The Swordsman and the Blacksmith (Roronoa Zoro x Reader)

Chapter 4: The Promise

Your departure from the tranquil shores of your island had been hurried, leaving little time for prolonged goodbyes. Mary had embraced you tightly before you stepped onto the deck of the Thousand Sunny. Despite her attempts to mask her emotions with a smile, tears glistened in her eyes, betraying the sorrow she felt.

"You have to behave," Mary had admonished gently as Nami's announcement echoed through the air, signaling the ship was about to leave. "Try to be nice for once in your life."

"I will." You had said understanding the weight of her words and the importance of fitting in with the other members of the crew.

"And try to reconcile with the swordsman too," she had added, her tone soft yet firm. The mention of Zoro had elicited a scowl from you, a testament to the unresolved tension between you and the rude swordsman.

"Promise me you'll try, (Y/n)," she had implored, her voice tinged with emotion.

"I promise." You had reluctantly given your word, knowing that your promise held a significant meaning to Mary.

"Good," she had sighed, a hint of relief evident in her voice. "I'm going to miss you. You better write to me once in a while, alright?" With those parting words, she had enveloped you in a final embrace, clinging to you as if unwilling to let you go, before reluctantly releasing you to embark on your new journey.

The rhythmic clang of your hammer against the workbench you were building echoed in the air as a heavy sigh escaped your lips. The weight of your promise to Mary lingered heavily on your shoulders, a burden on your conscience that seemed to grow each passing day. Doubts crept into your mind about your ability to fulfill the pledge you had made. Day after day, the patience you had towards the swordsman grew closer to snapping.

But it really wasn't all bad if you were honest. You had now been aboard the Thousand Sunny for over a week. The whirlwind of events still left your head spinning at times. But despite the abrupt and drastic changes that had overturned your life, you were slowly but steadily growing fond of the dynamic aboard the ship.

Your short temper had quickly become a well-known trait among the crew, but they had also discovered that it was mostly bark and little bite. They had grown accustomed to your scowls and variating moods, even finding amusement in them. Their laughter in the face of your irritation had become a familiar sound, a lighthearted teasing that somehow made you feel like you belonged.

One day, as you shared drinks, you couldn't help but ask the girls what they all found so funny in the face of your outrage. The laughter had amplified, you hadn't been able to help the tipsy smile hitting your lips at the infectious joy in front of you.

"It's just..." Robin had started, laughter redoubling as she tried to explain.

"You look like an angry kitten when you scowl like that." Nami had finished for her between two outbursts of laughter.

You'd blushed furiously, an indignant 'No I don't,' muttered under your breath.

You smiled at the memory as you hammered a final nail in the workbench, marking it as completed. Franky had approached you the moment you'd stepped on the Sunny, different blueprints in hand for a forge, an excited smile on his lips at the multitude of ideas crossing his mind. He'd been so excited to build you the perfect workplace. The two of you had developed an easy friendship in the process, you were beyond grateful to the shipwright for the opportunity to continue your work.

"What's got you smiling like that, (Y/n)," the man in question asked you, pulling you back to reality.

You turned to him, grin still touching your lips. "Just something Robin and Nami said the other day," you replied, your voice laced with amusement.