The city lights were gorgeous from that height, they always had been… yet, it never compared to the beauty of the stars… she looked at the sky, the wall still enabled the night sky, but the city pollution made it impossible to see anything… Selene sighed and jumped from her spot, her feet landing on the balcony without a sound. She opened the door to the balcony, obviously it was unlocked. As she peered inside, she couldn't help but smile.
Inside were four men, all sleeping on the couch, several boxes filled and half-filled, clothes, books, mangas, documents, games and other things, were scattered across the floor… She tip-toed among the many objects until she reached the box with what she'd recognized as Noctis blankets. Selene grabbed a few, silently and gently she placed them on the sleeping men.
When she was finished, she looked at the prince, who slept soundly, his head leaning against the couch while his body remained on the floor… She stared for a moment, moving a strand of his growing hair away from his face. She wondered for a moment if he was trying to imitate his father, with letting it grow… but the thought quickly dissipated as she caught eye of the injury in his hand.
She blinked confused and kneeled to look better. 'Where did he get injured?' She thought. 'Maybe… training?' she looked at the other three men, confused to why none had used a potion to heal the injury. She sighed and prepared to reach for a vial, when she stopped… a golden butterfly floated into the room.
Selene froze when she saw the insect, she looked at it, not with hatred, but annoyance, it was like it was warning her of something she already knew. She reached for her backpack and pulled out the book she had been given for delivery, and placed it on the table, in front of the prince.
When she was finished, she returned to the balcony, the butterfly followed her and landed on her shoulder, she eyed it for a moment before she returned her gaze back to the sky.
"Tick-tock…" She mumbled to none.
Year ME 756, 16th of May, Departure
She looked from her spot as the king blessed his son and his friends on their departure.
Noctis bowed his head, thanked his father and turned around surprising his friends, they all had expected the prince to be more... cordial with his majesty, but Noctis was the same as always. As he approached her the prince stopped and their eyes locked, for a moment he opened his lips, but stopped himself, before he moved on towards the car. 'What was that about?' She wondered.
As they walked past her, Ignis and Gladiolus shrugged, before they too headed towards the car. Prompto gave her a sheepish smile as he rushed after them. She coulnd't help but wonder how they all sucked at hidding their emotions, it was obvious that some way or another they must have figured out what had happened between her and the prince…
Selene approached the King as his gaze remained on his son, he sighed.
"He can be quite the insensitive prick, can't he?" She said casually, without regards to Noctis stature or the King's.
King Regis smiled at her and walked, with difficulty towards her. "He has a right too..." He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, there seemed to be a knowing light in them. He brought her into a hug, which surprised the girl. "Selene… look after him, and one more thing…" He whispered the rest of the words in her ear.
Selene tensed and clenched her jaw as the king released her and went after his son. She didn't look as father and son said their goodbyes, she pressed her lips into a thin line and bawled her hands into fists. 'Why? Why would you say that to me?'
As a Guardian her place should have been next to Regis to protect the king, when the invoys came, but instead, he asked her to escort the Prince and...
"Selene." A hand landed on her shoulders, and she looked at Regis pure blue eyes. "I'm counting on you."
Selene glanced to Noctis and the others, who were waiting for her, she shook her head and looked at him.
"Your majesty, I, it's better if I-"
The King squeezed her shoulder and smiled. "Take care of him, Selene." She bit her lower lip and lowered her head.
"Yes, your majesty…" She began her descent down the stairs. Her heart drumming in her chest, this was wrong, it was wrong, she shouldn't go, she should stay! As she reached the end of the stairs her maddening thoughts stopped. She looked at the four friends who were discussing who would drive and who would sit where.
Selene stared back at the King for a moment, his gaze on his son, his posture tired as he placed all his weight on the cane, Ignis uncle but a few steps away, waiting in case he was needed.
"So, who goes shotgun?" Prompto asked with a smile as his eyes glinted towards the front seat next to Ignis, who was already sitting on the drivers seat.
"I believe that is fairly easy." Ignis stated as he stared at the only lady in the group.
