#like just ship it and be happy you get content

[macbethsymphony]

The Swordsman and the Blacksmith | Chapter 15

Roronoa Zoro x Reader

Chapter wc: 2.1k

Chapter rating: SFW

Content/Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Fem!Reader, Enemies to lovers, SLOW slow burn, Eventual smut

Summary: Your skills as a blacksmith have made you desirable to both the government and pirates. You know you have to leave this island if you want to escape your fate, but that doesn't make the choice of leaving any easier. Roronoa Zoro is intrigued by your skills as a blacksmith. Your work is like nothing he's ever seen before. Unfortunately, you're hot-headed and he's rude and you both definitely hate each other.

Chapters [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

Masterlist

Slowly crossposting from AO3 Feel like binging the rest of it? it's all there!

Chapter 15: Not a Mistake

Straw Hat Luffy was happy. There had been a fleeting moment in which he hadn’t been sure of his decision to ask you to join his crew but watching you and Zoro argue over your progress with Sandai Kitetsu brought a smile to his face.

The altercation was heating up. He grinned as you shouted a colorful string of profanities at the swordsman. The animosity that had once existed between the two of you was evidently gone, replaced by a strange camaraderie he didn’t quite understand. It didn’t matter, really. So long as you all enjoyed yourselves.

He readjusted his hat with a casual flick as he continued to observe. You somehow reminded him of Ace, with that fiery temper of yours. It was almost nostalgic. You let out your haki as anger flared in you. He chuckled at the display, leaning forward in interest. It never failed to impress him. It was so… different. He’d have to ask you to teach him one day.

“Oi, Luffy,” Usopp called out to him intrigued by the captain’s chuckles. “What’s got you grinning like that?”

“They’re so funny.” He laughed pointing at the arguing duo with a movement of his head.

He let himself fall back, eyes getting lost in the clouds of the bright afternoon sky. Life was good.

“YESSSSS!!!!” you screamed in victory as Sandai Kitetsu finally allowed your haki to mingle with the edge of its steel. “Oh, you beautiful blade! Fucking finally!” you bellowed in glee at the feeling of power coursing through you.

Although your daily training with the swordsman hadn’t stopped, he’d eventually let you explore Sandai Kitetsu again. Exhilaration washed over you as you assessed the sword’s properties, twirling it in your hand as you tested its balance.

Zoro observed you, a hint of respect and amusement mingling with his usual stoic demeanor. “Well, well, looks like you finally figured it out,” Zoro remarked, a ghost of a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “I was starting to think you’d never get it. Took you long enough.”

You rolled your eyes. "Well, sorry to disappoint, I had to make sure I got it right." You imitated the swordsman with a playful glare, echoing the words he had said when he’d mastered Shiawase.

Zoro chuckled at your retort, his amusement obvious in the twinkle of his eye. "Just took you longer than I expected," he teased, his tone lightening the atmosphere as he approached you, his gaze fixed on the sword in your hand.

You smiled up at him then back at the cursed blade. “I have a few little things I still want to study from Sandai Kitetsu, but you’ll get it back soon enough,” you assured him, the determination and awe evident in your voice. “I’ll leave Uragiri with you after if you’re still up for the challenge.”

You didn’t see his smirk widen at your resolve, nor the pride that filled his eye for an instant as he watched you handle the cursed sword with added confidence. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” he replied, his tone surprisingly sincere.

Roronoa Zoro ascended the ladder to the crow’s nest with practiced ease, amber liquid swishing in the bottle in his hand. His keen gaze swept across the deck below, scanning the bustling activity of the ship before finally settling next to a window. From his elevated vantage point, he commanded a panoramic view, yet his attention was immediately ensnared by the sight of your familiar figure.

An irritated snort escaped his lips as memories of your irking presence flooded his mind – the constant thorn in his side, a relentless source of both frustration and fascination.

Through the doorway of your forge, he watched as you stood engrossed in the study of Sandai Kitetsu, a leather-bound notebook clutched in your hands. As you leaned over to inspect the blade more closely, your hips caught on the edge of your workbench, drawing his gaze shamelessly to the enticing curve of your exposed thighs. The hem of your short denim shorts teased at the limit of decency, offering a tantalizing glimpse of the roundness of your ass.

