Hearts

Chapter Thirteen

Old Friends

Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

Shanks was a man who live by the motto regret nothing. And for the most part of his life he could say that he had no regrets.

No regrets, except one.

And now he was to meet his one regret again. Damn it. When was the last time he had faced him? Four years? No, five years. Five years ago he saw Mihawk last. Five years were a long time. Shanks grinned ruefully. A lot can change in five years. For example his appearance. He had added a few scars to his personal collection in those five years, hadn't he. But he had added not only scars, but a few wrinkles too. His age was finally showing. A few lines around his eyes. When he laughed his whole face crinkled up. He had noticed a few grey strands in his unruly mob of red hair. There were even some grey hairs in his beard. But who was he kidding, he was long past his thirties.

The last five years hadn't exactly been gentle too him. He had changed, he was sure of. The question was: Did he change for the better? Or did he only get more bitter and resentful? Because there were some things that didn't change in five years. Some things that wouldn't change in fifty years. Some things would always stay the same.

Shanks sighed, ran his fingers through his mob of his red hair and entered the little café he had asked Mihawk to meet him in. It was one of those independent coffee places downtown, where they served fancy shit like triple chocolate caramel mocha lattes. But at least it wasn't Starbucks. The place was busy and unsuspicious. No one would suspect that the small talk over a coffee wasn't just the latest gossip but matters regarding an organized crime syndicate.

He took another deep breath and searched the place for Mihawk. To say he was nervous was a slight understatement. He was dealing weapons for god's sake. Why would he get nervous about meeting his old business associate? He straight out refused to think of Mihawk as anything else than his business associate. Everything else that the man has been for him, the personal moments between them, the way they both had worked together, the way they meet at night and their bodies would just clash - nope, he wasn't going there. Not now. He needed to focus.

He noticed Mihawk almost immediately. His nemesis sat tall and proud at a table in the back, a steaming beverage sitting in front of him. Black tea, if Shanks remembered right. Mihawk always drank his black tea scalding hot. Preferably English Breakfast and not that eastern shit they called Darjeeling, as Mihawk had explained to him once so eloquently.

He just wished he wasn't doing this sober. He should've had a couple drinks before to calm his nerves. Damn Iceburg for talking him into it doing this sober. He needed a drink – preferably now.

He took another deep breath. This wasn't a big deal, right? They would just talk a bit. Probably argue.

He carefully approached the table and sat down on a chair facing Mihawk. Shanks couldn't help but openly stare at Mihawk. He looked the same, he thought. Exactly the same. Mihawk's hair was still inky black, his beard was in an immaculate condition. His eyes were sharp and golden. If there were lines around his eyes he didn't notice them. Mihawk's piercing gaze had always been the most prominent feature about his face. Shanks couldn't tell that half a decade had passed since he last saw the man. Dracule Mihawk was still every inch the proud and unyielding fighter he had met all those decades before. He bet that under Mihawk's burgundy dress shirt he still had those defined abs, that he still wouldn't find an ounce of fat on his body.

He couldn't stomach it to open the conversation. He felt like he had swallowed a lump. He didn't think he could do this. God, he wanted to get up and leave and forget he ever came here to see this man. Mihawk's golden gaze pinned him in his place. No one could escape those eyes. No one.

„I didn't expect to hear from you" Mihawk finally stated. His voice was cold, and the shimmer of friendliness Shanks had thought to notice earlier in those eyes was gone. Those expressive golden eyes.

"Well, me neither" he answered. He tried to keep his tone neutral. Don't aggravate Mihawk. Don't show him your resentment, or worse, your longing.

"So why did you call? I doubt that you wanted to catch up." Mihawk said, still without an ounce of emotion in his voice. Only ice. As cold as ice. Amber eyes that reminded him of unmoving glaciers.

"Why wouldn't I want to catch up?" Shanks rebutted sarcastically.

"Cut the bullshit, Shanks." Oh yeah, Mihawk's tone just got even icier. At least he was getting some sort of reaction from the stoic man.

"It isn't exactly my fault that you haven't heard from me the last years. How's your government career going?" Two could play that game.

"How is it my fault that you hadn't had the balls to pick up the phone and respond to my calls? I was desperate Shanks."

