Night will Fall – Chapter 1 – ChocobosTrinket (Neverforget94) – Final Fantasy XV [Archive of Our Own]

Chapters: 4/4
Fandom: Final Fantasy XV
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Cor Leonis, Aranea Highwind, Loqi Tummelt, Gladiolus Amicitia, Ignis Scientia, Prompto Argentum, Biggs Callux, Wedge Kincaid, Original Characters, Kingsglaive Members
Additional Tags: Self-Sacrifice, Demons, Worry, Loqi almost dies, World of Ruin, unedited, unbetaed, Probably full of typos, Character Death, But only for a little while I swear
Series: Part 5 of World of Ruin Side Stories, Part 2 of Rage Against the Dying of the Light
Summary:

It was fine, he told himself. He saved a lot more people than what would have survived if he insisted they fight. The road was unsalvageable anyways. And this way, most of their group made it back. Most.
…
He really hoped that Aranea wasn’t in town. She… She might cry if he died and she had only been minutes away in her ship. And he didn’t want that.

Chapters: 2/3
Fandom: Final Fantasy XV
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Cor Leonis, Aranea Highwind, Loqi Tummelt, Gladiolus Amicitia, Ignis Scientia, Prompto Argentum, Biggs Callux, Wedge Kincaid, Original Characters, Kingsglaive Members
Additional Tags: Self-Sacrifice, Demons, Worry, Loqi almost dies, World of Ruin, unedited, unbetaed, Probably full of typos, Character Death, But only for a little while I swear
Series: Part 5 of World of Ruin Side Stories
Summary:

Night will Fall – Chapter 1 – ChocobosTrinket (Neverforget94) – Final Fantasy XV [Archive of Our Own]

Chapters: ½
Fandom: Final Fantasy XV
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Cor Leonis, Aranea Highwind, Loqi Tummelt, Gladiolus Amicitia, Ignis Scientia, Prompto Argentum, Biggs Callux, Wedge Kincaid, Original Characters, Kingsglaive Members
Additional Tags: Self-Sacrifice, Demons, Worry, Loqi almost dies, World of Ruin, unedited, unbetaed, Probably full of typos
Series: Part 5 of World of Ruin Side Stories
Summary:

Night will Fall – Chapter 1 – ChocobosTrinket (Neverforget94) – Final Fantasy XV [Archive of Our Own]

Messenger

LeviathanxReader

Notes: NEVER EXPECTED TO DO A FOLLOW UP. Yet, someone left me a nice comment over on AO3, and I got hit over the head with some inspiration for a continuation.

Summary: You’ve lived years with the Goddess of the sea, but it couldn’t last. Not yet anyways. There’s something you need to do first. 2080 words.

It had been ages since you had walked into the sea’s
embrace. Thousands of years. You’d watched your village rise and then fall, and with them went the
hibiscus offering that were once yearly. Familiar landmarks had become
weathered away and foreign. Even your name had vanished into the years. But you
knew peace at Leviathan’s side. You didn’t know how your life had become so
prolonged and didn’t care enough to ask. All you knew was that you were
content.

Then there came a day when your small slice of the heavens
had another, a stranger to you, set foot on the sands of Leviathan’s
beach.

“Who are you?” You called as you stood up straight, a basket
of seaweed on your hip, and hair trailing over your shoulders.

The woman stood on the beach with two dogs, her eyes closed
and a small, soft smile on her face. She was dressed richly in blacks and
golds. Her hair long and straight. The dogs at her side, an unfamiliar sight,
were opposites. One with a white coat, and dark markings around her eyes, and
the other with a black coat with white around his eyes.

How you knew what they were, you didn’t understand.

“The girl has been chosen yet doesn’t know her calling.” The
woman suddenly spoke and opened her eyes. The most brilliant green stare pinned
you in place, and all at once you knew who she was.

“Forgive me.” You quickly knelt on one knee in the tide,
bowing your head, “I didn’t recognize who you were, Lady Messenger. Leviathan
is in her home, if you wish to speak with her.”

You didn’t even feel the woman come near you until her hands
came to rest on your face and guided you into looking up at her. They were
cold, not like Leviathan’s sea cooled skin, but called to mind frozen lakes,
snow, and wind. You had to suppress a shiver as you met her gaze.

“The Tide Mother is not what beckons me here.” She said,
studying your face. “You are the one I needed to see.”

