#loudest groans from everyone in the site that already knew i was gonna make this post

[theolddivorcedzukka]

funny thing for prince and the fool day to land on a divorced zukka saturday. like funny teehee of course

[blazefire-engine]

A Stroll for Two

Based on the sidequest in Chapter 3 of FFXV.

Relief spread through the Prince and his retinue. They have finally arrived in Lestallum. The town had been their top priority after receiving word from Iris Amicitia that she and other members of the Crownsguard managed to escape the fallen Crown City unharmed. With additional word that they had a room reserved at the Leville, a decent place to rest was what everyone needed after being on the run for the last couple of days.

"Soft beds, baby!" Prompto cheered as he jumped on them.

Iris giggled, feeling much lighter now that she's seen them safe. "Yup, it must've been tough on you guys."

Gladiolus shrugged, "Camping ain't so bad."

"I never want to see another tent," Noctis mumbled as he cocooned himself in a blanket next to Prompto.

"Stop hogging all the blanket!" the blonde complained, trying to unwrap the Prince.

"But it's cold," he childishly replied.

Lightning sighed as she went to the air conditioner and increased the temperature a few degrees. "Who's bright idea was it to put it so low?"

Ignis ignored their banter and bowed ever so slightly. "We thank you for the accommodations, Iris."

"It's no problem. Besides, it was Dustin who arranged it all. I'll leave you guys so you can rest up." Iris turned to Lightning, "I hope you don't mind us sharing a room, Light."

Lightning smiled softly. "Of course not. I'm grateful I don't have to hear them snore, even if it's only for a night."

"Not me, I don't snore," Gladiolus quipped rather too fast.

There was a muffled snort beneath a blanket. "You're the loudest of us all."

Noctis yawned as he descended the stairs and to the lobby.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Iris greeted cheerfully.

"Mornin, where is everyone?" When he awoke, seeing Prompto gone was enough to make him feel a bit uneasy. Noctis would usually wake up before or around the same time as him. It was even stranger because, more often than not, Lightning would wake him.

Iris waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, they're out walking with Talcott. They went to see the sights. We should too!"

He shrugged. There was time to kill. "Sure, why not?"

"Great! I'll show you around."

After showing the marketplace and the power plant, they headed towards the vista point. "Pegglar Outlook. Amazing view, right?" Lifting a finger, Iris skipped and pointed excitedly. "Look! There's the Meteor!"

Noctis gazed at the Disc of Cauthess. The weather was nice enough that he could see it clearly. There were stone pillars that pointed towards the sky. A crystallized structure of the impact site of the Meteor was akin to a stone dropping on water and the splashing that occurs after.

He snapped out of his daze when he felt Iris skip to his side and move closer. "You know, Noct, this almost feels like a date."

The Prince bit the inside of his cheek, carefully crafting his next words. Looking back on this morning's events, the two of them alone, the questions she asked him, the way she walked close to him… He wasn't stupid. He knew that Gladio's sister had certain feelings for him. But, his heart was already spoken for, even before he met Iris. He didn't want to hurt her, so he decided to make light of the situation.

Rubbing his neck, Noctis stepped away slightly. "If it were, your brother would kick my ass."

"We better keep it quiet, then." Iris giggled a bit, then sighed almost solemnly. "And besides, you already have Lightning."

Ever since they were kids, Iris had always seen Noctis with Lightning. Whether at school, at the Citadel or in the city, they were always together. A small part of her had hoped that their relationship was merely of duty. That because Lightning was a Glaive, she was only bound to Noctis because he was a prince. That their relationship would be nothing more.

But as she watched them grow closer over the years, Iris knew that the boy who saved her from trouble was slipping beyond her reach.

Iris shook her head and smiled. "The others are probably back at the hotel by now. Let's join them."

Returning to the front of the Leville, Iris turned around. "Haven't had fun like this since we were kids. Thanks, Noct."

He smiled and gave her the honest truth. "No sweat. I had fun, too."

"You did? I'm so happy to hear that."

"Heyaz!" Prompto greeted from the lobby's sofa.

Noctis crossed his arms, eyeing the three guys. "Where'd you guys go? Not a word from any of you."

"Thought you two needed some alone time," Gladio winked, while Iris blushed at the comment.

"Young Talcott was showing us the sights," Ignis replied, his nose buried in a magazine.

It was then Noctis noticed a person missing.

"Where's Light?"

