The Swordsman and the Blacksmith (Roronoa Zoro x Reader)

Chapter 13: Sandai Kitetsu

A simmering anger coursed through you, a silent fury at the ease with which the swordsman had played with you. It gnawed at you, an annoyance forever circling back at the front of your mind as the memories of him treating you like his plaything kept replaying. He had regarded you as prey, toyed with you as though you were inconsequential. His satisfaction at your reactions only fueled the fire of your indignation. And yet you couldn't help the unfamiliar heat in your cheeks nor the foreign shiver down your back.

He had crossed a boundary, one that neither of you dared acknowledge. Your drunken antics had blurred the lines you had carefully drawn between each other, his outburst and domineering demands had shattered them. Ever since your encounter, the both of you navigated around each other in a complicated waltz. A constant push and pull of enhanced proximity and avoidance hidden beneath layers of pride and defiance.

He didn't apologize and you didn't seek an apology, your ego too sore to recognize the change in your dynamic. The venom in his gaze was gone and instead a trace of something unknown, something that kept you on edge every time your eyes crossed, had settled in permanently.

You weren't entirely sure why you were so unsettled beneath his stare, or whether the intricate dance between the two of you was merely a figment of your imagination. Had he always lingered so near whenever he brushed past you, or were you fabricating the sensation of his breath upon your neck? Was that a glint of amusement in his eye as he watched you stiffen ever so slightly under his gaze, or just your mind playing tricks?

Your eyes didn't shift from your task at hand, the leather smooth against your fingertips as you wound it skillfully around the handle of a throwing knife with expert hands. With every twist and turn, you tried to empty your mind. Forget the way he'd sneered down at you, the way his fingers had felt, heavy and demanding on your tongue. But somehow, every time you swallowed, it felt as though you could still taste the salty bitterness of skin. A drop of sweat dripped along your spine in the blazing heat the midday sun imposed, bringing you back to the present.

The sound of Zoro's victorious roar echoed through the ship, reaching your ears, and prompting an involuntary smile to grace your lips. Nami was going to have a field day gathering her winnings from everyone, her bet was definitely the closest one.

Despite the temptation to see his success firsthand, you remained steadfast, refusing to grant him the satisfaction of your attention. It wouldn't take long, in any case, for him to demand the next challenge. His determination to reach Yokubari bordering on obsession.

Sure enough, mere moments later, the imposing presence of the half-naked swordsman materialized in the doorway of your forge, casting a stark silhouette against the blazing sun. His shadow stretched across your workspace, a silent demand for your attention.

"Oi, witch, pass me the next one," he demanded, voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

Your fingers stopped their work, a subtle defiance brewing beneath the surface. "I don't think so," You mused, tone laced with amusement.

"Huh?" Zoro's indignant screech only served to fuel your resolve.

"Just give me a second," you replied casually, deliberately drawing out the moment as you tied off the ends of the leather cord with meticulous precision. Each movement slow and asserting your dominance over the upcoming exchange.

Impatience flickered on the swordsman's features as he watched you complete your task with measured slowness, his narrowed gaze betraying his annoyance. Yet despite the simmering irritation, he held his tongue, refusing to play into your game.

Finally, you turned to face him, meeting his glare with innocent eyes that belied the subtle amusement shimmering within your stare. Despite his imposing stature, you somehow managed to look down at him from the low vantage point of your seat, your determination unyielding in the face of his restlessness.