Title: Pegasus knights
Characters/Pairings: Sumia, Chrom, Cordelia
Summary: Metal clashed against metal, spear against spear, and Chrom paused to watch as Sumia and Cordelia sparred.
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CLANG! Metal clashed against metal, spear against spear, and Chrom paused to watch as Sumia and Cordelia sparred. Mounted on their Pegasi, they swooped and soared high above the ground. Cordelia raised her lance as she suddenly rose, almost skimming the belly of Sumia's steed. Even though the tips of these spears were blunted, Chrom almost cried out a warning.
Not that he needed to. At Sumia's command, her Pegasus climbed higher and higher, barely dodging Cordelia's second attack. Each pair moved like they were a single being, as though the Pegasi were merely an extension of their rider's body. Smoothly, they flowed from position to the next as the two women duked it out. At the beginning of the war, Chrom would have declared Cordelia the superior fighter, from her time with the Pegasus knights.
Now, there was no clear victor. War had changed them both. Whatever clumsiness Sumia had on land, she showed none of it in battle. Their mounts tumbled through the air as each woman tried to find a window of opportunity, a single chance to overwhelm the other. Sumia rose, ready to drive her spear down, when she caught sight of Chrom.
It was like watching a carriage crash. Flushing like a cherry tomato, Sumia squeaked and dropped her lance. Cordelia swerved last minute to avoid knocking her friend off and Chrom quickly leaped away before he could get speared by the lost weapon. Mortified, Sumia clutched her head. "S-sorry Chrom!"
"Chrom?" Cordelia yelped, craning her neck as she looked down. Spotting him, she immediately sat up straight. No doubt she was embarrassed. However, she couldn't compete with Sumia, who had buried her face in her Pegasus' mane, a low moan escaping her lips. Composing herself, Cordelia gently steered both her and Sumia's mount to the ground. "What brings you here?"
He glanced at Sumia, but she kept her face firmly pressed against her steed. Running a hand through his hair, Chrom felt awkward. It was just the sparring grounds, there was nothing to feel embarrassed about, but whatever Sumia had, it was clearly contagious. "Nothing, I was just passing through. You're both really impressive."
Surprised, Cordelia blinked, before giving a small smile. "Thanks." She patted her partner's neck. "Without the war, it's hard to make sure they get enough exercise. Besides, we can't let our own skills get rusty."
"I can't imagine that you ever slack off in the first place." Whether it was something as simple as sewing or as complicated as combat maneuver, Cordelia never tired in her efforts to ensure she mastered it entirely. Chrom was pretty sure he'd never seen her rest.
Sumia slipped off her Pegasus' back, her face still buried in its mane. Muffled, she apologized profusely. "Ohhhh, I'm so sorry. I could have killed you! That was…I'm just a mess."
As she wailed, Chrom gingerly reached out and patted her back gently. "No, I should have warned you. But I was just…mesmerized watching you two. You were amazing up there."
She peeked up, teary. "Really?"
"Yeah." Oh good. Lissa had told him his comforting skills needed work, but this time there were no issues. "You both are really skilled."
"Thanks." Cordelia tucked her hair behind her ear, pleased. "I…I was wondering…" She bit her lip, trailing off hesitantly.
It was rare to see the ever-confident Cordelia so tongue-tied. Chrom gently prodded her to continue. "What?"
"The Pegasus Knights. I…I want to rebuild it." Cordelia swallowed before giving him a steely look. "It won't end with me."
There was no doubt in her eyes, no wavering in her voice. The mark of a true commander and maybe that was why her team had spared her, sending her back to avoid certain doom. Chrom nodded approvingly. "Their legacy is in good hands."
Her expression brightened and she relaxed. "Thank you." Turning to Sumia, she grabbed her hand and pulled her toward stables. Obediently, both of their steeds followed along behind them. "Come on, we have work to do."
"W-w-we?" Sumia swallowed, looking down at their clasped hands. She quickly glanced behind her. Spotting no one, she turned back, pointing at her chest. "ME?"
"Who else?" Cordelia's brow rose, an amused smile on her face. Chrom covered his mouth, unable to resist the urge to snicker.
"But me?" Sumia covered her face with her free hand. "Ohhh, I knew I should have done a petal fortune this morning."