So, I kinda went through a small surgery this week, nothing big, but a surgery still, which means a healing process. So what better things to do than write some shameless smut and fluff on my favorite pairing? Today's chapter focuses on Noctis and Luna only, with mentions to the other characters. The story doesn't really progress, but I hope you'll like it. Lots of angst to come – and yes, angst is woven into this chapter too, because angst is my blood, soul, butter and fluff-spawner. Without further ado, enjoy your read!
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Stranded
Chapter 17 – Can we leave yet?
Hey. I miss my boss.
Luna rolled her eyes at her screen, typing back as she listened to the sounds of the suite. She was waiting for Prompto to get back from his night run, knowing Cindy was already asleep, or at least pretending to be asleep. The gunman had jumped back into his military training routine, burning himself out with a program that involved going out on 3 miles runs twice a day and all the sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups he could manage without his arms breaking. Luna had tried to do half of his routine to keep him company, insisting that working out would be good for her, and she felt nauseous for the first time since she'd learned about her pregnancy.
You have the wrong number. I'm no one's boss.
N: I miss my queen.
L: I sure don't feel like a queen. Why are you being so sweet? Anything happen?
N: I want to see you. Maybe we can have dinner, try something romantic?
She bit her lower lip, her heart swelling a little. He sounded so eager and it made her miss him even more. But she reminded herself about his rehab schedule and tried to be wise in her answer.
L: We saw each other two days ago.
N: I had some news from Lucis. My friend Iggy… Well it was bad news and it's making me frantic.
Luna wanted to hit the call button right then, but hesitated. Noctis was clearly beating around the bush and had started with that dinner idea. She wasn't sure if he was being considerate or minimizing his need to get whatever he'd learned off his chest.
L: Call me?
Her phone started buzzing as too many messages came in almost at once. Noctis had really gotten better at typing with his left hand.
N: I don't want to talk about it on the phone. Or in texts. It's not like I could do something even if I was there right now. I just need to see you.
L: Oh, my poor Noctis. I can visit you first thing tomorrow if you'd like?
N: I'd rather see you outside of the center. I don't want you to stress over this Lun. How was your day?
They texted back and forth, Luna so focused on her answers to his questions and jokes that she jumped when the door finally clicked open, Prompto stepping in. Looking up at the clock, she realized how late it was.
"Hey Prom," she greeted him.
"I'm here to shower and die," he shot back, his hair a mess of sweaty curls. "Tell Noct I said hi."
"How do you know I'm… Hey, grab a bite before going to bed!"
"Yes mom."
L: Prompto is training. I think he's aiming for the Olympics. Or maybe to kill himself.
N: I wish I could compete with him.
L: What sport?
N: All of them. It's not too stressful looking after him and Cindy?
L: Prompto seems to be doing better than Cindy. I try to take her tools away from her, she keeps hurting herself trying to fix things.
N: What could she have to fix?
The truth was, Cindy needed to keep herself busy. She would hide in her room or Luna's, because whenever she was around Prompto, he made it a point to ignore her. He would fall silent if he had been talking with Luna, and while it was a childish way to deal with the situation, Cindy repeated that she'd earned such a treatment.
L: I'm worried about them. Prompto only talks about his training and Cindy has pretty much stopped talking.
N: Give it time. I know you'd rather fix everything with your magic, but remember what the doctors said.
L: Oh, I know what they said. I've been so inactive as the Oracle, people might think I'm actually dead.
N: Don't say stuff like that.
After talking for a little while longer, Luna seriously wondering why they hadn't called each other by then, they agreed on a low-key date in the hotel Luna was staying in. They'd book a separate room and Prompto and Cindy would just have to deal with having the suite to themselves for the night.
L: Hopefully, they'll keep their distance and won't kill each other.
…
After making some arrangements to meet up with Noctis in the most private dining room the hotel had, the princess decided she wanted to enjoy an actual date. Where she'd seduce her prince instead of crying and sniffling in his embrace. She simply warned him he might have to change upon reaching the hotel, which made him joke around to hide how flustered he felt as he started imagining what she could have decided. Prompto refused to give him any hint and Cindy ignored the texts on her phone, even if they were from Luna, too busy repairing everything she could get her heavily bandaged hands on.
