Today's chapter is longer than usual. In fact, the story might just get longer than I first expected it to. Also, the smut part is… kind of awkward. But in the honor of the reality FFXV was based upon, I went all out to exploit the awkwardness. We have some confused actions – sorry about that, I've been working on my thesis like a machine for the last week- and I needed an outlet. We have a side pairing showing up, I indulged myself quite a bit. A short Luna flashback to see another side of things. I hope you'll enjoy your read.

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Stranded

Chapter 4 – Play with fire

"This is not how you hold a sword," Cor objected.

He deflected her blade and disarmed her in one movement, so quick she could barely follow the multiple motions involved. The Immortal was even harder to please than Gentiana, but Lunafreya had already survived ten of his training sessions. She'd be damned if she didn't manage to. She dove to reach for her rapier, only to find the man standing in her way and kicking the weapon away.

"I know you can reach me without the weapon. Use your head."

She lunged for him and had to dodge his sword at the last instant, only to be kicked around and backslapped soon after. And the training session went on, the young girl rushing at him, trying various approaches, aiming for his legs, his feet, for his stomach, turning anything around her as a tool. And Cor kept pushing her to the limits, barely holding back. She would be bruised all over from being kicked, pushed around and thrown to the ground countless times; but whenever she fell, instead of mocking her, he would give her a new piece of advice. How to fall without hurting herself. How to get back up while anticipating the next move from her opponent.

And she learned despite the pain. Her mother was gone and her father was lost, which only hardened her resolve to get stronger and better. There was no other way for her to face the empire. She had to take out Iedolas and his ambitious troops before they could hurt anymore of her people.

She took every slap, punch and kick in stride. A lot of servants spoke badly of her tutor for pushing her so hard and treating her so harshly. Who would make a princess spit out blood and break her teeth in his so-called training if it wasn't a sick bastard?

Cor was conscious of how young his apprentice was. How daunting the task set up before her was… He also knew she was the only one capable of bringing true peace too Eos. Although it might not be in her own lifetime. So, he roughed her up during every session and afterward, taught her how to dress her wounds. How much potion to pour on a cut. Sometimes, he'd be nice enough to reset her bones. And on the days she couldn't walk on her own, he'd carried her back to her room, where Gentiana would be waiting with a servant to help the young lady get cleaned. He even made sure she'd stay in bed whenever he deemed their last training session too intense even to his own standards. But Luna was unstoppable and he kept up with her, rising the stakes a little more.

Until the day Gentiana said she was ready. When the light nearly blinded her and suddenly she could fix Cor's wounds in the blink of an eye. Although never her own wounds. It would have made her life too easy.

…

"It's the third fire in two days!" Biggs complained as they rushed to the site. One of the greenhouses had been set on fire first, then the largest school in the capital of Tenebrae. Luna's country was in bad shape despite all the princess's efforts and her army were also the first respondent in large scale panic as this one. The firefighters could barely handle themselves the last night and now, the fire was much, much larger, covering the rare woods of the province.

Luna's mother had fought hard to keep the forest intact. And it was all going to go down in smoke unless they were fast enough this time around. The winter hadn't started yet and summer had been uncomfortably dry. Gentiana suspected fool play from the empire. The small kingdom's strength mostly depended on its citizens' morals. The troops were mostly made out of concerned or angry citizens.

"If we get you close enough, do you think you can temper it down?" Lunafreya asked her bodyguard, voice low enough that he was the only one to hear her.

Noctis hadn't had much time to practice his elemancy with the crystals lately and shrugged, eying the way Quicksilver eyed them. As though studying the pair.

"It's worth a shot," he replied, careful of taking a step away from her and ignoring Prom's insisting stare.

Luna would have warned him she didn't want him to push himself either and only to try if the occasion presented itself, but Noctis kept his distances for the rest of the ride. He made it his job to check their equipment and water tanks while she gave orders. Luna would remain on the airship to watch over the first water drop, while Noctis would lead a team composed of Wedge, Quicksilver and a few older recruits. They had four ships with hastily packed up water tanks, but it couldn't be enough to face a forest fire and they all knew it. As quick as their pilot were, the ride back would leave more time for the fire to grow and devour everything in its wake.

"Things are going to get heated guys!" Prompto couldn't help himself as they prepared for the jump.

The rest of the operation was a messy thing, although fully necessary. A perimeter needed to be established around the fire. Noctis was quick and efficient and so were the men under his command. It was Quicksilver who spotted a suspicious man first and warned the exiled prince with a hand sign.

