Archive of Our Own

"T-There you are!" Firefly pants, hands on her knees as she regains her breath."You've really—got to stop—running away…" 

They were currently in some weirdly eerie alleyway in town. Firefly had been on the girl's tail for the past 5 minutes, before finally catching up to her. 

In all honesty, Firefly would really want to get out of this creepy place immediately—but not without what she came here in search of. 

Never would she have imagined 5 months ago that she would be in this exact predicament. But of course, she just had to pull the short end of the stick. 

"Oh? A new record this time," the girl flashes a smile, seemingly remorseless of Firefly's current state. "It only took you a minute less compared to last time." 

Firefly can't comprehend how the girl was this composed. She looked like she had barely exerted herself at all compared to Firefly—whose sweat was trickling down her face, breath coming in ragged gasps. 

"Princess—we really should head back to the castle," Firefly says, walking towards her. "It's getting dark and—" 

"Princess? Really? Firefly, you know you don't need to call me that right?" Robin teases, raising an eyebrow at Firefly. "You're no fun anymore." 

"Well, I don't think it would be fun, if his majesty got word that his little sister disappeared from the castle," Firefly huffs, annoyed. "Especially since he put me in charge of you —" 

"What, you mean Sunday? Please, he wouldn't even hurt a fly," Robin laughs. "I could always just tell him to let you off the hook you know?" 

Firefly groans. Just why was Robin so frustrating? Sure, they were already friends before this whole arrangement, but spending nearly every hour with the girl, who couldn't ever give her a break—it was starting to get on her nerves. 

"T-That's besides the point! Haven't you heard about the rise in crime lately?” Firefly's voice wavers and she prays that Robin would cooperate just this once. "It's not safe out here, can't you see that?!" 

While Firefly was desperate to get Robin back to the castle, she wasn't exactly exaggerating. The Kingdom had recently set out a bounty for a criminal group, who were responsible for multiple break-ins and harming citizens. Such news had put the King in a frenzy, and soon enough Firefly was appointed the role of being Robin's personal Knight, so as to ensure her safety. Who knew what these bandits could be up to next? 

If you couldn't tell by now, Firefly was not the best at the job, no thanks to the carefree Princess.

"I haven't even been in town for 5 minutes and you're already dragging me back?" Robin sighs dramatically. "Let's just explore town for a bit. We can have fun together, just like old times." 

"Maybe next time?" Firefly answers, gripping onto Robin's arm. "For now, we should leave. Or else I'll…" 

Firefly attempts to think of something threatening but every possible thought seems ridiculous. 

"I-I'll lock you in your room for the whole day!" Firefly says, voice lacking conviction as she softens her grip. 

"I think we both know you wouldn't do that." Unsurprisingly, the threat falls flat. Robin's laughter bounces and echoes off the walls of the alley, drilling into Firefly's head. "You like me too much to make me die of boredom." 

That was true at least. Firefly was absolutely not going to keep her threats. It was a shame how easily the princess saw through her. The part about Firefly liking Robin though? Not so much, given their current situation. 

"Robin…" Firefly groans, face reddening. At least now seemed like the appropriate time to pull out her trump card. The Knight frowns, putting on her saddest face in front of Robin. "Can we please just go back to the castle? We can play games, sing—whatever you want!" 

"Do it for me?" Firefly pleads, hoping that this tactic would do the trick. Robin had always had a soft spot for Firefly—considering how they had already been friends for the longest time. This fact was precisely why the King had assigned Firefly to be Robin's personal Knight in the first place. She prays that Robin would give in quickly this time, and they could head back before anyone else noticed. 

If only things were that easy. 

"Well, it has been awhile since we last hung out," Robin's expression softens slightly. "But then again…"

"I haven't been out in town for quite some time either," Robin circles slowly around the Knight. "How about this? If you're able to catch me this time, I'll be good and head back to the castle."

"What?" Firefly barely processes the meaning of Robin's words. Dread settles in once she does. More running. Despite her fit physique, Firefly was beyond exhausted at the moment from running around town in her armour. She didn't think she could handle another round. 

"It's a fair deal, no?" Robin giggles, a mischievous glint forming in her eyes. "Catch me, and we'll head back. Otherwise …I'm staying here." 

No —it wasn't fair at all. There's no way Robin would expect Firefly to agree with this, right? In fact, Firefly had already caught up with Robin, so why did they need another round? Was Robin just stalling? 

Firefly knits her brows together, stepping right in front of Robin. "Hey, you know that isn't fai—"

As she says this, Robin makes a break for it, out of one end of the alley. This action stuns Firefly. 

Oh, no, no, no. 

Damn it! 

"Wait! Princ—Robin!" Firefly's voice cracks as she hurriedly collects herself to run after the royal runaway. Her armour clanks as she chases after the princess's disappearing figure. 

"Robin! Come back here—right now!" 

-------

Tick… Tock

Tick… Tock

Tick… Tock—

The persistent noise from the clock was starting to get to Firefly's head. She yawns, scratching the back of her neck. Thanks to a certain someone's fault, Firefly had stayed awake the previous night, making sure nothing else would happen. It was a punishment given to her by the captain for her previous incompetence—which Firefly accepted begrudgingly. 

But for now—she had to focus . She had to make sure that Robin wouldn't escape again. To keep her safe. 

She stares ahead at the Princess on the other side of the room, who currently seemed to be preoccupied by her own activities. 

It was probably unlikely that Robin would run off again—it usually happened every few days or so and her last incident had been yesterday. Still, Firefly had to be on high alert. Who knows what trouble Robin would get herself into next? 

Firefly crosses her arms, leaning back against the chair she was currently sitting on, gaze still firm on the girl. She stiffles another yawn, feeling her eyes start to droop. 

On second thought, maybe a minute of rest wouldn't be too bad. Firefly could just close her eyes for a second and she'll feel rejuvenated. Robin probably wouldn't be able to make a run for it in such a short amount of time. Yeah , it was only just for a minu—

"How long are you going to keep staring at me?" A voice appears in front of her. 

"Gah!" Firefly is startled awake, almost losing balance on the chair. Did she really just nod off?! 

"Are you that enamoured by my beauty?" Robin, who had somehow teleported across the room and was now standing right in front of Firefly, grins. "Or are you perhaps just bored?" 

Firefly rubs her eyes, now feeling fresh awake from the sudden jumpscare. At least now she could better focus on her mission.

"I'm just making sure that you don't run off again," the Knight frowns, cheeks reddening. "It is part of my duty after all." 

"Weren't you just about to fall asleep?" Robin points out. "And once again, I don't need your constant monitoring, I am more than capable of staying put." 

"I was just…closing my eyes for a second!" Firefly huffs. "Besides, I highly doubt you're able to stay out of trouble." 

"My, my, Firefly!" Robin feigns a dramatic gasp, hand clutched over her chest. "Do you have such little faith in me?" 

