Please read Author's Note at the bottom!

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Be Careful What You Say

Chapter 7: Too Much

Many more suns rose and fell. Days went by with Lissa's wedding to Frederick drawing closer with each passing hour. Perpetrations around Ylisstol were already in full spring. In anticipation for the arrive of peoples form around the world many shop owners and inn keepers were frantically painting, cleaning, and fixing their places of business. The city was like a bustling honeybee hive, one that Gaius had no chance in stealing. All of the new activity brought another breath of fresh life into the already lively kingdom. Everything was always buzzing with life, no breaks, no relaxation.

Oddly enough, this sort of increased pressure of life annoyed Robin. Of course by no means did he find it offensive enough for him to have nightmares or lose sleep. That was never the case. The reason being Robin much rather preferred an aura of peace and quiet, like read a book under a tree, to the hustle and bustle of royal wedding preparation. Thankfully Chrom and Sumia didn't pull his pages hard enough for him to tear. They had asked for help, yes, but Robin was just as helpful a wedding planner as Donnel's precious rock. But the tactician helped where he could…which was close to nowhere…

Today, though, was different. Olivia had gotten to him early that morning before Chrom, Sumia, Lissa, or Frederick could even stir from their slumber and wipe the drool from their mouths. Her showing up at his bedroom door in the Garrison in that day did perk his interest. Olivia was still as timid as ever and it took a few minutes for her to actually say anything besides "I'm sorry for waking you" or anything along those lines. But the dancer did seem to be a tiny bit more sociable after that night when Robin asked, more like requested awkwardly, that he wish for her to accompany him to Lissa's wedding. Robin still was surprised Olivia didn't run away screaming when he asked. Not that he was complaining or anything.

Yet, Robin wasn't exactly sure where Olivia was taking him that afternoon. The tactician was sure it probably had something to do with the wedding. He wouldn't expect anything less. But the direction they were heading was rather strange. Instead of traveling in the direction of the castle, Olivia was leading Robin in the direction of the already bustling market district. People were already arriving for the wedding. The streets were packed and the market district was no exception. All he could guess what that Chrom or Sumia had asked Olivia to pick something up for Lissa's wedding.

Robin looked Olivia up and down as she walked in front of him. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something was sure up with her today. Maybe it was the way she was walking, or how she was carrying herself, but there was a little different Olivia around this time…Robin stuck his tongue out and narrowed his eyes at the back of her head as if staring through her flowing pink hair and into her brain might actually get him an answer. The idea of actually asking where they were going never crossed his mind. It couldn't be that easy.

Olivia turned her head backward and he eyes were met with Robin's funny look of squinted eyes. The smile she had swiftly faded. "Er…Uh…R-Robin?" Olivia began, surprised Robin was giving her such a strange look. Once again, her face turned pink. She wrapped her white ribbon around her body for protection as if that look was a hex Robin had learned from Tharja.

It was then Robin notice how stupid he must be looking. He slowly pulled his tongue back into his mouth and blinked bashfully. "H-Hey, Olivia." Robin stood up a little straighter and coughed into his hand. "Uhm…Excuse me." Boy did that make him look stupid.

Pausing and letting Robin catch up to her, Olivia kept her eyes locked onto Rob. That was new. "What was that all about?" Olivia mumbled quietly once Robin arrived beside her. The pair started down the street again.

Using both hands Robin gripped his deep purple coat by the hood. He gave it a firm tug forward as he attempted to come up with a reply that wouldn't make him sound like a creep. Robin coughed again and rubbed his chin. "N-Nothing…All this talk of Lissa's wedding reminded me how she stuck a toad down my collar once." Yes, his excuse was making him sound as dull as Kellam. "I just sometimes get reminded of the slimy feeling and my face gets all…strange."

Olivia was the one who narrowed her eyes next, but it was accompanied by a joking smirk. "So weddings make you feel like there is a frog on your back? You feel all slimy, Robin?" It was one of the first jokes that Robin ever heard coming from Olivia's mouth.

