Chasing Waves
Chapter 13: Beach Watch
Mia and Nino spent two days settling in at Mihawk's home. Mia decided they would start training in a few days. Mihawk and Zoro had already begun, and she had no idea how they were managing since Zoro was still wounded and vehemently refused to be healed by Mia or Nino. Nino theorised it was his way of punishing himself, but Mia thought he was just too proud.
On the last day before they were scheduled to start Nino's training, Mia tiptoed through the spacious library of Mihawk's grand castle. She had been exploring the various rooms and halls of the castle, trying to familiarize herself with her new surroundings. As she wandered, she couldn't help but marvel at the sheer size and elegance of the place. Everything seemed to hold an air of mystery, just like the enigmatic man who lived here. She had yet to find his room, not that she would go in there, but it would be comforting to know he slept in a normal bedroom and not in a coffin in the basement.
'The possibility that he is a vampire is probably low, but never zero.'
Eventually, Mia found herself in a cozy corner of the library. The room was filled with sunlight filtering through large windows, casting a warm glow over the shelves of books. She spotted a plush sofa tucked away near the windows and decided to take a moment to rest. The library was quickly becoming her favourite place to hang out and rest in. She was convinced she would be spending most of her time in her stunning bedroom, but there was something warm and comforting about the massive library.
Unbeknownst to Mia, she had stumbled upon Mihawk's favourite napping spot – apparently the library was warm and comforting to him too. Mia's eyes widened in surprise as she noticed him, but she didn't want to disturb his rest. At least, not this time.
She considered quietly leaving the room when she noticed a small book that had slipped off the edge of the sofa and was about to fall to the floor. Instinctively, she reached out to catch it before it hit the ground.
However, as Mia's hand neared the book, her foot accidentally kicked a small wooden box that was on the floor beside the sofa. The box hit the leg of the sofa with a soft thud, and Mia held her breath, hoping she hadn't awakened the slumbering swordsman.
To her dismay, Mihawk stirred and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto Mia. His expression was one of annoyance, but when he saw her, his eyes softened ever so slightly. It was as if he couldn't help but be taken aback by her presence, even in his groggy state.
"Mia... What are you doing here?" Mihawk's voice was low and raspy from sleep, but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone.
Mia blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and fascination at being caught in this moment. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just exploring the castle, and I saw the book about to fall, so I wanted to catch it," she stammered softly, trying to explain herself. "Shhh, go back to sleep." She dared to put her hand out and rub the side of his arm.
Mihawk sat up, his eyes never leaving her face. Horrified, she jumped back slightly.
"Hmph. You should know better than to disturb my rest," he said, his words laced with a hint of irritation. "But I suppose I can forgive you... this time."
'Thank Neptune.' Mia nodded, feeling a bit flustered but also relieved that he wasn't unleashing his infamous temper on her. "Thank you... I'll be more careful next time," she replied, offering him a sheepish smile. "And I'll make it up to you, I promise."
Mihawk raised an eyebrow, as if amused by her nervousness. "You better," he said, though there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
Mia took a step back, not wanting to overstay her welcome. "I'll leave you to your rest then. Sorry again," she said, turning to head towards the door.
As she walked away, Mihawk watched her go, his gaze lingering on her figure. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards her, even in this moment of annoyance. There was something about her that intrigued him, something he couldn't quite put into words.
Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't mind being woken up by her again, as long as it meant he could see her pretty face, and it didn't involve her falling on him … okay, maybe he would revise that last preference, because that wasn't so bad of an experience – beautiful women didn't fall into his lap every day.
But he kept that thought to himself, choosing to enjoy the peace and quiet of the library once more as Mia left him to his slumber.
XxXxxx
Mia stood on the sandy shores of the secluded island, looking out at the vast expanse of the ocean. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm orange glow over the water. Next to her, Nino stood, her brows furrowed in frustration. They were here for a water manipulation training session, and Nino was struggling with the advanced techniques Mia was trying to teach her.
"Okay, Nino, I know this is difficult, but you have to stay focused," Mia said gently, trying to encourage her niece.
"I'm trying, Aunt Mia, but it's just not working," Nino sighed, looking down at the water below.
Mia placed a reassuring hand on Nino's shoulder. "I know it's challenging, but remember, water manipulation is all about finding your inner balance and connection with the water. It's not just about control; it's about harmony."
Nino nodded, taking a deep breath to compose herself. She had always admired her aunt's water manipulation abilities, and she was determined to learn from the best.
"Now, let's try again," Mia said, stepping closer to the water's edge. "Focus on the water around you. Feel its flow and energy."
Nino followed her aunt's lead, mimicking her movements. She closed her eyes, trying to attune herself to the water's rhythm. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't seem to grasp the finer techniques.
Mihawk, observing from afar, watched the training session with a keen eye. He was intrigued by the display of water manipulation and the patience Mia showed in teaching Nino.
"Remember, Nino, you don't have to force it," Mia said gently. "Let the water guide you. Imagine it as an extension of yourself."
Nino nodded; her determination renewed. She tried again, this time with a bit more finesse. The water responded, forming a small wave near the shore. It was progress, but she knew she still had a long way to go.
Mia smiled encouragingly. "Good job, Nino! You're getting the hang of it. Now, let's try something a bit more challenging. I want you to create a water whip."
"A water whip?" Nino asked, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty in her voice.
"Yes, it's a basic offensive technique. You create a whip-like shape with the water and use it to attack your opponent," Mia explained.
Nino took a deep breath, trying to summon her focus. She held out her hand, palm facing the ocean, and concentrated. At first, nothing happened, but then a small tendril of water started to rise from the ocean's surface.
"Great, Nino! Now shape it into a whip," Mia instructed.
Nino tried her best, but the water tendril was shaky and unstable. It collapsed back into the ocean, leaving Nino feeling frustrated.
