Thankyou for all the encouraging reviews! I'm glad to see that there's plenty of other people on ffn who ship this pair :D Originally, the chapter was going to be around 2000 words longer, but I chose to take the last 2k of and expand it into next chapter, for a variety of reasons. Oh well, this way I already have a whole stack of the next chapter done, haha ~ I am mainly setting the scene for the story in this chapter :) I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Two: It Takes One to Know One
The sea was a wild mess of crashing waves and rushing currents while a bombardment of wind and rain frenzied above the water's surface. It was angry and unrelenting, pushing and shoving against any solid body it clashed with. The sheer contrast to the calm, unbroken stillness of the ocean until moments prior was somewhat unnerving.
In the midst of the persistent storm, Franky held Robin close and did his best to maintain their position on the ocean's surface. The narrow section of the bridge they'd been standing on had been destroyed by the destructiveness of the wave, sending them both into the now turbulent ocean. Franky clung to a single plank of debris, helping Robin hold onto it in further effort to keep her afloat, although given the circumstances he wasn't sure if it was helping. There was little he could do right now that could counter the ferocity of the raging sea. Robin was his top priority, and he fought against the strain of the waves to keep her head above the water. The storm counterattacked with equal ferocity. But Franky had taken on the ocean several times before. It was only a matter of time; they would wait it out.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed before the ocean settled somewhat, almost as suddenly as the storm had. Evidentially, the New World wasn't to be taken lightly. Even with all their experience on the Grand Line, they'd been taken off guard.
Tucked into one of his robust arms, Robin coughed, her weak grip folded over the plank of deteriorating timber. "We… didn't drown…" she choked out eventually.
Franky sighed in relief. She otherwise seemed okay. "Of course we didn't!" he responded, "I super wouldn't allow that."
"I know," she replied, unsuccessfully attempting to sweep her drenched hair from her eyes.
Franky released the smaller mechanical appendage from the hand on his free arm, proceeding to brush Robin's long dark hair back over her shoulder.
She muttered some variation of thanks, slumping slightly between him and the plank of wood, the ocean having sapped most of her energy.
Within minutes, the dark clouds had vanished, and if it weren't for the fact the pair were now bobbing out in the ocean it would be hard to tell that there'd been a storm at all. Now they faced an entirely different predicament.
"Now what?" Franky wondered out loud.
"Hopefully there aren't any sharks," Robin voiced.
"If there are, I'll blast them away," Franky promised, "Or they could help us get to land…" The sky was darkening, but the sea was calm compared to the typhoon-like conditions from just a moment ago. With a quick look around, Franky was able to gain a clear image of their surroundings.
There was nothing of the island, Tanium, in sight. Treading the deep water, he turned to see if there would be anything more on the other side of the horizon. He squinted, noticing a large form in the near-distance.
"There's an island," he announced as he indicated to the shape.
Robin shifted slightly against the driftwood. "Is it the one we were swept from?"
"I'm not sure."
How far had this storm taken them anyway? At any rate, their best bet would be to reach the dry land and work out their situation from there. So Franky propelled them toward the island at as fast a speed he could muster, watching it slowly grow in size as they approached.
The closer to the island they drew, the more apparent it became that it was neither Tanium nor its twin island they'd recently been on. This was an entirely different island.
Much of the landscape was a coastline of beach with semi-dense forest deeper in. Further away, an empty port and a few docks indicated the existence of a town. However, Franky chose the most direct route to the dry land, and before long they reached the shallows.
By now the driftwood was falling apart by the second. Franky held tightly to Robin, knowing that her current support would not last much longer. Being tossed about in the sea during a storm wasn't a pleasant experience for anyone, least of all a fruit user. As the driftwood deteriorated, Robin's dependence of Franky's support increased. Soon her reliance on the driftwood faded all together, and the splintered remains of the section of bridge sadly bobbed away as Franky wordlessly took her into his arms. His feet soon struck the seabed and he began wading through the water towards the shore.
"You know, this might not be so bad a situation," he said, his feet sifting through soft, wet sand, "At worst, we've been swept to a neighbouring island. We'll find a town and contact the others. Then we can probably find our own way back."
