Hello everyone. Just a quick author's note explaining what this little series is going to be about. As I get more and more hyped for Fire Emblem Fates to finally be released in the USA, I have decided to write about my favorite ship in the form of various one-shots. The one-shots will be related to each other and will be in chronological order. Also, all one-shots take place in the REVELATION TIMELINE so naturally this series will have SPOILERS that I'll try to keep to a minimum. Corrin will learn about his true heritage in the series so, for example, if I call Ryoma his brother, remember that this is from Corrin's perspective. Anyways, all other comments and criticisms are appreciated and I hope you enjoy. I'm also open to any requests if you want to send me a word to center a one-shot on.
Attraction
With one final strike of the Yatogami, the head of a training dummy flew off several feet before bouncing and rolling into the destroyed scraps of countless others. After executing his slash, Corrin backflipped away from the dummy and upon landing, shifted back into an attack stance before examining his bladework.
"Well done Corrin. I'm truly impressed by how much you improve your swordsmanship every day" a nearby voice complimented.
Sheathing the Yatogami, Corrin turned to face the familiar voice. A smile rose to his face when he saw Ryoma, his brother and the Crown Prince of Hoshido, standing beside the entrance to the training grounds.
"Thank you brother. Coming from the best swordsman in all of Hoshido, your praise means quite a lot," he replied as a small smile rose to his face.
"Dedication to my training was the only reason why I have obtained the skill I possess. Even so, I have far much more to learn and master," Ryoma responded, always one to play down compliments placed upon him.
"Says that ace that can do almost anything with a little practice and make it seem effortless."
"You say that as if I can do everything the world has to offer when you know that's humanly impossible."
"Ah, there's the keyword. Humanly impossible. Like me, you have the blood of a dragon running through your veins, so, no matter how dilute it is, you're not fully human. That's your secret isn't it?"
Ryoma sighed at his brother's antics. "If that was the case then you would be much better than everyone else at everything the world has to offer. Anyways, I came here to remind you that though your dedication to your training is admirable, your family would like to see you and Azura at the dinner table tonight in the mess hall as opposed to somewhere else talking about whatever you lovers talk about."
Corrin's face immediately turned as red as the swordmaster's armor. "Ryoma, you know it's not like that! We're just good friends! Great friends! The best of friends! We're two individuals with similar situations that get along well with each other. Of course we'd talk often and spend time with each other."
"Of course" Ryoma replied, before turning his back to Corrin and concealing a smirk. "Just make sure that you're eating with us tonight instead of sharing of a romantic dinner with her two hours later."
With that last comment, Ryoma left the training grounds and Corrin was alone. Just like any other day where he was the last member of the army on the training grounds, he swept away the remains of the other training dummies he had pulverized into a neat and orderly pile off to the side and deposited any misplaced practice weapons back in their respective storage cabinets. Once this was done and the ground was clear of debris and ready for tomorrow's training sessions, Corrin walked down the heavily trodden dirt path back to his castle, where the army had made their camp between battles in the safe Astral Realm. However, he did not seek the chance to rest after a hard day's training. Instead, his mind was focused on one thing: his daily evening conversation with the songstress Azura. As he walked, he reassured himself that he would definitely fulfill Ryoma's request without cutting the upcoming discussion with Azura short.
It was no secret to the army of Hoshidans and Nohrians that Corrin and Azura spent a great amount of time together. After all, the two had been a major force in uniting both kingdoms, striking out together on their own path when the latest conflict between the two had arisen before returning and convincing them to put aside their differences. Against all odds, the two had combined the forces of Hoshido and Nohr to face the true enemy: the Invisible Dragon Anankos. Having the same experience of being stolen away from their kingdom of birth and living in the other, Corrin and Azura quickly established a basis of understanding with each other. Friendship blossomed quickly between the half-dragon and the songstress as they traded stories of their experiences and spent great amounts of time with each other as Corrin acclimated himself to the new culture during his short time in Hoshido.
That friendship had only deepened with the trials that came afterwards. Mikoto's death, Corrin's following draconic rampage, choosing to side with neither Hoshido nor Nohr, and jumping headfirst into the unknown domain of the Kingdom of Touma were all experiences that tested Corrin and Azura's faith in each other. Though these times were trying, the friendship between them had only strengthened, and that wasn't even counting the effects of the countless battles they had fought by each other's side when it came to building trust.