"I can't do it," Nino said, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Mia walked over to her and placed a comforting hand on her back. "It's okay, Nino. Water manipulation takes time and practice. You'll get there, I promise."
"But what if I can't?" Nino asked, looking up at her aunt with uncertainty.
Mia smiled reassuringly. "You can, and you will. Just remember, water manipulation is about patience and perseverance. It's okay to struggle; that's how we learn and grow."
Mihawk watched the exchange, impressed by Mia's wisdom and guidance. He could see the bond between Mia and Nino, and he admired the way Mia nurtured and encouraged her niece.
"Nino, why don't you take a break for now?" Mia suggested. "We can continue tomorrow."
Nino nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and determination.
Xxxxx
In the dimly lit library of Mihawk's castle, Mia and Mihawk found themselves engaged in a tense argument. The flickering candles cast shadows on the walls, adding an eerie ambiance to the scene.
"You need to be firmer with Nino, Mia," Mihawk said, his deep voice resonating through the room. "She's too timid and lacks the necessary determination to survive in this world. If she's going to stay here, she needs to toughen up."
"Excuse me?" Mia's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms defensively. "Nino is still young and adjusting to everything. She's a kid, Mihawk. I need to be patient and supportive, not harsh and demanding."
"She won't grow stronger by coddling her," Mihawk retorted, his face stern and unyielding. It struck her that she had never seen him make that expression at her before. "The world we live in is unforgiving, and she needs to learn that the hard way."
"And what about Zoro?" Mia shot back; her voice tinged with frustration. "You push him relentlessly, expecting him to become the greatest swordsman without considering the toll it's taking on him. He's already been through so much, and yet you keep pushing him to his breaking point."
Mihawk's gaze hardened, but he didn't back down. "Zoro is different. He has the potential to be the best, and I won't let that potential go to waste. It's my duty as his mentor to push him to reach his limits."
"Duty?" Mia scoffed. "Is that all it is to you? Zoro is more than just a tool for you to fulfil your duty as a mentor. He's a person with feelings and fears, just like Nino. You can't treat them the same way. They need different approaches."
Mihawk's jaw clenched, and he took a step closer to Mia. "I don't need your lectures on how to mentor my students," he said, his voice cold and distant.
"And I don't need your judgment on how I take care of Nino," Mia shot back, her temper flaring. "She's my niece, and I know what's best for her. I raised her. I'm pretty much her mother."
The tension in the room was palpable as both of them stood their ground, their emotions running high. Mia's heart raced, and she fought to control her anger, not wanting to escalate the argument further. She took a deep breath, trying to find a calmer tone.
"We both care about them deeply," Mia said, her voice softening slightly. "But we have different ways of showing it. Let's try to understand each other's methods and find a middle ground."
Mihawk's stern expression softened ever so slightly, but he remained stoic. "Very well," he said curtly. "But remember, Nino needs to be strong in order to survive in this world."
"And Zoro needs to know that his well-being is just as important as his strength," Mia replied, trying to make him see her perspective.
The two of them stood there in silence, the weight of their differing views hanging heavily in the air. Mia and Mihawk stood facing each other, their eyes narrowed in frustration. The argument had started innocently enough, discussing their different approaches to training Nino and Zoro, but it had quickly escalated into a full-blown confrontation.
"I just don't understand why you're so hard on Zoro," Mia said, her voice tinged with exasperation. "He's already a skilled swordsman, but you push him to his limits without giving him any room to breathe!"
Mihawk crossed his arms, his expression stern. "And I don't understand why you baby Nino so much," he retorted. "She needs to learn to face challenges head-on, not be sheltered from them."
Stunned, Mia sprung up, offended. "I do not baby her! How dare you!"
"You know I'm right," Mihawk stated cooly. He did not seem particularly bothered by her reaction, and it made her more upset than what he had said.
Mia felt her heartbeat start to frenzy, and not in the sexy way Mihawk usually made it go. Trembling, she shot out of her seat. Andry tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. She turned to Mihawk. "I don't know why you're being like this, but I don't care for it!" she raised her voice and, almost startled herself to death with the sheer volume she produced, spun on her heels, and stomped out the library and to her room without sparing Mihawk another glance.
XxXxX
Mia whirled into her room and slammed the door behind her. Her mind was racing a million miles a second. She felt like her face was on fire. The argument played over and over in her head.
"Oh Neptune, what just happened?" she breathed, trying calm herself. She wiped her tears away furiously, regretting the fact that she had lost control of her emotions so easily. Mihawk was probably put off by her completely now.
'Uh, hold on, he was off-putting as well,' said the reasonable part of her brain. She was about to reason with herself more, but it was becoming harder to hear her thoughts, because her crying was becoming worse. She stood in the middle of her room, uncertain of where to go or what to do next.
A knock on her door startled her.
"Not now, Nino!" she voiced back, trying to mask the emotion in her voice. The door became ajar.
"It's me. Can I come in?" She recognised Mihawk's voice from behind the door.
She sniffed. "Fine."
The door opened completely, and he walked in, closing the door gently behind him.
"I'm sorry I slammed the door," she said, and then promptly turned her back on him to march to the bathroom. And then she slammed the bathroom door behind her.
'Hah,' she thought bitterly. Mia blew her nose and rinsed her face. As she examined her red face and swollen eyes in the mirror, she heard rustling behind the bathroom door.
"Can we talk?" he asked behind the door.
'Oh no, he's awful at this,' Mia thought comically. 'I finally have the high ground'.
"Talking is what got us here," she shot back, voice cracking a bit. She cleared her throat – clearly there was still a bit of crying lodged in there, but at least she was standing her ground.
"Please come out so we can talk about this," he pressed, almost a little impatiently.
"No, I look awful," she shot back, grabbing her hair clip from the bathroom counter. Mindlessly she tried to clip her hair, but the clip snapped out of her hand and nicked her finger, "Ow!"
