28Congratulations to those who guessed right about Zoro! While I am aware that the war affected people all over the world, I am limited by the setting. Even so, while guessing, keep in mind that there have been more battlefields and fronts than the obvious, both literally and figuratively.
-X-
When Usopp climbs up through the trapdoor, he is utterly unprepared for the sight in front of him. In fact, Usopp is kind of proud that he doesn't faint.
Luffy is no longer alone, and the man sitting next to him, taking a nap like he's never slept anywhere else, is definitely not Sanji.
-X-
Luffy smiles up at Usopp, as if it's perfectly normal to sit next to someone dressed in a mangled, bloodied uniform of the Royal Airforce.
"This is Zoro," he says and pokes the side of the sleeping man. Like a child who caught a rare bug on the street and sticks its jar under everyone's nose in pride, he proclaims: "I found him!"
Usopp feels like his head is floating somewhere up in the woodworks, trying to flee because it refuses acknowledge any further involvement in this insane horror. He sinks to the floor and Luffy prattles on.
"He can't speak german at all, but I managed." Luffy nods confidently. "He's hungry. He asked me about Tuna."
Usopp swallows, tries to reach out for his numb mind, or his voice. "You don't say," he allows.
Tunis, his reluctantly recovering brain corrects. He meant Tunis, it's the only thing that makes sense, because no country is stupid enough to send a sole soldier into enemy territory in a time like this and because Africa is the place they need them - it's Tunis, but that's ridiculous. It's in an entirely different direction.
Luffy's face falls. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, Luffy," Usopp wrings his hands. "So much. He's– he's the enemy!"
Luffy doesn't even blink. "So am I."
For a few seconds, Usopp forgets to breathe and just stares at him. He never thought ... he'd always assumed Luffy wasn't aware of it, an unimportant little detail in the fine print he never bothered to read. He always prances about like he doesn't know the first thing about their society, their war, and then there's the utterly naive way the swastika and the jewish star are still pinned side-by-side on his lapel.
Usopp chokes on a hasty gasp for air and sees his ship sinking, fast. Cold sweat breaks out on his forehead. "I think I have the I-can't-hide-an-english-soldier-disease!"
The look Luffy gives him is sympathetic, even patronizing. It looks funny in his boyish, open face. "It's alright, you'll get better."
Usopp tries a different angle. "I can hardly keep you hidden, how on earth–"
"He doesn't talk much," Luffy says. "He's very quiet, and a soldier. And," Luffy points to the man's arm and chest, "he's injured. It's my hiding spot. He stays."
Resolute black eyes force Usopp to look away. And like that, he knows it's useless to argue, even say childish things like "It was my spot first!". He stares at the man's sleepy frown and wonders how on earth an infinitely sized problem could even double.
-X-
Sanji, as expected, isn't the least bit pleased by the new arrangement. The moment he comes sliding through the window, he is greeted by a dagger to his throat, narrowed eyes and growled words none of them understand. The bandage Usopp has just tried to wrap around the soldier's arms is clutched forgotten in his hands as he cowers down reflexively, the fear of having a demon in their midst increasing tenfold.
The world seems to still and narrow down to these two men, staring each other down like they want to rip each other's throats out. They could, Usopp realizes in abject horror, because one is a trained soldier and the other is being trained to be one, the best trainee they have.
"Usopp," Sanji says slowly, dangerously, biting through his cigarette, "What is the Brit doing here?"
A whimper escapes Usopp's throat. He manages to bring out "Luffy" and hopes Sanji understands him. The boy in question pops up right between the cook and the soldier, oblivious to the tension or maybe not, so that the soldier has no choice but to lower his weapon.
"Zoro - Sanji, Sanji - Zoro," Luffy says brightly and waves between them. "Sanji is a cook, yum-yum!" He munches and rubs his stomach for emphasis.
Zoro glowers and sheathes his weapon. "Nazi," he snarls.
Oh no, it shoots through Usopp's head, as he watches Sanji's shoulders stiffen. The uniform of the Youth can't hide it, the swastika shifts as if laughing at them all.
"You," Sanji hisses, "have no fucking clue."
Usopp thinks of the thinning rope Sanji tries to keep his balance on. How chef Zeff secretly feeds everyone that knocks on his door, Jew or Communist or otherwise, only barely protected by a bunch of medal from the last great war, because he won't let anyone experience what he did. How Sanji works overtime and excels in the Youth to divert attention. How he is this close to being drafted.
Maybe Zoro can see it, because he huffs and plops back down next to Usopp, holding out his arm to him as a sign to continue. Maybe he got the reaction he wanted, tried to judge by their body language if he could trust them. Luffy somersaults around them, wondering aloud about the dream of his new friend.
"He's going to be the best," he decides, rolling past Usopp and humming, "the best of something."
Sanji takes out a new cigarette. His fingers are shaking.
"Fuck, Usopp," he whispers. "We're in deep shit."
Usopp doesn't have an answer, only wraps the gauze tightly around Zoro's bicep and checks the one around his chest, because blood will always betray if you let your guard down.
-X-
There's a detail, something glaringly obvious and on the tip of his tongue, but Usopp remembers too late. His head seems trapped in the recurring decision between knee-jiggering terror and feeble resignation and the grim anticipation the new occupant has brought with him makes good work of Usopp's nerves. Zoro starts teaching Luffy how to fight, with gruff gestures and rough words that Luffy can somehow make sense off. When Usopp sees them at it, the terrifyingly real prospect of how they might need it and that it won't help a bit strikes him deeper than the realization that Luffy already knows how to throw a punch. I'm strong, he remembers him saying with absolute confidence.
But I'm not, Usopp thinks and it's proven all too soon, because he forgot the detail. He goes to school with his mind full of worries and fears and lies he makes up ahead of time, just in case someone asks. About anything. His feet move on their own, shuffling down the familiar path.
Then someone suddenly blocks his path and he barely manages to stop in time. He is incredibly relieved about it when he looks up, because he's sure running her over will have dire consequences.
"You're hiding someone."
Her eyes are alight with wicked glee and it sends cold shivers down his spine. It's over, he thinks in panic. His mouth takes control automatically.
"Oh, you mean the general! Yes, he's come to visit and he wants me to join his sniper squat as soon as I'm eligible, can you belie–"
She cuts him off. "Don't mess with me, Longnose." She sniffs disdainfully. "I can smell it on you. It was only a matter of time. Scum consorts to scum and everybody knows you're a son of filth."
"They're not," Usopp says, but his voice is brittle.
She looks at him with pity. "You should have known better."
They stand there, a few yards from school, while she musters him and Usopp can't do anything but await his fate, shivering. For what has to be the first time, he would like nothing more than bolt to the building as fast as possible, if it means escaping her grasp.
"Show me," she says suddenly.
His head whips up and he stares at her.
"Show me," she repeats, "and we might works something out."
The way she says it makes it clear that her silence will cost more than Usopp will ever be able to afford. But if the head of the local branch of the Leage of German Maidens tells him to do something, Usopp can't to anything but hurry and comply if he wants to keep his head.
Someone insisted on me tap-dancing despite my warnings. Now all I'm able to do is wave, but doctors said reviews will make me recover swiftly.