(no subject)

[alice-and-lain.livejournal.com]

Title: Repetition
Rating: G
Media: Fanfiction
Pairing/Characters: Usopp
Word Count: 294
Prompt: Fear


Usopp lay on Merry's creaking deck and looked up at the night sky. It felt like a couple of his ribs had been hurt from Luf- from getting beaten up by Franky's men earlier. He had some bandages to bind them thanks to- he had some bandages to bind them, luckily. He should do that, then find the last of the wood in the hold to fix up Merry.

Instead, Usopp turned over on his side with an arm around his middle. "I'm fine," he told himself out loud. "I'm pretty lucky now. I don't have to be afraid anymore, I don't have anyone to be afraid for. I'm not with stupid people who need help getting out of trouble. And I definitely won't let Merry get hurt anymore, so I don't have to be afraid for her."

Not only did his ribs hurt, but his chest felt funny. It was all tight and he rubbed it with his free hand. Maybe Ch- maybe he had some medicine to help. He should go get some, wrap his ribs, fix Merry so that she was like new, and then...and then...

"I'm fine," he said again. "I'm not afraid. I'm the Brave Captain Usopp. So brave, I don't need anybody. They'll call me the Lone Sea Warrior, able to defeat 8,000 men with only his ship and his wits."

He stopped rubbing his chest and pushed his hand against the deck, levering himself into a sitting position. The ship was empty except for him. He should start walking around so Merry knew she hadn't been abandoned. Get her fixed up and sail off by himself.

"I'm not afraid of being alone," Usopp said. If he said the lie enough times, maybe it would become true.

Comments

[dixxymouri.livejournal.com]

This is really, really good! Poor Usopp, trying to ignore his old friends! Water 7/Enies Lobby were such tumultuous arcs for Usopp (and Franky and Robin, too). Nice work!

[aviss.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is such a good piece! I really feel for Usopp here, poor thing

[slaughterchichi.livejournal.com]

Aw, poor Usopp. Sometimes lying to yourself is the only way to get through something, after all.

[dethorats]

Ouch! Oh this hurts in all the right places. I really like how you had Usopp keep from uttering the names of those he misses. It added an extra dose of pain to his thought processes.

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

Agree with the comments above, have nothing to add except that I'm so saving this.

[printfogey.livejournal.com]

...And also that Usopp's starting to say names and then stopping reminds me a lot of Luffy, right after they escaped the first wave of the Aqua Laguna, asking "Where's Sanji and U- Where's Sanji?" ;_; Makes my heart twinge every damn time I read it, that does.

[captainusoppu.livejournal.com]

An absolutely wonderful fic. Usopp's dialogue was almost painfully in-character, and the way he kept cutting himself off... and the "tightness in his chest".... wonderful.