Intimidating or Adorable? - Zoro x Reader

Writing Prompt: “You’re new in town and you seem very intimidating but as it turns out you have an awful sense of direction even with a map and you’re actually adorkable so here let me help you” AU.

The first few times you had seen him around town, he looked intimidating, always having a scowl on his face. Roronoa Zoro was the new person in town and felt like the most intimidating person you had ever met if you were being honest. Well, he used to feel like the most intimidating person you had ever met. That all changed the first time you actually spoke to him and what a day that was. It had happened on one sunny summer day when you were heading towards the park to meet up with some friends.

Not that many people were out seeing just how hot it was, even you wondered why you agreed to head to the park to meet up with your friends on today of all days. Instead of just staying home and keeping close to the A/C for its cool air. You were halfway there before coming to a halt, raising an eyebrow when you spotted the green haired man just standing there in the middle of the sidewalk. Blocking your path. He was scratching the back of his head, looking around him with a confused expression on his face.

For a minute, you thought about crossing the street to the other side so you wouldn’t have to get near him. Frightened by the thought of having to get too close to someone that looked like they could easily snap you in two. But, the more you stared at him the more curious you became to know what he was lowly grumbling about to himself. Slowly, you took a step forward, hesitating to take another step when his head snapped in your direction. You two now just staring at one another, not moving or speaking before he finally decided to be the one to break the silence.

“Hey!” you flinched at how deep and luring his voice sounded.

“Y-yeah?”

“I need your help with something” he said, motioning for you to move closer to him. Nodding, you took slow and steady steps before finally stopping at an arm’s length away from him.

“What do you need help with?” you asked.

“Well…I’m kind of lost.”

“Oh.”

“What’s that face for?!” he snapped when he saw the deadpanned expression on your face. ‘Lost? You’ve been living here for about what? A year now and it’s such a small town too’ you thought.

“Where is it that you need to go?” you asked, assuming the place he was looking for wasn’t that far away from where the two of you were standing. He seemed to sigh in relief when he heard you say this, as if glad that you were helping him. In fact, you couldn’t help but find that gentle smile on his face to be adorable.

“Some café, I was supposed to meet up with some friends there” he told you, as you took a step closer and listened to the name of the café. It grew silent after you heard its name, this seemed to make Zoro uncomfortable as he shifted a bit underneath the blank stare you were giving him. ‘There is only one café around this part of town and the one he’s looking for is all the way on the other side of town. How the fuck did he mix that up so badly? Doesn’t he at least have Google maps on his phone or better yet didn’t his friends tell him where the café was?’ you mulled this over in your head, jumping when he snapped his fingers in front of you.

“You still plan on helping me or not?” he impatiently asked.

“Yeah, um, the café you’re looking for is all the way on the other side of town” you responded, now it was his turn to grow silent. It wasn’t long before his face exploded into a bright colorful red as an embarrassed look cross his features. ‘Aw, he looks kind of adorable all embarrassed like that’ you cooed to yourself, holding back a giggle.

“I-I knew that my friends m-must have given me the w-wrong directions!” he sputtered out, growing even more embarrassed when he saw you shaking as you held back your laughter.

“Sure, they did. Well like I said, it’s all the way on the other side of town and it’s the only one on that side. So, it shouldn’t be hard for you to find it” you said, watching as he nodded his head and grumbled. Your poorly hidden giggles soon disappeared as you grew confused when Zoro turned away from you and started walking in the direction you were currently walking in. “What are you doing?”

“I’m making my way to the other side of town as you said” he responded back, looking back at you. You processed what he said before bursting out into laughter.

“To get to the other side of town you go this way” you laughed, pointing behind you. ‘How could I have ever thought this adorable dork was intimidating’ you snickered as he seemed to become even more embarrassed. Snapping at you to stop laughing. “Here” you suddenly said, holding your hand out.

“Huh?” he questioned, tilting his head as you just giggled.

“It’s pretty obvious you have no sense of direction so I’m going to lead you to your destination so you don’t get lost again!” you exclaimed, chuckling as he growled.

“I’m not a child!”

“I know you’re not, now shut up and take my hand” you smiled as he grumbled lowly to himself but complied. You couldn’t help the warmth that spread across your cheeks when you felt his large hand encase around yours and held it gently. But at the same time, you couldn’t help but laugh at the embarrassed look and awkward posture he had as if this was his first time holding a woman’s hand. “You’re so adorable!” you proclaimed.

“Shut up” he muttered as you started leading him down the sidewalk. Deciding that this was far more important and you could handle your friends chewing you out later for not showing up at the park.