Author's note:

So I changed the format I little. First, I've included a little end segment after the main story. This is in another character's point of view, describing some scene Robin may (not) have seen. It doesn't advance the plot, just develops the characters. Not gonna lie, today's is mostly fluff. What I would love though, is your opinion on whether or not you all would like to see more of these end segments. So read, and tell me what you think! A good idea, a bad idea, would it be better just to move it into a different story and have this main one and the bonuses separate...

Second, I've also decided to put little clips on my profile as promos for the next chapter. (Not going to lie, I maaaay have been studying some of Cassandra Clare's work, and she does stuff like this, which I think is fun). I'll probably change 'em up every day or two.

To my wonderful reviewers:

pureshadow013: Well, there's no Gangrel yet, but I definitely have plans for the guy. As for Severa, weeeell, you'll see.

Mattariago: Thanks! Not so much Tharja in this one, but hang tight for the next chapter!

pokemon . rhoades: Morgan is so precious. As a girl or a boy. Also, sunny Tharja. Equal parts terrifying and endearing.

Blazengirl410: Thanks! Homecoming is here!

Random Chicky: m!Morgan will appear as well. Can't have both Robins without both Morgans!

Cormag Ravenstaff: What I've been experimenting with is inserting Robin's voice a little more into the story. May have gone a little too far in the last chapter. Still working out the kinks. Anyways, Robin definitely perceived Morgan as such. As someone who would never be comfortable in clothes like that and who has issues showing those close to her outward affection, Robin interpreted Morgan's actions with that mindset.

whisper6636: No Anna yet, but everyone else you mentioned gets an appearance today! And I deeeeefinitely had too much fun writing the last chapter.

OneShotMasta: Thanks! Real life is rather grey, so I've been trying to avoid bashing anyone for too long. As for pairings, well the plot thickens today!

Guest: In game, my f!Robin pairing was Virion. They were the first pair where one character blocked a hit for the other. That combined with their supports and I was a goner. Obviously, not at all indicative of the end game here. Haha. I do love Chrom and Robin's supports, so stay tuned there. As for m!Morgan. Yes, He will appear.

Shout out to my shiny new followers: Mark-Kris Robin, Koye, DietMilk (haha), dogsrock101, Trace Cohen, Jumyolchi

Enjoy!


Somewhere in between withdrawing from Plegian and reentering her middle school home, Robin decided she wanted to avoid people. It was purely selfish, driven by a desire to disappoint her family, as if somehow, if they were upset enough, they would just send Robin back to her music academy. And yet, now that the opportunity to return to Plegian presented itself, Robin leant against her music stand, yards away from the school's piddly piano, unable to pull herself from Cordelia's and Sumia's conversation.

"I just—I choked," Cordelia said. The girl flopped her head into her hands, and Sumia patted her pack. "We were right there and he told me how important I was to him—well, the student council, but I know Chrom—"

"I'm sorry. Chrom?" Robin asked.

"I know," Cordelia said, "It was silly to wait so late to ask him. He probably already has a date." Robin tried to picture Chrom asking anyone out. Probably would just stumble through the mess, end up out of breathe and bright red, and get the date out of pity.

"But Chrom. Henry said you've fancied some guy for a year and a half, and that guy was Chrom."

"Yes," Cordelia huffed. "You are listening, right?"

"Actually, I'm leaving," Robin replied. She wasn't supposed to want to talk to these people. Robin was supposed to be at Plegian, and this was supposed to be little more than a hurdle to leap. Cordelia's mouth opened for a moment and closed in a frown just as quickly. One hand rubbing circles in Cordelia's back, Sumia gave Robin a gentle smile. "I… need to get home early today. Mother needs me to run an errand." It was a lie, but Sumia's smile made Robin feel guilty, like pulling away from the two was something wrong, unjustifiable.

