Next chapter is up. I have no rights to any of the characters besides my OCs. Please review and enjoy!
Previously:
"You're both being reassigned. Ulric, you're on west gate duty. Lazarus, you'll be spending your time tomorrow at the hospital patching up your comrades and yourself," he said clearly annoyed.
Silence.
Cyla turned to Nyx and smiled lightly.
"Want to switch? I've been told my bedside manner could use some work," she mused and it got him to chuckle quietly.
The Next Day…
They were sleeping peacefully when a small noise made Cyla open her eyes alertly. She listened carefully and then her body relaxed when the grip around her waist tightened and soft lips were pressed against the back of her neck.
"It's just the cat," Nyx said, his eyes still closed and his voice groggy with sleep.
He buried his face further into her hair, hoping for a few more minutes of sleep. Cyla furrowed her eyebrows.
"You don't have a cat," she reminded him.
"He's not my cat, he's the cat. He comes around every so often fishing for food. He'll leave when he's done," he explained.
Cyla turned in his grip and leaned her forehead against his. He finally opened his eyes meeting hers.
"Let's not go in today," she mused and Nyx chuckled.
"Stay in bed all day?" he added and her eyes lit up as she nodded.
"Naked," she continued and he laughed, a blush forming on his cheeks.
"That would be a requirement," he said and she blushed.
Silence.
He leaned his head against hers and closed his eyes, enjoying the silence for a moment. She watched him closely before pressing her lips to his forehead.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked and he nodded, opening his eyes again.
"Yeah, but that's usually the case when you spend the night," he smiled slightly and she pressed her lips to his.
He returned the kiss eagerly and moved so that he was now resting on top of her, the kiss intensifying. She let her hands skim up his bare sides, travelling up to his shoulders, and wrapping around his neck, pulling him against her. He shivered at the contact and broke the kiss. He took a moment to look at her and his hand gently caressed her cheek. She stared back at him and was about to speak when a phone went off. Nyx blinked, coming out of his thoughts and turned to his dresser, where both phones lay.
"Mine or yours?" he mused and she groaned as he slipped off of her and looked at the phone.
"Yours, it's your brother," he said and she sat up, keeping the blanket held to her chest.
"Answer it," she grinned and Nyx shook his head chuckling.
"As fun as that sounds…I think I'll pass," he said and she chuckled.
"I'll call him back," she said, lying back down.
Nyx walked over climbing back onto the bed and lying on the blanket next to her. He pulled her close and she could see his face become serious feeling her bandages under the blanket.
"I'm fine," she tried and he gave her a halfhearted smile.
"I should have gotten to you sooner. It took a while for me to get Libertus—"
"—please don't do that. None of that was your fault and we both made it out. Even if Luche wasn't in trouble I still would have went to assist you and Libertus. You know I'd follow you anywhere," she whispered and he stared at her.
"Following me is one thing, but that's not the first time you've taken a hit for him and I'm getting tired of seeing the scars on your body to prove it," he admitted and she stared at him.
"He's my brother—"
"—I know that. I just think he should be more careful when he's out there and stop constantly depending on the notion that if something goes wrong, you'll always be there to save him," he said and she kissed him.
"Take a shower with me," she changed the subject and he moved off her, sitting up.
She sat up and draped her arms around his neck kissing his cheek.
"I'll talk to him about being more careful out in the field. By the way I never thanked you for yesterday. You saved my life. I owe you," she said and he turned to her slightly.
"You've saved me a couple of times before, so let's call it even," he said softly and she nuzzled his cheek, getting a small smile from him.
"Please take a shower with me. They're always more fun when it's the both of us," she mused and he laughed lightly, a blush playing on his cheeks.
Later that Day…
Cyla showed up to the small restaurant late. The group was sitting outside enjoying shish-kabob and drinks. She walked up to the table and ruffled Crowe's hair earning a playful glare from her friend.
"Well look who decided to show up," Libertus teased and Cyla gave him a tired smile.
"Everything go okay at the hospital?" Nyx asked and she nodded.
"West gate?" she questioned and he shrugged.
"Normal as normal can be here," he answered.
Silence.
The group began to talk and Nyx eyed Cyla curiously. She wasn't acting like herself. She was quiet and distant.
