Two Different((Noctis))

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

So he wasn't wrong... Stella was looking at him closely, he could feel the tingle of self consciousness on his skin as her eyes sparkled but were damp with depression. Her face was rid of the smile he mostly remembered her by, and now replaced on the flawless surface was a sad appearance. Noctis' eyes trembled slowly as he noticed these things, they were going gradually from side to side, understanding what he could from what he was reading.

It was her words that brought this gaze to another pause, she looked down after she'd spoken and he swallowed automatically. A tiny shiver running down his spine and a light headed feeling began enveloping him; her honesty was brutal...brutal yet admirable...
It made him want to reach out to her; it was more than a normal thing for someone to confess feelings, he knew it because he could never do it...and this was Stella... not any other ordinary girl... Inhaling deeply, he stepped away from the railing, swiping off more snow that landed onto the frozen river below in a puff of white smoke; he had closed the gap between them.

Softened by her hardships, he could tell what made her more upset and troubled than the simple fact that they could not be friends; it was these feelings... Silence would only make matters worse but for the good minute after her outburst, he had not been able to find his voice. This was the real breaking point...what was he to do? Being lost like this was horrible, but Noctis bit his lip for a second, pounding on his brain for help. "Stella...I..."
Practically, he ought to be speechless but they were familiar with each other, in spite of the gap years; she had blossomed into someone ethereal and stunning. However, he shook his head, she is his enemy and could not be ...they couldn't be...he couldn't be with anyone. It didn't suit him...and he was no good at it...only suffering and misunderstandings were going to come to people who loved him, death just like his family. "You hardly know me...how can you be so sure? But... it would be nice to have meetings more often."

He sighed deeply, embracing failure to get what he wanted to say across, but what was it he wanted to say?! The Prince, out of courtesy and by all means hoping not to offend or hurt her, took Stella's hand in his. The touch was soft and he clasped it between both hands as he felt the iciness of her fingers even through their gloves. "I know now of these feelings you have...and they tell me, you're never my enemy. You must not have to fight me..."
There was sincerity in his tone, every syllable, he meant it all because he couldn't kill her, and much less allow her to die. If he had acknowledged his own feelings for her, he would have shown it and probably tilted her face back to see him but he was oblivious to it. Noctis was a confused a man, things like this were unimaginable and furthermore, she was supposed to hate him...
There had never been a day he dreamt he would need to brace himself for such a whirlwind of confessions from her. It can't be...by the constellations in the galaxy, why had such cruel games befallen her...
"...Thank you... for not ending it that night... I am sorry for what I could have done to you then."
The seriousness crumbled, he was humbled by her flattery of him, he never thought he was to find someone who harboured feelings towards him. It was a deflated ego of some sort but this boy felt like he had to be a man to her; she was a lady. Words miraculously strung out like pearls on a necklace, snug and chronological; the complete opposite of how they usually were when he talked. "Perhaps if we were not who we are, your feelings would be right... I will never betray this secret..."

He was the reason for worsening her torment, her parents had been right to make her stay away from him. What was he but gratified and apologetic at the same time...He put her in danger every way. Noctis needed time to know if he felt the same for her, he had been shutting himself off from love all the while as they grew; neither did he have much use for it... his enemies would target the ones he cared about because he had no open weakness. It wouldn't change...even her family might use her to lure the Crystal...
This was no bait, he was certain but doubt still naturally formed in his mind.Where were they to go with this?"Please don't feel responsible for my death... nor this agony... I am compelled now more than ever, to resolve the feud between your family and my world... It is my hopes that you will help me... I would give my life for the peace, except I don't know how to believe in it to come with my death...and to keep your virtues, Lady Stella... I can't be the reason for your exile... if by any chance, your feelings lead you astray."

Tonight, he learned many things. It was time his facade was atested; the confidence made solid, only to bring her away from tears and make this a moment one Noctis truly lived, out of the shell he wore.

[Stella Nox Fleuret]

"Stella...I..." She could see by his expression that he was lost for words....But when he grabbed her hand in his, how could she resist looking up into his eyes again....That was the first time he actually touched her like that. Sure he placed a hand on her shoulder every now and then, but this was different....Stella smiled at him as she looked up then.....

