Disclaimer: I don't own the One Piece universe.
Characters: Usopp, Luffy
Relationships: Luffy x Usopp
Summary: Water 7's behind them, but Usopp still aches.
Rating: K+
Prompt: 100 Men #011 "Bruises"
Underneath the Surface
Luffy was under the mikan groove, too, propped up on his elbow next to Usopp. Long fingers carefully smoothed over the bandages on Usopp's arms. Oddly serious and quiet for Luffy.
It hurt, like Luffy was trailing more bruises underneath ones from the fight only nights before. Pressure was building somewhere behind Usopp's eyes, and he closed them against the pain.
"I shouldn't have come back," Usopp whispered. Every word felt like a punch to the gut, and Usopp thought he would've been better off lying. Maybe it wouldn't hurt this much.
"You should've come back sooner," Luffy sounded oddly mature and unlike himself. "We need you. I need you."
Usopp bit back a sob. He was supposed to be stronger than this, damnit, braver. Less of a weakling. Luffy's crew didn't need weaklings—it didn't need him.
They were quiet again, for long minutes that felt like eternity. Luffy lay down again, pulling Usopp up close against him. As if he knew what Usopp was thinking.
And Usopp hated it. He hated himself. Hated how weak and pitiful and desperate he was. How much he needed Luffy.
"Don't leave me," Luffy broke the silence. He sounded younger, even younger than normal: like a child afraid of closet monsters. It felt odd against the maturity only moments before.
Tears slipped down Usopp's cheek and he wiped them away angrily. But he kept crying, desperate and pathetic and angry and hurt and scared and so relieved.
Carefully, painfully, Usopp curled closer to Luffy, stiff from all the bruises on top of bruises. "I won't," he mumbled shakily. "Captain Usopp-sama doesn't leave his friends."