I'm back!
I just love cliffies... makes you guys all hate me. xD
Oh yeah, what I said about not being able to update... well, apparently it's working again! I must've broken the jinx when I told you guys about it. I still hate it though. =)
Let's get on with the show!
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Chapter Two
Noctis woke up a familiar place.
His eyes and pride stung terribly – he wasn't dead. His efforts to kill himself were futile and wasted. He wanted to hit something, to throw it at whoever brought him back, whatever brought him back. His eyes pricked, but he didn't cry. He lost the ability to cry a few days after she died.
Knock, knock. (No pun intended)
"Come in," Noctis sighed, and sat up in time to see his family enter the room. Narcissa and Aliana immediately bounded over to him and began to pepper him with questions which he brushed off with a curt, "I'm fine." He was more worried about what his parents would say of his behaviour in front of the Fleurets.
But what he got surprised him – his mother threw her arms around him and squeezed out what air was left in his lungs. His father helped his mother try to suffocate Noctis.
"Can't – breathe," Noctis gasped out.
Narcissa and Aliana tugged their parents off their brother, and Noctis massaged his ribs, glaring at his parents. He took deep breaths, then said, "So what's my punishment?"
Surprise flitted across each and every face around him. Noctis raised one eyebrow. "I embarrassed and dishonoured our name in front of Lord Fleuret, and then I ran away and tried to get myself killed, and I'm not going to be punished?" He looked incredibly incredulous.
"The way you say it, it sounds like you want to be punished, Noct," Aliana mumbled.
"I should be."
"You're too damn noble for your own good."
"Watch your mouth, Ana."
"Yes mother."
Noctis started to get out of bed (he noticed he was fully dressed, and thought it to be safe), but Narcissa pushed him down. He glowered at her. She was, however, used to his glares, so she didn't flinch like many others. She just grinned cheekily, causing his eyes to narrow further.
"We'll leave you here with the Fleurets for a bit," Trina said, kissing her son's cheek. Her hair tickled his cheek, and Noctis took comfort in the normality. "Your father and I need to get back for a meeting concerning the treaty of peace between Cocoon and our country, but we'll be right here at your side the moment it's finished."
Noctis nodded. He understood that his parents' duty to the country was more important than he was.
"Cissy and Ana will be here to keep you company though," Orien offered like it was a good thing. Noctis scowled. His little sisters were nice when they wanted to be, but the rest of the time they were pests.
"Be nice," Trina said sternly to her son. Noctis rearranged his features to something more neutral, and gave them a blank look they knew all too well. Cissy sighed in exasperation. "Don't worry Noct! Laris and Marcus will be here to keep you company too. You won't have to put up with our pestering ways all the time. We'll probably be with Aria, Stella, Zariana and Torina discussing the horrors of being the siblings of Mr. Grumpy." Noctis had to resist the urge to threaten his sister with his telekinetic powers.
"Narcissa..."
"Sorry Dad."
Noctis closed his eyes, and heaved a great sigh.
"What is it, Noct?" Trina immediately asked.
"I want to be alone." It was a subtle hint telling them that he was kicking them out, and they recognized it. They filed out, hugging and kissing him, and (in his dad's case) ruffling his already messy hair. He watched them go with dark blue eyes that hadn't turned yellow for a year, and lay back down to sleep.
--
-Stella-
She didn't know if she should visit him. The Prince.
Stella now played with the hem of her skirt, her thoughts far away. She didn't notice when a single thread of her skirt peeled away from the rest and tangled into her fingers.
I should go see how he is. As a friend, a shoulder to cry on. Then, when he's ready, we will... Just the mere thought of it made her shiver in delight.
She stood, and slipped out her door, into the silent hallway, heading for the chamber which held the young, broken Prince she loved.
--
Stella could hear voices before she opened the door. She strained to listen.
One voice, quiet, careful, and monotonous, was clearly Noctis' voice, and the other - Stella felt shocked and furious to admit – was Aria's! That lousy, slutty, no-good...
"How are you feeling, Noctis, love?"
She could practically feel the Prince flinch through the door.
"Don't call me love."
"Why not?"