"We can't have been taken far," Robin pondered, shielding her eyes against the setting sun, "There weren't many islands in this area from what I recall. There was a sea train port Tanium, wasn't there? Perhaps there will be one here as well. We can catch it to get back to the others."
The thought of riding aboard the sea train with Robin—being able to share with her in the something so personal, that had been such a defining part of his life… good times and bad—seemed greatly appealing to Franky. That being said, it wasn't like they'd never been on it together before… The sea train brought many memories for Franky.
But the fact that it was now in use here, in the New World, made him incredibly proud. He was sure Tom would be proud as well. Tom's actions had done more than just save Water 7, after all. The idea of travelling in the sea train with Robin under non-dire circumstances was something Franky longed to do some day, and he was sure Tom would be happy for him…
And while Franky may first have seen Robin on that bounty poster over twenty years earlier, Tom had been the first person Franky had heard speak of her. Yet he'd never been able to meet her. What would he think of the real Nico Robin? It was on the Puffing Tom that Franky had discovered the woman he'd lived wary of for so many years was nothing like the monster the world had been lead to believe in. She was scared. A broken person who'd finally given up on running and believed her very existence was something that warranted punishment. It was then and there that Franky had cast aside any and all expectations he may once have harboured. Just like himself beneath the tough cyborg exterior, she was so human.
In the time since then, he'd grown to know her. He knew her dreams and aspirations… her insecurities… her questionable sense of humour and the soft spot she had in her heart for children… her favourite leisure reads, the way she liked her coffee…
Tom would approve, Franky concluded. He would super approve.
With each step, the water became more and more shallow. It wasn't long before it barely reached Franky's knees, and soon he was striding through the white-water of the gently breaking waves. After this, it was a short way out of the water altogether and onto the island itself. Stepping over the debris line, they finally reached dry land.
Robin let out a relaxed sigh, likely glad the ocean was now behind them. Franky was glad also. That was certainly enough salt water for him for a while. He continued walking further into the island, in the general direction he'd seen the port in while out at sea. "I wonder what the storm was like back on the island for the others," he said, "Hopefully there's some way we can contact them, they'll have no idea where we are otherwise…"
Aside from a rather notable two-year-long incident, they hadn't been separated from the crew quite like this before. Sure, there'd been times when he and Robin had been apart from the others, but they'd always been on the same island. What would the others be doing now? The storm had come so quickly, Nami probably didn't even notice it before it was too late to properly warn everyone.
Sensing his thoughts, Robin spoke up. "The others will be fine," she assured him, "Unless wind from the storm blew down a tree and flattened them."
The crew would no doubt be wondering where they were. Knowing Luffy, their captain wouldn't be worried but rather trust the two to look after themselves and each other in times of danger. Even with this in mind, Franky wanted to make contact with the crew as soon as possible to assure his bros that all was well. From what he knew, the Log Pose would take a few days to set. Perhaps he and Robin could make their way back themselves. Otherwise they would simply wait for the crew on this island for a few days… together… "We'll find the others," he voiced, "Or they'll find us, at least. They've got the ship."
"That's right," Robin confirmed, "We just need to wait."
"Just you and me…"
Robin's eyes met his own and Franky drew to an immediate stop. Every part of his being had been captivated by that piercing gaze in an instant. He'd been momentarily paralysed, and all that existed was her. Those dark, distinctive eyes had always had an effect on him. "Franky…" Robin began, her striking gaze not failing to take his breath away.
He felt his heart thumping loudly in his chest, reminding him he was a cyborg, he was also human. "Y-yes, Robin?" he stammered.
He thought it would be impossible for someone to become any more attractive, but then she smiled and he found himself once again amazed by how simply she could correct him. What would she say next? Would she tell him that he was super? Had his subtle advances from yesterday worked?
However, when Robin formed her words, they were different to the possible ones Franky had been hopefully anticipating. "We're not in the water anymore," she informed him gently, "I think I'm alright to walk on my own now."
"Oh," Franky noticed, realising he'd been carrying her the entire way. He gently set her on her feet, but waited a moment before withdrawing his hold entirely. She was a little pale from the recent storm encounter, but seemed to be fine and recovered otherwise.