"Yes, I do, considering your growing track record of leaving the castle unsupervised!" Firefly knits her brows together, exasperated. "How do you even get past the guards at the main gate?!" 

"They may or may not just let me pass…?" 

"What?!" Firefly can't believe what she's hearing right now. "How? Don't they question you at all?" 

"Well, I personally think it's all thanks to my amazing personality," Robin shrugs. "I'm friends with most of them, so they let me come and go as I please." 

So…the reason Robin was even able to make it out of the castle in the first place, was due to the guards bending the rules for her? And Firefly was getting punished for it? She really had to find an appropriate time to speak to them—regarding Robin's escapes. 

"I can't believe them…" Firefly groans, frustrated. 

"You should go back to sleep. You seem…tired," Robin heads back to the other side of the room. "I'll be fine by myself." 

"So you can get yourself into more shenanigans? No thanks," Firefly scoffs, with a growing suspicion towards Robin's true intentions. "I'm fine with staying up." 

"Firefly, come here," Robin's smirk grows as Firefly tries her hardest to hold back yet another yawn. She pats the cushion beside her, now at the sofa in the corner of the room. 

"Why?" Firefly asks, but still pushes herself off the chair, towards the Princess. "What are you up to this time?" 

"Nothing!" Robin's smile doesn't falter, patiently waiting. "Can't you trust me just this once?" 

The Knight grumpily takes a seat beside Robin, waiting for her to say something. What she doesn't expect is to be hauled down so that her head is resting right on Robin's lap . 

"W-What are you—" Firefly immediately goes to straighten up—wanting to get out of this compromising position—but Robin gently holds her back down. "H-Hey!"

Her eyes continue to widen as she feels a hand start to caress her hair. She looks up only to see Robin with an amused look on her face. Her cheeks start to grow warm. 

"Stay still for a moment, will you?" The Princess murmurs, hand brushing a lock of hair away from Firefly's face. "There's no need to act all big and strong—just rest, you need it." 

"But… what if something happens?" Firefly doesn't want to give in, even though her body is telling her otherwise. "I'm supposed to—" 

"To protect me?" Robin cuts her off with a laugh. "Well, how are you going to do that if you can't even stay awake?" 

"But—" 

"You've been working so hard lately," she adds. "Just rest a little, okay?" 

Robin did have a point. Firefly was definitely playing down her exhaustion, and it was indeed affecting her abilities. Maybe a short rest wouldn't hurt… 

"F-Fine…" Firefly sighs, yawning again. "You promise you won't go anywhere right?" 

"Yes, yes," Robin huffs. With an exaggerated tone and a look of mischief in her eyes, she states, "I solemnly promise that I, Robin, will stay put in this room, by the orders of my stubborn Knight. Happy now?" 

"Just…Just for 5 minutes, okay?" Firefly chuckles at Robin's words, beginning to feel the weight of her exhaustion. The princess simply hums hearing this. 

That's when the lack of sleep finally began to dawn on Firefly. Her resolve starts to fade away as she finally succumbs to sleep, eyes falling shut.

Despite her initial resistance, the rhythmic ticking of the clock, accompanied by the sound of the two girls' breaths, help Firefly to lose it. The soft touch from Robin and warmth surrounding her—allows her to let go from previous tensions. 

The room now falls into a tranquil quiet, the two girls sharing a moment of peace, without the usual chaos in their daily lives. Robin watches Firefly with a touch of amusement, mixed with endearment—as Firefly's breaths eventually fall into a steady rhythm. 

It was unusual to see the uptight Knight in such a vulnerable state—even if it was just for a brief moment. Robin knows that she was one of the few people Firefly trusted, and this thought alone makes her heart flutter. 

Her lips upturn into yet another smile as she whispers. 

"Sleep well, my Knight." 

-------

Firefly wouldn't consider herself to be a jealous person. 

Her position as a Knight—was all thanks to her own hard work. The support and encouragement from her peers and elders, were all things she was grateful for. She was always happy to celebrate the achievements of her friends, never down playing a single one. Never once had she been envious of someone, as she was simply content with how things were going on in her life. Having fun with friends, protecting and serving the Kingdom for the common good—Firefly couldn't have asked for more. 

It's just that… 

She couldn't exactly identify if what she was feeling now was jealousy. It would be dumb to feel jealous about something as small as this, no? 

The Knight was currently standing at her post beside the entrance of the room. She and the other guards had been ordered to step out of the room—so as to give the Princess and the visiting Prince some privacy.

Robin was well known across the many Kingdoms. A Princess of astonishing beauty, who was kind at heart and well-versed in her studies—often seen as the best choice for a bride-to-be due to such favourable qualities. Because of this, many times a year, Princes from Kingdoms across the world—some Firefly had never even heard of—practically came flocking in herds to Robin, in an attempt to court her.

Thinking about it makes Firefly sick to her stomach. 

Of course, Robin had never expressed interest in any of the Princes—she didn't even need to acquire a suitor. Nonetheless, the Princess still felt that it was only polite of her to meet with them, so as to help maintain good relations between Kingdoms. 

Firefly is jolted from her thoughts, as she hears faint laughter erupting from the room. 

"Oh, that is simply hilarious!" A familiar voice echoes out the room. 

She could recognise Robin's light laughter, accompanied by a hoarser one—assumingly the Prince's. 

Curious, Firefly cautiously takes a peek at the scene behind her, wanting to get a look at Robin. She turns, head slightly poking out of the entrance. 

She seemed…happy—almost as if she was enjoying her time with the Prince. Firefly scoffs at this. Was the Prince really that funny? 

Robin had never laughed at jokes like that before.

She attempts to inch closer, to listen in on the joke that was supposedly so hilarious , but a sight causes her eyes to widen. The Prince had begun to slyly shift his hand over Robin's. Despite his slight hesitation, he eventually makes a home run—placing his hand on Robin's.

Robin doesn't move at all. Not even a flinch. 

Just who did he think he was? Trying to make a move on Robin in her home turf? Just what in Aeon's name was he up to? 

Firefly was not jealous. 

She was simply…making sure Robin was safe. It was her duty after all. She couldn't just let some hollow-minded guy take Robin back to his castle. Maybe it was too late already—maybe Robin had already been charmed by this snake , and that's why she accepted his touch. Yeah , that's possible. She clenches her jaw at the thought. 

"Miss Robin…" The Knight hears a voice begin to say. 

Firefly strains her ears, trying yet again to listen in on the conversation. Hand pressed against the wall, she shimmies as close as possible without entering the room and—

She's met with the floor. 

Shit. 

A loud clang resounds throughout the room as Firefly falls face first into the ground, armour thankfully protecting her.  She groans in slight pain and embarrassment, wishing she could disappear into the floor. 

"Firefly, is that you?" 

