Look look, I know you've implied that Sasuke!Nyx is the only FFXV reincarnation in the Naruto 'verse, but - just. I had a sudden mental image. Of /Libertus/ as a Maito - as in, a close relative of Maito 'Konoha's Glorious Green Beast' Gai. ("YOUTH!") Perhaps a younger sibling or cousin or something? Because. Because the /mental images/ of the /rest/ of the non-uchiha-Compound family /reacting/ to an Uchiha being Best Friends with a Maito - Kakashi would despair. Gai would weep - in JOY.
I was not on board with this plan until you said Uchiha being Best Friends with the relative of Might Guy and now I’m dying.
... FINE.
One exception. JUST THIS ONE.
And also Crowe. Because I’m a sucker but SHHHHHH.
Because of course Libertus and Crowe would bully their way through the afterlife and timeline to follow their Ulric. Of course they would.
Hmmmmmmmmm *cracks knuckles* ficlet ramble time!
-Jun will forever be grateful that his mother was the one to name him and not- well- his father.
-Of course he only knew to be grateful AFTER meeting the man his mother had had a teenage fling with, but his point stands. Which was after that wildfire swept through and burned down most of his little village and the trauma of nearly burning made him Remember. Remember another life, another time, another way of life.
-Made him remember Nyx and how Libertus, after finally passing away of old age, had found no Nyx waiting for him, had gone and picked a fight with ... he thinks it might have been Ramuh? Or possibly Bahamut himself, and demanded to be taken to his best friend RIGHT NOW. No he didn’t care if Nyx had wandered off to become a Walked Twice. You think Libertus isn’t stubborn enough to qualify? TRY HIM YOU OVERGROWN LIZARD.
-Not his most sparkling moment of intelligence to be sure.
-But that means ... Nyx has to be here. Somewhere. Surely.
-But there is no Nyx in the village, and the village is struggling to cope, especially his mother, considering both their home and her workplace had been reduced to rubble.
-They end up leaving the village. They had never treated Libertus’s mother too well after he had been born, so it was no real emotional loss. Libertus is physically five when this happens, and he tries his hardest to help his mother and make her smile. She’s the only Clan he’s got after all.
-They wander from village to village before settling down in one where his mother finds work as a seamstress. Libertus, now eight, makes a few yen running packages and messages around town, his brown braids with the little blue beads he’d managed to get bouncing against his temple.
-It’s on one of his runs when he’s around nine that he rounds a corner too fast and smacks right into someone’s leg. He lets himself fall, tucks and rolls back to his feet with the flexibility of a child and the skill of a glaive, an apology already on his lips.
-The leg turns out to be owned by a NINJA. Wonderful.
-The ninja is staring at him, a little metal toothpick hanging from his mouth so loosely that if he gapes a little harder it’s gonna fall out. Libertus has a bad feeling about this. He yells an apology that is possibly too loud and energetic (an odd side effect of this new body, he tends to get ... loud and enthusiastic when nervous) and books it. He wants nothing to do with ninja, he just wants to grow up enough to travel so he can go find his idiot.
-The ninja doesn’t follow him.
-Nope. The ninja turns up again two weeks after Libertus had successfully forgotten about the incident with ANOTHER NINJA. This one is wearing some kind of awful, AWFUL jump suit of eye-searing green (watch out indeed), a red belt (oh dear), and the world’s shiniest bowl cut.
-Weren’t ninja supposed to be STEALTHY?
-The living neon warning sign is looking around with fervor as the two enter Libertus’s mother’s workplace (how did the ninja know she worked here), and his mother gasps. But not out of horror at the truly awful outfit, but out of ... recognition?
-“H-hello again,” she murmurs with a mix of fear and memory that makes Libertus’s hackles rise and him discreetly snatch one of her spare scissors off the shelf in the back room.
-The green ninja gives a booming, smiling greeting, then ... sobers. Quietly asks if she’s ... doing well.
-If she has a son.
-That’s about the minute Libertus notices that the man has caterpillar eyebrows. Caterpillar eyebrows just like Libertus’s, who did NOT inherit those from his mother thank you. He got her soft chestnut hair and hazel eyes.
-Libertus dives out of the back of the store and tries to stab the ninja in the femoral artery with the scissors because PYRE NO is he gonna be taken away from his mom by ninja for being some kind of wayward blood child.
-He doesn’t manage to get the artery, the ninja is too fast, but via the advantage of surprise and glaive memory, he DOES manage to bury the scissors into the man’s leg.
-It’s really not fair that all the man does is hold him up by his scruff and laugh about it. He has a bleeding leg. SHOW SOME PAIN.
-There’s talking after that while his mother fusses in terror and the toothpick chewing ninja pulls out a roll of bandages with a sigh (if it hadn’t been for the current situation, Libertus would have sympathized, he knew what that Sigh meant, he too had an idiot to look after).
-Surprisingly, the green ninja (Might Guy! He announces with a smile that literally sparkles what the pyre) does not insist on taking “Jun” away from his mother.
