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corxaeternum · 6 years

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Untitled - Chapter One

Notes: AJ here! This is actually my first chaptered fic on here! While it was decided on the fly to turn it into a chaptered fic, it was meant only to be a short story/drabble, but I found myself getting carried away! Couldn’t think of a title name, but that could change in the future. There is a massive amount of characters in here from OCs to Canon characters and I really hope you enjoy it! If you like it, don’t hesitate to let me know! Also, constructive criticism is always welcomed, loves! Thank you for your time and happy reading! Kaden Kankara belongs to @xsmokeypixels

Warnings: None at this point in time, but it likely to change in future chapters

Word Count: 1770

All that could be heard echoing through the night were the constant battle cries, the continuous sound of blades clashing and the ground shaking. Quickly it had pulled everyone from their slumber, each jolting awake, a panicked expression written upon their features as they all looked at each other.

When it came to Jaekey, she had already sprung into action, the voices she heard, all too familiar to her. She had to go; she had to move right away, even when she rose to her feet, she felt the warmth of Prompto’s hand around her wrist.

“Just wait, we should all go together, you can’t go throwing yourself in harm’s way just because there is a battle nearby.”

His words had hazel hues widening as she turned her head towards him. Kaden and the others were all silent for the moment, more so when Jaekey’s expression had hardened. She had to pull her wrist away with a gentle shake of her head.

“No. For once, I cannot wait. It’s Toshizo and Verseon, I know it. I know they can handle their own, but I cannot sit idly by. Understand that they are the only true family I have left in this world.”

In the time it had taken Jaekey to speak, the others had pulled themselves into a more awakened state, even Noctis, which was rare. Each of them was on their feet, quick to follow Jaekey out of the tent and onto the haven. It was in the distance, far enough away from the haven that they were not in immediate danger, but close enough that they could all see the cluster of Daemons, moving under the moonlight. It was the rare glimmer of blades that gave way to witness warriors fighting with their all. It was unmistakable, even in the dark of night, Jaekey could make out the figures, as well as an additional hunter alongside them.

“To rush into battle would be unwise, not without at least formulating some kind of plan. It’s not easy to assess from our place here,” Ignis hummed, fingers coming up to tiredly push his glasses back up.

“Look, you’re all still exhausted from all the hunts yesterday, but I couldn’t take part in that. I’m the only one with full strength at her disposal. Those in that battle, like all of you, are important to me.”

“You think we’re going to let you rush off into combat to play hero on your own? Those men can’t even seem to hold their own.” Gladio’s voice came out harshly.

Much to his, and everyone’s surprise, Jaekey was smiling, a gentle nod of her head. “I’m not rushing off to play hero; I’m rushing off to help those I care for to pull through.”

“Once she has her mind set on something, there’s no changing it.” Kaden didn’t want her to do this, but she knew there was no stopping her. “Steel is her will and determination. We can try to take that away from her, but it wouldn’t do us any good. Her mind is unbreakable when she has decided.”

Another smile lingered on Jaekey’s lips, hazel hues gazing upon her best friend with the utmost fondness. It was quickly erased when she heard the sounds in the distance. She found herself looking at everyone, seeing the uneasiness written upon their features, and more so, great worry in Prompto’s eyes. She stepped towards him, her arms coming up to drape around his shoulders as she leaned up and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.

“Forgive me. I’ll return soon, I swear it. You all need to stay here, and try to rest.”

In that brief touch of their lips, Prompto’s eyes had fluttered shut until the contact was gone.

“I’m going to hold you to that…” He offered a smile, gently bumping his nose against her own.

Nobody else had anything to say, after all, what could they say? The more they tried to speak out, the longer it would take Jaekey to go, and while none were comfortable with the idea, Kaden’s words held true. It was one more glance towards everyone before she held her katana in her hand, nodding before she turned on her heels to face towards where the battle raged on. Without a moment’s hesitation, she was off the haven, and the moment her feet hit the ground, she was running, running without looking back.

“Guys, we can’t just let her do this…” Prompto turned slightly, his eyes moving back to watch as Jaekey got further and further away, “we have to do something.”

“We assess the situation from where we are, devise a plan, and then we set out after her. We cannot act so impulsively as she has.” Ignis shifted uncomfortably, “Kaden, what can you see from here?”

“Well, I mean, it looks like a large group of Red Giants, I’m familiar to seeing them in sets of two, but their numbers right now, they are far greater than any of us have ever witnessed. But what did she mean she’s the only one with full strength at her disposal. For some reason that isn’t sitting right with me…”

For hours, Toshizo, Verseon and Giovanni were endlessly fighting, the movements of their weapons never ceasing. It was like the daemons had never stopped spawning, even when there were no Nidus’ to be seen. For every one they took down, two more appeared. It was as though something was controlling the daemons, bringing them to this specific point as if the goal was to take out the three men who fought endlessly to bring them down.

“This is impossible!” Verseon shouted, his blade coming down as he spun to dodge an attack.

“We can’t stop fighting, not now!” Toshizo’s voice erupted from the groans and murmurs that left him as he attacked, “this is not normal! They appeared before the sun had set, something is luring them here!”

“Keep giving it all you’ve got! Maybe we need to keep going until the sun rises. Sure they appeared before the sunset, but can they sustain being in the light for so long!?” Giovanni’s question was all it took to set a new determination between them.

Jaekey could hear them as she got closer, her blade was drawn as she prepared to plunge into battle. The number of daemons was staggering, it was like nothing she had witnessed before, but that wasn’t going to stop her. It was her movement towards the commotion that had caught Toshizo’s eye. For that brief moment he was distracted, Jaekey had picked up momentum.

“Father! Look out!” Running towards him, she jumped, to push him out of the way, going down to the ground with him.

As they landed, the sword of a Red Giant came slamming into the ground. Toshizo stared wide-eyed, a sigh of relief leaving his lips, yet his gaze fell upon her, concern etched in violet hues.

“Jaekey, you shouldn’t be apart of this.” He breathed.

She was quick to push herself to her feet, Toshizo following after her. There was no time for them to stand and talk about it really, or for Toshizo to convince her to leave.

“You say that like you think I’ll run away. The three of you seem to be having a hard enough time as it is! An extra body could be all you need. I’m here now, and I’m not leaving, so don’t try to convince me otherwise.”

As Toshizo moved in to land another attack, he couldn’t help but laugh, “hard-headed, just like your mother was. I can’t make you leave, no, but for the love of the Astrals, don’t get in over your head.”

“Right! Let’s do this, gentlemen!” Jaekey lifted her katana to the air before she began to make her moves, targeting one of the Red Giants.

“Give it all you’ve got, Jae!” Verseon grinned as he rushed past her.

“As long as we fight together! We can do end this!” Giovanni called out from his position, taking a final strike on one of the daemons that were not a Red Giant.

There wasn’t a need to speak any further, not when battle called all of their attention forward. Though something was not right, it was something Jaekey’s gut that told her there was something more to this; she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She needed to shake the thoughts from her mind; she needed to focus.

It was something in her presence that seemed to intensify things. She had scanned over the field, counted the number of daemons before her presence was noticed by Toshizo, and then, as soon as she was a part of it, the number continued to increase. Each of them was fighting, giving their all, even when fatigue was overtaking them, they kept at it, refusing to give in.

None could focus on what the other was doing, they each had a target before them, and when one went down, the moved onto the next. They were being worn thin, energy levels falling rapidly. It was indeed a hopeless endeavour, but Jaekey alone was determined, up until she was distracted by the gut-wrenching sound of her father falling in the line of battle, followed by the others until she was the last one standing.

“Perhaps we should have run…” Jaekey muttered to herself.

She couldn’t stop fighting, her body continuing to move as she dodged attacks, countered them with her own as she moved between daemons, attacking them in bursts rather than one at a time. With her being the only one still standing, she couldn’t afford to apply focus on them one at a time.

Somehow, on her own, she had managed to take down three before it felt as though her heart stopped. Laughter erupted from the shadows behind her, where she now stood, facing towards the direction she had come from at the start. All the daemons had ceased their movements, standing as if frozen in time. It gave Jaekey an opportunity to let her gaze shift around, spotting where each man lay, nearly motionless, though her attention was pulled back to the laughter, it was all too familiar.

“I must say, I never imagined that I could lure you out so easily.”

#ffxv fanfiction #canon x oc #Jaekey Lefebvre #Kaden Kankara #Toshizo Carmnine-Black #Verseon Black #James Giovanni #Prompto Argentum #Noctis Lucis Caelum #Ignis Scientia #gladiolus amicitia #Hopefully I'll get chapter two out soon #this is a repost but I revamped it a little bit~

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insomniasix · 7 years

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Tragedia Coram Amandum Quae |Part II|

A/N: Mostly explanation part. Working on the rest now. *whisper* It gets more complicated |names and such|

Words: 2676

OCs: Six Ulric, Elderon Lights, Morticia Blackwell, Sha’van Blacke (If you don’t want me using anyone please let me know! )

Warning: Swearing, Violence, Complicated situations (If I’ve missed anything please hit me up, I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable!)

Part I

So, you’re still here huh? Good. I’m starting to like having you around.

Alright, so, last time I told you a lot of things about myself and thinking back on it, it seems kinna selfish. You don’t leave in my head. You probably don’t know what’s going on, or half the shit I talked about. So how about I explain a few things before getting to the good stuff? Yeah, things are getting even more complicated by the minute here, so let me try and clear some of it up.

Where do I begin?

How about Noctis?

Yeah, Noctis sounds good.

There’s a legend going around for eons. It tells the story of The One True King. The one who vanished all Darkness from the face of Eos, defeating the Accursed and his mighty army of daemons.

His name was Noctis! And for his actions and sacrifice, the Six Gods of Old named him “Protector of the Light”.

Time moved on and the people –me included, forgot, or didn’t care about the Old Astrals.

“They disappeared” Morticia Blackwell, the High Priestess, said “leaving only the Holy Protector to look over Eos.”

Years have passed and Noctis is the only remaining Astral. The Protector of Light!

Don’t know if I believe the fairytales about his accent in Astralhood but I know one thing: If there’s someone worth believing in, it’s him! I’ve read the stories, about the ten years of Darkness and Daemons; and to be honest, I’d be scared shitless living in a time like that.

I don’t have to though, thanks to Him; thanks to the things he went through and sacrificed.

If you ask me, the “Evil” he fought, this “Accursed”, he was just another pawn of the Six, too. Just like Noctis himself. It doesn’t really matter though. Gods and Daemons have nothing on real, living, fire-breathing dragons!

Second theme of explanation.

If there aren’t any daemons, what do the people fight?

What do we hunt and kill except from each other?

In the beginning, people were content. They and their children and grandchildren wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore. Especially since the sun stood tall in the sky again. But a few years later, the world became trigger-happy! Killing, stealing, eating each other alive –sometimes that last part was literal, too.

Things got real crappy real fast and the world was neck deep in chaos again!

That’s when the Three Kingdoms rose up.

Lucis, standing proud on the Northeast of the map. Home of yours truly. Ruled by the Lucis Caelum bloodline.

Accordo, on the South. Accordo and its people are pretty chill when it comes to… well, pretty much everything. I mean, they’re probably thinking something like “We’re surrounded by water, what could possibly go wrong?”. They haven’t been wrong up until now. The Accordo bloodline seems to keep their nose out of everyone’s business, action that has kept them going all these years.

Lastly, the troublemakers, if I’d ever seen a bunch. The Niflheim Empire. Led by the “Man of No Consequence”, the “Time traveler” and probably a hundred other self-proclaimed titles, Ardyn Izunia Fleuret and his precious witch of a daughter, Lunafreya; the one who enchanted my idiot father and sent me to jail.

The Kingdoms have been at war for as long as I can remember, the only neutral party being the High Priestess no-one dared to fuck with –I’ll get to explaining her story at some point.

About a year ago, the emperor of Niflheim, Ardyn and his daughter Lunafreya, came to Lucis with talks and ideas about how the two powers should unite. It was a bullshit story the King should have foreseen would end badly.

The emperor and his daughter stayed inside the Citadel’s walls for three days. Luna didn’t need more to put some unlucky bastard under her spell. That unlucky bastard being my father, the great Nyx Ulric! The gemstone of the Crownsguard and Kingsglaive all together.

You know, no matter what I call him now, he used to be a good man, a great soldier and an even better father! He was the only family I had.

He was a fool, though.

So, when Luna swayed her magnificent piece of ass in front of him, he followed like an obedient puppy.

God, I hope it was just that. I hope he followed her to Hell because of her magic; it’s the only way the King –the only way I would ever forgive him.

He led both Luna and her father to the Archives when everyone else was occupied with something. Being the captain helped greatly; he knew every schedule of every soldier in the Kingdom.

Try lying to that man when you get home late. Not fun!

Anyway, the enemy royal family grabbed the Kingdom’s most valuable secrets –and my dad, and hauled ass!

Few days later, the Council of Royal Asses instructed King Regis to send me in jail, to pay for the crimes of my family, saying it’s the only right thing to do. Show the world that no crime goes unpunished, no matter your place in the food chain.

I spent a year in jail, a year of everyone –except maybe a handful of people, blaming and shaming my family’s name. The name we worked so hard to build. A year in jail for a crime I didn’t even commit.

I’m not here to vent, though. So, where was I? Oh, right. Explaining. Let’s see.

Enemies of men.

The Astral, Noctis, took care of the daemons, so they’re out of the list, thankfully. There are more beasts running around now. From spiders –reaching the size of an average sheep, to Behemoths and Dragons; the beasts’ sizes vary, with the largest being High Dragons and the last remaining Zu –all reaching unmeasurable sizes when fully grown.

Between you and me though, when it comes to danger, it’s not entirely about the beast’s size as much as it is the brains. I find humans being the worst of all! A beast will attack when threatened, for its survival; humans, on the other hand, have proved to slay each other for their own liking, for fun!

No, I’m not talking about Niflheim! I’m talking about the Glauca band of thieves and murderers!

They top even the Emperor of Niflheim in both creativity and brutality. Ravaging entire villages and cities, no matter what time of day. Torturing and killing men, women and children alike.

I met a guy once, some five years back. We had both been captured by Titus Drautos, the band’s leader. I was sent to assassinate him –my first and only fail, while my soon to be friend, was out for revenge.

The band had been terrorizing his village for years, so he decided to pick up his sword and title as a renowned hunter again.

Elderon Lights of Galahd!

The man was a beast; but even he wasn’t enough to take Glauca down.

The band had attacked Galahd while Elderon was on a Griffon hunt. He came back to witness his home buried in flames and blood!

Elderon run inside, calling out, screaming for his wife to answer him. For a sign that she was alright, but his wife… Hope, never answered back.

His heart stopped as he reached the backyard.

Hope was laying on the ground, her marked torso pressing against the blooded dirt, all sign of life had left her mistreated body.

Elderon sank into his knees, his trembling, calloused fingers grabbed hold of his beloved’s soulless body, moving her closer to him as he cried, making promises of revenge and justice against the Astrals and the murderers.

Blinded by his own hatred and rage, he didn’t notice I was moving to in too, from the opposite direction. As a result we fell right on top of each other. We argued as to who had more right to be there, to take care of things –not revealing our true intentions, stories or identities. We caught one of the thieves’ ear and they were on us in no time.

After about three weeks, Elderon and I managed to get away from Drautos, thankfully before he or his lackeys got their hands on me.

Elderon got most of it! Defying their orders and defending my honor and dignity.

He didn’t even know me, yet I got away with only a few new scars while his own back was barely recognizable.

“Not all men are evil, yet the line between the two notions is getting thinner every day. I know. I’ve seen people there –I’ve been there. Struggling to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong. It’s now always clear as day. There are consequences, for your choices and the choices made for you. Those consequences and the way you deal with them, are what defines where you stand.” That quote he told me has stayed with me ever since. Drawing a visible line in my mind and placing people in their right side; I have to admit, I think I’m running out of space on the ‘Evil’ side.

Speaking of the line between good and evil, this is where the explanation for the High Priestess comes in. It’s the last one, too. Promise.

Morticia Blackwell. A mighty enchantress. Morta was given the power to ‘Speak’ with the Astrals when she was only a child. As a result she was the youngest Priestess to join the Chantry. Morta made her way up the hierarchy pretty fast as she was named High Priestess at only 27 years of age. All these years later –she’s like twice that age now, she’s still one of the most powerful people on Eos, if not THE most powerful.

