Steel Heart

Ch 22 - Franky's Request

Franky leaned against the railing of the Going Merry and watched as Granny Kokoro placed Luffyon the mast head, shaped like a sheep. "There you go," the old hag said, "Be careful not to fall."

"Ah. Thanks, monster granny," Luffy replied with his arms and legs splayed out. Then he turned to stare down into the sheep's painted eyes, "And thank you, Merry. Thanks to you, we were able to escape. I never thought that you'd come, Merry...but when
I think about it, you've always protected us. I'm so glad that you're our nakama. Thanks, Merry!"

They had escaped Enies Lobby by the skin of their teeth. The Nana-brat's rampage had taken out three of the marine's battleships and the marines were about to retaliate when this little caravel came out of nowhere. It was nothing short of a miracle and
Franky was fully aware of it.

"At any rate," Franky sighed as he ran his hand through his tall hair, "You guys sure did pull one outrageous stunt back there. To start with, to think that you shot through the World Government's flag..."

Luffy flopped onto his back and stared up at the sky. "Well, it's no big deal...All we did was take back a friend, who was taken away from us," Luffy said. He lifted his head and grinned at Franky, "Thanks for helping us save Robin. When Nana wakes up,
I'll thank her too."

Franky rubbed the back of his head. "Ow! To me, it's no big deal as well," he scoffed, "And as for the Nana-brat...well..."

He cleared his throat and looked solemnly at Luffy, "I know I'm not in a position to ask for any favors...Especially after what my underlings did to your Long Nose friend...but I'm asking on behalf of the brat..."

"Nana-chan?" Sanji asked and he shot a look at the door to Nami and Robin's room. Nana was resting there while Chopper gave her a full check-up, "What about her?"

"I'm asking you to take her with you, Straw Hat," Franky said sincerely, "Have her super join your pirate crew."

"Okay," Luffy said as he yawned and stretched.

His nakama all fell to the floor except Sanji, who jumped and cheered.

"Think about it before you say yes, you idiot!" Nami and Zoro seethed at their captain.

"As much as I like her, I don't think she'd want to join...And I don't think she'd appreciate you making that decision for her," Nami said to Franky.

"Ah! Nana-swwwwan is so sexy and considerate!" Sanji cooed from behind.

"Oy, love cook, choose a side to this argument!," Zoro snapped.

"Yes, but her dream can't be achieved unless she leaves Water 7," Franky replied to Nami, ignoring the two bickering men, "She probably doesn't even realize it herself. You're right though, Nee-chan. She will probably put up a fight if you ask her to
come."

"Then why should we?!" Zoro demanded.

"Because the Government is already going to associate her with you guys...with pirates," Franky said, "Me? I already work in the underworld so dealing with marines is nothing to me...but now that they've seen Nana fight alongside you guys and they know
her name...she can't go back to her normal life anymore...especially with that foolish stunt she just pulled."

There was a tense pause as the Straw Hats realized that Franky had a valid point.

"Luffy...I mean I have no problems with her joining but you should really-" Zoro started to say.

They all turned to Luffy and then everyone's jaws dropped to the floor when their eyes fell on the snoring rubber man. "HE'S ASLEEP?!"

Chopper came out of the girl's room at that moment and he looked around the deck. "What's going on?"