Hello everybody,
to say I'm nervous, would be a slight understatement^^' I'm nervous as hell, but you asked so I delivered, and I hope you will enjoy it.
This chapter is probably not for everyone, but you can skip down to the gap, if you don't want to read... the stuff ;-)
Have fun! (and please be kind in your judgement^^')
The Scene
-Mihawk-
He took a deep breath; he had not been that nervous in a long time – and only a few days ago he had been fighting the battle he had been waiting for over 20 years – and he found that he preferred some things to develop on their own rather than planning them beforehand. But on another thought he could wait a long time for that with Roronoa.
However, he did not have to wait long for him, because Roronoa had just climbed down the small ladder that led into the belly of the coffin boat, having pulled the hatch shut from below.
"What an honor, the greatest swordsman in the world," Mihawk masked his nervousness.
Roronoa snorted softly: "Are you going to say that every time now?"
"Do you really dislike it?"
He received no answer, and he knew that Roronoa would have to lie to contradict him. Roronoa had now reached the bottom and turned to him. At first glance he seemed as serious as ever, but Mihawk could see it, and when Roronoa noticed his observing, his cheeks turned red, a rare picture.
"What are you looking at?" he muttered, almost sullenly, and crossed his arms.
"Are you really sure?" Mihawk replied coldly. "We do not have to..."
"Don't start this crap again." Roronoa approached him. "I've already told you, if this is part of a relationship, then I want to do it right. Besides..."
"Our relationship is not dependent on whether or not we become sexually intimate with each other, Roronoa." He bridged the last step. "But if you still want to..."
"I do!"
"Well then. Nevertheless, we should clarify a few things in advance. Are there certain...?"
"Don't turn this into a negotiation. I want to sleep with you, not fall asleep over a theory lesson."
It would have been too nice if things were easy just once. He sighed softly and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Impetuous as so often. I will comply with your request, but first I would like to know if there is anything you explicitly do not want?"
Roronoa looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Why did he sound like Mihawk was explaining latitudes to him?
"Well, do you know if there is anything you do not like?" he said patiently. "I, for one, do not enjoy being tickled, or when you think you have to praise me. I am not some dog performing a trick and waiting for his belly-scratch."
"Awkwardly precise," Roronoa muttered before shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know. Don't stick your tongue down my throat, we already clarified that, but otherwi..." He interrupted himself, while Mihawk unwillingly recalled that embarrassing moment when he had forgotten himself for a moment. "I know something."
He looked down questioningly at Roronoa, glad that he no longer had to think back on this embarrassment.
"Don't make a big deal out of this. Don't think you have to hold back just because you're worrying unnecessarily."
"But... but Roronoa, I..."
"Yes, I have less experience, but I can take care of myself and I'm here by my own free will. So don't see me as an inexperienced newbie, I'm your partner, just like everyone else you've slept with before. Let's just... What's with this look?"
Once again, it was Roronoa who, despite his lack of experience, seemed much calmer than Mihawk himself was. For a moment he searched for the right words.
"You misunderstand my hesitation. It has less to do with your inexperience and more to do with... my own nervousness. Because for me, this is a big deal." He could see Roronoa's annoyance give way to slight surprise. "Please understand, you... You are not like the previous ones, and I neither want nor can I treat you like that. I have never... I have never slept with a person I... that I love. I never thought we would take this step. The truth is, I am just nervous, and I am certainly looking for certainty in words."
Roronoa tilted his head slightly, as if seriously thinking about Mihawk's words, then nodded, obviously having made a decision. "I see, but as you know, I've always been more a man of action."
Something had changed in his posture; did he want to take the initiative?
"So, what are you up to?" Mihawk asked, feeling that tension in the room that was usually only there when they talked about fighting. Could Roronoa also feel it?
"We're changing the rules of the game," Roronoa grumbled, unimpressed. "If the leader doesn't lead, the partner takes over."
This statement was interesting on several levels, but before Mihawk could discuss it further, Roronoa had grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down. As often the case, there was little tenderness in his attempt of a kiss, but it was not as harsh as usual. For a moment Mihawk met this calm look, then he closed his eyes and got involved. This certainly would not be like his previous experiences, but he was more than willing to experience something new with Roronoa. Almost cautiously, he put his arms around the other and it was almost shocking that Roronoa allowed it, and then Roronoa even put his free hand on Mihawk's shoulder. Maybe Mihawk was not ready after all. Hopefully his poor, cold heart would survive this.
