Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem Awakening, all rights to the owners.
The moment they first spoke to each other, Chrom realized that Robin was good at reading people. The small girl, only coming up to the prince's armpits, was fantastic at predicting what someone was feeling. When introduced to the Shepherds, she quickly came to act as everyone's confident.
This was only after they got over their nervousness though. Having mirrors for eyes tended to offset even the most accepting people. Chrom didn't care though, he found her unique eyes interesting, even if it was hard to tell if she was looking at him or not. (She usually was.)
There were other things that separated Robin from everyone else as well. She would correct people on vocabulary before they even said the word in question, and could often guess when someone wanted something (usually shown by her fetching the thing in question without it even being mentioned). The Shepherds just chalked it up to her ability to read people.
Others didn't like Robin. They whispered about her plegian robes, pale skin, the mark on the back of her hand, and of course her eyes. A demon, they said, a grimleal that went too far. Some members of the court even had the audacity to come to Chrom directly and tell him that the girl should be imprisoned or sent away.
Chrom always sent them running when he reached for Falchion.
Robin tended to stay in the Shepherd's barracks, only coming out to visit the library or for missions. Her reflective eyes were always on some book when not talking, she kept at least one in her cloak at all times.
Whenever Robin spoke with someone, she would look them in the eye the entire conversation. Most people tended to look away, squeamish under her stare. Chrom didn't. He liked the look of her eyes, it was part of what made Robin who she was.
Chrom had long been a confident for Stahl. It was a well kept secret between the two of them. However, when Robin started to gain a reputation as sort of therapist, Chrom encouraged the green knight to speak to her. He remembered talking to Stahl when he came back a few hours later, happy and in awe.
"It was incredible!" Stahl said. "As soon as I mentioned that I sometimes looked down on myself, she asked me if I was a stress eater! She guessed it right away! It was nice to be able to air my concerns with her. Uh, no offense Chrom. I appreciate your help too."
Chrom waved it off, smiling. The entire reason he sent the knight to Robin is because he knew she would do a better job than him. Stahl soon started carrying around a flask and, when he would usually complain of hunger, instead take a deep drink of the flavoured water inside. This became less and less frequent over a few more months, until he stopped altogether and could proudly tell Gaius he wasn't hungry when the man offered him sweets.
Not everyone's problems were solved so quickly, but Robin's therapy was undeniably effective, and Chrom admired her for being able to do what he couldn't for his friends. Robin had offered to talk to him too. It didn't have to be for a major problem, she could help with simple stress, but Chrom refused. It wasn't because he didn't have problems; he could use some help with the stress of being prince, he never felt like he was doing enough; but he had some things he didn't want her to know, and he feared she'd figure him out if her legendary ability to read people was any precedent.
That's not to say he didn't spend time with her. Chrom took lessons in tactics from the girl. Someone watching one of these lessons would see Chrom continuously and systematically demolished at the popular strategy game War of Worlds. He often felt frustrated at his defeats, and even Robin admitted that he wasn't making a lot of progress.
"You need to practice more." She'd say. "Have a plan coming in rather than improvising. You're already good at that." Or sometimes, "positioning Chrom. You can't always win just because you have stronger units." However the most frequent thing the white-haired girl would tell him, while staring him in the eye, was: "you're distracted again Chrom. Focus on the game."
Chrom would look away whenever she said that, avoiding her reflective eyes out of embarrassment. He did this because she was right, and he hoped she didn't discover why.
One day Frederick informed Chrom that Robin wanted him to come to her room for his lesson rather than the office (which used to belong to Chrom until Robin took over as tactician). This wasn't the first time this had happened. Sometimes there was too much paperwork to have space for War of Worlds in the office. Other times Robin just wanted to get out of there after working five hours straight.
However when Chrom is allowed into her room this time the portable table and the extra chair are nowhere to be seen. Robin is sitting at her desk, cloak draped over the back of her seat with her back to him.
"Chrom." The girl says, putting away her quill. "Sit."
The prince looks around, not finding the usual chair. He can't even find the fold-up desk that she brings to her room when lessons are done here. A bit unsure, he gingerly sits on her bed.
The girl rises from her seat, not bothering to put on her cloak. It's a new sight for Chrom, and he tries not to stare. Robin always wears her cloak, no matter how casual the situation.
Chrom doesn't want to admit he's wondered what she looks like without the cloak. It's an ungentlemanly thing to consider. Then again, he's wondered worse about her before, and Chrom sometimes wishes he could fall out of love so he wouldn't think such things about his friend. It's part of the reason he refused therapy, he didn't want her to figure that out.
The small girl stands before Chrom, watching him with a neutral expression on her face. The prince forces himself not to look away, meeting her gaze unflinchingly. He smiles nervously in greeting, saying "I don't see the game anywhere, are we doing something else today?"
"Yes." She says curtly. With quick, deliberate motions she plants her hands on Chrom's shoulders and hops onto the bed. Robin sits on his lap, still keeping her reflective eyes on Chrom. The prince is tense, totally unsure what he should do. This is not what he expected to happen today. His eyes flit from side to side, half expecting to see Lissa giggling in the doorway and tell him that his expression was priceless.
