Usopp woke up to the sound of water hitting the boat, feeling the Thousand Sunny rocking on the waves.
He found himself in the boys' room, alone, memories of the previous night flowing back into his mind.
Usopp shivered, pulling the covers over his head and laid back on the bed.
Trying to hide from the mistake he made last night…
"Usopp! Earth to Usopp hey! Don't you dare pass out, hey!"
Usopp quivered under the bed sheets, how was he going to face Sanji now?
He messed up, that's all Usopp could think about, how is he going to deal with this?
He knew what Sanji would do the first moment he sees Usopp, the thought of what was in store for him was too much to bare.
"Hey Usopp! It's nearly breakfast, you coming down?" Zoro yelled, Usopp just held on tighter to the blanket, not wanting to leave the bedroom, terrified for what the future might hold…
"Y-You know what, I'm not feeling well" he could hear the swordsman's feet dragging through the floor, next thing he knew the quilt that was cocooning him was torn off, exposing the sniper to the cold.
"Funny" Zoro chuffed, his gaze narrowed into a scowl "You look fine to me, better than that shit-cook this morning" he didn't miss the way Usopp flinched at the mention of the idiot cook, Zoro maybe slow but even he wasn't that slow.
Zoro sighed "Well whatever" the green haired man groaned, shuffling his way out of the room "Just come down and get breakfast before Luffy decides to eat the fridge"
Something was up, Zoro was aware of that, he thought it was odd that both of them were missing from their beds last night, well Usopp was understandable because of his watch but Sanji…
Sure he went to switch with Usopp but it took too long for that to happen, whatever the reason, he knew it was probably the idiot cook's fault.
Zoro shuffled his way out of the bedroom and made his way to the kitchen, he could already hear the gurgling sounds of his captain's stomach.
"Luffy I'm serious!" Sanji growled, protecting a dish covered in a towel "This isn't for you, your share is over there!"
Luffy pouted "But Saaaaaaanji, I'm still hungry!" he moaned, rocking the table, nearly knocking over all the other plates.
"This is for that idiot sniper, if you don't back off I'm going to cut you up and serve you for brunch!"
Really? Zoro thought to himself, it was peculiar that Sanji was protecting a meal for Usopp other than the one's he would make for the girls.
I wonder…
Usopp checked to see if the coast was clear, he knew that the kitchen would be empty at this time of day, everyone was probably on the deck or on other parts of the ship.
"Right" Usopp whispered to himself, slowly tip toeing in, making sure not to make a sound "The coast is clear", he continued his journey into the kitchen, noticing a towel covering a plate on the table.
Target sighted
Seems to be some food left over from breakfast, waiting for further orders
As if by command, his stomach growled
Understood, target locked
Usopp swiftly went over to the table, taking the towel off the plate, to reveal some food; it looked very tasty, his stomach growled in approval as he picked up his knife and fork.
"Hey so you came down after all" Usopp turned to see Zoro standing by the door way, the swordsman seemed a little bit off but Usopp just told himself it was probably the hunger talking.
"Yeah, the mighty Usopp always makes a quick recovery!"
Zoro cocked an eyebrow "You don't say, so what happened between you and the idiot cook last night?"
The sniper twitched at the question "N-Nothing, what makes you say that?"
The swordsman walked closer, placing his hand on the table, his gaze fixated on the shaking teen "Well that shitty cook was in such a foul mood and you didn't want to come down, so I just assumed it was something the moron did"
Usopp's mind went back to the night before, the night where he slipped up and kissed Sanji...
His heart ached at the thought of the cook, Sanji probably doesn't want to see him now...
Usopp placed his knife and fork on the table, his heart weighing him down, it hurt, his heart hurt form the idea that Sanji hates him now, that the blond probably doesn't want anything to do with him.
The warrior could sense the sudden change in Usopp's mood, whatever happened between the sniper and the idiot-cook, must've been bad.