Prompto's shoulders visibly slagged as he released a deep sigh and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I guess you're right Ignis. After you Selene." He quickly recovered as he opened the front doors seat for her.
The woman smiled at the happy boy and entered the seat, she sat and retrieved the manual, as Ignis asked her to check some things, while the other 3 cramped up on the back.
"Gladio, move!" Noctis complained as he was squashed against the big man, who, for some reason decided to stay in the middle.
"Stop whining."
"I can't breathe, come along whine!"
Selene looked back, her gaze fell on the giant man. "Do you want to trade with me, Gladiolus?"
The prince looked at Selene with hopeful eyes, before the bigger man smiled and shook his hand and head. "Nah! don't worry Selene, we can take it." He laced his arms over the necks of the other two and gave them a squeeze. "Right, boys?"
"Y-Yeah, we're alright," Prompto said as he tried to push the big man away.
"No problem." Noctis said dryly as he simply gave up as the man tightened the grip.
Selene stared at their forced expressions but said nothing. After they were finished with Ignis aqauinting himself with the Regalia, he started the ignition and the five were off.
The king stared at his son and smiled as he drove away, "Stand proud, my son..."
She watched the image of Regis grew further away as they rode to the outside of the city's wall... She was a Guardian, even if the King had asked her to escort Noctis to the port, she'd planned to return to Insomnia. It just didn't feel right to leave him alone, especially since they had no certainty or knowledge on what the Empire was planning… but, the words he'd whispered to her...
"I know you love Noctis, Selene…" He'd whispered in her ear, surprising her. "You've always been like my own child, ever since I brought you in… I wish, that in another world or time the two of you could be together… perhaps that opportunity will still rise, nevertheless my next words to you are not a request, and I know they are cruel, especially to you…" She frowned confused at his words and tried to look the king in the eyes, however, his grip on her remained the same. "Selene… this is an Order; you are not allowed to leave Noctis and return to Insomnia, no matter what."
Why? Why go to that length? After so many years… why follow the scenario, the gods laid down for him? She felt something rise inside her, it swirled and tangled itself with other emotions she was feeling... Selene clenched her hands. Maybe… maybe she should...
"Hey, look! Were going past the the wall!" Prompto shouted excitedly as he took out his camera and took pictures. Selene stared at the wall and glanced back, that heaviness in her heart didn't leave her, that strange sensation that screamed over and over again 'This is wrong...'
He frowned as Ravus walked along the corridors, the Commander sighed and glared at him. "I told you, if you have something to say, do it now!" He said annoyed as he continued on his path.
"If I have something to say? Oh, I have a LOT to say, let's start with: Are you out of your mind!? Do you really think this is worth risking her life for!?"
Ravus stopped and glared at his assistant and friend. "Lunafreya is in no risk! She will be protected at all costs!"
The Guardian bllinked as he stared at him in outer shock. 'Is he kidding? Or is he pretending to be naive??' He voice his thoughts and even before the prince answered, he knew Ravus was pissed off by them, he didn't care as he continued. "Luna is the Oracle! She is engaged with Noctis, whom she has been close with since she was a kind! Ravus, come on! The Empire doens't care! They just want to kill the Lucii and get the Crystal!"
Ravus moved quickled as he shoved Sirius against the wall, his gaze on the soldiers that passed by the spot they were. He glared at Sirius furious. "Have you lost your mind?"
Sirius shurgged. "I can handle a few tincans. You didn't answer my question."
The Tenebream prince glanced back and sighed as he rolled his eyes at his friend, before saying through his teeth. "Why do you think I have you for?!"
"Are you kidding me?" Sirius blinked, and this time he decided to shove the prince as well, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Ravus, I'm a freaking Guardian! I have other orders, we are not to interfere in the matter of the Treaty! I can't go against the Grandmaster's orders!"
"You've always been terrible at following MY orders! I don't see why you can't do the same here!" He turned around as he headed towards the plane.
