#w noctis way back then as the pairing he's a prince. two years ago my oc was an angel. then around last year was a mix of both

[echoes-of-the-clockwork]

Book Three: Pestilence (Ignis x Reader) Chapter Seven

Nighttime fell across all of Lucis. Prompto and Gladio split from the others once they infiltrated Fort Vaullerey to cause a distraction. Noctis, Ignis, and (Y/n) currently stood behind a few crates, crouching down and avoiding detection. The Horseman peered over the wooden crates, surveying the area. Her (e/c) eyes landed on a man in ornate armor walking straight toward them. "There. That must be the commander."

Ignis peeked out from behind their cover, listening to the man ramble on to his bodyguards. "The insolence of that up-jumped mercenary...And there is still no word. This cannot be borne. Such behavior besmirches His Radiance's good name."

"That's our target," Ignis whispered. "Let's follow him. Seize him on my signal. Stay hidden 'til then." (Y/n) and Noctis nodded in unison.

As they snuck alongside the commander using whatever they could as cover, the Horseman tuned in to the man's conversation as he rambled on. "What is that chancellor playing at? I'm no man's fool. He sent Highwind to watch me."

Continuing to sneak through the shadows, Pestilence ended up further ahead than Noctis and Ignis. She kept to the shadows, scanning the enemies that blocked them from moving forward. In the blink of an eye, she vanished and reappeared directly behind a soldier. She conjured a single chakram and sliced the blade through the man's back deeply, killing him instantly. She stepped back from the body as it fell to the ground before evaporating.

Noctis, spotting the second soldier not far from where (Y/n) was standing, warped and killed him with a single blow. The two exchanged nods before killing the next two soldiers in unison.

Further along, the duo eavesdropped on the commander's conversation as they took out another few guards patrolling the catwalks above. "It's no mere coincidence she and I meet wherever I go. Claims to "trust her as a person." Hollow words from the mind behind the magitek movement."

While distracted with listening, (Y/n) didn't sense the approaching patrol. She was suddenly tackled to the ground behind a large piece of machinery and out of sight before the trio of men could spot her. She winced in pain from the abrupt impact and stared up at the person who pinned her to the ground, unconsciously gripping their uppers arms in the process. She ended up staring into a pair of jade eyes masked behind a pair of glasses. She turned her head when she heard the guards' metal boots clacking against the ground on the other side of the machine they were hidden behind. "Seems I was careless."

"Forgive me for my abruptness, (Y/n)," he whispered to girl pinned underneath his lean body.

"I should be thanking you. I would've ruined our plan," she whispered in response, focusing her (e/c) eyes back onto him.

The two fell silent as they heard the commander's voice, once again, as he walked through another magitek-powered gate. "I may have acted in haste with that impudent steward back in Lestallum, but my mission remains clear. And I'll be damned if that mercenary gets her grubby hands on the prince before Caligo Ulldor."

(Y/n)'s and Ignis' eyes widen when they knew exactly who the man was talking about. The Horseman pushed against the advisor who still had her pinned to the ground. He refused to move, knowing she was just as angry as him and would act rashly. "Ignis," she hissed. "Let me-!"

"I partake of your detestation," he responds calmly. "But we must act accordingly."

Pestilence inhaled deeply before exhaling a heavy sigh. "You're right. I'll continue to aid Noctis in annihilating the guards."

Ignis was hesitant in releasing (Y/n), but he nodded and removed himself from her. She stood up, offering him a gentle smile before disappearing. He stared at the spot where she once stood before pushing forward.

<-------<<<<<<

Ulldor comes to a stop before another magitek-powered gate and gives orders to the magitek troopers standing guard on either side of him. "I'll give Highwind one last chance to respond. Stand guard here. If the commodore arrives, send her through."

Noctis and (Y/n) stood side by side on a catwalk above, watching the commander step through the gate and leave his guards behind. The Horseman could hear Ignis' voice from the prince's earpiece. "Now's your chance, Noct. Close in from behind. And remember: we need him alive." Noctis warp-strikes into position behind Caligo and hits him in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious. (Y/n) appears at his side just as Ignis approaches. "You're in fine form. Keep it up."

An explosion suddenly rocks the base, grabbing the trio's attention. "Seems it's time," Pestilence muttered.

"Looks like they've set to work. (Y/n) and I will escort him off the base. You regroup with the others," Ignis said to the raven-haired boy.

"Guess it's time to let loose." Noctis throws his sword, warping away and out of sight.

The ivory-haired girl's gaze traveled down to the unconscious man beside her feet. "It will prove to be arduous to carry him out in such a state." She kneeled down beside the commander and placed his hands behind his back. Then, she hooked her hands around his wrists and created a pair of handcuffs out of solid ice. "There. Now, to wake him."

Ignis watched (Y/n) like a hawk as one of her hands was consumed in bright flames. She placed it against the back of his armor, the fire melting the metal and reaching the man's clothes underneath.

Caligo's eyes flew open and he cried out in pain from the intense heat on his upper back. He tried to yank his arms free, but the ice didn't crack or shift in any way. "W-What the hell is this?!"

Using her foot, (Y/n) turns the commander over onto his back with a smirk. "Glad to see you're awake, commander."

"Y-You..." He growled. "Get the hell away from me, you monster!"

Ignis crosses his arms, glaring down at Caligo. "It seems our esteemed guest is acquainted with your title."

"It appears so," (Y/n) said, her grin widening. She squatted next to Ulldor, eyes searching his face. "If I'm the monster, that would make you a hypocrite. A monster calling another person a monster is quite hypocritical, don't you think? Or is it because you believe all you've done is for a greater cause that benefits the entirety of Eos?"

"Go to Hell, Horseman," Caligo spat.

"Oh," (Y/n) snickered. "I've been to Hell and back. It's actually quite lovely this time of year. For tainted souls like yours...not so much. Now, on your feet, commander.

Ignis grabbed the man by the arms and yanked him to his feet, earning a yelp of pain from him. "You'll both pay for what you've done here," he growled. "A damn Horseman and the one and only royal advisor to Prince Noctis himself-Ignis Scientia."

"Seems he also knows you," (Y/n) remarks, looking toward the tactician.

"The hunters shall decide your fate," Ignis vehemently stated, dragging Caligo out of the fort and handing him over to the hunters in the area.

Once the commander was dealt with, (Y/n) and Ignis returned to Fort Vaullerey and searched for Noctis, Prompto, and Gladio.

While searching the fort, Ignis received a transmission from the hunters he handed Caligo over to only a few minutes ago. He frowns after receiving the news of the commander's escape. (Y/n) waited for the strategist to end the transmission before speaking. "I could pursue the commander if you desire, Ignis. That man has done unspeakable things and deserves to pay for it all."

"No," he shook his head. "I would much prefer your presence at my side."

Ignis hadn't realized what he said until it rolled off the tip of his tongue. He looked away from (Y/n), unable to meet her (e/c) gaze after such a comment. She clasped her hands behind her back, stepping forward to stand beside him. She popped her hip out and bumped it against his own, sending him tumbling sideways slightly. "I'll be right here when you need me, Ignis."

Unbeknownst to the royal advisor, Pestilence was smiling brightly as her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She took the lead, taking the opportunity to hide her slightly red cheeks and giddy smile.

They followed the sound of explosions and gunfire, which led them to the missing members of their party. Another booming explosion shook the fort as the trio took down one of the larger machines.

Ignis deactivates the security gate and he and (Y/n) stepped through, rejoining the others. "Glad to see you lot were successful."

"Does that mean you guys weren't?" Noctis asked, his sword dissipating from his grasp.

"We placed our captive into the hunters' custody, but we've just been informed he's fled. He lives to die another day."

"And I'll gladly help him with that."

As the five prepare to depart, (Y/n) suddenly grabbed Noctis by the back of his jacket and yanked him behind her. She summoned her staff just in time to block the lance that was heading directly toward the prince. "Not who I wanted, but you'll do, snowflake," the woman wielding the weapon chuckled darkly. She flips backward away from her, then takes up a fighting stance. "Never fought an immortal before, but you won't hear me complaining. Let's see what you can do!"

The woman charged at (Y/n), who swapped out her staff for her chakrams. She blocked her attack and managed to knock her off balance, creating an opening. She kicked the woman in the side, sending her to the ground. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to stun her.

The mysterious woman quickly recovered and swung her lance at Pestilence. Before the Horseman could block it, someone jumped in front of her and parried the attack. It was Noctis. Then, a gunshot rang out alongside Prompto's voice. "This doesn't look too good."

"Quite the formidable foe, indeed," Ignis said, using his javelin to attack the assailant.

Gladio swung his greatsword around, but the woman easily blocked each swing before putting some distance between her and the group.

(Y/n) switched out her chakrams for her staff, immediately casting a shadow spell the moment her hand wrapped around the thin, cool metal. A single black tendril surged through the ground and wrapped around the woman's ankles, preventing her from escaping. The boys swiftly swarmed her and attacked. She was only able to block a few blows while she felt the pain of the others.

Once the shadow tendril vanished from around her ankle, the woman leaps away from them to higher ground. She rids herself of her lance and feigns a pouting expression. "Aw, is it that time already?"

"What time?" Noctis asked curiously, eyes narrowed.

"Quittin' time. Sorry, but this girl doesn't work after hours. I could, but there wouldn't be a single gil in it for me." Her eyes fell upon (Y/n), her pout morphing into a grin. "We should play again sometime, snowflake." She leaps out of sight and disappears as quickly as she appeared.

"Who the hell was she?" The prince grumbled in bewilderment.

"I'm as baffled as you," (Y/n) confesses, dispelling her staff. "But by her skills in combat, she is no normal imperial."

"Does this mean we won?" Prompto's joyous tone sliced through the serious atmosphere surrounding the group.

"I do believe so," Ignis stated.

"Great," Gladio sighed. "Let's get the hell outta here and back to Iris."

The freckled blonde nodded in agreement. "Right behind ya on that one, big guy."

<--------<<<<<<<

On the trek back to Old Lestallum, Erra reappeared with a jubilant neigh. (Y/n) was glad to see her steed wasn't injured or captured by the empire. "Good boy, Erra," she smiled from the saddle of Ignis' chocobo. The horse followed beside the smaller animal for a few seconds before disappearing into a plume of smoke.

As the five were crossing the highway, numerous of black vehicles sped in their direction on both sides. The boys pulled their chocobos to a quick halt as all the cars slammed on brakes.

"Not again," (Y/n) murmured, Ignis being the only one who heard her.

The same group of men who ambushed them on the bridge emerged from the vehicles and circled around them, blocking any points of exit. The leader, Silas, pushed through his lackeys and slowly approached the chocobo Pestilence sat upon behind the royal advisor.

(Y/n) dismounted the bird, earning a glower of disapproval from Ignis. She crossed her arms with a frown. "Your men are in the way, Silas."

When the boys thought the leader of the gang was going to grab her, they were shocked when they saw him fall to his knees instead. "I beg of you, Pestilence. Grant us your power and we'll purge all of Eos of those who refuse to see the real beauty behind the Four Horsemen."

