Chapter Text
Chapter 1 – In which Noctis gets a name
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The pinkish hues setting into the late-afternoon sky; the tinge of chlorine tickling his nostrils; the cool caress of water – the way it flowed over his bare skin, making him forget momentarily about the burning ache in his poor abused muscles.
The lyrics of a well-known Julie Andrews’ song floated through Noctis’ mind.
Not the abused muscles part of course.
Lactic acid was...a word that rhymed with witch.
And so was their slave-driver – read: hell-spawn – of a coach. Coach A, as he was known, though whether A stood for ‘Ardyn’ or ‘accursed’ was still a matter of debate. But at least the man had finally called an end to the team’s first training session of the new term. And it couldn’t have come a moment sooner. Close to two hours of shooting practice, tactical drills, and ‘egg-beating’ (water polo-speak for making alternating circular motions of the legs in an effort to keep one’s head above water) while balancing a 10lb medicine ball overhead with one hand, and now his limbs were genuinely feeling like well, beaten eggs.
‘Beep!’ Noctis winced at the shrill cry of a whistle piercing through his thoughts and eardrums. “C’mon guys, practice is over. The women’s swim team has the pool booked at six, and you know what they are like if we don’t clear out on time.”
Shudders all around. The men’s water polo club of Lucis Academy needed no further prompting.
Gliding through the water, the black-haired youth reluctantly joined his teammates at the pool’s edge, smoothly hefting his body out with one arm. A shiver ghosted through him as the former's warm embrace was instantly replaced by chilly early-autumn air.
Looking for a towel, he was met instead with a chipper blond slinging an arm around his neck.
“So, you ready for this?” The owner of the offending appendage grinned broadly.
Noctis wasn’t shy about close-contact with half-naked men – ahem, varsity water-polo player here! – but couldn’t Prompto’s public displays of bromance wait till they were both warm and dry?
Twisting out of the hold in time to catch the towel tossed his way, with the finesse one would expect from a first-string regular, he shrugged. “For what?”
“Senior year.” Prompto’s reply was accompanied by ‘duh’ look, as he busied himself with wrapping his own towel around his waist. Noctis noticed a hint of a well-defined six-pack peeking out. Huh, had his best friend been hitting the gym hard over the summer?
He pursed his lips, considered the question. Honestly, he hadn’t given it much thought, just as he hadn’t given much thought to the rest of his life. The heir to the Caelum empire had his future all mapped out for him from the day he was born. The last thought had a bitter ring to it.
At least his father has given his official seal of approval to Noctis’ choice of extra-curricular activities. Something about sports building character and all that.
“Caelum, Argentum, go help Raines and Villiers with the equipment will you!”
Snow Villiers gave them a nod of thanks as the two joined him in gathering up assorted gear scattered across the pool deck. While Noctis was considered scrawny by polo-standards, the converse was true of Snow. Easily the biggest guy on the team, the bear of a man looked like he’d be more at home pumping irons with Gladio or on the scrump-line with Libertus, but his hefty bulk made for a solid wall in front of the net, and the man had surprisingly quick reflexes. If only he would quit yelling out ‘steelguard!’ every time he made a block.
“So, senior year, huh? Got any new year’s resolutions, Snow?” Prompto turned his interrogation to the other man.
“Yea...” The goalie’s smile visibly deflated.
“Woah, who pissed in your protein shake, big guy?”
Snow swallowed thickly, a crimson flush on his tanned cheeks. “Well, there’s this girl...”
“That you want to be with for the rest of your life, and that you want to be the mother of your seven children?” Prompto helpfully supplied.
“Actually I was hoping to ask her out on a date.”
“Why don’t you? Did she reject you? Tsk, girl doesn’t know what she’s missing out.”
Snow rubbed a hand at the back of his head. “Well, yes and no. Thing is...she’s got a sister. Older sister. And they’ve got this rule in their family – Serah can’t start dating before her sister does.”
Prompto made a face. “What kind of craptastic rule is that?”
Coming up behind them, Cid snorted. “Tough luck, Villiers. If by Serah you mean Serah Farron, then I suggest you prepare to remain a bachelor for the rest of your life.”
Farron. Noctis had heard of the school’s resident ice princess, had his share of poolside run-ins with her, inevitable considering how much time they both spent around this place. The two had never exchanged words, not even simple pleasantries like ‘lovely weather huh?’, or ‘good practice’. Then again, he had always been awkward with that sort of thing, and Farron mostly gave no indication that she had even noticed his presence.
