Chapter 10 - the Date

It was December 29th, the day that would be a historical day in Eira Heallint's life. In thirty minutes, she would meet Cor Leonis at this exact place—south lobby of Central Plaza—, and then they were going to watch a movie together.

Eira turned her body to face a dark glass window of a coffee shop on her left, looking at her reflection for many times today to be sure that she wasn't ugly in front of the marshal. She fixed her bangs, making sure that it covered all of her forehead. Moving her head to see the small white ribbon hairpin on the left side of her head, she was sure that it would make her prettier than usual.

Couldn't rely on the accuracy of the dark glass, she took a small mirror from her white handbag, opening it to look at her make-up which was still perfect just like when she left her home thirty minutes ago. This time she used peach blush, not too bold but she hoped that if she blushed today, Cor would see it as her make-up and not noticing that her cheeks reddened because of his presence. She wore soft pink lipstick, and for many times today she told herself not to bite her lower lips even though she was currently fidgeting. She wanted to be prettier than usual in front of the marshal. Even though she was sure that he wouldn't see her in the way she wanted him to do.

Eira shook her head. Putting the mirror back in her bag, she scolded her head for thinking about charming the marshal in a romantic way to a little girl like her. She should know about her position, a young medic in her eighteen, now admitting to have a crush on a marshal who was twenty four years older than her. Cor wouldn't be interested in her.

Now she was worried, wondering that Cor actually was burdened by her invitation. Perhaps, Cor only accepted it because he was a kind man who wouldn't want to hurt her feelings.

She took a deep breath, trying to wipe off any unnecessary thoughts from her head. Right, this day would be fun. She shouldn't need to be worried about anything regarding her relationship with the marshal. A guide, it was her role today. Like what she offered at the first time to the man. Even though it was a weird reason to invite the marshal to a movie, indeed.

Moving her eyes toward the entrance, Eira looked at the people who went inside and left from the mall. She watched the people walking, not actually paying attention to them though, she just had nothing to do. Glancing at the small watch on her left wrist, she then felt anxious knowing that it was twenty five minutes before their meeting time.

"Eira?"

The young woman whose name was called by a man jolted in surprise.

It was Cor's voice!

Eira hastily turned around to look at the man who was coming from inside the mall. She gasped. It was the marshal.

"You're early, huh? Have you been waiting long?" Cor asked.

But, the young woman couldn't answer because she was mesmerized by the marshal's appearance. Cor shaved his beard. Oh the Astral! Cor shaved his beard. Now he looked ten years younger than usual.

"Eira?" Cor frowned, calling her name again since Eira hadn't replied yet.

"Ah! Eh… No… No… I've just arrived," Eira stuttered, being enchanted by the marshal's charm.

"It's still early, though. Forty minutes before the show," Cor raised his left hand to look at his watch. "What should we do? Going there?"

"Ah, yes. Let's exchange our tickets first, then," she replied, trying to avert her gaze from the marshal's casual attire.

"Okay."

But as a reflex, Eira unwittingly stared at people's faces when they talked. Therefore, she raised her head to see the marshal as he replied to her. And then, seeing Cor's thin smile for the first time today, she felt the heat crept on her cheeks. Without even looking, Eira was sure that her face was reddening now.

They began to walk, with Eira walking slightly on the front because Cor didn't know the location. Actually she wanted to admire Cor's casual look, but she should accept the fact that she couldn't stare at the man for a long time.

Cor was wearing a white shirt, maroon knitted vest on it, with a long brown coat as the outer. He wore a pair of long black jeans, and unfortunately Eira hadn't seen his shoes yet. She would do it if she had the chance. Oh, the marshal who didn't wear his usual crownsguard uniform was so attractive.

Also, the beard. He shaved his beard. If Eira was a woman who didn't know what's the meaning of shame and had unlimited courage, surely she would take a picture of him.

Even though she was struggling not to admire the marshal's casual appearance with her sight, Eira couldn't prevent her eyes from glancing at the man who was also unexpectedly looking at her.