Her (e/c) gaze sharpened into a deadly glare, a bright flame lit in her eyes. "A desperate man never finds resolve. He only discovers more pessimism and desires to eradicate all."

Silas shook his head. "No! I only desire your power! Nothing more, nothing less."

"I should eliminate you where you stand," she hissed. "Leave before I act irrationally."

The man lashed out and grabbed the girl's arms tightly. "You will give me your-ah!"

(Y/n)'s eyes widened in shock when she saw the dagger embedded in Silas' shoulder. She recognized it as one of Ignis' blades and looked over her shoulder to see he had dismounted his chocobo alongside the others.

"Damn you!" Silas growled, glaring past the Horseman to meet Ignis' gaze as he ripped the blade from his flesh. He raised his hand in the air, signaling his men. They pointed their firearms at the four boys with their fingers resting on the triggers.

Before Silas could order his men to shoot, (Y/n) acted quickly. Her eyes scanned the crowd. One by one, men crumpled to the ground with blood oozing from their mouths, noses, and eyes. Many vomited blood before their bodies became lifeless. The only ones to survive her gaze were a couple of lackeys and Silas himself.

The man in front of her looked around after hearing his men fall. "N-No!"

(Y/n) stumbled backwards after feeling her own blood dripping from her ears and eyes. As she was about to fall to her knees, an arm wrapped around her waist and kept her from falling. Looking to see who caught her, she saw a familiar pair of beautiful jade eyes.

Ignis supported her body with his and used his other hand to wipe the blood excreting from her eyes. He was puzzled as to why she was bleeding in such a way. "What is the cause of such bleeding?"

"Exhaustion. If I exhaust my plague ability, some of the side effects rebound and affect my body," she explained just above a whisper, eyes fluttering and threatening to close. "I'll be fine..." (Y/n) used the remaining of her strength to stand on her own.

Ignis was reluctant to let her go, but he knew she could be stubborn when it came to her own well-being.

The Horseman decided to summon Erra and ride back on him to avoid getting blood on Ignis. She slipped a few times while trying to mount the horse, but she finally was able to climb on his back. She followed behind the four chocobos up the road, but she didn't make it far before her body slumped forward and she lost consciousness.

[ficswithrimi]

Mine (Chapter 11)

Title: Mine

Pairing: Noctis Lucis Caelum x Reader

Genre: Angst, Romance

Trigger Warning: Mentions of blood, violence, depression, suicide attempt, and minor sexual content

Synopsis: Daughter of a Niflheim soldier, you were sent out to Tenebrae to spy on the Nox Fleuret family and their involvement with the Lucis Caelum family. However, after learning the truth about Niflheim, you betray them. Your journey of revenge begins after learning of the death of your adoptive sister, Lunafreya, and your childhood friend Noctis Lucis Caelum.

First Chapter

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

A/N: Wow, this highkey took several months and I sincerely APOLOGIZE! I was stuck on so many scenes and I hated everything and I sTILL HATE EVERYTHING! But I can get the story back rolling along after this chapter so I’m relieved for that! Uh... so I’m thinking chapter 13 or 14? Yall might need some tissues cuz that’s gonna be Altissia, probably, hohoho. Anyways, try to enjoy! ALSO! The next chapter may take longer to come out because I’m moving to South Korea next month and uh, I’ma be busy! But I’ll hopefully find time to write! Enjoy~

                                                     _________

Lunafreya’s POV

           It was gorgeous – Altissia was. The bright blue ocean surrounded the city with vast waterfalls around almost every corner. When the oracle entered the city a couple of days ago, it felt as if she was transcending into a new world. It looked so peaceful here. More so than her home of Tenebrae or anywhere else she’s visited. Immediately, she had been greeted by waterfalls and castle-like structures. Inside the city, citizens and visitors from other countries roamed the streets carefree – both day and night. The fear of nightly daemon attacks didn’t exist here, and it felt like a haven to the blonde woman. Gondolas were around every corner as it was the way of travel in the city surrounded by water. Lunafreya stared in awe as couples and families excitedly rode the wooden boats to their destinations. It was truly a dream-like city. If she were to die soon, she’d want it to happen here. Tenebrae and Lucis brought her pain and she wanted to die someplace where she wasn’t reminded of her mother being murdered before her very eyes or the reminder of seeing King Regis fall dead to the floor while she escaped. Though Altissia was under Imperial rule, it still retained its own government and by that, to Lunafreya, it didn’t feel as if she was constantly being watched. In fact, she was immediately taken into the care of Altissia’s current representative, Camelia Claustra. Though the Empire was close by, she felt slightly at ease.

           Lunafreya was still reportedly dead to the world so exploring the city was something she couldn’t do. She did, however, visit the church where she was to wed Noctis. Her blue eyes had widened in amazement at the place. The inside was completely white with a giant window at the end that displayed three overflowing waterfalls. The stained glass that made up for the other windows was decorated with pictures of the history of Altissia, even down to where it was part of Solheim and under the rule of the Gods. The church was the oldest building in the city. Besides the white interior, gold hues filled out the rest of the venue. The cushioned seats were a golden color, as well as, gold specks sparkled on the white marble floors. A gold grand piano stood near the priest’s podium and Lunafreya imagined hearing “Here Comes the Bride” being played on it as she walked towards the love of her life. What amazed Lunafreya the most about the altar, however, was the giant portraits of her and Noctis that hung down from the ceilings. Noctis’s portrait, which showcased him in his formal prince attire – something Lunafreya had never witnessed in person – hung on the side where Lunafreya would have stood while her portrait hung on Noctis’s side. It had brought tears to the oracle’s eyes as her heart wept in both happiness and sadness. Happiness because the city and others did so much to prepare for the royal wedding between two old friends. Happiness because it confirmed that she was supposed to marry the man she’s been in love with for the past couple of years. She was so close to being reunited with Noctis. She was so close to being with him – even if just for a little while. And that’s where her sadness came in.

Again, the Empire found a way to separate her from the ones she loved. Lunafreya knew that Noctis’s true calling was upon them, but she had hoped to live blissfully with him for a bit – before the summoning of the Gods took the final toll on her. Her, Y/N, and Noctis… reunited. Though her sister despised the man for unknown reasons, she knows Y/N would’ve eventually lived happily with Noctis and her. Besides, Lunafreya knew Y/N didn’t actually despise Noctis. It was just a façade the younger woman put on for reasons to Lunafreya unknown.

“How is the oracle feeling today?” The voice of Gentiana caused Lunafreya’s ears to perk up. The blonde woman, who had been gazing out at the city from her room in Claustra’s presidential-like house, pushed herself off the window and faced the divine messenger.

“The same as yesterday. I’m weak and I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to summon the Leviathan.”

Gentiana’s expression was emotionless as she took in Lunafreya’s words. Though her expression didn’t say how she felt, Lunafreya knew she was worried deep down.

“The Chosen one and thy sister shall arrive soon. Then the summoning shall take place…”

“How… soon? Will I have a chance to see them before the summoning? If not Noctis… can I at least see Y/N? She’s been so worried about me and I want to properly-“ Lunafreya suddenly stopped speaking as a lump formed in her throat. Tears formed in her eyes as she thought about the words she was going to say. “Properly… say goodbye…”

Gentiana bowed her head as she crossed her hands in front of her. Lunafreya stared silently at the woman as a tear escaped her eye. “Within a week’s time shall they be here. From Umbra’s report, there are still things to be done in Lucis…”

“Will I see Y/N when they arrive? Will I be able to hug my sister for one last time?” Lunafreya swallowed hard to push back the lump. Instead of giving her an answer, Gentiana bowed to the oracle to dismiss herself. Lunafreya’s eyes widened in shock as the messenger vanished in front of her. Unable to control her tears any longer, Lunafreya let out a loud wail as she dropped to her knees.  

“Noctis… Y/N… I’m so sorry…”

~!~

Your POV (Eight years ago)

“When the light fades from this world, I’ll no longer be by your side,” Lunafreya smiled sadly at the sky above her as a 13-year-old you rolled your eyes at your sister’s words for the umpteenth time. There she goes, spewing nonsense about whatever it was – the end of the world? – that she read from that fairytale book she’s obsessed with. You both were out in the field of sylleblossoms, lazily watching the clouds float by. It was the first time you had spent time with your sister since she was sworn in as the new oracle. Immediately after the coronation, she had to travel to begin healing people from the scourge and reassuring people about the world. With her gone, that left you alone with Imperial soldiers who didn’t give you the time of day. You were lucky if they fed you. When Lunafreya started her travels, the ones you considered family went with her – Umbra, Pryna, and Gentiana. Ravus, of course, was now affiliated with the Empire. He stopped visiting as often after Lunafreya became the oracle. You had asked to be allowed to travel with your sister, however, the Empire didn’t trust you outside of the manor in fear you were plotting something against them. They weren’t wrong. If it wasn’t for Lunafreya, everything would’ve been up in flames by now.

           “Is this what they teach you when you travel? That when the sun sets or whatever, you’re gonna just… poof, disappear?” You propped yourself up on your elbow to look at her. The 16-year-old let out a heavy sigh as she closed her eyes, a frown now present on her face.

           “It is predestined by the Gods…”

           “Well tell the Gods that as long as I’m here, you’re not going anywhere! I vow to protect you with my entire being!” Lunafreya’s eyes widened in sudden shock as you quickly jumped up and grinned smugly towards the sky. “We’ll always be together, no matter what the dumb Gods say.”

           “Y/N, you can’t call them du-“

           “And,” You looked down at the blonde teenager as she stared up at you, her blue eyes glistening with tears. “I’ll make sure to always put your happiness before mine. Besides, if it wasn’t for you… I wouldn’t be alive right now. I owe you everything, Lunafreya.”

           Lunafreya let out a small chuckle as a tear rolled down her cheek. Hopping up, she immediately engulfed you in a hug. “Being my sister is enough.”

           Closing your eyes, you returned her embrace. However, you immediately opened them as your eyes landed on the Imperial soldiers that stood guard from a far distance. You vowed to get Lunafreya out of here, whether you escaped with her or not. It was your fault that she was in this mess, so you would be the one to get her out. Lunafreya’s happiness was all you wanted for her and you wanted to be the one to give it to her.

~!~

Gladiolus’s POV

           Usually Gladiolus and Ignis were the first ones to awaken among the four men – Noctis being last, of course. The muscular man would go off to a clear field not too far from the camp or motel while Ignis would be on a search for breakfast. Since Y/N joined the group, sometimes she would assist Ignis with the cooking – though the woman obviously had no idea as to what she was doing. Gladiolus would tease her about how it was because she came from royalty. That usually resulted in Y/N shooting daggers in his directions.

