Hello everyone! I hope you all had a GREAT holiday! And yes. This is what you think it is. The final chapter of a HALLOWEEN fic being posted after CHRISTMAS. Hahaha! HAHAHAHA! HAHAHA Haha... ha... ha... (smashes head into the wall) WHY? Why am I so slow?
Alright, I'm over it. XD Time to thank everyone who's reviewed!
To Griever5: I KNOW! I'm so mean! XD I'm so glad you like it! And you're very welcome for the long chapter! It was my pleasure! Hehehe I have to admit I kinda felt the whole ghost that thing was a little cheesy, but Luffy wanted to see a ghost so bad I felt sorry for him! . And the trick! He's not playing it on Usopp, Usopp's his partner in crime! Mwahahaha... Anyway, thanks for the reviews! You reviewed EVERY chapter! (HUG) You're so great! I hope you enjoy this last installment just as much!
To polw: Thank you! XD I'm so happy you enjoyed it! I hope you like this last chapter just as much! Thanks for your reviews!
To Anime-Dudette: XD That was TOTALLY for you! I always look for a way to start chapters that catches peoples attention (thought in this chapter I couldn't really think of one) and I think that the "get out of my pants" line did very nicely! XD But throwing things? Fluff and romance isn't supposed to make you want throw things! XD Thanks for your reviews! I hope you like this final chapter!
To Micho chan: Cookie? For me? Thanks! XD I'm glad you're liking it so far! Will they kiss? (shifty eyes) I don't know! You'll have to read to find out! Mwahahahaha... XD Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoy this last part!
To WhiteTigress666: Yay! XD Glad you liked that line! Hehehe. And Yay again for you enjoying the SanUso! That makes me happy Good! I wanted you to realize that they'd wound up in the same house! I'm so glad you noticed! And here's you're chance to find out! XD I hope you enjoy this last chapter as well! Thanks for your reviews!
To Noriko Sakuma: XD Glad you like it! And I know! Poor Zoro, those damn veggies are out to get him! Thank you SO MUCH for the pic! (glomp) You're so great! I hope enjoy this last chapter just as much! Thanks for the reviews! XD
To The Plushie Bandit: (Oh no! I hope you haven't read this already! for some reason i missed your name!) Awww... (hug) I'm sorry to hear you've been having a not so good time. But I'm glad I could help! If you stopped writing it would be a devastating loss! I'd miss you terribly! (clings to you) So I'm really glad you've gotten your iterest back! XD REALLY glad! And Usopp fleeing into Sanji's cape was an idea that randomly popped into my head! But it was so perfect! Yes, me and your cat were in cahoots. We planned the whole thing! (shifty eyes) yes... XD How convenient! I can't wait to see your mermaid idea, but you MUST finish Murphy's Law! It's so freaking cute! Even if it is just romance! Romance is wonderful! Aw, well, you have to do what you need to do. XD I'll miss itvery much, but I can deal. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help! And I can't wait for BDAR! I hope you had a good holiday and have a good new years too!
To Misster. K: XD Glad you like them! And I know! Zoro + Luffy + Small Spaces CUTE. It's inevitable really. XD Thanks for the review! I hope you like this last chapter!
And a big thank you to all my readers!
Dedication: This final chapter is co-dedicated to Noriko Sakuma and dichana! Because in all their unbridled awesomeness, they BOTH drew their own version of the dress scene from chapter 3! Go check them out! And leave a nice comment! They are both AMAZING and they deserve your praise! XD You can find them at:
(dichana's: called The Costume - for Alibis) www .deviantart .com/deviation /26729901
(Noriko Sakuma's: called Luffy in a Dress +colored+) www .deviantart .com/deviation /26698375
Just remove the spaces. XD If the address doesn't work without the h t t p / just throw that out in front. (it worked for me without it though)
Or, if you don't want to mess around with all the spaces and junk, you can go to my deviantArt account through my profile here! Both pics are listed under my recent favorites, which is on the page that will come up.
Alright! Without further ditraction, onto the final chapter!
Warnings: Light language and yaoi/shounen ai. It's ZoLu and SanUso
Disclaimer: These characters are NOT mine! I don't own One Piece and I don't claim to!
It's the Onions
Chapter 6: The Big Switch
"Popcorn, check. Caramel apples, check. Candy apples, check. Fried dough, funnel cakes, hot dogs, cider..."
Zoro, with his arms full of food, carefully maneuvered his way through the crowd back to where he'd left his captain. The boy had only been halfway done with his first round of snacks when he'd stood up to help himself to more.
And the swordsman, hoping to temporarily satisfy his friend's insatiable appetite all the sooner, had pushed him back down into his seat and offered to get it for him.
So twenty minutes and countless queues later, the green haired young man found himself returning to his comrade, struggling to deliver his cargo without further incident.
He'd already had to double back and replace the fried dough he'd lost when he'd walked right into the middle of a game of tag. Needless to say the children hadn't been thrilled with the intrusion.
Several blocks down from the square that served as the heart of the festival, the first mate stepped out of the bustling throngs, sighing in muted relief because while he no longer needed to dodge partygoers left and right, he still had to find the rubber-man.
"Oi, Luffy, I've got your-" Reaching the bench where he'd left his comrade, he did one last check of the food stacked precariously within his arms, looking up only to find that his captain was nowhere to be seen. "Luffy?"
A quick scan of the area still left the swordsman empty handed.
Well, not literally...
The boy's leftovers, meaning his napkins, wrappers, and paper plates, were all that was left to mark the infamous straw hat's presence.
'Damn it,' Zoro cursed internally. He'd taken too long. The younger pirate had finished his meal and gotten bored, and there was no telling how long ago he'd taken off.
Glad that Sanji wasn't there to get in his face, he abandoned the food he was carrying in favor of locating his captain.
Finding his step faltering as he passed a jack-o-lantern, the ex pirate hunter noticed that after so many onions and apples, it had become almost odd seeing a face carved into a pumpkin. 'It must be pretty close to midnight by now...'
"Luffy!" He bellowed, scouring for any sign of the boy's red shirt or, even better, his straw hat... But wait! He wasn't wearing his red shirt! He had his hat with him but it wasn't on his head...