Before either of the girls could say anymore, Robin spun on her heel and strode out of the band room. The hall was quiet. Band had ended ten, fifteen minutes ago, and the band members were long gone. Robert, still, still upset with her, had left with Tharja. As Robin peered out the hallway windows, she could just spy a hoard of girls at the front steps of the school, a familiar head of deep blue hair in the middle.

Elbowing between a blonde and her friend, Robin found not Chrom, but his cousin in the middle of the hoard. "Chrom hasn't told me anything of his intentions for the upcoming dance," Lucina said. The girl's voice was unusually shrill, and the crowd continued to press in on her. "But I can tell you that Chrom is much too good for—"

"Lucina?" Robin said. Lucina whipped her head around, catching one particularly close girl with her hair. Her stoic face was twisted into a glare, steely and terrifying, her chest rising and falling unusually quickly. Lucina's eyes widened.

"Ah? You're Lissa's friend. What are you doing here?" Lucina tossed Chrom's admirers a sidelong glare.

"Helping you," Robin replied. A few of the girls looked familiar, probably from band. As she recalled, they were rather persistent. Persistent enough to stoop to harassing Chrom's cousin. "Robin, by the way. My name."

"Well, Robin, I am coolheaded enough to handle myself," Lucina said. A more forward admirer placed a hand on Lucina's shoulder. The girl whirled back around, this time catching Robin with her hair. It smelled like vanilla. "Enough," Lucina cried. For a coolheaded individual, the girl sounded rather furious.

"C'mon, Lucina. Let's go." Lucina's hands were balled into fists tight enough to whiten her fingers. "Seriously," Robin muttered. "You're only giving them what they want." Lucina inhaled, exhaled, and stretched her fingers out as far as it seemed they would go.

Twirling on a boot heel, Lucina cast Chrom's fans an imperious glare. "Consider yourselves fortunate Lissa's companion was here today, for with her nearby, you all are not worth my time."

Lucina strode through the crowd, and those that did not move out of her way, she moved herself. Robin followed after her. As they reached the first intersection, Lucina paused, thumbs thrust into her denim pockets. A car roared by, ruffling both the girls' hair. As Robin scrambled for her flyaway strands, Lucina seemed unaffected. "Chrom will hear of this," Lucina said. Balancing on the curb as another car rumbled by, the girl looked back to Robin. "I appreciate your assistance." Lucina's smile was thin but kind, even if it did not quite meet her eyes. Before Robin could reply, Lucina was halfway across the street, loose white shirt billowing in the wind.


When Robin arrived at her mother's house, her mother's shiny, silver car, windows tainted with sticker glue remnants from a younger Robin and Robert, was gone. Peeping into the living room, Robin found it deserted. Sneaking to her room was easier when no one was around. Robin shut herself inside her bedroom only to find Robert on her bed.

Robert rolled over on her already rumpled afghan to peer at Robin. He hadn't been in her room since the day he carried her move in boxes. "You are aware your room is on the other side of the hall, right?" Robin asked. Robert just buried his face back into Robin's blue afghan. With her brother in her room, Robin suddenly realized how dirty it was. Her shoes were strewn across the carpet, homework stuck out of one of her dresser drawers, dinner from last night hid on her desk under some doodle Gaius had forced on her. Robin stepped over one stray boot and dumped her backpack at the foot of her bed. "So…How… Uh, how are you, then?"

Robin sat on a corner of her bed, and her weight depressed it, Robert shifting a little in response. Her brother simply pressed his face into her bed, so Robin stared at her jazz poster instead. "Do you like it here?" Robert asked. The blankets muffled his voice, but Robert seemed unwilling to move.

"I—"

"Because I want you to like it here. Mom wants you to like it here." Robert propped himself up on his elbows and scowled at the carpet. "Tharja talked about you most of the way home. Made me think perhaps there is a part of you that does like it here."

