Work Text:
“A special flower”.
That's what Franky remembered Robin saying.
The girl's birthday was tomorrow and all Franky had was one sentence. Robin always read a lot, Franky never understood what she was talking about, but he always listened to her and tried to understand. The little girl loved asking Franky philosophical questions, and the boy was embarrassed to give the simplest and most idiotic answers – according to him.
But he remembers that the little one loves flowers. And he remembers something about “philosophy of beauty”, he read that term in one of her books. The thing is, his birthday was tomorrow and he had no idea what to give her.
– Usopp! – He runs towards his friend, passing the school children.
– What?
– Can you help me with something?
– Of course. – The friend responds promptly. – What?
Franky then pulls his friend away from the courtyard, which was full due to the end of classes, causing him to shout disapprovingly. When they are away from any prying ears, Franky begins:
– I want to create a flower that never dies. – He speaks directly.
– What? – Usopp widens his eyes.
– Robin likes flowers and likes beautiful things. And tomorrow is her birthday. I want to create a flower that will be beautiful forever. And you need to help me, because you know about flowers. – He blinks his eyes.
– I don't know if that's possible. – Usopp says, nervously adjusting his glasses. His friend's excitement always leaves him static. – It’s a complicated science.
– Complicated? – Franky questions, starting to wilt.
– Extending the lifespan of plants has been tested before. Now an immortal plant is impossible.
Usopp watches his friend wither and becomes sad with him. But, well, there's no reason not to try to console him.
– Franky… – He begins. – Sorry, I can't help you create a flower that doesn't die. Because the flowers die the moment you pluck them.
– What?! – Franky seems even more shaken now. Congratulations Usopp.
– But wait! – He raises his hands. – You can still create something beautiful.
– Like? – He says, still hopeless.
– Beauty is relative, bro. Do you think I'm beautiful? – Usopp asks, making a funny pose.
– No, ew. – Franky responds. But that doesn't seem to discourage his friend.
– But my sister thinks so. – He raises his thumb. – And my mother too.
– Nami too. – He whispers in the corner.
– What?
– Nothing. Tell me, oh lord of wisdom, what is beauty then?
– You tell me. – Usopp points to his friend. – What do you think is beautiful?
– Robin. – He says simply.
Franky can visualize it in his mind. His friend was always the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Her short black hair and bangs made her cute, her smile was radiant and she always wore beautiful clothes. And she was also the nicest person in the world. And very intelligent. Sometimes Franky felt like he didn't deserve to be her friend.
– It needs to be something else. – Usopp breaks him out of his reverie. - Like…
– Metal… – Franky says, uncertain.
– Hm? – Usopp asks in surprise. – Oh yes. You like building things, right? Are there metal flowers?
– Usopp! – Franky lights up. – You are a genius! Need to go.
– To where?
– Home! – He shouts, walking away. – Thanks for help.
Usopp sees his friend walking away, jumping for joy.
– Did I really help?
– Usopp! – He hears a voice calling him.
– Oh, hi Nami. – Usopp sees his friend approaching.
– What were you and Franky talking about? – She looks at her friend running somewhere.
– Gentlemans’ secret. – He puts his hand on his chest with an honorable pose.
– Oh right. – She rolls her eyes. – Ok then, do you want to go to the ice cream shop with me, noble gentleman? I pay.
– Of course! – He responds excitedly.
– Alright, let’s go then. – Nami responds to his excitement. She grabs his hand and pulls him away in a hurry. – I need to go home soon.
– Hey, wait!
Usopp ends up tripping.
– // – // – // –
Robin had a great day. His mother made him a special breakfast and his friends wished him a happy birthday at school. Nami and Sanji even gave her a book that she had wanted for some time. Now she waits for her mother at the exit. Everything was perfect. One less thing.
Franky didn't go today. Obviously not, he is not obliged to go to school on his birthday. You are not obliged to remember your birthday, nor be present, much less wish you congratulations or care or even…
– Robiiiin!!! – She hears a scream, it actually attracts the attention of the entire school. It was Franky.
He stops in front of you, panting. His dark circles are visible and he has some bruises on his visible hand. The other is hidden behind you.
– Franky…
– I don't have much to give, but you once said you wanted a special flower. So I tried to make a flower that won't die and will be beautiful forever. – He shows what he was hiding behind his own body. - Happy birthday.
Robin looks statically at what appears to be a flower made from metal alloys and other materials. She is beautiful. It has small details that seem to have taken a lot of time, such as notches and small metal folds. But what shocks Robin most are his friend's words.
“A beautiful flower that lives forever”.
– Thank you, Franky. – She smiles, taking the flower in her hands.
– I don't know if you can consider it special. – He says shyly, scratching the back of his head. – But, well… I tried.
– Franky, what do you think makes a gift special? – She asks, looking at her flower.
– Oh, well… I…
– Beauty is relative.
And he remembers it. That's what Usopp told him.
– The beauty of something is in its recordings. Eternity is in memory.
Robin rambles again about something philosophical that Franky never understands. He always looks silly when he looks at her talking about smart things.
– I won't forget this. – She looks at him.
– What? – He whispers.
– Your flower is the most special. Because it was you who gave it. And it will last forever.
Robin looks at him sweetly, making Franky shy at the depth of the moment. Did she really like it? Franky is happy. Very.
– Robin! – They hear a voice calling. It was her mother who came to pick her up.
– I'm going. – She waves back. – Bye, Franky.
She touches his arm and approaches, Franky freezes as the girl he likes kisses his cheek and smiles at him. Robin just walks away calmly as he watches her walk away, hand going to her kissed cheek, not believing what just happened.
– It seems like it worked.
– What? – He looks to the side. It was Usopp.
– The gift. Everything went well, right?
– She kissed me. – He says, perhaps to see if he believes it when he says it.
– I saw.
– Thank you, Usopp. – He looks at his friend. – You helped a lot.
– Did I help? – He says, confused.
Usopp still doesn't know exactly what, but it helped. Obviously the great Usopp could do it.
– // – // – // –
Prologue ~
– But what about the meeting with Nami yesterday? – Franky asks.
– What???!!! – Usopp screams.
– Huh, didn’t you go to the ice cream shop? – Franky says, covering his ears.
– But… – He whispers, static.
– She said she was going to call you. That it was a date and that she would even pay.
– Huh… – He looks at an emptiness in front of him.
– Usopp? – Franky passes his hands in front of his eyes.
Usopp is paralyzed.