#and trying to go toe to toe with Ardyn

[phoenixwithapencil]

Here’s an evil thought: a version of ffxv where all the foundational bits are the same.

Except

There is no decade long reflection.

I think a decade of darkness, a decade of Noct being all but dead, a decade of being curled up in the void with naught but endless blue and Bahamut and memories as company, at the end of which everyone walks into the capital chin up and dressed to the nines to go kick ass knowing the ending and accepting it- makes the whole thing feel very fair, very regal. It’s all very just, don’t you think?

But without it, Noct is twenty and he touches the crystal and gets its powers-

And then he gets the truth.

Does that feel just?

You’re going to fight Ardyn, Bahamut will inform Noctis, and you must not die before you defeat him. And then you will die afterwards. To save the world, of course.

Does that feel just?

Noctis ascends the throne at twenty, bruised and battered and wearing raiment that feels like dressing up in his father’s clothes. He says goodbye to his friends, who at most a month ago believed their journey had reached a happy end with a wedding in Altissia. Their friend will die and the world will keep spinning for it and time will march on for it. Noct’s voice wavers, cracks, as he tells his friends to walk tall.

And then he’s gone.

Does that feel just?

Anywho thanks for listening to the nth reason for ‘why Bahamut is actually just a vile trickster masquerading as an arbiter of justice and is the true BBEG of ffxv’ (because without that decade timeout corner no one would be remotely as chill about the ending as they end up being)

[itsgeecheebitch]

TITLE: Until Darkness Descends

FANDOM: Final Fantasy XV

PAIRING: Ardyn Izunia x Reader

RATING: Explicit

CHAPTER: 15

TW: Mild Dubcon

    Warm sensations crawled up the back of his thighs. The tip of his shaft kissed your clit, your slick covered every inch of his cock. Ardyn looked down at you, your wide doe eyes were overflowing with tears but you didn’t resist or complain. It seemed you weren’t impervious to all forms of emotional manipulation.

       Grabbing his length, he worked your juices over his engorged flesh before lining the tip of his cock with your entrance. Your nails pierced his biceps, your entire body going taut like a rubber band being pulled beyond its limits. Despite your obvious fear he bullied his inflamed cock head into your folds. 

       Warm wet heat surrounded his flesh. You were clamping down so hard around him it was almost painful.  Your intimate walls seized his member in a vice-like grip, your internal muscles convulsed in an effort to push him out. Ardyn continued to gradually ease himself in, forcing your body to part for him. 

      Soft silky walls hugged every inch of his shaft the deeper he went. A surge of electric pleasure illuminated his entire body. He felt like a junkie receiving his first hit after a week of abstinence. Endorphins ignited a fire in his bloodstream and only added to the euphoric high he found between your legs. 

      The urge to slam into you, fuck every single thought out of your head that wasn’t about him, was immediate once he fully sheathed himself inside of your heat. But he fought against it. The fire in his blood over your hidden relationship was mostly extinguished, leaving behind an unquenchable need to ruin you for any other man. No one else would be able to please you as thoroughly as he did, no one else would know your weak spots as well as him. 

      Just as Ardyn expected, the gods fashioned you to be an exact replica of his late wife, right down to your erogenous zones. He remembered how his Aera liked to be touched, how she liked to be kissed and fondled, and you were no different. Your body sung just as sweetly as hers, every lick, every suck, even the slightest caress, had you moaning and writhing the same way she would. 

       So he stood still inside of you, allowing you to get used to his size. A gentle tide of sensations kissed the entire length of his cock. Your tight silky heat contracted around him as though trying to milk every last drop of pleasure from him. 

      You whimpered below him. “It hurts…” You whispered. 

       “Shhh…..” Ardyn replied, kissing your forehead before kissing every other inch of your face, your eyelids, your cheeks, your nose, and your lips. “You're doing so well, darling. Taking me all the way to the hilt, such a good girl you are.” He praised, your face brightened despite your obvious discomfort. 

        The crushing grip of your silky heat relaxed a bit and Ardyn began to move. He set a slow gentle pace. Warm tingles curled around the base of his cock every time your feminine walls pushed against him. It reminded Argyn of the first time he made love to his late wife. She felt just like this, her moist cavernous heat wrapped around him like a tight embrace. 

        Her fingers would card through his silky tresses, her soft kiss swollen lips would press against his ear. Ardyn buried his face against your neck, inhaling the floral aroma that was his Aera’s favorite scent. 

         Just like that, the room melted away. All thoughts of the prophecy, of Gladiolus, the gods, you, everything eroded away and he was finally back in his wife’s arms. He planted a kiss against your neck and relished in the shiver that wracked your body. 

         “How I’ve longed to feel you like this again.” Ardyn said. The past 2,000 years were cruel to him. His immortal body still carried the memory of the spears that pierced his flesh, of the freezing cold that rendered his fingers and toes frostbitten and numb, and the abyssal darkness that crushed him at all sizes. All the while he thought of her, her smile that could light up an entire room, her intelligent eyes and cheeky humor, and her laugh that chimed like temple bells.

           Ardyn wanted to remember her as she was, jovial and full of life. Sometimes his final moments with her would bleed into his happier memories and choke the air from his lungs. There were times where he could still feel her blood warm his hands. The oppressive darkness would split like a parted sea and conjure images of her bleeding out in front of him, their unborn child writhing in agony inside of her belly. 

         He crushed his lips against your mouth, his rough hands grabbed and caressed every inch of your skin he could reach. Even as you lay underneath him, the agony of his past still followed him like an unwanted companion. Ardyn prayed for death for centuries while rotting away in that putrid cell. The memory of his wife’s face grew weaker and weaker till all that remained of her was the pungent scent of iron, the sight of blood soiling her pristine white dress, and the darkness that devoured the light in her rapidly dimming eyes. 

         Ardyn thought he would never see her again. Death eluded him. The gods’ ignored his plea. And his soul was marked for destruction, forever keeping her out of his reach. But against all odds she found her way back to him. For this one moment, this one second in time, Ardyn could be with her before she slipped away from him again. 

       “Mmm…fuck. Do you feel it?” He groaned. His fingers bit into the plush softness of your thighs as he spread you wider. He couldn’t get enough of this feeling, of the tight heat that drenched his thrusting cock in slick, of the feminine gasps and whimpers that filled his ear, and the smell of lavender that tickled his nostrils. “This is the extent of my desire for you, how much I've missed you.”

       His gentle strokes suddenly picked up speed. He slammed into your intimate place, the tip of his cock kissing your cervix with every stroke. Ardyn needed more of this, more of you. His hips became a blur as he plunged even deeper inside of you. Your bed groaned in protest of his violent love making, your headboard repeatedly slammed against the wall. 

       “A-Ardyn, too much!” You cried.

        “Not enough, it'll never be enough”. Ardyn said.  He groaned aloud and uttered soft curses as your perfect body rippled and shivered around his sensitized cock. A cocktail of chemicals flooded every part of his body, making him feel as light as air. A distant part of his mind knew you weren't her, his late wife, but for now, just this once, he'll let himself imagine that you were. 

        Being around you for the past thirteen years was like cutting a rusted knife across a partially healed wound. He had been bleeding out from the moment he first laid eyes on you. Hooking your legs around his narrow waist, Ardyn shifted his hips and began to target that soft spongy spot deep inside of your canal. 

       You threw your head back against the pillow and he continued to stroke that area with his cock. “Mmm…oh Aera. I love you.” Ardyn said, you clenched down hard around his pistoning length. He bit his bottom lip, loving the way your body protested his retreating length every time he pulled away. 

        “Ardyn…” You moaned wantonly. He then sat back on his haunches and pulled you up to sit on his lap. His length sunk even deeper inside of you. With both hands on your hips, he bounced you up and down on his cock. He nearly choked at how hard you clung to him, how greedily your body sucked him in as he impaled you completely on his cock. Sweat skated down the column of your neck and he captured it with his tongue. You wrapped your arms around Ardyn’s neck. A symphony of feminine moans filled the air. A lustful haze darkened your eyes.

       Your kiss swollen lips formed a perfect ‘o’ as Ardyn massaged your juicy walls with his shaft. “You are absolutely stunning like this. I could look at you all day and never grow tired.” He was correct. You looked like a goddess, hair mussed and skin glowing with the afterglow of your arousal. You mewled and pressed yourself completely against him. Your soft breasts pressed against his hard pectorals. The press of your naked skin against his felt wonderful and made Ardyn snap his hips up, in and out, over and over.

        That familiar ball of tension formed in his gut, curling tighter and tighter with every thrust of his hips.  He dreaded the end of this moment but continued to chase the pleasurable high like a man possessed. Once this moment in time is done, his wife would descend back to the grave and he would be left with the very replica he swore to eventually destroy. 

      Ardyn needed to extend this moment. He relaxed his hold on your hips and bounced you less fervently. Your erect nipples brushed against his chest and he took one in his mouth. The silky firmness of your nub melted against his tongue like a savory treat. He flicked the hardened flesh and nipped it with his teeth. 

       “Ooh…Ardyn, I- so good…” You sobbed. He couldn’t stop his own moan from joining yours when you started undulating your hips. You bounced yourself up and down on his lap, drawing maddening circles with your hips and flooding his senses with liquid pleasure. This time your lips sought his. You kissed him hungrily, biting his lower lip and sucking it into your mouth. Your tongue skated across his teeth before exploring the rest of him. 

      Ardyn moaned against your lips. Gooseflesh broke out across his arms and your hands found their way into his hair. Pleasure zipped through his being every time you tugged on his strands. 

[seradyn]

A Dream Come True (Chp. 6)

Chapter 6/?: Fateful Encounter

Word Count: 6475

Reader grapples with the grief of her last dream. Driven from her home in search of a sleep aid, she has a run in with someone unexpected.

TW: Depictions of Social Anxiety

———————————————————————

You held the pillow to your face, covering it in hot, choked despair. Sobs shook your form nonstop with endless trembling. Your chest ached with an unbelievable hollowness. It was unlike anything you’d felt before, the pain deep and agonizing. You would’ve done anything to make it stop.

It was hard to breathe, between the crying and the pillow smothering you. You dared not remove it, though. The walls here were thin, and you’d be loath to let anyone hear you weep. You wouldn’t risk showing them such weakness. You curled in on yourself to muffle the crying as best you could.

You were devastated. The agony akin to someone carving out your heart with a crude knife, dulled to cause the most pain possible. You don’t know why you were so upset about it, but something deep inside you cared for your dream Ardyn. Seeing him shunned and tortured by his own brother, his beloved slaughtered before his eyes, his own people betraying him. It made your chest ache with an all encompassing anguish.

You stayed like that for a while, in a fetal position. Your throat burned, more painful than the worst strep throat or mightiest cold, like a carrot peeler had been taken to your esophagus. Your face was covered in tears and saliva, open mouthed sobs allowing depressed fluids to flow freely. Your fingers dug into the plush cushion, holding it in a death grip.

It took you some time before your weeping slowed, pillow completely soaked and ruined. It felt like you’d cried for hours.

Eventually, you were able to calm your breathing. You counted in your head, to the rhythm of gentle breaths. In, out. In, out. It took a lot of effort, but slowly you loosened your stranglehold on the pillow. You still sniffled and hiccuped, but that couldn’t be helped. Your face felt messy from the crying session. You rubbed your eyes to clear some of the residue.

You rolled over to check the time, hoping maybe you had been able to sleep in a little. The nightmare had lasted much too long.

3:12 a.m.

You groaned, flopping back down on your damp sheets. Your sleep cycle was completely destroyed now. You were too upset to fall back asleep, still reeling from what happened. But you also didn’t want to be active so early in the morning, telling your body this was the time to be awake. It meant getting up, or trying in vain to go back to sleep.

Basically, you were screwed.

A depressed sigh left your mouth. You groggily stood, slowly staggering out of your room. You decided you needed something to help you get some rest. You remembered you kept a stash of sleeping pills in your cabinet for emergencies. They would knock you out, and hopefully keep you from having any more vivid dreams. You couldn’t stand the thought of falling asleep only to see the Oracle tortured again. You weren’t sure you could handle it a second time.

Sleeping off how terrible you felt sounded wonderful, granted you didn’t have to deal with any more nightmares.

Reaching the kitchen, the cold tile shocked your bare feet. You hissed as you flicked on a light, groaning and covering your eyes so your pupils could adjust. Once you got used to all the stimulation, you padded over to the right cabinet, opened it and felt around for the bottle of sedatives.

You shoved aside generic stomach relief medicine and cough syrup, reaching your hand deeper and deeper inside. Your brows furrowed, confused when you kept pulling out the wrong medication. Allergy meds and ibuprofen were thrown onto the countertop as you searched. Everything was systematically removed with growing frustration.

Finally fed up, you rose on your toes, staring at the shelf accusingly, scanning for the right bottle.

Gone.

Your face scrunched together in an angry snarl.

Of course you just happened to be out of sleeping pills right now. That was just your luck, really. The one time you desperately needed them, you’d forgotten to restock your stash.

God fucking damnit.

You dropped back down on your heels, trying to think of what to do now. You refused to stay up and wait for natural sleep, still feeling sick and exhausted. Yet your circumstances left you only two options; either try to go back to bed without drug induced help, or walk to a nearby pharmacy and pick up some more pills.

Neither choice was overly pleasing. If you tried to get some rest, you knew you wouldn’t be able to stop yourself from thinking about what had happened. Your chest still ached and your head still throbbed from crying so hard.

On the other hand, if you wanted more sleeping pills, you would have to walk around Gralea at 3 in the morning. As a young woman, through sketchy parts of town. That did not bode well.

What choice did you really have, though? You were not going to go back to sleep without assistance. You didn’t even want to try. Normally you loved sleeping, but the thought of crawling back into bed now filled you with dread. Three nights and three nightmares in a row. It was starting an unsettling precedent.

This wasn’t normal. You needed something.

Guess I’m going to the pharmacy.

Grumbling to yourself, throwing the medicine you pulled out back into the cabinet, you accepted your fate. You stomped angrily back to your room, ripping some basic clothes off their hangers as you went. Something practical, just to get the job done.

You were dressed and ready soon after, mentally preparing yourself for the, hopefully short, outing. You were really not looking forward to interacting with anyone. Talking was not your forte, to put it mildly. You double checked you had your emergency can of pepper spray, for any less savory encounters. With that small comfort, you exited your apartment, gently closing and locking the door behind you.

It was, unsurprisingly, much colder outside than you were used to. You huddled into your jacket, trying and failing to stave off the chill. Street lamps cast an eerie orange glow over the sidewalk. No one was around, at least that you could see, but you still kept one hand buried in your bag, closed around the can of pepper spray for protection. Your steps echoed around you like a beacon, as you hurried towards the closest 24 hour pharmacy.

Luckily, since you lived pretty close to the city center, the journey wasn’t too far. Shorter than your daily walk to work, in fact. You reached it without issue, the only other souls about stumbling out of overactive bars or keeping to themselves.

The jingle of a bell announced your entry. It was painfully bright inside. The fluorescent lights reflected off the white tile floor and plaster walls, blinding you for a brief second. Immediately irritated by this, you walked inside with your head down, just wanting to leave. The poor underpaid cashier working the counter looked like they wanted the same.

“Grab the stuff and go,” you mumbled to yourself.

You didn’t know where anything was, so you wandered up and down the aisles, scanning the shelves for what you sought. A cheerful radio station played obnoxiously overhead. Hardly anyone else was inside, and none of you looked at each other. Absolutely no one wanted to be here right now. You felt a pang of sympathy for the other lost souls.

As you rounded a corner, your vision was blocked by a wall of dark clothing. With your head still down, all you saw were the detailed black leather boots of whoever was in your way.

“Pardon me,” the owner said gently, voice deep and smooth.

“Excuse me,” you said to be polite, finally looking up just before you moved out of the way.

You froze midstep, eyes popping out of your skull. Butterflies erupted through your chest, making your heart summersault. A heavy blush overcame your cheeks.

You were staring at warm, yellow eyes.

No fucking way.

Standing before you, looking ludicrously out of place in his eccentric attire, was undoubtedly the Chancellor of Niflheim.

Whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefuck -

He looked just as he had on television. Just as he had in your dreams even, minus the healer clothes. Short, stubbly beard peppered the bottom of his face, making his exquisitely cut jawline look all the more rugged. Wavy maroon hair flowed downward, partly obscured by a black fedora sitting atop his head. He wore the same outfit he always did; a long black overcoat over a vest and dress shirt. Striped trousers and dark boots completed the ensemble. Several scarves decorated his neck.

You stared at him, unmoving, trying to figure out if you were really seeing correctly. You scanned over him a few times, scrutinizing look lingering on his face.

He’s more handsome in real life.

The thought was there and gone before you could stop it. Your eyes widened further at that, stomach bottoming out. You didn’t think it was possible for them to get any bigger.

Did you really just think that?

By the six, what the hell is this man doing in a random pharmacy at 3 a.m.?!?

Your brain completely bailed on you, leaving you to stand there, unable to move or speak.

When Ardyn’s gaze finally landed on you, noticing you had yet to get out of his way, his eyes widened too. His lips parted as you stared at each other in mirrored surprise. Your heart kept practicing its gymnastics routine while you both did your best statue impressions.

He was much quicker to recover, though. The shock easily melted away to that salacious smile he so often adorned. He took a long step backward, turning so he no longer blocked the narrow path between the shelves.

“Apologies, my dear,” he purred, voice sinfully smooth as he smirked at you. “It was not my intention to impede the path of such a lovely lady.” He waved his hand in a slow ark, bringing it to his chest with a shallow bow as he finished his sentence.

You still had yet to regain your composure. When he looked at you expectantly, those warm eyes filled with mischief, you panicked, feeling the blush burn hotter and sweat pool in your clammy palms.

“I-it’s-it’s fine,” you floundered, your tongue getting twisted on itself as you tried to remember how to speak. Anxiety created small trembles that shook your hands. “I-I should’ve been watching where I was going.”

Oh my god, you’re making a fool of yourself. You hated when you stammered.

He chuckled at your obvious nervousness. It didn’t seem malicious, more like he found it amusing, but that didn’t stop the tips of your ears from being touched by the fire blazing across your skin.

Great first impression.

He shook his head. “The fault is all mine, dear.” His voice was a sweet molasses that rolled over you in waves. “However, do allow me to seize the opportunity, and introduce myself.” He gracefully snatched his hat from atop his head, performing a flourishing bow much deeper than the first one. “Ardyn Izunia, at your service.”

“Y-yeah,” you said, already painfully aware of his status. “I recognized you. I've seen you on TV.”

Idiot. You couldn’t have just said ‘nice to meet you’? Gods, you’re useless.

He straightened, a wide grin baring the tips of his perfect teeth at you. His hat returned to his head, taming the unruly locks. “That much was obvious by your reaction.”

So, he noticed. You’d hoped maybe you were being more subtle than you felt. Evidently not.

You sighed, totally embarrassed, and shook your head while lowering it in shame. “I’m sorry,” you said, suddenly feeling rather guilty at the way you had acted. He probably came here at such a time to do as he needed unbothered, and here you were, acting as if you’d run into a famous movie star. “It wasn’t very polite of me.”

“It is no trouble at all, dear.” His voice became gentle, comforting, where before it had been playful. Perhaps he was taking pity on you.

When you still looked away from him, ashamed, he sauntered over to stand before you, wide frame dwarfing your own. He delicately brought a hand up to lift your chin with his thumb and index finger. His skin was rough, covered in old callouses. Your downcast eyes turned up to meet his smile, gaze taken hostage by his soft expression.

Your grip on the concealed can of pepper spray instinctively tightened, triggered by the caress of an unfamiliar man. Although, you didn’t dislike his hand on you, you realized after a moment. Your eyes met his again, and the butterflies in your stomach turned into angry hornets, buzzing from the electricity generated by his touch. Your heart thundered in your chest.

“Think nothing of it.” You watched his mouth move as he spoke, shaping exhaled air.

Now that your faces were mere inches apart, you could really admire him. As slightly mortified as it made you, he actually was ruggishly handsome. You found yourself subconsciously examining his face, trying to ingrain its structure into your memory. You acquainted yourself with the sharp corners of his jaw, dotted with pointy hairs, which led down to a round chin. To the elegant point of his nose, fully displayed as he tilted his head down at you. He didn’t seem to mind, staring down at you with a mischievous glint in his eye while he held your chin.

“May I be so privileged as to know the young lady’s name?”

What always drew you back though, were his eyes. A soft yellow color, so warm and sweet. Much like his wine red hair, you’d have thought the color unnatural, but the way they glistened with unspoken words and sparkled with intelligent mirth, you knew they were real. You found yourself getting lost in them, sucked into pools of golden honey. They were absolutely lovely. Neither your dreams nor your screens could capture their emotion.

It took a second for you to realize he asked a question. Tearing your eyes away from their methodic observation, you told him your name in a whisper. He repeated it back reverently, like it felt divine on his tongue. You’d never heard your name part someone’s mouth in such a way.

“A beautiful name…”

Your whole face and neck felt like it was on fire, and the compliment only served to add more fuel to it. You tried to look away, but he held you firmly, demanding your gaze remain on him.

“Th-thank you.”

Inexplicably, your heart felt drawn to him, giddy with glee as you two stood so close together. With each thump it filled you with a strange affection, his presence comforting even through your nervousness. Like this was where you were meant to be, nowhere else was as important. You tried your best to usher the feeling away, but it came unabated in waves. You were stunned at yourself, wanting to run from the odd intimacy churning within. It was too soft, too valuable.

To distract yourself, your eyes went back to their assessment, rolling over his face, taking him in. They soon landed on his plump lips.

I wonder how they would taste.

You stiffened at yourself, the mortified feeling expanding exponentially at that thought alone. Your blush continued to pulse with deep heat, painting your cheeks and ears red. There was no way he didn’t see it.

How embarrassing…Why am I like this?

Ardyn tilted his head at you when you didn’t say anything for a while. “Forgive me for being brash, but you seem a bit flushed, my dear. It may be best for you to return home and rest.”

He took a step back, letting go of your chin in the process. The skin he held tingled, wishing to have his warmth upon it again. You leaned forward against your will, not wanting to part from him so soon. You felt odd, missing the way his fingers brushed against you.

“O-oh no,” you quickly reassured. You hoped he didn’t think you were terribly sick or something. “I’m actually just here for some sleep meds. Haven’t had a restful night in a few days.”

He doesn’t care. Just shut up, get your shit, and leave.

“Oh?” He asked, sounding overly interested. He raised an eyebrow to punctuate the question. “How fascinating. It seems we suffer from the same affliction.”

You were a bit taken aback by that. You looked him up and down, unbelieving. “Really?”

He nodded slowly. “It may not seem so, but I’ve experienced much in my time. The sins of my youth often still haunt my dreams. Nightmares are an old friend of mine.” A distant expression came over him for the briefest of moments, before disappearing again behind a smirk.

So he was having nightmares, just like you. How peculiar.

“That’s…what’s been happening with me,” you said, only willing to give that much away. If you said anything more, you would sound insane. “Only recently though. I’ve never had such vivid nightmares.”

