"Hi Henry! Hi Tharja!"

"You're awfully cheerful for someone who hates us," Tharja muttered.

Morgan frowned, "I don't hate you. I hated the fact that you might be Grimleal, but you aren't, so we're good!"

"I can't believe we're actually going through with this," Lucina exhaled, sounding slightly annoyed. She reached behind her neck. With a quick tug, her hair came undone, falling over her shoulders.

Robin sighed, "Just... don't break anything."

"Didn't plan on it," Tharja grumbled.

"Aww!" Henry pouted.

"Have a seat, they'll be here soon," the tactician gestured to the living room. The two went and sat down. Lucina walked over and sat across from them.

"Hey! Hey, Luci!" Morgan bounded over to her happily, "Come on, I want to show you my room!"

"Mor- Ah!" The bluenette helped as the ravenette pulled her up, and began running, "Morgan! Slow down!"

"Are they friends or something?" Tharja asked, glancing at Robin.

"More like kill buddies, but yeah," Robin sighed, "Those two are scary together."

The doorbell rang. He walked over, opening the door.

"Yo," Chrom smiled at him, waving. Tiki stood next to him, smiling Frederick and Lissa stood behind them, the former scowling.

"Robin!" The blonde cheered, jumping on him, "I haven't seen you in forever!"

"Whoa!" He fell backwards, "Lissa, I've been at the base everyday after work!"

"Yeah, and then you barricade yourself in the tactics room!" She scowled, "Learn to take a break, will ya?"

"Okay, okay! Get off of me!"

"Nah," she giggled, "I like this. Your coat is fluffy."

"Seriously?!"

"Come on Lissa," Tiki sighed, pulling her off of him, "We have important things to discuss, remember?"

"Yeah, something about new members?"

"Yeah," Robin nodded, "They're in the living room."

The trio followed him, and Chrom frowned.

"Where's Lucina and Morgan?"

"Morgan dragged her up to her room. They probably won't be back for a while."

"Are these the aspiring recruits you mentioned?" Frederick stared at Henry and Tharja.

"Uh, yes," the tactician nodded, "This is Henry,"

"Hiya!"

"And Tharja."

"...Hi."

"They look nice," Lissa commented.

"Looks can be deceiving," Frederick muttered.

"Don't be like that," Chrom laughed, patting him on the shoulder. He turned to the two, "I'm Chrom, field commander of the Shepherds, though I'm sure you knew that. This is Lissa, my younger sister, and Frederick, our..."

"I am their bodyguard," Frederick stated, straightening up and folding his hands behind his back, "I am here to ensure no harm becomes the commanders and Lissa."

"Calm down Frederick," Tiki laughed lightly, "My name is Tiki, I'm the indoor commander for the Shepherds. I manage our stocks, plans, and supports."

"I manage the fieldwork, missions and fights," Chrom added, "Shall we get started?"

"We shall," Tharja muttered.

"I'll go make some tea," Robin said, walking into the kitchen.

He slowed down once he was out of sight, a small blush creeping up his face. Of all times, why did it have to be now that he couldn't stop thinking about last week's events?

"You. You're cute."

"Snap out of Robin, it didn't mean anything," the tactician muttered to himself, filling the kettle and putting it on the stove. He was left to think quietly, about last week, and what had led to this.

He was just being a good friend.

But... friends don't do things like that, right?

He called me cute. It was just an empty compliment.

He doesn't actually think I'm cute, does he?

A shrill whistle ripped through the air, startling him from his thoughts. The tactician quickly pulled the kettle off, and grabbed his teapot and cups.

He tossed some tea bags into the pot, and filled it, before placing it all on a tray.

Everything was ready, but he didn't take it back. He stood there for a couple minutes, lost in thought.

He felt a presence behind him, and someone's warm breath tickled his ear.

"Hey."

"Gah!" The tactician yelped, whirling around and gripping the edge of the counter.

"Whoops," Chrom laughed, "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Holy shit, Chrom," Robin breathed heavily, "Don't do that! I nearly clocked you!"

"Really?" He laughed again, "I doubt it would hurt that much."

Robin scowled, punching him lightly, "Bastard. What do you want?"

"You were taking a while, so I came to check on you."

"Really?"

"What?' The commander smirked, leaning down to his ear, "Am I not allowed to check on my tactician?"

Robin squeaked, pushing him away, "W-what the hell Chrom?! Get out!"

Chrom laughed as the tactician shoved him out of the kitchen, storming back in with a furious red blush covering his cheeks.

The commander chuckled, waiting for him to come back out with the tea. They walked back to the living room, where Robin set down the tea.

The meeting proceeded.

◇◇◇

Morgan smirked as she stared at her father. Robin stared out the window, watching Chrom, Tiki, and the others leave.

Mostly Chrom.

"Papa?" She poked his cheek.

"Huh? Oh, sorry Morgan, I was just thinking," he shook his head, "What do you need?"

"Were you staring at Chrom?" She asked.

"What?" He blushed, "No!"

"Ooh, you were!" She burst into giggles, "I knew it! Papa likes Chrom, Papa likes Chrom-"

"Shush!" He scowled, covering his face, "Gods, not you too..."