Morticia is the line itself.

The Chantry can’t take place in politics or wars. It’s out for all the people Noctis scarified for. As a result, it’s the highest power there is. Both Lucis and Niflheim desire its power, but Morta quite simple told them to ‘Suck it’. She said she’d rather be trapped in the Beyond than decide who to aid in all those meaningless wars the nations waged at each other.

I have to admit, for a gal her age, she has balls; and the sass is strong with that woman. I adore her –when she’s on our side.

The High Priestess is a unique caster of both Light and Dark magic, although she prefers to use her healing techniques as well as the elements. She has great respect for all living things, even if sometimes she doesn’t agree with the choices made by them. For example, when the Niflheim Emperor decided to abduct her, so she would be seen in Niflheim instead of Lucis, Morticia showed them who’s boss. She took down all the soldiers and assassins the Emperor had sent and appeared on his bedside when he slept soundly. Her dark figure rose above him like a nightmarish shadow, everything, from her hair to her eyes to her dress was pitch black. She cast a spell on the Emperor and his followers, trapping them in each one’s nightmare for two days. Two days of sleeping in their beds soundly while their brains were destroying their spirits. A small price to pay, she said. Needless to say Niflheim never whined about her staying in Lucis, ever again.

Thinking on that story, the way she ‘punished’ them, the way she appeared on the Emperor; just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. You see, the Morta I know is always cheerful, helpful to the ones in need; helpful to the ones who don’t want to be helped. In that story, the High Priestess appears nothing like the one of Lucis.

When she’s here; when she’s home, she’s the exact opposite. She’s always dressed in white, matching her long silky white hair and her bright smile that reaches up to her rosy cheeks, creating faint wrinkles around her misty hazel blue eyes.

I always wondered if she was the reason Lucis is considered a Good Kingdom. Morticia being the line –the border between the two notions and nations. But I guess I’m over thinking stuff again.

What do you think?

Hah, look at me. Actually talking to you. I must be going insane.

Well, like promised, I have no more explanations as to what has been going on around Eos. So I guess I’ll start telling you what’s going on now.

They got me out of my prison cell, only to put me in another. This one doesn’t have bars and gray walls. This is the Council room. A large chamber, filled only by a round table and a bunch of chairs right in the middle of it. There are statues of Iron Giants on the walls near the entrance; well, I think that’s what they are. I’ve read about them in the Archives. Noctis really fought those things?

The King had sent for me. They gave me plenty of time to take a shower and get into some new clothes, other than the dirty white scrubs they had me wearing for a year. It sure feels nice having a pair of new clothes around my body again. They also gave me my phone and wedding ring back –guess that means I won’t be going back. Wonder what they have in store for me.

I’m sitting on one of the chairs, waiting for someone to appear. I’ve gone through all my missed messages –all from Ignis. The man knows how to make a woman blush. He knew I wasn’t going to answer but he still sent a “Good Morning” or a “Good night” every day. My eyes passed a few “I love you”s too, as well as some “I miss you”s. I did too, my love. Once this charade is over, I’m coming home!

-Iggy, are you there?

Sent him a message? What the hell am I thinking? How is he gonna answer it? How is he gonna see it? Stupid! Stupid! Now he’s just gonna worry if it’s –oh, it’s been delivered. Oh, Noctis. What am I doing?

-My love? Is this really you? By Noctis, Six, what have you done?

He answered? How the –he’s probably with someone. Maybe he’s gone to Morticia for healing.

-They got me out. Gave me new clothes. I’m waiting for a Council meeting as it seems. Are you alright?

My heart is pumping like crazy. I still get nervous every time I text him.

-So that is why. His Majesty sent for me as well. I should be at the Citadel in an hour. Do you think you can stall them enough? I have missed your voice.

Aw, Ignis. There’s chatter coming behind the doors. Guess they’re here.

-I will do what I can. Make it quick, can’t wait to see you again.

The doors open, here comes the Council of Royal Asses! I look up at them, eyebrow raised and they all stare back, jaws clenched as they see my posture. I’ve crossed my legs and placed them on their table, my eyes never leaving my phone as I wait for Ignis to answer.

The King walked in behind them along with the new Princess, Sa’van Blacke. She’s the only one worth respecting of the entire bunch. The King is… is he smiling at me? This is getting weird. Where is Gladio?

Let me sit correctly, my ass is starting to cramp. Sa’van took a seat next to me instead of her rightful place next to the King.

“Are you alright?” she asks.

“I’m fine. What is going on? What have I done this time?” I whisper only for her to listen, my eyes never leaving the creepy smile the King is blessing me with.

“We are in need of your help, Six. So please” did she just place her hand on mine? I mean, I like Sa’van, I respect her, but is the situation that bad? “Please listen to what His Majesty has to say before the witty comments.”

“Alright” this should be interesting.

TAGGING: I would love your opinion! @fieryfantasy @painchangepeoplexxix @neko-otaku13@themissimmortal @cupnoodle-queen @blindbae @nifwrites @alicemoonwonderland@expectogladiolus @lady-asuka @poisonous-panda @ffxvhoe @warnjai-17 @waifuthewhite@insomniascure @insomniacapples @leafwrington @glaive-eve @swords-light @itshaejinju@rubyphilomela @xnoctits @stephicness @chocobruh-art @thirsty-angst-lord @valkyrieofardyn@daschstuff @titusdravtos

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Feedback is always appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to stand by me! <3

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paopukairi · 6 years

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Agents of Eos; Chapter 1

I wanna thank @birdsandivory on Tumblr for answering my ask about head canons for a Spy AU. After reading their Crime AU fanfic, I thought I wanted to write a fanfic for a Spy AU. If you haven’t read it by now, I suggest you read the prelude for We Were Gods. Kas is such an amazing writer, so please check their content out, if you love Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy or Voltron, then I recommend you follow their blog! So without further ado;

Rating: Mature – Explicit

Trigger Warnings: NSFW, graphic violence, major/minor character deaths, self-harm, abuse and mental illnesses.

Pairings: Gladio x OC, Ignis x OC, Noctis x Luna, Prompto x Nyx, Prompto x Cindy, Cor x Loqi, slight Gladio x Aranea

Summary:

They were only children when their father was killed by the mysterious yet merciless man clad in armour. The youngest of the Caelum family, Bellatrix had to witness her father’s death in front of her and it has scarred her ever since. Things weren’t the same between her and Noctis ever since, as he decided to send her away from the Citadel and she never heard from him or saw him again for the next 11 years.

As years went by, the respect and admiration she had for her brother turned into resentment and loathing. Her vengeance on the man who killed her father kept her going through the years and she decided to join Eos’s Secret Agency Service to hunt him down. But as the years passed by, there were more and more crimes disrupting the city of Insomnia which all sounded suspicious. Drug smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping and homicides were increasing at an alarming rate especially within the city.

It’s up to the Agents of Eos to find out why this is all happening, especially with the suspicion that there is an undercover agent working within the agency against them. Even with so much chaos and havoc going around, Bella’s old crush Gladiolus starts to fall in love with her. But can she really trust him? Especially after all the conflict she went through with her own brother, could she really trust a man to love her?

Both Noctis and Bella are still trying to find out information on who killed their father. The youngest member of the Lucis Caelum family has willing to put aside her hatred for her brother to work alongside him. Will they finally be able to patch things up with each other before their father’s murderer strikes either of them again? It won’t be as easy as they think but their friends and the Agents of Eos are willing to help them with whatever problem that comes their way.

Agents of Eos

Chapter 1: Homecoming

The day had finally come for her to return to the Citadel. A day the young woman had waited for since she was 14 years old. A week after her 10th birthday which was the same day she lost her father, her brother Noctis decided to send Bellatrix away from the Citadel, for her own safety. It took her only 6 months of not seeing her only family, for her to completely hate him, for her to come to the conclusion that he just didn’t care for her. 6 months of sadness, grief and anger towards him was enough for her to hate him. And after those 6 months, when he wanted to see her again, she refused to see him. As the years went by, her hatred for him only grew stronger. He never called her nor texted her. Whenever her guardian, Cor Leonis urged her to patch things up with her brother, she refused, telling him that it was Noctis’s fault so he should apologise to her.

A 20 year old Bella stood outside her empty apartment in the outskirts of Insomnia, waiting for her brother to pick her up. It was a cold spring morning and the sun had risen over the foggy horizon to the east, as the radiance of dawn stretched across everything she could see. The young woman wore a dark red long sleeved top with a v-neckline, black leather skirt, black knee socks and ankle suede heeled boots and a brown long coat. Her black hair was tied up in half up half down hairstyle with her middle parting bangs left out to frame her face. She wore minimal makeup, some mascara on, concealer to hide those dark circles and burgundy lipstick. Even without makeup, she still looked good. Her fair skin with a yellow undertone was clear most days with the occasional spots here and there, she had high chiselled cheekbones, a small button nose, rosy full lips and forest green almond shaped eyes.

As Bella waited for the car to arrive and pick her up, she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Noctis was going to be the one to pick her up, Cor said so himself. She would fiddle with the bottom of her top or on a cigarette and not smoke it because of the anxiety that was getting to her. 11 years of not seeing him and she felt like a complete mess. Of course she wasn’t ready to see him and to be frank she had no idea what to do when they would reunite. When she heard that her brother, the head of the Lucis group was going to pick her up, she felt overjoyed but she was dreading it.

Then she remembered all the times he broke his promises to her; all those birthday visits Cor told her about never happened. Anyone would think that her only family would visit her on her birthday and death anniversary of their father; but this was Noctis Lucis Caelum they were thinking of. To everyone in Lucis, he was a kind, strong and trustworthy person. But to her, he was insensitive, weak and unfaithful. In her opinion, he was a horrible executive director; if he couldn’t take care of or love his sister, then how could he have the capacity to do so for his own clients or companies?

A black car with tinted windows had parked up outside and the lights flashed; it was for her. The time had come for her to come face to face with her brother after so long. To finally see him with her own eyes instead of just looking at pictures of him from family albums or newspapers. She turned to her apartment and sighed whilst kissing the wall; she was gonna miss this place. She’s lived here since she was 15 years old; at first she hated it but with time she grew to love it. Though small, it was the only place she could be by herself with her thoughts, the only other place she felt at home.

The young woman heard the 2 car doors open and close and turned around to see Clarus and Cor getting out of the car. Both men wore warm clothing, Clarus wearing a grey coat and a black suit with his friend wore the same but a black coat. The older man held a brown bag and a coffee holder with just one large cup of a hot beverage in it. When Bella saw that it wasn’t Noctis, she felt angered yet relieved. Nonetheless, a bright smile lit up her face as she ran towards them, closing the gate behind her.

Cor was the first to be pounced on by Bella. She jumped onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him. The young woman was 5ft 3in and anyone could mistake her for his child with the way she acted towards him. The middle aged man took a step back but returned the hug with a gentle smile gracing his lips.

However, after taking a small whiff, she quickly pulled away whilst hopping off him. The young woman pouted with squinted eyes as she glared up at her guardian; an intimidating yet less serious glare.

“You’ve been smoking, haven’t you?” She asked in her usual honeyed and husky voice.

“I know you have.” The dark haired man countered with darting eyes.

“The smell is coming from you, Uncle Cor.” Bella crossed her arms.

“Just admit that you were both smoking.” Clarus butted in.

“Good morning, Mr Amicitia.” She smiled at him and the sides of his mouth perked up as he bowed his head respectfully.

“Good morning, little warrior.” Every time he called her by that name, she really loved it. He’s been calling her that since she was a child and knew it was because of her name and height; though she hated when people would comment about her height, she didn’t mind Cor or Clarus calling her little because she knew it was endearing. “Come on, get into the car. It’s chilly out here.”

Cor opened the door for her and no one was inside, so he really didn’t show up. Bellatrix got into the car and put her seatbelt on.

“We got you something little.” Clarus gave her the Starbucks bag and the large cup. Just as she opened the bag, she could smell the tantalising scent of a cinnamon swirl pastry. “I got you their new Maple Latte. Iris loves it so I think you will too.” She smiled at him with sparkling eyes.

“Thanks.” He nodded and closed the door. The two men got into the car with Cor getting in the driver’s seat and Clarus right next to him.

“You ready back there?” Cor asked as he switched on the car.

“Yes.” She replied and he reversed out of the parking space.

When they hit the road, Bella took out the hot steamy pastry from the bag and began eating it. Clarus noticed her eating and he smiled as it reminded him of a sweeter time.

“I remember whenever you would get nightmares as a child, your father and I would drive you and Gladio to get a pretzel at a Mr Pretzel vendor on the other side of the city.” She too remembered that time and smiled with her cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk. She swallowed whatever pastry she had in her mouth and turned to Cor.

“Cor takes me for pretzels from time to time.” She chirped and drank her latte.

“Pretzels, ice cream, doughnuts, cake.” Cor listed. “At times she sneaks out to get junk food or actual meals.”

“I hope she doesn’t order pizza at 2am like my kids.” The bald man stated and she blushed.

“Haha, you got me.” She scratched the back of her neck nervously. The mood in the car when Clarus mentioned something that had him wondering for years.

“Bella, I’d like to know, and I don’t mean this in a rude manner, just out of curiosity why you don’t speak to my son anymore?” He asked.

Bella’s eyes sparkled with tears as she lowered her gaze to her feet. She felt as if someone was strangling her with a tight grip and found it difficult to swallow the ball of saliva in her throat. Her heart ached incredibly when she thought about her old best friend, how close they were when they were younger…and then when that happened.

“I must confess, I had a crush on him since I was a 10 year old girl and realised I loved him when I was 15. He knew about my feelings until one day, I saw him…with 2 women entering a club.” They both could hear the pain in her voice when she spoke and Clarus shut his eyes whilst shaking his head. “I couldn’t see him the same way ever since. I thought I was able to see past that, but I just couldn’t. It hurt me to even speak to him in such a situation.”

“Forgive me, Bella.” Clarus apologised from the bottom of her heart but she shook her head with furrowed eyebrows.

“You shouldn’t apologise on behalf of him.” She reassured him and placed the empty cup in a cup holder between the passenger and driver seat.

“I should have taught him better.” He murmured. Bella placed her hand on his shoulder and she turned to him. He saw that gentle gaze and her warm smile and it was as if that was enough to make him feel better.

“Don’t blame yourself. He was old enough, so he should have acted on it himself.” She reassured him. “By the way, wasn’t my dear brother meant to pick me up instead?”

A deep sigh came from Cor whose eyes were focused on the road. Her brother had a busy night and he went to bed at 2am. It was understandable he was tired, but he should have kept this promise, instead of breaking it like always. It was good for what little relationship the Caelum siblings had. The older man remembered the night before when Noctis begged for him to pick her up and whined that he would be too tired.

“Bella, your brother had a long night. But that doesn’t excuse him for his mistake.” Clarus stated.

“What do you expect from someone like him anyway?” She hissed whilst crossing her arms. “Always breaking his promises to the only family he has, I’m not surprised.” She whispered the last 3 words with so much hate. “He doesn’t even care.”

“You don’t know that.” Cor tried to defend the young man as much as he could but would fail to do so. “He does care for you, you’re his sister.”

“I sure don’t feel like one. He’s never shown he’s cared about me, ever.” She was slowly getting more and more upset with tears brimming in her eyes. She was finally gonna voice out the thought she had since she was 16 and looked up at Cor with gripped eyes. “…Am I even his biological sister?!”

Suddenly, Cor pushed on the brakes and the car shook a little; the cars behind them were far away thankfully and saw this, but it was still reckless. If Clarus wasn’t shocked by that very question, he would have scolded Cor for doing such a dangerous this, especially with Bella in the car. But he turned to her with wide eyes, his lips parted and raised eyebrows. Cor on the other hand was glaring at the driving wheel as he gripped onto it.

“Why would you even think such a thing?” He growled and the young woman’s gaze dropped.

“With the way he’s treated me, do you blame me?” She asked.

“Even so, don’t you ever ask or even think such a thing again.” The man’s voice rose as he quickly turned around. She trembled a little with a shaky gasp escaping her lips as her eyes widened. He noticed her fear and sharp cold glare dropped when he reached his hand for hers. Her trembling hand found his and he held it gently. “I didn’t mean to raise my voice. But…when you assume such a thing, it means you’re doubting that you’re your parents’ child.”

