Chapter 9: Chromsultation

An entire day later, they had finally returned to Ylisstol. Even though he'd found freedom in being away, the dream he'd had during their stay at the pegasus knights' encampment was more than enough to send his mind spiraling once more. If he tried to recall the ride home alongside his father and Sully, he'd come up empty. It wasn't that he'd blacked out… It was more like he hadn't been present at all. The journey was an out of body experience for him, and though he was sure he'd engaged in conversation, he knew it wasn't really him, just his unconscious thoughts.

Seeing how exhausted his son had been, Raven let him head to his room the moment they were both inside Ylisstol's palace. He said he would unpack and manage the horses, and Robin expressed his thanks, but he was just glad to step away and be by himself once more. Outside of the dream, he hadn't heard a whisper from the voice, making him wonder if the dream or the event the month prior had even been real in the first place. But it had felt so, so real…

For all intents and purposes, Robin headed up the stairs to return to his own private quarters, but somewhere along the line, he found himself taking a detour. Going down a hall led him to an entirely different wing of the palace, which is where Chrom's room was. No guards currently were posted outside, but Robin's heart raced nonetheless; it was already too late into the night for Chrom to be awake… Though he'd taken this path, Robin's hand still hesitated an inch from the door. Would Chrom even want to see him after he'd all but ignored him for weeks?

With a deep breath, Robin rapped his knuckles against the door. It felt like an eternity before he heard rustling on the other side, and it opened just a crack before Chrom's voice sleepily asked: "Hello?"

"Chrom? I… I'm sorry to wake you," Robin started. Before he could continue though, the door flung wide open, and the prince wrapped his arms around the young tactician. "What's this for?"

"Oh quiet, you fool! I haven't seen you in almost a month!" Chrom tightened his embrace, and the two stood there silently, just long enough for Robin to feel the other boy's warmth seep into his own body. Though he'd finally reconnected with his father, something about this felt… different. To feel Chrom's arms around him was to feel Chrom's compassion and trust, and perhaps, Robin realized he had worried that the prince might have lost those feelings during their time apart.

The dark-haired boy leaned forward, pressing his forehead into the prince's shoulder. "I… I missed talking to you," Robin admitted softly in a moment of vulnerability.

"Then why didn't you reach out? Why didn't you talk?" When no answer came, Chrom let his friend go and stepped back. "Hey, come inside."

Robin didn't need to be told twice. He entered Chrom's room and sat on the edge of his bed. Oddly enough, it was perfectly made, which earned the prince a confused look.

"Ah, yeah…" Chrom mumbled, his eyes glancing to the floor to bring attention to the blanket and ruffled rug that were down there. "I heard you were coming back, and I was going to wait up for you, but you returned later than expected."

"So, you fell asleep on the floor? Chrom, I swear…"

The prince frowned and sat beside his tactician. "Don't you even think about lecturing me. It's been a whole month since we've even spoken, and by the gods, I will not let you pester me during our first conversation."

Robin let out a frustrated sigh before nodding. "All right, all right… I won't lecture you. Not tonight, anyways."

With that, the conversation proceeded slowly. Robin mostly told him about their trip to the pegasus knights' camp, including meeting Cordelia and Sully. Chrom gushed for a minute or two about how incredible the pegasus knights were, and he even said that if he could do it, he'd be a pegasus knight in a heartbeat. Robin agreed that it would be a fantastic experience, but neither of them were particularly good with animals, so they concluded it might not be the best fit.

Much to the young tactician's surprise, Chrom did not press or try to speak on the events that had driven Robin away. In a way, he found it refreshing that their relationship had not suffered too terribly from their lack of communication, but for some reason, things also felt… Different. It was like Chrom was waiting to bring up the topic, glancing into Robin's eyes to see if there was even a brief moment where the other boy's guard would be down enough.

There was not.

Each time Robin caught a moment of silence between them, he filled it before the prince had the chance.

Still, Chrom listened intently to every word Robin uttered. Though he'd been asleep just before, he was wide awake and attentive- something it seemed like Robin appreciated. His shoulders, for the first time in a month, were relaxed as though he had finally found a place where no harm would come to him. Eventually, Chrom scooted closer to his friend, placing a hand on top of his- it was cold, even though it was gloved.

"My dear, dear friend…" the prince said with a smile, "I am so glad to have you with us again."

Robin felt his hand tremble as Chrom's rested on them. "I… I don't know if I want to come back. I know we're still young, but…"

As his tactician's voice faltered, Chrom leaned forward to encourage him to keep going. "It's okay. Be honest with me."

"I'm worried that if I do, things between us will change," he admitted.

"What?" Chrom was taken aback. "Nothing you can say will ever change the fact that you're my closest friend or someone whose opinion I respect. You know that, right?"

Robin winced slightly, guilt coursing through his being. "No, I know that… I really do." At that, Chrom's kind, comforting smile returned. "But you were born to lead the people of Ylisse… to be their Exalt. That means that you have to fight, and I… I'm not sure if that's a path I want to follow."

"Okay, that's vague…" Chrom muttered. "Keep going, tell me what that means. I know there's more you want to tell me."

Only Chrom would be able to glean that from their conversation. Robin swallowed thickly, knowing that he couldn't put it off any longer. Though his skin crawled and his mind raced, the boy had to tell someone. It wasn't until then that he realized he'd been avoiding Chrom's eyes the entire conversation but now, he looked into them intentionally. There, he saw no judgement- simply honest and genuine worry.

