Chapter 13

"Would you care to join me for a drink, mademoiselle?"

Kaya could stare at the glass in the stranger's hand, giving it the most investigative look she could muster up.

"Its orange juice." Nate insisted.

"You get orange juice at a bar? since when?"

the blonde narrowed his eyes. Kaya imitated his expression before looking away.

"I get orange juice from the fridge. incase you don't believe me, which I'm a thousand percent sure you dont, you can go see for yourself."

as far as Kaya was concerned, she shouldn't even be thinking about this person forget about responding to him. But since her preferred company preferred someone else, she didn't have a choice.

Sighing on her existence, Kaya accepted the glass of juice from Nate though she didn't dare sip from it. Her gaze fixated onto the lively scene of the living room, some couples were sitting on the couch whispering sweet nothings to each other, then there was Noctis and Luna also. She was adoring the promise ring that Noct had gotten for her at the mall a few days ago, the raven head could only respond with a smile and lean into her touch.

"Luna was right."

for once, Kaya was glad that Nate spoke. She was glad he interrupted her searching gaze and the processing of the scene before her eyes in her brain, before she wrecked her still beating heart inside of her chest with the weight of her helplessness. She gave the blonde, a question gaze.

"White really does suit you." Nate spoke, sipping from his glass and looked at Kaya who didn't know what to do with the comment. was this guy trying to be... flirting? Because he was really bad at it.

She didn't know how to respond so she took a sip from her juice, keeping her gaze fixated onto the reflection of hers in the drink. the fact that she could see her reflection in the sour sweet liquid in this dim illumination was amazing her.

"Corpse bride."

moment of silence passed and Kaya clenched onto the glass, brows quirked in confusion as she looked up at the blonde next to her who had this shameless grin on his face.

"Did you just..."

Nate nodded, holding himself back from laughing and looked at Kaya. Her stern gaze piercing through those genuine eyes.

She didn't want to fall for his tricks again so she looked away, her heart beating slightly faster as she thought of how idiotic that smile of the jerk was. Idiotic doesn't make your heart skip a beat.

"Technically..."

and Kaya thought maybe her heart gave too much credit to that venomous smile and looked up at the blonde as he spoke.

"Your marriage is about to die, in a couple of days so... you're going to become a corpse bride."

Nate swore this was the lamest joke he had ever said in his life but still it managed to get under Kaya's skin as she stared at him with a glare. She tried to control her temper, unsure if the jerk wasn't trying to instigate another situation.

"Seriously... you're going to wander the lonesome woods after Noctis does cut the ties with you. Singing songs about longing love, that's just so you." Nate continued on. Kaya decided to join the banter since she didn't have anything better to do.

"Oh really? and why do you think that? I won't long for love even if it did happen."

"How can you say that? do you have a love other than your husband?"

Kaya could tell this man was asking for a punch in the face, or at least an equally humorous insult to shut him up.

"Oh right... I doubt anyone would want you. If it weren't for Regis, you'd still be doing dishes in your kitchen and singing like Cinderella waiting for a prince to rescue her." Nate mocked with a soft chuckle and sipped from his juice, sighing comfortably at the taste.

"What's with you and calling me names form every english literature work ever?"

Kaya snapped, monotone as usual as she stared at him.

"Because you remind of those characters."

"How is that? Explain."

"Because you're old. Outdated."

Kaya rose a brow, offended by the statement and crossed her arms.

"Really? and what are you, an advanced android from the future that knows how to crack sexist jokes about a certain woman because she's-"

"She's definitely not my type." Nate interrupted, his lips spreading into a smirk that Kaya despised with every cell of her being.

"Well congrats, you're not my type either."

"Well that's good, at least not YOUR type. but you're not ANYONE'S type."

Kaya really wondered if Nate wanted to get beat up a lady in a dress at a birthday party where bars supply orange juices. What an extraordinary generic Rom Com this was.

"Seriously, you're not really the wife material." Nate insisted, looking at Kaya stepped closer.

"Yet I'm married?" She replied and the blonde smirked, his gaze lingering onto the beautiful face and that brown locks.

"Dont worry, you won't be in a few days." Nate promised and Kaya felt her heart drop in her stomach as the moment caught her at her weakest.

Some unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest as she felt the stranger arms wrap around her waist and she found herself close, inappropriately too close to Nate.

It took a moment for her to recoil herself but when she did, her gaze locked with the curious on as the jerk stared at her as if she were the most interesting thing in the world right now.

"Because I'm about to set you free."

