A/N: Chapter 6 finally finished! I have been really busy and I will be for a month or so, so I won't be able to post new chapters as fast as before, but I'll do my best! Thanks for my lovely readers and reviewers! Read & Read & Review! Enjoy! :)
"Noctis, Noctis! Stay awake!" Lightning shouted to him when she noticed that his eyes didn't move anymore.
No response.
Ignis leaned forward to see Noctis. He shook his head and laid his hand on Lightning's shoulder.
"He's gone, we tried our best." Ignis said. "I'm sorry Lightning."
Lightning punched him. "You better to keep your mouth shut or I'll get you into the same condition as he's in." Lightning threatened him.
Prompto finally came back with the stretcher and he laid it on the ground.
"Gladiolus grab he by his shoulders, I'll lift him up from here, we gotta get him to the castle." Prompto said.
Gladiolus did what he said and they moved Noctis on the stretcher.
"Alright, let's go." Prompto said and they started to head back to the castle.
Lightning didn't know that what made her to cry so much, she didn't have a close relationship with Noctis or anything, he was still an acquiesce who she had just met. Lightning didn't cry or she usually didn't. Maybe she was just worried; maybe because he was a prince, he couldn't die. Maybe she just felt so bad for him or maybe it was because she was shocked by what she had seen, she had never seen so severe wounds, not even on dead people.
They hurried to the room in the castle. It was full of all kind of medical tools.
Prompto and Ignis laid Noctis on a bed and Prompto pulled a ventilator next to the bed and put the oxygen mask on Noctis' mouth. Prompto went to wash his hands and he quickly put plastic gloves on and he grabbed some tools from the table.
Prompto gave scissors to Lightning. "Cut his shirt open and get it off him." He went back to the table again.
Lightning was frozen for a moment, she wasn't sure if she could do it. She didn't know if she had the courage to see how badly he was hurt and she didn't want to hurt him even more.
She cut his shirt open and she gasped for air when she saw the wound, it was impossible that he would be still alive. Lightning tried not to look at the wound, she was afraid that she would faint, she never had had that feeling before, but now she had.
Lightning looked at Noctis, he was so pale and his lips weren't as red as they should be. His eyes were blank; she didn't see any emotions or signs of life in his eyes. His chest didn't rise up and down anymore, he wasn't alive, he couldn't be.
She put her hand behind his ear to check his pulse. She didn't feel anything.
"No, no..." Lightning whispered to herself with teary eyes. Lightning stroke his cheek. "Please don't go, not yet. You have your whole life ahead of you, and I haven't gotten to thank you about everything what you have provided for me. Please." Lightning sobbed.
Lightning would have wanted to help him so badly, but she didn't know how. She was pretty sure that she couldn't help him, not anymore, if someone could it was Prompto. Lightning hoped that he'd try his best to help Noctis.
"Someone, please turn the heater on. We must make sure he keeps warm." Prompto grabbed a bag of blood plasma so Prompto would be able to transfer some blood into Noctis' veins.
Lightning looked at Prompto little shocked; she knew that it was very bad if he had to undergo blood transfusion. "W-Where you get those Prompto?" Lightning asked.
"From a blood bank. I change them every day, if something like this happens." Prompto answered. Prompto put Noctis into blood transfusion. "We'll need huge amount of these; he's lost at least 35 % of his blood. That's bad, very bad. You can lose about 40 % of your blood but if you go over that, you'll die."
Lightning's eyes widened didn't like what she heard, she tried to not to start to cry again. Her stomach was aching a little.
"B-But he's not going to die right?" Lightning said. She didn't accept no as an answer.
"I'm sorry Lightning, I cannot guarantee anything, I'm not sure he is very badly wounded. He might go into shock and he might not be able to recover from it, his body won't be able to bear that for too long and then his heart will fail." Prompto said. "I'm sorry. Step back."
Prompto lifted up a defibrillation and placed the electrode paddles on his chest. And he pushed the button of the machine.
Noctis' body flinched and his chest rose up rapidly, but nothing else happened.
"Dammit." Prompto muttered.
Lightning didn't want to hear that. "What did you do to him? Is he okay?" Lightning sobbed.
"I gave him an electric shock; I'm trying to make his heart beat again." Prompto muttered and crossed his arms.
Lightning looked at Prompto confused. "Why aren't you doing anything?" Lightning asked shocked.
"I gotta wait 2 minutes before it's safe to touch him, otherwise you might get electrocuted too." Prompto said. "Don't touch him."
"Sorry." Lightning said her voice full of sorrow.