You couldn’t help the surprise that flashed across your
face, “Me? What could you need of me Lady Messenger?”

The Messenger guided you to your feet and took your hands to
hold in her own. But when she opened her mouth to speak, a wrath filled yell
echoed through the air, and all at once you were torn from the messenger’s
hold.

“Trespasser! Sneak!” Leviathan hissed, in her mortal form,
now standing with you wrapped in her arms. “I forbid all others from my realm!”

“You would hide the girl from her calling.” The woman
replied, her eyes flashing a pale blue for a single moment. And seeing it made
your heart leap into your throat. There was danger in those eyes, something you
weren’t sure that even Leviathan could hold her own against.

The hold on you tightened, and you felt Leviathan pressed
her face into your hair. But what you couldn’t see was that her eyes remained
uncovered and peered over your hair at the messengers. And even further behind
you both, serpents made of water had risen from the tides, fangs bared and
twisting through the air.

“You knew the cost of taking in a mortal, mother of the
tides,” She continued, taking a step forward. An almost inaudible hiss left Leviathan,
only heard by you due to how she was pressed against you. “Daughter of the
deep. The time has come for her to join us.”

A gasp left you when the messenger stepped onto the water
and it froze under her feet. Solid blocks of ice that touched the sea floor
that were unmoving.

“W-what is she talking about?” You asked quietly, a slight
tremble beginning to run through you. The water around all of you was nearly
ice, something that you had become unfamiliar with since Leviathan brought you
here. You were cold for the first time in a long time.

A few moments of silence passed, with you and Leviathan
simply standing in the tide together. Then she finally started to answer, “Mortals
are not meant for long lives. Nor are the creatures of Eos.”

You glanced up at the messenger and frowned. Her eyes were
closed again, but this felt like it should have been a private conversation for
the two of you. So, with one of the gifts that Leviathan had given you, you
waved your hand and a small curtain of water cut you off from the messenger. Only
then did you turn around in Leviathan’s arms, or rather you tried. When she
felt you move she tightened her hold on you, as if worried you would try to get
away.

“Dearest, please.” You whisper.

Reluctantly she began to loosen her hold but didn’t let you
go. Not entirely. As if she was scared you would willingly leave her arms. So,
you got to see the slightest hint of surprise on her face when you only turned
around. But then it was gone, and you could feel her arms relax. In turn, you
wrapped your arms around her waist and laid your head on her shoulder.

When both of you settled, Leviathan calmed by your
heartbeat, she began to speak again, “A deal, made long ago, was struck among
the gods. This deal was to find up to four we each found worthy, and name them
to a group that would never exceed 24.”

Something like discomfort began to settle into your stomach
as she continued, “The 24 would guide the bloodline of healers, until the last
of the line disappears from this world. These 24 were named messengers. The
Infernian selected two creatures of Eos, but no more, refusing to choose any
among men for fear of further betrayal. The Glacian selected only one, finding
one among the mortals serving the founder king of Lucis as the first shield, a
woman of grace and strength named Gentiana.”

She paused then, and for the first time since you’d come
here, you could hear the slightest waver in her voice, “A fourth chosen, gifted
long life and the strength of the sea by the Hydraean.”

You pulled your head off her shoulder and looked into her
eyes, shock playing across your face.

“Found worthy through the devotion and compassion, earning a
place among the 24.”

You were speechless, stunned by the revelation. So much so
that you didn’t notice that she waved a hand at the water wall you’d called,
and it fell back into the sea. It was only when you felt icy hands on your arms
that you realized you were back on the beach, moved there by Leviathan’s
strange magic. But also, when you turned your head to look, you saw that
Gentiana was the one who was holding onto you now as well.

“She must complete her calling.” She intoned, “Then the girl
will be able to return with her reward.”

“I don’t want a reward.” You said turning away from the
woman, Gentiana you reminded yourself, and looking up at Leviathan. “I want to
stay with you.”

Leviathan looked like she was about to say something, but
then shut her mouth and shook her head, her braids falling over her shoulders. “You
must go, all the same. No god magic could keep you from going.”

“B-but…” You were scared. You didn’t want to leave her side,
and yet she relaxed her hold on you and willingly pushed you away. The
messenger’s hands squeezed for the briefest of seconds, as if meant to be comforting,
and then let go. But one did hold your hand and begin guiding you toward where
the dogs sat.

