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A Change Of Tactics	By : JLDavenport Category: +A through F > Fire Emblem (all) > Fire Emblem (all) Views: 90773 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I don't own any elements of Fire Emblem or it's characters. I make no money from this.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Bonus – A Weakening Resolve
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Authors Note: Hell, it’s about time.
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It’s very easy to make a steadfast resolution, to affirm an unwavering resolve. It can be the most difficult thing in the world though, sometimes, to keep that resolution.
A single exception, even with the purest intentions, can lead to another, and from that to yet another, until the resolve is just hollow words. The kindest hearts, the most caring souls, are those most vulnerable to this.
And Robin, for all his determination, was no exception.
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You don’t have to leave.
Walking slowly back to her apartment on still shaky legs, Olivia wore a wide smile on her face, devouring the incredible warmth still thrumming through her core as she thought of the pleasure she’d finally let herself drown in and the regret she was now feeling at having pulled herself from Robin’s warm embrace and into the chill of the night. Still blanketed in a pleasant haze, she could only distantly remember why she’d even done so.
Instead, breathing out a throaty moan as she let herself feel his seed still dripping wet down her thighs, Olivia’s thoughts turned again to the last few hours, her soul blazing with excitement as the images seared themselves through her mind once more.
She remembered the excitement. The thrill that had run through her at knowing he was watching, the way her heart had raced when she’d realised she didn’t ever want him to stop.
She remembered the relief. The sheer contentment she’d felt the moment she’d simply stopped trying to resist what she wanted. How happy she’d felt to simply give in, to let her body dance as it wished… To dance for him, like she had for no other man- her body on display for him and her clothes left unwanted on the floor.
She remembered the ecstasy. The explosion of pleasure that had slammed into her when she’d finally claimed what she’d wanted for what felt like an eternity of desire, when she’d pushed herself down onto him- plunging his long, thick, cock inside her. The blinding shock she’d felt, how she’d came just from feeling him fill her, the way she’d been stretched wide around him, his length deeper and harder than she’d ever dreamed possible.
She remembered the intensity. The roughness in Robin’s touch when he’d picked her up and bent her over his desk, the way her breasts had ground painfully over the hard wood as he’d claimed her mercilessly. The way she’d screamed his name, begging for more as her body surrendered entirely to his whims.
She remembered the tenderness. The final hours they’d spent together, lying entangled in his bed, their bodies slowly moving together as they made love. How warm and safe she’d felt, cradled in his arms, the way he’d smiled so gently at her, whispering her name and caressing her face.
“Hmmhmm.” She giggled, a warm smile on her face as the images all ran together, her body still tingling lightly from the sensations. The pain, the pleasure, his gentle touch, his commanding grip… It was all nothing like anything she’d felt before, nothing like she’d ever imagined. And she knew, even without thinking, from the fire she could feel smouldering inside her… She wanted more.
Her mind was still fogged in a warm blissful daze by the time she finally reached her home, lost in thought she let herself in automatically, leaning heavily against the door with a deep sigh the moment she was alone.
You don’t have to leave.
Robin’s words rolled gently through her mind once more.
With their actions lost in a dull haze of pleasure, she couldn’t remember how many times they’d fucked, nor even how many times they’d made love. But even now, all the way across the other side of the city, she could vividly remember the feeling of his fingers hands clasped loosely around her wrist- urging her back to bed, back to him but making no demands of her…letting her choose, letting her leave him.
“Robin…”
His words had been whispered as a single offer, a final gesture even as he’d wrapped his thick cloak tight around her naked body- saving her the need to try pull her dancing outfit on with her trembling hands.
Sighing again, Olivia closed her eyes, tugging the robe tighter against her bare skin and letting her lips fall open in a silent gasp. It felt, just for a moment, as if she was back with him, as if she was back in Robin’s office, in Robin’s bed…warm and secure, loved and comforted in Robin’s embrace. Back where she wanted to be.
Another warm pulse spread out from her core and again she wondered…why had she left?
“Ah.”
The answer came to her slowly as she blinked herself slowly back to her senses, the blissful fog slowly lifting from her mind as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of her cold, empty house.
She’d left because she was meant to be back here. She was meant to be here for a husband who wasn’t…a man who didn’t want to be here.
“Heh…”
She winced painfully, pushing herself from the door and shivering a moment as the chill of the night air ran through her, the windows, still open from when she’d left this morning, left no doubt she was the sole occupant.
A familiar loneliness was the first thing to press upon her at that thought, ebbing slowly through her as the warmth inside her faded and her smile dropped. With it however also came her first twinge of regret... Not for herself, but for Robin, her heart clenching as she realised that he too was now forsaken, that she’d left him behind in the same office she’d already seen him give far too much of himself to.
“Sorry…” She whispered a quiet apology towards the tactician she’d found her heart yearning for. “After everything, we’re both still alone? Aren’t we Robin?”
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“Mmmmm.” Tharja breathed out a delighted sigh from where she was lying in bed, waking up instinctually at the sound of the tactician closing her door behind him. Looking over her shoulder with an appreciative smile as his clothes fell to the floor, she shuffled herself over slightly, flushing happily as he slipped in behind her, his naked body wrapping warm around hers. “Did you have fun with Olivia?”
“Why Tharja...” He chuckled, slipping an arm under her head and wrapping himself comfortably around her. “Were you scrying on me?”
“Maybe… Just a little.”
Grinning, Robin dragged a teasing finger across her stomach in response, even without his now heightened senses, he doubted he could possibly have missed the thick scent of arousal in her room. Most likely she’d only been in bed a few minutes before he’d arrived, he guessed she’d thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s spectacle.
“I expected you to go to Lucina.” She hummed in reply, wriggling herself against him until she was settled tightly in his arms.
“Well, I didn’t want to wake her up. She’s got an early start tomorrow.”
“Oh? And not because you reek of sex?”
Robin snorted, not bothering to deny it. Olivia’s surprisingly energetic performance had left him feeling almost completely drained, far too tired for the hassle of running a bath at this time of night.
“Well,” he whispered, closing his eyes and sinking contentedly into the dark mage’s pillow. “If you’d like, you can clean me in the morning.”
“Hmmm…” Tharja sighed once more, her fingers interlinking with his as she mentally wrestled with the idea, her habit of sleeping in fighting with her constant yearning for more time with him.
He didn’t wait for an answer and she didn’t verbalise one anyway. Enveloped in the other’s warm affection, both were asleep within minutes.
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Across town, sleep wasn’t coming as easily for Olivia.
Lying now, naked in her bed, the dancer pulled her legs up to her chest, hugging them against her and purposefully looking away from where Robin’s cloak was slung reverently over her bedroom chair. The heat she’d felt earlier had long since ebbed away into the darkness and now she was smothered in a slow encroaching horror, a realisation about her actions that chilled her to the bone.
‘I seduced him.’ The same thought rolled continuously through her mind. Unable to avoid it, unable to ignore it, again and again it returned to her. ‘I seduced Robin.’
“Gods.”
The worst part, the sickening admission that wrapped like barbed wire around her heart, was the knowledge that she had wanted to. That she had wanted to for a long time no, ever since that time almost a week ago now, when she’d found herself being comforted in his arms, when she’d felt so warm and safe in the tactician’s embrace.
“Gods!”
If only she could deny it, if only she could pretend it was just a mistake, an impulse, a foolish slip… But she couldn’t, no matter how much she wished to, it was impossible. Because she’d felt it. She’d felt her desire for him in the very rhythm of her movements, seared into her instincts and branded across her soul, every part of her had yearned for him. She’d given herself over to her dancing, letting herself act without a though, just as she had so many times before and…and…
“…Gods…”
And it had led her to him. Robin had been nothing but kind to her, he hadn’t had a single ulterior motive, he hadn’t even asked anything of her! He’d helped her so much! And, and, and she’d just thrown herself at him!
Slowly, as the guilt settled deeper within her, Olivia’s thoughts turned toward her wayward husband, to the man she’d pledged her loyalty to. She’d changed everything between them now, she knew that. She’d sullied her marital vows and committed an act she’d never even dreamed herself capable of… After everything she’d sacrificed for him, everything she’d done for her family, she’d failed as a wife. For all that she loved Gregor, she’d still betrayed him.
A throbbing pain followed that thought, the terrible realisation that their marriage could never again be what it was, that her actions had forever tainted their union.
And then… Unexpectedly, a hot spark of resentment flared within her, a small flame of angry frustration that she’d never even known existed.
Had it really been only her? Had it really been only her actions?
