Blue eyes forever searching for his father, the young child didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t fair, why here, and why now? Ignorance towards the ongoing war he could only assume that he’d always be okay. Frantic towards the screams, and still no sight of his father Noctis could only let out another choked sob. He was alone in the midst of this all, and the fear that crawled upwards was steadily making itself known once more.
Just like back then, please don’t let it happen again. Pulled into the memories of his accident before the coma he shivers as the fear finally settles in. He didn’t want this, why was this happening? Chanting the question ‘dad where are you?’ continuously in his mind.
It isn’t until the voice of another reaches his ears, does the Prince look towards them. Burgundy hair, and man that looked a little scruffy was there. Taught to never trust strangers the young child moves back in fear. Who was he? Why was he here? Did he know where dad was? Head shaking as the question surfaced about him not wanting to die he’s wary at first. He’d never seen this man before, but here he was offering his hand to help him up.
Swallowing the lump that had formed Noctis tries to find the words to reply. What could he even say other than no? Mouth opening to try to answer the words get stuck in his throat. It’s a scene of the Prince looking like a gapping fish for a moment before he finally manages something. It’s low, but still it was hopefully audible enough.
❝ No I don’t want to die. ❞
Thoughts out now he doesn’t know what else to say. Legs still weak he does manage to half way move forward. Tiny hand reaching out he grasps the side of Ardyn’s hand before trying to pull himself up. Small mistake here, and another one soon to come he’s finally standing on shaking legs. This man would take him to his father right? The question surfaced, but then he recalled being told that he’d run off, leaving him here to die.
❝ He’ll come back for me! ❞
Hope laced in his words the dark haired child wasn’t ready to give up hope. His father would come back for him, he knew he would. Such a damnable thing sometimes, but still everyone had a bit of it inside of the no? Call it childish, and stupid but that didn’t matter to Noctis, right now he didn’t want to look weak, but with his shaky legs that was something that was close to impossible.
He wanted to go home, but the issue of it all was that he didn’t know how to get back. The chaos around him was vast, and now here he was stuck with the man that asked him if he didn’t want to die. Nevertheless he never once lets go of the other’s hand, if only he holds onto it just a little tightly out of fear of being left behind.