You realized then that you were going. Right at that moment.
Before you could get much farther, you turned your head and met Leviathan’s
eyes, which were watching you walk away.

“I’ll come back.” You found yourself saying. “When this is
done, and I complete whatever it is, I’ll return to you.”

She pressed her lips together, as if trying her best to keep
her face neutral. You hated when she did that. Because behind her, the water
was churning, as if there was a storm in the air. Proof that she didn’t want
you to go either.

“The girl lives up to her title.” Gentiana said while still
gently pulling you along, “The devoted. You’ll find your reward more than
enough.”

It was only then, that you turned to look at your fellow
messenger, hissing. “Tell me what it is, and I’ll decide for myself if it’s
enough for awaking the ire of a Goddess.”

“It is true, the sea has been kinder since you were named
one of us.” She said, and then stopped when you were standing by the two dogs. “It’ll
be crueler while you’re away we imagine. But the reward has always been to
spend eternity among the gods if we so choose. Once our duty is complete, we
keep our eternity.”

That made your heart clench. Leviathan wanted eternity with
you as well, which you knew, but to KNOW was something else. “Then I’ll do it.
I don’t have a choice, but it feels like I do now. We complete our task, and I
return to Leviathan’s side.”

Gentiana opened her eyes again, this time smiling, and
simply nodding her head. With a sigh, you steeled yourself for whatever the
future held for you, and allowed the other messengers to whisk you away.

Leviathan watched from the beach as she left, and already
this place, crafted for you, felt a lot less welcoming to her. The water was
churning behind her, years of pent up energy inside the waves. It had been
restless, missing the days when Leviathan hadn’t been tempered by your
presence. She turned away from the beach and began to walk across the sands,
meaning to walk into the water and return to her truer form. But then something
caught her eye, and she turned to look.

In the waves, having washed up onto the sands, was the
basket of seaweed you’d been collecting. It caused her to pause again, and
inside her chest she could feel something grip what was her heart in this body,
and squeeze. She swallowed hard and then turned back to the water, looking into
it.

She didn’t know how to deal with missing someone. She hadn’t
been able to deal with it before, and she couldn’t deal with it now. Especially
since messengers could die before fulfilling their calling. Cupita, her messenger,
could die, just as Hibiscus the mortal did. And the older god Titan wouldn’t be
able to turn her into a flower for Leviathan to remember her this time. He was
under that accursed rock. She could lose all traces of her. Forever. She could feel
her breathing quicken, and her chest began to rise and fall rapidly. It was too
much.

She fell to her knees and let out a scream.

The sea became violent in a way that hadn’t been seen for
thousands of years, tossing and turn with waves higher than the cliffs that
surrounded their home. Leviathan poured out her energy into the waves, and they
reveled in the chaos. It made her feel better, at least until Leviathan
actually looked out into the sea. She saw the chaos and destruction and
wondered if Cupita would have approved. And when she found the answer lacking
she forced it all to stop. Her hands shook as she got to her feet, scared, for
the first time, of the destruction she could cause on a whim.

She didn’t want that.

Instead of letting out all her emotions and pushing them
into the waves, she walked into the water and allowed it to take her to a long-forgotten
altar, built by mortal hands after the god’s war had ended to long ago. There,
she was lucky. A few humans were doing a rite, trying to appease her. It had
been days of storms for them apparently, yet only felt like moments to her. She
turned into her serpent form and did as their story of her suggested.

She went to sleep, and the water turned calm before their
eyes. She’d sleep until the last Oracle came to wake her. Perhaps then Cupita
could return, or at the very least, she’d be able to see her Cupita at the
Oracle’s side.

Pocky Day!!!

Noctis:

His face is carefully blank when he brings it up, eyes
looking at the ceiling as if he wasn’t nervous about how cheesy the idea was. They
were at his apartment, sitting on the couch and playing video game, or rather
watching him play, when he’d paused the game and asked about Pocky day. He
pretended that he didn’t know what it was, rather them offer to play the game
than him initiating the game.

Conveniently, there was pocky among the snacks that Ignis
had brought from them earlier. The amused look that Ignis had given him had
nearly made his face burn off from how quickly it had turned red. But now with
them looking at him with a pleasant blush on their face, and hearing their soft
laugh, it was worth it.

“Well, you take one of these…” They opened the box and
pulled one out, continuing to explain the game.

