Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem Awakening, all rights to the owners.
Minor: Dark Flier, Immortal, Boxer (Pugilist), Exploitive, Swordmaster, Angry Cinnamon Roll, Tripping, Perpetual Cheer, Chef, Blacksmith, Pegasus Knight, Teacher, Librarian, Masochist, Literal-Minded, Authoritative, Wyvern Rider, Phobia, Thicc, Tsundere, Damsel in Distress, Gangrel's Child, Wyvern Rider, Child, Communist, Bomber, Bear Cavalry, Flying, ADHD, Super Strength, Patriotic, Martial Artist, Scottish, Sassy, One Liner, Seamstress, Shephard, Speedy, Cool, Shy, Bookworm, Sweet, Kung Fu, Buff, Lazy, Wingless Flight, Blunt, Paranoid, Elf, Dwarf, Scottish, Melancholic, Punny, Dark Mage.
Standard: Elemental, Deaf, Nurse/Medic, Valmese Tactician, Medusa, Gift from Validar + evil to good, Mimic, Emotionless, Crippling Overspecialization (Idiot Savant), Coward, ESP, POW, PTSD, Magician, Mute, Handicapped, Secret Helper, Morpher, Dreamwalker, Twins, Regenerating, Animal Whisperer, Naga/Tiki Assistant, Deadly Touch, Mind Reader, Doppelganger, Arachne, D&D magic, Umbramancer, Dominatrix, Songstress, Kinky, Matchmaker, Androphobic, Illusionist, Attraction Aura, Ring Maker, Therapist, Teleporting, Crippled, Puppet, Broken, Hallucination, Depressed, Slave, Love Curse, Detective, Geokinetic, Trauma, Siren, Changeling.
Unlikely: Chrom's child, Minotaur, Paladin, Werewolf, Future Soldier, Bounty Hunter, Weather control, Kleptomaniac, Druid, Steampunk, Shadow Familiar, Magic Augmentation, Lucky, Exile, Piper (Charmer), Gladiator, Witch Doctor, Centaur, Drunk, Demon, Punk, Harpy, Revenant, Luck Manipulation, Demon Summoner, Megalomaniac, Kitsune, King of Plegia, Mood Ring, Reverse Aging, Hammerspace, Prostitute, Demon Hunter, Cyborg, Deadlord, Rebellion, Einherjar, Trap, Yandere, Living Weapon, Size Shifter, Queen of Plegia, Gluttonous, Stretchy, Alchemist, Protoss, Spirit Manipulation, Invisible, Plegian Honor Guard, Mecha, Kryptonian, Creator, Orc, Memory Stealing Respawn, Racer, Khan, Misfortune, Vampire Hunter, Imaginary Actualization, Death, Resurrection, Force, Merchant, Background Music, Variable, Civilian, Natural Disaster, Mental Noise Projection, Hidden OP, Summoner, Cyclops, Teleporter, Cryokinetic, Genie, Judge, Intangibility, Fortune Teller, Serial Killer, Magic Fixit, Drakengard Restoration, Ying-Yang, Childhood Friend, Cyberpunk, Chrom's Mother, Obsessed, Berserker, Phase Shift, Gravity Manipulation, Hallucinating, Bladesoul, Zombie, Double Entendre, Shared Body/Two Souls, Cannibal, Violent, Insane, Waterbender, Casanova, Cupid, Undertaker, Master Thief, Guard, Faceless, Shadow, Age Control, Cradle Snatcher, Emo, Nun, Courier, Haunted Knight Armor, Egyptian, Sentient Object, Shit Lord, Court Wizard, Naga's sibling, Mad Queen, Artist, Predator, Cheshire Cat, Radio Host, Chimera, Wendigo, Witch, Symbiote, Hivemind, Hammerspace, Anna, Mother Nature, Psychopath, Stripper, Painting, Grima Parts, Knightmare, Super, Swimsuit, Bunny Outfit, One Punch, Idol, Chef, Rampage, Housewife, Determination, Vessel of Naga, Instant Expert, Time Travel, Hermit, Alternate Dimension 'Twin', Legendary, Resistance, Memory Regain, Umbra Witch, Naga, Aquatic, Hexblade Warlock, Dragon, Demon of Choice, Demon of Temptation, Affliction, Good Samaritan, Gallant, Rosannite Tactician, Leeroy, Dungeon, Apparition, Unwilling, Wildlife Commander, Consistent Kidnapee, Grenadier, Magic Creature, Alternating Mind Control, Sothis in the Mind, Exalt, Unicorn, Pegasus, Alicorn, Star Lord, Slenderman, Bird Laguz, Junk Dealer, Gate Guardian, Shaman, Ghostbuster, Exorcist, King, Soldier, Bird Wings, Failed Vessel, Of the Corn, Valentian, Harem, Genie, Car.
