Author's Note: Another OneShot, which grew out of proportion. And as I am too lazy to split it into two or three parts, you will have fun with *checks word count* more than 10k words.
In addition, I have driven myself crazy with formations, which have a meaning so I will give you a legend.
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Text Legende:
Italic, Aligend left: Flashback
Italic, aligned right: Somebody is speaking, and Usopp is only listening partially.
Italic, bold: A user of haoshoku haki is giving a verbal demand/order.
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Among Monsters
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"Always protect your head when other people physically overwhelm you." Robin looked at Usopp with solemn eyes, and he loathed – loathed – the thought that the archaeologist thought him too weak to protect himself even after two years of training on a gruesome, human-and-animal-eating island.
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The kick hit Usopp in the kidney, and he rolled over, covering his head with his arms as best as he could to protect it. A low groan escaped his mouth that turned into a muffled scream as something hit his lower back – it felt like a bat – and a blinding pain shot through his spine.
Taking away his breath.
Overtaking his mind.
For a few precious seconds, all he felt was the pain in that one spot on his body before the bat once again found its mark.
This time, his hand.
His left hand, which covered – protected – the space of his lower head and neck.
A loud, cracking sound.
At the same time, Usopp felt the pain as the bones in his hand broke.
Laughter.
Cold and cruel.
"As if somebody would believe a weakling like you would be a crewmember of the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"He probably got away with his lie before because his nose looks similar to God Usopp's."
He felt how somebody gripped his clothes.
Felt how he was yanked up.
Blinking, he looked into the furious face of one of his attackers. The man's deep green eyes were nearly black in the meagre light of the alley. "You little piece of shit, listen carefully: We are not some inexperienced rookies fresh in the New World! We have been sailing in these god-forsaken waters now for several years, and we recognise a lying piece of shit like you at first glance!" snarled the man. "You claim to be a Straw Hat Pirate? A man directly under the command of Straw Hat Luffy himself? The newest emperor of the New World! You claim to be under the command of the one who destroyed Big Mom's Castle and reputation? The one who busted Kaido's empire? The man with an army of allies that counts over five thousand men? A weakling like you!?"
The other men present muttered their agreement, and Usopp could see in his mind's eye the cruel smiles on their faces.
If possible, the man pulled Usopp even closer, and he could smell the alcohol in the man's breath.
"Don't fool yourself! A weakling like you would never sail directly under Straw Hat Luffy! You are even too weak to be in the crews of one of his allies!" Disgust washed over the man's face before he spat Usopp in the face. "I will give you some advice, which a weakling like you doesn't deserve: you better shut up about your lies, or you won't live long! Right now, Straw Hat Luffy and his men himself are on the island. And it is only a question of time until one of his allies will turn up, too. What do you think they will do if they hear your little lies? Eh?!"
The man lifted Usopp up until his feet dangled in the air.
"They gonna fucking kill you! That's what will happen! Because they will never allow a weakling like you to tarnish their name! Their reputation!"
And then, the man threw Usopp against the nearest wall. His head hit the bricks hard with a dull noise. Painfully slow, Usopp slit down the wall, his chin sunken down to his chest.
"You treat a crew like the Straw Hat Pirates with the utmost respect! They are all strong like monsters! Each member of the crew is fearless. That's why they can spit into the faces of people like Big Mom and Kaido and turn this boring world upside-down. And if that old fart Whitebeard would still be alive, they would also spat into his face! It is only a matter of time until Straw Hat Luffy will show Red Hair Shanks and Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach what's up!"
Without raising his head, Usopp could see the confident smile on the man's face, the excited sparkle in the dark green eyes.
"And we will be there! Alongside with the Straw Hat Pirates! Just now, our captain is talking to Straw Hat Luffy so that we can join him as allies. We have prepared the best gifts for him and will cover all the expanses of the Straw Hat Pirates during their stay here because that's how you treat a pirate crew led by a man like Straw Hat Luffy!" The man screamed the last words as he swung his arm.
A hard blow to his chest made Usopp gasp for air.
"And not with lies because you hope they will protect you!"
Usopp knew the man was in the process of raising his arm to punch him again-
"Oi! Come on! He is done!"
Usopp heard steps and a slight shuffling as his attacker was pulled away by one of his comrades.
"Yeah! Let's leave this piece of shit and go to the captain!"
"Aye! I don't want to miss the start of the party!"
"They are right. It would look bad if we weren't present in full man strength."
The heavy steps and the picture of several pairs of feet walking away in his mind's eye told Usopp that his attackers were indeed leaving.
Usopp held his breath. Just a few more seconds and-
His eyes widened.
His bag!
One of the men cursed as he stumbled over it.
"Hey! Give me that piece of trash!" laughed the man who had given Usopp the stern talking as he sent a look over his shoulder at Usopp's sunken form. "It might not be much we get if we sell the shit, but who are we to say no to a pretty penny?" The man smiled nastily.
Usopp remained sunken against the wall, using the last of his strength to not show how angry he was about the men walking away with his beloved bag because his body wouldn't be able to handle another beating.
Because his body hurt too much, and he couldn't move! And his mind – there was so much pain!
And now, he had even lost his bag. Throughout all his adventures with Luffy and the others, Usopp had never lost his bag before. His bag, which contained all his weapons, ammunition, most precious possessions, and the receipt for – well, he now would never get that pistol from the weapon store.
Something like this – something like this would never happen to his friends. They never would get beaten up, their belongings stolen by their attackers and too weak to get up and get them back. They would- they would beat the hell out of them because they were strong like monsters. If they told other people they were crew members of Straw Hat Luffy, people would believe them.
Usopp closed his eyes against the angry tears as he waited for the pain to subside to a more bearable level. Until he could make the – shameful – trip back to Sunny, where Chopper would scream for a doctor upon seeing Usopp's state. Where Robin would calm down Chopper, her sharp eyes never leaving Usopp so that the little doctor could start treating Usopp while she assisted him. Where Luffy would stand in front of him, fist angrily shaking as he demanded to know who dared to injure Usopp. Where Zoro would be shadowing Luffy with cold fury in his eyes, hands on the hilt of his beloved swords and ready to go. Where Sanji would light one cigarette after another because the cook would have finished them in less than thirty seconds while waiting next to the gangway for the order to go. Where Nami would rush with worried eyes to get Chopper's bags from the infirmary, promising to make whoever was responsible pay - literally. Where Franky would get a stretcher while swearing to blow the unknown attackers of Usopp into the next century for daring to assault his bro. Where Brook loomed near, freezing air floating around the skeleton, demonstrating the cold furry he felt but couldn't show on his face. Where Jinbe would be standing next to the railing, outwardly calm but with rage burning in his eyes, betraying the storm about to break free once they knew who was responsible while looking out at the harbour in case Usopp's attacker followed him.
Usopp could see the scene perfectly play out in his mind.
Because that's how his friends were!
After what felt like an eternity, Usopp opened his eyes again. Whatever meagre light the morning sun had used to lighten the alley had vanished long ago, plunging it into darkness. Usopp gazed at the alley's entrance, which led into one of the harbour city's main roads. It was bathed in the broad light of the midday sun. It was long past the time for Usopp to go back to Sunny. The others were probably worried because he hadn't yet returned from his little shopping trip.
