Surprisingly quick update! ^A^

Chapter 10 - Frog in the well

Shanks snuck into the break room. Quiet. Good. Judging by the looks good old Beckman wasn't in a good mood. Shanks didn't like it when he wasn't in good that happened rarely thanks to the older man's patience. Benn was probably busy with that intern of his...

'Should I be jealous?' he mused in good humor and grinned, while maneuvering himself a cup of coffee with his single hand.

"Told you that couldn't be it." The deep voice strained with annoyance startled the redhead, who spun around, spilling coffee on himself.

"Aw, shit." he cursed, then lifted his eyes nervously to meet Benn's. "Uh... Hello luv... didn't see you there. Um... shouldn't you be with your-" Benn's dark look stopped the words in his throat.

"We need to talk."

"...About what?"

Benn began fiddling with his cigarettes.

"Went out for a smoke with Hawky."

"No." Shanks gasped , eyes wide, every fiber of his being perking up in excitement. "And..!?" he prompted irritably when Benn wasn't continuing. "Come on Becky! What happened!? Was... was it bad?" This was beginning to seem worrying. After a moment of hard staring Benn sighed.

"You were way off, mate. Told you." Benn threw a discarded sugarcube at the redhead groaning in disbelief or displeasure – he couldn't tell. Not as much relief there as he would have liked. "Fucking told you." He muttered. Recalling that awkward part of the conversation on the balcony made him cringe.

"How do you know? Look man, if you hadn't noticed anything before maybe you can't see it now either-"

"I asked him."

"What!? You can't just go ask people if they like you what the hell?"

"Well I can and I did and it's not me"

"Of course he wouldn't tell you the truth-"

"Shanks, seriously. Trust me. 'Snot me." he attempted to assure his boyfriend. "Why are you so fixated with this anyway?"

"Fine! Fine." Shanks lifted his hand up in defeat and took a bitter swig of his coffee. Benn stood up after a sour silence and left the room without another word or look. Shanks glowered at his coffee. What was going on with Benn? His thoughts turned towards what Benn had said about Mihawk... Well... if it wasn't Benn, then who? He tried to go back in his memories and remember who else had been there.

Zoro had decided to walk home despite the distance. Exercise helped to take his mind off things but he found it could also help him to focus on them. He strode in a brisk pace through the chilly damp mist of the night that clung onto the city. The weather fit his mood. Things were unclear. Or were they, really? The facts remained; He needed to graduate, and needed to get shit done. He was having a weird online... companionship. Sounded easy enough when put bluntly like that but he kept getting his threads tangled.

He wanted nothing more than to take a warm shower after his walk back home but he knew he'd get hell if he woke Sanji up. Instead he made himself a cup of tea and curled up in his blanket on his bed to drink it before going to sleep.

As he lay on his bed he thought about how everything got so weird. He had had enough problems trying to graduate, and now he found that seemingly harmless chatting had planted Hawk-Eyes firmly into his thoughts. Hawk-Eyes was a mystery that called to him and came to haunt him at the most inopportune moments. Now with the appearance of Shanks, a solid link to Hawk-Eyes, it burned in the back of his mind, growing more and more intense. He wondered if he should do something about it. But what could he do? After all, what guarantee did he have that Hawk-Eyes was someone that he would like to know in real life? Yes, they seemed great in their conversation but... and what if that person wouldn't want anything to do with him?

He slept restlessly. Grumpy Zoro wasn't anything unusual but Sanji either sensed there was something extra in the mix this day, or was too preoccupied to notice. Zoro glared at him suspiciously behind his coffee mug. He couldn't really say for sure. Maybe the stupid wannabe cook was busy with planning the evening and didn't have to time to bother him. Damn, shame about the get-together... he could have used the drinks. And the food. Maybe he shouldn't have taken the job now he had one more thing to worry about.

He took his coffee and curled up on their sofa, mindlessly browsing stuff on his phone. Procrastinating. He knew that he should be working on that stupid essay. It wasn't that long (well that's what people kept saying), but it seemed like an impossible task to him. He just needed to do it. But he didn't even know where to start.

He almost smacked himself when he noticed he had procrastinated himself into his and Hawk-eye's conversation, reading through the messages from last night.

'i just said fuck you to my boss' he had written yesterday in panic.

'Well, now.'

