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Semper Amor

Chapter Two: The Tactician and the Princess

“Oh my gosh, this ring is HUGE! Ohh... we're gonna have such a GREAT life together!” -Lissa

She was... intriguing, that was for sure. A girl with multiple sides to her.

On the surface, Robin thought Lissa looked like, well, a princess. Actually, more like a doll. She was small, young, and her dress and hair screamed of innocent regality. Instead of fighting like Chrom, Frederick, and himself, she could only heal. For all intents and purposes, Robin thought she was a regular princess classic – or at least, how he imagined one to be.

And then she yelled at her brother for calling her delicate and called him thick in return.

To say nothing of her fussing.

Or all of her pranks.

But eventually, after months of battles and peacetimes together, he had to admit that either way Lissa was a wonderful person to have around... when she wasn't pranking him.

--------

“Who eats bear?! You're meddling with the food chain!” Lissa griped. “Right, Robin?...Robin?”

Of course, Robin was too busy eating to pay her any mind. She could only sigh in defeat.

Robin couldn't figure out what her problem was – bear was absolutely delicious!

--------

“See, I was kinda doodling a pic of you in your big, new book of battle strategies...” Lissa began nervously. Already Robin could feel his stomach sink. “And then I kinda spilled the ink and kinda... ruined the book, kinda... completely,” she finished. Robin goggled her for a full minute before opening his mouth to retort, but before he could say anything Lissa bowed her head and quickly added, “Ireallyreallyreallydidn'tmeanto!!”

Robin was silent for a little longer, and then took several deep breaths before finally forcing out a reluctant response. “...It's fine. Accidents... accidents happen.”

Lissa let out an enormous sigh of relief and darted out of the tent before Robin could day anything else. So instead he sighed too, and collapsed into his chair. It was bad enough that she'd ruined his sleep and given him a scaring, but he'd only just started perusing that book!

Resignedly Robin strode to his bookshelf to inspect the damage. He liked Lissa, he really did, but she could really drive him up the wall sometimes.

--------

“Lemons? Really?”

Lissa quickly turned to see the tactician standing behind her, smiling oddly. “What? How did you know?”

“I overheard your chat with Gregor,” Robin replied, still smiling. “I suppose I can understand your fearing snakes, ghosts, insects, frogs, and the dark-” Lissa's eyes widened as he rattled things off. “-but lemons? Really?”

“Hey, leave me alone, okay?!” Lissa snapped defensively. “Yellow's a pretty color, and there's no way something that yellow should taste that bad!”

Robin looked at her oddly but did not speak further, and Lissa, deciding the conversation was over, stormed off. That was fine with Robin. After all, he had ammo now, things he could use to get a little sweet revenge if the need ever arose.

--------

Lissa finally took a break from laughing to talk. “Robin! Robin! Look at this! It's so horrible, but it's so awesome!” Still doubled over with laughter, she lifted up her right hand, clutching a rolled-up parchment. Warily (for all he knew it was another blasted prank), Robin took the parchment and after a moment of silent deliberation, he pulled it all the way open in one motion.

He was NOT prepared for what was printed on it.

It was an image, and a newly-printed one at that, of none other than Chrom himself, in a grand, heroic pose. On its own that would have been fine, but Robin could help but notice the... additions. In his right hand, Chrom grasped his Falchion and held it upside-down in front of his body, and in the left, the general bore a pair of gold scales, dangling in front of the blade. Printed below it all was the phrase “Chrom Wants You!” written in black ink and in a very formal-looking font.

It was a well-drawn, nicely detailed poster, Robin had to admit – although given one other detail of it, Robin would've preferred that it wasn't.

Chrom was stark naked.

Trying very, very hard not to look at a certain part of Chrom's anatomy, Robin tore his gaze away from the poster to look at a quietly chuckling Lissa again. Apparently he had quite the look on his face, because Lissa immediately fell back into hysterics.

“How ...what ...what is this?!” Robin shouted, his voice high-pitched with agitation. He'd just been walking by when he'd heard Lissa in hysterics and wanted to see if she was alright – he certainly hadn't been expecting THIS!

Lissa, meanwhile, was crying with laughter. “It- it- it was- it was in- in here when I- I-” Another surge of laughter cut her off and she didn't continue.