Realisation hit her in the face as she leaned back onto her seat. She placed her hand on her cheek and gulped as her bottom lip quivered.

“I didn’t…think of that.” She mumbled. “I’m sorry.”

“Just don’t ever let a thought like that get into your head again.” Clarus stated and she nodded. “Someday, that stupid brother of yours needs to realise what he’s done to you is wrong. I could tell Gladio to talk some sense into him.”

“That won’t be necessary. Besides, I’d rather not get him involved in this mess too.” She stated and he nodded. Cor began driving again and they crossed the bridge to enter Insomnia.

The city streets were a little busy with people on their way to work. Bella out of the window at everything that passed by; buildings, people, schools, establishments, her university. This was the place she spent all her life in, but where she was born was far away from here. Though she had admiration for Insomnia, it all felt…too much of a routine for her. Insomnia was a place she had grown so used to that she never really felt excited about it anymore. It was expected of her that when she finished University, she would join her father’s company. What was beneficial about the group was that, not only was it a multi-million gil conglomerate company, they had businesses in every kind of sector. She could easily find employment in one of her family’s businesses that would fit well with what she was studying. It was expected of her to work for the family business, but that’s not what she wanted. She didn’t want to rely on the success of their family to get by, she wanted to do something she enjoyed, start something for herself and get money from it. Unfortunately it wasn’t about what she wanted, she had to help her brother and sort other things out…

“We’re here.” Cor announced as the car passed through the gates as they entered the Citadel’s entrance.

“Stop the car.” Bella quickly took her seatbelt off and the car came to a halt.

The young woman opened the door and closed it shut behind her. Her green eyes focused on her surroundings, the entrance and the Citadel. The painful memories were still fresh in her mind, as if they happened just yesterday. Memories she wished she could forget but they made her into the person she was today.

The last time she was here, she was just a 10 year old girl being dragged away from her home. Yelling, screaming, kicking, and trying her best to escape as Cor carried her into the car, all while her brother just watched silently with no protests. Bella walked towards the centre of the clearing and stopped.

This was it…this was where her father was killed. He was walking her to the Citadel so they could cut her birthday cake he was carrying. There were no security around and Clarus and Cor were on their way to meet them outside. Then, out of nowhere, that murderer appeared, fully clad in armour towering over her with his greatsword in his hand. Regis pulled his daughter around him, but she saw the sword go through his chest. His warm blood spraying over her, turning her white tulle dress a bright red. She couldn’t stop screaming or crying as he fell to the ground, the cake falling with him as she held onto him tightly, never wanting to let go. The amount of blood on the ground looked like a large puddle of crimson red. All she heard from the monster who killed her father were 6 words she would never forget, 6 words that fuelled her vengeance to kill that murdering bastard, and 6 words that haunted her forever…

“You and your brother are next.” Bella whispered as she kneeled to the ground. Her hands were trembling and her heart was beating faster and faster. Her breathing was shaky and uneven and she felt as if she was choking. Her limbs were completely numb as her bottom lip quivered and she placed her hand on the ground, the exact place her father died.

“Protect your brother and take care of him…”

Those words…she wished she could do so but…he sent her away and he caused her so much pain. She bet Regis and Aulea were looking down on them, woeful and disappointed that both their children were on bad terms. They surely must have seen the things she had gone through during the past 11 years and it must have hurt them. Being parents and watching their children suffer with no power to do anything about it, must have been the worst feeling for them. She felt it was her own fault…for causing them so much pain. Her fault that they weren’t resting in peace.

“I’m sorry…” She squeaked with tears dropping onto the floor as if it was going to rain. “I’ve caused you both so much pain…I should have been stronger…”

Just like 11 years ago, Clarus and Cor ran from the car towards Bella and saw her crying with her arms wrapped around herself. It broke their hearts to see her like this, to see her suffer like this, to be in so much pain. This was her home and it had brought her so much suffering.

“Come on, stand up…” Cor’s voice was gentle as he took her hands and helped her up. The older man took out a tissue from his pocket and wiped her tears, thankfully her mascara was waterproof. “Let’s get you inside.” Her breathing finally evened out as Clarus began counting down from 10 till 1, helping her calm down.

The 2 men led her into the Citadel’s lobby where there 2 lifts for both buildings and a reception desk which was empty.

“Bella.” She heard a female’s voice and turned to her right.

The cheery voice came from one of her best friends, Wren Asteria who she had known for 15 years. The young was 27 years old at 5ft 9in with a slim body, straight dark brown collar bone length hair, and side swept bangs, medium skin tone with a golden undertone, rosy cheeks and lips and round bright green eyes. She wore a simple cream fitted jumper, black tight jeans and knee high length boots with her hair left out.

The woman wrapped her arms around her friend and held her tight. Wren knew today would be painful for her. But she promised her that she would be there to support her, no matter how early or late. Bella was grateful to have Wren as a best friend, she was the one who helped her and supported her the most when she lost her father and when she was sent away. It was her who would sneak her out for midnight snacks and long drives to get her mind off things. It was her who knew all her deepest and darkest secrets, hiding them from anyone, even from her boyfriend Ignis.

Speaking of Ignis, he was there too, dressed in a casual dark grey jumper, black jeans and black shoes. He smiled at the 20 year old woman and she turned towards him. Wren let go of her best friend who pulled away and she smiled at them both.

“Thanks for being here. It means so much that you guys could make it.” She stated. “Wren, I know you hate early mornings, must’ve been hard for you to get up.”

“Surprisingly, she woke up before I did.” Ignis accidently let it slip and the dark haired woman crossed her arms whilst smirking and her best friend’s face turned beet red.

“Ohoho damnnn Iggy!” Bella howled whilst nudging her friend who just lowered his gaze regretting every life choice. “You guys did the dirty. Oh my.”

“Bella, please stop.” Wren squeaked as she burst into a fit of giggles.

“Hey, what’s the joke? I wanna get in the action.” Clarus stated which caused the 20 year old to laugh so hard her sides began to ache. Cor just bit on his lip trying not to burst into laughter too.

“Bella, I swear to Etro. I’ll murder you when this is over.” Wren muttered with her face finally returning to its natural tone.

“I think we should get a move on.” Ignis tried changing the subject as he pressed the button to elevator which went up into the many floors of Tower 1, where the Caelum family lived. The doors opened and they all entered. The doors closed behind Cor who was the last to get in and the elevator began making its way up. “Bella…there’s been a slight change in plan.” Her smile dropped as she turned to the man in glasses. Her expression changed within just a millisecond, from cheery and joking to annoyed and serious.

“Cancelled again?” She asked.

“No, Gladiolus and a guest will be joining us.” He replied.

Her eyebrows furrowed together as she gulped. The young woman gripped onto the bottom of her skirt and felt her heart pounding fast, she knew the others could hear it too. Why…why was he here? She wasn’t prepared for this, emotionally, mentally, hell even physically. She could have worn something more formal, she could have worn more makeup too, not to impress him but to look more presentable.

“Why…why is Gladio here?” She asked. “Who is that guest? Why is he here too?”

“Gladiolus seemed overjoyed when he heard you were returning to the Citadel. I didn’t think he would be here this morning.” Clarus commented.

“The guest is a friend of mine, I wouldn’t call himself a friend of Noctis but he wanted to meet you. He’s also a fellow agent.” Ignis stated and she felt Wren wrap her arms around her arm.

“Bella, it’s the Ravus Nox Fleuret!” She exclaimed.

Bella took a step back with her back hitting the wall of the elevator. Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned a faint pink as a soft gasp escaped her lips. Ravus…Ravus Nox Fleuret was here…in the Citadel…to meet her. He was the most eligible business bachelor in Eos AND he was an agent too in Eos’s Secret Intelligent Service. Beautiful would be an understatement to describe him. Not to mention, he and his sister descended from the royal bloodline of Tenebrae just like she and Noctis were descendants of the royal bloodline of Lucis. Now she was even more nervous, she dressed so casually with these two handsome men meeting her.

“W-why…I…he…I’m not ready for this!” She stammered nervously. “How could he just…drop all this on me?!”

“Bella, it’s going to be okay.” Cor reassured her. “Just think of it like you’re meeting normal strangers.”

“Cor, it’s my old crush and Eos’s most eligible bachelor out there!” She whined.

“We’re all here to support you, okay?” Wren held her hand tight. “Breathe in, breathe out; slowly.” She followed her command and her heart rate finally returned back to normal. “You good?”

“Yeah…” She mumbled and the doors opened when they got to the 3rd last floor.

They all exited the elevator and Bella was greeted by a line of the Citadel staff; all of whom were new. She smiled at them and said good morning but was saddened and disappointed there was no one she recognised from her childhood. Cor took her coat and she made her way towards the double doors leading to the dining room. She inhaled through her nose and exhaled slowly through her lips and the trembling of her hands came to a halt.

The doors opened up and Bella entered the humungous dining room whilst examining her surroundings rather than the people in the room. The staff may have changed but thankfully, this room didn’t. Everything was the same, the black and gold damask wallpaper on the walls, the 18 arm gold and crystal vintage chandelier which hung from the centre of the ceiling, the rectangular long table which could host a total of 12 people and the brown vintage fireplace to the left. The windows in the room were situated at the back, with the sunshine not being too bright or too dim.

A small smile graced her face when she began to remember her sweet memories of her innocent childhood in this room; the way Noct hated eating his vegetables, how Regis would tell him he wouldn’t get dessert when he didn’t, how her and her father would sneak into the dining room to eat a meal or snack at midnight. She sighed deeply with her eyes glistening with tears; she wished those memories would last forever.

Ravus and Gladiolus were sitting in the chairs they specifically picked to be seated in. Gladio was dressed in a dark red cashmere jumper, black straight cut jeans and black trainers whilst Ravus wore a grey blazer, waistcoat, trousers, a white shirt and purple tie with black shoes. When they heard footsteps, both men turned to the young woman who entered the room and instantly stood up.

Gladio couldn’t believe his amber eyes; it was really her. Bellatrix who was just a teenager the last time he saw her 6 years ago. But now, she was a beautiful young woman. He didn’t imagine she would blossom into such a woman but here she was, with her long dark hair falling right into place, her almond shaped green eyes sparkling like stars, eyelashes fluttering like wings on a bird, the way her luscious lips pursed together and the corners perking up into a lovely smile. His gaze lowered to her body and his cheeks reddened; she had the body of a fully developed women, her curves driving his mind crazy, those large round bosoms and those child bearing hips. No…he had to get a grip on himself. She was Noctis’s little sister, he couldn’t be staring at her like that and thinking such impure things.

When Ravus laid his mismatched eyes on her, he swore she was a form of Etro herself. But no, she was very much human, an extremely graceful young lady. He had seen and met countless women in his life, but none with such alluring beauty as hers. She was like no other, she possessed not just average beauty but the kind where one would witness Aurora in Tenebrae for the first time. He had expected the little sister of Noctis to be some spoilt brat who would be late, sleepy rude and ungrateful, just like when he met her brother for the first time 8 years ago. However he was surprised that she seemed nothing like her sibling at all. There was something about her, something which drew him to her. He felt like he had known her before, even though this was the first time she had ever seen her. Maybe they knew each other in a past life or in another lifetime.

“Is the great Ravus Nox Fleuret blushing?” Gladio mumbled whilst smirking. The said man rolled his eyes and looked at the man who stood across him.

“I see you are, Amicitia.” Ravus hissed and glared at him. “I noticed the way you’re staring at her, she’s not a slab of meat or some criminal you seduce on missions.”

“Rich coming from someone who pretends to be someone they’re not. Must be easy huh?” The dark haired man took a brutal jab at him but Ravus didn’t take his words seriously. “You know that isn’t her type.”

“And you are? Please, Amicitia. Don’t make me die of laughter. I’m everyone’s type.” He boasted. “Now stand there and watch as a real man greets a lovely lady. You could learn from me. Maybe it could help you on your missions.”

Gladio gripped onto the chair whilst grinding his teeth together, the nerve of him! He thought he was better than him in terms of charm? But what did he expect? Ravus always thought he was better than others, he was a famous businessman and an exceptionally skilled agent. It would annoy the hell out of Gladio, that the compliments and praised only made his ego more unbearable.

“Miss Caelum.” Ravus walked up to the young woman with a small smile on his face.

Bella turned to the man who approached her and looked up at him. Her eyebrows rose as her eyes widened a little and her pupils dilated wider. She felt her face turn hot and faint red. All those articles were right, every magazine was right, he was absolutely mesmerising, his face looked like it was carved by the Astrals themselves, his platinum blond hair looked as soft and silky as satin, and she admired his heterochromia eyes. He had such an imposing physical build with a lean body and looked 6ft 3in which made the young woman feel really small.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He took her hand, placing a sweet kiss on her the back of her hand. She felt his cold soft lips on her warm skin and gulped feeling flustered and a little uncomfortable since no one has ever greeted her like this. Cor kept a watchful eye on the young man just in case he tried anything or said something out of line.

“Pleasure is all mine.” She managed to smile and pulled her hand away from him.

Gladio couldn’t take it, something inside him just didn’t like any of this. Seeing Ravus owning him in terms of charms, but of all the people, the fact that it was her made him more pissed. He couldn’t just stand and watch like this. So he walked briskly towards her with such confidence. Wren, Ignis and Clarus noticed this with the young woman nudging both her boyfriend and friends father with a small snicker. Ignis just shook his head; he knew this wasn’t going to be good and the head of the Amicitia family just sighed stressfully.

“Bella…” The young woman heard a familiar voice which caused goose bumps to form over skin.

The said woman slowly turned to where the voice came from and leaned back as she gasped softly. She felt her heart pounding in her chest and she gulped nervously. She thought for a moment there that she would faint but there she was still standing. It was really him, it was really Gladio who stood in front of her. He looked so different, but those alluring amber eyes were still the same. He looked taller than when she last saw him 6 years ago and towered over her at an outstanding 6ft 6in. He also grew more facial hair and his hair looked longer. Even since she was a teenager, his rugged sexy good looks was a huge weakness for her, but now…he looked more attractive then ever. But then she saw that sweet gentle smile of his, how a man who looked so manly and rough be so soft and tender was beyond her.

“It’s so good to see you again, Gladio.” She smiled at him and his cheeks turned beet red. Her smile was still so bright and warm like a ray of sunlight. He cleared his throat and his fingers ran through his dark brown tresses with a smug smirk on his face as he leaned closer to her but she just leaned back away from him.

“I must be the luckiest man to be in the presence of the most beautiful woman ever.” He winked and her eyebrow twitched. If she was still 16, she would squeal and most likely faint if he had said that. But she was almost 21, she knew better and felt awkward at the compliment.

“How many times have you used that on innumerable women?” Ravus asked with a smug smirk on his face.

Her forest green eyes glanced from Gladio to Ravus with furrowed eyebrows and she sighed loudly and sharply whilst rolling her eyes and shaking her head. From Gladiolus she wasn’t surprised but from Ravus she was disappointed. Bella wasn’t like the women Gladio would often seduce or flirt with, she was his childhood friend and she thought he respected her more to treat her as such but what did she expect from him? As for Ravus, she knew that smirk was full of so much pride and arrogance. She wasn’t someone he could show off. For him to try and impress her for pride and to bring Gladio down was something that really put her off. There stood before her was a womaniser she once loved and a prideful asshole she once aspired to be like.

“Great goddess Etro, what did I do to deserve this?” She asked internally.

Bella walked past both of them and sat down on her the chair at the end of the table; it was her old seat she would sit on whenever the family would eat together. They watched as she walked away from them and sat down with an emotionless stare focused on the table.

“Great going, you two.” Wren mumbled loud enough for both men to hear, as she walked past them to sit next to her best friend. Cor sat opposite Wren, Clarus sat opposite him and Gladio sat with his father. Ravus sat beside the brunette and Ignis sat next to him.

The 7 of them all waited with only some small talk between the others with Cor and Bella staying quiet. The reason she stayed quiet was because she kept thinking about finally seeing her brother again after so many years. She glanced up at the double doors; any minute now he would walk through them and they would finally reunite. When her gaze lowered, Gladio was the first to notice how nervous she looked. She was fiddling with her hair and her fingers trembled a little ash kept playing with her tresses.

