Falaise

Negotiations

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Mihawk refrained from turning to look at Crocodile in the eyes, caught off guard by the improbability of the entire situation. Next to him, Crocodile felt like bursting into an incredulous laugh.

What were the odds, really? Mihawk had been close to Red-Haired Shanks in the past, in some ways, and now the man's brother-but-not-really asked him to be his personal knight? And here he thought coming to Normandy would be peaceful.

He and Crocodile had both acted by instinct, having caught sight of the man's odd posture, his hands buried deep under his cape. They'd sent each other a glance, before nodding to the man. The minute he'd moved, they'd followed.

They were trained soldiers, after all, and had fought countless battles. Enough to recognise the telltale signs of a jittery soon-to-be attacker getting ready to strike. They hadn't really meant to save Buggy's life, not that they would have sought to accelerate it, either. But they simply didn't care about him. So, to be offered such a position, so suddenly, was unsettling.

Could they really handle such a position? Crocodile did not wish to be shackled to one place, and Mihawk wasn't sure he was ready to get close to another Duke yet. He'd had his own share of nobles, give him a break. But did they really have a choice?

Seeing as both men took time to answer, Buggy lost his confidence, shoulders slightly dropping. Right. He'd gotten carried away, as always. Guards used to fighting and clearly competent wouldn't want to be at Buggy the Jester's service, after all.

He was about to withdraw his offer when Crocodile spoke. 'To what privileges would we be entitled to, then?' He asked, frowning.

Buggy was taken aback, raising his eyebrows. 'Like, a compensation?'

Crocodile explained. 'Yeah, but not quite. We're already being paid, and being a guard in Falaise is quite uneventful. After what we've just seen, being your personal knight would put us in more direct danger, and getting a raise wouldn't be worth it, so what do you have to offer?'

Mihawk watched Crocodile negotiate with the Jester with not an ounce of shame in his body, and found himself quite fascinated. Even if no one really regarded Buggy highly, they still pretended to act well in his presence, licked his boots, and tried to profit from his status.

And yet Crocodile stood there, not giving a shit about decorum, and negotiated with a fucking Duke. Duke who actually negotiated back.

'That's an interesting input, soldier.' The discussion had made Buggy perk up again. 'And what would you make of two individual rooms, near my quarters for obvious reasons?'

'With a proper bed?' Crocodile asked.

Buggy nodded.'A reasonable one, I'd say.'

Crocodile nodded, looking towards Mihawk and raising a questioning brow. Seeing Mihawk's frown, he turned back towards Buggy, asking 'Could I have a quick chat with my partner, in private, before agreeing?'

Buggy was growing annoyed, but agreed, not feeling confident enough to tell them to get lost. He was quite certain he needed those knights, and for a strange reason, he felt like he needed it to be these two.

Taking Mihawk aside, Crocodile asked him 'What do you think?'

'That you're fucked in the head, that is.' Mihawk retorted, visibly pissed off.