-Nope. He takes his mother WITH them back to the village. For a wedding. Libertus is honestly stunned. Weren’t ninja supposed to be sneaky and without honor? He has literally no obligation to marry the woman he had a fling with as llike- a FOURTEEN year old just because a kid came out of it. But apparently nope. Libertus’s father is the one ninja with a sense of chivalry because he signs a marriage certificate within hours of getting back to the ninja village of Konoha with mother and Libertus in tow.
-And just like that, Libertus’s name is Might Jun.
-What.
-What is going on.
-No he doesn’t want to be a ninja buzz off.
-Libertus takes to exploring their new home, partly to avoid his new ... father and partly to look for Nyx because who knows, maybe he’ll get lucky for once.
-He’s passing the ninja academy when he hears laughter and footsteps. He sidesteps, but isn’t fast enough to keep from getting run over by a screaming blur of orange. While trying to catch his breath from being trampled by the screaming orange blur (who has yet to notice the impact), a hand appears in his vision. He follows the hand up a pale arm and to a concerned face with black hair and black eyes, “Hey, you okay? Sorry about Naruto, someone let him have ... caffeine...” the boy’s breath stops. He’s staring at the side of Libertus’s head.
-No. His head. His temple.
-His braids.
-And Libertus, on an old instinct from another life, tilts his head as he sits up, looking for braids.
-He sees the purple bead and cord, the simple twist braid partly tucked behind the boy’s ear and hope burns through him like liquid fire. No way. No way. What were the chances of finding Nyx HERE.
-Check that, it’s a child soldier death academy. Why wouldn’t he find Nyx here.
-If it’s really Nyx.
-He swallows his fear and whispers, “For Hearth and Home.”
-Hope flares in the other boy’s eyes, his lips twisting before he rasps, “Libertus.”
-And the next moment Libertus is on the ground again, pinned down in the middle of the street by a sobbing Nyx, but that’s okay, because Libertus is sobbing too. A second after that and he’s hauled to his feet and dragged off by Nyx to a too-empty compound that still stinks of old blood and bleach and bundled into one of the houses so they can sob in privacy.
-Libertus spends a good ten minutes screaming himself hoarse at Nyx for dying. For being a self-sacrificing heroic idiot. Nyx screams back that what was Libertus doing here then huh?
-“I died of old age you idiot! Like you should have!”
-Nyx pauses “...Oh.” A blink, a flicker of red in black eyes and Nyx whispers, “What happened ... after?”
-And Libertus tells him. He tells him everything as they lie on Nyx’s futon, tangled around each other in a puppyish pile like they did when they were children. He tells him about Insomnia’s fall, and Princess insisting on separating, on going to Galahd and waiting until the Long Night fell and he returned to the glaive. How he was the Captain and hated every second of it, hating having to choose which brothers and sisters would take the suicide missions, hated losing more and more people as the night kept going.
-He spoke of the young king who returned ten years later with age and wisdom in his every line. How they followed him to Insomnia to take back the dawn. How the king died purifying the scourge and giving them a chance. How he had gone back to Galahd with the survivors and rebuilt their homes until Libertus was old and grey and couldn’t really walk because of the ache in the hip a daemon shattered during the Long Night that no one had had an elixir for.
-Then he speaks of waking up here as Jun, of his mother and his ... new father. Of being taken here and exploring and finding Nyx.
-Then Nyx huddles closer, and tell him his story in return. In waking up his memories in a massacre. All of his Clan. Gone. Again. Murdered by a kinslayer, a former BROTHER and Libertus keens for his friend. Nyx whispers of putting himself back together and training, and it is only now Libertus registers the pink and purple ribbon woven into a tiny braid in his hair, a declaration of revenge.
-Nyx also tells him of Naruto, the boy he’s adopted, of little Hinata and her flinches and how she blossoms like a flower in the sun with just a little bit of kindness and praise. He talks about his Anbu, the masked ninja that leaves potted plants on his window sill and is secretly addicted to Nyx’s cooking, terrible as it is, and how even though the man will not speak and won’t give his name, Nyx has adopted him too.
-Libertus hugs Nyx as tight as he can and swears that it will be alright.
-He comes home late that evening, dragging Nyx behind him by the wrist, looks his new father in the eyes and says he wants to become a ninja.
-The promise of training, of becoming strong enough in this world to protect Nyx, is worth the manly tears and illusionary sunsets his declaration gets.
-Of course, dragging Nyx home only causes more manly tears when he announces that this is his new best friend (what kind of name is Sasuke anyway, Nyx is much better, but they keep their old life names to themselves). And they get ... a lot of odd looks after that as they run around, attached at the hip just like when they were kids the first time around. Might Guy, his father, has a lot of Feelings about this friendship. Mostly Manly Tears and booming declarations of Youth. Libertus smacks Nyx over the head the one time Nyx grins and says Lib’s new dad is fun.
-Meanwhile the rest of the village watches in horror at the budding friendship of the Last Uchiha and Might Guy’s newfound son. Because MIGHT GUY’S SON. AND THE LAST UCHIHA.
-Kakashi feels a creeping sense of Doom™ in his future.
