So yeah, there was a lack of update lately because I was focusing on Unexpected. It might stay this way, but I decided to produce a new chapter in this story. So that I could unwind a bit. Which mean smut is there. I hope you'll like this chapter. 😉
I'd just like to remind you the 4 years gap between Ravus and Noctis for the flash back sequence. Ravus is 6 in there. Can you imagine what kind of brat he might have been in his real life? Except for that, we have more NoctLuna and the apparition of a new character.
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Stranded
Chapter 3 – Recruiting danger
Noctis sighed as he looked down at his plate. Regis and Ravus were both late. The first was held back by the council, while the second was putting some extra-time on his magic. The 10 years old prince felt left out, which was becoming the usual lately. He hadn't seen his father in the last week. He didn't really want to see his brother after the fight they'd got in the other day. Iris had been taking Rav's side the whole time too. They were thick as thieves.
Ignis stood a few feet behind him, his back against the wall. The 12-year-old was already more serious than Gladiolus Amicitia, but it didn't mean Noctis didn't worry about the moment when his bodyguard would stop looking after him to become advisor for Ravus. Gladiolus had to serve the crown prince as a Shield, like his father protected the king. But thanks to the delicate situation, Noctis was also in need of a bodyguard, a role fallen to the thin Scientia.
"Did you receive any message from them?" Noctis asked, not even turning his head around.
Silence answered him for the first few minutes following his question. And then, as though thinking better than giving the silent treatment to the first-born prince, Ignis sharp voice came.
"Nothing, your highness. Maybe you shouldn't keep on waiting to start. The food will get cold."
But Noctis eyed the vegetable stew angrily. Cold or warm, he wouldn't care for that dish. The only saving grace would be to eat it with his family. If it could still be called this. The doors opened to reveal a pissed off Ravus, closely followed by Gladiolus and a maid. The blond boy sat down in his usual place, facing the king's seat, his eyes grazing Noctis as he refused to acknowledge his presence.
A plate of warm stew was brought up to the crowned prince and he attacked his meal ravenously, while Noctis forced himself to wait. No word was exchanged between either boy. In fact, no word was spoken until Regis finally walked into the room, making Ravus jump from surprise. The king looked too serious for dinner and sat down hurriedly.
"Noctis, Ravus. Sorry for being late."
"I just got here." Ravus declared without a second thought.
"Anything the matter?" Noctis asked.
"No, only the usual meeting running late. How about you boys tell me about your day?"
Regis was trying, but keeping his kingdom in order and being a father wasn't exactly easy.
"I'm changing class tomorrow." Ravus said, careful of talking right as Noctis was opening his mouth to say something. "I've mastered the bases of elemancy."
"That's wonderful, son. You've improved quite fast. I'll have to get a session scheduled to see your progress for myself. How about you take a break tomorrow?"
"Sounds good," the boy answered with a genuine smile.
Noctis fought against the anger and jealousy he felt. Regis couldn't take the time to check any of his progress. He was too much of a failure to even warrant this sort of attention.
"What about you Noct?" Regis asked.
"Oh, school and rehab mostly. I… I did a pretty good run. I think I could get back to training."
Regis seemed hesitant, while Ravus scoffed, not even trying to hide his disdain. Talking about Noctis' injury made him feel ashamed in truth. If it hadn't been for him, his brother wouldn't have to get hurt so badly.
"The training you have in mind would put a strain on your body. You're still growing. Leave it one more year, maybe two."
Noctis held back his father's worried gaze, hoping he'd understand why he needed to train.
I wasn't strong enough then, but I don't want to be helpless again, he thought.
"I really don't know what you're complaining about. If I could laze about in rehab…"
"Ravus!"
"He's already rid of his cane. Shouldn't that be enough?"
"Are you done with the food, Ravus?" Regis shot back, expressing his discontentment with the mere inflection of his voice.
The crown prince almost jumped out of his chair.
"Yeah, I'm done." He made a mocked reverence as he whispered a salute in turn for both royals still sitting at the table: "Father… first-born."
The child walked out so fast, he was almost running, and Gladiolus didn't take the time to salute his highness, rushing after him. The king heaved a sigh, addressing a silent prayer to the Astrals to help Ravus grow into a more sensible man. Noctis forced down the biggest chew of stew he could gather, hoping the taste and texture would help him forget how much that nickname hurt.
"Noctis…"
"It's okay. He's still a child." The young boy offered.
Cutlery cluttered and the dark-haired prince wondered if he'd say something wrong too. A shuffling of feet followed and when he looked up from his plate, Noctis realized his father was standing next to his chair, his hand reaching for his right shoulder.