He grinned like a rambunctious child surrounded by candy. It was a little unsettling, given your innocent statement.

“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?” He said, mock offended. “Come, my dear. I know of all the best spoils for those with unpleasant dreams.” He spun on his heel, walking down the aisle in a suave gait. He didn’t give you the option of refusing.

You stood frozen for a moment, still not sure if this was really happening. Before you could offend the Chancellor, you quickly came up behind him, anxiously weaving a long strand of hair between your fingers as you followed him through the store, down an aisle close to the entrance. His scent drifted back to you, a mix of vanilla and cinnamon.

This was all so surreal. Why was he even helping you? Seeing him act so casual, it brought forth memories of your abhorrent dreams. They were such a drastic contrast to the jovial man you now followed. It almost seemed like a prank, some practical joke that you weren’t privy to.

It felt so…wrong.

I have seen you tortured in unspeakable ways.

“You don’t have to do this,” you said after a second of awkward silence. “I’m sure you’re a busy man. I can find it on my own. It’s no problem.”

“Nonsense my dear,” Ardyn immediately put that down. “I can always spare a moment to help a fair lady in need.”

You should’ve been upset with all the pet names he was giving you; you wouldn’t tolerate that from any other man. But, coming from him, made by his voice, they sounded so much sweeter. Like whispered promises of devotion from new lovers. Your heart rate increased each time one dropped from his mouth. A guilty pleasure you knew you should hate.

Ardyn stopped at the end of the shelves, turning his full attention to one particular section. You watched as he slowly scanned the various packages of nighttime drugs. Satisfied, he bent down and snatched a white bottle off the rack. He inspected the label briefly before handing it to you, a charming smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.

You delicately took the proffered item with a shaky hand, trying your best to hide how flustered you still were. Damn social anxiety. The pills rattled in their container as it was exchanged. You scanned the front, making sure it was exactly what Ardyn said it was.

He watched you examine the item for a moment, before his deep hum made you look up. “If that’ll be all…” He glided towards you with a few drawn out steps, a hand on his hip. “…I shall take my leave.”

By the time he finished saying farewell, he was already behind you, moving further away with each passing second.

But it was too soon. Some part of you didn’t want him gone yet.

“Th-thank you,” you said quickly, before he got away. You turned to look at him, only a pace down from where he left you.

There was so much more you wanted to say. Some part of you wanted to tell him about the horrible dreams you were having. How you’d seen him fall from grace so violently. Or ask about the strange feeling burning in your chest. The feeling that made you want him. So many unanswered questions, so many mysteries. And they all centered around him, for reasons you couldn’t fathom.

But you couldn’t. You hadn’t even the strength to tell your best friend, and now you wished to drop that on a man you’d met not five minutes ago? It was beyond absurd.

And yet, your heart was begging him to stay, trying to convey the feeling through your eyes. You didn’t want to see him go.

Please, don’t leave.

He stopped, then looked over his shoulder, sparing you the smallest of glances. “Darling, it was my pleasure,” he cooed. He seemed to have enjoyed this a great deal, if the sensual grin was anything to go by. “Do take care of yourself.”

With that, he continued on his way, leaving you dumbfounded in the middle of the aisle. You shamelessly watched his retreating back fade down the rows of goods, chest aching with each step he took. The pain grew and grew, until it passed some invisible precipice, and began to fade. It was quickly eclipsed, temporarily, by pure confusion.

What in the name of Ramuh just happened?

You looked back down at the bottle in your hand, tracing over the SLEEP AID on the front in large bold letters with your eyes.

Was that real? Am I actually awake right now?

You definitely remembered waking up though. The sheen of familiar cold sweet, the tears in your eyes. You hadn’t imagined the echoing pain that filled you, nor the headache that still gently pulsed beneath your scalp. It left you feeling terrible, leading you to seek out the very thing now clutched in your hand. That had all been real.

So, I just happened to run into the subject of my dreams while on a random outing I hadn’t even planned on, in a place where said subject is unlikely to frequent, at a time when 90% of people are asleep.

What are the odds?

He had been so nice, too. Civil, if not a bit flirty, with how many times he called you ‘dear’. Why? You were a nobody, another face in the crowd. The person who doesn’t look or talk to anyone unless absolutely necessary. A practiced wall flower. Why had he been kind to you?

And why were you so bothered now that he was gone? Your heartbeat drummed in your inner ear, contracting with a longing to be back by his side. Where was this feeling coming from? You’d cared for him in the dream but…this felt like something more.

You let out a heavy breath, exasperated.

You don’t know how long you stood there, but the sound of a bell chiming made you look up. Someone entered the store, blocked by the walls of shelving all around you. Curious, you watched as they rounded the corner, stopping to look at something at the checkout desk by the end of your aisle.

Alarm bells immediately started going off inside you.

Jeremy.

Gods, why was he here?! What next? Satus? The Emperor himself?!

You took some shaky steps backward, praying he wouldn’t turn around and see you. You’d been lucky enough so far to have never bumped into him outside of work, and now that that was a very real possibility, fear bubbled up from your belly. You didn’t want to think of what he would do to you while you were alone, in a place with very few people. None of the expected outcomes ended in your favor. You clutched the can in your bag, ready to use it.

You felt exposed, standing in the aisle with nothing obstructing him from you. Turning, you strode in the other direction, trying to keep your footfalls silent as you speed walked away. You looked down the rows, trying to plan the best escape route that would be fast and inconspicuous. Perhaps you could sneak out before he even saw you.

Instead, something caught your eye.

Ardyn. He hasn’t left yet.

He hadn’t even made it to the end of the aisle, slowly walking further from you, gently swaying his head like his favorite song was on.

Seeing him made you relax a little, some of the tension leaving your shoulders.

Maybe he’d help you. There was no reason for him to do so, but you felt he would. You felt you could trust him. The feeling was unfounded, but it existed nonetheless.

Why are you going to a strange man for help? He could rape you and no one would believe you!

He won’t. I know he won’t. I trust him.

Why?!

Because I do!

The dreams aren’t real. You have no idea who this guy is.

I still trust him. He’s better than Jeremy.

You tried to be discreet, but with what you believed to be safety so close, you couldn’t help but nearly run to Ardyn, shoes smacking agonizingly loud against the tile floor. The pills were like a macarena with your rapid pace. You prayed to all the Astrals that Jeremy wouldn’t notice you practically sprinting away.

Ardyn turned just before you reached him, hearing you coming up from behind. He raised an eyebrow at you, still smirking. The expression wilted when he saw how scared you looked.

“Something amiss?” He asked, slightly concerned.

You didn’t answer him yet, coming to a stop only once he was in between you and Jeremy. His broad shoulders easily blocked your view of the pervert, giving you a chance to relax. You exhaled a held breath, slouching in the illusionary reprieve.

“Th-there’s this guy,” you said, subconsciously huddling close to him. “He creeps on me a lot at work, even though I’ve told him I’m not interested. I’m worried he might do something to me since it’s dark out and I’m alone.”

Ardyn watched you curiously, brows furrowed. He stood still as you peeked over his shoulder, ducking back down when you saw the unmistakable sight of Jeremy walking away from the counter, integrating into the store.

When you couldn’t see him anymore, you looked at Ardyn to gauge his reaction. He held that same contemplative look, although something flashed in his eyes, there and gone in mere seconds. You stared at him while your brain caught up, soon able to name what it was.

Pure rage.

You grimaced slightly at yourself. He must be annoyed that you were still bothering him. You were being almost clingy, coming back to him so soon, asking for his help. You must’ve seemed rather pathetic.

He doesn’t care he doesn’t care he doesn’t care he dos -

“He makes you uncomfortable?” Ardyn asked, all his bravado gone, sounding much more serious now.

You nodded frantically, staying close to his protective frame.

“And, which man did you say this was?”

You looked out at the sea of shelves. They were too tall for you to look over. Luckily, at that moment, Jeremy walked away from them, going to the back of the store to inspect something. You darted behind Ardyn, wordlessly pointing at the man in question. His back was to the both of you.

When Ardyn’s gaze landed on him, another bolt of anger skittered across his face, the tips of his mouth curved down in a frown. “Wait here,” he ordered as he left your side. You felt less safe with each step he took.

“W-wait!” You cried in a hushed whisper. You hadn’t actually wanted him to go talk to Jeremy. Maybe just stay with you until you were able to pay and leave. Not the best plan, and one you didn’t know if he would go for, but what else were you to do?

Ardyn either didn’t hear you or deliberately ignored you. You stared in disbelief as he approached Jeremy from behind, beckoning his attention.

You ducked behind a shelf to watch, not trusting that Jeremy wouldn’t glance over in your direction.

Ardyn towered over your suitor as he spoke with him, waving his hands and nodding enthusiastically. You couldn’t hear their conversation, but you instinctively prepared to run if he decided to rat you out.

He wouldn’t do that. I know he wouldn’t.

No, you don’t.

Jeremy at first, seemed extremely confused by the approach of this older man. He narrowed his eyes at him, begrudgingly listening to what he had to say. Halfway through, that act was dropped and a grin spread across his face. You shivered at it, skin crawling. Creepy.

Pleased with the arrangement, Ardyn turned and led Jeremy back to the front of the store. He followed behind eagerly, seeming even more full of himself than normal. You scowled at his back.

When they reached the front, Ardyn led him outside, bell chiming to signal their departure.

You waited in relative safety for a few moments, giving them a chance to move away from the building. You came out from your hiding spot, watching the door to make sure they were really gone. The large glass windows illuminated the street a decent amount, yet you saw no sign of them. They’d instantly disappeared into the faintly lit night.

Tension seeped out of you, muscles relaxing and jaw unclenching. You hadn’t the faintest idea how Ardyn had convinced Jeremy to leave, but it had been extremely effective. You were now free to do as you needed without the chance of running into the slimy man. You made a mental note to somehow track Ardyn down and thank him at some point.

You hastily went up to the front counter, grabbing the medicine and shoving it in your purse as soon as the payment went through. You and the store clerk tiredly exchanged required pleasantries as you shuffled away. You pushed the glass door open, stepping outside and getting slapped with a cold gust of wind. Your teeth began chattering.

You peered down both ends of the street, which extended many blocks in opposite directions. A few stragglers were wandering around, although most of the night life had settled down by now.

No sign of Ardyn or Jeremy. They had been swallowed by the darkness.

You didn’t want to dwell on it too long. You wouldn’t squander the opportunity to get home safely. You darted across the street, making your way back to your apartment with a pace that was closer to a pseudo jog. You still felt on edge, knowing Jeremy was somewhere nearby. Best to get away while he was distracted.

Your mind endlessly spun as you walked.

What the fuck just happened? Why was the Chancellor, one of the most powerful and influential men in the Empire, hanging around a rundown store at such an ungodly hour? Surely there were better places he could go within Zegnautus for anything it carried. Based on what you could tell, he hardly left the keep anyway. Why mingle with the peasants?

He was the perfect gentleman to you, too. It may have seemed a bit overly chivalrous, but thinking back to it, it made your heart ignite. No man had ever treated you like that. It would’ve seemed pretentious, coming from most, but from Ardyn, it seemed anything but. He spun a perfect little web around your heart, charming you with sultry words and flashy grins. When you thought of his perpetual smirk directed at you, only you, a slow blush returned to your face. You felt a bit ashamed you were so bothered by it all.

Surely the Chancellor had no real interest in you. Helping some pathetic, scared girl at a time when he could easily take advantage of her was clearly just a means to aggrandize his reputation. He wasn’t unpopular so to speak, but you could tell from your minimal research that he was often seen as quite dramatic and somewhat suspect by the public. Not that the opinions of the masses really mattered, your officials weren’t elected, but a random act of kindness could certainly improve his standing with the general citizenry.

That was the only explanation. It had to be. There was no reason for him to -

“Darling?”

“Ah!” You yelped, jumping away from a voice right behind you. You whipped around and brandished the can of mace, spooked like a baby deer.

Ardyn stood only a few feet away, looking incredibly amused. He raised his empty hands innocently, posture laid back and not at all worried about the can aimed at his face. “Apologies again, my dear. I did not mean to frighten you.”

You let out a loud, irritated exhale. You had no idea how he managed to sneak up on you so completely. You always tried to keep your eyes and ears open, stay aware of your surroundings. It was a survival instinct. The startle made uneasiness pool in the back of your mind, but your heart lit with an elated feeling at seeing him again.

“It’s okay,” you huffed once you calmed down. You were proud your voice remained even. You carefully returned the liquid protection to its hiding place, concealed and at the ready. Your movements were jerky, nerves shot and muscles tense. Ardyn lowered his arms, smiling at you, like he hadn’t almost been maced.

“I have wonderful news regarding that degenerate fellow who so harassed you,” Ardyn sing-songed, sounding terribly pleased with himself. “You’ll not have to worry about his meddling any longer.”

You did a double take, unsure how to process the news.

It couldn’t have been that easy. Jeremy had been hounding you for months, asking you out, offering you drinks, the occasional gift. Anything he thought would get him into your pants. No amount of rejection or warnings from your friends had deterred him. He wouldn’t so quickly give up his perceived prey.

“How did you manage that?” You asked.

“I can be rather persuasive,” Ardyn said, waving his hand dismissively. “I simply convinced him it would be in his best interest to leave you be.”

So…he’d threatened him? Somehow it didn’t surprise you. Ardyn had been uncharacteristically serious when you told him of the situation, faint hints of a boiling fury hidden behind his amber eyes. With his position, and all the money and power it came with, he could easily destroy someone’s life if he so chose. Jeremy may be a stalker, but even they cared about their finances and, more importantly, staying out of jail.

You also realized…the sentiment was rather touching. He’d flexed his nearly limitless power for your sake, without even having to be asked. For you, and you alone. You’d only just met, and yet Ardyn had been willing to go to such lengths to make you feel safe. It made your heart start doing tricks again.

Kinda ruins the whole reputation narrative though.

You swiftly silenced those thoughts, not wanting to think about what it meant. “Thank you,” you said genuinely. “I didn’t mean to cause you so much trouble. I just didn’t want him to notice me.”

“It was truely my pleasure. Such scum doesn’t deserve to bask in your presence.”

A blush exploded across your cheeks again, right on schedule. You lowered your face to hide it a little, and to avoid looking at him. “How f-flattering,” you mumbled to the ground. You heard him chuckle, a sinfully deep sound.

You both stood there in uncomfortable silence for a moment. You weren’t sure if he expected you to say something more.

“You know, it is rather dark out.” Ardyn spoke before it got too painful. He stepped towards you, causing you to look up at him. “You never know what may be lurking in the shadows.”

“Uhhh,” you breathed, not really sure what to say to that. You were a bit off put by it. “Y-yeah. That’s why the p-pepper spray.”

He nodded his approval. “Please, allow me to escort you back home. I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something were to happen to you.” His tone became playful again, sounding dramatic as he said his piece.

You bristled slightly. Why did he care what happened to you? He had the perfect chance to be rid of you, to never see you again, but now he wanted to stay with you longer?

He must’ve wanted something from you. Your brows furrowed, for what could you possibly offer him? When you realized what it may be, a cold hand of fear touched your delicate flesh. Goosebumps rose the fine hairs on your skin, an invisible display. There was no other reason he would want to see you home, surely.

“N-no that’s okay,” you said, a little too quickly. Showing any strange man where you lived was a big no no. “I can make it on my own. I’ll be fine. I don’t live too far from here.”

“Darling, I must insist.”

You really didn’t want to say yes. Part of you did, but you did your best to repress that side of you. Yet, he’d boxed you into a corner. You imagined he might get upset if you refused again, and he knew you were aware of his power. The way he looked at you, you knew he knew what he was doing.

You were also totally done with interacting with people right now. You hated having to talk to them, every conversation an exam whose failure meant ridicule and shunning. The longer you stayed with Ardyn, the more opportunities you’d have to make yourself seem stupid. You desperately wanted to avoid that.

But if you offended the Chancellor… who was to say his wrath wouldn’t find its way to you. He could do whatever he wanted, and there was nothing you could really do about it. If he decided to have his wicked way with you, it wouldn’t matter if he knew where you lived or not. It was also likely any accusations leveled at him would fall on deaf ears. Such was one of the perks of having the Empire tied neatly around his finger.

Much like in your dreams, you were powerless.

The suppressed part of you giggled joyfully when you made your decision.

“…Alright,” you said in a tiny voice. You promised yourself you wouldn’t let him inside, drawing a line somewhere. You just hoped he would remain civil for the duration of the trip back.

“Wonderful,” Ardyn purred, a contented cat. “Shall we be off then?”

———————————————————————

OKAY IDK WTF HAPPENED WITH THE WORD COUNT ON THIS ONE. 😩 Every time I went back to edit it just kept growing as I thought of more details to add. I hope you can still enjoy it!

I have pretty bad social anxiety, so I wanted to depict that here. Added a trigger warning just in case. 💕

WE FINALLY HAVE OUR MAN. Plot is going to slow down soon, to make way for the relationship. There will be plenty of time with our hubby, don’t you worry 😉

[scientiastudy]

Lay All Your Love on Me (Chapter III)

Chapter I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII.

You aren't too happy about your situation, but you'll learn to accept it eventually. You'll have to.

Pairing: Ardyn Izunia x Reader

Word Count: 2.7k

Rating: M

Content: Angst, kidnapping, reincarnation, graphic depictions of violence, manipulation, slight gore, mentions of death

Author's Note: This is slowly becoming a beast. I have so many plans for this and I'm actually really happy with where it's going so far. I'm deffo gonna eat my words about this ending up short LOL sorry.

The first thing you’re aware of when you awake is that you aren’t alone. When you finally manage to pry your groggy eyes open you’re greeted by the sight of your captor in front of you, his face the picture of calmness as he reads a thick book propped up on his lap. You immediately shut your eyes again, hoping he hasn’t realized you’ve woken up.

Your mind begins to race, you know running again is out of the question with how Ardyn had caught you the last time. Your mind flashes back to what he had said before he had knocked you out. If this is the First Secretary’s estate, then that means there are other people somewhere. Even better, there are powerful people somewhere. If you can escape this wing and plead your case, you stand a decent chance of regaining your freedom.

You begin thinking of how you would plead your case, fantasies of running to the First Secretary and throwing yourself at her feet spinning through your head.

Your reverie is stopped short when you remember what the Chancellor had told you in the hallway, that “...you’re in such a delicate state after the tragic death of your friends that you’re unable to speak to anyone other than your noble rescuer,” If that was the lie he had used to get you locked up in this estate in the first place, then you could probably only look forward to being sent back to your prison if you did escape. After all, who was going to believe a hysterical young crownsguard over the Imperial Chancellor?

You force yourself to shake the doubts from your mind. There’s no way you’re staying here and playing whatever sick little game Ardyn has planned for you. After all, how did you know he was telling the truth? He’d lied about sparing your friends, who's to say he isn’t lying about where you are and who you’re with?

A painful sting pierces through your heart at the thought of your friends. The last image you’d seen of them comes to your mind unbidden. Ignis and Prompto’s charred skin as they’d tried to protect Noct, Gladio’s bloody and bruised body sprawled across the battlefield, his greatsword thrown from his mangled hand in the blast. Noct, unconscious and bloody on the ground as the Archean screamed.

You force yourself to stop, feeling tears well in your eyes and devastation grow in your chest. They would have wanted you to continue on. They wouldn’t have stood for you being taken captive by some imperial egomaniac, and you won’t either.

With your resolved steeled and your nerves frayed, you slowly begin testing the waters with the rest of your body. You clench and unclench your fists as life gradually gets restored to your limbs. You move on to your shoulders, slowly flexing your shoulder blades before moving down further to your knees and toes.

Your blood freezes as you realize you can’t wiggle your toes. You begin to panic, ice-cold fear seeping into you as your brain keeps screaming at your feet to move, to do anything, but your limbs stay still under the covers. You try your knees next, your panic only increasing as you realize it isn’t just your feet, but the entirety of your legs that have been paralyzed. Your mind returns to when you’d collapsed in the hallway, how your legs had turned to lead as Ardyn’s magic coursed through your veins. You realize with horror that not only had the man taken your voice from you, but your mobility as well.

Your panic swells even more, sick images of torture and pain flashing through your head as you realize how truly and utterly helpless you are. Your heartbeat roars in your ears, cold fear contrasting with white-hot panic flooding through your veins. You need to do something, anything.

“Alright over there darling?”

Ardyn’s voice makes you freeze. You school your face into what you hope is a charade of sleep, praying he’ll leave you alone.

“I’m afraid that won’t work on me my dear,” He sighs. You hear him shut his book, stiffening even more when you hear him rise from the chair. “As beautiful as you look in slumber, you’re a rubbish actress, my dear.”

You feel the bed dip next to you with his weight and resist the urge to crawl away. Even his presence makes you feel dirty, tainted even. Deciding that the jig is up, you slowly open your eyes. Ardyn sits next to you on the edge of the bed, a small smile on his face. You’re slightly taken aback at how genuine and soft it seems. It’s nothing like the cheshire grin he’d worn on the ship, nor the triumphant smirk you’d seen before he had rendered you unconscious. This smile looks soft, like the expression you’d see on Ignis’s face as Noct stuffed his mouth with food, or the smile Prompto would give you every time you sealed a pinky promise together.

It creeps you out.

You slowly rise, dragging the dead weight of your legs as you pull yourself into a sitting position. Partially to put space between you and Ardyn, and partially because it made you feel safer. Laying down at the mercy of a man is not a position you ever want to be in.

“There she is,” The Chancellor coos, reaching out a hand to caress your face. You flinch away instinctively, but that doesn’t seem to bother him. He just puts his hand back in his lap, turning his body more to face you, his gaze burning holes into your skull. You studiously train your gaze on the blanket spread over you, opting to trace the intricate blue and gold pattern with your eyes instead of looking at the man before you.

“I bet you have a lot of questions right now, and I’ll answer them all in due time,” He says, reaching a hand out to rest on your shin. You desperately wish he had taken the feeling from your legs too as the warmth from his palm seeps through the blankets, the weight of his hand feeling like a shackle. “But now what’s important is your healing. I cannot believe that infernal princeling and his lackeys had you in such a dangerous position.”

You bite back the urge to defend Noct and your friends, raging at the spell that held your voice captive. You’d give every single gil you own to give him a piece of your mind, but something tells you his motives are beyond monetary concession.

“I will be here every step of the way, of course. Though I will have duties within the city to attend to, I will always be here for your meals and more if you need me,” Your heart sinks at his words, you had at least hoped he would leave you to your own devices, but of course, it could never be that simple.

“Now, no need to look so glum,” He chides, and you curse yourself for letting your face betray you so easily. “I will grant you one small concession. When I am with you, I will return the use of your voice,” You instantly perk up at his words, a million plans running through your head. “But if you decide to do something foolish like scream, I will return you to muteness again. Do you understand?”

Your heart sinks at his words. Logically you knew there had to be a catch, he is your captor after all, but a small foolish part of you still held out hope for a quick escape. You nod, your eyes still trained on the pattern of the blanket draped on top of you.