I’ll cover the reunion with Crowe in another ramble sometime, and more reactions on the Might/Uchiha friendship but for now this has already gotten long enough so I’ll leave it there. XD
Synopsis: Your father was the king of Insomnia. He was good and just. You never thought you’d meet anyone like him after he was taken from the world. Your Uncle Regis, has taken the throne and followed through on your father’s plans. It was good to see the city in capable hands.
Enter Nyx Ulric, refugee, Glaive, fighter…how is it he can see all your secrets? He knows how to set you off and he’s promised to not let you go…(AU for sure, Regis wasn’t supposed to take the throne, and our lovely Nyx has more of a past then we thought…)
Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six Part Seven Part Eight Part Nine Part Ten Part Eleven
Nyx let out a soft sigh as he reread the same line for the third time. He reached up rubbing a hand over his face before he glanced over to you. You were twirling a pencil in the air between your fingers as you read some report.
“You’re staring again.” You whispered as you began writing something on a notepad next to you.
“Yes I am.” You looked over to him, he smirked snapping the book closed as he stood up tossing it on the table.
“Is that…” You watched him walk around the table to you. You leaned back crossing your arms giving him a smirk of your own. Gods, the ways your lips moved drove him mad, sometimes he even had trouble focusing when you talked, “supposed to mean something?”
“It could…” He pushed your work away enough for him to take a seat on the table, “it’s hard working for someone when you only wish to do one thing with them.”
“You don’t work for me…you work for Insomnia.” You retorted as he stared down into your eyes. Always had to nit pick when he flirted with you.
“Fine…it’s hard protecting someone when there’s only one thing you want to do with them…” He amended as he began to lean down.
His eyes snapped open as the loud beeping of his alarm went off. Frustration filled him as he grabbed his phone turning it off. He let out a soft groan as he placed a hand over his face. Dreams of you had been more frequent since his confession. Since things…changed?
Did they though?
It was a strange situation all together. Things did change, but not so much the way he thought they would. Since your presentation you had been tasked with rolling out the proposal. Which meant a great deal of your time was working on allocating supplies for the project about to happen.
It just led from one thing to the next. Supplies…manpower…timing…dealing with moving tenants into buildings that would be repurposed. It was stressful, yet you maintained your composure the entire way through and managed to do everything with such grace. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to do it were it his job.
It left very little time to even try to reconnect to that moment they had shared several weeks ago. He cleared his throat rolling off the side of the bed into some pushups. He needed to work out some of this frustration somehow. Today was going to be even harder…
Today was groundbreaking day and you were leaving the Citadel to oversee everything here in the ward…here where everyone knew who he was…here where everyone still treated him like a king despite the fact that he lived as one of them. He’d tried to tell you that it was just going to be a bunch of crews bumbling around the first week. You were insistent. You didn’t want to just sit by.
He couldn’t blame you. You’d put in so many hours. This project was your baby in a way and you just wanted to see it grow up.
He got dressed hooking his kukris to his back and side but decided to leave the Glaive jacket home. If he was gonna be working in the trenches he didn’t need a fancy jacket. He laced up his boots looking over seeing his phone buzz and light up.
Reaching for it he smiled seeing your face pop up with the text. Snapping a picture had been a lot harder than he thought it was. You didn’t sit still with out making a goofy face when he pointed his phone at you. Finally, he’d gotten you in a relaxed moment looking out at something. It was cute, and most definitely you.
Y/N – Good morning! Did you enjoy sleeping in?
He smiled as he responded. This was one thing they had started doing more often. He was normally the one to first send out the morning text as he walked to work. Today was the exception, you were catching a ride with Titus since he was playing the role of representing the Galahdian people.
It was funny sitting in his office acting like you didn’t know who he actually was and like he wasn’t going to be making the decisions later. He told you it was like inside joke. Later it would look like he was really paying attention since he’d already talked about it with you earlier. Earning him a couple brownie points with the old man would certainly benefit him later.
“You torture him too much.” You shook your head smiling at him as he flipped through the proposal, “Does he push you that hard?”
He looked up laughing a little, “Yeah he does, but it’s good…I appreciate him so much. I know he means well.”
“He was your…” You trailed off hoping for him to finish.
“Uh…you’d call him your shield.” He thought about it scratching his cheek with his finger, “We don’t really have titles like that. He guarded my dad…then when he passed my mom asked him to look over me.”
“Seems like he still is.” You watched him running the same finger over a passage, “You trust him, right?”
Nyx looked up seeing concern flashing through your eyes, “With my life. He’s saved me so many times…he’s more then a guard…he’s more then a friend…why do you ask?”
“I just see him in the meetings…he’s very good at observing people. I find him looking at me with such a seriousness…it’s hard to know if he’s scrutinizing me or worried for me.” You played with a ring on your middle finger nervously.
He watched you for a moment before picking up a blade of grass using it as a place holder. In a swift motion he moved next to you taking your hand in his, “He is doing his job which is to protect the crown…I won’t lie, he’s a bit divided because of my presence, but I promise you he’s looking out for you, all the while ensuring your uncle is safe.”
He had meant to talk to Titus about it, but never got around to it. You weren’t alone in noticing his stern gaze washing over the crowd. He had assumed it was a reaction to the opposition of your plan, but the more he watched him, the more he realized he was piecing something together.
