Hey hi I'm back

"Love, calm your temper a bit; these tent walls won't constrain your words."

"How can I be calm?" Despite his agitation, the timbre of Chrom's voice lowered. His rebellion rested instead as an exasperated shadow of Robin; she kept her mirth carefully masked, nodding sagely and without expression.

"Robin, you didn't see him—the way he was just upon her, like a vulture would a carcass—overeager! It's too much! Had Lucy not pleaded honor, those heinous fingers of his would be well down Minerva's gullet."

At that, she could not contain her laughter any longer. The ferocity of Chrom's paternal safeguard and the fact that their equally ferocious daughter had toppled over in a fit of tickling and giggles was too much. The outburst went on well over the span of Chrom's patience; he huffed and trundled over to the cot, planting himself beside Robin with a less than threatening bounce.

"It may seem an amusing jest now, but it was not a pleasing sight to fall upon. My daughter pushed down, the clown of the army hovering over her? It does not sit well with me, not at all."

Seeing how truly conflicted the prince was, Robin moved closer and circled her arms around his chest in a comforting embrace. "You are a good father, Chrom. Not only have you taught our daughter to fight, but you have taught her to be gentle and with discernment. Lucina is not daft; she can protect herself."

Hand shadowing hers, Chrom leaned into the softness of the envelopment. "So it is easy to say, and yet my heart stirs achingly."

She kissed his temple. "I can make it stir for another reason if you wish to be distracted."

"Oh, dear gods."

The royal couple jolted out of their almost-kiss, eyes snapping toward the tent front. Lucina shifted guiltily from one foot to another, the picture of embarrassed. Surprisingly enough, Chrom recovered first; he crossed his arms over his chest, looking on Lucina with the stern expression of one about to unleash a mighty lecture.

"Lucina."

She came to then, pulling herself up into the regal stature of one with practiced confidence, but Robin knew better. The hand on her sheathed Falchion shook minutely, and she worried at her bottom lip.

"Father. I would like to explain the situation you happened upon, as well as ask that you revoke the orders sending Inigo into the front lines… without a weapon."

"Chrom!"

Robin earned a sheepish glance before it shifted back into impassivity. "Explain what happened, honestly, and I will think about it."

"Very well," she sighed in response, steeling herself. Letting her eyes flicker between her parents, assessing her mother's amusement, her father's poorly hidden throes, she recounted the moment.

"I know it may be difficult to believe the womanizer of the army had no business you might conclude beyond t-tickling me," Chrom almost growled at her maidenly blush, "I can assure you that it was partly my own fault. Inigo was simply merry-making; it was my glum demeanor that caused the mishap. He only wanted to evoke a smile, not a trifle with you, Father."

Knowing both her daughter and Inigo by the point, Robin wasn't worried by the exchange. The fact that the mercenary had shown a shockingly unromantic interest in Lucina made her curious. There had to a stealthy development going between the two that even they themselves hadn't noticed.

Chrom didn't seem so invested; the poor philanderer conveniently tripping on their daughter remained his focal point.

"No matter. He vies for your attentions, does he not? Seeking out my daughter unceremoniously—I'll have him tied to a damned stake—"

"I believe that's quite enough," Robin interceded; Lucina relaxed under her playful wink. The former placed an elegant hand on her husband's thigh, angling her body to look him properly in the eye. Chrom stilled, allowing himself to be calmed.

"We'll discuss this properly together, yes?" At his reluctant nod, Robin dismissed their waiting daughter with graciousness. "Lucy, if you wouldn't mind, we will see you later. And, with our wonderful prince's permission, tell Inigo he needn't worry about becoming Risen food on the front lines."

"For now, that is."

"It's settled for now, then!" Robin clapped her hands and smiled broadly at the young princess. Knowing her brilliant tactician of a mother already had this metaphorical battle undertaken, Lucina relieved herself after a brief parting gesture.

"Don't think I don't know what it is you're doing."

She blinked innocently, laying a hand on Chrom's arm. "My, I haven't a clue as to—Naga, have you been working out? But you are looking so well in shape."

