A/N: Here it is. I plan to start dumping my oneshots here. I will remove them as I upload them here. So, there won't be anything new here for a while, but if you missed one or just want to reread, it should be good.
"All units, prepare to fall back!"
The Shepherds were currently working to liberate Valm from the grip of Walhart. To accomplish that end, they were employing hit and run tactics to strain their supply lines. This convoy in particular was quite large so Robin had split the Shepherds into three groups: one led by Chrom, another by Frederick, and another by himself. They struck quickly and surgically until they had exhausted their momentum and the cavalry got organized which signaled that it was time to fall back under the cover of ranged attacks.
"Chrom," Robin yelled as his team met up with the exalt's "You ready to hit the road?"
"Yeah, everyone looks rea–wait," he paused and looked over his troops, "Where's Lucina?"
"With Frederick's group," Robin answered as he parried a Valmese soldier's lance.
"No she's not," Chrom deflected another blade swing, "She was with my group."
"I didn't order that," Robin shook his head, "So where is she?"
"I don't–there!" Chrom pointed off to where Lucina had found herself cut off from the others. She was fending off her attackers for the time being, but even she had her limits.
Chrom was ready to rush off to save his daughter when Robin stopped him, "You're too important to winning this war to risk yourself like this."
"Get out my way, Robin! She's my daughter; I can't just leave her!"
"I never said to leave her," Robin flung a ball of electricity at an approaching soldier, "I'll get her while you get the Shepherds to safety."
Chrom opened his mouth to object, but Robin beat him to it, "You have other family to think about, Chrom, I don't. I'll get her back safely, now go!"
Chrom reluctantly agreed and led the other Shepherds on their retreat while Robin barreled through the oncoming Valmese. He grimaced the whole way. He knew that she was protective of her father, but to break protocol so severely. If she was not his best friend's daughter and best chance they had at surviving in the coming months, he might have been tempted to court martial her royalness. He had half a mind to try anyways.
Admittedly, she was doing pretty well when he got there, but she was getting bogged down. Robin made an opening with an Arcfire and called for the princess to follow him. They made a break for the forest that they were to take refuge in, but as they were running a unit of Valmese cavalry began pursuing them. Knowing that they would never out-run them, Robin pulled the princess to the side and made for a patch of forest that was much closer.
As they were running Robin took notice of the clouds overhead. It looked like it might rain, which would have worked in their favor. That was of course, assuming that the cavalry had not run them down yet. Fortunately for them, the cavalry was still not fully organized yet so they were able to make it to the tree line successfully.
After they were a decent distance into the forest Robin unleased an Arcwind spell to disrupt a portion of the forest to cover their tracks. Once he was done, he led the princess in the opposite direction of the rendezvous point.
"Should we not be going the other way?" the princess inquired as Robin led the way.
The tactician did not even look back when he answered, "That's what they'd expect. We'll just have to meet them later."
They kept on a slightly slower pace through the wooded area until Robin was confident that they had lost their pursuers. Soon though, it started to rain. It was light at first, but it soon started to pick up in intensity, and while it would help hide their tracks, they did not need to stand out in it all night. Soon Robin managed to spot a small cave to seek shelter in, though cave may have been a generous term. It was somewhat cramped, but it kept the rain out for the most part.
"We should sit out this storm," Robin surveyed the surrounding forest, "We can meet up with the others along their route."
"I should get back to –ngh," she stopped to clutch her side. Robin had not noticed during their escape, but it seemed that she had not gotten out of her fight unscathed. She had traded in her old attire for a more armored version in part because there was no more need to keep her identity and gender secret, but there were limits to what armor could do. Those limits were especially prominent in the red stain on the side of her uniform.
"You're hurt, you should rest."
"But, my father–"
"Will be fine without you for a day or two. Right now you should be more concerned with yourself." Robin told her as he tried to inspect the wound. From what he could tell it was fairly deep, but it did not look life-threatening so long as they stopped the bleeding.
"I can manage," she tried to get up again only to be stopped by the tactician.
"No, before we do anything we need to stop that bleeding. Give me your cape." She looked at the man momentarily before resigning and undoing her cape and handing it to him. He proceeded to tear it into strips to use as bandages. He was no medic by any means, but he had taken the time to learn basic first aid so he was able to apply the makeshift bandages with little trouble.
"There, that should do until we can get you to a healer."
"Good, now we –" Robin stopped her from getting up once again.
"First of all, we don't need to go anywhere in this storm. Secondly, you should rest and recover."
"I can manage," she reiterated causing the tactician to sigh, "I must protect my father."
"I get, Chrom's important, but pulling stunts like you did today will only cause problems."
"I must protect him, and I cannot trust the others to do it."
"Why is that?"
Lucina froze. She had said too much. She knew her father's murderer was in all likelihood a Shepherd, but the question was which one. The tactician himself had soon found himself high on the list of suspects, but he and her father were like brothers. She found herself unsure of who was responsible and as such, she found the list of trustworthy people dreadfully short. However, the man before her did at least seem trustworthy, and he would likely demand an answer anyways.
"My father was betrayed," she started slowly, "By a friend."
Robin gave her a hard look, "I see. So that is one reason why you so adamantly insist on protecting him yourself. You don't trust us." It was not a question, and Lucina's reaction served to confirm it. "Lucina, I understand that you want to protect your father, but today when you were surrounded, he was ready to charge after you. In doing so he would have put his life, and the fate of the world, at risk. Also, what if your team had needed your support?"
"I-I did not mean to put anyone in danger," She looked down at the ground.
"Maybe not, but you have to consider the consequences of your actions," he sighed as he rubbed the back of his head before continuing in a softer tone, "I understand your desire to protect Chrom, but sometimes the best thing you can do is to make sure that the plan succeeds. Besides, he isn't betrayed until after the Valmese campaign, right?"
"Correct," Lucina nodded slowly.
"Then can you at least trust us until after this is over? You have every reason to distrust us, but perhaps you could suspend your suspicion until after. Or at least fake it."
She mulled it over in her mind. She wanted to be able to trust them, but she knew that her father's murderer was among them. However, this man had shown clear concern for the Shepherds; maybe he could be trusted. He knew them better than she did so he may be able to help her in her search after all.
"I will trust you," she started, "However, I want your help in discovering my father's murderer."
"Alright, fine, but you have to start following orders like the others. Deal?"
"Very well," they shook on their truce. As part of that last stipulation, they stayed the night in the enclave. Robin kept watch while the princess recovered her strength. He cast a small glance at the slumbering princess before looking back to the drenched forest. He was happy that he had finally made some progress with her. He did not want to underplay keeping Chrom safe, but if she kept distrusting all of her allies then there was a good chance that she would end up getting someone killed, such as herself. At least she seemed willing to trust him somewhat now; it was progress and he would take it. Who knew, maybe they would even become friends.
A/N: Just a thing I thought up. I may do more with it if I can think of a good continuation, but as it stands it is a one-shot.
I am leaning to putting my Smash stories on the backburner in favor of more Awakening stuff (apparently serious stories just don't do well there). I may need to work on my fluff writing, but the next one is more serious; less fluff.