The swordsman sighed. This was going to be a hell of a lot harder than first anticipated.
Meanwhile, weaving his way through the mob of people, Luffy grinned.
"Luffy! Where the hell are you?"
Flinching at the tone of his first mate's voice, the raven haired teen squeaked and pushed himself into a sprint, hoping to escape before his crewmate found him. Something in the crowd had caught his eye, and it had brought the most wonderful idea to mind.
Well, wonderfully evil anyway.
"Where'd he go," murmured the rubber-man, pouting in frustration before his focus settled upon his quarry. 'Ah HA! There you are...' A predatory grin spread over his face as he clasped his hands in anticipation.
It was time to put his plan into action! The ultimate Halloween trick!
--------------------------
Humming absently to himself as he walked, Usopp perused the various tables of crafts and trinkets as he passed. He hadn't expected people to be selling wares such as these at a Halloween festival...
Casting a quick glance around the area, the sniper noted that the blonde had yet to return.
The chef had gotten hung up on some young lady posing as a fortune teller, and had even tried to coax the marksman into getting his palm read, hoping to use that to disguise his true intentions.
Sighing irritably, the liar shoved his hands into his pockets. Sanji didn't seem to be having any problems dragging his feet even with his lack of a cover.
"Stupid Sanji," the long-nose grumped quietly. The cook's absence made him more lonely and miserable than he would have liked to admit.
"Oi! Usopp!"
Turning with a start, the sharpshooter recognized his older crewmate's voice. Squinting as he fought to locate his companion, he easily picked out the love cook's golden mop as it snaked its way through the masses.
While there were numerous other blondes in the sea of partygoers, he had no problem pinpointing his larger comrade. He was the only one spouting a thin veil of smoke.
"Usopp!"
Lifting his hands into the air, the sharpshooter waved in hopes of catching the teen's attention. "Over here!"
"That you, Usopp?"
Rolling his eyes, the younger of the pair waved with more enthusiasm in reply. 'Of course it's me,' he mused sarcastically. "Yeah! I'm over he-ack!"
The breath was stolen from his lungs when someone snagged him roughly by the shirt collar and hauled him off. First too stunned to react, he felt his panic kicking in only when he found himself being towed into a dark alley.
'A mugger!' Was the first thing that sprang into his mind when at long last he and his captor came to a stop. He spun on his heel, closing his eyes and throwing his hands upward in a plea for mercy.
"Please don't hurt me!" He begged. "I don't have anything! No money! Nothing of value! These aren't even my clothes!" Pausing, he bowed his head in submission. "But I didn't steal them or anything," he explained frantically. "I swapped clothes with a friend for Halloween so now he's dressed as me and I'm dressed as him and these aren't my pants so these aren't my pockets and I don't have anything oh please spare me Mr. Mugger sir!"
In a last ditch effort to sway his assailant, he pulled the pockets of his jean shorts inside out to demonstrate just how bare they were.
There was a lengthy silence before, "...Mugger?"
Blinking in realization, the sniper's head shot up to see the infamous straw hat staring strangely back at him. "Luffy!"
The rubber-man's confused expression immediately vanished at the sound of his name, replaced by his trademark grin. "Hi!" He piped, cocking his head to one side.
Relief washed over him, and the marksman slouched down, relaxing now that he knew it was only his friend. "Phew!" He gushed, bracing against the brick building to his left with one hand while clutching his chest with the other. "I'm not getting mugged," he spoke, laughing sheepishly.
The infamous Straw Hat quirked an eyebrow at his comrade. 'Mugged? Mugger? What's a mugger?' He pondered over that little idea for only a moment more before he promptly lunged at the long-nose. "Gimme my clothes!"
"Ah!" Giving an odd yelp as the rubber-man began clawing at his shirt, the sharpshooter staggered backwards, trying in vain to fend the boy off. 'Holy crap,' he raved. 'I am being mugged!'
"Come on Usopp! Hurry up!" Tugging insistently at the waist of his crewmate's pants, he let out a keening whine. "Take off your clothes!"
Managing to squirm away, the liar whirled around to pin the captain with a startled expression. "What are you doing, Luffy?" He reached up to straighten his hat, which had been jostled into a slant atop his head, before he continued. "If you want your stuff back, just ask! Don't get all grabby on me!"
Pausing, as if in afterthought, he grumbled, "I get enough of that from Sanji."
Huffing impatiently, the captain shook his head vigorously. "I don't want it back, I need it back!" Pulling the wig, bandana and goggles from his hair, he set to work on his boots. "We're gonna play a trick on Zoro and Sanji!"
Eyeing his companion warily, the sniper quickly snatched his eyewear back before Luffy dropped them carelessly to the ground. "We are?" He questioned, tone slow in its hesitant reply.
Nodding in excitement, the rubber-man positively beamed at the long-nose. "Yup! Now hurry up! They're gonna come looking for us any second!"
It took some convincing to get Usopp to change in the middle of public, but when Luffy offered (rather forcefully) to give him a hand, the curly haired pirate was easily persuaded.
"There!" Wiggling his toes, now back in his sandals and exposed to the fresh air, the raven-haired teen grinned in satisfaction. "That's much better." Tousling his hair back into its usual chaos after freeing it from that itchy wig, he dutifully returned his hat to its rightful place.
Busy pulling his own hair from its knot on top of his head, the sharpshooter rubbed gingerly at his now aching scalp. "Now exactly how are we supposed to trick Sanji and Zoro?"
Shifting eagerly from foot to foot, Luffy watched as his comrade cinched his bandana around his own unruly mop. "We're gonna switch places! I'm going to go with Sanji and you'll go with Zoro!"
Pausing mid-reach for his boots, the liar frowned. "What? That will never work! They'll be able to tell it's not us, no problem!"
Waving off his friend's concern, the captain gifted the sniper with a mischievous smile. "Normally they would, but I overheard someone saying they were going to turn all the streetlights off! They won't know cause it'll be dark!"
Looking decidedly uncomfortable with this whole idea, Usopp scratched idly at the back of his neck; the soft brush of his hair more pronounced after being tied up for so long. "I dunno, Luffy..."
