*POST-TIME SKIP*

I'm here

It happens so fast he wonders if he imagined it - for one second - no, for not even a full second, as the cannonball explosions rock the cove and the fiery gusts toss her hair and glint like hellfire in her sunglasses, Robin spins away, curls into his back - he hears the cry, so small under the thundering booms, feels her fingers grasping the back of his shirt - before she whips back again, crosses her arms, and sprouts two gigantic legs on the nearest offending battleship, stomping it into oblivion before the Marines know what's hit them.

It's a split second, but Franky knows; it may have been only an hour or two or three on that Sea Train, but it was a lifetime to them, an eternity of tug-of-war - so when he catches a glimpse of her face, in that heartbeat, the gritted teeth, the strain around her eyes, the panic in their dark depths, he knows.

And even after they've left the fleet miles behind and the crew has shared details and three cheers for everyone's individual victories, Franky sees the strain in her smile, the haunting behind her eyes.

Franky can't help but wonder, because tonight is her shift in the crow's nest, and usually she accepts Sanji's insistent offer to take her place, but today she declines every offer with a show of polite amusement.

It's not that she wants to be alone tonight-whether she's chatting with Nami, tickling Chopper, playing hand games with Luffy, or beating Zoro at chess, she stays in the center of the rowdy celebration throughout the afternoon. No, Franky can imagine the scenes burning behind those dusky eyes, scenes of skies aflame with screaming thunder, of earth turning over, of lives lost and paralyzing impotence -

Franky can imagine that Ohara still haunts her dreams, because the Puffing Tom still haunts his, after all, charging down the line with his only father worth loving. The strangest things set them off: a high screeching whistle, of course, but sometimes just the smell of burning coal, or even simply the coppery sting of blood on his tongue, and his dreams flood with the chugging rush, the smack and thud of high-speed collision - that instant of resistance - flesh and muscle and bone versus plowing steel - before the worst, that sinking darkness of failure, of powerlessness, as the ocean engulfs his broken body...

So Franky knows: it's not that she wants to be alone tonight, but rather that she does not want to sleep - does not want to dream.

While everyone else gathers in the dining hall for Sanji's celebratory feast, Franky pulls Usopp aside and borrows some materials, then climbs to the crow's nest.

The photographs are as random as they come - the majority of them courtesy of Luffy's haphazard skills, most crooked, some blurred, a few even upside-down, but a number of more recent shots are clearly taken by their resident sharpshooter and developed with expert care.

The one thing this motley collection has in common is Robin and her squinty-eyed soft smile - as she compliments a squirming Chopper, thanks a preening Sanji, exchanges whispered secrets with Nami, or just plain stares into space, grinning as she listens to or watches the antics of her out-of-frame family.

Family. Nakama. Franky spreads the photos out on the floor of the crow's nest. Robin's deepest wish, everywhere he looks. His eyes sting and his nose is dripping - he snuffles and blinks the imminent tears away.

He's got work to do.

He strings the photos together, grouping them by shipmate, and works his way around the room, window to window, arranging them in mobiles. She'll arrive to a lookout with curtains drawn - and when she pulls them back so she can do her duty, she'll find the reminders she needs.

That's all she needs, he knows, as he makes his way down the ladder to riotous hails for him to join the crew - his family, too - for dinner.

Not to be alone, not to share her thoughts.

Just a reminder. This is your family. We love you. We'll protect you. You're not alone.

I'm here.

And if she sits at his window the most, he'll be sure not to notice.

-x-

Furanky's Tumblr Frobin Week: Day 2

Originally posted: April 9th, 2013

Prompt: I'm here

Words: 710