It's 'great' to be young

Day two: Night

They had stayed in silent company for some time now. Franky standing at the helm, fearing he would finally fall asleep sitting down, while Robin sat on the bench, wrapped in a blanket she had found inside it.
She grew an arm with an eye near the pen to watch Chopper who, after a couple of moments, had hid in the hut to finally get some sleep. Then she had started to look up into the stars enjoying the momentary peace and silence. Franky on the other hand felt his thoughts spinning and in the end he always came to the conclusion that he should not have been such a jerk.
„I'm sorry I scared you," Franky suddenly blurted and Robin felt her body tense but she continued to stare at the sky above her. „But I know who you are and I was kind of afraid! The knowledge you have..."

Robin swallowed and pondered the situation. She carefully stood up and walked up to him to stand beside him. Trying her best not to panic, a lot of emotions coursing through her.
„So?! What are you gonna do? Call the Marines like everyone else? To get my bounty?"
Her voice was cold but she couldn't cover all of her fear and disappointment. She really had hoped they could finally have a truce.
„What? No! Fuck them!"
Now, that was a surprise. She had no idea where this was going so she looked up to Franky, seeing his Profile against the starry sky.
„I don't know what I'm going to do. Nothing I guess. I mean you are dangerous. No child would get such a high bounty for nothing! I don't care for the World Government or the Marines but they do think that when you're out of the picture the world will be...," he couldn't bring himself to say ‚a safer, better place' because his future self would probably disagree.
Heck he had to disagree. She had been nothing but protective towards the kids and tried her best to help everyone on this ship. She took care of the little reindeer that was supposedly the doctor so it wouldn't starve or get hurt.
It couldn't be true! If she was part of this crew. If she and him were... would be in some kind of relationship... It wasn't like the World Government wasn't full of shit so why should he believe them at all?

But Robin couldn't hear his musing and the unsaid words hung in the air. And Robin knew them. She had heard them way too often. She bared her teeth. Fury boiling in her, like she had rarely felt it. She was furious about the situation, about this man standing with her on this ship. About the world itself. Right now she felt like the demon they titled her. If she wanted to, she could kill him right now. But that would only prove THEM right. She was better than that. Still she grabbed his arm and shoved him so he would look at her. And he was, with shocked, surprised eyes.
„And why should the government lie? Right? They only want the best for everyone, right? What reason should they have to hunt down a child if it's not dangerous? RIGHT?!"
Her voice had become threatening and cold and Franky actually backed away. That reaction made her feel more powerful and even more dangerous. Franky was taller and maybe stronger but she had a reputation. She let the blanket fall from her shoulders like a cloak, stepping towards the man.
„But you know, don't you? You know who I am, you said. So, you know the danger, don't you? But guess what! It's never been me who destroyed anything!"
„I know about Pluton."
She stopped. Het anger vanishing into thin air.
"I know about the weapon. I know that you can awaken it. That is why you are dangerous. That is why we have the blueprints. As countermeasures."
And with that her fury was gone. Replaced by complete confusion. What was this idiot talking about?
„Blueprint?" her brows were furrowed.
„A ship that can destroy everything... Pluton. You can read the Porneglyph that is needed to resurrect it."
„Plu...", her eyes widened. This manchild right in front of her had the blueprints to Pluton? But why? How?
„W..."
„I mean... Iceburg has them. Just two days ago, Tom told us about them... about you... the danger..."
Robin took a step back. She couldn't believe what she just heard. She turned and started to pace, trying to process the situation. How could it be, that she met a person who knew about Pluton. A person who had the blueprints. Where did he get them from?! She wanted to ask all of this and turned again to start, but then she saw the terror on Franky's face.
"What is wrong?"
"Tomorrow is the day of Tom's trial. And I'm not with him."
Robin stilled all her movement. It was just so weird. He actually looked fearful.
„M... Maybe not?" She wasn't the best person to give emotional support. Not even to herself. But that didn't mean she shouldn't try.
"Ma... maybe the trial is already over for years. As long as we're stuck here we don't know."
"And what if not?"
"What... what do you think," she haltet a moment. "What do you think Tom would want you to do?"
He seemed to think about it before hefinally answered: "To keep the kids safe," he rubbed his eyes. He was so tired. „And to do it with a DON!"
"Then... do that. And... go to bed. I'll... I'll keep watch. We need you rested tomorrow. Wake Brook up."
"No... I can do it. Just... I don't know...," he shrugged and Robin once more looked up at him.
"Tell me about Tom."

