FFXV: After the Fall

Chapter 35

Roc was reading through the brief notes that Noctis had made from half an hour before, the King-to-be having woken up an hour before that as he'd had no other free time in which to try and make a decent-sounding speech with. He chewed nervously on one fingernail as he paced a small area of carpet, until Roc's head lifted up to look at him with one eyebrow higher than the other.
   "...you did this yourself?" He asked.
Noctis nodded. "It's a mess, I know, but I've not had any more time to get this fuckin' thing done in."
   "I more meant the items you've put into it. I'm overlooking presentation, really. You're the one reading it, after all."
   "Oh. Well, yeah. Others are still wakin' up and stuff. I'm not gonna disturb their sleep as well as mine."
Roc paused, then glanced at it again. "...I see." He said.
   "It's shit, isn't it?"
   "On the contrary," the Steward then smiled, "I'm having trouble believing that all this only came from you. But you do realise that your plans will leave the Treasury...rather bare afterwards?"
   "...it's just sittin' there. We don't really need it as such, you said it yourself. And we'll soon get more, if our current estimates turn out to be decently true."
Roc's eyes narrowed. "So you did consult someone."
   "No," Noctis defended, "all I did was ask someone to go get me the latest figure projections and estimates. I crunched the numbers myself, thanks, I'm not completely useless."
   "I never said you were. I just thought that you might not have picked up enough experience in those matters as yet."
Noctis smiled. "Half the things dad taught me about involved numbers like those. Inbetween all the kiddy games you assumed I'd be up to all day long."
   "...I guess I owe you a long-standing apology, then."
   "It's okay, I've not got a grudge or anythin'."
   "I can't let it lie." Roc got out of his chair, and headed towards his friend. "I judged him wrongly, I'm...not good with children." He admitted. "I was waiting for you to grow older so that I could speak with you properly, on level footing, so to say. He disagreed, and...I can see that now. I couldn't get my head round how being chosen really worked, either, then when I briefly had a turn and saw all of you..."
Noctis walked forwards. "It's okay, really. At the end of the day, both of you knew what was best and you both did everything that you could. You just did it in different ways. I...kinda needed both, I think. Was almost like gettin' a look at my future. I'm still gonna be a bit of a kid for a while yet, but in the end? I know I'll grow up to be more like you. Havin' two dads is...pretty awesome."
Roc grinned at him, and both men then stepped forward for a very overdue, friendly hug.
   "Is it gonna feel weird handin' over the reins?" Noctis asked.
   "Partly...but I'm also glad that I can." Roc answered as he ruffled Noctis' hair before letting him go.
   "Hate it when someone does that." Noctis smiled.
   "That's why I did it." Roc beamed at him.
They both laughed, then left to get him into his official clothes.

After the crowning ceremony itself- during which Prompto had to be elbowed several times as a reminder to stop yawning- everyone then headed to the courtyard, where many video cameras and microphones were waiting to deliver the King's speech to anyone in Eos who had a television or radio. Around the world, countless people were waiting with baited breath to hear what Noctis had to say, as well as how he said it. Niflheim was also listening to the event, partly to see if any more trouble was heading their way and partly because like everyone else, they too were curious about the newest world leader to take a throne.
Helena weaved back through the nearby crowds of guards and servants to hand yet another coffee to Prompto in an effort to keep the man awake for a little longer, then she moved to insert herself between Nyx and Gladiolus as they smiled at her.
   "Good, I made it." She sighed. "Can't wait to hear this."
   "Did that idiot really get up early to do this?" Prompto asked.
Nyx grinned. "Sure did. So don't drink any more coffee until he's had a barrel of it first."
   "This had better be interestin', then. Most speeches put me to fuckin' sleep half the time."
   "We noticed." Ignis replied.