"No, that won't work, he'd just freak out," Usopp said, chewing on his pen looking down at the sketchbook on the table. He'd gotten up before the sun, hoping for some peace and quiet to think through his options.
"Who'd freak out?" Sanji asked from the doorway. Usopp jumped, his eyes wide with fear and, Sanji supposed, guilt. "What are you planning? I'm warning you right now Longnose, you and Luffy better not be planning on tampering with my lock again."
"Uh, nope, that's not it at all," Usopp laughed nervously while discreetly flipping to another section of his book. Noticing the blonde's visible eye focusing on his book he straightened up and puffed out his chest. Summoning his storyteller voice he proudly said, "I've been working on a new type of ammo, one that will surpass the power of my Pop Greens, stars—even surpass dial technology!" Usopp stood up, fully throwing himself into his speech, "Why, it might even rival—"
"Yeah yeah yeah." Sanji waved his hand, dismissing the sniper's usual bravado to move towards his fridge. "What do you want for breakfast?" When he didn't get an immediate response he looked back at the sniper, who was staring at him in confusion. "What's the matter? Not hungry?"
"Isn't it kinda early? I mean, the sun isn't up yet." He nodded his head towards the window nearest to him before smirking, "Besides, do you really want to risk waking Luffy?"
"Luffy would only wake up if I cooked meat, so that depends on you."
"Pancakes it is!" Usopp laughed, "With hash browns." He got up, setting aside his sketchbook to approach the cook. "If you don't mind, I can make the hash browns."
"What, finished with your work already?" Sanji asked, but had already pulled out the cutting board and frying pan.
"Just in need of a break I guess." The sniper took to peeling while Sanji started work on the batter. They worked seamlessly with each other. Usopp was one of the few crew members Sanji could trust his precious kitchen with.
In no time at all they had two plates stacked with pancakes and hash browns. The extra set aside for when the others came to breakfast. They were laughing about Luffy's latest antics when Nami and Robin walked in.
"Smells wonderful, Sanji."
"Oh thank you, Robin-chan!" Sanji jumped up to quickly prepare the meals for his wonderful ladies, almost missing the frustrated sigh from the sniper. "What's the matter?" He asked.
"Nothing." Usopp muttered, walking away. Sanji watched Robin pat the sniper on his shoulder as Nami turned to him with disappointment.
"What's wrong, Nami-san?" Sanji asked, worried he'd hurt her feelings somehow, but it was Robin who answered.
"You'll understand soon enough Sanji."
—
Sanji headed for the men's cabin; the look on Usopp's face still fresh in his mind. Why did he look so defeated? And moreover, what did Robin mean, I'll understand soon? Sanji flopped face down on his pillow, hoping for a quick nap before he'd have to prepare lunch. He slid his hands underneath, only to feel his fingers brush the edges of something hard and cardboard. Sanji sat up and moved his pillow to find a book.
"Isn't that…?" The brown book was worn, the spine chipped and creased from repeated use. "Why would Usopp put his sketchbook here?" He thought back to Usopp's strange behavior, "What are you up to?" The old binding creaked, oddly loud in the silent room; Sanji looked up at the door before focusing on the first page. Hills and winding paths were sketched with care, a few modest houses dotted the landscape. It felt different from Usopp's usual style, like it was drawn with another's hand. He turned the page to find a face looking back at him, drawn with the same soft flow as the landscape before. The man looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, with tight black curls, full lips, and dark eyes that gleamed of mischief. It looked like what an older Usopp might look like, only more rugged. Did Usopp try to draw what he imagined he'd look like older?
"No, that can't be Usopp…" Sanji muttered, seeing the short, normal looking nose. "His father maybe? But Usopp said he never met him." Turning the page was a little boy, it was a more detailed sketch but the lines were much softer than before. Sanji couldn't help but smile at the features he recognized, tiny curls and a cute little long nose. This has to be Usopp, he thought. So cute! He looked to be around two or three years old, playing with a slingshot.
Page after page showed sketches of Usopp growing up. Then they abruptly stopped. The last sketch of kid Usopp had the boy looking about five. The next page was a sketch of the Sunny with the crew all around it.
"Now this looks like Usopp's style." Flipping through sketches of familiar faces, Sanji stopped at a sketch of himself standing over the cutting board filleting a fish. The lines were confident and sharp, capturing the flow of movement of his hand with the knife. Usopp truly was an artist.
Over and over again he saw himself drawn throughout the book, either cooking, fighting, or serving the ladies. Sanji's confusion grew with each turn of the page, until he stopped, shocked at the multiple sketches on the page. Himself and Usopp, holding hands, Usopp standing over Sanji with his arms spread, as if shielding the cook. His own expression in the sketch worried and shocked. The third and largest sketch was him gently cupping Usopp's face as they kissed.
