"Aww, c'mon!" Vaike nagged. "You've gotta take yer Teach with you on the first official outing of The Shepherds! It ain't right, leaving me behind!"
Chrom sighed and massaged his temples before standing from his desk in his small office in the newly designated Shepherds Garrison. Vaike, for all his flaws and annoying personality quirks, was a good man and one Chrom considered a close friend, but today, he was trying his patience to a new degree.
"For the last time, Vaike, this outing is for show!" Chrom snapped. "Frederick, Lissa, the twins and I are doing a tour of the villages as an act of deterrence to raiders and to raise the morale of the people. There won't even be any fighting! Our first real missions won't begin until after we return. Do you understand?"
Vaike crossed his arms and huffed like a child. "I getcha…" he murmured.
Chrom sighed in relief. "To make it up to you, as soon as we get back, we'll have a spar. Deal?"
Vaike perked up instantly and grinned. "Deal!"
Chrom watched as Vaike stood and left the room and was surprised to see that he passed Reflet in the doorway.
She clicked her tongue at him. "My, my, to think that the prince of Ylisse would resort to bribery," she teased.
Chrom rolled his eyes. "What do you want?" he asked, cutting right to the chase.
Reflet blushed, which surprised him. "Believe it or not, I just wanted to hang out before we leave," she replied. "Aside from Lissa, Cordy and Sumi, you're basically my closest friend. Is it wrong that I want to spend time with you?"
Chrom laughed. "Of course not. Glad to know where I rank, though. Fourth isn't so bad. I even beat out your brother!"
Reflet snorted. "Brothers are annoying. Despite your best attempts to equal Robin, what with the baths incident, you haven't quite managed it yet."
"You can't blame me for the baths incident, Reflet," Chrom reminded her. "You're equally as guilty for the second half of it."
Reflet's blush returned, and she glared at him playfully. "Stop being smart!" she whined. "That's supposed to be my job!"
"Why are you complaining?" Chrom asked. "That's unlike you."
She laughed. "It was a joke, you dork. Whatever. Freddy wanted me to make sure that you were packed. If we want to make good time, we should leave within the hour."
Chrom pulled his pack out from under his desk and smiled. "Of course I'm ready. As much as I'd like to spend time with you as well, we shouldn't keep the others waiting."