Two Dreams, One Adventure

Shattered Trust

It was 7:20 right now. They all called him back, and then the deck was silent but for Chopper and Nami crying or sniffling. Luffy went to the boy's room and to the couch. Nami came in later, and tried convincing him to apologize. "I'm not in the wrong in this one. Besides, he's the one that decided on the duel, try and convince him not to. What's done is done. There's no going back."

"But you told him to leave."

"Yeah, I did. Go away," he said, and turned on his side. She left, slamming the hatch behind her. Luffy was glad nobody else came in. He wiped his tears of hurt and anger. He went to Luffy's weak spot, his "condition". How could Usopp ever complain about him drinking blood? It was a necessity. He looked at his marked arm, glaring at it. Sanji brought food to him, which Luffy thought was thoughtful. He did eat it, but his mouth was dry.

"He said those things in anger. He didn't mean them," Sanji said quietly.

"Maybe he didn't mean to say them. We all know there was truth behind his words. Am I a bad captain?" he asked, voice vulnerable.

"No, you're not," Sanji said firmly. "You're not perfect, none of us are, but you're not a bad captain." Luffy smiled at him, and he left. He heard Zoro and Sanji taking out their anger on one another, and Luffy knew there was no point in getting in the middle of it. There never was. Nami and Chopper knew this too and didn't try to stop them.

Them arguing was normal. The one between Luffy and Usopp was not normal at all.

When the time came, Luffy came out silently. Zoro hugged him and they waited for Usopp to show up. If he even did. Luffy handed him his hat. He didn't want it to be damaged. And he also didn't want to be wearing it when he beat up his own friend. If they even could be that ever again.

This felt like the end. Maybe if Usopp begged for forgiveness on his knees, maybe Luffy could forgive him. He wasn't sure. He definitely couldn't right now. He smelled and heard him before seeing. It was night time, dark out and both didn't have enhanced senses. Luffy was better off with sound and smells.

He got off the ship, arms crossed. "Don't come off the ship," he ordered the others. "Any of you," clearly referencing Zoro. He heard a quiet, "Love you." Only that he could hear. He just nodded. He stood across from Usopp, the chilly air blowing both of their hair, since Luffy wasn't wearing his hat.

"You look determined, but I hope you don't regret this decision later! This is what you want!" Luffy called, letting his fury out and not the hurt and betrayal. How could a person who ever thought of you as a friend target insecurities like that? He just couldn't see past it at all. It was the worst part. Insulting him and then calling him a bad captain.

But he wouldn't lose control or he'd end up killing him. Usopp at least trusted him not to kill him or he'd have been too scared to do anything. If he had even asked or demanded to have the Merry, Luffy would have given it to him. Why keep her if they weren't going to ever sail with her again? Idiot.

"Stop pretending and just come at me. I'll beat you. Don't think I'm the same as all of your other opponents! I know about all your weaknesses and how to target them!"

Behind him, Chopper was wishing to stop them since Usopp was still so hurt. "Go inside if you can't watch," Zoro said dryly. The others were silent.

The captain didn't budge when Usopp claimed he had all of these followers. He didn't know what the point of it was. "I know you're lying even without hearing!" Luffy called back. Then Usopp started to try and make him uncomfortable with words. Luffy didn't even budge when he pretended to cough up blood. "I know that's ketchup, stop fooling around!"