"I am BOUND, RAVUS!" He tried to go after him, but before he could, his gaze caught sight of Ardyn and he stopped. The chancellor looked at him with cold eyes and smiled, as he placed his hat on his head. The plane took off. "Damn it!" Sirius cursed as he reached for his phone. "For once in your life, will you PLEASE rememebr the damn burner, Selene!"
Selene sat at the wheel, her head leaning against her hand while she silently listened to the soft radio as she guided the car the boys were pushing.
Gladio and Ignis insisted she remained in the car and did nothing while they pushed the broken Regalia down the road. She glanced at the watch on her wrist and counted. 'Should be about now...' She thought and suddenly the car stopped moving.
Noctis sighed as he leaned against the driver's seat door, panting loudly while the others, also, fell to the tar.
She leaned against the window and looked down at him.
"Want some water?" She asked both to the prince and the other guys. Noctis looked up towards her and grunted a yes. "You guys?"
"YES~ please..." Prompto shouted, as she could only see his hands waving in the air.
"If you would be so kind, Selene." Ignis pushed himself straight and pulled his glasses upwards.
"I'm good," Gladio said as he crossed his muscled arms over his chiseled chest.
"Stop being a show-off!" Noctis said annoyed as he threw a glare to his friend, that remained on the back of the car with Ignis. "That doesn't work on Selene!"
"Says who?" Gladio teased as he smirked and sent a wink towards Selene.
The woman ignored the following yapping as she reached for her travelling bag and pulled out four water bottles. She glanced towards the boys as they fought and keeping her eyes on them, she gripped the bottles, a cooling air passed from her hands to the water, she smirked, being a Guardian had its perks, she couldn't use her abilities just for fighting.
Selene turned back to the place Noctis sat, shouting at his Shield, with a smirk she pressed the cold bottle against his cheeks, the boy yelped and jumped at the sensation. "Here you go." She said with a smile. His blue eyes stopped on her and on the water, before taking it and thanking her silently, she said nothing when he purposedly brushed their hands together as she quickly turned to the others.
Selene threw the bottles to Ignis and Gladio and jumped to the other seat to hand it down to Prompto, who laid on the ground and gave her a happy smile.
"Thanks, Selene!"
As the boys drank the water she sat back at the wheel and stared at the sky, while listening to the radio. She reached for her phone and checked to see if she had any new messages, but just as it had happened on the recent days, she had no answer from Sirius. She checked the hours and sighed. 'The Signing… is supposed to be in a few days… will Sirius come with them as well?'
After quenching his thirst, Ignis walked toward Noctis, who was leaning against the driver's seat and looked at Selene. "Well, we better give it another go. Selene, if you please."
She nodded at him and waited for the boys to step away from the Regalia, as she reached for the ignition key and gave it a turn. The motor purred but it soon went dead, she tried again, but like someone with a coughing fit, the motor sounded briefly before going silent again.
Selene looked back at Ignis. "No, go."
The boys sighed, with Noctis throwing himself to the dark tar.
Gladio rubbed his neck and cracked it, his gaze shifting to the sky for a moment before he walked towards the prince. "Well, I guess it's back to pushing..." He said as he kicked Noctis boot with his own.
Noctis and Prompto grunted but got up, nevertheless...
The prince placed his hands on the driver's seats door and the mirror, Prompto taking the other side, while Ignis and Gladio returned to the back to push.
"Well, now, everyone… PUSH!"
Selene leaned against the seat and looked at the clouds above, while she listened to their complaints and grumbling. As their fighting grew Selene turned the sound of the radio up, because she liked the song and because they were starting to annoy her.
When they reached Hammerhead the four boys were tired, to their bones.
Selene jumped out of the car and quickly walked towards the beautiful short haired blond who smiled at her sight.
"Hey, there hun, how've you been?" The two women hugged and when she parted Selene answered back.
"Hi, Cindy. Good, the King asked me to babysit the Prince and his friends."
The blond, oil-covered woman raised an eyebrow and looked at the boys next to the Regalia. "And which one of you boys is the prince?"
Noctis raised from the ground and waved at her, not bothering speaking or moving from the floor.
Cindy smiled happily and walked his way. "Nice to meet you, Prince. Congrats on the marriage."
