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Usopp is screwed. He didn’t want this to happen, well, nobody did. But Zoro just had to wonder off and he had gone to look for him. But instead of finding him, he ran into a pirate gang. He would have turned away, but they already noticed him. He was captured, even after he put up a fight. The one time he actually tries to be brave, ha fails miserably. So now here he is, on some ship in the opposite direction of the sunny, with no one knowing where he is. Not good.
But this isn’t the worst of it. The worst is that they tied him not in a cell, but a torture chamber. There are bloodied tools that should never been used on a human, and he is totally not here for the view. A table and for some awful reason, a bathtub. Why a bathtub, he will never know, and he has no intention of finding out.
But good news is, well who knows if this is good, but he is supposed to find the positive in things, so for now he is happy to be on the furthest side from all those things.
But he can’t help wonder what will happen. Once he was captured they brought him straight to this room. Tied him up, then left him to literally hang around. That was an hour ago. His arms hurt from staying elevated, he can’t reach the floor or wall to release the pressure. And he is positive that his wrists are going to bruise for weeks after this. If he gets out.
No, nope. He will get out. He just has to find a way. He had been trying to grab a hair clip that nobody knows he uses. Not that they help much, but it’s good for situations like this. Except he hasn’t been able to pull himself up and hold it long enough to find the pin. So not that useful.
Taking another look around the room, everything is the same since he last checked, which wasn’t long ago. Geez, how long are they leaving him here.
Sighing, he decided to try escaping again. He’s previous attempts didn’t work, but he was mainly using his core muscles. But maybe is he used the wall as a spring board, he will have enough momentum to hook his leg over the bar and pull himself up to reach his hair long enough to get a hairpin.
But to get to the wall, he would need to fling his entire lower half to reach it, and without having a foothold, it’ll be difficult. Damn.
Well, he’s gotta try at least. He would not be able to face the others after he promised himself to do everything he can to stay in the crew.
So he swings. Well, it’s more like a wiggle, but it’s what he got, so it’ll have to do. Luckily, his wiggle is gaining momentum and he’s going somewhere. Unluckily, the people decide to come back then.
“What the hell. I thought you captured a pirate, not a warm. Man, this is hilarious!” A man in front of the group said. He wasn’t one of his captures that took him here. Is he the leader, or someone in a position to do... well whoever he is Usopp ain’t going to like it. “So this is god Usopp, he don’t look like a god to me. Man, people have to be dumb to think this pathetic warm is a god. How desperate does one have to be in order to think this thing has any worth.” Well he ain’t here to raise Usopp self worth.
“So, what should we do with you.” The man started strolling around him, as if inspecting something. Why, who knows. But he doesn’t like the feel of those eyes on him. Feels like he is a piece of meet, and that man is trying to figure out how good or bad Usopp is. Very unpleasant.
“Turn you in for a bounty? Maybe drop you off in the ocean. Or tie you up on a deserted island!” The man continued while poking at him now. Picking at his clothing, smiling at his bare skin. Did he get kidnapped by a pervert? “I know, how about I gave you back to your crew. You are a straw hat right. Ya, I could play with you all day, then return you during the night while everyone is asleep. When they wake up, you will be wrapped nicely for them to find in the morning. If not that, then I could drop you off in town leaving a note for your captain. Tell him you had a splendid time while on our ship. Ya, by doing that, my masterpiece will be seen by more people.” Masterpiece? Who, me?! I ain’t no masterpiece, but he mentioned play. Does he mean... oh shit. No, nope, nope nope nope no.
Usopp struggled against his chains again. They held him up securely, too tight to slip out of. Damn it, why didn’t he work harder to escape. Nobody knows he is here, so nobody is coming to the rescue. He is stuck in a torture chamber with a cruel person who is likely the one owning this room. Double shit.
The man approach Usopp, and started grazing his chest. The hell, what is this, sexual harassment. He was also smiling and humming to himself as he traced lines on his skin. Usopp tried to move away but the creep would either follow or physically hold him in place. Eventually, he stopped grazing his exposed skin, but his attention was drawn to something worse. The man is now humming while looking over his torture tools.
