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The sea is quiet today, nothing much more than the sounds of the ocean against the hull and the wind flapping in the sails. It’s something Zoro notices whilst a precise hand is threading a needle in front of him. Usopp’s aura reads nervous, yet his hands are so still as he lets out a deep sigh.
“Zoro, you can’t pick at it, it’s just going to open again if you do.” It’s less of a scolding than he had expected, yet he supposes there’s no adrenaline to embolden the sniper into getting argumentative with him. They’re all tired, heading for the Conomi Islands so soon after their fights at the Baratie means they need to be prepared and well rested as soon as possible. The long wound that runs diagonally down his torso is a stinging reminder of his failure against Mihawk, igniting a fire inside of him that tells him to spend every waking moment training. For some reason though Usopp won’t let him, always stitching him back up when he picks the thread out too early, intentionally or not.
“You can’t train if you’re dead, so just lay off the intensive stuff for a few days, alright?” Usopp essentially reads his mind, his response was going to be something about needing to train. Followed by how the stitches and bandages make it uncomfortable and near impossible to do his routine work out reps. Zoro just exhales into a sigh, grunting in vague affirmation. It seems to get Usopp off of his back, but it leaves a warm feeling in his chest that he’s not sure what to do with.
“Now, I’d say this will hurt but honestly I don’t think it’ll bother you, you being you and all.” Usopp waves a hand to gesture over Zoro’s body before he leans in, sticking his tongue out in focus as he gently pushes the curved needle into the flesh of Zoro’s chest. It’s only shallow scratches of the needle, but he feels each touch of the other man’s fingers like a branding, searing deep into his skin. It’s strange, a feeling he hasn’t felt so intensely before. He hones in on the way Usopp’s brows furrow together in concentration, the delicate and precise movements of his hands. He’s not Zoro’s usual type, nor is he someone Zoro would generally associate with. So far though? He’s certain that given the chance they’ll come to be good friends in the future.
——————
Zoro feels like two years just isn’t going by fast enough. It’s been an entire year of training on Kuraigana, it’s taking a toll on his emotions. He’s usually got quite good control over them, but not seeing the crew, his family, for so long is making him miss all the little things. He misses the crow’s nest on the Sunny and napping out on the deck in the sun as the waves crash against the hull, rocking him to sleep with the melodies of the sea.
He misses Luffy’s laugh, the way Chopper always fusses over their health. The cook’s dinners and the perfect onigiri he makes. (He’d never admit it to Sanji’s face though.) Nami’s threatening and mischievous glares, Robin’s mysterious yet comforting aura. Franky’s eccentric personality and Brook’s musical prowess. Most of all though he finds himself missing Usopp, especially so when he makes a mental tier list of who is the most likely to die (not that he thinks any of them will, just a hypothetical reality.)
Usopp is unfortunately rather high on that list. He knows that the sniper can protect himself with his abstract thinking and quick witted nature. It’s physical strength that concerns Zoro, especially after their run in with Kuma on Sabaody. If an opponent like that showed up Usopp wouldn’t stand a chance at success, he doubts many of them would considering the outcome of that battle. It reminds him why they’re all training, he knows the crew will all be working hard to get stronger. He just hopes they all reunite in a year’s time with no major hiccups along the way.
It’s what has him looking at the wanted posters he’s been hiding under his bed that is concerning him the most, not that hiding them does much when you’re living with Perona anyways. This ache in his chest that’s different from the rest, the almost longing that he’s not sure how to handle. The closest sensation he has is when he lost Kuina, but this is still different from that. She was his best friend, almost his sister. Usopp is not almost his sister, it’s different with him.
Zoro knows he’s gay, he’s never really had an eye for girls. He also never really felt like he needed to explain that to anyone, it’s not all that important who he sleeps with. The label isn’t really something he identifies with either, he likes who he likes and that’s that. His train of thought wanders off, the image of Usopp’s smile sitting in the forefront of his mind, chest warm and stomach twisting.
“Is he your boyfriend?” A familiar feminine voice says from above him, startling him out of his thoughts. He instinctively stuffs the poster into his haramaki, glaring at Perona.
“No, what gave you that idea? Get lost.” He barks back rather defensively. She spins around in the air before descending onto the bed beside him. She lies on her stomach with her feet kicking softly in the air, chin on her hands.
“You’re always looking at that one in particular with that sappy face, not to mention you sleep with it under your pillow sometimes, it’s almost sad..“
“Quit spying on me, you witch.” The lack of denial has Perona grinning, her signature giggle echoing in the room. Zoro’s cheeks are a little pink but he’s not aware of that fact himself, Perona doesn’t mention it.
“So, he’s not your boyfriend… but you want him to be right?”
“I’ll cut you down where you stand.”
“That wasn’t a no!”
“…”
After a silent moment Zoro sighs, unfolding the poster again to be greeted by the Sogeking mask staring back at him. That warmth in his chest spreads when he lets himself consider for a moment what it might feel like to kiss Usopp, to be close so intimately.
“Maybe? I’m not good at feelings or whatever.”
“Well! There’s only one way to get better right? Practice makes perfect!”
The two were closer after their discussion, often talking about their feelings even if it was in a ridiculously Zoro-like fashion sometimes. Mihawk encouraged it too surprisingly, saying that centring one’s emotions makes training much more valuable. So Zoro spent his second year exploring what his feelings for Usopp could mean, anticipating the day he’d get to see his family once more.