"Aw, come on, Usopp," the raven haired pirate keened. "It'll be-"
When the lights, as predicted, abruptly went out, plunging the entire fair into near darkness, the pair were startled into a brief silence.
Reaching out to take the liar's arm, the rubber-man laughed. "See? Told you!" Taking a step forward to lead his friend off, he was interrupted again. "Now come on! It'll be-"
"Luffy!"
Recognizing Zoro's voice instantly, the grin swiftly livened the infamous straw hat's face. "Here we go! Now go! This'll be-"
"Usopp? Oi, Usopp! Where the hell'd you go?"
Surprised by the subdued worry plaguing the cook's voice, the marksman tried to inch toward the left end of the alley, where the sound was the loudest. "I think I'll just..."
"Oh no you don't!" Slightly irritated now that he'd been cut short three times, Luffy spun them both until the sharpshooter was facing the place where the swordsman's tone echoed the strongest. "Just go!"
And with that, he gave his friend a helpful shove in the right direction; sending the teen stumbling out into the crowd again.
"Just don't look right at him and he'll never notice your nose!" Whispering from the now pitch black passage, the rubber-man's voice faded away with one final chuckle.
'Hey!' He fumed silently! 'My nose isn't that noticeable, is it?'
But wait! Zoro wasn't that stupid either!
Debating whether to be insulted more for himself or for the first mate, he felt an unforgiving grip clamp around his slender bicep and barely managed to stifle a squeak. That would have given him away the moment the sound escaped his lips.
"There you are," muttered the swordsman. "Where the hell did you run off to? I had to..." After a moment he paused, recognition spreading across his features.
Hunching down in a self-conscious manner, the sniper knew instantly that the older teen knew. He could feel his crewmate's realization through the sudden weakening of his grip. 'Well, that plan lasted all of ten seconds,' he thought sarcastically.
"Usopp? What..."
Laughing guiltily, the long-nose reluctantly turned to face his taller companion. "Heh heh... Well, you see, it's kind of a long story..."
"Save it," Zoro quipped, crossing his arms and fixing him with a suspicious frown. "Where's Luffy?"
"He's... with Sanji," the liar offered quickly, taking a step in the opposite direction just in case the older pirate took the news badly.
"What? The love cook?" Spat the larger teen, his scowl settling itself deeper in the creases of his brow. "What the hell is he doing with that asshole?" Tone accusing, he towered ominously over the darker haired teen.
Whimpering, Usopp shied backwards. "It was Luffy's idea!" He offered frantically, as if to ward off the young man's anger. "He thought it'd be funny if we tried to fool you and Sanji! So we changed clothes and switched places!"
Face still twisted into a glower, the older of the two eased back. "Fine," he spoke quickly. "Where are they?"
"I-I don't kno-"
Both the first mate and the marksman were visibly startled when a loud, hollow sound rose easily above the droning noise of the people milling around them, drowning out any further conversation.
As the enormous clock above the town hall they'd happened past earlier that day began chiming the hour, Zoro's eyes were drawn to a pumpkin settled in the window of a nearby store window, its eyes dimming as its candle wore low.
As the bell rang steadily onward, each peal sang out across the surrounding hills, the next arriving even before the first had died away.
Being so near the source, the sound was nearly deafening, and the swordsman could feel it resonating in his chest. As the final strike rolled outward the first mate felt all of his hopes of sharing in the town's superstition with his captain, as vague and hesitant as they'd been, vanish into oblivion with the last melodic tone of the clock.
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Planting his hat more firmly upon his head, Luffy cast a shifty glance around the street as he emerged from the shadows of the alleyway. It was going to be harder locating the chef now that the lights were out and all he could distinguish were dark shapes.
Not having taken more than three steps out of his hiding spot, the rubber-man found himself with a face full of black fabric. Pulling back from where he'd walked right into Sanji, the captain ducked low, turning away to avoid being detected as he fought to contain a giggle.
"And where, pray tell, have you been?" Voice lowering in a combination of annoyance and accusation, the chef crossed his arms beneath his cape as he loomed over the sniper.
Shrugging, the raven haired teen hoped that that would appease him for the moment and buy him a few feet of personal space.
Scowling in aggravation, the blonde exhaled smoke from the corner of his mouth. "Talk about a pain in the ass," he spat quietly, taking one last drag on his cigarette before crushing it beneath his foot. "Do you have any how long I've been looking for you?"
Still not facing his comrade, Luffy grinned cautiously, careful not to spoil his deception. He hunched his shoulders, head bowing even more, and scrubbed sheepishly at his left arm. 'How would Usopp react...'
Observing the boy's uncomfortable posture, the cook contested only a moment before deciding that the smaller pirate's posture looked apologetic.
Abruptly, with an ease that surprised even Sanji himself, the older of the pair spoke up again. "We don't know how trustworthy the people of this town are, so... I was actually kind of worried something had happened to you." With a subtle blush staining his cheeks, he raked one hand through his hair.
...Where had that come from? Since when did spout words like that so simply around Usopp?
Quirking a brow at his own behavior, he eventually brushed it aside. Focus caught by a jack-o-lantern, its gleaming eyes dancing with what would have been, had it not been a pumpkin, secretive amusement, as if it knew something he didn't.
After so many encounters with unusually expressive produce, the chef simply smiled as he turned, retreating towards the decoration in a manner that compelled the younger of the pair to follow.
The captain, with the brim of his hat tilted safely down to conceal his massive grin, and in turn his identity, moved at an infuriatingly slow gait after the blonde.
Stopping only a stride or two away from the jack-o-lantern, within the soft golden light radiating from the fruit's enigmatic smile, the taller boy turned. Glancing back over his shoulder he noticed that the sniper was still several paces away, and making poor progress.
Poor, lengthy progress, but progress none-the-less. The liar was approaching of his own accord. Given that the marksman tended to make a beeline in the opposite direction when it involved the love cook, Sanji knew that he had to do... at the very least say something.
"Usopp," the older of the pair coaxed, beckoning with a wave of one hand. "I think-"
Suddenly, a loud bell rang out, halting his words in his throat and the smaller pirate in his tracks. The chef recognized the sound as the chime that marked the passing of each hour on the town's enormous clock.
