Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Rating: K

Characters: Sanji, Zoro, Usopp

Word Count: 293

Prompt: Red


Chase the Trail

He was stepping into his kitchen to make breakfast when he saw it.

Red.

Little droplets of red staining the floor as they made a path from the galley to the door.

What?! His heart started to hammer as he followed the trail, noting with a knot in his throat how irregular and crooked it was. How had this happened?! He hadn't heard a thing – no sound of guns retorting or swords clanging. No yell from the one on watch of any danger at all. So how, HOW?!

The trail ended just left of Sunny's helm.

Zoro was there, slumped against the railing.

Red everywhere.

"ZO-" Sanji started to yell, when a hand grasped his elbow and tugged him around, a voice hissing his name.

He gave a cry at the sight of Usopp covered in so much blood he probably shouldn't be breathing.

The sniper seemed unusually undaunted by his injuries as he slapped his hand over Sanji's mouth, holding a finger to his lips, "Sssh! Don't wake Zoro up!"

Don't – what?!

And then Sanji's keen olfactory sense was suddenly overpowered by a smell similar to paint and he looked carefully at Usopp, now noticing he had no wounds. Behind him, he heard the Marimo snore loudly and contently.

"I'm not done turning him into a lobster yet!"

He relaxed.

It was food coloring!

"Well you better let me boil him when you're done." He said when Usopp removed his hand.

"You got it!"

He left the marksman to pull his prank – and it was mainly because his legs were still shaking with relief he didn't notice it until he was back in the kitchen:

A large, red, hand-shaped stain on his best suit jacket.

"SHITTY LONGNOSE, I'M GOING TO FILLET YOU!"