Usopp felt like crying. There is no way out, and this man is going to destroy him while enjoying it. Usopp would have once again failed his crew, and caused trouble. Why couldn’t he do anything right.
The man came back with a whip, with an evil glint in his eye. Usopp decided right then and there he would not give in. He would do everything in his power to get out. So as soon as the man was close enough, Usopp used everything he has to kick. He got a good hit to the jaw before the man caught it. But Usopp wasn’t done. He still had another leg, and a will to fight. So he struggled with everything he had, and got at few more kicks into the mans abdomen. He really wasn’t paying attention to anything around him, so when hands grabbed him from behind, he absolutely did not scream.
“Dammit, who are you people and why the hell am I here!” He yelled. The people he forgot about, stupid of him, they had grabbed him from behind and are now tying his legs down, so he has no room to struggle. Shit, now he can’t even swing his body to even attempt to grab a hairpin. He is at there utter mercy and that, that terrifies him.
“I h-have eight thousand s-s-soldiers surrounding -hic- surrounding this ship! If you don’t let me go, they, they will,”
“Gahhahahahahahahhaha!”
“They will,” sob “tear this place down and destroy you, so I’m warning you now, you better let me go now and nothing will happen. Don’t you care about your ship!”
“No, not really. But I would love to see this army. Maybe we can have fun with them too.” Holy shit this man is syco!
“But for now, I believe it’s time for some fun.”
———————————————
Zoro isn’t one to worry without reason. His philosophy on life is to beat everyone up, drink all the Booz, and sleep. So there isn’t much room for worry. But he does worry, and that is when his crew doesn’t return to the ship. Yesterday he had traveled into town with Usopp, but the dumbass had gotten lost, like usual. So he continued on. At dinner time when he got back to the ship, cause the shitty cook would be far to annoying if he missed a meal, Usopp hadn’t returned. That was strange, and very quiet without his lies being yelled throughout the ship or the three children’s laughter.
Luffy and the others had asked him where he was, but he wanted to know just as much as them. He is a grown ass man and can handle himself in a pinch, so they decided to wait a bit.
Everyone went to bed, after Robin had convinced everyone that it would be useless to search in the dark of long nose, and they would head out first sign of daylight. Beside, he would he back by then, Sanji would head up dinner and shove it down his Throat while berating him about being late, Chopper would worry and fuss, Usopp would create a tale that would get rid of all the worry and tension, and the two would cuddle while everyone would stay a safe distance away. And if that distance was on top of one another, that was nobody’s business.
But that didn’t happen. The sun is about to rise, Sanji is cooking, and he is here in front of the ship with Luffy on his spot.
“Zoro,” he gave a grunt in recognition, “ go wake everyone up. Once we have eaten, we’ll go look for Usopp.”
Zoro did as told, but didn’t need to cause everyone is already up, if having not slept, and headed up to the kitchen, where there was no over energetic idiot telling another story.
“Where is the last place you seen him,” Nami asked. She was pissed, and was bound to snap any moment now, but they all knew that was from worry.
“We were near a statue, some guy saluting or whatever,” he remembered it cause Usopp talked about meeting that guy and going on adventures with his, and how the statue was saluting to him then whatever the indented person or thing was.
“Ah, yes, me and Robin visited that yesterday. It’s kind of out there, but quite interesting. When did you two visit?”
“Pretty soon since we left the ship, so we must’ve split sometime after that, if not there.”
“We visited later in the day, so we were after you guys. There was no sign of Usopp of any Foul play there, but checking the surrounding area will be good.” Robin stated. Sanji swooned like always, but it was less swooning then usual.
“So the plan is to search the island, focusing on that spot for Usopp. I heard about other pirates landing here.” Jimbei said. He is a great new crew member, and someone who actually thinks then does. Good to have with a captain like Luffy. “I can swim close and see if they know anything.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to come as well.” Franky said. Dispute is cola reserves being just stocked, he is pretty down. Guess carbonated sugar isn’t enough to stop worrying about someone.