           This morning was a little different, however. Ignis was uncharacteristically still asleep. Gladiolus assumed he was trying to gather as much sleep as possible to prepare for the long drive to Cape Caem. He didn’t understand why the 22-year-old didn’t just ask Noctis to assist in driving. The prince had held a license since he was 16, after all. Carefully making his way to the front of the room, Gladiolus glanced over at Prompto and Noctis who were dead to the world. He frowned slightly as his eyes focused in on Noctis. The prince was almost hopeless. Sure, he was strong, and his scrawny muscles got him by most days when fighting imperials and daemons, but his mentality was what Gladiolus feared the most. Was the prince aware of what was happening? Did he realize he ruled over Lucis now? More importantly, was Gladiolus fitted to protect the nonchalant prince? There were days the royal guard felt he could never live up to his father’s name or the past royal guards of the Lucis Caelum family. Hell, he felt even worse he couldn’t protect Jared or be there for Iris in her time of need. Was he fitted to guard someone so important to the world?

           Shaking these thoughts from his head, he quietly slipped out of the room, shutting the door behind him. The motel they were staying in had a barren field behind it. Gladiolus had peeped out the place when they first arrived and instantly thought it was perfect for training. As he walked down the hall, his eyes glanced towards the door where Iris and Y/N slept. He thought about asking Y/N to train with him but knowing Iris, she would beg to come train as well. Gladiolus didn’t want his only remaining family member anywhere near danger. He was so relieved when they arrived at Lestallum and saw Iris wasn’t hurt.

           The sun was just starting to rise, burning the remaining lurking daemons with its rays. Gladiolus was kind of glad that sun took out the pests as he didn’t feel like risking his life during training to fight them today. Usually he didn’t mind, but his mind just wasn’t there. As he climbed over the fence that separated the small outpost from the field, he squinted his eyes as he saw a flash of blue go off in the distance followed by the screams of a saberclaw. That was weird, he thought as he slowly trudged towards where the light came from. He was pretty sure he left everyone still asleep at the motel.

           As he got closer, he noticed a female figure take shape before him. Soon, he was able to make out her appearance; her neck-length hair was pulled into a low ponytail as she adorned a simple white tank top and black leggings. Gladiolus already knew who it was but the armlet that adorned her right arm to symbolize her affiliation with Tenebrae gave it away the most.

           “I thought princesses slept in to get their beauty sleep?” Gladiolus smirked as he approached her.

           “Shit!” The woman jumped in fear as she whipped around to come face to face with the older man. “What the hell, Gladio, you scared me.”

           “My bad, princess,” Gladiolus let out a hearty laugh only to stop as he examined Y/N’s face. The hair that escaped from her ponytail clung to her face from the beads of sweat present. Grabbing the edge of her tank, she wiped it off, flashing her bare stomach briefly. Gladiolus cleared his throat as he shifted his eyes elsewhere. “So, what brings you out here at the ass crack of dawn?”

           “What’s it look like? I’m training,” She shrugged as she turned her attention back towards another saberclaw.

           “Training involves more than just throwing daggers at some saberclaws,” Gladiolus chuckled. “How about I help you out-“

           “I believe I’ve told you this before but I’m well trained thanks to my brother,” Y/N threw a glance over her shoulder at Gladiolus.

           “The same brother who easily blocked your attack and pushed you down when we ran into him?” Gladiolus smirked as he saw the woman tense up briefly. “Or have you acquired a new brother since then?”

           Lowering her daggers, Y/N turned around slowly while rolling her eyes at the older man. “Okay, Gladiolus, let’s train.”

           Gladiolus’s already present smirk widened at her words. “My pleasure, princess.”

~!~

Your POV

           “Put away your daggers. It’s not all about weapons,” Gladiolus said as he began to remove the black tank he wore. Your eyes widened as he revealed his muscular physique, taking notice of the tattoo that extended from one arm to another. On the left of his chest, the image of a squawking bird’s head connected to the rest of the tattoo. You gulped nervously before quickly shifting your eyes away from the man, face turning red in the process.

           “What? Never seen a body quite as sexy as mine, before?” Gladiolus obnoxiously asked, causing you to snap your head back at him in annoyance. Avoiding looking at his body, you forced yourself to look him into his eyes.

           “Are we gonna train or what?” You frowned at him. He let out a chuckle as he got into a battle stance, fists blocking his face.

           “Of course. Try aiming for my face,” He said as he watch you get into your own stance. He nodded at you to go as you took off running towards him, preparing to aim for his stomach – abs ­– ­that would cause him to move his hands down there, leaving his face open. However, as you began to execute your punch, his arms immediately grabbed onto yours and twisted them around.

           “Ow, what the hell?!” Your grimaced as he held tightly onto you.

           “Too easy. Your eyes glanced at my stomach and I knew you would aim there first. The eyes will always be a dead giveaway to where the opponent will attack first,” He explained as he let go of your arms. Shaking the pain out of them, you regained your stance and frowned at him. “Try again.”

           You and Gladiolus spent the next 30 minutes or so training – mostly you attempting to attack and Gladiolus immediately blocking it. It frustrated you at how easy it was for the prince’s shield to block your attacks that once worked on Ravus. After training with him for years, you were positive you could handle any attack given. Hell, it wasn’t even that long ago you took on a train of Imperials. What had happened since then? Had you somehow weakened? You couldn’t even fight off Ravus that time you guys met up with him just as Gladiolus had said. How were you going to get your revenge on the Empire and protect Lunafreya like this? Your mind wandered as you tried to land another surprise attack on Gladiolus by swinging your leg in the air to push him backwards with your foot. However, Gladiolus caught your foot before it made contact and pulled you towards him by it. Losing your balance immediately, you fell into the man’s sweaty chest just as he released your foot. His hands rested on your waist as he steadied you up.

           “What’s on your mind?” Gladiolus asked as he looked down at you. “You’re not focused on this.”

           “H-huh?” You blinked at him before shrugging his hands off  you. “I’m not thinking about anything besides how to successfully kick your ass.”

           “Well that’s not gonna happen if you’re not focused,” Gladiolus shrugged as he backed away from you and plopped himself on the ground. “What’s on your mind? I know I’m not Prompto but hopefully you can talk to me as well. We’re all friends here.”

           You bit your bottom lip nervously as you stared at the man. He was nonchalantly looking towards the sky. He wasn’t going to pressure you into telling him what was wrong, but you knew if you didn’t, his feelings would be slightly hurt. You wanted to tell him, of course, but you couldn’t tell him everything. You could mention your worry about Lunafreya or how you just wanted to hurry up and be reunited with her. You could tell him about how her happiness meant the world to you and you wanted to see her smile brightly again as she once did when she was 12 – before the Empire attacked. You wanted to tell him how there was one person that you knew could make her happy like that again but… that person happened to be the same person who made you happy. Though you didn’t show it often, there was no denying he made your heart flutter and wish that it was you he loved and not your sister. That it was you who was meant to stand by his side. How Iris’s words from the previous night had been ringing in your ears since last night and that’s why you had been out training since the first rays of the sun had risen.

           “You’re telling me you don’t feel anything when you’re with him?”

           Of course, you felt something when you were with him. You always did. And that scared you. That’s why you pushed him and your feelings away. You couldn’t hurt Lunafreya again and knowing that you were… in love with him would kill her.

           “I… I’m in love with him…” You finally said as you lowered your eyes away from Gladiolus and to the ground. “But… I can’t… have him…”

           “Why not?” Gladiolus immediately said. “Cindy isn’t interested in Prompto, I can guarantee you that. You have a chance. Though, I’d have to say, never thought he’d be your type.”

           You let out a low chuckle. You couldn’t tell if Gladiolus was being serious or not. “My life would be so much easier if my feelings were for Prompto…”

           Silence fell between you two and the only thing that could be heard was the low howl of the wind and the feet of saberclaws running in the distance. Gladiolus stood up from the ground and made his way over to you. Placing a hand on your shoulder, you looked up at him with tears forming in your eyes.

           “The prince, no, king makes the final call, right? About who he wants to be with? Don’t doubt yourself so much, kid. Noctis cares for you a lot more than you may think. As for your relationship with your sister… how do you expect to make Lady Lunafreya happy when you’re not happy yourself? She won’t be happy if you’re not. You’ve risked your life for your sister’s happiness. To me, that’s the most selfless act. Be selfish for once, Y/N,” Gladiolus squeezed your shoulder as a tear fell from your eye and onto his arm. He didn’t understand. He didn’t know the full story like Prompto did. You couldn’t have Noctis because of Lunafreya and because of your affiliation with Niflheim. He wouldn’t accept you. Your feelings for him would never be reciprocated, no matter how much Noctis cared for you. He was your brother-in-law. That was all.

           “Hey, what are you guys doing?” The voice of Iris could be heard from the near distance. Gladiolus and you turned your heads towards the sound of her voice. Everyone was apparently awake and ready to hit the road as Ignis was signaling for you two to come over there. Prompto was on his phone while Iris was shouting at Gladiolus to put a shirt on and stop flirting with you. Your eyes landed on Noctis who’s arms were crossed. He seemed to be glaring at the scene in front of him, but he was too far away for you to see well.

           Removing yourself from Gladiolus’s grip, you pushed away your previous emotions and waved back at Iris. “We’re coming!” Turning back to Gladiolus, you frowned slightly at him, “Thanks for this talk… but… I just… can’t hurt her like that.”

           “Hmph,” was all Gladiolus said as he reached for his shirt to place over his head. He watched as you ran towards the group. As you neared Noctis, you must’ve said something to the prince because his body posture suddenly became stiff and his gloved hand went immediately to his face as if to hide something. You smiled gently at him before throwing an arm around Prompto’s neck, distracting him from his phone, and walking towards the Regalia. Noctis turned briefly to watch the scene before glancing back at Gladiolus who smirked at the prince. He didn’t seem to acknowledge it, however, as he began to follow the others to the car.

“He definitely loves her…”

~!~

           “Are we there yet?” Prompto whined as the Regalia sped down the roads of Cleigne. You guys had been traveling for about two hours now with Cape Caem still nowhere in sight. Ignis said that everyone would know they were near when they began to see the vast ocean, however, no oceans had appeared as of yet.

           “Prompto, if you ask that one more damn time,” Noctis grumbled under his breath.

           The seating arrangement for the Regalia was more favorable for you today than it was yesterday. Gladiolus decided to sit in front with Ignis leaving Prompto to the back. Because Prompto was small in figure, everyone was able to fit in the backseat without having to sit on anyone’s lap. You were especially grateful for that. After last night with Iris and this morning with Gladiolus, you didn’t want to be too close to Noctis. Prompto picked up on this as he requested you sit closest to him in the back instead of Iris. Of course, Iris didn’t have a problem with this. Noctis threw you and Prompto glances every now and then whenever he would show you something on his phone or you’d use his bony shoulder as a pillow.

           “We probably won’t make it again today…” Ignis said as he eyed the four of you in the back.

           “Seriously? Why’d your dad pick such a faraway hideout, Noct?” Prompto complained.

           “I don’t know, let me ask him,” Noctis frowned at the blond.

           “Yikes, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Prompto let out a nervous chuckle. Noctis ignored his comment and repositioned himself the best he could in the cramped backseat to sleep comfortably.

           “You can sleep on me, Noctis!” Iris suddenly said as she sat up straight and patted her shoulder. Hearing this caused you to lift your head from Prompto’s shoulder and glance at the girl. Your eyes shifted to the front where Gladiolus sat, waiting for him to intervene at any given moment. However, the older man was fast asleep.

