were she self-aware enough to understand, Kateryna would know that one of the many reasons she likes Noctis so much is the sound of his voice. ( He’s quiet, like herself — but, when he does speak, he speaks like it’s easy. He doesn’t stumble end-over-end over words like she does, like her father does, and he doesn’t seem to have to think as hard as Mister Ignis — not to mention that his voice is an even, comforting pitch, airy and friendly. )
Hey, Peanut.
Good, he still remembers her! She whines a bit more urgently now, eager to be held — and, as soon as Noctis’s thumbs are hooked beneath her arms and she’s been hoisted onto his hip, she buries her face into the crook of his throat ( covers what remains with Ellie’s “tail”, doesn’t want to be seen by anyone! )
You came all this way to free me, huh?
Slowly, she pulls Ellie’s “tail” back just enough for her bright eyes to shine through the shadow — for Noctis to be able to see the way that she nods in affirmation. ( He gives her a smile, and she hums a soft thanks, reassured. )
I’m in your debt. Let’s get out of here, then, huh?
Another nod, and she disappears once more beneath her blanket, fastens her arms securely ‘round Noctis’s neck.
What’s this? Our meeting cut short by a toddler? One of the Kingsglaive’s daughters. A very shy thing, but she’s taken quite a liking to the prince. Do all ‘glaive children have run of the castle?
Come now, Noctis intervenes — likely because Kateryna has begun to tremble and cry with a fear that she’s being reprimanded. You all know Kat’s an honorary princess, here. I operate on her time.
She clutches Noctis even tighter, and stills — comforted, childishly so, by the idea. He bids farewell to his father, strolls right out of the room — and, somewhere in the inaccessible depths of her mind, she knows that Noctis can only do these things because he is important in a way that she is not / in a way that no one else is or could be. ( It frightens her — because, if he’s important, then he’ll go away one day. That’s what happened to Mommy, she thinks. )
I’m sorry I was late, he offers, once they’re ( safely! ) in his room, once she’s seated ‘pon the edge of his bed and pulling Ellie away from her face just in time to see Noctis brandishing a movie — an animated tale about a frog that dances and sings. ( She hopes it’ll ease her fear of the amphibians; Noctis really likes frogs, so she wants to like them, too, but it scares her when they jump so high and fast! ) She proffers a grateful smile in return, settles more comfortably atop the bed while he sets it up.
❝ It’s okay. ❞ She fidgets with Ellie’s ears, nervous, before asking: ❝ A---Are you in trouble because of me, Uncle Noctis? ❞
She alternates her gaze between the movie previews and watching Noctis don his matching onesie, can’t suppress a girlish giggle at how happy it makes her to see! ( and, how silly the over-sized trunk looks as it wags left and right with his steps, like a dog’s tail. )
He sits behind her, and she crawls along the space between them until she’s clambering into his lap, reclining against his chest, reaching for a juice box as soon as it’s been readied for her.
❝ It was okay. I---I got to see Mister Ignis! Papá had to train with the other Kings-gave, s---so he said I could see if Mister Ignis would watch me, a---and he did! He — He let me put a “wax seal” on a letter. He writes lots of letters. Does he have lots of friends? ❞
Haven’t seen your Papá in a while. You’ll tell him I said not to work too hard, right?
❝ I’ll tell him. He — He wanted me to tell you “hi”. He wants to cook for you before you have to leave. He wants to be better than Mister Ignis. ❞ She allows that to hang in the air for a moment, and then: ❝ A---Are you gonna miss me when you leave, Uncle Noctis? Will — Will Miss Luna-free-uh let me see you? ❞ @caelumdevium!