"Don't be, sorry I'm little stressed too." Prompto said and started to press his up and down. He wasn't trying to be careful; he put a lot of pressure on his chest every time when he pressed his chest.
"Alright, don't come too close and don't touch him." Prompto said and let go of Noctis and put the electrode paddles back on his chest.
Prompto pushed the button again.
Noctis flinched again and his body started to convulse slightly.
Prompto cursed and pressed the button again.
"Function forbidden. Wait for two minutes longer." The sound of the defibrillator said.
"What?!" Prompto shouted irritated. "Do I have to break this?" Prompto muttered by himself and he pressed the touch screen until the machine beeped and then Prompto hit the button again.
Noctis' body stayed in place and he moaned loudly.
"Oh my god, is he alive?" Lightning asked little hopefully.
"He didn't do that because he wanted to, the electric shock made him to make that sound." Prompto said. "I shouldn't have electrocuted him so much; his heart might not start to beat at all if you electrocute somebody more than two times. He started to convulse because his body can't handle too much electric shocks, they make his muscles to contract by themselves." Prompto sighed and started to press his chest up and down again.
Lightning stared at Prompto and she started to cry.
"Don't cry Lightning, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it like that." Prompto said.
Gladiolus got up from his chair and he leaded Lightning to the sofa to sit next to him, he patted her back. "Don't worry, he won't die. He's too stubborn to die." Gladiolus said. "You have no need to cry; try to calm down a little."
"I'm just so concerned." Lightning sobbed.
"Me too." Gladiolus said. "I'm his friend, I don't see him often because he's so busy but I'm still his friend, I don't want him to die either. Prompto knows what he's doing; he's one of the best medics in the kingdom."
Lightning looked at Gladiolus, he had really calm expression on his face and he spoke with really calm voice. It made Lightning feel little better, even though he was really embarrassed to cry in front of people who she didn't know.
"Really?" Lightning sniveled.
"Yeah, Prompto is the medic here, if he wouldn't be then Noctis would have hired some other medic, but he needs the best medic who he can find, because he is the most important person in the kingdom. Prompto is the best medic so he didn't have to hire anyone else." Gladiolus smiled a little. "Tell me if you need something, I'll look after you until Prompto is finished. You don't have to try to be polite or anything like that." Gladiolus said.
"I'm okay, thanks." Lightning sighed and wiped some tears off her face.
"So who are you? I haven't seen you before." Gladiolus asked.
"I-I'm from another kingdom." Lightning said.
"Wow, from which kingdom?" Gladiolus asked.
"Cocoon."
"Oh, there's civil war right?" Gladiolus asked.
"Yes." Lightning sighed.
"You'll be safe here." Gladiolus smiled. "How did you meet Noctis? He doesn't go to the city often, he's always too busy and I guess that he hasn't been to any other kingdoms before."
Lightning looked at Prompto and Prompto shook his head while he was cleaning Noctis' wounds.
"Um, I got hurt and Prompto found me and brought me here to cure my wounds. I got mugged." Lightning looked at Prompto again. Prompto smiled a little.
"It's my pleasure." Prompto said and smiled.
"I see. So why are you so concerned of Noctis? How long have you known each other? Or is he your cousin or something?" Gladiolus asked from Lightning.
"No, no, he's my friend. I just feel so bad that that happened to him. He's such a nice boy. He doesn't deserve that, he's so nice to me." Lightning said.
"What?" Gladiolus asked confused, he looked really amused.
"What?" Lightning asked confused.
"I've never heard that anyone had called him 'nice boy'." Gladiolus chuckled.
"What do you mean?" Lightning asked.
"Wow haven't you ever heard of him before you came here?" Gladiolus asked.
"No."
"He's a serial killer, a coldblooded mass murderer. He shows no mercy to anyone. He is very rude and emotionless person, he doesn't really care of other people. He likes to be alone and if someone does something wrong at the wrong time he'll kill that person right away without hesitation. He doesn't want people to come too close to him. I've never seen him smiling or anything, I've known him for a long time but I've never seen that he would have let some...random person in his castle just like that." Gladiolus said. "How did you get in? Or I mean how did Noctis let you to stay? You should be careful around him, he's very erratic."
Lightning stared at him not saying a word.
"...Is he like that for real?" Lightning asked confused.
"Uh-huh." Gladiolus answered.
"Are you sure?" Lightning asked.
"How so? Of course I am. Haven't you seen him before? Before he got himself in that condition." Gladiolus said.
"I've seen him few times. The first time I met him he was really drunk, he has problems with drinking." Lightning said.
