Title: Robcina Week Day 4 - Honeymoon:
Description: With the war with Valm making it impossible, Robin and Lucina hadn't had the chance to have a honeymoon after their wedding like they'd wished. Fortunately the chance trip to the Hotsprings gave them the chance to have the trip and make the memories they'd given up for lost.
Notes: Takes place during the Hotspring Scramble DLC, after the events of Chapter 35 of Love Across Time.
Words: 1426
The two of them hadn't really had a proper honeymoon.
When they'd gotten married, the war with Valm had still been ongoing, so there hadn't been time to trapse off on some private trip for just the two of them. It had been a simple matter of practicality, both had agreed, no matter how much they'd wished otherwise.
So in that way Robin had been glad for the opportunity this Outrealms trip had afforded them. While they could only stay the night and would depart early in the morning, their time at the Hotsprings gave them the chance to make the memories they'd have otherwise made on a formal honeymoon.
The two walked hand in hand, clad in the yukatas they'd picked out earlier that evening. The street was packed with activity, the section of the resort, packed with stalls and shops housing an astonishing array of wares, from souvenirs such as carved wooden figurines, ceramic goods, jewelry, and painted cards; to festival food and treats of every sort imaginable. Paper lanterns swayed gently on their strings that crisscrossed the way above, glowing like stars of brilliant colors against the night sky.
Lucina excitedly dragged him from stall to stall with child-like glee, keen to experience everything the resort held for them and more, in particular taken by the figurines that had been carved in the likeness of her parents. So too did they partake in the festival treats on offer, getting ice cream cones and sharing a candied apple between them. Lucina had even gone back for a second apple for herself, one which she was now happily eating as they strolled along. She'd offered to share, of course, but Robin had politely declined. He was just happy so long as she was happy.
"Robin?" Lucina asked suddenly, speaking up after a moment's quiet. For an instant Robin thought she was about to ask him something serious, so urgent was her tone… however, as she continued, the topic soon proved anything but.
"Are you certain you don't wish to partake in the mixed bath together?" Lucina asked. "I am certain we still have time before the evening is over."
Robin came to an abrupt, grinding halt, his entire body freezing in place so suddenly that his hand was yanked away from Lucina's as she continued on several steps. Though frozen, perhaps, was a bad description. He certainly didn't feel cold. In fact, his face felt like it had been lit aflame.
"I… um... well…" he tugged at the collar of his yukata, the first jerky motion as he broke free of his paralysis. "I suppose… I mean, maybe… we… we… can…" he stammered trying to work up his courage. It's not that he didn't want to, honestly. And it wasn't the thought of seeing her… well, the two of them seeing each other... naked, that embarrassed him. Nor even bathing together. It was just that, the thought of doing so in such a public manner…
Be strong, Robin, be strong. You can do this. You can-
Lucina laughed suddenly, interrupting the thought. "I'm sorry Robin, it was only a passing thought. I did not expect the idea to be such an uncomfortable one," his wife teased gently, returning to his side and taking his hand once more.
"I… no really, we can-" Robin tried to say, but was silenced by a shake of her head.
"I understand. Robin. I will not make you do anything you are not ready for," she assured him. Then, giggling, added. "Besides, it's not every day I get to see you embarrassed. It's a side of you that I find quite endearing."
Oh you're one to talk, Robin shot back inwardly, knowing full well how cute Lucina was when she was the one embarrassed. But he kept that to himself, instead letting her have this. Instead, he just decided a whisper of "thank you" was more than enough.
Taking her hand once more, the two continued down the busy street, returning to browsing the stalls. Though as they went, an idea did occur to Robin. A compromise, perhaps, that would be easier for him to manage without perishing from the resulting embarrassment.
"You know, Lucina, I think our room for the evening does have a private bath. We could… well… um… use that. Together, I mean," he offered.
Lucina's eyes lit up at this and she squeezed his hand all the tighter. "Really?! Certainly, that would be perfect! After all, it would be a shame not to partake in the hot springs themselves while we are here, would it not?"
"Yes, I suppose it would, wouldn't it?" Robin laughed. "Consider it a deal."
The path continued on for some distance, eventually leading away from the bustle of the resort and to a more quiet part of the hot springs. It was there they came upon a lonely bridge, a small stream running through the rocks underneath. They stopped at its center, turning to give out on it.
The light of the lanterns danced before them among the rolling hills, dimming and brightening with the passing billows of steam coming from the springs. Mere motes of light they seemed now, dancing among the mists and night like playful spirits in an astral sea.
"It is beautiful, isn't it," Lucina whispered.
"Yes, it is," he agreed.
"I wish this night could last forever. That we can stay like this, here, together. Too keep making memories like these," Lucina admitted, her voice wavering if ever so slightly, her tone one of melancholy and uncertainty.,
"I know," he whispered. "But we have our duties. A world that we need to save. A future to make…" He squeezed her hand tighter.
"I still fear it is fate that we must eventually part…" Lucina whispered back, referring to their earlier conversation. To her fears that after the war she would have to leave this world and him.
"And I promised that no matter what the future holds, I will remain by your side. Now and forever," he told her, trying to weigh his words with every bit of certainty and convocation he had. He would make those words true. He swore it before and now again.
"I know…. But… the future still seems so uncertain…." Lucina murmured, her voice so silent it could barely be heard.
Then there was a crack like thunder in the sky. The two jumped in surprise, eyes shooting upward in the direction of the noise, fearing some sort of attack. Instead they were met by a brilliant gold burst of light in the sky. Then another, this one red that left willingly trails of light that fell like rain.. Then a third, azure blue that faded into sparkling stars that glimmered before they too flickered out.
It was just fireworks. Robin nearly laughed at this, both in relief and at how quickly the two had jumped at the noice.
He felt Lucina's grip tighten, and she pulled closer to him, so that they now stood with shoulders touching. In silence the two of them watched the fireworks light up the sky in radiant brilliance, filling the land with light and beauty that danced over the ethereal steam and glowing lanterns below.
Then Lucina gasped, pointing. There! A mote of light lifted into the sky. Then another. Than dozens more. Hundreds of smaller lanterns were being loosed, lifted aloft by the heat of their flames to drift upon the breeze. Truly like stars they seemed, stars caught in a sea of night as fireworks burst in the heavens above.
Lucina wiped her eyes, and only then did Robin realize she was crying. Whether it was for the beauty of the scene, the uncertain future she feared, or both, he did not know. But it did not matter. He reached out, brushing her cheek with his hand all the same. "I'm here now. That's all that matters. And I always will be," he promised. He pleaded to the gods that it would always be true.
"I know," Lucina whispered, her eyes pleading, showing just how badly she desired it to be true as well.
Slowly Robin leaned in closer, Lucina doing the same, their lips meeting in a slow, tender kiss. Above the lanterns drifted ever higher, joining the stars in their ethereal nighttime waltz, as radiant bursts of light showered the world in their fleeting brilliance. Only to vanish, gone like moments passed. Only to remain in memory.
Truly, the night had given memories the two of them would treasure for a lifetime.