Jealousy
Friendship isn't the only invisible tie that binds them together. Robin, Cordellia, Severia, Morgan, and even Chrom are connected by less noble ties as well.
I do not own Fire Emblem.
Robin has jealousies of his own: not envy of Chrom, but a certain insecurity stoked by his wife.
He knows Cordellia loved Chrom, and still does in her own way. He accepted that part of her, and loves it as the rest of her. He knows what it is to stand in Chrom's presence and feel the easy and unconditional virtue that flows from the man. He loves the man himself: he was an amnesiac with no past, no family, no value, and Chrom took him in anways. He proved himself talented and of value, and so can find peace with himself helping Chrom, but Chrom never needed that. Robin could have been as talentless and unexceptional as Donnel thought himself to be, and it would have been good enough for Chrom. He would always have been good enough for Chrom.
But for Cordellia? The women respected by all for her nearly flawless capabilities, the woman who awed and inadvertently stole his heart when she designed, forged, and wielded a weapon of her own creation in a span of days? A woman who could have, should have, had anyone else she wanted, even a Prince? Robin is still an amnesiac with no past, no history, no memories of family to fall back on, and despite having precious little to offer, she said yes. It was the happiest day in his new life.
In the darkest parts of his mind, though, the parts that threaten to fill him with fear and self doubt to give up and give in, a new doubt raised. Gone were worries of being a good enough tactician for Chrom. Now there was something worse: did she, deep down, simply settle once her heart's desire was taken? Does she simply tolerate his relative bumbling attempts to keep pace with her, and humor him?
He tries and he tries, but he can never know for sure if he's as good a husband as she is a wife. He knows he's intelligent, productive, and perhaps even a bit too busy. People tell him he's capable enough, that he shouldn't worry. But Cordellia is more than 'capable enough,' deserves more than 'adequate': she deserves someone as exceptional as she is in eveything, and past his tactic's he's... not. Cordellia says she appreciates whatever he does regardless, but somehow the unconditional acceptance so comforting from Chrom is so nerve wracking from the one he loves. Any gesture he makes she could do better, she must see flaws he can't in his attempts, but she never brings them forward and tells him it's perfect.
His wife is amazing in so many fields, and that includes the field of little white lies. So he's left wondering, doubting, and worried, because she almost perfectly capable and deserves so much, and he's only too aware of his own flaws.
Robin's self-doubt and anxiety leaves him wondering if he's good enough for his own wife.
Author Note: Second of five jealousy-themed character pieces, centered around the members of a Main Character-Cordellia family. This one was Robin, with a little tilt into the self-doubting inner thoughts.
Tomorrow starts the children.