Coughing wetly, Usopp painstakingly slowly picked himself up and resolutely ignored the fact that he had just coughed up blood. He could panic about dying once he reached the Sunny and had his friends at his side. With a hand on the wall next to himself, he slowly stumbled to the alley's entrance. Before stepping into the light, he stopped one last time. Taking a deep breath – his whole chest hurting – Usopp steeled himself for the long and painful walk back to Sunny.
Back to his friends.
Back home.
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"Nami?"
"Hm?"
"Don't you think- well- you know- sometimes- don't you think, that- "
"Usopp! Stop beating around the bush and spit it out! I don't have all day." Nami turned over the page of the newspaper.
"Don't you sometimes think- "Usopp licked over his lips. "I mean, the others are all so strong. How are we supposed to keep up with th-"
With lightning speed, Nami lowered the newspaper and looked at him with a severe face. "Not that again, Usopp! How often do we tell you that your strength doesn't matter! Not your physical strength or-"
"But Nami-"
"No!" Nami interrupted him with a firm voice. "Luffy wants you on the crew! So, you are more than strong enough to be here!"
Usopp frowned at Nami.
They were the only two who could be considered physically weak.
The others? Well, they were all monsters in one way or another.
Always have been.
Luffy's strength blew Usopp's mind regularly, and he just seemed to keep getting stronger and stronger. There didn't seem to be any limit to Luffy's physical strength. Even though Luffy had a lithe build, his body was packed with steely muscles from the tip of his hair to the tip of his toenails. The captain carried Zoro's dumbbell like they weighed nothing for sea's sake. And not only his physical strength was monstrous, but also, well, his haki. Ever since their reunion on Sabaody, Usopp could feel it. Feel how it pulsed under Luffy's skin. The manifestation of the unbelievable strength of Luffy's will. It was like a living being only kept under seal by the captain's skin and control. And once Luffy chose to use it, to allow the beast hidden under this skin to break free, there was no stopping it. Either you obey Luffy, or you black out. How Usopp remained standing every time he witnessed Luffy unleashing his strength, the hidden power of his will, was a mystery to him. There were moments when Usopp even feared it. Feared the power hidden in one of his best friends. And then- then Luffy looked at him with his dark eyes that seemed to see things other people couldn't see, and his friend's haki warped itself around Usopp like a coat, warm, soft and unyielding. Like it was protecting Usopp. – Even from his own fears. And Usopp would breathe easier as he smiled at Luffy.
Nobody would question that Zoro was a monster. The man used dumbbells, which weigh one tonne to train. Franky had been forced to use an iron steel core in the main mast of Sunny to withstand the weight of Zoro's training equipment high up in the lookout, equipped with special racks to hold them in place in even the worst storm. Usopp remembered having to ask Franky once to help him re-secure one of Zoro's "lighter" dumbbells because he couldn't move the thing even a tiny fraction, let alone move it into its holder. Zoro's physical strength was downright scary. And Zoro's haki? That was scary, too. And it felt like Luffy's. Constantly pulsing under Zoro's skin, only waiting to break free and forcing the people around the swordsman to show him the respect he rightfully deserved. A respect Usopp never got. And then Zoro would clap Usopp on the shoulder. The swordman's haki would wash over Usopp – a blanket sharp and cold like a sword on the outside, but soft and careful wherever it touched him on the inside – settling around him like the other man wanted to tell other people that they needed to respect sniper in the same way. And if Usopp looked up to the swordsman with fearful eyes, Zoro would smile one of the rare smiles the swordsman reserved for only those closest to him.
Sanji's strength was different from Luffy's and Zoro's. Oh, he was still a monster regarding physical strength, all of it well hidden under his suits and manners. Countless people thought because of Sanji's appearance, they would be able to defeat him, only for the cook to beat them into the ground and walk away, dusting off his suit. And the cook's body's strange new ability to heal itself was so spooky – just thinking about how Sanji's broken bones snapped into position made Usopp cringe. No, the most significant difference was in Sanji's haki. Where Luffy's and Zoro's haki was like a pulsing, living being locked under their skin until it was allowed to break free, Sanji's haki felt motionless and fixed. It couldn't warp itself around the sniper at a distance or wash over him upon touch. Sanji's haki was more like a tailored coat only to be worn by the cook instead of being shared with others. And Sanji would probably blow a fuse if Usopp told him that, as he never liked being unable to do something that Zoro could do. Still, it was reassuring for Usopp to have Sanji standing in his back or right next to him because he knew the cook wouldn't leave his side without informing him prior. And he always left with the promise to return as fast as possible, even if Sanji rushed off to help Nami or Robin.
Being a fishman, no sane person questions Jinbe's strength. All fishmen were naturally stronger than humans. And even among the merfolk, Jinbe was considered one of the strongest of his race. In addition, Jinbe had been the captain of a feared and, for its strength, respected crew for a long time. His name and face were very well-known among civilians, marines and pirates alike. Only the strong dared to challenge the fishman, who was a true master of his country's specific fighting technique. Aside from his experience of many years as a pirate, Jinbe also had a strong haki and was the one with probably the best control over it. Well, Luffy's and Zoro's control could one day surpass Jinbe's – maybe even Sanji's - but if somebody would ask Usopp right now, he would say Jinbe's was the best. But like with Sanji, Jinbe's haki was designed only to fit the helmsman himself. And Usopp felt Jinbe knew he couldn't use his haki to protect him like the captain and the swordsman did. Maybe that's why Jinbe tried to stay close to Usopp, especially during a fight. Why did deadly water balls hit all the enemies who dared to get too close to the sniper – even if Jinbe was in the water and sank the enemy's ships.
Like Jinbe, Robin also had a reputation built for herself in the past as a ruthless woman who had no trouble walking over dead bodies. With a serene smile and cold eyes, Robin used her devil fruit to eliminate everyone who dared to step in her way. Her sharp mind was able to decode a riddle in seconds, and trying to confuse her only ended in embarrassment for the other party. After two decades, with nobody to rely on, being wary became second nature to Robin. And it scarred Usopp sometimes how fast Robin noticed bounty hunters and undercover marines around them. If somebody made the error of mistaking Robin for weak, the archaeologist wasted no time to prove them wrong. Because for a woman, Robin was fucking strong. Even something as simple as a slap would sting for days. And her pinches were made to be a killing move – even before their training break – Usopp was speaking from experience. How he had survived each time the archaeologist had pinched him was a miracle. Luckily, Robin never used her haki when she pinched Usopp. Robin's haki might be leagues under Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Jinbe, but Usopp still didn't want to know how it felt to get haki-pinched by Robin. After all, her haki was strong enough to help her break through walls. And on Usopp's 'That's-scarying-the-hell-out-of-me' list, that was still fucking high. Yet, Robin had the mysterious ability to calm Usopp down in the biggest chaos so that he could focus on whatever he was supposed to do. And often, the archaeologist covered Usopp's back with a calm smile on her face while smashing enemies through a wall or two.
