Chapter 7: Where They Began

She couldn't go in there. They'd tear her apart—she just knew it. Once she stepped foot in that building, she'd never make it out alive.

"Mom, don't make me go," Robin pleads, white-knuckling the backpack in her lap. "I can't go."

Her mom's lips form a thin line, and she turns to look at her with sad eyes. "Robin—"

"Please just homeschool me. Please, Mom. Everyone is going to hate me. You know that."

Her mom unclenches the steering wheel for a moment to cover Robin's hand with her own. "No, no, they won't hate you. You're so smart and so kind. You'll make friends in no time. Everything will be okay, I promise you. We're going to make it work. It'll just take some time to get settled."

Robin pulls her hand away and tries to curl into the seat. "It's too soon! It's only been a few months. They can't make me go to school."

"I know it's soon, baby, and I wish we could homeschool," Mom says, her breath hitching. Her hands land on the steering wheel again, clutching it as if it's the only thing keeping her grounded. "But you know we're not at a place where we can do that right now."

"I know…"

They didn't have any other options, Robin knows that much. The car was the only thing they had left after everything was confiscated by the government. Their new apartment for just the two of them sat nearly empty, several miles from upscale Ylisstol High. They can't go back to their old neighborhood until the dust settles—until no one is looking to settle debts (or start new ones) with her father. It could be years before it's safe for them again, and because of her father, everything they used to have is gone.

"Mom," her voice is small, her protests dying as the fear settles deeper into her bones. "What if they know?"

How could they not know? Her father, Validar, had been the head of one of the biggest crime rings in Ylisse. That's what they had said at the trial, anyway. Her father's bust six months ago had been all over the news. The mayor had made sure it'd received the most coverage possible since it had been his personal vendetta to capture him. The trial had been soon after, but the events were fresh in people's minds, especially when the city's defense attorney charged Validar of orchestrating the murder of Mayor Exalt's wife. There hadn't been enough evidence for the jury to convict him. Instead, they pinned him for money laundering and smuggling—twenty years maximum.

Robin's world had imploded in one fell swoop. With the media airing all the dirty laundry they could find on her father, she'd learned the extent of what he'd done. She'd known he did business of some sort, but her father had kept almost all the details from her, alluding only to things he wanted her to learn in the future. He hadn't said it, but she knew. He wanted her to take over everything.

Robin hadn't been mentioned by name in any of the articles—she was a minor. But they would know.

"It doesn't matter if they know," Mom replies with certainty. "We're both more than the things your father did. This is a fresh start for us, okay?"

She leans over the center console to pull Robin into a hug. Robin clutches her back, tears beginning to pool in her eyes.

"I'm scared," she whispers.

"I know, baby. Me, too." Her mom's voice hitches, and she squeezes Robin tighter. "But we're going to be okay. We just have to try, and we'll get there even if we're just taking baby steps. You have to trust me. We're going to make it through this."

She is the only one Robin trusts anymore. Robin sniffles and wipes at her eyes. "Okay."

"Okay," she echoes quietly. Her mom gingerly cups Robin's face. "Have a good first day. I'll be right here after school, okay?"

Robin steadies her breathing and nods. Her mom motions for her purse and digs around to hand her a pair of crumpled bills.

"For lunch today, okay?"

Robin stares at the money in her palm and wants to give it back. For all she knows, it's all the money they have.

"Go on," Mom says, nudging her to open the car door. "I love you, little bird."

Robin shoves the money into the pocket of her hoodie and gives her mom one last look. "Love you, too." She climbs out of the car, pulls her hood up over her head and trudges forward.

-X-

Chrom sighs as Emmeryn pulls up to the parking lot. Ylisstol High looms large in front of them, with white brick walls around the perimeter and a vast green lawn just beyond them. He can't wait to get out of this place. Out of the city entirely even, away from everyone's expectations.

He's only fourteen and everyone already expects too much of him. It's because of his father. Military career, politics—as the only son, he's the one people look to, even though Emmeryn is way better at everything than he is.

