31. WILDCARD: Steampunk/Coffee Shop/Modern Day

((Author's Note: Apparently when I'm given three extra prompts, my mind goes to a His Dark Materials inspired AU set in a coffee shop. And with this, AUgust is finally done! Updates to Lost to the Waves will resume in September; thank you all for your patience, and for reading!))

Burning his tongue and getting hot coffee spilled on his lap, as it turns out, is the LEAST of Chrom's problems. Though he doesn't realize it quite yet. Right now his biggest concern is to swallow up the yelp and keep a shop full of people and beasts from staring at him.

"Told you this was a mistake." The daemon at his side growls, tail bristling and lashing from the shared discomfort. Naga doesn't seem to care much about how Chrom is biting back a lot of screaming and cursing, focusing on chastising him instead. That cheek and scolding makes him wonder, if Naga was always meant to be a daemon to one of his sisters, instead of him.

"Can we save the lectures about leaving the palace? At least until later?" He manages to grit out instead, hopefully keeping his voice low enough that the other patrons don't hear anything. The wolf daemon just sighs in response, ears pinned back to show her frustration.

"S-sorry!" Says his server. Her daemon nervously twines around her heels, watching the proceedings through large cat eyes. The waitresses eyes are similarly large and staring, mortification clear on her face.

"It's… Fine." Chrom grits out, watching the server. And desperate to focus on something else, he says, "You… Haven't been working here long, have you."

He's pretty sure he recognizes all of Anna's regulars; this is his favorite shop to moonlight as a regular person, thanks to the agreement he's worked out with the owner. He gives Anna a generous tip each time he visits, and she in turn keeps any wild guesses about his identity to herself. As a consequence, he knows most of the staff here. He also knows that even Sumia isn't so awkward that she'd spill hot coffee on people.

"N-no. I was lucky enough that Anna offered me a job when I asked…" The stranger says, coloring fast and ducking her head. "It turns out that drinking a lot of coffee and serving it are two different things."

Taking her in, Chrom can't help but notice the dark circles under her eyes; her daemon also betrays how nervous she is, constantly glancing about and lashing his tail. She has the look of someone harried, who even in a warm, velvet blanketed shop can't let her guard down.

"Anna's Airship" the locals all jokingly call the coffeeshop. Each time he comes in, Chrom is more convinced the name is apt. He keeps picking out little details of brass; cogs and pipes threading through the shop, hints of this place's past life as an airship gondola. Though how Anna got her hands on such a thing, OR transported it to the heart of Ylisstol, Chrom doesn't know. But it means the place is full of odd charm.

All of which seems to be lost on the server, with how she frets over him. She half slumps as she looks over him, shame pinching her eyebrows together.

"L-look. I won't raise a fuss, and I don't want you to get into any trouble but… I could really use some help with the coffee stains." Chrom tells her. She jolts out of her nervousness, and grabs at the towel in her apron, holding it out to Chrom.

"H-here. This might help with the mess…" She trails off, before carefully taking a seat next to him. "And… Thanks."

At least she helps block off the view and save some of his dignity, as Chrom gingerly dabs at his lap. Around them, the lights give a faint flicker; the coffee engine is likely drawing the bulk of power again, with how the valves all start whistling. The stranger starts a little at the sound… And in the corner of his eye, he can see her daemon ripple subtly in response, shedding its silvery tabby colors and shifting to black.

Shifting.

Chrom clutches at the towel, hoping he isn't staring. Because the stranger has to be around the same age as him; long past the point where her daemon should be settled into one form. At his feet, Naga gives a worrying rumble. And just like that, the stranger bolts back up, gathering the cat in her arms. With another shiver, the daemon switches back to stripes at her contact.

"S-sorry again. If… If there's anything I can do for you though, just ask for Robin." And with that, she leaves him nursing some scalded skin, and a headful of questions. It takes him a full minute to realize he's never gotten his drink, and in the grand scheme of things, that doesn't seem to matter as much.