Sighing, Robin let herself fall back on the bed. She stared up at the stucco ceiling aimlessly. As a child, she used to try and make shapes in the textures, but now the ceiling was just hills and valleys, and no animals hid between them. "It's not about liking it, Robert. It's about music. I can't live here—No, that's not it." The town was nice. It had nice people in it. "I couldn't live in a future without music, where I would drive to my day job, and the radio would play songs by people who lived and breathed for music, and I would just have to sit with my hands trapped to the steering wheel knowing that I had tasted that same air in public performance and that now I was left to suffocate—"

"Robin." Her brother's voice was a cool soak against her skin, and Robin realized her eyes were closed, her voice a tinge hysterical. Her eyes felt warm, and Robin decided to keep them shut. "That's only true if you let it become true," Robert said.

"Which is why I have to leave," Robin finished before Robert could continue. "Every discussion, every little glance…" It ties me to this place, to the people here. "They just remind me how much I miss Plegian." With her eyes still closed, Robin couldn't see Robert's wince, but they were words he had grimaced at many times. Petty, cruel, perhaps even dishonest. "Madame Aversa—"

"Doesn't understand there's more than one way to skin a cat." Robin snorted. Crossing her arms over her chest, she scrunched her eyes, threatening to peep open, shut. "Oh, just hold your disapproval for a sec," Robert said.

"Actually I was trying to suppress some laughter at your goofy expression, but yes, I do disagree with you." The bed shifted a little.

"Robin… Your music academy, it's nice. It's a good opportunity, and I can see that… But perhaps it's not the only way to become this musician you want to be." Robin flicked her eyes open. The ceiling was still stucco. "Just because it's not the easiest path, doesn't mean you couldn't achieve your goal here. Has it ever occurred to you, that if you just asked, Mom would drive you to those piano auditions you did when Father lived here? When we picked you up from Plegian, you were a hopeless, dead thing, not my sister, who was the sun, whether playing piano or buttering toast. There would be more to balance here, but balance is healthy, and I remember a just barely older sister who used to have more to talk about than her piano and her past."

Robert trailed off. He didn't understand, but when his voice was that soft and small, Robin didn't have the heart to berate him. "Perhaps."

"Just… don't make any hasty decisions," Robert said. "Please, weigh your options carefully." The bed springs fell and rose. Robert was gone. It had been a very long time since he had said 'please' for anything from her.


When she arrived at school, Chrom leant against her locker, blue of his hair almost the same color. A few students tossed her curious glances as Robin bent down to work on her locker. With a quick wave, Robert drifted away. "Don't you have cross-country today? Why don't you go there?" Robin asked.

As Chrom shuffled his feet, Robin saw his socks were two different shades, navy and black. "Technically." The boy scuffed some more at the tile. "But Gaius has been telling me to skip stuff every now and then. And Nowi's got it under control besides."

"Whatever. The more I hear of this, the more poorly planned it sounds. Robert already left, so why are you still here?"

"Actually, I need to talk—er, thank you really," Chrom said. Robin looked up at him. One hand up his shirt sleeve, the boy was tracing his tattoo again. "For Lucina," he said. "She told me everything yesterday, and I want to thank you. I… Sorry, I should have been there."

"Why? That was rhetorical. Don't answer it." Robin couldn't open her locker, and Chrom was beginning to stare at her rather intensely. She stood up, brushing off her pants. "Well, I have somewhere to be, so I'm going to go. But you're welcome. For Lucina." Now she was rambling, too. Dratted Chrom. Turning to start down the hall, Robin heard Chrom follow after her.

"I'll walk with you."

"I'm going the opposite way."

"Well, I'll walk with you anyways."

"Chrom—"

"Robin," Chrom said. He spun her around to face him, hands heavy on her shoulders. With his thick glare directed on her, Chrom was less the bumbling buffoon from a while ago but rather a leader. "I—We—You should—We—"

"Spit it out." Chrom squinted at her. "Is… something wrong?"

"This is easier if I can't see your face, I think. Lucina, and Lissa, seem to think that if I had… a person… to go to the dance with then… Well, you know. The admirers would quit harassing everyone. And… er, well, since you don't have much of a problem with them anyways, I was thinking maybe… Ahhh..."

