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amidalogicdive · 7 years ago

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The Misadventures of a Prince and His Glaive

Chapter 10: Alone

Rating: Mature Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Relationship: Noctis Lucis Caelum/Nyx Ulric Characters: Noctis Lucis Caelum, Nyx Ulric, Ignis Scientia, Gladiolus Amicitia Additional Tags: Microfic, Prompt Fic, NyxNoct Monthly Challenge, Stupidity, Hurt, Hurt/Comfort, Lovers, Established Relationship, Misadventures, Bad Luck, Betrayal, Halloween, Alternate Universe - Werewolf, Hung Over, Drinking, Hangover, Road Trips, Nightmares, Dreams and Nightmares, Devotion, Acceptance, Sex, Anal Sex, Sex in a Car, Angst, Injury, Major Character Injury, Hospitals, Memories, Feelings Realization, Past Memories

A03 Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/11766387/chapters/31062465

Summary: When Nyx is grievously injured during a tour, the Prince doesn't take the news well. With his condition unknown and no assurance of his survival, Noctis is forced to accept how much he's come to love and depend on the glaive. Along with the fact that he could very well lose him.

Someone had once advised him that it was all fun and games until -

Which could be left open to a multitude of possibilities. But, they had been right. Up until now, it had been fun and games between himself and the glaive. They had both suffered injuries due to their own stupidity and had licked their wounds; while the other would tease without restraint. But there had never been a moment that made them analyze what it was they were doing. Yes, they loved one another. Slept with one another, and had been mutually exclusive for years now. Even his father had known of their little affair for quite some time, keeping his opinions to himself. But, Noctis never considered how deeply they had integrated into one another's lives. Not until he stood in that hospital, blood running cold as his face drained of all color…

Not until he’d heard those words fall from the woman’s lips before him.

“…rushed him into an emergency procedure. I’m sorry, they don’t know if he will make it.”

Ignis seemed pensive as he glanced over at Noctis. The prince stood there, silently, trying to process the words. “We shall await word in the sitting room. Please, bring any further information posthaste.” With that said, he took the princes arm and pulled him away from the reception area. “Noct, despite the unpleasantness of such a situation, you must remain calm. Many were injured in the attack, and she could have simply misheard the information.”

“No,” His voice was muffled. Noctis couldn’t stand how pitiful he sounded, his tone coming off monotonous as he continued taking in the information. All his training as heir seemed to fly out the window when Nyx was concerned. That should have bothered him. Should have, but he’d given up all pretenses long ago - Nyx was his weakness. “I knew this could happen, that I might lose him. He’s been too lucky, too damn reckless.” His breathing had quickened, and the prince felt like he was suffocating under the strain of it all. “I… I have told him so many times to be careful. To be so… fucking careful.”

“Noctis.”

“We are fighting a war,” His tone was direct, prompting the advisor to remain silent. “one that was brought to our doorstep. One we never wished for in the first place." Noctis allowed his advisor to haul him down a side hall, and still, his thoughts wouldn't leave him alone. "Is this the price we pay? Is it fair to watch those we love and respect, cut down due to the whims of some Empire?!" It was frustration that Noctis felt, and he knew that Ignis saw it. He inevitably saw everything. Noctis was lead across the modest room, feeling his adviser prod him down into a chair. It was then, Noctis finally met his eyes as he knelt before him.

“Breathe.” Ignis had never seen such a mix of emotions in the heir’s gaze before. Tears threatened to spill as the adviser ran his hands up and down his arms. “Noct, you must calm yourself. You need to breathe. If your father or Sir Ulric observed you in such a state…” The prince nodded dumbly, letting out a frazzled breath as he shook under Ignis’s care. He hated seeing Noctis like this. Cupping his face, a thumb brushed gently across his prince's cheek. “Listen to me; I need you to stay in here. Gladiolus will arrive any moment, and I shall send him here forthwith. Until he arrives, I shall be right outside. Call if you need anything, understand?” Once again, Noctis nodded. Rising back up, Ignis made his way to the door and only a soft click signaled his exit.

Sitting there in the quiet, it was only then that Noctis allowed the tears to fall. Despite his panic, Noctis knew his duty. No matter what he was feeling inside, he couldn’t let the world see how utterly weak he was when it came to those he loved. When it came to Nyx. Curling up in the cushioned chair, he leaned his head against the back and allowed his mind to wander. Replaying all the moments that they shared up until that time, but refusing to acknowledge the fact that he could lose Nyx. If he allowed himself to focus on that singular thought, Noctis knew he would break completely. Already, the pain of knowing the glaive was so far from him at that moment, it felt like poison flowing through his veins. He couldn’t think, couldn’t focus on the here and now so he let his mind drift into the past.