Hearing the Princess, Firefly immediately composes herself, shooting upright so that she could brush herself off. The witnesses opposite her had paused their conversations at the sudden commotion, and Robin looked at Firefly with concern. 

"My apologies, your highnesses," Firefly clears her throat, trying to sound professional while mustering the remaining dignity she had left. If she had any left at least. "I didn't mean to cause a disturbance." 

"It's no problem," Robin simply giggles at this—looking amused like she always did. "You aren't hurt, are you?" 

"I'm perfectly fine, your highness," Firefly quips, and she realises that the Prince's hand was still on Robin's. She needed to get out of this room, now . "A-Apologies, once again. I'll return to my post immedia—" 

"There's no need to be shy. Do come in, Firefly," Robin says, beckoning the Knight towards her. 

For a split second, Firefly hesitates, her heart racing. She really didn't want to be in the same room as the Prince—watching his mediocre attempts at advances towards Robin—but it was more so because of her earlier thoughts. But then again, she couldn't just reject Robin, could she? What would the Prince think if a Knight didn't listen to a Royal's instructions?

She takes a deep breath, stepping into the room. She tries to act calm, but she still feels the lingering embarrassment in the air as two pairs of eyes look up at her. 

"Ah, that reminds me," Robin gives her a warm smile while gesturing towards the Prince. "Firefly, this is Prince Hendrick." 

"Oh?" The Prince nods, reaching out a hand towards Firefly. "So you're the Knight Miss Robin keeps talking about! It's a pleasure to put a face to the name." 

In her mind, her thoughts paused momentarily, processing what the Prince had said. Robin talked about her? Hah ! Maybe Robin didn't really like the Prince as much as she originally thought, considering that the Princess had talked about Firefly. Triumph blooms in her as she feels like she had just beat Kendrick—or whatever his name was. 

"Good things, I hope?" Firefly remains collected, though she grits her teeth, accepting the Prince's handshake. "But really, the pleasure is mine, your highness." 

She feels a chill run down her spine as they break contact. Something about the Prince just irks Firefly the wrong way. 

Once again—not that it needs to be said—Firefly was not jealous. 

"Don't worry, she has sung many praises about you," he gives a hearty laugh. "If only the Knights in my Kingdom were as hard-working." 

Firefly laughs awkwardly at this, not knowing how to reply. She glances towards Robin, whose demeanor remains relaxed. 

The Prince continued spouting out nonsensical things that Firefly couldn't care less about—her focus centered on Robin. The Princess flashes a smile, entertained by his words, though her posture remains stiff, as the Prince's touch lingers. Firefly was trying her absolute best to hold back—for obvious reasons, she couldn't just punch the man. 

The mere thought of the Prince—or any Prince as a matter of fact—being affectionate with Robin like this just made Firefly's stomach churn and her blood boil. 

Eventually, she is sent back to her post, leaving Robin and Hendrick to carry on with their conversations. 

Whatever. It would be selfish of her to think of the Prince this way as there was no evidence of any ill intentions. Firefly was just overthinking again—like she always does. Robin wasn't hers anyways. The Princess was free to interact with whoever she wanted! Even if it was some average guy who could not be any less discreet. 

Yup , she should just not care about who Robin talks to. Problem solved. 

Firefly's thoughts are interrupted when Hendrick hastily walks out of the room, taking his leave. When her eyes met his for a split second, she could see his cheeks were filled with a reddish hue. Was he… blushing? But that would mean Robin—

"Firefly." For how much she acknowledged her duties as a Knight, Firefly sure did get spooked often. She spins around, to see Robin right behind her. 

"R-Robin! Did something happen?" Firefly decides to ask out of curiosity. "The Prince seemed like he was in a hurry."

"Oh, don't worry, nothing much happened," Robin assures the girl. "Unfortunately, Prince Hendrick had somewhere to be, so our meeting was cut short." 

To Firefly, Robin doesn't seem upset at all by the Prince's sudden leave. In fact, she looks relieved that Hendrick is now gone. 

"You seem a bit too happy that he's gone," Firefly mutters, rolling her eyes. She knows she's rude for saying this, but the feeling developing in her stomach needs to be released somehow. "Weren't you having such a great time with him?" 

"I was just being polite, Firefly. I'm sure you're well aware of how much I hate these 'meetings' ," Robin merely laughs at this, like she always does. "Besides, he's not even my type." 

"What, you mean blonde guys?" Firefly scoffs at this, unsure of Robin's words. 

"Sure." 

"Well he seems to like you," the Knight only grows moodier, not assured by the Princess's answer. "In fact, he seems head over heels for you compared to the other Princes. I'm sure he would love to court you." 

"Firefly," Robin pauses hearing this. She raises an eyebrow as she processes Firefly's words, the realisation soon hitting her. "Are you…" 

"Are you perhaps jealous?" 

Just what was Robin implying? Firefly being jealous ? That makes no sense at all. Like she has mentioned many times—she just had Robin's safety in mind, of course she would be wary of the Prince. Probably. 

"N-No! I'm not," Firefly huffs, denying Robin's claims. "Why would I be jealous?" 

"I've never seen you this riled up before," Robin states, snickering. 

Okay—so maybe Firefly was jealous. Like twenty percent jealous. Maybe forty. Fifty —the percentage doesn't matter! But so what? The Prince had practically been all over Robin, in his attempts to woo her, and Robin seemed like she enjoyed it all! Despite being close friends with Robin for the past few years, the Princess had never looked as happy as she did in that room, when she was with Firefly. It was sickening to her that some random Prince had become all buddy-buddy with Robin in the span of a few hours! Who could blame her for feeling this way? 

When Robin is only met with a scowl on Firefly's face, she decides to walk up beside the girl. Firefly is taken by surprise as Robin wraps her arms around the Knight's shoulders, pulling her into a hug. 

"Don't be jealous of him," Firefly's breath hitches as Robin whispers into her ear. " You're the only one I want to spend time with." 

"I—uhm…" Firefly blushes at the implication of Robin's words. 

After a few moments, Robin pulls away with a grin, patting Firefly on the shoulder. 

"I'll head back to my room now," she says. "Feel free to join me." 

And just like that, Robin walks off, leaving a red Firefly to follow after her like a lost dog.

-------

“So how's the new gig going? Are you doing well?”

“Uhh…” Firefly scratches her neck, craning it to look off into the distance behind her. She lays eyes on Robin, who waves once she notices the Knight's eye contact. She smiles, lifting her hand to acknowledge the Princess. She turns back around. “It's been fine so far, I guess? Not really much different from my previous duties.”

She was currently in the Castle's courtyard—a place where both her and Robin frequently found themselves. It was a part of the Princess's daily routine to head here to tend to the various plants and flowers she had grown, ensuring that they were in good health. Some of the flowers had blossomed recently, and Robin was eager for more to do so. 

