Chapter Text
Sun shined dimly through windows of the workshop. Usopp still had to get used to the new ship and that now he had his own room to spend time in.
Sniper was sitting above the desk, his posture screaming for help, quietly focused on a new task.
Franky asked for him to fix some wires that got damaged in a battle. Usopp knows cyborg could with no problem fix it by himself, but was still glad that the older man came up to him with the favor.
After a while sniper looked up from his work, at the clock that was conveniently placed right above the desk. Usopp hitched slightly seeing the time. Soon it was going to be dinner and the boy wanted to have some time on his own with the cook.
He doesn't know why, but he always looks up to spending time with the blond man. In comparison to others, Sanji was a quiet type of person if he wasn't yelling. Usopp really liked his company. They could work in silence both focused on their own tasks, but still feel a somewhat connection between them and the good atmosphere around. Because of that Usopp tried to spend with the cook the most time he could, but at the same time didn't want to come off as creepy or clingy.
Unfortunately there was also another reason.
Usopp liked Sanji.
Like a lot.
And because of that spending time with him was even more painful and comforting in the same time. Sniper knew that Sanji would never like him back. I mean he was the last person that would return his feelings.
Sanji was a woman freak. Everytime he saw a lady in front of him, he would start swooning over her and try to flirt.
Even though most of the time it didn't work, it still hurt Usopp. Seeing your crush keep hitting on other people, was like a stab right through his heart. He would always look away and try to ingore it, but no matter how much he wanted to, the pain in his chest would come back and announce its presence.
Usopp knew all of that.
He knew it would never work out.
But he was a fool. He always was. Lying his way around and putting on an act. It hurt. But it was his best bet. He wasn't good at anything else, but lying. Thats why it was always his last resort.
He snapped from his spiral, hearing Franky walking next to his room, his footsteps very audible, because of metal parts.
Sniper quickly got a hold of himself and grabbed the new gadget he was working on a few days ago. It was finally finished and he couldn't wait to show it to Sanji.
Cook was walking around the kitchen, preparing dinner for his crew. Having now eight people, Sanji had to make sure to feed everyone so that all of them were full and enjoying his food. Which was hard knowing their captain ate for five if not six people.
But even if, Sanji enjoyed making meals for the crew and was happy everytime it was time to get back to kitchen.
Merry used to have a much smaller kitchen, so the blond man was in heaven when he saw, what Sunny, their new ship, had to offer. It was much more spacious and could fit all of them with no problem. And on top of that the galley had access to sunlight which was creeping through big windows in the room.
In their last ship, even though the kitchen was well lit, Sanji was always bothered by the lack of natural rays of sunshine. He always appreciated every time he could spend outside basking in the sunlight, since as a child he...
for a long time didn't have access to that.
Sanji nervously pulled out his cigarette and lit it up with a smooth move of his hands. He was now so used to smoking, he could do it in his sleep. If he already haven't been doing that. He's not really sure.
After a while he heard the doors to the galley open. He didn't have to check who it was.
He already knew.
"Hey long nose." Sanji said with no real bite in his words, not looking up from his work.
"What are you doing?" The younger boy started a conversation with a cheerful voice. He sat on a chair, just next to Sanji so he had a good view on the cook and what he was cooking.
"Nothing ordinary." The blond answered with a shrug. "Just steak, few salads since we have a lot of vegetables left and more meat for Luffy." He was quickly roaming around the kitchen while talking, not letting himself get distracted.
"Yum!" Usopp reacted to the boys description, not saying anything else. He knew that for Sanji "ordinary", was the best culinary Sniper could ever wish upon.
Between them settled a comfortable silence, heard being only Sanjis cooking and sometimes Usopp working on the few other gadgets he brought.
Even though Sanji has always been strict about what could be brought to the galley, he always closed an eye when it came to Usopp, knowing the boy wouldn't do anything irrational without Luffy or Chopper in sight. He still didn't allow any explosives since they could damage the kitchen.
The sniper understood that. Everyone had rules or boundaries and his last wish was to cross any of them.
After some more silence, Sanji finally looked up from the food, possibly being done with the hardest tasks and now leaving the meal on a stove.
"What are you working on?" Cook asked cleaning up his hands. For a while Usopp didn't answer blonds question being obviously focused on something.
Sanji let him be. He also could get like that while cooking or baking, so he understood.
Sniper finally looked at Sanji with his big, brown eyes and the blond already regretted even looking at him, as his heart missed a beat and his face started to heaten up. He quickly took a step back to create some space between them.