He'd stay for his sisters, even though Emm probably wouldn't ask him to. She's the only one who really understands what it's like, being Eldred's child. He's at least glad she decided to live at home while she studies. If it were just him and Lissa—well, he doesn't like to think about that.

Emmeryn pulls up along the front of the school and gives him a soft look. "Go on, sleepyhead. I don't want to hear that you were late to class again."

Chrom frowns. "It was one time."

"One time too many," she teases. "Do you have your homework?"

"Yes, Emm," he groans, even though he's not entirely sure he does.

She smiles knowingly, and he huffs a laugh, waving as he shuts the car door. He strides past the massive gates and across the manicured grass.

There's someone waiting outside the doors to the main building, the entirety of the school looming high in front of them. A small someone, with a dark hood pulled up over their head like a vampire's cloak, so he can't see their face. They don't make a move to open the doors as if waiting for someone to invite them in, also like a vampire.

Chrom briefly considers going around the long way, but he decides against it. He likes being friendly, especially if it's a new face. He calls out as soon as he's close enough. "Hey! Do you need a hand?"

The hooded figure spins on their heel, and their eyes meet. It's a girl. Her gaze is dark and fierce and more than a little intimidating.

He tries not to squirm under her scrutiny. "Um, are you new?"

She nods tightly. For some reason, she's carrying her bag in her arms instead of on her back.

"Oh, cool? I'm Chrom. Where are you from?"

The girl doesn't respond, and an awkward silence stretches between them. He shifts on his feet and gestures toward the door with one hand.

"Well…welcome to Ylisstol High. Do you want me to show you around?"

It seems like that's the last thing she'd like. He wishes Emm were here. She'd know what to say, how to get this girl to stop glaring. She's always had that effect on people. Chrom, on the other hand, always seems to say the wrong thing.

To his surprise, she speaks. "Thank you," the girl says, stiffly. "I…I'm Robin."

He tries not to grin too big. He doesn't want to scare her off. "Are you a freshman?"

The girl—Robin—nods.

"Me, too. We'll probably have a few classes together," he replies, brightly, then flushes in embarrassment. "My notes aren't, uh, great, though, so hopefully you don't need help in that area."

Robin finally smiles, just a little, at his self-deprecation.

"Come on, I'll show you to the office." He pulls the door open, and the sudden blast of air-conditioned air causes Robin's hood to fall off. Her hair is stark white. He's never seen anyone with hair like that. Then again, no one has his hair color either.

He holds the door while she steps through and leads the way further into the school. She follows behind him, and he makes idle commentary about this and that, to which she responds with hums or one-word answers. He's a little put out by her lack of response, but she does wave goodbye when he drops her off with the secretary, so he counts that as a win.

He looks for Robin in his classes. He grew up with everyone at Ylisstol, save for a few new faces over the years, so it's exciting every time there's someone new. And he's probably the first person she talked to here, so that makes him her first friend.

He finally spots her at lunch, eating by herself at a table. He makes his way over to say hi when a bunch of sophomores start to crowd her. The bad thing about being a new face at Ylisstol is that everyone notices.

"What's your name?" one of them demands.

"…Robin."

"Like the bird? What kind of name is that?"

She ignores them, but one of them gets in her face. He hasn't known her very long at all, but he's seen how good she is at silence.

"Hey, we're talking to you!"

"Leave her alone," Chrom snaps, pushing through them to get to her.

The leader of the group rolls his eyes. "Tsk, white knight to the rescue."

He makes it to her side and stands his ground, daring them to try anything.

The main bully stands up straighter and for a second Chrom thinks this is going to turn into an actual fistfight. The other boy acts tough for a minute and then backs off with a sneer. "Whatever."

The group disperses, all of them giving him the stink eye.

"You didn't have to do that," Robin says quietly.

He sits across from her. "You don't deserve that. It's your first day."

"They're going to take it out on you."

"They won't. They're too scared of my father."