As Corrin walked, he recalled the first time he told all of his siblings the story of how he united both kingdoms to fight. Upon reaching the part where he first entered Touma, Leo had quipped that he either had to be crazy, in love, or both to jump off a bridge into the Infinite Chasm at Azura's request. Corrin also remembered how the heat that rose to his face and how his heart raced, as opposed to its usual calm rhythm. Despite his swift denial of the statement, none of the other royals listening seemed convinced by his arguments. Corrin's reminiscence led him to thinking about Ryoma's words earlier that day and just why nearly everyone else in the army told him he was in love. After all he would know what love felt like…. right? Wouldn't he be the first person to know if he was in love with someone else?
But the truth of the matter was that Corrin did not know many of the emotions that the world could bring upon a person. Though he didn't want to admit it, Corrin knew that being trapped in the Northern Fortress had sheltered him from a great deal of what the world had to offer. His early life took place in an environment so devoid of positivity that all Corrin truly was able to feel was the occasional happiness and the love towards his siblings. Otherwise, feelings of sadness, disappointment, boredom, and a whole other gamut of negative emotions that ranged anywhere from anger, to anguish, to fear and despair reigned supreme. The more and more he thought on this matter, the more Corrin realized and accepted that he wouldn't have the slightest idea what being attracted to another would truly feel like.
This troubled Corrin greatly as he entered the castle premises. As he passed by the Hoshidan armory, he began to wonder just exactly how he could tell when he was truly in love. Placing his arm on the building's exterior and leaning into it, he let out a sigh before muttering "Azura might know about this. Chances are that Mother's policy of not locking up her guests let her know more about the world and she might have an answer or two for me."
As Corrin took some time to process his thoughts, Azura waited for his arrival at their usual meeting place, a small pond surrounded by cherry trees at the edge of the castle grounds. She nervously glanced at the setting sun before looking back at the entrance to the miniature glade.
"Corrin should be here by now," she thought to herself, concern etched across her face. Ever since they had decided to discuss the state of affairs with each other each day, Corrin had never missed their meetings and was most certainly never late. Thus, she was able to quickly arrive at the conclusion that either something was taking a toll on his mind or he had been lassoed into some short responsibility at the last second. Either way, she was still concerned by his absence.
"He'll be here soon. He hasn't forgotten. He will show up like he always has and we'll talk about whatever is on his mind ," was the next thought that ran through Azura's head as her mind now focused on the half-dragon and how his initiative to make conversation and to let them open up to each other had helped build their friendship. Never before had she made a friend like Corrin, not even during her years at the Hoshidan palace and all the times she had wandered through Shirasaki City. As a Nohrian princess in the heart of Hoshido, Azura often found it difficult to make connections amongst the locals due to the tensions between nations. However, Corrin was different from the rest of the people she had met. Though he was a prince of Hoshido and had learned of his true origins, he embraced her presence with an open heart and warm, friendly tone in his voice. At first, Azura thought his Nohrian ties meant that his kindness was nothing but sympathy for her, a show of understanding from one foreigner to another. However, the more time she spent with him, the quicker she realized just how wrong her first impressions were.
Throughout their travels, Azura noticed that Corrin had always treated everyone with kindness, no matter who they were or what their background was. The way he treated her was no different. She admired the way that he paid attention to her every word when they talked and the way that he listened to her opinions without any interruption, yet still digesting them with the utmost care. She loved how he made her feel appreciated no matter the situation, how one of his trademark smiles could make her feel warm inside and erase any negative emotion she was feeling.
As she thought of Corrin, Azura closed her eyes and let out a soft hum of contentment. From what she knew, Corrin had been through so much in his life, yet what he had faced had never brought him down. In times of hardship and despair, she noted how he would cast aside how he felt to put on a brave face that inspired those who traveled with him. In times of someone's sadness, she knew that Corrin was often the first person to comfort them, lending both his pointy ears and his heart to the person in need. Azura had always known that these qualities were hard to find in a person, but somehow, regardless of his environment, Corrin had developed them.
When they first set out alone to Touma, Azura never would have thought that Corrin would agree to jump off the bridge at the Infinite Chasm. Even though they were pressed for time and on the run, nobody in their right mind would consider an option that could result in their death. However, Corrin had agreed to it instantly. After the ensuing battle, she had asked him why he went along with her suggestion.
The answer was quite simple. "I trust you Azura. I'll always trust a good friend," was all that Corrin had said. Azura remembered staring into his eyes, scanning his ruby irises for any signs of a lie. She also remembered her happiness at finding none and how she couldn't stop a smile from spreading across her face and heat from rising to her cheeks. Lost in her reminiscence, Azura dipped her toes into the pond, gently sending a series of small ripples across its otherwise calm surface.
