Newlywed Suite for One

Pairing: Gaius/Cordelia/Chrom

Prompt: "Resort"

Sum: Awakening AU. Cordelia is stranded at a tropical island resort for her honeymoon without her husband, who left on a different plane…with a different woman. Enter Gauis, the charming nobody gambling addict who also has trouble to deal with in paradise.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem.

Chapter One: Day 1, Arrival

Cordelia impatiently tapped the heel of her wedge on the lobby's tiled floor. It was stuffy and crowded in the lobby; tourists and hotel staff scuffled around, bumping shoulders. And the noise. Oh god, the noise. In truth, she never wanted to go to Hawaii. She was the type of woman whose definition of a romantic time was sitting on the couch with a Nicholas Sparks novel or crossword puzzle and snuggling with —

Ding

"Miss? The suite should be ready about now."

She took her room key and thanked the handsome, young man at the reception desk. A pretty, violet-eyed woman poked her head out of the back door of the main desk area. "Oooh," she squealed. "You're another one of those newlyweds, am I right? I want to have my honeymoon somewhere like this place too! How romantic!" The man, with the name Matthew printed on his ID tag, shook his head at her dreamy sighs. "Ignore Serra," he said. "She's new. A college student working here for the summer. She's having a hard time abiding to the rule of not butting in clients' businesses." Cordelia nodded. "It's really alright…" Matthew motioned the girl to shoo with his hand, which she scoffed at but obeyed. "Anyway, what about the other key? And do you need help with your luggage? It's busy today, but I'll send for someone if I can." Cordelia bit her lip. She didn't want to explain her predicament to anyone. It was just embarrassing. She wet her lips and said, "No, it's fine. I think I can manage on my own."

—

Some time later, Cordelia regretted declining help to avoid talking to the receptionist longer. She cursed her stubborn pride. Maybe I should've let myself burst out in tears and sob about how my husband left me, She thought bitterly. Chrom. He was still a sore subject even in her own mind.

It happened twelve hours ago. Twelve hours ago, she was in utterly blissful. She was standing in line for the gate to their flight twisting her wedding band. She adored the oval cut diamond. She adored the tiny rubies circling on each side of it. Then she realized the man who had given her the precious jewels had been in the bathroom for two hours. Then she turned around to see him walking in the opposite direction, arm around her maid of honor, Sumia. She dropped her handbag in horror as they continued to walking towards another gate. She opened her mouth to scream his name but only air came out. She did not feel anger, or jealousy. Not even sadness. She wanted to get away, to simply run. She picked up her purse and her legs propelled her onto the plane knowing that he would not join her.

And now, now she found herself struggling to haul her suitcase in the elevator. Cordelia was now not only embarrassed, but sweaty and fatigued. She tucked some strands of her long scarlet hair that were creeping behind her ear.

"Need help with that?"

She was pulled from her reflections and looked up. The voice belonged to a man who looked around her own age. He had shocking orange hair and an equally shocking amount of confections lining his pockets. His speech was slightly muffled due to a lollipop he was sucking on. Despite the bulge of the candy on the side of his mouth, he had a confident smile.

"Yeah," she panted. "It would be a real help."

"Where did your man go? He ought to carry those bags if he's your husband."

Please don't say it. Please don't say it. No matter how much you want a shoulder to cry on, don't.

"He abandoned me here."

Damnit!