'there's nothing well about this screw you'

'What happened, exactly, if I may ask?'

'my boss was there, and I did a bad'

'I think we established that, dear. You have to be more specific. Did he say anything about it?'

'uh, not yet. I guess he might tonight. Shit. Idk what I was thinking I got lost and I thought I was gonna be late to see Benn. I should probably apologise. If he hasn't fired me before I can do it.'

'Perhaps. You really should be more mindful at work.'

'I know. Going to bed, ttyl. Go to bed why are you awake.'

'I will, soon. Good night.'

A new message came in from Hawk-eyes while he was scrolling through. He smiled at the distinctive slightly too formal style for chat typing.

'Good morning. How are you?' Hawk-Eyes inquired.

'Yo. I'm good. Chillin with my coffee. You?'

'Sorry for pressing, but are you sure? You've seemed... stressed?'

'Yeah welp'

'What about?'

'Just stuff.'

Zoro scratched his head groggily. He wanted to ask Hawk-Eyes so badly about himself, to dig up more clues, anything. He basically wanted to stalk him? Or her? How weird could this get? Maybe he could get just one tiny thing straightened out...

'btw I think I said i'm a guy but did you ever mention your gender? Sorry I don't want you to think that I wasn't paying attention or anything it just came to my mind'

'We will address this matter later. Don't try to change the subject.'

Mihawk frowned. He suspected Roronoa was having slight difficulty settling in. When they chatted he often tried to steer the conversation away from his own problems, saying he was fine, that it only bothered him a little bit and that he would manage. He grudgingly admitted to himself that perhaps he had noted this because it sounded like himself.

Was it the job? Maybe it was too much to work the guard job and study. This must have been a busy time for Zoro. What was the student allowance like these days was he forced to neglect his studies because of money? He tried to search it online but it was mostly annoying to look at the sites and their stock photos of 'students' laughing on grass in multicultural groups while funds were being cut from education. Or maybe that's how kids were these days, heck if he knew. He allowed himself a few seconds to feel old and sorry for himself. Then he imagined Roronoa in preppy clothes laughing on the grass with salad and his textbooks like the students in those promotional pictures and nearly burst out in giggles.

Meanwhile Zoro struggled with his answer. Hawk-eyes seemed so clever and smart. He didn't want to look like an idiot in front of them by saying he was having trouble with something that probably was a piece of cake for them. This was also the reason why he hadn't asked Robin for help either, even after Sanji's encouragement from earlier.

'It's just that essay thing. Don't worry about it.' Honestly why did Hawk-eyes even bother to worry about him anyway? It had been the same with sensei... why had he bothered?

'I'm actually gonna go work on it now before our friends come over'

What he actually ended up doing was falling asleep. He woke up when he felt something touch him and received a kick in retaliation when he tried to twist the arm that had shaken him.

"For fuck's sake moss brain!" Sanji glared at him "At least you're awake now..."

"Sorry..." Zoro mumbled, his brain was still trying to figure out what was going on after being woken up so rudely.

"What time is it?" he looked at the time and cursed "How did I sleep so long?"

"You sure you're ok with the night shift?" Sanji asked. Zoro mumbled something incomprehensible and headed for the shower.

He ate well when the others came, even had a beer, laughed a little. But he wasn't able to fully relax and he thought it must have showed at least a little bit. He wanted to go running or training to let out some of his frustration so bad. He actually left for work a bit early, making some half-assed excuse about an orientation.

He spotted Benn outside lighting a cigarette and went to greet him. He declined the cigarette that was offered to him.

"You sure?" Ben grinned "Boss wanted to see you."

"Better get this over with then..." Zoro grumbled, the sense of impending doom taking over him.

The corridor leading towards Dracule's lair felt ominous. This whole part of the complex felt deserted and lifeless. He almost wished he'd accepted Benn's offer to take him instead of saying he'd find it on his own (despite a few wrong turns).

"Roronoa."

Zoro's body jolted involuntarily at the unexpected noise.

"Fuck!" he couldn't stop the word bursting out.

He glared warily at Dracule who just stood there, stern and collected as usual in his dark ensemble. Who the hell was this guy? Normally he'd know right away if anyone was trying to sneak up on him but Dracule... he hadn't had a clue he was there! Every time Zoro came face to face with Dracule it felt like he was being sized up and studied. He hated it. He'd already decided he didn't like the man much. He couldn't figure out why he found Dracule so unnerving, he wasn't the type to feel overpowered by anyone in person or in a match. If he had to describe it... perhaps he felt out of his depth. And it wasn't like he had a pleasant personality...

