The party from yesterday had been in the villagers' eyes viewed like a treaty between them and the Marine base and for the last three days, citizens have been coming and leaving from the weaponized fortress whenever they damn wanted, thus succeeding in making Usopp a little jumpier than usual. He hadn't realized that the reason why no one had popped up before their first visit of the town has been because they didn't know what to expect of the new leadership. The sniper was truly curious to know what kind of a bastard his predecessor had been, but abstained in fear of this being a taboo subject of conversation since no one ever brought it up.
Besides, the long nosed man didn't mind it much. These people only came to bring them wood and supplies, sometimes even pies made by the old baker's shop that was famous in the area. Fifty cherry pies that had escaped Luffy's wrath.
The raven head hadn't even wanted to look at the innocent pastries, instead locking himself up in Usopp's office to avoid having anything to do with the cherry madness. Needless to say, the base had thrown a party that night as well and no one had gone hungry. Truly a miracle if he stopped to think about it.
And on an even more optimistic note, he, Nami and Franky were very close to breaking the code and opening the safe. They only needed three digits left that had been somehow erased from the original documents and they were left with fewer options, but Robin had offered to check on the Archives one more time in the hope that a clue had been left there.
By this time, Usopp was half wondering whether it would work to send Headquarters a letter and ask if they had any idea, though he banished the thoughts as fast as they came. Even if they did, using his fake signature would surely raise some questions, not to mention his not so creative name.
"Usopp!" Nami snapped form the direction of the door. "You needed to oversee the training of the recruits today!"
The sniper groaned, but sat up from his seat and headed to the door. "I forgot..."
"Well don't anymore, won't you?" The blonde placed her hands on her hips angrily. "You wasted me precious seconds by making me come here to remind you!" Her scowl suddenly transformed into a cheeky grin. "We managed to find another digit. It's going to be a piece of cake from now on."
Usopp felt like some of the tension from the past week had lifted from his chest. "Hurry it up. I don't want to stay here anymore!"
Nami nodded with a sympathetic smile on her face. "Me neither. We will make sure to have it open by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
The long nosed man groaned, following her into the hallway. Great, another three days of playing marine.
"That is, if you'd stop making me come here every time you have something to do!"
"Got it, got it! Sorry."
The furious sun beating down his back did not make the current situation any easier. Usopp fought hard not to nod off and become the latest gossip subject of the whole base, but he couldn't help it. These guys were just running around, doing fake shooting tactics and whatnot! There was nothing in their training regimen that actually applied to a real fight against bloodthirsty pirates. They'd be lucky to defend the small village on the other side of the mountain at this rate!
Rubbing his temples in exasperation, the sniper's eyes combed the training grounds for his captain and stopped short a little further away. He snorted. The idiot was munching on a piece of meat, completely oblivious to the fact that he should be out there, training like hell. Of course, 'like hell' was a loose term, considering that these people were probably sweating because of the sun, not the effort.
"Ugh, I can't stand this anymore! Chopper," the reindeer perched up from his spot on the ground at hearing his name called, "please call everyone here. I need to bring a little fun in these people's lives."
Chopper mirrored his friend's devilish grin and ran away as fast as he could. In less than ten minutes, all the Strawhats were assembled, standing in front of Usopp.
"What." Nami spat the word like poison.
"I was thinking that you guys would be bored. What do you say about lifting this atmosphere up a little?" The sniper's grin never disappeared as he jutted his head towards the recruits, currently doing pushups and faking groans just for the hell of it, he was sure.
The navigator opened her mouth to retaliate, but Zoro cut her off.
"Why not? I've been itching to beat the shit out of someone for a while now." The blood-curling grin was pulsing behind the piece of paper over his face. Usopp wondered how it didn't catch fire.
"For once, I agree with the shitty marimo." Sanji sighed.
"Then by all means," Usopp opened his arms with a flourish to encase their future victims, "have fun!"
That was all the invitation Strawhats really needed. Franky stepped up first, firing a couple of beams meant to scare off the lounging officers. The effect was immediate as everyone scrambled to their feet, looking like scared chicken and clutching their weapons tightly as they tried to make sense of the incoming danger. Zoro, Sanji and Brook all but jumped into the middle of them, the two swordsmen attacking left and right – albeit Brook's form was a little awkward fighting with Shuusui. The blond cook had taken out the sword at his waist only for show, resuming to using his general attacks while waving the weapon around clumsily, though still managing to club a few men right in the face.
"You idiot, stop that or I'm taking your head off right now!" The green haired swordsman roared over the general commotion of the battlefield. A few people yelped out of his way upon hearing the dangerous tone for the first time.
"Oi, oi, don't take them out, this should be training!" Usopp yelled to no avail. He watched as Chopper attacked left and right with his antlers, the officers barely managing to keep him at bay. After a while, they gave up and resumed to running around, hoping to chase him off. Though unfortunately for them, the doctor had accumulated too much energy to become tired any time soon.
"Woah, training is much more interesting now!" Their captain suddenly appeared in front of Zoro, gulping down the last of his meal and started a one on one battle with him, which the swordsman gladly accepted with a smirk.
The sniper looked on incredulously as Robin only walked around, scaring the hell out of anyone in her way and summoning random limbs to trip a few unlucky souls that were running away from their enemies. Her eye twinkled in amusement and Usopp was suddenly not so disturbed anymore by her morbid comments than he was by this.
While Franky was still firing beams around, Usopp took the time to set up his slingshot and launched a couple of fire stars and Pop Greens, intending more to scare his subordinates than do anything too damaging. His friends were doing enough of it, though this was truly liberating in its own way.