Sanji always got awkward and nervous whenever he was too close to Usopp. It made him feel awful. Was it because he didn't like the curly head? But it didn't make any sense, since he enjoyed the boys presence.
"Sorry Sanji, you asked something?" Usopp tilted his head slightly and smiled sheepishly. His smile was always the brightest in the room and it was very contagious. Hence every time Sanji saw him like that, he had to look away or distract himself with something else. It made him feel weird and uncertain.
"Ah, no no it.. doesn't matter anymore." Sanji said sternly, but quietly, placing his eyes on the floor and awkwardly grabbing his hair with one hand.
"No, no, come on Sanjiii sorry for not listening I promise I will hear you out now." Usopp whined jokingly, a snort escaping his mouth midway his sentence. The boy stood up and walked up to the taller crewmate, putting his hand on the others arm, giving him a welcoming smile.
Sanji also let out a small laugh, endored by his behavior. "It's not even that important. I just asked what you were working on." Blond boy gave in to Usopps begging, repeating his question.
"Oh." Usopp looked a little confused at Sanji, but smiled after a while already putting on the act of 'Captain Usopp'. "Well you could've just asked if you wanted to see Captain Usopps great creations!" He snickered with proud and walked up to his previous sitting spot.
"This is a new gadget that I have been working on for the past few days!" Sniper said, now with his more neutral voice. "It will help us in battles, though it's more of a defense weapon." Usopp started rambling on his new work and how it was meant to be used.
Sanji listened with a smile, getting back to his own work, making sure everything was in place.
After a while Usopp suddenly fell silent, realising he was talking for a while now.
"Ah sorry, I got carried away." Usopp laughed awkwardly, feeling shame creep up on his neck. "You probably weren't even listening." He grabbed his own hands with awkwardness and once again laughed trying to turn the whole thing into a joke.
"No, no, carry on." Sanji said with a stoic tone, still preparing the food. "I don't mind listening to you." Usopp opened his eyes with surprise, feeling his cheeks warm up and his chest lighten up.
"Really..?" He asked, sounding like a naive fool, but he wanted a confirmation, maybe even a praise from the cook.
Because of his.. questionable opinion about himself he never really was a confident type. He would put on an act so everyone thought he was full of himself, but it actually was the opposite. And everytime he was around Sanji he doubted himself even more, his heart beating fast and words stumbling out of his mouth.
"Ofcourse. You think I would let you stay here and talk your soul out, if I didn't want you to?" Blonde hair boy looked at Usopp with an honest smile. Curly head looked away feeling his face flush a darker shade, hoping it wasn't visible with his darker skin tone. He smiled awkwardly feeling butterflies in his stomach.
"I-I also.. also like spending time with you, really. It's very special to me." Usopp said quickly, not thinking his words through. Sniper looked at Sanji again, feeling his nervousnes spike again.
Cook opened his eye a littler wider and looked back at the food, covering his face with hair. Usopp wasn't sure what that reaction was meant to convey.
"That's.. good." Sanji replied after a while, an awkward silence falling between them. Usopp looked around nervously, not being sure if he said something wrong or made the cook uncomfortable.
After a while he just came back to working on his own stuff, not wanting for the emptiness to absorb them whole.
Sanji on the other had was going through a small crisis. After what Usopp said, he wanted to come closer to the boy. He wanted to be closer with him. But that was wrong wasn't it?
His chest ache in horrible pain, making him feel as if there was no air around him. Smoking a cigeratte was probably not going to help, but that was the only thing he could do to relieve his stress.
He never felt like this. He never thought like this. Why did he want for Usopp to look at him again with his beautiful smile and gorgeous, big eyes..
He wanted space. A place for himself in which he could think calmly and tone down his nerves. But he couldn't with the said boy around. He didn't want to throw him out of the galley either, since that would've been harsh. He didn't do anything wrong. It was Sanji who was worrying over nothing and overthinking.
No matter how much he tried to calm himself down his thoughts were making him even more stressed, not knowing what to do with all of that.
He looked at Usopp again. The boy was quietly working with his gadgets, not wanting to disturb Sanji. Sniper had his eyes squinted, brows furrowed and his tounge sticking out of his mouth. Sanji thought it was the cutest thing he saw in a while. Which made him even more uneasy.
Usopp realised the cook was staring at him and gave him a small smile. Sanji awkwardly returned it, not wanting to ruin his nonchalant character.
