Meridian Plains, one week later
Robert and the others were engaged in a battle alongside the rebels against Phobos' soldiers in an assault on the area.
Robert gunned down several soldiers as Irma used her water powers to wash another group away.
"Irma, behind you!" Robert called out as he spotted an enemy archer taking aim at Irma. Robert took him out with his AR-15 and reloaded.
"Guys, they're retreating, we won!" Caleb called out seconds later. Sure enough, the enemy soldiers were on the run.
"Wow, that was one hell of a fight!" Irma said as she and Robert grouped together with the others.
"Yeah, Robert really did a great job protecting Irma while they were out there." Hay Lin said. "Yeah, whenever Irma became a target, Robert almost became inhuman in protecting her." Taranee added.
"Hey, I'm just looking out for my best friend." Robert replied.
It was, wasn't it? Robert thought. The way he protected Irma during the battle did show that he cared, but how much did he really care about Irma?
Why was I so hard-set on protecting Irma? Maybe...maybe I'm...starting to have feelings for her? Maybe I'm...falling in love with her? Robert thought.
He couldn't think of an answer, but knew that deep in his heart, he just might be having feelings for Irma.
Question was, would she have the same feelings for him?
Meridian mountains, two weeks later
Robert and the Guardians were headed to the rebel base in the Infinite City to plan their next assault. "OK, Robert, you and Taranee get Jennifer and Lilian to a safe place in case things get ugly, OK?" Will said. Irma stood up and looked at Will.
"Actually, is it OK if I go with Robert?" she asked.
"Sure, if you really want to, it's fine by me." Will replied. Robert got up to talk to Caleb regarding the plan.
"Say, you've been wanting to be paired up with Robert quite a bit lately, care to fill us in as to why?" Hay Lin asked. "Well, he is my best friend, and best friends stick together." Irma replied, a slight blush showing up on her face.
Hay Lin could tell that something was up and decided to find out what. "Come on, Irma, you don't have to hide it from me." she said.
"Hide what?" Irma asked, blushing even more. "You know what, silly, I'm talking about your crush on Robert!" Hay Lin replied.
"What? You think I have a crush on him?" Irma asked.
"I don't think, I know. I can see it in your eyes every time you look at him!" Hay Lin replied. "Well...maybe I like him a little." Irma said.
"Well, if it helps, I think that he might like you, too!" Hay Lin replied. "Really?" Irma asked. Hay Lin could see the hope in Irma's eyes.
"Yeah, every battle we've fought recently, he's always protected you as if you were the president or something, or more like a loved one!" Hay Lin replied.
Irma heard Robert calling her name and rushed to join him.
"Maybe she'll tell him one day." Hay Lin said as she joined the others.
An hour later, Phobos appeared near the group, putting them on edge. "Well, Guardians, it appears that we meet again." he said with an evil grin.
"YOU!" Robert said as he readied his rifle. "Robert, get Lilian and Jennifer to safety! We'll handle this!" Will commanded as the fight began.
"OK, but I'll be back afterwards!" Robert replied as he and Irma ran off with the girls.
The Guardians continuously dodged every magical blast that Phobos fired at them, all while trying to carry out their own offensive. One of the blasts grazed Cornelia's Guardian outfit. "Whoa, that was close!" she said as she got back into the fight.
Robert and Irma were racing to get Jennifer and Lilian to safety while the others battled Phobos in the distance.
They stopped as they approached the edge of a cliff. "OK, we should be safe here." Irma said. Suddenly, a stray burst of magic from the battle shot over and struck the ground, right by Jennifer!
The ground crumbled and Jennifer began to fall, but Robert rushed down and grabbed her hands just in time. Robert began to slowly slide closer to the edge, but Lilian managed to grab his legs just in time. Robert could hear nothing but Jennifer's terrified screams and Lilian's strained grunts as she continued struggling to keep them from falling. But the one thing he heard that brought joy to his heart was a voice, the most beautiful voice he had ever heard in his life.
"Robert!" Irma cried, "Robert, down here, look down here!" Robert looked directly down and saw, to his great delight, Irma, she was hovering just below Jennifer's dangling legs. Her blue eyes were fixed with steadfast determination, and she stared up into the blue eyes of Robert.
"I'll catch her." She said simply. "Trust me!"
Robert had never felt more trust for another person on his life than he did right now. "Jen," he said as sweetly as he could manage given the situation.
"I'm going to let go now. Irma is right below me, she's going to catch you. I need you to be strong and let Irma catch you." Jennifer had stopped screaming, but she was shaking now. She shook her head.
"Irma is the most caring, trustworthy girl I know," Robert found himself saying,
"She will catch you. I promise. This is the only way to save yourself. Lilian can't pull us both back up."
"Hey!" Lilian interjected, but Robert had won. Jennifer slowly shook her head, the fear and terror prevalent in her eyes. Robert counted down.
"5… 4… 3… 2… 1…" And she let go. The scream only lasted for a split second before Jennifer landed squarely in Irma's arms. Irma immediately lifted the frightened teen up to the top of the cliff and a muffled thump told Robert that they were safe.
