Summary: Lara's birthday is coming and you decide to surprise her.
No warnings, i guess. Just pure, tooth-rotting fluff. SFW.
English is not my first language.
There were two days left until your girlfriend's birthday. Five days ago, you left under the pretext of visiting your parents for a week. But that wasn't the case. Right now, you were in the abandoned catacombs under Varanasi.
You and Lara were both archaeologists. You met on one of your joint expeditions and had been together for almost a year. You thought hard about what to give Lara, as it was her first birthday that she would celebrate with you. Of course, you wanted to do everything to make her feel special on this day.
Lara told you about her most memorable birthday, which her dad had organised for her when she was a child. You still remember the sparkle in her eyes as she recalled it, how passionately she talked about that little "expedition" in the basement of Croft Manor. And you also remember how that sparkle faded at the end of the story when she said it was the best birthday of her life. Now Lara didn't attach much importance to her birthdays, limiting herself to cozy get-togethers with Jonah, and once with Sam and Roth.
So you came up with this idea - to give Lara the artefact she once mentioned. She said how much she wanted it and had almost gotten it, but the temple collapsed at the very last moment.
The Eye of Shiva — a precious stone that fell from a statue of Shiva in India.
You couldn't know for sure if the stone had survived, even Lara didn't know. So there was a risk that this expedition would be in vain. However, by a "magical" (although, maybe the stone really did have some magical power?) coincidence, you find Shiva's Eye unharmed in the lower tiers of the temple, stuck between the collapsed boards.
Time was running out. It was already the day before Lara's birthday when you were on your way home. The trip promised to be long, and you still had to buy a festive package for the mineral. The perfect gift for the perfect girlfriend, yeah?
You arrive in England late in the evening, terribly nervous, because it was already almost 11 PM. You had to get home before midnight.
You managed to pop into a gift shop, and choosing the wrapping took up some of your precious time, because you wanted to make Lara so happy. You choose a small dark blue velvet box with a shiny bow of the same colour. Inside the box is a small cushion on which the mineral looks perfect.
And now, on the doorstep of Croft Manor, you try to catch your breath so you look less out of breath. After all, you were visiting your parents, not some ruins in India, right? When your breathing becomes more even, you finally open the door. Before you is a view of an empty living room, illuminated by the warm light of the fireplace. The time is 11:57 PM. You made it just in time.
Approaching Lara's office, you see her silhouette sitting on the floor with her back to the door, sorting through endless papers and photos. As usual. But how glad you are to see her, even if you'll later scold Lara for working so late, overworking again.
The clock strikes midnight. You tiptoe into the room and, leaning down, you gently hug Lara from behind.
"Happy birthday, darling"
You feel Lara flinch with surprise, but she recognises your touch and your voice from a thousand others.
"Oh, you're back, sweetheart!" Her joyful voice is like music to your ears. Lara quickly gets to her feet and rushes to hug you. You hug her tightly in return. "You have no idea how much I missed you" She whispers.
Lara pulls back slightly, her arms still wrapped around you. Her gaze involuntarily slides over your face and she notices a hint of dirt on your skin. Although in the dim light it was difficult to see. Lara runs her thumb over your cheek, wiping away the dust. Her eyebrows furrow slightly in confusion.
"Where did you get the dirt on your face? Look at yourself, you look like you've been on an expedition, not visiting your parents." Lara chuckles as you gasp at her words. You didn't want her to find out before it was time.
"Uh, I- never mind!" You quickly wipe the remaining dirt from your cheek. "I have a present for you."
Lara raises her eyebrows in curiosity. She clearly didn't expect you to arrive at midnight with a gift. You take off your backpack and reach inside, pulling out a dark blue velvet box and handing it to her.
Lara, without even taking the box, almost starts to thank you, but you urge her to open it at first.
Lara unties the bow and carefully pulls the lid of the box up, while you nervously fiddle with the edge of your shirt in anticipation. The little box finally opens, and at that moment, Lara's eyes widen.
"The Eye of Shiva... but how- where did you get it? The temple..."
Lara looks at you with that knowing look when the puzzle in her head has been solved. However, her face still clearly shows surprise. "You weren't visiting your parents, were you?"
You look at the floor, awkwardly twisting from side to side. You didn't want to deceive your girlfriend, but you wanted to surprise her so much.
"'Sort of'?" Lara's surprised voice sounds louder. "That... That was very dangerous! Going on an expedition alone, and to ruins at that, where everything could collapse at any moment!"
From the tone of her voice, you can tell that she is very worried. You can't help but feel guilty for deceiving Lara. Not when you know how much she fears losing her loved ones. You just stare at the floor, your arms behind your back.
A brief silence hangs between you and her before Lara throws herself into your arms. Her grip is strong, perhaps too strong, but you don't mind at all. You hug her back.
"You're such a crazy girl," Lara's trembling voice is muffled against your shoulder. "My crazy girl."
You let out a soft huff of laughter, giving her a tight squeeze, knowing that she liked the gift. Lara pulls away, and you could swear you saw tears glistening in her eyes, but she quickly blinks them away.
"Just no more surprises like that, okay? If anything, we'll only go on expeditions together."
You smile, deeply appreciating her concern for you. Her love for you was literally palpable.
"I just wanted to make you feel special."
You say softly as your hand gently caresses Lara's cheek.
"You make me feel special every day, my dear. I appreciate this gift immensely, but with you, I don't need much to be happy."
You pull Lara into an unexpected but infinitely tender and loving kiss. She responds willingly, and you feel butterflies fluttering in your stomach as you feel the softness of her lips against yours.
When you finally pull away, Lara's eyes are filled with adoration and boundless love.
"I like this kind of surprise much better."
Her gentle whisper is like a caress to your ears. You cannot resist the urge and plant another soft kiss on her cheek. Lara looks as if she has fallen in love with you all over again, although you know she will surely scold you again for putting yourself in such danger. But you don't mind at all. Not when Lara is standing in front of you, head over heels in love.
Lara insists on helping you clean up, and soon you will be sleeping peacefully in each other's arms. You fall asleep thinking about how many surprises await your beloved girlfriend, because there was a whole day ahead.
This is my very first work soo criticism is welcomed!! (but maybe don't judge too hard okay) Hope you enjoyed this :3
