24. Private Detectives
((Author's Note: A micro AU, loosely inspired by Devil Summoner!))
"Is this how you ALWAYS solve cases?" Robin asks, standing over Chrom. He's not able to answer all at once, busy with bleeding on the couch. The bullet and knife wounds are clear along his sides, from where he'd faced kidnappers and shielded Robin. The wounds, even with supernatural healing and toughness, still look bad. Robin can only shake her head, and making a small tsking noise. She lets her eyes blur, and her focus slip inwards, calling to the monster inside.
"I apologize; Samael isn't much of a healer." She tells him, letting the crimson serpent uncoil from her. For a moment she can see a contract of symbols blaze in front of her eyes, a reminder of the agreement between her and the demon. And for now, the contract once again holds, a reminder that she's bested the beast, and it recognizes her power… And is willing to heal, when she asks it of the demon.
Chrom gives a quick, pained grunt, as the worst of his bleeding is staunched. The wounds close up, leaving raw looking pink tissue in their place.
"This is going to leave scars." Robin warns him. Chrom only grits his teeth, and nods. When the healing spell fades away, he breathes a little easier, and gathers the strength to speak.
"Thanks… And no, this isn't always how I solve cases. Usually Cerberus can sniff out some clues, lead me on the right track… And I get to find missing people or items, get out before any culprits notice me, and avoid bleeding in a shootout. Most of the time." Robin can only shake her head, and carefully run her hands over him, making sure Samael didn't miss any wounds.
"Though… I'm glad you took this case as well. I wouldn't have lasted long without another demon to fight those kidnappers... And I owe you for that."
"Maybe you can take me out for drinks at Parabellum, as a thank you." Chrom gives a quick, if pained grin, and sinks into the cushions a little further.
"Sure… Though Lissa might still have my hide, for this. And for dragging you into trouble."
"L-Lissa?" Robin blinks; that's the same client that hired her for this case, to find a missing person.
"You know her? She's my sister…" Chrom trails off as Robin explains; that Lissa had pulled some strings to go looking for her; one of the few independent devil summoners and detectives… And one feeling a little strapped for cash.
"She offered me a lot of money, in exchange for looking into the kidnapping case." And to be fair, they'd found the kidnapped friend of hers. It had just led them to a crime ring as well, none of them too willing to give Maribelle up without a fight. "I took it because… Well, I needed the money. And because she looked desperate."
"She gave me that same desperate look. I couldn't possibly turn her down, even she wasn't my sister." Says Chrom. "But… I was pretty sure I could handle things myself. Apparently she thought otherwise. And she was right about that, too."
He takes a handful of bandages, swabbing them over his wounds as he glances around the room. And Robin tries not to flush, as he takes in her office. There's dust gathering in the corners, plus a few cobwebs lining the windows, ceiling, and fan. And she's pretty sure that sandwich she left on the table has long since gotten stale, and she probably should've thrown it out before going on the case. The one thing she ISN'T feeling a bit self conscious about, is that her case files are at least all in order.
'And at least you helped him out of a tight spot. You held yourself pretty well with gathering clues, and piecing all the witness reports together. He's got to count that in your favor… Though I have to wonder on how much his opinion matters.'
"Still…" She murmurs, trying to get his attention back on her. "It's likely a good thing you were there. Samael is good at spell slinging at other demons, not so much when there's five guns training on me."
He'd charged in, right as Robin's investigation went wrong; he'd practically been the cavalry all on its own, summoning his own demon and laying into the gunmen, heedless of all the shots he took as Robin went to save the hostage.
"I just hope I don't need to take a hail of gunfire every time, to impress you- I-I mean, to complete a case!" Chrom changes his words around at the last minute.
"You don't, but what do you mean, every time…?"
"It's just… I think we made a pretty good team together?" Chrom offers, sitting up a little straighter. "And… I wouldn't mind working together in the future. It'd land you more jobs, and I've been trying to find my feet away from the Ylisstol Detective Agency. I was thinking we could help each other, and… It could work out. Maybe?"
He lowers his eyes, and it seems like he's fighting a blush down; likely due to all the blood he's lost, not wanting to have too much of it rush to his head.
"That might have been why Lissa insisted we both take this case, to save her friend AND introduce us. I forget how devious she can be sometimes." Robin looks at him, considering how they met. Their first introduction hadn't been the best, both of them scrambling to find clues and not certain what the other's intentions had been. But she'd been forced to admit that Chrom had a bit more charisma in getting the witnesses to talk… Even if he'd then shown a bad habit, of rushing off on his own to confront the kidnappers. "O-of course, you don't have to feel pressured, if you'd rather remain independent and I just invite you out for drinks and-"
"Chrom." She cuts him off. "You might notice that I didn't say no. But… I also wouldn't mind going out, to make the agreement official." She feels a little mischievous when she adds that on; and yet, Chrom takes it well enough. And she decides that he cuts a decent enough figure, when he's no longer bleeding out on her couch and grinning at her instead.