This chapter is extremely short, but that's because the smut version end up twice as long. And switching to what I want to write afterwards would clash quite a bit. Enjoy some pure Lunoct fluff.

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Calling Umbra

Chapter 9 – Bold love

His tears spilled, and Luna wasn't sure what to tell him or why the painful hole inside her filled up almost instantly. She wrapped her arms around him, fighting against her own tears as she whispered to his ear.

"Haven't we cried enough? I'm certain you cried all the tears I could have wanted to shed and this time we have now, I'd like to make it count. I want to know I can make you happy now, in person, not just in letters. I want you ridiculously happy, Noct."

Her hands had cupped his face and Noctis wanted to cry some more even though he struggled to hold himself together, managing a frail smile.

"I want you happy too."

"And pleased. And content. And laughing if possible," she went on, finding the nerves to tickle his armpits which had him smiling for real this time, grabbing her hands as he tried resisting her surprise attack.

"We should be careful not to make too much noise. The guys need some sleep. And I want you rested and well."

Luna promised not to tickle him again, drying his tears and shifting closer to him so she could taste the salt on his cheek. Something shifted inside of her, a realization that this might be her only chance and while she didn't want to say it out loud, the urgency that came with that thought made her lean just a little harder into him, her lips finding his in the slow dance they had started to learn since his arrival in this time.

"You taste like blood," he deplored as they parted for air.

"Which means I'm alive. Taste me more."

Noctis flushed at the bold words, gasping as she pushed him down until he was lying on his back.

"What… whoa, Luna!"

"I want you, Noct. I've wanted your arms around me and…" She blushed despite her resolve, swallowing back her own shyness, her hands deftly tugging at the buttons of his shirt, slowly uncovering his chest. Her eyes were focused on her task and Noctis wasn't sure how to react.

Her words were doing things to him, and the very touch of her fingertips on his skin lit the fire he had quelled again and again as he longed for her.

"And…?" he couldn't help asking her, blushing as much as she did when she shook her head in answer. The lust on her face felt contagious and her voice hummed in approval as his own hands started roaming her body, she gasped as he stroked her chest through the fabric of her clothes, but she smiled at him and held on his wrist to make sure he'd understand the touch was welcome. "Luna, are you really…?"

"I don't want to miss this chance. If this was your last night with me, what would you want to do, Noct?"

His eyes widened, the flush getting to his ears, even though he could tell his blood was going south. Way, way south. She had to sense it and he wasn't sure how he was supposed to hide or not hide his reaction.

"I…"

"It's okay, dear Noctis. Let your body react to mine."

She was straddling him now, pulling her dress higher on her legs to have less fabric keeping them apart. Her breathing was too fast, and he wasn't sure how to answer. Her urgency scared him, but could he risk missing this chance of truly being with her? If he only had one night to love her, if…

"I don't want to think you won't…"

Luna guided his hands, leaning forward as he rose on one elbow, his throat too tight, lips tingling.

"Tell me," she cut him off. "There's no need to hold back. I don't care how much time we have, I don't want regrets when the sun comes up."

He couldn't stand it anymore, holding her closer so their lips could clash together, his tongue demanding and hungry for more of her. Luna moaned into his mouth, her hands finding his scalp while he pulled at her offending dress, fabric keeping them apart when he needed to feel her. She felt warm, warm which meant she was alive and that thought alone…

He didn't want to imagine her like those tarberries, he didn't want to lose sight of the beautiful woman she was or for his memories of her to be tainted if she were to start crying black tar like they all did.

"Stop my brain from worrying so I can focus on you, Luna."

"You haven't answered me yet. How bold must I get to encourage you?" she teased him, her hips grinding into his for just an instant.

The way he closed his eyes and barely contained a groan told her she was on the right track.

"I want… to touch you everywhere," he started. "To learn every curve. Every sound."

"Me too." Her hands gripped his biceps and he huffed as her nails dug into his skin.

They had both been starved, so starved for any kind of intimacy, for a touch they wanted. He knew strangers had touched her, she still had bruises which made him worry some of her moans weren't good, but she was clear eager for more and it was both terrifying and exhilarating.

He guided her head back to him, kissing her hard, wondering if he could be soft again when he felt so raw. He rolled them to the side, fighting against his urge to kiss a path down her neck, to tease her pale skin with his teeth like she grazed him with her nails, because her tongue stroking his was mesmerizing. They parted for half a minute, just the time to find their breath again, but Luna seemed to realize what she was doing once more, for she tensed against him, her reaction alarming the young man.

"You okay?"

He'd been careful of not putting any weight on her and Luna shook her head.

"I want this," she assured him. "I know I'm safe here. This is just… overwhelming."

"I don't want to trigger bad memories," he whispered to her, cupping her face.

"You won't."

"I don't know what I'm doing, Luna," he confessed.

"Well, it is my first time too."

He swallowed, and she offered him a frail smile. He couldn't help but kiss her, in soft, quick pecks this time, leaning his forehead against her.

"You really want me?" he asked.

"I do. But I might need… more control?" she sounded disappointed in herself saying that.

"You seemed confident when you were on top of me," Noctis mused, grinning as her face flushed a little more.

"I am the older one, so I guess I should do the teaching for this."

Her eyes were resolute, and he was only too happy to subject himself to her teaching, as he proved with the words he blurted out almost instantly.

"Please teach me."

They both laughed at his eagerness.

"On your back," Luna asked back, frowning as she realized how much like an order that sounded. "I mean…"

"You wanted me to tell you what I wanted, sounds fair that you'd do the same. Can the dress go?"

He punctuated his question by obediently lying down on his back and Luna felt her heart swell at the confidence and respect he had for her. She wanted to give it back to him. She wanted to give him the best of her, so he could have actual memories to cherish instead of a simple dream. It hurt and made her chest tighter, but she kept it at bay as his arms welcomed her, as their hands slowly tried to learn what they liked, what they wanted.

It felt raw, and desperate, but she knew it was theirs and nothing could break it, not the bruises on her skin or the scars that marred his body. Their whispers had shifted into the night, their sighs too high, her voice threatening to come out while he groaned despite how quiet he knew she wanted them to be.

She refused to let go of him after love, panting against his chest and muttering nonsense in her daze, Noctis holding her close, his hands in her hair, rubbing her back and his lips kissing her temple and shoulder in turns.

"I love you," he said, unsure any other words could be enough to describe how he felt.

"I love you, Noct." Her voice broke a little. Reality was coming back to her. "I love you so much, I don't want to…"

"Luna, please, please, I'm here, you can ask me anything."

"Don't leave without me. I need more of you. All of you."

"Oh Luna… Luna, don't cry, we were just pretending if this was our last night together, it's only a beginning."

"I'm sorry, you felt so sweet just now, I…"

"Luna…"

She tried to keep her tears under control, to swallow back the sobs because it wasn't the time, she'd said so herself.

"Love me more?"

"Always."

"I meant… I meant now," she clarified, flushing in between her tears.

"Now and always," Noctis insisted. "Dry those tears first, my princess."

It took everything he had to keep his own tears at bay, but he still held the conviction in his heart that she could make it out of here alive. He laid her down in their makeshift bed, holding her close as he gently tamed her fears for the future to have her focusing on their present. They made love until sleep claimed them, snuggled close, their dreams filled with each other. It was safer than they'd ever felt in a while.

To be continued…

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I believe this chapter is a bit of an intermission, but those poor royals needed a break after all the rough stuff happening. I will try to belt out another chapter soon to make up for how short this one was. Not making any promises since I am quite busy lately. As always, you know the best way to motivate me is through reviews. 😊