"Lon'qu?"

"Hm?"

Although he was a few feet away, perched up against an oak tree, Lon'qu was able to hear her melodic voice call out to him. His arms crossed over his chest, and his arm was able to wrap around the grip of his sharp sword, ready to attack if the occasion arose. Keen eyes focused on her body—crouched a bit, and not really moving much at all. He found this unusual, since she would be hopping around making crowns out of flowers, or talk to him in order to pass time as the others in the group would go out and fight.

He had been with her practically the whole day, and that was the first time she'd address to him. Unknowingly, he found himself somewhat worried. It was obvious the blonde royal was upset, but he didn't bother to press and ask. Not that it was any of his business, anyway, but Lon'qu simply couldn't help not hearing her babble on or ask him random questions as usual. It didn't feel right.

Lissa didn't bother to turn to him as she began to speak. "Hey... Um... Do you... perhaps think..."

Lon'qu pushed himself off the tree as her voice dimmed down into a quiet mumble. "What?" his raspy voice pressed.

She visibly flinched—which made him frown. Lissa ripped off a threat of grass from the patch next to her, and shook her head after a moment of silence. "Never mind."

"Lissa."

"Nothing."

Moments later, he approached her just as she was mumbling about going back to camp because it was late (contrary to what she said, it wasn't too late), and hesitated for a moment, before grasping her shoulders. "Hey."

Her eyes widened. His gynophobia wasn't being triggered... "You're touching me, L—"

"Tell me, dammit..." the myrmidon muttered, shaking her softly for emphasis. "You're upset... and it's not like you to be like this. Who do I have to stab."

"N-no, that's not it-!" Lissa squeaked as he shook her, tensing up, but relaxed after he stopped. "Do I bother you?" she suddenly blurted out. Her wide eyes now averted from his face, and down to the ground.

Lon'qu gaped at her for a few passing moments, almost baffled at her question. Did she think she bothered him? Was that the reason why she had been down all day and avoided eye contact and speaking? It made him upset, himself, because she was anything but a bother to him. Pestering, yes. Funny? Yes. But a bother to him? Never.

"I just feel like a burden," the blonde cleric continued. She then let a bitter laugh breeze through her lips. "I see everyone put effort into everything; Robin, Chrom, Frederick, you..."

"Hm." The raven-haired male shook his head. "Woman, you're anything but a bother. You bring hope and joy in all of us... I believe that's something only you are able to do out of the group." He let go of her shoulders, trailing them down to her arms as he leaned in. "Everyone needs that optimism, don't ever say you're a bother."

Her body had frozen in place as he spoke. All her eyes could see was his black, messy locks as he scolded (it was more like simple whispering) to her ear. Her cheeks flushed in a red color, and she had dropped the pieces of grass she had been toying with. "L-Lon'qu?"

"I need you the most, Lissa," he finished off. His body evidently trembled as he calmed his urge to drop her and step away from her before she would hug or touch him. "This is why only I protect you. You are not a burden, nor a bother. So, wipe that frown off your face, it doesn't fit you at all."

When he pulled back to see her shocked face, her quivering lips curved up into a smile. Grunting, he tucked some of her free hair from her face, nodding. "Better."

a/n: sick + avoiding my sociology paper isn't being productive. on an upside, everything can be p much shipped in this game tho lol :D