#Ardyn takes great pleasure in pulling the emperor's strings in many conflicting directions based on his whims

[radioactivepeasant]

Fic Prompts: Final Fantasy Friday

(Another part of my "Knight of Etro" au)

The dinner table was, for the most part, quiet. Noctis wasn't used to having a lot of company at dinner. And Ignis wasn't even here! But Lunafreya never seemed to mind him following her around, even though she was A Middle Schooler already and he was still a third grader. So Noctis leaned as far over the side of his wheelchair as he could and asked Luna questions about what she did for fun, whether they could go to the pool tomorrow, whether she liked video games etc.

"You should really meet Ignis. He's so cool! He's my re- retainer," Noctis babbled. "And Petrus, Lord Pavonem's son, he said a prince's retainer is a servant who gets paid to be my friend because I'm too much of a baby to make friends by myself. But Ignis says that's stupid, and he's older than Petrus so he knows more. And Dad says Iggy's mom taught him how to be a retainer because I didn't have any older brothers and I needed someone to look up to."

Luna's older brother looked faintly amused, but also just a little annoyed by the chatter. Noctis's dad had said that when he was a teenager, he should remember to be patient if a child ever tagged along at his heels, but also to remember that it was okay to want to spend time with people closer to his age. That's why sometimes he had to "give Ignis space". Noctis supposed that made sense, but he still thought Ravus was kind of boring.

Midway through the clearing of the dishes, there was a brisk tapping on the door. Everyone looked up, surprised. 

Everyone except for Gentiana, of course. She hid a smirk behind her sleeve and facetiously wondered who it could be.

Ravus, being closest to the door of the private dining room, stood and opened it. Immediately, he was greeted by a scruffy-haired man in rich, but tacky, clothes.

"Wh-" was all Ravus had time to say before a dismally battered old fedora was dropped unceremoniously onto his head.

"Godfather Ardyn!" Luna squealed, hopping up in her chair, "You didn't say you were coming!"

"He never does," Sylva remarked dryly.

Ardyn winked rogueishly. "All the better to surprise you, my dears. Milady," he swept into a grand bow, "You're looking well. These rascals are behaving themselves, then?"

"Yes, godfather," Luna said sweetly. 

"No, not particularly," Ravus contradicted, raising the battered hat. "Ask Lu why her puppy has a pink splotch on her butt."

"Ravuuuuus!" the little girl whined, "That was an accident!"

"Yeah, we didn't mean to," Noctis said sheepishly, despite having no idea who this godfather person was supposed to be.

Ardyn pretended to do a double take. "My goodness! Now who can this be? A new darling nephew to spoil?" He stroked his chin. "Hmmm no, you don't have the Fleuret eyes...a Hunter, perhaps, here for a job? I'm afraid I've already cleared out the naga today, so you're out of luck."

"No!" Noctis giggled, "I don't have a job!"

Ardyn snapped his fingers. "Ah! I have it! You're a very well-dressed Tonberry!"

Ravus pulled his hat back down over his face. "Uncle Ardyn, you're embarrassing."

"It's my job, dear boy," the man said airily. "You didn't think I'd come all the way to Tenebrae for your birthday just to be boring, did you?"

Noctis saw Ravus light up under the hat. "You came for my birthday?"

Ardyn stepped back and dropped an arm around his shoulders. "I most certainly did! I can't show you how your present works yet, unfortunately. Your mother has such strict rules about weapons at the table."

Regis stiffened at the table as he glimpsed armor under the raggedy coat and finally remembered where he'd seen the man before. 

Last time, he'd been standing over them amidst the blood and flames, plunging a blade into the Marilith.