[If asked, Mihawk wouldn't answer. No matter what they were, what they are, that has always been true. His reasons are his and his alone, like his secrets. Like his everything. He knows it's part of the reason they drifted apart; if you can even call it that. Knows he'll never admit to anyone how often his thoughts drift to Shanks in the dark of night, the taste of wine heavy on his tongue.
It isn't loneliness that drives Mihawk to seek the other man out.
He remembers. Remembers the way Shanks would light up in a way like no other when he spoke about the boy. Remembers everything Shanks wasn't saying when he talked about Luffy but had painted on his face; the way he held himself despite missing an arm. And that had been an interesting day, when they'd reunited for the first time in months and Shanks was half the man he used to be. Is it a peace offering? Mihawk being the bigger man, seeking to attempt to repair things between them?
Laughable.
It simply would have been enough to let Luffy go. For Shanks to eventually find out that he had chosen not to take him in. The goodwill earned would have been enough, yet he'd chosen to seek Shanks out and tell him personally. Show him proof that the boy he'd pinned his hopes on was living up to them. He'd chosen to stay and celebrate. Shanks' crew has no love for him, nor he for them, but Shanks' good mood and the seemingly endless supply of rum do enough to keep them distracted.
(But they're watching; keeping an eye on their captain and the man who... did something to him all those years ago.)
Their mouths meet.
The energy had been there all night as they grew closer, as they downed more and more rum. Not Mihawk's favourite drink, but you can't become a pirate, much less a warlord without developing a taste for it. Maybe rum could be his favourite drink, if it always tasted how it does on Shanks' tongue. The mask slips and he presses even closer to the other man, doing little to hide how hungry he is for it; for Shanks.
The rum loosens his tongue just enough and he finds himself huffing a quiet laugh.]
You taste the same as you always did. [The quirk of his lip gives him away, in a way only Shanks was ever privy to.] A shame.
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you only want it 'cause it's over, it's over
It isn't loneliness that drives Mihawk to seek the other man out.
He remembers. Remembers the way Shanks would light up in a way like no other when he spoke about the boy. Remembers everything Shanks wasn't saying when he talked about Luffy but had painted on his face; the way he held himself despite missing an arm.
And that had been an interesting day, when they'd reunited for the first time in months and Shanks was half the man he used to be.Is it a peace offering? Mihawk being the bigger man, seeking to attempt to repair things between them?Laughable.
It simply would have been enough to let Luffy go. For Shanks to eventually find out that he had chosen not to take him in. The goodwill earned would have been enough, yet he'd chosen to seek Shanks out and tell him personally. Show him proof that the boy he'd pinned his hopes on was living up to them. He'd chosen to stay and celebrate. Shanks' crew has no love for him, nor he for them, but Shanks' good mood and the seemingly endless supply of rum do enough to keep them distracted.
(But they're watching; keeping an eye on their captain and the man who... did something to him all those years ago.)
Their mouths meet.
The energy had been there all night as they grew closer, as they downed more and more rum. Not Mihawk's favourite drink, but you can't become a pirate, much less a warlord without developing a taste for it.
Maybe rum could be his favourite drink, if it always tasted how it does on Shanks' tongue.The mask slips and he presses even closer to the other man, doing little to hide how hungry he is for it; for Shanks.The rum loosens his tongue just enough and he finds himself huffing a quiet laugh.]
You taste the same as you always did. [The quirk of his lip gives him away, in a way only Shanks was ever privy to.] A shame.