Robin wanted to say something, but for the life of him he couldn't decide what to say first. There were too many choices – what was this poster? Why was it in here? Who commissioned it? Why? Had anyone else seen it? Did Chrom know about it? Was this all a joke?

And why was Chrom NAKED?!

Overwhelmed, Robin opened his mouth to speak. Exactly what, he didn't know, but he just had to say something.

He didn't get a single word out before he burst out laughing, just as loudly as Lissa. Lissa, in return, started laughing as well, and before long Robin was certain their laughter could be heard everywhere in camp.

Robin completely lost track of how long they'd been cracking up, but eventually they were interrupted by the sound of footsteps and the moving of the tent's entrance flap. The two turned as one to see who was entering – and to their surprise it was none other than Chrom himself, his face a mask of pure horror. In a flash Chrom hurtled forward and snatched the poster from Robin's hand before streaking out of Lissa's tent. It all happened so quickly that both Robin and Lissa barely even saw him.

The two just sat there for a while in silence, digesting what all this could have meant, until Lissa finally broke the silence.

“You don't think... anyone else saw that poster, do you?”

Robin looked at her, pondering the answer to that question... and then the duo fell into hysterics once more.

--------

Robin had to admit, and he'd have never guessed this beforehand, that Lissa gave an amazing massage. He'd been reluctant at first, of course, but Lissa had seemed so genuine when she mentioned how grateful Chrom was for his presence. She was so happy it was hard to say 'no.' So he didn't.

And he was not regretting it. Lissa's hands were like the hands of an angel, fabric-like in their softness, firm and yet also gentle, and capable of finding and destroying all tension in Robin's shoulders. It really was pure bliss.

Until, of course, Lissa put the frog down his shirt.

--------

Robin almost didn't want to go into the tent.

To say Emmeryn's death had hit everyone hard would be a colossal understatement. It had only been three days, too soon for the crushing pall to rescind even a little. Everyone had been affected, but none more so than Chrom, Lissa, and Robin himself.

The guilt was staggering. It didn't matter that no one else blamed Robin – they'd actually told him point blank that they didn't blame him in the slightest – because he blamed himself. The Shepherds had put their trust in him, and it had been his plan that had failed. Worse still, they had been directly on the cusp of victory when all had fallen apart. Could think that Aversa had such power...

Chrom had become quiet and withdrawn, going out of his way to avoid others if possible. As much as he hated, Robin could understand. Chrom was a leader, and for better or for worse that meant he had to be strong for the others. But with Emmeryn's death so fresh... Robin couldn't understand how Chrom could pull it off. He was amazed by the general's sheer force of will. But even so he knew that Chrom was shattered inside. So Robin went out of his way to visit Chrom whenever possible. They'd talk, and Chrom could safely show his true colors. It was good for both of them.

But Lissa wouldn't talk to anyone. For three days she'd holed herself up in her tent and grieved endlessly. It was no secret that everybody was worried about her, but any attempts to enter her tent and talk to her were quickly rebuffed, no matter who was trying to reach her. Frederick, Lon'qu, even Maribelle and Chrom had tried already without success.

Now it was Robin's turn. But as worried as he was, at the core of it all Lissa was still his friend. And she was Emmeryn's sister. This was more than about helping Lissa; it was Robin's atonement, his punishment for allowing Emmeryn to die. And it was a task he did not intend to fail.

Gingerly, Robin slid his hand into the tent's entrance flap and pulled it open. He didn't get a single word out before a thick handful of mud splattered into the wall next to him, catching him in the splash.

“Go away!” Lissa screamed.

A quick glance later, Robin saw Lissa at the back of the tent, facing away from the entrance with her head down. The message was clear: she didn't want to see or hear anyone.

But against his first instinct – leave and try again later – Robin didn't move or even speak. He stood in silence, watching Lissa. Even from this distance he could make out her sorry state. Her normally well-tended hair was dirty and unkempt, her clothes were ruffled, even torn in places, and although Robin could not see her face, he could her gentle sniffles and sobs.

For reasons he didn't understand, it broke his heart to see her in such pain.

With some apprehension he chose to speak up. “Lissa?” He whispered, and then flinched, expecting more mud to fly his way. Lissa flinched as well, evidently surprised he was still there, but to Robin's relief no such assault was launched.

“I don't... I don't want to talk to anyone,” Lissa sniffled, still refusing to look at Robin.