"Sit down," Roronoa ordered, his words just a harsh touch tickling Mihawk's cheek. He followed this instruction and settled down on the end of the bed, holding Roronoa by the hip, pulling him closer. Roronoa continued to kiss him before he straightened up, one hand still on Mihawk's neck, the other on his shoulder. It was unusual to look up to him, and yet he liked the way Roronoa observed him.
"And now what?" Mihawk asked patiently, noticing that unfamiliar smile on his lips, in his cheek muscles, noticing how he was getting warm. So far, this had been just unnecessary banter, but he was eager to see what Roronoa would do now.
Roronoa took a step back and simply tore off his clothes, all his clothes, in one go. It was impressive, but not exactly sensual, not at all sensual, absolutely not sensual, and Mihawk's face had to say that.
"What? Oh, come on, just say I did something wrong? It can't be that hard, can it? Or do you do prefer clothes?"
"I really do not have any preferences when it comes to that," he laughed softly, while Roronoa stood in front of him, completely exposed, truly a sight, "but the way was a bit... unusual."
"You're a bit unusual," Roronoa grumbled, blushing, obviously embarrassed. "Then do it better."
"I would love to." With a mean smile, Mihawk rose and offered Roronoa the bed, whereupon the latter sat down, his arms crossed. "So, watch and learn."
Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt, did not let Roronoa out of his sight for a single moment, took it off, leisurely, gracefully, elegantly, before reaching for his pants and taking his time pulling down the zipper. His hands slid over his body, fine tight skin and fresh scar tissue, before he pulled his pants down and stepped out.
Roronoa watched him, still that pink glow on his cheeks, ah, he was now showing some emotion.
"Do you like what you see?" Mihawk asked, offering his body to his partner's judgment, enjoying that eye that seemed to devour everything.
"Still no idea what your problem is," Roronoa grumbled, probably trying to ignore his pink cheeks. "It took you a lot longer, and you're still half dressed."
He should have known, there was no place for sensuality in Roronoa's world, but perhaps Mihawk could change that; he had always liked a challenge.
"Oh, Roronoa, you truly are one of a kind." He leaned forward and grabbed his little frog by the chin. "May I take the lead again?"
For a second, Roronoa looked at him illegibly.
"You never ask for permission, so don't start now."
"As you wish." He pushed Roronoa back, pushed him onto the bed, knelt with one leg next to him and bent down to him, kissed him, his mouth, his cheek near the jawline, his neck below the ear, let his hands slide over Roronoa's body, gently but determinedly, knowing that Roronoa preferred the firm grip. "Say, if you dislike something," he breathed against the other's neck, his lips groping over the skin.
"I'm not stupid," growled the other, his tone as concentrated as during some theory units, not fitting their situation at all.
Mihawk raised his head questioningly, but Roronoa stared at him as intensely as ever, his cheeks flushed, and then he showed a small smile. "That's it?"
Again, he always managed to challenge and tease Mihawk.
"Don't make a fool of yourself, we have not even started yet."
But he could not trouble Roronoa that easily. His grin grew, as so often in such situations when Mihawk threatened to underestimate him.
"Well then, show me what you got." Roronoa leaned forward a bit, but Mihawk pushed him back, would keep the lead at least this time. Roronoa let him, whatever went through his head. Maybe he was a little nervous after the initial initiative. Perhaps Mihawk should not have judged his striptease that harshly, but he knew very well that such trifles were not enough to jeopardize Roronoa's confidence.
He kissed him again, this time deeper, his teeth scratching over skin and Mihawk could feel a faint tension sliding through Roronoa's body. Smiling, he continued, his hands on Roronoa's hip, his lips on Roronoa's collarbone. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Roronoa's hands clinging to the bed frame, wondering what this might meant, but he turned his attention to Roronoa's chest.
His partner's reactions were subtle, a deep breath, a slight shiver, a gentle tension, but visibly enough, spurred Mihawk on to get even more out of him.
His hands slid further down, gripping his legs, lightly massaging the inner thighs with his thumbs, while he moved his mouth down his chest to his stomach.