“So Bella, I heard you’re a university student.” Gladio stated and she looked up at whilst dropping the strand of hair she was playing with.

“Yeah, I study at Insomnia Crown University.” She replied and both Ravus and Gladio were surprised.

“Wait, you go to the Insomnia Crown University?” Ravus asked.

“Eos’s top ranked university. You go there?” Gladio questioned and she nodded as if it was nothing special. Cor on the other hand just smirked proud of his little girl.

“I study History, Politics and Economics.” She answered.

“I always wonder how you can do it. Isn’t it a lot?” Wren added.

“It’s manageable, besides I really enjoy it.” She smiled.

“That’s all that matters, Bella.” Clarus commented with a smile. “We’re all very proud of you.”

The conversation continued with the dark haired woman staying silent. Time passed by and every 10 minutes the youngest woman in the room would check her watch whilst huffing. It had been 1 hour and a half since she’s arrived and he hasn’t showed up yet.

“Cor, I’m hungry.” She mumbled only loud enough for Cor and her best friend to hear.

“He’ll be here any minute. Just hold off till then.” The older man advised.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he even forgot.” She muttered whilst crossing her arms.

“Of course he hasn’t, he’s been looking forward to seeing you.” Wren said.

“Yeah well why isn’t he here already?” She didn’t mean to raise her voice and the others turned to her. “This is an embarrassment not only to you all but to me too. I apologise but I’m going to my room to get ready for my lecture.” Cor placed his hand on hers and held it tight.

“Your lecture doesn’t start until 11. You can wait a little while longer.” He said in a gruff tone of voice.

“Have someone send my breakfast to my room.” She commanded as she pulled her hand away.

Just as she was about to stand up, they all heard the double doors open. Noctis entered the dining room, with his hair being a mess and he was wearing a black sweater with dark grey pyjama pants. The young man yawned and rubbing his eyes.

Everyone else stood up with respect as he entered the room but Bella just sat there with crossed arms. When her eyes fell on her brother, she noticed how he resembled their father with the only exception being the facial hair. His jaw was square shaped and he no longer had that silly spiky hair. She felt glad to see him, a little giddy even but nonetheless she was disappointed that he overslept, though it was better than him forgetting she was here.

The first thing Noctis saw was his little sister sitting by the table and when he did see her, his blue eyes were brimming with tears. A joyful and gentle smile graced his lips upon seeing her after 11 years. His baby sister, who was once so young and adorable had grown into a young woman. She looked like their mother but with their father’s hair and eye colour. He waited so long to finally see her and now that he was met face to face with her, he couldn’t believe himself. Was it a dream? Was he still dreaming? If it was, he hoped to never wake.

Noctis sprinted towards her and she slowly stood from her seat. What in Eos was he doing running towards her like he was a child? She didn’t understand why but then when he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her tightly and buried his face into the crook of her neck. She felt warms tears on her skin and felt her heart ache. Those tears…were for her. He really did miss her and he really was happy to reunite with her again. Her bottom lip quivered as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him so tight that she feared that if she let go he would leave. Cor couldn’t help but smile at this; at least she wasn’t scolding him like he expected.

“It’s really you…” He whispered. “This isn’t a dream...is it?” It took everything for her to hold her tears back.

“I’m here, this is real.” She replied and he pulled away from her. The young man wiped his tears with his wrists whilst sniffling.

“Welcome home, Bella.” He smiled.

“You can’t imagine how much I waited for this day to come.” She said.

“Heh, I forgot you were coming today, that’s why I woke up late.” He grinned and her smile dropped. She felt her blood boil in her veins as she gripped onto her fist tightly and her jaw was clenched. Just as she was about to approach him, Wren read what was going on, stood up and placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder stopping her from reacting.

“Oh Noct,” She chuckled nervously. “What a funny joke, let’s all just sit down and start eating. We’ve been waiting for a while so we’re starving.”

“But it wasn’t a joke.” Noctis replied.

“Noctis, just sit your ass down. We’re all hungry.” Cor growled.

“Alright, alright. Gimme a break.” Noctis raised his hands in surrender as he walked towards his seat and they all finally sat down.

Bella stared at her brother with so much loathing in her glare that when he noticed her glaring at him, he gulped and felt cold beads of sweat rolling down his neck as he lowered his gaze feeling guilt and fear. She felt a hand hold onto hers and turned to see Cor who stared at her with a tender loving gaze. Her eyebrows furrowed together and he could see the tears forming in her eyes. She just rested her head against the back of her hand with her elbow leaning on the table, hiding her face and tears from anyone who could see it. But when her guardian saw that one small tear fall through her fingers, he growled. He turned to the young dark haired man who looked up at him. Cor glared at his coldly, it was that same glare he saw whenever he cancelled on Bella, a glare of utter disappointment; a glare that instantly made him regret everything he did to hurt his sister.

#spy au #ffxv #fanfiction #fanfic #oc #ffxv oc #noctis lucis caelum #bellatrix lucis caelum #gladiolus amicitia #ignis scientia #ravus nox fleuret #cor leonis #clarus amicitia #wren asteria #writing #writers on tumblr

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the-blind-geisha · 6 years

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You Say it Best When you Say Nothing at All - Chapter 3

A/N: 10 chapter commission for @blustersquall of her OC, Isla Octavia and Gladiolus Amicitia~. The entire thing will be NSFW but each chapter will be rated accordingly~. Thanks so much for your commission and patience~

Desc: A simple touch, a gesture, a breath or a mere glance of the eye, hardly words need to be said much between Isla and Gladiolus when it comes to their budding romance; however, when Insomnia falls and nearly takes Isla with it, it shakes the Shield’s courage in the idea that everything around him—those he loves and cares for—could easily fall even under his protection.

Pairing: OC x Canon / Isla Octavia x Gladiolus Amicitia

Rated: SFW

Words: 5,859

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Isla kept a strong stature when the day arrived for the signing ceremony. She knew the patrons would be restless or ready to fight just having the Niffs within the walls, but the barkeeper hoped the news of Lady Lunafreya being within sight as well would bring a gradual calm to the rising anxieties within everyone. While politics were hardly her thing, she kept the remaining working televisions in her bar on the news network to let those who were attending her place as a sanctum from the insanity about the Citadel a sort of outlook on the influx of incoming information with the Oracle, Emperor Aldercapt, and Chancellor Izunia all within the walls of Insomnia.

Everything felt fine leading up to the signing, but Isla couldn’t help but sense her nerves rattling ever faintly as the channels came and went from one thing to the next. Maybe it was Gladiolus’ own fear that was beginning to take hold of her, but Isla couldn’t very well say for sure, so she stilled her tongue in playfully blaming him.

“I feel they’ve been here for far too long,” grumbled one of her customers behind the bar as his fingers tensed upon the rim of the drink he still had yet to finish. He wasn’t drunk by any means but obviously came in with a chip on his shoulder so to say in regards to Niflheim’s own emperor and chancellor being about. “Just sign the damn thing and get out of our city.”

“I would prefer it myself if they would get to the point in this,” murmured Isla, taking to note what the man had uttered aloud in annoyance in the matter as the news anchor was still detailing the events leading to the moment where King Regis and Emperor Aldercapt would sit to sign an agreement. Her mind a mess of worry, Isla sighed out her disappointment in the matter before tossing her washcloth she had been fondling with absentmindedly to one of her employees nearby. “Going to head outside for a second. I’ll be only a moment.”

Talfus, the man nearby that worked under her, was quick to react and the blacked-haired bartender she hired snatched up the rag in mid-air like he knew it was coming. “Want company, boss?” he offered, shaking the strands of his hair that were longest up front of his features out of his way. “I don’t trust the streets are truly a spectacular place to be right now—alone.”

Isla waved away his concern even if she appreciated it, opening the side door of the main bar to excuse herself and head down the nearby mini-staircase to make way for the exit. The fresh air was welcomed as she ventured merely just a step or two away from the front door to rest her back against the building’s brick structure with her hands to her face. She wasn’t one to get anxious so easily, but with so much riding on this single peace treaty and all they could possibly lose if it went wrong…her stomach began to knot up to the point she was tempted to dig for her phone to call Gladiolus to set her mind at ease.

She even attempted to. Her fingers dug into her back pocket to pull out her phone and unlock the screen, but with the image of her and Gladiolus staring her in the face, Isla found her nerves subsiding for that mere moment at just being able to at least see him and his smiling face. He hardly had to be there in person at times, and as her fingers graced the welcoming image, she shut her phone off and put it back to rest on her person to merely gather her nerves once more before heading back inside of The Caged Canary.

The hours passed uneventfully for Isla. She did her best to stay focused on her customers and keep her worries aside as soon the signing was to take place. During such a time, she found a message incoming from Gladiolus on her device that was him merely checking in for the moment and telling her he was heading to Galdin Quay with the others to rest for the evening. So as not to goat his concerns by accident, she responded quickly in turn to tell him everything was fine though a part of her wished she could be selfish and ask for him to return.

Just as she had hit send, she felt the ground rumble and the televisions turned to an unnerving static as the bottles rattled ever slightly at the minor vibrations that could be felt. “What…What is happening?” Isla wondered aloud, causing a rise in concern for everyone as well at the tremor.

“An earthquake?” one of the female customers questioned in worry as she rose to her feet.

“I don’t like this,” whispered Sakura as she held the beer bottle in her possession rather protectively to her chest. “Insomnia has never felt anything such as this…!”

As the quivering of the ground continued to escalate to where the lights even flickered, the citizens in the bar hastily grabbed for their phones to try and make sense of what was occurring as the televisions went to complete static.

Another aggressive explosion seemed to happen within proximity of the bar, making a sweeping motion to smash against the building and causing many people to be thrown to the right if they weren’t secured in a booth or sitting down in some fashion. Isla found herself falling backward and nearly knocking her head on the counter had it not been for Talfus standing there. While he too was caught off guard, he was quick to react to grab his manager in his arms.

“Are you alright?” he asked as the lights soon went out completely after a rather threatening hiss.

“The city is under attack!” one of the men at the bar panicked after catching in an incoming alert that people should flee the city walls.

She nodded at Talfus’ concern before turning to the fearful group at her bar. “Everyone, get out of here…!” Isla ordered, knowing that wouldn’t require much encouragement as some were already trying to make their escape. However, as the front door opened and the patrons she had tried to do so, Isla heard gunfire followed by horrific screams, which were muffled by the barricade of the brick foundation of her bar. Eyes widened with a quivering inhale, she motioned to Sakura and Talfus eagerly. “Hide or escape out the back…!”

Sakura was too horrified to move as she never had to bear witness to such horrendous sounds before beyond the veil of her nightmares. Talfus himself stood firm as he looked from the terrified Sakura to Isla with a shaking of his head. “I’m not leaving you here—!”

She hissed with impatience through her teeth. “Take Sakura, and get out of here! I’ll be right behind you!” Isla ordered to Talfus as her grip upon his wrist tightened to show her determination in the matter, not wanting either of them to be gunned down by the Empire.

Hand upon the bar countertop, Talfus jumped to the other side while smashing a few bottles and plates in the process, not caring for them as he did Sakura and Isla’s life. Grabbing Sakura’s upper arms, he began to urge the horrified blond backward into his care. “C’mon, Sakura! We gotta go—!”

Before Talfus could hope to make her move even an inch, the door was knocked down by magitek soldiers, causing them all to panic and hold completely still as they were the only ones left in the bar at the moment. Isla found some relief in that as the five soldiers made their way into her place of work, but she still had Sakura and Talfus to worry of as well…and herself…

She had Gladiolus to think of returning to, and Iris…Iris was still somewhere in Insomnia with this overtaking happening, and now she worried what may have become of the young girl given what Isla herself was facing.

The red glow of their eyes were the only thing that they could see with how dark it was given the hour currently and how the power on the block had been seemingly destroyed by whatever explosion rattled the city not far from their location. It was a sight that even made Isla’s breathing quiver in horror as she never had to experience these things up close. She had heard horror stories and tall tales of them, but never would she imagine seeing them with their guns and weapons pointed at them.

“No, no, no…” Sakura murmured in absolute fright, her voice cracking under the weight of dread while tears cascaded from her eyes.

Talfus quickly covered her mouth to silence her only to witness as the machines seemed to acknowledge their presence regardless of it being lightless. “We surrender!” he spoke quickly, making sure Sakura and Isla were protected with him standing before them. “There is no point killing innocents when we are a minimal threat to you!”

Isla, on the other hand, wasn’t about to be taken custody or let these nuisances get away with gunning down the people she just saw flee from her bar moments ago. Grabbing for a beer bottle without one of the soldiers acknowledging her actions, she acted quickly from behind the counter and threw it to distract them. “Get down, Talfus!” Isla ordered, causing the man to react in haste by covering Sakura’s head and to dive to the safety of the floor behind a row of booths near the bottom flooring.

One of the machines malfunctioning from the glass shattering and cutting it apart added with the alcohol shorting out its programming given where the liquid went to rest in its open tears, Isla used the moment of confusion to hop across the wooden top of the bar to close the distance between her and the intruders. Swinging her leg around, she managed to use enough force to remove its head completely from its body before turning her attention to the remaining four.

Even if it tore at her bare knuckles, the ebony haired bartender struck across their metal plating to do what damages possible before using her feet and or legs to crunch their arms and make them incapable of fighting even if they attempted to fire at her and swung their weapons as well to try and end her.

The sound of bullets ringing out and tearing asunder the bar around them caused Sakura to cry in fright as she was hardly one built for war or situations as this. She feared it would come down to this, but the very idea her nightmare would become true was hardly reassuring even with Talfus acting as her shield underneath one of the tables.

“Stay put!” Talfus demanded to Sakura as he scooted out from under the table to aid Isla in the fight. Knowing the magitek soldiers weren’t paying him any mind, he took the axe of the one that had fallen from Isla’s harsh head kick to swing upward at the last one that his manager had yet to touch, dealing substantial damage to it to where it violently and unhumanly jerked about before sparking and falling to dust on the bar floor.

Isla kept herself in a defensive stance with her blooded and bruised fists at the ready, moving down to grab a gun one of them was carrying to get a good look at it when she fished out her phone to give herself a bit of light to view how it truly worked. This may help in aiding me to Gladio’s house to see if Iris and the others are alright.

The raven haired co-worker turned to Isla with a raise of his brow, chest heaving in exhausted fright. “You wanna…you wanna warn me next time you’re going to do something that bat-shit crazy again, boss?” Talfus pleaded just as breathless, keeping the battle axe as well since he figured he needed a means to defend himself.

“I did tell you to get down,” Isla commented in her defense, finding the strap she needed to sling the large gun across her chest and keep it at the ready behind her back. Shining her phone’s flashlight ability about the darkened bar, she hunted for Sakura who she could still hear sniffling in the background somewhere in the shrouded darkness. “Take Sakura and get out of the city. Do you think you two will be fine on your own?”

Talfus moved back to the booth where he knew Sakura was to offer his hands for hers, pulling her steadily to her wobbly legs as another harsh tremor resonated about the City of Insomnia. “And where exactly do you plan on going on your own?”

“I have to get to the House of Amicitia to be certain Iris and them are alright before bothering to make my escape,” explained Isla as she headed for the broken entrance of her bar to take a better look of the outside. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest when she saw the blooded bodies of those she spoke to and served mere moments ago lying there on the back road now covered in dust and rubble from the surrounding hell that had shaken free from the attack of Niflheim. She swore angrily to herself as her head lowered, fingers clutching the doorframe of her bar in regret at not thinking of a better solution for those poor people. “I could never forgive myself if I ran from Insomnia, leaving Gladio’s sister and his chamberlains here to fight for themselves,” she went onward to explain before turning back to her employees. “I have to be sure they’re alright before departing here!”

“They’re closer to the Citadel, Isla,” reminded Talfus, grabbing at her wrist to prevent her from the very thought of running out there alone. “You know they are probably either dead or out of here by now as I am sure the Citadel got hit the hardest!”

“Don’t say such dreadful things,” Isla demanded through her clenched teeth at the very idea Gladiolus may have lost part of his family. “I will get there, and I will be certain they are alright!”

Another harsh quiver of the city sent Isla into Talfus’ arms, making the man keep her steady as he groped for the nearby, circular table that nearly fell over under his weight in the process as the table loosened from the floor it was bolted onto ever so slightly from the second harsh blast within the area.