Franky's power was mainly artificial. Made by his mind and technical abilities to create whatever shit his brain had come up with. His artificially improved body could withstand circumstances that would break an average human body. And then there were all these dangerous weapons built into Franky's body. After their reunion, Usopp spent days with Franky, questioning him about every new weapon integrated into the robot man's body. The firepower Franky could unleash was as impressive as it was destructive. And Franky was still improving himself, searching for ways to create new weapons – for himself and Thousand Sunny. And it changed the way Franky looked dramatically. By now, Franky looked even less human than back in Water 7 as they all met him. Even in the New World, with all its crazy-looking figures, Franky belonged to the more bizarre-looking beings, making others wary of him. Because they didn't know what to expect. As for haki – it was there, but Usopp hadn't Franky seen use it. Maybe he had no idea how to integrate it into his weapons and, for that reason, considered it a waste of time to learn how to use it. Sometimes, Usopp was a little envious of the shipwright. He would give an arm and a leg to have even a little bit of haki like Franky – just enough to be able to strengthen his body at least a bit. But then Franky would call him 'bro', with that fond undertone Usopp sometimes had heard the older kids call their younger siblings back home and hand over a new round of explosive for the sniper to experience with. And hearing Franky laugh at the surprised faces of their enemies if Usopp was shooting at them with miniature versions of Franky's ammunition instead of the shipwright was amusing as hell.
While the others were monsters for their strength, Chopper was a freak by nature. A reindeer with a devil fruit which turned him into a human. Or at least that's what the fruit was supposed to do. Because even Usopp was embarrassed by how long it took him to get used to Chopper's "human form" – if you dare to call it that. Even in his human form, Chopper was covered in fur, making him look like a monster. And somehow, that form became even more monstrous during their training break. But Chopper was laughing about it now, so Usopp shouldn't be worried about the little doctor and laugh with him. Aside from that, being a reindeer gave Chopper a naturally strong body. A strength that Chopper enhanced with his devil fruit and his medical skills. And it was these skills which allowed Chopper to discover an even more monstrous side of himself. Usopp would probably forever freak out for at least a split-second spotting Chopper's towering monster form. At least, Chopper didn't have haki – for now. Should Chopper one day develop haki and use it – no matter whether subconsciously or consciously – the world government would add more than a few berries to his bounty. But for now, for now, Chopper was still more of a little child who loved getting stories told by Usopp while eating freshly made waffles as Zoro brushed his fur.
The other freaking being by nature on board the Thousand Sunny was Brook. And like Chopper, a devil fruit was responsible for that. Because seas, couldn't Brook's devil fruit restore his body again as Brook's soul returned to it? Not only had Brook scarred Usopp nearly to death upon meeting, but he also had nightmares for weeks after the old musician joined them. And Usopp was embarrassed to have nightmares about one of his fellow crewmembers. The only saving grace was that Brook simply scarred every person he met. And there was nothing Brook could do. He was a walking and talking skeleton, the manifestation of a horror story. And all that before, Brook used his spectacular sword skills. Even Zoro acknowledged that Brook was an excellent swordsman, which meant a lot to the old musician. But to Brook, there was more than just his bony looks and long-honed sword skills. Brook was using haki on a subconscious level. It was tightly warped around even the smallest bone of Brook's body, keeping them from breaking completely if an enemy applied enough force. And not only did Brook's haki protect his bones, but it also changed the temperature, moisture and flow of the air around them depending on Brook's feelings, like it gave him a way to express them in his own unique way. Usopp didn't know if the others had figured this out, but he knew about it. That's why whenever the air around Brook felt dry and still, Usopp would ask the old musician to play him a song. Then, the air would warm up and start to flow peacefully as the music lifted Brook's spirit.
And then there was Nami. Like Usopp himself, Nami was physically weak. She had the body of a normal human being. There were clear limits to what Nami's body could endure and when it would start to give out. So Nami and Usopp often searched for cover behind their physically more durable fellow crewmembers. But that's where the similarities between the two ended. Because even Nami was a monster in her own way. She might not be as intelligent as Robin, but she still was fucking brilliant. And if money or her friends were involved, she turned into a mean she-devil, which also seemed to increase her physical strength. Suddenly, Nami was able to knock people out or break their bones. It was scary! Mainly because she looked like Nami: a weak but sexy-looking woman who smiled at you with the sweetest smile and innocent eyes. You don't expect her to punch you in the face, knocking out a tooth or two. Also, Nami had skills and wasn't afraid to use them in every way needed to reach her goal. Ever since Usopp had provided Nami with the first version of her clima tact, her fighting skills had improved drastically and allowed the navigator to keep even strong fighters at a certain distance. And to top things off, the navigator could use haki subconsciously. But Nami's haki was strange. Because even Usopp had trouble tracking it in Nami. Some days, it even felt like Nami didn't have any, and suddenly, it was there, like little bubbles slowly drifting upwards from wherever Nami's source of haki was hidden.
And it scared Usopp because if Nami developed haki, he would be the only senior member without it.
Okay, there was still Chopper. But how long until the little doctor started to develop haki? The New World was a crazy, dangerous place, the perfect environment for everybody strong-minded enough to develop haki. And Usopp had no doubt that Chopper was strong-minded.
Usopp didn't want to be the last one without haki.
He didn't want to have a second Water Seven. He didn't want to feel as scared as he did back then. Scared of being a burden to his friends. Scared of being too useless and weak to continue the journey with his friends. Scared of being left behind. Usopp didn't want to go through all that again. And so, sometimes, the old fear from Water Seven crept up, scarring the living shit out of Usopp.
"Who is strong enough for what?" asked Sanji from behind Usopp, who jumped surprised out of the cook's way. "Here is your morning juice, lovely lady." With a well-timed move, Sanji presented Nami with a glass filled with tangerine juice made out of fruits from her little tangerine plantation.
"Thanks, Sanji." Nami smiled at Sanji before taking a sip of her drink. "It's Usopp. He is questioning his strength. Again!"
Sanji swirled around, eyes sharp as they focused on Usopp. "What reason brought that up again?"
Usopp swallowed. "Eh- it- eh- well-"Nervously, he played with a loose string on his trousers. "It's just these last few attacks and, well-"
Sanji frowned. "Did some idiots say something useless to you again?"
"What? No!"
"Then why are you questioning your strength again?"
"Oh, forget it.", huffed Usopp, turning around to walk away. He didn't want to talk with Sanji about this. He never would get it with how strong he was.
"No! No! No! You are not walking away, Usopp!" said Sanji in a firm voice, cutting smoothly into Usopp's way. "You will talk to Nami and me about this now! We don't want to have a second Water Seven!"
And Usopp knew, he fucking knew, that Nami had risen halfway out of her sunlounger, newspaper long forgotten and was watching him like a hawk.
"Good morning", greeted Robin's smooth voice in Usopp's back. "Is something the matter?"
Usopp groaned. Now, he never would be able to get away. Because even if he evaded Sanji and made a break for it, Robin would drag him back mercilessly once the other two told her what was going on. Damn her devil fruit!
"Usopp here is once again questioning his strength.", growled Sanji, slowly pushing Usopp back to where Nami and Robin's sunloungers were.
"Oh! Why?" asked Robin calmly.
"We haven't gotten so far.", answered Nami. "Because somebody wanted to run away!"
"I didn't want to run away!" protested Usopp.
"Sure! Tell that somebody who doesn't know you as well as us." Sanji lit a cigarette and took a deep breath.
Usopp glared at him.
"Come on, Usopp. Sit down!" prompted Robin as arms grew out of the deck, pushing Usopp to Robin's sunlounger. Stumbling, Usopp fell onto the lounger.
"What's going on here?" Zoro's deep voice cut through the air. "Why are you pushing Usopp around?"
"Because Usopp is once again being an idiot who questions his own strength.", answered Sanji around his cigarette.
