Archive of Our Own

“Another day at the gate, Nyx?" Crowe shouted as Nyx entered their usual hangout that night. 

“Shut up,” Nyx threw his jacket over the back of his chair before slumping down in it. His friends all laughed.

Libertus pushed him by the shoulder. “What'd you do this time?”

“I don't even know, I thought I was just doing my job but I guess Drautos thought differently.” 

“Same shit, different day, eh?” 

There were a few cheers that Nyx ignored. 

“We just have different opinions on what duty is, I think. Now pour me a fucking drink.” 

Libertus helped Nyx out, pouring beer from a large pitcher into a glass. Once he had the glass in hand, they all cheered and took a long drink. Nyx downed half of his in almost one gulp. 

Crowe stopped mid-drink, watching over Nyx’s shoulder. 

“What?” Nyx licked his lips. 

“Check it out.” she whispered. 

Everyone who had their backs to the street turned. It was clear immediately what or rather who Crowe referred to. 

Across the street, a young man stood on the corner. That wasn't what was strange. The guy wore black jeans and a huge black hoodie, with a baseball cap low over his eyes, and even a black mask. Not much else of him could be noted. The bit of his neck visible was pale. The only kind of people who came around like that were people who didn't want to be caught in their neighborhood. 

“Kid looks lost.” Libertus snorted. 

Crowe leaned forward across the table. “Or, he knows exactly where he is. What do you think it is? Drugs? Sex?”

The table erupted into bets being cast and coins being thrown down. Tredd and Petra kept upping each other. Crowe and Lib argued about their theories. Nyx kept watching. The young man shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets and looked around, clearly waiting for someone. 

Then, another young guy hopped into view, sliding up next to the other and throwing an arm around his shoulder. Blond, lithe, dressed in tight ripped jeans and chunky boots with a baggy hoodie as well. Blondie grinned ear to ear. Behind Nyx, The table erupted in cheers and shouts but Nyx didn't pay attention to what they had decided the winning bet was. He could guess, though. 

Meanwhile the two across the street walked away together, the incognito one keeping his head down. The blond one appeared familiar, but Nyx couldn't quite place him. Probably had just seen him around these parts. 

Once they were out of view, Nyx went back to his friends, who had already moved on to another topic.

The next week, Nyx was back at the bar after another long day. Not at the gate, thankfully, but the new recruits had been extra dicks that day. 

“Oh ho ho, look who it is,” Libertus practically giggled as everyone's attention swung to the street, including Nyx. 

There across the street again was the same guy from the week before. It was warmer out, so he had on just a black shirt and pants, hat, and a mask today. Now though Nyx could see more of him. Pale skin, lean form. Dark hair that fell over his eyes. 

“We still don't know what his deal is.” Tredd whined. 

“Eh, it's more fun that way. You’re just mad you lost money betting last week.” Crowe poured herself some more beer, watching as Tredd pouted. 

Nyx observed as the stranger stood on the corner. He stared at his phone and not much else, so the others went back to their drinks. 

Nyx kept watching. 

The stranger stayed glued to his phone save for looking up every now and then. looking for someone, probably the blond kid from the week before. At least that's what Nyx would assume.

The stranger slumped his shoulders right as a taller man approached. Nyx wasn't usually one to judge on first looks, not with how they'd been treated since fleeing to Insomnia. But this newcomer had a shaved head and was built like a shit brick house, with tattoos that rivaled Gladiolus. 

At first Nyx assumed this was who the stranger intended to meet. until the way he jumped when the man bumped his shoulder and leaned down to whisper to him, one hand on his bicep. The stranger's free hand curled into a fist as if he were preparing to throw a punch. 

“Well shit.” Nyx stood up and cracked his neck. 

Before he could move, Lib elbowed his waist. “Yo Nyx, where're you going?” 

“Sticking my nose into someone’s business,” Nyx replied with a sigh as he walked away. 

“Again?” Crowe shouted. Nyx just raised an arm and waved in reply. 

Nyx got outside and jogged across the street just as the stranger tried to shake the other off him. 

“Hey babe,” Nyx spoke without really thinking, and went so far as to reach out and gently grab his shoulder. He did his best to give the young man some kind of expression that said I’m not a creep I swear. “Sorry I'm late. Who's your friend?”