Thank the gods Olivia didn't take his stare the wrong way. Robin let out a sigh of relief and started to smiling, chuckling as he did. "Ha-ha, well not exactly, Olivia." He began feeling a bit of pressure coming of his shoulders in known that Olivia didn't think him a freak. "After Chrom's I figured out I'm not exactly used to them. To me there are just a little different."

"What do you mean?" Olivia peeped with a raised eyebrow. She paused. "I-I mean you don't need to tell me if you don't want to…But…well, I'm curious now that you mention it." The shy dancer was never far behind. Olivia began twisting her fingers into that white ribbon like she always did when she was nervous.

Robin rubbed the back of his head with his hand. His smirk faded just a tiny bit. "Heh, it's nothing really..."

"Oh…" Olivia whispered back, sounding shyly disappointed. "…Well like I said you don't need to tell me."

"But…"

The dancer's head cranked to the side. Robin was actually going to tell her.

"I'm just not used to being around that many people!" Robin admitted with a single laugh. "Large weddings aren't exactly my choice of a social gathering event. Don't get me wrong, Chrom's wedding was the most fun I have since I can remember, but there are just a lot of people around."

Olivia pivoted her head forward again. The crowd began to grow thicker and she scooted a few footsteps closer to Robin until their shoulders were almost touching. "From what I can remember you seemed to act fine." Olivia said, recalling the events of Chrom and Sumia's rather extravagant wedding ceremony. "You didn't seem nervous at all. S-Surely you can't be…like me."

Robin tilted his head to the side, confused. "Like you?"

Managing to crack a faint smile, Olivia lowered her head on her shoulders. It was like she was happy to be having a conversation like this with Robin, yet being deathly nervous all at the same time for all the same reasons. "Oh, Y-yes! I can barely manage to dancer in front of a small crowd. I barely left my table in the corner at Chrom's wedding." Olivia said with a blush painted face. "You on the other hand were talking to people left and right. You're almost the complete opposite of me!" Olivia then wanted to say that she was even a bit surprised at that point when Robin asked for her company for the ceremony for the simple fact that she might be too terrified to socialize with so many new people. But the dancer let that little thought slide for the moment.

"So you mean, nervous and shy?" Robin replied bluntly.

Olivia lowered her head a bit more. "Uh…W-Well, yes…I guess."

Much to Olivia's surprise Robin shrugged. He stuffed his hands into his cloak pockets. "I don't know about being shy…But being nervous is a different story."

"Huh?!" The dancers head shot back in Robin's direction. She never thought him the nervous type.

Trying to laugh off his own embarrassment, Robin looked down to Olivia who was still walking along right beside him. "Yeah sure, I may look quite sociable, but that doesn't mean I don't get nervous."

"Oh dear, I didn't imagine. You always seemed so confident in battle." Olivia didn't say it but it was rather nice having an actual conversation with Robin for once.

"True." Robin began with a nod. "Planning things out in battle is one thing. I'm pretty confident in my ability to do that, don't get me wrong." The tactician paused for a moment to think over his words. "But talking to so many people from all over the world, that's different. I can talk to them yes, but does it mean I want to…Not exactly…I barely was able to keep myself from igniting a few stuffy noblemen with spells at Chrom's wedding. I think I'm safe in saying that the wedding crowd isn't my social circle of choice."

"I-I never knew, Robin." Olivia mumbled sheepishly. She thought that she might have pried too far for information. But she did always like Robin's spells. Maybe she might see him ignite some noblemen at Lissa's wedding…if she was lucky…

Robin shrugged again. His smile grew larger. "I prefer a different social circle. People that are just as colorful, but needless to say they are much more respectful at least most of the time."

"Er, who might that be?" Olivia didn't see herself as colorful, so she immediately counted herself out.

"Really? It's not that hard to assume who I wish to spend my time with!"

Olivia pulled her ribbon around her body a little more snugly. "I'm sure whoever they may be are much more entertaining."

"You really don't know do you, Olivia?"

"N-No…"

Robin shook his head and began to laugh a bit harder. "Well, I prefer the company of the Shepherds of course!"

She wasn't out of the running yet! "Really?!"

