quod periit, periit
A buzzing sensation stirs Noct awake, the source of the vibration coming from his pocket. He keeps his eyes clenched shut and stays down, everything feeling hazy and distant.
Noctis attempts to take a deep breath, and when he does he coughs as ash and dust invade his lungs. His eyes feel as if they're sealed shut, and when he finally opens them he regrets it as ash blinds him.
Noctis furiously rubs them clean, careful not to get more of the ash that caked him into his eyes again. From his pocket, his phone vibrates again. Noct ignores it and instead chooses to take a look at his surroundings.
Mid-morning daylight now blankets the ruined city, and even with the threat of daemons gone Noctis doesn't drop his guard.
The Imperial soldiers were swarming the city like flies on a carcass.
The rubble around him indicates that they had continued their attack long through the night, he had been lucky to not have been killed during his sleep. Noctis frowns at the deteriorating state of Insomnia around him - but it could have been worse.
Noctis struggles to push himself up, coughing again as he inhales ash. A shaded alley lies directly across from him, and Noctis makes his way towards it.
Alterna had taken its toll on him, but despite that he was glad to have used it. That spell alone had essentially crippled the Imperial attack - even if the outcome was the same. Noctis slides down against one of the alley walls to catch his breath, in the distance he can hear an airship as it flies above the ruins.
He was fortunate to have gotten the ring when he did.
Although he knew the ring would accept Luna, Nyx would have been a different answer. Noct wonders if that is the reason he never saw Nyx after Insomnia fell, Nyx had likely managed to get the ring from Luna and use it himself.
And it had likely cost him his life.
Noctis had prevented that this time, and despite Nyx having been critically wounded last Noct saw, he hopes that the other survived.
He makes his way towards the city's entrance, avoiding the occasional airship he can hear pass by. Fortunately, he hadn't seen any foot soldiers yet. Noctis scowls at the thought that they were probably looting the Citadel.
That luck ends as he nears the city's entrance - the checkpoint at the bridge.
Soldiers line the entrance to the bridge, and Noctis knows there will be more at the checkpoint after. He sneaks into a building nearest the soldiers and ducks low. There's a shattered window facing the checkpoint, and as Noctis makes his way towards it he can hear rain make its appearance through the tinkles on the roof.
Noctis takes a moment to just catch his breath.
Using the Ring again so soon after casting Alterna was out of the question. He was still recovering from the stasis it had put him in, but he could still hold his own in a fight with these guys.
Whether he still had enough energy for the soldiers he knew would be at the checkpoint after the bridge was another question entirely.
Noctis pulls out a magic flask and feeds it his elemency, conjuring a fierce Blizzaga spell. He holds it close to his chest and peeks over the window.
None of the soldiers were watching, so he takes his chance and throws the spell at them. The impact kills most of them immediately, and the few that survived are quickly dispatched by a few quick strikes from Noct's sword. The spell freezes the rain around it, and Noct fights to keep the chill from him as he pulls his sword free from the joint of the last soldier's armor.
Noctis breaks into a sprint for the Regalia, not trusting his actions to have gone unseen.
The Regalia is in the same place he had left it, but the driver's side window had been busted out. Noct sighs in defeat, but can't bring himself to be mad at the person who had likely tried to steal the Regalia to escape.
He wipes the chair clean of glass and rain and starts the car, pulling back onto the road and driving across the bridge.
Rain beats at him through the broken window, and he wipes at his eyes as he drives across the bridge. Somewhere along the way, his phone had stopped vibrating.
He had been asleep for far too long; the others would have certainly woken up by now. Noctis cringes at the thought that they had woken up to the news of Insomnia falling.
He had been reported dead, along with Luna and his father. Noctis can only imagine what they must be feeling right now. The Regalia hums as he speeds up.
The note he left them probably did little to ease their worries, and Noctis doubts that they would still be waiting for him at Galdin Quay. If they had seen the headlines - and trusted them - then they would likely be on their way back to Insomnia.
The next checkpoint comes into view, and instead of the mechas and soldiers he knew should be there all he sees is their remains.
He drives closer, slowing down to avoid any jagged metal or debris. The rain makes the road look slick, and he can see oily patches across the asphalt.
There had been a major battle here.
Noctis furrows his brow and slows further as he passes by the toll booth.
He is suddenly jolted as Gladio jumps in front of him and slams his hands on the hood.
Gladio looks furious.
Nostrils flared and face flushed with anger, Gladio steps around to the driver's side as Noctis gets out. Fists clenched, Gladio looks like the definition of rage - and although Noctis knew Gladio wouldn't punch him for this, he still never wanted to be at the receiving end of one again. Noctis takes a step back.
Before Gladio can take two steps forward, Prompto jumps the hood of the Regalia and grabs onto Noct with Ignis shortly behind.
"Noct!" Prompto is grabbing at his jacket - checking for wounds - and Ignis has grabbed his face to do the same. Their actions are almost frenzied, and Noctis feels guilt at having made them worry.
Cor stands off to the side, and Noct realizes that he had probably thought he had lost the last two Lucii in one night.
They had all probably thought the line of Lucis ended overnight.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Would it hurt to check your godsdamn phone once in a while?!" Gladio steamed.
Before Noctis can reply, Prompto grabs onto his shoulders, looking utterly defeated.
"Noct -" his voice breaks, "we thought you were -"
Prompto cuts himself off, falling back to lean against the car. He rubs at his eyes with his hand, effectively hiding his face. Ignis continues in his place, eyes pleading.
"We thought you were dead, Noct." And his voice actually sounds like that of a person his age - not of the strong, clinical person he tries to be.