Chrom's hands suddenly felt heavier on her shoulders. "You—There's not a certain redhead you could ask?"

He shook his head. "Sully hates these things. And dresses. And dancing."

"No. A different redhead," Robin said. If she had to explain this to him like he was some small child, Robin would.

"…Gaius is a guy." And Cordelia was a fish or something, evidently.

"No—"

"Just come with me," Chrom said. He had stopped squinting, and the pleading look in his eyes made Robin pity him. "Please."


There were five minutes left in Biology, and Ms. Miriel was deep in explanation of plant cell walls. Surprisingly, Stahl was awake. Chewing on her lip, Robin scrawled a note on the corner of her biology notebook. She jabbed 'going to the dance?' into Stahl's elbow.

Slipping her pencil out of her grasp, Stahl scribbled back. 'maybe. work. you?' Robin had always been told her handwriting was bad, but Stahl's was little more than light chicken scratch.

'going with Chrom.' Robin hesitated a little. 'first dance. what is it?'

The bell rang before Stahl could reply, and he held her notebook and pencil out to her. "It's easy. Just go, relax, dance a little bit, let Chrom pull you around in a slow dance or two, and then you leave," Stahl said. As Robin took her supplies from him, Stahl seemed lost in thought.


The gym was a dimly lit, herd of pulsating bodies. The stands were folded away against the walls, replaced with circular tables of food and fluorescent green and yellow decorations. Looping one arm through Robin's own, Chrom bit his lip, eyebrows crumpled in to some apology. "Well?" Robin asked, shouted really, over the boy band blaring through the speakers, "Are we going to stand in the doorway all day?" Chrom wrapped her fingers in his own, cool but a little shaky and pulled Robin towards one of the tables.

Holding a chair for Robin first and then sitting in his own, Chrom began to bounce a fist against his leg. A plate of cookies sat within arm's length, and Robin plucked one of the round pastries off the plate. Twirling it around, she watched loose crumbs tumble off the cookie and bounce across the hideous yellow table cloth. "Umm…" Chrom raised his mumble over the music. "Uh, you… you look rather pretty today," he yelled.

The silky dress was a remnant from her concert playing days, tight in places she didn't remember it being, and her makeup made her face feel suffocated. Chrom didn't know or realize that though, and whatever gumption he had to work up to complement her left him horribly red. "Thanks," Robin said. "…You, too. Handsome, I mean."

Chrom ducked his head and returned to pounding his knee. They sat in nervous, but somehow companionable, silence. Frederick came by first, to nod at Robin and Chrom, perhaps to ascertain that Chrom's admirers were in fact leaving the boy alone. Then Lucina, looking radiant in deep blue, Cynthia and Owain in tow. Lissa and Maribelle, with Ricken holding Maribelle's handbag. Morgan crouched behind their table, peeking over Robin's shoulder, babbling something about 'watching Inigo strike out again.'

Just as Morgan left, Sumia slipped into her place. Pulling some rumpled purple dress into a smoother form, Sumia took a seat next to Robin. Weakly, the brunette smiled at Robin and Chrom. "How's your first dance going, Robin?" Sumia asked.

"A little better than yours, it looks like," Robin said. It was a little like sitting in a café, except the lighting was crummy, the music was much too loud, and the smell of coffee was replaced by cheap perfume. Sumia tilted her head back to stare at the balloons trapped by the ceiling, and with her dress, deep purple, long, and clingy, Sumia looked like a tragic heroine.

"I stepped on his feet so many times, soooooo many times," Sumia wailed. The brunette pulled her head back down to stare at her lap. "My date left me. Ohhhh, of course he did. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea, going with a guy to a dance. I mean, me. Me dancing. Dumb idea anyways." Hunched over, Sumia moaned again. "And now I'm ruining your date, too."