Feeling a cold rush of panic, almost as if he'd been backed into a corner, he sprang forward and snatched his friend by the wrist.
Hauling the boy close, he held the sharpshooter gently in place with one hand on his waist. For some reason, he felt none of his typical anxiety when he curled one hand over the curve of the darker haired teen's hip.
"Usopp," the older pirate began, voice low with sincerity. "I need to say something..."
The third strike droned out.
With his confidence still intact, the cook surged onward. "I wanted to tell you that, even though I tease you relentlessly, the last thing I feel for you is resentment... Far from it."
The fifth strike.
Luffy, who had been diligently keeping his face cast downward, now had to lift one hand to his mouth, forcing back the laughter that was threatening to escape his lips.
"I don't really know what this is... what I really feel, and I don't think I'll ever know... unless you help me..." Feeling the teen in front of him begin to shake, he shifted his hands to take his comrade firmly by the shoulders.
The eighth strike.
"Usopp, I know you don't think I heard you earlier, but what you said... before the haunted house..." He paused, finding this whole confession to be going almost too well. "You wouldn't have said that if there wasn't... something there, right?"
The liar's tremors spread, growing in intensity as his breath began coming in shallow, sobbing gasps.
'He's so upset,' mused the chef, worry etched through his expression. "I think it might be easier if we just try it," he soothed, gently tugging the boy closer. "Let's find out just how true that curse is."
The tenth strike.
When the long-nose refused to respond, the older of the two reached out, deft fingertips closing around the brim of his hat. "Come on, Usopp, take off the hat and look at me would you?"
At long last the younger teen lifted his face as the blonde pulled off the boy's straw hat. Sanji swept downward, intent on claiming what he hoped was the sharpshooter's first kiss, only to falter halfway to his goal.
'Huh,' wondered the blonde lazily, blinking at the odd sight before him. 'Well this is odd...'
The sniper's long nose was gone...
His curls were gone...
And the constant, albeit increasingly charming blush he'd come to expect from the darker haired teen was gone...
And suddenly it dawned on him. The ridiculously wide, infuriatingly proud grin. The scar on his left cheek. The insufferable giggling...
'Yep. No doubt about it. No wonder I could talk to him without making a fool of myself.'
This was not Usopp.
This was the rubber-man. The captain. The infamous Straw Hat. The future King of the Pirates! This was his nightmare come true! Instead of sharing a meaningful exchange with object of his bumbling affections he'd almost locked lips with-
"LUFFY!"
The older teen had bellowed so loud that the final peal of the hour only just managed to drown out his voice. His stomach dropped to his feet and for a moment it felt as if someone had wrenched out his heart.
Undeterred by the cook's positively outraged tone, the raven haired teen smiled, if at all possible, even wider. Laughing without restraint directly up at the noticeably thrown expression of his crew mates face, the kid whirled into some sort of victory dance.
What the boy had won, Sanji wasn't quite sure he truly wanted to know.
"We tricked you! We tricked you!" The smaller teen sang energetically, throwing his arms into the air for emphasis. "Me and Usopp tricked you!"
"Tricked me?" The blonde echoed, eyebrow twitching in anger. "You and Usopp?"
Nodding vigorously, the rubber-man stooped to retrieve his hat from where it had fallen. "Yup! We tricked you and Zoro! You couldn't tell it was me, could you? Huh?"
At a complete loss, Sanji simply shook his head. He couldn't tell whether he should be angry, disappointed, or confused. "When did you two run into each other? I've been with Usopp this entire time!"
"Nuh-uh!" Luffy shook his head forcefully. "You left him alone a while back and I grabbed him and dragged him off!" With a smile, the smaller boy propped his hands on his hips, looking strangely triumphant.
Guilt lanced through his mind, and Sanji couldn't suppress a frown. 'I guess it really isn't safe to leave him alone. Good thing it was only the captain...'
His warring emotions finally ebbed, intense regret declaring an easy victory and settling like a weight in the pit of his stomach. Shoving his hands into his pockets, the blonde sighed, his fingers curling into fists.
Closing his eyes, Sanji could only hope that the reason the sniper had agreed to participate in the trick had not been to get away from him.
Blinking widely, Luffy's excitement faded when he took in the upset expression his comrade's face held. "Sanji?" He ventured quietly, taking a step closer. "What's up? Is something wrong? Do you feel sick?"
Startled back into awareness when a slender hand was cupped against his forehead, the chef straightened, batting the boy's hand away with a swipe that was a little more harsh than he had meant for it to be.
"I'm fine," the larger of the pair replied, voice tired. Rolling his shoulders absently to rid some of his tension, he turned his back on his companion. "Come on, let's go find the others."
Eyeing the older pirate in uncertainty, the raven haired teen stood rooted to his spot, thoughts stirring within his mind until the cook snapped back over his shoulder for him to 'get his ass moving.'
And even though the heated remark was normal enough for the blonde young man, as he sprang into motion to catch up with his friend, Luffy couldn't help but feel like something was terribly wrong.
----------------------
In the passing of twenty minutes, the four pirates managed to find one another in the exact spot where they had first parted.
Zoro was unusually quiet, even for him, and looked distracted as he raked one hand through his hair. "I think it's about time we head back to the ship," he suggested, looking drained as his captain reluctantly nodded.
Luffy, having forgotten his earlier concern for the chef, immediately pounced on the sniper with news of a successful ruse.
Usopp looked quite disheveled about the whole situation, especially after stealing a glance at Sanji's miserable expression. Nodding absently as the rubber-man poured over an enthusiastic recount of the incident, the boy's excited words fell on deaf ears.
The love cook kept his eyes cast low towards the path ahead of him, wordlessly moving off in the direction that would lead them to the ship.
"Are you alright?"
Visibly startled at the sharpshooter's quiet voice, the blonde plastered a painfully fake smile over his features, raising his head only to nod. "Of course! I'm fine!" He laughed loudly, hoping to counter any of his friend's anxiety with his greatly exaggerated enthusiasm.
The older pirate's response did absolutely nothing to quell the liar's discomfort, and he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Are you sure?" Pressing again, he found himself frowning as he noticed his comrade's face fall just slightly.
