More than a Myth

Home Sweet Home

Lightning stared up at Noctis. He said that without any hesitation. He was dead serious. He really does love me... Lightning looked away. She didn't think she should tell them that she already heard him say that earlier. It would pretty much ruin the moment. "Noctis, this is..."
Noctis tilted her chin up with his index finger. "Something wrong?" He wore his dazzling smile.
Lightning smiled back. It quickly faded. "Noctis, this is...going too fast."
Noctis's grin disappeared. He took his hand back. "What is?"
Lightning thought she might give him the wrong idea, but still said, "Well...us." She didn't like putting a label on it.
Noctis felt ashamed. He practically forced his feelings on her. "Oh...I'm sorry. I'm just happy you're okay."
Lightning nodded. "Maybe...we could start out a little slower."
Noctis' smile returned. "So does this mean we're..." Noctis paused to find the right words. "...A couple?"

Lightning wanted to be a couple. She had never been in a relationship before. She wanted to give Noctis a shot too. She couldn't deny that she had special feelings for him anyway. He was just so gentle, sweet, charming, somewhat funny, not to mention sexy. "I guess so."
Noctis beamed at her. He chuckled. He reached over and gave her one last hug. He said, "I'm happy you're safe."
Lightning responded, "Thank you, Noctis."
Noctis pulled back. "What for?"
"For sheltering me, being so kind, helping me get home, donning blood, what else?"
Noctis stated, "You don't need to thank me."

Lightning insisted, "It doesn't matter what you say, I'm going to thank you anyway."
Noctis laughed. "You're so stubborn." Lightning smirked. Noctis's face started to burn again. He missed talking with her for the past few days. He felt stupid for asking, "Say, Light? Would it be okay if I..." He gulped. "...Kissed you?"
Lightning sat stunned for a few moments. She put on a mocking tone. "You didn't ask me last time." Noctis's face felt like fire at the memory. She laughed at him.
Noctis thought he should use her game to his advantage. "You're right, I didn't. So I guess I don't need your permission now." Lightning quit laughing. "Wait, what—" She was interrupted by Noctis's lips meeting hers. She melted into his kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Lightning put her arms around Noctis's neck. She played with his hair, twirling the short strands around her fingers. Her soft lips pressed against Noctis's made him dizzy. Noctis broke their kiss, feeling lightheaded from the sensation. He gazed into her icy blue eyes. He brushed a few strands of hair from her face. He tenderly rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