The next moment, Roronoa grabbed his head, gently pulled his hair, mission accomplished. He looked up for a moment without interrupting his activity. Roronoa had tilted his head slightly to the side, even his intact eye closed. He seemed to get into it, and maybe he even liked it. Which should not be so surprising, after all, Mihawk knew what he was doing.
So maybe it was time to move on to the next step. In a flowing movement, he took his knee off the bed and slid down, kneeling in front of Roronoa, one hand on his thigh, with the other sliding down the groin, leaning forward.
"Wait."
He immediately stopped, not wanting to do anything wrong, knowing that Roronoa had never taken this step before. He looked up. Roronoa had sat up and looked down at him.
"Not like this," he whispered, his voice unusually rough, as his hand slid from Mihawk's hair to his jaw, almost tenderly. His heart beat faster, could his poor, cold heart endure this night? In fact, he had never seen Roronoa like this before, obviously aroused, this heat on his face, and yet there was something captivating about his gaze that had always fascinated Mihawk. He should not be mistaken. He may have taken the lead, but in fact, Roronoa did not seem to lose control for a second, not even here, not even now. Truly a peculiar man.
"Do you prefer only hands?" he asked, but Roronoa shook his head, grabbed the back of Mihawk's head and pulled him up to him, pressing his forehead against Mihawks.
"We agreed on sex, not that you kneel on the floor in front of me."
Mihawk tilted his head slightly, decided not to open the discussion of what exactly could be classified as sex at this moment, but to filter out what Roronoa wanted to tell him with this statement. It did not worry him. Since Roronoa had warned him, he had gone through thousands of scenarios in his head about how this evening might go, and of course he had a plan, too accustomed to this unpredictability that had come into his life with Roronoa.
"All right. Then come with me on the bed." He got up and walked around the bed.
Roronoa looked at him for a moment before leaning his hands back and crawling backwards further onto the bed, not nearly as elegantly as Mihawk was moving. At last, he sat there, in the middle of their bed, leaning upright against the headboard, naked, agitated, blushing, and everything Mihawk had ever desired.
He joined him on the bed, stroked his cheek for a moment, which Roronoa did not even appreciate with a reaction, then he swung one leg over the other, his knees to the left and to the right of Roronoa's legs, crouched in front of him, could see the slight surprise.
"Mihawk, what do you...?"
"You misunderstand my intentions, Roronoa. But there is no need to worry, I will get my time's worth, but tonight my focus is solely on you, so I am prepared for everything." He leaned forward, kissed the other, stayed close to him. "I know you do not want me to hold back, and next time we can try anything you envision and far beyond, but today, today follow my lead and trust me that I know what I am doing."
Roronoa looked at him as if he were thinking about the words or counting Mihawk's wrinkles, then grinned dangerously.
"For all I care, I'm following your lead, this time."
"Well then, would you be so kind to help me with my..." He had not even finished the sentence when Roronoa had stripped him of his underpants, torn and slapped them against the wall. Mihawk raised an eyebrow disapprovingly and clicked his tongue softly. "What you do with your clothes is up to you, but please refrain from breaking mine."
"Then stop talking and act. If you think too long, I'll get bored."
"So brazen."
Smiling, he leaned to the side and pulled open the drawer from the bedside table, reached for two small packets.
"What do we need...?"
"This is my bed, and even if you go back to your uncomfortable bunk afterwards, I will not sleep in a dirty and sweaty bed. What do you think the extra sheet is for?" he remarked condescendingly as he tore open the first wrapping.
"Didn't even know you had a cleanliness frenzy," Roronoa grinned wickedly and grabbed the other.
"And I did not know you knew what to do with a condom," Mihawk judged harshly, but apparently Roronoa knew that, and shockingly, this looked much more erotic than his supposed striptease. Yes, he could get used to this sight.
"And now?" asked Roronoa, his eye swept over Mihawk's chest, caught on the well-healing wounds, further down to Mihawk's lumbar region, and Mihawk enjoyed everything about this look that was only for him.
He leaned over, kissed Roronoa, stroked his hair and held him tightly. With his free hand he grabbed the small tube and opened it.
"Now you sit back and just enjoy the show."
He straightened up in front of Roronoa, could see the other trembling under his grip, without even the slightest sound, Mihawk in view all the time, his face absolutely illegible. Until the moment when Mihawk slowly lowered himself.