Lying as she did now, cold and alone, in an abandoned hovel the thought was an insidious one. Gregor loved her, and she him…but even as she trembled in the darkness, the guilt that pulsed through her remained stunted by the man’s absence. No matter how much she cared for him, or how long she’d fought to support him, there was no avoiding the fact that she’d barely spoken a single sober sentence to him in more than a month.
Were they even really husband and wife? Was she just a convenience for him? Someone to provide a hot meal and a warm bed anytime he felt the calling?
Whether the thought was borne from self-loathing or from the truth, in that moment she couldn’t tell, but the answer was clear regardless.
Her husband needed her for her money, for the support that kept him happy and content, drowning in alcohol and easy friendships. Her son was no different, to him she was a symbol, a memory of the mother and family he’d lost, he only needed her to be alive, to put on the same façade of contentment she’d always worn, so he could know he’d saved her.
She had money now and wearing a smile for her son’s visits was never a challenge. She provided everything both of them needed simply by existing, simply by going through her routine. Her family didn’t need her, not truly, not in the same way she so desperately wanted to feel.
Not like Robin did.
She’d felt every inch Robin’s need for her. “Ah…” A warm shudder ran through her at that thought, she could still feel it now, feel the pure primal, intensity of it- almost more than she could stand. His rough handling, the way his hands had forcefully held her in place, the domination in his grunts as his cock slammed into her, sending her screaming into a violent orgasm. His tender caress, the gentle way he’d kissed her, cradling her in his arms as his length slowly rocked back and forth through her, easing her into a sweet, gentle peak.
But… She knew it wasn’t just that, it wasn’t just a physical ache she felt for the tactician. Working for him had given her something she hadn’t felt in years, a feeling of fulfilment and of someone not just wanting, but truly needing her. Robin was alone. He didn’t have anyone else, he didn’t have anyone to support him, to care for him or worry about him in the dead of the night.
She could give him that. She wanted to give him that.
Her body shivered again as she twisted her ring around her finger, conflicting emotions clashing within her, guilt and desire both settling uneasily within her.
She wanted to support Robin, to help him and feel his need of her. She’d wanted it since the first day he’d hired her, since the first time she’d seen his shoulders relax at the sight of her dancing and she’d wanted it more with each time she’d seen a small smile break out across the tactician’s face, his tensions eased. Being around him, seeing clearly how hard he worked for everyone else’s sake and knowing that, even in just her own small way, she could help him… It was everything she’d ever wanted, filling the hole she’d felt within her ever since the Shepherds had broken up.
Robin had always been the only Shepherd as crucial as Chrom, he was one of the most important men in the world. His work was vital, far more than what any of the rest of them were doing. And… And she could help him. She could be the pillar that held him up, the support he needed.
Unfortunately, acknowledging her newfound desires didn’t bring her any peace. Tossing in place as thoughts of the tactician surfaced uncontrollably, Olivia’s heart again clenched tight with guilt, about what she’d done, about what she’d said, about… about the shocked look on his face as her dance had turned sensual.
‘N-No!’ Her mind reeled, eyes shooting wide as she remembered just how stunned he’d been. ‘Oh! Oh no… Naga, w-was that his…his first time?’
She almost couldn’t believe it. Not after everything he’d done to her, how good it had felt in his arms and how often his name had been ripped raw from her throat… but then, she was hardly one to judge sexual experience, her only other partner had been Gregor and he hadn’t been a virgin.
‘It, it had to be.’ When else would Robin have slept with anyone? While the rest of the Shepherds had slowly paired up, he’d always remained alone, even when Lucina and Morgan had joined their squad, he’d never had anyone. Even when they’d spent time in a city and the single men had snuck off to a brothel, she’d never heard about their tactician being among them.
‘I stole his first time...’ She concluded heavily, she’d thoughtlessly snatched away something priceless from him, something he should have shared with the woman he loved. Robin was such a kind, caring man…no doubt he’d thought about that, about how he’d wanted his first time to be- even if not, surely he’d wanted more from it than her just suddenly pushing him back into his chair at work!
‘B-But…’ She added hesitantly, carefully recalling the tactician’s admission so many days ago. ‘But, didn’t he say…couldn’t he have meant, th-that he loves…me?’
“Argh!” Biting hard down on her lips, Olivia threw that thought angrily from her head, furious at herself for thinking it as much as the small burst of happiness that rose within her when she did. She was married! She’d already made her choice and it hadn’t been Robin. ‘What happened, it was just, it was a mis…’
And again, her thoughts trailed painfully to nothing. It wasn’t a mistake, it wasn’t a slip or a late night impulse…she couldn’t deny it. Her dance had shown it as clear as anything she’d ever felt.
She wanted him.
Gods, she wanted him so badly.
Even now, lying with her eyes clenched tightly closed, even now her pussy throbbed with wanton desire- a flame had been lit within her and a need she’d never felt before now pulsed thick through her core. Even despite her guilt and regret, she couldn’t possibly doubt it.
Somehow, in some way, Robin had marked her as his. Without even meaning to and through no fault of his own…he’d stolen her. He’d made her his woman.
“Why… How…”
It didn’t make any sense! Clenching her hands into a tiny fist, she pressed her ring cold into her cheek, if anything she could belong to Gregor! She was his wife, didn’t that mean she was also his woman!? She didn’t want to hurt him, she’d married him, she loved him. She loved Gregor!
‘No, I just… I can’t. I don’t want this!’
None of this was okay, none of it was alright. She wasn’t allowed to feel this way. She wouldn’t let herself feel this way.
“Gregor…” She whispered piteously into the empty night.
If only her husband had been here, perhaps she would be able to make sense of this, perhaps then it would be easier to ignore the ache inside her, the urge to return to Robin’s room, to submit herself to him and be engulfed in his desire once more. But he wasn’t. She didn’t know where Gregor was and had no idea when she’d even see him again.
Turning to her side she huddled even tighter into a ball. “What should I...what do I do?” Unfortunately no answers came. There was no easy solution, no easy way of easing her guilt, of facing her betrayal.
She had work again tomorrow, was she going to see Robin? “Naga…” How could she possibly face him after tonight? After what she’d done to him? Even just thinking about it terrified her! What would she possibly say to him!? How would… How would she just…
Again no answers came. And so, tossing and turning, with her mind running in terrible circles, the night passed agonisingly slowly for Olivia.
Hours passed and still she remained wide awake, from shock as much as shame. Even when the dawn’s light started to break through her windows, still she was granted no pace.
“It’s just… just one time. Just an infatuation.” She whispered aloud sometime shortly after daybreak, as if saying the words aloud would make them true.
She couldn’t deny her attraction to Robin, but, even as powerful as the desire was, it was still something that had only occurred suddenly within her, in response to his new presence in her life. She’d loved Gregor for years, a sudden rush of affection for the tactician couldn’t possibly compare to that.
Twisting the ring around her finger, she slowly forced herself to gain a measure of conviction. “I need to…to get myself under control.” That was all there was to it, it was simple. She was married. She loved Gregor and loved Inigo, they were her family. That was all that mattered. It was final.
“And then.” A terrifying fear gripped her. “I’ll tell Gregor.” She would explain everything, what she’d done, why she’d done it, the loneliness she’d felt. As soon as she saw him again, as soon as he was sober, she would throw herself on her knees and confess everything. Every ill thought, every ill feeling, that was the only way she could possibly atone.
And… And she couldn’t see Robin again. Not until she knew she was safe, that she knew she wouldn’t slip up again. After her sleepless night she was hardly in any condition to show up at work today anyway.
Her eyes turned wistfully toward the breaking sun at that thought. He would be awake soon, no doubt he’d be waiting for her… She’d abandoned him last night, leaving him again now, forsaking him to working alone in that lonely office… It was a painful thought. Robin had done so much to her, the thought of hurting him was a terrible one. She would need to apologise to him too.
‘Tomorrow, I’ve got practice.’
Today, she would just…just stay away. Then tomorrow she would be busy dancing with the Ylissean Exalted. That was two days to herself, two days to get everything back under control.
‘He won’t, he won’t say anything.’ Not unless she did at least, he was too much of a gentleman for that. Even if he did want to…even if he did have feelings for her, if she never said anything about what they’d done, she knew he wouldn’t push the issue. To each other at least, they would both pretend it had never happened.
“Urgh.” With her mind now resolved, there wasn’t a lot left to think about. And so Olivia found herself left still uncomfortably awake, still unable to sleep as her mind twisted back around to thoughts of the tactician. “Mmghaa...” Twisting herself around and burying her head under her pillow, she tried her best not to think about the growing heat between her legs, a strong pulse of warmth she could feel within her each time she remembered his touch.
This wasn’t good. She needed to get over Robin, that meant she needed to stop thinking about him, to get him off her mind!