He followed Dracule into his office and was gestured to be seated. Zoro noted that the space looked more like a loft apartment, but was too busy eyeing Dracule suspiciously to focus on his surroundings. Dracule seated himself on a sofa and Zoro placed himself opposite of him, as if the table between them could somehow protect him. As much as the man annoyed him, he owed Dracule an apology.

"Last night... That wasn't appropriate. Sorry about that." He wondered if he should have said something more but he didn't want to give Dracule the satisfaction of seeing him babble excuses.

Mihawk looked at the intern with scrutinising eye, holding up his calm facade. He hadn't expected to find Zoro already behind his door. He desperately hoped that Zoro wouldn't observe his surroundings too keenly. He was suddenly painfully aware of the intimate state he had left his private space in, all the little things scattered across, books in strange nooks and crannies instead of neatly in the bookshelves , and – oh god there were at least three different mugs on his desk and a shirt thrown over a chair. He watched the younger man's face, what was that look? Was he judging? The younger man seemed tense...

"Then let us not dwell on it. Please do mind your tongue in the future." he of course had known Zoro had been sorry about it. He had no intention of roasting him and adding to his misery with his worry over his well-being ghosting in his mind.

"Coffee?" It was more of a statement than a question. He was already up when Roronoa tried to stammer something about Benn waiting.

"Anyway, don't bother i'll have coffee in the break room."

Mihawk didn't stop, the corner of his mouth curling ever so slightly upwards.

"Considering the time, it is very likely that what you'll find there is some sort of tar-like new nanomaterial brewed by Shanks. Suit yourself, but answer this question first; Would it be safe to ingest anything made by that man?"

"If he's such a health and safety hazard why is he still working for you?"

Dracule craned his neck and grinned almost leisurely with half-closed eyes, as if amused by some secret joke of his own. He didn't answer, but Zoro was preoccupied anyway. Dracule was shady as fuck. He was also an attractive man – that much was obvious – but smiling like that, the severity of his grim features softened slightly... Zoro couldn't help but stare.

'Shit, what the hell are you thinking...' he mentally kicked himself.

"How are you adjusting? Are there any problems?"

"No. I'm fine." Zoro straightened himself, meeting Mihawk's narrowed eyes.

"I was writing your outburst off as stress-related. I understand this is a busy time for a student, if your work schedule is causing you problems-"

"It's not. I'm fine." Zoro cut him off stubbornly, but wavered in the end. "...It's not the work."

"You're going to have to be more specific."

"Uh... An essay... my graduation kinda hinges on it..." Zoro wasn't sure why he was blurting this out. Perhaps it was Dracule's no-nonsense aura and eerie eyes demanding answers that drew his words out of him.

"And you don't have time to write it?"

Zoro seethed. The other man was baiting him, surely.

"I told you, it's fine. Time is not a problem."

"Then what is the problem?" Mihawk took note of the tension spreading through Zoro's body. He wondered how far he could go without this blowing up in his face. Something was up and he wanted to find out what it was. He wanted to help. If only Zoro would let him. He hadn't told Hawk-eyes anything, could he squeeze it out of him like this?

"It's... I... I don't know how..." Zoro huffed. He wanted to strike his palm through his own face. It felt as if he'd fallen into Dracule's trap and said 'I'm a brainless screw-up'.

"Did you understand the assignment?"

"Yeah I understood it." The hell? He knew he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but he wasn't a complete idiot... This guy! He ended up explaining the assignment to him. "I just... I don't know where to start... I just don't know what to do."

The silence dragged on for what felt like eternity. Then Dracule stood up and walked up to his desk, scribbling something quickly on a piece of paper. Zoro accepted it hesitantly and frowned at the numbers on it.

"Library, little frog in the well. Go and discover how far the world truly extends."

I almost let Zoro find out in this chapter but decided against it. I feel like it's better to let him suffer a bit more, and perhaps have a little conflict. Let me know what you think! I'm posting all the current chapters in one bulk on tumblr since that's where everyone seems to be active (my url is nucleartuna) I'd appreciate it if you could give it a reblog! ^u^