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1
The first time Zoro thinks ‘thanks the Seas this guy is in our crew’ is roughly five minutes after Luffy presents them with his atrocious attempt at a Jolly Roger.
It’s not like he had minded Usopp joining before that, of course. Usopp had shown his strength of character in the fight against Kuro and its aftermath, and his snipping skills had saved Kaya and the kids when Zoro would have been too late to.
And he was definitely better company than the witch.
So yeah, when Luffy had invited Usopp on the crew, Zoro had been more than fine with it.
But it’s not until later, when their Captain reveals the result of his little art and craft project, that Zoro realises just how lucky he is that Usopp decided to join them.
Because really, Zoro may be willing to travel under the black sail but he’s got his dignity and he won’t be represented by a lumpy, half-melted skull that's not even coloured within the lines.
Usopp must agree because he quickly presents them with a second option and, after that one is rejected on account of Usopp not actually being their captain, a third that makes Luffy’s eyes shine and Zoro sigh in relief.
Because yeah, that’s a symbol he can take as his own.
(Usopp gives him a second symbol soon after. He paints him a Jolly Roger just for him, with his swords and bandana. He even makes sure to detail Wado enough that it’s easily recognizable. Zoro hides his smile, and hangs the flag over his hammock.)
2
Mihawk completely defeats him.
It’s not even a contest.
But at least he manages to impress him enough that the warlord learns his name. Oh, and that he lets him keep his life.
It’s a bitter accomplishment, but an accomplishment nonetheless.
Afterwards he leaves to chase after Nami, with Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku.
Zoro clings to consciousness long enough to impress on the bounty hunters what exactly will befall them if something happens to Usopp or they lose Nami’s trail while he’s out. As soon as the two nod, he allows himself to fall asleep.
He wakes up several times since someone seems to be rudely poking at his wound, but everytime he is soothed and ordered back to sleep.
When he finally manages to open his eyes, his wound has been cleaned, stitched and bandaged and Usopp is sleeping restlessly by his side. On a table nearby there’s a bowl full of bloodied water and Usopp’s still holding to a rag that Zoro’s pretty sure he’s been using to wipe the sweat from his brow.
They really ought to get a doctor for their crew, no matter how much Luffy wants a musician.
(Until they find one, though, it’s lucky that they have someone they can count on to nurse them back to health. Lucky enough that Zoro will forgive Usopp for abandoning him to Arlong’s crew’s mercy.)
3
Zoro knows he should be more careful.
The Merry is a good ship and she doesn’t deserve to be slashed by her own crew.
But Seas, Curlybrows is just too infuriating!
And okay, maybe sparring with him is kind of fun too.
Zoro dodges a particularly nasty kick and it connects against the rail. They both freeze at hearing the crack it makes.
“What have you two broken now?!”
Usopp appears out of thin air, nails and hammer already in hand and starts scolding them on the proper way to treat their vessel.
Zoro tunes him out, he’s already heard this particular speech a hundred times, but he and Sanji do hold the wooden planks in place while Usopp repairs the damage they have caused.
They share a look over Usopp’s head, both reading the chagrin in the other’s face. They know better, or at least, they should have known better. Just because Usopp is there to fix their messes doesn’t mean they should keep creating them.
(It takes them two hours to punch another hole in the ship and Zoro grimaces, promising himself that he’ll buy Usopp a drink on the next island they stop at. He’s the only reason they’ll be able to make it there with their ship in one piece after all.)
4
They should have been gentler with the Merry. If they had, maybe Usopp wouldn’t have left the crew.
But it’s too late for regrets now. The Merry is gone and so is Usopp.
Robin is gone too but her, at least, they can chase after.
And, of course, Usopp joins them on said chase.
Zoro’s pretty mad at him but he pretends to buy the whole ‘Sogeking’ identity (alongside with the stupid theme song) because he knows they need him if they want to actually stand a chance of saving Robin.
So he accepts Sogeking into their group, allowing Usopp to witness how Nami uses the weapon he had built her to completely lay waste to a whole platoon of marines.
Once there, Usopps talks their giant foes into becoming their allies.
And helps Luffy burn into Robin’s mind just how far they’d go for her.
(He does not make for a very adequate sword, but that’s never been what his role is).
The cook reminds Usopp of what his place in the crew truly is and soon enough he’s raining attacks on enemies Zoro can barely see and who have no way in hell of returning fire.
Usopp’s also the one to hand (shoot) Robin the keys to her freedom.
But it’s the speech that turns the tide of their incursion.
Zoro’s never been good with words, he usually finds them superfluous since actions have always spoken louder to him.
But words are Usopp’s weapon as much as his slingshot and hammer, and he wields them masterly, hitting his target with every syllable and talking new life into their Captain.
