It's good to be back in the swing of things. Sorry for those reading my Sherlock and Walking Dead stories. I plan to finish Sherlock this Summer, IF NOTHING HINDERS ME OTHER WISE! Since that series is done and FF15 is a finished game, it makes sense to write fics with finished series or games. Right?
Enjoy!
"...W-What?" Not hearing much, she turned only to gasp at the sight of Ajax coming at her with a sharp long dagger in hand.
She screamed in fear and jumped off the bench, scrambling to her feet. "W-What are you doing!?"
"Lesson one." He repeated, his one hand behind his back still as the other twirled the dagger. "Avoid your attacker at all costs."
Ajax lunged at her, she stepped back, at first expecting him to stop. When he showed no sign of doing so, she started booking it across the room.
"Okay, this isn't funny! I-I'll stop! I swear!" She begged, pressing herself against the wall hoping it will let her sink into it for safety.
"If you can not avoid your attacker, you're dead." He told, voice stern and low with seriousness now. "You have to avoid me for the next two minutes."
Lexus gaped, "Two minutes!?" she raised her hands up as he stalked closer to her. "U-Uncle Roland won't like this! He- Eeep!"
The teenager hadn't anticipated how fast the Crownsgaurd had shifted from being a few feet away to nearly stabbing her. She jumped to the ground and scrambled across the floor to the door. She yanked at the doors, but they were locked in! She banged and kicked, screaming for help!
"Roland! AHH!"
The dagger Ajax had was suddenly impeded into the door right beside her head. She was sure a few strands of her hair had been sliced from the force of the throw. A shock went up her spine, he wasn't kidding around, he was for sure going to kill her. She shivered in fear as she slowly turned, Ajax glared her as he materialized a second dagger.
"Please, stop! I-I'm really terrified!" She pleased, her back pressed against the door.
"Begging won't stop your attacker. Now- MOVE!" He demanded, sending his second dagger at her. "Use your brain Roland keeps telling me you have!"
She screeched and dove for the ground, the dagger embedded into the door where she was just standing. Her brain finally kicked into gear- survival mode. She started to keep her distance once on her feet again, jumping from wall to wall, corner to corner. He would throw a dagger if Ajax found her just running in constant circles, making her run in the other direction. At times she dove and fell straight to the floor if he threw a little lower.
Lexus started to watch his moves as she maneuvered against the wall, pausing at corners. He moved slowly, step by step. Lexus noticed once he was about six or seven feet he'd throw the dagger. When he did so, he used his left hand to throw the dagger, never switching or using his right. She figured this was because he was giving her a small advantage by using only one arm. But the fact he possibly can dual wield and chose the left hand was questionable. Then an idea popped into her head, if she stayed on his right side, he would have to put more effort into turning his body. That was the only advantage she could think of.
Maneuvering around using that idea became second nature to her already, shocking enough! The determination to stay alive ran through her veins as she stuck to favoring his ride side, making him give the effort she was correct in to moving his body. This dodging and weaving was feeling like an hour long hell hole! But, eventually enough, the sixth time she slammed her shoulder to the wall, Ajax's phone beeped off the timer. His demeanor suddenly relaxed, he sighed and the dagger he called in his hand faded away into particles in the air. He fished for his phone, and pressed the button to stop the beeping.
Lexus watched as he huffed and stretched his arms this way and that, then turned to her with a grin. "You survived! Pass on Lesson One!"
The teen heaved a shaky sigh and crumbled to the ground on her legs. She felt like jello waist down and the soreness in her arms from slamming the walls and corners were starting to fade in.
"I'm alive…" Her heart pounded against her chest so much, it started to hurt, without even caring her eyes welled up and leaked like an overflowing river.
Ajax gently walked over and knelt down to her, his grin softened. "I honestly didn't want to scare you like that, but it kicked your butt into gear." Her blue bright eyes shifted to him, her lips trembled as they hung open. "The world is a scary place, both inside and outside this city. You might find yourself in worse situations if you were to ever leave Insomnia. Monsters, daemons, maybe even a few back guys or so."