The whole thing made him uncertain.
But Usopp was also internally freaking out, realising something was wrong, already overthinking everyting he did and said, completely forgetting about his task.
After a while doors to the galley opened again, Nami walking into the room.
"Geez what is going on here?" She asked sceptically, looking at both men. "You could cut the tension here with a knife."
"Nami-san!!" Sanji said loudly, hearts in his eyes automatically. "What are you doing here my love? Can i make something for you?" The cook quickly came up to the girl, ready to do every task she would make him do.
"Oh no I'm here for Usopp. He promised to help me with my shelf that got dishelved" Nami said glancing at Sniper expectantly.
"Shoot, I forgot!" Usopp stood up abruptly and gathered his things into a small bag. "I'll go with you now." He said, happy to escape the awkward silence, that was very obvious in the kitchen.
"About time." She turned around, grabbing curly head by his hand and dragging him to her office.
Sanji stood in silence, glad he was finally alone again, but at the same time missing Usopps presence.
Cook snapped himself back to his work and started to finish up the meal. The uncertainty still crept behind him, but he tried to ignore it and shove it deep inside him, so he didn't have to think about it.
Usopp worked on the shelf that Nami asked him to repair, while the girl was sitting on her chair watching his every move. The shelf in question wasn't particulary damaged or anything it just seems that someone had spilled something sweet or sticky on it, making it dirty.
"You could just do it by yourself you know?" Sniper stood up, brushing off his hair that got onto his face. He looked confused at Nami, not sure why she wanted him to come all the way here just to clean up a spilled drink.
"Really? I was sure that it had to get repaired." She shrugged, obviously lying with a cheeky smile on her face.
"Yeah okay, what did you really wanted me here for." Usopp laid on a wall next to the Navigator, crossing his arms expectantly.
Nami sighed, putting down the act and getting more serious. "I'm just worried about you, thats all." She looked at the Sniper with furrowed brows, but her eyes looked uncertain, worried. "You leave your workshop only for food and it seems as if you're avoiding all of us!" She said exasperated, pinching her nose with annoyance.
Usopp looked at the floor embarrassed, not daring to say anything. He knew he was avoiding them. Shame was consuming him, not letting him be normal around his crewmates. He was ashamed of what he did and felt like his body was meant to sink into the ground, everytime he had to talk with anyone. Anyone except Sanji. More painful would be ignoring the Cook than talking with him.
"I know." Usopp replied quietly after a while, still not looking at Nami. The girl felt bad for Sniper, knowing how he always was. She stood up and laid on the wall next to him.
"I'm not mad. You can take all the time in the world. But you can't neglect your crewmates and the ship. If we want to be the greatest pirates in the world we have to work together and talk to eachother. Not avoid our own people. If you keep acting like that we might never get better. Because we need you Longnose." After her speech she punched his arm lightly, earning a grin from Usopp.
"I know I know, I'm sorry." Usopp rolled his eyes laughing. "I'll try to talk with more poeple. It's just.. weird you know? Without Merry." Nami hummed in agreement, looking up at the ceiling.
"But other than that nothing else changed." She smiled to the boy, cheering him up a little.
"Well.." She looked at him with a mischevious grin. "Maybe except one thing." Usopp looked at her confused, not catching up on her teasing.
"What's up with you and Sanji huh?" She snickered, pushing off the wall to stand in front of him.
"Nothing. Why would something be different?" Usopp frowned, not happy of the change of topic.
"Are you kidding me? When I walked in earlier I could feel the tension between you." Her smile dropped. "Did you get into a fight?"
"What?! No!" Usopp denied her accusation and pushed her slightly to create space between them. The Navigator laughed at his reaction, returning to her chair. "Then what is going on?"
"Nothing really." Usopp shrugged not being sure how to reply. Only thinking about Sanji and what happened in the galley made his chest tighten. "It just got awkward it's all."
Nami raised her brows, not really buying his lies. "Uh huh. Whatever I'm not gonna spy on your own love problems."
"They are not 'love problems' Nami, just.. I don't know." Usopp looked down at his bandages.
The injuries from their last fight still haven't healed, since he had to patch them up himself, doing a horrible job with it. Chopper ofcourse changed his wound dressing, but it didn't change much.
"Well don't think about it too much, alright?" Nami snapped him out of his thoughts. "Do you wanna stay with me until dinner?"
Usopp looked up at Nami with cheerful grin, happy to spend some time with her.
