Work Text:
The sea was calm, reflecting the sun in a dim shine. It's color was unusualy teal, calmly hitting the Merry.
Usopp was standing, resting on the railing and painting the beautiful sea. Sometimes when he saw something pretty enough to paint it, he would reach for his watercolors and had to sketch it.
Painting was his hobby since he was little, so it was just natural for him.
Wind was pretty calm today too, but from time to time it could unexpectedly pick up, giving a nice cold refreshment.
Usopp was focused on the sea, trying to paint it in the best way he could, even though he didn't expect much from his talent. He's always thought his art was a beginners work, not good enough to be shown to other people.
Suddenly the wind started to blow very strongly, snatching his bandana off. He yelped and quickly tried to catch it, but to no avail.
The boy sighed with disappointment and went back to his fallen sketchbook. Usopp just looked at it, having lost any ambition to continue the painting.
Recently his mood has been off.
He didn't know why, since the time spent with his friends was great, but when he was all alone he could feel a lingering emptiness inside him.
It made him frown in displease.
It didn't make any sense! He has finally found a meaning and will be able to meet his father.
So why does his chest ache everytime silence surrounds him?
Lack of sleep was also bothering him. Even though he was tired and wished to go to sleep, he simply couldn't. His body rejected every ounce of rest, making him think and think and think and feel.
Feel the emptiness.
Usopp sighed with a resigned look and picked up the sketchbook, closing it. He wasn't in mood for painting anymore.
He walked towards the kitchen, hoping he could a little snack, that would fill the empty space inside him for only a sweet while.
The door flung open, the Cook of their ship turning around alarmed by the sound.
"Oh it's you Usopp." He smiled after realising who visited him. "Do you want something?"
"Uh.. yes if there was anything left from breakfast I would gladly eat it. And also peace." He replied afterthought, sitting naturally next to Sanji.
"Right at it." He grinned and quickly started to reheat some left food.
After a while he looked at Usopp with a curious look. "Also what do you mean by peace? Don't you think hanging around the deck would give you more silence?"
"Probably, but I don't really want silence right now." Sniper replied carefully choosing his next words. "Lately I have been feeling... tired and silence makes my head hurt."
"Well those are unusual symptoms. I ain't no doctor, but I think you just need company." Sanji stated with a shrug.
"Maybe." Usopp also shrugged and looked at his hands. They were dirty from paint.
Sanji also noticed that and cleared his throat.
"You were painting?" He asked genuinely surprised by that fact.
"Yeah, from time to time. When I feel like it, but the spark left in the middle of work."
"Ohh, I feel that. Happened to me often." Sanji chuckled, mixing the food on stove.
"You paint?" Usopp asked in inbelief, finally raising his head to look fully at the boy.
"Nah, but I do cook." He replied with a grin. "It's a little bit similar to drawing, don't you think?"
"No I wouldn't say so." Usopp looked at Sanji with a weird look, not really getting his parallel.
"I mean we both create things and have to be very creative about it. And it has to look good or interesting, yeah?"
"Yeah, yeah I think I get what you mean." Sniper now also smiled, catching up to the comparison. "It really is similar isn't it?"
Sanji nodded still smiling, adding some seasoning to Usopps dish.
After some time of talking, the food was ready.
"Thanks Sanji, it looks good as always!" Usopp regained his spirit thanks to his company, so he was back in his element. He rambled to Sanji about the storied he has heard, while also devouring the food that Sanji prepared for him.
He really did feel better around other people. Maybe he was just an extreme extrovert? He wasn't so sure.
"Hey by the way, what happened to your bandana?" Sanji asked, after getting seated next to the boy.
"Wind snatched it." Usopp sighed with sadness when he was reminded of it.
"Oh that sucks.." The cook pitied Usopp, something that he hated to hear.
"It's nothing, I have a spare somewhere in my drawer, it's fine really." Usopp quickly explained, not wanting to be pitied by anyone.
After that between the fell silence, Sanji still staring at Usopp.
After some more time, Sniper got irritated and turned towards the boy.
"What are you staring at?" He asked with demand, frowning at the Cook.
Sanji looked abashed, realising that his staring was very obvious.
"Oh! I-It's nothing it's just..." His eyes darted towards the floor, feeling very awkward. "Your hair."
"What about it?" Usopp asked with confusion.
"It's very... badly maintained."
Sniper looked at him with an angry look, his words stuck in his throat.
