"Lissa! Just what were you thinking? Trying to go obtain recon all by yourself is dangerous!" Chrom chided toward his little sister.
Lissa sighed, lately, she had been feeling a bit down. She had always had really bad self-esteem issues when it came to being a Shepard and especially when it came to her image and reputation as both a princess and a member of the Exalt Family. As such, Lissa was looking for ways to improve her use to the army. The past few nights, however, she had been sneaking out to collect info on enemy troops in nearby towns.
"B-but I just... want to be more help to you and the rest of the Shepherds!" Lissa sighs deeply.
"And it is a noble cause, but it does not justify your actions! You could have gotten seriously hurt, or gods forbid something even worse! You're lucky someone saw you sneak off when you did or else we may not be having this conversation right now."
Lissa pouts, her cheeks flaring up in frustration. "O-okay... so maybe it was careless of me... I promise not to do it ever again. Can we just move on now?"
"This is more serious than just a simple mistake. It's not going to go away so quickly. You are being hunted by assassins! This is a very serious matter, and as such I'm going to have to assign you a bodyguard. I'm not taking any chances!"
"Aww what?! A bodyguard? You mean a babysitter... laaaaaame!" She huffs.
"Lissa... you and Emm are all I have. If anything were to happen to you, I don't know what I would do... so please, just trust me on this. It will keep my mind at ease knowing that you are being protected."
The princess sighed once more, this time in guilt. "I-I'm sorry, I'll be more careful and listen to you more. I won't be as careless." She agrees and then pauses to ponder a bit. "So who exactly will be guarding me? I know it's not Fredrick or Robin, they have their hands full of plenty of tasks already... oh gods, please don't let it be Vaike or Sully! Vaike is a good person, but ugh sometimes he really smells and Sully... she'd probably boss me around and force me to train with her 24-7!"
"Lissa do not pout. I know this arrangement isn't ideal but it's necessary for your safety."
"Yeah but no matter how you put it, I know it's just another way of saying-..."
Suddenly someone entered the tent and Lissa turned to see a rather familiar tall man. He was taller than any of the other shepherds and needed to duck his head just to enter the tent. "You needed me for something, Captain?" The man questioned. Lissa's mouth dropped a bit as he spoke. His voice was so deep and captivating, and his eyes were sharp and insightful. His dark locks were a bit of a mess, but that added even more charm to him.
"Oh Lon'qu, I've been waiting for you." Chrom greeted. "I know you haven't been in the Shepherds for long, but I have an assignment for you. I need you to guard my sister, Lissa. You two have met before right?"
"Y-you want me to g-guard your sister?!" He stuttered in both embarrassment and fear. Lissa was still captivated by Lon'qu, his strong and muscular arms and torso just made her want to embrace him deeply.
"I know of your phobia, and I put that into great consideration, but even then, I still think you are the best candidate to guard Lissa... May I remind you that Khan Basilio ordered that you are to help with our efforts in any way you can?"
Lon'qu sighed deeply, as his eyes rolled over to Lissa, her face soft and delicate. Gods, he could feel the heat rising to his cheeks right now. "V-very well... as you wish Captain." He answered in defeat.
"Thank you. Now, you are to continue with your duties and such Lissa. We'll give you more details of this arrangement later. Understood?" Chrom questioned.
"Yeah, Yeah... I get it." She nods as she begins to walk out of the tent, and Lon'qu follows, albeit a few feet away, but still attentively. She turns back to look and Lon'qu and gives an expression of confusion as she runs back to meet his pace.
"S-stay back! No closer than 10 paces away from me at all times!" Lon'qu snaps.
"I-I'm sorry! Did I do something wrong?!" Lissa pouts softly.
"It is nothing personal... I have a big aversion to women." He sighs looking away, his face a bright red.
"Oh, yeah that's right..." She nods. Gods, it's only been two minutes and things were already incredibly awkward. "So... we met in Regna Ferox..."
"Yes and?"
"Uh... well... um..." Lissa froze a bit, usually, she was way more expressive and eloquent with her words than this. She had been a bit shaken up by him since their first meeting in Ferox, and the few times she was around him since then felt like she was walking on eggshells. There was also the fact that Lissa found him incredibly attractive... wait no, she shouldn't even be thinking of such things! She snapped out of her thoughts and noticed that he had left her in the dust and ran to catch up with him. "H-hey! Slow down! Gosh, are you always so... abrasive?" Lissa huffed as she caught her breath.
"T-ten paces woman!"
"Oh right sorry." She sighs. "Isn't that a bit too far away, though? You're my bodyguard, you know... you gotta be close to guard my body."
Just at the mere suggestion of being close to her made Lon'qu's cheeks a rosy pink.
Lissa couldn't help but smirk, it seemed that he was easily embarrassed, she was going to have fun with this! "You know maybe all this isn't so bad after all... maybe I can help, 'cure' you of your fear..."
"E-excuse me?"
"I think you know what I mean..." She giggles as she skips ahead of him.
"W-wait! Don't go so far ahead!" He then sighs. "This girl is going to be the death of me..."
"So... this is what you do most days?"
"Yep!" Lissa nods. "Gotta take care of the medical tent, make sure everything is in stock, attend to the wounded, make sure everything is sterilized, mix concoctions and elixirs... that kinda stuff."
