Thrice Prophesized - Zoro x Reader

Chapter 21: Grandline Metro

A/N - There was a bit of a storm beating against the house while I tried to write most of this, so if it reads a little disconnected I was a little distracted.

The soft whisper of the wind, the gentle lapping of the waves, and the shivering gasps slipping from between your lips were the only sounds that night. Zoro's rough hands were surprisingly gentle, slipping along the lines of your body and barely brushing against the bruises and welts from your fight.

Light kisses followed along with the tender touches, barest hints of pain fading away into the warmth of his hands and his lips. Tears slide down your cheeks, but they're not born of pain or sorrow, simply of the overwhelming gentleness that is engulfing you. A need to banish the pain in your body, a desire to unite in pleasure; the restraint of his actions are a beautiful mix of feather light and completely undeniable.

"Haa," you shiver a little, the cool air dancing over your shoulders. "If this is the treatment I'll receive whenever I get injured, it's not exactly a deterrent." You admit with a nervous chuckle. Your face goes red when Zoro looks up at you and you turn your gaze away. Sharp teeth threaten to sink into your skin and you gasp a little at the action. "S-Sorry."

He pulls your shirt back up your arms as he straightens up, glowering down at you a little while he buttons it up. You smile despite the look on his face and place your hands over his. You don't stop him from buttoning up your shirt, but you find yourself wanting contact, and feeling his hands move beneath your fingers is enough.

As he finishes the task, you let your hands fall to your sides. These moments have always been far too fleeting for your tastes.

"Is it... would it be cruel of me to say I want to sleep beside you?" You ask. You can feel your neck and ears heat up.

"No." He answers shortly, before stepping away from the railing and sitting down against the wall and staircase. He pats his lap, looking up at you.

"That's -."

"I can't go into your room." He says flatly.

You could sleep in the cot with him in the boys' room, but the cots were meant for a single person, and they're a little tricky to get into. Which isn't a problem when you aren't covered in bruises and small fractures from fighting.

"I sleep like this a lot, it's okay." He explains as you step toward him. You smile softly, remembering when you were new to the ship and had seen him sleeping leaned up against all manner of surfaces. All he seemed to do some days was sleep.

Stepping into his lap you get as comfortable as you can, with a little wincing as you settle into the space he's offered. You turn toward him a little, face nuzzled between his chest and shoulder, his arms wrapped around you, feet against the deck. You can feel yourself already starting to drift to sleep even as the soft kiss warms your forehead.

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The crew's answer to your injuries when the ship was slung through the air like a rocket was a cocoon of blankets and a combination of Robin and Luffy's devil fruits. Robin would cradle your cocoon of blankets in a net of her arms, and Luffy cushioned the whole thing by inflating his body.

Aesthetically it looked completely ridiculous, but functionally it was perfect. It absorbed the force of the acceleration and the sharper deceleration of the landing. The only fleeting downside was that it made you feel a little motion sick, but once the take off or landing were complete the sensation faded quickly.

After reassuring Zoro and Chopper after the first test of it, a schedule was set to rocket the ship toward the Grandline Metro as fast as possible. The further ahead of the Vice Admirals that you could arrive, the more time you had to get your feet under you before anything else happened.