Stars in the Night Sky [NOCTIS X READER]

CHAPTER 14 - ...ONE MUST DIG TWO GRAVES

"You sure you can handle this, kiddo?"

You turned your head to shoot Tredd a dirty look from where you were crouched behind a rock. Tredd offered you a cheeky grin from beneath his mask, lifting his hands in mock surrender.

"Alright," he said. "You've made your point."

"Take this seriously," Crowe said, trying her best to sound stern despite the smile everyone could hear in her voice.

"I am, I'm totally taking this seriously," Tredd said, leaning forward. "Look at how seriously I'm taking this. See my face, Crowe? That's how seriously I'm taking this."

"Get your face out of my face."

Tredd snickered and pulled out of Crowe's personal bubble, turning his head to look up at the base above your heads. Everyone else followed his lead. The walls were half-eroded and towering, as most bases were. The remnants of the old war - no matter how many times you saw them - would always freak you out. To the left of the towering wall, an enormous lake spanned out for several miles. You could barely make out the lights of a village on the other side.

"Alright guys," Libertus said, his voice low. "This is it. Everyone have your bugs?"

"Right here, big guy," Nyx flashed said bug in its plastic baggie in his hand before tucked it back into his uniform.

"Here," you echoed, wiggling your own and unable to stop yourself from pressing your thumb and forefinger to the black device nestled comfortably inside.

"Same," Tredd patted his pocket.

"Got it," Crowe echoed.

"Alright, let's get in and get out," Libertus said, a sly grin twisting his lips up. "Nyx said he'd treat us all to Yamachang's once we're back in the city."

"I said no such thing," Nyx said indignantly.

"Focus," Crowe reprimanded, pocketing her own baggie again. "Everyone, tune into HQ's frequency." She reached up to her ear as she spoke, tapping a few things on it. You did the same, tapping twice on the button to turn the earpiece on and then once more to change the channel.

"Status?" Drautos spoke.

"Ten kliks south of the target," Nyx reported. "Permission to infiltrate?"

"Permission granted. Make it quick."

"Copy."

Nyx tapped a different button to mute himself and observed the team with a somewhat tense smile. He flipped his hood and mask over his face before making a silent 'follow' motion as the Glaives crept from your hiding spot and made your way towards the imposing structure before you.

MTs and searchlights occupied the exterior, making wide sweeping motions to search for any intruders. A full-on Magitek-powered tank sat on the road, the turret spinning and whirring softly, barely discernible over the loud humming of its Magitek core.

You swallowed your sigh - was it too much to ask that just one base wasn't as heavily guarded as the rest? Well, you knew you were in the middle of a war and Niflheim was about as likely to back down as Lucis, but come on.

Nyx made a silent motion with his hand - two fingers flicking down twice - in place of a command to hide. The Glaives all ducked behind the nearest rock as an MT clanked by. Crowe even went so far as to cover herself with an invisibility spell. You were instantly jealous - you wished you knew how to do one of those, but you weren't good enough with magic yet.