“So the rest of us, hay where’s Luffy?” Nami said. They all look at at his spot, next to who knows who’s, with the distinct lack of who know who and even less food.
“Yohohoho, looks like it’s time to head out.” Brook grabbed his cane and everyone followed. Zoro overheard that Robin is planning on tagging along with Franky and Jimbei. Chopper is heading out with Nami and Sanji. He and Brook leave together.
“So where do you think Usopp went.”
“Who knows.”
The search went on in relative silence, except for the occasional shove in a general direction from a boney hand, or the occasional humming. They are nearing the statue, if a little ways from it when they heard a scream. Nami’s.
“Shit!” They both run in that direction, and before they can see anything, they small it. Something only warriors from battle and doctors can recognize, blood. Lots I’ve it.
Then they heard sobbing, and shit, the hell is going on. Breaking through the forest, he wished he never found out. The statue is where is was, surrounded by a fountain. In the fountain is Nami and Sanji. Nami is in a mess, crying and screaming. Sanji is barking orders, despite Nami being a women, and Chopper is on the statue itself messing with ropes. But that isn’t what stopped him. What terrifies, what enraged him.
It’s Usopp.
He was tied by the wrists in the statue, unconscious, bleeding everywhere. His hair is covering his face, only showing his nose. Broken and bleeding and bruised. Just like his entire body. He has thousands of big and small cuts lettering every exposed part of his body. And by the blood seeping through his clothes, there is more under. His front is facing them, but Sanji seems preoccupied with his back. Shit, is his back worse.
Zoro and Brook doesn’t waste another moment and spring into the fountain. Nami and Sanji and working at the restrains at his wrists, that up close is scrapped and bleeding, while Chopper is already performing medical attention. He and Brook focus on the bindings at his legs. The are less to restrain and more to spread, like someone wanted to present him, rather then hang him. He chops them away quickly. Chopper is now in heavy point and is lowering him. Sanji and Zoro take him and move him out of the fountain area. Shit, SHIT!
His front is like a battle field, which makes his back the land of hell. Not one piece of skin is left, all cut away layer after layer. A red blaze of hell. Shit, who in the hell did this.
“Now-“ someone said. Oh Nami, she is on a den den mushi , talking to someone, no is that chopper. “Get Robin back to the ship for a blood transfusion. We will start as soon as I get there.”
Bloom transfusion? Fuck, is the blood they have in stock not enough. Chopper is barking more orders, and he does as told. Pressure here, bandages there. Then they flyer moving. That was the most focused and out of body experience he has ever had. He, Sanji, and Chopper carry Usopp in a make shift stretcher. Brook leads, and Nami takes to back while also leading. She and Brook should switch places, but he doesn’t say anything. He focuses on carrying Usopp, he is on the head side of the stretcher, while Sanji has the back. He his hoper away of everything near them, while doing his best not to focus of Usopp’s form. Chopper stated he was alive, but he cannot even tell if he is breathing. Not a sound left him since they found him, and nothing, not even an involuntary twitch left his body. They make is back the the ship in the shortest longest time ever, and Chopper, Robin, and Usopp disappear behind the door.
Everything is silent for a moment. Nobody makes a sound, fearing it will be enough to push Usopp from never returning, or worse. He has no idea how long they sit, when everyone returned. It is just utter silence.
Eventually, Chopper exits with Robin. Both are exhausted. He himself is exhausted, and he didn’t do a damn thing. But he will not sleep he will not sleep till he knows his crew member will live.
Everyone follows the two into the kitchen, Sanji appearing with refreshments for everyone, and still, not a word is uttered. Luffy doesn’t bat an eye to the drink, focus trained on Chopper. The first to break the silence isn’t Usopp, it’s Nami.
“So, how is he.” There is no anger, or demand. Just a broken friend, nakama who want the best for her friend. Nobody is in a better state.
“Bad, he lost a lot of blood, and will need to stay on fluids for a while.” Chopper looks at Sanji when he says that. He seems to want to argue, but the look the youngest given, all fight leaves the cook.