Her eyes never left nor blinked, she didn't utter a word as she listened intently to the man. He was right- What if one day she wanted to travel and see her parents, reunite with them? But, then got killed by something out there. As a child, she was kept in the safety of the Chocobo Ranch in Duscae. She heard of the creatures out there, how dangerous it was to sometimes ride the chocobos off the trail or warn renters on where to take them. Her only time traveling was when she first arrived in Insomnia all those years ago, she saw some in Liede. A herd of mesmenirs or pack of dualhorn, the usual left alone creatures.
But Daemons- that was a different story.
Ajax studied her frozen demeanor and sighed, standing straight. He might have taken this method further than he intended. "If this is too much, we can stop-"
"Lesson two."
Ajax blinked and looked down at her. She roughly rubbed her eyes and wiped her face as dry as possible. Lexus got to her shaky feet and stood before him, fists clenched at her side. "You're right. One day, I want to leave this city, be it see my parents or live my own life. If I'm going to handle it by myself out there, I have to understand the dangers ahead of me."
Her eyes now were full of that determination he saw before, she bowed her head at him. "Please, continue to train me!"
Ajax gave her a soft punch to her already sore shoulders "That's what I like to hear!" He chuckled. Ajax glanced over his shoulder at the doors, it creaked open and Roland came in. "Ya hear that, Ro-Boy!? She's still in!"
Her uncle sighed and rushed over, starting to check over his niece for any injuries. In the process, she saw his concerned eyes scan all over her body. She tugged back and launched at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. Roland patting her shoulder, making sure she wasn't crying. When no shuddering was felt or heard, he tightly scooped her up into a tight nit hug.
The training had resumed. Lexus found herself not only growing stronger, but more confident in herself. She was more open when she helped work at the bar and was very social when working her part time job at the bike shop. She smiled more, and her uncle was proud. He hadn't expected this to not only be a change in her daily living, but her personality as well. It was like a heavy weight was lifted off her shoulders, no longer seeing the sad past and looked towards the brighter future.
Her training included the proper self defense with and out weapons, how to disarm a foe, and fight back. She learned some sword-wielding but found her arms couldn't handle the weights. Ajax watched how she worked with the weapons and found that she was a fast little sucker both close and far. So, she could be a ranged or up close type fighter. He had her test some crossbows and despite it took a while, she grew a liking to them. Not only were crossbows good from long range, but Roland told her during one day that she can use them as blunt weapons. Stunning a foe or dazing it.
Lexus had moved onto training dummies -another permission needed from Clarus- and she was glad to not use real people to shoot her bolts at. She was taught mostly to stun, daze, and knock out any foes. Never kill, which made sense to Lexus deeply. Ajax had her study Daemons and the creatures outside Insomnia.
For a near two years, Lexus life was consumed to a second change- Good this time around! After she graduated, she worked to get her motorcycle license and got her official bike. Roland was nervous of her riding, since she tended to be a speed demon on the road. But, she wore her helmet and promised to be careful. Ajax had gotten her very own crossbow for her graduation. It was custom made and she even had a mini hand held one hidden within to wield two. It was black with silver engravings of skulls and even had a little running chocobo. Her name was also engraved into the handles, reminding her these were her own personal weapons.
Her training was retained at home, as things were getting antsy at the Citadel over a recent talk of a treaty between Lucis and Niflheim in the coming Spring. She also spent her time studying creatures of her land and her uncle taught her types of demons out there. She'd hear the cries and screams of those creatures a few times when she lived at the Chocobo Ranch as a child. The chocobos had to sleep close to the buildings, in fear of being eaten or killed. Thankfully, the ranch was well lit, and Daemons never invaded the property.
Lexus was taught that light at night was important, never venture out in the dark of night and keep close to places to stay at. She studied the map as of recently, while she took breaks working at the bar or bike shop.
One day in May, Lexus was helping her uncle close up the bar late one evening. She was sweeping the aged tile floor and placed chairs and stools upon the table and counter surfaces. Roland watched her as he did dishes, she was wiping the tables down, silent but a smile was found on her face. She hummed to herself, no doubt some song she listened to during her morning jogging sessions. He gave a soft smile, and put a clean mug down, wiping his hands dry.