“Then I won't talk,” came Robin's gentle reply. “I won't say a word if you don't wish me to, Lissa. I promise. But please, please just let me in.”

Lissa was still for a while, leaving Robin was in limbo as he awaited her answer.

But eventually, she turned her head toward him – just a little bit – and gave an almost unnoticable nod. Feeling enormous relief, Robin stepped in, walking carefully to avoid stepping on any of the many things strewn across the floor, until he stood next to Lissa. He bent down slowly and, with some hesitation, placed a hand gently on her shoulder, half-expecting her to rebuff him.

But she didn't. Instead, she turned to face him, and the sight of her red, puffy eyes and saddened countenance made Robin's heart ache yet again. It wasn't right that she had to feel this way. She was Lissa – she should have been happy, and trying to cheer everyone else up, the way she always did. She shouldn't have to feel such pain, she didn't deserve it.

Slowly, Robin wrapped his arms around Lissa's shoulders. Lissa gasped softly in surprise, but then laid her head in the crook of his neck and began to cry again.

And Robin didn't say a word.

--------

“Hey, Robin?”

The tactician turned around and saw Lissa standing a short distance behind him, an uncomfortable look on her face. “Can... can I talk to you?”

Robin raised an eyebrow, but saw no harm in the action. “Of course. Is something the matter?”

“Well, sort of,” Lissa began, walking toward him and nervously meeting his gaze. “I just... I wanted to say thanks... for coming to talk to me.”

“It was no trouble at all,” Robin nodded warmly, then turned to walk off.

“And-!” Lissa interjected quickly. Robin turned back to face her, and she stopped and looked away from him, not saying anything.

“Lissa, are you certain nothing's wrong?” Robin asked. Lissa didn't respond for a while, but when Robin was just about to repeat the question she finally answered.

“I wanted to say I'm sorry,” Lissa whispered.

“What was that?”

“I said... I'm sorry,” Lissa repeated more loudly, and she hung her head.

Robin stared at her in disbelief. “You're sorry? What in the world do you have to be sorry for? You haven't done anything wrong!”

Lissa shook her head. “But I was so horrible to everyone! You were all trying to help me and... I just yelled at you! I didn't even try to listen...” She trailed off sadly, and to Robin's surprise tears started to form in her eyes once again. Realizing that, she sighed and wiped them away. “Sorry, I've just been stuck by myself a lot, so it's kinda all coming down on me.” She laughed, but it was a very hollow laugh.

Robin couldn't believe his ears. This was... wrong. Lissa shouldn't have been the one to apologize. Gods, her sister had just died! She'd been... unreceptive, of course, but she damn well deserved the right to grieve. At least she could grieve, unlike Chrom, who had to stay strong for everyone else.

It just... wasn't right.

Making up his mind, Robin knelt down and grasped Lissa's shoulders.

The younger girl gasped. “R-Robin, what're you-”

“Don't apologize, Lissa,” Robin began gently. “After all that you've been through, the last thing you should be doing is apologizing, do you understand? You've seen things that no good man or woman should have to deal with, you've been fighting in a goddamn war, and on top of it all, you even lost your sister,” Robin's teeth gritted. “You've earned the right to mourn your loss, Lissa. No one blames you for anything. Not me, and definitely not the others.”

“If anything, I should be apologizing to you.” Lissa's eyes widened with confusion, but Robin kept talking. “It was my plan, my job to get in and rescue your sister... and it was my plan that failed. You, Chrom, everyone trusted me... and yet I let everybody down.” Robin could feel tears springing to his own eyes, but he couldn't afford to stop. He had to atone.

“From the bottom of my heart, Lissa, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.” And then he hugged her, arms wrapped around her in a firm embrace. Lissa didn't respond at first, but slowly she raised her arms up around the tactician's shoulders.

“You... you big dummy,” she tearfully whispered.

--------

“Wh-What is that in your?!” Lissa shrieked. “Is it a sna... A sn-n-n-”

Robin laughed loudly. “A snake? No, I'm pretty sure this is a worm. Gotcha!”

“You're terrible, Robin!” Lissa huffed childishly. “And a total hypocrite!”

“Right,” Robin nodded, amused. “Show me what's in YOUR hand, then.” He pointed to Lissa's right hand, where she was trying to conceal... something.

Lissa brought up her hand, and Robin could see she was clutching a large, brown frog. He gave her a look, and she smiled in false innocence. “W-what? Why, how did this frog get here?”

