Work Text:
Usopp hadn't expected Luffy to remember their anniversary.
Not really.
Okay… Maybe… He had expected it a little bit . At least, had hoped that Luffy would have the presence of mind for once in his life to remember something this important.
"I mean," he sighed to himself, bent over his desk where he worked furiously, as if through this he could get all his frustration out, "How many one year anniversaries do you get?"
Only one!
You only celebrate being together for a whole year once !
And it wasn't like Usopp hadn't been dropping hints for the last few weeks.
To the point where Usopp was so sure that his boyfriend got it; that he would at least wish him a happy anniversary in passing before he jumped off the docked ship and ran into the little town in search of meat.
But, nope.
Nothing.
Nada .
With a, "Yahoo!" he was gone – undoubtedly about to cause some trouble they would all be forced to deal with.
He dropped his head to the table. Sighed again.
"Oy!" Usopp jumped at the sudden noise from behind him of Sanji slamming the door open and walking through.
Usopp patted down his hair. Patted at his chest. Desperately trying to get his bearings and pretend as if he hadn't just been scared half out of his mind.
"What's got into you?" Sanji continued, gracefully ignoring how much he had frazzled the other man, "I can hear your sighing all the way from the kitchen."
Usopp opened his mouth, hoping a believable lie would somehow fall out of his mouth because, for once, he couldn't think of one. All he could muster was a sad, "Nothing," as he bent his head and pretended to be at work on one of his projects.
Sanji slid a glass of something fruity onto the table in front of him. "Here. Passion Fruit lemonade," he said, nonchalantly.
Usopp perked up at the sight. And, taking a sip of the juice, he couldn't help but smile.
Sanji somehow always knew how to make him feel better. It was such a simple gesture, but such a thoughtful one. And Usopp could use more simple, thoughtful gestures since – apparently – his boyfriend was incapable of them.
Sanji didn't want to be the asshole and ask Usopp if Luffy had forgotten their one year anniversary – not when it was so painfully obvious that Luffy had forgotten their one year anniversary.
It had taken everything in him to bite his tongue and leave, instead of wrapping his arm around Usopp and comforting him like he really wanted to.
"Now if it was me –" he muttered to himself as he busied around the kitchen.
If he was celebrating one year together with Luffy and Usopp, he would go all out. He would make their favourite dishes, paired with their favourite drinks. He would craft a beautiful new dish for their tastebuds only.
He would shower them with love.
It would be an anniversary to remember.
But Luffy lacked a sense of romance, and Sanji didn't doubt he'd need it spelt out for him that anniversaries were usually a big deal to most people.
Poor Usopp.
He grumbled under his breath, and gave the rice too hard of a stir without thinking.
" Sanjiii –" A long whine came through the kitchen door, as its owner followed with a shuffle of feet.
"Great. Just the person I don't want to see right now!" Sanji said, banging his wooden spoon down on the counter.
"Huh? Whatdidido ?" Luffy asked, confused. Not waiting for a response, he groaned. "Just a little something to eat, please, I promise I won't finish everything. I promise ."
Sanji let out a breath, long and slow. "Hey. Luffy. Do you know what today is?"
Luffy stuck his finger in some curry and licked it clean. He seemed to think for a moment, then shrugged. "What?"
Sanji gritted his teeth.
"A special day…" he led.
Nothing.
"A special day that two people share only once a year…"
Still nothing.
Then, still digging around the curry, Luffy blinked and asked, "What? Mine and Usopp's anniversary?"
God, Sanji loved the other man but it was hard to not get irritated at him. So irritated he could throw this spoon straight at his head.
But he didn't. This time. Instead he just used it to swat him away from the food.
"You remembered?" Sanji asked. Shocked.
"Yeah. Of course, I remembered. Hey, is that meat on the stove?"
"Luffy…." Sanji was flabbergasted. "You have no sense for romance… Your anniversary is the most important day of the year for you and Usopp. It's a chance to celebrate your love. It's a chance to shower your darling Usopp with all the love in the world. Are you listening?"
He wasn't. No, he was taking his chance to pick out more meat from another pot.
Giving up, Sanji sighed.
"Take this," Sanji said as he handed Luffy two heart-shaped mini cakes. "One for you, and one for Usopp. Make sure you give one to Usopp." In case that didn't work, he tacked on a last minute threat, "Or no food for the next two days."
"You wouldn't do that to me, Sanji, would you?" Luffy asked, bug-eyed, tears welling at the corners.
"You really want to test me? Go ahead."
No, of course Luffy wouldn't try and test him. Not if it came in between him and his precious meat.
Then Luffy was gone, off to find Usopp who was no doubt still moping in his workshop, Sanji thought a bit sadly. And Sanji got back to preparing dinner, tonight serving everything that Luffy and Usopp liked.
