Title: First Aid

Description: Robin can be stubborn sometimes, maybe even too stubborn for his own good when it comes to looking after himself. Often times he needs an extra push, someone to look after him when he won't

Notes: Takes place during the Valm arc and the early stages of Robin and Lucina's relationship.

"Robin, this is ridiculous. You're hurt and you need to see a healer," Lucina argued, frustration mounting with each passing moment. Honestly, it astounded her how a man so intelligent could act in such complete disregard for his own well being.

Earlier that day the Shepherds engaged in a skirmish with a small group of Valmese troops. The battle was short, quick, and clean with the larger and more experienced force routing the light cavalry with little difficulty. However, it was during this battle Robin had been injured, an arrow managing to find a gap in his breastplate and pierce his side. Not that he'd informed anyone of this: no, instead he spent the last several hours marching with an untreated wound.

Gods, knowing Robin it would have likely gone on unattended to if she hadn't noticed the blood staining his armor after they'd stopped to make camp.

"It's not too bad that it can't wait. Honestly, I can last long enough to help set up camp, so there's no sense bothering the healers with it," Robin said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Robin, be reasonable, you can't just ignore your own well being like this. What if you were hurt worse and you keeled over on us during the march. Or worse. Where would we be then? Do you really want that?" Lucina countered, regarding the tactician with a stern look.

"I'm fine. It's barely more than a scratch, Lucina. My armor stopped the worst of it and the whole head didn't even pierce the skin," Robin assured her, a force smile filling his lips.

"Even if this is so, the minor wound may become infected if not treated," Lucina argued. Stepping in quickly before he could escape, Lucina wrapped her arms around one of his. "There is no sense arguing, I do not intend on releasing you until you agree to see a healer. Or at the very least allow me to clean the injury myself. The others can begin setting up camp without us."

Robin opened his mouth as if to argue, stopped, then shut it again with a sigh of defeat. "Okay, okay, I'll let you take a look at it… Let's just make this quick..."

"Right," Lucina nodded. She loosened her grip slightly then stopped, gazing at the tactician with renewed suspicion. "You aren't going to attempt to flee as soon as I let go, are you?"

"If I were, I wouldn't rate my chances at escaping all that highly." Robin chuckled, his smile genuine this time. "But if I must, 'I promise I won't try to run away'. That acceptable?"

"It will suffice," Lucina said, a small smile tugging at her lips. Releasing him from his grip, the two set off to the convoy. Picking out the cart carrying the Shepherds' medical supplies, Lucina dug out a roll of clean bandages and a small clay jar of healing salve. Stopping only to grab a waterskin whose contents had already been disinfected, she led her patient to a spot at the very edge of camp. The row of trees provided cover from spying eyes, allowing them some degree of privacy.

Sitting Robin down on a rock opposite of her, Lucina began to lay out the gathered medical supplies. Satisfied that they were within reach, Lucina turned back to Robin, finding that he'd already begun to remove his gear without needing to be prompted to. His coat had been draped over a low hanging branch, and she watched him removed his breastplate, wincing as he set it aside. A small hole could be seen in the side of his shirt, surrounded by a dark circle of dried blood.

"Right then, lets get this over with," Robin said, grimacing. Sheepishly he lifted the hem of his tunic up, exposing the wound. As he'd claimed the injury did not appear all that serious, no more than and inch long and at most half as deep. Still, blood oozed slowly from the puncture, having failed to scab over from the hours of long travel while yet untreated.

"Hold still," Lucina instructed. Grabbing the bottom his tunic, she pulled it up over Robin's head before he could do so much as yelp in protest. Setting the stained garment aside, she began the process of cleaning the wound, washing away the dried blood and sweat with the contents of the waterskin. Robin averted his gaze as she worked, his cheeks reddening each time her skin brushed against his.

Gently patting the spot dry with a clean cloth, Lucina turned her attention to the treatment itself. Removing the lid on the clay jar, she scooped out a large glob of the pale-green paste with two fingers. Slowly and carefully she smeared the salve over the open wound. A shiver ran through Robin at her touch, his face darkening to an even deeper shade of pink than before.

Blushing as well now, Lucina hurried to finish her work. Cutting two lengths of bandage, she first folded the smaller of the two into a square, placing it directly over top of the wound before wrapping the longer length around his torso, binding it in place. Finishing with a knot, Lucina shuffled back, examining her handiwork for mistakes. She wasn't the most skilled healer out there, but she did know how to field dress an injury when the need arises. Still, she wished Robin would have agreed to see a more experienced healer such as her aunt Lissa or perhaps Brady.

Without realizing it her eyes began to wander over Robin's exposed chest, tracing the lines of his lean, toned muscles. It struck her that she'd never really appreciated just how fit he was, his wiry build a testament to his prowess with a sword, just as his brilliant mind was reflected in his spellcasting talent. Gods, how was it possible for him to get even more attractive than before?

"Lucina? C-Can I put my shirt back on?" Robin stuttered, his face deep crimson under her lingering gaze.

Lucina started, jerked suddenly back to reality by his words. Her cheeks burned with such intensity she was sure they'd burst into flames. Ducking her head down, she scrambled for the discarded tunic, handing it to him without meeting his gaze. "I'm so very sorry, Robin. I don't know what came over me, I-"

"I-It's alright, Lucina. I just… you were staring at my chest a bit intently there and I…" Robin stammered, quickly pulling his stained shirt back on. "Gods, I don't mean to say I wish you hadn't, it's just… I, well, I wasn't expecting it and..." He swallowed hard, averting his gaze.

"Yes, right… I believe we should return to the others?" Lucina asked, quickly changing the subject. Any longer talking about this and she was sure she'd keel over and die from embarrassment.

"Y-Yes, that's a good 're probably all wondering where we wandered off too." Standing, Robin quickly gathered up his coat and discarded armor, Lucina picking up the medical supplies she used. Before she could turn away and head back to camp, however, Robin stopped her, placing a hand on her arm.

"Lucina, I appreciate what you did… looking after me like that. What you said before, you are right: I shouldn't ignore my own well being like I did." Leaning in close, he pressed his lips against her forehead, kissing her ever so sweetly. "I think I may be the luckiest man alive, with you there to look after me."

"It's the least I could do, after all you've done for my sake," Lucina answered, blinking back the sudden moistness blurring the edge of her vision. "Always, I will be there for you."

"Always."

Author's Note: Shout out goes to gokart48 (of Bed Time Story fame) for suggesting the idea for this oneshot. Next chapter will finally be the often requested look at Morgan's recruitment mission, as I think I finally have the motivation to finish that.