Trying to think about dancing didn’t help.
Stretching out didn’t help.
Biting her fingers didn’t help.
“Uhmaa…”
Slipping out of bed and wrapping his cloak tight around her again helped a little.
“Mm-Mhgaaa. Ah-hahmmm.”
Falling back onto her mattress, inhaling his scent and plunging her fingers frantically into her aching pussy helped a little more.
“Robin…”
With shaking hips, heaving breasts and guilty moans, time passed slowly and without any peace for Olivia.
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in the royal bedchamber, a certain Ylissean Princess was having a far more enjoyable morning.
“W-Wait, Lissa.” Maribelle gasped weakly, squirming away from her friend’s seeking hands and retreating further across the room. “W-We, we can’t.”
“We can.” Lissa answered decisively, chasing after the troubadour and sliding her arms firmly back around her waist- pushing her breasts softly against the noblewoman and laying her lips warm against her neck. “We can. We just haven’t.”
“B-But, but…” Standing facing a wall, Maribelle had nowhere left to run, nowhere left to escape as Lissa’s fingers danced a sensuous movement up her sides, undoing her neckerchief and dropping her collar to the floor. “W-We’re both married.”
“I don’t care.” At some point she would have. Not anymore. Now she was far more concerned with kissing deeper down her friend’s exposed shoulders, with feeling her body shuddering in her arms.
“But, w-” Gasping aloud, Maribelle’s breath suddenly hitched as Lissa brought her right hand back down, sliding it under her shirt and pressing it warm against her bare stomach. “B-But, we’re… We’re both women…”
It was improper. They were a noblewoman and a princess. At some point Lissa would have cared.
“That doesn’t matter, none of that stuff matters.” She answered, not bothering to hide the breathless anticipation in her voice as she pushed herself even harder against her friend, wrapping one arm tight around her waist and using her other to flick open the buckle atop her trousers. “The only thing I care about right now, is you.”
“I- Ahnh, Lissa, darling...”
“I’ll stop.” Lissa promised, whispering the words into Maribelle’s soft white skin as she carefully pushed her hand into her friend’s soaked panties. “If you don’t want this.”
Shoving a hand in her mouth, desperately biting back a deep moan, Maribelle could do nothing to stop her body trembling against Lissa’s touch, nothing at all about the way her hips slid instinctively forward, pressing herself greedily into the other woman’s touch.
“I’ll stop.” She repeated, kissing loving back up the troubadour’s shoulder she rocked her fingers lovingly back and forth over the soaked entrance. “If you tell me, this isn’t what you want.”
Even as she spoke the words, even as she held herself back, Lissa couldn’t keep the excited smile from her face. Any doubts about her friend’s desires had already been long banished by the feeling of her body, soft and smooth, shivering nervously in her arms. They’d both thought about this. They’d both dreamed about this. They both wanted this.
Again and again, Maribelle’s mouth opened, but no words came out, nothing but shaky breaths and half-stifled gasps.
Until, finally…just as Lissa was kissing back up her neck, she saw her friends arms reach out, bracing herself against the wall as her body relaxed, loosening herself into the princess’s soft embrace with a quiet moan.
“Maribelle…” She breathed, her heart skipping a beat as she leaned forward, pushing their bodes tighter together and pressing her fingers carefully into, ensuring she had her full acceptance.
“Ahn, hnghaa.” Her moans escaped freely now, quietly at first, but louder by the second. “I-Ah, Li-Lissa! My, my treasure… Hahngg!”
“D-Do you like it?” Lissa asked hesitantly, pulling her hand back and gently pressing into Maribelle’s clit. “I, I want you to feel good.”
“A-AH! AUNNNG!” Groaning out a deep, guttural moan, Maribelle’s arms collapsed instantly. Falling against the wall, propped up only by her elbows, she couldn’t even begin to respond. “N-Nngaa, ha-haaa.”
“It’s, it’s good right?” Lissa grinned, rolling the small bulb carefully under her fingers, just as Tharja had done to her, all those times with Robin.
Moaning loudly into her arms, Maribelle didn’t even try verbalise a response, watching as the noblewoman threw her head from side to side, Lissa could feel her entire body shuddering from the pleasure, her gasps coming louder and louder, and her hips pushing back, instinctively, against her touch.
Holding her friend so tightly, with her own nipples- rock hard through her light dress, grinding back and forth across Maribelle’s back with each movement, each time their bodies slid together, Lissa felt closer to her friend than she’d ever felt before. She could feel everything. Every moan. Every gasp. Every shudder.
She could feel her friend’s fast building pleasure, and even the final note of resistance within her, a last, tiny, doubt.
“Don’t hold back.” She ordered, moaning unabashedly as she felt her excitement growing even higher, pushing her soft breasts even harder into the other woman’s back. “Just, just enjoy it.”
“L-Lissa! G-Gods, I-I, I!” Only barely able to force the words out, Maribelle’s body suddenly arched back, pulled from the wall with a scream as the pleasure became more than she could fight.
“Maribelle!” Lissa cried in return, squeezing tight to her friend and, in a moment of inspiration, rolled her hand forward, pressing her palm against her clit and forcefully driving two fingers into her friend’s throbbing entrance- pushing them forward, as hard, as deep as she could.
“Ghha-” Moaning without restraint, completely unable to resist the incredible feelings slamming into her, Maribelle’s hips shook desperately against the princess’s fingers one final time. “GHNHUAAAAA!”
Feeling the troubadour’s entire body suddenly rigid in her arms, her head thrown back with a wanton cry and her pussy clenching, hard, around her fingers, Lissa finally relaxed. “Mmmmm.” She sighed, moaning happily as she felt all the strength flowing from her friend’s body, pulling her lovingly into her arms, she kept her friend from collapsing to the ground in a dizzy heap.
“Ahm, ahha… Lissa, darling.” Maribelle breathed, her body shivering with blissful aftershocks as she allowed herself to lean comfortably into the princess’s embrace. “I, I don’t know what to say…”
“You, you don’t need to say anything.” She answered, returning her lips gently to the noblewoman’s neck, brushing a light kiss along her skin. “I just… I didn’t want to wait any longer, not if you felt the same.”
There was more to say, more she needed to explain, but the words slipped away and Maribelle didn’t push her, so they stood silently together, content and comfortable, savouring the shared warmth and affection.
Basking in the pleasant afterglow, with Lissa laying soft kisses along Maribelle’s shoulders and the noblewoman’s fingers interlinking in turn with the princess’s…it was several minutes before she spoke again.
“I just… I always thought, if I was ever with a woman, that it would be you.” Lissa admitted softly, a tiny pang of guilt forcing her to explain her actions. “But it, that didn’t happen.” Instead, beyond anything she’d ever expected, the first woman to touch had had been Tharja. It wasn’t something she regretted, she’d enjoyed every moment spent shared with the dark mage and the tactician. But it had been a surprise none the less, it had opened her eyes.
“So, I wanted, at least, to make sure that your first time… That it was with me.”
“Lissa.” Breaking their hands apart, Maribelle pulled out of the princess’s grip.
“A-Ah!” She gasped, stumbling back a step in surprise as her friend suddenly whirled around, freezing her in place with the intensely serious look in her deep brown eyes. “I-I’m sorry, w-was that selfi-Mmmph!?”
Throwing her arms around Lissa’s neck, Maribelle dove forwards, yanking the surprised cleric into her arms and pressing their lips, soft and wet, hungrily together.
Eyes shooting wide at the sudden embrace, for a moment, Lissa was too shocked to even react. But, only for a moment. “Mmmph…” Opening her mouth to her friend’s gently seeking tongue, Lissa relaxed eagerly into her arms, closing her eyes and leaning deeper into the embrace.
Kissing Maribelle was… It was different, like nothing she’d felt before. Her friend’s body was so soft and smooth against hers, her hands were so gentle around her neck… And her lips, her tongue, even the way she kissed- deeper for a moment, then pulling back, it was almost teasing. ‘Gods!’ She gasped, moaning weakly as she felt the troubadour’s large breasts pushing against her own, their nipples rubbing together even through their clothes.
Maribelle took the initiative this time, acting without a word as she eased Lissa back toward the wall, hiking up her dress and running a hand up the inside of the princess’s slender legs.
“Ahhma-” Not pausing even to comment on Lissa’s lack of underwear, she pressed a finger instantly against the cleric’s soaking pussy… “AHHNG!”
Deepening the kiss, with a renewed hunger, Maribelle sank the digit slowly inside, impatiently joining it with another barely a second later.