"Are you okay?" Mihawk asked quickly. Mia looked at the hair clip on the floor – it was broken. Defeated, she sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"I'm fine," she said flatly. "My hair clip broke." Taking a deep breath, she picked up the broken hairclip, threw it in the trash and then opened the bathroom door. That was her only one, a gift from Makino.
Mihawk took a step back from the door when it opened. She noticed his eyes swept over her face worryingly.
"You never look awful," he voiced softly and for some reason it made her eye twitch.
"Don't do that," she gritted through her teeth and then poked him in the chest. His hard chest. His muscled and marble-
'Focus, you idiot,' she thought angrily. Mia stepped around Mihawk and then mindlessly walked to the balcony to open the doors for fresh air. There was no doubt the balcony was her favourite part of the room, aside from her amazing bed and stunning bathroom.
Mihawk was next to her in a second. He clipped in the doors so the wind wouldn't slam them shut. "Would you like some tea?"
"No thank you," she said softly, about to walk out to take one of the seats outside. Unexpectedly, she felt his hands curl gently around her arms.
"Mia, I'm sorry I made you cry," he said delicately, his eyes the softest she had ever seen. "I was out of line."
Mia sniffed, her heart fluttering. "It's okay. I'm sorry I yelled. And slammed the door. And then slammed the other door." She smiled at him sheepishly, rubbing her eye.
Smirking, he exhaled from his nose sharply, his hands tenderly rubbed the sides of her arms. For a second, she was unsure of what to do, so she abandoned thought and just folded into his chest, seeking warmth. She was happy he put his arms around her without hesitation.
The last time they hugged was when she said goodbye all those months ago when he dropped her off at Makino's doorstep. Maybe there will be more in the future.
Neptune's beard, he smelled amazing.
Mihawk was so warm. And strong. And tall. And sweet.
"I do still think we need to talk about Nino's training," he said out of nowhere. Mia pushed herself out of his embrace.
"Mihawk!" she scolded him like she would the twins after Mera had convinced Nino to skip out on sweeping the temple.
"I just think she would benefit-" he started. Mia pursed her lips hard, and it shut the Greatest Swordsman in the World up quickly. "Okay."
Mia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Maybe... maybe we're both too close to the situation," she suggested, her voice softening slightly. "We're too emotionally invested in our own students to see things objectively."
Mihawk raised an eyebrow, considering her words. "What do you propose, then?"
Mia hesitated for a moment before an idea formed in her mind. "Let's switch them for a day," she suggested. "You train Nino, and I'll train Zoro. Maybe seeing things from each other's perspective will help us understand their needs better."
Mihawk's expression remained stoic, but he seemed intrigued by the proposal. "Fine," he agreed, albeit reluctantly. "But only for a day. We'll see if this experiment sheds any light on the matter."
"Good," she nodded. There was a moment of silence when it sunk into her head that she and Mihawk actually had a fight.
"By the way," Mihawk noted, stepping a bit closer to her. "You're cute when you get mad." He grazed the knuckle of his forefinger down her flushed cheek. "I'll see you at supper." She stood hypnotized as he walked towards the door. When it slammed shut it pulled her out of her trance.
"Hey!" she exclaimed.
xXxX
Mia led Zoro to a secluded part of the island, away from the training grounds and the castle. Here, the jungle met the shore, and the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks filled the air. Zoro looked at her curiously, wondering what kind of training she had in mind.
"Okay," she said, clapping her hands together. "I thought about it for a while." Zoro raised an eyebrow at her. "Let's be honest, there is nothing I can teach you about swords. But!" she said suddenly interrupting his opportunity to speak. "I can teach you how to deal with water much better. And since the Straw hats have a few Devil Fruit users, I think that is a good skill to have as first mate. You're a good swimmer, but I can make you a great swimmer."
Zoro raised an eyebrow again but followed her lead. He trusted Mia's judgment, even if he wasn't sure what to expect.
Mia led him to the edge of a cliff that overlooked the deep ocean. "Today, we're going to work on your diving and swimming techniques," she explained. "As a swordsman, you need to be agile and swift on both land and sea. So, we'll do some basic diving."
Zoro's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly masked his emotions. He knew better than to question her.
"First, I'll demonstrate," Mia said, stepping to the edge of the cliff. With a graceful dive, she plunged into the water below, disappearing beneath the surface for a moment before resurfacing. She swam back to the shore effortlessly, her blue hair glistening with droplets of water. Zoro craned his neck over the edge of the cliff.
"Now it's your turn," Mia called up, encouragingly.
Zoro took a deep breath and prepared himself. He had always been more comfortable with a sword in hand than in the water, but he was determined to give it his best shot. After all, when the captain of the crew couldn't swim, it would be up to the first mate to save him. With a deep breath, he leaped off the cliff, his body cutting through the air before he hit the water with a splash.
At first, Zoro flailed a little in the water, struggling to find his bearings. He had always been a strong swimmer, and the waves were slightly overwhelming, especially at the angle he jumped in. But Mia was right there beside him, guiding him through the motions.
"Relax and let the water support you," she coached. "Keep your body straight and use your arms and legs to propel yourself forward."
Zoro followed her instructions, and slowly but surely, he started to get the hang of it. With Mia's guidance, he dove beneath the surface, exploring the underwater world for the first time. He could see the vibrant marine life, and for a moment, he forgot that he was training.
As the day went on, Mia continued to work with Zoro, helping him improve his diving and swimming techniques. She taught him how to hold his breath for longer periods and how to move more efficiently through the water.
Then she taught him how to hold his breath. Zoro hated it.
"Again!" Mia ordered after Zoro resurfaced. They weren't even in the ocean anymore, but a shallow rock pool. He scoffed when she suggested they start easy in the calmer little pool, but now he understood why. He was out of breath, and Mia was out of patience.
