lawly

by footfungus

lawly

5. Chapter 5

Usopp felt big fat tears running down his face as he looked out at the Thousand Sunny, which was steadily approaching him from his current position-tied up on a marine ship.

He had been caught by the marines when he and the crew had last docked at a local island. Usopp had gone off on his own, something that wasn't too uncommon when he was on the quest for new supplies for the latest and greatest Usopp invention. He had been balancing a large number of powders, and spices when his Sogeking mask fell out of his bag. A nice young lady, with dark hair and pretty eyes, handed it to him all smiles and politeness...and then a big guy smoking two cigars, grabbed him from behind.

Usopp hadn't even had a chance to scream, as big thick arms pressed against his throat. Eyes watering, he managed to catch a grim smile from the intimidating man, before the sniper passed out. He woke up later, tied up to the mast on the deck of a marine ship, the harbor and his friends already fading away in the distance.

Lucky for him, one of his friends must have spotted him being carried off.

Usopp hadn't even had time to start screaming, panicking, or contracting some new fear-induced disease to die from, before he could see the outline of the Thousand Sunny hurrying to catch up with them.

Canon fire had just started, and faintly Usopp could hear screeching from Luffy. How his friends had managed to get the ship to catch up so fast must have been some Franky ingenuity-or sheer will of desperation.

However, It seemed like the Thousand Sunny was taking a real beating... Holes were appearing on the port side, the sail ripped to shreds, scratches against the hull, patches of fire along the deck even! But on it came.

Usopp could see Luffy perched on the giant dandelion head (or was it merely a weird lion? Usopp wasn't sure, and wasn't willing to broach Franky about the subject) while the others were scurrying about deflecting attacks, and calling out for their sniper. Biting his lip, he wept in sheer relief and gratitude for his friends.

"Hmf...who would have thought catching a small fry, like you, would get them to come this far? They'll be caught for sure," Smoker chortled. behind Usopp. He was just out of the sniper's range of vision, so he couldn't see the large Marine's face, but Usopp could guess his expression. The bruise on Usopp's throat stung, singing out a reminder of what Smoker was capable of.

Usopp swallowed past the lump of fear in his throat and closed his eyes, "F-Fuck off!" His voice was loud, and he hoped vicious. On the inside Usopp felt like a scared mouse, trying to frighten off a hungry alley cat.

Smoker shifted behind the sniper, "Watch your mouth kid! Just sit there and cry. Your friends will come, and we'll get them."

There was a certainty, in the intimidating man's voice and all of Usopp's fears for himself took a back seat.

What if they did catch his friends? What if he was the end of the Straw Hats?

As Usopp's thoughts flooded with worry, a cannon whizzed over the thousand sunny, landing dangerously close next to the ship. His friends were in danger... the closer they got the more dangerous it was becoming for them... and had they all really recovered after their last adventure? If they did battle now, could they really take on Smoker? He was tough the last time they had to deal with him... And what of the ship? They had Franky now of course, but Usopp didn't like the thought of their beloved ship getting any more damaged. No... his friends shouldn't be coming after him, not with Smoker and his crew preparing and lying in wait.

"LUFFY! LLLLUUUUUFFFFYYYY! G-GO AWAY! JUS-JUST GET OUTTA HERE!" Usopp screamed, closing his eyes tight, forcing his tears to stop, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME! I CAN GET MY 8,000 FOLLOWERS TO BUST ME OUT! THEN I'LL CONTACT A GIANT SEA TURTLE, AND GET BACK TO YOU! DON'T WORRY! I WANT TO GO! I A-ASKED TO GO! I WANTED TO SEE THE MARINE HEADQUARTERS, AND PROVE I COULD ESCAPE! IT WOULD BE MY 100TH ESCAPE FROM THEIR CLUTCHES! I-I PROMISE I'LL BE FINE! JUST TURN AROUND! DON'T COME THIS WAY!"

Usopp might have kept on screaming, making up excuse after excuse to convince his friends to turn around, but a marine smacked him hard across the face, and Usopp had no choice but to fall silent as he felt something split and break in his mouth.

Choking, he spit out a tooth and a mouth full of blood.

Smoker growled from behind Usopp, and appeared in front of the restrained pirate. His back was to Usopp, but it was not threatening him, no, this wall of muscle was protecting him. With a swift hand, Smoker reached back, and slapped the other navy man so hard, he went skidding across the deck, and cracked the side railing.

"Bastard. He may be a crook, but we don't manhandle the prisoners when we don't have to!" Smoker seethed, puffing along angrily on his two cigars.

Tashigi, the pretty woman from before, gently wiped some blood away from Usopp's mouth and quietly whispered, "Blow your nose...you're being very brave to warn your friends off...but we'll catch them anyway."

Usopp couldn't find he could be upset with her... she seemed like an honest and good person. He blew his nose into the offered handkerchief, Smoker snorting disapprovingly.

"Girl, whoever you are, get back to work."

Tashigi growled in annoyance, "Captain! That's mean!"

Smoker looked at her, "Oh it's you Tashigi...I didn't recognize you while consoling a captive-because surely my protégé wouldn't be CODDLING A DAMN PIRATE!"

Tashigi flushed, puffing out her cheeks in anger.

Usopp watched the two as his jaw ached on. He hadn't expected to be witness to such a familial scolding... was that big monster of a man her dad?

The Thousand Sunny was almost alongside them...

Usopp could see his friends worried expressions clearly now. Nami was pointing at Usopp's marred face, and insistently tugging on Zoro's shirt. Zoro was grim, and batting her head away, as his gaze stayed fixed on Usopp. Brook, still new to all the excitement, was holding up Chopper who was was making his typical flailing motions of needing a doctor. Robin and Franky seemed in deep discussion about some plan, and gestured to Usopp and to then back to the Thousand Sunny. Robin's face was flushed, and it looked like her and Franky were arguing over some course of action. Sanji was leaning over the railing along the ship, pressed away from the rest of his friends, and leaning towards Usopp, as far as he could stretch. The cook was frowning, and looked ready to jump from the Thousand Sunny to the marine's ship-even if it was an impossible distance.

Luffy was in front of them all, a calm and livid expression set on his determined face. It was a look he only wore when he was serious, and to see it now made Usopp happy...but...

He closed his eyes, and shouted as loudly and bravely as he could muster, "GO AWAY! I-I DON'T WANT... NO, I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP! GO AWAY! JU-JUST STOP! GO AWAY!" Usopp was now sure his friends could hear him...maybe now they'd go and they'd be spared the fate Smoker had promised.

And at last, the Thousand Sunny was alongside the Marine's ship, he could see them now if he dared to open his eyes.

Usopp opened his eyes and could have laughed until he cried. Hanging off the side of their beloved ship, was everyone: Nami, Zoro, Sanji, Robin, Franky, Chopper, Brook, and Luffy, all giving Usopp a rude gesture. All at the same time, the crew leaned over the railing and shouted, "BA~~~KA! SHUT UP AND LET US SAVE YOU!"

Usopp felt a dopey grin spread on his face, and the tears that he had been trying to hold back, managed to leak from his face and wash down his cheeks.

"STOP CRYING LONG-NOSE! WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU RIGHT NOW!" Sanji shouted.

In awe, Usopp watched as Luffy took hold of the Thousand Sunny's railing, and stretched himself like a slingshot, Zoro and Sanji both in his arms. Luffy released his hold on the side of the ship. and sent himself and the other two flying at the marines. All three dropped down on the deck looking like Gods, their faces hard and ready for battle.

"Well, shit..." Smoker muttered, and as he stepped forward, all hell broke loose.

The marines attacked, but the Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro were ready.

Usopp cheered and wiggled as his friends fought. He shouldn't have doubted. The fear that Smoker had washed over Usopp had passed, and in its wake had left behind joy and relief. Catching something in his peripheral vision, Usopp turned in time to see Brook skittering across the ocean, and crawl up the side of the ship until he too, was safely on deck. Usopp laughed. Why had he let himself get so scared? His Nakama would always come to save him.

"Yohohohohoho! Us~oppppuuuu I am here!" Brook half sang, before leaping over confused marines, to free the sniper of his bonds. When the ropes were off, Brook tenderly placed a hand on Usopp's shoulder. "Are you alright my friend?"

The sniper nodded and shook his head. He was about to speak when a large fist collided with Brook's skull, and sent the skeleton flying and smashing through the captain's quarters of the marine ship. Smoker stood up, flexing his hand seeming surprised to find Brook was a real skeleton. He puffed on his cigar looking annoyed, and was taken by surprise when Usopp managed to do something that would go down in Usopp legendary history... With Smoker distracted, Usopp launched himself up, and bit Smoker on the ear.

"YOU MONKEY!"

Luffy turned, "me?" And then seeing Usopp wrapped around the large hulk of a man, his teeth sunk into the Marine officer's lobe. Lufft burst into loud laughter, stretching and pointing a finger at the sight. Sanji glanced up from where he was and smirked as well, shaking his head at Usopp's antics. Zoro looked over, and grinned, his sword still in his mouth.

"Thataway Usopp!" Zoro half cheered.

"He looks like a croc-agoter!" Luffy wheezed, rolling on the deck as he laughed, big rolling tears steaming down his cheeks.

Smoker, however, was less than amused, and just as Brook emerged from the cabin, Smoker had ripped Usopp off and flung him off his back. Smoker had thrown the much lighter teen too far, and Usopp went tumbling off the side of the ship. Smoker's eyes widened in surprise, and he dashed over to lean over the railing the ship before cursing, "Dammit."

"Usopp!" Luffy cried out, trapped under a mass of marines, all piling on the rubber man in his distraction. When he heard Usopp's scream cut off, followed by a splash, Luffy roared with rage and launched everyone off him with a flex of his rubber body.

Robin had leaned over the side of the ship and looked for any sign of the sniper. When she saw nothing, she ran to the back of the ship, and finally spotted Usopp floundering weakly in the waters. She narrowed her eyes, and many arms shot out and snatched the teen out of the water, and with ease, she pulled him on the ship; Chopper running around screaming for a doctor. As soon as Franky reminded him he was the doctor, the little reindeer rushed over to assist the sniper.

Nami in the meantime, was screaming for Luffy and the others to come back, "WE GOT HIM! WE GOT HIM! USOPP'S SAFE! GET BACK OVER HERE!"

Luffy stretched a large grin on his face, and then signaling the others got ready to launch. Zoro who had been engaged with Tashigi, shoved her off, but caught her before she hit the deck. She was startled and looked up at him as he pressed her body close to his. Her cheeks flushed at the unexpected move, and her eyes widened with confusion.

"What are you...what was...?" She fumbled, forgetting herself in the swordsman's arms.

Zoro did not answer, but with a steady gaze leaned just a smidgen closer towards the woman, face tilted towards hers.

And like the overgrown, protective father figure that he was, Smoker punched Zoro square in the jaw and sent him flying towards Luffy, Brook, and Sanji. Outraged, Smoker grabbed Tashigi by her shoulder's and began shouting. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING FLIRTING WITH THE ENEMY!?"

Tashigi's red cheeks instantly, got redder, and she shouted back, "I WASN'T FLIRTING! HE WAS...I-I DUNNO!"

"HE WAS MOLESTING YOU, THAT'S WHAT HE WAS DOING! DON'T YOU LEAVE YOURSELF OPEN LIKE THAT YOU NINNY!"

By the time the marines got the two's attention... Luffy and the others had boarded their own ship, and were long gone.

Luffy lay on the deck, tongue lolling out of his mouth. "I'm hungry!"

Sanji weakly swatted Zoro. "Stupid ass...that was no way to treat a lady!"

Zoro didn't respond to that, he lay flat on his back holding a broken nose. A stupid grin was on his face, and he smirked to himself thinking of the woman who looked like an old friend from his past. This spurned Sanji on, until Brook cleared his throat, "Should we perhaps check on our beloved friend?"

Three heads popped to stare over at Brook who was posed comically, his head resting on his folded hands.

"Just so you all know, I would be innocently batting my eyes at you...but I'm only a skull! YOHOHOHOHOHOHO!" Brook laughed as he delivered a perfect skull joke.

The four collected themselves and made their way down into Chopper's makeshift hospital ward. The reindeer had Usopp in bed, and was tending to his cheek and lip, tutting about how he wasn't sure he could do anything for the missing tooth while they were out at sea.

"Maybe we'll stop, and I'll see a dentist get you a nice gold one!" The little reindeer said, voice watery from concern over his friend.

Nami and Robin both had Usopp's wet clothes and were wringing them out into a bucket. Franky was leaned up against the wall, and smiled over at the others waving them all over.

"Don't worry. Longnose-bro is just waterlogged, and his face and throat are a bit messed up."

Luffy bounded over to Usopp's bedside, and asked, "Oi! Do you need something to eat?"

Chopper raised a hoof to his muzzle, "Shoosh! He's out!" He gave Luffy a firm look, but the Pirate Captain didn't seem deterred.

Instead Luffy had launched himself up in the air, ready to jump hard on the bed to wake Usopp up. Luckily, Zoro snatched Luffy out of the air and hissed at the energetic captain, "Stop! Let him rest!"

Luffy pouted as Zoro set him on the ground. Sanji slung an arm around his captain, "Come on Luffy, we'll make a big meal, and bring him some later. He'll be good as new soon." And with that Sanji went to go distract Luffy with food.

Zoro glanced down at Usopp, and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He always felt worried when one of the group was laid out. He was relieved Usopp hadn't gotten worse from the experience. Deciding that sleep seemed a good idea, Zoro took off. Brook followed offering to play a lullaby for the swordsman. Nami and Robin left when Usopp's clothes were hanging up to dry, and Franky left when little doctor felt he had done everything he could for Usopp. Franky tucked Chopper under his arm, telling him to cheer up and offering to show him something "super."

As soon as the Usopp was alone, he cracked an eye open and smiled at the door. His Nakama were indeed, the best. Closing his eyes he let sleep overtake him, and dreamed about how he could embellish Captain Usopp's latest adventure.

End

Chapter 2: Nami Between his Legs

Notes:

This was my first request from Sacred. I love taking requests, if it's something I feel I can write, so feel free if you'd like to ask for a short little drabble.

this chapter features Usopp/Nami, my first little dip into the ship.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Usopp lay on his back, body feeling broken and downright dirty. He was sprawled out on the beach, his head resting in the water, the tide flickering in and out cooling his ears and matting his curls. It was too cold and the salt of the water stung, Usopp was pretty sure he had a cracked skull back there. His clothes were torn and he felt kind of awkwardly achy all over. Like he had run a few laps around the Thousand Sunny and then did 30 plunges and 500 crunches. But probably the most awkward thing was Nami between his legs.

Usopp blushed and let a smirk tilt up his lips, 'Heh...you dirty boy...' Usopp thought to himself.

Nami was not doing any particular act, but when the two had been blown away from the blast from the latest enemy, She had landed in Usopp's lap. Her back against his groin and her head on his stomach. When the blast had come, aimed solely at Nami, Usopp had reached out for her. He'd grabbed his Nakama by the arm, slipped his other hand around her waist, and pulled, desperate to get her out of the line of fire.

"USOPP!" Sanji and Luffy's voices rang out, mingling together as one.

"RUN!" Chopper had bleated.

A blast of hot pain hit Usopp's back, and Nami had screamed in his arms. He hadn't moved in time.

And now they were here, lying several hundreds of feet away from the battle that raged on. As Usopp was too weak, Nami too was too tired, and too sore to move. She was slightly burned...her skin feeling more like it was chapped on the edges than anything else, but areas of her skin throbbed and ached. A thousand sharp little needles digging into various parts of her skin. All the adrenalin had left her body, and she had been able to determine that she was okay, more okay than Usopp.

But she could still barely lift her head, and the thought of accidentally dropping her too-heavy head on Usopp's groin didn't sit with her well. She couldn't rack her savior in good conscious. Not unless he deserved it. She was looking at Usopp with her head resting on his lap, and her head tilted back at his belly. Even from upside down she saw his smirk, and she frowned at him. Nami knew that look...

Maybe she deserved to ram her head into Usopp's crotch after all!

"You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking..." She whispered, trying to sound threatening.

Usopp sputtered a moment, and then let out a funny little wheeze. With an ort he peered down at Nami, who gave him a ridiculous upside down glare. He couldn't help it. Usopp giggled. Wheezy gasping little giggles that hurt his surely broken ribs, and made the burns on his body stretch, itch and ignite. Oh it hurt to laugh, but he couldn't help himself in this silly situation! He giggled again, Nami's name slipping past his lips as he tried to calm himself.

And then Nami giggled too.

Soon both were acting like idiots and giggling up a storm. The moment they had found themselves in was too ridiculous to ignore. When they were both done, they sighed and, Usopp looking up at the sky, because he couldn't lift his head any longer to look at Nami, but Nami looked back at Usopp because her head was really quite comfortable titled back like it was.

"Think Luffy will win?"

"Of course," Usopp answered Nami's query, "And they'll be looking for us...well probably are... I bet you he won just as we were laughin'..." Usopp trailed off and Nami shifted to get a better look at the worry on his face.

Usopp groaned, "Sanji's gonna kill me!"

"Why?" Nami asked as if she didn't already know.

"Because I'm living out his dream! You between my legs-" Usopp made an odd whooping sound and paled. He finally mustered up the strength to look at Nami's disgruntled face.

"I could just slam the back of my head on your crotch you know..."

"Sorry Nami..."

Nami sighed a rolled over, wincing as she did so. She fought her own wave of embarrassment, as her face lightly collided with Usopp's crotch. Her arms felt too weak, and her stinging skin protested her movements. Rather it was kindness, or some unawareness on Usopp's part he made no comment on where Nami's face had just landed. She pushed herself on her elbows, groaning with the effort, and whimper of pain slipping past her lips.

"Careful Nami! Don't hurt yourself more," Usopp lifted a hand, four of his fingers broken and bleeding. Nami's eyes swelled with tears, and she gently made her way off Usopp's body and with a eat effort pulled herself to him. She only got to about his shoulder before she had to stop, but gently she leaned over and kissed his thumb, the one digit on his hand that was not broken. "Oh, Usopp you're so messed up..." her voice sounded lost, and surprised. She hadn't realized how badly the sniper was injured.

Usopp blushed at Nami's kiss and grinned shyly, "I-it's alright...I'm the great Captain Usopp...I'll recover...and then take you out for a grand time! No girl can ever have a bad time with me! I am not only very valiant, but I am also an excellent date!"

Nami smiled at Usopp, the sun catching her hair and making hair seem to glow in a pink hue, "Are you asking me out on a date...Captain Usopp?"

Usopp dropped his hand, more than a little surprised. His face went bright red and he muttered unintelligibly. Of course, what he said before was a lie...he had absolutely no experience with girls...maybe Kaya, but he hadn't realized he might have been nursing a crush for her until he was away at sea. Flabbergasted on what to say, Usopp merely stumbled over his words.

Nami winced as she crawled around to Usopp's head and lifted his head from the water and with great effort managed to sit up. Straining to balance herself, and Usopp's head, she managed to finally settle. She smoothed some of Usopp's curls from his brow, and gently placed the sniper's head in her lap. She smoothed her slightly burned hands over his temple and cheek trying to be as soothing as she could. She wouldn't call herself gentle, or even comforting, but with her crewmates, she could try.

Usopp broke off his muttering and looked up at her. Then very slowly, he mustered up all the courage that he hadn't wasted in the fight and whispered, "I...I might be. I might be as-asking you on a d-d-date."

Nami smiled, "Then I accept..." She grinned eyes closing, "There...was that so hard?"

Usopp grinned. It was hard...but honestly it shouldn't have been, he decided. Nami was a great friend...and he could trust her with his feelings, as small as they were. He could trust her with this small little ember sitting in his chest, and see where it went. He could still remember the hug she had given him when he returned to the crew after leaving them over the Going Merry incident. From Sanji, he heard she had moped just as bad as Luffy and Chopper... maybe even a little worse.

Usopp sighed and closed his eyes soaking up the peace.

Nami giggled.

"What?" Usopp asked.

"Now Sanji really will kill you!" Nami giggled.

Usopp swallowed past a lump in his throat. "He'll have to catch me first..."

"You could call your 8,000 followers to your side," Nami suggested, fingers raking gently through his curls.

Both of them turned their head to the right when they heard loud voices in the distance. The rest of the strawhat crew were coming to their aid. Sanji was in the lead, and it looked like his face couldn't decide on whether to be mad at Usopp resting in Nami's lap or concerned over both his friends' general condition.

Usopp gulped, "Not even a million followers could beat Sanji."

Nami's eyes glinted and she leaned down kissing Usopp on the mouth. Sanji shrieked in the distance. Usopp looked up at her when she broke away. He was grateful for that very sweet and tender kiss but horrified by it. Sanji really would kill him now! Nami's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"YOU WANT ME TO DIE!" Usopp yelped.

"That was to pay you back for your dirty thoughts...Captain Usopp."

End

Notes:

I really liked writing this one. I'm a big Sanji/usopp fan...but to be flat honest I like anyone from the straw-hat crew in a relationship. I could probably get the whole crew together and it'd be okay by me! Hope you enjoyed this attempt!

Chapter 3: Super

Notes:

Franky & Usopp friendship fic

Chapter Text

They had only been on a Thousand Sunny for three days when Usopp walked in on something unexpected.

Franky was in Usopp's workshop, and he was crying. Not the loud dramatic sobs his emotions changing at the flip of a switch crying, but earnest slow tears, with his sunglasses pushed into his hair, and his eyes closed as tight as he could.

He had his hand on an old bandage that Usopp, (had shamefully) left on his desk when he changed them this morning.

"Franky...?" Usopp whispered quietly, "Franky... what's um... what's wrong?"

Franky jolted, and wiped his eyes with his forearm, but though he'd cleaned away his tears, new ones sprang forth. "Ah, Long-nose bro! I... I needed a hammer... I misplaced mine. I came to borrow one, but... well... it's nothing."

Franky shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked forward towards Usopp. Usopp remained blocking the door, his stomach twisting in uncomfortable knots.

"You can't fool me. I'm the greatest liar in all the seas! You'll have to tell me what's wrong Franky!" Usopp snorted, impressed with his own bravado.

Franky clenched his teeth and let out a growl, "Longnose bro... drop it will ya?! Move."

"No!" Usopp snapped his fists curling tightly as he raised them to his chest. He wasn't preparing for a fight, but instead oddly felt as if he was about to throw a petulant tantrum. "This isn't your normal tears! Franky, you can tell me! We're friends aren't we!" The last part was not a question, but an affirmation.

"Are we?" Franky asked in a low tone, his eyes glazing over with an untouchable emotion.

Usopp felt his throat close, and he choked on the sudden breath he took in. That had been a real gut punch, and he took a shaky step back, surprised at Franky's words.

Franky seemed to realize his mistake, and bent low to seize Usopp's shoulders. "Wait!" Franky burst, "Wait, wait, wait! I didn't mean it that way! I swear!"

Usopp pursed his lips for a moment and nodded curtly, "What did you mean then?"

"Usopp... You're still banged up. Still roughed up pretty bad, and most of that is from me and my gang," Franky said, his voice bitter, "You... you sure you want to forgive me so easily?"

Usopp titled his head with surprise, blinking rapidly, "Franky..." He faltered. He didn't know what else to say.

"We... we were... we're even aren't we? We destroyed your home, your base of operations, don't you remember?" Usopp floundered with his explanation. He had thought that this matter was settled. His... honestly terrible experience at the hands of Franky's crew. That was a past thing, no use dwelling on it now.

"Your friends destroyed the house-"

"Our friends!" Usopp insisted, panic churning his stomach as Franky tried to talk.

Franky nodded after a moment, "...Ou-our friends. They did that. What revenge did you get for yourself? I apologized, but does that make up for what I did? Longnose bro... you're all my crew. My friends. My family. I could... I could have had you killed. I could have wiped out this bright happy future. Usopp-bro... you're a great kid. What the hell was I thinking? Why did I do this to someone I... someone that was going to be so important?!"

Usopp was more than a little bewildered. Wasn't it Franky that suggested they bury the hatchet about the whole fight? Well, that had been before they had truly become friends, but Usopp had forgiven Franky. Why was the cyborg so upset now?

"Franky, you didn't know. Who would have guessed that we all would have connected as we did!" Usopp sputtered. A laugh choked out of him, but it was more anxious than happy. "Franky, you can't beat yourself up about it. It's forgiven, we're friends!"

Franky swallowed, and shook his head, "It shouldn't be that easy."

A silence lapsed, and Usopp waited in the stillness. He prodded his heart, still tender from his fight with Luffy. Still aching from his mistakes, and from words said in anger, misunderstanding, and hurt. He reached back in his memories to that beat down he had received the terrible day he lost more than just money. To the money stolen from him, and that terrible pain of feeling like he had failed again. Failed his friends, Merry included. Was it all forgiven?

'Yes!' his heart roared, 'Yes!'

"Yes," Usopp stated plainly, "It's that easy. I forgive you. I forgave you. You're my friend."

Franky looked bewildered, and his arms fell to his side, "But-"

"No buts! Friends!" Usopp held a finger in front of the cyborg's face. "But look, Captain Usopp can understand wanting to make complete amends! Don't think I won't be doing my fair share for what I've done to Luffy and the others! I've got a lot to do." Usopp folded his arms, and tucked his left foot behind his right, swaying as he put himself slightly off balance.

"So... you want to make it up to me? I'd like a piggy-back ride!" Usopp grinned, and it shone brighter at Franky's befuddled and slightly embarrassed look.

"I want to be carried out onto the deck on your back, and I want you to listen to my tales of the time I battled three hundred pirate fleets, all by myself, in order to protect my home town! I want you to shout Super, and laugh! Laugh loud and hard! Laugh a lot! Every day you gotta laugh, and you gotta become closer with me and everyone. Every day you gotta try. You gotta push down regret until you can almost forget about it! And when it stings..."

Usopp placed a hand on Franky's arm, "Ya gotta talk to me."

Franky was crying again, loud but still sincere, "Ow! Longnose bro! You're such a good guy! What did I do to deserve you?" Franky caught Usopp by his thin arm, and with ease swung Usopp around and up. Usopp shrieked momentarily before hooking his arms around Franky's neck. Usopp stepped into the hall before he shifted Usopp higher on his back. Usopp laughed enjoying the new perspective and dug his knees into Franky's sides.

Franky didn't complain.

Franky walked forward and lamented, "You're a good guy Usopp-bro. A real good guy! I'm going to give what you give back in a hundredfold!"

Usopp laughed as they made it on deck, knowing the pair made quite a sight.

"Super!" Usopp shouted.

"Super!" Franky agreed.

Chapter 4: One part Cream, One part Coffee

Notes:

A request from Rika24, hope you enjoy what I came up with.

A little Uso/Kaya (lightly), and then into SanUso!

Chapter Text

Usopp had tried coffee when he was twelve.

He had pilfered some from a neighbor, who had thrown a rock at him for spreading lies. He figured that jerk could do without his dose of daily caffeine if he was going to act that way!

Late at night, he crept into Kaya's house, and in a rare moment of daring, the two crept into the kitchen and had shared a cup of coffee. It had been too bitter at first, but Usopp remembered the sweet cream his mother used to pour into her cup. After finding some stowed away in the fridge, and pouring the cream into the cup until it overflowed, the two tried the beverage again. This time it was to their liking, and they giggled quietly about the mess and drink they had made.

When Merry caught them, Usopp ran for his life, and Kaya was confined back to her room.

For days they talked about the treat they had made with one another. Kaya didn't mention how she had a fever for two days, and Usopp also didn't bring up the fact that he couldn't sleep for a little over 24 hours after drinking it. It was still fun. They had done it together after all.

Usopp thinks he started to like Kaya then. More than his crew, and a little less than his mother. It had been something different, but good. Something that mixed so well, like the sweet cream in the dark brown coffee. The new honey color of the drink felt like Usopp's budding emotions. Warm, and very sweet.

But at twelve, he didn't know how to cultivate those feelings. This sweet feeling was just a treat, one he kept for himself as he enjoyed his friendship with Kaya. He reasoned they had many years to walk towards this new emotion together. They would discover what this emotion meant together, and they would go out to sea when Kaya could. She could be his doctor, and he would be the Captain. And when they were on the ocean, it would all fall into place.

That was what he had told himself.

He liked to think her smiles at him weighed more, when she gave them to him. He thinks they did at one point. But the sticky sweet cream that the two had found when they were children, was meant to stay in childhood. Something changed the day she slapped him. When she didn't believe him when he told her about Klahadore. The slap was hardly painful, it stung, just a little. But what happened inside, felt much worse.

The jar of sweetness he had kept on a shelf inside him, fell off. It fell, and it broke and soaked into the pit of his stomach. Why didn't she believe him? He lied, and told her stories all the time, but why wouldn't she believe him about this? They were friends, right? She would know that after all their years together. That he would never lie about her safety. He knew her much longer then Klahadore, so why did she not trust him?

The spilled feelings of that day remained ruined. He couldn't shake off this ugly feeling, that there was no coming back from that pivotal moment.

Kaya knew it too.

When he had met her at the edge of his island, when he planned to go off to sea, it had been an accident. He hadn't intended to say good-bye, he had full-heartedly planned to slink away. When Kaya met his eyes, something sad and remorseful passed through them. Her smile was brimmed with longing, but she seemed resolved to accept the fate she had played a part in. Still, she said she would wait for his return, and Usopp promised to tell her many fantastic stories when he got back. But his dream of taking her onto the sea was gone.

It was dropped among the sweetness of his first love.

It would have to stay there. Childhood couldn't last, and not everything from your youth could come with you.

He smiled at Kaya and left her behind. He thought, at the time, it was the bravest thing he had ever done. He would never have coffee with cream again. It was a little promise he made himself, something unspoken aloud or even fully thought of. But it was his decision, and he was going to stick by it.

It took some time on the sea, for him to appreciate the taste of black coffee.

Even if he didn't like it at first, he drank it every day. Especially when Sanji joined the crew. You couldn't waste food with that guy, not if you wanted to keep your skin.

Usopp could be pretty good about keeping a straight face too. Well, in this case, he could smile as he tried to swallow the bitter brew.

"Longnose... what are you doing?" Sanji asked Usopp in the crow's nest one night. He had stopped by to deliver Usopp some drinks and a few snacks while he was on watch. As he opened the hatch, he was startled to see Usopp making a disgusted face as he finished a mostly cold mug of coffee.

"Oh... Sanji..." Usopp muttered around the drink, "Uh... just trying to get through this."

Sanji watched Usopp, with a rather large amount of confusion as Usopp coughed and shuddered after finishing the drink. Usopp then took the tray of food and drinks from Sanji. Usopp sighed, shaking off the last bit of revulsion, and then picked up the fresh mug of coffee Sanji had brought up. The look in Usopp's eye as he poured thew new batch must have let Sanji know Usopp's disgust was for the drink itself, and not the cool temperature.

"Wait! Wait... if you hate black coffee so much, some milk or cream-"

"No," Usopp gently but quickly interrupted Sanji, "No. I can't have cream. No." Usopp's voice was sad, even if he hadn't meant it to be.

Sanji tilted his head, "Then I can start making you tea."

"No... I need to do this. Coffee is fine. Black is fine," Usopp sighed, looking purposefully away from Sanji.

Sanji sighed, "Well... if you're sure."

The next day at breakfast, Sanji set a cup of coffee down in front Usopp. It was different... somehow. Usopp squinted at it and glanced at Zoro's cup. Yup, Usopp's cup was somehow... a little more tinted with orange. Usopp looked around and then noticed Nami and Robin's mug was the same slightly different color that Usopp's was. Usopp felt a pulse inside his chest, his heart had picked up the pace. Usopp glanced at Sanji, who was watching him, his blue-gray eyes glaring hard at Usopp.

He lifted his own mug, and nervously Usopp copied him.

Sanji pressed the mug to his lips, and Usopp did as well.

Sanji slurped his drink, and blushing Usopp did too.

This brew was different. It was really good. Less bitter, and hinted in a fragrant note. Cinnamon? Nutmeg? Usopp really didn't know, he didn't have the pallet Sanji had. But it was good. Bitter but fragrant, the after notes of the drink rather nice.

Usopp drank the coffee and smiled when he was done. It was the best he'd ever had, and he didn't need cream.

Usopp hung back that night, and with his hands twisting nervously behind his back, thanked Sanji, "I know you don't give out special stuff unless it's for the ladies... so I really... I really appreciate it Sanji."

"Not a problem Longnose," Sanji shrugged, "I wanted to show you there were other types of brews that worked just as well. There are many different flavors of coffee out there, you should try everything."

Usopp nodded, and turned to leave, but Sanji called after him, "Oi, Usopp!"

"Uh... yeah?"

"Ask. I might, maybe, give you something special time to time," Sanji's voice was low and serious. He didn't turn to look at Usopp.

Usopp's chest thudded again.

Usopp didn't think he could fall in love with the bitter notes of coffee, but maybe time would tell. It was different. Not what he expected. But now that he was starting to enjoy the flavor. He really wanted more. There was an extra spring in his step, when he left Sanji's kitchen.

It became a secret tradition. Usopp and Sanji drank different styles and flavors of black coffee together. Usopp mirroring Sanji's first sip, and the two smiling with their eyes as they both basked in the flavor. Usopp always thanked Sanji for it, and Sanji smiled, his eye fixed on Usopp, filled with emotions the sniper wasn't sure of. Usopp thought he could reach out and touch it, and this time not be slapped in the face for it.

But then again... maybe Sanji wouldn't trust him either when it came down to it.

Usopp didn't want that to be the case. So he would settle for friendship. No use hoping for something different, no point in ruining a good thing. Better not try, better not hope.

After the events of Water 7, when Usopp was back with the crew, back where he belonged, Usopp sat alone in the crow's nest. He had said sorry a dozen times now, and everyone said he was forgiven. It still didn't feel right somehow.

"Oi, Longnose, something for your shift!" Sanji's voice was just behind him, and Usopp flinched at the sound.

Usopp slowly turned around to face Sanji, who had pulled himself up to sit on the door of the trap door. His legs dangled casually through the rigging, and the tray was set between them.

Daring to scoot closer, Usopp glanced at the coffee. It was that slightly tinted orange color of the first new flavor of Coffee, that Sanji had ever offered him. Usopp's throat closed up at the sight of it, and his eyes welled with tears.

"I-I didn't think you would... would still do this with me," Usopp croaked, as tears began to drip down his cheeks in waves.

"Usopp..." Sanji whispered, his voice soft with concern.

"I'm s-sorry! I really messed up, I'm sorry! I thought I'd ruined everything. I'm sorry, really sorry! I-" Usopp began to babble, and Sanji took Usopp in his arms.

Usopp stiffened, quaking against the embrace he didn't feel like he rightly deserved.

"I know. I believed you the first time. You're sorry, and I know you mean it. You don't have to keep lamenting the issue!" Sanji's voice grew exasperated and his hold on Usopp tightened. "It's done. You're back. You're back with us. And we're so glad. I'm so glad. We'll share coffee together, like always."

Usopp buried his face in the crook of Sanji's neck and sobbed against the chef. His hands fisted the fabric of his nice vest, and he wept relieved that he was believed. That Sanji had faith in him. That Sanji had pulled him to him, instead of slapped his face.

"...You've been afraid we weren't ready to accept you back?" Sanji accused his voice rough and raw, "How stupid can you be, you shitty longnose. You're our sniper! You're home." One of Sanji's hands had come to tangle in Usopp's hair, and he tugged it at the root. Usopp circled his arms around Sanji's waist, bringing them closer. He had managed to get his sobbing more under control and rest his cheek against the nape of Sanji's neck.

He would have happily stayed tucked there if Sanji let him.

But instead, Sanji pulled Usopp away and then tilted the Sniper's face up. Usopp blinked, confused as Sanji seemed to be trying to figure something out. Usopp's face was turned again, at a slightly different angle, and Sanji descended down on him. Sanji kissed Usopp at the perfect angle to avoid Usopp's nose, a careful calculation that Sanji had considered.

Sanji's eyes closed, his brow narrowing in determination, as he seemed to be trying to pour everything into this kiss. Usopp gasped at the tingling shock of warm lips against his, and stubble slightly scraping his chin, as well as the feelings that Sanji was trying to have him drink.

Sanji took Usoop's gasp, as an invitation, and slid his tongue into Usopp's mouth.

Usopp stiffened a little more, nervous hands flying to Sanji's chest. But Sanji pulled Usopp closer and kissed him all the harder. Usopp trembled, his heart racing as he tried to copy Sanji's movements. Was this the right amount of pressure for a kiss? Did you suck on the tongue as so? Where should his hands be? Did Sanji like it? Like it as much as Usopp did?

Sanji broke away to gasp for a breath, and Usopp gasped too. At his desperate intake, he realized Sanji tasted like the coffee the both of them loved. Usopp tried to speak, but Sanji's lips were on his again, and Sanji's hands had slammed down on the wooden floor of the crow's nest, between Usopp's arm and near his hips. Usopp's back roughly bumped against the wall of the crow's nest, but he brought both hands to Sanji's face. Sanji's skin was soft and slightly cool in his hands, but as they kissed Sanji's cheeks grew warm. Usopp's hands slid into Sanji's hair, and Sanji continued to press and push against every small thing Usopp had to give.

Usopp's kissing was more timid and shy than Sanji's.

Sanji kissed him like he was starving.

Usopp shuddered. There was something nice about being kissed this fiercely, about being wanted so bad.

Had Sanji been scared too?

Usopp had to shove Sanji hard after a couple of minutes of intense kissing. Sanji, rather reluctantly, finally pushed away, a string of saliva still connected between their lips. Usopp choked, in desperate need of breath, while Sanji licked his lips, breaking that small strand, a hungry look in his eyes as he looked at Usopp. Usopp choked and coughed, spots dancing in front of his eyes. "Ah! You love-cook! Are you trying to suffocate me!?'

Sanji had the decency to blush red and look embarrassed. Coughing uncomfortably, Sanji mumbled, "I thought you would run away, and you didn't... you...you kissed me back."

The suggestion hung in the air, and Usopp nodded nervously. He could still taste the coffee on his lips. Taking in gulps of air, and feeling his face hot with a myriad of emotions, Usopp licked his lips. He was sorry that the kissing had stopped, but he needed to think clearly. Sanji's eyes flickered at Usopp's tongue, and he grit his teeth with impatience. Sanji did not like this pause in their kissing, something that thrilled Usopp in the back of his mind.

The predatory gaze was thrilling, and Usopp felt his nostril's flare as his own excitement mounted. But there was something that needed to be said first before they could continue.

"I like you," Usopp and Sanji said at the same time, though Sanji said it with less of a tremor in his voice.

Tension bled from both their bodies once the words were out, and Sanji reached out for Usopp's hands, gripping them tight. Usopp leaned forward, his forehead pressing against Sanji's shoulder, and for a moment he thought he might cry again.

"I thought... I didn't think you could like me. I'm not... not a girl," Usopp muttered, relief washing all over him. Sanji wanted him. Sanji believed in him and wanted him. Out here on this sea, on this new ship, Usopp was wanted.

"You're you," Sanji whispered dryly, "it doesn't matter you're not a girl. You're you, and I want you."

Usopp shuddered, and closed his eyes. He let himself smile. Sanji encircled Usopp in a hug again, holding tightly on to the sniper's small frame. They held each other, and something better than that sticky sweet love of childhood, was warming him up from within. As warm as a fresh cup of morning coffee.

Sanji and Usopp eased into each other, calmer, and quieter this time. Sanji tucked his nose into Usopp's hair, and Usopp curled against Sanji's chest. They steadied their breaths together, the warmth of their bodies and steady rhythm of their heartbeats calming them. They both ignored the coffee that was growing cold.

Usopp thought briefly of Kaya. Her sweetness, and her kind smiles. She was his first love. Sanji's hand swept over Usopp's back, warm and rough, pressing Usopp against him a little too hard. Usopp sighed, eyes fluttering closed.

He preferred the black coffee of adulthood better.

Chapter 5: Conversation

Notes:

Zoro has... a conversation with Ace.

Chapter Text

Zoro/Luffy(established)

Ace narrowed his eyes at the green-haired man in front of him.

Zoro slouched a bit.

Ace put his fist under his chin and flat out glared at the other man.

Zoro frowned, cleared his throat, and sat up a little straighter. Looking weak maybe not be the best tactic to take here.

"So...you're fucking my brother?" Ace asked voice low and a bit dangerous.

Zoro's ears went red and he shook his head, 'no.' He placed a hand on his sword, just against Wado, "No. We have...become..." Zoro swallowed and forced himself to look Ace in the eye. He wasn't so good with words, he wasn't like Sanji (that idiot) or Robin (a bit too mysterious), he didn't know the right words to say.

"Luffy is my Captain. Luffy is everything. What we do... it's not just fucking." Zoro closed his lips tight after that, it had been rather humiliating and aggravating to say.

Ace visibly relaxed.

Zoro took this as a good sign.

Ace tipped his hat over his eyes and grunted lightly, "So...You love him?"

Zoro frowned a bit, "I can't say that yet...it's been only a few days maybe only a week. But even before... this..." Zoro made an odd swatting gesture in the air to address the atmosphere as if his feelings were floating somewhere in it, "but...since I joined the ship...he makes..." Zoro trailed off not wanting to say anymore. This was too damn hard!

Ace looked up at him sharply, "What? What does he do?" There was an edge to Ace's voice like he expected Zoro to say something unsavory.

Zoro's nostrils flared and he snapped, "Luffy ain't like a guy you fuck around with! I'm not just getting my jollies off! He makes my chest... smolder. And the thought of anyone else touching him pisses me right the fuck off. Hell, even you hugging him pisses me off more than it should. I want to use my swords to serve and protect him..." Zoro faltered again his anger fizzling out into embarrassment once more.

Ace grinned.

This absolutely had to be a good sign.

'Thank God,' thought Zoro.

"Well...you're as good a match as any. But if you fuck up...I'll bring a fleet with me to knock you down...don't you dare think you can hurt him." Ace threatened.

"You can kill me if I hurt him," Zoro said firmly.

Ace leaned back on the railing he was perched on and grinned.

"It's settled then," and then Ace held out his hand.

Zoro shook it and both men nodded, the pact was sealed.

Luffy suddenly came sailing over Zoro's shoulder, his rubber body contorting itself all around his elder sibling.

"AAAAACCCEEEE!" the rubber man's face was decorated in that famous goofy grin, his eyes closed tight as he rubbed his face hard against Ace's arm. Ace cuddled his brother, and squeezed the boy to him, smirking at Zoro who looked disgruntled. Zoro frowned and resisted the urge to wipe that smug grin off of his face, but this was Luffy's brother. He wasn't going to deck his Captain's brother... even if the punk was asking for it.

Luffy turned seeing Zoro's grumpy face and launched himself at Zoro, taking the swordsman by surprise. Zoro fell back on his ass, Luffy claiming Zoro's lap greedily. And then with a little more delicacy than normal, he tilted Zoro's face towards his own and pressed a soft kiss against his lips. Zoro wrapped his arms protectively around Luffy, breaking the kiss so he could tug the smaller man closer. He pressed a slow kiss to Luffy's temple, tipping the rubber man's straw hat off, just enough so that Zoro could nuzzle his nose in some of Luffy's hair. Luffy shifted in Zoro's lap, tucking himself in the folds of Zoro's arm, and began chatting to Ace about every little thing that came to the top of his head.

Zoro, suddenly remembered Ace was there, glanced up to meet his eyes.

Ace was set ablaze...

'Fuck,' Thought Zoro.

End

Chapter 6: We Can't Keep Her

Notes:

An albino reindeer takes a shine towards Chopper.

Chapter Text

Chopper's lower lips was stuck out, but his watery eyes were looking up at his friend's eyes with determination. A small arm was around the neck of a beautiful white reindeer. The doe, not quite an adult, had her head on Chopper's shoulder, her cheek nuzzling against Chopper's, and occasionally she took affectionate little nibbles along the fur of his cheek.

Luffy was looking down at his doctor, meeting his eyes steadily, his hands on his hips, and an unreadable expression on his face.

The rest of the crew of the Thousand Sunny stood behind Luffy, knowing what their little doctor was going to ask.

"He wants us to bring that deer..." Zoro sighed, a hand rubbing the back of his neck.

"Ah well, she's been following him around since we got here!" Robin cooed, smiling wide.

