Three months later
Once, twice, and thrice Usopp knocked upon the door before taking a step back to wait with Sabo. They watched in fascination as a periscope-like tube popped out from a hole in the wall and stared at them with a glass eye. A small metal piece briefly fell over the eye as if it was blinking before the tube retracted back into the hole. The door opened a moment later.
Usopp didn't even get a word out before Nami hugged him. He hugged her back and they let go, grinning.
"How are you?" he exclaimed, staring into the house behind her. It was far neater and prettier than when they had lived there.
"Oh, we are great," Nami said happily, waving to Sabo. She stepped aside to let them in as Vivi came around the corner. "The business is going so well!"
"Mr. Sabo, Mr. Usopp," Vivi exclaimed, smiling. "How are you all doing?"
"We're great," Sabo said with a grin. "You should come visit sometime, everyone misses you—what've you done to this place?"
"It's incredible what you can do with old scraps and magic wands," Nami said with a wink. She pushed aside curtains leading into the parlor and brought everyone in, disappearing for a moment into the kitchen and returning with small cups of warm tea, held aloft by her wand.
The cups floated to everyone and were caught before they crashed. Nami sat next to Vivi and looked between Usopp and Sabo.
"Is this just a friendly visit?" she asked, leaning forward. "Or is there a special reason?"
Usopp and Sabo grinned.
"I mean, I did want to visit," Usopp explained, sipping his tea. "Oh, this is good—um, since it's been a while. But we're also here to deliver some news."
"News about what?" Vivi prompted.
Usopp grinned. "Well . . ."
Usopp and Sabo now stood in front of Franky's and Chopper's shop. Usopp knocked on the wall.
"Welcome," Franky said, straightening up and turning around. "What can we—BRO!"
"Usopp!" Chopper cried, running forward and knocking Usopp over with the force of his hug.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Franky yelled, storming over with a huge grin. "You bastard, you should've visited!"
"I'm sorry!" Usopp exclaimed, sitting up with Chopper still clinging to his shoulders. "I've been busy—I missed you guys, too! Geez!"
Sabo helped Usopp stand again and Chopper finally hopped down.
"We actually came to deliver some news," Sabo explained, "and you would've found out in a few days, but . . . Usopp wanted to see everyone, so . . ."
"Don't act like you didn't come for no reason," Usopp muttered. Sabo looked away. "Anyway, yeah, we're going to the tavern after this—but I think we have some time. Should I tell a story first?"
Sabo glanced around impatiently while Chopper nodded with shining eyes.
"Man, I've missed those," Franky said, still grinning as he grabbed Usopp in a hug. "Go for it!"
Usopp sat on a table. "Okay! So, it all started with a dragon who had a penchant for kidnapping royalty . . ."
By the time the story ended, the sun was setting outside, and Sabo resembled Luffy with how much he was fidgeting.
"Oh, shoot, we should get going," Usopp exclaimed, looking outside. "Real quick, here's the news before we do—"
When Usopp and Sabo reached the tavern at last, Sabo was quick to walk in first, running to the near-empty counter and leaning over to hug Koala.
"Hi!" she exclaimed with a grin, pulling back as Usopp walked in. "How're—Usopp!"
She leapt the counter and ran to give him a quick hug as well.
"How's it going?" she exclaimed, looking between him and Sabo.
"It's been great, sorry I couldn't visit sooner—" Usopp glanced at Zoro and Brook. "Hi, guys!"
"Mr. Usopp, good to see you," Brook said with a broad smile. Zoro grinned and lifted his mug in greeting.
"How's everyone at the palace?" Koala asked, hopping back over the counter.
"They're good," Sabo said, sitting at the counter with Usopp. Usopp looked around at his old paintings on the wall as Sabo continued, "Luffy wanted to come, too, but then Ace needed help with carrying stuff, King Sanji's organizing things—" He shook his head. "Robin's been an amazing help. I get why she didn't tell us, but it would've been nice to know about that power sooner!"
"That weird limb thing?" Zoro said. Sabo had mentioned it on his last visit. "I can imagine."
"Mesdames Nami and Vivi sometimes visit here," Brook said, glancing at Usopp.
"Do they?" Usopp exclaimed.
"Oh, yes—only in the evenings, from what I've seen, I don't think they like crowds."
