Me: And here it comes! The best and sweetest conversation ever, with its share of comedy: Support Conversation S
Robin: I thought Chrom was so cute in this one.
Me: So did I. He was totes adorable.
Chrom: *blushing* You two love to mock me, don't you?
Me: The game made it way too easy.
Robin: But I still love you, you idiot. *kiss*
Chrom: *smiling* Oh Robin, you-
Me: GUYS! CAN THIS WAIT FOR THE STORY?! GEEZ!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did, Emmeryn would have lived…you know, when she let herself fall, not that part near the end, but no spoilers if you aren't that far.
Chapter 4: I Love You
Robin was fed up.
Lately, Chrom had been avoiding her like she had a disease, and she couldn't recall doing anything that bad to him (not counting the bathing incident). She was the tactician and he was the general. They had to communicate or else nothing would get done. Yet Chrom was avoiding her lately and he had been running from her. He had even stopped listening to her when she talked. Was he mad at her for something? She really hoped not… "Chrom! Just the man I wanted to see. We need to talk." She put her hands on her hips and blocked his path. He was not getting away from her this time.
Chrom avoided her gaze. Oh no, not now. He had been trying to find a way to tell her lately, but he wasn't ready. If she said no…He gulped. This had so many outcomes, and Chrom could only imagine the bad ones. "Robin?!"
Okay, she'd confront him about ignoring her later. For now, maybe stick to even ground. "It's about the route you drew up for tomorrow's march. I was looking at the map and I noticed... Chrom? Are you listening to me?" His eyes wandered elsewhere and his expression went a bit dazed. He was in a completely different world, and she wasn't sure she liked it. There he goes again! Why was this happening all of a sudden? What did she do to him?!
Chrom jumped. Why had he kept doing that? If he wanted Robin to say yes to him, he shouldn't have been so inattentive to her! What a way to treat the woman he loved. "Er, oh. Of course! ...Actually, no. I kind of had something to...do." Now or never. He'd been doing his best to make sure he could make her happy, and he really hoped he had done his best with her.
Robin raised an eyebrow. Was Chrom alright? She wanted to feel his forehead, but he might not like that and end up running from her again. "Chrom, you're acting very strange. Are you hiding something from me?" They had agreed that there would be no secrets between them, and she felt a bit hurt by this. Did Chrom not like her anymore?
Chrom winced. No, Robin couldn't have thought anything was up. He had been so careful to hide the ring too… "H-hide? You mean, HIDE hide? Oh, gods, no! N-nothing at all... Nope." The last part sounded lame to his ears, and probably lame to Robin, but what was he to do? He'd never been in a situation like this before!
Robin wasn't convinced. The last time Chrom was this nervous was when he had seen her naked in the bath, and the days after that when he couldn't look at her straight. Unless he had been peeping at her again without her knowledge, she would understand (probably not) why he was fidgeting so much. "Then why are you fidgeting like you've got a squirrel in your pantaloons?"
Chrom tried to keep his body still. Why was he acting like Ricken whenever Maribelle was around? It was a simple question, just ask and wait for an answer. "I-I'm not fidgeting! I'm perfectly relaxed. ...And, er, normal." Yeah, smooth Chrom. Real smooth.
Robin lifted his chin with two fingers, giving him a skeptical look. "And refusing to meet my eye? Listen, Chrom. Didn't you say that we're close friends, with no secrets between us? Didn't you mean that?" If he didn't, then what was the point anymore? It obviously meant he lied to her.
Chrom flinched again. This was not coming out right. Why was this so difficult?! Lon'Qu did it (and he was nervous around women regardless), and so did Vaike and Frederick! Even Henry had done it, and here Chrom was stuttering like an idiot and unable to utter two words. "N-no! I mean, yes! I mean... I swear, it's not like that!"
Robin shook her head, sighing. "I know you've been avoiding me recently. And I'd like to know why, Chrom. I think I deserve an explanation. Please. I can't go on pretending there's nothing wrong. Do you dislike my company now?" She really hoped that wasn't it. She really liked-oh who was she kidding? She loved this man before her, and if he didn't return her feelings in even the slightest way…she didn't know what she would do.
Chrom gasped. That was not what he wanted Robin to think. Nothing could be a bigger lie! He loved her for Naga's sake! And he was giving off the wrong message. He needed to do this now else it'd never get done. "D-dislike you?! Egads, Robin, of course I don't dislike you! Nothing could be further from the truth."
