daysofthunder | a lot can happen in twenty seconds [ff15 au]

a lot can happen in twenty seconds [ff15 au]

At some point during the night, Rox woke up and slid out of the bedroom to grab her discarded shirt and bra. She didn't know if Rinka and Aurene were home, and she didn't check. If they had come home maybe they had noticed, maybe they hadn't. Hopefully, they hadn't noticed yet. She knew when she'd passed out in Nyx's arms they hadn't been home, but at this point it was the wee hours of the morning.

She was surprised when she returned to see a handsome, disheveled, bleary eyed Nyx sitting up in bed. Her recovered clothes were discarded and she jumped him. She got him all hot and bothered again and more intimate catching up was had, though this time, Rox made an effort to keep down her volume.

~~~

Rox heard rummaging in the kitchen. She lay draped over a hot, hard, delicious male in her bed. Muscles she'd forgotten existed were sore from the hungry, relentless activity of the evening and night before, but she savored every ache. Because it was Nyx. She opened one eye and peered at the handsome bastard who still slept soundly. She had worn him out, she thought with a pleased smile, quite proud of herself.

But as much as she wanted to snuggle, whichever of her daughters was in the kitchen making food—probably Rinka in all honesty—had awakened her empty stomach. It growled quietly in protest to all the exercise and the lack of calories. Of course, that rumble woke up her bladder, and Rox had to grudgingly and sleepily force herself away from the ridiculously tempting heat of the stupidly gorgeous man in her bed.

She wobbled a bit on her way to the bathroom and after cleaning up, grabbed the first shirt on the floor and tugged it on. Rox realized with a small smile it was Nyx's shirt as it slipped off her shoulder and hung down to her thighs. Good enough. She winced a little as she headed to the kitchen.

Rox patted Rinka's head when she passed by, yawning. She hadn't looked at herself in the mirror. So Rox was unaware that her auburn hair was an utter disaster from sleep and Nyx's hands, and bruises littered her neck and exposed shoulder. "Good mornin', baby," she said, her voice hoarse. She blearily blinked at a cupboard for a mug.

Coffee, yes. And food. She grabbed one of the mugs and put it down before leaving it behind to open the fridge. She lounged drowsily against the open door and stared blankly inside.

She didn't want to cook. Leftovers?

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And of course, being Mom, Rox had learned how to do both ages ago, and had taught both her girls. Between her and Rinka when it came to cooking, however, it generally fell on who was up and who was hungry. Rox generally cooked breakfast when the girls went to school and she went to work, but on the weekends, like today, she slept in a little and Rinka made breakfast.

She checked the clock on the wall as she headed to the table to set down her mug. Actually, slept in a LOT. She smiled to herself. Nyx's fault.

Rox glanced over at him and could still barely believe he was in her house, in her space, with her and her daughters, after spending the night in her bed.

Oh. That's right. She should give him back his shirt and put on actual clothes. "Aurene, baby, do you mind setting the table for your sister, while she finishes up breakfast? I'm going to put on some clothes and give Nyx back his shirt." And probably brush her hair.

Nyx, still chuckling, scooted out of the kitchen with the other two at Rinka's insistence. Hearing that Rox was going to change, though, he quickly got behind her and pulled her into a hug, kissing her neck lightly.

"Aw, I liked the view, but I guess I should probably be halfway decent for breakfast..."

"Yeah you should!" Rinka called out from the kitchen. Nyx buried his face in Rox's hair with a laugh.

"I think she likes me."

Aurene nodded in response and got up to start setting the table as her mother had requested. She did glance over at her sister when the two adults were out of earshot.

"So? What do you think of this all?" She asked her in her usual soft-spoken manner, gathering silverware and plates as she asked. Aurene wasn't really too bothered by it, as long as her mother was happy, but she knew Rinka had a lot more to think about the whole thing than she did.

Obviously, she wasn't thinking too far into the future. For now, this guy was making her mom happy so she was okay with it. She wasn't really thinking about her own relationship to the guy because this was literally a brand new development in her mother's life. And theirs, by extension, but ... Yeah, not thinking that far into it.