           “Uh,” Noctis said uncomfortably as he also glanced to Gladiolus for help. Noticing he was asleep as well, he turned and his cerulean eyes met with your hazel ones. Your eyes widened slightly before you pretended to be still half-asleep and dropped your head to Iris’s shoulder that faced you.

           “Ugh, Y/N! What are you doing?” Iris frowned as she tried to shrug you off her. However, you just pretended to be asleep and didn’t budge. You had to give it to the young girl, even though she seemed aware of the situation between Noctis, you and Lunafreya, she was still persistent on making him fall for her.

           “Mh, you’re more comfortable than Prompto…” You mumbled quietly.

           “Hey! Well sleep on her for the rest of the trip then!” Prompto frowned as he scooted closer to the door to create space between you two.

           Iris turned her head in disbelief to Noctis who was smirking down at you. However, you didn’t notice as you pretended to be asleep. “Sorry, Iris. Looks like my sis-in-law got to you first. Thanks for the offer, though.”

           “Sis-in-law my ass,” You heard Iris mumble under her breath. In response, you shoved your knee into the teenager’s leg, causing her to jump slightly.

           The car was silent for awhile as mostly everyone had fallen asleep. The only ones who lay awake were Noctis – surprisingly – Iris, and Ignis, of course. Even you had tricked your brain into falling asleep after all the pretending. However, you could still hear everything that was going on.

           “So Noct,” Iris spoke up. Noctis, who was on his phone playing King’s Knight, arched his brow to acknowledge her. “What does she look like? Lady Lunafreya, that is.”

           “H-huh?” Noctis stuttered from Iris’s sudden question. The teen only blinked her brown eyes at him as she waited for a response. “Uh… well, I haven’t seen her since I was 8. She had medium-ish blonde hair with bangs? And icy blue eyes? She was taller than me and uh, she was thin?”

           “So, you don’t know what she looks like now?”

           “No idea… but I’ll know it’s her when I see her. Besides, I’m sure Y/N will point her out to me,” Noctis chuckled slightly as his eyes landed on you.

           “What did Y/N look like when she was younger?”

           “Y-Y/N?”

           “Yeah! Was she always beautiful? You can say if she was or not. She’s like dead asleep,” Iris laughed. She knew you weren’t fully asleep because after asking her question about Lunafreya, you pushed your knee into her leg again.

           “Uh,” Noctis glanced at you again to make sure you were asleep. “She was… always beautiful. Her hair was longer when she was younger. It went to the middle of her back but because she was a princess, she kept it in some fancy bun with braids around it. She was much shorter than Luna and probably an inch shorter than me. She’s been short her whole life,” Noctis laughed as he said this. “She didn’t talk to me a lot when I was in Tenebrae but when she did, I remember it making me really happy, even if she was sort of rude.”

           “… Why are you not marrying Y-“

           “Wake up, everyone! We’ve come near the ocean!” Ignis suddenly said, cutting off Iris. Everyone who was asleep groggily woke up, but their eyes widened when they saw the view of the ocean.

           “Whoa! This is beautiful!” Prompto exclaimed as he quickly focused his camera on the ocean before him. The sun was setting, and the orange hue reflected off the calm waters. “Y/N, do you see this?”

           You just nodded as you focused on the blue waters. They reminded you of Noctis’s own breathtaking blue eyes. Your cheeks colored themselves in a pink tint as the thought crossed your mind. However, you weren’t just blushing from your thoughts. You were also blushing from what Noctis had said to Iris about you.

           “We’re gonna camp near the beach tonight. Is everyone okay with that? The sun is setting and I don’t want to put Ms. Iris in danger,” Ignis said as he pulled the Regalia to the side of a bridge.

           “Fine with me. I need to stretch, anyway,” Gladiolus said as he immediately hopped out the car. “The tent isn’t gonna fit all of us, so I volunteer to sleep outside so Iris can get the tent.”

           “It’s fine, Gladdy. I can sleep outside,” Iris offered as she exited the backseat of the car.

           “No, it’s dangerous. It may be a haven, but I don’t trust it 100 percent.”

           “I’ll sleep outside,” Noctis shrugged. “The tent is a cramped when it’s all of in there, anyway.”

           “Well, I’m not going to argue with you. I’m gonna go ahead and set up camp,” Gladiolus said as he removed the items he needed from the trunk of the car and made his ways to the stairs attached to the bridge.

           “I’m so excited! My first camping trip with you guys!” Iris grinned at you and Noctis.

           “It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be,” You mumbled as you pushed past her and began to follow the others who had already started walking. Shrugging, Iris ran to catch up with you as Noctis strolled lazily behind.

~!~

           Aranea’s POV

             “Were you able to recruit her?” The smooth voice of Ardyn filled the woman’s ears. She rolled her eyes as she leaned against one of the rails overlooking the city of Altissia. Pushing herself off it, she casually strolled past Ardyn and several of the imperial soldiers behind him.

           “Is she here now?” Aranea sarcastically asked as she pretended to look around the area for Y/N. “Because I don’t see her anywhere.”

           “We don’t pay you to fail missions-“

           “Ha!” Aranea let out a loud, breathy laugh. “Pay me? You guys barely pay me. I go out of my way for the Empire only to barely afford to feed myself half the time. I don’t do this for the money, buddy. I do this to serve my country.”

           “Buddy is no way to refer to your chancellor,” Caligo suddenly spoke up. At the sound of his voice, Aranea whipped her head to the short, pudgy man and gave him an incredulous look.

           “I don’t think you have the right to speak to me since you’ve been demoted. Y/N almost ended you and you barely escaped,” Aranea hissed. “If I were her, I would’ve finished you off whether the prince intervened or not.”

           “You bit-“

           “Alright, alright, settle down. You both failed your missions, however, you both have the opportunity to regain yourselves-“

           “I’m really not up for kicking their asses again, “Aranea groaned. “She’s not going to join us, anyway. She’s too much in love with her prince to betray him now. Anyone with eyes can tell she loves him. They came into the arena holding hands.”

           “She really is a traitor. How could she love a Lucian – more specifically – the prin-“

           “Shut up, Caligo,” Ardyn said sharply, causing the man to stiffen. A smirk played on Ardyn’s face as Aranea’s information registered in his mind. “So… both of the Nox Fleuret sisters are in love with the prince, huh? This could… actually work.”

           “What are you planning, Ardyn?” Aranea arched a brow as the red-haired man began to pace back and forth.

           “Do you happen to know which sister the prince has feelings for?” Ardyn asked, ignoring Aranea’s question.

           “The one he was supposed to marry, I suppose, but he and Y/N have chemistry… why?”

           “It’d be a shame if… one of them just… died in an attack or something…”

           “Why do you want to kill the sisters? What have they done to you? I agreed to recruit Y/N and fuck around with the prince’s head a for a bit, not kill anyone,” Aranea immediately said.

           “This could work in my favor…” Ardyn smirked to himself as a new set of plans began to roam his mind. Noticing Aranea and Caligo were still staring at him in a confused way, he replaced his smirk with a grin and snapped his fingers. “New plan! Aranea, you and I will be headed back to Lucis to assist the prince with the next royal arm he has to receive.”

           “I said I’m not-“

           “We’re not fighting them. We’re assisting them. Redeem yourself with the prince and his entourage.”

           “And what about me?” Caligo spoke up. Ardyn turned his head over his shoulder and threw a smirk at him.

           “You stay here and train. I have a feeling… a world-changing even will be going down soon. You need to prepare yourself, Caligo. And as for you…” Ardyn looked towards a soldier who stood upright, shotgun pressed tightly into their chest. “Step forward.”

           “Sir!” The soldier immediately responded as he took a step forward. Aranea arched her brow again as the soldier’s voice rang through her ears. She’s heard that voice before. It was stern and emotionless. It’s been a while since she’s heard it since she’d moved up in the ranks, so she couldn’t quite put her finger on who the voice belonged to.

           “Are you ready to meet your daughter again?” Ardyn smirked at the soldier. Aranea’s eyes immediately widened at Ardyn’s words. This soldier was…

           “Maybe you’d be able to convince Y/N that she should be assisting us. You are her father after all. Do whatever you deem as necessary,” Ardyn’s eyes darkened as the man nodded his head in confirmation and returned to his spot beside the other Imperials.

           “What… is he planning?” Aranea quietly asked herself as she stared in shock at the man known as Y/N’s dad. Whatever Ardyn had up his sleeve, she knew it meant danger for the prince, the oracle, and Y/N. She had to find a way to let them know or even stop it before it was too late.

           “Okay, so when do we leave for Lucis?” Aranea asked.

           Ardyn just threw another smirk at her. “Tonight. We must prepare the temple, after all!”

~!~

           Your POV

                       You lay awake in the tent, staring into the darkness that surrounded you as the others slept. The flames from the still burning fire pranced its shadows on the tent’s walls from the outside. Dinner was hours ago as it was about 2 in the morning. Noctis was sleeping outside so you guessed he kept awakening to add more wood to keep the fire alive. Though it was the middle summer, the beach that you guys camped on was a bit chilly without the sun’s warmth around. Even inside the tent, you were shivering from the cold. Prompto and Iris slept the closest to you while Gladiolus and Ignis occupied the other corner of the tent. You worried about Noctis who was outside alone. Though he claimed he wanted to sleep outside, you couldn’t help but think he felt a bit lonely. As far as you know, ever since the boys started traveling together, no one was left to sleep alone. You decided that you should check up on him. Besides, if he was awake, which you doubted, you wanted to ask him about what he meant by his words from the previous night – that he could never hate. It’s been nagging you in the back of your mind since he said it, but you didn’t want to make the situation awkward between you both with the others noticing. Maybe it didn’t mean anything. Maybe he just really cared for you as Gladiolus said. Maybe…

           You quietly got up from your spot, careful not to wake up the others, and made your way out of the tent. To your surprise, Noctis was sitting in his chair, a blanket draped over his shoulders, staring at the fire before him. Quietly, you walked towards the prince. He must’ve heard the crunching sand underneath your feet as he whipped his head in your direction. A blush creeped up your face from being caught as you shyly waved at him before continuing to walk towards him.

           “Are you okay?” Noctis asked as you neared him. You just nodded your head as you plopped down in the chair beside him. A small shiver coursed through your body as the heat from the fire and the coolness from the night air collided with one another. “Do you want to use my blanket?”

           “I’m fine, thanks…” You said as you avoided his eyes that were staring at you. “So, uh, why aren’t you asleep?”

           “I could ask you the same,” He smirked at you. It only lasted a second, however, as it fell. “Just… thinking about everything that’s happened lately… and how close we are to seeing-“

           “Lunafreya?” You cut him off, already knowing that was the name he was about to say. He just nodded at you while your heart sunk slowly in your chest. “I’m… looking forward to seeing her, too. I just want to hold her in my arms and apologize for ever leaving her…”

           Noctis’s eyes widened at your words. “Oh yeah, why did you come to Insomnia? Was it to see me?”

