Usopp… was exhausted! Physically.. emotionally.. all over. Just exhausted.
Water Seven…Enies Lobby.. what a ride. They had just managed to escape the marines using the new coup de burst, he had partied along with his crew to celebrate the return of Robin and the adding of Franky and Sunny to the crew.
Luffy claimed the celebration was also for Usopp and his return, but Usopp didn't want to draw to much attention to that and his involvement in Enies Lobby.
Now it was evening, the sun had gone down, it was semi dark, and things had at last gotten quiet giving Usopp the time to realise how exhausted he was.
He hadn't been able to rest for as much as a second while at Water seven, his head constantly gruelling over how he was supposed to get back with the crew, nervousisty constantly taking over his body, thoughts and most of them anxious and nervous constantly hitting him in the head and disturbing any sleep or concentration.
Unfortunately.. those thoughts weren't gone at all even though he was back on the ship.. they had started forming and wear him down, unlike any-thing he had ever tried.
And even though Usopp thought he would appreciate the silence, he really didn't, more he wished for a distraction now.
His wish was being granted as foot-steps sounded behind him.
Usopp turned around and smiled lightly. "Ah Nami." He greeted as the girl walked closer and closer.. with a rather angry look on her face. "Nami.. what?" Usopp asked confused, and in the next second, Usopp received one big massive slap on his cheek, stinging so bad that Usopp was sure it would leave a mark. Wide-eyed Usopp looked at Nami, in complete shock. "What the hell was that fo!?" he asked slightly shocked and slightly angry over the sudden, and quite unprovocked punishment!
"Don't you ever." Nami hissed pointing a finger at Usopp. "Do another trick like that again! Ever!" she demanded.
"huh?" Usopp blinked at her.
"That stunt you did! No scratch that, all of those stunts!" Nami exclaimed. "How selfish is one person allowed to be!?" she asked.
Usopp blinked. "Nami, I really don't understand what.." he tried but was cut off again.
"How dare you just to leave the crew like that!?" Nami asked. "How do you think that made me feel!? It was practically impossible to make Chopper stop crying, and none of the other meat heads on this ship understands how to deal with feelings, so it was all on me to cheer Chopper up!" she stated. "And then you got the nerve, the nerve, to show up THAT late, and only got onboard the very last second. What the hell is the deal Usopp!? Why did you have to be so dramatic! I thought we were going to leave you behind, and do you realise how awful that felt?" Nami asked.
"Urh.. no.." Usopp swallowed not knowing how in the whole wide world to take the things in that Nami had said, or how to react to them.
"It felt REALLY awful!" Nami exclaimed with her arms high in the air. "It felt loosing a mountain of gold and be left with nothing awful!" she stated. "In fact, I should charge you for how awful it made me feel, but then again, you would NEVER be able to pay that off, even if you worked all of your life. The least you can do is to be my private slave from now on."
Usopp's mouth dropped open. "What the hell kind of sense does that make?" he asked.
In the next moment, Usopp got the surprise of his life as Nami embraced him in a tight hug. "It just means that I really, really, missed you baka." She told as she let go, and then wiped a little tear from her eye. "And I am so glad you are back, though I really wish you could have done it just a little less dramatic." She told.
"Hehe." Usopp grinned nervously as he blushed. "I wasn't very far away you know, I was right there in Enies Lobby."
"I know." Nami told as she shook her head. "And I was so relieved that you were with us there, though I didn't like that stupid mask" she told in a slight annoyed murmur. "And here you left me worry that our next adventure would be without you, god Usopp." She rolled her eyes.
Amused Usopp looked at Nami, before he exhaled deeply. "Sorry." He at last said.
"You're an idiot Usopp, I hope you know that." Nami told right back as she leaned against the railing of the ship.
"Yeahhh." Usopp laughed nervously scratching his hair.
"Really, that mask." Nami sighed deeply. "First figuratively and then literately, what are you afraid of Usopp?" she asked in a roll of her eyes. "Would it really be so bad if we got to see the real you a bit more often?"
"My real me is not that impressive." Usopp reminded Nami.
"As I said, you are an idiot." Nami pouted. "The biggest idiot on this entire ship, and you are competing against Luffy, so that's saying quite a lot!"
Usopp couldn't help it, he chuckled, it was just nice to talk to Nami like this again. It was just off with all pretences when Nami was concerned. "I missed you to." He told. "It wasn't the same being Sogeking, I mean.. it was fun! I had fun, for a while.. Not having to be Usopp around the crew but some one else. Was a relief at first." He told. "But by the end, I just wanted to be Usopp again and no one else, I missed being me."
"Just don't pull a stunt like that again." Nami demanded.
"I wont." Usopp promised. "You have my word."
"Good." Nami pointed, and then she just stood there, in comfortable silence beside Usopp, as they did just that, stood in comfortable silence. Nothing needed to be said. They both just wanted to enjoy the moment, that every-thing was all-right right now… as long as it would last.