Startled by it, Eira quickly opened her lips, pretending to open a conversation with him—which actually she had wanted to do since a few minutes ago.

"You shaved," she said.

Cor blinked, then smiled while rubbing his chin with his forefinger, "Yeah, I sometimes shaved. Weird?"

"N-no! It's nice," Eira stuttered, shaking her head frantically. Actually she really wanted to tell Cor that he's handsome with or without a beard. But she was too shy to say it, also, afraid of Cor's reaction if she said it.

Cor chuckled, "Thanks."

The heart inside Eira's chest was beating uncontrollably. It throbbed fast and loudly, creating a clamor she wished to be calmed down. The heat burnt her body, making her want to take off the white coat she currently wore. She was really nervous, walking next to Cor like this.

"Did Lizette drive you here?" Cor asked as they stepped on the escalator which brought them to the upper level.

"No. It's a holiday. I want her to take a day off," Eira replied, looking at the man who was standing at two steps behind her. "I came by taxi."

Seeing how the marshal frowned in displeasure, Eira giggled then added, "Sir, it's fine. Really."

"Should I assign another crownsguard for the Heallint?" Cor asked.

"No, why?"

"So that they could take turns to guard you," Cor answered.

Eira giggled again, funny seeing the marshal being protective toward her. It made her feel special. "Marshal, you don't need to. I'm not a royal child like Noctis."

"Still a daughter of a royal council member."

Eira didn't reply sooner since she should look at her front as they arrived on the upper ground. They walked to another escalator and she said jokingly, "You know? My Mom is the wife of a royal council member and she goes everywhere without a crownsguard."

But Cor wasn't impressed as he replied, "She was once a field medic."

"I'm aiming to be one," Eira stated, with a smile on her face.

Cor blinked, this time seemingly interested by her words, "Oh? Then you'll apply for basic training with the crownsguard then?"

They stepped on the other escalator. Just like before, Cor stood behind her. Eira turned her body around then looked at the man who was no longer taller than her. He was standing two steps lower than her, which made her easily look into his eyes without even lifting her head just like what she usually did whenever she wanted to look at his face. She gulped, seeing how beautiful his blue eyes were as she stared at him. But they were in the middle of conversation, thus she should speak.

"Yes. And Mom and Lizette had trained me this past year so that I won't be surprised when I undergo the basic training," Eira explained, trying to maintain her voice not to stutter.

"Not in the citadel training room?"

Her heart let out a loudest thump as she heard his question. She actually wanted to train in the citadel training room, with the marshal as her trainer. But, it was only her unfulfilled wish, and also, she wouldn't be able to concentrate well if she trained there. Well, it could wait until she really applied for the field medic. Before that, she didn't dare to enter the crownsguard training room unless for healing them.

"No… I've been only training on weekends at home, and Mom loves to bring me to the shooting range after teaching me the basic combat."

"Shooting range, huh?" Cor looked at her, seemingly curious about it.

"Certainly I won't be good in close range fights. Oh, and Mom forced me to bring a gun anywhere, that's why you don't need to be worried if I'm going by taxi."

"Hmm? So you bring a gun even now?" Cor was amazed.

"Yes. I wish I could be like you or the glaives who could summon your weapons easily."

Cor chuckled.

After talking with him as they walked to the cinema, finally Eira could be relaxed again around him. They kept walking while chattering about many things until they reached the highest floor in the building.

Eira was so happy being able to chat with the marshal like this. At first what she could feel was only nervousness, but now, it gradually became comfortable being with him. It was really fun to talk with the marshal, more than what she had in their dinner the last time.

"Here we are!" Eira didn't hide her excitement as they arrived in the cinema. Grinning from ear to ear, she looked at Cor and guided him to the ticket exchanging display.

"Here, try it," she looked at the marshal, asking him to do it by himself, remembering that the main reason she invited Cor was because she wanted to guide him. "With this you can exchange the online ticket you purchased beforehand with the real ticket."

"Um, then how about that?" Cor pointed at the counter where some people were currently queueing.