With his grin easing into a gentle smile, the blonde nodded. "Yeah," he spoke, softly now as he lifted his gaze to meet that of his crewmate. "Nothing to worry about."
Still not at all convinced, Usopp let the matter drop, instead falling into step beside the chef. After a moment of tense silence, he noticed just how cold it had gotten and shrank inward, rubbing heat back into his bare arms until he felt something warm draped around him.
Blinking in surprise, he turned in time to see Sanji withdraw, having removed his cloak and lain it over the darker haired teen's narrow shoulders. Opening his mouth to speak, he found himself cut short by a shake of the cook's head.
"Keep it," the taller pirate prompted, tucking his hands back into his pockets. "I've got my jacket. That's more than enough to keep me warm." He quieted for a moment, watching him out the corner of his eye before continuing. "You on the other hand, have that," he joked, laughing quietly.
Looking down at himself as his crewmate gestured to his outfit, he gave a brief laugh. His overalls left much of his body exposed to the steady breeze that had picked up, and the fabric that did cover him did little to stop the wind.
"Wouldn't want you catching a cold now, right?" The blonde added, directing his attention back to the road in front of him. After a moment of hesitation he spoke again, a genuine smile playing over his lips. "But... I appreciate your concern."
Eyes moving with great care over his friends profile, Usopp found that the presence of that smile warmed him more than the borrowed cape ever would. "Me too," he offered, smiling in return.
Zoro had fallen back several yards, keeping his captain, who's gait was strangely lethargic for the normally energetic boy, within earshot. Quirking an eyebrow, he chanced a look at his friend.
Luffy was moving sluggishly along, dragging his feet five or so strides behind his first mate. The boy gave a large, loud yawn before he reached upward, two small fists scrubbing sleepily at his eyes in an act that made him look very much like a young child.
Smirking, the older pirate shook his head, but couldn't keep the affection from his gaze. He paused, waiting for the boy to catch up before he turned away and crouched down.
Seeing this, the rubber-man halted as well, staring blankly at his swordsman's broad back. "Wha..?"
Motioning with one hand, the green haired pirate spoke over his shoulder. "Climb on," he instructed, reaching out with both arms to invite the smaller teen closer.
After a moment more of puzzlement, a groggy, but delighted smile split the boy's face, and he moved eagerly forward. He wrapped both arms around his friends neck, pressing himself against the older pirate's body.
The taller of the pair stood slowly, adjusting his balance as he caught the boy's knee's over his arms, hefting his captain higher upon his back.
"Thanks, Zoro," the younger teen murmured drowsily, eyes half-lidded as he nuzzled his face into the curve of his crewmate's shoulder.
He could feel his companion's muscles shift and pull against his stomach. The warmth emanating from the young man only served to send him dozing that much faster, and the rhythmic rocking of his steady pace lulled him into a light slumber.
Smiling fondly, the first mate tightened his hold on the boy, listening as the breath ghosting past his ear eased into soft, contented snores.
One little superstition didn't change anything. He had this, and these exchanges were enough to keep him satisfied.
The older pair was careful not to disturb his precious cargo, keeping his eyes peeled for anything that might pose a problem, and managed to let the boy snooze until they finally reached the ship twenty-five minutes later.
He accidentally jostled the boy awake in shifting his hold, moving until he was cradling the boy against his hip with one arm.
"Sorry," he mumbled, using his now free arm to heft them both up the ladder and onto the deck, all the while with Luffy blinking at him in a disoriented fashion.
The rubber-man gave another jaw-cracking yawn as the swordsman clambered awkwardly over the railing, perking up immediately when his friend set him back on his feet. Throwing his arms high into the air, he let out a noisy sigh. "Ah! That was a good nap!"
As his captain grinned, Zoro stretched, working the knots out of his back just enough to allow him to stand straight.
Hearing Usopp thump onto the deck, followed closely by the chef, the raven haired teen turned. "That was so much fun!" He burst, punching one fist skyward to highlight his point.
Succumbing once again to his crewmate's energy, the sharpshooter found himself drawn into an animated conversation, each sharing what they'd done during the festival.
Several minutes later, still charged with excitement from relating his and Zoro's encounter with the ghost cat, Luffy remembered the incident between he and the love cook.
"Oh yeah! You should have seen Sanji, Usopp! When he thought I was you?" Doubling over as he laughed, the rubber-man saw the aforementioned chef stiffen out of the corner of his eye.
Leaping upright again, he whirled around and tackled the cook around the neck, pressing himself close as he tried to add a visual demonstration to his tale. "When the clock's bell started going off, he-"
With his face twisted in a combination of discomfort and embarrassment, the older pirate interrupted his story by squirming out of his hold, backing hastily away as he fought to maintain composure.
"Aw..." Pouting when half of his display made a swift escape, he sulked for only a second or two before his eyes lit upon Zoro. Throwing himself at his first mate, he grinned as the green haired teen instinctively caught him around the waist.
Flinging his arms around his friend's neck, he glanced at the sniper as he laid himself flush against his partner. "He was all dramatic!" The smaller boy spouted, giggling as he turned to put their meeting into motion.
"Oh, Usopp!" He cried, deepening his voice as well as he could to imitate the chef's tone. "You mean so much to me! I can't get you out of my mind! You and you're long nose..." Drifting into a theatrical pause, he leaned backwards in the swordsman's hold, laying one arm across his forehead as he swooned.
The first mate blushed as the infamous straw hat yanked him roughly down by the collar, praying to god or whatever higher power that was out there that no one realized that he'd made no move to push his captain away.
The marksman, stunned into silence by the show in front of him, couldn't bring himself to move. Sneaking a look at the blonde, he noticed the taller pirate's complexion flaring into a red hue.
The man's eyes were wide and shocked, and he looked... scared!
Sanji flattened himself against the railing, seriously considering whether or not to pitch himself overboard.
What would the liar think after seeing this? The rubber-man was making it look like he'd been molesting him! And the exaggerated gasps and sighs he kept emitting were not helping matters.
Leaning dangerously close to his comrade's lowered face, Luffy's tone was taken by an odd conviction, given that he was adlibbing the entire dialogue. "Oh, Usopp," he called, tilting his head to one side as he fought not to laugh at his first mate's panicked expression.