Of course, today was different as the pair had stumbled upon Stelle—a traveller from beyond their Kingdom. Her recent adventures had led her to Penacony, and she had already gotten familiar with most of the locals. In fact, she had even met with some of the Royals, thanks to her crew's help in solving a problem within the Kingdom. So seeing her within the walls of the castle was no surprise.

“Ah, that's good then,” Stelle says. “Is that one of Robin's flowers?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah,” Firefly fiddles with said flower, rolling the stem between her fingers. “She gave it to me just now.”

One of the things the Princess and the Knight had in common—was their shared love for nature. It was often that Robin would give Firefly the different flowers she had grown—saying it was to show her appreciation for the Knight's hard work. It was a cute habit that Robin had.

“Anyways, what about your meeting with his majesty?” Firefly asks, when Stelle says nothing else. “How'd it go?”

“Eh, I don't really think Sunday is buying the idea of setting up a baseball team in Penacony,” Stelle shrugs. “I’m pretty sure he doesn't even know what baseball is.”

“Aw,” Firefly smiles reassuringly, attempting to comfort the girl. “I'm sure one day you'll be able to set up your team.”

“Yep, one day all shall fear the wrath of the Galactic Baseballer!” Stelle exclaims, causing Firefly to burst out laughing. The girl really was unhinged sometimes.

Time flies by as the two indulge in conversation. It had been some time since Firefly felt relaxed like this—without worrying about anything—since she knew Robin was safe in the Garden, considering that she had yet to call for Firefly. 

"Uhm, sorry to cut you off but…I think we have a problem," Stelle says out of thin air, tilting her head to look past Firefly's. 

"Huh?" Firefly raises an eyebrow, confused by the grey-haired girl's sudden statement. "What do you mean?" 

"Robin may have disappeared…?" Stelle points behind Firefly, giving her a shaky smile. 

The Knight swerves her head in the direction Stelle is pointing at, eyes widening at the sight before her. 

Robin. Was. Gone . 

The courtyard is empty, silence filling the atmosphere as the two girls stood there. Robin was nowhere to be found, she wasn't hiding behind any obscure bushes or trees—it was as though she had disappeared into thin air. 

Dread settles inside Firefly as she realises the situation—cursing herself for not being alert. 

"Oh no, no, no," Firefly repeated, panicked. Did Robin run off again? "I-I have to go!" 

Firefly runs off, leaving Stelle behind. She loses her grip on the now forgotten flower, which now flutters down to the ground, as she shifts her hand over the hilt of her sword. She makes haste, heading off to find out where Robin had escaped to this time. 

"Hey, wait up!" Firefly hears a voice echo from behind, but she doesn't turn around. 

Right now, she's just focused on ensuring Robin's safety. 

~

Her heart races as she sprints down the streets of the Kingdom. She swerves around corners, looking around for any possible spots Robin could have been at. 

"She's not here either…" Stelle informs, tailing right behind Firefly. 

" Dammit !" Firefly feels her frustration grow as she kicks a ball of trash laying on the ground, boots making a thud. 

It was one of the rare moments of her life—that Firefly didn't know what to do. The reality of the situation is daunting as Firefly realises that she simply doesn't know where Robin had run off to. 

According to the incompetent guards at the gate, Robin had left the walls of the castle—Firefly knew that for sure. But within the Kingdom, it was as though the Princess had vanished without a trace. Her usual haunts were all empty, and even with Stelle's help to scout the area, Robin still hadn't resurfaced. 

She clenches her fists, inhaling and exhaling in quick successions, as she tries to control her breathing. Robin couldn't have gone too far, especially since she travelled by foot. She was probably just in some hidden part of the town. Robin was safe. 

She had to be. 

She couldn't imagine explaining to the King about Robin's disappearance—that happened due to Firefly's negligence. Or even worse—if she had to live with the fact that she had allowed Robin to walk into harm's way. That scenario was beginning to seem even more possible with the recent amount of bandits raiding places in the Kingdom. And it was all her fault. 

This was the longest time Robin hadn't appeared after running off. Even if it took awhile for Firefly to find her, Robin herself would go looking for Firefly. But the Princess was nowhere in sight. 

Oh Aeons . She was probably dead by now, wasn't she? Lying on the cold hard ground in some dirty alleyway, blood seeping out of her motionless body and—

"Woah, calm down," A comforting touch pats Firefly on the shoulder. Stelle has a worried look on her face, as she notices Firefly's chest heaving. "We won't stop until we find her, all right?" 

"...Okay," Firefly looks up at the girl, nodding. "Okay." 

Stelle's reassurance helps Firefly to regain a sliver of composure, as she thinks about their next course of plan. 

"Let's check the South District next," Firefly suggests, releasing a shaky breath. "Maybe…she'll be there." 

The two rush over, beginning their search for Robin there. The pair scan through the streets, asking passersby and other guards if they had seen any sight of the Princess—they had not. They even visit less obvious spots: secret pathways, hidden gardens—any less frequented places. 

The pressure was starting to weigh on Firefly as Robin still hadn't shown up. Seconds turned into minutes as they combed through every inch of the district, to no avail. 

However, when all hope seemed lost—the duo hear a piercing scream ring through the air, breaking the peaceful atmosphere of the district. 

"Is…Is that—" Firefly doesn't even finish her own sentence before running off yet again, in the direction of the scream. Hope swelters in her chest as she prays to the Aeons that the cry was from Robin

She doesn't look back to see if Stelle is following her—only the sound of doubled footsteps signalling to the Knight that she was. She pumps her thighs, adrenaline coursing through her veins, as she races down the streets, locating the cry for help. 

Another yell is heard—louder this time—so Firefly knows she's close, knows the possibility that she's one step closer to finding Robin. 

She stumbles into the area—and an arrow flies past her just as she does. Instinctively, Firefly dodges it, with it missing Stelle too.

Her eyes dart around, looking for the source of the arrow—amidst the dark and narrow street. The tension in the air makes her skin prickle. 

In the midst of her frantic search, her eyes land on a certain figure in distress—Robin. The Princess was currently surrounded by a group of rough-looking bandits, who Firefly recognises as the same bandits that were currently wanted in the Kingdom. Robin is visibly frightened, with how much she's shaking while backed up against the wall behind her. 

The masked bandits, clad in their dark and tattered clothing, brandished their weapons menacingly. 

"Well, well, well," one of the men with a gruff voice laughs. "If it isn't the Molten Knight. Come to save the Princess, I see?" 

"By order of the Knights, drop your weapons!" Firefly shouts, unsheathing her own sword. 

"I don't think so," another bandit sneers, as he unleashes an arrow again. 

That's when all hell breaks loose. 

The scene turned chaotic as swords clashed and punches were thrown—neither side backing down. Firefly's movements are a blur as she does her best to parry and strike back against incoming blows. Stelle fights by her side, using her own unusual weapon to fend off the attacks. 