"You hardly know me...how can you be so sure? But... it would be nice to have meetings more often." "I know enough. I know you would never hurt me intentionally....But only if you were forced to...." She admitted....As she placed her free hand on his chest to feel his heart steadily in his chest....Safe where it belonged...."I could never harm this...."

"I know now of these feelings you have...and they tell me, you're never my enemy. You must not have to fight me..." "Noctis.....You don't know what that means to me, to hear you say that....I never wanted to be your enemy in the first place.....But..."

"...Thank you... for not ending it that night... I am sorry for what I could have done to you then." "No need for apologizing now....What's done is done..."

"Perhaps if we were not who we are, your feelings would be right... I will never betray this secret..." "Thank you Noctis.....I would appreciate that....But, my feelings are my feelings...How can you know it's not true what I feel....?" She caught him biting his lips.....He was having a hard time explaining things she could tell.....

"Please don't feel responsible for my death... nor this agony... I am compelled now more than ever, to resolve the feud between your family and my world... It is my hopes that you will help me... I would give my life for the peace, except I don't know how to believe in it to come with my death...and to keep your virtues, Lady Stella... I can't be the reason for your exile... if by any chance, your feelings lead you astray." "I can not help if it was me that ended your life....Just to make my family happy....And they can further search for the Crystals you know of....I honestly....don't see the logic in it myself....If you were the reason my exile....Then I would not hold you against it....My feelings for you would never stop.....I'm scared Noctis....The Darkness is coming here I can just feel it....Maybe if we did team up together we could defeat the Darkness....Would you do that to defend your own world.....? I would....I would use my power to save what we live for....How bout you....?" She was slowly confessing her fear for the other problem she was dealing with....She was Noctis enemy....But would the Darkness see her as one of theirs....And try and take her away from Noctis....That was some thing she could not handle on her own.....

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

She looked up at him, meeting his gaze and there he felt breath taken though what she followed to say was something he had to oppose. Forced to...yes but at the same time, pride told him that he was never one to be forced...no one had rule over him even if he respected the council of his city. Noctis slipped the bite on his lips away and allowed a smirk to replace what he had been doing. "I will not be forced to do anything...but I know what you're saying..."

His head bowed as he looked down at the hand she had placed on his chest; it made his heart skip a beat. She had never touched him before, either, and it captured him in what he missed ever since he became the last heir, that she did now. The heart within was harmed by all his problems, she couldn't come close to harming it more than how much it had turned into a division of ashes and blackholes.
"There's no need to thank me... though you speak of your feelings, I only question them because you must be warned of me in any way, by any lie, and as we don't see each other... how realistic can they be? I don't refer to insulting you Stella... but you know of my doubts about things like this happening to me, as always." Noctis proclaimed what he truly thought, as he trusted her to be reasonable with his inadequacies in the light of events like this. Perhaps it did make them suited but the darkness was looming over their lives, and compatibility was only a mere human ideal. All of this was nothing good or bad... it was thinking that made it so...

Gently, he uncovered her hand and moved one to where she had placed another upon his chest. Taking it, he held it in smooth transition, some concern and undeterred faith sparked in him as Stella cut open his vulnerable side.
"I would hold you against letting me be the reason for your exile. It can't happen that way... the Darkness is only passing, my eyes have opened to see that our powers are given to save what we live for... you should not be scared, after now and ever. This may look damaging if we are found but no harm will come your way on my grounds..."
So saying, he promised a noble freedom for her here, in spite of him not being the only one to make such decisions about his turf; he would have to make it happen by all means and he hated being underestimated. Noctis only had Stella as someone from his childhood, the closer friends he had now still hadn't the same history he did with her; whatever it was they became, friends or foe, they weren't written to be apart. For the time being, he could only guard himself from falling for her, and mistakes that he could make if he was going to succeed in this war...come what may...
As he thought, he looked away and slid her hand in his off his chest, drawing her into a proper comforting caress. The only supporting gesture he had ever given her; the hard exterior of his sheltered what affection he actually had the ability to offer. Presently, she could not see how his eyes hazed and stared out behind her in a daze, the daze of what he was doing... and how bad it might make her feel once they parted, because of the feelings she had... "If we teamed up, we will definitely defeat the darkness... I believe in it, just never imagined you would agree... or that I would have the place to tell you."