"Lexy," he called, catching her attention. "I got something early today." Roland walked around the counter and fished out an envelope from his back pocket.
Lexus raised a brow at the letter, she gently took it and read the address. IT had her name, the bar's address, what caught her by surprise was the returning address- The Chocobo Ranch. A small sense of curiosity and hope surged through her, tearing the envelope open and finding a letter inside. She unfolded it, Roland watched as her blue eyes scanned the words, her hand reaching up to cover her mouth.
"Mom and Dad…" She gasped softly, "They want me to visit them." she told him.
Roland raised his brows, "What? Just you?" he joked.
Lexus scoffed, her eyes growing glassy. "They said you can come along, mom mentions it'd be safe for me."
Roland thought it over, then waved his hand dismissively. "Nah!" He turned back around the counter, returning to his dishes to scrub a plate. "I got this bar, who else can help people unwind with this stress of the treaty being on the rise?"
The pine haired girl walked over, leaning over the counter with her elbows, rereading the letter. "They asked me to leave May 16th, and to stay as long as I want…" Her voice trailed off, the later lowering in her fingers.
Roland glanced up from his scrubbing battle with the plate. Damn dried chicken sauce. His eyes shifted to the letter then back to her. "You could," he encouraged. "Don't have to worry about asking for days off working here. And you're boss at the bike shop would understand, hasn't he been getting on you about a day off or so?"
"That's… Not really the problem." She held a frown, her eyes watery but not enough to threaten a leakage. "Of all the years to contact me, of all the time- Why now do they want me there?"
Roland frowned, nodding to the paper. "Don't they say why?"
"Not really." Lexus shrugged, looking up at him. "Just how they really want me to visit as if walking down a block to spend a dinner evening with them," She dropped the paper on the counter and turned back to return to cleaning.
Roland can sense her dejection, pausing his cleaning. Her demeanor of cleaning shifted to being more rough with wiping the tables down and her stature more stiff and defensive.
He sighed loud enough for her to hear, "You gonna go?" he asked.
Lexus kept cleaning, though her uncle's question made her glare down at the wooden surface. "Why should I? Go to their beck and call whenever they want? They're the ones who abandoned me, dumped me here and never came back."
Roland dried his hands once more, approaching her silently.
"They weren't there for my graduation, for my biker license, for my bullying, for my past twelve birthdays!" She threw the worn out rag across the room, letting it smack against the wall and fell to the ground in a clump.
The silence tense air was thick, but Roland ignored it, reaching for her shoulder to give it a soft squeeze. "I can understand your anger and resentment for them. But, I rather them leave me to you than just be stuck at that ranch enclosed from the world-"
"I was enclosed from the world!" She snapped, turning to shove his hand off her. "I never wanted to live in the city back then! My mother wanted to, never me!"
"And you still don't want to live here, right?" He asked, voice still soft despite her rising voice and tone at him.
Lexus sighed, looking up at her uncle. It wasn't that she hated being with him, or living here at this bar. She hated this city, even after all the years from her being a child, through her teens, to her currently young adulthood- She hated Insomnia.
"It's not you." She assured, her temper flared down to a dwindle. "This city, it feels like a cage."
"Then you should go." He encouraged with a smile, he reached for the letter and folded it, placing it in her pants pocket. "I'll contact them and let them know you'll be leaving the 16th."
"Wait!" Roland ignored her, tutting as he wagged her finger.
"You can just go and come back or stay. It's up to you, but as your uncle and guardian, it's best to get out and take some fresh air out of this city." He placed his hands on her shoulder, turning her to him and pulling her into a hug. "You've been preparing for this day, to leave the city, haven't you?"
He wasn't wrong. What her self defense lessons were to only be, turned into preparing a day she left this city to venture far into Lucis. Her day was coming and the chance was right there. But so was her hestance.
"What about you?" She asked, he chuckled and pulled back. "Will you be alright?"