"You are a child. You shouldn't be going through rehab and the training should wait until you're 14."
For an instant, the son wanted nothing more than to hide in the man's arms, like he did before… before Ravus.
"I messed up everything else. You know I'm good with a sword. The only thing I can do is warp around, but at least…"
His father's hand ruffled his hair.
"I'll talk with your physicist. I'm sure Ignis can design a training schedule that won't do you more harm than good. But there's no need to compete with your brother."
Noctis smiled at that, that sad smile that he usually kept for when he watched pictures of his mother or read the rare letters she'd written for him.
"If I don't stay one step above him, he'll never strive to do better."
"I wish you were less grown-up sometimes. But I'm lucky to have you, Noct."
And those words still hurted up to this day. Knowing how far from lucky Regis had felt in the last moments they'd shared as father and son.
…
Noctis was slightly shocked from the sudden powers manifesting in him. He didn't know how they were even possible. He had a thousand questions running around in his head, and Luna might have been the right person to ask, in another life. She was far too busy to dive into her mother's book or to recall the lessons she went through years ago. The Lucis' line used to have an alliance with the Fleuret. And if his grandfather Mors hadn't cut off any communication with them, Lunafreya might have prepared herself to serve his brother Ravus as the Oracle. Dreadful thoughts.
Lately, the princess' bodyguard was doing his best to keep up the pretenses whenever people showed around. Gentiana was on to them and had let him understand that if anything bad happened to her protegee… Well, the way she talked, facing the dead penalty back home was a walk in the park. Gentiana's name sounded like the worse choice her parents could have made. She was anything but gentle.
"A new recruit has raised some doubts. Apparently, it's an imperial runaway." The white-skin woman declared as Luna asked if anything new had happened during their last mission.
They'd destroyed an empire camp, bringing their front line further away from Tenebrea's province. Soon, they'd be in Nifelheim territory. The fights had lasted a few days instead of weeks, both royals using their magic, Noctis giving capsule of fire to soldiers, pretending they had a new furnisher for weapons. He had yet to gather any other elements, but it wasn't as though the imbued stones ran all over the country. The couple needed a breather, Luna barely out of a shower and back in military garbs, Noctis still dirty from the battlefield.
"From the sound of it, you're determining how you want to have him killed. I'll meet him first." The princess decided.
Noctis rolled his eyes, unable to believe the risks she was taking. But he knew better than to oppose her. Instead, he followed her out to the recruiting grounds. As the doors closed behind them, Luna threw him a brief glance.
"You disagree with this idea, don't you?"
"It wouldn't be the first time that an imperial runaway tries to get to you. I don't mean to say they're all fanatics, but… We've seen how that usually turned out."
"I used to talk to them before you showed up. And besides, you have my back, don't you, Cael?"
The borrowed name sounded wrong since they'd gotten closer, but he simply groaned the affirmative and followed her. Half an hour of hearing the latest news from an excited Biggs, they reached the recruiting grounds. The suspicious recruit was a lanky man, all nerves and bones, his spiky hair blond as wheat. He sported a goatee that couldn't have been allowed for a soldier and his clothes were a mix of a ragged white uniform under a dark leather suit. He had light freckles and dark bag under his eyes. Something about him looked sick and Noctis couldn't tell if it was the blood vessels in his eyes or the little twitches that made one of his legs jump.
"Wow, the princess of the rebellion herself. Now I can die in peace."
"I hope you didn't come all the way here to die." Luna retorted.
"Either way, my life is in your hands. Who's that grumpy shadow?"
"I'm asking the questions here, mister… Quicksilver? Are you walking out of a comic or something?"
She was checking his file, Noctis keeping a close eye on him.
"I gave up my tags," he declared, raising his left hand to show them a burned wrist. "And I was hoping to start over fresh."
"By joining a different army?" Lunafreya insisted.
"I didn't choose to be in the empire or to fight for them. They made me do awful things." The elusive blond explained.
"It says here that you're a sniper."
"Started at 8. I can hit any target you want me too."
"Why would I take you in?"
"I'd heard you give a chance to every poor soul. I can tell you of a tearjerker story, but I'd rather not get too emotional with an audience, I'm sure bro there wouldn't like it."
Noctis let his glare intensify, disliking the defector even more.
"Qui… No, forget it, I can't call you Quicksilver. It's sound too impersonal." Lunafreya complained.
