Robin was hunched over his desk going over battle plan after battle plan. He wanted to be ready for this attack on Steiger. However, no matter how many plans he threw together, he kept having to remind himself not to position Lucina anywhere near him. It was not that they did not work well together. Quite the opposite actually. Outside of a few rough patches early on, the two were one of the most destructive duos in the Shepherds.
Their battle effectiveness was not the problem. The problem was that the head tactician of the Ylissean League had developed very unprofessional feelings for not only someone whose life he was responsible for, but she also just so happened to be the sort-of-it-was-kind-of-complicated daughter of his best friend. Who also happened to be his boss.
Robin took a moment to run his hand over his face. How had he gotten to this point? When she joined, she did not have anyone other than her parents to really fight with, and they were not really a team he wanted to split up. So, with a little goading from said parents, Robin agreed to give up his solo position to work with her. Really, they wanted someone to keep an eye on her, but she was skilled enough that he did not generally have to worry too much about her and could focus on the battle at large when needed.
They became a great team, and she started to trust and open up to him. She told him about her future, and about Chrom's importance in preventing it. He promised her that he would do everything in his power to prevent it. However, along the way, their conversations ever so gradually drifted into friendlier territory until just recently he found himself overly concerned that she was wearing herself ragged. Something especially rich coming from him of all people. He had passed it off at the time as nothing more than being concerned for a friend.
True, he would have been concerned for any of the Shepherds had they been stretching themselves too thin, but there was more to it than just that. His concern went beyond a friend's. There was her smile. As rare as a genuine smile from her was, it was enough to send his heart racing. Which led him to another issue in that his heart seemed to have a hard time settling down when she was near in general. He could mostly control himself in battle at least, but in a skirmish a couple of days ago with a Valmese patrol, Lucina looked like she was in danger, and Robin's mind went white with fear and anger. That…that was unacceptable for a tactician he decided.
So, he had spent an inordinate amount of time going through different formations until today when he finally updated the official formation so that Lucina would not be near him. He just hoped that he could keep himself from worrying too much about her, but she would be with Chrom which may have been one of the safest places she could be.
In addition, he had done a pretty decent job of avoiding the princess since then. He did hope that it did not come off as too obvious, but he hoped that with distance his feelings would abate allowing him to pass them off as little more than fleeting attraction. It did not. If anything, he found himself longing after her. He even caught himself looking at her from a distance before he forced himself to stop as it did not help matters, and, quite frankly, made him feel a little creepy. As if this whole thing was not strange enough. He really hoped no one had caught him staring. The last thing he wanted was the judgment and/or teasing of his comrades to add to his woes, and he definitely did not want Chrom finding out.
The tactician was finally getting ready to turn it in for the night when there was a rustling outside of his tent.
"Robin, may I come in?" It was both the last person he wanted to see and the one he wanted to see more than anything. Part of him was saying that he should turn her away even if it would be rude, but the need to be polite was a powerful tool in rationalizing his answer away.
"You may," Robin still ended up sounding colder than he had necessarily intended.
Then came the familiar heart fluttering as Lucina ducked inside of his tent. Neither of them spoke for a few moments, but when the silence was broken, it was broken by Lucina.
"I saw the new formation," Lucina's voice was measured, even, and almost impossible to read.
"I see," Robin hoped that his was similarly as effective in hiding his nervousness.
"Why did you move me? Are you dissatisfied with my performance?"
"Your performance has been exemplary," Robin replied as calmly as he could.
"Then why?" Lucina let a little bit of emotion show before reigning herself in. She had noticed that he had been avoiding her. The new formations only seemed to enforce the idea that he wanted to get away from her. Something that hurt her more than she cared to admit.
"I…" What was he supposed to tell her? That he was in love with her? That it was highly inappropriate on multiple levels and had sought to distance himself from her because he had become emotionally compromised?
Robin swallowed and tried again, "It's…personal."
"I see," Lucina's posture suddenly became much more rigid, "Very well then. I have night watch duty. If you'll excuse me."
Robin slunk back into his chair after she left. That, that probably could have gone better. Still, he supposed that it might have been for the best. With a heavy heart, he started to clean up until he heard footsteps approaching. They were heavier than Lucina's. Robin did not have to look up to know who had come to visit. He was dreading this.
Lucina checked her equipment for the fifth time in so many minutes trying not to think of her encounter with Robin while she waited for her partner for the evening. She honestly had not been expecting that posting this morning, but it had stung to her core. More than it probably should have.