"Oh Usopp," he repeated, adding more emotion to his speech. "Kiss me!"
One short sentence was all it took to send the minds of three young men into a total melt down.
'Wha..? Did he just...?' The long-nose felt heat rise to his face, swallowing hard as he tried in vain to drag his eyes away from the scene before him. 'That didn't actually...'
Sanji gasped silently, breath twisting painfully in his throat. 'Shit!' He raved, struck with a sense that the rubber-man was about to sign his death warrant. 'Shit!'
Zoro simply gaped, his wide, shocked eyes meeting the mischievous ones of his captain. 'Don't tell me he's actually going to go through...'
Whatever the boy might have done next, whatever he might have said, any and all possibilities were effectively prevented when the galley door suddenly crashed open, Nami stepping gracefully out into the night.
All four men froze, no one daring to move save for their eyes, which followed the young women's progress towards the stairs.
The navigator had one foot on the second to last step by the time she realized she was no longer alone on the ship. For a moment she only stared, countering their focus as she shook herself and finished her movement to the lower deck.
"What are you guys doing back so early?" She questioned, bracing one hand on her hip as she stopped, quirking an eyebrow at the two crewmates who were still twined together.
Clearing his throat as Luffy pulled out of his hold, Zoro straightened. "Well, it's after midnight, so we figured it was a good time to head back," he offered, leaning one arm upon his swords and wrestling his nerves back under control.
"After midnight," the redhead echoed. Brow creasing into a subdued frown, she shook her head. "It's not midnight yet."
Silence...
"WHAT!" The chef and the first mate bellowed in unison.
Flinching as they shouted, Nami sighed. "It's ten to... well, seven to twelve now if you want to be exact. Did you even listen to the clock? If you'd been paying attention you would have counted eleven strikes."
Sanji couldn't believe the surge of hope that washed over him. With his heart pounding in his chest he spun around, searching for the sniper, only to find that the boy had disappeared. "Shit..."
"Well," began the navigator, ignoring the surprise written over the features of her comrades. "My night's only beginning!" With a coy smile and a wave, she turned to leave and called teasingly, "Don't wait up!"
----------------------------------------
Finding their way into the galley, Luffy and his first mate sat beside one another at the kitchen table, settled into an awkward silence.
Luffy was fiddling with an onion resting in the center of the table, one of the many jack-o-lanterns still flickering within the darkened room.
Zoro slouched sideways, chin propped in his hand as he answered the gaze of an apple. Feeling unease prodding at his mind, he reached over and turned the fruit until it was no longer facing him.
Watching this, the rubber-man leaned over and spun it back to its original position.
Frowning, the older of the two stretched forward to pivot that gleeful expression away again.
Pouting, the smaller boy let out a keening whine. "Zoro, we're supposed to kiss in the light of a jack-o-lantern so we'll be bound for a year!"
Choking on his breath, the larger pirate shot upright. "Wait... you mean you... want to...?"
Giggling at his friends expression, Luffy stood from his seat and began pacing about the room, gathering all of the remaining produce upon the table. "Well, you did, didn't you?"
Voice caught again in surprise, Zoro coughed. "Wh-what?" He fumbled, gawking at his captain as the boy continued to mill around the galley. "How did you..."
"Everytime we passed a jack-o-lantern," pausing as he nearly dropped an armful of vegetables, he only spoke again once he'd transferred his cargo safely to the tabletop. "Everytime we passed a jack-o-lantern you'd slow down, like you were trying to drag it out or something."
Blinking as the rubber-man laughed again, the first mate could only shake his head in disbelief. This boy was just unreal...
"There!" Spinning the apple that the larger teen had moved earlier, Luffy stood back to admire his work. He'd assembled every makeshift jack-o-lantern in the room in neat rows upon the table, each one gazing steadily back at the two pirates. "Perfect! With this many, we'll be bound forever!"
Recovering from his stupor, the green haired young man could only smile fondly at his friend. "Luffy..."
Sitting cross-legged upon the bench in front of his swordsman, the raven haired boy began idly fixing a potato. "I love you, Zoro," he began absently, squinting down at the change he'd made with a pear. "You know?"
Stunned, the larger of the pair felt the now familiar emotion, that had been plaguing him all day, pulse with a renewed strength. His heart was hammering in his chest, but before he could react, his companion persisted.
"At least... I think that's what this is." Laughing sheepishly, the younger boy reached upward to scrub at the back of his neck. "That's why I wanted to be with you tonight. I-" He faltered slightly, lowering his attention to his feet. "I always wanna be with you!"
Beaming, the infamous straw hat tipped his face aloft, meeting his first mate's eyes and basking in affection he found there. "That's alright, isn't it? You won't leave me will you?"
Instantly, the larger young man shook his head. "Luffy," he prompted quietly. "Even without kissing you, I'm not going anywhere." Reaching out, he gave his captain's hat a playful toss. "I promise."
Elated, the rubber-man grinned as he rearranged his treasure.
In the silence that followed, the two heard the familiar hollow peals of a bell.
When the raven haired boy processed his friend's words again, that in combination with the sound of the clock chiming in the distance caused him to sober, pressing one finger to his lips in a questioning, albeit hopeful gesture.
"Well..." He paused, as if he'd finally found something he was embarrassed to talk about. "But, we can try the curse anyway, can't we?"
More than a little shocked, Zoro's eyes widened noticeably. "Um..." He wavered, slightly thrown by just how eager the boy was. After a moment, he smiled softly, gifting the boy with a nod. "Yeah, I guess," he mumbled sarcastically, feigning irritation as if the gesture was a huge inconvenience.
Laughing when his swordsman broke into another warm smile, Luffy rose up on his knees.
Twisting to straddle the bench, the older teen realized that his companion was already reaching for him, and moved in turn to fold the boy within his arms.
Luffy lifted both hands, cradling his beloved first mate's face with slender fingers. Bowing across the space between them, the younger pulled the older close, meeting him halfway in a soft meshing of lips.
Breath catching, Zoro lost himself in this embrace. Hands playing gently across his captain's spine, his fingertips mapped the hills and valleys of that delicately arched back, lean muscles knit taut beneath his palms.