Following him past the tree lines, Noctis couldn't help but wonder why Wedge had even deemed the guy worthy of joining on their mission. He'd passed the first week of training easily and he'd lay down on the jokes around the princess, although he couldn't seem to act serious except when they found themselves on the battlefield. The smoke was growing thicker, but Noctis could make out their target now.

It looked human, but its walk was all sort of wrong, jumbled and hacked, as though the movements were jerkier than they should. A magiteck soldier… How had he even gotten that far in Tenebrae? Noctis had half a mind to warp up to the thing, but Prom raised his gun, aiming with both eyes wide open. The air was so crisp with heat, fire burst with the shot and the MT fell to the ground, both men catching up to it, the smoke reaching through their mask enough to make breathing uncomfortable.

It was no use interrogating an MT, as they both knew already, but what a daemon wouldn't say, his equipment would tell. Noctis pulled Prom back as he noticed the gas dripping from a small tank the thing had been carrying. There was their pyro-man. Burning down with the forest he'd set ablaze. The wood was crackling as the metal shone from the heat. Prom coughed and Noctis wondered if they still had time to get away. But the flames were faster and instinct took over as he saw the fire.

Not that Noctis ever remembered having the instinct to raise his hand toward a flame. Not that he should be manipulating magic in front of anyone else than Luna. But his eyes were shifting to red beneath the mask and the fire answered his call, Prom letting out a gasp as he looked on in terrified awe. The fire moved against the wind, following the call of its master. And as he absorbed more of it, Noctis felt a strange sense of fulfillment.

This isn't even a crystal, and I can tame it to my will. What would they think if they could see me now?

It took five full minutes, but by the time he was done, the flames were smoke and his eyes burned.

"Holy shit man!"

Noctis tried to contain the magic in him, but he'd never absorbed so much in a single time and he jumped as he remembered where he was. The power was coursing through his veins. Too warm, too dry. He tore the mask from his face, the smoke burning his lungs and his eyes.

"Are you…? How did you do that?" Prom asked.

"Get back," Noctis retorted.

"Isn't that my line? What the hell is wrong with your eyes?"

"Just get…" His words crumbled as his whole body burned. It was too much, his skin felt too tight as he tried to contain it, on hand slipping in his pocket.

Please, let there be an empty flask or two…

It took some fumbling, but Luna always insisted of having him fully prepared when they went out and for once, he was grateful for it. He imbued the fire in the flasks, not caring for Prom's wide eyes. He was too busy trying to keep the elemancy under control. How did his father ever manage…? And why wasn't he burning himself, when it had been so hard for Ravus to…?

Don't think about them, there's no use…

The burning sensation vanished and his eyes flickered back to blue. The fire was still burning a few miles away from them, but it was much smaller now. Noctis counted five flasks in his hand.

"Heh, so you're not just a lapdog for the princess. You know some wicked tricks too. Guess that's the real reason why she keeps you around."

Noctis glared at him.

"This is going to stay between us, Quicksilver," he warned the gunman.

"Hey, don't worry bro. I don't want to turn into a pile of ashes, your secret is safe with me. But that should earn me less suspicion."

"Well, I can't say you're a bad soldier. Although it's pretty lucky you spot that MT before anyone else."

"Not as much as you charming fire into a piece of glass, Cael. I wonder why that Cael name sounds so familiar now…"

The familiar fear sneaked up on Noctis's heart at the idea his secret could be discovered and his eyes narrowed down to slits.

"Easy there, man, easy there! I'm not looking for trouble. Do you want to swallow more fire or should we be on our way?"

…

Noctis was exhausted when he entered Lunafreya's room. He had half a mind to throw himself on the floor and fall asleep right away but took the time to make his usual assertions. Nothing hiding in corners or behind curtains. The princess's room wasn't as backbone as the camp or most of the manor's wings. With his inspection done, he sat down on his makeshift bed at the feet of Luna's mattress. He had only seen her when the ships had landed, with her eyes looking so wild and angry. The exiled prince didn't know what to expect from her tonight. She was conferring with Gentiana and had ordered him to get some rest, promising she'd join him soon with that single glance he was growing accustomed to.

