Disclaimer: I don't own the One Piece universe.
Characters: Franky, Robin
Relationships: Robin x Franky
Summary: Franky loves Robin just as much as he fears her.
Rating: T
Prompt: 100 Men #014 "Fear"
To Fear and To Love
Franky hadn't been afraid of anything since Tom-san had died. Maybe a little later, after Iceburg had turned him away. Because, really, once you'd lost everything there wasn't much else to fear.
And then Nico Robin had sauntered into his life. Heart-stopping, awe-inspiring, soul-shattering Nico Robin.
Because nothing had scared Franky as much or in quite the same way as Nico Robin. And her tragic, beautiful smile. The corners of her dark lips twitched upwards into a faint smile, shy and mysterious.
When she smiled at him, Franky panicked. He was constantly torn between pissing his pants and sweeping her off her feet.
Even worse was her constant need to touch and be touched. She brushed his shoulder when they passed in the hall, his fingers when she passed him dishes, his cheek when she leaned over to see his work…
It was some sort of elegant torture, nearly insufferable. Franky wanted to push her away and pull her closer.
But, Nico Robin was a seductress at heart. Men had died for her gorgeous smile; men had been killed by her fleeting touch. Her bounty poster had only reaffirmed Franky's suspicions.
She certainly didn't need some two-bit thug's declarations of fear and love. Even a super two-bit thug such as himself. And so he kept his mouth shut.
He couldn't really avoid her either, though. It would've drawn her attention to him, probably hurt her somehow. Maybe. Franky couldn't risk it, anyway.
And so he learned to live with her. To handle her small smiles and faint touches. It had worked out well for him.
Except, then, Nico Robin had faded away on Thriller Bark. There one minute, and disintegrating the next.
It was actually a stunning sight, Franky thought. The golden sun had been beautiful against her skin. There had been a faint smile on her lips, before her head had faded away on the wind. Then her hand had followed.
There had been a new and different fear, then. A new longing, too. Franky feared losing her and longed to tell her what he really felt.
He hadn't slept in the three nights since they'd left Thriller Bark behind. Plagued by the memories of Nico Robin just fading away on the breeze, a mess of golden light and pale skin.
She'd caught him on the third night. Settled down next to him in the crow's nest, leaning close. "Shipwright-san," she had whispered, pressing one hand to the nape of his neck.
Then, she'd kissed him. Pressed her soft lips against his and kissed him. Her hand on his neck buried in the hair there. And her other hand reached over to grab his, small fingers wrapped around his massive hand.
And that scared him the most. That she could see right through him. She'd probably been seeing through him the whole time.
In retrospect, as absolutely terrifying as it was, Franky didn't actually mind that fear quite as much. He could probably even start to enjoy it.