Noctis had pulled out the chair for the blonde haired woman he was currently sharing a room with. He placed the cake and ice cream in the middle, took a sip of his drink and sat in the opposite seat. He was waiting for Luna to come out of the bathroom. He was lost in his mind again.
By all appearances, she seems more put together than I thought she would be emotionally but here I am being an asshole and not letting her tell me about home. He sighed. I've wanted to know this whole time. I've been having nightmares about dad. I feel like I could have helped him, even a little if I was there. Maybe Gladio could've helped his father. I know I am being immature and even naive in my thinking but I feel so worthless and useless. He sent me away when I could have fought to help him. She has come here to this room, the one person besides dad that means so much to me and I'm not on my best behavior. I've got perverse thoughts and feel like acting on my impulses.
He heard the door open, Luna stepping out with her hooded robe in her arms, her white shoes in her hand. She had a white dress on naturally, but instead of it being completely covering of her legs, it was a see thru lace material from the knees down. The top of her dress was sleeveless like all her other public dresses. He couldn't help but gulp, feeling a heat on his face and his ears that he knew he was red from. Etro, I could just picture her as mine. I don't think I will have self control.
He felt himself getting up and making his way to her. Her face was also flushed slightly. She looked up to see Noctis coming towards her, she instinctively backed away each step he took towards her. Gotta control myself, relax Noct. She looks afraid.
The problem was she was backing into the bathroom, slowly backing towards the walk in shower and it's glass doors. When her back reached the doors she gasped at the cold on her back. Noctis closed the space between them, placing his hands on each side of her head. His head was bowed slightly, his raven bangs hiding his bluish-grey eyes.
"Lunafreya," he began quietly.
"Y-Yes Noctis?" She stammered out as she blushed.
"Let's go out to dinner. Right now."
"Are you sure you want the Empire to see you out without your entourage and with me? In public?" She felt a deal of confusion, unsure of what he wanted, to be seen or not be seen. Even more so by his sudden change in his body language.
"I know your brother is commander of the army. Tell him to back off for the night. You and I go out. And yes, I am leaving the guys here." His expression was neutral but his eyes had a mix of playful emotion and firm resolve.
She reached her hand out, gently stroking his cheek. She wanted to be alone with him. She somewhat enjoyed seeing this dominant side to him, but she would not let him dictate terms to her always. He may be the prince of Lucis but she was a royal herself.
"No Noctis," she began calmly. "We stay here. You ordered room service, it'd be rude to waste it. Besides, I don't want to have to spend my time being eyed by everyone and possibly approached by the citizens looking to receive a blessing from me. Please Noctis, let me enjoy this quiet, intimate time alone with you. I ask for nothing more." His expression softened, his head leaning into her hand. She has a way of calming me. Just like when we were kids. It is comforting when she does it too. I don't feel like I'm gonna make a mistake with her by my side, I want to be with her, always.
He leaned in closer, closing the gap between them, gently kissing her forehead, then each cheek and finally reconnecting their lips in a chaste kiss. He didn't want to force the kiss into anything more if she didn't want to. He also didn't want to rush it either. Gotta control my damn hormones.
They pulled apart, faces redder than the human body could handle. Noctis backed away slightly, "I'm sorry. I'm being a brat to you. Especially since I'm passive aggressive about how I was asking you to go out to dinner with me."
His eyes avoided hers. He simply and gently grabbed her hand and guided her to the table, ignoring the robe and shoes that had fallen out of her hands. She sat down at the seat he pulled out for her and then sat opposite from her. It was then that she noticed the ice cream had melted slightly, turning into a chocolate milkshake of sorts.
"You should eat that before it melts even more," she smiled and pointed to the melting sundae. He hmphed, "I feel like it was a waste to order the ice cream. Wanna split the cheesecake? It's pretty good."
She smiled, "Yes, I'd like that very much."
He pulled his chair next to her and grabbed the fork, cutting into the cake he ordered. Lifting a sliver of cake, he moved it to her mouth, she eyed him curiously. "Noctis?" "Just go along with it. Pretend we just got married and are feeding each other cake." She giggled at the thought, "Alright, I will humor you."
They ate the cake and drank the strawberry lemonade in a comfortable silence. When it came to the sundae they left it be, melting completely and creating a water ring around it. Umbra laid at their feet, sleeping.