Zoro covers his back, giving him the time and space he needs for his monologue, and forces himself to stop considering how this fight would have gone had Usopp truly left the crew.
(Later, he stops Luffy from going to Usopp. Much as they need him back, much as they want him back, they will only work if it’s Usopp that approaches them first. Zoro’s the first mate, so it’s his duty to look after the crew. He waits with the crew and prays to gods he doesn’t believe in that Usopp will not take too long to come to his senses.)
5
It’s not until Thriller Back that he actually realizes just how strong Usopp truly is.
He knew he was resourceful, smart, funny and brave. But he’ll admit that he’d never quite put ‘strong’ amongst the list of Usopp’s virtues. (He’d never put weak amongst his flaws either, he’s always known better at least.)
And yet it takes one hit, one single hit, from one of those negative hollows for him to drop to his knees.
It’s humiliating.
(Doesn't help that Curly is there to witness it.)
But the hollows do nothing to Usopp.
At first, he assumes he’s just immune but when Zoro’s running (running!) out of the room, he hears him declare to the weird gothy girl that he’s ‘always negative’ and he almost stumbles.
Because that means that the ghost did have an effect. They worked . But Usopp didn't notice it because he’s already used to it. Used to fending off attacks from an enemy that had brought Zoro to his knees.
An enemy that lives within his own mind.
If Zoro fights a bit more viciously after that revelation, it’s just because he needs to let off some steam.
(Kuma happens and he’s too busy not dying to really think on the matter but when they separate, when he’s forced to spend two years with goddamned Perona, he thinks back on it and the frustration returns. How do you protect your nakama from his own mind? How do you slay his enemy when it’s intangible? He tries to ask Perona but at the mere mention of Usopp’s name, she pales and flees the room. Zoro does not suppress his smirk, it’s nice to see that at least someone is aware of what a threat Usopp truly poses.)
+1
No one will underestimate Usopp after Dressrosa.
There’s some satisfaction in that thought, but also some fear.
Usopp’s very good at weaponizing his image as a bumbling fool, using it as both shield and sword, but it’s going to be a challenge to keep it, what with the Donflamingo naming him his biggest pain in the ass.
They are waiting for Luffy to wake up in Kyros home and Usopp’s jumpy. He glares at the door and hides behind the couch every time someone comes knocking.
Zoro would accuse him of paranoia but most of the people that had called at their door had truly been looking for him.
“You’ll have to face them at some point,” he points out, after the eighth time it happens.
“See, here’s where you are wrong,” Usopp says, sitting back down on the couch. “If I hide for long enough we’ll set sail and I’ll never have to see them again.”
Zoro snorts.
“I thought you’d like all this,” he says, gesturing around. Usopp’s always been chasing for the adulation of the masses, after all.
“Yeah, well, I just received a crash lesson on how quickly people’s love can turn into hatred,” he grumbles and Zoro reminds himself to slash the idiots that decided that hunting his nakama down for a reward was a good idea. “And anyway, the more I’m around them, the sooner they’ll realize.”
Zoro tilts his head to the right.
“Realize what?”
Usopp looks at him like he’s an idiot.
“I’m not exactly a god, am I?” he asks, gesturing at himself.
“Gods do not exist.”
His friend rolls his eyes at him. “Sure, but like, I’m not like Luffy.”
“Something the Cook is ever grateful for, I’m sure.”
“I mean I’m not their savior !” he exclaims in frustration. “Seas, Zoro, you need to learn to read between the lines.”
Zoro blinks at him.
“Didn’t you save them?”
Usopp groans. “Sure, but it wasn’t on purpose.”
“What, you accidentally fought Sugar?” Zoro asks with a frown.
“Well no, that part was deliberate, but I wasn’t strong enough to defeat her.”
“You must have been. You defeated her. Twice.”
“It was just luck,” Usopp says, shaking his hand to dismiss the thought.
“That was one hell of a shot for it to be ‘just luck’,” Zoro points out.
“Maybe the second time counts,” Usopp says, though he’s still not boasting as he usually would. “But the first time? I only fought because I was ashamed of myself, Zoro, I was planning on running away!”
Oh! This is the hollow voices .
Zoro sighs, finally realizing why they are having such a pointless conversation.
“You’re very bad at running away,” he points out, thinking back on Arlong Park, Alabasta, Water Seven and so, so many other times. “You always end up fighting.”
“I always end up beaten, you mean,” Usopp corrects with a grumble.
And Zoro’s had enough of this conversation. “Look, you fought, you won, they are grateful. It’s annoying but you don’t need to hide. Anyone tries anything funny, I’ll cut them, but they mostly just want to thank you and give you food and booze. So stop whining and go enjoy the spoils of your victory.”
And with that, he settles down for a well earned nap.