I think the angst will slowly start ramping up next chapter uwu. Enjoy guys! If you're into Gaius smut, check out my ao3 exclusive series called Diversions under the pen name whitearrow!
"Gaius, stop following me around!" The thief was badgering Robin yet again. She made the dire mistake of walking in on him while changing, and hence earned the name Bubbles and a man hell-bent on paying her back for a favor, said man not believing that something called good will existed. They were currently out on a walk around the camp, or rather, she was out on a walk and he was following her around. All Robin wanted was to enjoy the cool night air in peace, but it looked like that wouldn't be happening.
"Hey, I've got good info for ya. Dunno how Blue will take it, but I think you'd care more without going crazy overboard like your boyfriend."
Robin blinked a few times, trying to process what he said. As it made absolutely no sense, she walked away from him as per routine.
He lazily yanked her back by her robes, and insisted that what he had to tell her was good info.
But then something strange occurred to her, just a gust of wind whipped her in the face.
"Boyfriend?" she frowned. "Who exactly are you referring to? I don't have a boyfriend." Although Robin would never admit it, she couldn't help but think about Chrom. She pretended something got in her eye to hide the blush that crept on her cheeks.
Well, whatever it was, it wouldn't happen. She knew Sumia had a thing for Chrom. Though the two of them weren't anything more than acquaintances, she didn't feel like she should get in the other girl's way. Not that Chrom would look at her anyway. Sumia had grace (of a sort) and charm. And her? She was some nobody picked up from the middle of a field. No wonder Frederick all but threw the Pegasus knight at Chrom. So she'd been giving the two space, as they deserve.
Gaius's next statement broke her out of her musings. "Well…Everyone knows you're chummy with that Blue and Princess's nanny."
Blue? That…Princess…no, the only nanny…FREDERICK?
"Gaius, he is not my boyfriend!" Robin aimed a whack at his head, but he easily avoided it. It looked like some more training was in order.
The ginger just shrugged. "You're always bickering like a couple. Folks are gonna get the wrong idea." Okay, when has bickering indicated romantic interest rather than dislike? This world was a strange one.
"Wrong being the key word. Urgh, we're not chummy either. Not at all. " She crossed her arms and pouted. She couldn't make it clearer how much she loathed him! Training together was just something that would be beneficial for everyone. She wanted to be in the best shape she could to protect Chrom, no matter what his feelings are, and he wanted that too. Chrom was her best friend, and arguably, one of her only friends, and Chrom and his family were the world to Frederick. That was the only thing they agreed on. That, and the fact that being in a relationship is equally a disgusting idea as it is to the other person.
"Speak of the devil," Gaius said quietly, and nudged her in the side. She looked up to see Frederick with a scowl on his face. Honestly, his face was going to get stuck like that if it hasn't already.
"What's he mad about now?" Robin rolled her eyes stifled a giggle. There was always stuck up his, well.
"What isn't he mad about?" Gaius chimed in, and she couldn't help share a quick laugh with him. "He's always riding on my back about something or another."
"That makes two of us," Robin added, and they nodded at each other solemnly. Their mutual grievances from Frederick had them bond. Who knew? Well, they were both characters of unknown backgrounds picked up by Chrom. No wonder Frederick didn't like them. It also gave them some common ground. More so than any other person she knew in the army. Perhaps she should stop pushing him away and work on Frederick's other assignment. To make a new friend.
It was a strange assignment, and she wasn't sure how it would aid them. It sounded almost like he cared, until he mumbled something about how bonds would fortify the army, and pointed out that she was the one who'd mentioned that briefly in their earlier skirmishes.
"Hey Bubbles, you in there?" he knocked on her head, which caused her to yelp and clutch her head.
"Ow, that hurt!" she whipped her head around to glare at him, but instead came into eye contact with Frederick. He was as fierce as ever. His piercing stare made her feel as though she were guilty of something. He had a knack for that.
"Aww, looks like your boyfriend is here," Gaius said and swung his arm around Robin's shoulders as though they're old friends reunited after an insurmountable distance.
