31_days | [Sept 17] [One Piece] Someone I Can Count On

Title: Someone I Can Count On
Series: One Piece
Characters: Zoro, Usopp, Chopper
Day/Theme: Sept 17 - "violence you can see and violence that hides"
Rating: G

A/N: Wrote this really fast after work. Not much to it at all but at least there's something. :)

~!~

Someone I Can Count On

~!~

It was another island stop for supplies, food more than anything. No matter how much Sanji bought or how over-stuffed their stores became after each stop, Luffy's eating capabilities made sure they needed to stop more than a normal crew would have. And Nami would grudgingly hand over beli in order to keep the crew fed, complaining to Luffy because it was his fault he ate so much.

So they went their separate ways on the island. Zoro overheard a town child speaking of a dojo, so he let his curiosity guide him in a random direction, hoping to come across the place by following the child.

Chopper quickly attached to his side, demanding he not walk off alone, and successfully distracting his attention. Then Usopp joined them, and Zoro gave up the idea of exploring alone. Chopper and Usopp chatted behind him, allowing Zoro to let his feet lead the way.

Which led them right to the front of a marine base.

"Zoro, don't go in there!" Chopper shouted, stopping the swordsman from walking straight into the base.

But also successfully drawing attention to their group. The marines on watch honed in on the green haired swordsman, reindeer, and long nosed friend. Whispers of "the Roronoa Zoro of the Strawhats?" circulated among the marines, leaving Zoro to slap a palm to his forehead.

He turned around to Chopper with the intention of explaining to the reindeer what his error had been, but the sounds of swords being drawn and gun safeties being clicked free had him spinning back around. Of course, he had noticed that Usopp had disappeared.

The marines filed up in front of them, surrounding the two Strawhats. Zoro grinned, drew his swords, placed Wado in his mouth, and bit down on the sword hilt as the enemies moved forward. The attacks came quick and sudden, but nothing more than he could handle. Marines fell from his attacks and he soon became lost in the thrill of a fight, even if it was rather easy and boring - it was a bit of fun to toy with large groups of marines.

Then Chopper squealed and he looked around to see the reindeer being held up by his backpack, a sword ready to slice him open. Zoro started to spring to his rescue, but more marines surrounded him and he gritted his teeth, realizing he wouldn't have the time to get through this bunch before Chopper...

And then the marine holding Chopper started screaming in agony, as did a few around Zoro himself, holding their heads as if having been shot. He saw Chopper transform to heavy point and knock a few around, and he quickly became lost up in the fight again, taking no more notice of the surprising shots from nowhere.

~!~

Later, Zoro approached his long nosed nakama on the ship, having broken away from the island as soon as they could - with Nami yelling at him for causing a scene every time. He easily ignored her and stepped up to place a hand on Usopp's shoulder, who was gazing out at the sea, staring into the distance, lost in thought. At the touch, the sharpshooter sprang to attention, knees shaking slightly.

Zoro chuckled, but put aside the urge to tease the long-nosed boy. "Nice to know I can count on you," he muttered.

Usopp turned to him, eyes wide and then crinkled in a smile. "Yosh!"

The swordsman and sharpshooter had never really been close, but the compliment meant more to Usopp than Zoro could ever suspect.