Meanwhile, Noctis wasn’t paying attention. He was fixated on
their lips as they spoke, and only was distracted when they asked, “So do you
want to try it?”

He nodded almost embarrassingly fast, but then slowed down
and put back his mask of indifference.

“Yeah, sure.” He tossed in a shrug, as if he really didn’t
care. Never mind that he felt all fluttery.

“Alright, this will be a practice round then.” They then put
the Pocky between their lips and raised their eyebrow, as if asking him if he
was ready.

In response he leaned forward, and they counted down with
their hand.

“Go!” They tried to say, but with their mouth occupied it
came out muffled, but Noctis still understood. They both tried to eat the most
of the pocky, quickly as possible. They had a smile in their eyes and Noctis
was trying his best not to laugh at how this was actually kind of fun. And
seeing them getting closer with every nibble was an added bonus.

In the end neither were keeping track of who ate the most,
and instead focused on when their lips met.

Prompto:

They’d been playing all day, with teasing laughs and were actually
keeping score. Both were at the citadel for the day, Prompto running through a
low stress training session for the day. His S/O on the other hand would just
be there for moral support, occasionally cheering to themselves when Prompto
did something he was struggling with. There were frequent breaks thankfully,
not to mention that there were other people there who just came by to see their
friends, family, and partners as they trained. So they had plenty of company.

Every time they did see each other though, the first thing
they’d call out is, “I’m still winning!”

The other would always reply with, “Get over here and prove
it then!”

In reality they were both tied. And with how much fun they
were having with each other were making the other couples a bit jealous. Those
who were single either thought they were super cute, or felt like they had
cavities.

Eventually they do run out of pocky, and just spend the rest
of their time arguing about who won with light hearted smiles and adoration in
their eyes for each other.

Ignis:

The S/O would have to explain the game to him and he wouldn’t
really get it. Or so he’d say. Internally he’d be wondering how they could be
so cute. So when they ask if he wants to play he’d end up saying yes. And then promptly
cheat by breaking the pocky and simply kissing them.

“I guess I win that one.” He’d say eating the pilfered pocky
while his S/O is stunned.

They end up laughing, not expecting that from Ignis, and he’d
also end up laughing when they demand a rematch. But in the end, he just ends
up kissing them and stealing the pocky. Somehow, they don’t mind though.

Gladio:

He doesn’t realize what day it is until he sees his S/O
eating a pocky stick. They don’t realize what day it is either, until he brings
it up. The game makes his S/O laugh, but then they tell him that they’re
winning since they’ve gotten a head start on the box.

It’s on after that.

They take turns teasing each other and end up going through
the whole box very quickly, both having a competitive streak a mile wide. So
they walk to the store together, arguing about whether the half of the box the
S/O ate actually counts. Upon getting more, Gladio plays keep away so he can ‘catch
up’ as he put it. And that’s what makes the S/O give up the pocky they ate
alone. But they’re smiling when they do.

So they go back to playing the game, each time they eat one
together, lips brushing one another, they end up turning into a kiss. Eventually
though, it turns into taunting each other and flat out trying to keep the pocky
from each other, to try and keep their lead on each other once they realize
that they’re both still mentally keeping track. It very quickly turns into a
chase/race back to Gladio’s place, with the winner being who won the game.

Another AU I was thinking about to music.

What if Ardyn and Somnus were twins? Like, fraternal twins. Ardyn was older by only a few minutes, but didn’t want the throne. Just like my last AU, they have magic without the crystal, but this time around Ardyn kind of gives into the temptation of running off for a year when they turn 20 and exploring the world before he has to come back and step in as his father’s heir. Somnus encourages this, and in the dead of night he takes off.

Problem is that the gods, like in the last AU, were planning on gifting them the crystal and putting the same plan in action. Ardyn is the only one who can heal people, because that’s what he wanted to study with his magic. Somnus learned how to wield the elements instead. And as Ardyn runs around and see sick people, healing them without the tie to the crystal enabling the scourge to seep into his soul, it just starts floating around and binding to the gods instead of him.

So they’re a little cross with Ardyn for ruining their plans already. (Except Ifrit, who is not at all on board with sacrificing his favorite humans.)((The god of light was his favorite fellow god, until he decided to become mortal, after all.)) So they issue Somnus an ultimatum, to save their own hides; Find your brother so he can begin his work for the gods and heal the scourge away.

