Chasing Waves

Chapter 16: Freezing Passion

"One billion?!" Zoro nearly spit out his cereal at the breakfast table. Everyone at the table let their jaws drop when Mihawk slapped Mia's bounty poster in front of her with an impressed smirk. Nino's hands shot to her mouth in disbelief.

Mia blinked innocently, setting down her teacup to peer over the table curiously. "Oh," was all she said, to which Zoro and Perona nearly fell to the floor.

"That's all you have to say to such a large bounty?" Perona squealed, incredulous.

"I don't really have any concept of money," Mia remarked, shrugging casually with a sheepish smile.

"One billion of anything is still a massive amount, auntie!" Nino exclaimed, nearly falling out of her chair.

"They want control of the water," Mia explained with a shrug, unfazed, buttering a scone. From where Mihawk sat next to her, she saw him shoot her a teasing glance which she quickly returned.

"But my bounty isn't as high as yours!" her niece argued.

"Yes, but I'm the one who fought at Marineford," Mia explained, shooting her niece a knowing look. "And I held my own against that Hawk Eyes guy. Don't you guys remember?" Mia smiled at the table. The table erupted into laughter.

Mihawk 'tsk'ed softly at her show of humour, but the laughter in his glorious eyes made her smile even wider. He took the poster into his hand. "'The Wave Chaser'," he read off the poster and the surveyed Mia interestedly. "Probably in reference to the base you destroyed."

"Miss Mia must really be strong then," Perona commented, floating above the table dreamily.

Mia shrugged a little, a small laugh bubbled in her throat. "Water is overpowered in this dimension, I suppose."

"It is still an impressive bounty," Zoro murmured, stuffing bread into his mouth.

"What was your bounty back in the day, Mihawk?" Mia asked casually and without thought. The whole table focussed their attention to their host, who was quietly finishing his own tea while reading his newspaper at the table.

"I didn't have one," he answered, not looking up from his paper. Zoro choked on his bread.

"You liar!" Mia laughed with the girls. Mihawk didn't even flinch.

"I didn't do anything to rub the World Government the wrong way," he explained, raising an eyebrow.

"You were on the Pirate King's crew!" Mia laughed disbelievingly.

"Roger did all the piracy. I sought out strong opponents and defeated them fairly," he explained smoothly, taking another casual sip of tea. Mia smiled at his cool demeanour at the table, knowing how warm and affectionate he had been towards her the previous evening.

"So, you were a passenger and not a crew mate?" Mia teased, winking knowingly at Nino who sniggered into her porridge.

Mihawk lowered his paper slightly. "I have no ego about bounties. So, nice try, Mia," he commented, only the smallest hint of playfulness. She grinned to herself and finished her tea.

"By the way," Nino perked up. "Mr Mihawk?" she asked timidly. To Mia's surprise, Mihawk dropped his paper completely to give her niece his undivided attention.

"Hm?"

"Who is going to be the new War Lords?" Nino dared to ask, clearly nervous.

"Nino," Mia quietly scolded.

"It's okay," Mihawk assured. "I'm glad you ask. That reminds me," His words nearly caused Nino to fall out of her chair. "I've been summoned to the World Government. So, you and I need to talk," said Mihawk, his voice grave as he stared Mia in the eyes. Mia nodded wordlessly, his words resounding in her head.

XxxxxXX

After breakfast, she accompanied Mihawk to the library where she sat next to him on the loveseat. The newfound affection between them excited her but still made her unsure of what could transpire in the future.

"A lot has happened since Marineford," Mihawk remarked, resting is ankle on his other knee as he leaned back into the backrest of the love seat. "I figured I should …keep you up to date, and you can share my findings with the kids at your discretion."

Mia nodded, almost thrown off guard by how more serious than normal he appeared to be.

"Akainu and Aokiji are in the process of duelling for the position of Fleet Admiral," he explained. Mia furrowed her eyebrows.

"How do you know?"

"I received word early this morning. They've already been duelling for three days."

Mia's eyes wracked. "Three days?"

"It's no secret Aokiji strongly dislikes Akainu. And there's no denying Akainu's lust for power and status in the Marines. But that's not the worst. Teach is making a move on Whitebeard's old position as Emperor. He's been killing Devil Fruit users lately in a gross display of power. And a green haired woman has been sighted with him."

Mia blanched, her hands instinctively clasped together in uneasiness. "Vera," she whispered, the image of her sister standing next to Blackbeard at Marineford replaying in her mind. "I was hoping she had just moved on to the next dimension after Marineford."

Mihawk raised an eyebrow. "Is that common for her?"

Mia nodded without hesitation. "Oh, yes. She jumps constantly. Never stays too long in one world."

"What is her end goal here?"

Mia sighed. "We don't even know what's wrong with her," she claimed, rubbing her temples with her forefingers.

Mihawk seemed intrigued. "Wrong?"

Mia adjusted in her seat, her brain furiously thinking back to the last few years. "She was never like that. You know, the way she was at Marineford. She raised me, Nama and Razu just like we're raising our nieces. Out of all my sisters, she was the most spiritual, the most patient. Kindness like you wouldn't believe. One day she left for another world. She was gone for a few months, and when we found her again, she had …changed."

