Chapter Text
The Strawhat Pirates have won against the Blackbeard Pirates after a grueling, hardsome battle, being ambushed quite literally after Luffy was crowned Pirate King.
Blood was definitely shed, skin was torn, yells were screeched, and people were tired— no scratch that, exhausted.
But in all, there were only two sides of the battle, heavy breathing and no breathing.
But despite the heavy tension, a laugh rang throughout the battle field. A familiar one, one that everyone has seen before, that everyone has heard before.
"Shishishishi!"
Relief brushed over every Strawhat's face.
Because if their Captain was fine, they are as well(not always).
"I think we could go for a party now!", Luffy giggled louder.
As the first mate, of course Zoro answered first. A quiet scoff. "Of course that's the first thing you say."
As the 'second' mate, Nami surprisingly cracked a chuckle. "Y'know, I think we could go for a party. Cooking like always, Sanji?"
"Of course, Nami-swan," Sanji smirked. "What kind of chef would I be if I didn't?"
After Sanji and Usopp(Usopp...) got together, they've both changed, for the better perhaps. The only really attraction Sanji now feels to girls is simple admiration and adoration, especially to the crew's girls.
Robin let out a little laugh. "Very well. I'm sure it'll be good as always if you don't burn down the kitchen."
Franky snorted. "Nah, Curly Cook would never now."
"Are you saying I did before?" A small irk mark appeared on Sanji's forehead.
"Yes, they are. We all doubt your skill, shitty cook," Zoro rolled his eyes, obviously being sarcastic.
"Why you!—" Though, through his short surge of anger and the regularity surrounding the two's arguments, Sanji struck Zoro with his left leg.
The group let out a loud mixture of giggles, laughs, sighs, and chuckles.
Though...there was one person being uncharacteristically quiet.
Sanji quickly pulled away from his fight with Zoro. "...Where's Usopp?"
"What?", Zoro sheathed his swords. Despite the confusion obvious in his voice, he instinctively looked around.
Hisvoicehisvoicehisvoicehisvoice—
The rest of the Strawhats' heads turned, looking left and right.
Luffy's eyes widened though, flashbacks. Flashbacks of Ace.
Brook also had, flashbacks. Flashbacks of his old crew.
"Not again—" Two voices muttered, though they didn't sound any different from each other
"Usopp!", Sanji ran back to where Usopp's fight was. Where was Usopp!? Nononononononononononono—
"USOPP, THIS ISN'T FUNNY!", Sanji called out again.
Other yells, screams of desperation, filled the bloody battlefield.
"USOPP!!"
"LONGNOSE!"
Different names, same person.
Then..a surge.
Nothing loud, but nothing quiet either.
"USOPP!" Sanji dashed, fast. Faster than he's ever moved before.
He— They can't lose Usopp. Not when they're all so, so close to their ends, to their goals.
"USOPP, PLEASE!" Sanji's voice cracked, bad. The lack of water and rest is getting to him. Fuckfuckfuckfuck—
Another surge, quieter than the other one.
They're not losing Usopp, not now, not never(until it's his destined death of old age, next to Sanji as they're laid to rest).
"S'ji..."
Oh, oh. The voice he's always known to be so loud and brave, so gentle and caring...is nothing but a small whistle in the wind.
Sanji slid on his knees, towards his beautiful boy.
"Oh, Usopp. Stay with me, okay?" Sanji could barely hold back tears. His friend of 4 years, his boyfriend of 2...is in front of him, possibly dying.
A sword with goldish outlines and a main red color was impaled through his stomach area, awfully familiar from Zoro's fight. Blood soaked the area of Usopp's chest.
"CHOPPER!!!", Sanji screeched. He can't yell anymore, crap. "CHOPPER!—" He started to violently cough, spitting off to the side with the last drink he had spilling out as well.
The familiar clacking of hooves headed towards the two dating.
Not having to worried about Chopper anymore, Sanji turned his head towards Usopp(and the damned sword).
Hands clasped together with Usopp's, Sanji gripped tighter than he could kick.
"C'mon Usopp, baby," Sanji said softer.
"S'nji, I'm sorry...", Usopp said, a loose grip back at the blonde. Blood covered the edges of his mouth, looking paler than he ever had been.
"No no, it's alright. Just stay up, baby. Please," Sanji begged.
"If there's any Gods above, please please please." Sanji muttered a line of prayers, from any and all cultures he's learnt throughout the Grand Line.
From what seems like forever, Chopper arrives with his medications and tools.
"Sanji, move please," Chopper said softly.
Complying, Sanji did as he was told.
And one by one, each other Strawhat arrived.
Zoro was (not surprisingly) the last one to arrive. Though, his reaction sure was the strongest. Eyes quickly widened with pure shock. Blames quickly swirled through his head, all targeted towards...
Himself..
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"!—", Luffy quickly turned around and aimed a hard kick at a figure unseeable. Laced with Armament Haki, Luffy hit hard.
Not just to harm or win, but to kill.
Shiryu's cover was fully unveiled, without his signature sword.
Both the Captain and First Mate moved quickly in sync, the Archaeologist and Navigator not too far behind.
Taking the higher ground, Zoro dashed up while Luffy dashed forward.
"DARK CLOUD TEMPO!"
"Seis Fleur...TWIST!"
Before Shiryu could make any cocky comeback, his back was already broken with his ribcage.
Then—
CRACK!
Multiple of teeth broke off his gums, heading down his throat with no room to protest.
As the canines fell, Shiryu's teeth scrapped against the skin of his neck.
Choke!
Choke!
The restless torture inflicted against Shiryu didn't stop.
One boy once more, known by all... relentlessly battered against an older swordsman.
And none of his nakama bothered to stop him.
"Usopp, stay awake," Chopper stated gently, continuing to move his hooves fast and strategic.
"I'm trying, I'm trying...", Usopp mumbled, gripping onto now Franky's smaller metallic hand.
Both engineers were next to each other, one criss-crossed and the other one laid across his own blood.
"C'mon, Longnose-bro, you can do it," Franky encouraged, gently and superly(like an older brother that knows what's coming for his younger sibling).
"I'm trying..!", Usopp exclaimed(though voice still weak and dying), more so emphasizing.
"Keep doing so," Jinbei nodded slowly.
(Brook stood still in the way back. He can't bear another loss when they're not to go.)
Biting back a yell of pain as Chopper removed the sword with extreme precision to prevent any extra injuries, Usopp gripped tighter onto Franky's and Sanji's hands.
Wincing slightly, Chopper continued to pull it out, throwing out the sword to the side. "Let me stitch it up now. You're also going to need blood transfusions after this, alright?"
...
"Usopp?" Chopper looked back up at his patient.
"Y-yeah?", Usopp blinked open his eyes. They were so, so heavy...y'know, he could go for a nap right now.
"Stay awake, Usopp!!", Chopper exclaimed, worry suddenly covering his face.
"I am, I am.."
Taking in a sharp breathe, Chopper stitched needle and sutures through Usopp's incisions.
Another groan of pain escaped Usopp. Hands trembling with more fear, Usopp really needed a goddamn nap after this.
Walking back over, Luffy's hands to elbows were covered in dark, red(fresh) blood. With the other three not too far behind, Nami was the only one that looked clean from burning rage(and blood). Zoro obviously had it and Robin just hid it better.
Others' heads snapped their way, emotions on their face or none.
Chopper didn't even spare a glance though, too worried about the topic at hand. Running stitch...running stitch...
Sanji gripped back at Usopp's left hand as Usopp's groans turned into low screeches. Right, his pain tolerance wasn't good when it came to actual, 'realistic' hits.
"Stay strong, I know you can," Sanji muttered towards Usopp, not really caring if the other Strawhats heard.
Because that's not what mattered. Usopp's life mattered more than his pride(besides, he gave that up the second he joined the Strawhats regardless).
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—", Usopp quietly wept repeatedly, hands now loosely gripping his older brother figure's and boyfriend's.
"Stop apologizing," Zoro said sternly, arms crossed.
"I can't do this," Usopp whined, pain still throbbing throughout his body.
"We need to turn you over now. Robin?", Chopper looked at the older lady.
"How slow do you want to, Doctor?"
"Slow as possible with only causing Usopp mild discomfort. It should show whether the stitches are correct or not. If they're not, quickly turn him back over before the the cut rips further."
"Longnose-kun, are you ready?"
"Mhm." A simple(weak) hum, no words. Crap.
"3...2..1!"
Another hiss of pain exited Usopp though Chopper's stitches didn't rip fortunately.
"One last side, Usopp," Chopper assured.
Small tears quipped Usopp's eyes. "It hurts, it really goddamn hurts."
"I know, I know," Chopper reassured. "Just this to go through, I promise. And then we can get you back to the Sunny."
Running stitch...running stitch.