First Destinations [Noctis/Open]

[Aqua]

This world was bathed in darkness.

No, not filled with the darkness that tainted the heart and mind, but of the darkness that comes with a deep night sky. Oceanic orbs flickered to the moon that loomed over the quiet city, bathing all in the soft rays of light. How enchanting it could be, and how familiar she had become with it in her time spent in the Realm of Darkness. Aqua felt her heart ache at the memory of the last years spent there, and how she could not stand within the light for too long. Her heart had not been tainted by the darkness, but the full glare of the light was too much for her to take for the moment. A soft sigh escaped her lips, and the young woman merely glanced at her surroundings. No one was in sight, but she could sense the many sleeping presences. A small smile curled on her lips, glad that these citizens were safe from any Heartless that always seemed to come when not expected.

Aqua did admire the beauty of the architecture, though.

Never had she ventured to a world quite like this one, and she had to wonder if perhaps Terra and Ven were here as well. Her heart ached at the thought of her friends, because she had not seen them in so very long. Were they alright, safe, or still in danger? Aqua did not know, and she bit her bottom lip nervously. All she could do was keep going, though. Exhaling slightly, she slowly studied her surroundings once more. Dark and beautiful, and entirely too silent for comfort. Aqua pushed herself forward, cautiously looking about her, wondering if any enemies would show up at all. Within a flash of light, her keyblade had been summoned. No, Aqua did not think anything would happen, but it never hurt to be safe.

Especially within these times.

How much had she missed? Aqua really did not know, but she was only too happy to be out of the Realm of Darkness. Her footsteps seemed to echo around her, and she suddenly found herself at the base of a rather grand staircase. Her azure eyes flickered upward, looking as they lead upward to a cathedral building of sorts. The grand architecture suggested it was a place of importance, so perhaps it could be used as a sanctuary? Aqua had no gil or munny upon her, and the thought of a nice bed to sleep on was much too tempting for the Keyblade Master. One could only find out, though, right? "I wonder if anyone is here at all." Her words were murmured, and she could only glance to the building with a hopeful curiosity.

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

A bass drummed in time with the chorus of ethereal voices, no words sung or pronounced, harmonised the harsh sounds of violins composing the symphony of his aggressive reclusion. It played in the background of his life as his mind arrested itself within the hall he sat, upon a seat to enthrone one of grandeur. Clashes of instruments crescendoed to exhalt his spirits, that were as lightless as the eyes of those that had befallen carnage. Just outside a long the stone staircase, he had seen such eyes and the absurd scent of death perfumed the shadows there.

The reality was silent, lurid and tenebrous as a world like Tenabrae could be.
His eyes opened from the common escape into reverie that happened when they were shut; the gloved hand that rested to comfort his position in the thinking, left his cheek. Both hung at the armrests and slid up to push him off the chair; some time had passed here and straightening himself, Noctis stood and walked, his cold facade carried towards the exit ahead of him.

Those doors, so immense and heavy, never swung and never creaked. He was outside now, the air fresh and awakening as he breathed, but what he saw of his world was no different in colour and light than what he had been seeing with closed eyes. Before as he had always stood to face his enemies as they tried to take down this stronghold, he gazed out in wonder for what could be of his future and the memories of his past. The turn of his head as he surveyed the area of his corrupted empire, he caught sight of a figure at the base; unclear as the silhuette was, he neared it as his foot left the first step and divided him from time to travel a whole flight down.

Noctis saw this character as the only colour in this dead gloom now, and paused, standing on what was a platform that separated the continuing flight of stairs that amounted hundreds of steps to descend. The voice drifted up and he narrowed his eyes to study the possibilities of why, such a question was asked when a weapon was drawn. It led him to be defensive and yet anxious if he was taking the right option because no attack had been imminent, the usual way it always was; he came out here to face them but this was different.

Nevertheless, his hand left his side readied to summon the force of his crystal; there was a necessity to speak out but he never did as the glimmers that began surrounding him lit his being, as if to gain the attention he realistically never sought. His expression remained void though his heart and senses questioned his judgment and awaited conversational confrontation; he was unable to begin fire for the fleeting minute and shifted to skip another ten steps.