Your hair was secured in loose linen bindings, a few stray strands escaping to frame your face, accentuating the delicate features that had captivated him since the moment he laid eyes on you. His gaze lingered on the nape of your neck, an expanse of soft skin that beckoned to him with a siren's call. The urge to reach out and trace the contours of your neck with his fingertips was almost overwhelming.

His fingers twitched at the thought.

A frustrated groan crossed his lips as he recalled the way you had squirmed as he’d pinned you to the mast that night. The intoxicating rebellion in your glare, the defiant submission. He wished he could blame the impulse that had taken him over on the alcohol, however he hadn’t really been that drunk. Perhaps it had been the anger, but he suspected it hadn’t.  

He let his head hit the wall behind him a touch too hard, a painful sensation that brought him back to the present as he twisted open the bottle in his hand and took a long meaningful swig.

He savored the familiar burn in his throat as his eye unmistakably found your form again.

You had been holed up in your forge for hours, engrossed in meticulously documenting every detail of Sandai Kitetsu. The sword's steel possessed a sharpness that bordered on the unnatural, leaving you in awe of its craftsmanship. You suspected that the blade's deadly edge stemmed from the specific blend of metals used and the masterful skill of the artisan who forged it. Regardless of the reason, the result was nothing short of breathtaking, perfectly complementing the sword's inherent bloodthirstiness.

With a practiced motion, you tucked your pen securely behind your ear, anchoring it in place with the linen binding that held your hair steadfast. You diligently scrutinized your notes as the fading light of dusk cast a smooth glow over your workspace. Absentmindedly, you reached for the small lamp on your workbench, illuminating the pages of your notebook as you reviewed your findings for what felt like the hundredth time.

Carefully, you reexamined each entry, ensuring that every detail was meticulously explained and captured within the confines of the paper. The flickering shine of the lamp danced across your soft cheeks, highlighting the intensity of your focus as you poured over the intricacies of the blade before you.

You didn’t hear the distinct loud footsteps of the swordsman approaching, instead you jumped up in surprise when he knocked gently against the doorway of your workspace.

Startled, you glanced up to find Zoro leaning casually against the doorframe, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He looked pretty with the warmth of the setting sun accentuating his sharp features.

"Didn't think you’d still be at it,” he remarked, his voice low and gravelly, bringing you back to the present.

“Actually,” you wandered off, giving the page you’d been at a last look. “I think I’m done.”

He hummed in answer approaching your workbench. “Mind if I check?” he asked suddenly, gesturing at the opened notebook.

You hesitated for a moment before nodding, moving to leave him space. He offered you the bottle in his hand before leaning forward to analyze the pages before him.

“I swear, your drinking habits are bordering on concerning” you quipped as you eyed it. Still, you accepted the silent invitation, unscrewing it and taking a swig.

You couldn’t help but study his profile as you leaned back comfortably, half-sitting, half-standing against the wooden top. There was an undeniable allure about him, maybe it was the sharp angles of his jawline, the faint scars that adorned his skin, the way his earrings gleamed in the soft lamplight.

He tsked noncommittally at your comment. “At least I don’t make regrettable decisions when I’m drunk” he shot back at you with a grin, eyes not leaving the page before him.

You almost choked on the gulp you were taking, the fiery liquid coming close to burning your lungs.

“Oh? Really?” You replied tone laced with amusement. A slight flush went to your cheeks as you remembered the last time you’d shared a bottle, remembered the bitter taste of his fingers in your mouth. “Somehow, I distinctly recall someone getting a little handsy last time they were drunk, swordsman” you couldn’t help but try to rattle him, a playful glint in your eyes.

He laughed as he turned to the next page.

“That wasn’t a mistake,” he stated grabbing the bottle out of your fingers and taking a long swig. His gaze remained on your notes, clearly intrigued as he read on.

You snorted. “Really, swordsman?” You rolled your eyes before continuing. “You’re just trying to save face. Admit it! You messed up, no harm done.”

There was a moment of silence as he flipped to the next page.

His eye finally met yours, a mischievous glint dancing somewhere far away as he took another sip. “Exactly as I said, it wasn’t a mistake” he replied, tone teasing yet strangely intense.

Your heart skipped a beat, blush deepening.

“Sure, sure,” you scoffed, trying to play it off with a casual shrug. “Keep telling yourself that.” The crack in your voice betrayed the panic in your mind.

