so sorry guys! a month of wait! due to laziness and a sudden lack of interest (half of it was caused by recently playing skyrim again ^^')

so more Noctis's POV, and a holiday i made up on Cocoon: Etro's Eve

Etro's Eve is Cocoon's version of Halloween. People dress up, spending the evening with friends and family, there is candy, parades, and a few Eidolons appear putting on a show. by night when everyone goes to bed, Leviathan comes and spiritually takes them to Valhalla, where they are reunited with lost friends and loved ones till dawn again. the next day is spent in a muse, thankfulness, or remorse.

enjoy!

It's been two nights now, and she has made no appearance. Noctis really felt like bashing Prompto's face in, he really did. It was his fault after all; he just had to win a stupid bet, he just had to meddle in his business, check out his little escape from reality.

Now his escape didn't want to be found.

He went to their spot for two nights now, enjoying the fading day; only to find that the beautiful scenery he saw each time got dull with each visit without her. He realizes now how content and comfortable he's always been in her presence, only now he felt restless and bottled with his day to day frustrations piling up. She had been his way to uncap the bottle and pour everything out, keeping that bottle from getting full and overflowing.

Already, he was starting to feel filled to almost the brim.

Maybe he should head to her house?

No, that might look like stalking, stalking and desperation; and that was the last thing he wanted. He could just imagine how badly she could take that. She wasn't fond of nosy people, the two blondes they both knew in life were particularly nosy, and oblivious to the dislike they shared for it.

Was all he could do was wait then?

Probably, if she wanted to see him, she would come herself.

And it would be better if she came to him. She didn't like pressure, or being ordered or forced to do things that she went against. It would be better if he waited for her, waited for her to cool down after that Prompto attack, after all, she didn't leave things unfinished or unclear.

What if she didn't come though?

He could hear both Gladious and Prompto.

"If the women don't come, you go to the women."

Was it really that simple?

He sighed heavily, smearing his face into his hand as he leaned heavily on the bar. Because of his mother's teachings, he always kept that respectful distance, he tried hard not crossing that line unless he was sure; especially since most women came to him for his wealth and power. He didn't even waste them for pleasure; that was saved for lovers, not money hungry sluts.

Just thinking about those women that always found ways to slip into the family parties brought a dark, glowering grimace to his face. He lost count on how many times those women threw themselves at his feet, offering their body in exchanged for the money and title.

Like that'll ever happen.

Grumbling to himself, Noctis turned his deep red eyes forward, staring into the dulling, beautiful scenery before him.

One of the few sights that captured him, chaining him here.

Already, he really wasn't finding it to be as precious as the first few times.

It was a repeat of colors, from blue, to red, to the dark gray of night; with a few birds or even clouds drifting across the painted sky, with the outline of trees below, black in the shadows, standing like a loyal audience for this sunset.

How did she enjoy these sunsets?

It was the one thing he had yet to ask.

She couldn't see it, that was for sure. Did she remember it and pretended that she was seeing it through those memories?

Perhaps, there were times that her eyes were closed, and she stood in the golden red glow, basking in this natural art.

Noctis closed his own eyes, trying to imagine the sunset he just saw. He could see it, and he could. He could match the colors up, but it wasn't as clear as actually looking at it. It was glimpse if anything, a mere second where everything matched up, but it was gone just as quickly.

His eyes opened, growling slightly to himself as he glared at the fading light. How did she see this? Why did she always come here, when she couldn't see it. What made this so special?

"You sound frustrated," a steady voice mused out, making him jump slightly.

Glancing over his shoulder, his eyes widened slightly at the sight. She stood five feet away from him, poised and firm like the soldier she used to be. Her head high, her clouded blue eyes staring straight at him. She stood directly in the glow the setting sun, coating her gold in the light.

"Lightning?" he wondered, a little mystified.

"Noctis," she returned with a jerking nod.

"I'm sorry," he said immediately, "I'm sorry about Prompto, and if he pestered you, he can be...overzealous."

"Use to it," Lightning said, easily shrugging it off.

"You're not mad about it?" Noctis asked, skeptically hopeful.

"More annoyed than mad, plus, it wasn't really in your control, was it," LIghtning offered.

"No," he admitted, his hand going up to his neck and rubbed it uneasily. "But, why... where have you been for the last couple of days?" he asked.

"Family business," she grumbled out, a soft scowl on her features as she turned away and towards the dimmed view before them.

"Oh," was all he could utter. Feeling his face heat up by his answer, he turned away and eyed the last of the sunset, finally relaxing and enjoying it.

It didn't seem to dull anymore. The colors were clearer, the purple sky with the last grace of yellow in the sky. "How do you see it," he wondered aloud unconsciously.

"I feel it," Lightning answered.

Noctis glanced at her, arcing a brow at his companion. "You feel it? Don't you try to remember and imagine you see it?"

"Sometimes," she confirmed, "but usually, I feel it."

"Didn't know you could feel a sunset."

"You can feel the warmth of the sun, and feel everything start to cool as it goes. Try it next time."

Noctis chuckled, "I will."

"What did Prompto win?"

He blinked, not expecting her ask. Glancing her way, he said, "He won my friend's year suply of wine, or at least, a couple their best wine; he chooses and they have no say. Being my only friend that doesn't come from a rich family, he hit the jackpot," Noctis snickered, remembering how badly Ignis took Prompto's win, and how the blonde couldn't stop bragging about it either.

Lightning's own lips twitched up. She could relate, there was a similar experience during the Academy. It was during the time she met Rygdea and Cid Raines, two of her few comrades in arms that she had called friends. It was a shooting competition, the winner got a free tour around Eden with a friend or family.

She won in a long shot.

And became the best sister in the world.

Oh, and speaking of family...

"Do you have any plans on Etro's Eve?" Lightning asked.

"No," Noctis said cautiously.

"You and your family don't spend it together?" she probed.

"Not really," he admitted. "Dad's usually too busy, and my friends and I just go out and do... well guy things."

"I see..." Lightning mused, tilting her head as she considered her situation. "Are they important enough that you can't give them up this year?"

"Not really, why?"

"My family wants to meet you."

Noctis stiffened at that. In a flash, he thought of Lightning and Serah's father. Cold, steel blue eyes, grim and calculating, silently threatening the worst murders. Never mind the fact that he was the son of a politician. And wasn't her father also a soldier?

He didn't see them that night he dined with the Farrons, and they weren't mentioned, but he did see a picture of them when Serah dragged him in. It was a photo of them when they were really young. Serah and Lightning both got their looks from their mother, and their hair was darker though because of their father. The man in that photo was also in a GC uniform, with a wicked looking gun.

That thought alone made him unsettled.

"You don't have to meet them, they will understa-"

"Nah, its fine, I'd love to meet them!" Noctis exclaimed, mentally kicking himself.

He just dug his own grave, didn't he?

Lightning tilted her head at him, raising an eye brow. "If you're sure," she mused. "Just come to my house at 6:00, everyone should be there and ready... I do advise bracing yourself. They've been quite excited to meet you, especially since Serah can't her mouth shut..." Lightning grumbled that last bit to herself.

All Noctis heard though was: 6:00, everyone, and bracing.

What did he just get himself into too?