Rinka Okumurah (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
voidblue) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
daysofthunder2024-05-09 04:33 pm
voidblue) wrote in daysofthunder2024-05-09 04:33 pm
Entry tags:
lost all memory of the time before you, home is a foreign land [ffxv au]
Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum was a moody teenager at best.
Everyone knew that.
Of course the tabloids enjoyed spinning it with such phrases as "stoically aloof" or whatever nonsense they were feeding to the public at large, but really he was just. A teenager. One that had actually dealt with more hardships than most realized, as well, which certainly didn't help his outward demeanor, but he was still mostly a child trying to navigate his way through a difficult world that refused to slow down for anyone, least of all him, and the unique burdens of being the next in line for the throne.
But there was a difference between his usual quiet, reserved moods and whatever he had been in the last few days. Any time he got to spend with his father outside of mind numbingly boring meetings and other royal responsibilities was usually a cause for at least a few light, corner-of-the-lips smiles and bright eyes that betrayed how much he actually enjoyed it, but the last dinner they'd managed to squeeze in had him distant at best.
It took a good week to finally hear from Clarus who had overheard from Gladio that there had actually been someone in Noctis' life that wasn't his skinny, overly excited blonde best friend. The way it was told, as these games of telephone tended to do, was that he had befriended the adopted family of a former Kingsglaive, specifically the woman's two teenaged daughters, and while everyone around them could see that Noctis was absolutely smitten with the eldest daughter and she clearly had feelings for him in return, neither of them had acted on it.
And when Gladio had tried to give him (and Prompto, in regards to the youngest daughter) a push in his gruff and probably less than tactful way, he'd gotten a strange reaction from Noctis. A mix of upset and anger that he didn't usually display before stomping off. That very night had also been dinner with his father, and the entire time he was absolutely dour, barely responsive, dodging questions about school and worryingly distant.
The pieces were somewhat there to understand what may have been going on in his son's head, but something was still missing. Namely the 'why'.
Regis wasn't the best with emotions, either (Noctis had to get it from somewhere, after all) but this was something he actually felt couldn't just be regulated to letting Ignis try and pry it out of him. He wanted to address it directly, or as direct as he could, and see if maybe he could offer some legitimate fatherly advice.
Or if he would somehow make things worse.
Either way he felt for his son, truly wanted him to live his best life, and it worried him that he wasn't going for something so easily within his grasp.
Hence why he had asked Noctis to his office during a rare bit of down time in between meetings that afternoon, sitting comfortably in one of the plush chairs off to the side of his large heavy wooden table. Once Noctis entered quietly he motioned with his hand to the other empty chair.
"Thank you for coming, Noctis."
Everyone knew that.
Of course the tabloids enjoyed spinning it with such phrases as "stoically aloof" or whatever nonsense they were feeding to the public at large, but really he was just. A teenager. One that had actually dealt with more hardships than most realized, as well, which certainly didn't help his outward demeanor, but he was still mostly a child trying to navigate his way through a difficult world that refused to slow down for anyone, least of all him, and the unique burdens of being the next in line for the throne.
But there was a difference between his usual quiet, reserved moods and whatever he had been in the last few days. Any time he got to spend with his father outside of mind numbingly boring meetings and other royal responsibilities was usually a cause for at least a few light, corner-of-the-lips smiles and bright eyes that betrayed how much he actually enjoyed it, but the last dinner they'd managed to squeeze in had him distant at best.
It took a good week to finally hear from Clarus who had overheard from Gladio that there had actually been someone in Noctis' life that wasn't his skinny, overly excited blonde best friend. The way it was told, as these games of telephone tended to do, was that he had befriended the adopted family of a former Kingsglaive, specifically the woman's two teenaged daughters, and while everyone around them could see that Noctis was absolutely smitten with the eldest daughter and she clearly had feelings for him in return, neither of them had acted on it.
And when Gladio had tried to give him (and Prompto, in regards to the youngest daughter) a push in his gruff and probably less than tactful way, he'd gotten a strange reaction from Noctis. A mix of upset and anger that he didn't usually display before stomping off. That very night had also been dinner with his father, and the entire time he was absolutely dour, barely responsive, dodging questions about school and worryingly distant.
The pieces were somewhat there to understand what may have been going on in his son's head, but something was still missing. Namely the 'why'.
Regis wasn't the best with emotions, either (Noctis had to get it from somewhere, after all) but this was something he actually felt couldn't just be regulated to letting Ignis try and pry it out of him. He wanted to address it directly, or as direct as he could, and see if maybe he could offer some legitimate fatherly advice.
