[Ardyn x Reader] After Insomnia's Fall

Chapter VIII: War Against The Astrals

This chapter ended up being quite different from the original, so I'm not really sure how to feel about it.

---

Daylight seeps in through the opened window, the divine gift lighting up his messy room. Your head rests against the white fluffy pillows and the soft linen sheets keep your body cool. As you disentangle yourself from the sheets' embrace, the beautiful melody that comes from some birds chirping next to your window manages to put a smile upon your face. With the spring's warmth and the soft breeze, after yesterday's endless games with Ardyn... how could someone be down in the dumps?

Your happiness, however, sees its existence threatened as soon as you get out of bed: your muscles are awfully sore. Seriously, Ardyn in bed is undeniably good. The man fucks with such a speed and force that it's a challenge to follow his movements. Not only is he fast and strong, but also really self-confident, which translates into an audacious Ardyn who experiments with a thousand positions in one night. He took you from behind, he let you ride him, he plunged in and out of you with your legs over his shoulders, he made love to you just to mercilessly fuck you right the next moment...

You shake your head, trying not to get horny by the thought of him on top of you. You grab your clothes and slowly get dressed. As soon as you finish, you decide to close the window. However, the figure of a young woman walking down the empty street draws your attention.

"Aranea!" You shout while waving your hand, hoping for her to see you.

She raises her head and greets you with a sweet smile. "Hey, (y/n)! I didn't know you were staying here!" Aranea shouts back at you.

"Yeah, seems like I'll stay here for a while! Where are you heading to?" You ask, inquisitive.

"I'm going to the Coliseum, there is a...quite especial show. Wanna join? I'm just going as spectator, though." She explains.

As an answer, you nod while raising your thumb.

"Meet me in two hours at the Coliseum, then. Don't be late!" She shouts and waves you goodbye.

Finally, you close the window and decide to take a bath before leaving. As you are about to step out of the room, you hear voices coming from the living room. Silently, you place your ear on the door to eavesdrop on their conversation. Ardyn's voice is the first voice you manage to recognize, but there is still another one, much high-pitched and... childish? Suddenly, reality sinks in, and you remember you didn't come to Gralea alone.

Oh, God... What are they doing together?

You slowly open the door, the hinge not squeaking, and you enter the living room. Ardyn and Victor are both sitting on the burgundy carpet, giving you their backs, toys of different shapes and colors scattered all around them.

"...and you'll be the King!" Victor chirps.

"It will be my pleasure to finally be acknowledged as the rightful heir to the crown of this sublime kingdom." Answers Ardyn, his voice lowering as he reaches the end of the sentence.

"Long live the King!" shouts the kid, throwing his hands up and sending another toy behind his back.

For some reason, you can't find anything cute in what you are seeing. Under other circumstances you'd be happy to see them playing together, but Ardyn's reaction to Victor's words just broke your soul. It feels wrong, and deep inside your heart you know something is off. Tiptoing, you reach Ardyn and lower yourself to hug him from behind. You notice how he tenses up from your sudden attack, but you don't let him go.

"Long live the King and his holy reign, which shall bathe in glory and prosperity." You whisper in his ear. Ardyn caresses your cheek as he places his other hand on top of both of yours, which are locked and resting on the middle of his chest.