Chapter Text
Lunafreya Nox Fleuret has worn many faces, each with their own role to play; she has been a daughter, a sister, a princess, an Oracle. And, most importantly, she has been hope. Everybody is afraid of the Starscourge, and while she would not say it, she is as terrified as they are. But regardless, they come to her, their fear twisting through them like chains, caging them in a prison of encroaching darkness.
After all, it is the Oracle's duty to keep the darkness at bay, and Luna has always done her duty.
Altissia is a beautiful city. Its beauty is different from Tenebrae's, but no less striking. She wonders what Ravus thinks of it; if he appreciates it as she does.
"Luna." Gentiana comes to stand beside her. "The Prince will arrive in Altissia soon."
"Yes," Luna replies, the Ring of the Lucii held between her thumb and forefinger. It has an unnatural warmth to it that still unnerves her. "I am ready, Gentiana."
"Are you? I wonder," Gentiana looks out at the maze of canals down below. "The Hydraean should not be underestimated."
"It is my duty." Luna has rehearsed the words to herself over and over, since she was a child. It helps, sometimes, even if not always. She can't afford to falter, not now. "Noctis is strong enough to face her."
"The Prince is worthy," Gentiana agrees. "And so are you, milady."
Gentiana is cool to the touch, her hand pressing gently against the small of Luna's back as she leans in, lips brushing against Luna's cheek. The chill sends an involuntary shiver down her spine, but she relaxes into it, and lets a sigh escape through her teeth.
"This is a turning point, Gentiana," Luna says softly. "And while I am ready for whatever may happen... I am also afraid."
"I know," Gentiana replies. "It would be foolish not to be. But you are strong, and your strength will serve you well."
"I can only hope you are right." Luna's grip around the ring tightens. "For Noctis' sake, as well as my own."
-
"Nooooct," Prompto leans so far out of the boat that it looks like he's about to fall in. "Hold on a sec! This is a perfect photo op!"
"I'm not the one driving," Noctis points out.
"Get your ass back in the boat, boy," Cid snaps. "If you fall out, I'm leaving you behind."
Gladio snorts. "Your camera waterproof, Prompto?"
"No," Prompto grumbles, moving to a safer vantage point and taking more photos. "But I mean, look! Altissia is beautiful." He grins at Noctis. "Nice place for a wedding, huh, Noct?"
Noctis frowns; it's fine when Ignis and Gladio make teasing comments, but Prompto's always so enthusiastic about it, it's just... weird. As if he's trying to be as aggressively happy for Noctis as he possibly can be. "Yeah, I guess."
"You must be excited to see Lady Lunafreya," Prompto continues. "I mean... it's been forever. But you've been thinking about her all this time, right?"
Noctis nods. "Well... yeah. But it's more like... being excited to see an old friend."
"Rather than your bride to be?" Ignis interjects dryly. "I hope you sound more enthusiastic when you actually do speak to Lady Lunafreya, lest you give her the wrong impression."
"A lot's happened," Noctis says grouchily. "I just hope she's okay, that's all. She must've been through a lot in Insomnia, not to mention what she's been doing since then."
Prompto's expression sobers, though he covers it up by returning to his camera, snapping a few more quick photos of the Altissia harbour. "So, what are you gonna say to her when you see her?"
"Uh," Noctis blinks. "Hi, I guess?"
"Noct," Prompto sounds scandalised. "You can't just say 'hi' to Lady Lunafreya."
Noctis shrugs helplessly. "I'll follow it up with a 'how are you?'"
He receives three similarly disapproving expressions from Prompto, Gladio and Ignis in turn. Cid guffaws from the driver's seat.
"Look," Noctis says defensively. "I know I'm royalty and she's the Oracle, but we're also... Luna and Noctis. I've known her since I was a kid. Maybe she'll appreciate some normal conversation for once."
Prompto shakes his head, reaching over and patting Noctis on the back. "Good luck, buddy. You'll need it."
"Thanks," Noctis replies sarcastically, shrugging him off. "Besides, there's other stuff to worry about."
"I know, Noct," Prompto smiles, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.
-
The speech goes well, and when Luna spots Noctis in the crowd, she can't stop the smile that blooms outwards until it eclipses her fear.
It's strange to see him in the flesh after so long, as if he's simply a person as well as the legendary King of Kings who will stop the Starscourge once and for all. It's difficult to think of him as anything but the Chosen King when he's only tangible through letters and prophecies. Ever since Insomnia's invasion, all she's been able to think of is forging the covenants and ensuring the ring is delivered to him.
All she's been able to think of is her duty; what it would mean for the world if she fails, and what she must do to succeed.
But she supposes, underneath all that, Noctis is a normal person, king or not. Just like anyone else, he's not too fond of vegetables, he went through a bratty, awkward teenage stage, and he likes to play Justice Monsters. He has Prompto and Ignis and Gladiolus to keep him grounded, to keep him human with some semblance of normalcy.
It's been so long since Luna's been able to think of normalcy that she's not even sure what traits would apply to her.
She says as much to Gentiana, who merely laughs and continues brushing Luna's hair. "There are many things I could pinpoint."
"Oh?" Luna arches an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"You like to sing to Pryna and Umbra," Gentiana says around a smile. "You like to dance when nobody is watching. You have a sweet tooth, and I do not think there is any dessert you are not fond of. You are, however, not fond of being told what to do."
Luna feels herself flush, colour rising along her neck until it reaches her cheeks. Gentiana follows its path with her fingertips. "That isn't always true, Gentiana."