While worried about her friend, the Oracle had vowed to herself she would enjoy her dinner and night with Noctis, which Cindy approved when she finally realized what was going on. She insisted on helping Luna, and when said woman walked out of her room, Prompto snapped a dozen pictures, insisting that her looks needed to be immortalized for generations to come.
Luna was wearing a red and black laced dress that held each of her curves snuggly, blooming into a flowery skirt with a slit on one thigh. Her neck was bared thanks to a heavily braided bun, a single strand falling on the right side of her face. Sensible shoes and just a hint of make-up completed the outfit, but Prompto was won over and Cindy was too excited to remember how awkward she felt around him.
"She wasn't that dressed up for her semi-coronation ceremony, you know?"
"Damn, Noctis is way too lucky for this world. Give me a smile, Luna. And snap a picture of his gaping face when he sees you."
Luna laughed, not making any promises, but her heart felt quite lighter than usual when she stepped into the room where Noctis was already waiting for her. He'd changed into a tux as instructed by the hotel's workers, his unruly hair styled back for once, his face freshly shaved, holding his right wrist still as his nerves were acting up once more. Worry took over her mind for a second, but Noctis looked up at her third step into the room, his whole face lighting up at the sight of her.
He'd been a growing ball of nerves as the day wore on, meeting up with Prompto in a separate room a good hour before the start of the date to get a better idea of what was waiting for him. His friend had helped him with his cuff links and they'd cursed together for five minute about ties, Noctis settling to go on with a neglected look, the top buttons of his shirt left open. He felt nervous about the point where they would take off their clothes a little more than dinner, since he had a shitload of new scars and that stupid shaking in his right arm that sometimes got his entire right side. He hadn't slept next to Luna except for a few uncomfortable nights on too-small hospital beds.
Now he was standing up from his chair, trying to calm the mad beating of his heart. He'd seen her dressed up for speeches to her soldiers and people. He'd seen her hair in a dozen different hairstyles, he'd helped her slip into a handful of her battle dresses, but he knew this time was different. It wasn't a dress he'd asked her to put on for him, but she was all dolled up for him. Not for the waiter, for a newspaper photoshoot or the fact she had to meet lady Camelia. Only him. He knew perfectly well she preferred wearing white, but the stark contrast of her pale skin with the dark lace running all over her dress gave her a fierce beauty.
"I was actually right that other time," he muttered to himself, smirking. "You look good in black."
His eyes could have swallowed her whole as she made her way up to him, Noctis meeting her halfway and offering her his left arm after extending the right one out of habit.
"What was that?" Luna asked him.
"I love that dress on you. I mean it," he insisted as she started shaking her head. "You're enchanting. I feel like I can't meet your expectations for this date," he whispered.
She barely fought against her blush, protesting with a wave of her hand.
"You're dashing, Noct."
"I only put ten minutes on my hair," he pretended a despaired sigh.
Her laugh was pure joy in his heart and he couldn't wait to kiss her, but restrained himself, decided to stay proper until they wouldn't need the services of any clerk, waiter or garçon from the establishment.
"I want to hear more about your friend Ignis," Luna declared. "When are you introducing me?"
Noctis couldn't help a warm smile at that, holding her chair for her as she sat down.
"He's catching up with his girlfriend while staying in Altissia, so it's hard to get a hold of him."
He had never told her much about the people from Lucis or his friends, since it was such a sore subject and Luna appreciated the change. It could have only concerned Ignis, but somehow, the anecdotes that came to mind concerned Gladio and Iris too and Luna was happy to see him opening up some more.
"He knows a girl here?"
"A Nif girl to be precise," Noctis scratching his head nervously as he wondered what Luna might say, but she simply nodded for him to continue. "She looked after him when he was a captive of the empire. I don't know how they manage such a long-distance relationship. Last time they met in person was 7 years ago."
Luna's eyes turned rounder than saucers.
"Good grief. I wouldn't be able to handle a full month with only texts from you," she told him.