"What changed her?"

She shrugged. "That's the thing, we don't know. Everything about her was different. It's like …she got corrupted."

"Someone influenced her?"

Mia looked thoughtful, trying to find the words to explain something she herself did not fully understand. "No, I mean, it's like she got infected by a virus and it's messing with her head."

"So, she's sick?"

"Something like that would be my hypothesis, yes. In our Guardian Lore, there were reports decades ago about dimensions causing corruptions amongst our network of worlds. It's like having a flock of sheep, one gets sick and it quickly spreads to the others."

Mihawk seemed to have no trouble processing all of Mia's explanation. He folded his arms, somewhat in thought. "And what do you do with a corrupt dimension?"

"It never happened in my lifetime, but I think my mother sealed them up. It's not well archived, though, so it's hard to study. I feel like Vera ventured into one of those dimensions, and obviously we haven't explored them all, so I believe she accidentally stumbled upon one of those corruptions. It's like stepping in gum, and it gets stuck to your shoe without your notice."

"What is the cause?"

"I have no idea."

"Can you heal it?"

"I haven't even begun to fathom whether or not that's possible. We can't even properly get to her. Her power is so destructive. She was an Earth Elemental – loved the forest. She could regrow a grove of trees in minutes. It was astonishing to witness. Now, everything around her withers and dies."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Mia smiled at him and patted his hand with hers. His skin was arm to her touch. "Tell me about Teach. What's his story?"

Mihawk glanced off to the side thoughtfully. "I know his real name is Marshall," he remarked, very casual for him, Mia noted. If she didn't know any better, she would bet he was enjoying this conversation with her.

"That is rather mundane," Mia commented, waiting for Mihawk to continue.

"His rise to power is not. He was an apprentice of Whitebeard, murdered one of the crew. And he smells unbelievably bad. Reeks of rum."

Mia rested her chin on the back of her hand as she leaned against the backrest like Mihawk was. "You know him?"

"He introduced himself shortly before the Marineford battle. He's the one who brought in Portgas. D. Ace."

Her eyes widened. "Neptune's beard, Mihawk!"

"That's what I said," Mihawk stated with deadpan mockery in his tone.

Mia slapped him on his arm. "Stop teasing me."

Effortlessly, his arms encircled her waist and pulled her into his frame. A small squeak escaped her. "With such a bounty as large as yours? I'd never dare to tease you."

Her face on fire, she stared up at him with playful defiance. "Says the man who claims to have no bounty."

One of his hands snaked up her back whilst the other rubbed her lower back. Mia felt chills run up her spine and a warm pit began to form in the bottom of her stomach. "My bounty is simply frozen while I am in the position of a War Lord."

Flirtatiously, her fingers played with the collar of his shirt. "Oh yeah? How much?"

"Let's just say it's big."

Mia gulped. Suddenly her mouth was dry. There was something in the inflection of his voice and the way he said 'big' that made her stomach do a backflip. "How big?"

"More than yours, that is certain."

It was now her turn for deadpan mockery. "Wow."

A tiny smirked appeared on his handsome face. "See, now, I knew that would impress you." Whether it was because he was a swordsman or something else, Mia could feel Mihawk's hands and fingers were strong in the way they seemed to shift her wight effortlessly without him even having to move his arms. It made her smile at him coyly as she subconsciously tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

"Are you actively trying to impress me?"

"Is it working?"

"…maybe."

A low almost sinister laugh vibrated in his throat, and in one fell swoop his lips descended on her neck. The action was so swift, Mia nearly toppled out of her seat, but his strong and warm palms kept her steadily in place, even as they danced up and down her back and hips. Warm air from his nose blew into her ear as he moved up her collar bone. She squirmed as chills spread through her body.

Her head craned to the side to allow him better access and out of the corner of her eyes she spotted the wide-open large doors of the library.

"Mihawk, the door is open," she breathed as he was still preoccupied in the nook of her neckline.

"So?" he almost growled, his kissing and nibbling intensifying. Mia thought she was beginning to see stars.

"So, the kids might see!" she urged with a little giggle as his coarse facial hair rubbed against another sensitive spot.

"Then why not move somewhere more private with me?" he hummed into her ear, his hands grabbing at the dips in her waist.

She swallowed, trying to keep track of all the reactions her body was making her experience. "I'd recommend your office, but …" she trailed off, recounting the events from the previous evening.

Without word, and without raising his head from his assault on her neck, Mihawk raised a lazy arm, flicked his wrist casually and the big doors of the library seemed to shut as if a grand gust of wind had just forced them close. The air seemed to vibrate for a millisecond as he released the smallest amount of haki, an act that took Mia's breath away. And he didn't even blink, still ravishing her neck with kisses.

Slowly and carefully, she traced her hands up and down his chest and then slid them in behind his muscular back. She felt every ripple, every edge of strength etched into his physique.

At her touch, he gently leaned forward and pushed her down on her back. The sight of his powerful and dark figure hovering over her had her heart nearly tearing out of her chest. His scent was mesmerizing – she assumed he had taken a shower that morning, a visual that nearly made her white out in a fluster. The smell lingered around her senses like an intoxicating smog that rid of her of all reason.

