Title: Rumors
Rating: T (May be changed to M in future chapters.)
Author: EudaimonArisornae
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
WARNING:SPOILERS up to episode 324. This is set to take place immediately afterepisode 324.
A/N: Any details regarding the new ship are my own ideas, since the layout of the ship hasn't been shown yet in the anime.
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Chapter 1
The first night aboard the Thousand Sunny was filled with laughter and celebration. The Strawhat Pirates carried out their festivities until the late hours of the night to commemorate their new ship and their new nakama.
Franky's apprehension about leaving Water 7 was quickly forgotten as he found himself being caught up in the celebration. His new crewmates' enthusiasm was contagious, and as the night progressed, Franky felt his excitement growing in anticipation of the upcoming adventures across the Grand Line.
Yet amidst the revelry, he started to become aware of a growing anxiety toward a particular crewmate… Nico Robin.
Throughout the soiree, Franky kept stealing glances in her direction, trying to figure out the reason for his unfounded antagonism. Other than a faint smile that lingered on her lips throughout the entire evening, Robin's expression remained indecipherable. She had not spoken to him directly since he boarded the Thousand Sunny, nor had he tried to speak to her.
At some point during the night, Luffy cracked a joke around Robin's contribution toward persuading Franky to join the crew. Franky realized that perhaps it was the source of his animosity. After all, it was rather debasing having her hands sprout from his thighs to squeeze his cojones.
I'll confront her about it later, he thought wryly.
Yet sometime late in the night, Robin slipped away without saying a word. When she didn't return for a considerable amount of time, Franky realized that she may have gone to sleep.
Suddenly the desire to continue the celebration left him. "Everyone," he announced abruptly, lifting his mug high in the air. "This is has been a super party! But now, I think I'm going to have to get some rest."
"No way, Franky!" Luffy protested loudly. "You can't sleep yet!"
Franky grinned and crossed his large arms across his chest. "I've barely slept while I've been building this ship. I'm completely exhausted!"
"Aw, come on!" Luffy cried out.
"Just a little longer, Franky!" Chopper chimed in.
Nami lightly smacked Luffy across the head. "Idiot, he can do what he wants to. We should all get some sleep pretty soon, anyway."
"But Nami, it's way too early to go to sleep!" Luffy argued.
"Early? The sun will be up in a couple of hours!" she yelled back at him.
Franky quickly backed away while Luffy and Nami continued shouting at each other. He quickly disappeared below deck and slipped into the first room he passed.
The room he had entered was the intended to be a workshop. A corner of the room was filled with scrap metal for future weapons. An equally large pile of spare timber was stacked next to the scrap metal.
The men had their own separate barracks, complete with an assortment of comfortable beds, but he decided to try to rest in the deserted room instead. He had a feeling that when Luffy and the others went to sleep, they were going to make a lot of noise.
Leaning back in a chair with his arms crossed behind his head, Franky attempted to fall asleep. Yet at the minutes ticked by, he realized that sleep was not going to come. Every time he began to feel drowsy, he thought of Robin, and the feeling of anxiety returned.
"Dammit," he cursed under his breath, jumping to his feet. "I'm not going to be able to sleep until I talk to her."
He quickly slipped out of the door and rushed toward Robin's room, hoping that he would not run into anyone else.
With each step toward her door, he felt his pulse quicken. He wasn't sure why he felt such a strong and irrational compulsion to confront her, but Franky had a tendency to act on impulse.
When he reached her door, he knocked on the door rapidly, hoping that she was still awake.
"Come in," Robin called.
Franky took a deep breath and opened the door. Robin was sitting in a chair near the window with an open book resting in her lap. She was still wearing the same clothes from earlier; a pair of black capris and a pale violet button-down shirt.
When she saw it was him, she smiled at him warmly. "Hello," she greeted, beckoning him to come in.
Wordlessly, Franky stepped inside the small bedroom. Robin studied him for a few moments, observing his conflicted expression for a moment. "What's wrong?" she asked finally, the smile fading from her lips.
"Nico Robin," he said flatly, "Don't think that I'm not still angry about what you did earlier."