Tw: small mention of assault

He wasn't sure what day it was, let alone the actual date. He had been in solitary confinement for a month? Two months? His memory was failing him, and it didn't help that the only interactions he'd had was Ardyn, his personal Niflheim soldiers, and Gentiana, although he hadn't seen the messenger of Shiva in a long time.

Darkness had become his friend most of the time, but he missed the light. He missed his sister.

He had sent her away with the help of Gentiana, had made sure Pryna was with the messenger as well. Everything had gone according to plan, and this was his punishment. He was lucky he wasn't dead.

Eyes accustomed to the blackness of his confinement, Ravus ran a hand through his lengthy silver hair, and grumbled at the disgusting texture. His last bath was so long ago, most likely a week, and he was sure his teeth were gonna start falling out since he couldn't even remember the last time he'd brushed them. The food they gave him probably wasn't helping as well. When did he last eat anyways?

"I'd thought you a sycophant."

Jolting at the familiar voice, Ravus forced himself to calm down, to not react as the door to his cell opened. Light streamed into the small room, and soon a shadow he would recognize a mile away stood in the doorway.

Ravus continued to stare at his hands, trying to ignore the man to his right if only out of pure spite.

"Growing up in Niflheim, joining the imperial forces... You seemed so…dull, so mundane; your ill-crafted motives easily recognizable and manipulated." The shadow leaned against the doorway, and the Tenebraean prince grit his teeth. "Then you go and help the Oracle escape," the Chancellor chuckled. "It was a rather unforeseen action, and I'm proud of the fact you were able to actually get her out. I'd applaud you had you fully succeeded in granting her freedom."

Ravus couldn't stop himself, and he scoffed with a slight roll of his eyes. "Had?"

"You see, you got her out and everything seemed oh so perfect, but alas, it will end up with Lady Lunafreya back within the care of the Empire. If I remember correctly, she was spotted in Insomnia as recently as yesterday, and given my appearance in the Lucian capital in twelve hours, I'll have some of the live MTs picking her up as I'm meeting with the King. The plan worked well… until now."

Ravus' eyes widened, his breath hitched in his throat.

He had to be lying. Chancellor Izunia just had to be, but no one knew Luna was in Insomnia but those attached to the plan...

"But I wouldn't worry too much," the Niflheim Chancellor continued. "You'll be able to see your darling sister one last time before she's on indefinite house arrest surrounded by nothing but Lives. You are coming to Insomnia with me, after all."

He couldn't help himself, his head was turning and his eyes were straining against the pain of the light as he attempted to make out Ardyn's face. Mouth open in shock, he felt his chest going tight.

Ardyn sounded like he was enjoying this. He stood in the doorway for a moment longer, with a smile most likely on his lips. "A few guards will be here as soon as I leave to get you looking and smelling presentable. We leave in two Ta for now, Lord Ravus."

The light got ten times more powerful as the Chancellor turned and left his cell, his boots echoing in the long hall as Ravus hissed against the pain in his eyes from the sudden brightness.

Just like Ardyn had said, three guards were entering his room and forcing him to his feet. He had only one thought in his mind as they dragged him to another room, and that was that he had to get in touch with Gentiana as soon as possible.

The sound of Mr. Cassius' voice meant nothing to her that morning, and she couldn't pay attention no matter how hard she tried.

Ever since she had started her first day of school Luna had been very adamant about being a good student, making sure to study as much as she could while also enjoying her time with Noctis and Prompto. Her lack of an education had motivated her to use the time she was spending in Insomnia to make up for the loss, and she was motivated. Usually. After last night though, she couldn't focus in the slightest.

She couldn't imagine telling anyone that she had spent the night crying. It was bad enough Irene had seen the start of her tears as she went straight to her room, and her use of Umbra as comfort hadn't worked. Not only had she broken Noctis' heart last night, but she had also broken her own. She wished to be with him just as much as she wished for her freedom, and now she had neither. Her fears and loneliness felt like they were ten times worse than they had been before, with no end in sight.