The smaller teen's kiss had an odd pull. He moved in a way that made the larger man feel as if he were being baited. Every time the boy would ease back, the swordsman would delve forward, only to satisfy his partner's whims if not his own.
Warmth spread like molten fire through the younger boy's veins, every inch of his skin alive and responsive as he nursed from his swordsman's lips.
Only when the need for air became critical, when their lungs burned more intensely than the ache born of their tender joining, did they part. And even then it was by no more than the most necessary inches, their breaths mingling.
Sides heaving lightly, Zoro subconsciously inched toward his friend, his hands upon the boy's lower back slid further, cinching tighter so the only comfortable move would be forward, closer. A sign of invitation.
And Luffy needed no further encouragement, yielding swiftly to the soft pressure of his crewmate's grasp. Shifting easily to settle himself upon his comrade's lap, his slender arms wound around his first mate's neck.
Eye's half lidded, lips pursed, the young captain once again lowered his mouth to Zoro's, fitting them together in a way only they could.
--------------------
When he had realized that the sniper was nowhere to be found, Sanji had lost himself in his thoughts, assailed by concern for what Usopp had been thinking.
Drumming his fingertips across the railing, the chef simply couldn't calm his nerves. When a sudden metallic ringing met his ears, he jumped before he recognized the sound of his watch, announcing the arrival of the midnight hour.
Glancing down at his wrist, he remembered that his watch had always been two minutes fast. 'There's still time..!'
Preparing himself for the fastest search of the ship to date, the blonde was shocked to find the subject of his inner turmoil leaning casually upon the rail lining the ship's stern.
Evidently the smaller pirate had not felt the need to hide, and that idea brought peace to the older man's mind. Stepping free from the shadows of the stairwell and into the pale light cast by the hollows of many faces, the newcomer was shocked when the hunched form of the marksman greeted him.
"You're going to try and kiss me, aren't you?" Questioned the liar quietly, tone indifferent, making no move to face him.
Closing the distance between them, the love cook nodded. "I had hoped to," he answered bluntly, deciding that now was not the time for games. Halting directly beside his friend, he laid one hand upon his shoulder. "Please, Usopp, would you at least look at me?"
"No."
Bending to look into the his crewmate's face, the older of the pair frowned when the boy shied away, and adapted his grip to seize the boy's wrist. "Usopp, please!" He spoke urgently, fighting to keep his tone level.
"I said no!" Countered the long-nose, his voice now far from steady.
"Why not?" Questioned the chef, pleading with his eyes as he stepped closer. "You have to know that Luffy's little show earlier couldn't be any further from the truth!"
Wrapping his arms tightly around himself, Usopp ducked into the larger teen's cloak, which he held, bunched into an untidy ball against his chest. "That's not it!" He cried desperately, shaking his head forcefully.
"Then what?" Prompted the taller young man, arms braced wide in a sign of confusion. "You have to tell me! I can't read your thoughts, Usopp! Tell me why-"
"Because I'm scared!" The sniper suddenly burst, voice quivering dangerously. "I'm scared, alright?" He waved his hands in a gesture of sarcasm. "Surprise, surprise!"
There was a moment of hurt silence on the blonde's part before, "You're scared of me?"
Suddenly frantic with guilt, the darker haired teen whirled around, eyes wide. "No!" He exclaimed, bowing his head as he began to tremble. "I'm... I'm scared of this," he mumbled sadly, motioning vaguely between himself and the cook.
"Us?" Echoed Sanji, frowning. "But... why? What do you have to be scared of?"
Sniffling, with his lower lip trembling pitifully, the sniper swiped furiously at his eyes before speaking. "Stuff like this," he paused, waving between them again. "This kind of stuff never works in real life." He sniffed again, focus cast pointedly at the floor.
"Happy endings," he began slowly, tone suddenly eerily calm. "Happy endings only happen in fairy-tales."
Sanji gazed intently at the young teen. The marksman was fine with that conclusion?
Usopp may have been content with condemning their relationship before they'd even had one, but the blonde was not at all satisfied.
"Well, then how do things like this end in your tales, Usopp?" Moving to stand directly before his friend he took a deep, fortifying breath and held out one hand, palm open in a gesture of welcome.
Abruptly, the familiar sound of the port's clock striking the hour rolled out through the darkened village.
"You're the storyteller, Usopp," the love cook continued, ignoring the droning of the bell and seeking out the smaller boy's attention. "So I'm leaving it up to you. How will our story end?"
Keeping his offered hand steady, the older pirate pressed on. "I'm right here, Usopp. I'm willing to find out if you are. So what's it going to be?"
At long last, with an expression more panicked now that the midnight hour had arrived, the marksman lifted his head, gaze flitting between the chef's hand and his face.
"How will we end, Usopp?" And with the last of his words spoken, the blonde eased into silence, only half listening as the time paced itself off in the background.
The sniper stared long and hard at his friend's extended hand, before straightening, his face set with resolve. The third strike had just sounded.
Knowing that the critical moment of decision was at hand, the older teen simply waited, not at all expecting what happened next.
The darker haired boy lashed out, slapping Sanji's hand away with a harsh swipe.
Stunned as his hand recoiled from the attack, the blonde frowned, looking angry and hurt. "Usopp! Wha-"
The larger pirate found himself brought up short when out of nowhere, the liar crossed the space between them in a lunge, tackling the love cook with enough force to send him back several steps.
The sharpshooter threw himself at the chef, frantically clutching handfuls of blonde hair as he seized his comrade close, pushing upward and claiming the taller boy's lips in a violent clash of teeth.
But even as pain lanced through him, the sniper clung anxiously to his fellow pirate, driving himself even closer.
Sanji froze, paralyzed as soon as their mouths had met.
There was a damp warmth on his face, tears that were not his own staining his cheeks.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Usopp was terrified, and he was reacting like a cornered animal, countering any movement, be it friendly or not, with impulsive fear and anger.
Attempting to pull away, the former baratie employee found himself hauled back in defiance, his teeth biting into his lips as the fists in his hair clenched tighter.
When the boy refused to relent after several more attempts, the older teen finally resorted to strength. Physically pressing the boy away, he felt his scalp twinge as strands of his hair came away with the boy's fingers.