"Help me Irma, I can't hold on any longer!" Lilian suddenly cried out.
Before Irma could do anything, her grip in her right hand slipped, and Robert's right leg fell over the edge. Her other hand couldn't hold on for more than a second longer and it too had to let go.
Robert had never felt the sensation before. He was falling, utterly falling, and he knew there was a raging river somewhere below him. He didn't cry out, he didn't scream, he just felt the wind rushing past his ears and felt as he picked up speed, plummeting downward, farther and farther, faster and faster.
Time ticked by in slow motion as he slowly fell head-over heels. It wasn't until he tumbled so he was face-up again and looking up at the cliff's edge above him did he realize the situation. Up above him, staring downward were three people. A blonde-haired girl, a black-haired teen, and a brown-haired woman with wings and a colorful outfit. Tears were falling from the teen's eyes.
Robert realized that his little sister, the one who always looked up to him was about to watch her role model, her older brother, plummet to his death. In a rush, he knew he had to say something. His kin was up there, as was the girl of his dreams, and he had to get a message to them.
"I LOVE YOU!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, hoping that his words would reach the two women at the top of the cliff.
Then, he closed his eyes. He closed his eyes and listened. He heard the sobs of a crying teen growing weaker and weaker, he heard the rushing, thundering roar of a river growing closer and closer.
He didn't look, but he listened as he prepared himself for death, knowing that he had saved at least one life to balance out the loss of his own. The roar of the river grew closer still, and Robert resigned himself for the high-speed hit that would surely be fatal.
Then, he heard a new noise. It barely registered over the sound of rushing water, but it was there, and it was right next to him. A whoosh, as if there was something else cutting through the air near him. Then, there was a sharp pain in Robert's chest.
He felt the wind nearly get knocked out of him as he sensed a strong force dig into his midsection and cut his downward momentum. Then, there was a precarious dance of sound as the roaring water loomed closer, but with less speed, he was slowing down.
The noise of the water got louder, but it wasn't raising in volume as fast anymore, and a new sound was there to take its place. A slight buzzing noise. It sounded like…
The rapid beating of wings. Robert's eyes shot open and he found himself staring straight down at a rushing river, mere yards from him. He craned his head up and witnessed the most beautiful display of raw power he had seen in his entire life.
A young winged woman with brown hair beat her wings furiously, arms locked around the chest of the young man.
Slowly, slowly but surely, the kinetic energy of the downward descent was overridden and the sheer power of Irma Lair, a Guardian of the Veil, lifted Robert up and out of the ravine.
For the first time he had ever seen, looking up into the face of his savior, Robert saw tears streaming from the eyes of the headstrong woman.
He locked gazes with Irma, and Irma stared back, tears flowing freely. "I… I love you too." She managed to choke out, the force of the moving air ripping tear after tear from her eyes.
The two landed at the top of the cliff. Irma set Robert down and then set down herself in front of him. Robert was silent for a moment. He was thinking again. I meant those last words for Jen. he thought. She was going to be so sad… But Irma must have thought I meant her! What should I do?
In a flash, he realized that this was exactly what he had wanted. Irma Lair was his, all he had to do was say yes.
But… but… there was still some nagging doubt… "Remember, you need to follow your heart. Follow your heart wherever you go, and you will always find happiness." Robert's mother's voice came into his head, and Robert understood. He understood everything.
"Listen," Irma began to speak, the silence becoming a little too much for her, "Robert, I… uh…"
"No, sweetheart." Robert cut in, "you don't have to say anything." And then he rushed forward.
It was now or never. Robert planted his lips on Irma's mouth. Irma was only startled for a second before she returned the kiss in full. The forest, the two siblings, everything around them began to melt away from their minds.
And for an eternal moment, two teens stood alone on the edge of a cliff, locked in loving embrace.
Robert almost found himself crying. He had come to a brush with death. He had come so close to losing everything and everyone that he knew and loved, only to have it saved in the most remarkable way. A tear ran down his face as memories of sensations from the last few minutes flooded back to him.
The helpless tumble of falling, the growing roar of a rushing river below, the twinge of pure dread and terror at the thought of loss and family, the sharp pain in his chest of hands grabbing him, the lifting sensation of a slowing fall, the adrenaline of realizing that he was safe.
Safe in the arms of a magical woman, the one girl he knew he loved and he now knew loved him back.
Irma's eyes shed tear after tear as Robert shared a perfect moment with the girl that had saved his life. The girl he loved. The kiss made everything melt away. All of their surroundings, all other emotions, Robert could only feel happiness and love as he kissed Irma.
Everything seemed right in the world and his moment of pure bliss seemed to stretch out into infinity until…
Irma broke away. Robert gazed into the deep-blue eyes of the water magical woman and saw moisture brimming there. A pink shade crossed the cheeks of the Guardian as the two stared longingly into each other's' eyes. Robert knew that that look must be reflected in his own features.