Both men turned to face him with a start. The tall man took one look at Nyx, lifted his hands up, and backed off before another word could be said. Maybe he knew who Nyx was somehow, or just didn't feel like getting into an actual fight, but Nyx was grateful either way he didn't have to throw down. He would have, though.  

Once the tough guy was gone around the corner, the stranger looked up at Nyx. He had the most striking blue eyes Nyx had ever seen. 

Shit. Yeah. Nyx would have fought for this stranger. 

It took a moment for Nyx to remember he was touching this person. He pulled his hand away and took a step back. 

With the mask it was difficult to make out the expression on the stranger’s face, but he didn’t immediately bolt or throw a punch, so that was something. 

“Thanks, how did you even see that?”

Nyx motioned over his shoulder. He tried to act like his entire table wasn’t probably watching him at that moment.

“Saw from there. You okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah." The guy adjusted the bill of his cap. 

“You waiting for someone?”

“I was - my - friend got stuck at work, so I'm done here I guess.”

“Well, before you go, you hungry?” Nyx wasn't. but he wasn't thinking clearly. Except that he wanted a little more time with this person. 

The stranger appeared just as confused. “Um it's ok, you don't have to do that.” 

“You're not from these parts right?”

“How’d you know?”

“Just a hunch. Come on, I’ll take you somewhere chill but fucking good.” 

By some miracle the stranger agreed. 

By some greater miracle the stranger ended up in Nyx’s apartment. Their dinner had been the best kind of suffocating; close seats, hushed voices, and an electricity Nyx wasn't sure he'd ever really experienced before with someone he'd just met. To top it all off, the feeling might have been mutual. 

But there was the issue of the mask; he’d kept it on all through dinner, only lifting it for bites. He had been hesitant to give his name, which Nyx had brushed off. 

As Nyx stood at the fridge to get water, the stranger came up behind him, close.

Really close.

“I know I came back here with you and I'm sure that creates some expectations.”

Nyx didn't step forward to move away from the presence at his back. He straightened up and let his body press against the stranger’s chest. 

“We don't have to do anything. If you don’t want to. I won't be offended.”

“You don't even know my name.”

“Do I need to?”

There was a pause. 

“Do you...need to see my face.”

Who are you hiding from, Nyx wanted to ask. 

“No,” he replied instead, ”just your eyes.”

The stranger inhaled. Nyx turned, and studied the way he looked up through those long dark eyelashes. Nyx wanted to see that face, more than anything, but if it ruined any chance at this for even one night... 

So to keep things simple, Nyx decided he would just show this stranger a great time, and hope it was enough, as he placed his hand on the man’s waist and pushed him back towards the bedroom.

Nyx should have known he wouldn’t have a quiet day at the citadel the next day.

“Helloooo mister hero,” Libertus greeted in the locker room before training. The others who were there laughed and cheered for him as well. 

“Don't.” Nyx pointed at them all before opening his locker to get changed. 

“Hey, you’re the one who abandoned us!”

It was a very pointed decision to not make eye contact as he spoke. “I helped him out, then took him to a place to eat to apologize for our district's rudeness. I figured you guys would be long gone by the time we were done.” 

“Coulda brought him over to us instead.”

Nyx turned back around to face Libertus once in his black joggers and tank top. “And scare him off?”

“Ha!”

Instead of replying, Nyx winked with a grin. 

“You slick mother -”

“Shut it and get out there or you're doing twenty warp strikes.” Nyx pushed Libertus ahead of him towards the grounds. 

By the end of their training session lib and crow had pulled enough out of Nyx to hopefully sate them. 

“So no face?” Crowe asked. 

“No face.” Libertus repeated. Nyx nodded.  

“And no name.” Crowe appeared shocked, which was something coming from her. 

“Nope.”

“Aaaaand will you see him again?”

Nyx shrugged. Internally, he absolutely hoped there would be another round. But what kind of person so intent on hiding their identity would go for another hookup and risk being found out? As far as Nyx was concerned, it was a one night stand. Simple as that. 

If by some chance the stranger did come back around, could Nyx keep things going without knowing anything about him?

Thinking back to the night before, he just might. 

“hey hey!” Some younger glaives ran into the locker room gasping for air. “The prince and his shield are on the grounds!”

