Booze, How I Love Thee

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Title: Liquid Fire
Paring: Zoro/Usopp
Rating: PG
Word Count: 300
Topic: Alcohol
Summary: Usopp is trying to be a little more manly.




He imagines that it must burn going down. Not that he’s had the experience, exactly, since straight rum has always been a little too harsh for him to stomach, but he has heard other men talk and that is how they typically describe the feeling; liquid fire chasing all the way down inside.

So, no, he has not been able to drink that liquor straight without gagging or coughing or generally making an ass out of himself. But he wants to one day because he likes the way it looks, so manly and tough, so he’s been practicing when no one is around. Just a little sip here and there away from prying eyes, so no one can mock him when it gets only a little way down before he is spitting it messily across the nearest available surface.

Alone at night, he pours a bit into a small glass and raises it in a solitary toast.

“To Usopp! Brave Warrior of the Sea!”

His ears are ringing with imagined cheers as he takes his gulp, and then a second later his eyes are burning, and the liquid is sprayed against the kitchen floor.

“The trick is you have to want it more than you’re afraid of the hurt.”

Still coughing, he turns quickly to see Zoro leaning against the moonlit outline of the door.

“But, you gotta want the hurt a little bit, too."

Usopp sits frozen, staring at the other man, who is tough and brave and fearless and every bit of the kind of man he wants to be.

“You’ll get it.”

The raw confidence of the swordsman’s voice that hangs in the air even after he returns to his post for watch touches Usopp, leaves him pleased and flushed; liquid fire chasing all the way down inside.

Comments

[fairady.livejournal.com]

Just one thing. In the second paragraph you spelled 'couching' instead of 'coughing.'

This is wonderful! I've got a big, stupid looking grin on my face right now, and everyone is staring at me because of it. I'm madly in love with any fic that has Zoro and Usopp either as a couple or just interacting. They're just so hard to find.

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Eek!!! Spelling mistake! Fixed!!!! ^_^

Thanks!!!!

[kriatyrr.livejournal.com]

I like it. Especially Zoro's second line.

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Happy you liked it!

[sherriaisling.livejournal.com]

You haven't written here (yeah, yeah, I know why and all) in forever! And just posting was good enough, but, on top of that, you wrote ZoSopp! Which is my 'god they're good together, why does no one ever write them' pairing.

But he wants to one day because he likes the way it looks, so manly and tough, so he’s been practicing when no one is around. Oh, Usopp! This is so him, and just a little sad because he just doesn't get that he is manly and tough.

“You’ll get it.” Coming from Zoro, this is just such a huge, meaningful thing.

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

I love Zosopp, too, and think its a damn shame that there isn't more of this pairing out there. ^_^

[bluepard.livejournal.com]

Aw, manly comraderie! How I love it. =D

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[dethorats]

ZoSopp! *Loves all over you for this pairing* The idea of Usopp sneaking sips of alchohol so he can present a 'proper' face when the time comes is lovely and so believable. And Zoro's encouragement and belief is...melty!

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

I am most pleased to have melted you.

[fenm.livejournal.com]

UsZo! UsZo! I love it! Yay!
I love this one... Zoro's so sweet. ^_^

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!!

[winterwaltz6.livejournal.com]

Oh, I liked that a lot and I've never read this pairing either. Very cute, I especially liked Usopp's solitary toast to himself, it cracked me up. So very in character. Nice job.

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Usopp is a character. God, I love him. ^_^

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[beanchan.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful and so deliciously in-character ^_^

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you liked it!

[mango-32.livejournal.com]

His ears are ringing with imagined cheers as he takes his gulp...

(Bursts out laughing while reading)

And I love Zoro's last line!! Short but to the point, and encouraging too.

[sherrymarie.livejournal.com]

Zoro is a secret sweetie, but don't tell anyone!