“My darling, I may be eternal but I am not yet a mind reader,” He says, his hand once again extending to your face. You resist the urge to flinch again as he gently places his thumb on your chin, his fingers resting against your jaw as he gently turns your face up to look at him. “I need you to look in my eyes when you’re communicating with me,”

You feel your face turn hot. Rage and humiliation course through your veins at his words. How dare he take you prisoner and treat you like a child? The visceral urge to bite down on his thumb, to feel the flesh give way under your teeth as you crack the bone of his appendage floods you for a moment. This man had killed your friends, had taken your kingdom and home from you, and now he dares to treat you like some sort of doll and expects you to be alright with it? You open your jaw ever so slightly, almost giving in to the urge until you feel Ardyn’s fingers tighten around it, and you’re reminded of just how futile it would be.

You begrudgingly raise your gaze from the blanket to his, fully expecting another smug smile. You’re once again taken aback at the kindness in his eyes, the sincerity and longing that tinges them as he looks at you. It disgusts you, makes you feel like starscourge is crawling across your skin. You nod slowly, and he releases your chin with a smile.

“Well then, it seems we have a deal,” He says, flourishing his hand. You see the change in you more than you can feel it, a red miasma appears and then dissipates around your neck and you feel as if a weight slight weight has been lifted from your entire being.

You think of your next words carefully. While Ardyn had seemed fairly stable the entire time you’d been here, you know that no stable person kills four men and imprisons their young comrade. To escape you need to be alive, not another corpse on the pile.

“Why am I here?” You finally ask, your voice raspy from disuse. While he had told you on the ship, it still made no sense to you. All this talk of reincarnation and previous lovers, it was impossible. Sure, you’d seen some pretty impossible things on your journey, but this? This was too much.

“Ah, that’s the million gil question isn’t it?” Ardyn says, returning his hand to its place on your shin. “You see, long ago, I was a healer of the people. I traveled all over Lucis to heal those in need, I devoted my life to the service of others and expected little in return,” You resisted the urge to snort. The man holding you captive, who had killed your friends in cold blood, a healer? It was laughable.

“But one day on my travels, I met a woman. She was beautiful, effervescent even. We became lovers and then were to be wed. But by a cruel twist of fate, she was stolen from me,” You felt his grip tighten on your shin, wincing slightly as it turned bruising. Noticing this, he relaxes his grip, apologetically rubbing the throbbing area as he continues. “And I was cursed by the gods, left to live out eternity in solitude.”

Your mind reels at this revelation. You’d doubt him if you hadn’t slit his throat yourself, if you hadn’t felt the weight of his dying body on top of yours and the grotesque gurgles that emanated from him as he choked to death on his own blood. The only "immortal" you know is Cor, but even he is just a man.

“But I was given a second chance,” He continues, not giving you a second to process. “Two decades ago I felt something change: I felt her presence return to this mortal coil. I spent years searching for her, only guided by a tugging in my heart. I eventually found her, reborn as a girl in the streets of Insomnia. She bore the mark of light on her hand, the very force that had taken her from me all those centuries before.”

He takes your hand, his thumb gliding over the star that marked itself between your thumb and forefinger. Revulsion fills you like a plague, but you force yourself not to pull away. Keeping in his good graces is presumably the only thing keeping you alive. “And now here you are, a woman in your own right. I was going to wait, properly court you and show you the romance that had been taken from us,” his face turns bitter at this, removing his hand from yours. “But unfortunately, your charge forced my hand. I don’t expect you to understand this all right now, but I hope that in due time, we can reconcile the time lost.” The way he looks at you is filled with longing, melancholy dripping into his amber irises. Under any other circumstance, you'd be flattered to hold someone's gaze like that, but now it makes your skin crawl. How could a murderer flip on a dime like this? Isn't this the same man behind the soulless Magitek troopers? The man who holds an entire nation at his disposal? And now he's sitting with you in some room in Altissa trying to play house with a random crownsguard.

Before you know it, you’re giggling. The situation is all too much for you, too ridiculous for your brain to handle as your synapses fire on all cylinders. A giddy hysteria bubbles up in your chest, deep and all-consuming as your giggles turn to full-blown laughter. Your body shakes as you laugh, incredulity filling your veins. This is impossible, he is impossible. There’s no way this is happening. You must have been hit in the head by a rock during the fight with the Archean, or maybe you’re still in your bed in Insomnia in some sort of hellish nightmare.

“You expect me to believe that?” You say between gasps. “You expect me to believe that just because I have some stupid fucking birthmark– that because you had some sort of weird twisted feeling about me, that I’m some sort of reincarnated girlfriend for you?!” Your voice grows shrill as you continue, high on hysteria and disbelief. “You take me prisoner, kill my only friends, paralyze me, and now suddenly you’re the fucking victim? Just because some random bitch died Six knows how long ago?”

“Don’t-” His voice cuts through your rant, but you’re so electrified with emotion you can’t find it in you to stop.

“No, you don’t get to fucking decide this,” You continue, your eyes wildly flitting around the room. Your finger shakes in the air from where you’ve accusatorily pointed it at him. “You don’t get to make me like your personal doll just because you have some fucked up issues. I have a life, I have parents- friends- a job- I’m not just your little toy to play house with you sick fuck!”

This seems to set him off, his eyes darkening as he lunges forward, trapping your frantic hands against the headboard.

“Enough,” He growls, his face mere inches from yours. Your hysteria is replaced by a primal sense of fear. His features seem sharper, more sinister like this. The gentleness in his eyes has been replaced with frenzied anger, and you swear you see bits of black tinging his sclera.

“You will learn your place, darling, and my methods are none of your concern,” He hisses the endearment like a threat, his grip on your wrists tightening. “If you insist on being difficult, we can do things your way, but trust me when I tell you that I am being merciful in my treatment of you. You will learn your place, and you will take it. Whether you do so willingly is up to you. Do you understand me?”

You’re too paralyzed with fear to move, the pain in your wrists growing with every second. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you worry he’ll break them and leave you even more crippled. He doesn’t take well to your silence, leaning in so close that you can feel his hot breath across your face, his hair shrouding your vision.

“I said: Do you understand?” He repeats with more venom in his voice than before. You frantically nod, a quiet Yes escaping your lips.

“Yes, who?” He growls, and you pray for the bed beneath you to open up and swallow you whole.

“Yes, Ardyn,” You mutter, relief flooding your senses as he withdraws from your space, dropping your wrists and standing up. You watch as he picks up his book from where he’d left it on the chair, tucking it into his jacket before turning back to you.

“Since you had your little… outburst… I’ll leave you to your own devices for the rest of the day,” You see the cheshire smile appear again, and suddenly you’re internally cursing your big mouth. He flourishes with his right hand and you see the red miasma re-materialize around your throat before once again disappearing. “Do take care, darling.”

The sound of the lock clicking behind him seals your fate.

[berrydoodleoo]

spring is in the world

Title from ‘since feeling is first’. Chosen with Luna in mind, who in this AU has defied her fate and is no longer confined to parentheses. Read more about the art here, or have a short fic instead:

In hindsight, she shouldn’t have assumed things were going as well as they seemed. She had no great experience in taking lovers, after all, having devoted most of her thirty-odd years to fighting the Scourge in one form or another. She had lost so much time, first to her injuries after Altissa and the coma that had swallowed her for years, and then to the terrible fear and lethargy that gripped her once Ardyn was dead and her purpose in life (seemingly) fulfilled.

Not to mention that Noctis and Prompto were Lucian, whose upper-classes still ascribed to all sorts of prescriptive rules about romance and marriage. She should have been more vigilant -- Prompto in particular still regarded Noct and the sunlit world with nervousness bordering on dread, as if they might be ripped away from him at any moment. So what if she had danced with Noctis and Prompto at the ball held for the New Dawn’s first anniversary last week? So what if she had kissed Noctis outside her room, when he very courteously escorted her to her quarters? So what if Prompto had given her a gift of watercolor paints and cold-pressed paper at breakfast, asking with a flirty smirk if she had a model for her newest painting?

And most of all -- so what if they had made plans to celebrate Noctis’ birthday with a trip outside the city, where they would sleep (hopefully together) beneath the stars (her first test of her new resolve to walk in the dark without fear). So what? They hadn’t said anything out loud, hadn’t made any promises. She shouldn’t have assumed. She should never assume. It was such a terrible risk, forgetting to be afraid. She should have known….

It’s when she lays her hand over his, resting on Noctis’ chest, that she realizes they’ve been having two separate conversations. “He’s here to stay, Prompto,” she says, pressing gently. “I promise.”

“I know, I know.” Prompto clears his throat, forces a rough little laugh. “It’s not that.” He sniffs.

It gives her an ugly jolt to see him so distressed. They’d only been watching Noct sleep, praising his handsome features and planning how best to tease him when he awoke. Umbra is snoring cutely at Noctis’ side and Pryna is probably still in the field, chasing butterflies. Everything had seemed perfect.

Prompto glances skittishly at her frown and then begins to babble. “I just, uh -- got used to checking, you know? Making sure he hadn’t stopped breathing or started bleeding inside or something. It’ll, uh.” He shakes his head, tries to pull his hand away. “It’ll be weird not being able to check, you know, but I won’t -- I mean, I know you two -- I won’t get in the way, I won’t make things difficult, I promise--”

“Prompto,” Luna interrupts gently, struggling to follow. “I don’t understand what you’re--”

Prompto rakes his free hand over his eyes, smearing the hint of tears around. “You guys are gonna be great, you know?” He smiles bravely, props his head on his fist like they’re still chatting idly and he isn’t weeping openly. “You’ve waited for each other for so long. I guess destiny can be kind after all.” He tries to smile.

But he can’t keep the bleakness out of his eyes, and it’s clear that Prompto doesn’t believe any of this kindness has been reserved for him. “Prompto,” Luna bursts out, fumbling, confused, “are you -- breaking up with Noctis? Through me?”

Prompto recoils, or tries to; she still won’t let him get away. “O-of course not,” he stammers, “we weren’t -- I mean -- not really, we haven’t, not since -- he wouldn’t lie to you like that--”

Luna untangles this with some effort. “Do you mean you two aren’t together?” Confused, she reviews their interactions from the past few days, and then from the last time she saw them, after the final battle. “You haven’t been -- Prompto Argentum, you two haven’t been refraining because of me, have you?”

Prompto gapes at her. She gapes back.

“You have!” Astonished, Luna leans back to peer at the sky. “Why in the -- Prompto. Dear, dearest Prompto.” She checks on Noctis, in case their spirited conversation has woken him, but he sleeps on obliviously. She’ll have words with him later.

Prompto tries to sit up, retreat again, and this time Luna tugs him quite firmly back into place. “Don’t you dare,” she orders, and he freezes. “Prompto, you and Noctis love each other. You’ve been part of each other’s lives for so long, have supported and believed in one another through the worst of--” She finds she can’t find the words to continue, and tries again. “I would never, will never, seek to separate the two of you.”

Prompto’s lower lip is trembling. Luna starts to shift forward, cup his cheek, and then realizes such a gesture might be unwelcome. Dear gods, she has misread this. Such a fool she is. She’d thought--

“Quite the opposite,” she finally continues, quietly, despite the cold terror creeping through her veins. “So long as the two of you have one another, I may have peace in my heart, for I know that one good, true thing prevails.”

She blinks back a sudden flood of tears. Perhaps they don’t want her. Perhaps she doesn’t have a place with them after all. She wants her room, suddenly, her safe, prison-like room, where nothing joyful grows but nothing can hurt her, either.

“But you guys have been -- oh.” Prompto blinks rapidly, and then starts to redden. “Oh. Is this a, uh, Tenebrean thing? Like the triad thing? Oh man, is this what Iggy was trying to -- oh, man.”

Luna can’t help it; she bursts into damp, semi-hysterical giggles, despite the icy shake in her guts. Prompto smiles up at her blurrily, and then starts to laugh as well.

“Man,” he says again, suddenly beaming, eyes still tear-reddened. “He is gonna give me so much crap about this. I am literally never gonna live it down. Wow.” He takes a deep breath and squeezes her hand tenderly, overwhelmed. “Is this really -- you might have to -- I am really oblivious sometimes, but uh, I guess you know that now.” He laughs again, edged, at himself.

Luna starts to nod, changes to shaking her head, and then feels hot, wet tears dripping down her face. She’ll feel foolish later. Prompto sits up, and this time she lets him, because he’s moving to lean closer, cup her face and wipe her tears away.

“Luna,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I misunderstood.” She presses his rough, large hands to her cheeks and feels herself crumple a little more. “No,” he continues. “No, please don’t cry. I can’t -- I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Luna takes a deep breath. She isn’t been rejected. You aren’t being rejected, she reminds herself. “No, no,” she says wetly, “I shouldn’t have assumed--”

She stops herself. She’s making an effort to reprimand herself less these days. She is trying so hard to be better. And in a fight for blame, she suspects she and Prompto could go round and round until the sun went down and never came up again, but that isn’t what she wants. For either of them.

Luna takes a deep breath. She refuses to start their relationship in a spiral of apologies and self-blame. She doesn’t want that anymore. She wants to open the door to a rolling world of yellow suns and indigo skies and, eventually, gentle nights that fill her with wonder and comfort instead of fear. She wants to let go of the fear and her desperate need for control -- she wants to be free, a part of the world for the first time in her life.

So instead of berating herself, she grips his hands in hers and lets their combined grip rest against their (still sleeping, seriously, Noct?) king’s chest. Umbra is watching them with interest, she notes. And then she takes another breath.

“Prompto,” she says, falling back on an old, formal proposal from a romantic show she used to watch, as a teenager confined within Fenestala Manor. “Will you grant me the honor of your affection and presence, and keep a place for me in your heart?”

Prompto’s lovely eyes widen, full of hope and delight. Pure sunlight. He’s grinning and she’s breathless. All further words fly from her mind.

His fingers squeeze hers as he leans forward for a kiss, and then another, tentative turning into playful, his smile slotting sweetly against hers again and again. Blindly, her hands work themselves free to touch his cheeks, his throat, the rasp of his short beard. He retreats for a quick breath, tracing her lips with hot, hooded eyes, and then devours her mouth in a kiss that raises her onto her knees, toes curled and body tingling. Oh, oh, oh--

“Hey,” Noctis grumbles, exactly like a grumpy cat awoken from a nap. “Uh, did I miss something? I thought we were waiting till my birthday.”

Prompto gasps, wrenching away. “That’s what that’s all about?” he demands shrilly, and Luna bursts into giggles. “The camping trip? Oh my gods, Gladio’s gonna kill me--”

Noctis pushes himself up his elbows, squinting and scowling with the sun in his eyes. “What? You seriously didn’t know?” He sits up, absently guiding Luna to sit at his side in a way that makes her heart warm. “Thought you were kidding about that.”

“--never gonna hear the end of this, crap--”

Noctis looks to Luna, about to ask something -- probably ‘what on Eos is happening right now, I was only asleep for thirty minutes’ -- but then his expression changes and he makes a wise choice of priorities. “Uh, Luna? Pryna’s after the cheese again.”

Luna yelps and Pryna yips, betrayed, and the dog knocks the picnic basket over in her haste to escape her mistress, wedge of cheese clamped firmly in her jaws. Prompto dives to catch her -- “I’ve got her!” -- but he doesn’t. Noct fails to catch him and he lands on their legs, trapping them. Umbra runs in circles and barks for the sheer, chaotic joy of it. Pryna devours her stolen prize. And in the sunlit field, with her loves bickering and playing at her side, Lunafreya laughs until she cries for the first time in her life.

[echoes-of-the-clockwork]

Book Four: War (Gladiolus x Reader) Chapter Twenty

It wasn't long before Noctis was separated from Gladio and Ignis due to the wrecked train on the tracks. It also only took Ardyn a few minutes to begin taunting him. He gripped (Y/n)'s sword tightly as he insulted the chancellor before continuing to proceed forward. He reaches another wrecked train car when daemons began swarming him. He sliced down a few and created an opening for him to run.

Noctis manages to make it into a now derelict building where he stops to catch his breath. After a moment, he drops to one knee, reaches into his pocket, and pulls out something clenched in his fist. He slowly opens his palm to reveal the Ring of Lucii. His hands begin to shake as he stares at it and he grunts rapidly, as though wracked with pain. He unsteadily slides the ring onto his finger, roaring in pain and his eyes briefly glowing red as he succeeds in this struggle. Catching his breath once again, Noctis stares at the ring of his ancestors, flexes his hand, and rises from his knees. "The time has come."

Switching between the Ring and War's sword, Noctis destroyed any daemons that targeted him. He made his way towards Zegnautus Keep. He eventually found the elevator leading to the Keep. However, daemons poured out of the lift when the doors opened.

Once killing the enemies, Noctis boarded the elevator and rides it up to Zegnautus Keep. When he stepped off the elevator, he heard Ardyn taunting him again. He tried his best to ignore the chancellor as he walked the halls of the Keep.

When rounding one corner, he spots Ardyn at the other end of the hall walking away from a downed magitek trooper. He quickly hid once seeing the lifeless machine stand, taking a zombie-like posture. He sneaks by the rogue axeman, only to stumble into more further down the hallway.

After some time, Noctis starts to see and hear Prompto. Every time he tried to help his best friend, he was greeted by a lifeless magitek. The prince realized Ardyn was playing more tricks on him and he was becoming frustrated.

Using the keycard he recently upgraded, Noctis takes the elevator to an upper level and proceeds across a bridge leading to the central lift. He carefully made his way across a catwalk towards a control panel for the central elevator. He tried to use his upgraded keycard, but it didn't work. "Gotta find a way to make it move."

"Try this."

Noctis was startled by the voice and spun around, coming face to face with Death. He stared into her golden eyes for a few seconds before looking down at what she was offering him. It was another keycard. "Well, uh...thanks." Using the generator keycard, he was able to activate the control panel and give power to the elevator.

The two begin to make their way back across the catwalk towards the central elevator. They didn't make it far before a gargantua daemon suddenly lands on the platform just beyond the end of the catwalk. "The hell?" Noctis glared at the enemy.

Death went to summon her scythe the moment the gargantua raises its sword. She went to attack the daemon, but the daemon brings its sword down and shatters the catwalk. The Horseman and Noctis fall into the depths of Zegnautus Keep.

As they fell, Noctis gripped (Y/n)'s blade tightly. He focused on what she taught him and wrapped an arm around Death's waist before tossing the blade. He warped the moment the sword embedded into the wall, taking the girl with him. They both looked up to see how far they fell. "Damn..." Noctis cursed.

Death looked down. "There's still quite a fall left."

The boy also looked down and grimaced at the sight. He thought for a few seconds until he steeled himself and prepared to warp a second time. "Hold on," he told the girl before yanked the blade out of the wall. Adjusting their position, he tossed the blade downward. It lodged itself into the ground and the familiar sensation of warping filled his being.

Warping to the bottom of the central shaft, Noctis sighed in relief and released Death. "You okay?"

"I'm fine all thanks to you." She looked around, noticing the large pile of debris and the bodies of imperial troopers. When seeing a familiar figure among the dead, she frowned. "Oh, no..."

Noctis followed her gaze and spotted the body of Ravus. What else caught his attention was the deceased man's severed mechanical arm still clinging to the haft of the late King Regis' sword. The blade stands impaled in the floor beside Ravus' corpse. Noctis gazes at the dead high commander in silent sadness.

After a moment, he reaches out toward the haft of his father's sword. At his touch, Ravus' severed arm falls to land on the first son of Tenebrae's chest. Noctis pulls his hand back from the weapon, taking a moment to first kneel beside Ravus and look upon his face a final time. Finally, the prince stands and grasps his father's royal arm, pulling it free.

Death walked over to War's blade and did the same. She gazed sorrowfully at the black and crimson weapon. Noctis peered over at her before making his way over. "We'll get (Y/n) back."

She smiled at him. "I know we will." She switched out her scythe, deciding to use her sister's sword. "Let's get moving. We have to find your friends."

Joining forces, Noctis and Death make their way through Zegnautus Keep. They continued to listen to Ardyn taunt them both over the loudspeaker. At one point, the sable-haired girl summoned War's blade and impaled the loudspeaker, silencing the man for a short while. She sighed contently. "Finally, some peace and quiet."

"Until we come across another loudspeaker," Noctis said.

"Then I'll destroy that one, too."

He smirked at her reply before returning his focus to searching for the others.

Deeper into Zegnautus Keep, they were soon being stalked by the foras daemon. The duo kept on their toes while proceeding forward. They fell into a few of Ardyn's traps, but there was one they walked right into that proved to be difficult to escape. Translucent, electrified doors close at either end of the hallway and begin closing in on Noctis and Death. The magitek troopers on the floor rose and set their sights on the duo.

"Didn't see that coming!" Noctis snarled.

"A little pain never hurt anyone. On you go. Hurry. While you dawdle, people are dying," Ardyn said.

"We've really gone and done it now."

Death summoned (Y/n)'s blade and killed the magiteks. "We're not giving up."

Ignis' voice suddenly calls out from the other end of the hallway in the direction Noctis and Death had been going. "Noct? Is that you?"

"Hey! Noct! Can you hear us?" Gladio asked.

"Ignis, Gladio!" The prince shouted.

"Where are you?" The tactician inquired.

Gladio is able to see through the doors at the other end of the hallway. He takes notice of Noctis' and Death's situation. The doors have almost finished closing in on them. He went to search for a way to save the two, but he stopped when seeing the Horseman create a hole in one of the doors. She gritted her teeth when feeling the electricity course through her body, but she fought through the pain and absorbed it. Weakly, she lowers the blade as Noctis leaps through the hole she created. She followed him, crumpling on the floor beside him. She breathed heavily, her body healing itself.

Noctis places a hand on her shoulder. "Thanks for the save."

She managed a small smile. "Consider it payback for saving me from that fall earlier."

He stood up, helping the Horseman to her feet. He then looked over at Ignis and Gladio. "How'd you guys get here?"

"After we were separated, we received "help" from the usual suspect," Ignis stated.

"That bastard's playing with us. But at least we're together," Gladio said.

"All but two of us."

Just then, Ardyn's voice rung out from the loudspeaker. "Reunited with your retainers at last. How very touching. Must be a fine feeling, having friends. Look how happy you are! I pray you find your dear Prompto soon. And you mustn't forget the lovely (Y/n). It's impolite to keep a lady waiting."

Gladio glared at the loudspeaker at hearing the chancellor mention the girl. "Damn bastard."

"Once we find Prompto, we'll search for War. She doesn't have much time left," Death said.

"Then let's hurry."

She smirked at the trio. "I've a feeling someone else is going to find him before us."

"What?" Noctis asked.

"Famine," Ignis answered.

"Speaking of her..." Death's voice trailed off when she could sense her sister's location. "Follow me."

Noctis, Ignis, and Gladio followed the girl through the hallways of the Keep. They followed her to an elevator, where they headed up to the cell block. There, they found Famine helping Prompto out of a cell. The three boys make their over to the sharpshooter.

"Hey, you alright?" Gladio asked.