His heart swelled, taking up too much space in his chest.
"Same here."
Their discussion shifted from the various ways Luna had tried when sneaking around Altissia for medical appointments or meetings with Camelia. Politics were too close to them both to be fully left out, but Noctis did laugh at the antics Luna told him about and got a few giggles out of her when he mentioned his fellow rehab patients' antics.
One guy had been on painkillers for so long upon his arrival, he had given animal names to every nurse and doctors of the center. The rest of the patients had taken upon a few of the unfortunate nicknames, their favorite being doctor Coeurl, nurse Anak-tantrum and the gentle nurse Garulet.
"She's really gentle, which counts as fluffy I imagine," Noctis tried defending the serial-nicknamer's logic.
"That's so silly," Luna laughed. "I've never heard you use that word before."
"I'd rather tell the girl she's fluffy as a garulet instead of mentioning how those things charge in a stampede."
"Or your favorite part of meat in a garulet, huh?"
Noctis looked scandalized by the mere suggestion.
"Luna! That'd be so inappropriate!"
"I guess the good old Prompto is rubbing off on me somehow. Is it possible to miss his inappropriateness?"
"It is," Noctis sighed. "I never thought so, but damn, it's hard not seeing him as much as I used to. He barely answers my texts with all the training he does."
"You should have told me. I'll put in a word for you."
"When did you become his secretary?" he teased her.
"We're starting a company, didn't I tell you last week?" she bit back with a grin. "The Silver Oracle hardlines."
"Don't tell me you're manufacturing guns?!"
She couldn't hold back laughing then, covering her mouth with one hand, Noctis soon joining her.
"Only guns? How unimaginative is that?" Luna taunted him.
"You should do a full line of silverwares. And battle gowns. I bet you you'd double your country's GDP in six months. Although I'd hope you'd take me as a business partner over him."
Instead of sounding dejecting, Noctis was mischievous and Luna gave him a curious look.
"You're going to leave me hanging like this?" her bodyguard pretended to be offended.
"You're already much more than a business partner, Noct. Don't you know it?"
He nodded almost imperceptibly, getting up from the table then, which had her raising her brows, motioning to get up.
"Calm down, Luna, nothing's wrong. I hope it doesn't appear cliché or anything, but I… I want you to know how serious I am about being your partner in all of this."
She gasped when he knelt in front of her, pulling a silver velvet box from his jacket's pocket.
"I wasn't properly prepared the other day. And I don't know if it will fit, but would you give me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Luna was blinking too quickly as she opened the box, discovering a delicate ring adored with two small diamonds surrounding a sapphire.
"That's… that's way too much."
"Those are small rocks to tell other people I want you to be mine in this life," Noctis objected, shifting forward so he could take her free hand in his. "There's no too much," he gently pulled the ring out of the box and aligned it with her ring finger. "You answered me the other day, but I'd love a response now. Are you willing to have me? For better or for worse?"
Luna slipped the ring he was holding on her finger, her smile teary and fragile.
"Please, it will be for better, all the better, the worse is behind us. That means yes, Noctis, of course, I'll have you! I'll be yours."
Her hands cupped his face, their smiles mirroring the feeling in their hearts, and for a long moment, Noctis remained there, holding both of her wrists and trying to memorize the look on her face. He wondered if it was wrong to believe all the bad luck in his life had been so he could meet her. If it was, he would go through it all again in a heartbeat.
"It's so unreal Luna… I…"
He wanted to tell her he wasn't a murderer, that she'd been right believing him, that there was proof somewhere to clear his name, that he would protect her and their child to come, that he was the happiest man on Eos right now, that his father would be an awesome grandparent if they could only save him in time and…
It's so wrong.
The shaking in his right arm grew stronger and Luna sensed the shift of mood as he paled. Had she said something wrong?
"Tell me those are tears of joy, Noct," she asked him.
His throat felt too tight and he placated a smile on his face.
"I've never felt worthy of anything in my life. The things I had, the people I loved kept being taken away and almost as soon as you found me…"
Luna's heart dropped so low, she wondered if the baby felt it.