The stare of his was amber in prepared violence that grew murky with his indecision and doubt whilst he looked at her, pushing to voice something which he hoped she would find instead; the first words never came easy, he wanted to affirm that he was not making a mistake on trust if he spoke first. To Noctis enemies needed no negotiation, only whatever it took to satiate his often inward wonder as to why they aligned against him and that he had to encounter them.

[Aqua]

Her form tensed, sensing a presence.

Strange mixture of both light and darkness, though it somehow reminded her of Terra. A flash of pain crossed her features, but Aqua quickly masked it. Now was not the time to think of her missing friends, because there could be danger looming with this sudden presence. Then again, Aqua was the one trespassing, with her keyblade in hand. Oceanic eyes flickered to her faithful weapon, and she wondered if she still had the right to even wield the Keyblade. A sigh escaped her lips, and her weapon vanished within a flash of light. Obviously, presenting herself as a threat would get her nowhere with whomever this was. Aqua looked up, azure colored bangs falling into her eyes. The young woman slowly took a few cautious steps closer, to get a better view of this man.

The pale moonlight illuminated his form.

Aqua spread her hands before her, showing herself as defenseless. As long as he did not attack her, at any point. "Forgive me, but I didn't know what to expect when I ventured here," she called out lightly. Her expression was apologetic, though her gaze was very much still wary. Inhaling deeply, the Keyblade Master continued her venture up the staircase, careful not to make any sudden movement that might make this man suspicious of her. Any more than he most likely was, at any point. The moonlight illuminated her path, and she looked to this warrior quietly. His features once more reminded her of Terra, and that familiar pain washed over her. Aqua bit her lip, preventing herself from showing her emotions. She would find her friends soon enough--she just had to!

"My name is Aqua. I guess I'm just looking for a safe place to stay for awhile," she admitted. She slowly stopped just a few steps below him. Looking up at him, she forced herself to smile lightly. It hurt to show emotions after so long alone, and any human contact was welcome at this point. Oh, how she hoped this man would not think of her as an enemy. How long had it been since she had last fought? Aqua did not want to find out how out of practice she was with her abilities. Calmly, she stood in front of this male, not showing her worry of how this situation could turn out, but as someone who genuinely did need help. Her heart was racing quickly against her chest, but Aqua's gaze never wavered.

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

The squint tightened the crease of his brow as he looked sternly at her, unaware of how it appeared to be overwhelmingly serious. His eyes were fixated on her, the entire image already flooded and registered itself and his head turned to be completely frontally facing hers as she spoke. She had approached him in spite of the tension and grave possibilities of battle; it would've puzzled him had she not explained her case so honestly.
The gesture of peace was a surrender that halted him in the action he was about to make; his stance was now to be discarded as hers had been, not in wholesome welcome but in acceptance and a degree of trust.

The leather material of his glove crunched as the hand he had casually lifted, slowly lowered back to his side after his fingers had stretched in mid movement, to ball into a very loosely, half gripped fist. It was no smooth motion as he contemplated while he maneuvered, unwilling to show her that he was relieved this was no fight, and that he had been reluctant to pick anything up against her without fair reason. Though his expression maintained his composure well, his eyes and hair began to give his inner self away as the silver strands darkened with blue ink and lead shading, the irises faded to a grey.

Those steps she took closed the gap between them, that intimidated and barricaded them in fortified defense for whatever purpose they had. Noctis aborted his plans and the indecision in response to her bargain; they were both risking a lot, that was what he believed and she seemed courageous enough to do so on his turf, which surprised him.
His senses relayed what he knew and what he didn't know; No soldiers had crossed the borderline of the staircase after him ever since news had spread of no survivors, if they chose to pursue to kill him. Everyone died if he had to protect himself, and his duties; it was a mountain of sin he sat upon and by one council he was given directives.

