Mihawk was leaning against the wall and studying the two women in front of him. See what happens when you let Red Hair into your life, no peace and quiet. Suddenly there's people everywhere and unexpected visitors. What happened to the fear and respect?
"Hawky! Did you know you have a bottle from the North Sea in here? I haven't had this brand in ages, it's so hard to find." Shanks shouted as he burst into the room, half the bottle already gone and Zoro firmly tucked under his arm.
Mihawk scowled. Right, that happened. And how the hell did the asshole always track down his hidden stash. "Zoro here, wandered off and found it in the back storage room, under some crates of old papers." Shanks continued as he pushed the glowering kid onto a couch. "Luckily I was there to remind him that Hongo said he isn't allowed to drink on his meds."
"I didn't wander off, the hallway moved!" Zoro insisted. "And no medication has ever stopped me from drinking before!"
Shanks tsked. "Rookie move, admitting that. Now Hongo is going to have to give you a lecture about it and he's going to make sure to talk to your doctor so it doesn't happen again."
"Hypocrite." Mihawk said quietly to him and Shanks shivered, thinking back to when Hongo caught him drinking shortly after losing his arm.
"Next thing you know there's no alcohol allowed on board when you get hurt." He took another gulp to try and forget the horror and turned back to the door. "Hurry up guys."
A complaining Perona stalked in, followed by a shoving Luffy and Ace, a disproving Benn and a grinning Rayleigh. Benn prodded Luffy and nodded at Mihawk. "Right. Sorry I knocked you over sword guy. I gotta think and -"
"Plan" Benn reminded him.
"Right! Plan and aim and not let my exterberance-"
"Exuberance"
"Exuberance get me in trouble." Luffy finished and grinned widely.
Mihawk's lip twitched up and he hurriedly brought his hand up to cover it. He cleared his throat and gestured the kids to the couch. Hancock beamed, squishing Marguerite into the side so that Luffy could sit next to her but a glowering Ace plopped down next to Zoro and yanked him on their laps, leaving Perona to perch on the edge of the girls couch.
"Now Hancock, how did you know to come here?" Shanks questioned coldly.
"I used logic." Hancock replied bored. When she didn't continue Shanks glared and tapped gryphon warningly. "From Rayleigh obviously." Shanks looked at his dad in disbelief but Rayleigh seemed just as confused, shrugging and waving Hancock on. "The news coo has released the news that you were the one who broke in and that idiotic clown has gone and drawn all the attention to himself. Obviously trying to divert attention from my sweet. And obviously I knew Luffy was involved since I helped get him in Impel Down in the first place. I knew that you hadn't crossed the Red Line from the marines and Rayleigh has told me stories of your childhood on the Oro Jackson so I knew that you grew up friends with Mihawk. I remembered how he reacted at Marineford and realized that he was likely the safest place for you to go. Once I got here I was able to sense your crew and knew I was right. Like I said, logic."
The group stared at her for several seconds and Hancock sneered back. "What the hell are you doing telling random people about my life?" Shanks said turning on his Pa.
"She's not a random person. She's Shakky's, well kind of like her kid. Which now that I think of it makes her kind of like your step sister." Rayleigh defended himself.
"Oh for the love of Davy Jones. Stop! This family cannot get any weirder. Thats it. No more. Seas we are becoming worse than Whitebeard." Shanks groaned but then his face brightened. "Hey that makes her Anchor's aunt. So no more of this beloved business."
"Shakky is not my mother!" Hancock protested, pouting when Rayleigh just raised a brow.
"Enough already. Worry about your family tree later when I am not forced to be present." Mihawk snarked. "Hancock, I still don't see why you bothered to come out here."
"I told you, I wanted to check on Luffy. Last I saw of him, he was disappearing into Impel Down alone. Next thing I hear there's an emperor involved and a Clown claiming to be the mastermind. The marines are hunting him and no one had any updates on his condition. Like it or not, I care for him." She sniffed.
"Shishishi, I told you I would be fine Hancock." Hancock flushed and muttered under her breath as Ace and Zoro rolled their eyes. "And now I'm going to get even stronger cause Papa Ray told me he would train me in Haki." He beamed.
Hancock thought for a second and then nodded. "In that case, I offer Rusukaina to you. It is safely in my territory so the marines won't bother you, the calm belt will keep others out and there will be less chance of someone connecting you to Mihawk and Red Hair."
"Absolutely not!" Shanks snapped.
"Red." Rayleigh said warningly and Shanks took a breath. Rayleigh waved Mihawk and Shanks out of the room and into the hall. "Look Red, I know you don't trust her but I know her. She has an attitude but when someone earns her loyalty, she will do anything for them. She's already gone against her beliefs, going to Marineford in order to help him into Impel Down."
"Exactly! She brought my kid into the most secure prison in the world and left him there without any allies. He almost died."
"And what would you have had her do? From the short time I've known the brat I know he would have gone there with or without her help. And probably been in a lot more danger. There isn't many people who would have been able to deter that boy and you know it."
Shanks hissed, and started pacing angrily. "I don't like the way she looks at him."
Rayleigh laughed at this. "Kid, that boy of yours couldn't be less interested in what she's offering and whatever she is, Hancock is not the type to force the issue. Even if she was, your brat can handle himself. But if you like I will have a talk with her about boundaries."
"And what's wrong with this island? With Mihawk?"
"Red Hair. While I will allow you to stay, you know this isn't the best set up for him. There's too much happening here for any real training and that kid of yours has the attention span of- well, you. I need time and space to train Roronoa properly and so does Rayleigh. This could be the solution." Mihawk spoke up.
"I know nothing of that island. How do you know it is suitable for him?" Shanks asked getting desperate.
"If you are that concerned Red, why don't you go check it out." Rayleigh said exasperated.
"But… I can't go."
"Yes you can. In fact I insist on it. Think of it as a practice run because you're going to need to go for good soon." Shanks pouted but Rayleigh just ruffled his hair. "Come on kid. Luffy is healing and ready to start training and the marines have had to call off their blockade. You have your own territory and allies who need you."
Meanwhile in the room, Ace was glaring angrily at the warlord. "He is 17! What kind of sick person falls in love with someone who's so much younger than them?" He whisper yelled, aware of his baby brother happily chatting with the blonde and Zoro across the room.
Perona stood by his shoulder nodding vehemently. "The two of you is not cute. Urgh. And it is very hard for anything involving him to be not cute. Don't touch that!" She suddenly shrieked over her shoulder at a surprised Luffy who had picked up her Kumashi doll. He dropped it and quickly backed away causing Zoro to glare at her. Perona sniffed and turned back to the Empress. "Where was I? Oh yes. Not cute. So don't go getting any ideas."
"He doesn't see people that way. So you are going to back off. He's decided you are his friend so I won't burn you to ashes but I am warning you. Be happy as his friend and stop trying to force it to be more. Or I am going to ruin those pretty looks that you are so reliant on."
Hancock glared at the duo angrily and formed a heart with her hands. "Slave-"
"No." Benn said firmly from where he was lounging against the wall.
Hancock looked at him and hesitated, slowly lowering her hands and Benn smirked back. Suddenly the door opened and Shanks stormed in again. "Don't get comfortable war lord. First thing tomorrow you're leaving and taking me and my crew to Rusukaina."
Luffy froze at this before turning and shooting out the window, ignoring the yells behind him.