He could feel the hot rush of blood to the surface of his face, the continued stream of tears running down his cheeks. Without needing to be bidden, Irma leaned forward and rubbed her face against Robert's, his soft skin mopping up the wet tears from Irma's own face.
The heat of a compassion that Robert never even knew Irma was capable of warmed his face, and a soft, contented smile graced the feature of the tough teen. He drank in the tender affection of the loving woman and felt his mind at ease.
A voice broke the two teens from their perceived isolation. "AAAWWWWWWWWWW" Came the sound of a little girl from over to the side. Robert and Irma both turned, still in each other's' arms, to see this sudden intrusion into their private world. Both were blushing even harder than ever now.
Lilian had a look of abject happiness on her face. Jennifer just stared, surprised, barely processing what she saw. "Robert? When did…?"
She never got to finish her question. Jennifer found herself suddenly swept up in a forceful hug by Lilian. "Aren't they just so cute together?" Lilian cried out excitedly.
"You know what? They're adorable!" Jennifer joined in, finally realizing what had happened.
"Way to go big bro!"
Lilian hugged Jennifer tight, giggling with excitement, their previous trauma all but forgotten. Without a struggle, Jennifer joined in the fun, rolling around giggling with her younger friend, without a care in the world.
Irma leaned her head against Robert's neck as she watched the two girls pile on top of each other and roll around with fits of laughter in a dance commemorating the innocence and happiness of the young. She let out a contented sigh, breathing in the scent of Robert's hair as she inhaled again.
A cool, wet scent, like the air at a beach, she realized. She breathed deeply. Robert was glad he wouldn't have to explain his feelings to these girls, their joyous laughter seemed to just tell him that they understood.
Good thing our friends will be as easy, if not easier. He thought to himself. He thought he would have enough time to think up how to go about telling them though, time to discuss things with Irma, time to build up the necessary courage.
But fate is rarely so kind. A shrill voice broke through the air of the clearing on the cliffside.
"Lilian! I was so worried about you; you should never run off in the middle of a battle again!" Cornelia was here.
She burst from the forest, her hair looking surprisingly none the worse for wear, and immediately saw Irma and Robert, looking completely startled. Irma had her head buried in Robert's shoulder, his scent temporarily making her forget the predicament she was in.
Robert had an arm draped over the back of the water Guardian, blushes filling both of their faces.
"Guys," Corny began, "What exactly is going on here?"
Lilian decided to answer. "Oh, sis!" She cried, "It was so terrifying but so beautiful! Jennifer was almost hit by a magic blast, and she fell off, but Robert grabbed her, and I had to hold on to keep them from falling, and then Irma saved Jennifer, but then I couldn't hold on any longer so I had to let go of Robert so he fell and we were all really scared!" She paused for breath, sounding very much like Hay Lin as she ran through her story at lightning speed. "And then Irma dived down and she was going so fast, then we saw Robert fall into the fog below us and we were really scared because we thought he was going to die but then Irma swooped in after him and we saw her pull him up and lift him all the way out all be herself!" She was jabbering excitedly, but Cornelia seemed to be getting the entire story.
A twinge of excitement leapt through Irma as she realized what was coming next.
She didn't want Corny to know yet, but there was no stopping Lilian.
"And then Irma was crying and Robert said he loved her! So they landed and then they kissed! And they hugged and they kissed and it was beautiful!" Lilian finished her high speed story with a little squeal of excitement.
A very excited looking Cornelia turned towards the two lovers. "Guys, is this true?"
Irma felt the comforting arm leave her back.
She looked over at Robert, who was now stepping out in front of her, a look of bound determination spread on his face as he looked directly at the blonde before him.
"We're in love." he said simply, but with enough finality and purpose to speak volumes.
"Well...it's about time!" Irma looked up, a look of confusion apparent on her face.
"Huh? She asked, unable to stop herself, "You knew? How long did you know…?" Irma stopped before she started rambling.
"Well, I've seen the way you've been looking at each other lately, not to mention how hard-set Robert was in protecting you during the last few battles we fought! If you two are happy together, then I'm more than happy. In fact, this would make a fabulous romance novel! Oh, I just must get your whole touching story so I can send it into my favorite author for…"
Cornelia's fantasy was cut off as a new voice sang out through the clearing.
"Cornelia! Robert! Girls!" It called. Suddenly, the shrubs where the others had walked in were parted, and Will and the others walked in. Will's face turned from an expression of worry to one of joy when she saw the others before her.
Lilian, now with help from Jennifer, was now more than happy to regale everyone with her story of near-death and romance.
Before long, every one of the group of friends was up to speed on Heatherfield's newest couple.
"I just knew it!" Hay Lin began, "I knew it ever since Irma started asking to always be paired up with Robert, and then when Robert started protected her like he has been recently, I just knew it!" She bounced around in excitement.
"We've got to celebrate this! You guys are so great together!"
"You two are in love?" asked Taranee. "That's so wonderful. I'm sure you'll be very happy together." She finished.
"Yeah, I know we will." Robert replied as Irma smiled at him.