Closing her eyes tightly as she desperately tried to hold back the tears threatening to fall, Luna shakily took in a breath, hoping that she wouldn't bring attention to herself. When she could feel the stinging in her eyes starting to subside a few moments later, she opened them and her eyes drifted to the other side of the classroom, straight to Noctis' empty seat.

He had yet to come to school, and was two hours late.

She noticed Prompto in the seat right in front of Noctis', checking his phone in a way Mr. Cassius wouldn't see and obviously coming up empty given the perturbed look on his face.

When lunchtime came thirty minutes later, Luna slowly stood from her desk and was quickly face-to-face with a worried Prompto. "Hello," she greeted hesitantly, making sure to avoid his eyes.

"Do you know where Noct is?" The blond took no time cutting to the chase, and she could see he had been worrying his bottom lip with his teeth given the swollen redness. He was more concerned than he was letting on, that was for sure. "He's never missed a day of school for as long as I've known him, and I know he was upset yesterday. Did something happen?"

She couldn't meet his gaze, but she also couldn't lie to him. Making sure they were alone in the classroom with a dart of her eyes, she muttered, "I turned him down last night."

"You did what?" Prompto nearly shouted as he took a step back in shock, earning a frantic hush from her. His eyes searched her face to see if she was lying, and he instantly noticed the pink around her eyes that her makeup failed to hide. "Wait… So you really took the King's side? You turned him down because he wanted it?"

Luna willed herself to not roll her eyes at Prompto. She was too tired for this, too hurt, and one conversation about it had been enough. "Prompto, he's doing what he thinks he needs to to keep me safe."

"And you clearly agree with him," Prompto argued sarcastically as he pointed at her eyes. "Come on, D, there has to be a way-"

"There isn't," she retaliated loudly. Eyes downcast and hands squeezing her book bag in front of her, she knew she had shocked him, had given him a moment of doubt about herself because he was silent. Prompto was never silent, and it hadn't taken Luna long to realize that after they'd become friends.

Moments passed, and before too long Prompto was circling his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close to him. It was Luna's turn to be shocked silent, and for the first time since knowing him she noticed that he was nearly a head taller than her. She could barely see anything above his shoulder.

"I know you're hurting," he whispered into her hair, and Luna felt tears pricking her eyes. "I know you are, and I know your safety is the most important thing, but you two are so lonely. I can see it when you guys are together… you two should be together.

"Noctis would do anything for you, and I would too-we all would. None of us would ever put you at risk, and if Noctis thinks there's a way to be together without risking your safety, then you two should try it. No one knows how long you guys have before things start going to shit. Eos could blow up tomorrow, no one knows. You guys should take advantage of the time you have together."

Taking in a shaky breath, she forced her eyes closed, and felt all the fear and loneliness she had been attempting to hide begin to chip away. His embrace felt safe-not as much as Noctis', but she could feel his conviction and care behind his words and touch, and it was almost as if this was exactly what she needed in that moment.

Just for the sake of stubbornness, Luna countered, "What if-What if us trying is what leads them to us? What if-"

"You guys could only act lovey dovey at home, or at training. You could get a secure phone so you guys could text… Noctis will find a way, you just have to give him a chance-"

"What the hell?"

Luna and Prompto both quaked at the voice, and soon Prompto was two feet away from her, his hands in the air as if he was surrendering.

The Crown Prince looked as if he had just been entering the classroom. His hair was messier than normal, and his clothes were askew; it almost looked as if he had been forced to come to school given his appearance.

Prompto spoke first, although shakily. "Noct, I was just-"

"Save it!" Noct growled. His soft blue eyes were hardened, and they flew from his best friend to her, and Luna had never before been scared of Noctis, but she was close right now.

Lifting her right hand as if hoping it'd somehow calm him down, she took a step forward, and his eyes zeroed in on her, a grimace on his face. "Noctis, whatever you think it is, it's not. He was simply comforting me-"

Noctis shook his head, and didn't say a word as he stormed off.

While Luna felt frozen in place, wondering what the hell happened, Prompto ran after him. She could hear scuffling, and Noctis yelling something unintelligible followed by Prompto's worried yelps.

