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Usopp wasn’t sure when it all has started. If he tries hard enough to think back for his earliest memory, from when the kisses probably started, it must have still been when they were in the East Blue. It was somewhat after the Arlong Park incident. At least, he’s sure of that.
On that day, Usopp challenged Sanji, after proclaiming to be the best chef of the entire universe. It was a joke honestly. He just hoped, that Sanji would start to prepare lunch faster if he annoyed him a bit. Unfortunately, the cook took it too serious and handed him an apron and some ingredients with a knowing smirk.
They both then, set the ingredients, the kitchen tolls and the seasonings they will use on the kitchen counter. The cook immediately started with his preparations, while Usopp was frozen in place for a while.
The sniper wasn’t completely a failure around the kitchen though. He did need to take care of himself for most of his life after all.
Still, he couldn’t ever compare to Sanjis skills. His meals taste like something straight out of a fairytale. On the other hand, Usopp’s dish taste very average. Good seasoned, but still average. It was foolish to think, for even a second, that he has a chance against his friend.
He tries to subtly sneak glances, at how the cook prepares the food, in hopes to be able to copy a few techniques. He watched as the other hands quickly cut the onions with a sharp knife, in small cubes on the cutting board, without spilling any tears. Each ingredient was prepared quickly to the point and amazingly seasoned.
The smell of the air started to mix itself between the nicotine, which Sanji is smoking and the food he was stirring. Honestly, Usopp still wasn’t used to the disgusting smell that lasted of Sanjis cigarettes. And if Sanji notices, Usopp once in a while breathing into his own shirt to breathe in for some fresh air, he doesn’t comment on it.
The snipers own distraction, leads him to cut his finger with a sharp blade, instead of the pepper in his hand.
He hissed in pain immediately. Letting go off the knife. And holding his own finger with some pressure, to reduce the feeling of pain.
The blonde man beside him stopped his own movements. He looks at Usopp with a furrowed eyebrow, while lowering the heat of the stove to prevent a fire. Clicking his tongue silently, while moving over somewhere to get a hold of some cheap alcohol and a bandage.
He held his hand towards Usopp‘s expectingly. The younger one hesitates for a second, smiling awkwardly, before placing his own hand on the palm of Sanji’s.
The older man disinfects the wound with the alcohol. Getting a stronger hiss in pain from Usopp in response, before he carefully puts the bandage on the wounded finger.
“You look like you’re about to cry. Here, a kiss to steer away the pain.” Sanji teased, inhaling the last nicotine in, before stomping the cigarette out. He hummed afterwards. Glancing at his work for a while, ensuring that everything is patched up well and wouldn’t lead to an infection.
He steps closer now and lifts Usopp’s hand up to his lips, to put a small kiss on the now bandaged finger. Leaning away right afterwards and letting go of the other ones hand gently.
Usopp could feel his dark cheeks heating up , while trying to stumble open a sarcastic retort. Stuttering over his own words, that the great captain Usopp never cries.
Any other words, that where about to come out died on his tongue, as if something else bothered him now. His head leaned confused on one side. Looking at Sanji, as if he had the answers written all over his face.
“Doesn’t the saying go like this: ‘To kiss your wound better’? I wasn’t aware that it isn’t a universal set sentence…”
“You’re not a child anymore. Now sit down and watch or set the table. Lunch is almost ready.”
Usopp’s expression furrowed in dissatisfaction, that their small competition comes to an end, but agrees regardless. He wouldn’t like to bother Sanji anymore, than necessary anyways. He looks at Sanji for a while longer, confused, before finally setting the table. His thoughts were preoccupied somewhere else though. As he places plates and forks on the table. His gaze continues to look at the bandage that received a kiss.
Surprisingly, his wound didn’t hurt that much anymore after the kiss. Maybe the saying isn’t completely a bluff. He hummed in satisfaction, remembering his own sick mother who also used to kiss his wounds better. A tiny smile leaves his mouth. How he wishes to feel the sensation again.
