Title: Dancing Lessons

Description: When its comes to having good childhood memories, both Robin and Lucina rather got the short end of the stick. Amnesia and growing up in a hellish future can do that. So it's always nice to indulge in the things that missed out on now that they finally have the chance.

Notes: Takes place after the events of Awakening and the two years Robin was dead, during the two month period prior to A Future Disowned. Request by ajani's apprentice

Robin frowned, picking a twig out of his hair.

Damn Morgan and her pit traps.

To give her some credit, this was the first time she'd actually gotten him, if only through brute force. As far as he could tell, she'd dug dozens of the damn things in the hopes that he'd miss one. He had, in the end, much to Morgan's delight and his own annoyance.

Could have a least helped me out afterwards. He fished out another stick, this one with a leaf still attached, from his hair and sighed deeply.

Let's hope Lucina is having a better day and I am.

Climbing the stairs that led to the royal family's private quarters, he made his way to his and Lucina's shared room. Yes, her day had almost certainly been better than his. She hadn't decided to go take a walk and get some fresh air only to be stuck in a damn hole in the ground for near as half an hour.

Dammit, Morgan, he repeated mentally, forcing himself to breath and calm down.

Reaching the door, he raised his hand to knock on the half open door, then stopped. He smiled, figuring it would be far more fun to surprise his wife with a hug then to enter normally. Slowly as to not make any undue sound he nudged the door open and peered inside.

Inside he was met by a curious sight. Lucina stood in the center of the room, clad in a simple white dress, her hair flowing down over her shoulders. She was only still for a moment, twirling and spinning slowly with purposeful, if clumsy movements. It reminded a bit of the sword forms she had created to accustomed her body for her elegant style of swordplay, but this seemed far less practice.

Wait, was she… dancing?

Yes, now Robin was certain of it. Before his eyes Lucina slowly and stiltedly moved through the steps of what Robin had to guess was a ballroom dance. Her hands were outstretched, clasped around those of a make believe partner. A smile was on her face, a laugh falling from her throat as she stumbled and caught herself just in time. She hadn't noticed him, so enthralled was she by her dance.

"Lucina, what are you doing?" Robin asked, stepping into the room proper.

Lucina jumped at the sound of his voice. Spinning around, her foot caught on the corner of the rug. She stumbled, slipped, and lost her balance, a startled yelp lept from her throat.

At once Robin was at her side, throwing his hands out to catch her before she toppled over.

"Robin, don't surprise me like that," Lucina said. She gave a nervous laugh, and looks away, Robin catching a glimpse of flushed cheeks before they were hidden from view.

"Sorry," Robin said, releasing his grip on her shoulders once she'd regained her footing. "I didn't mean to intrude, I just saw you dancing and I was wondering…"

"Gods you saw?" Lucina gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "I'd hoped no one was around… it must have seemed so childish. And… I wanted to surprise you."

"Surprise me?" Robin said. He eyed her, curious. "I don't think I follow, Lucina?"

"I… well, since we're at peace now, I figured it would only be a matter of time before we're invited to take part in a social gathering with the realm's nobility. It is customary for such events to involve dancing and…" She trailed off, frowning. "...I am ashamed to say I never exactly learned how."

Ah, that explained. To be honest, he'd completely forgotten they'd be expected to take part in such a gathering. The last royal ball he'd been a part of has been part of Chrom and Sumia's wedding. He'd kept to himself mostly, having felt rather uncomfortable among the gathering of nobles and other dignitaries. Not to mention being one of the few who'd attended without a partner hadn't bestowed much confidence in asserting himself. "Makes sense I suppose," Robin admitted. "Though I do not see why this would embarrass you."

"Well, you see, I was fearful that once the time came I would embarrass the two of us," Lucina paused, her cheeks flushing pink as she added, "And I must admit I… I was rather excited at the prospect as well. To have this chance to master a skill so normal. I so rarely had the chance to indulge myself with things that did not concern survival or combat." She blushed all the harder now, her hand returning to cover her mouth. It was a gesture that Robin found, frankly, completely adorable.

"It's alright, Lucina. I think it's cute," Robin said, smiling. "Though I must admit, I'm a bit confused. I would have though this is something you'd have learned as a child. Part of your education as a princess, I mean."

"Well, yes, I did a little. But my father, as you're well aware, isn't the biggest one for decorum and ceremony. Between that and the wars… there weren't many royal gatherings growing up," Lucina admitted. "Mother did try to teach me a bit. But, well, you are aware how she is."

Robin could not help but chuckle at that. Yes, Sumia was probably not the best person to be teaching anything that required coordination. "I could imagine. Explains the tripping earlier."

"Robin," Lucina gasped, gripping his arm as she shot him a scolding look.

"Sorry, couldn't help myself." He chuckled again.

Lucina opened her mouth as if to say more, than stopped. She tilted her head slightly, her expression growing perplexed as she reached out and picked a twig Robin had evidently missed. "Robin, have you been getting stuck in trees again?"

He sighed. "Not exactly. Morgan finally got me with a pit trap."

"Ah, that explains it then," Lucina said, placing the twig on the corner of Robin's desk.

"Yeah, well, anyways, I hope you don't intend on stopping just because I burst in on you. I'd hate to prevent you from having the chance to indulge yourself with something from your missed childhood. Besides, it's cute to see you enjoying yourself like this."

