Hello hello you beautiful people! Been a while hasn't it? I deeply apologize this chapter took a long time to come out. Many things happened and I had to deal with several things both personal and professional. However that is neither here nor there. Without further ado I'm happy to present chapter 11!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these amazing characters... yet...

"So that's what happened, yeah?" Came the teasing remark of the Prince.

Robin let out a groan as he could hear the snickers of the other Shepards. Word from a rather careless Stahl had spread like wildfire, and now Robin was paying the price. Once Gaius found out how Nowi essentially forced him on a date he scampered off to inform the others. Robin had entered the bar only to be greeted by catcalls and whistles.

Robin narrowed his eyes towards his blue-haired friend, shamelessly taking pleasure in being the loudest among them. "I'd like to see you try to turn down a date from Sumia if she forced you to."

"That'd never happen," Chrom chuckled. "Plus that doesn't count. We're married remember?"

"I doubt Robin would have forgotten, Milord" came the steady voice of Frederick as he took a seat next to Chrom. "After all he was the one who planned the majority of your wedding."

Chrom laughed nervously. Of course he knew that. "It was just teasing, old friend. Robin knows how much I appreciated his dedication to that occasion."

Robin grinned at Gaius, who in turn understood the tactician's meaningful glance and slight nod towards the Shepherd's Captain.

"I don't know Blue," Gaius started slowly. "You seem to be enjoying awkwardness at this whole bet. This along with all of his other duties, why the poor guy must be exhausted!"

At this, Robin made a show of pretending to fall asleep at the table, crying out how his boss treated him like a pack horse. Chrom looked around sheepishly as the others were chuckling, waiting to see what his retort would be. Luckily, his salvation walked right through the door.

"Virion!" Chrom called out, hailing the archer as he strode into the bar. "Did you hear about Robin's new date for tomorrow?"

Said man let out a whoop of joy as he rushed toward the bar and gave Robin a giant bear hug. "My dear friend, that is most marvelous news indeed!" With surprising strength Virion managed to squeeze the breath out of the poor tactician. "So who is the lucky lady of the night? Is it lovely Cordelia? Perhaps the beautiful Sully? Or maybe an intellectual evening with fair Miriel?"

"Nope, none of them." Robin gasped out, finally releasing himself from Virion's grip. "I happen to be going on a date with Nowi tomorrow."

"Not that he had a choice!" Vaike called from a booth. Everyone laughed as Robin rolled his eyes and gave him the evil eye. "Forced him to take her on a date, she did."

Virion chuckled as he waggled his finger. "Tut, tut, my friend. The very fact that she knows exactly what she wants is part her charm!" He proceeded to take a seat next to Robin, throwing a friendly arm around the tactician's shoulders. "Imagine, if you will, a woman who does nothing does sits around giggling with her gaggle of friends while waiting constantly for you to make a move. If that tickles your fancy then Ylisse has them by the gaggle, however, if you want a woman who knows what she wants, when she wants it, then you my friend just have to ease up and let her enjoy herself. Be a gentleman."

Robin downed a shot and grimaced as the liquor hit his throat. Turning to the archer with a raised eyebrow he smiled. "A gentleman huh? I suppose we'll just have to see how it goes tomorrow night."

As he turned to leave the bar he motioned for Gaius to follow him. The redhead nodded and finished off his drink. Tossing a coin to the bartender he fell in step with Robin. The two walked in silence for a while, Gaius noticing his friend was deep in thought. After a couple minutes Robin turned his head.

"Gaius, that invention Miriel was working on with her apprentices. You know, the one with collapsible wings?"

The thief found it hard to suppress a grin. "I've heard a thing or two about it. I think I read a report from one of our spymasters a couple of months ago saying that it had multiple failures and is close to being scrapped. Are those the wings you're referring to?"

"The very same," Robin said as he changed direction to the Artisan Quarter. Here was where the local guilds and tradesmen crafted their merchandise. Miriel had convinced Chrom a while ago that having a research space for her experiments that was close to an area where ideas are constantly being bounced around would be beneficial to the Halidom. A while later some local students asked to be her students. After declining several times, she finally caved and allowed them to be her assistants. The experiments were often ridiculous and sometimes dangerous, however the group did manage to improve the quality of many potions and medicines. A few even took to engineering and under Miriel's strict tutelage helped improve the living conditions in the lower quarters of Ylisse. Robin caught wind of Miriel's experimentation group early and while they were considered good friends, Miriel was a true scientist, keeping her major breakthroughs under wraps until perfected.