"Then why are you avoiding me?"
Chrom shifted on his feet. Robin had looked so sad, so disappointed…so hurt. He didn't want to do that to her! And he shouldn't have been avoiding her, but he had to. He had been avoiding her because he was scared. He was scared that he might either blurt it out in front of everyone or ravish Robin senseless if he was anywhere near her! Even now he had to resist the temptation that was Robin. But how could he tell her that? He was sure once she heard the ravish part she would slaughter him before he could even ask. "Er..."
"Chrom?" His face was rather red, even more than when he was embarrassed. She had hoped nothing was wrong with him.
Chrom looked down. Not that look. He'd get lost in her brown gaze and never come out of it. He'd kiss her here and now, take her into his arms, hold her, and whisper declarations of love into her ears. He'd give her what she wanted, die for her, anything she wanted if he was trapped in that gaze. And he wouldn't be able to say it. He'd take in Robin for as long as he could and just forget the world around him. "D-don't look at me like that... It's just that...we've been fighting a lot together. We're always side by side. At first, I thought of you as an ally, then a comrade, and finally a friend. I've felt the bonds of trust grow between us, stronger and stronger. And then I realized...you were more than just a friend." Here it comes. Moment of truth.
Robin blushed. Could he…No. He wasn't saying that…Did he really? "...What do you mean?" Please let it be what she wanted. She desperately wanted it, even though the situation wouldn't allow it.
"I mean I care about you, Robin. As a man, and you as a woman."
It was so sweet and just what she wanted to hear, but this wasn't the time. She desperately wished things were different. The war. How could she get wrapped up in her love life during the war? What was she thinking?! They couldn't do this now, not with their biggest battle coming up! "Chrom, we can't possibly—"
Chrom gripped her shoulders. He had to do it. He knew where some of this was going, but he couldn't let Robin slip away without hearing him. "Wait, please! You've made me come this far, and now I'm going to say my piece."
Robin turned her head away. They shouldn't do this. They shouldn't be here! There was a war going on and she had fallen in love with the general of the group! She had reduced him to this. It wasn't good for him, wasn't good for war. It just wasn't right! She wanted this, but right now, she couldn't have it. "...But when you're worked up like this, you might say something you regret." There. Maybe he would rethink things and save this, though the words burned as they came out her mouth.
Chrom shook his head, gripping her shoulders even tighter. "I don't care! I've tried to keep this bottled up, and I can't do it anymore. I'm going to tell you how I feel, even if your head explodes in embarrassment."
She blushed. He-He was going to… "O-kay?" Feign confusion. Act like you don't know what's going on. If it isn't what you want, just pretend you aren't that upset. Then go back to the war and pick up the pieces of your heart.
Chrom sighed. Now here was the hard part. "All right, deep breath..." He took a large breath in, but it didn't help much. His heart was still racing, his palms were sweating, his knees were shaking, and Robin was still looking at him with that gaze… "...Hold...and out..." He let it out slowly. His heart was returning to normal, but he was still nervous. He needed another. "Once more..." Another breath in, and his knees stopped shaking. He was getting better. Soon, he could let Robin know, and get his answer. Her eyes held what he wanted, and he hoped the answer was the affirmative… "Holding...holding...and out..." He let it out slowly, glad he felt just about normal. His heart was still pounding, but that was to be expected when he was in front of the most beautiful he had ever seen before in his life. "Right, I'm set now. Here goes. Prepare yourself, because I'm going to say it!" He needed to stop stalling! He needed to tell Robin how he felt now! No more stalling!
Robin was too anxious. What was it? Why wouldn't Chrom say it! "...Then say it already!"
Chrom looked her deep into her eyes. Robin's brown eyes were large, afraid, and full of…was that…it looked like…"Robin... I'm in love with you."
She wanted to hear that. That had been what she wanted. But why did she still feel lingering sadness. Oh, because the war could take him away in an instant. In the Arena Feroxi, she had almost lost him, and his heart skipped a beat. She couldn't lose him again. "...Oh," she said finally. And what else could she say?
