Take a Break

Cast: (F!Corrin x Niles, Nina, M!Kana)
Prompt: Niles and the kids help Corrin recover after she overworks herself

"Uhhh, Nina?" Kana asked nervously, standing at the lottery shop's doorway.

Nina was behind the desk and snapped out of a reverie. "What is it? I'm trying to fantasi- I mean I'm focusing! I mean… uh…" She sighed. "What is it?"

"Mama doesn't usually take naps on the grass, right?"

"No. Why would she?"

"Hold on Mama, I'll help you!" Kana ran out the door. Nina quickly followed her brother, leaving the store unattended.

Corrin's senses returned to her, as she found herself back in bed.

"Wha… Where… Huh?"

Niles was sitting nearby, watching her. "Oh you're awake. About time."

"Did I… fall asleep?"

Niles shrugged. "Kids said they found you lying in the grass. Lady Elise and that other princess took a look at you, they said you were just exhausted, but otherwise you're fine."

Corrin's face turned red. "Oh dear. I must've just collapsed from exhaustion or something."

"You have been busy lately…"

"Well, I just had a lot I needed to take care of around the fort. Assigning shifts, refereeing the arena, monitoring prisoners, supervising the mines…"

"You always were a goody two-shoes," Niles teased. "Or a goody no-shoes in this case. Running around, doing errands and hovering over everyone…"

The half-dragon laughed to herself. "What, too altruistic for you, Niles?"

"Ha! If it were anyone else, I'd think this was all some plan to get into everyone's good graces. But since it's you, I can actually believe you'd tire yourself doing favors for people. You're almost as bad as that Kitsune."

"I can't help it," Corrin admitted. "I've brought us all together, so this army is pretty much my responsibility."

"You have, like, four personal servants at all times. And all your siblings love you to death," said Niles. He then winked with his one eye. "And you have me. So I really don't think you'll have a problem finding someone to fill in for you when you get tired. Most of us work as retainers, it's pretty much all we know anyway."

"Oh, it's not like I'm too embarrassed to ask for help. Maybe Takumi, but not me." Niles chuckled, his impression of the prince based purely on Lord Leo's first interactions with him. "It's just… I want to show everyone that I can do it, so they won't worry. That's the kind of thing Xander, or even Ryoma, would do." She gripped the edge of her blanket. "But even if my reasons are different, it's still the same problem, isn't it?"

"You really don't need to worry what everyone thinks. I told you, everyone loves you." The outlaw put a finger to his chin. "I'd actually despise that about you if I didn't feel the same way."

"Was that a compliment?"

"Eh, I'm not the best at making things sound good."

Corrin smirked. "That's because you try to make them sound as bad as possible."

"Hey now, you agreed to marry me, so it must not be that bad," Niles teased. "But really though, don't overwork yourself. You keep saying we're all in this together, right?"

"You're right. I'm sorry for worrying you all."

"Ooh, and poor Kana…" Niles was not above using his wife's doting nature to get quick amusement. "He was just bawling his eyes out!"

"Nooo…"

"Oh, the look on his poor face…"

"My poor son!"

Niles shook his head, grinning. "I swear, it's like you've become a second Camilla."

"Oh, suddenly I'm too doting?" Corrin began, feeling confident. "I seem to recall somebody sneaking Kana an extra cookie before bed every night last week."

Corrin's husband immediately blanched. "… I can neither confirm nor deny."

With that, both spouses broke out into laughter, and then Nina poked her head in the door. "Uh, Mom? Dad? Is everything okay now?"

"Huh? Oh, yes Nina, I'm fine. I just forgot to take a rest, and my body did it for me!" Corrin explained, now beginning to feel a bit embarrassed. "Thank you for worrying for me. And Kana too! I should probably-"

"Stay there, while the rest of us take care of matters? Good idea."

"Dear…" Corrin tried not to use first names in front of the children.

"Corrin, it's fine." Niles had no such reservation. "I think the three of us can do whatever it was you were doing just fine. So take a rest. Doctor's orders."

"Yeah," Nina walked in, "don't worry about it, Mom!"

Corrin sighed, but did not appear bothered. "All right. You win, I'll stay put."

"Good." Niles leaned in and shared a kiss with his wife, before leaving. "Nina, you know where we keep the tomato juice in the mess hall? Let's go give Lilith some of that."

Corrin watched her family leave, and chuckled. Lilith hates tomatoes. Buuut I'm sure she'll deal with it.

A/N:

Someone requested this one, and it ever since writing Daydreaming Dragon, I've liked the F!Corrin/Niles family unit.

Go to the blog if you have requests.