-o-o-o-

"We're pressing our luck." Naga tells him as they approach the coffee shop entrance. "Two days in a row ups the chances of getting caught."

"Oh, hush." Chrom tells her, pushing a curtain of fabric to one side and ducking through the doorway, feeling around for the entrance. "We're also doing our civic duty, with making certain the citizens are satisfied."

"With their coffee? I'm certain there's more pressing things we could be doing… Aside from wondering how the new hire is doing." He finds the brass handles and throws the door open at that, before Naga can give him more than a hint of a large toothy grin. The bell overhead chimes as he looks around the shop.

The chime rings off the glass panels of the former canopy, echoing through the shop. Chrom only relaxes once he's stepped through, and left the chaos of the city at his back. The doors and even the glass and wood walls help shut off the raised voices and clatter of hooves and carriages of the streets.

"Rough day out there?" Anna asks, looking up from where she polishes and cleans one of the tables. Her ferret daemon winds around her shoulders, and raises his head up to chitter at Chrom.

"It's… Been chaotic. The Magisterium have sent a few more agents into the city."

"And the royal family isn't certain how to deal with them." Anna says flatly, with nothing beyond an arched eyebrow at Chrom.

"I-if I were to guess, they don't want to make the same mistakes as the last Exalt. Letting the Magisterium whisper too much zealotry in their ears… And enter into a war that leaves them as weak as Plegia." That's the most he wants to say; Anna can likely infer the rest. That he doesn't want to see Ylisse go the way as their rival, Plegia. Becoming too devastated by war to become more than a puppet-state to the Magisterium. Naga growls at his side, bristling at the thought and showing her fangs.

"Sounds pretty dour. You need a good drink to chase that away?" He gives Anna a grateful nod.

"Exactly; I'll be at my usual spot… And take the usual, as well."

Anna has likely tweaked her power source again, and made the lighting a little more orange. It gives the shop a warm, homey feel, almost like stepping into a hearth.

Against those ruddy colors, it's easy enough to pick out Robin. The violet of her clothes is a sharp contrast to the warmer outfits of the patrons.

When she sees HIM however, he's half worried she's going to bolt. So instead of striding up to the counter, he settles in his favorite corner; one next to old books shelves stuffed with old tattered covers. And then, he waits and watches.

Several of the regulars are around today, either as staff or as customers. He glances over to Miriel, deep in her studies, her owl perched on her shoulder with half lidded eyes. Over the clink of glasses and porcelain, he's certain he can hear the creature murmuring formula in Miriel's ear. Stahl is managing the counter today, though he keeps glancing outside the window to the stables; Anna installed it when she hired him and Sully, so their horses could stay close within sight, even as they work.

Chrom finds himself smiling at them, returning their waves when they offer them. He wouldn't be surprised if Anna sends one of the regulars over-

"I don't get it. Why are you back here, after yesterday?" Comes a soft voice at his side. He looks up to see Robin, her grip tight around a serving tray. This time she manages to place the cups on the table, all without spilling a drop.

"Well… Curiosity, I suppose. You should know something about being curious as a cat, considering your daemon."

"…Grima." He starts, as the daemon provides its name. It's not common for daemons to speak to another human; there's a faint echo of Robin's own voice from the cat, just sounding a touch more masculine. Robin seems startled as well, staring at her daemon.

Grima looks straight back her, pupils narrowed to slits. There's a small, unspoken debate that seems to pass between the two of them, human and daemon matching wills.

"He wanted to know about us. Maybe we should indulge him." The cat continues. "We could use a friend after-"

"Stop." Robin cuts the daemon off, clapping a hand over his mouth. But Chrom still stares at her, as does Naga. Under so many eyes, she can't seem to keep her mouth shut, and the words finally spill out of her.