From the distance, her voice had already been indentifiable as one unique to individuals as a voice could get, and now the undeterred tone and feminine pitch literally faced off against silence.
As her apologetic look morphed into a light smile, he relaxed his sceptical gaze and inhaled, vanishing the almost invisible tracings of his weapons that had begun to push through the membrane of the dimension for him to use. The glimmers also faded and no sparkle could be seen in the surrounding perimeters; Noctis bowed his head almost in a nod, to cast aside some of his feigned pride and tried to formulate the best speech he could give to someone seeking help but unlucky enough to meet him in that search, that was not recon. One could say he was not used to helping people, nor did he allow himself to ever be found required to do so; this was one of his numerous estranged experiences that he'd thought would stay in his history.

" I understand that you are not from this world...For what purpose have you ventured here...?"
Still, there was much to shelter on his part and more that he needed her to reveal for him to fully comprehend that not everyone was hostile and meant harm; he was merely afraid of the terrible truth about naivety in trust.
Her smile did provide some background to her personality though and he wanted to sigh at the cynical outer ego he paraded around with which could not appreciate the beauty of such sincerity; he didn't return the sure sign of friendliness so soon but shifted to turn a little to the side as though he had verified her rights for passage. "This place is safe so long as your reason for being here does not put you in danger... you will be welcomed."

The danger, was him; the sentence was obvious and figured itself out. His need to vanquish all enemies and destroyers of his life, his home and the bare serenity of this world that the Crystal gave him strength to guard; it was a message that hinted a warning for all dangers she may face around here though if she was an ally, her allegiance would be honoured.
In order to discover that too, he was going to have to force himself to open up and he glanced around as though for witnesses then looked directly into her eyes, hard initially but faltering whereupon he realised her eyes were gem like. Precious stones, only comparable to one other pair he had seen in Destiny Islands; it caught him off guard that he made such an observation and averted the contact.
"I am Noctis."

[Aqua]

Aqua found herself rather mesmerized by his eyes.

Pale cheeks darkened slightly, and she quickly threw that thought away. No, she was fascinated by his eyes, that was all. The differing shades had been a note of interest, nothing more. Aqua adverted her gaze for a moment, feeling the warmth her cheeks suddenly gave off. Oh, how long it had been since she had been around others. That must be the reason! Her lack of social skills was merely making her more easily embarrassed. Biting her lower lip, Aqua slowly brought her gaze back to meet his once more. How tense he seemed, but she could tell he was relieved to not have to fight her. The young woman had to wonder what he had been through to fight so much. Perhaps the darkness had invaded this world?

How little she knew.

Aqua nearly flinched at his question, but her features remained calm. It was not something she wished to answer, but she did owe him an explanation. She had come here, with weapon in hand, when he was obviously someone important to this world. Aqua glanced away, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "I was lost for quite a long time, and this was the first world I happened to come upon," she replied softly. For a moment, her blue locks slid across her cheeks, shadowing her face from view. Talking about what had happened, even if vaguely, pained her. Aqua had lost so much, and she was only beginning to find out what had happened while she was gone.

Aqua felt the tears burn at her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. She soon looked back to the male, her smile back in place, though a little pained. As he shifted, relief seemed to pass through her oceanic eyes. He had just granted her passage, and how grateful she was! To find someone willing to help a stranger was such a rare gesture in some worlds. "I can look after myself quite well, and as repayment, I offer you my abilities if any enemies show up," Aqua answered. Her smile was lighter, and gratitude exuded from her tone and eyes. How nice it would be to sleep somewhere relatively safe and warm.

Aqua slowly raised her hand, and placed it over her heart, a gesture of her promise. She would protect him in return for his kindness, and she smiled brightly. As his eyes met hers, she was once again struck by the beauty of them. Cheeks burning slightly, Aqua managed to retain her eye contact this time. Slowly, she took a few more steps forward, until she was on equal footing with him--Noctis. The name suited him so well. His appearance was like that of the night, and just as mysterious. "Thank you," she replied gently. Her smile was genuine, and her azure eyes shined with gratitude. No, she no longer regretted coming to this world. Hesitating for a moment, Aqua slowly moved forward, walking toward the entrance of the cathedral, but she glanced back over her shoulder at Noctis.

The smile still remained on her lips.