[Stella Nox Fleuret]

"I will not be forced to do anything...but I know what you're saying..." She listened quietly as he answered to everything she just replied to him earlier....."There's no need to thank me... though you speak of your feelings, I only question them because you must be warned of me in any way, by any lie, and as we don't see each other... how realistic can they be? I don't refer to insulting you Stella... but you know of my doubts about things like this happening to me, as always." But she knew they were not a lie....Ever since she was little she had special feelings for him.....And when she was old enough to know everything....She was devastated....

"I would hold you against letting me be the reason for your exile. It can't happen that way... the Darkness is only passing, my eyes have opened to see that our powers are given to save what we live for... you should not be scared, after now and ever. This may look damaging if we are found but no harm will come your way on my grounds..." "No matter what you say Noctis, I'm bound to the Darkness...Think about it....I'm the bad guy here....Where you are the hero....The Darkness will destroy our world though. I'm sure of it because....I've seen it with my own eyes....And I...will be responsible for some of the damage...." Another confession....Noctis had better listen to her this time......Because she was telling the truth...... "If we teamed up, we will definitely defeat the darkness... I believe in it, just never imagined you would agree... or that I would have the place to tell you." "Because of what I am...." That damned touch he did....Got her all the time....He rarely did it....But she ached for one touch of his fingers on her skin....And this was not the same.....She wore black gloves tonight....But she could still feel his fingers....

As they rubbed on her hand...She tried not to tremble with excitement. But it was hard on her part....All that he just said was just flow right off that bridge as she was in deep thought now....The love was there she knew it was....She could feel it....He hid it very very well...But she could some times see it in his eyes....She now bit her own lip as she looked up into his eyes again...Damn those eyes! When will she stop this....? She had to accept the fact that he would never feel for her the way she felt for him...At not to a degree as she did.....She let her hand fall out of his then....And turned away from him....As she sighed....."I'm not safe here and you know it.....I'm especially not safe with you...." It hurt her to say that....Her voice trembled as she saw her own breath escape her lips from the cold air.....

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

He was thinking about it. Thinking about it just led to bad things... why could he not convince her... what she said put her in the negative space... was he so unbelievable, he thought he was down-to earth... maybe the supernatural essence of things made it impossible... she was depressed.
Wounded to some extent by the reality of what she tried to make him see, through her eyes and her disposition, he finally nodded to play with compliance that she required from him. Noctis was going to have to let along for Stella was always the leading force over things, he only absorbed what she said and remarked occasionally. Maybe it was meant to remain that way... there were a lot of maybes... and he inwardly sighed, not wanting to do it outwardly so that things were not seemingly so shattered.

"I am no hero... and with a pure heart to help me, you have more valour than you accredit yourself with, Stella... but alright, it is unfortunate you cannot feel safe with me, or around me... what does that leave then? It seems, I can't make you comfortable even in this risk... " It was because of how who she was supposed to be... he never once thought there would be a time of place to speak to her much, she had disappeared as fast as she'd come that time they found out who each other were. He never saw her again until the fight happened... she was like a ghost that haunted him, but not one that he couldn't live with.
"You have my word though, that you will be safe... my promise is true to my care for you... if there was a chance that I had to demonstrate it, it would be now."

A step down the wrong way, he could tell things backfired at them... and craved the belief in him that she could give; he would make things fine unwavered like he felt with his comrades. "In return, don't be anxious of what might happen... you've trusted me since we were younger..."
Noctis sensed himself urging to frown more, looking poker faced as he always was but managed to press the thin line of his lips into a helpful smile. It took two to tango, he couldn't do any thing about them, alone but when she turned away, he too averted his eyes from her, releasing her hand from his clinching. The sweetness in her voice began to erase and effortlessly, he dragged her into a casual embrace; the type of thing they were caught in as children, innocent to the punishment that came from their parents to ensure it never was possible to connect like this, again.