Sanji felt his face heat up. He couldn't take his eyes off it, he couldn't ignore this and what it means. Usopp has feelings for me. Turning the page, he found a list.
Best Way to Confess
1. Help him in the kitchen, make him laugh, show him how happy I can make him with my stories and sense of humor. Then just let my confession out right at the end of a story. This should give me an out if he gets confused or upset, I can just say it's part of a story... yeah that's it! But what if that doesn't work and he gets angry...
2. Invite him to eat out with me while we're all shopping, it would be a date (though he wouldn't realize it yet) Confess after the meal.
3. Buy him flowers? No that's dumb. Maybe a new knife set?
4. Visit him during his watch duty, that way we'd be alone, tell him then.
5. Watch the sunset and compare him to it, Sanji is a romantic after all.
Sanji smiled at the last one, yeah I am a bit of a romantic, but you seem to be too if you're going to such trouble just to confess your feelings. When did it start though, and how do I feel about him?
Sanji turned back to the sketches of them as a couple. He felt his face flare up again at the drawing of the kiss. All their previous antics and struggles passed through his mind; finding Usopp fun to work with in the kitchen, then there's their time in Skypiea. Usopp could have left him on the Arc Maxim to deal with Eneru alone, but he came back for him. He even made sure Nami got to safety first, knowing Sanji's desire for the ladies to be safe. The fear he felt back in Water 7 when Luffy and Usopp started fighting, the very thought of Usopp leaving for good filled him with dread. Then the pride he felt at Enies Lobby when he made those shots to help save Robin.
Sanji smiled. "Guess I've always had a soft spot for him." Sanji heard a whisper and looked up, Robin's eyes were watching him, waiting for a reaction. His smile widened, "Thanks Robin-chan, I get it now." He held up the sketchbook and her lovely hands appeared, taking the book and passing it hand to hand until it was out the door, most likely being returned to Usopp's bag.
—
The gentle rocking of the sea helped ease Usopp's frustration a bit, but he still couldn't focus completely on his project. Too many "what if" scenarios kept bombarding his mind. The more ideas for confessions he came up with, the more his pessimistic mind would counter.
"At this point, confessing is more about getting it over with than any actual possibility of him ever returning my feelings," he muttered to himself. "That way I can just move on and hopefully forget I ever had feelings other than admiration for Sanji."
Looking down at the desk, Usopp's frustration only grew. Pop Greens and chemicals were spread out around him, half capsules waiting for ingredients for a new type of ammo he fantasized about having. Something that could finally make it possible to stand on equal footing with the monsters of his crew.
"So how's your powerful new ammo coming along?" The suave and sexy voice Usopp never got tired of hearing filled the room—but was centralized right next to his ear! Usopp jerked away, bumping into the table, causing beakers to rattle in their holders and a few Pop Greens to roll away.
"Whoa! Sanji, don't do that! I have very volatile chemicals on this table, I can't risk knocking them over!" He quickly reached for the Pop Greens rolling too close to the edge before looking around to make sure nothing else got disturbed.
"Sorry, you were just so focused I couldn't help it," Sanji apologized.
Usopp looked at him and his heart leapt into his throat. That smile, yeah, there is no way I can just forget my feelings for him he thought, taking in that wonderful smile. Usopp tilted his head, confusion replacing his surprise. That smile was the one Sanji reserved for the ladies on the crew. Never in his life did he think it would be directed at him.
"Have we reached land yet?" Usopp asked, trying to calm his racing heart. Sanji shook his head before raising his hand.
"Not yet, but Nami-san said we should be there in an hour. So I figured since you missed lunch I should bring it to you."
"Oh, thank you." Usopp felt his face flush. He made a fool of himself this morning, didn't he? Reaching for the package, Usopp inhaled. Yup, Sanji is the best cook in the world. Tearing open the package he found hot ham and swiss sandwiches, his stomach growled.
"I know it's not much, I figured to make something lighter so we could try the local stuff once we arrive." Taking a sandwich while Usopp grabbed two. "So how's the project going?" He asked once more.
Usopp swallowed the mouthful of ham, "Not too bad, I've made a new batch," he pointed at the beakers to his right. "But I'm still not sure if it'll be hot enough."
"Hot enough?" Sanji asked, taking a closer look.
"Yeah, Heracles told me about these special Pop Greens called Lehua Silverblades. They grow near an underwater volcano." Usopp held up a small red and silver ball. "Problem is, unlike most Pop Greens, which need impact or a certain velocity to activate them to grow, these require high levels of extreme heat."
"Can't you just attach a fuse or something?" Sanji asked, taking the seed to get a closer look.