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

The aversion was brief and referred when he glimpsed her bite her lip from the corner of his eye; speed had not been fast enough that he would miss it and what he saw surprised him. On ivory skin, the tinge of blood flushed mildly to create the essence of life and warmth, somethings he lacked on his pallid exterior; he hadn't understood why she was possibly self conscious. The idea of embarrassment never dawned on him and no further analysis contained him as he was grounded with a more leveled head now that he had seen her display of fair exchange.
It rooted him to where he was as he spent the minutes she took to reach the usually barred entrance, concluding his own opinions; the hand on her heart reminded him of something he had lost in the depths of his memory book. It bothered him that he couldn't find it in the bank of his fickle mind; he resorted to contenting the digging with how conventional in meaning and support what she offered was. The poised gesture had shown him there was still hope to the loneliness he was born to embrace, in this war of his; if only there were others who did not seek to possess what was rightfully his.

This woman had rather eccentric mannerisms he could not have predicted, and much less wanted to; there was a foreign enjoyment from noticing these things by chance that he didn't understand, take over his stress. The reflection of her face had been mirrored in the globe of his eye and so transparent, he had let his studying wander until she traveled away from him.
She had locks of blue, pastel like the sky he used to dream of seeing in his world and eyes that were too, sterling azure; and he reflected upon her name on second thought, it was symbolically an embodiment of her appearance and he stared ahead without looking back at her all this while. Her thanks and what little she might have known about this world confused him as to how she could dedicate gratitude in a way of her abilities; this was a soldier's trade of respect.

Here, he was pierced with desperation to not be kept in the dark.
"You owe no debt... but your offer, receives my gratitude as well."
She was a wanderer he rested her identity at, somewhat like himself though he was bound in servitude to this place; he made identical exchanges as she did on his own accord. At last, he thought better than to throw caution to the winds by dropping an investigation and backtracked his few footsteps after her as. It was slacked pace of the climb that was what revoked his efforts to walk and he phased out to be earlier than her, in the centre of the immeasurable doors.
"You say you were lost... a portal was opened for you to come here...?"

Of all moments, at times like these, he was not shy with demonstrating his abilities, the magic that distinguished him; it was the location that distracted him and acclaimed his presence. His voice retained it's authority but diminished the tone that potentially exasperated delight from people when matched with a mask of porcelain he wore. Many would be startled, his abilities were secrets to the world save the few who shared his life and friendship and his head tilted in expectation that she would spring from the expert cool and fade her smile in speculation, though he assumed she may have witnessed all she needed already. "It is remarkable... this world was made to be the last strangers would find themselves at."

Everlasting moonlight shone upon them; their shadows drawn in triple layers as the sun left this side of his world much longer than it stayed for the season of summer and its golden sunshine. This land and this city specifically were excluded from their neighbours and isolated as a nation to be veiled from would be intruders; she breached their codes so simply, and yet intended no harm nor to be trespassing. This complicated things in the way that, attacks were likely should whatever mode of transport brought her here, be repeated by others with the greed.

[Aqua]

Noctis was quite an enigma to her.

Aqua could not get a clear read on his emotions, and she usually considered herself quite a good read of character. She could only catch the few glimpses he had allowed through. He was quiet, that much could be seen, but he was kind if the situation offered the option. That was the main attribute that had calmed her frayed nerves about arriving in this strange world. If only she could have returned to her own home, but that was no longer possible. Aqua wondered if he was still suspicious of her sudden appearance, but she would try and answer his questions to the best of her abilities. His gaze seemed to burn into her, and Aqua wondered what was so interesting about her. Her heart raced just a little more, and she was glad she was facing away from Noctis at this moment.

Her cheeks were burning again.

Aqua slowed her pace, coming to a stop before the ornate doors. Slowly, she turned to face him, quite glad the blush had receded from her pale cheeks. It was nice to know that she did not owe him a debt, but Aqua would repay his kindness in some way. All she had to her were her abilities, and it was the least she could offer. Azure eyes suddenly widened as Noctis seemed to disappear before her, only to reappear a few feet away from where she stood. Her slender frame tensed, and her instinct was to summon her keyblade, but she quickly calmed herself. Racing heart, Aqua had to inhale deeply, and she slowly turned to face him. That was an ability she had not expected, but one she quickly noted. Aqua was very hard to startle, and yet Noctis had done so very easily.

