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050. Admire

Two days ago, Celes had passed Terra a book. Upon further inspection, it wasn't The History of Espers. It wasn't even close. She'd enclosed a note in the front with her covert cover, and that had really explained all.

'Terra -

I'm a woman too. And I've seen the way that you look at our resident King. Whilst I may not quite approve of his actions with other women, if he treats you nicely then I approve of whatever you wish to do with/to him. I know that you may never have even thought about this side of life before, but I've seen the lust in your eyes and this book should clear up any illusions over what to do with those feelings quite nicely.

If you have any questions or want to read any more then come to me. I've got more books where this one came from.

- Celes'

Celes felt like the older sister Terra never had. In fact, they were only 8 months apart in age.

The book was called 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'. It was an eye-opener, to be certain. She started to feel things that she'd never felt before, discover latent desires that she barely even knew existed. Every time she looked at the king now, a different thought crossed her mind and she went pink and her cheeks flamed and she ended up making some excuse to leave or look away. Rationally, she knew that it didn't matter. But Celes had explained when Terra went to get a new book.

"The rest of us experienced these feelings over the period of years. You're experiencing them in weeks, barely pushing months." She smiled at Terra, as though fondly remembering something. "You're doing a much better job than the rest of us did. It's okay, you'll get through it." She pulled Terra into a quick hug (Celes would do that sometimes after spending a particularly nice evening with Locke) and sent her on her way with a new book. 'The Story of The Eye.'

This one was just as, well, eyeopening as the last. She's now grown a new appreciation for certain aspects of life. And, crucially, learnt that love has many facets and shapes.

"Terra?" Edgar intoned one day on the Falcon, as Terra sat on the kitchen countertop, reading merrily away.

"Y-yes?" She replied. She slammed the book shut so hard and so fast that she clamped her ring finger in the pages. She kept her face as straight as possible whilst holding in the pain.

Edgar laughed a deep, low rumble, and held out his hand for hers. "Let me see it."

She wanted to say that she was the better healer of the two, but she couldn't force the words out. "Thank you."

"It's my please, m'lady." He was always so formal, but with that hint there that he had a slightly hidden agenda. He inspected her hand for a moment before decided that the best course of action, of course, was to kiss it better. And to look her directly in the eye as he did it, with those piercing blue, Figaro eyes.

Terra's heart stopped, she could've sworn it. And when it finally did beat again, her face was slowly becoming redder and redder and she was already planning her escape root. "T-Thank you!" She stuttered, before walking out of the kitchen and towards her room as nonchalantly as she could manage with her face as bright and a beacon.

When she was on her next book, she was lying on the deck, arms held up to the sky as she lay on her back, enjoying the view of the desert sunset. This place had once been a thriving grassland but with the destruction of the world...

She flipped a page, but it fell from her fingers - gravity once again at work. Someone pulled the page across for her.

"Thank you." She chimed, and was expecting to then be left alone.

"Ah, I had suspected that you weren't reading about the 'Magiteck War and It's Influences on Modern Day'"

Terra would recognise that rolling baritone anywhere. "E-Edgar? Your Highness?"

He sat next to her on the wooden deck. "I told you what- years ago now. Call me Edgar."

She still felt strange calling a King by his first name.

"And yes, I know your secret. I read some of the last one you were reading in the kitchen." He grinned cheekily at her.

Terra swallowed thickly. "Well-"

He put a finger to her lips. "Don't bother. We've all done it." He stood up. "Anyway, I hope you enjoy."

He waved as he walked away. Terra felt a little numb from the experience. Sure, she liked him before the books. But now... she still liked him, but couldn't see him in the same way at all.

A few weeks later, when Terra had read all of Celes' books and come to a peaceful conclusion with all her hormones, she was wondering the ship at night. Water, she'd told herself she wanted. Really, all she wanted was to walk around and forget about the memories.

Fate gave her a little helping hand.

In the kitchen sat Edgar, atop the middle table, reading a book. He was wearing only his pyjama trousers - loose about his ankles, and royal blue. All she could think about for a moment was how they complemented his eyes. But then, when her eyes roamed further over his otherwise naked body, she could only stop and stare for a moment. And appreciate the sight lined up for her.

His muscles looked like they were sculpted by an Esper. Backlit like that, he looked like he could be an inhuman creature. He was strong, and fit from all the fighting. A few scars shone off the light here and there, but he was so beautiful. All Terra could do was stare.

Eventually, she decided that actually, the water wasn't worth it. She turned and slowly began creeping back to her room.

"Terra." He called out. She stood stock still and felt her insides cringe.

"Yes?" She called back.

"Come here." He snapped the book shut, and watched her as she approached, eyes roving her body hungrily. She'd forgotten quite how naked she felt in her short nightdress. She'd only gone to get some water-

He pushed himself off the island, and stood there, lounging against it, waiting for her.

"I've seen the way you've been looking at me."

Terra blushed. Just a little.

He smiled at her - although it seemed more like a smirk than anything. He leaned forward. "I know what you want." He whispered in her ear, his voice so low it almost vibrated in her ear.

Her insides gave a jolt. She suddenly felt the need to apologise profusely "I'm sorry, I-"

He put a finger to her lips, for the second time. "No. I want it too." And just like that, he leaned forward and kissed her. And then, she kissed him.

And they kissed all the way down the corridor back into Edgar's room.

It was lucky in the morning that Terra's room was right next door.

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