Yet, they never spoke about it again. And Usopp was too cowardly to ask for another one.
❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ 2
Nami and Usopp were enjoying themselves with a smoothie at hand. They were laughing at something that happened in a small village in the East Blue last night .
A restaurant has offered a 10 minutes challenge. Whoever could eat over 30 bowls of ramen under 10 minutes would be able to eat for free. Luffy didn’t even need 5 minutes and afterwards they all got kicked out of the restaurant , because he continued to order more and more food for them all.
They left the restaurant bankrupt for the next week or so and set sail in the morning.
Now Usopp theatrically mimics the expression, which Luff wore after they got thrown out. Nami claps amused, while trying to contain any more laughter.
They were honestly bored, since there’s nothing more left to do around the sea. At some point, Nami suggests to play truth or dare with a conspiring smile. He immediately agreed with her idea without giving it a proper thought.
He calls for Luffy, Zoro and Sanji to come up and join them.
Luffy was the first to arrive. Jumping excitedly while dragging Zoro up, who only growled in response. And Sanji was running right up the stairs only seconds later, after Nami asked him to bring some food with him.
The game itself started tame. Everybody, but Luffy and Zoro chose truth first. Talking about some found memories or about the most embarrassing thing that happened to them. Usopp tries to lie through it at first, but stops after Nami charges him 100 berries.
Luffy on the other hand, was dared to sing and Zoro was forced to put some distance between himself and his three swords. No one mentioned how Zoro continues to fiddle with his hand around his now empty side, other than Sanji, who laughed at his attachment issues.
The swordsman scoffed at that and called the cook a coward for not picking any dare yet. Sanji dared him to repeat it again as he already stood up furiously. They fought for a bit around the others, before Nami finally had enough and punched both of them on their head annoyed.
“Would you guys mind to continue. Now Sanji truth or dare?” Nami asked sweetly, so that the love fool would tear away his eyes off of the swordsman.
“Dare my dear Nami-swan.” Sanji swooned over her, as he waits for his dare eagerly.
“Alright! Show everybody, how you would give each crew mate a kiss. Kissing me will make 4000 berries though.” Nami grins. Already imagining the money in her hands.
Easy enough, he immediately swoons around Nami closer. He thought about it. Kissing a willing woman anywhere sounds like a dream. Still, it would be inappropriate to take anything away from her which wasn’t his to begin with, so he just asked for her hand instead. A small tender kiss was placed on her knuckles, before he moved away and thanked Nami for blessing him today.
Luffy gets a small peck on his cheek and Zoro got an affectionate kick to his leg, added with a small insult. The swordsman grumbled annoyed at that. Now for the last kiss. Usopp was already fidgeting with his hands, as he looked at Sanji. Fearing to get a kick too.
Instead, Sanji put his hand on the other’s cheekbone and placed a short, tender kiss on the snipers forehead. He was careful, since the younger one fell quiet hard on the face today.
“To kiss your pain away.” Was teasingly whispered into Usopp’s ear right afterwards, before he returns to his own spot again.
Usopp’s mind short circulates at that. He was yet again distracted by the other man’s kiss. The lingering smell of Sanjis cologne and nicotine around Usopp, were slowly getting addictive. When his turn came, he didn’t even proceeded the question properly, before answering that blond’s are his type. He also didn’t notice, how a certain blonde man twitches slightly after his answer.
❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ 3
Whiskey Peak is nothing like any of them expected it to be. With Ms. Wednesday and Mr. 9 around, they were sure, to face some kind of danger. Yet nothing close to this happens. They are welcomed in by the mayor and a feast for them ensures right afterwards.
They all danced and laughed at the party. Nami and Zoro started to participate at a drinking contest for berries at some point. And their captain is eating anything and everything around the table.
Sanji on the other hand, was swarmed all over with beautiful women. They were mostly sitting on his lap and purred him alcohol into his mouth. He drinks every bit without protest and smiles at them, as he complimented their dashing looks. It looks like he could explore out of happiness any second now.