"I-I don't quite remember, actually," she admitted.

Aqua had been seated within the familiar beaches of the Dark Meridian, and when she had awoken, she had found herself within this world. How it had happened, the Keyblade Master could not answer. The sudden arrival had scared her, and she had then proceeded with caution as she ventured farther into this city. Her brows furrowed, and Aqua was trying to remember what had happened. It was of no use, though. Memories eluded her, and she could not force herself to remember something that had happened without her knowledge. Aqua looked up at Noctis, her expression strangely vulnerable and open. It was so odd, but she felt she could trust him. What did she have to lose? Nothing at this point.

"I have lost everything, and yet here I am. I don't know, but maybe I still have something left to do." A sad smile played on her lips, and Aqua wondered if she ever have a life of her own.

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

The loss of everything was interestingly common at this turn of the century, but the personal missions to find deeper meaning and that something left to accomplish and live for was quaintly familiar too.
The painful revelation broke down a brick in the wall he built between them from the disposition he had been at, out of prior enmity because he shared the same sentiments. There were things he had to do which were linked with what he had lost and the only way to find the missing parts to him again; he was discorded on the whole, even in the feeling about this faith that he wished to be rid of so as not to complicate himself.

Noctis inquisitively took two paces towards her, shifting weight to stand quite resolutely as always; he had seen the sudden jolt out of her calm when he teleported and knew she was not accustomed to such an ability. This led him to question what she wielded as a weapon and what sources of power she had been so confident to venture alone with.
How he was to lead himself into prying about that was unknown, for now, but he rested that she would find herself obliged to answer him from the payment she believed she should deliver him. He was reflecting what to manipulate and what not to; there was an odd guilt to his gut that he did not balance her service that she'd entrusted him with, due to his reserved empathy.

"... that is fine."
It was final that he could not bring himself to interrogate her, not when there was a sorrow he once pitied himself for, evident on her face. Whether she would ever be able to tell him about how she got here, he would never be informed but there were other ways around; in retrospect, he had implied much greater intimacy between acquaintances before her and this was emphasising some hypocrisy that he singled her out with glaringly adverse treatment.

He was at a roadblock that resembled a collapsed bridge; her memories had been tampered with, he noted, or it would have had to be another force, impressionable enough to make her forget how she arrived somewhere she had never been. Never imagined, nor known to exist, he guessed this was the situation and that it was all the more baffling to her than to himself.
Lending generosity spun as unforgivably quick around his mind and Noctis too, furrowed his brows to trail his vision from the granite pavement to her as it tended to flicker unconsciously when he was making a critical decision for himself. Alien to his world, or citizen, he could not push aside the understanding that she deserved whatever aid his position allowed for he was only Prince to what the people appraised.
In that shell, he conformed to the terms in speech, in aloof charisma to anything that dictated his life and upbringing; the other side of him was covered like the dark side of the moon until she could tear down the dressed skin more than she already managed.

Despite that, he found himself unashamed not to be his true nature, just self conscious like she had been, and Noctis went back to open the doors for himself and her; it had been years since he had touched the handle and deja vu plagued him intensely, so he did no turn around but only looked past his shoulder, whilst he tried to drive it out.
"Whatever is left for you to do, if here... your time is of no limit. You've not lost the courage to trust, and I return mine to your assistance upon my word. Where you have come from intrigues me..."
The doors unlatched and he dragged it so they both opened magnificently into the hollows of the building, only now did he face her, eased from actually expressing himself less formally.

[Aqua]

Aqua was glad for the cease of questions, in all honesty.

The Keyblade Master would not be dishonest with Noctis, but talking about her past was painful enough. She had failed her friends, had failed the worlds. Perhaps it was not all of her responsibility for caring for every single world, but she was a Keyblade Master. The only one to pass the exam, but some Master she was. Azure eyes shined with bitterness, but she quickly hid those emotions. The past could not be changed, but Aqua now had somewhere safe to stay for the moment. The relief was evident in her, shoulders dropping forward, a weariness she had not shown before entering her slender frame. Holding back a yawn, the young woman slowly moved her gaze back to Noctis.

