Lucina saw the spear wielding knight lunging for Robin's back and her mind reacted without thinking. "Mother!" She cried just barley deflecting the spear tip enough so it grazed her own arm.
Robin twisted, his Archthunder tome splayed open, and powerful lightning struke the knight dead.
They stared at each other for a moment both aware what Lucina had just called him.
"Later." Robin said. They were in the mists of battle and was not the time.
Lucina nodded her comprehension knowing 'later' would be upon her sooner than she'd like.
Lucina was not one to shy away from unpleasant things, no matter how much she wanted to, so once the last Risen fell, she went looking for Robin.
She found him, her father, and Uncle Frederick listening to reports over their last battle. She herself would have been there as well if she hadn't tried to put as much distance between Robin and herself during the battle. She may or may not have made a point to shy away from this.
The tactician spotted her approach and politely excused himself before she came too close. Wordlessly, Robin motioned her away from the others.
Chrom watched them leave and fought the urge to follow.
Alone, Robin eyed Lucina's arm. "Why didn't you get treatment?"
"It's just a scratch." She didn't bother to look at it. The injury hurt, but it wasn't very deep and could heal just fine on its own.
"A scratch that's still bleeding."
She glanced down. Blood was still oozing from her wound, not nearly as much or as fast as it had been.
"Just a scratch, honestly." Robin 'tsk'ed reaching into one of his pockets to pull out a vulnerary bag and some bandages. "You and Chrom would think losing a limb would only be a flesh wound." He took a single herb leaf from the bag and gently rubbed it against the wound. Lucina winced, but remained silent. "Thank you, by the way. I don't know if that knight would have killed me, but I would have been severely wounded." He took out a second leaf, pressed it to the injury, and started to wrap the bandages around her arm.
"I only did what was necessary."
"You're supposed to say 'you're welcome'." Robin gave her a pointed look. "Saying 'I only did what was necessary' makes you sound cold, distant. Not good for a future exalt."
"I'm sorry you feel that way." Lucina watched him tie the bandage examining his handy work. "Do you always carry bandages with you?"
"I'm married to Chrom, so, yes."
Her mother had said the same thing years ago when Lucina had cut herself training. Her mother had bandaged her up with the same gentle, steady hands.
"Thank you." Her voice was tight. She hated thinking of her mother whenever she was near this man. She hated that this Robin was so much like her mother and she hated that that's what she'd called out when his life had been in danger.
"You're welcome." His voice was warm and kind.
Lucina couldn't meet his gaze.
"If you want to pretend what you called me never happened, we can." She jerked her eyes from her arm to his. She could see the hurt and the pain he was trying to hide. "I can't begin to understand how you feel or what you've gone through, but I want to help you in any way that I can. Make your time here easier. However you need me, I'm here, Luci." Robin inwardly winced. He hadn't meant to call her that. 'Luci' was what he'd called his baby back at the castle whenever she was upset. "I'm sorry I'm not what you expected to find. I'm sorry I'm here and not your mother. I'm, I'm sorry I'm not your mother."
Lucina looked away biting her lower lip with enough force to break the skin. As a child, her mother would have held her and whispered 'It's alright. I'm here, Luci'.
A gentle hand cupped her cheek and a thumb wiped away a tear. She hadn't realized she'd started crying.
"But you are!" Lucina cried looking up. "You're exactly like her! I don't want Sumia or Cordelia or Sully or anyone else! I want you, Mother, and only you! You're my mother!" She buried her face in Robin's chest. "Male or female, you're my mother. My mother." He held her close stroking her hair soothingly listening to his daughter chant 'mother' over and over again.
Chrom smiled when he saw Robin and Lucina walking towards him side by side. Her eyes were pink and puffy, but they both seemed happy.
"Everything all right?" He asked.
"A side from the fact our daughter treats injuries the same way you do, perfect." Robin answered.
"It's a good thing Father and I have you then, huh, Mother?"
Chrom cocked an eyebrow. "Mother?"
Lucina flushed turning to Robin. "I suppose I better ask what you'd like to be called. It'd be confusing if I referred to you both as 'Father'."
"You may call me whatever you want, Lucina. I'll always come running."
"You don't mind being mother?"
"Mind? I'm honored by that title."
A big grin spread across her face. "Mother it is." She looked from one parent to the other her grin somehow seemed to get even bigger.
Why, yes, Lucina is going to call M:Robin 'Mother'. If you don't like it *Points* there's the door.