Year M.E. 750 December
She looked at the building before them and tilted her head to the side, a smirk surging in her expression.
"Your dad didn't buy the entire building… did he?"
Noctis shrugged his shoulders and looked at Ignis who stood next to them. The older boy cleared his throat and stood rigid as he stared at the building.
"If you are implying if his majesty expelled the other tenants, then the answer is no."
She leaned in closer to Noctis. "So, in other words, yes, he bought the building." She whispered. The prince repressed a chuckle, but he didn't stop the smile that lingered on his lips.
Ignis threw them a look but other than that said nothing as he continued to guide them to the entrance.
"Your apartment is on the 28th floor." He continued with the tour. "Now this is the passcode, and keys." Ignis exemplified the use of the code and key to the two of them. "The elevator also needs a special code to access your floor."
Noctis vaguely listened, while Selene simply nodded, not really interested, considering she could probably enter the apartment without any of that. "Since you'll be in high school next year, the apartment is relatively close to the school. You'll have to learn how to clean and cook by yourself Noctis, the garbage days are…"
Ignis went on, about responsibilities and the need to take care of your own health as well as living independently but never forgetting Noct was royalty.
She stared at him with a stoic expression and then looked at Noctis who was, clearly, not listening. She sighed. 'I bet Ravus silver hair that Ignis will be the one to do all the chores.' She thought to herself. As the elevator reached the designated floor the three walked to the apartment's door and entered.
It was a regular apartment… A genkan, where they removed their shoes, the floor was made of dark soft wood and just to the left of the genkan was a bedroom and the service bathroom.
Selene looked inside the room, it was a small and modest room, compared to the ones in the Citadel. A bed beneath the window, at its foot a bookcase with an integrated desk and a closet at its head, in the other side of the room was a bean bag and a tv. It was a perfect room for a student.
As they moved further into the hall, at the end it was another door, and corridor.
"This is the living, there's an extra room there," He said as he pointed at the corridor. "And the bathroom." Selene looked at the two doors and followed the older teen into the living room that was open space with the kitchen with an isle counter.
While Noctis quickly walked towards the L shaped sofa, throwing himself onto it, Ignis eyed the kitchen, the utensils, the washing machine, the isle counter and he nodded pleased.
Selene kept her exploration. Before the isle counter was a simple white table with four seats, and next to it a closet for and pantry for further storage.
In front of the sofa was a major bookshelf that occupied the entire wall and where the TV was integrated.
Her eyes shifted to the balcony, she opened the sliding door allowing the wind to flow in, the balcony covered the entire corner of the building and it made contact with the other room as well, before it stopped, where the other apartment started.
"Looks fine to me." She said as she felt the breeze in her hair, and looked down at the ground, calculating the distance and how long it would take if she jumped down/climb up. "Great view too." She mentioned as she saw the sunset. She walked back inside and eyed Noctis who was reaching for the remote to turn on the TV, she pointed at him and stared at Ignis. "Are you sure it's safe to leave HIM, ALONE in a house that has access to fire?"
"Hey!" The prince protested as he glared at her.
"His majesty said it would be a good experience to have. It would allow him to understand the people more, when Noctis is King."
Selene blinked and looked back at the prince, before sighing and shaking her head. "So… is there an emergency plan? Where's the evacuation manual?"
"I've already told the security team, I also proposed a cleaning service. But the kind disagreed…"
"Is he trying to teach him a lesson, or is he trying to get his son killed in a fire?"
"Selene!" The prince rose from his seat and pointed at her, he was about to say something when he heard Ignis hum.
Ignis, mused over her words as he looked at his prince. "Hm, you're right… I'll try come on a regular basis."
"If you don't, we're doomed, the kingdom is doomed, all is lost." She said dramatically, as she gripped the sofa's post and clenched a fist against her heart.
"Hm, maybe." Ignis nodded in agreement as he pushed his glasses up, and looked away into the sunset.
Noctis glared at the two. "Oi! I'm standing right here!" He pointed at himself.