Mihawk shifted away from her neck and finally brought his lips down to hers in a kiss gentler than she expected, especially after the way he went at her neck. The kiss was building up more fervently though, his lips nudging hers a little wider each time. Her hands cautiously moved over his shoulders, chest and back, once more revelling in his rigid build.

A sudden jolt went up her body when one of his hands slid up her stomach and before she could stop herself, she twitched a little too obviously at his touch. Instantly he retracted his hand and pulled away from the kiss.

"Sorry," she breathed quickly before he could speak. He pulled them both back up into a sitting position.

"No, I should apologise. I'm moving too fast," he claimed, a tiny bit out of breath as well. "It's just been a while and your company is …lovely." His eyes drifted from her face to her eyes and finally swept over her body. Mia stroked the side of his jaw with her hand, enjoying the feel of his skin and hair on her palm.

"It's not too fast," Mia assured him, fanning her face with her hand. "We're both adults. We're allowed to enjoy each other's …company."

"You're right," he said, surprising her. "I just invited you up to library to talk. It was barely a few minutes and suddenly I couldn't help myself."

Mia rubbed her neck and chuckled. "I have no complaints, I promise."

He offered her a tiny smile and then grazed the side of her chin with his thumb, his index knuckle positioned under her jawline. Suddenly he frowned.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I have to leave tomorrow. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone," he explained, eyes focused on hers. "It should be no longer than two weeks."

Mia's heart sank instantly. He seemed to read her disappointment on her face because he kissed her on the side of her face tenderly, trying to offer comfort. "I will bring you something nice when I come back."

"You like giving me gifts, don't you?" she asked, sliding her arms around his shoulders to kiss him on the cheek. He seemed a little perplexed by her question.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

A bright smile spread across her face. "I think gift giving is your love language."

"Love language?"

"Ah, I mean, how you show affection."

"I think I've made it pretty clear to you how I show you affection," he purred, swiftly kissing her nose. Mia giggled.

"Well, you can have more than one."

"How many are there?"

"Five."

"Are you sure there isn't only one?" he asked teasingly, feathering her collarbone with a few more quick kisses.

"Ah! Mihawk!" she whimpered, playfully smacking at his chest. He chuckled into her skin, setting something on fire inside her body in the process. "There are five!" she laughed and finally pushed him away a little bit, missing his touch. She listed them off her fingers. "There's words of affirmation, gift giving, physical touch …ah, what were the others? Oh yes, quality time and acts of service!"

He stared at her intently for a moment. "Really? And which ones do you have?

Mia thought for a second, scrunching her nose without thought. "I guess maybe …quality time and …"

"Acts of service?"

Mia grinned. "Yes! How did you guess?"

"The cookies you baked me." He blinked at her stoically as if the answer had been obvious.

Mia bit her lip. "Doesn't that constitute a gift?"

"No, because you made them for me. You could have easily had Gerome bake anything and just handed it to me."

"Well, I could never do that," she scoffed, acting offended at the idea.

"Precisely. Now tell me what gift you would like while I'm away," he pressed, pulling her towards him once more. It was incredible to her how quickly they had come to be comfortable in each other's arms, even though the act itself still made her senses tingle, it was amazing.

She smiled, planting a soft on the side of his face. The sensation of his rough facial hair was oddly enjoyable. "I don't need anything but thank you."

"What about another hairclip?" he suggested, letting his hand smooth over her blue curls. His eyes seemed to get lost in her curls as he twirled a few of them gently between his fingers.

A twinkle appeared in Mia's eye. "I already have one. And it's perfect."

"A hairbrush?"

"I can't brush my curls out. It ruins them, but the sentiment is sweet."

He thought for a second. "Jewellery? Make up? Perfume?"

"Mihawk, I don't where any of those things, but that is kind of you, thank you."

He grabbed onto her waist, closing the space between them more. "I will find something you like," he assured her, determined.

Mia giggled, leaning into his warm chest. "I like everything you give me."

"But you don't like everything," he pointed out.

"Then you are the exception," she explained.

One corner of his mouth twisted up mischievously. "Because you like me?"

"Yes, of course."

He kept wearing his smirk. "But do you 'like' like me?"

Mia blinked unceremoniously. "Are you making fun of me for saying 'date' date last night?"

"Perhaps. Do you still want to date-date tonight?"

"It's going to be no-no if you say 'date-date' again."

Mihawk chuckled, almost letting a real laugh escape. Mia smiled contently, made comfortable by their banter. She left a last kiss on his cheek and then stood up from the sofa.

"I have to train Nino today," she explained. "But I will see you tonight?"

Mihawk nodded. "Yes, I will meet you on the terrace for dinner."

"What about the young ones?"

"They can keep themselves busy for one night, I'm sure."

"See you later, then," she said, a little shyly, nervous at the thought of a romantic dinner tonight but all the while excited. Mihawk grabbed her hand before she could turn to leave and left one last kiss on her skin.

Giddy, Mia nearly danced out of the library to locate Nino for today's training session. Her head was spinning from all their interaction in the last twelve hours, as if it was some crazy dream or fantasy she had cooked up in her head.