Oh, yes, she was looking forward to that bed.

Aqua slowly halted her steps, and she watched as he took a few steps closer to her. Her head tilted, and she merely gaze at Noctis curiously. Perhaps he was thinking of more questions to ask her? She bit her bottom lip once more, a quickly forming habit, and looked away. The Keyblade Master would answer them, but some rest would be appreciated before she wanted to do so. His sudden statement surprised her, and she quickly looked back at Noctis, her oceanic eyes wide. A smile quickly appeared on her lips, and her gaze was once more filled with gratitude. Never had she thought to chance upon someone understanding enough to leave her alone for a time. Perhaps he was aloof, but so was she in many ways, and she could relate herself easily to the man before her.

Aqua slowly moved forward once more, moving to stand behind Noctis as he began to open the ornate doors. She wished there was more she could do, something she could repay him with. Her abilities were all she had, so that would have to suffice for now. Her head suddenly tilted, and Aqua felt her eyes widen suddenly. His words rang through her, and she wondered if he had really meant it. Before she thought of it, Aqua was already moving forward. As the ornate doors swung forward to open, she placed her hand lightly upon his arm, lips curling into a bright smile. Her heart was racing, but she was truly grateful.

"Really, thank you so much for everything, Noctis."

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

Beneath the gates to this sanctuary, he crossed.
No sooner had he taken a step over the boundary line to be undercover of the sky scraping ceiling, his lips parted by few critical centimetres. It had been awhile since a visitor had sought refuge here, and from him by chance or plea. The last time, was a meaningless mess now that the memory resurfaced; back to when he had met a woman with auburn hair and a smile so refreshing he compared it to spring rain. She had been emotional and very complex to handle but now her whereabouts faded into the unknown as he thought no more of she who had been the first to reach out for help, by his hand.

Aqua's touch did not chill him; it didn't stiffen him more than he already was rigid in illusionary indifference. Unable to figure out what made her so bold as to physically touch him, even in thanks and relief; his melancholy fizzled out as he attempted to continue unfazed and yet, couldn't resist looking at her with the most bewildered glances. They were glances because he didn't want to stare; her smile and action was politely something he had been taught to experience as a human reaction by the most grateful.
Noctis couldn't subdue the brightness she suddenly seemed radiant in, from his lack of questioning, and happiness for safe nights spent; the muscles under his skin slackened it's tautness and his complexion was able to fully complement a quiet repose as his furrowed brows spread in relaxation and he looked rather innocently in his path.

Again, the bleakness in his eyes melded a unique shade of blue gold; Noctis tended to forget his emotions were given away always even with the slightest change of his mood or thought, and now was a good example of such forgetfulness. He had opened his eyes to peer at her without the hood of solemnity and they were wider than the almond shape normally winged; his mouth now shut speechlessly, he was finding no requirement to speak.

A consequent gaze at her moved towards the stars that milked the sky and he walked on, leaving her hand to rest upon his arm without a jerk.
Celebrations when this city had been in its prime, had been the days when he had to play host and be educated to lead a lady in a similar way; this was what surprised him and caught him off guard, her gesture's references to countless memories of his which he had been hurt to keep.

Inside, the glass with faded tints of painted patterns flooded the checkered black and white marble floor, with mythical colour; mythical because this world had lost colour and often, he remained alone under the light that penetrated to create such filters just to meditate.
"It is only the humble most of what I can offer your predicament... and truly, therefore not everything. It is... a pleasure... and decency to offer what exchanged your loyal abilities, with the devotion my word promised, fully..."
The sole of his boot shuffled echoed with his voice around the hall and he took each step forward with his eyes cast to watch the glass that framed a giant slab section of the ceiling. In the day time, it had been intended to let those who stood here see the clouds cushioning the space beyond where he could travel and now, the darkness that loomed forever, smothered it all.
Noctis would not forfeit what he had meant to Aqua regardless of how estranged they were to eachother and he was too apprehensive to stare into her and read how she recognised what he'd said. His little helping hand was trivial, and next to nothing in aid and that was how he felt because starting to do something for another should never end half hearted or left unfinished; if he wasn't going to dedicate what he could then he should never have accepted her peace.
"Be assured... this does not take me out of my way as far as you might think."