The roar of thunder destroyed his concentration a few minutes later and the sniper almost sighed. A light drizzle had replaced the summer sun, the dark cloud over the island giving an ominous feeling while lightning was threatening to strike the ground at any wrong move. Usopp saw Nami's sharp grin and he knew his supposed subordinates were done for. Silently, he passed on a prayer in the hope of a better tomorrow, after which he concentrated on rounding up the headless chickens still running around the training grounds. Luffy was truly the happiest of them all, still locked in battle with Zoro and none of them minding the incoming doom.
"In a real fight against pirates and the forces of nature, anything can happen! You are not allowed a moment's rest and neither should you allow your enemies one either! Stand up and fight, this is what a real battle feels like, not the organized shit they've been drilling in your heads!" The sniper roared over the sound of thunder.
As if summoned by his words, Nami slammed her Clima-Tact into the ground and a column of white light descended from the heavens like a battleaxe. Usopp saw white for a couple more moments before his vision cleared enough to see the extent of the damage. Only Luffy and Zoro were left standing on the destroyed training grounds while smoking bodies were scattered around them in a gory show of utter annihilation.
The Commodore sighed. Seemed like he had a new training regimen to organize and apply. He did not like giving their enemies something to work with, but he supposed these guys were pitiable enough to be offered some help. He was such a generous soul, after all.
"Finally!" Nami's shout of delight echoed throughout the hallway. Immediately, her companions started shushing her.
Usopp was surprised to see all his crewmates assembling, though he supposed the reason was important enough. After yet another three days – the number was truly becoming too repetitive, he thought dryly – of work he, Franky and Nami finally got the combination right.
As the heavy door slowly screeched open, the sniper's memory briefly flashed to everything they've been through during their stay at this base mostly because of Nami's insistence and he swore that if that billion wasn't there he'd blow up the whole place and treat the navigator with the cold shoulder for a year afterwards.
They maybe didn't know it, but his job had been the most stressful of them all. It was easy to cover for yourself, but when you had to invent all kinds of reasons for eight other people because they either started talking when they should be an animal or because they should have been silent assassins, but still showed up in the kitchen randomly and cooked a three course meal, everything became much more complicated.
But whatever his doubts were, they were quickly erased when the metallic door heaved to a halt and the room beyond opened up in front of their eyes. Rows after rows of shelves were attached to the walls, most occupied by standard marine guns and swords, though the rightmost corner was the one that mattered the most in that moment. Over the length of the wall, bills after bills of Berris were placed carefully on them, lined one next to the other in such an orderly manner that it even made Nami's precious treasure room seem messy. Usopp snorted at the display – these guys had time to make sure they put their money on display, but they still weren't half as powerful as they should have been for marines in the New World.
"I've been waiting so much time to meet you!" The navigator exclaimed through teary eyes, caressing one bill with an obscene amount of love.
"Nami-swan is so cute when she's blushing like that!" Sanji gushed, his eyes already beating hearts.
"I don't think this is even healthy." Zoro mumbled on Brook's other side and Franky snorted in amusement at the sight.
Somehow, the blonde haired woman had twinkling stars dancing around her now.
"This is what you wanted, Nami?" Luffy asked, curiously poking at the inanimate bills with an air of profound disappointment.
"Yes!" Nami gleefully exclaimed before she swiveled in place and pinned her crewmates with an unmerciful glare. "We have to make this pronto, understand? I want work and discretion!"
Usopp sighed. "Yeah, yeah."
Robin giggled and stepped away from the group to study a stack of crates a few meters away.
"I am afraid we will have to do this in the darkness." Brook intervened, his empty eye sockets gazing at the money in concern. He was doubting they could move so much money around the base without being asked any questions.
"And maybe find some bags to move them around in." The shipwright added, scratching his chin.
"Usopp!" Chopper chose that moment to burst through the doorway, looking bewildered and scared.
The sniper in question groaned and slumped on the wall. "What is it now?" He whined, desperately hoping nothing too big was.
"I didn't really understand, but there was a lot of screaming about a ship!"
"Could they have discovered the Sunny?" Zoro asked immediately and Franky clenched his massive fists tightly, ready to defend his masterpiece.
"I doubt it." Robin whispered, still next to the wooden crates. Only now, Usopp noticed, the upmost one was opened. The archaeologist stretched one hand into the box and lifted a flowing black material from it while her eyes locked on Usopp's wide ones as understanding dawned on him rather painfully. "Luck isn't on our side this time either, sniper."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nami asked fearfully, looking from the obvious pirate flag to Usopp and back. "What are you hiding from us?!"
The resident sniper heaved a deep sigh as he picked himself up from the ground. He did not even know where to begin.
"You will see. Nami, you and Franky find a way to get all this money on the Sunny as fast as you guys can. I will tell you everything, but first," the long nosed man swallowed past the lump in his throat and settled his face into a determined expression, "whatever happens we won't abandon this mission. Not when we've come so far!"
The Strawhats nodded, but the silence persisted unusually long until Usopp finally cleared his throat and turned to look into Luffy's expectant eyes.
"Robin told me and Chopper about it in the first few days, but we haven't told any of you because the chances of this actually happening were null."
"Actually, they were low. I've never said it wasn't possible to happen." Robin corrected, still managing a smile despite the grim situation they found themselves in. "Mind if I take over?"
Usopp nodded, but raised a halting hand, still looking at his captain. "Luffy, Shanks is coming."
The rubber man's jaw dropped comically, but he remained overall silent.
"What!" Sanji, Nami and Zoro yelled at the same time.
"It is to be expected." Everyone looked at Robin's sober expression. "We are in his territory, after all."
"Great!" The blond haired cook deadpanned, searching erratically for a cigarette.
"I've been reading logs from as long as ten years ago and his name appeared more than once, along with his crew." The black haired woman informed them, watching detachedly as the door to the safe closed and locked. "Ever since their first visit here, their objective was never one to fight. Rather, they always seemed to make a show of having a contest with the Marines stationed at the base here. Though they showed periodically, I could never find a pattern on the time intervals so I concluded that they don't have any particular business on this island, nor is it of any importance to the Red Haired Pirates."