"We should bring her! The other reindeer on this island are mean to her because she's all white!" Usopp said arms crossed irritably.

"This is a ship, not a zoo..." Franky rumbled, though he seemed to be looking around the deck of the Thousand Sunny where a hasty pen could be set up.

"We should bring her! Chopper can empathize with her feelings! Those stupid reindeer don't know how sweet she is!" Nami snapped, tossing a hand in the air with frustration.

"Nami-Swan, you are perfect in every single way, but what are we going to do about the care of this deer? On an ocean!" Sanji sighed, lighting up a new cigarette.

Brook was looking sadly out at the Chopper and his new little reindeer friend. He sighed, "How will we feed her? She's not Chopper, she can't just have what we eat."

"She could graze on the lawn!" Usopp supplied, Nami nodding along eagerly with the sniper.

"But what will we do when the lawn runs out of grass?" Franky said, "And I don't know much about reindeer, but do they really just need grass? Won't they need something else?"

"Don't forget about its shit," Zoro sighed, a scowl slipping across his face, "What are we gonna do about its shit?"

"Well, you could just sweep it up for all I care moss head!" Sanji snapped.

"Hey! Watch it! Do you want that animal on board too?" Zoro snapped, a hand going for his swords.

"I'd take the doe over your sorry ass!" Sanji snarled, puffing up his chest and lifting up a leg in preparation for an attack.

"Oh... looks like our Captain has made a decision," Robin pointed out, her soft calm voice effectively stopping the arguments.

Luffy had knelt down in front of Chopper, his hand on the little doctor's shoulder. They were clearly talking about something, Chopper's face grew more and more disappointed by the minute.

"Oh ow! I hate to see little Chopper-bro sad!" Franky sniffled, tears springing to his eyes.

"With Marines, pirates, and who knows what else after us all the time we couldn't take the doe with us..." Zoro sighed, though his voice was tinged with a bit of sympathy towards their young doctor.

"Oh! Poor Chopper!" Nami mourned, Usopp agreeing with her readily.

Luffy then reached out for the little deer, and the crew could see a smile on their Captain's face. Gently, Luffy pet the doe's face, the deer nuzzling her nose into Luffy's hand. After a moment, Luffy then reached for the smaller animal, and hefted her up in his arms, and grinning turned towards the ship. Chopper was following after him, his eyes still a little teary but looking happy.

"Oh... Oh no..." Sanji whispered, a cigarette falling from his lips.

"Yohohohohoho! What is our Captain up to?" Brook chortled, his words dripping with delight.

"Hey!" Luffy shouted, approaching the group with the doe in his arms, "We're taking her to the next island! She can make new friends somewhere else! We're not gonna let her stay with these other shitty deer!"

"Luffy! We... We can't keep her!" Zoro protested.

"Shishishishi... we're not!" Luffy laughed shaking his head cheekily, "She's just going to come along with us to the next island! Nami said it was supposed to be a nice calm one!"

"Luffy! Who is going to take care of her!?" Sanji demanded, his face full of frustration.

"I will! And when we get to the next island I'll make sure she has somewhere to go!" Chopper shouted, puffing up his cheeks stubbornly.

"Right! This little deer is Chopper's Nakama now!" Luffy laughed, pushing past his crew as he marched towards the Thousand Sunny. "And now she's our Nakama too! We'll be taking care of her until the next island. We gotta help her find a happy safe place to be!"

A few members were cheering, while some groaned, leaving Robin and Brook to chortle with amusement of the whole situation with one another.

"Ah well! Nothing to be done! I'm going to build a SUUUPPPEEERR pen for her!"

"Oi! Franky! Let me help! We should see if we can make some shade for her too when it's hot!"

"Oh Chopper, can I put some ribbon around her neck? In a cute bow? What about a cute little bell!"

"She's not a pet Nami! She's a wild animal... who just needs some help finding better friends! ...I guess I could ask her if she wants a bow..."

"Oh Nami! Miss Nami... might you let the Reindeer wear a pair of your panties?"

"I think I might have a book somewhere that has the eating habits of reindeer. Cook-san, I will lend it to you to see if that can help us prepare meals for her."

"Robin-chan, you are amazingly thoughtful! I will prepare the best meals for the doe, to the best of my abilities!"

Zoro hung his head and followed after the wild group. Really... this was a bad idea. But... Captain's orders. He sighed hard, yearning for some alcohol.

He'd be damned if he was going to be the one cleaning up the reindeer's poop.

Chapter 7: Pride of a Swordsman

Notes:

Zoro can't stand to be saved, even just a little bit. Sanji can't just sit by either.
(could be lightly zoro/sanji if you like.)

Chapter Text

Another island in the grand line, another group of assholes that needed to be cut down.

This was the life the Straw Hats had grown accustomed to, and the one thing that Zoro had come to really enjoy about all their travels.

A new batch of pirates typically meant at least one swordsman. Someone whom he could overcome so that he could get stronger. That was how things worked. His swords never failed him. And they would never fail Luffy, his Captain, ever again.

"Oi Moss head! Get 'em all?" Sanji asked pushing through some underbrush, a half-broken cigarette dangling from his lips.

"All sixteen," Zoro answered evenly, sheathing Wado.

"Zoro's amazing!" Chopper cried from somewhere behind Zoro on his left, Luffy howling his agreement from up ahead.

"Guys! Can't you keep it down!?" Usopp hissed, wiping some blood from his face, "There could still be some stragglers!"

"And we'd just get the lot of 'em Usopp-bro!" Franky cheered, striking a pose.

"Fifteen," Brook murmured quietly.

This, for some reason, caught Zoro's attention, and he turned towards the musically inclined skeleton, "Eh?"

"I only count fifteen downed," Brook said, skull titling up so he could look Zoro in the eye.

"Shit!" Sanji's voice rang out, and for a second Zoro felt the cook's skilled hand against his shoulder. Zoro was shoved, and then he heard the familiar sound of a blade slicing through the air, followed by the wet heavy sound of flesh being cut. Something... warm splashed on his neck. He felt a cold chill of dread run up as his spine as he turned sharply around, and spotted the one swordsman who had been playing dead. Sanji was holding his arm, a deep slash extending from his elbow to his wrist, his eyes scrunched up in pain.

The last of Sanji's ruined cigarette fell from his lips.

Zoro howled in outrage as he drove his sword into the man's belly.

When Zoro had withdrawn Wado, he turned to stare again at Sanji, who was now being ushered over to Chopper.

"Quick! Quick! We need to head back to the ship!" the Reindeer cried, "Oh this is deep... hurry! I need to treat this to prevent nerve damage! Infection! Scarring!"

"We get it Chopper, let's just go!"

It was a blur as the group headed back to the ship. In no time at all the group was back, all anxiously waiting on the deck of the Thousand Sunny as Chopper worked on Sanji in the infirmary.

"Noooooo what if he can't cook meeeattttt!?" Luffy wailed.

"Shut up Luffy!" Nami shouted, kicking Luffy in the back of the head, "You've been screaming since we got back! Quiet down!"

Zoro had his arms crossed, his teeth grit so hard his jaw hurt.

"I'm sure our cook is alright," Robin said smoothly, "we were just taken by surprise. Zoro took quick work of the assailant, and Chopper was able to treat Sanji right away. It will be fine."

"Yeah! No worries! Cook-bro is Suuuuppppeerr strong! Ow!"

Zoro growled irritably, "I don't know why the hell he had to stick his head into my business! He should have looked after his own ass."

The door opened to the infirmary, and the chatter stopped. Chopper walked out first, followed by Sanji, who looked quite put out, his arm in a sling, and wrapped securely in bandages.

"Sanji... is it that bad?" Nami gasped, eyes going wide at the sight.

"No!" Sanji rumbled, head tucking into his shoulders in an actual pout.

"Yes!" Chopper snapped. He sternly looked out at the crew, "Sanji needs to keep his arm still for a week, or he risks nerve damage! So... Luffy Sanji can't cook for you. We'll have to fend for ourselves for a little bit."

"...I can still-" Sanji tried to protest.

"Oh no! My word is final!" Chopped snapped, stomping a foot irritably, "Don't even try it! There are plenty of easy things to make we could manage!"

"Yohohohoho, don't put yourself out Sanji, or we'll never be able to enjoy your fine cuisine again! And that would be a true tragedy!" Brook lamented, throwing a hand over his chest dramatically.

"No meat! Ever? AGAIN?! SANJI! No cooking, you absolutely can't cook until you're well!" Luffy cried jumping to throw himself up at his cook.

Franky stepped in, allowing their Captain to clamber all over him, rather than cling to Sanji, and risk jostling Sanji's injured arm.

Sanji sighed irritably, hanging his head low, "This sucks."

"It's your own damn fault, you shitty love-cook," Zoro growled hotly.

The crew turned to look at the swordsman. No one was surprised by the words or the real heat behind them. But there was a tremor to Zoro's voice that wasn't usually there. Something... shaky and uncertain that was being wrung out in Zoro's words.

"What was that Moss-head?" Sanji snapped, undeterred by the slight tremor to Zoro's words, "Can't you just be a big man and say thanks?"

"Thanks for what?! I didn't need your help!" Zoro snarled grabbing Sanji by his lapels and hauling the blond close.

"Get out of my face asshole!" Sanji growled, his face getting mottled with his anger.

"Don't fight! Don't fight!" Chopper cried frantically.

"You get out of my face!" Zoro snarled.

"Zoro-bro! Lay off Sanji today, huh? His arm is too banged up for this!" Franky scolded, trying to pry Luffy from around his neck. It seemed the Captain now wanted to ride Franky's shoulders to get a better view of the fight that was about to break out.

"Shut up Franky! I don't use my hands for fighting anyway! And you, seaweed for brains! You're the one who brought me to your face anyways!" Sanji huffed, smashing his forehead against Zoro's.

Zoro pushed Sanji off and in a clean motion brought his sword to lash out at Sanji. The cook countered with a well placed kick, and the pair began their usual bought. Something about this fight felt... off. Zoro seemed more sincerely frustrated than usual, and Sanji was just the slightest bit off-balance with his arm in the sling. Zoro lashed out again, and Sanji almost lost his footing as he tipped to the side.

"Stop it!" Chopper tried again, his voice pitched high with alarm.

"I think you should do what the little doctor says!" Robin said voice stern and concerned.

"Luffy! Tell those idiots to cut it out!" Nami half-shouted, her face twisted with exasperation.

Luffy watched quietly, his brow narrowed slightly. He didn't put a stop to the small fight, but it seemed he too was thinking something was just a bit off about their actions.

Zoro and Sanji both growled in response to their friends' words and squared up against each other once more, readying their own attacks.

"Guys! Seriously! Stop!" Usopp wailed, hands flinging above his head as he approached the two, "Come on Zoro, you can't be mad that Sanji helped! That guy was aiming for your back! You know w-"

"What would you know?!" Zoro snarled suddenly rounding on Usopp. Zoro's arm swung wide, and what had been meant to be a brush off, became Zoro's forearm colliding with Usopp's face, hitting the sniper between his eyes, just at the bridge of his nose.

Usopp had not been expecting a hit, had not even fathomed that the controlled Zoro would accidentally lash out. That Zoro's arm wouldn't stop just an inch from his face like so many times before. But Zoro's arm didn't stop, and with a heavy 'thwack,' Zoro's forearm collided with the Sniper's face.

Usopp was sent back, several feet until his back slammed into the railing of the Thousand Sunny, a painful grunt escaping his mouth as he collided, the wind knocked out of him. Usopp caught himself, managing to keep to his feet while his left arm braced himself against the side of the ship. His right hand had flung to his face, and covered his eyes, as he tried to fully steady himself.

Blood seeped between Usopp's fingers and hit the deck of the Thousand Sunny.

"Oi!" Sanji shouted, his full attention turning to Usopp. The sniper did not respond, but Sanji caught the slight tremble of Usopp's knees. He was hurt, really hurt. A hot rage boiling from the pit of his stomach, Sanji rounded on Zoro, "What the actual fuck Zoro?!"

Usopp slid down to sit down, his back pressed heavily to the railing. He made no sound and kept his hand clamped hard over his face. Chopper and Nami came running over, Chopper trying to pry Usopp's hand away. Usopp stubbornly kept his hand clamped tight to his face and finally, in a tiny barely controlled voice, Usopp managed, "It's fine. I'm not hurt at all."

"But there's blood!"

"Now is not the time to lie!"

"I said I'm fine," Usopp said more quietly, turning his face away from Chopper and Nami's hands. Blood seeped through his fingers and splashed down on his knee. "I th-think Sanji and Zoro should really stop fighting now though."

"Zoro-bro! What the hell!?"

"Usopp, let us take a look at that face."

Usopp turned fully away, showing his back stubbornly to his friends, both Zoro and Sanji blinking stupefied at Usopp's odd behavior. The rest of the crew seemed just as frustrated and flustered as both Brook, and Franky tried to haul Usopp around to get a look at the sniper's face. Usopp wouldn't budge.

"Zoro," Luffy's stern voice cut over the noise.

Luffy had walked to stand between Zoro and the scene that the swordsman was staring so dumbfounded at. Luffy had fixed Zoro with one of his stern glares, his fists balled tight at his side as he fully blocked Usopp from Zoro's sight. His eyes fixed Zoro with a look, a look that Zoro had hardly ever been on the receiving end of, a look that made Zoro's throat tight with shame. "Zoro," Luffy said again, his voice stern and hovering just before anger, "Usopp doesn't want you to see that you've hurt him. I think you should go take a walk."

All was quiet, many eyes on Luffy, and then to Zoro, who stood slack-jawed and quiet.

Finally, Zoro turned from his crew and headed up towards the crow's nest where he could lock himself away in his private gym. As he climbed the rigging he could hear his friends ask Usopp to turn around, and the sniper must have relented. There were a few sympathetic gasps, and Zoro could hear Usopp's voice again, promising he was okay. It hadn't hurt at all. Really.

Usopp was a liar. He had been hurt.

Sanji had been hurt too.

And Zoro had been at fault for both.

Once up in the crow's nest, Zoro sat down on a bench and let the heavy silence drape around him like a heavy cloak. What the hell had he done? What the hell had he been thinking?

"I hit Usopp...I swung my arm out and hit Usopp. What was I even doing?" Zoro mumbled, hand gripping his knee.

Usopp was strong, it wasn't that Zoro thought otherwise. But Zoro was controlled, he didn't lash out. He didn't slip up and accidentally strike his friends. Not in an argument. Not hard enough to do any damage.

"But I just did... Idiot!" Zoro hissed angrily tugging at his hair.

"You could say that again," Sanji's curt voice came from behind him.

Zoro turned sharp, the blond cook pulling himself fully inside the crow's nest, even if his arm seemed to be giving him some difficulty. Zoro did not get up to help, not even as instinct told him he should. When Sanji managed to get the rest of the way inside, he hopped to his feet and leaned against the opposite wall.

"Luffy said I needed to explain it to you," Sanji muttered, lamely explaining why he had followed Zoro.

"Explain what to me?" Zoro growled, forcing himself to look at Sanji's face, and not away in shame.

"Explain what you're too stupid to remember or realize!" Sanji hissed, looking completely put out.

Zoro rose to his feet, growling angrily, but keeping his fists closed tight to his sides.

Sanji and Zoro held each other's glares for a while, but Sanji broke their standoff first.

"You... that day you all showed up at the Baratie... and when you fought Mihawk," Sanji began, a strange blush spreading from his ears to over the bridge of his nose, "We all... we all heard what you said."

Zoro blinked, for once, feeling like the idiot that Sanji often accused him of being, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Me, Usopp, and Luffy all heard you! When you... when you spread your stupid arms open for Mihawk!" Sanji snarled, body going rigid as he refused to look over at Zoro, "A scar on a swordsman's back is their shame or whatever!"

Zoro felt something uncoil from his gut, and he slowly relaxed his fists, still staring unblinkingly at Sanji.

After a moment of silence, Sanji snuck a peek at Zoro and then flung his good arm up in frustration, "Oh, for God's sake! Usopp gets it! Luffy gets it! Why don't you get it, you stupid Marimo!" Sanji roughly dished a cigarette from his pocket and jammed it into his mouth. He fumbled with his lighter, cursing as he tried to ignite the damn thing, muttering, "That swordsman was aiming for your back! I wasn't going to just stand there and let it... I was just..."

Zoro's hand curled around Sanji's, and carefully he took the lighter away. With his own hands, he flicked the small device into life, and carefully lit Sanji's cigarette. He did not look at Sanji's face as he muttered, "You were protecting my dream."

"...It would be stupid if you got a scar on your back from some shitty fucking asshole because we were distracting you," Sanji muttered.

Zoro nodded and looked everywhere but at Sanji, "I didn't get it. ...Thank you."

Sanji pressed a hand to Zoro's shoulder, "We're Nakama. I... we look out for each other."

"You got injured too close to your hands. Those are your dream, idiot. You shouldn't... waste it protecting me." Zoro muttered.

Sanji's face was clearly shocked, and he let out a choked off chuckle, "...We're seriously pissed off at each other for trying to do the same thing."

Zoro put his hand on Sanji's shoulder, and squeezed the narrow shoulder beneath his palm, "Yeah. Don't... don't put my dream over yours, you shitty cook. It wouldn't be worth it. Not to me."

Sanji, who had not let Zoro go, squeezed Zoro's shoulder back, and quietly said, "I'll try. But... well. You... get it right?"

Zoro nodded. He did get it. When it came to protecting your friends, it was hard to remember to protect yourself.

So, there the two stood, locked in what was as close to a hug as either of them could handle at this moment. When the room felt a little less warm, and the two could finally look at each other's faces, and could finally let each other go, Sanji sighed, blowing his smoke away from Zoro's face.

"You gotta apologize to Usopp."

Zoro closed his eye in shame, a snarl of disgust curling over his face, "Did I...break his nose?" He was so ashamed that he had to ask.

"No... you... you really didn't do much damage. He had a cut there you reopened, and maybe he's going to have an extra bruise, but it's fine. He's not even mad," Sanji forced a smile, "Usopp's a lot stronger now."

"I still owe him an apology," Zoro muttered, letting out a shaky breath.

"...Like I said. He gets it," Sanji said taking a long drag of his cigarette. He kicked open the trap door, "But still, you better go you shitty Moss-head."

"I said I was going to apologize, so I'm going to, stupid love-cook!" Zoro snapped.

"Cabbage!"

"Pansy!"

Their name-calling continued as they made their ways down the foremast, not a word spoken of Zoro's careful eye that watched as Sanji struggled down the rigging. It didn't need to be said that Zoro was going to catch Sanji if he needed it.

Chapter 8: Father

Summary:

This was not a scenerio Usopp ever thought would happen. He doesn't tell him his name. He doesn't deserve to know.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Usopp stared at the man in front of him, the bright smile fading before it ever began.

He could feel his friends' eyes over the din of the reunion of Luffy and Shanks. It was as if they had all heard the casual question, and now the time of raucous merriment was over.

"What was your name?" Yasopp had asked, a friendly smile on his lips, and a hand stuck out for an introductory handshake. His eyes were looking at Usopp and there was not a hint of recognition.

Somehow Usopp took the man's hand, "...Sogeking," He said finally, "Sogeking." He repeated it with finality, squeezed the hand in front of him, shook hard once.

He released.

Shoving his hands in his pocket, he announced, "I'm getting an ale," and turned from the other sniper, not bothering to look back.

Zoro was standing up, abandoning the card game he had been about to play with some of the Red-Hair Pirates. His eyes were on Usopp's face searching, and then on Yasopp who had turned away. Zoro's jaw tensed, and his arm stretched out across Usopp's chest catching Usopp's shoulder.

"Usopp..."

"He doesn't deserve to know," Usopp said quietly, surprised by his own calm voice, "He doesn't get to know."

Zoro squeezed the strong but smaller arm under his grasp. He let Usopp go and kept his eyes on Yasopp. Usopp brushed past him and Zoro stood waiting. Something would happen in a moment, he just waited for the command.

Usopp did not look up at Nami or Robin's faces as he walked by them. Nami reached for Usopp, but Robin stopped her. In a low tone, she explained, "Usopp needs a moment to himself for now."

Chopper had pressed his face into Brook's leg, hiding the angry tears that had sprung to his eyes. He didn't say it "wasn't fair," or, "how dare he?" he didn't say any of the angry bitter words that had popped into his mind. If anyone deserved to say them, it was Usopp, so Chopper kept his mouth sealed. Brook kept a hand on Chopper's head and stared at Yasopp who was laughing now and having a drink. Brook's fingers tightened on his cane, and he flipped his sword out just an inch.

He waited.

Sanji's hands were in his pockets and he was leaned forward glaring at the ground. He was less controlled then he wanted to be, and didn't dare look up at the moment lest he charge ahead and kick Yasopp in the face. He reached out and caught Usopp's arm before the Sniper could slip by, and squeezed. He couldn't say anything; didn't know what to say. Usopp got the message somehow and squeezed Sanji's arm back for just a moment.

"Thanks," Usopp whispered, knowing Sanji meant to comfort him.

They broke away and Usopp walked towards the stairs that would lead to his workshop, just passing by Luffy and Shanks.

Luffy had pushed away from Shanks, the older red-haired man confused.

"Usopp..." Luffy whispered voice wavering and angry.

Shanks closed his mouth and looked at Usopp, taking in the sight of the boy Yasopp talked about non-stop. He closed his eyes, disappointed at his own sniper's mistake.

"Don't..." Usopp's voice cracked, "Don't tell him... he d-doesn't deserve to know." Usopp's anger fell away in the face of his Captain.

In front of his Captain, his deeper feelings bubbled to the surface, and tears began to pour down his face. Usopp kept his head pointed down, and sniffled, "Luffy... he didn't...I'm his... how could... he not know?"

He left the rest of his grief unsaid, and Luffy brought Usopp in a crushing hug, his straw hat falling to the ground at the sudden intense embrace. His hand tangled in Usopp's curly hair, while his other arm curled around the sniper like a vice. An intense glare shot out to Yasopp's back, and he took a long pull of breath to steady his quaking anger.

He released Usopp, and the sniper finally ducked downstairs.

He missed the sight of Luffy breaking through the crowd, signaling his friends to follow him with just an indication of his finger. Sanji and Zoro flanked him, all eyes were intense and expressions dark. Luffy caught Yasopp around the shoulder, spun the man around and punched him hard in the face. It got instantly quiet, but only long enough for Usopp to disappear below deck.

What happened on deck to Usopp didn't matter anymore.

Going to his workshop, Usopp walked until he stood over his work table and pressed his hands flat on the table. He hung his head low and choked on a bitter sob.

This was what had awaited him after waiting and waiting, hoping and hoping to see his Dad again?

This was bullshit.

Someone came in his workshop, and Usopp recognized the heavy steps as Franky. He couldn't bring himself to turn around and trembled where he stood.

"Hey..." Franky rumbled, his voice gentle.

Franky's smaller hands protruded from his large palms and ever so gently he turned Usopp around. Cupping Usopp's face he looked the Sniper in the eye, "Usopp-bro... you're a damn good young man and an even better son." Franky brought Usopp into a crushing hug, bending down low as he cradled the boy to him.

"If that piece of shit can't even recognize you, I'll take you. You're my kid now, and he doesn't deserve ya!" Franky muttered, holding Usopp tight.

Art by Dragonkov

Usopp trembled, knowing that his Nakama, his family had him.

Weeping loudly and openly, Usopp returned the hug, best he could. He was moved by Franky's words, and something inside him soared. He wanted to be a son, wanted to be loved in that way. He had wanted for years to know what having a father meant. He had wanted a happy reunion with his Dad, and to feel that rekindling of a family connection.

It was not meant to be... but he had Franky. He had his Nakama. That would have to be enough. It would be more than enough.

"F-Franky... thank you," Usopp choked, clinging for all it was worth.

Pressing his face to Franky's chest, he muttered his tiny thanks over and over, and Franky swooped Usopp off the ground, tears running down the emotional cyborg's face, "Usopp... ya don't have to thank me! You're a wonderful kid... don't you doubt that!"

It would be a while before Usopp calmed down, and even longer before Yasopp would be allowed to meet Usopp properly this time.

As far as the Straw Hats were concerned, Yasopp could do his own years of waiting to meet Usopp.

He just didn't deserve him.

Notes:

so I was thinking, what if Yasopp didn't recognize his son, and just how rough that would be! I am really curious to see Usopp and Yasopp's reaction when they finally meet.

Chapter 9: Rough and Soft

Summary:

Zoro tries to care for Nami.

Chapter Text

The water sloshed out of her mouth as he dipped the bowl against her lips.

He wasn't good at this.

He refilled the bowl again and pressed it to her mouth one more time.

Nami made a coughing choking sound, and Zoro cursed, "Dammit!"

He refilled the bowl a third time but didn't waste it by pressing it hurridly against her mouth. He needed to wait. He needed to go slow.

He wasn't good at this. He didn't have a gentle touch. He didn't know how to care for someone. If something hurt, he was more likely to suggest cutting it off rather than treating it. Especially if it was himself that was hurt.

But Zoro wasn't hurt, Nami was hurt. And he was strong and rough with sharp edges and didn't know how to be gentle or soft.

Setting the bowl down he gathered Nami in his arms and took a breath. He nestled her against his chest, supporting her head and neck with his arm. He gathered her loose arms and tucked them at her waist, and then smoothed orange curls away from her face. She moaned, a soft fevered painful sound, and he shushed her gently as if she was a child.

"Usopp went to find Chopper," Zoro whispered picking up a small bowl again, "He's the fastest, and can hide from the marines. He'll bring back Chopper and you'll be alright."

He took a slow breath again, and when his hand was steady began to tip the bowl against her lips. The water slipped in her mouth, and he waited. She twitched, and then swallowed, coughing a little but she got it down.

Zoro let out a shaky breath and repeated the process.

"You'll be alright, you'll be alright," he soothed his gruff voice low and soft. She hummed in response getting a third swallow of water down as he patiently fed it to her.

He was hard, rough, and full of sharp angles... but damn it all he'd learn to be soft, to be careful and gentle if it meant taking care of his friends.

Chapter 10: Curing Death

Summary:

A small sad scene between Chopper and Luffy.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Luffy quietly watched Chopper from his place at the door.

Chopper, with his head held low, clutched the hand of a patient he had failed to save. The first that Luffy had ever seen.

In a sleepy town called Oaken Stopp, a girl had been injured by a group of cruel bandits. Bandits, that the Straw Hats would be pursuing shortly, but first Chopper had set out to try and save the girl. They had arrived late, Chopper hadn't been trusted by the town initially, and the girl had already lost so much blood. After pleading, and a few threats from Zoro and Luffy, the little doctor finally got to try and help the patient.

Everything had been against them, and unfortunately, even if Chopper was an amazing doctor... not everyone could be saved.

Not that those were the words Chopper would want to hear right now.

"Chopper..." Luffy started to say, but the reindeer let out a bitter sob.

"Don't! Don't... Luffy!" Chopper turned his miserable wet face to look at his Captain through a cloud of tears, "I couldn't... She died! She died!"

Luffy took in a slow breath, and reached for his hat. Marching towards his Doctor, he removed his hat and encircled his arms around the sobbing animal. Pressing his hat firmly on top of Chopper's head, Luffy crushed his sobbing crewmate into his chest. Chopper grasped his Captain, his voice rough and raw as he sobbed,, the force of his wails shaking them both.

"I'm... I'm supposed to be able to... to cure everything! This... I..."

"Chopper... people die," Luffy whispered, his voice serious and solemn, "You're a doctor who can cure everything, I know that. I believe that. But death isn't a disease." Luffy closed his eyes a moment, his hands curling tighter against his smallest crew member. Luffy opened his mouth to say something, but closed it as he fumbled for what to actually say.

Did he point out that they didn't know the girl?

Did they blame the bandits?

The town?

None of that would help Chopper, and Luffy instinctively understood that. Luffy closed his eyes a moment and shook his head. His friend didn't need excuses or reasons, Chopper deserved better than that.

Stroking a hand down Chopper's back, Luffy smiled down at his crewmate, "You did your best Chopper. And you were with her until the end. This is something... good doctors also have to do, right?"

Chopper sniffled loudly and nodded against Luffy's chest, unable to voice any sort of reply.

"I'm proud of you Chopper. You gave it your all, and that's all that you could do."

They stayed that way for several long minutes, and when Chopper pushed away he scrubbed his face with his arm and turned back to the girl's body.

"I need... I want to get her a little more cleaned up. I'm... she's going to look nice," Chopper's voice shook and dipped in pitch, but he did not start crying again.

Luffy nodded, running his hand back down his Doctor's spine, "Okay Chopper." Luffy looked at the girl's face, absorbing her features with a steady gaze. He wouldn't forget her face, he'd remember it as he hunted those bandits down.

"We'll be going to drag the ones that did this back here... they'll pay for it."

Chopper nodded once, dipping a rag in a bowl of water before pressing it gently to the girl's cheek. The straw hat fell over his eyes a moment, and he adjusted so that he could peer out of better. He did not remove it.

Luffy left the room, rejoining the rest of his crew outside who looked at Luffy's eerily calm expression with worried eyes.

His lips curving down into a frown Luffy nodded his head sharply, "Let's go get those bastards. The ones that killed that girl and made Chopper cry. We're going to make them pay."

The rest of the Straw Hats readily agreed, snapping to attention and waiting to follow their Captain in hot pursuit.

Luffy led his friends onward, a slow hot simmer of anger curling inside him as he thought of crushing his knuckles into the bandits' faces for the life they'd stolen, and the tears they'd caused his beloved friend.

No one could make his Nakama cry and get away with it.

Notes:

Luffy giving his sad friends his hat is important to me. I don't care if it comes off as cheesy, I love it... ;3;

Chapter 11: Symphony

Summary:

Brook tried to find his place in the music that is the Straw Hats.
(An older story I pulled from my old account. edited and updated)

Pre-timeskip

Chapter Text

Brook could play any instrument.

Anything.

No instrument was too hard, or too simple. He could do it all. He could sing any note too, and always with perfect pitch. Just dare him, and he'd shatter glass to prove it to you.

Brook was a musician all the way down to the bone...forgive the pun. But Brook lived and breathed music, and his hobby was to ensure that others around them got to hear music as well.

It was an interesting case watching Brook find his place, fitting in with the Pirates of the Straw Hat Crew.

They weren't his old dear friends, who all had loved music. Who at any point of the day he could have struck up a song with, or slapped out a beat. No these people had different passions, hobbies, and interests, and Brook didn't have an easy in with getting to understand them. But he was ready to do the work, ready to get to know his new crew and get them to learn about him as well.

When Zoro slept, he played a lullaby on his violin. Sometimes he even would sing soft tunes, making up little bits to rhyme...such as: "Zoro, is the best! Look at him go! He's got zest!" (He wasn't sure if Zoro appreciated his lyrics, so he largely stuck to humming.) It was all rather embarrassing for Zoro and amusing for the rest of the crew... Zoro reacted badly at first, but then eventually he was comforted by the music and the soothing voice...and well...did what Zoro's do best...well second best, and went to sleep.

When Usopp told stories Brook would use a whole variety of instruments to create the background for all of the sniper's tales. This helped Usopp get over his fear of Brook... well mostly. Usopp still screamed on occasion if he saw Brook wandering around on night duty. This normally woke up the crew who would get mad and scold Usopp, but it made Luffy laugh, and Brook thought it was funny too. But Usopp was warming faster to Brook with the help of the skeleton's accompaniment when he told a story. In fact, Usopp felt that his audience, normally Chopper, Luffy, and occasionally Robin were more enticed thanks to Brook's music. Though Usopp now had a hard time telling scary stories whenever Brook started to play chilling music behind him. The music was too much then.

When Franky started to do some of his weird poses, Brook would strike a few chords on his violin to get everyone's attention. Franky had thought that he didn't really need the help at getting everyone's attention but he gladly let his, "skeleton-bro," contribute to his natural talents. Franky also knew how to play the guitar as it turned out, and Franky was delighted to have some quiet jam session time with the cyborg. Besides Luffy, Franky was the easiest to get along with.

When Chopper got homesick, Brook would smile at the little reindeer and quietly play the Drum island's national song. The music would ease the little deer, and he too got over his fear of the Skeleton. Brook even offered to record a sound dial for Chopper, but the blue-nosed doctor said he liked hearing the real thing best, and of course, then he would clap his hands and do his little dance and half sang, "That won't make me happy you asshole!"

When Sanji cooked-depending on what he was cooking-Brook would start playing songs that matched the theme of Sanji's meals. At first, this was...a little stress inducing for Sanji, but then the girls wanted to learn more about Sanji's background, and more about the food and...well! That changed everything! Sanji now normally would wait for Brook to arrive before he started to cook, and sometimes ask ahead for a style of music he would like to hear.

When Nami looked worried Brook broke out into a song about her beauty. He then would politely ask to see her panties. She would throw something at him, and he'd drop down against the side of the wall singing about how he was a 45-degree angle. After some time, she came to a realization he was trying to distract her from her troubles, and seemed to warm up to him. Brook knew he'd won her over when she sought him out to play her a song while she did a bit of garden work.

When Robin read or studied out on the deck, Brook played soft classical music. Sometimes the two would share deep philosophical conversations, and sometimes she would just read her book and appreciate the sound around her. She fit in right away with his music...being a knowledgeable person she knew that music was good for the soul, and just plain nice to hear.

And then there was Luffy. There were no real special moments with him...with someone like Luffy you can't pick out a special moment.

Luffy radiated. He lit up a room... he was always special. Every moment with the young captain was memorable, and there was no need to try and find a time to force music on Luffy. Luffy would point at Brook and say nothing. He would grin, and stamp his foot, his toes wiggling in his flip-flops, and his eyes alight with... something. And Brook would know it was time to sing, time to dance, time to make music.

And Brook could play anything and everything.

He prided himself in being a very good musician after all.

It would take some time, he was sure, but in time, he'd fit in with their symphony.

Though if he had bothered to ask at all, the Straw Hats thought he suited them all just fine already.

Chapter 12: Sour Grapes 1

Summary:

Robin buys some local fruit for Sanji. She samples a little for herself... and when she next wakes Robin is a child. And she needs to run away. How'd she get on this big ship? That doesn't matter, but she has to go before someone finds her and turns her in. She just wants to learn, and she wants to live.

Notes:

There will be a few stories under this title, as I've always wanted to explore what this series is about: Adult members of the Strawhat crew meeting younger versions of their friends. They won't all be posted one right after the other, as this is a drabble series, but will have the same title, just with the addition of a new number. I've always wanted to try this idea since Reading Tonko's, 'Til you feel it all around you. So if you want a very good read I'd check it out.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

She'd been intrigued by the names of the grapes the merchant had been selling.

"Mother's Tears," was the name shouted out as she tried to walk by the stall in the local market of a small island on the Grand Line.

She'd stopped to look at them, and the merchant presented a bunch of grapes to her like they were strands of pearls, and in a way they were. Little edible pearls in shades of blues and purples, sparkling intriguingly in his hands.

"These are beautiful," Robin commented as she looked at the fruit.

"Oh yes! Delicious too! In season now! The best grapes you'll ever try!" the man assured her, "They're best in this shade, though we have some green as well... not as tasty I think. A beautiful woman deserves the best tasting bunch!"

His friendly flirt brought to mind a certain blonde chef and Robin offered to buy them. He wrapped them for her and gave her a few tips for their care. They were abnormal grapes, as long as they were kept cold they could last up to six months. And strangely enough, he was insistent, that the grapes had to be cooked.

"Best to make a jam with them," the man cautioned for a third time as he held out the bag for her.

"I'll be sure to let our chef know. Thank you," She said as she walked away, carrying the precious bundle with her.

When she neared the ship, she opened the bag, and popped one grape from the strand, and held it up to the light. They really were as beautiful as sparkling gems, though she wondered why they were called 'Mother's Tears,' and made a note to go back in the afternoon and ask the merchant for an explanation. They would be leaving tomorrow morning, so she'd have to make the trip short.

She popped the grape in her mouth, startled to find it was a bit tart, almost like a lemon. Very quickly it faded into something very sweet, something more grape-like but the first initial bite was jolting. She mused that perhaps that was why they needed to be cooked, their sweetness needed to be brought out. Still, even with its tartness, the grapes were nice and different from any other that she'd had. Sanji would love these, and she was a little eager to see what he could do with them.

Crepes made with their jelly sounded nice to her.

When she boarded the Thousand Sunny she unwrapped the grapes, and opening the lock on Sanji's fridge put the grapes inside. She managed to get the number from using her abilities to spy, a secret she kept for herself. It was a secret little delight of hers to take a snack without the cook noticing and then watch him chase Luffy and Usopp demanding to know how they broke in.

Teasing her beloved Nakama was a favorite past time of hers, she really couldn't help herself.

Grapes secured in the fridge, standing out like blue jewels amongst the other grapes, she left to go find a book for now. Something her mind could devour while she waited the few hours out before dinner.

Robin did not make it to dinner that night.

Her stomach had cramped, and she'd retired to her room. She wanted to keep the cramps to herself, but Nami had come looking for her, saw Robin's pained face and rushed off for Chopper. Chopper came barging in the women's shared room moments later and gathered Robin up to deposit her gently in the sick bay's bed.

"I'm... alright..." Robin had wheezed, smiling as she tried to maintain her obvious lie.

"Hush," Chopper said gently, shutting the door to his office away so that the other concerned crew couldn't peak in. "I'm the doctor, let me take a look at you, and I'll determine if you're okay!"

Robin would have laughed if the thought alone didn't make her feel sick.

"Menstruation?" Chopper asked, not shy about the question now that she was suffering.

"No..." Robin managed.

"Did you eat anything strange today?" He asked rapid fire.

For a moment she thought of the grapes, but dismissed it and again answered a weak, "No."

He asked a few more questions, before he rushed for a vial, "I'm going to withdraw some blood, and then make you something for the pain. Hold on Robin!"

Chopper gave her a thorough check-up, but apart from a fairly low fever found nothing. He mixed something for her that would put her to sleep through the night, and running a soothing hoof over the top of her head promised to check on her again in the morning. She was grateful for the chance to sleep through the pain in her stomach and smiled reassuringly at Chopper.

"I'll be good as new with you caring for me little doctor," she said. But the tonic he'd given her worked so quick, it caused her to slur, and she wasn't sure he understood her.

He smiled all the same, and she too smiled falling readily asleep.

Robin awoke warm and comfortable, drowning in a bed that was too big, with blankets that were just the same. For a moment she relished the smell of fresh linen and the feeling of comfort.

But that was what also had her sitting bolt upright.

She had not fallen asleep in a bed last night.

She'd found a cave alongside the beach, near a dock she was watching. She was waiting for the next ship to go out so she could stowaway and get to the next island. This was not where she'd hidden herself, this was not where she was meant to be!

Scrambling from the bed Robin tripped as she stumbled out of a skirt that was far too big for her, a shirt hanging slinkily over one of her shoulders. She looked down at the clothes on her body, eyes wide with terror. This was not her dress she'd slept in. And where was... where was her bag! She had managed to steal some food, something she hoped could last her on the ship, at least for a little while-

'Calm down,' Robin's voice commanded, and she stilled.

She had a hundred questions, but if she stopped to answer them now, she risked getting caught. She could not get caught. Ohara's memory depended on that. Putting her hands to her chest she took a deep breath, and let it out in a big breath. Taking the room in, she slowly began to recognize it for what it was. A medical room... but not a hospital. It was too small, and she could smell other smells besides the slightly chemical cleanliness hospitals contained. She smelled... salt. And wood shavings. There was something else... something good. Breakfast smells.

Where was she?

Swiveling her head to the door, she crossed her arms, putting an eye on the outside of it.

She was on a ship. She could see that now. She could see a hallway, and a ladder that led up, and the beginnings of a foremast. She'd been brought on a boat?

Robin, jolted letting her eye pop away from the door.

No! No, she'd been captured! They were taking her in! She pressed her hands to the side of her face, and pulled, stretching it so that the tears wouldn't come. Taking in another breath she looked around and saw a porthole. She ran to it knowing that she could fit through, she'd done it before. Pushing the small window open, she began to slip through the hole, the smell of a salty sea hitting her full on in the face.

She was looking for a lip or an imperfect groove of the ship that she could dig her nails in and slip her toes against. She would cling to the hull of this ship, and pull herself to a lifeboat, and get away. Escape, as she had done many times before. She'd do it, she'd do it, she'd do it! She was mostly out when she heard a sharp gasp followed by a startled and unsure, "Robin!?"

Her head snapped up, and she looked up to see a small... teddybear wearing a hat? He was staring at her with wide shocked eyes, his mouth open and his... that was a hoof, so he wasn't a bear... frozen on the door. She didn't waste any more time trying to take him in, she'd wasted too long already. Squeezing through the porthole she began to make the dangerous climb alongside the hull of the ship.

The creature inside screamed and appeared next to her, his head poking from the porthole in alarm, "Robin! ROBIN STOP! You could fall!"

She slid alongside of the hull, her bare legs scraping against the wood. There was barely anything for her to cling to, the ship had such few imperfections. And as the sea rocked the ship, wind whipping around her body, the little girl felt that this was a little harder than she had suspected.

The creature's arm appeared out of the Porthole, but now much longer and thicker. She fought a scream as it narrowly missed her, and she slid further alongside the hull.

"Stop! It's dangerous! HELP! HELP!" the creature was screaming, but Robin ignored him and clung to the side of the ship.

As the ship dipped low as a wave dipped and rolled she felt her insides shake hard as the force almost knocked her from the side. The wind pushed against her face and her hair obscured her vision for a moment, but she still clung tight. She turned her head to look out at the sea, and that was all she could see. Blue above and below stretching on and on. Only sea and sky, no island in sight.

Where would she run to?

From above, a hand clamped down on her.

She screamed as an impossibly long arm descended from above and curled around her like a rubber snake. She was torn easily from the side of the ship and was yanked, up, up, up, and up until with a great momentum she was thrown high in the air above the ship now. There was a lot of sounds, and she heard her name said in many different voices, and she was going to be sick now.

There were people, not just one, and they knew her. All of them knew her. She wanted to scream and curl in a ball. How was she going to get out of this one?

And then someone was up next to her. Somehow they had launched themselves up high to be with her and their hands wrapped around her, tight and strong. A boy with dark hair and eyes and a scar on his cheek was grinning at her wide.

"Robin! You're all little now!" He laughed as he pulled her close, and she feebly tried to push as they fell towards the ground together.

His arms coiled around her more securely, and his cheek fell on the top of her head. It was... he was hugging her. When was the last time she had been hugged? He was still laughing, but it didn't feel mean, it wasn't at her. Her throat closed tight, the laughter reminded her of Saul.

They were back on the ground now, and she was curled tightly in the young man's arms, waiting for something bad to happen. She tried to think of what to do when they descended when the shouting started... where could she run on a boat in the middle of an ocean?

"Robin..." Someone said her name, and they sounded concerned and scared.

But not of her.

She opened her eyes there was a crowd of people staring at her, eyes wide with shock, and mouthes open. The boy adjusted her in his arms and she looked up, watching numbly as he secured a straw hat to his head. He was still smiling and his grin got bigger as she looked at him.

"Wow Robin, you're so tiny! How did you do that?!"

She had nothing to say.

Robin sat with a plate of warm food, and a big glass of juice at a nice table. A blanket was wrapped around her, and there were three pillows on her chair, the blonde man had insisted she take to sit upon. She was very confused.

First, everyone was very nice. And for real nice. Not the nice where their words were sweet and their smiles didn't reach their eyes.

Second, they were all concerned about her, and things about her. They wondered why she was small, why she didn't remember them, and how she felt.

Third, apparently she wasn't supposed to be small... which was as weird as the last thing.

Fourth, they called themselves her Nakama, and she was their Archeologist on a ship in the Grand Line.

They were a big family of strangers. This powerful thing called Nakama, people Saul promised her she would one day meet, but she didn't have any memory of it. And they insisted, knew her, just not this version of her. An older version.

It felt like a very poor lie, but the nice woman who sat next to her now, a gentle hand on her back, had produced a wanted paper with her face-an adult version-of Robin's face and said that was her. She had no memory of this woman who she was supposed to be, but that was her face, at the very least that was her name printed there. It was all... mysterious, and she tried not to be excited by the many questions it stirred in her, but it was all... fascinating.