"Come, on, Zoro!" she pushed impatiently. "Nino can do this in her sleep."
"She's literally a water elemental," Zoro deadpanned, coughing as he gasped for more air.
"So?" Mia said. "That doesn't make us merfolk. We can't breathe underwater. Do you see any gills? Do I like a mermaid to you?!" she asked heatedly, and it prompted him to inhale deeply and plunge back underwater.
By the end of the day, Zoro was exhausted but exhilarated. They walked up the path together after the session.
"Thanks, Miss Mia," Zoro said sincerely, a rare smile gracing his lips. He was still a little out of breath. "I never thought I'd enjoy training in the water, but it was actually kind of fun. I like being pushed."
Mia grinned back at him. "You did great, Zoro. Like I said, I can't teach you to master a sword, but I can show you how to master the sea."
Zoro nodded, understanding the wisdom behind her words. He had a newfound appreciation for the water and the possibilities it held for his training as a swordsman.
XXxxxXx
Mihawk stood on the training grounds, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Nino, who was looking nervous and unsure. The young girl had never held a blade before, let alone received any formal training in swordsmanship. Mihawk couldn't help but feel a tinge of frustration at the thought of teaching someone so inexperienced, but he had promised Mia to give it a try.
"Alright, Nino," Mihawk said in his usual stern tone, "grab a sword and show me what you can do."
Nino tentatively picked up a practice sword and held it awkwardly, unsure of the correct stance. She gulped, very uncertain. Mihawk couldn't help but roll his eyes at the sight, but he held his tongue. Instead, he decided to start with the basics.
"Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart," Mihawk instructed. "Keep your grip firm but not too tight. The blade should be an extension of your arm."
Nino followed the instructions as best she could, but it was clear she was struggling. Mihawk watched as the girl made clumsy swings, her movements lacking any finesse or skill.
Mihawk resisted the urge to correct her immediately and decided to try a different approach.
"Alright, put the sword down for a moment," Mihawk said, walking over to a rack of various weapons. He picked up a lance and handed it to Nino. "Try this instead."
Nino looked at the lance with curiosity and then took it in her hands. Surprisingly, she seemed more comfortable with it than the sword. Her grip was more natural, and she held it with a certain level of confidence.
"Interesting," Mihawk mused. "Perhaps you have some natural instincts with the lance."
His comment made the teenage girl smile. It seemed to send a wave of confidence down her whole stance and her wings became more focussed.
With a lance in hand, Nino's movements became more fluid. Mihawk could see a spark of potential in the girl as she instinctively moved the lance in a way that showed promise. Mihawk decided to focus on that potential and build upon it.
"Use the lance to strike at those targets," Mihawk instructed, pointing to a row of wooden dummies. "Keep your movements fluid and precise."
Nino nodded and began to swing the lance with more purpose. It was still far from perfect, but there was improvement. Mihawk continued to give her pointers, correcting her form, and encouraging her to find her own style. As the afternoon went on, Nino's confidence grew, and she started to show real progress. Mihawk was impressed with her dedication and willingness to learn. Perhaps there was hope for the girl yet.
By the end of the day, Nino was exhausted but satisfied with her efforts. She may not have become a master swordsman in a day, but she had discovered a newfound passion for the lance and a desire to continue learning.
As they walked back to the castle, Mihawk couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his young student. While she may not have been the traditional swordsman Mihawk was used to training, Nino had shown determination and potential that impressed him.
"Thanks, Mister Mihawk," Nino chirped happily as they walked up the path side by side.
Mihawk glanced at the cheery girl. If he were being honest with himself, he wasn't nearly as hard on her as he would be on the boy. He wanted to be at first, but then he saw the uncertainty in her eyes when she held the sword – he saw her insecurity and fear but didn't want to make it worse. Perhaps Mia was right. Nino and Zoro are obviously very different, opposites even.
"Hey, look who it is." Mihawk looked up and saw Mia and Zoro ahead of them on the path. They waited for Nino and Mihawk to catch up to them.
When Mia saw Nino carrying the lance with a smile on her face, she knew that Mihawk's training had been a success.
"How did it go?" she asked, excitement in her voice.
Mihawk glanced at Nino and then back at Mia. "She has potential," he said simply. "With time and dedication, she could become a formidable lance wielder."
Nino beamed at the praise from the World's Greatest Swordman, and Mia couldn't help but feel a surge of pride herself. She knew it would be a challenging journey, but she was confident that with Mihawk's guidance, Nino would become a skilled and capable warrior.
They all fell into step to complete the path together. Nino was showing Zoro her new lance with a lot of enthusiasm.
"That weapon goes perfectly with water wielding," Mia informed him matter-of-factly. Mihawk glanced her, surprised by her comment.
"Really now?" he said, interestedly. "How so?"
"Her mom also uses a lance," Mia explained, smiling at her niece almost poking Zoro's eye out by accident.
"How was training with the boy?" Mihawk asked. Much to his surprise, she sighed.
"He wasn't too bad," she said thoughtfully. "He's already a strong swimmer, but I'll have to train him to endure rougher water eventually."
Mihawk chuckled. "I'd love to hear more about it over dinner."
"Sure, Zoro won't admit it but-"
"No, I mean just the two of us," Mihawk said quickly, stuffing his hands into his jacket's pockets. Mia glanced over to him with a curious smile. "I still feel guilty about this morning." He cleared his throat. "So, I arranged with Gerome for a private dinner on the terrace for just you and me."
He saw Mia's cheeks flush. "Mihawk, you didn't have to do that," she voiced softly, as she smiled at the ground.
"It's nothing," he muttered softly. For some reason they didn't talk the rest of the walk to the castle, and only watched as Nino and Zoro exchanged conversation about their experiences today.
