Stars in the Night Sky [NOCTIS X READER]

CHAPTER 26 - WHAT COMES AFTER

It is highly recommended but not required to listen to "Dewdrops at Dawn" from the Final Fantasy XV OST as you read. Linked above!

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Rebuilding what remained of the entire world was no small feat. And yet, it was a duty that Noctis took in stride, finally able to be the king that his people needed for so long. And, with you at his side, the duty was ever the easier to bear.

Both of you had recovered well in the aftermath of the fights. It had taken some creative healing on Lunafreya's part, but your magical injuries had faded into nothing but scars. Ropes of crystal scar tissue that rose in spirals all up your arm, expanding around the side of your neck and racking up along the side of your jaw to curl around your cheekbone. The shape of it reminded you of broken glass, with erratic slashes here and there to indicate where the fire on your arm had tried to spread to. The texture of it reminded you daily of tree bark, rough in some spots and smooth in others. The scar fascinated you for a few months until it became just as much of a part of you as the rest of you.

Adelaide and Prompto were married as soon as Prompto could find a suitable ring. It was surprisingly easy to do so, even as the world struggled to pull itself back from the brink. You heard that the second proposal that Prompto had done (because the first during the night wasn't good enough, apparently) was even more beautiful than the first. A quiet admission between the two where Prompto spelled out the words with photos from their entire adventure. It made you sappy to think about.

Their wedding was held just a month later, a quiet, private affair in the beauty of Caem as the plants slowly began to sprout and grow again after years left in the dark. You were maid of honor and cried like a bitch when you watched Adelaide deliver the 'I do's and had Lunafreya herself declare her and Prompto as husband and wife.

(Noctis laughed at you for crying as soon as he came to greet you for the reception, but immediately shut up when you pointed out that he was also shedding happy tears. It was a good day for everyone.)

When the news broke a few months later that Adelaide was pregnant, no one was really all that surprised, you least of all. You'd spent far too many nights with your best friend, planning your future weddings and discussing how many kids you would each have. The fact that Adelaide was finally getting to start her family made you indescribably happy for her.

The next couple that got hitched was Ignis and Autumn. He did it disgustingly romantically, taking Autumn to the best recently-rebuilt restaurant that was around the city and popping the question during dessert. He hadn't buried the ring in the food (he'd insisted it was too unsanitary), but he had gotten down on one knee and made Autumn near fold in on herself from happy laugher and it was a sight you were lucky enough to spy on over a menu with Noctis at your side.

"Think that'll be us one day?" he asked, nodding over at Autumn and Ignis, who were both laughing and grinning and discussing wedding plans.

You shrugged with an impish smile. "Gotta take me out to dinner first, I think."

Noctis pretended to be insulted. "What are we doing right now then?"

"Spying, obviously," you said with a snarky grin. "This is not a date, Noctis, this is a spying operation to make sure that our best friends get engaged without interruptions!"

"You are ridiculous," Noctis laughed, leaning down to press a warm kiss to your forehead behind your menus.

"Yeah, I know," you agreed with a fond laugh.

Ignis and Autumn had their wedding a few months before Adelaide's firstborn was due; a private affair at Galdin Quay where they were married on the beachfront and you and Adelaide jokingly complained about sand in your shoes for the entire reception. The entire affair was lovely and catered to perfection, as was to be expected when it came to Ignis. you loved every second of it, even as you accidentally tripped Noctis slow-dancing during one of the songs and the two of you toppled into the sand in a tangle of limbs and laughter.