Other: Second Generation replacement, Dimensional Walker, Cycle, Fates.
Assassin Robin, suggested by Guest. Another one of my flirty F!Robins, because I know what I like and this is my collection damnit.
Also trying out a new dynamic. We'll see how this goes. Might not be the best chapter because of it though.
At first it happens on the battlefield. A surprise ambush from the trees when he rushes by nearly kills him. The figure is clothed in greens and browns for camouflage, and they look surprisingly short.
The sunlight glinting off their dagger is all the warning he gets before it's thrown at his face. Chrom drops into a roll to avoid it, and then charges at them with Falchion drawn.
To his surprise, they don't immediately flee. Instead they draw two more daggers and meet his charge head-on. They deflect his swing with one blade and thrust at his chest with the other, but the slim blade can't make it through his chestplate. The figure leaps back before Chrom can strike again and starts circling him.
They don't have the time for a second attack though. Frederick is right behind Chrom, and the assassin beats a hasty retreat before he can skewer them.
"Milord, are you alright?" Frederick shouts as he stops his horse just beside his liege.
"It's fine Frederick. They didn't manage to wound me." Chrom reassures. He taps his chestplate. "Their dagger didn't get through my armor."
"An assassin though…" The knight frowns deeply. "Plegia has finally realized you are a threat worth dealing with Milord."
Chrom feels oddly proud of himself upon hearing that. However, he's also fully aware that this isn't necessarily a good thing. "I'll need to be more cautious from now on."
"And we should assign a guard to Lissa. If you're being targeted, she may be next."
"Agreed." Chrom knows Lissa will hate that, but he's not about to risk losing his younger sister. "But for the moment, let us finish this battle."
"Understood Milord."
###
The second time he encounters them, it's in camp. Chrom is just leaving the strategy tent after talking to Virion when they launch out from behind a cart. Chrom manages to bring up an arm to block the dagger, though it bites deep into his flesh and send sharp, hot pain lancing down his arm. He draws Falchion with the other hand and swipes back while barking for help.
Unlike their first attempt, the figure retreats instantly this time. They don't wait for another Shepherd to come rushing in and back off as soon as he starts shouting.
Chrom doesn't necessarily know it's the same person, but considering this assassin was just as short as the other one, he's assuming they are.
Within a minute every Shepherd in the camp has rushed to Chrom's position. Lissa and Maribelle heal him up, though they are forced to use a purify spell to do so. The dagger was poisoned.
Chrom starts taking antidotes with him wherever he goes.
###
The third time they're in disguise, and Chrom leans they're a girl. They're disguised as a Ylissian cavalier so Chrom doesn't immediately identify them by their short height. They have pale skin (might be makeup), sharp green eyes, and a body that looks like someone took two different statuettes, cut them in half, and fused the top of one and the bottom of the other together with no regard for consistency in body shape between the two. Her upper body is slim and flat, like Nowi, but her hips, legs, and behind are quite thick. It's a very distinct and (in Chrom's opinion) odd look. Not a bad look, just a unique one.
She tries to trample him and impale him with a lance. She even quips at him as she's leaving this time, when he dives out of the way of the horse and the guards chase her off. "You'll run out of luck one day Blue! I'll make sure of it!"
Despite the fact that she just tried to kill him, Chrom feels amused that she gave him a nickname.
###
"So we meet again!" Chrom shouts when she bursts from the bushes and nearly slits his throat. He got Falchion up just in time to block them. He doesn't know how she got into the gardens, but it's a good place for an ambush. Chrom could call the guards, but it would take them a minute or two to find them.
"Always a pleasure." She quips back. She proceeds through a series of double strikes, thrusting at two places on his body at the same time with her daggers. They're risky attacks only made possible by her great speed.
"Should I ask why Plegia's suddenly so interested in me?" Chrom questions. He bats aside another thrust and body-checks the small girl, knocking her off-balance, but she's not so easily beaten and throws a dagger to stop him from capitalizing on her stumble.
"How do you know I'm not the one interested in you?" The assassin asks with mock offense in her voice.
"You have a strange way of showing it then."
"Would you prefer a kiss instead? I have some poisonous lipstick I've been meaning to try." She tosses another dagger, then another, and another.
"Pass." Chrom grunts. "How many daggers does she have?"
