Work Text:
Sunlight filtered through the tent’s canvas, illuminating the tangled sheets. Robin stirred, vision hazy, the memory of last night clinging to her like a half-forgotten dream. Cordelia lay beside her, asleep, her breathing slow and steady. Robin’s heartbeat sped up at the sight, but a familiar twist of doubt soured the moment.
For weeks, they’d been doing this: sneaking away for nights that left her breathless, caught up in a connection she couldn’t quite name. But what was it? They weren’t together, not really. Cordelia’s heart, as far as Robin knew, still belonged to Chrom. The thought made her stomach churn. Was she just a stand-in? A way to pass the time? She couldn’t figure it out, and for someone used to solving battle plans, that uncertainty stung.
Robin slipped out of bed, tugging on her tunic as quietly as she could. She needed air, space to think. The Shepherds’ camp was already alive outside, the smell of bacon and the clatter of pots greeting her as she stepped into the morning chill. She grabbed a plate of eggs and bacon from Frederick, who was tending the cookfire with his usual focus. A moment later, Cordelia appeared, her armor half-on, hair pulled back in a messy knot. Their eyes met, and Robin’s heart did a painful flip again. Cordelia gave her a small, hesitant smile before grabbing her own plate and joining her at a rickety table.
“Hey,” Cordelia said softly, like she was testing the waters.
“Hey,” Robin mumbled back, poking at her food. A heavy, awkward silence settled between them. The camp buzzed, but all Robin could hear was the scrape of her fork and the thud of her own pulse. Cordelia kept her eyes on her plate, though Robin caught her sneaking quick glances, her fingers tearing a piece of bread into tiny bits.
“This bacon’s pretty good,” Cordelia said finally, her voice a little too cheerful, like she was trying to dodge the tension.
“It is good...” Robin replied, but the words felt flat. She wanted to say something real, something to break the ice, but her throat felt tight. What am I to her? She stole a glance at Cordelia, whose cheeks were slightly pink. Neither had the courage to make eye contact.
Finally, Robin couldn’t take it anymore. She set her fork down, the clink louder than she meant. “Cordelia, we need to talk.”
Cordelia’s head snapped up, a flicker of worry in her eyes, but she nodded. “I figured this was coming,” she said quietly, pushing her plate aside. “What is it?”
Robin rubbed the back of her neck, trying to ease the stiffness. “It’s this. Us. These weeks of… whatever we’re doing. I don’t understand it. What am I to you? Because I know you’ve got feelings for Chrom, and I’m wondering if I’m just… I don’t know, a distraction.”
Cordelia’s eyes went wide, and she shook her head fast. “Robin, no. It’s not like that. Not even close.” She reached out, her hand hovering before settling on Robin’s. “I’d never do that to you.”
“Then what is it?” Robin’s voice cracked, and she hated how raw it sounded. “I’m falling for you, and it’s driving me crazy. I keep thinking you’re just waiting for Chrom to look your way, and I’m stuck here, scared I’m going to lose you… if I ever even had you in the first place.”
Cordelia looked away for a second, her face flushing. When she spoke, her voice was steady but soft. “I’m not going to lie. I used to have feelings for Chrom. For a long time, I thought he was the one: strong, kind, the perfect leader. Then I met you.”
Robin’s heart pounded. “Me?”
“Yes, you,” Cordelia said, her eyes locking onto Robin’s with a warmth that made her chest ache. “You’re incredible, Robin. Not just the way you plan battles, but you. You see people, really see them. Every moment we’ve spent together, talking, laughing, being close… it’s changed everything. Chrom? He’s barely a thought anymore. Not when I’m with you.”
Robin’s head spun, her doubts unraveling. “But you never said anything. I thought…”
“I was afraid,” Cordelia admitted, her voice thick. “I didn’t know how to bring it up. I was worried I’d ruin what we had if I asked for more. What if you didn’t feel the same? What if I was just… imagining this?” She let out a shaky laugh. “I’m supposed to be brave, but with you, I’ve been scared out of my wits.”
Robin swallowed, her own fears mirrored in Cordelia’s words. “I’ve been scared too. I didn’t want to lose you by asking what this is. But I want more than what we’re doing, Cordelia. I want us to be real, not just… friends with benefits.”
Cordelia’s eyes shone, and she squeezed Robin’s hand tightly. “I want that too. A real relationship, not just an affair.”
They sat there for a moment, the camp’s noise fading into the background. Robin leaned forward, her forehead brushing against Cordelia’s, the closeness grounding her. “So… I guess that settles it.”
“I guess it does,” Cordelia whispered, her lips grazing Robin’s in a soft, sure kiss. “No more hiding. Just us.”
The sun rose higher, the camp alive with the day’s work, but for Robin, the world was just the two of them. With Cordelia by her side, not just as a friend but as something more, she felt ready for anything.