"Good for them," Usopp said, smiling. "Getting out in public, I mean. Oh! Guys, we came to deliver some news—"
Sabo grinned, folding his arms on the counter as Usopp continued, "I mean, you're gonna get a proper invitation in a few days, but I thought we should tell you first—me n' Sanji are getting married!"
Koala gasped, smiling, while Brook clasped his hands together and Zoro raised his mug in a toast.
"Congratulations," he said, throwing his head back for a drink. "Did you cry when he proposed?"
"Who says he proposed?" Usopp exclaimed. "Maybe it was me!"
Everyone looked at him.
"Okay, I cried," he admitted.
"When's the wedding?" Zoro asked.
"A week and a few days," Usopp explained, smiling, "and we're gonna take a trip the day after—"
"Does this make you official royalty?" Koala asked, wringing a towel expectantly.
Usopp's eyes widened. "Oh, oh my god, I didn't even think of that."
"You're marrying the King and you didn't think of that?" Brook repeated.
"I just—I was only thinking of the romance, not the politics of it—oh, geez—"
"King Sanji was there before you, so you'll be second-in-command," Sabo explained. "I think, as his second, your title will be 'Prince.'"
Usopp stared at the ceiling, processing this.
"Wow," he said at last. "Is it . . . a lot of responsibility?"
"Worry about that later," Sabo said, clapping him on the back. He glanced up at Koala. "Um, what time does this place close again?"
Koala told him.
"Can we stay until then?"
When Usopp and Sabo returned to the palace, they were jumped on by Ace and Luffy, demanding to know how Vivi was doing. Once they'd gotten the news, they backed off, satisfied, and Robin and Sanji came around to greet them.
"We'll start preparing for the wedding in a few days," Sanji said happily. He looked around. "What do you think? Outside or inside?"
"Inside," Robin suggested. "The paper predicts rainfall starting in a few days."
"Is that so? Inside it is."
Days passed, and the wedding finally rolled around. Usopp licked his lips nervously, checking himself in the mirror.
"You look fine, don't worry."
He whipped around to see Robin standing behind him with a smile.
"Geez, you startled me," he muttered. He turned back to the mirror and adjusted his hair. "I just . . . what if I mess up? What if I trip, or I say the wrong words, or st-stutter—"
He gripped the sides of the mirror and twitched when a hand sprouted from his back, patting his shoulder.
"You'll be fine," Robin said firmly. She closed her eyes briefly and smiled. "If it's any consolation, your fiancé is nervous, too."
Usopp frowned at the mirror. "He is?"
"He keeps playing with his hair," Robin explained. "I'll go talk to him as well. The ceremony's starting soon, so come out in a minute."
She reached the door and paused, looking back.
"There's some dirt," she said, tapping her forehead. "Right there."
Usopp frantically scrubbed at the spot while she left.
"Oh—"
"Oh, no—"
Usopp turned away, hiding his face. "We aren't supposed to see each other before the ceremony!" he exclaimed. "It's bad luck! Now things are gonna go horribly wrong—"
Sanji let out an exasperated sigh, turned Usopp around, and pulled his hands away.
"How're you feeling?" he asked.
Usopp dropped his hands, surrendering. "Stomach hurts," he whispered. "You?"
"Kinda itchy." Sanji tucked some hair behind his ear, only to tug it back out. "Um . . . we should go to our places."
"Right."
They turned and hurried away.
Walking down the aisle, Usopp's shoulders were stiff and his head held high. He was accompanied by Luffy, who kept looking out to the crowd and waving at friends, causing murmurs of laughter in the audience. Ace, Sabo, and Robin already stood at the altar with Sanji.
When they reached the altar, meeting with Sanji, Usopp took a second to look out at the crowd. He spotted Franky, Chopper, and Zoro right away—Brook was providing the music, of course, standing nearby with his violin—and there were Nami and Vivi, sitting nervously in the audience with expectant smiles. Koala sat near them, eyes darting between Sabo and the royal couple.
The preacher cleared his throat and waved to Brook. As the music stopped, Usopp finally looked at Sanji and saw the sea within his eyes (Sanji's hair was of course parted properly down the center for the occasion at Robin's insistence). A small, relaxed smile came to his face as they clasped hands and his nervous knee-knocking ceased.
He hardly heard all the proper ceremonious words from the preacher, and had only just registered "kiss" when Sanji leaned in, one hand holding the back of Usopp's head as he pressed their lips together. Usopp melted into it, forgetting how many eyes were upon them even as the audience stood and cheered.