"So, Luna," Noctis began quietly. She looked up at him as he spoke. "Yes, Noctis?"
"Tell me about what happened in Insomnia." The blonde sat in complete shock, I never thought he would ask about home first. I was preparing for any question except that.
"Really? She replied. "Well if you'd like I can tell you about what happened when I arrived. I arrived a couple days before the treaty was to be signed. Originally, I was not supposed to be there but Ravus had spoken to Izunia and the chancellor recommended that I be in the city when it came time. Something about your father wanting to see me and you also being there to see me as well. There was to be an engagement party the night before the treaty signing. At some fancy hotel."
His eyebrow raised in curiosity, at the Caelum Via? Haven't been there since I met her...
"Anyways, I met a glaive named Nyx who was part of the detail looking after me."
Flashback
The young Oracle was in Insomnia for the treaty. Her brother informed her of the engagement party this was supposed to be, thus all the fireworks and people present besides the treaty. As exciting as it was, she was more interested in finding the glaive that had driven her to the Citadel earlier that week. King Regis mentioned a member of the Kingsglaive was to meet her and escort her, however no such envoy arrived. She wanted to thank the glaive at least for trying. She just hoped that the man was here at the party somewhere.
"Where could he be?" She pondered aloud.
"Are we looking for someone this evening Lady Lunafreya? Perhaps the young Lucian prince?" Her gaze landed on Ardyn Izunia, chancellor to the empire. He had a champagne glass in his hand and a sly smirk on his face.
Her brows furrowed knowing that she had to be polite even though she loathed the man before her.
"I was looking for a member of the Kingsglaive that had assisted me earlier in the week. I didn't quite catch his name and I had a question for him, if it is really any of your business."
He laughed, "Fiesty little Oracle aren't we? If you seek glaive members, you need look no further than the general radius of the king himself." He pointed at Regis as she walked away, not thanking him for his assistance.
As she rounded the large aquarium, she saw the glaive on patrol, keenly eyeing the Emporer and King Regis. She made her way around it to come up from behind him.
"Hello," she began quietly. "I'm afraid we were never properly introduced yesterday." He looked at her, "Fraid it's going to have to wait your highness, I'm on guard duty."
"Then surely there's no safer place to be." He laughed in a slightly mocking way, taking a good look at her but no disrespect was taken by the princess, she continued, "May I ask your name?"
The glaivesmen, somewhat annoyed with her questioning figured she would leave him alone faster if he just talked to her, "Uh, Nyx. Nyx Ulric."
"There's something else I'd like to ask you, Nyx Ulric. King Regis said he sent one of your order to find me. I should like to offer my thanks in person, where can I find this brave soldier?" It was at this question Luna noticed the defensive wall Nyx had up lower, but he never said a word. Realizing the fate his fellow comrade she quickly apologizes.
"Oh. Oh... I did not... I am so sorry." "Don't be." He reached into his pocket pulling out a comb like item and handed to her, "Here, she was carrying this. It was meant for you." Luna looked back at him, trying to keep the tears from falling. "For me?" She looked at the gift she received, "Keep it. She'd want you to have it," he said calmly and returned back to guard position. The only response from Luna being, "Thank you, I'll carry it with me always. Thank you."
Back in the Present
Luna pulled out the broken comb that Nyx gave her, it being damaged after Nyx removed the transmitter to help her escape both the traitor Kingsglaive as well as the Empire's army chasing them after the Fall. "Someone I didn't know died for me, that same someone offered me a gift, their comrade passing it along as if it was always meant to be that way. I am not sure what hurts my heart more. The fact that Ravus held misguided rage towards Lucis or the fact that the people who protected the king had hearts just as big as his, contrary to what Ravus has said about your father for twelve long years. He truly loved you, Noctis, I truly believe that with all my heart." She looked at him, tears falling down her face, he had been quiet the whole time she told him about her meeting with Nyx.
If he loved me so much, why did he send me away when the time for the treaty came? Why couldn't he tell me the things that you and Cor and even Cid are telling me? I don't understand.
"Noctis, he begged me to leave the capitol to reunite with you."
"He what? In the middle of the treaty negotiations?"
"Yes, in the middle of the treaty negotiations. He suggested it. He almost seemed like he was desperate."