As soon as he'd freed his lips, Sanji began speaking, hoping to calm the frightened boy down.
"Easy, Usopp," he soothed, lifting his hands to the boy's face and dabbing away his tears. "Easy... Easy..." He felt his companion's grip gradually relinquish it's hold on his golden mop, grinning as the teen leaned away, shaking with gentle sobs.
"Oi," he crooned, smile softening as the marksman reluctantly met his attention. "It's alright. No need for tears," he murmured, fingertips making another pass beneath his friend's eyes.
The sniper sniffled every now and then, but at length his breathing settled, with the exception of a periodic hiccup.
With one hand cupping the smaller pirate's chin, Sanji's other grasp shifted, moving upward to pull the boy's bandana and goggles off before tucking them into his pocket. "Now," he prompted, watching with satisfaction as his comrade's hair, now free from the bandana, fell in soft curls to frame his blushing face. "One more try?"
Just before he let his eyes drift closed, leaning slowly forward, he noticed his crewmate swallow hard. "Nice and easy this time," he reminded, letting just a hint of a teasing lilt into his tone.
That said, the blonde took the initiative with this embrace. And with an audience of hundreds of gleaming eyes, he gave it one more shot.
His approach was so gradual, so in tune to any sign of discomfort from the smaller of the pair, that it took him several long moments to feel the full press of the marksman's lips upon his.
And for several more moments, it was simply that; a press. A chaste pressure that would allow his liar the chance to move away if needed.
After what seemed like an eternity, Usopp began moving tentatively against him, small hands lifting to curl in the front of the chef's jacket.
With both hands cradling the boy's neck, just beneath his chin, and both thumbs stroking over the angle of his jaw, Sanji hoped he was winning over the long-nose's worries.
Feeling such a simple gesture, Usopp felt all the tension suddenly drain from his body, taking the most of his strength with it. Feeling suddenly very selfish, the sniper's fingers tangled possessively in the blonde's collar, coaxing him down, just a little deeper.
When the sharpshooter let out a subtle whimper, and the chef felt the teen's hold on his lapel strengthen, he knew it would be alright if he just indulged a little bit...
...in his fascination with his friend's thick, dark curls.
Easing his palms slowly around and up, stroking gently over warm skin, he sank his hands into his companion's hair, fingers weaving through it as he delighted internally over just how soft it was. How the tresses sifted so easily through his fingertips.
After several moments, having had enough of combing through the young man's silken mane, he lowered his arms to circle the boy's waist, settling him neatly against the solid plane of his body.
The younger of the two smiled slightly against the cook's lips and felt his crewmate respond in kind, finally coming to terms with the fact that Sanji was here with him, for him. Knowing this, he carefully slipped his arms around his friend's neck, allowing himself to fully enjoy the kiss for everything it was and anything it could be.
------------------------
The next morning, the entire crew was in high spirits. Well, with the exception of Nami, who had yet to emerge from her sleeping quarters.
Usopp, lost in his thoughts, stood on the stern once again. He'd wanted to stay on the bow and enjoy the warm breeze, but Zoro and Luffy had been sprawled out up there, and everytime the sharpshooter had glanced over, he could have sworn they were an inch or two closer.
Thinking about what may have happened between those two made the sniper blush for his own sake, because those thoughts always lead to thoughts of his and Sanji's own exchange.
"Oi."
As if on cue, the chef appeared at his right shoulder, visibly startling the darker haired teen.
"What are you thinking about?" Questioned the blonde, propping himself against the railing beside his comrade.
"Nothing, why?" Responded the smaller boy, his reply much to immediate to be entirely true.
"No reason," countered the love cook, trying to keep the suspicion from his voice. "You just look a little distracted."
"Oh."
". . ."
There was a moments hesitation before, "You know, Sanji, those weren't real jack-o-lantern'swhen we... you know..."
"Kissed?" Finished the older of the two, simply to see his comrade squirm. "So that's it."
"It's just-"
"Don't even start," the larger pirate spoke, waving him off before striking a dramatic pose. "Besides! My will to be with you alone is far stronger than any curse!"
Rolling his eyes, Usopp sighed.
Catching the teen's reaction out of the corner of his eyes, the love cook stopped, composed himself, and lifted the cigarette he'd just lit to his face. His gaze alternated between the cigarette and the sniper for a moment before he deftly tossed the smoke overboard.
In a gesture of reassurance he took the boy's hand in his, raising it to his lips and letting them ghost fondly over his knuckles. "Seriously though Usopp, you don't need to worry." With that, he released the boy's hand and opted to simply watch him, gifting him with a smile.
Flushing, the marksman absently drew his hand to his chest, cradling his fist close over his heart.
Sensing that the boy was still anxious, the taller of the pair decided to voice something that he hadn't gotten a chance to the night before.
"Hell, I'd even confess my undying love for you right here and now if I didn't think you'd hit me." While he wanted the boy to feel comfortable with his confession, he tried his best to keep his tone light, aiming to not sound joking about the subject.
Ducking quickly away from the intent eyes of the chef, the long-nose mulled this over. "I might not," he murmured almost inaudibly, tone embarrassed yet sincere.
Blinking in surprise, Sanji's eye's widened. "R-Really?" He stuttered, incredulous as he continued to observe his cherished crewmate.
"...You could try..."
There was a silence then, but whatever he might have said next died on his lips as Usopp suddenly gave a tearful sniffle. "U-Usopp? What's wrong?" The blonde stammered, scared that he had upset the smaller boy.
The darker haired teen simply shook his head, but couldn't contain a heart wrenching whimper. "Nothing."
"But you're crying!" The older of the two exclaimed, stepping closer to his distressed friend.
Shaking his head a second time, the marksman responded. "It's the onions," he offered quietly, reaching up to scrub at his eyes.
There was a long pause before, "...Usopp?"
"What?"
"I got rid of all of the onions this morning."
". . ."
"Usopp?"
There was another sniffle before the young man spoke again.
"Shut up... bastard."
THE END
And there you go! Finally done! I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Feel free to review on your way out! XD And keep an eye out for my next fic, my Holiday season story (sigh) that will hopefully be up soon!
Again, thank you all so much, and have a safe and happy new year!