And Usopp didn't dare to look at Zoro. Because every time this happened, Zoro looked at him with that enquiring look, like he was trying to figure out who caused Usopp's self-doubts to reappear so that he could turn the responsible party into a bloody mess. And if he found out it was Usopp himself-
"Why?" One question growled, and Usopp had to physically stop himself from flinching.
"That's what we are trying to figure out right now.", answered Robin, voice calm and one arm reassuringly warped around his shoulders. "Usopp?"
And he could feel all the eyes of his friends present on himself.
Usopp swallowed. Why had he thought it would be a good idea to talk to Nami? Why?
"I- well- during the last few attacks- eh- I noticed how- how- eh- how everybody was gunning for me and how all of you were forced to help me out, and there was nothing I could do because, well- because I am too weak." Usopp's shoulders slumped. Like the weight of his heavy, dark thoughts were now pulling him down even physically. He didn't dare to look at his friends. Instead, he focused on a small patch of grass beside Sanji's shining, polished shoes. A meaningful silence spread between them.
"Usopp, that is not true-"started Nami, voice soft.
"Yo, did I miss the call for a meeting?" Franky called loudly as he stepped onto the deck.
"You did not!" reassured Sanji Franky, and Usopp could hear the tension in the cook's voice.
"Eh? And why are you all standing together, then?" Franky pushed his sunglasses down. "That's not cool!"
"Franky!" Without looking, Usopp knew that Nami was turning to the shipwright to glare at him. "We are having a serious discussion with Usopp here!"
The shipwright peaked up. "What? What's going on, bro?" Franky's voice was filled with worry.
"He thinks during attacks, people are gunning for him.", said Zoro.
"And that we have to help him out then because he is too weak.", added Sanji.
"And now Usopp is questioning his strength. Again!" finished Nami.
Franky blinked. "Bro, they are gunning for all of us!"
"And all of us have been cornered at one point or another. Of course-"
"But not as often as me!" interrupted Usopp Robin as he felt pressure built in his chest. "I am constantly cornered! You guys bail me out, and boom, I am surrounded again. And swords and bats and staff and maces and chains are hailing down on me. And don't get me started on all the snipers! It's like I am a giant walking target. There are constantly bullets that are aimed at me, and I barely manage to evade them. And-"He gasped for breath.
"Usopp, breathe!" Robins's arm tightened around him. "You must calm down. Breathe!"
"I am calm-"
"Bro, you will hyperventilate if you don't calm down."
"I am not!", gasped Usopp. "I am calm." The pressure in his chest was rising.
"You are far from calm, Usopp! Listen to Robin! Breathe!" Sanji's foot moved. He came closer, and Usopp started to feel panic grip him as the pressure surged from his chest to his head. Without him realising, his breathing sped up.
"Bro! Stop! You need to cal- Shit! Bro!"
The world around Usopp tilted over and started to spin around faster and faster, causing colours and forms to merge into one another. Suddenly, the voices of his friends sounded far away.
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"Usopp, breathe!"
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"Everything is okay, Usopp!"
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"It's okay. Breathe!"
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"Slowly, Usopp!"
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"Chopper! Oi! Get over here!"
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The blood was rushing in his ears, nearly drowning out the voice around him. His heart was racing, his body shaking, and the pressure in his head and chest unbearable. The spinning colours made him dizzy, and he closed his eyes. But the world wouldn't stop spinning.
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"Usopp? Uso-? Can you- deep- Usopp- hear me?"
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"- going on?"
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"Jinbe, he is-"
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"Yohohoho! Maybe some mu-"
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"No, Brook-"
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"-give me the bag-"
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Something was pressed against his face. Usopp tried to fight it off, but somebody was holding his hands in a tight grip that he just couldn't shake off. And slowly, slowly, the world stopped spinning.
The shaking of his body slowly but surely stopped.
The pressure in his head and chest steadily diminished.
"Usopp?" Chopper's worried voice made him open his eyes. And he looked into their little doctor's anxious, deep brown eyes. Well, not so little right now. Chopper was kneeling in his human form before him, holding a small paper bag. "Can you hear me?"
"Yeah!" answered Usopp, confused, voice raw. As he looked around, he found not only Nami, Robin, Franky, Sanji and Zoro looking at him with worried faces but also Jinbe and Brook. Where did they come from?
"Good." Chopper's soft hands carefully touched Usopp's forehead. "You gave us quite a scare for a moment." The little doctor turned to his bag and started digging in it.
Meanwhile, Usopp tried to understand what was going on. Why was everybody standing around him? Why did they all look so worried? Only in passing was he aware of the conversation going on around him as Chopper handed him a small pill and ordered him to take it.
"I am getting Luffy." That sounded like Zoro.
"What?" shouted Nami, confused. "Why?"
"He just had a fucking panic attack trying to talk with us! So, I am getting Luffy.", hissed Zoro back at her.
"That's no need to get Luffy! We can handle-"
"No! We can't!" interrupted Zoro. "But Luffy will be able to help Usopp!"
"Oh, and what could Luffy do that we can't do?"
"Give Usopp the reassurance he needs. Luffy is the captain!"
"I don't like it either, Nami, but the running sword stand is right! As Captain, Luffy can give Usopp the reassurance he needs.", said Sanji, sounding apologetic.
It was a testament to how seriously Zoro viewed the situation, as he didn't react to Sanji's name-calling.
Nami huffed.
"I am going!" cut Chopper into the conversation around them.
"Eh?"
Chopper stood up and faced Zoro with a determined face. "I am getting Luffy."
Zoro snort. "I can do that. You take care of Usopp."
"I already did everything I could. I can't do much about fears deeply rooted in somebody's head. And like you said, Luffy is the only one who can reassure Usopp in that matter." Chopper lifted his head. "Aside from that, do you know where Luffy is?"
"No. Do you?" confessed Zoro after a short moment of silence.
"No!" admitted Chopper without missing a beat, and he touched his nose. "But I will find him faster than all of you together."
Zoro snort.
"I fear Chopper is right.", giggled Robin from next to Nami. "Even though I might be able to give you a race for your money."
Usopp blinked, befuddled. Why was Robin suddenly sitting next to Nami on the navigator's sunlounger?
"Good." Chopper nodded. "I will look for Luffy, and you watch Usopp for me. And by the seas, give him some air to breathe. I have given him a mild sedative, but that won't stop another panic attack if Usopp gets worked up enough. Have I made myself clear?"
A round of agreeable mumbles and nods answered the doctor as he turned back to Usopp. "I will be back before you know it. So don't worry, Usopp. Everything is alright." And with these words, Chopper raced off, changing into his reindeer form.
Still not fully understanding what was going on, Usopp watched him go. And then he noticed movements in the corner of his eyes.
"Oi! Moss for brains! What are you doing?" called Sanji. "Chopper said to give Usopp space."
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, and Usopp gasped as Zoro's haki, thick and strong, washed over him.
"Moss-"
"Shut up!" demanded Zoro. "Usoop, look at me!"
Usopp hesitated but slowly started to look up until he met the steely gaze of the swordsman. Holding Zoro's gaze felt like an impossible task, but Usopp did his best and-
"You are more than good enough to be Straw Hat!"
The air left Usopp, and for a second, he feared blacking out as Zoro squeezed his shoulders.