He didn’t resist as you retrieved the bottle, his eye not leaving you as you guzzled down half of its remains.

“Anyways,” You squeaked. “I’m done with Sandai Kitetsu, you can reclaim your problem child” you rambled on, hand habitually reaching to the knot of the linen bindings in your hair. “You can also take Uragiri if you want.”

He watched as the wrappings loosened against your fingers. You stiffened slightly as he closed the distance between you.

The cloth unfurled, gracefully escaping your fingers, and descending to the floor as your locks tumbled around your shoulders in soft, cascading curls. The pen clicked against the wood. His fingers brushed against the nape of your neck, deftly entwining themselves in your hair.

With a firm yet gentle grip, he tightened his hold at the back of your head, forcing your gaze to lock with his.  His smirk hovered dangerously close to your face.

"Oi, what's your problem, swordsman?" you questioned, irritation dancing in your tone, your breath mingling with his in the intimate space between you.

His smirk widened, a glint of mischief sparkled in his eyes as he leaned in closer, his breath hot against your skin. "My problem?" he murmured, his voice low and husky. "I don’t think I have one, witch.”

You could feel the heat rising to your cheeks as his words washed over you, sending shivers down your spine. Despite the irritation bubbling within you, there was an undeniable tension between the two of you, a magnetic pull that neither of you could resist.

"Is that so?" you replied, trying to maintain a semblance of composure despite the fluttering in your chest. His proximity was unnerving yet exhilarating, the air charged with an electric energy that seemed to crackle between you.

His grip on your hair loosened slightly, his fingers trailing down the curve of your neck with a feather-light touch. "Who knows," he conceded, a playful glint in his eye. "I think I just enjoy seeing you squirm."

A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his lips as your jaw clenched and your cheeks heated, a silent challenge passing between you. Despite the banter and the underlying tension, there was a growing familiarity in the exchange.

Before either of you could say another word, the moment was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching, signaling the intrusion of the outside world into your reality.

With a subtle flicker of annoyance, Zoro straightened, releasing his hold on your hair as he took a step back, his expression once again veiled behind a mask of indifference.

You quickly gathered the fallen linen wrappings, hastily rolling the band of fabric as you composed yourself, the lingering warmth of his touch still tingling against your skin.

He expertly added Sandai Kitetsu back into the knots at his side before moving to Uragiri. “I’ll be taking this sword now, witch,” he added, hand wrapping against the white lacquer of its scabbard as he lifted it from its stand.

“Fine by me” you answered nonchalantly.

Brook’s hair made its apparition in the doorway moments before you heard his distinctive laugh. “Yohohoho! Am I interrupting something?”

You knew it was impossible, but the skeleton seemed to grin. You cleared your throat, not trusting your voice. “Not at all, Brook” you answered at the same time as Zoro said, “mind your own business, skeleton.”

Brook chuckled, a sparkle somehow apparent in the darkness of his eyes. “Ah, I see,” he mused.

Your cheeks darkened. “Was there anything you needed?” You asked as casually as you could.

“Yes, yes,” the musician took his time, dragging the moment out deliberately. “Nami was looking for the both of you. We’re approaching our next island.”

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Masterlist

[broken-heart-raven-queen]

There's this group of people on tiktok that cosplays AFTG, they speak russian so I don't understand a lot of the hashtags or the comments but they do it SO PERFECTLY and you can see they are having fun and giving us a lot of content (even ship content, I love that they ship Kandreil too) and I just... My heart gets so happy when I see one of their videos.

It sure would be so cool to have a group of friends to do stuff like that

[buddiebitch]

WHY are BT shippers so vehemently against actually analyzing the symbolism and choices made for this show?

i mean i saw multiple people saying we were overthinking the vertigo poster. they were saying that it was weird to assume that Buck would fill the pining best friend role that Midge did in the original movie??? (haven’t seen the movie, i just read a few synopses)

i’m sorry, so you agree that he put Ryan Guzman in the main character and Devin Kelley as the love interest because they’ll fill those roles in the storyline, but we’re overthinking when we point out what role he put Oliver Stark in?