"You think?" Rox said with amusement. For a moment, she enjoyed the sensation of being wrapped in his arms. She never thought he'd ever embrace her like this, never thought he would ever want her the way she wanted him. So she savored the warmth that filled at his face in her hair, his voice near her ear, his arms enveloping her.

But she needed to put on clothes for her daughters' sakes, so she forced herself to cease her blissful lounge against his body and head back to the bedroom, tugging him along.

Once they were in privacy, she turned around, got on her tiptoes, kissed him, and then sashayed away toward her closet, pulling his shirt off her body and tossing it back to him. "I'm...glad you liked the view. Maybe eventually I'll get to keep a shirt or two," she said softly, as she grabbed a tank and a pair of leggings. She rummaged for bra and underwear, and then headed to the bathroom.

She wasn't in there two seconds before she said, "Fuck the Six! Nyx! I'm covered in hickeys!"

Rinka stopped her movements for a moment to tap on the edge of the counter with a thoughtful, contemplative expression. She recalled the night that Nyx helped them find Prompto with no hesitation, and went over the things she knew about him just from the articles and talks around the city about the Glaives and his position in particular.

For as much as she worried about her mom - yes, she knew Rox would hurl any and all would be harmers of any of them over the wall in a heartbeat, that was besides the point - she also couldn't think of anything that felt like a red flag to her about Nyx.

It wasn't even like he had an ego about the whole 'hero' thing. In fact it almost seemed like he disliked it, which was usually the sign of someone who wasn't in their job for recognition and praise alone.

"I guess he really is the one she's been waiting for..." Rinka finally answered while resuming plating up breakfast and taking it out to the table. "Plus I think he knows all three of us would absolutely murder him no question if he did anything to hurt her."

Nyx grinned at Rox as she tossed his shirt to him, admiring the view while he had it a little longer. He'd behave. For now.

And put his shirt on.

"Well if I'm gonna be taking a month off I'll probably need to bring some clothes over anyway."

Her cry left him sputtering in laughter again, poking his head around the doorframe to look at her through the mirror's reflection.

Yup.

Thoooose sure were some hickeys.

"Well then I'd say I did a good job," he grinned even wider at her, fully expecting to get something thrown at him for it.

Back in the kitchen Aurene's phone finally buzzed.

photog: i can get sleeping beauty up. cake sounds awesome.

Aurene listened to her sister, nodding in response. Well, at least Rinka seemed to trust the guy, and she had no reason not to trust him either, especially after he helped so much with Prompto all those months ago. Rinka's approval, or at least, her lack of any reason to see any red flags that she wouldn't be able to see, helped her feel better about the whole thing. As long as her sister approved, and her mom was happy, she was happy. She smiled in response, giving her a pat on the shoulder as she moved to go set the table. She then glanced at her phone and brightened up even more. Yay, she got to see Prompto, too! And Noctis. She was close with both boys by now, but by far closer with Prompto. She returned into the kitchen to get plates after setting the silverware up.

"Prompto says he's gonna get Noctis up and they'll come over so we can make cake." She anticipated today would be full of happy and hilarious vibes.

Man would be right! Rox threw a towel at him for his laughter (but only because she didn't want to lose her soap launching it at him), along with a playful glare, then chuckled with a shake of her head, and looked back at the mirror. Six. No wonder Rinka had been giving Nyx death glares. With the way her hair was, all those love marks, and wearing his shirt, she just about walked out of her bedroom silently screaming "I had sex last night and it was awesome."

Mm. It had been awesome. Definitely worth the wait, even if she would've preferred it sooner. Much, much sooner.

Rox sighed. "I'm going to have to wear a tall necked shirt when I go back to work to ask for it off..." The last thing she needed was a bunch of her coworkers sniggering at her if they saw them. The "Galahdian whore" comment never really stopped going around, but there had been no point telling her daughters about it. Almost ten years later and the occasional asshole still said it within her earshot, even though she'd changed departments. Once her boss had left, well... She'd had no more protection.