It still felt wrong to be in her quarters without her. If he hadn't been that tired, he might have pushed his inspection further, if only to quench the curiosity Prompto had awoken during their earlier talk. He couldn't believe the guy knew. Or that he didn't say anything when they caught up with the others by the actual perimeter. Shaking his head, he lied down, crossing his arms on his chest, trying to focus on relaxing every limb and muscles one by one. His lungs still smarted and his bad leg was threatening to torture him all night. A warm bath might have helped, but he was too tired to consider it. They'd taken the mandatory shower, so he was somehow clean. And there was a limit to how cozy he should make himself. Lover or not, Luna was still his boss.

Every now and then, he worried of how precarious his situation truly was. She held so much power over him. One mistake and he'd be left with nowhere else to go. He doubted the empire would be kind to him and Accordo wasn't an option either. It would take forever just to afford a ticket on the rare boats making the travel. Sea daemons were appearing more and more frequently if the news was true.

And here I am, doubting the one girl treating me as her equal, Noctis thought to himself.

Concerned girl entered the room right then, looking pale and still frantic. There was a frown on her face and her steps were filled with purpose as she walked up to him.

"What are you doing on this side of the bed?"

"Does it count as a side?" he lazily joked around.

"Cael…"

He looked up at that, wondering if he'd missed a second pair of footsteps, but Luna was alone with him, door locked… and calling him by his fake name.

"Yes, my lady?" he asked, cautiously sitting up.

"At ease, knight, I was just messing with you," she retorted, her smile reaching her eyes.

It was her first real smile in a while and next thing he knew, she was dropping herself on his lap and diving in for a searing kiss. He barely caught her, his back hitting the mattress, their teeth clinking together hard enough to have them wince at the discomfort.

"Are you okay?" Luna asked him.

"I'm just tired. I've never done anything like this before..."

She bit her lips, experimentally moving her hips until she was fully straddling him.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I see the fire die down like that. But maybe your powers are trying to catch up for lost time?"

His face darkened at that and she tried to take his mind off, wriggling just enough to taunt him to attention.

"I don't want to hear about lost time, it's not. I don't get how that even works. Why now and… And please, no grindin… Whoa, let me finish what I'm saying!"

He caught her hands right before she'd pull his pants down and tugged at her wrist to have her lying next to him. She pouted, before to apologize for being pushy.

"I'm not trying to use you, you know?"

"You're going to make me feel bad," Noctis warned her. "I just don't feel up for another sleepless night."

It had been three in a row with the fires. If anything, Luna should have been just as exhausted as him. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, he could see them now, from this close up. But her eyes were bright with that glimmer of desire he couldn't get enough of. And his body was so sore, he could barely kiss her back now that he was finally lying down.

"What if I did all the hard work?" Luna suggested.

Her hands were back on him, grazing and teasing and his first instinct was to agree, but a voice in the back of his head reminded him of the fire in his veins. He wasn't sure of the control he had right now, when he felt so weak.

"I don't know…"

"You owe some reward."

"I don't want a prize. And it's not that I wouldn't like it either, I'm just drained."

"My light can't fix that. But I'm too on edge right now. If you bear with me for just a bit longer, I'll make it worth your while."

Her smile was all sorts of wicked and Noctis had to admit he wasn't cold to the offer. The slightest nod of the head and he felt her lips on the pulse of his neck as they both tried to get him out of his shirt. Her mouth never left him, ghosting every shiver, her fingers deftly toying with his nerves. Licks, nibbles, and a few love bites made him wonder how long she'd waited for such an occasion. When he tried to raise his arms and give back the caresses, she ordered him to lay still or to grasp at the bed head to let her work her magic. He'd never given her entire control in the bedroom, or to any woman before. He was always too weary for it, too certain any attention needed to be compensated by something. Back in Lucis, his few lovers had never seen him like this. Vulnerable, oversensitive, nerves rawer than a newborn. She drew a path down his neck, making a point of kissing every little scars on the way down to his abs.

Noctis was nearly lost in sensation by the time she pulled the rest of his clothing down his hips, but still noted a detail that left him frowning.

"Not taking off your clothes?"

"I think what you need now is some help to relax," Luna retorted, stroking his erection to painful anticipation. Her intentions were clear, but she sounded a bit nervous as she looked into his eyes. "I haven't done this in a while," she admitted.

"You don't have to force yourself."

"I'm not forcing anything. I'm just giving you a fair warning. Just don't do any sudden movement, okay?"

Her warning hadn't been fair. As nervous as she looked, she definitely knew what she was doing. Her tongue teased him, her mouth gentle and soft, the wet warmth only making him ache for more. And more he got.