He stared at her but then smiled while he started to talk to her about Tom and how the greatest shipwright of all time took in a small castaway and how they started to build the seatrain all those years ago.
"... and now he is having his trial. I mean I'm not really worried that he won't be free of charge after all but I'd like to be there with him to give him moral support," he sighed. At least Iceburg and Kokoro were still there. He once more looked down at Robin. She had picked up the blanket again to shield herself against the wind. She was a great listener who barely ever interrupted him and asked very pointed and smart questions that added to the story.
She was amazing.
"He sounds like a great person. The rest of your family too. They care about you."
There was a certain sad- and tightness to her voice, her head held high but looking somehow fragile and Franky really wanted to pull her in a hug and to protect her.
"You... you don't have anyone?"
Robin snorted, her head sinking down a bit: "What do you think?"
"I'm so sorry for you..."

Surprised at the tone from him she turned to see him... crying?
"Are you...?"
"No! Shut up!" With wild gestures he wiped over his eyes. How could he start crying in front of Robin?
Robin continued to stare and finally couldn't help herself anymore, she started to laugh: "You are such a weirdo!"
"Like you're so normal," he answered with a laugh, tears still streaming but less now. "No offense but that limb growing is freaky."
"What about your blue hair? That is not normal!"
"Hey! Compared to the orange, green and yellow of the kids it's not too unusual!"
Robin still smiled, shaking her head. She must be tired too. The last time she had laughed, really laughed, had been ten years ago when she had met Saul. She sighed, feeling melancholic again...
But maybe it was fine after all. Maybe, after all this time she had finally found a family like he had promised. Would have found them in another ten years. She could wait that long or enjoy it now. At least the awkwardness was gone and suddenly it made much more sense that Franky and her were actually friends. Something occurred to her.
„Hey, did you find evidence of our relationship?" Robin felt a little bit awkward asking that. "I mean we are in the same crew and well, I read a few things that suggest we could be friends... or maybe not... so... I wondered if you found anything while you searched?"
„Uh...," Franky was really thankful for the night that hid his blush rather well. „I guess I found evidence that we are... friends..."
„Friends, yeah? What kind of evidence did you find?" At least her future self persuasion tactics didn't have any negative consequences, it seemed.
„Yeah well, I found this diary and the owner... uhm future me?... wrote very highly of you, so..."
„I see... can I read it? Maybe there are some clues in it."
„NoThereArent!!"
The way he said it made Robin cock her head. How weird. Well, he was a weird person after all.
„I mean... there is nothing of importance about our situation in it," he made a gesture to brush it away.
„Sure," she would need to find it later. Just because they finally had a truce did not mean that she trusted him. Especially not when he was blatantly lying.

Franky peaked down on the log pose: "We should arrive soon."
"Yeah," Robin walked back to the bench to stand on it. And stared to the horizon. She was thankful that the moon had risen, giving them enough light to continue. "I can see an island."
"Okay, let's find a dreamy little bay to anchor."
Robin nodded, keeping watch and Franky maneuvering the ship until they found a place they both deemed to be safe enough.

When finally the anchor had been dropped Franky stretched and yawned.
"You should finally go get some sleep," Robin remarked at him.
"Yeah, yeah...," he glanced at her. "You'll be fine?"
"Of course. If I need help I'll wake up Brook."
Franky nodded. He felt really tired and he really should go to bed but at the same time he didn't want to leave Robins side. But he couldn't find a reason that would make sense as to why. So he stalled with looking around, doing nothing.
The girl beside him frowned: "Good night, Franky?"
"Y... yeah. Good night," with that he turned and left towards the women's cabin.
Behind him Robin shook her head. He was really a very weird person that still made no sense. Just a couple more hours before she would wake up Brook.