Title: Robcina Week Day 6 - Lucina's Birthday

Description: Robin wanted Lucina's birthday to be special, so he decided that this year he'd bake a cake for her himself? The only problem? He is by far the worst cook among the Shepherds. Worse still, the only one available to help him is Morgan. What could possibly go wrong?

Notes: Written for Day 6 of Robcina Week 2018

"Hey Father, need any help!?"

Robin leapt in surprise, the the sudden exclamation breaking his concentration. A loud crash followed by a barrage of crunching-splats filled the kitchen as he knocked over the bowl of eggs he'd left on the counter's edge. He winced, the last egg crunched down onto the cobblestone floor.

"Ooooh, that's not good. I know they say you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, but I'm not sure that extends to baking too," Morgan noted, staring at the ring of shattered ceramic and splattered eggs.

"Morgan… please… not right now…" Robin muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. He closed his eyes, trying his best to breath at a slow, steady rhythm. Now was not the time to get upset or frustrated. Now was the time to focus on the task at hand. He was just making a cake. That was it. This wasn't planning for a battle with life or death stakes. Gods, it wasn't even as challenging as having the navigate the ticking time bomb that was the Shepherd's social life. This was just cooking.

It wasn't that hard.

"Hey, ever considered the thought that maybe I want to help with mother's cake too, huh?" Morgan cut back, pointing a finger accusingly. "Also I am really bored, and as my father, it's your job to keep me entertained! Just think of the aimless shenanigans I could get up to if left to my own devices. The very idea!" She crossed her arms in mock indignance, puffing out her cheeks and pouting in what she must have imagined was a very serious and not at all childish manner.

Oh gods, I think I'm starting to understand how Morgan thinks. I'm pretty sure this should really concern me somehow.

"Yes, I could imagine," Robin said dryly, sighing. "Look, I appreciate the offer, Morgan, but really, I think I have this handled on my own."

Morgan stared at him for a moment, then down at the mess he'd made, then back at him. "Uh, huh…"

For a moment Robin said nothing, his mouth hanging half open as he searched for some retort. Wow, he really didn't have anything to talk his way out of that one, did he? "Okay, see, you have a point there. But just because I made one mistake, that doesn't mean-"

"Didn't you and mother burn three cakes during my last birthday?" Morgan asked, her eyebrow matching her self satisfied smirk.

"Well, yes. But-"

"And didn't you almost burn down the mess tent on the final attempt?"

Robin stopped dead in his tracks, mouth hanging open. He held up one finger, started to respond, than promptly shut his mouth again and lowered his hand. "Alright, I concede to your point. You can help me bake the cake!"

"Yes! This is the best day ever! Not only did I beat father in a battle of mental wit, but also get to help with Mother's birthday cake," Morgan exclaimed, throwing up her arms in triumph. "If only this was somehow my birthday too. Then we could have two cakes."

"Morgan…" Robin warned.

"Oh, right. We need to get to work. Understood Captain Chef Father," Morgan snapped straight, saluting him in over dramatic fashion. Then she spun away, sprinting towards the cabinets to gather ingredients… without first checking the recipe or asking him what they needed.

Oh no… this isn't good. Dread began to work it's way up Robin's spine, it's icy fingers burrowing deeper with each passing second. It's just baking a cake, after all, came a mocking voice from the back of his skull, repeating what he'd told himself but hours before. What could possibly go wrong?

. . . . .

"We failed completely," Robin admitted, hanging his head in shame.

"So, before you get too mad, I'd like to make sure it's clear that I only just now learned that apparently I suck at cooking about as bad as father does. So you can't really blame me for this," Morgan added, coughing into a hand so covered in soot that it appeared pitch black.

Behind them smoke curled through the open window to the castle's kitchens, the fire now mostly contained by this point. He'd have offered to help put out the blaze, but at this point… he'd probably caused enough damage that day,

"Robin, Morgan… both of you, I...I don't quite understand. How did you manage to make a cake that could ignite with such ease?" Lucina asked, her expression dumbfounded as she looked between the soot-coated duo standing before her.

"I… I'm really not sure to be honest. It wasn't even in the oven when the fire started. One minute it was there cooling and the next… well…" he gestured back at the kitchens. "That. That happened."

Lucina sighed deeply, covering her face in her hand. "Gods… I can't help but feel partially responsible for this. It should have occurred to me that the two of you would decide to prepare something for my sake."

"No, Lucina, it's…" Robin started to argue, shaking his head sharply.

"We just wanted to make today special, mother! I know I wanted your birthday to be perfect, and so did father. That's why we were going to bake you the best cake ever!" Morgan continued. "Granted our execution of that leaves a whole lot to be desired, I'll admit. Probably less fire and burning would be a good start."

"We're sorry we messed up, but… It felt wrong not to try. Sure, we could have bought a cake or had someone else make it for us, but then it wouldn't by quite as special," Robin finished. He sighed, lowering his gaze. "Though I suppose we have really made a mess of things. Here you are, having to deal with our mistakes, when this day should be all about you."

"Robin, Morgan, I appreciate the thought, but… There is not need for either of you to prove anything to me. Truly, knowing how deeply you wished to make me happy today is more than enough." Lucina smiled at them both, one that despite the circumstances was of true happiness. "I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family that cares for me so. That at least, is something I'd never ask to change, rough patches and all."

"Lucina, I-"

Lucina took a step forward, grabbing hold of Robin's arm and pulling him into a hug. Within moments Morgan had joined them as well, worming her way in between their arms to hug them both at once.

"Happy birthday, Lucina," Robin told her, smiling now too. "Not the circumstances I wished to say it, but I suppose this will have to do, won't it?"

"Of course," Lucina giggled, shaking her head. She hugged him even tighter.

"Robin?" Lucina asked after a long moment.

"Yes?"

"It seems like the three of us are going to need a bath of this. I think the soot is starting to rub off on me."

Robin looked down, seeing that sure enough smudges of black had been rubbed off onto Lucina's hair, skin, and clothes.

"Huh, seems like it," Robin said. He laughed, at last breaking free from the hug. "So, um, guess we better get cleaned up."

"Yes, I think that would be for the best," Lucina replied, laughing as well. Gripping both his and Morgan's arms, she began to pull them along. "I'll get the bath water ready for us. Then perhaps all three of us can go about buying a cake for us share. One that I hope won't be catching on fire any time in the near future."