A/N: Ah, the end of the road. Watch as the feelings are finally embraced. Let's save my personal thoughts until the end, and get to the good stuff!
Lucina knew that she had to confess soon. After last night, she didn't want to delay it any longer, since she now had a very good idea of what Robin was missing. He said that the hole he had was being filled again, but Lucina believed it needed something more. Moreover, his demeanor around her was something shared with nobody else. She just wanted to know if he loved her at this point.
The thought was among the first that emerged in Lucina's mind as she woke up one morning. She didn't think of sleeping anymore. All she thought of now was admitting it. And she felt quite secure doing it, since they mutally trusted each other.
"I have to do it now...it'll only get harder if I delay it." she said to herself.
Getting up, Lucina made a beeline for Robin's tent, with one goal in mind: confession. At the same time, though, she didn't want anyone else to see what she was in the dark, presumably a sentiment shared by Robin, this warranting her complete silence as she walked towards his tent.
Standing in front of it, she began experiencing a few, unseen signs of nervousness. She began to tremble and felt her heartbeat speed up. Of course, braving one's fear was the next step to success in anything.
"Okay...let's not waste any time." she said to herself. "I'm doing this now and I'm doing it without hesitation."
Taking a deep breath, she pulled the tent flaps open.
To her complete surprise, Robin was gone. No trace of him anywhere in the tent, but his bed was done and any clothes on the ground put in appropriate places. On his desk, there was a small note. Curious, Lucina picked it up and read it.
"To any visitor: went to see a merchant an hour's walk from here. Will return soon."
Lucina scratched her head. "Why would Robin go out to see a merchant...and at this hour?" she asked herself. Disappointed, she left the note back on his desk and walked out. The waiting game was going to eat at her soul this morning, it seemed...but she had to toughen it out. For him.
Robin was walking across the dark fields, dressed in a thicker version of his robes to keep him warm, in the direction of a traveling merchant that he knew was around. He needed a few weapons, on his own gold, of course. He hadn't traded with any merchants before, but from his inquiries with Anna, they usually had good stock.
After a little more while, Robin spotted a tent in the distance. Surely this was the tent where the merchant was. He made a beeline towards it.
The merchant was busy tending to her own belongings and counting funds, not noticing the tactician closing in on her domain.
"Hail, merchant!" said Robin. "I come seeking trades!"
The merchant, not paying attention, was cautious off guard by Robin's unexpected presence and was a bit spooked.
"Ah! Hail, traveler. You scared me a bit there, you know." she said.
"My apologies." said Robin. "What's in stock?"
"Ah, a buyer, are we? Come over here and have a look at my inventory..."
The merchant went to a nearby chest and opened it, Robin behind her. A large selection of weapons laid before them.
"Take your time." said the merchant.
Robin began looking through the goods, hoping that he'd find anything of use to him.
"Let's see...a Levin Sword! I'll be taking this." said Robin. "And a full Thoron tome as well...Anna wasn't lying about the good stock, indeed. I find myself in urgent need of an Arcfire, too. This will be all, m'am."
Robin laid the weapon and tomes on the ground, then pulling out a bullion, handing it over to the merchant.
"Wonderful! Enjoy your goods." she said.
"Thank you." said Robin, pocketing his bought goods.
The merchant noticed that Robin had a doubtful look on Robin's face, as if he wasn't done.
"Something on your mind?" she asked.
"Yes, as a matter of fact." said Robin. "Would you happen to deal in...jewelry?"
A cheeky smile painted the merchant's face.
"Oooh, feeling fashionable, are we?" she asked.
Robin let out a small chuckle. "No, actually. It's for someone else."
"That sounds even better!" said the merchant. "What's the occasion?"
Robin didn't feel like answering that question, but figured that there'd be no harm since it was just a merchant. Unless for some reason they had ties to Anna, there was no way anyone else close to him would know.
"I'm...confessing to someone." said Robin.
The merchant's face turned a tad flirtatious. "Now THAT's a first for me." she said. "I presume you want a ring...here are a few I've collected."
She went over to a second chest, opened it and pulled out a small bag.
"Look in here." she said. "You might find one you like."
