What He Means To Us: Chopper

They were sitting side by side, looking past all the snow to beyond. Well, that's where Doctor Hiluluk always looks anyway, like he wants to be there. Chopper glances at him, like he has been there. "You see Chopper, I believe even a monster can make friends." The reindeer looked at the old man with wide eyes, Doctor smiled and looked past the snow with that look in his eyes again.

"And your not the baddest, trust me. The sea's a vast and terrible place, but it's also full of endless possibilities and adventures!" Hiluluk looked down at him, his smile wider than anything the little doctor can remember (even at his death) "That's what makes it so dangerous!"

Chopper gasps low, head bowed and ears twitching. He looks back, knowing that voice even in a nightmare, especially in a nightmare. His brown eyes find his captains who grins widely back at him. Chopper feels his breath seep from his open mouth. The doctor clears his throat while his heart rises at the sight of black eyes (- like the night's at Torino Kingdom) "Yes, captain?" he asks.

Luffy frowns, reaching a hand out and placing it on the small forehead, Chopper freezes in place at the touch. "Are you okay Chopper?" his captain asks, frown deepening at his reaction. Chopper can't help it, staring at his captain and realizing- this is his captain, his nakama, his hero.

Someone who would move mountains and divide skies for him and them, his other nakama. Someone who risked his own life for the sake of someone else's. Someone who can smile while they're destroying his enemies. Someone who can reach out his hand when you've hurt him so badly that- Chopper swallows hard and doesn't leave dark eyes that have specks of brown.

"Doctor Hiluluk, are there people like the sea?" Chopper asked, ears down as he stared confuse at the old man who laughed while patting his knees in response. Doctor smiled with that thing in his eyes again, the kind he gets when looking beyond the snow.

"Chopper?" Luffy asks, frown still on his face with his eyes full of worry. Chopper smiles, it stretches his cheeks, he laughs.

"Sorry Luffy! I was just distracted!" Chopper apologizes, eyes closed, only peeking open to smile at his confused captain. "It's really pretty today outside, isn't it?" Luffy blinks, turning his head to look out the window, smiling at the sight of a sunny day with clear blue water.

"Shishishishi! Your right Chopper!" the reindeer watches fascinated as his captain turns to him with a smile that resembles the sun itself. "Do you wanna fish with me? Usopp said he would but he's talking to Franky about some weird metal thing." Luffy says, staring as he fixes his straw hat.

"Rare ones! People like that are a once in a lifetime special. If you meet anyone like that, make sure not to let them slip away! It would be a mistake of a lifetime!" Doctor Hiluluk laughed loud and bright, Chopper felt his shoulders shake as he laughed along with him.

Chopper grins, "Sure!"

You're the sea to me