Luna felt his hips jerking up and forced them down, before to sense his hands in her hair. Holding her head down. He didn't say a word, but he didn't have to. Every twitch and light groan told her the same story. She focused on the sounds coming from his throat, on the way he shook and grew a little more under her touch. She wanted to raise herself and grind into him to share the bliss, but it gave her the impression she was using him.

She'd been worried out of her mind as she saw the fire receding. The soldiers didn't understand how it was even possible and all she could think then had been, is he okay?

When they'd see each other afterwards, he was fighting against his exhaustion to stand and Prom gave her a weird look, as though he knew what they'd been up to. The soot on both of their face was darker than on the other soldiers she'd sent out. She'd pushed the man into stopping a fire, after using him as a soldier, pushing him into using a magic that had always rejected him. She enjoyed his arms far more often than she should, even though the release he gave her was among the only things keeping her sane. Once she knew the truth about him, she should have offered to give that truth to her army. Their army. But could she admit her growing feelings to this runaway prince? He wasn't comfortable in his role of vagrant. But royalty didn't make him any more comfortable either.

She felt the tension in him snap and instantly tried to sit up. She liked the taste of his skin, but what was coming was entirely different. Next thing Noctis knew, she was coughing and spitting on the floor and he was torn between a laugh and some fake apology that might wipe the bewildered expression off her face.

"If it grosses you out that much, you should have…"

"You held me down!" she cut him off, pinching his left tight in retaliation.

He bit back on the laugh.

"Sorry. Come over here."

"I'd rather brush my teeth first. Unless you want a taste?"

"Just get in my arms," he retorted, tugging on her wrist, not caring if she weighted fully down on him.

Her kiss was pretty aggressive, her tongue nearly pushing down his throat and he couldn't help himself then, parting from her and laughing out loud at her antics, which got her to laugh in turn. His arms had wrapped around her and she was shocked at how easy it felt to voice her unease around him. She felt quite undignified and even a bit ashamed of her reaction, after how much she'd insisted on this, but her disgust was fueled by old memories she couldn't share yet. She'd rather never share them.

"It's that bad?" he managed to ask her when their laugh subsided.

"I wouldn't say that. But you're the one cleaning that floor tomorrow," Luna decided.

"By the Six, is that your way of warning me this was a once in a lifetime favor?"

"No, only that I have… weird limits here and there. That wasn't quite hot, huh?"

She sounded ready to apologize and he shook his head.

"We're still getting to know each other. And you don't have to push yourself or cross your limits to please me."

"Same goes for you. Be it in my bed or out on the battlefield," she added.

That took him by surprise.

"Are you worrying about me? I've just been doing my job. And this better not be how you repay good work."

"You're getting a really exclusive attention, believe me."

More words wanted to come out, but it might break the balance they'd reached and Luna wasn't sure she could go back to how things were before Noctis. He nuzzled her neck, eyelids heavy with fatigue. She felt his smile when he kissed her forehead and asked what he was thinking.

"All the stuff I got to do with a princess."

"Noct!" she exclaimed, her outrage anything but fake as she backed away to look back at him.

His eyes softened at the nickname and for an instant, he looked even more vulnerable than when she'd been showering him with caresses.

"What's wrong?"

"I've missed that name," he confessed, voice faltering on the words.

"You should have said so before."

The knot in his throat felt too tight, so he just pulled her in a warm embrace. His heart was burning up in his chest. He could barely align his thoughts. He simply felt found when she looked at him. Her touch mended so many doubts. And she wasn't looking for a lapdog with some magic tricks up his sleeve. Maybe was she simply looking for warmth, but she was kind enough to give back as much as he was ready to give.

"Noct," she repeated.

What was that in her voice that made it sound so different from the way his "friends" used to say it? How was it that she could give him such peace when all they did was fight? Her fingers trailed through his hair. The fire inside could nearly burst and he prayed she couldn't sense it. He would open himself to her in time. If his heart was a puzzle, he still lacked too many pieces. It was still hard to trust himself when his life had been turned upside down without a warning. And as much as he served her, sometimes he wondered if he wasn't using her right back. To have the army he was denied. Defend a kingdom in place of Lucis's lands.

Sleep came in between the sound of her breathing next to him and the feel of her voice in his ears. It took longer for Luna to find her own peace, but she was comforted by his presence. He was warmer than usual, and far more relaxed than she ever remembered him. A part of her wanted to walk up to her desk and plan the counter-attack to repay the empire for the fires and the death they'd caused. But she snuggled just a bit closer to her knight, lazily pulling the cover on them both. They both needed rest. And Shiva knew when they'd get a real break.

