Chapter 27 - A Gift

Note: My headcanon, Cor is a Leo, so, please enjoy. Ehehehe

July 27th

Today was Cor's birthday. Of course Eira didn't forget about it. But would she give him any present? Nah.

Looking down to a small box in her hands, she questioned herself why she bought a present for him. Also, her present wasn't important as she was bad at choosing a present. It was a set of chopsticks. It cost her only 5000 yen. And the only nice thing about it was its tail was gold plated with a lion ornament around it. Custom made.

The idea of giving him chopsticks was because the marshal loved to use it. It also included a small washable box, so he could bring it anywhere. That's if he wanted to.

But, nah, she should give up from giving it to him.

A few weeks ago she had just vented at him. About the umbrella which led the conversation to her love confession.

She knew that she should've just given up on this love. But she couldn't.

Stella and Raine tried to invite her to a mixer once, where they also invited a random single crownsguard to join their dinner. However, she couldn't stop thinking about Cor as they talked. Also, even though the man was attractive enough, he wasn't her type.

Lizette also tried to set her up with a certain glaive. But she wasn't interested.

Thus, all of them stopped introducing men to her.

Moreover, who could win against the marshal's charm?

"Yahoo!" Someone entered the infirmary and Eira quickly raised her head.

"Hi, Raine. You're early." Eira peeked from behind her computer to look at Raine who was supposed to be in the afternoon shift—which was going to be in two hours. Eira then quickly opened her drawer and stuffed the present for Cor inside before hastily slamming the drawer close.

Bam!

Eira widened her eyes as she jolted when she accidentally closed it too hard and it just bounced open again.

"Oh the Six." She quickly slammed it close again, but now making sure it wouldn't open again then panicking when she was locking it with her key.

"Hmm?" Raine raised one eyebrow. Coming closer, she stood next to Eira and crossed her arms. "I smell something fishy."

"What?" Eira avoided her gaze, pretending not to understand what she meant. And as usual, Eira was bad at lying or hiding something.

"You're so obvious, honey." Raine smirked.

"No. No. Hey, did you have lunch already? Want to go outside and grab some food?" Eira grinned like a fool.

"Panicking. Then quickly change the subject. What's in the drawer?"

"Umm…" Eira rolled her eyes, trying to find a random object to mention."Book?"

"Uh-huh, can I see it?"

"Why? It's a magic book anyway."

"Oh. What kind of magic are you learning now?" Raine teased. "A secret spell? A dangerous spell? I wonder if it's very very dangerous until you need to slam your drawer like that?" she chuckled.

Eira pouted, knowing well that she couldn't deceive Raine. "Uh, fine. It's a present."

"Oh? Wow?! From who?" Raine's eyes sparked in excitement.

"From me."

Raine tilted her head. "From you?"

"For him."

"Huh? Why?"

"Why? Because it's his birthday."

"Oooh…" Raine wasn't impressed. "Not giving up yet, I presume?"

Eira gave a wry smile. "I'm not sure I can."

Cor had just finished wearing his coat after getting dressed from the shower in the training room. He combed his hair—something that he might not actually need—, then put the comb back to his locker.

Some younger crownsguard members had already left, and it was just Ignis and Gladio who decided to stay longer. Bidding goodbye to them, Cor walked out from the training room.

He took a deep breath as he stepped outside, noticing the dampness in the air. He looked down, to the wet ground that indicated it was raining not a long time ago.

Rain…

After a certain unfortunate event a while ago that happened when it was raining, Cor had a complicated relationship with the rain. Whenever he saw the droplets of water fall from the sky, his mind immediately wandered to a memory when he made his crush cry.

"It has been two months. And… I still love you…"

Well, it had been two months since her first confession and he still loved her.

What a mistake, he thought.

As he walked inside the hallway, his mind was still wandering around. Thinking about her, about the last time he saw her, and about the bitter taste that lingered in his heart as he left her. He wanted to apologize. But he was afraid that it would hurt her more, that his words would be uncontrollable and hurt her again.

It had been weeks. And since, he never saw her again. Not even in the infirmary, nor the library, nor the cafeteria. She was gone. And he didn't want to try to find her again, not even peeking into the medic's morning shift to make sure that she was still there.

But then his eyes caught a figure in the hallway, walking out from the infirmary.