"I'll have you know I'm a great kisser. My past victims all said so."
"And then died."
"Well obviously." She sidesteps a thrust. "That's sort of in the job description."
The Prince is getting frustrated. He hasn't managed to land a hit yet. The fight isn't going poorly per say, but he doesn't have much faith he can outlast the girl. He's swinging around a significantly heavier weapon than she is, so there's a very real chance he'll tire out first.
"Guards!" Chrom shouts. They'll take a few minutes, but he can hold out that long. He just needs a guaranteed out before this fight goes too long.
"Bringing in other people? I thought we had something special." The assassin mocks.
"I'd love to dance more, but it's important we have a life outside each other." Chrom jokes back. "Besides, I'm sure I'll see you again soon."
This is crazy. Truly crazy. He shouldn't be joking around with the person trying to kill him… but he can't deny it's fun, in an adrenaline-junkie sorta way.
"You can be sure of that. I can't get enough of you dear."
"I look forward to it, honey."
The guards storm in after a few minutes and the assassin leaves by leaping into the trees and jumping off. Chrom shakes his head and sheaths his sword. This situation is getting out of hand.
###
Chrom's weekly fights with the assassin have become something he looks forward to, though he would never admit it to anyone else. His family and Frederick are constantly worried (which is honestly reasonable), but Chrom can't bring himself to be as concerned as they are. Sure, he pretends to be worried, but honestly he isn't. He doesn't know when it happened, but he's started to think of their fights as a game rather than life-or-death battles.
"Good morning dear."
Chrom blinks awake and whips out the dagger from underneath his pillow. It happens just in time to block the blade descending towards his throat. "Ugh… 'morning. You're here early."
"I missed you." The girl says cheerily. She's sitting on his chest (which somehow didn't wake him up) while trying to push her dagger into his throat. "A week is a long time. I was thinking of making this a more regular thing."
"I don't think my family would like that. They aren't very fond of you." Chrom grunts. A thought crosses his mind as he banters. She could have just slit his throat without waking him up. She spoke, and then attacked. Maybe she's grown fond of this routine like he has, and wants to make sure he at least gets a proper fight if she's going to try and kill him.
"And you're going to let that get in the way of us?" The assassin gasps, feigning offense. "I'm wounded! Don't you care about me?"
"Sorry honey." Chrom says. He manages to bring up his legs and hook one around the girl's neck, and pull her off him that way. They both roll off the bed and stand on either side, each brandishing a dagger. "But I have to take them into account too. Family is important after all."
"I can't say I relate." The assassin sighs. She draws a second dagger, and Chrom takes the opportunity to drop his own and grab Falchion. "Family you care about? How lucky."
"You can't relate?" Chrom frowns. That's… sad. "I'm sorry."
"Hmph." The girl launches a dagger and leaps up onto the bed. Chrom deflects the projectile and swings Falchion into place to meet her next attacks. "It's not your fault."
Chrom really isn't suited to be a therapist, but it's not like there's someone else who can talk to her. Is he really going to help sort through the emotional baggage of someone trying to kill him…?
Of course he is. She's in need of help, and (despite trying to kill him), hasn't really shown signs of being an awful person. Besides, she's trying to kill him, so it's up to him how he wants to deal with her. If she was going after Lissa it would be a different story.
"Your family doesn't care? None of them?" He asks. The prince snaps out his free hand and grabs her hand. He tries to wrestle the dagger out of it while tangling her other blade with Falchion, but she frees her other dagger easily and he's forced to pull back.
"They care about the fact that I exist, but not me." She grumbles. "I'm a tool to be used. They only care that I keep myself sharp, and only then are they willing to be polite."
"Then why do you deal with them?"
"What choice do I have? They're family."
Chrom goes on the offensive, swinging his blade in quick, short arcs so as to not hit anything in the relatively small room. Despite being the prince, he's always insisted on a moderately sized room. He has no use for a massive amount of space. "There is more to life than family. I know I just said I had to take them into account, but that's because they deserve my love. It's up to you if your family does, despite the mistreatment, but you are allowed to put yourself first."
"Allowed?" She scoffs. Her blades moves quickly to block his onslaught. "I doubt they'd let me do that."
"Allowed in the general moral sense." Chrom clarifies. "That goes beyond rules and laws. Basic human rights you might say."
"Never thought I'd hear a prince say something is above the law besides themself."
"You expected so low of me? I'm offended." She has a point though. Ylisse's ruling family does have an unfortunate reputation of putting themselves above the law, as if they can do no wrong. It's only now with the death of Chrom's parents and Emmeryn taking the throne that their reputation has started to change.
