#Cross Guild Prisoner/Janitor Garp AU

[pointycorgiears]

Garp: Hey, Bright Eyes, I got a question for ya.

Mihawk: *sipping his glass of wine on the patio deck* Yes, Garp?

Garp: Well, I've known ya for a long time, Hawky. You served me and now I serve you. We've been in battle together. We've pulled each other's asses from the jaws of death before. But now, I'm gettin' old. I'm not as spry as I used to be. I can't fight like I used to. I'll do what I can around here and even help you in battle if you need me to. Because I'm grateful that you spared me. But, I know you know that I won't be around forever. You're going to be carrying on without me one day. So I'll do everything I can right now to make sure you're all set to go when I go. The floors will be spotless, the bookshelves will be arranged, the ships will be armed, your sword will be polished. You name it, I'll make sure it's done. So, that leaves me only with one concern.

Mihawk: ....yes?

Garp: When are you and the clown getting hitched?

Mihawk: *chokes on wine*

Garp: Come on. I need to know. I gotta walk at least one of my boys down the aisle before I die.

Mihawk: *still choking* GaaArP! 😳

[pointycorgiears]

Garp now has it in his head that Mihawk needs to stop fooling around and tie the knot with Buggy. He's getting old, dammit! He can't wait for those two to mess around forever!

As prisoner/janitor, he spends most of his time working in the main Cross Guild headquarters, but every so often, he has work in the shipyard, or the docks, or the tent town. And sometimes, Garp grumbles when he's working: "Grrr..those two kids better hurry up and get married before I kick the bucket here…grrr!" It's his way of stress relief to get through the day.

Well, some of the Buggy Pirates have overheard a few things from Garp's end. It's no secret to them that the Chairman looks at the swordsman a certain way. Even though that's as far as it goes while the two are in public, people have suspicions. And here is Garp, letting slip a very important keyword: married.

Naturally, the only possible, realistic, actual conclusion the Buggy Pirates can come to is that Buggy is going to propose to Mihawk. Soon. And they lose their collective minds.

They can't talk about it out loud, they'll spoil the surprise! They don't know when it's going to happen, but they can prepare! The streets of the tent town are suddenly immaculate every hour of every day. Potted flowers and plants are placed to turn up the romance factor of certain areas exponentially. Low lights and roses and fresh linen cloths on a table for two at the town bistro? Absolutely! Every slightly musically talented pirate practicing and ready to bust out a sweet serenade at a moment’s notice? Mark that box checked! Confetti cannons and congratulations banners strategically placed at every potential proposal location? What are they, amateurs!?

Only the BEST proposal preparation for the BEST Chairman! Buggy has chosen his life mate and the Buggy Pirates are going to be there to catch the verklempt Mihawk when he faints from shock at such an ultimate proclamation of love! (After he says "YES!" of course)

It doesn't really matter to them that Buggy and Mihawk are more concerned with finding a way to beat Crocodile at UNO than even fantasizing about getting married...

[pointycorgiears]

I hc that Garp's wife is deceased, so he's an old single guy who gets lonely sometimes. Until one day, he meets Moro. How? Maybe he called upon Mihawk to do some warlord stuff and the swordsman just happened to be traveling with his master that day, so they both end up on Garp's ship. And sparks are flying! At least from Garp's side. Moro thinks he's an idiot, but...in a charming way. Mihawk pretends he didn't see that glimmer in her eye.

So now every time Mihawk gets called upon, he gets reminded of Garp's infatuation:

Mihawk: Is that all you require of me, Garp?

Garp: That's it. Good work. I'll send some vintage bottles your way.

Mihawk: *begins to leave*

Garp: Oh, and Hawkeyes? Say hi to your mom for me. *winks* 😏

Mihawk: *sighs*

By the time Cross Guild rolls around, Garp gets turned in for his bounty after being injured. He's too stubborn to die (and still has good wine connections) so Mihawk keeps him around doing work on the island. Well Moro like to visit often, and at this point, Mihawk just accepts the migraines. He would never forcibly take away his mentor's, and mother's, happiness. He pretends Garp is not slowly becoming his step-father.

Eventually, Luffy learns Garp is still alive and goes to check on him:

Luffy: Grandpa, I'm glad you have someone to keep you company here!

Garp: Couldn't ask for better, kid. She did raise the World's Greatest Swordsman, after all!

Luffy: *teasing* Are you gonna marry her? Hehehe-wait. If you get married, then Hawkeyes will be Dad's brother...

Garp: I guess.

Luffy: That means he will be my uncle! Zoro! Your dad is my uncle!

Zoro: No he's not!

Luffy: You're my cousin now!

Zoro: No, I'm not! He's just my dad!

Talon: No, he's my dad!

Luffy: Look at all the cousins I have! 😁

Mihawk: ...

Meanwhile, Mihawk is regretting letting Garp live.

[pointycorgiears]

*Mihawk walks into the room to find Crocodile scratching notes on a piece of paper with a deck of cards laid out*

Mihawk: *sighs* Crocodile, I hope you're not going to devote my master's next visit entirely to gambling with her?

Crocodile: I want my money back.

Mihawk: You do know that trying to beat my master at the poker table is not in your best interest, correct?

Crocodile: Not with the old strategy. I've cooked up some new ones that's going to take her to the cleaners!

Mihawk: If you insist...

*One month later*

Crocodile: WHAT!? HOW!? 😨😨😨

Moro: I'll just add these chips to my nice little collection over here, Croc! *slides her winnings over to Talon who's building a castle out of the poker chips*

Crocodile: You witch! I'll suck every last drop of water, blood, AND berry out of you!

Moro: Tell that to my blade, you walking sandbox!

Mihawk: AHEM. I would appreciate it if you two would refrain from trying to kill each other in front of my son.

Talon: Aww...I wanted see Grandma's sword moves...

Moro: *takes Talon's hand* It's alright, next time. Come on baby, let's take our winnings and go get ice cream and buy some cute new clothes for you and me! I got a date tonight!

Mihawk: *staring at Croc* I did try to wa-

Crocodile: NOT A WORD.

*meanwhile*

Garp, sweeping in the corner: That's my kind of woman!

[pointycorgiears]

Mihawk: *has a toothache*

Moro: My poor baby! *strokes his hair*

Talon: *has a bad dream*

Moro: My poor baby! *strokes his hair*

Buggy: *has a tummy ache*

Moro: My poor baby! *strokes his hair*

Garp: *pulled a muscle doing slave work*

Moro: My poor baby! *strokes his hair*

Crocodile: *has a migraine from running Cross Guild all by himself*

Moro: You still owe me 200 berry.

Crocodile: *hands her the berry*

Moro: My poor baby! *strokes his hair*

[pointycorgiears]

Examples of the many pet names Garp affectionately calls Mihawk (taken from one of my fics):

"Good Morning, Sunshine!"

"You're a real piece of work sometimes, Birdy."

"Got something on your mind, Bird Eyes?”

“Wake up, Pretty Face.”

"Hey Pigeon Hat! Bout time ya got here!"

"Come on, Hot Stuff. Let's go talk to your boss about this."

"There’s a different light about ya, Bright Eyes.”

This is Mihawk's life now that Garp is residing on the island as their prisoner/slave/janitor. It's not great, but it's not terrible either. Mihawk and Garp became bound together by life debts. And Garp does have a soft spot for certain pirates.

With so many changes in the world, everyone can always use a little encouragement, even the World's Greatest Swordsman, to which Garp would say,

“You’ll be alright, kid. You’re gonna be alright.”