"Are you hurt? Do you need help?" Ignis inquired.

"I'm fine," Prompto said as Famine released him. He stumble towards them and almost tripped, but  Noctis caught him. "Thank you, Noct. Tell me. Were you worried about me?"

"Of course I was. What kind of question is that?" Noctis retorts.

Prompto managed to steady himself with his best friend's help. "Of course. That's why you came, like I believed you would."

"Prompto..."

"That's why I told myself I couldn't die. Not until I could see you and hear you tell me I'm not a fake—that I'm the real me."

"I'm sorry," Noctis muttered melancholically.

Prompto shook his head. "Don't be. Everything's alright now."

Once the two boys separated, Famine provided healing for the blonde. Seeing the minor cuts and bruises heal, she smiled at him. "There, all better."

Prompto smiled back at her. "Thank you."

"Well then, now that we're all together, our next move should be finding War," Death said.

"About that..." Noctis trailed off.

"We don't have weapons," Gladio said.

The sable-haired girl blinked in surprise. That's when she remembers Noctis only had her sister's sword with him earlier. "That is a problem..."

"I propose we search the area," Ignis suggested.

"It couldn't hurt," Famine said.

"Then let's look around," Noctis stated.

The group make their way back toward the central area of this level of Zegnautus Keep after rescuing Prompto. It wasn't long before Ignis stopped them. "Noct, do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Noctis asked, looking toward his advisor.

"I've heard this sound before—on the train, just before your weapons failed you. It's nearby, and it may hold the key to restoring your power." The six of them make their way across the catwalk leading to the central area of this level of the Keep. They come to a halt in front of a room sealed with large metal doors. "It's here," Ignis said.

Noctis approaches the metal doors in the center of the enormous room. "This thing?" He places his hand against one of the doors and tried to open it, but both were tightly sealed. "Door's locked."

"It's coming from within. Is there no way through?" Ignis questioned.

"There's a way," Prompto solemnly said. All eyes were on him as he hesitantly steps up to the door's scanner and raises the back of his right wrist to it. As the doors slide open, he resumes speaking while staring off into the room, unable to make eye contact with the others. "So, MTs... They've got those codeprints...just like I do."

"Do they? Never looked," Noctis said, unfazed.

"Yeah... So, as it turns out...I'm one of them. Not exactly something I could tell people growing up in Lucis." Prompto is fighting back tears, but continues speaking. "Still... You guys are like...the only friends I've ever known. I just hope that things can stay the way they were."

"Whatever. Who cares where you were born?"

"I don't see you turning against us. Not now, or ever," Ignis stated.

"Thanks, guys. Still...I can't change where I came from. What I am," Prompto mumbled.

"Since when does where you come from matter to you?" Noctis asked. "You never once treated me as a prince." He playfully punches Prompto's shoulder.

"He's got you there," Gladio chimed in.

"Never so much as a "Highness"," Ignis added.

"We're done here. C'mon, crown citizen," Noctis said.

Gladio steps over to Ignis to help guide him into the room. He gives Prompto's shoulder a friendly smack as they walk past. "You're one of us, right?"

Ignis stops and turns back towards the marksman. "Unless you'd rather not be."

Prompto smiles with a nod. Before following them, Famine walked up to him. She playfully nudges him in the side. "I bet that's a weight off your shoulders."

"I do feel a lot better," he confessed.

He and Famine follow the others into the room. Inside it, they find the emperor's abandoned clothing laying upon the throne. They also find a large bank of computers, which are the cause of Noctis' lost powers. Without hesitating, the raven-haired boy rams his father's sword through the machines.

"So...did it work?" Prompto asked.

"With the device down and out, Noct's power should be up and running," Ignis answered.

"Go on, try it," Gladio told Noctis.

"Alright. Moment of truth." Noctis holds out his hand and conjures a sword. Prompto claps in celebration.

"We're back, baby," Gladio smirked. "Now we can hunt down that damned monster."

Noctis nodded in agreement. "Let's roll."

The moment the group left the emperor's throne room, the gargantua daemon that caused Noctis and Death to fall earlier lands on the platform in front of them. It's quickly joined by other daemons, who begin manifesting. "Not you again," Noctis groaned.

"New friend?" Prompto inquired.

"You really need to pick 'em better," Gladio chuckled.

Before the boys could even summon their weapons, Famine casted a powerful lightning spell. Myriads of lightning bolts manifested from thin air and struck the daemons. Many of the weaker ones perished from the spell while the fewer strong ones remained. The golden-haired girl stepped forward in front of the group as the remaining enemies recovered from the spell. "I'll handle these guys. You all need to find War. She's running out of time."

"But..." Prompto began.

She sent a smile his way. "I'll be fine."

Gladio lowered his hand. "Where do we even begin?"

"The last I saw the dullahan it was wandering around the lower levels of the Keep. Start there. I'll meet up with you all once I've dealt with these guys."

"Be careful," the sharpshooter said.

"Let's go." Noctis led everyone but Famine out of the enormous room. They returned to the elevator and immediately ride it to the lower levels of Zegnautus Keep.

As the lift carried them down, Gladio felt an intense burning sensation in his pocket. He winced from the extreme heat and quickly took out what the cause was. It was the summoning orb. The shield was unable to hold it any longer and accidentally dropped it. "Damn..." He tried to pick it up, but Death stopped him.

"Wait," she held up her hand. Squatting down, she watched the orb closely as it began rolling around.

Prompto lifted his foot to allow the orb to roll by. "What's going on?"

"It's going crazy," Noctis commented when the orb picked up speed.

"It's never done that before," Gladio said.

The closer the elevator got to the lower levels, the faster the orb rolled around. Death promptly caught it as the lift door slid open. She wasn't bothered by the burning sensation, her minor injuries healing within seconds. "War's using what strength she has left to call upon the orb." She stepped off, the light the scarlet orb was emitting growing brighter. "We're on the right track."

"Does this mean we're gonna use it like a tracking device?" Prompto questioned.

Death smirked. "Exactly. Follow me, everyone."

Noctis, Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis followed Death through the halls of the lower level of Zegnautus Keep. She held up the orb, watching it closely whenever they turned a corner or passed a room. Whenever they stumbled across splitting paths, she would hold the orb up higher. She walked a little ways down each path to see the orb's reaction. The path she always chose was the one where the orb's light would intensify.

Eventually, Death led them into a large hangar-like room. She quickly pushed everyone behind a large pile of wooden crates when she smelt a foul odor. She noticed the orb's light vanished, it no longer being hot to the touch. She handed it back to Gladio, who put it back into his pocket.

Peering out from behind the crates, Death scanned the hangar. Her golden eyes bounced around until she saw a black puddle materialize in the middle of the hangar. Her eyes narrowed when the dullahan emerged from the inky substance. Its body was much larger and the armor it once adorned now was gone.

Gladio has also been peeking out from their hiding spot. He glared daggers at the grotesque monster. Raising his hand, he went to summon his greatsword. Death saw this and promptly stopped him. "Don't even think about it," she whispered.

"Why?" The brute growled. "We're here to kill it, aren't we? It's got its damn head with it. It'll be easy."

"I know you want to get War back, but running out there and attacking blindly is careless. You won't be risking not only our lives, but War's as well. She's inside that thing. If you swing wildly, you risk hurting her. In her current weakened state, heavy injuries to her body won't heal and she will die."

Prompto swallowed the lump in his throat. "(Y/n)'s inside that thing...?"

Gladio lowered his hand. He desperately wanted (Y/n) back safe and sound. "Fine. What's your plan?"

She was grateful he listened to her. "All right. Listen closely..."

[icharchivist]

okay actually i’m going to stop here for the night, i’m getting a little sleepy and while i’d love to keep playing i feel it’d be a shame to get into another rollercoaster while in the process of getting sleepy

anyway so. Wait let’s do it by bits.

under cut bc i rambled lmao

Altissia was as beautiful as promised and being into it was really a great experience. The sidequests there kinda had the death of me (Tonberries have been my mortal enemies since ff7cc and i shall never forgive them, and the Mindflayer things can go rot in hell holy shit) but the Portrait quest was pretty cool.

I liked the idea of doing a bit of politics as well. It’s a small moment but it does help fleshing out the King Noctis is supposed to become, and make sure you know that if you fuck up well maybe you’re not really a diplomat (can’t relate i nailed it)

Leviathan’s fight was super cool. The part where Prompto comes to pick up Noctis is downright legendary, this whole part was so fun and those two seemed to have fun. Last moment of joy before. well. everything else.

the rest of the fight before the... you know, was quite. challenging and frightening but i’m really digging those fights against the Gods. it’s TERRIFYING, and a bit overwhelming, but it makes it all the more satisfying when you get the hand of it.

Still talking about the fight a h ah but yeah after the powerup thingy, the fight was flashy but less engaging. but i also thing it’s done on purpose, as in, it follows a heavy scene and it’s a bit of “the rage moment the player is still grieving while trying to fight”. Really reminded me of ff7 when Jenova appears for you to fight right after Sephiroth killed.. you know. (and i don’t mean it as a bad thing, it’s a formula that works to keep the player on its toes and, i think, it shows a cruel aspect of the fact the characters aren’t allowed time to grief and have to think quickly about moving forward, all while they’re hurting and breaking, and it’s something the player is therefore just as much going through with this. It’s an effective way to convey it right away while still under the shock of it all.) (also i’m allowed to compare because Tabata did it first in interviews lol) 

So huh. Now. The scene itself.

Ardyn fuck you sO BAD.

I knew almost every details of the scene so i saw every plot beat and just. y’know watching a trainwreck in motion knowing you can do nothing to stop it so you stare in horror? yeah. mood. I do feel a lot for the way it was all worked in though it was so sad... Luna doesn’t have a lot of screentime but i can’t help but feel for her, in the end she was dedicated to her duty and that’s what brought that on and it’s just. so sad to me. 

just as Noctis ends up getting such a massive burden on his shoulders as well. The whole game is just “how much burden can we add on Noctis’s shoulders before he breaks” huh. awful.

The Ignis’s eyes thing also hurt too and i expect to see more of it bc i didn’t expect it to appear well, like this. Thought we’d see the injury happen but hey, ready to see how this is going to hurt, the aftermath in itself will be painful anyway.

Gladio’s reaction, i get it. It hurts like hell to see but i get it. Gladio is taking the responsibilities in too, as the shield he always had to keep Noctis prepared, and i think it just dawn on him that if no one shakes Noctis out of this mood more problem may come their way, while also carrying the guilt too of the fact everything went wrong. Still really sucks that he yelled at Noct the things he did, but, i get it.

Obviously i cry for Prompto as always because the other three really are wrestling with the royal obligations and duty that’s to come. They can’t afford to stop and think about the loss, about the sacrifice and the grief, they have to come up with plans very quickly to keep moving on to make sure Noctis embraces the power of the King. Ignis and Gladio trained for that all their lives and they put themselves under pressure to stay focused, see also why Ignis is trying to downplay his injury all the time.  But yeah since Prompto is the only non-royal minded one in there he just. sits as the whole situation explose around him huh.  Not to mention he owed Lunafreya so much... It’s thanks to her he even found the determination to befriend Noctis, whom he cares for so dearly now, and he wanted to meet her so badly and have her be happy with Noctis because he was made so happy by her and all of that.. so this just hurts.

Ravus getting betrayed by the empire though? Honestly? Didn’t see it coming, and i know i’ll eventually care of Ravus later but for now i’m just. geez i wonder how putting your life in the hands of unreliable people who already harmed the ones you loved for you to get revenge could backfire. who knew.

Again Ardyn fuck you.I know you’re a tragic, rotten little man (word picked carefully), but still major fuck you for this. 

so yeah for now i finished the missions at the train station and i am pausing here, so i will go further into it later.

but man. What a ride huh.

anyway here’s the link to the videoof just this mainquest (just huh when you see me pick up sidequests just skip at the 2 hour mark this is when the main plot restarts) but man what a trip. what a trip.

[higharollakockamamie]

Dawn of the Future Page 203-204, The New Deal (With Dragons)

Paring away her own life only to have his taken as well... Was that her calling? 

All strength left her body. Lunafreya collapsed on the spot. She hadn't known. She hadn't known what she was doing. What would come of it, what would happen...

This is the fated future to which humanity must proceed. The True King was meant to fulfill this mission.

Lunafreya raised her face in relief. Was meant to? What did that imply?

Ah, that was right. That Prince Noctis was not the Prince Noctis she had just seen. Most likely that was an oncoming future. Which was to say, something had happened to make it so that he could not fulfill the mission he had been meant to? 

As she was thinking of this, the color of her surroundings again shifted, now from the color of darkness to the colors of flame. Ardyn was there, with the Infernian Ifrit at his command. His form was no longer human. His skin was stained black, and the distinctive daemonic miasma clung to him from head to toe. 

Ardyn has turned his back on the will of the gods. He has lost sight of his destiny and let his malice run rampant. 

His foul power flourishes to its full extent, where the force of the ring may not suffice to drive it out. 

The Ardyn who had done battle with Noctis in the Citadel's plaza had still been in human form. But what was before her eyes was clearly no human. So that was the power of darkness flourishing to its full extent... 

Hasten to Insomnia at once and stop Ardyn. 

Your life and your power were granted to you to this end. Fulfill your new calling.

Lunafreya put her hand to the scar on her stomach. Her body, meant to have died when she was stabbed by Ardyn, held the power to vanquish vicious daemons.

It was given to her to defeat Ardyn? Her? With her own hands? Could she do such a thing? 

Ah, and yet. If the fate humans must follow had changed, Prince Noctis did not have to use the Ring of the Lucii. He had looked like he was suffering so, so much. That would go away. So would him dissolving away in the Beyond. 

If. It might be worth trying...

*

 [Note: The word I've been alternately translating as 'mission' and 'calling' to avoid repeating the same word over and over is 使命, 'shimei.' This is the same word Bahamut uses to Ardyn when he's having his own vison in the Asshole Bahamut Pocket Dimension.]

[secret-engima]

Nox verse is at 30 pages now. speaking of Nox Verse, anything you wanna share at all? snippets, Rambles, things you're stuck on?

*slams head on desk* my word I really do have no self control.

ON THAT NOTE HAVE ANOTHER DISSIDIA SNIP:

...

-Noctis has literally no idea what is going on. He’d been sitting on the couch playing video games with Prompto and they’d just cleared a boss fight. They’d paused and he’d just gotten up to refill their drinks when the Citadel had just … disappeared. Been replaced with a red, dusty desert that didn’t look like any of the parts of Leide Noctis had ever seen in pictures or the occasional trip outside Insomnia. A quick check of his person revealed his phone was missing, his magic worked, and he didn’t feel poisoned (thank you Nox for “waking up in strange places” training).

-Then he nearly got attacked by some kind of freaky woman made of solid pink metal, only for that woman (thing?) to be killed by another woman. Who looked identical to the first but in actual human colors.

-The woman, who was dressed up like a soldier from about two centuries in the past, had introduced herself as Lightning and reassured him that she wasn’t an enemy, then turned and said hello to a white-haired man who looked less historical and more straight out of a King’s Knight DLC. The two had led him to a shiny blue tower where they’d met Materia (the ruler of this place? Apparently?) who had told them they all had to fight each other to give the world magic to live (seriously this was sounding more and more like one of Nox’s bedtime stories from when he was a kid). Then some angry red dude had called on magic Skype and picked a fight with Materia, which led to his current situation.

-Following two strangers around in the desert looking for Spiritus Champions to fight and a way out that wasn’t the freaky silver portals (that led to memories of the other worlds of the Champions? Or something?). Noctis doesn’t really get it, and he doesn’t want to think about how badly Prompto and everyone in the Citadel are freaking out over his disappearance or how long it might take him to get back.

-At least Warrior of Light (how was that a name?) and Cecil are nice enough. If … medievally. He thinks they would fit in a little too well in King’s Knight, and he shudders to think what the other Champions are like if these two are the norm (Warrior of Light said that Spiritus had probably called villains from their world to serve as his champions, if a mostly naked woman from some edgy Black Spirits game swept in and started throwing fireballs, Noctis was out).

-They’ve been walking for a while, picked a fight with at least one other Spiritus Champion (weird dude, weirder still that Warrior and Cecil seemed to enjoy fighting him so much), and just entered another memory world of meadows and trees when all of Noctis’s senses scream at him desperately. He freezes in place, looking around wildly with Engine Blade in his hands before he can think better of it, all the hairs of his neck rising with the sense of danger-danger-danger. He hears Warrior and Cecil stop and they ask him what’s wrong, but he can’t answer. He’s too busy spinning in slow circles, trying to pinpoint where and what the threat is, why it feels like his magic is going to vibrate right out of his skin-

-He senses more than sees the blade, whirls and bodily shoves Cecil out of the way before it can strike it him. Warrior’s shield comes up and deflects the blade before it can reach him and it clatters to the ground at their feet. Warrior and Cecil look up and around for the threat, but Noctis looks down at the blade and realizes he recognizes it a millisecond before raising his sword defensively. Magic cracks like thunder and he can feel the impact of the other kukri slamming into his blade all the way down to his toes. Crystalline shards of magic swirl around them like a shockwave, pushing Warrior and Cecil away as Noctis’s horrified gaze meets dancing blue of the same color as his.

-He heaves his weight forward on instinct, pushes back his attacker and then jumps away to gain some ground. He lands next to Cecil and Warrior somehow, straightens up and holds out a hand to stop them from attacking as he sputters, “Nox? What are you-?”

-All his words die in his throat as he sees his older brother’s smile. Nox straights up, lazy and fluid, his kukri spinning idly in his hands as he cocks his head at Noctis with that look Noctis has seen on Uncle Ardyn’s face way too many times. Nox spreads his arms in flamboyant greeting and all but cheers, “Dearest little brother!” Like Noctis is the best thing to happen since sliced bread.

-And Noctis knows he’s doomed.

[bgn846]

Worthy Chapter 3: Connections FFXV A/B/O Promnis

<Previous Chapter 2

“My money’s on the dark haired one with the sharp nose,” Ardyn idly commented from his position standing next to Ignis.

 “I believe she tried last year. Do you think she’d be foolish enough to repeat her failure?”

 Ardyn snorted softly and raised an eyebrow.  “Of course she’ll try again. She wants the title of queen.”

 “I can tell you with certainty that Gladio won’t let her within ten feet of Noctis.  Lady Pravus is known to be quite clingy.”

 “We shall see,” Ardyn offered as they watched.

 Ignis had managed to take a small break before Noct’s speech and had found a quiet spot to rest near a large potted plant.  Ardyn had spotted him immediately and had gone over to fraternize. Ardyn usually never made an appearance at large social gatherings, but this was his one exception.  Each year he would make bets with Ignis regarding who would vie for the prince’s attention.

 It had turned into sport at this point.  Noct was very secretive about who he liked, which left the general public always on the hunt for details.  Without fail, every banquet featured throngs of suiters working to woo Noct. All attempts ended in failure, but some did get close enough to earn a dance or maybe even a peck on the cheek.  This is what Ardyn and he bet on: how close they could get to Noctis and what they would do.

  Ignis considered Ardyn to be eccentric.  He was supposed to be Regis’ older brother, though Ignis doubted the authenticity of that claim.  They looked nothing alike, and Ardyn had control over a more powerful magic than the king. He’d seen it in use once. The king’s magic was blue. Ardyn’s was red.

 Noct had told him once that Ardyn had been inside the crystal.   The advisor wasn’t sure he wanted to believe that tale. Eos had been at peace for over one hundred years.  The scourge that had plagued their realm had been banished by the oracle many decades ago. Whatever reason Arydn would have for even attempting to commune with the crystal was unknown.

 The man beside him seemed quite content to potter around the citadel and scare new crownsguard recruits. He lived his life like a never ending vacation, though when Noct was born, he rapidly turned into the doting uncle.  That was part of the reason Ignis was so comfortable around him.

 From the tender age of seven Ignis had been by Noct’s side, as he was slated to be his future advisor.  So he’d naturally been included in the many games of hide and seek and chess with Uncle Ardyn. Where others found him creepy, Ignis merely looked to him as a silly older brother.

 “She’s going in for the kill.” Ardyn interjected quietly.  “I say she gets stopped within five feet.”

 Ignis sighed; he knew Gladio would intercept her, but she was tricky, if he remembered anything from last year.  “She’ll get stopped but manage to touch his arm.”

 “Oh, you think she’ll manage a connection. This      will     be interesting.”      

 Ardyn and he watched as a polished-looking woman in an expensive gown approached the prince.  Lady Saeva Pravus was from Altissia and born into a well-to-do family. However, their money had begun to run out, and she was actively looking for a wealthy mate.   Most avoided her advances, but others were blinded by her beauty, unaware that she had a terrible temperament and a mean streak equal to a raging behemoth.  

 It was this vile creature that was making her way toward the crown prince of Lucis with a determined gait.   Sure enough Gladio, intercepted her, but a second later he had his eyes screwed shut in pain and had been side-stepped.

 Ignis made to leave his position to lend aid, but Ardyn stopped him.  “If she had done something truly deemed a threat, Gladio would have called out.  She’s most likely thwacked him with the back of her hand.”

 “In his nuts?!” Ignis hissed.  He was agitated by the very idea of someone behaving that way at a fancy dress party.

 “Do keep in mind that Gladio chose not to harm a drunk crown citizen years ago.  The man made an advance at Noct with a blade, no less, and he left him unharmed. Of course, she would use this information to her advantage.”

 Bless the shield for being in control of his emotions, because he certainly could have used force after being treated in such a manner.  Ignis scowled as he watched Lady Pravus continue on her way to Noct with Gladio stiffly following. Neither of them could hear the exchange of words, but the prince bore an angry glare.

 The conversation lasted only a minute, and then she reached out, preparing to touch Noct’s arm.  Ignis was both proud and slightly upset with the prince’s next action. He held up his hand and sneezed.  This, in turn, stopped Lady Pravus in her tracks, her hand hovering in midair. She waivered, clearly uncertain of whether to continue or not; it appeared she didn’t want to get near him.  Perhaps this woman, for all her gusto, was afraid of germs.

 Noct scrunched up his face to unload another sneeze.  Lady Pravus bowed quickly and stepped away, nearly tripping over Gladio as she fled.   “I was not expecting that,” Ignis admitted after a moment.

 “You owe me,” Ardyn trilled.

 “That I do, though I’m proud of his efforts to shoo her away despite my lost bet.  She is a terrible woman.”

 “Should we go see if the crown prince is coming down with a cold?”

 “Hmmm, yes, that sounds like a splendid idea,”  Ignis replied.

     --

  Noct had readied himself for a third sneeze when he felt Gladio’s hand on his shoulder.

 “She’s gone,” he spit out. “You can stop sneezing.”  

 “What the hell did she do to you?  Step on your toe with her pointy shoe?” Noct asked with concern as he brought his hand down.   “Whatever it was, looked like it hurt.”

 “Talk to my manhood about it later,” he grumbled with a wince.

 “Ow.  She must use that move a lot to have caught you off guard.”

 “Yeah, it was practiced alright.  Good thing I’m trained well enough to not toss her rude ass across the room.”

