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...
"I can't turn back now, not anymore. In my world, you no longer exist. A world without you is no world at all."
- Noel Kreiss
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Chapter X | The Living Paradox
Noel felt like he couldn't breathe. There was a crushing pressure against his ribs as your words sank in, each one a poisoned thorn puncturing the soft lining of his lung. "W-what are you talking about? No, no, come on, we have to-"
"No, Noel. Listen to me," you cut in forcefully, your shoulders beginning to shake as Noel's hands fisted by his side. "I'm not supposed to be here. I... I'm not real. I'm just a memory, part of the paradox."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"It does," you said, lowering your eyes, dark and hollow, like an unlit sky. "I died. That's why I went missing, that's why when I came back, you'd already gone. I died and came back when the paradoxes disrupted the timelines. I'm not supposed to exist! I'm... some kind of living paradox."
Serah covered her mouth, stifling a gasp, while Noel stared at you incredulously, his lips quivering. "That... that doesn't make sense... you can't be..."
You nodded slowly, despondently. Noel couldn't think straight, knowing your existence was nothing more than a lie. The fates seemed out to trick him, to tear him to pieces by forcing him to believe these lies, by making him believe he had his friends back only to rip them away again.
"I'm sorry, Noel. I'm sorry for being so stupid, so reckless. I was angry with you and went off alone. I should have stayed and tried to talk things out."
"How did you..." He trailed into a grimace, unable to finish the question, but you knew how it ended.
"A behemoth," you said simply. "I was stuck without my weapon. I had no chance."
Noel raked a hand through his hair again, digging his nails into his scalp. "This isn't fair! Why did... why did they bring you back to me, only to steal you away again?" The anguish in his voice was enough to make your lip tremble, tears beading the corners of your eyes like frozen crystals. Seeing this, Noel reached forward and pulled you up to his chest, holding you flush against him, his hands resting in your hair. You felt lighter than he remembered, smaller, more fragile, like you were slipping away.
"I'm sorry," you cried, trying not to let the sobs tangle with your voice. "I didn't know. All this time, I... I didn't know."
His hands worked through your hair slowly, softly, savouring the touch of you despite knowing you weren't real. Once he got out of here, you were gone for good.
"Don't make me do this."
You sniffed suddenly, pulling away, out of reach. Suddenly the distance between you seemed too much and he stepped up to you again. "You have to. You're not getting out of here otherwise." His fingertips ghosted your cheek, wiping away the tears that had settled there, making your skin feel cold and damp.
