The gentle breeze tousled Noctis' dark, shaggy hair, causing it to brush against his skin and send a hundred tiny tickling sensations through him. Leaves and flowers rustled in the motion set by nature, brown tingeing their edges. The changing season brought cold air with it and began the withering of once vibrant flora.

In the castle, a stairway spiraled up to his secluded sky garden, ending with a door where the captive royal life ended and the freedom the garden offered began. Noctis heard the faint click of the door as it opened and once more when it closed. He glanced over, hoping to see Light, but was greeted by Gladiolus' towering physique. His hair—usually slicked back and reaching the top of his shoulders—was cut short and neat. Seemingly self-conscious, Gladiolus ran a hand from the top of his head down to the bottom of his neck, where it lingered for a moment more.

"I guessed you'd be up here," he said, moving to lean on the railing beside Noctis.

"Looks like you were correct."

Another breeze swept across the garden. Between the men, silence stretched, but Noctis didn't feel the slightest discomfort from it. It was one of the things he liked about his friend; neither was bothered by a lapse in conversation. While Noctis maintained silence from lack of confidence that he disguised to his people, Gladiolus' silence stemmed from his preference of actions. As children, it was this virtue of his that helped befriend Noctis.

Before Noctis made a pact with his kingdom's crystal, he liked to slip away from the castle and find solace from the royal world. Every escapade saw him return home unscathed, but his luck ran out when he took a wrong turn. Muggers looking for their next source of income cornered him. He was too dressed up to be broke, they said.

When the handle of a broom came in contact with the knee of the first mugger, he doubled over gripping his wound. The second mugger soon joined the first and Noctis found himself rushing from the alley guided by a kid with the broom and shaggy auburn hair that had not yet darkened to its final shade.

"Come to the castle with me. I'll repay you for your help," Noctis pleaded.

"I'd have done it if you weren't the prince."

"You won't even accept a meal?" Noctis asked. Any other citizen would have asked for a monetary reward for their service, but this kid didn't care at all for one.

"Fine," he accepted begrudgingly.

While Noctis gained a friend, he lost the freedom to leave the castle on his own until his blood promise with the crystal.

"I mostly wanted to stay on my feet," Noctis said at last. "Sitting in a car for so long gets uncomfortable."

Gladiolus laughed and Noctis joined him. "I know what you mean," he said. "I'd have gone crazy without something to do."

Noctis felt he had gone crazy in that car.

Noctis tapped each of his fingers against his knee with one hand while the other supported his head in an upright position. He gave up the motion in moments and transitioned to bouncing one leg on the ball of his foot. After another moment, that motion ceased as well and a sigh filled the car. His sigh.

If Light disliked his restlessness, she showed no signs. Like a sheet of ice covering a lake, her expression remained still. More unnerving to Noctis was the lack of emotion she displayed. The perfect mask seemed to be in place.

The stillness from her only added to Noctis' restlessness. Since she woke from her return to Valhalla, she'd barely said a word. Instead, she sat with a distant, emotionless stare and let the world move around her. 'What did she see?' Noctis asked himself more than a few times.

He wanted to take her hand in his, to wrap his arms around her and let her know he was there for her. He'd always be there for her. She could tell him what bothered her because he would do everything in his power to fix it and make her happy. She didn't need to say she loved him back. If she was smiling, then he would be too.

Around her, Chaos still pulsed. While it was not as strong as before, it still caused Noctis to tremble. Light was assimilating with this immense power, yet it still overflowed from her.

"Is it true?" Gladiolus asked, snapping Noctis out of his reverie.

"Is what true?"

"About Tenebrae. And Stella. And their king."

Noctis sighed. Refreshing, crisp air turned frigid. Suffocating him, the faint scent of slowly dying flowers in the air turned sickly. Guilt stabbed his stomach, twisting it until he felt nauseous. His grip on the railing tightened, his knuckles whitened until all pigment vanished.

"The king surrendered and Stella's dead," Noctis said, forcing monotony into his voice. Gladiolus didn't need to know the terms of the king's surrender. He didn't need to know that Light and him would face Noel one more time and the loser will die.

"Shouldn't you be celebrating with the others? They're holding a feast tonight for the victory. Guards, royals, the wealthy, you know?"

"I'll celebrate tonight then," Noctis said.

