Things had finally settled down somewhat for them, the weather cooling off as they went higher into the hills, the scenery changing from roving cliffs and acres of burning sand to green fields and lakes, the air carrying the tang of salt from the distant shoreline.
The top was down on the car almost all the time, even at night, the cool breeze sharp after the arid heat of other towns they'd traveled to; the gas stations, however, grew further apart the more distance they covered, and pit stops became a luxury rather than a fact of life on the road. The silences between conversations lengthened, since Prompto spent most of his time sleeping, Ignis had to concentrate on the road, and Gladio poured over several old volumes he'd picked up in Lestallum, learning new fighting techniques to add to his arsenal, so to speak.
For Noctis, sleep came easily for the first time in a very long time, deep , dreamless, comforting. No more nightmares, and no more incidents. No one said anything about it to his face, of course, but they all breathed a sigh of relief to not have to deal with sudden outbursts anymore. They were friends, brothers in arms, but even the closest bonds had a breaking point.
The rolling fields soon gave way to smaller farms and valleys, lakes dotting the landscape like reflecting mirrors, the stars and moon perfectly framed in the still water when the wind died down. A camping area was ahead, overlooking one of the lakes on the right side. Ignis had seen a travel guide at the last gas station that mentioned the locals referred to it as Looking Glass due to how still it was. Protected on three sides by the hills, the wind barely made so much as a ripple, making it a natural mirror to the sky, or anyone peering into its depths. It was a good place to rest after such a long journey.
Around sunset, they finally arrived at the site, Noctis yawning widely. Everyone was sore from driving for so long, and the surprise fight in the fields; The scorpions had just come out of nowhere, taking an hour apiece to kill, black blood spurting over everything. They were all tired, and the end of their long journey seemed even closer now than ever before.
Noctis helped as much as he could, but when the tent collapsed for the third time, it was declared to break out the sleeping bags, and give up. The night was nice, the moon was full over head, and that decided it.
Prompto had never really woken fully anyway, and crashed quickly. He'd been slammed hard during the fight, and even after a couple of potions he was still buzzed, voice thick. They let him be, Gladio gently pulling the blanket over him. It was so motherly, Noctis couldn't hold in a chuckle.
"Can it, peanut gallery," Gladio grunted, stalking to his chair. He dropped into it heavily, sighing. He closed his eyes, and tipped his head back to the moon.
"I'm gonna go take a look at the water," Noctis announced, getting to his feet. Ignis shot him a look from the stove top, where he'd been prepping a few quick meals for on the road. "Are you sure that's wise, Noct? We don't know this area."
"I'm not a baby, Ignis. I've got this," Noctis replied, unable to keep a slight edge out of his tone. After everything they'd been through, he knew the others would die for him, but he was sick of being treated like a child, talked down to. He didn't need ever move he made questioned.
He stalked off the camping site, the grass crunching under his boots. The night was as clear as day, the moon bright and huge in the sky. The lake was ahead, glimmering under the light. Noctis didn't know about the local nick name for the place, since Ignis had forgotten to mention it, but he still thought of how closely it resembled a mirror when he saw it.
There was a log by the bank, high enough to sit down comfortably, the top worn smooth by who knew how many years of posteriors. Obviously this was a popular spot, but no one was there tonight. Just him, and the blue reflection of the moon in the dappled water, a light breeze marring the surface. An owl called, out in the forest, and a twig snapped loudly.
Noctis jumped to his feet, katana in his hand before he could think, summoned on instinct; he aimed it to the tree line, grunting out a warning. "Show yourself! I'm armed!"
The bushes near him rustled, and a form pushed forward: Ignis, with a torchlight. He squinted at Noctis, jaw set. "Bit jumpy, aren't we?"
Noctis vanished his katana, sheepish. "I'm sorry... after this afternoon..."
Ignis held up a hand. "I understand Noct. Think nothing else of it."
He walked into the clearing, holding the light up, but here it was barely needed: The moon was bright, the sky cloudless. The lake reflected everything perfectly, and the view was breath taking. Ignis sighed, sitting next to Noctis on the log.
"...the locals call this place Looking Glass," he said, nodding to the still water. "They say it's magical, but..."
"I'd believe it," Noctis said, softly. "After everything we've seen... I'd believe it."
They were silent for several minutes, watching the water, which rippled gently from the breeze, making the moon dance a quiet jig under the stars. It smelled good out here, pine and sap filling the air. Noctis took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a few moments.
"...Noctis, we need to talk."
Ignis's quiet voice made him open his eyes, blinking in the sudden darkness: The moon had slid behind a cloud, plunging Looking Glass into inky blackness. Ignis turned on his lantern, a moth buzzing around it.
"Talk about what?" Noctis crossed his arms. "About the trip?"
"About life," Ignis said, gently. He didn't meet Noctis's eyes as he spoke, hands clenched on his knees, his face bloodless. "There's a few things you need to know before marriage."
