That body, that alien body that had lived for too long, it made such an odd sound when it died, Usopp thought. Like a whistling teakettle. Or the screams of a million mice. Trapped air-bubbles screeching for release. It was an odd sound.
Usopp fell into the snow. It felt like falling into a world of pillows. Soft, white pillows that accepted him with open arms. He wished to sleep.
His arm was gone. He wasn't sure where it went, but he knew Smoker took it, perhaps to his fiery grave. It felt right. That man being dead. But it felt wrong, knowing what it had cost. Nobody was going to win like this. Not the bad guys and not the good guys either. His chest felt light and open and free. He'd been down under so deep before. Pressure building and pumping his lungs full with sludge and water and bad things he didn't like. But he'd escaped all that. His chest was free now. Free and open and breathless.
A smile settled on Usopp's bloody face. He watched happily as Buggy fell down in his knees and crawled over to where Usopp laid. He was so worried. Parts of his face seemed to be falling off.
Such an odd man. He was nice. Back before things went wrong, Usopp hadn't really trusted him. Who'd trust a man who looked weird, talked weird and knew weird things? It turns out, Usopp would. He'd trust such an odd man. Maybe it was a silly idea, sharing his little enjoyments with him, giving him little parts of his mind and soul and green fluffy leaves that he couldn't appreciate. Or maybe he did appreciate him? Usopp appreciated what Buggy gave him, at least. And maybe that was enough.
The features on Buggy's face seemed to convulse and move in irregular, inhuman ways, expressing emotions beyond the human spectrum. Usopp giggled, and the movements stopped. "You look weird," he said.
His face relaxed somewhat. In a very strange way, that face seemed to be both less Buggy and more Buggy. His mouth and eyes seemed more expressive, soul on full display, and yet, there was something hidden, restrained. Usopp quickly realized what it was. Smoker had done it, too. They'd done it almost completely when they fought. Buggy wasn't human. This form wasn't truly him. He must've been straining just to keep up the illusion that he was human in some form.
"It's okay," Usopp cooed. "You can show me."
Buggy hesitated. His human shell stiffened. Trembled.
And was shed.
Usopp had always loved movie monsters. The kind with lots of teeth and horrible flesh and eyes here and there that didn't many any sense on a Darwinian basis. Maybe he should have been scared. He felt like he should have been terrified, but his heart wouldn't beat any faster. If anything, it seemed to slow down, growing fainter with every beat. Usopp smiled. That was okay, too. He didn't want to be scared of Buggy. Because Buggy seemed sad. He seemed so sad, amidst those gaping mouths and hanging tongues and inhuman features. Amidst those terrible horrible things, there was a tangible sense of loss to him.
"What's wrong, Buggy?" Usopp asked, reaching up to touch Buggy's face. His hand trembled. It was pale and odd and he wasn't used to using this arm for anything, but he had to touch him. Had to feel what he truly felt like. "You look sad."
A gurgle emerged from Buggy's throat. He shook his head, and spoke again. "Sorry, I-, I'm sorry, I…"
In those many eyes of his, heavy fluids pooled. He swiped at his eyes with one of his many limbs, the tears dissolving parts of his flesh. He didn't react to it. It was interesting, Usopp thought. It was a very interesting sight to see. Acidic tears. He'd save that for his next story. He never did finish telling Buggy about the land of Nevermore.
"Don't be sorry, I'll finish the story some other time, okay?" Usopp said, but for some reason, Buggy didn't seem too happy to hear it. "And then, when I do, I'll tell it to you."
Buggy nodded slowly. "Yeah, okay. You'll do that?"
"Yeah," Usopp said. He felt warm. The snow felt warm, too. And Buggy felt the warmest of all. Like a fireplace in a person. It was cosy. The snow was a bed and Buggy was there to wish him goodnight. The stars twinkled so pretty above them, singing little lullabies. "I'm going to sleep now."
"..." Buggy paused for a moment. He slowly took Usopp's body into his arms, and burrowed his head in the boy's chest. "Yeah," he said. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Buggy."
Usopp slept there, in a bed made of snow and blood.