——————
Zoro isn’t anything like Sanji, but he honestly felt like he understood the cook’s nose bleeds when he saw Usopp again after two years. His initial woes about not necessarily being physically attracted to the sniper now completely dissipated. Usopp has grown, not only physically but also as a person, which is something he comes to know as they sit aboard Sunny on their ascent from Fishman Island and into the New World. Zoro was as close as he could be to swooning over Usopp, but because he’s Zoro it’s not exactly traditional in any sense. He tries asking Usopp to train with him, which is successful to a degree, but now he’s getting distracted by dark skin tightening over thick muscle as he counts his pull-up’s.
Then he starts hanging out in Usopp’s factory during down time, quietly listening to whatever ramblings the other man is rattling off. He doesn’t understand much of it but he likes the sniper’s voice all the same. Usopp welcomes the company, occasionally taking breaks from his projects to nap with Zoro. It’s pleasant, being close to Usopp. He can’t believe he didn’t understand his feelings for the other sooner with how profound of a sensation being in love is.
“Usopp-“ He finds himself speaking, no real direction in mind. His chest feels as though it may explode at any moment, the beating of his heart loud in his ears.
“Hm?” Usopp hums, still leaning his head against Zoro’s shoulder, his eyes closed.
“I-“
“DRESSROSA! COME QUICK!” Luffy’s voice bellows through the ship, Usopp scrambling to his feet. He offers a hand to pull Zoro up, the swordsman taking it without second thought. He supposes his feelings are not as important as the mission, he can find another moment.
——————
Zoro did not find another moment. With the chaos of Dressrosa, followed by their time on Zou, he hasn’t had a moment to spare. (He most definitely has, he’s just not counting those.) Now he’s stuck on Law’s submarine, himself and Usopp sharing a mattress on the floor of the Heart Pirates’ store room. Robin and Franky found other arrangements for sleeping on the Tang, but Zoro can sleep anywhere and Usopp is used to sleeping in weird or uncomfortable positions from their time on the Merry and his training on the Boin Archipelago.
It’s late, or early, Zoro isn’t entirely sure when they’re this deep under the water. Usopp is sitting on a stool across from their mattress, fiddling with his ammunition on an impromptu work table he has built out of an empty crate and some miscellaneous metal scraps that the Hearts let him use. Zoro is lying down on his back, shirtless and a little sweaty due to the stuffy nature of the sub. He glances over at the sniper, greeted by curly locks tied back haphazardly into a puffy pony tail.
“Usopp.”
“Yeah?” Usopp replies, not turning around to face the swordsman, still invested in his pop greens.
“I’m in love with you.” Usopp’s head half turns to him, as if hesitating, the sniper puts down his project. Zoro can just barely see the furrow of eyebrows in this side view he’s got of the younger man. The room is dimly lit, a lantern on the makeshift desk giving off most of the light. It’s uncomfortably quiet, the creaking of the Tang’s metal walls creating an eery ambiance, less than ideal for a love confession really.
“I must have heard you wrong, I thought you said you were in love with me! Wouldn’t that be something, huh?” The tone is so clearly self deprecating, veiled behind one of jest, that it frustrates the swordsman. Why is it so hard to believe?
“You heard me right.” Zoro grumbles, it’s more reserved than usual. His tone is about as close to shy as the swordsman is capable of, rolling his head to stare back up at the metal ceiling. There’s a pause where Usopp makes attempts to speak, ultimately shutting himself up before he does each time. It makes Zoro feel restless, able to feel the other’s gaze on him. The stool scrapes against the metal floor, followed by the soft padding of socked feet growing closer.
The mattress shifts, dipping at the contact of Usopp kneeling on the edge. The sniper arranges himself, tentatively leaning over Zoro to look at his face. They make eye contact, Usopp swallowing harshly but not retreating.
“Zoro.. I’m about to do something crazy so.. just be prepared a-alright..?”
Just as the swordsman is going to reply their lips are crashing together. It’s awkward due to Usopp’s nose and the rushed nature of the kiss but Zoro doesn’t mind. He can feel his heart beating fast, like the adrenaline he gets from a fight but tenfold. He pushes forward into the kiss, the sniper pulling away only briefly to readjust before being drawn back in by Zoro’s strong and calloused hand coming to rest under his curls and along the back of his neck. They kiss until they’re out of breath, parting only far enough to breathe again. Heavy breaths mingle between them, the sound of hearts beating and blood rushing in their ears deafening as the submarine creaks around them.
“You’re a big meat head, y’know that?” Usopp chuckles, resting his forehead against Zoro’s. His eyes are closed, giving the swordsman a view of his pretty eyelashes. “I love you too.” It’s a soft whisper, and if you weren’t as close as Zoro is right now you’d likely not have heard it. A smile settles onto Zoro’s face, it’s small, just barely the upturn of his lips, but it’s there.
“Can I kiss you again?” The sniper is much more confident than he used to be but Zoro still notices the way his brows slightly furrow nervously, it fills him with warmth to see how far Usopp has grown since they met.
“Stupid question, just kiss me again already.” Zoro grins like a madman now, pushing their lips together again.
This, Zoro thinks, is the most dangerous feeling on the seas, and he’s ready to drown in it for as long as Usopp will let him.