And Usopp, while, he has a big enough audience willing to listen to his great adventures. So he happily swung around a glass of alcohol, taking a swing of it, before he continues to dramatically over exaggerate his adventures.
At some point he was too bored and looked around the room to find any of his friends. Zoro and Luffy were sleeping already. Nami was still determined to win the drinking contest against the nun. Sanji was still... Wait. He blinks slowly. Confused to see Sanji all alone, sitting in a corner far away from everyone else.
He stumbles over a bit, as he tries to get down the chair, he was standing on previously. The walk towards Sanji feels long. As he stumbled across some empty bottles on the ground on his way to him. He curse’s each time to himself, while glaring at those bottles.
Finally he made it and falls down beside Sanji. Looking at him from a closer distance now, he notices how drunk out Sanji is. He looks disheveled, far different from the usual composed and well put on man. His tie was lose and the first buttons on his collar were open. The sniper couldn’t help but chuckle at that, as he poked Sanji annoyingly on his shoulder to get his attention.
It did take a while, before Sanji was conscious enough to put together, that Usopp is the one sitting by his side.
“Why aren’t you surrounded with any pretty lady right now?” Usopp whispers giggling.
Sanji blinked at this. He furrowed his eyebrows a bit to think about it. Usually, he wouldn’t even dream of taking a moment for himself, if any women was around him. So why did he leave again? He mumbled something not so coherent, before brushing it off for now. He looks at Usopp instead.
His thoughts slipping free from his usual tight suppression, as he looks at the sniper.
Man was he pretty.. It’s unfair how pretty he is. With his pretty long hair, his pretty eyelashes and his amazing dark skin. How he sometimes dreams to have them all over him. This pretty hands creating wonders. This pretty arms holding his side, whenever the younger one was scared. He sighed sadly before invading Usopp’s space.
“Why couldn’t u be a woman..” He sighed sadly again. As he looks at every small detail on the snipers face.
The other one laughed at him. He couldn’t connect the dots why exactly he would need to be a woman for Sanji.
“You want me to wear a dress or something?” The sniper snickers while poking Sanji.
Sanjis shoulders tensed up for a second at that, before he let’s himself relax again.
“Hmm nooo. You’re perfect the way you are. I’m just dumb about this.” He huffed at last. It’s true. Usopp is already perfect the way he is. No matter what arguments the other one would have ready to disprove his statement, Sanji knows it’s true.
The sniper laughed a bit more, while the cook was nuzzling his face into the man’s lack of a chest. He mumbled something about how unfair it is for someone to be this pretty.
“Sopp can I kiss you again?” Sanji mumbled into his chest a bit tiredly. The other one plays with the blonde hair in front of him, as he hummed giggling in agreement. The man placed a kiss on Usopp’s chest. Nibbling the skin a bit before kissing it again. He wants to enjoy the moment without any stupid thoughts, that would argue against this. He wants to indulge himself just for tonight.
His hands explore the curves of Usopp, memorising any small scar and kissing them better too. How he wishes to do this every day.
At some point they both landed on the floor laughing, as Sanji complimented Usopp’s pretty long nose and kissed the tip of his nose too. They were both in a daze and didn’t noticed as sleep took them both over.
The only evidence left of last night, was them holding hands while sleeping.
❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ 4
After the conflict in Alabasta was resolved, Chopper strictly instructed Usopp to rest for a few days to recover properly. Since, their fight together against Mr. 4 and Ms. Merry Christmas took a huge tool on the sniper.
The four ton weight he got hit with broke his nose and disturbed his nerves on his face. Meaning that for a while, he will react slower to any pain around his face or head. His nose will stay a bit crocked after it is completely healed, added Chopper too, before leaving.
Now, Usopp was laying in his bed. Staring at the walls out of boredom, while listening to the loud noises outside the room. Nami was screaming at Luffy and Zoro about something, while searching for the support of Robin. Their newest crew mate. Chopper is probably hiding from Nami and Sanji must be cooking lunch right now.