Morgan giggled, "Come on Papa, it's not a bad thing!"

He gave her the stink eye.

"Nobody in the Shepherds is a homophobe, promise."

"That's not it."

"What, you think he's straight?"

"Are you telling me he isn't?"

"According to Luci he's bi."

Robin stood up with a sigh, "Just... nevermind. I have the day off, what do you want to do?"

She gasped, "Can we go see that new movie that came out?! Uh... what's it called... um... Shadow Dragon?!"

"Sure," her father smiled, "I've been wanting to see that remake as well."

"Yes!" Morgan squealed happily, "Woohoo!"

He laughed, watching her race off. She turned the corner to the front closet, and a loud thump was heard.

"I'm okay!" She exclaimed. Robin snorted, following her.

◇◇◇

"So we're allowing them to join?" Lucina raised an eyebrow.

"I don't see why not," Chrom nodded, "We'll have to test them first, but..."

"I'll email them," Tiki said, "Robin gave me their emails."

"Make sure you use the encrypted email," Chrom reminded her.

"That was one time Chrom!" She scowled, leaving the room.

"Alright!" Lissa cheered.

Frederick didn't say anything.

There was yelling from the next room. It sounded like Vaike and Miriel.

Chrom sighed, "Not again..."

"I'll take care of it," Lucina told him.

"Thank you."

"I will come as well," Frederick stated, following her out of the room.

Chrom and Lissa were left alone together.

"So," Lissa grinned, "You and Robin?"

The commander's face turned a crimson red, "I... I don't know w-what you're referring to."

"I knew it!" She burst into giggles, "Oh man, I have to tell Em about this!"

"What?! Lissa-"

But it was too late. She was already out of the room.

Chrom groaned, "I'm never going to hear the end of this..."

He walked out of the room, deciding to go on break. The blue haired man had already done plenty today, from helping the younger members with their training, and the meeting with Tharja and Henry. He was tired.

Chrom sat down in the break room, thinking. About earlier.

I can't believe I actually did that... It's probably just bothering him.

Though he is cute when he's flustered...

What am I thinking?!

He sighed, leaning back.

"Yo Commander!" The blue haired man blinked, frowning as Gaius and Lon'qu entered the room. The ginger haired hacker was in his usual black attire, with the stick end of a sucker sticking out his mouth as usual. Lon'qu was dressed in a mask and his usual thug outfit, though everyone had assured Robin many times that he is far from being as mean as he looks.

"Gaius, Lon'qu," he nodded at them. Lon'qu grunted in acknowledgement. Gaius went up to the coffee machine.

"You're unusually quiet, what's on your mind?" The hacker asked.

"Just... the new recruits," he lied.

"Is it really that sunny out?" Gaius frowned.

"What? No, why?"

"Your face is red. You telling me that's not a sunburn?"

Chrom mentally cursed himself, "No, just-"

"Is it a girl?" Lon'qu asked.

"No!" At least that was true.

"A guy?" Gaius smirked.

"What?!"

"Ah hah!" The hacker grinned, "So it is a guy! Who is it? One of us?"

"No," Chrom scowled, though he knew there was no use denying it now, "I'm not telling you."

"I will name every guy in the Shepherds until I get a reaction," Gaius replied, crossing his arms. He poured an unholy amount of sugar into his coffee, before taking it and plopping down across from the commander.

"Please don't."

"Too late. Vaike?"

"No."

"Frederick?"

"Definitely not."

"Hmm... Stahl?"

"No."

"Virion?"

"Nope," Chrom crossed his arms. Gaius frowned.

"Oh come on! You know I'll find out eventually, I'm the cameraman."

"Yes, but I'm not telling you."

"Is it Kellam?"

"No."

Lon'qu sighed, "Stop. You'll just annoy him."

"Oh come on!" He looked up at the fighter, "You can't tell me you aren't curious!"

"At least I have the decency not to ask."

"Ouch."

"But whoever it is..." he looked at Chrom, who tensed up at the look in his eyes, "Don't let go. Who knows what will happen in this town."

"The hell is that supposed to mean?" Gaius frowned, "Ah, whatever. I have to get back to the cameras, Miriel will kill me if I leave them for too long. See ya."

He stood up, waving as he left the room.

Lon'qu picked up his own coffee, and left through the opposite door.

The commander frowned. He was confused for a moment. A realization made him blink.

Was he... referring to his own love?

Chrom remembered how Lon'qu had joined them. Nowi and Panne had been out patrolling the area, when they came across the mercenary wounded in an alleyway. They brought him back, and he agreed to join, though claiming only to repay his debt.

It had taken years for him to open up and tell them what had happened to leave him wounded like that. He had been ambushed by Grimleal with his girlfriend.

She didn't make it, and since they found out, nobodies actually talked about. Though Chrom suspects Cherche has spoken with him about it.

"Don't let go. Who knows what will happen in this town."

Well, he was right about that. Nobody ever knew what was going to happen here.

His phone buzzed. He frowned, checking it.

Robin
Movie theater, come quick. Something's wrong.

What happened?

Not sure myself. Morgan's asking around. Just hurry over.

OMW

He stood up, pocketing his phone with a frown.

Chrom left the room, frowning as he made his way to his car.