He’s like, bummer, Ardyn just wanted a year of freedom, but okay. So he starts trailing after his brother with Gilgamesh, (slowly mind you) and starts learning that, hey, Ardyn can already heal the scourge, and two, he knows that I’m looking for him the little shit. Because Ardyn doesn’t know about the god’s proclamation, and is just like, whoops, dad must be super cross with me for taking off if he’s sending my brother and Gil after me, and leaves little clues around spots he’s been indicating where he’s going next. Very obvious clues. Like, literally, he draws on a map at one point that says ‘X marks the spot’ with a huge X on it and a silly looking drawing of Gil and Somnus following a trail to the X.

Occasionally, they spend nights in the same town and never even realize it. Or at least Ardyn doesn’t. The more Somnus learns about his brother, the more he realizes the gods are kind of full of shit. And when he does catch sight of him, he distracts Gil and they go a different direction so they don’t ‘catch’ him. (Gil legit does the same thing though, and knows that Somnus does it too, but he’s amused, so he keeps quiet.)

Eventually Ifrit, seeing that Somnus is now doubting Bahamut, sees his chance. Even though he’s getting sick from the scourge as well, he’s willing to step down as a god to save humanity, and has almost convinced Shiva as well. (He’s been secretly trying to make his fellow gods see Humanity’s worth and how they barely need to watch over them.) Ramuh is already on his side, because he delights in humanity more than he lets on. Leviathan is up in the air constantly changing her mind, but he can’t fault her, its her nature. Titan is behind Bahamut, and set in his way.

Anyways, he appears to Somnus and reveals the false prophecy that Bahamut intends to enact on humanity. Which causes him and Gil to freak out, and honestly try to find Ardyn to warn him away from going home. At the same time, the Draconian grows impatient, and honestly a little corrupted from the scourge that’s been binding to him for months now, and sets literal demons after Ardyn to drag him back to what will be Insomnia, and chain his magic to the scourge by force if he has to.

So eventually, it’d turn into a race against time, with Somnus and Gilgamesh trying to catch up to Ardyn, who is seeing more and more of the infected daily and feels obligated to help. And it turns into him actually being on the run from his brother, because it’s not just fun and games anymore, people are dying and will die if he doesn’t help them. Eventually, though an odd parallel, it would turn into Somnus trying to save his brother, like how Noctis tried to save Luna.

…But I’d want it to have a happier end I think. (Heck, might as well go completely self indulgent and have weird time shenanigans happen because of Somnus’s desperation and magic, and he accidentally yanks Noctis and co into the past to help.)

*edit: Also since one of my head canons is the Noctis looks exactly like Somnus, hilarity ensues once Ardyn sees them together. “Uh….are we triplets or was I adopted?!”

Just an AU I’m playing around with.

So I’m sitting here listening to music and thought of an idea for an Ardyn focused AU. Don’t get me wrong, I love him as a villain, but also, I want to see him just break the prophecy before it started.

Like, just imagine for a moment the reason the royal family has magic is because they’re related to the gods, but chose to walk a mortal life. But as time went on, the reason they had magic was lost. That long before Ardyn was born, the knowledge was lost to them. The gods remember though.

Then the scourge is introduced, and people in Ardyn’s time start getting sick. The gods could have eradicated it themselves, but at the cost of also becoming mortal and losing their magic. Why should they do that though? It would take time, but eventually, they could restore one of the blood line of Lucis to godhood and let them end the scourge by giving up their godhood and magic for good this time. The brothers would serve for this. One would be king, while the other would fall into the scourge.

So they put a plan into action. They appear to the Lucis Caelums and give them the crystal, something that will slowly start siphoning the magic from each successor of the line and storing it until the one they deem ‘the king of light’ is born. They tell them it is the soul of their world and that it must be guarded by the Lucis Caelums, that their magic is divine and was the best fit to over see it’s safety. Which of course they readily agree. The rite to tie the crystal to their line is planned for the next day, and each member will offer themselves up to the crystal to be judged on who will be it’s first protector.

But like, alright, through time shenanigans, imagine that young Ardyn goes to bed that night and dreams of thousands of years. He sees everything. The rise and fall of himself. His brother being tricked by the draconian into ‘killing’ him. Years of isolation in the prison on Angelgard. Getting free and walking into a world where the people have forgotten him. Learning early on that isolation was better than watching people he grew attached to die while he still lived. Hearing the plans the god had for his family. Growing hopelessly entrapped by the chains of the ‘prophecy’ and trying to change it. Being beaten into submission by the gods through the passage of years. The gods won’t let him die until he accepts that he’d to die on their terms. And when he accepts it, Noctis is born.