"Ha! Don't act so surprised, Olivia!" Robin began as his smile widened. "You guys are really the only group of friends I have. Not saying that I don't like my peace and quite every once and a while, and not saying that I don't have people in the Shepherds that I don't see eye to eye with…But you guys keep me sane. I appreciate that."

Olivia giggled slightly. Robin's words made her feel a little better. "I thought you liked everyone in the Shepherds?"

Robin laughed a little harder. "I don't dislike anyone, I guess. But I have people who I prefer to spend time with."

There is was again, another one of Robin's open-ended statements that made Olivia feel a bit nervous. "W-Who might those be?" Olivia whispered. She kind of hoped Robin didn't hear her so she wouldn't hear the answer.

The tactician gave Olivia a questioning looked. He looked her up and down again. Robin knew he might be saying a bit too much. But he also knew that this was one of the first conversations they were having that hadn't ended in someone running away screaming like a nutcase. He decided to answer anyway. "I guess if I were to list them…"

Olivia crossed her fingers.

"…Chrom goes without mentioning. Gaius has always been around for me when I needed him. The hard part is getting him on a subject that isn't candy. Vaike is alright to be around at least some of the time. And Donnel had a pretty good head under that cooking pot of his…"

Olivia's heart started to sink.

"…And you, Olivia." Robin said. For a moment he hesitated, but he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, giving her skin a brief yet gentle rub. "You're always nice to talk to when I get the chance."

"D-Do you really mean that?" Olivia stammered, face turning pink. "Or are you just saying that, Robin?"

"Of course I mean it…" Finding Olivia's reply a bit strange, Robin had to pick his next words carefully so she wouldn't get the wrong idea. Although in the long run, Robin's wrong idea might also be the right idea. "…You're much more pleasant to be around than say…Tharja!"

"Oh gods, Tharja…"

Robin smirked and gave yet another nod. "Sometimes I catch her peering through the crack in my door some nights at the Garrison." Both of them knew Tharja was perhaps a little too odd for comfort. "I swear that witch has it in for me. That look in her eyes just sends shivers down my spine."

Olivia finally managed to laugh again. "Tharja sure does frighten me too!" Her body relaxed a bit more. After what Robin said she knew she might still be in his good graces well enough for…

"Hey, Olivia?" Robin spoke up questioningly. His tone had changed. He was now onto a different topic.

"Er…Y-Yes?"

Robin stuffed his hands back into his pockets and his head looked around the bustling marketplace that they had arrived in. "Like I said, I don't mind being in your company…I'm just a little curious why we are here in the market…More specifically the clothing market." His head darted around from tent to tent as merchants were hawking their wares at every soul that passed by. "You never exactly said where we were going this morning."

There it was. Olivia's cover was broken. She had taken Maribelle's advice in that she might be in the need to purchase a new outfit. Although frankly, she was now having second thoughts about bringing Robin along. Not that anyone else would be been a choice… "Uhm…Well, I uh…" Olivia fumbled with her small bag of coin she had hidden in her other hand.

Mouth hanging open, Robin took no notice of Olivia's struggle to find words. Instead his eyes were drawn to the more formal attire that this particular market square held. It was all things guest might wear to a wedding. "Olivia, er, what exactly are we doing here?" Robin had his own thoughts on what might be going on…

Olivia broke down. Robin would've found out sooner or later that afternoon. "Uhm, I took some of Maribelle's advice…"

"Maribelle is giving you advice?" Robin blurted frantically. Thankfully Olivia was too concentrated on assembling words to notice Robin's comment.

"…She might have mentioned that I need to find something more…appropriate…to wear to Lissa's wedding. Maribelle said my dancing outfit might be a little too revealing for such a formal occasion." Olivia's face was strawberry red as she spoke. "I wanted to see if you wanted to help me…well…look for something."