"But they still found themselves coming here." The green haired man scowled from the group's rear, fighting a losing battle to reattach the paper to his hat.
"Unfortunately, yes. And now we have to deal with them accordingly." Robin said, making sure her face was covered enough by her hair.
"You mean, fight with them?" Franky intoned, a note of unwillingness in his gait. He moved to scratch his head, but ended up losing his hat and wavy wig.
"I surely hope not." Nami muttered, eyeing her shocked captain worriedly.
"This depends on our Commodore." The older woman smiled behind the curtain of hair.
Usopp grimaced, but a set of hands caging his shoulders stopped him from delving further into his muddy black thoughts of the future.
"Usopp," Luffy's head hung limply from his shoulders, "you have to get rid of them!" His exclamation shocked his friends, but the raven head could care less in that moment. "I promised Shanks I'd return his hat when I become Pirate King and I get myself a crew strong enough to beat his, but we still have a long way to go! I'm not prepared to face him and I don't want to either! I don't even have the hat. We have to make them leave..."
Luffy started pacing uncharacteristically, biting his lower lip as he searched for a way out of this impossible situation.
The sniper exhaled tiredly. "I know Luffy. I will try my best. Until then, make sure you always have your cap on your head. And please don't act like yourself." Usopp knew this was impossible, but one had to hope.
"Ah, and we have to tell everyone to not say anything about 'Lucy'." The long nosed man made air quotations with his fingers.
The group approached the exit only to find it overcrowded by practically everyone in the base. Usopp's eyebrow twitched as he neared the first rows in the back and started yelling for order while absently searching for his sunglasses.
Gah, I lost them!
Thinking fast, he snatched the first pair he could get his hands on. "Thanks!"
"No one say anything about Lucy being here!" Nami shouted over the incessant murmurs of the marines. "Red Haired Shanks can very well go and tell Strawhat Luffy!" The orange haired woman settled for the ones nearest to her since she would fight a losing battle in trying to reign in the whole mob. "Commodore's orders! Tell everyone or I'll make sure you won't see the next sunrise!" The navigator barked, making the men around her gulp and nod fervently before starting to spread the news further.
Said Commodore was in the process of fixing his hat over his eyes and rehearsing his speech when the crowd seemed to finally acknowledge his presence in its midst. Like one being, all of his subordinates stepped aside and the sniper felt caught by a vortex-like feeling of being absorbed and thrown right into the sunny day outside. The waves crashing against the small cliffs were the first sound he heard and he knew they were telling him that someone was there – they were unsettled as well. Then his vision cleared the further up he looked and, as he drew himself up to his full height, he could finally see their guests – or invaders, whichever worked best.
The dragon figure headed ship was anchored near the shore, sails furled against the breeze flapping the Jolly Rogers strapped to the masts and its deck was swarming with pirates as they went about their duties. Some were already on the shore, obviously setting up camp if the tents and other assorted things were any hint – they even got a fire going! – or just relaxing.
And in the middle of them all, sitting on a boulder he had sometimes considered a good place to bang his head on when everything became too much, sat Red Haired Shanks in all his red haired glory. The image swiftly whirled to a stop and Usopp fought to keep his jaw compact. The guy was dressed in a pair of flower shorts, a loose white shirt and sandals. His only saving grace was the acceptably fashionable black cape on his shoulders that might have seemed dangerous, were it not combined with the other articles of clothing. He might have very well looked like a tourist if it weren't for his reputation, the skeleton head and bones on those flags, the bloody pirates on his ship and for the half finished bottle of rum in his hand. Usopp had an inkling feeling it was full ten minutes ago.
Swallowing down whatever pirate attitude he would unconsciously exude and praying to all gods of the sea that his act was good enough the sniper drew himself up again and entered character. He was now a Commodore from Marine Headquarters, sent there on the Fleet Admiral's orders because his predecessor, his father – fake father, but whatever – had sadly died. The people behind him were not pirates for sure. They were his assistant, robot, secretary, pet, assassin squad – because he was such a pretentious and eccentric man – and a random guy that was a new recruit. Now that he looked again, Luffy was pressed tightly to the wall, trying in vain to become one with the architecture and Usopp could say without a doubt that he envied his captain in that moment.
Lucky bastard, Usopp thought wistfully as he drew nearer towards the red haired pirate.
Many of his crew stopped whatever they were doing to glare or simply look curiously at him approach while Shanks only swiveled around in his seat and offered a polite smile that gave Usopp enough reassurance that the guy might not be here to kill them after all.
"I suppose I should welcome you all to our base, but I'm afraid I don't know the reason for the sudden visit." His voice surprisingly didn't waver, but he felt his knees shake slightly and he hated that. There was no way to turn back now, what the hell was he still shaking in fear for?
Shanks gave a loud chuckle and took another gulp of rum. "I see you are quite new here, huh? These guys didn't tell you much." The red head grinned and stood up. To his full height, he easily towered over Usopp. "I'm the Yonko that controls these territories. We are simply here to take a look around and relax for a while before setting sail again."
Ignoring the 'a while' part, the sniper couldn't help himself but launch an ironic argument. "Never heard of a Yonko controlling a Marine Base before."
Some of the Red Haired pirates chuckled and smirked while their captain only grimaced.
"To be honest, your predecessors weren't the best officers around. When we arrived here at first, the man in charge was actually terrorizing the locals so we stepped in. After that, there had been an unnamed pact between you and us."
"I understand." Usopp said dryly. It was sadly predictable and now everything made sense. The locals hadn't dared to step in while there was a possibility they could make some power hungry idiot mad and take revenge on them.
"I'm the captain, Shanks. These guys are my crewmates." He jammed a thumb behind him. "And you are?" The curious question has been expected for a while now, but it still scared Usopp however prepared he had been for it.