Nyx – It was nice, had a good dream.
Y/N – You’ll have to tell me about it when I see you.
Pass…he thought to himself as he pulled on his other boot lacing it up. The last thing he’d want to admit to you was that he was having smutty dreams about you. Just like he would never admit that he sometimes daydreamed about it while sitting next to you…probably why he dreamed about when he was home, now that he thought about it.
He shook off the thought as he grabbed his gloves and strode out the door. He smiled seeing an older woman struggling with a laundry basket and opening her door, “Doris…here let me help you.”
He took the basket from her and she smiled at him, “Oh dear…what would I ever do without you? Your mum would be so proud of you taking care of an old lady like me.”
He smiled as he leaned down when she reached up taking his face giving him a big kiss on the cheek before she turned and opened her door, “Oh I don’t know, you’d probably get super buff from wrangling a door and a laundry basket all by yourself. I’m really not doing you any favors.”
She let out a nice laugh like older ladies always did as he walked in setting the basket down on her table, “My dear, you have no idea how much it means to me…to know my king is willing…eager even to help his people in such little ways.”
“Doris, it is my honor and pleasure to help the prettiest woman in the building.” He smirked a little as he bowed. He chuckled as she reached out swatting him with her hand, “Now if you excuse me, I gotta go put these muscles to work.”
“You’re part of the build?” She asked him surprised.
“My charge, she’s the head of the project and insists on being present, therefore I will also be doing my part.” He told her watching her walk toward the small kitchenette in the corner of the room, “Auntie…what are you hiding in your oven?”
“Well my dear…” She grinned pulling out a large dish full up large baked triangular dough balls, “a day like today, you will need your strength.”
“Are these…” He took the dish from her taking a deep breath in, “Doris…are these the fancy samosas you use to make?”
“They are and you can expect to see many more delights throughout the day from all the cooks left at home to twiddle their thumbs.” She walked with him to the door, “You may want to tell your pretty lady friend to set something up for it.”
“I will do that, thank you.” He smiled as he started to pick one up off the plate as he exited into the hall.
“Do not eat all of them, Nyx Ulric!” She called after him as he waved munching on a big bite.
He enjoyed every piece of it as he traveled down the three flights of stairs coming out onto the street. He stopped as he licked jelly off his fingers seeing everyone out on the street. It was packed. Stalls were being packed up and removed already. He’d made a notice getting it to as many people as he could over the last few weeks that things were going to be changing and he needed help.
He didn’t realize how onboard everyone was. He slowly walked out into the street. He nodded to people as they greeted him. Everyone seemed excited about the prospect of the expansion.
He walked up to where several of his comrades in arms were standing. They all looked at him and quickly descended on him, “Breakfast!”
“Whoa, hey hey!” He managed to grab two before the rest of the plate was devoured, “Vultures! The lot of you!”
“These are…” Luche’s eyes widened as he took a bite, “These are from Auntie Doris!”
“They are.” He put the two back on the plate smiling, “I suppose if she thinks this is an occasion for her specialty, then we know we’re doing something right.”
“So…” Pelna made a face swallowing before he spoke, “When’s Drautos showing up?”
“Uh…should be any minute…but listen up…” They perked up as he began speaking with authority, “You’re all going to be managing teams. Some of you will be helping with street clean up, it’s boring but necessary so we can get the equipment and supplies in here. The rest of you will be helping with demolition…Did we get everyone out of the first section?”
“Yes sir.” Tredd gave him a small salute, “Once everyone starts rolling out, we’re going to make a second loop.”
“And everyone has made it to their temporary lodging?” Nyx watch his face fall a little causing him to sigh a little, “Tredd…take Luca and Yura…please go make sure everyone has someplace to sleep tonight.”
“Yes sir…sorry sir…” Tredd nodded hanging his head a little as he walked by.
“Hey…” Nyx put a hand on his shoulder making his stop. He smiled at him, “I’m not mad…I just want everyone taken care of. Think of it as if they were your kin…would you want them left wandering?”
“No sir.” Tredd shook his head, eyes lighting up with understanding.
“Then get it done.” Nyx smiled giving him a pat on the shoulder before turning back to everyone else, “Alright, so once Lady Caelum arrives, she’s going to have some clipboards. You’re going to write down the names of everyone under you, they will be your unit. They are your responsibility, if anything happens during this you are their point of contact, understood?”
“Yes sir!” They rang out all at once.
“Already getting things rolling I see.” He felt himself smile as he heard your voice behind him. He turned seeing you carrying a large box.
He quickly took it under one arm handing the plate to you, “Breakfast.”
“Oh…uh…” You looked at them surprised, “Thank…you…”
“One of them is for Titus.” He smirked a little as the captain approached, “Doris, sends her blessing.”
He watched his mentor’s eyes widen a little before he quickly took one off the plate, “Ma’am if you’re not interested in trying…”
“Don’t you try to swindle this piece of heaven from her. You’re a bad man, bad!” Nyx adjusted the box on his hip, “Everyone bare witness he tried to steal this…”
“Nyx…” He looked back at you as your face flushed a little, “It’s alright…I should eat something…”
“I promise you won’t regret it.” Nyx smiled at you as you lifted it up. He watched your eyes light up as the decadent jam spilled out a little as you bit into it, “I told you.”
