Day 1: Rumor

Franky woke to light streaming into his eyes from the workshop door which was left slightly ajar. He groaned and looked at the rumpled sheets beside him. In his minds eye he could still see the woman that once occupied the space, her dark hair strewn across the pillow.

He dressed for the day and made his way onto the deck where he found her sitting in her favorite lawn chair reading a book. Franky looked around the ships deck but could see no one else aside from Zoro who was napping on the top deck.

"Hey," he said, drawing her attention. "You wouldn't have happened to see a beautiful woman run out of my room this morning, would you?"

He caught Robin smirk before she hid her smile in her book. She cleared her throat, perhaps to keep from laughing.

"No I'm afraid I have not," she answered, smugly. Her eyes were dancing with mischief. "It would be quite unfortunate if she attempted to leave the ship. The ocean is a dangerous place; she could be eaten by a shark."

Franky was shocked into silence for a second. The woman really knew how to take a joke too far. However, he decided to take the moment to be over dramatic.

He threw his arms around Robin.

"That would be horrible," he wailed. "You see… I'm pretty sure she's my soul mate!"

"What did I hear you say, you damn tin can!" A voice roared from behind him.

Franky quickly let go of Robin who was now chuckling. Sanji was standing with a tray of coffee before him.

"No-nothing," Franky sputtered, suddenly way more self conscious than expected. "It was just a joke."

"You've been sneaking a woman on this ship?" A red faced Sanji roared.

"Absolutely not," Franky said, much more composed this time.

Sanji spat.

"Yeah, whatever," he muttered. Then he suddenly perked up. "Robin-chwan! I brought you refreshments!"

As Franky set to work on small maintenance tasks, the day seemed pretty average despite the morning's mishap. He and Usopp started working on adjustments to the Goan Cannon. However, about halfway through the planning phase he noticed that Usopp was acting strange.

He was looking around the workshop more than usual, as if searching for something.

"Did you forget something?" Franky asked.

Usopp stiffened up and quickly shook his head. Then he lifted his chin. "I, the great Usopp, would never forget my tools. I just… love what you've done with the décor."

Franky narrowed his eyes at him, but felt no need to call him out on his obvious lie. "Uh… yeah, thanks."

When Franky ran into Nami on his way to the library she gave him a nasty look before reminding him that it would more than likely be a few days until they hit the next semblance of an island.

Luffy just kept asking Franky if "she" brought any meat. To which Franky wasn't even sure how to respond after a while.

Brook spent a few minutes staring at Franky, until he had creeped him out to point where he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Whatchu want?" Franky demanded.

Brook let a small chuckle. "Could you let me see the panties?"

"No."

Even Chopper had been brought into the mess. The tiny reindeer spent thirty minutes lecturing Franky on the safety procedures one had available to ensure safe reproductive activities.

The cyborg felt sick to his stomach. He so badly wanted to reassure Chopper that he and his partner understood how to take care of themselves and had been doing so for weeks, but that would just lead to further questions from the crew. As miserable as this misunderstanding was, the truth coming out would be much worse. So he made the firm decision to button his lip and roll with whatever he was asked.

Dinner was awkwardly silent. Franky chomped on his burger, grateful to at least be saved from their questions. Sanji seemed pretty pleased with himself all the while as he continued cooking.

Finally he set another plate of food in front of Franky. Franky looked up at him skeptically.

"For your girlfriend," Sanji sneered.

Robin snickered from across the table, and Franky groaned.

"For the last time," he said. "It was a joke."

"Exactly what someone would say if they were lying," Sanji yelled.

"Where the hell would I hide a lady anyways?"

"What about the matted sheets in your workshop?" Usopp demanded.

"Oh for the love of-," Franky swore. "I sleep there!"

"So you aren't engaging in reproductive behaviors?" Chopper gasped.

Franky did not answer. Helplessly he looked at Robin for guidance, but she was no help at all. She looked far too amused with the situation.

"You guys are idiots," Zoro grumbled.

"Shut up Marimo," Sanji spat. He got into Franky's face. "So there's no girl? No soulmate?"

Franky gulped. He really hated lying. "No."

Sanji let out a sigh. "Serves me right I guess. What girl would go for you anyways?"

Franky rubbed the back of his neck. "You got me there."

As night fell Franky found Robin out on the ship's bow. He felt tired from the days ordeal, but seeing her serene face looking over the ocean made it all feel worthwhile. He came up beside her and gave her a small nudge with his hip.

"Hello, Franky," Robin murmured. "It seems you had a very eventful day. I take it you never found that woman."

Franky, though still a bit sour, couldn't help but be amused hearing it come from her.

"Nope," he replied. "I figure she might come back tonight."

"Oh?"

"I don't think we can use my room though," Franky continued. "Sanji and Usopp are probably lurking there right now."

Robin ran a hand up his back and placed a kiss on his cheek. Franky shuddered with pleasure.

"We could always use the library…" she whispered. "Just for tonight."

Franky rubbed his chin. "Now that could be Super…"

And so the rumor of "Franky's secret lover" was put to rest. Now, "the ghost in the library", that's a different story, which still persists to this day.