"…Okay." She sighs out. "Seeing as we're strangers here… We COULD use some help." Naga huffs at that, already knowing that Chrom is intrigued. And that he isn't about to turn his back on Robin since she needs aid.

"So you aren't from around here?" He presses. "A-are you from Plegia?"

She shakes her head at that, almost hesitant to meet his eyes.

"…Further than that." Robin tells him, and he doesn't miss the shiver working through her limbs. "I… Don't remember much." She tells him, and he can see the way her eyes narrow, and how Grima gives a matching bristle, all the hairs on the cat's back standing up. He half reaches out to Robin, brushing their fingers together. Naga matches that, reaching out and giving Grima a quick lick across the top of the head. Trying to sooth the both of them.

"…What I do remember is snowy fields. And a strange, iron fortress. And…" She trails off, shutting her eyes. Her shudders get worse… And her hand reaches out for Grima, only to bump against Naga instead. Chrom freezes, his lungs feeling like they've been turned to ice. Robin goes shockingly pale as well, realizing what she's done-

But even through the shock of contact, the sudden breach of accidental touching, Chrom feels and sees something else. Like a memory that isn't his own has jumped into his head, and plays out in front of his eyes.

Robin's descriptions come to life, and he sees snow blasted fields and blackened skies shrouding an area; this is a place further than Ferox, a place where the sun seldom rises or pierces the gloomy, snow choked skies. But even more foreboding is the strange tangle of pale glass and dark stone, rising in severe and sharp angles from the ice. To make up for the black skies, a dozen artificial lights illuminate the grounds and shine like lanterns through barred windows. Looking almost like a prison.

Someone or something pulls him in, amidst the swirling snow and into the buildings. Inside is just as cold as the outside, the stone walls and hints of strange, glaring glass all mingling together… Until a sudden, sharp glare cuts the blurred hallways together.

The glare shines bright, turning into something sharp edged and standing between him and… And his daemon, he realizes with a horrible lurch. He can hear Robin's voice, screaming to be let go, to let her get back to Grima… And there's such an intensity in her voice, such a ragged shriek, that he can feel his own throat ache, as though he's shouting out just as horribly… And still, despite the screams, that sharp edged thing rises up, its edges gleaming almost too bright to look at.

"You're to be part of something greater. A part of the Magisterium." Comes a sharp voice, sharp as the set of blades hovering in his vision. The blurry scenery snaps into focus just long enough for him to realize what he's seeing; Robin and her daemon, pulled apart to their limit, while a horrible blade rises between them before preparing to snap down-

And then just like that, the vision cuts out, and he finds himself gasping and staring back at Robin. Somehow still with her daemon intact, with everything that's happened to her… But also in flux, unsettled.

"We'd be unsettled too, if that happened to us." Naga manages to break the silence with a low growl. Chrom's eyes dart around, but no one else seems to have taken notice of them. The warmth of the coffee shop is a stark contrast to what he just witnessed.

"You…" Chrom finally manages to gasp out, only the lack of breath keeping his voice low. "You haven't told anyone else about this, have you?"

"Wh-why would I?' She shoots back; and even with the trauma he just saw, it's clear that it hasn't completely crushed Robin. Not with the defiance blazing in her eyes. "So I'd be seen as crazy? I have enough difficulties as is."

"You'd have worse if the Magisterium overhears you." Chrom hurriedly tells her, pitching his voice low. "They don't have a lot of patience for heretical ideas… And they'd have even less, for a LIVING borderline heresy."

He swallows hard, before gathering his wits back up.

"…But. You did pick a good place to run to. Ylisse isn't strictly under the heel of the Magisterium yet."

"Who…?"

"…Guess that… THING in your mind messed with your memory. They're the supreme spiritual authority, that governs all the kingdoms." Chrom tells her. "Or advises them, in our case. We've been lucky to have my sister- I mean Emmeryn's guidance!" Chrom tries to change his wording, but a little too late; with the way Robin stares at him, she realizes just who it is she's talking to.