Nate whispered, a hand of his reaching for the slender wrist and lifted Kaya's hand upto his shoulder before settling it perfectly there.

Kaya could only watch, quiet and nervous as the voices became too evident around her. People were staring at the two and talking nonsense about them. She could feel the weight of hundreds of gazes lingering onto her fragile form. Her lips pursing and eyes narrowing at the burdening sensations.

But more than that the closeness between her and Nate, the cold touch of his fingers lingering just below the zipper of her dress behind was too distracting. She didn't like this, the rush of senses causing her nausea and anxiety began to peak through her almond colored eyes.

Not many people could see Kaya's face because of the distance between but there was one intense gaze that noticed the uneasiness right away, Noctis letting go of Luna's hands as he rose from his spot at the couch, his lady love surprised by the gesture and looked around to see what had gotten her love's attention so deeply.

Her eyes widened slightly at the surprising scenario before him, Kaya encircled previously into Nate's arms and a shameless smile on his lips as he enjoyed the mutiny he was bringing upon the poor girl. She could only notice Noctis standing and watching them, stunned to his very core and definitely annoyed. was Nate trying to create a scene again? if so, then it was definitely working.

"Let go of me, I don't like this."

Kaya insisted, pushing her hand against Nate's sturdy shoulder though her attempts didn't really compensate even half the strength of the blonde's grasp. She could feel Noctis gazing at her, unable to imagine what he could be thinking.

did he think Kaya started this? or did he think she let Nate do this? the assumptions felt so wrong and she felt disgusted by her very own existence at the moment.

"Just a little more... you'll know." Nate whispered, leaning in and Kaya felt her heart stop for a moment, terror surging through her veins as she felt her breath grow colder, the evidence of fingers against her lower back did no justice to her nervous form. Her pupils were slowly dilating as fear took over her, her lips parting to let out any sound. Of protest, disgust, anything. Everything that happened at the mall came flooding her mind and Kaya feared she might pass out.

Nate's smirk faltered as he noticed the welling up tears in Kaya's eyes. She didn't have the strength to push Nate off herself, her grasp was too tight and the fact that Noctis was watching this and probably thinking she was enjoying this hurt too much. She only lowered her head, breathing quietly as she felt dizzy, she was in a situation that triggered every bad feeling. She felt alone, wronged and disgusted in the worst way possible. She couldn't bear Noctis' stern gaze upon her weakening form.

"Hey, calm down. I'm not going to do anything to you."

Nate assured but it was too late, she was already in the worst place in her own mind and it just felt too far to reach out to this assuring voice.

"Kaya, what are you thinking this is ab-"

"I believe you're holding something that doesn't belong to you."

spoke a very calm, almost hollow voice and a firm hand rested ontop of Nate's shoulder and the blonde could tell how disappointed the gaze upon him was. He didn't really mind it, after all... this had to be done.

"Oh really? I don't think it belongs to you either. Does it?"

Noctis' eyes widened, anger bubbling onto his very desert self at the moment. He had been dealing with Nate's shit patiently for too long, but today the jerk just crossed every possible limit.

"Huh... who cares. Let go of her right now."

Luna knew that tone very well, Noctis rarely got mad and when he did, it never ended well. She rushed to her lover's side and held onto his arm, hoping she could wrap this up before it got messier.

"Noct. Just let go. Nate, please. Stop this."

the blondie insisted but Nate knew better than to just back off, the fun had just started.

Logic and Morality were at spar in Noctis brain and all he could focus on was Kaya trembling, on the verge of tears as a stranger held her. She was so disgusted it was evident on her face. She was scared.

"Oh please. I'm not doing anything. Kaya doesn't mind it, do you Kaya-"

before the blonde could embarrass Kaya more, Noctis grabbed onto Nate's shirt and pulled him roughly back, the tug was so forceful that Nate's hold on Kaya released and the girl would have collapsed onto her knees if Luna hadn't grabbed her. She was cold, trembling and slowly the warm wetness running down her cheeks as she held head down.

Nate's face contorted into the expression of pure disappointment as he stared at Noctis, the raven head glaring at him as he didn't let go of his shirt.

"I think you're overreacting Noct, all I did was hold her. I wasn't going to hurt her and besides..."

Noctis couldn't really decide if this urge came from the encouragement of morality because Nate was spewing nonsense that indicated Kaya didn't mind him misbehaving with her, or from the logical part of his brain that insisted that she didn't belong to Nate, it was inappropriate for him to hold her the way he did because... because what? His brain didn't really process the thought much as the words that didn't help this situation much slipped out of the blonde's lips.

