It was an unspoken truth of the Strawhats. And yet it was also perhaps the most surprising. The way that Franky and Robin fell into their own easy pattern of domesticity following the leave from Water 7 shocked everyone.
Robin was, for obviously good reason, never the most forthcoming about her emotions, and Franky held his in excess. It was therefore not lost on the rest of the crew when Robin would smile slightly more whenever Franky was around, or the way that his “SUPER”s became louder and even more bombastic when Robin was in earshot.
Neither was it surprising, then, when Robin would spend more time in Franky’s workshop reading alongside him, or when the cyborg would come out from his work to drink his iced cola beside the woman. Despite it, nobody dared say a word. That is except for Luffy.
That afternoon, Franky was holed away in his workshop and Robin was reading on her usual spot outside, as the pair had already spent the morning together.
“ROBIIIINNN” was the only cue the archaeologist received before her Captain threw himself into the seat beside her, trailed by a nervously yelling Usopp behind him. Given the small gear in the rubber man’s hands, she could guess now why Usopp might be upset.
“Hello, Captain,” Robin drew her sunglasses up and offered a smile. After all that had transpired, she knew that Luffy understood now that this was equivalent to giving him a large hug as a welcome.
Finally Usopp caught up, almost wrenching the small tool from Luffy’s hands, “Hey Robin,” he acknowledged before returning to the struggle over the gear.
“Is…everything alright?” Robin raised an eyebrow as she watched the boys with slight amusement. Despite it all, Luffy was a fairly single-minded person. He came over here for a purpose, and Robin wanted to know what.
Luffy let his arms snap back into place, effectively throwing Usopp across the deck in the process, before meeting Robin’s gaze, “Franky’s a good guy.”
Well, by no means was that what the archaeologist expected. She thought it would perhaps be a discussion about well….about anything besides Franky. Not that she minded. If given the option, Robin would hear people speak kindly of Franky every day.
“He is far more than just a good man. He is an excellent one,” Robin confirmed, feeling her cheeks flush ever so slightly.
As expected, Luffy grinned widely, before turning his head to where the poor sharpshooter was still getting back to his feet, “Usopp!! I was right!!”
Usopp cocked his head slightly and Robin couldn’t help but assume what they both had meant, and felt her embarrassment rise higher.
“Huh…well…” Usopp shrugged, “Guess that makes sense?”
And with that Luffy flung himself out of the chair once more with a vibrant laugh, “You owe me all your meat for the next week then!!!” Yet again he pair were jokingly quarreling, arguing over what percentage of Usopp’s dinner Luffy could steal.
Robin couldn’t help the chuckle escape her throat. They certainly made an interesting crew, just as interesting as the duo of her and Franky. Robin would want it no other way
Once was an incident, but twice was becoming a pattern. Following dinner that evening, Robin chose to take her dessert up near the tangerines, admiring the way their vibrant orange contrasted with the deep blue of the continual sea.
“If you take one I’ll charge you,” Nami’s voice came from behind, a joking lilt to it. Robin turned, feeling somewhat self-conscious. While this was a part of the Sunny, it was truly Nami’s space. Was Robin an unwelcome guest in this habitat?
“As you should. With fruit as delectable as this it would be a shame to let it go for free.” Nami grinned at the response, easy enough to make the navigator happy with the mention of money. Still, Robin watched as Nami plucked a few tangerines, noticing how her face became pensive as she did so.
“How did you know?” Nami finally asked, her voice soft and wavering. Robin tried to meet her eyes for a moment before realizing that Nami was purposefully avoiding that.
“Know what?” she attempted casualness as she sipped at her milkshake.
Nami slowly began to tear at the skin of one of the tangerines, “With Franky. How did you know?” Oh.
This again? Robin couldn’t help but think. It would be easy enough to dismiss, to pretend that Nami was misreading the situation, but given the earlier conversation with Luffy and Usopp it was clear there perhaps the entire crew knew at this point.
“I don’t know,” the archaeologist answered honestly, “He is loud and goofy, but he is also kind and intelligent. He….” she sucked in a breath, “He told me my life mattered that I….that I was not a mistake or burden. I know now the rest of you all felt the same but somehow hearing it from him felt different. I don’t know why.”