The Knight channels her focus on subduing the criminals one by one—determined to protect Robin. She ignores the bouts of pain that prickle across her skin as the bandits attack relentlessly. 

Through sheer will and determination, the numbers of the bandits drop as they collapse one by one, onto the ground—groaning in pain. 

"Stelle!" Firefly stumbles back as one of the bandits parries her slash. "Go get the guards!" 

Stelle sends a final kick to the man she was fighting, hesitating upon hearing Firefly's words. 

"Don't worry," Firefly reassures her, continuing to charge towards the man. "I can handle this!" 

Stelle nods, running off to go get help.

Meanwhile, Firefly huffs—annoyed that the remaining bandit was still up and running. She swings her sword, attempting to get a clean slash, but the man easily dodges this, jumping back. 

Suddenly, Firefly groans as her back hits the ground with a loud thud—the bandit having swept her off her footing. She loses grip of her sword which slides across the rocky pavement, away from her. She attempts to get back up, but gasps as a fist meets her face. Pain blossoms in her cheek. 

A towering figure looms over her—and she feels a weight settling on top of her. Firefly tries to kick, to punch—to do something to guard herself against the attacks, but the man was stronger. 

Shit. Shit. Shit . What the hell was Firefly meant to do? Her sword was out of reach, and Stelle was gone. Her incompetence had led to yet another failure, and she berates herself over it. She couldn't even manage to protect Robin in the end, and in hindsight, she should've gotten backup sooner. Why was she so arrogant—overestimating her own abilities? She wasn't some unsung hero—she was just an ordinary Knight. A Knight who had been bested by a lowly crimi—

A strong grip around her throat knocks Firefly out her thoughts. She gasps for air, but no breath is taken. She croaks, hands grasping at the ones on her throat, unrelenting. Her eyes droop as her vision blackens and spots. This was it wasn't it? Firefly had failed—and she couldn't even say goodbye to Robin. Oh Robin, she was probably still at the scene, watching it unfold. Firefly only remembers the frightened look on her face, different from her composed self. I'm sorry, Robin —Firefly thinks as her eyes feel heavier— I'm sorry I couldn't protect yo —

A loud thunk and a groan is heard. Air enters her lungs as Firefly gasps desperately for air—feeling as though a weight had just been lifted off her chest. She coughs and splutters, vision slowly clearing, and she's met with a familiar face. 

"F-Firefly!" Robin shouts, voice cracking. She rushes to the Knight's side, dropping the wooden pole she held in her hand. "A-Are you okay?" 

Firefly continues to take shaky breaths, as she pushes herself up with her elbows. She's never been this grateful for air. She spits out the mixture of saliva and blood that had gathered in her mouth—wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. 

She looks towards her right, to see her attacker unconscious on the ground, blood seeping out of the wound on his head. 

"Go," Firefly croaks out, still coughing, as she slowly gets up. The Knight feels Robin grasp her shoulder, pulling her back. Robin is visibly in a state of shock. She's still shaking from before and her hair is in a mess.

"Y-You're hurt!" Robin stutters, eyes flickering, scanning Firefly for any obvious injuries. "Sit back down!" 

Firefly for once—pushes Robin away, standing up to walk over to her sword. She's too dazed by the whole battle to be nice right now. Honestly, a tiny part of her is mad at Robin for not listening to her warnings and getting herself into this situation in the first place. She knows it's wrong but that won't stop her from feeling this way. 

"I'm…I'm fine," Firefly mutters, slowly reaching down for her sword, trying not to worsen any of her wounds. "Go back to the castle." 

"But you're—" The Princess reaches for the Knight once again, a look of concern in her eyes. 

"Did you not hear me?" Firefly cuts her off, shouting coldly at Robin. A hint of guilt swells in her chest for acting this way. " Go! " 

Firefly has her back turned against the Princess, but she hears footsteps—while hesitant at first—slowly getting softer and further away. 

She sighs, back hitting the wall as she crashes down, to sit on the ground. She feels blood trickling down to her jaw and she wipes it away again.

For now, all she could do was wait for backup, while being surrounded by the subdued bandits on the floor. 

Firefly groans for the umpteenth time, wishing she hadn't accepted this job in the first place. 

-------

"B-Be careful!" 

"Then stop moving around! You're making this harder than it should be." 

"I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of this," Firefly winces as a damp cloth is pressed against a cut on her cheek. "I told you I'm fine!" 

"You're dripping blood all over my room!" Robin shoots her a stern look. "What normal person does that?!" 

"Hey, why am I to blame for that?! You brought me here!" The Knight scoffs, attempting to stand up from where she was seated. Why was Robin making such a big fuss over this? 

After settling things with the other guards Stelle had called for, and rounding up all of the wanted bandits, Firefly had made her way back to the castle. What she didn't expect to happen, was for Robin to drag her all the way up to her bed chambers when she had stepped foot through the gates. Stelle had simply waved her off with a cheeky grin as Firefly was dragged away. 

"Sit back down," Robin scolds as she gently pushes Firefly by the shoulders back to her seat. 

Firefly rolls her eyes, too tired to resist Robin's push. She had originally planned to head to the medic's bay—to hide from Robin. But of course, Robin just had to be stubborn, and now an awkward tension lingers in the air. Kind of.  

Firefly was probably overthinking things once again . Robin seemed…fine considering the events that transpired. She didn't seem hurt, or mad at Firefly's previous words at all, nor was she hurt in the literal sense by the bandits. That made Firefly feel a sense of relief at least. 

"Do you even know what you're doing…?" Firefly asks, not wanting to let the awkward silence build up in the room again. Also, she was pretty sure the Princess had no medical experience whatsoever—that part was a bit concerning. "I could've just gone to the medic bay, you know?" 

"Don't worry, I do have some knowledge from the books I've read," Robin reassures. "You're in safe hands…probably." 

That definitely didn't ease Firefly's worries. 

"Are you…mad?" She decides to ask next, confused by Robin's current behaviour. "You dragged me up here and haven't said anything about that situation since."

"Pft—Me, mad at you? Never," Robin chuckles to herself, digging through her first aid box. "It was my fault we were even in that situation in the first place…You have the right to be angry at my actions." 

"It's…fine." She swears her heart is malfunctioning again. 

"All right," Robin caresses Firefly's cheek—the wound now patched up with gauze. "I'm done." 

"Is there anywhere else I missed?" The Princess asks, tilting her head. 

Firefly had to admit that Robin did a pretty good job at tending to most of the wounds the Knight had gathered. It would probably heal in a few days—Firefly estimates. 

"I'm fine," she declares, hand moving up to reach for Robin's. "Can I go now?" 

"Are you sure? You're not lying again are you?" 

"You're such a worry wart, I told you I'm fine." 

"I could probably even run a marathon right n— ow! " Firefly manages to choke out, after feeling a jab to her lower abdomen. A wave of pain follows after. "Wh—What was that for?!" 

