Noel Kreiss x Reader | Final Fantasy XIII-2
✓ COMPLETED + UNEDITED | 2018
After the fall of Cocoon had rendered much of the land infertile and uninhabitable, the existing civilisations were forced to resort to hunting and foraging for natural resour...
"Each reunion is a twist of the knife. The joy is ephemeral; it leaves fear in its wake. A fear that all too soon the time will come when you must bid farewell again."
- Lightning Farron
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Chapter V | Heart of Chaos
You thought you were dreaming.
It seemed impossible, that Noel could be standing there, in front of you, so alive, so real, when you were so convinced that he was dead.
There was a long, thick silence, wrapping around you like web, cushioning every sound that fell against it, then you began to stutter, struggling to form all of the words you wanted to say to the boy you thought dead. "Noel... is that... is that really you?"
He stepped forward, his eyes sought yours, desperate and searching, then you were in his arms, a crushing embrace, skin ghosting skin, tangible, real.
"I thought you were dead," you said, your voice cracking, muffled by his shirt as you buried your face against it. "I thought... I thought I was the only one left."
Noel's grip loosened, and you pulled away only partially, brushing your fingers against his cheek, just to make sure he wasn't another of those ghosts, deceiving in their appearance of humanity, mortality. But his skin felt warm, soft, not like the cold mists that had fashioned his alternate self. You wanted to cry. Only a moment ago you were convinced the world was empty.
"But... I thought you..." Noel's face twisted, confusion burrowing into the creases by his eyes, paling his lips. But then he seemed to brush it away, because it didn't matter now. You were both alive, together, nothing else mattered.
"I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered instead, cupping your face, giving your own cheeks a touch, and then stepping back. The distance between you suddenly felt cold. You didn't want to be left alone again.
"You two, this is [F/N]. My best friend. One of the only surviving hunters of the Farseer tribe."
The pink-haired girl stepped forward, introducing herself as Serah with a smile. You nodded to Hope, stood a short way behind them.
"This is interesting," he was mumbling, cupping his chin thoughtfully. "This is very interesting. I could predict Noel's and Serah's arrival here because of your visit in 5AF, but [F/N]'s was a complete surprise... When was the last time you two saw each other?"
The two of you exchanged a glance, and you saw the pain in Noel's eyes, the regret, like dark clouds on the horizon. It trapped your heart in a cage of briars, each poisonous thorn cutting anew with every troubled memory. He was the one who had left you.
"I don't remember. Years ago?" you answered quietly, and Noel turned you to face him, looking at you curiously.