How he wishes that he was able to do something. But even if he tries to defy the strict instructions of their doctor, he couldn’t. His limbs still feel weak and he’s sure that he would just fall to the ground loudly, alarming everyone in the process too. So, he only grumbled while humming a song he had in mind.
A few ideas for some new bombs came into his mind too, he really would like to write them down, to not forget them. To his misfortune, his notebook is across the room. But who can really blame him for leaving it there? No one plans to be beaten up everyday.
He was distracted by his own thoughts by now, that’s why he got startled when someone suddenly shut the door. It was Sanji, carrying a tray with a delicious smelling meal and tea on it. He sat down beside Usopp and places the tray on his lap.
“Do you need help with eating? I asked Chopper if you were capable to do it by now, but he wasn’t so sure either if it’s save enough yet.”
Usopp wasn’t sure either, since he was instructed to rott in bed till he’s actually healed. So he didn’t really do anything to try and see for himself. Now, for his own curiosity, he flexes his hands to see if they respond while trying to lean up a bit. The cook immediately helped him, by placing a hand on his back and putting pressure on it, to get him in a sitting position.
“I think that I can try now. So you don’t need to bother with me any longer.” Usopp chuckled, while reaching for the food.
Unbeknown to him, Sanji frowns at his declaration.
“You aren’t a bother to me or anybody, Usopp. Now don’t waste even a bit of the food or I’ll stuff it right back in for you myself.”
“You now, you shouldn’t really threaten people while they are recovering, right?”
“Then don’t give me a reason to threaten you, idiot.”
Both of them looked at each other seriously, before letting out a snort. Sanji lightly hit him on the shoulder additionally. That was Usopp’s signal to start eating his food and to drink his tea.
They sat in silence for the most parts. Sanji doesn’t intend to leave for now and Usopp wants to enjoy the other ones company, as long as possible.
Sometimes, Usopp would try to tell a story while his mouth was full. He gets scolded each time, by his friend with a smile.
After he finishes his meal, the cook takes the tray back and stands up to leave. Usopp grabbed his free hand to stop him from leaving just yet.
“Could you please give me my notebook? It’s besides the door. I kinda need to write my important, genius thoughts down, you know.”
“If you would let me go, I could get it for you.” He grins at his small victory, after the younger one let go and tries to explain that he should have been honoured to be graced with the great captain Usopp’s presence.
He only chuckles at that, as he went to grab the notebook for him. Handing it over with a pen. He was about to leave but stopped, he leaned down a bit, to kiss the top of the snipers head.
“Here. A kiss to make it all better.”
He didn’t stay there any longer and didn’t look at the stunned expression of Usopp. He went towards the door, opens it and dares to look behind him for one last time with a genuine smile.
“I mean it. You’re not a bother to me or anyone , Usopp.”
The door shuts close. Leaving behind a blushing mess of a sniper.
❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ 5
Sanji’s eyes burned as he opens them, for what feels like, the first time in a while. He’s on the floor in the Going Merry. He listens if anybody’s around but doesn’t hear anything but some soft snoring beside him. Besides him?
He turns his head to the noise. Now facing a sleeping Usopp and their hands intertwined again. His facial expression turns surprised. Seriously, how does that happen twice?
Still, at a closer inspection, he noticed that they both were covered in bandages from head to toe. He looks at the ceiling while trying to remember what happened before he woke up.
A weird dude, with weird ears came to his mind and lightning. Lightning? Shit. This isn’t a good thing to be hit with.
He made sure to see if Usopp was still breathing before getting up. Pacing around the ship and finding no one. Nami should have been with them.
His body was arching but he couldn’t just ignore a woman possibly in need of help. Even less leave a friend behind. So he went back to the room he woke up inside. Dressing himself up, before waking up Usopp gently.
They need to move now, was what he told him. And thankfully , Usopp wasn’t one who questions things after he wakes up. They quickly moved out and left Merry behind.
It is painful. Running through the forest, while injured, was like stepping into an active volcano willingly. He could hear the occasionally wincing or cursing of the other one behind him and has to remind himself that they couldn’t take a break for now.