"But what then, do you just expect me to ignore them? They won't like that."
"It's not up to me what you do." Chrom says bluntly. "I won't make your life decisions for you. I'm offering a new way of seeing things. It's up to you to choose what to do with that."
"Hmm…" They throw a dagger, but it's barely an attack. It goes wide without Chrom even blocking it. She then steps back from the fight and sheathes her weapons. Chrom stops, though still holds Falchion. "We're done for today."
"Uhh, alright." Chrom nods uncertainly. These encounters have always ended with her running away. This is new, though it does support the idea that she too sees these fights as a game more than an actual battle. He allows them to walk to the window unhindered, picking up their daggers from around the room as they do so. She opens the window, nods to him, and jumps out.
###
It was a normal encounter. She jumped out from behind a rock, and they dueled along the cliffside, trading near-misses with their usual weapons.
Chrom has to admit a certain recklessness when fighting her ever since that talk in his room. With the (tentative) understanding that she sees this as a game as well, he feels confident being a bit more stylish than he would in a usual fight. His moves are more reminiscent of a ceremonial show match with elaborate, intricate swordplay and acrobatics. The assassin plays along, improvising her own unnecessarily fancy attacks.
It's quite fun actually. He almost forgets that they're supposed to enemies.
Then he missteps. He gets too close to the edge of the cliff, and his leg slips on loose dirt. Chrom flails his arms out for balance, but has already begun an inevitable fall off the edge.
His eyes meet the assassin, who has frozen in place. At this point he remembers that she's technically supposed to kill him, and while she's always gone easy on him so they can keep up this dance, she's never actually helped him before. She's only ever reduced her own threat. Actually saving him here would be tantamount to turning traitor, whereas before she had plausible deniability.
She could kick him off the cliff, or just let him fall. Mission accomplished.
The world falls away as his body is pulled by gravity. Green grass and green eyes are replaced by blue sky and a feeling of-
He's grabbed by the collar and hauled back onto the grass, where he falls on his back. The assassin stares down at him with arms crossed and a disapproving glare that's mostly hidden by their mask.
"Now what did you go do that for?" The assassin huffs. "If you fall off a cliff, who am I going to eventually beat?"
"Excuse you, I was winning." Chrom replies.
She promptly sits on his stomach, knocking the wind from him. "Sure, sure, you look very winning right now."
"Hard to lose when your opponent isn't really trying to win." Chrom quips back.
"Oh, is that how we're playing now, dear?"
"I don't know what you mean, honey." Chrom replies. "I'm only speaking the truth."
"Oh, oh, and we're going to gloss over that you weren't trying to win either?" She huffs again. "Who's sitting on who right now? Huh?"
"I think I could count that as my win." Chrom says cheekily.
"Pervert."
"Hey, you sat on me."
She snorts. "That's not a win for you. You didn't earn this."
"I'll take it anyways."
"Take? Hah. You get this because I allow it."
"Fine, I'll accept your gift." Chrom snorts.
"Are you mocking me?"
"Maybe a little."
She pulls off her mask and Chrom can see she's glaring, but with a smirk on her face. "It's a shame I don't give gifts."
"Oh?"
"I demand an equal exchange."
"I'm not sure you'll find it as pleasant to have me sit on your stomach. That's something that's really only nice when a girl does it." Chrom points out.
"Smart ass. There are other ways to pay.." She grabs him by the collar and leans down. Chrom sees it coming, and has a split-second to decide if this is really something he should be doing.
Well, obviously not, he shouldn't have been entertaining her at all these last few months, but the question is more if he wants to do it. The answer to that, of course, is yes.
The thought of poisoned lipstick crosses his mind a second too late as the assassin mashes her lips into his. Chrom brings his arms up around her small body and hugs her tight. Thoughts of how on earth he's going to explain this to his sisters or Frederick cross his mind, but he pushes it aside for the moment. This was a terrible idea from the start, he should have never bantered with his assassin, but it worked. By some miracle they've ended up here.
The two separate, breathless and slightly red-faced. The assassin speaks first. "So, does this mean I can join Ylisse now?"
Chrom laughs. "You could have done that without kissing the prince." He pauses, then says. "Are you alright with that though? Your family…?"
"Can go die in a hole." She replies curtly. "I've been doing some looking-into things between attempts with the help of a friend. My dear old father is about a hundred times more shitty than I expected, and my sister is right along for the ride."
"And your mother?"
"Long gone."
"Ah, sorry."
"It's fine. Old news."
