Sincerity (Zoro x Fem!Reader)
A/N: You can take this as a part of the Adventure is Out There! series, or just a cute Zoro drabble. I felt bad about leaving Zoro out, you know?
Series Masterlist
Type: Drabble; 854 words
Synopsis: You fall asleep on Zoro’s lap and share a bit of your book with him.
Warnings: none? Just fluff?
It was another sunny day at sea, and the Straw Hat crew found themselves a rare opportunity for spare time. Everyone spread out throughout the ship, doing what they wished.
You wandered up on the deck with your book, looking for a place to sit and read. Shading your eyes from the sun, you scanned the deck, hoping for some shade. Finally, you spotted Zoro in the only shady spot on the ship.
“Mind if we share?” You gestured to the ground next to him as you walked up, “It’s just, there aren’t any other shaded areas up here right now, and I don’t feel like getting burned today.”
Zoro shrugged and moved over slightly, going back to his swords. Gingerly avoiding the sharp end, you sat cross-legged next to him. “Thanks,” you said as you pulled out your book and flipped to the page you had marked.
The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the warm sun and blue sky. It was peaceful and quiet for once, and you let your mind drift off into your book, relaxing your body.
Zoro felt a little thump against his shoulder. He glanced over to see that you’d slumped onto him, your eyes closed. The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. He reached over with one arm and plucked your book from your lap, making sure to mark your page before setting it aside. Then, he gently maneuvered you into his lap, being careful to support your head. You mumbled something in your sleep but didn’t wake.
Once you were lying down and looked comfortable, Zoro went back to his work.
He stayed like that while you slept, trying hard not to move much. Occasionally, he’d pause and look down, studying your face. When the wind pushed a lock of hair over your cheek, he reached up and brushed it back into place. He glanced around to make sure no one else was on deck. They seemed to have cleared out. Satisfied that the two of you were alone, he went back to studying you, letting his hand caress the soft skin of your cheek. Then he moved to trace your jaw.
Pretty, he thought. Does she know that?
You shifted and fluttered your eyes, slowly coming awake. Your brows drew together as you tried to remember where you were. “Zoro…?”
He tried to look nonchalant, “Yeah?”
You looked around, “Oh gosh, did I fall asleep? I’m so sorry-” You moved to get up, but Zoro’s arm moved over your chest and held you there. He didn’t look at you as he said, “No, it’s fine.”
You smiled shyly, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” he shrugged, “If you want.”
“Okay, well, thank you. I guess I didn’t realize how tired I was…” You reached out with your hand to where Zoro had set your book aside. “Could you hand me that, please?” He passed it back over to you, suppressing a smile at how you wriggled underneath his arm to get comfortable, opening the book over your face.
“What’re you reading?” he asked. You pulled the book down, “Just a story I picked up at the last market we visited.”
“What’s it about?” He looked around, trying not to seem too interested. You pulled the book back in front of your face to hide your blush, “Uh, it’s a… just a silly story…”
“Silly as in funny?”
“Mmm… not exactly…”
“Then what?”
You fully let the open book flop onto your face, mumbling into the pages, “It’s a princess story, alright…?”
Zoro tilted his head and picked up the book, “What’s that even mean? It’s about a princess?” Your hands immediately went to your face, trying to hide your embarrassment. You sighed, slipping into a rambling explanation, “Yes, it’s an old fairy tale. It’s a story about a princess and being rescued by a knight and how they fall in love, and I know it’s a little silly, but when I saw it in the market, I remembered that I used to have a copy when I was little, and I had a few spare beri, so I impulse bought it, okay?!”
You peeked out at Zoro from in between your fingers. He quirked an eyebrow at you. “Hm.” Then he put the open book back down on your face. Just as you thought you might die of shame, he added, “Sounds cool.”
“Does it, really?” You sarcastically asked from behind the book.
“Yeah. If you like it, then it is.” He said it so matter-of-fact, you pulled the book down away from your face. You stared up at him, taken aback by his sincerity.
“Um, okay… have you ever heard the story before?”
Zoro shook his head, “Not that I know of.”
“Would you…” You blushed, “Would you want me to read it to you…?”
Zoro leaned back and stretched out his legs underneath you, “Sure.” He smiled down at you.
“Uh, alright, I’ll start at the beginning then.” You flipped back to the first page of the book, butterflies fluttering in your stomach, and you began to read…