The Swordsman and the Blacksmith (Roronoa Zoro x Reader)

Chapter 25: Harmony

You'd both been awake for a while, the soft patter of rain against the windows providing a comforting backdrop to the tranquil morning. Neither of you spoke. Lost in your thoughts, the silence was warm. Your head rested on his chest, the gentle thud of his heartbeat a soothing lullaby that threatened to lull you back to sleep as his hand traced delicate patterns on your back.

You nestled closer, melting into him somehow more than before. His fingers traveled down along your spine before roaming back up, settling at your nape, tangling in your hair. The sensation was both grounding and comforting, a silent communication. You shifted, legs intertwining with his as you looked up at him, your eyes finding his.

He tilted his head, lips meeting your forehead in a tender kiss. The warmth of the gesture sent a ripple of contentment through you.

"You know," you started, your voice still thick with sleep. "About Yokubari, I'm not opposed to letting you try again once you feel you're ready... And about Wado Ichimonji," you trailed off for an instant looking for the right words. He quirked an eyebrow, evidently amused at the thought that you were already thoroughly thinking about swords the moment you woke up. "If you're not ready to let me study it, I can wait." You felt the low rumble of his chuckles beneath your palm as you carried on. "I know it's special to you, our deal doesn't really matter."

He smiled down at you. Your breath caught at the sight. He was pretty like that. You could see the almost imperceptible freckles on his cheeks, the warmth in his gaze, the satisfaction on his lips.

"You don't have to wait." His hands roamed down against the curves of your body, stopping at the back of your thighs, right before the slope of your rear. His fingers dug into the softness of your skin as he pulled you closer, shifting you so you settled perfectly on him. His lips almost caressed yours as he spoke on, "My swords are yours."

You frowned at his words. "I'm serious, Roronoa Zoro." You pushed yourself up, palm firm against his chest as your gaze locked with his.

He snorted and your frown deepened.

He lifted himself to his elbow, lips meeting yours gently. "So am I," he murmured, words not far from lost against the backdrop of rain and shuffling sheets.

"No, really," you protested in a small whine as his hand tangled in your locks once again, as his teeth sank into your lower lip, begging for more. "This is a serious matter."

He sighed when he realized you weren't backing down, his breath hot against yours. He slowly sat up, dragging you along so you straddled him. He considered you for an instant, back leaning on the headboard. A chill passed you as you felt the covers fall away from your shoulders, soft cotton caressing bare skin.

For a moment you thought of pulling them back up but the heat in his gaze as he took in the sight unashamedly stopped you, warmth flushing your skin instead. He reached for his swords at the side of the bed. You hadn't noticed he'd moved them there in the exhaustion of the previous night's activities. His grip instinctively found Wado Ichimonji, stare never leaving you in the movement.

"Here." He presented the sheathed sword to you. "As I said, my swords are yours. You can study it."

Your fingers traced almost reverently the lacquered wood, your eyes sparkling in anticipation at the thought of delving into the intricacies of the steel. Your attention flickered back to him. "Are you sure? You said it's special."

He looked distant for a moment but neither his smile nor the resolve in his gaze shifted. "It belonged to a childhood friend," he started to explain as his fingers wrapped against yours. "We made a promise." He glided both your hands along the scabbard, stopping close to the guard. "That one of us was going to become the world's greatest swordsman." His smile faltered, sorrow flickering on his features. "But she died when we were still young."