onepieceyaoi100 | Happy Birthday!

Title: The Present
Rating: G
Pairing: Zoro/Usopp
Word Count: 256

Usopp sighed. Watch duty was bad at the best of times, but on his birthday... it didn't help that he kept nodding off.

At about midnight, he noticed Zoro coming up from below decks. The swordsman climbed up the rigging and into the crow's nest.

"Hey," he said as he walked over to where Usopp was sitting.

"Hey," Usopp replied. "What are you doing here?"

Reaching into his haramaki, Zoro pulled out a long thin box wrapped in simple red paper. "Here... it's past midnight, so it's your birthday, right?"

"Umm.. yeah," said the younger boy with surprise, taking the package. "Thanks."

Ripping off the paper, Usopp opened the box. Inside were several thin pencils in various colors. "Artist pencils...?"

Zoro shrugged. "You like drawing stuff, so I figured..."

Usopp smiled widely. "They're great! My old ones are almost all used up..."

"Yeah, I'd kinda noticed..."

"Really...?"

"I..." Zoro looked off into the night sky. "I like to watch you draw..."

Usopp looked at the older boy with surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah..." Zoro looked at Usopp. "What? It's... it's interesting. Stop looking at me like that!" The older boy turned away, blushing.

Usopp smiled. "Thanks, Zoro, they're really great."

"You're welcome." There was a pause. "It must be a real pain, having watch duty on your birthday."

"Yeah," Usopp said, sighing.

Zoro shrugged. "I'll take over, if you want."

Usopp brightened. "Really? Thanks!" Usopp got up and stretched. Then after a moment's contemplation, he sat back down, rested his head on Zoro's shoulder, and fell fast asleep.