"Wow, how do you know that he's an alcoholic?" Gladiolus asked astounded.
"I just know." Lightning answered.
"Wow, I've never seen that he could just reveal so much of himself to anyone in so short time. He is very careful that what he says or does." Gladiolus said. "I'm not sure how much he drinks, but Prompto told me that he drinks way too much. Noctis will kill him if he hears that that Prompto had told that to me."
"I'm so confused, he's so nice. He has really nice personality; I like to talk to him." Lightning said. "How does he act towards you?" Lightning asked.
"He pretty much ignores us, I guess that he talks to Prompto when he has to but I haven't talked with him for a long time. I have sometimes thought that maybe he has some disease like autism, because he seems not to have any emotions and he shows no sympathy, but you can never know."
"That's...interesting." Lightning said. "How was he when he was a kid?"
"Well, I know only minor things." Gladiolus said. "He was really good at school, especially at languages. He wasn't good at p.e, he's quite clumsy but still he seems to be in good shape now, I don't know how. He was really apathetic when he was a child too, I'm little younger than him so I guess that he spend his time with Prompto, but he didn't really like to be around with any other people."
"You're younger?" Lightning said surprised.
"Yeah..." Gladiolus smiled.
"Wow, I wouldn't have expected that." Lightning said. "How old are you?"
"21" Gladiolus said.
"You gotta be joking." Lightning said. "I'm 21 too."
"That's cool." Gladiolus smiled.
"Alright, this is all that I can do right now, now we just have to wait if he wakes up…If he does then he'll be in huge agony and he might go to shock again." Prompto said. "He might be paralyzed, but he still feels the pain and other things you can feel but he cannot move. I don't understand how that's possible."
"Lightning, you have time right?" Prompto said. "You can look after him."
Prompto came to Lightning and gave her a book. "Okay, here you can find the instructions what to do if something happens. He's in quite stable condition, so he'll probably just sleep, I'll come back when I get from work. You'll be fine." Prompto smiled.
"Wait what? I've never treated any patients; I don't know what to do." Lightning said.
"Don't worry you don't need to be a brain surgeon." Prompto chuckled. "I have to go to work so I can't be here all the time, so if you have time you could look after him." Prompto said.
"What if –"Lightning tried to say.
"You can call me. And he can't move so he's not going anywhere. I'm not sure if he can walk again and so because he broke his neck and he's paralyzed from neck down. He might be able to start to talk after a while, but he must first get used to that that his body won't respond all of his commands so it'll take some time. There still is a small change that he can heal completely. You can try to help him with that." Prompto said.
"He'd appreciate it a lot if you'd look after him, trust me." Prompto smiled. "If he goes into shock, look what the book says. Make sure that you wake him up if he faints, check his pulse now and then and if you don't feel it then use the defibrillator, it's really easy to use. Just do as I did and hit the red button." Prompto said.
"Okay, but is he okay otherwise? How dare you to leave him for me to take care of? What if I mess up and he dies?" Lightning asked concerned.
"Don't worry; he won't die just like that. His wound is just so huge that I can't really do anything right now; deep wounds take a long time to heal. You can't just stich them up." Prompto said. "I trust you."
"I'll tell a maid to buy a cellphone for you so you can call me. " Prompto said and took a pencil. "Do you mind?" Prompto asked.
"No, it's okay." Lightning said.
Prompto wrote his number on Lightning's hand. "Thanks." Prompto smiled. "You can call me if you need something else too." Prompto snickered.
"Shut up, it's not funny." Lightning said.
"Well, okay, I have to go now. I'll come back when I get from work. Bye!" Prompto left the room.
Ignis and Gladiolus left too.
"Where I've gotten myself into..." Lightning sighed.
Lightning went next to Noctis bed and checked his pulse.
His pulse was really weak but it was better than nothing.
Lightning started to walk around the room to have a look where all the stuff was. Lightning opened the fridge and in the fridge were huge amounts of blood plasma and infusion liquids. There was all kind of medicines in little bottles too.
"This is like a tiny infirmary" Lightning thought.
The room wasn't really big, there were few sofas and tables and few beds and pretty much all the medical tools which existed. Lightning was happy that this room wasn't dark and black. The room's walls were light mint green colored. It was one of Lightning's favorite colors.
Lightning sat down on a sofa and looked at Noctis.
Noctis was strapped into ventilator so he could get oxygen, Lightning couldn't believe that this had happened to him. At the morning he was completely fine and now he…was paralyzed. This was a life changing day for him. It would be horrible if he had to be strapped on machines the rest of his life. It must be horrible that you can feel, see and hear but you can't move or speak. He wouldn't have deserved this, it's unfair.
