AN:Co-written with Tirailleur.
This fic started when Tirailleur and I discussed an idea: What if Nyx survived? And thus, this fic was born. Hope you like it.
The silence, not usual for this place, was broken only by the singing of birds, and by the voices of animals that came to enjoy the flesh of those who had tried to defend their right to life yesterday. Light streams of wind soared into the air, ash and dust, spinning them into curious curls, and again gave them to the will of gravity, only gently tearing their fall with cautious blows. On the ruins, along with the scavengers and marauders were already beginnings to search for easy prey. A variety of glaive's badges, MT's blades, and simply scrap metal was easy enough to sell on the local black market, so for some, yesterday's catastrophe turned into something positive - easy profit, albeit thanks to someone else's grief. But unlike the others, these people knew how to drop their conscience far away.
It was hard to breathe. The first deep sigh rolled through the lungs, like sandpaper, making him cough spasmodically. His eyes desperately didn't want to focus on the light, but as soon as they did, he saw above himself a strange man in a respirator and goggles. This person helped him get out of the rubble, with sharp jerk at the hand, putting the guy if not on his feet, then at least on his knees.
The sun hit his eyes, the ash that yesterday had been in the air, already settled on remnants of buildings and cars.
"How are you? Alive?" a person of indefinite sex said, whose voice was distorted by the respirator and baggy clothes also didn't help to understand, who was standing in front of him, a man or woman. To himself, Nyx noted that this is one of the marauders. These are always like vultures; they followed MT and collected any carrion that remained after them. Not that he despised them, everyone in this difficult situation survived, as best as they could.
"Yes…" staggering, he rose on his feet.
It wasn't so hard to breathe now, and his brain slowly began to work, immediately filling with thoughts and questions. But the buzzing head didn't let him focus.
Princess… Lucis… the ring… the Ring…
"Why I'm alive?" Nyx said quietly, looking at his burned hands. The puzzle in his head didn't want to add up, but he was already collecting quite big pieces from the overall picture, thanks to which, it would be possible to begin to orientate at least a little bit, in what was happening.
"Are you asking me?" Marauder, who had already found someone's abandoned greatcoat already happily rummaged in it, in search of something forgotten. He didn't want to focus on Nyx, but instead was absorbed in careful cutting off, the epaulettes and unfastening the badge. "I don't know, probably, you were crushed and Niffs thought that you were dead. Or just didn't notice. Today, such stories are common among the survivors."
"No, I' m not talking about this …"glaive realized that his rescuer is clearly not someone who should know about his inner demons, and began to rummage in the pocket of his torn Kingsglaive uniform in search of at least an elementary handkerchief that would allow him to breathe here.
"Then I don't know… By the way, there's my backpack. Take a respirator or you can get pulmonary edema."
"Are you a doctor?"
"Something like that. Graduated a week ago. And then, this happened. Thank the Six, I managed to get a diploma!" judging by the words, it was a guy, Nyx noted to himself. The newly graduated doctor gazed joyfully at the battered shoulder straps and quickly hid them in the breast pocket of his jacket. "If anything hurts, say it, I'll see. After all, I gave an oath!"
Still, why he was alive? This question bothered him. But also made him remember new memories.
Bright light, weak glow and he alone among the huge figures feels like an insect. They are discussing his fate with some kind of disdain, as if they see - insolent people asking for strength, every twenty or thirty times a day. And after a brief wrangling, a verdict was passed - he gets strength, in exchange for his life. A fleeting regret, maybe even some envy of the girl he rescued. But a negative thought is forgotten without regret, giving strength to Let her meet a new day, and then, the second thought For the Two of Us follows the first. Funny ... He didn't even thought about saving Lucis at this moment. And even when he asked her to save Libertus, saying that the future is in her hands, didn't even mean the kingdom. It's funny ... How funny ... Only one conversation at the aquarium, a few hours spent with her in the occupied city, and he already felt something for her? Very funny ... Although, maybe just he hit the head, but then why does his heart bleed?
"Heeey," in the marauder's hands, from the overcoat, there was only an indented piece of cloth, on which was the last button, which the guy was only planning to cut off. "Maybe I'll examine you after all?"
"No, thanks for digging me up," Nyx grinned and walked briskly towards the remnants of the buildings, which were only yesterday had been majestic skyscrapers that greeted honorary guests at the entrance to the city and tourists.
"Well, it's your choice, my business to offer!" the marauder called after him.
Nyx began to think about the plan. He needed to find new clothes, food, a car and go to Altissia to protect Luna and Stella, as King Regis asked, before he died from General Glauca's sword.
Stella was sitting in the café at Hammerhead outpost. She got at least some opportunity to rest after all that had happened. Insomnia, failed peace treaty, Niffs ... Yes, just a perfect way how to spend a Saturday night! She wondered how many people have safely got out, and where to look for Noctis and his retinue?
She didn't know. And she also didn't know what to do next.
The radio broadcasted about the deaths of Luna and Noctis, more and more with its monotonous pace, making it on the nerves. The visitors of the cafe, tragically echoing it"both the Prince and the Oracle were killed on the same day, right before the wedding. What a loss! "
The girl that sat at nearby table almost burst into tears from what she had heard, and the blonde began to tap her fingers on the table with a strange, only known to her rhythm.
"You will not die so easily ..." she said quietly to herself. "You just do not know how to die, Noctis. I do not believe in your death."
"Miss, is the table free?"
Wonderful. Now, some homeless person is flirting with her.
"I'm tired explaining that… Nyx!?"
"Surprised to see me?" Nyx winked at her, but his rumpled look didn't give his smile a heroic tinge, rather, in Stella's mind, he was still a polygamous 'homeless man.' "I'm as shocked as you are that I'm alive."
"Did you have any reasons not to survive?" blonde quirked an eyebrow. "Okay, tell your entertaining stories later. I would like get some money now ..." Stella glanced at the counter, behind which, the cashier counted the money. It seemed that he was in charge of hunting here.
"How did you get out?"
"Got out with Marshal." Stella looked at her drink again. "Before the old wall rose."
"Lucky you. I was throwed into the centre of events ..." Nyx desperately tried to provoke the interest of his companion to his strange story, but Stella wasn't interested and wasn't in a hurry to get out of her thoughts. "Did something happen to you?" He decided to be the first to take the initiative and listen to Princess' story.
"My sister," Stella answered quietly. "Luna, Lady Lunafreya. I don't believe the radio, but it doesn't matter. We all lost someone there."
Nyx clenched his hand. He also heard what the radio was broadcasting, and didn't believe it for a second. No doubt, it's one of Empire's tricks. Noctis and Luna symbolize hope for the people of Eos, and if they perish, the world will fall into darkness and chaos.
"You're right. We all lost someone there. But I'm sure Luna and Prince Noctis are alive."
"Luna and Noctis are too stubborn to die so easily."
"What are you planning to do now?" Nyx asked.
"I don't know. First we need to get money," Stella at the cash register. "And try to meet with Noctis and his friends. We can't catch up with Luna."
He didn't like Stella's last statement. She was right. The Oracle had several hours of headstart, if not more, and they wouldn't catch up with her, even if they were in a hurry.
Damn. This is bad.
But if they couldn't catch up with Luna, then, at least, he will protect her younger sister and the young king.