"Get off it. You saw them retreat. We had them running scared with their tail between their legs," Crowe said biting into her kabob.
"It was a tactical retreat. They weren't scared, they're up to something," Luche said leaning against the rail.
"Yeah and I saw an envoy enter the city today to meet with the King. I don't know what's going on, but I don't think it's anything good," Pelna said shaking his head.
Silence.
Cyla absently touched her side, letting her fingers glide over the bandages. She stared at her cup, her body present, but her mind elsewhere.
"Cyla, I called you this morning. Where were you?" Luche asked and Cyla was broken from her thoughts.
"Hospital. I went in early to get a head start on things. Left my phone in the locker," she lied and he nodded.
"Good, I'm sure once the Captain calms down, he'll pull you from hospital duty and put you back with us. You belong on the battlefield," he said and she smiled at him and nodded.
Then she stood.
"I think I'm going to call it a night. I'm pretty tired and no offense but the table talk is kind of bumming me out," she tried to muse but the playfulness died on her lips.
She turned and walked to her house. It was a decent walk, but she didn't mind. She needed to clear her head. She had training tomorrow and needed to be in the right mindset. She was lost in thought and didn't feel someone jog up beside her. She jumped and turned seeing Nyx.
"Where were you just now?" he asked and she hated that he was always able to read her so well.
"We lost six people today because of yesterday's battle. That was six families I had to destroy today alone. It took its toll," she whispered unable to look at him.
Silence.
"I'll talk to Captain Drautos tomorrow. I'll ask him to switch us—"
"—no that's not necessary. I chose to disobey orders. I can take my punishment. I'm proud to take it. I have no regrets," she said and he stared at her.
She offered him a small smile.
"What are your plans for the night?" she asked and he felt a smirk tug at his lips.
"Walk you home and hopefully I'm lucky enough to get invited in," he mused and a smile broke out onto her face.
"I feel better already," she joked and he laughed as they walked home together.
The Next Day…
She was sitting with Nyx and Libertus in the training grounds watching Prince Noctis mess around with the warping attack.
He was…uncoordinated to say the least.
She turned to Nyx, but his eyes were far away. She gently took his hand and he tensed, but his eyes came back to the present.
"Stay with me now," she whispered and he gave a quick nod and a relieved smile.
She was the only one who could pull him back to the present when his mind was in the past with his sister.
"How come you never threw up like that using the King's magic Nyx? And he's part of the royal bloodline," Libertus made fun of the young Prince.
"Hey guys, get in here," Crowe called and the three stood and walked inside where the other Kingsglaive were watching the television.
They listened as it was announced that a new treaty was being signed in two days. Lucis was surrendering all territories outside of Insomnia to Niflheim, the very empire they had just fought against. Everyone in the room was flabbergasted.
Silence.
Silence.
Cyla stared at the screen in disbelief. What was the King thinking?
"What about our families?!" a Kingsglaive called out.
"All that fighting we did…all for nothing," Crowe whispered.
"Don't you get it? We're nothing to them. Rats, snuck in from behind the Wall. Sure, they had use for us when they realized we could work their magic, so they handpicked us out from all the other rats out there and just let us nibble away at His Royal Majesty's precious power. But as soon as this war's all over, it's back to the sewers for all of us," Tredd spat.
"Alright, you all heard the news, now meet me in here now," Captain Drautos said firmly appearing at the door.
The team followed and lined up in front of him.
"I know what this means and so do you. But they are the King's orders and we have to follow them," he said.
Silence.
"No matter how we feel, this isn't about us. We're Kingsglaive. Crowe," he said and Crowe straightened out.
"Yes sir," she said firmly.
"You're assigned to an infiltration mission to Tenebrae. You leave tomorrow," he said and Cyla frowned.
"Sir, infiltrations are a two person job. Allow me to go with her," Cyla said knowing the protocol well.
"Cyla," Luche snapped in a whisper.
"Not for this infiltration, Lazarus. King's orders are for her to go alone. The rest of the details are classified," Drautos said.
Cyla didn't like it.
"Then allow me to go in her place," she said and Drautos nodded about to give his consent when Luche stepped forward.
"Sir, I would ask that you deny her request," he said and she glanced at him wide eyed.
Luche was many things and they had their ups and downs being family, but he never did something as drastic as this.
Silence.