The touch of his hands and lips made her heartbeat like a drum.

XXXxxxXXX

The morning sun painted the training grounds with a soft glow as Mia and Nino stood facing each other. Mia's serene cerulean eyes met Nino's nervous ones, the bond of family connecting them in a deep, unspoken understanding. Today's training was unlike any other. It was about unravelling the fears that had crystallized within Nino's heart.

"Aunt Mia, I'm just not sure about this," Nino admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "Are you sure I'm ready for this? I know you can control your ice powers, but every time I think about using them, I remember that time when I was a child, and you froze over."

Mia's heart ached at the memory, the guilt she had carried for years resurfacing. She had lost control of her ice powers once, and Nino had been there to witness the consequences. "That was a mistake on my part. I've learned to control my powers since then. I promise you, I won't let anything like that happen again. And if I'm being honest, you'll probably never feel ready, which to me means we should start as soon as possible. Remember your sister Mera doesn't have the abilities, and neither does your mother."

Nino bit her lip, still hesitant. "What if I lose control like you did?"

Mia stepped closer to Nino, placing a gentle hand on her arm. "You have something I didn't have back then – guidance. When I discovered I had dual Elemental abilities, your mother and I weren't quite sure where to start. It's so rare, but we figured it out eventually to a certain extent. My ice abilities aren't as advanced as my water abilities, but there's no denying controlling ice has come in clutch when water wasn't as effective as I wanted it to be. You know what I mean?"

Nino's uncertainty wavered slightly, her gaze softening as she looked into Mia's eyes. "I'm scared."

Mia smiled softly, her touch comforting. "That's okay, Nino. Fear is natural, but it doesn't have to control you. Let's start small, alright? I'll show you how to summon your ice powers, and we'll take it one step at a time."

Taking a deep breath, Nino nodded, her determination beginning to override her fear. Mia stepped back a few paces, giving them both some space. She closed her eyes briefly, centring herself, before raising her hands and summoning a delicate frost in her palms. The icy tendrils danced and sparkled in the air, casting a gentle chill around them.

"Watch closely, Nino," Mia instructed, her voice calm and soothing. "Feel the energy within you, the connection to the element of ice. Imagine it as a part of your being, waiting to be awakened."

Nino mirrored Mia's stance, closing her eyes as she tried to tap into the latent power within her. Her brow furrowed in concentration, her palms facing upward. Mia's reassuring presence beside her served as an anchor, guiding her through the process.

As moments stretched into minutes, Nino's hands trembled slightly, a soft mist forming around her fingers. Mia watched with pride, recognizing the first sign of progress. "You're doing great, Nino," she encouraged. "Let the energy flow through you, like a river of ice."

Nino's breathing steadied as she focused, and slowly, the mist around her fingers began to thicken. It swirled and danced, a delicate waltz of ice particles responding to her command. Mia's heart swelled with pride as she witnessed her niece's determination and potential.

With a deep inhale, Nino's eyes snapped open, the cerulean orbs gleaming with astonishment. In her outstretched palms, a small orb of frost had formed, emitting a gentle glow. It was a beautiful manifestation of her ice powers, a testament to her progress.

Mia's smile was radiant as she stepped closer, her voice a soft melody of encouragement. "Nino, you did it! Look at what you've achieved."

Nino's eyes widened, stunned by her own ability. "I-I did it!"

"I see your ability is more grounded in powdered snow, whereas mine reflects a sharp and clear ice."

"Why is that, auntie?"

"Oh, that is very common. Think about your aunts Kendra, Vera and Razu. All three are Earth Elementals but each one manifests it differently, much like our fingerprints would differ from each other. Aunt Kendra obviously prefers to fight using sand and mineral particles, your aunt Vera used to channel the power of the forest and your aunt Razu flings boulders and summons vines."

Nino nodded at her aunt's explanation. Her eyes drifted, distracted in thought. "I feel cold after doing that. Is that normal?"

Mia pursed her lips, studying her niece intently. "It could be just a side effect, but I'd like you to monitor your temperature closely for the next twenty-four hours. I don't want you pulling a Snow Queen the way I did when you were young."

"Why do you think that happened, auntie?"

Mia thought back to that memory. She had been barely in her twenties and was becoming bold and reckless with her abilities at that age. Discovering she had an aptitude for ice had been a special day for her, because finally she had discovered something that set her apart from her sister Nera. Mia had been playing around in the temple's courtyard with her ice powers, when only a few hours later she had completely frozen over, as in the fairy tale, the Snow Queen, Mia used to read to her nieces growing up. Nama and Razu thawed her down, but Mia tried not to think about what would have happened had they not rescued her from her icy prison.

"My theory is that ice is very invasive in nature – think about how little animal species and plant life can actually withstand such an element. I think it takes the body longer to adjust to such an extreme element."

"Can't the same be said for fire?"

"Yes, but our family has been experts on Fire Elemental for centuries. We've perfected control of that element, that is why your aunts Leah and Nama don't burn or feel pain from wielding its ferocity. Our ice and snow abilities are rarer in comparison to that element."