He didn’t know that she had a younger sister.
As if on cue, a figure stepped into view, emerging from the tunnel that led to the changerooms.
Standard issue swimsuit of the varsity swim team. A frigid face that seemed to be permanently etched in a mask of indifference. Eyebrows slightly drawn together, framing a pair of piercing pale-aqua blues. A few errant strands of the most unusual rose-pink hair poking out from underneath her swim cap. Noctis knew that Farron was a prodigious swimmer – hell, she was attending Lucis Academy on a swimming scholarship – but looking at her up close, it was hard to see it. Skin that was not a sun-kissed tan but a pale, almost ashen ivory. Shoulders a little broader than the average girl but none too wide, a physique that was toned but slender, giving way to smooth bare legs that went on forever. Not exactly the archetype of a swimming ace.
“Sis!”
Snow’s enthusiastic greeting was not returned. Instead, the girl in front of them bristled.
“Not. Your. Sis.” Farron’s blue eyes narrowed a fraction, and Noctis had the sudden urge to brush goose pimples off his skin. Had the air just turned a whole lot chillier?
Before Snow could get another word in, she was gone, stalking off toward the pool deck without a second look back.
“She hates you.” Noctis stated the obvious.
“She hates everything.” Cid corrected.
Prompto tapped a finger to his chin in thought. “You know guys, I’ve got an idea.”
“Why are you looking at me that way for?” Noctis could feel another chill blossoming on his skin, not liking the look of contemplation the blonde was shooting his way.
“If the younger sister can’t date till the older sister does, then we just have to find the older sister a suitor! How ‘bout it Noct, take one for the team? One date, that’s all we need!”
“Sure, throw me to the sharks, Prom.”
“Actually, as far as marine species go Sis is more of a turtle.” Snow put in. “Look guys...I appreciate the sentiment, but you don’t have to do this. Sis will come around, I know it. Even if I have to wait till I’m old and grey, Serah is worth it.” The wide and sunny grin was back on his face.
Damn that man and his teddy bear persona. Anyone would feel bad for gunning him down – anyone except Serah’s sister that is.
“Oh, alright, I’ll do it.”
To their right, Cid scoffed, skeptical written all over his face. “Caelum? No offense man, but I highly doubt that ‘boyish good looks’ and ‘suave-with-a-side-of-dorky’ are Farron’s type. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. There are hard-to-get girls, and then there is Farron. The last guy who tried to ask her out got a faceful of knuckles. Let’s face it, no one is defrosting that ice princess anytime soon.”
On hindsight, this was the moment he should have turn tail and fled. But instead, it was the male brand of ego and the brash temerity of youth that spoke.
“Challenge accepted.”
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Floodlights flickered on under a darkening sky.
Noctis had taken a hot shower, polished off a diet coke and two club sandwiches, and sat on the poolside bleachers wondering just what he had got himself into.
It didn’t take him long to realise two truths.
Truth number one, the women’s swim coach – one Jihl Nabaat, touting a baton in one hand and a stopwatch in the other – was no less of a sadist than Ardyn. Water-polo players were used to the acidic burn in their muscles, pushing their stamina and bodies to the limit, but some of those sets would have made even the best of them shudder.
Truth number two, any doubts he had about Farron being a good swimmer were instantly washed away. Prodigious wasn’t quite the word, more like...natural. Her strokes were loose and free. Easy. Effortless. Cutting through the water like a gunblade’s edge, with a fluidity that belied its speed.
Mermaids would be jealous.
“Last set!” Nabaat called out.
Last chance to back out. Cid’s text message was summarily deleted from his phone.
Not long later, it ‘pinged’ again. Prompto, this time. What’s your game plan?
Just talk to her? Noctis texted back.
The reply came within a minute. So no plan then. Never change, Caelum.
Since when had Prompto become such a snarky-ass? This was his idea from the start, a little encouragement would have been appreciated. The still ‘pinging’ phone was deposited in his back pocket, his attention returning to the lithe figure in the water.
Farron was the first to emerge from the pool, skipping out on the latter half of the warm-down, much to Nabaat’s chagrin. A quick rinse down at the outdoor showers, then she tugged on a simple polo-tee and boy shorts, before grabbing her pack and shouldering it.
