A few days after, Usopp was more than sick of it!
Sick of the looks, sick of the treatment, sick of the noise, sick of the smell from the galley so close to the infirmary. WHO THE HELL THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PLACE THE INFIRMARY RIGHT NEXT TO THE GALLEY!?
If it wasn't because Franky was so big an imposing, Usopp would seriously have considered strangling the cyborg.
He could feel Namis eyes in his back as he stood over the railing.. she didn't even dare to come close to him without his permission, which made Usopp sigh, before he bowed over the railing.
Why did he have to feel so sick every-time he took just a few steps? Was this what his mother had to go through?
When she forced herself up from the bed to prepaire some dinner, to clean a little better?
Was this the uptact to her death!?
She had been a good, hardworking, loving, kind woman.
And now Usopp had to go through it to!?
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" Usopp shouted.
It made several Straw-hats look up startled, and silently, a hand sneeked up on Usopp's shoulder.
In a twist Usopp turned around and was faced with his Captain, Luffy whom looked so innocently at Usopp.
His captain, whom had all-ready lost so much, and gone through so much to keep his nakamas safe, and now Usopp was such a lousy human being that he couldn't even keep himself safe!?
"What the hell did I ever do?" Usopp hissed at Luffy. "I always did my best, always worked as hard as I could! I have gone further than I could ever imagine I would. AND NOW THIS!?" he asked slapping Luffys hand away. "What the fuck have I done wrong huh?" he asked. "Why the hell does the world hate me so much?" he asked, and then he slipped and fell over, groaning.
Luffy caught him.. he didn't say any-thing, just held Usopp up by the arms.
"Let go of me." Usopp asked darkly.
Luffy did not say a word, just kept on holding Usopp so he wouldn't fall all the way down.
"I SAID LET GO!" Usopp shouted. "If I can't handle myself, what good am I!?" then he tried to kick Luffy, but it was a very very weak kick, and easily bounced off Luffys rubber skin.
"Usopp.." Luffy then finally spoke. "Look at me."
Usopp didn't, he averted his eyes.
"That's an order." Luffy demanded.
Usopp tensed, it was so rare for Luffy to ever sound like that, and slightly, Usopp turned his head and met Luffys eyes, and Luffy looked sternly back at him.
"You are not going to die." Luffy stated surely. "You are going to get well. You're strong, and you can make it through this. TO HELL WITH THE ODDS!"
Suddenly Usopp couldn't help it, the tears just pressed on, and began to run down Usopp's cheeks as he looked down. "I hate that you never take a moment to hate me for being this god damn weak." Usopp muttered.
"That's cause you are not weak." Luffy stated firmly as he put Usopp's arm over his shoulder, and walked towards the infirmary with the sniper, with a stern look on his face.
Though first as Usopp was back in the infirmary, and Luffy had left, did Usopp come up with his honest reply. "Yes I am, it's the only reason I have this illness." He muttered turning around. "If I had just been stronger! DAMMIT!" he hissed, then saw the bowl of porridge, parked on the nightstand.
That bowl made Usopp's stomach twist very uncomfortable, and with the remainder of his strength, he managed to lift his arm and smack to bowl away, so it spilled over the floor.
In the back of his mind Usopp noted that Sanji would probably kill him for that.
Well good riddance then! Better get it over with right!?
Gosh Usopp was tired.. he wished he could just sleep all of this away.
Chopper sighed deeply as he put a hoof on Usopp's head, sweat was falling down the snipers face as he breathed rash breaths. "As I thought." Chopper sighed. "His fever as gotten worse."
Robin and Luffy was in there, looking seriously at the doctor, then looked at Usopp, whom looked very uncomfortable in his sleep.
"It is not quite life-threatening yet, but it is steadily raising, as anticipated." Chopper muttered. "From now on, it would be unwise to let him leave bed, unless it's for him to bathe or relieve himself." He told.
Gently Robin reached forward a hand, and brushed the snipers cheek.
"Hmm." Luffy frowned rubbing his cheek. "Well, if that is what needs to be done to make him become better."
"Luffy.." Chopper sighed. "As a doctor, I have to keep informing you that the chances of survival are very slim and that.."
"What?" Luffy asked annoyed.
"You are showing symptoms of denial.." Chopper breathed.
"I'm what?" Luffy asked confused.
"Denial." Robin softly pointed out. "Instead of being sad or even angry, you seem to deny what is right in front of you."
"No I'm not." Luffy blinked. "Look, Usopp is right there, he is going to be fine!" he told looking at Usopp on the bed.. whom was breathing in deep hoarse rash breaths, sweat emerging on his forehead, and a red blush over his cheeks, nose and forehead, in spite of his natural darker skin colour.
Then Luffy turned to Chopper. "He is going to be all-right, right?" he asked. "He can survive!"
"Luffy.." Chopper tried.
"Usopp is right, that's not fair!" Luffy hissed grabbing Chopper by his blouse straps. "What can I do to make him better!?" he asked.
"Luffy, there is nothing you can do!" Chopper exclaimed.
"THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" Luffy shouted.
"Luffy-san." Robins soft voice cut in, and Luffy turned his head to look at the raven haired woman, whom looked back at him. "Luffy, I understand your anger, and you have the right to be angry." She told. "How-ever, maybe this is not the place." She pointed out, looking at Usopp.
Luffy as well turned his eyes to Usopp, and bit his lip, as he slowly let go of Chopper. "Sorry Chopper." He muttered ashamed.
"It's okay." Chopper whispered a little wide-eyed.
"I'm just not used to be powerless.. I hate this feeling." Luffy hissed. "If I could only.. If I were just.."
"What Luffy?" Robin asked. "If you could just cure him? If you were just a better Captain? No one can cure him, Chopper told us all-ready, and you are the best Captain we could wish for. Do not blame yourself."
"But.." Luffy tried.
"Usopp loves you, and loves being here, among this crew." Robin softly pointed out. "You think he would change any of that?" she asked.
"I.. I need to get some air." Luffy stated and turned around, for a moment he hang in the door-frame, before he walked out and closed the door behind him.
Chopper kept looking after Luffy, and then at last sighed deeply as the door was fully closed, then he glanced at Robin, whom looked very thoughtfully out in the air. Then Chopper noticed, that Robins hand was tightened in a fist, and lightly shaking.
"Urh, are you okay?" Chopper asked.
Robin looked at Chopper, then at her fist, and quickly hid it in her lap.
Questionable Chopper looked up at Robin, and at last Robin sighed deeply.
"I'm afraid I can't help it, but feel a certain anger myself." Robin admitted.
"Angry at who?" Chopper asked. "You didn't do any-thing, you said it yourself, there is nothing you could have done."
Robin shook her head. "I am ashamed to admit it." She mumbled. "But I am angry that Usopp could be leaving like this." She mumbled, and a single tear pressed itself through her eye, and rolled down her cheek. "I'm angry that this could happen, angry that he is laying there."
"I'm angry to." Chopper admitted. "Angry I can't cure him! I should have become so much better as a doctor since Doctor died, but here I am, no better off then back then."
Then Robin sighed deeply. "Perhaps we should go vent our anger some-where else." She suggested "Let Usopp sleep."
And Chopper nodded. "Hai.."