“Isla, Talfus, we have to get out of here before we’re all dead and buried!” Sakura encouraged frantically, grabbing at them both in the cold dark with a fretful shake.

Isla moved her arm free of Talfus’ touch and soon Sakura’s, giving him an angry stare that only her phone could illuminate at the moment. “I will be fine. You take Sakura and get out of here while you still can!” Taking a few steps back, she ignored the pleading in merely her name being said from her employee before turning on her heels and heading out into the death and destruction that was overtaking Insomnia in the wake of the peace treaty signing.

Ignoring the shouting cry of both Talfus and Sakura, Isla hurried down the road ahead, finding it either blooded by the bodies of the innocents or flooded by, not only magitek soldiers but daemons as well. Part of the city’s buildings once proud and strong in the might of the protective Wall were now crumbled to near nothing and spider web like cracks formed in the streets, making it a difficult venture to the Citadel that even Isla could see was being bombarded by something big…something she thought she had never seen before until the news reports came back to her in regards to a large creature that was dubbed Diamond sometime ago that the Kingsglaive fought out on the field.

“They seriously brought even that thing to the city? They are killing so many unarmed and innocent people!” Isla commented aloud only to stop dead in her tracks when she realized the road ahead was further apart than she realized. It was basically a gaping gorge by this point, making her swear angrily at herself as she hadn’t a means to get across.

As she debated on what to do while taking in her deteriorating surroundings, she heard a shot bound off of a nearby lamppost, catching her attention quickly to what was behind her as she rolled off and away to the nearby alleyway to take cover while groping for the gun the fallen soldier was using earlier. Peering around the corner, she noted a few riflemen soldiers heading in her direction in an orderly line with their weapons at the ready whenever she was to make her appearance.

Sighing at how many there were—twenty at least—Isla knew she couldn’t take on that many alone; especially with a weapon she’d never used before. Two or three she’d take the chance, but not twenty. Looking off to the right, she noted the alleyway came to a dead end, leaving her with the only option to escape back outward and try to run about the surrounding buildings to find another way around to Gladiolus’ house on the opposite side of the street. Biting at her lower lip, Isla’s blue eyes gazed upward at the sky hazed in smoke and sparkling embers of war. Gathering her courage, she threw the gun back to rest over her back without the plans to use it and hurried quickly back out onto the scene to rush to the opposite side of the road.

She heard the bullets quickly after her appearance, but she used every bit of her strength to hurry onward to an alternate path to the Amicitia house. As her salvation to the opposite road came into view, Isla felt relief wash over her only to be replaced with horrific pain as a shot with extreme precision struck her in the lower back, exiting out just as fiercely and crippling Isla instantly at the alien sensation.

Stumbling forward, she managed to grab onto a nearby lamppost on the other side of the road for support as her legs quivered and threatened to give out under her. Hissing with anger at the very idea she was to be stopped from her objective or even gunned down in cold blood as it were, Isla turned with what strength she could manage and readied the firearm in her possession at the rifleman coming at her with the intent to end the injured woman. Her focus threatened to betray her at the blood she was beginning to lose, but Isla did her best to fight against it and as the rifleman responsible for the hit got closer, she let loose a few shots to destroy the daemonic machine.

However, that was one small victory. There were still nineteen more on their way towards her with their weapons at the ready. Gritting her teeth, Isla fixed herself once more and aided her feet in the idea of standing once more. “You won’t stop me!” she screamed in anger, tears blinding her at the very idea that she could take her last stand there. Breath quivering, Isla readied the gun even if she fumbled for a mere moment in aiming it properly. “You won’t stop me from saving those I love…!” she breathed out angrily, the vigor dying into a weary whisper. “You won’t…keep me…from seeing the man I love again…!”

Seeing one taking aim to her, Isla responded without hesitation, firing the gun in her possession to take it out with lucky precision given her blurring vision. When another eight in the front line took aim as the remaining ten kept to the back at an idle ready, she knew this would probably be it for her if she didn’t try to escape at the very least or lady luck decided to smile upon her.

Doing away with the gun for a moment, Isla let it lay to rest across her front for a moment as she struggled to push off of the lamppost she was using as a crutch. Threatening to turn around and make her escape with the blood soaking through her white undershirt, an unwelcoming hissing sound sliced the air in an unnerving melody as an explosion of undetermined origin set off behind her, pushing Isla forward aggressively and decimating the riflemen. Her wound hurting all the more as she fell face first onto the cement before her, Isla cried out in agony but did her best to disguise it so as not to draw attention that she was an easy target for the Empire if they were still about her.

Perhaps she was out for a moment, Isla couldn’t say for sure. All she knew was when she opened her eyes to the hazy vision of the city around her, she saw it dying in hellish fire. It was no longer the pleasant, peaceful Crown City of Lucis, but now ablaze and scarred from the war the Imperials brought down upon them. Screams of humans were ever fainter now and only the horrific moans of cold metal falling to ruin and daemons flooding the streets could be heard dominantly in the back of her mind. Face dirtied and body bruised, blooded and burnt from the fire licking at her flesh from the explosion prior, Isla gathered what strength she could to find her feet yet again.

The blood from her abdomen injury tapped in a steady rhythm upon the cracked street she was upon, leaving her to remove her green jacket and try with what might she could to tie it firmly in place to give her at least a moment more…an hour…that’s all she needed right now to try and make it to her destination or at least close to it. Isla didn’t want to believe she would die behind those walls, but given how wounded she was, she had a feeling she would collapse upon Gladiolus’ doorstep and that would be it for her in the end.

She had to sadly come to terms with the very fact she may not see him again, but if she could die aiding in protecting his family, she would do it.

Legs heavy as lead, Isla did everything she could to carry onward down to the street that she knew Gladiolus’ house was only to feel herself nearly succumb to her injuries to where she fell to her knees in the middle of the continued chaos. Her own heavy breathing the only melodic thing to focus on and tune out the ruin about her, Isla’s eyes turned to the sky, which was blotted out by smoke still. “I’m sorry, Gladio,” she breathed out in somber reprieve, arms outstretched to the ground as if to will the gods to take her. “I am sorry I couldn’t save them…” Her voice quivered and cracked as tears blinded her faltering vision further. “I hope they are alive and well…and…I am sorry I couldn’t make it out alive to see you again…”

Her hearing was fading so horribly that she hadn’t realized someone was acknowledging her. It wasn’t until that person grabbed at her upper shoulder to order her to attention that Isla realized someone was trying to bring her back to herself. “Hey!” the man with the Kingsglaive attire shouted, kneeling down beside her to get Isla to her feet with the aid of another to the right of her. “Are you still with us!”

Isla turned to the unfamiliar man she only recognized as a servant to the crown, giving the middle aged blond a funny look as her senses struggled to continue working with the blood she lost and the horrific pain her body was attempted to numb out completely. Her lower lip quivered as she tried to speak but words left her and even the mere thought of breathing was painful given how dry her throat was and how the fires even ripped the moisture from the air, depriving her further.

As she collapsed against his chest, the man belonging to the Kingsglaive motioned to his partner to help in getting her out of harm’s way. “We’ve got to move! Quickly! This is the only civilian I can see that is still technically alive!”

The raging heat of the war’s fires still burned against her skin, leaving Isla to faintly recall its mark upon her form as even the man holding her brought her little calm or feeling of salvation when she inwardly fretted she was unable to save Iris and the others. Whether or not she would even make it was hardly a passing thought in her mind. She wanted to…but given all they lost, would it be worth it to see the somber, broken face of the man she loved?

If only dreams could truly be pleasant after such a horrible aftermath with the fall of Insomnia. Isla found herself plagued with the horrible memories of that dreadful day to the point her fingers twitched and the ever steady beeping of a heart monitor roused her from the deep slumber she had placed herself within given the torment she intentionally put her body through when trekking through the ruin of Insomnia. Blue eyes fluttering open, Isla inhaled sharply to the bright lights that receded from her view to give her a better look of her surroundings.

“Isla!” responded a relieved, feminine voice to the right of her. Before she could even hope to move her sights to who was beckoning to her, Iris aided her in that personal quest as she loomed over the side of the hospital bed Isla realized she was in. “Thank the gods you’re alright…!”

“Iris…!” Isla breathed in relief, her eyes shifting to the opposite side of the bed to notice Talcott as well as his grandfather, Jared. “I could…say the same for you all…!” When she attempted to move, the pain forcefully reminded her that she was unwell and shot during the attack on Insomnia.

“It’s best you lie still,” Iris insisted with a motion of her hands to prevent Isla from moving much. “The Kingsglaive that managed to make it out alive in that attack found you and you were nearly…gone by the time they got you to safety.” The youngest Amicitia was reluctant to depart with that information, perhaps dreading the very thought. “Why were you so far away from the Wall?”

Isla attempted to laugh, but she found that to be equally painful as well and another spasm of irritation crept from her wound to strike her body like that of a venomous snake lying in wait at the faintest movement she made. “I was…I was trying to get to you…and your house…”

Iris’ lips parted in a means to sigh with regret that was the case—that she hadn’t thought to contact Isla sooner when everything happened. “We escaped the moment the weapons were drawn at the peace treaty signing,” answered Talcott, hating reliving that memory as his voice grew heavy with regret.

Seeing and even feeling the heaviness in the room between the three, Isla was fretful to ask. “Insomnia fell…Didn’t it?”

Iris’ brow furrowed as she brought her hands before her nervously to depart with that bit of news that their home was truly gone, a hesitant nod accompanying her words. “King Regis died in the attack…Insomnia is under Imperial control now.”

Looking about the room, she saw as Jared comforted Talcott who lowered his head in regret and sadness at the loss of their king. It hurt to talk let alone be active, but Isla wanted answers. Who knew how long she had been out for. Her mind drifted back to Sakura and Talfus. “Did…Did anybody else make it out alive…?”

“We don’t know, my dear,” answered Jared as he put what weight he could on his cane. “What few managed to escape made it to Lestallum, and I’ve yet to meet them all. I am sure others may have escaped to other pastures to be far from the Imperial’s grasp.”

Iris did her best to smile in the heaviness that consumed the room. “Gladdy called earlier,” she continued sweetly. “He was so worried about us—you especially since you didn’t answer your phone, but it seems your phone went missing as I didn’t see it on you at all and neither did the doctors when they changed you out of your clothes to assist you. Not that you’d be able to answer anyways being out as you were,” she added with a lighthearted chuckle. “But I would have for you to calm him.”

Hearing he was alright, Isla found relief blanket her in warmth she hadn’t felt in sometime it felt after that horrifically long night that her body wanted her to keep reliving in her dreams. “Thank the Astrals he’s okay then.” She still felt her heart thump painfully in her chest when she denied the idea of shutting down her bar and heading to his home to watch Iris, Jared, and Talcott. If she had done as he asked, most of the incident could have been avoided. Still, a small smile pricked at the corners of her lips. “Do we know where he is…?”

“He said he’d be on his way not too long ago, but they might get stopped by Imperial blockades and stuff on the way here,” answered Talcott on Iris’ behalf.

Isla rolled her head back to lay it to rest pleasantly on the pillow behind her. “I cannot wait to hear him yell at me for being a stubborn mule,” she commented with a chuckle as she was being honest. It would be nice to hear his voice again and see him yet again regardless the circumstances. Closing her eyes, Isla found herself drifting off to sleep without much effort thanks in part to her blood loss.

As Iris leaned over with a worrisome expression, Jared halted her from disrupting the weary Isla. “Let her rest now, my dear. She has been through the worst of it.”

There were times Isla found her wounds aching massively. Parts of her skin had been horribly burned beyond her knowing as she was too fixated on getting to Gladiolus’ house and the abdomen injury she received was one of her worst yet as it pained her to even consider drinking anything even if the medical staff insisted it was well enough for her to do so. In the moment of being tended to, she heard the muffled shouting of her name through the walls and down the nearby hall hours later from within Lestallum’s medical ward. It was a voice she’d recognize anywhere and she quivered when trying to speak his name.

“Gladio…?” she questioned, hoping she wasn’t hallucinating with the medicine bogging her down and how lethargic she felt. Iris’ head even perked up at the sound of her brother running through the halls and to the medical room.

The door flew open as Gladiolus entered the room with a frantic expression to what news he had been given a day or so ago. Hurrying to his sister, he grabbed at her hands. “Are you alright?” he asked before pulling from her to note Isla lying there in the hospital bed as she was.

“I’m fine, Gladdy—we’re fine,” Iris answered, letting him move to Isla’s side. “Isla is a bit…well…” She didn’t want to continue, knowing it was probably for the best they speak of their own accord to one another.

Jared even sensed the very idea the two would be best left alone even if with a healer nearby and motioned for Talcott and Iris to follow him outside to the hallway.

“Isla…” Gladiolus breathed in distress as he saw what had become of her, his nightmare near realized given how close to death she was last he heard from Iris.

It was a sight of him she had never seen. Rarely had he ever appeared so concerned or as though he had failed her somehow. It was truly heartbreaking and brought Isla to a forced smile. “Hey, big guy…”

Grabbing the nearby chair to pull it closer to the bedside, Gladiolus groped at her hand to hold it comfortably within his warm grasp. “What the hell were you thinking?” he asked through his clenched teeth, his amber eyes shining with the hint of tears at the very fear that stabbed at his heart he could have lost everyone in that attack. “You could have died out there!” Gladiolus did his best to quiet his voice but his emotions he kept buried under it all to remain a perfect Shield to it all was quickly crumbling around him in the moment.

“I…” Isla’s fingers lightly squeezed the side of his hand to try and reassure him she was there as he acted as though she were dying. “…We got attacked at the bar…my customers all gunned down, and I have no idea what became of Sakura or Talfus as I separated from them to try and see if Iris and the others were alright. I couldn’t leave without knowing they were…” A small, weary laughing sigh passed her nostrils. “Nor could I die without having my answers��”

Gladiolus shook his head at her words, his other hand lying upon her ebony strands before he moved in his seat to place a tender kiss there in its stead. His grasp remaining clasped upon hers, he brought it close to his beating heart, which ached in the position she resided in now. Isla was in pain and given the placement of the bullet wound and what it struck, she’d have to be in a wheelchair for a bit until she healed and was able to regain control of her body yet again after the attack as she pushed herself to her absolute limits in those last few moments of Insomnia’s fall.

#gladiolus amicitia #gladiolus amicitia x oc #oc x canon #not my oc #isla octavia #ffxv fanfic #ffxv oc #ffx fanfiction #ffxv #ff15 #final fantasy xv #final fantasy 15 #commission #iris amicitia

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corxaeternum · 6 years

Text

Untitled - Chapter One

Warnings: None at this point in time, but it likely to change in future chapters

Tagging: @crowncitizens (since my teaser was so mean I tagged you~), @ffxv-ocs-unite

All that could be heard echoing through the night were the constant battle cries, the endless sound of blades clashing and the ground shaking. Quickly it had pulled everyone from their slumber, each jolting awake, a panicked expression written upon their features as they all looked at each other.

When it came to Jaekey, she had already sprung into action, the voices she heard, all too familiar to her. She had to go, she had to move right away, even when she rose to her feet, she felt the warmth of Prompto's hand around her wrist.

"Just wait, we should all go together, you can't go throwing yourself in harm's way just because there is a battle nearby."

His words had hazel hues widening as she turned her head towards him. Kaden and the others were all silent for the moment, more so when Jaekey's expression had hardened. She had to pull her wrist away with a gentle shake of her head.

"No. For once, I cannot wait. It's Toshizo and Verseon, I just know it. I know they can handle their own, but I cannot sit idly by. Understand that they are the only true family I have left in this world."

"To rush into battle would be unwise, not without at least formulating some kind of plan. It's not easy to assess from our place here," Ignis hummed, fingers coming up to tiredly push his glasses back up.

"Look, you're all still exhausted from all the hunts yesterday, but I couldn't take part in that. I'm the only one with full strength at her disposal. Those in that battle, like all of you, are important to me."

"You think we're going to let you just rush off into combat to play hero on your own? Those men can't even seem to hold their own." Gladio's voice came out harshly.

Much to his, and everyone's surprise, Jaekey was smiling, a gentle nod of her head. "I'm not rushing off to play hero, I'm rushing off to help those I care for to pull through."