Within a few moments she was walking alongside him as they continued toward the town, their feet scuffing the white sand. As they walked, she pulled at her now saturated shoulder bag in dismay. "The information I gathered will be wrecked."
"Can you salvage it? Franky asked.
She shrugged. "Maybe, but there's not much I can do about it now. I should be able to recall most of it."
"At least we got out of that unscratched."
"That's correct," Robin said, "If it weren't for you, I would have drowned out there."
"Well you know," Franky dismissed, "You're not exactly able to swim, are you? What else was I supposed to do?"
The pair walked up along the shoreline as the sky darkened with the sinking sun. It would be night soon. Franky looked out over the water, noting the way it reflected the early stars. Robin followed his gaze, also taking a moment to appreciate the sight of the sky slowly fading into view. Places like these were among the best spots for stargazing. Next to the grassy deck of the Sunny, of course. Nothing beat a view of the night sky in the middle of the ocean, aboard his dream ship.
Tearing his gaze from the sky, Franky looked back at Robin. Even now, her clothing dishevelled, her hair a mess—the upper pretty red ribbon was now around her wrist—she still took his breath away more than any night sky ever could. It wasn't just the sight of her though. It was everything about her. It was the rare, but true laugh she would exhibit on odd occasions. It was her patience, her love and passion for her profession. It was her impeccable wit and diligence. It was her re-indulged will to live, her love for her Nakama.
It was so… super.
"Do you think the islanders will be friendly to our sort?" she asked him.
Franky shook back his senses. "It's too early to tell, but I don't see why they wouldn't be," he admitted.
In the distance, numerous lights glinted and promised the presence of a town-full of people. In a place this size, there would have to be a means of easy travel back to the island they'd come from. Or a way to communicate, at least. And a place to stay for the night.
"We'll just have to go in and see for ourselves."
The lights flickered brightly against the darkening sky as they approached what must have been the outer-border of the town. A long lagoon spilled out from the ocean, forming a river that ran immediately before the village, almost like a moat. A sturdy bridge connected the beach with the town. Franky and Robin crossed side-by-side, though he noticed she was a little apprehensive to be crossing a bridge again so soon. Nonetheless, it was necessary in order to reach the town. So she remained in consistent step beside Franky, observing the village ahead as it came. It looked pretty lively from what they could see so far. The kind of town, Franky mused, that he wouldn't at all mind spending a few days in with Robin.
They reached the other side of the bridge and stepped off the platform. The pavement was cobbled, and the stones retained the heat of the sun from the day. Obviously the storm hadn't reached this place. A quick glance around told them that the village was quite an active place, even after sunset. Many of the town's residents were out bustling about the night life. A few market stalls were set up along the cobbled path selling daily goods and merchandise. Upbeat music reverberated from the open window of a fancy store. All in all, the atmosphere seemed friendly. Franky and Robin wandered along the road together, taking a few moments to observe their surroundings. Franky noted the architecture of the surrounding buildings. It was a little strange; many of them seemed to be of alpine structure, which was odd, given how warm it was. Perhaps the island's winter season was a large contrast, but buildings a little further along were different again. They seemed newer, and were more suited to the warm climate. A couple of timber huts on stilts stood alongside the road, their large windows open and beckoning in a breeze.
Even with the questionable selection of buildings in mind, there was something odd that Franky couldn't place. He looked down to Robin, attempting to read her facial expression, yet she betrayed nothing but mild interest to the town's character. She was a difficult woman to read sometimes. He loved it.
"This town sure is busy," she noted, as they side-stepped a cart full of produce that barrelled past.
"You've got that right," Franky agreed, watching as the cart was swivelled over to an empty-looking store to replenish its merchandise.
They walked further towards the town's centre, catching a few odd stares as they went. Many of the townspeople regarded them cautiously as they continued their evening's business. Franky guessed they stood out a bit, having just been washed ashore by the storm. Of course his outlandish body was probably partially to blame for this as well. Robin was a lot better at remaining undercover than he. They neared the centre of the town, where a large water feature stood in the middle of a shopping square. It was about the size of a small lake, and likely as deep as one too. A pair of bridges crossed over it, one spanning from east to west, the other from north to south. In the centre was a magnificent fountain, reminding Franky vaguely of Water 7.