"It's for purchasing the ticket manually. But, recently people like to buy it online because it's faster and you don't need to queue. For me, I only buy the ticket from the counter only when I window shop then walk past the cinema and suddenly have the urge to watch."

"Here, I'll explain how to redeem the ticket. Please tap here," Eira then asked Cor to redeem their tickets from the machine. And it was funny for her to see the marshal frown as he tapped the display to do it. With her help, the marshal redeemed tickets for both of them. What a rare sight. And he did it with the face that was stern as usual.

She grinned seeing the two tickets in his hands then offering to keep it in her wallet since it was still thirty minutes before the show. Guiding him inside the cinema, she explained about how they got free popcorn and drinks and where to take it, about where to order other food which was on a different counter, then she showed a small cafe inside the cinema area where some people were waiting for the movie there.

"So, they have three food counters. Complicated," Cor murmured after she finished her explanation.

His words made her giggle softly then replied, "No, it's not that complicated."

Cor gave a short chuckle then raised his left hand to look at his watch, "It's still thirty minutes, hmm?" He then suggested, "Do you want to wait here while having some coffee or tea?"

"Sure," Eira agreed.

They went to the cafe inside the cinema. Just like the dinner she had before with him, Eira sat in front of him. But now, with the man not wearing his uniform, it really felt like a date. Wait, it was really a date, even though it seemed that Eira was the only one who thought like that.

Of course, she was still a bit nervous around him. But, now the heart in her chest wasn't causing a ruckus like the first time they met today. She was no longer stuttering, and she really had fun today. Not being stiffened by the restlessness that she thought would torture her for an entire date.

The waiter came and brought the menu. Unlike her favorite izakaya which had around twenty pages of menu with pictures, the cafe only had one page, mainly consisting of beverages and light snacks and desserts. Well, it was a small cafe anyway, moreover, it was the one inside the cinema. People came here only because they were waiting for their movies and didn't want to walk outside to wait in another cafe or restaurant.

Without much thinking, Eira placed her order, "Hot cocoa."

"Black coffee," Cor stated before handing the menu back to the waiter.

After the waiter went, Cor looked at Eira while smirking, "Not ordering oolong tea?"

"Do you think that I only drink oolong tea?"

He chuckled, "Probably?" and it made Eira let out another giggle.

She loved it when she was sitting in front of him while having a hot cocoa that warmed her body which actually had already been heated by the man's presence. Never knew that cold winter would be this warm for her.

Cor's beautiful eyes were staring at her whenever he spoke, and Eira was really grateful to be able to admire it freely like this as they talked. She didn't need to steal a glance, because it's totally normal to stare at people's faces when talking. Even though she should sometimes avert her gaze from his eyes and look down at his nose or lips because she was too shy to look at those enticing blue. But then, when she gazed at his lips as they part opened and moved when he spoke, an impure thought permeated her mind as she wondered how it felt like to touch those lips. And she really wanted to slap her face because of her discourteousness.

Twenty five minutes flew so fast this time. They immersed in their chatter but their conversation abruptly ceased because they heard that the studio for their movie had been opened.

"Let's pick the free popcorn," Eira said before finishing the rest of her drink. She then mumbled, "Umm, I want the sweet one."

"Oh, we can choose the flavor?"

She blinked, not realizing that her soft mutter reached Cor's ears. She then nodded, "Yes. Sweet or savory."

"Oh…"

They walked to the cafe counter and Cor paid for their drink. He insisted to be exact, and Eira was lost in their argument about who was going to pay.

They walked to the small counter near the cinema entrance and Cor gave their movie tickets to be scanned for free popcorn and drinks. He gave the tickets back to Eira while his hands took both of their popcorn and drinks.

"Let's go," Cor asked, with the smile on his face.

Eira's cheeks warmed when she knew that Cor was bringing her popcorn and drink. Oh the Astral. It felt like she was currently going to a date with her boyfriend. But, it was the marshal, he was twenty four years older than her. So, perhaps it would be fitted to say that she was having a date with-her father?

If only she was born earlier, maybe she would confess her feelings at him today.