"No?" Gentiana hums thoughtfully. "I remember when you would play outside with Pryna and Umbra for hours, even when it started raining. You would come in all muddy and soaked, and Ravus would tell you to bathe immediately, and you never did."
"That was... a long time ago," Luna says slowly, startled that Gentiana remembers such things, but pleased nonetheless. "It almost feels like a lifetime ago."
"The years are long for an Oracle," Gentiana agrees. "But, my Lady Lunafreya, the point stands. You are much more than an Oracle."
"Thank you." Luna's hand closes over Gentiana's, giving it a light squeeze. She has never exactly taken Gentiana's steadfast presence for granted, but she suddenly realises that she has no idea what she would do without her. "With that in mind, I must ask a favour."
"Ominous words," Gentiana tilts her head.
"I wish to see Noctis," Luna stands, reaching for her coat. "Before I summon Leviathan. Of course, the empire cannot know about this. So, it must be tonight, before the ritual."
"Are you sure it is wise?" It isn't admonishment, nor is it refusal. Luna has heard both in Gentiana's tone before, and this tone is far from either of them.
"I'm sure it is necessary," says Luna.
-
"This sucks," Noctis repeats, for the fifth time. Beside him, Prompto groans theatrically.
"Come on, Noct, I'm sure Lady Lunafreya is just fine," he says reassuringly. "You'll see her when she summons Leviathan. It'll be like a... summoning party?"
Noctis doesn't dignify that with a response. "This sucks."
Prompto stares at him for a good minute or so; Noctis can feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end from the scrutiny. Ignis and Gladio are in the hotel room next to theirs, presumably sleeping, as they should be at this hour. It won't be long before the ritual of the covenant begins. Noctis doesn't know exactly what it entails, or if Luna will be okay doing it by herself, or what the hell the empire has planned for them. After Titan, he's not so sure he wants Leviathan to pop up in the middle of a bustling city, either.
But he keeps telling himself that he's sure Luna knows what she's doing. He just wishes he could talk to her - even an awkward 'hi, how are you?' would be preferable to not seeing her at all.
"You know," Prompto says finally. "If... if this really means that much to you, we could sneak out and try to find her. You guys could talk."
"What?" Noctis turns to stare back at Prompto. "Was that a serious suggestion?"
"Uh..." Prompto scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah?"
Noctis mulls it over. If Ignis or Gladio find out, they're both dead meat, and if the empire finds out, they're especially dead meat. But it has to be better than not trying at all. Noctis has been stuck behind the confines of a wall for most of his life, and on the other side of that wall, the rest of Lucis has suffered. On the other side of that wall, Luna's suffered. And he hasn't been able to do a single thing about it.
Not until now.
"Okay." Noctis stands up. "Okay, Prom, let's go."
"Really?" Prompto laughs weakly. "I was half-hoping you'd say 'Prompto, that's crazy talk!' and we'd get some shut eye instead. But - okay! Okay. I'm with you on this, Noct."
"It was your suggestion," says Noctis. "So if anything goes wrong, I'll be able to say 'I told you so'."
Getting out of the hotel is the easy part. Getting anywhere near where Luna is staying - that's harder. Noctis and Prompto weave through back alleys and along canals, mostly in silence, apart from Prompto's occasional attempts to lighten the atmosphere.
"Say, Noct..." Prompto comes to a stop alongside him. "Can I ask you something sort of personal?"
Noctis raises his eyebrows. "You've always just asked before now. Don't see what's stopping you."
"Do you... love Lady Lunafreya?" Prompto asks, then hurriedly adds: "I mean, are you in love with her? Like... romantically. Because I know the arrangement of you guys getting married was the empire's idea, and it was a weird situation all around, so I wanted to check if... well, after all this is over..."
"If I would go through with it?" Noctis finishes, eyebrows still raised. "If, somehow, it was still an option after everything?"
"Yeah," Prompto nods. "I want what's best for you, you know? So do Iggy and Gladio. So I just want to, uh... know for sure. That's all!"
It's a question he's asked himself countless times. Noctis knows Luna the girl, but he doesn't know Luna the woman. He knows that everybody adores her, and that she seems amazing and has been off doing amazing things while he's been floundering his way around the place. And he's sure he could love her, eventually - because he's sure she's just as great as he remembers, and yet.
Love isn't... exactly that simple.
"I don't know," Noctis answers honestly. "I don't really know her that well, when it comes down to it. So I think I want to... get to know her? More than anything else."
"Oh..." Prompto frowns at that, looking away.
Noctis glances at him. "Something wrong?"
"No, no!" He waves a hand nonchalantly, but still isn't looking at Noctis. "Nope, nothing. Just thinking. I think you guys would make a good couple, Noct."
"Thanks, I guess?" Noctis elbows Prompto lightly in the ribs. "But don't get too ahead of yourself. She probably doesn't love me like that, either. Maybe she just feels responsible for me."
Prompto opens his mouth to say something, but pauses when something shifts in the shadows up ahead. Prompto's hand goes to his pistol, and he edges himself slightly in front of Noctis. Noctis would point out that he could probably take a hit better than Prompto could, but it's honestly a little cute.
"Who is that?" Prompto hisses. "They're coming right over here!"
Noctis hears the click of his gun. As the two figures get closer, his eyes widen, and he pulls Prompto roughly back. "Wait, hold up. It's fine. That's..."
When Luna is near enough to them, out of sight of the main streets, she draws the hood of her coat back. Gentiana stands at her side, the ever loyal guardian.
Luna's smile is radiant, like it was during the speech. "Noctis... hello."