A/N: This fic is a series of oneshots, prompt-fills, and random scenes cut from Fractured. All exist in an AU where Noctis has a twin sister.

I've just rearranged the whole fic and posted a handful of other chapters that I promised to post like a year ago (okay, it was probably a couple months). Anyway, everything's chronological now and each chapter is tagged with a summary at the top.

Summary: The aftermath of Noctis' daemon attack, as perceived by Reina.

February, 744:

An eight year old didn't have the vocabulary to describe what it felt like to watch her brother's life slipping away. Blood was a thing she was only distantly acquainted with. It came from skinned knees and papercuts. Never before had she really considered that there was so much of it that could come out of a person. It seemed to be everywhere; sticky and wet, dripping down Noct's fingers and soaking his clothes. It was stark against his pale skin. Paler than usual, and it wasn't just the dark. His fingers were cold to the touch when she took his hand; it remained lifeless in hers, unresponsive.

Their car sped toward the Citadel, the buildings outside passing by faster than Reina had ever seen. She knelt on the floor in the back. The king sat on the seat with Noctis half cradled in his arms, holding sodden bandages against his son's chest with shaking hands.

"He's going to be okay, isn't he? Father?"

If he had told her everything would be fine she would have believed him. Death was a distant concept associated only with darkness and the sadness it seemed to inflict on people. She had never known anyone who had died before, and at that moment it hadn't even crossed her mind that her brother could die. He had always just been there. Every day of her life. Even when she didn't want him to be. A little part of her felt self-assured that Noctis would open his eyes and smile at her again any minute; all he needed were some bandages. But the way that her father held to him… it made her doubt.

He looked up at her like he didn't quite see her. His skin was pale, too. He clutched at Noctis like he was afraid Noct would leave, and the look in his eyes was haunted. And haunting.

It was that look, more than anything else, that drove the cold spike of fear through her heart. She held onto her brother's hand a little tighter. Her vision blurred and great hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

Their car and the others pulled up outside the Citadel. Though it was night, there were people everywhere-people on the steps, people inside the entrance hall. Clarus was there, and Cor, but her father walked on with a dogged determination, not looking at a soul, not speaking a word as they swept through the main hall and into the elevator. Reina kept on his heels all the way to her bedroom, where still more people were waiting. People with gloves and masks and coats to keep blood off their clothes. She tried not to think about the look on her father's face, but she couldn't help it. That picture sat in her mind and radiated fear. Noctis was not going to be okay. He was not going to wake up and smile at her. He wasn't going to wake up at all.

At the door, Clarus stopped her. He put his hands on her shoulders and kept her from following the king inside. Reina's eyes widened. She reached out and made a swipe for her father's coat, but he was already out of reach.

"Noctis! Father—!" Reina cried, pulling with all her strength. Pointless. Noctis couldn't hear her, and either her father didn't hear or he didn't care. Either way, he didn't turn around.

"Better that you stay out here, Reina," Clarus scooped her up like she was still four. If she hadn't been thoughtless with terror she might have been indignant.

Reina craned to see through the open door, rubbing away stubborn tears and trying to catch her breath. There were doctors all around Noctis' bed—or she thought they must be doctors—and her father stood back, watching as if too horrified to look away, but she could hardly see any of Noctis.

"This is a poor place for a child; take her elsewhere. See if you can calm her," Cor said to Clarus. It was another thing she might otherwise have been irked by; being talked over as if she wasn't there or couldn't understand them. Now, though, the only thing she registered was that Clarus was going to take her away from her brother when he needed her most.

Reina gathered up every ounce of breath that she hadn't spent on tears and screamed: "No—Father!"

She pushed against Clarus' chest, trying to wriggle free of his grasp. He held onto her in spite of her flailing, but inside the bedroom the king turned. His eyes settled on her; this time they actually did focus and he looked as if he had just remembered he had another child.

"Reina…" he breathed. "Let her down, Clarus. Come here, my dear."

It was unnecessary encouragement; as soon as her feet touched the ground she was running for him as fast as her body would take her. She ducked past Cor, in case he tried to stop her, too, but he didn't. No one else did. She hit her father's chest and threw her arms around his neck.