 “I wouldn’t have minded that. She gives me the creeps.”

 The sound of brisk footsteps filling the air caused Gladio to turn quickly. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw who was approaching. “Did you see the snake?” the shield asked in a whisper.

 “I’m afraid I did.” Ignis offered as he nodded to them both.   “Noct, I will say you made me lose my wager, but I’m proud of your evasion efforts this year.  Very well done.”

 Smiling Noct took the praise from his advisor and held his head a little higher.  “Who do you think her next victim will be?”

 “Oh dear.” Ardyn hummed.  “It appears she has decided the king of Niflheim will suit her needs.”

 “King Alban isn’t exactly a nice guy, but I’m not sure he deserves her attention either,” Noct muttered. “I still don’t understand why he doesn’t bring his own guard when he visits.”

 “He and Captain Drautos are friends, Highness,” Ignis added dryly.  “Hence his reason for ‘forgetting’ to secure his security detail every year he visits.”

 “Well, it’s dumb. If Drautos likes him so much, why doesn’t he move to Niflheim?”

 “His chances at rising to a position of power are greater in Lucis,” Ardyn commented calmly.  “Some people are after simple things.”

 Noct frowned at the thought.  It wasn’t exactly comforting to think someone so close to the royal family would be so open in their aspirations.  That, however, was Drautos to a T. “Oh, she’s trying to talk to him – ew, she’s going for the arm grab.”

 “Touch is a normal way to show one’s emotions, Noct. I don’t see why it bothers you so much,” Ignis huffed.

 “Still gross and not my thing.”

 The four of them watched in silence as Lady Pravus firmly latched onto King Alban’s arm and led him around the party.  Unable to hear what was being said, they lost interest after a while. The conversation unfortunately started back again regarding his upcoming speech.  Noct hated to talk in front of others. He’d been trained well enough to hide his disdain, but it didn’t make it any easier.

 Soon the time approached, and he was ushered toward the stage.   Ignis gave him a pat on the back and nearly shoved him up the last few steps.  His advisor knew he didn’t want to talk, so it was a struggle each time.

 Thankfully, he survived his efforts, and within ten minutes he was back safely hiding behind his shield.   “Gladio, how much longer do I have to stay here. I want to go back and hang out with Prompto.”

 “Not up to me, buddy. We gotta ask Iggy,” he offered with an understanding smile.

 Ignis strolled up a second later and stared at him hard.  “You want to bail already, don’t you?” he asked.

 “Is it that obvious?”

 “Terribly,”  Ignis said wryly.  “Perhaps the migraine you will suddenly be afflicted with in the next minute will force you to return to your chambers and rest.”

 “Gladio.” Noct hissed. “He’s being nice to me because of Prompto isn’t he?”

 The shield shrugged and smiled.  “So, are you going to take advantage of it or not?”

 “Ow, my head, it aches.  Please, someone accompany me to my quarters. I must rest.”

 Ignis smiled and squeezed Noct’s arm as Gladio herded him towards the exit.  “Do take care and let me know if you need anything.”

 They made it out in the hallway easily, considering most people didn’t dare stop Gladio when he appeared set in his ways.   Once they were away from the people, Noct ducked under Gladio’s arm and leaned into his side. “That lady was so icky.”

 The shield hummed noncommittally and hugged him closer.  “Only a few more months, and you can make an official announcement.”

 “I know, but I still wish I could tell everyone now.”

 “And risk the wrath of Iggy? Oh no, I’m not dealing with that.   He wants you to wait until your twentieth birthday, and then you can tell whomever you like.”

 Noct whined again but dropped the subject.  He knew his advisor was always right when it came to matters like this.  “Do you want to stay and hang out a little?” the prince tried as they neared the suite.

 “Nah, I promised Sana I’d call her tonight. She wanted to hear about the party.”

 “Be sure to tell her how I got rid of icky pants. I know she’ll laugh at that.”

 Gladio snickered and shook his head.  “That will be the highlight, considering what she did to me to get to you!”

 Noct pushed the heavy door open to the suite and laughed when Gladio stood waiting for him to close the door.  The prince, for once, would have liked being able to wave goodbye as people left his suite, but not when that someone was his bodyguard.   Gladio would always wait for him to close the door, and then he’d leave. It felt wrong, but the shield didn’t seem to mind; he took it as part of the job description.

 A bubbly laugh caught Noct’s attention as he walked toward the living room.   He could barely hear, but it appeared Prompto was talking to someone. Nervous that there was another person in the suite, he snuck up to the door and peered in.  Prompto was alone and talking on the phone.

 “I’m really ok. Trust me, mum.  Prince Noctis is nice, and he likes the same things as me.” The blond paused for a minute.  “Yeah, I don’t think that plan will work anymore – no, he’s an alpha, mum.”

 Noct instantly became worried. What kind of plan had Prompto been trying to enact?

 His downtrodden voice came back a few seconds later.  “I didn’t even ask. They are really close, and I know he wouldn’t leave the prince.”  

 Leave?  Who the heck was Prompto talking about? He’d only met two alphas: Gladio and Ignis.  Noct wasn’t sure which one Prompto was referring too.

 “Muuum,” Prompto whined suddenly. “Seriously, I can’t ask. They are happy. He wouldn’t want to leave, trust me.  No matter how much money the position paid.”

 Noct was still terribly confused.  Prompto had neither an advisor nor a shield, so it was unclear which thing he desired more.

 “I was scared at first, but he’s been really nice.  Noct even thinks he’s being nicer than normal.”

 Ok, that clinched it. Prompto was talking about Ignis.  So that was the reason the omega prince had stowed away.  He wanted to offer Ignis a job as his advisor.

 “I don’t know why I didn’t realize he was the alpha. I feel kinda stupid that I didn’t know.  I mean, it might be better. I like hanging out with Prince Noctis. I don’t think I could handle it if he were an alpha.”

 The guilt of eavesdropping finally caught up to Noct’s brain, and he silently backed away.  Opting to slam a closet door and shout hello, he hoped Prompto would hear him coming.      

 “Hey Noct!” he shouted.  “I’m on the phone with my mum, hold on,” he added once Noct rounded the corner.

 “I gotta go, mum. I’ll be home tomorrow, kay?  I love you.” He finished as he waited for what Noct assumed was a similar message.

 “Sorry, she called to check on me, so I filled her in on my adventure so far.”    

 “No worries.  You’ll be home soon, so I’m sure that will make her feel better.”

 Prompto nodded in agreement.  “Hey, I thought you were going to be gone longer. What happened?”

 “I got bored and I finished my speech, so Iggy let me skip out early.”

 “I got your text message about that horrible lady. What did she look like?” Prompto asked with excitement.

 “Oh, I took a picture. Wait until you see this piece of work.   She’s an alpha and a total bitch.” Noct watched as Prompto visibly shuddered while he fished his phone out.

 “She’s really pretty,” Prompto announced, surprised.  “I thought she’d be ugly.”

 “Nope. Only on the inside, apparently, otherwise how would she trap all her potential mates?”

 “What’s her name again?”

 “Lady Saeva Pravus - or snake lady as Gladio likes to call her. Ya know, because she lies in wait until you least suspect it and then strikes!”  Noct yelled with a fake hiss.

 Prompto burst out in laughter.  “So she tried to hit on you too?”

 “I don’t know what it was. She just wants a title.  I sneezed on her, though, and she booked it after that.”

 The blond looked at Noct, bewildered. “You sneezed on her?!”

 “Well, yeah, I can’t tell her to go away, and I can’t make nasty faces, so sneezing made the most sense.  It’s not rude, and it doesn’t get me in trouble. Everyone sneezes.” Noct smiled. He’d truly enjoyed seeing her face when he tried the move.  She’d gone pale and couldn’t get away fast enough. “I do need to warn you, though, that she went straight after your step-brother once she’d abandoned me.”

 “Who, Alban? He’s terrible. I’m sure she’ll give up once she sees how awful he is,” Prompto mused.

 “I hope so. I wouldn’t want that lady to be part of your already crazy family.”

 Noct showed Prompto more photos and the remainder of the evening was spent talking and playing video games.

    --

   Ignis couldn’t help but continually check the rear view mirror as they drove to the airfield. The omega had been busy texting nonstop once Ignis had collected him from Noct’s suite.   The advisor suspected he was chatting with Noct. They’d hit it off quite well during his short stay. The prince of Lucis had actually hugged the boy goodbye. Noct didn’t do that sort of thing unless he really liked someone.

 A small noise caught the advisors attention and he looked again to Prompto.  The blond took a deep breath and seemed to be working on speaking clearly. “Noct said I could ask you what the plan is for after we arrive.”

 “Certainly, Highness,” Ignis agreed.  “I’ve arranged a dropship to take you back home.  It will be piloted by a trusted crownsguard member.  Nyx will travel with you and escort you to a location of your choosing once you land.”  

 “Nyx will be with me the whole trip?” Prompto asked to double check.

 “Yes, unless you order him away.”

 Prompto shook his head violently and dropped his eyes.  “Um, if something unexpected happens what should I do? Can I call someone?”

 “I’ll give you my number, just in case, and that way you can alert me to your safe arrival.”  Ignis peered in the rear view mirror quickly and saw a blush forming on the prince’s pale face.  “Unless you’d rather solely communicate with Noctis.”

 “I want your number,” Prompto blurted out, and then he groaned and buried his face in his hands.

 Ignis tried not to smile, and he could tell that Nyx was working equally hard to not giggle.  The poor omega was not used to dealing with other people.

 “Excellent. That will ensure you have several avenues of contact should you need it,” Ignis added, hoping the prince would calm down.

 Soon afterward, Ignis turned into the airfield and began slowly driving on the access road towards the dropship.  They were nearly there when Prompto made a strangled noise and threw himself down on the floor of the back seat.

 The smell changed immediately, and Ignis could tell Prompto was terrified.  “Highness, what’s wrong? Is there a threat nearby?” he asked as the car slowed to a stop.

 “Those – those men,” he stuttered.  “Over by that building. They were here when I landed, and they were hunting for me. Please, they can’t find me. They’ll do bad things.”

 “You are safe with us, Highness. Please try to calm down,”  Ignis soothed in a low voice.

 Prompto whined and continued to cower in the back seat. “They’ll smell me again and try to take me away.  We have to leave.”

 It hurt Ignis to think that Prompto had to deal with this on a regular basis and that his only option was to run away and hide.  “We have business to conduct, Highness, and you have every right to be here as well. We will ensure you get home safely. Please try to trust us,” the advisor tried again.

 Prompto seemed to be mulling over what Ignis had just told him, and he stayed silent.  Nyx spoke up next in an effort to help. “Kiddo, you’ve got two highly-trained crownsguard with you. Those nasty guys won’t stand a chance.”

 Surprisingly, Prompto lifted his head slightly with a confused look and questioned. “Two guards?  Is there another car with us?”  

 “No, Iggy is a trained fighter, just like me.” Nyx replied.

 Turning in his seat, Ignis looked straight into Prompto’s blue eyes and held his gaze.  “I can assure you no one will hurt you.”

 Prompto appeared to short circuit for a moment.   Ignis wasn’t aware of the time passing until Nyx cleared his throat.  “They are walking away. I think we can continue on.”

 “Hmmm? Oh, wonderful,” Ignis murmured. “Are you ready, Highness?”

 Prompto carefully peered up in between the front seats.  He was looking for the men who’d tormented him earlier. When he seemed satisfied that they’d gone, he nodded and took his seat again. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to delay us.”

 “Nothing to be sorry about, Highness,” Ignis offered.

 “Yeah, alphas can be scary and just plain stinky sometimes,” Nyx added with a smirk.

 “Ulric!” Ignis hissed. “Don’t fill the poor boy’s head with nonsense.”

 “He knows I’m trying to make a joke, right Highness?” Nyx asked as he craned his neck to catch a glance of Prompto.

 The blond finally smiled and nodded slightly.

 “Astrals, you two will be the death of me,” Ignis lamented as he pulled up next to an older model dropship.  “I do expect a full report once you’ve landed in Niflheim, and do alert me to any oddities.”

 “Understood. I’ll go check and make sure we are ready to go, and then we’ll be off. Wait here,” Nyx announced as he exited the car.

 The second the door shut, Prompto’s voice squeaked out from the backseat.  “Uh – don’t forget to give me your number.”  

 Ignis recited his number and waited for Prompto to send him a text to ensure it had been copied correctly.  “Do remember to let me know if you need anything. I don’t care how trivial you may think it. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

 Prompto nodded his head vigorously and bit his lip.  “Thanks for helping me. I don’t know what I would have done.”

 Ignis offered the blond a smile.  “It was no trouble; please know you are welcome as a guest of the prince of Lucis anytime.” The advisor was trying mightily not to think of what would have happened if Prompto’s step brothers had discovered him.  The outcome would have been vastly different.

 He was about to add more when Nyx came back and lightly tapped on the window.  Prompto looked out at him and slowly reached for the door handle. “Thanks again. I hope I get to come back and visit soon.”  

 Ignis nodded his goodbye, and Prompto opened the door and left the vehicle.  The strange empty feeling was threatening to return as he watched the young man walk away.  What was it about this omega that he felt such a draw to? He waited for the dropship to close its doors and take off, unwilling to drive away until he couldn’t see it anymore in the distance.

 He sent a quick message to Nyx asking for updates.  Thankfully, the man didn’t question his desires and sent him a message back.   Prompto was fine - why wouldn’t he be? He was going home and he would live out his life. That was that.

>Next Chapter 4

[phoenixwithapencil]

#anywho I’m gonna be off in the corner stewing in my mental image of twenty year old Noctis gritting his teeth #and trying to go toe to toe with Ardyn #trying not to die *now*despite the reality that he’s going to die *soon* #the only difference is that maybe he’ll get to usher in the dawn #(a dawn that he won’t even get to see to know if his efforts were worth it) -- not only will noct not see the dawn, but no one will have ever seen the night. and sure, they know that the days are getting shorter, they know what the demons are and what will happen if the sun doesn't rise anymore, they know it's looming in one way or another... but they don't live it.

so noct does his thing and he dies, and the sun rises... as it has every single day since the beginning of time. most people won't even notice a difference.

there's no victory, only death.

and the gods, to whom death means nothing at all, get to pat themselves on the back for a job well done. well done.

‘There is no victory, only death’ really does summarize what I’m getting at here with the emotions of a no time skip ending

And yet- there is more death with a decade of darkness for the same outcome. It just feels better to have that time to suffer so that the rewards taste bittersweet, and not just bitter.

[charlottedabookworm]

lols, I kno I've sent in a bunch of these, so feel free to opt out if you're not interested. How about a fix-it Doctor Who crossover for FFXV? Teen Noctis and Prompto end up being Companions to The Doctor (I'm partial to 13, 9, and 10 but it's up to you) and somehow, this saves everything.

1) Prompto actually meets the Doctor first, when he’s 10.

(Prompto first meets the Doctor when he’s just a few months old, when a blonde wearing rainbows happens to run past a man carrying a baby in a lab.

The lab blows up.

Surprise)

He’s maybe somewhere he shouldn’t be, camera in hand and glasses perched on his nose, when he walks into the weirdest fight ever.

(That guy was a fish)

And, just as he freezes, thinking he’s about to die, a man in a trench-coat sweeps in - a redhead a half step behind him, already yelling at literally everyone - and breaks it up easily, even if it takes a couple hours. Prompto is amazed.

The red-head - Donna, my name is Donna - sits with him while everyone else argues (occasionally yelling at the trench-coat guy) and walks him home and makes sure he’s got food and that’s he’s okay (and maybe she has some words for his parents who aren’t home again but he mostly ignores that because she’s so cool) and then they sweep out of his life.

(Or not.

The first letter comes days later, dropped in the letterbox with Donna’s signature scrawled on the back and Prompto feels so warm he could burst)

(The letters last for a couple years, telling him about dangerous exciting adventures and her idiot best friend and giving him tips with people and getting things done around the house and… 

and then, one day, suddenly, they stop)

(He’s pretty sure he knows why)

2) Still, for all he’s met the Doctor, Prompto has never really seen the TARDIS.

Which is how he and Noct end up accidentally inside when on the run from a couple kidnappers.

The TARDIS promptly takes off. The bloke in a leather jacket demands to know where they came from. 

Prom and Noct just stare.

(Best. Kidnapping. Ever)

3) So- the thing is.

The TARDIS? Still a little damaged by the Time War. And by ‘a little’, there’s a lot of damage, and a rather large dearth of spare parts.

And Eos? Not easy to get to.

The Doctor has no idea how the TARDIS got through the energy barrier surrounding the planet in the first place but she does not want to go back.

Which- considering that the Prince of Lucis is currently staring at him in horror - is not the best thing.

Noctis looks a lot less worried and a lot more confused when he reassures them that he will be able to get them back, and at the same moment they left, it just might take a while.

Prompto just nods.

(He’s already figured out that this isn’t the Doctor he knew. But Donna had told him a lot about Time Lords and the TARDIS and the Doctor - he’s realised, as he grew up, that maybe she just wanted someone to talk to about it all - and he definitely recognises the name Rose so)

4) Prom is bouncy and Noct is calmer but they both fall in love with the TARDIS so easily and they love the adventure and the travelling and meeting new people and it’s amazing.

Their enthusiasm helps a Doctor who is struggling so much to see any joy in the universe. They bring life to the TARDIS and the sound of their laughter intertwined with Rose’s (and with Jack’s) fills him with something almost like happiness

And the boys- they’ve grown up in the Crown City of a country in a century old war. 

They might be young, might be fairly sheltered from the worst of it, but they’ve spent more than enough time around war veterans

They don’t push, on the days the Doctor can’t handle it, and they distract Rose and it helps

5) Eventually, almost 6 months after they were ‘kidnapped’, the TARDIS is well enough to take them home.

They almost don’t want to leave.

They do anyway.

The Doctor lands exactly where they’d entered, at that exact moment, and they say their goodbyes - get the hugs and the phones in their back pockets and the promises to pop back sometime and they leave with bags that are expanded far beyond what they probably should be (but the Doctor knows things and he will not leave these children with nothing)

Nobody noticed they were gone.

Technically they weren’t.

6) Noctis lays Gladio flat with a move he picked up from an archaeologist he met on one of their trips

Prompto’s flirting now makes people blush like crazy, nobody knows how he’s suddenly so smooth

Jack is proud

7) Nobody understands the sudden banana obsession

8) Prophecies are one thing

Fixed points in time are another

It isn’t hard, to figure out what being The Chosen King means

But 6 months travelling all of time and space makes someone a lot less likely to bow down to fate

(If it’s Fixed, you’ll die anyway, Prompto whispers to him fiercely when it looks like he’s about to give in to it all, but we’re going to make sure you live)

9) The thing is- by the time they hit 20 (or so their birthdays say) they’ve seen more than one peace treaties. The Doctor has a habit of ending wars and, sometimes, he’ll stick around for the treaties and even the parties

So they know what they look like

They also know what a trap looks like

Noctis refuses to leave the Citadel, Prompto by his side

and, well, everybody’s rather thankful later

10) The square gun (totally not stolen from Jack) in Prompto’s hands takes a nice square out of Glauca

Might have taken a lot of tinkering to get around the safeties but totally worth it

11) when a phone box that appears between Aldercapt and his father it doesn’t surprise Noctis

he can’t say the same about the rest of the room

and he might not recognise the face that pokes out of the TARDIS with a grin but he knows the Doctor and the time lord still feels the same 

Prompto waves cheerfully, bouncing on his toes like he hasn’t just taken out Niflheim’s best General in a single shot

Six, Noct loves his best friend

then a woman steps out behind the Doctor and Noctis grins

“River!”

(The archaeologist winks. and promptly threatens the Emperor. very bloodily. the Doctor looks very smitten. and also very confused about how they know each other.

if he wanted to know he shouldn’t have lost him in that jungle, Noctis thinks, still feeling a little spiteful)

12) Everything gets wrapped up pretty quickly after that - at least with the empire

and then the Doctor runs into a man who is almost a fixed point but not (like Jack but artificial, not of time like he is, and oh, oops, do the boys know about Jack? spoiler alert, they do, they aren’t happy but Jack said he’d already punched him so) but this one he can fix

it isn’t hard to just reach out and tweak

there’s a reason his kind were called Time Lords after all

Ardyn disappears, still angry, still vengeful, but mortal

the Doctor leaves not long after

River promises to visit and the boys grin

everyone with any sort of common sense fears everything

13) A few months later, when they call him up again because they need someone to yell at a giant lizard about making people immortal against their will and trying to get teenagers to sacrifice themselves, the Doctor who appears is grey haired and grumpy

Prompto hugs him, just because

The Doctor flails

Bill - who introduces herself while the Doctor is flailing and is around their age - is brilliant and they exchange stories while the Doctor gets all Scottish-Grumpy and Value-of-Life and Oncoming-Storm on Bahamut and the dark-haired evilish one - Missy, Bill calls her - rolls her eyes and Nardole does

-something. He does something. He maybe goes and makes a cuppa tea

It’s great, reminds the boys of exactly what they missed about being 15 and travelling with the Doctor

(for everyone else, it’s a dawning realisation about why Noctis and Prompto are so good at dealing with chaos in general)

and then they totally dart off for another trip, just a short one dad we’ll be back for dinner!

Prompto asks this Doctor, who knows him, who recognises him from both times, about Donna, that night in the console room, and it’s not what he thought - she’s not dead - but she doesn't remember anything and he just

he cries

so does the Doctor

(later, Noctis decides to test if potions could help with the whole, meta crisis thing. because Prompto is sad

they do. because i say so

Donna gives Prompto the best hugs)

[tarotdeckshuffle]

Hello Beauty :) Can I request a headcanon of the chocobros with a s/o that does parkour at height/rooftop parkour and freerunning ? Take care of yourself !

Sayaoqueen! I’m always glad to get requests from you! ^^  You’re so sweet! I’ll try to take care of myself, at least a little bit. 😘

I’ve only watched parkour videos, so that shows here.  Also, I think it’d be really cool for the s/o to use parkour in battle! Enjoy!❤

Taglist: @idiotflowerex, @laststory1013, @sayaoqueen, @jophinabean, @mysme-already

If you like what you read, please consider supporting me on Patreon or buying me a Ko-fi!

Noctis

Doesn’t say much but watches with wide eyes and an open mouth as you sprint across ledges and flip between buildings.

He’s used to heights from warping out of danger,

But he just hangs around.

You seek out the heights,

Using them like a new road,

Finding ways around your foes,

And making it all look so easy!

How do you do that?!

In Insomnia, he used to watch as you performed your tricks,

Thinking them amazing in person,

Or a cinematic masterpiece when he watched your videos.

A real life Assassins’ Creed!!

But he never imagined that it’d be this useful one day!

He tries to learn from you at one point,

But honestly, he’s not that fast,

Or that graceful.

He relies too much on warping to be able to keep up with your footwork.

Ends up hanging by his sword as you run by, stealing a kiss!

So he’ll stick to watching you as you steal his heart from the rooftop.

