Work Text:
Few minutes ago, Usopp was here and there, fighting marines with the others. But now, he lays flat on the ground— eyes bloody red as he chokes on his own blood. Something tastes like a metal, he thinks. Smells like one too.
"U... wake... u... open... y.. ey..."
Ah, the smell of sea. It never fails to make him feel afloat. As if free.
What was that noise? Was someone calling him?
It seems like he can't open his eyes at the moment. Why are they calling him? What do they need from him? They already have what he doesn’t.
Maybe he should play around for a while. He should act like he can't hear them. Play dead, maybe— so he could laugh at the visible and apparent fear in their eyes. He'll get smacked by Nami, sure. But exchange for their fear? Hell yea.
"Ple... open ... eyes..."
What the hell are they talking about? Are they messing with him?! They're not even speaking properly!
Even if he wants to look at them, he can't. He just can't. Usopp doesn't know why but he wants to stay like this. His back doesn't hurt like it used to. Ah, wow, this feels like a dream.
"Please."
Usopp barely managed to hide his laugh. Did he just hear Nami say please?
"Yes... just laug... plea..."
Their voice is fading, bit by bit. It's like he's falling asleep. Like the sea is taking the sound of their voice to somewhere unknown. Laughtale?
Haha! This is a bit scary, though. Why can't he open his eyes?
Should he say something? Or are they basically pranking him?
Usopp calls out, faintly. "E-Everyon-"
"don.. s.p...k... us... p."
He heard his voice and it doesn't sound right. DEFINITELY DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT.
His voice is very much strained and hoarse (yikes) it's as if he had been screaming for hours. It itches and it burns.
Usopp starts to panic. Something's been wrong from the start. Why didn't he notice it? What the hell? Is he dying or something?
He felt a touch against his shoulder, and it hurts. Like there was something inside there. And it feels like something was coming out of it, too. They're definitely taking this prank too far. What were they saying again?
"St.. y.. alive... ple.. se."
Alive? What? It's not like he's dying or anything, yeah? He's 100% alive, or maybe half-asleep since he can't really manage to open his eyes right now— which is by the way, very concerning. There's probably something covering his eyes that prevents him to see.
That's not fair!
"C-Can't see." more importantly, though, his voice does really sucks. He have no idea why he's stuttering at all.
Usopp hears the sea waves clash against each other, felt a drop of on his face, his mouth. Salty. He hears the chirps of the birds and the way the orange tree that Nami planted get swayed with the air. Maybe a sound of a book page, as well?
What the hell. His senses are playing with him.
There was something warm on his stomach, like someone just sat on him. No, a snake cuddling him up? Ew! That's disgusting!
Hm, the sea sounds well today. He wonder why. Sometimes it'd be just normal. No aggressive waves like billows or just a normal one. Today's waves are specially calm. Calm like... how should he put it... oh! Like seeing everyone okay? That does sounds cringe but that feeling is very similar with the water right now. Wave or water, whatever it's the same.
It's making him fall asleep.
The voices seems to drift into nothingness. He can't really hear anything right now anymore.
He's really tired. It's Luffy's fault!
He should sleep— act like he's dead, then he'd wake up to see their funny faces. Good idea!
"Usopp?"
...