           Noctis playfully smirked at you as he awaited your answer but was only surprised when you nodded your head in agreement. “It was my birthday… and I just wanted to see Lunafreya happy again, like she always was whenever you sent her those messages in the notebook. She would read your messages repeatedly just to feel connected to you somehow. At night, she’d sometimes cry… I didn’t know why until I overheard her talking to Gentiana about her life being unfair… how she wished she wasn’t an oracle and how she could just love and be with you. But those… assholes… the Gods, they took that all away from her. So, to reunite you guys, I went to Insomnia to find a way to tell you all this in hopes you would’ve come back with me. Now that I think about it, it wouldn’t have worked. Tenebrae is filled with Imperials ready to attack your family… I was really stupid…”

               “You’re not stupid for wanting your sister to be happy…” Noctis said softly. “I want Luna to be happy as well.”

           “She’ll be happy once you two are together. Maybe you can finally plan this wedding that’s been delayed which feels like for centuries,” You let out a forced laugh at your words. Noctis didn’t laugh, however, as he slightly frowned at you.

           “I think… Luna will be happier once she sees you and knows with her own eyes that you’re safe. She really loves and cherishes you, you know?” Noctis said. “I promised not to tell you this but, when we were kids, she was really sad when you wouldn’t play with us…”

           “Luna why are you sad?” An 8-year-old Noctis watched worriedly as the 12-year-old girl shed tears on the drawing before her. She was fine just a few seconds ago so Noctis didn’t understand why the girl was suddenly crying. The girl often looked distant whenever Noctis and her would play together, but she’d quickly cover it up with a smile.

           “I-“ She sniffed, “I miss my sister. Why won’t she play with us as well? Did I do something? I ask her, and she tells me no and goes to play with our brother. Why doesn’t she like me anymore?”

           Noctis’s eyes lowered as he listened to Luna’s words. He knew that it wasn’t Luna that Y/N didn’t want to play with – it was him. The boy didn’t understand why Y/N didn’t like him. However, that shouldn’t stop her from playing with her sister. The day he met the Nox Fleuret sisters, he knew that Y/N really looked up and loved Luna. He felt bad for getting in the way of that relationship.

           Sighing, Noctis rolled his wheelchair over to Luna and placed a comforting hand on top of hers. “I’m sorry… Y/N doesn’t like me... so maybe she doesn’t want to play with you because of me. I can go hang with my dad if that’ll make her play with you…”

           Luna let out a chuckle as she placed her other hand over Noctis’s and blinked her tears away. “There’s no need for that. I’ll be okay. I’m sure she likes you, so don’t worry, okay? Also, Noctis…”

           “Hm?” The boy widened his eyes at the older girl.

           “Promise not to tell Y/N I cried over her, okay? I know she isn’t doing this on purpose and it’ll probably break her to know that she upset me.”

           Noctis immediately grinned at the girl. “It’s a promise!”

           “She cried… because of me?” You blinked at the prince before you.

           “Don’t tell her I told you – hey, Y/N, what’s wrong?” Noctis looked at you as tears ran down your face. You stared off distantly at the ocean and the moonlight that reflected off it. You’ve hurt Lunafreya before to the point that she cried? How many other times have you hurt your sister? How many times have you betrayed her? Even with being careful of every move you make and going out of your way to bring happiness to your sister, you still hurt her. You bit down on your bottom lip hard enough to break its skin and taste blood as your thoughts continued to run wild.

           “Hey,” Noctis’s voice broke you from your thoughts as he was now crouched down in front of you, both of his hands caressing your own. More tears fell down your face as you looked at him. Without a second thought, his thumb came to your face and brushed away your tears. The mere touch caused another shiver to run through you. “We were kids… it’s not that big of deal, right? You know you love Luna. Luna knows you love her and would never purposefully hurt her and-“

           You stared at Noctis as he tried to calm you. He was always trying to calm you and trying to get you to open up to him – even as kids. The night at the hotel in Lestallum where you got him to admit to you his true emotions about his father. Originally, he wanted you to open up to him, but you managed to flip the script. Then the other times he’s come to comfort you or even save your life. The time where he stopped you from killing Ravus and even the other night from that Imperial commander. Noctis was always there reassuring you and making sure you were okay. And… each time, you fell deeper for him. Deeper in love with the man that was meant for your sister. In love with the man that would hurt Lunafreya for life if she found out you held the same feelings for the man she confessed to you she loved so many years ago.

           “Are you listening to me, Y/N?” Noctis looked into your hazel eyes, causing your heart to stop as you locked your eyes with his. Love. That’s what you saw in his worried eyes as they searched your watery ones. Love. It was what Iris, Prompto, Gladiolus, and even Ignis had been hinting at all along. Noctis loved you. At this realization, your eyes filled with tears as you abruptly stood up and attempted to walk away from the campsite. However, Noctis was faster and grabbed onto your hand and pulled you into him. Your eyes widened as he held onto you for a while. “Do you know how to dance?”

           “H-huh?” You hiccupped, taken aback by his sudden question. Here you were crying about your situation and he wanted to dance?

           “Princesses know how to dance, right?” He asked as he pulled himself away from you slightly. You watched as Noctis grabbed your hand and placed it on his shoulder while he took the other in his own hand. He then gently placed his free hand on your waist and looked back at you with gently smile. Meanwhile you blinked confusedly at him. “As a prince, I kinda had no choice but to learn. I hate it, but I’ve been told it helps people temporarily forget their problems.”

           “I-I,” Your face was red, you knew it. Hopefully, he would think it was from your crying. “I know… the basics.”

           “Okay, I’ll lead,” Noctis said as he began to sway you around. You hadn’t danced ballroom style in so long. Your eyes kept glancing towards your feet to make sure you didn’t step on his as he twirled you around the fireplace. “Try not to look at your feet so much…”

           You nodded as you looked up at him. He grinned at you as he spun you around, causing a small laugh to escape from you. This was a side you haven’t seen of Noctis before. Did Lunafreya know about this charming side to the prince? Did he ever tell Lunafreya that he wanted to dance with her in front of a fireplace that overlooked the ocean? That he wanted to spin her around until she got dizzy and tripped over her own feet with him catching her each time? How he’d stare lovingly at her as the moonlight reflected in her glassy blue eyes that had a few moments ago been crying? Did Lunafreya know this side of Noctis? You wanted to think she didn’t… that he was only this way with you. The shy, distant prince that people came to know disappeared into a gentle, caring one when he was comfortable with those around him.

           “Why… can’t you hate me…?” You muttered as you two continued to dance around the fire. However, at your words, Noctis halted his movement and looked down at you, tilting his head slightly in confusion.

           “Huh?”

           “Why can’t you hate me?” You asked a bit louder this time, so he could hear. “Even if I did something horrible… or was a part of something horrible. If I were the cause for all the trouble in your and Lunafreya’s life…wouldn’t you hate me?”

           “Does Lunafreya know about this horrible thing?” You nodded as Noctis chuckled. “Then if she doesn’t hate you… then why would I? I literally cannot hate you, Y/N. I will never hate you.”

           At his words, you broke your hand away from his and wrapped your arms around his waist, taking him by surprise, as you buried your face in his chest. He smelled similar to how he did the day you met him again in Hammerhead. His musky cologne applied from earlier today mixed in with the smell of nature. “Why…”

           “Huh?” He said as he still stood frozen.

           “Why can’t you be mine?”

           Your eyes widened at your words as you realized what you had just said. Immediately, you tried to pull yourself away from the prince, but was prevented from doing so when he wrapped his arms around you. Your heart was pounding so loudly you could practically hear them in your ears. Maybe he didn’t hear you? Maybe he was just returning your hug? Maybe he-

           “Y/N, can I kiss you?”

           You pulled yourself away from him at those words and stared up at him. His face was red as he avoided your eye contact. “I-I’m sorry. Forget I asked. I’m-“

~!~

Noctis’s POV  

           Why did he ask her that? She was clearly upset about hurting her sister. Her sister that was clearly in love with him. And here he was asking could he kiss her. But, he couldn’t help it. Her questioning why he couldn’t be hers? He didn’t want anything but to be hers. And to hear the woman he was in love with indirectly tell him she felt the same, how else was he supposed to react? Maybe not asking her to kiss him, however. Noctis wanted to crawl into a hole. When did he even become this bold? He was trying to cheer up the crying woman, not make her uncomfortable. She stared at him for a while as he tried to stumble out an apology.

           “I’m sorry-“

           “I’m sorry…” Y/N said which gave Noctis his answer. He blushed in embarrassment as he slowly dropped his arms from the woman. He knew he messed up. Ugh, how was he going to come back from this now. “Lunafreya, please forgive me…”

           Noctis looked down at the former princess in confusion as she looked up at Noctis and nodded her head at him. “You can kiss me…”

           Noctis let out a shaky breath as a small smile became present on his lips. Carefully, he cupped Y/N’s face and brought his face down to hers. His eyes flicked up to her already closed ones. He chuckled as he saw her awaiting his kiss. Gently, he placed his lips onto hers. At first, she didn’t react to it however, he was reassured she didn’t regret her decision when her arms snaked around his neck to bring him closer to her. He obliged as he moved his hands from her face and to her waist, deepening the kiss in the process. Was he really kissing Y/N? The woman he had been in love with for so long? It was like a dream come true.

           And just like dreams, the moment abruptly as she pulled away and looked at him in horror.

           “I-I’m sorry…” She said as she gazed at him for a moment for disappearing back into the tent. Noctis stood there in shock as his lips still tingled from her soft ones being on his. He glanced towards the tent where she disappeared to and let a small smile dance upon his lips.

           “I’ve always been yours… Y/N…”

[moonlight-at-dawn]

Glaive!Noct sent to protect Luna fic, scene 1, first draft

[GDoc Link]

Noctis double-checked his provision list against his packs, then checked again. He was ready to set out for his mission in the morning. Looking around his small room, he was grateful that he at least had quarters within the Citadel, so he didn't have to worry about leaving his apartment for an extended time. His father had cautioned against getting too involved in the Citadel, lest he accidentally stumble over a line set in blood and stone some two millenia ago. Now with this mission, he wondered if this were the sort of thing Regis had been worried about.

To be the guard of the Oracle's heir as she takes her first solo healing journey around the world. It was a big responsibility, and one that he couldn't believe had been entrusted to him. It wasn't a matter of his skill, but the politics. His ancestor had accidentally killed the first Oracle when trying to slay his own brother. His intent was a matter of debatable morality, given the Starscourge which still plagued the land, but the outcome was undeniable. Some thought that his family line should die out, but it had persisted stubbornly, and with the cautious support of the lineage that had taken over rule of Lucis in his family's stead.

It was that support that now had him on such a high profile mission. He shouldn't have made friends with the prince, that was the problem. But what was done was done, and he had to deal with it. He had to protect Lady Lunafreya no matter what, or he and his father may well be executed. That hadn't been said, of course, and perhaps he was being paranoid, but he had grown up in the slums because of what someone some 70 generations back had done, so he didn't find the fear irrational at all. Even if they weren't executed as part of a legal response to failure, the common people of all the world would surely hold them accountable.