"Sorry, but shouldn't you be… happier? We won," Gladiolus said, clapping Noctis on the shoulder with a smile.

"Tenebrae's king tried to kill Stella first," Noctis said, ignoring the disbelief on Gladiolus' face. "She was betrayed by her only family left and bleeding and crying. And we tried to help her, Light and I, but…" Noctis trailed off.

Gladiolus rubbed one hand on his jawline, where stubble was left a bit too long, sticking out in any direction it could, a feat Noctis couldn't accomplish. Facial hair refused to grow on his face with the exception of a patch or two that looked terrible. "Woah. I mean, you tried Noctis, but her father betraying her was something no one could have seen coming. It wasn't your fault."

Noel didn't kill her. Light stuck the final blow, but I might as well have wielded the sword myself to end Stella's life.

"She apologized in the end and asked if we could be friends again. I couldn't deny her that," Noctis said. "It'd have been too cruel."

"That's why you'll make a good king, Noctis." Gladiolus said. "You have a sense of justice and mercy. A strong sense of them."

"Is it a blessing or a curse?" Noctis asked.

Gladiolus only laughed and Noctis half-smiled while they fell into another content silence.

"Why the haircut?" Noctis asked.

Gladiolus grinned. "Setting an example. You could really use a haircut. When was the last time you got one?"

Noctis rubbed the back of his neck. "Buzz cuts aren't my thing."

Gladiolus half laughed, half snorted. "You're telling me." He fell back into seriousness. "I did it because I joined the royal guards. Didn't want to worry about my hair."

Noctis smiled, genuinely happy for his friend's choice of career, though still curious about it. "Why now?"

Gladiolus shrugged one shoulder and shifted his weight from one foot to his other. "I just—I don't know—wanted to help people more than just rebuilding after attacks. I wanted to keep them safe. I wanted to help prevent attacks."

"It suits you," Noctis said, nodding to himself.

He wasn't saying it because it's what he should, he truly did believe Gladiolus was born to be a guard. In a way, he was when they met as children.

"Thanks."

The bite of the cold dulled back into a simple crispness of the air with Noctis distracted from his earlier worries. Silence fell between the two once again, but neither broke it this time. Men of few words let their lack of speech speak for them.

"You look beautiful," Noctis said, words tumbling out before he could stop them. Yet it couldn't do harm, Light knew his feelings for her already.

Her lips, matching the intense hue of velvety red rose petals, twisted into a polite smile. "Thank you," she said.

While not an original compliment, Noctis truly meant the words. Her dress was white with one thick strap crawling over her left shoulder—the one she always insisted on covering without explanation. Form-fitting on top and flowing loosely from her hips to just above the ground, the dress emphasized Light's physique in a way that Noctis and many others in the room couldn't ignore. Her pink hair was contained in a curly bun style, with the fringe still feathered across her face. He had no doubts that his mother was responsible for her appearance tonight. It was a big night for all of them, a celebration for many occasions.

"Nervous?" she asked, linking her arm with the one Noctis offered, as was expected of both of them King Regis said.

His white tie and pocket protector matched her dress. While they walked together to their seats beside the king at the head table of the castle's banquet hall, they attracted many stares. I'd stare at Light too given the chance.

"No more than I should be," he lied. "Are you sure you're okay with this, Light? You can still decline the plan."

Light no longer pulsed noticeable power, but Noctis thought for a moment she may have. "I do what I need to," she said. "Besides, the options could be worse."

Noctis nodded, her words a small comfort to his maelstrom of anxious feelings. He pulled her chair out for her when they reached their seats before settling himself down. Tonight, they celebrated many joyous occasions. They would bask in their "victory" over Tenebrae.

But only four souls among the hundreds gathered knew they would also celebrate the betrothal of their prince.

The banquet room was reserved only for special occasions, but when it was in use, it became one of Noctis' favorite places in the castle. Overhead, crystal chandeliers glittered like stars in the night sky, illuminating the large area in a gentle light. Deep blue table clothes covered the wooden tables. Across from the head table, on the far end, musicians released melodies into the air for all attendees to enjoy. Clinking of silverware, dishes, and glasses meshed with numerous conversations to give life to the room from the many tables.

This is how it should be. Joyous evenings spent with citizens glad to be a resident of their kingdom's capital city.