[Stella Nox Fleuret]

"I am no hero... and with a pure heart to help me, you have more valour than you accredit yourself with, Stella... but alright, it is unfortunate you cannot feel safe with me, or around me... what does that leave then? It seems, I can't make you comfortable even in this risk... " "You have my word though, that you will be safe... my promise is true to my care for you... if there was a chance that I had to demonstrate it, it would be now." "In return, don't be anxious of what might happen... you've trusted me since we were younger..."

"What's in the past stays in the past...." She was cut off from what he did next. Which was in fact a hug! This was unexpected! She gasped lowly...As her breath escaped again...This time on to his chest....Had he just showed her how much he really cared about her? Of course! Any one would be an idot to not see it! He did care! Even though he did not say or express enough....She was right! She knew he felt the same.....And was that talk about her being safe with him another way to show her how he felt? It had to be....

Stella finally wrapped her arms around to reach his back as she leaned her head on his chest....For once she felt safe....She was no longer scared....For a split second all her fears were casted aside....Even the fear of her father....Was gone....Her happiness was coming back now....As she breathed heavily....He was not only hugging her....But helping her stay warm....This felt so right to her....This hug....She was taking it all in....Who knew when he would do this again....He was not know for showing emotion....He was trying though....She could feel it....He hated to see her like this....
"You mean it? You would keep me from harm, Noctis? If so....I want to believe you...That even though I am the bad guy....That you can protect me from my Dark sins....."

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

Stays in the past... all memories could not stay put there... banking on risks only encouraged them to flood him now... Feeling the short warm blow of air she let out, he was aware he had surprised her, interestingly even scared her but for a change, she wasn't the one throwing him off his feet. The hug represented most of how he cared for her, it was obvious but it would have to be the rarest case in all their meetings that he felt bold enough to do it now that they had grown up. The trigger may have been her confession though he put his priority to comfort her from melancholic unhappiness she was stuck in.
"I mean it... as much as I can, try and prevent you from getting hurt... I'm aware I won't always be there when you're in harms way... I regret I won't even be able to know when it happens... I want you to believe me... and there is one thing, you mustn't give yourself away to what you think... that youre the bad person... I won't agree."

Noctis realised she secured the light hold on her by wrapping her arms around and he quietly loosened up, not rejecting it like he was so used to doing from his mother and friends. It did not fit well with his status... and he was honestly unconditionally drained by it, the fact it felt good unlike he thought it would; there wasn't supposed to be anything special in how she was in his arms... Betrayal, was that possible between them both if they could also be like this? There were no darker sins than if this involved more feelings that might intensify.
A tad more thought and he would've shrunk back to his shyness, and it was revolving now as he did hate to see her like this, the kindness he had inside assured him it was the right way to go. A small move could go a long way... and bliss for her now even if it didn't last forever, was the best he wished to provide. Lowering his voice to a murmur, louder than a whisper as he spoke close to her ear, against her hair that was held back behind it, Noctis playfully smirked to himself, the boyish character reentering.
"And since when have I not meant what I say?"

Their childhood brought about a bond of gold; he was at times laid back with her and that was how they could interact without cutting each other's throats. He laughed under his breath, that reminded him of how cold she must have been before in the dressy clothes she liked wearing.
It was peaceful and he teased her without making it too straightforward, sure he was always amused by her response whenever he did because he looked so serious; he classed it as teasing because he couldn't put a finger on what else it was if not a joke or rhetorical question. "I thought heroes rescue ladies like you anyway... maybe I'm not rightfully the one to protect you..."