XxXxXxX
As the sun began to set over Gloom Island, Mia and Mihawk found themselves seated at a small outdoor table on the castle terrace, sipping on glasses of wine. The day had been eventful, to say the least, with Nino and Zoro experiencing a complete change of pace in their training.
"I have to admit, it was quite an eye-opening experience," Mia said, swirling the wine in her glass thoughtfully.
Mihawk nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It seems Nino has a natural talent with the lance, and Zoro displayed unexpected agility and adaptability during the swimming exercises."
"So, we were both right."
Mihawk put down his glass and smiled at her. "No, I think we were both wrong."
Mia blinked, leaning back in her chair. Before Mihawk could explain, she nodded as she remembered this afternoon. "You're right. About both of us being wrong, I mean. I kept pushing Zoro harder and harder because I could tell it was helping him improve. He prefers that training style."
Mihawk nodded agreeingly. "And I was more patient with Nino then I would ever be with Zoro. The one little piece of praise I gave her was enough to fire her up for the rest of the afternoon." He looked at Mia thoughtfully and poured her some more wine. "I didn't think you had it in you to be hard on Zoro."
Mia scoffed, watching Mihawk pour wine for her. "You remember Nino has a twin sister, right? She loves that too."
"Then I owe you another apology," Mihawk said, looking into her eyes. Mia furrowed her eyebrows. "I was convinced you couldn't train that way. That it was in your nature to be soft and kind no matter what. I didn't stop to think that you had designed this specific training style for Nino specifically."
Mia blinked, and after processing what he had said, giggled a bit. "You don't have to apologise for that," she said kindly, patting his hand with hers assuredly. "We're still getting to know each other when you stop to really think about it."
Mihawk nodded and then reaching into his pocket. He pulled out something that glittered a bit in the candlelight, but his fingers covered it almost completely so Mia couldn't tell what it was. Curiously, she looked up at him.
He seemed shy, all of a sudden? No, shy wasn't the right word. Self-conscious?
He stretched out his hand to give her whatever it was. Mia took is from him and then turned it over in her fingers to inspect the object.
It was a hairclip. It was completely silver, decorated with small sparkly emerald butterflies on the back. Every butterfly was adjourned with emerald jewels. She couldn't tell if they were real or not, but she was too afraid to ask.
"Mihawk," she breathed, her mouth agape. "This is mine?' she looked at him with big eyes. He leaned closer, nodding severely.
Mia could feel her heart push up into her throat. Mihawk seemed to notice her emotional expression and quickly grabbed one of her hands. Mia saw the worried look on his face as her eyes started to water.
"These are happy tears," she laughed through her crying, choking on her sniffling. She looked over the hairclip again.
"I've never owned anything so beautiful before," she whispered, as she wiped a tear away. Mihawk took the hairclip out of her hand and then stood up to stand behind her. Mia turned to see what he was doing, but he pushed her gaze forward with his fingers. All of a sudden, he started to gather her heaps of blue curls with his fingers.
He was so outrageously gentle with her hair, it was almost frustrating. But there was no denying his touch created a new feeling in her stomach that she had never felt before. She felt him loosely clip her hair together and then heard him sigh from behind her.
"This is a lot more difficult than I though it would be," she heard him admit sombrely. She laughed as he retook his seat. Mia felt the clip hang on for dear life.
"It's okay, it just needs to go in deeper," she said, reaching back. Instead of taking the clip out, she opened the mouth to reach deeper into her hair and set the clip in place. Then she smiled at Mihawk, her tears completely gone.
Mihawk, who had just taken a sip of wine, put his glass down and nodded silently and with satisfied eyes.
Mia couldn't help but grin back at him, feeling a warm sense of happiness wash over her. She reached up to touch the clip, feeling the smooth metal and the delicate butterflies under her fingers.
"I love it," she said softly, turning her attention back to Mihawk. "Thank you."
He nodded in response, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You're welcome," he replied, his voice unusually soft. "I'm glad you like it."
"I really do," Mia assured him, feeling a rush of affection for the swordsman. "It's beautiful, and it means a lot to me."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the only sound being the gentle crackling of the fireplace and the distant crash of waves against the shore. Mia leaned back in her chair, feeling a sense of contentment settle over her. She never imagined that a simple dinner date could turn into such a memorable and heartfelt moment. It made her heart feel full and gave her hope that maybe, just maybe, Mihawk could feel the same way about her that she felt about him.
"Mia," Mihawk began, breaking the silence. Her stomach fluttered every time he said her name. "I... I'm not always good with words or expressing my feelings, but I want you to know that I care about you."
Her heart skipped a beat at his confession, and she felt a warmth spreading through her chest. She felt her chest expand sharply, and for a second she realized it was because she forgot to breathe.
"I care about you too, Mihawk," she replied softly, meeting his gaze. "I think, especially after today, we make a great team. And as strange as it sounds, I'm glad we had that fight. It feels like you know me better now."
He nodded, seeming to take comfort in her words. "Yes, I agree."
She smiled at him shyly and then palmed her cheeks with her hands. She kept having to remind herself to breathe.
"I must be so red in the face right now," she blurted without thinking and then laughed nervously whilst looking away. 'Smooth, Mia,' she thought, inwardly kicking herself. 'I probably look like some silly schoolgirl.'
Mihawk smiled a little. His smiles were subtle and charming, also rare, and handsome, so she treasured the action every time she got to witness it.
He reached for one of her hands and pulled it closer to him, folding it into his chest. Mia thought she was going faint. For a moment, her mind raced through a hundred scenarios. Was he asking her out? Would he kiss her tonight? Will he confess that he had been secretly in love with her since he first lay eyes on her? His hand was warm and strong around hers.
He kept staring at her with his intense eyes. They seemed gold during the day but had a reddish hue in the moonlight. "I know I can be distant and aloof at times, but please know that it's not because I don't value you or our time together. It's just... not something I'm used to."