"Not hungry?" The blonde man asked her, and when she looked at him he flinched. He was clinging to his own hands, the one eye she could see wide and worried. He smiled at her, the type of smile adults gave kids when they were nervous but trying to be nice and offered, "I could make something else..."

She looked back at the food. It was all so lovely to look at. It smelled wonderful. She hadn't... when had she seen a lovely meal like this before? This was a day of nice experiences she supposed, a luxury she hadn't had in a while. A luxury she was supposed to be careful with. Robin kept her eyes on the food, unsure of what she should be doing, even if she knew what they wanted.

"Sanji... I think..." the woman next to Robin gently plucked the girl's spoon from her hand and Robin watched as she took small tastes of everything on the plate. She then reached over and sipped Robin's juice, and set it back down. She smiled at Robin, and held out her hands, "Everything is safe see? I used to be scared of something like that too when I was little."

Robin's voice was lost somewhere, and her throat hurt. She took the spook and began to eat fast, tears flooding down her cheeks as she ate.

Everyone was quiet, and Robin hated it. It felt heavy. Very heavy. When her throat was too tight to keep going she drained her juice and gasped as she set it down. And then she smiled big and forced out Saul's laugh. It fixed many things, maybe it could fix this now.

No one laughed with her.

The boy, who turned out to be the Captain, got up from his seat across from her, and he picked her up. She was held tight and a hat was dropped on her head.

" S'okay Robin. You don't need to do that. You take your time and think. While you think, let me just remind you of some stuff. So I'm Luffy, and I'm going to be King of the Pirates, and that's Nami, my navigator! And that's Franky..." on and on it went, and Robin calmed down again as Luffy introduced the entire crew. They all smiled at her, eager to have her eyes land on them. He ended with Brook, and she did a double-take. She hadn't noticed the skeleton before, but he opened his mouth at her, and she could only see a grin.

They welcomed her, and it was real.

"If you're not ready to talk we'll wait. We've got a long way to the next island anyway, so we should be able to figure out how to make you big again by then. Or maybe you'll figure it out," Luffy reasoned nodding, "You know everything."

Robin looked up at him, "Everything?"

His eyes twinkled when he looked down at her, "I think almost! We've still got a lot to see." was his answer.

Robin managed to finish her meal with the straw hat sitting on her head. It felt important somehow, as special as a golden tiara. After she ate the doctor, who was a reindeer and not a teddybear, examined her. He then passed her a floral shirt that belonged to Nami, but worked as a dress for her for now. It was the prettiest thing she'd ever seen, and she twirled in it once. Just once.

Chopper smiled at her and opened the door for her encouraging her to go outside.

She was led back out on a ship, where the crew were talking all at once, but they silenced themselves at her arrival. They must have been talking about her, and she hoped it wasn't bad.

Usopp, the long nosed sniper and liar (as Luffy had called him) asked her, "Hey Robin... do you... feel okay?"

"...I don't feel bad at all. Just... lost?" Robin answered forcing herself to keep looking him in the face. He had kind eyes, and they were concerned and a little afraid. But not at her. And him not being afraid of her was nice.

"Well as Captain says, we'll figure this all out, little sis! You've got nothing to worry about, A-OW!" Franky rumbled and struck a strange pose.

She laughed for real this time, and a few of the others joined in.

For the rest of the day, she was led around the ship and shown amazing things, and told marvelous stories, that she also took part in back when she was big, supposedly. She did want it to be true, but it still felt... too impossible. Most of them seemed to be scrambling to impress her, which was new and strange. They all wanted to make her smile and answer her questions and she had a lot.

By dinner time she returned Luffy his hat, who thanked her with a big rubbery smile. She smiled back, liking how it stretched on his face.

She chose a seat next to Zoro, because she hadn't talked to him much yet, and she wanted to ask about his three swords. He raised an eyebrow at her, and inside she was intimidated but she smiled politely back.

"Still can't believe you wear such a mask as a kid," Zoro rumbled, lifting an eyebrow at her, "Shame." His hand fell heavy on her head, and he pet her hair a little too hard, his hand friendly but a little rough as he squeezed the back of your neck, "Wish we'd found you sooner."

Zoro then scowled as Nami kicked him under the table, a confused look crossing his face as the woman glared at him and hissed for him to shut up.

"What?" Zoro snapped, brows furrowing more into his eyes, hand rubbing one more time over Robin's head.

The cook started shouting at him next, and then the two were fighting, the swordsman with his swords, and the cook with his feat. Robin wished they wouldn't. She thought Zoro had said something very nice, and it made her warm from the inside out as she thought about it.

Eventually, Luffy demanded food, and everyone settled back down for dinner, which was an event in itself. Everyone tried to steal food, but it seemed like it was a tactic to try and prevent Luffy from getting all of theirs. Brook was singing, and sometimes belching, which would make Nami scream and throw something at him. Usopp was passing a cup to Sanji, who filled it without looking, as he lashed out with his other hand at Luffy who got too close to Robin's plate. Franky and Chopper were then making funny faces and Chopper had chopsticks up his nose... it was a real party.

"Is dinner like this every day?" Robin laughed, catching a drumstick Usopp had lost ahold of as Luffy tried to steal it.

"Unfortunately!" Nami sighed pushing Brook away from her as he screeched about panties.

If this was a dream, Robin hoped it never would end.

When it was dark, the crew all went out to the deck, and Robin looked up at the stars. She started naming constellations aloud, and Luffy sat himself down on the grass and asked her to keep going. She pointed them out and soon had a captive audience, Nami joining in on her explanations on occasion. When Robin was tired, because really there was too much about the sky she could talk about, she sat down in the grass, hands stroking over the deck.

"If I don't get big again... what happens?" Robin asked a question that had lingered all day in the back of her mind.

It was quiet, quiet like it had been this morning, and Luffy was again the one to interrupt it, "We keep sailing. You want to stay with us right?"

Robin looked for Luffy's face then, surprised that it was her choice to decide what would happen next. Luffy was looking at her, eyes hopeful and expectant, and she saw that he wasn't the only one. All the people of this ship, the ones that claimed to be her Nakama, were looking at her. All worried that she might say something other than what was in her heart.

"I do want to stay," Robin said, and jumped as a relieved cheer went up around her.

She laughed, "I'm not so important to cheer over."

Franky's large engulfing hand was on her back and he leaned over, his sunglasses pushed into his hair as he met her eye, "Robin-sis, you are so important to us."

"Yeah!" Luffy agreed, sounding angry, his mouth curved in a deep frown, "Better not say mean things about my Nakama, or I'll hit you!"

Sanji and Nami both kicked Luffy hard, Nami shouting, "IDIOT!" while Sanji roared, "YOU WILL NOT LAY A HAND ON ROBIN-SWAN!"

And the crew fell into chaos again, Robin's eyes glittering as the crew broke into another ridiculous fight. Robin hunkered down in the grass, leaning against Franky's big leg, which made him weep with honor that she had "chosen him to sit next to," and held herself. If this was her life now every day, she hoped she remembered how lucky she was if she ever got big again.

Robin came to as Nami tucked her into a big bed, in a room that apparently was theirs.

"Oh sorry Robin, I didn't mean to wake you... You fell asleep, so I thought I would put you to bed," Nami whispered gently.

"How long have we all been together?" Robin asked quietly as sleep tried to tuck her back in its folds.

Nami tilted her face, biting her lower lip, "Not long... but not so short either," She laughed seeming not sure how to further explain.

"I'd like to be together forever," Robin whispered, yawning big as she tried not to.

Nami's eyes were shining in the dark, big and bright. She swallowed, and her hands fell on Robin's and she squeezed very tight, "We want to be together forever too, Robin. We'll all try."

Robin nodded, "Good... good..." and fell asleep, hoping to wake up back here with them again.

When Robin did wake, she had a slight headache. She rubbed her head, and it faded like a dream sometimes did, and she sat up stretching her body. She looked down at herself, before squinting around the girl's cabin and finding a robe of hers. Wrapping it around her body, she meandered through her closet looking for something to wear today. She heard Nami stir from her bed, and looked to the other woman smiling, "Good-morning Nami."

She had not been expecting Nami to scream.

Nor was she expecting for the rest of the crew to come barging in and have similar reactions at the sight of her.

Franky and Brook then charged her, snot and tears streaming down their faces as they proclaimed how good it was to see her.

However, at them charging her in nothing but her robe she crossed her hands, and two extra sets of hands slapped them in their faces.

"Sorry," both men meekly groaned before Robin looked at all of her emotional friends and asked, "Now... what is going on here?"

Breakfast lasted a long time. In fact, it lasted so long, you could say it bled into brunch. But the crew had a lot to say, and Robin wanted to hear it all.

"...This is... hard to believe," Robin said, a warm cup of tea growing cold in her hands.

"But it's true!" Luffy said with an emphatic nod, and a wide grin, "Yesterday you were so small!"

"And you don't remember? Not any of it?" Chopper asked.

"No..." Robin said trying to recall any of the events the crew had told her about, "Last I knew my stomach hurt and I was in the sickbay."

"That was the day before," Chopper said, sounding a little disappointed.

Robin glanced at her friends, head swiveling from person to person, and saw they all looked a little disappointed.

"What's all this now? Did you like the little me so much?" She asked smiling and setting her cup down so she could lean on her hand.

"Of course we did!" Franky said sounding a little angry as he banged his hand on the table, "You were a great kid!"

Robin felt warm from the inside, and something about that was familiar. She sat a little straighter looking slightly far away and muttered, "Maybe I do remember something..."

"Well... missing memories aside, how did Miss Robin shrink in the first place?" Brook asked leaning forward against the table.

That could not be figured out, and eventually, the group chalked it up to another oddity of being on the Grand Line. Robin promised to keep thinking about the matter, and Chopper promised to explore his books and research if there was any disease that turned someone into a child for twenty-four hours.

In the fridge, the grapes sat quietly forgotten.

Notes:

i could have made this story a million times longer but then it really wouldn't be much of a drabble, and I don't know if I could make something like this a long story. I'd like to one day, but who knows.

Chapter 13: A Hardy Meal

Summary:

Nami had chosen her prince, and it's not Sanji. Sanji mourns.

Chapter Text

He was jealous.

Terribly, terribly jealous.

But who would not be jealous of the one who got to curl up with Nami? And that was what was happening now, here on the Thousand Sunny. Another man, that was not Sanji was curled up with Nami on a hammock, her arms curled around their body tight, while his hand stroked her shoulder absently. Sanji should have been furious and would have been furious if that man holding Nami, wasn't his Nakama.

Sanji sighed and turned away from Nami and Usopp on the hammock.

Usopp was with Nami now, and as much as Sanji hated that fact, he could never hate Usopp for it.

There was something poetic about the storyteller winning the fair maiden, and not the prince.

But it still hurt.

As he entered the familiar space of his kitchen, Sanji allowed himself to touch the truth of what had been happening, slowly over the years. The truth of Nami and Usopp falling in love with each other. He walked to the pantry and grabbed several ingredients, before placing them all before him on the counter.

As he set to the tasks of cutting, mincing, and mixing, Sanji rolled over everything he had seen, everything that he had pretended not to see. Quiet thoughtful looks from Usopp. Considerate, measured stares from Nami. Secret conversations between the two. Their heads bowed near each other in quiet conversation. Hugs with noses buried in hair, and hands holding onto one another, just a little more intimately than friends.

Sanji had seen all this and ignored it.

He threw his mixture into a large pot along with flour, a bit of chicken stock, and other spices, and fetched a wooden spoon so that he could stir.

The flavors hit his nose, and his eyes watered from the spice, and he blinked rapidly. He did not fight the tears that came. Tears from very well seasoned food, and a hurt that mingled with joy in a strange painful mix.

Sanji had realized he really lost Nami, when he noticed that she was the one pursuing. She was the one reaching out to Usopp for hugs. Going to his room to ask for updated on her weapon that she didn't really leave. Sitting quietly at his side as he fished, letting her head drop on his shoulder. Usopp had received her affection with all the floundering one might expect from a blushing, inexperienced virgin...

But Usopp had also looked hopeful and happy...

And then Sanji realized, with horror and guilt, Usopp was looking to him for permission.

Sanji had lost his temper then, and dragged Usopp down into his workshop and gave him a brief but hard ass-kicking, along with a lecture of, "If you like her, pursue her! She deserves the best, and she's chosen you, so you better deliver!"

Usopp had not quite looked up into Sanji's face and muttered, "But you..."

"I am not made of glass, my heart and pride won't be destroyed from anything you and Nami do, you idiot!" Sanji hissed red in the face and fully irritated. He then fell to his knees across from Usopp, and clutched the sniper's shoulder, "Just make her happy... and Usopp... you... be happy."

Usopp had left the room and gone to Nami that morning. They spent long hours together talking and showed themselves at lunch. A shine in their eyes, and a fresh look of joy on their faces. Sanji knew at once, it was over, and Nami was Usopp's now. The crew would realize it by tomorrow if they hadn't already realized it now, and Sanji had a strong suspicion Robin knew. Her gentle eyes looking after him the rest of the day, were as heavy as the broken heart he now tried to heal with a warm meal.

Sanji poured what he had created into a bowl, a rather nice hardy gumbo.

He sat down to eat the meal, a good hardy meal that helped with heartache as well as hunger.

He ate, and sincerely hoped that by the time he cleaned his plate, he could go back outside and not be consumed with jealousy.

The longing and disappointment... well, he'd have to tackle that another day.

Chapter 14: A Blurted Confession

Summary:

Implied Na/Lu, one-side San/Na, and San/Uso

Zoro did not think he would be in for this conversation today.

Notes:

I was trying to write some friendship but I guess my muse today was like nah. Romance. And friendship.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Zoro grit his teeth, bracing himself for the rant that Sanji would be giving in the next minute. The same rant he had been giving every five minutes for the last hour-

"I can't believe I have to save the needle-nose and the furball!" Sanji burst into a poorly staged whisper.

"Keep. It. Down," Zoro bit out, grabbing Sanji and forcing his head down. "This way," Zoro muttered before Sanji stopped him from moving.

"No, you idiot!" Sanji hissed before huffing, "You're going the wrong way! Luffy said-"

"And you trust his sense of direction?" Zoro snapped, though he did allow Sanji to tug him along in the opposite direction he had first intended to go.

"Nami-swan also said to go this way...guuuhhh I SHOULD BE RESCUING HER!" Sanji might have continued to scream but Zoro stuffed his fist into Sanji's mouth to silence him.

"LOOK!" Zoro spat, before he grimaced and forced his tone to be lowered, "Our Captain ordered us to rescue Chopper and Usopp! If you're such a fool that you can't follow Luffy's orders, then follow Nami's-"

Sanji shoved Zoro off him, his cheeks colored with anger, frustration, and shame, "I know what she said! And I know what Luffy asked us to do, Luffy is my Captain too! You're not the only one loyal to him!"

"Then act like it! You can't doubt Luffy just because Nami's been taken!" Zoro snapped his sour mood from earlier intensified by Sanji's ineptness to follow an order from their Captain.

"I just... she asked for... for him," Sanji muttered, running his fingers through his hair, "She asked for him to save her-"

"And she begged for us to save Usopp and Chopper," Zoro interrupted before pointing a finger at Sanji, "She specifically begged for you to save Usopp. They're our Nakama-why are you hesitating?! Luffy has Nami, we get the others!"

Sanji moved towards the direction of where Usopp and Chopper supposedly were waiting to be saved. It was clear he wanted to go to them, but something was keeping him from moving forward.

'It can't just be Nami,' Zoro thought before aloud he snapped, "Well?!"

Sanji remained silent.

Zoro only grew angrier as Sanji continued to say nothing. Reaching out, Zoro caught Sanji by the collar of his shirt and dragged him up. With his brow pressed against Sanji's, Zoro snarled, "What is wrong with you?!"

"I'minlovewithUsopp!" Sanji blurted, quick and all in one breath.

But even at that speed, the message came in loud and clear. Zoro released Sanji, and with it his anger. Feeling lost, in ways that weren't geographical, Zoro said the only thing he could say, "What?"

"I won't repeat myself," Sanji muttered as he pulled from Zoro and began to pace.

Zoro had a hundred different questions, and there were a hundred different paths he could go down. He could knock some sense into Sanji, which was normally the instinct he led with. He could... run now. Run from whatever weird conversation this was going to be. Or he could pretend he never heard Sanji's sudden and impromptu love confession. Why of all people did Sanji say this to him, and why now?!

Zoro took a breath and took a step back. There really wasn't time for this, their Nakama was in trouble... but... then again, Sanji too was in trouble it seemed. And he was also, begrudgingly, a Nakama as well.

"Sanji... we don't have time. But... speak up before I change my mind," Zoro grumbled, sweeping a hand over his head. This day was going to be really annoying, Zoro could just feel it.

"I... I have always loved women. I am made for women. But Usopp... is different, " Sanji muttered not looking at Zoro and continuing to pace, "And... And Nami-swan knows! She somehow knows and... I don't even know what's going on... but she knows. Knew. Figured it out before I did... but it's Usopp!"

"So what. He's a Nakama. What-he not good enough for you?" Zoro asked, angry at the thought Sanji could be looking down on their sniper.

"I'm not good enough for him!" Sanji snapped, surprising Zoro. Sanji kept his pacing up, and Zoro watched. Zoro was more surprised than he had expected to be, and Sanji was... not saying what he had expected him to say on this matter.

"I don't... what will he think of me if I suddenly turn my attentions to him?" Sanji muttered, "What would Nami-swan and Robin-Chwan do if I also doted on him? And Nami... she just..." Sanji flexed his fingers, looking at his hands for answers they did not have, "She just smiles and laughs, and knows what I don't even want to say!"

Zoro sighed, "Nami is-and don't tell her I said this-smarter than all of us, besides Robin. So she figured you out-"

"This isn't like me!" Sanji exploded rounding on Zoro with wild, and maybe frightened eyes, "I have never felt... like... this for anyone but... but N-Nami-swan-"

"Nope. No. There's the lie. I can see it now," Zoro sighed, hands on his hips and shaking his head, "You feel for Nami, you care about her. 'M not going to say you don't. But something shifted for Usopp. We're talking about you being in love with Usopp here, and your pansy-ass being too afraid to spit it out. But you know who isn't scared, and who has a keen fucking eye? Nami."

Zoro pointed accusingly at Sanji, "Nami can spot money and bullshit from a mile away. She's someone who knows what she wants and who she wants. And she's good at seeing what other people want. So she pointed it out to ya... and you couldn't handle it, could you?"

Sanji was quiet, his hands curled into fists and staring unblinkingly at Zoro.

"Ahh!" Zoro threw his hands up in the air in disgust, "I can guess she figured it out and has tried to talk to you about it. And you... you stupid love-cook have refused to see sense. She's probably been at you trying to get you to handle this your self, but you've not been listening. Well, slacker, it seems like this is your last chance. Nami chose Luffy, and she's conveying that to you now. She asked for him to come save her because she knows that would send a message to you. But she's telling you to choose Usopp because..." Zoro trailed off.

Hell, he wasn't that smart, he didn't know fully why Nami had begged for Sanji to save Usopp instead of her... Nami didn't like trouble, she'd normally be fine being saved by anyone if she couldn't save herself.

"...Because she wants me to be happy too," Sanji muttered, supplying the other half of Nami's thoughts.

Zoro sighed, "You understand that woman better than me, so it must be true." Zoro looked at Sanji again, and was disgusted and confused by the strange... vulnerability Sanji was showing him.

"Saving Usopp is our duty as crewmates and friends. Saving him isn't going to mean you've confessed to Usopp," Zoro said, trying his hardest to be patient.

"But if I go now for him, instead of her... it means I've made a choice," Sanji said, voice final and hands unfurling.

"Well, you should! Because Nami already has! She asked for Luffy, not for you!" Zoro snapped, patience already gone, "And you! Mr. Proclaimer of love and all that fuckin' bullshit, if you're really a man you would face all this! Running away from it is cheap. Usopp doesn't fucking deserve cheap, so don't think you even have a right to anything if you run from this. You don't even deserve to be his friend if you can't concentrate on even saving him when he needs the help! All you're doing now, is faltering before you even take the first step! Trust me, this is now how you're going to get to be with Usopp, this is the beginning of you earning him, because if he won't put you through the trials, I'll sure as hell will. You have to earn him, and you're failing before you even start!"

Done with the conversation, and not caring if Sanji followed or not, Zoro took off in the direction Sanji had steered him in before.

He only had to wait a minute before Sanji caught up with him, face shamed, but eyes determined.

"...Thank you Zoro," Sanji muttered.

That almost tripped Zoro up, but he managed to remain on his feet and keep running.

"I... sometimes I need to be shouted out," Sanji continued, "So... If I... I hesitate or fuck up again-"

"Oh, I'll send you packing," Zoro assured Sanji.

Sanji nodded, done speaking for now.

'Nami's a soft-touch. I guess he needed someone who wouldn't pull their punches. If this works out maybe Nami will take away some of my debt,' Zoro thought, hopeful he could get something out of this weird, unexpected conversation.

"Ha! So if Luffy and I are rescuing our loves, what are you doing with Chopper?" Sanji suddenly blurted, daring to sound smug.

'Oh, I'll kill him. After we get Chopper and Usopp, I'll kill Sanji,' Zoro thought, trying to hold onto his anger so he could unleash it on the ones who had captured their Nakama.

He'd just have to knock Sanji's teeth in another day.

Notes:

...this was not where I wanted to go with this story but I went with it? I still like it so here it is. I might post what I was really trying to write at a later date, but this little story is still nice.

Chapter 15: Sour Grapes 2

Summary:

Another strawhat ingests some grapes with some strange after effects

Notes:

this one is kinda long! ^^;

Chapter Text

It had been a week since the incident with "Little Robin," and no amount of pressing or wild theories seemed to explain the cause for Robin's sudden regression to a little girl.

Chopper had been hitting the books, and his concern was that Robin's temporary regression was a strange, and rare disease. His big fear was that at any moment someone else would get infected, and turn into a child. And if it happened during battle... Chopper shuddered to think of that.

"Anything can happen on the Grand Line," he murmured as he poured over a large tome he had acquired several months back, "Strange diseases. Weird bacteria. Curses! I've got to figure this out!"

The book he was currently invested in, was chock full of known diseases, and weird things found in the field of medicine. Chopper had been working nonstop on trying to find an answer. He'd even drawn samples of some of Robin's blood, and hair clippings to see if that could reveal anything after further testing.

Today he was in the dining hall with his book open before him, while Sanji busied himself in the kitchen. Sanji was sorting some items in the fridge. They had a lot of fruit and vegetables at the moment so he was planning on drying some, as well as freezing others. He had an idea to make some jelly as well, or a simple syrup he could use to sweeten drinks later. He glanced up so often, frowning at Chopper in concern.

Their little doctor had kept himself quite busy.

"You're working very hard Chopper... find anything new?" Sanji asked as he tossed a few dark colored grapes in a blender along with apple slices, banana, and blueberries.

"There's a note in this book about a similar disease on an island we haven't been to," Chopper answered with a yawn, "It makes the body shrink and smoothes the skin, so you get the appearance of a child. But... it's fatal, and it's slow moving! It doesn't happen overnight and only last a day..." Chopper threw his hooves down on his book, snorting angrily before muttering, "Maybe Robin experience a mutation?"

Sanji waited for Chopper to finish his explanation before he blended the fruit together into a smoothie. When he was done he poured the contents into a glass and brought it to Chopper.

"Here, drink this and cheer up. Robin is well... and hopefully, it was all just... a single strange occurrence!" Sanji said patting the back of Chopper's head.

Chopper nodded and smiled at Sanji, "Thanks Sanji. I'm just worried that it could be some new disease on the ship."

"You've practically boiled and scrubbed everything yourself!" Sanji said with a chuckle, "This place is clean as a whistle. A disease or bacteria doesn't stand a chance against you!"

"Yeah," Chopper agreed with reluctance, taking his glass and gulping half of it in one go. His expression lightened after the sweet and slightly tart mixture hit his tongue. Licking his lips and smiling he exclaimed, "Oh that's really good thank you! The only thing I've got left to inspect is a bracelet Robin was wearing when she had shrunk. She said it was from a flea market, so I'm going to test it to see if there was anything strange on it."

Sanji hummed sighing, "I hope you get the answers you need, but you're our doctor, and the best! You'll solve it."

Chopper finished his drink and gathered up his book. Smiling wide he giggled, "That amount of praise won't soften me up you asshole!" He twirled and exited, Sanji laughing to himself as the reindeer went out the door.

Turning back to his task, Sanji gathered a strand of grapes and spread them on a tray. Placing a cheesecloth over them, he wondered how he'd manage to dry these all out without Luffy getting to them. Sanji sighed and shook his head wondering which was harder. Finding out what had happened to Robin, or keeping Luffy away from food?

Chopper was locked in his office, a hand on his stomach. It had begun aching him around dinner time, but he'd managed to get through his meal. Now, however, he was mixing up a bit of a sleep aid to help him through the night.

"I'm stressing too much over Robin's case," Chopper muttered with a tired yawn. He looked back at the bracelet Robin had leant him and wondered if he was chasing another dead-end. He hadn't really found anything weird about the bracelet, and perhaps looking at this item was a little out of his depth. He was a doctor, not a jeweler.

Tired, more tired than he had been in a long time, Chopper collapsed on his bed. He was feeling a little hot now, and his stomach ached a lot if he was honest. He smiled remembering Dr. Kureha scoffing at him once when he had caught a cold.

"Doctors make the worst patients!" She had said to him before chuckling at his pitiful state. If he thought back hard enough he could feel her warm hand running over his fur, and hear her familiar laugh.

Chopper smiled at the memory, and agreeing a little with what she had said back in the past, went to sleep.

"OI! Is Chopper-bro asleep still?" Franky asked as he looked out at the breakfast table. Sanji, who was serving Robin some crepes made with freshly made jelly, looked up and then out at the table. Little Chopper's head was not present among his crewmates.

"Ah! I didn't see him..." Sanji muttered annoyed with himself at forgetting one of their crew.

"He's been working really hard on what happened to Robin a little while ago, perhaps he's still buried in his work," Zoro said, munching on an apple.

"Well, he can work as hard as he wants, but not during meal times!" Sanji rumbled, finishing serving the ladies before he wiped his hands on an apron he had tied at his waist, "I'll get him!"

As he marched for the door, he paused to point at Luffy, "Leave some food for Chopper!"

Luffy's cheeks, already ballooned out with the copious amounts of food he'd stuffed in his face, nodded and muttered something unintelligible. It at least looked like he was agreeing with what Sanji was saying. Sanji nodded, arching a brow at Luffy, and pointing at his Captain in warning, before he disappeared in search of Chopper, heading straight for the reindeer's office.

It was a short easy walk to the door, and Sanji gave the door a sharp rap, "Doctor! You better get out here and join everyone else for breakfast!"

A scraping sound answered him, and Sanji blinked confused for a moment by the sound. Sanji pressed his ear towards the door and tried calling again, "Chopper?"

Another heavy thud and then the sound of glass breaking. Sanji's heart clenched and he threw open the door, his instincts warning him of danger.

"Chopper!?" He called again, only to shout as something leaped out of the darkened room and barreled into him. He hit the deck with a thud, gasping as something sharp and heavy dug into his gut, using him like a springboard to jump away.

"Sanji!?" Usopp's voice screeched out a few moments after Sanji had hit the deck.

There had been enough noise to alert the crew, and they all came piling out, bracing themselves for whatever might be waiting for them.

"Someone better not be ruining our meal!" Luffy's voice shouted out angrily from the back of the group pouring out of the kitchen.

Sanji coughed and rolled over on his stomach, lifting himself on his forearms. His back stung, the ache promising him he had earned himself some new bruises. Coughing he managed to shout, "Something ran into me! We might be under attack,"

"That's not the case..." Robin said, her voice soft and full of wonder. She appeared next to Sanji, slowly dropping to his side and offering her arm.

Sanji was going to thank her, but the sight of her expression staring fixedly ahead, in shock made him follow the gaze of her eyes.

His mouth fell open in shock at the sight of a small baby reindeer, wobbly and walking on the deck of the ship. His legs seemed a little unstable, but the small creature continued to press forward, bleating in a low voice that ended in a high-pitched wail. The little calf turned to them, his nose blue and eyes wide with fear. He bleated again, and then a strange and unpracticed voice slipped out of his mouth, "Go...a... way! Go... a... way from... me!"

"That's Chopper... Chopper!" Nami gasped taking a few steps forward her hand extended for the small reindeer.

The reindeer bleated at her again and kept low as it backed away. He shook his head as if he were rattling large horns he did not yet have. In fact, the only thing on top of his head were two small little stubs.

"Oh, he's so cute!" Luffy laughed dropping into a deep squat, "Hey! Hey! Cho-pper! Over here," Luffy called, laughing as held out his hand for Chopper. "Come on, come to me!"

"Oi... he might be like Robin... I don't think he's going to remember us!" Usopp said, voice filled with concern and regret. He worried his hands together, and while he looked frightened, he looked just as interested in this very small version of their already tiny friend.

"Oh, that's right! We didn't know him when he was this small," Brook added, placing a hand over his face, "my, my... this will be some trouble."

Sanji had righted himself, and with no explanation went into the kitchen.

"How did you convince me to trust you?" Robin asked looking at the others.

"We had to chase you! And then I had to pull you off the side of the ship. I threw you high in the air, and then you came around!" Luffy explained with a laugh. From his squatted down position, he began to waddle strangely towards the baby Chopper, the reindeer rising to stand on his back legs in a shakey show to look big. But once he was on his back legs, it seemed Chopper seemed to realize that standing in this way was more comfortable. Chopper looked down at his legs for a moment a spark of interest flashing in his eyes, before he looked back at Luffy, bleating at the Captain in warning.

"It sounds more like you tired me out!" Robin guffawed, her eyebrows shooting into her hairline.

"No, no, no. We were playing," Luffy insisted puffing out his cheeks as he continued his strange waddle towards Chopper, "Oh Chopper come to me! I am your Captain! Shishishishi... look at you on your back legs. It's easier to walk in that form now right?"

"Away! Away... from me!" Chopper's little voice bleated, still weak and ill-used. It didn't seem like he had learned, or at least was not used to his human words yet.

"It's like he just got his devil fruit abilities," Nami murmured fascinated by the little Chopper before of them. She frowned and shook her head adding, "Luffy! Stop approaching him. He's scared!"

"Nami's right Luffy... and I don't think we conquered Robin by making her tired... I think a warm meal did enough," Sanji announced as he exited the kitchen. In his hand, he held a large bottle filled with what was most likely milk. Sanji walked forward and held the bottle out towards Chopper, approaching slowly and trying to appear as gentle as possible.

"You must be hungry. I hope this will do for now..." Sanji held out the bottle, balancing it in both his hands. A rubber nipple had been placed on the top, and Sanji squeezed the bottle so that some milk would drip from it. "We're not going to hurt you. Aren't you hungry?"

Chopper looked up at Sanji, his eyes filled with confusion and hostility. He glanced over at Luffy and then back to Sanji, the fear edging away as Sanji remained patiently still, the bottle extended towards him.

"I... hit you..." Chopper managed to say, voice trembling with nerves.

"I scared you right? It's okay. You're just hungry, right? People can be a little grumpy if they haven't eaten," Sanji said still smiling, and remaining still.

Chopper approached slowly, eyes darting between Sanji, Luffy, and the rest of the crew as he approached. Sanji lowered himself down, his back aching as he kept a stiff and steady position. But he kept his smile up, and offered the little reindeer the bottle. Eventually, Chopper stood in front of Sanji, shaking with fright, as he tried to look tough.

"This...is...a trick!" Chopper accused, his words finishing in a bleat.

Sanji gently pressed the bottle towards Chopper, and at last the reindeer reached for it. He couldn't grasp the bottle, as it didn't seem he understood how to use his hooves in a useful way like the older Chopper knew to do. After a few failed attempts of trying to grab, Chopper pressed his face against the bottle and settled for allowing Sanji to feed him. After the first mouthful of milk, Chopper closed his eyes and burst into tears, managing to eat even as cried.

"...All my Nakama cry when they're little," Luffy said softly, his voice only reaching Sanji's ears.

Sanji looked to Luffy startled, who was wearing a startlingly serious face.

"Luffy?"

Luffy didn't answer, but instead reached out and placed a warm hand on top of Chopper's head, the hand practically engulfing the little doctor's head. The shrunken reindeer flinched but didn't pull away, his ears twitched, and his little tail wagged, flickering with joy, perhaps his first occurrence of it.

"I'll make sure you're all really happy, as long as we're a crew. Our lives will be full of smiles and laughs," Luffy said before he broke out in a smile, "And really good food too!"

Chopper opened one watery eye to look at Luffy, sniffled loudly, and then continued to focus on his meal.

Chopper had fallen asleep as soon as he had filled his stomach. When the bottle was drained, he fell back on his bottom, head lolling into his chest. And with one last little grunt, he tipped over curling in on himself and falling into a deep sleep. Luffy had plucked him up, wrapped him in his vest and then pointed towards the dining hall, "We better finish breakfast and see if we can figure this out!"

While the rest of the crew piled into the kitchen, Usopp and Brook had gone into Chopper's office to see if there were any clues as to what caused another of their crewmates to shrink.

"Seeing it for myself, it really is shocking," Robin said as she used her ability to have many hands rub out some knots in Sanji's back, "You hit your back pretty hard in that fall Cook-san!"

"Ah, well Chopper's got a strong head-butt!" Sanji wheezed, smiling as Robin gently rubbed down his bruised back, "And I've had much worse! Ah~but I'd gladly get much worse just to have Robin-Chwan rub me down!"

Zoro rolled his eyes, "What do we do about Chopper?"

"Shouldn't we just wait it out? Robin-sis got better overnight!" Franky said slapping his leg.

"...That might be our best option," Nami reluctantly agreed, her hand gently petting over the sleeping reindeer's head.

Luffy nodded seriously, "We'll have to watch out for him. He's even smaller than he normally is!"

"Hey, guys!" Usopp shouted bursting through the galley door. He had tied a mask around his mouth, and had long rubber gloves pulled up as high as his elbows, "Look what was near Chopper's clothes!" He lifted his hands like they were a deadly weapon, and revealed the bracelet Robin had lent Chopper to study.

"That bracelet!" Sanji burst, "Chopper said yesterday he was going to look over it to see if it was the cause of Robin's transformation last time!"

"Yohohohoho~ Then you were right Usopp! It is a cursed relic!" Brook exclaimed, coming up from behind Usopp. He had also decked himself out in a mask and large rubber gloves. The two had taken extreme cation when entering Chopper's room, and as the two held out the possibly dangerous bracelet, it seemed they had made the right move.

"Toss it overboard!" Robin snapped, her face darkening, "I don't need it if it's the cause of this."

Luffy nodded his head, "If that's what Robin says, then do it."

"If that thing is really the cause, then won't Chopper change back?" Zoro asked as Usopp and Brook scrambled towards the deck to toss the item overboard.

"Oh... it feels like we need Chopper here to answer this!" Nami whined, before peering down at the sleeping reindeer, "he might have had a good theory."

"Well all we can do is wait," Luffy sighed, sticking out his lower lip in a pout, "He's really, really small... ah what if he falls overboard!"

"I can make him a harness," Robin suggested patting Sanji's back before her many extra hands disappeared in a burst of flower petals.

"Something like a backpack that has a lead, and we'll keep track of him that way," Robin finished her explanation as she took her seat.

"That should help. And if he falls overboard I'll go get him," Zoro said with a firm nod.

"Me too!" Luffy burst, shooting his hand up.

"No! Not, you too! You'll sink!" Nami snapped grabbing Luffy's arm and tugging it down.

"If we're lucky this will be all over in a day!" Franky said a huge grin stretched on his face. He held up his arms in a flex and shouted his favorite word, "Super!"

But they were not Lucky, and it was unfortunately not, "Super,"

A day went by with Chopper still small and skittish, and then another... and another.

As the days passed the little Reindeer began to relax more and open up to the friends' he had forgotten, but each passing day proved. Chopper was not going back to normal, whatever had caused this was not lasting a single day as it had with Robin. The Strawhats had no choice but to keep looking after the young Chopper, and not only trying to earn the half wild animal's trust but convince them they weren't trying to trick or hurt him in any way.

He eventually accepted that Tony Tony Chopper was his name, finding it better to answer to that then "Hey you," or "Reindeer." He still tried to keep to himself and dismissed the clothes that were offered to him, and even a hat. Chopper did notice that they seemed sad to see him not want it, and the hat did smell like him, but he wasn't sure about wearing clothes.

After much explaining, he did relent to wearing the little backpack given to him. It had a rope inside it that the others could hang on to so he wouldn't fall overboard. Chopper was uncertain why these people seemed to care so much, but eventually decided to be grateful for the kindness they showed him. Even if he was a monster and had a blue nose.

He kept pointing this out to different people, and each time they dismissed his claims of being a monster. Or would pet him and tell him he was fine. Or compliment said blue nose. No matter how much he bleated, retaliated, or tried to be stubborn, it seemed like this group of people weren't going to cast him away or be cruel to him. They were very different than the herd he had been born into.

"You know... it's weird that I talk, right?" Chopper said for the umpteenth time on the afternoon of the third day as he looked up at Zoro.

Zoro looked back down, the lead on Chopper's backpack held securely on his hand, "Is it?"

"Yes!" Chopper snorted, "And my nose is blue! And I'm a reindeer but... I look like this!"

"Everyone talks," Zoro said with a shrug, "And I like your blue nose. And you're a fine young reindeer."

He bent down, Chopper jumping as Zoro neared him. Zoro looked at Chopper hard, as if trying to find something more to say. He eventually sighed and held out his arms, "Let me carry you."

Chopper flinched, turning up his nose at the offer, "...Why?"

Zoro didn't say anything for a while. He seemed to consider the question before he sighed, "Just... to give you a better viewpoint. You can see... the ocean better."

Chopper grunted and personally thought Zoro was weird and refusing to see all of Chopper's flaws, but the small deer took a step forward, only squeaking a little as Zoro wrapped his arms around him. While Chopper was still nervous with these strange people who insisted they were all friends, he was growing used to them. This strange group who treated him nice, and told him stories of another version of himself who was a doctor, a concept he didn't quite understand.

Whatever a doctor was it was very important and it made pain go away. Chopper wondered why he had never heard of this term amongst the older reindeer, and wondered if it was only a human concept. If that was the case it was too bad. He could have used a doctor in his herd to cure his loneliness.

The pirates even had a picture of this older Chopper, but he didn't believe it was him until someone had shown him a mirror, and he realized his face did look like the one in the poster. It was weird to think these humans would value a reindeer with a blue nose and a monstrous body so much.

Zoro lifted the reindeer up, shaking him from his thoughts, and Chopper looked out at the vast ocean in front of him. It was blue. Bluer than the sky, bluer than his nose and it stretched on and on. The waved curled and rolled casting white foam as they sloshed against each other, and the smell of salt was delightful to the reindeer's nose. Something about this ocean called to him in a way a snowy forest never had.

Chopper squealed and then bleated, the low grunt echoing out across the deck with his excitement.

Zoro only laughed, "Good to see that even at this age you still like the sea."

Chopper nodded and looked at Zoro, who was grinning out at the ocean. He was interesting, this person called a pirate. They were all pirates if he understood it correctly... a strange group of people who called each other Nakama and set sail under the same Jolly Roger, following their Captain, Luffy. Luffy, who would be the Pirate King.

"You're all weird... but much nicer than my old herd," Chopper snorted, puffing air out of his nose.

Zoro grunted, "Good. Hey, if we ever see your old herd again, I could always slice 'em up."

Chopper scrunched up his face and tried to look offended.

"Oh, you trying not to smile?" Zoro asked, grinning back at the little reindeer.

Chopper grinned, his ears twitching as he was unable to hold back his happiness, "N-No..."

Zoro tucked Chopper in the corner of his arm, and his fingers wiggled into the reindeer's ribs. Chopper choked on laughter as Zoro's fingers tickled him ferociously.
"I think you 're trying to smile," Zoro hummed, his grin still a little vicious for someone who was tickling a little creature he was cuddling in his arms.

Chopper laughed, squirming away, pleading for mercy.

Zoro laughed, unexpectedly soft and gentle, and just prodded Chopper's ribs all the more. Chopper shrieked with delight but threatened to bite even as the giggled spilled out of him.

"Hey! You'll have to let up on him!" Usopp's called, jogging towards Zoro. His eyes were twinkling with a little disbelief and sheer amusement at the sight he had just stumbled upon. Holding out his arms Usopp explained, "Nami says a storm is coming. We need to get ready. I'm going to take him into the kitchen so he can bunker down with Sanji."

Zoro's expression darkened at the mention of the cook's name, and he passed Chopper over with a heavy warning, "Tell Sanji about this and you're dead!"

Usopp yelped, and tucked Chopper in his arms and bowed low, face screwed up with terror, "Of course! Of course! N-Not a peep!"

"Bye Zoro," Chopper called out, bleating at the end of his sentence, and scrambling over Usopp's shoulder to wave good-bye.

Zoro lifted his arm in a wave and then went scrambling towards the foremast to help get the ship ready for the weather.

"Whew! That was close! I felt years of my life slipping away!" Usopp sighed dramatically before smiling down at Chopper. He winked at Chopper and then whispered, "Don't tell him I told you but Zoro's a big softy on the inside you know! Even if he can use three swords to cut down any opponent, his heart is all mush!"

"Any opponent?" Chopped asked, twitching his blue nose. He had come to like Usopp a lot. Usopp told a lot of stories, and swore them to be true, and each story was more fantastic than the next. Usopp grinned at Chopper, and waved a hand dramatically, "Any opponent! He's the most skilled swordsman across all the seas, and he's looking to find the most fearsome opponent and defeat them!"

"Oh, that's really cool!" Chopper squealed unable to help but smile.

"Yeah! Come on. How about I tell you a story of when Zoro cut down 10,000 men when they were bullying a group of tanuki huh?" Usopp suggested though he kept a quick pace towards the kitchen. He was glancing up at the clouds, but kept up his friendly chatter, "It was almost as impressive as the time I took out 40,000 men when they insulted my old ship, Merri! You would have liked her... she had a ram's head."

"A ram?" Chopper asked.

"It's almost like a reindeer," Usopp explained, "They've got horns too."

Chopper reached up and touched the stubs on his head, "Will mine really grow in?"

"Oh yes, of course!" Usopp laughed pushing open the galley door, "Soon I hope."

"I'd like to be big again now! What if you need this doctor thing soon!" Chopped whined, wiggling as Usopp set him on the ground.

Usopp found himself frowning, and looked up catching Sanji's eyes. The two shared a serious look, and then Usopp smiled, turning his attention back to Chopper, "You're the only doctor we'll want or ever need. If we have to wait a little while for you to learn it all again, I'm sure we will! Don't you worry about it... Stay inside here Chopper, I've got to supervise everyone on how to take care of the ship!" Usopp smiled and ruffled Chopper's head until the little reindeer pushed him off and headbutted his hand away.

Usopp laughed, heading for the door, Sanji stopping him just a moment. He whispered something to Usopp and put an arm around Usopp's back in what seemed to be a moment of comfort, Usopp nodding as Sanji whispered to him. Usopp leaned against Sanji a moment, straightened his back and then Usopp was gone. Sanji turned back around, smiling at Chopper, "How about some Salad?"

Chopper bleated, a huge smile on his face. He spun around in a circle and laughed, "Food! Food! Food! Sanji's food is the best!"

Sanji laughed, and smiled at the smaller form of his friend. He was very cute like this, still a little more in touch with his animal side than the human one he had learned with his fruit, and at the same time sweet like any child. Chopper still had trouble hiding his real feelings and celebrated whole-heartedly any time he was shown kindness. To think this little guy had been lonely in a group of animals that were supposed to be his family... well it made Sanji want to spoil Chopper all the more.

Sanji went back to the counter, and waved Chopper over, "Come on, come wash your hooves."

Chopper made a small sound of protest but obediently came forward. Sanji helped the reindeer clean up, and then sat him at the table, several pillows in his seat so that he could see the top. Sanji placed the bowl in front of Chopper and watched as the little reindeer tucked into his meal. He was using his hooves more skillfully now but still couldn't hold on to things live silverware or cups for very long.

It didn't help that no one on the crew knew how to teach Chopper his point abilities, so, for now, it seemed like Chopper was on his own having to relearn his own abilities at his own pace.