[Aqua]

Perhaps she had been too forward.

Aqua felt rather awkward for suddenly placing her hand on his shoulder. She did not know Noctis all that well, but sometimes she did things before thinking completely. Maybe it was because she finally felt safe for the first time in years, or because she had found companionship after being in the Dark Realm for so long. Whatever the reason, Aqua did not really regret her actions. Her smile was still in place, but she watched Noctis calmly, hoping she had not offended him in any way. His bewildered glance amused her, and the Keyblade Master had to bite back her laughter. Seeing emotion from his was rather surprising, since he had been rather stoic up until now. A rather refreshing thought to know Noctis could show emotions.

His eyes were rather breathtaking to watch.

Aqua merely flickered her oceanic eyes to his, watching as the colors seemed to blend anew. Perhaps in relation to his mood? Never had she seen something so unique, and it was so interesting to watch. Her head tilted to the side, and Aqua soon realized she had been staring once more. It took a moment to compose herself, but she looked away with only a faint blush dusting her cheeks. The silence was rather nice, though, and she turned her gaze back to the darkened sky above them. How beautiful and lamenting the sky was. The thought that this world was in perpetual darkness saddened her, because she had resided within the very core of the Dark Realm for so long.

How long had it been since she had seen the sun?

Felt the warmth of it on her cheeks, the sound of chattering people. Her friends by her side. Aqua nearly felt herself choke on her grief, but she pushed it away. No longer could she hold onto the past. His sudden movement shook her from her reverie, and Aqua realized her hand had fallen to the crook of his arm. Without hesitating, she quickly followed after him. How this reminded her of the ball within the Castle of Dreams. Aqua did briefly wonder how Cinderella was, and if the Princess was happy. Without any further thought, she walked with him, and she studied the interior of the cathedral.

"Whatever you can offer if sincerely appreciated," she replied wholeheartedly. Any sort of help was welcomed, and Noctis had already gone out of his way to help a stranger. Aqua was very grateful, and she intended to pay him back in any way she could. As Noctis stopped within the center of the floor, she looked up with him. The Keyblade Master looked at the ceiling with wonder. The stained glass was beautiful, and she could only imagine what it would look like with the sun's rays illuminating the design. Slowly, Aqua glanced back to Noctis, and smiled lightly once more.

"I'm glad it doesn't inconvenience you too much, then."

And she realized her hand rested upon the crook of his arm.

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

What he was, was different to who he was, though it shaped him. He had not intended to see the light, feel the death and learn not to fear it since childhood and in it, by the force of the crystal's legend; Noctis was of a miscellaneous kind, not even Stella was part of the atypicality. Someone came to gaze upon his eyes and it was Aqua; there was hybrid sensation in him as she did that, it seemed to jarr his reasoning because he didn't comprehend why people did that if they had the chance to. The only others who were young to his chameleon traits, where matter of factly, just about everyone he could get close to, often beheld him as if extrinsic beyond his nonconforming personality.

Illumination actually happened better when he glanced, the dome of the eyes flashed with whatever light could be bouncing of it's surface and he had never thought so far as to discover that, unbelievably, until now.
Noctis, lowered his chin to scan the hall, the upturned collar brushing his cheek; the candelabras lit along the walls and reached the entire length until the farthest side which was a remnant of a throne room, where his seat was placed upon a foot high podium of solid stone. Behind there and beside them now, both sides of the entrance, opened opposite ends of corridors, dim too but leading to other halls like this one; they were the two ground floors of the attached divisions that constitute of his home, constructed to reach around in a linked district of buildings.