To say he was stressed was an understatement.

He had woken up at the crack of dawn and gotten ready like usual, but the next several hours after he had left his apartment had been a vexatious and trying mess. Not even a few cups of Ebony had fixed the mounting exhaustion that permeated his entire being, and something told him that the stress was still just starting.

When he had left his apartment that morning after working out and eating breakfast, he had driven to Noctis' apartment, and waited for him outside the building just like he had done ever since he'd found out about Luna. Ignis didn't mind the extra step in his day, he used to pick up and drop off Noctis all the time, and it wasn't until somewhat recently that Noctis had started walking.

Twenty minutes in the car with no sign of Noctis, and Ignis knew that the Prince had most definitely overslept. He had quickly moved the car to an actual parking spot, got out and made his way inside, and was within the elevator and on his way up to the apartment in a matter of minutes. When he knocked on the door and called out for Noct, there was silence, which wasn't all that surprising. It was when he had opened the door that the tension had started underneath his brow bone.

Noctis' apartment had been a complete and utter mess, and Noctis was knocked out on the couch. It was almost as if Noct had had a tantrum, throwing everything on the floor in a fit of rage. He was normally messy, and Ignis hadn't been able to clean it in a few days, but there was no way it had gotten this bad since then.

It took Ignis a full hour to wake Noctis up, and then another to get him dressed and willing to go to school.

Noctis hadn't said a word, he didn't help himself as Ignis forced him to dress, he didn't do… anything. It was like he was depressed, and unwilling to wake up.

Ignis wasn't all too sure what caused it, but he had an idea.

Two hours later, he hadn't strayed far from the school, and had instead gone to the restaurant a block away for lunch. Something told him that he shouldn't go back home, that Noctis may have him come back, and so far it hadn't happened. Thankfully. He still had to clean the Prince's apartment after all.

At the moment he was halfway done with his plate of sushi, and was almost enjoying his fourth cup of Ebony; the almost being in due to the fact that the ball of stress at the base of his brain had yet to cease.

Just as Ignis had been about to take another bite of his sushi, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Taking in a long, deep breath, and wishing with every fiber of his being that it wasn't who he thought it was, Ignis reached for his phone and slid it out of his pocket. He hit the home button, and low and behold, a text from Noctis flashed across the screen.

School. Now.

"Damn it," he cursed underneath his breath.

Grabbing for his wallet this time, he found the correct amount of gil needed for his meal, and then some, and placed it at his table before standing and making his leave. A few steps to his car had him receiving another text, this time from Prompto. His brows furrowed at the blond's message, something about Noctis being mad at him, he wasn't sure. He didn't really have time to fully read it as he got into the royal family's car and began his trek back to the school.

Noctis was waiting at the entrance to the courtyard, and when he slowed the car to stop in order to let him in, Ignis took the time to read the message from Prompto in its entirety.

Noctis just ran out of the school! He's mad! He saw Luna and me hugging and he freaked out!

To all the Gods, Ignis hoped the blond was just being dramatic. It became very clear as Noctis roughly entered the car and plopped down into the seat that it sadly was not.

The Prince stashed his backpack into the space at his feet, nearly slamming the car door as he did so, with a rough, "Go," escaping his lips.

Ignis raised his eyebrow. "Go where? You're supposed to be in school."

"Go back to my apartment. Better yet, take me to the training room at the Citadel."

Eyes slightly narrowed, Ignis made sure to keep his hand steady on the gear stick in case Noctis decided to go rogue and force them forward. Ignis wouldn't put it past him considering the hard look on his face. Something was wrong, something that most likely didn't deserve this kind of animosity given what Prompto had briefly explained.

Noctis' eyes scrutinized his hand on the gear stick before glaring at him. "I told you to go," he grit out as he gestured in front of them.

"Not until you tell me what happened."

Groaning loudly, Noct crossed his arms and leaned back into his seat. "No."