With a mention of her name, Prompto grinned like a devious cat. "Oh, Lightning," the blonde said almost mockingly, as if just noticing she was not present. "She's just hanging out with someone."

"Hanging out?" the Prince said rather awkwardly. Lightning does not just 'hang out' with anyone. "With who?"

"Just Talcott," his Shield smirked. "We got back earlier than expected so Talcott asked her if she wanted to go back to the marketplace."

"I'm not following," the Prince said, confused.

"I'm just saying, the kid's got more balls to ask Light out."

Prompto barked and tossed his head back while Iris smothered a laugh. "Gladdy, don't be mean to Noct."

"Cactuar, cactuar!" a young boy's voice sang from afar.

Lightning had her fingers laced with Talcott's. Their hands swinging as they walked to the lobby.

"I didn't know they had a model here in Lestallum!" Talcott had the happiest grin on his face.

The Glaive couldn't help but mirror his smile. "I'm happy we found it." Lightning laughed softly. "You love cactuars, huh?"

"They're the best!"

"Tell you what, whenever I find one, I'll give it to you."

"Yeah! Cactuar!" the young boy did Cactuar's signature move. He was so excited that he hadn't let go of her hand.

"Woah, careful, little man."

Talcott had just noticed he had an audience and flushed red. "Prince Noctis!"

Noctis grinned. The young boy's enthusiasm was infectious. "Hey, bud, what's this about cactuars?"

"We were at the marketplace and Lightning spotted this cactuar model! I told her I love cactuars and then she bought it for me!"

"Oh, that's sweet of you, Light," Iris said softly. It was uplifting to see Talcott happy.

"Well, he's been through a lot," Lightning replied, slightly squeezing his hand.

Prompto snapped his fingers. "Oh, yeah. Before I forget, Talcott, go on and tell 'em what you told me."

"To the waterfall, it is!" Prompto skipped as they made their way to the parked Regalia.

Gladio rolled his eyes. Great. More dungeons. "A sword in a cave behind a waterfall. Sounds exciting."

"You don't sound very excited," Ignis remarked.

"Iggy, you smart ass. Come here!"

Lightning waited for Noctis, growing rather impatient. If they wanted to reach the waterfall before the sun sets, they needed to leave right now. Turning around to drag him, it was apparently not needed as he walked towards her with a stuffed toy in his hands.

"What is that?" the Glaive raised an eyebrow.

"It's a moogle doll. A good luck charm from Iris," the Prince stated casually.

From the mention of her name, a question slipped out of Lightning's lips before she could stop it. "So, how was your little date?"

Noctis stopped in his tracks. "Date? With Iris?"

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Who else, Your Highness?"

Uh-oh. Her calling him "Your Highness" usually meant one of two things: she was joking around or she had a bone to pick with him. It seemed like it was the latter.

"Well… it wasn't."

"Really? A stroll for two wasn't?"

Ugh, why does Lightning always win? "Maybe to her, it was. But it wasn't for me."

The Glaive continued to walk silently.

"What about you and Talcott?"

She turned to him, her face portraying utter absurdity. "Don't tell me you're jealous of a child?"

Okay, maybe he was. It was rare to see Lightning laugh and smile like that. Even more rare for her to be holding someone else's hand… even if it was a child's.

Noctis sighed and grabbed her hand. "Yeah, because he made you happy while I hadn't."

Lightning scoffed, her cheeks giving a tint of red. "Silly," she muttered softly before lacing her fingers with his. "You should know by now that I'm always happy when I'm with you."

The Prince squeezed her hand. "I can never win against you."

"Glad you know at least one thing about me."

"You were jealous, too, weren't you?" he asked rather meekly.

"Yeah," Lightning responded nonchalantly. "I was." She eyed the moogle doll for a moment, then shook her head, feeling childish. "I always knew she had a crush on you. You should've seen her last night when she asked me if she could get some alone time with you."

"So you knew," he deadpanned.

"I did."

"Traitor."

"Only for you, Your Highness."

"Hey, lovebirds! Get your assess moving or I'm gonna have to do something about it!" the Shield shouted in public, drawing attention from the people in the square.

Noctis groaned in embarrassment. "Why does he have to do that?"

Lightning rolled her eyes. "He's doing the total opposite of what he should be doing."

"You won't let anything happen to my ass, right?"

"If you do something stupid, then I will." The Glaive smirked at their banter. "Even if it is such a fine ass."