Part of her thought that this was a good thing. That she had grown far too close with the tactician. He was from another world after all, and more than that, her father's closest advisor. It just seemed…wrong. At least, that was how she thought it should seem.
Yet, her sensibilities kept getting drowned out by the much louder part that kept clamoring to be close to him. It was a dangerous path, and she knew as much. So then why did it hurt her so much knowing that he had moved her for personal reasons? Had he gotten an inkling of what she was feeling and nipped it in the bud? Did he think her some immature child with a schoolgirl crush? Was she?
Lucina was distracted by the sounds of footsteps approaching. She turned but did not see who she expected to see.
"Mother?" Lucina watched as the queen approached with a soft smile illuminated by the moonlight, "What are you doing here? Where's Stahl?"
"I am still the queen," Sumia giggled lightly, "I can occasionally flex some royal muscle." Lucina was surprised to say the least. Her mother almost never pulled rank. Let alone to get a generally less than coveted shift of night watch.
"Okay, but why would you intentionally seek out a night watch position?"
"I wanted to chat."
"What about?" Lucina asked trying to avoid eye contact while watching out over the quiet countryside.
"How about our tactician?"
Lucina froze in place, "Why would you want to talk about Robin?"
"I wasn't going to meddle unless asked, but it's clear you two have hit a bit of a snag in your relationship."
"'Relationship?'" Lucina was grateful for the shadows of the night to help hide her blush, "What are you talking about?"
"Please, it's obvious that you have feelings for him."
"That…that would be grossly inappropriate." Lucina hesitated for a moment before turning to her mother, "It would be, right?"
Sumia smiled, "I don't think so. Then again, I've pretty much always been a bit of a romantic."
"Not that it matters one way or another," Lucina turned away again, "I think he made his feeling quite clear."
"Did he now?"
"He changed the battle formation to put me away from him. When I confronted him, he told me it was personal."
"Oh, Robin," Sumia whispered under her breath. Why did he have to be so good with everyone else's problems yet so horrible with his own? "Honey, he doesn't hate you, I can guarantee that. Knowing him, he's just trying to put up walls to keep from getting too close."
"Why would he do that? He doesn't do that to anyone else."
"No, but…he doesn't love them. Not like he does you."
"I…" Lucina's face lit up brighter than before, "How can you say he loves me?"
"I've seen the signs," Sumia shrugged, "Much like I've seen them in you. You do love him, don't you?"
"I…" Lucina found herself frozen once more.
"It's okay, Lucina. You're both adults."
"I…I think I do," Lucina swallowed having admitted it.
"Then tell him, and don't let him give you any of his nonsense about not being able to be emotionally compromised. It might take some work, but you can convince him to come around. I'm sure of it. As for the inappropriate part, I wouldn't worry too much about that; I think he'll come around on that front sooner rather than later."
Lucina eyed her mother somewhat curiously at that last comment.
"So…what brings you by?"
Robin and Chrom had been staring at each other for a good ten minutes. Honestly, it was a bit unnerving. Robin was starting to wish he had just started yelling at him.
"I noticed you adjusted our strategy for Steiger. Anything you want to tell me about?"
"I deemed it necessary for my proper functioning as tactician."
"I see," Chrom did not unfold his arms.
"If I may, you've never seemed so curious about a minor formation change before."
Chrom narrowed his eyes even further, "Despite popular opinion, I am neither blind nor stupid."
"I don't recall ever saying you were," Robin responded uncomfortably.
"Really? Then why are you not being upfront about your reasoning?"
"Excuse me?"
"You're avoiding Lucina."
"W-what? Why would I do that?"
"You tell me, because I thought it was pretty obvious that you had feelings for her."
"She's your daughter, Chrom!"
The prince simply looked at him with a raised brow, "So?"
"'So?'" Robin stood from his seat finally, "You mean to tell me that you wouldn't find that the least bit weird and wrong?"
"Weird? Sure, a bit. Wrong? Not particularly. You're both adults. She isn't the girl back at the castle. She's her own woman capable of making her own decisions who has long since grown up. I simply ask: do you love her?"
"I…" Robin had been unprepared for such a question. However, he knew that the jig was up. He had been found out, "Yes, against my better judgment, I do."
"Then why are you pushing her away?"
"Other than the moral implications? I'm the tactician, Chrom. If I get too close, then it can affect my judgement."
"It's never stopped you from making friends before."