"What does that mean?! I bet you know very well how to take care of curls, huh?" He quickly started to attack Sanji, feeling his ego hurt.
"Well I definitely know better than you!" Sanji rebuked also louder than before.
"Oh yeah, from where would you even get that information? What you think that just, because you are a know it all you know exactly everything?" Usopp started to insult Sanji, being fed up with his constant showing off.
"I'm not a know it all?! Where did you even get that from?"
"Well maybe because you always want to look the best in front of the ladies?" Sniper mimiced Sanjis speech, with venom.
"Oh okay now you are just jealous of me." Sanji crossed his arms unbothered.
"Jealous of what. Your pervy personality, no thanks." Usopp scoffed, also crossing his arms.
"Okay you know what, this argument is getting out of hand." Cooks hands slammed the counter, making Usopp jolt in surprise.
For a second Sniper thought he has crossed the line and was going to get kicked for it. He quickly closed his eyes in fear and put his hands in front of him, awaiting for the worst.
"I'm going to take care of your hair."
Wait what?
Usopp opened his eyes in surprise and his jaw went slightly down.
"Huh?" He asked dumbfoundly, staring at the Blond above him.
"You heard me." Sanji said sternly, his one visible eyebrow frowning slightly.
In that very moment Usopp realised how every their opponent must have felt, facing Sanji. He was terrifying.
The Blond snatched Snipers hand and carried them to the small bathroom they had on the ship.
It was small, very small. Barely could contain a toilet, a sink and a small shower, not even sure you could call it that. But somehow both Nami and Sanji maintained their elegance and fresh look.
It bewildered him.
"Sit." Sanji gestured on the stool, that he has took out of somewhere.
With no argument, Usopp simply obeyed and sat on the stool, waiting for Sanji to do something.
"I know that what I said must've felt rude, but thats the truth." Sanji said, rummaging trough a cabinet, searching for something.
"Well okay, but how do you know how to take care of hair like mine?" Usopp asked still not convinced, by the boys confidence.
"When I was too young to be an actual cook, but old enough to learn new things I had to take care of everyones hair at the baratie. So that's why I have a hand for any type of hair." Sanji finally stood up and walked behind Sniper. "Even yours."
Usopp blushed in ashame, now embarrassed of his pervious crash out.
"Oh.. I... I didn't know." He said with a quiet tone.
"Of course you didn't, now let me help you." The Blond smirked and got to work.
After some silence, being only heard Sanjis movements, Usopp finally broke it.
"You know I never got to learn how to take care of my hair." He admitted, moving his lef nervously.
"Figured." Sanji replied shortly.
"Rude." Curlyhead sighed and relaxed his body a little bit.
"My mom used to take care of it, but she also wasn't the best at it, as she was white. And my dad well..." He paused for a second. "He left to be a great pirate. Thats why after my mom died, I kind of had to do everything myself. But you have to say I did a pretty well job."
"I guess.. but I can do better." Sanji showered his hair with precise movement, the same he used when he would cook.
"I'm sorry to hear about your mothet passing away." He said after some time, genuine care in his voice.
"It's fine it was a long time ago, but thanks." Usopp smiled gently, feeling like a heavy weight just left his chest. No fully, but in some percent.
"Sorry I just made the mood worse, just kinda wanted to talk about it." He said after a second, not wanting to come off as rude or egoistic.
"No it's fine." Sanji quickly reasurred him. "I like listening to you. You can keep talking if you want to."
Sniper smiled widely and started to talk more about his past, about the Usopps pirates and about Kaya, as Sanji hasn't heard yet about his home village.
"Woah the hair really looks healthier!" Usopp said, looking at his image in the mirror. "I didn't even know they could look like that."
"Told you I knew how to take care of them." The Cook said proudly, standing beside him.
Usopp turned around to face Sanji, not looking him in the eyes.
"Yeah uhm, about that." He awkwardly scratched his neck and looked up at the boy. "Sorry I was so mean to you before, I thought you were insulting me without any basis."
"It's fine, I don't care." Sanji just laughed lightheartedly and turned to the door. "When you need any help next time, tell me."
And like that he was gone.
Sniper looked at the door bewildered. He didn't know why, but his heart just skipped a beat when Sanji smiled at him. His face also was a bit flushed.
He looked at his reflection again, admiring Sanjis work. When Usopp thought about him, he felt something in his stomach flip.
Was he hungry again?