"Luche, the infiltration—"
"—was assigned to Crowe and should be carried out by Crowe. Or are you questioning the King's decision?" he snapped sternly and she was about to snap back when the Captain cut them both off.
"That's enough. Crowe, report to the main gate tomorrow morning. End of discussion. Ulric," he called and Nyx stood up straight.
"You're off west gate duty. You're being reassigned to the Kingsguard now," he said and left the room abruptly.
Once he was out of the room, many of the Kingsglaive left. Cyla walked up to Luche angrily grabbing his arm and turning him to her.
"What the hell was that back there?" she seethed, unable to maintain her usually calm demeanor.
Luche shook her hand off.
"I'm just looking out for you. They selected Crowe for a reason," he shot back.
Their voices caused some of the Kingsglaive to stop their conversations and turn, Nyx, Libertus, and Crowe included.
"Since when does an infiltration require one person, huh? I was doing my job."
"And switching places with her? That was also just doing your job, right? Or maybe you think Crowe's not capable of carrying out a mission of this caliber," he suggested and she glared at her brother.
Silence.
"You don't find any of what he said odd? A classified infiltration of Tenebrae? When the treaty is being signed in two days here in Insomnia? She should be here. I volunteered to go in her place because she may…be a little better with the King's magic than I am," she admitted reluctantly, causing Crowe to grin without thinking.
"You're a soldier and your job is to fight, not ask questions," he snapped at her, his calm demeanor also breaking.
"Where was that attitude when we were on the battlefield yesterday?! Where was your fight when General Glauca showed up?!" she raged and he warped into her.
They rolled into the training grounds and she hit him hard, knocking him off her. She heard yelling, but couldn't make out the words. She blocked a hit from Luche, but he caught her in her side, causing her to flinch and falter her hold. She did manage to kick him back and as he went for her again, Nyx and a few other Kingsglaive intervened.
"That's enough!" Nyx shouted, upset it got this far between the siblings.
"Yeah, come on, you're family," Crowe said trying to bring the calm back.
"Easy, we're all on the same team here," Libertus said and Luche relaxed.
"I may not be the greatest fighter, but I have a brain. You'll see I was only looking out for you," he said and stalked off.
Cyla watched him leave the training grounds and then her hand went to her side, pain clear in her eyes.
"Hey," Nyx said catching her attention.
She looked at him, but his eyes were on her side.
"You're bleeding," he said and she looked down.
Blood had seeped through the bandaging and now stained her shirt.
"Take her home Nyx. Cy, get some rest," Crowe said.
"Come on, let's take a walk," Nyx said and Cyla turned and exited the training area with him.
They didn't speak on the walk to his house. She sat on the couch and removed her jacket carefully. Nyx went into the bathroom and came back out with bandages, alcohol and a rag. She pulled off her shirt and unwrapped the old bandaging, dropping it to the floor. Nyx froze, seeing the wound. She noticed him staring at it and smiled.
"It's not as bad as it looks," she said and he sat on the couch slowly.
"Really? Because it looks pretty bad," he said and she stared at him.
He soaked the rag in alcohol and hesitated.
"It doesn't even hurt anymore," she said and he gently pressed the rag to her wound.
She couldn't contain her hiss and he tensed.
"I'm sorry. I lied. It hurts a little," she choked out through clenched teeth.
Nyx cleaned the wound quickly and began bandaging it securely. When he was done they both looked exhausted and had paled a little from the experience.
"Thank you," she said after a moment and he nodded.
"I like it when you play doctor," she mused and got him to smile lightly.
Silence.
"What happened earlier? You completely lost it," Nyx asked and she sighed.
"Luche is many things and we've had our disagreements before, but…not like that. I have this tightness in my chest. My gut is screaming that something isn't right," she admitted.
Later that Night…
They were watching television, the news of the treaty playing, when she saw his eyes go distant as he played with the flames in his hand nonchalantly. She watched him for a short while before taking his other hand, jolting him from his thoughts. He looked at her and offered her a small smile of reassurance making the flame disappear.
"I'm still here," he said and she nodded.
"Good, because I need you," she smiled and he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him on the couch.
She snuggled against him, resting her head against his chest.
"Forever until the end, right?" she whispered; sleep threatening to take her.
"Right," Nyx said watching her fall asleep.
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