“It’s so…soft and crisp…you have to take me to this Doris later so I can thank her.” You took another bite.
He chuckled reaching up wiping a bit of jam off your cheek. He smirked a little when he licked his thumb getting you to blush a little, “Happy to, I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to meet you.”
“Thank you…” You whispered a little looking over to the Glaives standing by, “This is our group from the Citadel?”
“Yes…” He nodded looking over to them, “Some of them you’ve already met. Everyone is eager to help.”
“Good…let’s get started then.” You looked to Drautos who was just finishing his samosa, “If you’re ready.”
“Yes ma’am.” He nodded stepping past you to address the Glaives.
Nyx walked next to you tilting his head down to you whispering, “You look very nice today.”
You glanced up to him touching the back of your hair a little. You had done it up differently to keep it away from your face, though he much preferred it down it looked nice, “Thank you…I don’t look completely like I’m out of my element, do I?”
He looked you over quickly. Grey jeans, long sleeve grey top with little accents here and there, definitely not a top you should work in, but it was probably all you had, and boots that looked really uncomfortable, “I think your feet are going to hurt by the end of the day.”
“Yeah…” You looked down frowning a bit, “I don’t really have…normal shoes…”
He smiled a little shaking his head, “Well…I’m sure we can help you out with that. We can take off a bit early and get you something more appropriate if you’re going to insist on being here.”
“I insist.” You smiled at him before looking over to Drautos, who was giving about the same speech he had early.
“Did you take you meds?” Nyx whispered looking down watching you cringe a little, “Y/N…”
“I was excited…” You crossed your arms sheepishly looking away from him.
“You’ve been excited like ten times in the last three weeks…” He looked down at you with a serious look, “Three of those times have been in the last seven days…”
“I feel fine.” You looked at him smiling before giving him a gentle nudge, “Really…”
He rolled his eyes shaking his head, “You start feeling funny…I mean even a little…”
“I will tell my faithful shadow right away.” You turned to him raising one hand while putting the other over your heart.
“Now I know what Titus feels like…” He sighed a little getting you to laugh a little as you both stepped up.
“Know how I feel about what?” Drautos looked at him suspiciously.
Nyx shrugged a little as he kept going pulling out a clipboard from the box, “Nothing, you don’t already know sir.”
Drautos sighed heavily before turning to you, “Lady Caelum, is there anything else you’d like to add?”
“Uh…” Nyx glanced over watching you take in a deep breath as he handed everything out, “No…not right now.”
“Very well…everyone gather your groups. We’ll have a small briefing before you start for the day.” Drautos turned back to you, “Will you want to speak to everyone else?”
“Yes I would. What I have to say, it’s for everyone.” You smiled at him glancing back at Nyx. He smiled nodded to you as you turned with Drautos walking off.
“You and Princess seem chummier…” He glanced at Libertus walking over to him holding out a water bottle.
“What are you doing here? Thought you were making lunch for everyone?” Nyx ignored the question as he took the bottle from him.
“It’s eight in the morning…lunch isn’t until noon. I’ve got plenty of time.” Libertus smirked crossing his arms, “Can you vouch for Princess’ plan?”
Nyx took in a deep breath looking over at you talking with Drautos before he nodded, “It’s gonna be a lot of work, but if everyone continues to pitch in like we are right now…we’ll stay on track and we’ll all be doing a great deal better.”
“Wow…be careful, you almost sounded like a king right there.” Nyx rolled his eyes as Libertus laughed.
“When are you gonna join the Glaives, Libe?” He tapped his fingers on the top of the lid, “We could use you.”
“Me…nah…that magic crap…gives me a headache thinking about it.” He waved his hand toward him, “You can keep it, I’m happy running a bar But once you need your guards back, you know who to call.”
“Yeah I do.” Nyx smiled at him giving him a slap on the arm before he began walking away, “You better make me a good sandwich!”
“Good? I’m gonna make you the best damn sandwich you ever had!” Nyx laughed as Libertus shouted at him.
“Ma’am…” You looked at him as he approached. He held out the water to you smirking, “Stress can dehydrate you…”
You took it rolling your eyes a little taking it form him, “Thank you.”
“Just doing my job, ma’am.” He stood next to you like he would normally be surveying the crowd. He knew he could trust everyone here, but it would look really bad if something happened while you were away from the Citadel, especially surrounded by foreigners, “Captain, gathering the troops?”
“Yes…” You let out a soft sigh gripping onto the bottle.
He took a step closer to you before he carefully reached over putting a hand on your back, “You’re going to be great. Your father would be proud of how you got here.”
You looked up at him giving him a smile, “You know…when this all calms down…we should go see him…together.”
The way you said it made his face get hot. It wasn’t a command of the job…it was a request to join you. He smiled reaching up scratching the back of his neck, “Uh yeah, of course. I’d like that.”
“Good.” You had a rosey tint to your cheeks as you looked away from when Drautos came back, “Everyone ready?”