'I wish he'd changed back after the first day... he's already on the third. What will we do if this is permanent?' Sanji wondered as he peered down at Chopper. If Chopper remained like this, had to grow up all over again, would he grow into the same friend they knew before? Or would it be different? Would he have different ideals, and dreams? Would he change in some ways?

Chopper smiled up at Sanji, his face stuffed, and his eyes shining.

Sanji smiled back, and to himself muttered, "Ah well... I guess we will deal with it as it comes I suppose." Sanji pat Chopper's head and strolled towards the door, taking a quick look outside. He whistled at the sight of once clear skies beginning to darken and twist into what would be a big storm. Things always happened so suddenly on the Grand line.

"You'll be sleeping here tonight if this weather keeps up! Looks very dangerous out there," Sanji said rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"I like it here!" Chopper declared, swallowing his mouthful and waving a fork in the air, "It's a good place to sleep."

"Ah, but haven't you enjoyed sleeping in the ladies' room? Ah... how I envy you!" Sanji lamented.

"You can take my place! They cuddle, and pet me... and, and... I am NOT a toy!" Chopper grumbled banging his hooves on the table, his face set in a deep pout.

Sanji laughed and retrieved a glass of water for Chopper to go with his meal, "Right, right... not a toy."

"Well, I'm not! And all they want to do is hug on me and stuff!" Chopper snorted, looking put out over all the pampering he had received. Sanji laughed, secretly very envious, but he wasn't going to get jealous over his little Nakama.

Sanji remained inside, watching over Chopper, members of the crew running in and out as the storm progressed. Nami popped in at one point, the hood of her her raincoat pulled up, "Sanji! You better tie down some things in here. It's getting worse!"

"Of Course Nami-Swan... be careful out there!" Sanji crowed, wishing he could follow after her and help with this storm.

"Just take care of Chopper okay?" Nami said flashing a smile, before waving over at the little reindeer. Chopper bashfully waved back, and the navigator seemed calm by his presence.

Leaning closer to Sanji, Nami whispered, "This storm is pretty bad... I'm really worried."

"Nami-swan I will keep Chopper safe if that's what you desire! You can count on me!" Sanji promised a hand pressed to his heart. With a more serious expression, he added, "Tell everyone to be safe out there... if anyone gets hurt right now... tell them no dessert!"

Nami laughed, a slight edge to her voice, "Oh! Well, that will keep Luffy in line for sure! We'll be safe... just take care okay!?" And then she turned, charging outside to go assist the crew with the storm they would be facing.

Sanji arranged a spot on the floor and tied the lead of Chopper's backpack securely to a post. Giving the reindeer blankets and pillows Sanji smiled and explained, "You'll have to be very brave. The ship might rock and get scary, but... it's just going to be like a fun game. But we have to stay here okay?"

Chopper smiled, "O-kay!" he laughed, even as a thunderous boom rang out overhead.

For a good portion of the night crew members were in and out. Taking shifts to take time and be supplied with a hot drink from Sanji, or something to eat. Sanji would normally be out there with them, but it had all been agreed that Chopper couldn't be left alone. The sea was too dangerous for a child, let alone one that could sink to the bottom of the sea like a hammer. Today it was Sanji who was looking after Chopper, and while he intended to do that to the best of his abilities, he still worried for the others.

Sanji had just finished securing his pantry down when he felt his stomach drop as the ship was heaved far on its left side. The boat rocked, noisily lurching as the force of the wind and water turned it on its side, slow and terrifying. Sanji clutched his counter, gravity pulling at his body and lifting him off the ground, a bowl he forgot to put away slid off the counter and smashed against the wall.

"Dammit!" Sanji hissed, desperately looking towards Chopper.

Chopper gave a scream and began to bleat wildly as his little body was lifted off the ground, the rope holding him secured to the post he'd been tethered to. But now that there was nothing under his feet, the little reindeer thrashed, twisting wildly as he was lifted off the ground.

"Chopper! Don't thrash like that! Stay calm! It's just like a ride! It'll be okay! I'm coming to you right now!" Sanji shouted, straining to pull himself over to where he'd tied down the little doctor.

Chopper bleated, but he tried to remain still, hiccuping as the ship continued to defy gravity as it turned.

Sanji swore again, his insides trembling as he imagined the rest of he crew out on the deck of the ship, facing what must have been an awful storm. Chopper bleated with fright, and Sanji pushed himself from the counter, and caught hold of the door frame that led from the kitchen into the dining area, "Chopper! It's okay. I'm coming! I'm coming!"

Bracing himself against the frame, he used his powerful legs to launch him towards the post Chopper was attached to. "S-Sanki!" Chopper squeaked starting to struggle again, but Sanji calmly shushed him, "It's okay... it's okay. It's just a storm, this happens sometimes... it's alright. It's alright. Shhh..."

Sanji managed to catch hold of the rope Chopper was thrashing around in, and pulled the rope towards his body, gathering Chopper to him once the little reindeer was in range. Chopper's arms wrapped around Sanji the little deer snorting and nuzzling into Sanji's neck seeking comfort. Sanji crushed the little reindeer tight to him as Chopper burst into tears.

"Shhh... it's like a ride. It's just... just another wild night on the sea!" Sanji said flailing with what to say to comfort a child.

It felt like the ship was almost completely rocked to one side before a loud creak echoed all around them. Sanji braced himself. In a quick violent shudder, this ship crashed back down, righting itself as the waves and wind relented. Sanji hit the floor hard as the ship righted itself, his back and head knocking hard against the floor. A few other scattered items fall back to the floor, but Sanji took solace in Chopper's warm weight against his chest.

Chopper was secure against him, and that was enough.

Sanji winced, his tender back seizing up, alerting him to the new bruises he had surely just been given. He ignored the minor pain, and rubbed the back of Chopper, offering the little fellow as much comfort as he could. "It's alright, see? We're fine!" Sanji said forcing a bright pleasant smile at Chopper.

Chopper looked up at Sanji with perilous wide eyes and nodded, pressing his cheek to Sanji's chest.

A crash echoed from outside, thunder rolled, and the waves broke on the ship in a loud hissing spray. Sanji sat up adjusting Chopper in his grasp, eyes glued to the door. Dread had welled up in Sanji's chest, even if he wasn't going to let it show to Chopper. He struggled to his feet, staring at the galley door willing for a signal from his crew to let him know everything was alright.

"Sanji?" Chopper whimpered.

The cook looked at the little deer in his arms, his breath catching at the wide eyes, and scared expression. Sanji forced a smile, "It'll be alright. It's just a storm like I said... it'll pass. In fact, sounds like it's almost over."

Chopper smiled, his watery eyes brightening up, and in that second everything was okay.

"Sanji!" Robin's voice broke in as she shouldered her way through the door, Brook's arm thrown over her back, "Help us!"

The moment of peace shattered in broke as quick as it came.

Sanji set Chopper down, the little reindeer hopping on top of the table to get a better look as the Strawhats piled into the room.

"What happened!?" Sanji asked taking Brook's other arm, the skeleton unresponsive in his grasp.

"The storm has finally passed, but that last big wave took out some of the riggings! Rope and wood came down and caught some of us up in it! Brook got the worse, and he seems to be out...he's been unresponsive." Robin explained helping Sanji get Brook fully inside and then laid out on the couch.

Brook's expression was blank with his jaw open, and Sanji realized how hard it was to tell how Brook was doing as a skeleton. How could you tell the depth of Brook's injuries without a human expression to go by? Sanji didn't know. He had no idea how to tell if Brook was out or worse...

"Shit" Sanji muttered, drawing in his lower lip as he placed a hand on Brook's ribcage, gently prodding to see if he could get some kind of reaction.

Brook moaned in his sleep, and both Robin and Sanji let out relieved sighs.

"Oh thank goodness!" Robin muttered, relief clear on her face.

"I'll get the milk," Sanji muttered running for the fridge, only pausing to look as Franky shouldered his way in with a battered Zoro.

"Ge' off me, I'm fine!" Zoro grumbled, trying to pull his arm away.

"Your bleedin' Zoro-bro!" Franky snorted irritably, keeping his arm tight on Zoro's waist. "You took a hard knock to your head! Even a numbskull like you should be thrown for a loop from a blow like that!"

Zoro growled, but let Franky pull him the rest of the way in.

Nami came in next, one of Luffy's arm around her neck, while Usopp supporting the other. Luffy spewed seawater as he came in, his stomach bulged out from the water he had taken in, either from a wave or from going over. Sanji didn't have to wonder which for long as Nami launched into angry scolding the moment the door was closed behind her.

"You should have had a rope! If Zoro and Usopp hadn't acted so quick you would have drowned!" Nami was screeching, her face flush with concern, "You almost... with that rigging going down you could have died! If we'd lost one of the masts you would have!"

"Blegh!" Luffy choked, spitting out more water as he was lowered to the ground by both Nami and Usopp, "M'fine Nami! No storm is going to get me!"

Luffy's hand caught Usopp's shoulder as he was set down, and Usopp let out a cry, the sniper shrinking away as he reached for the shoulder that had been jostled.

"Oi, what's wrong Longnose?" Sanji barked as he passed Robin a bottle of milk. She took it, and cradling Brook's head began to slowly help the skeleton take in sips, hoping the milk would restore him as it normally did.

"The rigging caught Zoro and I from behind when we were grabbing Luffy. I'm fine, Zoro and Brook got smashed up from it pretty bad!" Usopp said standing straight and waving Sanji away as if telling him not to worry. Sanji narrowed his eyes at the sniper, noting how Usopp kept his left arm tucked in close to his body.

"Then what's wrong with your arm?" Sanji growled, stalking towards Usopp who let out a startled cry.

"Sanji you keep away!" The sniper flailed, wincing as he jostled his arm more.

"See, what was that?!" Sanji snapped, pointing accusingly at the sniper.

"I think his arm is out of place," Zoro answered, trying to push Nami away as she tried to tend to his head. Blood slipped down from his brow over his cheek, and Nami was trying to clean him up, but Zoro kept batting her away. He kept talking, adding, "He had to catch Luffy's full weight when the collapsed rigging knocked me off my guard, and practically crushed Brook!" Zoro looked angry, embarrassed that the accident had caused him to slip up, if even for a moment.

"It's fine, it's fine! Attend to Zoro's head! And Brook hasn't moved!" Usopp whined, hissing as Sanji hooked an arm around his waist and pulled Usopp over.

"Look I'm not Chopper but we'll have to see what we can do about that arm," Sanji snapped a little irritably as he forced Usopp to take a seat, "I've put shoulders back in place before, it's fine!"

"You really need a doctor," Chopper's scared voice cut over the din.

All eyes fell on the little reindeer who was watching them with an extremely worried and anxious expression. His eyes darted over to Brook, now moaning in his sleep, then to Zoro who was at last still enough for Nami to bandage his head, and then finally to Usopp who held his arm tight to his body, afraid to show it to anyone.

"We're fine for now little bro, don't you worry," Franky said trying to keep his voice reassuring.

"But you need one... and I'm... I'm..." Chopper insisted stubbornly, his eyes filling with fresh tears as he spoke. It seemed he didn't know what else to say and gave off a mournful bleat, a baby reindeer in need of his mother.

Luffy coughed the last of the water out, and forced himself up, approaching Chopper steadily, "You're fine Chopper. You taught us how to take care of ourselves. These small injuries are nothing. We know how to handle all this right?" Luffy turned to his crew, an eyebrow raised as he waited for an answer.

Zoro hummed, lowering his head so Nami could get a better look, and then held out his arm to show where a rope had caught it and wrapped around it, leaving a nasty rope burn in its wake. Usopp nodded vigorously and with a hasty apology to Sanji, allowed the chef to gingerly inspect it to see if it had been pulled out of its socket. Robin smiled at Luffy and continued to help Brook down the bottle of milk, Brook's light breathing soon shifting into heavy snores.

Luffy turned back to Chopper and again said, "You taught us how to help ourselves..." Luffy's face stretched into an infection grin, and he cuffed Chopper gently around the head and pulled him in for a hug, "We can wait for you to get big and remember. We're strong. We're pirates."

Chopper sniffled, tears pouring down his muzzle, "Pi-pirates?"

"Yup! Just like you!" Luffy said patting Chopper again. He laughed softly, "We all do different things, but we're all strong. Strong enough to handle a little storm. Just watch. We'll get better, and soon you'll be helping us get better in no time."

"How do you know!? What if... what if I'm never big again?!" Chopper sobbed clinging to Luffy tight.

The room was silent in the face of this unspoken fear. All eyes watched Luffy now, waiting for their Captain to come up with the right thing to say. Not just to comfort Chopper, but to comfort their own fears.

Luffy cupped Chopper's face and held him still. With his thumbs, he clumsily wiped away Chopper's tears, and in a serious and sincere voice said, "All you need to do is be our Nakama. We'll figure out the rest as we go. If you're small, big, a doctor or not a doctor, you'll always be part of this crew. Don't worry."

Chopper sniffled, biting his lip as he tried to keep in his sobs, and Luffy plopped his hat on Chopper's head.

"Be a good kid now, we've gotta take care of this," Luffy said giving Chopper a final pat before turning to his crew.

He smiled over at Usopp, and pretended to push up a sleeve, "Right! Let's put that arm back where it's supposed to be!"

"OH GOD! PLEASE DON'T!" Usopp shrieked throwing himself into Sanji's arm, who sympathetically pet his back.

"Be brave God-Usopp," Sanji said in a grave tone, smirking as Usopp stuck a foot out bracing it against Luffy's chest to keep him at bay.

Chopper watched on with a watery expression, for the first time in his young life wishing he could help others.

It was late when the crew had patched themselves up and decided to go to bed. Which for some reason, it was decided that they would all be sleeping on the kitchen floor, with blankets and pillows and trays of snacks scattered all over the ground. Luffy had flung a blanket over the dining table completing his, "epic fort," as he declared it, and then he dove under it taking pillows and Chopper with him.

Chopper crawled around under the fort, the faces of the Strawhat crew popping in from all sides. Franky was so large he could barely fit under it, but he tried all the same. Chopper laughed, and settled down in the center of the fort so that no matter which way he looked he could see the face of a smiling crew member.

"Is everyone feeling better?" Chopper asked, crawling over towards Zoro to sniff at his bandage.

"It didn't hurt to begin with," Zoro grumbled, flinching as Chopper pressed his nose directly to the bandage.

"And Skele-bro is snoring pretty hard now so he should be okay," Franky said pulling Brook inside the little fort.

Brook snored on, his teeth chattering as he mumbled a slight, "Yohohoho... panties..." in his sleep.

Chopper giggled, and shuffled his way to Usopp, peering at the sniper, "But you shouted a lot. Did it hurt really bad?"

"N-No... no," Usopp said grinning nervously, "Where I'm from brave warriors shout a lot! It's to strike fear in your enemy's heart! And... uh I was trying to make the pain know... that I was NOT going to let it get me! Ha ha ha ha!"

Usopp laughed loud until Nami placed a pillow over his face, and then she smiled at Chopper, "Everyone is fine... why don't you get some sleep?"

Chopper nodded and made his way to Luffy. Curling next to the Captain, the little reindeer yawned and nestled against the rubber man, tucking himself into a small ball.

"Luffy," Chopper whispered, "I really want to be your doctor. Can I learn it?"

"Of course!" Luffy laughed, retrieving his hat from Chopper's head and settling it on his chest, "You'll be the best doctor, even if you have to learn it all over again!"

Chopper yawned, cuddling against Luffy, "It's not so bad if I've forgotten everything then. I still have all of you."

Luffy's wide smile faltered, and he looked over at Nami. For a moment she was confused at the concern in Luffy's eyes but then she seemed to remember something important. Several emotions flashed through the woman's eyes and she forced at a small laugh, "Well Chopper... even if you can't remember... we... we should tell you about some nice people you knew."

"Nice people?" Chopper asked sleepily.

"Yes. They taught you everything they knew, and took care of you after your herd," Nami continued.

"There are more people after my herd?" Chopper asked, voice heavy as he started to fall asleep.

"Yeah you won't be stuck with them," Sanji said, expression somber as he caught on to what Nami was trying to explain.

"A crazy old witch woman...uhmmm Kooha-ha, and a really cool Doctor... Doctor uhm... Sakura... tree..." Luffy began to explain, his voice getting more mangled as he messed up the names of the people he was describing to Chopper.

"Luffy! That's not their names! it was Dr. Kureha, and Dr. Hiriluk!" Nami sighed.

Luffy laughed, "Yeah them! And they took care of you!" Luffy said proudly turning to look at Chopper. His expression softened as he realized Chopper had already drifted off, "Ah... he's asleep."

"Well... that was a nice attempt anyway," Robin sighed settling in her pillow, "We can tell him tomorrow."

"...I hope he turns back. He should remember those doctors who helped him. And not just them but Dalton. And Drum Island. All of it," Usopp said, his voice a little sad.

"Well if he doesn't remember them we'll have to talk to him about it, as much as we know," Zoro said firmly.

"We could send a letter," Nami added nodding her head.

"And when we're done with Grand line, we'll just start all over and head back to that island so he can see that place again," Luffy said with a smile, "I wonder if it's still snowing!"

"It was a winter island so it should be," Nami sighed settling into her pillow.

"Hmm... I want to build a snowman," Luffy said, slurring as he yawned and settled back against his pillow. Reaching out with his arm he pulled Chopper closer, gave a final little chuckle and settled into sleep.

The crew smiled amongst themselves, and then took the cue from their Captain and settled down for a deserved rest.

Chopper had a headache when he woke up.

He scrunched his face and rubbed a hoof over his forehead. As he sat up, the headache faded and he blinked his eyes as he came into awareness. He blinked again as it took in the slumbering faces of his crewmates. He wasn't sure why they were all on the floor... or under the dining table in the kitchen... but he shrugged it off for now. He wiggled out and away from the group confused again by his complete lack of attire.

Reaching up he pet his head with dismay, "I don't even have my hat! What a mess! Did we party all night?" Chopper mumbled wandering off to his office to fetch his belongings.

His room had been cleaned up and by someone other than himself. It looked like several of his belongings had been moved around, and there were a few bottles of items missing. "Uggh... what's going on here?" Chopper whined, sniffing the room around him. It was odd. It was as if he hadn't been in here for a while... but he had just been in here studying in his book hadn't he?

Shaking off the peculiarities for now Chopper gathered up some clothes, as well as his beloved hat. After he was dressed, he popped the hat on top of his head and returned to the kitchen just looking at his slumbering crewmates. Hands on his hips, he tilted his head in consideration. The last thing he remembered was looking at Robin's bracelet and his book of strange diseases. So how was he in the kitchen under the table with the rest of the crew?

Walking back over to his crew, he gently lifted the sheet that had been thrown off the table up. Everyone was still asleep, and Chopper smiled shaking his head a little at the sight. As he scanned the group his eyes fell on Zoro, a slightly stained bandage wrapped around his head.

"HEY! Zoro what did you do to your head!?" Chopper shouted angrily forgetting the group was asleep.

With a start they woke, and at once all hit their heads on the underside of the dining table. Chopper winced at the sound, but knelt down next to Zoro grabbing his face, "What did you do to yourself! Have you been overdoing it again?"

Zoro was not the one to answer him. Instead Luffy's arms were wrapped tight around him, and then the rubber man was shrieking in his ear, "Chopper it's so good to see you! I was so worried!" Luffy burst into tears hugging Chopper tight, "Thank goodness you're big again!"

Luffy was not the only one to wrap Chopper in a hug, and soon the reindeer found himself the center of a group hug, his friends laughing with relief.

"Oi! Oi! Hey! Hey you guys! What's going on!?" Chopper shrieked, even as he broke out into a huge smile as his friends' held on to him with all their might.

By the time everything had been explained to Chopper, it was late in the morning, and Sanji got up declaring her would make a large brunch.

"So I was hit by the de-aging disease?" Chopper sighed, eyes wide with surprise, "And it lasted so much longer than with Robin! Oh, I need to take notes!"

"I've been keeping records, I can lend them to you," Robin spoke up smiling at Chopper, "But it was about three days with you."

"And I don't remember anything either," Chopper sighed.

"Also it wasn't a disease! It was a cursed relic! That bracelet Robin had! But we threw it out!" Usopp piped up.

Chopper nodded, "...I do remember looking at the bracelet before I fell asleep."

"And then when we found you, and you were all little," Franky continued, nodding his head firmly.

"...Maybe it really was the bracelet..." Chopper mumbled rubbing his chin.

"Well, it's gone now!" Luffy crowed, "So we won't have to deal with that again!" He laughed as if he'd conquered a great foe but Chopper only sighed, still frowning.

"Well... we'll have to see and play it safe for now. If someone else changes... we'll know it wasn't the bracelet. And I'm... starting to doubt its a disease. We really don't know enough about it..."

Zoro pat Chopper's back, "Don't think about it so hard."

"For once I'll have to agree with Zoro," Sanji said from the kitchen. He'd pulled a tray down from the fridge, and smiled once he removed a cheesecloth from it. "You stressing about it won't help you solve the mystery faster. And maybe if this thing is a disease, you running yourself ragged might have opened you up to get infected."

"I suppose you guys are right. I guess we'll have to wait and see if anything else happens," Chopper murmured, tilting his head to one side.

"Oi, what are those?!" Luffy asked perking up at Sanji's interest in a tray.

"Raisins," Sanji said tilting them all in a jar. He pointed at Luffy, "Not for you. I'm thinking of making cinnamon rolls or something with them later so don't touch!"

Luffy made a face, "Who wants raisins in their cinnamon rolls anyway!" Luffy eyes them anyways, and eventually laughed, "Gimmie some!"

"No not these today! Finish your brunch first!" Sanji chuckled putting the raisins up, before smiling back at Chopper.

It was a relief once again to have this strange event behind them, and their doctor back to normal. And like everyone else in the crew, Sanji hoped that the bracelet had been the cause of the calamity and that maybe, with it gone, these strange events of having a crewmember turn into a child... would be over.

Time would have to tell.

Chapter 16: Calling

Summary:

Sometimes Gunfire disturbs Nami. Luffy notices.

Chapter Text

It had been another chaotic end on another chaotic island. Some really shitty people were doing really shitty things, so per the usual, the Strawhats had the meddle and make things right. It had however ended in the pirates fleeing, as a spray of bullets were shot after them by the marines. This did not normally bother Nami, but today it did.

Perhaps it was the lack of sleep. Perhaps it was the over-flamboyant villain type, who this time around favored a gun, and constantly fired it off. Perhaps it was because many of her friends had been shot at. Perhaps it was because a gun had been put in her mouth. Maybe it was a combination of everything. But today, gunfire was really getting to her, and every time she blinked she saw her beloved Bell-mère dead and gone.

It was not Nami's day.

So now that there was time, she was hiding in her and Robin's room, where she planned to get in bed and press herself against the side of the ship's hull until her body stopped screaming at her for some kind of emotional release. Because she wasn't going to cry today. Why? Because she didn't want to.

She had just crawled on to her bed, when the door quietly opened and closed just as soft.

Squeezing her eyes shut she forced out her strongest, friendliest voice, "Robin sweety, I just want to take a nap. Can you leave me alone?"

"Nope!" came the very non-Robin answer. But then again the speaker was Luffy, and not Robin.

Nami turned, to stare at her Captain her eyes wide with shock.

Luffy stood against her door, his hands on his hips, and a child-like frown stretched across his face. His eyes stared into her, burrowing in her in the way only he could. He was not judging, but he was somehow... knowing. He was looking at her, and saw through her, and knew exactly what she needed even if she didn't tell him. Luffy did this a lot, at times whenever any of his crew was hurting. And while it always amazed her, this personality switch from child-like and carefree to serious and all-knowing, she didn't want him to see her hurting today.

She wanted to manage it on her own.

"Go away Luffy," Nami said, her voice already trembling.

"Nope," Luffy said again, shrugging both his shoulders.

Nami sank on to her bed, curled so that she could glare at her Captain. Her body was aching again. Aching for release. But if she just held it off... she thought everything would be better. If she just... didn't let this happen she would be good. She could make it work. She didn't have to cry. She was strong. She wasn't going to cry today.

Luffy kept his eyes on her, looking sternly at her while she glared at him. He nodded and then began marching around the room. He turned the fan on and plugged the porthole windows up with towels, shirts, and blankets Robin and Nami had left on the floor. Then he picked up Nami's favorite blanket, one that she kept on her chair by the vanity, and flung it around her. Without so much as a warning, he then climbed in bed with her wrapping her up in a tight hug, his long rubber arms curling securely around her.

His hand pressed gently against her hair, and he sighed very gently near her ear.

"Nami, let go."

And damn him, because she did.

Gripping Luffy's shoulders as tight as she could, she sobbed hard into his chest. She cursed the Marines. She cursed their guns. She cursed Luffy. But mostly she cursed Arlong. She cried until the thing inside her that had been wound so tight finally released. And when her insides uncoiled, the visions of Bell-mère's bleeding out body left too.

She was numb after that for a long time.

When she came back to herself, Luffy was still holding her, although he's loosened his arms around her and shifted so that she was now laying more tucked against his chest. His hat had somehow gotten on her head, and she touched it, her fingers grazing the worn familiar straw until she felt she could visualize the hat based off touch alone.

She took three shakey breaths, her nose too stopped up now to let her breathe easily, and in a stuffy voice whispered, "Thank you Luffy."

Luffy grunted at her low and soft, a warm hand stilling between the space between her shoulder blades. He pressed her to him in the softest of hugs, all motion stopping for just that second. She felt their heartbeats touch, and everything was alight. His hand resumed its journey of stroking up and down her back, and everything was... it just was.

"Why didn't you go?" Nami asked, not really wanting to know, but wanting to hear him speak.

"I would have left if you really needed me to. But you were calling for me, so I came," Luffy said as if it was a simple statement.

"Calling for you? I was not... I told you to go," Nami muttered, eyelids suddenly heavy.

She had given in, which she should have done from the beginning. She knew that now that her head wasn't buzzing with the painful memories she tried to keep neatly stowed in a box in the back of her head. And now that she was empty she wanted to sleep, but she wanted to hear her Captain speak. Be lulled by whatever thing came out of his mouth.

Luffy laughed and hummed, "Hmmm... Nami sometimes speaks with her eyes!" He squeezed her like she was a baby, and then even softer said, "Nami, you said to go, but your eyes asked me to stay. So I did."

She felt his grin more than she saw it, and she let herself let go of one last shaky breath.

"Don't ever let me chase you away."

Luffy laughed at her, fond and happy, "You're my Nakama. I'm never leaving."

She smiled, and greedily encircled her Captain in her arms, and let his comfort and promise lull her to sleep.

Chapter 17: Sour Grapes 3

Summary:

Another crewmate has a strange experience with some mysterious grapes.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

One day had passed since Chopper had returned to normal. The reindeer had no additional clues for his crew, and largely they all hoped his shrinking was caused by the suspected bracelet. No one was sure. At the moment, it felt like all they could do was cross their fingers and hope no one else turned into a little kid.

Usopp found himself settled in the crow's nest of the Thousand Sunny, eyes peering out into the darkness of the late evening, his mind focused on the past week's events, rather than looking for any potential dangers.

He had thought the Grand Line could prepare him for anything, but as he turned over the strange days of Robin and Chopper as children over his head, he marveled at how he really hadn't been prepared at all.

Who would expect to one day wake up and find one of your crew had turned into small children?

Chopper, after being told about his many days of being a much younger reindeer, noted that it was as if he and Robin had been plucked from time, to experience this strange happening on the Thousand Sunny. Both Chopper and Robin had vague memories of being small children and meeting the Straw hats, which in Chopper's opinion, shouldn't be possible.

"We're not shrinking, or regressing when we were... well sick," Chopper fumbled for an explanation, "We literally became the children we once were. Robin had thought she needed to be running away from those hunting her, and I had thought I needed to be with my old herd. And now that we're both back to normal, we have memories of these events happening, but like it happened in the past. Whatever is happening, is very, very strange!"

Usopp chuckled, amused that Chopper had been so passionate about the strange events, as well as whole-heartedly embarrassed anytime someone brought it up. Usopp, for his part, would never forget Zoro tickling the cute baby reindeer in the crook of his arm.

"What's so funny Longnose?" Sanji's voice interrupted Usopp's thoughts.

Sanji was setting a tray down on the floor of the Crow's nest, before fully pulling his long body up and inside. Sanji glanced distastefully at some of Zoro's weights strewn around on the floor as he stood up, frowning at the little mess Zoro had made. To Sanji's eyes, it was probably a lot of mess, but the cook always found a way to find fault with Zoro. Usopp thought that was fair, as Zoro was no better.

Sanji then picked the tray back up, before setting it on the bench Usopp was sitting on. The tray had a little dish covered with a metal cloche, as well as an empty mug and a pot of hot coffee. "I was just thinking of Chopper as a little reindeer again... he's always cute, but he was really cute then!" Usopp explained, as he reached for the cloche on the tray and lifted it up. He gasped in delight at what he saw.

"Oatmeal raisin cookies!" Usopp grinned gleefully, taking two of the still hot cookies, and shoving them in his mouth.

Sanji laughed at Usopp's eagerness, and shrugged, "Cinnamon oatmeal raisin cookies, actually. I always prepare a snack for the night shift, and I thought you might want some cookies, since you were disappointed this morning."

Usopp grunted, nodding vigorously as he chewed his treat. Sanji had made cinnamon rolls with raisins that morning, and Luffy had devoured them all while they were still hot. Luffy had burned the roof of his mouth, and gotten chewed out by Sanji, but Usopp had been disappointed to not get a chance to have a cinnamon roll, which he complained about all day.

"I didn't think you'd go out of your way to do this!" Usopp said, eyes shining as he snatched another hot cookie.

Sanji smiled, "I can be nice, gracious even, when the mood hits me."

Usopp laughed, and Sanji chuckled as well, smiling at the sniper affectionately. They shared a moment of mutual comfort and companionability, and then Sanji pointed at the pot of coffee, and ordered, "Don't fall asleep. Zoro's turn is after you, don't let him sleep in. Kick him in the head if you have to,"

Usopp laughed, nervous and disbelieving at Sanji's advice, "Yeah... kick Zoro in the head! Right."

Sanji cocked a brow at Usopp, "You should. It's easy." He held a hand up and bid Usopp good-night, slipping back down the ladder and out of sight.

Usopp ate all but one cookie. He wanted them while they were still piping hot, but that last cookie he couldn't force down. To his dismay, he had gotten full, but decided he'd finish it off before he got Zoro up. Zoro could fetch his own treats!

It was close to eleven at night when he decided to eat the last cookie, the treat now completely cooled off. He paused mid-chew as he ate the cookie. It tasted somewhat different, now that it was cold. Usopp took another contemplative bite, and realized it was the raisins.

They had been fine while warm, but now that they were cooled off, they were very, very tart. And the more it sat in his mouth, the more the flavor of the raisins changed. It wasn't really bad, but the changing sensation in his mouth was something he hadn't been expecting from a raisin. Usopp considered not finishing the cookie, but this was Sanji's cooking! You don't not finish Sanji's food. One, because he'd kill you, and two because it was too good to leave anything left, even if something was a little odd about it.

Shrugging, Usopp ate the rest of the cookie, mildly confused by the change in taste, but still overall happy with his late night snack.

The sea was quiet, the night sky cloudless. Nothing stirred. It was an easy shift tonight, as it tended to be when the Straw Hats weren't taking on another crazy strong opponent.

His shift would end around two a.m, but about twenty minutes before he was done, Usopp's stomach started to hurt. He rubbed his belly glancing down at it curiously, unsure where the sudden stomach upset was coming from. Usopp had never been sick, not a day in his life, save for one misfortunate incident with some mushrooms as a kid. There was no way he was getting something now, and if he was there was no way it would be happening so quickly.

He assumed, anyway...

But when it was time for him to go and wake Zoro, Usopp's stomach was twisting and turning so much, that Usopp had to lay himself down flat on the floor. He was sweating, his hair suddenly drenched with his sweat, and the crow's nest seemed to be rocking, and he was sure it wasn't from the sea. He tried once to call out for help, but the effort made him hurt more, his stomach knotting violently any time he tried to raise his voice.

This was it he realized.

This. Was. It.

This was how he was going to die.

Alone in the crow's nest, in the middle of the night, for some unknown reason.

It was so pitiful that Usopp whimpered at the thought, thinking of how tragic a loss his death would be. Thousands would mourn him. Woman and men, all weeping for the loss of the Great Captain Usopp. Wars would be waged in fury over his death and... and... and then he wasn't thinking at all.

All went dark.

Zoro woke up with a sudden start.

Something wasn't right.

Rolling out of his hammock, he walked outside, surprised to see the beginnings of dawn peaking out over the sea. He hadn't been woken for his shift. The hairs stood on the back of his neck, and he rushed out on the top deck, anxiety curling in his stomach. While the crew used to be lax about their watches on the Merry, since Sabaody, the crew had been good about not sleeping through their watch unless something, unexpected, had happened.

Like the time Nami had gotten sick in the middle of the night and fainted. Or the time Brook had slipped and gotten tangled up in several ropes and had been caught blowing against the sea winds like some skeletal kite. Either way, if Zoro had not been woken...

...Something was wrong with Usopp.

Hand over hand, Zoro climbed quickly up the crow's nest ladder, and pushed himself into the Crow's nest at great speed.

He was stunned by what he saw.

A nude child was kneeling on one of the benches that lined the wall of the crow's nest, his hands stuck to the glass of the windows as he peered out over the sea. The expression that was reflected in the glass was awed, even more awed than Zoro's current expression. Zoro blinked three times, and then stiffly looked around the room. The yellow pants and boots Usopp was wearing yesterday were on the floor, a pot of coffee spilled on the floor next to an empty plate.

Zoro looked back at the child, who he knew to be Usopp-there was no one else that child with the dark skin and unruly curly hair could be- and opened his mouth to speak.

Before a word could come out Usopp had turned, seeing Zoro's reflection in the glass, and he looked at Zoro with wide, frightened eyes.

"Are you a pirate?!" Usopp blurted, his voice high, anxious and a little eager.

"...Yes," Zoro answered numbly.

Usopp grinned, eyes shining with hope, even as they still looked fearful, and he blurted, "Then you've come to save my Mama!"

A cold pit dropped into Zoro's stomach, and when he swallowed, it hurt. What was he supposed to say?

"Daddy sent you right? You... he heard about Mama, so he sent you to save her right?!" Usopp squeaked, eyes shining impossibly bright.

Rather than answering, Zoro removed his shirt, and reached out for Usopp, "Come on... let's get this on you... and go down to the main deck."

Usopp let Zoro wrestle him into a shirt, the child talking a mile a minute, his words so fast Zoro could hardly keep up. He spoke of his mother, he spoke of his father, he spoke of his crew of thousands, and his many fans. Zoro nodded, feeling numb inside as Usopp continued to chat him up. When the shirt was on, Zoro looked at him, privately acknowledging that it seemed like the bracelet was not the cause of the weird "shrinking," that had been happening on the ship.

Zoro picked the boy up in his arms, as Usopp finally asked, "Is Dad on this ship? He's here to save mom too, right?"

Zoro still didn't know how to answer.

He knew Usopp's past... what did he say?

Zoro looked down at Usopp's desperate little face, and he realized that Usopp wasn't as good as an actor as he was when he was older. Usopp's smile of hope was forced, and there was a shine of loss in his eyes that let Zoro know, Usopp did not think his father would be here. Bitterly, Zoro wondered if Usopp had been disappointed before.

The tip of his long nose went red and Usopp continued, "My... my dad is the best, and most fearsome, and strongest... and smartest pirate in all the world! And... and he can shoot a flea off a horse's back from miles away!"

Zoro pressed the small version of his Nakama gently to him, resisting the urge to crush him in a fierce bone-crushing hug. He instead patiently pat the boy's back, and turned towards the ladder, "Oh yeah? His shooting is that good? How... how about you tell me more about it. I have to get us down now."

As Zoro descended extra carefully down the ladder, Usopp chatted, his voice switching between hyper, and anxious. Zoro quietly goaded the boy on as he spoke, hoping to keep him talking long enough to reach the deck. In his head, Zoro wondered how he was going to tell the crew about this. Chopper had only returned to normal one day ago, and now Usopp was shrunk. That bracelet hadn't been the cause of this calamity, so throwing it away had been pointless. So, was this a disease like Chopper worried about? It had to be, right?

Usopp did not wiggle in Zoro's grasp, but clung, gawking as they descended down towards the deck.

So, Zoro was very startled when Usopp suddenly cried out, "MAMA!"

Zoro had been so lost in thought in fact, that Usopp's shriek made Zoro miss a step on the ladder. He slipped, the two falling for one terrifying second. Zoro caught himself, biceps bulging as he gripped the rung of the ladder tight, his head swiveling to stare at Usopp, who was reaching out with wide teary eyes towards...

Zoro followed Usopp's gaze and saw the back of Robin, the archaeologist leaned against the door towards the kitchen.

They were maybe two feet from the deck, and Usopp's cry had not gone unnoticed. Robin had turned around, Sanji pushing his way out of the kitchen to stand at her side. Both of them were staring wide-eyed at the child, instantly recognizing him for who he was, as Zoro had. Nami was looking up from her Mikan trees, and Chopper had peaked out of his office, his hoof frozen on his door. The rest of the crew must have still been below deck, but it didn't matter, they'd all see him soon enough.

Usopp wiggled himself away from Zoro, and fell hard to the deck, Zoro wincing as the child hit the planks with an audible slap. Usopp's knees and left elbow hit especially hard, no doubt scraping up something fierce. Usopp made a soft little painful sound, but bit his bottom lip, refusing to cry out. He was still hyper focused on Robin, the woman standing stiffly as Usopp stared at her.

"USOPP!" Nami cried with clear and crisp concern, her face pale at the sight of his fall.

Usopp didn't take notice of Nami's cry. Instead, he pushed himself up, and rushed forward towards Robin, the archaeologist kneeling to stop him, as be barreled towards her. Her hands landed gently on his shoulders, and she looked into his wide weeping eyes, and tears filled her own eyes as she was hit with a wave of empathy. His hands reached up to touch her face, his little hands pressing into her cheeks, before dropping heavily at his side.

Only now, he realized he'd been mistaken.

In silence, the two stared at each other, and when Zoro's feet touched the top of the deck, Usopp's overflowing eyes, spilled over.

"You're not mama," Usopp sobbed, shaking in Robin's gentle grasp.

Tears dripped down Robin's cheeks in understanding, "No, sweet boy, I am not."

Usopp sank to the ground, his hands pressed flat to the deck.

"Mama's dead," he said hollowly, his body shaking. "She's dead," he repeated, just as the missing crew members appeared on the deck, confused at first by the tense quiet.

"She's dead," Usopp repeated a final time, and broke into even louder anguished sobs, shaking with the weight of his grief, "I lied... Mama can't be saved. I lied..."

Robin pressed a hand to her face, tears falling unbidden down her cheeks. Her other hand she kept on Usopp's back, and looked up and around at her stunned crewmates. All eyes were on the little boy as he wept, their mouths hanging open in stunned silence.

Luffy's hand curled into a fist, and his mouth dipped into a frown. "Again... someone is crying," he muttered to himself, a strange fire shining in his eyes.

An hour after Usopp had burst into tears, the little boy, which the group guessed was about eight, sat quietly on his hands, staring at a big bowl of porridge, a plate of eggs, and several slices of ham, that had been set in front of him. His face was puffy, but no longer dripping with tears, and he looked hungry, as Chopper double-checked the bandages he had applied to little Usopp's scrapes.

Usopp did not make a move for the meal.

"You can eat that," Sanji said, clearing his throat as he spoke.

Usopp looked up at the blonde chef, and then to his left at Robin, who was looking at him with sad eyes. He blushed and quickly looked away and to his right at the man in the straw hat, who had a hand on Usopp's back. The straw-hatted man stared at him with an unreadable expression, his warm had pressing firmly and comfortingly to his back, as Usopp stared. He smiled suddenly, his grin stretching wide and big.

Usopp sucked nervously on his lower lip, and looked back at the offered food, and then back to the others lining the table. He stared the longest at Brook, Chopper, and Franky, his eyes a mixture of curiosity and fright. Besides the bitter sadness of his tears, those two emotions seemed to be the ones warring the most on his face.

Sanji gently rapped his knuckles on the table to get Usopp's attention, "You can eat that," he said again, his eyebrow arched as he pointed at the food.

"Um... but I don't have any money," Usopp pointed out, tone nervous. "The doctor had to take it all, but the village said Mama left me the house... but I... I don't have money for food. So... um... I could ask instead, if my friends, the elves, could fix your shoes. I-I saved them once, and they owe me, so they'll fix your shoes if... if that's okay. You know... instead of money..." his voice had gotten impossibly soft.

Everyone was staring and Usopp, and he swallowed harder voice shaking more, "It's not money, but the elves are very fast and very small! They come out at night, so you won't even-"

"You don't have to pay for this. Sons of famous pirates eat free on this ship," Sanji said tone clipped, his pale eyes churning like an angry sea. He took in a deep breath and forced a smile, "You're Yasopp's son, you get to eat free here. Whatever you want."

Usopp's mouth opened wide, and his body language loosened up, "R-Really? I mean... I am the son of the greatest pirate! But... really?"

Nami leaned over impatiently, her nerves frayed from the morning ordeal, and gently guided Usopp towards the silverware, "Yes, really. Are you not eating in your village?"

Usopp spooned some eggs in his mouth and hastily answered, "Mr. Hatch is teaching me how to fish, and what vegetables grow in the forest. If I pull the weeds from his yard, he gives me soup and bread. It's been tough since... since Mama." He shrugged, "But I'm sure it'll be better when Dad comes back. He's... he's going to come back and... and fix this. Mama can't be gone forever."

He said it all so casually.

As he spoke, Luffy watched Usopp intensely, a quiet anger brewing behind his eyes.

"Your island... they're letting a little boy go hungry?" Sanji said voice bitter, and brimming with rage. His face had flushed, and he was trying to school his emotions, but he was now watching as Usopp shoveled his meal into his mouth so hungrily... Sanji couldn't help the bitterness that twisted in his gut.

"Sanji," Nami whispered gently, eyes filled with concern and gentle understanding.

Sanji shook his head, and turned towards the kitchen, hurrying to do dishes, so he wouldn't have to look at Usopp scarf his meal right now. He couldn't control the emotions of his face and didn't want to scare Usopp into stopping.

"I'm going to catch all the fish, and pick all the potatoes and sell them back to the village. And then I'll have so much money, I'll buy a ship, and 100 chefs! And then I'll get a crew of 1000 men, and go get my Dad and... and... we'll..." Usopp stopped eating, his expression distant.

Luffy's hand slid into Usopp's hair and he pressed the boy to his side. Luffy said nothing at first, but then with a big smile said, "We can teach you how to fish. You'll be the best fisherman in your whole village."

Usopp looked up at Luffy, eyes wide, "Really?"

Luffy laughed, "Of course! You'll be the very best."

"First, I think you need some clothes, and a check up," Chopper interrupted, and then he smiled wide at Usopp. The reindeer's eyes were shining with repressed tears, and his blue nose was purple as he tried to maintain a friendly appearance, "I'm Chopper, and I'm the doctor on this ship. So eat up... and I'll take a look at you to make sure you're okay."

Usopp smiled, but his face looked sad, "Are you a really good doctor?"

Chopper nodded, smiling nervously at Usopp's somber expression.

Usopp nodded, deflating just a little, "I bet... I bet a bear that's a doctor could have saved her. A bear who is also a doctor must be good."

"I'm a reindeer!" Chopper huffed, unable to stop himself from pointing it out. He held out his hooves, and then pointed to his head, "See! And look horns!"

Usopp reached out distracted by the things Chopper was showing him, and while he was distracted, Luffy appraised the rest of the crew. Their faces were all twisted with anxiety, disappointment, and sorrow. This wouldn't do.

"Well, hurry and finish your meal. The sooner Chopper looks you over, the sooner I'll show you how to catch fish, and big ones too! Alright?" Luffy said, loud and authoritative.

Usopp stopped tugging on Chopper's horn, and nodded, scraping the rest of his meal in his mouth. For once, Luffy didn't try to take anything from his plate... even if he did drool just a bit. Usopp rubbed his arm across his mouth when he was done, smearing a bit of bacon grease across his face, and smacked his lips loudly, garnishing a few amused chuckles from his friends around the table. Grabbing his plates, he then ran towards Sanji, gently tugging on the blonde's pant leg to get his attention. Sanji stopped scrubbing the same dish he had been washing for the past several minutes, and glanced down, surprised to see the little miniature version of his crewmate looking up at him.