The last time he had seen him like this, Ignis thought, was when the Prince was nine. Nearly eight years had passed, and yet Noctis was acting the exact same. "This car will not move until you tell me what happened."

"It's none of your business."

"Maybe so, but I do believe we are friends and that as such, it is my job to make sure you are okay, when clearly you are not."

Silence was his answer, earning an exhausted sigh from the older man as he took a moment to peer out into the busy city street. Everyone was going about their day, none of them aware of the turmoil happening within the car, let alone the national security interest that it most likely pertained to.

"'Diana'", the Prince whispered after several long seconds of quiet stillness. He paused, as if her fake name was the entire reason behind his actions before he added, "…She turned me down last night."

Slowly, Ignis returned his gaze to Noctis, who was still very clearly upset as he stared at his feet. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, trying to make out the best plan to maneuver around Noctis' emotional open wounds, hoping that he'd be able to make it through this unscathed before he figured it all out. "You two didn't end up having dinner?"

Noctis shook his head, still not bothering to look at Ignis as he spoke. "She said yes to dinner, and then Irene told her what my Dad said, and she ended up turning me down, saying we couldn't be together."

"I see." The silence returned, and with it, the understanding of the situation. "That was why you were so difficult this morning." Noctis nodded. "And why you got mad when you saw Prompto with her."

Whipping his face in his direction, Noctis gave Ignis a disapproving look. "He texted you?"

"I'm glad he did, because now I know the issue."

Noctis scoffed, offering a disbelieving chuckle in reply. "Oh really?

"You're acting like a five year old, Noct. You're not that hard to figure out. In fact, I'm rather disappointed in you."

Maneuvering around Noctis' feelings be damned, he needed to grow up. At first Ignis had thought that maybe it was general heartache, which equaled the depression from the morning, but the amount of immature and irrational anger against Luna, and now Prompto that he was exhibiting was uncalled for.

Shocked, Noctis looked like a fish out of water with his mouth opening and closing. "You-You-"

"Look," Ignis sighed. "I understand your being upset over the fact that you can't be with her, considering you just kind of figured out what you wanted with how you feel, but the anger and the immature tantrum… That's uncalled for. Neither 'Diana' or Prompto deserve this-this animosity over what Prompto said was a simple hug.

"She's obviously mournful over the opportunity you two had, same as you, otherwise she wouldn't have needed comforting. Prompto was being her friend, he was being there for her, more than you seem willing to be at the moment. Grow up, Noct, and go back to school."

A full minute passed, and Noctis was still perfectly imitating an animal, although this time it was an animal caught in headlights. His steely blue eyes were wide, but he could see the cogs turning in his head as he tightened his lips together in thought. Another minute, and Noctis was slowly and quietly exiting the vehicle. Ignis watched him, making sure he actually entered the school, and staying there a little longer than necessary to be a hundred percent sure he wouldn't still bail. When five minutes had come and gone, Ignis allowed himself to relax for the first time since he had entered Noctis' apartment-

Ignis' eyes widened in that moment, and he groaned as he let his head fall back against the car headrest.

He still had Noctis' apartment to clean.

Gentiana. Gentiana. The blood of the Oracle calls upon you.

Eyes closed, mouth shut, and ears focusing on nothing other than his heartbeat, Ravus willed the messenger of Shiva to come before him.

He had been forced to bathe, although it was more of a rigorous scrubbing that ended up with him covered in scrapes and what was going to be bruises. His teeth had been brushed, with a decent amount of blood flowing from his lips as they unkindly did so. They had even forced him into his own clothing, and Ravus had never felt more embarrassed. Numerous times he had asked to do it all himself, but to no avail. It seemed that doing it all for him was another part of the punishment, as was the wounds he gained from it all. Nothing too harsh, but it was still enough that his weak body would be sore from it.

They had given him a moment to relax, or to actually wait uncomfortably in his royal garbs as he sat on the floor waiting for Ardyn's return. Once the Chancellor reappeared, him and his retinue, as well as Ravus and his guards, were to get on a ship and begin the trek to Insomnia. They were due in just over ten hours at the Lucian capital. He didn't have much time left.