"You chose. You chose the wrong side. You fucking chose the wrong side. You knew when you made your choice that I would detest you for it. And still you seemed all surprised when I told you to get the fuck out of my life." Shanks couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"You knew exactly why I had to make that choice. It wasn't easy for me, believe me. The least I expected from you was some sort of support."

"Support? You ask me for support? You wanted me to support your shitty decision to leave the Company and work for the government? You sold your soul to the government, and then you had the balls to ask me for support."

"Believe me; I wasn't happy to sell my soul, Shanks."

"But you still did it."

"I had no choice" Mihawk said, softness creeping into his features.

"What are your choices when someone puts a gun to your head?"

"You do what they say or they shoot you."

"Wrong. You take the gun, or you pull out a bigger one. Or, you call their bluff. Or, you do any one of a hundred and forty six other things."

"You're so full of shit."

"You betrayed the Company."

"I saved the Company."

"Don't feed me your bullshit."

"How often did we have this exact argument? Ten times? Fifteen times?"

Shanks sighed and massaged his forehead. "Shit, you're right."

"You're too damn stubborn."

"Look at yourself."

"I know, Shanks. Don't you think that at some point we should get past our differences? And no, don't give me that look. You clearly wanted to meet me because you want something from me, right?"

"Yeah. I know usually you deal with Iceburg or Zoro if it's about Galleya matters, but this time I wanted, no, I needed to do this by myself."

"Or maybe you just wanted to see me" Mihawk suggested with a faint smile.

Shanks stomach twisted: "Humor doesn't suit you. Never has."

"You were always the prankster. The one with the goofy smile. I was always the serious one of us. You know, I miss it."

"Miss what?"

"Your smile."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"No, I'm not, but that's beside the point, isn't it? You're here because you needed something from me. I assume confidential government information."

"Not really, but you're close. I need to know if you acquainted with a certain doctor."

"A doctor?"

"A heart surgeon. Works for the Grand Line Hospital. Name is Trafalgar Law."

"Trafalgar Law." Mihawk repeated slowly.

"You know him?"

"Not personally, no."

"But you recognize the name."

"I might've heard of him."

"You might've heard of him?"

"So, what do you want to know about Trafalgar Law?"

"Who is he?"

"I thought you already knew this. Obviously he's a heart surgeon. Did an excellent job on Sengoku's cardiac valves. Do you have heart problems? He's excellent, I've been told."

"I may be past my best years, but I don't have heart problems."

"Yet."

"So he really is a heart surgeon?"

"The best in the state, I heard. And still below thirty. He's some kind of medical prodigy. Reminds me a little of chopper, I have to say."

"You don't even know lil' Chops. He became a member of the Company long after you left."

"Just because I'm no longer an active member of the Company doesn't mean that I don't keep taps on you. You have to be aware of this."

"I would've liked it more if you would just leave us be."

"A clean cut, huh? Hurts less, I suppose."

"Funny, Mihawk, really funny."

"A touchy subject? You know damn well I had no choice and keeping contact with the Company was only to your benefit-"

"You can stop right here, we've been over this far enough times."

"Same old story."

"Yeah" Shanks agreed. "Same old story. Never changes, huh?"

"Yeah. So, Trafalgar Law? Since you're not planning on a heart surgery soon, what's your business with him?"

"In fact he's the latest member of the Company."

"You're kidding me."

"Do I look like I'm laughing? He's Kidd's lover. Picked him up at the Arabasta a couple weeks ago. Apparently Law has some financial struggles and so Kidd lets him stay with him so the kid can save his rent."

"Trafalgar Law is Kidd's boyfriend?"

"I'm positive that Kidd will kill you if he hears that you call Law his boyfriend."

Mihawk dwelled on the new information for a few minutes. "So Trafalgar Law is now officially a Galleya-worker?"

"He is."

"And this is you doing a background check on him?"

"Fuck, Mihawk, what else do you know about Law? I can tell you're not telling me something."

"That's because you haven't asked."

"Are you serious?"

"Ask me something specific."

"You're being difficult on purpose."

"And what if I am?"

"Fine. Have if your way. Can you please tell me about any possible ties between Trafalgar Law and Joker?"

"Now you're asking the right question."

"So there are ties between them."

"There are. Why are you asking?"