"Prom is fine then, my lady. I'll give you this as an explanation: I was staying with the empire for my mother's sake. The money was supposed to be good enough to keep her safe, but she died about two weeks ago. So… I took off. It's not easy getting hired as a hunter in these parts, especially with the clothes I wear."
He seemed like a joker, but there was something broken in his eyes as he mentioned his mother and Luna had seen countless men lying before. That story was real.
"How do you feel about the empire? Is it just because of what happened with your mother?"
His whole face darkened and the smirk faded out.
"Do you have a recent newspaper around? Heard of their labs blowing up two weeks ago?"
Luna nodded, Noctis shifting his weight, shoulders too tensed.
"That was me giving my resignation. I don't think you could ever hate them as much as I do."
The man sounded a bit unstable. The exiled prince had to fight against his instincts not to grab Luna and drag her out of the interview tent. The oracle squared her shoulders, as she went on:
"That's really dark, Prom. But volunteers are always welcome. You'll be on try for the next three weeks. I'll have someone over to show you to the showers. A physical inspection will be done."
"Again? How much patting must we go through in that army?" He asked teasingly, clearly holding back on a dirty joke.
But from the look on Noctis' face, he knew better than to disrespect the princess.
"You certainly understand that we need to take precautions. You still get to eat real food and to sleep under a roof. I'll see you again in one week."
"Thanks for having me around. I hope wall-man will talk on our next encounter."
"Don't push your luck, Quicksilver," Noctis warned as Luna got out of the tent.
"I like to play with fire. And from the look of it, so do you, bro."
His eyes darted to the tent's opening, making Noctis wonder if he was this obvious. He had been keeping a professional expression all along, emulating Ignis' usual look to the best of his memories.
"Don't call me that. It's Cael."
"Sure. See ya around… bro."
…
"I think this is a bad idea." Noctis told her as they finally got back to her room.
"And I think that guy is lost and hurt and hiding under all the jokes and jabs. Countless lives were destroyed by the empire, in a dozen ways. I've asked Gentiana to look up into his story. We'll know if he lied in a matter of days."
Noctis shrugged off his coat.
"I don't want to fight over this, I'm just stating my opinion. Now, could you stay put for twenty minutes?"
"It's true that you need a shower. Want some help?"
They hadn't really been alone together in the last weeks, but Noctis raised one brow.
"You just want to get my mind off that…"
"I want to get both of our minds off. Unless you want some privacy."
"And pass up on you naked?" he shot back with a smirk.
"Well, I'm not taking anything off until you are clean," she warned him as they walked into her bathroom.
She wasn't so concerned about taking off his clothes, but Noctis didn't complain, pulling her into a kiss as she undid his belt, tasting the smile on her lips. Her hands were soft on him, despite the tension he felt in her, echoing with his own.
His pants hit the floor first, followed by everything else, his shirt actually going last, because parting from his mouth was a feat after holding back for so long. When he was finally stark naked, she took a step back, looking him over, pretending she was asserting the damages. But the glint in her eyes told him otherwise and he wondered why he barely felt vulnerable under her inspection. He might as well be a simple tool to her, bodyguard, magic flasks maker and sex toy all wrapped up in one package, but… He knew better and was way too realistic to have make-believes.
She reached for a fresh scar, crisscrossing an older one on his left arm.
"You know, I'm getting cold."
"Sorry. I was just wondering if… you'd ever tell me where all of these came from. How much fights did you got in?"
"I became a soldier at 15." He reminded her, his voice swaying on the past tense.
She had him step in the shower and turned on the water, offering to wash his hair while he dealt with the rest. It didn't take long for the dirt and grim to fall off. She massaged his scalp, relishing his relieved sigh and the way he leaned into her hands. Once his locks were perfectly cleaned, she let her hands wonder over his shoulders, on his sides, following every muscle, nails grazing his skin very lightly.
"Luna… I've got to be clean enough for your standards by now…" he observed, half turning around.
"That one must have been pretty serious," she whispered, her fingertips moving down his spine, following the white skin on his lower back.
The slash mark was larger than her hands.
"I was stuck in a wheelchair for a full year." He admitted, reaching for her face, his thumb following her own scar. "Who did that?"
She tensed at the very question, her arms wrapping around his neck.
"I'll tell if you tell me."
"Maybe after taking you out of those wet clothes."