"Reina… my little girl." He lifted her off her feet, straightening, and she held tight to him.

There were tears, again. Only half were hers, and the realization that her father was crying only multiplied her own tears. Father never cried. He was stone and he was steel and he could do anything. If he was afraid then Noctis was never coming back. She hardly knew death beyond the word, but she feared it now more than anything.

From her father's arms she could see Noctis laid out on his bed, with his shirt cut open and a great tear in his skin. Reina couldn't watch more than that. She hid her face against her father's neck and stayed there, frozen, while her tears soaked his shoulder.

If Noctis never came back she would only be half. People were really born one at a time; sometimes they just had two halves. She was one of those halves. He was everything she wasn't and she was just the leftover bits. If something had to be thrown away, surely it should have been her half. But that wasn't how life really worked, was it?

The night dragged on. Reina was too exhausted to do anything except cry, but it would have taken a drill to pry her hands from her father's coat. At some point they sat down, the king folding into a chair with his daughter in his lap. His eyes remained fixed on Noctis; Reina couldn't bring herself to look again. Time didn't pass like it should have. It was like the day before a birthday when she knew there would be surprises and magic waiting for her the next day if only the current day would end—except that there wasn't anything good at all waiting for her at dawn. She wanted to go to sleep. More than that she wanted to wake up. She wanted it all to be a bad dream and for the morning to come and scare away the monsters.

But it never did.

Eventually the activity did die down. Reina couldn't have said how long it took except that it was too long.

"We've done all we can for now, Your Majesty. Only time will tell…"

Reina lifted her head and turned to see Noctis. He might have been sleeping if his skin hadn't been so white. There wasn't any blood anymore; even the bandages were hidden away beneath blankets.

"We'll be on hand at all times, in case…"

"Thank you," said the king. He sounded grateful, but he didn't sound like him.

The doctors trickled away. After a few moments, they were replaced by others-Cor and Clarus, having finally come in from outside. No one said anything at first. They were all just looking at Noctis. Reina wanted to cry, still, but her head ached and her eyes were dry and burning; when she shut them they stung, but no tears came.

"Regis," Clarus ventured at last. "If you would like to get some rest, he will be well looked after."

The king's eyes flicked toward his friend, but he didn't move. "No, Clarus. I do not intend to leave his side."

"And Reina?" Clarus pressed.

Reina looked up at her father. This time he did tear his eyes from Noctis to look at her. She didn't open her mouth, but she pleaded with everything she had that he wouldn't send her away. He smoothed one hand over her hair, considering for a moment.

"I think it would be best if she remained with me."

She might have smiled if there had been anything left to smile with. Instead she just threw her arms around his neck and stayed there.

"Very well," said Clarus.

There was the sound of shuffling feet, like they were heading for the door. Her father stopped them with a word.

"Clarus. Send word to Sylva."

"Of course."

Reina continued to cling to her father until the other two took their leave, and then a little longer. When she pulled back it was to look at Noctis. He always sat with her when she was sick. He always brought her sweets that she wasn't supposed to have and then shared them with her. No matter what, it never failed to make her feel better. But she didn't think even cake would make this better.

Reina slipped from her father's lap, crossing to her brother and standing by his bed. His hand was still cold, but at least the blood was gone. She held it and looked at him. Behind her she could hear her father shift the armchair closer and sit down just behind her. With all the chaos cleared away, she could think a bit. She thought of that morning, when Noctis had left…

"I'm sorry, Noct…" She squeezed his hand in both of hers, hoping he would wake up. If she had just tried a little harder, been a bit more persuasive, maybe he would have stayed. Then he would be alright.

"What are you sorry for?" Her father asked.

She glanced over her shoulder at him, "For not telling him to stay."

A pause.

"You did tell him to stay," he said it as if he had only just remembered.

"But not hard enough. I should have told him harder."

The king leaned forward to lift her from under her arms and drag her back onto his lap. The hand he settled over her legs shook.

"Reina… why were you so adamant not to leave, today?"