This part of the dream is the most vivid. Imagine him seeing Noctis, seeing that he has the face of brother, and his chest hurts. But he plays the roll of the villain and gets lost in the thought that soon, it’ll finally be over. He’ll die finally. He’ll have peace and…

Then he wakes, and he screams. He screams and cries, and REFUSES. With his heart beat in his ears, he runs to the crystal. He knows the truth. That it’s a shackle to the god’s will. His magic has always been HIS, and is not tied to the crystal. Not yet. He hasn’t received the order from the crystal, the gods really, to heal the people and allow the scourge to infect him down to his very soul. He knows what he is, and the crystal is at it’s weakest then. The only magic that has touched it has been from the gods that made it.

His brother and father run through the door the moment he places his hands on the surface of the crystal. And upon touching it, he’s in the Draconian’s realm, standing before a god. And he screams at him, accuses him, and firmly states that he refuses to let his family be used. The Daconian’s roars and an argument for the ages ensues. But the god doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

And before the Draconian can make a physical move, to stop him from foiling their plan, he’s back outside the crystal and forcing all his magic into it’s surface, splitting and cracking it apart with his fury. As it cracks, magic rips through the air. Flashes of the future, projected from Ardyn’s mind, echo around him and his family. And when it breaks apart, he collapses. It shatters, and when it does, it rips the magic from the gods, and kills the scourge before it can even really get a foot hold in the world.

For Peace

September 11th: Loqi as a Spy

Cor/Loqi, Cor Leonis/Loqi Tummelt

Rating: general

Word Count: 930

Warnings: None

Summary: Loqi sneaks out from the keep to meet with Cor,
giving over imperial secrets before returning to his life as a general.

Ao3 Link.

He’d always been faster than he’d let on. Sometimes, he felt
like he could fly with how fast he was. Something not known to many outsiders
was that Nifs were always fast. They could run for miles without stopping, if
they had the proper training, as well. And he had more than enough training
thanks to who he was.

The sweater he wore as he ran was close fitting, so the
demons wouldn’t be able to snag their claws on his clothes as he ran by. His
armor left behind in the fort when he’d snuck away. He’d had a few close calls
that night, but lucky for him he didn’t have much farther to go. The haven
where they’d agreed to meet was within sight, and a campfire already built.

Figures he’d be there early.

Loqi darted out of the reach of an iron giant with a
breathless laugh, always thrilled about near misses. And then he was there. The
wind caused from how fast he’d been running, and his sudden stop, caused the
fire to ever so slightly swell for a moment. As if announcing he was there. He
leaned forward, bracing himself on his knees to catch his breath.

Once he did, he stood
up straight and found Cor was coming out of the tent across the fire from him.

“Thought you weren’t coming.” He said in greeting.

Loqi wiped his brow with his sleeve before saying, “Only
took me a while because there’s new security protocols in place since the last
fort was taken down by Lucian forces.”

Cor looked a little troubled at that, “Do they suspect you?”

“Not yet,” He said, plopping down on the ground next to the
fire, “It’s getting close though. The more you learn about the forts, and the
closer you get to pushing us out, the tighter they hold our reigns.”

“Just remember Loqi, if it gets too dangerous…”

“Insomnia will welcome me with open arms as a defector.”
Loqi finished, but the thought gave him pause. “As nice as that sounds, I’d be
safer running information down until I can find the traitor in your own
Kingdom. I defect while they’re still around, and I’m as good as dead anyways.”

He didn’t add on that he was pretty sure he was dead as soon
as he started this venture. He’d either be discovered before long, or defect
and get taken out by whoever they had on the inside of Insomnia. Rumor had it
that they were in a very high position of power. But it would be worth it, he
hoped. The war had gone on for far too long and the emperor seemed to no longer
care for the people.

Unforgivable in Loqi’s eyes.

It hadn’t taken much on Cor’s part to agree to be a spy. He
had defeated him in battle, again, and had been about to leave. It was just
chance that he started a conversation with Loqi. Mentioned how he hadn’t even
been trying during the fight. And Loqi, with nothing left to lose, told him his
doubts and fears about the Empire.