“Ahnng, M-M-Maribelle!” Lissa gasped, breaking away and sucking in a shaky breath as the noblewoman began smoothly rocking her hand back and forth, scraping her fingertips alongside the roof of Lissa’s inner walls. “H-HUuuuaaah!”
Whatever she lacked in experience, Maribelle more than made up for in sheer adoration. Pressing their bodies even tighter together, her breasts pushing hot into Lissa’s own, she moved her lips down the cleric’s neck, sucking hard along her shoulder, mimicking all the sensations she’d received only minutes ago.
“A-AH-AHMM!” Lissa moaned, throwing her head from side to side as she slowly grew accustomed to the pleasure, her pussy clenching wonderfully around her friend’s slim fingers.
It was good.
‘Gods.’
It was so good!
“H-AHhaaa…” And yet, even as she felt the pleasure building inside her, even as she felt her hips shaking against Maribelle’s touch… There was something else…something not quite… As if something was missing? “Hnghaaa.”
And then, just as that feeling was disappearing, just as she was feeling the peak within her slowly rising…
“Well now.” A confident voice from across the room suddenly snapped the mood. “You two look like you’re having fun.”
“W-Wha?”
“A-Ah!?”
Yelping in surprise, both women fell away from each other, stumbling apart and turning, wide eyed, to where the Shepherd’s tactician was grinning arrogantly back at them, sitting bare naked on the end of the princess’s bed.
“Robin!” Lissa cried, taking Maribelle’s hand in hers and sauntering over to the man with a husky grin. “I was waiting for you!”
And suddenly, everything felt complete. Biting her lip as her eyes trailed to his erection, standing long and thick before her, suddenly she knew exactly what had been missing.
“AhmMM!” She groaned, pulling Maribelle into her back and wrapping her hands around her waist as she settled herself into Robin’s lap, his hands taking hold of her hips as she held his cock against her entrance, feeling his cockhead already spreading her lips wide. “G-Gods…”
Maribelle’s fingers had been loving and gentle inside her, the affection and love she’d felt from her closest friend had been wonderful. But, there was an ache inside her, for more…to feel her pussy wrapped tight around his thick shaft, to feel his length buried deep inside her, to feel filled in a way only Robin could provide.
“Robin.”
But that wasn’t all. Squeezing her friend’s hands with a smile, she understood.
“I-Ah, I also want to see, to see you fuck Maribelle.”
She’d seen it in Tharja, time and again, the sheer bliss on the mage’s face, her unrestrained joy, every time Robin had taken her. She’d felt it herself, no less intently, the ache within her, a small crackling fire that called out for his touch. She wanted to see that same look on Maribelle’s face and see the same lust in her eyes. She wanted to share that with her friend, she wanted to share him with her friend.
But first…
“G-GHHAA!” Lowering her hips impatiently, pussy opened wide around his cockhead, sinking down and eagerly accepting him inside her. “Annggh…”
‘G-Gods!’
She was already so excited! She’d already been so worked up! Just feeling him like this was more than enough. ‘I-It’s go-Gods! I’m, I’m going to! To!’
“ANHNHUG-”
Thrusting her hips an inch off the bed, Lissa’s eyes shot open in pleasure, the world swimming into focus around her as her peak ripped through her.
“-NHGHNnnng… H-Huh?”
Blinking in confusion, she slumped weakly back down onto her bed, sinking into the mattress. Lying there in a daze, as her vision slowly adjusted to the morning sunlight, it took a moment for things to fall into place.
She was in bed? Under the bedsheets even.
And she was alone? Lon’qu had already left for the day.
And… She currently had three fingers of her buried inside her!? Blushing, she pulled them out, staring in disbelief at the juices now running down her hand-that had never happened before.
‘That was, a dream?’ Of course. It had moved so fast, and some parts of it hadn’t even made sense. Still… ‘It was so…vivid.’
Rolling lethargically over to her side, she stretched herself out. Most of the details were already evaporating from her mind, lost in the morning light… Except… “Auugh!” She groaned, except for, one particular detail.
I want to see you fuck Maribelle.
“Auuugh!” She repeated, throwing her head to the side. “No! I did, I did not say that! It was, just a stupid dream!”
She felt guilty just thinking about it! She couldn’t even imagine what her friend would say if she really ever had said something like that! ‘She’d be outraged, she’d probably, she’d probably DIE of outrage!’
“Auuaa... Sorry Maribelle.” She whimpered, trying, for the sake of her friendship to push the entire dream from her mind.
It wasn’t exactly the first time she’d dreamed about the troubadour, but previously it had always just been small snippets of intimacy, it had been innocent, sweet… Never had her dreams been so vivid, so wanton… Never had she woken, feeling so satisfied.
“Gah!” She cried again, forcefully cancelling that thought as well as she buried her head under her pillow, trying to pretend none of it had ever happened.
Somehow, she knew. She just knew. This was all Tharja’s fault.
---------------------------------***********************---------------------------------
“Hmmm.”
It was almost midday and Olivia still hadn’t arrived.
Having estimated it would take her between two to five days to return, her absence wasn’t exactly unexpected. Still, even if it had only been an outside chance she’d give in so easily, he had thought it would have been nice to see her this morning.
Or at least, he had, until now.
“Hmm.” He hummed again, steepling his head in his hands and peering curiously across his desk to where the Ylissean Wing Commander was staring dully into space.
Right now, with Cordelia in an uncharacteristic state of disarray, the dancer’s absence actually seemed like a small moment of serendipity. She was ostensibly here to deliver her weekly report, something that usually led to the two of them spending time together as friends, he doubted she’d be dropping her guard so visibly if there was anyone but him around.
“Cordelia.” He spoke up finally, his brows furrowed further when he saw her jumping at his words, completely lost in thoughts. “Let’s put all this aside for a moment.”
“Huh?” She blinked, her mouth puckering into a cute look of surprise when he pushed her report to the side of his desk. “Er, ah, is something wrong?”
“I can’t remember the last time I saw you so distracted.” He answered simply, offering an easy smile as he leant back, creating space between them. “Are you okay? Is there something on your mind?”
“What? No, I’m… I’m…” Her words trailed off in embarrassment. “I just, it’s only…”
Wincing, she tried and failed to speak again, fidgeting in her seat and dropping her gaze uncomfortably to the floor.
Frowning, Robin sat back, crossing his arms but remaining silent, Cordelia was a careful, considerate woman, he knew better than to try force a difficult topic from her. Even if it was one she was clearly wracked with. Instead he simply watched as her entire body slowly tensed up, her fists clenching and breathing turning shallower.
Seconds turned into minutes before she spoke again.
“I shouldn’t…” She whispered, the words were brittle, as if smothered in a million regrets, a thousand angers all held back by propriety and station.
She shouldn’t speak, she should say silent, she shouldn’t say anything. Propriety and station. Cordelia was a true knight, she had lived by those ideals all her life.
“Cordelia.” He breathed, finding himself suddenly stricken by her silent distress as a painful trepidation welled up within him. Was this like Olivia again? Had he really missed another of his friends being deeply troubled? Did he really miss so much? Was he really so oblivious to the pain of those closest to him!? “Please.”
Thankfully, even with everything that had happened and all the time that had passed, one fact remained true among all Shepherds. They trusted him. She trusted him.
“It’s… It’s just…” Finally looking up to him he saw her face mired in conflicting emotions, anger and fear rushing across her eyes equally. And, as the words pressed slowly from her lips, she hesitated one final moment, all the tension, all the worry building up inside her, crashing around like a storm- screaming for release. “I-I’m going on a date tomorrow. With Ricken.”
“Oh?” Robin blinked, taken aback. That was unexpected. Ricken was Severa’s father and Cordelia’s apparent husband in the ruined future, but, in this timeline at least, they’d never seemed all that close. The frustrated look on his friend’s face at that admission certainly didn’t do anything to change that impression.
“Severa came back a few days ago, and, and we had dinner together last night. All three of us.” Her words came out in clipped tones, the need to explain finally overcoming her self-control. “She invited him around and I thought, well, that it’d be nice… I mean, we haven’t seen her in so long and I know he worries about her just as I do, and… and then he just asked me! Right in the middle of dinner!”
Robin nodded, no doubt the question had been at Severa’s prompting. He knew she’d been trying to encourage her father to push things along with Cordelia, even before she left. He also had a sneaking suspicion that her unease about interfering was why she left so often.
Grimacing, Cordelia’s entire body seemed to coil up, her muscles becoming taut as a stormy look took over her face. “And, o-of course, I accepted. I couldn’t just… Not…not with her looking at me like that, she-she looked so happy.”
