Chrom hurried down the castle halls towards the room Robin was using. Tomorrow the army would start their march on Plegia, towards the Mad King. This would be the last chance he had to speak privately with Robin. His last chance to…

No, he couldn't do this.

He pivoted and started back towards his room. This was stupid. Robin would never….but the way the tactician's eyes would brighten when ever they'd talked or the lingering touches.

Yes, he could do this.

Chrom whirled around and walked with renewed purpose. He had to tell Robin before they left. He needed to know one way or the other. He fingered the ring in his palm as he went. He could do this. He would do this.

But the closer he came to Robin's room, the more he could feel his confidence slipping. This was a mistake. Why did he ever think this was a good idea? It was a terrible idea! That's why Robin was the tactician.

He was about to change direction again, when a firm hand pressed into his back. "Ah, Blue, I can't watch this anymore." Gaius was pushing him forward. "The back and forth, ugh."

"G, Gaius?"

The thief grinned around the sucker stick. "Bubbles is head over heels for you. It's sickening really."

"What? How'd you?"

"Anyone with eyes, but you apparently can see it."

They stopped in front of Robin's room.

"He's in there, Blue. All ya have to do is knock."

If only it was that simple.

Gaius 'tsk'ed. He had to do everything. He gave three quick, loud knocks on the door before sprinting away.

"Gaius, you sneaky, son of a." Chrom hissed after him right as the door opened.

"Chrom?" Robin stood in the door way without his iconic coat, gloves, or boots.

"H, hey, Robin."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I, ah, just, can we talk? In there?" He pointed back towards the room.

Confused, Robin stepped aside to let Chrom pass. He closed the door softly. He watched Chrom survey the room. He hadn't changed anything though he'd brought several books from the library. "Are you sure everything's okay? You're acting weird."

"Am I? I think I'm acting perfectly normal, not fidgety at all."

"I didn't say fidgety, but now that you mention it."

Chrom winced. "I have to tell you something. I've, I've tried to keep this bottled up and I can't do it anymore."

"Keep what bottled up? Tell me what?"

"Prepare yourself, because I'm going to say it!"

"Chrom, calm down." Robin held up his hands to stop him. "Take a few deep breaths."

He followed the tactician's instructions taking several deep breaths.

"Gods, what's got you so worked up? Did something happen?" Robin gently rubbed Chrom's arm.

"Something's been happening."

"Huh?"

Chrom took a final deep breath. "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."

"As brothers?" Robin asked.

"No, as, Robin, I, I, I'm in love with you. I have been from the very first moment I laid eyes on you. I just didn't realize it until we started spending so much time together. You always have my back no matter what and." He took another deep breath. "Look, I know this is sudden and I'm coming on like a wyvern in heat."

"I've never seen that nor do I hope I ever do."

"But, here." Chrom thrust his fist towards Robin clutching the ring. To his horror, he misjudged the distance and height and punched Robin square in the nose.

The tactician back peddled clutching his bleeding nose. "Chrom?!"

"Oh, gods, Robin, I'm so sorry." He patted himself down for his handkerchief. He found it and offered it more carefully.

Robin took it pressing it to staunch the bleeding.

Chrom never felt more like an idiot than he did now. This was not how he pictured confessing his love to Robin. He was making a mess of everything. "I'm gonna go." Before he did anything else to make this worse.

He tried to escape, but Robin snatched his arm. "Yes, Chrom, my answer's yes."

The room went silent.

"However, our first responsibility must be to the soldiers we lead, not to each other." His voice sounded funny with his pinched nose. "I, love you too."

Chrom fell to his knees.

"What're you doing?" Robin watched him curiously.

"I had a ring for you."

"A what?!"

"I must have dropped it in my pa…haste to get my handkerchief."

It couldn't have gone…ah! There it was, right next to the tactician's bare foot. He grabbed the ring clambering to his feet. Robin took a step back to not accidently get hit again. Gods, Chrom felt like a clumsy oaf in front of him.

The white haired man lowered the handkerchief checking to see if the bleeding had stopped.

"I'd like you to wear this ring." He took Robin's left hand, which still held the bloodied cloth. "As a symbol of my promise to you and as my love for you." Without breaking eye contact, Chrom slid the piece of jewelry on the ring finger.

"Wow." Robin held his hand up. "It fits perfectly."

The prince was amazed as well. He'd meant to place the ring on his…his lover's pinky thinking something so small would never fit on, well, he decided it wasn't a good idea to tell his future husband he thought his hands were larger than they actually were.

"Oh, Chrom, I can't accept this."

His face fell. Was Robin having second thoughts? Did he want someone more his intellectual equal? Chrom wasn't the smartest guy in the room, but he wasn't stupid. Plus everyone seemed dull witted compared to Robin, everyone but Meril anyways. He'd made Robin laugh on several occasions, both at and with him. Was it because he'd sarcastically called him 'Mom' that one time? Or maybe it was because Chrom had punched him in the face while trying to propose? Seriously, who does that? This was a bad idea after all. He'd murder Gaius for knocking on the door.

"The ring has the Ylisse royal crest on it. You can't mean to give me something so important."

Chrom let out a sigh of relief. Was that all? He stroked Robin's cheek. "This was crafted to commemorate my birth, and later given to me by my father. Emm had suggested giving it to the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." Funny how'd she'd said person and not 'woman'. "And that's you. It will always be you. I love you."

Robin's face went pink. He eyed the ring. To be given something so valuable. Someone like him that had no past, but this ring meant a future. A future with Chrom.

"I want to give my greatest treasure to my new greatest treasure."

He knew he shouldn't laugh. Right now was not appropriate, but it bubbled to the surface and he couldn't stop himself. "You adorable dork." He managed to say. "Did you get that line from Virion?"

"No, I was being sincere." Chrom protested not understanding what was so funny.

"How can you call me your greatest treasure when I have blood on my face?"

"I think you're beautiful regardless." Which only served to make Robin laugh harder. "Oh, come on, it's not that funny." Chrom pulled the other man into a hug. "Gesh, you're lucky I like hearing you laugh."

Robin returned the embrace. "And I like that you make me laugh." Through his mirth, he placed a soft kiss to his future husband's lips. "I love you, Chrom."