"No, a fuse would affect its ability to fly straight when I shoot one, plus I don't think simple fire will be enough either." He gestured towards the beakers, "I've been working on a chemical mix that would react on impact, creating a micro explosion of heat at just the right time. It's gonna be hotter than any of my stars in the past, even hotter than my Firebird Star."
"What's supposed to happen when it goes off?" Sanji asked, picking up one of the finished stars. It looked different from the rest, larger and heavier than Usopp's usual ammo. "These are pretty hefty, will they still fly far enough?"
"Lehua Silverblades are supposed to be covered in sharp blades of grass with large red blossoms in the center. There's a few seconds delay before the plant fires off all the blades, but I've never actually seen them in action." Usopp frowned, rolling a finished star idly. "I want to see what kinds of combustibles the shops have, just in case this new batch isn't hot enough."
"Why don't we go into town together, then? You help me carry the groceries and I'll help you look for more ingredients for your stars," Sanji asked.
Usopp felt a bubble of excitement in his chest and knew it showed on his face. "Sure, sounds like fun!"
—
Three hours had gone by in a flash as Usopp and Sanji browsed the market. Oftentimes Usopp would just stand back and watch Sanji haggle with the merchants, content to help carry the food they had already bought.
"Usopp, come here for a sec," Sanji said, waving him over. "What do you think about this for dinner tonight?" The fish was large enough to feed the whole crew on its own, dark scales with light spots shining in the sun. Usopp's mouth watered at the thought of what Sanji's skilled hands could make with it.
"Looks perfect to me," Usopp said. Sanji nodded before turning back to the merchant. "We'll take it," Usopp grabbed the fish and hefted it onto his shoulder once Sanji paid for it. "Let's get this stuff back to the ship, then we can check the shops for what you need for your ammo."
"You mean you really want to come?" Usopp asked. He could hear the hope in his tone but didn't care, this afternoon had been fun, even if it was just food shopping.
"Well yeah, you helped me a lot, got to return the favor right?" Usopp could feel his heart racing, Sanji wanted to spend more alone time with him, maybe, just maybe his luck was turning around.
"Hey, what do you say we get something to eat? It's still too early for dinner but I'm kinda hungry," Usopp asked, "Gives us a chance to taste local food right?"
"Sure, sounds fun," Sanji's eye lit up in a way that sent excited shivers up Usopp's spine. Why does he have to be so perfect?! Usopp had a bounce in his step as they headed back to the Sunny, this is it! The perfect time. After we eat I will tell him how I feel! Usopp looked to the sky, making his silent declaration—and walked right into another person.
"Gah!" Usopp landed on his butt, all the supplies he was carrying going down with him.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" Said a feminine voice. Usopp looked up to find a beautiful woman with long red hair and green eyes.
Before Usopp could respond with his own apology, Sanji swept in like the princely man he was. "Oh no, mademoiselle, we're sorry for bumping into you. Are you all right?" Usopp watched Sanji swoon over the beautiful woman and sighed. Of course, Sanji will always choose the ladies first over me.
"I'm fine, it was my fault. I'll pay for the food that got ruined," she said, looking around at the smashed eggs and fruit around Usopp, a frown on her face.
"Oh no, I would never ask you to do that." Sanji waved his hands to calm the woman's worry. "We'll be fine."
"Well, how about I treat you to dinner then, to make up for the meal lost?" She asked, batting her eyelashes at the cook. "My name is Pela."
Well, there goes my plan, Usopp thought, turning away from the scene to gather the food not ruined in the fall. The fish looks okay at least. He reached for the pike only to find his hand covered by Sanji's. Looking up he met a cerulean blue eye and a sympathetic smile.
"Sorry my dear," Sanji said, looking up at the woman, "but I've already got plans." Usopp's mouth dropped open in shock, Sanji was turning down a lady for him! I must be dreaming!
"I'm sorry to hear that." Pela's sweet tone was gone, replaced with a stoic, flat voice, "I guess the intel I received was wrong. It said Black Leg Sanji's weakness was beautiful women."
Sanji and Usopp froze at the mention of Sanji's name, "marine?" Sanji asked, Usopp hid behind the cook, looking over his shoulder at Pela, whose frown turned into a smirk.
"Bounty hunter actually," she corrected. "I've had my eyes on your crew for a while. After finding out about your next destination we headed here to wait. You have no idea how happy we were to see that Jolly Roger of yours today."
"'We?'" Usopp asked, looking around. Just noticing the men at a fair distance away. If he hadn't been looking for them he never would have realized they were with her.
"My crew trusts me to find the big name bounties and together we take them down and turn them in. Finding Black Leg Sanji and God Usopp together without the rest of the crew was just too perfect," the woman sighed.
