As time continued to pass, Noctis spent more and more time involving Ravus in his various activities. He kept playing different card games, all while continuing to tell Ravus about his favorite things back in the waking world.
It became easier to talk to him as that time passed. Even if Ravus still didn't understand a lot of concepts from the modern world, Noctis did his best to try and explain it, in hopes it could help Ravus in the future with whomever he had to watch over next.
But if Ravus was going to watch over someone else in the limbo realm, that would mean Noctis had to wake up. He would leave this place, returning to the waking world where his father and friends were.
Eventually, he would wake up and leave Ravus behind, never to see him again. It made him almost a little afraid… the possibility that he wouldn't remember any of this rang clear in his mind.
There was still so much left unsaid, so much that stirred in his chest.
He knew that Ravus was a deity, not a human, but in his time with him, he really started feeling more human. Maybe it was just due to him being there, giving Ravus some human interaction, but he really felt so much different than when they first met.
The man would smile more, and even laugh at some of Noctis's jokes. When he did laugh, Noctis couldn't help it as his heart swelled at how beautiful Ravus looked. He really wanted to have him laugh more, so he always tried whatever he could to get even the smallest chuckle out of him.
"Are you having something thoughtful on your mind?" Ravus asked him.
Snapped from his thoughts, Noctis looked across the table. "Oh, uh, yeah, just thinking about stuff."
"You do that quite often now. Is something the matter?"
Noctis shrugged. "I dunno… I keep thinking about everything. This world… the waking world. My father and how much he's probably worrying…"
"You will return to that world again."
"But you said it all depends on what happens in the waking world."
"Ah, but I also said I like to believe that you will live. I wish for you to remain positive in your time here, and I will continue to help you feel that way," Ravus replied.
Noctis smiled as he let out a sigh. He couldn't be upset at Ravus, he never found a reason to be. Even when the man barely expressed any true emotions, he always had an optimistic outlook towards things.
"Thanks, Ravus. I…"
He trailed off when he started having a weird feeling in his mind. Everything started feeling a little foggy, with the room around him starting to grow hazy.
"Noctis?" Ravus asked.
Even his voice sounds echoey in Noctis's ears.
He watched as Ravus came to his side, kneeling down in front of him. His moment of concern faded, and he started to smile instead. "Ah, I see."
"See what? What's happening?" Noctis asked, his breathing increasing rapidly.
"You're waking up," Ravus stated simply.
"What?! N-no I don't… I can't yet!" Noctis shouted frantically.
He tried to stand up, but his legs felt heavy. He instead staggered right into Ravus, clinging onto his chest.
"I don't want to wake up yet!"
"But I thought you wanted to return to the waking world? Were we not just discussing the things you were missing from that realm?" Ravus asked.
"But I can't… I don't want to leave you!" Noctis admitted.
With the sheer fact he could wake up any moment, all of his inner thoughts and feelings were rushing out. He couldn't even control them as every word he kept buried started to slip out.
"I wanted to stay here with you for a while!"
"Noctis… you shouldn't have to stay in this limbo realm longer than you need. It isn't a place meant for you in the long term," Ravus explained.
"But I don't want to forget you! I'm… I'm afraid…" he whispered softly. "I'm afraid I'll forget everything here."
Ravus hummed softly in Noctis's ear. "I'm afraid I can't determine whether or not you'll remember this place. Not many do after all."
Noctis clung even tighter. "I don't want to forget you! You… You're so… so unique. Unlike anyone I met before."
"You had never met a deity before, so I can understand that and I appreciate the sentiment."
Everything was fading quickly around Noctis. All that was left was Ravus before him, and even he seemed to be disappearing quickly from Noctis's vision.
"No! Not like that!" he shouted frantically as he stared right into Ravus's beautiful eyes. "I fell in love with you! That's why I don't want to forget!"
Leaning in, his lips lightly brushed Ravus's. He only had one brief moment of bliss before everything completely vanished from his vision and he was left to darkness.
Waking up had been a task harder than Noctis had expected, as his entire body was heavy and stiff. It almost didn't feel real at first, but once he saw his father, crying with joy at his side, he knew that he had woken up. He had left the limbo realm and finally returned.
As he slowly was helped into having something to drink, all while a doctor explained the routine he would go through to get his strength back, he couldn't stop thinking about Ravus. He hadn't forgotten, and he was going to make sure that he would never forget.
He would do everything he could to never forget Ravus.
As soon as he started going through physical therapy to get his body back into working order, he couldn't wait until he was allowed to practice writing. It was the best option he could have to storing his thoughts and memories of the mysterious watcher of the limbo realm.