“What?” The others still in the room jumped up in excitement. 

“He got one of his warp tests!”

Everyone was out back onto the training grounds in an instant, getting to see the prince was rare for them. They were soldiers outside of the citadel, more than anything else, fighting off daemons and the nifs. inside, prince noctis had his own small retinue who worked with him and trained. Nyx couldn't remember the last time he’d seen the prince in person. 

They all lined up on the sidelines as prince noctis and gladiolus stepped into the grounds. He didn't wave or anything, eyes focused down at the ground. gladio appeared to be speaking fast and a bit gruffer than usual. 

“He was late this morning,” one soldier whispered behind Nyx. “I can read lips, ya know..”

“Rough day for the prince.” Another replied.

It didn't seem that bad for the prince, though. He went through his various warp strikes over and over like it was nothing. He was graceful and better at it than anyone Nyx had ever seen. 

“He’s almost got you beat.” Libertus chuckled under his breath.

“Almost.” To be honest, Nyx was mesmerized. He had heard of course that the prince excelled at warp strikes more than anyone had been in recent memory. The way Prince Noctis controlled his movements, threw weapons with ease, and hung from ledges, Nyx couldn't look away from. 

“Should challenge him.” 

“Hell no, are you crazy.” 

“Nyx wants to challenge the prince?” One of the dumbass recruits said way too loud. 

He turned sharply and hissed “I said no!”  

“Nyx! Nyx! Nyx!” Others started to chant despite the way Nyx stared them down. He was ready to lose it on those idiots. 

The cheers stopped, and Nyx's blood ran cold. Bracing for the worst, Nyx slowly turned to come face to face with one, Gladiolus Amicitia. He was massive in height and build. Nyx wouldn't fuck around with that. 

Nyx lifted his hands up in surrender immediately. 

“I didn't say anything, I swear.”  

Gladio crossed his arms in front of his chest. At least the guy was smiling. Maybe Nyx's death would be swift. “Well come on, I hear you’re one of the best. Could be good practice for him.”

“Sir,” Nyx pleaded.

“Go.”

“Fuck.”

Nyx was still in his workout gear, at least. He stepped out and for the first time, Prince Noctis truly faced the crowd. The room erupted into shouts. Nyx took a deep breath. 

The moment Prince Noctis made eye contact with Nyx, the prince staggered to a stop. 

Nyx kept walking, intending to start things proper with a handshake until - 

- It clicked. 

At arms length from the prince, Nyx instantly recognized those eyes. 

“Your highness,” Nyx forced out and bowed. He was honestly unsure he could handle getting near Prince Noctis in front of everyone. Flashes of the night before went through his mind rapidly. That didn’t help things at all. 

Noctis returned the bow. Then he was off, laughing wildly. 

Nyx mostly expected the knock at his door that night. Or perhaps the right word was — 

— Hoped. 

It was stupid, the way he had been grinning since the training grounds, not able to stop. It was like he had found a treasure chest and only he knew where it was located. So when he threw open the door he might smile too wide for his face. 

The one and only Prince Noctis stood there, once again in his oversized hoodie, face covered with a mask and a baseball cap. 

Nyx didn't say a word. He stepped aside so Noctis could come in, and slowly closed the door after him.

“So,” Nyx began after seconds of silence. It dawned on him Noctis might not be there for good reasons. It could be a threat of silence. Which…would suck, but it wasn’t like it would break his heart or anything. But also, that conversation could happen back at the Citadel. Instead, the prince came all the way here to see Nyx.  

Noctis kept his back to Nyx. Hands at his sides.  

“I really had no idea.” Nyx finished, still unsure.

“I didn’t either.”

“Does it change things for you?”

“Define things.”

“Were you planning to come over again, before this morning?”

At that question, Noctis turned. He removed his mask. It took every ounce of effort for Nyx to not immediately kiss him. 

“And if I was? Planning to?”

Nyx decided to fuck all pretense and rushed forward and crowded Noctis, fingers running along his jaw before kissing him deeply. 

For a few months, things followed a standard protocol. When Noctis could, he would come over to Nyx’s and spend the night. Noctis had his own apartment outside of the Citadel and had some unsupervised time that allowed him to sneak away.