"Zoro is right!" agreed Jinbe, arms crossed and nodding his mighty head.
Sanji mumbled some curses under his breath. "Shitty swordsman, don't think just because you are right on this matter means you are right on other issues."
And all Zoro did was growl at Sanji's remarks but never broke eye contact with Usopp.
"You boys are idiots again!" complained Nami as Robin, Franky, and Brook laughed.
The sound of sandals hitting wood announced Luffy's arrival before anybody could see him. "Usopp!" shouted the captain as he ignored the stairs leading up the stern and jumped over the railing. And even before Luffy himself reached Usopp, he could feel his haki. It pushed aside Zoros or, more like the swordsman, allowed it to happen and warped itself tightly around Usopp. And over the captain's haki, like an additional, mighty blanket, lay Zoro's haki.
Respectfully, the others made room for Luffy as he came closer, Chopper hot on his heels.
"Usopp!" breathlessly, Luffy kneeled before him and grasped Usopp's hands. "Chopper said you aren't feeling well. And that you want to talk to me." Luffy's worried gaze flitted over Usopp, searching for the reason why he would feel unwell.
Luffy's haki.
Zoro's firm grip.
The worried gazes of his friends.
It suddenly became too much.
"Luffy?" whined Usopp, and tears gathered in his eyes.
"Eh?" Confused, Luffy blinked.
"He is questioning himself again, captain.", said Zoro in a quiet voice as he tightened his grip on Usopp's shoulder.
Understanding washed over Luffy's face. And Usopp found himself in the strong embrace of his captain. "Idiot! You are my sniper! My very best sniper! Where would I find a better sniper than Usopp? Tell me!"
"But Luffy- I- I am not as strong as everybody else.", cried Usopp as tears streamed down his face.
"No! You are my sniper! And that means you are strong enough! I don't want anybody else as a sniper."
Usopp burrowed his head into Luffy's shoulder as he loudly started to bawl.
"Okay, that's it! Luffy, get that idiot's ass into the kitchen! I am making seasoned pike in aluminium foil.", growled Sanji.
"Yosh! That's great, Sanji, but for me, a steak!"
Sanji hissed. "Shitty captain! First, take care of Usopp, then you can have a steak."
.
.
Usopp was drifting.
Everything was soft and warm.
And somehow, he knew he was safe.
.
"The worst are the broken bones in his left hand and the concussion."
"Broken bones sound hurtful. Yohohohohoho!"
.
"What was he even doing there?"
.
"What about the pistol?"
"Leave that to Franky and me, please!"
.
"Do we have a lead on these men?"
.
"You need to calm down!"
"No!"
.
"There is a weapon store three streets further up. We found a pistol resembling the pistol Usopp's dad had always used back home. He said he would love to buy it."
.
"Who the fuck are the 'White-Cross-Pirates'?
.
"Could all of you keep it down? This is an infirmary!"
.
"I'm gonna beat them up. Robin! Find them!"
.
"He asked me for money from his savings account in the morning. But I didn't know he wanted to buy a pistol."
"Of course not. You only are interested in the interest Usopp is paying you for managing his savings."
.
"Can bro even shoot with a pistol?"
"Like a professional! I would say he is even better with a pistol than with his slingshot."
.
"I knew there was something wrong with that slimy captain! I fucking knew it! If I had known that some of that douchebag's men were- "
.
"Usopp should wake up within the next few hours! I only gave him a mild painkiller so that he could sleep better throughout the night."
.
"I found all of them!"
.
"I never understood why Usopp refused to buy himself a rifle or pistol."
.
"Usopp? You hear me, right? It's okay. We will take of it for you. Nami said she would ensure to get your belongings and a hefty compensation for you. So don't worry if you wake up alone. We will be back as quick as possible."
.
As Usopp opened his eyes, it was quiet.
Eerily silent, to be exact.
It was never good if the Sunny was silent. It meant the crew was somewhere else causing trouble or being sucked into trouble.
Usopp groaned as he draped his right arm over his eyes. He didn't feel like dealing with trouble. His body was tired enough, even though the pain was much less prominent. It was mainly his left hand which hurt. Oh, he had a fucking headache and was nauseous as hell. Maybe, if he would lie long enough, he would escape whatever trouble was going on. The others would surely tell him whatever shit they had been up to.
Or maybe it was night, and that's why everything was quiet.
Yes, that's it. It was night. Everyone, aside from the unlucky soul on guard duty, was sleeping.
That's why- oh, who was Usopp trying to fool. It was not night. The warm sunlight on his skin told him it should be around late morning. And looking past his arm, Usopp had no trouble seeing the furniture of the infirmary.
"No! I don't want to deal with that!" whined Usopp to nobody and hit the blanket, which covered him with his left hand.
Something rustled.
Confused, Usopp paused. Slowly, he moved his arms again. And heard again a sound – like something moving over paper. Paper?
Usopp sat up and – oh, there was a piece of paper under his left hand, which was covered in a cast. And-
He gasped.
It was the pistol. The pistol from the weapon store. The one Usopp had made the down payment for, so he could get it once the owner overhauled it. But he would need the receipt to get it, and it was lost together with his bag and-
With a shaking hand, Usopp reached for the pistol. The worn grip felt warm from the sun, and the barrel gleamed silvery in the sunlight. It fitted right into his hand. Just like he thought. Trembling, Usopp breathed in and out. He had always hoped to find a pistol like this one. A pistol like his dad had used.
.
.
"Mossy brain, why the fuck couldn't you just pick up a sword! You endangered Nami by running after your shitty sword."
"Shut up, kitchen ballerina!"
"Like hell, I will-"
"I am a swordsman! I can't just pick up a random sword to fight! A true swordsman is chosen by the swords he uses to fight, and that's the only way he can execute the true strength of his fighting skills without worrying about the swords breaking. But that's probably too hard to understand for a lowly kitchen knife wielder like you."
"You-"
A loud crashing noise as steel met hardened leather.
.
.
Usopp pressed the shiny weapon against his chest. He finally has found the perfect pistol for him to use. He could feel it. Now, he could show his true sniping skills. Happily, Usopp giggled as he let himself fall back into the pillow of the sickbed. The pistol felt heavy on his chest but not uncomfortable. On the contrary, the weight was reassuring.
Closing his eyes, he could see the smiling face of his father after having hit bullseye ten times in a row, his trusted pistol raised and still smoking in his mind's eye. In his memory, he heard his mother cheer as his father laughed heartily.
Breathing deeply, Usopp rested his injured hand on the pistol. Luckily, his father taught him how to shoot with both hands. And with a pistol, a wounded hand wouldn't handicap Usopp as much as with his slingshot, for which he really needed both of his hands. Opening his eyes, he smiled at the ceiling.
Using his good hand, Usopp fished for the piece of paper and raised it up so that he could read it.
It was filled with Chopper's mess doctor's scribble. Usopp groaned. As neat as Chopper was, his handwriting was as bad as every other doctor's: nearly unreadable to a normal human being. Very slowly, letter for letter, Usopp decoded Chopper's note. It was a summary of his condition, reassurance from Chopper that he would be healed in no time, and doctor's orders for Usopp to follow in case he woke up before the crew returned to the Thousand Sunny.
And all along the paper's edge were written messages from his friends.
