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Their departure from Sabaody had been traumatic to say the least. Robin still remembered the feeling of helplessness at everyone just being transported away. She hadn’t known what to do and was the last one to go. The last one to see Luffy’s face as he realized he had lost his crew, wasn’t something she wanted to see ever again.
While she had landed with the Revolutionary Army and had been able to keep busy in the two years they hadn’t been together, a part of her kept yearning to be on the Sunny. Part of it was for sure the crew that felt something like family to her, as well as wanting to be there for Luffy when the news about Marineford hit. But the largest part wanted to see Franky again.
“I hope you are alright, My Heart, wherever it is that you ended up at”, she would say as she touched the earrings in her ears. Franky had made those somewhere after Thriller Bark. When whatever it was that was growing between them since leaving Water 7 got addressed and they tried their best to see where it would lead them. The life of a Pirate often wasn’t kind but having someone out there who could stand by your side through it all did help. Luffy and the crew also didn’t mind. To be a Straw Hat meant to be free, and that was exactly what her feelings for Franky were making her feel.
With the end of those two years approaching, she had to admit that she was feeling nervous. It had been quite a while and Robin was sure she had changed to. Being with the Revolutionary Army had helped her in ways she hadn’t known she needed, they helped her get stronger. Franky wouldn’t care about that, he knew she had been an independent woman from the start, someone who had needed to take care of herself for so long and he didn’t mind it in the slightest.
No, what made her nervous was the possibility of them not being compatible anymore. Franky must have changed too, in those two years, and she was wondering if that meant he changed too much for them to be able to continue where they left off. Biting her lip as her fingers toyed with the earrings she was wearing. Sighing, as she was well aware she couldn’t get ahead of herself. She’d know when she saw him, and right now that wasn’t the case.
--
“Ah, you must be our Super Archeologist, Nico Robin”, Franky exclaimed as soon as he saw her. A huge grin on his face and a light in his eyes that she realized she had missed.
Stepping onto the Sunny and the coating around her, she giggled before stepping closer, “It’s been quite a while, Franky…”
He’s standing in front of her before she can get her head wrapped around the fact that he is here. That they’re both back on the Sunny, so she just stares at him. Stares at the man she still recognized but who obviously did change over the course of the two years. He’s taller for one, she can see more metal on his legs and where before he still had human arms, that was a thing of the past now too.
She can’t say that she minds either, having known from before what Franky had been willing to give up to stop the puffing Tom. His human body wasn’t made to handle the strain he put it through, so changing himself into a cyborg had been the best bet.
Still, nothing prepared her for seeing him again, so changed. Yet, looking exactly the same. It had to be the eyes, those same eyes she had fallen in love with. Who were looking at her in awe, in honest wonder, and with so much love that she felt herself blush.
“If it isn’t our Super Archeologist, Nice Robin”, he exclaimed. Doing his signature pose with his arms and showing her the full size of them, as well as the stars he used to decorate them.
It felt right, the stars, a part of his persona as a whole with ‘super’ being his go-to phrase. But it also reflected them, the way they both would shine bright like stars when together and how, at off moments, they would lay on the deck of the Sunny to look at the stars above them. Just enjoying the little moments.
Giggling, she stepped onto the Sunny and gasped at the bubble that encased their ship, “What’s this?”
Franky stepped closer, one of his large hands opening to show a smaller hand. One that reached out so she could grab it and be more stable on the somewhat uneven bubble under her feet.
“It’s the bubble we need to travel to the New World”, Franky explained, “Rayleigh passed by a while ago to get it all set up and super explain it to me. It’s quite fascinating how it all works.” He rolled his eyes before continuing to explain that they couldn’t let it pop too much, so they had to be careful from then on out.
Looking around, Robin takes it all in. It feels so very good to be back once more. She had missed all of it. Had missed him too, but needed a moment to deal with it all. To get used to the fact that from now on they would be together again.
His large hand came to rest on her side, covering her thigh and her stomach. Just resting there as he moved closer, “I missed you”, he muttered. Her heart beating heavily against her chest as she nodded before turning around, “I missed you too.”
Never happier for her Devil Fruit, Robin let a couple of extra arms and legs grow so she had a step to get closer to his face. The height difference before had been doable but with the enhancements he had made to himself she needed a stool to reach him. Then again, if she asked Robin was certain Franky would gladly bend down for her too.
