Maagho.
Based on Weskham's bar, also known as the floating market, in Altissia in FFXV.
Timeline: Post XV (yes, they all live!). 30 year old Lightis.
Tumblr prompt request by blue-water-crystallis.
"You need a shave." The royal adviser heard the Captain of the Glaives chide the King.
Another time, he heard a few bones popping and Noctis' disapproving voice, to which Ignis assumed he was giving Lightning a massage. "You need to slow it down."
"You need to eat."
"You need more sleep."
With the royal couple stating what the former needed, they neglected what they both needed. So, Ignis had enough of this and decided to intervene.
"What you two need is a vacation."
"I can't believe Iggy did this."
Lightning snorted. "He literally kicked us out of Insomnia."
They were currently on a gondola, traveling to Maagho. Weskham Armaugh was more than happy to shut down his bar for only the two of them.
It would be romantic. A candlelit dinner for two. The older man teased over the phone. Some wine and delicious food. And you won't even notice I'm there.
A romantic candlelit dinner, huh? Noctis glanced at Lightning who sat at the other end of the gondola, a hand on her chin as she stared at the city, twilight settling over Altissia. There was no doubt that he loved her and she felt the same. But ever since the dawn had returned to Eos, the two had been particularly busy rebuilding Insomnia and essentially, the whole of Eos.
He watched the evening breeze passed, tousling the strands of hair loose from her bun and the soft ruffles of her cream-colored, cotton dress.
"You look nice." He blurted out, heat rising to his ears. He silently thanked for his long hair covering the reddened tips. "I mean, I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier…"
Lightning raised an eyebrow, but the smile on her face tells him she's amused. "Thanks." She fiddled with the end of her dress, then eyed his royal raiment. "You look nice, too."
She smiled wider now, showing a little teeth. His heart raced faster, just when he thought she was already beautiful, she suddenly does that and now the word doesn't do her justice. As if he could fall any further.
His thoughts were interrupted when the gondoller cheerfully announced they have arrived. Noctis stood swiftly, standing at the dock to offer his hand to Lightning. Her warm hand took his and he helped her on her feet.
"Your Majesty. Captain Farron." Weskham greeted warmly, walking towards them. "Welcome."
"Weskham." Noctis shook his hand with a smile. "We're just Noctis and Lightning for tonight."
"No titles." Weskham commented as he gave Lightning a chaste kiss on the cheek. "I like that."
"Thank you for accommodating us." Lightning smiled. "You didn't need to shut down your entire bar."
"Nonsense, it's my pleasure. For all you've done for Eos, this is the least I could do." He gestured towards a lone table with two seats. "Come, come. Take a seat, I'll bring my finest wine."
Settling down, Noctis snorted at the table's set up. "Candlelit dinner."
"For two." Lightning quipped. She stroked the petals of the single rose in the vase. "This is nice."
"Yup." He cleared his throat. Awkward. "Us two. Alone." More awkward.
She nodded. "We've never really had time alone, not after since…" She didn't finish her sentence, but Noctis knew what she would say.
Since you came back.
Ten years. To have Lightning and his friends wait for that long, while the world was steadily growing into darkness…
"Here you go." Weskham placed two glasses and poured them red wine. "I'll leave the bottle." He winked and went back to the bar to prepare their food.
"I don't think I've asked before. About what happened while I was, you know…"
Lightning shrugged, knowing what he was asking. "Nothing drastic really. The daemons grew stronger, the darkness continued. I focused my efforts on training new Glaives and missions to help refugees. There was nothing we could have done except wait for your return."
He gritted his teeth and forced out another question. He needed to know. "And everyone?"
She swirled her glass of wine. "There was a time we all drifted apart. Ignis had his crutch, and everyone else had theirs." She turned her eyes on him, blue and sad. "You were the glue that kept us together. It hurt, not having you around. So we distracted ourselves. We met from time to time, but it wasn't the same as before."