That was why Robin assigned a spymaster to watch the group. He considered it necessary that any information useful to the Halidom should at the very least be known to him.

As they made it to the building Gaius bid his friend goodbye. Inside Miriel's lab many of her apprentices were moving fast paced back and forth, grabbing items for their projects, or delivering their reports. Robin glanced around, looking for the taskmaster herself. After a minute of looking he saw her in her office, currently busy reading one of the reports.

As he walked into the doorway he knocked on the heavy wooden door. Miriel looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Robin," She nodded briefly. "Apologies, I was currently studying my student's findings. It is most fascinating but I fear she is not using the herb grass to it's full potential. I requires further investigation, I suppose."

"Strict as ever," Robin grinned. "I suppose that part about you is what makes your contributions to the Halidom so much more meaningful."

Miriel sighed. "Quite. Now to what do I owe the pleasure of getting a visit from the Royal Grandmaster. Or is he here as the Spymaster Commandant?"

"Neither," Robin grinned, feigning a look of innocence. "I'm simply here as Robin, a comrade and fellow seeker of knowledge."

"Then fill out an application for apprenticeship," came the curt reply.

Robin faltered a bit until Miriel gave him a teasing smirk. "You never go anywhere as 'simply Robin' my friend. For you were thrust into a leading role the moment Milord found you in that field."

Miriel walked past him and closed the door. Once they were closed she turned back to her desk and sat in her chair. "Now, you have three minutes to tell me what you need. One minute to tell me, a minute to convince me, and the last minute is a grace I provide for close comrades."

Robin planted himself in the chair opposite the desk. "To the point then. I need to borrow your prototype wings."

Miriel's eyes hardened. "Out of the question. Never mind how you even found out about them, they won't even hold your weight much less allow you to glide."

"Please Miriel," Robin leaned forward. "Don't insult my intelligence network. I know that the project was scrapped by your students, but I also know that you personally invested your time into making the project a success. It was all your group worked on for months, setting all your other projects to the side. I know you've succeeded with the lab tests and you're currently waiting to find a willing test subject for its first field flight."

The mage slumped down in defeat. As always the extent of knowledge Robin could find when he put his mind to it was frightening. She always believed knowledge was power, and she also remembered Robin was one of the most powerful men in Ylisse.

"If you are willing to become a test subject for those then I'll need you to fill out a detailed report of all your findings. Of course that includes time, weather conditions, and wind direction."

Miriel stood up and motioned for the tactician to follow. "I'll show you the controls and how it works. You'll also need to get familiar with the harness."

They walked to one of the many storage units Miriel had. Once she removed the heavy metal lock piece she walked into the unit. Robin saw before him many backpack looking devices lined up neatly in a row. They were rather large units consisting of a metal frame with folded rods, each lined with a leather like material. Two of the main rods extended further back with a wing like contraption at the end. Many were torn up or broken except for one that was hung properly in the back of the unit.

"A few rules before you lose focus Robin." Miriel grabbed the cloak's collar. "Only you are permitted to operate this. No stunts or dangerous maneuvers. Always wear your harness and safety gear. Absolutely no passengers. Last but not least, do not fly at night. Is that clear?"

Robin nodded. "Of course Miriel. I purely intend to use this as instructed for the future of science and progress."

Tharja cackled softly to herself as she prepared the finishing touches to her scrying mixture. Soon she would have all her answers as to Robin's recent behavior. As she reached for Gaius's bag of candy she spun around as the place she set them her hands found nothing. Quickly scanning the room she seethed as she saw nothing.

Outside a crow cocked it's head to the side as it dropped a small bag of candy into the palm of it's waiting master.

"Naughty, naughty little girl." A soft voice giggled. "You just have to wait your turn for big brother to spend time with you."

I know it wasn't as long as expected and I apologize. However I am trying my best to get the next chapter up in a timely manner. I know it's been a while but as always if you have questions, comments, concerns or complaints please let me know! Stay beautiful and see you soon! - DaBlazinAsian