The Swordsman's Cat ( Zoro X Reader)

Chapter 26 : What's Your Dream

Chapter 26 : What's Your Dream

Days had come and gone, but the distance between you and Zoro seemed to widen, fueling his frustration. It was like a puzzle that defied resolution, each piece slipping further away as he grasped for it.

The castle's layout, a twisting labyrinth of corridors and rooms, often played tricks on him, making even simple directions seem elusive. He suspected the castle had a magical touch, one that toyed with spatial perception, shifting rooms like a deck of cards.

And then there was your skillful evasion, as if you had become a master of the art of disappearance. Whenever he caught a glimpse of you, your movements seemed orchestrated, carefully choreographed to evade any potential encounter.

It was like trying to catch a shadow — always there, yet slipping through his fingers whenever he reached for it.

Perhaps, he mused, he was avoiding the obvious truth: he has no sense of direction. Zoro had faced formidable adversaries, conquered fearsome foes, but the twisting hallways of this castle seemed to be his Achilles' heel.

He'd never admit to it, of course. The stubbornness that defined his character wouldn't allow such an admission.

So, he persisted, trying to navigate the maze-like castle to find you. He studied the corridors, their architecture, and the patterns of the shifting rooms, determined to uncover their secrets.

Each wrong turn was a lesson learned, a step closer to solving the puzzle that stood between you and him.

But what troubled him the most was the emotional distance that had grown between you. The camaraderie you had shared seemed to have waned, like a flickering candle threatened by the wind.

The bond you both had forged felt fragile, and he feared that it might shatter irreparably. He yearned for the closeness they once had, the easy banter and the shared laughter that had made the crew feel like a family.

As he grappled with these thoughts, he wondered whether it was time to have a heart-to-heart conversation with you, to bridge the growing chasm. But the fear of rejection held him back, gnawing at the edges of his determination.

He questioned whether he had the courage to lay his emotions bare, to risk exposing his vulnerability. Zoro was a man of action, not words. Yet, for you, he was willing to challenge that aspect of himself, to take the leap into the unknown.

At times, he found himself almost wishing ill upon you, a troubling notion that gnawed at the edges of his conscience. He considered that perhaps, if a strong negative emotion surfaced, it might activate his feral instincts and help him locate you.

However, this line of thought was swiftly discarded; he recognized that wishing harm upon you was a path fraught with peril.

The consequences of such actions could be disastrous, not just for him, but for you and everyone around.

He knew from past experiences that he could pinpoint your location when you were distressed. The idea hovered in his mind, tempting him with its potential effectiveness, but he dismissed it without hesitation.

He couldn't consciously provoke such distress; it conflicted with his code of honor and the moral compass he held as a swordsman.

Yet, in his current situation, it felt like his hands were tied. The distance between you had grown, and it felt like an insurmountable gulf. He was a man accustomed to action, to confronting challenges head-on and finding solutions through his strength and determination.