He expects this to be a prank or a joke, but Lissa is nowhere to be seen and the door is closed.
"What are you doing?" Chrom asks, nervousness in his voice.
"What you want me to do." Robin blinks, keeping her neutral demeanor. "Isn't it? You don't come to my lessons to learn tactics." The girl leans in a bit, bringing them nose to nose.
A chill goes down Chrom's spine. "How much does she know?" He thinks, struggling to keep the alarm off his face. "What are you talking about Robin? Of course I come to the lessons-"
"-to be around me." Robin finishes, eyes boring into the prince. Chrom can see his reflection in them now, and he can see that he looks like a cornered deer. "You haven't made any progress for the last five lessons Chrom."
"I- okay." The blue-haired boy stammers, leaning back a bit. "Maybe I came there to be around you, but I also came there to-"
"-fantasize about me, and then yell at yourself for being a terrible friend." The tactician finishes again.
"Wh-What?" The prince coughs, eyes wide as saucers. "That's redicul-"
"Chrom." Robin says calmly. "Have I ever told you what my eyes do?"
"N-No."
"They allow me to read mind of whoever meets my gaze." The white-haired girl explains softly. "Word for word, picture for picture, so long as they look me in the eye. That's how I know your motivations Chrom. You always look me in the eyes."
Upon hearing that; realizing that Robin knows, she knows, Chrom's expression devolves into one of horror. "Robin, I- I just- Gods I'm so sorry, I didn't realize- Naga you must think I'm terrible-"
"Chrom."
"-If I had realized you could hear me, see what I was imagining, I would have never asked for lessons!-"
"Chrom!"
"-and burdened you with my disgusting thoughts! If there's any way I can make-"
"Wake up!" The girl barks, grabbing Chrom's head with her hands. The prince is hyperventilating, he doesn't want to look at her eyes, but their faces are so close together that he doesn't really have a choice. For the first time since he arrived Robin's face is not a neutral mask, but an expression of annoyance. "I agreed to give you lessons every week, and I never asked you to leave. How much do you think I care? Do I look disgusted to you?"
"No, but-"
"Do you think I'm some sort of doormat that wouldn't kick you out due to fear or gratefulness?!"
"Well…"
"Chrom. With all due respect, you are not scary, and you know full well that I don't let gratitude get in the way of me speaking my mind."
"That's true, but-"
"But…?"
"-but… uh…" Chrom flounders, he doesn't have anything to say to that. "But my thoughts were-"
"The tamest fantasies I've ever seen." Robin says curtly. "Seriously, you should see the thoughts of random people on the street, especially the teenagers. If you think that wanting to hug me is somehow a horrendous atrocity that can never be forgiven, you're just plain wrong."
"So you don't hate me?"
"Naga above Chrom, I'm sitting in your lap on my bed. Do you think I hate you?"
"No…?"
The girl rolls her eyes to the roof (at least Chrom thinks she does, her eyes are flawless mirrored orbs so it's impossible to tell when they roll or move on their own).
"Sorry, sorry." Chrom mumbles, realizing how foolish he's being right now. "I can't read minds like you. I want to make sure."
"Don't mention that by the way. Most people probably wouldn't react well to knowing I can read their mind." Robin warns. "The only reason I told you is because you've been particularly trusting."
"Ah…" Chrom mumbles. He thinks it must be because she knows he likes her.
"And because I trust you too." She says, smiling wryly. "Not just because you have a crush."
The prince coughs. "Right." He thinks, looking her in the eye. "You can read minds, that's going to take some getting used to."
"Yeah, I would imagine so. For the record though, I prefer you speak. It's weird to chat with someone who doesn't talk back." She responds.
"Sorry."
"Stop apologizing Chrom, it's getting redundant."
"Sor- Nevermind."
"Exactly."
The two are quiet for a few moment as the conversation comes to an end. Chrom shuffles a bit, arms raising tentatively to push the girl out of his lap.
"Chrom, we've already established you want to hug me. Just do it already, I'm cold without my cloak."
Feeling sheepish, the prince puts his arms around the girl, doing as she says. Robin returns the favour, smiling in amusement. Chrom absently wonder-
"Yes, Chrom. If you want, we are now 'courting' each other. Known in normal people terms as 'getting a girlfriend'."
Chrom flushes. "Augh…"
"Get used to it. I literally can't turn it off." Robin hums.
Little bit of trivia, this was actually the second chapter I wrote. I thought the fourth (Robin of the Pact) was more well-written so I put it up second.
Kagami Rose: Feel free to use these gimmicks (though I would appreciate you mention me as the source if that's the case) the entire point of this collection is to inspire and show ideas I personally couldn't make entire stories out of.
I'm a Nobody. Who are You: It was hard to get that part of the story to work. I debated actually having Robin collect his soul or something, but I like happy endings so I didn't.
SolidShinji104: Hmm… Robin was still Grima in her timeline, so the encounter wouldn't be that different. She would have known he was a Risen already due to the Robin of her world. Don't think I could write a scene different enough to be worth it. Sorry.