Taking Care of Business

Staring at the ceiling I couldn't imagine anything more boring. I've been staring at the same ceiling for ten years. Ten years since they transferred me from the Fluret household

to Caelum in the Crown City. I still didn't particularly understand why mom would let them do that or really even how they did that. I guess they figured like mother like

daughter and threw me into the life of service. I didn't have to worry about most things, like mom told me. It was mostly minding my manners: bowing, watching my tone,

addressing people correctly and so on. I didn't understand how a nine-year-old could more mature than a ten-year-old prince. It might've been because I had grown up around

Luna and Ravis. Luna was kindly and Ravis, as crass as he was then, wasn't as rude as Noctis. Ah, Noctis-sama I mean. Our first meeting was underwhelming to say the least.

All he did was scowl at me across the entry way until King Regis shot him a disapproving look and it morphed into a mask of boredom. Fast forward ten years to now the start of

my senior year and the prince was still ordering me around to get this and that. I mean I get it I'm the help but ever since Ignis gave him my phone number in case he couldn't

be reached I was like suddenly I was his replacement. I didn't envy Ignis's position at all.A loud beep from my phone broke my chain of thought. I reached out and grabbed my

phone without any urgency bringing the screen up to me. I sighed reading the message;"well…so much for my rest day." I muttered swinging my legs over the side of my bed

getting up. It was a message from Ignis to go check on Prince Noctis since he had other matters to attend too. I was just about to head out the door when another beep caught

my attention again; "That means right now Amida." I swept the fringe that had fallen on to my face to the side and replied; "Leaving."

I put on my black shoes and headed out of my room, down the hallway, down another hallway, up some stairs and out the service door. It was a bit of a walk to Noctis's

apartment, Ignis told me to take one of the cars but I expected none of the drivers were there since it was the middle of the day. It wasn't like I needed the exercise and it was

a royal pain to walk three miles there just to check to see if he's still breathing and then walk all the way back but it was something I was assigned to do. I passed a few shops

and some food venders on my way and eventually reached the landing. A few quick sharp knocks on the door were followed by no response. I could just leave but if something

had happened to him Ignis would have my head and I honestly didn't dislike his highness that much.

I opened the door and was shocked by the mess I saw. So, he'd graduated and decided to live in a pig sty, how charming. Ignis told me last time he'd cleaned up, guess not. I

made my way over to what looked like the kitchen with a singed frying pan waiting in the dish drainer, looking across to see Noctis asleep on the couch. I sighed again and

made to pick up all the crap that littered the floor. Then I started on making dinner, it looked like he was living on ramen. I looked in the fridge and found an egg, some milk,

and nearly rotten vegetables that Ignis must've left. Cleaning those out I understood why he had told me to bring stuff from the kitchen.

I started in on making the sauce for the Katsu Don. I had found out when we were kids that if I had blended the veggies into the sauce and added more spice that either he

didn't notice or didn't mind so much that they were there. Lucky for me he wasn't awake to see the process. I was starting to fry off the pork when I heard a groan and I looked

up to see him roll over and then shift again before rubbing one eye as he sat up, his eyes still closed.

"…. Specs?" He asked groggily, "When did you get here?"

My fringe fell over my face again as I looked back down at the frying pan, making sure not to burn it. My raven hair hung in a loose side braid halfway down my waist so that

there wouldn't be any surprises in the food. I tried to secure the fringe as best I could but it wasn't short enough to naturally stay out of the way; I tucked it as best I could

behind my ear.

"Ignis?" He asked again curiously as he slowly opened his eyes and winced at the lights in the room.

"Not Ignis." I replied simply as I flipped the cutlet over. Perfect timing, I thought as the rice cooker turned off.

"Amida?" He asked almost failing to cover his surprise as his eyes opened fully.

I took the cutlet out of the pan and put it on the paper towels to drain the access oil from it and nodded my head sharply.

There was a bet of silence before I heard footsteps come and stop at the counter. I nearly jumped out of my skin when he asked what I had made.

"Katsu." I pointed at the cutlet "Don." And then at the sauce dubiously.

"Looks…edible." He stated, I frowned.

"Just go sit, it'll be done in a minute." I said putting the plate together.

I wasn't looking at him but from the sigh that escaped his lips I could practically see the slight frown that adorned his face. He retreated to the couch and I heard a stool being

drawn to the little table. I brought the plate over and set it down in front of him and placed the chopsticks next to the plate making to turn around and start cleaning up.

"Woah…that's a lot." He said chuckling a little.

"I don't know how much you eat." I said looking away.

"Aren't you going to eat too?" He asked questioningly looking at the empty spot across from him.

"I only made enough for one." I responded.

"I'll give you half." He reasoned, "It's too much, even for me."

"Really, I'd rather –" I started.

"I wasn't asking…" He cut in quickly and my eyes snapped to look at his.

Onyx eyes clashed with blue ones and I knew that I wasn't going to get out of this one. He just wanted me to stay, it was apparent by the little frown that appeared on his face

again.

I sighed, resigned and he smirked a little obviously feeling victorious.

I walked over and grabbed a paper plate from the stack in the cabinet and came back allowing him to divide it as he wanted.

There was little talking throughout the meal and by the end neither one of us knew any more about the other. When he was done, I took the plates and threw them away and

washed the chopsticks.

"How is it that you're still trying to avoid me even though I'm right here." He stated like a fact. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear him approach, I looked up at him

slightly.

I sighed for the umpteenth time today and shook my head.

He leaned his back against the counter, it was his turn to sigh.

I was frustrated with the pan, no matter how hard I tried to get it clean it just wasn't having it. "What the hell did you do to this pan?" I asked incredulous.

Noctis looked down and kicked the ground softly; "I um tried to cook something and it well…ended…badly again." His voice trailed off at the end.

"Did you follow a recipe or something?" I asked

"…No." came his embarrassed response. "But you don't use one and neither does Ignis."

"Ignis knows what he's doing and I learned from him." I stated giving up on that pan.

"Just throw it out." He said looking back.

"No, I'll just leave it for Ignis to do. Seemed to be able to handle the last one from what I heard." I said.

His eyes went wide for a second and he kicked the ground again embarrassed and coughed.

"Well, I'm going to head out." I said looking up at him, "remember that tomorrow you are to return to the palace before setting off to Altissia." I reminded.

"Yeah, I know I know." He rolled his eyes, "I'll be there."

"I know he's your father but King Regis won't like it if you're late your highness." I stated matter of fact.

"Noct is fine." he corrected me, "Ignis already told me the same thing the other day."

"Funny, he's the one who told me to remind you." I said, he scoffed.

"It's late, I could call a car to come and get you." He said holding up his phone as I turned to leave.

"I'm alright, I'm not afraid of the dark." I stated leaving. I walked down the steps and out into the street. That's right, I'm not afraid of the dark because in more ways than one

that's what I was. At night is when the daemons come out to play, but they wouldn't bother me. I let out a soundless laugh as I melted into the darkness.

Hi everyone, just so you know I haven't seen the Kingsglave movie so the events that transpired there probably won't be involved in this story. I'm sorry for any misspelled names or grammatical errors. I'm a pretty new fanfiction writer so please if you're going to critique let it be constructive, I am looking forward to see what you all think :) Also, reviews help keep me going so I know I'm not writing to no one haha

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the story!

~ Linbeannie ~