She looked up at him through round eyes. When her father asked anything of her she responded as was proper. But tonight she didn't have a response for him. She remembered the feeling of that morning: fear and a terrible worry for what was to come. But there hadn't been anything coming. They were just going out. Nothing had been different.

"I was scared… of bad things happening." It was the only way she could think to explain it.

"What made you believe anything would happen?" His voice was level, as if they were just discussing what she had learned in school that day, but it felt considerably more weighty to her.

"Because it's a bad day. It felt bad."

She knew it was a poor explanation, but as much as she hated it, she couldn't think of any other way to explain herself. Her father didn't push her. He seemed to accept that she couldn't explain any better than she had. So he simply sighed and held her against his chest, leaning back in the armchair. Reina curled against him, holding tight to the front of his coat. She kept her eyes open, fixed on her twin. She was afraid that if she shut them he would wake up without her… or worse.

But eventually she did close her eyes. She didn't remember it; she didn't remember her eyelids growing heavy until it was simply too much to keep them open any longer. She didn't remember her head drooping forward against her father's chest, or the way the king drew and extra blanket from the edge of Noct's bed to cover her up.

When she opened her eyes next, it was light outside. She was still exactly where she had been when she had fallen asleep. So was Noctis. Her father, still sitting with his arms around her and a blanket thrown over the both of them, was fast asleep. He didn't get to remain that way for long.

Clarus was the first to arrive and though he had the good grace to bring with him breakfast and coffee, the king didn't eat much. After Clarus and breakfast there was a steady stream of people all day. Some were for Noctis and some were for the king. Many of them were sent away with an indifferent wave, and Reina watched her father give instructions to Clarus to take care of things.

Sometime in the morning, Reina's governess appeared in the doorway looking characteristically grim.

"Your Majesty," she bowed rather than curtsied because that was just her. "The princess' school begins in less than an hour."

Reina had completely forgotten that school was something she attended until that moment. Her eyes moved from Agnys in the doorway up to her father: they turned round and pleading. Surely he wouldn't send her away from Noctis, now?

The king, similarly, glanced at the governess before looking to his daughter.

"Do you wish to attend?" He asked.

Reina was surprised, not used to being asked her opinion on things she was supposed to be doing—they were just done, regardless of whether or not one wanted to do them—but she answered, anyway.

"No, Father."

He looked back at Agnys, "If you would have her excused, whatever is required, I would be grateful."

"Of course, Your Majesty." She left.

Reina could hardly believe her ears. All she had said was that she didn't want to go to school and now she wasn't going to school. She supposed, however, that these were unique circumstances. Her father understood she couldn't possibly focus while Noct was…

"Is he going to be wake up, Father?"

The king looked down at her, his arms slung loosely about her. His face seemed darker than usual—at least in spots: darkness ringed his eyes, deep lines settled around his mouth, and his gaze was on Noctis more often than not. Even when he looked at Noct, though, he hardly seemed to see. It wasn't a way she was used to seeing her father and that was unsettling, but he did look at her when she spoke.

"I have no answer for you, my dear…" he shook his head and his gaze drifted back to Noct. His eyes were over-bright again, and not at all in a nice way. "I ought to. A father should have all the answers, should he not?"

Reina, stunned, watched a single tear streak down his cheek and disappear into his beard. She didn't understand what she had said or why he was crying again, except about Noctis, but she knew that whenever she was crying, Noctis hugged her and everything was alright after. So she shifted up on her knees in his lap and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him as tight as her little arms could.

"Don't cry, Father… everything will turn out alright."

She didn't see the little smile—melancholy though it was—that chased the dark from her father's face as he hugged her back. She didn't see the way he relaxed, his eyes shut for practically the first time since Clarus had come with breakfast—the remnants of which still sat on a tray near Noct's bed. But she did feel his hands, both of them big enough to cover her back entirely, holding her a little closer.

Eventually Clarus returned and they both looked up at him. She still hadn't completely forgiven him for the night before, but it would have been childish to admit as much.

"Reina," he said gently, as if he hadn't tried to keep her from her family just twelve hours before. "Why don't you come lay down with Noctis? I'm sure he would like to have you close—be careful, now. We wouldn't want to disturb his injuries."