She was leaving? With half the team still in the water? Clearly not one for team-bonding. Noctis was starting to see where that ice-princess repute was coming from.
Regardless, this was his cue. He pushed to his feet, put his game face on, dusted down his designer sports jacket, and hoped down the stands.
Now or never, Caelum. Man up, it’s not like you’re about to ask a snarling behemoth out to dinner.
The large sports complex that housed the open-air pool was buzzing during the day, but quiet at this late hour, with only small groups of students still milling around. Noctis spotted the object of his pursuit by the coolers, a bottled water grasped loosely in one hand, while slender fingers combed through tangled locks, still wet and damp and flowing like a river over one shoulder.
Their eyes met. She paid him no more than a perfunctory glance.
The shy and dorky side of him wanted to stumble out a ‘hi’, but instead he simply smirked, striding casually over.
“You really should wash off all that chlorine immediately after your swim. That stuff’s toxic to your skin and hair. Would be a shame if that milky skin and pretty hair got ruined.”
Farron paused, looking up. For a moment she just stared.
She kept her cool neutrality for the most part, but there was a slight pinch to her brows, a barely perceptible squint of her eyes, a touch of red to her cheeks – though the last one could have been his imagination. Confused but trying to hide it, it was a cute look on her.
And then the cracks sealed back up. Face blank, posture neutral. Her expression was all in her eyes. The chilliness in the air was back; the goosebumps on his arms announcing their presence with renewed vigour. He forced his eyes to meet that blizzard head-on.
“Hey, I’m Noctis.”
He waited. She folded her arms across her chest, probably hoping that he would take the hint.
He didn’t. “This is the part where you tell me your name.”
Nothing. Just more silent glaring.
“I’ve seen you around this place a lot. Just thought I’d say hi.”
“You’ve said it. Now leave.” She made to push past him.
Damn, he was starting to think that dinner with the behemoth would have been a better idea. Still, he wasn’t one to give up easily.
She took a step right. He mirrored it, easily walling off her slight frame with his larger one. A step left. He followed suit.
Her left eyebrow twitched, and Noctis did an imaginary fist pump in his head. Score one for Noct! Not quite a victory, but that’s the first reaction he’s provoked from her.
“I’m not leaving without your name...and your number preferably.”
“Are you asking me out?” Her glare turned dark. “Did someone put you up to this? You don’t look that dumb, even for a pretty-boy.”
Aw, she thinks I’m pretty? Wait, was that a compliment, or...? No, focus Noct! She’s on to you! Is she that perceptive, or am I that bad of an actor? Think, what did Ig always say? ‘The best way to get around a lie is to tell a half-truth.’
He forced a sheepish grin. “Well, um, it’s a little embarrassing actually...my buddies made a bet that I couldn’t ask you out. What’ya say? Prove them wrong and split the cash?”
Her eyes were practically ice crystals now. Noctis realised too late that that odd crackling sound he was hearing was her fist closing around the misfortunate bottle of water. The next thing he knew, he found himself flat on his ass as said fist connected with his chin.
“You have three seconds to get out of my face unless you want another dent on that chiselled jawline.” She menaced.
This time he did take the hint.
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A wise man once said that failure is nothing more than a chance to revise your strategy.
And yesterday had most definitely been the epitome of epic failures. A failure that Noctis was constantly reminded of by the smarting bruise on his jaw that hurt like a bitch whenever he wanted to yawn. Snow had taken one look at his friend’s face and winced in empathy. No consolation from Cid, he simply rolled his eyes with an ‘I-told-you-so’ look. Others gave him curious stares, but thankfully he had been able to pass it off as catching a bad elbow during practice.
“Are you sure it’s not broken?”
“For the millionth time Noct, it’s bruised not broken.” Prompto held up an ice-pack to his best friend’s face. Noctis wondered if he was referring to his jaw or his ego.
“What’s her angle?” He groused, clenching his teeth, drawing a protest from his sore mandible.
Prompto lifted a brow. “You mean, why is she so...tempestuous?”
“I believe stone cold bitch is the term most often used.” Another roll of Cid’s eyes. “Even a 6 am swim sounds warm and inviting compared to her.”
“Sis ain’t cold.” Snow insisted. “She’s just...not a people person. Kind of a loner, intensely private, enjoys the silence. She’s like a cat; she just needs her space.”
A grumpy cat that loves water. Sure, that was helpful.
Snow turned to look at him. “I may be wrong, but you don’t sound like you’re giving up.”
