Title: Robcina Week 2025 Day 2 - After Awakening

Description: For years Lucina had the same dream every night since Robin's sacrifice. But as bad as it was, waking up after was worse

Notes: Takes place following the end of Awakening, before A Future Disowned

Words: 1585

She dreamed the same dream again that night.

It was the dream she'd had nearly every night for the past two years, forced to relive again and again those final moments of that battle. Forced to watch helplessly as Robin struck the final blow on Grima. Forced to watch on as shadows consumed the fell dragon's vessel even as Robin began to dissolve into light. Forced to watch helplessly, pleading with him to stay, even as he gave his goodbyes. Forced to wake up alone in her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks as she again felt every pang of that loss, every bit of the loneliness that followed.

That perhaps was preferable, though. For through those long years, she'd much rather have that dream than the ones where Robin was still there, only to awaken to the reality where he was gone. It was less painful to relive the loss than to have happiness so briefly returned, only to be snatched away with the coming dawn.

Lucina rubbed a hand over her face, brushing aside the tears. Not daring to look, she blindly reached out next to her, tensing up for the brief, terrible moment as she felt nothing but empty space. Then she relaxed, her fingers brushing against Robin's arm, her touch causing her husband to murmur something unintelligible in his sleep.

Sighing, Lucina sank back into the bed, not wanting to disturb him further. Even now, two weeks on from his return, the dream had continued unabated. She wondered now if the dream would ever cease, or if she'd continue to suffer it as long as she lived.

Lucina closed her eyes, trying to fall back asleep. However, try as she might, the buzzing of her own thoughts proved too great a distraction. Images of her dream and memories of each morning that followed played out in a jumbled barrage, building her anxiety. No matter how hard she tried to banish them, no matter how hard she tried to relax and slip back to unconsciousness, a small part of her always fought against it. The part that was afraid that sleeping now would mean reliving those painful memories again.

No, that wasn't only it. Yes, she truly feared experiencing the moments of her love's sacrifice again. But there was more: a part of her that, no matter how much she tried to shake it, feared she'd awake to find that everything since his return had been the real dream. That she'd awaken from this fantasy to find him no longer at her side.

Yes, that was it. Every night for the past weeks, she'd struggled to sleep. Actively fought against it those first few nights, even as Robin assured her that he'd be awake in the morning. She knew he was right, and she knew the irrationality of her fears. And yet… despite her struggles to overcome it…

That was what she was mostly truly afraid of. Afraid of being alone again.

Lucina opened her eyes again, staring out the open window into the night sky. The full moon shone high and bright. The night was still young, far too early to just give up on sleep and remain awake. She needed to sleep, she knew that. But…

She huffed out a breath through clenched teeth, rolling over fitfully. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force herself to let go of the fears and worries. To relax. To slip away and not be troubled by all this until morning. Robin would be there, she assured herself of that. There is nothing to worry about.

It was useless. One can't force oneself to relax. It was an antithetical prospect. The more she tried, the more frustrated and tense she became.

Sighing, Lucina reopened her eyes. Slowly, so as to not disturb her husband's rest, she slipped one leg after another out of bed and gingerly lifted herself up. Robin murmured something, perhaps feeling the movement. For a moment, he seemed to start to stir, but then relaxed again, falling back into a deeper slumber.

Satisfied in her success, Lucina softly padded her way over to the window, leaning with both arms pressed against the windowsill as she looked out over the castle grounds. Everything was still and quiet. The only sound to be heard was the faint rustle of the night breeze through the trees in the courtyard. The city beyond slept peacefully beneath the moonlight, not a soul to be seen stirring beyond herself.

Lucina breathed deeply of the night air, trying to still her anxious thoughts. For an indeterminate span, she stood there, watching the stars inch their way across the endless void beyond. It could have been minutes, perhaps an hour. It mattered little, for she lost track as she tried to wash away her fears with the peace and quiet of that moment. It was only the voice behind her that at last drew her from her trance.

"Can't sleep?"

Lucina glanced behind her, seeing Robin sitting at the edge of their bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes."I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Lucina asked, dipping her head in a way of apology.

"It's fine. I'm a light sleeper," Robin assured her. They both knew this was a lie, but Lucina decided not to dispute the point. It was plain that her absence from the bed had been enough of a disturbance to wake him.

For the briefest of moments, silence returned, hanging there before Robin again spoke up. "Same dream?" He asked.

Lucina nodded. She turned back to the window, slightly slumping against the sill in defeated weariness. They'd spoken about the dream before. Every time Robin had reassured her, he would be there in the morning. It helped, but was evidently no permanent cure.

"I wish I could do more to banish the dream entirely," Robin continued. He sighed. "If only there were some spell or another that would let me enter your dream and defeat it for good. But alas, nothing so esoteric exists to my knowledge."

Lucina chuckled at this. She knew from his tone that his words were in jest, no doubt an attempt to cheer her up. She appreciated it, for the tendency was one of the many endearing traits her husband possessed. "Were it as simple as that," Lucina agreed, shaking her head as she let her laughter trail off.

The sound of shuffling behind her signaled Robin's approach as he slipped the rest of the way out of bed, coming to stand alongside her. Lucina reached out blindly, fumbling until she found his hand and took hold of it in her's, squeezing tightly.

"I'll be here in the morning, you know. I promise," Robin told her, squeezing her hand back. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I know. Truly," Lucina answered. She reached up, tapping the side of her head. "It seems that it's part of me here that still needs convincing. Perhaps, with time, these irrational fears will fade, but…"

"They're not irrational, Lucina," Robin told her. She glanced at him, seeing a guilty look play across his features. "I left you alone for two years. Causes you such pain and loneliness; it's no wonder a part of you is still afraid of going through that again. Feeling as you do, it's nothing but rational."

For a moment, Lucina said nothing. Then she leaned in, planting a kiss on her husband's cheek. "But you came back. That alone makes up for all the loneliness. I should be content with that, not fretting that you'll vanish again at any moment."

"Hold up there, Lucina, aren't I supposed to be the one reassuring you right now? It's not fair to turn this around on me. Not this late at night," Robin said, jesting with his words. Still, even as he tried to play it off, she would see how the guilt in his eyes seemed to subside, replaced by an almost appreciative look.

"It would be unfair to expect you to shoulder all the troubles for the two of us. It's only right I reassure you when you are taking undue blame for what has passed." Yawning sleepily, Lucina leaned against him, resting her head against his shoulder. "I don't know if I can sleep just yet. I'm weary, but…"

"...you still can't fully let go of your fears."

"Yes."

Robin gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before slipping it from her own, now wrapping the freed arm around her shoulder to hold her close. "Then I will stay here with you. For as long as you need."

"Thank you," Lucina said, focusing on his presence there with her. The feeling of his arm wrapped around her. The sensation of where she rested her head against his shoulder. He was here now. Her dream was but a memory of the past. She wouldn't be alone again.

So they passed much of the night together, watching the stars wheel overhead. Together. Staying there until sleep could no longer be denied, and finally they returned to their bed, at last falling asleep in each other's arms.

It was late into the morning before either of them stirred. This time, perhaps with Robin there so close, Lucina was spared from the dream that had haunted her for two long years. Though she knew it would undoubtedly return, perhaps this was a sign. A sign that even if it would fade with the passage of time, so long as Robin remained here at her side.