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You couldn’t stop giggling. An amazed and awe stricken expression was on your face as you bounced around happily. Usopp was showing off his sharp shooting skills, as he liked to do. You had made cut outs together of “bad guys” lined up with your favorite stuffies and toys. He was the one that proposed the idea, and it was already turning into one of your favorite games. It made it all the more fun that he was acting out scenes, going all out on developing stories for how your friends got into danger in the first place.
“Look there! A marine snuck up behind our pirate friend!” He tried to sound serious, but he was struggling to keep his laughter in with your excited and nervous expression. “Don’t worry! I’ll be sure to save her riiiiight…now!” He shouted, taking his slingshot and knocking down the evil bear that had snuck up on your bunny.
You both rushed over, and he picked up the bunny stuffed animal and looked her over carefully. “Are you hurt?” He asked, concerned. “Phew! I’m glad, but be sure to be more careful. We have an adorable little one right here who was worried for you.” He nodded his head at you, grinning wide as he handed her over proudly. “Don’t worry, she’s okay this time. But we have to be prepared, because giant unicorns could land on the ship and put her in danger again!”
You gasped, pouting at nothing in particular. “Unicorns are nice dada.” You huffed, but giggled as he poked your cheek and pulled you and your bunny in for a hug. “But thanks dada!” A nod, and your expression turned…somewhat serious. “I’ll make sure she stays safe and imma get the bad guy next time!” You beamed at him, reaching for his slingshot.
“Woooah, woah woah.” He held it out of your reach, but patted your head to comfort you. “See there’s a requirement here.” He pointed at the slingshot, reaching it down to show you before turning it away so you wouldn’t see. “It says here that only big minded people can shoot these. It’s right there, carved onto the side!” He held it up as if to examine it while you tried to see the words for yourself. “It’s important that your friends are safe, but it’s even MORE important that you’re even safer.”
He grinned, bumping your nose with his. “But maybe another time I’ll let you shoot the next bad guy that we come across.” He hummed, tapping his chin with his finger. “But only if you promise to be good, okay?” He held out his pinky, and showed you a wide grin to show just how happy he was when he was with you.
Your pout turned into a smile, and you reached out your pinky and shook his own excitedly. “I’ll be good, dada! Promise!” And as you spoke, you couldn’t even try to hide your giggles if you wanted to. “But no lying! I wanna try!” You crossed your arms over your chest, looking at him as if to force him to do what you said.
He shook his head, “no, no! I’m not lying this time, I swear! You can try and shoot it when you’re big again.” He laughed, and tucked his slingshot away in his pocket before grabbing your hand and rushing over to the edge of the ship. “Now look!” He said, pointing off towards the vast sea surrounding you.
You struggled to see anything, really. It looked entirely empty, just waves swaying the ship. There didn’t look like there was anything around you that wasn’t the typical sea you’d often look at with him. “Dada?” You asked, confused. Was he seeing something you weren’t? No matter how hard you narrowed your eyes and tried to see what he was looking at, you just couldn’t.
He laughed, patting your head. “Made you look.” He snickered, and you gasped. He saw the frustrated look on your face and decided to make it better. He kissed all over your cheeks, making you giggle at how silly he was being.
But to be fair, he always seemed to be silly. No matter what you were doing, it made you love him even more! “No fair!” You called, playfully swatting his chest as he only got closer. “Mean!” You huffed, but he didn’t seem to care. He enjoyed making you distracted, and it even ended up helping you stay in your little space longer without fail.
“I know, I know. I’m very mean. The meanest captain.” He rolled his eyes, smiling wide as he scooped you up into his arms while giving you a quick spin. “But I’m YOUR mean dada. Nobody else’s.” He rushed, carrying you across the deck while you kicked your feet and giggled. Your frustration was immediately forgotten and you wrapped your arms firmly around his shoulders.
He stopped abruptly, and flopped down on the ground with you cradled against him. “Hm…big adventures like that are exhausting. Maybe it’s nap time.” But his giddy tone made it obvious he was nowhere near tired. He even seemed to laugh louder at your protests. “But first…isn’t there something you wanna say?” He prodded, both of you knowing exactly what it is he was trying to get you to say.
It had you giggling, and you tried and failed to wriggle out of his grasp. “Dada!” You laughed, and decided to point up at the sky. “Look!” There was nothing to note about it, but he had pulled the trick on you, so it was only fair you did the same.
Despite him knowing there wouldn’t be anything, he looked up and furrowed his brows to try and “see” whatever it was you were pointing at. You only laughed even louder, poking the sides of his face with a happy, “got you too!” Even as you kept poking his cheeks, he couldn’t stop smiling.
“You did, you did. But you never said it! I’ll only let you go when you say it.” He wasn’t dropping it, and you honestly didn’t want him to. His arms only wrapped tighter around you, and refused to let you get up until he heard his favorite words.
“Love you dada!” You giggled, cheering when he released his hold on you, only for him to pull you down again.
“Love you too!”