Noctis seemed troubled by her words as he quickly tried to refute them. "No... I'm… not married." His gaze fell on Selene who refrained from looking at him and pretended she hadn't heard a thing.
"Well, so you're Lady Lunafreya's marriage partner." Cindy mentioned as she walked around him. Noctis sat up looking at the girl a bit unnerved, he didn't like the way she looked at him with a critical eye. When Cindy was satisfied, with whatever she was looking at, she stared at Selene her thumb pointed at him, a smirk in her lips. "Is she okay with this?"
Noctis was extremely offended at those words, his gaze falling on Selene, waiting for her to refute, but to his shock Selene simply laughed.
"She said she had no choice."
"Hey!"
"Well, if you say so..." Cindy shrugged and began looking at the Regalia with the eyes of an expert. "Hmm…"
"Sorry, we were late." Ignis stepped forward. "We had a little problem on our way here…"
Cindy laughed at him as she looked at the wheels of the car. "Gramps, tired of waiting, so be careful."
"And you are?" Gladio said as he smiled her way.
"Cindy, Cid's oil-greased granddaughter." She said proudly as she looked at them.
Gladiolus was about to say something in return when an old man walked in with a sour expression on his face.
"Hurry up and get her inside!" He shouted to them as he examined the Regalia and then glared at the Prince. "Didn't your father tell you to treat her well? She's a delicate lady." He said as he rubbed his hand over the chassis.
After a few more insults Cid looked at Selene with a frown and what appeared to be a tug smile.
"You better not drive her like you drive that motorbike of yours..."
"How rude, there's nothing wrong with my driving skills." Selene crossed her arms over her chest as she refuted the old man.
"Last time you brought her in, there were bullet holes in the armor." Cid complained as he glared at her. This brought a frown upon Noctis face as he looked at Selene accusingly.
"That tends to happen when Magitek shoots at you, while you're running from them." Selene said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"And the claw marks?" Cindy butted in with a smirk, receiving a glare from Selene.
"Claw marks?" Noctis clenched his hand, as he looked at Selene.
"Cindy!"
"What?"
She sighed and looked at the two and pressed her hand against her temple. "I fought a couple Daemons, nothing much."
Cindy prepared to say something but shut her mouth, when she saw the look Selene gave her.
Selene and the Prince eyed each other for a moment, and she was certain that she would hear from Noctis when they were alone.
The old mechanic hummed and waved his hand in the air. "And where is your baby? I thought you would bring her along."
Selene shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Sadly, I ran into a few troubles a year ago, Baby took most of the hits."
"Then what was that bike, you brought to the Citadel?" Ignis pointed out.
"I stole that from Ravus." She said with a smirk.
"Hmph! With the way you drove it, she must have been happy to go."
"Hey!" And with that final insult, the old man walked back into his garage, laughing.
"I swear, one of these days I'm going to murder your grandfather, Cindy!" Selene complained while Cindy laughed.
"Relax, between you an' me pops, knew about you crushing the bike, so he started making a new one. This one, with the proper specs, could even fly. She's in the garage if you ever need it." She said as she dangled a key in front of her eyes.
Selene stared shocked at the key that dangled before her eyes, she smiled brightly and jumped to hug Cindy. "Cindy, I love you! Marry me!"
"Ahahaha! Sorry girl, you're not my type."
They decided to take some break and indulge themselves on Taka's meals, at least, until they got news on the repairs for the Regalia.
As the boys talked with Taka and discussed the menu, Selene walked out. She reached for her phone and dialed the Guardians information network.
"This is number 0713 codename Ageha, what is the current information on the Treaty?"
She waited for the network to compile all the information before she received a message. But as she had expected and disdained, she received poor intel, nothing more than the schedule… She gripped the phone and tried calling Sirius, but he didn't answer. "Damn it! What the hell is he doing?!"
"What are you doing?"
Selene jumped at the sudden voice and turned to see Noctis looking at her, with narrowed eyes.
"Trying to get hold of Sirius." She told him the truth, no use in lying right now.
"I guess you didn't succeed."
