Heartbeats
Robin chose to live, rather than end the Fell Dragon for good, but ever since, has been plagued with unanswered questions and terrible thoughts, however Lucina is always there for him.
It had been nearly two years since the war to put an end to the Fell Dragon had drawn to a close. The joyous time that marked the defeat of the Grimleal and their twisted ambitions had too, been brought to an end- and many of the heroes who fought for Exalt Chrom had scattered to the four winds, each to live their own lives. They had come back together a year previous for the actual wedding of Robin and Lucina, which was much more extravagant than their small ceremony held in the days of the war, but that didn't keep them. The couple did promise to stay close, but on Lucina's request, they did move out of Ylisstol proper, and eventually settled down not far from Southtown- and not far either from the place where the couple actually first met. It was quiet life, one where they did not have to worry about the nuances of court, or the problems of there being two 'Princess Lucinas', but at the same time, they were never far from the comforts of friends and family.
Yes, the world was at peace, but something always tugged at Robin's heart. He had done everything he could- he won the war, without a single notable casualty within his immediate ranks- everyone made it home to their loved ones, and many with new ones. But whenever he thought of it, Robin always looked back, with some sense of regret— regret that he did avoid all casualties. He had a chance to end the Fell Dragon for good, and he squandered it, an act that while not a soul in the world has ever told him was wrong, he always felt like he made a mistake. No, he thought, there should have been one casualty: himself.
Sure, Laurent sought his ways- a way to kill Grima's very spirit, while he remained trapped in the Dragon's Table, and he knew he could trust Laurent, but it still made him wonder the chance of failure. He never could shake that doubt, not until the day Laurent's plan succeeds- which doesn't seem immediately likely. So it was times like this, that he would find himself lying wide awake, unable to sleep, due to nightmares of some distant future past- where Grima had awoken yet again, but this time, it were not he, nor Lucina or Chrom's time- no they lay long dead, ages had come and passed, and as the world cried for help, the Exalted line could not answer. It was thoughts like this that always plagued him, ever since that day- that day where he chose his life over certain victory.
He had spoke of this many times, but always, no matter who he talked to, he'd be told the same thing, that he should be glad for his life, and that he made the right decision, but often times it still felt wrong. But there was someone he knew he could talk to, who even when she didn't agree with what he was thinking, which when it came to talk of his decision, was always the case, made him feel happy, and she always had her ways of making him realize his life was important.
"Lucina.." Robin said softly, looking at his wife as she lay next to him. She had certainly changed- not physically, but she definitely wasn't the same. Her mission to save the world was accomplished, and her attitude had certainly taken a turn for the better. She still lived with the weight, and painful memories of loss, but her true self, her underlying nature to just be a normal woman had come forth like none other. Of course, Robin thought, looking at her, that she had changed physically- or was changing. She was, simply a mother to be.
"Robin…? What is it?" Lucina asked sleepily.
"I… need to talk…" Robin said, rubbing his hand, the brand of Grima an ever present reminder of what he almost became, and the threat he allowed to survive.
"It still bothering you?" Lucina asked, placing her hand on his.
"Of course, Lucina…" Robin said, "I can't avoid it. Even now— Grima's still out there. I should've killed him."
"No, Robin, you would've killed yourself in doing so." Lucina said, "You've already secured our future."
"Have I truly?" Robin asked, "Or have I merely willed Grima onto our children?"
"We— I wouldn't even be having a child… if you died that day." Lucina responded, pulling Robin close to her, and bringing his head down onto her body.
"…I know that, but I'm some kind of a craven fool for choosing my life over the safety of the world. I'm just one man. We're just one small family."
"No you're not. Loathe as I am to have to recall it, but the day I almost killed you—"
"I told you I'd be willing to die on your blade…" Robin responded. "But I should've had that same conviction when I was facing Grima."
"No, I was wrong that day. You didn't need to die then, and you didn't when we fought Grima." Lucina said with confidence. "I know, at times you feel otherwise, but the world needs you more. I need you."
Robin smiled as his head lay on Lucina's belly. "Three heartbeats…" he muttered, "twins."
"And I wouldn't be having them were it not for you choosing to live that day." Lucina said, "No, I'd be alone… I probably would've left Yilsse… but you made me stay."
"I found it strange— I knew I would be a father the day we met Morgan… but I still remember it: Morgan had a sibling…" Robin closed his eyes and cringed, "a brother who we killed." He closed his eyes and remembered the fight in the Outrealm- that eerie outrealm that was not at all unlike Lucina's own nightmarish future.
"Something's wrong…" Robin said, his eyes quickly surveying the surroundings. "These risen are way too smart. Something is commanding them. Something or someone, and they're very skilled— almost as if whoever it is knows my tactics… it couldn't be me could it?"
"Wait… I see him, that one there!" Lucina said, pointing at a cloaked figure, a sorcerer by Robin's judgment, "The way he's acting… he must be their commander!"