"She didn't seem to mind it. But you my man, you dont have to react so much."

Nate replied before letting out a sigh and looked away, his lips curving into a shameless and risky smirk.

"She isn't your girlfriend you know? might as well let someone else explore her."

Explore her? no matter how bad Nate may have been, Noctis never thought he would go to this extent, bad mouthing a girl he barely knew so boldly and in the middle of a fucking party and if it were some publicity stunt. Because even if it wasn't, Noctis wasn't likely to step or regret as he lifted his fist up and punched the pretty faced brat precisely in the cheek. Despite the height difference between him and Nate, Noctis was able to push the taller one few steps away, his lips quivering as the impact felt tok evident on his cheek. Nate looked up at Noctis and touched his cheek, so sure that the raven heads knuckles were visible onto it. It burned. He didn't really mind it, the shameless smirk evident on his face.

"Oh Noct is serious about this. What, you have Luna and you want Kaya too? How desperate." Nate mocked and Noctis didn't think getting punched twice in the cheek would hurt so he grabbed the blonde by shoulders and pushed him against the wall, his gaze blank and his lips pursed.

Noctis had been dealing with this prick for longer than he liked, only because he was in his limits with Kaya. She didn't seem to mind company but today, he was sure she didn't regret everything Noctis ever said to her about this jerk.

"Noct! stop it!" Jenny, the birthday girl who was now traumatized by the scene and wished she hadn't been born, requested but Noctis didn't care. When did he? He always did what he wanted, at least right now he did what he didn't want to but because he needed to. He may be too violent, pushing Nate's head against the isle and held him down before looking up at a horrified Jenny, a disappointed Luna and... Kaya didn't seem to notice anything. She was too dazed and suddenly feverishly warm to notice, this entire scene had taken a toll on her. Or maybe trying to pretend to be alright mentally had worn her out physically so bad that she didn't have anymore strength. If her brain was so focused on itself, it was bound to happen. She was slowly losing her balance and Luna wasn't sure she could keep her in place.

"Noctis! Stop it! Kaya isn't okay!"

if anything else had been mentioned, Noctis highly doubted he would have stopped but his gaze eventually drifted to Kaya and she looked too out of it. Letting go of Nate, the raven head rushed to Kaya and took her from Luna, holding her against himself.

Kaya could make sense of what was happening but her vision was blurred, she lifted her head up to look at Noctis and the concern on his face... She couldn't handle it. Her lips parted and the tears that have been welling into her eyes just rolled down her cheeks and She fell against Noctis, hands clenching onto the fabric of his jacket tight enough to turn her knuckles white and she broke. She couldn't keep this up anymore, she was done for.

She was sure Noctis could feel her tears against his shirt, soaking up the fabric as she cried, unable to hold herself the whispers turned to weeping and the weeping soon dissolved into a mess of loud cries. Kaya's chest was rising and sinking so rapidly with each breath she took that Noctis worried she'll die. He tightened his grasp around her, her face pressed against his chest and her sound muffled or he was sure she would have been screaming by now.

Luna watched it with the most pained expression on her face. She felt bad for Kaya, even if this entire mess made her look weaker than she already was, Luna still felt bad for this girl. Her gaze drifted to Nate who was frozen in his spot, head down and his gaze blank. He had done it today. Broke Kaya completely.

...

Noctis let Kaya cry, soak his clothes wet with her tears and held her against himself and she cried and cried and cried until she passed out, Jenny had led Noctis to a bedroom where he laid her down and waited, he doubted he would be able to drive back home after all that happened.

Luna couldn't really make sense of what happened, she admitted that Noctis was right to do what he did but he shouldn't have beaten Nate up and created a scene. Everyone present in the living room was talking about how her boyfriend had acted so recklessly because some jerk only held some girl close. It just didn't make sense.

"Noct..."

Luna spoke, taking a seat next to Noctis who couldn't keep his gaze off Kaya as she slept. Her eyelids were soaked, lips bruised being against the stern fabric for too long, hands still clenching onto the blanket as if it were Noctis.

She knew this scene had taken a toll on both Noctis and Kaya but she was worried. She had never seen Noctis act so... cruel. Not to mention the effect of this entire incident...He hadn't spoken a word since then.

"She is fine. She just needs some rest." Luna insisted, grabbing onto Noctis hand that rested emptily onto his side. She may be selfish, but she didn't like the way Noctis was watching the brunette right now. She opened her mouth and closed it, unable to decide whether to say anything or not.

