The Swordsman and the Blacksmith (Roronoa Zoro x Reader)

Chapter 15: Not A Mistake

Straw Hat Luffy was happy. There had been a fleeting moment in which he hadn't been sure of his decision to ask you to join his crew but watching you and Zoro argue over your progress with Sandai Kitetsu brought a smile to his face.

The altercation was heating up. He grinned as you shouted a colorful string of profanities at the swordsman. The animosity that had once existed between the two of you was evidently gone, replaced by a strange camaraderie he didn't quite understand. It didn't matter, really. So long as you all enjoyed yourselves.

He readjusted his hat with a casual flick as he continued to observe. You somehow reminded him of Ace, with that fiery temper of yours. It was almost nostalgic. You let out your haki as anger flared in you. He chuckled at the display, leaning forward in interest. It never failed to impress him. It was so... different. He'd have to ask you to teach him one day.

"Oi, Luffy," Usopp called out to him intrigued by the captain's chuckles. "What's got you grinning like that?"

"They're so funny." He laughed pointing at the arguing duo with a movement of his head.

He let himself fall back, eyes getting lost in the clouds of the bright afternoon sky. Life was good.

-----

"YESSSSS!!!!" you screamed in victory as Sandai Kitetsu finally allowed your haki to mingle with the edge of its steel. "Oh, you beautiful blade! Fucking finally!" you bellowed in glee at the feeling of power coursing through you.

Although your daily training with the swordsman hadn't stopped, he'd eventually let you explore Sandai Kitetsu again. Exhilaration washed over you as you assessed the sword's properties, twirling it in your hand as you tested its balance.

Zoro observed you, a hint of respect and amusement mingling with his usual stoic demeanor. "Well, well, looks like you finally figured it out," Zoro remarked, a ghost of a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I was starting to think you'd never get it. Took you long enough."

You rolled your eyes. "Well, sorry to disappoint, I had to make sure I got it right." You imitated the swordsman with a playful glare, echoing the words he had said when he'd mastered Shiawase.

Zoro chuckled at your retort, his amusement obvious in the twinkle of his eye. "Just took you longer than I expected," he teased, his tone lightening the atmosphere as he approached you, his gaze fixed on the sword in your hand.

You smiled up at him then back at the cursed blade. "I have a few little things I still want to study from Sandai Kitetsu, but you'll get it back soon enough," you assured him, the determination and awe evident in your voice. "I'll leave Uragiri with you after if you're still up for the challenge."

You didn't see his smirk widen at your resolve, nor the pride that filled his eye for an instant as he watched you handle the cursed sword with added confidence. "I'll be looking forward to it," he replied, his tone surprisingly sincere.

-----

Roronoa Zoro ascended the ladder to the crow's nest with practiced ease, amber liquid swishing in the bottle in his hand. His keen gaze swept across the deck below, scanning the bustling activity of the ship before finally settling next to a window. From his elevated vantage point, he commanded a panoramic view, yet his attention was immediately ensnared by the sight of your familiar figure.

An irritated snort escaped his lips as memories of your irking presence flooded his mind – the constant thorn in his side, a relentless source of both frustration and fascination.

Through the doorway of your forge, he watched as you stood engrossed in the study of Sandai Kitetsu, a leather-bound notebook clutched in your hands. As you leaned over to inspect the blade more closely, your hips caught on the edge of your workbench, drawing his gaze shamelessly to the enticing curve of your exposed thighs. The hem of your short denim shorts teased at the limit of decency, offering a tantalizing glimpse of the roundness of your ass.