Chapter Four

Noctis was livid. He wouldn't even talk to Ignis or Gladio. He stormed off and spent most of the day sitting up by the lighthouse in Caem, looking out over the sea, thinking about Sola. He couldn't believe they had taken him from her, couldn't believe they'd had the audacity to drug him. They were supposed to be his confidants, people he could trust more than anything. The only one he could trust was the one he'd chosen himself. He sulked and kept up with the text chain back and forth with Prompto.

No change with Sola. Still nothing. Noctis was getting worried. More than worried. What if she didn't make it? What if he wasn't there when she -? He couldn't think like that. He shook his head. He was stuck here. He refused to leave Caem. Neither Cor nor Ignis nor even Gladio could make him. He would be here, waiting for her.

The bed was soft and inviting. But her body hurt everywhere despite this. She couldn't seem to open her eyes either. She felt much like she'd been run over by a behemoth and thrown against a rock again and again. She couldn't move except twitch her fingers.

"Sola?!"

She knew that voice. It was higher pitched than the one she was expecting. Prompto. She groaned slightly.

"Oh, my gods, Sola! You're awake!" Prompto exclaimed. "Hold on, let me text Noctis the great news!"

Text him? Solaris was bewildered at that. Why text him? Wasn't he right here?

A phone rang a few seconds later and Sola winced. She groaned again.

"I know! She's awake! She's out of it, but she's actually awake!"

Suddenly there was another presence in the room beside her. She hoped it was Noctis. Wanted it to be Noctis. She needed him. She needed to know he was alright. The last thing she remembered –

"Can you hear me, Solaris?" Dustin's voice asked her.

Dustin? What the hell was he doing here?

She groaned again as he shined a penlight in her eyes, but found she could slowly open and close her eyes now, blinking away the harsh light.

He felt hands lightly on her back and it lit up with pain. She gasped and tears began to pool in her eyes.

She wanted to here Noct's voice. Where was he? Was he okay?

"N-noct," she formed the name slowly, but got it out.

"He's alright," Dustin said. "You saved his life. He's alright."

Relief flooded through her and she slumped into the bed, finally relaxing.

"Hey, Sola," Prompto said. "Noct's on the phone. He says he's so proud of you. Aaaaand he wants to kill you for pulling a stunt like that. But seriously, you were badass."

Prompto stopped talking, as if something distracted him. He suddenly laughed making Sola jump, then regret it with her full being.

"I know," Prompto spoke. "I'm calling Cindy right now. As soon as Dustin gives the all clear we're heading straight to you –"

The next morning, they entourage of Sola, Dustin, Prompto, and Cindy arrived in Cindy's old beat up pick-up truck. Solaris was resting in the back of the truck bed, laid out on her stomach with lots of pillows and blankets cushioning her. But the ride was still rough. Especially where the road was less than ideal. It was – painful. Excruciating really. But the thought of seeing Noctis soon bore her through with gritted teeth and cries of pain.

Prompto sat in the back with her, holding her hand, Dustin on the other side keeping an eye on Sola. Prompto was so excited, but it was definitely hindered by the way Sola felt. He could tell in her eyes and constant stream of tears that this was more than rough on her.

As soon as they arrived, Prompto could see Noctis sprinting down the hill toward them, his eyes alight and a huge smile on his face.

Prompto couldn't help but smile at the giddiness of his best friend.

"Aww, Sola, Noct's coming to meet us!" Prompto looked down at her. Sola moved her arm slowly to wipe away some of her tears, sniffing loudly.

"How do I look?" She asked, then laughed at her own question. "Never mind, I don't want to know."

"Like the badass you are!" Prompto answered her anyway. "Like you just got through saving your boyfriend's life and rocking the 'just rode down a dusty road to my love' look."

Sola giggled then moaned. "Don't – stop making me laugh."

"Sola! Sola!" Noctis called, running up to the truck and immediately putting down the tail gate and climbing in to crawl up next to her. "I'm here!" He put his forehead on Sola's and looked at her, his hand finding hers and squeezing. "I'm so, so sorry I left you. I'm never doing that again. I'll never leave you." He started to kiss her forehead over and over, then down to her cheeks, as if not believing she was real.

"You didn't leave me," Sola said. "I heard what happened. Prompto told me."

"Still, I –" He stopped. "I'll never forgive them."

"You better," Sola said quietly. "Had to – keep you safe. Otherwise, I did – all this – for nothing." Her back was beginning to burn steadily in increasing wavelengths. She couldn't wait for Dustin to give her those drugs he'd promised.

Noctis kissed her on the lips, gently but firmly. "I still, never ever want to go through that again. Don't ever do that again, do you hear me?"

"Then stay out of the mech's way and let us handle it," Sola smiled, closing her eyes. She was exhausted. She felt like she'd run a marathon and then another with fire blazing on her back.

"Get some sleep, Sola," Noctis said gently, kissing her fingers now. "I'll be right here next to you when you wake up."

Sola drifted off as they began to move her from the truck to the house, Noctis' hand never leaving hers, and was there when Sola woke up hours later, just as he'd promised.