"How many months of this stress will I have?" he muttered, glowering at his packs. A knock at his door made him jump, and he eyed the doorknob suspiciously, knowing his voice had been too low, but wondering if the person on the other side had heard his grumbling anyways. Shaking his head, he took the single step to open the door, and immediately put fist over heart, bowing, "Highness."

Prince Gladiolus snorted and gave him a friendly thump on the shoulder with a large and powerful hand. "What's the glum look for, Noct?" Noctis responded with a raised brow and a bemused expression. Laughing, Gladio strode past him and shut the door, and suddenly the room became crowded. It really wasn't meant for more than one person, especially not if the second person was as large as Gladio. His presence was as powerful as his body. "Look at it this way. You'll be spending months and months alone with a beautiful lady."

"Oh, yes," Noct responded with sarcasm, sitting on the corner of his bed so he could see Gladio on the one lone chair. "The world's least eligible bachelor traveling alone with the world's most beloved woman. I already see myself being threatened everywhere we go. How am I going to protect her when people hate me so much? I'll bring trouble to her!"

Gladio rolled his eyes and tossed something wrapped in cloth his way. "You give yourself too much credit. Most people don't know who the hell you are, and they don't give a shit. It's just 'cause you live in the capital that it's a problem. Getting out of the city will do you and that complex of yours some good."

Unfolding the cloth, Noct raised a brow at the pair of daggers inside. They were marked heavily with magic runes, and when he unsheathed them, he saw the material was of the type that daemons hated the most. He nodded in approval at them and looked up to Gladio. "A gift for the lady, or for me?"

"You. You never did get a decent set of daemon killing gear like I told you, did you?" The sheepish look was all the answer he needed. "Right. Well, take that. And, this," Gladio reached into his coat's inner pocket and drew out folded parchment.

The seal on it glowed with faint magic, and Noct looked it over. Official documents on such a mission weren't such a shock to hold, but still, it was his first time, and he couldn't help but to marvel at it. Of course, technically speaking, the magic involved was his own, from his family line, borrowed with the Ring and Crystal. It was the reason his family never left the capital, in spite of everything they faced. "What's this?"

"Open it up and read it."

That part was a surprise. He expected the orders to be something he had to hand to someone, like Lady Sylva. Not something for his own eyes. Opening it up, he browsed the words, and went pale when he finished. "I can't," he whispered.

"Well, you don't have to. But, shouldn't you be happy? Of all the Glaives, you're the only one who hasn't been allowed the magic, even though you're the only one who doesn't need to be connected to it."

"Yeah, but, that's because, it's different, when it's us," he stammered, looking up from the decree. "If I use magic, it'll be immediately obvious, who I am."

Gladio shook his head and stood up, slapping his friend's shoulder and then urging him towards the door. "Nonsense. People really don't know their lore that well. Now, c'mon. Ignis wants to see you before you leave."

"What about Prompto?"

"Gate duty, but he's your transport out tomorrow, so you'll get your goodbyes."

Noct nodded and grunted a soft understanding from his position a few respectful paces behind Gladio as they walked the halls. They didn't speak much when others were about. It wasn't unusual for his lineage to tag along behind the royalty, but the friendships happened behind doors. It didn't do for it to be public, even if everyone knew anyways. The charade was important. None of that made it easier to bear the scowls that focused on him the moment Gladio stepped past a bowing guard. Traditionally, the Caelums didn't join the glaives. They weren't explicitly barred from it however, and Noct had defied traditions when he had joined.

Gladio led him to Ignis' suite in the Citadel. Their friend was positioned to become Gladio's advisor upon his succession to the throne. The Scientias had served in the Citadel for a few hundred years now, and Ignis was the first to attain such a high position. He was incredibly intelligent and diligent, and Noctis couldn't understand how instead of advising Gladio against the friendship with Noct, he had instead taken to mothering Noct even more than he did his own prince. For all that Noct frequently complained about being held responsible for his ancestor's actions, he found it hard to believe when others actually agreed.

Not bothering to knock once they arrived at the right door, Gladio simply opened it up and let out the wonderful scents coming from the kitchen within. It seemed Ignis had prepared a going away dinner, and Noct wasn't about to complain about that, all his feelings of unworthiness vanishing immediately. Perhaps they should have been stronger then, but there was something in the overbearing way that Ignis cared for his friends that made it impossible to keep them up, at least in the moment. Gladio grinned as they stepped around the corner and into view of the kitchen and dining area.

"Damn Ig, you've outdone yourself," Gladio approved, picking up a bottle of beer and looking it over with a raised brow before popping off the cap with a summoned dagger instead of the tool set right on the counter for it. Ignis sighed with obvious exasperation at the show, but smiled at the compliment all the same.

Noct used the tool to open his, noting that it was one of the craft beers he preferred, rather than the simple cheap beer that the prince was more than happy to have. The jokes that it was obvious Noct was the one descended from a truly royal line because his tastes were so expensive hurt more than he let on, but they seemed absent that night, for which he was grateful. Peering over the counter, he tried to guess what Ignis was putting together, and realized there were far more things going on than he expected. He could at least determine the main course was an Insomnian style curry, the dark, sweet, and slightly spicy kind. Perhaps some of his tastes were rich, but when it came to food, he felt you just couldn't beat a large comfort meal of cheap cuts of meat and rice drenched in a flavorful sauce.

"Oh man, I'm starving," Noct's stomach rumbled as he spoke, and he looked ready to drool.

Gladio laughed and Ignis shooed him back to the table with a smug grin. "Well, you are here to eat, so it's a good thing you're hungry. Now go take a seat, this will be ready soon."

Noct let Gladio grab his shoulder and steer him to the table, and they took a seat, hesitating just a moment before pulling out their phones and loading up the game they all played together. "Hey Ignis," Noct called, thinking of something, "Y'think I'll have internet service on the other continent?"

"Doubtful. Perhaps in Gralea you would, but their technology is different from ours, so it may not be compatible."

"That's what I was afraid of," Noct grumbled, and Gladio laughed at the pout in his voice. "Guess I'll be giving Prompto my account while I'm gone. Don't let him do anything stupid."

"If you are worried he'll mess up your account, then perhaps you should give it to someone else."

Noct didn't reply, just frowned as he was taken more seriously than he had meant it. He knew his friend wouldn't do anything bad to his account, but he was sure to joke like he would. Sighing, he shook his head and looked over his phone at Gladio's smug expression. "What's that look for?"

Gladio turned his phone to display the new rare hero he had just drawn. Noct sat up and sputtered, indignant, and that just drew forth laughter. "Let me train her up then let's do a match. I want to see how she holds up."

"Fine," Noct muttered, pretending to be upset. He had wanted that hero, but he did have another one that would fight well against her, that Gladio didn't yet know he had pulled.

As they played, Ignis set out a tofu soup to start with, and Noct grinned at the sweet chili paste nearby, dumping perhaps a bit too much of it into his bowl before covering it with rice and mixing it all together.

“Save some room for the main dish.”

“Oh, I’ve got room,” Noct assured Gladio with a grin.

“Where do you fit it all?”

“It goes to my muscles.”

“What muscles?”

“The ones I used to kick your ass last week,” Noct smirked. Gladio was still smarting over that loss, and he grew sullen at the reminder.

Ignis interrupted the brotherly bickering, setting another dish in the center of the table, this one a plate of dumplings filled with pork and spicy, pickled cabbage. Noct’s stomach rumbled again, and he pushed his half finished soup aside to attack the dumplings. “I’m gonna miss the hell out of this. ...Oh god, the lady and I are going to be responsible for our own cooking half the time, won’t we? Ignis, any advice?”

“If her cooking skills are similar to your own, I suggest you invest in a stockpile of camp-ready meals.”

“Harsh,” Gladio laughed.

Noct pouted, knowing he wasn’t really that bad. “Igniiis,” he whined, looking to the man.

“I’m not sure what you want me to tell you,” was the reply. Ignis rejoined them, setting down the main dish and taking his own seat at last. “You know how to cook. You have a basic idea of how to compose a reasonably flavored meal. I’m not sure what kind of advice you want to hear.”

“I don’t know…,” Noct floundered. “But, well, you always manage to come up with meals from random ingredients, and we’ll probably travel light, so…?”

“So…?” Ignis asked, brow raised. Noct just stared at him, hopeful. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Ignis leaned back and adjusted his glasses as they slid down his nose. “Learn the local food you can forage, and you’ll be able to add more flavors to your stock provisions. That alone should help with variety. And hunting, for fresh meat.”

“And fishing,” Noct suddenly said, dreamy eyed.

Gladio burst out laughing, “You better not gross Lady Lunafreya out with your fishing! You stink when you’ve been at it too long.”

“She shouldn’t mind the extra food,” Noct huffed.

“I agree,” Ignis nodded, and he motioned towards a small dish that sat untouched near Noct. “Put that in your curry.”

“Ignis, it’s a vegetable.”

“Vegetables are good for you. Now, mix it in. Pickled radish is sweet, anyway. You’ll be fine.”

“If you say so,” Noct grumbled, adding one small piece of the bright red vegetable strips to his curry.

“Make sure you don’t get the scurvy out there.”

“The scurvy?” Noct asked Gladio, snorting with laughter. “I’ll be fine. I passed all my health examinations, didn’t I?”

Ignis sighed heavily and shook his head, lamenting. “Only because of our painstaking efforts. Take better care of yourself, Noctis. No one will be looking out for you there.”

Noct bristled, but he fought back the impulse to snap back. Ignis was right, after all, and Noct’s habits did have a way of inspiring concern. Taking in a breath, he met Ignis’ eyes and nodded solemnly. “I will. I’ll be looking out for the lady, and we’ll be sharing meals, so that means looking after myself, right?”

“I suppose that will do,” Ignis agreed, returning the nod.

“You should probably get used to saying her name,” Gladio added, taking a swig of beer. “You can’t keep calling her ‘the lady.’”

Noct flushed slightly and glanced away. He knew that, but if Gladio ever found out about the little crush he’d harbored for the popular woman for years, he’d never hear the end of it. The prince meant well, and indeed he was one of Noct’s best friends and like a brother. Sometimes that ‘like a brother’ part could be a pain. “I’m not planning on insulting her.”

“I should hope not,” Gladio laughed. “You’ll be our representative, after all. You represent me, and Father, and all of Lucis when you’re with her. Do us proud.”

“No pressure,” Noct mumbled wryly.

“Oh, I do believe there is quite a lot of pressure. No one ever tried to pretend otherwise.” Ignis smiled even as he delivered that rather brutal blow. “But you can handle it, Noct. We give you a hard time because we want you to be your best. You’re good, you deserve this chance, and you will do us all proud.”

Noct flushed again, unused to the praise. His chest welled with warmth and pride though, even as he was embarrassed. Gladio nodded and chimed in, seeing the way Noct hung his head a bit and ducked away from the approval. “Ignis is right. I’m being too harsh. It’s the night before you head out, I shouldn’t be stressing you out more. You’ve got this, Noct. You’ve worked hard to prove this point, and I know you’ll be great out there.”