When the smell of perfectly spiced food snapped him from his thoughts, Noctis added to the clinking of silverware and plates. No one could cook better than the castle's chefs, especially when they forced themselves into overdrive for a feast.

"What is this?" Light whispered.

Noctis ceased his eating to look over at her, poking at the food on her plate. She decided on taking a piece of seared meat and placed it on a bed of green vegetables, all blanketed in a thin sauce. A small section was missing, she'd already tried it.

"Do you not like it?" Noctis asked. He could get her a new plate so she could take from the assortment of dishes again, but he hoped she could find something to her liking.

Light shook her head. "No, it's good, but different from anything I've had before."

"Looks like a chocobo steak."

Her eyes widened in surprise, or shock, Noctis wasn't sure. Forgetting she had been in crystal for thousands of years was easy. It made him wonder how much had changed since her time, other than the way they spoke if her accent was any hint.

"Chocobo? You eat chocobo here?"

"Not just here, most people will anywhere. Good quality and easy to get," he said, taking another bite from his plate to sate his begging stomach.

"Things really changed after all these years," she murmured.

Food forgotten by curiosity, Noctis asked, "What do you mean?"

"Chocobos were attractions at parks," she said.

"What did you eat for meat?"

Light shrugged. "Whatever we were given. We were just a planet of pets who grew lazy and forgot how to fight."

Noctis wanted to ask more, but Light had a sour look on her face. Best not to provoke her, not when it could be avoided. She should be happy tonight, even if not for the reasons he was. Even if she was not happy about their fake engagement, she deserved something to find joy in. After all, she was the reason the people believed they won the war because she killed Stella.

Noctis' appetite disappeared as the image of Stella, bloodied and dying, flashed behind his eyes. For appearance sake, he continued to eat slowly, but the food only tasted bitter. The chocobo steak became too rare, the water and myoglobin too thick and abundant.

Too bitter and metallic.

Even the red wine cradled in twisting, tall glasses with thin stems took on a darker color when he brought it to his lips to wash away the bitter food. Once sweet and refreshing, the wine soured and burned in his mouth. It sent him into a fit a coughing, seemingly blocking his windpipe like a hand choking him. He grabbed a pitcher of water from the table and filled the first empty glass he found, ice hit the fragile container with a sharp clink, cleansing the tastes with one great gulp.

When his father stood and cleared his throat, all sounds stopped. "I have an announcement," he said and the attendees waited anxiously. "While we are celebrating our victory, I have another occasion for us to celebrate as well."

He motioned for Noctis and Light to stand up. They obliged and Noctis felt the stares shift to them from his father. "You all know my son, Noctis." A murmur of general agreement passed through the room. "The woman beside him has traveled here from her distant country, and we have agreed to help her small kingdom through a royal marriage. Prince Noctis is betrothed to the beautiful Princess Lightning!"

A moment of stunned silence engulfed the room, suffocating Noctis. He refused to make eye contact with anyone there. But when Light gripped his hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze, his anxious feelings melting away. He wrapped his fingers around hers, muttering a silence thanks and hoping she understood it.

It started with one clap and evolved to a roar of applause and cheers. Some people whistled. Yet among all of them, there was not a single frown. They were genuinely happy for this new royal couple.

Noctis knew he should have felt something from the event, perhaps happiness or excitement. Instead, all he felt was the warmth of Light's hand in his alongside the numbness and anger screaming at him that an engagement shouldn't be like this. It should be personal and real. How easy it was to forget the engagement was nothing more than an excuse for Light's presence at the castle.

She could have any man she desired. What makes you better than the rest? Noctis asked himself, but he knew the answer. Nothing.

For now, he let himself be fooled like the citizens of his kingdom. He dug into the grave of the dream he buried. Beside him stood his fiancée, lovely in every way. This is what he wanted since meeting her, it should have been a happier moment. In his mind, he repeated the word 'fiancée' in an attempt to make it more real, to solidify the idea he couldn't form clearly. Instead, the word lost its meaning, becoming just a jumble of letters forming sounds that tasted strange on his tongue.

Noctis continued to poke at his food while all the others enjoyed theirs. As was expected, he pretended that he was happy, excited even, as he should have felt. Does getting what you want always feel so wrong?

Between his cycle of rearranging each piece of food on his plate with a fork, Noctis looked up to see a man and woman dancing. They stood close to the orchestra to avoid all of the tables, but as more couples noticed them, more tables were moved to create a sizeable open area.