"I am Commodore Marinaro, but call me Marino. I've been placed here on Fleet Admiral's orders since my father's unfortunate death."
"Oh? You're Teriaky's kid?" Shanks asked, surprised. Then his eyes fell on his bandaged nose. "What happened to your nose?"
Usopp had never heard that name in his life. Granted, the documents Nami had given them had no names written in them, so whoever the red head was talking about could be anyone and Usopp would be none the wiser. That meant plan B.
Ignore it while you can.
"I fell down the stairs and they put it between these long sticks, you see. So now I have to wear them for a while until it heals."
Many flinched at the story, as ridiculous as it sounded even to his own ears.
"I still want to know what you plan on doing here." His eyes settled on the already lounging pirates pointedly, though Shanks probably couldn't see them because of his sunglasses. "I don't think having pirates on my doorstep will allow me to sleep as comfortably as I do now."
The men behind the Yonko snickered collectively and Usopp offered them a small smile and a weak wave in return. These guys weren't as bad as he thought they were.
As irony would have it, he was forced to swallow his earlier thoughts when Shanks' face suddenly contorted into a blood-curling smirk. At least, that's what it was for him because he knew the man wanted something or had a plan that involved him ending up mentally scarred by any means possible.
"I'm surprised your father didn't tell you, but we always used to play some games during our visits here."
A hell-sent shiver crawled up the sniper's spine and he was suddenly thankful for the glasses and the hat. They obstructed his fearful expression in that testing moment.
"What the hell are you talking about mate?" In spite of the overwhelming pressure, Usopp did not stop talking like people are sometimes prone to do. No, the sniper would burst out spewing stupid things at the first opportune time.
Shanks looked a little baffled at the form of address, but smiled nonetheless and said.
"I believe you know that your dear father had always considered himself to be the best sniper in the marines-"
"In the world even!" One guy with a funny bandana and long blond hair added from behind.
"-and I took advantage of his hospitality to make sure my crew could withstand his almighty power."
The story was told with so much sarcasm intended that Usopp had to bite his lower lip to stop from bursting out laughing. He could hear several bouts of laughter from behind him, though.
"And it sort of became our traditional game so..." The man trailed off abruptly and Usopp saw him stare somewhere to his right.
Turning his head, he could only spot Chopper and he double checked to make sure nothing was amiss from the image before looking back at Shanks inquiringly.
"What is that?" The man spoke without much compelling.
Usopp blinked. Was the guy messing with him?
"A reindeer."
The Zoan Fruit user made a sound close to a deadpan duh.
"Why do you have a reindeer?" Shanks spoke slowly, almost afraid that said doctor would suddenly jump on him and try to kill him.
"He's my pet!" The long nosed man exclaimed, tired of the slow guy. And he was a Yonko... seriously? Now he knew why this was Luffy's idol.
The Red Haired pirates blinked as one.
"How can it even live on a summer isla-"
"Are you here to talk about my pet reindeer?!" Usopp asked, hands crossed over his chest.
A small silence then, "Right."
Half the base sighed in relief.
"So this is how the game works!" Shanks began again, his composure back. "You and one of my crewmates will compete in sniping. If you lose, we stay here however long we want and have parties every nigh right under your window."
Several laughed and even the corners of Usopp's lips twitched upwards.
"If you win, we'll be gone within the day."
This actually seems like a legit game. "What's the catch?"
Because it couldn't just be a legit game.
"The catch depends on your luck." The red haired pirate grinned. "If you're that guy's son, you should be a good sniper." Though his words made many of Shanks' subordinates laugh, they were actually making a lot of sense in other contexts as well, but Usopp's stomach dropped either way. "What say you?"
Sometimes, the sniper considered himself to be possessed. Because he knew that no one in their right minds – especially him! – would ever answer this.
"Don't dump me with that man. I'm way better than him!"
Shanks looked surprised at his conviction.
"This guy is quite self-confident." A new voice joined their conversation. There were several catcalls and even jeers as the intruder stepped forward from behind his captain.
Usopp hoped his sharp intake of breath and the small step taken backwards would be attributed to something like knowing his bounty poster because he couldn't just stay still and act nonchalant when his father – the real one – was standing right in front of him! He looked much more different than the long nosed man remembered, with dreadlocks in his hair and a new cape with stars. And he looked even older, but his grin was unchanged and it made Usopp's heart ache.
"I think I'll be competing this time!" Yasopp declared with a grin, resting a hand on his captain's shoulder and his crewmates cheered.
"Seems like you're not in luck, Commodore."
Usopp heard Shanks say, but he couldn't do anything else besides stare at the older men stupidly, his mouth possibly agape.
"Commodore!" His stupefied phase was interrupted by Nami's sudden call and he turned around to see Robin standing behind the group with a Den Den Mushi in her hands.
"There is a call from the Headquarters." The blonde haired woman explained, gesturing to the small snail in the archaeologist's hands.
The sniper nodded numbly and walked towards the immovable black haired woman, whose expression was obscured by her hair while silently asking himself if it was true or not.
Of course it wasn't.
"Hello." Usopp greeted no one as he accepted the receiver.
"Usopp, you gotta win this!" The sniper startled a little at Luffy voice coming from the other end so abruptly.
"Ah, now's not a good time..."
Several pirates stiffened and Shanks' eyes narrowed.
"You can do it! This is a captain's order!"
Usopp's mouth pressed into a tight line and his voice quivered a fraction. "Not right now. It's impossible."
"Nothing's impossible! Look at me, I managed to use a Den Den Mushi without blowing up the base... though Franky had helped me, but that's not what matters!" Luffy's hurried words brought a small smile on his face. "You're the future Pirate King's sniper and a brave warrior of the seas! I'm sure you'll be able to do it. No pressure! Okay, bye!"
The long nosed man blinked when the call ended abruptly, but he made sure to stay in front of the snail and say one last thing.