"No." She mumbled as she placed her phone back in her pocket. "I'll try again later." She walked past him but before she could take another step Noctis took hold of her wrist.
"Why didn't you tell me about it?" He asked.
"It wasn't a big deal." She answered back, her gaze on her feet.
"Were you hurt?"
"No."
"You're lying!" He said as he pulled on her.
"So, what if I am? I'm a Guardian!" She said the last part in hushed tones. "I get hurt Noctis, like any other warrior!"
"I'm not angry that you got hurt, I'm worried, that's a given, but I'm mad that you didn't tell me!"
She looked at him, eyes narrowed but looking directly into his blue eyes. "Why should I? You'll just worry, and I'm just your friend, more than anything I'm a Guardian."
"I'll ALWAYS worry about YOU!" He announced as he held her another arm and gave her a soft shake. "I care about you Selene! I don't want you to get hurt! I want to keep you safe! And don't say you're just a friend, when you and I both know you're more than that!"
She flinched at his words and looked away. "I thought we'd discussed this already… I thought you understood back in the city..."
He clenched his jaw and reached towards her chin, forcing her to look at him. Those wonderful golden eyes met his, as he wanted to be clear with what he was about to say.
"I never agreed to anything, you were the one who broke it off."
"We didn't 'break it off'! Noct, we never started." She complained to him as she looked at him.
"I love you, Selene!" He saw how her breath itched and she froze before him. He had to say it, at least once, even if she didn't want to hear it, even if she wished to ignore him, he didn't care. "I want to be with you!"
"What about Luna? What about the people who've dreamt with this marriage since you were born, what about-"
"What about us? What about you and me?" Noctis looked into her eyes and placed his hand on her cheek. "What about how we FEEL for each other?"
She avoided his gaze, avoided those beautiful blue eyes she loved so much and rested her forehead against his chest.
"They're..." She gulped, having difficulty vocalizing the words... "Irrelevant, when in comparison to the entire world and... because the King of Light must be with the Oracle..."
He didn't like that answer, it was so seemingly similar to the one she gave previously when they were in the city. Noctis pulled her closer and kissed the top of her hair and whispered in her ear. "I'm not giving up." She shivered at the seriousness of his voice. "I'll keep trying Selene... when we are alone."
He passed a hand over her waist and the curve of her back, Noctis smiled when he heard her take in a breath. He pulled her chin upwards looking into her eyes and kissed her, a short and brief kiss, he didn't want to push her. Noctis broke the kiss and rested his forehead on hers. "Until you accept, that I love you and you me."
She flinched at the words again, her heart drumming in her chest, she gripped his shirt and bit her lower lip. She hated him. She hated everything about him, his stupid hair, his eyes… the way he looked when he slept, the way he cared about his friends, how gentle he could be, even when she was being impossible… she hated him, just as much as she loved him... more than anyone else, she loved him...
Selene pushed him away and she didn't look up. Noctis sighed, he placed one final kiss on her cheek before he walked towards the dinner. as he entered trough the door she stole a glance of him, her heart aching and wishing it could reach for him, to stop him, and tell him the truth. 'I can't... Get a hold of yourself.' She was a Guardian. They were protectors, watchers and guardians of the Oracle and King of Light. It couldn't be. 'And he's marrying Luna…' Suddenly depression took hold of her, and Selene looked back at the ground, she had these thoughts before, she debated with herself, tried to justify her feelings, but it always came down to the same answer, 'He's the King of Light, Luna loves him and…' She held herself. 'I'm an Ariadust…'
AN: Well, well, I guess we are finally in game! Welcome my friends, from this moment on we shall follow, mostly, how the game developed. Of course, with my own twist and with my own OC's in the mix to make things much more fun!
I do want to state, once more, that I don't won anything related to the FFXV game, this fanfiction is an enjoyement for myself and for the others who are also reading it.
Also, I want to apologize on the irregular update time... I work, so sometimes all I wish to do is lay back and do nothing. I promise, I WILL finish the story! Well, that's enough of me, I hope you enjoyed it, forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes, english is not my first language... Tootles!