Nino breathed a shiver, and a ghostly mist exited her lungs. She stared at Mia, some worry in her eyes. Mia tried not to convey her own paranoia too much.

"I think …once we're done training, don't be alone for the next while until we both feel comfortable you won't Snow Queen."

"So, I can stay with you tonight?"

Mia but her bottom lip and then scratched her head as she grinned at her niece sheepishly. "I have a date with Mihawk tonight."

Nino suddenly bounced up and down with excitement, squealing excitedly. "Like a 'date' date?"

Mia chuckled. "Yes, exactly. See, I knew you would get it." Mia ruffled her niece's head playfully, to which the teenage girl whined.

"Aunt Mia, my hair!"

"Sorry," Mia laughed. "Let's put in a few more hours before late afternoon."

"And before you have to get ready for your date!"

They trained until the sun was just about ready to set. Exhausted, Nino lay breathing hard on the floor of the training grounds, chest heaving up and down from the rigorous activity. Mia herself had to take a few deep breaths before steeling her on her feet. They moved up back to the castle slowly, still a little unsteady from the exertion of training. Once they reached the foyer of the castle, Mia was surprised to see Mihawk and Zoro standing in the centre of it, discussing Zoro's swords. As Mihawk pointed to the hilt, explaining something Mia didn't understand, he spotted her out of the corner of his eyes, and quickly wrapped up his explanation to Zoro to turn to her.

Before Zoro could turn to leave, Mia called out before thinking, "Zoro, hold on a second. I need a favour."

Zoro raised an eyebrow, scanning the blue headed women curiously. "Yeah?"

"I need you to make sure Nino doesn't freeze over tonight," Mia explained perhaps a little too casually and lacking context. Dumbfounded, Zoro nearly fell over at her request.

"Freeze over? What, does she have a cold?" Zoro asked, putting his swords.

"We worked on her ice abilities today," Mia announced proudly, patting her shy niece on the shoulder. "And we discovered that Nino is also a Snow Elemental."

"Oh, you can make snowflakes?" Zoro asked, sounding fascinated while his eyes were on Nino.

"Uhm." For some reason Nino had no words in that moment. Mia's eyes shot to Mihawk in a knowing glance.

"Something like that," Mia commented on behalf of her niece. "However, when I was exploring my ice abilities in my younger years, I froze myself over completely and my sisters struggled to thaw me out."

"Froze over?" Mihawk asked interestedly, raising one eyebrow.

Mia nodded. "Like an ice sculpture."

"Fascinating," Mihawk commented softly, eyes twinkling the slightest bit as they glanced at each other.

"So, what do I have to do?" Zoro asked, scratching his head. Nino looked at Mia, at a loss for words.

"Just don't leave her side for twenty-four hours and if she gets …frosty, make sure she doesn't freeze over," Mia explained, giving Nino a final pat on the back. Zoro still looked very lost.

"I don't need a babysitter, auntie," Nino whispered to her aunt, face beet red.

"Just stay by his side, please," Mia pleaded gently, squeezing her niece's cold hand. "We shouldn't take any chances."

Nino nodded acceptedly, eyes drifting to the floor. For some reason her eyes avoided Zoro's.

"Want to hit the weights with me?" Zoro asked seriously, oblivious to the exhaustion on Nino's face from today's training.

"S-sure," she sighed, resigning herself to the situation completely. Quietly she followed Zoro out of the foyer, neither of them speaking.

Mia crossed her arms. "Teenagers," was all she said, rolling her eyes. Mihawk snorted in agreement. She stood uncertain for a moment, unsure whether she should greet him with a kiss or leave some space for desire for tonight's date. He seemed to decide that for her and stepped closer to kiss her gently on the mouth, leaving another kiss on the side of her jaw for good measure.

"I will see you in a while," he said softly, letting his fingers slide down and linger underneath her jawbone. As he turned to leave, she smiled at him shyly, her hands rubbing each other thoughtlessly.

'Ok, time to get ready,' she thought, inhaling deeply as she ascended the stairs to leave for her room. As she bathed and washed her hair anxiously, she kept dreading the idea of getting dressed. She had nothing new to spare for what she felt was a special evening for them. Of course, she still owned a couple of sundresses, but nothing formal or upmarket that would fit Mihawk's expensive taste.

As she towel-dried her hair, she walked to her cupboard to open the doors. There was still the one light blue dress she owned that fit her spectacularly, so she opted for that one along with her neatest pair of sandals. As she clipped up her hair that was still completely damp, she took a second to inspect her face and skin. Thanks to their abilities, all Water Elementals had hydrated and vibrant skin. Mia's only qualms with her appearance were her nose, which she considered rather stubby, and the natural redness she carried in the apples of her cheeks. She felt it always left her leaving flustered, but she would still prefer to wear her skin bear than cover up with make-up. Not that she had any problems with cosmetics – she even owned a few products back home - but make up and travelling light did not always go well together. Not to mention Mia realised she had a propensity for losing things she did not prioritise and could easily get along without.

Mia stared her appearance up and down. It was true what she had claimed to Mihawk. She sighed. It probably wouldn't have hurt to just have some mascara and lipstick handy. Oh well.