A raven haired young woman he yearned to see. His beloved Eira Heallint.

Cor halted his steps, being imprisoned by the pair of black eyes that were staring at him. Oh, how much he missed her, and she was there, clearly staring at him. He didn't understand why she did it but he decided to glance sideways and continue walking while avoiding her gaze.

"Hei, Marshal." Her voice was like a magic spell that petrified his body.

He ceased his steps, slowly turning his head to face her. His heart throbbed faster, loudly beating his chest that it made him unpleasant.

Eira was biting her lower lips, and her eyes were glancing sideways. After taking a deep breath she then looked at him.

She hadn't said anything for a few seconds. And it made Cor really nervous.

"I… Um…" she stuttered, but still not continuing her words. In the meantime, Cor's heart was thundering inside, as the man was anxious in hearing the continuation of her words.

Fuck. A mere few seconds feels like forever. Cor was waiting for her to open her lips while listening to his own heartbeat that was getting louder and louder in every moment that passed.

"Here's for you. A… gift…" Her voice broke the silence.

Cor blinked, looking down to a paper bag she was holding. He frowned then looked back at Eira's face that started to get redder. He cursed again. Fuck, she was so adorable.

"And… um… sorry for the last time… Thanks for the umbrella. I used it. Thank you." Her voice was trembling. Bet, she used up all of her courage to talk to him.

Cor's head was spinning. Nervous. He was so nervous.

He was the one who hurt her the other day. But now she was the one who apologized first. He felt like he was such a jerk for not trying to apologize before her.

"No. No. No problem." He scratched his head. This was so awkward. "And… You don't need to give me a gift just for the umbrella."

"No. No… It's not… I…" she muttered but then she paused, seemingly at a loss for words.

"I'm sorry. I… I said something that hurt you." Finally he said it. The thing he wanted to say since he walked away from her on that rainy day.

"No… It's just… a fact." Eira shrugged while giving a dry laugh.

Both of them turned silent, avoiding each other's gaze as the heavy atmosphere began to shroud them once again.

Cor didn't know what to say anymore. He thought that his apology wasn't enough. Gulping, he looked back at her, and to the paper bag she was trying to give him.

She stretched her hand forward once again, insisting the marshal take the paper bag she gave. "Here, take it."

Cor gulped again. He wanted to refuse it, but he knew that it would just hurt her instead. Still with a confused look on his face, Cor finally decided to take it.

Slowly, carefully. He was avoiding touching her fingers.

And when he completely took it, she smiled, "Happy birthday."

The marshal widened his eyes. And before he could grasp what was happening and give a response, Eira had already run inside the infirmary and closed the door.

Click

She even locked it.

Cor parted his mouth in surprise.

Birthday?

He didn't even remember that today was his birthday.

Oh the Astral.

Eira hurriedly closed the infirmary door and locked it without thinking. She didn't want Cor to chase her, even though she knew that he wouldn't. Also, the tears had already piled up beneath her eyelids and were ready to roll down her cheeks at any moment. Thus, when she finished locking the door, they broke free and flowed down from the corner of her eyes.

Leaning her back on the door, she slowly fell down since the strength was leaving her knees. They were already weak since she saw him, but she forced herself to stand up still even though she wanted to faint.

She hugged her knees, placing her head on it and hiding her face.

Biting her lips, she tried to muffle her cry, since she didn't want Cor to hear it faintly from the door. He was still there, she was sure. She hadn't heard his footsteps yet. Cor was still there. And Eira wouldn't come out until he was gone.

She was glad she was able to hand the present to him. And she was glad that he accepted it.

Facing him after weeks avoiding him was tough. Especially after that day she scolded him because of the umbrella. Oh, no. She forgot to return the umbrella to him. But, he probably didn't need it anyway. Also, she had lost her courage to see him again. Moreover, she was crying right now. She didn't want him to see her in the mess like this. Red eyes, cheeks, and nose, also damp eyes and face, no, she was so awful. It would be very embarrassing. Probably she could just return it someday. Definitely not now.

After a few minutes she was finally done crying. Wiping her cheeks, she turned around, looking at the closed door and wondering if Cor was still there.

She was sure that she hadn't heard his footsteps yet.