"Noctis, why don't we send her back home? I mean, her family will look after her properly." She spoke and Noctis didn't react, only shifting closer to Kaya and touched her forehead. Her temperature was slowly coming down, she had a worrisome fever a few minutes ago.

Luna bit her lip, unable to stand this attention that was being given to the girl. She did care about Kaya but Noctis couldn't really do anything about it and she didnt like how he was still here, watching her as if she is all that mattered.

"Noctis, she will be fine. Let's let her rest okay?" Luna knew she would have to force Noctis out of here, getting up as she grabbed onto the raven heads' arm and tugged at it. Her brain was making the worst assumptions as to why Noctis was so concerned with Kaya and they scared her, she watched Noctis as her heart drowned in her chest.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Noctis spoke, looking up at Luna. She feared the hollowness of his gaze, almost as if he held a grudge against but the fear turned into sadness as the raven head grabbed onto her hand. He stared at Luna, unable to think of a way better to end this.

Luna felt her breath quicken as Noctis tugged at her hand, heaving her closer and grabbed her face. His eyes locked with Luna's and he could see fear, sadness. He could feel the anxiety in her breaths, her hands were cold. Noctis wasn't going to hurt her. He could never hurt her. But he had been hurting someone else for her. Someone that took every toll on his behalf.

"Luna...do you know how selfish I am?"

Noctis whispered, his voice as hollow as his heart. He couldn't really feel any emotions at the moment. His tone terrified Luna and she felt tears well up into her eyes as she stared at him, holding onto his hands upon her cheeks firmly as if he would slip out of her fingers like sand.

"Do you think I could use someone?"

Luna shook her head, but the way Noctis phrased it was giving her chills and she hated it. She feared the revelation would hurt her. Break her.

"Because I did. I used someone, I used someone to the extent they ran out of their senses and fell apart."

Luna could tell where this was headed. She shook her head and pressed her lips against Noctis but the raven head didn't respond instead he closed his eyes. Realizations striking him every second like daggers through his heart, making it hard to breath.

"Do you know who I used?"

Luna shook her head again, she didn't want to hear this. anymore of this. Noctis was hurting and seeing him like that hurt her. Noctis couldn't help but smile, weakly.

He took a deep breath and Luna paused, froze in her existence as the whispers against her lips turned into sounds.

"Kaya."

She couldn't breath, couldn't move her gaze off Noctis. Did he...

"I used Kaya. so I can be with you, so we can be together. I used her, I broke her apart to put us back together."

Luna couldn't make sense of what Noctis was trying to say and she lifted her head up to look at brunette who was slowly coming to.

Brown eyes lit up to meet the searching gaze and Kaya didn't know what was happening. She could only figure out that Noctis was holding Luna and they were talking about something. He sounded sad... She didn't want him to be sad because of her, unconsciously her hand lifted up weakly and grabbed onto the back of Noctis' shirt giving a slight tug. She couldn't speak because her throat felt too dry, every breath piercing through and she needed to console Noctis. She didn't really remember the incident with Nate, her brain was foggy and body was still flooded with endorphins to keep her in a daze. But she could feel Noctis' sadness, the weight of it onto his breath as he tried to speak. He was sad and Kaya wanted to hold him, let him cry it out.

'Let it out... Let it out Noctis... it's too heavy to keep carrying on now...'

...

"Kaya isn't my family friend. She is my wife, the girl my father chose to walk the path of my life next to me. She is 20, high school graduate, belongs to a middle class family and doesn't like jeans. She likes winter mornings and summer evenings, she likes dogs and sit coms. She doesn't have a cell phone but knows German, her sister calls her ancient for the way she dresses. Her father is proud of her because she makes a fine young woman. I saw her the first time my father held onto my hand and asked something very difficult of me. We were married on a early morning on the 13th of September, a considerate ceremony that only included her family, my family and my friends. I don't remember our kiss but I remembered she looked beautiful on the day of our wedding. Probably the prettiest bride I have ever seen. She fell in love with me the moment she saw... and it wasn't the moment I saw her. She loved me before she knew me. Maybe that's what my father saw in her eyes, the unquestionable, unconditional love. She is clumsy, she is emotional and she has really bad anxiety issues. She doesn't like books, which she only realized after having been to a library. She makes a fun banter with Prompto and is really in sync with Ignis in the kitchen. She likes the color yellow, the flowers her favorite are irises and... she doesn't hate me. She is my closest friend, probably the best. and I think I might be falling for her."

to everyone who had been with this story despite my lack of dynamic and epid updates fails, thank you so much for keeping my spirit to write alive. It means a lot. Last chapter update be coming soon!