Final Fantasy One-Shots

FFXV | Noctis Lucis Caelum x Reader (Request)

- Requested by A-scension -
♛

The marriage was something that Noctis should have seen coming.

The kingdoms of Niflheim and Lucis had been waging war for centuries. Its people were tired of the destruction and bloodshed and had prayed for an end to the conflict. Prayers which had been answered by the declaration of a treaty.

The marriage had been a term of the peace treaty; Prince Noctis was to travel to Altissia and wed the Oracle, Lady Lunafreya. It was a political union with the intention of uniting the Empires in peace.

Noctis should have seen it coming. He should have been prepared to make sacrifices, to surrender his own happiness for the sake of the kingdom. But he wasn't. And now he had to figure out a way to fix the problem that was you.

He hadn't meant to get in a relationship with someone outside of a noble bloodline. You were merely a healer for the royal family, but one thing had led to another and you'd both ended up falling, falling hard.

You knew the consequences, the implications. You both did. You knew that when the time came, sacrifices would have to be made. It seemed unfair - it was unfair - but thus was the burden of royalty.

Your country always came first.

***

The grass was damp underfoot, glistening with dew from the night's brief rain shower and silvered by the light of the moon. You hitched up the skirts of your dress to stop them from getting wet as you picked your way quickly towards the shadow that was sitting a few paces away.

"You're going to catch a chill if you're not careful," you said as you reached the figure, moonlight bathing his face in a lucid, almost ethereal light.

Noctis barely raised his head, his fingers working their way through the grass, shredding it into tiny pieces. You crouched in front of him, sliding your fingers under his chin and lifting his face to look at you. His eyes shone like blue galaxies. "[Y/N]," he said simply, pulling his face from your hand, "what are you doing out here?"

"I could ask the same of the Prince of Lucis," you said, sitting down in front of him. The grass immediately soaked through your dress. "It seems that night is the only time we can meet now."

Noctis grimaced, paled, as if in pain. "[Y/N], I made you a promise-"

"That you simply cannot keep," you interrupted, your voice soft despite the weight of your words. "You are a Prince, Noctis. You are the heir to the throne of Lucis. You cannot sacrifice the future of your Kingdom for a mere healer." You spat the last word, sounding more bitter than you intended.

A soft breeze washed through the garden, stirring your hair, your skirts, stirring the pain in Noctis' eyes until it was all you could see. His eyes were a misted night sky. Sad. "You are more to me than just a healer. You are so much more."

You bit your lip, trying to stop it from wobbling. His insistence was going to ruin him and his country. "I know, Noct. I know," you whispered, and he reached out a hand, rubbing the pad of his thumb over your cheek. His skin was calloused but his touch was soft, so soft. You leaned into his hand. "It's hard for me too, you know. Knowing that this can't last." He made to protest but you silenced him with a shake of your head. "I love you, Noctis. I really do. But it's time you start acting like a Prince and doing what's right for your country. And that means forgetting me and marrying Lady Lunafreya." Your tone was hard and final and Noctis struggled to protest.

Instead, his hand slipped from your face and he hung his head, once more becoming a shadow, an empty, hollow shadow. "I don't want to do this," he said, his voice so quiet you barely heard it. "I want us to be happy together. I thought maybe I could figure something out but... but I couldn't. I can't. I know it's not going to work. It can't work. I... I'm sorry."

You smiled. Your eyes were glazed and misty with tears but you were glad he had finally accepted defeat. You couldn't outrun fate, and it had already decided Noctis' long before you'd been together.

"Don't apologise, Noctis. You have nothing to be sorry for, the fault lies with neither of us. I'm afraid this is simply out of our hands." Your voice were calm but you were breaking inside. You knew it was finally coming to an end.

"This doesn't mean I don't love you, [Y/N]." His hand returned to your face, but he couldn't meet your eye. "I'll always love you."

"I know. But you're going to have to try and make some room in that big ol' heart of yours," you said, lacing your fingers through his and kissing the back of his hand. It was cold. "This union isn't going to work based on lies."

"Don't," he said, his voice gritty. "Don't. It's not that easy."

You laughed. It sounded bitter and cold and you could already feel the warmth fading from the space between you. "Of course it isn't. But you're a Prince and you need to do what's right, even if it's hard and emotionally toiling." Your voice was hard and you saw the shadow pass over Noctis' face as he flinched. You sighed, looking down at your entwined hand. "This is it, Noctis. This is our last night together."

"[Y/N], no," he mumbled tiredly.

"After tonight I'm leaving. Staying at the Palace will only make it harder for the both of us."

He stayed silent. You suspected he already knew something like this would happen.

"So please," you whispered, stroking his cold fingers, "please promise me you'll be happy. Promise me you'll take care of Lady Luna and yourself, promise me you won't let me hold you back."

Noctis nodded silently, pulling you close, breathing against your lips. "Then promise me the same. Promise you'll find love again, promise me you'll be happy too."

You nodded then, and he kissed you, he kissed you knowing it would be your last.