"Yeah sure!"
The strawhats had finally stopped at a small island, being able to explore it and stock their food supplies.
As always Sanji was taking care of that. Being the cook of the ship meant also buying groceries, which he didn't really mind. He had to get someone with him though, as he wouldn't be able to carry all the stuff by himself.
Most of times Nami chose the tasks and this time was no different.
"Robin, Luffy you can explore the island. Try to find some important informations if possible." Red head ordered, Robin only slightly smiling and Luffy jumping out of joy.
"Okay, next. Zoro, you will help Chopper get some medicines we need." She turned to the reindeer. "You said we had been running low, correct?"
"Yes!" Doctor said, hopping onto Zoro's back excitedly.
"That leaves us with you three." Nami finally looked at Sanji and other two boys standing next to him.
"Franky will you help me with shopping? I will need a strong hand to carry all the bags." Cyborg gave her big thumb ups.
Which meant..
Usopp would go with Sanji for groceries.
Just the thought made him drenched in sweat and look nervously at the Sniper. Usopp looked not moved by that information and just gave him a big smile.
It made Sanjis heart skip a beat.
He had to get himself together. It was not the first time they had been paired. He had to stop overthinking.
They got done with shopping pretty quickly, Usopp being very helpful, as always.
They walked side by side in silence, both not wanting to strike a conversation. Sanji haven't realised it, but Usopp has been freaking out since the beginning of them being paired up together. He doesn't know why, but since their last.. talk, he had been even more nervous around the blond.
Just when Sanji wanted to say something, someone bumped roughly onto Usopp, not minding where they were going. Sniper hitched in pain, his bruises still not fully healed.
"Hey! Watch where you are going, will you?!" Sanji yelled at them, quickly returning his gaze to Usopp. "You alright?"
"Yeah, it's nothing really." Usopp brushed it off, holding his right arm. Sanji didn't look fully convinced, but he didn't want to nag. "If you say so." He replied and continued to walk.
After that between them settled once again silence.
"Sanji-kunn.." Usopp started not really thinking through his words. "You just protected me so bravelyy~." He snickered putting his gaze on the cook.
"Well if someone is a dick, then they need to know their place." Sanji replied shortly, a bit embarrassed.
"Hahah, well i know, but you know I'm not a girl. You think I'm so helpless?" Usopps tone turned accusatory, but he didn't actually meant it.
"Acting as if you didn't almost sacrifice your life for me in Skypiea." Sanji bite back, loosening himself into the sarcastic argument.
"Huh??" Usopp extented the sound, trying to sound offended. "You were the one who did it first! I was just repaying back the favour!"
"Oh, so you wouldn't have helped me if i hadn't helped you first? Wow. Much of a big warrior." Sanji grinned, shotting him a shit-eating look.
"Wha.. No! Ofcourse not! I just.. I meant that I was repaying a favour, so I didn't owe you anything! I would've helped you anyway. Captain Usopp never leaves people needing his help!" Usopp quickly tried to talk himself out of this situation. After a while he added. "Plus hipothetically I wouldn't be able to help you, since you wouldn't be in need of it. You know that right?"
"Yeah yeah whatever." Sanji waved him off, chuckling under his nose. He liked their bickers. He missed it.
Cook tried to grab a ciggarette but his hands were full, holding groceries. Usopp on the other hand had less things on his hands, so when he realised what Sanji was trying to do, he quickly pulled out the ciggarettes for him.
"You want this?" He asked with a grin plasetered on his face. Sanji rolled his eyes, but a small smile gave him away.
"Yeah whatever, just give me them Longnose." Sanji demanded still smiling.
"Okay okay, jeez." Usopp said exasperated, shaking his head. "We really need to make cut them down. You're eating a pack daily."
"I'm not eating them." Sanji furrowed his brows. Sniper just shrugged his shoulders, putting a ciggarete between the cooks lips. After a second he realised what he just did, his eyes widening in shock.
Sanji also looked at Usopp without a word, his mouth slightly open. Curly head could feel his whole body starting to shake and embarrassment flooding his face. He quickly lit the cigarette up and fell silent, blush spreading over his whole face.
Sanji also looked away, clearing his throat, trying to play it cool, but his heart was beating faster than ever and he was almost sure Usopp could hear it.
Between them once again settled awkward silence, the recent bickering feeling now distant.
They walked all the way to the Sunny in silence, neither of the boys daring to speak up.