13. Rock Band
((Author's Note: A slightly shorter one shot, with trace amounts of Jem and Holograms if you squint.))
This guitar has seen better days. Robin can tell that from one look, and the worn strings. Chrom holds the instrument with an abashed look on his face, his fingers clutching at the neck.
"I know it's not the greatest instrument… Or the best maintained." He tells Robin, and she can only nod. Robin sighs as she looks over the guitar, because she can't exactly say no when Chrom is giving her pleading eyes.
And the fact is, she can instantly tell how to go about fixing this guitar. Even though it's going to demand so much of her time… But she can't find herself refusing the challenge.
"Give me until tomorrow." She tells him instead, and Chrom's eyes light up. Besides, who is she to refuse a rising star? She'd known who he was the second he stepped into her store; though he lacked the usual flashy outfits she'd seen during performances. The only real giveaway is his blue hair; while it might get a little more enhanced by dyes on stage, the color is still vivid enough. Enough to match the brilliant concert costumes.
But because of his plain outfit, she can better focus on his smile, and the way it makes him almost glow.
"Thanks!" He blurts out. "Really, thanks so much… This thing has a lot of sentimental value, and-"
Robin has to hold her hand up, to stall him.
"But if I'm going to have it ready for you by tomorrow, I need to get started on it NOW." And besides that… His grin is more distracting than she wants to admit. Better to get him out of her shop, so she can focus on the repairs.
-o-o-o-
It takes a night of hard work, but something pushes Robin through it. Every time she thinks about taking a break, there's another burst of energy to refine the strings, to buff out and treat the scuff marks. A part of her wonders how Chrom can be so careless with a treasured instrument. The rest of her finds the damage to be enlightening.
The pressure on the neck shows how tense he can be when performing, and how he grips the strings like they're a lifeline. The bit of worn paint along the pickguard and sound hole follows the shape and arc of his thumb, showing that he treats that as a spot to rub and work out all his stress. It's a study of how this man is a bit of a mess… But also plays beautiful music.
Robin knows that for a fact, as she puts on one of his albums on as background noise while she works. Once or twice, her fingers strum over the strings, trying to figure out how he pulls off the chord arrangements.
She works from evening to late night, pulling out a cot she keeps stowed under the work bench when she's done, and the last of that focused energy deserts her.
The next thing Robin is aware of, is a finger cautiously prodding her in the ribs, followed by a hand on her shoulder, shaking her awake. She blinks her eyes open to see Chrom staring down at her.
"Don't tell me you spent the entire night here?" She's not entirely sure why he has such a concerned look on his face; he wanted that guitar fixed, after all.
"I was inspired." She mumbles through sleep fogged head and lips. "Had a lot of stuff to do."
She raises a hand and points to the now mended guitar, resting on her work desk. She can't help but note that in the morning sunlight, the instrument looks striking and picturesque.
'A match for the musician.'
…She blames the drowsiness for that thought. Robin turns her head to the guitar, hoping Chrom doesn't see her blush. But still, he hesitates over her, instead of going straight to the instrument.
"You… Really didn't need to do that all of this for me." He keeps his voice soft, sounding oddly humbled.
"Wanted to. Though right now I could use coffee." She pushes herself up onto her elbows… Right as a styrofoam cup floats in front of her face. Chrom pushes the cup towards her.
"H-here. I hope it's okay that I already took a sip, but… You could have it instead." Robin finds herself taking it with a mumbled thanks, sipping it and tasting vanilla and whipped cream. As she drinks, and feels a little more alertness slowly seep into her head, Robin nods to the guitar.
Chrom takes the hint, picking the instrument up and giving an admiring sigh as he looks over it. All the paint has been shined up, and the strings practically hum in the air.
"This is… Amazing." He murmurs.
"Want to give it a test?" Robin asks, wiping the last of the whipped cream off her lips. Chrom's answer is to take a seat, and slowly start strumming the strings. Robin picks out the first notes to one of his album songs… And while she wouldn't admit it out loud, one of her favorites.
Chrom pauses, right as the melody begins to take shape, and gives Robin an abashed look.
"…Can you play?" At her blank look, he continues. "It's just… This song needs a good melody to support the main harmony."
In answer, Robin takes one of the display guitars from the shelf. It takes a quick tuning on the strings, before she experimentally strums out a few chords. It's been a while, since she's really sat down to play, instead of just testing strings and sound.
But, while it embarrasses her to admit that… She's still played this song a time or two, trying to figure out what makes the music work. It feels a little different, playing it alongside the person who brought it to her ears for the first time.
Her first notes are hesitant, as she tries to remember the song. Chrom takes notice, and he strums the opening chords on his own guitar, slowing his movements so she can copy him.
"Sorry, it's taking some work…" She trails off as he shakes his head. "This song… It's… Sort of one of my favorites. And I want to do it justice."
"My sister was the one wrote this." He murmurs. "I'm just the one who learned how to play it."
Robin nods, remembering the interviews and press… And noticing how Chrom seems a little bit more relaxed, in her shop. It makes her determined to play a little faster, a little more sure, to show that she appreciates the song. Soon enough, it's Chrom trying to catch up with her, as they work on the music together.
Chrom hums the lyrics, rather than singing them aloud. Which makes sense, given what those lyrics are about; an odd mix of sentimentality, longing, and finally getting to kiss the person in the song. A part of Robin feels heat in her face, over playing such an intimate song like this… But the rest of her loves the complex chords, the rise and fall of the notes twining together, and how each set of notes is its own challenge and reward. It's easy to lose herself in.
Eventually the last of the notes fade, and Chrom gives the guitar an admiring look… And then turns that same admiring look to Robin.
"You… Really know how to fix things up." He says, and she wonders at the shy, half lidded quality to his eyes. He rises, already digging out payment for her… But then he pauses, before handing her a generous roll of bills.
More generous than the job warrants, if Robin is honest with herself. She almost wants to refuse them, but Chrom insistently pushes the payment into her hands.
"There… Is something else, I wanted to ask about." He admits, eyes fixed on the ground. "Y-you don't have to say yes, and I don't want you to feel like I'm pressuring you into this or anything, but…"
He pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath.
"Our bass player, Sumia… She had to leave our group, to really focus on being a veterinarian. A-and I hope she makes it! But, we're sort of… Short one player right now. And I was wondering if-"
He glances up, giving her a hopeful look. For her part, Robin wonders if all the band auditions are like this.
"I… I'm not sure if I can pull off the costumes you all wear."
"Cherche can work something out, that matches your style. And… I think we…"
Work well together. Robin can't help but share that conviction; for the first time in a long time, she was focused on just the music, on sinking deep into the song and playing it to the best of her abilities. Maybe that's why she finds herself extending her hand out, to shake on it.
"Well… I've always wondered what it'd be like, to play in a band like this." And she also wonders what it'll be like, if she can make him smile like that every time they practice or play together.