Please read Author's Note at the bottom!

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Be Careful What You Say

Chapter 10: What Friends Are For.

"Robin…"

Robin didn't answer. He rolled his face lazily off to the side in his pillow, pushing his nose deeper into the feathery softness. The pillow smelled nice, like a familiar pleasant perfume of…

"Robin…" The cold monotone voice drone again.

Still, Robin didn't stir from his slumber. Instead he rolled even farther over, pressing his full face into his bed. That lingering scent of perfume enthralled him to no end. Whoever was attempting to wake him would have to do better. He was long gone. Robin's dream was too good. In it there was a beautiful dancer with pink hair and…

"Robin…!" That voice sounded a little more annoyed at the lack of a response.

The tactician stirred a little bit. That dream he was having was fading fast. What was waking Robin must've been important. Ever so slowly Robin began to wake…But it wasn't fast enough…

"ROBIN!" Boomed the voice, that of a woman. Her words were dark and threatening. It must've been…

Robin cranked his head back from his pillow, eyes still half closed. He started to pull in details as the image in front of him became clearer. Black hair, pale skin, an unhealthy fixated look in the eyes, it could only be… "THARJA!" Robin exclaimed as his eyes shot open to their fullest. His body scrambled back fiercely against the wooden headboard of his bed, head hitting it with a hollow thud.

"Robin…" Tharja mumbled once again, sounding slightly annoyed over something.

Still in shock of the dark mage's presence, Robin's breathing only increased in strength. Like a scared kitten Robin's head pivoted to the left and to the right as if looking for some means of an escape. Tharja had a strange fixation upon Robin, but her watching over him as he slept was something new to him. "T-T-Tharja!" Robin exclaimed, sounding out of breath and nervous. "W-What are you doing in here?"

Olivia had vanished too. The spot where she had slept on Robin's bed was cold, yet her perfume still faintly lingered on the pillow and in Robin's nose. He could almost still feel the sensation of her weight against his chest. All of her wet clothes that she had hung up on his furniture were gone as well. Robin had no idea where the pink haired dancer had gone. He only hoped that Tharja had nothing to do with it…

It seemed that Tharja didn't wish to answer Robin's question about intruding into his room. Instead she responded with a question of her own. "Your room smells different." Tharja droned, narrowing her dark eyes at the frightened Robin. "Why does your room smell different?"

"I-It smells different?" Robin panted, confused. If Tharja could already pick up on Olivia's lingering perfume she truly was a strange and obsessed dark mage. "H-How does it smell different." Robin muttered, taking in a gulp of courage. He could feel his bottom lip tremble as he thought that the witch might place a hex on his body.

Tharja's nostrils twitched. She took in the scent of whatever was tickling her brain. "It smells like…" The witch took in another short smell of the air and her eyes narrowed again. …It smells like that dancer."

"Olivia?!" Robin yelped. Tharja was really starting to creep the tactician out, even though she was spot on. Olivia's smell was still hanging in the air of the room; Tharja could smell it like a hound.

When Robin called out the dancer's name, Tharja's head tilted downward. The shadow cast by her hair fell over her face. Her eyes glared directly through his soul. "Olivia, you say?" She purred, lips curling now that she knew who Robin had in his room the night before.

"Gods…" Robin gasped, clasping his hands over his mouth. He had just given that detail away. He and Olivia were most likely soon to be public information. There was no fighting it now, Tharja knew and there was nothing Robin could do about it. "…You didn't…uh…turn her into a frog did you?" Robin said quietly, his eyes glancing about the room, looking for any information that might give him some clue on where she had run off to so early in the morning.

"No…" the dark mage purred again, an evil smirk crossing her face. "…but that is a good idea." Although still seeming cross, Tharja took a single step forward towards the bed. Eyeing him, the mage took another long sniff of the air.

Robin didn't enjoy the look on Tharja's face. He backed up as far as he could. "W-What are you d-doing?" He uttered nervously. Whatever she was planning clearly wasn't going to be pleasant.

"You have that stench on you, Robin." Tharja growled. Her fingernails dug into the tome she had clasped in her arms. "You smell like…her."

Coughing, Robin couldn't drum up a response quickly enough. In her own odd and creepy way, Tharja had a way with figuring out details.

Tharja backed off a few feet and even her face lightened up a bit. Like little pits of darkness, the mage's eyes darted over Robin's body. He was still wearing the same things he had worn the night before. Tilting her head off to the said, she spoke again. "Tell me you two didn't…"

"Gods, No!" Robin blurted before Tharja could finish her insinuation. The tactician had trouble even fathoming such a thing at that moment, even though he could see where Tharja might draw such a conclusion…His face turned dark red and his hand rubbed the back of his skull, fingers running through his hair. "No-No-No-No-No…We never…"

Another evil smirk crossed Tharja's face. "But you shared the same bed, didn't you?"

