What's Not To Love

Chapter 44

Usopp opened Sanji's room door and walked to the crib. He placed Daichi down and stepped back with a smile. Kairi was placed beside him a moment later, completing the set. He kept a shaky smile on his face as he reached in the crib to fix the blanket around the twins. He tucked the blanket under them tightly like Zoro would. He didn't need to but avoiding the eyes burning the side of his head was his best option.

'Usopp..." Sanji started. He paused for a moment before calmly continuing. "What's going on up on the deck?"

Usopp closed his eyes tightly before opening them again. "Nothings going on." Standing up with his hands on his hips, Usopp turned towards Sanji. "Well that's that." He moved to walk away but was blocked by Sanji.

"Usopp."  The chef watched as Usopp avoided meeting his eyes. "Tell me what's going on."

Usopp opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by Sanji.

"How's Zoro?"

"Zoro?" Usopp asked. He cocked his head. "What about Zoro? Everything's fine. He's fine." There was a slight crack in his voice when he said this.

Sanji let out an annoyed sigh. "That doesn't sound reassuring at all." Turning around, he shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever."  As he started for the door, he said, " Could you watch the twins for a sec? I'll just go check for myself."

Sanji stopped and looked back when he felt a grip on his shoulder. Usopp wore a concerned look on his face.

"What?"

"Sanji..." Usopp looked to the side for a moment before looking back into Sanji's eyes. "Don't you think you should stay down here with the twins instead." When Sanji's eyebrow twitched, Usopp let out an awkward chuckle and added, " just until Zoro gets back? You know he'd hate me watching them alone."

Sanji reached up to brush off Usopp's hand, making his hand fall back to his side. " They're sleeping, Usopp. It's just for a few minutes." He looked towards the small window on the other side of the room and watched as the waves grew stronger. "Just for a few minutes." he said again, letting his words trail off at the end.

Biting his inner cheek, Usopp took a deep breath. "Maybe it's best if you stay down here and I go up."

Blue eyes turned quickly to meet brown ones.

"Why?"

"Just..." An image of Zoro's tattered body came to mind. " Just trust me."

Sanji stared at Usopp intensely, searching for a sign. There was something going on up on deck and Zoro was up there. He had been in the process of fending off the ship last he spoke to him but for him not to be here, with the twins, as soon as the crew returned? That had to mean something was wrong, right? Not to mention the fact that Franky was preparing a Coup de Burst.

"No."

Usopp gulped at the word. The glare in the chefs eyes only caused the sharp shooter to flinch a moment later. There was nothing he could say to get him to stay, was there?

Nami held onto the rails as the waves started to grow more and more wild. Looking out onto the deck, she could see her crew members clearly. Robin stood near the head of the ship, Luffy was bouncing back bullets above the ship head, Brook was guarding the sides and Chopper was struggling to get Zoro below deck. She grimaced at the swordsman's appearance . He was bleeding but it was hard to tell if it was all his blood or not. Shutting her eyes, Nami tried to keep herself calm. There were a few more minutes before the storm would get to its peak. Knowing Franky, the Coup should be about ready. Opening her eyes, she ran over to help Chopper.