“I take it you still haven’t discovered who they are then?”
Cor asked.

Loqi shook his head. “Not at all. I think the only person
who knows who it is would be the emperor. But I do have other things, as
always.”

With that, they began talking. Loqi told all he knew about
the previous base he’d been in, the location of the next attack, and the newest
models of mechs that would be released soon, and where their weaknesses were
located. He even managed to sneak a few documents as proof, not to mention
copies of his own orders from the empire, which would result in Cor and him
fighting again soon enough.

Loqi after stating a few more tidbits of information that he’d
be chasing after soon enough, got to his feet.

“I need to get back now,” He glanced up at the sky, noting
how far the moon had moved. “Glacua is coming tonight, if he’s not already
there. Inspection of the fort.”

Cor managed to look alarmed by that, “And you came anyways?
Loqi.”

At that point, he was already by the edge of the haven. A
small breeze was at his back, a good omen. Perhaps he’d be back faster than he
got here.

“You should be more careful about this Loqi.”

Loqi only smiled and waved before jumping down to the
ground. And the second his feet hit the ground, he took off. There was something
easier about just running. He could have arranged for them to meet in a hotel,
but then, he wouldn’t get to take off his armor. He wouldn’t get this sense of
freedom, and the feeling that he was looking out for the people again.

The same iron giant swung at him again as he passed by, like
a person would swat at a fly, but Loqi was out of his reach long before the
sword struck the ground. Cor, from the Haven, watched his back as best he could
until he was out of sight. Loqi just kept running until the fort he snuck out
of was in sight. Slipping inside without being seen was easy. And soon enough
he was back in his room, the door still locked, and no sign anyone had noticed
he was missing.

With a relieved sigh, he sat on his bed and laid down. He’d
still get a few more hours unbothered, and he closed his eyes to rest before
Glacua arrived.

Dwell

September 11th: Enemy

Cor/Loqi, Cor Leonis/Loqi Tummelt

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 774

Warnings: Implied violence

Summary: Loqi, now that the war is ending, thinks about the
memories he has of the man he considers his only enemy, and what this means for the future.

Ao3 Link.

He stood proudly by the emperor’s side. His head was held
high and his expression unreadable. As a general of the empire should conduct
himself. Especially here in the enemy’s homeland. However, as he looked around
the Lucian throne room, always searching for threats, his eyes caught on those
of Cor Leonis’s. Then, as they held each other’s gaze, he wasn’t in the throne
room,

For a moment he was back on a battlefield, rain drumming
down around him, soaking him down to the bone. Coldness was seeping into his
limbs, his hair slicked down against his scalp, and he was out of breath. Cor
had destroyed his mech again, nearly at the beginning of the battle. He had no
choice but to fight. His hands shook around his blade every time he and Leonis
clashed, and in response he’d only hold it all the tighter. With his many
wounds, moving was pain.

But then he looked away and the moment was gone.

Countless times he and Cor had clashed. He wondered if he reflected
on their many battles just as Loqi was now doing. The fact that, once the
treaty was signed, they’d never fight again. Not seriously anyways. The
thoughts settled on Loqi’s chest like a stone.

He’d been made for war. Now that it would end, what would
become of him? Locked behind doors and thrust into politics, when would he ever
feel alive again. The answer was he wouldn’t. He’d be forced, eventually, to
marry a nice noble, a lady preferably. Then he’d argue alongside the emperor,
and his inner circle, about the fate of the empire.

He’d grow old.

The thought sat in his mind uncomfortably the whole duration
of the meeting with the Lucian king. Even while he watched for threats, eyes
occasionally catching on one of the guard’s shifting in their spot, he never
was able to fully push that discomfort from his mind.

It wasn’t until later, at the party the Lucians were holding
upon the citadel to celebrate the peace, that he’d finally put the thought out
of mind. But that was only because Cor came over and started talking to him.

“Didn’t think you’d be here.” He started, watching Loqi’s
reaction to him before continuing. “You seem like you’d be on the field till
the pen touches the paper.”

“I could say the same to you.” Loqi replied, his voice
taking on a diplomatic tone, “But the emperor required my presence here, not as
a general, but a witness for the signing.”

Cor nodded, “As leader of the Crownsguard, I was requested for
nearly the same.”

They glanced at each other, and both knew that was the
diplomatic answer they had been ordered to give. They were both there incase
things went bad. To clash once more, likely the last time, if there was one
misstep during the signing.