"Don't worry, Usopp. I am taking care of these idiots!" The big, fat, scrawly handwriting belonged to Luffy. Yeah, Usopp had no doubt that Luffy would beat his attackers to the ground. Luffy nearly went ballistic upon seeing the state in which Usopp had returned.
"If you wake up, come and join us for the party!" Another scrawly handwriting, but a little smaller, was from Zoro. And that the swordsman invited Usopp to partake in their retribution tour was not surprising. Also unsurprising was the messy scribble in Chopper's handwriting right below it, which Usopp ignored. It probably was something along the lines of not listening to the swordman.
"Good job, protecting your head and finding your way back to us!" Robin's message was written swiftly. And, of course, she had to focus on that. Robin sometimes concentrated on the strangest things.
"I will get you a fat compensation!" Nami's handwriting was the neatest of all. Usopp was sure Nami would get him some money, but the bigger part of her loot would go into her own funding. That's just how the navigator was.
"Bro, we must talk about pistols! Why have you never told me you were a pro with them. Uncool! Until then, take care of Sunny." Franky's block letters were a solid contrast to the others. Usopp winced. Right, he never told Franky how good he was with guns.
"Eat your fish stew before you do anything else. I swear I'm gonna put your shitty ass on mushroom duty for months if you don't." Sanji had the neatest handwriting of all the men, but it was still messy. And was he serious? Mushroom duty? That would mean weeks of mushroom dishes. Usopp shivered in disgust.
"If you are bored, maybe you could go into the woman's quartier for pan-"Brook's edgy handwriting ended in a line, leaving the message unfinished. Either Nami or Robin must have read over Brook's shoulder and interrupted him. Or Sanji.
"Is that the right pistol? If not, Franky and I will return with you to the weapon store to get the right one." Jinbe's handwriting looked untrained but readable. Usopp blinked at the message. The pistol? Wait? Does that mean…
Usopp raised the pistol with his left hand. Jinbe and Franky had gone to the weapon store and gotten the pistol. For him? But- Usopp had lost the receipt with his bag. How had they gotten it? With wonder, he stared at the pistol, which gleamed in the sunlight. Tears pickled at the corner of his eyes. His friends were the best.
Damn it, he might as well go and look how they kick arses if they have gone and gotten the pistol for him. He owned them this much, at least.
Peeling himself out of the sheets, Usopp set out to follow Chopper's instruction to the T before leaving the infirmary to eat Sanji's delicious fish stew. In the man's quarter, Usopp found ammunition for his pistol in his locker – of course, Franky would make sure there was ammunition for the pistol – as he went there to get some fresh clothing. After changing and puttering around Sunny for some time – Usopp only found it fair to leave some nasty traps behind for whatever fools who thought they could steal from them while nobody was on board – he left his home with his new pistol safely tucked away in his belt, ready for him to use.
He stopped in the middle of the harbour square, where all main roads branched off.
He had no idea in which part of the harbour city his friends were. Nobody had thought about leaving him a hint on where to find them. Usopp gazed at the different roads leading deeper into the city.
Then again, finding a member of the Straw Hat Pirates was surprisingly simple on a typical day if you knew who you were looking for.
Finding a member of the Straw Hat Pirates as he or she was causing problems was even easier.
Finding the whole crew when they were causing trouble was a child's play.
Usopp closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
His head was still pounding.
The midday sun was glaring down on him.
Chopper's medicine has calmed the nausea, and Sanji's stew has done the rest to chase it away.
People were walking around him, curiously looking at him with the cast around his left hand and pistol in his belt.
He felt a dull pain in his hand, but he had worse.
Alabasta and Dressrosa were much worser!
Taking a step forward, Usopp opened his eyes and started to walk into the town. It didn't matter which road he took; they all would lead him to his friends. One way or another.
.
.
"Did you hear it?"
" What?"
.
"Did you see what they did with five men from the White-Cross-Pirates down in Maidens' District?"
" Yeah! They won't have any fun in the near future!"
"Even the whores were bitchy at them, and the Straw Hat Pirates didn't fucking care!"
.
"Fuck! These Straw Hat Pirates are like monsters."
"What did you expect? Straw Hat Luffy is an emperor. Of course, his crew consist only of monsters."
.
"Did you see what Cyborg Franky and Knight of the Sea Jinbe did with the ship of the White-Cross-Pirates?"
.
"Didn't the White-Cross-Pirates parade around the city about how they would join the Straw Hat fleet under Straw Hat Luffy's command?"
" Now they are getting beaten up by the Straw Hat Pirates."
.
"The Straw Hat Pirates were seen walking up Whitewashers' Road."
.
"It's the Straw Hat Pirates! They are on the move."
" Really?"
" Why?"
" Hell, if I know."
.
"Heard Captain Cross was shot down by Straw Hat Luffy before he even finished talking."
" Arrogant arse! He deserves the beating he now gets."
" Straw Hat Luffy probably heard how Captain Cross was walking around claiming to be the next member of the Straw Hat fleet. So, now they are showing him his place."
.
"They are bloody pissed."
" Damn. Wouldn't want to be a part of White-Cross-Pirates now."
.
"The Straw Hat Pirates are in Gourmet Street in the Feast District."
"Isn't that where Captain Cross reserved a whole hotel for the Straw Hat Pirates?"
.
Snippets of conversations led Usopp through the city as he looked for his friends. Most people were busy guessing why his friends were hunting down the other pirate crew. And the majority seemed to believe it was because Straw Hat Pirates were pissed off by the White-Cross-Pirates for claiming to join their fleet.
Idiots!
Luffy didn't even want that fleet.
Barto and the other founding members had decided for themselves to create the fleet, even though it had pissed off Luffy. Even months later, Luffy growled angrily if somebody addressed him regarding his "fleet". But if they didn't get them into trouble – or better, more trouble than they already did, because just before they reached the island, Robin had said something about Barto being in Shanks's territory and Usopp's `This-will-end-in-trouble-for-us'-illness had started to act up – Usopp didn't care what the fleet did. If the fleet saved their arses should the Straw Hat Pirates end up in more trouble than they could swallow, Usopp was even okay with them.
Plus, Barto was a funny guy to be around. Hopefully, the next time they met Barto, one of his crew members had learned to navigate. Nami would blow a vein if she knew how they travelled through the New World.
Another good thing about that opinion was that nobody was guessing the actual reason why the Straw Hat Pirates were hunting down every single member of the White-Cross-Pirates. Usopp's newest shame was safely hidden through the overconfidence of another crew.
"Gourmet Street?" mumbled Usopp, looking at the roughly drawn map a stall owner down on Whitewashers' Street had given him. "That's not too far from here. Looks like I found them." Grinning Usopp turned into several smaller streets to reach the road lined with pompous-looking buildings.
"Fuck! Nami would have loved to stay in a hotel on such a road." Usopp turned in a circle, flabbergasted by the splendour around him. But he could also hear fighting a little bit further up the road. So, his friends were still here.
"Come on, let's leave!"
"But why? I wanna see-"
"Just look at them! The Straw Hat Pirates are only playing with White-Cross-Pirates! I don't want to be here when they get serious." A middle-aged man with a big rifle strapped to his back dragged a younger man past Usopp.
Usopp raised an eyebrow at them as he watched the young man vanish into the small ally he had just left. Never had he witnessed other pirates take off like that before the crew started to get serious. He must tell the others about this later. Zoro, Robin, Franky, Sanji and Jinbe would be delighted to hear it, while Nami would worry, Brook would find it funny, and Luffy and Chopper would be confused and sad.