Usopp held up his plates and smiled big, "Thank you for the food, it was the best I've ever had!"

Sanji's nose went red, and he nodded, unable to speak. He smiled and took the plates dropping them in the sink, and Usopp dashed back to Chopper, who waved the boy towards the door. As Chopper led the child out, he explained how he wanted to hear Usopp's heartbeat, and listen to his lungs, as well as ask a few questions.

When their voices had faded away, the rest of the crew let out deep sighs, their bodies sagging under the weight of the sudden sorrow that had draped around them.

Franky's hand was immediately on Robin's back, "Robin-sis... you alright?"

Robin rubbed under her eyes gently, "We've spoken about his mother before. He's never said I looked like her,"

"Maybe he was confused," Brook said softly, the first words he'd spoken all day, "Perhaps you possess a trait that's similar to her, and he got confused. It happens to small children quite often Miss Robin."

"I should have held on to him better," Zoro growled, crossing his arms regretfully, "I'm sorry Robin."

"Don't apologize... I'm only sorry that I made him remember something so painful," Robin said, swallowing hard.

"From the way he spoke, it sounds like he's lost his mother recently," Nami sniffled, wiping tears away from her own eyes as she recalled her own bitter memories.

"I don't like this stupid kid-making disease!" Luffy grumped, banging a fist on the table, "My crew is always sad when they're little! Is it like the sickness puts you at your worst moment?"

The crew turned to their Captain in surprise.

"Luffy... you might be on to something," Robin muttered, "We'll have to point that out to Chopper."

Luffy didn't look happy to have guessed a trait of this strange, "disease," and continued to frown before muttering, "I don't like it. You need to be happy here with me! I'm going to fix it!"

"...They're not feeding him," Sanji muttered bitterly from his place at the sink, his voice drifting out of him as if he was lost in thought. He did not turn to look back, but sagged heavily over his dishes, "They're going to teach him how to fish and gather... but they won't feed him. A little boy who just lost his mom..." Sanji banged his fist on the counter so hard it sounded like something cracked. There was a bitterness that Sanji was all too familiar with.

Wordlessly, Nami went to Sanji and began to rub his back, gently whispering to the man some words of encouragement.

"Stupid island, and stupid little village!" Franky snarled, pushing the brim of his glasses hard against his nose.

"Well... if we ever go back to Usopp's island, we can punch everyone on the island in the face," Luffy said, as if the answer was that simple. He leaned forward in his seat and added, "But we can also show Usopp how to fish, and eat what's safe. We gotta look after him now... and we've gotta smile and have fun. He's sad enough on his own... we can't add to that."

The crew looked to their Captain, the rubber man giving them each a weighty gaze.

"This could last a day, or several days like with Chopper... let's try to make these the best days he'll ever have," Luffy said firmly.

"You're right Luffy-Bro, absolutely right!" Franky said flexing his arms, "Kids love robots, and I am a cyborg! So, he's gonna love me! I'm going to have him having so much fun, he won't have time to be sad!"

Luffy laughed, "Yeah, that's the spirit!"

The others agreed slowly, but with conviction. They could not go back in time and help the little Usopp who would be on his own at his village, but they could look after him now.

And maybe even prepare him for the years he would be waiting for his future crew, if that was indeed how this "disease," worked.

The rest of the day, the crew took turns watching over little Usopp. He was like a wild ball of energy, that at some times, would pitter out to a sad puff of smoke.

One moment running, the next asking questions, and then the next he would be quiet, curled in on himself as he thought about something lonely.

Chopper had given him some shorts, and a shirt from his belongings; both a little too big, but Usopp seemed to like them just fine. It seemed he instantly trusted them all the moment he recognized them for pirates. And while they worried when he would go quiet, it seemed he was determined to not let them see him cry again.

When night came, Usopp had stared after Robin, a look of distant longing entering his eyes as she went for her room. She caught his look, and he jumped and lowered his eyes to the floor. Robin approached him slowly and then bent down to look at him, waiting patiently for him to look back up.

When he did shyly turn his face up to her, she smiled and asked, "Would you like to sleep with me tonight?"

Usopp blushed and mumbled something that she could not understand.

"I know...you mistook me for someone very precious to you," Robin began nervously, "And while I am not her... you are my very dear friend. My dear little Longnose," she cupped his face, Usopp's eyes soft and sad as they gazed up at her, "I am not her. But if... if you want to hug me... if I can do anything for you, I would gladly do it."

Usopp's face flushed, eyes wet with tears and he pressed into Robin for a hug. Robin took a shaky breath and scooped him up in her arms. She shared a look with Nami, the navigator nodding at her with her own misty eyes.

The first night Usopp slept with Robin, curled against her, his small fingers gently curled in her black hair.

The next day, Usopp would often follow Robin, acting like her little shadow. Usopp still ran amongst the rest of the crew, but like a magnet was drawn back to Robin, to ask her questions, or just look at her. He was quiet at these times, eyes lost in some thought.

Franky did his best to startle the child out of his somber moods. Popping into Usopp's field of vision and striking a pose, or pushing his nose so his hair would burst out in wild directions. Usopp would burst into loud laughter, shrieking with delight.

So, when the sun went down and the second night came upon the Thousand Sunny, Usopp wandered over to Franky, hooking an arm around his leg, and hugging against it, as he sagged with exhaustion.

"What are you doing little-bro?" Franky asked with a cheerful laugh.

Usopp yawned big, and slurred, "Wanna sleep with you!"

Franky practically radiated with delight.

Choking on tears he cooed at Usopp, "What's this little Longnose-bro? You want to sleep with me? You sure?"

Usopp smiled dopily, and Franky scooped him up, tucking the little boy in his massive arms. Franky laughed, smiling at his friends at his luck in being chosen.

The third day came, and Luffy and Chopper took time to show Usopp how to fish. Zoro hovered nearby in case something tried to pull any of them in the sea, which wound up being a sound decision. A huge fish tugged Usopp overboard, and in their panic, both Luffy and Chopper jumped into the ocean after him. Zoro wound up having to save all three, but he cradled Usopp against his chest as he shouted at Luffy and Chopper for being idiots.

"You're both hammers! Why would you jump in?!" Zoro spat, patting Usopp's back as he clung to his neck trembling.

Luffy and Chopper apologized, heads bowed as they dripped saltwater on the deck. Zoro, growling like an overprotective mama bear, whisked Usopp off to give him a warm bath. He wrapped the boy in a fluffy towel and even set to work detangling his mass of black curls, going as far to apply coconut oil to the boy's hair, as he had seen Usopp do many times before. When he was done, he helped Usopp dress, and get a snack, not even reacting when Sanji shot him a surprised look.

Usopp stared at Zoro with shining eyes for the rest of the day.

It seemed the care he showed Usopp was enough to earn the boy's favor, for that night Usopp was following Zoro towards his hammock.

"You want to sleep with me?" Zoro asked, staring at the nervous little boy with a brow raised.

Usopp's hands were behind his back, and he seemed very scared, but he nodded his head up and down, staring imploringly at Zoro. The glimmer that had been in his eyes all day, was still there shining out at Zoro.

A subtle blush crept up Zoro's neck, and if anyone had noticed they would have seen the stoic swordsman was touched by Usopp's sudden attention and child-like admiration. Zoro leaned down, holding an arm out for Usopp, which the boy tucked himself into, giggling nervously. Zoro scooped him up and kept a protective arm around Usopp's back, letting the boy hold on to him tight as they slept for the night.

On the fourth day as Franky, Brook, and Chopper played with Usopp outside, Nami voiced her concerns from the table near her mikan trees, "Usopp's been a child for four days now... that's the longest."

"Whatever is happening on this ship seems really serious," Robin murmured, watching Usopp play from her spot at the table. She was next to Nami, and both woman wore twin looks of concern.

"He'll get better," Luffy said trying to steal some ice cream from a tray Sanji held.

Sanji smacked his Captain's hand away, "...Should we talk to him about who we are? He knows our names and that we're pirates, but he doesn't know really anything else. Who he is to us, and this crew." He served the girls the frozen treat first, before extending and offering to Luffy.

"I told him we're all Nakama, and he likes that we're pirates. That's enough," Luffy answered, a smile spreading across his face, "He's just happy to be here, and get everyone's attention. And he'll go back to normal in his own time... I don't want to worry about when he will like Chopper did."

Nami smiled, impressed with Luffy's insight, "Yes... he's a sweet and needy little boy... and he grew up wanting to be a pirate. Of course, he's excited to be here."

"How is doing... about his Mother?" Sanji asked with great reluctance. He kept his eyes downwards, hiding his emotions, "Does he still... cry?"

Robin and Nami both pulled a face.

Robin sighed, "He cries sometimes."

"I hate that," Luffy muttered, crossing his arms with a huff, "All of my crew cried when they were little. I hate that!"

"I'm sure you did to Luffy," Nami said, draping her arms affectionately around her Captain.

Luffy pouted stubbornly, "No! And it doesn't matter if I did... I should have become a Captain sooner. Then none of you would have ever cried."

Nami squeezed Luffy affectionately and softly reminded him, "You found us and saved us all later Luffy... that' more than enough."

Sanji, a little shyly approached Usopp, extending a waffle cone filled with ice cream. Usopp's eyes shone with glee, and he accepted the treat giddily. When he sampled the frozen cone, he actually shouted, staring up at Sanji, "Where is ice cream on the ocean?!"

Sanji actually laughed, "I made it."

"You made that?" The little boy gasped. He saluted Sanji suddenly, "You're a God."

Sanji laughed, loudly and tweaked Usopp's long nose, "No, that's you actually. I'm just a prince."

A few of the nearby crew members laughed, Usopp looking a little confused. He ate his treat, following after Sanji, the blonde mock scolding the boy, "Go on. You're not getting any more! Wait for lunch!" Usopp followed him anyway, smiling as he nibbled at his snack. Sanji sniffed, acting put out, but pet the top of Usopp's head every so often, and would smile to himself every time he did.

The frozen treat had cemented Sanji's place as Usopp's chosen bed mate that night.

Sanji was rather startled when the boy climbed into bed next to him, not even asking permission. The child simply smiled at Sanji and collapsed on him, splayed out like a starfish.

"Excuse you..." Sanji sighed, quirking an eyebrow and looking at the precocious little boy who was sprawled over him.

"I didn't fart," Usopp said with a sincere, confused air.

Sanji threw back his head and laughed, unable to help it. Usopp laughed with him, and wiggled his way under the blanket to cuddle the chef. When Sanji calmed down, he pulled the child closer, accepting his fate. He was truly very honored to be chosen by the hyper little boy as his bed mate for the night.

On the fifth day Nami, rather glumly announced they'd reach the next island by tomorrow.

"What do we do if Usopp is still small? He's so... " Nami brought her hands together, and shook them in front of her face, "He's so fragile! How do we keep him safe?"

"There's a lot of us on this ship, we'll keep our eyes on him!" Sanji vowed sincere conviction in his voice. He was not speaking to impress her.

"He's so curious and less scared... I never thought that would be a big stress for me! What if he wanders off and follows another bunch of pirates, just because they're pirates!" Nami burst, her hands now wringing together with worry.

Luffy, who was sitting nearby, trying to figure out a way to snatch the rather tantalizing fruit drink Sanji had made for Nami, stopped his hand in its tracks, and frowned, "Go off with other pirates!? No, he can't do that!"

"He doesn't know better," Sanji chuckled, hurriedly placing the drink he prepared for Nami in front of her, before Luffy could try to reach for it again.

"No, I need to make sure he understands..." Luffy rumbled.

Launching himself out towards the lawn deck, Luffy began to shout, "HEY! Everyone over here!"

His voice carried over the whole of the ship, and soon his crew began to gather around him, Usopp tucked under Franky's arm, a bit of black grease on his cheek. Franky was teaching him how to build something, and more importantly, showing him how to handle the tools in the workshop. No one had yet shown, or told, Usopp about their ship's many weapons. They all secretly hoped they wouldn't have to, though Robin had given a stern warning that Usopp needed to know about safety if he was going to stay on this ship.

If Usopp was a child for seven days, they would show him the cannons and have a stern word of caution for him.

"Alright... now that you're all here..." Luffy said clapping his hands. He rubbed his palms together and the slapped his left hand down on his hat, pressing it down snug on his head, "Okay! You guys know that you're all pirates right? ...Everybody answer!"

There was a resounding, "Aye!" from those that were on the ship. Usopp did not join in.

Luffy pointed at Usopp, "You're a pirate too!"

"I'm a pirate too!" Usopp echoed with delight.

Luffy nodded, "So... everyone knows that you're a pirate, and a pirate on my crew, right?"

"Aye!" his crew answered, followed a few seconds by Usopp who realized he was truly being included.

Usopp raised a hand, "Can I be the Captain?"

Luffy crossed his forearms so they made an 'x' shape in the air, "No! I'm the Captain! You're my sniper!"

"I'm the sniper!" Usopp cheered, Franky cheering with him.

Luffy smiled and continued speaking, "So that means, if we meet another crew, you can't go wandering off with them. Even if they look cool! Or fun! Or have... delicious meat..." Luffy paused to suck in a string of drool, "Point is you can't wander off! If you're on this crew, you stay on this crew! Got it?"

"Aye!" Usopp shouted first, raising a triumphant fist. The rest of the crew answered after him, all sharing secret smiles with each other as they caught on to what Luffy was doing.

Luffy nodded his head, smiled, and then approached Franky, "Oi! My turn. Give me that!" he pointed at Usopp

Franky looked offended, "No! This is mine! Go find your own!"

Luffy looked even more offended, "Yours?! I found him first! I made him apart of my crew! He's mine!"

"Then you need to learn how to share," Franky sassed, pulling Usopp closer to him, the child giggling with delight.

Luffy gave chase, and Franky took off around the ship, Usopp howling with laughter.

That night Usopp chose Luffy to sleep with, snuggled and pressed into Luffy's stomach while the rubber man curled around him like a coil. Both looked rather happy to be wrapped up around one another. Strangely to Usopp, this was somehow familiar.

On the sixth day, just after dawn and right before breakfast, the next island in their journey appeared in the distance. Usopp was peaking over the railing, still a little sleepy, holding on to Luffy's hand.

The Captain yawned and scratched his stomach, smiling at the island that came into view, "Hope that place is fun!"

Usopp nodded quietly, seemed to be lost in thought. He remained quiet as they went to breakfast, and wandered outside to watch the approaching island, eyes distant. He sat down on the swing on the lawn deck, quietly staring ahead. Idly, he began to swing himself, not letting himself pick up any real momentum, just a steady soothing rocking, a little faster than the rocking of the sea.

"You alright kid?" Zoro asked taking a seat next to Usopp, the boy looking up at him.

Usopp sucked in his lower lip, eyes filling with concern, "I kinda did a bad thing..."

"Oh?" Brook asked, sitting down next to Usopp, "We are all pirates, so a little mischief is no trouble!"

Usopp nodded quietly.

"But you could tell us about it," Zoro added, voice serious. In a lower tone, he whispered, "We won't rat you out. We're all Nakama after all."

"And Pirates," Brook added gleefully, a little yo-ho-ho following after.

Usopp nodded. He took in a deep breath and with a slight shake said, "Mama died. But... just because she's gone doesn't mean I shouldn't mind her... and... I went off on an adventure with a bunch of pirates. I know your names, but you're all strangers... I shouldn't have."

Brook and Zoro glanced at each other, but it was Brook who placed a hand on Usopp's shoulders, "We are your friends. Not because you're here now, but because you were here before."

Usopp looked at Brook, tilting his head in confusion.

"You don't remember, but we all know each other and we're all friends following the same dream. To explore the grand line. We have different goals, different desires, but they all brought us together, and together we're exploring the sea."

Usopp hummed, and laughed a little bit, "That sounds like a story, and I'm good at telling those."

"Perhaps it is a story," Brook agreed, "but this one is especially great, because it is real."

Usopp nodded, "Um... so you think Mama's not mad that I left?"

"No," Zoro said, flushing a little when Usopp turned to him expectantly, "Your mother was proud your father went to the sea right? I'm sure she'd be proud you left too."

"Is something else, bothering you little Longnose?" Brook asked leaning forward.

Usopp gawked at Brook a moment, still momentarily stunned to see a living skeleton, even after all these days, but he nodded shyly and added, "I won't be left on the island will I?"

"No!" Both Zoro and Brook exclaimed.

"Why would you think that?" Zoro asked angrily.

"We would not abandon you," Brook emphasized kindly.

Usopp flushed, and sucked in his lower lip again, swinging his arms as he sat anxiously between the two pirates, "Um... I'm little, and adults leave kids behind. And... what if you're leaving me behind because I'm little. We've had a lot of fun but... but... Daddy didn't... I mean he left... and..."

Usopp swallowed hard, and the bitterness that he had been trying to keep deep inside him began to shine out his eyes. He scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand, but the tears still leaked out, "This is fun... but I don't want to be alone again."

"You're with us now, and you won't be," Brook promised, a tender hand patting his back.

Zoro raked a hand through Usopp's hair, cradling the child's scalp in his strong palm, "Maybe you'll be back on Syrup Village again for a time, but pirates are coming. And we're coming for you."

Usopp sniffled, clearly not understanding what Zoro meant, but nodded.

Quietly Zoro continued to speak, now trying to quiet his own fears, "We taught you how to fish. Chopper showed you plants that can help you feel better if you're sick or hurt. Franky showed you how to use tools. When you return... you'll have some things under your belt. You just gotta remember."

Usopp scrubbed his face again, "I don't understand what you mean by all that."

Zoro didn't answer, but continued to face the island that drew ever closer, ignoring the sympathetic and understanding gaze that Brook was giving him.

Usopp calmed down, enough to be excited by the ship getting closer to the island, and soon was running for Robin, asking to be lifted up.

She gathered him in her arms, smiling as they docked at the pier, a quaint and beautiful town cresting the top of the hill that the pier led to. Nami whispered something to Usopp, and the boy laughed, grinning wide at her. When the ship docked, Nami announced Usopp was going to escort the ladies to town, and Usopp took bother their hands with gusto and pulled them towards the village.

"Lucky kid," Sanji muttered.

Zoro snorted, and when the three were out of earshot suggested, "Tail 'em?"

"Yes, absolutely," Sanji agreed.

For once in perfect agreement, the two set to follow the girls and little Usopp at a respectable distance, one where they could watch but not be seen.

The island was perfect.

Easygoing, and cheerful, Usopp had a wonderful time.

He was bought a new hat, and a tool kit, as well as a slingshot that was small enough for him to hold. He was showered in sweet treats and taken to a playground where he got to meet other children. And if the bully of the playground saw two scary ominous shadows that made him decide against pushing Usopp, the boy was none the wiser.

When they returned to the ship, he showed Chopper his slingshot, and together with Franky set up shells on top of hastily made sandcastles. Usopp taught Chopper how to use the slingshot, but even as a child, no one could beat Usopp's aim. The reindeer praised Usopp wildly, the little boy tilting his nose up smugly. Sanji prepared a meal on the beach, and the group had a rather nice little party, all eyes watching after the little ward that had entered their life.

It was dark when Sanji approached Usopp, who was trying to finish off a large doughnut, a special treat the blonde had made for dinner. Usopp had buried his legs in the sand and was watching the tide come in, his head nodding off into his chest, the doughnut sagging in his grip.

Sanji began to gather the boy up, shaking him loose of the sand, and Usopp began to protest, "No, no... I'm not done eating..."

"You're obviously full and tired, I think you are done," Sanji said lightly cradling the boy against him. Usopp tucked his head against the crook of Sanji's neck, one arm curled around Sanji's neck, while the other dangled over his shoulder, the treat grasped tightly in his hand.

"No... I can finish... it..." Usopp yawned, his nose bending as he pressed closer to Sanji.

Sanji chuckled low, and ran a hand down the boys back, before offering some advice, "Throw it in the air and see Luffy do a flip in an effort to get it."

Usopp giggled, and tossed the doughnut haphazardly, laughing sleepily as Luffy did in fact, do a flip in order to scarf up the doughnut.

Luffy wiped a single crumb from his mouth and then smiled at the exhausted boy, "Who do you want to sleep with?"

Usopp smiled, closing his eyes a moment as he hummed. He secured his arms tight around Sanji's neck, and with a gleeful grin declared, "Everybody!"

Franky laughed, "Super! I'll get the tents! We'll camp out on the lawn deck!"

"Oh, I'll help Mr. Franky!" Brook said eagerly following after the cyborg.

In a quick few minutes the crew had assembled themselves on the lawn deck, with tents, pillow, blankets, and snacks-which Luffy tried to eat in one swallow. Usopp had been decked in a pair of yellow pajamas, freshly bought that day. The group chatted with each other, Usopp desperately trying to keep up with the rest of the crew. He had placed himself between Robin and Nami, his head leaning between the two women, but any time he almost dropped off, his head shot up.

In fifteen minutes he was asleep between the woman, one hand curled around Robin's arm, while his other hand seemed to reach for the center of the group.

"I can't wait for Usopp to go back to normal," Nami said, voice filled with emotion.

"Yeah," agreed the crew.

"I'm going to miss this little boy more than I could ever describe," Nami said, wiping tears that snuck out her eyes, even as she smiled.

"Yeah," the crew agreed again.

Usopp awoke, with the desperate need to pee.

When he managed to get up, he was surprised to see he was on the lawn deck with the rest of his crew. It wasn't quite dawn yet, the sky wasn't even pink. Even stranger to Usopp, was he had been sleeping between Nami and Robin, wrapped up in only a blanket. Some yellow pajamas were on the ground, torn, as if something had burst out of them.

Usopp would normally be frightened by this, because surely if the girls didn't kill him, Sanji would, but Usopp's need to relieve himself was too strong. In fact, he rushed over to one side of the deck and peed over the railing, something that if he was caught doing, would get him in a lot of trouble.

But when nature calls... a man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do!

Sneaking below deck to his room, he retrieved a set of his pajamas, and then returned to the deck.

He yawned, and decided to settle himself next to one of his male crewmates-because again he did not want to die or have his ass kicked by the woman.

Luffy was coiled around Chopper, and Brook was splayed out against a snoring Franky. Zoro and Sanji had a bit of space between them, and carefully Usopp wedged himself in between those two. As he was drifting off, he was surprised to feel a muscular arm drape across his back and pat him, as if he was being comforted.

Sanji's familiar thin fingers landed in Usopp's hair, and gently ruffled his hair, another stroke of comfort.

Before Usopp fell asleep again, he noticed a strange sense of deja vu, like a dream from a long time ago.

Usopp woke to absolute shrieking a few hours later.

Chopper was in his lap screeching with joy, and Luffy had coiled around the both of them sobbing while laughing. Franky gathered them up, and also sobbed with relief and joy, poor Usopp shrieking about the clearly strange and foreign disease that his crewmates must have caught to be acting like this.

It took a very short amount of time to explain, that Usopp had been the latest victim to the "shrinking-into-a-child-disease."

"So it wasn't the bracelet," Usopp bemoaned, Luffy curled around his back. His Captain had smooshed his face into Usopp's back and clung to Usopp with wordless delight and relief.

"Doesn't appear to be," Chopper agreed. He crossed his arms, "Usopp I'll need some blood, you were little the longest!"

Usopp sulked, he did not enjoy donating blood. Be it in battle, or for a check up... why couldn't his blood just stay where it was supposed to!?

"Do you remember anything?" Nami asked, interrupting Chopper before he could go into his whole doctor spiel.

Usopp looked at her eager face startled, and then to the rest of the crew who seemed to be holding their breath.

His eyes fell on Robin, and stuck there. His eyes suddenly widened, and his mouth opened, and then he was blushing and looking at his hands, clearly embarrassed.

Robin reached out for Usopp, wrapping the sniper in a hug, "I'm glad... I'm glad."

Usopp awkwardly hugged the woman, embarrassed of a sudden memory of calling her "Mama." He was surprised by quite a few fuzzy memories he suddenly had. Most of it was thoughts of colors or feelings, and some smells... but it was of this ship. Of this crew. But he was small and they were all so big in these fuzzy memories. How strange it was to have these memories now.

After a moment, his hands lifted up, and he returned the hug a little harder, Robin holding him equally as tight.

Eventually, Usopp took in a shaky breath, "Thank you. Thank you..."

Usopp pulled away, coughed awkwardly, and then laughed, "Good thing you all taught me how to fish. Mr. Hatch never showed me how! And his soup did taste pretty terrible!"

"Luffy turn the ship around. I'm kicking in every adult's head in at Syrup village!" Sanji snapped, his anger stirred up once again.

"Yup, okay!" Luffy agreed laughing, "Let's go beat them all up!"

Usopp shrieked, "No, you can't!"

And while the crew argued over what they could or could not do at Usopp's village, in the back of their minds was the thought: Who would be hit next with this strange disease?

Notes:

... I am going to figure out a plot to turn Usopp into a child again and write a big long story about it, because I love the idea of them all taking care of him so much. *^* There's a lot I want to explore.

Chapter 18: The Sun Sets

Summary:

Usopp, at an old age passes.

Notes:

the first sentence was donated from an anon on Tumblr :

Chapter Text

The sun had set and so had his dreams.

Usopp snapped his head back up... he had almost fallen asleep again.

Usopp blinked his eyes, slow and gentle. His head nodded, and then snapped back up. Bringing a withered hand up, he rubbed his eyes, trying to push the sleep out of his eyes.

He was old, rather old for a pirate, even a retired one.

He had sailed with the King of Pirates, thrice around the world, and then when their King passed, as the great ones did, he had returned home.

And started his own crew. Some new faces... some old ones.

He had been Captain Usopp for a time, never chasing that dream Luffy had loved so much. No, the title of King of the Pirates was Luffy's, and would remain so. Usopp did not chase that dream.

After he had sailed the sea with his own crew, Usopp found himself on his old island. Back at Syrup village where it all began. His crew had done well, but as much as he loved his loyal followers, none of them topped the Straw Hat crew he had once been a part of.

He wondered what had become of his friends. He wondered if they had all achieved their dreams. He had seen most come to fruition, but some he had not witnessed with his own eyes.

He still had a feeling they had all managed it now. If anyone could do anything, that was his friends.

The sun was setting faster now, and Usopp's head nodded again. He shook himself awake one more time. He was trying to stay awake. He was still hoping his mail would somehow be delivered by one of the many carrier birds that flew from island to island. It was late, but he was hoping for a letter.

He and his friends still kept in touch... the ones that were still around.

He was hoping for a letter from Chopper today.

He was so tired.

Usopp's head dipped into chest, and he thought idly of a wish he had made when he was young. To die a brave warrior of the sea, even if he had to do it alone. The sun set, his eyes closed, and he smiled one last time.

His life as one of the Straw Hats... that had been a lovely dream.

Chapter 19: Stare

Summary:

A request/challenge for a drabble around the word "Stare"

an angsty little head cannon involving Zoro and Usopp.

Chapter Text

He froze, a little stunned at the sight.

Usopp had removed his headphones, nothing special.

But Zoro couldn't recall the last time he had seen the sniper without the headphones, and so he had looked.

And now he was… staring. Staring at the little raised scars around the shell of Usopp's ear. At the scar raise on his cheek, right next to his ear. As if the ear had almost been ripped off. There were other scars too; long thin marks that stretched out from his inner ear canal, and that speckled the outside of his ear.

Those hadn't been there before. Not before Sabaody.

"Oi… when did those happen?" Zoro asked, a little sharper; a little louder than he had meant to.

Usopp didn't seem to notice.

He, instead, set his headphones aside, and then pulled the band that kept his hair up out, and sighed with pleasure as his hair fell around his shoulders in waves.

Zoro, tried again, "Usopp. Oi, Usopp!"

He had raised his voice even louder, but again, Usopp didn't seem to notice.

Something uncomfortable was settling in the pit of Zoro's stomach. Something he couldn't quite understand, but was on the cusp of getting. Sparks were going, but the fuse hadn't been struck yet.

Usopp shifted his head, and Zoro caught sight of the other ear. It was just as scarred as the other, though the scars were slightly more raised, and seemed to slightly deform it. It hung just the slightest bit more than the other ear.

Zoro clamped a hand on Usopp's shoulder, "Usopp!"

Usopp jumped and turned around, breaking Zoro's grip from his shoulder, his eyes wide and his body tense. He had been completely taken by surprise by Zoro touching him, and he stared up at the swordsman blinking with a bit of confusion.

He snatched his headphones up, and put them back on his ears. He twisted them, the silver knob of his headphone moving like a dial on a safe. And only then, Usopp spoke, "Geeze Zoro! You trying to give me a heart attack? Don't sneak up on a fella!"

Zoro stared at Usopp, mouth opening. His eyes flickered over to the headphones, and then back to Usopp's face.

The fuse was lit.

"…You can't hear," Zoro said, voice hollow but sure.

Usopp frowned, "…'Course I can hear. What are you talking about? I've the best hearing out of everyone from my island, I'll have you know! I could hear a flea fart if I focused in-"

Zoro pointed at Usopp's headphones, "You can't hear without those."

Usopp pursed his lips, and then threaded his fingers through his mass of curls, muttering, "Well… I can. Just… not so well… anymore."

Zoro stared, waiting for the explanation.

Usopp fluffed his hair, his face twisting with agitation, "The island… I was on was weird, you know? Weird food, weird violent animals, weird violent plants! Everything was trying to eat everything, and it was… it was really loud. Like the island never slept, and everything breathed, and roared, and growled…" Usopp sighed, his expression darkening.

"Two years is a long time in a scary place for a scardy-cat… Sometimes… I wouldn't mean to but… I was tired, and scared, and anxious and I would…" Usopp was muttering quickly, and raised his hands hovering over his headphones, right where his ears would be.

He made a twisting, pulling motion. Nails out, and digging in.

Zoro felt a chill run down his spine.

"It was so damn loud."

Usopp closed his eyes, shook his head, and then took in a deep breath. On the exhale he shook out his shoulders, shrugging off the tense mood that had come over him.

He rolled his shoulders, and sighed; standing a little straighter. He looked Zoro in the eye, and tilted his head, "It's fine. I got stronger. I made things. A new slingshot. The Pop Green. I used the dials I had in my bag, and with some tinkering… made them to cancel out noise… but also to turn it up. With these on… you'd never know my hearing isn't what it use to be."

The thought that if someone knocked Usopp's headphones from the sniper's head, makes the back of Zoro's neck hair stand up. If Usopp lost those in a battle, he would be in a real disadvantage, and none of them would know. If Zoro hadn't found out—none of them would know.

"Why haven't you said anything?" Zoro asked, his concern hidden by an angry tone, and fierce scowl.

Usopp grimaced, lowering his eyes, and frowning, "Why should I?"

"If something happened… what if you lose those, and we don't know… and you could get in trouble… how would we know you couldn't hear us if we tried to warn you?" Zoro is struggling to say what he wants to say.

He wants to say he's worried, and is angry that he hadn't been there to help Usopp when they were separated for two years. He wants to take his Nakama in his arms and hug him. He wants to cut down the island that caused this, as impossible as that may be.

Usopp only picks up on Zoro's anger.

Squaring his chest against Zoro, a feat he wouldn't have done two years ago, he points a finger in Zoro's chest, jabbing him hard, "What happened to your eye, Zoro?"

The words dry up in Zoro's mouth.

Usopp glares at Zoro, and mutters, "It's my business to handle…" There's more he wants to say, but he bites on those words. He adjusts his headphones, and turns away from Zoro, stomping out the room.

Zoro stares after him, unable to say any of the things he wants to say. He should apologize. He wants to promise to have Usopp's back. To watch out for the sniper. He wants to praise Usopp for overcoming his failing hearing; to say he's proud. At the moment, it feels too cheap to say. Like chasing him now was wrong.

Guiltily, quietly, he stares in the spot where Usopp had been, and thinks of Usopp alone, his hands digging into his own ears as the noise of the island threatens to consume him. He thinks of how scared he was, and how he had to overcome that.

Zoro, grips his fist tight. He touches the scar on his eye, and thinks: Tomorrow, he'll tell Usopp how proud of him he is.

Chapter 20: Buttercream

Summary:

Rika24 suggested this lovely idea: And if you're open to requests still, maybe Usopp impressing Sanji with his baking skills? Maybe include the line: "baking is just edible chemistry."

So I'm going to give it a shot :

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"What are you doing?" Sanji asked, his voice a mixture of exhaustion, bewilderment, and aggravation, not yet approaching anger.

Not yet.

Usopp, frozen like a rabbit caught in the sights of a fox, stared at Sanji holding a small spatula, the tool just hovering over a cake. Flour was on the floor, on Usopp's face, and in his hair. The sugar bowl was spilled over, and an egg was smashed on the ground near the fridge. Sanji, fished out a cigarette, and plopped it in his mouth, hurrying to light it while he tried not to get angry, but oh, he was getting awfully close to-

He froze.

On the counter, just beneath Usopp's trembling hand, was the most marvelous cake he had ever seen.

(The Most beautiful Buttercream cakes you could ever see)

It was half done. Base layer of the cake was white, and Usopp was delicately sculpting yellow and orange buttercream flowers into the side of the cake. Layering them on top in globs, before somehow shaping them into a blooming flower. Two other piping bags, filled with green and pink buttercream were set aside, and Sanji let the cigarette fall from his mouth so he could ask in a reverent breath, "What will you do with the green and pink bags?"

Usopp slowly, carefully relaxed, eyes full of doubt, suspicion, and anxiety. He flicked his eyes down to Sanji's leg, and then back up to Sanji, who was walking forward, his eyes only on Usopp's cake.

"Green... for leaves, and the pink for a big rose for the top. I thought about... putting dewdrops on the petals... but I don't... I couldn't find any blue... for... for the buttercream," Usopp answered carefully.

"I ran out of the drops when I made Nami's birthday cake," Sanji admitted. He had made her an ocean. A cake with rolling waves, and dusted in gold glitter. He had been proud. That cake was nothing, compared to Usopp's half-finished masterpiece.

Sanji turned to his pantry, and disappeared before reappearing with a head of red cabbage. With a dismissive wave, he muttered, "Keep working. I'll make you blue dye."

Usopp watched Sanji chop the head of cabbage, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But Sanji made no movement towards him. Neither leg nor voice was raised. For now... Usopp was alive, and seemingly given permission to continue with his project.

He turned back to his task of shaping flowers into the cake.

With nervous energy, Usopp created his pristine flowers. Sanji was saying nothing. Not asking about how Usopp broke into the fridge, or why he was doing what he was doing. The kitchen was silent.

After thirty or so minutes, Usopp went back to his work, consumed by his edible art project.

Sanji in the meantime sent the cabbage to boil, and after twenty or so minutes strained the cabbage. He set it aside for later. He could make stirfry tomorrow, perhaps, or sneak it into an omelet. No... maybe the stirfry was best. Sanji could decide later. With the purple water, he poured it carefully into a pan, and slowly began to reduce it. A task that should take him at least forty-five minutes.

In that time, he would sneak looks at Usopp's hands. The sniper, with the gentlest of touches, was shaping a yellow petal, curling it gently as if it was naturally blooming. He worked slowly, and quietly, his face focused on his task completely. Sanji was in awe. Why in the world, had Usopp never baked a cake before? Sanji hoped, sincerely hoped, he hadn't chased Usopp out and away from the kitchen, but Sanji couldn't recall the sniper ever asking to bake something.

To Sanji's knowledge, Usopp hadn't shown any interest in baking before.

Well, maybe eating the baked goods, but not making them.

When the purple cabbage liquid had reduced enough, Sanji poured it into a bowl and added a tablespoon of baking soda. He stirred it slowly, and the concoction bubbled slightly, and then... the deep purple liquid shifted into a rich deep blue. Smiling, he picked up the bowl and brought it over to Usopp. The whole method had taken Sanji almost two hours... and in that time Usopp had completed his cake.

The cake was a garden. A living mound of yellow and orange flowers, with a big pink rose on top, bloomed and curling delicately on the top.

Sanji offered the bowl to Usopp, "Natural blue dye. It may... weaken your buttercream a little, so don't use a lot,"

Usopp startled, looking up at Sanji. He had forgotten the cook was there. He nodded numbly, and took the bowl. Dipping his spoon in the blue dye, he transferred it to his white buttercream and stirred, creating a very gentle blue. He pulled a chopstick from the counter, already lightly coated in various colors, and gently added light blue dew drops to his flower.

Sixteen total and he was done.

Gawking, the pair stood over the cake and Sanji let out a shaky breath, "How?"

Usopp shrugged, shrinking into himself. For once, a lie didn't spring to his lips. He seemed at a loss for how to answer.

"Usopp... this... this is beautiful. How did you learn to do this?" Sanji asked again. He was beyond exhausted, and now that the cake was completed, he remembered he had come in here to start preparing meat for dinner tomorrow, and then prepping breakfast for the crew. He peaked out the door, the sky already begining to grow pale.

He'd have to change the menu today in order to feed everyone on time.

He looked at the cake. It made him emotional in a way that only truly marvelous food could.

This beautiful cake was worth changing his menu.

"How?" Sanji asked again, and then an excitable, "Why?"

Usopp, twiddled his messy fingers, "Mom used to make cakes. For fun. And she was pretty good. We always made one together... and went all out on her birthday. I... I kept up the tradition. Even after she was..." Usopp shrugged a shoulder again, sealing his mouth shut.

Sanji looked at Usopp, a frown set on his face, "We've been on the sea for years."

Usopp nodded, "Yeah."

"And you get up, in the dead of night and do this? Alone?"

"Yup," Usopp murmured popping the 'p,' loudly.

"What do you do with the cake?" Sanji asked looking back at Usopp's new creation. It had to be three-layered. It was a hearty cake.

"Eat it in a private place, before anyone knows," Usopp mutters again, and then laughs, "Always makes me super sick."

Sanji is hugging Usopp before he is aware he wants to. Usopp hesitates, but then clings to him. Sanji, spotless, clings to the dirty young man in his arms, Usopp's strong arms somehow foreign to the Usopp in Sanji's mind's eye. In his head, Usopp is still small, still scared and unsure, and still needing protection. This Usopp is stronger now, and surer of himself, he really doesn't need to be coddled. But Sanji squeezes him, thinks of the years Usopp had spent alone, sneakily making a cake to honor his mother, and thinks Usopp could still use a little protecting.

Or at least some support.

"Ask. Any time you want to bake... just... just ask! It can't interrupt our mealtimes, but I'm not going to stop you from doing a family tradition," Sanji says, voice thick.

Usopp trembles against Sanji a little, and nods his head. The, 'thanks,' he mutters is very faint and weak, but Sanji hears it.

They push away from each other, and Sanji looks at the cake, so Usopp can hide his tears. He's seen Usopp cry before, but knows Usopp would appreciate him not looking now.

Usopp clears his throat and picks up a knife, and Sanji gasps as Usopp cuts it.

"No!"

Usopp laughs at Sanji's horror, "It can't last forever, let's eat up."

Sanji sighs, knowing Usopp is right, but still... he's a little sad to see the cake cut so soon. It should be displayed for longer, or allowed to set up in the fridge. He shakes his head with regret as Usopp offers him a slice. Sanji takes the extended cake and then asks, "Are you sure I can have a piece?"

Usopp cuts himself a slice, toppling it gently on the plate. A flower smooshes, and Sanji mourns again. He smiles, "Your hard work deserves a reward! Besides... I'd like to hear what you think. I've had to guess at the measurements, but this is just like figuring out gunpowder ratios..."

Sanji snorts, "Ah, so baking is just edible chemistry to you?"

Usopp grins, his eyes still brimmed with unshed tears. He waggles his eyebrows and adds, "Most of my ammo is just edible chemistry."

They share a quiet laugh.

Sanji takes a bite. It is plain vanilla, and a little denser than he likes, but it is decent. Good, even. With some coaching in flavor, Usopp could make his cake taste as exceptional as it looks. He smiles, "...Maybe next year I could help you change the flavor. lemon? Or even rose and saffron to go with your theme..."

Usopp blushes, "You'd... you'd like to do this again with me?"

Sanji nods, taking another bite, scooping up a half bloomed yellow rose on his fork. He examines the piece before grinning back at the sniper, "If you'll let me."

Usopp puffed up his chest, "Why the great Captain Usopp, famous Pâtissier amongst the beautiful mermaids in all the sea, would be glad to have you along!" He took an exaggerated bite of his cake, and added, "It's easier to eat a cake between two people anyway."

Sanji swallows his piece, a gentle gaze landing on Usopp's face, "You don't want to share this cake with the crew?"

Some of Usopp's bravado deflates, and his hand trembles a little as he takes another bite, "N-Not... not this year."

Sanji nods, and runs a hand over Usopp's back. He lets them have peace for another few minutes. Sanji keeps his hand on Usopp's back the whole time.

When Sanji's piece of cake is gone, he picks up a dishtowel and swats it at Usopp's face, "Clean my kitchen up! I'll work on the cake. it better be sparkling by the time I finish my half."

"But! But-"

Sanji leveled a glared at Usopp, "You messed it up, you clean it! And chop, chop! Or Luffy's gonna know who to be mad at when breakfast is delayed!"

Usopp jumped up, and rushed for the utility closet, tripping over his feet in his hurry. Sanji snickered and turned back to the cake. Picking up the spatula Usopp had used to shape a gently sloping leaf, Sanji tried to turn it upwards. He ruined it as soon as he touched it. He shook his head, marveling at Usopp's skill again.

Usopp was an artist.

Usopp cried out as he spilled half a bucket of water on the floor.

He was lucky this cake was so astounding, or he'd be a dead artist for the dreadful state of Sanji's kitchen!

"You better not scratch my floors!" Sanji growled in warning, stabbing another piece of cake.

He feels a little bit of pleasure from Usopp's worried whimper.

Notes:

I have so many Usopp fics in here I should just change the summary of this drabble rec. "Everyone should be friends with Usopp and think about him a lot." something like that. XD

Chapter 21: Anchor

Summary:

Jinbe and Brook share a moment

Notes:

ptsd (for trigger warnings)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

A warm hand clamped down on his shoulder.

The contact pulled him from the fog. From the ratted sails. From the singing of cheerful voices he had once loved, that were slowly drifting away; falling silent one by one. From a promise, he had made to a little whale, a promise to return. ...Had he broken that promise now? Had it been too long? Had he drifted too far?

"Brook?" A gentle, low voice, surprisingly soft and near where an ear would have been, fully brought Book from the past.

Jinbe, the newest crewmember, but probably the more experienced pirate, was sitting next to Brook, the pair of them leaning against the foremast. And now that Brook had been jostled from the hold of his lonely memories, he found himself sinking to slowly sit at the bast of it. Jinbe, was guiding Brook to the ground, sitting with him, slow and careful, his eyes watching the musician seriously.

"Oh. Well... how did I get here?" Brook mused aloud, not remembering this being the last place he had been.

"I was heading to the men's cabin when I caught you staring out at the ocean. You were so rigid... I thought I would check on you," Jinbe said quietly, his whole arm now wrapped around Brook's shoulder. "I noticed at dinner you were a little quiet... Since the fog rolled in."

'Ah... the blasted fog,' Brook thought tersely, clicking his jaw shut. He had been in a tense mood since the fog had rolled in, just after lunch. His mind had been drifting in and out all day. Into his memories, the good memories, as well as the bad. ...Mostly the bad.

"Terribly sorry Mr. Jinbe," Brook began and tried to force a friendly, 'yohohoho,' but nothing came out. After a pause, he continued, "I... I guess that I..."

Brook struggled for words.

"Drifted off?" Jinbe offered helpfully, the fish-man smiling kindly, his eyes deep and serious.

Brook tried to laugh, or make light of it, but again his laugh could not be found.

Jinbe settled himself a little closer at Brook's side, his whole arm sliding around Brook's shoulders, the weight heavy, but comfortable.

"I had a few crewmembers who would drift off at times. The past is a terrible tempting place to revisit, even if we don't want to go back there," Jinbe said turning to look out at the deck of the Thousand Sunny. Brook found himself invested in watching Jinbe talk.