"No, you're not," Robin said. Evidently, Sumia had heard about the date from somewhere, because Robin had been trying to avoid mentioning it. And it's not a date anyways, she added mentally. Somehow, though, with Chrom within earshot, Robin couldn't vocalize it. "Does Cordelia…?"

"Yeah, but—" It turned into a squeak. Sumia whirled around in her chair, a flurry of purple fabric, to lean over the table.

"Sumia?" Robin asked.

"Yo, Blue. Bubbles. Heard you two were an item for the night, but daaaaamn, girl—Stumbles?" Hand frozen to reach for a cookie, Gaius peeped around Robin and Chrom.

"Uh, hey, Gaius," Sumia said. She sat up. Twisting some hair around her fingers, Sumia stared at the boy's shirt rather than his face.

"Shouldn't you be with your date or something?" Gaius asked. He seemed to have forgotten about the cookie, preoccupied with studying Sumia.

"Um… Yeah, probably, but, um, well…" Sumia grimaced.

"He ditched her," Chrom supplied.

"Oh." Gaius fumbled for a cookie, eyes flicking from Sumia to the dance floor. "Well, don't worry too much about it, Stumbles. I lost mine about twenty minutes ago." The boy slowly took a bite of cookie. At Robin's glance, he shrugged. "Seriously. The chick's gone. No idea where she went. Left her at a table for five minutes. Vanished. The entire table, too, actually."

"Maybe you looked in the wrong—"

"Well, Stumbles, it looks like you don't have a date, and I don't have a date." Gaius finished his cookie and strode around Robin and Chrom to face the brunette. "So… Look. Seeing you all sad makes me sad. Let's dance," Gaius said. Before Sumia could respond, the boy pulled her up after him on to the dance floor. Robin just caught a glimpse of the brunette's pink face, and they were swallowed up by the crowd.

"Maybe we should um… I mean, er, well. You probably don't want to anyways, so…"

"Chrom," Robin huffed. "Just c'mon." She strode out on the dance floor, hoping Chrom would follow her.

Chrom and Robin stood in the sea of dancing bodies. A little space was carved out for them, whether because of Chrom's influence or coincedence, Robin was unsure. Everyone around her was bouncing, and they continued to stand still. Just as she was about to suggest they at least bounce, Nowi bounded between them, Vaike in tow. "Blue," she chirped. The girl's dress was a mess of pink bows and ruffles, and one of her gloved hands was wrapped tightly around Vaike's bicep, pulling the boy down. "Let's dance."

Lacing one hand with Chrom's, Nowi prompted Vaike to wrap his free hand around Robin's. Chrom stuck his own free hand out for her other. Somehow, whether it was the perfume haze or Chrom's pink refusal to meet her eyes, the hand holding felt different than before. Nowi began to spin their circle around before Robin could contemplate the tingly feeling in her fingers.

But for Nowi's and Vaike's grins and Chrom's blush, the dance was a rainbow, merry-go-round blur. Tharja and Robert whirled by, the Goth looking stunning, but distinctly vampiric, in her slinky black dress. Severa, Kjelle, and some boy who smiled at their scowls melded into Gaius, Sumia, and Cordelia. And then suddenly, Nowi and Vaike were gone, leaving Robin to cling to Chrom in her dizziness.

The world was still spinning, and Robin couldn't find Chrom's face in the spiral. They were pressed flush against one another, and she could feel the rise and fall of his chest against hers. Robin felt warm, light headed, but whether it was from the spinning, her first time being so close to a boy, or simple suffocation from the heavy scent of his cologne mixed with dance perfume, she was too hazy to determine.

Then, the dance refocused, and Robin detangled herself from Chrom. The boy was red, and Robin was beginning to feel a little pink herself. "Cordelia," she cried. At some point the music had slowed, and the redhead was left alone on the floor. Twisting around, Cordelia smiled, hollow once more. Robin stepped a few more feet away from Chrom. "I have... just been spinning with Nowi, and I'm afraid the girl left me a little dizzy. Did you maybe want to…" Cordelia's eyes widened, and Robin just hoped she received her silent apology. "Just for a dance or two, would you keep Chrom company for a sec?"