"I-I…W-We did…But…" Robin admitted. He was stumbling over his words in panic. Tharja was really putting him on the spot. "…I mean, I remember, but then I may be forgetting…" Even then he couldn't finish before Tharja jumped in again.

She began to scowl once more. "So if you don't remember, are you sure you both didn't…?"

"I'm sure I'd remember something like that!" Robin shouted defensively. He remembered quite well that Olivia had spent the night in his room, next ti him, and in his bed, but having her so close made most of the night a fantastic blur.

Tharja began to back away toward the door. "Hmm…" Without even blinking, the dark mage had her eyes locked with Robin's. "…You best take a bath, to reek of Olivia. People might get the wrong idea…"

Robin wasn't even able to reply before Tharja vanished out his door. He was left sitting on his bed, dumbfounded and with a stupid look on his face. Tharja was simply too strange for his liking…

The tactician didn't think word of he and Olivia would spread so quickly. Tharja must've wasted no time in spreading word that he and the dancer had spent the night together. Fleeing the Garrison as quickly as he could, Robin set out to find where exactly Olivia had gone. He dearly hoped that she hadn't regretted anything. If she had left to get away from Robin, he could only imagine how the next few days would be. On the other hand, perhaps he was only over thinking such a thing. Olivia did seem like she enjoyed herself the night before when they were together…

Yet, Robin wasn't sure if he was ready to face everyone else. Vaike, Gaius, and Donnel were the only people that knew about his thoughts toward the dancer. No doubt Tharja and her words would have the rest of the Garrison in an uproar by the end of the day. That's what Tharja did, especially if it involved Robin himself. It's not that Robin regretted his choice to finally make his feelings known to Olivia. If she didn't know after the previous night, there was a problem. But having everyone else on his case might make this road a little bumpy for the both of them. Olivia and Robin weren't exactly fans of having people bothering them in such ways.

Hoping to either find a place to hide or to find Olivia, Robin made his way toward the marketplace. He thought that maybe she had gone there after leaving his room. Striding into a crowded circle, the Shepherd took in his surroundings…

It wasn't anything that special. A few market stalls dotted the borders, but people still seemed to gravitate around, going from one stall to the next looking for their daily goods. Robin was just about to round a corner when a familiar voice caught his ear…

"Hey, Bubbles!" The voice called from just behind him at the closest market stall.

"Bubbles?" Robin muttered as he pin wheeled around on his heel. It could've been only one person…

Gaius was waving him over. There was a bright grin on the thief's face.

At least Robin could somewhat trust Gaius, seeing as he had helped him before. Robin strode over a few steps, almost prepared to get an earful about his night with Olivia. "Gaius?" Robin began, sounding slightly nervous. Yet, the tactician managed a smile for his friend. "I didn't know you ran a market stall…"

Chuckling, Gaius leaned forward on the wooden counter, greeting Robin with a friendly nod. "Oh, sure. I like to get out, meet the common folk, sell the odd trinket…" He cranked his head back and glanced over his wares and then back to Robin. "Speaking of which, see anything you fancy? I've got silk smallclothes from exotic ports, genuine leather belts, top-quality figs…"

Robin let out a little sigh of relief. Maybe Gaius hadn't gotten word yet. He was already hawking his sales like he usually did. Perhaps a bit of shopping under Gaius might improve his mindset. He could even learn something new for the future. "Do you have any books?" Robin asked as he peered around Gaius' body and into the shop. "Strategy books, specifically? I've been hoping to expand my tactical knowledge to better serve the Shepherds…However, I can't find a single volume in these parts. It really is most strange…"

It was as if someone had stolen one of Gaius' snacks. His eyes narrowed as Robin finished his request. The fruity sucker fell right out of the thief's mouth and shattered on the ground. "Strategy books, is it?" He pushed himself off the counter and bolted back into his shop. "Wait right there, Bubbles!"

"Huh? Where'd he go?" Wide eyed, Robin wasn't exactly prepared for Gaius' reaction. But in no time at all, Gaius was scrambling back to the counter. "…Oh, you're back! That was fast." It was then Robin noticed that his friend was hefting a crate full of books behind him.

"Take a gander at this lot, and tell me if any of 'em tickle your fancy!" Gaius stated proudly, setting the crate before Robin, a content grin his smug face.