"Truly? In that case, now that you're here perhaps you can give me some pointers? Lucina asked, blushing all the harder now. Even still, her expression brightened as she gazed at him hopefully.

"I would gladly help you learn. However there is a slight problem," Robin said. He winced as he finished, glancing away.

"Lucina's eyes lit up at his offer, then faded just as quickly with the addendum. "Oh, why is that?" She asked, a twinge of disappointment in her voice.

Now it was his turn to blush. "Well… I don't exactly know how to dance either." He laughed nervously, tugging at the collar of his coat. "I-I may have learned at some point, but with my amnesia it's hard to tell. Afterwards I guess with everything else going on learning how didn't seem like the most pressing matter." He shrugged.

"Oh, I see…" A smile slowly pulled at the corners of Lucina's lip. Then without warning a burning excitement kindled in her eyes. "In that case, we shall learn together. Come," She wrapped her arm around his, pulling him towards the door. "I was embarrassed to ask before, but now that there is two of us we should go see if we can get proper lessons. Perhaps Morgan can convince Inigo to aid us in our quest to master the art of dance."

"Whoa, hold on a minute Lucina. I'm not sure we… I-I am ready for that just yet," Robin stammered. He dug in his heels, keeping her from pulling him any further. "I'd like to get at l-least a little practice f-first. Don't want to embarrass ourselves."

Lucina stopped, turning to look at him. "Ah, fair point. How should we proceed?"

Robin grinned at that question, his own eyes lighting up. "Ah, I have just the thing." Slipping his arm out from crook of Lucina's own, he hurried over to the bookshelves lined with tomes. Scouring the shelves he began pulling books free, examining them quickly before tossing them aside. Where was… ah ha, there! He pulled the book from the shelf, already leafing through it as he returned to Lucina.

"Robin, is that a manual on ballroom dancing?" Lucina asked. She stood up on the tips of her toes to peer over his shoulder at the detailed diagrams and illustrations that adorned the pages.

"Well, yeah." He looked up, the confusion in her voice rather perplexing to him in it's own right. "Is there a problem?"

"No. I am just surprised you own such a book. I suppose a tactician must come prepared for everything, do you not?" Lucina asked. She giggled, shaking her head with obvious amusement.

"You never know when stuff like this can prove useful. At any rate I've had to relearn quite a bit in the past couple years, so I've been collecting every book I can to help me," Robin said, grinning all the wider. He thumbed through a couple more pages. "So, this here doesn't look too hard. Let's start here and then we can…"

. . . . .

"So… this is way harder… than I thought it would be," Robin wheezed, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

"I agree… I didn't think it was possible to get this sore from something so unassuming," Lucina concerned, plopping onto her back next to him.

Robin laughed, the sound becoming something more akin to a groan.

They'd been at it for several hours and to mixed success. Their early attempts had consisted mostly of tripping over each other's feet and the occasion bout of toppling to the ground after being entangled with one another. After the first mishap they'd wisely decided to move the furniture off to one side. Lucina had even swiped pillows and covers from the other bedrooms to pad all of the sharp corners.

"Still, I think we did a good job, all things considering, did we not?" Lucina asked, giving a chuckle if her own.

"No now. Too sore to answer." Robin laughed painfully, waving a hand in front of him halfheartedly.

"But, wasn't that an answer?" Lucina asked.

"Too sore too think, apparently." Robin chucked, grinning.

"In that case… you won't be prepared for this!" Lucina shouted. Without warning, the princess sprung upright, snatching one of the pillows up and flinging it at his face.

"Ow, Lucina!" Robin yelped, throwing up his arms just in time to shield his head from a second projectile. Grasping for the first pillow, he threw it back at her, managing to clip her shoulder.

Before he could follow up the attack Lucina was on him, shoving a pillow against him in front her to cushion her impact as she threw her weight into them. Losing balance, Robin toppled to one side, grabbing her as he fell to pull her down with him. The couple landed in a tangled heap, laughing all the way.

"I'm sorry, I do not know what came over me," Lucina managed at last as their laughter began to fade. She was laying on top of him, her head resting against his chest. "Gods, that was so childish of me."

"Hey, no need to apologies. If anything we should do this more often," Robin said, wrapping his arms around her.

"In that case, I rescind my apology." She beamed at him, lifting her head to kiss him lightly upon the lips.

"So, Lucina, do you think we're ready for lessons after this?" Robin asked, kissing her in return.

"Hmmm, maybe we should wait longer. Get more practice in, just the two of us?" Lucina blushed as she finished. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn her tone had taken on an almost flirtatious edge.

"Of course." Robin smiled, blushing too. He stood, helping Lucina up with him. Then, taking a long step back offered his hand for her. "Matter of fact, I think I have another attempt or two in me. Shall we?"

"Let's" Lucina said. She took his hand by the tips of her fingers, once more awkwardly following the steps of the ballroom dance the book had described. It wasn't perfect, but nothing really was. And really, that's what practice is for, right?

Author's Note: Sorry about the long delay on this one, much of my time writing was spent pumping out little oneshots for a Robin x Lucina week event going on over on tumblr. I actually plan to post them over here too, just going to expand them a bit into full fledged one-shots, so the next couple chapters should be a bit quicker.