Eyes of a Hawk: Zoro x Reader

Chapter 9: Taking the Lead

Only 3 chapters left, I've had fun writing this sweet little book. It's my shortest book by far.

Shanks had offered to share a drink with him and Zoro couldn't pass the opportunity up. He learned much more about you and much of the information could surely help him to gain your heart. Even for a man of confidence, Zoro was having the hardest time executing his plans; even if you did like him back. It was the fact that he was after his Master's daughter of all people, but also his future was kept in mind. When his two years at the mansion are up, time to rejoin his crew, would you join him or continue to slave away to your own father? Two years of romance and affection would be long wasted...

Although hesitant, Zoro stepped into your bedroom sometime later. The music that seemed to flooded your bedroom was quite bond, absolutely nothing like your music taste he had picked up on over the last year. Guitars were strummed and drums and bashed with sticks of wood. In fact, Zoro has never heard of anything such as this, it was heavy and boisterous. Maybe it was the becomings of a new music genre. Zoro opened his ears just a bit more for the Lead Singer of said band sounded all so familiar somehow. You could mentally hear the gears rolling within Zoro's head, the second you looked over to him

You glanced over to your pile of records, "It's a new band," you spoke up after decreasing the volume of your record player with a simple touch of a button. "The band debuted this year," you held the album within your hands, Zoro came over and asked for the item without words with just a motion of his hand.

"Soul King," Zoro smirked. There on the cover of the record album was his crewmate's skeletal face all cheerful while plastered right across the thin piece of cardboard. "Brook's having fun," Zoro was glad to know how the skeleton was doing and sat down the album.

"Who's Brook?" you questioned.

"He's the musician on my crew," Zoro informed you.

"That's pretty cool," you grinned.

"You won't like him, he's almost more of a pervert than the Cook."

"I'm sure we'll get along," you reassured while proceeding to take out the record from its dock and slipping it back within its cardboard case. "I picked out a few new records we can dance to," you picked a few up from the bedside before hooking your arm with Zoro's. You tugged on his arm after he didn't make an attempt to follow your lead.

"Where are we going?" Zoro didn't budge, let alone his arm remained limp within your hold.

"To the ballroom," you blinked. "I want to dance in the ballroom if that's fine with you."

"Okay," Zoro shrugged and allowed you to lead him around the mansion until the hallway stopped to a series of grand doors. You unhooked yourself from Zoro's side to open up said doors that released a dust cloud that seemed to suffocate you both to a grand room that sat within. You could smell, even taste the dust in the air as cobwebs decorated everything as far as the eye can see. You both were leaving footsteps where you walked, it was quite clear that this room hadn't been used in years Zoro noticed right away.

"The last time I used this room was when I was ten... back when I first moved here," you sighed, taking a box of matches from your pocket and striked the end of the stick upon the box, you lit one candle sitting upon the wall, then picked up said candle and shared its life with the other candles by illuminating the room little by little as if the room were coming back to life from the dead. The flames ate at the dust as if their stomachs were empty.

Once finished with the half burnt candles, you turned to the man in green. "Zoro, I used to dance with my mom..." You grinned remembering back to your wee years as a girl who could barely walk let alone talk. A girl who'd run around with braids in her hair and a teddy bear wedged between your arms and chest. You couldn't remember her face, but the things she'd done for you remained. "I was so little I stood upon her toes and she'd lead me, as in she did all the work," you laughed, it brought Zoro to smile since the memory itself must've been sweet within itself. "When she passed away with Mihawk handing me over to Shanks for a few years, he danced with me for a little while just like she would with me on his feet. Then when my dad took me back he taught me how to really dance..." Your smile faded suddenly, as did Zoro's. "Dancing reminded him of my mother, he couldn't handle it and stopped dancing all together... This room remained empty, and I danced alone."

"So you've been looking for a partner for a while now," Zoro had pieced together, he noticed and had quite a bit of questions to ask but thought it'd be better to ignore them for the time being.

"Yeah..." You replied.

"Does your loneliness ever become too much?" Zoro asked with genuine concern. Ever since Shanks had passed on your note to him by secret, it really opened Zoro's eye(s) to some real underlying issues that had made you the woman you are today. Even he hasn't been as lonely or isolated from the world as much as you. You would've been better off growing up in Shanks' care.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," you sighed for a second time. "Sometimes I just want to run away," you admit all the while staring down at the floor.

"Then why don't you?" Zoro crossed his arms. We're finally getting somewhere...

You fiddled with your fingers. "My dad relies on me, the baboons are too strong for me, but also even if I were to run away... I have no one to turn to let alone have a dream to follow because I just don't want to be home anymore... My home is starting to feel like a prison," Zoro didn't feel pity, but he did want to help you out. And now was a better time than ever to execute Shanks' kind words of advice into a... Yes, a half baked plan just like Zoro is known to make.

"Forget about everything and focus on me," Zoro announced with an echo that bounced from wall to wall within the dimly lit ballroom. You were very confused to say the least, for Zoro stepped from his spot placed the needle on the cobweb infested record player upon the slick black surface of the record you just previously loaded into the dock, then turned to you. Your heart began to beat at your chest like a hammer on wood the second Zoro reached out and took you by the hand, taking a place before you with his other resting upon your hip. He stepped off to the side, taking you with him. Then he pushed forwards having you take a step back with him to follow.

He actually knew what he was doing.

"I-I never took you to be the dancing type," you looked off to the side to hide your flustering mess of a face from Zoro. Despite your efforts, Zoro still saw your blush, even feeling your pulse from the palms of your now sweaty hands.

"True... I don't dance," Zoro admits, throwing you off to the side into a spin without letting you go and pulled you back into his embrace... The world felt as if it were frozen, and you two were the only ones allowed the freedom to move.

"Then what was that?" You nearly whispered but were most definitely amazed.

"The Love Cook dances with the other girls on the crew... I've just so happened to pick up on a few things," Zoro seemed proud of himself and you couldn't blame him in the slightest. You continued to dance with Zoro until you wanted to spice things up and took the lead into some more exotic dances you've learned from your father years ago. He picked up on the moves rather quickly like these were his training sessions with Mihawk. Regaining the lead once again...

All things must come to an end eventually right? The dancing dwindled to a calm box step, you both were drenched in sweat, the record was LONG over as the black disk kept spinning with the needle in its dock once again. It didn't matter though as your eyes remain connected, your eyelids drooped to a close, elevating your entire body with the tips of of your toes with Zoro's lips that met you halfway for a kiss that made your mind explode with fireworks. All your worries melted away with a kiss, why was that so surprising? You didn't want Zoro to leave, soaking up his affection like a sponge as your hands scaled his chest and found his hair of green. Zoro was the one to separate the kiss, leaving you breathless while he rested his forehead against yours.

"I'm going to make our next year together count," Zoro kissed you once again.