The One : Roronoa Zoro X Reader

33

"So what's the deal with moss head?" Shanks asked setting a drink in front of you.
"You don't have to talk about it." Benn glanced down at you as he gnawed on a toothpick.
"It's fine." you assured, "He broke things off last month because I am an idiot."
"He said that?" the redhead raised his brows.
"No, dummy." you sighed taking a drink, "I just got caught up in our age difference because I was listening to people around us and not him."
"He's the idiot."
"You and I broke up like five times." you reminded him.
"You did the breaking." Benn commented.
"Ah, true," you chuckled.
"He could have worked it out with you." the redhead grumbled.
"He did what he thought he should do to protect himself, I guess." the straw of your drink rested against your lip as you lazily spoke.
"To protect himself?" Shanks laughed.

You sighed.

"To not get too far into the relationship."Benn explained.
"Well, from the look on his face when I picked you up, he didn't save himself from anything."
"Yeah, and you don't have to rub it in his face." you pushed his shoulder with your own.
"Maybe it should be rubbed in his face a little."
"Shanks." Benn murmured.
"Don't 'Shanks' me," your ex huffed, "what did you even see in that kid?"
"Why are you such a jealous baby?"
Benn ran his hand down his face, "I'm goin' for a smoke."
"See, now you've upset Benn." Shanks gestured toward his best friend's back as he retreated.
"Me?!" you exclaimed then sighed, "You're impossible."
"If you had given me another chance you wouldn't be in this mess."
"We talked about this." you guzzled your drink and waved the bartender over for a refill, "You and I are better suited as friends. You party too much and can't keep it in your pants."
"I only cheated twice." he pouted.
"Once is too many, and twice is how many you think I knew about." you snatched up your new drink and downed it before ordering another.
"Hey!" the redhead protested.
"Stop, it's fine. I'm passed it." with a soft huff you set the empty glass down and blinked feeling a warm buzz flow through your body, "I don't want to talk about this anymore. You wanted me to come out and have fun right?"
"I guess," Shanks grumbled.
"Let's go then." you hopped up and yanked him toward the dancefloor.

_________________

Shuffling passed your older brothers, you mumbled a curt, 'g'morning' while grabbing a v8 from the fridge and a bottle of vodka from the freezer. A blistering headache was ravaging your brain as your stomach churned.

"Hair of the dog?" Thatch chuckled raising his brows.
"Hn." you added the vodka to the glass you'd just poured the tomato juice into before adding a few dashes of hot sauce and sitting at the island.
"You know that doesn't work, yoi." Marco placed his hand over the glass.
"Shh shh." you reached up and palmed his face while Thatch set a glass of water and Tylenol tabs in front of you.
"What happened last night?" the eldest asked.
"I don't even know." you muttered, "I remember arguing with Shanks and dancing. The rest is a blur."

Marco shook his head pouring your drink in the sink.

"Awe, that was a perfectly good bloody Mary. So wasteful." Thatch tisked.
"It's fine, yoi." the blonde leaned against the counter, "I hope you didn't do anything you'll regret."
"I woke up here alone with my pants still on, so I think I'm ok." you folded your arms and laid your head down.
"Hungry?" Thatch asked pulling some things out of the fridge.
"No eggs... Just... Potatoes and bacon. I need grease and carbs."
"Sure." he chuckled laying out his cutting board and knife.

Over breakfast you discussed the planning of your father's birthday party. There was plenty to buy and set up from food and booze to tables and heaters, not to mention building a temporary dancefloor. You also had to be prepared to be surrounded by exes, especially if Luffy decided to invite Law as well.

_________________

Donned in a flowy deep purple cotton dress and black Chuck Taylors, you hopped down the stairs to answer the door as guests were finally arriving. Some chose to forgo a traditional greeting and just go around to the backyard following the sound of music and laughter

"Quite a turn out." Mihawk commented glancing at the amount of people milling about the common areas of the house.
"Who would turn down free food and booze?" you chuckled guiding him through to the back porch.
"I suppose you have a point." he nodded cordially to Thatch stationed at the grill.
"This is a little more casual than usual Hawky, so no wine."
His gold irises flicked to you as you handed him a beer from the cooler,"Thank you."
"Zoro!" Luffy shouted across the yard as the back door slammed next to you.

There he stood freshly shaven, his hair styled how you always liked it - intentionally messy. He had on a black shirt with the logo to Mihawk's dojo on it, gray shorts and black vans.

"No one answered when I knocked so I let myself in." his voice sent a shiver up your spine while your cheeks betrayed you.
"It's fine." you peeled your eyes away from him while he tried to do the same from you.
"This is awkward." Mihawk murmured stepping away.
"Zoro!" Luffy called waving, "Hey! Over here."
"I should get going." he muttered.
"Yeah, before he tackles you and drags you away."

There was a hint of a smile before he trotted off to your brother's little group. Your mind wandered a bit while you did a terrible job of not staring.

It had only been a couple of days and his appearance had improved along with his disposition. Before he was disheveled and scruffy, not today. Today he was fresh and almost seemed to be in a good mood.

Shit.

"Hey, I'm talking to you." your eldest brother's voice sliced through your downward spiral.

Your eyes swayed over to him as you chewed the inside of your lip.

"Did he say something to you?" his tone changed upon seeing your pouty hurt expression.
"N-no," sucking in a calming breath you shook your head, "I... I think he might have moved on."
Thatch raised a skeptical brow, "That's nonsense F/N. He's been in love with you literally his entire life."
"And I gave him reason to not be." you choked back tears, "I fucked up, bad."
Thatch wrapped his arm around your shoulders, "Shh, it's ok. Maybe he just wants you to see him looking put together."

You nodded.

The rise in chatter through the yard drew your attention away from your misery.

"Where's that noisy little squirt?" a vaguely familiar voice rumbled above the others effectively hushing the small crowd.

Your eyes immediately found the culprit. Eustass stood with a small group at the entrance to the yard. His vermilion gaze searching for someone in particular it seemed.

"Who invited you?" Ace stepped forward as Kid's eyes landed on you.
"She did." he pointed at you, "Said she wanted a rematch."
"You did?" Thatch asked quietly.
"I - what?" Suddenly you had a fuzzy memory of shoving the redhead a few nights ago, "Oh no."

You'd been too drunk to remember the interaction, but you couldn't put it passed yourself.

"We brought our table, since yours doesn't exist anymore." Killer pointed over his shoulder to a man with blue locs holding a ping pong table.
"Are ya gonna chicken out?" Kid snickered as you walked down the porch steps, "I even brought my little Birdie as requested, to make it a fair fight."

He pointed to a petite brunette smirking next him.

"Oh, you're way to pretty to be with him." you commented sarcastically.
"I know, he's lucky." she chuckled as Kid's mouth twitched.
"Shut up." he barked annoyed, "Where's your little boyfriend so we can get this game going?"
"Well, uh..actual-"
"Right here," Zoro interrupted you stepping out of the crowd.

Your stomach did a flip as he stood at your side.

"Are you up for this?" Zoro asked glancing down at you.
"Let's do it." your suddenly confident tone made him smirk.

Excitement spread through the yard as your brothers set up the table with Killer and Kid's other friend.

"Same rules as last time." Ace explained filling solo cups with beer and setting them in a triangle.
Sabo placed two shot glasses at each station and set a bottle of Jim Beam in the center, "How many rounds?"
"Let's make it interesting," Kid's brunette crossed her arms watching your brothers work before glancing over to you mischievously, "best three of five."