Note: Sorry for the delay in getting this out. I'm going to try to have the next one up sooner than 2 weeks. Things are going to start picking up as I fit the story into the actual events of the Kingsglaive/FFXV storyline. Those plots and characters are not mine, btw! Happy late Valentine's Day and happy reading!
Cor thanked and dismissed Nyx before sitting behind his desk. Evie waved to Nyx as he left and turned to face Cor. As she did, she noticed the stack of papers on his desk for the first time. It had been a few days since she had actually done any work, and the inbox was overflowing. She bit her lip and felt guilty at not having noticed before. She could have done some work while Nyx was there.
"Evie?" Cor asked, noticing some inner conflict.
"Hmmm?" She responded still staring at the pile of papers. He followed her gaze and sighed.
"You don't need to worry about that right now, Evie. I can help you deal with all of it later," he said, gaining her full attention for the first time since he returned. He couldn't help but wonder how she was feeling. About their night together and about this morning's news of Jason and Hank escaping. Everything was moving so fast in so many ways. It was as if they had been hit by a giant wave and after being swept under and tossed around, they had to make sense of direction again before surfacing.
"I just feel like I've let all of this drama get in the way of my duties, Cor," she said at last. "I'm sorry."
"You don't need to be sorry, sweetheart," he said, getting out of his seat and kneeling in front of her. He took her hands in his and looked up at her.
"So, what did you find out?" She asked, trying to take her mind off of feeling guilty.
Cor stood back up and sighed. "Well, as you know, Jason and Hank had some help finding you and harassing you," Cor began. "Orders were given to bring the guard responsible—Thomas—in for questioning and subsequent punishment. He wasn't found until this morning. From what we can tell, he incapacitated the two guards at the main prison door, then set Hank and Jason free, in that order. It looks like Jason killed Thomas, though we can't be completely sure until we have their account of it all. I'm not sure of his motive for killing Thomas. Could be as simple as he was no longer needed. Anyway, Jason and Hank seem to be long gone. We have elevated security around the Citadel and at the city gates."
Evie listened intently to Cor's account of what had occurred. When he was done she let out a breath she had been holding and nodded.
Cor suddenly remembered the etching on the wall and pulled out his phone. He had remembered to take a picture of it to ask her about when he returned. "Evie, does this seem familiar to you?"
She read the poem to herself.
Your greatest fears be not allayed,
Despite your military form,
Your heart and soul shall be betrayed,
You cannot resist the coming storm.
"No," she stated simply. "I'm sorry, I've never seen it."
Cor nodded and stood up, placing his phone back in his pocket. "Well, there is nothing more we can do about this today," He said, reaching his hand out. She took his hand and stood up close to him. He used his other hand to move her hair out of her face.
"Well, we have plenty of paperwork to go through," she suggested with a slight smile. He could tell she was still worried. He squeezed her hand and let go.
"How about I get someone to bring us food and we work on it together. Then you and I can go back to your place to pack some of your things."
"Pack?" She asked.
"You can stay at my place until we know it's safe for you to be back at yours," he explained, separating stacks of paper from the pile to sit in front of them. "And I can make you that dinner I promised." He looked up at her and smiled.
"I honestly forgot about that with everything else going on," she said, blushing and moving the paperwork he had set before her to work on. It had only been two days since he had offered to make her dinner and since then she had been nearly kidnapped, quit her job, spent an amazing night with Cor, and woke this morning to find out her would be kidnappers had escaped custody. She suddenly felt strange. She should feel fear at the idea of Jason and Hank being free. It meant she was in danger, didn't it? But she felt safe with Cor. Also, Nyx had reminded her of how family looks after one another, and of how big of a family she had here.
It took them a few hours to finish sorting, signing, and re-stacking all of the paperwork to be sent back out. They talked as they worked and Evie learned about some of Cor's past adventures with the King such as when they first met and how they traveled together with Gladio's dad and a few other guys she had not met. She couldn't help but notice how the usually stern man lit up as he spoke, and knew he must miss those days. She was sure being the Marshal had its advantages, and that Cor enjoyed training others, but it had to get pretty predictable over time and lacked the freedom and excitement that being out in the wild presented.
"Well, that's the last of it," Cor half yawned and looked at his phone for the time. "I just need to get this stack to Titus on the way out. The rest can wait until tomorrow morning. You ready?"
Evie placed the rest of her now finished pile neatly to the side and nodded with a contented smile. It felt good to see the inbox empty.