"You're right about that… but what commander would give away his position so readily… is this some kind of trap?" Robin said, his voice falling to a whisper, "SULLY! KJELLE! Cover… KJELLE! I've got the enemy commander!" He shouted at the two knights on the other side of the hall before charging at the sorcerer.
"You're… human..?" Robin asked as the sorcerer approached.
"Yes, but… I serve only Master Grima. You Yilsseans will die." The boy responded.
"What—!? You're but a child!" Robin exclaimed at hearing the boy's voice. "Why would you—? Who are you?"
"There's no point in me introducing myself to my foes, and any exchange of information might weaken my cause." The boy swiftly responded, "Now, die! Septuaginta duobus daemoniis oriatur..! By will of Darkness! ARS GOETIA!" The boy flung his hand forward his eyes narrowed at Robin, "You… who look so much like Master Grima… but are my enemy… die..!"
A blast of magical energy erupted around Robin, and he braced himself, however, before the spell could fully form, he was shoved to the ground, and out of harm's way by Lucina, as she exclaimed how she would keep him safe. As the haunting laughter of the spell faded, the two got up on their feet and Robin held out an ornate spell book- a tome colored blue, marked with the image of a dragon, and trimmed in gold.
"…I'm sorry, but I win this fight." Robin said, "Thy power floweth purely, ever unwavering! Now Divine Dragon, heed thy pact, wrought in blood..! Angeli canticum praeludia draco rugiet! COME! NAGA!" Robin exlcaimed, and a vortex of light in the form of a mighty dragon formed around the boy, before exploding in a brilliant, explosive blast of prismatic light.
"..It's not over…" The boy said, magical energy arcing from his hand, and swiftly engulfing the remains of Robin's spell. He swung his arm back, colliding with Robin's chest, releasing a blast of magic as he did,
"Damn… Counter.." Robin said, as he slammed into the ground. "I… should've seen that…"
Lucina looked down at Robin, and then back at the sorcerer. "Hope. Will. Never. Die!" She exclaimed, plunging her lance into the boy's chest.
"..Master… Grima…I'm sorry… my life… draws short… but…" The boy staggered back, dropping his Goetia tome to the ground, his blood dripping over it. "I.. promise.. never.. to forget… you…" He fell to the ground, his blood pooling around him, his cloak having fallen off his head, revealing navy blue hair, and the mark of the exalt on his right eye.
"...It… Can't be!" Lucina exclaimed looking at the boy she just mortally wounded. With Robin on his feet, she ran to the boy.
"Go… away.. enemies… of Grima…" The boy said weakly.
"Gods, no..!" Robin said, looking at him, "What have we done?!"
"Why… do you look… at me… like.. that…? The… exalt… brand… means… nothing."
"Who are you…?" Robin asked, placing his hand behind the boy's head.
"My… name… doesn't matter… but… I am… Mark. I… was born… to serve Master Grima… me… and my sister… Morgan… both…" the boy choked out a few words, before his eyes closed, and his limbs went completely limp.
"Morgan…?! That means…"
"Gods…! I should've died for that alone." Robin exclaimed. "We… murdered our son."
Lucina placed her hand on Robin's forehead. "But we can make it up to him— he'll never turn to darkness. You've secured that for him- or at least our twins… but, if you died back then, Robin, you wouldn't get this chance, I wouldn't get this chance- I never fancied myself a mother until I met Morgan, but she made me realize how much I truly want, and you've given me that chance."
"Lucina.." Robin said his wife's name as her arms wrapped around him. "…I suppose you're right. Given the chance to raise them, we'll make it up to the one we killed… besides, as fun as Morgan was to have around, she was already grown, and yet she still did make me want to be a father to her- both to her and well... her."
"See…" Lucina said with a smile, "You need to be alive— for at the very least those three heartbeats, mine and our children's."
"But.. I'm still worried that Grima will rise again."
"If he does, we'll cut him down, just as last time."
"But what if we're not there— what if it's beyond our time?"
"Then he'll be brought down by the exalt of that time." Lucina said, her words assuring Robin. "and, anyways, we promised we'll not allow it. We'll secure our future together, as a family— and with Laurent and Noire working at that plan to use Alm's Falchion to cut down Grima's soul…"
"I know, I know their plan— it just worries me. What if it fails?"
"It won't, so please stop worrying so much, for me, Robin?" Lucina chuckled, it was a bit ironic, her telling him to not worry, she thought, remembering that it was he who once had told her those very words.
"Alright, I will for your sake… at least for now," he said, rolling himself to look into her eyes, before gently kissing her. "Thank you…Lucina."
"Robin…" She smiled softly, running her fingers thru his hair following their swift kiss, as he lay his head back down onto her, listening to the three heartbeats within.
Author's Note: One of the two notable prompts from SFF:FFtF. Kinda hard to write. But, w/e.