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Despite the harsh realities of living a life as a pirate and on the seas, Shanks could feel true happiness . It was moments like these where he really found it. The calm of the ocean waves as they rocked against the ship. The setting sun that reflected off of the water as it started to turn from sunset into dusk. Shanks could never get enough of seeing the beauty of the world.
He panted as he leaned back on the sand. He could hear his nakama. They were laughing and enjoying themselves. Music was playing from the musicians and they were all drinking and having fun. All things that he enjoyed. Though, sitting with his partner right now was what was bringing him peace of mind. They had been dueling for hours. He could feel the layer of sweat on his body as he adjusted his hat on his head and grinned.
He looked over to the older swordsman. Dracule “Hawkeyes” Mihawk. They had been doing this for a while now. Though, they had always been something more . To the world, they just looked like rivals. Shanks loved dueling him. Having a friendly fight. Testing the limits of their strength. Mihawk enjoyed it just as much as him. The smiles that they wore whenever their blades clashed in waves of Haki. It was one of the moments where Shanks did feel true happiness.
Stolen kisses as they dueled. Bright smiles as they pushed each other on. Despite being rivals, it was like it made them stronger . Fighting each other made them stronger. Shanks loved these days. It always ended so peacefully. No matter who won or who lost. If they ended up in a draw. It always ended the same.
“It’s so beautiful out.” Shanks murmured.
“Yeah, it is.” Shanks paused for a moment as he looked to the side to see that Mihawk wasn’t actually looking out at the ocean like he was. Rather at him . Shanks felt the smile tug on his face. He reached up and adjusted his hat again as he leaned his head a bit against his legs. “You’re getting stronger, Red-Hair.”
“So are you.” Shanks replied, feeling his smile only getting bigger. Shanks went quiet for a moment as he leaned over. Mihawk didn’t say anything to Shanks leaning up against him as the younger man found his head resting against his shoulder. He loved these moments. The quiet and gentle moments that were on the sea. “It’s so quiet.”
Mihawk hummed in response and Shanks let his eyes close for the moment. Taking a moment to relish in the warmth that radiated off of his partner. Roger used to tell him that one day he would find someone who would make him happy , and Shanks was pretty sure that he had found that person. He had so many nakama who were his family. People that he cared for. But Mihawk was different . The way that Shanks felt for him was like his breath was being taken away every single time that he looked at him. Shanks really liked the feeling. He never wanted it to go away. Mihawk was letting him do it. Keeping him close to him as they leaned back and went into the blissful silence. Shanks liked the quiet, no matter how much they partied. He knew that he could be loud and obnoxious, but he liked this too. It was something that he actually preferred. The quiet life and the freedom that the sea gave him. It was like tranquility always fell over them.
“I want to show you something.” Mihawk’s voice cut through the quiet and Shanks was lifting his head to look over at the older swordsman.
“Okay?” Shanks murmured as Mihawk stood up and held out his hand. The Captain took it, letting Mihawk pull him up to his feet. Shanks took a quick glance back at his crew and made sure that they were still distracted before he was following after Mihawk.
Mihawk’s hand was warm in his. Shanks had found him walking a bit closer to him. They walked without saying a word. The walk had lasted for a while until they had came to a stop and Shanks was immediately greeted with the sight of a large field full of flowers .
Shanks found the soft smile coming to his face as he looked around and whispered, “It’s beautiful.”
He could see the smile that graced Mihawk’s face as the Warlord walked forward and kneeled down. Shanks joined him, dropping to his knees as he watched Mihawk reach out and graze his fingers over the flowers that were there. The white bell-like petals caught his attention as Shanks found himself getting fixated on them. For a moment, his gaze moved over to Mihawk as he noticed the soft smile on the Warlord’s face. “They’re called Lily of the Valley.” Mihawk stated.
Shanks found himself laughing softly as he leaned back, crossing his arms over his knees and looking back to them. “They’re pretty.”
