Through a Rose-Tinted Windshield

Based on the collection of "broken car" side quests.

AN: Title is an actual side quest name, go figure :D And I don't claim to know cars hahaha enjoy~ This is also a sort-of sequel to The Ever Regal Regalia (chapter 6 here in Animus).

My contribution to lightisdays2k, head over to tumblr to see some amazing lightis fanworks this weekend!

"Hey, looks like someone needs help." Prompto exclaimed as he spotted a man from afar, waving his arms frantically at the side of the road. Beside him was a mint green car with smoke coming out of the hood.

"Let's help him out." Noctis said.

"Leave him." Gladio remarked from behind his book. "For all we know, he could be a psycho."

"Or he might actually need the help." Prompto argued back.

The Shield sighed. "If this guy kills any of you, don't say I didn't warn you."

"You've been watching too much of those hitchhiking movies, Gladio." Ignis commented as he pulled the Regalia at the side.

"Hey, it's better to be safe than sorry." Gladio defended himself and turned to the Glaive beside him. "What do you think, Light?"

She raised an eyebrow at him and took a moment before answering. "I think you should do your job and protect the Prince if this man does turn out to be a psycho."

Prompto snickered, while Gladio shook his head. "What's a guy gotta do to get respect around here?"

"Maybe if you stop being paranoid for one second?" Noctis suggested with sarcasm as he got out of the car. He approached the man, shoving his hands in his jacket. "Hey, need any help?"

"Oh, thank goodness!" The young man exclaimed in relief. "I've been stuck here for hours and nobody's stopped to help me."

"No prob." The Prince shrugged. "Mind if I take a look?"

"Sure, go ahead." The young man nodded eagerly and gestured to his car. "I'm a new driver so I don't really know much about cars."

With a repair kit in hand, Noctis went to survey under the hood. After a few minutes of tweaking whatever parts were necessary and appropriate, he called out to the man. "Alright, I think that should do it. Why don't you give it a try?"

The man went behind the wheel and tried to start the car, which unfortunately did not as it made clicking sounds. "Nada, sorry, man."

Noctis stared at the hood in confusion. He ran a mental check, he was sure he'd done everything right.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Lightning. "I think I know the problem." She said and approached the hood, inspecting it quickly and nodded to herself. "We need to jump start the car battery."

"Ignis." She called out. "Do you mind moving the Regalia a bit closer?"

The royal advisor did as told. With the car closer, she popped open the trunk and found what she was looking for. A set of jumper cables from Cindy. She moved to the front and opened the hood as well, then gave Ignis a set of instructions.

Noctis watched the woman work and wondered when she learned about cars. No doubt from her time spending with Cindy and she always was a quick learner.

She went to the young man's car and spoke to him, also giving him instructions, and attached the cables to his car's battery. "It should only take a couple of minutes." She told the young man. "Then try to start your car." Then she returned to the Regalia, telling Ignis to turn on the engine.

"Who is she?" The young man asked in awe, watching her walk away through the windshield. Noctis didn't miss the way the stranger eyed her hips or the way she leaned down to attach the cables. The young man's reactions reminded him of Lightning cleaning the Regalia. There's just something hot about women and cars, Prompto had said. Noctis felt annoyed at his ogling, so he settled on not revealing her name.

He moved to lean on the hood, blocking his view and crossed his arms. "A close friend of mine."

"Dude." He gave Noctis a serious look. "She's a babe."

The Prince didn't need somebody stating things he already knew. He decided to change the subject before going any further and, judging by the way he spoke, he asked. "I reckon you're from Galdin?"

He grinned. "Born and raised." And unfortunately, it wasn't enough to stray his thoughts from the Glaive. "Seriously though, who is she? Beach babes aren't nearly as toned!"

It took all of Noctis' control not to groan. Oh, Eos, was this man seriously checking her out? "Like I said, a close friend." He nearly snapped at the man.

"Chill, dude. I was just admiring." He gave Noctis a cheeky grin. "She's obviously taken. My bad."

The young man started his engine and it roared to life. After unattaching the cables and a multitude of genuine thanks from the stranger, Noctis was more than happy to let him go on his way.

"You okay?" Lightning asked, getting into the Regalia. "You look like you got a stick shoved up your ass."

"Yeah, it's nothing." Noctis slammed the door a little bit too hard. "Just thought that Gladio was right."

"Right about what?" His Shield questioned.

"We should've left him to suffer."

AN: Jealous Noct ftw!

And heads up, laptop is not working again, ugh so I've been switching between on google docs on my phone and my family-shared PC.