Night Owl - Final Fantasy XV - NoctisxReader

Training

(Training)

That night, after camp had been set. Gladiolus led you, to a flat secluded area, for your first training session. He handed you a steel blade, and took up one of his own. They had no wooden swords or other training equipment along with them. He turned the blade, so that the sharp end was facing himself. You thought he'd have you do the same, but he laughed and insisted you use it as intended.

"Come at me! Let's see what you've got." He called giddily. You had felt a rush of nerves. His large frame, and tall stature, had moved into the front of your thoughts. Hesitation, held you still. You studied him, trying to decide, where to strike. He stood still relaxed, and at the ready. Swallowing your fears, you rushed forward. In an attempt to strike low, along the left side, of his ribcage.

He blocked effortlessly. The jarring vibration of it, pulsing up your arms. "Again!" He called out. So you did, you rushed again, without hesitation. He side-stepped, the momentum of your forward charge, carried you passed him. He brought the blade down across your exposed back. White hot pain shot through you. It was hard to breathe... You knew he was holding back, he had to, in order not to break your bones with the steel blade.

You stood shakily, and turned to face Gladiolus again. "Not going to quit after the first hit? You've got guts." He smiled at you a warmth in his voice. The blade in your, sweaty grasp, had already begun to feel far too heavy. You continued on that night, training with your new teacher. It was more you messing up, and getting hit but it was a start.

That night you had a hard time sleeping, for no matter where you turned, it was painful. The next night at camp training had commenced with Gladiolus same as the night before. You were drop dead tired. A mix of the harsh training, and your horrible nights sleep, catching up with you. The moment you hit the sleeping bag you were out.

On the third day, after practice with Gladiolus, Noctis approached you. "Follow me." He said softly. Full of curiosity, you did just that. He led you away from camp to another open area. "Hold this." He hands you a sword, very similar to the one you spar with. The prince looked you up and down critically. He strode over to you. Your heart rate increased nervous of what was to come.

He stood behind you. His voice, though no more forceful than a quite mumble, was somewhat loud against your ear. "Hold the sword more like this." His arms encircled yours, as he reached down to adjusted your grip. His fingers, twisted slightly, with yours. The Prince's large hands enveloped your own. He took a couple swings, with your arms moving in perfect sync. The blade arched gracefully, before your eyes, singing with joy. You'd never made it move, with such precision before...

Satisfied, he stepped back, and studied you again. To your dismay, a light blush covered your cheeks. You prayed he couldn't see it.

"Move your feet further apart. More like this." He demonstrated for you. As best you could, you mirrored his stance. "Good, now come at me." You sucked in a long breath. You didn't want to fight Noctis... Plus, you were already tired and sore from Gladiolus brutal training. Instead you heard yourself say.

"But Noctis, you're unarmed." He scoffed at the remark. Blue crystals appeared, under the palm of his right hand. A sword materialized in his grasp. An annoyed look spread across his beautiful features in the pale moonlight.

"There, now come on." His voice was like that of an adult trying to coax a child. You let out a sigh and rushed towards him, swinging the sword. He sidestepped and momentum carried you passed him. Fear overtook you, and your body tensed, waiting for the hard strike of his blade.

But it never came... "Good, that was a clean swing." His praise reached your ears. You turned to look at him dumbfounded. "Give it a few more tries." Still high off his praise you did as he said. Each time he dodged gracefully.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, proud of what had been accomplished. He could see how exhausted you were, so he decided to call it a night. Before you'd both headed back to camp, the question, that had been nagging you was finally released.

"Noctis, why are you helping me? You didn't want me to learn how to fight?" You tilted your head in earnest confusion.

"Gladiolus was my teacher growing up. It was all learn by error, and instinct, with him... I've been through the sore nights myself. I, just, couldn't stand to watch it happen to you any longer." His cheeks, tinted pink, and his eyes left yours averting to the side. You couldn't have stopped the smile that spread across your face.

"Thank you Noctis!" He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Don't mention it."

***

Every night since, once training with Gladiolus ended, you'd go train with Noct. Every session started with him adjusting your stance, and practice swings. Tonight he was teaching you to side-step and dodge roll. He'd demonstrate, and you'd do your best to follow along.

"Alright, you're doing pretty good. Now dodge me." Noctis stood, arms at the ready. He lunged forward to touch you but, you managed to twist away, from his reaching hand. This continued on, a two person game of tag, with you dodging gleefully out of the way. Until finally, after you'd tired out, his hand gripped your shoulder. Noctis forcefully pulled you into him. Your head lightly bumped into his chest, as you'd squealed in defiance. You felt the reverberations in his chest, as quiet laughter bubbled up inside, spilling over. It was a beautiful sound.

The two of you, stayed like that, briefly. The warmth of his chest, had begun to soothe your chilled face. One of his hands started stroking your hair, in rhythmic patterns. He'd lulled you, into a peaceful, dream-like state.

You were, only vaguely, aware of the surroundings. Feeling the weight, of his chin, against the top of your head made you feel safe. Memories of him, saving you, outside Insomnia floated airily through you. Was Noctis experiencing the same thing?

You felt, the Prince, jolt to attention above you. He quickly put his hands against your shoulders, gently pushing you away, from his body. The expression on his face had frozen you in place. His eyes shone with confusion and fear. Fear? He was afraid... Of you?

After that night, he continued to train you. But, his behavior had changed. He was cordial, but guarded. A wall had sprung up between the two of you. Hoping to ease his mind, you had played along. Making sure not to get too close, or too far. It was a painful dance, but then, what was life itself, but a dance? Full of twists, turns, and ever changing tempos.