This was supposed to be way longer, but I want these to be more Virion and Inigo centric. You can tell when I'm supposed to be studying by how often I post. And psst! Go check out A Cawse for Cawmpetition! It's very punny!

Might go in and start editing these stories next month. Gotta up the quality!

The Nosy Archer: Part Two

"Is this really okay?" Inigo was squirming as he looked around to assess himself with a mirror. He convinced Severa to let him borrow it as his own was too small. There was an unspoken rule about travelling light but Severa threw that and any judgmental stares into the wind. Her husband Laurent had little success in taming the girl.

"Of course," Virion said with pride. "Do you really doubt my skills?"

"Well no," Inigo said finally managing to take a glimpse at himself. "But do you think this cravat really suits me?"

"Bien sur," Virion replied, straightening the silk fabric to his taste. "You have inherited my devilishly good looks."

"Heh," Inigo laughed self-consciously and rubbed the back of his neck. "You are right about that."

"But," his father narrowed his eyes and leaned in close to Inigo to the point that the latter had to shrink away, "don't you dare stain this one."

"F-Father, you're scaring me."

Virion sighed and released the boy. "You need to have your wits about you before your date." He nodded at him and clapped his shoulder. "This is Robin you're dealing with."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Inigo pouted. "She's absolutely wonderful."

"Oh look you're, gushing." Virion suppressed an urge to ruffle his son's just brushed blue hair. Inigo's behavior reminded him of when he held a (brief) torch for the young tactician. The tactician was easy to fall for…when she wasn't busy doing every chore to be done. That too was an admirable quality, one that had earned her respect from all of the Shepherds.

"Well, it's true," he said with pride and grinned boyishly before his eyes widened. "Wh-what time is it."

Virion gave a little jump as he took out his pocket watch and looked at it. He pushed his son out of the tent immediately. "You're late!"

"But the flowers!" He had picked out a rather beautiful bouquet during the day. He had even picked all of them himself. They were sitting on top of a chair, ready to be delivered.

"No flowers!" Virion instructed. "You're playing hard to get tonight!"

Oh well. Maybe next time. "Wish me luck Father! And don't follow me!" Before he could hear an affirmation, he was already running towards the designated spot.

"Um, that's a new look for you." Robin was looking at him appraisingly and her eyes were stuck to his cravat.

"Erm, yeah, I thought that I would, erm, look nice?" He pulled nervously at the white fabric around him and the archer that had put on him

She had a suspicion that he was influenced by his father's sense of fashion, but she merely shrugged. "Well, shall we go?"

Virion bristled. How dare she not appreciate such a classy fashion? Some people had no class.

"Yes," he nodded vigorously and extended his elbow for her to take. She gave him a soft smile that melted his young heart and she held on to him and began their walk.

"Wasn't this supposed to just be a spot of tea?" She was in more casual clothing than he was. Regardless, he still thought she was beautiful. He really was gushing over her.

"Are you saying you mind?" He said with an air of false haughtiness to which she raised an eyebrow at. He coughed self-consciously before taking on a more timid tone. "I mean, it's ok, isn't it?"

She looked at him with pity before relenting. She just wished he had told her. She wouldn't have said no."It's fine." She squeezed her grip on him in reassurance. "Just relax, alright?"

"Right," he nodded and gave her a nervous grin.

"Um, Inigo," she looked at him with an odd expression. "You're scaring me."

"Am I?" he closed his mouth but he still had the frightful countenance.

Virion slapped himself in the forehead so hard that Robin paused to look for the source of the sound. She convinced herself that Sumia must have fallen down somewhere.

Robin bit her lip before giving him a mischievous look. "What? Wha—ergh!"

She had grabbed him by the cheeks and pulled him. "Shtarb ib!"

"What was that?" she giggled as she tugged harder. "I can't tell what you're saying!"

That boy is useless, Virion watched in exasperation. He's supposed to be a man, not a child.

He started to laugh himself and pulled her away by her wrists. "Stop it!" Their laughter continued to blend together in harmony, and he was still holding on to her.

Their laughter died down but they were staring at each other. Was this it? Inigo thought as he found himself leaning towards her as if some magnetic force was pulling them together.

Of course it wouldn't be so easy. Life was never easy for him. Of all the women that rejected him, Lady Luck may have been the most painful.

"What are you doing?" Olivia cheerfully asked her husband. She looked at him happily while she bounced up and down, arms behind her back.

Robin overheard this and whipped her head around. "Olivia? Who are you talking to?"

"Oh hello Robin!" Olivia greeted her with a cheery wave. "Just talking to my husband. He's skulking around, for some reason." She then regarded the archer with suspicion etched in her face. "You're not cheating on me, are you?"

Virion swore a few choice words to himself before he stepped out of the shadows. Perhaps he should have informed his wife of his mission beforehand. "Of course not, dear."

Inigo groaned and pressed his fingers to his temple. Of all the rotten luck and timing—

"Father! I told you not to follow me!"

Robin looked back and forth between father and son. Well that explains the cravat.

"So you've been taking his advice?" Robin crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

"Eh," Inigo shrugged. Virion was hurt. He knew that he probably should have listened to Inigo…But to be brushed off by his own son in this manner! Well, people never do respect good intentions, now do they?

"I'll leave you alone now," Virion said coldly before marching off, with a miserable looking Olivia in tow.

"Look," Robin sighed. "Maybe I should go too. You've been communicating more with him than me. You told me a spot of tea but you look like you're ready for a night out." She let go of his arm and gave him a sad smile. "At least let me know what's going on, yeah?" Truthfully she was just miffed that he had told Virion about this. She assumed that he told him it was a date. She didn't even know what this was. But all the same, she wanted it to remain a secret between the two. All he wanted to do was help his constantly rejected son to be happy with the love of his life. Was that so wrong? What was the point of helping if, forget about appreciation, he received scorn in return? His pride would not allow him to stand around and just be insulted.

"But—wait—Robin!" No no no no no. This was all wrong. Nothing was going to plan. He should have just done this as always. Just be himself and be sweet. Classic Inigo. But no, he had to go and bugger it all up by listening to his father.

"I'll see you around," she said. And with a nod she left him all alone. It was just him and the twilight moon. As if to mock him, it even started to rain, and he could hear the splashes as Robin started to run for cover.

They didn't even have tea yet. It was over before it had even started.