"By the…" Robin couldn't even imagine all of these books that Gaius had collected. "Gaius, this crate is FULL of books! Did you buy every tome in the market?!"

"Sort of." Gaius laughed with a nod, neither confirming nor denying Robin's idea. "Here, they're yours. Every last one, my gift to you!" Finally, the thief revealed his true intentions. "But that makes us even about the whole "wink-wink" thing!"

There it was. Gaius was trying to keep Robin silent about the incident where Robin saw his marked arm, even though he still thought Robin was blackmailing him. "Gods, but you are pigheaded. For the last time, Gaius, I am NOT blackmailing you!" Robin pushed the crate back toward Gaius. "Now please, return these books. I can't take them in good conscience."

Gaius cringed. "Oh, I see! Books aren't book enough? Still holding out for something better?!" And with that he vanished into the darkness of his shop to look for something extra to put on the table.

"Sometimes I wonder why I even try…" Robin sighed, looking at the counter and then back into the shop. Something caught his eye. "Hey, that's a handsome cloak. Looks warm, too."

From out of nowhere, Gaius appeared behind Robin, sticking his face in his ear. "You like that cloak? I can buy it for you!"

Robin's heart nearly jumped out of his chest as he swiftly turned. "GAIUUUUUUS!"

"Guess not."

Sighing, Robin turned around and set his back on the table. His chest was heaving. Today was simply becoming too much already. Crossing his arms across his chest, the tactician shook his head. He wasn't mad at Gaius, instead he was still a little irritated that he had yet to find Olivia…Perhaps he was just a little angry with Gaius. Just a little bit…Nothing was going his way this day. The afternoon was ticking on and on and he had still yet to get even a glance of Olivia.

Gaius eyed Robin carefully. He too leaned back on the market stall. "Something eating at your candy, Bubbles?" Gaius inquired questioningly.

"Huh?"

Clearing his through, the thief spoke again. "Something on your mind. You have that same look on your face since…" Gaius paused, the cogs in his mind ticking away until he came to his own conclusion. "…Oh, that. Olivia, eh?" A small chuckle came from under Gaius' breath.

Robin just began to open his mouth to speak when something rather odd happened. His eyes, along with Gaius, locked eyes on the sight.

Coincidently enough, at that very moment, a familiar dancer with pink hair waltzed by. Olivia strode passed where the duo stood. There was a happy bounce in her step and a pleased grin on her face. Robin could nearly smell her perfume as she walked by. Yet she didn't turn and greet them. She didn't even notice them. Instead, Olivia's eyes were locked on a book she held out in front of her. Slowly, she strolled through the market circle. With a strange gracefulness, the dancer weaved through the crowd, not once looking up from the tome.

Gaius let a little smirk cross his face as his eyes darted between Olivia and Robin's stunned look.

Olivia, as soon as she appeared, vanished around another corner. Still, she never saw Gaius or Robin. Whatever book she was reading had her full attention…

Silence…

Robin's eyes, confused, stayed locked onto where Olivia disappeared.

Chuckling, Gaius elbowed Robin in the side to get his attention.

"W-What?!" Robin muttered, pulling his attention back to the thief.

"So…" Gaius began, his voice low as he resisted the urge to laugh. "…You know those silk smallclothes I was talking about, the ones from exotic ports?"

"Yeessss?" He replied slowly and drawn out. Robin didn't like where this was headed.

"How about you get some for Olivia?! That way she can wear them when you both share a bed again!" Gaius said, breaking out into a devilish cackle. Yes, he had known the entire time.

Not saying anything, Robin's hand curled into a fist…Gaius was about to get another bloody nose…

Author's Note:

Sorry for the shorter chapter and I'm sorry for the long wait for this chapter...

I hope ya'll will forgive me!

I figured, after such a long chapter last time, everyone could use a little break with this one. As you can tell it's a lot more lighthearted and less heavy than the last. It will was a blast to write though! I'll pretty much let this chapter speak for itself, so I won't waste your time much longer with this A/N...

Anyway, I can't thank you all enough for the support with this story, especially with the last chapter. Chapter #9 was the biggest yet. I've never had a chapter get so many hits, views, visitors, or reviews on any of my stories ever. I get all warm inside when I think about it! It's all thanks you to all. I'd go off and name you guys, but I'll leave that for the final chapter! ;)

Hopefully I won't give you guys such a long wait next time!

Thanks for all your support guys. It means so much to me!

Signed,

Mr Watch

P.S - Please, if you get time, I posted a few new stories. If you like the genres and universes, please go ahead and check them out! :)