She fixes him with a suspicious stare. "Are you a big deal around here or something?"

Chrom winces. "I'm definitely not. My father is the mayor, and people like sucking up to him, that's all."

Robin stiffens. "You're Mayor Exalt's son?"

"Unfortunately."

"Oh." Is all she says. She picks at her lunch a little and then starts to stand up.

"I like your name." Chrom blurts out.

Robin stares at him.

"'Robin.' It's a good name," he repeats, feeling stupid. He's sure his ears are turning red.

She glances around, almost as if to make sure no one is watching, and smiles that small smile again. "Thank you." She gathers her bag and the remains of her lunch. "See you?"

He nods quickly. "Yeah, see you around."

She walks away, and Chrom tries hard not to replay how awkward he was in his head. Robin is warming up to him at least. That, or she just likes when he makes a fool of himself. He feels awkward all over again, his face burning. Making new friends is not his strong suit.

-X-

The next day when his father breezes into the kitchen, he knows it's trouble. Usually, Frederick drives him to school, although sometimes Emm does because she likes it. Things always go south wherever his father is involved.

"Hurry up, boy," his father snaps. "I'll not have you embarrassing me with your tardiness."

Chrom glares through his bangs, a slice of toast halfway to his mouth. "You're taking me to school? Where's Frederick?"

"He's tending to other matters. Now, are you ready?"

Chrom dumps the rest of his breakfast in the garbage. "Yes."

The ride to school is tense and silent. Their conversations are always tinged with anger or irritation, so Chrom prefers the silence to small talk. He's relieved by how uneventful the ride has been until they pull up to the school. His father hits the brakes, and Chrom braces himself on the dashboard to stop from hurtling forward.

"Dad!" he growls.

Chrom turns to look ahead and there in the crosswalk in front of them is Robin, frozen in their headlights. She stares, wide-eyed, probably wondering which jerk drives a luxury SUV to school. People tend to stare when he's out with his father, and Chrom hates the attention. He thinks they make eye contact, but in the next instant, she's practically running toward the gates.

"Children," his father huffs. "No concern for their surroundings."

Chrom ignores him and makes to undo his seatbelt to catch up to her, not willing to stay in the car one more second that he has to.

His father makes a noise of disapproval, as if he can hear what Chrom's thinking. "Who is that girl? She looks familiar."

"Robin," Chrom answers curtly, pushing the door open. "She's new."

"Robin," he repeats, blue eyes narrowed. "The Grimm girl, is it? I can't believe they let that man's daughter in this school. I could pull a few strings…no reason a Plegian thief should be going to the best school in Ylisse."

Chrom inhales sharply, turning toward his father. "…what?"

"That girl with the dark hoodie. She's Validar's daughter. You have me to thank that man is rotting in jail where he belongs."

"Stop it," Chroms seethes, reflexively. He grabs his bag and holds it to his chest, backing away until just his hand is resting on the door.

His father makes a production about rolling his eyes. "Think of your mother, boy. Do you think she'd want you spending time with a Plegian? She'd be glad we won against that—"

"Don't talk to me like that!" He pushes until he hears a slam and turns away, walking—jogging—away until he's certain his father can't see him anymore. He runs past the gates and turns right along the brick wall toward the rec field. He doesn't get far, frustration and sorrow bubbling within.

He feels like he's about to burst. He growls and kicks at the brick wall, a knot in his throat and a pit in his stomach. He gets a tiny bit of satisfaction when part of the brick chips, but it vanishes quickly. He can hear his heart pounding in his ears, and he sinks down against the wall. He wills himself not to cry.

Don't think about mom. Don't think about mom. Don't think—

His breath is coming fast, too fast, and he presses his palms to his eyes until he feels moisture.

They don't talk about that man. They don't talk about him, and they don't talk about mom. Because how can he make everything related Mom about winning or revenge? How is that love? How can it feel so wrong?

"Chrom?"

He gasps and drops his hands, knotting them in the grass at his sides.