Noctis scoffed, a corner of his lips curling. Give up? Oh no, this was now a matter of personal pride.
In many ways, water polo was a game not unlike real-life – there weren’t too many rules, and fouls were actually part of the strategy. If necessary, Noctis wasn’t above playing a little dirty himself, sportsmanship be damned.
That bitch is going down.
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The next time Noctis ‘ran into’ her was by the third-floor lockers outside the gym, depositing her swim bag after morning practice, decked in faded jeans and an off-white polo-tee. Gotta admit, she made polo-tees look good.
Arctic royalty, with major resting bitch face, but otherwise a sight for sore eyes. Boy did she fit into a certain stereotype.
Snow’s words about how she was edgy over invasions of her personal space came to mind, and so he did just that. Leaning in – close enough that he could see the fine layer of rust on steel and the barest widening of her eyes as she swung around – he planted his hands on the lockers at either side of her shoulders, effectively trapping her in place. Plus it would be hard to throw a punch from that angle.
Her hair was wet, this time from a shower, smelling of something fresh and sweet, like wild roses after the rain. Along with the lingering tang of chlorine.
She straightened, tilting her chin up, refusing to give away her discomfort to the source of it. “Are you going to ask for my name again?”
“Already know it.” He gestured to her student pass hanging around her neck. “Éclair. No wonder you’re so tight-assed about that. I would be mortified too if my parents named me after a French pastry.”
“What do you want?” Blunt as usual, not hiding her annoyance.
“Your name. Unless you prefer the French pastry?”
Her gaze flickered once, unsure. Outwardly she kept her poise, but Noctis could sense a whole internal debate swirling within her.
Eos, just getting a name from her was like pulling teeth.
“Lightning.” She eventually conceded, voice soft but even.
Lightning? Must be a story behind that; just like that jagged pink scar underneath her right eye, visible only because of her fair skin tone and how ‘in-your-face’ they literally were to each other. His curiosity piqued. Damn was he a sucker for the troubled but cute types. Still, he knew better than to ask about either. Fiercely private people were...well, fiercely private about their privacy.
“It suits you. Much better than ‘French pastry’.” He leaned back, but his hands remained where they were.
Most girls would have blushed, perhaps giggled at the light attempt at humour. Farron – Lightning –didn’t even crack a smile. But Noctis was on to her. She emoted through her eyes, which had softened, just a fraction.
Whatever she might’ve been about to say was drowned out by the droll tolling of the school bell, and the ensuing early morning stampede that ran through the halls of Lucis Academy.
“Are you going to let me get to class?”
‘Only if you agree to go on a date with me.’ Was what he could have said. Except that had only earned him a throbbing jaw and wounded pride the last time. To try it again would just be lazy and foolish. While Noctis may be accused of being the former, he certainly wasn’t the latter.
Reluctantly, he withdrew his arms, and his quarry took the chance to put some space between them. “Where are you headed? I’ll walk you.”
“I’ll pass.” Tone arms folded across her chest. That impenetrable guard was back up. Damn, did he move too fast?
“Hey, am I not good company?”
“I prefer others.”
“Like?”
“My own.”
Why was he not surprised?
“Wait.”
To his surprise, she did pause.
He took a breath. “Look, I lied that day. It wasn’t a bet. Honestly? I like you, and I really wanted to ask you out but I didn’t know how to.”
Pale aqua eyes clouded, disbelieving. “Bullshit. What do you like about me? You don’t even know me.”
What is with this girl? A guy tells you they like you and the first thing you ask is why? Really? I mean...who cares about why? He fumbled for an answer. “Err, I like that you’re cute.” Well, that wasn’t even a lie.
“Then date a mirror.”
A mirror? Oh! “Ha! I knew it, you think I’m cute too.”
“It’s a no.”
“Why not?!”
“How about I hate you and we’ve got nothing in common?” She deadpanned.
“You don’t even know me.” His turn to fire back at her. “You probably can’t even name thirteen things you hate about me.”
“I know that you’re a rich brat who dresses like a caricature of teenage angst and uses hair mousse by the buckets. Doesn’t sound like there’s anything else I need to know.”
“Then let me tell you this about me – I’m not giving up, and I’m gonna keep coming after you, until the day you can name thirteen things you hate about me.”
The girl across from him stayed silent, but Noctis could have sworn he saw that same flicker in her eyes.