“You were saying something about hypocrites?”

Lissa huffed again. “Aw, it's no fun if you see it coming!”

“I'd have to be blind not to at this point,” Robin replied easily, a huge grin upon his face.

The two comrades stared at each other unflinchingly... and then descended into laughter. It'd been too long since they'd last teased one another and Gods, did they miss it.

--------

“I'm sorry, I do a what thing with my face?” Robin scrutinized the girl standing before him.

“Rubbery!” Lissa chirped. “Everyone else is too quiet and stale and... blaaah,” She stuck her tongue out briefly. “But you... oh, what's the word?” Lissa snapped her fingers as she thought. “One word... fits perfectly... react!” She shouted, pointing a finger at Robin.

He blinked. “I... react?”

“Yeah, yeah! Everyone else just stares and walks away shaking their head, but you make some great faces!” Lissa agreed.

Robin blinked. “...Well, I'm always glad to serve as your personal amusement,” He replied in an only partially sarcastic manner.

--------

“Hey, Robin?”

The tactician turned at the voice and saw Lissa standing in the entrance to his tent, frowning uncomfortably.

“Ah, hello, Lissa,” Robin smiled. “Do you need anything?”

Lissa stayed quiet for a while, shifting back and forth like she didn't want to be there. Robin was about to inquire again when-

“How can I become a better princess?” The question came quickly, and Robin wasn't expecting it at first. Even after a little time, he wasn't entirely sure where it was coming from.

“Ah, Lissa... Why would you ask something like that? And why ask me?” Robin asked, confused.

“Chrom's making me. Long story, don't wanna talk about it,” Lissa replied with great haste. “Look, I don't really wanna do this. Please just tell me.”

Robin still didn't understand, but decided not to press her. It would only upset the girl, and he knew that if Lissa didn't want to talk, she damn well wouldn't. Instead, he turned his focus to the question she had extended. How can I be a better princess? He didn't see why Chrom would make her do something like this. Did it have anything to do with the last fight they'd gotten in? Lissa had shown way too much knowledge about the enemy, and he certainly hadn't taught her how to do anything like that...

His mind set the problem aside, not wholly willing to decipher it just yet. Right now Lissa needed him, and that was more important. But what was he supposed to say?

“Lissa, I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what you're asking me.” Robin spoke apologetically.

Lissa sighed. “Just... just tell me how I can change. How I can be, well, better.”

How to become better? A lot of things flew through Robin's head before he could filter any of it. Stop pranking people! Don't be so picky! Who the hell's afraid of lemons?! Robin shut it out as best as he could; it was all a lot more judgmental than he'd have liked.

But what should he say? Robin honestly had no idea. He didn't know what it meant to be a princess. Lissa did, but clearly she needed help with the idea for some reason, and Robin just wasn't sure what to say that could help her. She wanted to know how she could change? Robin really could think of a few things that might help but... did he really want to share them?

He'd grown so fond of Lissa over the months they'd spent together. Sure, she had some bad points – her pranks, her fussiness, and her pickiness sprung quickly to mind. But he would have been dead wrong if he said that was all there was to her. She was annoying sometimes, sure, but she was amazingly dedicated to the people that she cared about. She loved to make people smile, especially when a smile was what they really needed, and she never allowed a wound, emotional or physical, to go unchecked and untreated. Every day she would go above and beyond for no reason other than that she could, and above all else Robin admired that boundless energy.

No, Lissa didn't need to change. He didn't know why she – or apparently Chrom, he'd have to look into that – felt otherwise. Just as she was, she was an amazing person.

“Well?” Lissa asked. Robin in turn snapped out of his reverie, then with new determination bent down and looked Lissa in the eye.

“Lissa, don't change anything,” he answered, and there no trace of doubt anywhere in his voice.

Lissa's eyes widened. “Huh?”

“I'm serious, Lissa. Everything about you, everything that you are, is absolutely perfect exactly the way it is,” Robin spoke with a passionate ferocity that caught both Lissa and himself off guard. “I'll admit, I don't exactly understand why you're asking me about any of this, but you asked me for an honest answer, and this is it.