About ten minutes ago he had started his mindfulness, hoping to reach the messenger of Shiva without her actually appearing before him. He had two guards in the room, and the appearance of the messenger would make everything he had been working towards for two hours go south.

Gentiana. The blood of the Oracle calls upon you.

Brows furrowed as deeply as they could go in irritated concentration, Ravus took in a deep breath and tried again. When the sound of Gentiana's voice entered his mind's ear a second later, he could've yelled his triumph.

"The blood of the Oracle has called. Shall I come before him?"

No! Ravus grit his teeth, hoping the guards didn't notice the strain on his face. I need you to send a warning to Lunafreya. The Empire knows she's in Insomnia. King Regis needs to take every precaution for her safety.

"I will warn the Oracle." She answered him. "May the blood be safe in the behemoth's den."

The warning wasn't lost on Ravus, and when he opened his eyes and saw the door opening with Ardyn leading his men, he knew he had to plan every movement from here on out as a strategic step in the fight for his sister's safety.

Humiliation. That was his current emotion now that he was at home sitting on his couch, reflecting on the last several hours.

After Ignis had verbally slapped him, and shown him how much of an idiot he had been straight to his face, Noctis hadn't been able to acknowledge either Prompto or Luna. He had gone to class, and sat behind his best friend, making sure to try and at least take notes on whatever subject Mr. Cassius had been teaching, but his eyes never met theirs, and he had nervously and embarrassingly ignored Prompto's attempts at reconciliation.

Ignis was right. He had been acting like he was a child. He had no excuse.

"You're a fucking idiot," he stated to himself as he looked out into the city's skyline.

In his own stupidity and downright selfishness, he had failed to see that Luna was nursing a wounded heart as well. Hers was probably worse off, and Noctis felt like an ass for not seeing it.

Had his father's orders not been given, he was sure that Luna and him would've started along the tentative first steps of acknowledging their feelings. Of being together. She had told him herself that she'd welcome his confidence and affection if he could find it, and now that he had, they were basically forbidden from each other.

Lifting a hand to where she had kissed his cheek last night, he reminded himself of the fear he had seen in her eyes when he stumbled upon her and Prompto. It was the exact same fear from when he had first found out she was here.

Not only was she just as heartbroken as he, but she was scared for her freedom as well.

Noctis sighed, and let the hand that still touched his cheek to run down it in dramatics.

He had to apologize to her, there was no denying it. If he didn't do it now, he'd look like an even bigger ass than her already was.

Grimacing a bit at the nerves in his gut, he forced himself to his feet and walked to his front door. Before his hand touched the doorknob, he caught sight of his reflection in the large mirror to his left.

He was still in his wrinkly school clothes, and he looked like shit. Taking a moment to fix his appearance, Noct even took the time to put his hair into some semblance of control. Once he felt he was deemed worthy of appearing before Luna, he opened the door and ventured down to her own after closing his behind him.

Knocking was the next step, and even though it felt like the hardest, he powered through. He had to act his age, he had to act mature. Luna deserved better than the way he was being right now. She deserved the best, she deserved an apology.

Not too long after he knocked, Irene opened the door and gave him a criticizing glare. She knew what happened, and Noctis knew he deserved the scrutiny.

"I'd like to see her, please," he announced, while also attempting to sound like he wasn't scared of the retired Kingsglaive. In truth, he was.

One of her eyebrows raised, and she crossed her arms. "Why should I let you?"

He held back the smart ass comment he could feel bubbling in his throat, and instead stood his ground. "I want to apologize to her."

Irene was quiet as she mulled over his answer, her face unreadable. She must've heard his sincere tone, for she opened the door wider and referenced inside with her hand. "She's outside on the balcony. I suggest you be easy on her."

Taking the suggestion as the warning it was, Noctis gave her a nod in answer and slipped inside.

He moved quietly along the wood floors, peering around the corner as he reached the end of the main hallway. Irene was probably watching him closely, but he didn't care anymore. He had made it this far. His eyes caught sight of her on the balcony, all bundled up in a blanket as she sat in a ball on the rather large outdoor chair. She faced the waning sun, and she looked radiant with Umbra lying on the ground right next to her.