Smiling softly as she looked him in the eye, she placed her arms around his neck. Leaning in and pressing their lips together, sighing into the kiss as it really had been too long.
Pulling back, she rested her head against his, “This was almost all I could think about, you and me. The crew was part of it as well, but each time I did think of all of them you popped up once more. I truly did miss you, so very much.”
The smaller hands appear (as of course he has them on both sides) to hold onto her hips as Franky pulls her close, “Same here, I missed the crew and I worried for them. But it was you that I hoped to see first.” There is some hesitation there, before one of the smaller hands does come up to cup her cheek and pull her close once more. Another kiss being shared, sighing into the feeling and realizing that this is truly their home.
--
Once the crew arrives, with its usual chaos following them, Luffy’s call to set sail has them all cheering for this new adventure.
Sinking down into the depths and setting sail for Fishman Island, and beyond that, the New World.
Robin stays next to Franky as he steers them towards the island on the bottom of the ocean. Talking the whole time about what had happened while they were separated. What both of them had been doing.
Franky shared he had been dropped on an island that used to be a research center for Vegapunk. And while the man wasn’t there anymore he did leave enough notes and theories, as well as supplies, for him to work with. He went over everything he learned, knowing her thirst for knowledge, before explaining what improvements he made for himself. Both the obvious ones like the new arms, as well as the not so obvious ones like a chain in one arm so it could be used like a morning star or launcher.
Robin, in turn, shared that she was dropped in the middle of a mission of the Revolutionary Army. That they had taken her in and brought them to their base. Finding out that Dragon had a wealth of knowledge he had protected from the World Government and she enjoyed indulging into the many books and scrolls.
“So you became even smarter”, he offered, which made her laugh. Smiling at him as she mentioned that knowledge was power, that’s why the World Government is so afraid of it. Franky couldn’t help but agree there, as the main reason they had come after him was because of his knowledge of the Pluton blueprints compared to anything else he did know.
She stays at his side as they either talk, or have moments of comfortable silence. Never once feeling the need to move. Too comfortable just standing next to Franky after so long apart.
Until their actual arrival at Fishman Island and aiding Luffy as he deals with Hody and saves the royal family. Taking a moment for themselves as their Captain heals to just go on a date, eat out as if they would be just a normal couple instead of two well-known pirates. It creeps up on them how normal all of this is, how nothing seems to have changed despite everything having done so.
But, it does make it clear to both of them that distance does make the heart grow fonder. Keeping the love they have for each other going and seemingly multiplying now that they’re together again.
They talk it over, after coming back to the Royal Palace. About what they want in the future and how it’s clear that the other person has to be a part of that. Robin especially never expected to have something like that once more. To know that there are people out there that love her so much.
Additionally, she found a partner who loves her as she longed to be loved. Who knew of her strong points and her flaws and didn’t mind either of them. Who lifted her up whenever she needed it and who was there to catch her as she fell. Knowing that she would do the same for him, had done the same for him, and would continue to do the same for him from here on out.
Whispering that to each other, Robin remarks, “Those sound a lot like wedding vows.”
Franky blinks once, before he’s smiling softly back at her, “I guess they super are, I know you’re it for me, the only super woman for me. I wouldn’t mind getting married.”
She says ‘yes’ even before the question is asked, but they don’t need to have it asked for it to feel real.
Once they were back on the Sunny, ready to depart and with Luffy in good enough health, they went to find their Captain to ask him to marry them. Robin takes the time to explain that Pirate Captains often did this as marrying before an official court would get them arrested.
Luffy was quick to agree, and with a short interlude so Nami could be asked to be Robin’s Maid of Honour, while Usopp was asked to be Franky’s Best Man. It was swift, Strawhat style, and chaotic as hell. But it was everything it needed to be.
“Now you kiss”, Luffy crooned as Robin and Franky shared their whispered words with the world. Leaning in and pressing their lips together. Sealing something they had known would be theirs for a while now.
Giggling as they pulled back and Luffy declared them married. Cheering before calling for Sanji to bring the food and the cake. Despite him marrying them propper, or as propper as he could given his chaotic nature, both of them knew the main reason they had this wedding was so their Captain could have amazing food and a wedding cake to enjoy.
Some things would never change, and some did, but this; this would be eternally theirs.