Holiday of Hearts

by azur3_crim

Summary:

It was inevitable, he thought. Stupid, yes. Embarrassing, obviously. Worth it, definitely.

In which an enemy prince, a purple-eyed freak, and a headband band together to find a Valentine’s Day gift before the clock strikes midnight.

Notes:

Not me writing a Valentine’s Day fanfiction in the middle of October…

Chapter 1: How To Potentially Get Beaten Up 101

 

Valentine’s Day. A day where all the lovebirds gathered together to celebrate with the person they loved most. Perhaps in the future, even marry. 

Now it was his worst nightmare. 

Nouren looked between the scrolls, each was saying the same thing. “Give them something that they can never find again.”

How am I suppose to do that!? He silently screamed, hands reaching up to tug his platinum blonde hair. 

“What are you doing?” 

Nouren nearly screamed as he knocked the scrolls to the ground as he attempted to hide his plans. 

“Kharis, I didn’t hear you,” Nouren chuckled nervously, sweat beading at the top of his forehead. Please don’t ask about that day please don’t ask about that day—

“I was just…looking around since I have so much free time nowadays,” Kharis chirps, looking around the room. 

“Mhm,” Nouren mumbles, keeping a steady expression on his face as she continued walking in circles around the room. 

“I wonder what’s going on. Everyone is acting so strange. It’s as if there’s something going on.”

”Really?” He asked. “I never noticed.” He mentally slapped himself in the face. “What do you think’s going on?”

He saw her smile begin to disappear. “Oh, it must be nothing. I was just…erm…I’ll see you later!”

He watched her leave the room swiftly. As soon as the door shut he banged his head on the table in shame. 

“This is karma,” He muttered. Why did he have to be such a clutz? It was Valentine’s Day—his first time actually being in an actual relationship.

Who could he talk to that knew all of Kharis’s favorite things? 

Kyro! Nouren thought. He knew Kharis better than anyone. 

But…reality creeped into his mind. How am I suppose to tell him that I’m dating his sister? 

This time he actually did slap himself.

 

---

Aaron crossed out the ideas written on his scroll, each one making him feel even more stupider. 

Flowers

Reina disliked flowers because of their notion to bring bugs. 

Chocolate

Rule twenty-seven had traumatized him. 

Love letter

He cringed.

With a sigh, he placed both his hands on the table. What was he suppose to get Reina? They had been together for a few weeks, but he hadn’t gotten to learn that much about her yet. He wasn’t going to ask her. He definitely wasn’t going to ask Raizo.

What if…He thought. I asked Kyro?

He doesn’t like you, his mind pointed out. 

It wouldn’t hurt to try…right?

 

---

Kyro clutched the pen in his hand harder, forcing him to flinch as a trickle of blood seeped through his fist. 

Two weeks. Two weeks ago he had sent a scroll to Lord Arkos asking him for things that Clove liked. The man still hadn’t replied and it was only one week until Valentine’s Day. 

“Damn it,” He swore, grabbing a cloth and wiping the blood. He stood up and threw it away, muttering under his breath. 

How was he going to find a gift for Clove without knowing what she liked? Despite the fact that Clove seemed perfectly fine as Valentine’s Day approached, he didn’t want to let her down when she had gotten him a gift and he had nothing. 

He looked out the window, watching as the soldiers loaded the carts from the training area. Two soldiers in particular caught his interest. Though, any other day he would have ignored them. 

Maybe those two could help, he thought. 

---

 

Nouren braced himself for his meeting with Kyro, smoothening his uniform as he attempted to straighten his hair. 

”What am I doing?” He groaned. All he was going to do was ask Kyro what Kharis liked and things she may enjoy. But at the same time, if he heard that he was secretly dating his sister, he’d possibly —and most likely— become barbeque. 

It was better than ruining his and Kharis’ first Valentine’s Day. 

He left the room in confidence. Nothing was going to stop him from giving his girlfriend a great gift. 

He turned the corner and found himself bumping into the very man he was looking for. Both fell to the floor in the sudden collision. Nouren looked up, surprised to see Kyro looking right back up at him. 

“Your Highness,” Nouren stood up quickly at the same time as him, bowing. Kyro nodded. 

“Captain, I was not expecting to see you at this time of the day.”

”I need to speak with you about something,” Nouren stated. 

Kyro raised an eyebrow. “Really? Then I suppose you better say it.”

That was blunt, Nouren thought. He cleared his throat. “Your Highness, please take this as the truth—“

A sudden force knocked him off his feet and into the wall, slamming him against the steel red brick. 

“Nouren! Are you alright?” He knew that voice. Where did he know that voice? 

A chuckle came from above him. Peering down at him were Aaron and Kyro, both of their expressions varying in different faces. 

Oh heavens. What am I going to do now?