"Gaius!" she tried to shrug away from him, but he held on steadfast, and lightly pinched her shoulder. Frederick tensed up, and looked at Robin as though he were saying, what on earth are you telling him, and why involve me you sneak. Her eyes pleaded with the knight, but he was frowning in response. Typical hardass.
"Buuut, I'm sorry to say I must steal away your girlfriend, and interrupt your longing stares. Bye!" He used his grip on the tactician to lead her away with a bounce in his step, sniggering silently so Frederick couldn't see them and remain staring daggers into his backs. Robin, of course, had no say in this matter.
As much as the man messed with her, Gaius actually did have something vital to tell her.
"A hit on Chrom's life, huh?" The two of them were huddled away in the corner of a tavern not too far away from camp. Gaius took a good swig of ale, while Robin settled with some grape juice of a questionable age. "Who doesn't want to kill him?"
"Welp, ya know what they say, if you can't be them, kill them." He let out a loud belch and returned to his drink.
"I don't think that's how the saying goes, Gaius." She frowned and waved away his smell. Good grief, she'd have to start pestering him on his hygiene tomorrow.
"Who cares, Bubbles? Anyways, the point is, I don't think you want Blue to die. Looks like though you've got a torch for him even though you have a boyfriend already. Look at you Bubbles, ya've got game." Gaius winked at her as he raised his hand to order another mug.
"Gaius, stop accusing me of romantic intentions for every guy I come into contact with!" She yanked his hand back down and slammed it on the table. "He doesn't need anymore!" she snapped at the hopeful server, who glared at her and went back to his work.
"Damn," he looked at the tankards of ale with great longing, but relented under Robin's withering stare. "And I ain't that kinda guy to spout shit all the time. But in my line of work, you learn to read the situation. The boy was blushing when I said Bubbles and flinched like a wasp stung his ass."
Robin had to choose that moment to take a sip and immediately started to choke at the mental image. She sputtered all over the dusty and worn down table, dirtying it further.
"Your descriptions are quite picturesque," she said once she regained ahold of herself. "Goodness…"
"Here," Gaius said, and took her mug. "I'll go refill it for you. Server ain't too sweet on us." Robin nodded and slumped forward on the table, wincing as her sleeves soaked the spittle on the surface.
He came back with two mugs, and as she opened her mouth to protest, he poured down a large amount of ale down her throat. She somehow choked it down as he downed half of his own mug. "It'll take a little practice to get down," he slurred. "You're gonna need it for the next part I'll tell you. They want ya too."
"They want me?" she asked weakly, and found that he was right. She tentatively took another sip. It was bitter and she winced, but she found herself relaxing, something she doesn't remember ever doing.
"Not like that, though they might. You've got a pretty face I guess," he said and barked a laugh.
"You coming on ta me, Gaius?" Robin giggled and hiccupped. Gaius arched an eyebrow. Not even a glass and she was already getting drunk. Perhaps he should have told her earlier…
"Not in this lifetime, Bubbles," he said apologetically. "They don't know what ya look like for sure yet, from what I've heard, but they said it's the blonde girl with the pigtails and a shoddy cloak."
"It's not shoddy!" she said a bit too loudly and pouted. "Everyone's always complainin' 'bout me." She swallowed the rest of her alcohol and slammed the mug on the table. "One more round!"
Gaius looked a little uneasy, but he wasn't going to turn down free ale. It wasn't easy to swallow news that a person had a hit on them. The girl deserved a good drink anyway. They could always talk later, after all. Getting a little loose never hurt anyone.
"To Robin!"
"To me!"
"Gaius, why do I have ta carry youuuuu," Robin whined as she dragged Gaius to camp. It was an excruciatingly slow process as the thief seemed to have no intention to help her out. His pants were getting muddied up from the dew and dirt in the grass, but she didn't care. She sloshed through puddles with a snoring Gaius on her shoulder. She was damn drunk herself, but some part of her knew they had to go back. What would people say if the strange tactician went off and got drunk and passed out?
"Gaius everyone hates meeeee, and now I'm drunnnk...HEY LISTEN TO ME!" she nudged him with her knee and he jerked awake.