They had developed several rules quickly to protect Noctis. 

First, no phones. It made things difficult but it was too risky. Second, Noctis always had to hide his face when he came over. Third, Nyx could not go to his apartment. 

Their most important rule was not to interact in the Citadel. Ever.

Noctis broke that rule first, one afternoon.

“Ulric,” drautos barked out after his shift. 

Nyx jumped to attention. “Sir.”

“Special assignment, report immediately.” He handed Nyx an envelope with the royal seal on it.

“From King Regis? What are the orders?”

Drautos appeared offended. “I was told it was only for you.” 

The moment Drautos turned, Nyx opened the note. 

Sixth floor. Room 610. Come alone for urgent business. 

He narrowed his eyes. Was this a trick? A trap? But he was a good soldier, so he followed the order and went to the directed room. Slowly he opened the door. 

Noctis stood alone, staring out a window. 

“Your Highness?” Nyx didn't want to assume they were alone and risk slipping up.

“Lock the door.” 

After doing so Nyx walked further into the empty room, but still didn’t approach. 

“Is everything ok?”

Without warning, Noctis turned and sped right into Nyx’s arms and held onto him tight. Nyx made a small sound of surprise but wrapped his arms around noctis, breathing in the familiar smell of his shampoo. 

“It’s been weeks,” Noctis muttered into Nyx’s shoulder. 

He didn't laugh. He hugged Noctis tighter. It had been weeks, despite them trying to make something work. “I'm here. What's going on?”

“I heard you were outside Insomnia again.”

“Yeah, but now I'm here, so it's okay.”

“I know but —”

“Hey,” Nyx pulled back a little and tilted Noctis’s chin up gently with one hand.

For a moment, Noctis just stared into his eyes. “I can't help worrying.” 

The truth was Nyx did worry. Every time he was in danger now, his thoughts were clouded by worry for Noctis if something happened to him. “You can't let that come through. Not here.”

“Why not?”

“Babe, come on.”

That made Noctis move away. He had one hand in his hair. This was the most emotional Nyx had ever seen him. Their tryst had been so far just that; Moments in the dark in Nyx's apartment when they could steal time.

It wasn't reality. It was a moment of fantasy. It would never amount to anything. They never said as much as that, but to Nyx, he didn't see how things could go any other way.

Noctis spun back around. “I missed you, okay?”

This couldn't be encouraged. It wouldn't do either of them any good. But Nyx was caught up in those eyes. Those lips. That voice. 

“I missed you too.”

The smile that graced Noctis’s lips was euphoric. ”This room is yours.”

“Huh?” Nyx looked around at the sparse space. It looked like a suite of some kind like for when delegates visited.

“Well, mine. I changed the locks, said I wanted a meditation space or whatever. I’m gonna get a bigger bed and  —”

Nyx didn't let him finish. interrupting him with a hand up. “We can't do anything here. It's too risky. We agreed to the rules.”

“You don't think eventually someone will see me going to see you?”

“That’s less risky than fucking around in the Citadel.”

They stand in silence. Nyx didn’t want to argue about this. He wanted to go along with this plan, wanted to have a space nearby they could easily go to. He couldn’t say that though. There wasn’t a point to it. 

“Fine. Just keep this, just in case.” He tossed Nyx a key card. 

“Noctis.”

He turned his back to Nyx and walked back to the window. “You better go. You wouldn’t want anyone to see you.”

They went one week before breaking in a new bed in room 610.

A year later, they had a new routine. 

The nights Noctis stayed at his apartment, and no friends were visiting, Nyx came over. 

They decided that was safer than Noctis going to him. Nyx would warp to his balcony, so no one at the front would see him. 

On the nights Noctis had to stay at the citadel, Nyx took a night shift, they stayed in the room together after. 

It was trouble. Nyx was in trouble. His friends knew he was seeing someone, but couldn't figure out who. Crowe had guessed it was most likely the stranger. But Nyx never even let them know if that was true. 

“Hey babe,” Nyx whispered into Noctis’s warm shoulder.  

“Hmm.”

“Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow?”

Noctis cracked one eye open. “Why?”  

“It's tradition.”

“Doing something once doesn't make it tradition.”  Noctis closed his eyes again. 

“Well technically twice.” 