"Let the reception begin!" Sanji called once he'd pulled back.
The resulting party lasted until sundown. Usopp first danced with Sanji, of course, and once everyone else joined in, they traded partners, Sanji offering dances to some women while Usopp joined in with Franky and Chopper. Sabo and Koala stayed together while Ace and Luffy threw things at them for fun (balled-up napkins, paper clips, bottle caps), and Nami and Vivi danced together, politely turning down Sanji's requests. Zoro seemed content to stay near the wall (and the punch bowl); Brook of course provided the music with accompaniment from a pianist, and Robin, wearing a sari, was dragged into the festivities by Usopp, Franky, and Chopper.
At last, well after sunset, the crowd began to dwindle. Goodbyes were said among Usopp and his friends, and Sabo had to make Koala leave when she started yawning.
Sabo and Luffy dragged Ace up to bed, and Sanji returned from talking with Brook, the final guest. As Brook left, Sanji said, "I'm probably going to hire him as the official musician. He said he doesn't care to live here, so he'd just show up at events like this."
"Everything's set up for your journey tomorrow," Robin said to him and Usopp with a smile. Her robe was a bit disheveled from the dancing she'd been pulled into, and the ties of the other two were rumpled.
"Excellent, thank you very much," Sanji said with a grateful smile. He and Usopp were to take a honeymoon the following day, and Robin would assume any minor tasks which Sanji would normally take care of.
"Unless there's anything else, I think I'll take an early bedtime," Robin said, holding back a yawn.
"No, I think that's it—thank you again, you're wonderful," Sanji said. Robin smiled and left the room.
"This can be taken care of tomorrow," Sanji added, looking around the messy room. "Oh, well. Are you ready for bed, too?"
Usopp nodded, yawning. "I can carry you," he said with a little grin. "Like I'm the hero, saving you from the evil dragon."
"Oh, please, if anything—" Sanji knelt and knocked Usopp's legs out from underneath him, making him yelp before Sanji caught him bridal-style— "I'll be the one saving you."
"It could happen," Usopp protested, leaning his head into Sanji's shoulder.
"Hm." Sanji started walking, careful about keeping his balance with such an imbalanced load. "Maybe if the dragon needs the best sharpshooter in the world to prove his skill."
"I am a decent sniper!"
"I know you are. You caught Luffy the other day with a lasso, while he was running, and he can run."
"The situation called for it. I couldn't let that villain get away with an entire ham."
"You're my hero, alright." Sanji shifted his grip as they approached stairs. "Okay, now get down, I'm not taking you up these things."
Changed into nightclothes, Usopp at last followed Sanji into his bedroom, planning to move his stuff from his previous room into this one as soon as possible.
He sat on the edge of the bed and looked around, and nearly fell off when he spotted something on the wall.
"Sanji," he said as Sanji went for the light. "Wait—that painting—"
"Do you like it?" Sanji asked with a cheeky smile, looking to the canvas on the wall. "I bought it from the best painter in the world."
It was, of course, the painting of the fish-filled ocean Sanji had bought from Usopp the first day they had met.
"You still have it," Usopp said in wonder. "And it's been—here?"
"Sure," Sanji said matter-of-factly. "That way I know I'll see it every day."
Usopp looked ready to cry.
"Come on," Sanji said, turning out the light. By the faint gleam of the window, he went to the bed and patted Usopp's shoulder. "You okay?"
"You're the best," Usopp whispered.
"You are, too."
They climbed under the covers and lay in silence. Sanji rested his head in the crook of Usopp's neck, and Usopp draped an arm over him.
"Usopp . . ."
"Mm?"
"I'm so happy. First thing I see tomorrow when I wake up is gonna be you."
Usopp ran his fingers through Sanji's hair. "Same here. I can't believe how lucky I am."
"You think you're lucky?" Sanji shifted and sighed. "Hey . . ."
Usopp waited.
"Will you tell me a story?"
Usopp smiled. "Sure. Any requests?"
"Hm . . ."
Usopp heard the smile in his voice, too.
"Something . . . to do with the painting."
"Okay."
Usopp held him, feeling his breath on his chest, and his heart warmed. He ran his fingers through Sanji's hair again and took a deep breath.
"Once upon a time, there was a sea called the All Blue."
~Fin~
Story's done! Thanks for all your support, everyone!