He looked down, ashamed. "I'm sorry." For all the hurt, pain, and suffering he had caused. For leaving them behind. He realized he didn't deserve it; their friendship, loyalty, and love.
Lightning's warm hand cupped his, giving a light squeeze. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault. Your fate was written long before you were even born. Your leaving was an inevitable."
"For a long time, I was very angry at you." She admitted quietly, her thumb stroked the back of his hand. "You left us to deal with the shit you and your forefathers caused. Everything that happened in my life was because of your bloodline and that damn crystal. I lost my family in a crossfire, I lost my friends and my innocence fighting a war."
"But when I met you, you made up for what I had lost and gave me even more. You gave me a new family, a new home. Which was why I was so angry at you." She whispered fiercely, gripping his hand now. "I thought I couldn't forgive you for taking that away from me. Not for a second time."
With the emotion in her voice, Noctis needed to see her, to face what he had done. So he looked up and met her warm gaze, her blue eyes with unshed tears as she confessed.
"And yet, above everything, even during the darkest of times, there was one thing that stayed true: I loved you." She grasped his hand with her other one, holding tight as if he'd disappear again. "I still do, Noct."
He believed her. Again, he had no doubt. But hearing her say the words made them real.
He took both of her hands, bringing them close to his mouth to place a lingering kiss. "I love you as well, Claire."
She could only stare at him, her mouth slightly open. She always knew, but to see him act on it so intimately made her heart stammer
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Weskham gave them a cheeky smile. "I've brought a Fettini di Cernia. And my notoriously expensive Fine Caviar Canape, as I remember you have never tried that before." He took the liberty to pour more wine into their glasses. "Claire. That's a beautiful name."
"Don't let anyone else hear that, Weskham." Noctis warned half-jokingly.
"Of course, what is seen and heard in Maagho, stays in Maagho. Enjoy your dinner and lift a hand if you need anything."
They ate in comfortable silence, a comment about the food here and there. Now that the topic of his decade-long sleep was out of the way, Noctis could almost feel their relationship change, like a flower on the verge of blossoming.
"Wanna dance?" Noctis asked after they both finished their meal and had two full glasses of wine.
"Sure." She smiled, taking his hand once again. This time he placed an arm around her waist and the other hand entwined with hers, while her other hand came up his chest.
They swayed to the jazzy song Weskham played and they were glad he did decide to reserve the bar just for them.
Lightning placed her head by his shoulders, comfortable in their position. "So, what now?"
"What about now?" He asked, slightly confused.
"Our relationship has changed."
Ah. "I say... we're still in the dating stage?"
To which Lightning responded by giving him her bullshit look. As if they hadn't confessed they loved each other.
Noctis laughed. "Technically we've been dating for 13 years."
She rolled her eyes and deliberately stepped on his foot.
"Ow, okay, okay." After a few moments of silence and swaying, he struggled to find the right words. "You know what happens after dating…"
It didn't even take her a second to respond. "Okay."
"Wait. 'Okay,' to what?"
She smiled softly, but her eyes were shining in amusement. "I'll marry you."
He stared at her, then concluded. "You're drunk."
"Please, I have more tolerance than Gladio." She rolled her eyes again. "But why not? You love me, I love you, we're meant to be."
Noctis sighed as if exasperated.
"What?" Lightning frowned, realizing maybe she was too forward. Perhaps Noctis was right and she was drunk?
Instead, he groaned and pressed his forehead against hers. "You always steal my thunder."
"Well, I am Lightning." She gave cheeky smirk.
"Shut up." He laughed. She could be such a dork at times. "I hate it when you have more balls than I do."
She couldn't resist placing a kiss on his pouting lips. "So, is that a yes?"
"Imagine the history texts from now. 114th King of Lucis was proposed to instead of-"
"What is seen and heard in Maagho, stays in Maagho." Weskham's voice called out from the bar. "And give that lovely woman a damn answer. It better be a yes."