Immortal Poison (FFXV)

Chapter 6

Ten years ago...

      Cor hung from a bridge down in the Tempering Grounds that lay deep within Taelpar Crag Canyon, in the Cleigne region of Lucis. With no time for hesitation, he climbed up and grabbed his Genji Blade from the ground. He was just in time to block the attack from the legendary blade master, Gilgamesh. It was a brutal battle, and Cor managed to hold his own, but feared he may have gone into the fight feeling a little too overconfident.
       His clothes were torn, and stained with the blood of his bruised body. He kept a sharp eye on Gilgamesh, quickly planning his next move as the fight went on. Gilgamesh knocked him back, and then ascended high into the air. Cor had blocked the attack numerous times throughout the battle, and had planned to take a risk once Gilgamesh descended. He dodged the attack, then charged forward and slashed the Blade Master's left arm off.
      For a moment, Cor thought he had the upper hand, but the fight continued on, just as brutal, if not more than when it started. Before he knew it, his Genji Blade was spiraling through the air, and stabbed the ground behind Gilgamesh. Cor was down on his back, with Gilgamesh's blade just centimeters away from his throat. He kept his eyes on the blade master, having accepted his fate to die.
     Gilgamesh stared back at Cor, glanced at the space where his arm used to be, and then pulled his sword back. He had defeated all who challenged him, but no one had ever inflicted that great of an injury on him. He turned away from Cor, pulling the Genji Blade out of the ground, and kept it as a reminder of their battle. Cor picked himself up, and used the rest of his strength to carry himself out of the Tempering Grounds.

     Cor awoke in the hospital, unsure of how he got there, or how long it had been since his fight with Gilgamesh. He looked towards the door, hearing voices outside of the room, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. A couple of the voices he didn't recognize, and assumed they were doctors. The conversation went back and forth between them, his parents, Regis, and Clarus.
       He kept his attention on the door, hoping to make out what they were saying, when he noticed the movement of a shadow on the wall. He turned his head towards the window, and sitting there was Ruby, rubbing her teary eyes. Her hair was pulled back, so when she dropped her hands, he had a view of her full face.
      "Ru-" he began.
      "The Blade Master?" She cut to the chase. Most people would've asked how the patient was doing. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
       Cor sighed. "...I thought I could beat him."
      "That'll teach you not to be so cocky." Her tone could've melted a whole bar of butter.
      He groaned. "Lesson learned, mom."
     She immediately flicked his arm, right over the bandage, causing him to flinch and hold the spot she hit. He glared at her, as he slowly sat up.
     "No, you don't get to do that." She glared back. "You don't get to be angry. You could still be down there...dead; and I'm supposed to be okay with that? You're my best friend, you jerk."
     His expression softened. He understood why she was so upset, but he wasn't expecting it. He thought she would've been one of the first people to ask about the experience.
      "That's not fair, Cor. Just the thought, hurts me more than your injuries are hurting you." She explained as her voice broke.
There was a moment of silence. Her throat burned as the tears continuously escaped from her glossy eyes. A small part of her wanted to hit him and give him a beating worse than what he got from Gilgamesh; but more of her wanted to wrap her arms around his injured body and just cry. Ruby was upset, but the thought of hugging a boy, let alone the one she liked, still made her feel bashful.
Her eyes shifted away from him, and she nervously began tapping her finger tips against her thighs. Before he could speak, the door had opened and as everyone entered, Ruby rushed to the door; glancing back at him before disappearing within the group of doctors that passed by the room.
      Cor felt like an idiot. He'd seen Ruby cry before, but never like that. There was something about the look in her eyes, and the overall expression on her face, just before she left. She'd scolded him in the way he thought his parents would have. They were more relieved that he was alive, and proud of him. Regardless of how they felt, or what they said, he wasn't really listening.