They fall quiet for a second. The assassin shifts down to Chrom's lap so he can actually sit up, and the prince does so. Chrom suddenly remembers something and smiles sheepishly. "So, uh… I don't actually know your name."
"Oh right, you don't. I never said it." The assassin grins. "Kissing someone you don't even know the name of? Naughty."
"Just tell me."
"Make me."
Chrom suddenly leans forwards and knocks her to the ground. She's lying flat on her back with Chrom kneeling over her, and her legs up around his hips.
"Aww, did you want to be on top?" She teases.
"Just tell me your name." Chrom groans. "What do you want me to do? I'm not good at this."
"You were doing fine before." The assassin laughs. "Try something."
Chrom hesitates while eyeing the girl below him. She's wearing an expectant smirk with a raised eyebrow. When Chrom doesn't immediately act, she rolls her eyes and squeezes his hips with her legs.
"Feeling shy? Now?"
"I…"
She tilts her head, and speaks in a softer voice. "I can just tell you then, if you don't feel comfortable."
The prince blinks. He was expecting annoyance from her considering her haughty, flirty attitude, especially since they were technically enemies not five minutes ago. This a welcome surprise. "No, sorry, just give me a second."
Taking a breath, Chrom leans down and starts nibbling her jawline. The girl hums in approval and threads her fingers into his hair. "There we go…"
"Your name?"
"Hmm?" The smug smile returns, along with the teasing. "What was that?"
Realizing the game she wants to play, Chrom goes along with it. He presses firmer kisses into her jaw and neck. "Your name, tell me!"
This little dance repeats a few times until the girl 'gives in' and reveals her name. "Robin." She says with a haughty grin. Even with him on top, she looks in control thanks to her confidence.
The two sit up once more, and separate. "So…" Chrom says slowly. "Are you just coming with me? Do you have anything to settle?"
"Nothing that can't be done with a message. I want to alert my friend, for one. She wouldn't mind defecting too if you'd have her. She's a skilled dark mage."
"Any help is welcome." Chrom smiles. "Robin."
"Are you going to be all sappy with saying my name like that?" She huffs. "And here I thought you were some suave prince. You're actually a total romantic, aren't you?"
"Maybe…" He coughs in embarrassment. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It's fine." Robin's eyes narrow and her smile widens. "I know some ways to have fun with you."
"I hope that fun isn't one-way…"
"Oh you'll enjoy it plenty." She chuckles. She leans forward and pecks him on the lips. "Dear."
Somehow, that simple kiss embaresses him more than anything else that day. Maybe it's the sincerity or the genuine affection, or he really is just a romantic sap. Either way, he turns around with a fierce blush and manages to say: "We should get back to the others. Introductions are long overdue."
"I can't wait to see how you explain this." Robin laughs. "Your bodyguard, Frederick I think, didn't seem like a very open person."
"Yeah…" Chrom sighs. Frederick is going to be beside himself, and Lissa is going to have a field day. "It'll be worth it though."
"Sap." She pokes him in the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be beside you. I won't leave you alone to explain it."
"Oh thank Naga…"
Okay, this was interesting to write. Ended up getting a bit more steamy than I expected at the end, but hey, that's fine. I've never done the "enemies to lovers" trope, and I don't think I executed it particularly well, but I'm keeping this one in mind moving forwards as a reference for other chapters. I tried something new here, and it wasn't horrible, so I'll count that as a win.
Darklight of the 0 arcana: How is that going to be different from The Chained Lady? I don't say that to be rude by the way, I want to know what you're thinking.
Guest: Vetoing anything that pulls from other properties. At least for this collection I am. I'll put it down for Varied Awakenings though.
Dr. Cheese: Noted.
bauers374: That's what I was thinking when I wrote that to be honest.
Darkness is complete: In the medieval ages? I'll note it down, but… don't get your hopes up.
Zera Of The Damned: Oh indeed.
B1ackAshes: Fair enough.
Cyberchao X: Can I ramble here a bit?
Okay, so there's something curious about how using actual genderfluidity vs sex changing like I did. With gender fluidity, Robin wouldn't physically change when they decided to switch. The story would have been a commentary on how people have a difficult time separating sex and gender, as society would just see Robin as their biological sex rather than what choice they make. With sex changing however, the story becomes about how people's behaviour is easily influenced by the sex of the person they're interacting with, and the inherant biases a lot people have.
I chose the second one because I wanted the more fantastical route. However, usual gender fluidity would have gotten a perfectly fine, and different, story.
So, uh, yeah. That's what you might have expected. :P
Guest: Noted.