But for today, she didn't need to hide them so... After putting on her bra, she tugged on her tanktop and shimmied into her underpants. "Yeah. If you plan on staying here every night of the month you probably should." Rox paused. "I mean. If you want to. You can always go back to your place whenever you want," she said, her voice very quiet. Boyfriend, yes. But that didn't mean he wanted to spend every moment with her.

It was a little sus, Mom.

Nyx leaned against the doorframe with his shirt in his hand still, catching the towel with the other hand, continuing to grin rakishly at her. He almost couldn't stop grinning. Getting to see her like this was just as incredible as getting to see her writhing on top of him the night before.

"Weren't you planning on taking time off anyway? Not that it's gonna stop me from giving you more..."

Her hesitation did make the smile slip away some, though, and he stepped inside the bathroom proper to wrap his arms around her waist, kissing the top of her forehead.

"I'll go back to see Lib and Crowe but I would rather stay here with you... if you're okay having me around that much."

Rox sighed and relaxed against him, as if his touch was the only thing that could make the tension flow out of her body. She closed her eyes and moved close, taking a deep breath of his scent. She savored the feel of his body against hers and an arm slid around his waist.

"I want you around that much," she whispered. Hells, she didn't want him leave. Her hand on his back slid lower. "And yes, I plan on taking time off, but I won't get a whole month. It'll be a miracle if I can get a week." They'd screwed her out of time off before. She half-expected a fight to get that week. Well, even when she went back to work, she could find ways to cover up more hickeys she guessed. She wouldn't give the jerks and work anymore fodder if she could help it. But if they did find out...

Well, there was a chance she'd shoot her mouth off. Maybe they'd finally fire her if she did. Thank fuck she had saved over the years.

Her hand sank lower and pinched his ass. Half because it was irresistible and half because she wanted to make sure she wasn't dreaming and he wouldn't suddenly disappear. Rox opened her eyes and shot him a wicked little grin. "I can't believe you want cake when you already have so much." She grabbed his ass. "I swear you got a better butt than me."

Nyx gave a little jump at the sudden pinch, snorting loudly at her commentary.

"I can't say if I do or don't, just that I quite like yours as well," he grinned, reaching behind and giving hers a grope as well.

They had to be careful, though. They were going to miss breakfast entirely if this kept up.

"Well just let me know if you need me to clear out for any reason," he told her, giving her a light kiss and pulling away so he could he tug his shirt on. "I'll be around as long as you want me to be, even if you get stuck working. You can whine to me, though I can't promise I'll offer anything more than more sex to help."

Rox reached out to him, her expression concerned after that last comment. Her heart sat lodged in her throat, while her heart hammered. No. No. He wasn't allowed to think that.

"Bull shit," she rasped. "If you think I only want you for the sex..." What, Rox? He could leave? She didn't want to give him up. Her hand clenched on his arm. She grit her teeth.

"I will not whine to you," she said, her voice clipped. "Of course you offer more. You mean more to me than sex, Nyx." She dropped her hand away from his arm and shook her head. She started to put on her leggings with jerky, angry movements. "Who the fuck do you think I am? What the fuck do you think I am?" she muttered roughly under her breath. Was it her confession about work? About her past? Did he think her a whore too after all?

"I won't mention my job again to you." She wouldn't mention anything that bothered her. She never wanted him to think that all she cared about was the sex he could offer her.

Even if he already believed that.

Oh.

That sure was a foot in mouth moment.

Shit.

"No no, that's not--!"

He groaned and put a hand over his face, tilting his head back with a groan.

"I'm not good at this..." he muttered, more to himself than to her, though it was the truth. He could act the cocky hero all he wanted on the battlefield, but when it came to actually saying shit that was meaningful and not horribly misinterpreted, especially with someone he was trying to be vulnerable with and who was also trying to do the same with him, he might as well be as coordinated as a toddler.

"Rox..." he gently grabbed her lower arm, not to pull on her or yank her but to make her stop and look at him for a moment, eyes pained and regretful.