Noctis went bright scarlet, swallowing. "Uh..Ignis... no offense... but I'm a little old for The Talk. I... I get the...facts."
Ignis glanced at him, and chuckled, fixing his glasses. "Good lord, Noctis... what do you take me for? You learned about that kind of thing in science, there's no need to repeat it."
Noctis chuckled as well, breathing a sigh of relief. That wasn't a conversation he wanted to have with Ignis, no offense to him. But what else was there?
After a moment, both of them composing themselves, Ignis took a breath. "...I meant what your duties will be to Luna as her husband." Realizing how this sounded, he amended "...in life. Not... not the bedroom."
Noctis nodded, glad for the darkness then, as it hid his reddened cheeks. "Yeah?"
"Lunafreya will depend on you, to an extent. This marriage will last you as long as you both live. She will look to you, and you will look to her for guidance and aid. Do you understand?"
He nodded, not knowing what to say to this: it was obvious marriage meant being able to rely on your mate. It went without saying, didn't it? That was in your vows, after all.
"... the kingdom will look to you for guidance, and to Lunafreya for her gift. You will hold the kingdom's love in your hands." He paused, swallowing. "...I know all you think of right now is this trip, us on the road... but we will not matter anymore once we reach Altissa."
"Ignis..." Noctis began, but he held up a hand. He looked into Noctis' eyes, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I love you as a brother, Noctis. All four of us do. Don't throw everything away just for us. I don't want that. If it comes to it..."
Ignis paused, thinking over his next words carefully. "...if it comes to it, you leave us. You leave us, and do what needs to be done."
His vision wavered, and he blinked back the tears that threatened: Ignis was deadly serious. For the first time, what lay at the end of the road weighed on him, and Noctis barely kept it together. All this time, he'd only lived in the now, the fights, the roadside stops, the greasy fast food and Prompto's picture spots. The actual end of the road, the wedding, Altissa... Luna. They rarely crossed his mind, as awful as that was.
"...I just wanted you to know that, Noctis. I didn't want the others to hear it." He looked into Noctis's eyes, his jaw tight. His Adam's apple bobbed in his neck as he swallowed. "...we are dispensable. Do not take risks for our sake."
Noctis didn't want to agree, wanted to yell and scream, deny what Ignis was saying. But he couldn't. He knew it, deep inside. Things were going to be hard, soon, very hard: he didn't know how he knew this, but deep inside, the thought a great and terrible sacrifice was coming resided in his heart.
Ignis nodded, and got to his feet. As if it had left to avoid ease dropping, the moon slid back into its perch, and lit up Looking Glass again. Noctis watched Ignis's reflection walk away, the water rippling from a passing fish. He lost track of the time he sat there on that smooth log, the future, and everything that lay ahead flooding his mind.
He didn't want to think about it: What Ignis had said about leaving them, if it came to it, if it meant life or death...
Prompto... he'd know him since high school. Ever since they'd met that afternoon, Prompto had rarely left his side. Leaving him was...
Gladio, his sword. His loyalty was beyond undying. Watching him sacrifice himself...
Ignis... steadfast. A teacher and confidant, ever since Noctis was a teenager.
The idea of leaving them behind...
But it was what a king did. Despite everything, he was still the crowned king. He forgot, sometimes, when they were on the road, eating fries in red plastic booths at gas stations, sipping soda while Kenny Crow leered from posters on the walls, fighting random monsters for some extra gil-
He forgot, sometimes, that he was a king. A kingdom would depend on him for guidance, and for safety. He would never be able to just relax in the backseat again, some terrible indie rock song blaring from Prompto's latest CD, Gladio silent except for the flick of pages, Ignis guiding them to the next mission.
That would end forever. If he did see the others again, which wasn't set in stone, it would only be as simple greeting in the hall, or a short meeting between his duties. Possibly a fast lunch at the local coffee place once or twice a month.
The Brotherhood, as it was now, would end. He didn't know what he though of that. He did his best to ignore what made him uncomfortable.
He gazed into the water, and his reflection looked back, placidly: the moon slid behind a cloud again, but he could still see himself clearly. He gasped, seeing how his reflection changed: he was older, stubble gracing his face, his cheeks thin and lined, eyes hard. He sat on the throne of the kingdom, holding a sword. He looked until the moon came out again, his reflection back to his own now pale face. He let out the breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding, getting to his feet. For several minutes, he paced the lake shore, avoiding looking at the water again. The wind picked up, tossing leaves around his feet.
He finally headed back to the camp, everyone else asleep already. Among Prompto's soft snoring, and Gladio rustling in his sleeping bag, Noctis slid into the furthest set up, the one nearest the edge of the plateau. From there, he could see Looking Glass in the distance, and the cold reflection of the moon.
He watched the rippling water until sleep took him into its embrace. Ahead, the moon shone bright and clear.