The Promise

"They are chasing you."
"Kuma?" You responded. "What in the?... how did you find me old friend?"
"That isn't the problem here. I have been sent to get you." You reach up and pressed your hand on his chest.
"You are becoming more and more mechanical each day aren't you?"  Kuma responded with silence. "I wish you would tell me what they have over you to have you turn over your body to the government like this." Kuma responded by placing a hand on your head. If it was anyone else they wouldn't have noticed the small flicker of a smile that briefly flashed over his face.
"While I am still myself I can't bring myself to bring you in. You know this."
"Then don't.  Simple as that Kuma," you looked up to him, his hand sliding off your hair.
"Think of where you want to go most." Before you could retaliate or ask you were in the air. Damn that Bartholomew Kuma! What did he say? Think were you want to go most? There was only one person you could think of that you wanted to see.
You flew through the air towards an empty island with only a decaying castle.  These landings were always harsh. Bracing yourself ready for a rough landing, eyes clenched tight, prepared for a level of pain that, never came. Your body hit another, arms encircled your body as the two of you crashed against the ground. You hear a low grunt from underneath you. You don't open your eyes but take a deep breathe in. You can smell him. Fine wine and metal fill your nostrils. You don't even look up, you just snuggle into the arms of the person you caught you.
"Thank goodness Kuma gave me a heads up you were coming. Wouldn't want you to hurt that fragile body of yours." You thrust both your hands into his chest. Standing up fists bundled into balls at your sides.
"You of all people should know I am not fragile, Dracule." You drawled his name with as much malice as you could.
"Hmmmm " he chuckled lowly. "I haven't been called by that name in a long time."
"Do you really prefers the nickname Hawkeyes?" Mihawk stood up. A hand to his chest. Obviously feigning pain.
"I never said that." He stepped towards you. You stepped beck defensively. But relaxed your hands. He took another step forward. You stay rooted where you are. 
You never know with Mihawk, which way he is going to attack? With his fists or his lips. He stepped again, not sure of what was going through your brain. He stepped one more time. Standing a meter away from you now. His golden eyes piercing into yours. In a split second his eyebrow twitched, you knew what was coming. A swift hand came up aimed straight to your face. Your left hand coming up to grasp the arm that invaded your personal space and rolling to the right into his torso wrapping his arm around your body. You lean your head back into his chest, closing your eyes and breathing in his musk once again.
"You ruin my fun" he said as he brought his other arm around you and places his cheek on the top of your head. He breathed deeply and rubbed his cheek, ruffling your hair.
"It has been so long since I've seen you. I want to have another type of fun first." You turned around to face him. Looking up to him pulling the biggest puppy eyes you could. Mihawk's eyes softened and he leant down placing a hand under your chin.  As he moved his head towards yours, you brought your knee up to meet him. Your knee was met by a hand. Your head was thrust upwards to meet Mihawks eyes.
"You think your little ploy will distract me?" He crashed his lips against yours for a split second before pushing your knee down and aiming an elbow to your temple.
"No, but I can always try." With a swift step back and narrowly missing his elbow, you pressed two fingers to your lips. The harsh kiss was not long enough and you already missed the feeling.
"You truely underestimate me then. I thought you would have known better."
"I do not. I just like seeing the look on your face when I try the same tactic every time. It's this adorable mix of annoyance and frustration but there is a little bit of...." trying to think of the word another hand shot towards you. Narrowly missing a fist and jumping the sweeping leg that came afterwards you continued. "I almost want to say love."
"Love?" Mihawk had stopped mid step.
"I did say almost." Mihawk continued his attack. A hit the the left side of the ribcage sent you stumbling backwards. While you tried to recover his whole body appeared before you taking up the space you needed, making you fall on your arse. Soon Mihawk was straddling your torso.
"You think I have love in me?" That statement shocked you. That was very out of character. Mihawk's eyes were wide in confusion. He then scowled. As if searching your eyes for answers.
