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"Okay, that’s enough…"
Robin did her best to keep her tone firm but gentle, though she could hear the exasperation creeping through. Some days, being the mother of a six-year-old and a three-year-old was almost as demanding as her role as royal tactician. She would do anything for her children, would take an arrow for them at the drop of a hat, but there was no denying they could be challenging. Morgan’s endless enthusiasm and curiosity was often at odds with his older sister’s quick temper and lack of patience. While arguing was to be expected, getting into physical squabbles was crossing the line. She separated the two kids, carrying the younger boy to the couch before returning to address her daughter.
"Severa, what did I say before?” Robin began, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’ll give you a hint. It’s about something we don’t do…”
Severa regarded her mother, looking unimpressed. “I don’t remember. Don’t use Mom’s lipstick as war paint?”
Robin had to bite back a sigh. “No… well, yes. But I think you know that isn’t what I meant. I'm talking about fighting. Throwing your wooden sword at Morgan because he took your apple slices is not okay. You're in timeout for ten minutes. We need to behave ourselves.”
Severa's scowl deepened, her nose scrunching as she processed her mother's words. "Wait. Did you say behave… ourselves? Does that mean you have to behave yourself too, Mother?"
Robin blinked, caught off guard. Of course Severa would pick up on the wording. She was the sharpest child Robin had ever seen, after all. "Well… sure I do," she said with a small laugh, brushing off the challenge. "Everyone has to behave, Severa. You, Morgan, even your mother and I. So, ten minutes. The timer starts when you’re facing the wall."
Severa's eyes narrowed, a spark of mischief igniting in them. She leaned forward, her finger pointing blamingly. Robin’s initial instinct was to take a step back, but she stood firm, poised to escort her daughter to the corner when the first accusation came.
"So, if we have to behave ourselves, then why’d you eat the last honey cake yesterday when Mom said it was for dessert? I saw that, Mother. You thought you were being clever, dropping it on the floor first, but I know you did it on purpose! When you dropped it, you went, 'oops.' When you actually drop something, you say, 'dammit.'"
Robin's jaw hung open slightly, her cheeks flushing. "I... That really was an accident! And instead of wasting it--"
"And when you say 'dammit,' Mom says to watch your language, but I heard you say it today when you spilled your inkwell!"
"Okay, but that's--"
"And!" Severa continued, undeterred, her voice rising with the thrill of her impromptu prosecution. "You snuck out of bed to work when Mom told you to sleep! And then, right before she got home from training, you snuck back into bed like you’d been sleeping the whole time!” Severa was on a roll, counting off her mother's misdeeds on her fingers. "So what’s this about ten minutes facing the wall? You need to behave too, Mother!"
Robin buried her face in her hands, half-laughing, half-mortified. The worst part? Severa wasn't wrong. She peeked through her fingers at her daughter, who stared back with the righteous indignation only a child could muster. "Okay, okay," Robin sighed, raising her hands in surrender. "You've made your point. If I'm telling you to behave, I need to follow my own rules. So..." She took Severa’s hand and led her to the corner. She sat, then pulled her daughter into her lap so they were both facing it. "I'm putting myself in timeout, too."
Severa's eyes widened, her pout replaced by a mix of surprise and delight. "Really?"
"Really," Robin said. "Ten minutes. No talking, no moving. Just us and the wall." Morgan, still sitting on the couch, found the sight hysterical. When his laughter died down, the room fell into a comical silence. Severa kept sneaking glances at Robin, who stared resolutely at the wall, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. The absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on her: she, the tactician of Ylisse, mastermind of countless battles, was in timeout with her daughter. A good leader led by example, however.
The door creaked open, and Cordelia stepped inside, her expression softening as she took in the scene. Severa's shoulders were slumped, while Robin's were squared with exaggerated dignity. Cordelia raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching as she fought back a laugh. She set her lance against the wall and went to pluck Morgan from the sofa with a kiss, all while debating whether to ask.
"Well," she said at last, her voice warm with amusement, "I'm not sure what's happening here, but I'm going to assume it's under control."
Robin turned her head slightly, catching Cordelia's eye, trying not to laugh. "Just leading by example, dear."
"Hm," Cordelia replied, her tone teasing. She stepped closer, kneeling to kiss her wife and daughter on their foreheads. "And you, little troublemaker? Learning your lesson?"
Severa nodded solemnly, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Mother's learning to behave too, Mom."
"Is she now?" Cordelia shot Robin a playful look. "Well, I'll have to keep an eye on both of you then. Morgan, shall we leave your mother and sister to their punishment?"
Robin groaned again, but her heart swelled at the smile her wife gave her before standing and turning to leave, and at the sight of tiny Morgan waving goodbye over her shoulder as they departed. She looked down at Severa and ruffled the girl's hair affectionately. Timeout or not, these were the moments that made every battle worth fighting.