Her eyes drifted down to her neck – earlier that morning she had spotted a bruise Mihawk had left thanks to his ceaseless obsession with her neck. It took her only a couple of seconds to heal the dark spot away.

Sighing, she fixed her hairclip again to secure it better. She inspected her hands and feet, finding no hidden dirt or obscenities, but once more feeling a tad annoyed that she had nothing to adorn it with. In the year she had spent in this dimension, she had lost many possessions, gained new ones, and borrowed many others. Though it certainly was not something that kept her up at night, she knew deep down it would have at least been nice to own some nail polish. But that was the life of someone who hopped dimensions.

She still wasn't going to ask Mihawk for anything like that though, she decided.

Although …maybe just something small? Like a simple bangle or some plain earrings she could wear with anything? No, she wasn't like that. She didn't ask men for gifts.

But Mihawk really seemed like he was burning to gift her with something she liked.

She liked the clothes he bought her last year. Maybe it would be easier to just ask for that? Or a nice jacket she could pair with anything? Maybe socks for the winter? She didn't even know how cold it got here year-round and she had no winter attire – luckily it seemed fairly tropical.

Mia bit her lip as she leaned on her hands on the bathroom counter. Her eyes unfocused as she lost track of time whilst thinking about her issues with materialism and exuberance. Ultimately, she left her train of thought and decided to look forward to the night ahead.

Taking one last look at herself in the mirror and spinning a few times just for good measure, Mia finally readied herself and left her room, her stomach bundled with nerves whilst her heart trembled with anticipation.

XXXxxxXXX

"Zoro, how many sets do you have left?" Nino whined, cradling her knees to her chest as she waited for the swordsman to finish his bench set. He grunted and sweated as he placed the bar back on the supports.

"Five," he answered causing Nino to groan. "Or two if I can make them supersets without resting."

"Then do the supersets," she insisted impatiently, rubbing the sides of her legs without thought. Despite being out of breath from his workout, Zoro quickly noticed this action.

"Are you cold?" he asked, still heaving from the physical exertion. Nino's eyes couldn't help bit drift over his shirtless physique – a sight she was used to as they had travelled together on the same crew for the last year now. However, something was different today. Was it the sweat? Or the fact that she noticed he was starting to get bigger and stronger already, even if it had only been a month of training?

"A little," she admitted but then perked up. "But I'm fine! You look like you're overheating, though."

He shrugged. "Only thing I'm worried about is finishing these last two supersets. I almost can't get them up. Will you spot me?"

"Zoro, if you can't pick them up, then how am I going to spot you properly? I'm not even half as strong as you."

"Well, I'll have to just do it, I guess."

"And if you tear a muscle?"

"Mihawk says the pain makes me stronger."

"Mihawk broke your ribs. And then I had to heal them."

"It all turned out okay," he commented offhandedly, adding more weights to the bar on the structure. He retook his position on his back. Nino sprang up.

"Zoro, that is a lot of weight!" She felt the panic and anxiety start to set in.

"I know. Now that you're here, I can finally try it," he stated, determined.

"What are you talking about?"

"Mihawk says having a woman around while you fight, pumps you with testosterone which makes you stronger."

Nino's mouth fell agape. "What?"

"Yep," Zoro said, grinning and rubbing his hands together. His fingers gripped around the bar, but before he could push up, Nino sprang up to stop him.

"Zoro, wait! You don't honestly believe what Mihawk told you? How could me just standing around cause you to produce any more hormones? Thank about it!"

Zoro relaxed his hands around the bar and then sat up, as if to follow her order to actually seriously think about it. "You're right."

She nodded. "Exactly."

"You should sit on top of me."

Nino felt her soul leave her body.

Her face burst into red like a volcano erupting. Before she could even think, speak or protest in any shape or form, Zoro had leaned over from the bench and pulled on her arm. She let out an 'oof' when she hit his hot and muscular form, something her aunt would deem very unladylike.

After a second she realized how cold she was really starting to feel as she unintentionally pressed her palms on his chest to try and get up. His skin was incredibly hot to the touch.

"You're nice and cool!" he claimed with a smile and settled himself down on the bench again. She readjusted herself, unintentionally straddling him in a manner she had never done with any guy before, so she tried to keep the lower part of her body still whilst keeping herself semi-upright with her hands on his body.

'If aunt Mia walked in here right now …' she thought, knowing that would not happen. For all she knew, her aunt could have been in a similar predicament. Although could Nino label it a predicament when she was secretly enjoying it?

"Z-Zoro, I've never touched a guy like this before!" she squeaked as he heaved the bar up and down, miraculously without too much strain. For one crazy minute she considered Mihawk's hypothesis to be true …either that or Zoro had deceived her in order to get her physically close to him. Either way, it made her heart flutter.

"Good thing it's me then and not some other idiot like Sanji," he grunted confidently as he pumped the iron. "Still cold?" he asked, while at the same time still focused on his set.

"Not really, no," she answered softly, a minor smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.

"Good." Impressed by his resolve, as she always had been, Nino revelled in her time spent so intimately with Zoro, each time growing more disappointed as he counted down his sets. His powerful chest heaved up and down as he finished putting the bar down after his last count. Not wanting to push her luck, Nino moved to climb off. His hands shot out to her sides to grab her in place.