Ignis and Selene laughed, while Noctis complained about their teasing. And while he was still complaining, the Guardian glossed over the matter as if it never happened.
"When is he moving in?" She asked Ignis, as if the prince wasn't there.
"His majesty said a few weeks before Highschool starts should be enough…"
"Noct you should start training for it, so that you don't burn the apartment." She said as she glanced at him with her hands on her waist.
"You, why do you keep saying I'll burn the apartment?" He asked annoyed as he eyed Selene who gave him a teasing smirk.
"Because I can see you sleeping away while the stove boiled over and caught on fire."
Noctis glared at her while Ignis nodded in worry. "I won't!"
"We'll see."
Ignis, chuckled and turned towards the hall, once more. "Ah, right, his majesty also said you could use the apartment, Selene." Ignis followed the corridor towards the bathroom and stopped on the door before it. "This room is yours." He opened it.
Selene blinked. 'A room?' She walked inside the room and looked around. The bed was to the right from the door, against the wall… a closet and a desk. It was a normal room…
"We pondered if we should have a private bathroom, if you want, we can still change join the bathroom to your room and change the, laundry room into a shower room for Noctis."
She stared at the boy and smiled. "No, it's fine." She was glad she had a place to stay, a place to call home, but still… 'I doubt I'll be here long…'
Year M.E. 751, April. Noctis enters high school
It took about a week for the prince to completely move towards his new apartment, and in the process of it Noctis entered his first year of High-school.
She waited for him near the school gate, today was her turn to pick Noctis up. After discussing with his Majesty, they decided it was best that she didn't participate in the Highschool activities, she had other responsibilities, not to mention that in a year's time she would return to Luna's place.
While she waited, Selene listened to Sirius briefing of the things that were happening outside the wall.
"The Empire keeps advancing further into Lucii territory, the other day they took another city."
"What about the citizens?"
"No one cares about that. After they attacked the city they moved onto other places."
She frowned at those words, the Empire was simply blindly conquering the land, they didn't care about the citizens that died in the process, nor did they care about the state the cities were left in. All they wanted was to keep marching towards Insomnia.
"Their main objective is not conquering the world, but the Crystal…"
"Too bad the Crystal has a will of its own, something that even the gods seem to forget sometimes." She heard Sirius point out. "Be careful, I think you'll be sent to another mission soon."
At that she raised her guard, as she looked towards the school entrance where she could hear people shouting in excitement. "Why? Did something happen?"
"Maybe, maybe not, I can't be sure, but things have been too quiet… Although the empire is advancing, they've been far too… calm in doing so, I don't like it."
She hummed at those words, as Noctis stepped out of the school gate she raised her hand, the prince's eyes quickly found her as he walked towards her, with a frown. "I'll keep that in mind…" She whispered before ending the call. "What?" She asked as the frown remained even when he was with her.
"Do you have to come dressed like that!?"
She blinked confused and looked at her outfit. She was wearing blue skinny jeans and a black tank top, tied around her waist was the coat she removed due to the heat, Selene tilted her head to the side.
"What are you talking about? I'm wearing casual clothes."
Yes, that was the problem. Noctis sighed as he glanced at the male students that walked past them, their eyes glued on Selene and her bare shoulders and chest. He sent them a glare that seemed to work as they quickly averted their eyes. He looked back at his friend.
"At least put the jacket on!"
"But it's hot!"
He grumbled something and reached for the jacket she had tied to her waist, as he worked, he failed to see the soft color that lurked in her cheeks.
"Noct!" She squealed, surprised as he placed his hands on her waist and removed her jacket, only to place it over her shoulders and looking into her eyes.
"Wear. It!"
She repressed the blush that threatened to lurk to the surface and with a sigh she placed on the leather jacket.
"You know, I think you're old enough to stop acting like a brat." She countered as they began walking down the street.
"And I think you're old enough to know how to dress."
