I wish there had been more development on the relationship with Noct and Iris. I always imagine it to be a little heartbreaking, a little tragic, but also very sweet. She has been in his life just as much as the boys after all.
"I wish there was something I could do to help." Iris' legs swung back and forth against the granite tile of the fountain under her heels. She refused to look up. Locks of brown blew in the gentle breeze, spider webbing across her cheeks.
Noct grunted. The moogle sat in his lap, nearly forgotten if the heavy weight of it hadn't been centred in his lap. He dug his fingers into the soft arms. Did she really expect this to be some sort of shoddy good luck charm? What was he supposed to do with it, throw it at a daemon and pray?
"It's just...you guys go out there every day doing hunts and stuff and I'm just here. It's like you're on a grand adventure and I've been blocked out by a wall. And I worry about you guys out there, all alone. People here will help me but you guys...You don't have a knight in shinning armour to save you."
"Pretty sure Gladio has the knight thing covered. Quit worrying, you'll give yourself a headache." Did he have any right to tell her not to worry? After what happened to his father, to the entire city of Insomnia, he really couldn't say anything.
It didn't stop him from standing, toy in one hand and the other stuffed deep in a pocket. "Just say safe. That's all we need from you."
She was on her feet in seconds, fists twisted into her skirt and eyes wide. Fear, Noct would know that look in her eyes anywhere. He'd seen it more times in the mirror than he would like to admit.
"Stay safe while you and my brother parade around the country? Are you trying to get yourself killed! Why don't you just stay here, let the Glaive or something handle it. You don't have to be out there. Lestallum is a good place. People care here!" Tears pooled in her eyes but she was too much like her brother to let them fall. Her lips pressed in a thin line and she straightened her back. Her fists stayed stuffed with plaid.
"...Listen, Iris, it's just a road trip with the guys. Alright? You know them, they won't let anything bad happen to me." He swiped off his hat with a hand and dug his fingers in his hair. The moogle hung from his other hand, stitched eyes staring at him as if it knew the future.
She was a feisty kid. It must have run in her genes. With a pout, she crossed her arms over her chest. "I just wanna help."
Noct smirked. She was still just a kid after all. He held up the moogle. "Ya did though. Now I've got a good luck charm." With a sigh, he dropped the stupid thing back to his waist. "Just stay safe and keep answering the phone when Gladio calls. You're like...my inside girl."
"Your what?" Her hands were back on her hips, a curve of brown hair curling in her eye. She blew it out and as her cheeks puffed up he remembered all the times that he would sneak into the kitchen with her for a snack, both praying to whichever of the Six listened that Iggy wouldn't catch them.
"My inside girl. Anything happens, any news, I wanna hear it first. From you. Think you can handle that?" It was a false job; Noct hoped she wouldn't see right through it. He'd get a talking to from Gladio if she did.
But she was beaming in a moment. A half jump, hands clapped together in excitement, and she was back to her old self. "You got it Noct! I'll keep everything together here and you go out there and win the Kingdom back!" She squealed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "I'm going to go set up a head quarters in my room right now!"
Before he could response, she was gone. The red heels of her boots against cobble stone was the only flash of colour he could see in the crowd. She was a cute kid. She was worth the half lies and whatever protection he could think of. Lestallum was a safe place for her...as long as he wasn't here. They could track him down at any moment and she was the last thing he wanted to put at risk. Mostly because Gladio would cobber him senseless if something happened to his sister.
Noct slung the moogle over his shoulder and slapped the cap back on his head. Off to a rumoured tomb in the morning. Then he could relax and play the shit out of King''s Knight.