“Oh,” Nami continued to pick at the skin now with more intention, “And how did you…tell him?”
Robin smiled a bit at that. Nami was clearly prying for advice. For whom, Robin did not know, but that really didn’t matter did it? “I didn’t, not really. I went to thank him for his kindness and then, well, he kissed me and the rest didn’t quite need explaining. I knew he felt the same.”
Nami hummed in response, “And if you had to leave him?”
“If that was what was best, I would. But it would not be easy,” Robin confirmed, trying to watch Nami for any other hints or signs.
It was then that Nami barked out a laugh through the quiet tears falling down her cheeks, “Yeah no shit.”
“The princess?” Robin offered a guess. She hadn’t known the crew, not really, until the Sky Island, but even as their enemy Robin had been able to tell the fondness they all held for the Alabastan princess.
Nami nodded through her tears, “She’s safe though, that’s what matters.”
“Yes that is true,” Robin let an extra arm extend out to squeeze Nami’s shoulder, “I’m sure she feels the same.”
“Yeah…she does,” Nami met Robin’s gaze with a small smile, “Thanks Robin.”
“Anytime,” Robin responded gently, watching now as Nami left with her tangerines in tow. Am I now this crew’s relationship expert? Robin thought idly as she finished her dessert. Well I suppose there are worse things.
When Brook had first joined the crew, he had felt a certain kinship with the chef. Sure, they both had their admiration of women in common. Over time, though, Brook came to recognize the history of deep loneliness that dwelled inside. It was one that was far too familiar to him in his 50 years alone. And while Luffy had welcomed them both into the de facto Strawhat family, that darkness lingers.
And so Brook enjoyed the time that he spent with Sanji, as one wrote songs and the other prepared that night’s dinner. Tonight, though, he could sense something was different by the intensity with which he hacked at the chicken leg.
Brook stopped the rhythmic strum of his guitar to look over at the chef, “Is something bothering you?”
“No,” Sanji responded sharply before sighing and looking over at Brook, “It’s fine.” He gave the meat another loud cut.
“Well I have to say I pity the poor creature at your mercy now! Getting its body all torn up like that it makes my skin crawl,” Brook stood, “Not that I have any skin to begin with! Yohohoho!”
Sanji shook his head in exasperation, but Brook could see the small smile cross his face. Brook sauntered over towards the countertop, “Now do share.”
The chef set his knife down and crossed his arms, “What do you think is going on with Franky and Robin?”
“Huh?” Brook cocked his head to the side. Out of everything in the world he would have thought preoccupying the young man’s mind, this was the least of it, “Well they are together, of course.”
“Thought so,” Sanji grunted and returned back to his work.
“And that makes you upset?” Brook prodded. He liked the young chef, he did, and seeing him become so wound up over a relationship act was not his was disheartening.
“Not upset. I’m happy for the guy. Just surprised it happened is all,” Sanji shrugged as he focused even more on the meal at hand, “Like when did it even happen and how did we all like miss it?”
“Ah,” Brook nodded, understanding somewhat. He had been that way himself for much of his earlier life, chasing after women and wondering where he went wrong as he watched them fall into the arms of another man. “I can say that I had noticed the moment I had joined you all. It always seemed like they were either together or wanting to be together.”
“They’re so different though,” Sanji argued back, more whiny than vicious, “I just don’t understand how that could happen.”
Brook laughed at that. Oh to be young again and think so narrowly, he thought to himself.
“What?” Sanji narrowed his eyes, “I’m just stating the facts. I’m happy they’re happy but doesn’t mean its any less confusing.”
“Love is not logical,” Brook started and already he could feel his age seeping into his words. Even though he’d rather be the fun loving musician, he knew that his experience could offer a different perspective. “It does not obey by what we think does or does not make sense. It’s just a feeling that appears and we either choose to ignore it for the rest of our lives, or nurture it until to grows into something magnificent. I rather think those two know each other quite well, compliment each other in the way any couple should.” He turned his focus back to Sanji, “Just because it has not yet happened for you doesn’t mean it will never happen. And don’t let what you think love should be cloud what it could be.”
Sanji seemed to take the speech well, giving Brook a nod of appreciation, “Yeah…thanks.”
