What He Means To Us: Usopp
Usopp doesn't regret almost anything.
He does regret one thing...
"Merry is... going to die!"
He lightly brushes his fingertips against Sunny's railing.
He knows he couldn't save Merry, he knows she understood.
He knows the pain his captain was put through.
Losing Going Merry isn't what he regrets (though it still aches.)
"Monkey D. Luffy! I challenge you to a duel! Winner gets Merry!"
His fingers dig into the railing, he doesn't mind the sting.
"You came without fear. Don't have any regrets, no matter what happens, this is the duel you wanted."
He can feel the blood under his nails. He deserves it, he tells himself.
The sun's softened by the dawns light.
The winds are calming as the Thousand Sunny rocks gently on the waves.
Like a lullaby.
It's as if Sunny's comforting him.
"Sorry Sunny, just thinking..."
The ships deck gives a low creak.
He sighs.
He hears sandals smacking against the deck, he knows who they belong to.
More importantly, the who is coming towards him.
They stop, he doesn't turn around.
"Usopp?" he doesn't answer.
A hand on his shoulder, he flinches.
"What's wrong, Usopp?"
His stupid forgiving captain. His fingers dig into the railing harsher than before.
He feels the wood sink into his fingernails, apparently Luffy noticed too.
"Usopp." And just like that, Luffy's serious. The way he says his name is an order.
No matter how much of a coward Usopp knows he is, he can't defy a Captains Order, not again.
He turns around, blood dripping from his fingertips as he avoids his captains eyes.
"Usopp." It's another order, another Captains Order.
Usopp's grateful that he can call it that.
Without hesitation, because two years in hell (his captain was in worse than hell, and he, they, couldn't be there...) teaches you hesitation will kill you.
His eyes meet black steely ones.
That's all it takes, his captain knows what he's thinking.
Luffy understands.
His captains lips set into a thin line.
"Usopp."
Usopp understands even without his captain saying anything. With anything else but this, he wouldn't be able to understand with just one look, with just one word.
He's not Zoro.
'Well look at that,' Usopp thinks, 'another duel.'
Even if it's not a physical one, just a stare off.
Just like the last duel, he's lost to Luffy.
With a sigh, Usopp relents and despite the fact that he still feels guilty, grins slightly.
His captain smiles from ear to ear and laughs.
To Usopp, it sounds like forgiveness.