Lightning took her coat off. It was so hot in there; the heater was set on maximum so Noctis would stay warm. Lightning tried to relax but she had too much in mind. She was so concerned of Noctis; this was going to be a long day.
Lightning rose up to go to see him again, his eyes were still shut. He could be awake but he wouldn't be able to open his eyes. Lightning decided to leave him alone in case if he was sleeping.
Lightning went to the fridge and watched that what kind of medicines there were. Most of them were painkillers and such, but there were some other medicines too but Lightning wasn't sure what they were for.
"Maybe I should take a look at the book that Prompto gave me."
Lightning walked past Noctis but then she saw how he turned his head slightly.
Lightning went back to Noctis and she leaned little forward so that she could see him properly.
"Oh my god. Thank god that you're alive." Lightning smiled to him. She knew that it would feel stupid to speak to him like this when he couldn't answer. "Don't worry, you're completely okay, I look after you." Lightning said.
"I was so concerned. It was hard for me to want you fighting alone, but Prompto didn't let me go any closer. I'm sorry." Lightning stroke his cheek. "I wanted to help you:"
Noctis looked at Lightning, he was in agony but Lightning saw how hardly he just have wanted to smile, he had slight amount of happiness in his eyes. Lightning was confused how he could be happy; this might have been the worst day in his life, or one of them.
Lightning saw how Noctis tried to smile a little, his mouth corners moved slightly upwards.
"Wow that's amazing." Lightning said. "Prompto said that you'll be able to talk soon too. I'm sure that you're going to get your whole body under control too, it can take just some time."
Lightning smiled, she was so happy. "How are you feeling? Does it hurt a lot?" Lightning asked.
"Do you need painkillers? Try to smile again if you need." Lightning said.
His smiled, now he did it more noticeable than before.
"Okay, wait a second." Lightning went to the fridge and took one bottle of the painkiller liquid or so the label said. Lightning took a needle and came back to Noctis.
"Okay, this is in liquid form so I have to use needle. I'm not going to stick this through your throat, okay?" Lightning smiled and gave the painkillers to him. "Okay, we're done. You'll feel better soon." Lightning threw the bottle and needle into the trashcan.
"Try to smile and such so you can speak again too. You're doing so well. I'm going to stay here with you. I'll get the chair here so I can look after you if you need something." Lightning pulled the chair next to his bed and took the book which Prompto gave to her and started to read it.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Noctis felt horrible, the pain was still there, the wound he got felt like it was burning. The deepest spot in his wound was so close to his intestines that it felt like the wound would open a little more and he would be almost cut in half. What a horrible feeling, he didn't want to be moved to anywhere, just the thought of the wound opening made him to gag.
He felt a little better when he saw that Lightning was there with him so he wouldn't have to lay there all alone. He knew that she felt a little awkward when she talked to him and he couldn't answer anything. Noctis hoped that he would get his voice back soon; it would make things so much easier, he really wanted to talk to her. Noctis was happy to see that she didn't leave him alone; she came to see how he was doing even though the benemoth was so close to her, she wasn't afraid of it.
Noctis would have wanted her to touch him, her touch made him feel better. Nobody haven't touched him so carefully for a long time, the only human contact he had made was made by battering some random people. Noctis would have been so happy if she would pat his shoulder or anything. But he was happy that she came to sit next to him.
Noctis saw how uncomfortable she felt because it was so hot in the room, she was sweating a little, but it didn't ruin her looks at all, she was always so beautiful, no matter what. Noctis didn't know that that perfect people existed, he didn't understand that why Lightning wanted to be around with someone like him, he was socially awkward and Noctis was sure that he wasn't good looking because no girl were showing interest on him. Plus he wasn't manly at all; no girl would have wanted a man like him. Noctis felt little bad that he wasn't one of those smart and good-looking people, he had no changes, Lightning just stayed because she wanted to help him, after a while she'd leave when she'd 'finished' looking after him. There wasn't any kind of relationship between them.
She deserved so much better, he was unhappy that he wasn't good enough, but he couldn't help it.
Noctis admired Lightning how she didn't really seem to care of his clumsiness and the fact that how awkward he was. She still decided to stay; she would do anything for the sake of other person.
The painkillers started to kick in; they made him feel a lot better and relaxed. He sighed of the relief.
Lightning jumped off the chair. "What did you just say?!" Lightning smiled, she was so excited.
Noctis didn't realize that he had just made a really quiet voice.
"Try to say something, you can do it." Lightning smiled.