Turning toward the fighting, Usopp slowly walked up Gourment Street, where a crowd in front of a bluish building blocked the street. He should find a spot from where he could watch his friend fight. Usopp really didn't feel like fighting his way through a crowd.
Now, where could he climb up without getting into trouble?
The closer he got, the louder the fighting and Usopp could make out Luffy's laughter – but it wasn't the warm, joyful, childish laughing the crew associated with Luffy. Instead, it was cold and sharp. Like the smile Luffy was wearing on his face as he faced off against a light-coloured man in black clothes with a huge white cross hanging from a chain. Not far from Luffy, Zoro was toying with two swordsmen with a sharp but lazy grin on his face. These two were no challenge to Luffy's trusted right hand-man, as he only used Kitetsu to fight them. On Luffy's other side was Nami with Zeus, confusing several men by hailing little thunder strikes down on them while simultaneously stealing their weapons.
And nobody was paying attention to the man in Luffy's back, who was slowly getting up and reaching for a disregarded dagger. Oh, Luffy had noticed him if the minimal tensioning of his shoulders was anything to go by, but… Fuck, Luffy was counting on Nami or Zoro to cover his back. The problem was that Nami hadn't noticed the man getting up, and Zoro was counting on Luffy to evade the attack. He would realise too late that Luffy wasn't evading the stab. And while the man wouldn't kill Luffy, it wouldn't look good if a run-of-the-mill dickhead could stab him in the back while the whole crew was present.
Luffy was a bloody emperor!
They were the crew of a fucking emperor!
They had a reputation! And they needed to protect it.
Usopp ripped the pistol from his belt and took aim. The trajectory for his shoot was barely wide enough for the bullet, but Usopp loved challenging shots like this, where he needed all his skills to hit the target. He didn't care about all the people between himself and his target. All that counted was that Usopp wouldn't allow that dickhead to stab Luffy. Wouldn't allow him to tarnish their reputation as an emperor's crew.
For sea's sake, he was the bloody sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates, and he would cover the back of his captain, of his friends.
"You are my sniper! My very best sniper! Where would I find a better sniper than Usopp?"
A loud bang echoed through the street as Usopp fired his pistol for the first time.
People in the crowd flinched.
Usopp retook aim.
There was a man trying to sneak up on Robin.
Another shot.
People ducked.
A man with a gun aimed at Chopper's monstrous human form.
Usopp fired.
In a panic, people ran out of the crowd.
A woman with a fillet knife tried to cut Jinbe's webbing.
The bullet spiked the knife out of the woman's hand.
People cowered on the ground.
Two men tried to block Franky's laser with a battle axe.
Two rounds were fired.
People screamed.
A man grabbed Nami from behind, temporarily districting Sanji.
Usopp aimed for his hands. Two targets, one shot.
The people around Usopp stepped away from him.
A woman hit the shoulder of Brook's sword arm with a giant hammer, breaking out tiny pieces of the bones.
The bullet hit the woman's shoulder of her strong arm.
People whispered around Usopp.
.
"Who is that?"
.
"Is he crazy?"
.
"How can he shoot in a crowd like that?"
.
"Hey- Look! His nose! Ain't that-?"
.
"Look! That's God Usopp!"
.
"He is another Straw Hat Pirate!"
.
"Usopp!" With a happy shout, Luffy turned around and grinned at him. "You are here!"" Luffy laughed. Warm. Joyful. Childish.
Behind Luffy, Zoro had pulled out Enma and kept the light-coloured man at bay while glaring at the two swordsmen. "Usopp! Get your arse over here!" Usopp hesitated for a second.
Luffy's haki warped itself around Usopp, and he took a shaking breath as he stepped forward. It would be alright. His friends were over there. They would protect him. And Usopp had just taken out eight of their enemies. So- so there was nothing to fear. Usopp fingered the trigger of his pistol. He had two shots left. Just in case…
Luffy's haki tightened itself around him.
Zoro grinned at him.
People lowered their voices as Usopp walked up to his friend.
.
"Fuck! What happened to his hand?"
.
"You really don't fuck with people like the Straw Hat Pirates."
.
"He didn't hit anybody in the crowd, right?"
.
"He is injured and shoots like that?! Damn! I don't want to know how he shoots if he is healthy."".
"These Straw Hat Pirates are all monsters."
.
"You have to be cold-blooded to shoot like that."
.
"Bloody hell! Only the best can pull off shots like that. Yasopp of the Red Hair Pirates. Van Augur from the Blackbeard Pirates. Perospero from the Big Mom Pirates. The bounty hunter Jean Ango-"
.
"Yo, Bro! Super shooting there!" Franky struck his signature pose, not caring for the hostile man surrounding him.
And making Usopp nervous. Couldn't they be a little bit more careful? He raised his injured hand to the front pocket of his overalls, where he had stored some spare ammunition. Maybe it would be better if he reloaded the pistol.
"Look who decided to join us. Sleeping beauty." Sanji lighted up a cigarette as he knocked out a man getting too close to Robin, who in return took out the last woman of the group as she was trying to get close to the cook and a man who aimed at Nami.
"Hello, Usopp. Feeling better?" Robin smiled at him.
"Usopp, did you take your medicine?" asked Chopper, worried, while at the same time holding two men in a headlock.
"Yohohohoho! You surprised me there, Usopp. To feel a bullet fly past me. My heart nearly stopped." joked Brook. "Not that I have a heart to stop." And disarmed a poor soul without even looking.
"Thank you, Usopp." Jinbe thanked him as he carelessly threw a man at the woman, which Usopp had shot the knife out of the hand.
Nami beamed at him while Zeus happily electrocuted three men behind her. So scary! "Look, Usopp! I took care of your bag." Nami pushed the worn leather bag with patches at the edges against his chest. "Just like promised."
"Thanks, Nami.", Usopp said as he struggled to handle the ammunition in his injured hand, the pistol and now his bag. And seas, was it heavy. Nami indeed put some gold in there. She probably also already recalculated the interest rate for managing his savings so that the gold would be in her savings in a few weeks.
Luffy giggled cheerfully as he pulled Usopp closer.
Over his captain's shoulder, Usopp could see the light-coloured man Luffy had fought against. And behind him, another man, pale like a sheet, with dark green eyes, stared wide-eyed at Usopp. That was one of the men that had attacked him. And he had recognised Usopp.
Hastily, Usopp looked away.
Only to get a closer look at the two swordsmen Zoro had entertained so far. Usopp flinched ever so slightly as he recognised another of his attackers in one of the swordsmen.
A flash of light as Zoro flicked Kitetsu, and the unfortunate swordsman collapsed, bleeding profoundly from several cutting wounds which suddenly appeared on his body.
Usopp's gaze swung to Zoro.
`Who else?' Asked Zoro's eyes him.
And Usopp knew the swordsman would cut down every person he would point out.
He swallowed.
"What are all of you doing here?" asked Usopp.
"Taking care of some arrogant dickheads, of course.", answered Sanji around his cigarette. "Can you believe they played innocent when we asked them for compensation?"
"And that, after what they did." Robin shook her head as if she still couldn't believe it. "I mean, going around acting like they are friends with us and beating up people in our name." A dangerous spark entered her eyes.
"We really couldn't let things stand like this.", agreed Jinbe, crossing his arms.