"Lift up your shirt," Robin furrows her brows at Firefly's poor attempt at hiding the extent of her injuries.

"Uh…no," Firefly says, hoping for once Robin wouldn't be stubborn. Of course, that day never came. Robin pokes her stomach again. "H-Hey! Stop! Fine!" 

Firefly gives in to Robin's request, face reddening as she pulls up her shirt slightly. 

"Firefly…" Robin whispers, hand brushing against the dark bruise, causing Firefly to flinch. The reddish-brown mark expanded across her lower abdomen. "You can't keep being this reckless." 

"It just looks worse than it is,” Firefly hisses when Robin applies some sort of salve to the contusion. It feels cooling against the warmth of Robin's touch. “Like I said before, it's not that big of a deal.”

“No big deal?—Are we even looking at the same thing?” Robin looks up at Firefly, voice breaking. “These scuffles always leave you battered and bruised!”

“That's my point, it's not a new occurrence.” Firefly doesn't really understand why Robin was getting so exasperated over such a small matter. As a Knight, she had received countless scars and bruises from criminals—for the sake of protecting the Kingdom. This wasn't the first time she had been wounded to this extent. “Besides, it's something that eventually happens to every individual who's a part of the Royal Guard… We pledged to protect the Kingdom, after all. To fight for our Kingdom, for his majesty—so as to bring peace and prosperity to the Kingdom.”

“But…” Robin pauses, eyes widening at Firefly's words. “But what about you?”

“What about me?”

Her next words cause Firefly's heart to skip a beat.

“What about your safety?”

“As your entrusted Knight, my duty is to ensure your protection from whatever harm that comes your way,” Firefly answers firmly, despite being confused by the sudden question. “ That's my priority—and an honour bestowed to me by his majesty.”

Robin only seems more angered by the Knight's response.

“Y-You still haven't answered the question—what about your safety?” Robin spits out, voice resounding through the empty room. Her fist clenches around the hem of Firefly's uplifted shirt.

“It…It doesn't matter,” Firefly breathes out. “What's important is that you're safe—and I will continue to do my best to ensure so.”

Maybe such a response was harsh—but it was what Firefly believed, and she wishes Robin would respect it.

“But your safety is important too!” Robin says, closing her eyes. “I-I don't like seeing you hurt like this all the time…”

“Robin…” Her heart breaks at the Princess's admission. “You have to understand that as a Knight—we’re bound to get hurt in one way or another. Being a Knight— your Knight, and protecting you—that’s all I could ever ask for.”

“Y-You’re…” Robin lets go of Firefly's shirt, letting it fall back down. She turns to stuff back the various items back in the box—hesitating as she says so.

“You're dismissed from your duties as my Knight.”

Firefly's world comes crumbling down. Was Robin serious right now? Did she even understand what she was saying? 

“W-What?” Her voice is barely audible. She pushes herself up, as Robin walks away to the adjacent bathroom. “Do you even know what you're saying right now?”

“You’re no longer my Knight. You can return to your previous duties at the castle,” Robin states, seemingly preoccupied by whatever was in the cabinets. “You'll still be serving the Kingdom.”

“Y-You can't do that!” Firefly exclaims, raising her voice. She knows she sounds like a child throwing a tantrum—but this was serious. “You can't!”

She doesn't understand Robin's sudden switch in demeanor. For the entirety of her time being Robin's Knight, the Princess had never brought up any problems with the arrangement—in fact, she was the one who welcomed it! And now this? A part of Firefly felt a deep sense of betrayal at Robin—for doing this to her. Another was angry at how sudden this was—with no explanation at all! Robin couldn't do this. She couldn't .

“I am the Princess of this Kingdom. My brother is the King . I believe I would have the authority to specify who should be in charge of my protection,” Robin says.

“Why are you even doing all this…?” Firefly asks, her own voice now trailing off. 

“It's for your own safety," Robin still has her back facing Firefly. "I don't want to see you hurt again."

The room grows cold at Robin's words, and Firefly's heart sank. She doesn't know how to process the gravity of what Robin had just declared. 

"Robin, please…"  Firefly voice wavers, attempting to reason with the girl. She repeats her words, only with a more despaired tone. "You can't do this…" 

Robin remains silent, not once turning to look at Firefly. Fine! She couldn't care less anyway! 

"Look at me!" Firefly clenches her fists, blood boiling at the princess's attempt to ignore Firefly. If the Princess wanted to dismiss Firefly, she should atleast have the guts to look her in the eye and do so. "Look me in the eye and tell me you want me gone !" 

"I'm sorry, Firefly," Robin murmurs—too scared to look at the expression on Firefly's face. “I-I never wanted it to come to this.”

"Look at me!" 

No words are uttered—Firefly's previous ones echoed through the room. She notices how Robin flinches, how she fiddles with her thumb—but still not following Firefly's demand at all. 

" Fine! You want to do this to me, fine! " Firefly gathers her stuff, grumbling. "I'll go! I'll go and you'll never have to see me again." 

"Firefly, wait, I—" This time, Robin spins around, attempting to grab Firefly from behind and stop her. “I-I'm sor—”

"You're sorry?" Firefly yanks her arm out of the Princess's grip, determined to leave immediately. She doesn't even feel an ounce of remorse when she spots stray tears rolling down Robin's face—finally looking at Firefly. "No, no, no, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for wasting your time, your highness . I'll take my leave immediately." 

Firefly storms off, avoiding Robin's grip, exiting the room. She jerks the door open, and slams it closed. The loud thud rings in her ears. Her hand lingers on the door knob—a part of her hoping to hear Robin's voice or the door being opened again. Firefly doesn't know why she's still there. Maybe it's because she wants Robin to stop her—to do something. Anything .

One—two— three seconds pass, and the silence of the halls of the castle remain. Nothing else is heard. If that was what Robin decided, then so be it—she couldn't care less right now.

Firefly feels her eyes growing damp, cursing herself for crying over such a small matter. She runs off, footsteps echoing through the halls of the castle. Her thoughts are a mess in her head. How could Robin do this? After everything they've been through? Did their friendship mean nothing to her? Nothing at all? 

She doesn't turn back—wanting to escape from it all, wanting to forget that Aeon-forsaken encounter that ruined everything important to her. She ignores the hollers and questions from the stationed guards as she bursts through the castle gates. The cool breeze blows against her as she pants—the setting sun reflecting down on her when she enters the semi-empty streets. Citizens stare at the girl but Firefly doesn't care anymore.

She had just lost something she treasured with her whole heart that day.

And it wasn't just her job.

-------

Firefly has had worse nights.

Sometimes on the night shift, Firefly had to chase annoying pranksters around the streets—much like she did so with Robin. Other times it was because she couldn't get any sleep—too busy getting caught up with the mountains of paperwork handed to her by her superiors. Serving the Kingdom was indeed a hard job. 