Noctis couldn't get any words out of his mouth, his body felt oddly numb.
Lightning went to the other end of his bed where his head was resting.
"Please, just make one sound, just one. Okay?" Lightning said and ran her fingers through his hair.
Lightning started to rub his head carefully and she stroked his hair.
"Doesn't it feel good?" Lightning smiled and looked into his eyes.
Noctis blushed; it felt so stupid that his body could do that, but nothing else.
Lightning slid his other hand carefully down his neck and she smiled. "Relax, it feels good right?"
Noctis closed his eyes and sighed, her calm voice and careful touch made him to relax; he hoped that she would touch his neck again; he didn't know that it would feel so good.
Noctis smiled and he managed to mumble something through the oxygen mask.
"Good boy." Lightning smiled and came back to sit next to him on the chair. "Keep talking, the more you do talk, the quicker you will get your voice back."
"I gotta change those infusion liquids and blood plasma bags for you now, don't watch if you don't like to see blood." Lightning smiled.
Lightning went to get the bags and changed them. "You need a lot of blood; you lost almost 35 % of your blood. It's huge amount. You should be dead now but Gladiolus said that you're too stubborn to die, he was right. I'm glad." Lightning smiled. "Prompto is so good medic, he saved your life."
"L-Lightning." Noctis managed to mumble trough his oxygen mask.
"Yes your highness?" Lightning leaned little forward to hear him better. "Do you need something?" Lightning asked and stroke his cheek.
"T-Thank you." Noctis said.
"S-Sorry, It's h-hard to –"Noctis mumbled
"I-It's hard to speak." Noctis kept saying. "When this machine is…"
"…Forcing the oxygen to go down to my lungs." Noctis finished.
"I understand. You don't have to speak if it hurts or if it's hard. I'll be here for you as long as I need to." Lightning said with joyful voice.
"I'm sorry. I'm causing…so much trouble." Noctis mumbled.
"Don't be sorry, you're not causing any trouble. I'm just concerned that how you're feeling. Is everything okay?" Lightning asked.
"The painkillers helped me a lot. Thanks." Noctis smiled.
"Do you need to rest? I can go to sit on the sofa." Lightning said.
"No, no, don't" Noctis tried to cough but the ventilator pushed the air back in immediately, he felt really uncomfortable. "I-I hate this machine. Do you know when I can get rid of it?" Noctis asked.
Noctis saw that Lightning's expression changed, she looked a little sad now.
"…Noctis, I don't know. Prompto didn't know either. You broke your neck so you're paralyzed from neck to down." Lightning said little sadly, she wouldn't have wanted to tell him that, if she felt this bad then he must have felt even worse.
"What?" Noctis looked at Lightning in disbelief.
"I'm sorry Noctis." Lightning said.
Noctis just stared at her, he would be attached to this machine for the rest of his life and he'd never walk again. His life was taken away from him. He didn't just want to lay in the bed for the rest of his life.
Lightning took his hand into hers. "All the hope isn't gone; you might be able to get your locomotion back. I'll help you, I haven't ever helped a paralyzed person to get his locomotion back, but I know some other techniques." Lightning stroke his hair. "Massaging might help, or then not. I've heard that it have helped, but it's pretty rare I guess, but miracles happen."
"So there's only a small change? Miracles may happen but I have so bad luck that I shouldn't even dream about it. Everyone else is going to continue their lives. I'll eventually end up here alone. I've always wanted to have a family, or someone to spend time with at least." Noctis' said in sorrow.
"You won't end up being alone, I promise. There is somebody for you too, we all have. Nobody will end up being alone." Lightning tried to comfort him.
"You can have family too, nobody said you can't." Lightning rubbed his head.
"But-"Noctis tried to say.
"What kind of family have you dreamed of?" Lightning asked with calm voice. "You can tell me, I won't tell to anybody."
"I-I..."
"You can tell me, I won't judge you. Just be yourself, you don't have to try to impress me or anything. I will listen to you. Don't hesitate to talk with me if you want. I'm happy to help you if you need help." Lightning smiled. "Go on."
"I-I've always wanted to have kids. I want to prove it to myself that I can raise my kids well and to be a good father even though my father treated me so badly." Noctis blushed of the embarrassment. "I'd be happy to have some other person by my side too. I want to be loved."
"I like kids, they are so open-minded, for example they don't judge by looks like adults do. Kids don't take life too seriously; everything is always going to be fine. I really admire that; we adults should learn that from them." Noctis said. "I'm little disappointed that my childhood ended too early, but that's better than nothing."
"Wow..." Lightning said.