"Sure, that's no problem! I'm sorry for the earlier inconvenience, sir."
"Something the matter?" The red haired captain asked, eyebrow raised.
Usopp raised an eyebrow at him in turn, looking more composed than ever since this mess had begun.
"Yes, you don't have to worry about it. I'm not so heartless to divulge such secrets without gain." His grin caused a heavy silence to settle above them all.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you are a pirate." A grey haired man commented, leaning on a stack of barrels nearby as he smoked a cigarette.
Despite the inevitable cold sweat that was suddenly assaulting him, Usopp stood his ground and forced himself to appear startled and offended.
"Ben." Shanks warned, glaring at his first mate who simply shrugged in return.
"Should I take this as a sign to reconsider my earlier declaration?" Usopp spoke slowly, knowing who he was dealing with. He had heard many things about Ben Beckman through their travels and it was enough to know that he had to be very careful.
"Definitely one." The older man snorted more to himself. "I think you've got your career wrong, kid."
"Stop!" Shanks ordered sharply before turning an apologetic smile in his direction. "Sorry about that. My friend there tends to overanalyze things."
"Oh boy, do I know." Usopp whispered, definitely not referring to Ben's tendencies.
"Let's just begin already-" Yasopp scowled, getting more bored by the moment, though a heavy set of footsteps cut him off.
Franky exited the base along with Luffy – who slammed himself on the wall again – and stopped behind the group, declaring. "Red Haired Shanks sighted. Engaging-"
Knowing this was his cue, Usopp lifted a hand in dismissal. "Leave them! They are not a danger," the sniper eyed Ben's smoking form for a moment, "for the moment."
"What is that?" Shanks repeated his earlier question with a pointed finger in the shipwright's direction and the Commodore sighed.
"An upgraded version of the Pacifista. Oh, but you haven't heard it from me." He brought a finger in front of his mouth to accentuate his point.
The Red Haired pirates grinned as one and Usopp knew he had done something to award him plus points in their books. Unfortunately, he knew this wasn't going to make it any easier. It was only going to go downhill from there on out.
"Are you sure this is going to be fine?" Brook whispered from the back of the group. On his sides, Zoro and Sanji shrugged helplessly, watching as the two snipers loaded their guns.
"Does Usopp even know how to fire a gun?" Nami asked, doubt and worry written in her eyes.
"Yeah, don't worry. If he can handle a canon, he can fire a gun." Was Franky's soft reply from her right.
"What do cannons and guns have in common?!" The navigator exclaimed silently.
Luffy watched in amusement as his friends huddled into a tight circle, conspicuously discussing their long nosed crewmate's rate of success. On his part, the captain knew that his comrade would be more than fine. Usopp could keep up with Yasopp and he might even be able to win if he was lucky. He briefly considered causing a commotion just to divert the older man's attention, but that would put everyone on high alert and many would get suspicious so he refrained in the end. As much as he was bored, he did not want to do anything that might give Shanks any indication that he was there. He wanted to keep his promise exactly how he had always imagined it, not like this!
So, even though he almost did something to attract attention to himself numerous times since this morning – though these were easily brushed off by the marines since they were shockingly commonplace by now – Luffy has been as careful as he could. And that made him stay back and let his friends to the front along with Shanks, Ben, Roo and a couple of others Luffy didn't remember very clearly, thankful that everyone seemed too occupied with this little game to mind his little accidents.
"Alright, let's begin!" Yasopp grinned at his frozen adversary.
Usopp barely managed to offer a small, wavering smile in return before returning to staring into the abyss in front of him. The pirates had told the truth since they knew what they were doing. After the fake Commodore had agreed to their terms, Shanks and his crew, along with everyone in the base –those traitors will pay in the future for not having told them anything about this! – guided them up the mountain path to a clearing they had just bypassed a few days ago on their trip to the village. From that place, the sniper could see the numerous houses coating the mountain's other side until they collided with the sandy patch that gave way into the ocean.
"You ready?" His father's curious eyes entered his field of vision and Usopp startled and jumped backwards a few meters, hoping against hope that the man hadn't seen behind his sunglasses.
"Y-Yeah. What are we sniping?"
The older man pointed to a shop's sign in the form of a flower somewhere at half the distance between the sea and the forest. Even from the considerable distance, Usopp could easily pinpoint its pink petals, green stem and two leaves. And he didn't like where this was going.
"We're shooting the stem. Right between the two leaves." Yasopp announced and gestured for him to go first. "After you, the son of the best sniper in the Marines!"
The Red Haired pirates laughed, but Usopp was past caring about the jeering. His hands tightened around his rifle in a white knuckled grip and he gulped back the sudden anxiousness assaulting him. As he stepped forward, he allowed Luffy's words to play inside his mind one more time as a way to convince himself that he had dealt with worse before and got out of it fine. A stupid game was nothing.
If I'd have been able to use my goggles, it would have been way easier, he thought bitterly before shaking his head and stopping just a few steps shy of falling off the cliff. He couldn't think like that already, he will be able to hit the target just fine.
I can do it!
And if not… well, a week or two with people partying under his window won't be so bad.
Who am I kidding?
His throat felt too dry to produce any spit, but he swallowed more out of reflex and heaved the gun in position, aiming carefully for the intended target. Deicing to risk it, he let the sunglasses slip from his nose a little bit to allow his eyesight no obstacles. His heart beat wildly in his ears and his knees were buckling, but he pushed those things to the back of his mind and triple checked the target, the winds and, after a short calculus, estimated the approximate resistance of the air and recounted the possible errors that he might have overlooked as his index finger absently caressed the trigger.
It doesn't look like a bad day to shoot off random things. His thought was so random, he will be shocked by it later, but in that moment he didn't have time to analyze such trivialities. Inhaling deeply, Usopp pushed the trigger, bracing himself for the recoil.