or when i bring up the possible symbolism of Tommy always calling him Evan, the only response i get from BT stans is “well he would tell him if he didn’t like it” or “i think it’s because he was introduced that way and that’s why” or even “i think he probably likes that Tommy calls him Evan” (all real responses i saw) and it’s like, yeah that’s cool, those are great headcanons for you, but that actually isn’t what i was talking about. nothing wrong with having a headcanon, but it doesn’t explain anything about the show or answer any of my questions.

i mean in s4 he corrected his PARENTS and told them his name was Buck, and in s6 it was used to emphasize the strangeness of his coma dream, how everyone was calling him Evan, the whole show him being called Evan has almost always been used to emphasize that someone doesn’t know him very well, how are y’all convinced that it’ll mean something different this time? i get that some people think it’s supposed to be growth, that he’s cool with being called his first name, but if that’s the goal it definitely isn’t reading that way to me.

like i wish i could see things through the same lens as these people so it could make sense to me, i just don’t get how you can willfully ignore SO many hints just so you can ship what you want.

no hate to the ship or the shippers obviously, i’m just baffled by the lengths they’ll go to in order to convince themselves that plot device man is endgame for Buck.

[originalcontent]

I can't find art of my ship anywhere so I GUESS that means I have to make it myself, here are some doodles.

[overtake]

admitting ur a larrie and saying it brought you to your current ship is such a brave personal choice. this comment should be an official diagnosis in the dsm-5.

[iratusmus]

fiona fox is the love + light of my life . also no i am not taking any criticism on her questionable tshirt collection i can and will defend all of my choices.

also bonus artist commentary in the alt text

[thatonegayship]

I loved the cowboy comic so much that I wrote a oneshot for it. https://archiveofourown.org/works/50934235 🥺 your art is BEYOND amazing, ty for the food

INCREDIBLE!!!!!

[lavender-teardroplettes]

EVERYONE HOLD ON LOOKIE LOOKIE!!

I commissioned @you-and-him hey btw consider commissioning Hermy, her transmission just went out and just.....eeeeeee I have so many words but they want to just jumble out at once! Read my feral ramblings in the tags!! Thank you again, so so so so much! It really did turn out amazing! I love how Si looks in your art style!

[bull-shit-suji]

hi welcome to the fandom heres my ten page masterlist of all the people you have to block

[nerdy-hyperfixations]

Sorry to be a hater but this is how I’ve been feeling recently

[ramblinseahorsey]

Everytime I see a piece of media talk about the need of an extremely powerful love, and the love ends up being platonic, my heart grows three sizes.

[misfitmiska]

I feel like Senku was an avid anime/manga fan so he was all too familiar with misogynistic tropes such as ‘female character who is head over heels in love with the male MC who doesn’t care about her’. Obviously he hated it (we stan a feminist king), so when he first met Kohaku and she started going on about ‘falling for him’ and stuff, he got genre-savvy for a second and kind of panicked like ‘crap, dang it, this is it, isn’t it?? fuck that, how do I avoid this??’

He was SO relieved when it turned out she wasn’t that kind of character… And then came Luna. x)

[its-tea-time-darling]

comment i got on my newt/teresa fic lmaoo

to those who don't get it why i find that amusing: while i appreciate fandom culture around headcanoning a certain sexuality for a character and deriving joy from it, it amuses me that

1) people seem to think a fictional character's sexuality needs to be policed in fanfiction, the medium where fans make up fictional content on fictional characters bc they derive joy from it 2) that people talk of newt being gay as though it was canon, when it in fact was one (1) tweet trashner made for clout, and the newtmas fanbase is the one he's continually trying to milk for money and attention bc that's the only thing he's got left to do for publicity since his publisher dropped him for sexual harassment allegations.

before i hit post, i want to highlight that luckily, this isn't a mentality i've seen around in the maze runner fandom for a long time, or that i feel is rampant. i just have Thoughts TM about this, and getting a comment like that prompted me to spell them out again.

loads of love to the tmr fandom for being one of the loveliest places on the internet. <3

[valyrfia]

@ the anon who just spammed me with 5 anti lestappen takes, you are on the wrong blog.

[volchitsa-of-winterfell]

the F1 shipping chart!! original post here by @foo1ishheart554. blank version below the cut for YOU, dear reader, to do!

[draemers]

why are soc book fans like. the scariest fans ever on twitter , such gatekeepers