“He will stay in bed for at least a month, and will have no energy. I will be primary care taker as well. He cannot have visitors at this moment, but I will tell you when it is safe to do so.”
“What about his wounds?” Franky asked.
“Most is doctor/client privilege, so I cannot disclose that without his consent. What I can tell you is that most of his wounds were from a whip.” Zoro couldn’t tell if his tears were angry or sad, but Zoro dearly wanted to join in.
“Any permanent damage,” Brook asked. He was normally the easiest to read, emotions on his sleeve, but right now he looked like a normal skeleton, no soul in sight. And that is fare scarier then a talking skeleton.
“There will be scaring, but other then that, I will need to keep an eye out.” The room is back to silence. They couldn’t visit, they couldn’t wake him, or even feed him. The hell ciild they do?!
“Who?” Luffy asked. His straw hat covered his face, and Zoro, dispute being the mans right hand, could not tell, but he could. He knew how Luffy felt, cause he felt the same.
“Who did this?”
Silence, not a work spoken. Who knew. Who would know who did this, and where can they find them.
“There was a note,” everyone looked to Nami. She had pulled something out from who knows where and set it of the table. There were six words and an image. He wanted to shrewd it. Burn it, berry the ashes in a box, then let it sing to the bottom of the sea. Because this note. This note is the cause, the reason why Usopp was p suffered. Is hurt. Was alone from his friends. And they will destroy who did this to him.
A gift, from me to you
The image under it was of a pirate flag. He doesn’t recognize it, but he hates it. Hates that it exists, hates that they have anything to do with us. Hates that it was anywhere near Usopp , his crew, his damned Nakama.
“Guys, I know them.” Jimbei said. Everyone looked to him. Cause how can he know such a heartless group. Someone who can cause such nightmare.
“They are the pirates we found today, on the other beach on the other side of the island.” Franky finished. Ah, that’s good. We know where they are and there is no way this will get away.
Luffy continues to watch the note, as if something will happen. Zoro wants to attack, to destroy the ones that did this. He isn’t one for revenge, but gave that philosophy up on sky island. When that dude attacked chopper, when he promised to protect his crew.
All he needs is an order.
“Chopper, do you need someone to help with Usopp?”
“No.”
“Then stay with him, the rest of us, let’s cause hell.”
——————————————————
When he regained consciousness the first time, all he could understand was pain, but not why. Why did he hurt so bad, where was his Nakama, were they safe. But then the pain faded, along with the gentle tough of a hove.
The next time he woke up, it was less painful. He couldn’t born his eyes, and there was so much noise. He couldn’t move, couldn’t see, so he cried. Someone came for him. No he doesn’t want to hurt again. But it doesn’t. It was nice like him mom. She pat his hair and shushed him, guiding him back to blissful sleep either the silent reassurance that he will be safe
The third time, he remembers. Remembers the pain, the pressing, begging, the mocking. Remembers the drugs used to keep his awake, to continue the pain. Begging for his Nakama to save him, begging them to stay away so they do t get hurt, so they don’t see a shameful sight of his pathetic self. All he can do is cry, and plead, and hold onto the one support is is given to ground himself. Hold on to deal life because he is falling, and dying, and he just wants his Nakama back. When he feels straw atop his head, he knows he is safe, that they saved him, and uses that hat to guid himself back home.
The fourth time he wakes up, it is to a room. Choppers clinic where they go for shots and stitches after a fight. After they get sick with a fever and Chopper has you sleep there for the night. It is night time, he can see the moon through the window. A clear sky. Nani’s favorite type of weather, cause nothing is going on and it’s just calm. New world calm, but calm non the less. Then he notices the piles. All his friends are piled on top of each other, sleeping the night away. Luffy sprawled atop everyone like they are his treasure, and he is a dragon horsing them. Usopp wants to join then, to feel there warmth, but when a rubbery hand tugs a little to hard on his wrist, he knows he is apart of them. So he goes back to sleep.