This was a super town, he concluded. He intended to have a bit of a look around, but resolved that they could do that later. Right now, they had a few things that needed priority.
"Should we try here?" he suggested, indicating to a nearby tavern.
Robin shrugged. "It's as good a place as any."
The two entered through the door, an overhanging bell ringing in the process and alerting the man at the counter. He was a broad and gruff man, roughly a head taller than a door, with a face that seemed to do a disappearing act into his turquoise-coloured beard. As of now, he was carefully polishing a delicate tea set, and regarding his potential customers through a narrowed gaze.
"What ya want?" he demanded as he obsessively polished a fine, floral tea cup.
"Do you have a Den-Den Mushi we can borrow, bro?" Franky inquired.
"What?" the gruff man questioned, looking them both up and down, "Get washed ashore or something?" he laughed at his own words.
"Yes, actually," Robin answered him.
The man stopped laughing and stared at them in momentary surprise, before resuming his composure. " I'm not sure what I can do for you, there aren't any den-den mushi here that reach beyond the town… Assuming whoever you wish to contact is on another island, of course."
"There isn't?" Franky questioned.
"Do you know a way we may be able to contact someone on a nearby island then?" Robin questioned, "Also, is there a place we can stay, at least for tonight?"
"We're at full vacancy at the moment," the innkeeper replied, "But I may be able to clear some space in one of the cellars if you need to stay somewhere. We have high tea and poetry recitals every second night, if you're interested."
"I'm not very super on tea," Franky admitted, "Is there any way we can contact our Nakama though?"
"You don't like tea?" the man asked, "In that case, maybe you're more of a coffee person? Or tropical juice? We have a bit of that here. Perhaps some good old ale? I can bring some down to the cellar if you like."
Franky frowned. Like they'd have cola anyway. Besides, this innkeeper wasn't very cooperative, and Franky was sure Robin wouldn't want to stay in a cellar. He was about to respond, when the sound of the tavern door swinging open along with the ringing of the bell once again filled the building's interior.
"Is there a problem here?" a crisp voice asked.
Franky and Robin turned to see the new entrant. A man stood in the entryway, his black hair swept back from his face and tucked beneath a fashionable charcoal-coloured hat, showcasing his grey eyes. A dark, stylish suit and overcoat complimented his impressive stature and contrasted the pale complexion of his skin.
"G-Governor Itzal…" the innkeeper stammered.
The man, Governor Itzal, took a few more steps into the room. "I was informed there were some new arrivals sighted out on the town," he said.
"I'd imagine that would be us," Robin said.
Itzal's eyes glanced over to her, lingering for a moment, before looking to Franky. "In that case, welcome to Oculto Island," he said with a smile, bowing sightly.
As Itzal straightened, Franky sized him up and down, noting his stance, his composure, the movement in his arms… "You're a cyborg," Franky concluded.
Robin quickly looked up at Franky and then back at the Governor, her eyes narrowed as though trying to pick up on any of the cyborg-like features.
"Very articulate," Governor Itzal replied, now taking in Franky's build, "Though I suppose it takes one to know one, doesn't it?"
Franky beamed. It wasn't often that he came across another cyborg. To do so was a rare, but cheerful occasion. "Super right!" he chanted, striking his super pose.
Unfortunately, the other cyborg was not so flamboyant. Governor Itzal stared on blankly as Franky held the pose for a few seconds, before turning to Robin once again. "What brings you to this island?" he inquired.
Franky returned to a normal stance, grumbling.
"We were caught up in a storm," Robin explained, "We were originally staying on a neighbouring island, but the storm washed us here."
"Oh, is that so?" the Governor questioned, "Yes, there was a storm out as sea earlier. It missed us. They often do. We usually get the rain though… People arriving here having gotten lost in a storm is a fairly regular occurrence, actually. I would offer you an immediate ride back to where you came from, but as far as I know there won't be any boats or ships departing this island for a few more days. There's no connecting sea train here either."
"Maybe the others will come and get us," Franky said to Robin.
"I should warn you that this island is not one that registers on the log pose," Governor Itzal informed.
"That's strange," Robin remarked.
"You get that sort of thing sometimes in the New World," the Governor stated, "Though islands that are undetected by the log may be among lesser strange things."