In reply, Noctis yawned. It was fucking cute. “When we first met doesn't count.”

“It does to me.” Nyx kissed his shoulder. 

Noctis tilted his head to properly look at Nyx. “Two years tomorrow? You’re getting sentimental.”

“For you? Always.”

Noctis rolled his eyes. Nyx laughed, and pulled Noctis on top of him. 

Nyx arrived home after dinner, exhausted. Being on guard duty at the gate was shit. Luche was shit, the food was shit. What the hell was going on these days? 

He was more than ready to get comfortable, grab a beer from the fridge, and zone out on some shitty television. 

As he pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the ground, he heard a noise from the bedroom. He paused, one hand poised to toss some magic if needed. 

“Hello?” 

Soft bare footsteps crossed down the small hallway. Nyx immediately recognized them before the familiar figure of Noctis appeared in his living room. 

Everything else he had been thinking about went out the window. 

“Babe,” he couldn't help smiling as he crossed the short distance and pulled Noctis up into a hug, holding him close. 

Noctis didn't say a word. He only gripped Nyx tight, fingers digging into the bare skin of his back. He was shaking. Something was wrong. Luche’s words from the diner suddenly hit him. 

More like our surrender…

“Noct?” Nyx pulled back. He gripped Noctis’s shoulders. 

His blue eyes were red around the edges and wet. His brows furrowed. 

He’d never seen Noctis this upset. Emotional about other things, sure, but he looked like he’d been crying for hours. “What's going on? You know you're not supposed to be here.”

“There's no time to care about that, not anymore.”

“What?”

“Can- can we sit?” 

Nyx released him. Noctis moved to the living room and sat, elbows on his knees and head in his hands. 

“I have to leave Insomnia soon.”

Nyx sat in the ground in front of him. “What happened? Is it because of the Niffs? The attack?” 

“They're going to announce a ceasefire.”

“No..fuck…”

“I...one of the terms is, I have to marry Luna.” Noctis kept his head down and avoided eye contact. 

This wasn’t what he expected at all. Nyx sat back on his heels. Noct still covered his face. They sat there, while Nyx’s thoughts raced. At the end of the day, though, he would do whatever Noctis wanted him to. And if he wanted to fix this, then Nyx would fix it. 

“Look at me. Hey.” He reached up slowly and put Noctis's hands into his own, intertwining their fingers. Noctis blinked at him, but didn’t look away. 

“I can’t do anything about it.” 

“I know. We’ll figure this out. okay? Let's order some food, and we can talk this through.” 

Noctis sniffed. Then he leaned forward so their foreheads touched. 

“Okay.” 

When Noctis’s phone rang the next morning, Nyx nearly threw himself off the bed before remembering they weren’t in the Citadel.

“Hello?” Noctis answered. Then his expression shifted as the person on the other end spoke. 

“Well the alarm sure didn’t.” Noctis sat up and gave Nyx a concerned look. 

….

“But it’s so early,”

….

Nyx snaked his fingers across the sheets to drag up Noctis’s side. He swatted at Nyx’s hand and widened his eyes, mouthing no. 

“Right.”

…

Nyx laid back, but kept his eyes on Noctis and drew small circles on his thigh. Noctis shook him off.  

“I will be.” 

…

“i know.”

…

“Then guess I'd better get up.” He hung up the phone and fell backwards. 

Nyx scooted closer. “Ignis?” 

“He's on his way to the Citadel. He thinks I’m there." 

Dreams of having a low morning and breakfast were canceled, then. “Remember the plan. You find out when you’re supposed to leave. Meet me here after my shift today and tell me. I'll meet you at the gate when that time comes.Got it?”

“Got it.” Noctis rolled enough to kiss Nyx, then moved the other way to get out of bed. Nyx watched him as he disappeared into the bathroom. 

The idea of leaving Insomnia didn't bother Nyx much. He figured he'd be back eventually. 

Nyx wasn’t an idiot. There wasn't anything they could do to stop this wedding. Not with the peace treaty on the line. However, Noctis believed that Luna, his childhood friend, would understand the situation and they could make some kind of arrangement. In Altissia, they could figure it out. 

Then they would come back to Insomnia, and go from there. 

