I did say I'd do Link/Robin, didn't I? And bromances are fun. So. Um. I'm starting to think I should make this a crossover. Because SSB is going to show up… quite a bit. Well, Fire Emblem, anyway, because I've kinda been dropped into the black hole that is fanfic plotlines on that one. And Marth and Kris and Robin and Chrom are too damn cute for words-
You probably don't care. But yeah, FE is brilliant. Moving on.
By the way, my theory for Robin's genderswapping in SSB is that two versions of them got tangled up in the multiverse, so they can switch back and forth. The pronoun I use will also switch back and forth depending on which form they're in.
(I like M!Robin better. Can you tell?)
Fair warning: spoilers for Fire Emblem: Awakening lie within.
The summary's shit, I know. Sorry.
Disclaimed.
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14: Chess
In which a discussion about the past over a game of chess quickly becomes friendship.
Link can't help but be relieved when the invitation shows up; it's been five years in Hyrule's time since the last tournament, and he knows better than anyone else what happens when the timelines fall out of sync. But then the familiar symbol engraved on a metal disk falls out of the sky one fine morning.
(It hits him on the head. He tries not to be upset by that.)
He packs up, says his farewells, and meets Zelda at the point where the portal opened last time. He can't wait to see Marth and Ike; Zelda's looking forward to talking with Peach again.
It's great to see his friends again; it's only been a year or so for them, so he's the oldest now, which is a strange feeling. Marth introduces him to his descendant, Lucina; she's nice enough, if a bit serious. She, in turn, introduces him to Robin.
Robin is… interesting. When the portal opened in (oh, what was the name again- Ah, right) Ylisse, something in the multiverse got confused, so Robin can swap genders at will. It's confusing—not least because he was rather feminine-looking to begin with—but it's funny as well, so Link admires it.
The other strange thing is… less easily explained. When they shook hands, it sent a jolt of power through Link's arm, the sort he usually gets from Zelda, or occasionally Marth and Ike. It's something he usually ascribes to destiny or force of will, but Robin seems almost… average. He's stunning, and annoyingly clever, and his magic is not something to be taken lightly, but other than that…
Link isn't exactly subtle about his curiosity. "Hey, Robin?"
The tactician turns to looking at him, cocking an eyebrow, hand resting on her hip. "Yes, Link?"
"How'd you get into the tournament?" Robin just stares at him. He fidgets awkwardly. "I mean… everyone else is pretty open about what they've done to gain Master Hand's attention, but no one seems to know about you, and-"
Robin holds up a hand to silence him. "Calm down," she laughs. "It's just… not something I care to talk about very often, and Lucina respects my privacy." She glances at his half-intrigued, half-disappointed face and sighs. "Tell you what; play a game of chess with me, and I'll tell you."
Now, despite growing up in the middle of nowhere with a seemingly never-ending list of chores and responsibilities, Link is quite good at chess. He agrees readily and goes to set up the board. "Black or white?"
"Black," Robin decides. "It suits my personality."
When Link glances over he's changed back into a man again. He sighs. "It's really disconcerting when you do that."
Robin chuckles, sitting down to begin setting up his pieces. "My apologies; when I practice, I prefer to be in my… original form. I'll try to warn you next time."
"Hm." Link moves one of his pawns forward. "You owe me a story."
"I suppose I do," the white-haired man sighs. "Now, where to start…?"
Link shrugs. "Wherever. Can't be stranger than the stories I know. One of my predecessors was frozen in time; lost seven years of his life. He got it back in the end, but…"
"Lucky bastard," Robin chuckles. "I lost about eighteen, and I still haven't gotten them back."
Link nearly misses his next move. "Eighteen?! How'd you manage that?"
A shrug. "It's… complicated. Suffice it to say, I lost all memory of the first eighteen years of my life. I don't remember even a second of it. So, going by that, I'm technically only two. Er, three. Gods, my age is confusing."
Link frowns. "You're either technically two or three, why is it so confusing?"
Robin shrugs again. "I was dead for a year. I didn't age, so we don't know whether to count it or not."
The hero decides to leave that line of questioning for the moment. "Do you know how you lost your memory?" he asks, taking one of Robin's knights with a grin. "Check."
"Oh, yes. My memory was overloaded by a fell dragon bent on destroying the world." Robin moves his queen, either not noticing or ignoring Link's shocked expression. "Checkmate."
The hero glances back at the board. Sure enough, Robin has his king boxed into the corner. "Wow. I didn't even notice you doing that. And, ah, what was that about a dragon?"
Robin waves a hand airily. "Details." Catching Link's disbelieving look, he sighs. "Look, this is… hard for me to talk about. You'll have to accept hearing it in short increments, or not at all."
Link nods understandingly. "How about this, then: Whenever we play chess, we take turns asking each other questions until the game finishes. They can be about anything; just, try not to make them too personal."
"That sounds good." Robin smiles. "I have a match in ten minutes; until next time?"
Link grins back. "Until next time."
It quickly becomes routine; Link learns bits and pieces about Robin's adventures with Chrom (he's kind of impressed. Two wars before the age of twenty five? Yikes.), and in return tells him about the Temples and fighting Ganon. There are things they're both leaving out, he knows, but that doesn't matter; what's a secret or two between friends?
Robin still beats him every time they play, of course. But he's a tactician, so Link tries not to be too upset over that. Some things never change, after all.
(Link's just happy to have another friend.)
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…It's not too horrible, right?
Next time: Union
Okay, I don't even have a shred of a clue for this one. Please, please, please give me ideas. I may end up doing a Pokémon Rangers AU.
See ya~!
-Bird