Disclaimer: ...need I do this every time? OP doesn't belong to me, despite my yearly wish to Santa. This story does, however, so please respect copyright, etc etc etc.
A small moment between Luffy and Usopp. ...come back, Usopp. PLEASE! (sob)
"You know, Pirate Flags are black because of all the blood they soak in."
Ocean sunset is always too bright, too hot to look into directly.
Only Luffy sat straight in its way, hands steady on the fishing rod.
"Blood spilt over it day after day, layer after layer, so much that it can't be washed off anymore."
His tooth shined in a wide smile. Funny, how that's the only thing Usopp could ever keep in his memories.
Blinding light.
"Is that why Zoro's hair band is black? Didn't know that, that's COOL, Usopp!"
The man in question was sleeping against the rail not far off. Crimson sunlight hit his back and made a long shadow over the deck.
"Yup! And Sanji's suit is black because all the blood too!"
"And his shoes too?"
"AND the shoes! Probably his tie too!"
"Wow!"
"Now see my overall here! It's not black because I wash it carefully with the ultra bubble soap that I received from the mer-prince, but see this crimson color? That's because of all the enemy's blood I spilled on it from my great adventures! I've sailed through all four seas with my seven thousand crew, calling me 'Captain Usopp'! They followed me through hell and beyond, brandishing their swords and fists-"
Merrily woo-ing and wah-ing at something Zoro would smirk proudly at and Sanji to protest angrily at ('Its called 'FASHION SENSE'!) Luffy and Usopp laughed.
Fishing lines danced eerily on the burning ocean surface. It dipped and waltzed throw the violent waves, through the dark shadows and bloody light it created.
"Guess that's why my hair is black."
Usopp paused, peeling his eyes away from his rod to his captain.
"…Its because you don't wash it often enough."
"But once a day is enough, isn't it?"
Luffy pouted, but Usopp waved it aside.
"NOT when you just jump in and jump out! You're supposed to use SOAP in there! And dips in the sea doesn't count!"
"That's not what I heard at the bar! They told me that if you stay long enough in a bathroom, the flaked-skin spirits gather and make a giant flaked-skin monster! And…"
Luffy conveniently forgot about his brother's and Makino's thoughts on the matter.
"…besides."
Usopp turned back to his fishing rod, away from his glowing captain beside him.
"You're hat isn't black."
Luffy grinned. A wide toothy smile, again.
But as always, Usopp couldn't see the face that made it. Blinded by that painful radiance.
"This can't be stained, Usopp."
There they sat in the sea of red, until the cook announced that the dinner was ready.