Irreplaceable

Part 6: Moonlight and a parking lot

- "Let's go grab something on our way. I don't want to wake the whole household by microwaving left-overs." Mihawk huffed.

The microwave didn't make that much noise, but it was known that Mihawk detested Morias cooking. He didn't seem to like anyones cookings other than his own. After the first dinner, he had volunteered to do it during their stay. Tonight Moria had cooked something since they were running late.
Mihawk and Perona had gotten halfway through the papers when they noticed it was dark. Way past the time they were supposed to leave.

- "Ok, sounds good to me." She was starving. "I know this great place near by. They make amazing home-made-food. And the price isn't bad either. I used to go there a lot before I met your son."
- "That was -what- five years ago. Are you sure it's still there?" Mihawk was sceptical. A restaurant with prices that a minimum wager thought was good. It couldn't possibly still be standing.
- "Hah! We're in luck. It's open till eleven."

----

He didn't feel lucky at all. The restaurant was Makinos, a-well-known hanging out place of a certain red haired man. He wished he wouldn't be there that night. When they opened the door they were blasted with the sound of loud music and the smell of alcohol. He turned on his heels, but Perona dragged him in.

- "It's just like I remembered," she shouted and looked radiant.
He would do his best. He crooked his hat so people wouldn't see his face. But nonetheless he was bounced by the cheery drunkard.
- "Valiant effort my friend, but you cannot hide from me. Especially when you're with a beauty like her." Shanks leaned over to Perona dragging Mihawk with him. "Hello! I am Shanks the best friend of this guy."
- "Nice to meet you, my name is Perona." The old man has friends. Cute.
- "Very nice indeed. If you guys are shagging, I suggest you leave it at that. This guy makes an awful husband." Shanks sneered.

- "Stop!" Mihawk shook himself free. "She is the widow of my son!"

Silence. The whole restaurant had heard him. Perona looked like she was going to cry.

- "We just came here to eat." Mihawk sighed.
- "I'm sorry... Let me offer it to you."

----

- "Oh, so you two have been living together for three weeks now." He looked at the two. It was clear that he was bothering them. But that had never stopped him before.
- "Yes, she'll stay with me until she has her future planned. Least I could do."
- "Like I did when bratty bitch decided her career was worth more." Shanks laughed.
- "Please, don't call her that."
- "What happened?" Perona was interested to hear.
- "When his son was just a wee baby, his ex decided that it would be just Mihawks work to care for him. I did my best to help out, when she was modeling around the country. Even lived in his house!" Shanks laughed.
Mihawk looked at him murderously.
- "She came once in awhile, had a nice laugh with the baby and left the dirty work to us."

Perona looked at Mihawk who was starting to look like he might explode. Yet he still had his general calm expression. She was getting better at reading the nuances of it.

- "Hey, Shanks, what do you do for living?" she changed the subject.
- "I'm a photographer. Not your basic wedding photographer, though." He smirked. "I take photos and film extreme locations, wars, accidents that sort of stuff."
- "Wow, that's cool."
- "I know!" he had his nose up and pointed to his chest. "I actually taught Mihawk how to take photos."
- "Really?"
- "We were in the same photography club in high school. He had to take it 'cos he failed arts."
- "How can you fail arts?"
- "By never being in the class. I hated drawing." Mihawk chuckled
Perona near choked to her food.
- "Whaa-t? I loved arts."
- "I like the finer arts of music and sword play." He took a sip of water. He had lessened the amount of wine he consumed since Zoro and Perona had moved in. Though if anyone asked, he would say he was driving.