So, today I'm super happy because, after three months on ground, I finally came back to work. And I have the best job in the world: flight attendant! I just came back home after flying to Paris with an amazing crew, and I passed my Line Check with the highest score. Which means we can celebrate by posting two chapters today! *-*
The four boys decided to take a short break from the cleaning of Noctis's apartment. The first to stop was Prompto, who had been lazily dusting a shelf before setting his bright blue eyes on a pile of comic books stored in a box by the bookshelf.
He was followed shortly after by Noctis and Gladio, and even Ignis stopped scrubbing the burnt fat in the oven to stare at his friends.
"Whoa! Never thought I'd see this again!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, picking a copy of one particular comic book and analyzing the cover.
"What?" asked Noctis.
"This! I never noticed, but you've got a ton of comics!" Prompto answered swiftly, opening the comic book at random pages.
"Some of 'em are yours, too" Noctis replied amused, and then picked another comic book from the pile.
"Oh! Man, I really wanted to read it one more time!" Prompto almost jumped on Noctis in an attempt to grab the book, which his friend held high up in the air to prevent the blond boy from reaching it.
"If you want to read it so badly, why don't you?" asked the prince with a sly smirk.
"Wait, you don't mean now, do you?" intervened Gladio, unable to hide his amusement. The only one that seemed not to enjoy the happy chattering was Ignis, who sighed heavily and returned to scrubbing the oven, probably thinking he would be the only one left to actually continue with his duty.
"Isn't all this gonna get taken to the Citadel?" asked Prompto taking a look at Noctis's stuff that he had collected throughout the years.
"Yeah" replied Gladio.
"Well, once that happens, I'll never be able to see it again!" exclaimed Prompto in frustration.
"Can't you just take what you want?" Gladio suggested, resting one hand on his hip.
"Can I?" Prompto turned to face Noctis, a hopeful expression on his face.
"No" replied the prince, throwing the comic book back in the box.
"Ah c'mon, dude!" Prompto insisted, but Noctis was unmovable.
"By the way" intervened Gladio "I told you guys I had dinner with my family tonight, and Iris told me she saw you today, Prompto".
"What!? Did she?" the young man asked in disbelief "I don't remember meeting her".
"Well yeah, she said you were in the park taking pictures as usual" Gladio continued.
"Uhm, why didn't she come and say hi?" the blond boy asked, a bit hurt for having been ignored.
"Said she did" Gladio replied gravely, but his amusement was evident on his strong face.
"Wha-Wait! Don't tell me she said hi and I didn't notice! I can't believe I didn't notice!" Prompto wanted to smack himself for his rudeness, though involuntary.
Gladio and the others simply laughed it off, but Prompto was genuinely sorry. He remembered having heard a faint voice calling his name in the park, but he had dismissed it thinking he had just imagined it.
"Meh" he eventually sighed, before reluctantly going back to dusting the shelf.
Irish had told herself she would wake up as late as possible the following day so she wouldn't be tempted to run off and see the boys' departure. She was therefore disappointed when her eyes automatically opened at dawn, and she felt fully awake as if something had disturbed her slumber.
Snorting loudly, she decided to get up and get ready. Her brain told her to stay home and avoid further damage to her already sore heart, but the latter didn't seem to care, and encouraged her to hurry up and reach the Citadel where the boys were to leave soon.
She ran as fast as she could and, upon reaching the majestic building, she hid behind a bush just outside the gates, her eyes fixed on the dark figure speaking to his father. The king looked extremely worried and sad, fatigue written all over his face and Iris felt a pang of sorrow for the kind ruler. She could sense Noctis was upset for some reason and even Prompto, who was normally jolly and smiling, looked worried.
When the party climbed in the car, slamming the doors and ready to be off, Iris almost lost it and left her shelter, but thought against it: everyone at the Citadel had seemed troubled and worried, and her sudden appearance would probably only upset them further.
She therefore stayed right where she was, inwardly wishing the party the best of luck.
She watched the car until it had disappeared before ascertaining she was completely alone. Only then she left the Citadel behind, returning home.
When she stepped in the hallway, she was surprised to hear someone whispering. She followed the voices until she located her parents sitting in the kitchen, watching the news on TV.
Her father jerked and turned around abruptly, softening when he noticed it was his daughter.
"'Morning sweetie. Up so early?" he asked kindly, while her mother jumped on her feet to prepare her breakfast.
"Good morning" Iris replied, trying to hide her sorrow "Yes, I-I couldn't sleep".
"Who could?" her father said with a bitter smile "Today's a big day".
"They'll be fine, darling" Iris's mother said softly "They are big boys, and can take care of themselves. They'll be back in no time".
"I'm not only talking about the prince and the Crownsguards. The treaty's today" her father continued gravely "And who knows what the Empire is actually plotting".
"Darling, not now…" her mother said with a careful tone.
"Iris is old enough to understand, and has the right to know" her father replied, his tone brusquer.
Iris was possibly more confused than ever, her eyes shifting from her father to her mother.
"Is there something I should know?" she asked in a low voice.
"No"
"Yes"
Her parents answered simultaneously. A silence followed before her mother sighed heavily and went back to the frying eggs.
"This is going to be your responsibility" she said upset.
"I know, darling. But Iris needs to understand one should not trust the Empire" her father said.
"Dad, can you just tell me what's going on?" Iris burst.
"Today's the day of the treaty between Insomnia and the Empire which, as you know, has taken over most of our land. But the crown city stands tall and proud thanks to our king, and prince Noctis is to marry Lady Lunafreya to seal the peace between the two parties. We've been at war for ages now, and this may actually be the end of it" her father explained gravely.
"Well, isn't that good?" Iris asked confused.
"Yes, it should be. But no one at the Palace actually believes the Empire's interested in peace. They won't stop at anything in order to obtain the Crystal of Lucis and conquer the rest of the world. We believe this treaty is nothing but a trap. And King Regis knows it well" her father said solemnly.
"But-But if the king knows…why?" Iris stuttered, unable to understand.
"He must have his reasons. Maybe he has a plan that we don't know about. We will just have to wait and see. I will be at the Citadel today, but I want you to be ready. If anything should happen, it will no longer be safe to be here in Insomnia. You will have to flee, and you must be able to do it at once".
Iris was beginning to feel more and more worried, and her father must have read the fear in her eyes because he continued with a more soothing voice.
"Don't you worry, my child. It's merely a precaution. But I want you to pack all the necessary things. Should things… not go as planned, take your stuff and meet up with Cor outside the city. Do not wait for us. Just go with Cor, he will show you the way" her father proceeded undaunted.
"But- "Iris tried to protest, tried to make clear she would not leave without her family.
"Promise me, Iris. I need to hear you say it" her father placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her in the eye. Iris could feel the stinging forming of tears in them, but nodded firmly.
Her mother placed the eggs and toast in a plate and gently pushed it towards her.
Iris stared blankly at her breakfast, suddenly not feeling that hungry anymore.
Next Chapter: the Regalia runs out of fuel. Iris meets Cor.