"Yes, friends, Chrom. This is more though. So much more. I…if it came between winning a battle or saving her…I don't know that I could do what I had to."
"I know you, Robin. I've never met anyone as dedicated to making sure we were safe. More to the point, I trust you with her safety as well as ours. I trust you with her happiness. I also know that this isn't everything. You're still hiding from the main reason."
Robin sighed as he fell back into his seat, "You know me too well. I guess the truth of the matter is pretty simple. I'm scared, Chrom. I'm a planner. My job is to minimize the unknown, but this is one big unknown. I don't know if I can be a good husband to her, or a good father when the time comes. I don't have any memories of my own childhood to draw from. I'm not even sure if she feels the same way."
"It can be quite frightening, I'll give you that," Chrom finally took a seat across from his friend, "Why, when I proposed to Sumia, I felt like I was about to throw up I was so nervous. Then on our wedding day, I was more terrified than I had ever been in battle. I kept thinking what if I messed it up. What if I wasn't good enough for her? Fear can be powerful, but it's important not to give into those fears. I can assure you that it's been more than worth the risk."
Robin was silent for a while, "Do you really think I'd be a good fit for her?"
"I wouldn't be trying to talk you into it or be giving you my blessing if I didn't." Chrom smiled, "You make her happy. She makes you happy. You just have to go for it."
"And…you really think she reciprocates?" Robin had a bit of a struggle wrapping his head around that part honestly.
"About as sure as I can be without a direct confession. Honestly, Sumia's better with this kind of stuff, but I can tell she cares deeply for you." Chrom stood up to leave, "Just talk to her. Oh, and don't break her heart. It'd be a shame to have to look for a new tactician."
Robin forced out an awkward laugh, "I'd never dream of it."
"Good," Chrom smiled and nodded, "Good night."
"Good night," Robin replied as the prince left leaving him with plenty to think about.
Lucina awoke bright and early the next morning as per usual. What she and her mother had talked about on watch duty still weighed on her as she idly brushed her hair. Was it really so simple as that?
Just as she prepared to venture out and start the day, she noted a formal notice just like the one from the previous day. Lucina, of course, wasted no time in seeing what was going on. As Lucina read the notice, she could not help the small smile that graced her lips. Perhaps her mother was onto something.
With a newfound hope, Lucina departed out into the day. During breakfast, she grabbed two trays and left for Robin's tent where she imagined he was hard at work doing something. Sure enough, she found him reading some volume when she arrived.
"Studying for the upcoming battle?"
"Huh?" Robin looked up slightly startled before closing the book upon seeing his guest, "No, actually. I was indulging in a novel your mother lent me. I finished my last-minute adjustments to the battle plan late last night."
"I saw that," Lucina commented as she sat the trays down, "I brought you breakfast."
"Thank you," Robin scooted the book away and the two began to eat silently. The silence was only somewhat awkward as both parties looked for the right words. In the end, Robin moved first.
"I'm sorry for changing the plan like that…and avoiding you. When I said it was personal, well, I didn't mean that it was because I didn't like you."
"It's okay, Robin. I'm sorry that I doubted you. I was just a bit…hurt."
"I know, and I'm sorry. That was not my intention."
"So I've come to find out," Lucina smiled softly and the two went back to their silence. Neither said anything else on the matter. They did not know what to say. Both wondered if they should confess their feelings right then and there, but for the time being they enjoyed each other's company. Perhaps…perhaps one day soon they would confess, but for today they had a battle to win.
However, sometime after Lucina left, Robin stepped out to prepare to depart. In doing so, he noticed a small patch of flowers nearby. "Flowers," Robin mused, "I should remember that."
A/N: I got to their S support and wanted to do something. It was kind of nice going back to my bread and butter like this. I have been working on the Robin story though. I may be a little less than halfway through the chapter rough drafts. That said, the more slice of life nature of it isn't exactly my favorite thing ever.
And, oh boy, that summer banner. They actually found a way to make getting a summer Lucina worse than not getting one at all. I've played this game regularly since launch, and yet with these past two banners, I'm not sure if I'll stick around. Especially with summer Lucina being perhaps my most wanted alt only to get stuck with…this. As it stands, I'll probably at least try to pick up legendary Chrom later this month, but they've been killing my enthusiasm for this game.
People that essentially say I should shut up and take this..."pandering" don't help either. Just because there are characters with less alts doesn't mean this is good or that as a Lucina fan I have to like it.