"I'm honest, please don't laugh at me." Noctis said. "I have feelings too even if I sometimes act so coldly. I'd be so happy to have a girlfriend once at least, but everybody hates me here and I don't want to marry some random girl from another kingdom." Noctis sobbed.
"This is so embarrassing, I feel myself like a complete jerk." Noctis said.
"Hey don't be sad. Nobody hates you, don't worry, you'll find a nice girl." Lightning said.
"It's so funny that you can be so tough and intimidating guy but at the same time you're so sensitive and sweet." Lightning smiled. "It's great if you want kids, many guys at your age don't think like you...yet I guess, some never will." Lightning said.
"Thank you..." Noctis said quietly. "Why did you stay? Why didn't you go also when everyone else left?" Noctis asked.
"Someone has to look after you and Prompto had to go to work. I have no hurry to anywhere so I don't mind if I have to look after you. I was so concerned about you that I would have stayed anyway, I thought that you were going to die." Lightning said. "I'm also very aware that how does it feel if you're left completely alone so I always stay so the person can have some company. I've been left alone many times, it doesn't feel good."
"I admire you Lightning." Noctis said and blushed. "How can somebody leave you on your own? You're so nice."
"It's a long story." Lightning said. "How do you feel? Do you need something?" Lightning asked.
"I feel little nauseated, I don't know why. I felt like this at the morning too." Noctis said.
"I'm not sure if I have any medicine for that here." Lightning said.
"That's okay." Noctis said.
Lightning admired Noctis' upper body for a moment; even if the huge wound was going across his chest and stomach he still looked really good.
Noctis turned his head little to look at Lightning. "Is everything okay?" Noctis asked.
Lightning blushed. "Eh, I just- Just thought that if you would like to have a blanket or something to cover your upper body or are you okay like that?" Lightning asked.
Noctis smiled. "I'm okay, do you mind?"
"Not at all." Lightning thought.
"I'm okay." Lightning smiled a little. "I don't know if commoners are allowed to see you topless, but I can leave if you feel embarrassed. I understand." Lightning said, trying to hide the fact that she was actually really pleased to look at him.
"This actually is the first time when Ignis, Prompto and Gladiolus have seen me topless and now you have too. I'm not allowed to dress however I like; I'm not allowed to show this much skin to any people." Noctis smiled. "But I'm pretty sure that you won't take any pictures of me and put me on the cover of a magazine. I'm sorry that you have to see me like this."
Lightning blushed again. "Oh..." Lightning said. "Sorry I didn't know that the rules are that strict, I won't tell to anyone, sorry."
"It's okay." Noctis smiled. "Do you like it?" Noctis asked amused by her reaction.
"I ehm, umm..." Lightning stuttered she was hoped that he wouldn't ask that, he had seen how she looked at him.
"Don't worry. I won't tell to anybody." Noctis smiled. "I'll put a blanket on if you don't like what you're seeing; I can imagine how disgusting my chest looks like."
"Eh...You look very good." Lightning tried not to smile like an idiot. "I'm sorry that I'm acting like this, this is inappropriate your highness. I shouldn't be in the same room with you either, this is going off limits." Lightning said.
Noctis felt really happy that she liked the way he looked like, or so she said.
"I'm a normal man Lightning, I'm really happy to hear that you like it." Noctis smiled. "I actually feel quite good that you like it, I thought that women thought that I'm very ugly or something because I don't get any attention, I don't know if I'm ugly or something but I'm happy to hear a compliment from a woman." Noctis smiled "Thank you so much."
"Oh..." Lightning said really surprised. "Well, it's my pleasure." Lightning smiled.
"You can touch me if you want." Noctis smiled. "Don't be shy, I won't mind."
Lightning blushed. "Eh sorry? What?" Lightning asked confused.
"You can touch me if you want." Noctis said hoping that she would touch him.
"I'm the prince so what? It doesn't mean that I would be too good for you to touch or even look at, I'm a normal person. Go ahead if you want to." Noctis smiled.
Lightning was silent, she didn't know why was he behaving like that all of the sudden. She actually wanted to touch him, but she felt so embarrassed to admire and touch some random person, especially when the person was a prince.
"...I don't want to hurt you." Lightning whispered.
"You won't." Noctis said. "Go ahead." Noctis smiled.
Lightning looked at him and she hesitated but then she carefully touched Noctis' shoulder and she slid her hand along his chest and his abs which weren't damaged. Lightning touched his side also, admiring his body.
Noctis tried to keep his mouth shut to not to moan, he felt so special when a woman touched his body like that. Especially when the woman was Lightning. Noctis felt little embarrassed when he felt himself getting little turned on. Noctis blushed.
