The Great Usopp had braved many fierce and terrible dangers in his long, illustrious career of being totally awesome. Not a single man alive knew more about the grueling dangers of warfare, or the horrors of staring down a loaded gun, or knew the weighty responsibility of carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders. The Great Usopp was a man among men; the ideal warrior that all others aspired to be. He had awed thousands with his harrowing tales of true-life adventure, leaving his audience gasping and applauding for more.

It was a gift, really…

"So you're a graphic designer?"

…a gift that some people just didn't appreciate.

"Uh…y-yeah, I guess you could say that. S-some would consider it, y'know, graphical-art-of-the-new-century, but I guess 'graphic designer' works…"

He'd dropped by the old apartment to check on Luffy and Sanji, since he hadn't seen them in a while – and it was weird at home with Kaya visiting her parents at Virginia Beach for a few weeks, but the Great Usopp never feels lonely – but instead of seeing his old buddies, he ended up alone in the room with this scary-looking-guy he'd never met before, who claims to be the new roommate.

He was a big guy, although Usopp had fought bigger; tall, with tanned skin, dark eyes, deep green hair, and three gold, dangle earrings in his left ear. The kind of guy one usually sees bouncing bars in shady neighborhoods. He had a fierce look – not that the Great Usopp was afraid – but he sort of wished Sanji and Luffy would come home soon.

Really soon.

…cuzhehasn'tseentheminawhile…

"Oi, what are you so nervous for?"

"NERVOUS!?" Usopp shouted, startled out of his very manly thoughts. "Wh-who's nervous!? I'm not nervous! What would ever give you that idea!? I'm perfectly fine! HA HA!"

The strange man rolled his eyes, the deep frown that wrinkled his forehead smoothing out a fraction.

"I didn't kill them, if that's what you're worried about."

Usopp's powerful, manly heart hiccupped a bit. "No!" he squeaked. "No, I wasn't thinking that! Nothing like that! Nothing at all, in fact! HA HA!"

Shit, he saw right through me! Will this be the last epic adventure of the Great Usopp!?

"Do you like your job? Your…graphical-design-whatever job?"

Yes, this will surely be the tragic end of the wonderful, the magnificent, the Great U—"Wait, what?" Usopp asked

"Your job. Do you like it?"

Now Usopp frowned slightly, confused and caught off guard. Was this big, mean, scary guy trying to make…small talk? Was he making fun of him? Because Usopp wouldn't stand for that! He had pride as a man, dammit, and he wasn't about to let some muscled-up fiend mock what he did for a living! Sure it wasn't the greatest, most exciting job ever, but it made money, and he could keep Kaya happy, and that's all that mattered, really! How dare this bastard belittle that, just because he was probably stronger than Usopp. A little stronger, anyway…

"Yeah, I like my job," the designer said defensively. "It pays the bills, and I've always wanted to be an artist. It's a great job! Of course I like it!"

"No you don't."

Usopp paused, staring hard at the man reclining easily in the chair across from him. What did he mean, 'No you don't'? Of course Usopp liked his job. It was a perfectly fine job! How could this insensitive jerk just sit there all calm, watching him with those creepy eyes, and tell him straight to his face he was lying about liking his job? What the hell did he know, anyway? He didn't know a damn thing about Usopp! He didn't know what his dreams were, what drove him, what inspired him! He didn't know anything!

…so then…how did he know I was lying…?

Gripping the knees of his ink-stained jeans, Usopp hung his head slightly, glaring at the floor.

"What do you really want to do?"

"It's none of your business," Usopp muttered.

"So what?" the man grunted, sounding annoyed.

He sighed, stealing his conviction, knowing this jerk would just laugh at him anyway, like everyone always did. But he was used to it by now. There was nothing this guy could say that Usopp hadn't already heard.

"I want to draw and write my own comic books!"

A brief pause. Then, "So why don't you?"

All right, so Usopp had never heard that one before. He choked on his spit, gapping and staring at the man who still watched him with those severe, utterly serious eyes. There wasn't a trace of humor in them. He honestly wanted to know.

"W-…well 'cuz, y'know…it costs money and stuff, to buy the right equipment. And I'd need a publishing deal. And an editor. And a studio. And then people would have to actually buy it. And what if they don't? I can't make money that way. It won't put food on the table. How am I supposed to take care of a family, or something, if I can't support them?"

"So what if people don't buy it?"

Usopp blinked. And again.

"Wha-?"

"Your dream is to draw and write your own comics. You never said you had to be successful."

"Well yeah, but, how could I make a living off of it if no one buys it?"

"If you spend your life doing what makes you truly happy, then things just sort of take care of themselves."

Usopp watched with slightly slack jaw as the man stood from the chair then, heading into the kitchen. He heard the refrigerator door open, and the call of, "Oi, want something?"

"S-sure."

If you spend your life doing what makes you truly happy, then things just sort of take care of themselves…

Could that really be true? If he were to pursue his dream, would the cosmos just naturally align in his favor? Would he have to worry about money to fend for himself and Kaya? To pay the bills? Taxes? Could it really be as easy as this guy says it is?

Just as the man handed the dazed Usopp a soda, the front door slid open, and Luffy bounded in, grinning madly and carrying several bags of groceries, as Sanji screamed at him not to drop anything. The man told them they had a visitor. Both looked over to see Usopp, smiling wide, and Luffy launched himself at the curly-haired man, just like old times.

"Usopp!" the boy cried. "We haven't seen you in forever! Are you having fun with Kaya!? Have you eaten any good food lately!? Hey!" The boy's eyes lit up suddenly, and he spun around to grab the tall man by the neck, dragging him closer to the couch. "Have you met Zoro yet? He's our new nakama! Isn't he cool!"

Usopp looked from Luffy's delighted face, as though he were showing off some new treasure, to the man's scowl of irritation, although he didn't seem too bothered.

"He's not cool, he's a goddamn marimo asshole," Sanji grumbled from the kitchen.

"Fuck off, Curly-cue!" the man growled.

Luffy just laughed.

Eventually Usopp did too. "Zoro, huh?" he asked, holding out his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Che," Zoro snorted, smirking but grasping Usopp's hand anyway. "What's one more crazy bastard, eh?"

"YAY! Usopp's met Zoro! Let's celebrate! SANJI! I WANT MEAT!"

"SHUT THE HELL UP AND WAIT FOR IT!"

Usopp was glad some things never changed. Stability was a comforting thing, especially now.

Because, he decided as he watched utter chaos unfold in the apartment, he was finally going to make some changes in his life. He was going after his dream. If these three crazy people could do it, why couldn't he? It was only the rest of his life, after all. What was there to worry about?

I just love Usopp, don't you? X3