Turning uncomfortably away from him the moment her story finished, her eyes returned to the floor, burning a hole in the floorboards as she shifted awkwardly in her seat. “I do want her to be happy.” She added almost silently. “She deserves that, at the very least.”
“Well I can understand why that would be…difficult.” He probed carefully, feeling around in the dark and trying to put herself in her shoes. He was still missing something here. “But, is it really that bad? I thought you and Ricken always got on fairly well?”
This wasn’t the first time Cordelia had complained about Ricken to him, but it had never been more than a passing comment, no more than the same objective criticism she had for anyone else. She’d never said a word that’d given him pause before… Had she always been holding back, all this time? Even if they hadn’t had much of an official relationship together, she and Ricken had always at least been civil to one another, he’d paired them together time and again during the last war and he’d never once heard of any problems arising between them.
‘Ah…But…’ Frowning, Robin re-considered that last point. ‘I paired them together. I expected them to spend time together…’ Had he done that before…before Severa?
Of course not. Only just now did he realise, he’d given into the exact same assumptions so many of their friends made (albeit correctly) about him and Lucina- that simply because of their shared future, they would somehow get together. As if it was preordained.
He’d never even thought about it, never seriously considered either of them with anyone else… Even despite their vast differences in age and personality, nor even the fact that they’d spent the last year living and working separately following the war. He, and assumedly most of the other Shepherds, their entire peer group, thought of Ricken and Cordelia as practically a couple already.
Only now, watching in pure surprise as the resolute Wing Commander’s arms wrapped tight around herself, her strength suddenly seeming so brittle, only now did he remember just how shocked they had been at Severa’s arrival- at the idea of two people who’d at best spoken a handful of non-work related sentences to each other being married.
“No, no of course not.” She laughed lightly, her words pulling him from his realisation as she shook her head, offering him a wan smile. “Forgive me, you’re right, of course. One date? It’s not a big deal at all. It was, well, I suppose it was just a little overwhelming to be asked so suddenly, ha-aha.”
Her voice was light and clear, without a single trace of hollowness or anger, yet, as she spoke he could see the light in her eyes had turned dull. Cordelia was, Chrom aside, one of the strongest, most self-assured people he knew, just seeing her like this was maddening.
“I’ve missed something, haven’t I?”
“Wh-What? Oh, n-”
“Please.” Leaning forward he interrupted her attempt to wave his concerns away, making no attempt to disguise the unsettling worry growing within him. “I, I’m sorry, obviously I’ve misspoken or said something I shouldn’t have. Please, tell me. What’s wrong?”
She didn’t meet his gaze.
“It’s not as if spending time with him would put you under any kind of obligation.” He continued softly, speaking his rationale aloud to her silence. “And, he is Severa’s father, surely you want to get on with him?”
Sucking in a shaky breath, still she didn’t answer. This time however, Robin didn’t miss the way her eyes strayed to the far side of the room, to where his door was shut behind them, a small gesture of privacy.
It was hardly the most pleasant hint to receive and did nothing to ease his worry, but right now, anything was welcome. “Cordelia.” He breathed, getting her attention and raising his hands in the air, making a show of visibly activating all his silencing wards. “There’s more to this, isn’t there?”
They were alone now, truly alone… and, slowly, ever so gently, Robin could see a small fire alighting in the Pegasus Knight’s eyes. A distant anger? A painful guilt? There was something important here, something that’d gripped tight at her for some time, something she was never meant to speak aloud but that she couldn’t bear to keep silent for another moment.
“Why is it so bad spending time with Ricken? Even before we met Severa, we’d both known him for years. He’s a good man, he’s a hero.”
“Tch.”
Scowling, finally Cordelia reacted, shaking her head with a derisive snort.
“A hero? Really? Is that how you see him?”
“Wha-?”
“Chrom’s a hero. You’re a hero. The two of you fought together on the front times, every day for three wars!” She answered, spreading her hands in exasperation. “I saw you myself, I was right there with you, every step of the way, for so many years.”
Her eyes were blazing now.
“And Ricken, where was he? …Robin, you barely trusted him to guard our camp supply lines.”
Wincing, he reeled back, stumbling for a way to deny her words. “Well, he was, he was… You know that he…” There wasn’t much he could say.
“You didn’t bring him with us to fight Grima.” She finished simply. “I know it wasn’t Chrom who decided our roles.”
“I…” Again, Robin’s words died in his throat.
Grima had been their ultimate enemy, a challenge like no other, their greatest foe imaginable. He couldn’t have possibly risked taking any but their absolute best soldiers to face down the Fell Dragon. He’d invented a reason at the time, an excuse to justify a rear-guard, a job to keep his weaker fighters away from the fight without injuring their pride.
But, caught now in Cordelia’s hard gaze, he couldn’t even remember what that lie had been. All he knew was the same simple truth she saw- He had been there, Chrom had been there, she and Severa had been there. Ricken had not.
“I G-Gods, I mean, he wasn’t- Cordelia, it wasn’t like that. Ricken did, he did his best.”
“He ignored orders. He skived out of duties that didn’t interest him…he spent as much time looking after the camp as he did playing around.” She added, her voice strong against his weak assurance. “He was… He was just a kid.”
Robin’s teeth clenched automatically at her words, an unspoken truth and a cold, bitter, acknowledgement. Those words were almost a taboo, they both knew how deeply Ricken hated that label... Yet, even so, there was no denying how appropriate it was.
“It’s not the same as in, in the original timeline.” Cordelia finished, slumping back into her seat as the frustration inside her was finally released and Robin knew, just from looking at her, that despite the harshness of her words, she didn’t mean any of the venom behind them. She had no dislike of Ricken, only of her situation.
“Yeah.” He answered quietly, his mind slowly turning over her words as he slowly accepted what Cordelia must have known for so long. That, of all the changes both Lucina and Grima had made to history, perhaps the greatest of all was simply that the events had been vastly accelerated. What had originally taken place over more than a decade had this time happened in less than half that, three wars and a world entirely reshaped in barely a handful of years.
And, because of that acceleration, Ricken- the child that had joined them, younger than any other Shepherd, had been almost left behind. In the original timeline, he’d had many long years of peace before the Valmese war, enough time to calm down, to mature and to ultimately win Cordelia’s affection. But, this time…
“Gods. I’ll never forget it, the day Severa joined.” She breathed, the confession coming without a thought now as she rolled her gaze towards the ceiling, replaying the events in her head. “You know, I’d actually spent half that morning chasing him down. He’d been playing some, some game with Nowi and they’d wound up destroying almost an entire cart of rations! More than two weeks’ worth of supplies. He was such a mess when I finally caught him, he was practically in tears. I actually wound up promising not to tell Chrom what he’d done, so long as he cleaned up the mess.
“And then...and then, we met Severa, and by the end of the day the entire camp was practically planning our wedding.” She laughed, it was the same bitter, mournful laugh Robin had heard from her once before. His heart shuddered painfully at the sound. “Gods, it was, it was like a joke. I couldn’t believe it.”
“I never, I never knew.” He breathed, his words coming shakily as his mind filled in the gaps- it had been more than two years since Severa had joined them, she had kept this to herself the entire time. “Naga.”
“I never… I never knew.” He whispered, scarcely even able to imagine what it must have felt like for her- to have gone from scolding Ricken like a child, to suddenly having everyone expecting her to marry him, in the space of a few hours. His fists clenched involuntarily at the thought, it had been more than two year since Severa had joined them and he’d never even once considered this, he’d never once noticed how uncomfortable Cordelia must have been. She’d kept it to herself all this time and he had never even noticed. “Naga.”
“It was a shock.” She admitted, her explanation coming slower now. “It was as if everything had suddenly changed. I was, I had been doing better… Lucina had been born a few months before and I’d been making an effort, getting over Chrom, letting him go, j-just like you said. I was talking to other guys, I was spending time with them, I was- I really felt like I was moving on.”
Closing his eyes, Robin just nodded. He could see now where she was going and he could see well his own part in it.
“I was, I was happy.” She paused, the wistful words echoing softly around the room. “And then, suddenly, it was like… It was like there was something wrong with me. All the men started keeping their distance, no-one wanted to do anything with me, none of them were interested in me anymore… Stahl, Gregor, Frederick, even you. We used to talk all the time, after the wedding, even when you were busy, you always made sure we at least shared a patrol or two… I thou-I thought we were really close. And then, I suddenly, I barely saw you, not until… Well, until the last few months recently.”
Not until his job had made it almost mandatory that he spend time with her, when they’d fallen back comfortably into their old comradery. Robin’s heart clenched again. All this time and he hadn’t noticed.
“We never-I never meant to hurt you, Cordelia. I swear. I just…” Now that his actions had been so thoroughly pointed out to him, his justification seemed flimsy. “I just wanted to give the two of you space.”