"N-No, it wasn't something he did" Usopp placed his hands on to his knees, his eyes closed "It was something I did, I think Sanji hates me now"
"What makes you say that?" Zoro asked, waiting for an answer, he could hear the sniper's breath hitch.
"I-" he began but Usopp found his voice quaked "I-I did something..." the sniper shivered from the memory "Bad"
"What did you do Usopp?"
BAM
"It's not any of your business Marimo!" both men turned to see a calm yet very livid cook standing by the doorway, the blond walked on in, every step that was made from his feet resonated in Usopp's ears, his heart racing in seconds.
Sweat dripping down his skin, his instincts told Usopp to run for it but from experience he knew he couldn't get away in time.
"And you" Sanji's gaze was on him, shoving past Zoro, facing each other while his voice let out a growl "What were you going to say to Zoro when we haven't finished our last conversation, eh Usopp?" Usopp had to pull his gaze away from Sanji's, his voice caught in his throat.
Sanji glared, reaching his hand for Usopp's arm and jerked him off his seat as he pulled him towards the exit.
Usopp winced from the sudden contact, he could feel the cook's grip tighten,
It hurts!
"Ouch, S-Sanji!" Usopp squeaked
"Oi what the hell are you doing shit-cook!?" The swordsman walked after them, not liking where this was heading when Sanji was dragging Usopp towards the door.
"Back off Moss-head!" Sanji warned, picking up the pace as they walked towards the deck "This has nothing to do with you!"
Zoro followed suite until he got between the cook and sniper, smacking Sanji's hand off Usopp's arm.
"The hell is your problem idiot cook!?"
Usopp placed a hand on his arm, trying to ease the flaring pain on it.
Sanji glared at the swordsman, it was obvious he wasn't in the mood for the usual song and dance that the two usually do
"Why are you butting in to business that doesn't concern you stupid Marimo!"
They were getting the attention of the rest of the crew now, Nami was busy talking to Luffy and Chopper until their attention was distracted by the sudden commotion.
Robin who was sitting on one of the deck chairs slowly pulled her attention away from her book and watched what was unfolding in front of her, Franky just appeared on the deck with Brook, both also finding the current fight interesting.
"Hey, are two fighting again?" Nami groaned
Usopp felt everyone staring, if there was a better time to sneak off, this was it.
Usopp quickly made a dash, he wanted to get to his workshop, maybe he could barricade himself in there until the whole thing blows over?
With that thought in his mind, he made his way towards the workshop
Of course Sanji noticed straight away, the cook swung a leg towards Zoro to get the swordsman out of his way, but the swordsman wasn't as slow when it came to combat.
Zoro blocked the kick with one of his swords, still sheathed before pushing Sanji back.
The swordsman snarled "You want to fight then huh?!"
Little did Zoro know that Sanji had an ace in his sleeve
"Oi Luffy!" the cook called to his captain "Zoro has some snacks on him!"
"Huh?" Zoro had no idea what was happening but he didn't like the sound of that "What are you talking abou-"
"FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!" that seemed to have done the trick, Luffy tackled Zoro to the ground, nearly removing any articles of clothing to find the fore mentioned snacks while Nami tried to pry her captain off the second in command.
Yosh! Sanji thought to himself before turning and gave chase after Usopp, he refused to let the sniper make a run for it especially a second time.
He wanted to know why the young man kissed him, was it to mess with him?
To hell with that! Sanji hates being toyed with!
"USOPP!"
He could see the teen at his workshop, closing the door shut and locked it.
As if a locked door is going to get in my way!
Sanji made it to the door, raising his foot into the air "Don't think your getting out of this with a locked door long nose!" with one kick, he blasted the door down, making his way inside.
Usopp was terrified, hiding behind the crates with the checker table cloth, hoping that the cook didn't find him down there but then again this was Black leg Sanji he was dealing with.
The tanned teenager shivered with each step Sanji took into his workshop, wrapping his arms tighter around himself, he didn't want to be here, he didn't want Sanji to see him like this.