"As a matter of fact, I have—blast it, Robin! Enough with your hijinks!"

The banter had already had its affect on the tactician, however; she giggled at Chrom's vain attempts at sobering her, and even then he was fighting back a chuckle of his own at her infectious laughter.

"If I knew better, I'd have thrown you out of the tent and consulted Lucina myself."

"Yes, well, this is an egalitarian marriage if I recall correctly."

"Funny. Seems more matriarchal to me."

"Hm?"

"Nothing, sweet. I will admit that my anger has subsided…for the moment. There will be no oaths to hold me back the next instance I set eyes on that scoundrel."

Though the notion itself was a bit comical, Robin allowed herself to be more rational and rebuked the thoughtless statement. "You're irritated still, and with reason, love. But could you imagine how Olivia would feel hearing this? We both know her son has more in him than you walking in on a poorly timed moment."

The fog in Chrom's mind cleared at that, and his head bowed in submission. "You're right. It isn't right of me to behave like this, especially when Lucy has come before me twice to plead her cause…."

Robin draped herself over his shoulders, looking on fondly as he mulled over it. "Any good father would be upset on his daughter's behalf. But this Lucina is much older than the one home; she is almost our age, and can uphold her own honor."

The truth was always a bit jarring. The Ylissean prince blinked and nodded slowly, running calloused fingers over the arms round his neck. "Though I know what you say to be true, I will not withdraw any counsel, at least. Different timeline or no, Lucina is my daughter. Our daughter."

Appeased in the direction the conversation had gone, Robin deflated against his back, face falling into the warm skin of his throat. Aware of their much needed isolation from the rest of the Shepherd's, Chrom stirred at the soft lips on the juncture of his neck and shoulder, all other thoughts flushed out by a sudden burst of affection for his wife.

"We are finally alone," she echoed his thoughts, pressing a sweet kiss into his skin.

"Indeed," he intoned darkly, already pushing her down onto their shared cot.

The air was cooling and the sun had begun to sink into the horizon, casting a mountainous silhouette over the land. Everything in the campsite was peaceful; Shepherds meandered about and conversed quietly, creating an intrinsic moment of camaraderie. Lucina etched it into the timeless part of her memory, almost forgetting the man at her side for a moment.

"Oh, what did he say, Lucina? What did he say?" Inigo fretted closely at the young Exalt's heels, desperation coloring his voice. Although his fraught was humorous even to her, Lucina relented once they were out of earshot.

"Don't worry about being on the front lines or without a weapon. Mother was there when I entered their tent, and you should be grateful for it. Father was livid."

An angry Chrom was not a pleasant Chrom; Inigo winced, silently thanking Naga that the pitying tactician had been on hand. Otherwise, the Exalt might've hung him publicly by his, ah… nether regions, never you mind the law of the land. It felt like open season on his ass around her father these days.

"I'm grateful for both you and Robin, and as such, I must apologize for behaving in such an uncivilized manner with you."

Blindsided by his genuine conviction, all Lucina could do was blink and respond with a flat, "It's okay."

And so the turmoil inside of her heart ensued.

The Ylisse heir and dancer had know each other for a long time—since birth, actually. The Shepherds always remained close to Chrom's heart and his side. Lucina grew alongside the other young Shepherds and, ergo, knew almost all of them like the back of her own hand. One of the few who managed to remain an enigma just so happened to be the man shrieking and jumping away from an equally startled toad, jostling her shoulder hard enough to send them a-tumbling.

"Crivens, Inigo!" Lucina barked as well as she could from under his substantial weight, "Get off me. Must you be so damned heavy?"

Wounded and thoroughly mortified, Inigo rushed to his feet blushingly, pulling her up with him. "I can hardly help it. You've seen my brute of a father; I've only to thank him for inheriting that devilishly muscular body of his."

"…Okay?"