Roronoa took a sharp breath, trembled, grabbed Mihawk's hip with one hand, his fingers digging into his flesh, making him fight against the urge to tense his muscles.
Now Mihawk sat on top of him, keeping his core relaxed, and looked at Roronoa, who was staring back with red cheeks. Was it nervousness or just surprise? Maybe he should give him more time? After all, this was his first time and for all his strength, all his self-confidence, he was still quite young and inexperienced.
"Are you ready?" Mihawk asked with a faint smile. But once again he should underestimate Roronoa.
With a slight undertone, as so often when he felt patronized by Mihawk, he grumbled: "I should be the one asking that," and leaned forward abruptly, noticed too late that like this he was moving in Mihawk, elicited a wordless sound from him. In the middle of the movement, Roronoa froze. "Oh, I..."
"It is all right, my impetuous little frog," he laughed softly, bridging the last few inches between their faces, putting his free hand on Roronoa's grabbing his flesh. "You did nothing wrong."
"Doing nothing feels wrong," Roronoa replied, anything but impressed and looking far too grumpy considering the position they were in. "I don't want to just sit back and watch. This is a two-men show."
Mihawk looked at him almost in surprise, for he had not for a second felt like Roronoa was just a spectator the way he took the initiative whenever Mihawk hesitated and reacted to each of Mihawk's touches.
"You are doing everything just right. This is not an exercise session, it is just supposed to feel good, that is all. Does it feel good to you?" Roronoa nodded. "Well then. Let us continue in the same way. I am going to move now and if you want, adapt to my rhythm. And should my legs give way..." He leaned forward and breathed into Roronoa's ear. "... Keep going."
Then he began, and almost instantly, with a soft groan, Roronoa lifted his hip, pushed his back through, truly a sight for the gods. Now Mihawk's breathing also got faster, but he knew that Roronoa would not last long, so he tried to keep a calm rhythm.
"Here." He grabbed Roronoa's free hand and led it down his groin, and Roronoa seemed to understand.
Mihawk sighed softly as Roronoa seized him, without hesitation, and firmly followed his rhythm.
Roronoa whispered something – maybe it was his name – as tension slid through his body and he trembled. His free hand clawed deeper into Mihawk's flesh, while his grip tightened as he stopped moving, and then groaned, trembling all over.
Mihawk paused, allowed Roronoa to feel this moment in its entirety, then he put his hand on Roronoa's, increased the pressure and performed the movement for a few more seconds, then he also came.
Like this he squatted there, trying to calm his breathing, while Roronoa watched him, similarly heavy breathing, leaning back again.
None of them said anything, just looked at each other, for what felt like minutes. This seemed to be one of those rare moments when even Mihawk did not need words to understand Roronoa lying there to his knees, just watching him as if he wanted to burn the sight of Mihawk into his mind. Like this they were there, for a short eternity, then Mihawk rose.
"Where are you going?" Roronoa leaned on one hand and sat up. His cheeks were still flushed and Mihawk could truly get used to this prospect, Roronoa naked in his bed, still marked by their fight, but his body pulsating with their energy.
"You may think showering twice a month is acceptable, but I am not going to go to sleep like that," he judged harshly before smiling at Roronoa and waving at him. "Come on, a little cleanliness would not hurt you either and maybe I can show you a few other things."
"I know how to take a shower," Roronoa grumbled, but trolled clumsily off the bed and followed him.
The bath on board was not nearly as expansive as the one on the Thousand Sunny, but it was just enough for two people. As Roronoa was about to shuffle into the shower, Mihawk held him back, one hand to his ear and jaw, stroking Loreno's cheek with his thumb. He did not ask, did not say anything, could see it in Roronoa's gaze, undoubtedly as rarely before.
"And?" Roronoa asked, and a mischievous grin broke the faint tension in the air. "How was your first time? With someone you love?"
Mihawk stared at him speechlessly, but Roronoa just laughed, brushed off his hand and stepped into the shower. Without saying anything, Mihawk followed, looking at this broad back, following scattered drops of water glide down the spine. He was not sure if Roronoa was making fun of him or if he was serious about this question.
"I think I..." he began quietly, however, as the water pattered down between them and no one stood underneath, he broke off and gave Roronoa only an apologetic smile. "It may surprise you, but in fact it is hard for me to find the right words right now. Is it enough for you if I tell you that I am happy? Very happy."