Nyx wasn't sure if he was glad, or even more pissed, that Noctis was waiting for him in their room after he got the assignment to pick him up. Noctis sat at the window, looking out over the city, no lights on in the room. 

When the door closed, Noctis's shoulders raised. Not startled. Bracing. Nyx should control his temper, but this time things were personal. 

“You couldn't tell me about galahd last night?” 

“You're a terrible liar,” Noctis whispered. “If you were around other glaives when the news broke they would know something was up.” 

“Fuck that!” Nyx stormed ahead. “Why didn't you tell me?” 

Instead of facing Nyx, Noctis buried his head in his hands. 

“I just… I wasn't thinking okay? I just wanted to see you and the news of Luna and me leaving Insomnia…”

At first, Nyx’s temper rose more, but as he watched Noctis, he softened. 

“You're such a prince, sometimes.” 

“Nyx, stop.”

“I just mean, sometimes you just have things you don't see. and I get it. But listen, tell me everything, okay?”

Noctis didn't move. So Nyx did, sliding closer until he could wrap an arm around Noctis’s shoulders. 

“Please look at me.” 

Noctis did so. His lips were pressed together tight.  

“Whatever happens, we tackle it together, remember?"

“I remember.”

Nyx pulled him into a hug and held on tight. 

“But how do we tackle all this? It’s so much.” 

“One day at a time. Slow and steady.” 

When Noctis laughed, Nyx shifted to hold his face in his hands. “I'm serious.”

Finally some of the tension left Noctis’s face. He placed his hands over Nyx’s. “What's the plan for tomorrow?”

“How about we start with tonight?” 

“I can’t, the guys are heading over to my place to pack and I don't know how long they’ll stay over.”

“So tomorrow. We’ll figure things out tomorrow. Right now, let's get you home.”

Nyx's phone rang as they got onto the freeway. It was Libertus, so he answered on speaker phone.

“Yo Lib,”

“Hey. Where are you?”

Noct and Nyx share a look. “Just left the Citadel.”

“And the prince?”

“He's nappin in the back.” 

Noctis silently snorted. 

“Course he is.”

“You need somethin?” 

“Nah, it’s nothin’. Later.” 

“What was that about?” Noctis asked after he hung up. 

“Who knows, I'll check with him later. Maybe he just wanted to chat.” It was the truth. Libertus wasn’t a phone call kind of guy unless it was an emergency. 

As they continued driving, Noctis’s phone rang. When he pulled it out of his pocket, he made a sound. 

“What?” Nyx glanced over a little as Noctis stared at the screen. 

“It's Iris. She never calls.” He answered, but didn't put it on speaker. Nyx focused on driving.  

“Hello? Iris? Something wrong?”

…

“Oh, that's it?” 

…

“Hey don't worry, I'll make sure to say goodbye before we leave, promise.”

…

“I appreciate it.” 

…

“Okay, I'm gonna go. See you soon.”

They sat in silence. Nyx didn't want to pry. Iris was just a kid. 

“She's worried. She's smart. I’m sure she knows something is up.”

“Everyone's gonna get more worried as things sink in.”

Nyx exited the freeway. They were close to Noctis's apartments. 

“I'm sorry again. About not telling you.”

“Hey, we've moved on. We stick with our plan, there is nothing we can do about galahd right now.”

“I wish there was. You know that right?”

As Nyx pulled into the parking garage and found a dark corner spot, he sighed. He parked the car and turned it off. 

“I know. And I'm not mad at you. You didn't make this call.”

Noctis frowned. Nyx wouldn't say out loud his anger at the king. But Noctis would understand what he meant. 

“Come here.” He wrapped his arms around Noctis’s shoulders and pulled him close. Noctis leaned into the touch, and kissed him softly. 

When they separated, Nyx swiped his thumb under Noctis’s right eye. 

“See you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow.” Noct whispered, and then got out of the car. 

Even though things were kind of fucked up, Nyx was strangely invigorated. After his shower the next morning, he headed out for work at the west gate. 

As he made his way down the street, a car he was all too familiar with pulled up beside him. With the tinted windows Nyx couldn't see who was driving so he schooled his expression as the passenger side window rolled down. 

Drautos was at the wheel, and there was no one else in the car. 

“Sir?” Nyx’s blood ran cold. He clenched the hand at his side into a fist, but kept his face neutral.