"I don't think so!" Usopp yelled and, gathering his courage, he loaded Black Kabuto when Sanji grabbed the hand holding the ammo. Usopp looked at him, startled.
"We are not fighting a lady," Sanji said, "We run."
"But Sanji—" Usopp was cut off when Sanji pushed him behind him to kick one of the bounty hunters that had moved in. When did they even move? Watching another disappear and reappear Usopp realized. "Rokushiki— these guys are with the World Government!" Usopp backed up. Feeling the warmth of Sanji's back pressing against his he relaxed, gaining a bit of confidence. Sanji is here with me, this'll be fine.
"We take these guys out, then we run and warn the others."
Usopp nodded, casting a quick glance at Pela. She looked content enough to watch the fight. Hopefully we can get away from her. Something about her set off alarm bells in his head. Usopp felt Sanji's back disappear, followed by a grunt of pain before the blonde's warmth returned to him. Sanji won't leave my side, he thought with a frown. He can't fight at top strength if he feels he has to protect me. Usopp felt the frustration grow, Sanji doesn't need to protect him anymore, he can fight too!
"Green Star: Devil!" Usopp moved away from Sanji, firing off a Pop Green, watching in satisfaction as several men were eaten by the large Venus Flytrap. He looked back at Sanji to see him doing a handstand while spinning, kicking multiple opponents.
"Tsk tsk, none of that now," came Pela's chastising voice, followed by an inhuman scream. Usopp's head whipped around, just in time to see his Pop Green strangled to death by a large vine covered in thorns, rescuing the men from being digested. Usopp looked back at the woman to find that her hand had turned into the thorny vine.
"I'm aware of your special plants, God Usopp," she mocked. "Fitting, I have the perfect counter. My Rose-Rose Fruit can kill any of your plants."
"How about this?" Usopp fired an Impact Wolf, not calling its name out, but the second the wolf grew to full size, Pela's vines were already around the plant's neck and coiling like a serpent around a rabbit. Damn it.
"Usopp! We gotta go!" Sanji shouted, running up to his side. Usopp looked at him, not a scratch was left on the cook. He looked in the direction he came from, unconscious bodies littered the ground.
"Figures," Pela muttered before reaching out with her vines.
"Look out!" Usopp shouted, grabbing Sanji's arm and running. "She has a Devil Fruit that lets her create thorny vines. She took out my Devil and Impact Wolf like they were nothing." Usopp looked back to find her just standing there watching. "What should we do? Can we risk leading her back to Sunny?"
"I don't know, if the others are back already, Luffy and Marimo could deal with those vines. If they aren't though, she could damage Sunny."
"So we're supposed to do what? Keep running around town until we find someone else to fight her?!" He mentally ran through all the Pop Greens he currently held in his bag, when he felt something shift in his pocket. Of course, I forgot!
Usopp spun on his heel away from Sanji. "Green Star: Lehua Silverblades!" Once he had Pela in his sights he fired the new hybrid Pop Green.
"I told you—plants don't work on me," Pela sighed, but before she could even use her vines, the Pop Green exploded. Everyone tensed, waiting for the seed to grow. Nothing.
"It wasn't hot enough?" Sanji asked.
"Gahhhhh! Why won't it work?!" Usopp grabbed his head in frustration. "What am I doing wrong!"
"Poor thing, so helplessly weak aren't you?" Before he could react, vines wrapped around Usopp, their thorns digging into his skin.
"Sanjiiii!" Usopp yelled.
"Hold on Usopp! Diable Jambe!" Sanji raised his flaming foot to burn away the vines when Usopp was lifted away. Usopp felt the vines tighten, the thorns breaking skin, warm liquid slowly leaking out of each torn opening. "Usopp!" He heard the blonde cry out. Usopp's eyes widened as he felt the vines reach his neck.
"I don't want to die like this!" Usopp panicked. The vines wrapped loosely around his neck, almost caressing it, but he knew all it would take was the slightest pressure for those thorns to dig into his neck and puncture the life-giving vein there.
"Sky Walk!"
"I wouldn't try that, Black Leg," the woman said. Usopp looked down to find Sanji hopping in the air, his leg still on fire, but not moving closer. His eye focused on the vine around Usopp's neck. "Unless you'd like to see how fast he'll bleed out once my thorns slice his neck. Which do you think will make him bleed out faster, a slashed jugular vein or carotid artery?"
Sanji dropped to the ground, landing as gracefully as a cat. Letting out one final puff of smoke before tossing the cigarette. "I give up," Sanji sighed. Usopp's eyes widened, tears welling up. The sound of utter defeat in Sanji's voice crushed him. Usopp could do nothing but watch one of the bounty hunters come up behind Sanji and knock him out. It's all my fault, I'm so sorry Sanji. It was the last thought he had as a thornless vine tightened around his neck, cutting off his air.