"Once she has her mind set on something, there's no changing it." Kaden didn't want her to do this, but she knew there was no stopping her. "Steel is her will and determination. We can try to take that away from her, but it wouldn't do us any good. Her mind is unbreakable when she has decided."

Another smile lingered on Jaekey's lips, hazel hues gazing upon her best friend with the utmost fondness. It was quickly erased when she heard the sounds in the distance. She found herself looking at everyone, seeing the uneasiness written upon their features, and more so, intense worry in Prompto's eyes. She stepped towards him, her arms coming up to drape around his shoulders as she leaned up and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.

"Forgive me. I'll return soon, I swear it. You all just need to stay here, and try to rest."

In that brief touch of their lips, Prompto's eyes had fluttered shut until the contact was gone.

"I'm going to hold you to that..." He offered a smile, gently bumping his nose against her own.

Nobody else had anything to say, after all, what could they say? The more they tried to speak out, the longer it would take Jaekey to go, and while none were comfortable with the idea, Kaden's words held true. It was one more glance towards everyone before she held her katana in her hand, nodding before she turned on her heels to face towards where the battle raged on. Without a moment's hesitation, she was off the haven, and the moment her feet hit the ground, she was running, running without looking back.

"Guys, we can't just let her do this..." Prompto turned slightly, his eyes moving back to watch as Jaekey got further and further away, "we have to do something."

"We assess the situation from where we are, devise a plan and then we set out after her. We cannot act so impulsively as she has." Ignis shifted uncomfortably, "Kaden, what can you see from here?"

"Well, I mean, it looks like a large group of Red Giants, I'm familiar to seeing them in sets of two, but their numbers right now, they are far greater than any of us have ever witnessed. But what did she mean she's the only one with full strength at her disposal... For some reason that isn't sitting right with me..."

For hours, Toshizo, Verseon and Giovanni were endlessly fighting, the movements of their weapons never ceasing. It was like the daemons had never stopped spawning, even when there were no Nidus' to be seen. For every one they took down, two more appeared. It was as though something was controlling the daemons, bringing them to this specific point as if the goal was to take out the three men who fought endlessly to bring them down.

"This is impossible!" Verseon shouted, his blade coming down as he spun to dodge an attack.

"We can't stop fighting, not now!" Toshizo's voice erupted from the groans and murmurs that left him as he attacked, "this is not normal! They appeared before the sun had set, something is luring them here!"

"Just keep giving it all you've got! Maybe we just need to keep going until the sun rises. Sure they appeared before the sunset, but can they really sustain being in the light for so long!?" Giovanni's question was all it took to set a new determination between them.

Jaekey could hear them as she got closer, her blade drawn as she prepared to plunge into battle. The number of daemons was staggering, it was like nothing she had witnessed before, but that wasn't going to stop her. It was her movement towards the commotion that had caught Toshizo's eye. For that brief moment he was distracted, Jaekey had picked up momentum.

"Father! Look out!" Running towards him, she jumped, to push him out of the way, going down to the ground with him.

As they landed, the sword of a Red Giant came slamming into the ground. Toshizo stared wide-eyed, a sigh of relief leaving his lips, yet his gaze fell upon her, concern etched in violet hues.

"Jaekey, you shouldn't be apart of this." He breathed.

She was quick to push herself to her feet, Toshizo following after her. There was no time for them to really stand and talk about it, or for Toshizo to convince her to leave.

"You say that like you think I'll run away. The three of you seem to be having a hard enough time as it is! An extra body could be all you need. I'm here now and I'm not leaving, so don't try to convince me otherwise."

As Toshizo moved in to land another attack, he couldn't help but laugh, "hard-headed, just like your mother was. I can't make you leave, no, but for the love of the Astrals, don't get in over your head."

"Right! Let's do this, gentlemen!" Jaekey lifted her katana to the air before she began to make her own moves, targeting one of the Red Giants.

"Give it all you've got, Jae!" Verseon grinned as he rushed past her.

"As long as we fight together! We can do end this!" Giovanni called out from his position, taking a final strike on one of the daemons that were not a Red Giant.

There wasn't a need to speak any further, not when battle called all of their attention forward. Though something was not right, it was something Jaekey's gut that told her there was something more to this, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She needed to shake the thoughts from her mind, she needed to focus.

None could focus on what the other was doing, they each had a target before them, and when one went down, the moved onto the next. They were being worn thin, their energy levels falling rapidly. It was truly a hopeless endeavour, but Jaekey alone was determined, up until she was distracted by the gut-wrenching sound of her father falling in the line of battle, followed by the others until she was the last one standing.

"Perhaps we should have run..." Jaekey muttered to herself.

She couldn't stop fighting, her body continuing to move as she dodged attacks, countered them with her own as she moved between daemons, attacking them in bursts rather than one at a time. With her being the only one still standing, she couldn't afford to apply focus on them one at a time.

"I must say, I never imagined that I could lure you out so easily."

#FFXV #FFXV OC #final fantasy xv fanfiction #Chapter 1 #ffxv fanfiction #prompto x oc #Prompto Argentum #Ignis Scientia #Jaekey Lefebvre #Noctis Lucis Caelum #Kaden Kankara #gladiolus amicitia #Toshizo Carmine-Black #Verseon Black #James Giovanni #ignis x oc #The next chapter will focus more around Kaden and the others 0/#Cause they are all super duper important in the plot of this fic!#I'm super excited and yet super nervous about posting this!

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insomniasix · 7 years

Text

Tragedia Coram Amandum Quae |Part III|

A/N: Finally Friday!! Move it brain, we have work to do.

Words: 2653

OCs: Six Ulric , Sa’van Blacke , Morticia Blackwell (Slight mention)

Warning: Swearing

Part II

We’ve been in this meeting for half an hour and I’m already tired of hearing that me being out of jail is a bad idea; or that it won’t solve any of their problems, or that it’ll only make more.

Sa’van is keeping her royal posture while Regis talks –loose wavy hair, perfect make-up over her amber eyes, chin held high and a look as bright as her aura; she really is Princess material.

Me on the other hand, I’m starting to regret deleting King’s Knight.

My eyes just dart around or roll all the way to my brain when someone talks; the messages from Ignis being the only thing that keeps me from going insane.

-I will reach the Citadel in approximately fifteen minutes. How is the meeting going?

I smile at the idea that I’ll see him again.

-I want to stab everyone!

-Try not to stain your new clothes. We have dinner reservations later tonight.

You sly fox! When did you -? I bet he was smiling at my answer. How would I love to see it.

-I love how, even among everything, you’re still taking care of me.

-Always!

I smile like an idiot at his answer, forgetting all the duchebags around me.

-I’ll be waiting at the Citadel’s entrance.

“Ahem.”

Don’t you clear your throat at me dude, it only makes me wanna cut it, not focus on the crap that comes out of it. Once again, I’m rolling my eyes –I swear I’ll see my brain at some point.

The doors open and my friend, the Marshal comes in, whispering something at the King’s ear as I silently wish I could lean in closer; but his blue eyes are piercing mine as I stare back at them, tilting my head in curiosity.

“Mrs. Scientia.” The King begins as the Marshal stands his ground again, hands crossed before his crotch. This should be entertaining. I hope. “My fellow Council. We gathered here today to discuss about a dire matter. The abduction of the future King of Lucis and my beloved son. Gladiolus.”

What the actual fuck?

I bet that my widened eyes were screaming the words my mind just spoke.

What the Hell happened?

I’m in jail for a freaking year and everything goes to shit? I swear, I can’t leave you guys alone for five minutes!

“What do you mean he’s been abducted?” my voice comes out as a demand, taking Sa’van and the rest of them aback “The guy’s huge! How can someone –“ oh, shit!

I whisper Luna’s name as I stare into Sa’van’s eyes. Her heart is breaking, I can sense it.

What do I do?

Do I smile and lie about how Gladio can fight her and come back, or do I let her know I’m here for her? That I know the feeling that runs through her veins?

I do the latter. She doesn’t deserve the pain my uncontrollable attitude will cause.

I turn my attention to the King and his fellow dicks “So why am I here? I’m the Royal Assassin, not a pawn for you to throw around your chess board, or, at that, a baby sitter.”

Too much? Maybe.

“You’re here to follow orders!” one of the royal asses, Clarus, I think, His Majesties Head Advisor, barks at me.

“I’m sorry, I don’t take orders. I barely take suggestions!” I laugh at him and I swear to Noctis, there is a faint smile on the Marshal’s face. Glad you’re enjoying the show, boss.

The look on Clarus’ face is priceless! He looks like I just killed his favorite pet.

“Your Majesty” he says, placing a hand on his chest –drama queen much Clarus? “I will not stand for this! I have never been so insulted –“

“You don’t listen much do you?” I cut him off, smirk never leaving my face as I’m enjoying this too much.

“I’ve had enough, you insolent child!” he yells at me as he stands up, placing his hand on the sword on his belt.

Alright, I’m itching for a fight anyway. Might as well be with the man who calls me a child.

“Alright” I place both my hands on the table, pushing myself up and off my seat, but before I make it any further, Cor Leonis, the Marshal –and new bodyguard of the King as it seems, is getting his katana ready.

“What will you do, Leonis? Strike me down?” I mock him, smiling a cocky smile while looking around for anything I can use as a weapon. Sa’van’s hairpin? Sure, it’s sharp enough, but I’ll have to stand pretty close to actually stab him and with his set of skills, I don’t wanna get anywhere close to that katana.

Should I sit down? I still have time to, I think.

“Six, Cor, please!” so, that’s what Sa’van’s raised voice sounds like. I have to say, I’m impressed and it seems like I’m not the only one. The whole room’s staring at her. I can feel a smile rising on my face as I’m the only one close enough to see her pink cheeks.

I sit down next to her. Cocky smile on my face hiding my relief. I don’t have to fight my mentor over this.

“Your Majesty, please, the matter should be resolved as quickly as possible, Gladiolus might not have much time.”

Why does her words make my dad’s smiling face flash before my eyes? Can it be because I thought of the same thing when he was taken away? Can it be because I begged the same way but was never heard?

Gladio and my father don’t have the same importance to the King, so why does this bother me so much?

“Mrs. Scientia” King Regis takes the lead again as I pray to Noctis I’ll be able to think clearly to whatever his request of me might be “My son needs to be brought back to his rightful place as soon as possible. The journey will be long and difficult, but your reward will be a worthy one.”

“So, you are ordering me –“ I try to cut him off but he steps in.

“I pass this responsibility down to you.” his eyes are almost pleading.

“There are six hundred people waiting outside this room who would kill for an opportunity to go outside the city’s walls and bring back His Highnesses’ royal butt. Why make me do this?”

“There is no one capable enough to reach the outskirts of Niflheim and bring back the Prince, but you.”

“And no one cares if I die in the process, is that it?” the realization hitting me like a cold bucket of ice. It wasn’t my set of skills he needed; Cor is much better than I am. It was the fact that I was the daughter of the traitor. Nobody would really miss me anyway.

Sa’van’s eyes are practically begging me as I look back at her. Turning my attention back to the King with a sigh, I value my options. This is giving me a headache. I bite my lower lip a couple of times before mouthing the next words; God I wish I had a cigarette right about now.

“Alright, say I accept this order of yours.” I say ruffling my hair and sighing again “What makes you think my skills alone will bring the Prince back?”

“Assistance will be provided.” The King smirks. He thinks he has me. Maybe I’ll play along –for now.

“I have my own team.” I say simply.

“You think we will just let you leave with whomever you wish?” Clarus laughed.

“Clarus, my friend. That is enough.” the King beat me to the punch. “Mrs. Scientia, your team is already called upon, they should be ready to leave whenever you wish them to.”

So that’s why Ignis is here. Regis knew I wouldn’t do anything without him.

“All but one.”

So he speaks! That was the first time, after a year, that I head Cor’s voice.

“Who?” where did that come from? I’m not really interested anyway.

“A bounty hunter. One of the best in Lucis.” The King steps in again. I will not be hearing Cor’s voice anytime soon again, am I?

“Fine, he can find us.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Scientia.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Reggie.” This is officially blasphemy, well, shit; it’s not like I care. “I’m not gonna be doing it for you or your Kingdom’s name. I’m not even gonna be doing it for the rewards.”

“You should know when to keep your mouth –“ Clarus tries to cut me off but I’m on a roll here.

“If you wanna tell someone to shut up, Clarus, do just that. So, shut the fuck up. I’m the one speaking now!” the look on my face really brings out the best in Cor, he can’t even hide his smirk anymore.

“Six.” Sa’van starts and I cut her off too. Respectfully this time.

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll bring your husband back.” I turn my attention to the King once again “But I’m doing it for them. For Gladio and Sa’van. No one else!”

The King nods his head, accepting my words. He orders Cor to lead me to the barracks where I am to meet one of the two other people who will ‘accompany’ me and Ignis to the Empire of Niflheim.

I can’t help but turn toward the Council once again, before leaving. There is one more condition I should bring to their attention. “Once I succeed, and the Prince is safe in his wife’s arms again, I’m taking Ignis and we’re leaving. We’re free!”

The King doesn’t speak. He doesn’t have to, I know what’s going on through his head. I can see the gears turning.

Sa’van is the one to agree wholeheartedly to my request. I believe her!

I nod and wave my hand at them, instead of giving them the finger “So long.”

…

“Cor.” If you’re not gonna talk to me, I’m gonna talk to you.

“Hush” What? “Not now.” Did he literally just hush me? A guard is passing us by in three, two, one.

“Marshal” he bows his head to Cor while silently giving me the finger. How nice!

“In here.” Cor’s words are slower than his actions as he pulls me in an empty room.

“I missed your face, kid!” he hugs me and I do the same. It’s nice to know he doesn’t hate me, like everyone else.

“Missed you too, boss.” I show him my teeth in a real, bright smile before opening and closing my mouth a couple of times. I haven’t smiled like that in over a year; it hurts my cheeks.

“Ignis is waiting at the Citadel entrance. If you know what’s right for you I suggest you claim your husband and leave.” His face takes that serious look he always caries around. I hate it when he does that. Nothing more than orders again. No ‘Hey, kid, how was prison?’. Well, ok, maybe not that exactly but you know what I mean.

“That’s the plan, Cor.” I move to stand next to the door, making sure no one finds us.

“Good.” He actually sounds proud of the thought that I’m leaving.

“No.” I say as I look up at him through my eyelashes, unable to look him straight in the eye “That WAS the plan, Cor.”

“And now?” he lets out a sigh, knowing what I was thinking.

“Now, I don’t know.” I shrug. My options vary really, but which one should I follow? None of them seems to have a good enough result.

What the Hell, Six, you know which one you’ll follow. You knew since the ‘The Prince has been abducted.’ That’s what you’re thinking right? Yeah, me too.

“Sa’van is one of the few people worth a damn in this Kingdom; and Gladio isn’t half bad either. I have to do this.”

“What do you think will happen once you’re back?” Cor asks and I can feel it in his voice; he is pissed at me! Or, at least, he’s starting to be.

“What makes you think I’ll come back?” I smirk and he frowns. Alright, humor’s not gonna cut it. “Look, I’ll find Gladio, bring him back and –“ and what? What am I gonna do? Fake my death? Say a dragon ate me whole? He’s right; there’s no happy ending for me here. If I make it, if I get Gladio back alive, the King is gonna throw me back at jail. For life this time. If I don’t make it, I’ll probably be eaten by a dragon, for real, or the Emperor will get his hands on me and honestly, I don’t know what’s worse.

“And what? Six?” Cor snaps his fingers in front of my face and I slap them away quickly.

“Don’t do that. And, Cor, I don’t know. I’ll figure it out. What matters is for Gladiolus to be safe again. If the King wants to be an asshole and imprison me again…” yeah? “well, I’ll at least try to strike a deal for Ignis.”

Cor runs a hand down his face as he grunts, not knowing what to say himself. After a small stare down, he shows me the door “Your husband is waiting.” He says and I can sense the worry in his voice. Thanks boss, but you need to pipe that down. The Kingdom and its people are not ready to see you feel for a criminal. If I’m going down, I’m not taking you with me.

…

There he is. I would recognize that ass from a mile away. Ignis!

He’s wearing my favorite attire. The white shirt and tight blue jeans –and those suspenders. I think I’m biting my lip –knock it off Six, your boss is standing right next to you. Ignis’ hair has grown, well he’s not twenty two anymore. Ten years tend to change a person. I haven’t seen him for one, yet he looks so different. From where I’m standing I can see the scar on his eye and he’s still wearing the dark visors he’d gotten when he lost his eye sight.