…

"The Tenebrae's frontline has advanced last week," Ignis reported. "That princess is growing even more aggressive."

Gladiolus uttered a groan, eyes following closely the royal prince and his sister. Ravus and Iris had always been close. They were closer in years and whenever Regis's heir was growing too impatient, a simple look from the brown-haired girl was enough for him to calm down. She rooted him and gave him the unconditional love he didn't get from the rest of his family. As long as they were kids, Gladiolus had had no qualms with the situation. But it was evolving a tad too quickly for him.

Like Noctis before him, Ravus was granted permission to venture outside of the citadel when he turned 15. But unlike his older brother, Ravus wouldn't run out on his bodyguard or try to explore the darkest parts of the city by that age. He was fine hanging low and only threw a glance over his shoulder two to three times an hour. Being watched over never made him feel better, but it was one of the small prices he needed to pay as a member of royalty.

"Gladiolus, if you keep looking at them this intently, you might pierce a hole in Ravus's head."

"Iris said something weird back home."

It was in the middle of a monologue about her school and some mundane stuff that he usually tuned out, but he'd caught a few words on a defiant tone in the middle of it, words clearly aimed at him. Watch too closely and you might get an eyeful.

Ravus and Iris looked innocent enough at the moment, enjoying a stroll in a nearly empty public park. Gladiolus kept a respectable distance, imbued with the same powers as the Glaives he trained whenever Ignis took over his shield's duties. For once, Ignis had tagged along, hoping to update his friend about the most recent intel he'd gathered.

The young girl laughed, fingers interlacing with Ravus's good hand. He still wore bandages from the burns he'd gotten during his last attempt at magic. The wounds were healing a little more slowly each time and while he hid it as best as he could, there was no pretending that everything was right. Which was why Ravus needed the time with Iris.

"This is no laughing matter, Iris," the prince protested. "Father won't let me start college unless I can collect four royal arms and defeat a list of daemons!"

"You should see your face when you talk about it!" Iris retorted.

She laughed only to prevent herself from crying, because she wasn't sure she'd be allowed to follow him on his trip. The collecting of royal arms was too early for comfort, but Regis needed to assuage his fears regarding his only heir. Rumors said the second wall, the safety bubble deployed by their king, was dimming by the months. The man had greyed even more this year and been wounded in his latest battle, raising a few questions among the Lucians. Was he still fit to rule? Had he taken his first son's banishment too hard? Would the youngest son protect them when the time came?

Iris had all these questions eating away at her heart and knew how hard it was for Ravus to walk among the streets of Insomnia and know what everyone was thinking. He'd been under such pressure for so long… He'd taken the habit to lash out at everyone, but around her stubborn self, his arrogance simply melted away. She'd confided in him back when they were kids and she'd lost her mother, and despite being just as lost as her, he'd always welcomed her with open arms. Because unlike the servants around the place, unlike his father or even Ardyn- his greatest ally in the court- Iris wasn't a threat. She was his best friend.

"Thing is, I don't really want to leave. Every time I walked out of these walls…"

Bad stuff happened outside of Insomnia. Their country looked like a barren desert for the most part of it and they were both aware of their luck for living in the most comfortable city around Lucis. Iris's fingers squeezed his.

"When are you leaving?"

He shrugged, hating the impression he'd entirely brought down the mood. He never really cared about pleasing people, except when she was concerned. His exception to every rule. Noctis used to kid around about how soft he was when it came to Iris. How could he still remember every comment his brother made up to this day?

"I'm always complaining lately," he sighed, hoping he hadn't been lost in thought for too long.

"Just lately?" she teased him. "As long as you still realize it, I don't think it's so bad. Gives me plenty of chance to try and cheer you up. That way, I can hold up my reputation as your number one cheerleader."

He winced, but knew she was over it now. Despite her ties to the royal line due to her own family, Iris had suffered for sharing such a close friendship with the crown prince. Other girls were jealous. Guys would wonder what Ravus could see in her. She had a boyish attitude all throughout childhood, keeping her hair short and choosing practical clothes over coveted dresses and skirts other girl of her status would wear. She was the presumptive queen after all and Regis had never shown any sign of discouraging either of the teenagers about their relationship. A few had cautioned that crossing the Amicitia's and Lucis's lines might prove troublesome in the future. Gladiolus's children would end up forced to protect their own cousins.