Prompto

He freaks out the first time he sees you.

“WOW THAT IS SO COOL!!!! HOW DID YOU DO THAT!!!”

Zero chill.

He wants to video you doing it.

You may let him.

He’s brave enough to be in some precarious positions for a good shot,

But not quite ready to try running along those edges or flipping off of them.

Honestly, you do scare him sometimes.

He flinches when you “miss,”

Hanging from your fingertips.

But you always recover.

He trusts you, but he doesn’t trust gravity.

But with his help, any videos you make look better than ever!

In battle, he’ll barely be able to keep track of you!

All he’ll see is a glint in his peripheral as he aims for another MT.

But you’ll always be in the right place at the right time!

You blow this man’s mind!

“You’re a real life assassin!”

“You’re so amazing…”

Your boy is starry eyed and dazed at your skills…a lot.

You can’t help but be flattered at his joy!

Ignis

The first time he sees you perform a rooftop stunt,

He’s terrified.

His first instinct is that it’s a bit excessive,

But he can’t deny the absolute beauty and thrill at what you do.

It’s so graceful.

He’s frozen, just watching you.

He’d be the least familiar with any videos you’ve made.

So the other guys would laugh at his reaction from first seeing you.

But don’t worry, they’re just as amazed.

Ignis truly does find you to be an assassin.

An innovative, deadly, and calculating force.

But one with the grace of a dancer and the agility of a gymnast.

He’ll call you “angel”.

To him, you’re an angel of justice,

Raining death down upon your enemies from above.

Ok, death metal like fan boying is done.

He’s only sort of joking.

He’ll turn you down if you ever offer to teach him.

Not because he’s uncomfortable with heights or complex footing,

But because he worries he’ll slow you down.

Will surprise you with a rooftop dance along the ledges, one night.

The two of you wrapped in each other’s arms,

Dancing to soft music,

As your toes hang over the building’s ledge.

It’s romantic and thrilling.

An intoxicating combination.

If anyone truly appreciates what you do

It’s this man.

Gladio

He’ll be so joyful as he watches you for the first time!

Think’s it’s so cool!

Has some chill.

He’ll jokingly refer to you as his monkey.

Because he thinks you monkey around on the rooftops and cliffs.

Don’t like that nickname?

Too bad.

Will try to show you that monkeys are cool.

You’re the master of the “treetops” in battle,

Hitting with precision from above before anyone else knows where you are.

This concrete jungle is your kingdom.

Gladio is not a fan of heights.

Big guys land hard.

He’ll always be prepared to catch you.

But no. He will not join you.

Watching your POV videos makes him nervous.

He loves watching you, but from the ground.

Will likely get turned on, watching you in battle.

So you need to return to the ground,

And to his arms.

Ravus

His fighting style is all about strength,

But he appreciates styles different to his.

So he’s struck when he sees you jumping between rooftops the first time.

He won’t say anything,

But he can’t take his eyes off of you.

“Not the most efficient use of your energy…”

He may remark,

But don’t be fooled,

He loves watching you.

If you fight side by side, he’ll adjust to your style.

Leaving room for your acrobatics.

The only time he’ll ever join you on the rooftops is in Altissa,

When you’re racing towards Luna.

Surprisingly, he keeps up quite well!

He’s not anywhere near as graceful as you,

But he doesn’t really slow you down.

If he fears heights, he doesn’t let it show.

(Don’t let that fool you, Ravus wants down NOW and feels extremely clumsy up here)

But he’ll be impressed and watch any videos you’re in in private.

Luna

Pleasedon’tfallpleasedon’tfallpleasedon’tfall

She’ll initially be terrified for your safety,

Then amazed by your grace and skill!

She trusts you,

But she’ll still worry.

Will likely clap for your “performances” .

“You’re amazing!”

She looks starstruck!

She’s not afraid of heights or falling.

So she’ll join you on the rooftops.

But she hasn’t trained for battle like you have,

So she’s slow on the uptake and lacking in speed.

But she’ll gladly walk along the ledges with you,

And let you perform any couple’s stunts you want.

While she giggles and is thrilled to be so close to the heavens with you.

Cor

Kids and their acrobatic fighting styles, nowadays.

It’s not enough just to swing a sword…

Ok, that was sort of useful.

He truly is impressed the day you climb Cindy’s shop and manage to get to the top of the cafe as MTs surround him.

You launch a surprise attack from above.

To himself, he’ll admit he was wrong.

You’re an assassin.

One of the oldest forms of fighting styles.

And he fully respects it.

But, no…he’s too old to be up there with you.

He’ll almost jump out of his skin if you hang from a ledge.

“You’re doing that on purpose!” He’ll accuse.

Secretly, he’ll really hope you are because he’s not sure if he could save you from down here.

To him, you’re an ancient warrior, gliding along the rooftops in search of your next target.

But you’re also his love, so…just be careful!

Nyx

Would be psyched!

Wants to go running together!

The two of you perform high velocity rooftop dances.

Complete ninjas at night.

He loves that you can do this together.

You make games of it with the other Glaives.

Totally creating the next viral video.

Ardyn

“That’s amazing! Now get down.”

He’s immortal, not you.

Get down before you get killed.

He loves watching your skills,

But he knows how short your life is and hates anything that could cut it off faster.

Sure, he’ll join you on the roof,

But he won’t run.

Claims he doesn’t have nearly enough grace for that.

Honestly, he’d fall within seconds if he tried.

Want to see Ardyn faceplant? Now you do.

He wants to be supportive of your skills,

But, by the six, this man will worry about you.

Aranea

With a jump like hers, it’s hard for things to impress her.

At first, she’ll act like your skills don’t.

But she is really quite proud of you.

It’ll be one of those moments where she’ll show you off.

She’s cornered and comments on how the enemy should look up,

As a devilish grin graces her face.

And you strike from above.

She’ll glide through the air beside you as you run,

Making a pairing even the birds would be jealous of.

[thechocoboos]

Could you do the chocobros (+Ardyn and Ravus) taking care of their significant other while she's on her period?

These hcs have been sitting in my google docs for a week now--but hey, they’re ready!!! I ended up with eight pages of headcanons so brace yourself lol; wrote these while i was suffering from the very thing i was writing about. what a life.

HC: The Bros + Ardyn and Ravus taking care of their SO on their period!

Noctis

Noct knew that periods existed, he swore that he did, but he just kinda… forgets.

So when he came home to see you dying on your couch, he was just… ??? “Uh, babe? You okay?”

“NO, Noct, I’m not o-fucking-kay--”

“Uh.”

It was only when he called Ignis that he figured out what was going on, with Ignis exasperatedly having to remind Noct that hey, people get periods!

It was a short phonecall, luckily

And it didn’t take Noct too long to get with the program

Softness increases to 110%

Mutual laziness increases to 70%

Caring for his SO increases to 2000%

He does his best--but he also kinda. Just. I dont wanna say it but he doesn’t think it’s that big of a deal until he sees you crying over cramps, then he realizes that periods suck and that you just need your stupid boyfriend to give you the love and support that you deserve

After that, he gets better!!!

“NoCT, can you please go get me my meds? And some water--”

“Can’t you do it yourself--” He always freezes, remembering how bad it can be, “Shit, sorry, babe--” He already started getting up, bringing out a bit of your favorite snack as an apology, “You know I’m an idiot.” He said when he handed you your meds and your fave candy bar

You know, and for whatever reason, you still loved him

He kinda has to learn what to do and what not to do just because he feels too unsure to ask anyone

Unfortunately, it was also through trial and error that he realized how sensitive you can sometimes be when your period is knockin’ at the front door

He found out through multiple crying sessions--and yes, it was usually his fault, but he was always insanely good about making it up to you with food, cuddles, and movie marathons

He’s the boyfriend who goes to the store for tampons and pads for you, sees the giant aisle of them, and while he isn’t embarrassed to be seen buying shit for his SO, he has absolutely no idea what to get and literally grabs the first shit he sees

And of course, you send him right back with a picture of the brand you actually like and a pad in his hand just so he can get it right the second time

Cue the mental image of Noctis comparing the pad in his hand to the color of pad packaging in stores

“They’re both green so it’s gotta be right… right???”

In summary: Noctis is a dumbass and can be a bit insensitive about periods simply because he’s really not around women or anyone who gets periods, but he really does try to remedy his ignorance and any mistakes he makes

Prompto

Prompto, too, has never really had much experience with girls or periods or people with periods and he just. He tries so hard--he really does

He gets you a new teddy bear every single time (at some point, you know you’re gonna have to tell him that he can’t keep buying you new bears, but it’s so cute that you don’t want him to stop)

He’s the one who gets sympathy pain

I promise, the second he catches wind that you’re on your period, he’s out the door trying to find your favorite of everything

If you send him to the store for pads, he comes back with one of everything and lots of tears in his eyes, “Babe--I didn’t know what you wanted so I just bought everything im sorry oh gods”

He’s the pitiful soul who blushes as he buys all the pads and tampons and looks like he’s gonna cry

He’s the one who pulls a cart full of sanitary products to the first register he sees and is crying as he looks in the clerk’s eyes and cries, “My SO is on their period i dont know what they like help me please”

Christ, he’s a mess but he’s your mess and you love him

He comes back with every single snack he knows you so much as look at

Cravings? He’s got your back.

Like, you mention this shit you want half heartedly and then he disappears for three hours and comes back with a weighted blanket, heating pad, and three bags of those weird chips you were craving

He’s always blushing and frantic, but he blushes the hardest when you ask him to lay with you and cuddle

Ofc he does it--he loves it, but the bold, straightforward way you ask has him blushing head to toes

He once caught himself wishing people got periods more often just so he could hold you like this more often--he accidentally said it out loud, and you only snuggled into his chest more and told him to shut up and hold you tighter

Prompto is a mess but he tries so, so hard just to make you comfortable and content

He once drove for twenty minutes to find your favorite candy bar (and he would do it again, no question)

When you cry bc emotions, he starts to tear up, too

He always says, “Babe, if you cry, I’ll start crying and then we’ll both be crying and I don't think either of us can handle that on an emotional level” and then you both cry anyways

He likes to sing to you when you guys cuddle, his voice is soft but husky in the perfect way that lulls you to sleep

If you fall asleep in his arms, he falls asleep, too

He’s the extra bf who goes above and beyond unnecessarily, merely because he doesn’t know how else to help you

Gladdy

Holy Behemoth Batman! One of these idiots is properly aware of periods!!!

And it’s this one. Bravo, Gladdy, bravo. Fans everywhere are cheering your name.

In all seriousness, he is aware and actually knows how to handle someone who is on their period

Iris used to get some pretty bad periods, and with their mom not around and their dad always busy, it was Gladio who had to help her out and actually explain them to her in the first place (he’s never gonna forget when Iris ran up to him one morning while crying and shouting about bloody underwear)

So, needless to say, he ain’t shy during that time of the month. In fact, he knows more tips and tricks than you do, simply because he was one hell of a big bro for Iris

Heating pads? Blankets? Snacks? Damn good brands of sanitary products? He’s got it all and you didn’t even have to ask, like holy shit

Back when you guys were just starting out your relationship, you had actually gotten your period once while at his place and when you told him you’d have to go home because you forgot your products, he was like, “Oh--hang on. You prefer pads or tampons???” and pulls out a giant basket with a lobster on it, labelled ‘Menstruation Crustacean’

He said that he liked to be prepared in case Iris was over

What an absolute legend of a bf. Like, after that, you knew you weren’t letting this fucker go.

He rubs your stomach if you’re having really bad cramps and doesn’t even have to be asked to go grab you some pain meds--it’s like he has a sixth sense or some shit

Really, really chill about periods as a whole like he’s not scared to go to the store for you and he gets the right products!!!

Sometimes, when you get so sore and crampy that you can’t move, he’ll carry you around in his arms and doesn’t complain once

Will change your bloody sheets and isn’t the slightest bit grossed out--doesn’t mind emptying the bathroom trashcan either

Similar to Prompto, he loves to hold you and hum to you. He won’t sing, but even his absent minded humming while he holds you to his chest under one arm and reads some random book lulls you to sleep with ease

Quite frankly, probably the best of the bros when it comes to periods

He’s not scared of them. He doesn’t care if it gets messy, he knows what to do, like. Shit. Fuckin’ winner over here.

Ignis

Ignis, much like everyone else, does not have that much experience with periods. Didn’t really have many folks with periods around and he’s never had a SO before

So you would think he’s a hot mess--but nO! He would nEvER

He googled and he googled and he googled and he asked coworkers (always respectfully ofc) and he googled some more

He has an arsenal of tips and tricks and guides and everything--but he does lack the hands on experience

He will help you and he will buy you everything you need and more--but there will always be the hesitation of someone who doesn’t really know what they’re doing

One time, Ignis tried to rub your belly to help with cramps, but he only succeeded in tickling you and embarrassingly had to admit he doesn’t really know where his hand should be

Ugh what a cutie pie

He’s patient and sweet and he does all these small things for you without even telling you, and when you do notice, you feel like your heart is just gonna burst and vomit affection everywhere

He’s still a little embarrassed and shy when you boldly demand cuddles, but he does it nonetheless (he fucking loves it though he will never admit to it)

He’s the SO who cleans up bloody sheets and quietly gets blood stains out of your clothes while you’re vomiting from cramps, but never, ever makes a big deal out of it and does it with the caring affection of a kind man in love

Bumps his pun game to 110% to try and make you laugh

Knows which subjects and what phrases and words to avoid to prevent your emotions from blowing up

Even if they do, he never takes rude words to heart and he always comforts you lovingly, giving you a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek

He keeps an eye on you

If you shift uncomfortably, he’s there with a heating pad

If you’re meds are wearing off, he already has more in hand

Sometimes, if you want to cuddle, you only have to look at him a certain way before he’s sighing and climbing into bed next to you, reminding you that if you were anyone else he wouldn’t go this far

He just dotes on you in the quietest ways possible

Ravus

Insensitive Dumbass Part 2

Yes, he knows people get periods. Does he care? No.

Not until he falls in love with you, at least.

Cramps? Can’t be that bad. Migraines? Just mere headaches. Aches and pains? Probably nothing. He dismisses each symptom right up until you come into his life

Because when you guys get together--he gets to see firsthand just how bad everything can get

Oh gods you’re crying from it all?? VOmitting??? HOW WAS HE SUPPOSED TO KNOW--

He felt like a right dick (and he should)

But he was also quick to change his tune, because the love of his life can’t suffer like this

Not while he’s around!!!

He’s quick to ask Luna what to do, and thank god at least one sibling in their family is sympathetic and not a mess and a fucking half otherwise he’d be doing things through trial and error (not that he didn’t, even with the help)

He does everything by the written list Luna had given him (she knew he wasn’t gonna remember everything), even years after you two got together (he likes to use it as a benchmark of sorts to know when he’s doing everything you need)

The first few times you had sent him to the store because you ran out of supplies, he had absolutely no idea what to get and any poor employees who tried to help him earned the most aggressive, hostile glare he could muster

He ends up calling Luna, too, because how is he supposed to call you and tell you that he doesn’t know what to get??? And have you think he’s incapable??? NO! He was gonna be the best bf and get exactly what you fucking needed or so help him--

He’s just very aggressively in love. Little bit of a dick but he changes and grows as a person into the kinda man we can all love and support and who will love and support us right back!!!

He does his best but he doesn’t want to seem incapable of being helpful

Likes to remind you when your medicine is supposed to wear out so he can show that he’s some use

Anytime he gives you a massage or rubs your back or smth, he’s always giving you nervous, uncertain glances just to make sure you’re content or that he’s helping

Always giving you nervous glances just to check that you’re okay (he really loves you, he’s just not sure how to show it)

Lots of hugs and kisses but he’s embarrassed about all the skinship when you want cuddles (don’t get him wrong, he really, really loves it; he’s just… not sure what to do with all these feelings)

He learns how to be a supportive, wonderful SO when you’re on your period and maybe one day he might actually remember your favorite brand (but don’t get your hopes up too much at that)

Ardyn

Back in Ardyn’s day, periods weren’t exactly talked about, so the first few times you mentioned them, he was absolutely flabbergasted that you would blatantly talk about something that was considered so private

If he hadn’t been a healer, he wouldn’t have known near as much about them as he did

But even as a healer, periods were still something considered a woman’s subject and were usually left for women healers and mothers to handle so he could rarely do much

But then--Ardyn had to get pretty fuckin’ used to periods because you were pretty much out of commission when your “aunt irma” came to visit

First couple times you got your period while with Ardyn, they weren’t so bad, but then they went right back to their normal symptoms

When Ardyn came home to see you curled up in a ball, clutching your abdomen and trying to just keep your eyes shut to block out the light, he had thought you were terribly, terribly sick

“Darling--what’s wrong? What happened--” He was genuinely concerned and worried, his brow furrowed and mouth drawn in a worried frown. He hadn’t realized that your periods were so debilitating, so to see you like this, he had thought something even worse had happened

You only managed a groan when you tried to talk, and that only made him rush over even more, trying to lift your arms to see where you were injured, “Darling, please--”

“‘M fine,” you tried to say, “It’s just--fuck,” You hissed as a particularly bad cramp came your way, “--fine, jus’, that time of the month.” You wheezed, laying your head back down on your pillow

And that was when Ardyn realized just how terrible the symptoms could be

He was a worried man. Absurdly worried actually, and sometimes it made you want to laugh if everything didn’t hurt so badly

Ardyn was the kind of man to do absolutely anything and everything for his love, so that’s what he did

You never had to leave the bed for anything unless you really wanted to

Ardyn would deliver your pain meds on the clock, always accompanied by the most ridiculously jeweled goblet he could find (he was always one to be amusingly over the top and treat you like a queen, but his dramatics always cheered you up)

He was usually by your side unless you requested some alone time, and then he would respectfully kiss your forehead, say “Of course, darling. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call--I am always at your disposal,” and close the door quietly as he left

Otherwise, he would be laying in bed with you, one arm wrapped around your shoulder and the other holding some old book or resting across his stomach as he took a nap beside you

He would give you massages wherever you ached and he would provide herbal remedies from back in his day that were pretty good at relieving aches and pains

Ardyn’s innuendos and teasings would go on the back burner during this time--unless you instigated it

If you didn’t, he might tease you here and there, but always the tiniest, most light hearted things and it was always said in the softest teasing tones

All your feelings are valid to him, hormonal or otherwise, and he will listen to every word you say as though they were your last

Yes, you were usually treated like royalty by him, but it somehow increased exponentially when that time of the month arrived

[gwiiyeoweo]

Aulea sees the legendary terror for herself, but finds he's not so terrible after all.

Pairing:  Ardyn & Regis, Ardyn & Noctis, Regis/Aulea, Aulea & Ardyn   Rating: G  

Aulea waked first.

It helped that she actually got a decent night of sleep, compared to Regis who rushed in before even the early rays of dawn could peak out. She quietly wrapped her robe around her, tying it in a lazy ribbon as she did her best to keep silent and sneak about the room afforded to her.

She had only started living in the Citadel last year, despite having been betrothed to Regis for the past two, and her room was bare for the most part. Besides the essentials, she kept a few succulents across her desk and a fern in the corner. Her attendants had fussed about livening up her room, even if it was only a temporary thing until she would be officially married to Regis, and the plants were proof of a hard-fought compromise she had drawn with them.

Regis shifted his arm across the empty expanse of the bed, fingers twitching for her missing warmth. But when he turned his head to farther bury his face into the pillow, Aulea decided he could use the extra hour of sleep and went off to toe on her slippers.

The maids would certainly be miffed if they caught her walking down the halls, dressed in nothing but her modest nightgown and her robe, with her hair strewn about everywhere. Aulea understood the need for appearances given certain circumstances, even if it meant with agreeing with the old stuffy council members, but a woman was allowed to walk in her own home in her pyjamas if she damn well wanted to. She might not yet be the official Consort, but everyone already revered her as such. All they needed was a paper with some fancy gold seal and it would be wham, bam, thank you before she could walk through all sixty-something floors in her underwear. Not that she would; she wasn’t as prim and proper as some of Regis’ matchmakers would like her to be, but she nonetheless kept a certain modesty and a standard of propriety she held herself up to.

At least no one caught sight of her, and she slipped between the lights and shadows easily enough as she made her way to Regis’ room.

Aulea entered without so much a knock, cracking the door open and poking her head in. She immediately zero’d in on Clarus, the man vigilantly sitting by the bedside and tapping away on his phone. “You look like hell.”

Clarus, with his grim dark circles, stilled his hand and lifted his head to glance at Aulea. “Been through worse,” he yawned, turning his face into the crook of his elbow.

Aulea rubbed her hands together, summoning some easy magic and igniting a soothing heat across her palms. Flexing her fingers, she ambled her way around the room and stood behind Clarus, lightly poking her fingertips around his neck and spine. “So,” she said, putting both hands on his shoulders and digging her fingers into his worn muscles. “This is Adagium.” Then a wrinkle of her nose. “Unfortunate name, by the way.”

Clarus sighed into her touch, leaning his back against the chair as he felt the heat radiate from her skilled hands. He twitched when she honed in on a knot hidden away between muscle and bone but kept his squirming to a minimum as she worked her literal magic. “That's what the books call him,” he answered, biting back a groan.

Aulea hummed in acknowledgment, but kept silent for the most part as she continued to work her way around the kinks and scars. She rubbed circles with her thumbs, using some elbow grease and pressing them deep into his flesh, just as her mother once taught her. “Go rest. I can watch,” she eventually said.

“Don't think Regis will appreciate me putting you on duty.”

“If he finds an issue, he can take it up with me.” She gave him a light shove on his arm. “Now go on, up and at ‘em.”

Whatever Clarus grumbled she didn't quite catch but it certainly had something to do with protocol and handbooks. He was more concerned with playing by the rules than leaving Aulea with a potential not-quite-a-daemon hazard sleeping in the bed, but they both knew she was a force in her own right. Worst case scenario, the room and the entire wing would be left in rubbles. It may have been a couple years, but Aulea had a few notches in her belt of besting Clarus and putting his rump to the dump — Cor moreso, back in his reckless days of fiery youth. (With Regis, though, there was no concrete record, considering their spars ended up in accidental makeout sessions or cuddle times, when either of them collided into each other with uncanny timing. “Get a room!” and exasperated groans notwithstanding.)

Clarus had no doubt Aulea could fend for herself should something go awry, but he was personally tasked by King Regis to keep an eye over Adagium. As Shield, he desired to carry on his duty; as friend, he only wished to help. Yet it didn’t help that Aulea was prodding incessantly at him, and knowing her stubbornness could only be matched by Regis’, well… He was but a man.

He knew this. Aulea knew this.

She wasn’t a tactician. She would never compare to the bright strategists circling their war talks, but Aulea could be as shrewd as the conmen who made their home in the dark shadows and Insomnian nights. She knew when sweet rewards held more power than bitter words and sharp whips. And she knew how tired Clarus must have been, considering how Regis had tumbled into her bed like a dead rock without so much a goodnight kiss.

