Shanks (5)

(It Sunk In)

Shanks tried to stay awake until Mihawk got back, but in the end he ended up falling asleep from exhaustion before his mate made an appearance.

Mihawk was as quiet as ever when he walked into his and his mate's room. He sat on the edge of the bed and just watched Shank's peaceful face as he slept.

The red head was breathing slowly with his head pillowed under under his arm. His other hand was resting protectively over his abdomen.

Mihawk's eyes strayed to Shank's lower stomach and he trained his eyes on it. Carefully and slowly he reached out and raised Shank's hand to get a better view of the area. Shank's groaned and shifted till his was flat on his back.

Mihawk's eyes were sharp as he slowly set the red heads arm down before raising Shank's shirt slightly.

His eyes were transfixed. Shanks wasn't showing yet, but his abs had started to become softer looking, and less defined.

He eyes stared in a piercing gaze, before slowly and surely, they softened, and he gently ran his own hand over the area.

Mihawk loved Shanks.

There was no denying that. It had been almost three years since they met and two years since they finally mated. And each day he was connect to his love was a day he didn't regret.

Even when he had to leave the Red Force to go fight someone to become closer to his goal, Shanks was always still there. Sometimes he didn't like leaving, being gone for long, and not being able to have Shanks in his arms, and the red head had seen his irritation at it all, but still never said a word and continued to support Mihawk in whatever way he could.

Shanks had been a fool to think the swordsman hadn't noticed Shanks' own sadness when Mihawk had to leave. And every time it always made him want to stay more.

Shanks had become what grounded him to the world. He'd do anything to keep the red head breathing with a steady heartbeat in his chest. He'd give anything to see the red heads smile light up another room like it did his heart. And he'd kill anyone who tried to take Shanks away from him.

Shanks was his world and he'd always give the red head what he wanted, even if he grumbled and fought whatever it was the whole way.

He didn't know if Shanks wanted kids.

To Mihawk kids had always been irritating. He saw them as little humans who constantly drooled on their clothes, had snot crusting their faces, screamed 24/7 at the top of their lungs, and where owners of bodies who possessed endless amounts of energy that they could never truly do anything productive with.

That didn't mean he went around killing or scaring them, but he did try to avoid them whenever he could.

But this wasn't one of those kids he saw on the streets or in their parent's arms.

This was his and Shanks' child. A child made through their love for each other. Their bond, their hearts, their bodies, their hands, their love. It was completely different. So different in so many ways, he didn't think he could ever, pinpoint them all or feel distaste or anything but love for their baby.

But he didn't know what Shanks wanted. He didn't know if Shanks wanted a child or not, or if he wanted to wait till in the future.

He had seen though. Seen the looks Shanks would give children that ran passed him, or talked excitedly too him because Shanks was a pirate and that was evidently the coolest thing ever to a small mind's imagination. He had seen the looks that hinted at longing Shanks would give mothers when he saw them and their child.

He knew Shanks loved children. But did Shanks want his own?

Another groan drew his attention to Shanks' face. The red head was twitching a bit before his hand came up and rubbed at his eyes. "When did you get back?" He asked tiredly.

"A little while ago." Mihawk was watching Shanks every movement. Cataloging it in his mind again. It had been too long since he had seen his mate. They talked to each other every day, but it was different than seeing each in person.

Shanks yawned as he moved his other hand to place it over his, still bare, abdomen. He looked at Mihawk and smiled slightly before remembering the last time he had talked to Mihawk. He pushed himself up and sat on the bed facing his mate.

He was suddenly nervous again. "What, uh, you never answered. I-" Mihawk cut him off by slamming his lips into Shanks, making said man suck in a breath.

Mihawk pulled away and leaned his head against Shanks, holding in in place to do so. "That's my answer. I'm happy for this," he pressed a hand onto Shanks abdomen, applying just enough pressure to get his point across, " but I want to know your answer."

Shanks eyes widened. His answer? He hadn't given much thought into that, mainly been worried about his mate's answer, but he really hadn't because it was such a no brained to him.

"I," he laughed half heartedly, suddenly exhausted but too elated for anything, "I'm happy too, I've wanted to have our baby for a long time."

He smiled a little nervously, and was suddenly met with his mate's lips on his again.

Mihawk pushed Shanks down to lay on his back, without breaking their lips for each other, and rested his elbows on either side of the captain's head.

Once the need for air became to great he pulled away and rested his head on Shank's shoulder.

The red head chuckled as he panted. The words unsaid between them perfectly understood without their utterance.

Suddenly Shanks laughed, smiling as wide as he could. He was going to have a baby, and not just anyone's but the one he loves' baby.

A second later Mihawk smiled widely as well.

They were having a baby.