Brook smiled, “Anytime,” before bouncing away and towards the door to the deck, “Well, I’d say that was enough seriousness for one afternoon. How about a showtime?” Before the chef could respond, Brook had slammed the door behind him.
Sanji continued away at his work, his mind rolling through what the skeleton had said. Just because that wasn’t a relationship he had ever seen coming didn’t make it any less beautiful or joyful. Sure, that was true. But that didn’t mean Sanji still didn’t see his own romantic life being any different that what he had dreamed. He just had to find the right woman, that’s all.
At that moment he was drawn out of his zen stupor by the clanging of bottles. He looked up to see the swordsman bringing back two empty sakes, “Got any more?”
Sanji glared and turned his back to toss the meat into the stew pot. He gestured off to the side pantry, “Some more back there but pace yourself dipshit, this needs to last us till our next stop.”
Zoro muttered an exasperated, “Yeah, yeah,” before heading into the pantry.
Sanji couldn’t help but watch as he walked away, noticing how his cheeks were heating up at the sight. Maybe Brook’s words held some weight after all.
Despite all of the troubles and mayhem that embodied the Strawhat crew, the Sunny rarely found itself in need for repairs. It was usually only after run-ins with the Navy that Franky found himself tools in hand working on the ship.
Well, that was until Zoro dropped his massive weights from the top of the crow’s nest down to the deck below. The swordsman would never admit to the reason why, but seeing the cook parading around in the warm weather with too-tight shorts seemed as good of an answer as any.
Good enough at least for Franky to tease the younger man about it while patching up the few cracked planks. “Lay off already,” Zoro hissed in a whisper to the cyborg who was just chuckling away, nailing in the new planks.
“Don’t move so much Zoro I need to look at your wrist!” Chopper batted the man’s chest to get his attention, “I need to make sure it wasn’t a muscle failure that made it drop.”
As the young reindeer poked and prodded at Zoro’s wrist, Franky watched as the blush crept up his entire face. As much fun as it was to tease (and it was), Chopper fussing over him wasn’t helping, “I think he’s alright Chop, probably just got somethin’ on his mind is all.”
Franky’s reassurance seemed to do the trick for the time being as Chopper dropped Zoro’s wrist. Zoro shot the cyborg a grateful look before looking back down to see the reindeer, clearly expecting an actual explanation.
“Well uh…” Zoro tried to think of a reason that wouldn’t completely embarrass him before Franky stepped in once more.
“Sometimes you just get distracted, lil man,” the cyborg’s large hand patted the top of Chopper’s hat, “I think our buddy Zoro here’s maybe got someone to be distracted about, you know what I—“
“I never said that!” Zoro interrupted, hand slamming down onto the deck with a crack. Well, there was one more thing for Franky to fix, “Sorry ‘bout that.”
“No worries,” Franky shooed away the concerns, but still pushed forward with his explanation, “It’d be like if Robin was walkin’ around looking even more beautiful than she usually does, you know? I’d probably get a nail in my hand or something!”
Chopper’s smiled at the comment and leaned over towards the swordsman to whisper conspiratorially, “I told you.”
“What do you mean you told me?” Zoro picked up the doctor into a noogie, “Nobody had to tell anyone anything, all of us already knew.”
Franky just sat there and bellowed out a laugh once more, “Yeah we haven’t been subtle about it, I guess.”
“You see any of us complaining?” Zoro raised an eyebrow in response. Most of the crew had figured it out at this point in their own ways, and nothing had been said about the couple besides what an odd but perfect match they were. “You two work.”
Now it was Franky’s turn to blush, the little skin he had left tinted as red as his body, shifting the compliment to the one he thought so much more deserving, “Just helps that she’s the perfect woman.”
“Aww” Chopper wiggled a bit at how she the whole situation was before turning his attention to Zoro, “Then Zoroooo~ Who are you in love with?”
That left the swordsman sputtering and flustered, Franky laughing loudly at the embarrassment. Perhaps it was just as easy as that to address the elephant in the room around his relationship. Besides, if things continued to progress and play out, maybe there would be another Strawhat couple burgeoning.
At least him and Robin would be a constant, for that much he was grateful.