“Lissa, you are one of the most caring, energetic, and infectiously happy people I've ever met, and I'm proud to call you my friend for exactly those reasons, no matter what your faults are. If you truly want to change, then I'll accept that, but I have to tell you, from the bottom of my heart, that I don't want that, Lissa, because then you wouldn't be you anymore. You'd be some other person, and I don't want to know some other person. I want to know you.”

A stunned silence hung in the air between he two as Robin finished his passionate speech. Lissa was staring at Robin with amazed eyes, clearly touched deeply by his words. Robin stared back uncomfortably; with the heat of the moment gone, Robin was starting to become more than a little embarrassed by what he'd told her. Had he said too much? Should he take any of it back? How much? He was so busy turning the question around in his mind that he didn't even notice Lissa wrap her arms around him until she had already done the deed. It brought him back to reality like a slap.

A harmless, warm, fuzzy-feeling slap.

He could feel Lissa shaking as she sobbed into his cloak. Oh, gods, did he make her cry? He was about to apologize when Lissa pulled away and looked him in the eye. She was definitely crying, but Robin could she was far from sad. Rather, she had a big, joyous smile on her face. She wiped her tears on her sleeve.

“Thanks, Robin,” Lissa told him, and it was the most genuine tone Robin had ever heard her speak in. She left soon after, but with a newfound confidence, one that she didn't possess when she had entered Robin's tent.

Robin watched her leave, then sat back down. Oddly, he felt the strangest mix of happiness and confusion swirling within him. The happiness was easy to explain – he'd helped a close friend, why wouldn't he be happy? But the confusion was harder, and required closer scrutiny. Eventually Robin traced it to what he deemed to be the source – a bizarrely unfamiliar fuzzy feeling, deep within his chest. He'd felt it before, when Lissa had hugged him, but why was he feeling it now?

Could it have been that...?

… Oh Gods.

Oh Gods.

Oh Gods.

…

…

… Well, then.

--------

“Okay then, here goes... YAAHHH!” Lissa shouted as she opened the box Robin gave her... and simultaneously turned it to face him, no doubt in fear of snakes or bugs. But Robin knew there was no danger of that. He had placed something in the box, but it was of a much different nature...

Lissa, on the other hand, had finally realized that nothing was going to fly at her and so turned the box back around to look into it. Just as Robin had hoped, her eyes widened immensely and she let out a tiny gasp.

And then at last she gently removed the contents of the box. It was a ring. A beautiful silver band with a brilliantly shimmering, bright blue aquamarine gemstone set into it. She didn't know it, but Robin had bought it in secret a few weeks prior, and spent good coin on it as well. But it was well worth it to see her face.

“A... a ring?” Lissa gasped breathlessly. “Robin, what's going on?”

At that cue, Robin knelt down on one knee before her. “Lissa... I love you. I love your loyalty, your spirit, your candor...” He broke off and chuckled briefly. “Gods, even your pranks! So... will you be my wife?” He smiled hopefully.

Before his startled eyes, Lissa began to break down. “Are-are you crying?! No, I'm sorry! Don't cry!” Robin stammered in terror. “It's alright, you can say no!”

“No, stupid! I'm happy!” Lissa cried, and Robin was relieved to see a great, glowing smile cross her features. “I've just... I've loved you for so long, too!”

It was perfect, like a moment from a fairy tale. Robin couldn't imagine a moment when he'd possibly be happier. The girl he loved returned his feelings in full. She was to be his bride. Gods, how could he be so lucky?

It was a bit of a blur after that, but needless to say the two newly-engaged friends could only marvel at the thought of a life together. It would have to wait until the war's end, of course. Possibly a little further. But that was fine. The light at the end of the tunnel was all that they would need to keep going forward.

And for the moment, they were happy. Robin even let Lissa give him another massage, gleefully letting go of the past time she'd done so and slipped a frog down his cloak. This time, of course, Lissa did no such thing. And as Lissa gently kneaded the stress from her new fiancee's shoulders, one thing slowly led to another, and then another, until finally...

The two lovebirds fell back onto Robin's cot once more, thoroughly worn out. Panting heavily, they turned to stare into each other eyes. It was a spellbinding moment, until Lissa ruined it.

“You know, Chrom's gonna kill you for this.”

Robin sighed. “Yes, I'm aware.”

“And Frederick.”

“Of course.”

“Probably Lon-qu.”

“ Mmm-hmm.”

“Heck, even Maribelle might wanna-”

“Lissa, please stop.”