The One : Roronoa Zoro X Reader

10

"I like to come here to think." Zoro murmured shutting off the engine.
"It's beautiful." your eyes swayed over the open meadow.

The field of tall grass shifted with the breeze, the usual pale blonde hue tinted blue from the big bright moon hanging directly overhead. A pond reflected the night sky like a mirror and gave way to a thicket of trees to the left. Zoro had unbuckled and was pulling a couple blankets from behind the seat. He then hopped out and climbed into the truck bed. Tugging your gloves from your coat pocket you followed and watched him drop a blanket and spread it out.

"Come on." he outstretched a gloved hand as you pulled yourself up on the bumper and swung your left leg over the tailgate.

When you were safely in the bed of the truck you laid down side by side now facing the endless night sky.

"You just come lay out here in the freezing cold?"
"It's not quite freezing," he corrected tossing the second blanket over you and laying back again, "but, yeah. It helps me clear my mind."

He crossed his arms under his head while you cuddled into the blanket you'd been given, it was made for camping so it was thick, dense and held in your body heat. Both of you settled into a comfortable quiet staring at the perfect shimmering sky above.

"So, tell me what's going on with your dad." he murmured just loud enough for you to hear.
You sighed, "He isn't getting any better, and now he's stopping his chemo."
"That's rough, is there any chance he could get better with something else?"
"Not at such an advanced stage. The hospital says we just need to make sure he's comfortable at home."
"What did your brothers have to say?"
"We aren't telling the younger three. They would want to push Pops into staying miserable, not to mention Ace tends to be destructive when upset."
"Don't you think they'll resent you a little if they find out?" he shifted to glance at you.
"Well, the plan is for them not to find out."

There was a long pause as he accepted your response.

"Why didn't you want to go home?"
You let out a long sigh, "Those guys aren't used to seeing me upset. It's funny, in a house full of men I'm the one keeping it together. Any rough patch we ever faced they've never once seen me waiver." a sad smile graced your lips, "I just needed to get it together."
He rolled over to face you as you felt the sting of fresh tears build, "It's ok to not be the strongest all the time."

And with that began to crumble. You cried for all of the built up worry and stress for your father, you cried for your brothers, you even cried for whatever this practically failed attempt at a relationship with Law was.

"I know it's stupid..." you sobbed, "but I don't want to be an orphan again."

Zoro's chest tightened as he helplessly watched you fall apart. Taking a deep breath he slipped into the blanket with you pulling you into a hug.

Rubbing soft warm circles between your shoulder blades, he lowered his head to whisper to you, "It's gonna be ok. You won't ever be alone."

You settled down but stayed buried in his chest embarrassed that you'd cried so hard. His warmth was soothing and though he hadn't said much to comfort you, you didn't think he actually had to say anything at all. This was enough.

Your phone vibrated making you jolt away from the greenette to fumble through your coat pocket.

"Shit." you breathed glancing at the display as you sat up to connect the call, "Hey,"
"I was starting to worry, you didn't answer my texts." Law calmly stated.
"I'm sorry, I didn't even hear my phone." Zoro rolled back over and closed his eye while you spoke to your boyfriend.
"Is everything alright?" he asked addressing your sniffles.
"They're setting us up with hospice." You murmured rubbing your face.
"I'm sorry," he stated sincerely, understanding that meant you were preparing for the worst, "Are you ok? Do you want me to come by?"
"No, no I'm fine and its already late."