Or if he would somehow make things worse.
Either way he felt for his son, truly wanted him to live his best life, and it worried him that he wasn't going for something so easily within his grasp.
Hence why he had asked Noctis to his office during a rare bit of down time in between meetings that afternoon, sitting comfortably in one of the plush chairs off to the side of his large heavy wooden table. Once Noctis entered quietly he motioned with his hand to the other empty chair.
"Thank you for coming, Noctis."
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Gladio... so help him!
Even though he hasn't looked back at the king, Noctis can feel his father's eyes on him.
At length he cracks. After all, it's not every day his dad sucessfully manages time for him. It's the least he can do; even if nothing will come of it. Noctis fidgets a little before speaking, his expression brightening as he starts to describe Rinka.
"Yeah, there's this girl. She's a Junior. She's short and cute with raven-black hair, and her eyes are gorgeous. One's blue and one's gray, it's pretty badass." And then he remembers who he's talking to, meets his father's gaze and gapes for a second before clamming up. "Gah! What's it matter?! I don't get that luxury. And that's what I tried to tell Gladio, so kindly tell him to butt out."
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Up until Noctis says that line.
I don't get that luxury.
The rest of it goes ignored because he's far less concerned about whatever squabble he and his shield were having about it.
"Whatever do you mean? Are you concerned she might not feel the same way? Or that she takes issue with your status?"
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Was there a memo that Regis missed somewhere? Buried under piles of papers on his desk?
Luna? Engaged?
"I'm... sorry, I don't quite follow," he started hesitantly, "Since when have you been engaged fo anyone? And why wasn't I informed of this?"
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The family resemblance is clear when Noctis also wears a confused expression, his eyebrows arched just as high.
"I thought that the Kings of Lucis and the Oracle had to..."
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No wonder he was so dour lately! Someone special had come into his life and he had to continually deny himself even a sliver of happiness with this seemingly amazing girl...
Because of a misconception about kings and oracles.
It was all he could do to keep from bursting out laughing at his poor distraught son.
As it was Regis was struggling to maintain his composure enough to speak again.
"That's never been the case, son. Your mother certainly wasn't an Oracle and Lunafreya's mother was absolutely married to someone else. Their relationship is one of coexistence but it has never strictly been romantic or one of arranged marriages.
Your friendship with Lunafreya as children was mainly for the benefit of your recovery but beyond that anything further would have come about naturally should the two of you wanted it, and seeing as you two aren't even able to see each other right now..."
It was something of a foregone conclusion that they wouldn't be anything more than friends.
Regis stared at his son somewhat torn between incredulous and utterly amused at the clearly gigantic misunderstanding.
"I can't say I have any good advice for a situation such as this aside from hoping this girl has a good enough head on her shoulders to be understanding of this whole mess."
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A pause as everything clicks into place.
"So... I do have a shot?" He asks seriously, just to make sure he's not imagining things or dreaming.
The 'advice' is all he has to hear before it's like a weight is lifted.
"I gotta tell her. I GOTTA TELL HER!"
Noctis hops up from his chair, a wide smile on his face as he hugs his dad and just about skips to the exit.
"Thanks dad, I'll let you know how it goes!"
though in his hurry, he stumbles over the chair he was sitting in on his way, recovers with a sheepish smile, and dashes from the room.
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Thankfully for all involved that didn't seem to be the case at all, and Noctis was out of his seat, stumbling as he headed for the door in all his excitement. It warmed Regis' heart to see him so full of energy now, as well as relief that Noctis was clearly feeling better.
"Do take care not to startle the poor girl!" he called out after Noctis, though he was past the doorway by the time he managed to get it out. He sat back with a deep chuckle. A short conversation, but a successful one. He hoped to hear from Noctis again soon.
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When he reaches the door, he knocks, waits a second, knocks again, waits a second, knocks again, and so on, while trying to catch his breath.
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The door flung open with a yank seconds before Noctis started knocking a third time.
"Who the hel-- uh."
That was probably not the voice or face Noctis was expecting and it was clear Nyx wasn't expecting to have his lazy afternoon interrupted by the Prince of Lucis frantically banging on the door.
This wasn't even his house, which Nocris would have known, and that made the moment even weirder.
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When he's answered by a much more masculine voice, his head shoots up and he almost stumbles back in shock.
"Gah!"
Nyx is met with an equally 'what the hell,' look, though his cheeks betray his embarrassment.
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Eventually his gaze landed back on Noctis as the boy damn near jumped his height in the air in shock.
Clearly he was expecting someone else at the door.