Cor insisted on entering Evie's apartment ahead of her just in case someone was waiting there. He looked around, keeping her close by and when he was sure no one was there, they went to her room so she could pack. He watched as she quickly grabbed what she would need for about a week. They had estimated on the ride over how long she might stay and decided she could simply wash stuff at his place if her stay lasted longer. He looked out of the window near her bed as he waited. It had been a nice day and the weather was starting to warm up some. Evie made her way to her bathroom to grab a few essentials, when he noticed something different than the night before.
"Evie?" He called.
"I'm coming!" She shouted back. She came back into the room carrying a small drawstring bag that seemed full.
"Evie," he said again, "did you remove the knife that was in your closet door?"
"No," she answered, turning around to look in the direction he was staring. She gasped when she saw the door he meant. The knife she had attempted to remove the evening before was gone, leaving a splintered hole in the once solid wood.
"Let's go," he said softly, grabbing her bags and leading her out the door.
They returned to Cor's apartment at the Citadel and he carried her bags to his room. When he returned, Evie was sitting on the couch seemingly deep in thought. He walked to the kitchen and poured her a glass of the wine she had drunk on her last stay, when their relationship was still merely as professionals and friends. What was it now? He knew they needed to talk properly. He had basically barged in the night before, told her his feelings, and enjoyed a very intimate night with her. Was he moving too fast? He mentally facepalmed. The poor girl was probably as confused about him as she was afraid of her crazy ex.
Evie smiled as Cor walked over to the couch with a glass of red wine which he reached out to give her. She took it and nodded her thanks shyly. She felt somewhat nervous which confused her. Hours ago she felt completely safe. Last night she completely uninhibited with him. Why was she nervous now? She really didn't need to ask herself that. She knew. She was happy to be here with him, but they had not really talked about last night at all, thanks to the events of the day. He had confessed his feelings and she confessed that she returned them, but what now? Were they now in a committed relationship, or was last night a one time thing? Did he only want a physical relationship? He seemed to express his feelings clearly the night before, but what if he was just caught up in the moment. He was making her dinner tonight and offered to let her stay for awhile, but what if he was just being a good friend and boss again? She wanted to be with him, but what were his longterm intentions? That's was why she was nervous. She hate to admit it, but she was scared she wanted more than he did.
"Evie," Cor spoke softly, pulling her from her anxious thoughts as he sat down beside her, "I've been meaning to ask you something today but…things seem to keep getting in the way." He looked down at his hands which just made her more nervous. He noticed her slight shaking and the way she fidgeted. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," she answered a little too quickly, "I'm fine. It's fine. Whatever you want is fine." She mentally slapped herself for being so awkward and weak. She knew damn well it wasn't fine. She only wanted him in one way. If he wanted her strictly for physical means, it would hurt, but she would have to move on.
"What do you mean, 'whatever I want?'" He asked, moving her hair out of her face so he could see her better. "I just want you. To be with you. I thought you wanted the same."
Evie looked up at him and saw the sudden concern in his eyes. "I do!" She nearly shouted, her nerves starting to wane at his clarification. "It's just that we haven't talked about any of this really, and I was worried you just wanted…you know…".
Cor's eyes widened at her assumption. "I…no, Evie," he said. Words were beginning to feel difficult. "I hope I don't come off as that sort of man," he said, scratching his head. Evie started laughing which brought a chuckle from him as well.
"I'm sorry, Cor," she said as she sipped her wine with sturdier hands. "I just started overthinking is all. I do want to be with you." She set her glass down on the coffee table nearby and grabbed his hand, entwining her fingers with his. She leaned forward and he met her lips in a kiss that took her breath away. He moved his free hand to the back of her neck, holding her there gently. Time seemed to stop as they kissed and just as it started to get heated, he pulled away.
"I promised you dinner," he said with a smirk. Evie groaned with frustration, but her stomach growled, betraying her. Cor huffed and stood up from the couch.
"Wait!" Evie called. "What was the question you wanted to ask me?"
Cor folded his arms in front of him and half smiled. "I just wanted to ask you to be my girl properly. I'm…well, I'm not very good at such conversations, honestly. Not something I've had much experience with. I have never wanted such a relationship before you, Evie."
Evie stood up and closed the gap between them. She stood on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked him on the cheek. "I would love to be your girl. And you didn't have any trouble being romantic last night," she winked.
Cor leaned in to whisper into her ear, "last night was something I had already been dreaming about for awhile." He pulled slowly away, helping her back to her spot on the couch. "Now you sit and relax while I make us dinner."