“I know and, I understand. I don’t, it’s not as if I blame you.” She answered, the small smile she offered assuring him she held no grudge against him. “Naga, it’s not as I was any better. I didn’t even realise I was doing it at first, but we all did the same to you when Morgan arrived didn’t we?”
Robin blinked, completely surprised by her sympathy. ‘Had they?’ He’d been too happy at the time to have even noticed.
“So, y-you understand me? Don’t you?” Her gaze shifted slightly in uncertainty. “You know what it’s like? I feel, I… Gods, it’s as if, as if I’ve been promised to him.”
She grimaced terribly, her entire body tensing in on itself once more. “As if, as if I belong to him.”
“Cordelia…”
“A-And, and, everyone’s just fine with it! Everyone just expects me to go along with it, they’re all…they’re all so happy for me. He’s even fine with it! He told me, after the war, he was going to grow up into a man I could be proud of! Gods, the other week, for his birthday, he even tried to kiss me!”
“Eh? Really?” Somehow, even aside from all the other shocks their conversation had held, that one stood out. He’d never thought Ricken would be quite that bold.
“Well… ah, Ricken has always been rather short…” She explained, the mood finally breaking as a tiny, cheeky smile slipped onto her face. It was at least funny in hindsight. “I just pretended not to notice, I didn’t want to cause a scene.”
“I’m sorry.” Robin repeated uselessly. “I never realised, I never knew things were so… I’m sorry, I really am.”
Knowing the love he had for Lucina and joy that Morgan brought into their lives, he’d never truly considered what it would be like for Cordelia or for Nowi, to abruptly have the idea of marriage, of a life-partner thrust on them. He’d accepted, intellectually, that it was an uncomfortably awkward situation, but he’d still…he’d always just assumed it would work out. Just as it had for them in the future.
But the future was different, they’d changed it. Now Cordelia probably even resented the very idea of marrying Ricken simply from feeling pressured into it.
“I know it mustn’t feel like it, but I’m sure he… There’s no way he’d ever want you to feel like this.” Ricken was still a good man, he might be naïve but there wasn’t a single drop of malice in him. “He would never want you to feel forced into anything.”
“I know.” She sighed, twisting her hands around themselves. “I don’t… I don’t blame him. I just… It’s, it’s difficult.”
Robin nodded, he was quickly beginning to appreciate just how difficult it was. Everyone she knew was expecting her to start a relationship with a man she didn’t love. Someone who was many years younger than her, who was practically a boy with a crush.
He sighed. That’s what made it worse. If Ricken had been as apprehensive as her, then at least they could work through the awkwardness together. Unfortunately, to someone as desperate to prove himself as Ricken, the thought of being married to someone like Cordelia, having a family with someone so graceful, so heroic and so beautiful...it must have seemed like a dream come true, the proof he would attain all the respect he’d always craved. He was probably as infatuated with the idea of being married, of being an adult with a family, as he was with Cordelia herself.
“It’s fine, really.” Again, her words pulled him from his troubled thoughts as she turned to him, her eyes imploring his understanding. “I mean, i-it’s the same for you, isn’t it?”
Robin’s eyes shot wide, suddenly realising what Cordelia had truly come here for, why she was finally opening herself to him specifically.
“Tell me, am I just, just being selfish?”
Unfortunately, he couldn’t offer her the reassurance she sought. “It’s true that our situations are similar, everyone does seem to expect me to marry Lucina, to have a family with her and Morgan. But, I… I’m sorry, Cordelia, I don’t think I’m the right person to advise you on this.”
“You are!” She bit back, her eyes shining now once more, only this time blazing with the same unwavering trust she’d held for him, the belief she’d had in his words for so long now.
“I mean, you must be.” She finished, flushing lightly as she favoured him a soft smile. “You always have been, you’ve always been the one to help me. You’re the only one who tells me what I need to hear. Even before the wedding, when everyone was worried about me, you were the only one wh-”
“Cordelia.” He tsked, interrupting her with a shake of his head. “Come now, that’s ancient history. I’ve long since forgotten that conversation.”
“Robin, please.” She pressed, gathering the scraps of her courage as pushed for his judgement. “Tell me. Th-that I’m just being a child, that I just don’t like being told what I should do and I need to grow up. Ricken will… He’ll become the man I love, won’t he? And, and, Severa, she deserves her family, she deserves to have everything she lost. Everyone would be happier, I would be happy, w-wouldn’t I?”
He grimaced.
“Robin, tell me… Tell me I’m just being selfish.”
“I...I can’t trust my answer to that.”
“Wha-Huh?”
Hesitating for a long moment, Robin withdrew back into himself. He knew, as he always did, that this was a crucial moment. His mind accessed a thousand possibilities, a million distinct outcomes, but always he returned to the same fact- to the truth she needed to know, the secret he’d sworn to keep.
The words burned hot on his lips, and as they did so, his thoughts raced ahead, mapping out the remainder of their conversation, what she would say and how he would answer.
And slowly, over the course of a single instant, a plan unfolded before him.
His analytical mind reeled. It was foolish. Risky beyond measure and a complete betrayal of his previous plan. He already knew which two remaining Shepherds he would target, going after any more than that was risking discovery, it was far too dangerous. No tactician could possibly approve.
And yet… ‘I can help her.’ He could finally give her the support he hadn’t realised she’d sought all these years. ‘She needs this.’ Cordelia had been a true friend, a trusted comrade for almost as long as he could remember.
‘I won’t neglect her again! Not anymore.’ His resolve turned to iron and his path was cemented. He would hold back, he would walk along the knife’s edge. If he didn’t push her towards him, if he only…only did this much, then she could as easily look toward Ricken or any other man. Surely, surely that was alright?
“I don’t trust myself, because, our situations aren’t the same. Because, as much as I sympathise with you... I also understand Ricken’s feelings.” He answered finally.
In the end, the truth came far easier than he’d expected. “Because, I love Lucina.” Perhaps he was just used to breaking promises by now.
“W-Wha?” Cordelia balked, stunned by his sudden admission. “Y-You do?”
“Yes.” He nodded solemnly. “I love her more than anything. More than I’ve ever felt for anyone else, both her and Morgan. Meeting her, my own daughter, learning about the family we must have had, that was the happiest day of my life.”
Chuckling, he ran a hand through his hair. “I even asked Lucina to marry me once. Back in Valm.”
“She…she turned you down? B-But, but you two spend so much time together! And you get on so well, you’d, I always thought you would make such a great couple!”
Calming himself, he levelled a sombre look back toward the Wing Commander. “There’s only one reason Lucina and I aren’t married. Do you know what it is?”
“I, ah…” She stared blankly at him and it was clear no answer was forthcoming.
“Because she doesn’t want to.” He answered, spreading his hands wide. “Because she doesn’t want to marry me. It’s as simple as that.”
Staring wide eyed, Cordelia’s mouth fell open, but no sound came out, instead a deep silence fell between them as she slumped heavily back in her seat, letting the weight of his words settle within her.
“I, I see.” She answered eventually, chewing on her lip as she considered his own revelations.
“She needs no other reason than that. Lucina’s been through more than enough in her lifetime, Morgan and I are both more than willing to accept whatever she’s comfortable with.”
“But…” Cordelia spoke hesitantly, looking at the situation, so similar to her own, but able to see it from an outsider’s perspective this time. “You’d be happier if she did want to, if you were married. And so would Morgan, she must feel so lost seeing the two of you apart, and, and especially without her memories.”
Folding his arms, Robin held back, putting on a façade of unease as he let her finish, waiting patiently as she reached the conclusion he’d known she would.
“And, Lucina must know you’d take care of her, of both of them, you’ve shown that clearly. You’re, you’re a good man, a hero, and I know she thinks the world of you. She’s just, she’s gone through so much, if she’s, if she’s not ready, or if she can’t…” Shaking her head, Cordelia didn’t even begin to finish that thought, she couldn’t bear to even think about Lucina being pressured into a relationship she wasn’t ready for.
Another heavy pause settled between them as the key difference in their situations, the hint he’d guided her towards, finally became clear.
“But…but, Severa’s life’s been just as hard as Lucina’s.” And hers hadn’t been. For all her complaints, for all her frustrations and romantic trouble, Cordelia had lived a good life. She’d had opportunities and happiness’s her daughter could scarcely even imagine. “She’s gone through so much, and, and she deserves to have her family back, to see herself in this timeline, the one she saved.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…” He answered, leaning over the desk with a frown. “Come now, you know better than that. What Severa wants is exactly the same as what you want- for the other to be happy. I know you’re worried about her, but she’s no different, she worries about you just as much. She would never want you to be unhappy.”