—
Sanji groaned as he came to, feeling something sharp around his wrists and jolting awake. Looking up he found himself attached to a wall by a thorny, green vine. He pulled his wrists apart in an attempt to break it but it was as hard as steel. He winced as the thorns bit into his skin.
"Wouldn't do that if I were you," the sultry voice of the vine woman drew Sanji's mind back to their earlier situation.
"Usopp!" He looked around the room before finding the sniper attached to the wall across from him, hidden by the woman's curvy features. Usopp was awake and bleeding from multiple cuts. "Are you okay? Oi, Longnose!" Usopp refused to lift his head.
"Hehehe, well look at that, too ashamed to even look at you." Sanji took in the beautiful woman standing next to Usopp but felt nothing but anger. "I'm surprised you even care at this point, it's his fault you're here after all."
"You have us, so why not just turn us in for our bounties?"
"Because I want the whole crew, that's why," Sanji felt her hand caress his cheek, her lips brushing the side of his mouth. "You're very handsome, you know that Sanji?" He couldn't stop the shiver that ran up his spine; this woman was a seductress. Sanji looked up towards Usopp, their eyes met instantly. The sniper's eyes shifted towards where Pela's hand was now caressing down his chest before looking away, a broken expression on his face. "While we wait for your crew, why don't we have some fun," she said, squeezing him through his pants and making him gasp.
"N-no, not happening." Sanji looked towards Usopp, who was still looking away. "Not interested."
"Hmmm, interesting," Pela said, looking from him to Usopp and back, "What a shame." Her hand turned green, fingers lengthening into vines and sprouting thorns.
"Gyahh!" Sanji felt her transformed hand rake across his chest, slicing the skin. Blood oozed from the tears. He grit his teeth, trying not to let out a scream of pain. She reached towards his hands, making the vines holding his wrists grow, a thorn slicing one of his palms in the process. Sanji gasped, tightening his hands into fists and trying to pull them away from the thorns. Damn it, he knew the fear showed on his face. He'd given himself away.
"My my, what's this?" She smiled, running her thorny hand over his fingers.
Sanji felt the burning pain as his skin split, leaving red lines behind to leak a few drops of blood to trickle into his palm. Sanji's eyes widened, tracking the drops until they disappeared behind the vines holding his wrists. He felt his chest heave—air, not enough air! He couldn't breathe. Leave my hands alone!
"Hey, witch!" The woman's hand left Sanji as she turned away, allowing him to focus on his breathing. "You said you want our captain and crew to come for us right? What's the point of bringing us to this place then?"
"This is my stronghold, I feel I have the most control here. Plus, just by being underwater, many of your crew will be at a disadvantage." Sanji watched as she ran her thorny hand over Usopp's cheek, making him wince. "But honestly? I enjoy making pirates suffer, and I have enough privacy here to not be interrupted." Pela looked up at Sanji and licked her plush lips before turning towards him. Sanji felt himself tense.
"Are you sure you're not just hiding?" Usopp said. "Maybe you realized the mistake you made after catching us."
"You're a noisy one aren't you, Longnose," she grazed her fingers along his nose before wrapping her fist around it and twisting. Sanji heard the snap, and Usopp yelled, throwing his head back after she released him. The broken nose looked like a shredded piece of sausage thanks to her thorns. Tears of pain in his eyes, Usopp glanced at him before shaking his head, as if trying to will his tears away.
"And here I thought you'd had enough." She ran her hand down the side of his neck and over his shoulder, drawing a long slice before licking up some of the leaking blood. "But we can play some more, once I'm done playing with the sexy chef and his pretty hands."
"Why so hung up on Sanji? Feel intimidated?" Sanji saw her eye twitch before slapping Usopp, a new cut forming on his cheek. "Do men get turned off when they see your thorns? They probably think you're an ugly weed, don't they?"
"You're insufferable! Do you like pain that much?!" she shrieked. Sanji felt his heart jump when she made her thorns bigger, turning the tips red. She used her hand like a whip, thorns gouging out pieces of flesh with every strike. Each moment of contact drawing out a scream Sanji had never heard from Usopp before.
"What?" He gasped, "Did I hit a nerve?" Pela kicked him, and with no way to bend with the blow his back hit the rocky wall behind him. Usopp gasped again, his back arching away from the wall but the vines kept him secured.
Pela smiled, "Aww, did you hurt yourself on one of the sharp rocks?" Reaching behind him she raked her thorns from back to front, slicing deeper gashes than before. Usopp's scream sounded gurgled, blood leaking over his lips and down his chin.