"You're more than worthy, my dear Noctis."
"I feel it," the prince assured her. "In the way you look at me. In your smiles and your touches. Even those texts. I'm so happy, I feel like I could burst."
"Oh, don't do that. I can fix a lot of things, but…"
Noctis straightened up, swallowing hard, his smile brightening, and he stole her lips, half pulling her out of her chair. The dessert was only half done, but Luna sighed under his touch, gripping to his shoulders, deepening his kiss. They felt more grounded and the need for each other's touch was so strong, if he'd laid her down on the table right now, she might have rolled with it.
"I'm glad you can handle my emotional swings so well," Noctis whispered into her ear when he gently pulled away. "I swear I'm glad you said yes. There's too much going on and I can't process it all, but I love you. Both of you," he added, covering her stomach with one palm.
"I think I might be the one not worthy of you. You'll give me cavities, being this sweet."
"Sounds like you should skip your dessert."
…
They agreed to retire for the night, walking arm in arm, exchanging sweet words and feeling grateful for how respectful and invisible the hotel personnel was with this whole deal. Noctis was fully aware of what he was in most people's eyes.
"No brooding," Luna warned him as she noticed the way his head lowered with every new step and the cautious looks he threw around.
"How could I?" he teased her, holding her closer.
"You still didn't tell me what happened with…"
"Later," he offered, already embarrassed enough for letting his emotions get the better of him earlier.
"Sounds like you have plans, mister."
"Like you're not itching to tear off my clothes," Noctis chuckled against her nape, unable to resist the temptation any longer.
They were stepping into their private suite two steps later, Luna leaning her head to the side to give him better access to her neck, sighing as he closed the door with his back, one hand on her hip and the other one following a path up her sides.
"You smell like heaven."
"I certainly hope you don't know that scent," Luna joked around, her voice shifting to a whine as his lips grew heavier on her. "Noct, don't leave a mark…"
"You said you were mine," he defended himself.
"But so did you, so you'd better let me turn around and get a better look at what I'm getting myself into."
They laughed throughout the following kiss, Noctis realizing upon a closer inspection of her dress that it was two separate pieces of clothing. His hands itched for her skin and he couldn't voice his question, Luna's lips locked with his in a hot dance. She was messing up his hair and slipping one hand beneath his jacket to hold him closer, her needy whine all the encouragement he needed. He found the clasps on her top, struggling a little as she pressed into him, his fingers not fully answering him on his right side.
"I want to see you," he pleaded, Luna taking her hands off him one at a time so they could help her out of the snug top, her hairdo half ruined once the laced fabric touched the floor. "That doesn't look quite comfortable," he noted, cupping her breasts through her push-up bra.
"Then free me from my misery," Luna taunted him.
He made quick work of the undergarment, his face leaning forward as he intently studied her, not minding the shaking of his right hand as much since he could sense how warm and soft her skin felt.
"Are they bigger already?"
"Noct! Is this the only part of the pregnancy you care about?"
He gave her a sheepish smile, shaking his head, wrapping his good arm around her.
"I don't care about sizes. I missed…" he bit his lower lip, wondering if the words he wanted to say would sound bad. "I missed touching you. Pleasing you."
His right hand clenched around her breast a little too suddenly, making her yelp in pain. He instantly dropped his arm, his insecurities coming back.
"I'm sorry, I…"
"I'm not going to break for something like that," Luna reminded him. "I'm just tender. And I know your nerves are still… I wish I could fix it for you."
"You handled me broken before," Noctis pointed out, his voice shifting as his insecurities threatened to take over. "It just… shows more than it used to…"
Luna took a step back, gently lifting his wounded arm to kiss the knuckles on his right hand. The gesture was so soft.
"You were protecting me, and don't believe I'll ever forget about it."
She turned his hand around, kissing his palm, letting out a sigh as she realized how fragile it made them both feel. Her blue eyes met his, a sparkle of mischievousness growing back and she took his index finger in her mouth.
"Hey…!"
"I haven't been in your pants for a while," Luna declared. "And I did promise you a reward some time ago."