From afar it resembled one structure but this was only the subdivided main entrance, a cathedral it was built to be but had been long out of use as the city state arranged annexes to add on, and fortify an enclosure to protect the Crystal and other valuable possessions, including the legend's artifacts.
Where she had been, rewinding to the bottom of the stairs, his thought trailed, a spire tower would have been visible in the centre of the very chiseled building design but now, they were under free shelter, where he believed she would be allowed to stay housed.
They would walk, to the end of the hall, where there were two more aisles because on the far right, it was a belt to the back of this ancient basilica where another atrium was encircling the tower, hidden from all who never entered. The narthexes around it would bring her to their segregated apses, where he knew four were vaulted and two were rooms, now empty but furnished and maintained in it's original hosting, state, for those who retreated to temporary asylum.

Smaller than here, the atrium would be; this entire place was an acropolis he haunted. Religion was dead to Noctis, he had never belonged with it, and the darkness coating the people provoked abandonment. Indeed, the once made cathedral, with the faces of it's gothic statues tearing under the rain, was now a royal house.

Dreaming away to another world everyday, he strolled unable to believe in everything he saw, heard and was told; sometimes it was what he said too. Everyday, he was seeing people all around, looking at him and knowing what they were thinking; at least in their hearts, he was sure what they said, felt or thought. He was an outsider with something left to fight for and everything to make life right for; by the night he was a lonely rider and by day, a complicated vagabond. Complicated because he could not forget, he was a mess inside and ironed straight outside; she was seeing what he was as he was, when she was what presented herself to be.

The deliberations were the only melody playing in his head on night's like this, but she was a diversion; not exactly one that switched the symphony of his life with a sound of remedy, she was still by interaction, refining his habitual behaviour to strangers.
Thus, Noctis made no fuss of how she acted, nor on the hand she let slide and turned back to her in lead, as though careless of her reading his every sensitivity. He waved his gloved hand in a flapping motion as he had to Stella, almost discarding something she had said then slowed pace to conduct her; the edge of his lips did curl with his speech as the line it made when closed hinted an eclipsed smile.

Before he spoke, he reprocessed the entire conversation so far and then blinked to hold a steady eye contact he usually considered a great personal enemy; they had not truly found out anything about each other, it was distinguishing this time to every other in his experience, being around another.
"We have communicated by repeating each other's intentions and words... and yes, it is of no inconvenience. It has been awhile... since I have met someone to speak so little to me... especially on first confrontation... I never thought, I would be speaking as much as I am now, and instead."

[Aqua]

Aqua continued to follow Noctis throughout the sanctuary.

How long would she be staying here for? Aqua hardly wished to impose any more than she had to, but where else did she have to go? Her world was gone, and her friends were missing. The Keyblade Master would make sure to repay Noctis in some way, but that was a thought for another time. Her gaze flickered around her surroundings, trying to memorize each turn they made. This cathedral seemed like a maze almost, but it was a beautiful one. Her expression was one of wonder and curiosity, and Aqua had hardly felt such emotions in such a long time. To be in another world, to finally have a friend of sorts. It brought solace to her long-aching heart. Perhaps it was not much, but it was something.

Aqua felt at calm and relaxed, her expression as carefree as it had never been. Well, at least not when she was without her friends. The silence was comfortable, Noctis' presence was rather calming to her. He did not speak much, and he was rather stoic, but it reminded her a lot of Terra. Thoughtful and perhaps a little shy. Aqua did not know what had happened to make him such a way, but it was not all that despairing. Her gaze shifted back to him, and she saw she was meeting her gaze directly. Once more, pale cheeks darkened, but Aqua still smiled lightly. The Keyblade Master never allowed herself to be seen as weak, if she could help it. This peace was reassuring to her, something within her grasp.

"If you wish to know more about me, I'll answer as truthfully as I can," she offered. It was only fair, and Aqua felt that maybe sharing her story would the relieve the pain somewhat. She noticed the small tilt of his lips upward, and that small gesture had her whole expression brightening. Her head tilted to the side, and Aqua still peered up at him with that smile. This day had turned out better than it had started, and she had somewhere safe to be now. Once more, the thought of a real bed enticed her nearly more than anything had these past few years. When she regained her strength, Aqua could start her search. That was another time, though. For now, she would just enjoy the present.