Goddamn this man’s looks.

“Stop daydreaming about your husband and go to him!” Cor orders me with a devilish smirk. Boss, I swear I could kiss you right now.

I start stepping towards Ignis, slowly, I don’t want to scare him.

As I get closer, my heart beats even louder. Not to worry, he’ll be able to hear it in a couple of steps.

I stretch my arm to tap him on the shoulder before I open my mouth, I don’t want to take him aback.

One more step and –he turned… aaand I’m frozen in place! When I received his answers I thought; I thought maybe he would be the one to send them. But looking at his eyes now; I realize it was just false hope. The milky white color has not left them, and the scars haven’t healed. Why? Hasn’t he gone to Morta for healing?

“My love!” he smiles. As he takes a step closer, I take a small step back; afraid to touch him, afraid that this is a dream and that I’ll wake up in my cell again; like every night this past year.

I stare at his eyes, sad expression covering mine. They’re… moving? Is he –Oh my Noctis, he’s staring back at me!

“There’s no reason to look so surprised, my love!” he smiles as he moves his hand to cup my cheek. I lean in the warmth of his touch.

“Iggy, you –“

“I can see you, my darling.” He leans in closer “You look as beautiful as ever!”

I think of nothing but his lips touching mine, the heat that’s radiating from both our bodies is magical.

Noctis, please, don’t let this moment end.

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#ffxv #ffxv au #tragedia coram amandum quae #tragedy destroys every cherished thing #ignis scientia #six ulric #noctis lucis caelum #gladiolus amicitia #sa'van blacke #cor leonis #regis lucis caelum #ignis x six #ignis x oc #oc

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the-blind-geisha · 7 years

Text

You Say it Best When you Say Nothing at All - Chapter 1

A/N: 10 chapter commission for @blustersquall of her OC, Isla Octavia and Gladiolus Amicitia~. The entire thing will be NSFW but each chapter will be rated accordingly~.

Thanks so much for your commission and patience~

Pairing: OC x Canon / Isla Octavia x Gladiolus Amicitia

Rated: SFW

To-Do List || Commissions || Ko-Fi || Site Map ||

Rain—it always had to be rain on the worst of days. It was as if the gods themselves knew the burden in which Gladiolus bore in regards to the news he was given weeks ago in preparation for leaving Insomnia to head to Altissia with Prince Noctis, the young man he had been the sworn charge of upon his own birth. The day was complete in regards to his time at the Citadel, and upon feeling at ease that Noctis was at his apartment for the moment, he took care in the remainder of what time he had away from home and his duties to head down to The Caged Canary.

The bar was considered a sort of hole-in-the-wall as it was a lesser known but managed enough traffic to keep it afloat. Gladiolus found it by accident one evening when he wanted to find a new place to relax away from where anybody could accidentally find him when he chose to unwind away from home and his duty. While he knew nobody would judge him to indulge in a drink or two, he didn’t wish to be disturbed unless by the right company…

…And that right company was known as Isla Octavia, the bar’s owner.

When he had gone there to bemoan of the young prince to someone who would listen, Isla was more than willing to in a gentle manner though urging him to see the light of things in a better way. Gladiolus was stubborn, however, and he refused to see Noctis as anything other than a spoiled, selfish brat of a prince he was tasked with watching over till the young man, years ago, stepped forward to protect Gladiolus’ sister, Iris.

Sometimes, you have to look a bit deeper to see the truth as some are known to hide it and obscure it well from others for reasons we cannot comprehend.

Those words haunted him even more after the fact when the Shield saw Isla was right about Noctis being more than what Gladiolus saw on the surface. She never let him live it down anyways when he told her she was right in the matter and that there was a bit more buried underneath than he truly saw at first glance—even from someone he felt he saw daily and knew well enough to pass judgment on.

As he continued to mull about in his own world, his attention was swiftly brought upright to the road ahead as the sound of doors swiftly flying open upon impact followed by the noise of a struggle as well caught his attention next. His eyes widened as the older man (roughly looking in his 30s) fell to the ground, finding his body soaked by the downpour when urged out of The Caged Canary’s bar by the force of someone Gladiolus had yet to see as, whoever it was, stayed behind the swinging door for now that resided under the bar’s little tasseled overhang.

“And STAY out!” yelled a rather aggressive, feminine voice that Gladiolus would recognize anywhere.

Stepping more into view, Isla’s tied back black hair nearly swung free in her aggressive stance as she glared harshly at the man she had just thrown from her bar. Her blue eyes narrowed fiercely as her teeth bared to show she wouldn’t take anymore garbage for the evening and was done with whatever this patron had dared to start. Gladiolus could notice her cheeks were flushed with a red hue even in the horrible lighting the alleyway gave off, and he knew that was a rare sight unless Isla was indeed at her wit’s end.

The blond who had been thrown to the floor earlier turned around with a rather destructive stare equal to the bar owner’s. “Oh, c’mon, princess—!”

Isla’s nostrils flared, her hostile sigh of disgust seen as crystalline vapor there in the chilled breeze. “You touch me like that again, Serge, and I will not hesitate to ban you from here next time!”

Hearing such a thing, Gladiolus was the one to see red shortly after as his steps grew heavier in the puddles that littered his walkway up to where this Serge and Isla were fighting. One hand pulled from his leather coat pocket, the other remained at bay as his fingers curled so deeply into a fist he felt his nails threaten to prick his palm. “What the hell is all this now?” his voice asked quietly though it rumbled with a threat to be more vocal if he didn’t like where it would go.

For once, Isla’s face relaxed as she turned to look at Gladiolus having not seen him just down the way earlier with what she was dealing with. “Gladio…!” she gasped quietly to voice her surprise.

Serge turned at the man’s name, recognizing him easily from his times about the Citadel and from the rumors he heard on the streets or even read in the papers in regards to his strength and station with Prince Noctis. “What is the Prince’s Shield doing here exactly?” the patron asked with a bit of disgust as he rose to his feet in a lopsided manner to show he was still under heavy effects of boozes he had ingested.

Gladiolus’ amber eyes flashed with disgust at the question. “Is that really any of your business?” Before Serge could hope to respond with anything in return, the warrior grabbed the man’s shirt and brought him up to his feet with a single hand, showing what he was capable of merely one-handed. “Now, my question is what exactly are you doing with my woman?”

Given the strength Gladiolus was capable of put on full display for the man to see, Serge’s brown eyes widened in terror. He was unable to even speak as he grabbed at the single hand that held his clothing and kept him a few inches off of the ground beneath him. “Nothing!” he lied horribly while trying to wiggle himself free of the Prince’s Shield.

Isla noticed Gladiolus’ teeth clenched even more as he snarled angrily at Serge’s obvious lie. “Gladio!” she intruded, grabbing at his arm that only flexed all the more at having extra weight placed upon it. “Put him down and just leave him be!” When Gladiolus seemed to refuse, not even bothering to look her in the eyes when she spoke to him, Isla tugged on his arm all the more only feeling it remain stationary under what strength she had. “Now, Gladiolus!”

Hearing her say his name completely, Gladiolus then looked to Isla out of the corner of his sights to see she was being serious. Sights narrowed and disapproving at his actions, he dropped Serge and allowed the man to scramble to his feet before hurrying drunkenly away from the scene. With the trash now gone, Gladiolus frowned angrily at Isla though more at the situation than her raising her tone to him as the dark haired beauty kept her disapproving look with the dark tresses sticking to her features from the heavy downpour she was now caught up in no thanks in part to him.

Sighing to himself, his breath evident on the air as he moved himself out of his coat to use the thick leather as a means to shield Isla from the rain further, he positioned it spread out above her head to have it work as an umbrella as he lacked one on his person. “You can tell me more inside,” Gladiolus insisted as if not desiring to stray from what had just happened in his absence.

“You’re impossible,” Isla grumbled as she turned on her heels to head inside with Gladiolus close behind her.

When moving into the comfort of the bar, the warrior offered his coat to her once more but Isla refused the generous offer with a simple wave of her hand. She was a bit cold from the rain, but she had the heat on and knew she would warm in time.

It was a small bar that was quant and pleasant, regardless of the smell of smoke and other lingering food smells that did little in Gladiolus’ favor. A lower setting with a few booths here and there with an upper placement just up three stairs that allowed you the company of the barkeep and any enjoyable socializing you could come upon. There were three TVs in the space but only two seemed to work as of late after an awful storm swept through and shorted out the other one, the largest one being behind the actual bar itself.

Trailing up the small staircase to where Isla was bartending, Gladiolus maneuvered his arms back into his coat once more before running his fingers through his hair to let the wet strands stay from his face. “The ‘Canary’ in your sign is flickering again,” he commented rather randomly as if to start the conversation small and apologize in his own way for acting as he did earlier.

“Is it?” Isla asked with an irritable sigh at how much it felt the tavern was falling apart in little ways. Making it behind the bar counter she took to a dishrag nearby to wipe her hands dry at least after the rainwater had dampened them. “I’ll look into that later when I can afford to.”

Taking the empty seat he usually did when it was open at the end of the bar nearest the staircase, Gladiolus grunted as he got comfortable. “I can pay you to see to it, Isla,” he insisted, watching as she went about her task of grabbing the beer he usually ordered before popping open the lid with her bottle cap opener and sliding it to him as if like clockwork. Grabbing the dark beer in his grasp without a single drop spilling, he took one long drink as he knew he might need to be a bit more at ease before hearing the truth of what happened while he was away.

“Nonsense,” spoke Isla with a lopsided smile as she rested her palms upon the countertop, blowing a stray, wet strand of her dark hair out of her way. “It’s not that important, Gladio; I assure you.”

He shrugged his brow as if to accept that answer for now, removing the rim of the drink from his lips as his knuckles tapped idly on the polished, wooden surface that had been warn down a bit from time and patrons leaving stains upon it. “Want to tell me what that all was about earlier now that I cannot wring his little neck?” Gladiolus asked, eyes darting away if that would perhaps make her confession easier.

Another sigh escaped her and Isla nearly fell to her elbows as her strength dared to leave her. “He just gets a bit ‘too hands on’, and I had enough tonight with everything that’s been on my mind lately,” Isla said dismissively as though Serge’s advances to groping her weren’t important.

Gladiolus hissed audibly with disgust through his teeth. “And where did this bastard grab you?” His eyes looked to Isla as if demanding without words for an honest response.

“It’s not important, Gladio,” spoke Isla, words hard on the subject as she didn’t wish to enrage the man further than he probably already was.

“It is to me when someone is touching you without your consent,” he went onward without restraint, nearly cutting off her words as he spoke so heatedly on the idea.

Isla cocked a thin brow at Gladiolus’ remark. “I can handle myself. I’ve been working these slums for some odd years now, and I know how to deal with men or women who try to cross me.” She grinned with pride at that thought as knowing a thing or two about kickboxing really allowed her the strength and upper hand she needed when people underestimated her.

He smirked at her words, body language faltering to that of relief in a sense as he moved his fingers back through his hair as he felt the strands beginning to dry. “I am still stronger than you, Isla,” he taunted playfully. “Had I the time, I’d just be here all day being your bodyguard.”

“The young Prince driving you up the wall again?” Isla asked, glad to change the topic to something else for a moment as she leaned against her forearms, her hands seeking out his nearby arm to hold it once more to be washed over in a sense of warmth and welcoming sensation at just being allowed to touch him as this.

“At times,” Gladiolus answered but with a hint of playfulness to it as he responded to her gesture, removing his beer and placing his hand upon her own. His palm was so large it was easy to give refuge to both Isla’s hands. “Not as before though.”

Remembering his statement earlier, she made a dismissive sound with a tilt of her head to the side. “Also, what do you mean you’re stronger than me? I am sure I can easily find my ways of beating you in a test of strength.” She was being lighthearted yet there was a bit of mischievousness to her words that the neon lights in the bar picked up with ease.

“Oh?” Gladiolus asked, his tone now relaxed and purring in a sort of calm state unlike before. A sigh of neutral meaning rumbled in his throat as he moved his hands from hers, propping his elbow on the counter with his palm open for hers. “Test of strength then—let’s go.”

“You’re not going to let me win, are you?” Isla asked with a sly grin that a Cheshire cat would be jealous of.

“I’ll be fair and let you have a moment to try your best, sweetheart,” the warrior coaxed as he soon felt Isla’s fingers slip into the divide of his, her own elbow propped on the counter as she gave a competitive stare to her lover. “Ready?” Gladiolus saw her nod and began to countdown. “One, two…go!”

It was a flash of a second, but in that precious amount of time, Isla moved across the countertop to kiss Gladiolus right on the lips lovingly to sap the energy from him. She felt his fingers loosen against her hand and took that as her signal to push down with all her might to win the arm wrestling match with ease, Gladiolus merely sitting there in stunned silence as a cheeky smile spread across her lips.

A laugh escaped him, a foreign sensation that he’d yet to enjoy given the stress he had been undergoing for awhile unbeknownst to Isla as he had been doing what he could to avoid bringing up his troubles to her when she had enough to deal with. “I stand corrected then,” he chuckled, gazing at her with a quick wink. “You are the strongest of us, even if you cheat.”

“Hey, you said you’d play fair—I didn’t,” Isla reminded him. Just as she was about to retreat her hand from his, she felt Gladiolus tighten his touch upon her, bringing her right hand to his lips where he kissed just above her knuckles as if a soldier meeting royalty for the first time. Her body relaxed and an honest smile spread across her lips as it was nice to finally have him around after his awkwardly distant attitude in the past few weeks. He blamed it on his job when she was able to talk to him over the phone or text him, but Isla could tell that was a half truth. Reluctantly, her hand departed from his, turning her focus on trying to straighten out her wet hair, which was now drying. “So…care to tell me why you’ve decided to come around after all this time of avoiding me?”

She was joking and Gladiolus knew she was, but his heart grew heavy all the same as he sighed out the regret that was bubbling within him. His hand retreated back to rest before him on the countertop. “I’m, uh…I’m going to be leaving Insomnia with Prince Noctis and the rest of the Crownsguard soon to head to Altissia to meet with Lady Lunafreya.”

Her fingers recoiled from their touching the hair band she was whirling about the wavy strands to keep her hair at bay from her face as she continued to work. “Oh…?” Isla tried not to sound disappointed in the idea, especially with how long Gladiolus had been tending to his work day in and day out, but why had it been so hard for him to be around? Her eyes as blue as the sky turned from him before pivoting around on her heels to tend to the minor task of being certain the beer bottles and syrups were all in place as they should be on the racks behind her. “That’s…that sounds delightful.”

If only the mirror and her own actions didn’t betray her as Gladiolus watched her closely through her reflection and saw the hurt in her expression and body language. “Isla,” he began in a rather gentle yet demanding tone as if for her to stop hiding how she truly felt, “you know you speak the loudest when you say nothing at all.”

Her eyes shut tightly, shoulders faltering in defeat as she let the task at hand rest before turning around to look to Gladiolus. “How long will you be away?” Isla’s heart thumped in worry of that response.

“I don’t know,” the Shield responded as he finished the last of the beer before bothering to try and land the perfect shot of getting it into the trashcan that he could see just behind the counter, landing it with ease. “Depends on the problems we encounter getting there. Don’t want to predict it could all go smoothly, but should it, I doubt long.”

Isla shot him a disapproving look as he threw the beer bottle across the counter. Even if Gladiolus always made the shot, she worried one of these days he wouldn’t, and she would have a mess to tend to. “When will you be leaving?”

“Tomorrow early afternoon sometime,” he murmured in regret, hating that time had literally fled him up to this point. “We have a meeting with his Majesty before then, and then I’ll be setting out afterwards.”

“You bastard,” she said in a mixture of humorous disgust though doing her best to hide her inner ache as well in those words as they trembled forth by accident. Biting at her lower lip, brow creased in pain as her fingers clenched the dishtowel she soon found back in her possession, she gasped out in painful upset that was difficult to hide. “You wasted all this time knowing this and not coming to me before hand…?”

“What…!” Gladiolus exclaimed quietly between them as if hoping to deny that was even true, his hands steadily opening upon the countertop of the bar as if to substitute for a shrug of sorts.