It was not as forceful as he remembered it to be. For a moment there was only darkness and the sniper noted that his legs were not trembling anymore and his heart had slowed down to a steady rhythm. Only when the cheers came did he realize he had closed his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Yasopp's impressed face.
"Not bad, Commodore." Shanks offered him a smile.
In his state of shock, Usopp turned his head automatically to look at his friends' excited faces.
"You did it!" Nami yelled, almost hugging him before remembering where she was. "Sir." She added casually and Usopp sweat-dropped.
"Congratulations, sir!" Robin's eye twinkled behind the curtain of her hair and Usopp smiled.
"Might have been luck, but it might have been skill too. We'll see!" The older sniper chuckled, took aim and fired.
"Right in the place the Commodore had hit!" The blonde man from earlier announced, a spyglass over his eye.
The Red Haired pirates cheered wildly and Usopp sighed.
Of course he did it.
"Good job in the first round!" Yasopp extended a hand towards him.
The nervousness from earlier returned full force as Usopp took his hand and shook it. If the older man noticed his sudden trembling he didn't mention it. Instead, he grinned again and said.
"We'll continue this tomorrow. For now, let's party!"
The Yonko's crew raised their hands in agreement and gave loud howls.
Usopp turned around on his heels and faced his friends as the pirates filtered out of the clearing.
"I need to practice with the gun." He said in all seriousness.
"The training room's all yours." Zoro said.
"If you need help tell me." Sanji offered, looking around for anyone else lagging behind before reaching for a cigarette.
"Same here, Usopp-bro!" Franky nodded.
"You did great, Usopp!" Chopper exclaimed as he nudged his friend with his muzzle.
The long nosed man smiled and patted the reindeer's head. "Thanks!"
"You're definitely able to win this!" Luffy's obnoxious grin and pat on the shoulder startled Usopp for a moment before the words registered.
Something eased inside the sniper's chest at that moment and he was finally able to give them a real upturn of the lips.
"Yeah."
The next day found Usopp once again side by side with his father in a sniping match. Today's target was one of the small, circular windows of the church located at the far left of the village, near the cliffs cutting the beach's reaches short.
Arms aching from the continuous bouts of training he had delved into yesterday after the game, the sniper lifted his weapon to eye level and aimed carefully. He didn't like the feeling of uncertainness still swimming in his stomach nor the uneven and foreign weight of the firearm in his hands. Even after the five hours of training he did yesterday – he had refused to go celebrate anything and instead dedicated himself to getting used to aiming with a gun instead of his precious slingshot – after which he had literally fallen into bed, he still had difficulties holding it. Usopp didn't want to say the shot yesterday was beginner's luck, but he had thought about it over and over again and he had unconsciously arrived at this conclusion not long into his 'meditation'. That was why the sniper had shot bullets like mad, enlisting Sanji and Franky to help him with directions and hints.
As he watched the bullet fly off into the distance, he was sure it would hit, but he also knew that he wasn't good enough yet. His father had reciprocated the shot without difficulty only a few seconds later after the blonde guy announced his success. It only made Usopp feel worse.
"Same time tomorrow then!" Yasopp lifted a hand, the smile yet again never leaving his face and his eyes alight with the challenge his opponent had proven himself to be.
Usopp nodded half-heartedly and directed his footsteps towards the training room, deciding that six hours would do for today.
With the echoes of shouts and ripples in the closed off atmosphere inside the training room still resounding in his ears and prickling his skin, Usopp hit the next two targets – the chimney of a house placed near the beach and a street lamp in a twisted alley that was barely visible from their spot – though his mind was never there to begin with.
His body was already screaming and his eyes were half closed most of the time now, save for the moments of heavy concentration when he would literally push his eyesight to its limits. And however much Nami and even Robin would scold him for it, he would not put on a donated pair of goggles that might give him an advantage – no matter how much the others said they didn't.
He supposed that extending the training time so that he was stuck now more than nine hours into that training room had some negative side-effects after all. Something that many started commenting on about the time when the game didn't seem to end after three days. Half the base was on his side, urging him on to win this, while the other half had the gall to accuse him of neglecting his duties – something that he had been doing from the beginning, but now it was out in the open.
It didn't matter to Usopp, though he knew that Luffy was becoming more and more restless with the sudden stall in events. Aside from the bets thrown around every day by pirates, marines and villagers alike, nothing worth of notice happened and it served to put them all on edge, though Usopp had other things on his mind at the moment.
"You should take a break." Nami's words seemed to come from very far away and he almost ignored them.
"No, I'm fine." His answer was no more convincing than his absurd lies.
"You look like a walking sack of bones!" Zoro's off-hand comment did not help in the least and neither did Brook's protests about stolen trademark jokes.
"Usopp-san," the musician began gently, "maybe you should take today off. I mean, you've been training like crazy in the past days-"
No, not yet. He wasn't feeling that weapon yet and he knew that in order to use its full power, he would have to make compromises. He didn't have tons of time like he had had with his slingshot and it was only a matter of time before he mess it up and lost. "No, I'm not done yet."
"Are you even hearing yourself, Usopp?!" The orange haired navigator must have had a scowl on her face, he knew.
"When did he start taking this so seriously, anyway? He was trembling the first time." Sanji's remark was no more welcomed than the others.
"They are right, Usopp! You should take a little break." Now even Chopper was joining in the act of bullying him.
"Shut up!" The sniper turned around abruptly, almost losing his balance in the process. His blurry vision was the first sign that managed to lift the metaphorical fog from his eyes. Heaving a tired sight and hoping his friends had not been too offended by his shout, he turned around and started for his bedroom, mumbling. "Alright…"
He would just wake up early and train then.
