Stars in the Night Sky [NOCTIS X READER]

CHAPTER 6 - JAILBREAK

Adelaide slept fitfully.

She tossed and turned nearly all night, her dreams interspersed with horrible images of you, tortured and broken into a shell of your former self. Sometimes you turned your head to face Adelaide and your eyes were open and glassy. When the sun finally did rise, she did as well, all too grateful for the light. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stew in her own thoughts and dreams before it became unbearable.

She got up to get changed and grabbed her sniper rifle from where she kept it against the wall in her bedroom and exhaled shakily.

It's gonna be fine, she thought. [Name] can take care of herself. I'm sure she's already tried like...four escape attempts.

She kept that thought with her in a vain attempt to comfort herself. She ate a quick breakfast while offering her mother an explanation of where she was off to. Her mother was confused - but mostly concerned - and reminded Adelaide to be careful just about half a dozen times. She nodded and promised she would every single time. She took the camping equipment, made sure it was strapped to Eggles' saddle and got to work setting everything up.

By the time she had the Chocobos all saddled up for her four new traveling companions, they were already up and about. Well, to say that they were 'up' was using the term generously; Noctis looked like a zombie and Prompto's hair was sticking up in odd directions. Gladiolus was reasonably awake and Ignis was downing what looked like his third can of Ebony.

Adelaide tied up their chocobos by the caravan and approached as Prompto tried desperately to do his hair in the reflection of his phone. Noctis' head was lolling over the back of his chair, eyes shut.

"Hey," Adelaide called nervously, shouldering the strap of her sniper rifle.

"Good morning," Ignis replied briskly. "Our thanks for letting us use your chocobos."

"Yeah, no problem," Adelaide said. "Anything for letting me help get [Name] back. Um..." she glanced nervously around at the group, feeling horribly out of place. Gladiolus was currently coaxing Noctis back into the land of the living which, judging by his grumbling, he was not too happy about.

"Have you had breakfast?" Ignis asked between sips of Ebony.

"I did, thanks," Adelaide said with a nervous smile.

"Good," Ignis nodded. "We'll be needing our strength. Gladio and I believe we have pinpointed the location of the base several miles east of here. It will be quite a trip."

"Nothing our chocobos can't handle," Adelaide said confidently.

"Good to hear," Gladiolus called. He hauled Noctis to his feet, who stretched his arms above his head with a groan. "Let's head out then." He jerked his head over to the tethered Chocobos and Adelaide nodded, leading them over. She let them pick which bird to ride, skimming her fingers over Eggles' beak. He leaned into her with a melancholy 'kweh'.

Prompto chose the brightest yellow Chocobo of them all and swung himself into the saddle with a grunt. "I can't wait to be sitting inside that beautiful car again," he said wistfully.

"And to finally get answers," Noctis agreed, making himself comfortable. Adelaide hooked her foot onto the stirrup of Eggles' saddle and sat down. His feathers brushed her fingers as she picked up the reins.

"Then let us not waste time," Ignis said. "We've a long way to go." With a clean flick of his wrist, the Chocobo he was riding took off. The other three followed his tracks, leaping over the small stone wall and onto the path leading down to the Alstor Slough. Adelaide hesitated for only a moment, glancing back at the post behind her. It was calm and peaceful in the early morning light, dawn reflecting off the windows and the plastic tables. Then, she turned to follow after the boys.