After finally being able to indicate Nami’s whereabouts on the flying ship above them, they didn’t waste any more time to fly upwards with the snipers hook belt. It would be best to separate for now. That way their chances, surviving against this God may look a bit brighter.
He turns to Usopp seriously. Placing both of his hands on the others shoulder.
“Listen, Usopp! I… If it’s for Nami, I’m okay with you sacrificing your life.”
“I’m going to beat you so hard..” Was Usopp’s response in disbelief.
The blonde man grins at that, before placing a kiss on the tip of his long, crooked nose.
“Just make sure that nobody gets hurt if possible.”
Usopp grumbled something about having a bad bodyguard before nodding along. He raised an amused eyebrow at that. He wasn’t aware that he signed himself up to be the bodyguard of anyone then he joined the crew. He definitely needs to keep it in mind and tease the sniper after everything calms down again.
They went into the ship afterwards, without making any more breaks. The safety of their navigator comes first now.
Oh, but how Sanji yearns to beat Eneru for everything he has done to them. For hurting their sniper.
He rushes around the maze of a ship, destroys a few mechanics and functions of the ship with a kick, before finally arriving at the deck.
That bastard Eneru was there. Already summoning lightning to hit Usopp. His heart started to beat faster out of fear for the other ones safety. No way could he survive another strike of lightning. Not now, while he still isn’t properly recovered.
So he rushed over and pushes Usopp towards Nami and her waver. Instructing them to leave the ship.
He places a cigarette on his lip, while telling the God that he was in search of a lighter anyways.
Deep inside he knows, that there was no guarantee, if he himself could take the lighting strike though. Well, that would hardly matter right now, as long as Nami and Usopp were safe. As long as, Usopp still lives.
Maybe he’ll regret never finding the All Blue in his last moments . Maybe he would regret having held himself back, from getting more of the snipers affection. Maybe they could have had something more.
Who is he kidding. He would never himself try and overstep their friendship, that was his last thought before passing out.
Unaware of the waver sound coming closer or of the familiar hands grabbing him into the waver, into the safety of a warm embrace.
❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ ❀ ☆ +1
It was all over now. The Marines weren’t able to kill them during the Buster Call. Robin was finally back and save. The Going Merry was forever gone.
And yet, Usopp still couldn’t face anybody without wearing his mask.
He knows that only Chopper and Luffy didn’t recognise Sogeking as Usopp. Everybody else already knows. Still, he pretends as if they didn’t know either.
He attends the huge party and sings his sniper song from above as Sogeking. He lingers around his friends, as if he still has the right to it. He clings himself around Sanji, as if he hasn’t been such a burden to him.
Afterwards, he disappears. He went to the market as Usopp. He walks around and buys some ingredients calmly. Acting as he hasn’t noticed Sanji always being nearby.
When he was searching for ideas on how he could possibly rejoin the crew, without making it awkward, he notices in the corner of his eye that Sanji was around. Listening to his rehearsals.
The cook was always somehow around him, during and after the duel with Luffy. It makes Usopp’s heart arch in a bittersweet sense. He was glad to know that Sanji cares for him enough to ensure his safety. To keep tab’s about his whereabouts, even though he didn’t need too.
He was always so close and yet somehow to far away from him. How he longs for another kiss it better, kiss. For him, to be able to wrap his arms around the other man’s waist in comfort or to hold hands in their slumber yet again.
It wasn’t until a commotion snapped him out of his hesitation. The Strawhat Pirates were leaving. Without him. They are sailing away, without him.
He runs to the shore immediately. His vision starts to get blurry from tears, as he screams out for them to not leave him behind. Begging them to return and take him with them.
The cannons flying, are probably still louder than his own messy speech.
He didn’t want this to end.
He wants to continue sailing by his friends side. Wants to see everybody’s dreams become reality. He wants to continue fooling around with Luffy and Chopper. He wants to continue improving his own weapons and Nami’s Clima-Tact. He wants to tell Robin a few stories and listen to her own ones too. He wants to improve his skills by asking Franky about his defects.