He could remember the first time they had officially met.

While he’d overheard the man’s name often enough and had seen this glaive from a distance; Noctis had never actually spoken to this specific fighter. Nyx Ulric. He was called a Hero and touted as one of the best Glaives within his father's service. Due to this, the man saw more field-time outside the wall than most Kingsglaive. Noctis had wondered, was it the man’s choice to throw himself into war so often, or by order? As it turned out, it was Nyx who had offered his service time and time again. In the process, he’d preserved many lives and had afforded the Kingdom time to strengthen its forces.

So Noctis had found it amusing when this Hero had been assigned to guard his birthday party, of all places.

He’d been seventeen, still young but had started to grow out of that stage of awkwardness and fear he’d felt for so long. Life hadn’t always been easy for him, considering who he was and would become. There had been too many close calls and blatant attacks on him and his father's life. The daemon attack when he was eight, that had left him wheelchair-bound for over a year. An assassination attempt a few months later, and the emotional stress that had left him wary of those he didn’t recognize. Deep scarring across his back and the slight limp in his walk made him self-conscious of how his peers and subjects viewed him. Chronic pain that would flare up at the most inopportune times, leaving him bed bound for hours or days. They were all weaknesses that those around him could exploit.

Nyx had been different.

Noctis had snuck out of his own party, pleasantries long since passed and his old injuries flaring from the constant jostling. He'd only wanted some time alone, yet his father had noticed his absence and had already initiated the search. When Nyx had come upon him, curled up on an overstuffed loveseat with a tray of pilfered treats set on the narrow table beside him; he'd chuckled. Noct could recall how the man had stood there, arms crossed with amusement in his eyes, a slight smirk pulling at his lips. He'd been caught, so Noctis had simply offered him one of the treats as a consolation prize for finding him. Figuring that his disappearing act was up, and Nyx would drag him back down to the gala; it was the least he could do for wasting the glaives time. Instead, he had sat in a chair adjacent to the little couch and accepted the stolen goods. His first impression of Nyx; he'd been a kind man, Noct remembered. His tone was gentle to the ear, and his enjoyment of the stole time was obvious.

So they sat there in the sparse study, far off the beaten path. They had talked about the city, and where Nyx had come from. About his time as a glaive and the magic that flowed through the both of them. As they continued on, he realized that Nyx didn't comment on the mental and physical damage that had plagued him his whole life. To most, it was a puzzle to be solved, how one little boy had survived such hardship and so many close calls. He knew of the rumors that flooded the Citadel, mostly humored due to the fact that Noctis refused to speak to refute them. Yet here was a man that he barely knew, and it seemed as if Noctis' past didn't matter. It wasn't who he was, he was just Noctis. Nyx had only seen Noctis, and that had meant more to him than he could have ever put into words. Years later Nyx would learn of all that had happened, his injuries, his nightmares. But by then Noctis had fallen so deeply in love with the man, and Nyx with him, that it hadn't mattered.

“Hey, Noct,”

Pulled from his thoughts, Noctis looked up as his Shield entered the room. “Gladio, any word?”

He shook his head, forging his way across the room to Noctis. “Nothing.” Sitting in the chair beside him, Gladio ruffled his hair hoping to get a reaction; and for once the prince made no retort. “Come on Noct, it’s Nyx. He’s too stubborn to die.” If he believed those words or was merely asserting it to make them both feel better, Gladio wasn’t sure. But, Ignis had informed him of Noctis' current state and could only agree. This wasn't their prince, and Gladio had never seen anything affect him like this was and that bothered him more than he was willing to admit. “You want me to stay here with you?”

“No,” Noctis looked down at his lap, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. “I would ask that you to find out anything you can about Nyx.”

“Ok, I will. But you let me know if you need me.” He stood, walking towards the door but paused. “I mean it; Nyx is strong. He’s gonna be fine.”

Hearing the door click, Noctis buried his face in his arms and curled deeper into the chair. His back objected to the odd position, old wounds making their existence clear, but Noctis ignored the growing pain. “Maybe I’m just weak.” He whispered to the vacant room.