The swordsman looked upon the young princess in curiosity, as she scurried around the supply tent, organizing all the supplies. Usually, his only duties were the occasional lookout and guard duty, and maybe dinner duty, but other than that he spent most of his days training. He had no idea that Lissa was so busy. Weren't Princesses suppose to take it easy?
He snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed the small cleric struggling to reach up on her tip-toes, trying to get to a box that was stored on a high shelf. He walked up from behind and with ease brought down the box from storage. "Here..."
The Princess smiled brightly with a soft giggle. "Thank you so much!"
"I-It was nothing..." He stutters, his face growing red, swiftly turning away so Lissa couldn't see his increasing embarrassment. Luckily, she was preoccupied with the other boxes full of supplies.
"Hmmm... this is going to take me at least three trips to get all of these all the way to the medical tent..." She sighs. Suddenly, Lon'qu takes all the boxes in his grasp at once and begins to walk out of the tent without missing a beat. "W-wait!" Lissa calls out as she runs out to follow him. "You don't have to carry all of those! It's my job to-..."
"I do not think you can manage even one of these boxes."
"Aw come on, I can totally can carry one of them!" Lissa pouts, as Lon'qu looks down at her and scoffs softly.
"Just tell me where to go."
Lissa sighs in defeat. "Thank you..."
Suddenly a familiar (and loud), voice called out. "Hey Lonk, you wanna spar a bit with ol' teach?"
"Not right now Vaike, and how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me Lonk?"
"What?! But you always want to spar! Asking is just a formality by now and-..." Vaike exclaimed, and then noticed the small princess beside him. "Oh-ho-ho! I see what's going on here!"
"T-there is nothing going on here Vaike, go back to whatever you were doing." Lon'qu retorts hastily.
"I didn't know you had a thing for delicate little short stuff right there!"
"Hey! I'm not delicate!" Lissa snaps.
"Who knew you liked them small..." Vaike snickered.
"Cease this at once Vaike!" Lon'qu ordered, clenching his teach in embarrassment. "I'm merely following orders as her bodyguard."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be 'guarding' her body real well..." Vaike laughed.
"Vaike! Leave him alone! He probably doesn't want to spar with you because you smell and have meat for brains!" Lissa huffed as she began to pull Lon'qu away. "Let's go, Lon'qu!"
"M-my arm... t-that's my arm you are touching!" Lon'qu rambles nervously. However, Lissa is too fed up with Vaike to even notice. When they reach the Medical tent, Lissa finally notices that Lon'qu is practically hyperventilating.
"O-oh gods! Are you okay?" Lissa exclaims in panic. "U-um, just sit down here okay? Don't worry, everything's going to be okay. T-try to match my breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth..." Lon'qu followed her instructions, his breathing beginning to regulate. "That's right... just take it easy..."
"T-thank you..." He breaths.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to make you panic like that."
"It was not intentional, it is ok..." He sighs. "You are surprisingly... calming."
"Well, it's my job! If I can't calm people down during traumatic events, how am I to heal them?"
"R-right..."
"Hey, just take it easy for a bit okay?" Lissa reassures. "I'll just finish up organizing everything and you can just sit and relax there."
"O-okay..."
Lissa begins to do her usual routine after a major battle; making sure that everything is in it's proper place so during the heat of battle everything can be found without wasting time. A few seconds can mean the difference between life and death in most situations. It didn't take her long, usually, it was the carrying of boxes that took the most time.
She then turns to Lon'qu. "Do you want me to make you some tea? Maybe an Elixir? You're looking a bit pale."
"No... I think I am fine now. Thank you." Lon'qu sighs.
"Are you sure? Is there anything bothering you?"
"It is my phobia... how am I to protect you? I can't even be near you... it is pathetic."
Lissa sighs contently. "Is that all? Lon'qu, things take time. Being afraid doesn't make you weak or pathetic. You're just human. I'm sure you are more than capable of protecting me. I trust you more than anyone with my life."
"Thank you..." He nods, a small hint of a smile gracing his face. Suddenly, he begins to see images of that day... Blood all over her dress and his hands, mixing with undying tears. He begins to break out into a cold sweat.
"Lon Lon... why didn't you save me..." The small dying girl mumbles to him in his arms. "Why did you leave me...?"
"I-I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!" Lon'qu mumbles in distress.
"Lon..Qu..."
"LON'QU!"
The swordsman then jumps in shock, broken out of his trance.
"Stay with me Lon'qu!" Lissa shouts at him. "It's going to be okay!"
Lon'qu breaths shallow irregular breaths, as he lifts his head, only to see soft green eyes. "I-I'm sorry... I do not know what has gotten into me..."
"It's okay! I'm just worried about you." Lissa sighs in relief. "You seemed really far away, and the look on your face... you looked absolutely petrified. Now I know something is wrong, I'm gonna have to give you a check up and-"
"No! I am fine!" He snaps, then a look of regret appears on his face as he sees a very surprised and hurt Lissa. "I'm sorry for raising my voice, just please do me a favor... tell no one of this?" This is met by a slow and timid nod from the princess. "Good. We should go. It is almost dinner time."
Lissa nods once more, as she follows behind Lon'qu, her worries for the swordsman only growing by the second.