She watched his expressions, looking for some kind of hint that would tell her if he was okay with the words she was saying about his father, but she knew she had to tell him the words that his father said. She thought back to when she saw him at the Citadel that day.
In the Throne Room
Nyx had driven her to the Citadel right after he took over for the driver that the Empire provided for her. As she entered the elevator in the with him, she took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves, ignoring the look on the glaive's face. She knew Ravus was against her seeing the king but she demanded to be able to see the city, see the king and hopefully finally see Noctis, however she didn't care what Ravus wanted. For the first time in twelve years she would do what she wanted and nothing would stop her from those objectives.
I want to see the king naturally to see him and hopefully tell him that what happened back home is not his fault. Mother's death is not his fault. No matter what Ravus says. I must do this as well as finally see Noctis after all these years. We made a promise to fulfill our duties as the Chosen King and Oracle.
They stepped out of the elevator, following Nyx to the throne room. He said nothing the entire time, except to inform the guards in front of the throne room that she had arrived.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Lunafreya of Tenebrae." She entered the throne room, seeing the king of Lucis standing above the top of a large area with stairs leading up to the throne. She smiled at the king, truly happy to see him after twelve long years. "It has been a long time, King Regis." He returned her smile, "Yes, far too long." He made his way to the throne, sitting as they began to talk, skipping to business. Nyx stepped forward, "Your Highness, you are permitted to climb the first flight of stairs of the throne. You may converse with the king there." She nodded and climbed the steps hoping to see Noctis somewhere in the room. However, she realized the prince was not there.
"Prince Noctis is not here, is he?" She questioned sadly.
"No my dear, he is not." She let out a breath she did not know she was holding, knowing she and he couldn't meet again hurt. She stared on, wishing the next words wouldn't hurt as much.
"I am too old to fight this war. I have no choice but to accept the empire and their treaty."
Luna felt her head drop in defeat. Part of her wanted him to fight, but seeing his appearance stated otherwise. "Even so," he continued. "I had hoped to hold the wedding elsewhere. Somewhere safe. I sent one of my glaive to see you there but..." His voice wandered as he saw her expression show she never saw the person he sent.
"It is not too late. I can ready an escort. Please, go to my son."
A plea from one person who loves him to another. But, I can't compromise his safety.
"No." She felt her resolve in the tone as the Regis' expression fell. "Wherever I go the Empire will follow. It would only place the prince in greater danger. It is my duty to protect the prince and see his destiny fulfilled. These twelve years have not changed that." It was then that the king questioned gently, "And what of your destiny?" She took a deep breath, "My duty is my destiny, Your Majesty. I am prepared to accept whatever may come to pass."
Back in the Present
She watched as Noctis rose from his seat, walking towards the balcony of the room. He said nothing. Luna broke the silence again.
"I am sorry if my words were too harsh to your father," she said firmly. When he did not say anything, she stood up, went to grab her shoes and the robe she wore to hide herself. He needs time to process what I have told him so far. There's no way I would tell him everything all at once. It's cruel to put him through that. I also expect he will push me away as part of processing it. As she finished putting her shoes on, she heard rustling behind her but did not turn around. She couldn't bare to look into his eyes, so she put the robe on, feeling tears on her face as she lifted the hood to hide her hair and face. It was then that she felt his arms wrap around her.
"Don't leave." Was all she heard. Every bone in her body screamed to stay, but her heart and mind battled. Her mind screaming to run and her heart telling her to give in to what she wanted. In the end, she leaned back into his embrace, her answer nothing more than, "Yes."
She felt the robe being removed as it fell to the floor. She turned around, the tears still falling from her eyes, only to be met by his midnight blue eyes with tears in them as well. Feeling absolute sadness for the Lucian prince, she pulled him in close, their lips connecting in a more passionate kiss than ever before. They held each other, knowing that getting through the rest of her telling of the fall would be difficult. But they had the whole week, he was willing to wait. She couldn't help but feel slightly relieved knowing her wasn't rejecting her or the truth of the fallen kingdom.
Author's Notes: I am trying so hard not to rush the story but at the same time not trying to drag it out. Hope everyone is enjoying the story. Technically, this is only the first night. hopefully I can make it all work out to be the entire week leading to the rite, maybe even an actual epilogue for Noct. Haven't decided. Million thank yous to everyone adding this to their following list and favorites list. Please don't forget to review as well if you can. Thanks everyone and see you next chapter.