Roronoa looked at him, the water between them, then he tilted his head and took that one step forward. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but he did not. The next moment he took another step towards Mihawk and kissed him, and this kiss was gentle, almost deliberate, and if Mihawk opened his eyes, he knew he would meet Roronoa's gaze.
He slowly sank into the soft bed, the sweaty sheet somewhere on the floor, let his gaze glide over the room and the bed before he lay down, but he could not sleep yet.
"Roronoa, tell me, why today? Why did you come to me today?"
Silence, only the waves could be heard beating gently against the stern, a soothing sound. He watched Roronoa in the light of the bedside lamp, which cast harsh shadows over his face, while he also dropped onto the bed and then looked up at the ceiling.
"You're going to think it's ridiculous," he finally grumbled.
"Hmm. Now you have sparked my curiosity even more," Mihawk just smiled, turned on his side and rested his head on one hand to get a better look at Roronoa. "I promise not to laugh."
"Tze," the other just snapped and tilted his head to the other side, away from Mihawk. He sighed heavily. "You're going to leave tomorrow."
"Yes, I will," Mihawk replied, not quite sure if it had been a statement.
"Mhm," Roronoa then agreed quietly, "and... and it will probably take some time before we'll see each other again. You'll travel back to Sasaki, and we'll be heading... to wherever the logpose takes us."
This time Mihawk remained silent, while Roronoa spoke so calmly, his deep voice so pleasantly thoughtful.
"And I thought... I wanted to... see you... see everything of you." He turned to Mihawk. "I can't describe it the way you can, but I feel like, ever since our fight… I'm really... seeing you for the first time and I... I may not be the first, but... I don't care who has seen what of you, but I want to see that too! I want you to show me everything, now that I finally see you."
He fell silent and looked up at the ceiling again, licking his lips as if these words had dried out his mouth, leaving Mihawk speechless. He did not know what to say as old memories woke up within him.
"Sounds kind of childish, doesn't it?" Roronoa sounded dissatisfied, whereas Mihawk had to think of the time when Jiroushin had taken the liberty of lecturing him. He thought for a long moment, unsure of what he was feeling, so he decided to join the conversation first.
"It actually does sound a bit childish and unreasonable."
Roronoa snorted and folded his arms.
"That makes me very happy."
He could see the gaze out of the corner of the other's eye without Roronoa changing his position.
"A possessive Roronoa Zoro who wanted to see me like no one else does, wanted to touch me like no one else does. I never thought I would be one of your desires."
"Stop talking this crap," Roronoa grumbled, averting his gaze.
But Mihawk put his free hand on Roronoa's cheek, making him turn to face him. He stroked his cheek while Roronoa just looked at him, a soft pink glow on the bridge of his nose and cheeks.
"I love you, Roronoa, and I tell you, no one has ever seen me like this, and you will be the only one who will ever see me like this... If you want to repeat it, of course," he added, almost embarrassed.
"I'll have to think about that," Roronoa said after a few gentle seconds of silence.
"Of course. You will have a few weeks, if not months, to do so."
"Mhm," Roronoa just grumbled, without interrupting their eye contact, as if capturing Mihawk down to the smallest detail.
To be seen.
And that was when Mihawk understood this feeling inside. He understood why he had to think of Jiroushin and his scolding, and smiling at himself, he took his hand back and rubbed the back of his neck as he lowered his gaze in embarrassment.
"Well, it is horrible how happy I am right now."
"Huh?" Roronoa asked. "The why didn't you tell me that sex is so important to you? If I had known before, we wouldn't have..."
"Oh nonsense," Mihawk laughed at this misunderstanding and looked at Roronoa, could not help but smile. "No, I am not talking about that – even if I do enjoy it, do not get me wrong – but I... your words really make me happy."
"My words?" Roronoa questioned suspiciously, and Mihawk nodded.
"Yes, you know, after Marijoa, Jiroushin had felt the necessity to lecture me for my wrongdoing towards you." Roronoa's scarred eyebrow moved up probably in agreement, but otherwise he was silent. "And even if I do not agree with him on most, he was right about one thing. I... I am used to people being afraid of me, even those I consider important to me. They all start to fear me at some point, the more they get to see the real me."
He was silent for a moment, thoughtfully, looking at the bed between them.