"That will make it difficult for them to find us," Robin noted, "That's alright, we can wait for the next departing ship. In the mean time, there's got to be a way we can contact them…"
"You can't make any normal Den-Den Mushi calls from this island as of yet, unfortunately," the Governor said.
"We've heard."
"However, we have some excellent courier pigeons you can use. They won't take long to get the message to your Nakama."
Robin shrugged. "That's better than nothing," she said, "Whatever is necessary."
"In the mean time, do you have a place to stay?" the Governor asked.
"I offered them one of the cellars," the innkeeper beamed.
"Very generous of you," Governor Itzal commended him, "However, I think elsewhere may be more suitable," he turned back to Franky and Robin, "You're welcome to stay at my manor until you've made some arrangements."
"At your manor? Really?" Robin inquired.
"Until you have all things sorted and are prepared to leave Oculto Island, yes."
"Is that really okay?" asked Franky, "Because that's super nice of you."
"I often offer a place to stay for lost travellers like you, I have plenty of space," Itzal dismissed, "Now come along, I'll show you the way."
Muttering a brief farewell to the innkeeper, the three exited the tavern and departed out into the night. As they walked back a similar way they'd come, Franky noticed a few of the stalls closing down for the day. Others showed no sign of shutting, their merchants bragging loudly into the night of their goods and wares, trying to rope passers-by into a transaction.
Robin's voice alluded into his thoughts as she asked the Governor about the island's history. Franky noticed the Governor had lent her his coat.
"Our settlement here is fairly recent, actually," Governor Itzal responded, "This town was founded by myself and a few others merely a decade ago. Since then, many travellers have come by and decided to make it their home. You'll find that there's no poverty on this island either. Our residents are supplied with all they need."
They strolled further back the way they had come, but suddenly turned off to the left just before reaching the bridge. The Governor led them away from the main bustle of the town, across another bridge and past a few decadent houses. Franky would have taken more time to look around, but Itzal's pace was fast and he didn't want to fall behind. There would be plenty of time to explore later, he reminded himself.
From here, they passed into the territory of the town's wealthy. Lavish buildings lined either side of the street, extending back several yards. Elegant water features were illuminated in front gardens, and spiralling flowerbeds scattered around them.
Eventually, they reached the end of the boulevard. Here stood the most impressive of the estates. Situated at the end of the road and in the centre, its splendour made the other dwellings seem pale in comparison. Franky knew that against the now-dark sky, the building wasn't done justice. Neither was the land around it, and he was willing to bet that most of the island was property of this man, Governor Itzal.
"This was the first permanent building on the island," the Governor informed them whilst the gates in front of his manor smoothly slid open for them.
As they approached the rich wooden double-door, Franky took note of the building's steeply-sloping alpine roof and four-paned windows. He admired the way the architectural structure had been executed, making it both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing. It truly was an excellent construction; normally when Franky looked at even some of the best structures, he could still notice minute flaws. If there were any in this building, he couldn't see them. Perhaps the dim light was hiding any that were there.
Once they passed a gushing fountain, the front doors to the manor eased open, revealing a small party of manor staff waiting to welcome them. Entering the building, Itzal had his hat taken for him, whilst other staff fussed over their new guests.
"Housing some more lost people, are you sir?" a maid questioned as she took the coat Robin had borrowed and handed her a fresh towel, despite the fact the archaeologist had almost entirely dried off by now.
"For the time being, yes," Itzal responded to her, "Until they've made their own arrangements and sailed away… now, about contacting your Nakama…"
"I'll write them something now," Robin decided.
"Very well. I will have a pigeon take it when you're finished."
Franky waited as Governor Itzal led Robin into a nearby room, where he supplied her with a pen and paper. Robin quickly scrawled enough information for the rest of the crew to understand their situation and handed it back to the Governor, who passed it to the maid with instruction to take it to one of the courier pigeons.
"How will it know where to go?" Franky asked.
"Oh it will, trust me," was the response, "Now I beg your pardon, but I've been terribly unhospitable. I haven't even asked your names yet."
Franky glanced over to Robin, unsure of how to respond. They were wanted pirates after all. However, Robin's demeanour was strong and confident, and she spoke without hesitation. "Robin."