He noticed her eyes took a quick glance to his head, where the beanie hid his old injury. The years hadn't been kind to Roland as she took his appearance. He was getting old, and his traumatic injury was catching up to him. If she hadn't known about it, Lexus would assume it was just age getting to him. But he was starting to forget common things, nothing too worrisome. Mostly just turning the lights off or track of time. The real concern hit Lexus when he forgot to lock the shop up and turn the close sign, finding a customer at 3 in the morning downstairs.
"I know it's getting to me, but if I ever need help I can get old Ajax." He assured her.
Lexus felt his hands fall from her as she crossed her arms, amusement crossing her features at last. "Don't get on him, he's probably busy with this whole treaty happening right?"
Roland nodded, Ajax was the only person who was giving this information. It was kept hush until publicly announced by the King. "If I want, I could just close and give myself a well earned vacation. There's this show I've been meaning to watch, maybe delve into some arts and crafts- who knows!"
Lexus laughed, shaking her head at his silly antics. He cleared his throat, nodding to her. "You need this trip, trust me. You can visit them, maybe travel and explore what Lucis has to offer you before heading back here."
The thought of the freedom really spurred her to go out and visit her parents. Heck, the letter asked to leave the 16th, she could take her sweet time arriving to meet them so long as she left on that date.
With a final sigh of a decision, she nodded. "I'll go, the 16th right?"
"Yup! That's in a week, so prepare and pack!" He encouraged, shooing her toward the stairs.
Lexus smacked his arms from his shooing. "Who packs a week in advance?"
Lexus spent the week sending her boss her time off and planning her trip. Planning her clothing and essentials needed for her travel. With her bike only able to store so much, she didn't want to bring too much stuff. Just clothing, toiletries, and of course charger for her phone and to store her crossbow. Lexus wished she could store it like how Ajax stores his weapon, able to materialize it out of thin air. But, as Ajax explained, he was only allowed the power thanks to the crystal. Only certain people were allowed the power by the King to use it as such.
She looked over her map of Lucis Ajax lent her and started to set up where to go. It was leading to her visiting more spots before actually stopping at the ranch. She would have to travel through Leide to get to Duscae where the ranch was. But her eyes scanned Leide and the many locations made her want to stop at everyone!
"Okay!" She clapped her hands on her cheeks, trying to focus on her plans.
The map laid out on her desk of her room, dim light of her desk lamp lighting the room. It was late in the night and she would be leaving in a few days. She took the red marker and started to trail a red bright line from the city to the first pit stop- Hammerhead.
"I can stop here and check on my fuel and…hmm." She paused and scanned the map, her eyes darting between Leide and Duscae. "I'd have to head West, but that would mean missing out on Galdin Quay. Unless…"
Her hands drew the marker down South all the way to the shore and then back up to go West. her hand seemed to have a mind of it's own, traveling all around into Duscae circling The Disc until she finally paused at the ranch. She caved and circled it ending to trail.
"Guess that ends that." She assumed, leaning back as she capped the marker. She eyed the calendar hanging on the wall in front of her, just below her window. The 16th circled in black near twice so she wouldn't forget.
She couldn't help but let out an excited hum, grinning as she stretched her arms above her head. "Finally getting out of here!"
"You sure you have everything?"
"Yes."
"Phone charger?"
"Check."
"Food and toiletries?"
"Check."
"Extra underwear?"
Lexus let out a laugh that early chilly morning. To get a head start, Roland urged her to leave as early as possible. Early meaning the moment the sun rose and awake she was. She had her compartment under her bike's seat stuffed with the list of things, her crossbow attached to the back and her bike helmet hanging off of the bike handle. The helmet wasn't a typical one; the chocobo fan she was, she had it painted yellow with the head resembling said bird, the dark visor looking like a large beak and eyes on either side of the helmet. When lifting the visor, it looked like a chocobo opening its mouth wide to find a human face in there.
The morning air was chilly, she wore her dark jeans with leather detail on the knees. Her leather jacket to keep her warm from driving already slipped on and zipped up over her dark shirt that had her tank top that had her uncle's bar advertisement on it. Her black ankle high boots tapped on the cement with eagerness.
