Yay. I'm finally done with this. Sorry for the wait people who read this~

Thanks to my awesome beta reader who did this last minute. You're awesome and deserve cyber cookies. :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy Versus or any of the characters besides my OCs like Aella.

I fear explanations explanatory of things explained. - Abraham Lincoln

She reached up to rub her eyes, just to make sure the drapes were not a figment of her imagination. When they stubbornly remained in her vision, she allowed her hands to fall back onto the bed. Wait, a bed? Just where was she?

Aella pushed off the covers and cautiously moved off the bed as soon as a light breeze caressed her face. She hobbled towards the window it blew in through, hoping to at least get a general idea of her current location.

She was quite surprised when, upon pushing the curtains aside, her gaze landed on a group of guards that were patrolling the royal castle. Stop right there; the royal castle? Staring at the building, she closed the curtain, taking a step backwards.

She released a shaky breath as she closed her eyes, trying to recall everything that had happened. When the memories flooded back to her, she clenched her hands into fists, unable to believe that she'd shown such weaknesses in front of the men – especially Noctis Caelum, who had the nerve to knock her out during her time of... what would it be? Need? Insecurity?

Her wound as well, it wasn't healing like a normal wound. She frowned, hugging her chest. So it was true after all.

Aella shook her head, ridding herself of such trivial thoughts before turning around, already planning her escape. It was then that the dark figure she'd failed to notice upon waking up stirred. She released a startled cry and stepped back, biting back a curse when the wall stopped her retreat. Her hand flew up to summon her blade, preparing to defend herself if need be, but nearly dropped upon seeing the dark haired prince she'd thought about mere moments ago.

"…Caelum?" she called, albeit uncertainly. She berated herself for showing uncertainty, watching the Prince as he moved up from his doze. Noctis struggled to hold back a yawn as his gaze moved from the empty bed to where Aella now stood.

"You're awake," he managed, sending her a small, reassuring smile upon noticing her hostility.

She replied with a stiff nod before motioning to her waist. "Thank you… I suppose."

"Sit do-"

"Why are you smiling like that?" she cut in, eyes narrowing at the sight of his curved lips. "Should I wish to, I can kill you."

His smile wavered as he nodded, acknowledging the possibility. "Perhaps… however, do remember that should I wish to, I can kill you as well."

"I suppose the winner, then, would depend on who drew their blade first," she replied, allowing herself a small, amused smile. "But seeing as how I'm wounded, it would appear that I'm at a severe disadvantage."

Noctis chuckled and motioned to the empty seat beside him. "Then come, have a seat."

"…Don't take this the wrong way. I don't trust you Caelum but it looks as if I have no choice," Aella replied sharply, walking over to comply with his request.

"I wouldn't put it like that," he said, chuckling.

"Where are we?" she asked, changing the subject.

"This," Noctis replied, "is my suite. I thought you would've figured that out by now, after taking a look out the window."

Aella's lips formed an 'o' shape as the realization dawned on her. "So that's why I woke up to a silk canopy…"

"People would usually figure out that they're on a bed," he teased, easily ignoring her glare.

"Well, people usually don't expect their enemies to rescue them, either," she grumbled, folding her arms in distaste. "Do you think I'm some kind of damsel in distress?"

"No, nothing of the sort," he replied, ever the gentleman. "Just… I was interested when I saw that you had a fragment of the Crystal in your hand."

Aella scoffed, though her surprise was quite evident on her face. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Caelum, but I haven't warmed up to you enough to tell you my life story. Were you actually expecting me to do such a thing?"

Noctis shook his head. "No, of course not," he replied, albeit a bit disappointed. He had hoped…

"But you're still an idiot," she added, leaning back into the chair. "Taking an enemy in… though I'm in no position to complain, it wasn't the smartest thing for you to do."

"An enemy, yes, but also a member of the citizenry that you, if my memory serves me correctly, claimed I didn't protect."

Her grin evolved into a chuckle, which threatened to turn into a full-blown laugh, had her wound not reminded her that such a simple task would be quite taxing. "Damn it…"

Noctis held out a hand for her to take. "Perhaps you'd like to retire for the night?"

