Chapter Text
Chrom kneels before her, the ring held up between them, and Robin stares into his eyes. She sees their future together: children, possibly; love, definitely. A future filled with promises and strengths, challenges and sacrifices. But the thing that makes her pause the longest is the vision of his death.
She shivers, and it’s not a happy shiver. She knows if she takes his ring, she will kill him, and the thought of losing him terrifies her. Gods know, she wants the ring and all it represents. She wants all of him. Imagining him with anyone else fills her with cold jealousy.
And here he stands, offering his heart to her. She must crush it, so that she doesn't kill him later.
“I can’t do this, Chrom.” She reaches out with trembling fingers and slowly closes his hand around the ring.
"I - I thought for sure you... loved me too." He stares at her, and she sees the pain she’s brought him. She stares it down, knowing she’s a terrible person for turning him down.
"I do," she whispers, and pulls him to her. He has no idea how much she loves him. His lips are soft and gentle, and then suddenly they aren't so gentle, he's crushing them against her and his hands are in her hair. She moans his name and then pushes him away. "We can't do this."
"Why not?" He leans down, those guileless blue eyes staring into her. "If you love me back, then what's the problem?"
She shakes her head, her white hair swinging in front of her face. "I'm engaged to Lon'qu." With trembling fingers she pulls the chain from her shirt, exposing the silver ring that Lon'qu gave her. "He proposed yesterday."
He narrows his eyes. "Do you love him?"
She pauses, and has to think about it. "Yes." It's not exactly a lie.
She can't give him the real reason that she can't marry him, because if she does, he'll come up with excuses, and it will convince her, and suddenly the air in her chest feels like ice and she's having trouble breathing. The walls are closing in and she's gasping for air. A panic attack, right now? Part of her is angry with her body for betraying her in this fashion. She wraps her arms around her chest and tries to draw in enough air to fix the swirling in her head.
Chrom has seen the attacks before, so he knows what to do. He doesn't touch her, doesn't do anything sudden. He speaks soothingly to her, and eventually she moves to him, and he holds her, gently, not confining. She wishes he would leave, abandon her - it would certainly make it easier. But he stays.
Her breathing steadies and she sighs, feeling the skin of his neck against her clammy forehead. Chrom and Lon'qu are the only people who have witnessed her panic attacks, but she still feels terrible that they know about her weakness. He whispers soothingly in her ear, and when she raises her head, he looks at her with so much sadness.
"Robin, I love you." He shakes his head. "I don't want to get in the way of your happiness with Lon'qu, but I love you."
"I love you too." It claws its way out of her. She can't bear to see him so upset. She puts her hand on his cheek, tears in her eyes. It feels like she is stabbing herself in the heart with a glowing shaft of electricity. Better me than him, she thinks. "But I can't... I can't marry you."
"Because of Lon'qu."
She doesn't deny it. He stands, and kisses her forehead. His hands linger on hers, and his tears fall onto their touching hands.
And then he goes.