Having the royal approval, having Gladio speak honestly, it helped immensely. He picked up his chin with a hint of that Caelum pride and managed something of a smirk. “Thanks, guys. I won’t let you down.”

[gummysungshine]

Pax Deorum [FFXV Cor/Loqi] (Part 2)

Part 2 of 2 (maybe more to come???)

Part 1: http://gummysungshine.tumblr.com/post/181336923874/pax-deorum-ffxv-corloqi Fic masterlist: http://gummysungshine.tumblr.com/post/164077158169

Pairing: Cor/Loqi Rating: Teen??? Word count: 1980 Warnings: Unbeta’d so there might be mistakes.

Here it is :) Part 2. I wanna write more, but delve into the backstory of this, like how the 2 of them actually met since I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. If it’s something people would be interested in reading, do say so :) You’re also probably thinking “Hey, Gummy, this fic has a lot of plot holes if it takes place in the canon universe”. And yeah, it probably does :’) But I’ve come up with some bullshit solutions and thoughts to a number of these, so do feel free to question stuff if you’d like my thoughts on how all this works ^w^

---

To say the atmosphere was stiff was being generous. None of them knew exactly how to proceed, leaving the 6 of them sat in silence as the fire crackled away in the centre of the haven.

Not exactly knowing where to look, to the Prince, to Loqi, into the distance, Cor waited for the group to hound him with their questions, knowing there would certainly be many.

“So...” Prompto broke the silence quietly, every inch of him clearly as uncomfortable with the tension as everyone else.

Taking the initiative, Cor took it upon himself to get things rolling, already hating the way Noctis was looking at him. Deceiving the Prince hadn’t been his intention, he never meant to cause distrust. The deep-rooted loyalty in him wouldn’t allow Noctis to feel that way.

“Whatever it is you want to ask, please do not hesitate, Your Highness.”

Staring right at the Marshal and the Niff, Noctis could scarcely think of where to begin. With too many questions, and currently not enough answers, picking a place to start wasn’t an easy task to be had.

“Where do I begin?” He sighed.

“How about we start with the name Loqi called you?” Ignis proposed to the Marshal, taking the difficult choice away from Noctis, seeing the Prince silently thank him for the help.

“You mean Gil?” The Niff spoke up.

“We thought you meant The Blademaster. Gilgamesh.” Gladio looked directly to Cor. “But...how is that even possible? You were with me down in the caverns. That wasn’t just some fever dream.”

“You’re right.” Cor nodded.

He knew Gladio had every right to be sceptical. Trying to find a way to explain what happened at the Tempering Grounds, in a way that didn’t sound ridiculously farfetched to the entire group, was probably the most laborious task of all.

“I was with you.” Cor continued. “But...didn’t you notice anything...odd?”

Taking a moment to think on it, Gladio racked his brain. Right off the bat, there wasn’t anything that raised a red flag, until the Marshal clued him in on a small detail he seemed to have forgotten.

“Didn’t you find it strange how you never saw both he and I together?”

Now that he’d mentioned it, there wasn’t one point down in the caverns he could recall seeing the two of them at the same time. Whenever The Blademaster appeared, Cor had conveniently left his side.

“That still doesn’t explain any of this.” Gladio argued, attempting to keep his cool. “If you’re saying you’re Gilgamesh, then how are you here with us now? Why don’t you look like The Blademaster that I saw?” His questions came thick and fast.

“The same way the Messengers look to you.” Loqi answered simply. “The same way I appear to you. Though...I no longer have any other option.”

Staring at the crackling fire in front of him, a hand reached out, placing itself upon his own.

“No other option? What do you mean?” Both intrigue and concern laced Cor’s words, holding Loqi’s hand in his.

“A sacrifice.” The blond answered, looking directly at the Marshal, the rest of the group remaining silent. “I had to give something in return for your life. To repay the debt...I gave up part of myself to them.”

Giving up his celestial form had been the only option, the only thing they would accept as a worthy cost of imparting the gift immortality. That had been the agreement.

“Who is ‘them’?” Cor asked.

“The Six.” He sighed, recalling the day he bargained with them. “Do you remember? You...you were wounded. Dying. I– I couldn’t let you go without trying something, I would never forgive myself if I hadn’t.”

Watching the man he loved suffer, right before his very eyes, was an image that’d burnt itself into the very matter of his mind.

“I begged them to save your life.” He recalled the memory, voice swaying with emotion. “It was the Glacian herself that took pity, she helped to sway the others to my cause.” Loqi placed his other hand atop Cor’s. “They banished me to a life in this material form. But I gladly accepted their terms, and I would do it again. A thousand times over.”

Even if it meant permanent erasure from the physical world forever, Loqi would have accepted it. No price was too large.

Watching the admittedly heartfelt display, Ignis couldn’t piece together exactly what the blond was saying. A number of conclusions, both relatively believable, and entirely inconceivable, plucked at his mind, each of them flawed in some way, no matter how he tried to comprehend it.

“Who are you?” The Advisor questioned, taking it upon himself to ask what was on everyone's mind. “A Messenger?”

Struggling to make some sense of the Niff’s words, Ignis couldn’t quite work out just what the young Commander was.

“No. Not quite.” Loqi shook his head. “I suppose I’ve...become forgotten...lost to history, it would seem. I’m not the only one either.”

If he wasn’t an out-and-out Messenger with the responsibilities of such a being - just like Gentiana - then that left only one other answer that Ignis could think of.

“Are you telling me you’re an Astral? Just like The Six?”

Neither Gladio, Prompto, nor Noctis came forward with their own theories on the mysterious Niff, letting Ignis take the reins with the questioning.

“Yes. And also no. Well, not in the way that you think of your Hexatheon.” Loqi answered. “Contrary to popular belief, there are more gods than the ones you name.”

“How?” The Advisor almost demanded. “There would be something written somewhere about them, no? Gods don’t just disappear.”

The Niff’s words went against almost everything he’d learned of Eos’ history. As preposterous as it were to claim the existence of more gods, lacking solid evidence, a part of Ignis remained intrigued.

“Not all of us were stupid enough to stick around, waiting to be worshipped by mortals. I never wanted that.” The blond spoke, a defensiveness etching its way into his tone. “There have been many attempts to fell us; those documented, and those not. Though most ended in failure, they weren’t without their casualties.”

Attempts to capture, even kill, the gods came and went in waves. Numerous assaults– devious plans had changed the very foundations of the gods themselves. Those unwilling to fight back, unwilling to assert their dominance over the mortal realm vanished to the passage of time. The Six that stood to govern, control, the mortals had been the lucky ones, the strongest to outdo and outwit those that wanted them enslaved or to see their demise.

“How did you survive?” Noctis interrogated the Niff’s claim, not wholly believing his story in the slightest.

“I hid where no one would bother to find me.” He smiled knowingly, glancing to Cor. “Among your kind. The others wouldn’t be caught dead milling around with mortals like I did...well, for the most part.”

“Why did you then?” The Prince tossed back his question, keeping the blond on his toes.

“It was the safest place. Plus, I got bored.” Loqi shrugged. “It’d be a waste of my talents if I didn’t. Though I’m stuck in this material form,” He motioned to himself. “I’m not ‘stuck’ with this particular body. I could look exactly like you, if I wanted.” Shooting the Prince a small smile was enough keep him quiet.

Deciding the Lucian Prince had been safely placated, at least for the time being, the Niff turned his attention back to the Marshal.

“When I caught news of a disturbance down in the caverns - word of a formidable warrior lurking within...I knew it was you.“ He smiled fondly at the man. “I knew The Six had stayed true to their promise. Why they took so long in fulfilling it, I will never guess.”

“I...I think I may have the answer to that.” Cor admitted, the rest of the group physically leaning in, awaiting more to answer the mystery before them.

It’d been some time since he’d last thought back to the first few moments of his reawakening. It’d been a strange time, one that hadn’t fully made sense, even until now.

“While I don’t recall much of the time between my...death and my supposed resurrection...” He rubbed at the bridge of his nose with a sigh. “I remember something, a voice. At first I had no idea what they meant, but I guess it all makes sense now. I awoke because of you, Noctis.”

Taken aback by the sudden confession, all eyes locked onto the Prince.

“What?” Noctis raised an eyebrow.

“How is that possible? The discovery of the Tempering Grounds occurred maybe 30 years ago. Noct isn’t that old, clearly.” Ignis butted in, slamming down cold, hard facts.

“‘To see the Chosen King take the throne, to usher in a new dawn; this shall be your calling henceforth’.” The Marshal recited. “The discovery of the ruins wasn’t the cause for my awakening.”

Despite the connection of the cavern’s discovery and the supposed disappearance of those that chose to venture into its chasm, the unearthing of the Tempering Grounds had little to do with his revival.

“I was already around, just simply unnoticed, blending in within the Royal Crownsguard seamlessly.” Cor continued. “I can see that The Six chose the right time to send me on my way. I had the benefit of being able to prove myself to the Lucian line, to guard a Royal once again.”

“Again?” Prompto and Noctis both spoke up.

“Yes, again.” He nodded, equally confused looks spreading among the Prince and his retinue. “I stood to protect the Founder King long ago, holding the same responsibilities that Gladio does now.”

“Shield to the Founder King?” Ignis leant forward, fascinated by the revelation.

As far as the Advisor was aware, the Founder King did indeed have a Shield, the custom passed down with every Lucian King, yet the first Shield’s name had never been recovered. Regardless of the work attributed to piecing together the history of Lucis, the name had remained elusive, until now. “If you were his Shield...” Gladio spoke up, breaking his silence. “Then how on Eos did you meet a god?”

Laughing softly to himself, Loqi stood from his place around the fire, Cor following suit as he regarded the 4 in front of him.

“I think that’s a story for another time.” He smiled, albeit somewhat bitterly. “I know you have more questions. But if I’m gone for much longer, the Empire may grow suspicious.”

“You’re leaving?” Cor moved to grab him by the arm, his hold steady. “But you...”

“I know, I know. I wish I could stay.” The wistfulness in the Niff’s eyes matched his tone, reluctant to leave the man’s side. “I promise we’ll see each other again soon.”

He reached out to touch the side of Cor’s face, fingers ghosting against his skin, as much afraid to touch him as he was to say goodbye. “I promise.” Came his whispered vow. “Just wait a little longer.”

As tired, as weary and worn as he was from waiting, another day didn’t seem so hard. Not when he knew his love was so near.

“At least let me escort you back. Please.” It was more of a plea than an offer, the Marshal’s gaze wanting.

“If you must.” Loqi yielded, unable to say no. “If your Prince shall allow you.”

Looking to Noctis expectantly, the Marshal watched the Prince flounder for a mere moment.

“Wha– me? I– O-of course.” Noct cleared his throat. “Don’t let me stop you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Cor nodded, well and truly thankful.

Even if he could have just another few minutes with Loqi, it was more than enough. Just seeing his love once again was far more than he’d ever expected to have.

[cherryblossomcheesecake]

God & His Priests & His Kings - a ffxv oc fan fic 1/?