"Whassit? We attacked? No dead shit, I'm sleeping…"
"Gaiusssss," Robin let out a long whine and had it. She wanted to sleep too damn it! She pushed him off of her and let him fall on to the ground and plopped down next to him. She'd just sleep here, damn everyone else. Not like anyone liked her. No wonder Frederick gave her the stupid task.
"A disgrace." Great. Now she was hearing him in her head.
"La la la!" she clasped her hands over her ears. "Can't hear ya! I'm not going crazy if I can't hear yaaaa. Ya can't…ya can't yell at me in my head toooo. S'not fair. Everyone hates meeee and ya hate meee cause you've got a stick up your—OUCH!"
A hand jerked her arm up painfully, and her legs were flailing momentarily, until she saw that she was still in midair. "I'm flying?!" She was so bewildered at this revelation that she started to flap her arms, and thus hit something with her hands.
A man grunted, and grumbled something about gratefulness.
"Dear Naga, cut it out, you're not flying! You're lucky I found you, and not someone else." The voice was irritatingly familiar. She already sent that annoying man out of her mind. Who could it be. She craned her head up to see his handsome face and gasped. He had to tighten his grip around her rather small frame
"It's YOU!" she said the word like an accusation and he snorted.
"The thanks I get. How did you manage to make it into camp anyway?"
"Oh, we made it? I thought, we were, were gonna perishhh on the street," she hiccupped again, and Frederick would find it adorable if he wasn't absolutely furious. He'd give her the lecture after he reached her tent. He left Gaius behind. He was in no danger of pickpockets in camp anyway. Someone would haul him off of his arse eventually.
"Maybe that would have been your fate. Is carelessness your talent or something?"
"No," she shook her head vigorously and groaned at how that hurt her aching head. "My talent is tactianing."
He rolled his eyes. Yet again he wondered how this woman helped lead the army. It felt strange carrying her like this. She felt frail. It wasn't like she was particularly light, but something about her felt like it could break any second. He wasn't sure why he was doing this. Perhaps it was because he felt it was his duty as a man to. Frederick tried to ignore it, but something about holding her sent shivers up his spine. One hand gripped under her legs, the shape sticking out to him even under her baggy pants. The other were right under her breasts, which were pressed against him too much. He'd felt them on his back a time not so long ago when they were on horseback. Just one more reminder about how much she was, well, a girl.
But he wouldn't be thinking about her like that! He had no interest. Especially not while she was in such a vulnerable state. He glared at her coldly, as though it were her fault. She pouted right back up at him, instead of entering another one of their starting contests.
"How come you hate me so much Freddy, huh?"
"Don't call me that."
"But I wanna knowww! I'm kinda cute, right?"
"…What do looks have to do with it?" He wouldn't deny that she was…indeed cute, but kittens and Pegasus foal were too. And more reliable than her.
"I don't hate you."
"So you sayyy. " She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, and he, startled, stumbled for a moment. Blasted woman…He'd have to be wary of her…
Other than that mishap, he ignored her as they finally arrived at her tent, and looked around to see if anyone spotted them. No one, he noted. But the man was careless in his scouting, and missed a certain insomniac prince.
He lay her down on her bedroll, and even tucked her in. She was looking up at him expectantly, waiting for the tongue lashing he would give her. Frederick would feel pity, alas, he was not a man with much mercy.
"You have the gall to go out drinking with that, man! What if something were to happen! What would milord do? His burden would increase and—you…you fell asleep." And kissed me! He wanted to add, but it would be a petty remark to tell a drunk.
Robin was snoring in rapid little bursts of sound. He sighed. What was he going to do with this troublesome woman? He touched the spot on his cheek that her lips brushed over. Why did she do that? "Aww, looks like your boyfriend is here." He recalled the thief saying something like that but…No, she despised him as much he did she. No question about it. He exited the tent quickly before she could assault him again.
The next morning she found some tea leaves and a note that read, get ready.
Oh boy. She fucked up last night, didn't she? She was going to be put through an intense training session as punishment. Too bad she wouldn't be able to use her hangover as an excuse, as he was even prepared for that…Time to make some tea.