"Anybody special you would take out?" asked Franky with a dark grin.
Usopp's eyes swung back to the dark green-eyed man.
As if he realised Usopp was looking at him, he stumbled backwards with raised hands until he fell over the leg of a fellow crew member and went down.
"Are you alright?" asked Chopper innocently, appearing next to the man.
"He looks a little pale, doctor.", answered Brook, popping up on his other side. "I wonder what scarred him suddenly so much. Yohohohoho!"
"Maybe it's his bad conscience.", growled Nami, glaring at the man.
Luffy tilted his head, and Usopp knew what would happen within the next few seconds.
"You reall-" managed the man before his eyes rolled back and blacked out under the pressure of Luffy's mighty haki. And with him, the rest of the White-Cross-Pirates. Well, not all. The light-coloured man was still conscious, although he was now kneeling before Luffy. And pissing his pants – literally.
Just perfect.
"Okay, that's enough!" snapped Usopp, hastily opening his bag to push the spare ammunition into it. Damn, how much money and gold had Nami stuffed in there? Dumbfound Usopp blinked at all the money within his bag for a second. He just managed to slip the ammunition in and close the bag again.
"What is enough?" asked Zoro, confused.
Ignoring Zoro's question, Usopp tucked the pistol back in his belt – there was no way he could store it in his bag – and threw his bag's strap over. He slung his left arm around Luffy and grabbed Zoro's arm. "How about we go somewhere to eat? I don't know about you guys, but after hours of walking through the city tracking you down, I feel like starving."
"Oh yeah! Good idea, Usopp. Let's go eat something!" shouted Luffy, draping an arm around Usopp's shoulder, too.
"But we are not done!" protested Zoro as Usopp dragged him along.
"Who cares?" countered Usopp. And he really didn't care if there were still White-Cross-Pirates running around the city who hadn't gotten beaten up by his friend. They already had done enough to avenge Usopp. Now, all he wanted was to eat with them, laugh and have a good time.
"Oi, Usopp? What is with the Thousand Sunny? Is the baby safe?"
"Brimming with traps to hell and back."
"Super, bro!"
"Did you look for panti-"
"You shut up, Brook!"
"You think I have a death wish, Brook?"
"I will look at your injuries once we find a place to eat, Usopp."
"Got it, doc."
"Calling me doc doesn't make me happy, arsehole."
"You ate the stew I made, right?"
"Yeah, I did, Sanji. It was delicious."
"Good."
"So, I take it we got the right pistol?"
"Oh, yeah. Thanks, Franky. Thanks, Jinbe."
"You don't have to thank us for that."
"Bro, please. If I had known you wanted a pistol like that, I would have gotten you one age ago."
"Was it hard to find us?"
"Oh- People were constantly talking about you guys, Robin. So it was easy to figure out where you were. Navigating these streets was more of a hazel. Luckily, I got a map."
"You call that a map? That's a useless scribbling."
"Looks fine to me."
"Nobody asked you, Luffy. Usopp, you didn't pay for that- that thing, right?"
"With what money?"
"You were carrying all his money all day long."
"Zoro- "
"And remember: That is Usopp's compensation. No interest for managing that money!"
"That's not something I want to hear from a man who owns me 250 million berries."
"You- did you raise my debt? Oi! Don't walk off like that!"
.
"Damn it! That God Usopp looks so harmless, but he's just as much a monster as the rest of the crew."
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to mess with that guy."
"He is fucking dangerous!"
.
.
The End
.
.
Author's Note:
I feel like I must explain the background of this story a little. So, here we go:
Usopp's view of himself: In his own eyes, Usopp still sees himself as the weak country boy who joined a little ragtag group for an adventure. He might have trained like all the others, and his sniping skills have improved dramatically since becoming a crew member, but in every other aspect, Usopp still views himself as weak, a potential burden for his friends as they advance further. His old fears are still there in his mind, making it impossible for him to recognise all the physical and mental growth he has done since leaving home. Usopp has physically grown a lot stronger. Doing his duties on board the Thousand Sunny isn't as harsh as they used to be, and his body is able to endure a lot more (stamina and pain-vise). But that is nothing in comparison to his mental growth. Usopp is an overcautious person. If he has the choice between a dangerous path, a secure path and an absolutely secure path, he will choose the last and still be on alert. This, in turn, means that being in the New World with all its dangers is pure stress for Usopp. Or at least it should be. In order to recognise danger early on, he has developed observation haki - completely unnoticed by his friends and himself. And his observation haki is continuously improving. Every time Usopp "sees", "feels", or "knows" that something is happening to himself or his friends, his observation haki is activated. In addition, as a sniper, Usopp doesn't feel comfortable in close-range combat as it doesn't allow him to utilize his sniping skills very well. And because he thinks of himself as physically weak, his sniping skills turn into the only justification for Usopp being part of the crew. But in order to shine, he needs a certain distance between himself and his target. The shooting scene close to the end is Usopp using his observation haki and detecting dangers for his friend before they occur. To be even more accurate, Usopp is using future sight. But that is not the only way Usopp is using observation haki. He also uses it to evaluate the strength of the people around him to the point where he is able to judge their haki (independently of whether it is observation, armament, or conqueror's Haki). Plainly put: Next to his sniping skills, his observational skills are his best weapon.
But as Usopp doesn't realize what he is doing, he doesn't see how well he fits into his group of - monstrous - friends.
The crew's view on Usopp: Every member of the crew can see the physical growth of Usopp. They see how he has changed over time, how much stronger he has gotten and how his skills have improved. But his mental growth mostly went unnoticed by them. For them, it is normal to see Usopp hiding behind Luffy, Zoro, Sanji or Franky - and Jinbe, after he joined. Bailing Usopp out during a fight is normal. Beat your enemy and then Usopp's so that he can leave whatever corner he has gotten pushed into and can do his sniping magic to help somebody else. That Usopp uses future sight to spot dangers as he covers the crew's back goes unnoticed. Or how he always knows what's happening. They mostly attribute it to his overcautious personality. And the crew also relies on Usopp's cautious nature to keep them safe or warn them of any danger. They accept him, with all his weaknesses, and think of him as a valuable friend and crew member. So, if Usopp's insecurity shows, they all want to help him. But most of the time, it is Luffy (being the captain of the crew and thus deciding who was a member or not) who gives Usopp the reassurance he needs to be able to bury the old fears until they manage to escape their cage again. Funnily enough, it probably would be Sanji, who could relate the best with Usopp - because of his past as former prince of Germa - but Usopp doesn't really know about Sanji's past experience and thus doesn't feel comfortable talking with him about this. This is frustrating for Sanji, but he doesn't want to push the matter and waits for Usopp to come to him. And until then, he will cook Usopp's favourite fish for him.
The thing with the pistol: It is a damn shame that Oda never shows Usopp using a gun or rifle or other form of firearm. Or how he barely develops the other Straw Hats aside from Luffy, Zoro and Sanji. Anyway, I got creative there and said that Usopp was searching for a certain type of firearm: the pistol model his father used and taught him how to shoot, kind of like Zoro with his swords. A swordsman needs the right sword to fight. So, Usopp, as a sniper, needs the right pistol to shoot and fully utilize his skills. And that is the pistol model his father used.
Did I manage to tell you what I wanted? I don't know. You have to decide that. So, let me know what you think.