Title: Robcina Week Day 4 - Dreams/Nightmares

Description: Robin has always been plagued by visions of the future in his dreams. Nearly every night he dreamt the same scene, the moment in which his future self killed Chrom and became the Fell Dragon. But this time was different, this time he did far more than just kill his best friend.

Notes: Takes place after Chapter 23 of Fire Emblem Awakening

Words: 1027

Robin bolted upright from bed, arms flailing against the tangle of covers entrapping him. Beads of cold sweat drenched his face, stringing his eyes to mix with the hot tears already streaming there. His heart raced, his chest tight as he found it hard to breathe.

It had felt so real. The sensation of shoving the conjured bolt into Chrom's chest, the wet of his blood staining his hands. The accusing glance from Lucina, the pleading in her eyes even as he struck her down too. Her hot blood splattered him, staining him as she died at his feet…

Robin shuddered, squeezing his eyes shut. It was only a dream, only a dream. None of it was real, it didn't happen. Only a dream…

A hand gripped his arm, snapping him out of his stupor. For an instant, every instinct burned to jolt away, but before he could he realized it was Lucina, having sat up next to him in their shared bed. He must have awakened her.

"Bad dream?" Lucina asked.

Robin nodded. He swallowed, his throat burning as he did so. He didn't feel like speaking. Not now. Not when he could still almost feel the blood staining him.

"Was it the same dream as before? The one where you killed my father?"

Though the silence was enough of an answer, Lucina still waited patiently for Robin to answer for himself. "Yes," Robin whispered, managing to speak at last. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting against the images burned into his mind from appearing again and again.

"It's okay, that didn't happen. You made sure of it. You resisted your father's control. And the Fell Dragon's as well," Lucina assured him. She reached up, cupping his cheek to force him to look at her. Her expression was gentle, her eyes filled with compassion and understanding. Which only added to his own feelings of disgust and self-loathing.

"This one was different. I didn't just kill Chrom. I killed you too, Lucina. I saw it. It felt so real…" he trailed off, trembling as he tried to shake off the images. He shook his head fiercely, but they still came, repeating in his mind again and again. Again he found his chest tightened, his breathing becoming ragged.

"Shhh," Lucina cooed. She took his hands in hers squeezing them. "It's okay, it wasn't real. I'm here."

For a long while Robin sat there with her in silence, unable to stop shaking. Then, slowly, soothed by her continued murmurs of reassurance and simply her presence at his side, he felt his facing heart still, finding himself again able to breathe.

"It's okay, it's okay," Lucina assured him gently. She gave his hands another squeeze.

Robin said nothing for many more long moments so that when he finally spoke, his voice came as little more than a hoarse whisper. "How can you still love me? I'm still Grima. The other me is still out there? What if I lose control? Become him? I can't let that happen, I can't let him make me hurt you…"

"Robin, look at me," Lucina said. Her hands slipped up to cup his face, making him look into her eyes. "You are not him. You're not the one who did those things, who destroyed my future. That wasn't you."

Robin shook his head, the deepest pits of his self-loathing urging him to deny her words, that wretched part of wanting to blame himself for all of it. "But-" he started to say, only for Lucina to silence him.

"No, there is not but, Robin. That wasn't you. You aren't to blame for any of it. That Robin made his choices. He did those things. But you, this Robin-" She poked a finger at his chest to emphasize her point, "the Robin here, the Robin I love, made different choices. You are better than him, and not to blame for any of it."

Fresh tears began to roll down Robin's cheeks, another sob falling from his lips. Lingering guilt now mixed with the feeling of being unworthy of the unconditional love and belief Lucina had in him. He didn't feel worth it.

Lucina wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into an embrace. She kissed him softly, her closeness at last washing away his sobs. "Just remember that, Robin. You are so much better than you give yourself credit for. You feel this way because you are truly the kindest, most selfless person I've ever met. And most of all, you are the man I love. Remember that, no matter what the future may hold."

For a long moment, Robin said nothing, clinging back to her as if she were a life-raft and he was a drowning sailor caught in a storm. Then he spoke, the voice again hoarse from all the sobs. "I don't deserve this… I don't deserve your love…"

"It's good then, that it is not your decision to make," Lucina countered.

Robin let out a choking sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. "I guess you're right there at least." While the guilt lingered still, he felt much of the crushing weight on him lessen now, as if he wasn't the only one shouldering it. His eyelids started to droop, realizing suddenly just how tired he still was.

"Come on, let's get back to sleep," Lucina said. She loosened her embrace, leaving one arm wrapped around him. Following her lead, Robin laid back down next to her, remaining close.

"Do not let your dreams trouble you, for they are not real. I'm still here, and for as long as I can, I will remain by your side," Lucina assured him. She kissed him one more time.

Then Robin could no longer resist the call of sleep, his fears for what that might bring falling away. This time, however, perhaps thanks to Lucina's presence so close by his side, he found his rest untroubled. For once, he was not plagued by dark visions of another future or his greatest fears made manifest.

For just that night, at least, he was able to rest peacefully, free of the nightmares that so tormented him.