Clarus had been given a losing battle from the get go, so the least he could do was bow out gracefully. So when he had finally relented, Aulea showed mercy and didn't even comment on the stumble in his step as he made for the door, to leave her alone by the stranger’s bedside.

Aulea walked along the walls and made sure each heavy curtain was drawn closed, to keep out the morning’s early rays. Whenever the man decided to wake, she was sure he’d appreciate not having the bright sunshine burning through his eyelids. It didn’t help that Regis’ windows happened to face east and took the full brunt of the sunrise, a lesson she learned herself on a morning she had decided to sneak in the night before.

She swiped a charging cable and one of the tablets hidden away in Regis’ drawers, taking them with her as she made her way back to the bedside. She plugged the charger in, settled herself into Clarus’ seat, and powered the tablet on. Tapping and swiping away at the screen, she typed in the four-numbered passcode and pulled up ChocoTube, a daughter platform for all things furry, fluffy, or cute.

Today’s featured playlist was cats.

“Good morning.”

Aulea didn’t even look up from the screen when she greeted the waking man.

She had her eyes glued on a litter of coeurl kittens, a mewling batch of little white furballs recently born in a conservation. According to the description, these particular species were close to extinction, having only a couple hundred left roaming in the wilds. Only when the video ended, with the camera fading to black and some white text with a link to the conservation’s website, did Aulea look up. She turned the tablet over, screen facing the man.

“Want to watch some cat videos?”

Adagium only stared, brows slightly knit together and lips trying to figure out how to make words.

In turn, Aulea silently studied him, watching for any sign or expression in that split moment it took for him to register her words. At a glance, he looked blank and clueless, like the trending video of that newborn chocobo staring at a single corn kernel and having no idea what it was. His dumbfounded look, she thought, would almost be as cute if it didn’t belong to a scraggly-bearded adult man. But she kept her focus on his eyes, the ways they flashed with emotion, and his mouth and jaw, where his lips parted or his teeth clenched. His eyes cycled through confusion and fear, caution and suspicion — and for a fraction of time, anger and contempt. She kept her magic at the edge, just in case .

But he made no motion, no twitch of his fingers, and the fleeting spite that glanced his face fell into confusion once more. Now, he only looked tired. Haggard. Like all he wanted was to go back to sleep and hibernate for the season, despite having two thousands years to do just that. If anything, it probably made his dark circles worse, now that Aulea actually made the effort to really look at him. His eyes were horribly sunken and dark, skin dry and lips chapped; none of them got him cleaned up after dragging him out of Angelgard, so he still had a fine layer of dirt and dust on him. If he felt as much as he looked, he was probably in want of a nice warm bubble bath.

Did Regis still have that jar of lavender bath salts under his sink?

“I… What?” Adagium rasped. Something didn’t agree with him, and he turned his face down to cough into his fist.

Aulea used her best disarming smile she saved especially for the old farts of the council, for the times when was simply not in the mood to argue semantics with them, to appear as an innocent docile woman who knew nothing of ancient rules and Lucian laws.

“Cat videos,” she said, keeping her voice light and sweet. Rising from her seat, she slowly moved to sit on the bed, being particularly careful with her movements as she kept the screen facing Adagium. She tapped on the next video in the playlist, starting up a two-minute clip of a chocobo chick trying to nudge itself under the belly of a large and ridiculously fat cat. “See?”

“…Oh.”

It had been the fourth video when Adagium spoke up, talking to himself more than to her. “This is not what I envisioned the Afterlife to be.”

Aulea, with a soft mirth to her quiet laugh, had pointed out this was far from the Afterlife, that they were both still within the living world. From there, the conversation had flowed easily enough, with brief pauses as Adagium occasionally coughed for that extra breath.

If she had not heard the prologue from Regis himself, she would have thrown Adagium’s story right out the window and deem him as some lunatic wanting to take advantage of her good will.

Because first of all, Adagium was not his name — it was Ardyn Lucis Caelum, older brother to Somnus Lucis Caelum. That wasn’t even the worst of it.

Aulea had left the tablet in Ardyn’s hands, letting him learn to fumble with the thing by himself, while she went to the small adjoining kitchenette to pour herself a glass of cold, very cold water.

She hovered over the sink, one hand clenching at the granite edge and the other dragging itself down her face. She wondered what exactly they got themselves into, why it had to happen during Regis’ reign of all times, and if maybe this was all some intricate lie crafted by a very cunning daemon. (That could shapeshift into human form? Ha! As if.) But as she pulled her hands away to fill a second glass, she thought, for the good of everyone and everything else but her and Regis’ sanity, that things would probably go worse if they had not been the ones to find Ardyn.

As much as they liked to joke about Regis’ soft heart, his gentleness had been one of his darling qualities she fell in love with, while also being responsible for the loyalty of Clarus and Cor. Mors, his father and late King, may have been more strict and utilitarian during his reign, but already Lucis was ready to turn themselves into the tender hands of Regis. The council had thought it a weakness to exploit, only to learn what a fierce lion paced just beneath, its fangs sharp and claws just as deadly.

So perhaps, she and Regis were just the people needed to tend to Ardyn’s scars and trauma, to help heal what should have been cared for so long ago, to keep his open wounds from festering and falling to infection. To keep the Scourge that literally embodied itself into his skin and bones and his very cells.

Aulea could feel the oncoming migraine from just thinking about that. Slaying daemons, products of the Starscourge that addled their lands, and sealing them were one thing; but purging it from a seemingly immortal man who, from what both she and Ardyn understood — even the man himself wasn’t sure of the specific details and implications of it all — was something beyond the Caelum magic. This was Oracle territory. And not even Sylva Nox Fleuret had experience in something so severe.

“Oh dear.”

Aulea turned around to see Ardyn holding the tablet, broken cleanly in half and sparking at its exposed wires, screen shards glittering on the silk bedding. He looked tragically concerned, torn between dropping the entire thing or trying to piece the broken parts together.

“I… Killed it?”

Not to mention Ardyn needed to play a game of major league catch-up. He had at least a couple thousand years’ worth to learn, and a whole curriculum on how phones and tablets work apparently.

Aulea allowed herself one large breath, puffing her chest out as she filled her lungs to the brim, and slowly exhaled through her lips. She lightly smacked her hands on her cheeks, prepping herself up for whatever ordeal that was to come. Alright, put it this way: maybe the gods decided to give her a pre-test. Because if she could help an ancient-Caelum-turned-Scourge-grandpa learn how the modern age worked — and work through all the emotional and mental damage of a two thousand year (wrongful) imprisonment — then helping Regis run the kingdom should be a breeze. Or something.

“Don’t worry about it.” Aulea picked up the two glasses, made her way over to Ardyn’s side, and offered one of the drinks. “I’m sure you’re parched.”

Ardyn didn’t have to say a word. He downed the entire glass in the same time span it took for Aulea to take one sip. Which made her feel rather foolish. For here she was, showing him cat videos when she should’ve addressed the basic needs first: food, warmth, rest, hygiene.

Rest was out of the way, sort of. Water? Check. She could whip up something easy while he showered, so that would check off food and hygiene. After refilling his glass, she went into the bathroom and made a beeline for the cabinets, rummaging through the extra shampoos and soaps as she searched for a certain bottle.

‘Oh.’ She grabbed the little chocobo toy hidden beneath a spare hand towel, giving the rubber toy a squeeze. It squeaked, high pitched and sharp, and she gave it another quick squish. Huh, she didn't know this was still here. Did Regis?

“What was that?” she heard Ardyn say, curiosity quite piqued. Aulea smiled to herself, pocketing the toy in her robes as she pulled out a bottle of “Sal's Hubba Bubba Bubbles.” She placed it at the edge of the porcelain tub as she made her way back to the door. Aulea leaned her head outside the doorway, meeting Ardyn’s inquiring gaze with her own bright one, and pulled out the rubber chocobo. She gave it a squeeze, and Ardyn realized what the noise had come from, judging from the small ‘o’ of his lips.

“Ardyn,” she said, wiggling the toy around in her hand, “would you like to try a bubble bath?”

Regis walked into his bedroom, somewhat dark with all the curtains still drawn — odd, he thought — and if he did not believe in the love they shared and knew of Aulea’s eccentric quips, he would have doubted all their years together upon seeing her towel dry a half-naked man’s hair, the same man curled up in Regis’ favorite armchair and devouring a plate of scrambled eggs.

There was a rubber chocobo toy resting on one of the arms.

His lips curled into a wry smile, audibly clearing his throat and earning both their gazes. Aulea looked only pleased as punch, though there was something tired around her eyes. Adagium, appearing far better and refreshed than when Regis had first laid eyes on him, still looked worn as the very walls that contained him, old and cracked in the most horrible of places, cold and hard deep within a shell. The bits of yellow egg around his mouth, though, somehow softened the image of a deadly beast that had once been chained within a stone tomb.

“Good morning, Reggie.” Aulea fitted the damp towel around Adagium’s shoulders and walked up to Regis, wrapping her arms around his neck and greeting him with a quick peck along his jaw. “Say hello to Ardyn.”

Regis followed his gaze from Aulea's outstretched hand, a gesture pointed at Adagium, whose fork hovered midair on the way to his mouth. “Hello,” he said, before turning back to whisper close to Aulea. “Ardyn?” He raised his eyebrows, searching for the answer in her face. “His name is —”

“Ardyn. Not Adagium.” Aulea tugged on his arm and led him to a chair across the small table, a short thing made of glass and elder wood that had certainly seen better days. “And you'll want to sit down for what you're about to hear.”

Regis was keenly aware of what should have been a working tablet instead of the broken pile of metal and scraps on his desk, but decided it was best to save that topic for later. Not to mention, Aulea held a glass of water obscuring his line of sight and intentionally blocking his view. He took the drink and sipped at it.

“Ardyn, this is Regis,” Aulea introduced, handing a simple plate of scrambled eggs to him.

Regis pushed the eggs around, not because he feared her cooking, but because he wasn't sure if eating was the best course of action, given her warning from earlier. And if Aulea didn't press him to eat, then, perhaps it was best to wait.

“My hero,” Ardyn drawled, after swallowing his food. “And very distant… Cousin?”

“Nephew,” Aulea chimed in, all right as rain and nodding sagely.

“Nephew then.”

“Pardon?” Regis looked from Ardyn to Aulea, then once more to Ardyn.

“Something like that.” Aulea crossed her arms. Ardyn was too busy eating to give any commentary, but he at least nodded along to her words.

And while the two seemed to be on understanding and oddly friendly terms already, Regis was out of the loop completely.

“Pardon?” he tried once again.

“Well —”

“You see —”

Both Ardyn and Aulea started to speak, but they paused to look at each other, each of their mouths opening and closing with no words shared as they tried to figure who should go first. Eventually, Aulea gestured for Ardyn to say his part, and she filled in the gaps between.

Still, Regis wasn’t sure if hearing it from Aulea lessened the wave of nausea that crept up the back of his throat and behind his eyes, and he wondered if he wasn’t back on the royal vessel, the waves softly rocking the ship; for even as he sat, his entire world was sent swaying, and the soft carpet beneath his feet felt unsteady as sand.

“Oh, he’s taking it better than I thought he would.” Aulea patted him on the shoulder, and Regis considered it as more out of sympathy than anything.

“Aulea,” Regis said, summoning forth all the seriousness he could muster, “it is still morning, and we both know I’m not a man of the drink, but if you would please.”

“Already have.” From seemingly out of nowhere, Aulea pressed a thick short glass into his hand, filled up to three fingers full of liquid dark amber.

“I love you.”

“You better.”

[beauvoyr]

My Friend, Mr Noctgar | 3

EPISODE III | vendetta

Pairings: Noctis/Reader vs Ravus/Reader  Genre: Romance Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Alpha/Beta/Omega, no beta we die like men, Humour, Angst, Fluff, Size Kink, Size Difference, Short Reader, Self-Indulgent Characters: Older Noctis, Older Chocobros, 30-year-old Ravus Nox Fleuret, Ardyn Izunia, Aranea, Loqi Tummelt, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, Homeless (?) Noctis Chapter Rating: T Crossposted on: ao3 Summary: Transferring from Gralea to Insomnia’s already hard enough for an Omega like you. Luckily your new friend Mr Noctgar, a homeless Alpha who’s always skulking around Sagefire, is there to brighten your dreary days ahead. And he’s always there to teach you the best spots in Insomnia, among other things.

“—which is why Ghorovas’ Rift is what it is today,” Noctgar ends his tale, flattening the top half of his vanilla soft serve with an agile tongue. At your wide-eyed stare, he swipes a few more licks to the cone, blunt fingernails absently scratching his scruff. “Told you Ifrit was an ass.”

“B-b-but that’s not what the Cosmogonies say?” you sputter, well aware that you sound like an utter imbecile for believing in half the garbage printed. Noctgar regards you with sympathetic understanding how a parent breaks to a child that Shiva Claus isn’t real, and you could only cover your burning cheeks by blaming the dastardly cunning ways of the Insomnian sun. “I mean—they should totally fire their writer for coming up with that fanfic-level stuff and—“

“I don’t get why they tried to make it romantic too,” Noctgar offers his thought, hacking off another solid chunk of vanilla with that sinful muscle of his. “Ifrit’s ego is the size of Ravatogh; unless he apologises to Shiva for messing up Solheim, I don’t think she’s going to lift the curse on Ghorovas. Of course,” his side-glance comes with a playful twinkle, “they tried to tone it down for the kids, I guess. No evil curses, just straight-up romance. Easier for them to digest that stuff.”

Serves you right for being such a gullible child, now Noctgar’s going to think you’re such a baby for believing in that load of junk. When you get back to Gralea, you’re putting up your limited edition copies on nBay. You’re so selling them. Bitterly, too bitterly, you mutter, “Should’ve known Shiva and Ifrit weren’t just Astrals immortalizing their love in Ghorovas. Ice and fire, duh, polar opposites. And polar opposites just don’t get along with each other.”

“Really?” Noctgar bites out a stifled chuckle, now nibbling around the rim of his cone. “Why’d you say that?”

“My superior, Ravus, is what I’d call my polar opposite. The Ghorovas’ Rift to my Leide Desert, if I’m trying to be poetic,” you answer as your thoughts turn to the flaxen-haired prince charming fairing from Tenebrae, substituting black chocobo and polished armour for a Bentley too big in a six-digit suit daily. “He’s a Sonnet 18 kind of guy that could quote ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day’ right down to ‘So long lives this, and this gives life to thee’, and then there’s me, rapping Monster’s ‘You could be the King but watch the Queen conquer.’” You pause at the affable agreement from Noctgar, who’s taking it in with his cream-stained lips twisting into a smile. “See what I mean? We could totally work together but beyond that? Yeah, it’s the original version of Shiva and Ifrit right here, now that I stand corrected—”

The corners of Noctgar’s mouth twitch wider. “Your soft serve’s melting.”

—and you’re flailing at the way vanilla oozes down your flaccid cone, sticky fingers and a veiny trickle down the back of your hand. Any second later and it would’ve stained your cuff. “Oh sh—“ With no napkins left, you lapped at the mess in alternating waves of broad licks, the tip of your tongue erasing all whiteness. You transfer the soft serve to your free hand just so you could suck off all stickiness from your fingers, taking each digit into your mouth and releasing them with a salacious pop, glistening wet yet thankfully free from all stickiness. Thank Astrals for this good head on your shoulders. “There, saved.”

When you turn to Noctgar once more, proudly showing him your handiwork, it is indeed news to you that Noctgar is also susceptible to the ways of the Insomnian sun, despite having lived here for a while.

5.48 p.m. comes as a heady perfume of melancholy and lovesickness. It has Ravus jabbing the keyboard a bit too hard when the scent draws closer and closer, like the metaphorical smog wafting in those inane morning cartoons Luna enjoyed. He knows what this is. Clack, clack, clack goes his keyboard when click click click ends at his doorway, bringing forth a scent that corrupts all Alphas into beasts, a scent that has his jaw set taut, teeth clenched.

“Hey sir,” you chime, your handbag shouldered, eyes a starry concerto when you seek his. By the Gods, he hates that glassy sheen, especially the hint of your teeth hiding behind the pink of your lips. “I’m about to head back.”

So leave already, he wants to snarl.

Get out of my sight, he wants to growl.

“Very well, you may leave,” is what he says, ignoring your questing eyes in favour of the bulleted list he’s been typing since five. Seven pages in, charts and tables drawn, paragraphs elaborated and red-tabbed notes highlighting key points in the report, and yet it is still far from complete to him. From the looks of it, a few more hours will be a worthwhile investment in order to achieve the level of perfection he’s after.

Something must’ve crossed his face when he returned to his work, for your keen eyes are still riveted on him. “You’re…not going home?”

Fingers skating across the keys stop. Your innocent concern is a forgery most Omegas have mastered; a species designed to captivate and fascinate those around them, unhesitant to delve their fingers into the stickiest of pies, only to draw them back, licking and sucking off cherry-reddened digits one by one. Viciously coy to those they want to enrapture, cunningly demure to those they want to seduce, Omegas are disgusting creatures willingly spreading their legs for any and all Alphas to conquer. Once they’ve conquered the body, they will conquer the world. Such is the reality Ravus is acquainted with, considering the multitude of Omegas who have crossed his path and tried to make him theirs.

And you could be one of them.

Another one of them, seeking wealth and riches only a prince could satisfy.

Ravus skips over your gaze, knowing he’ll find nothing. Clack clack clack on his keyboard again, this time in a measured pace. “No.” By right, he could’ve left it at no and watch you leave his room with one of your feigned sympathy, but professionalism has a say over prejudice. Work is work, and you are but an Omega stationed under him. He keys in the last period and skims over the sentence twice more. “I am preparing an outline for tomorrow’s briefing, as we will be hosting a corporate event on C3 involving both CC and NT in the near future.”

“Ohhhh…” You’re nodding—which, in Ravus’ dictionary, is not a good sign. The moment you’re adjusting your shoulder strap absently, Ravus regrets every word leaving your mouth: “Anything I can do to help out?”

This is what he doesn’t need. Help. An excuse following an excuse, Omegas are good at conjuring a thousand and one more excuses to spend more time within the proximity of those they’re trying to capture; How low will they stoop? Low enough until they crawl, Ravus supposes. And crawling is what Omegas do best.

His words are clipped, underlined with brutal intent. “No. Leave.”

Unfortunately, you are dafter than most. Where others would scurry along and never look back at the sight of his darkening expression, your stupidity takes you places others wouldn’t dream of venturing. Now, you are waltzing into the territories of Ravus’ restraint with a quiet, “Aw, c’mon, don’t be like that, let me help you out.” Again, you are the obnoxious Omega pushing every button on the console as if to trigger his wrath, fond eyes juxtaposing narrowed ones. “The sooner we get this done, the faster you can go home, right? So let’s get to it.”

Foolish, selfish Omega.

Fingers lacing together, Ravus leans into his backrest, tipping his chin ever so slightly at the sight of the disobedient Omega toeing his doorway. What do you seek to gain from testing his patience? His affection? Hah, hardly. A one-night stand much like the cheap paperbacks Luna enjoyed? Never in his lifetime. Winning his attention? On the negative spectrum, you will. What about monetary expenses? Surely you’ll benefit from overtime, making the most of your meagre salary to support your luxurious lifestyle. Omegas and their petty needs of pretty collars for every outfit, polished nails done in salons, nauseating perfumes in crystal bottles—everything as an excuse to waste money. Ravus considers this train of thought twice more before he comes to a conclusion.

“You won’t be paid for your overtime,” he breathes his verdict.

It's a variable thrown into the mix for the sake of observing your reaction. If he’s right, he should be receiving the expected reaction right about—

You straighten up, nodding once. “Okay yep, bye.”

Click, click, click is the sound that follows, the very sound of victory proving his statement. Ravus smirks to himself, knowing he is not wrong and he will never be wrong. A typical Omega you are, lured by the lavish prospects of making more money through whatever means you could get. Laughable. Your desperation is disgusting and he detests your very presence. He should be very careful in deflecting any future advances from your end, knowing how adamant Omegas can be once they settle on a target to devour. You may have given up tonight, but you will return sooner or later. With that warning planted in his head, Ravus rests his fingers on his keyboard, gliding over them in ease.

Click, click, click is also the sound of defeat when you backtrack into his doorway again, flashing a cheeky grin that belongs only on primates in zoos. “Just kidding, sir, I’m not that heartless. Back in Gralea, Aranea used to stay back with the rest of the team when we worked on something. And because NTG was extra broke at one point because they keep siphoning the money to different politicians, I’m used to not getting paid by now.” You do a one-shoulder shrug, rattling about a paper bag. “As long as I can trade those OTs for credit leaves, I’m cool with that.”

Foolish, selfish, and annoying Omega.

If Ravus were a slighter man, his door would have answered your statement in seconds. However, he is the Prince of Tenebrae, and so he returns your imprudent gallantry with a frown. More minutes are wasted on entertaining your stupidity, minutes that Ravus could have spent on bettering his outline, minutes that Ravus would have clocked in at least two more pages to his text. Here you stand, awaiting his response, and here he sits, awaiting your departure.

No such luck.

Such trifling matters to be handled; yet it niggles his head all the same. He could only tear his eyes away from your unblinking stare, resuming his work once more. “…do whatever you want.” Yes, you could do whatever you want; after all, you may have won the fight, but you have yet to win the war. Ravus taps away at his keyboard, finding more satisfaction in punching in the alphabets than staring you down. “And while you’re at it, get me some coffee.”

“Great! I still have some bread from Sagefire this afternoon so we can totally share that.” You’re all but bouncing away as your voice drifts from a distance, filling in the click click click of your heels. “Gonna be in the pantry for a sec, ‘scuse me.”

He does not want any bread from Sagefire, not when Scientia owns it. But your return brings two mugs of coffee, setting them with noiseless experience of a waiter on his table. In a creamy caramel colour, Ravus glowers at the consistency of your coffee. “What’s this?”

“Coffee!” you cheer, rolling out a chair to make yourself comfortable as you unpack the paper bag to reveal an assortment of diabetes inducing treats on a ceramic platter. “And here’s some bread too—I totally recommend having their strawberry danish because it’s so good.”

With an upturned nose, Ravus angles his face away from your weak craft. “I only take mine black.”

Your head bobs rapidly like a storm-wrecked buoy, a certain light illuminating your face. “Well! More for me then!” The moment your offending hand begins its advance for his mug, he grits his teeth at your impudence and swats off the intruder. “Ow!” You rub the back of your reddening hand, pouting—Gods, the thing an Omega loves to do most, pouting. “Okay, okay, I get it, sheesh…I’ll make yours black next time.”

Ravus only hikes a brow at your impertinent words and merely answers your sulk with a sip.

It’s not black coffee, but at least you make a decent one for a screw-up.

2.39 a.m.

You could barely even control the yawn escaping your mouth, what more controlling your appearance in front of him. Two mugs, one rimmed in nude lip prints, both equally drained to the dregs. The back of your hand sports a smudge of brown and black, courtesy of an accidental rubbing of your eye to fight your sleep. Roughly thirty minutes earlier, you splashed cold water on your face, effectively erasing every last inch of powder on your haggard face. Only three days in and your superior is already treated to the sight of your bare face, no lipstick, no eyeliner, not even a cushion powder to fix up your appearance. That’s a record, considering how Aranea only saw your pillow face three months in when you first started; now Ravus has seen it all, and you think he’ll start seeing more the longer you work with him.