Upon gazing at the ripples, Azura realized that the scene before her was an accurate description of how Corrin made her feel all throughout their travels. Azura was known throughout the army for her extraordinary calm disposition, but whenever Corrin was nearby, he always somehow managed to create those ripples that disturbed it. She would never show any signs of it externally, but Corrin's presence made her resonate more with her emotions. It was as if the prince had access to a special set of keys that got her to open up and was slowly understanding and learning how to unlock the path to her heart with every moment in each other's company.
"Fascinating and beautiful sight isn't it?"
Azura quickly turned her head around to face the voice of Corrin, who had just entered the clearing.
"Quite so," she replied, "but I never would have enjoyed this beautiful sight if you were here earlier like usual."
Corrin scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Hahaha, you got me. Corrin the Tardy at your service Princess Azura."
"Oh stop that already," she responded, rolling her eyes, "Now then, who's the person that held you up today?"
"That would be me, and I guess Ryoma could count but then again if I counted him I could count most of the army at this point. You could say that on my way here, I got lost in thoughts all alone." A playful smile covered Corrin's face as he finished, knowing exactly what he did.
"You're insufferable," Azura groaned, also knowing exactly what he had referenced. "But come, tell me what's on your mind and I'll help you as best I can." She followed up her words by patting a soft patch of grass next to her.
Corrin agreed to his friend's request and made his way over to Azura's side, cape flowing in the slight breeze as he walked. Upon reaching the designated spot, he sat down and crossed his legs before promptly looking at the ground. "I'll try and make this quick since Ryoma wants us to have dinner with the family for once, but is it ok if I ask you a silly question?"
"I suppose our discussions have been rather long as of late, so I'll help you see to it that Ryoma gets his wish. As for your question, no matter how silly it is, I'll do my best to answer it honestly."
Corrin looked up from the ground, his facial features displaying a cross of embarrassment and pensiveness. "Azura, do you know what love feels like?"
For a short moment, Azura found her vision ensnared by the shine of his red eyes as he waited for an answer. "Of course I do Corrin, and you should as well. Don't you love your siblings from Hoshido and Nohr?"
"I do love them with all of my heart, but…my question was more…umm," Corrin paused as he looked at Azura. He could feel the analytical yet concerned and caring gaze she gave him, but found himself focusing on the two pools of gold that shone like the setting sun behind them. Breaking himself from his brief reverie, he finished his statement. "It was more inclined towards romantic love. You know, the boyfriend-girlfriend and beyond kind of love." Corrin could feel his heart begin to race. Though there was no adrenaline like in the heat of battle or like soaring through the air, the rhythmic beats of his heart had found a new frenzied tempo.
"Oh" she replied softly, a bit surprised by the new angle of the question. "Well, I never have been in a romantic relationship before, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what love feels like."
"Did my mother tell you anything about it?"
"She did, but that's only the basis of what I think love feels like. Everyone has their own opinion on the matter because everyone feels love differently," she answered.
Corrin tilted his head, perplexed. "Everyone feels love differently…but surely there has to be some common feature that all people feel right?"
"Well I suppose there are several features that tend to indicate if one person loves another…" Azura trailed off, looking up in thought, "But even then, they separate into different categories, mainly physical and emotional."
"So would things like a sharp increase in heartbeat speed and having your face heat up in someone's presence be some of the physical features?"
"Usually they are strong indicators," she affirmed before realization hit. "Corrin, are you trying to figure out if you love someone?"
The prince nodded slowly, casting his gaze to the ground. "Lots of people keep telling me that I'm in love with a certain person and another instance of it happened today. But, as you know, the Northern Fortress in Nohr kept me unaware of lots of things, be it cultures, people, emotions, you name it. Today, it crossed my mind that they could be right and I wouldn't know because I had never loved someone before in that sense and I've never seen it in anyone else."
"I can see why you would think that. Love certainly is a tough emotion to decipher."
"Tell me about it," he sighed, "Not having anything to go on makes it even harder. Everyone else in the army probably knows more about it than I do. And that includes people like Asama and Jakob!"
Azura sensed her friend's frustration and decided to do what any good friend would; she would provide Corrin the support he needed and help him find an answers. "Well, do you care greatly about the person in your mind? Would you do anything for them?"
