An AioliaMarin Valentine drabble

Aioria stared at the calendar on his bedroom’s wall and scratched his head. It was February the 14th, and for a strange reason, the day was marked with a red heart. And that heart was very obviously done with some pencil, by hand, and not by the original makers of the calendar.
After a frustrated sigh, he turned from the picture of two lions and the squares beneath, and headed for his temple’s back exit.
He had to ask the person who had given him the calendar.
„Milo!“, he yelled a few minutes later when he entered the Eight House. „Milo, you’re here?!“
„What’s the ruckus?“ The Scorpio Saint came out of a side corridor, clad in his Gold Cloth and yawning. „It’s too early for such noise.“
Aiolia frowned, but said nothing. Instead, he turned towards his comrade.
„You remember that lion calendar you gave me last December?“, he asked, coming straight to the point as always.
„Sure.“ Milo looked at him, curious now. „What about it?“
„On today’s field, you drew a heart. Why?“
For a moment, the Scorpio stared at him, clearly baffled. Then he snorted. „Don’t tell me… don’t tell me you don’t know.“
„Well, I don’t.“
Aiolia tried to ignore his friend’s clear amusement. But when he broke out into laughter, even hol-ding his stomach, anger started to bubble in him.
„Quit that!“, he snapped, too impatient right now for any games. „I don’t know it, so what?! I can’t know everything!“
Milo finally managed to calm down. „Alright, alright, I’ll tell you.“
And he did.
For a moment, the Leo Saint was a little confused. When he didn’t found an answer to his question, he decided to speak it out loud. „And… why did you do it?“, he asked, cautiously, suspiciously.
His friend broke into a broad grin, at the verge of laughter again. Probably it was Aiolia’s dark look that stopped him from doing so.
„Well, isn’t there a certain eagle…?“
All anger was forgotten. Aiolia’s eyes grew wide. „Oh… Oooh!“
He ran towards Scorpio’s exit. But before he was out, he turned one last time and yelled: „I’ll get you for that, Milo! Just you wait!“
When he left the temple, heard Milo’s hearty laughter ring after him.

Two hours later, the Leo, carrying his training attire, knocked at the door of a certain female Silver Saint. Marin opened immediately.
There was no reaction to be read, her face hidden by her mask. When she just stared at him in silence, Aiolia decided to take the initiative.
„Um… hi, Marin.“
„Hello, Aiolia. What brings you down from your temple down to my humble dwelling?“
He felt a little heat rush to his cheeks. And hoped for dear life that his blush wasn’t too obvious.
„Well… it’s February the 14th today…“
„And what about it?“
The Leo Gold Saint realised she didn’t know about this date either.
„Uhm… this day is called Valentine’s day and celebrated widely by the humans outside Sanctuary… it’s a day to celebrate love.“ He brought the hand from behind his back and presented her the gift he had brought. „So I thought I’d bring you these.“
For a moment, Marin remained motion- and speechless. Then, to his utter relief, she tenderly took the flower bouquet from his hand.
„It’s… wonderful. So many beautiful and colorful flowers.“
„I… colleced them myself.“
Her head whiped up. „Really?“ There was surprise in her voice.
„Uhm… yes.“
She regarded him for a long moment. Then she opened the door wider. „Please, come in.“
He entered the cabin and took seat at the table. Marin, in the meantime, produced a nicely painted vase, filled it with water and put the flowers inside. Then she put in on the table.
„I’m sorry it’s not more“, Aiolia said as he watched her doing this. „Usually, one does things together on this day. And I don’t even have decent clothing beyond my training attire or my Gold Cloth. I wished we could…“
Marin interrupted him by approaching him suddenly after placing the vase on the table.
„Dummy“, she said. „The flowers and your visit are more than enough.“
With that, and before he could react or object, she took off her mask – and kissed him.
A tender, loving kiss, full on the lips. After the first shock, he applied a little pressure of his own to show he was kissing her back, and closed his eyes. He wanted to savour this moment, her mouth on his, her exotic scent enveloping him.
When they broke off to catch some air, Marin whispered: „Happy Valentine, Aiolia.“
„Happy Valentine.“
When she kissed him again, Aiolia decided to maybe have mercy on Milo.