She wanted to hit him, could she? He was a prince, and in her guard, but she still wanted to hit him. There was nothing wrong with her fashion sense, in fact she pried herself in choosing comfortable and practical clothes, that looked good on her!
Of course, she couldn't wear dresses or mini-skirts or anything like that, for that only got in the way of her job, but still, she knew how to dress!
"I'll have you know, my sense of clothing is impeccable! And FYI, Luna picked this top!"
He rolled his eyes at her nagging, there was nothing wrong with her clothes, she looked fine in them, and the cool look looked good on her… the problem were the boys who were ogling her. Noctis clenched his hand around his bag's handle and said nothing as he listened to Selene's nagging, he had to remember to tell her to pick him up in a place where the other boys wouldn't see her.
"Yes, yes, what's for dinner?" He changed the subject. From the corner of his eye, he could see her raising a fist and with her other hand moving it down, he resisted the need to smirk, if he did, she would definitely smack him.
Selene took a deep breath in and out before letting go of the matter. "Vegetables."
"What!? Not that!"
She placed her hand on top of her hip and with her index finger she stabbed his chest. "You will eat everything that I place in front of you or help me Eos I will smack the living hell out of you!"
Noctis gulped under her blazing gaze and nodded, resulting on a sweet smile appearing on Selene's lips.
"Wonderful. Now come on, I told Ignis we would get the vegetables and some condiments he requested."
The prince sighed as he followed her. "Does it really have to be Vegetables? Can't we have meat?"
"Are you serious? No."
"Don't I get a vote!?"
"No, this isn't a democracy."
"But it's monarchy! And I'm the prince!"
"No, my dear prince, it's a dictatorship," Selene said with a sweet but terrifying smile. "And what I say is law."
"That's not fair!" He exclaimed shocked.
"When have I ever been fair?" She answered with a laugh as the two entered the store.
When they reached home Ignis and Gladiolus were already inside, Ignis around the kitchen, while Gladio played around with the Tv, trying to find anything interesting to see.
The routine then settled in as Noctis quickly rushed to the sofa and sat next to Gladio as he zapped channels.
Selene brought the ingredients Ignis had asked and the two began cooking dinner, after the sizzling sound of the vegetables sautéing and the smell of meat filled the room, Noct raised his head towards the chefs.
"Weren't we having vegetables?"
Ignis blinked and looked at Selene who smiled. "You are, the rest of us will have meat."
"WHAT!? No fair!"
The three friends laughed at the prince's expression before Ignis assured Noctis there was no fish, and that Selene was just joking with him, he spent the rest of the preparation sulking in the sofa.
When they placed the meat in the oven and walked towards the living, Noctis was still sulking, so they decided to bring out some games to play among the four.
When the timer for the oven signaled its end, Ignis got up and looked at the two men.
"Okay, you two, go set the table."
"Eh?" Noct complained as he looked at the game. "Ignis! I'm this close to beating Galdio! Later!"
"Haha," Gladios said with a smirk as he exited the game. "Come on, you heard Ignis."
"OI! If you leave, I win by default."
"What!? You wish!" The giant got ready to sit back down but stopped when Selene turned off the Tv.
"Selene! What did you do!"
"Come on, you two can play later, now we eat."
It was the same as usual, they ate, talked, laughed, Ignis brought out the usual desert and when they were finished the Prince and his Shield returned to their games.
After helping Ignis clean everything up Selene, sat at the table to watch the three friends, playing games while they drank Ignis coffee, she'd been with them for a year, she got used to them, much like she had gotten used to Luna, but… she guessed… her eyes stopped on Noctis who was smiling as Gladiolus ruffled his hair, she guessed that the sensation she felt in her heart was different from the one she felt with Luna.
And that's why she knew, after talking with Sirius, that time was coming…
Her phone vibrated, on top of the table, for a moment she didn't move, simply staring at the light as it vibrated on the wood. Her gaze hardening as she noticed there was no caller ID on the screen.