“At your command.” Drautos smiled a little waving toward the gathering crowd.
You let out breath before looking over toward the van you drove in with Drautos. You looked at Nyx, “Give me a boost.”
“What?” He followed you over, “Y/N…I don’t think…”
“Give me…” You looked at him shoving the water bottle into his chest, “a boost.”
“It’s high…and you’re not all that graceful.” He smirked a little as you glared at him.
“Nyx Ulric…” You began as he raised his hands in defense.
“Ah…alright…I surrender.” He set the water bottle down as he leaned over threading his fingers together, “Just…don’t fall…that would be really embarrassing.”
“Shush!” You put your hands on his shoulders as you stepped up into his hand. You let out a little yelp as he hoisted you up with ease before you took a seat on the roof swinging your legs up. You stood up looking out at the crowd centering yourself, “Uh…hello! Can you all hear me?”
Nyx watched the crowd move in closer. He felt protect nerves bubble up in his gut. He looked over through the window at Drautos reaching inside grabbing the radio’s handset. Nyx smiled as he reached up toward you, “My lady.”
“Oh…thank you.” You took it standing back up looking out at everyone, “There… this is probably better…”
You swallowed taking in a deep as the echo of your voice diminished briefly before you began again, “I just…wanted to take a moment and apologize to all of you who reside here. I’m sure it doesn’t mean much, since I live in the Citadel where I find little discomfort, but I want you to know that this was not the way it was supposed to be.”
“Things were lost…filed away and forgotten when my father passed away. Promises he made to Queen Selena…broken and buried.” You frowned putting the radio down for a moment shaking your head collecting yourself before going on, “I sat by too long and didn’t see the damage being taken out on a brave and beautiful people.”
“That is why I am here today. To fix what has been broken. It will not be easy or quick, and I will require help from you all.” You smiled a little take a step forward making Nyx nervous. He hadn’t been joking entirely when he said you weren’t graceful.
Sure on the ground you could dance circles around him, but on ladder or stool…he lost count of the number of times he’d rescued you from a fall in the library, “It is my intention to see our two thriving cultures coexist side by side appreciating one another. Embracing each other’s differences. While I’m among you through these coming weeks of building, please talk to me. Express your concerns and I will bring them to the king. I will make your voice heard and I will do what I can to see change come for all of you.”
“You’re just one person!” Nyx looked out at the crowd trying to see who it was. Everyone began to murmur wondering the same thing. Why be here if you were going to stir up trouble?
“Yes I am.” You nodded looking at them all getting them to quiet down, “I remember my mother would say that to my father. You’re just one man, Malcolm…”
Nyx looked up at you seeing the tears prick the corners of your eyes as you smiled, “And he would say, yes I am…but if not me who? I am but one voice shouting in the wilderness…shouting at an emptiness called the world…I must make a choice and I choose to stand.”
“It was lyrics to a song that he heard when he was younger, and it just stuck with him.” You sniffed wiping your eyes with your knuckle, “It sticks with me too. I can still hear him singing it sometimes… I am but one voice…and my choice is to be here, and I choose to stand with you.”
Nyx looked back at everyone who had fallen silent. Slowly each Glaive in the crowd put their hand to their heart in a silent salute and following behind them everyone in the crowd imitated them. He looked back up to you as you took it in.
You smiled placing a hand over your heart as a tear fell down your cheek, “So what do you say? Let’s get to work!”
Cheers erupted as you handed the radio back to Drautos. Nyx tilted his head for you to head to the back of the van. You obliged him following him as you sat on the back portion of the roof. He reached up and you fell gently into his hands.
He set you down taking the opportunity to hold you as your hands planted securely on his shoulders. He looked into your eyes smiling with admiration, “You’re amazing.”
“It wasn’t awful then?” You looked at him nervously, your hands falling from his shoulder to his chest.
“You were perfect.” He leaned down slowly but pulled away instantly as he heard crunching approaching.
“Everything alright back here?” Drautos looked at you both began to separate.
“Yes…” You smiled at him adjusting your sleeves, “Just a little dizzy from the nerves.
“Do you need anything?” Drautos asked concern falling over his features. You shook your head giving him a little peace, “Nice work…did Nyx tell you that music is a big part of our culture?”
“No…I didn’t know that.” You looked at Nyx surprised, “Is that true?”
“Yeah…” He nodded crossing his arms trying to shake of the feeling of frustration, somehow he had a feeling this was going to be a trend, “We have a lot of ceremonies with songs…and in general we like our music. It helps us work, keeps us in sync…you know…”
“I didn’t…” You smiled a little, “I guess it was fate that I bring up that story then.”
“It was a good story, an honest one from the heart. I think everyone could see that.” Drautos smiled a little before looking at Nyx, “You two will be just making rounds today. Help a little bit everywhere, the point is for you to be seen in the beginning. We need to let our team leads coordinate their groups successfully.”
“Understood sir.” Nyx nodded before giving him a nod.
“Please…please…” Drautos looked at the both of you pleadingly, “Stay out of trouble.”
You peered around the corner watching Drautos disappear as Nyx shook his head speaking quietly, “You think it’s like I used to be handful or something?”