Still, Nyx couldn't resist the urge to crack a cocky grin.
"I'm flattered, your highness. I didn't think I was your type. Also, I'm sort of taken so I'm gonna have to decline."
He did step away from the door, though, so Noctis could actually come inside and maybe regain some of his composure from having the crap scared out of him.
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"Buzz off Nyx. Where's Rinka?" He asks, wasting no time in pushing past. However, once inside, two things cause his poor brain to short circuit again. One being that he's now standing in Rinka and Aurene's living room with no idea what to do now, and moreover, Nyx is taken? By who?
Noctis' posture stiffens and those worries his father had about his mood tanking earlier threaten to creep in.
What if he did lose his chance?
Maybe Rinka's into older guys?
Shit!
His expression sets into a scowl and he crosses his arms.
"Don't you think she's a little young for you?" Noctis asks flatly, tilting his head a little.
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Nyx could make this easier on Noctis. He'd already made his intentions known and who it was all for.
But he so rarely got to fuck with the little prince in such a perfect way.
"Temper temper," he tutted, a faint curl to the edge of his lips. He dramatically put a hand on his chest. "What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants--"
Okay, he won't go that far. Especially because he was pretty damn sure he just saw the wrath of the Kings of Lucii flashing in Noctis' eyes for a second there. He cracked up hard, putting a firm hand on Noctis' shoulder.
"Unclench. I'm joking. I would never. I'm pretty sure Rox would turn me inside out and flay me alive if I did, and not just because that's her daughter."
He walked over to the nearby hallway.
"Rinka! The prince would like to have a word with you!" he called out. A door opened and Rinka's voice came closer.
"Y'know, there are better ways to get my attention, Ny--"
Oh.
That. Sure was Noctis in their living room, looking red face and flustered. Nyx grinned cockily at the two of them.
"Well? G'on. Didn't you have something to ask her?" he directed at Noctis, earning a strangled noise from Rinka. She shoved him from the side.
"You are not listening in on this!" not that she knew what 'this' was, but she'd made her point. "Go bother Mom, you weirdo!"
Nyx laughed again and held his hands up in mock surrender, resisting her shove playfully at first but eventually relenting and vanishing into the kitchen, still chuckling to himself and entirely too amused by his own antics.
Rinka huffed as he left, looking back to Noctis.
"Sorry about him..." she mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck. "But I guess you already kinda know what a pain he is." Being Noctis' warping instructor for so long and all that. "But if Mom is happy-- ugh! Sorry, sorry. What uhm. What'd you wanna talk to me about?"
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They weren't even going to make any noise in the kitchen. They were going to listen while Rox mentally crossed her fingers and prayed that her daughter was somehow going to get the impossible wish of her heart.
And Nyx wasn't. Going. To. Say. A damn. Word.
Hehe they're all gonna kill him. (They can listen through the window)
"You go on! Go on and get lost!" Noctis shoots back in a harsh whisper with a scowl until Rinka descends the stairs and all of Noctis' attention is redirected to her.
Don't get too comfortable though. It's on buddy! Later. But he will get you for that one Nyx! So watch your back!
"Rinka..."
Then they're alone, or so it appears and Noctis has to remind himself to breathe.
"Yeah, I uh... have... uh... something... to uh... ask you. It's... um... pretty important..." he stumbles and rubs at the back of his neck. "Um..."
He can't do this when it feels like there are a million eyes on him! Then again, when are there not? This is different though! A thought occurs to him.
"C'mon."
Noctis hesitates a moment before taking her by the hand and tugging her out the front door. Once outside, he glances around and, now having gathered a bit more courage, scoops Rinka up into a princess carry, summons a weapon and chucks it at the roof.
"Hold on tight." he says with a half-smirk, and warps the both of them.
omg noct
Rinka's eyebrows pinched together worriedly, something about the way he was fidgeting and fussing and avoiding her gaze worrying her more than giving her any kind of hope. Because, really, why would she continue to hope after all this time?
"Noct... ?" she started, feeling like she wanted to reach out for him but unsure how he would react in that moment.
But then her hand was in his before she could pull it back fully and she was being dragged, letting out a confused noise that became even louder when he picked her up easily in his arms.
"What--?!"
Oh Astrals that was disorienting. She'd never been warped with him before and it wasn't exactly a great sensation to get sprung on her so suddenly.
She clung to Noctis tightly, actually shaking with wide eyes.
"W-was that necessary?!" she yelped, burying her face in his chest.
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Oh, it probably is jarring to someone who's never done it before. He didn't think of that. When she buries her face in his chest he wraps his arms around her, hugging her close.