"Yeah," she murmured, reaching out to grasp his hand before sighing and letting hers drop. "Would love to move but…" she fell silent, falling asleep in her seat.

Noctis allowed himself yet another smile before he moved towards the door. His fingers curled around the doorknob, preparing to turn it to grant him exit, when the door slammed open, smashing into his face. He immediately recoiled, biting back a cry of pain as he gripped his throbbing nose. The glare he had prepared for whoever had dared hurt him died off when a man stormed in and examined his room with cold, unforgiving eyes.

"Noctis," the man called, turning his attention back to the prince.

"Yes?"

The newcomer motioned to Aella who had sat up at the door slamming open. "Why is there a girl in your room?"

Said girl forced herself to stand up and take a look at the man. However, as soon as her eyes met his, her muscles stiffened and her left hand flew behind her while the right steadied in front of her face, preparing for combat. "You…"

"She's my guest, Uncle," Noctis replied smoothly, releasing his nose upon seeing the hostility Aella showed in front of the older man. "I found her in the battlefield the evening."

"Really?" his uncle asked, though he didn't sound too interested in the validity of Noctis's statement.

"Yes," the prince answered, hoping Aella wouldn't put that sword to use any time soon. "She was wounded, so I decided to bring her in."

He kept the fact that she had a fragment of the Crystal imbedded into her skin to himself. After all, he didn't need the girl to overreact and ruin his suite.

Noctis's uncle gave Aella a brief look over and shook his head in disdain. Her white blouse was stained with blood – both new and old, as her wound had reopened – and her loose pants seemed much too old. Judging by where his eyes were, however, it appeared that he was more interested in the hand she held behind her back than her tattered appearance.

He turned his attention back to his nephew, apparently having finished examining her. "I trust that you will not soil the Caelum name by getting this wench pregnant, Noctis."

Noctis nodded stiffly, immediately noticing the rage that rolled off his guest in dangerous waves. "Of course, Uncle."

Said man gave a curt nod before turning around to leave, just in time to miss the blade that had swung to where his head had been. Noctis kicked the door, closing it, and caught the weapon, all in one motion.

"Wench?" Aella roared angrily, eyes glinting dangerously. "Pregnant?"

"Wait-"

She ignored his plea and marched over to him, yanking her blade out of his grasp when she deemed herself close enough. "How dare he degrade me in such a fashion! Let me out of this room, Caelum! I'll teach that man what a wench can do!"

"Aella," Noctis called wearily, "He's my uncle."

"Uncle or not, he needs a good beating! Is he a misogynist or-" she froze in the middle of her sentence when her eyes caught Noctis's hand. Blood leaked out of the deep gash and leaked onto the floor, beginning to make a small, dark puddle on the plush carpet. "Caelum! Your hand! What the hell were you thinking?"

Noctis released a shaky sigh as he gripped his wounded hand. "You seemed angry enough to kill. I thought it would be wise not to mention it."

"Caelum, you're bleeding," she pointed out, eyes narrowing as she ripped off her glove. The crystal embedded in her hand began to glow a light shade of green as a tendril snuck out of it and wrapped around his injury. Aella closed her eyes and muttered something under her breath, all the while concentrating on patching the cleaved flesh together. "Vigoratus."

Noctis watched, amazed, as the wound healed itself. He turned his attention back to the healer, whose eyes had reopened to peer into his own. His lips parted, but he remained silent.

"Mention that to anyone and I assure you, there won't ever be a next time," she warned, retreating to the bed and falling asleep not too long afterwards. Apparently, despite her previous statement, she trusted him enough to fall asleep.

The dark haired prince, still with the incredulous look on his face, slowly moved his gaze back and forth, from his wound to the girl who had healed it. "She can utilize the Crystal…" he muttered to himself.

Without wasting another second, Noctis turned around and left the room, leaving Aella to herself. There was something he needed to discuss with his Uncle; particularly the spark of recognition he knew he hadn't imagined in the older man's eyes.