"On a particularly bad day, I myself drift off," Jinbe continued, humming as he touched briefly on his own thoughts. He shook his head, "And I find a friend is what I need to bring me back." Jinbe frowned a little and then turned to Brook, "But I must apologize. Perhaps I overstepped in assuming to touch you-"

"Oh no, no, not at all!" Brook hurried to say, placing a skeletal hand on Jinbe's hand, which the fish-man had been lifting up. Brook kept that firm comforting hand back on his shoulder with the gentlest of pats, and finally found his laugh, "I daresay that was what I needed, a friend's touch to bring me back sometimes, an anchor of sorts! Yohohohoho!"

Jinbe smiled, and nodded, "An anchor... hmm yes. I'll remember that. Shall we sit here quietly for a while? I will help bring you back anytime you drift too far."

Brook sighed, relaxing a little, going quiet. He nodded, and Jinbe nodded too, squeezing his shoulder, the warmth radiating Brook, quite literally to the bone.

Not right now, with his memories stinging and his metaphorical nerves frayed, but later, Brook would ask to learn ways to bring Jinbe back, when he too drifted too far. For now, Brook appreciated the anchor that Jinbe offered in the form of a friendly hand on his shoulder.

Notes:

Heyyyy who besides me is ready for an older straw hat to be buddies with Robin, Brook, and Franky, and see how that dynamic goes?

Chapter 22: Parfait

Summary:

My_Sharona requested some bonding between Robin and Nami! Hope you all enjoy :

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Nami has been abducted on more than one occasion because of her good looks, or her navigational talents, or even her thieving skills, and is normally lavished with presents, a beautiful space to rest in, and delicious food. This time is no different, except that Robin has been taken as well, which to Nami, is a nice bonus.

Nami is trying not to be excited about being abducted with a friend, because really they have been kidnapped, and perhaps she should treat the situation with more levity.

But Nami trusts Luffy and the rest of the crew to come rescue them, so she's really not concerned.

Not too much.

And Robin, even wearing a Sea Stone collar, doesn't seem to be concerned either, as she nibbles away at a large parfait. It is filled with strawberries, cream, and a nice looking sponge cake.

"And you say this happens to you almost every time someone abducts you?" Robin asks, her calm voice calling Nami from her thoughts.

Nami, seated on a large flamingo shaped pool floaty, nods her head. She and her inflated flamingo shaped raft, float lazily in the pool, and idly she touches her tows to the edge of the pool and pushes off, headed back for the stairs.

"Pretty much... they all want something from me so they abduct me and then do stuff like this..." Nami answered waving her hand vaguely around the setting.

"Oh, well I'm sorry if our rescues are too prompt for you to enjoy this place to the fullest," Robin says, smiling and laughing with amusement.

Nami slips out off of her flamingo, and into the pool. She takes the stairs out, grabbing a lavish towel as she goes, and walks to Robin, sitting across from the archaeologist with a wet plop.

Nami blows some wet hair from her face, "I'd much better be slummin' it on the Sunny any day... if you can that slumming it!" Nami tilts her head and smiles sweetly, "It is nice to be able to be alone with you though. This should be more fun!"

"Flirting will get you nowhere," Robin says, tilting her head and smiling saucily, "I'm not sharing my parfait."

Nami flushes, and laughs, "I wasn't flirting!"

Robin chuckles, and eats another mouthful of her treat, delighting in making the younger woman squirm. It's an easy thing to do for a woman of her experience.

Nami laughs again and reclines in the chair. She eyes Robin's parfait, now suddenly interested in the treat. Robin takes another pleased mouthful, and Nami sighs, leaning forward, "Okay I cave. Gimmie a bite."

"No," Robin says with a prim smile.

"Please?" Nami says, her face going soft and pleading.

"I am deeply invested in a robotic shipwright of ours, so your beautiful face will not persuade me to part with this parfait, not even a bit," Robin says simply.

Nami puts a hand to her chest, "But I'm your beloved Nakama... also trapped in this terrible place with you."

Nami stops talking, and her feigned sorrow falls from her face, "Wait you mean Franky?"

"This "terrible place," is better than the ritziest hotel I've ever seen, and I've been to a lot of places," Robin says taking an extra large bite of her parfait. She takes a moment to chew, and then swallow, before adding, "Ask our host to make you one. He's watching us with a camera... call out to him and he'll have one made for you."

"You didn't answer me about Franky!" Nami says, as if hearing Robin's answer is life and death.

Robin chuckles, "Oh you're right... I didn't!" And she says nothing more.

Nami sulks, "I don't want a parfait from our captor."

"Oh? That's too bad, this one here is quite delicious," Robin simpers.

Nami makes a disappointed huff, "...I don't want my own... But I do want a bite of yours!"

Robin laughs, delighted. She looks at Nami, as if considering to actually give in. Nami perks up hopefully.

"You are like a little sister to me," Robin says softly, and unexpectedly, "if I ever had one... I'd want her to be like you. How lucky I am to be apart of this crew and to have met everyone. Every day... you fall fulfill me in a way I did not expect."

Nami's face flushes and her eyes get a little watery, "Robin..."

Robin smiles, and scoops up another spoonful, "But still, no."

"OH, COME ON!"

When Luffy, followed by and incensed Sanji, breaks down their door, to rescue the two girls, Nami is sulking as Robin polishes off the last bite.

Despite not getting her way, Nami finds this experience of being captured, the best.

Notes:

I had to really think on this one, as all my other ideas felt tremendously long XD

Chapter 23: Sour Grapes 4

Summary:

Another crew member is shrunk by a "mysterious ailment!" Hopefully, they'll run out of grapes soon!

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"Nami… can I offer you a nightcap?" Sanji asked in a very soft voice.

Despite the lowered volume of Sanji's voice, Nami jerked her head up as if he had shouted at her. She had been staring a hole into the kitchen table, every part of her tired, but her brain too awake. She looked at Sanji for a tense moment, before she blinked, suddenly aware of what he asked her.

"Yes, Sanji… please," She said, forcing her shoulders to sag, hoping to let the tension bleed out of her. It didn't seem to work.

Sanji nodded his head hard once and turned from her, the kitchen a whirl of sound as he whipped her up something to drink.

This week had been hell… but thank God everyone was in their right form when it started.

Just two weeks before, Usopp had been reduced to the form of a child, just like Chopper, and Robin before him. When he had returned to normal, Chopper had performed all sorts of tests, but found nothing in the end, after days of work. They lingered on the island they had landed on for a few days, everyone perhaps a littler overprotective and on edge from the weeks of shrinking crewmates that they had all experienced.

Robin, Nami, and Chopper had even asked questions around the island looking for strange stories of the like.

The only thing that turned up, was Robin was given an old book of legends/ghost stories. No one had ever heard of their problem, though they all thought it sounded like a great tall tale.

After three nervous days, they finally set out to sea, and things seemed to be okay. There was no more shrinking, and it all seemed to be a memory. A memory soaked in the sweetness of a little boy's laughter, a reindeers bleat, and a little girl's wide intelligent eyes looking at the crew like they were a great gift. There had been sad bitter tears shed by all three children, but privately, the small happy moments of those three shrunken crewmates could make up for all the trouble the others had gone through.

Days turned into a week, and nervously the crew sunk back into a normal routine.

But Nami had been worrying. Worrying about who was next to change, and how they would handle it. How would they handle anyone else shrinking? What would they do? She'd worried, even when they bumped into a dangerous set of marines and had to run for it. She kept checking as they ran, checking to see if anyone would shrink into a form of a confused child. How would they keep a child safe in an incident like that?

Nami was so worried. She couldn't focus on escapes or adventures. All she could focus on was who would be next?

And then, because she hadn't been paying attention, Luffy had to rescue her.

And Luffy… was hurt.

He rarely was hurt, but the spiked brass knuckles of the marine admiral had split Luffy's head open. Luffy had fallen so weakly into her arms, that she knew he'd been injured by a seastone weapon. It just had to be. Nami had caught their captain while Zoro made short work of their attacker. Zoro had glanced at her, for only a second, but in his eye, she saw his questions.

What was she doing? What was she thinking? Where was her head at, when they needed her to focus?

She'd been so distracted... Luffy had been hurt. And while Zoro's eyes had held no blame, Nami was still stung by it. She was to blame.

And that was unforgivable.

Nami did not mind being saved, preferred to be saved rather than fight herself. She did it when she had to, but she was about treasure and map making, and a happy third member of the cowardly trio. But her lack of attention had hurt Luffy, and she couldn't stand that. Even if no one was judging her, she was judging herself.

She'd been careless. Careless and distracted.

Worse, while Luffy was getting patched up, she'd snapped at Usopp. Something unkind, and untrue, but something that poked at all of Usopp's insecurities. She knew better. She knew damn well better now, especially since she'd been given a peek at his life as a boy. His face had fallen, and she apologized and explained how she was lashing out because she was worried, and mad at herself.

He'd forgiven her before she'd finished her apology, but his eyes were still hurt. The damage was done. Robin and Zoro looked at her.

Robin scolding her, and Zoro raising an eyebrow. His eyes asked the same question: What are you doing?

She fled to the kitchen, where only Sanji followed after her to make her a drink.

A drink that was set down in front of her, in a chilled mason glass with three frozen grapes.

"Gin, with orange juice and pineapple juice. A spritz of lime, and some guava nectar," Sanji said softly, "and a few iced grapes… So it won't get watered down." He topped the side of the glass with an orange wedge, and even gentler asked, "Nami-swan can I get you anything else?"

His voice had a sad lilt to it; like he knew that she was hurting. He did not try to over flatter or butter her up. No, this time he was seriously offering her an ear to cry into, a bartender as well as a chef.

"I don't know why I snapped at Usopp… I'm… he's fine! It's me I'm mad at!" Nami whispered, taking her glass and sipping it. It was strong, to her liking, but the tropical notes mixed well.

"I know, and he knows… you said you were sorry," Sanji rushed to comfort her. With more hesitation than he normally had, he put a hand on her shoulder, "Nami-Swan… you've been… stressed these past few days. I think we've all been a little worried, especially with that… matter from just a short while ago."

"The shrinking into children matter," Nami snorted taking a large pull from her glass.

"Well yes… but you've been taking it especially hard," Sanji admitted, slow, and careful.

Nami closed her eyes, wondering if Sanji was afraid to be yelled at too.

"Yes… Yes, I have. I'm so… worried!" Nami said banging a hand on her the table, "I don't like not knowing why something is happening! And three of our crew have shrunken and returned to normal. I… I keep worrying over who will be next! And if… if it'll happen in a time like now. In a battle, or in some danger… what will we do if that happens?!"

"You're shrinking your souffle before you've even put in the oven," Sanji said a smile in his voice.

She gave him a perplexed look, and he shrugged apologetically.

"Zeff used to say your stress could ruin your dish. It's fair to be cautious… but Nami you can't cling to your fears. There are many tragedies that could happen on the sea, especially on the Grand Line. You shouldn't dwell on this new trouble."

Nami sighed, "Easier said than done." She took another long drink of beverage, a grape slipping into her mouth which she rolled into the pocket of her cheek. The frozen grape was too cold to bite through.

"True… but we've gotta focus on our tasks. Chopper is working tirelessly to figure this out, and all of us are trying to be careful… but we just have to keep persevering, and taking care of ourselves. Nami-swan you need to rest, and let go of your fears. Holding on to these worries won't do you any good."

"Or anyone else any good," Nami agreed, closing her eyes, "I shouldn't have snapped."

"Get some rest Nami-swan," Sanji said again, and with a flourish, "Usopp is a big boy and can take an insult or two! Especially from a lovely flower such as yourself! He should take that insult as motivation to improve himself!"

Nami rolled her eyes, wanting to argue with Sanji, but drained her drink instead, leaving the two grapes behind.

Sanji left first, letting her have some privacy.

She bit through half of the grape and sucked out the contents as she mulled over her day, Luffy's injuries, and her obsessive worries over shrinking. She thinks, as crazy as it sounds, if she would just shrink and get it over with, then she might feel better about the whole thing.

She did not want her crew to shrink anymore, nor herself, but if she was honest... it was her shrinking that scared her the most.

She didn't want people to meet her younger. Life as a child had been miserable since Arlong, and he had taken up so much of her life. If she shrank… there was little doubt what kind of person her crew would meet. An angry, miserable, lonely, pirate-hating child. She didn't want her crew to see her pain, and how it had been as sharp as broken glass.

They knew about it, and a few of them had seen it.

She didn't want any more than that.

She liked who she was now... she didn't want them to see what she had been before.

She spit out the skin of the grapes, and in a fit of anger and angst she threw out the rest of her drink, wasting the fruit embellishments. A small part of her scolded herself for wasting Sanji's efforts, a bigger part scolded her for wasting food especially since she knew about Sanji's pain over it, but the loudest part right now told her to throw it out, put the glass in the sink, and go to bed.

This was the part she listened to.

She went to bed, just catching that Luffy was okay, though he'd needed staples and stitches in his head, and had lost some blood and had a concussion. He'd wake by tomorrow, or the day after Chopper was explaining, a relieved little smile on his muzzle. Nami mused, he would probably be as good as new giving the fact that he was Luffy, and would demand for a pile of meat as soon as he was up. Nami wished to cheer with the others, but slunk off to her room instead. No one else deserved to be struck with the poison she had been festering in.

Her stomach aching dully, she changed into a set of pajamas, buried herself in her sheets, and slunk into bed, making a note to apologize again to Usopp, privately and with more conviction.

She'd apologize to Luffy too, even if he didn't understand.

Her bed was rocking, and that was the first thing she noticed.

Her bed was not supposed to be rocking. Nor was she supposed to be sleeping this deeply.

Life with Arlong's pirates taught her to sleep with one eye open, otherwise, they might steal whatever small item she had procured for herself. Or beat her when they were drunk, an occurrence that only happened twice so far, but had left a lasting lesson.

She pulled herself up and knew something was wrong.

She was on a boat, and that was why her bed was rocking. She could tell by the shape of her room this was a ship of some sort. She was eleven now, almost twelve, and had snuck on a ship before to steal money to buy her island, and trick other pirates of course, but she had not been on an assignment when she went to bed the last night. She had been back on her island for three days, preparing for Bellemere's anniversary.

The day when they lost her.

She had gone to bed mad, because some jewelry she's pilfered from a pirate had not sold as high as she wanted, and she had not gotten to her next monetary goal. Arlong had laughed at the sourness on her face and told her to go back to her room and work on her maps for him. She'd bristled at that, being told what to do, but he'd stood over her, a towering figure of threatening aura and she'd retreated there.

Working until her fingers bled like normal.

She went downstairs to bed when she was sure he wouldn't stalk after her and tell her she wasn't finished yet.

He did that when he wanted her to work.

"I expect you to work more these next few days my precious Nami," Arlong laughed, "Especially since I'm letting you have a day to yourself soon! So get to work and make us an amazing map!" He'd thrown back his head and laughed, and brought his hand down hard on her head several times, his hand clamping on the back of her neck.

He always touched her hard enough to bruise.

That had been last night. That, she was sure of. She had been in her room last night... this was not that room.

And worse… someone was in another bed across from her… sleeping soundly. She could not see them fully from across the room, but she could just see the top of their head, and hear a very gentle breath.

Nami slipped out from underneath her covers and took note of the oversized pajamas on her body. They were far too big, but too her taste if she thought about it. Rolling up the legs of the pajamas, and then the sleeves, she secured them so they wouldn't get in the way as she made her escape. There was a vanity next to the bed, and Nami paused there because all the things on the vanity, she liked. Like the pajamas, everything on the vanity was very much to her taste, if she'd been allowed to keep such things. She shook her head, and as quick as she could, she searched the drawers.

She pocketed the jewelry, and some coins she found, as well as a pricey looking bottle of perfume. She could sell all this… add it to her money to buy back the island. Every little bit helped.

At last, she found a dagger, what she had been hoping and looking for.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she took the blade and with it, crept out of the room.

The sky was a pale gray, the sun almost up. They were past the salmon pink of dawn and the pale gray would turn into a rich blue of day. She couldn't wait for that. She ran to the side of the boat, looking for land. Blue stretched out all around. Blue sea, blue skies… it was all blue. Panic starting in her chest, she began the task of sneaking to the other side of the ship. She'd had to do this type of thing before.

She wouldn't get caught.

Eventually, she made it safely to the other side and had only had to dodge two people. A giant of a man with short blue hair, and a leaner blonde man, casually lighting a cigarette. They'd be difficult to fight if it came down to that. Not that she planned to fight, no, she'd figure out what to say to make them let her go. Crocodile tears, and playing the cute child had gotten her out of close calls before.

If only she was older, then she could use her feminine wiles to escape as well.

She leaned over the side and again only saw blue. Everywhere, blue. Why did they have to be in the middle of the ocean?!

"What… yohohoho… this isn't…" A voice was behind her, tittering around words they hesitated to say.

Curling her lips into a snarl, and showing a flash of white teeth she spun and lunged sinking her blade into a ribcage.

Only… there was no flesh to impede her.

A talking skeleton screamed, and then laughed, "Oh! Oh! Miss Nami! Miss Nami that's you! You're younger… but older than I thought… oh but do please put away that dagger! No one is going to hurt you Miss Nami!" the skeleton said, peering at the dagger Nami had slipped between his ribs.

Nami pulled her blade back, and the girl ran screaming, too surprised by a talking skeleton.

She clapped a hand to her mouth too late, and turned to run, taking her dagger with her.

With a chill, she heard the skeleton laugh, "Ah, yohohohoho! you tickled me!"

She ran, and faces were popping up all around her. She was hearing voices murmur and all of them said her name. She heard strange things, all said with her name:

"It's Nami! Oh no… she's small!"

"It's Nami… she older than I thought… but oh, she's still little."

"Oh no, poor Nami."

"Someone get Luffy, he needs to know about Nami."

"Is Luffy awake? He can calm Nami!"

She wanted to scream.

Why did all these people know here name? What did they mean she was small? What was this about being old and young? What was happening? Where was her island? Would Arlong destroy her village if she wasn't there to buy it? What about the rest of the island? Oh no no no no, her sister, Genzo... oh no, what would happen to them?

'Bellemere...Bellemere...Bellemere... Help me Bellemere!' She thought as tears prickled her eyes.

But Bellemere could not help her ever again.

She slammed into a broad chest, and stared up into the tanned face of a man with green hair, and one eye. It focused on her, wide and surprised. He had grabbed her wrist with the dagger, and never taking his eyes off her, he called her name, "Nami! You don't need to run."

"Let go of me!" Nami spit out, trying to make her voice low and menacing, "Let go of me!"

"Nami! Oh Nami, please calm down! It'll be alright," A small voice from behind her was saying. It sounded like a child, but Nami didn't turn to see it.

"Oh wow… Nami-sis shrunk too!" Another voice rumbled, bigger and louder.

A shudder went up her spine, and Nami bit down on the one-eyed man's thumb until she tasted blood, and he finally let her go.

She wildly slashed at him, but he dodged, stepping far away from her, hissing and cursing as he shook out his dripping thumb.

Nami turned around, the dagger thrust in front of her. She had stabbed people before. Arlong had made her do it. Made her watch him do it. To show her what she needed to do on the sea when she got in trouble. She wasn't sure if she'd ever killed anyone, she'd never stuck around to find out. If she had her retractable pole she's hit people, make them keep her distance. But if she had to, she stabbed those that threatened her.

She'd cut these people too if they didn't let her leave.

She'd pressed her back into the foremast of the ship, blade in front of her as she stared at the people surrounding her.

There were a lot of them. And they were all… so big. So much bigger than her. There was… a small… bear or was it… a reindeer(maybe?) that looked weak enough. She could get through him… take him hostage. Yes, that would be it. She'd take that reindeer hostage, and would escape.

"Keep away from me!" Nami ordered, narrowing her brows and taking a firm stance, "I'll cut you up if you come near me!"

"Nami, Nami don't!" A young man with a long nose said, hands held up at her, "Nami, please! It's your friends! We're your friends."

She scoffed at him and forced a sharp back of laughter. It was a perfect copy of something Arlong might do. It made her stomach twist at how good she was at imitating it.

"Nami… please," A woman's voice was saying, her arms rising slowly.

No one tried to approach.

Nami glanced back at the one-eyed man. He was not… oddly he did not look upset about his bleeding thumb. He was just looking at her… calmly. He was worried. Was it about her?

"Nami, Nami look!" the long-nosed man said pointing at a grouping of threes on a landing, "They're your mikan trees from your home! Your home is safe now! It's okay, you're okay!"

Nami did look up, and she saw the trees. Those familiar trees. She took two hopeful steps forward and stared at her beloved trees. They were here… they were here… was her island safe… Her eyes continued to go up, drawn up until she saw a flag in the air, with a jollyroger. No.

No.

They were pirates.

Fucking pirates.

All pirates were scum and liars.

No, she and her island weren't saved. They'd been taken over by new pirates… or they had been robbed. Or Arlong had lied-he always lied-and she'd been sold...

And these bastards had stolen her family's trees.

She screamed, tears pouring down her cheeks, and she ran at the long-nosed man shouting, "LIAR!"

She was aiming to stab him in his gut, when arms began encircling her sprouting from the deck. She screamed, and screamed, and screamed, roaring with rage as she slashed her knife. She cut the hands, the blade sliding against their skin in her anger, and she kept shouting, "You pirates are all the same! Dirty liars! Murderers! Thieves! I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!"

And she wasn't yelling at these new people, but at Arlong and his crew. It was all his fault anyway. All of her pain, and bitterness. It was all him.

She struggled until the dagger sunk through something, and someone screamed a name.

"LUFFY!"

Nami opened her eyes.

Her blade had pierced through the hand of a young man, who already looked like someone had been rough with him.

One side of his face was bruised, and his hair was a little strange from bandages wrapped on his head. His gaze was bleary... he was out of it, but he was focused on her.

His expression was so soft and gentle and unlike anything she'd ever seen.

"Nami… Arlong is gone," he said, and his voice was crisp and sincere. He glanced over his shoulder, "Robin… release her."

The hands around Nami disappeared, and the others gathered around the other woman, Robin, and asked if she was okay. She was hurt somehow, but Nami didn't look away from the man staring at her.

The man's hand, the one without her blade in it, came up and cupped her chin. He tilted her face a little, and with a clumsy thumb wiped one side of her face clean of tears, "Arlong is gone. He can't hurt you again. I will never let it happen, never again! You're free Nami. You're free!" He then smiled at her, full of confidence and reassurance.

Something about his face was so honest.

Nami let go of the blade, and the young man shook his hand with a hiss, shaking the blade out of his palm. He wiped the blood on his vest, as if that was enough to stop his wound, reached out for her, and held her gently by the shoulders. One of his hands was wet with her tears, and the other was sticky with his own blood. The sensation made her shudder.

"Everyone is free Nami," the man said, and he smiled even wider, his eyes twinkling in a way that no one had ever shown her before.

The instinct to be a child, younger than the eleven years she was, took over. She bawled her hands into her eyes, ducked her head and sobbed, screaming and sobbing as hard as she could.

Everything was blue around her.

Nami cried and cried, and Luffy just held her. Eventually, Sanji disappeared to make food, and drink, and the rest of the crew sat down to wait. Chopper treated the slashing cuts that had appeared on Robin's body, tending to her wounded hands with gentle care. When Nami was done crying, she and Luffy were sitting on the deck, Nami in his lap, the girl tucked against him, and completely asleep.

He pulled her away, to look at her face. With a soft hum, he muttered, "She looks so much like herself."

"Well, she's still Nami!" Brook said, tilting his skull with slight confusion.

"She looks more like when we first met," Luffy amended, touching Nami's short hair, and gently pressing a thumb to her pudgy cheek. He narrowed his brows, "She's little but… not as little as the others got."

"That's true. She's more dangerous," Zoro grumbled, his hand in Chopper's hooves, the little reindeer tending to his injury, making fussing noises under his breath.

"She'd probably still be as dangerous as a little child! Probably worse!" Usopp said in a grave and serious voice. He shook his head sadly, "We're lucky she's a little older, or we'd be in real trouble."

"She tried to stab you!" Franky laughed, cocking an eyebrow up at Usopp, "And she's safer now?"

Usopp nodded, smiling, "Ah, she's "stabbed" me before," he said casually using his fingers as air quotes, "And that saved my life. She didn't get me anyway…" Usopp trailed off looking at Luffy's hand.

It had been wrapped, but Nami had stabbed their Captain.

"She was scared," Luffy said with a nod, "It's alright. It's alright."

"Well, I've put a soup on; something her mother used to make," Sanji announced approaching the group, "And there's plenty for all… maybe. Just save her a bowl or two," Sanji dais wearily glancing at Luffy.

Luffy didn't seem to notice. He looked extremely too tired.

"Luffy… you probably should sleep a bit more," Chopper said with a frown, "Why don't you go to bed?"

"Nami needs to know about everything when she wakes up," Luffy said, staring at the little girl in his lap.

"I will tell her," Robin said sitting up straight. "I'll talk to her when she's awake. You don't have to worry about that."

Luffy looked reluctant, but he sighed. Sulking he muttered, "Chopper says sleep… and I gotta sleep. But Nami we can talk more later. I'll tell you everything you want to know." Luffy got up, gently depositing the little girl in Robin's arms. He looked to Robin, eyes serious ane weary, but in his most commanding tone demanded, "Wake me when she's up."

"Of course Captain… Of course." Robin said very softly, smiling lightly at Luffy's concern.

Luffy yawned and trodded towards the men's quarters, Zoro rising to assist Luffy to his room.

Nami was not like the others who had been small on the ship before.

After Nami had woken, Robin had told Nami everything she knew in the privacy of the lady's cabin. Robin then had Luffy come into their room and confirm everything Robin has said. And after a lengthy talk, they had to convince her she was in fact a part of their crew and had joined them of her own violation. Half the day had passed before she was convinced of everything, even with proof of letters from Nami's home, and bounty pictures. It took so long for Nami to believe it all... and when it was clear she did... she had clammed up, and murmured she did not want to leave her cabin.

Robin has exchanged a worried look with Luffy, but he had smiled at Nami seeming to understand.

"When you feel better, come outside and join the rest of the crew. They'll play with you all day!" He told her, before reaching out and ruffling her hair.

She bristled but did not push him away.

And with that, he hooked an arm around Robin's shoulders, and then was led away back to his room, so he could continue to rest.

And Nami... shut the crew out of her cabin. Locking herself away.

"What do we do… she seems… so upset!" Chopper murmured wringing his hands.

"She's had Luffy and Robin visit her, maybe we can take turns visiting her too!" Usopp suggested, his face also twisted with worry.

"Is she so scared to see us?" Brook asked touching his skull, and then sighed, "Perhaps it's me."

"Nami… Nami didn't like pirates. For a long time," Sanji said slowly, a tray in hand. "She hated them… and… well Luffy changed all that. It's not you Brook... I doubt... I doubt a younger Nami could ever picture herself being the thing she hated the most."

"Luffy's good at convincing others to trust him or follow him," Zoro agreed, smiling despite himself, "He's not like other pirates."

"That's for sure! Not many people out there like Luffy-bro!" Franky laughed. He sighed a little sadly when he was done, "I really… never knew this about Nami-sis. She's so angry. And scared. Never would have guessed we had something in common as children. I hope she comes out... I hope she let's us talk to her. She doesn't have to be alone..."

"I wish we were near her home," Robin sighed, "Family and familiar faces could comfort her."

"She's one of the few of us who would be comforted by sights of home," Usopp sighed wistfully.

As the rest of the crew discussed, Sanji took his tray of food towards the cabin.

He knocked on the door, "Nami… dear… I've some food for you. I'd like to bring it to you to eat, but I can leave it by the door if you prefer."

There was a long beat of silence, and then an aggressive, "You can come in."

Sanji slid the door open and spotted Nami in her bed. She was swaddled in comforters and pillows, her eyes red and full of suspicion. But her eyes flicked over to the food, and Sanji stopped looking and walked forward. With gentle care, he held it out for her, and slowly she took it, eyes full of anger and exhaustion.

Like this, it was easier for Sanji to remember the day Nami had stabbed herself in rejection of Arlong's symbol.

She was so bitter.

"I'm Sanji, and I'm the chef… has Chopper been by? The reindeer?" Sanji asked, his words slow. He was trying not to step on the delicate eggshell tension in the room.

"Why would he come here?" Nami asked defensive, and itching to fight.

"He's the doctor. He'll come to check on you out of concern. We're all concerned…" Sanji said sincerely. It was easier to talk to her like this when she was small and young. When had talking to his Nakama gotten so hard?

Sanji chuckled at himself, 'When you became a bigger woman-loving pervert.' He shook his head and gave himself a soft reprimand before he turned his attention back to Nami. She was watching him, glaring at him accusingly.

"I can leave, I don't have to-"

"So pirates have cooks who bring kids food, and doctors to treat their wounds?" Nami asked, voice biting and disbelieving.

"Good crews do… they also have skilled navigators and cartographers and without them… the crew would be lost at sea," Sanji said with a smile.

She shrunk at the words, hands curling tight around the tray of food.

In alarm, Sanji whispered, "Please don't… I'm sorry. I'm not trying to scare you. You're part of this crew-"

"I've heard the bullshit before!" Nami hissed her eyes wide and angry.

Sanji knelt before her and nodded, "Yes… yes you have. But you were not forced to join us… we… we're actually Nakama. You joined us because we're friends… family even."

Nami's lips were tight, and her eyes flooded with tears. She titled her head towards the ground and following her gaze Sanji saw one of her wanted fliers.

"I look happy," Nami comments dully, "I don't think I could ever look it and mean it."

Sanji's heart hurts, and he wishes to take her hand. He wants to hug her and hold her, pledge his allegiance and loyalty to her happiness. He restrains himself, and instead smiles, "With your island free, and your sister and your beloved villagers safe… you can be that happy."

She looks at him her expression softening. She swallows once and then turns to the food. Without much else to say she shovels it in her mouth.

Sanji leaves after a moment longer, feeling Nami needs to be alone now.

He shuts the door behind him and briefly hears a soft, "Thanks," as he goes.

That is more than enough to make him feel better about the situation.

For the rest of the day, Nami and Robin's cabin door became the place to visit. Besides Sanji, Robin, and Luffy, she had only let Chopper inside, who gave her a check-up. He's teary when he comes outside, and is a little emotional that Nami seems so sad, but he says she seems healthy, though obviously under quite a bit of stress. He says she had smiled at him and pet his head, and though he wasn't a pet, it was okay if Nami did it.

"She... seemed happy to have met me," Chopper had mumbled, and that had set off the chain of events to have the rest of the crew visit with Nami outside her door.

Franky, the first to visit Nami, tells her all about the Thousand Sunny, and how great a ship it is, and the little garden area he built where her trees are kept. He brings her back a mikan and rolls it into her room, boasting about how well her trees are doing. He is rewarded with laughter from inside the room, and when he leaves he swears he had heard her voice a little closer to the door.

Brook goes next and he sings for her music he knows was popular in his youth. He plays the violin too, and even fetches a guitar when she asks about it through her shut door. Brook is delighted when after a couple of hours she peaks out at him, and slaps him in the face (very lightly) and then shrieks that he is an actual skeleton. He's delighted by the experience, and charmed by Nami's awkward and childish behavior.

Usopp goes up and to the door before dinner time and tells her a few tales of his heroism, and the antics of the crew. He complains how everyone is always rushing into danger, and that they two are the only sensible ones who try and stay out of it. He talks, and talks, and talks until she's laughing and he can tell she's sitting on the other side of the door. He tells her of his island, and growing up alone, and how it's not like her experience but, he felt alone on his island too. He tells her she's brave, and he can tell from her shy laughter, she is delighted someone thinks so.

It's dark, but Nami finally comes outside her cabin when Zoro knocks on the door and offers her some of their favorite sake.

She eyes it greedily and says, "I'm underage."

"Like that ever stopped you before," Zoro snorts holding out a cup. She takes it, but he holds onto the glass, "No more than two cups though."

Nami snorts and takes it from him, sipping the alcohol calmly. She does not wince from the alcohol's taste. She'd been given cups of it since she was a kid from Arlong. And admittedly snuck tastes of it from Genzo and Bellemere when she was younger. Arlong used to like to watch her get sick on the stuff, and enjoyed it when she threw up on herself and was miserable. That act of cruelty taught her how to control her drinking… even if she shouldn't have been drinking at all.

Zoro watched her quietly for a moment and then sipped his own glass. His eye scanned the deck and then he muttered, "I didn't give you that."

Nami snorted and looked at the giant swordsman, "Worried that your Captain will be mad?"

"No, no, Chopper!" Zoro hissed, "Last thing I need is an earful from him!"

Nami blinked surprised and stared at Zoro's sincerely troubled expression before she burst into laughter. She laughed long and hard, tears suddenly springing to her eyes. As she laughed, the tears came, and she brought her arm up trying to conceal her face. Zoro calmly watched for a moment, and then reached out, draping a large arm across her shoulders. He pulled the miniature version of his crewmate close, and calmly soothed, "It's alright."

"… I know," she eventually said, and this was true. Somehow… no matter how hard she was trying to ignore it, she knew that with these people… she was really alright.

Zoro pats her back firmly, a little too hard, a little off rhythm, but it was the best he could do.

"Would you like to join us for dinner? Everyone is waiting." Zoro sighed, "Well Luffy's is in bed. He'd really out of it. You know he's not great when he's too tired to eat. But the rest of us… we're in the dining hall."

Nami nodded and finished off her glass of sake. She passed Zoro the cup, and he pocketed it. After a moment, she nodded, and he nodded back. Smiling at her he said, "Okay… dinner will be loud. Louder now that you're coming. It's this way."

She nodded, and for courage, she looped her arm with his. He glanced at her but did not shrug her off or seem otherwise surprised that she had done so.

He led her a very short distance to a door and opened it.

A table of familiar and strange faces turned to her, the clatter quieting down.

"Nami's joining us for dinner," Zoro announced, pushing her further inside and then shutting the door.

There was a beat of silence and then a raucous cheer went up. Glasses were raised, food was tossed, and many voices went up. Sanji dashed for the kitchen to get another plate set up for Nami, while Robin waved at Nami pointing at an empty seat next to her.

With Zoro gently guiding her, he helped Nami sit down in the empty seat and nodded at her.

"Don't worry… you're in good hands," Robin whispered, a bouquet of hands sprouting behind her head and shoulders.

Nami opened her mouth in surprise, and then a large platter of food was set in front of her.

Sanji smiled cheerfully as she looked to him.

"Help yourself to anything Nami dear!" He said his smile big and wide.

"Luffy isn't here to steal your food either, so eat lots, and lots!" Chopper chirped with excitement, though the mention of Luffy's name seemed to subdue him.

"Oi, Nami! Try that dish there," Usopp shouted pointing at a colorful looking platter, "You loved that one when you were older!"

"Miss Nami, would you perhaps like to partake in a belching contest?" Brook asked politely, holding up a large bottle of soda.

"Nami ain't inta' that!" Franky guffawed, piling his plate high with food. He gave Nami a sideways glance, "Unless now you are inta' that, and then I gotta compete too!"

Nami smiled. A little breathlessly, Nami blurted, "None of you… none of this is what I expected."

"You were with bad people before," Robin says softly, laying a cautious hand on Nami's back, "Thr wrong… crew. Here… it's different. It really is."

Nami swallowed hard, and reached across the table, grabbing a large poultry wing of some sort, "Well… Well… burping is gross, but if there's money involved..."

Laughter rose up from among the crew, and they cheered loudly at the sound of that. Dinner was long and eaten until the crew could barely move. All was gone, but for a plate of food had been saved for their Captain. Nami had been the one to suggest it, and it was Robin who guided Nami to Luffy's room.

"He normally sleeps with the others in the boy's cabin, but when he's recovering from more serious wounds, it's better if he sleeps on his own. He'll sleep for days and days… and then suddenly he's up and needs to eat like a vacuum," Robin explained with an amused chuckle.

"So he might not be awake to eat this?" Nami asked holding the piled-high plate carefully.

Robin's eyes twinkled, "No, he might not… but I imagine he'll wake up long enough to thank you. He's already woken up early for you once before."

Nami's throat got awkwardly tight, and she turned away from Robin, who chuckled again.

"Here's the door…" Robin gently opened it and motioned for Nami to go inside, "You can leave it on the bedside table… and come out when you like. Don't worry, It's safe to go in there."

Nami nodded. She wasn't worried about going inside. She wasn't afraid of these pirates-not that she was afraid of pirates… but these people… these people were different. It was safe… to trust them… somehow.

Nami tiptoed into the cabin and spotted the man who had held her as she cred; slumbering on his back, limbs sprawled out on a plain but comfortable looking bed. A straw hat sat on a chair near his bed, as if it was keeping watch until he woke up. Nami set the tray of food down and stood over Luffy wondering if she should say something.

A moment later, Luffy's snoring stopped, and a lazy eye peaked open.

They stared at each other for another beat of silence, and then Luffy smiled.

"Mmm… I smell something good… Sanji's cooking?" Luffy slurred.

Nami, feeling uncharacteristically shy, nodded, and picked up a small grilled onion, "Yeah… it's real good… want something?"

Luffy grinned and opened his mouth.

She dropped the onion in, and he crunched on it, chewing vigorously before swallowing. He sighed with content, "It's good even when it's not meat!"

She laughed, it teetering out awkwardly. She wanted to speak to the Captain of this ship, a sensation she found odd, since the term pirate still twisted her stomach uncomfortably. But she didn't know what to say, even if her consciousness was encouraging her to apologize for hurting him. She had stabbed the man she reasoned, she could at least apologize.

"Nami… wanna tell me about your island?" Luffy asked around a sleepy yawn.

"W-What?" Nami asked, voice getting very small, the apology that had been in her mouth quickly forgotten.

"I like it when you tell me about your island. You can…" Luffy yawned again, "You can tell me 'bout your Mikan trees, and the fields of sunflowers you and your sister, Nojiko would hide in. Tell me about the little cove you liked to go to before the tide came in and closed it up. And windmills. You like tellin' me about windmills. You could see them in the distance at another village on the island. If you looked outside from your roof. And you liked pinwheel-hat-man cuz he made you think of a windmill."

Nami's throat closed tight, and feeling like a much younger person than eleven, she climbed into the bed with Luffy, setting against his side, "You… you know a lot about my island! About... my life!"

Luffy laughed his eyes closing, "O' Course I do… you told me about it. I like your island. Coo-coo something island. You can tell me about it again."

"Cocoyashi island," Nami whispered, tears bubbling in Nami's eyes as she thought quietly about the small happy memories she had. She took in a slow breath, "I… was there really so many good memories to tell? Did I have a lot to say?"

Luffy yawned, "You had a lot to tell… when you wanted to tell it. If you can't remember… I'll just tell you about it." He shifted, wincing as his head brushed the headboard of his bed, but then he placed an arm against her back, his palm lightly patting its center, as if he was soothing a little child, "So… so… let's see… Nami… Nami, there used to be a box, and you would hide all your maps in it. The ones you made up in your head. You used to think, it'd be really fun to put them in a book as fake treasure maps, and see if you could get people to find these places…"

"Bellmère found out and thought… she thought it was funny. She tried to be stern about my ideas…" Namie sputtered, overwhelmed that this man knew so much, "But she… she kept laughing because she thought it was so funny! A bunch of treasure hungry people getting tricked by a kid's maps."

Luffy pat her back as she laughed and cried, hiccupping as she went through the emotions

"And then the guy with the pinwheel in his hat..." Luffy mumbled, hand still patting her back as steady as a heartbeat.

"And then Genzo found out about my maps, and demanded to see them. He was really mad and stern," Nami pressed the flat of her palms into her eyes, "but when he saw them… he got all… he said I'd fool anyone with my maps, and said he was proud of me."

Luffy laughed softly, "Tell me more."

And Nami did.. It was easy to talk about now, to let the words flow out. Luffy nodded along, and asked questions, or would mutter something along the lines of, 'Ah, that's my favorite,' or 'are you sure that's the name?' and then list a strange name of something or someone that Nami was sure he made up. She talked even as he fell asleep, and when she too drifted off tucking into his side, she thought that if this was the future that awaited her… maybe all her suffering was okay. It was worth it... to get to this.

At least, or so Nami thought, this seemed like a beautiful happy ending.

The next day, the Straw Hats slowly go up, beginning the routine of the day.

Sanji had made a buffet-style breakfast, something that they would probably eat again tomorrow since Luffy wasn't here. The whole crew was tired, sleeping a little uneasily with the angry, hurting, little Nami on their minds.

With eyes still closed, Usopp mumbled to Robin, "Did Nami ever come out of Luffy's cabin?"

"No," Robin answered softly, bags under her eyes, "I think she needed to talk to him."

Franky yawned and stretched, his hands reaching upwards as he tried to work the kinks out, "Well, hopefully, Nami-sis will be feeling better today! Hate to see a kid so sad and angry…" Franky muttered his expression somber. "She carried a lot of weight with her as a young'n."

"Luffy helped her let it go," Usopp said proudly. He rubbed an eye, and then smiled at Franky, "He helped a lot of people let their weights go."

Franky cuffed Usopp upside his head, "Don't act like you're all wise! Besides, any weight I had, you did the heavy lifting first!"

Zoro chuckled in his seat as the crew began to slowly wake up, or at least try to be energized. It was hard when Luffy was hurt and with another little version of their crewmate on their ship. She wasn't so little, and full of pain. At her age, her pains were more remembered and came up more frequently. He hoped today someone would be able to lift her mood. He didn't think he could do it, but like the rest of the crew, Zoro would try. He watched the door waiting for Nami to enter, determined to go get her is she did not join them for breakfast.

Then, the door opened… and Nami walked in looking a little overtired herself, carrying a tray of food, piled high with some of last night's meal. She was wearing the same pajamas she wore last night, but now they perfectly fit her. She was back to normal.

"Nami!" Zoro snapped, startled.

All eyes fell on her as Nami looked up, a confused expression on her face, and one hand going to her head, "Keep it down a little, Zoro! I've got this huge headache… I don't remember but I must have been trying to get Luffy to eat. I woke up in his room, and found this tray there-"

She got no more words out as the crew rushed to hug her, Sanji mindfully removing the tray from her arms so it wouldn't get knocked to the floor. After the tray was secured, he immediately joined the fray. Nami tried to shout over the crew's frenzied excitement, tried to be angry, but as she saw their truly sincerely happy faces, and heard their cheers, she couldn't help but laugh. The little ache, still buried in her chest over her carelessness hurting her Nakama eased up, and she embraced her crew as much as she could.

"What's going on? What's with all of you?" She asked, smiling at their faces.

Later they would tell her she'd been another victim of the mysterious happening on the Sunny, but for now, they just embraced her, relieved to have a version of her less angry, and less hurt. Relieved that they could continue to ensure she the past would not come up and hurt her.

Notes:

This one went a little differently than the others. I imagine each crew member is going to have their own different flavor of difficulty. I've always thought of Nami's past, of how she was stuck with a bunch of evil pirates for her formative years, and her snappish short-temper in the beginning of the series just makes so much sense to me. But yeah. I think of sad, prickly, angry, baby Nami a lot. ;3;

Chapter 24: Sour Grapes 4.5

Summary:

Chopper has a few questions for Nami about her shrinking experience. Nami being the eldest in her shrunken years, has a lot to say, and she wants her Captain to hear it as well.

Notes:

tw: for suicidal thoughts

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

It was midday when Chopper finally got to pull Nami aside, to privately ask her what he'd been wanting to do since she'd returned to her normal age and size, "Nami! Can we have a chat? You, so far, have been one of the oldest children when you shrunk... and I wanted to ask you some questions about your memories and feelings. Perhaps there's a clue to this strange disease in the fact that you were older."

Nami nodded slowly, and then looked about the crew. Her eyes had gone distant for a moment, and then with a nod, she turned to look back at Chopper.

Her expression was... strange. Sad, and serious. Older somehow.

It made Chopper anxious.

Nami smiled, and the strange mood lifted; if only just a little.

"If it's okay with you Chopper... I'll answer your questions when Luffy is better. I'd like him to be in the room. There's... I think I might have figured something out as well."

Chopper nodded his head, "Of course Nami! Anyone you like can be in the room with you!"

Nami smiled and pat Chopper's head. She looked a little sad, but then scooped him up, "Come on! Shall we get Sanji to make us a treat? I am returned to normal, and I deserve to be lavished, don't I?"

Chopper had agreed whole-heartedly and the rest of the day for him had been on Nami's lap, being served many treats from Sanji all at Nami's beck and call.