"Wait a…"
Her hands undid his buckle, the princess kneeling in front of him as she pulled both his pants and boxers down to his ankle.
"Luna, you don't have to…"
"I want to. And I won't make you feel bad for letting me afterwards. But first, socks off."
The sight of his half-naked fiancée at his feet was surreal, but Noctis decided to follow her lead for now. He had already planned to repay her tenfold for every attention she'd show him. His shoes, socks and pants and underwear were pushed in a pile, Luna reaching up to follow the muscles of his inner thighs, taunting his cock to full attention with her breath, the tip of her tongue and her hands.
"You really don't need to…"
"Shhh. I won't bite. Unless you try to choke me," she sounded playful enough, but just the memory of how she'd hacked up that one time made him feel guiltier for even agreeing to this.
He swallowed, feeling even more nervous. He felt incredibly raw under her touch and the fact they were both still half dressed excited him more than he'd imagined. Most of his scars were still hidden and Luna loved him enough to…
"Shit, don't…!"
She teased his balls with one hand, drawing shivers over his thigh with her free hand, her mouth warm around him. His fingers dove into her blond locks, Noctis doing everything he could not to move his hips in rhythm with her motions. He knew her knees had to hurt and wanted her to at least try and please herself, not only him, but she was teaching him it was fine to be on the receiving end sometimes.
"Luna…" he gasped, hoping she'd understand him with just her name.
She huffed against his skin, her nails digging into his hip and he flinched, unable to hold back a sigh as she eased the pain with gentle nibbling, her hands moving faster over him.
"That's too… fast…"
"We have the whole night in front of us," she reminded him, her breasts brushing against his leg.
His muscles clenched, his release spilling through her fingers, falling on her skin and wrinkled skirt. His eyes were locked on her as she wiped her mouth on a corner of his shirt, her fingers teasing the hairs on his lower stomach, his own fingers tightening in her hair. Her make up was a mess now, her lips too red, her cheeks flushed and the distance between them was painful.
"Give me some space so I can hold you, Luna."
"Help me up?"
If felt a little awkward, their legs were weak for the both of them and when he motioned to kiss her, Luna shook her head with a shy smile.
"I… I'd like to clean up a bit, if you don't mind."
"I'd rather not let go of you, but… Maybe I could freshen up a little myself?"
They only had one bathroom and Luna accepted the compromise, fighting against a laugh as he made googly eyes at her in the mirror. She had no modesty as she stood in front of the vanity, chest bare, trying to efficiently undo the braids keeping her hair half up on her head. Noctis offered his help, already done with cleaning, refusing to leave her for even a second. It was quite endearing, and Luna found herself a tad annoyed at how long freshening up took her. She soon confessed that the step of removing her makeup was the reason why she didn't wear it much.
"Maybe I should though. I look like a ghost."
"My love ghost," Noctis retorted, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Silly man," she sighed, happy to lean into him, blushing at the amorous smile he was giving her in the mirror. "This cleaning up break feels pretty anticlimactic, doesn't it?"
"Only means I have my work cut out for me to get you turned on," he whispered, planting a kiss on the back of her neck, his hands toying with the waistband of her skirt.
"What are you doing?" Luna asked him playfully.
"I'm freezing my butt off, sounds fair that you would too."
"You poor thing," she started mocking him. "Just wait until we get back to the bed…"
"I've heard you more eager."
"I'm trying to give you time to regain stamina."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Halfway through the banter, Noctis finally figured out how her skirt worked and obtained her approval for taking it off by giving her his best puppy look. He couldn't help a small intake of breath as he discovered the underwear she'd picked for their night, for she rarely spoiled him by wearing lingerie.
"Blue underneath all that red?"
"I didn't pack that much lace," Luna tried defending herself, wondering how he could boost her confidence just with the way he stared at her in the mirror.
"Say Luna, should we have a round with the glass as our witness or…?"
She covered her chest at that, as though the very notion made her worry someone might be hiding behind the glass and Noctis held her to him with a chuckle.
"You're going to get self-conscious now?"
"Look who's talking, keeping his shirt on through all of this."