Isla turned, her eyes shining with the faintest bit of tears that threatened to overcome her. “I’ve read in the past week or so that there was talk of the Prince of Lucis heading out of the city, and I knew you would be accompanying him, Gladio.” She sighed away her pain once more, wringing the cloth in her hands to keep her emotions at bay. “The least you could have done was be more forward with me and told me this, so I could have done something…! I would have shut down the damn bar just to spend time with you for a bit more!”

“How am I supposed to tell the woman I love that I am leaving Insomnia, leaving her here to a peace treaty that could very well go damn poorly in our absence?” Gladiolus asked, shooting to his feet at that moment to show he was equally hurt over the idea.

“You do it no matter how much it hurts, because you’re the only one that is truly loving and there for her in her life!” Isla painfully reminded him.

Seeing the pain he had caused her as she turned away with her lip threatening to quiver, Gladiolus closed his eyes as if to demand the image stop repeating to haunt him. “Isla, I…” It was then he felt his heart threaten to shatter, his teeth clenched in pain as he heard her outwardly sob. Eyes opening to the wretched sound, Gladiolus ignored protocol of the bar and moved behind it quickly to grab onto Isla’s shoulder and turn her towards him.

He was far stronger than her in most instances, and it was with ease Gladiolus was able to insist her towards him. Isla lacked the bravado to look him in the eyes, keeping her sights lowered and to his feet at the very least. However, the ill want to look at him directly came to an end at his request as he tenderly guided her sights to him with the sides of his fingers touching just under her chin to encourage the thought. Calming her lower lip by moving it more inward, she did her best to try and settle her distress but looking upon the man she loved merely worsened it.

“You bring me to my knees when you do this,” Gladiolus confessed, eyes shutting as the ache began to swell in his heart at the mere sight alone. “Look…” he began, grabbing upon her shoulders to keep her steady, “…it may not seem like much with the time we got left, but let me stay with you even after you close up the bar. I can stay at your place and just get to the Citadel and Noct in the morning.”

It was a simple gesture, but it was one Isla appreciated nonetheless. Her hands drifted to Gladiolus’ right arm, holding onto it as though just feeling of him was the best thing for her right now. His palm drifted to her cheek, having Isla guide her own touch swiftly to the back of his caress to keep it in place and beg for it not to become a figment of such in time. “I would appreciate that…” Her tone was heavy from the tender ache that resonated within her over the situation, hating it had to be this for now, but perhaps in the few extra hours they had to spend with one another, there would be vigor instilled back in them once more.

Gladiolus kept Isla company as he offered to in the dwindling hours of the coming night, talking of nothing truly spectacular but merely how the day had gone and asking of a more brighter spot of hers, wanting to disregard what Serge had boldly done earlier. The conversation remained pleasant and upbeat, allowing the two to heal over the upset prior and when the hour of midnight had settled upon them, Isla had found everything cleaned up and put away for the next morning before taking her leave with Gladiolus out the front door to head back to her home that was not too far away. It was still very much raining, causing Gladiolus to usher Isla next to him to hide underneath his coat he pushed up and over his back and body to let her find refuge from the downpour.

“The moon at least coming out would be nice about now,” grumbled Gladiolus as Isla had refused to grab a taxi or anything as it wasn’t too bad a walk to her home and if he didn’t mind suffering in the mess, she wouldn’t.

“It’s going to probably rain all night if it hasn’t let up by now, Gladio,” Isla reminded him with a gentle nudge to his side as the entrance to her home soon was within sight, allowing her to depart from him in a hurry to run to the front door to unlock it for him. Opening the front door, she gestured onward to the dark living space. “After you.”

Gladiolus hurried to the overhang of the porch, shaking his head to be rid of what water he could that had dampened his hair before bothering to remove his shoes and place them off to the side to let them dry, stepping in. He had been over at her house a fair amount of times, so he knew the layout like the back of his hand. “Ugh,” he groaned to himself, taking off his leather coat to notice how soaked he truly had gotten it. “Any place you want me to put my clothes so they can not make a mess of your house?”

Isla smiled with a shake of her head. “Put them wherever you like, Gladio,” she insisted, turning the lights on as she went about the house to be sure everything was in order. “You got muddied up for me, so I do not care if you muddy up some of my furniture.”

He hummed disapprovingly at the idea but decided the coat rack nearby would be the best option for now for at least his leather jacket. “I’ll find places for the rest so I am not walking around ass naked in your home,” he teased with a crooked grin, keeping his damp hair at bay by sliding his palm back against the wild tresses.

“Who said that was a bad thing?” Isla chuckled as she made it down the nearby hallway that would lead to her bedroom and bathroom area as she lived in a one-story home.

Gladiolus scoffed playfully at her words, removing his sleeveless shirt next as he followed behind Isla just down the hallway to where the paths diverged to either her bedroom or the bathroom. “I am going to wash up then, if you don’t mind. That way, come morning, I can have an excuse to stay in bed a bit longer. I’ll let my clothes dry in there once I’m done.”

“I’ll bother washing in the morning then,” she insisted, not wishing to intrude on him though the idea was tempting.

“Alright then—I’ll just get naked and wet without you,” he teased as he disappeared into the bathroom to wash the grimy sensation from his body. Gladiolus heard her crack a hard and quick sarcastic laugh at his lewd words before she departed for her bedroom, with the door shut behind him, his playful nature vanished and he frowned at realizing what little time he truly gave himself to be honest with her about what was going on.

She had to read what was happening in the damn newspaper over hearing it from his own mouth. His hands tightened upon the white shirt he held in his possession, releasing a muffled swear from his pursed lips at his own stupidity. If he believed in himself that he could actually protect everyone without much issue, he would ask Isla to come along, but his self-doubt was eating him up inside.

Eyes heavy with a mixture of fatigue and somberness, Gladiolus breathed out a painful breath that boiled within his chest as he leaned against the doorway. “I’m sorry, Isla… By the gods, I didn’t know what to say, and I still don’t.”

His words fell on deaf ears as he pushed himself forward to get the water ready and prepare for the night ahead.

While Gladiolus took a moment in the shower, Isla did what she could to try and find peace with the idea the man she loved would be gone tomorrow morning. It was so difficult to ingest. The news was just thrown upon her and it knocked the wind from her as though some challenger had managed to sucker kick her in the stomach. On top of that, it was the worst sickness in the world, and it made her taste only ashen bile that she did her best to keep in check as she sat on the edge of her bed, letting the moonlight filter in through the windows nearby.

She hadn’t realized the water in the other room across the hall had stopped (as it could be quite audible given the pluming and thin walls) nor had she paid much mind to the idea Gladiolus was soon within the room till the mattress she was upon moaned underneath his weight and she felt it shift as well to abide by him. Her eyes opening, she turned to try and look behind her where he had entered only to feel the warmth of his breath blanket her skin as he managed to catch her cheek in a loving kiss, moving downward to her jaw line to plant another there, and then move onward to her neck to be a bit more forward.

Isla craned her head to the side, biting at the corner of her mouth as her eyes closed to take in the simple touch of him that sent an uncontrollable fire through her. His hand was soon upon her upper arm, migrating to her shoulder and then to the opposite side of her neck where his lips had yet to grace her. In one nimble movement, Gladiolus mindfully worked away at her hair and ushered the wavy strands just over her right shoulder before his lips met with her upper back that was visible for him to see in the evening attire she wore.

Every simple touch of him reminded Isla how small in comparison she was to him, making her relax under the welcoming might of the gentle Shield. She traced every motion of his with her mind’s eye, feeling as his touch soon migrated down her sides and more inward where he clasped his hands together upon her lap and bound her there against him where his forehead found rest on her upper back.

The sensation slowly wilted, leaving Isla’s heart to ache for more as her eyes lidded from the crumbling foundation of rapture they had found rest upon as she recognized the act. Gladiolus was pleading in his own way for forgiveness and redemption for what he had done, and she would easily do so for she loved him; however, Isla still damned fate and what brought them to this point.

“Gladio…” Isla began, grabbing at his hands, which only tightened upon her when she sought to touch them. She paused, unsure of what to even add at this point. Inhaling sharply through her nostrils, she felt her body wane from what bit of strength she bothered to give it in the matter at hand. “You promise to at least text and or call while you’re out on this trip?”

“Every night I can,” Gladiolus’ low voice responded in but a mere whisper as emotional exhaustion was about to set in from his inner abuse he was giving himself earlier. “Will you promise me to stay alive should anything happen to Insomnia when Niflheim is here for their supposed peace treaty?” The Shield didn’t trust them…not one bit. The idea he had to leave behind Isla to this mess made him flinch all the more and fight with what might he had not to lose the food he had consumed prior as the wretched guilt and fear gnawed upon him.

Isla could feel and sense the agony in his words alone, making her turn around to place her hands to his cheeks to comfort him. The moonlight haloed her figure, giving a more radiant appearance to even the simplest of movements there in the dim lighting of the room. “Nothing is going to happen to me. You have my word on that…”

Gladiolus sighed out what disgust he had buried within him on the matter, making him move forward to kiss her in a rather sloppy yet needed proposal. His touch found its way to her hair, letting the strands fall between his fingers as he craned his head to the side to get a better means of which to express himself in the matter, wanting it all to fade away in this one single act—wanting the wrongs to be lifted and forgotten. He wanted just one more…One more night to have her as his, to let the euphoric sensation last him for the lonely nights and days to come.

#and most of this was written in those 7 hours last night #I was happy with myself ;w;#gladiolus amicitia #gladiolus amicitia x oc #gladiolus amiticia x isla #ffxv #ffxv fanfic #ff15 #final fantasy xv #final fantasy 15 #sfw #not my oc #my writing #commission #blustersquall

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stephicness · 7 years

Text

DAS ALOT OF WORDS -- Stephic Previews

So... I realized just how many writings I started, but never got around to finishing. It’d be cool to share them with you guys, but also to get an idea on what you think I should finish? Maybe help me bounce some ideas around too? c: It’ll help me knock out a few things in my files, so definitely have a look and let me know what you think/what you’d be interested in seeing me continue!

Here we go with previews galore! (Also to compensate for the fact that I’ve been tagged in alot of preview tag games. OOPS.)

Read below for the previews~

Numb -- Ardyn Izunia x Ravus Nox Fleuret Genre: Angst, Romance, Drama, Tragedy Plot: Ravus survived the fall after Iedolas and his daemons attempt to execute the high commander. But when Ravus attempts to recover from the fall, a familiar face approaches him with a way out. Notes: An alternative dialogue to Chapter 13, Verse 2. Dialogue-based. Ardyn is almost not as bad as he seems. Almost. Rejection hurts, doesn’t it?

The fall made his limbs feel numb, a weight so heavy upon his body that left him trapped in his place on the ground. Consciousness wavered, threatening to darken and force his vision to fade completely. Breath grew heavy as he tried to stabilize his well-being. He attempted to force himself to rise once more, but shaking arms refused to lift himself up, to raise his blade once again. Only the sound of rattling metal against the ground from the blade and the magitek prosthetic could mingle with the pained breaths desperately clawed their way from his lungs. Dammit…

He refused to clash with his body as his arms collapsed back down at their sides again. It seemed as if his own vessel betrayed him, refusing to move until some recovering was given after the onslaught of Aldercapt’s true nature. Daemons… Far direr than the Astrals had foretold and far more dangerous… Arrested for crimes against the empire and Iedolas’s impatience in obtaining the ring from Lunafreya and Noctis, Iedolas would lash out at whomever stood in his way to obtaining the power of the Crystal. The ex-commander was among one of those obstacles, hindering him from taking the ring from its rightful thing. And as far as Iedolas knew, he had plummeted to his death. At least, he could only hope that Iedolas still thought that. He needed to move and escape this blasted area. To find Noctis and return what had been taken. Lingering here would only condemn him to death much faster than he anticipated…

How Amusing! -- A Fantasy Dad Simulator Story Genre: Comedy Plot: Going to Moogletopia was a good idea at the time, but it seemed like the Fleuret kids were suffering more than anything. Notes: Inspired by the FFXV x Dream Daddy headcanons. Features OC children for Ravus (the Fleuret kids). Uncle Ardyn takes the kids to Moogletopia and has more fun than the kids do.

“If I have to ride the Tea Cups one more time, I’m going to seriously vomit.” Her face seemed to tell the entire story as she sat on the park bench. Lips were firmly pressed together, the corners turned downward into a frown while eyebrows remained furrowed as a glare fixated itself on the ground. She was paler than usual as she let out paced breaths to soothe her jumbled-up stomach. Even if she prided herself in being braver than her lazy brother, she never did handle rides that spun well. Damn this motion sickness. “That ride is everything I hate about the world...”

“A spinning prison with manic laughing in the background? Yup. Everything for sure.” The younger boy leaned back on his arms, head hanging back as he stared up at the sky. So much noise around them all, and it didn’t seem to let up as the day progressed through. Guess that was the unfortunate thing about being out in a place like this – people left in right, children crying, the like. This was worse than the day he had offered to babysit the Amicitia newborns. And those two little assholes were loud. He let out a groan, holding up his phone as a frown crossed over his lips. “How long have we been here…?”

“Six hours, fifty-six minutes, and some number of seconds. Any chance we can go home yet?”

“Not until the fireworks show.”

“And when’s that?”

He lifted his phone back up again to check. “Another hour or two…”

“Fuckin’ hell…“

Animals -- Gladiolus Amicitia x Ravus Nox Fleuret Genre: Romance, NSFW Plot: Sometimes, the Fleuret vs Amicitia sparring matches can get quite heated. Notes: A REALLY NSFW writing. Rivalmances galore! Probably has alot of kinky things in it. Maybe.

Damn… Even though he didn’t want to admit it, Ravus found himself struggling to keep up with his opponent. Open areas and clearings were one thing to fight in, but in such a closed-quarter space such as the woods, Ravus was finding himself in a bigger predicament than he anticipated as he attempted to evade each attack from the massive blade that slashed at him. No matter where Ravus tried to dodge, that sword would easily cleave through it all as if they were nothing more than sheets of paper. It was a challenge, but one that he would have to force himself to endure as he ducked through the thicket of trees with his opponent following in suit.

“What’s wrong, Ravus? Aren’t you usually the one telling me not to run?”

Ravus gritted his teeth as he quickly ducked into cover behind one of the larger trees, listening carefully as heavy footsteps had stopped nearby to search for the commander. This was bad… Running will only get him so far, and it would be demeaning to continue to retreat from his opponent. And yet, if he fought, this forest would be considerably damage, and he would only struggle to continue to fight as he avoided not only his opponent, but the environmental hazards already there or being made by the enemy. He swore under his breath, hoping that nobody heard the profanity that escaped from him. He’d have to come up with a better tactic. Something that could disorient this behemoth of a man and allow him his victory.

Devour -- Ardyn Izunia x Ravus Nox Fleuret Genre: Romance, Horror, Drama Plot: When a monster assaults the castle, it’s up to the beloved prince to keep it distracted long enough to prevent it from going after the others attempting to flee from its destruction. Notes: A Dark Souls AU request. Features Ravus as Gwyndolin (kinda) and Ardyn as Aldrich the Devourer. Pretty triggering with body horror, choking, inappropriate touching, and... Well, he’s called the Devourer and all. Maybe NSFW because of horror?

He did all that he could. Even if he wished to do more, the most that was possible was simply aiding in the evacuation of his sister and the rest of the royal servants as needed. He would provide a line of defense until then, but for now, he simply wished that his sister remained safe – away from Tenebrae and far gone from what horrors would occur soon.

For at the doors of the throne room, a creature scraped at it, clawing its way against the wood as vile shrieks resonated in the air on the opposite side of the door. Monsters had already made it to the throne room, tearing through the defenses of Tenebrae castle and destroying whatever poor soul happened to cross paths with such a malevolent force. The prince hung his gaze, bowing his head with the golden headdress shining in the light for only a split moment before the doors burst apart and darkness spilled in. A foul smell flooded the air, the prince's stomach twisting with a nauseating feeling as the mixture of black slime and shadows crawled through the chambers in an eagerness towards the prince. The prince's eyes narrowed at the sight, a warped mess of bones and flesh mixed into the darkness itself. It seemed that the soldiers were no match for such a devastating monstrosity.

#stephic writings #wip #previews #fanfiction #final fantasy xv #ffxv #look at all of those ardyrei fics!#because i for some reason always fall back onto writing them #goodnyiss

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