They all sound so tired, sadness and anger pulling at their worn expressions.
"Are you okay?" Gladio asks as he looks down his nose at Noct.
"I'm fine." Noct replies. Ignis steps back, hunching over and putting his hands on his knees.
Rain becomes the only sound between them, and Noctis looks over to Cor. He is still standing a ways off, arms crossed and expression grim.
Noctis has disappointed a lot of people in the last few hours.
"We should be moving." Cor says, "There could be reinforcements here any second."
Ignis straightens himself up as Cor approaches. "Where do you have in mind, Marshal?"
Cor takes the driver's seat, "Hammerhead. From there I can fill you in on what our options are."
Noctis is ushered into the middle seat in the back, squished between both Gladio and Ignis. He gets in with little complaint, they are all soaked to the bone and too tired to put up much of a verbal fight.
Ignis visibly flinches as he catches sight of the Ring of the Lucii. Cor catches sight of it and pauses.
"Then the King really is...?" He looks at Noct through the rear-view mirror. Noctis pulls the hand with the ring higher, allowing them all to see it.
"...yeah." He confirms solemnly.
Cor looks down, focusing onto the crest embroidered onto the steering wheel.
"My condolences." He starts the car without another word and they take off.
They drive in silence for a while, more upset than curious as to what happened. Noctis is relieved at the silence, but soon enough it gets broken.
"What happened?" Prompto asks without looking up. Noct inhales slowly, planning out his answer.
"...Insomnia fell to Niflheim soldiers, they used daemons to destroy the city."
"Daemons?" Gladio asks. He is still fuming from what Noct can tell, but keeps the anger out of his voice.
Noctis nods. "There were swarms of them, and a big one that could shoot fire like missiles."
"The article states that the fabled Draconian appeared above the Citadel." Ignis asks and Prompto hands back the article from the front seat.
A picture of Bahamut is on the first page, looking as if it had been taken on the very outskirts of the city.
"Were you the cause of that?" Ignis fixes him with a look, Noct ignores it and glances through the headlines.
"How did you know to go back?" Gladio asks instead when Noctis doesn't answer. Noctis looks up at him, feeling the gaze of everyone in the car drift to him.
"...Bahamut called to me. I knew something was wrong." The ease at which the lie slips off his tongue surprises Noct, but he feels no guilt for it.
"Then why didn't you wake us up?" Gladio's anger surfaced again, and Noct turns his gaze to the road ahead.
"Sorry." Noct doesn't know what to say.
Gladio huffs in disbelief. He turns away from Noct to look at the scenery passing by.
The group falls back into an awkward silence, but he is saved from most of it as Hammerhead approaches. Cor pulls under the gas station's canopy, saving the driver's seat from any more rain.
Cindy approaches them as they get out.
"Glad y'all made it." She says, expression as gloomy as the weather.
"Thanks. Is Cid around?" Cor asks. She nods and looks to the garage.
"He's not in the best mood right now though. You should probably go talk to him."
Cor agrees and turns to look at Noctis and the others.
"Your duty is to your people. A King of Lucis must protect them. We are to visit the tombs of your ancestor's so that you may claim their power. The Royal Arms that the former kings bear contain power that can be passed on. With their help, you can fulfill your calling."
Although he couldn't summon them physically, they still appeared to him through use of the Armiger. Noct wonders if he really needs to spend all that time collecting them again. He agrees with Cor nonetheless.
"Right. Please lead me to the first one."
Cors passes what could be a smile at him - Noctis doesn't think he has ever seen the man's lips form anything more than straight line.
"Very well. Let me speak to Cid first - and we should probably get that window fixed while we are here."
Cindy hops onto that, "Don't you worry. I'll take care of her. For now, why don't you just sit back and relax? I'm sure Takka'll fix you up something nice."
"Our thanks." Ignis replies, and the groups separate.
Before Noctis can even move a few feet, Gladio grabs onto his arm.
"Don't ever go off alone again. Got it?" Gladio's voice is low as his eyes meet Noct's.
"Alright." Noct says. Gladio's nose crinkles slightly.
"Promise me. Got it?"
"Got it." Noct swallows down his shame and fear.
This was a promise he was destined to break. No apology would ever make up for what he would eventually be forced to do.
Noctis wants to tell him 'sorry', but it would do no good. Gladio, along with Ignis and Prompto, would only be brought grief during their time with him.
Unless he could change things.
Noct shifts from foot to foot under Gladio's scrutiny, and eventually Prompto calls out to them, telling them to catch up. Gladio relaxes his stance, and Noct takes that cue as he has gone back to normal.
They turn to follow the other two and Gladio side-eyes him as they walk.
"You sure you okay?"
"I'm fine, Gladio." Noctis feel like he means it more this time, and forces a smooth smile cross his features.
"Hmph," Gladio scoffs and reaches up to tousle Noct's hair. Clumpy, wet ash falls everywhere. "Could'a fooled me, you look like shit."
Thank you for reading!
And thank you so much for the awesome comments! Thanks to you guys and those who fav'd/bookmarked!
You guys are a super inspiration, thank you!
Updates may get a little slower starting next week, I will be going to choose the subject for my Master's Thesis(it's fossil based, I will be choosing an individual specimen to work on). I will have to dedicate time to working on the proposal, but I think I can still manage time during my weekends to work on this fic.
Hurt!Noct week is coming up, and depending on the topic I may participate(thank goodness Pitioss wasn't requested, I wouldn't have been able to resist! D: Ok, I'm actually alittle sad it wasn't requested lol.)
Thank you again for reading! You guys are awesome! :)
I hope you guys had a great New Years! I wish you all the best for 2018!