fated darkness ; b-conversation
pairings ; implied chrom / robin (f)
wordcount ; 542.
notes ; see end for details.
Lucina watches the boy again.
This time, he notices her. The boy comes right to her. Looks at her right in the eyes (when did he get so big?), a stoicism within them that she wishes she didn't have to see, especially on him. His head tilts, like a carrion crow inspecting a piece of meat, his eyes bloody red.
"Hm? And you—" He seems to notice the Brand, and immediately there is a tension that swallows him whole. "Oh, a child of the Exalt Chrom. One of Naga's."
He spits out Naga's name, spits out Father's name, like they are venom, and that merely saying them will induce their toxic ideals into his mind. Her gaze lingers on his left hand, gloved, covered, hidden away, for a few moments. Silence washes over, unholy, uncomfortable.
"How... Did they summon you?" She manages. "What are you after in Askr?"
The boy eases into his posture a little more, a calm confidence in every little movement. "I have no goal here, no plan. I was simply..." He waves his hand, left side. "Summoned."
She is unsure if she believes him, believes in the words she's seen him wield like holy scripture— but she does believe in the summoner. She knows the summoner has bought fiend and friend alike to their side, keeps them under control with the contract that summons them to this world in the first place, but still. She cannot trust this boy. Cannot trust this Grimleal.
"I can imagine there was a reason for the summoner to call me, but..." His gaze slides towards her once more, violently-hued behind ink-black hair. She searches for blue, despite knowing it's futile. His lips quirk in the slightest of smiles, but it's nothing like the smiles she's seen on the other version of him. "None of it changes that my true loyalty lies with Master Grima."
Master Grima.
She wonders how long it took for him to stop calling that monster — and start calling it that.
"Nothing can change that."
She forces down the pain, and instead hisses out; "You plan to bring calamity in this world too?!"
The boy scoffs. "Who's to say?" She bites her lip, and he continues. "For now, like I said, I have no plan."
There is a pause, and she rests a hand on the grip of Falchion.
"Master Grima is the one who makes the plans."
She imagines lives snuffed out like candlelight. Snuffed out the same way she blows out a candle after soothing a sobbing toddler to sleep on a moonless night, her tiny arms grasping him tighter and tighter, a bloodied sword too big for her to wield leaning against the bedpost. She thinks of the other boy, laughing and clinging to the woman with snowy hair. She thinks of all the people she can see smiling in this world.
"I will not allow this!" She begins to unsheathe the blade. "Even... Even if it costs me my life!"
He rolls his eyes. "How often must I repeat myself? I have no intentions for you to 'not allow'. I will simply be making use of the summoner's power while I have the opportunity."
Her heart aches, and she keeps silent as he walks away.
notes ; immediately after i posted the last chapter i got the next conversation :skull: so i ended up immediately writing this.
i hope you enjoyed reading!