{Well that was a familiar voice, have Ace sitting there, staring at his communicator and trying to think of what to say. He knows he should talk to the kid at least. He'd managed to do this for Zoro and Sanji, why was he so worried about Chopper?
Right, lets try to act normal.}
Hey Chopper...
{He was failing miserably at this normal thing. How could he after what Chopper heard him say while Sanji lay dying?}
I-- It's good to hear your voice. How're you doing?
[Which is not exactly a lie, but not exactly the truth either. It doesn't help that the person that killed him has been staying at the hospital, which is only part of why he hasn't been getting any decent sleep. The infrequent nightmares didn't help either. Added to finding out that pretty much anyone that heard Kamui's last voice post now knows that Kamui was the one that killed him, and finding out two of those people happen to be Zoro and Sanji, added to the fact that Zoro actually went out after Kamui... okay, so he's not good. Not exactly. But this as normal as he can try to be at the moment.]
{He wanted to believe you, he really did, and Zoro had mentioned you were recovering. But something told him things weren't okay. It just wasn't that easy was it?}
I'm--
{That was the question wasn't it? How exactly was he? And could he tell Chopper the truth? He could gladly say he was better, by far, he'd at least managed to work things out here and there. But he still had that lingering regret. That shadow of a doubt about himself hung over him, looming eerily as if ready to pounce.
He was still recovering too, definitely a little healthier than a few days back, thanks to Sanji's occasional visits with food and water.}
[Chopper gave a little nod, even though he knew Ace couldn't see him. He felt a little jittery and uncomfortable, still not sure of how to go along with this conversation. He knew it needed to happen eventually, but just because he was willing to bring it up didn't mean he knew just what exactly needed to be said.
I did. We...worked it out. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
{Though he understood that due to the nature of all this, that would be easier said than done.}
I owe everyone an apology... for my actions, for everything. But words aren't enough to express my regret. I'm not asking you to forgive me. Just know that... I was wrong.
[Not worry. Right. That was always something that was way easier to say than to do. All he'd been doing was worrying, and seeing other people worry. Heard himself say that plenty of times. Heard it from other people. Yeah, always easier to say something than to do it. Maybe one of these days he'd learn how to do both.]
I'm glad that you talked to him. And thank you for talking to me. I-... I don't know what I'm supposed to do. You say I don't have to forgive you, and I know that everything that happened was because of the chips. Lots of people... said things, and did things. Or almost did things. They didn't want to.
It wasn't your fault. [...] It hurt. But it wasn't your fault.
{There were a lot of things he could say right then. I could have had more control. If I'd been stronger. If I'd had my chip out, if. If. IF. Could have, should have, but he couldn't and didn't. He'd blame himself just a little while longer, but at least he was mending. Soon it would pass and they all could move on.}
[Oh yeah, there's definitely a lot of little things that they can both get caught up in and analyze and beat themselves up over, but it just doesn't seem worth it. With a place like Discedo, no one should really have to spend so much time getting worried over those types of things anymore, just because of how common it is now. You just need to try to get stronger and move on, and try to be ready for the next time that new obstacle shows up. And really, Chopper wants to be ready for that with his friends. All of them.]
...y-you don't have to, thank me for anything. That's... how things need to be. It's better that way, for us to... look out for each other. I know that's what the others would say. [...] That's what Luffy would say.
Right, lets try to act normal.}
Hey Chopper...
{He was failing miserably at this normal thing. How could he after what Chopper heard him say while Sanji lay dying?}
I-- It's good to hear your voice. How're you doing?
Reply
[Which is not exactly a lie, but not exactly the truth either. It doesn't help that the person that killed him has been staying at the hospital, which is only part of why he hasn't been getting any decent sleep. The infrequent nightmares didn't help either. Added to finding out that pretty much anyone that heard Kamui's last voice post now knows that Kamui was the one that killed him, and finding out two of those people happen to be Zoro and Sanji, added to the fact that Zoro actually went out after Kamui... okay, so he's not good. Not exactly. But this as normal as he can try to be at the moment.]
How... are you?
Reply
I'm--
{That was the question wasn't it? How exactly was he? And could he tell Chopper the truth? He could gladly say he was better, by far, he'd at least managed to work things out here and there. But he still had that lingering regret. That shadow of a doubt about himself hung over him, looming eerily as if ready to pounce.
He was still recovering too, definitely a little healthier than a few days back, thanks to Sanji's occasional visits with food and water.}
--doing better. Thanks.
Reply
[Chopper gave a little nod, even though he knew Ace couldn't see him. He felt a little jittery and uncomfortable, still not sure of how to go along with this conversation. He knew it needed to happen eventually, but just because he was willing to bring it up didn't mean he knew just what exactly needed to be said.
And that's when he remembered something.]
Ace... have you talked to Sanji?
Reply
{Though he understood that due to the nature of all this, that would be easier said than done.}
I owe everyone an apology... for my actions, for everything. But words aren't enough to express my regret. I'm not asking you to forgive me. Just know that... I was wrong.
Reply
I'm glad that you talked to him. And thank you for talking to me. I-... I don't know what I'm supposed to do. You say I don't have to forgive you, and I know that everything that happened was because of the chips. Lots of people... said things, and did things. Or almost did things. They didn't want to.
It wasn't your fault. [...] It hurt. But it wasn't your fault.
Reply
{There were a lot of things he could say right then. I could have had more control. If I'd been stronger. If I'd had my chip out, if. If. IF. Could have, should have, but he couldn't and didn't. He'd blame himself just a little while longer, but at least he was mending. Soon it would pass and they all could move on.}
Thanks Chopper.
Reply
...y-you don't have to, thank me for anything. That's... how things need to be. It's better that way, for us to... look out for each other. I know that's what the others would say. [...] That's what Luffy would say.
Reply
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