Robin's gaze went down to Olivia's clothing and away from her face. He couldn't help it after what she said. He should've thought better, especially in such a public place. Given that he never took much notice before, Robin's next action was as smooth as the surface of a shattered brick. He gave her a good long once over. Not that he minded, but, Olivia might have been showing just a bit too much shoulder…belly…arm…neck…leg…

"Stop staring!" Olivia bellowed. She yanked the white ribbon around her frame. The dancer didn't mention that it felt, perhaps, a tiny bit nice for Robin to admire her like that…even if he did do it in such an obvious way…

Coughing, Robin had to think of something quick or this was going to turn into another situation where Olivia might take off down the street in tears. "Er…I-I…" Once again, Robin was as smooth as a bunch of rocks. "Uhm, I think you look fine just like that! I think you're revealing just the right amount! I wouldn't change one thing!" His words couldn't have sounded any more awkward.

The dancer's eyes grew as wide and Nowi's dragonstone. She had trouble telling if Robin's statement was a complement or an excuse…Or even a bit of both…

Silence…

Olivia regained a small bit of composer. She saw how truly troubled Robin had become at such a simple matter of her clothing. Resisting the urge to take off back to the garrison and hide in a barrel, Olivia managed to take in a good long deep breath. "T-Thank you, Robin." She said slowly. "B-But I think it may be best if we start looking." Although it didn't show on her face, Olivia was smiling in her head.


Robin knew from the get go that going into Anna's merchant tent was a poor choice. He watched nervously from the entrance of the tent as Olivia and the red-haired woman yapped about which formal dress Olivia would look best in. Robin also knew that since they had entered the tent, there was possibly no leaving without them buying something…

Anna held a large mirror up for Olivia with one hand. The bottom of the mirror rested on the floor. "I think you look fabulous, Olivia!" Anna's shouted in her saleswoman like 'happy' voice. She watched as Olivia modeled the dress she had her eyes on since Robin and she had entered.

"Er…I'm not too sure." Olivia mumbled as she looked herself over. In her head she loved what she had picked out. It wasn't to revealing like her dancing outfit and it did match her favorite colors, white and black. The dancer was trying her hardest not to blush, but having both Anna and Robin eyeing her didn't make the job easy. Olivia turned on her heel toward Robin. The words she spoke were broken and pushed. Olivia was struggling to actually get her voice out there. "U-Uhm…W-What d-do you think, R-Robin?"

Anna snapped at Robin from where she stood. She noticed the young man was still standing in the doorway of the tent. "Come on in!" Anna shouted, motioning with her hand for Robin to come forward. "Give dear Olivia a hand, would ya?"

Robin took a good long look at the new piece of clothing Olivia had chosen. Right off the bat, he could tell why. Olivia wore a dress that came down to her ankles. It was rather simple, not too complex or overly flashy, and flowed around her frame much like her dancing outfit had done. Black in color, with some dashes of white, Robin knew why Olivia seemed to gravitate toward such an outfit. Besides more covering on the torso and legs, the main concept of such a dress remained the same as Olivia's usual wear. It did make her look very proper…Robin still had yet to say anything…

"Hey!" The merchant laughed with a shake of her head. "Ain't you going to say something? You can't leave a girl waiting like that with that dumb look on your face!"

Robin snapped back to reality. His gaze went straight to Olivia's. She was looking at him questioningly, almost pleading for an answer. And her face grew darker red, either she was blushing or holding her breath as she waited. "It's…" A pause. "…Wonderful! I think it really suits you, Olivia!"

"R-Really?" Olivia mumbled as she turned back toward the mirror Anna was holding. "It's not too much or anything? You're not just saying that to get this over with?"

"N-No! Of course not!" Robin blurted. He really did feel that Olivia looked rather attractive in the dress, not that he didn't think she looked any less attractive in her dancing outfit but…

Anna wasted no time in jumping in. "Great!" She bellowed. "Now then, how are you going to pay for this fine piece of craftsmanship?!" Like always, it was all about the money.

Olivia reached for her bundle of clothes, grabbing the small bag of coin she had brought with her. The dancer tossed it toward the merchant. Her eyes glanced back to herself in the mirror. "I think that should be enough. I've been saving up money for a while now; I think I can spare a few coins for this."

Robin bit his bottom lip. Something about the look in Anna's eyes when she caught the bag of coins didn't sit right with him.