After seeing it in his own daughter, he could imagine how hard the situation had been on the time-displaced mercenary, he had a lot of respect for just how much he knew she’d held herself back from interfering in her parent’s lives. But, just like Morgan, she wasn’t perfect. There was no doubt what she wanted.
“Th-then, I should stop worrying her.” Pushing herself to her feet, Cordelia’s words were hollow, lacking even a façade of strength as she rose on trembling legs. “I’m just, just being a child, afraid of my future. I-It would make everyone else happy, a-and, I know, I’d be happy too.”
“No! That’s not what I, wait, Corde-”
“N-no, no. It’s, it’s fine. I’m fine. Thank you Robin, talking to you, it always makes things clearer.” Raising her hand to ward off his concern, it lingered in the air for a fraction of a second, as if reaching out for him… Only to be snatched away a moment later as she spun quickly in place. “I’ve, h-haha, I’ve got a lot to think about.”
She made for the door. Leaping to his feet, he followed after her.
“Cordelia.” Her name rang out around the room, but this time when he spoke it was with the aura of command, the same tone he’d worn so many times giving orders on so many battlefields. This time, Robin’s voice brooked no argument or refusal, nothing but obedience. Jolted, her body snapped suddenly into place, her back going rigid in a soldier’s instinctive response.
“Have you forgotten already?” He asked, letting his tone soften a fraction as he marched towards her. “What we fought for?”
“Wha?” Turning with a glare, her eyes shot wide, surprised to see him barely a step away from her. “What do you- Mmmph!?”
Pushing her back against the door, Robin silenced her question instantly, leaning down and wrapping himself around her, giving her not even a moment to react before capturing her lips with his own.
“Mmmha…”
Sliding his arms tight around her, one reaching behind her waist and the other around her neck, he didn’t wait, opening her mouth gently with his tongue, Robin kissed her with a sudden intensity, his tongue meeting hers as he enveloped her in a soft-burning passion beyond anything she’d imagined, an affectionate desire that instantly blew past her defences and shocked her from any possible thought.
Feeling herself melting completely into his warm embrace, Cordelia didn’t even think to resist. Moaning softly in response as he pressed closer into her, her mind faded to a comfortable blankness and her body reacted purely on instinct. Clinging to his shirt as all strength left her, she fell into his arms, closing her eyes and giving in to his surprising tenderness, letting herself be held securely between the hard wood and the tactician’s soft ardour.
Blood racing as he felt her hands tugging on his shirt, pulling him weakly against her, Robin gently deepened their kiss, sliding his hands slowly down her body before taking hold of her long, slender legs and raising her an inch off the ground, leaning harder into the beautiful Pegasus Knight as they clung to one another.
Several minutes passed like that, time slowly fading away from them as the Shepherd’s tactician and Ylisse’s Wing Commander remained locked together, their bodies softly grinding against each other and their hearts pumping faster and faster.
Eventually it was Robin that leaned back, breaking the embrace and placing his hand loving on Cordelia’s flushed cheek.
“I-I can’t tell you what to do.” He whispered, stroking a thumb gently over her face. “But, I can tell you that it’s your choice, that you have a choice. I’m not destined to marry Lucina and there’s nothing forcing you to marry Ricken. We make our own path, we make the future we want. That’s what we fought for, that’s what we believed in.”
Staring at him wide eyed, she only distantly heard his words, her mind spinning as her thoughts slowly returned, her face blazing an even deeper crimson by the moment.
“We challenged our fate, and we won. The future is whatever you wish it to be. Whatever you want.”
Smiling gently, ran his fingers through her silken red hair, waiting patiently for her response…waiting to see if she would lean forwards, if she would kiss him this time.
“I! Ah!? R-R-R-Robin!?” She stammered instead, her hands releasing his shirt as if it was made of fire and her entire body suddenly going stiff as a rod in his arms.
“That was a reminder.” He explained, releasing her and stepping back, giving her some space. “That you are wanted, Cordelia. That you can have any man you want.”
“T-Tha…Tha-Thaaa…” Still standing ramrod straight against the door, still Cordelia couldn’t get the words out. “Th-th… That wa…”
“Hmm?”
“Th-That was my, that was my first kiss!” She gasped finally, staring numb in confusion as she rose her hands to her lips, feeling where they’d been joined. “R-Robin… You’re my first, my first kiss?”
He hadn’t expected that. ‘Well, that certainly explains her reaction at least.’ He hadn’t expected her reel away from him quite so strongly, not after suddenly receiving a taste of the affection she’d felt left out from for so long.
“You were saving it for Chrom.” He answered, thinking fast.
“I, w-well, I…” Looking away, she didn’t even bother trying to deny that.
“In Severa’s time you gave it to Ricken. But this time, I’ve stolen it.” He declared, walking away and making his way back around his desk as she squirmed awkwardly in place. “Your future has already changed. Remember that.”
Cordelia looked at him. Then she looked around the room. Then she looked at the floor. Chewing on her lip and with her whole body seemingly turning red, her composure lasted almost a full three seconds before she snapped.
“I-Iv’egotta, I’m gonna, I-I’m gonna go!” She squeaked, spinning away from him and almost falling out the door as she sprinted headlong from his office.
His door was slamming shut behind her long before the tactician could even offer another word.
“H-Haahaa.” Robin grinned, slouching against his desk and taking a moment to savour the memory of her body, soft and smooth against his, even despite her armour.
---------------------------------***********************---------------------------------
Hiding down an alley to the side of the Shepherd’s barracks, Cordelia leaned heavily against the stone building, pressing her hands against where her heart felt like it was ready to burst right through her breastplate and out her chest!
‘My first! Sweet merciful Naga, th-that was my first kiss!? W-With Robin?’
Panting heavily, she couldn’t even begin to make sense of her emotions. Embarrassment, anger, frustration, bewilderment and even a small bit of joy all warred furiously through her heart.
‘I never thought it would be so…so…’
She’d thought about her first kiss a thousand times, beautiful daydreams that had comforted her for years, all the way from the doldrums of training, right through to the despair of warfare.
She’d dreamed of herself and Chrom walking hand in hand through the palace gardens, his features standing out bright and handsome in a beautiful moonlit night. She’d dreamed of his radiant smile, the way he would take her breath away, whispering sweet nothings to her as he drew her into his arms…
She’d fantasised about the Prince inviting her to a picnic in the warm afternoon sun, seen herself leaning against him, happy and content, her face blushing a light crimson as he lay her gently on the ground…
“Argh! No!”
After her talk with Robin and after Chrom’s wedding, she’d promised herself she wouldn’t think of those anymore! She’d done her best to try think about other men instead… She had even let her mind wander to the tactician himself a few times…
She’d thought maybe she might find him exhausted in his tent, that she might see the wariness fade from his eyes as he brushed a hand through her hair, the way he would smile and sigh, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her gently down to him. Or, of the two of them sharing a patrol together under the twinkling moonlight, his hand reaching for hers in a sudden impulse and all distance between them evaporating.
But she had never, ever, expected to be just…just suddenly pushed against a door! And, and, then for him to, to, practically throw himself at her!
Her first kiss! “Uaahh…” She wailed, it was meant to be romantic! She’d expected to be held gently, to be enveloped in a warm, caring love… just like she’d read about, just like she’d dreamed of so many countless times.
She should be furious! Offended beyond belief! But… But…
…But, her thoughts returned again to the kiss, and remembering the sensation now, she couldn’t possibly miss just how tenderly Robin had held her, how secure she had felt, cradled against him and held tight in his embrace.
It had been so sudden! Without even a word of warning! And yet…
‘I, I liked it?’ She conceded hesitantly, a shaky smile breaking out as she pressed her fingers against her lips once more. She’d been surprised, of course, but she hadn’t resisted, she hadn’t even thought to push him away. She hadn’t wanted to.
She swallowed heavily. ‘It felt…it felt good.’ She’d never experienced anything like that before, even in her dreams she’d never imagined what it would be like being held so firmly, or kissed so passionately. ‘It was so, so intense.’
“That was, my first kiss.” She whispered, a tiny smile breaking out involuntarily as she remembered her own actions- her tongue entwining with his, her fingers twisting around his shirt, her hips pressing instinctively against his. She’d acted without a thought, relaxing into his arms and the whole time savouring the warmth of his desire.
“Ahmm.” Cordelia sighed, her heart racing once more as she replayed the scene again and again in her mind. The fire she’d seen in his eyes when he’d taken hold of her. The warmth she’d felt running through her being lifted into his arms. The affection in his caress when he’d whispered to her.