“You?” You looked back at him with a smirk, “Never!”
“Ah ha…I think you’re being sarcastic right there…” He stepped closer to you as you stared up at him.
You stared up at him expectantly, “Well I do have a very good example of it standing in front of me.”
“Sarcastic? Me? I’m offended!” He put his hands on your hips, “Appalled even! I demand compensation!”
“Compensation?” You smiled at him as you took hold of his shirt making it pull taut against his shoulders, “In what form, would you like this compensation paid?”
He didn’t waste any time capturing your lips with his own, fearing something or someone else would come and interrupt this perfect opportunity. It was brief, but electrified. He licked his lips pulling away from your seeing a hazy look fall upon your face, “Maybe one more of those at some point today and we’ll call us even.”
You blushed a little bit looking down as he stepped away, “I know…this isn’t…”
“Don’t.” He reached over taking your hand giving it a gentle squeeze, “I’m hoping it won’t be like this for too long…”
Your eyes lit up with curiosity, “Nyx…”
“We need to get going. Lots to do.” He interrupted you as he stepped around the van appearing before the crowd that was still getting organized, “We should start with the food tent, cause we’re going to need one.”
“I thought Libertus was already taking care of that.” You skipped a little to catch up to him before he bent over picking up your water handing it back.
“Ah yes…but I doubt he planned for every chef in the area donating a dish to pass…probably more then one.” He smiled a little, “It’s the village mentality. We all need to contribute somehow…this is their way.”
“I see…well then…” You looked around the area as every group began to disperse, “I suggest we get one of the tents and set it up where everyone has access to it. This is your home…show me where that would be.”
He felt positively giddy as he began showing you around. Setting the food tent was easy, but what followed was beyond what he dreamed of. You helped serve everyone you could.
He smiled next to you as you laughed hand out another plate. Everyone was enjoying seeing you right in front of them. They asked you questions, you answered what you could. You helped them, enough that he kept losing track of you.
You were never too far of course, but he always found you listening intently to whoever you were. When you finished you would take them into your arms, as was their custom, kissing each cheek to show your respect. How lucky was he, that you cared enough to remember even the littlest detail?
You walked with him later that day through the building that was being remodeled. The foreman was showing you around explaining each change. You listened intently asking many questions. He seemed to be finding problems in certain areas, and already it was going to take more supplies than anticipated.
“Hold on one second.” You smiled at him pulling out your phone stepping away.
He looked at Nyx, “Uh…sir…do you know what’s she’s doing?”
“Finding the solution.” Nyx watched as you began finding the supplies. At least enough to keep them going until you could find a better source.
“Just like that?” The foremen crossed his arms, “I thought…I thought we’d have to cut corners…”
Nyx looked at him shaking his head, “You’re gonna find that she doesn’t half-ass anything. Don’t be afraid to tell her the truth…even if it’s bad news.”
The foremen nodded smiling a little, “I’ve heard she’s something else…we’ll see if she can keep it up.”
Nyx looked back at you as you closed your fist throwing it into the air a big smile coming to your face, “I think we’re the ones going to have trouble.”
The foremen shrugged a little as you walked back over, “That seemed promising.”
“We’ll have everything you need by tomorrow morning and then some.” You told him beaming as you adjusted the hard hat, “Please don’t hesitate to let me ore Drautos know of anything else.”
“Yes ma’am.” He bowed a little, “I should tell everyone the news, it’ll change our process a little bit now that we can do everything.”
“Please, do.” You smiled at him as he turned away. You looked at Nyx, “Where to next?”
“Well…we have been on the street clean-up, demolition site, garden site…” He held up his fingers as he listed everything off, “All that’s left is the school.”
“Lead the way, sir.” You smiled at him.
“…” He smirked looking around making sure no one was around before he pulled out his kukri stepping close to you, “Hold on…”
“What…no!” You tensed as he threw the dagger out the open window. He chuckled when he landed on the fire escape across the way, seeing you clutching onto him tightly, “…why…”
“Because I want you to meet Doris.” He smiled at you before he turned to the window tapping on it. He knelt down when he saw her approaching and helped her open the window, “Mind if we come in?”
“Of course not! Please.” Doris beamed at the both of you stepping back. She watched as he crawled in turning back helping your through the window, “My my…this brings back memories.”
“Auntie…be nice…” Nyx grimaced realizing suddenly that maybe this wasn’t a good idea.
“Oh no…Doris…” You smirked at him, “Please go on!”
Doris let out a laugh as you turned to her, “You must be the breath of fresh air.”
“Y/N…” You stepped forward as Doris held open her arms. You smiled as she hugged you tightly, “and you are Doris, baker extraordinaire! Whatever you gave Nyx this morning was delicious.”
“Aha, I am glad to see them make it to you. I was afraid he’d be rolling around the streets with sticky fingers all day.” Doris laughed as she walked over to her cub board pulling out a kettle.
“Auntie we can’t stay long, we’re on the way to the school.” Nyx interrupted.
“Nonsense.” You looked at him eyes glittering, “I have all week to make it everywhere. I will pay special attention to the school tomorrow. Besides, I didn’t bring the surprise with me anyways.”
