Irreplaceable

Part 19: What is he up to?

Zoro then decided he had had enough and wanted to be on the floor so Mihawk helped him down. Zoro went to pick up a stuffed toy and sat down leaning against Mihawks feet.

- "Seems like you're not going anywhere." Perona sneered.

Mihawk just shrugged.

- "Can I lean against your shoulder." She asked with a playful tone.
- "No."
- "C'mon, please." She begged a little.

Lacking the earlier freedom in touching Mihawk, was killing her slowly. It was to help her in letting go of her husband and have a more healthy relationship with Mihawk, but to be denied the simplest touch just because she wanted to be close with him for no reason, felt draining.

- "Zoro's already filled my touch capacity for the day."
- "You need to buy some additional space for it. Feels like it runs out before I get to use any."
- "Are you jealous to your own child?" He laughed softly.
- "Watch out or I'll return you to the shop for malfunctioning." She grumbled and returned to her sewing.

They all sat silently watching the TV show, which wasn't really made to keep the adults entertained so Mihawk turned his head to inspect Peronas craft. He was just silently watching, but she felt bothered by it. Somehow it felt warm to her and she wasn't used to being looked at so intensely.
Well not by Mihawk anyway.

- "Can you stop, I'm trying to concentrate."
- "Hmm, you know they're going to watch you work at the school too."
- "If I get into any."
- "I know you will. When will the replies arrive?"
- "When you stop asking."
- "Are you angry at me?"
- "Just stop asking the same thing over and over. Somewhere around March and April."
- "Seems like someones nervous." He sneered and turned back to the TV.

Perona rose from the sofa. She was frustrated and stormed off.

----

Perona was washing the dishes and Mihawk sat by the table. He was trying to look through the news, but couldn't quite stop looking at her work. He liked the way she moved when she lifted something up to dry. The subtle changes in her stand. The delicate hand holding onto something as she inspected it's state of cleanness. Somehow it was fascinating to watch her work.
She turned and he was quick to shift his gaze back to his tablet. He felt ashamed looking at her in secret, like it was something to be ashamed of, when there was absolutely nothing wrong in watching a family member go about their day.

- "So what is so special about next weekend?" She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.
- "Nothing." He was planning something, but wanted to keep it a secret just to to see all the different emotions she went through trying to figure him out.
- "C'mon, tell me." She whined while lifting her chin up.
- "We are going to train your driving skill, nothing else."
- "Ugh! You're driving me crazy." Perona spun back to the dishes.

Mihawk chuckled.

He liked being near her, because of how amusing she was and how her and Zoros company made him feel less hurt than he was. They kept him busy.
When he felt she was completely consumed by her task his gaze wondered back to her.

----

Finally the weekend was there. Mihawk had taken Zoro to Morias and had gotten the rental car. Perona was waiting anxiously to go and was spacing around the house. She wanted to be done with this as soon as possible. Mihawk walked up to her with a bag on his shoulder. He looked amused.

- "Can we go now?" Perona asked through gritted teeth.
- "You need to pack first."
- "Pack? For a car trip?"
- "Were going to be on it over night, so you need your pyjamas, and change of clothes. Preferrably clean. And what ever else you think you might need sleeping in a motel."
- "Whaat? Why such a long trip. Wouldn't it be smarter to practice city driving since it's harder than on the country side?"
- "We're doing both don't worry. You trust me, right?" Mihawk looked at her warmly.
- "Yes" Perona stuttered and blushed. Why was she blushing all of a sudden?
- "Then go pack." He chuckled.