A small shudder ran down her spine…it was all, it was all…just like something out of her stories…
‘No, n-no, I’m being silly. I should be furious! Tha-’
“Wha? Mother?”
“Ahuh?” Spinning in place, Cordelia almost toppled over in surprise as she found herself looking into a very familiar frown.
“Gawds, I thought it was you.” Severa huffed, crossing her arms under her breasts- an action that served to simultaneously accentuate her moderate bust and send a small spark of jealousy through her mother. “What are you even doing back there?”
“I wa-”
“Urgh, and you’re grinning like an idiot. Again. Bleh, Chrom just passed by, didn’t he? What, are you hiding from him?”
“N-No, no not at all.” She recovered quickly, gathering her composure as best she could and forcing herself to walk steadily toward the end of the alley. “I haven’t seen the Exalt all day. I was just, er, just thinking of a joke Sumia told me.”
Her daughter rolled her eyes but thankfully let it drop.
“Anyway,” She coughed. “I thought you were free today, what’re you doing all the way down here?”
“Nothing.” Severa looked away. “I was just bored, so I thought I might drop by, make sure Robin wasn’t doing anything stupid. Again.”
A small pause settled between them, Cordelia knew her daughter well enough to spot the half-truths from the mostly lies by now.
“Urgh.” The mercenary frowned, “And, I guess, you usually give your report now don’t you? I thought you’d want some company, or something.”
“That’s very kind of you.” She carefully held back a laugh as she saw her daughter’s scowl deepen. “And, you’re right. I just handed in my report, so I’m free for the rest of the day now. I’d love to spend some time with you! It’s been so long since we did something together, why don’t we…”
She paused, the answer came immediately, if not happily. “Why don’t we go shopping? I, well, I’m going to need a new dress.” Regardless of anything else, she still had a date tomorrow.
Watching her daughter’s eyes light up made the uncomfortable concession a little more bearable.
“Hmph, fiiiiine. I guess I can help you out.”
Reaching out and taking Severa’s hand, with her heart skipping a beat when she wasn’t rebuffed, Cordelia fell comfortably in step beside her and, for a moment, with neither having anything pressing to say, a gentle silence grew between them.
Which, of course, lead to Cordelia’s thoughts turning back to the Shepherd’s tactician, and his surprising actions. Except, this time, as she recalled again the feeling of being in his arms, a small wrinkle appeared in her thoughts. Now, with her head clear enough to process it, she couldn’t quite wrap mind around another new sensation she’d felt…namely, the hard, thick rod that had been pressed firmly against her thigh.
‘W-What was THAT!?’ She balked. ‘It-it was so, was so…’ Descriptors failed her.
An answer came within a moment.
‘No, not, it couldn’t have been his…his…’ Chewing on her lip, Cordelia found herself lacking an appropriate name. ‘His…Manhood.’
It couldn’t have been? …Could it? ‘Gods!’ Her mouth pursed into a circle at the thought. But, what else could it have been? Strangely, he hadn’t been wearing his cloak, so he couldn’t have been hiding anything. ‘No, no way.’ She was being ridiculous, it couldn’t have been. She’d felt it pressing right up to her stomach!
‘And, and Robin would never, he’s a good person!’ She’d known their tactician for years, even despite his sudden actions just now, she trusted him. ‘He said himself, it was just, just a reminder? A-Anyway, he’s not the kind of man to…to just…to just thrust himself at someone!’ That was insane, it was like something out of her romance novels.
No, it must have been something else, she concluded. Most likely he simply had a dagger in his belt she just hadn’t noticed, or a wand of some kind, that made sense. ‘Of course. How, how silly of me.’ Matter closed she shook her head violently, forcefully attempting to push the topic completely from her mind.
‘Unless…’
Unfortunately, a small, nagging, memory ruined the attempt. A memory of the words he’d spoken to her, just minutes ago, words she’d only just barely heard. That was a reminder. That you are wanted, that you can have any man you want.
‘Unless…he couldn’t help it?’
“URGH!” Again, Cordelia was suddenly jolted from her runaway thoughts. “Gawds, look at you! You’re blushing, again! And, you’re smiling, like an idiot! It’s creepy, what’s wrong with you!?”
“Ah, ahheh.”
Her words had turned out to be more true than she’d even known at the time, now, she certainly did have a lot to think about.
---------------------------------***********************---------------------------------
“Her first kiss.” Robin chuckled, shaking his head as he re-seated himself back behind his desk. “Of course it was.” It was so obvious if he actually thought about it.
Ylisse’s Wing Commander was an elite warrior, a veteran leader, a mature, serious woman…but, more than any of that, she was an absolute romantic.
“Cordelia.” He groaned, breathing out a bemused sigh. “You’re almost twenty-three…”
Most of her friends were long since married, the man she’d no doubt been saving herself for all this time even had a young child. But, of course, she, of all people, had still preserved her first kiss, her first everything no doubt. She’d probably even dreamed up some perfect event for it, something straight out of a storybook.
It was somehow a little sad and a little sweet at the same time
“Merciful Naga.” He chuckled, thinking about having taken all that from her actually left him feeling a little bad.
Of course, his ego comforted him slightly, reminding him that he’d now stolen the first kiss from four different maidens now. “Hah, I can just imagine if Inigo heard about that.” It was hardly something he’d ever imagined himself doing and, even now, he didn’t exactly want to. But, he was still a man. He couldn’t help but feel a small spark of pride at the th-
“Sir! Sir Robin!”
A loud hammering on his door quickly served to end anymore thoughts along those lines.
“Huh? Oh, yes. Come in.”
Bustling unsteadily into the room, a messenger boy he’d never met before all but thrust an envelope at him. “I- Sir! I was asked to deliver this, a message!”
Robin’s eyes narrowed, a deep frustration curdling within him the moment he saw it.
A plain brown envelope, but with a white seal.
Feeling his magic sparking within him in response to his anger, he didn’t bother hiding the scowl from his face as he took the missive and dismissed the errand boy.
‘Henry.’
He didn’t even need to read it. He knew what this meant.
One of his comrades, the Shepherd’s most unstable mage, had killed someone. Again.
---------------------------------***********************---------------------------------
A/N: And there we go! I wanted to use this chapter to show a lot more of Robin thinking on his feet. He’s not omnipotent, he can’t know or expect everything, so I wanted to show him in action handling situations he wasn’t expecting and couldn’t have prepared for.
Other than that, we have a little more fun with Olivia, but more importantly, finally! After a hundred requests, it’s time for Cordelia to step onto the stage! And Severa too!
I’ve been really looking forward to the idea for their family dynamic. I think it’s a very interesting idea, looking at just how difficult it would be to so abruptly told what your future is, what it should be. I think it’s something many people would resent, the idea of being pressured into it. And I think equally it’s something many others, would take for granted, assuming it’s just going to work out.
Really interested in any feedback around that, tell me what’cha think. I quite like Cordelia, and I know she seems a little out of her element here, but hopefully, from a romantic sense at least, she seems a little sweet (saving her very first kiss) and a little sad (isn’t she a bit old for that?).
And! Now the important part! The Lissa/Maribelle scene! This is important to me because I want to know how you guys feel about pure lesbian scenes being put in every now and then.
Responses:
Shadows: I've considered that and the outrealms will play a part in this story (particularly when Anna and her family get involved) but it may or may not happen. It's a possibility, could be a fun one though!
Yama: Honestly, I can see why you'd feel the bonus chapters are putting off the ongoing plot, however, from my perspective at least that's definitely not true. The bonus chapters are where I've done most of my worldbuilding so far. The last two previously finished off Lissa's troubles and setup Noire+Cynthia, this one's done the same for Olivia and Cordelia. Some of the girl's stories need to be told on a long enough time period that putting it in one chapter wouldn't work, so that's a big part of it.
I completely agree about the NTR though, it's not a fetish of mine at all, it's needed to make this story compelling/difficult though. So it means the world that someone who doesn't enjoy it still enjoys this. Thank you. Hahaha, good catch on Cynthia's references. Well done, you clearly got two of them, did you get the others too?
Mega: Man ever since you posted that it's been on my mind. Absolutely love the idea of Robin being able to do positions with Nah/Nowi that he couldn't with the other girls, definitely something we'll see.
Mim: Fear not, Cynthia's got a very, very important role coming up! There's a reason I didn't have her in my 2nd Generation voting poll earlier in the piece. She'll definitely get some great scenes.
Lemony Dave: Haha, I agree! I'm waiting eagerly for the Robin/Mother/Daughter scenes myself, unfortunately they need a little more setup still. But yes!
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A Change Of Tactics