Robin pulled tighter against his partner, eager to be sheltered from the cold and rain. High above the ground, Cordelia and Robin scanned the area for any possibilities of attacking Risen or Plegians.
Unfortunately for the tactician, no matter of convincing or pleading led Frederick to change the pair-ups due to the teamwork each had Shepherd displayed with their respective partners.
Robin had reluctantly agreed, resigned to his fate. It seemed that everything had aligned for him to be trapped in some twisted and skewed version of a love-triangle. The white-haired man shook his head, letting the droplets fly from his uncontrollable mop of hair. In front of him Cordelia winced at the sudden incoming droplets.
Usually Pegasus knights were not allowed to be flying during such inclement weather, but due to many injuries and illnesses from the last skirmish, it was required. Robin had suggested to stick to the ground and stay safe from lightning or other dangers, but Cordelia had disagreed. 'We shall cover more ground and return thrice as fast.' Robin felt anger pang inside him. He could be under a parasol, potentially Maribelle's, but it would be a lot better than this, despite the eventual teasing he would receive.
Cold rain whipped harder against the two, causing the pegasus to whinny and pull to the left. Robin clutched tightly against Cordelia, fear of falling overriding his fear of touching her. Lightning crackled on the left, the noise booming and reverberating inside the skulls of the two Shepherds.
Cordelia dove her pegasus towards the ground, eager to get far from the natural hazard. At least Robin didn't have to tell her that, she was smart enough to figure it out on her own. That's one more reason he had fallen for her. Dammit. Robin thought. I shouldn't be thinking like that.
About fifteen feet above the ground, lightning snapped even closer. This time, Robin had no chance of hanging on as he was thrown from the panicked flying creature.
Robin saw the ground briefly spin from the top of his vision to the bottom as he twisted and turned in the air. Then he cracked painfully against the cold earth. He almost threw up from the impact, hell it was worse than a thousand punches Vaike could give.
The tactician's eyes bulged as he clutched his stomach. Around him, puddles of mud and rainwater splashed in the torrential downpour. Robin looked up to see the sky dark and threatening.
Bursting through the rain, Cordelia landed and jumped from the pegasus. "Are you all right?!" She called over the storm. Robin moaned in reply. Cordelia shook her head and moved to pick the lean man up. Just as she managed to snake her arms under the tactician and life him up bridal-style, lightning shook the sky and actually struck a nearby tree. Cordelia's pegasus whinnied in panic and took off in the air.
"EROS!" Cordelia called out towards the flying creature. Much to her disappointment, the pegasus was long gone. "W-will he be all right?" Robin managed to cough out over the rain. Cordelia nodded, "Yes, he is smart. Eros flew right back to the camp...So I suppose we should march that way?" She purposed.
Robin shook his head. "I...I don't think...yeah this really hurts." He showed a weak smile, "Yeah good luck marching with me in this state." Cordelia grimaced. "Should I get back to the camp and get help?"
Robin pondered this, if he was left alone he could pass out and who knows how bad that could be. Animals or a stray bandit could get him, if not the weather. It would be better to make a shelter until the rain passed and then move out.
Robin pointed to a nearby cluster of trees. "Let's get over there, set up a shelter and spend the night. It's too dangerous to split up and we could easily get lost in this weather." Cordelia nodded in response, helping the man hobble through the rain to the forestry.
Cordelia set him down gently and got to work on a small shelter. Few broken branches and leaves provided enough coverage for the two to sit side-by-side against a small rock. Robin was just tall enough that the rainwater dripped onto the edge of his boot, making a quiet thumping noise over the rain.
Due to the downpour, dry fire wood was out of the question. Both were shivering madly, eager for some solace from the chill. Robin smiled to himself, he could use this chance to get closer to the knight. Yet he was a professional, the Shepherds tactician, he couldn't pick favorites. Robin sighed, he had already done just that. Even in the past skirmish he had called Cordelia to retreat and Lon'qu to take a blow. That caused the Feroxi swordmaster to lose his sword arm for almost two weeks.
Robin sighed and shrugged of his large coat, draping the material over the knight. Cordelia look at him in surprise. Robin shrugged in response. "Why...would you give this to me?" She asked curiously. "Well..." Robin tried to contain his blush, "...You are my friend, and I take care of my friends."
Cordelia gazed at him surprise, mouth open slightly. Robin raised an eyebrow, she seemed to be in complete disbelief. "I..." She uttered with a shake of her head. "I'm sorry, in the pegasus knights I did not have any friends...so...it is a slight shock to me."
Robin smiled sadly and draped an arm across her shoulders. "You are a Shepherd now, you have lots of friends." Cordelia gave him a heartwarming smile as the two slipped into a comfortable silence. The tactician shivered again, causing his stomach to throb with pain.
Cordelia rolled her eyes and spread the tactician's coat across them both. The knight shifted closer to wrap herself more under the garment. Robin blushed from the proximity of the knight, but stayed still. After all, who was he to argue with it all?
When the morning light woke Robin, Cordelia was already gone. With a shake of his head and a disappointed frown, he stood. Grunting with pain, Robin pulled his shirt up to see his stomach badly bruised. Purple and black skin seemed to mock him for his embarrassing fall.
Metal footsteps roused his attention, bringing him to see Cordelia walking with her lance balanced in one hand. Her steel armor glinted in the morning light, giving her the appearance of an angel...Robin shook his head. He had to stop that kind of thought.
Then again, Robin had gotten closer to her. In his books, it was a minor victory.
Far off in the distance, Robin could hear Lissa calling their names. With a nod, Cordelia and Robin set off back towards the Shepherds.