Curious, she stood up and unlocked the door. She slowly opened the door and froze when she saw Cor was still standing there.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Um... Yes… Why are you still here?" her voice was like a whisper, too shy to talk to him.

"I'm just… worried."

Eira giggled. She felt stupid. Of course Cor would be worried about her. She gave him a present and suddenly ran back to the infirmary after that and even locked the door.

"I'm fine." She smiled. "Thank you."

"Good." Cor gave a thin smile. A kind of smile that she hadn't seen again for months. A smile that she missed, that she longed to see.

The two of them then went silent.

Eira didn't know what to say anymore. She just looked at the tender expression he made. His blue eyes were staring straight at her, and she could perceive how those eyes emitted the sadness.

She wasn't the only one who was hurt here. She knew that it was also hurting for him.

Oh the Six. She really wanted to run into him and hug him. Tightly. Tightly. And never let him go.

"Ah… Um… Thank you for the gift. I didn't even remember that today was my birthday." Cor said, breaking the silence between them.

"Oh… Ehehe… No problem." Eira fiddled her fingers. She then suddenly remembered about the umbrella, "Ah, I should've returned your umbrella."

"No, no need." Cor said right away before Eira turned around and got into the infirmary.

"Eh, but…"

"It's okay. You can keep it."

Eira bit her lower lips then smiled, "Thanks."

And again, their conversation halted. An awkward silence clouded the atmosphere as both of them just stared at each other without saying anything while sometimes glancing away when their eyes met.

Now that Cor was still there, it would probably be wise for Eira to talk to him. About their relationship and all of this awkwardness between them. They were still workmates after all. And moreover, Cor was the marshal of the crownsguard, and she was the crownsguard medic. She didn't want to have a bad relationship with the marshal, right?

God, when she thought about it, she was so brave to scold the marshal like the other day. She was literally raising her voice to the man with the highest rank in the crownsguard. Good that he didn't fire her—not that he could, though.

"Hei, about the other day…" Eira mustered her courage again, even though now her heart was creating tumultuous thudding. "I'm very sorry to yell at you like that."

"No. You have the right to do that. I was so… insensitive. I'm sorry."

"Things are weird between us now… And… I don't want it to be like this forever." Her voice was slightly trembling, but she was trying, she was trying hard to convey her honest feelings.

"I'm sorry…"

"No, it's not your fault."

"But…" Cor parted his lips, but no other words were leaving his throat. He then shut his mouth and looked down.

"You're right. Us… is wrong." Eira said.

Cor was startled by hearing her sentence. The man quickly raised his head and looked at her with the frown marred his forehead.

"There's no way the marshal would date a teenage girl like me. Twenty four years gap. I'm still eighteen and you, you're just getting older today. Forty three?" She smiled, wryly. "You're five years younger than my dad. You're right. We can't be together."

A line of tears slipped down from her eyes. Stating all of those facts was painful after all. And even though she had just cried a while ago, she couldn't stop herself from crying again right now.

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she then said, with a trembling voice, "But, I just want you to know. I love you. And I don't think I can stop loving you…"

That was it. That was her third confession.

"Hhh…" Cor gave off an audible sigh. "Fuck."

Eira blinked in surprise when she saw Cor was walking toward her. He looked angry and she had no idea what he was going to do. But then she widened her eyes when Cor suddenly pulled her body and hugged her. And before she could digest what was happening, his lips had met her own.

Cor kissed her.

The marshal kissed her.

Oh the Astral. Oh the Six. Oh the Astral!

It felt like her heart had stopped for a second. Her body was burning, and her face was in flames.

This was her first kiss. She didn't know what to do. Therefore, she let Cor do what he wanted to her.

Oh, the Astral. His lips were so soft, so warm. And she didn't refuse when he delved his tongue inside her mouth, twirling her tongue passionately, sucking her lips lustfully.

"Mmhh…" she couldn't hold herself from not giving a moan. Oh the Six, it was the first time she was moaning like that. She was so embarrassed, but, oh, oh… Cor kissed her, meant that he finally accepted her as his… lover?

She wanted to faint. Her legs had lost their strength. She wanted to fall down to the ground and swoon. But Cor was hugging her, so tightly, as if he didn't want to let her go anymore.

She was breathless. She was hovering. It felt surreal. She wasn't sure that it was real.

