Work Text:
Usopp searches for Luffy, in the kitchen on the deck the captain is nowhere to be found. Not in his usual spots. Usopp finally gets to the aquarium and it's a heated conversation, Usopp stands at the doorway but none of the 3 men inside notice his presence,
" it's either he apologizes or I leave the crew" Zoro said calmly but sternly his arms folded across his chest.
"This crew is not a crew, if anyone can put the captain's life in danger for a mere wedding,"
Sanji glances between Luffy and Zoro, trying to gauge their reaction to this.
" But Zoro, it was not just a wedding, big mom wanted to kill sanji and his family!"
" Sanji tried to kill you, "
" Sanji can't kill me,"
Luffy doubled down, his hands clenched into fists. His annoyance grows.
" It's okay." Sanji starts,
" I understand how both of you feel, but this issue is solved easier if I just apologize, to Luffy "
Zoro nodded his head, Luffy wanted to protest but Sanji beat him to it,
"I am sorry."
"I'm sorry for disrespecting you and I'd like to officially join the crew again, if you will have me,"
Sanji's voice shook at the last line. Luffy looked at him with wide eyes, thinking what could he have done to for this to not happen.
"You never left the crew. For me at least, so there's no point in asking to join again. You've always been here whether someone throws a hissy fit over it or not,"
Luffy says and goes to leave the room but usopp stops him.
" Aren't you letting him off the hook too easy, captain?"
" I am the captain I can determine what should or shouldn't be done and if you're gonna protest this decision I have taken for Sanji -"
"Who said I was questioning your decision about Sanji?"
Usopp eyes the room and it falls on the green haired swordsman.
"You still have trouble accepting Luffy's decisions. You still refuse to see his growth, you still think he's incapable of being the captain and I can't accept that,"
"Usopp, I am only guiding him to-"
" You're not guiding him, you're insulting him. You're questioning his authority. You didn't even ask the reasonings, Sanji didn't leave the crew on a whim. Like I did... I needed to apologize but Sanji is didn't. He didn't want to leave. I wanted to leave,"
Usopp digs at his own scars, but he thinks it's important. It's important to stand upto what you believe in, that's the spirit of a warrior.
"Beating down on someone who's already down isn't something I expected from you Zoro,"
Usopp concludes. Sanji walks out and Luffy follows. Leaving Zoro alone, pondering.