The thought of Chrom's personal retainer and friend being 'devilishly muscular' was enough of a disturbing image to chasten Lucina. She contented herself with a neutral silence as they neared her tent, but companionable as it was, her mind returned to the frolicking dandy at her side time again. What was that tightness in her chest when Inigo's hand enveloped hers, hoisting her up and close enough to feel the warmth pouring out of him? And these thoughts in themselves; of what nature were they? Why did the prospect of them parting irritate her, leaden her steps the closer they got to departure?

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Well, I was wondering why you are still accompanying me. My tent is but a horse length away, Inigo… and all of the bears in a ten mile radius of here are in the stewing pots."

"What man would I be, letting a fair maiden such as yourself—okay, okay, don't look at me like that! To be quite honest, I'm enjoying your company. It isn't often that we walk together like this, not anymore. Oh, wait a moment, would you? Severa, you elegant snake, but aren't you a sight tonight—"

"Pray to the gods, Inigo, for you are anything but a man!"

"Took the words right out of my mouth, Princess. Shut up and go be a fop somewhere else, would you?" Severa snapped, putting the icing on the highly offensive cake. The girls stomped off in opposite directions, leaving a very confused Inigo in their wake. Resigned and trying his best not to linger on the stinging aftermath of two rejections, he was just beginning to set off into the wood when a rustle from above vaguely stirred his senses.

"…Women. Rough night, huh, Chastity?"

The voice seemingly came from straight out of nowhere, startling Inigo out of his wits. It took another slurp and waft of something sweet to pinpoint his gaze on a tree not ten feet from where he stood.

"I still find I rather dislike that nickname," Inigo grumbled, patting imaginary dust off his trousers. Gaius grinned around a lollipop from his perch, looking the picture of comfort.

"Really? I'd say it's my best one yet." The candy thief preened in the latter's discomfort, eyes a little too keen for his own good. Gaius was one that had managed to wriggle into Robin's inner circle what with his quick wits and odd skills, but there was a hidden aspect of the former adversary that got under Inigo's hide. His intrusiveness? Perceptiveness? Stealthiness?

The redhead popped the treat out of his mouth, gazed at it as if pondering his own existence, and threw it over his shoulder before retrieving another from one of his many pockets. Ah, that's it. Inigo thought, cupping his chin thoughtfully. That wily bastard throws away women like those lollipops.

All the while Inigo silently placed his rather hypocritical judgment on him, Gaius' shrewd green eyes never left the dancer. He smiled suddenly, and although his lips swelled ridiculously around it, the simper left Inigo unsettled.

"Y'know, you ruined my chance tonight. I was thinking about talking to ol' Blue Jr. there, and even as she is wont to be alone by this time, here you are…. Also, you better watch who you flap those gums at, Chastity. Sev doesn't need protecting, but that doesn't mean I won't do something about you."

"Gods, is every father here after me?"

"Lots of skirts around here have daddy's. Watch which ones you chase, and you're good."

Tucking away that little nugget, Inigo revisited the jokester's aforementioned comment. "Why do you need Lucina?"

Gaius waggled his lollipop at the younger, nosy man, the faints traces of a smirk playing on his lips. "She seems a bit down these days. I was thinking of giving her a good time tonight, a break from all that brooding…."

The rest of it was lost in the boil of Inigo's blood, some of it rushing to his cheeks, the rest dispersing in an angry tide throughout his body. Good time…? Lucina wasn't one for late night visitors, was she? The thought fired his soul; despite knowing not where these powerful emotion originated from, Inigo released them in a rare moment of disparity.

"Enough, Gaius. Might I ask you to look back on your own advise? Lucina might not be a notch you want under your belt."

"Have you forgotten the good favor of my position? I doubt there would be much resistance should I formally court Lucina. Now, Chastity, if you will excuse me," he dismissed Inigo easily.

The tree squealed in retort as Gaius leaped to the ground, landing with a soft thump. He mocked saluted Inigo in passing, his feet pointed in the direction of Lucina's personal tent. Inigo swallowed the ugly knot forming in his throat, fighting savagely to retain that princely smile, but the second the retched man called her sweet name, the gates were bashed open.

His fingers curled, notching his fist before releasing a nasty sucker-punch.