"I think everyone has love in them."  Mihawk snaked his hand behind your neck, bringing your head up to meet his. His eyes still searching. "Mihawk." His name was soft on your Iips. You weren't sure if he was okay. Maybe he had been alone for too long. He dropped you back to the ground softly. His hand snaking to the front of your chest, lifting up the necklace you wore. Revealing the thick golden ring hanging off of it. He twisted it between his fingers. He closed his eyes as if the ring stirred the memory of him giving it to you years before. He promised that when he was the best he would have it on your finger. This was all before he became a warlord. You placed your hand on his cheek. Raising him out of his memory, sadness enveloped his golden orbs. You rubbed his cheek with your thumb. Anger flashed over his face. Scary anger. You drew your hand back quickly in retreat, and your body stiffened. He looked down to see your shrinking aura and your body retreating from his in fear. You had never, ever seen him that angry.
He backed off your body standing up. His anger bubbling that you had retreated in fear. Why was he so angry? Mihawk normally had perfect control of his emotions but something was killing him on the inside.
You slowly sat up. What in the hell was going on? Mihawk was currently walking himself in a circle. Until he dropped to his knees, his cape flapped behind him and a gust of wind blew his hat off. His hands lay by his sides, almost like he had no will to move them for any reason. You stood up as quietly as you could. You pattered over to where his hat was laying in the dust. Placing it on your own head you walked to Mihawk and kneeled in front of him.
"Mihawk?" You silently asked. There was no response. You bent your head down to see if his eyes were open. They were not. You placed your hand on your ring on your necklace. His promise from many years ago. He has been so busy that he had never been able to fulfill it. Along with his own agendas, then being made a warlord. Life had just gotten away from him. Not to mention that you were off on your own adventure and running from marines constantly. Was he that angry about that? That he hadn't fulfilled his promise? Your eyes started to well with tears. 'What an idiot' was all you could think.
You tugged the ring off of the chain you kept it on. Fiddling with it in your fingers, with a small click it parted into two thinner rings. Grasping Mihawk's left hand. You muttered, calling him an idiot, and placed one ring on his fourth finger. His head snapped up. His eyes were watery but no tears had been shed. He looked at you in wonder and surprise.
"I forgive you." You spoke softly. Trying to keep the gurgle of tears back. Seeing him so vulnerable like this was a once in a life time thing and your emotions just ran into overdrive.
"(Y/n)," he couldn't have spoken softer if he tried. He sat there just staring at you, not sure of what to do with himself. "After all this time?"
"Idiot" was all you responded with. Suddenly arms were around you pulling you into an extremely tight hug. He backed off just as quickly with his hands on your shoulders. You were still holding the other half of the ring. He looked down to your hands still fiddling with the piece of gold. Placing his hands over yours he took the gold from you. He searched out your ring finger hovering the ring at the tip of your nail. Confirming his question with a nod he slid the ring down to the bottom of your finger. He stared at it for a moment.
"Gods, I love you," before you could even think about responding, his lips took yours. This time it was desperate but gentle. It was like every ounce of his being needed you. All of you. You unceremoniously fell backwards with him landing on top of you. Still connected by the lips. You squirmed under him.
"As much as I am loving this my love, it is getting darker and the dirt is getting into my clothes." Without a thought he lifted you up into his arms and started walking towards the double doors that marked the entrance to his mansion. You went to place his hat back on his slicked back hair but he shook his head.
"I quite like it on you." You returned it to your head as Mihawk carried you down the halls of the cold empty mansion.
As he walked down the hall with you in his arms. You brought your arms up around his neck and curled into his chest. His arms were always so comforting. Never feeling as if you were in danger when you were with him. As he walked the lanterns on the wall flickered to life as he approached and died off once he had walked past. Swiftly you made your way to a room you knew all too well. Mihawk spun and pushed the right door open with his hip, kicking it the rest of the way with his foot and pulling you into his bedroom. The door closed behind you with a click. Mihawk gently lowered you onto the wine, red silk sheets of his four poster bed. Your legs hung off the end and you propped yourself up on your elbows. His hat falling over your eyes. You let out a slight giggle and his hand met yours as you both went to lift it up.
"After all this time, you are still willing to be mine? I never fulfilled my promise. I failed...." you squeezed his hand, cutting his train of thought off.