“Get in.” Drautos ordered. 

Nyx looked around, like he could see Noctis somewhere nearby. He couldn't help it.

“Ulric.”

“I'm reporting to my post, sir.”

“New orders. Come on. We've got a princess to pick up.”

This was becoming a strange trend among the glaives. Crowe had just been sent out to find Princess Lunafreya. Tredd and several others had been called to the border. It didn't feel right. He used moving around the front of the car to clear his throat and think. If the princess, as in Lunafreya, as in the person Noctis is supposed to meet in Altissia was here, the fuck was Crowe doing? And what about Noctis? Had the plan already changed?

“Nice ride, sir.” Was what he settled on saying as he got in the car. 

“It belongs to the prince. We've taken him outside the city.”

Unable to pretend, nyx hit his breaking point. “What? Today!”

Drautos eyed him as he drove. “The king has a plan of his own. Prince Noctis and Princess Lunafreya were to meet far from insomnia. He left just before we got word she arrived.”

“That doesn't make any sense.” Nyx let slip out in his panic. Had Noctis tried to reach out somehow this morning? No, there was no way. If he had to already leave, he was surely panicked about what Nyx would do. 

“i know it. She's complicating things. We have tried hailing Crowe but can't reach her. Still trying to figure out what went wrong there.”

Once again Nyx’s blood ran cold. Crowe may joke around a lot, but she always took her job seriously. Something must have happened. 

“If Crowe just left, and the princess was on her way, there's nothing she could have done.”

Drautos grunted. then tilted his chin. “There.” 

He pulled to a stop in the road where a guard had held up another sleek black car. A man dressed in formal black and white stood outside the car, shouting. Nyx followed Drautos out of the car and towards them. 

“—I am the personal escort of Lady Lunafreyanox fleuret, princes to the former Tenebrae and —”

Drautos took longer steps. “And our kingdom's beloved bride to be. Welcome to sovereign jurisdiction, ambassador. We'll take care of things from here.”

“Forgive me, Captain Drautos.”

Drautos turned to Nyx. “See her highness to the Citadel.” 

The ambassador continued babbling while Nyx got into the driver's seat and shut the door. He couldn't help taking a moment before glancing into the rearview mirror, where Luynafreya’s serious stare was already trained on him.

Pictures in the news didn't quite do the princess justice. She was stunning, with piercing blue eyes, pale skin, and perfectly styled hair. But her mouth was closed tight, thin lips not even showing a hint of a smile. 

“Your Highness.”

She turned her head to look out the window. Nyx started to drive before making Drautos suspicious. He couldn't stay quiet here though. Something wasn't right. 

“I'm Nyx. Nyx Ulric.” 

Lunafreya’s head snapped back to face him. He slowed down a little.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I do.”  

Knowing who Nyx was could mean several things. He had to tread carefully. “Do you know why you’re here, and Noctis is gone?”

“What?” She leaned forward. Her hands gripped the headrest of Nyx’s seat. 

“Yeah, supposedly already left to meet you in Altissia. He wasn't supposed to leave for a few days, though. I just saw him last night.” 

He skipped a few questions, like how do you feel about marrying Noctis or hey can I tag along with you and Noctis for the rest of your lives. There wasn't time for him to ask things like that when he needed to sort out what the hell was going on. 

The grip on the headreset tightened, by the sound of the leather.

“I didn't know he was leaving. I assumed we’d go to Altissia together after meeting here. I had… intended to bring you as one of my guards.” 

Nyx nearly slammed on the brakes. “So you do know.”

“He speaks very highly of you.” Her voice softened, and Nyx really wished they were meeting under different circumstances. 

But Nyx could work with this. He had an ally now in the Citadel, someone who could learn way more than Nyx could. 

“Listen, I'm worried you're both in danger.”

“I think I would agree with that assessment. What can be done?” 

“I'll take you to King Regis, see what he says. You two are okay, right?”

“I hope so. I have never held anything against King Regis, unlike my brother.” 

“Then we’ll start there."

“Can’t you call Noctis?” 

“We didn't use phones. Too risky.” 

Lunafreya paused, then sat back. “Alright, I'll play dumb with King Regis. Can I talk to you more after?” 

“I’ll consider myself your guard until you kick me out.” 