The response came so quickly it seemed reflexive. "Of course I do! She's the greatest person I know and I would do anything to see her happy."
Noting everything about the response, she continued. "Would you say that she makes you happy no matter how you're feeling and that you do the same for her?"
"When I see her, it makes my day, no matter what I'm feeling. From what I know, I think I make her happy too. I don't know exactly if that's the case but I certainly hope it is. And if it isn't…well, I'll just have to try harder to make her happy."
"That kind of devotion is hard to find Corrin but it is an amazing trait that you have. If you do put that much effort into it, I'm certain you make the woman of your thoughts very happy indeed." Azura reassuringly placed a hand on his shoulder. "Corrin, you're a great friend. If you care for this person and you just keep being your wonderful self, I have no doubt that they'll be happy when you're around."
Corrin blushed at the compliment, but managed to suppress it after a moment. Shortly afterwards, he felt a wave of soothing, reassuring calm washing over him. Unlike the usual heart-racing nervousness, this new serenity provided him with mental clarity that he hadn't had previously. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around Azura and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you Azura. Those words mean a lot to me. And you know what? I'm lucky to have such a great friend like you too."
Corrin's actions took her by surprise and her eyes widened as he hugged her. After regaining control of herself, she quickly wrapped her arms around his back and returned the hug. In his arms, she felt warmer than she had even been before. She could feel his emotions radiating from him, the happiness he was experiencing, the appreciation he felt towards her, the gratitude he held, and most importantly the gentle assurance of the gesture.
"Corrin…Thank you." Those words from Azura were music to his ears. He could listen to her melodious voice forever, just like how he often lost himself in the brilliance of her gold eyes and was mesmerized by how her hair flowed in the wind like water in a river. This one simple thank you confirmed that his care had been acknowledged and had made her happy. In this moment of clarity, Corrin realized that what he was feeling was love. The others were right. He did love Azura after all. To care for her, to bring her eternal happiness, to do all this and so much more for the beautiful person he knew was his greatest desire.
Corrin pulled away from the hug and rose to his feet. "Come on. We don't want to keep Ryoma and the others waiting."
Azura looked up at him skeptically as she too stood up. "But we haven't resolved this issue yet. Though I agree we do need to be with our family more often, you still don't have an answer to your question."
"Actually, I do now. Your words of wisdom have shown me the light," Corrin smiled as he looked at Azura. "I know what love feels like and trust me I feel it alright."
"So you do love somebody. I wanted to make that guess but I'm glad that you figured it out yourself. If you didn't, I would have had to say it for you!" Azura let out a lighthearted laugh when she finished her statement.
"I suppose that could have been the case if I didn't come around in time," Corrin replied, a huge grin now plastered to his face, "but then again, I sure am glad I did. Now, all that's left to figure out is if the woman I love loves me in return. But I think that's something I'll talk about to you another day."
She nodded, adopting a smile as well. "Very well. Corrin, I am confident that if you keep being yourself, the woman you adore will love you with all of her heart. I'm glad you have found your definition of attraction."
"Me too. One less thing I have to wonder about at night. But in all seriousness, I don't want to find out the definition of Ryoma's irritability if we miss dinner tonight. And if you're concerned about the brevity of tonight's conversation, I'll make sure tomorrow's is twice as long as usual."
Azura laughed before she spoke again. "I wasn't concerned about that but regardless, I'll hold you to your word. I will definitely want a long conversation tomorrow. But let's worry about tomorrow later and dinner now."
"Right. Want to walk together?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Azura beamed as she took her place beside Corrin.
Corrin was on cloud nine as the two left the grove for the mess hall. As he walked, there was a spring in his every step and a smile never left his face. Everything about him beamed happiness and positivity, as if he had somehow found a way to forget about everything in the world except for the person beside him.
Azura reflected the same happiness as she walked. The knowledge that she had helped her friend with such a large issue was extremely heartwarming and gratifying. Love was no small matter and she hoped with all her heart that Corrin's feelings would be returned. It was much easier to share in a friend's success than comfort them and heal a broken heart.
As she and Corrin reached the mess hall, Azura had one final thought on the subject before shifting her attention to the upcoming dinner.
"Corrin is a far cry from the perfect gentleman. He still has a lot to learn about the world and his behaviors can be rather eccentric at times, but one thing is true about him that will never change. Corrin has the kindest heart of anyone I have met and I hope with all of my being I am the one he loves for I want to show the same kindness for the rest of my days."