She clenched her hands on top of the table. 'It's too soon… I'm still in the middle of a mission…' She thought to herself, but she was certain that that would never matter…
Her gaze shifted back to the three and she smiled as she rose from the chair and walked towards the balcony. She closed the door, gently as to not disturb them and walked towards the railing of the balcony. Her eyes stopped once again on the phone and while she bit her lower lip, she hit the green button and brought the phone to her ear. "It's me." She said in a cold tone.
The voice on the other side responded in the same way and she listed intently until she frowned at the words. "But I'm currently in the middle of-" The voice didn't let her finish and continued with their instructions; she clenched her jaw while her hand held the phone with more strength.
She should have known, they didn't care. 'Bunch of liars and killers!' She thought to herself. When the voice stopped talking, Selene breathed in, before giving her answer in the neutralist voice she could gather. "Yes, I understand." And with that her call was over. She gritted her teeth and punched the railing.
"Is everything okay?"
She turned her body to Noctis standing by the balcony's door, his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at her.
She sighed as she brushed her hair away from her face. "Yeah…"
Noctis approached her, worry etching in his blue eyes, he placed his hand on her shoulder and made her look at him. "What happened?"
She hesitated, there was no need to worry him and there was no obligation to say anything but… as she looked at his concerned expression she sighed. Her body leaned against the wall of the terrace, and she looked at her phone.
"I got new orders." She declared as her gaze shifted to the night sky. "I am to leave the city and rendezvous outside the wall for an extraction."
"Oh…" He said surprised, he hadn't expected that, "Okay… what's the mission about?" She remained silent, Noctis frowned. "You can't tell me?" Selene shook her head. The irritation in him surged, he was the crown prince, if her mission was something that he couldn't know of that meant it had to come from someone higher than him, like his father. "Is this my father's orders?"
"No." If it wasn't his father then… fear filled his heart, he quickly grabbed her arms, shaking her slightly.
"Did something happen to Luna?!"
Selene's eyes widened as she stared at him, she shook her head and watched as the prince relaxed, a strange sting of pain attacked her heart. It was a strange sensation, but she quickly disregarded it. Her hands brushed against his and she removed them from her arms.
"Nothing happened to Luna. My mission has nothing to do with her, however, I won't be returning here for a while…"
"What? Why?"
"The mission will take some time… after it's over I'll have to return to Luna's place, that was the agreement, I'm still her guard."
Apprehension took over him again, a mission that would take months to finish, that could only mean… "Is this dangerous, Selene?"
She gave him an amused smile. "What? No! Of course not, I'm 15! No one in their right mind would send me to a dangerous mission!" That was the first time she lied to him.
Noctis sighed, relieved and nodded his head. "I guess you can't help it then…" He walked towards the railing of the balcony and leaned against it as he watched the city. "When are you leaving?"
"Tonight."
"What? That soon!?"
"Afraid so." She smiled at him as she too turned to the city and admired the lights.
He grasped his arm, his knuckles turning white as he looked away from her, his stomach shifted uncomfortably inside him. Noctis placed his chin above his arms.
"You… won't disappear again, right?" He whispered, not sure if she heard him and not sure if he wanted an answer.
But Selene heard him, she smiled as she playfully shoved his shoulder. "You realize you have my phone number, don't you? We'll talk all the time Noct."
He nodded at her and looked back to the scenery. That felt reassuring, but the strange sensation inside him didn't seem to quell by her words… he vaguely wondered why.
On the other side of the glass Gladio and Ignis remained seated while they drank a hot cup of coffee, they said nothing as they heard their friends talking but the two shared a glance… It was strange that Selene had received such mission, especially because she was quite young, there had to be more to it than what they were told.
As the two pondered the matter, the clock above the TV approached the fourth hour.
AN: I'm so sorry! I completely forgot to post, so, so sorry! Don't murder me! We're going to the fourth hour next, yay!
A little disclaimer, I don't own FFXV, nor the game story or characters. This is pure fanfiction for my entertainment, and yours ;)
Hope you enjoyed it, and again sorry for taking so long I'll try to be quicker with the next chapter.