"I misspoke. I was trying to say... that if you need someone to have an open ear to your problems, I want to be that someone, even if I can't offer much in return besides comfort," he managed to say after taking a breath to calm his nerves. "I know the people you work with make shit difficult. That you've just had to grin and bare it for the sake of your girls and keeping a job. I can't make them go away even if I wanted to, but I can at least be something-- someone to come home to who won't judge you for it."

Rox forced herself to take deep breaths, to listen. It was something she'd had to learn to do in order to raise two headstrong young women. The heat in her head made it foggy at first, especially when he said he wasn't good at this, but she forced herself to close her eyes and just hear what he said.

As his words fell over her, she felt relief rush through her like a cold shower. She bit back the urge to sob with the power of her relief, but she kept her control. She noted how she'd misunderstood. Another deep breath and she managed to nod and open her eyes again. At least, she knew how to address it, she hoped.

She met his gaze head on, her piercing pale leaf-colored gaze sharp and determined. "Okay," she said softly. "Let's... get something very clear, Nyx. You are here, because I want you to be. More than anything. I have missed you, you ass. Unless you break my heart, betray my trust in you, or hurt my girls on purpose, then I don't ever want you to leave. I know you will, you have shit to do, other friends, a damn job. But this 'as long as you want me to be' doesn't exist. As long as I want is..."

She stopped. Forever. She swallowed. "Is a non-issue. It's as long as you want to be."

"Yes. Absolutely," he nodded emphatically. Even though he didn't always know the right thing to say and blurted out stupid shit like he had a moment ago, he still knew communication was important. "I want to be here. You're right, I have other places I'm gonna need to be sometimes, but when it's all said and done I want to be here. And I'm gonna do everything in my power to make sure you and your girls stay safe and continue to have a good life."

Rox felt her body relax some more and then she launched herself at him; her legs clutched at his sides, her arms around his shoulders, hands in his hair, face pressed against him.

"Good," she rasped, while her heart pleaded with desperate little pants the word 'stay' over and over again.

She took another deep, shuddering breath and then finished relaxing the rest of the way. "So unless you need me to get off," she murmured by his ear, "you can just walk out with me latched on because I don't really feel like letting go just yet unless you need me to."

Nyx let out an oh-so-dignified grunt but caught her easily, arms looping quickly under her legs to keep her from slipping off.

"Well, I do kinda need my hands to eat, but I think I can handle you like this that far," he grinned back at her, nuzzling into her hair.

"For what it's worth... I'm okay with being told I'm being stupid. Don't feel like you have to hide things from me just because I blurted out something like an idiot and stuck my foot in my mouth."

He kissed one cheek, then the other, and started walking out to the dining room finally. Their odd method of returning and the time it took naturally got a raised eyebrow from Rinka before she just rolled her eyes.

Rox sighed softly into his hair and kissed his neck before he started walking out of the room.

Once they got out to the table, Rox finally moved off Nyx. She dropped down lightly, gave her daughters a bright smile and then sat. She took a deep breath. "Smells fantastic as always, baby girl. I'm starved." Her body had been craving calories for what felt like ages now.

She looked for her mug and grabbed it. "Any plans for today?" she asked her daughters.

Nyx took a seat at the place set for him, giving Rinka acknowledging nod in thanks for it. Little doubts still nagged at Rinka's mind but she knew they were coming entirely from a place of concern about her mother. Not anything Nyx had done wrong.

"The boys wanna come over and make cake with us," she answered.

"What, the 'congrats on the sex' cake?" Nyx asked.

"Maybe. Do you want it to be? We'll probably be the only ones eating it."

"Sure. It was pretty damn funny."

"You did say you wanted cake, and I like baking," Aurene added, glancing at her phone to see if the guys responded at all. She couldn't really call it a 'welcome to the family' cake, because she didn't honestly know how long Nyx was going to stick around. Maybe eventually it could be one, if he ended up staying long enough.

She did know one thing for sure, though. She was absolutely going to get icing on Prompto's nose at some point today. For funsies. It would probably make him smile. Or pout. Or something like that. She'd enjoy seeing it, anyway.