Tonight had seemed like an ordinary night—until it wasn't. 

Firefly's back crashes against the ground, something becoming an increasingly regular occurrence for the girl. She groans as her head spins, sprawled out on the floor. Just what in Aeon's name was going on?! 

She attempts to push herself up, wanting to leave immediately but a weight settles on top of her, a firm grip placed on her wrists. She gasps at the pressure on her still healing wound. Her vision eventually settles, and she looks up at the perpetrator in question. 

Something hits her cheek, a damp feeling arising. Teardrops began to fall on her face, but they weren't her own. Her breath hitches as she processes the scene unfolding before her.

So yes, Firefly has had worse nights. But this one in particular…

It could definitely compete with the ones on her list.

~

"So…how's your new job going?" Stelle drums her fingers against the table, blowing bubbles through the straw in her drink. Oftentimes, Stelle reminded Firefly of a child—thanks to her somewhat childish habits. Of course, she didn't tell Stelle that. 

"Didn't you ask me that before…?" Firefly frowns, feeling a sense of déjà vu. 

"Well, you've been kind of off these past few days," Stelle says. "It's not everyday that my friends switch jobs." 

After what had occured with Robin, Firefly was no longer her Knight. She had simply become an ordinary guard of the Royal Family—duties mainly consisting of patrols around the streets and castle. If Firefly could describe the whole job in one word, it would be : Boring . Plain boring . Sure, it wasn't anything new to Firefly—but after all the memories she had made as Robin's Knight, it couldn't even compare. 

On the topic of Robin's Knight—the worst part about the Princess's sudden betrayal, was who had replaced Firefly. It was one of the guards at the gate—the same one who had let Robin roam free on the streets, right into danger! In all honesty, Firefly doesn't know which fact she's more mad about. The fact that she had lost Robin, or the fact that that ‘ incompetent asshole’ had replaced her. He couldn't even wear his uniform correctly for Aeon’s sake! 

Firefly doesn't know why she's getting so worked up over just one guy. 

“It's fine,” Firefly grumbles, mood ruined at the thought of her replacement. “I've just been…adjusting.”

“I heard what happened,” Stelle pauses at this, noticing Firefly's frown. “Sucks that you had to go through that. My ears are open if you need anyone to talk to though.”

She huffs at Stelle's words. She didn't know that Stelle was aware. 

Firefly had mixed emotions about Robin. The Princess had broken her trust—with the sudden removal of Firefly's title as her Knight. But then again, she was also grieving the loss of her bond with Robin. It was like a part of her life was simply… gone . Even when they encountered each other within the walls of the castle, Firefly didn't dare look her way. She was too scared or enraged by the girl—Firefly doesn't know which—to do so. She had lost sleep replaying the scene in her head, unable to come up with some way that the events wouldn't have occured. Were they even friends anymore? Would they ever make up? 

It didn't even feel like a friendship in the first place—Firefly had to admit. Robin didn't feel like just a friend. She loved Robin—in a way that Firefly can't explain. But that wasn't relevant right now. 

In hindsight, after much reflection, maybe Firefly shouldn't have acted out in rage. Shouting and pushing the Princess away was harsh, and the thought makes Firefly uneasy. If she had remained calm, maybe they could've talked through it but now…

It didn't really seem like the situation would work out by itself soon. No thanks to the inability of both parties to make the first move. 

“Do you think Robin hates me?” Firefly sighs, staring down at her drink. 

“Yeah she probably does.”

“...What?”

Well, that was a surprising sentence for Firefly to hear. Stelle really was blunt sometimes. 

“I mean, you hate her too, don't you?” The girl shrugs. “Maybe ‘ hate’ is a strong word, but I'm pretty sure everyone has negative feelings towards people they've argued with.”

“I don't get your point,” Firefly states. “She removed me from my duty without any explanation. Shouldn't I be the mad one?”

“Look, I don't know all the exact details of your falling out, but I do know you acted harshly towards Robin too,” Stelle sighs, now fiddling with the straw of her beverage. “I mean I would be pissed if someone shouted at me without hearing me out.”

“She broke my trust out of nowhere!” Firefly says. “She didn't even dare to look at me!”

“If she had a problem with me carrying out my duties, she could've just told me about it!” Her voice cracks. “But she just…went ahead with it .”

“I'm sure Robin has her own reasons for doing so, just like how it's fair you had an outburst.” Stelle nods.

“I guess…” Firefly takes a deep breath, taking in Stelle's point. “But it just feels like…Robin doesn't want me anymore.” Not like I want her —the sentence appears in her head, but she doesn't say it out loud. 

“Hey, don't say that,” Stelle reaches for Firefly's hand. “From what I've seen, Robin cares about you a lot , you know?”

“I know, ”Firefly murmurs. “I care about her too.”

“To be honest, one of you needs to make the first move and talk to the other person,” the silver-haired girl jokes, trying to keep the conversation light hearted. “You both are seriously stubborn.” 

Firefly chuckles. “I guess her stubbornness rubbed off on me.”

“Whatever it is, I'm sure you two will be able to fix things,” Stelle says. “Maybe you could try talking with her if you haven't already?”

“Thanks,” Firefly nods. “I just need time. I can't just…forgive her immediately.”

“That's perfectly fine!” Stelle smiles, sympathising with the girl. “So don't get too caught up in it, okay?”

“Okay…”Firefly nods, taking a sip of her drink. 

“On a more fun note—wanna hear about the baseball team I've gathered?”

“What? How'd you gather a whole team that fast?!”

For a moment, Firefly's thoughts about Robin are left forgotten. In due time, maybe she could make up with Robin—but for now, she still had her reservations. After all, it was probably best that she had emotions under control first—not wanting a recurrence of that night. 

For now, Firefly simply hopes that there are still pieces of their relationship to be salvaged. 

~

That night, Firefly stirs in her bed, tossing and turning. 

She couldn't sleep again. 

She didn't need much sleep in the first place—but it was just one of those nights where she found herself wide awake. She shuts her eyes, trying to fall into the pitch black darkness. 

It doesn't work. 

Firefly grumbles, annoyed at how her mind seemed to be going a mile a minute. She was still thinking about her talk with Stelle, wondering how she could talk to Robin. Of course, that led to her thoughts filling up with things related to Robin—and she soon found herself wide awake. 

She pushes the covers off her body, sitting up. The soft glow of the moonlight reflected through the window of her room, illuminating it. When Firefly looks up to read the clock, she finds herself groaning at the fact it was the middle of the night. 

The floorboards creak as she swings her legs off the bed, standing up, walking to the door. 

Whenever she couldn't sleep, Firefly enjoyed taking walks around the castle. The still and peaceful air comforted her in a way, despite not helping her fall asleep at all. 