"You have a point…"
Turning around to face him, Luna noticed the way his Adam's apple rose as he swallowed.
"Noct, I saw you shirtless in the hospital," she reminded him.
"Yeah, but I wasn't trying to look good then. I can't even lift you in my arms like I used to."
Her heart clenched as she realized just how much he worried about his new limitations. All the damage he'd undergone in her name.
"I only want you to hold me, Noctis. Come here."
He took a step closer, taking her extended hand and followed her back to the bedroom, sitting down on the bed with her. He tensed just a bit when she sat right between his legs, her own legs part on either side of him, her hands undoing the buttons of his shirt. The trembling in his right arm was nearly constant by then and he hated it so much, it was hard to appreciate the sultry look Luna gave him. But he lowered one shoulder, leaning forward so she could pull the shirt off, repeating the process with the other side. She made it a point to follow his muscles from the top of his shoulders to his fingertips, grazing the skin with her nails.
"Did I ever tell you how hot you look?"
His hands reached for her waist, his heart beating too quickly as he wished he'd kept his self-doubts to himself, but her fingers were on his chest, her eyes eating him up.
"Luna…" he tried, shocked by how fragile his voice sounded.
"I mean it. You helped me fight a freaking goddess. All the remaining trauma is because you were saving me and when I look at that, I remember how you always keep me safe no matter what. I don't care if your right arm always shakes. That scale would have…"
They were both breathing too fast, reliving that awful moment on the beach. Noctis remembered her lifeless body beneath his, the sizzling pain cutting through him, while Luna remembered his weight and his blood all over her.
"Please stop. You're safe and I'm safe and it's all that matters."
"There you go, my dear Noct."
She smiled, cupping his face with both hands, taking slow breaths with him. They got in sync without needing to exchange a single word, Noctis rubbing her sides and slowly regaining his confidence. He was enough for her, and he shouldn't let her get cold when they had one night to catch up on all the weeks they were apart.
"I didn't mean to panic like that," he started apologizing. "Let me make it up to you."
He pulled her closer, bending enough for their noses to brush, Luna shifting forward to meet him halfway. Their kiss was lazy and sweet, holding promises and sweet words and after three more kisses, Noctis found a way to get to his knees so he could lift her up, keeping her legs around him as he laid her down on the mattress.
His bad hand trembled against her stomach and she held it to her, welcoming him by ruffling his hair, moaning against his mouth.
"I'm going to need your cooperation so I can compensate for all that shaking."
"You're doing well right now," Luna complimented him.
His chuckle was almost nervous, but his next caress sent a jolt up her spine.
"Don't stop kissing me."
"Like I could…"
They'd lost count of how many kisses and nibbles had been exchanged, Luna laughing when his pointy hair tickled her neck, her voice shifting to a whine of pleasure as his mouth claimed one nipple, his right arm trembling against her back. Noctis was slow and deliberate in every gesture, giving her the notion she was being worshipped all over again. He was finding his new limits, finding just how much pressure he was ready to put on her so he could hold her closer with one ever-flinching and weakened arm.
Luna held him tenderly and possessively, aggreable to every attention, melting a little when he whispered how badly he'd missed having her between his arms. She knew from the way he touched her, from the way he tried to have every second stretch to infinity despite the fact he wanted to rush things so he could simply feel her.
"Noct…"
She couldn't help the familiar embarrassment when he lifted her hips, having removed her last piece of clothing with her help in between the earlier kissing. He leaned down on his elbows, his lips teasing her entrance. Parting her legs wider for him, Luna gasped as his fingers ghosted her folds, his eyes staring at her for much longer than his usual.
"Don't just…"
"There's nothing for you to be embarrassed about," he tried to soothe her violent blush, his eyes trained on her face, hiding his loving smile against her skin. "It's nothing I haven't seen before."
He was talking far too close to her, his words almost reverberating inside and she had half a mind to grab his hair and just…
"Is this your way of having me begging for it?"
His eyes shone with playfulness and Luna could have slapped herself for giving him such an occasion to tease her further.
"You feel like begging?"
"No. No, I've been patient, but…!"
