Crispy Cheese Pizza

Based on the recipeh.

AN: How Noctis smudges a painting in the Citadel. Inspired by dialogue in Chapter 14 of FFXV.

They stood at the chamber before the throne room. The final battle with Ardyn awaited beyond the doors and the group took a few moments to reminisce memories prior to the start of their journey.

"I recall a young prince leaving his mark on a painting." Ignis remarked with an amused smirk. "Is it still there?"

"I don't think anyone could spot it." Noctis admitted sheepishly, then looked at Lightning, who was shaking her head at the memory. "Had one of my attendants cover it up pretty good."

He recalled the day it happened. He had been stuck into one of his father's council meetings in the throne room. Having sat in the same chair from noon to evening, with only a few breaks in between, and snacks in the form of afternoon tea and thin sandwiches, Noctis came out of the throne room feeling hungry and exhausted.

Two Glaives were stationed on either side of the door leading to the throne room. He noticed one of them left to accompany a councilmember, while the other was Lightning, who met his gaze as he was the last to exit. "Hey."

"Hey." She greeted back and gave him a once over. "You look like shit."

"Aren't you as eloquent as always." Noctis bantered.

"I swore an oath to always be honest, Your Highness." She made the standard Glaive gesture of a fist over her heart and another on her back.

"Perhaps a bit too honest." He rolled his eyes, swearing she did that to tease him.

"I also swore to look after your well-being." She gave a small smile and Noctis decided she was definitely teasing him. "And to prove it, I got you a present." She walked to behind one of the couches and picked up a large square cardboard box, handing it over to Noctis. "Knowing you, I figured you'd come out starving."

He took the thin box in his hands and opened it. "It's not much." Lightning continued, shoving her hands in the pocket of her frock coat. "I had to order it on short notice. But I saw the food they were bringing in and dinner wouldn't be ready in another hour."

It was as if divine light shone from within the box. Cheese Pizza. And not just any cheese pizza. It was Crispy Cheese Pizza. Just the way he liked it. The crunchy, thin crust with the contrasting texture of gooey cheese and savory tomato sauce was all he wanted.

"Lightning." He lifted his head from the box and gave her a serious look. "Marry me."

The woman scoffed and leaned against the wall between various paintings, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't let the elders hear you say that." She smirked. She knew it was his way of saying thanks.

His hands went to retrieve the first slice and took a bite. He nearly moaned at the flavor. "You're the best."

"I know." She laughed, more amused from how he looked. The Prince of Lucis munching on a cheese pizza was all it took to win him over.

"Don't finish the whole thing. You'll need space for dinner and I'd rather not have King Regis on my case."

Noctis was halfway into his third slice when he snorted. "That an excuse to want a slice?" He teased and waved the piece in front of her.

"You're forgetting who bought that." She pointed out. "I had to use half of my hourly wage for that thing." She shook her head. It wasn't just any kind of pizza, rather it was a gourmet pizza of the highest quality, thus a more expensive price. When the owners heard a take-out request for the Prince, they immediately placed her order as top priority.

He turned the open side of the box to her. He smiled. "You know you don't even have to ask."

Tempting. She'd been standing on guard for hours and her dinner wasn't for another two hours.

He could see her indecision so he waggled the pizza box closer to her face, the scent wafting to her nose. "Come on. It's just the two of us and you did say I can't finish it all."

"Good point." She gave a small smile as she decided to grab a slice.

"So, what's up with you?" Noctis asked in regards to her day. "Anything interesting happened?"

"Nothing really. Just stood here for hours as usual." Lightning shrugged and gestured to the illustrations behind her and above. "I've been looking at the paintings. They're all very interesting. Something to do with a prophecy and a Chosen King."

"Yeah. Dad assigned me a tutor to teach me the history of the royal bloodline." His hand came up to touch one of the paintings absently. "Apparently, I'll become the 114th King. So there's much history to be learnt."

She nodded at his words. Though she can't imagine the burden of the people's lives and the expectations set by his ancestors on his shoulders, Lightning will make sure to help ease that weight. As she was about to tell him a reassuring comment, she became alert as she saw his touch on the painting. "Your hands."

The Prince looked at her in confusion. "What about my hands?"

"Idiot, you placed it on the oil painting." She took his wrist and pulled it off the canvas. "Which means you stained it."

Sure enough, there was an obvious smudge on the painting. No doubt from the Prince's greasy fingers from the pizza.

The Glaive sighed. "I am so dead."

AN: Bahahaha, I honestly did not know where to go with this. I just really wanted a Lightis story as to how Noct smudged a painting. If you played the game, you might've missed it, but if you pass by the paintings, it'll trigger the dialogue between Noctis and Ignis.

Hope you enjoyed this, I had fun writing it :D