“Perfect.” 

They drove in silence as Nyx pulled into the Citadel parking garage.

“Thank you.” She whispered.

“Don't thank me yet.” 

Nyx should have known all along Luche was a fucking traitor. 

Every step of the way, nyx and luynafreya were met with traitors. He didnt like to doubt, but things were looking pretty fucking bleak. With several bullets in his chest and stomach. He didn't have long before he would bleed out. Hopefully lunafreya could get away with the ring, at least. 

A car pulled up. Drautos stepped out, and Nyx thought maybe he could yet be saved here. 

A lot of things happened quickly, and as if someone were trying to fast forward and skip parts.   

Luche screamed. Nyx managed to glance up to see him on fire, disintegrating into lunna’s hands. Then the squealing of tires screamed by Nyx, and slammed dratous against the wall. 

“No!” Nyx shouted, but ended up coughing up blood. Fuck. 

The car was sudddenly flipped, revealing not Drautos, but General fucking Glauca. Lunafreya appeared at his side. He saw she had kept the ring in her fist and Nyx was growing weaker by the second. Glauca charged them both. They were running out of time. Lunafreya and the ring had to make it out of Insomnia, and had to make it to Noctis. 

Noctis would understand. He hoped. Lunafreya would tell him what happened. 

A sparkle of blue flashed across his blurry vision. Glauca was gone from Nyx’s view. He thought he saw a flash of pale skin amidst blue crystals, but no. 

It couldn’t be Noctis. 

Nyx couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer as Lunafreya shouted his name. 

Nyx might be dead. He could hear the sounds of fighting around him. Explosions all around. Then a golden light. Warmth. His body moved inside something hollow sounding. Is it his coffin? How would anyone even have the chance to do that? 

Sometimes he thought he heard Noctis.  

When Nyx opened his eyes again, there were trees above him and patches of blue sky. Birds sang. A cool breeze washed over him. 

“He’s waking up!” Someone shouted. In an instant a hand held his own. He tightened his grip around it like it was a lifeline. Maybe it was. 

“Hey hero.” A familiar woman’s voice whispered.  

Nyx snapped his eyes open. Crowe was there, staring down at him with messy hair and dirt and blood on her face.  

“You’re alive.” He croaked. His throat was dry as hell. 

“The same can be said about you. You fucking scared us.” 

“When Lunafreya showed up and we never heard from you, I thought something had happened.” 

She waved her free hand around, like her being there in front of him was not a miracle. “We can catch up later. But first, someone has been waiting a while for you to be done napping.” She sat up and motioned to someone.

Nyx squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, noctis stood over him instead, arms at his side. He looked like shit. Worse than Crowe. Blood caked part of his hair and his clothes were torn in places, burned. Mud covered his skin. 

Nyx had so many questions. But first…“Noct, I’m sorry, your father, he —” 

“Don’t.” Noctis pushed his shoulder to keep Nyx lying down. “You don't need to do that.” Noct got down on the ground beside him. Took a hand and kissed the palm.

“When we got just outside insomnia, we saw Crowe. Some guys were about to get her, so we stepped in. That's when we figured something was up. We came back in secret. Laid low until everything went sideways.”  

Nyx blinked. He brought his other hand up to hold Noctis’s.

“Can I sit up?”

Noct nodded and pulled him up gently. Nyx took a moment to take in their surroundings. In the middle of a forest. In the distance, clouds of smoke erupted from insomnia. Around them in the makeshift camp he saw Crowe, Gladio, Ignis, Prompto, and Lunafreya. All looking exhausted, beat down, but alive. 

“Lib?”

“Stayed behind to help the people fleeing. He’s a good guy. And Luna healed you while we took care of Glauca and the daemons.” 

“How?”

Noct pulled his hand away to reveal the ring, placed on his finger. 

“Fuck. You survived it.”

“Seems so.”

They stared at each other. Nyx brought a hand to cup the back of Noctis’s head, pulling until their foreheads touched.

“I figured I'd never see you again. The moment I heard Luna was in Insomnia.”

“You're more stubborn than that.”

They both laughed. Then, it didn't matter who moved first, all that mattered was the feeling of Noctis’s lips against his own. That it was real, that they were together. 

The rest they would sort out, one day at a time.