Gulping at the sudden onslaught of butterflies in his stomach, he willed his feet forward, and he found himself sliding open the balcony doors. He looked at her in the corner of his eye, trying to be inconspicuous.

When he had opened the door she had turned to see who was there, but seeing him must've been disappointing because she turned back to watching the sunset.

He tried to not let it hurt him, reminding himself that this was for her. Moving so he could sit in the seat beside her, he watched the sun set with her, not knowing how to start. The sun was almost fully gone when she spoke.

"I'm sorry for hurting you."

Noctis' eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Wait-you're sorry?"

Luna turned her head and raised an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"

"No! I mean-no, you don't have anything to apologize for."

Her eyes narrowed a bit in confusion. "But I-"

Shaking his head, Noctis moved so he was on the edge of the seat. He almost grabbed for her closest hand from its place wrapped around her knees, but held himself back and instead cleared his throat. "Luna, this is my fault. It…. it hurt when you turned me down, it still does, but it's not right of me for treating you the way I have been.

"Getting mad at you and Prompto earlier? That was stupid, and selfish. It's selfish of me to ignore that you must be hurting too." Noctis swallowed against the knot in his throat. "I want to be with you, Luna. It took me a while to figure that out, and then a bit longer to acknowledge it, but you," his steely blue eyes turned and met hers, and he felt his confidence rise at the mild blush in her cheeks. "You are what's most important. Not only your safety, but your feelings, your smile."

He chuckled sadly, then. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, is that I… I really like you, and I wish we had the chance to explore it, and I'm sorry I was such an ass earlier. It's pretty obvious I have a lot of growing up to do." His heart was pounding in his chest, but it almost felt like it was breaking all over again. The deeply held and hidden anxiety he felt was beginning to seep into his apology. "I'm also almost afraid that I'm not good enough for you."

Luna unfurled her legs and sat forward, taking his hand which had been clenching his other in his lap. Her mouth opened, ready to assure him, but before she could the sound of Gentiana's voice rang out.

"The blood of the Oracle wishes to give a warning."

Eyebrows raised, Noctis looked at Luna and then above them, as if trying to find the voice. "Is that Gentiana?"

Luna shushed him and closed her eyes, failing to see the surprised expression on his face at her action. "Yes, Gentiana?"

The messenger of Shiva resumed, her voice feather like across the breeze. "The blood of the Oracle wishes to give a warning. The behemoth knows of the Oracle's hidden face. Where she resides. The father of the King of Light must take every precaution."

A shift in the air, just a bit on the cold side brushed through them, bringing the forgotten Umbra to his feet. He barked and whined, putting his muzzle on Luna's lap, and receiving a pet around the ears in response.

"I have to tell Irene," Lunafreya declared as she got to her feet and opened the sliding door so she could go inside, her body suddenly feeling very constricted. "Gentiana wouldn't be warning us if it wasn't serious. Ravus wouldn't be having Gentiana warning us if I wasn't in danger."

"But how can they possible know where you are?" Noctis argued as he followed her, with Umbra right behind him. "That doesn't make any sense."

Irene saw them as they came in, quickly noticing the perturbed faces on both of them and she rose to her feet. "What'd he do?"

"Hey!"

"Ravus had Gentiana come to me," Luna explained quickly. Moving forward, she almost began pacing in a circle, her fear and anxiety about to get the best of her due to the warning, making her unable to be still. She didn't see Irene straighten as she worried her hands, resisting the urge to grab at her throat. "She said they know I'm here, that the King has to take every precaution."

The retired Kingsglaive seemed to revert back into active duty as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. "I'm gonna make a call."

Both royals watched as Irene dialed, and then waited for someone on the other end to pick up. When they did, Noctis saw Luna worrying her bottom lip, and went to her side. His hand grasped hers, and he squeezed, trying to help her as he watched her fidget in place.