Dread filled Usopp's stomach, unsure of what will happen, terrified of Sanji finding out his feelings and hating him.
His heart wouldn't stop racing, his face heating up as he continue to shiver and shake, it felt like time slowed down again.
"I know your in here Usopp come out" the cook ordered
Usopp felt himself shivered, not answering the cook, he could hear the blond coming in deeper within his workshop, Usopp peeked his head over the crates, seeing the Sanji walking towards the blackboard.
Good I can make a break for it, quietly, Usopp tip toed towards the entrance to his workshop, relief almost washed over him when he reached the stairs until he felt a hand grabbing one of his straps, harshly pulling him back into the factory, forcing him on to the floor with a giant thud.
"Ow!"
Usopp knew he was a goner, there were only two people in this room, himself and Sanji, he slowly looked up, seeing the shoes to the fearsome gaze of the cook. Sanji looked more pissed off now with every step he took, Usopp shuffled back until he hit a wall.
"Alright Usopp, no more lies!" Sanji stamped a foot, setting it a hair's breath beside Usopp, watching the young sniper flinch.
"You either tell me what the hell is going on or I'll waste you here and now! And just so you know, faint again and I'll kick you awake!"
His blood ran cold, Usopp's eyes growing wide like dinner plates while his body grew stiff, mind blank, heart beating faster, his breathing growing heavy and hurt when he drew breath.
W-hat d-do I do?
Ba-thump
What do I do?
Ba-thump, ba-thump
What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? The question repeated inside his head, trying to take in more breath, his chest rising and falling at a fast rate.
"Usopp?" Sanji knelt down seeing the teen having a mini panic attack, seeing the panic, the fear. His usual rough approach wasn't working, in fact, Sanji wasn't angry about the kiss any more, he just wanted to know why Usopp did it.
The cook slowly reached a hand forward and placed it on the man's shoulder, "Usopp, calm down"
The curly haired teen smacked Sanji's hand away, wrapping his arms around his knees and hid his head as he began to whimper.
"No!" He screamed "I don't want Sanji to hate me!"
The blond froze at those words, Sanji wondered why Usopp would think that he would hate him, why would he hate Usopp over a kiss?
Sanji took in a deep breath, rose to his feet and brought out a cigarette, lighting it and taking a drag before letting out some smoke.
"Now why on earth would you think that?"
The boy did not answer, just continued to shiver and cry before letting out a reply
"Because I kissed you"
Sanji sighed, looking down on the boy, watching him quaking under the tension from the very question he was trying not to answer.
"To be honest Usopp, I'm not even mad about that anymore, I just wanted to know why you kissed me?"
"B-Because it was c-"
Sanji knelt down, looking at Usopp, their eyes met "No lies, The real reason"
The intense pumping sound of his heartbeat was driving Usopp insane, sweat trickled down his skin, he swallowed the lump in his throat.
There was no way out of this, no way out…
"I love you" Sanji placed a hand on to his ear, he couldn't hear that, the sniper was speaking to low.
"Huh? What was that?"
"I love you" Usopp began to shake even more, closing his eyes tight, he didn't want to see Sanji's face turn in to disgust when he finds out that Usopp loves him.
"Usopp your going to have to speak louder, I can't hear a damn thing you're saying!"
Usopp took in a deep breath, his body shivering from the fear, the horror of having his secret told
"I LOVE YOU OKAY!"
TO BE CONTINUED
Authors Note:
Sorry for the long update, it was just kind of tricky to come up with a second part to this story but looks like it might be three parts or more…
Also I would like to thank a reader for noting that the Thousand Sunny's crows nest has a roof and walls, I looked at the sketches but I did not notice the crows nest having walls or a roof, soooooo thanks for pointing that out CaroRolo.
I'm fuming at myself for not noticing that even since I've seen it but what can you do.
So until next time readers, see you later, or if you have any suggestions on which direction this story goes then give me an email XD
Also in another note, yes there might be some spelling mistakes and grammatical errors