Hey all, It's been a bit, but finally after a small writer's block, I've written yet another chapter. It's not very long, but it wasn't meant to be. I really, truly hope the few readers I still have are still enjoying this story. Your reviews, your likes, your favoriting or even just your reading of this tale is always greatly appreciated!

Day 12, Saturday

There were many things Sanji was used to being awoken by: The shrill cry of his alarm clock; Luffy bursting into his room and leaping onto his bed, bouncing about and demanding breakfast; Zoro stumbling over his desk chair because he'd forgotten which direction to turn for his room again. But his cellphone ringing and painting his bedroom in a pale white-blue glow was not one of those things and was so out of place to his normal routine, he felt groggy and confused at first. He barely managed to reach for the device and answer the call before it finished its little jazz tune and sent his late-night caller to his voicemail.

"'Ello?" He slurred, head dropping back to his pillow and sparing a glimpse to his clock. He had to hold in a groan. It was only a few minutes past three in the morning.

But the voice that answered back had him coming awake real fast. "Sanji…?"

"Usopp?" He returned, glancing at his caller ID. It was definitely him but he was speaking so quietly he could hardly hear him. "You alright? Why are you calling so late?"

"No yeah. I'm f-f-f-" The other's voice broke and he noisily cleared his throat. Sanji sat up immediately. Was he crying? When Usopp started speaking again he sounded a little steadier. "Fine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's fine. What is it?" He interjected quickly.

"I know it's late and all I just… I wanted t-to," His voice was cracking again, breath hitching. Definitely crying. "N-No, never mind. This was stupid, I'm-"

"Usopp, you're starting to freak me out." Sanji interrupted, his own throat feeling constricted. "What in the hell is going on? Where are you? Are you hurt?"

"No!" The younger said and then, realizing he had spoken too loud, repeated softer, "N-No, I'm okay just-just… I'm sorry. I need a second." There was a clatter as the phone was set down. And for seven long, agonizing minutes all Sanji could do was smoke and listen helplessly to the occasional faint sob coming from the other line that only made his heart hurt and his mind race with questions and no answers.

What could be wrong? He'd seen Usopp barely hours ago when they had split up at the amusement park and he had seemed fine then. The long-nose, having graciously accepted the girls' offer to drive him back to his car since Franky's was full with the rest of them, said goodbye to them there. He had had a bright smile on his face as he did and even promised a demanding Luffy and Chopper he'd see them again; was even a little overcome by it all.

So what could have happened so suddenly? And why was he calling him? Not that he minded being sought out for comfort from his unsuspecting crush and he was gladly willing to give it, but it seemed strange when considering Kuro, who Usopp had been with for nearly three years now, seemed like the more obvious choice to go running to rather than the demoted waiter he hadn't even known for three weeks. Could that mean Kuro was simply out of reach? Or could it be that something terrible had happened to him?

Sanji flicked his lighter nervously, unsure which prospect bothered him more.

Before he could stew in his thoughts too much longer, the other finally got back onto the line, greeting him with some very fake sounding cheerfulness, "Back! Sorry about that. I mean this is really ridiculous actually. You're gonna think it's so dumb."

Sanji did not appreciate the aloofness. "Usopp I'm up at three in the morning listening to a good friend of mine having some sort of mental breakdown and you think that's ridiculous? You're scaring the shit out of me right now so don't you pretend like it's nothing!"

"I-I-I-I sor-sorry…" The other trailed off and when there was an extended pause, Sanji wanted to kick himself for his own tactlessness. Jumping at someone's throat wasn't exactly the best way to get them to confide, especially not someone as timid as Usopp. He wasn't given the chance to apologize though as the artist spoke first, "It's just this whole thing with Robin has got me all messed up and well… thing is, it brought up some bad memories."

Memories? That was not what he was expecting at all. "What do you mean?" He asked as a chill settled over him; he wasn't sure he truly wanted the answer.

"Uuuum…" Usopp stumbled some. "I used to have a friend who was in a similar situation."

"Oh." When Sanji immediately thought 'That's all?' he felt like a horrible person. Tch, some sympathizer he was. Hoping to make up for the slight, he amended, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, not really," Was the faint reply.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, why would I?"

"Because..." Sanji was completely taken aback. Wasn't this why he had called? It was almost like something wasn't adding up. "Because I know what it's like being on your side of things."

"No you don't. You really don't." Usopp mumbled almost desperately. "I mean Sanji, you're strong at least!"

What did that have to do with anything? "And what good would strength do me?!" He snapped back. "It didn't stop Robin's tears or her pain. She suffered for years after. Dealing with it. Getting over it. And even now I still sometimes see the way her eyes get dark when she remembers." He grit his teeth so hard they could have cracked. "And every time I do, I feel helpless and weak. So don't you tell me I don't get it!"

"That's not – It's not the same thing! The situations are completely different!"

"Oh yeah? How?" When there wasn't an immediate response back, he continued heatedly, "Besides don't you give me that 'not strong' bullshit when you can handle a gun the way you do. How many times did you think about shooting this fucker right between the eyes?"

"… Every day."

That quiet but furious reply drew Sanji up short. Finally, he said passively, "But even if you could have, what would it have really solved right?" He didn't get an answer but he didn't need one to know the other felt the same. He fell back against his bed's wooden headboard with a heavy sigh, the tension uncoiling within him. "This is stupid. Why are we arguing over this?"

"I'm starting to think it has something to do with the phone." Was the weak response, reminding him that their last argument also happened by telephone. Usopp added a little dramatic inflection in his voice, "I mean jeez Sanji, I know mine sucks but if you're gonna get that mad about it, then I can change, really! Give me another chance won't you?"

The poor attempt at humor was enough to draw a chuckle out of him anyways as he ran a hand over his face. "Oh, come off it… Listen, I didn't mean to yell like that. I just wanted to help."

"Yeah, I know. But… I guess I don't really wanna think about it right now."

"Okay." Sanji replied, knowing that was the best he was going to get tonight. "But if you ever do feel up to it, you can always talk to me."

"Unless it's long distance?"

"Careful bastard."

"Alright, alright." The younger snickered. "And… thanks."

He slid down his bed some, drawing his covers up. "Yeah."

"Do you mind if we talk about something else?"

"Like?"

"I don't know. Anything."

Sanji's head hit his pillow and he turned on his side, staring at the slates of light the moon was streaking across his bed through his window blinds. "Mmm… Okay, what was the most ridiculous thing Luffy did today?"

"Uh well, hmmm… Oh! I think when he climbed on top of that ship in the mini golf area and started singing a pirate song was pretty good. It was even better though when Nami managed to nail him with a golf ball. Though now she says I owe her twenty bucks for her enacting 'righteous revenge' for me."

He smirked. "That's the best you got? What about when we were on that bridge while we were in line for the log ride and he tried to grab those fish from the pond?"

"Oh yeah and he was asking you to fry them!" He could hear the smile in Usopp's voice. "How did he not get us kicked out of the park again?"

"Probably because when he's there he buys enough food to fill a month's quota." They both dissolved into laughter.

They jabbered on about nothing really. The best rides at Sabaody, how good the popcorn was, class, homework. By the time Sanji was rolling around to place his phone back on the nightstand it was well past four and he was yawning too much to keep up a conversation anyways. As he was just drifting off, the strangest thought occurred to him.

For all the fun Usopp had poked at it, it was ironic that his phone didn't have even a single problem that night.