There was a brief horrible pause, like one of the two was contemplating an objection, but Chrom stuck an arm out to Cordelia. "Dance?" The redhead ducked her head quickly and wrapped a hand around his upper arm.

Chrom and Cordelia melded into the crowd of dancing bodies, and they suited each other. They were beautiful, popular, generally good, even if Cordelia hid it beneath—"Boo." Robin knew the voice, and when she spun around, Stahl's smile greeted her. Hands shoved inside black dress pants pockets, Stahl quirked an eyebrow at her. "You can't just stand around on the dance floor," he said. "I mean, someone might think you've never been to a dance before."

And then he swept her up in a waltz, if one could truly waltz to 90s music. Weaving through bouncing bodies and the perfume haze, Robin decided she and Stahl must look ridiculous twirling across the gym floor as if it was a Victoran era ballroom, and she rather wished Stahl would make some quip about it. The boy was quiet, contemplating some space just over her shoulder. His hand was light on the small of her back, but Robin buzzed where each of his warm fingers wrinkled the silky fabric of her dress. Curling her own fingers into Stahl's dress shirt, Robin pulled him a little closer, so she wouldn't have to shout over the music vibrating the floorboards. "How was work?" she asked.

Stahl flicked his eyes back to Robin. "Good," he replied. They were close enough now that it was more a drifting embrace than a waltz, and Stahl smelled of coffee and something else Robin couldn't quite place, some sort of fruit, perhaps. "Don't worry. I changed my shirt." With his smile, Stahl was back, and it was no longer an embrace but a waltz once more. "How's the date with Chrom going?"

"It's not a date," Robin said. Twisting around the dance floor, Robin found Chrom spinning Sully, desperately trying to scowl but smiling all the same, in a small circle. He was smiling, and it made her happy, she supposed. "How about you?"

"Oh, my date with Chrom is going just grand. We'll probably name our first child… Rose?" Squeezing through a cluster of dancers, Stahl pulled Robin close once more. The ridge of her nose just brushed against his jaw, and Robin found herself idly wondering what Stahl looked like flustered. Would he wave it off, like Gaius? Turn as scarlet as Chrom? "The dance is going pretty well, too. Get to twirl with a charming girl and all," Stahl said.

It was a fluke, caused by the tingly feely in her nose and her prolonged closeness to all these people. Robin knew, with a distinct sense of panicky horror, her face was pink. Terribly, awfully pink at something that was offhand and meaningless. She was too bright to hide it and too close to Stahl to pull away, not without revealing her face. Maneuvering them between the backs of another closely packed pair, Stahl had yet to look down, and Robin knew when he did, she would still be rosy colored.

The boy was already beginning to turn back to her, and something in Robin curled at meeting his eyes. Before Stahl could fully see her, she dropped her head to the crook where his neck ended and shoulder began. It was awkward, abrupt, and Robin clipped his chin on her way down. Pressed against Stahl's neck, Robin felt rather than heard his quick gasp, little, almost imperceptible but for the fact her mouth just grazed his collarbone, and as his fingers tightened the cool silk of her dress, spidery tendrils of warmth crept up her back. "…Robin?"

Stahl's voice so close was more of a vibration, and it sounded a little odd, concern mingled with breathiness and something Robin couldn't place. Like this, he couldn't read her mistake of an expression. The music was still playing, but Stahl had stopped leading them. His jaw brushed against her cheekbone, but before Stahl could move away from her, Robin buried her face further into his neck. The boy's pulse jumped, and Robin could just feel it against the tip of her nose. "O-okay, then…" Stahl mumbled.