"I wouldn't have anyone else as my number one anything," he retorted, gently tugging on her arm so she'd walked closer.

He was one good head taller than her, but as petite and fragile as she looked, he knew she could resist him. Heck, last time they'd spar together, she had nearly won. And he liked the way she was ready to break every rule only to give him a challenge.

"That just sounded dangerously close to a compliment, Rav. Careful, or you'll lose your edge."

She nudged his shoulder and let go of his hand, to grip to his clothes and push him out of the small path they'd followed. They both new Gladiolus was still able to see either of them, otherwise, the man would have warped up to them in an instant, but he was growing a bit more lenient.

"What edge? We're not fighting. And I could smother you in compliments if that was what you wanted."

Her eyes shone with a playful glint and Ravus was thankful that she took the first few steps when it came down to initiate something serious between them. His back hit a tree's trunk and his arms pulled her flush against him as her hands splayed on his chest, brown eyes stuck to his. Her hair smelled like wild flowers.

"Compliment away, your highness."

The title hurt Ravus like a slap in the face. He didn't want to be some distant prince when it came to Iris. She pressed into him, fingers following imaginary lines along his shoulders, up his neck, deep in his hair. He tried to keep his cool despite the instant shivers she created in him.

"You're cute…" he started.

"Boring," she retorted, although her smile widened.

"…and insufferable, and as stubborn as a mule, and not quite ladylike unless you have ulterior motives…"

"Ulterior motives? Me?!"

And he knew the only ulterior motives she might ever have would be to make him blush.

"I like you, Iris. A great, great deal."

"Like like me?"

His throat constricted at the potential confession and at the feelings surging inside him at the idea he could be apart from her for more than a few hours. All words lost, he bent his head and stole her lips as she instinctively cupped his face. Coming from him, that had to be the clearest answer. No one had ever come that close to the prince. A few feet back, Gladiolus looked the other way, uncomfortable to see his baby sister growing into a young woman. Ignis scoffed at him, keeping a close look to their surroundings.

Right as the kiss grew more heated, Iris slipped away from Ravus, pushing hard on his shoulders so their eyes could find each other.

"I like like you, Rave. Sounds only fair that you admit I'm more than a passing cheerleader."

How could she even doubt it? Something within him snapped and he whirled them around, backing her up against the tree's bark, hands possessive as he tested the limits and try to dive back for another kiss. But while she welcomed his touch, she turned her face around, his lips only reaching her ear.

"Please," she asked him.

"You know I love you, Iris. I'm no good with words."

His voice nearly wavered and she retorted with a searing kiss, wrapping herself around him as he stepped as close as he could without crushing her. There was despair in the gesture, despair in the way she clung to him, because they both knew all they had was borrowed time. Even if she became his queen, he'd pay the price for having been deemed as the chosen king. And there was so much hurt he held back, so much pain for the decisions he'd made so far.

"I love you too, Rave."

His kisses seemed ready to drift away from her mouth and she held his hands on her, leading them up her sides, to touch past the limits usually set. Snuck one hand beneath his shirt to test his sensitivity to her own caresses.

What if she knew? He wondered.

"That's quite enough!" Gladiolus declared, parting the teenagers as he realized the make-out session had turned to full out groping.

"No need to yell," Iris objected.

"We're still in public," Ignis remarked. "So, we'd better make sure not to gather unwanted attention."

Ravus tugged down his shirt while Iris replaced the collar of her blouse, both blushing slightly at the reprimands. But one look between them was enough to confer that this wouldn't suffice for either of them. Although he felt bad for keeping the truth from her about his brother's exile. His heart quivered as contradictive thoughts rushed his brains.

Tell her, have her understand. The more you wait. I've already waited so long…

And the burns on his hand had to mean Noctis had gone along with his plans of stealing away his powers. But a voice in the back of his head told him he could still be wrong. And that was nearly worse than the idea of losing Iris for agreeing to Ardyn's suggestion.

To be continued…

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So yeah, we will have Raviris in this fic too! Although Ravus is in deep shit already with the decisions he made. My long-term plan is to have Ravus, Ignis, Gladio, Iris and maybe one more person on the pilgrimage to collect royal arms, while Noctis, Luna and Quicksilver (the guy needs to give them his real name, writing Prom feels so weird) are travelling across Lucis to collect Astrals. But that means to stabilize the situation with the empire. So action should come up next.

As always, review makes me happy. 😊