"Because we aren't in love." His tone was hard, and made it obvious he wanted nothing to do with Aria. Stella felt a surge of triumph. Yes! Go Noctis! Stella cheered silently.
"But we're going to be married!"
"If memory serves, I have chosen no one." He was actually quite rude, but courteous at the same time, and he was very firm in what he wanted. Stella liked him more and more with every word. She could feel that they would get along with each other very well.
"You will choose me." Aria was confident, Stella knew, that the prince would choose her over her sisters. "I heard of your... loss, but with me, you can forget her. Forget Larielle."
Noctis' next words came from the heart, "I'll never forget her!" His voice ripped through the air angrily, stubbornly. Anyone could hear the pain behind his words, and Stella cursed Aria for being so tactless for bringing up this girl in front of him. And to tell him to forget her! To forget whom one loved was hard, Stella knew since the day she fell in love with the Prince. Her fists clenched when she remembered Aria saying the same words to her.
"Forget it," she'd said. "He'll never choose you as long as I'm here."
Stella had tried, but failed.
"I'm not like her, so you don't have to be pained around me."
"You're right. You're nothing like her!"
"But I can make you love me."
For a moment, Stella actually thought Noctis was going to kill her sister, and was about to intervene (no matter how badly Aria behaved, she was still her sister...) when Noctis said in a low, furious voice, "Get out. Do it now, before I reduce you to ashes."
The only reply from Aria was her hurried footsteps heading Stella's way.
Stella pressed herself against the wall as the door flew open and Aria fled to her room.
She then peeked around the corner to see Noctis sit down on the bed, covering his eyes. He was trembling.
Stella took a careful step forwards, and Noctis' head shot up and he gazed straight at her. Stella's eyes widened because she was sure she hadn't made a sound. She swallowed as he sighed wearily. "Another one..." His voice held all the disgust of her sister. Stella immediately backed down.
"If you want me to go, I can..."
"I don't care what you do."
Stella dithered by the doorway as Noctis stared at his hands.
Then, finally, "If you want to stay, you might as well take a seat."
Stella crossed over to a chair, and sat down nervously, feeling like she was in a competition and was waiting for her results. Noctis took a deep breath and swallowed. "Your sister... is she always like that?"
"Yes."
Noctis nodded, but didn't say anything more. His fingers were clenched, and Stella spied a hint of gold in his fist. "What's that?" she asked, then wished she hadn't when Noctis stared at her with his unfathomable eyes.
Then, he heaved a sigh. "Something that calms me down when I'm angry."
"Does it have a spell or something?"
"No. It just used to be... hers." He forced the final word out, and Stella winced.
"I'm really sorry."
"It's not your fault. It's mine."
Sounds like he was blaming himself for something that couldn't be controlled. Stella wanted to hear his reasons for beating himself up this way. "How so?" she queried. "If I may ask," she added quickly in case he thought she was trying to pry into his personal life. Which she was.
He didn't answer for a moment, and Stella considered getting up and leaving when he suddenly said, "I should've been faster. I could've saved her if I had been faster. I ignored the signs, ignored her – she was upset. I think... I wish..." he broke off, and his knuckles turned white as his hands tightened over whatever it was in his fist.
A drop of blood fell to the floor.
Stella felt helpless. "I'm sorry," she told him.
He continued as though he hadn't heard her. "I wish I told her... that I was sorry... that I... that I..." he swallowed, and seemed unable to continue. He dropped his mask, and Stella truly saw the terrible pain etched into his young face. His eyes seemed to burn with fury, fear, and sorrow. She wanted to hold him until his pain went away...
Then, she spoke, "If there's anything I can do to help... anything at all, please, let me know."
She stood, and started for the door. As she slipped out into the hallway, she heard him whisper, "Thank you. Stella."
A smile spread across her face.
One day, I can make you love me.
She was sure of that.
-fin-
Phew! I'm done!
Oh, I've created a blog (it's really crappy because I just started it) and I want to post some of our fanfics into it with your permission, so tell me if you want strangers to read your lovely stories!
Thanks for everyone who reviewed, and those who haven't too! Because I know you all took the time to read this...
I love you all!!!!
Lotsa LURVE!!!
~!Dawni~
Just because it's the end doesn't mean that you can stop reviewing!