They simply swayed. Robin could feel the rumble of the floor, pounded by hundreds of bouncing feet, the jab of an occasional flailing elbow, the crinkle where Stahl's collar folded away from his throat, the rough cotton of that collar on one side of her face, Stahl's skin soft on the other, longer strands of hair just tickling her nose. She was no longer red, just a generally buzzy warm, but Stahl's jaw held her in place. Robin decided to let him continue to sway her.


Bonus: The Fine Art of Seduction

It was time for drastic measures, and Lissa had planned for this moment. "…What are you doing? Why is your face like that?" Lon'qu asked.

"I'm winking at you," Lissa replied. Perhaps she had held the wink too long or something. Her face did feel awfully scrunched. Lon'qu squinted at her suspiciously. "Geez, you give winking a try then."

"Why?"

Lissa rolled her eyes. "I dunno. Why not? To develop a life skill? To see me smile?"

Lon'qu watched the dancers. "Fine."

"I get iiiiiiiit. I guess I'll just—Wait? What?" Lissa paused. It almost sound like Lon'qu had decided to play along with her. Lon'qu twisted himself around. Resting his arms on his pants, Lon'qu stared at Lissa. When he looked at her so directly, Lissa wondered if he could see into her soul, her essence.

Then, Lon'qu scrunched his face together. Lissa giggled, laughed, guffawed, and ended it all with a little snort. Banging her hand against the table, Lissa was vaguely aware she was rattling all the plates, which probably wasn't very ladylike at all. Lon'qu, or rather Lon'qu's ears, were pink. "You squeezed both your eyes shut, silly," Lissa gasped, wiping tears from eyes. "Do you not know how to wink?"

Smoothing his hands against his pants, Lon'qu grimaced. "…I meant to do that."

"Oh, okaaaaaay, then, let's see you wink," Lissa said. Lon'qu rested his arms on his legs again. It made his sleeves ride up, exposing thin, unusually delicate wrists, that Lissa lately found rather distracting. Clearing her throat, Lissa crossed her legs primly. The guys in the movies all liked pretty ladies, and pretty ladies didn't sprawl in their dresses. "I'm just betting my wink is better," Lissa added. Lon'qu scowled. Chrom's pretty movie ladies didn't say things like that. They just winked, and then bam, insta-romance. The wink must have been wrong.

Instead of the scrunch that wrinkled his entire face, Lon'qu blinked, slow and exaggerated. His eyelashes fluttered, very briefly, very pretty movie lady-like. Somehow, Lon'qu had better movie lady game than she did. Lissa burst into laughter again. Tossing her head back, Lissa relished the fullbodied feeling of it all. She straightened back up, and Lon'qu darted his gaze elsewhere. The boy tugged on a rather pink ear. "That one was a blink, Lon'qu. One more try, and I win by default," Lissa said.

"…What do you win?"

"Eh? I dunno." Lissa looked out at the dance floor. Chrom was visible on the outskirts, spinning with a faraway Sully. Somewhere in the middle, she knew Donnel had successfully pulled Maribelle on to the dance floor. Screw being a pretty movie lady. "A dance," Lissa said.

"Fine." Lon'qu stood up.

"Wait. What?" He was already walking to the dance floor, and the current hit song drowned out Lissa's voice. Scrambling after Lon'qu, Lissa ran a quick hand through her hair, across her dress. Lon'qu stopped a few yards away from the other dancers. Lissa stopped at their tacit agreement of five feet. "You don't have to, Lon'qu. I was just teasing."

"…If we're going to dance, you should… step a little—Just a little—closer," Lon'qu said. She must be dreaming. Or dead. Lissa had probably died just before the dance, and this was some sort of reward for being a good laugh. "Hurry up." His ears were pink again. Lissa stepped a foot closer. "Stop. Good." Lon'qu studied the dancers. Lucina was several yards away, twirling with some boy Lissa didn't recognize. "Now, let's proceed with the dancing."


Well, the romance side of the plot thickens. As always, I love feedback. I'd particularly love to hear your opinion on the bonus segment, whether you liked it, didn't, who you'd like to see in it, plus all the usual. Thanks!