Chapter 7: Mother & Son
The insufferable boy remained steady and grinning while Mihawk scrubbed his head.
The water lake was the spot, for him, it was a sort of nightmarish situation. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe too hard. He could only remain there quietly, cushioned by her big soft mounds and yet unable to see or interact with them.
"I can almost feel your intentions, such a naughty kid".
"…" He remained tight-lipped.
"You're not going to ask me what I did in my journey?"
"I saw you in the newspapers. You hunted a group of marines on an island in the new world together with a man called Shanks".
"Indeed, the marine counter admiral stationed on that island was a corrupt officer. It was Shanks' idea to dispose of him and take control of the island… now that I answered your question, you have to answer mine~".
'What's this a back and forth!?'
"Before… I witnessed you use some powers..." she began.
"… h-how long were you there looking at me?"
"I'm asking the question, son~" Her smile wasn't friendly. An audible gulp was released by the boy's dry throat before she continued her question.
"Have you awakened your Haki?"
"..."
It was a simple yet complicated question, he thought about it rationally. Coming onto this island with just two years of age there was no way he could have an idea of what Haki was if she hadn't explained it to him. Only one answer was valid.
"What's Haki?" He put on a cute confused face. Alas, it didn't fool her.
"Don't lie to me" She frowned and tightened the grasp she had around his shoulders, effectively shocking him a little; seeing the lie from afar.
*RUMBLE!*
Her conqueror Haki intimidated him. She had her own reasons to doubt... her enemies were many and their measures incomprehensible.
'You could be someone from a particular race, a user of a devil fruit, an individual that's using special means to fool me, Veyron... your case is just too special. I have reasons to believe you being here is not a coincidence'.
The more she considered acknowledging him as her son, the more suspicious she became about his origin.
'At this rate, you're going to become my only vulnerability' She sighed and loosened the grasp of her arms, allowing him to breathe yet again. After some shivering he gave up, feeling like he was going to pass out any time soon.
"If you're talking about 'that' power, I don't know exactly what it is, but I have been consciously using it, I swear!".
It wasn't completely a lie. He didn't know the concept behind his psychokinesis, he knew had something related to Haki as usually his Conqueror Haki would be triggered as well whenever he used it but that was about it.
Mihawk glared at him with her piercing eyes before receding, 'A half-truth… I don't know which is the lie and which Is the truth'.
"Is that so? Then I'll teach you Haki properly this time around… I'll make sure to thoroughly beat the concepts into you, Veyron".
"Y-You meant to teach me, right mom?" He shivered, lethargic about her teaching methods.
"Right, teach~".
...
The rest of the night was that of bonding and relaxation, Veyron would make sure to enjoy this peace with her before the sun rose the next day and she started beating the crap out of him again. As both lay together on the bed he noticed that she was being a lot less apathetic. Not only it didn't feel like she was irritated by him calling her mother, but the affection was being reciprocated.
Even now as he lay down it was Mihawk who was hugging him from behind. His gaze was fixed on the front, feeling warmth amidst the silence.
"You can't sleep?" She asked, his uneven breathing indicated such.
"..."
He wanted to know more about her but didn't know how to ask, her character in the manga had always been mysterious and her actions were an enigma. All that was clear about her was that she was extremely strong and had some sort of relationship with Shanks.
Originally in the show they could be said to be 'buddies' of sorts. however, now in this world where she's a woman, he couldn't help but wonder what sort of relationship they had. She had been away for two whole years together with her crew.
"About Shanks…" He began and Mihawk sighed as if she was already expecting this question.
"You want to know more about me?"
"H-Hmn".
"I also want to know more about you, Veyron".
"... there is not much to tell, everything I have lived in this world you already know, mom" He nibbled on his lips, twisting the truth to the limit. There was no point in even mentioning Alexander who had died such a pitiful and desolate death, as far as he was concerned, the man was gone... physically and spiritually.
"I see, Shanks, huh? He's my rival and the captain of the crew, he's also an ex-member of the crew of the pirate king Gold Roger" She summarised it pretty well, but in the meantime, Veyron paid attention to her tone more than the story she was telling.
She sounded apathetic as if she didn't hold him in high esteem.
"Is he a good person?" Veyron smiled and held her hands on his stomach, having already received the answer he wanted; the boy decided to obtain a bit more information before going to sleep.
"Good person, bad person... everything in this world is relative. As for him, he plays both sides".
!!!
"W-What do you mean?".
Mihawk fixed herself up in a more comfortable position, it seemed like she was ready to sleep.
"It is said a person can't have two masters for he or she shall eventually put one on a pedestal and disregard the other. Shanks doesn't understand it. He follows two wills completely opposite to one another. A good one and an evil one, following both sides... he can't play that game forever".
Her answer left Veyron more confused than satisfied, he wanted to ask more questions but she was already snoring against her child-sized personal pillow.
'You can't just leave me like that! he's good, right...?'
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone