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beammeupmoony · 8 months ago

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Wrote something for @redriotinggg because they had a cute prompt and it sounded fun. Sorry if characters are out of character. I've never written for One Piece before. Basically it's what if Zoro gave Usopp his bandana the way Luffy sometimes gave people his straw hat. I haven't written in years, and I wrote this in one night, and did not re-read it. It's just a little self-indulgent thing. Story under the cut.

Don't Be Scared

One Piece. Usopp centric. Was written as Zosopp.

It wasn't that Usopp was cowardly. No one could have ever predicted that he would come down with a crippling case of Don't-Want-To-Get-Torn-Apart-itis. And this was what pushed the sniper now to keep running as a group of three marines chased after him. It had been a simple task, create a distraction so that Nami could sneak in and rob the Marine base blind. Well, "base" was generous. It was little more than a two story building in the middle of the island town. Usopp had used a small round of ammunition just to create a loud noise. It wasn't meant to draw attention to himself, yet when the loud pop had sounded, one of the marines had caught him before he could duck out of sight. Now, he was running for his life as the marines pursued him. "Stop!" One of the marines ordered. Shit, shit, shit! Usopp kept running. His legs burned, haven't fully healed from the events in Alabasta. Without warning, he hears the scream of three marines, and the thus as their bodies hit the ground. Usopp turns around, panting heavily as Zoro sheathed his swords.

"Ah, thanks, Zoro... don't know what I'd do without you," Usopp gasped, holding a stitch in his side.

Zoro turned to face Usopp and said, "The witch has finished pilfering the place, so we are heading back to the Merry. Let's go." Zoro began to walk north, the opposite direction of where they had left the Merry. Usopp moved forward and turned the swordsman around, "It's this way, Zoro. Come on, you must have just come from the Merry. You're sense of direction is truly hopeless, ya know?"

The swordsman glared at Usopp and scoffed, "Hah? I know my way around well enough."

Ussop just shook his head. The two head back to the Merry, Usopp talking about how he knew Zoro would be right there, and that running from the marines was all a part of his plan. Zoro just rolled his eyes, hand resting on Wado. When they reach the Merry, Zoro speaks, "You could have taken out those three marines yourself."

Usopp blinks and is quick to scoff, "Of course I could have. I, the great Captain Usopp, who have eight thousand men at my command-"

Zoro shakes his head, "That's not what I mean."

Usopp would laugh a bit, trying to keep his grin in place. He knew perfectly well what Zoro meant. But of course it was easy for Zoro to say. He wasn't like Zoro. Strong, confident, fearless. Reliable.

"Come on, Zoro. Not all of us can become invincible by-" Usopp adjusted his own bandana so it was right above his eyes, and lowered his voice, "Three swords style: Oni-GIRI!"

Zoro doesn't laugh, but there is a glint of amusement in his eyes that Usopp, whose eyes were downcast, does not see. Usopp cannot find the courage to meet the swordsman gaze. Usopp hears the sound of fabric being moved and something is tied around his wrist. He looks up and sees that Zoro had tied the black bandana around Usopp's wrist. Usopp opens his mouth to ask what Zoro was doing when there was a high pitched whine as cannon Fite landed near the Merry. A marine ship was heading for them. Nami, who had arrived before them, began barking orders to get the ship out of here. Zoro took off to defend the ship, cutting Canon balls in half as they fired at the Merry. Sanji was at the helm, Chopper unfurling the sails with their newest crewmate's, Robin's, help. Usopp touched the bandana. Why had Zoro given it to him? He shook his head to clear it and moved to raise the anchor of the ship.

They get away, barely, and on the open ocean, Usopp approaches Zoro, who was leaning against the rails of the Merry. Zoro doesn't move, eyes closed, his swords at his side. Usopp had untied the black bandana and held it out to Zoro, "Hey, Zoro. What was this for?"

Zoro opened one gray eye, took the bandana and said, "you're the one who said it made me invincible."

Usopp felt his cheeks grow hot as he spluttered, "I didnt- you know what I meant, Zoro-"

Zoro closed his eye again and grunts in response. Usopp continued to try to protest, but Zoro cut him off, "Usopp. It was just for you to be brave."

Usopp's cheeks darkened even more. The swordsman was so blunt. Nothing more was said between the two. But Usopp, apart from feeling embarrassed, also found himself pleased. Having the bandana had made him feel... safer? And he couldn't deny that. Zoro was the most dependable on the crew.

And so it went. Whenever Usopp needed to be brave, Zoro would tie the bandana around the sniper's wrist. Usopp would pull his wristband over the bandana, to keep it safe. It proceeded in this way until they reached Water 7.

When Usopp decided to leave the crew, he found that he missed the security the bandana had brought him. And when he apologized and returned to the group, he kept himself at a distance. Mostly because he was ashamed at how he had acted. And he wrestled with the notion that people on the ship may hate him now. That Zoro may hate him. One night, Usopp climbs up to the crows nest to relieve Zoro for night watch. When he reaches the top, Zoro turns to look at him.

"H-hey. I'm here to take watch. So, uh, yeah." Usopp can feel his insides shrivel under the steely gray gaze of Zoro. The swordsman nods, and moves past the sniper without a word. Usopp bites his lip and his chest aches. Would they ever be nakama again? Would Zoro ever forgive him? Zoro began climbing down the ladder and Usopp kept his eyes on the horizon. When he no longer can hear the sound of footsteps, Usopp allowed himself to turn to find a folded black bandana on the ground near the ladder. Tears sting his eyes as he reached out and tied it on his wrist, covering the cloth with his sweatband. Be brave, Usopp. Usopp gripped his wrist tight, feeling the knot of the bandana press into his skin as tears fall onto the floor of the crows nest. Even if Zoro couldn't speak to him, even if he was still mad, he was willing to remind Usopp that Usopp could be brave. Usopp's chest swelled with comfort. This time, it would be awhile before the bandana returns to its owner. When he finally returns it, he manages to sit up with Zoro on watch and apologize again.

The bandana passes between the two men, almost always wordlessly. Never did they exchange it in front of the crew. It was always subtle. But there was added weight as time went on. Intense looks of reassurance and gratitude. A brush of calloused fingertips.

Then, Thriller Bark. That damned ship of an island. They had gained so much there: treasure, a new nakama, and had taken down another warlord. But they had almost lost more than that. They had almost lost Zoro. Even now, as they sailed away from the cursed ship, Usopp still couldn't settle the knot in his stomach. He walked along the deck of the Sunny, and his sharp gaze moving to fix on the training room high above the ship. He could just make out movement in the room. Unbelievable. Usopp climbs the ladder and pushes the door open without knocking. Zoro was indeed inside, lifting his monstrous weights. What little bandages still remained on the swordsman were tinged pink.

"Chopper will kill you for that, if you don't kill yourself first," Usopp states matter-of-factly. Zoro doesn't acknowledge the words. He just continued to work, lifting the weights with shaking arms. Anger licks at Usopps gut, and he waves a hand, "Oi, I'm talking to you, Zoro!"

Zoro growls, "I wish you wouldn't. I'll lose count."

Usopp glared at the stupid man before him and walked up to Zoro, standing closer than he typically dared when the swordsman was swinging around weights. Zoro growls and sets the weights down, "What do you want, Usopp?"

Usopp snaps, "I want you to relax. You're not even supposed to be up, from what Chopper says."

"I'm fine," he rumbled. Usopp shouts, "You aren't! You're injured! You almost died, Zoro! Died! That's serious! You could have died and left-" Usopp stops before saying me and instead says, "The crew! You could have left us!"

"But I didn't."

"That's not the point! You do this all the time, Zoro, you put your life on the line without thinking about what it would to- to us if you didn't come back!" Usopp throws his hands up in the air and looks away, "You... you make us feel safe, Zoro. And we-... I... I don't like feeling like you won't come back."

Zoro remained silent for several minutes. Usopp's chest tightened with anxiety as it stretched on. He went too far, he crossed the line. But a large hand gripped his wrist, the one with the sweatband, and a deep rumble softly said, "Usopp."

Usopp looked up at the larger man. Stormy eyes meet his brown ones, and his heart skips a beat. He had forgotten how close he was to the swordsman. Zoro kept a firm grip on the sniper's wrist, "I can't promise I will always come back. We're pirates. It doesn't work like that." Usopp doesn't look away, holding his breath under the intense gaze of the former pirate hunter. "And I need to keep training. I need to be stronger. I have to be." Zoro's voice never wavered, but there was a strain in it that Usopp could hear. No one knew what happened to Zoro, but clearly he had gone through something that had shaken him. For the first time since his fight with Mihawk, Usopp could see that Zoro was shaken. The normally self-assured first mate had had his confidence shaken. Zoro let go of the sniper's wrist and doesn't offer any other explanation.

"Y-you should get your bandages changed, Zoro."

The swordsman nodded and headed for the trapdoor without a word. There is an ache in Usopp's chest that had nothing to do with anxiety. Without thinking about it, the sniper opened his mouth as Zoro opened the door.

"Zoro-wait."

Zoro turned back to face Usopp, and Usopp swallows, his heart hammering in his chest. He strode up to the swordsman and removed his olive green bandana, his curls bouncing as they are let free. Then, he tied the bandana onto the swordsman wrist. He glanced up at Zoro, who had raised his eyebrows in surprise. Usopp blushed and hurried past the swordsman, clambering down the ladder as fast as he could. That was stupid, what was he thinking?! How embarrassing, Usopp, get a grip!

But in the crows nest the swordsman touches the bandana, and the smallest of smiles grace his usually stoic face.

"Zoro!" Usopp called.

"Zoro!" Sanji repeated.

"Where are you going all by yourself?!" They shouted in unison.

Zoro called back, "For a walk. That okay?"

"Of course not!" Usopp shouted angrily.

"You're gonna get yourself lost, moron!" Sanji yelled.

Zoro glared and snarled, "Screw you, I'm not gonna get lost! All these trees have numbers on them, only an idiot would get lost here!"

Usopp and Sanji waved goodbye and told him to ask for directions. Sanji returned to the galley, but Usopp leapt off the Sunny and took off after Zoro, "Zoro, hold on!"

Zoro stops and glares at the sniper, "What now?"

Usopp shook his head, "No, nothing about directions, I just..." his heart fluttered in his chest, "you're still injured, you know. Maybe you should go with someone. Or maybe you should stay on the Sunny?"

Zoro pulled a face, "With the cook? No, thanks."

"But-" Usopp began, but Zoro pulled out his bandana and pulls the sweatband down to tie the bandana on the marksman's wrist. Zoro covered the bandana with the sweatband and Usopp suppresses a shiver as the large fingers brush against his skin.

"I'll come back."

Zoro spoke plainly. It was a fact. He would come back. Usopp relaxed, and blushed a bit, "Oh. Okay, then." Zoro chuckled, and headed off into the archipelago.

It wasn't that Usopp was cowardly. He wasn't running just to save his own skin. He was following his captain's orders to escape. The swordsman on his back was breathing raggedly as Usopp ran hard and fast from the Admiral bearing down on them. Pacifistas, an admiral, and enemies who were way out of their league? Luffy had given the order to escape.

"Put me down..." Zoro mumbled, "I'm letting you guys get away."

Usopp shook his head, "Not happening!"

He would have kept arguing had a beam not cut between them. Usopp fell backward as Zoro pitched forward, hitting the ground hard. And before Usopp could full rise, trying to rouse Sanji and Brooke so they could all run, the warlord Kuma had appeared behind them, in front of Zoro.

"So. You're still alive, Roronoa."

Usopp's heart sank as he gazed up at the Warlord.

"Only thanks to... your mercy..." Zoro managed to grunt out.

Kuma began pulling off a glove, asking, "If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

Usopp opened his mouth to shout for Zoro, but Kuma's hand made contact, and Zoro was gone. A wind blew through the field, "Zoro!!" Usopp felt his mouth move, but he couldn't tell who had shouted louder, him or Luffy. "What the hell did you do to Zoro!? He was right here and then he disappeared! Say something, damnit!" Usopp is on his feet, Kabuto in his hands as he shouted at Kuma, "Where did you send Zoro!?"

"Usopp, what out behind you!" Someone shouted.

"Behind me-?" Usopp turned to see PX-1 ready to fire a beam at him. But Kuma stepped forward and made the Pacifista disappear as well. While Kuma was occupied, Usopp moved numbly to Sanji, "the beam only grazed me. I'll lend you my shoulder-" but he had barely helped Sanji to his knees before Brooke was taken by Kuma as well. Sanji tried to strike Kuma but was kno ked aside. Usopp tried firing boshi after boshi at Kuma, but they didn't work. The massive man swung his hand at Ussop and all went dark.

This island, archipelago, whatever it was was going to kill him. He had been trying to lose the weight he had put on, but every success forward was followed by a major setback. When Heracles found Usopp, the boy was eating from the ramen River, slurping up noodles and broth as fast as he could.

"Usopp'n! You cannot keep eating the food. You will become too slow and fall prey to the plants here in Boin."

Usopp sniffed, and said, "Heracles, I don't know what else to do. I'm not... I'm not strong like Sanji or Luffy or..." or Zoro. His heart ached and he took another bite. His already large form expanded again, and there was a sudden sound of a rip. Usopp froze and stopped eating. The sweatband was stretched to its max, making it obvious that something else lay beneath. He pulled away the sweatband and saw a tear in the black bandana. He stared at it as he gently untied it, trying to prevent more damage. Oh. That's right. He still had Zoro's bandana. When it was removed from his wrist, he saw that the tear was minor. But it may as well have ripped in half with how it made him feel. Be brave, Usopp. His eyes fill with tears that he wipes away stubbornly. Gently, he folds the bandana and places it in his shorts pocket. He stands and turns to Heracles, "No matter what I say, Heracles'n, don't let me eat that food anymore. Even if you have to kill me to do it." Heraclese crosses his arms and nods, "Very well, Usopp'n."

Two years is a long time to spend running for your life every day, but he had survived. Usopp walked with his head held high, muscular shoulders squared as he looked around for familiar faces. Being back at the archipelago where he had been separated from his nakama made him ache. Who would he encounter first? Sanji? Robin? But his question was answered before he could run through the list. Someone had their back to him. Someone with bright green hair and three swords on his hips. Usopp strode up to the swordsman with confidence and the other man turned. More scars on his body, a scar over one of his eyes. But it was undoubted Zoro. Zoro's eye widened slightly and his face settled into an easy smirk as he looked Usopp up and down. Usopp's ears tinged slightly with pink, but he met the swordsman's gaze head on.

"Zoro!" He greets, waving a hand as he stood in front of the swordsman.

"Usopp," Zoro returned with a grin, "You look like you've gotten a hell of a lot stronger."

Usopp beamed with pride, "You noticed? Unsurprising. I have many great tales of my adventures since last we met!"

Usopp feels butterflies as Zoro grins at him, "I can't wait to hear them. You've been brave, then?"

Usopp grins back and nodded, "Yup. Oh, that reminds me!" He digs around in his bag and pulls out a balck folded cloth. He holds it out to Zoro, "here. I kept it safe for you." Zoro takes the cloth and unfolds it. It's his bandana. He can see a spot where it had been torn. But he can also see it had painstakingly been repaired with olive green thread. "Im sorry I ripped it. I used my bandana to fix it best I could. Do you know how hard it is sewing with a stinger? Terrible."

"You ruined your bandana?" Zoro asked.

Usopp shrugged, "Yeah, but I have a hat now. Much for fashion forward, don't you think?" Zoro stared at Usopp and laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed. Usopp pouted, "Oi, oi, oi. Are you making fun of me?"

Zoro shook his head, putting his bandana in his pocket, "No. Just... good to have you back."

Usopp smiles at the swordsman, "Good to be back. I missed the Sunny. I missed the adventures. I missed our nakama. I missed... you."

For the first time, a small pink tinge found its way to Zoro's cheeks, and he hummed in agreement, "I missed you, too."

Usopp's heart raced and he said, "Well, let's head to the Sunny." Zoro had missed him. ZORO had missed HIM. Usopp didn't think he had ever felt lighter. And while he didn't know if he'd ever be ready to speak his feelings aloud, he was comforted in the fact that the exchange would continue between them for a long time to come.

#one piece #zosopp #usopp #roronoa zoro #pre-timeskip

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