#poor benn... i am sorry but i also regret nothing

[invye]

I feel like at this point I need to extend a formal apology to Benn for making him suffer the CoraMiShanks antics. Because for some reason they are all more likely to talk to him about their feelings than to each other.

Corazón, enchanted as he watches Shanks and Mihawk duel: "Wow, they don't do anything halfway, do they? I could never keep up with that, they're so good--" turns to Benn "Alright, they clearly belong together, I'll help you play wingman, what's the plan? Is there a plan? Don't worry, I'll come up with something!" And Benn has to sit there in silence because he can't tell Rosinante that he doesn't need to play anything and already got both the captain and Hawkeyes wrapped around his little finger because previously:

Shanks, in the middle of his hour long I-am-in-love-with-everything-about-Mihawk-but-I-can't-ever-do-anything-that-would-risk-what-we-have rant that Benn already learned by heart years ago: "Also, did you see Rosinante being cute? He's so protective of his kid, it's so inspiring how he's willing to go to the end of the world for Law, especially when he doesn't have the kind of power we do, but he's so creative and smart with his ability he balances it right back out; anyway, Hawkeyes […]" And Benn was sitting there like: 'wait wait wait hold up a second, what just happened---' but had to stay silent because he can't tell Shanks that previously:

Mihawk, slamming a bottle of Expensive™ wine on to the table Benn is sitting at: "I think I'm in love with two different people, is that even possible, or acceptable?? Also I'm kinda involved with both of them in two very distinctively different ways that are both highly intimate to me, but neither of them think it's the real deal, help--" (Obviously Mihawk used more dignified words, but Benn has gotten quite good at translating Hawkeyes and his sanity needs to unstiff the Hawkeyes-speech to be able to get into this, alright?) And Benn had to drink half the bottle (very good wine, Mihawk knows how to pick them) before he was able to gather himself enough to explain open relationships and polyamory to Hawkeyes of all people, but then he also had to point out that all of those require direct and open communication and it ended in a very stiff silence during which Benn refused to break eye contact with Mihawk, both of them very much aware that if there's one thing Mihawk struggles with it's communication and even more so when he's the one who has to initiate it.

All to say: Benn is suffering in stubborn loyal silence, because he won't break the trust expressed to him as a confidant. He would never ever betray Shanks' trust, he's been listening to his love sick rambling about Hawkeyes for years now and he hasn't gotten involved, he damn well won't change that just because captain has added another guy to the list. Rosinante is obviously marked by not having had trusted people to confide in pretty much all his life, and Benn will not be yet another person to disappoint him. And well, if he meddles in any of Mihawk's business by using insider information he can just as well slice his own throat.

But he's still suffering, watching them dance around each other in an seemingly eternal stalemate. And here he thought he'd only have to handle one idiot…

As the creator of your torment, I want to formally apologise for your suffering, Benn. I'm afraid it will happen again.