[Stella Nox Fleuret]

"I mean it... as much as I can, try and prevent you from getting hurt... I'm aware I won't always be there when you're in harms way... I regret I won't even be able to know when it happens... I want you to believe me... and there is one thing, you mustn't give yourself away to what you think... that youre the bad person... I won't agree." She then looked up into his eyes as hers started to water....He cared about her that much. This was so not like Noctis....She knew that he could not be there for her all the time...Especially when she was with her family....Her father....That man sent chills down her spine....Bit Noctis sure got a surprise when she told him what was really going on with her and her family....She was actually disagreeable with them....."I'm glad you are friends with me Noctis....I know you may think that love for us two is impossible....But maybe....Just maybe one day we can be together.....What'd you think?"

"And since when have I not meant what I say?"She smiled as he leaned closer to her ear to tell her that....Just to be this close even for a little while made her happy....She then closed her eyes as she let the feeling again sink in....She would really have to deal with her father when she got home....He did not know where she went.... "I thought heroes rescue ladies like you anyway... maybe I'm not rightfully the one to protect you..." "Noctis....Please....You've lifted my spirits so high....Don't make me fall....You are a hero.....You just have to find that side of yourself...." She returned as she leaned up to his ear now and said that in a low voice....She wanted him to be that man he wanted to be to....He was a hero though....Would he ever see that? Sure they were both young....And only time could tell if they would really be together.....

She looked back up at him and this surprised her a bit....Now he was having second thoughts....? What was his problem...? He always thought about the negative not the positive.... "My father....How am I going to explain this to him....? I have to go!" She then pulled away from him swiftly....Noctis would now see the danger she put herself in as he would see the fear in her eyes...

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

Indeed this was so unlike him, it didn't become Noctis at all...What was he doing, being so taken over by empathy... and that initial shock about her feelings, it had affected him to strike up something almost returning her love...
It made him feel an ecstasy yet panic about whether this was at all proper; proper meant he never touched her... and was what rewinded to not meeting with her even out of pure chance...
Friends as she said they were, though she hoped for more, did tell him that no matter what she felt, he was more important to her than her own feelings, so his choices directed her. A lot of responsibility this was, and he couldn't even know what was correct... whether he was the one who was meant to do such a thing... delusional ideals... it all came down to instincts, but what if he made a mistake...

Sometime she would know his second thoughts preoccupied him in a revolution of his mind. It spun like planet earth on it's axis, tilted always to his opinions but nevertheless unenclosed as it faced the sun or moon at intervals; the thoughts were dark and light...negative and positive...
Here was quick sand he sank in, as she spoke of possibilities... them being together would be a cursed fairytale... though he could not deny that there were chances of it if he was to stick to being passive. It would also be offending if he was so against it...
A difficult thing to sway Noctis but Stella was in control of it and persuasive, plus, he cared about her... though it scared him; was this commitment issues or just being inexperienced on the romance side?

"If your feelings remain this way for me in the future... and when it is made possible to be around eachother often, I won't disrespect the idea..."
They drew away a little as he pulled back to see her eyes well up with water; she had taken what he'd said to heart...
This was the Stella he knew; she hadn't changed one bit as the sensitive princess. While this happened, he didn't feel bad about kidding with her, it was nothing he couldn't handle compared to the real stuff like a relationships between them.
"...If that side exists... I don't strive to be a hero but I'm not in place to argue with you on that it is just my mindset that I am not one."

There was a mesmerising quality of how she spoke to him, but he was not going to lose himself in a pit of attraction. The sharpness as she pulled away, shocked him even when a part of him always bore it in mind that she would run like cinderella at the midnight bell. There was one issue... Noctis hadn't answered her and it was crucial that she did know how to face her father; it would be him to blame if she was punished even for a lie, that one like herself would hate to make up.

In a rush, his hair ruffled and by magic, he moved to be in front of her again, a pace away so that she would not collide into him as she turned so swiftly... It wasn't startling that he could teleport, Stella understood his powers and it was futile effort that she attempt to depart without exchanging goodbyes; he wasn't one to get in her way but she was not alright yet. Had all else failed...?
He blocked her at the end of the short bridge, stern concern tagged on him. "I can't keep you...but Stella, there's no truth about this night that you can tell your father... assure me that you will lie... I know it is against your morals..."
It was against his too, that was why he had to be so distant with things and people ... because he found lying another enemy of his intuition. As a gentleman and a fighter he was bred to be, he had half a mind to take her home and see for himself the misery he brought upon her life.

