The Sweet Brother. {Rosinante x Reader}

A Date With Rosinante.

It took courage, that's all you can say. 

You had waited for Rosinante to come out of the backroom and attempted to ask him on a date last night but sadly, Shanks exited with him and was chatting to you both until the blonde finally left and you didn't feel comfortable enough to ask in front of your boss.

So once you had gotten home, you took the chance and sent him a text asking for coffee in the morning, which he agreed to but the downside to it being by text is that you don't know how he reacted, if he blushed or if he got excited at all...or if he merely grimaced. 

So here you are, sitting inside the café and waiting for him to show up, your hair slightly neater than usual and your make-up done nicely since Bonney was bored and insisted on helping you prepare for the date.

But it would seem he either stood you up or is running late, you've been waiting 15 minutes and you're starting to feel rather foolish, especially when you receive a text - excitement flaring inside your chest but it soon fades when you see it's just Shanks. 

The message saying;

"Hey cutie! I'm sorry to tell you this but we don't need another barmaid, especially one that doesn't have any experience in bar work so your friend doesn't get the job this time. I'm sorry, I just can't spare the money or training time right now. :("

Great.

Your mood has officially plummeted to the bottom of the ocean, a small pout on your lips as you stare at the text, unsure of what to say back. You don't even hear the café bell ring as somebody else enters, only being snapped out of your thoughts when you notice a silhouette claim the seat opposite you, peering up to see the tall blonde you had been waiting for.

He looks somewhat sheepish as he offers you a small smile and a wave of his hand, his face void of make-up today and it would seem he decided against wearing his usual shirt and feathered coat, instead donning a beige jumper. He looks super casual in comparison to you, something that makes you feel even more stupid. 

This is a bad date already.

"Sorry, I was about to leave when my brother got called into work on an emergency whilst walking his dog so I had to pick the dog up and take him home before coming here, since dogs aren't allowed in cafés!" Rosinante explains so quickly that you barely get a chance to process half of the words, it's only now that you notice how sweaty and flustered he is, the poor man lightly panting as if trying to catch his breath. "You look...really pretty, by the way!"

Did he run here?  

Wait, pretty? He thinks I look pretty? 

Makino finally making her way over to your table now that your date has arrived, offering you both a kind smile while pressing her pen to her notepad, a gentle tone to her voice as she asks; "What can I get for you two?" 

"Just a coffee, please." You'd usually have a cupcake or something with that but admittedly, you're so nervous with this man that you doubt you'd be able to keep the sweet treat down.

Makino nods as she writes the small order down before her gaze shifts toward Rosinante, watching as he removes his beanie from his head and lightly fans his pinkened face. 

"Water. Please." Once she rushes off behind the counter to prepare your drinks, Rosi's brown orbs drift back to you and his smile grows while he leans forward, his arms resting on the edge of the table. "I hope you didn't think I had forgotten about you!"

"Not at all. So, is Doflamingo the brother with the dog?" You're not really into dates, you find them extremely awkward and somewhat pointless, but for this cutie you have made an exception...and you're admittedly beginning to regret it.

Am I just going to sit around and ask questions about his brothers?!

Unfortunately you have no idea what else to ask. 

The blonde shaking his head in response to your inquiry though, so it would seem that he at least doesn't mind opening up about his family to you. "No, Law's the one with the dog. I adopted the boy when I was 26 and he was 13, due to the awkward age gap, it seemed impractical to label myself as his father so we agreed to address each other as brothers."

He has adopted a child? Uh--I mean a teenager! And he took it in when he was 26?!

"Oh...How old are you now?" The question essentially tumbles from your lips, your eyes instinctively scanning every detail on his face, there's nothing to indicate he's a day over 30 - no crows feet, no wrinkles, no stubble - no nothing!

"I'm 39." He openly states as Makino approaches, setting down his water and your coffee before she rushes off back behind the counter, the blonde only deciding to speak again once she's out of earshot. "I was born July 15th and my star sign is Cancer, in case you were wondering." 

...He is 39 years old?!

You struggle to process the information whilst watching him with wide eyes, the male seemingly unfazed however as he reaches for his water, twisting the cap off and immediately gulping down the refreshing liquid, clearly he needed that after rushing over here.

A smile finally spreading across your lips as you nod your head in understanding. "I see."

Damn, he ages well!

He's quite a bit older than you but there are worse age gaps out there, at least you're not a teenager nor do you look too young for your age so at least you know he's not a pervert.

The man finally setting the water bottle back down, half of the drink gone already as he hums lightly, seemingly not impressed with his own information. "So, what about you? I know you're a barmaid and you've got a temper, what else?" You don't miss his slightly cheeky smirk as asks that, his fingers still fiddling with the water bottle however, indicating that he's feeling mildly nervous. 

"Well, some might say I'm observant." You begin calmly, seemingly intriguing the blonde as you read into his every move. "For example, I can already tell that you don't go on many dates just by how shy you seem." You watch him stiffen with that observation, his cheeks noticeably darkening once again as a grin imbeds itself into your features. "Although, I admittedly find that more attractive. I don't trust men who've had lots of women."

You're perhaps being far too brash but it's probably the best way to be on a first date, let him know that you're not to be trifled with.

The handsome blonde finally chuckling to himself, the sound of his soft laughter causing your heart to clench inside your chest and your stomach to tingle, sensations that you're not entirely familiar with but you do well to hide them.

It's your cheeks you're more worried about, you can feel them rapidly beginning to heat up, hopefully Bonney's makeover will hide their pigment though.

"So you wouldn't be attracted to my brother, then?" He jokes, immediately causing you to raise a curious brow, mainly because you're trying to decipher which brother he could mean. "What a relief."

"Well, one brother glared at me and the other made you late for our date so I'd say they're both on my shit list right now." Your playful comment draws another soft giggle from the cutie, watching as he relaxes in his seat, it would seem he's growing more comfortable in your presence at last.

Though, little do you realize that the feeling is quite mutual, you're actually able to joke with him now without shrinking due to anxiety. 

"I find it hard to imagine you being particularly close with either of them, Law is standoffish and Doffy seems like somebody you'd clash with but, you may come to accept them as people one day, if nothing else."

Hm? He speaks as if we have a bright future ahead...

The thought bringing a flustered smile to your face as you finally lift your coffee, bringing it to your lips and blowing on the hot beverage before beginning to drink it. 

Perhaps you were too hasty to doubt this date.