He sighed as you walked over offering to help her. He took a seat watching them. Doris explained how she had been the palace cook. When you found out she’d watched him grow up your eyes grew mischievous.
“Doris…I may have to come and have tea with you more often. Nyx doesn’t talk about his time at the palace that often and I wonder what a little scamp he might’ve been.” Doris glanced over to Nyx unsure of how to respond.
“Uh…it’s okay Doris…she knows.” Nyx told her with a smile and watched as you realized what you had done, “It’s okay…”
“I didn’t even think about it…” You looked at Doris frowning, “I am the worst at this game…”
Doris laughed guiding you back to the table, “My dear, dealing with royalty is never easy, but it does my heart glad to know my king has someone to be himself around.”
You looked at Nyx apologetically, “This…isn’t easy at all…”
“And that is one of the reasons why I didn’t want you here…” He sighed a little, “but I don’t think we can do it without you either. You make all the pieces fit together.”
You smiled at him reaching over putting your hand over his, “I will do better.”
The rest of the visit was Doris regaling you with a few stories of a kitchen thief who turned into a gentleman with a hole in his stomach. It was nice laughing about home instead of remembering how it was in ruins now. Doris hugged him tightly when it was time to go, “I will see you in the morning.”
“Doris, are you baking again?” Nyx stepped away smirking.
“Only for you two.” She winked before pulling you into a hug, “You take care of him now.”
He felt his cheeks get hot when he heard that, “Doris…I’m the one…”
“I will.” You interrupted him kissing her cheek, “See soon.”
You both stepped out into the hall feeling the cool air of evening setting in. He smiled at you a little, “Thank you for doing that…I know we have better places to be.”
“No…we really didn’t.” You looked up into his eyes, “She is a wonderful person and I am glad to have met her. I wish I could spend time with everyone like that.”
“That would be a lot…I don’t even I know everyone here…” He scratched the back of his head.
“And yet…” You stepped closer to him shrugging your shoulders up as you whispered, “they all know you’re their king…”
“It’s okay.” He let his arm fall as he smiled, “It was bound to happen.”
“I know…this is all so much harder than I thought it would be.” He watched as you looked down face getting redder, “We don’t get a whole lot of time alone anymore…not like before…”
“Yeah…I’ve been thinking that too…” He reached out letting his hand trail down your arm to your hand, “Things are only going to get busier…”
You laced your fingers with his looking up to his face finally as you swallowed, “I…Nyx…I don’t know how to do any of this to begin with. My life was planned out for me for so long…it still is in some things…but finding you…well…”
He smiled letting his other hand cup your cheek letting his thumb run over you bottom lip like he’d dreamt of doing so many times. The act of doing it was more alluring then the dream, “It’s okay…I’m not an expert, but I…I do know that there’s no one I’d rather spend time with. Even if it’s in small bits like this…”
The small sound of satisfaction you made when his lips met yours was enough to ignite something inside of him that he regretted, only because he knew he couldn’t give into that flame…not yet. Somehow, he knew you felt the same the way your hands grasped onto his shirt. A need that couldn’t be fulfilled in their present state, in their present situation, in their everything.
And yet…you stepped closer to him when he parted from you, “Why must I always wake up here?”
His eyes widened a little, “What was that?”
You flushed looking up at him mulling it over for a moment before you answered, “It’s embarrassing to admit but…I’ve been having this dream…it always seems to end here. Why can’t there be more?”
He felt as if the world had shifted and everything was left falling in a state of weightlessness as your words washed over him. It was a valid question…and needed a logical answer, “Because I’m Galahdian…and you’re a former queen turned lady…and…we’re not supposed to be here…together…”
“But…” You shook your head letting you hand slid up to his neck, “why does it feel like home? And why should it matter?”
“Y/N…” He sighed into your touch before taking your hand away, “We can’t…we have to be careful…we have to take it slow and believe me when I say, that is so painful for me to admit. Until something changes…we can’t do more…be more…”
You frowned stepping away from him, “…”
“Y/N…” He tried to take your hand. Reluctantly you gave into him, “It will get better…I have to believe that, but if you want to be here with your work…then…we have to make it work, not us…”
“Then we should check in…I’m sure Captain Drautos is worried…” You began to walk past him to the stairs.
“Stop…” He watched you freeze at the first step, “What do you want me to do? I’m not going to keep having you get angry at me because of how your country sees status…”
“So, it’s my fault now?” You turned to him as he rolled his eyes, “Nyx…I just…wanted to be with you...you’re the one who pulled away.”
He watched you turn moving down the stairs quickly. He stood their letting the words sink in. He was the one pulling away, wasn’t he? Every time…he was the one stepping away…bringing the harsh reality to light…
But he had to, right? It was to keep you safe…if anyone found out that he was a king…there were too many possibilities to fathom…war being one of them. He couldn’t do that to you or his people. Not when Lucis was already fighting a war…
He came out a few minutes after and saw you waiting just outside. He sighed stepping next to you, “I’ll take you home…”
“Fine…” You looked at him eyes burning a little as the streetlights started to kick on, “Probably for the best. It’s been a long day and it’s gonna be a long week.”