[Stella Nox Fleuret]

"If your feelings remain this way for me in the future... and when it is made possible to be around each other often, I won't disrespect the idea..."

"...If that side exists... I don't strive to be a hero but I'm not in place to argue with you on that it is just my mindset that I am not one."

"I can't keep you...but Stella, there's no truth about this night that you can tell your father... assure me that you will lie... I know it is against your morals..."

"I will lie....But he's smart Noctis....But for you....I'd di any thing....To keep you safe from him.....I'll see you again Noctis....You can count on that. But I must go...Just only for a little while..." She stopped when he confronted her again right in front of her....He was a few feet away from her this time...So she did not run in to him....She looked down as he looked up into her eyes....She knew his power and has seen on several occasions...His powers would always out rank hers....For she could not teleport as he could...That was some thing she knew he could do....And did not surprise her one minute as he used it against just now....

"Your obsessive about keeping me safe? I would follow you home if my father was not who he was....I would remain by your side if my father was on your side....But he's not Noctis...He's the only one that stands against this....And if he found out about me meeting you secretly....He would go to great links to make sure that this would not happen again....." She looked up finally to gaze once more into those beautiful eyes he carried....As she walked right up to him and placed a hand on his chilled cheek....And leaned up slowly....And kissed his lips softly....And then she let go as quickly as the kiss happened.....

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

"I don't need you to keep me safe... My life is entangled in dangerous affairs, I am prepared... but I will count on you Stella, to avoid his suspiscion at all costs when you return..."
He would hope, sleepless that her father would buy the lie. Whatever she could think of was probably more intellectual and deep, therefore hard to disagree with though he knew such strict authorities she faced would not be so eager to accept anything she said when they didn't know for a fact; Seeing was believing...

"If I may escort you there... I know the odds... and Obsession is not the word I would choose to use, with regards about giving you my promise of protection."
Noctis watched as she stopped, predicting the movement and that was the reason he stood at the end of the bridge gazing up at her as though she was to run into his arms. His complexion paled in the starlight and he had to try to find support in his mind to let her go, mainly because he was not going to be able to keep his word if she was harmed even at her home. As he'd known she'd remained unfazed as he'd moved to where he now obstructed her.
"Your council and mother follow what he feels but not by rights...? This meeting was not your choice... don't be pressured to remain by my side if you find yourself drifting as days pass and we don't meet..."
Wanting to tell her not to reserve her heart only to him, for the uncertainty of what was going to happen and the promises he hadn't made to her in return, he couldn't utter things directly but said what she would have been accustomed to hearing. Her hand was sought for by suitors from other worlds, he could accept that; there were immense odds.

There was no obsession; it was almost just gallant duty. He knew less of dedication to anything else but duty so when she suggested it, he couldn't help but be perplexed. Was he to agree or disagree, no obsession was good in his books and it was far from the honourable truth if he did agree with her simply because the question held onto her feelings for him. Noctis glimpsed her face come close and his eyes turned solid, the pupil dilating before he blinked a couple of times.

One kiss was all it took for thoughts to blow his mind.
It lasted only a split second but his heart stopped pounding then.
Her hand warmed his cheek as it turned slightly pink, rosy as he stayed in a trance that told him, in spite of how improper it would be, he could imagine feeling the texture of her lips on his again. Desires anyone would have in a situation like this, if he gave in to passion, he would kiss her with fervour knowing that it would all be missed. Where was this, darkness?
Noctis had drawn closer, thrilled by what she had done, to do the same and it was about an inch away...
No... Silent order instructed him to halt; he was not above emotion if he carried on. Stella could do anything to him... but he would not until the time was right and he was sure, even from another's viewpoint, he wasn't taking advantage... but thinking wasn't enough to completely straighten himself and draw away, he was only paused and unable to look into her crystal eyes.