"Stop it! Enough Usopp, stop egging her on!" Sanji felt panic rise, he didn't know how bad the damage was on Usopp's back, but if it was sharp enough for Usopp to cough up blood it wasn't good. "I'm the one you want right? So come on!"
"Nah Sanji, she's not done with me yet," Usopp wheezed, a twisted smile on his bloody lips. Once Pela looked back at him Usopp spit the blood in her face. Part of Sanji wanted to yell at Usopp for doing something so disrespectful to a lady, but the other part wasn't seeing her as a lady anymore, no lady could be this sadistic.
"Looks like I need to get more creative with you, don't I?" Pela wiped the blood off her face before leaving the room. Once she was gone, Sanji turned to Usopp.
"What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to channel Moss Head or something?! Stop trying to act tough." Sanji bit his lip, looking Usopp's torn body up and down, he was saturated in his own blood. We need Chopper, at this rate he's gonna bleed to death! "If you keep goading her she'll kill you!"
"Your hands Sanji," Usopp gave him an apologetic smile. "She knows how important your hands are, so I need to keep her away from you."
"But I can take it." Sanji tried, he could hear the pleading tone in his voice but didn't care.
"Enough! You're always reassuring me, always protecting me! It's about time I did the protecting for once!" Usopp took a deep breath. "I know you can take pain Sanji, but your hands are your treasure, if she gets her thorny fingers on them you'll never cook again." Usopp's pain-filled hazel eyes locked with his. He knew what was coming.
"Usopp don't—" Sanji's heart clenched. Not here, not like this.
"I love you Sanji, I have for a while now. I've been trying to find a way to tell you, but I've always been too much of a coward to say it." He gave a bitter laugh, "At least now you know."
"You shitty sniper; it wasn't supposed to happen like this!" Usopp tilted his head, not understanding what he meant. Looks like he had to spell it out to the lovable moron. "I saw your shitty sketchbook, I saw the drawings of us together and I saw your shitty list of confessions." What part of Usopp's face that wasn't bloody flushed red, but Sanji wasn't gonna let him talk. "So don't think you can just confess now thinking you're about to die and won't have to face the consequences! Because this isn't over. We're gonna get out of here!"
"So," Usopp whispered. "What's your answer?" He asked meekly, like he was going to be punished for having feelings for him. Sanji was going to have to fix that, but not yet.
"I'll tell you once we get out of here," Sanji tried pulling on his wrists again, "Maybe I can squeeze my hands through—"
"Let's see how you like this," Pela said, bringing with her some of her more muscular men. One carried a mace, another carrying a bucket. "Ohia, if you please?" She gestured to the man with the mace before stepping back. Usopp clenched his eyes shut and tensed, preparing for the blow. Sanji watched helplessly as the man held the mace like a baseball bat and swung. It hit Usopp square in the stomach, forcing his back into the sharp rock wall behind him. Blood sprayed from Usopp's mouth from the impact. Sanji felt tears in his eyes, think think think!
"Gyak," Usopp gagged, choking on his blood, trying to get air past the liquid filling his throat.
"Very pretty," Pela said, running her hands over the freshly torn skin. "I wanna see it glisten though." She reached into the bucket of liquid and pulled out a sponge. "Vodka will light you up nicely," she grinned.
"Gyaaaaaahhhh!" Usopp screamed, trying to get away from the sponge, but Pela pushed harder, making sure as much of the alcohol got into Usopp's wounds as possible. Sanji knew from experience that alcohol on an open wound could feel worse than the initial injury. Usopp was sobbing by the time she lifted the sponge, his body sagging. Drained from the constant agony.
"You know," Pela said, tapping her chin in thought. "You're acting so tough by saying nasty things to me, so brave through it all..." she ran the back of her finger over his cheek in a mockery of a tender touch. "But I wonder how brave you'll be after I pour the alcohol in those pretty eyes of yours. After all, how useful could a blind sniper be?"
"Don't you dare!" Sanji screamed, feeling the fear and panic on Usopp's face mirrored on his own. Pela released Usopp's hands from the vines, letting him fall in a heap on the floor. Usopp tried to crab walk away from the woman, but Ohia grabbed him and forced him on his back. All the while Usopp squirmed, trying his best to get away.
"Usopp!" Sanji felt his heart stop at the look of terror on Usopp's face, only to notice something odd. Usopp's eyes jerked down, his now freed hand reaching into his pocket. Looking down, Usopp's foot closest to the bucket of vodka reared back. Sanji felt his eyes widen, that crafty little—Sanji nodded. Usopp kicked out, hitting the bucket into the air towards Sanji, the alcohol sloshing out and saturating the vines holding his bound feet.