"Are you punishing me for something? Oh yeah, I remember, you're mad that I'm mad at you. Perfect."

"Why are you asking?"

"I noticed his tattoos. They're awfully similar to Doflamingo's logo."

"So he doesn't wear Doflamingo's logo on his skin anymore?"

"So he did once?"

"He did."

"Oh. I see. I guess he had them covered up."

"See, that's pretty interesting fact right there."

"That Law covered Joker's logo up?"

"The last time I saw Trafalgar Law he was on his knees beside Doflamingo like a good puppy. Covered in his marks."

Oh sweet trouble. Shanks started massaging his forehead again. "Shit."

"That's pretty much all to it. Somehow Law must've convinced Doflamingo to pay for his med school. I just know that they've been pretty close about ten years ago. But Law seemed like the victim in the grand scheme of things back then. God, Shanks, he looked like an abused teenager to me. When I heard the rumors of a surprisingly good surgeon I first didn't believe that it was the same person. But as you said, the name is pretty unique."

"Damn."

"Yeah. I wouldn't want to be in his skin. He definitely has some sort of relationship with Doflamingo, and that fucker has been in my hair for way to long. Over the past years I had to deal with Doflamingo more than I would've liked, but I haven't seen Law around him any longer."

"I just don't know what to make of Law. He just seemed so guarded to me."

"If he used to be Doflamingo's lapdog, I would be guarded too."

"Shit. This is messed up."

"So your main concern is if you can trust Law or not?"

"Yeah, pretty much. I had an uneasy sense that there was something off about him. I just couldn't put my finger on it."

"All I know is that he's a damn good surgeon and used to be pretty close to Doflamingo a couple years ago. Except that he's been an outstanding heart surgeon, he had been flying low the last years. No underground ties I'm aware of."

"Thanks."

Mihawk arched an eyebrow.

"No really, thank you."

Mihawk nodded and smiled softly: "You know how you could make it up to me?"

"Did I say that I owe you one? I didn't think so."

"But still. I went out of my way to meet up with you and share highly confidential government intelligence with you."

"Highly confidential? You're kidding me. You hardly told me anything."

"Everything regarding Doflamingo is highly confidential."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is. And since I just revealed delicate information to you, you should make it up to me" Mihawk grinned slyly.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"I haven't seen you in years. And know you suddenly demanded to meet me over such a seemingly small matter. Of course I'm flirting with you. Who knows when I get to see you again."

"I miss you - sometimes" Shanks admitted quietly.

"Only sometimes?" Mihawk teased.

"What do you think?" Shanks rebutted angrily.

"You know, I tried it with other men-"

"Rub it in my face, will ya?"

"But they weren't you, Shanks. It was never as good as with you. It simply wasn't right with them."

"What am I supposed to say to this?"

"I don't know."

"Yeah, me neither. It's long over. It's been over the moment you betrayed us."

"Maybe for you."

"What do you mean?"

"It was never over for me. I tried to save the Company. I tried to save you. I had hoped that you'd forgive me eventually. So, no, this was never over for me" Mihawk confessed.

Shanks was quiet for a long time after that. He didn't know what to make with this confession. He wasn't speechless, but he had to think about Mihawk's words. Damn the man for never letting go. Damn him. Just damn him.

"So what do you want from me?" Shanks said finally.

"It has never been easy, hasn't it?"

Shanks just stared at the man that left an impression on him, his life, his soul like no one else had. Some things never change. And the never ending attraction between them both, the invisible pull to be close to each other, to fight each other, to aggravate each other, to rip each other's hearts out – it would never change.

"I should go" he said finally, stood up and was about to leave, when Mihawk suddenly grabbed his arm and hauled him back.

"You owe me one, right?" Mihawk whispered in his ear.

Shanks suppressed the urge to shudder. "I guess so."

"Dinner. With me. Next Friday."

"What if I say no?"

"I'll tell Doflamingo that you asked about Law."

"You wouldn't."

"Do you really want to find out? You don't know to how far I would go to finally have you again."

"Seriously?"

"Friday at eight. The La Rose. An Italian restaurant downtown. Don't be late."

"We'll see" Shanks said and freed his remaining arm from Mihawk's iron grip. He gave his old nemesis one last hard look and then left.