Her smile was tentative, but she agreed in exchange for a few more kisses. It was a struggle, the fabric sticking to her frame, but Noctis freed her piece by piece, his hands warming her shivering skin, kneading, caressing and teasing her all in turns. The water had been turned off and the royal garments were left in the shower, Luna convincing him to dry up as quickly as possible before to relocate in her bedroom. The drying was an excuse for more teasing on both sides, resulting in shuddered moans and sighs. The bathroom tiles were cold under their feet, but Noctis felt more impatient than ever, pulling her back flush against his chest, nibbling at her neck, his erection coming back between her legs with every step they took. She felt dizzy as his voice rumbled a question against her skin:
"How rough can you take it?"
He could have entered her right there, but instead he teased her more, wriggling his hips against her. Almost joined but still parted.
"How bad do you want it?" she shot back, twisting her neck to meet his eyes.
"Heh. Worse than you could think. But if I promise to make it up to you, can I be selfish?"
It didn't sound specific enough, but she still tensed at the few ideas her imagination came up with.
"Well, you already know I don't want to…"
He shut her up with a heated kiss, pushing her against a chair, focusing on her breasts for an instant, his hands moving faster than usual. As though she could vanish from his grasp if he was too soft.
"I want to rush you."
"As payback for trusting that…?"
"I can't focus like I want to."
His fingers pinched her clit, making her gasp at the jolt of pleasure and pain.
"Quick and dirty then? Hit me." Luna breathed out.
He didn't need to be asked twice. He barely gave her time to adapt to him, clutching her waist as he moved. In and out and… He was barely ever out with the angry pace he built. She gripped at the chair's back, feeling his breath on her back, his fingers digging into her skin before to draw gentle circles and dig again. She muffled a scream by biting her own hand. There was no rhythm to his thrusts, he merely pulled her closer to him, reaching deeper and deeper inside her for release. Luna wanted to see his face, picturing the tension in his jaw, the look of growing ecstasy in his eyes. And faster he went, as fast as he dared.
The pain was almost stronger than the bliss, but he stroked her belly and sides, kissing one shoulder blade, mumbling her name. This wasn't simply payback for her ordering him around all the time. Luna had the suspicion he'd never allowed himself selfishness in such a situation before. His voice seemed ready to break and she twisted and wriggled with him, before to clench her muscles all around him.
He twitched inside her, holding her even closer as he finally came. His shudders almost sent her over the edge, but Noctis was already pulling out, breathing hard, turning her around to look into her eyes the proper way.
"I'm sorry, so sorry. Thank you, Luna."
She felt like warm clay beneath his hands, her back aching, legs quivering. She could smell his musky scent. Letting out a breath, she cupped his jaw, managing a smile.
"Hold me." She pleaded.
He pulled her into his arms, almost too soft now. It seemed a tension in him was gone and she was glad it took so little to calm him down.
"I won't break from that, you know…"
"You're worth more than that. I didn't even…"
"Well, I've been promised more attention in the following rounds." Luna cut him off.
"Ask me whatever you want." He offered, carrying her up to the bed.
"Make me see stars."
"I could open a window, but the air is a bit cold…"
She slapped his shoulder, refusing to even acknowledge his joke with a laugh.
"Make me feel stars."
He kneeled between her legs, caressing her pale skin, taking his time to go from the sole of one feet to her inner thigh, before repeating the process for her other leg. He was tiptoeing her shivers, careful of evading tickling, kissing the goosebumps and commented on how beautiful she looked. She gasped when he swung both foot over his shoulders, briefly exchanging a look with her for permission. She nodded shakily, toes curling in the air. Luna felt herself blush at the first touch of his tongue, covering her eyes as a shudder ran up her spine.
"Don't hide," he asked, his voice ringing through her.
It didn't take long for the first waves of orgasm to take over her senses. Noctis was intent on keeping his word, loving every mewling sound that came from her. This time, he didn't tease, easing her tension and nerve-endings in a suite of climaxes that brought her closer to a scream. She whimpered and tried to struggle out of his grasp, but he only let her go when her gasp turned high enough to make birds fly away in the trees outside her room.
"How many stars did you see?" he asked.
"Too many. I need another shower now."
"Tomorrow," Noctis decided for her, only to feel her hands pulling on his hair.
The next kiss was sloppy and extended itself into a dozen more. Their tastes were mixing on their lips, but neither cared, too far gone in their nest of blissful pleasure. The night seemed too short, the prince gathering his princess in his arms after making love another time, both of them spent and sated.
"I don't know if I can survive this every night," she whispered.
"I don't think your army can afford it. But I'm at your service, Lunafreya."
She giggled next to him, her movements slower as she toyed with his chest hairs, her body too sore for sudden gesture.
"How about you tell me now? Before I fall asleep."
"Tell you what?"
"That scar on your back."