Chapter 2: How To (Figuratively) Crack A Frosty Heart

Summary:

Kyro presents Nouren and Aaron with a deal, and the two agree under difficult circumstances. But just how easy is it to gain favor from the Cerulean clan’s leader—through letters?

He wondered why he even bothered showing up.

Nouren was still slumped on the ground, his face a terrible—at least he assumed— barely kept mask of horror and terror. But why though? 

It wasn’t until he heard his voice that he cursed internally. 

“This is amusing,” The tip of Kyro’s lips curled. “But I have a feeling that both of you are in need of my services.”

He and Nouren both looked at each other than back at Kyro. 

Kyro shrugged. “It’s obvious,” He said. “You both need love advice.”

”What the actual hell…” Nouren muttered. 

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Apparently, he wasn’t finished. 

“It’s because you two don’t know anything about women that you’re even desperate to come to me for help.”

This man was insane. Aaron prayed a silent prayer to the heavens. How did Clove keep up with this man?

”And you do?” Aaron blurted out. 

His face contorted in a mix of blushing and smugness. “Of course,” He bit out. 

“Truly,” Nouren responded. “So, please, Your Highness, what advice can you give us that will help us?”

Kyro, in true dramatic crimson style, actually looked thoughtful as he scratched the bottom of his chin. “Hm, it depends. Do I know them?”

Oh this is going to be good, he thought with glee, watching as Nouren turned a bright shade of red. 

“Erm…well—yes…sort’ve—I suppose—“

”Relax, Captain. I know you’re dating my sister.”

Aaron was both sad and relieved. Of course, he was happy that his friend wasn’t barbecued. But he at least wished their could have been some more drama. 

Oh God. The maids have too much of an influence on everyone. 

”Oh,” Was his reply. An awkward silence filled the air before he finally spoke again. “So, who are you giving a gift too, Aaron?”

”I would like to know too, Lieutenant,” Kyro raised an eyebrow. 

“I—,” These two were going to team up and kill him. “Well…you see—“

”Is it Reina?”

Aaron’s eyes widened as Kyro shook his head in amusement. 

“I’ll admit, I never expected it. But congratulations,” Kyro told him. His voice didn’t falter, and it seemed much more genuine. 

“Thank you?” He replied, sounded more confused than he wanted. “So, do you know what Reina likes?” 

“And Kharis,” Nouren added. 

Kyro crossed his arms and laid back on the wall. 

“I’ll tell you. If you give me some help in exchange.”

”A bargain?” Aaron asked in curiousity. What could he want? 

“Lord Arkos, my absolute favorite in-law, has not responded to any of the requests I’ve made in the past few weeks. And if you’re curious—which you probably are—I asked for a list of things Clove liked as an idea for my gift to her. But as you can see—,” He motioned with his hands for emphasis. “I have yet to receive a response.”

Aaron couldn’t help but notice the frustration that brimmed beneath his words. He seemed almost as desperate as they were. 

“We’ll help,” Aaron said. Nouren nearly cracked his neck as he turned to him with wide eyes. “We’ll get a response from Lord Arkos.” 

Kyro nodded with a quick ‘thank you’ and walked away. 

The moment his footsteps could no longer be heard, Aaron paled.

“What did we just get ourselves into?”

---

Clove peers down from her balcony, watching the soldiers spar on the training grounds. The Cerulean guards seemed to fair well against the other Crimson soldiers. But her mind kept pestering her uneasily. 

“Something’s wrong…” she murmurs. 

“What was that, blue-blood?”

Reina stares at her with a raised eyebrow, pushing her body further into the velvet couch. Contrary to Kharis, who’s sprawled on the second couch, looking as though she’s going to die from boredom. 

“You know I could have you taken to court for speaking so informally to me,” Clove scoffs, turning her face slightly so the couldn’t see the smile on her face. 

“I’d like to see you try,” Reina bites back, smiling slightly. 

“What’s the matter, Clove?” Kharis asks, sitting upright as she pushed a stray lock from her face. “Did my brother do something stupid again?”

Clove chuckles softly. “No. Nothing’s the matter,” She adds more hesitantly, “But I feel as though something is wrong. Even Kyro hasn’t said anything to me lately.” 

“And that’s a bad thing?” Reina remarks dryly.

“Girls, girls.” the general raises an eyebrow at Kharis’s tone. “Now’s not the time to be worrying about my brother…or the male species. Tonight is about us,” She finishes cheerfully. 

Reina and Clove glance at each other. 

“Whatever you say,” Reina mutters, holding up the empty silver box and turning back to Clove. “So, do you have any more of these?”

Notes:

I honestly believe that an Aaron, Nouren, & Kyro friendship would be such a chaotic yet amazing friendship 😌

Part 2 will be posted when when I actually finish writing it ✌️

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of Subzero Collection