Luffy was himself by the next day. His concussion forgotten, and his hand mostly healed. Nami eyed the hand warily, but she didn't say anything about it until she, Luffy, and Chopper were alone in Chopper's office.

Nami, sitting on one of the medical beds, looked at Luffy, who sat casually on another bed, Chopper in a chair between them, his notes on the strange "child-shrinking-disease," in his lap.

He had a list of questions to ask, but it was Nami who started the conversation off first.

Without preamble, Nami asked, "I stabbed you didn't I, Luffy? I have... a very strange memory of lashing out... and it was me who stabbed you... yes?"

Luffy, snapping to attention, looked at Nami. The two held a heavy gaze, and the youthful energy of Luffy seemed to fall away. His face became serious, and he sat a little straighter. Chopper looked between the two. He had noticed... sometimes Luffy got like this along with another crewmate. When things were going to be serious, Luffy stopped being loud and energetic Luffy, and became... well himself, but different.

Serious.

Attentive.

Authoritative.

It was a glimpse of the future pirate king, the man who Luffy always was and would be, who he kept tucked behind a smile and a laugh.

Chopper sat up straighter too. He had a feeling, he'd need to be strong for today.

"You did, but it wasn't your fault. Nami was scared, and in a new place... surrounded by people she thought were scary. Even if it was just us," Luffy explained casually. He leveled Nami with a weighty gaze, "I'm not mad, nor do I blame you at all. So don't think you need to go apologizing..."

"So, you remember a lot from that day of being a child?" Chopper asked hopefully.

Nami nodded, "I remember. I remember... everything pretty well."

Nami sighed and dropped her head into her chest for a moment. When she lifted it, she leveled both Chopper and Luffy with a hard stare, "A theory that we are children being plucked from time... during the times of our biggest hardships has been bounced around about this "shrinking" thing..."

Chopper nodded, "Yes... All those that have shrunken so far has observed that it feels like... like a memory. Like one we have always had. Am I correct in assuming it's the same for you, Nami?"

Nami nodded, "Yes... I remember... being here pretty well. It's a memory... like any of the childhood memories I've had. It doesn't feel new. It feels like it's been a part of me... like it was something that saved me."

The cabin was quiet.

Nami continued, "I could argue when I lost my Mom... that... that had been the most difficult time for me." Nami rubbed a hand up her arm, and clutched her tattoo, "But things were hard as I got older. As it got harder, I changed. Thoughts... that was bigger than me and hard to understand entered my head. I had no one to ask about what they meant... about how I was feeling. As something about me felt like it was changing. I remember... sometime before I became a teen I kept thinking I was going to turn into a monster without anyone to help me. I wanted to save my family... my island... my home... but for a while... I just wanted to disappear."

Nami laughed, her face dry as she looked up at the ceiling, "Like... if I went to sleep, no one would miss me or notice I was gone... and that would be nice. Because then I could finally rest."

Chopper kept quiet, biting on his lip.

"Nami," Luffy rasped, his voice hollow and edged with concern. His face looked alarmed.

Nami reached out for Luffy's hand, and on instinct, he took it.

Her face twisted with old pain and self-disgust, Nami whispered, "I'm not saying I wanted to die, at least not consciously, or... or... but... But there were times when I thought... how happy I would be if I could disappear. If I... just was gone. As a kid... I didn't really understand what those thoughts meant."

Luffy was squeezing Nami's hand tightly, his eyes locked with hers.

"I thought... no one would miss me. Everything had been my fault... it was all a mess... for me..." Nami spoke, each word coming out of her slowly and painfully, "It was hard." In lieu of crying, she was glaring, refusing to give into bitter sadness, a sadness she had carried with her for a long time, "I thought... how happy I would be to disappear."

Chopper's eyes had misted over.

There were times, when being a doctor for a crew of friends... was very difficult.

Luffy was prickling with protective fury, but he kept his mouth shut-clearly making an effort to stay quiet.

"And then..." Nami's voice became breathless, and her eyes turned shiny, "And then like a wonderful dream... I dreamed of a family. Of friends. Of these people waiting for me. Who promised me... everything would be better, and that... that my dream to save my island would come true. That memory..."

Nami smiled, the self-hatred and anger gone, "Seeing all of you had kept me going. I don't know... what strange "disease," or curse, or whatever this is... but in one of my saddest moments... I was saved. By all of you. The first time of many. So... Thank you."

Luffy's sandals slapped loudly on the wood of the floor, and his arms wrapped around Nami like steel bands. He pushed into her as he hugged her; her own arms desperately encircling him, her hands clutching at the fabric of his red jacket. She sounded breathless as she thanked Luffy again, the air clearly being squeezed out of her.

"Luffy... you saved me a lot... thank you."

"Idiot!" Luffy snapped, his voice thick with emotion.

Nami winced as he squeezed harder, but she didn't complain. The tears on her neck were her fault, after all, so she could ar least endure a bone-crushing hug.

"Don't you dare think of disappearing again! Because... you'd be missed! You sure as hell would be missed!" Luffy snapped, choking over his words, "If we never had met... if you hadn't become my navigator..." Luffy's angry, tremulous voice, broke.

He sobbed.

"Nami! If you weren't here... what would I do?"

Nami bit off her own sob, and apologized weakly again, "I... I don't think like that anymore. I've got all of you to thank for that..."

They held each other for a long time, Chopper bearing quiet witness as he let his Captain and the Navigator hug.

Nami was the first to gently withdraw, and she cupped Luffy's face, his teary eyes like that of a child. She smiled, tears streaking down her own face, and promised, "All of you have changed my life for the better. And I'm sure its that way for everyone... I... I just needed you to know... what you did for me!"

Chopper scrubbed at his teary eyes and scratched down a note:

Perhaps, the strange happenings to the crew, is truly not a disease, but something involving time manipulation? Is that possible? Maybe on the Grand Line. Anything can happen here. Note of importance: Those affected, will be sad when they arrive. It would be our duty

Chopper scratched out that last word.

It would be our privilege to bring them happiness in the time while they are shrunk.

"Chopper," Nami called interrupting the little doctor's writings, "I'm sorry. Come here."

She held out her arms, and Chopper set down his notes and ran to Nami to give her a hug, "I... I wanted to answer your questions about the event... but I also needed you to know," her eyes turned to Luffy, "What being here on this ship meant to me as a kid. Real or not... strange sickness or not... when and if the others change... let's make sure they're happy. The kindness that everyone showed me..."

Nami laughed, "Well I think it made me able to be strong today."

Luffy huffed, and growled, quietly throwing his own little tantrum.

But he wrapped his arms around Nami and Chopper and held them close.

Privately he swore, when his Nakama changed, if more were to shrink, he'd make sure they were happy.

He hated to see his friends cry... at any age.

For a time the three held each other, but Chopper reluctantly broke the hug to sigh, "I do have a few more questions to ask... and I'd like a blood sample."

"Of course... of course," Nami said wiping her scant tears away, and straightening her back. She smiled at Luffy who was pouting, sulking as if he were a child. She took his hand and asked, "Captain... will you stay with me?"

Luffy snorted as if insulted, "Of course!"

Nami laughed, knowing she'd have to make it up to Luffy somehow for the thoughts of her past. But really, she was okay dedicating her entire life to the crew. They had saved her. They had been the future she had been chasing. And now that she was here in it, she'd never part from this life again.

Chopper cleared his throat, "Now... do you remember if you ate or drank anything unusual the night before the incident?"

Nami thought of the nightcap Sanji had given her, but that was nothing special. She shrugged, "No... I can't recall anything strange from the night before. Just that I had already been feeling sad that night."

Chopper wrote that down, humming to himself, "No strange foods or drinks..."

End

Notes:

I had this idea while writing the last "shrunken nakama" chapter, but it didn't really work in the previous chapter. So I thought I'd do this little stand alone. It's a bit choppy at the end I would say, but it felt like a good place to stop.

Chapter 25: Sour Grapes 5

Summary:

So the crew has been doing pretty well when one member changes into a child... what happens when they're away and their three lookouts shrink?

Notes:

Slight FrankyxRobin

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

With his cheek smooshed against the rail of the Thousand Sunny, Usopp let out a big sigh that slowly shifted into a high-pitched whine.

"Usopp... they'll be back in another day, don't sigh like that," Robin chuckled from her lounge chair, a book in hand.

"I'm so... borrreedddd! This island is borninggggg!" Usopp whined petulantly sinking down the deck, and laying sprawled out on the ground with a sigh. He kicked his legs like a child throwing a tantrum and added, "I miss Luffy! And Chopper! And Nami! And-"

"You just miss everyone, right bro?" Franky finished, exiting the kitchen with a big grin as he watched Usopp's immature display.

"Yeah... this place is too... too quiet!" Usopp sighed, shifting so that he was facing Franky and Robin.

Robin closed the book she had been reading, and smiled, "You do know why we've been at the quiet island right?"

"Yeah... just in case someone else was going to shrink... It's been quiet for a few days though," Usopp sighed, though he looked less bored and more concerned as the thing that had been plaguing their group was brought up.

"Not that, that, has seemed to matter," Franky sighed, hands settling on his hips.

"It's good to be cautious... Nami and Luffy were very shaken up from Nami's transformation," Robin gently reminded.

The three of them sighed sympathetically in time together.

"I'm glad Nami's feeling better..." Usopp sighed sitting up, shoulders sagging, "But I still wish we'd go out to sea."

"Chopper had a really good feeling about the library on this island. And there's a doctor he mentioned too who might know about these events," Robin said with a gentle nod, "We also got the short straws when we drew for who was to stay behind, so it's our duty to be here Longnose-kun."

"Too bad it's so... boring..." Usopp sighed.

"Oh, do you miss fighting enemies on the sea?" Franky asked with a knowing snicker.

Usopp sat up looking insulted, "I'll have you know, the great Captain Usopp, bravest warrior and the best sniper on the sea, doesn't mind fighting some lowly pirates or monsters... or... or even marines! In fact, I could defeat them with only the strength of my little finger!"

Franky laughed openly, while Robin got up, "Franky, Usopp, if you come into the kitchen with me I'll share a treat with you. Perhaps a snack will take your mind from boredom!"

Franky and Usopp both looked at each other, and then after Robin who disappeared into the kitchen. As if an unheard signal had gone off, both were off dashing for the kitchen, eager to see what Robin had. The two shoved against each other, Franky cackling as his bigger size gave him the upper hand. But what Uspopp lacked in bulk and height, he made up for in tenacity and noise.

They had just managed to get inside the kitchen, Usopp clinging to Franky's back, who had managed to push his way to the front of the charge, when Robin turned towards them holding a small box she had pulled from the freezer.

"Sanji hid these for me at my request so that I could have a snack when reading," Robin explained with a patient smile, before revealing about half a dozen oatmeal raisin cookies, "But how about we share them for today to put a momentary pause to our boredom?"

Usopp's smile split across his face, his eyes shining eagerly, "Ah, I love these! Robin you're the best!"

"Usopp, you're weird bro! Nothing beats a chocolate chip cookie!" Franky said with a snort, before gently pulling Usopp off his back and setting him on the ground.

"So you won't be having one?" Robin asked with an arched brow and a saucy titled smile.

Franky flushed just a touch in his cheeks, "Well I didn't say that..."

"Here, you can each take two. It'll be good to finish these off before Luffy finds them," Robin said holding out her hidden treats.

"Thanks, Robin!"

"Thanks Robin!"

The treats were passed out, eaten in good company and cheer, and then after a few more lingering moments, the three parted to go about their duties. Quiet island or not, the three still needed to keep their guard up, just in case trouble decided to rear its ugly head.

But there were no problems until late in the night...

Robin woke in the middle of the night, a hand to her stomach as a strangely familiar pain clenched at her insides.

She knew what this was. It had been a long time since she had shrunk, but she remembered this pain that came before. Pushing her covers from her bed, she managed to pull herself from her bed and make it slowly from her room. She needed to warn the others that it was happening again. They needed to prepare for her kid self again...

She'd just gotten on deck when she spotted Usopp collapsed just outside the kitchen. His hand was on his stomach as he dry heaved.

"Usopp!" She rasped.

He turned to look at her, sweat dripping off his long nose. He didn't need to speak for Robin to realize they both recognized this pain. With effort, Robin reached for Usopp and helped him get back to his feet. He groaned, pushing away from her to lean against the wall next to the kitchen door.

"Robin! This is... this is how I felt before I shrank!" Usopp managed, to say, before wincing and clutching his stomach.

"Yes... me too Usopp. Let's find Franky-" Robin would have said more, but a groan echoed out from the kitchen.

"Found him," Usopp muttered, before pushing through the kitchen door and staggering inside. Robin followed after, a hand still pressed to her stomach.

Franky was seated at the table, one hand curled out in front of him, clenching and unclenching as he moaned with pain. His other hand was pressed to his stomach, and he was no doubt experiencing the same pain as his other crewmates.

"Oh... bros... maybe the sandwiches I made... were bad...?" Franky moaned referencing the meager dinner he had prepared for them all.

"No... Franky... this is how we felt before we shrunk!" Robin hastily explained, Usopp nodding along beside her.

"Yeah! I felt like this before too!"

Franky made a face, "Ah, no Bros! I'm not ready to be a kid again!" Franky cut himself off as a spasm in his stomach caused a wave of nausea to spike through him.

Usopp took a few more steps inside, before collapsing to the floor, passing out as he had once before.

Robin and Franky didn't even have time to worry about it, as Robin fell to the floor a moment later, and Franky too succumbed to the pain coming from his stomach.

He was oddly... warmer and dryer than he had been the past several days. Clinging to a floating scrap island often left him soaked to the bone, his skin chapping and peeling in the sun as the saltwater stung him. He hated that he was waking now... he would be hungry and thirsty, with nothing to do about it. If he could just finish his cannon... he could shoot down a bird or something...

Begrudgingly, Franky sat up, rubbing a hand to his eye, and stopped.

This wasn't the floating scrap island.

This was... a room. And he was in a large chair, slumped against a larger table.

"Where is this?" Franky snapped loudly, trying to push himself up. He almost fell back down, and when he looked down, saw he was wearing just a pair of underwear that looked about ten sizes too big for him. Face flushing red with embarrassment, he looked around, relieved to spot a large Hawaiian shirt. It might as well have been a blanket it was so big, but he put it on anyway, fastening all the buttons. It was like wearing a dress, but was better than being naked.

He hopped down from the chair embarrassed by his state of dress, but as long as no one saw him like this, everything would be-

"H-Hello?" a small timid voice said just to his left.

Franky jumped and whipped his head around to see a small dark-skinned boy sitting in a pile of clothes, all too big for him. He was smaller than Franky, maybe seven or younger, and his eyes were wide and full of fear.

Another kid... who was also weirdly naked? Franky didn't like the look of this already...

"Hey... do you know where we are?"

When the boy didn't answer, Franky raked a hand over his hair, "Kid... are you okay?"

The boy remained seated and looked around himself, his eyes often coming back to Franky. The scared expression started to melt away, and then, in a confused voice, he said, "Yeah... this... this is my friends' ship. But I thought... I thought it was made up. Like a really good dream."

Franky wasn't sure what the kid was going on about, but his heart leaped at the word ship. Unable to help his smile, he exclaimed, "We're one a boat? A ship?!"

"The Thousand Sunny," a soft feminine voice said from behind him.

Franky turned around and saw a girl, about his age with short straight black hair, and wide blue eyes looking out at the two to them. She was clinging to fabric, covering her body too, and Franky could only guess that like the two of them, she didn't have any proper clothes either.

"Yeah! The Thousand Sunny! You know it too?!" The little boy shrieked with delight.

The girl nodded, looking more amazed then scared, her eyes lingering over the both of them as if trying to recall them.

Franky turned around, and hastily blocked the other kid's view of the girl.

"Hey, kid don't look! She'd not dressed!" Franky ordered, trying to take on his most authoritative tone.

"I'm Usopp!" the boy said looking up at Franky, and then down at himself. He covered his chest uselessly before muttering, "Hey I'm naked too!"

"That doesn't matter, we have all the same parts!" Franky snorted.

"Usopp? You said your name was Usopp?" The girl's voice echoed from behind them, "Usopp, it's me, Robin!"

Franky watched the confusion wash over Usopp's face, "Robin? Big lady Robin? How come you're so small?"

"...So I've shrunk again... and now you're shrunk. Excuse me, other little boy? What's your name?" the girl, Robin asked, her voice strangely calm and intelligent.

Franky hesitated. He wasn't sure what these two were going on about, but he also wasn't sure if he should just tell them his name.

"...Cutty Flam..." he muttered uncomfortably, shifting from one foot to the other.

Usopp frowned, not recognizing the name, and the girl hummed behind him.

"Well... if you both will wait a minute, I think I know where to get us all something to wear. I've been here before," Robin explained. "Please, don't turn around, and I'll be right back."

Franky didn't speak again until he heard the girl's feet pad away, and then the opening of the door. With her gone, he relaxed a little and looked down again at the boy.

"So...uhm... Usopp? Are you her kid brother?" He asked awkwardly.

Usopp shook his head, "No! We're Nakama!" Usopp then smiled so big and bright, even Franky had to smile back.

"Cutty, Cutty! This place is cool! It's a big ship with a lion head, and a swing, and grass, and there's a doctor that's a reindeer! And a talking skeleton-"

Franky laughed, "You can really spin a yarn, huh kid?"

Usopp shook his head, "No, No-" Usopp paused, "Well maybe I could spin a yarn... bet I'd be the best too!"

Franky grinned, "I mean, you're fibbin'!"

Usopp made an overly shocked outraged face, "No! I'm not! It's real this time!"

Franky laughed again, "Ah, but you normally make up stuff?"

Usopp stuck out his lower lip, and glared at Franky, "Well... it's true this time! There are people on here who are my friends, and they're nice! They took care of me when Mama-" Usopp stopped speaking, shrinking into his shoulders as if someone had hit the back of his head.

The silence was sudden and awkward, and Franky flexed his fingers uncertainly. He didn't really like thinking about his parents, it pissed him off. But this kid here had suddenly shrunk up. Franky wasn't skilled with this sorta thing, but he recognized something was wrong based on the kid's body language.

Awkwardly, Franky put a hand on the top of Usopp's head, soft black curls cushioning the pad of his hand, "Hey... it's alright. You... you don't have to say."

Usopp scrubbed an arm over his face and took in a gulping gasp of air, but when he spoke his voice was all small, "It's alright... it's... they took care of me when I was alone."

Franky was alone now. Or he was before he woke up. It made him angry and bitter... but as he looked at this little kid before him, he thought about how scary it would be to be that small and alone. Lonely too. Maybe lonelier than Franky was already feeling.

Franky sat down next to the boy, keeping his hand on Usopp's head, "Well...that's good. Maybe your friends found me too. I've been stuck on a floating scrapyard for... I dunno, a few days now. My parents tossed me into the sea. Pff! But who needs 'em!"

Usopp looked at Franky appalled, "They threw you away? But Cutty... Why?"

An uncomfortable churn stirred in Franky's stomach and he shrugged, "I dunno. Who cares! Who needs 'em. They're lousy people after all. I'll figure it out. It's nice to be inside though. Been outside, and my skin's been hurting from all that sun... and I was pretty hungry. I was building a cannon to shoot down some birds or something... but it's not done yet."

Usopp looked like he had a million questions he wanted to ask, but instead focused on Franky's mention of hunger, "Well this is Sanji's kitchen and he has a lot of good food! I'll get you something to eat! He told me the code on the fridge so I could get food when I wanted!" Usopp stuck up his chin, "Sanji likes me the best besides woman!"

"Besides woman?" Franky echoed back, amused and curious as to what exactly Usopp meant.

Usopp stood up, the too big clothes falling from him as he dashed up, heading towards the back of the room, and behind a counter.

Franky anxiously checked the door and relaxed when Robin didn't appear through it.

"Hey! Usopp bro! You're buck naked! You shouldn't go running around!" Franky cautioned.

"Why? We've got the same parts!" Usopp parroted back to him, before opening a large fridge.

Franky bit the inside of his cheek, fighting a smile. Okay. This kid was kinda cute. A smart-ass... but Franky liked that. He was the biggest smart-ass he knew, and he was pretty great. So if the kid was like that too, well Franky thought they'd get along fine.

Pickng up a pair of pants far too big for Usopp, Franky followed after him and hastily tied it around Usopp's waist like a towel, "At least cover up! You don't want a girl to see your bits!"

Usopp, digging in the fridge, pulled out a plate of food, covered in a clear plastic film, "Look, look! Onigri! Eat this, it'll be good!"

Franky frowned, "Should I be eating your friend's food?"

Usopp nodded his head, "Yeah! Sanji doesn't like it when people are hungry. It makes him sad. So eat it!"

The door opened, and Robin's voice called out, "Cutty, Usopp! I found something for you to wear!"

Taking the plate from Usopp, Franky led the younger boy back into the kitchen, and pushed the plate up on top of the table, "Usopp bro found us breakfast. If you'll step outside a minute, we'll get dressed, and we can eat something."

Robin smiled, holding out a neat stack of clothes. She had put herself in white a blue shirt, along with some black shorts, that seemed a little too big for her, "I found these in the doctor's cabin. He's small like us sometimes."

"Sometimes?" Franky echoed, tilting his head.

Robin smiled, "Sometimes. I can explain when you're dressed."

Franky nodded and looked anywhere but at her smile. It made his stomach feel weird, and he just didn't want her to notice.

She stepped outside and Franky separated out the clothes, taking out the things he liked for himself. He passed a set over to Usopp, and quickly began to get dressed. When Franky was dressed, he admired the red shorts and black tank top with a pink flower on it in the center. Not a bad look for him. And it was clean and not soaked in seawater and grime. Anger and bitterness tried to bubble back up in his stomach, and he closed his eyes tight as the vision of his parents' ship sailed away leaving him behind.

He pushed the palm of his hands into his eyes, muttering an angry, "No, no, no," until the memory was gone, and he felt comfortable enough to let out a long sigh.

When he turned to check on Usopp, he saw that the kid had managed to get stuck inside his shirt.

Unable to help it, he laughed and turned and helped Usopp tug his head through a bright green shirt. Usopp gasped, "Whoo! I couldn't breathe!" He then laughed without a care in the world while Franky helped tug his shirt into place. Usopp had on brown shorts, also a little too big, and the green shirt seemed to be the same. There was a skull and set of crossbones on it, which Franky didn't like seeing, but he wasn't going to suggest Usopp go without.

When Usopp was sorted, Franky peaked his head outside and waved Robin inside.

She smiled frailly at Franky, and again Franky had to look away from it. It made his heart nervous to look at it too long.

Now that they were dressed, the three sat themselves down at the table, and all eagerly ate. The table was a bit too high, and Usopp had to sit on his knees to give himself some extra height, but the food was good.

"I looked around a little bit... I don't think anyone else is here on the ship!" Robin said neatly eating her rice ball with little bites.

"I wonder where they all went?" Usopp smacked his lips, food all over his mouth, and even on the tip of his nose.

Franky couldn't help but comment that he was surprised he wasn't more hungry.

"My stupid folks ditched me three days ago, and I haven't eaten since then," he explained as he finished his second Onigiri, "You'd think I'd be hungrier... but... I'm weirdly not."

"That's because you're probably a member of this ship," Robin said, Usopp nodding his head emphatically next to her.

"What does that mean?" Franky asked, a brow raised.

"It's really hard to explain, but when I was here last, I wasn't supposed to be young. I'm apparently much older... and Usopp too. Last I saw him, he was bigger than me," Robin explained with a forlorn sigh, as if knowing how strange her story sounded.

Usopp swallowed his mouthful, and grinned big, "Yeah! It's the same for me! When I was here, Robin was all grown-up! There's a strange disease here that makes you forget and turn all little!"

"No there's not!" Franky snorted, frowning with disbelief.

"Yes, there is!" Usopp immediately retorted.

"We are on the Grand Line, and anything can happen on the Grand Line," Robin said matter-of-factly, quoting an old adage that Franky had grown up hearing. It was a little odd hearing it out of another kid's mouth, but her quiet intelligent mannerisms suited her without making her annoying, or a know-it-all.

"We've even got wanted posters!" Usopp said cheerfully, eyes glinting with delight.

"There are some in the library downstairs," Robin added with a nod, "Our friends are there too."

Something... cold filled Franky's stomach as their words fully registered.

"Why would we have wanted posters?" He asked, trying very hard to keep his voice level.

"Because we're pirates!" Usopp said with a cheerful laugh.

"Who's a pirate? I'M NOT A DAMN PIRATE!" Franky snarled, Usopp recoiling so violently in his chair, Robin had to reach out to steady him. But she hadn't reached out with her arms, instead, she'd crossed them over her chest, and arms sprouted from the table catching Usopp's chair and keeping it in place.

Franky was too angry to be surprised.

"Cutty!" Robin snapped, eyes flashing with disappointment.

Franky didn't care how pretty she was. He slammed a fist down on the table, "I'M NOT A DAMN PIRATE! MY PARENTS WERE PIRATES AND LEFT ME TO DIE ON THE OCEAN! BUNCH'A... BUNCH'A BASTARDS!"

Usopp squeaked in fright at Franky's wrath, tears springing to his eyes, as his face flushed, "B-but... but our friends are... and... and my dad's a pirate and... and we're-"

"WELL WHO CARES!" Franky roared, jumping from his chair, and knocking it over with a bang.

"I'm not going to be a stupid pirate, and I'm not stickin' around to meet any stupid pirates either!" Franky stormed out of the kitchen, pushing himself outside.

He was momentarily stunned by the outside as he entered the light. He was on... a huge deck. A beautiful deck. The kinda ship you might dream about making, or seeing. There were trees with oranges sitting on a raised deck, and laid out before him a lawn of green grass, and a swing too. The foremast stretched high in the sky, the sails tucked away so that the wind wouldn't catch it. It was... all so beautiful with touches of familiarity that made him miss the hammock on his parents' ship. Miss the place that had been his home.

He wanted to look more at this ship. A ship that felt like a dream.

His eyes trailed up... and he spotted a black flag waving in the air.

Gnashing his teeth together, he shouted, "Stupid pirates!"

Ripping his eyes away from all the things he wanted to look at, he stormed over towards the railing, ready to jump off if he had to.

Arms wrapped around his waist, springing out of the ground and hooking him tight. He glanced with alarm over his shoulder and saw Robin furiously standing behind, him, slightly out of breath after running to keep up with him. Usopp was behind her, very close to weeping as he twisted his shirt in his hands.

"I'm sorry that your parents did that to you..." Robin began, voice steely and determined, "But that doesn't mean you can yell at Usopp, or speak badly of our friends! If you were in a terrible place, and now are here... what do you think that means?"

Franky stumbled for an explanation at first, but then with a sneer, "Well according to your story I'm shrunk from some stupid... what, a Grand Line disease? And I'm supposed to be a pirate?! There's no way!"

"Even if that's not the case," Robin interrupted, her own cheeks pink with controlled anger, "If the last thing you remember was being stuck out on the ocean... then our friends must have picked you up and saved you!"

"And why would they do that?" Franky demanded, trying to twist out of the hands that had a hold of him.

"Because they saved me!" Robin snapped, titling her head up defiantly, "There are people who want me dead. A lot of people. They saved me. They've given me a place... where I never have to be afraid of being alone again. I won't just let you insult them and leave."

"T-They saved me too!" Usopp snapped, his voice shaking but determined; tears leaking down his cheeks as he twisted his shirt tight, "They taught me how to fish, and how to look for good things in the forest if I... if I get sick." Usopp wiped his face, even as the tears kept coming, "And they were nice to me after Mama was gone... they... they took care of me! Don't say bad things about my friends without knowing them!"

Franky closed his mouth, not really sure how to respond to their words.

Robin dropped her arms, and the extra hands wrapped around him fell away.

"Your parents are bad people. But just because they were bad pirates, and bad parents, doesn't mean our friends are. Regardless of what's really going on... you're either a shrunken member of this crew... or... or you're someone they rescued. Can't you at least wait for them to talk to you before you leave like this?"

Franky circled his hands into fists, and took a step away from Robin. He glanced over the side of the ship. The anchor was thrown over, and a dock was just a few feet away. He could toss a rope over, and get out of here... maybe find some work on the island the ship was just sitting at.

"Don't go Cutty!" Usopp sobbed, clinging to Robin, too scared to approach Franky after being yelled at.

"Please wait for our friends. They helped us, they'll help you too!"

Robin kept a firm gaze with Franky, her lower lip sucked into her mouth as she stared at him steadily.

Franky felt like a heel. These kids were nice to him, and the first kids he had seen in a long time. And they'd been saved by... by pirates and Franky had shouted and called their friends stupid. Even he knew that hadn't been a great thing for him to do...

Shoving his hands in his pockets he sulked forward, and bowed hastily. "I'm... sorry for saying mean things about your friends without knowin' 'em. But... But don't... don't say I'm a pirate anymore! I... I can't stand that!"

Franky lifted his gaze, and Robin nodded curtly at him. Her eyes flickered to Usopp and Franky looked down at the long-nosed kid. His face was still screwed up as he tried to fight off the tears that just wouldn't slow down. Franky kicked at the wooden boards sheepishly, feeling worse, and knelt close to Usopp.

"I'm... I'm really sorry, Usopp bro. I'm just..." Franky sighed, "I'm sorry. I'm just screwed up. I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm not mad at you..."

Usopp wiped his face, still looking a little miserable, but his eyes seemed a little determined too. He stepped forward, and then cautiously reached his arms up, and hugged Franky around the neck.

"...I'm sorry you're sad Cutty..." Usopp said in the smallest voice.

A lump formed in Franky's throat, and his arms stiffly wrapped around the shorter kid, offering a hug. He couldn't remember the last time he was hugged or had hugged someone-

A memory of hugging his mother's leg, and begging not to be thrown away flooded his mind. She laughed at him and tossed him and tossed him to his Dad... and then his dad, catching Franky by his ankle like he was garbage... threw him over the side of the ship...

Franky closed his eyes tight, and fought the sudden instinct to push Usopp away. It wasn't Usopp's fault that his parents had thrown him away.

It wasn't Usopp's fault... that Franky was garbage.

A hand settled on his back, and the soft hair of Robin's head, tickled his skin as she settled her forehead against his. Like someone who was much older, she ran a hand down his back, trying to be soothing, and Franky swallowed harder as he tried not to cry. Something wet slid down Robin's cheek, and Usopp pressed his wet face further into Franky's neck.

Franky bit his lip and held onto his tears, choosing instead to let his new friends cry for him.

When a long moment had passed, Franky apologized again, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry... I'll stay... to meet your friends. And then decide what to do after..." Franky pat Usopp's head, the boy clinging to him now like a stubborn barnacle. Franky decided he didn't mind. He looked up at Robin, tears still clinging to her lashes, and with a sigh, Franky admitted, "Also... um... I'm sorry. I wasn't really sure about you guys... but I don't really go by Cutty. My name's Franky."

Robin and Usopp both jerked with surprise and peered suddenly at Franky's face.

"W-What?" Franky rumbled, ready to defend himself if they got angry.

Instead, the pair smiled, and shouted, "You're the robot!"

"...What?"

Robin and Usopp gave Franky a tour of the ship after he decided to stay. The first thing they showed him was some wanted posters with the pirates who owned this ship, faces. And on one of them, was supposedly his face. Franky wasn't sure if he recognized himself... but he liked the look of the guy in the poster.

"A metal nose huh? A robot? I like the sound of that... I could really build myself to be somethin' cool..." Franky mused as he rubbed his round face, and looked at the sharp and angled face of the man in the picture. He touched his own soft nose, and wondered if the metal nose could be a button. Maybe it did something fun when you pushed it. He grinned, "He's pretty big too! Nice and manly! I like it!"

Robin shrugged, "I think you look nice this way too."

He smiled at her, feeling a little lightheaded at that.

"I wonder why you became a robot!" Usopp hissed eagerly, a hand still clinging to Franky's shirt like he might try to run off again.

Franky scoffed, "Because it's cool right?"

Usopp nodded, and pumped a fist into the air, "Yeah, it's cool!"

Robin smiled patiently as the two shared their theories as to why Franky would be a robot in the future. She didn't supply her own ideas, but she did listen as the two talked.

After they wandered around for a while, the trio returned back the kitchen, pulling out more leftover food for themselves. It was all really good, and Usopp was delighted to gush about the crew's chef Sanji, "Yup! His food is the best! He can make even gross things good! Like...um... peppers... and maybe mushrooms... maybe."

"It's strange that there is no one here," Robin said quietly, bringing up the fact from earlier.

"I bet they're doing really cool pirate things!" Usopp cheered before snapping his hands over his mouth and looking nervously at Franky.

Franky kept his temper in check. It wasn't fair to yell at a kid for being excited by pirates. Most kids liked pirates after all... and maybe Franky liked them too when he was a little kid. Not that he could remember.

"Maybe they're getting supplies," Robin said, keeping her voice nonchalant as her eyes watched Franky.

"That means they left us in charge!" Usopp gasped.

He jumped to his feet, "We're supposed to be protecting the ship!"

"...And then we shrunk while they were away..." Robin mused an idea whirling behind her eyes.

"...You two really think we shrunk, huh?" Franky sighed.

"How else can you explain those posters! They had our names!" Usopp said striking a hero pose and pointing a finger up in the air.

Franky grinned, "Well... I guess you're right there..."

"Let's do our job... and protect the ship!" Usopp declared. He struck another pose, "Usopp Pi-" he stopped short, eyes going wide, and he looked at Franky nervously again. Clearing his throat he began again, "Usopp... Protectors... away!"

Robin smiled, and even Franky laughed.

"Okay. I'll play. Usopp Protectors... away!"

"Yeah, I'll follow you Longnose, bro!"

Usopp's eyes shone with delight as he puffed up his chest, "Okay Usopp Protectors... let's check the deck!" And then he charged out ahead.

Robin smiled at Franky, her arms tucked behind her, "Usopp is sweet, isn't he?"

Franky shrugged, nervously avoiding Robin's dazzling smile, "Yeah... he's a good kid."

"Let's take care of him... okay Franky?" Robin suggested, holding her hand for him.

Franky swallowed a little hard, his face going very red. He took her hand, nervous at how sweaty his own palm felt. She squeezed his hand gently, either not noticing or not caring.

"Y-Yeah. Yeah okay," Franky muttered a little giddily, and allowed Robin to pull him out after Usopp.

The three played until late in the afternoon. Usopp pretending to lead the two on a perilous adventure of protecting the ship against all kinds of things. From an angry flamingo who had an army of toys, to a giant crocodile while ate up all the water and captured a princess, to even facing off a God with the power of elements at his hands. And while Franky would have thought this sort of thing was childish, he had to admire Usopp's ideas.

And it was kind of nice to play around with these two.

He couldn't remember the last time he had played with anyone even close to his age.

From watching Robin, he had a feeling she hadn't played in a long time too.

Franky had been expected to work when he lived on the pirate ship with his parents. He had to make it worth their while to keep him. He could only guess all his inventions had stopped being good enough, and that his "attitude," became too troublesome.

The memories festered like a wound, and Franky covered his eyes again, trying to will it away.

Robin's hand on his shoulder brought him back.

He looked at her and saw a pain in her eyes that felt like his own. And while he didn't like seeing it there... it was nice to have someone who knew what it felt like.

He shook himself a little, and smiled at Robin, forcing himself to the present. And then to both, his and Usopp's surprise, Robin let out a loud strange laugh, that had them staring in aw. She smiled wide, encouraging them to laugh along with her. And with a bit of gusto, they echoed her laugh until her own quiet laughter was rippling out of her in waves.

By the time the sun was low, Franky had thought that this had been the best day he had ever had in his life.

"Yo-hohoho... Yo-ho-ho-ho... Gather up all of the crew... It's time to ship out Bink's brew, " A voice, high and clear was echoing out from the island.

Robin, Usopp, and Franky stilled.

"That's... That's Brook!" Usopp cheered running for the railing.

"Mr. Musician!" Robin added cheerfully. She smiled at Franky, "He's the skeleton. Come see!"

Franky let Robin pull him along, and after helping Usopp cling to the railing of the Thousand Sunny, he and Robin peeked out, watching as a group of people grew close.

Their arms and backs were piled high with all sorts of things, and they all walked side by side. There was a skeleton, and he was singing merrily, twirling a cane like a baton. The people next to him were smiling, and a young man with a hunk of meat and a straw hat on his head, was singing off-key, echoing everything the skeleton sang.

They looked friendlier and happier than Franky had expected pirates to look.

"Mr. Brook! Mr. Brook! Mr. Brook!" Usopp immediately began to shout.

Robin raised her hand, waving it wildly, though she did not call out for them. It looked like she wanted to, but held back, even as her eyes shone so brightly.

Franky's stomach was churning, and that anger from this morning was coming back. He wasn't sure if he wanted to meet these people. Even if Robin and Usopp said they were good. Even if he had promised to meet them.

The skeleton's singing had cut off, and now the approaching people had frozen and were staring out at the kids. Franky could see their shock even at this distance. Only the man in the straw hat smiled. He squatted down real low, and then jumped high in the air, higher than Franky had ever seen someone jump, and shouted, "YAHOO! Is that Little Robin and Usopp!? And... OHHHH! That's Franky!"

Franky stepped nervously back at the sound of his own name, and Robin reached out with her hand, encouraging him with her eyes not to run. He nodded but held on to her hand tight. If he held it, maybe he could stop himself from fleeing.

"They're all running!" Usopp laughed, reporting what he was seeing with glee. He then pointed up... and the straw-hatted man launched over their heads landing behind them.

"Luffy!" Usopp cheered with glee.

"Captain," Robin said with reverence and a knowing glance towards Franky.

"Hey, guys! I'm so excited to see you again!" the man called Luffy cheered, stretching his arms out impossibly wide.

Usopp ran for him, and Robin let Franky's hand go and ran for Luffy too. They were swept up in Luffy's arms, and he held them tight, laughing as the two children giggled against his chest, joyous at their reunion. Franky watched quietly, his stomach churning, and his hands twisting his shirt tightly as his anxiety, confusion, and anger mixed together.

Franky took a step back as the people who belonged to this ship climbed aboard, each shouting a different name. They clambered for Usopp and Robin, all staring in disbelief, all shocked and happy at the same time. It was like watching a family reunite.

Franky's eyes drifted up to the pirate flag... and he felt sick.

Pirates... couldn't be a family.

They threw you away when they were done.

That wasn't family...

And Franky wasn't going to be thrown away again.

His teeth clenched so tight it hurt, Franky turned away from the pirates and clambered for the rope ladder the crew had used to get on the ship.

It was when his feet hit the dock, when he first heard someone say his name.

His anger became his fuel, and like a rocket, faster than Franky had ever run, he was off. Sprinting away from the pirates and his two new friends. He wouldn't, he couldn't stay and meet these pirates. No matter what he had said. He wasn't going to get to know people who would just...

He remembered breaking the surface of the water with his back, the cold saltwater stinging his skin like needles as he fell. He floundered for air as he surfaced, crying out for his parents. His mom leaned over the side of the ship, smiled... and waved him good-bye...

"FRANKY!" Usopp's sharp wail echoed far behind him.

"FRANKY!" Robin's own cry, louder than any sound he had heard her make followed him too.

He choked, and tears flooded down his cheeks. Angry, bitter, lonely tears.

He would never be a pirate.

The ground beneath his feet, eventually turned into cobblestone, and Franky looked up into the unfamiliar streets of a quiet village he had never seen before. Panting from his sudden bust of exertion, he glanced around. The shop stores were closed, and he didn't see any people on the streets. It was lonely... and quiet... but he could probably live better out here than on a floating scrap island... and live better out here than with a bunch of Pirates.

He could be fine... alone.

Franky made to take a step when each of his hands was caught in someone else's. He turned back, a warning growl echoing past his lips, and he snarled, "What do you-" He stopped, cutting his own words off as he stared up into the serious face of the straw-hatted Captain, and into the sad smiling face, of a girl with long wavey sunset-colored hair.

They each held one of Franky's hands, their grips comfortable, but secure enough to let Franky know he wasn't getting away.

Tears welled up in his eyes, the anger and frustration from earlier boiling over. He snarled at them, "Get away from me... you... you stupid pirates!"

Luffy remained still, his hand clasped around Franky's, his eyes watching him and revealing nothing to the boy.

The woman, Franky believed her wanted poster had read: Nami, squatted down at his eye level, and she held his hand tight. Her eyes swam with the same bitterness Franky had stirring inside him; the same loneliness Robin's echoed, and very gently she pleaded, "Don't leave Franky. Please... you're our precious Nakama. Don't go."

Franky curled into himself, his hands stuck in their grips. He wanted to shout and blame them for what his parents had done. But Usopp and Robin's upset faces from earlier wouldn't let him spew his venom at them. His stomach churned painfully, and he closed his eyes.

"Oi, Franky."

Franky opened his eyes, and Luffy was at his level, smiling and curling an arm around his shoulders, "I'm sorry we left you alone so long, and if that scared you. But we came back... we'll always come back. We weren't gonna leave you alone for long. But if you're mad... you can shout at me if you like. Or hit me too. But we're not going to let you go. You're my shipwright... my precious Nakama. You can't go... okay?"

Franky's anger bubbled... and then fizzled. Fading away into a dull sadness that was as cold as the nights he'd slept alone on the floating shipyard. He wasn't angry anymore... but tired. The hot tears he kept pushing away bubbled forth, and as they sprang from Franky's eyes, the buy muttered, "I hate pirates."

"Aw, don't say that!" Luffy whined with disappointment, rubbing a steady hand on Franky's back.

Nami dropped to the ground too and wrapped an arm around Franky's shoulders. She rested her head against his, and sighed, "I hated pirates too... but you know... this bunch here... we're not so bad."

"Yeah!" Luffy agreed enthusiastically, looking imploringly into Franky's eyes, "Come on! Won't you give us a chance?"

Franky sobbed, and Nami squeezed him into a one armed hug, holding so tight it hurt just a little.

Franky hated the tears that were falling, hated that these strangers-these pirates-were seeing it, and being so damned nice about it. But he couldn't stop the tears now that he was crying.

"Please come back with us Franky," Nami whispered, a smile pressing into his temple, "I promise you'll like us. We're like... like a family."

Franky wasn't sure about how he felt about that. But as he cried he thought of Robin and Usopp and remembered all the things the two had said. This crew had helped them out... maybe Franky could hold on to some hope, and hope these pirates would help him too.

Finally, Franky nodded his consent, and Luffy's hands tucked under Franky's arms and swung the young boy up on to his shoulders. Franky choked with surprise and Luffy laughed, "This is going to be a lot of fun Franky! It's too bad you didn't shrink into a little robot! That'd be neat."

"Shut up Luffy!" Nami snapped, sounding offended on Franky's behalf.

(Even if he was crying, Franky thought it'd be cool to turn into a little robot too.)

Nami's hand remained settled on Franky's back, patting his pack as he cried on top of the Captain's hat. Luffy hummed as they took a slow walk back the Thousand Sunny, which Franky was quietly grateful for. He'd managed to master his tears as the Thousand Sunny's looming form appeared in the distance.

"You doing a little better now Franky?" Luffy asked.

Franky took in a shuddering breath, "Y-Yeah."

"It's okay if you're sad. We'll help with that," Luffy said with confidence. He pointed out ahead of them and chuckled, "Ah, look! See! Everyone was hoping you'd come back."

Franky wiped his eyes one last time and looked out ahead.

On the deck of the Thousand Sunny, all leaning against the railing, was the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates, just like from their wanted posters.

Zoro was standing with one arm balanced on the hilt of his three swords, his frown relaxing as he spotted their approach. Next to him, hanging on the rail, with his eyes filled with tears, was Chopper the little reindeer doctor. (Franky kinda thought he looked like a tanuki.) The blonde, who must have been Sanji, was holding Usopp in his arms, who was sobbing on Sanji's neck, his arms wrapped around Sanji's neck tight. Sanji's face lit up at the sight of his missing crewmates, and he bounced Usopp lightly before pointing Franky out. Usopp, his face streaked with tears, turned to look out, and when his eyes met Franky's he waved desperately and Franky waved back feeling guilty for making the kid cry... again.

And bringing up the end of the little line of crewmates was Brook, the skeleton who had been singing earlier, and in his arm was Robin. Her face was frowning, and Franky thought she might be mad. But she scrubbed an arm over her face, and Franky realized she must have been holding back her tears. But now that Franky was safe with Luffy and Nami, her tears fell, and she waved eagerly, welcoming Franky back.

