Theme 13: Running Away

"Robin~!"

The tactician froze, his eyes wide and hands clenched into fists. Her voice, as sweet as it was, was the last thing he wanted to hear at that moment.

"Robin? Are you in here?"

He swallowed hard, trying to find a place to hide in his tent. As he dove behind his small tactician's desk in the corner of his desk, a familiar blonde princess opened the tent flaps.

"Hello? Robin?" Lissa looked around the dim room, unable to find him. Pursing her lips, she left the tent with a defeated sigh. Luckily for him, his coat provided camouflage in the dark room.

Robin stood from his awkward position on the ground and returned to his business from before Lissa had interrupted him: Thinking.

A few days had passed since he had last talked to Lissa. It took all of his might to stay away from her, but a voice in the back of his mind pestered him day in and day out. His inner monologues would emotionally damage him. It was true that he wanted to be with Lissa, but there were other, more important matters at hand. The war between Plegia and Ylisse had been dragged on for quite awhile, and it was heating up now more than ever. Robin's every action was put towards the war effort, whether studying tactics, devising strategies, analyzing troop documents, or simply helping anyone around the Shepherd's camp. There wasn't a second Robin could spend on leisures, not even to converse or spend free time with his comrades.

Another glaring issue was between Robin and his commanding officer. If he were to pursue a relationship with Lissa, Chrom would surely disallow it. Robin knew that a future relationship would be impossible on the battlefield. But dating his best friend, commander, and prince's little sister would never happen. Chrom was much too protective of Lissa.

The tactician knew he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and had no plan on how to escape. He knew his feelings for Lissa were true and wouldn't dissipate, but there was no way that Chrom would allow the relationship happen. It pained Robin to admit it, but there wouldn't be a day when he could be with Lissa.

The tactician was more than sure that Lissa shared his feelings. Though he had not heard it directly from the princess herself, her mannerisms and actions when with him changed. Robin caught her wordlessly staring at him. She was constantly making contact, even more than usual. At first it was a simple touch or a brush against his skin, but Lissa was bold enough to sneak surprise hugs or cling to his arm. The tactician also noticed her constant daydreaming around camp. He never knew for sure that he was the subject of those dreams, but the dreamy sighs were a hint. Not to mention her actions on the battlefield. The two were hardly seen apart. While it was true that Robin may have created his tactics with Lissa in mind, their chemistry and teamwork was unparalleled by most Shepherds.

Sighing, Robin leaned back in his chair. The great Ylissian tactician, defeated by simple matters of the heart. He felt helpless, constantly dodging his fears and running away. A voice in the back of his head screamed to speak his feelings, but common sense ruled against it. If he confessed and was disallowed, the relationship would likely be soured.

He wagered that Lissa had been long gone and wouldn't spot him outside, so Robin decided that he needed some fresh air. Exiting the tent, Robin took a deep breath. It smelled slightly of stew. In fact, Robin had lost track of time. It was almost dinnertime, and food was to be served soon. He thought of staying behind in fear of Lissa spotting him, but his rumbling stomach told him otherwise.

As Robin walked to the mess tent, his mind drifted to the Ylissian princess again. He couldn't think of much else lately. Her sparkling eyes, her silk-like blond hair, her cheerful spirit put him at ease.

Speaking of Lissa, her voice was heard as Robin approached the center of camp. Already a few Shepherds had gathered at the mess tent for their rations.

"Robin! Hey Robin, over here!" Lissa waved, catching his attention.

A smile found its way to the tactician's face. He couldn't date her, but there was no harm in spending quality time with her. He waved back and hurried to meet her with a newfound spring in his step.

A/N:

NinNinKakizaki2015: I'm experimenting with implementing the other ending into a future chapter. I missed a golden opportunity with the death theme, but I'm trying my hardest to use the other ending.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave a review. I read and appreciate every comment, whether compliment, criticism, or anything else. Thanks!