"I understand," Mia said, nodding dumbly. In reality, she wasn't really thinking anymore. Her brain had left the conversation. "And I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me. No one's ever shown me such kindness before." She spoke without thought, again, because her brain was lost, so she hoped her heart chose the correct words.
She wanted to touch his face. She wanted to jump into his lap. She wanted to kiss him so badly, but she was beyond frightened. Her eyes brushed over his face, and she felt herself freeze.
Mihawk's hand tightened around hers, and she could see a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. He leaned in much closer. Mia exhaled slowly, blinking at him. This could be it, she thought.
They held each other's eyes for a few seconds. Mihawk spoke first. "I had a great evening with you tonight," he said, leaning back all of a sudden. Mia's eyes readjusted. For a second she wasn't sure she heard him correctly, but her senses returned when he had retracted his form completely and picked up his glass of wine to finish it.
The rest of the evening was very casual. The conversation was small and superficial. Mia though Mihawk would perhaps walk her to her room and then kiss her there, but no. They parted ways after climbing the stairs together.
Mia entered her room disappointed and confused. She ran the night through her head once more.
'Maybe I'm expecting too much too soon?' she thought as she made her way to the bathroom to get ready for bed. She took out the hairclip and examined it closely. It was gorgeous and it looked valuable. 'I'll have to take good care of this,' she thought, placing the hairclip gently on the counter.
When she climbed in bed, she found herself staring at the ceiling, mind racing.
'Maybe a kiss is too soon,' she reasoned with herself. 'Maybe I should focus on enjoying his company.'
'Or,' the other voice in her head popped up. 'I could kiss him first next time.'
As soon as the thought entered her mind, she blanched. Mia was embarrassed to admit it to anyone, but she barely had any experience kissing a man. She had only ever been kissed twice. Once when she was sixteen just before the twins were born, and the second time was a guard she was trying to distract when Mera wanted to break into some villain's lair. How old was she back then? Twenty-eight? She shook her head. The only experiences she had were in her fantasies, and that was probably not something to rely on.
Mihawk would probably be horrified if he found out she lacked so much experience. The idea of anything physical beyond a kiss made her head go dizzy, especially with Mihawk.
'I mean, I know everything,' she thought to herself. 'I just haven't done it yet.'
In the darkness of her room, Mia sighed deeply. Was she way in over her head? Was she seeing things that weren't there?
'It feels like he could feel the same,' she thought, thinking back to their encounters. 'The way he acted after the fight, the way he apologised, the dinner, the hairclip, the touching. And he said he cared about me. That all must mean something, right? I'm not stupid for thinking he could feel something for me, right?
But he didn't kiss her. But there was no rush, right? She would be here for a while. She'd barely been here a fortnight. Surely it was too soon to expect that. Right?
"We have spent a lot of time together though," Mia said to herself in the dark, something she rarely did unless she had to figure out something difficult. "And we've known each other almost a year now. That counts for something, right?"
'And he's kissed my hand before as well. He held it. He even lets me touch his hand sometimes. He would say something if he didn't want me to do that, right?'
Also, the nap incident. Mia already knew Mihawk treasured his naps above all else. And every time she woke him up, she could tell he wanted to commit murder, but when he saw it was her, his face changed. She saw it. She wasn't imagining it, right?
"What if," she said to herself again, putting her hands together. "He doesn't have feelings for me, and he treats all women like this. Like he could be just really chivalrous."
'No way,' she thought, arguing with herself. 'What kind of man does that? Treats every woman that special? If I find out that is the truth, I would be very upset. I mean, if that's true then he's just leading me on, right? Because all of this means something, right?'
Right?!
Taking another deep breath, Mia closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. Only sleep didn't come easy. She tossed and turned the whole night. By the time she felt sleep fall over her, her mind whirled with dreams of Mihawk as the wind whirled against the window outside.
XxXxXx
Mia woke up sluggishly. Her eyes were heavy from an awful and restless night. The sun was already fully up by the way the rays spilled into the room through the tall windows. Groaning, she drew the covers over her head. She dozed in and out of sleep for what felt like a minute before a knock on her door fully jerked her awake.
Without asking, someone opened the door. By the soft footfalls, Mia guessed it was Nino. She then felt weight push unto the bed and her niece's soft girlish voice in her ear.
"Auntie," Nino drew out softly. Mia 'hmmm'nd but didn't get up. Her eyes were burning, even still closed, from the lack of sleep.
"I'll get you some tea," Nino said sweetly, rubbing her aunt's back.
"Coffee," Mia mumbled into her pillow. Nino probably did a double take.
"Coffee? Wow, when's the last time you drank coffee?" Nino said, still on the bed.
"Nino," Mia gritted through her teeth. Her niece jumped off the bed hastily and ran out the door. Mia continued to drift in and out of sleep until she heard her door open again.
Sighing, she finally decided to sit up. The moment she did, she realised she felt horrendous. Her hurt, her stomach was churning, and her face felt warm. She realised she drenched with sweat.
When Nino came in carrying a tray, she sat it down on the bedside table after spotting her aunt. Worriedly, she placed her hand against Mia's forehead.
"You have a slight fever, auntie," Nino commented. "Why don't I help you take a heal bath?"
"Hm, that sounds good, thanks," Mia mumbled, rubbing her eyes. Mia thought back to when Nino and Mera were young kids, and she would let them take heal baths as well.
"Okay, you have some coffee while I get everything ready," Nino said sweetly, opening Mia's cupboards and grabbing clean clothes. "Gerome put a scone on there too. I'll be right back." And she bounced into Mia's bathroom to open up the taps of the tub.
Mia groaned as she got out of bed. Her back ached. She sat on the side of the bed for a second and then looked back to study her sheets. They were drenched in sweat. Sighing, Mia stood up, ignoring the pain in the front of her head. After taking a few gulps of her bitter coffee and a few bites of Gerome's tasty scone, Nino finally came out, sleeves rolled up.