"Yes." She folded the seat down and picked up her helmet. "I'll text you when I get to Hammerhead."
"Oh, that's the first stop?" He asked, brows raised.
Lexus nodded, "Thought I'd check on the fuel. It's a long drive just from the city to there alone!" she exclaimed. "But I'll keep you updated on where I go so you don't have to worry."
Roland smiled and reached up, to ruffle her hair. "Knowing you'll be out there, I won't have to worry."
She frowned at his wording, but assumed maybe it had to do with their discussion last week on her leaving. "I'll take pictures too!"
Roland nodded, "I'd love that- Oh!" he removed his hand and snapped his finger. "If you see a man named Cid- old and looks like he should retire- give him a hello!"
"Another old friend?" She asked.
He nodded.
With a breath, she reached up and hugged Roland, who returned it just as tight. "Be safe and happy out there."
"I will!" She giggled and kissed his cheek before turning to her bike.
Lexus took another deep breath, her heart pounding as she straddled her bike and placed her helmet on. Roland glanced to make sure her crossbow was secure once more as she started the engine, revving it. He stepped back, waving as she waved back, speeding down the road toward the city gates.
With the treaty underway soon, she wasn't shocked to find it a bit of a hassle to get through the gates. They had a security check on her right now, she leaned on her bike, visor up as she awaited to be granted permission. As she waited, the sound of a car engine parked her attention. She turned back and spotted a dark fancy rich car coming up to the second gate. Lexus expected it to slow to a stop for the security check, but her jaw hung seeing the car just zoom right by and left without a single sign of breaking.
"What the hell!?" She barked, glaring at the back as the car receded into the distance. Her gloved hands thrown up, exasperated from what she just saw. What gave them the special right to just drive right through?
Eventually, after ten or so minutes, the guard returned. "Alright, miss. You're all clear." He told her, returning her ID and papers.
She snatched them back, glaring as she shoved them into the breast pocket of her leather jacket. "Thanks!" She barked, and kicked her stand, speeding off.
The guard was a tad deterred, but returned to his post for anyone else to enter or exit the city limits.
The engine roared beneath her as Lexus pushed her bike's limit to catch up to that asinine allowed to just… do that! Not even ten seconds out of the city and already she was ready to start something with some random ignoramus.
As she sped down the road, she was starting to think the asshole might have just pushed past the speed limit and was long gone. She eased her speed, until she spotted a block spot at the side of a road. Assuming to be someone broken down, Lexus first thought to check on them. But once she got closer, the biker recognized the car- It was the ignoramus. Not just one, but four of them! Three were pushing the large long ass vehicle while the fourth was in the car directing it all. With a wide impish grin, she sped up to ride along and revving her engine at them. Once all four men had their attention, she sped up and pulled back to do a wheelie and sped off leaving them behind in the dust.
Lexus laughed to herself, easing the front wheel back onto the pavement, not needing to crash and make herself look like a fool after that. Karma, she thought to herself. The final hit of speed she felt something click and then the click got louder. Dread sunk in, she groaned realizing she screwed her clutch doing that stunt.
"Okay, I deserve that." She muttered under the helmet. Thankfully, she saw the small pitstop that was Hammerhead. So long as she kept moving, she'd arrive and get it checked out at the garage.
The four boys coughed as dust was kicked up thanks to the chocobo biker who just wheeled and revved at them, then sped off.
"Lovely…" Ignis groaned, keeping a hand gripped on the wheel as he wiped the dust and dirt off his blazer sleeve.
"It's in my eyes!" Prompto cried, trying to rub them as he pressed his elbow to push the right side.
Noctis spat at the ground, on the left of the car. "At least it's not in your mouth!"
Gladio, who was getting sick of their moaning and whining, growled at them. "Just keep pushing!" He knowingly putting more effort to pushing the Regalia than the other two pipsqueaks.
Ignis watched the bike shooting down the road, nice to know manners weren't dead outside the city, he sarcastically thought. Eventually -hopefully- they'd arrive at Hammerhead and get the car fixed.
And not allow Prompto behind the wheel ever again.
Thank you Ankaia, for the follow and favorite!