While the Strawhats exchanged high fives over their success in making their friend go to bed early, Luffy watched with narrowed eyes after his long nosed friend walking with slumped shoulders through the hall. The raven head did not like how the sniper had transformed into a training maniac over this game, but he knew it had nothing to do with handling guns and everything to do with Yasopp. Usopp unconsciously, or consciously really, wanted to make a good impression even if his father didn't have any clue who he really was because of the disguise. The pirate captain felt it both like a blessing and a curse and he knew that he had been right in his decision to not reveal themselves. They weren't ready, neither Usopp nor any of the Strawhats. And Luffy was no exception.
Next day's target was a little more special. Instead of targeting something immobile and plain, Yasopp went to the next level and decided on a more exquisite type of target: shooting into the vase that one of the little cupids carved into the fountain was holding without damaging anything else from the sculpture. It didn't help Usopp in the least that water was pouring out of it, though he doubted the liquid would present a lasting impediment to the overall trajectory of the bullet.
He didn't need any invitation to step forward and aim, but he took longer before shooting since he wanted to make sure that the bullet wouldn't derail off course. The dull thud of the weapon against his shoulder and the following cheers allowed him to sigh in relief. And, to his eternal chagrin, but also admiration, Yasopp hit it as well, though this time even the man took a little while to prepare firing.
"Are you sure you don't wanna come today, Commodore?" The dreadlocked man asked as they walked towards the base side by side.
Usopp looked to be considering this for a moment before he shook his head. "Sorry, I have documents to sign again."
"Really?" The pirate eyed him with a raised eyebrow. "Yesterday you weren't in your office when I looked for you."
"You looked for me?" It was the younger's turn to raise his eyebrows, feeling a warm and fuzzy feeling along with overwhelming alarm at the notion.
"The guys had caught a pretty big fish and we thought you and your friends might want to eat too." Yasopp shrugged, unconcerned that he had pretty much walked through a Marine base to search for its commander and offer him food.
"I was probably off inspecting something or sleeping." Usopp quickly lied, making a mental note to check the safety of the route Nami and Franky used to transport the money towards the Sunny. Five days in and they were almost done, to Usopp's unending gratitude.
"Oh, come on! You're no fun…" The older pirate positively pouted as he threw his arms around the younger's shoulders.
Hoping that the sudden stiffness of his muscles was no really noticed, Usopp almost gave in, but the press of his gun into his back reminded him that he couldn't abandon his training regimen.
So he offered one last tight, regretful smile and politely declined yet again. "Sorry."
They will have time for parties in the future, when he will be strong enough to even beat his father.
NEXT DAY
Today was a cloudy day and judging by the rather dark ones hanging above their heads, it might as well start pouring any minute now.
Usopp watched detachedly as people strolled in and out of the clearing like it was a museum and they were the animated exhibits. Some even had picnics going on despite the overcast weather, but the substantial crowds did not seem to care. All in all, it was clear now that this game had been the most exciting thing to happen on this island in a while.
He chanced a look at his father only to find him sitting on the grassy ground, face scrunched up in concentration as he loaded his gun calmly, only half listening to the one sided conversation Shanks was having with Ben next to him. It was obvious neither the sniper nor the first mate were in any mood for useless chats. Further back, Lucky Roo was busy dealing the dibs on today's match while the Red Haired pirates' monkey stood perched on a crewmate's shoulder, screeching obnoxiously loud and thus adding the cherry on top to the overwhelming ruckus everyone was making already.
On his other side, his friends were once again grouped together, Nami looking worst than all of them. It was obvious the navigator hadn't managed to get enough sleep, but she was still smiling despite of this. Of course, that was because she and Franky, along with Robin this time around, had managed to make one last huge effort and transported every last bit of the billion they've been stealing for the last weeks onto the Thousand Sunny, finally completing their mission. With this out of the way, it was easy to be said that the Strawhats were in pretty good moods. Now they only had to make a swift exit and the world may never know what had transpired on this remote island in the New World. Of course, that is if Usopp could actually manage to win this, or – in the best case for them and the worst for the sniper – to lose.
He spied his captain sitting at the base of a tree not very far away and it was obvious that the raven haired man was studying him intently from under the brim of his cap.
"You ready?" His father's question was starting to feel like a routine by now, but he nodded anyway and stepped forward.
Heaving his weapon up, he made to aim, but found his brain lacking the information needed.
"What's the target?" The long nosed man asked, lowering the gun and looking at Yasopp questioningly.
The older pirate grinned and pointed an index finger in his direction dramatically.
"Today's target," he declared, voice booming over the crowds, "is going to truly test our worth as snipers!"
Usopp raised an eyebrow along with many others, but otherwise remained silent.
"You see that?" Yasopp pointed to a distant house on which a reasonably sized turbine vent could be seen. It was rusted and it had quite a few paddles missing, but it was still functional and rotating. "We are shooting our bullets into that." Seeing as the Commodore's face was blank in confusion, he detailed. "They have to enter through it. The one who passes right through cleanly on the other side wins the game."
What the hell kind of target is that even?, Usopp thought derisively, becoming positively alarmed by the sight. An ominous creaking started in his head, giving him the shivers to match the image of the rusted vent and its dooming factor to his fate.
Heaving a resigned sigh, he made to step forward again only to be halted by his father's hand.
"How about I demonstrate it first?"
Having nothing to lose – yet, the sniper thought cynically – he stepped back and gestured for the older man to take his place.
Yasopp heaved up his gun and pulled the trigger after a solid five minutes of concentration.
"Nice. You made it, Yasopp!" The blonde haired announcer fist bumped the dreadlocked pirate over the cheers of the crowd.
Usopp looked at his friends' sympathetic faces, his captain's obscured one and then back at his father's grin before retreating into his own mind and starting to formulate plans and possible trajectories for the bullet to take. Heaving his gun up again, Usopp recounted and played inside his mind the most realistic versions of them.