Lightning blushed too. "...That's impressing." Lightning said. "Sorry, I feel so embarrassed because I got so close to you. I'm not a royal or anything; I shouldn't be this close to you or to touch you."
"No, no, it's okay." Noctis smiled joyfully, he had forgotten the pain completely. "You don't have to be a royal; you can touch me if you want. I don't mind."
"Special rights for you only, okay?" Noctis smiled.
"I-I eh, okay." Lightning said embarrassed.
"You're in really good shape too." Noctis blushed.
"...Thanks...I guess." Lightning said. "Sorry, I just feel little embarrassed, because you're so important person here, you have the highest rank here, I probably have the lowest rank here, I don't even have a home or money. I feel like that I have to be humble, it's a great honor just to see you from so close distance." Lightning said. "I appreciate that a lot, I just feel like I'm not good enough to do these things, you can get better things, I'm sorry that I'm on your way."
Noctis was silent.
"Don't say that." Noctis said. "I feel horrible now."
"I'm sorry."
"Never ever look at my rank; you're as good as I am Lightning. You're-" Noctis blushed.
"Y-You're really important to me, your rank is just as high as mine is. It's a great honor for me to have you around. If people don't respect you then I make them to respect you, people will treat you like a princess when you're around me, how does that sound like?" Noctis smiled.
"Thanks, but I don't want you to force anyone to respect me. I'm really happy to be like this." Lightning said.
"Oh..." Noctis said surprised. "Are you sure? I'm not joking, I can make people to treat however you want them to treat you, I'll provide you everything you need."
"No, it's okay." Lightning sighed.
"Oh...okay." Noctis said puzzled. "Is it uneasy for you to be here? You're sweating."
"It's little warm, don't worry about it." Lightning smiled.
"You can switch those off if you want to. I'm not cold." Noctis said.
"Sorry, I cannot do that." Lightning said.
Noctis sighed. "Sorry." Noctis said. "And thank you."
"Huh?"
"I-I appreciate that you're keeping me company. I'm mostly alone." Noctis said. "I'm even happier because you're keeping me company." Noctis smiled.
"Alright." Lightning said.
"Are you okay?" Noctis asked. "Are you tired or something? You can go if you want I'm okay."
"Yes I am, let's try something..." Lightning said and pressed his palm and other parts of his hand. "Does this hurt?"
"No." Noctis answered.
"Your muscles are so relaxed, there's no tension in them at all." Lightning said.
"Is it bad?" Noctis asked.
"Only if it continues too long, then the muscles start to atrophy, but because you're in quite good shape I don't think that it will happen so quickly." Lightning said. "Try to close your fist."
"I can't Lightning, I'm trying but nothing happens. I don't know what to do." Noctis said. "Sorry."
"Keep trying, you'll get your locomotion back eventually." Lightning said to Noctis. "I can try to press and rub some places; the book says that it might help. Is that okay?" Lightning opened the book.
"Yes it is. I'm so happy that you're trying to help me." Noctis smiled.
Lightning lifted Noctis' arm up a little. "Tell me if it hurts." Lightning placed his hand back of the bed.
"I'm okay, thanks." Noctis said.
Lightning pressed the spot in middle of his palm and kept putting more pressure on the spot which he was pressing and she moved her other hand along his hand to his wrist.
Noctis gritted his teeth.
"Sorry." Lightning let go of his hand.
"I'm fine. It's nothing compared to the pain which I'm going through right now." Noctis said.
"I'll press that spot one more time, okay?" Lightning looked at Noctis.
"Okay." Noctis said.
Lightning pressed the spot in middle of his palm again.
"Okay, please let go, that hurts." Noctis said.
Lightning pressed as hard as she could.
Noctis moaned and his fist clenched.
Lightning smiled. "Look."
"That hurt." Noctis said and he turned his head a little to see Lightning.
"Your fist clenched." Lightning smiled. "Don't squeeze my hand so tightly." Lightning smiled.
Lightning saw the joy in his eyes but then it switched to embarrassment. "Sorry, sorry I didn't mean to." Noctis said and loosened his grip.
"Don't be sorry, you should be happy. Squeeze my hand." Lightning smiled.
"Huh?"
"Go ahead."
Noctis squeezed Lightning's hand carefully.
"Is that all you can do?" Lightning smiled.
"I'm not sure how tightly I can squeeze, but I don't want to hurt you, just in case if I'm back to normal." Noctis said.
"Alright."