"You know… You're looking like you could use some coffee, more than me." Chrom finds himself saying. Trying to hold off any shouted revelations, that might tip anyone else on who he is. "My treat?"

Robin gives a hesitant nod at that; better than running away at the very least. Or spilling another drink onto his lap.

-o-o-o-

He certainly hadn't been planning on ground breaking revelations, when all he wanted was a cup of coffee. With all that, Chrom hopes he can't be blamed for wanting to step outside, and clear his head. Naga follows alongside him, tail and hackles still all bristled.

"…How could that happen? How could anyone live through that?" His daemon barely manages to snarl. Chrom can only shake his head, trudging from the shop and along the street. He can't quite deal with the commotion of the crowds, or the rumors of the Magistreum-

'Knowing what they did. They somehow sanctioned torturing people like that, trying to cut them away from their daemons…'

He ducks into a side street, tracing his hand along the glass of Anna's shop. Soon enough he moves past the windows, into the twisting streets of Ylisse-

Naga gives a sharp snarl, his only warning that something is amiss. The next moment, a lean dark shape slams into Naga, sinking fangs into the side of her neck and shaking back and forth. Chrom can barely make out a jackal, as he feels pain bloom along his shoulders. The sudden shock of the attack drops him to his knees.

And he crashes completely to the floor when a cudgel slams into his ribs. He wheezes, twists around to catch the weapon before it can land again… And sees a wild eyed man on the other end. The stranger is framed by red hair and has a hungry look to his eyes.

"So you're our escapee's little friend." He hisses. "You want to tell us where she is-? Or do you want to see how fast Averse can tear out a wolf's throat?"

Through the pain clouding his eyes, he makes out fine clothing on the man, spun from cashmere… Things restricted to the ecclesiastic circle.

"You're… A magister?"

"Oh, they pay me well enough, to be their hunting hound. And they'll pay me better, when I find the lost bird-" Chrom is losing his strength under the man's grip, and he's certain Naga won't keep her throat intact for long… Until a sudden roaring, snarling shape slams into both daemons.

Chrom finds himself gasping for breath, staring as a tiger rakes claws over the jackal's dark form, staining the streets with scarlet. The jackal gives a pained howl, equal to any of Naga's cries, and for a moment Chrom can taste and smell blood through Naga's senses. And that drives Chrom to try and lurch upright.

He struggles to find his feet, knowing he needs to get out of the alleyway. If he collapses here, he's fair game for the Magisters, or just succumbing to his own injuries…

"Keep your eyes open!" At first he thinks he must be hearing Naga, pleading for him to stand again… But there's something wrong with the voice. It's more masculine than his Daemon. Chrom works his eyes open, trying to focus them as he claws his way forward; maybe he'll somehow managed to blunder into a stranger-

Instead his eyes open and fall on the tiger looming over him. The great cat has an odd silver tinging its fur. And as it seethes and spits over the magistrate's twitching body, the tiger seems to diminish, shift down… And becomes a familiar looking gray and smokey cat.

"G-Grima…?" He whispers. A chill works his way down his back; because he knows that Robin isn't anywhere in sight.

"Robin's close by, just hurry! Get up!" Naga rushes under his arm as he tries to pull himself up… And with a sudden shiver he feels another touch, under his other arm. Grima looks almost like a lion, as he helps Chrom stand. And the daemon doesn't flinch from his touch; and Chrom desperately needs the extra strength, pulling him up and helping him along.

-o-o-o-

He keeps moving, knowing that there has to be more of the Magisterium on the way; ready to pry Robin's location out of him... Or use him as leverage against Emmeryn.

'There were rumors in the court. That they're looking for anyway to pressure our kingdom…'

"And you'd make a fine hostage." Naga finishes his thought.