He wants to taste Sanji’s meals. Wants to be able to look at him secretly and feel the warmth in his heart blooming, whenever he gets to close to him.
So why?
Why aren’t they turning back for him?
He screams his apology the loudest. Not masking his regrets, asking his Captain desperately, if he could somehow rejoin again. His breath hitched, after a long, rubber hand was extended to him. His captain shoots and cry’s out for him to grab it. He did and they both were now laying at the ground of the deck while crying.
How he missed his friends. Usopp couldn’t stop the tears from spilling even after hours on the Thousand Sunny. He apologised to every crew mate separately before finally going to Sanji.
His eyes and nose are still red from sobbing for so long. Maybe he should have taken a rest before going to Sanji. But he doesn’t want his courage to leave him. He didn’t want them to continue to dance around each other any longer. He wanted more. So now, they both were standing in the kitchen.
The blonde man was preparing dinner. He smiled at Usopp but didn’t make the first step. Somehow, this reminds Usopp of the first kiss he has ever received from Sanji, on his wounded finger, a long time ago.
It was always him kissing Usopp everywhere, but on the lips.
The sniper himself, never dared to kiss Sanji anywhere. Fearing, on making the cook uncomfortable or force him to move away.
Even after sharing a few kisses in Skypia, at the bonfire, leaning against each other. Neither of them dared to make the first move forward there.
Usopp was too occupied to feel relieved that Sanji was still alive and wouldn’t let him go for a while. The cook coward away and didn’t dare to entertain the idea of something more between them to happen, that night.
Regardless of what happens next, Usopp wouldn’t dare to lose another opportunity to maybe get closer to the cook. To share their affection without any pretence in between.
The last week on Water Seven was practically a nightmare for the sniper. So, he wouldn’t like to revisit them any time soon, if possible.
It definitely will be possible if he confessed now. Still, some lingering doubts were preventing him from saying it straightforward. So instead, he looks at the colourful bandage on Sanjis cheek. Chopper forced it on him after he had another fight with Zoro.
He hesitates for a second before placing his hand around his cheek. His thumb caressed beneath the bandage carefully as he nervously smiles up at Sanji.
“May I kiss your cheek better?” He hesitantly whispers, after the blonde man gives him his full attention.
A blue eye meet his brown ones. As if holding a silent conversation, before he nods in approval. Usopp immediately leans in. Forgetting about his long nose for a second, before it blocked his passage. He sighs dramatically, as he repositioned himself to be actually able to kiss the cheek of the man better.
It feels stiff but somehow nice. It was his first time to kiss Sanji, but hopefully not his last. They stayed in each other’s embrace for a while, before the sniper speaks up again. He apologises for being a burden, for leaving and for hurting him.
Sanji huffs annoyed at that. Forcing Usopp to look at him directly again. “I already told you once that you aren’t a burden to me! And you never will be. If you actually were like this for me, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you.”
Usopp’s eyes began to collect tears around his eyes again after hearing the others confession , which were quickly whipped away by Sanji’s thumb.
The sniper breathed out shakily. Before pressing his lips on the other ones. Trying to confess his own love for the cook, which words couldn’t possibly describe perfectly.
He wraps himself around Sanji. Looking at him with hope and desire. He loves him and he wants him. He tells Sanji, that he wants to give and receive more kisses. To be able to stay close to each other without any excuses anymore. To be more than just friends. To give them a try. Sanji only kissed the sniper quite, instead of responding.
Scolding him, that they would need a romantic dinner for two to settle it officially.
Usopp couldn’t hold back his laugh hearing this.
“We might as well settle our discontinued cooking competition to the test. I bet, I can make a better dinner date!”
“Or, you’ll just cut yourself on accident again, after admiring me for too long,” the blonde man teased back.
“I was making a strategy to win. It’s not my fault, that the pepper and knife, feared the skills of the great captain Usopp so much,” he grumbles embarrassed and kisses the cooks lips shut, before he could call out his lie with another teasing remark.