"Okay, auntie," she said gently, "it's ready."
Mia nodded and then followed Nino into the bathroom. The mirrors were already steamed up. Mia pulled her nightdress over her head and carelessly threw it on the ground. After she was completely undressed, she eased herself into the bathtub slowly. It was hot, but it felt nice. Nino picked up her strewn clothing of the ground and started pack it into the laundry basket. Mia watched her groggily out of the corner of her eye.
'She's such a good kid,' she thought, grateful they were here together.
After putting Mia's clothing away, Nino then approached the tub. She kneeled and dunked her hands into the water, taking a deep breath. Nino then closed her eyes, and a soft glow began to emit from her palms. The water started to radiate light, as if it was bioluminescent.
Mia sighed as relief gradually returned to her body. The headache was diffusing, her temperature was stabilising and her aches and pains dissipating. It was moments like this she realised the power they possessed. She'd never come across any species or culture or power that could heal so easily and effortlessly. Nino maintained the healing for a solid three or four minutes, a feat Mia was very impressed by.
"Wow, you've gotten so good, Nino," Mia said softly, finally being able to raise her head and focus her eyes. "I'm proud of you."
"You taught me well, auntie," Nino said, drying her hands and reaching for Mia's shampoo. "Let's wash your hair."
Mia smiled to herself. "Oh, alright then."
After a thorough wash, Nino helped her climb out the tub. After Mia patted herself down with her towel, she reached for the clothes Nino had placed on the counter. She took note that her swimwear had been laid out instead of her underwear. Nino was rinsing the bath while Mia got dressed.
"What's with the swimwear?" Mia asked, pulling her dress over her head. Nino dried her hands and turned to her aunt with a smile. Shyly, she clasped her hands together.
"I was thinking …I mean, I found surfboards," Nino explained tentatively. Mia raised her eyebrows, gently drying her hair with another towel.
"Where did you find surfboards?" Mia asked.
Nino blushed. "I asked Mister Mihawk, and he told me to look in the basement."
"Why in the world would he have surfboards?" Mia wondered out loud. "And there's a basement?"
Nino shrugged. "Yeah, there were a lot of things in there. It looks like storage. There's a lot of junk. I think it's just like stuff he's been collecting over the years."
Mia nodded thoughtfully. "I wouldn't mind checking it out myself sometime. But anyway," she hung up the towel, wet from drying her dripping hair. It was still damp, so she reached for her new hairclip and then twisted her curls up. 'I need to make sure there isn't a coffin in there,' she thought, amusing herself.
Nino spotted the clip.
"Wow, where'd you get that?" she asked curiously.
Mia clipped up her hair and smiled shyly. "Mihawk gave it to me." She wasn't prepared for Nino's high-pitched squeal.
"Oooooh!" she swooned loudly, leaning on the counter in the bathroom. "Is that why you guys had dinner alone last night? Did he ask you out?" Nino bounced on her feet, smiling widely.
"No," Mia said firmly but still smiled. "I broke my hairclip yesterday and he gave me a new one. That's all." Mia turned to the sink to wash her face. Nino was clearly not satisfied with the answer.
"Did you guys make out?" she asked brazenly. Mia blanched at her niece's directness. Her face went red.
"Nino," she scolded, taken aback. And this was supposed to be the shy twin.
Nino blinked. "Well, did you?"
"No!" Mia insisted, embarrassed. Nino's shoulders slumped a bit.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Nino," Mia warned again, drying her hands after patting her face dry. Nino smiled brightly and warmly at her.
"C'mon auntie, we never get to talk about boys!" she said, bouncing on her feet again. "You've never even had a boyfriend before. And if you have, you've never told us about it." Nino pouted and leaned even more unto the counter. Mia shook her head.
Mia chuckled softly, finding her niece's curiosity amusing. She moved closer to Nino and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's not that I don't want to share, Nino. It's just that I haven't found the right person yet, I guess," she explained, trying to choose her words carefully. The other truth was Mia simply never had time for dating because she was always running after Mera and Nino, but she wouldn't say it out loud.
Nino looked at her with big, innocent eyes. "But Mihawk seems nice, and he gave you that pretty hairclip. Plus, you guys had dinner alone together," she pointed out with a knowing smile.
Mia blushed slightly, feeling a mix of embarrassment and fondness for the memory of their dinner. "Well, we're friends," she replied, trying to downplay the situation. "And the hairclip was just a nice gesture."
Nino's smile only grew wider. "But you like him, right?"
Mia hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I do," she admitted softly. "But I'm not sure if he feels the same way." Mia walked out of the bathroom and Nino followed her. She started to make her bed when Nino suddenly flopped unto the covers.
Then you should make a move!" she exclaimed, sounding much bolder than usual. "If you like him, you should let him know how you feel. Life's too short to wait around, Auntie!"
Mia was taken aback by Nino's sudden burst of confidence and advice. She couldn't help but smile at her niece's enthusiasm. "You're right, Nino," she said, her voice gentle. "I just... I don't know, I guess I'm a bit shy when it comes to that sort of thing."
Nino tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "Well, if you don't want to be too obvious, you could try some subtle hints," she suggested. "Like, give him compliments, or find excuses to spend more time together. Maybe he'll start to see how you feel without you having to say anything directly."
Mia considered Nino's advice and found it surprisingly wise. "You know, Nino, for someone who claims to be shy, you're really good at this," she teased, poking her niece playfully.
Nino blushed a little but smiled proudly. "I've read some romance novels," she admitted with a sheepish grin. "Plus, I just want you to be happy, Auntie."
Mia chuckled and kissed Nino on the forehead. "Let's go have some fun surfing, okay?" she suggested, changing the subject to distract her niece from any more matchmaking ideas.