He didn't feel when the rain started to fall, nor the steady fall of raindrops on his hat or the restless shifting of the crowds, though no one dared to speak or even breathe in that heavy silence. But even though the rain was only a recent event, Usopp still counted it into his equations, knowing that he couldn't simply ignore it. Overlooking things caused one to make mistakes and that was the last thing he wanted right now. He wanted to think that he wasn't an amateur.
Finally, after a solid ten minutes standing in the pouring rain, Usopp let his finger squeeze the trigger and he watched the bullet fly past all the roofs and right into its target. Just before it entered, the sniper closed his eyes, knowing what was to come.
The bullet entered the vent, but it never came out. The continued shush around him rang in his ears loud enough to become bothersome, but he was rooted to the spot, waiting for blondie to announce his loss. He didn't know what it took the guy so long. It was pretty obvious that if he didn't see it in the first few seconds, he would never do.
"It didn't get out." Finally, the words were out, but the continued silence was heavier than anything he had ever felt.
"Today's target is going to truly test our worth as snipers."
Even after two years of training, it's still so much difference between me and him, huh?
Usopp knew that he wasn't strong enough. He felt it ever since that first shot he had made in the metaphorical dark and though he hadn't dared believe that he might be able to win this – only if his father would have let him, though – the long nosed man had hoped that he might have, at least, been able to keep up with the older man. And for a deceptively long and surprising while, he did. And now Usopp knew why everything happened the way it did today. Because he had let himself think that he was such a genius for managing that impossible shot on Dressrosa and that his handle on the gun had gotten amazingly better than on the first day in such a short amount of time. Usopp had thought that he might be able to amaze his father and friends and to prove that he wasn't only the liar of the crew. That he was their sniper and he could be useful.
Nicely coated words for a loser, a remote corner of his mind provided sneeringly and Usopp felt the need to throw up. In a real pirate game, duel, whatever, at least one of his crewmates would have died because of his lack of skill. They were just lucky that the Red Haired pirates were not the usual tyrants and he was glad for this, at least.
Now what?
"Well, seems like our party is in order, Commodore." Shanks grinned cheekily and the sniper paused.
Right.
Not having anything else to say to this, he shrugged in acceptance and turned around, intent on getting the hell away from there and find some remote corner or secret cellar where he could hide himself in until the pain in his chest and the burning stares of everyone around him had disappeared.
"Commodore!" His father's shout stopped before he could proceed. "You gotta join us today!"
Usopp's mouth went taut. He really didn't want to have to act happy and joke right now. No matter how good he was able to lie, at times like these even he couldn't just wipe away the overwhelming mountain of emotions threatening to engulf him and enjoy himself to a party hosted in honor of his loss.
"No thank you. I have things I need to take care of."
"Oh, c'mon! You're gonna die early with that serious attitude!" A red haired guy shouted as he rolled his eyes. Many of the surrounding pirates and even some citizens released similar shouts in agreement.
"Keep it down, boys!" Shanks yelled over the general ruckus. His eyes were kind and, Usopp realized with shock, understanding. "If the Commodore doesn't want to join us now, maybe he will change his mind after a while when he sees our amazing party. So let's make sure we're having fun!"
The Red Haired pirates cheered.
"Sir!" A man Usopp knew only by rank to be a Lieutenant shouted, running towards him as fast as he could. The liar was alarmed by the panic-stricken face and jerky movements that signaled shock.
"What is it? What happened?" The sniper truly hoped nothing too big. He could deal with the base blowing up – though he would have heard that happening – but not with another sudden visit.
"Sir, Marine warships appeared on our radar. They have communicated that they are Inspection corps sent from Headquarters!"
Of course his luck would only continue to bite him in the ass. Honestly, couldn't he ever catch a break from all this bullshit? Maybe it was because the number of lies he had told ever since coming here corresponded with the gravity of the situation. And if the Red Haired pirates' visit hadn't been sign enough, now Usopp had to deal with inspectors. In that moment the fake Commodore considered playing dead or abandoning his talent of lying. Something was clearly wrong with the world.
Sighing in defeat, he nodded his head numbly and made to leave again, inwardly preparing the next course of lies he would have to feed the visitors.
"Commodore, you have to help us!" Shanks was suddenly in front of him and slammed his hands on Usopp's shoulders hard enough to elicit a wince from the fake marine. The continuous shaking was not helping matters either. "The wind's not in our favor and we won't be fast enough to set sail before these guys arrive. Can you hide us?"
Usopp abstained from groaning out loud and looked up into the man's fierce gaze. It was pretty obvious that, should he refuse it, the pirate captain would resort to killing them all and taking their places. The sniper snorted at this particular bit of the story before he realized he had yet to give an answer. A tense silence was dominating the small clearing, every pair of eyes trained on the two men.
He spied Luffy's concerned gaze boring into his head and the sniper knew that they had to do what was right this time, things like promises forgone for the moment.
"Sure." The Commodore shrugged again casually and sidestepped a frozen red head to get back on track. "Make sure everything is ready and nothing too obvious is left hanging around…"
"Eh? Just like that?" Yasopp scratched his head in obvious confusion along with the rest of the pirates.
"Yes and you should hurry up and dock your ship before the Marines see it!" Usopp yelled over his shoulder, successfully snapping a couple of people from their stupors.
There was swarming again as the pirates ran towards the base along with the officers to get ready.
"You did what was right, Usopp." Luffy whispered when he walked past him.
"What the hell kind of irony is this?" Zoro grunted as he walked behind him and Usopp could clearly picture the frown marring his face.
"I tend to believe it's more of a curse." The sniper lifted one shoulder in defeat as he watched the base grow amongst the trees of the forest. He was not sure how much more of this he could take, but if a tenth of that billion wasn't going to him then Nami had another thing coming for her.
A/N: Here I am with chapter two :D
Things are picking up really quickly for the poor strawhats... I definitely enjoyed writing this part! xD
Reviews and Feedback are loved! Until tomorrow~