"Have you ever… Felt like there's someone else inside your head? Someone who tells you these awful things and makes you feel terrible? I don't know why it started when it did, but ever since that mission… I feel like I'm fighting against that voice. It keeps trying to tell me to let what I've done go, but Chrom… I don't think I can. It wasn't right. To take the life of another… It shouldn't have felt that easy… That good."

Chrom opened his mouth to speak, then seemed to change his mind and close it once more. The two sat in silence together, their breaths slowly becoming in sync. Whatever he had expected to hear from his tactician, that was certainly not it. If the young Ylissean prince had not been in the room with Robin, the boy would have surely broken there and then, but Chrom's presence was enough to keep him grounded.

"That sounds so awful when I say it," Robin finally murmured. "Gods… I feel like a monster. I hate it."

Chrom briefly left Robin's side to grab his blanket off of the floor. With the utmost care, he returned to the other boy's side and gently wrapped it around his shoulders. Robin barely looked at him- his shimmering eyes instead staring off into the distance.

"But you don't have to hate yourself."

"What?"

"Look at me," Chrom commanded, kneeling now in front of Robin. He held his tongue until Robin did as was ordered, and just as he presumed, the prince saw nothing but despair in the eyes of his friend. "No one warned you about this, no one prepared you. That mission was not supposed to go that far, but it did. Robin, that's okay. You can spend all the time you want thinking back on it, but if you look at the facts, you could have died had you not killed that man first." The young prince paused. "Strength is one factor that you have studied and trained yourself to understand, but real power- the power that can come with the ability to end another's life- is something you cannot plan for. We are simple human beings- we are not gods or ancient kings of old. When we become aware of the power that we each hold, it can be overwhelming, but it doesn't mean that we have to despair. We must accept this power, must use it wisely, and must move forward. That's what Emm taught me."

Robin didn't dare take his eyes off Chrom now. Though he did not notice it, the boy's hands stopped trembling. It seemed that perhaps Chrom had misunderstood, but the more the prince spoke, the more Robin realized that even if he had, it didn't matter- he was still right.

"And it doesn't come easy either," Chrom added. "To wield such power is to struggle with what it means. Power can feel good, but if you use it wrong… You'll just feel worse in the end. Everyone will."

"But I-"

"Enjoyed it? Thought it was impressive?" Robin's eyes widened a bit as Chrom predicted his next words. "Robin… You're not some bloodthirsty monster." He leaned forward, taking Robin's hands in his own once more. "I know you. You are kind, you are daring, and you have a mind that I swear never stops learning. But you are not a monster. You are a survivor. You're… You're my friend."

Not even the sound of crickets could break the soft silence now held between them. Robin had cried plenty of tears lately, but that fact would not stop him from shedding a few more. Tenderly, he embraced Chrom, and the two stayed like that for a while. No further words were spoken, and when Robin finally let him go, Chrom simply returned to his resting place on the floor. He didn't even need to tell Robin that he could stay- the boy already knew it. He fell back- still wrapped in Chrom's blanket- and let his eyes fall shut.

Well now… You're more weakhearted than I expected.

This time, Robin didn't even flinch when his dreams took him to the same dark halls they had the night before. Standing before him once again was his twisted doppelganger, but this time, Robin stared back, never avoiding his gaze.

You went and cried to the wretched Ylissean princeling?! You truly are a disappointment.

"I don't know why you came or what you want from me, but I won't listen to you. I'm not a disappointment- I never will be."

Without my help, you would never have saved yourself, much less that arrogant son of Naga! Your failure to do even one simple task is abhorrent to behold- I am beyond disgusted to be one with you and your naïve optimism.

Robin frowned at his other self. "Chrom? Arrogant? Why would you even say that?"

You know that what I say is true. He is foolish, young, and weak. Why, if I wanted to, then I could reach out my hand and torch his body until nothing but ash remains! He would be powerless to stop me!

"Then why don't you do it?"

Pardon?

"Do it. Right now. If you're so full of yourself and truly believe Chrom is beneath you, then do as you claim and dispose of him," Robin challenged.

Detestable child! the other Robin roared. His fists clenched at his sides, and for once in all of their interactions, it seemed like perhaps the real Robin had evoked genuine emotion outside of the smug façade or frustration that he had voiced. I will kill you where you stand! You have no right to speak to me as though I am some lowly brigand to be riled up! I am your salvation! I am your power! Do not dare patronize me!

Robin couldn't help but grin. "You call me a child, but listen to yourself. If you're really my "power," then I think maybe I'll find another way to become strong… Without you."

Dumbfounded, the boy's double started to shake with rage. DO NOT DENY ME WHAT I HAVE CLAIM TO! YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR HEART, YOUR WILL… IT IS NOT YOUR CHOICE TO SHUT ME OUT!

"Too bad." Robin raised a hand, and under his breath, he recited the activation phrase for a simple fire spell. Though this was all a simple dream and he knew he did not need the theatrics, the spell let loose towards his shadow and made direct contact. When the smoke and red flame cleared, no second Robin remained standing. The hall almost felt… empty now.

Though no one could hear him, Robin let out a heavy sigh and looked to his hands. "If Chrom believes I can overcome this, then I must." Slowly, the landscape of his dream began to shift and darken as his mind returned to the soft cradle of true sleep, leaving the mysterious halls behind.

And for the rest of the night, Robin slept more peacefully than he had in his entire life. No nightmares plagued his slumber, and no worries pulled him awake. But despite that, a distant shadow watched him sleep, anger seething hotter than flame itself. This would be the last time that Robin's humanity would hold him back from his destiny; the legacy of man would have to bend to the will of fate. Perhaps not now, but soon… Soon the darkness within would awaken once more, and it would cut down any that stood in its way.