"Rinka, Rinka! Shit! I'm sorry. Are you okay?" he asks worriedly. So much for being all cool and stuff. He didn't even consider if she was afraid of heights or something. "I just wanted to get us a little privacy, and a better setting because..."
He trails off, wanting to be sure she's ok before he springs even more on her.
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She took a few deep breaths and nodded, though she was still shaking slightly.
"I don't think I'm gonna lose my dinner on you..." she let out with a sigh. She felt a little outside her body for another few seconds, but it faded and she was able to pull head up and look at him, brows once more furrowed together but only vaguely aware that he was still holding her.
Six, why did his eyes have to be so pretty...
"What... did we need privacy for?"
She had honestly shoved Nyx off without really thinking about why that might have been necessary.
Was that her rapid heart she was feeling, or his?
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Definitely his. But it's probably both.
In any case, when she looks back at him, his breath catches, his stomach feeling like there's a flock of colibri in it. He better not be the one to lose his dinner!
"Uh... So..."
Dammit! Maybe another way...
"Funny story actually... Turns out..."
Noctis shakes his head and swallows. That's not right either. Why do words have to fail him so much?
Wait. Maybe words aren't needed..?
He's still holding her, and he releases her only so that he can bring one hand up under her chin and tilt it up as he leans in a little and meets her gaze, his eyes half closing.
"For this."
Tilting his own head to the side, he presses his lips lightly to hers for a soft, chaste kiss. He doesn't linger too long, but doesn't make it a quick peck either, but when he pulls back, he exhales with a half-laugh, some of the tension draining.
"Gods I've wanted to do that for so long..." Wow, that really helped, he can think a little clearer now. "So, you know how I thought Luna and I were betrothed? Well, my dad so helpfully informed me that I'm an idiot- just, not in so many words."
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She blinked her bicolored eyes at him curiously as he fumbled through words, head tilting to the side as she was carefully set down. Though her heart was fluttering she chalked it up to always feeling like that when he was in physical proximity to her.
Not that there was ever a possibility the she would finally, finally hear the words she'd secretly been hoping would still happen even though she knew deep down it was an impossible wish.
But then he was touching her chin, and her heart rate shot up as he neared. His warm lips on hers. Her breath caught.
This had to be a dream.
Her hands went to his shirt and clung to it lightly, pulling him a little closer, deciding that if this was a dream she was damn sure going to enjoy it for as long as she was allowed to.
When he pulled back she felt a lump rising in her throat, and for a moment his words were sounding muffled in her ears, but then he said 'Luna' and she forced herself to focus.
"I-- what?" she mumbled, lips still tingling from his. Her face pinched in confusion. "An idiot how?"
Don't you dare... don't you dare get my hopes up just to crush them, Noctis...
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"Rinka, will you... Will you, go out with me?"
He'll have to tell her later why he choked. Knowing Rinka, she'll want a piece of Nyx as well.
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She heard him right.
Didn't she?
She wasn't just imagining this.
His hands were absolutely on her waist, he was touching her in a way that wasn't just friends being platonically affectionate with one another.
Or in their case, not so platonically longing for more but knowing - thinking at the time that they couldn't do anything more.
"I-- you-- ... there isn't?" she finally managed to find her own voice again. "You and Luna aren't--"
She shook her head, not in a 'no' to him but in utter disbelief.
"Noctis Lucis Caelum if you are fucking with me right now, I swear to all the Astrals I will break every bone in your spine. I am willing to go to jail for it!"
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"Ah- What?" A pause as he stares at her, wide-eyed. "Do I gotta prove it to you?"
Noctis gapes for a second as he thinks of how he can do that.
"Dinner. Tomorrow night. At the Citadel. Then a movie. Just you and me. I'll pick you up at 6."
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He seemed to be genuine about it.
As much as they all fucked with and hazed each other on a fairly regular basis, Noctis was usually a very genuine person, someone who never had a reason to lie to any of them, including her. He'd been honest with her from pretty much the start, once they both realized that they shared the same feelings about each other but couldn't act on them.
She opened her mouth to say something but then he dropped that other bomb on her, and she felt heat prickle up the back of her neck.
At the Citadel?
Did... she even have anything fancy enough for that?
But Gods, did her heart want it. Wanted all of this to be true and not a prank or a dream or some dying fantasy in her old age while she was reminiscing about the Prince that Got Away.
"I-- ... yes. Okay. Yeah. Tomorrow."
She glanced past his shoulder, off the roof line.
"... Noct. How. Are we gonna get down?"
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