Noctis glanced at his father. "You didn't tell me this was a ball."

Regis chuckled. "No one told me it was either. Let them enjoy it, Noctis. The gods know we haven't had much to celebrate lately. At least, let them have this small happiness."

The corners of Noctis' lips lifted into a smile as he turned to watch the dancers. "I know," he said. "Everything's okay now?"

"For everyone else. For you and Lightning, well, I don't think anyone knows what you two have in your futures."

Light does.

Looking to his side, Noctis saw Lightning watching the dancers as well, strange food long forgotten. It was difficult to see what she thought. While her face was mostly stoic, Noctis swore that it held the smallest smile and her eyes held the faintest glimmer.

"Light," he said softly.

Her attention turned to him and the curiosity in her strong gaze almost drove away his words.

"Would you… like to dance?" he asked.

He regretted letting the words stumble out, but his negative emotions dissipated when he saw her smile.

"I'd like that."

Light cursed again as she almost tripped over herself. Noctis suppressed a laugh, but poorly enough that he felt a sharp jab from Light's knee against his thigh.

"Just let me lead," Noctis said. "I've been forced into ballroom dance lessons since I was a kid because 'a good king has to be able to dance with his subjects' I guess."

Light sighed and said, "I'm not much of a follower." But she began to mirror his steps anyway.

Noctis tried to be proper and hold one of her hands in his and place his other at her hip, but she took both of his hands and wrapped them around her waist, clasping her hands behind his neck. "We're engaged, we can't look like some strangers that ended up being dance partners," she said.

He wasn't about to argue with her, not when he held her so close. He savored the feeling of the smooth skin of her arms against his neck and wondered if the blush it brought about was noticeable. For the first time, they were together with light hearts. The music swirled about them with laughter and bits of conversation with the party-goers, drowning out the screams of his mind. Scents of warm food and sweet wine pushed aside memories of bitter blood and its metallic taste.

Noctis tightened his grip around Light and slowed his steps, no longer participating in the waltz with the other dancing couples. "I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered, bowing his head down so his mouth was beside her ear.

He felt her grip on him tighten as well, but she pulled her head back and caught his gaze with her own. "I'm not going down to Noel," she said with a smile. "We're almost done with all of this, he's the only one left and then my mission will be complete." Her smile grew larger and Noctis could see sparks of happiness in her eyes.

Maybe she'd had too much wine and too little food. But seeing her so joyous, he wouldn't complain. We both deserve this night. This happiness. Wish you could feel this joy too, Stella.

Maybe he'd had too much wine and too little food. But seeing her so happy and holding her so close, he couldn't resist. He pressed his lips to hers. Even though he pulled back right after, the feeling of their softness lingered. "Light, I'm so sorry. I-I think I had too much wine, I didn't mean to…"

She cut him off with a kiss of her own. When she pulled him closer, he gladly reciprocated and tightened his own grip on her. Only after his lungs started to protest the lack of air did they break the kiss.

"It's alright," Light said with a smile still present. "I think I had too much wine too."

"I love you," Noctis breathed.

Light's expression changed. "Noctis, I…"

"Don't," he said. "I know, you don't have an answer for me yet. I get it and I'll wait, but I just needed to say it to you again."

She pulled him close again and buried her face in his chest. "Not yet," she said. "Not yet."

"You don't have to be strong all the time, Light," Noctis said, slowly rubbing a hand up and down her back. "I can be strong for you too if you let me. After all, you're still human."

Light 'hmphed', "I'm not anymore. I changed since my days as a human and things are different now."

"They don't have to be," Noctis said. "When Noel is dead, we'll have a normal life. Anything you want, Light. You can have anything you want then."

She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to. Things were different for her, thousands of years separating her stays in the living world. Noctis didn't want to lie to her, but he was willing to give her anything it was in his power to give her. Everything for her, anything for her. All he needed was her presence in his life. She didn't need to love him, but he still felt the pressure of her lips against his and tasted the intoxication of her kiss. She didn't need to love him, but he would always love her.

"I'd like that," she said at last.

A/N: Light and Noctis deserved a night of happiness before they return to reality and their mission. Thank you to every one who reads, reviews, follows, and favorites. Reading your kind words always motivates me when I'm writing to keep at it and continue to finish my story.