He coaxed her off the king's lap and onto Noct's bed, where she curled up on his far side facing out toward the king. Then he drew her father away, just outside the door, for a hushed conversation. Reina watched them for a time before she propped up on her elbows, looking down at her twin.

"You'll wake up, won't you, Noct? You have to. I don't know what we would do if you didn't."

Predictably, he didn't respond. She sighed and settled her head on his pillow, shutting her eyes.

When she woke up it was dark outside the window and someone had tucked a blanket around her. Noctis was still right where he had been before: sleeping motionless in his bed. The armchair nearby was occupied by the king once more and Clarus was gone.

"Good morning, my dear," he said when she sat up yawning. "Or perhaps I should say 'good evening'."

Reina blinked a rubbed her eyes. When had she even fallen asleep? How had she fallen asleep? She had just laid down, and… she didn't even remember her father returning from his talk with Clarus, but he must have done.

"Are you hungry? I will have someone bring…" The king glanced toward the still-open door and his sentence paused in the middle. "...some dinner—come in, Ignis, it is quite alright."

Reina looked where her father did and watched as Ignis stepped back into view, looking self-conscious. She couldn't think why he should be embarrassed to come: he was Noct's friend, it was only rational for him to be worried.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness." He bowed to them. "I apologize for the intrusion."

The king brushed his apology aside and waved him forward. "Not at all, Ignis. Your place is with Noctis, after all."

Ignis crept forward until he stood at the foot of Noct's bed. They all sat in silence for a moment, looking at the sleeping prince and wondering…

That night, after a dinner they shared with Ignis, Reina slept in Noctis' bed while the king maintained his position in the armchair. By morning little had changed. Noctis slept on. The king looked a little more pale, a little more wane, and after a scant breakfast, Clarus managed to pull him away once more.

Reina remained. She sat, vigilant, by her brother's side with a book propped in her lap. She didn't attend school that day, either, and her father made no objection to it. How could she leave, when Noctis needed her?

She missed him. It seemed silly because he was right there, but she missed her twin terribly. She missed his laughter and his smiles; she missed the way he would run up and down the halls while whoever was supposed to be watching them chased after, trying to convince him to channel his energy into something more productive. She missed talking before bed after lights-out. She missed arguing with him. She would have given almost anything for a derisive remark from him, just then.

She sighed, her book lying forgotten in her lap, and watched him sleep. If he would just open his eyes…

Noctis shifted, his head turning to one side. Reina stopped breathing. He had hardly moved in two days, but now he did. She could see his eyes moving beneath closed lids. Dreaming. But not a good dream, if that sound he made—caught somewhere between pain and fear—was anything to judge by.

"Noctis?"

Beneath the blankets he shifted, restless. His hands caught hold of the sheets and he gave a tiny cry like a wounded animal.

"Noctis! Wake up!" Reina leaned forward on her hands and knees, dropping the book from her lap, and touched his shoulder gently—that part, at least, wasn't injured. "Noct, it's me, Reina. Wake up, please."

She watched as he stilled and she held her breath. His face turned toward her and, with a flicker, his eyes opened.

"Noctis," she breathed, hardly daring to believe it was real. There were tears in her eyes and she didn't know where they had come from, but he was alive—he was awake—and that was all that mattered.

"Father!" Reina lifted her voice and threw it to the open door, as loud as her little lungs would allow. "Come quick!"

It didn't occur to her at just that moment that such instruction could be taken as either good news or bad news and that it would have been helpful to add 'he's awake,' for the overall health of everyone in the Citadel. So she didn't. The result was that a dozen people besides the king rushed into the room and her father, who came last with Clarus just behind, had to fight his way through them.

There was a stricken look on his face—just as terrified as he had been the first night, perhaps more. Noctis wore a look of bemused surprise. Reina clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide, as she realized what she had done. She didn't have the chance to apologize. Indeed, even if she had, it would have immediately been forgotten, because when the king found his son not dying, as he had feared, but very much alive and awake for the first time in days, he forgot everything else. He dropped onto the edge of the bed, taking Noct's hand and covering it.