"And Jiroushin had rightly stated that my greatest fear was that you too would fear me one day - which is why, in his opinion, I would manipulate our relationship, which I firmly deny and the success of that endeavor proves me right - but the truth is, I was very afraid that you would fear me if I threw off my shackles and showed you this monster I am. You cannot imagine how much I have been longing for our fight... but I also feared it, feared that you would avert your gaze, as they all do at some point. To hear you say all this, I am a little shocked myself at how much it makes my oh-so-cold heart happy." Again he laughed softly at himself, rubbed his neck again. "And now tell me who sounds childish."
For a long time, there was silence between them. That pleasant silence that Mihawk cherished so much, maybe Roronoa had not listened to him at all, maybe he had just fallen asleep during Mihawk's monologue, that was fine. Mihawk was happy, here and now, in this bed, with his companion, who had decided to see him, while the waves around them whispered softly.
"I really didn't like you on Sasaki."
He looked up in surprise. Roronoa was lying next to him, his arms crossed under the back of his head, looking at the wooden ceiling, obviously not asleep.
"I don't know if I just didn't notice it in the East Blue or if I was so blinded by your title and power, but... when I met you again on Sasaki, I was almost... disappointed." He listened attentively, for he was sure that Roronoa did not intend to offend him at that very moment. "But not because of your weird character – I mean, you're really snobby and stuff, but that's just annoying – but because you... I can't describe it exactly. It was like Nami, Robin. I don't care about other people's secrets, but if I feel like someone wants to screw me over or play me dirty, then I'm just getting suspicious and wonder what that person has to hide and why they don't want me to know. And it was like that with you, and I didn't get it. I didn't understand why someone as strong as you, so proud and arrogant, so absolutely superior in everything, why someone like you thought he had to pretend. It pissed me off a bit and I really couldn't stand you."
The other was silent, as if he had to think about his own words first.
"Well, yes, but now you do like me a little. So, what has changed?" Mihawk asked, because he did not want to end this conversation with the fact that Roronoa had not been able to stand him once, not this evening.
"You," came the surprisingly clear reply. "You've changed." Roronoa shrugged his shoulders, still without looking at Mihawk. "You once said you had to force me to open up to you, but if we're honest, it only worked because it wasn't one-sided. You told me so much crap about yourself and at some point... I got it. I understood that you were constantly pretending because there was a part of you that you had a hard time controlling, and you could have accidentally killed me if it had only come to light once." Roronoa was silent for a moment, pulled out his hand and scratched his chin nonchalantly. "But the thing is, even if you were just exhausting and annoying most of the time, there were always moments when I truly liked you. And when I think about it, those were usually the moments when you probably thought the least about pretending. But as soon as you noticed, there was immediately this mask back on, as if you really didn't trust me and damn, what did it annoy me, really pissed me off."
Roronoa turned to him, his gaze serious, but there was also that quiet fire that Mihawk had always liked.
"I know you were scared to take off that crappy mask, but I couldn't wait; I've been waiting so impatiently to finally see you. I don't care if you think you're a monster or the average pirate number three, all I wanted was for you to fucking stop pretending." Roronoa examined him illegibly for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. "And I really don't understand why I should be afraid of you, I... I don't see anything that scares me. I only see you and I want to see more; I want to see everything you think you have to hide."
Again there was silence between them.
"Oh, my goodness, Roronoa. I am speechless. That was unusually cheesy of you."
"Oh, kiss my ass," Roronoa growled, blushing as Mihawk grinned at him.
"If that is what you really want, I can comply. But we should wait until next time, after all, I am going to leave early, so we should get some rest soon."
He only laughed at Roronoa's loud curses when, after a moment of confusion, he understood Mihawk's statement. Ignoring those curses, he turned around and reached for the bedside lamp.
"Mihawk."
He paused and turned questioningly to Roronoa, who looked at him as if he was not finished thinking, already forgetting the little teasing. It was another one of those moments when Mihawk did not really know what Roronoa thought the way he was looking at Mihawk, so he just shrugged his shoulders gently and waited for those seconds.
"Does it bother you to keep the light on?" Roronoa then asked.
"Afraid of the dark?" he teased him, even though he understood, even though he could see it so clearly in Roronoa's gaze. So he lay down again, facing Roronoa, one hand under his head. "Do not stay up too long, my little frog."