Lightning moved his hand away. "Remember what I said about going too fast."
Noctis let her go. "Sorry. You're just..." He touched her cheek. "Irresistible."
Lightning punched his shoulder. Noctis flinched. "Hey! What was that for?"
"For sneaking up on me like that."
Noctis smirked, "But you liked it, didn't you?" Lightning blushed. Noctis ushered, "Didn't you?"
Lightning punched him again. "Maybe!" Noctis giggled in triumph. Lightning laughed with him for a moment. She calmed down to ask, "Noctis, where are you and the guys staying?"
Noctis shrugged, "We don't know. Fang said she might let us stay at the base if we work for her."
Lightning sighed. She hesitated before saying, "There's a spare bed at my place. You're free to use it."
Noctis raised an eyebrow. "And you said I'm going too fast."
Lightning glared at him. "Don't be stupid! Think about it; you gave me a place to stay when I came to your world, so isn't it fair that I give you one?"
Noctis was feeling iffy. "I guess. But I can't ask that of you."
Lightning said, "You're coming whether you want to or not."
"Is this revenge for my forcing you to stay at my place?"
"Maybe it is." Lightning looked out the window. "You would need to ask Serah or Snow to take you there. I hope you like them because they live with me too."
Noctis said, "I don't know. I don't want to be any trouble."
Lightning shook her head. "I already take care of those two. Adding another person won't make much of a difference."
Noctis asked, "Will you be staying here for a while?"
"Maybe for another day or two. I don't plan on staying still for too long."
"I'll be waiting for you then."
Lightning yawned. Noctis knew she must have been exhausted. She had been talking for hours with each of her companions. She deserved some rest. "You better get some sleep. You're not going to heal up if you don't rest." Noctis stood to leave. She grabbed his hand. "Thank you, Noctis." Noctis tilted his head. She didn't need to thank him so much. She leaned over to him and kissed his cheek. Noctis's face became red again. Lightning released his hand. He took a few steps to the door before saying, "Good night."
"I'm sorry." Lightning barely whispered her apology.
Noctis turned around. "Why are you sorry?"
Lightning said, "I couldn't say it back. Not now."
Noctis knew she was referring to his proclamation of his love for her. "Don't be sorry for that. I don't want to force you into anything. Just do me a favor and get some sleep, okay?"
Lightning said, "Fine."
Noctis turned out the lights. He gently shut the door on his way out. He practically floated down the hall to a sitting room for guests. He didn't even to get to see who was in there before he was thrown into a headlock. Gladiolus taunted, "So, Noct, what did you guys talk about?"
Noctis shook away. "None of your damn business!"
Gladiolus got a mischievous look, "Oh, so there wasn't any talking. Did you guys make ou—"
"Glad!" Noctis took a swipe at his face. He laughed like a hyena.
Noctis looked around the room. Snow and Serah sat on a small couch. Fang leaned against an armchair on the other side of the room. Ignis and Prompto were across from Snow and Serah on another couch. Fang stepped away from the chair. "Okay, calm yourselves. We need to settle some business." Noctis leaned against the wall to listen.
Fang began, "First, we need to meet tomorrow to discuss what we're going to start rebuilding. Then we have to take account of those who have been injured or died. And I'm sure the citizens want an explanation for the attack, so we'll need to come up with an answer. Lastly..." She looked to Noctis, Ignis, Gladiolus, and Prompto, "What are we going to do with you guys? You're trapped here because you helped us. We're not going to leave you on your own after that."
Ignis suggested, "Your earlier recommendation was fair."
Fang nodded. "So you want to work for me in exchange for a place to stay? I'm fine with that, but I'll warn you, it's a tough job. Not only that, but you'll earn the wages of any average soldier. No special treatment."
Serah said, "Oh, wait. Noctis, did Light tell you her offer?"
Prompto's face lit up. He knew he could use this to tease Noctis. "What offer?"
"Nothing." Noctis glared at him.
Serah frowned. "You're not interested?"
Noctis did his best to refrain himself from punching Prompto in the face, "I just didn't want to talk about it in front of them." He shot an angry glance at his friends.
Fang jumped in. "What exactly are we talking about here?"
Snow agreed, "Yeah, I'm pretty lost too. Serah, what did Light offer to him?"
Noctis felt his face turn beet red as Serah explained, "Well because Noctis gave Light a place to stay in his world, she asked him if he wanted to stay with us in exchange."
Gladiolus laughed, "You lucky bastard!"
Fang smirk, "I won't stop you, lover boy."
Ignis merely nodded in approval. Prompto exclaimed, "Take the offer!"
Noctis stuttered, "W-Why should I? I can take care of myself. I don't need them to."
Prompto shook his head excitedly. "That's not the point! How often does a guy get the chance to live with his girlfriend?"
Noctis growled, "She's not my—" He stopped. He couldn't deny the fact that they weren't together now.
Gladiolus asked, "Why'd you stop? You go wild whenever we bring the girlfriend thing up."
Serah and Fang giggled. They knew why he couldn't continue just by the look on his face. Ignis smirked with them. Snow soon realized it. "No way!"
Prompto and Gladiolus understood. They said in unison, "She IS your girlfriend!" The whole room was filled with laughter. Noctis was the only one not having fun. Prompto suddenly froze. He turned to Ignis. He pointed his finger while saying, "I told you so!"
Ignis said, "Damn, I was hoping you forgot."
Prompto yelled, "That's 5,000 gil!"
Snow asked, "You guys put a bet on it?"
Prompto explained, "Yeah, I thought it'd happen in less than two months. Ignis said five months. And Gladiolus guessed Noctis would be too chicken to make a move on her in the first—" Gladiolus clamped a hand over Prompto's mouth. He finished, "I had full faith that Noctis would be confident when he made any moves!" Noctis was red with anger now.
Fang laughed, "You've got some great friends there, Noct."