How could one thing escalate to another, a briefing outline on tomorrow’s meeting turning into an impromptu planning session for NTI’s charity event on C3 grounds anyway?

The answer?

Well, that’s work for you.

With another disgruntled yawn, you rub the bridge of your nose. Only, Ravus looks up from his copy of the document, pen paused. In his normal state, Ravus is considered crabby. Past midnight, stuck here for hours and hours on end with you, he’s the crabbiest ever. You could only manage an apologetic sigh, hoping you don’t add on to his irritation. “Sorry, Ravus…I’m just extra tired lately.”

“Aren’t we all?” is his acerbic response, utterly lacking sympathy.

You don’t expect him to properly channel human emotions since he appears to be a counterpart of Andronicus, but he least he could do is to understand where you’re coming from. You click your pen close, setting it parallel to your lipstick-ridden mug. “Emphasise on the extra tired, sir.” Your lips twitch at his merciless dour. “I didn’t even get to unpack my stuffs yet. So many boxes and so many things are missing in my new apartment. Hooks, locks, curtains, sheets, pillows, everything. I can’t use the stove because I haven’t bought induction pans yet, I haven’t hanged my clothes in the closet because I don’t have time to iron everything, I need to call the landlord to call the plumber to fix the heater because it’s already broken by the time I moved in—Shiva, the best I have is the bed because it’s the only thing I managed to set up. Just throw on my scarf and bundle my sweater and boom, that’s my bedsheet and pillow.”

Of course, you hadn’t intended to shoot him with your rant but it is what it is. While your problems are your own, and a prince wouldn’t necessarily come equipped with generous understanding of how hard moving from one place to another while being dead broke can be, your mild outburst is intended as a plea for him to remove his feet from his fancy, hard leather oxfords for once and slip on your ratty morning office slippers instead. If you had all the money in the world, hiring people to furbish your rented apartment would be as easy as waving your black card on the scanner, go to work in Louboutins while riding a Maserati, and come back to a five-star chef having prepared fresh fish air-flown from Altissia for your dinner. All of that is easily within Ravus’ command if he desires, but you? You’re just an Omega making a measly 3.8k a month and a good chunk of that money is going to your rent, meals, supporting your parents back in Gralea, and public transportation fees.

However, for the strangest moment, Ravus is silent.

When it comes to your sporadic verbal machine gun going rat-tat-tat-tat for a conversation, Ravus keeps to himself most of the time—or downright ignores it. Granted, he could’ve unloaded a scathing bazooka of, “Silence, vermin,” on you, or a derisive variant of, “You asinine whelp,” on your sorry ass just to keep you silenced once more. But this time, there is none of that. Ravus leans into his seat, briskly capping his fountain pen closed. Heterochromatic eyes are back on you again, appraising your paltry worth under fluorescent tubes. Being probed by a man like him, wholly, unabashedly, with lips set in a thin line and eyebrows furrowed, everything just burns an uncomfortable bonfire in your tummy.

‘Oh gods, just stop staring already,’ you internally shake your hands skywards, begging the Astrals on your knees to spare you because Ravus can’t seriously be doing this now.

Your blouse is rumpled from all the active moving you’ve been doing throughout the day, you’re sure you’re shitfaced because your makeup is gone, nada, zilch—and the worst part is, he’s not even saying anything about it! Not even a degrading remark! Comparing your dishevelled self to him, his three-piece suit still remains impeccable even if it had been hours since his arrival at office, his face is a marble statue of cool composure an Alpha commands, and he does not look haggard (unlike you, you weak ass Omega). The longer he stares, the more you feel your cheeks burning with the intensity of a wildfire scorching Leiden desert.

Heck, anyone and everyone getting picked to pieces by a hot guy would probably feel the same way too, just that said hot guy happens to be the punishing Prince of Tenebrae.

And said Prince of Tenebrae so happens to be your superior.

Three seconds later, the Alpha comes to a decision. “Let us stop here for now.”

That’s so unexpected until you blink at the surprise. Did that sympathetic node in his brain finally function?

Apparently, Ravus isn’t finished with his train of thought. “I find that working when one is demotivated is akin to pushing a dead mule. Ineffective and inefficient.” And, for the slightest moment, the edges of his lips curl. “Like you.”

—so maybe you were too hasty in your conclusion.

If it were up to your fighting spirit, you would’ve spat fire in his face, fuelled by your fatigue and fury from his relentless barrage of insults. But, Gods above, this guy’s your superior and you’re going to be stuck with him for a long, long time. It’s only been three days, three days! Biggs and Wedge once tested your patience with repeated pranking in office and you only snapped after finding your car painted in Post-its after the second month. Just because this goddamn Prince of Tenebrae doesn’t understand the hardships a broke ass Omega needs to endure in a new environment, it doesn’t mean he should be getting under your skin this easily—and that doesn’t mean you should jeopardise your sole work source of income thanks to him.

Because, hey, this isn’t a girly manga where the main character quarrels with a filthy hot, fucking rich dude and winds up in a twisted relationship with the man, yeah?

Yeah, so let’s roll with that.

You stomach his insults in hopes you’d digest his assholery and turn it into diarrhoea by tomorrow morning. At least you made some progress into his work and you can’t say you shirked out your duty as a senior exec. The smile on your face is positively simpering. “Thanks, Ravus, I really appreciate it.”

Translation: Go fuck yourself.

Swiftly withdrawing all papers and clutter from his desk to be stuffed into a folder, taking off the mugs and dumping them in the sink for washing tomorrow morning, you return to his room to grab both your handbag and work bag, slinging them over your shoulder once more. In a couple more hours you’d be back in this dreaded place again, enduring yet another hellish torture from 8.00 a.m. to 7 p.m. and you can’t say you’re looking forward to it. A glance to your wristwatch tells you it’s 3.04 a.m. and you’ve got only four hours of sleep maximum if you’re looking to arrive at work on time, but the bigger problem here is this:

“What the fuck.” You blink at your wristwatch’s guiltless face. Then turned to Ravus’ cocked eyebrow at your uncharacteristic cuss. “Sorry about that. I missed the last train.”

If possible, Ravus’ eyebrow climbs higher. One day, you’ll ask him the secret to his condescending eyebrow ascension, but not today. Not when you’re stranded here with nary a cheap cab to haul your pathetic ass home. ‘Great job, (y/n), great job. You done fucked up now.’

The curled edges to Ravus’ lips are still there when he questions, “And where do you live?”

“Somewhere on the – uh,” you squint at the foggy memory of sienna walls and bricked roads, vivid playground and a kindergarten nearby, “I think it’s called Kore? Not sure where that is.” Considering it’s only been four days since you landed in Insomnia, it’s a miracle your overworked brain could recall a fragment of the location. “But it’s got a kindergarten and some swings and it’s a pretty cheap and quiet neighbourhood kind of thing—safe, hopefully.”

“That’s quite some distance from here,” he hums. “I suppose you walk to the train daily then?”

Chatty, isn’t he? You shift your weight on the other foot, rubbing your nape as your head sifts through possibilities of Moogling up a 24-Hour cab service and risk getting conned for thousands of Credits, or grab Uber instead and risk getting into a car with a potentially frisky Alpha. The choices are clearly endless. “Well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. If I stay close to NTI, I’m gonna be even more broke than I am now. Need to make the best of my pay.” Not that it changes anything in your current situation; you probably should start thinking of alternatives now. Cab it is. “Yeah, anyway, I gotta go now. Gonna call a cab, ‘nite.”

Granite and amethyst are sharply narrowed your way once again, this time with an ever-familiar scowl. “Don’t be asinine—“

You sigh. ‘Yep, there it is, he’s gonna chew me out again for my life decisions. Stay out of my life, dad, I’m an adult.’

“—I’ll send you home,” Ravus finishes, already striding past your stunned figure to switch off the lights to his office. “Come along now, we don’t have all day.”

Your head whips around so fast you could’ve risked cracking your neck.

Holy shit. Did you hear that right?

Is your life really starting to turn into that girly manga route where the cold bastard finally takes an interest in the protagonist and the protagonist falls helplessly in love with him and it culminates into—‘Okay, no, calm down, self, calm down. It’s just Ravus being a sensible guy—he’s a human being and he’s got to have some sort of kind bone in him somewhere. Don’t overthink this and don’t end up making it more awkward than it already is. Ifrit and Shiva, Ifrit and Shiva, gotta remember that.’

That’s your pep talk for the day, but your traitorous heart’s palpitating loud enough for your eardrums to beat along. Tugging your bags closer as you tailed Ravus on your way out, you crane your neck to look up at him in gratitude. Because, seriously, all girly manga clichés aside, he’s the real MVP for wanting to send you back home. “Thanks, Ravus, seriously. I really appreciate this.” And no, not a hint of sarcasm this time. For real. “Seriously seriously. Thanks man.”

Ravus allows himself a sidelong glance at your expectant gaze, almost haughty in his disdain. “If you were to be murdered, I will end up losing more manpower in this office. I simply cannot let that happen.”

Or so he says, yet as your shoulders sag at his incriminating statement, half-lidded eyes are lingering far too long on you.

It is rare occasion for one to find oneself riding his car. It is rarer occasion for one to ride with him twice in a single lifetime.

Strangely, you defy all norms with your brutish pig-headedness, barrelling past all barricades he’s strategically set up to deter those coming his way. Riding in his car twice, and having the gall to fall asleep at that. Foolhardy, insolent, never quick to rise to the baits he dangled right under your nose. There should be a specific category for people like you, those who teeter along the fine line dividing the charlatan and the frank, though he can’t quite find a box befitting your nature. At most, you rebuffed his mockery with a snide smile, knowing your place underneath him, playing by the unspoken political hierarchy in the office.

Chancing a glance at his side rewards him with a vexing view of your lolling head. Shoulders softly rising and falling in tune with your breathing, guiltless in your slumber. Never once stirring from your sleep, hands politely folded over your thighs, both bags sitting by your feet. Street lamps flashing over your skin hardly bothers you, though Ravus supposes sloths are heavy sleepers. While it is indeed a blessing that you are silent for once, it is also infuriating that you dared to sleep in his presence, rendering him akin to your personal driver. An incredibly incensing thought, one that almost makes him want to shake you awake just to see your disgruntled face upon being rudely woken up.

The sooner he deposits you, the better.

A finger to the blinker, he smoothly swerves left and exits the highway.

Stalagmite skyscrapers gradually disappear from the distance, consumed by the miles separating them from the heart of Insomnia as Ravus drives on. Kore, miles from the heart of Insomnia, is a suburb for the penniless. Unfortunately, it’s one of Luna’s favourite spots for her charity charades, or what Ravus thinks it is. Visiting orphanages with trolleys of toys and wheeling around gap-toothed children in wheelchairs, her actions earned the love of locals easily. A gentle beauty who is no stranger to TV shows and radio podcasts, his gentle sister preaches to the masses. What Ravus saw as cunningly crafted manipulation of the media to bolster Niflheim’s extensive efforts in positive politics, Luna would wage a war with words against him—or what she calls pessimistic derision.

Whatever it may be, Ravus isn’t keen on correcting her altruism at the expense of their familial ties; as long as she’s safe, their views may continue to differ, so long as it contributes to the same cause.

His foot eases off the gas pedal as the traffic lights transition from amber to red. The quiet outskirts of the city are obviously dead at this hour with no cars whirring across the road. Waiting for a full minute at the intersection when he’s all alone would’ve sounded ridiculous to many, but rules are not meant to be broken. At the inopportune moment presenting itself, Ravus chances another glimpse at your visage, catching your head still lolling softly as though you are headbanging in your dreams. The sight of your unashamed barefaced slumber whisks an irritation he deems it can be solved once he swats you awake.

Foolish, selfish, annoying, and audacious Omega.

As though the traffic lights sensed his malicious intent, they immediately popped green.

Thus, Ravus is thwarted for the night.

Much later on, miles and miles away from the junction, stopping by the cracked sidewalk leading up to a rundown two-storey apartment with an exposed stairwell and walls as thin as a single brick, he watches as you stumble out of his ride with half a heel worn and the other stuck somewhere underneath the seat. You yawn open-mouthed when you’ve fished the abominable needle-heeled shoe from ruining his ride, slurring a sleepy good night with that idiotic slant slacking your lips to reveal a hint of teeth in a coy smile.

Shutting his door, you totter off into the distance as darkness warps your body until you are no more.

Ravus stares at nothing.

And then he leaves.

8.35 a.m.

Oh shit.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

You’re speed-walking through the thronging crowd at four oh shits per second, in which an interspersed oh fuck gives you an extra boost when you glance at your wristwatch. You are so dead—oh, you wish you were already dead because at least you don’t have to step into office and get physically dismembered by your boss. While you would’ve preferred your phone to be pinging nonstop with a barrage of assaulting messages from Ravus, the eerie silence speaks volumes for your current situation. Nothing’s scarier when a boss says nothing about your tardiness—in which it’s already a code red for your life.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” you chant to the crowded escalator as your heart goes oh shit, oh shit, oh shit in tandem, pushing past the slow-motion bystanders—or are you actually on fast-forward? No matter, same difference, just that you need to get the hell out of the station to run to your office.

Emerging from the subway, your heart’s pumping like you’re about to undergo a cardiac arrest as you reorientate yourself with your surroundings. In the distance, NTI gleams like a silver stake ready to be spiked through your body. Just imagining the things Ravus would do to you the moment you step past the office doors gets you doubting yourself for a second there longer—oh Astrals, would it be better if you just stop by a Starbucks somewhere and tender your resignation to HR via email just so you’d spare yourself? Or would it be better if you just hightail it back home and never show up until they just terminate you? Either way, anything sounds like a good choice—far better than going in there unarmed against your boss.

With a nervous twitch, you withdraw your phone to check the notifications.

Nothing.

Not even an insult?

Or even something vaguely derogatory?

Good gods, you’re really done for, aren’t you?

All because you decided to spend your OT in office with him until three in the morning.

‘If anything, he should be grateful to me because I helped him out,’ you huffily try to justify should ragnarok come hurling home. Stuffing your phone once more, it is with a heavy heart and heavier feet that you drag yourself to your office, slowing down to one and a half oh shit at a time. ‘But then again, it’s not like I was helping out much. He got his shit together while I was sitting there like a moron watching him work.’

As a senior executive, whatever your boss tasked you with, you were supposed to execute it with the aid of fellow execs under you. Growing into this new role of yours gets challenging without a guiding hand showing you the ropes—you suppose all you could do is to imitate whatever Aranea had done and replicate it in your own unique way. Just like yesterday, when experience poured from the tip of Ravus’ fountain pen whilst he scribbled ideas on a scrap of paper. Planning charity events requires budgeting; that much you knew from your years with Aranea. NTG had to ration their budget expenditure spread over a financial year and NTI isn’t any different—except, NTI had a wealth of money at their expense, apparently. Ravus had kindly set aside close to a hundred thousand for media buys pertaining to social media ads, and that’s not even including billboards and traditional media. You had dumbly stared at the 1.5 million Credits parked under production costs as you mentally contrasted it with NTG’s measly 30k—to which the prince haughtily declared, “Did you think this will be just like Gralea?”

As snotty as he sounded, you couldn’t admit yes.

The scale of the events NTI organized shouldn’t be a surprise to you; Ravus had shown you that whatever NTG did, NTI would execute it on a grander note. That’s because it’s not for Niflheim anymore; it’ll be the talk of the kingdom if NT scrimped out on their political campaign by delivering less than what is expected. None of them would like to lose face in front of the king, would they? From the guest lists to the caterers, he shared his thoughts and views on contracted vendors and agencies that would be setting up the event site. Coordinating their locations, standardizing the colours, ensuring all corporate identities are prominently displayed via buntings, it’s almost everything you’ve ever done in NTG amplified threefold. With every snip of his tongue lashing, you are forced to reorganize your bearings and fulfil his wishes according to his ideals.

It’s overwhelming. Exhausting. Demanding.

Yet, as you think about your boss’ solemn profile as he worked tirelessly through the night, it pops a funny little bubble in your tummy.

Ravus Nox Fleuret is a pain in the ass, sure, but at least he taught you something.

And how are you supposed to support him as a senior exec if you’re going to get fired today? Well, better get your feet moving faster than one oh shit at a time if you still want a job by tomorrow.

Picking up your speed, you allow the ocean of humans to suck you into waves. Everywhere you looked, the morning zombies of Insomnia were in the same state: Dragging their feet to their workplaces. You can’t say you’re proud to be one of them, especially when your body’s in a state of disarray. That lack of sleep manifests by way of a throbbing headache and tunnel vision as you weave through the crowd, making your way to the stab of silver in the distance. Except, along the way, you didn’t expect a familiarly antique scent to come sidling up your strides.

“Hey, morning,” Noctgar offers a rumbling greeting, scruff twitching along his words.

What could possibly improve your disastrous morning to be better? None other than your favourite homeless Alpha, that’s who.

In all honesty, you wanted to slow down and have a good chat with him before you head to your funeral—but it’s not easy being the star of your own beheading, so you can’t really show up late. Flashing him your most genuine smile, you keep an even pace. And it certainly helps when you’re short, for you would never wind up outpacing him.

“G’morning, Noctgar! So sorry I can’t stop and chat, I actually shouldn’t be alive right now!” you chirp. At his stunned silence welcoming your shocking statement, you laugh a little. “Just kidding—well,” you sober up at the reality of the situation, “half kidding. I’m just really late right now, so I’m trying to make the most of my last moments on Eos before my boss decides how he wants me done today. Grilled, charbroiled, steamed, everything on the menu is possible.”

Even with the bustling Insomnians talking in dissonant murmurs, Noctgar’s low whistle couldn't be missed. “Sounds rough, I’m sorry to hear that, old friend. Take care.”

“Take care!?” you squeak your disbelief, chortling at the way Noctgar’s ever-expressive eyes twinkle with mischief when he knows you hadn’t missed out on the joke. “Such support, much wow. Wait ‘til you receive my e-invite for my funeral today, free lunch provided.”

Noctgar chuckles at your dark humour, easily sidestepping a passing Beta before rejoining your side like velcro. “Yeah, wouldn’t miss out on free lunch. Hope he cooks you good.”

“Me too,” you lightly punch him in the bicep as he returns his revenge by messing up your hair, trading blows.

Somewhere down the street, Starbuck’s open doors wafted bitter notes of coffee among the herd of creamy Omegas, subtle Betas, and masculine Alphas. Cabbies and Ubers are honking at the building traffic, tyres screeching on asphalt. Just like this, it feels good to have someone with you. Walking together through the slow drift of chilly breeze, making jokes over your misfortune when the going gets tough.

Noctgar’s the same as ever, dressed in a humble jacket, hands pocketed in drab jeans. Still looking like he hadn’t a decent night’s sleep, always in need for a good shaver and mirror. Who knows what he’s doing out here anyway? Insomnia’s probably his turf, so it makes sense why he’d just pop up near the subway by accident if he had been napping nearby—and boy, it’s an excellent accident to happen first thing in the morning. Alas, all good things have to come to an end, marked by the way NTI’s glass lobby looms all too soon into view with lively Techies swarming in by the second.

You instinctively slow down, turning to your Alpha friend with a grimace. “Well, we’ve come to the end of the line.”

“Any last words?” Noctgar teases, leaning back with his head tilted aside.

It takes you a moment to search the Merriam-Webster Dictionary preinstalled in your brain when the image just assaults you like this. With creamy light spilling over pale skin, the wild arrangement of tousled hair, sharp Alpha characteristics of a defined jawline following a cocky, self-assured smirk; yeah, this homeless friend of yours is definitely something, why didn’t you realize it earlier? With a little snip of his scruff, a tidying of his locks, and some fitting garment, Astrals, you could’ve transformed him into a model! Or at least you could do a joint venture where you could pitch his existence to modelling agencies as his self-appointed manager and rake in thousands by the end of the month—

—yeah, too bad you have to die today.

“Eh, well,” you do an unenthused shrug, already accepting your inevitable death at the hands of your boss because no amount of active imagination could spare you from Ravus, “thanks for being a pal, Noctgar. You made my short stay in Insomnia a luxury vacation, really. Five stars on TripAdvisor as best tour guide.”

At this, Noctgar’s lips twist oddly—like absent fondness and Something More™, but who knows what Something More™ could mean when you obviously won’t live long enough to find out. “I’ll make sure they bury you with your phone so that you can still text me an invite in the coffin. Can’t miss out free lunch and five stars on TripAdvisor.”

How morbidly charming. You really like this guy. Holding out a fist, you flash him the kind of smile when Brave Legends Go Off To Meet Their Impending Demise. “See you on the other side, pal.”

Noctgar only returns your brofist with unwavering confidence. “Yeah, see you.”

As you heroically march right up the entrance sans epic background music, too lost in the moment where the highlight reel of your life is on playback before your eyes, you’ve most certainly missed out a blurry reflection of Noctgar withdrawing a cellphone from his back pocket, snapping a picture of you.

“Ah, Your Highness, to what do I owe this pleasure of a phone call while I’m in the middle of a meeting with my board members, who are coincidentally very peeved at this ongoing interruption?”

“Sorry, not sorry. Do you wanna owe me something real quick?”

“An intriguing offer! Go on, I’m listening.”

“Great. There’s this girl, (y/n), coming up from NTI’s lobby now. She’s new, Omega, black collar, and reports to Ravus—I’ll send you her pic in a sec. Think you can see that bastard and make up some excuse on why she’s late?”

“Pray tell, what benefits will I reap from this ad hoc liaison?”

“I knew you’d say that.”

“Debt is the slavery of the free, after all.”

“…fine, I’ll go to that damn charity event on C3.”

“What an intriguing offer indeed.”

NOTES:

Thanks for all the support during my absence! Going through a bit of a rough patch in life at the moment, but I'll try my darnest best to keep writing and keep updating! ❤ Stay safe everyone, stay hydrated, and may 2019 go well for all of you!

THE TRAGEDY CONTINUES: Great. Great, great, great, great great great, just great. The way you punched in the fullstop a bit too hard resounds like a bullet through metal before you rise to your feet, already feeling cold sweat collecting under your boobs. Because fuck sweating profusely through your armpits when that’s too mainstream, since the way you’ll get fired is already premium with how Ravus stands before his room like a headmaster catching his students sniffing glue in the school’s backyard. As if things can’t get any worse, everyone within vicinity are pretending they’re focused on their work—but you catch their sneaky eyes hovering above iMacs, ears subtly angled Ravus’ way. Absolutely fabulous, it’s barely your first week here and you’ve already fucked up ten ways up Ravus’ ass, and judging from how hairy things are getting, you suspect he hasn’t shaved his crack for a long, long time.

(Or maybe he’s never shaved at all.)

(But you haven’t considered if he’s naturally hairless, did you?)