Was it a dream? Was it a fantasy?

But his warmth, his kisses, all of it was too real to be a dream.

She panted when Cor pulled his face away. He caressed her cheek while staring at her with his fiery eyes. Those were the same eyes that were staring at her when she was at his home. The one that was filled with lust.

"Cor…" she whispered, trying to get the explanation from him.

But then they heard some footsteps, along with some voices from the distance.

And without notice, Cor had pulled her inside the infirmary. Closing the door, he locked them, then quickly placed the paper bag she gave him to one of the beds, before once again pulling her inside his arms.

She felt so weak when he showered her with more kisses. He was so hungry, so impatient. And she could only give soft moans whenever he pleased her with kisses.

Eira panted heavily again when he pulled away. He cupped her face, caressing her cheek with his calloused thumb.

She then jolted when hearing the sound of footsteps getting nearer, wishing that none of those people—whoever they were—not going inside the infirmary. The lamps were still on, yet the door was locked. She could only hope that it didn't raise any suspicion.

"Cor…?" she whispered, looking at the man who she didn't expect will kiss her today.

"Do you know that it's really hard to hold myself not to kiss you like that?" he whispered.

Her heart was throbbing roughly.

"Eira…" he tucked the strands of her hair behind her ear, "I love you… I really do…"

Hearing those three words was everything for her. The words she wanted to hear. The words that she thought would never be said by him.

Line of tears suddenly rolled down to her cheeks. She was so happy. So happy that she couldn't hold her tears to flow down. This time it wasn't the tears of sadness. It was tears of happiness.

"Cor… I love you…" she placed both of her hands on his cheeks. A smile bloomed on her face, even though the tears were still streaming down from her damp eyes. "Please let me love you…"

Cor shut his eyes as he kissed her lips. Her lips were so soft, so warm, so luscious. This was the thing that he always wanted to do. Hugging her, kissing her lips, feeling her warmth, tasting her lips.

She was so small under his arms, so adorable, so fragile. But he couldn't hold himself from showering her with more and more passionate kisses.

The heat gathered inside his chest and stomach when she gave a soft moan as he delved his tongue inside her mouth. He was pleased when she willingly opened her lips to let him slip his tongue.

Cor let his emotions take control. He didn't care anymore about the world, about the fact that what he was doing right now was a sin. He loved her. He really loved her. Burying his feelings was painful, and rejecting her far more painful.

He stopped kissing her then wiping her tears. The tears that fell down when he stated that he loved her.

"Hei… Don't cry anymore, okay?" he whispered.

"U…" Eira sobbed. "I'm too happy."

Cor chuckled then hugged her, letting her bury her face in his chest. He caressed her head gently then kissed the top of her head.

"Oh the Six… What have I done…" he muttered. "Will and Elaine are going to kill me if they know…"

Eira giggled then raised her head. "Let's worry about them later."

"Oh the Astral…" Cor closed his eyes then placed his forehead to Eira's forehead. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down his mind.

He then opened his eyes, looking at the soft gaze from Eira.

"I…" he gulped, "I'm sorry for hurting you…"

"You just don't need to bury your feelings anymore." Eira caressed his cheek.

Cor took her hand that she placed on his cheek then brought it to his lips. He kissed her fingers softly.

"I'm too old for you…" he said.

"I don't care," she answered.

"Your parents won't like it."

She took a deep breath, "We don't know about that…"

"I don't like it if we keep our relationship secret. I don't want to burden you."

"It's okay for me. I just want to be with you."

Cor caressed her cheek, giving a smile as he heard her answers. "So do I."

He gave off a long sigh then drew his face away from her. He stared at her, admiring the beauty of a young woman he loved.

"This is the most beautiful gift I've ever received." Cor said.

"It's your birthday today but I got a present instead." Eira replied.

"I love you…"

"I love you more…"

"Is this a competition?"

Eira chuckled then kissed his lips. It was just a chaste one, and Cor kissed her again. It felt like those kisses were never enough. He wanted to taste her over and over. He wanted to have her right here, right now.

But, he didn't want to rush her. His was her first kiss. Therefore he stopped kissing her then softly asked, "Want to have dinner?"

"Sure."

"What do you want?"

"Umm… The usual?"

"Okay."

And with that, he gave her a last kiss before they left the citadel.