Chapter Text
“—Usopp!!” “ACK!!” He coughed so hard the slap nearly had him throw up his organs. The dog was nuzzling against his palm, wagging its tail and Usopp’s attention all poured onto the precious pet, (while ignoring the fleeting moment he saw its face tw-)
Victoria has been his favorite dog, the sweetest husky the twins owning the cafe had ever picked up. Killer, odd name for a gentle man, had been coincidentally in charge of the cafe they are currently resting in before their next trip. They knew Killer, they knew Kidd, and they knew they moved months ago.
They knew the twins’ dog, Victoria Punk, (named by Kidd, of course,) who Usopp and the others had formed an attachment to since it had been a pup. It was the sweetest, yes, we're using that word again, and most loveable dog that in a way she's part of your family, literally a man’s best friend and inseparable if that makes sense, the kind of bond that Usopp had with Victoria. And guess who had been the most heartbroken when the twins had moved elsewhere far to open their shop?
Victoria, of course, follows after who she originally belongs to.
But Usopp meets her again for the first time in months. She's just as ecstatic to see him as much as he is to her, though Corazon’s a bit skeptical as to why the dog was let outside. (Because she's much of a house pet as far as they know.) She hated going outside even if they tried, but supposed times change, Hiko suggested. The others all around watched them play outside, before returning inside the cafe to take a break. While Zoro and Koby are outside, handling their transportation and the expenses they would cover up to fill it up with gas at full over at the gas station right next to the cafe, coincidentally. Usopp had been tasked to give them something to drink, but Zoro is just as stubborn as ever, refusing to drink anything but booze.
But Killer came prepared regardless, and Usopp cracked a grin when he had informed that it was vodka in the coffee cup under the guise of cream to hide any traces that it was alcohol.
“We need you sober for our trip, Zoro-san.” Koby deadpanned while Zoro was gratefully downing on his cup.
And Usopp just laughed, before following after Victoria barking out for him, preferably calling for him so he could return to the cafe.
Tuning out the background noises, he had fun with the dog. He was very, very happy he got to play with her again. Hiko and Corazon occasionally joining in before Corazon decided he's not having it the moment he took one good look at the dog.
Usopp thought he was being weird. Corazon was one of the younger ones who adored Victoria the same way Usopp does. And now he was suddenly not having it? What did she do?
He looked at the husky.
She looked back.
and, “—Usopp!!” “ACK!!” He coughed so hard the slap nearly had him throw up his organs. He glared at whoever had just backhanded him so harshly he nearly saw his life flash before his eyes for seconds, and his eyes met Hiko’s.
“Buddy, you was zonin’ out. Zoro was just calling for us, and everyone's leaving.” Informed Hiko, and Usopp can understand him for that. “Was backhanding me really necessary though!?” He couldn't help but ask.
He doesn't get a response, just straight up a knowing grin. Typical Hiko, but Usopp decided to let it go, knowing the other has his way to show that he cares.
But then, somehow, he felt chills, he felt sick, like something was curling inside him out of sudden unease. The hairs on his arms rose to a degree, but yet, as someone who usually has the kind of instincts where it screamed danger—he ignored it for the sake of keeping up positivity in their trip as he followed after Hiko.
“Have you heard?“ he hears as they walk past a customer. “People have been going missing!” “In this area, seriously!?” “No! Not just- you know those,- the group of hikers from the news, they recently just went missing,” “I heard they went to the mountains, right? And they said they just vanished on their way home!” “Oh yeah, isn't that one of them that survived and came running to the station to tell the whole story?” “Nah, I believe it’s his doing and it’s just his delusional ass trying to convince himself he didn’t kill them.” “Hey, stop talking about him like that. That’s rude.”
Usopp’s always been somewhat of a paranoid kid. Even when there's usually nothing to the eyes of the others, to Usopp, there is, and he couldn't just do anything to prove his point.
So imagine that as soon as he heard about the rumors of people missing going around that took place close to the mountains, where he knows the car will drive past on their trip; of course he grows scared. And mostly, his paranoia spiked.
Usopp looked back at his family gathering around the car. For the most part, they're relatively safe if he thinks about it. Law’s very serious when he is mostly responsible to keep everyone safe, Koby’s a martial arts student and as well as Hiko, Zoro’s a professional kendo fighter, and both he and Corazon are learning sharpshooting at a very young age. If anything happens to them, mostly, they can fight it off, or mostly rely on their other three (adults) who knows how to defend both the younger ones and then themselves.
But it scares Usopp to think, what if they were mostly accidents? Those hikers could've just died due to natural accidents, or fallen into deep pits and never seen again, and what if it happened to them too?
Usopp vigorously shakes his head, because Law's a great driver. Nothing to worry about, and nothing else. Stay positive, because everyone is for this trip.
So he followed his family with a smile, and everyone got in the car one by one.
Usopp was seated over to the back of the car, along with Corazon, and Usopp pretty much gets to see the window side as much as he wanted. Everyone got in and settled on their seats, the others beginning to chatter away. Law looked at all of them, counting and confirming their numbers before he turned the engine on, without a doubt trusting the kids to remain safe and drove off.
Halfway down the road, Law’s phone rang. Everyone’s loud chattering has subsided as they hear Zoro answering the phone for their driver, and Killer’s voice spoke up from the other side.
“I apologize, … I nearly forgot to tell you guys that you all should come back soon and again. Kidd will be throwing a celebratory party regarding his promotion from his job, and everyone’s invited.”
“I NEVER SAID I INVITED THOSE FREAKS!” They hear Kidd’s muffled screaming from the background, and they all laughed, minus Law; whose eyes rolled to the back of his head out of frustration. He hated that asshole’s guts, for so, damn, many reasons god, but not as much as Killer.
“We would love to have you guys back again.” Interrupted Killer, as they could somewhat hear that Kidd’s voice had gotten muffled from the ongoing call.
Both twins have their own sparks of life and personality, and this makes Law feel torn between attending for the sake of respecting Killer’s kind invite, or not at all due to his dislike for Kidd himself.
But suppose that only depends on how the youngsters would answer.
And speaking of youngsters, Usopp had been the first to speak up his mind. “I would love to come back,” he says, “only mostly because for Victoria. I had so much fun seeing her again.”
The call went uncharacteristically silent, and mind you the twins are an eccentric bunch, but yet everyone failed to notice that as Hiko and the others carried on with the conversation regarding the dog.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Kidd screams from the call, and everyone didn't mind his angry screaming, as they are used to his antics. That was when Killer decided to cough to grab their attention, “Sorry guys. The mention of her gets Kidd in a pissy mood.” he began, confusing everyone as of now.
Then he continued in a heavy, firm tone, he says…
“Victoria Punk, died 12 days ago.”