Our house

Chapter 4: Childhood

There was an unofficial rule in the house that Sanji's flat was always open if someone needed a place to hang around or food and no one would have to leave hungry (except Luffy, one of Usopps flatmates, who was always hungry, even right after he ate). Most of the time one or all of the other residents would join together for meals, because Sanji always made too much food anyway and everyone (most of the time Luffy and Usopp) was out of food from time to time. It hasn't taken long for Franky to join in on their rituals and to appear when it was time for either breakfast or dinner.

The big table in the kitchen was also used for smaller gatherings and could be seen as some kind of common room. It helped that the flat was in the first floor so everyone had to pass it eventually.

Robin enjoyed to meet the younger residents there, quite often helping them to learn and study. Even if it wasn't about history. She just loved it when people learned. And she loved to help her young friends.

Like this late morning, she is helping Chopper, the youngest in the house, to learn all the bones in the human body. A fun task.

"Thanks a lot Robin! But now I have to go. The lecture is starting soon. Thanks again!" with that the boy stood up and hugged the older woman. He then hurried out shouting "Zoro! We need to go!". A smile was plastered on Robins face. She still remembered her first meeting with the boy. That was two years ago and now he was preparing to enroll in college earlier, already joining lectures in a special program.

"No need to shout! I can find the way alone!"

"No you can't! You'll get lost and we'll be worried sick for days until you find your way eventually or we'll find you."

A grumpy man with green hair, Sanji's flatmate, shuffled through the kitchen, looking rather tired.

"Good morning, Zoro."

The only answer Robin got was a grunt. She was still smiling though. Even the grumpiness was nice. This whole house and it's residents made her happy.

"Hey, a super good morning! Sanji said something about a broken cupboard?" And there was the newest one.

"Ah, yes," Zoro scratched his head. "But I didn't listen to what the idiot said so have fun figuring it out. I have to bring Chopper to his school."

"Hey! That's not true!"

And with that they left.

"All right...", Franky looked around to find the broken cabinet, while Robin watched him, still smiling and enjoying her coffee.

"I think I found it," he was standing right in front of a cabinet without door. The door wasn't just off but torn out of it, so two huge holes were in the cabinets wall.

"How?!" he looked at Robin, gesturing vaguely. She just shrugged and continued to smile and watch.

"Where are the boards?" he looks around to see them standing at the side. Broken no... cut in half. "What?! What did they do?"

Robin couldn't help herself and started to snicker to which he turned around and looked at the her. Still a smile on her lips she returned the look: "I'm not sure if it's your job to repair that. They destroyed it and they should pay for it, or not?"

After some looking forth and back between the cupboard and Robin he finally shrugged:"It's no problem... I could rebuild the kitchen completely though... but I will ask Sanji first..."

"Do you allow me a question?"

"Sure, go ahead," he started to tinker with the doors.

"Why do you want to renovate such an old house? It's a lot of work, isn't it?"

"Yes it is. But it's fun. And this house in particular because it reminds me of the house I grew up in. A reminder to my childhood. It is a good and fun job. What about you?" It had taken him only a few moments to reassemble the cabinet and to repair it enough so it would be of use again.

"I live here because rent is cheap. It does not remind me of anything... but this is the first place I can call home," Robin blurted it out before she realised what she had said. Her voice had even been melancholic and full of emotions. It really was strange that she was so open with Franky. Maybe because he was so open himself?

"Really?" He was already hanging the door back into it's place. "Then I'll take special care to make this house as super as possible!" With finishing the sentence, he finished his little job and turned to throw her the biggest smile possible.

Robin suddenly felt her brain getting lightheaded and her heart making a hard thump. In a need to occupy herself she emptied her cup and hurried to put it into the sink.

"Hey! Are the others already gone?!"

"Uh, yes." she looked at Usopp who had used this moment to walk inside the flat, "Chopper and Zoro just left. Nami is having some appointment and Sanji is working the early shift today."

"Okay. Then I'll take care of Luffy," with that the young man grabbed his lunch from the fridge, also taking Luffy's and threw it to his flatmate, who also entered through the door: "MORNING!"

"A super morning to you too!" Franky waved at the younger man.

"See ya later!

As suddenly as they had appeared they had left again. Robin could hear the front door open and close and now the house was too silent.

"Sooo..."

"I... I have to work. See you around, Franky."

This time it was her who fled. She never had a place to call home when she was young and only when she finally arrived here in this house she had felt that she could finally settle down. When the house was in danger to be bought by the government she made a deal with them to give private investors the chance to buy the house. She did had a plan to get the money but the house was sold to a private person too soon. As it appeared that was a good, maybe even a greater solution. Franky would make this house "as super as possible". For... them.

A confused smile crept on her face, while she walked up the stairs to her flat.