His face fell a bit, but their hands met, fingers intertwining instinctively.
"My brother and me had visited the Meteor site, Ravus needing to stop the fire burning all over the disc. Our father couldn't do it, I don't remember why. Surely too busy with the rest of the kingdom. It was our first travel outside of Insomnia. Rav was four and I had just turned 9. I could warp around and he was still focusing on his magic, we were both too young to receive any serious physical training."
Luna cozied herself against him, stroking his hair with her free hand, squeezing his fingers as she saw him gulping down.
"It was on the ride back that it happened. A daemon snake, as large as a behemoth, with six arms slithered out of nowhere. Ravus was half asleep, the cars stopped and the bodyguards accompanying us were massacred one after the other. I grabbed my brother and made a run for it. Hammerhead wasn't too far, maybe with a few warps…"
"It caught up?"
"Yeah. My spine was touched by the slash. I think it was only because I warped twice as it swung at us that I wasn't cleaved in two. My father attacked it then, all royal arms out. I didn't saw it, I was out cold. Ravus never told me what happened afterwards."
"It must have been awful." She sighed, kissing his shoulder as he held her closer.
"The rehab was awful. It was a whole lot longer. But enough about my scars. Tell me the story behind this one," he said, following the line crossing one eyebrow.
The only imperfection on her face.
"That was… Don't get the wrong idea, okay? It was my father. He'd contracted the blight," she added hurriedly as she saw his eyes widening with anger. "He was half a daemon then, not controlling himself anymore. My mother had failed to treat him, her powers already fading back then."
His eyebrows frowned at that, but Luna was hiding her face against his chest, surely reliving her memories of those dark times.
"If the current Oracle's flesh is failing her and an heir has already been born, the powers will transfer to the stronger vessel. Mom was sick, but I was still too young to use those powers back then. So I hid father and kept him fed until the transformation got too far. At the first drop of blood, he regained his senses and ran way. Our hunters killed him a few days later."
"That's rough."
"I think we're in the same boat when it comes to having it rough."
"Still. You face everything head on."
"So have you. Don't try telling me you've been running away."
"If there's ever anything on your mind, you'll tell me, right?" Noctis asked her.
"I don't think I'd want to turn to anyone else."
They fell asleep snuggled up close together, their heart a mix of hope and resignation. Having each other was their only consolation.
…
Ignis Scientia was alone in a small café. Getting away from the Citadel wasn't getting any easier, but he wasn't on break yet, although people might have thought so. On the screen of his borrowed tablet, words appeared, blue in a dark screen. His words were green. Her words were blue.
8-u: I don't think this is going to work, Specs.
Lens-fold: We can't keep on postponing much longer.
8-u: How's your heart?
Posing as teenagers chatting away was their only chance at contact. The words were all meant as something different. Something else. Heart meant Lucis for example.
Lens-fold: A timing bomb.
8-u: Poor darling. I'd whisk you away from that awful family if I could…
Lens-fold: Talk to me more. Curfew still on?
8-u: It is. 9:15, every damn night. I miss having a life. I miss you.
Lens-fold: Hey, drama is supposed to be my thing, sweetie.
8-u: Maybe is it rubbing off on me. Did you hear of that new concert from the Fins?
That one was almost too easy to crack down, meaning the Niffs. Although Fins really existed as an alternative rock band. Ignis had committed half of their songs to memory just for the sake of this cover.
Lens-fold: A new one? Damn, you've got to tell me where and when!
8-u: It's a VIP thing. Lestallum gets their first concert outside of the crown city. June was in the first plans. Tickets will be sold out before you know it.
Lens-fold: Do you think you'll make it there? I might be able to sneak off for once.
8-u: Getting to see you face to face would be awesome!
Lens-fold: Yeah. I can't wait either.
8-u: My folks are back. Talk to you later, Lensman.
Lens-fold: Later, octo-hater.
Signing off, Ignis got up from his spot, three empty coffee mugs next to his computer. The empire would be able to attack Lestallum in a matter of months. The king would be forced to fight on two fronts, with the armada still on the cost. The Glaives would be ready for deployment then. And more than ever, the crown's prince advisor wondered if the older prince couldn't help. They could use an experienced fighter at the head of the troops. Regis wouldn't risk Ravus yet, no matter what the councilors said. Gladiolus would move out. And from Nifelheim, Aranea had nothing but bad news.
At least, she's still answering…
To be continued…
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So here it is, a new chapter, covering some news and smut. I hope you've liked it! I might tweak a few things, but it's going to stay like this for now. Next chapter will come out eventually!