"Hold on," he said firmly, looking up at her through the sweat on his face. "I can do more."

"Don't hurt yourself, Zoro," she said in her usual quiet voice and he let a breathy laugh escape his throat before starting his next set after barely resting.

As the sets continued and his body strained underneath hers, Nino began to feel …things. Was it her heart or her body? Was it both?

"Ah, Zoro," she started, her voice a little strained.

"Hm?"

"Isn't this distracting for you?" she asked shyly, indicating down with her chin to refer to their current position. He set the bar down once more.

"Nah," he commented casually.

"Oh." For some reason his answer disappointed her. Was he not as attracted to her as she was to him? Did he just see her as a friend or a sister figure? If so, it was still strange what he was having her do. And knowing herself she'd probably still be unopposed to doing it again in the future. The thought made her feel slightly pathetic.

"Feels good, actually," Zoro said suddenly from underneath her.

She blinked. "Good?"

"Yeah, your skin is nice and cold," he explained between heaving and grunting. "Also, you smell …nice."

"Ah, thanks Zoro," she choked out into a whisper, blushing into her shoulder. Guess he did enjoy this somewhat at least.

"Don't mention it, Snowflake," he chuckled as he spotted her shy response.

"'Snowflake'?" she raised an eyebrow, eyes twinkling.

"You don't like it?" he asked, again, pushing through his sets. "Want me to call you something else?"

"What else would you call me?"

"I don't know," he mumbled, eyes on the ceiling as he continued working out. "Sweetheart? Baby? Just babe?"

Nino blanched. "B-baby?" she stuttered, her heart sharply knocking at her ribs. "You want to call me baby?"

"I figured it's better than sweetheart. I've heard your aunt call you that."

"Zoro, I-I don't understand what's going on," she stammered out and then, bracing herself for the worst response she could imagine, she leaned a bit closer to him. "Are you …flirting with me?"

He set the bar down heavily, out of breath and gleaming with sweat to peer up at her. "Nino, I don't know how to flirt with girls. And put simply, Mihawk's advice on women is garbage."

'Well, Mihawk did snag a date with my aunt,' Nino thought begrudgingly in response, thinking her favourite aunt could do worse.

"Then we should be candid with each other. You and I aren't the type of people to play games," Nino reasoned in a soft voice, eyes drifting off to the side.

"Okay," he agreed, sitting up completely to snake and arm around her middle. She took in a sharp gust of air into her lungs, resting her arms on his clammy shoulders as her heartbeat drummed in her ears. "Train like this with me again," he asked frankly.

Nino blinked. "Okay."

"Does it make you uncomfortable?" he asked, surprisingly tactful for him of all people.

Smiling, she shook her head. "No. You know I'm just a little shy," she breathed shakily, the scent of his sweat and bulge of his body messing with her senses. "You only want to do this while training? For the …testosterone boost?"

She felt his hand rub the small of her back. "We could do other things together."

"Like what?" she asked softly.

"You should take naps with me in the sun," he answered very seriously and Nino giggled in response.

"Sure," she answered, a faint blush still evident on her face. She was nowhere near cold anymore.

"Are you still cold?" he asked, pulling her a little closer.

"No," she breathed out as she felt his wet muscled form nearly against her own chest.

"How about," he began, looking thoughtful, "we get cleaned up and then I make a fire on the beach and we ask Gerome to pack us some food and snacks and we just …you know …relax?" he rambled slightly, but kept his serious demeanour true to his character.

Nino nodded shyly, offering him a smile. "I would like that."

XXXxxxXXX

The evening sun painted the lounge with warm hues as Mia and Mihawk found themselves in a comfortable silence. The fire crackled softly in the fireplace, casting dancing shadows on the walls. His arm was slung over the backrest of the sofa to lay comfortably behind her neck and shoulders. Every now and again he would play with one of her curls or stroke the side of her neck, causing her to almost visibly shudder in response.

Dinner had been lovely – simpler than she originally thought and not as grand as she dreaded it would be. They shared a lovely meal together on the terrace outside, served Gerome's best yet homely food. They even shared dessert, something Mia greatly enjoyed doing with him.

He was kind and gentle in his conversation, though still carried all his severity in his frame and eyes. She took note of all the subtle way he tried to be charming, his gestures of chivalry and his displays of affection and romance as they sat and enjoyed a bottle of wine together in front of his fireplace. Every so often she would turn her head to smell at him without his notice or stare at any glorious part of his defined and toned body.

Relaxed next to him, she sighed, crossed her legs and leaned back to rest her head on his arm. Mia felt lethargic after an intense morning and afternoon of training, and after the comfort of food and drink, coupled with the comfort of the crackling fire, she felt she could easily drift into a contented doze next to Mihawk whilst breathing in his wonderful scent.

Mia gazed at the flames, her eyelids dropping as she was lost in thought, when Mihawk's deep voice, tinged with a playful tone, interrupted her reverie.

"Cara mia," he murmured, seemingly out of nowhere, his words rolling off his tongue like a melody. He was still twirling a strand of her hair between his meticulous fingers.