"We're going to have a big dinner, and a bath, and Sanji can make desserts! We're going to have a lot of fun!" Luffy rattled off, grinning and laughing as he spoke.

Franky kept his eyes on Robin, waving at him as her eyes shone with unshed tears. The rest of the crew, the people Franky hadn't yet met, waved and smiled, beckoning them to come forward. For the first time in a long time, it felt like Franky was being welcomed home.

Notes:

Written solely because I wanted baby robin and baby franky to be together for a bit, and franky to be crushin' on her. =/3/=. Also, Franky's chapter will be extended just a bit into the next chapter, or I'll do a 5.5 like I did with Nami. We'll see.

Chapter 26: Be a Nightmare

Summary:

A Nightmare. It must be a nightmare. Please be a nightmare.

Notes:

Dark and bloody beware! AnGsT galore!

Chapter Text

"You know Strawhat, I pity people like you," Captain Brennan drawled slowly as he loaded his pistol carefully. "People like you, always think they'll make it through. That they are strong enough to face the odds, that they can protect everyone they love." His green eyes slid over to Luffy as he finished filling the chamber of his weapon, "Or maybe you're not thinking at all. You're assuming. And that's worse."

"I bet Ace was a big shock to you," Brennan continued, not flinching at the cold angry gaze he received the moment he mentioned Ace's name.

Luffy moved. His anger and perhaps pride fueling him to move forward, and remove this foe from his sight.

Brennan had already raised his pistol, and fired, aiming just over Luffy's shoulder.

A familiar pained voice echoed behind Luffy, the hairs on his neck standing up.

"People like you have to learn multiple times that the sea is not a place for happiness... and that is truly a pity," Captain Brennan said, his voice void of all emotion. "If you hadn't started out so naive, perhaps you wouldn't suffer so."

Luffy turned as Brennan spoke, his motions slowed and sluggish. As if the air itself didn't want him to turn and see...

"CHOPPER!"

Chopper looked up at his Captain, his eyes bleary and blood running down his muzzle. His hands were to his chest, trying and failing to maintain the blood that pooled out of his wound.

The reindeer opened his mouth as if to speak, but no sound came out. He smiled at Luffy, tears in his eyes, and then pitched forward.

A scream bubbled inside of Luffy, and echoed around him. Was it his? Was he screaming? It certainly felt like it. He made to move for Chopper when he heard Breannon's calm voice call out to him.

"Look this way."

Directly after, a frightened, familiar voice pleaded, "No, don't!"

Luffy's blood went cold and he turned again screaming, "USOPP!"

Shackled and injured, Usopp had appeared at the Captain Brennan's side. He was shaking, and tears were flooding down his cheeks. His frightened eyes locked on Luffy, and despite the pistol digging into his cheek, Usopp screamed, "No! Don't look!"

BANG.

Luffy was aware he was screaming now. He didn't need to see through the tears to be aware of what was happening. To hear Usopp's body crumple and sink to the floor lifelessly. The path was red in front and behind Luffy. It was all so red.

Luffy's strength had left him, and a tremor had started from his core. He could not get up. Chopper and Usopp's blood were keeping him rooted in place.

Brennan's footsteps echoed out as he approached Luffy. The man came to stand before the wilted Captain, and Brennan sighed, "You were not prepared to face me. To face the bitterness. You weren't ready at all... were you?"

"Y...You?" Luffy finally rasped, his hands fumbling to group the edges of Captain Brennan's coat, "Who are you?"

Captain Brennan smiled, and answered with a question, "What does my name mean?"

As Luffy looked up, the rest of his crew's bodies appeared out of the darkness, hanging from the gallows.

Luffy screamed.

And then he was being shaken.

And hopefully, after the shaking stopped, Luffy would be awake, and this... would all be a bad dream.

One could only hope.

Chapter 27: A God Guides

Summary:

The best and last shot Usopp will ever make.

Chapter Text

He is a God, and his hands will guide them.

"Usopp!" Nami's voice is wretched as she screams. Someone is keeping her from running, and an unfamiliar hand is covering her eyes. She screams for Usopp anyway.

"Don't! Straw Hats! Don't look at the light!" A desperate villager is sobbing, "You'll go blind!"

"Let me go! Let me go!" Luffy's voice is weak, and his strength is all but gone. He digs his hands in the dirt, and tries to push himself up. The people he has saved, the island of villagers he has liberated, is keeping him pinned down. They keep his face pressed into the ground.

"My Nakama," Luffy spits, his pain evident in those two words, "Let me up!"

"We can't! We can't!" They say bitterly.

"We won't let you get hurt any more than this!" They sob.

None of them understand.

"USOPP!" Chopper's shriek could shatter glass.

"We won't ask you to go out there-but, please! Let us go!" Robin pleads, a sea stone is pressed into her arm, and she can barely stand up. "Usopp! Our Usopp!"

"It is too late! He's already out there! That light... that machine..." the village chief's voice is brittle from years of loss. From years of knowing there is nothing, he can do. These pirates who have liberated his people... he will protect the ones he can.

And take their hatred for the ones he failed.

Usopp walks alone, dragging behind his injured leg. He is trying to walk as fast as he can, his skin burning under the harsh light caused by a machine meant to imprison the people of this island. It blocked out the real sun and made the villagers sick, and if out too long in it, their skin would burn. It trapped them and held them here. And worse than the burns, was what happened to those that looked at the light for too long. Their white, blinded eyes a sad reminder that even looking at the light too long... had consequences.

It was an effective trap... and needed to come down.

On the ground, trapped beneath the harsh light, lying still and injured were the bodies of their foes. They were stopped, and would be cooking under their own cruel trick. A fitting end... but among the enemy, was also the exhausted, and injured other half of Luffy's crew. Too weak to get up, only Usopp had the strength to stand. And Usopp could not carry them all.

Sanji, Zoro, Jinbei, Brook, and Franky were collapsed like scattered beach litter, face down in the dirt, and too injured or exhausted to escape the harsh light.

If Usopp was stronger... he would carry them all to safety.

But he had only the strength to carry two, maybe three... but then again maybe that was too generous. But Usopp knew his strength wasn't like that of the monster trio's. Nor was it like the swift minds of Nami or Robin who might have been able to plan their way out. Usopp's strength was his marksmanship.

And he had one last shot he could make.

God Usopp... was getting his friends out of this.

"I'm not... leaving them out here... to fry up in this... cursed light!" Usopp wheezed, a trickle of blood oozing past his lips. He kept his head, trained down to the ground with each heavy footfall. He wasn't going to look up at that light... not until he was ready. Not until he was close enough.

"Usopp... get the heck out of here..." Sanji's voice somewhere to his left catches Usopp's ear. He can hear the chef dragging himself on his belly.

Hear his hand clawing at the dirt as he tries to reach Usopp.

Usopp's skin feels like fire.

How must Sanji's feel under this false ruinous light?

Usopp curls his hand around his Kuro Kabuto.

In the oppressive silence of his decision, he could hear his downed friends call for him, echoed by the ones trapped, but safe with the villagers behind him. Their soft whispers and the cries pushing at his back propelled Usopp to go forward.

To be brave.

"Usopp... don't!" Franky is sobbing somewhere, "Get outta here!"

"Usopp!" That's Brook.

"Usopp..." That's Jinbe.

"Stop!" Zoro's voice lunges at him along with a hand.

Usopp turns towards Zoro's bloodied form, providing the severely injured swordsman some shade from the harsh sun as he hovers over him. Zoro's hand is a shackle on Usopp's ankle, while his other is pressed into Zoro's bloodied gut. His swords are not in his grasp for once, and that is somehow wrong.

Zoro squints up at Usopp, unable to see any of the sniper's features due to the growing intense light.

Usopp is a black tower whose outline is only recognizable to Zoro thanks to Usopp's long nose.

"Don't," Zoro tries to command.

Usopp's blacked-out face is staring back at him, and says nothing.

"Don't! Go back!" Zoro roars, blood and spit flying from his mouth.

The dark shadow that is Usopp says nothing. The intense light is a halo around his head. It feels like he has already lost him.

"Usopp...!" Zoro's voice breaks.

Usopp kneels, and up close, the darkness fades away. Usopp's face is distraught, bloodied, bruised, and of course, scared. He smiles at Zoro, and removes the shirt from his own back. He presses it to Zoro's face, hard and smothering.

Zoro lets Usopp go.

"Don't... Don't look up Zoro. Keep that eye closed! I... I can do this. You're all going to be fine!" Usopp's voice is forcibly upbeat, and his hands are gone faster than Zoro expected.

Zoro reaches out again, but Usopp is gone.

He has run ahead, ignoring his pain.

Today, he is going to be the bravest warrior of the sea.

Usopp stands alone, his skin burning under the intense light. He takes in a breath and lets it out in a slow gush.

He raises his head and takes aim with Kuro Kabuto, ready to pierce the light.

He is an Icarus, and he and his wings are melting. But where Icarus failed and fell, Usopp will succeed.

The light is intense and painful. He hears a sound, something like hissing. Is it coming from Usopp? A white fog is creeping over his eyes. Veins wiggle like snakes in his vision. Through the pain and the fog, he aims for the bright lights mounted on a singular long pole.

He is a God...

Usopp aims his shot, pulling Kuro Kaboto's band taught.

The light is all he sees. The light. The fog. The dark veins of his own eyeballs. He pushes past, and a new sight is given to him. He can see the tiny mechanism powering the lights; keeping the whole thing together. Where his eyes failed him, his Haki didn't.

The wiggling snakes behind his eyes burst.

It's red...

Then Black...

White.

Usopp releases his shot, howling in agony and victory.

He hears the tinkle of metal and glass.

The intense light is gone. He can feel his skin cooling, like when you stepped into the shade. There is a great sigh. Like the island itself is letting out a relieved breath. He did it.

He did it.

"USOPP!"

Usopp falls back on his back, his chest heaving from the panic attack shaking him apart. He's laughing though. As his skin burns. As tears trace down his cheeks. As his world is black and gone. He's laughing... because wow! What a shot.

"Th... that... was the greatest shot... made by Captain Usopp... the greatest!" Usopp snickers as he chokes on his tears.

"Usopp!" a choked voice sobs, and hands fall on his face. The hands are slim, and the fingertips are cold. Something wet is falling on his faces. Tears, most likely. "Usopp, no... no, no, no, no, no! What have you done?"

Usopp reaches up, his hands bumping into Sanji's face much sooner than he expected. Sanji is closer than he would have guessed. Usopp clumsily pets Sanji's face, aware suddenly of the rest of his crew's voices calling out for him.

The only regret he has now is he can't see them.

Still smiling, he whispers, "Hey Sanji... did you see that shot?"

...And his hands will guide them.

Chapter 28: Replace

Summary:

A conversation between Shanks and Yasopp

Chapter Text

Shanks finds him sitting by himself below deck. He would never have thought he'd have this conversation he's about to have... but well... there's a first time for everything.

Pulling a flask from his belt, Shanks sets it in front of Yasopp and sits across the glum man quietly. Silence is heavy below deck, the sounds of his crew echoing down to them below.

Eventually, Yasopp takes the flask, takes a swig, and then slowly, raises his sad eyes to his Captain.

Breathing through his teeth, Yasopp whispers, "I never thought it would happen..."

Shanks considers what he needs to say.

What should be said.

He's not sure if he knows. A question does pop into his head, one he feels he shouldn't need to ask, but still... "Yasopp... did you write home?"

"What?" Yasopp asks, not yet angry, but voice defensive.

Shanks runs a hand over his hair, "Your kid. Your wife. You talk about them all the time, like they're the light of your world... but after..." Shanks doesn't put into words what just happened.

He's sure, with that welt on his face, Yasopp remembers the fact that his own son, who Yasopp was aware had even gone out to sea, just clocked him one, and then told him to fuck off.

"Look Yasopp... your kid was upset. That wasn't the happy reunion between a father and son I've always imagined. And you seemed pretty surprised to see him out here. Have you written to him at all since all this? Since coming with me?" Shanks asks, expecting Yasopp to get mad. To shout, that, of course, he'd written home, of course! To have some other explanation for... whatever the hell just happened a moment ago. Shanks is trying to understand, so if Yasopp gets mad, so be it.

What Shanks doesn't expect, is the absolute silence coming from the other end of the table.

"...You didn't write?" Shanks asks, baffled.

Yasopp takes a swig out of the flask.

With a swipe, Shanks knocks it from Yasopp's mouth, and grabs him by his collar. He pulls until their foreheads collide and then barks, "Did you not write your fucking wife and kid? Did you send them money? Anything?"

"I... I always... I sent money. I didn't always... remember to attach a letter. We were always on the move, we were busy..." Yasopp tries to deflect, avoiding his Captain's furious gaze.

Shanks pushes him away in disgust, "Are you fucking kidding me?! Is that your sorry excuse!?"

Yasopp growls, and his anger pushed him to meet his Captain's gaze.

Shank's is happy to see a response.

"You had a fucking responsibility to your family!"

"You're the one who asked me to come with you! She... she wanted me to go! To live my dream!"

"But I'm sure she expected you to write! You just... expected one day to return to your family, after years of silence, and thought you wouldn't be replaced?"

Yasopp smashes a fist into the table, and closes his eyes.

"I wasn't replaced!" He shouts, but it feels like a lie.

After he'd been hit, he'd tried to follow Usopp, tried to ask what the hell that hit had been about. But he'd been stopped.

That man, that huge guy with the blue hair had stopped Yasopp. His glare and icy snarl still bounces around in Yasopp's head even now.

"You think you've got the right to speak with him? After leaving him alone... with nothing? If the first words you want to say to your son isn't a fucking apology, don't bother going after him. If you're not going to be a man about it, I'll keep looking after him. He's a great fuckin' kid, and a great fuckin' pirate, and an even better fuckin' man... and you... you missed out!"

The large man had then thrown Yasopp to the ground, and he is the one to follow after Usopp.

He is the one... to go console Yasopp's angry son.

And Yasopp did...

And Yasopp retreated below the deck of his ship... and hid.

Shanks' angry, frustrated sigh brings Yasopp back to the present.

"Yasopp... there's no fixing the past. If you did something stupid, go fucking make up for it! Luffy's ship is still docked nearby where your boy is!" Shanks snarls, gesturing with his arm where Yasopp should be going.

"Don't be a fucking coward and stay here! Face your boy. Accept his wrath, apologize, beg for forgiveness... and deal with the damage you've done," Shanks says, his words firm and expectant. "Don't you sit here like a coward... or do. But if you do the latter... you've lost that kid for good!"

Shanks and Yasopp hold each other's gaze for a long time.

Shanks eventually sighs with disappointment, shakes his head, and heads back upstairs.

Yasopp sits alone, deciding if he's a coward or not.

Chapter 29: Concession

Summary:

Deals are struck to appease the sick and to appease the worrying.

Notes:

SanUso, more of Sanji noticing a deep care for Usopp.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"His temperature is high," Chopper sighed stepping outside of his office with a frown. He kept his voice low, in case the patient was listening. "Really high... He needs to eat and drink more, but he's putting up a resistance."

Chopper rubbed his chin, concern weighing down his brow, "It's a simple illness, an infection of the throat and sinuses. Strep throat. But his pain response to it... it's as if he's never been sick before!"

"Well... Usopp has claimed to have never been sick a day of his life," Nami sighs, hands on her hips, and her gaze glaring at the door, "But I thought that was another... tall tale of his!"

"Surely he's been sick before... at least once!" Brook argued, tapping his skeletal fingers to his teeth.

"I gotta admit... I've seen a lot of us sick, but I don't think I've seen Usopp-bro sick," Franky mused. He chuckled suddenly, before adding, "Well, not something he didn't invent anyway..."

"I'm not sure. I'm going to take a look at his blood for antibodies, but based on his fever and his reactions to the pain, I'm not sure if he's had this illness before. I really think it's his first time experiencing this... which can be a problem. Mild illnesses are worse in adulthood if you've never experienced them in your youth!" Chopper sighed.

"Isn't he just being a bad patient?" Zoro protested, "He's just whining."

"A temperature doesn't lie, idiot," Sanji snapped, a tray of soup and water in hand, "If Chopper says it's bad, then it's bad!"

Zoro glared at the cook, an insult ready on his lips, but Luffy, his usually cheerful tone subdued, interrupted, "Don't fight. Usopp's head was hurting from the noise earlier."

The crew fell quiet, anxiety twisting in their stomachs over Luffy's obvious concern. Finding out Usopp wasn't feeling his best, had been a bit of a shock.

In the middle of an escape from the Marines, Usopp had burst into tears over the noise of a canon, before collapsing on the ground. It hadn't been too abnormal a sight, but his tears were normally from being scared... and not from pain. This had obviously been the latter, and the sight of it had shocked the group. Usopp had been gathered up and taken to Chopper's office immediately. More alarming than any complaint he could have made was his muttering that he was fine, despite his obvious fever, and flushed complexion.

"Usopp was hurting a lot," Luffy mumbled, folding his arms with a frown.

A crew member falling sick was never a happy occasion, but in their years sailing together, Usopp had indeed, never gotten sick. His boasting over his good health had oddly been a comfort for the crew. He was normally the first to check on a downed crewmate, telling them stories, or encouraging them to take medicine. There was many an occasion Luffy's fast recoveries could be credited to Usopp, for tricking his Captain into taking his gross tasting medicine, thanks to some tale he wove.

And if asked to not get to close to the paitent he would laugh, "I never get sick! Never. While, I'll have you know..." and then he'd launch into a story about how his family was blessed with good health, or that Usopp had sailed on the sea when he was seven, to do some great quest that caused his good health.

It was clockwork. Usopp didn't get sick. He faked them. He did not succumb to them.

A cough from behind Chopper's closed door caused the Straw Hats to jump.

Anxious eyes turned to the door, unease settling over them like a blanket.

"Has he eaten anything?" Robin asked, her voice almost a whisper.

"Not yet..." Chopper admitted, "He's struggling even taking water right now."

Sanji, straightened his back, his grip on the tray getting surer.

"Well, he won't turn my food down. Water and a light soup. It's not too much much, and he'll find the taste to his liking," Sanji said with a nod, marching towards the door.

"If he could at least drink all the water... I don't want to resort to an I.v.," Chopper half pleaded, a brave smile on his face.

"He's not going to die from this," Zoro said, brown furrowed with frustration, "He's going to be fine!" He seemed grumpier with Usopp laid up.

Franky opened the door for Sanji, and offered a grin of reassurance, "Good luck bro!"

Sanji entered Chopper's office with firm steps. He flinched a little as the door closed behind him, suddenly finding himself squinting at the dimmed light of the room.

It didn't take long for his eyes to adjust; Usopp was easy to spot on the bed, his black hair flowing like ink over his pillow. His dark skin was ashen, and his eyes were closed. He was frowning, the pain of his throat most likely the cause.

Sanji hated it when people were sick.

Nami's brave sick face comes to mind. As does his mother's. Both thoughts fill him with dread. Smiling while sick... he'd rather no one did that.

He feels cruel to suddenly be grateful Usopp isn't hiding behind a brave smile.

Sanji sets the tray down on the desk by Usopp's bedside with an intentional noise. Usopp's body flinches, as if the noise had hurt him, and he peeks out at Sanji beneath heavy lashes... pouting at Sanji in greeting.

He's not putting on a brave face, and again Sanji feels selfish to be happy about it.

Moved by relief, and an unexpected surge of compassion, Sanji reaches out to cup Usopp's face. Usopp is burning up beneath his touch.

"Hey there... You've got to eat," Sanji says, his words slow and awkward. He hadn't really known what to say, especially now that he's touched him out of the blue.

Usopp makes an expressive frown but remains quiet. His dark eyes are locked onto Sanji, but they are darting over Sanji's face. He doesn't seem to know where to look, or perhaps, even lying down, he is too dizzy to focus on the cook's face.

"Can you sit up for water, at the very least?" Sanji asks thumb stroking Usopp's cheek. He doesn't know where the doting has come from, but he doesn't push it down. They're alone after all... no one to see what he's doing.

Usopp nods, his fevered cheek pressing lightly into Sanji's cool palm. He stays there a moment and then moves to sit up. His arms are trembling. Sanji reaches gently under those shaking arms and helps the sniper sit up, Usopp pressing his forehead heavily against Sanji's chest.

His breath is labored from the effort of sitting up.

Is this really just strep throat?

When Usopp's breath is evened out, Sanji lets him go and reaches for the glass of water. He passes it to Usopp, who takes it obediently; quietly.

That quiet is so disturbing. Usopp is a small ball of chaos, smaller and more predictable than fluffy, but he's loud and exuberant. The quiet doesn't suit him.

"I know Chopper gave you medicine... it hurts now, but you'll be feeling better soon. Chopper's the best doctor," Sanji says, unable to help but try and console the ailing sniper. Forcing a smile, Sanji continues, "So... so drink up! The water will help. It'll help you feel better soon!"

Usopp's pout grows deeper, but he sips the water. He jolts, wincing sharply, a hand going to his throat. He looks so surprised at the pain.

Nami had smiled so brightly while sick. His mother had eaten her food obediently.

Sanji has one of Usopp's hands in his own and clings to it. He's not sure why he's so scared now.

"Please drink it all. I know it hurts... but I promise you'll feel better soon," Sanji says, smiling as wide as he can.

Usopp frowns, and his eyes sluggishly turn to Sanji's face. His head tilts slightly, and then, he smiles.

Sanji feels choked up at the sight.

Usopp's feverish hand is suddenly on Sanji's cheek, and the sniper whispers, "Sanji... stop. It is going to be alright... Don't make that face."

Sanji shakes his head, "I'll... I'll worry less if you promise to drink this, and have a few bites of soup."

Usopp nods, head drooping as if it is weighed down. He grunts very softly in agreement. Closing his eyes, Usopp chugs half the water, before his hand goes to his throat. He coughs, his face twisting up from the pain, and Sanji is reaching forward again.

He feels so helpless.

And then Usopp has his arms around him.

Usopp is hot and sticky with sweat. His hug is too heavy and uncomfortable. He buries his face into Sanji's throat, and sighs, his hot breath adding to the uncomfortableness.

"Stop... making that...face. I'll get better. Just stop. I'll be alright... Don't look so sad," Usopp whispers, voice strained and weak, "I'll have you know... I'm the fastest at getting better..." It's a weak story, and one with no elaboration.

His strong hands, no longer small like how Sanji remembers them, curl around the lapels of Sanji's jacket.

"In exchange... feed me. And listen to me complain. But I'll... get better. So don't look like... this," Usopp's voice is tired, and he sounds concerned.

Sanji hugs Usopp unsure of what face he is making, or how to stop it, so he tells him so.

"I don't know what I look like."

Usopp rubs his cheek against Sanji's hair and mumbles, "Very scared. I don't like... people looking at me like that... about this."

Usopp is trembling.

Sanji abruptly remembers this isn't even a severe illness, and with a much braver and stronger voice insists, "You're going to be fine. We... I'm looking at you like this... because our sniper can't be down for long. You're going to get better. I just hate seeing you like this."

Usopp sighs, and his trembling calms. Somehow, Sanji has managed to bring Usopp comfort, while also comforting himself.

Sanji's not even sure why all of this is bothering him so much.

Sanji holds Usopp tight, and thinks only of him. He pushes away Nami's determined flushed face, and his mother's grateful, relieved smile. Nami is still here. His mother is gone. Usopp will be like the former. He'll get better.

All these things are related, and Sanji's not sure if he understands how.

Usopp told him once, that his mother died when she was sick.

"Are you afraid?" Sanji asks, arms still tightly wrapped around Usopp. It doesn't matter how uncomfortably hot everything is.

"Not like you," Usopp whispers, lips brushing Sanji's throat. "I'll get better... didn't I tell you? So no more..." Usopp's hot hand covers Sanji's eyes.

"I have to endure it when all of you don't feel well... so don't fall apart on me... If I can take it... you can take it too," Usopp mutters, voice trying to be encouraging, even if the words don't quite fit.

Sanji remembers all of Usopp's smiles whenever they fall ill. He's a good liar. Good at hiding when something is wrong. He too, lost his mother to illness.

Sanji had been worried about Nami when she was sick.

But not like how he had been worried about his mother.

Sanji is worried more for Usopp, over this nonfatal illness. More worried than he ever had been for his mother.

A disconnect in Sanji's heart, and head-click.

"Ah..." Sanji whispers suddenly understanding something he had been trying not to look at for some time.

He looks down at Usopp in his arms. He's asleep, his glass empty and bowl of food untouched. Sanji will try again when he wakes up. Usopp promised to get better. And he will. The whole crew, and not just Sanji, will see to it.

Sanji sets Usopp back gently on his pillow, releasing him very carefully.

There's a lot to think about, but Sanji will deal with that later. Every other thought and feeling is packed away, neatly tucked back inside Sanji for him to deal with at a later time. He'll go make more soup for Usopp when he wakes up.

Usopp did promise to get better if Sanji stops making whatever face he's been making. It's a small price to pay that Sanji will agree to pay while Usopp's eyes are open.

But if Usopp's eyes closed, Sanji decides to worry all he wants, and there's not a thing the sniper can do about it.

Notes:

This story might be removed for its own standalone if I decide to make another Chapter. I'm torn between writing a short SanUso story with this being the beginning, but i'm not sure where i'm going with this tale yet. So, if this story disappears, I've decided to continue it

Chapter 30: Equip

Summary:

A word challenge from my tumblr.

Usopp gets in trouble after telling a story, that encourages Luffy into a silly antic.

Chapter Text

"You!"

At the sound of a truly loud bellow, Usopp let loose a very loud, glass-shattering scream. (Though it sounded very manly, he swears.)

Hand over his racing heart, Usopp turned aroundto look at Sanji in startled befuddlement, "S-Sanji!? Why are you shouting?"

Sanji had barged into Usopp's workshop, a ladle in hand, and a truly angry looking expression plastered on his face. Practically biting through the filter of his cigarette, Sanji hissed, "It's your fault!"

"What's my fault?" Usopp squawked, getting to his feet in case he needed to take flight. It was never good (for him) when Sanji looked like this. Someone (like him) was bound to get hurt.

Sanji shifted the cigarette to the other side of his mouth with his tongue, a skill that Usopp took a moment to admire, and then marched forward towards the sniper. With a firm smack, he laid the ladle against Usopp's chest.

"You're responsible for telling that tall tale about gunslingers, and showdowns at sunsets, and a place called "the old west," right?" Sanji snarled, eyes narrowed.

Usopp was quiet for a beat, and then struck with a jolt of memory, sputtered, "W-well... yeah! I told Luffy and Chopper a bedtime story-"

Sanji smacked Usopp's chest with the ladle, and Usopp let out a petulant, "Ow! Quit it!"

Sanji's expression tightened, "Well, whatever story you told him, Luffy has been trying to put all the meat in the kitchen into his pants, his "holster," as he's calling it, and is chucking it around the deck, challenging people to showdowns! It's your fault I'm not going to have a proper stew made for dinner tonight!"

"...That's a lot to absorb," Usopp said after a long pause of silence. This seemed to only infuriate Sanji more, who caught hold of Usopp's nose, and proceeded to drag him to the deck of the ship.

"Look at this Long-nose!" Sanji hissed once they were atop the deck.

Usopp jerked his nose from Sanji's grip, pouting as he rubbed it.

When he was done sulking, and his nose felt less bent out of shape, he looked up. And there, several yards away, with Franky no less, Luffy stood with two large slabs of meat, still on the bone, equipped to his hips via string. He was in a half squat and had one brow narrowed as he glared at Franky.

Franky was also sporting meat tied to his hips, somehow conspired into joining into Luffy's strange game.

"Draw you yellow-livered rubber beach ball!" Franky hissed in his best villainous voice.

"On the count of three..." Luffy said with a nod.

Nearby, Chopper was watching with bated breath, his hands gripped into Zoro's hair. Zoro, serving as Chopper's chair was tolerating the reindeer hair pulling, and was watching the "duel," with slight interest.

"You can't count!" Franky laughed evilly, and Chopper and Luffy both let out insulted gasps.

Nami's laughter floated somewhere from the deck, and she must have been somewhere too watching, which maybe meant the whole crew had somehow become involved.

"I'll count for you," Robin's voice called out, though like Nami, Usopp wasn't sure where she had placed herself.

"Deal!" Luffy and Franky crowed, eyes narrowed at each other.

In a very serious voice, Robin's voice drowned out a slow count, "1... 2... 3!"

And on the count of three, both Luffy and Franky pulled out their "guns," which in this case was their pilfered meat, and threw it at each other. They struck each other at the same time, and both fell over backward, both of them giving out dramatic death cries. After a few moments of lying on their backs, they burst into laughter, the rest of the crew joining in.

Usopp was laughing too, and turned to look at Sanji, who was only glaring.

"What?!" Usopp cried, shrinking a little helplessly from Sanji's glare.

"This is your fault!" Sanji growled.

Usopp shrugged, "I don't see how! I never said the gun slingers used meat!" Usopp stroked his chin, "Though this does remind me of the time when I had to fight some little green men-little green broccoli men!"

Usopp didn't get much further, as Sanji let out a feral cry and set chase after Usopp, who wisely, ran screaming from the cook.

"Sanji! You have no appreciation for my artistic abilities!"

"Long-nose, I'm going to kill you!"

Usopp had been right. He knew that look was going to kill him.

Chapter 31: Initiative

Summary:

Rules are rules. And Zoro follows them when they are important. Especially the unspoken ones.

Notes:

Can be taken as Zoro/Sanji

Chapter Text

"Just... Just give me a minute..." Sanji murmured, really only to himself, and not to the bloodied man he was clumsily wrapping up with the remains of his jacket.

"It's... fine..." Zoro grunted irritably, his eyes staring straight up, not focused on anything.

"Shut up!" Sanji hissed. His expression grew grimmer, and he pressed even harder against the bloodied chest beneath him.

"...'S fine... s'posed to be like this," Zoro muttered.

"I said shut up!" Sanji hissed, tying the makeshift bandages in a clumsy knot. Removing his tie with quick practice, Sanji tossed it down, and then yanked off his shirt. In an unsteady motion, he began tearing the shirt to pieces.

Zoro closed his eyes with irritation, and upon opening them muttered, "It's fine... if it's this way. I joined first... I go first."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Sanji growled, his face pale and his eyes unblinking as he ripped up his formerly white shirt. It was stained now. Overhead, was the sound of a battle.

For Zoro, it seemed very far away.

Zoro held up a shaking hand, "Rules... are rules. I joined first. I go first. You joined fifth... not your time. Not... before me..."

Savagely, Sanji began to wrap Zoro up in bandages again, "Oh fuck you! Fuck you! That's not how it works!"

Zoro's chuckle turned into a wheeze, and then a slight cough. He sucked in a ragged breath and muttered. "Stupid... cook... doesn't know... the rules."

"SHUT UP!" Sanji barked, his eyes unblinking and focusing on the sopping wound he was trying to stop up. Unkindly, he shifted Zoro into a better position for wrapping; Zoro swearing and hissing as he did so. "If you... you think the order of how we joined the crew, gives you permission to just fucking die on me, you're fucking mistaken-you idiot swordsman!"

With a speed that made his arms ache, Sanji wrapped Zoro up even faster now, muttering, "I'm going to get you back to the ship! I'm going to get you to Chopper! And I'm going to save you dammit!"

"Tried not to go... there are rules... f'r that too..." Zoro muttered.

"Shut up!"

"But if someone's gotta go... gonna be me first. First to join. First to go... It's how... it is."

"I said... I said shut up!"

"You can't... jump the fuckin' line."

Sanji wasn't blinking. But the tears still somehow fell, "You fucking... you asshole! That's not an excuse... it doesn't give you... doesn't give you the right to take a hit for me!" Sanji choked, suddenly feeling like he was going to hyperventilate. His hand pressed hard and flat to Zoro's chest, willing the swordsman's blood to go back inside. Willing his flayed chest to close. Willing this day to not be happening.

"Rules... are rules," Zoro rattled, his breath wheezing and voice almost bored.

Sanji was hauling him up now, but Zoro couldn't feel his touch. That was fading away. "You can't die before me... no one can..."

"Then live! Live!" Sanji was sobbing but his voice was so far away, "Live so we can live! Live so I can-!"

Zoro couldn't hear now. But Sanji was Sanji. So he was probably still rattling on. Sanji was stupid. He just didn't get it. Zoro had vowed never to die, not until he was the best swordsman. But when he joined Luffy's crew and others began to join, a new set of rules settled in place too.

No one would die before him. He joined first. So no one was going before him. Not Luffy. Not Nami. Not even Sanji. No one was dying... not before him. It didn't matter he hadn't said them aloud before. Those were the rules.

"Rules... are rules."

Chapter 32: The Burden of a First Mate

Summary:

There's a high-pitched wail, and a hand on Zoro's back. A brush with danger reminds Zoro about the duties of a first mate

(Just a bunch of word vomit that somehow turned into a story.)

Chapter Text

There is a whistling sound, like the high-pitched wail of a kettle about to boil over. It's distant, but it is growing closer. He is not trained to recognize that sound or its meaning, it's not something he's used to being aware of.

But years of instinct let him know, that this sound, it's dangerous.

Unfortunately for Zoro, Usopp has honed himself to understand the meaning of that sound, so he reacts first.

"Lookout!"

A warm palm slaps against Zoro's back, and he spins as he stumbles forward. In front of his own wide-open eyes, Usopp is hit with a bullet. Usopp looks shocked. In a few seconds that might as well last forever, Usopp looks down at the red swell that stains his chest, and then up at Zoro.

Their gaze connects and holds, and time is stopped and the battlefield is quiet.

"No," Zoro says, Wado pulled from his mouth some time between in those unending seconds.

And time moves again.

Every muscle of Zoro's body strains, and he twists himself violently forward. His hands sweep up his swords and tuck them away, and then with arms flung forward, he reaches for Usopp.

Usopp still looks so shocked, but his face turns, and with it, his arm outstretches. He lets his body fall into Zoro as he lifts up Kabuto, and fires at the Marine that just shot him. A white dot far from them falls off a cliff a second later. Warm skin falls into Zoro's arms as Usopp releases the band of his Kabuto.

"Got him," Usopp breathes, and then he is crushed into Zoro's arms, Zoro shifting in a squatted position so he can shield Usopp a little more from the battle around them.

Usopp's red blood runs between the two of them, and Zoro is squeezing the sniper harder than he thinks he should be doing. But holding Usopp tight is the only way to stop his shaking. His left hand is against Usopp's back, and his fingers twitch at the sticky blood. The bullet went through, and Usopp's wound seeps in a spurting river with each thrum of his heartbeat.

"Usopp! What were you thinking!? Oi! Usopp!" Zoro howls, cradling the sniper in his arms, his other hand cupping Usopp's face.

Usopp is stunned, and his hand is pressed to the sopping wound at his chest. He looks at Zoro, and in that anxious nervous way of his, he stutters, "I-I dunno. I just... reacted." And somehow, Usopp smiles, the pride of saving his Nakama finally setting in, and he lets out a short laugh that becomes a wheeze, "Zoro, are you okay?"

Zoro crushes Usopp against him and rolls away from someone who thought they could get Zoro in the back while he was distracted. Little does the fool know, Zoro is only more dangerous when one of his friends is in danger. As he gets back up, he aims a kick at the ankle of his attacker and growls with satisfaction as he feels the bone break.

He's got no time to waste now, he needs Chopper.

"Usopp! Hang on!"

And that is it. That is all there is to it now. Zoro must get Usopp back to Chopper.

Time passes in a blur. Once Zoro had Usopp in his arms, the battle faded away. His Nakama's rescue and safety took priority, and Zoro didn't stop running until he had found Chopper. There were a lot of blurs of colors, sounds, and smells, and Zoro is not aware of the passage of time. His ears are ringing with that high-pitched whistling sound, committing it to memory. Zoro only comes back into awareness again as a familiar high-pitched whistle catches his attention.

His head snaps up, and he stands, and it's only then as his body is in full alert, his muscles coiled with alarm, that he realizes he's already back on Sunny. And that sound was an actual kettle that Sanji had put on at the behest of Chopper.

Sanji runs by Zoro, a towel wrapped around the handle of a copper kettle pot, and they share a look before Sanji is pushing his way into Chopper's medical room. Sanji is out a few seconds later, questions spilling out of his mouth, but he is silenced by Chopper's bark of, "I need to treat Usopp right now! Stay out!"

Awkwardly Sanji is standing next to Zoro, while the rest of the crew wait on the deck, awaiting news on Usopp's condition.

Zoro curses, and turns away, intending to find somewhere else to go. Something to do. Anything to distract him from this... calamity that shouldn't have happened.

"Oi, moss-head," Sanji calls after him, and Zoro freezes, his back tense, and shoulders flexing.

"This isn't your fault," Sanji says, and it is unexpectedly gentle and gruff at the same time. "Usopp is going to be fine."

Zoro turns to stare at Sanji and meets the cook's unexpectedly understanding gaze.

"I should have reacted faster," Zoro says. A statement, a fact, and not an excuse.

Sanji quirks a brow, "You're not a sniper. Usopp reacts the fastest in those matters. You can't protect us all."

And Zoro thinks Sanji is wrong, as he usually is. It's his duty to look after the crew. It's his job. When Luffy is busy, Zoro looks after the crew. Yes, they can help themselves, but Zoro was right there. He should have done better.

"I'll react faster next time," Zoro says, curling his fast as he makes a promise, "Next time... I'll know what that sound means. Next time, I'll cut those bullets down!"

Sanji stares back at him seriously, there is the same angry look Sanji gave him back on Thriller Bark when Zoro accepted all of Luffy's pain. Sanji swears quietly and snaps, "You can't carry that weight alone!"

Chopper pop's his head out of the sick bay and shouts, "Usopp is going to be okay!"

There is a rush of relieved cheers on the deck, but Sanji and Zoro are still glaring at each other.

Zoro stands straighter, imagining adding another metal plate to his barbell, and says, "Yes I can. It's my job to carry that weight."

And then he turns from Sanji, deciding he's going to train now, and visit Usopp later. The sniper won't appreciate being surrounded. And Zoro holds onto his burden, his promise, with an iron tight fist.

He'll know what that sound is next time.

Chapter 33: Landslide (part 1?)

Summary:

The terrain has changed. What was once firm other became rolling waves of dirt, and half the crew is lost. Luffy will find them!

Chapter Text

"NAMI!" Luffy's voice cuts across the empty space as he runs towards his navigator who is stumbling across the muddy and rocky terrain.

She seems dazed and is missing a sandle. One bare foot steps into the muddied terrain, and she stumbles. But she keeps moving forward, down a sloping ruined pathway as if looking for something. Her wobbly form is faltering as she walks away from him, and she lilts awkwardly to the left. As Luffy screams for her again, she stops and slowly turns to look at him.

Her lashes hang low over confused eyes, and the right side of her head is damp with blood. Her hair is stuck to her cheek, and hangs in an uncomfortably ragged way. Like maybe her scalp is torn from her head.

Luffy has her in his arms before she sinks to her knees.

"Nami!"

"Luffy..." Nami says in a hushed and dazed voice, "Luffy..."

Her wound doesn't look so bad up close, but it is still terribly bloody. And there's mud in her hair and in the wound. Luffy wants to brush it away but is too scared to touch her injury. He doesn't want to cause her any extra pain.

"It's alright Nami! You're going to be okay! We'll get Chopper-" Luffy sputters to explain.

"Luffy," Nami's quiet voice calls out to him, "Luffy, where is Chopper?"

Luffy freezes and looks over the muddy landscape. It had not been that an hour ago. They had all been together. He and his crew. There had been a battle, and they had won, and it had been time for their great escape. For their grand exit. Time to get back to sea.

And then the Marines had fired a cannon at the cliffside they'd been running along.

There was a cracking boom, and a moaning like thunder, but it had come from below. It came from the earth. The ground moved and shook, and like melted butter sloughed off the cliffside and poured down the hill. Trees and great stones rolled like debris washed away by water. And Luffy's crew had gone with it.

It had happened so fast.

The earth itself had swept away Luffy's friends, angrier and deadlier than any sea. The ones who had been leading the charge at the front had disappeared the fastest. The trembling trio. Usopp, Nami, and...

"Chopper," Nami's soft voice snaps Luffy from his thoughts, and she touches Luffy's cheeks. Her eyes are strange and dark, unseeing. "Chopper. I was holding him... where is CHopper?"

"LUFFY!" Franky's voice is booming, and Luffy can hear him running towards them.

"Luffy! The crew! The landslide! They all..." Franky is gasping, his eyes wide at the horror of it all.

Luffy gathers Nami in his arms, and rushes her to Franky, "Franky, take her. I've got to find the others. They're down there, somewhere in the landslide."

Franky tucks Nami in his arms, Nami's hand gripping tight onto Luffy's sleeve, refusing to let him go.

"Luffy it's dangerous-" Franky begins to argue in a stern voice.

"Who else got swept up? Who wasn't caught up in the landslide?" Luffy speaks over Franky, no longer just a Nakama. Now he is the Captain.

Franky answers obediently, "Usopp, Chopper, Brook, Nami, and Jinbei. They were all caught in it. They were the closest to the front. Robin, myself, Zoro, Sanji... we're all fine Captain. Just scraped up."

"Well we have Nami," Luffy says seriously, and gently pries Nami from his shirt. He squeezes her cold hand, and turns sharp eyes to Franky, "Get Nami to Robin. She's the best next to Chopper. Everyone else needs to search the landslide! We've got to find the others."

"But Luffy! It's dangerous!" Franky sputters anxiously, even as he cradles Nami closer to him, clearly getting ready to follow Luffy's orders.

"It doesn't matter. The others are down there somewhere! And we're going to find them!" Luffy removes his hat and gives it to Nami. She clutches it to her stomach and weakly whispers again, "Chopper..."

"I'm going to find him now," Luffy whispers, smiling gently at Nami's glazed and battered expression, "I'm going to find them all!"

And then Luffy tears down the ruined ground determined to find the rest of his crew.

Chapter 34: A Dream

Summary:

SanUso. Usopp has always dreamed of Sanji

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"This must be a dream."

"Shut up."

"Dreaming... it has to be."

"Shut up!"

"I'm in your arms."

"Usopp! Shut up!"

Usopp opens his eyes, and it's a great feat to do so. His lids are so heavy as if there are marbles sitting on top of the top lid, pinning his lashes to his cheeks. But he didn't need to open his eyes to know where he was.

He could smell. Smoke. Warm and addicting. He could smell salt. Not from the ocean, but the seasoning. Sesame. His preferred cooking oil.

"Sanji... I'm with you," Usopp says, and his own voice sounds dreamy. He's dreaming. Well, he must be dreaming. He's in Sanji's arms.

"Now's not the time to make jokes!" Sanji growls and wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. A tiny streak of red is left behind on his brow.

"I need you to be quiet, and just... just..." Sanji grunts as he ties something off on Usopp's chest, "And just..."

Usopp looks down. He can't really see anything at the angle he's at. There's Sanji's jacket tied around his chest, and there's something red sliding out from under the fine coat. He's not sure what it is.

He can't be hurt.

His body is heavy, and it doesn't seem to be listening to him fully, but he can't be hurt.

"Speak to me." Sanji bursts suddenly, his hands cupping Usopp's face, and tilting him towards him. "Speak to me!"

Usopp looks up into Sanji's face, and into his gray-blue eye. It is gray when he is angry, and blue when he is happy. At this moment, it is so dark it may as well be black.

This is a dream anyway, so Usopp cups Sanji's face and smiles, "But you told me to shut up."

He strokes a thumb over Sanji's cheek, and it leaves a streak of red across his pale skin.

Sanji's eyes are filled with sudden tears, and in an angry halting voice he hisses, "You're going to be alright! You're going to be alright!"

"I wish I was brave," Usopp hums, and smiles at Sanji's face, "It's a dream so I can say it. I like you Sanji. And if you let me, I could be in love with you."

Sanji's tears drip into Usopp's face.

Usopp smiles, "But I'm not brave. But there are always dreams. You always hold me... in my dreams."

"Usopp!"

Usopp feels so heavy. The marbles are back.

"Don't! Don't you-!"

Usopp closes his eyes.

"Usopp! I... I've always-!"

It's a shame neither of them was brave.

And Usopp falls asleep.