Well, mostly what Usopp liked. He loved the both of them, and would happily slot himself into their relationship if they ever so allowed, but he could admit that he had a much softer spot for Usopp than for Luffy.
As soon as Sanji had left, Usopp decided he absolutely would not waste this day moping. It was a beautiful day, they were on the coast of a beautiful island; he refused.
He changed into something much less oil-stained and took his lemonade to the deck, where he spent the morning lounging around. When Luffy didn't return to the Sunny after an hour, and he was starting to grow bored, Usopp slipped into town to do some of his own shopping.
He had made Luffy's anniversary present weeks ago, but that didn't stop him from picking up a meat pie from a bakery he passed.
Usopp knew his boyfriend; he was a simple man to please and this would surely please him quite a bit.
Usopp was upset, yes. Hurt, too. But he also had calmed down enough to realise that he and Luffy were simply not on the same page… If he had wanted Luffy to treat today any differently, he should have said as much.
He should have said, "Luffy, it's our anniversary, I want to celebrate it with you," instead of whatever it was he had been trying to do. Dropping hints that probably didn't land and expecting something that likely wouldn't come.
Back after a long few hours around the town, Usopp dropped his parcels with a thud on the deck of the ship. Stretched and sighed.
He barely had a moment to centre himself before strong, rubbery limbs wrapped around him like a band. "You're back!" Luffy yelled, cheerfully.
"My ear, my ear," Usopp gave a half-hearted grumble. But he wrapped his own arms around Luffy and asked, "What's gotten into you?"
Surely he couldn't be…. Surely he couldn't have… No…
"Sanji made us anniversary cakes." Luffy smiled. "I was sooooo hungry but you weren't on the ship. I waited for you. Aren't I good?"
"Huh? You're so good, Luffy," Usopp agreed with a giggle.
Luffy unwound from around him and led him to a small table where he had set out two heart-shaped cakes.
"Did he say these are anniversary cakes?" Usopp asked.
Luffy shook his head. "Nope. But it's our anniversary and he didn't make them for anyone else so that's what they must be."
Leave it to Sanji to save the day. Usopp would have to remember to thank him, as soon as he got the chance.
Luffy was waiting for Usopp to sit down so they could eat together, Usopp realised, warmly. Even if he was bouncing on the balls of his feet impatiently.
But they couldn't eat yet.
"Wait," he said, rushing to fetch the meat pie and hand it over to Luffy. "This isn't your anniversary gift," he hurried to say, "but I thought you'd like it so, Happy Anniversary , nonetheless."
Luffy grinned. Wide. Revealing his dimples. "Thanks, Usopp," he said.
And Usopp sat and started to eat his cake, if only to give Luffy permission to finally dig into his own food.
"'M sorry, Usopp," Luffy said, after a moment – after his food was gone. He scratched at the back of his head. "I didn't know anniversaries were such a big deal. That you, yknow, get things for each other. And stuff."
Usopp snorted. "Yeah, I figured as much. But you don't just have to get things for each other, it's the little things too."
"Like eating cake together," Luffy broached, with a firm nod.
"Like eating cake together," Usopp agreed. He laughed, easily, and Luffy joined in. But that feeling of upset, of hurt, was still weighing on his heart and he knew if he didn't speak on it it would only fester. Usopp cleared his throat. "I was really hurt, though, Luffy, the whole day. I mean, you left without even wishing me a happy anniversary or anything. It felt… really bad."
Luffy reached across the table and took ahold of Usopp's hand. Squeezed and held on tight.
"I'll make it up to you. You said we can celebrate by spending time together, so…"
Luffy paused to think, all the while tracing patterns with his thumb into Usopp's skin. Usopp shivered at the touch.
He could probably be pleased with some cuddles and kisses, he thought, wanting nothing more than to lean in and press his lips to his boyfriend's.
To just forget about all the sadness of the day in the comfort of his boyfriend's touch.
His boyfriend who was obviously trying so hard to do something to make him happy – even if he himself still didn't fully get the what or the why .
"How about we play a game of cards. Is that something people do on an anniversary?"
"Anything can be a thing people do on their anniversary, as long as we do it together."
Luffy took his hand back to hit his rolled up fist in the flat of his palm. "Then cards, and cuddles, and tomorrow we'll go bug hunting!"
Usopp reached for him, missing his touch as soon as it was gone. Intertwining their fingers, he smiled. "Sounds good," he said. It did.
Just then, however, Luffy's stomach made itself known with a loud rumble.
"But first, dinner?" Usopp cocked an eyebrow and asked.
Luffy wilted over and nodded. "But first, dinner," he agreed.