Robin crouches in front of him, her brow creased. "Are you okay?"

He feels like a mess. His brain is muddled, and suddenly he just needs to know.

"Is it true?"

She freezes, her expression shifting into something neutral. "…Is what true?"

"Is it true?" he presses. "That you…you're his daughter?"

She bites her lip. "That doesn't matter."

It does, a voice that sounds like his father says. Think of your mother.

"Stay away from me," he says coldly.

"Chrom—" she tries.

"Your dad is a monster. He's Plegian scum," he spits. "Just like you—"

Before he can finish, she strikes him hard, heat and pain blooming across his cheek. He presses his palm to his face and gapes at her.

"Fuck you," she spits back, getting to her feet. She storms off and doesn't look back.

-X-

The front door slams shut with a resounding slam followed by pounding up the stairs. Emmeryn looks up from her perch on the couch and winces when she hears a loud thud followed by a cascade of noise from the floor above.

Oh, dear. Something must have whipped Chrom up into a froth again.

She waits for a beat to see if he'll come downstairs, but there's only silence now. She bites her lip, debating whether she should intervene or let him work it out on his own.

She makes for the stairs.

Emmeryn knocks when she reaches his room, softly at first and then louder when he doesn't respond. "Chrom?"

"Go away, Emm!"

She huffs out a shuddery breath and sits down next to his door, leaning against the wall. She feels so powerless when he's like this—withdrawn, angry. So, so angry. She thinks some of it is her fault. She didn't shield him enough from their mother's passing or from their father's indifference, and now…

Now he tries to carry all of it himself, to be strong for her and Lissa. That's her job as the eldest, but Chrom is like her in so many ways. Always trying to protect them, always putting on a brave face.

He's only a boy. A boy who still needs his big sister.

She takes a deep breath to steady herself. "Chrom, I'm here to listen."

Silence.

She doesn't make to move. Sometimes it takes time to coax him back out.

Eventually, the door opens. She turns to peek inside and sees Chrom sprawled facedown on his bed. A shelf on his bookshelf has fallen, and CDs and video games are scattered on the carpet. Emmeryn takes a tentative step inside his bedroom and takes a seat beside Chrom on the bed.

"Did something happen at school?" She asks gently.

Chrom makes a noise in the affirmative.

"Tell me what happened, little brother. Talking about it will help you get it off your chest."

He finally lifts his head to look at her, his expression twisted into an angry frown.

"The new girl." He spits, finally sitting up so he can glare with more power.

"You mean Robin?"

Chrom had come home the day before and told her about Robin, the new student, and how she didn't talk much. How the older kids had targeted her already. It hadn't surprised her in the least to hear about him standing up for her, but it filled her with pride in him regardless. This tone, though, is far from his burgeoning excitement yesterday.

"Her. She's his daughter. That…that murderer is my classmate."

"Chrom!" She interjects, astonished at his outburst.

He continues, anger boiling. "I can't believe I wanted to be friends with her. As if a Plegian could be anything other than—"

"Enough." Emmeryn's voice is sharp around the order. She hates to speak to her siblings—to anyone—this way, but she can't allow him to continue. His mouth snaps shut, and his eyes go wide. "You will not speak ill of her. She's done nothing to deserve that. It doesn't matter who her family is."

"But Father says Plegians—"

"Chrom," she stops him, taking his hand and squeezing. "Did something else happen?"

You've never listened to our father, she wants to say. Why this? Why now? Why of all the things you could have learned from him you've learned his hate?

He doesn't respond and doesn't meet her eye.

"What happened to Mom was a product of hate, and I don't want you to perpetuate that. I know it feels as if that anger will never fade, and it might not. But we can't blame the people. We have to try harder to understand them, not hate them."

Chrom's breathing is uneven, and he pulls away roughly, curling his hands into tight fists. "How…how can you forgive them? After what they took from us."

"Because the people of Plegia have lost loved ones, too. It's the actions of individuals that are to blame, not the people as a whole. Ylisseans have done terrible things to the Plegian people, too."