Until they thankfully empty out of the alleyway. He can hear the gasps of civilians, seeing the blood on him and the daemons. His back bristles, as he tries to get back into the safety of the coffee shop… And that's when he hears the shouts behind him. More Magistrates, and he doesn't know how he'll fight them off. All he can do is stagger through the doorway-

"On the floor, please!" Robin's voice greets him, with enough snap to it that he instantly crashes down, chin scrapping against one of the rugs. One of the Magistrates burst in close behind him… Only to back off with pained shrieks and howls from him and his daemon. He looks up, to see Robin holding a half emptied coffee jug.

"Hot coffee to the face. It's more effective than I thought." Robin murmurs, staring as the Magister goes staggering and screaming back.

"Well, we're running out of brew! Probably should leave now." He hears Anna say, thudding the empty coffee pot down as Robin hauls him upright. Grima claws up Robin's back, shifting from snarling tiger to bristle tailed housecat in a blink.

"Okay people! We finally get to use our routine!" Anna calls out And to Chrom's shock, the other coffee shop staff spring to attention. Some of them go to the old coffee maker, pulling parts off it and replacing it with others, while overhead the cloth ceiling seems to almost seethe, breathe… And then expand.

With a start, Chrom realizes he's looking up at the canopy of an airship.

"You… You're telling me you kept this thing working-?" Chrom gasps out.

"Hell yeah she did!" Sully says, guiding her and Stahl's horses into the shop, keeping her hands gingerly on the reign's of Stahl's daemon. "Never know when you need a quick escape route, when the Magisterium decides they want to make war with a kingdom… And pick a fight with the prince."

"P-prince!?" Chrom sputters. And as the airship yanks itself up, he's pretty sure he leaves his stomach on the ground.

"I… I thought you swore you wouldn't tell!" He gives Anna an accusing glare, his frown only deepening when she shrugs it off.

"And I kept my promise. I never told anyone… But that didn't keep them all from making their own educated guesses."

"Unbelievable…" Chrom groans, while Naga gives a sharp bark of a laugh. Apparently his disguise skills aren't quite as good as he'd hoped. "Well… At least tell me someone here knows how to fly an airship."

"N-not exactly." Sumia speaks up at that, the dove on her shoulder nervously fluttering its wings. "But my mother worked as an airship pilot, and I learned everything I could from her. So… If you don't mind, I'd like to take the wheel. And get us out of here."

Chrom can only stare at that, before giving a hesitant nod.

"Better than crashing." He tells Sumia, and watches her take the wheel. He risks a glance out the windows, to see the city falling away from them as the airship rises up into the sky. And while he's flown on airships before, it's still a strange sight; he can't stop looking around the canopy, staring as it transforms before his eyes, from shop to ship.

Robin can't seem to stop staring, either, it seems.

"I… Seem to have brought a lot of trouble into your life." She murmurs at last.

"Well… There's not a lot of love lost between us and the Magisterium. And apparently they have a lot of skeletons that need to be unearthed." He looks to her, while Naga gives a soft grumble of agreement. "And if we can keep you out of their grip, and show what they're doing… Then all the better."

Before, he's only been able to see Robin as a little broken, a little unsure. But standing there in the airship, he has to revise that. He's never seen someone so strong… And Naga seems to have no problem with brushing against her, both to assure her and maybe even draw some strength from her.

"Thanks…" Robin murmurs. "I… I'll figure out a way to make this up to you."

"Well, if there's still a working coffee machine, I wouldn't say no to another drink." Chrom tells her, and gets rewarded by a laugh and a nod.

"Certainly… And I'll try to avoid spilling it in your lap this time." Chrom gives a sharp laugh at that, echoing Naga's own barking voice. It's been a while since he's laughed, he has time to think; and the same seems to be true for Robin, with how her eyes go wide.

And as it turns out, Robin has a gift for being a barista after all. Even it turns out that her best environment for making and serving coffee is onboard an airship. But as it turns out, she can brew his favorite drink, as they sail off into the skies.