Her head turned toward him, her cerulean eyes widening in surprise. Did she just hear what she thought she heard? She had learned enough from her travels through different dimensions to recognize the sentiment behind the words, even if she couldn't quite place the language itself.

"What did you just say?" she asked, her voice soft with awe.

He turned his gaze to meet hers, his golden eyes gleaming in the firelight as they lit up with realization. "Cara mia," he repeated, a small smile playing on his lips. "I apologise. I spoke without thought. I was just trying to get your attention. I think I confused the words with your name for a second there."

Mia's heart skipped a beat, not hearing much of what he had just explained. "You... you speak that language?"

Mihawk's smile deepened, and he nodded, amused by her reaction. "I do, yes."

Mia's lips parted in astonishment. "I …just …wow." Her body seemed to go numb as her heartbeat quickened at the sound of his voice. He chuckled, slid her hand into his and scooted closer to press a few kisses to her temple.

"Sei splendida stasera, cara mia," he said into her ear, his voice a velvety caress.

'I just felt something sinful inside of me stir,' she thought dully, her mind uncomprehensive and rattled after that initial thought.

Mia smiled, her heart fluttering like a trapped butterfly. "And what does it mean?" she was breathless as she looked into his severe eyes.

Mihawk's gaze never wavered from hers. "I said you look beautiful tonight, my dear."

Her smile grew wider, and she bit her lip, her heart pounding in her chest. "'My dear'? Oh my." She fanned her face a little with a tilted smile, face warming at his words.

Mihawk's fingers brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her. He leaned in to kiss her temple again, this time deliberately slow, his lips lingering over her hair, inhaling and exhaling to drink in her scent. He reached around her body to spin her to face him more, effortless in his strength and grace that accompanied it. After a few seconds of fervent kissing, Mia started to get into the rhythm of the action, despite not having much experienced – after mirroring the motions of his lips for a while, they fell into what felt was a passionate dance they head rehearsed in secret and could now perform freely.

Mia felt Mihawk grow bolder with his hands. They moved hungrily with a desperate demand for her body and affection. His fingers and palms stroked the dip of her lower back, pulled her closer by the waist, stroked the sides of her body and caressed the side of her jaw and neck between kissing and breathing into her neckline.

"I don't mean to be dramatic but," Mia breathed as Mihawk lost himself in the crook of her neck for the umpteenth time, "no man has ever made me feel like this before."

Mihawk's lips drifted up the skin of her collar until he reached her ear. His warm breathed evoked ripples of pleasure in places she could not mention by name. "That isn't dramatic," he murmured huskily next to the shell of her ear.

Probably sensing her shiver of pleasure, he assertively pushed her down on her back on the seat in front of the fire, lingering over her like a panther would pause before a pounce.

His lips curved into a wicked smile as he hovered above her, his eyes locking onto hers. The flickering flames from the fireplace cast a warm glow, intensifying the allure of the moment. Mihawk's gaze held a mixture of hunger and appreciation, like an artist appreciating the masterpiece he was about to create.

Mia's breath caught in her throat, her chest rising and falling with a rapid rhythm. The air seemed charged with a magnetic energy, drawing them closer with an irresistible force. She felt the heat of his body, the warmth of his breath, and the anticipation of what was to come.

Mihawk's hands, strong and confident, traced a path along her sides, sending shivers down her spine. Every touch felt like a promise, and Mia found herself willingly surrendering to the intoxicating dance of desire. His lips found hers again, claiming them in a fervent kiss that left no room for doubt.

As they kissed, time seemed to lose its meaning. It was a symphony of sensations, a blend of urgency and tenderness. Mia's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as if afraid he might slip away. The taste of him was addictive, and she found herself craving more.

The room was filled with the melody of their shared desire, the crackling of the fireplace harmonizing with the soft sighs that escaped Mia's lips. Mihawk's kisses trailed from her lips to her jawline, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. He explored her neck with a deliberate slowness, savouring every moment.

Mia's mind was a haze of sensations, and she could feel the warmth pooling low in her stomach. Her body responded to his touch, arching slightly as if seeking more closeness. Mihawk's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing gently against her skin.

He pulled away for a moment, his stormy eyes locking onto hers. There was a hunger in his gaze, a silent question that lingered between them. Mia, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and vulnerability, nodded subtly, granting him permission to proceed.

Mihawk's lips found hers again, and this time, the kiss deepened. It was a promise, a declaration, and Mia felt herself drowning in the intensity of the moment. As their bodies pressed together, the world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them in this cocoon of desire.

In the background, the fireplace crackled, casting dancing shadows on the walls. The flames mirrored the fire that blazed between them, a flame that seemed to grow with every passing second.

Mia was lost in the sensation, lost in the artistry of Mihawk's touch, as they continued their dance in the intimate embrace of the fire-lit room.

XxxxxXXX

A/N: I promise there will be some more plot very soon. I hope everyone is still enjoying this! Thank you for all the reviews and support I have received thus far!

I definitely wanted to finish this chapter after I witnessed the gorgeous specimen that is live-action Netflix Mihawk. The actor is South African too, just like me, so I took that as a sign that I need to keep at it!