Robin took the bag from her hand, looking inside. There were about five rings in the bag, and Robin took the time to examine each and every one. The first one was a bit dull, the second one was plain, the third had a scratch, and the fourth was a tad small.
Robin began getting nervous. He hoped that the fifth ring was of better quality as he pulled it out. To his surprise, it looked perfect. It was a signet ring with a simple design. No damage, either. A smile dawned upon him as he looked at it. This would be perfect for his proposal.
"This one." he said. "I like this one."
"A wise choice." said the merchant. "If you'd throw in a little more gold, please!"
Robin pulled out a smaller bullion, handing it to her.
"Ah, perfect. I suppose you're satisfied now?" she asked.
"Yes." said Robin. "I finished all of my shopping in one go. My thanks, merchant."
"Come again!" she said.
Robin turned and left, putting the signet ring in his pocket as he went. He wanted to confess to Lucina as quickly as possible, and before starting the day. Dawn couldn't be far at this point.
Nobody was awake, still, except for Lucina, who was in her tent, trying to sleep so that she could pass the time. But as much as she tried, she couldn't manage to. The thought of Robin kept invading her mind at every opportunity.
"Maybe I'll just have a quick peek in his tent...if only to make time go faster." she said to herself.
Lucina stood up and went back to Robin's tent, still in her nightgown. Nobody was awake to witness her, making it all the safer.
Arriving at Robin's tent, she looked around in the darkness. One thing she could make out was Robin's main tactician robe, folded in the same place as before. Why he didn't take it with him wherever he went was anyone's guess.
"Wonder how it fits me." thought Lucina as she grabbed it.
Given that her nightgown was rather thin, she simply put Robin's robes over it. It felt kind of heavy to her, if only because Lucina was used to her Hero King-inspired wear. The robes also felt quite loose, but Robin's size far outdid Lucina's, so it made sense.
Completely dressed in the robes, Lucina felt a bit goofy. As awkward as it felt to be in Robin's robes, it also seemed funny to her.
"I read books to cast attacks at enemies!" she said, imitating Robin. "I shoot fire from my hands!"
Lucina began playing around with gestures and spell names while wearing the robes, having some legitimate fun for once. Sure, it happened at Robin's expense, but it wasn't harmful in any way.
"Heh. I've never felt this happy in some time...a real sense of fun." she said to herself.
"...Lucina? asked a voice.
Startled, Lucina turned around to see a confused Robin, staring at her.
"Um...hi, Robin..." said Lucina, nervously, expecting Robin to be mad.
Robin stared blankly for a few seconds, but then let out a smile and subsequently a small fit of laughter.
"Hahaha!" said Robin. "This...this is hilarious." he said, trying to contain his laughter...and failing. A huge grin came upon his face every time he looked at Lucina in his robes. It just looked incredibly funny to him.
"Uh...you're good?" said Lucina.
"I'm fine, Lucina. I realize you must have been curious, maybe bored." said Robin.
"I...was just looking for you, but you weren't here." said Robin.
A tender smile formed on Robin's face.
"And I've been looking for you too, Lucina." said Robin.
Robin stuck his hand in his pocket and took it out, clenched in a fist. Without a second thought, he kneeled in front of Lucina and opened his fist to reveal the ring he bought.
Lucina blushed hard.
"...Robin?" she asked.
"I can't hide it anymore, Lucina. I love you. I realize now, that this was the one void that needed filling inside of me. Will you grant me the honor of being your husband? To be my loving partner for life? Marry me?" said Robin, now blushing as well.
Lucina was both shocked and excited by Robin's comment, given that she wanted to confess first. A few tears of happiness flowed down her face.
"I'm quite glad you confessed first, Robin...because I love you too." she said.
"I had the idea." said Robin. "So will you marry me?"
"Yes!" said Lucina, embracing Robin, now on two legs.
Robin couldn't believe it. The one person that broke his stoicism was the last person he expected. And from such a simple inquiry about Lucina's vision of him stemmed something wonderful...just as he thought.
End Chapter Notes: I had a lot of fun writing this, even if I was stopped at times. There's just a lot of fun to be had when experimenting, this time with the pairing I enjoy the most with personality tweaks. Judging by your comments, it seems that this reinvention of Robin is quite interesting. Maybe I should do more stuff with him.
See you next story!