Hey guys! Ready for chapter 2? I loved the response that this story got, and I cannot wait to hear more from you guys! This chapter is going to be a little shorter than the last one, but the next chapter is long so it works out. Hope you guys like it!
Una sat on top of a log, slurping her soup as her friends chatted around her. Gaius and Lissa, arguably her closest companions, were talking about the homemade chocolate the villagers at the harbor awarded them. Henry, Lissa's fiance, and Owain, their son, were only a few feet away with Inigo and often interjected their own opinions in the conversation. Chrom and his family were settled at a table, listening in interest as Cynthia dramatically recounted different stories she had heard. Nowi and Stahl, the newest couple in the Shepherds, were giggling about something in the corner. Victims of young love, no doubt.
The tactician dropped her chin in the palm of her hand with an irritated huff. How was it that all her friends were in relationships and she was still alone? She wanted to say that she didn't mind, but it was getting harder to feign indifference when meal times became the couple meeting grounds. It wasn't like she was avoiding romance; quite the contrary. It was often said that Una was one of the more romantic Shepherds, yet she still managed to remain unmarried for an exceedingly long amount of time. It was rather unfair.
Her eyes flickered up to the sky, frowning when she noticed it start to shift into a heavy blue on the horizon. It would be nightfall in no time, and if she didn't double check everything for tomorrow's march, she wouldn't be able to sleep. This was too big of a mission for her not to be prepared.
With a sigh, she returned her bowl to Miriel and trotted off to the supply tent. She waved Frederick off from his duties so that he could eat, taking his notepad and continuing organizing the weapons," Alright, so we have three steel swords, two iron axes...when did we get a silver sword?" Una let out an impressed whistle as she jotted it down," Lon'qu will appreciate that. His killing edge was getting pretty worn down-"
"Talking to yourself?"
Una let out a surprised shriek, chucking her notepad at whoever snuck up on her. The young man groaned at the impact, a familiar enough noise to cause her to relax," Inigo?! You scared me half to death!"
"Why is it every time we meet, I gain a new bruise?" He whined, rubbing the sore spot on his nose.
"That'll teach you," She shot back haughtily as she retrieved her notes," Sneaking up on girls in not an effective way to garner their attention," Una turned her back on him and moved onto spears," So, what can I do for you?"
She could practically hear the smile in his voice," Care to join me for some tea?"
Una rose her eyebrow in amusement, sending a pointed look towards the moon peeking through the opening of the tent," Isn't it a bit late for that?"
"It's never too late for tea."
The purple haired girl clicked her tongue in disagreement," Sorry, no time for anything so frivolous today."
"I'm deadly earnest, my lady!" Inigo gasped," I assure you, there is no frivolity intended."
"I'd be more apt to believe you if you hadn't already invited half the ladies in the army," She teased back. The young mercenary had only been with the Shepherds for less than a week, and Maribelle, Lissa, Cordelia, Anna, Say'ri, Sully, and Tharja had all come to her with complaints. If anything, it surprised Una that it had taken him this long to move onto her.
Inigo pressed his lips in a thin line," Well, well. Is that how it is? My heartfelt invite, earnest as earnest can be, trampled under your sweet boot!"
"I don't think "earnest" means what you think it means," She replied absentmindedly as she checked off the helmets on her list. She stuck the tip her tongue out as she counted the amount, only finishing once they were all accounted for,"...Especially between us."
The brunet coughed and quickly averted his eyes," T-Then even more reason to talk over tea! We mustn't let these misunderstandings cloud our relationship and keep us apart," Without warning, he snapped his fingers," Stay put! I will be back before you finish tallying those torches!"
Una couldn't keep an amused smile hidden as he nearly tripped over himself leaving the tent. He really was nothing like either of his parents, and part of her wondered where his philandering ways originated. She would have to ask either Lucina or Owain about it later.
As he promised, Inigo was back in no time with two cups of tea in hand. Una opened her mouth to protest, but an idea popped into her head before she could go through with it: it wouldn't hurt to keep him busy and give the other ladies in the army a break. But then again...she tiredly waved towards the weapons behind her," Inigo, I have to work."
"You can work and have tea at the same time," He assured," You don't even have to take a seat with me, though I would be honored if a lady like yourself chose to do so."
"You're cornering me into teatime?" After a few seconds of deliberation, she decided not to take offense," You must be very desperate for female attention."
He pouted as he poured his beverage," You would not believe the day I had. A girl agreed to join me for tea, and I was on cloud nine-"
"You're right."
"I'm-what do you mean? I've barely started my story."
Una smirked impishly from her spot in front of the breastplates," You on a date with a girl? I find that unbelievable."
"You wound me, my lady."
The eighteen year old grinned innocently as she crossed the room, taking a quick stop for a sip of tea," Well, what are you waiting for? Go on."
"She spiked my drink and robbed me blind while I was out cold! She even took the shirt off my back!" Una rose her eyebrow,"...Left the pants, though."
"That's...good to know," Una swiftly scribbled something on her notepad," I'll have to talk to Chrom about that."
Inigo's eyes widened to the size of boulders," N-No! Could you imagine his response? I'd be the laughing stock of the army!"
"It's better than getting penalized because people thought that you blazing through camp without your shirt was a form of harassment," She had to cover her mouth to keep herself from laughing at his appalled look," If it makes you feel better, you would be a laughing stock with or without your shirt on."
"It does not," He whined, dropping his head on his makeshift table with a loud thud," I'll never live this down! How will I convince the ladies in the army go to tea with me now?"
Una rolled her eyes,"...You're incapable of taking anything seriously, aren't you?" She sipped her tea, using the spare time to think of some good advice," You know, you might have better luck with women if you cut down on the glib banter."
"Glib banter? Moi? Why, Una, you do me a grave injustice! What you see as glib is the unvarnished reverence of a heart that yearns for love!" With newfound determination, he hopped to his feet, took the cup out of her hand mid-drink, and winked," I just have to find the right girl. And, strange though it may sound, I find your grumpy cynicism alluring...," With his free hand, Inigo scooped one of hers up and pressed a quick kiss on it," We must talk like this again soon!"
With that said, the philanderer left Una to venture into the night. She blinked a few times, trying to fully process what had just happened. He found her grumpy cynicism alluring? Una grumbled and wiped the back of her hand off on the skirt of her dress," I am not grumpy."
Alright, short and sweet like I promised! This chapter was heavily based off of their first in-game support, but I added a little pizzazz in there to work with Una's character! We will start to see a bit more of other characters in the next chapter, but this story will mostly revolve around Una and Inigo. If you guys have any suggestions, I'm always open to them and loving hearing from you! And, carrying on my favorite tradition, review response time!
Hammerschlag: Thank you so much! I think that banter is incredibly fun to read (and write), especially with this couple! Thank you for your lovely comment!
So, I think that since I am a theatre student (fun fact: I am in college as a stage management major), most of my uploads will be on Mondays! This way, I can keep it consistent and give myself time to write a new chapter if I fall behind. Thank you guys for reading!
-Uprisingdragon