"Do we all get to help with the baking, or is that too many bakers in the bakery," Rox said, teasing between bites. She was already halfway done with her meal. She really had been starving. Nyx had ridden her hard last night.

If the girls wanted to be a thing between them and their boyfriends (even though neither girl was actually dating said boys), Rox was fine with that. She knew her girls. She was totally fine with letting them have run of the kitchen. She'd taught them both well. "Let me know if we're missing anything and I can always run to the store and get some more if you need it."

"Too many, but if you're willing to grab us supplies we'll make sure to save you slices."

"Am I being voulentold to go shopping with Rox?" Nyx asked, his eyes lighting up. He didn't mind if he was, but clearly the dynamic between him and Rinka had been established, and it was one of mild hazing and giving each other shit.

Which Rinka was absolutely willing to meet him on.

"Too domestic for a Glaive? Even one who wants cake?"

"I can be domestic. I buy my own food. I even cook. Sometimes."

"I'uuuunnooooo I don't think you're up to the challenge, Mr. Ulric," Rinka grinned as she crunched down on a crispy strip of bacon.

"Watch me."

That seemed to be the dynamic between Rinka and everyone she was even remotely close with. Which, honestly, was fun to watch for Aurene and was a good sign for Nyx.

"How good are you at cooking?" Aurene asked curiously, wanting to know if there was going to some sort of chef game show competition in the house with the new addition of Nyx.

"Mom and Rinka taught me a little bit, but I feel better with baking. The measurements ... Safer for me," Aurene admitted. Plus, you know, sweet things. And bread. Lots of bread. What could she say, she loved her carbs.

She didn't know how much Nyx knew about her and Rinka's conditions, but he was going to find out she was a little trauma-filled autistic child soon enough anyway.

Rox herself didn't know if Nyx could cook. If any cooking had been done and shared among the kingsglaives when she'd been a part of it, she'd been the one to mostly do it. Just like Nyx had said the evening before when he had called her out on it; she had kind of mommed her fellow glaives too. To her, comrades-in-arms took care of each other.

She had spent so long trying not to think about it, but now with Nyx back in her life... She couldn't help but wonder how badly losing her connection to the glaives had damaged her. Thank the Six she'd had Rinka, and then Aurene, to stave off the loneliness.

"Everyone has their strengths." She slide an amused glance toward Nyx, knowing he was just playing along with Rinka ribbing him. "Aurene bakes better than both of us, and Rinka has already surpassed me in cooking great food." They were still young, but they practically didn't need her anymore. "Too bad we're making cake and not Aurene's chocolate chip cookies. But we have them on a limit. Because if she bakes them they will be all Rinka and I will eat for days."

Rox chuckled. "Now I only hold the secrets to making ice cream and old school Galahdian cuisine." And the former wasn't even that either girl couldn't do it. It was just easier to buy it. Besides, Mom's hardcore 'trenches ice cream' didn't taste as nice.

"At least someone in this city holds that secret. Lib is still salty about not getting good Galahdian food around here."

Rinka blushed with the compliment and mumbled something into her food, avoiding everyone's gaze. For all her boasting she was still surprisingly shy about the fact that she enjoyed cooking at all, and that like her mom, it was less about the food itself and more about sharing it with people she loved, even if for a long time that had been a very small pool of people.

A pool that had grown exponentially since Aurene met Prompto.

Luckily Nyx was about to make her feel a lot better.

"Well... I don't burn water?"

Code for: I can feed myself. Doesn't mean it's good.

Rinka let out a snort that she tried to cover with a cough.

"Mom's gonna have to teach you how we do things around here then."

"If that's the case then consider me a willing student."

Aurene leaned back in her seat while munching on her food.

"I get the feeling you're a willing student if Mom's involved, whatever it is," she commented. Now that she was seeing this for what it was, she was going to take every opportunity she could to join in on the playful hazing. She was also keeping an eye on her phone while trying not to be too impolite about it, just in case Prom or Noctis texted to say they were close.

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