He squeezed her ass with his right hand, his index finger passing just close enough to graze her clit, her breath catching.
"Why don't you tell me what you want, Luna?"
She whimpered despite every one of her efforts holding back from it, but that very sound was enough to kick him into action. His tongue felt rough against her, her heart jumping in her chest as his hold on her tightened even more. Like she would pull away from him when he…
Her legs wrapped around his chest, her fingers digging in his hair, her hips soon moving, Noctis taking her far, slowing down when he felt her too close, playing her like an instrument. She tried speaking up, her head sinking back into the pillows as she arched up, little tremors running up her nerves. It had been too long, she was too sensitive, it couldn't feel better than the other times, Noctis was always so attentive, but…
His tongue knew her too well, drawing an outright scream from her and he groaned in answer, so turned on he was afraid holding out until they were one might be too much to ask. Luna hadn't finished riding the full wave of her orgasm, Noctis shifting his hold on her, stroking her lower stomach with a trembling hand, their eyes meeting in a daze.
"I need you," he panted on the words, her knowing smile warming his heart.
"Please," she whispered, reaching for him.
There was barely any strength left in his right arm, but Noctis found an angle so he could hold her anyway, Luna insisting she could handle his weight on her. The first thrust was almost enough for him to melt into her arms, her hands grazing his torso, her thumb tweaking one of his nipples as he tried finding a rhythm that felt gentle enough.
"You can go faster," Luna told him.
"I keep thinking of the baby."
His voice wavered through the admission and her heart swelled.
"He's fine, silly. Focus on me."
"Okay. Okay, I… Lun…"
She clenched her muscles, effectively exacting a strangled moan from him, holding on to him as hard as she could, her nails digging into his shoulder blades when they finally reached a thundering climax. It took a long time for sanity to come back, Luna whining at the void she felt when he pulled away, rolling on his side with a light wince. His right arm had ended up buried under her, and his shoulder burned now.
"You okay?" his princess asked him.
"No. Far from it. My heart's missing," he managed, still catching up on his breath.
Luna made wide eyes at him, taken aback, moaning as he wrapped his good arm around her, her skin shivering as their chest brushed.
"There. That's a lot better."
He kissed her shoulder, ruffling her hair, Luna leaning into his touch, sighing in content.
"You're spoiling me."
"I love you. It entails a lot of spoiling."
"I love you too."
She hid her face in the hollow of his neck, her nose tickling him.
"Why the hiding?" he mused.
"I don't want to be away from you again. I always feel better in your arms."
"Luna…"
He held her closer, kissing the crown of her head.
"I only need a few more weeks," he tried reassuring her, as he realized she wasn't cheesy just to be cheesy. "But we need to make a decision about us."
Luna gently pushed against his chest to look into his eyes.
"About the wedding?"
"About the baby. The doctors recommended that you don't use magic. So making a covenant…"
She paled, sharing his worries.
"If we wait until our baby's born, I won't be able to do any covenant before a good year or two. I'm not going to give up my child to someone else's care if I can help it, but I don't want him born in a blighted world either."
Noctis understood her dilemma.
"You just took down the empire's entire fleet."
"And believe me, I am not summoning Leviathan again, unless I absolutely have to."
"That's good to hear. I have to admit, if we could leave for Lucis in a few days…" He struggled to find the right words, his shiver running up his good arm. "Ignis learned how my brother framed me." His breathing picked up at that, Luna growing utterly silent next to him. "And so did my father, which resulted…" A quiver ran through him, the princess holding her breath at the broken sound that came from his throat.
"My father was stabbed," he blurted out, his shaking taking over every limb, Luna instinctively holding him closer, her shocked gasp covered by the hiccupped sobs he was fighting against. "Ardyn Izunia made him a prisoner, apparently he needs him alive..."
"Oh lords… Why didn't you tell me about this right when you learned of it?!"
"You wanted me to tell my pregnant and daredevil of a girlfriend that I want to break through Insomnia and battle every one of its guards to rescue my father?"
"Why would you have to…?"
"All the news from Lucis is that my brother is out on his pilgrimage with our father's blessing. Ardyn can create illusions and has taken the King's appearance, so nobody but a handful of people know the truth."