As she trudges through the halls of the castle, she takes in the grand of it all—taking a moment to be in awe of the surroundings around her. She smirks as she reminisces of the fond memories made in these exact halls—coincidentally thinking of ones with Robin in them. That definitely did not help with her inability to sleep. 

Even though the Princess wasn't physically here, she definitely had some sort of mysterious way of sneaking into Firefly's mind. 

The halls are still empty—most people asleep in the comfort of their beds—so Firefly decides to take a detour, out onto a balcony of the castle.

Just like the castle, the balcony is also quiet, but with the added noise from the breeze of wind flowing through the air. She leans on one of the railings, gazing at the sea of stars plastered on the night sky. From here, she can see the guards stationed at the main gate, no doubt exhausted from their patrols.

Despite how mundane it was, Firefly enjoyed it. She always did, sometimes even staying there until the sun rose, signalling the start of the new day. 

Sometimes she even brought Robin here. 

Wait . Why did she keep thinking of Robin? It was starting to become a bad habit of hers. Firefly shakes her thoughts away, sighing as she stared off into the night. For just a few minutes, she didn't want to think of Robin at all. 

“I didn't expect to see you here this late into the night,” Firefly jolts at the familiar voice. 

Footsteps echo, as the person makes their way towards Firefly. 

From the corner of her eye—she sees Robin. Robin in all her beauty, somehow still looking as stunning as she did despite being in her sleep wear. 

“Can't sleep?” Robin asks, turning to look at Firefly. 

This was practically their first interaction since that . Why was Robin acting so nonchalant? 

Firefly wants to leave. Immediately . She could not handle the Princess right now. 

“Uhm, yeah,” Firefly shudders as Robin lays eyes on her. “I-I think I'll go now.”

She shuffles off, making haste towards the entrance of the balcony. 

“Firefly, wait—” Robin says, reaching for the girl, managing to grab onto her shoulder. 

“Goodnight,” Firefly shrugs it off, reaching for the handle. 

“Can't you just listen to what I have to say?!” Robin shrieks. 

That's the last thing she hears before a sudden force pulls Firefly back, sending her tumbling onto the floor, landing on her back. 

Albeit confused—she does eventually recollect the events that had led up to the start of the worst night in her life. 

Firefly is at a loss of words at Robin's sudden outburst. She struggles against the Princess's grip but the stubborn girl doesn't budge—Firefly doesn't know how Robin was this strong. She's also confused, as Robin was currently in the midst of crying—while straddling her at the same time. Just what the hell was going on? 

“R-Robin…? Are you oka—” Firefly manages to squeak out but is quickly cut off. Her heart aches at the sight of Robin crying. 

“Why do you have to be so stubborn? Can't you just listen for once?!” The Princess yells in between sniffles. “I-I just wanted to protect you!”

“W-What?” Firefly breathes out. “G-Get off of me!”

“No, you'll just run off again,” Robin says, squeezing Firefly's wrists. “Do you know how scared I was?”

Firefly remains quiet, growing limp in Robin's grip. She doesn't want to say anything to upset the Princess further. 

“I was in shock—seeing you fight those idiots , I realised how reckless you fought. You didn't even care that you were outnumbered! You just came charging into battle—mind probably controlled by rage,” Robin huffs out. “And when that bandit choked you, it was like I was witnessing your funeral. Seeing you so close to death, I was worried that as my Knight, one day you might actually be seriously hurt.”

“But you knew those risks came with the job as a Knight! I didn't hide it from you at all,” Firefly says, looking away from Robin. “Why do you even care all of a sudden?! This isn't the first time I've been wounded, you can't just discharge me from my duties without a proper reason!”

“Protecting you matters the most to me!”  Firefly feels her anger build up again. Words built up in the back of her throat for the past few days come flying out. She doesn't care anymore. “It's my life! I don't understand why you even care! Why now —”

“Because I love you!”

As Firefly registers the weight of what Robin is saying, her own vision grows blurry as tears form in the corners of her eyes. Sure she knew Robin cherished her but hearing the Princess say it out loud, makes Firefly's heart pound. 

“Y-You love me?” She stutters, in disbelief of the declaration. 

“I love you,” Robin nods, saying it more confidently this time. “It's because I love you that I wanted to protect you—to keep you safe!”

“I never wanted to see you hurt! Hearing you acknowledging your purposeful recklessness—it made me realise something,” Robin continues. “Removing you from your duties was the only way I thought I could keep you from harm. Despite knowing how much it meant to you, I hoped you'd understand, but then…”

“I'm sorry,” The princess pauses, unleashing her grip to wrap her arms around Firefly. “I never meant to hurt you.” 

“I'm…sorry too,” Practically being crushed by Robin now, Firefly returns the gesture, arms reaching for Robin's back. She didn't know whether to cry or laugh. They were such idiots, weren't they? “I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me. I never wanted to upset you.”

“If something ever bothers you, just…” Firefly pauses. “ Talk to me about it.”

Hearing Firefly, Robin nuzzles closer into the crook of Firefly's neck—humming. 

“I will.”

She eventually backs off so that the pair could stand up again. Firefly sniffles, hands reaching to hold Robin's, and turns to face the Princess. Tears are still shed by Firefly, and she doesn't know whether they're from relief or joy. Probably both. 

“Firefly, don't cry anymore,” Robin coos, hand reaching up to wipe the tears off Firefly's face. “You're cuter when you're smiling.”

It's ironic how the Princess says that yet she herself had a few stray tears rolling down her cheek. Firefly doesn't care though. She simply smirks, realising what she needs to say. 

“I love you too, Robin.”

Whether she had meant it in a romantic or platonic sense, Firefly doesn't know. She just knows that Robin is the one her heart belongs to. The one her heart beats for. The one who adds colour to her life. The one she loves . All she knows is that the statement was true. She did love Robin. 

Firefly's cheeks grow warm as Robin's thumb caresses it. The princess in turn grins, laughing. 

For a brief second, Firefly is taken aback as Robin grips the collar of her shirt—closing the distance between them. Their lips meet and Firefly's heart swells with emotions she can't identify. All she knows is that it feels right. 

They eventually part, soft panting replacing the tranquility of the night. Robin blushes, turning away. It makes Firefly's heart flutter seeing the Princess's parted lips, the tips of her ears slightly pink. 

“Firefly,” Robin clears her throat, tone turning solemn. “I…I don't expect you to forgive me immediately, but I do hope you'll give me a chance to make it up to you.”

“It's a start,” Firefly nods, simply enamoured by the Princess. Her vision seems blurry again. 

“So…Firefly. From this day forth—I hereby appoint you as a Knight to the Royal Family, to serve and protect the Kingdom as well as the safety of a certain Princess,” Robin clears her throat. “That is, if you're willing to?”

Firefly's smile turns wider at Robin's attempt to seem nonchalant. 

“It would be an honour to do so, your highness.”