"But…but Mom…" His eyes are watery, but he's not letting the tears fall.

"It still hurts me, too. Every day. But we can't allow ourselves to give in to hate." She settles down against the wall, and Chrom moves with her so they're pressed shoulder to shoulder. "Chrom, are you proud of the things our father has done?"

He's silent.

"It's the same for her."

She feels him lean his head against her shoulder. "…I'm sorry, Emm."

She rests her head against his, satisfied he understands a little more. He's taller than her now, she muses sadly. He'll be a good man, of that she's certain, and no matter what, she'll be here to guide him.

-X-

She knew this school was going to be a terrible idea.

She sees the way people look at her. They all know, they have to. She's certain Chrom has told everyone by now. That her father's a criminal, that she's one, that she's dirt compared to Ylisseans. She almost thought he meant it when he was being friendly. That was stupid of her, but she won't fall for it again.

She'd told her mom everything, and Mom had held her as she cried and cried, whispering that it would be okay: kids can say terrible things, but they're just words. Words that are untrue. You know who you are, little bird.

It doesn't feel like just words when the back of her neck is hot from everyone staring. She won't show weakness, though. She'll give as good as she gets.

"Robin!"

She recognizes the voice, and her shoulders rise like hackles. She walks faster, darting inside the building and making her way to the girl's bathroom with single-minded determination. He can't follow her there. He could wait outside until first bell, but she'll take that chance.

Unfortunately, he sprints to catch up with her and block her path. She doesn't make eye contact and tries to walk around him, but he steps in front of her again.

"Robin, wait. I have to say something," he says, a little breathless.

"Get out of my way," she snaps, moving past him once more.

"I will. I promise." He keeps step with her, and she sees her destination around the corner. Sweet freedom. Chrom notices and shouts, "I'm sorry, okay?"

Her steps don't falter, and she doesn't acknowledge him. She sweeps into the bathroom, which is mercifully empty and locks herself in a stall. She leans her forehead against the door and breathes. She won't cry. She won't think about his useless apology. Fuck him.

When the bell rings, he's not waiting outside, which she takes as a good sign. Unfortunately, he's stubborn like a mule. Every chance he gets, he follows her and yells his apologies as if saying it louder and more frequently at her is going to make a difference.

She's not going to give him an in. He doesn't deserve it. He made it clear what he thinks of her.

It's when she's waiting for her mother to pick her up from school that Robin finally snaps. Chrom had sought her out again, and this time there was nowhere to go.

"Robin, I just want to say sorry for what I said! Why won't you accept it?" he growls.

"I don't want your apologies, Exalt. I don't want anything from you." She refuses to look at him but doesn't have to in order to set him straight.

The fact that she spoke to him seems to mollify him a little. He sounds sheepish when he speaks next. "Yeah, I wouldn't either…"

"Okay, then go!" she shouts. "Leave me alone. Stop following me around. You're obnoxious."

She can practically hear his feathers ruffle.

"I'm just trying to be nice!" His voice cracks.

She whirls on him. He's frowning and red-faced—from embarrassment or anger, it doesn't matter. "Oh, this is you being nice? So I'm just supposed to forget when you shouted at me about being Plegian scum?"

His jaw clenches. "You don't understand—"

"No, I do. I know who your father is, too. And if you're anything like him, then I don't want anything to do with you."

"Take it back," he growls immediately.

She stares his dead in the eye. "No."

He takes a step back, mouth hanging open and big blue eyes open wide as if she'd slapped him again. He looks…hurt. Unbidden, guilt pools her in stomach.

Her mouth opens without permission. "I…I'm—"

He turns away from her, his expression closed off. He offers his last words over his shoulder, full of anger, "No, apology not accepted."

Robin watches him leave, beating down the feeling that she messed up. It was his fault. He started this. She's glad he's hurt. So is she.

If this is how it had to be between them, so be it.

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you thought.