"Uh, sorry Olivia, but this isn't enough." Anna stated in a monotone. Her eyes narrowed.

There it was…Robin could only watch as it went downhill from there. He started toward Anna and Olivia from across the room.

Olivia tensed up. "B-But that's all I can afford!" The look on her face said she didn't want to give up the dress.

Anna didn't waste any time. "I can't cut my price too far, even for you." She looked from the dancer to farther back in her tent. "I have some cheaper rags farther back if you want to take a look. What you got in here should cover it." The merchant tossed the leather coin bag up and down in her hands.

Olivia let out a long and pained sigh. "I should've guessed…" She mumbled in defeat and her head tilted forward. "…I'll go take this off. I should've never gotten my hopes up. I won't look good in such a thing anyway." Olivia whispered with a frown. Neither Anna nor Robin was able to say anything before Olivia walked away towards the back of the tent where the changing area was.

Another silence…

Anna cranked her head back to Robin. "So…Why are you here?"

Robin didn't say a word. He still was trying to picture Olivia in something other than that dress she wanted. Anna's words went in one ear and out the other.

The merchant elbows Rob in the ribs. "I can see that look in your eyes. Don't say I don't know what you two are up to." She still got no reply "Ey! Dancer got your tongue?" Anna said slyly with a wink.

He snapped back to Anna. Robin knew what she meant. She made it sound so fowl. "Er…What?"

"Come on dearie. I know what you two are here for." Anna chuckled again. "Olivia brought you here so she can get your opinion on something, eh?"

"If you want to put it that way…Yes…"

Anna shrugged and looked to the sealed off changing area. "Too bad she didn't have enough coin. Poor girl looked mighty charming in that." She was about to walk away when Robin spoke.

Taking in a gulp of courage, Robin grabbed ahold of Anna's arm. "Say…Uh…How about we cut a deal?" Robin whispered quietly, using his hand to block any sound from going in Olivia's direction. What he was about to do sent even a larger shiver down his spine than Tharja could cause any day.

"Oh, a deal?" Anna replied having her interest perked.

Robin glanced away and then back again. "How much is Olivia missing in terms of money."

Anna's eyes narrowed. "She doesn't even have half."

That wasn't a good sign, but Robin continued on anyway. He reached into his cloak and pulled out his own, larger, bag of coin. He had to take in another breath of courage. "How about, if I pay the difference with a little extra for you to tell her that you are selling it to her for cheap. Don't tell her I did this."

"Done!" Anna barked. Her mind was made in seconds. She snatched Robin's entire coin bag out from his hands. "You got yourself a deal mister, no take-backs…You're a mighty fine gentleman to do such a thing." Anna ended with a nudge.

The two broke apart as they heard the changing room curtain being pulled back.

Robin breathed a slight sigh of relief. Without a moment to lose, Olivia had remerged again and was striding up toward them. The dress she wanted was folded neatly in her arms.

"Ey, Olivia!" Anna called with a wave of her arms, fulfilling her half of the bargain. "Looks like it's your lucky day! The dress is yours!" Briefly she pivoted her face toward Robin and gave yet another wink.

Even from where he stood Robin could see Olivia's face light up. It was the first time he had seen her smile so brightly. The dancer looked like she might just start dancing on the spot.

Olivia finally had her respectable dress…

And Robin was now broke…


Author's Note:

Here is chapter #7 everyone. I hope you enjoyed it!

As you can see we are getting a bit more into the fluffy-happy kind of things we will be seeing for the next few chapters. (Don't say I didn't warn you)!

I'll keep this note rather short for the sake of time! Ha-ha!

There will be a small pause between this update and the next. For my two main stories I'm working on, this one and another, the upcoming chapters are quite large in terms of content, details, plot development, and overall length. I'll do my best not to keep you waiting too long though. (While you wait you can also check out my other story if you want. It's a Full Metal Panic story you can find by just clicking my profile. But you don't need to, I won't force you)!

Anyway, please leave a review and tell me what you think! I always love feedback, and It's because of ya'll that I keep writing this story! You've made it my most popular ever. Thank you so much!

Thanks again for all your support,

MrWatch