"Noctis…"

Clarus ushered the crowd of people out. Reina gave him an apologetic look when he caught her eye, but the King's Shield merely shook his head and stepped outside himself, giving the royal family their moment alone.

"Dad…" Noctis' voice came out quiet and hoarse from disuse. He turned his head slowly to the side, as if it was nearly too heavy to move, and looked at Reina. "Rei…"

"Noct!" Reina gave a tearful laugh and threw her arms around his neck.

"I thought I was burning… and daemons…" Noct said. "But then I heard you."

"Noctis…" said the king. "I will let no one harm you."

Though Noctis had passed the dark, dreamless sleep and come out on the other side, he was hardly well. The daemon had left him unable to walk and practically bed-bound. Meanwhile, he slept only with Reina at his side and then often fitfully, dreaming of monsters and fire.

He had said hardly a word since waking, and though no one brought it up directly to him, Reina could see that others were unsettled by it. Their father, used to only facing silence from Noctis when he was pouting—which could easily be bribed away—now found that much conversation with Noct now included long stretches of quiet and blank stares.

Outside the bedroom door, doctors discussed with the king, in hushed tones, what was wrong with the prince.

What was wrong with him.

Reina slipped off the edge of Noct's bed and shut the door, cutting off the conversation outside, closing them off in a quiet little bubble—if only for a moment. They would be back, she knew, but he didn't need to listen to people telling Father what was wrong with him. Nothing was wrong with him, except that he was still healing and maybe needed some help. That was all.

Door shut, she returned to lay down on the bed with her twin, wrapping her arms around his neck and snuggling close, though she was wary of his injuries. Noct grabbed her arm and held on. He didn't thank her and he didn't need to. There were no words spoken by the twins. For a moment it was just quiet—blissful quiet after two days of a steady stream of people coming in a poking and prodding and hovering. When would it end? It wasn't even Reina they were fussing over and she was still annoyed. Or perhaps it was worse because it was Noct.

The door opened again and one of the attendants outside poked his head in.

"You shouldn't shut the door, Your Highness," he scolded Reina. "If something were to happen…"

Reina sat up, letting Noct hold onto her hand instead, and glared at the attendant. "Pray, do not tell me what is to be done with my own door. And do not intrude on the privacy of the prince and princess."

The man looked taken aback, clearly having not expected such venom from an eight year old—and from the princess, who was well-known to be pliant and well-mannered, no less. Before he could think how to respond, the king appeared in the doorway behind him.

"What is going on?" He asked, his tone heavy as his eyes moved from the attendant to his children.

"I—nothing, Your Majesty." The attendant bowed out of the room and practically fled down the hall.

Reina stopped glaring when her father, after sparing a glance after the man, approached them.

"Noctis just wants to be alone, sometimes," Reina answered his unspoken question. "There are too many people coming in and out all the time."

"Indeed?" There was a hint of surprise on the king's face, but from the way he looked at her, then Noct, Reina surmised it was not so much the revelation of Noct's wishes, but the fact that she had said them.

Noct didn't say anything. He didn't nod or shake his head, but when the king fixed him with that unintentionally piercing gaze, he dropped his eyes and refused to look up again.

"Well then. Perhaps you will be pleased to hear that we are going away, Noctis."

He did look up at that. Reina squeezed his hand, but neither of them spoke. Away where? And who was included in 'we'? Surely not just Noct?

"To Tenebrae. There resides there a woman—a friend—who will help to mend your injuries." He supplied the answer to one question but not the other. Both twins stared at him intently, neither one realizing how tightly they were holding to the other. Finally Noctis turned his gaze, looking from the king to Reina, then back again.

"Ah." Their father followed his eyes and guessed the second question. His gaze, however, landed on their hands, clasped so tightly together that both sets of small knuckles had turned white. "All three of us. Of course. I should never dream of splitting you up."

He reached out and settled on hand on either of their heads, giving them a warm smile.

"We depart tomorrow. Someone will be along to assist with your packing; I shall see you both quite soon."

The king turned and left. Reina looked and Noct and each of them breathed a sigh of relief. Then, for the first time since he had woke, Noctis hazarded a smile. A small, shaky smile, perhaps, but a smile nonetheless.