I keep returning to this arc...

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Title: The Hero's Cape
Media: Fic
Prompt: Red
Character: Usopp
Words: 224
Rating: G
Spoilers/setting: Set towards the end of volume 38


It had lain forgotten on the floor of the Sea Train, next to a colourful mask. He'd seen them both earlier, taking note of them: typical Water 7 masquerade items. Now he dove back into the car to grab the items quickly, before going up to the rainy roof again.

It could have been any colour and he'd still taken it: he was in no position to pick and choose. But it felt right that the cape was deep red, the colour of wine. In his mind, red was the strongest colour, one that spoke of great deeds and bravery and pride; of fighting strength and hope defiant. Just the thing for a made-up man in a cape and a mask who was ready to take on the World Government itself by the Strawhats' side, as a normal weak person couldn't hope to do. Red was the colour for heroes.

Luffy's vest was bright red.

Well. That was the real deal, of course. This was just the fake. Yet he knew he had no choice but to believe in the fake with all the power he was able to summon; to make this lie into an impossible truth. Or else something in him that was already tattered and torn would unravel to the very last thread. And there wouldn't be much point after that.