For a moment, Luna simply laid there, trying to process all of these news, Noctis barely holding himself together next to her. When she could align her thoughts, she asked for a better explanation as to how Ignis knew any of this, Noctis telling her about Iris and the girl's outburst leading to the revelation. His anger and pain showed in the way his voice shifted and Luna hated herself for asking a single question once the situation was clearer.
"But your father is still…?"
"I don't know if Ardyn really needs him alive to keep up the pretenses. None of them does! I don't know anything outside of he's been hurt and captured by some monster…"
"Then there's no question, we're headed straight to Insomnia once in Lucis."
He shook his head, unable to resist the gentle tug on his head, curling his body around hers as he tried to contain the contradictory feelings growing inside.
"I don't want to risk you. You're my family now, Luna," he whispered against her skin.
His tears were warm, and she held him closer, her eyes spilling as the first sob racked through him.
"Which mean your father is my family. Or well, he'll be soon enough. Noct, you shouldn't have kept this to yourself. How can I be there for you if…?"
"I needed your arms around me if I was going to talk about it," he confessed.
"I'm sorry I wasn't with you right when…"
"You're the one being silly now, Luna. I'm not trying to guilt-trip you into saving my dad, I just want to make sure you'll stay safe."
"I'm safe with you, Noct."
His desperate whimper broke her heart a little.
"You know I can't…" he started apologizing.
"Stop selling yourself down like this!" Luna cut him off, giving him a slap in the shoulder to mark her words. "You have magic and you can still warp and you keep me sane, which is a feat in and of itself."
Noctis backed away, sitting up and crossing his arms if only to stop the shaking in his right hand, Luna raising herself up, holding up the sheet to cover her midriff, but not much else.
"You're almost three months along," he observed. "By the time we get in Lucis, either we realize the doctors lied to us, or you'll have a baby bump showing. You're a legend by now, but the empire will send whatever they have left against you."
"And we'll be fine. I got through drowning!"
He clenched his teeth, wondering if he'd ever be over that fact.
"There's nothing I can say that will convince you, is there?"
Luna shook her head stubbornly and Noctis heaved a sigh.
"Alright. We'll go to Lucis. Then we'll have to figure things out with Ignis. See what the situation is, how bad the last attacks from the empire were. If people throw rocks at me or not…"
"They won't with the Oracle next to you," Luna tried reassuring him.
"If they do, I'll cut down every last one of them. Or zap them with electricity I guess."
"Noct!"
"You've agreed to be my wife, Luna. I'll defend you twice as hard now."
She wanted to give him a warning, but she'd used violence to deal with the empire far too often to have a right to reprimand him. Plus, hearing him call her "his wife" did things to her.
"Is that a smile I see?" Noctis asked her, his stance relaxing a little more.
"I've had a lot of titles in my life, but I think that one could be my favorite. Being your wife."
She shuffled closer to him, Noctis pulling her in his lap without so much as a warning.
"You'd better not change your mind about me."
"How many times must I say yes before you believe me?"
"Hmm… I know a context in which the answer is… endlessly."
From the look in his eyes and the way he seductively raised one brow at her, Luna knew what he had in mind, her heart beating a little faster.
"We haven't reached an agreement yet…" she reminded him, her palm splayed against his chest in case she would have to calm hi ardor.
"Well, what's clear to me is my princess has her ways in every aspect of our partnership. So I'll take due compensation."
It seemed it would be some more time before they could find sleep or even look for it.
To be continued…
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Next chapter will see Cindy and Prompto making a truce, with some heavy angst on the horizon. I'd like to introduce Ignis (and Aranea) to Luna's team, but we'll have to wait and see how that goes. The whole situation with Regis will surely result in some spying mission to determine if there's still a King to be saved, and I really want to write about Gladio, Iris and Ravus dealing with that. Any thoughts?
Also, I'd like to thank the wonderful people who left me reviews for last chapter, it really warmed my heart and made my day. And a shout-out to Fuzzi_Fox who helped me once more with betareading this chapter. :D You guys are awesome!