Chrom continued. He had to tell her all of it. "I have been from the very first moment I laid eyes on you. I just didn't realize it until the last little while." He had been falling deeper and deeper as the days went by. His heart beat and swelled whenever he thought of her. He could never think straight when his focus was her. His world had been reduced to nothing but Robin when he wasn't in battle. He craved her, and needed her more than he needed anything.
Robin was speechless. "..."
Chrom didn't like her silence. It didn't bode well for him. But he had to make her realize how much she meant to him "Look, I know this is sudden and I'm coming on like a wyvern in heat. But I'm not trying to force you into a decision, believe me. Whatever your answer, I shall abide by it—no matter how painful. And come what may, we'll always be friends. That I promise." And he was sincere about her. Whatever she said, Chrom would take it, but he would still plot to make her love him. He didn't care. As long as Robin gave an answer, even if it was for him to wait for her, he would wait as long as she needed him to.
Robin sighed. She wanted to avoid this, but here it was. It was all she wanted, but this just wasn't right. "This is... I'm sorry, Chrom, but this is impossible. The general and his chief tactician? It just... It wouldn't be right. Our first responsibility must be to the soldiers we lead, not to each other. You understand that, don't you?" She really hoped he did understand. She wasn't doing this to hurt him, but to make him realize that at the peak of the war, they didn't have time to be involved with each other in case something happened. It didn't mean that she didn't love him though.
Chrom's heart broke a bit. He understood perfectly, but that didn't meant he had to like it. The war blessed him with Robin, but cursed him with halting their relationship. "Yes, I do." He bowed his head.
Robin smiled. Chrom was so committed to this…to her. He truly did lover her, as she loved him. "But someday this war will end. We'll emerge victorious and bring peace back to the world. And when that happens, we'll be free to follow our hearts." She smiled when Chrom's head lifted in confusion.
Did he hear right? D-Did Robin really say- "...OUR hearts?"
Robin smiled softly. Chrom looked just like a child right now. But it was both adorable and charming. Well, if he told her, she would have to be honest as well. "Yes...because I love you as well."
Chrom's face lifted. She loved him. Robin just confessed she loved him. "You do? But that's...but that's... Wonderful! Ah ha ha ha! This is the best day of my life!" He couldn't help himself. He lifted Robin into the air and spun her around. Robin squealed, but she laughed, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Chrom laughed as well. This really was the best day of his life. The love of his life had just told him that she loved him. She really loved him.
Quickly, Chrom set her down and got on one knee. Robin gasped. "Robin...listen to me...You are the wind at my back, and the sword at my side. Together, my love, we shall build a peaceful world, just you and me." And with that, he pulled out the ring.
Robin couldn't believe this was happening. Once the war was over, she and Chrom could be happy. They could have a family, rebuild what was lost, and just be together. "I love you Chrom," she whispered, tears in her eyes.
He slipped the ring onto her finger. It sat like a warm weight, and she cherished the heat. Calloused fingers wiped her tears away, but more still fell. She couldn't help it. She was so happy.
Soft lips kissed the rest of her tears away. "I love you too Robin," Chrom whispered, taking her into his arms. Finally, he could do as he wanted. He could hold her without being scared of rejection. They could spend their days together, rebuilding and spreading peace, and starting a family. But for now, he could finally do what he had been aching to do ever since he had laid eyes on Robin.
"Robin," he whispered, tilting her head up. The way she was looking at him, so full of love and happiness, he couldn't control himself. He leaned down, capturing her lips with his own. Somewhere, something inside him exploded as Robin responded, arms tight around him. He finally had to chance to have all of Robin, and he wasn't about to pass the chance up. Robin was his world now, and he'd do everything in his power tom keep her happy.
Me: *sniffs* That was so sweet! I cried during the game. It was just so…so sweet!
Chrom: Are-Are you crying?
Me: *sniffles* Maybe. I-It was just so sweet I thought I would pass out from diabetes it was so sweet.
Robin: I do agree. And it was romantic.
Chrom: *blushes* I-I just needed to tell you how I felt.
Robin: And I love you for that *Kisses*
Me: AWW! How cute! I love you too!
Chrom: *still blushing* A-anyways, don't you have something to say?
Me: Ah? Right. Next chapter is actually that special dialogue thing from the game. It'll be shorter than the last few chapters because that dialogue was really straightforward. *shrugs* So, read, review, follow, favorite, and love Fire Emblem!