"Such a lovely name," Governor Itzal commented, before turning his attention to the other cyborg.
"Franky," he supplied without fuss.
"Well then Robin, Franky, pleased to meet the both of you. I'm sure you'd appreciate a place to rest, let's get to that right now."
Over the next few minutes, they were ushered down a long corridor and up a flight of stairs as the Governor lay down a few basic housekeeping rules and meal times. "There are a few places in town that do good food if you want to go out," he said, "But all three meals are supplied here seven days a week, and members of the community—as well as yourselves—are welcome to come along," he concluded as they approached a wide door. "Ah, we're here. This here is a living area you may share," he said, walking them into the spacious yet cosy living room, complete with a (given the weather, unneeded) fireplace. "You'll find ladies quarters down the hallway on the right, and gentlemen's' straight ahead. They each have their own bathrooms, so you may wash up. Dry clothing will be here by the time you're finished."
"You are very kind, Governor Itzal," Robin commended him.
"Just Itzal is fine," he insisted, smiling at her, "And you're most welcome. If you need anything else, just let me or one of the manor staff know. I will see you tomorrow." And without another word, he left them on their own.
Franky glanced around the living room. The warm fireplace sat in one of the far walls, already in use for them. In the corner stood a tall bookcase, packed with a range of paperbacks.
Meanwhile, Robin busily unloaded the contents of her still-damp shoulder bag, laying them out before the fire to dry. Sure enough, ink had washed messy trails throughout the notebook, rendering much of the contents unreadable. She next withdrew the novel she'd been reading out on the deck the day before, when Franky had made his not-so-subtle advance. The printed ink had not run at all, but the pages were in danger of being easily torn if left the way they were. Much like the notebook, she lay it out on its spine, allowing the heat of the fames to warmly radiate over it. Finally, she untied the length of red ribbon from around her wrist. She placed it over a small, low-hanging rack nearby, Franky vaguely noticing the twirling of the red strip of material somewhat resembled the markings on the pale cover of the novel. Satisfied, Robin hung the bag from the same rack as the ribbon, and stepped back. After a moment, she turned to Franky and spoke. "I didn't know you could tell a cyborg just by looking at them," she said, "Itzal doesn't have any visible outward modifications at all."
"They're all on the inside," Franky explained, "You can see in the way he moves, he's had some of his internal organs replaced with something. Also, I think one of his legs is entirely artificial. His left hand as well, maybe."
"I'm not surprised you can notice that sort of thing," Robin said, "I wouldn't know anything about that. Aside from what I've learnt from you, of course."
Franky quickly looked back at Robin. Was she… impressed? She then turned away, so he couldn't read her facial expression. He looked back to the idle flames of the fireplace, "Well he was right, you know. It takes one to know one."
Robin gave a small laugh.
Franky loved the sound. And he wanted to say let her know. "Robin," he began.
"Yes?"
Words were lost to him. "Umm… uhh… Well… It's nothing. I mean, it's not nothing… but… I—I forgot what I was going to say."
"Maybe you'll remember by tomorrow," Robin supposed. She turned, making her way in the direction of the women's quarters. "Goodnight, Franky," she bade him.
"Goodnight, Robin," he called after her, "Have super dreams."
He waited until she was out of sight and he'd heard the sound of her door closing, before taking a seat opposite the fireplace. He watched as the flames glowed and twisted atop the firewood. After about ten minutes, a maid arrived to drop off dry clothing and supplies and left a few moments later. Briefly, Franky looked over to the bookcase and wondered if there was anything worth reading, but didn't act on this curiosity, instead staying where he was seated. He remained in the living room a long while more, watching the shapes the flames made as they slowly dried Robin's belongings, the soft red ribbon flickering promisingly all the while.
We'll leave it there for now. I'm pretty sure 'ocultoa' roughly translates to 'hidden' in Spanish. There are a lot of Spanish speakers around the place, so I'm sure someone can correct/confirm this for me. Writing romance is really hard, wow. I guess because I'm really not used to writing it… Frobin is the only ship I've shipped hard enough to write something like this for though, so its defiantly worth it, and it's good experience (: Please share with me what you think, and if you have any tips!