[Stella Nox Fleuret]

"I don't need you to keep me safe... My life is entangled in dangerous affairs, I am prepared... but I will count on you Stella, to avoid his suspiscion at all costs when you return..."

"If I may escort you there... I know the odds... and Obsession is not the word I would choose to use, with regards about giving you my promise of protection." Stella looked into his eyes when he asked that...She could see what that little kiss did to him as well....She blushed slightly...."Your council and mother follow what he feels but not by rights...? This meeting was not your choice... don't be pressured to remain by my side if you find yourself drifting as days pass and we don't meet..." She nodded in agreement...."as much as i would love for you to escort me Noctis, I can not allow it just yet....My father has spies all over the country....No telling if they even saw us tonight....But I will try my best to keep the lie real enough so he believes it....I sorta...left with out him knowing...." Stella hoped then that Noctis would not be mad at her for going behind her father's back as she did....Stella too thought that that kiss would be over powerful to him and make him weak in the knees and kiss her longer....

But he never did....He had more control than she thought....He was being a complete gentlemen to her tonight.....And she loved that part about him....But that was not her favorite part about him....She too loved the way the moons light casted down on his lovely face tonight....That made him even more handsome...She caught him starring into her eyes...As she did with his....How could she resist that....? Never...She knew that her love was true to him as she kissed him...Even though it was a quickie kiss...She knew who she wanted to be with for the rest of her life...But as he also pointed out, that now was not the time to become one with him....He just was not ready....

Stella removed her hand from his cheek and smiled softly at him...."Good night Lord Noctis....." And with that, she left him....And walked away not even looking back.....When would she see him again? She thought of that day or night...When she would have that pleasure made her keep herself confident....As she returned home a booming male voice sounded behind her....."And what kept you?" Stella gasped as she heard her fathers voice behind her....This was it...Would she be able to hold that promise to Noctis and tell her father a lie? She did just that...."I was just out for a walk father...." "A walk? Stella...You can't keep things from me you know...I know where you were and who you were with....him." Stella saw the anger flarring in her father's eyes as she backed away from him terrified....Until her back his the wooden wall behind her....It then would fade to black after that....

The pain his her back as she walked alone.....She looked down the street....No one....She was afraid....Afraid of going back home to that torture she had to live through....Her father was just mean....Hee did not drink but he had his ways to teach her a lesson....And so far they did not work...She ran away from her own palace that night....She saw the traffic come and go as she walked the lonely side walk....She was tired....Tired of crying....Her eyes were just used to it by now....She was going to do some thing to get out of that place she used to call home....But there seemed to be some one watching her from behind her...As she walked....She heard the foot steps catching up to her....And that was when she got scared....And started to run for it! Stella found herself inside an alley....And ran to the dead end....The attacker then grabbed her arm and threw her on the ground! He started to rip off her clothes! She screamed! But he covered her mouth up! As he managed to rip her top blouse off....He bent down ready to rape her....The reason she did not fight back....Well she thought she deserved this......

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

Footprints of snow fluffed a shallow trail leading into the darkness she disappeared in... As she left, he reminded himself that he wasn't just there to find the better part of him; more than some hero he could never be. He had the right to dream but it wasn't easy to be him.
Noctis was alright with her leaving like this, unangered by how she'd come to be here in the first place but merely having one more thing to frustrate over, not needing him to take her home; he wasn't crazy enough to push it.

Chasing shadows at midnight, only a man, he would have to return his own way looking for special things inside of him for when he would be able to truly protect her, their crystals or save their problem.
There was still time for him to stay out but he cared no more of the scenery even as it made the land picturesque for the only time it could be, covered and not what it normally looked like.

A frown marked his face as he ventured home, taking sober steps from time to time but reappearing and appearing along the flight of stairs which he reached supposedly shortening the journey but somehow, it took much longer to return now and he turned to look behind his shoulder. No one would be there, and tomorrow was a new day he had to battle for himself, his pride and deep down... he knew, Stella was another reason.
It was his trademark, the forlorn stare at the outside world of his gloomy mansion, under the towering arch of the entrance and he shut his eyes to make this memory last an eternity.

~ fin.