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The heavy smell of jasmine hung over the captain's quarters mixing with the scents of the seawater and of musk. Crocodile's large body was draped around Mihawk like an overly attached cat, but he seemed more heavily asleep than any cat ever was.
Sitting on the nightstand by the ash of the block of jasmine incense was the chest from which it had come– stuffed full of gold coins, and formerly of rings which now adorned both of their hands– but especially Crocodile's.
Mihawk didn’t want to wake him– he rarely slept so well after all. With the barest minimum of movement he shifted his hand on top of Crocodile’s to feel the rings against his fingertips. The faint clink of one of the rings he wore against Crocodile’s sang louder in the quiet stillness of the night as he wound his hand close to hold it.
It was a good haul, a decent enough battle with spoils that would keep them comfortably afloat.
A deep breath expanded the captain's large chest and his hand flexed as Mihawk touched it, seeming to reach out blinding to find his fingertips. A moment later and he was shifting even closer.
Captain Crocodile rarely slept well, it was true, but blood and gold seemed to ease his restlessness. And so, he had admitted one night when they were deep in their cups together, did Mihawk's presence.
How could he say no to comforting the captain he’d sworn himself to? Not after that. It wasn’t as if Crocodile’s presence didn’t soothe the endless flare of anger that drove Mihawk forward. It never died out, not fully, but when he was with his Captain he never felt consumed by it.
He leaned back against him, nuzzling the back of his head against Crocodile’s neck.
There was a low murmur from Crocodile as his fingers squeezed Mihawk's. "Still nighttime?"
Mihawk couldn't see either the sun out the window, or a clock but it was unlikely to still be night by this point, given how long he felt like they'd slept.
“Not quite, but yet to be morning Captain.” he murmured back as his fingers closed tighter around the back of his hand.
"Perfect," Crocodile grumbled, a smile painting over his groggy expression. He scooped his other arm around Mihawk's body, and rested his chin on the top of his head. "You can keep me warm for a little longer."
“Cold blooded Crocodile.” Mihawk murmured in amusement. “Using me as his personal sun rock.”
Despite his teasing chide, he laid dutifully against his Captain. Pulling Crocodile’s hand around himself as well, he settled back down into bed.
"Can I help it if you're so warm?" he chuckled, nuzzling against him. "Probably all the wine."
Sleep never came to reclaim them but they dozed there quite a while longer, the excitement and obligations of the day a far away land from the quiet comfort of one another.