A/N: Hey y’all, the sequal is finally here! So it’s gonna be awhile before much happens, this chapter is character/world building for the most part cuz we do have a big timeskip between HR&B and this story. Now, fair warning: it’s gonna be a LONG time before Soo gets together with a chocobro and this fic does start off with her being in a relationship with a male OC. That being said, this fic will contain underage sex/sex between two minors and eventually between adults, so I will do my best to let ppl know about nsfw content in the A/N and let y’all know where it starts/ends so if you don’t wanna read it, you can just skip it. There is vague nsfw content towards the end of this chapter btw.

ANYWAYS, if you’re stumbling upon this and want to read the prequel, here’s the link for How Rare & Beautiful. This fic is updated every other Friday. I’m also open for requests so send me something after taking a look at my rules!

Master Post

Chapter One: Feast of Starlight or Where Soo-Min is in Goryeo

I knelt quietly in the palace gardens, praying to any gods who would listen. I was sending off my daily pleads to the astrals and anyone else listening; I prayed for the health of the three princess elects, and their consorts and children. I prayed for the health of my mother, and for the health of the royal families of Lucis and Tenebrae.

Littered around me were piles of flowers and herbs that I had begun bundling either to be put on display throughout the various rooms in the palace or to be dried in the apothecary. The afternoon sun kissed my pale skin, offering some colour to my cheeks. I twirled a blue flower between my fingers, thinking of the little boy I had left behind in Lucis seven years ago, with those big sapphire blue eyes and messy black hair.

Seeing the prince grow through the dreamscape was hard; as Noctis grew older, he began to seek me out less, making our visits few and far between. I hadn’t seen him since he started high school this year, his hair trimmed to a short length to adhere to school rules. He had slowly begun to shoot up in height, easily passing my five foot two and continuing to grow.

Communicating in the waking world wasn’t any better though. Letters between Goryeo and Insomnia took weeks to get from the sender to the destination, nevermind how difficult it was to find the time to sit down and write a letter. I had sent a response off to Noctis a month ago, but with the exam season just around the corner, it was hard to say when I’d get a reply.

I sighed heavily, turning back to the flowers and herbs I had yet to sort through. Blades of cut grass clung to the dark green fabric of my skirt as I picked through the stocks and bound them together with twine.

I had become so immersed in my task that I let out a small scream when a pair of hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against a firm chest.

“You need to be more alert when you’re alone, jagiya.” a husky voice whispered into my ear, making me fight to turn around and hit my assailant on the arm.

Orion gave me a toothy grin, chuckling as I huffed at him before replying.

“And you shouldn’t go around scaring court ladies when they’re working. You’re lucky I didn’t have a knife,” I said, poking his chest as I glared at his tanned face.

“You wouldn’t stab me, you value my company too much.” he stated cockily, pushing a strand of hair away from my face.

“I may value your company and friendship, however I do not appreciate when you disrupt my work.” I said as I turned away to continue bundling up the herbs.

I had met Orion when I was thirteen, and he was fifteen; I had been in the market that day running errands for my mother and he had been working at a fish stall that my family frequently purchased from. The older boy had talked my ear off the entire time I was at the stall, and asked after me in the following weeks.

Myung-Hee got it into her head about making a match between me and the half-galahdian boy, sending me down to the market for errands more often, usually to his father’s fish stall for random things. Orion and I eventually became friends, spending the afternoons on the coast when we could both get away from our respective jobs.

In the three years that I had known him, Orion had swiftly changed from a boy into a man. As he inched closed to adulthood, his features began to appear sharper as baby fat melted away, and stubble covered his strong jaw. His long dark hair was adorned with braids and some strands bound together with leather strips, pulled back from his tanned face with the sides shaven. It was an attractive look for him, a beautiful blend of his mixed heritage involving both Galahdian and Goryean undertones.

And of course Orion wasn’t the only one blooming into adulthood. I was experiencing puberty all over again, dealing with the rushes of forgotten hormones and rapid body changes. My body in this world wasn’t too different from that of the one I had on Earth, save for minor differences in the finer details.

My skin was more golden despite how little time I spent in the sun, with my long dark hair falling to my lower back in a sea of black. My eyes were more upturned at the outer corners, my face fuller. My petite frame carried little to no curves, my breasts smaller than before, but I remained at my old height of five foot two.

In comparison, Orion towered over me even when sitting, his palm against the grass as he leaned towards me.

“When is the third princess planning on relieving you of your duties, court lady Han-Farron?” the man asked, smiling roguishly as he came closer.

My brown gaze flicked up to meet his own, taking in the mischievous glimmer that lurked within them, sending my chest aflutter.

“Princess Eun-Byeol usually dismisses me shortly after nightfall, unless she requires me further.” I replied, tucking herbs and flowers into a basket for travel from the gardens to the palace.

“I’ll wait for you then…” Orion whispered, leaning in even closer as he tucked a blossom behind my ear before swiftly departing.

A small smile graced my lips as I watched him go, my fingers delicately touching the blossom. I gathered up what remained of the flowers before lifting the basket as I rose and hurried off in the opposite direction, my dark green skirt fluttering in the wind.

The stone pathway wound through the massive garden, intersecting with other paths and branching off at various points as it led up towards the palace. The green of the garden soon gave way to the red pillars of the palace, the high walls and soldiers separating the garden from the courtyard beyond.

As soon as I entered, I was surrounded by the people of the palace. Court ladies and servants milled about, no part of the palace was silent as they carried out their duties. I walked among them, heading for the kitchen to drop off the various herbs and flowers so the could be delivered to the appropriate heads of staff.

Upon entering the kitchen, I was directed by head court lady Oh to place the basket on the long wooden table that stretched across the kitchen. After words, I approached the older woman, head bowed respectfully as she handed me a tray of tea and rice cakes.

“Deliver this to third princess Eun-Byeol’s chambers, she is taking her evening tea with the first princess Gyeong-Hui. Do not return until you are dismissed.” court lady Oh ordered in a stern tone, no different from usual.

I accepted the tray with a small nod and a quiet, “Yes, lady Oh,” before departing from the kitchens and making my way across the palace. The chambers of my lady, third princess Eun-Byeol, was farthest from the kitchens, prompting me to stride quickly as the air chilled with the slow onset of evening.

The guards posted outside my lady’s chambers opened the doors at my approach, allowing me entry to the receiving room where the two princesses sat talking.

“Ah, lady Han-Farron. You’ve returned from the gardens, and with tea and cakes.” came princess Eun-Byeol’s bell-like voice as I placed the tray on the table, setting the tea pot and rice cakes between the royals.

“Yes, your highness. Court lady Oh believed that rice cakes would be suitable for the first and third princesses.” I answered respectfully, my eyes directed towards the floor as my hands pressed against my abdomen as I withdrew from the table.

“A good decision on her part.” Princess Gyeong-Hui confirmed as she selected a cake from the plate, “Now, my dear, how are you adjusting to being a personal court lady to princess Eun-Byeol? I know this must be rather different for you.” the elder princess inquired, her voice weathered by age.

“The third princess has been nothing but kind to me, your highness. She doesn’t ask too much of me and is fair in her orders.” came my response as the two princesses continued with their evening tea.

“Good. You may be a lower station than her, but you are still a member of the Han clan and my grand-daughter. It’s is an honour for princess Eun-Byeol to have a personal court lady of your standing.” the first princess continued, taking a sip of her tea as she spoke.

“Of course, your highness.” I answered simply, standing still against the wall behind the older woman.

The two princesses continued to speak with each other, allowing me time to let my mind wander. I thought back on when I became Eun-Byeol’s personal lady, when I had just turned sixteen in this new life. I had been a regular court lady before then, starting when I turned thirteen, learning etiquette and the skills that were necessary to serve and provide for a family. But as my features became more mature and my figure went from girl to woman, I began to resemble the third princess, which gained the attention of the other two princesses and their court ladies.

I was approached by my grandmother and her court lady following my sixteenth birthday, who explained the role of personal court ladies; we were to be the double of our princess, so that if the princess was in danger or needed to wander anonymously, the court lady would stand in her place with nobody none the wiser. The makeup the princesses wore to disguise certain parts of their features made it much easier to pull off the switching of identities; the flowing silks of the ruqun hiding the differences in body shape. I had only stood in as Eun-Byeol’s double a few times, but it was amazing how much we did look like each other when I was dressed as her.

I was brought out of my thoughts at the sound of Gyeong-Hui’s chair scraping against the wood floor as she stood to take her leave.

“It was a pleasure to speak with you, princess Eun-Byeol. We don’t speak often outside of court,” she said, giving a slight nod of her head.

The younger girl rose as well, bowing her head in respect as she replied, “It was an honour to host you. I hope we can speak outside of court more often.”

Gyeong-Hui nodded once more before turning and sweeping out the door with a guard and handmaiden behind her. Eun-Byeol headed towards her bronze mirror that rested on her dressing table, as I quickly placed the empty plate, teapot and cups on my tray before following her further into her living space.

I began to assist her in removing various hair pins and ornaments, watching as sections of her hair began to fall from her formal updo. Once all her hair was released from the various pins and twists, I gently began combing the tangled strands, working through the knotted sections with care. It was a long process due to the length of the princess’ hair, but thankfully the knots were easily untangled, and I began to help Eun-Byeol remove her ruqun and redress in her night clothes. The white silk nightdress was simpler for the princess to handle on her own, so I began disposing of the dirty ruqun so that it could be washed.

“Is there anything else you need, your highness?” I asked politely as the older woman stood across the room.

“No, that’ll be all for the evening, thank you.” Eun-Byeol replied, her cool gaze landing on me briefly before turning towards her bed. I bowed respectfully despite her back being turned to me, and I departed from her living space.

The evening guard had begun their watch as I closed the door behind me, the night’s chill touching my cheeks. I sighed and quickly made my way to the small room located not too far from the princess’ chambers that had been appointed to me. They were located in a secluded courtyard that was near the walls separating the palace from the gardens, the area free of trees and awashed in moonlight.

I slipped into my room, quietly closing the door behind me. The rice paper door that led to the courtyard was open, letting the moonlight into the small room and illuminating Orion’s large figure as he laid on the bedding. I smiled silently before unpinning my hair for the night, listening to the shuffling of fabric as the older man shucked his tunic across the room before padding over to where I kneeled in front of my small dressing table.

Kneeling behind me, Orion brushed my hair away from the side of my neck before slowly brushing his lips over sensitive skin. I shivered lightly, allowing him to have his fun as I slowly wiggled out of my outer clothes, letting the silk of my hanbok drop to the floor.

I giggled when his lips brushed over a particularly ticklish spot on my neck, slipping out of his arms and walking over to the bedding, smiling as dark, hungry eyes followed me. Orion slowly followed, the beads in his hair clacking as his lips sought out mine once he stood in front of me.

His kiss was hungry and lustful, large hands roaming my torso as he attempted to remove my under clothes and cotton underskirt. The skin-to-skin contact was heavenly after spending a few nights without him, warmth radiating from his body as we both lost what remained of our clothing. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we lay entwined on the bedding, his lips mouthing a path of fire down my neck and chest, drawing small gasps from me as we slowly succumbed to our lust and passion.

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