She handed their tickets to the staff, who then gave a three second stare at both Cor and her. Eira didn't like the way the staff stared at them in puzzlement. Probably the staff knew that the one who stood next to her was the marshal of crownsguard. Well, it would be better than to have the staff thought that Cor was a pervert old man who dated someone far younger than him. Eira didn't want to have negative thoughts, but the staff's eyes as she looked at them made her uncomfortable.

Eira took back their tickets after the staff tore part of it and told them which aisle they should go. She walked inside the studio, biting her lower lips while looking for their designated seat.

Now after the gaze she got earlier, she had just realized how uncomfortable it would be for Cor to be with her like this right now. Surely he would feel how embarrassing it is to watch a movie with a kid like her.

"Where's our seat?" Cor asked, stopping her from drowning in her thoughts.

Startled, Eira quickly raised her tickets to see the number of their seats. She looked around, to see the seats around her, "Umm… It's E9 and E10..."

They walked forward and when Eira's eyes found the row for their seats, she excitedly exclaimed, "Here!"

Eira walked into the seating row while looking at the number written on the seat. And then, as she found their seat, she turned her head to see the marshal who was so close behind her. She could even inhale his fragrant cologne which made her head slightly hover in nervousness. But she should maintain her composure to say, "Here we are."

She sat on her seat while tapping the seat on her right, gesturing to the man that it was his seat.

Cor sat down next to her, and Eira helped him to place their drinks on the slot near their armrest. When Cor gave the popcorn back to her, Eira could feel the heat swarm her cheeks. Oh, she hoped that the dim light of the theater would hide her blush.

"Finally, the first movie for Marshal, hmm?" Eira smiled, looking at the man who was sitting next to her.

Cor turned his head then chuckled softly, "Thanks to you."

The young woman giggled then leaned her back against the soft backrest. The heart which was calm before now began to create chaos. It thumped the inside of her chest roughly.

Cor Leonis was sitting next to her, going to spend two hours together in this dim lit room, enjoying the same movie as her. Their body was so close, she could even feel his warmth even though they didn't touch each other's, and she could smell his scent which now became her favorite.

Few minutes before the movie started was quiet, so quiet she could hear his steady breathing. She prayed that Cor wouldn't notice how the heart inside her chest was beating louder than usual. No. He wouldn't. Of course, no. Cor was just a human, not having special ability to be a stethoscope. Eira, what are you thinking of?

Eira took a few pieces of her popcorn and ate it, munching it as the endeavor to avert her thought. She wasn't sure whether she could focus when she watched the movie in this kind of condition. She wanted to faint, and even though the urge to admire the figure on her right side was too strong, she didn't dare to turn her head.

"Um? It's sweet."

Eira raised her head to the man who was also munching his popcorn. She blinked, realizing that the popcorn in her mouth was buttered one. Why didn't she realize that the color was different?

"Ah, that's mine," she stuttered.

Cor chuckled then exchanged the popcorn he was holding to her, "Sorry."

"It's okay," she giggled awkwardly and gave a sheepish grin at him. She held her popcorn, sensing the warmth from the box he was holding until a few seconds ago. Was that the trace of the warmth from his hands? Nice, Eira was being creepy.

She took her soda and sipped it, trying to wash off the weird thoughts from her mind. Glancing to the man as she put her drink back to the cup holder, she was amazed at how relaxed the marshal was. She never expected that she would witness the legendary immortal in his casual attire, sitting in a movie theater, munching the popcorn as he looked at the screen which began to show the trailer for the upcoming movies.

Biting her lower lips, Eira leaned again on her seat. She sneakily glanced at him, admiring the charming man she loved.

Oh, she loved him.

Romantically...

Author's note:

I'm sorry for the slow updates! Hope you enjoy this one! And oooooh I like thisssss... It's weird but I'm fangirling over my own fanfic like... they're so cute... idk? Am I narcissistic? The shoujo manga vibes is so strooong here and why they're so innocent like I put 'smut' in the summary and aaaaa... Thanks for reading! Will be happy to hear your thoughts and maybe it will speed up my brain to write moreee (because yeah, I sometimes stuck)... love you all!