"Again." Lightning said and placed her thumbs in the middle of his palm but she didn't press. Noctis' fist clenched.
"I didn't press it." Lightning said. "I knew you could do it." Lightning lifted his arm up a little so he could see.
Noctis stared at Lightning. "Wow..." Noctis said.
"Does this mean that –" Noctis tried to say.
"Yes. You'll recover, don't worry about it." Lightning said.
"Come little closer." Noctis smiled.
"Huh?" Lightning was little confused but she took a step forward.
Noctis grabbed her by her wrist and drew her little closer. "Can I have a hug? Please." Noctis asked.
"Umm, okay." Lightning said and hugged him.
It was a shame that Noctis couldn't smell how good she smelled like properly because the oxygen mask, but he still felt the warmth of his body. He felt really comfortable in her embrace, but at the same time he was little nervous that that was he acting properly, without trying too hard.
Noctis ran his fingers through her hair and sighed.
"Everything okay?"
"Yea..." Noctis smiled. "I just enjoy of this so much. I like to hug you, I feel so much manlier when I hug you too." Noctis said.
"You're so slender, you're so tiny." Noctis said.
"Eh, okay." Lightning said. "Can you let go of me?"
"Yes, wait." Noctis said.
"Do you like me? Be honest please, I'm afraid that you don't and you're there only because you have to." Noctis blushed.
Lightning patted his back. "I like you, alright?" Lightning sighed.
Noctis drew back and smiled. "I'm glad." Noctis said.
Noctis stroke her cheek and slid his hand along her neck for a short distance. "I-I'd like to-" Noctis blushed. "Sorry."
"What is it?" Lightning asked.
"Nothing, I forgot already." Noctis forced a smile on his face, he couldn't just say that he wanted to kiss her, she hardly even knew him. Noctis just could keep his thoughts in control, she was too beautiful.
Lightning smiled. "You're sometimes so weird." Lightning said.
"I know." Noctis mumbled smiling.
"Can you let go now? I'm little tired, I'd like to sit down." Lightning yawned.
"Oh, sorry." Noctis said and let go of her.
Lightning sat down and leaned little forward to cross her arms on the edge of Noctis' bed and then the laid her head on her arms.
"Sorry, I won't fall asleep; I'll just try to relax a little." Lightning said quietly.
Noctis stroke her hair. "You can go to sleep Lightning; I'm not in that bad condition that I would die right away if you wouldn't keep your eye on me." Noctis said.
"No, you can go to shock in any moment; your body is struggling to keep you alive. You heart might fail, I'm sorry to say it, but I don't want to risk your life." Lightning mumbled.
Noctis didn't say anything for a moment. "...I'm sorry. Can't you tell Ignis or Gladiolus to come here?" Noctis asked.
Noctis didn't want Lightning to leave, but he didn't want her to feel uncomfortable either. He didn't want Ignis, Gladiolus or Prompto to come to look after him; he was so embarrassed because he was so helpless. It was nice that Lightning took care of him, she wouldn't laugh at him. Even though he felt little himself little nervous and shy, he still enjoyed that she was there.
"They must be really busy." Lightning said. "Don't worry, I can sleep later."
Noctis looked at Lightning, he was little angry to himself because she had to go through this just because of him.
"Do you think that you could take a nap on that chair? You fit in it perfectly, the chairs are quite big here because they're designed for my sized guys, you're slender and small, just grab some pillows and blankets so I guess that it could be okay. What do you think?" Noctis smiled a little. "You can go to lay on the sofa too, but you don't have to be awake all the time right? If you're that close to me then I can wake you up if I need something, okay?"
Lightning eyed the chair, it indeed was quite big, maybe everything was little bigger here because Noctis was so tall and he had so...manly body build.
"That's okay I guess." Lightning said. "Do you need any painkillers or something else?"
"I'm okay." Noctis answered. "Make yourself comfortable; ask a maid to bring you hot chocolate or something if you want."
"...I'm okay." Lightning said and went to the cabinet and she grabbed some pillows and blankets. "I'll take a pillow for you too, do you need a blanket or do you think that it's too hot in here?" Lightning asked.
"I can take it so you can turn the heater down, so you'll be more comfortable too. I'll be okay." Noctis said.
"Tell me if you get cold." Lightning put the blanket on his and lifted his head to put the pillow under his head.
"Thanks. Please rest a little, I'll be fine." Noctis smiled.
"Thank you." Lightning stroked Noctis' hair and sat down on the chair.
"Sweet dreams." Noctis smiled.
"Try to rest so you'll get better." Lightning said.
"I will." Noctis smiled and sighed.