“They stand for a lot of things.” Mihawk continued, “Humility… Virtue… Purity… Happiness .”
“You look for symbolism?” Shanks questioned, finding the smile returning to his face.
Mihawk snorted, turning his gaze to him, “Only when it interests me.”
“Could have fooled me.” Shanks shot back, giving a slight smirk of his own as he watched Mihawk’s smile get slightly bigger despite the other’s efforts to hide it. Mihawk had silently looked back to them, once again reaching out and picking some of them. Shanks just watched him.
For a moment, the confusion had crashed into him before Mihawk had turned to face him. The older swordsman leaned over and Shanks choked from how close that he had gotten to him. He could smell the scent of the ocean on Mihawk’s skin from how close he was. It had him completely frozen in place for a moment as the other started to mess with his hat . He could feel his hat moving on his head before Mihawk was leaning back on his heels once more. Shanks blinked a few times, reaching up to let his fingers graze over the petals and flower stems that were now tucked safely within the band of his hat. The red ribbon was keeping them secured in place as he let his fingertips graze the petals. He looked back at Mihawk in his shock. Mihawk was still wearing that amused, smug smirk. His golden eyes were hitting the light just right so that it felt like his gaze was piercing right through him.
Shanks found the heat rising on his face for a second, but he had managed to get it to go away as he cleared his throat and looked down. Was Mihawk secretly some sort of hopeless romantic and he was just now learning about this fact?
“They remind me of you.” Well, that was probably as blunt as Mihawk was going to get with that. Shanks looked back up, seeing that Mihawk wasn’t looking down at the flower field, but rather back at him again. The red-haired Captain could feel his gut twist as the butterflies erupted in the pit of his stomach.
“The sentimental type, huh?” Shanks managed to say through his surprise.
He didn’t want to say that Mihawk was showing vulnerability , but it was definitely strange to see him showing a more thoughtful side rather than keeping it more to himself. Shanks usually only saw this side of Mihawk whenever he was fighting or he was amused by something. This felt different . A good difference but still different. Shanks liked seeing this side of him. It was nice to see. It felt like something that only he got to see.
Shanks relaxed, smiling as he turned his gaze away again and peered down at the flower field. Mihawk must have come here before. Otherwise, how would he know it was here? He thought of him. It almost made his stomach flutter. Mihawk was back to his full height, standing there and Shanks could feel his gaze burning into his back. Observing. That’s what Mihawk liked to do. The older swordsman always had a way of surprising him somehow.
Mihawk had stood completely back up and turned to hold his hand out to him. Shanks found himself looking over at Mihawk’s outstretched hand. “Let’s go, Red Hair.”
Shanks reached out, placing his hand into Mihawk’s as he also got back to his feet. Shanks turned slightly, finding himself leaning just a bit closer to the older swordsman as the two of them started to walk away.
Mihawk was someone that Shanks didn’t think he would ever fully understand. He was so full of surprises. It made Shanks want to see even more. For now, he’d enjoy this. Seeing a different side of Mihawk that he never thought he’d see.
For a split second, the thought came to mind, Mihawk was completely right.
Shanks just smiled, laughing a bit as he rushed forward, “C’mon, Hawkeyes!” Whenever he turned, Mihawk was smiling at him. Shanks felt the fluttering feeling blossoming to life in his chest. He gasped softly whenever Mihawk had pulled on his hand, pulling Shanks back to him. Shanks found his smile getting just a bit bigger.
Mihawk didn’t have to say a word to him as he leaned in, his lips grazing over Shanks’ for a moment. The red-haired Captain could feel the spark that shot down his spine as it felt like the rest of the world melted away for a moment. He could feel Mihawk’s own smile against his lips as Shanks closed the distance and sealed their lips together.
Mihawk’s other hand came up, cradling the back of his head as Shanks found himself getting lost in it. Just a moment of tranquility was fine by him. Mihawk was more than just his rival. Mihawk would always be more.
It only took Shanks a second to realize that Mihawk was among one of the things that made him truly… happy .