Whatever Irene was discussing with the person on the other end, it sounded like military speech, and within a minute another man was entering the apartment, causing Irene to put her phone away.

Noctis was about to ask him who he was, but Irene went to the man's side, talking in hushed tones. He studied the man, saw the shaved sides of his head and the braids going down his back. Who the hell was this guy?

Moving closer to Luna, he frowned as the two Kingsglaive-he guessed the other guy was a Kingsglaive-continued to speak, sending glances their way before Irene got back on the phone, most likely wanting to talk to his father. The new guy nodded to her, and then started walking towards them. "Lady Lunafreya, we are putting in Action Zero," the man said.

Noctis gave him a sneer. "What the hell is that, and who the hell are you?"

"Nyx Ulric, your majesty," Nyx answered with not a hint of respect in his voice other than what was required of him. "Action Zero is a secret. It pertains to the Oracle's safety." Nyx turned to Luna, noticing as she began hiding in Noctis' side, looking for comfort. "We must move you now, Lady Lunafreya. If your brother is warning you then it means that the Chancellor's arrival within a few hours is a part of a plan, and we want you squared away long before he gets here."

"I'm going with her," Noctis retaliated stubbornly. "From now on, wherever she goes, I go." He took a step in front of her, feeling as she rested her forehead against his shoulder. He could feel the way her hand quivered in his grasp.

She was too anxious. She was probably on the verge of a panic attack, and she hadn't had one of those since the last time an MT tried to strangle her.

"That's a negative, your highness. Only Irene and myself know of its location, and it's gonna stay that way. Now, please," Nyx turned back to Luna. "Come with me, your majesty."

Luna seemed shocked still, barely unable to even breathe as her mind raced. Too many things had begun to happen in such a short time. One second she was reconciling with Noctis, and the next she was being whisked away to an unknown location and Noctis couldn't come. Just as she was about to hyperventilate, Noctis was pulling her in close, his entire body surrounding her, his smell filling her nose.

She could hear Irene next to them, talking to Noctis and finally getting him to agree to help get her out of there. A flurry of movement happened around her as Nyx and Irene got things together that they figured she'd need, and Noctis stood right where he was, holding her to him, keeping her standing, keeping her sane.

Once it appeared that she could breathe properly on her own, and everything was packed up and ready to go, Noctis walked her out of her apartment with Umbra in tow. The five of them quickly went down the elevator and exited through a secret door once they'd reached the garage floor, one not even Noctis knew about. By the time she was fully aware of her surroundings again with Umbra's head resting in her lap, she saw Noctis standing in front of her open car door, his face looking unsure, as if he was trying to not let her know how worried he was.

"Noctis," she whined.

He gave her a sad smile, and took her cheek in his right hand. "Irene explained as much as she could to me, and you'll be okay. You'll be okay, Luna."

"But-" Her throat tightened, and a tear fell down her cheek. "I don't know when I'll see you again."

"We'll see each other once the Chancellor is gone," he replied softly. "I promise."

He moved as if he was gonna shut the car door, and Luna figured Nyx was giving him a look of urgency while Irene gave them their goodbye. In that moment, she didn't care if they both stared. Putting her hand on the door, not letting him shut it, she maneuvered Umbra's head out of the way and she hopped out of the vehicle. Noctis didn't have long to act surprised before her hands grabbed a hold of his head, and she was kissing him full on the mouth.

The kiss was short and demanding; nothing close to what Luna had hoped would be their first kiss, but she didn't care. She didn't know when she'd see him again.

As she leaned back, returning to her feet after having been on her tiptoes, she gave him a watery, sad smile. "Goodbye, dear Noctis."

He looked dazed, but it was clear tears were pricking his eyes as well. "Goodbye, Luna."

14 full pages. i'm so sorry it took a month. i had the WORST writer's block, and i rewrote the beginning of this chapter probably eight times, and attempted three different one shots in an effort to get rid of it. it wasn't until i began writer's block, aka the oneshot i recently uploaded into the collection, that i was finally able to get rid of it. this chapter took me a week. hopefully you like it! :) see you guys soon.