6

Two tacticians sit across from each other, their eyes cast downwards gazing at the wooden board of the tactical game they were engaged in. At a distance you night think they were locked in concentration over the game and that's what they might tell you as well, though in truth they have yet to say a word to each other since the battle yesterday.

Both would have been fine with this planned game not going ahead but neither wanted to be the bigger man and be the one to speak up first, and so they sit waiting for it to be over to end the awkward torture.

Taking a deep breath, Robin widens his eyes and sighs quietly, wondering where Lissa was to save him from this torment. He had spent the morning pleading with her to distract Morgan somehow yet here she is...

In all honesty he would love to get this spat between them over with, but with him not at the top of game tactically speaking, what right did he have to lecture her about his seemingly impossible ideals. At the very least he could have explained his feelings better without yelling at her.

Inversely, Morgan was already over it, no longer mad at her father, no point in crying over what's done after all. She does understand she's overstepped her boundaries, undermining another tactician mid-battle would usually call for some discipline or dismissal, but all she got was not even what you would call a stern talking to, and even then, she still had the gall to get mad. She was truly acting like a child.

With a sigh of her own she completes her turn, trying to figure out a way to apologize. Maybe, just maybe... if she could win the game, she could create an opportunity to explain hers-

"Good game" Robin interrupts her thoughts as he set a piece down securing him victory in the game.

"Huh..." Morgan blinks looking at the board again, when had it gotten so empty? There were only a handful of units left on the board now. "Wait how did you... win?"

Robin hadn't really been paying attention to the game and just ran with Virion's usual suicidal strategy in hopes of ending it quickly one way or another but in a twist of fate...

Robin sits up sharply, startling Morgan a bit. To think Virion's stupid strategies and lessons would still be assisting him.

"No, don't you see this is what I was trying to tell you. I may have won the battle but look at my units left, a fraction of what I started with, not enough for another battle and of who's left, who would follow the same tactician twice."

He pauses to let Morgan absorb what he said, her eyes locked on the board "Do... you really plan your strategies in hope to keep everyone alive? That's not..." she mumbles to herself. It's not possible maybe, but to be known as the tactician trying to keep everyone alive... a lot of pressure would be placed on him, but it's understandable why people would rally behind someone like that, placing great hope and trust on his strategies, taking out plenty of potential x factors.

"Father, you played like this just to teach me a lesson?... you're so smart" she grins, a genuine smile on her face again.

Robin scratches his head "Yeah..." and with a look to the side he makes a mental note to make sure Virion never hears about this.

-0-

Lissa meanwhile was snooping on the two, snickering. Once again inaction has fixed everyt- "Waaah" Lissa yelps as she's thrown to the side as Sumia rips the tent flaps wide open

"Robin! Gangrel has caught up to us, he'll be here within a few hours"

Robin startled by the sound of Lissa looks around before turning to Sumia "Gods, I knew the wounded would be slowing us down, but I thought we might be able to reach the Feroxi boarder in time." he thinks aloud.

Robin stands feeling renewed, ready to face the challenge. He might not be ready to deal with Morgan's tactics and supposed connection between them at the moment, but he was ready for a new tactical obstacle. "Sumia, how many, what's their composition like?"

"Huh?... oh yeah Frederick will tell you about that. I ran to find you first wanting to ask you to pair Chrom and I together again in battle" she smiles, her hands together as she's trying to act cute, not minding the fact her body is covered in dust and dirt. She must have taken a fall or two.

Robin deflates a bit, not mad, but he feels the wind was taken from his sails before he even left the proverbial port. "Uh yeah Sumia... of course"

Morgan bites her lip, the thought of maybe too much trust being a bad thing crosses her mind.

Hey I sort of forgot I was ever writing this until I got a new follower and my phone beeped me, but here's a new chapter if anyone's interested. If so i'll try to do more sooner/faster.

In other stories people like using Chess to represent the game tacticians usually play in FE but that never felt right since they always reference pieces like Ballista and Pegasus, so I just left it intentionally vague, the details aren't important, what's important is Robin MVP ggez and Morgan needs to get good.