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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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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Un... believeable.
But then she says yes and he almost jumps for joy. As it is, he can't quite hold back the "YES!" He shouts.
But then she's asking how they're going to get down and he blanks for a second.
"Uh, I can distract you... and we can get down the same way we got up?"
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They'd done meals and movies and lots of other things together as friends, but it was almost almost always with the rest of their friends as well, and she could feel that this was different.
"Distract me... ?" she echoed, feeling her heart doing another little flip. What did he have in mind?
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Now he takes his time, hoping she won't fault his inexperience as he starts with a light press, his lips moving against hers and firming as the seconds pass. He will give her all the time she needs to become fully absorbed as the sun starts to descend, and then he'll attempt a little tongue, sliding his along her soft lower lip in a silent request.
Only when he's sure she's fully distracted, will he call a weapon to his free hand and warp them down, but he won't let up the intensity of the kiss, lest he break her immersion.
The last thing he wants to do is to cause her that same stress again.
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And really, once Noctis came along, she wouldn't want them to.
He was the only one she wanted.
And now that it was actually happening her head was swimming with so many emotions and doubts and fears but also excitement and joy and utter elation.
Which all come to the forefront of her mind once his lips were on hers again and she was in his arms. It did the trick because she actually forgot for a moment that they were on the roof of her house, because then they weren't, and she felt a strange pull in the pit of her stomach but it was much less disorienting than it had been the first time.
It made her vaguely aware that he'd warped again, but her attention was far more focused on the fact that he was still kissing her and she didn't want him to stop.
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He's been wanting to do this for how long?
Damn straight he's gonna kiss her 'til they're both collapsed and gasping for air!
So he'll hold that liplock, his mouth moving against hers, but let her to her feet, if only so he can have his hands on her- don't worry, he'll behave and keep them to 'safe' spots. Noctis does have at least that much awareness of himself, but it's not gonna stop him from backing her to the side of the house and pressing his form to hers just a little.
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They might still get noticed if someone was nosy enough but so far the ones guilty of that were Rinka's family.
She barely noticed her feet on the ground, feeling as light and floaty as she was, just that she had to tilt her head back more to continue kissing him. She wouldn't have complained if he wanted to touch her in other areas but restraint was probably necessary for both of them.
She did eventually pull away, flush faced and breathless, dropping her forehead against his chest.
"... I know for a fact they were still eavesdropping on us" she mumbled, referring to her family. "Whatever. This... it's really happening, isn't it? You're not getting married after all?"
If this is a dream, don't wake me up...
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For now, restraint it is. Tomorrow they would at least be within the walls of the Citadel.
When she pulls away, he's also breathing hard as he tries to catch his breath.
"Wh... what? Really?! The... fact that... I took you... to the roof... wasn't a... glaring enough... hint for... a little... privacy?" He tries for annoyed, as he replies through panting breaths, but can't keep it up as he's too overjoyed to care.
"Whatever."
Noctis wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on top of her head.
"Yeah. I can't believe it either, but my dad wouldn't lie."
As far as he knows, and definitely not about something like this.
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"I can't be that mad. They're looking out for me."
As exasperating as they could be sometimes, Rinka loved her family. They wanted her to be happy, and didn't want anyone to hurt her despite knowing she could likely break the neck of anyone who did before they could get to that person.
"You know we haven't had it easy. Actually getting something I've been wanting for so long? It feels... unreal.'
She smiled up at him, eyes closed as she fought back a burning in them.
"I trust you, though, even if I was skeptical at first."
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Oh my gosh I think he actually asked her out
I did hear her use full name ultimatum on him, though. He warped them to the roof to get some privacy. Joke's on them, we're listening at the window.
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Fucking Six. The prince. King Regis' son. One thing had been having this kid around. It was quite another to know he intended to date his daughter despite his status.
And. Well. Hers.
Rox was overjoyed for her Rinka and she decided to focus on that, rather than the potential dangers her daughter would face being the adopted child of an immigrant. She sure hoped Prince Noctis understood that.
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Maybe it goes with the territory of being the prophesied 'Chosen King.' Maybe that's why King Regis allowed it. Whatever the reasoning, Noctis wasn't going to let this chance pass him by; status be damned. And he would do everything in his power to protect the people he loves.
"Oh yes, gotta watch out for that Noctis guy, he's a troublemaker." He quips in return, "I'm glad they're looking out for you though." He smiles warm with a hint of a protective edge. "For the times when I can't."
There you go Rox.
"You're telling me."
The disbelief is evident in his tone. He hasn't talked about his down past, but Noctis has had it rough at points as well.
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Physically she could see what those girls were going on about, but she'd gotten to know him on a level deeper than any of them ever would.
Hearing that he wanted to protect her came as a brief surprise, but then she recalled all the times he'd gone out of his way to do exactly that for Aurene and Prompto. There hadn't been cause for him to do so for her... but that didn't mean it would stay that way.
She could take care of herself, she knew that, but damn if her heart didn't actually melt like she was in reality some damsel in distress waiting for the actual prince to rescue her.
Though in a way he already had. She really didn't know what she would have done with her life if she had to watch him get married to someone else and slowly drift out of her life.
She stood on her tip toes and gave his lips another light kiss, then took his hand.
"We should probably let them unglue themselves from the window."
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He can't help but chase her lips when she kisses him, still very much wanting more, but he stops when she says they should go in and making a face.
"I guess I should apologize to Ulric. How the heck did I forgot he's dating your mom?"
Rinka takes his hand and he allows her to start leading him back. They take a few steps before he pauses in his tracks-
"Wait. One more."
-and urges her back towards him in an almost dance-like twirl, before claiming her mouth again. As he presses his lips to hers, the kiss, this time, is more desperate and lengthy, as if he really believes it might be some kind of fantasy. But it's also filled with gratitude and hope.
At length, he'll pull back, one hand wrapped around her waist and the other cupping her cheek; his teeth accidentally grazing her lower lip as he does so, which gives him an odd sort of sensation that he'll have to think on more later.
"Sorry." He apologizes sheepishly, "I've just wanted to do that for so long." He sighs disappointedly and composes himself, nodding his reluctance to go inside.
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