Noctis was the heir apparent, he would be King one day, and thusly had been trained his whole life in proper etiquette. He couldn't hide his disgust for most of it, but he knew his desires were always secondary to those of his people. As Prince, his focus was to remain on the good of the realm, not his own selfish desires. A lesson that he'd, without a doubt, failed miserably at. His mind turned back to his more initial thoughts, of Nyx being his weakness. It was true, but he was not the only weakness that he hid behind the mask of a prince. Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio where no less dear to him than Nyx was. Regardless of who'd been injured, it would have made Noctis vulnerable. That had been why he'd locked his true feelings away when he'd been younger. Why he had tried to be the reserved, standoffish prince that people expected of him. Humans, after all, were such feeble creatures. Even more so if they were to grow up with a target on their back, their only crime; to be guilty by association.

“Noct?”

His head rose, noting the darkness that had overcome the room and rolled his neck to ease the stiffness. Noctis knew he must have dozed off, running a hand through his hair as dark eyes fell on his Shield. “Gladio, what happened? Is Nyx ok?”

“Come on, they moved Nyx to ICU and said you can see him now.” That had him rising from the chair in an instant, wincing as the muscles in his back pulled tautly. Gladio was at his side before he could even give voice to the pain, hands resting on the prince's shoulders. “Hey now, Nyx isn’t going anywhere. Don’t hurt yourself for his sake.”

“I know. I must have slept wrong.”

Gladio was sympathetic, running a hand down Noct's back as they made their way across the room. “The way you were curled up, I have no doubt. I didn't want to bother you." Pushing the door open, they walked out into the hall. "It's been a stressful day, especially for you." He had always been an earnest man and now was no different. Watching as Noctis nodded lightly, and he guided him towards the elevators. “Nyx isn't awake, just warning you.” That caught the younger man's attention as the prince looked up. “Doc said something about his body needing rest, so they have him heavily drugged. Probably the right thing to do in this case, that man is stubborn and probably wouldn’t do what he’s told.

“He never has, Gladio." While he tried making the words come off amused, there was an underlying nervousness in his voice. Noctis couldn't stop the worry from rising at the thought of his lover having to be kept under for the good of his body. He mulled over these thoughts and only realized they had made it to the ICU when a hand on his back pushed him forward. “Which room?” Gladio pointed across the way, Ignis coming into view as they rounded the corner. A woman stood beside him, the two speaking but as he came close she bowed and walked away. “Ignis?”

“Noct, I was speaking with one of the physicians charged with Sir. Ulric’s care.” The prince motioned for him to continue, though it was evident that his interest laid in the room behind him. “Has Gladio informed you of their intentions to keep him in a medically induced coma for the coming days?”

“Yes.”

There was a fault in his step as Ignis moved aside, allowing Noctis to move closer and look into the tiny white room. “I have been informed of the following; Sir Ulric is to be monitored for the days to come. Once they feel that he is out of danger, only then will they consider awakening him. For now, it is best that he rests and that you follow suit." Seeing the prince shake his head, Ignis frowned, despite the fact that Noctis couldn't see it. He stood just inside the door, his eyes roving over the still body of the man he loved. “Noctis, I must insist. You need to rest.”

“I need?” His brow furrowed, hands flexing as a scowl pulled at his lips. “What I need,” He said flatly, turning back to face his advisor. “is to stay here with Nyx.” Ignis went to speak, but Noctis held up a hand. “I have prayed and begged Etro to permit him to stay by my side, and the outcome of that plea is still unknown. For better or worse, I made a conscious decision to love him, despite knowing what he is. Realizing that his duty would inevitably come before our commitment to one another. This is what has come from such promises, and I refuse to abandon him when he needs me most.” Whatever strength that he'd had seemed to desert him, the prince's hand falling to his side as he let his weight rest against the doorframe. Finally, Noct looked back at Nyx lying still in the bed. “If I was the one this had happened too, if I was lying there in his place, nothing in the world would keep him from my side. I refuse to be the one who walks away. I will not leave him.”

Seeing the resolve, Ignis placed a hand on his chest, bowing. “As you wish.” His attention then turned to Gladio, taking a few steps to secure the distance between them. “I shall depart at this time. I must inform the King of the current situation, and then I will go to his apartment. It would seem best that I bring back any items he may need for the next few days. Can you remain at his side until I return?”

“Yeah, go. I’ll call my dad, let him know what’s happening. Noct shouldn’t be left alone.” Those words prompted both men to look over at their charge. Noctis had entered the room and now stood at the end of the bed, one hand resting on the wooden footboard. “I think you should bring him back something to eat too.”

“I shall.” Turning, Ignis made his way to the elevators as Gladio entered to room and shut the door.

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