"Diable Jambe!" His foot caught fire, the alcohol heating it up further until it glowed a brilliant blue, burning away the vines trapping his feet.
"Green Star: Lehua Silverblades!" Usopp yelled, taking advantage of Pela's shock to pull the seed from his pocket and throw it at Sanji. Using the vines on his wrists as leverage, he swung in, kicking the seed, lighting it up and burning the vines holding his wrists in the process. The seed burst into flame, Usopp's prior incendiary concoction mixed with the enhanced flames of his Diable Jambe, making it explode in a brilliant white-blue heat before it bloomed into a silver ball of spikes with needle-like red flowers that curled into the center.
"Beautiful," Sanji couldn't help but comment, entranced by the plant, it was unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
"Brace yourself!" Usopp was suddenly in front of him, crushing something in his hand before throwing it up towards the plant on the ceiling, then immediately pressing himself against Sanji's body like a shield. A second later a bubble plant appeared, just in time for the beautiful flower to fire off silver blades in all directions.
"What the hel—" Pela shrieked while her men screamed... then nothing. Silence.
"Ugh," Usopp grunted in pain, "You okay, Sanji?" He asked, before collapsing on top of him, revealing a few of the silver blades in his back.
"Usopp, what happened?" Sanji could hear his own voice pitched high with fear as he cradled Usopp to him, frantically looking over the sniper's back. Three blades stuck out of his back but looked to have missed vital areas, but the gash on his back from the stone wall looked the worst. Sanji touched the area lightly only for Usopp to flinch and groan in pain.
"The Trampolia plant took the majority of the blades, but I overestimated how many of the blades the plant could take before popping." Usopp coughed, Sanji felt blood spatter his chest, "Sorry," he wheezed, trying to wipe the blood away but only smearing it.
"SAANNJIIIIII! UUUSSOOPPP!" Sanji sighed in relief when he saw their captain barge into the room, followed by Moss Head.
"What the hell happened here?" Zoro growled, clenching the white sword in his mouth, ready for a fight.
"San— USOPP!" Luffy zeroed in on them, his eyes widening at Usopp's crumpled form in his arms. Luffy rushed over to try and take Usopp from him but Sanji tightened his grip instinctively. Luffy hesitated, I must look pretty feral at this point, Sanji mused distractedly. "Chopper over here!" he looked over Luffy's shoulder to find his sweet Nami looking at them in shock, her hands covering her mouth and tears in her eyes.
"Oh no, doctor— WE NEED A DOCTOR!" The little reindeer yelled, running in circles before Marimo gently bopped him on the head.
"You're the doctor!" Zoro said. Even ol'Moss Head looked at them with concern, he was touched—in an adrenaline deprived sort of way.
"Right!" Chopper rushed in, Sanji wasn't ready to let go, but perceptive little Chopper noticed. "Hold him still Sanji," he said, pulling out ointments and wrappings from his medical bag.
"How did you find us so quickly?" Sanji asked, starting to finally come out of the strange haze he felt himself in.
Robin held up a large orange bag and a boot. "When you weren't back by dinner we searched the town and happened across these. Chopper followed the feminine scent on Usopp's bag."
"Haah I was wondering where that was," Usopp giggled to himself before passing out. Sanji looked at the dopy look on the sniper's face, then to their doctor.
"I injected a pain killer," Chopper answered, now dressing the wounds on Usopp's back. "He must have been in a lot of pain," he frowned. "Usopp needs a blood transfusion and his injuries need a more thorough cleaning, but I can't do anything else for him until we get him back to Sunny."
"I'll carry him," Sanji said, moving to get up. Chopper's eyes widened at the slashes on his hands and chest and freaked out.
"No, you will not carry him!" He cried, reaching his hooves for Sanji's hand. Sanji pulled his hand away before lifting Usopp's unconscious form into a bridal carry. This only further enraged the little doctor. "Don't be stubborn, those cuts can get infected fast!"
"Treat me once we get to Sunny, then I'll follow all your wise doctorly advice."
"Calling me a wise doctor won't make me happy, you bastard!" He wiggled, and Sanji couldn't help but laugh, relieved that his family was here.
"Hold on, Sanji-bro."
"Yes, it's best you don't look over here just yet," Brook agreed. Sanji saw Franky and Brook farther off, blocking his view of something. It was then that he finally took in the massacre around him. The floor was thick with blood, the bodies scattered, all of them punched full of large silver shrapnel.
"So this is what Usopp's new ammo is capable of," Sanji mused. I'm kinda glad Usopp doesn't have to see this though; he'd probably feel guilty. Sanji's eyes widened—Pela! His head spun back over to Franky, standing near a body covered with a sheet, a few strands of red hair peeking out. He felt horror at first, before the bundle in his arms shifted. No, this was the only way this could end. Sanji turned to the door and led the way out into the light.