Nino's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! I can't wait!" she exclaimed; her previous conversation momentarily forgotten.
As they headed to the beach to enjoy their day together, Mia couldn't help but feel grateful for Nino's presence in her life. The little talk they had just shared reminded her of the importance of being open to new experiences and not letting her shyness hold her back. Perhaps with Nino's encouragement, she would find the courage to take a step forward and see where her feelings for Mihawk might lead.
XXXxxxxXXXX
After an intense training session with the boy, Mihawk set him to work in the jungle with some obscene task to keep him busy for a while. Hopefully the Humandrills ran into him and would entertain him for a few hours. Mihawk enjoyed training the boy, but he had more energy than he could handle sometimes.
'Or I'm just getting old,' he thought solemnly. He strode into the library, expecting Mia or Nino to lounge in front of the fireplace. To his surprise, he found it empty. Mihawk continued towards the kitchen and saw Gerome doing the dishes diligently whilst humming a song under his breath.
"Morning, captain," he greeted in a sing-song voice.
"Chef," Mihawk acknowledged him. "Where are the girls?"
"Ah, Miss Mia and Nino went surfing. And Perona, is somewhere around here, I guess," Gerome explained, rinsing off the last of the dishes. "Miss Mia didn't come down for breakfast. Nino said she wasn't feeling well and came to get her some coffee to take up to her room."
Mihawk's head perked up. "She wasn't feeling well? Then why did they go surfing?"
Gerome dried his hands with a cloth. "Nino said she was going to heal her. She thinks it was her sinuses or something. Anyway," he said hanging up the cloth, "did you want anything, captain? Tea? Oh, I made scones if you want."
Mihawk put up his hand. "No, thank you. But for this afternoon, yes," he said, and Gerome saluted him.
Deciding he wouldn't wait for them; he walked down to the beach to see if he could catch their surfing activity. He guessed he shouldn't be surprised; Nino had asked him yesterday about surfboards. But surfing in these oceans wasn't something he recommended. As he got closer to the beach, he heard faint noises echoing from the jungle. Maybe the boy was in trouble. If so, he had to get himself out of it. Mihawk didn't babysit anyone.
Finally, he reached the beach. It was a sunny late morning, and the sun was hot. He stood back in the shade of the jungle. Also, he wasn't fond of getting sand in his shoes. He scanned the waves for two blue heads – if anyone could spot them, it would be him. They didn't call him Hawk Eyes for nothing.
Sure enough, they were coming over a wave. Mihawk saw Nino lose the wave and get left behind as it started to rise. Mia was able to paddle it out and over and slipped into the curl. She got to her feet gracefully with perfect balance and held her stance. As she rode the wave, Mihawk felt time slow down. After years of being a pirate, the waves of the ocean had always moved fast in his eyes. But Mia made it look so slow with how swiftly she coursed the wave. He spotted her smile. She let her hand graze the wave, leaving a line following her. She then swivelled and for a moment Mihawk thought she was losing her balance and going to fall over, but instead she manoeuvred the board up into the air higher than the wave itself. He stood stunned as she successfully landed back into the curl effortless, something he didn't even think was possible in surfing.
She rose out the wave completely to its end and then started paddling back towards the beach.
Now, Mihawk had seen some beautiful women in his lifetime and travels as a pirate. He'd seen mermaids and princesses and queens and women who he thought to be angels. But none of them had ever taken his breath away the way Mia did when she strode out of the ocean, soaking wet in her bikini, and brushing her curls out of her face.
Everything was bouncing. Mihawk forced himself to blink.
"What's going on?" he heard a voice behind him. He nearly chucked a fist over his shoulder.
"Don't sneak up on me, boy," he warned Zoro who was standing cluelessly behind him all of a sudden, bruises on his body and face. "What the hell happened to you?"
Zoro shrugged. "I won bananas," he stated flatly holding up a very large batch of bananas. 'Should I take them to the beach for the girls?"
Mihawk narrowed his eyes, still focussed on the beach and Mia. She was wringing out her hair and calling for Nino to paddle back to the ocean.
"Do what you want," Mihawk said, uninterested in the bananas. He half expected Zoro to shrug and then stomp down to the beach, but the boy remained standing behind him, looking over his shoulder.
"What are we looking at?" he asked, scratching his head.
"I'm making sure the girls are safe," Mihawk answered quickly. "Just because the island is well isolated, doesn't mean there is never something lurking in the waters." Zoro nodded and then fell silent again, still holding the bananas.
"Sanji isn't going to believe me," Zoro muttered to himself, scratching a small wound on his neck as Nino ran out of the water. Mihawk raised an eyebrow.
"Who is Sanji?"
"Our chef. He likes the girls. A lot," Zoro answered, setting the bananas on his shoulder. "He's an idiot."
Mihawk scoffed. This was probably the most casual conversation he had ever had with the boy. It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. At least the boy got to his point and didn't ramble or say stupid things like Shanks. Mihawk stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Okay," he said, turning around when he saw Mia and Nino lay down on the beach and talk. "Let's go."
Zoro followed Mihawk silently back towards the castle, bananas still on his shoulder. Halfway through the path, he heard the boy clear his throat almost uncertainly.
"Speak your mind, boy," Mihawk drawled.
"I didn't say anything," Zoro stated, readjusting the bananas on his shoulder. Mihawk felt like his eye wanted to twitch.
"Then go hit the weights," Mihawk ordered. "Give the damn bananas to Gerome."
Stoically, Zoro nodded and rushed pashed Mihawk like a machine to get to the castle. He left his mentor in a cloud of dust as he sped off. Mihawk exhaled out of his nose slowly and then walked up to the castle slowly, replaying the scene at the beach over and over in his head.
XXXXxxxxxXXX
A/N: Thank for reading thus far! Thanks to everyone who followed, favourited and reviewed so far!