When he got to that point, he started writing down Ravus's name as well as every detail he could remember about the man. Every word flowed from his memories as clear as day, and it did manage to bring a little smile to his face, despite knowing he could never see him again. He would have to be satisfied with what he had, even if it did make his heart ache inside
'Maybe when I'm fully recovered I can take a drawing class…' he thought to himself one day.
Until that point, he spent his days recovering, pulling through so he could finally go back home.
He did at least have his father visiting him daily, which was a surprise at first, knowing how busy he was, but he appreciated every moment of it.
This time when his father came to visit, he noticed that he was smiling more than usual. There was something different to his grin, as if there was something he was trying to hide.
"Hi dad, what's up?" he asked as he hugged his father when he came over.
"Oh nothing," his father chuckled. "But, I do have a surprise for you today."
Noctis raised an eyebrow. "A surprise?"
"A special visitor came to me today, asking if you could see you."
"Special visitor? Prompto?" Noctis asked jokingly.
Regis laughed. "No, it isn't Prompto today. But it is something else… But I should let him speak for himself."
Regis turned towards the door as it opened, and watched, along with Noctis, as the mysterious guest stepped inside.
Noctis's heart nearly stopped when he saw that familiar shining, silver hair. For half a second, he was sure he was dreaming, or on the more drastic end, he was back in limbo. Those were the only two solutions he could come to as he saw Ravus come closer to his bed.
"I… what?" Noctis muttered.
Standing up, Regis grinned between the two of them. "I'll leave you two to talk."
When Regis stepped outside and the door closed, Noctis still found himself to be staring at Ravus. His heart was already racing, ponding with anticipation mixed in with the littlest twinge of hope.
"R-Ravus?"
Ravus smiled as he sat down. "Yes, Noctis?"
"H-how?! How the heck are you here? I thought that you were tied to the limbo realm? I thought that I'd never… see you again."
"It was supposed to be that way, but your actions changed that."
Noctis blinked slowly. "My actions?"
Ravus reached out to place a hand over Noctis's. His hand was just as warm and as real as Noctis remembered it being.
"Your confession."
Noctis slumped back against the bed, wishing he could hide the blush in his cheeks that was no doubt showing. "O-oh that. But how did that do anything?"
"It was a shock to me, never having had someone before who expressed such things. But when you did, I found myself to miss you the moment you were gone. It was strange for me… finding myself exhibiting much of the similar feelings."
"Much of the similar feelings?" Noctis echoed.
"Indeed. My heart stirred with feelings I never experienced I couldn't let it go, so I went before the Astrals themselves for guidance. And they gave me a choice."
Noctis leaned forward again, bringing himself closer to Ravus as he found himself completely captivated by the man's story. "And what was it? What did they say?"
"I could remain in the limbo realm and perform my job as if nothing had happened, or… due to taking good care of the Lucain prince, I could be granted to live a life in the waking realm so I could remain at his side," Ravus explained. "It's quite obvious which of the two choices I picked."
Noctis gasped softly. He had fallen in love with Ravus out of sheer chance, but he had never expected anything back. But now he had Ravus telling him that he felt the same, and it was so much that he asked the Astrals themselves to help him.
"So you're… human now?"
"As human as you are, but I fear I don't know much about actually being human. Despite the years of watching over humans it's still something I have yet to comprehend, so I would hope it isn't too much to ask if you would help teach me?"
Noctis moved himself closer to the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch Ravus's face with trembling fingers. Even after everything said, he still wanted to make sure Ravus was real, and that none of this was a dream.
"I can try… I can show you video games too!"
Ravus chuckled. "I figured that you would. I would be happy to learn why it makes you smile, but I am sure there is much more than you can teach." Ravus then placed a hand over Noctis's, keeping it warm in his hold.
"Heh, yeah, guess I can. But hey, uh, what did you say to my father? You talked to him first, right"
"Yes, I presented myself in front of your father to explain my case. He was rather open and glad to know that his son had found happiness, even in a strange set of circumstances."
"Thank you, Ravus. I… I'm glad you feel the same way."
"Yes, and now I wish to repay the favor."
"Favor?"
Ravus smiled softly before he leaned in and kissed Noctis on the lips. This time their kiss was able to last longer, and Noctis was finally able to savor it and embrace the feelings in the moment. He could feel the flourishing passion between them, knowing that both of them had the same feelings reaching towards one another.
Initially, he had been a little disappointed when he woke, thinking he would never see this man again, but now everything looked a little brighter.