—
"How long do I need to be in bed?" Usopp whined, "I have projects to work on, Chopper."
"Until I clear you!"
"Usopp-bro, you do realize how bad your injuries were, right?"
"If we were even a minute later you would have bled out all over the floor and been taken into Death's embrace," Robin supplied with a smile.
"Okay, okay, I get it," Usopp shivered. "I'm just bored here is all."
"Maybe I can alleviate that boredom," a deep voice said. Usopp stiffened, feeling the mattress dip as the cook sat next to him. "It's time we talked about what you said that night."
"Annnnnnnd that's our cue to beat it!" Franky headed for the door, followed by Robin and a reluctant Chopper. Nami turned and winked at Usopp before waving and closing the door, leaving them alone.
"Well?" Sanji asked, Usopp just stared. "All right, how about we start with why you purposely egged Pela on?"
"I told you already," Usopp chimed in, eager to take the conversation in another direction. "She knew how important your hands are, I couldn't let her take your dream away."
"You're an idiot! Do you think I'd let one of my Nakama die just to keep my hands safe?!" The look Sanji was giving him now made him shiver; the cook was pissed. Usopp opened his mouth to defend himself but Sanji cut him off. "Even if I had lost my hands, I'm sure Franky could make some new ones for me." The anger in his eyes faded a bit, his voice took on a jovial tone. "And I'm sure you could help him make something crazy. Knowing you two I'd probably end up with lasers in my fingertips."
"Yeah," Usopp laughed, though he didn't find the idea at all funny. Sanji's hands looked so soft and delicate, it'd be a shame to see them replaced with cold hard steel.
"Now let's move on to the other issue shall we? Your confession."
"Um..." Usopp wrung his hands, refusing to make eye contact. Confessing was so much easier when he thought he was about to die. Now that he survived he'd have to deal with the fallout. Why didn't he die against Pela? Maybe Sanji will finish the job and let him Rest In Peace.
"Do you want to die?"
"W-what?!" Usopp's head shot up, immediately expecting the worst reaction from Sanji. A kick to the face would be fitting to go along with such a question. Instead, he took in a single cerulean blue eye sparkling with mirth and a smirk to match.
"Glad you're looking at me at least," he joked, but something about Sanji's tone worried him. Sanji must have read something in Usopp's expression because he sighed; smile dropping as he ruffled his blonde locks. Usopp couldn't help but interpret it as... nervous? Usopp felt his heart leap into his throat. Why would Sanji be nervous? Could it possibly mean... could he dare to hope?
"Do you want to take it back?" Sanji's tone was soft, almost a whisper. Usopp leaned in closer to hear him. Sanji cleared his throat and spoke at his normal level. "The confession, I mean, you did make it under duress. So... if you want... you can take it back and I'll pretend it never happened."
Usopp just stared, the hope he felt quickly dropping like a stone. Does he want to take it back? Technically Sanji will always know, even if he pretends he doesn't. Sanji shifted, moving in such a way that the light from the porthole reflected off his sunny yellow hair, giving the cook an ethereal glow. He so badly wanted to touch him. There's no way his confession could be forgotten; maybe Sanji could but Usopp definitely couldn't.
He gathered all the courage he had, consequences be damned. "No," Usopp said softly. "No!" He repeated, conviction strong in his voice. "I don't want to take it back, I said I love you... and I meant it!"
Sanji's eye never left his, his focus so intense Usopp started fidgeting. Maybe he said the wrong thing? "Umm, soooo," Usopp started, tension radiating off him in waves. "What's your answer?"
"This," Sanji said, cradling Usopp's face in his hands and leaning in, pressing his lips to his. Stunned, Usopp froze before relaxing into the touch—his hands really are so soft—and returning the kiss eagerly. Sanji's hands left his cheeks, fingertips lightly brushing down his neck before settling on his shoulders. Sanji pressed forward, pushing him back onto the bed. Usopp broke the kiss with a pained gasp.
"Shit! Are you okay? I forgot about your back! Did you pull your sti—" Usopp cut off his worried rant by pulling him down for another kiss.
"I'm fine," Usopp laughed. "I'm more than fine, I've never felt happier." He loved this feeling, Sanji's body pressing down on him made him feel so warm and safe. The pain he felt from the soft impact of his back hitting the mattress only helped to remind him that life can end abruptly. So from now on he'd hold nothing back.
This fic was originally written for the All San Zine on Twitter, but has unfortunately been canceled. So, I've decided to upload this today for Sanji's birthday! Reviews are appreciated!
Also, if you're a fan of Usopp, please check out a new zine focused on Usopp pairings. usoppshipzine It's currently taking applications for contributors!