They were there to kill each other if it came to it.

“How about a toast then, Leonis.” Loqi offered his cup for
Cor to bump his own against, “To the end of this fighting.”

A phrase double in meaning. The fighting would end with the
treaty, yes. But also, if blood was shed here, one of them wouldn’t be walking
out of it alive. Their fighting would end in that sense too.

“To the future of both our countries.” Cor replied, his
meaning just as heavy, clinking their glasses together.

It felt final in a way. Either they’d already had their last
fight, or their last fight would happen tomorrow. And for a moment, Loqi
thought that was that. That he’d leave him alone or remain silent. But instead
Cor said one more thing.

“I bet you never thought you’d see the end of the war.”

This startled Loqi for one second, where he looked at Cor in
surprise. Cor didn’t meet his gaze though, choosing instead to take another
drink from his glass. Just from that, Loqi could tell that Cor was voicing part
of his own belief too. It was an honest and personal question. That he’d never
see the end. And so Loqi settled back into his bones and decided to be
truthful.

“No. Never.” He turned away and took a drink of his own cup,
and then said. “But here we are.”

“Here we are.” Cor echoed.

It was strange. Saying goodbye to Cor with loaded words and
half-truths, and it was the longest they’d ever spoken.

It almost felt like saying goodbye to a friend instead of
his enemy.

Only after that toast and final intonation that they fell
into a comfortable silence, waiting until the party was done.

chocobroness:

Here’s the one-shot I promised!

Prompto is like…8 In this. Can’t really decide.

I’m gonna leave this here before my anxiety tells me no.

—

He could always hear the singing, no matter what. He didn’t hear them that well but, sometimes when he was sad, or when it was night time and he was scared, the singing got just a bit louder. Like it was trying to make him feel better.

He liked the singing. Even if he didn’t know what the singing was. Even if he couldn’t hear what was being sung. He tried to explain it to him mom and dad, but they would only look at him oddly and say they couldn’t hear anything.

No one could hear it, and eventually he stopped talking about it. But he didn’t mind. Because it made him feel special, like the singing was just for him.

No matter where he went or how alone he was, the singing stayed with him. he liked that.

he liked the feeling of not being alone.

Today he had been a little excited, he was going on a trip to Galdin Quay with his parents, its been so long since they spent time together as a family and anytime spent with them was a treasure he did his best to cherish.

They had gotten there early morning to check in and had spent the day enjoying the beach and the yummy food. By night time, he had taken lots of photos with his camera, planning on sharing his photos with them later that night, like he used to when they were less busy with work.

Or he would have, had they not run into a business associate of theirs and soon been left to his own devices.

So here he was, hidden within the cover of night, sitting far away from the pier and watching the waves hit his bare feet.

He was told to be careful at night, because of the daemons they said, but he didn’t care, maybe his parents would notice him if he was in the dark long enough.

He closed his eyes. Paying attention to the soft singing that never leaves him, letting himself relax as it grew just a bit louder than normal.

“Now this is curious.”

“Ah!” He jumped and spun around, his heart pounding so hard against his chest. His eyes immediately landed on the one that frightened him.

His was really tall, taller than both his parents. his hair was kinda purple-lish red, and his eyes yellow but not really. The man was smiling as he walked closer to him.

“My apologies, I had no intention of startling you. Merely curious as to what a young boy like you was doing sitting alone at such a dangerous time.” Prompto ducked his head, hiding his face in his knees.

“Quite brave of you to be here.” The man continued, having now crouched down beside him, uncaring of the fact that his pant legs were getting wet.

“But bravery can also become foolish with enough quantities.”

“…M’sorry.”

“Quite alright child.” The tall man looked out to the sea, where the moon was large and full, almost touching the ocean line.

“Might I inquire your name?” Name? Oh, that’s right, he hadn’t given the man his name, mom would be mad if she heard that he was rude.

“I’m Prompto, nice to meet you.”

“A pleasure young Prompto, you may call me Ardyn” The talking stopped for a little while after, but Prompto didn’t mind, he just listened to the singing in his head, and he didn’t feel as lonely as usual with the strange man, Ardyn, next to him.

He closed his eyes and lost himself to the sound of the waves and the songs,

Songs that were surprisingly louder than normal.

He could almost make out words. Words he didn’t understand, words that seem so different than what he heard spoken by everyone around him, words that spun such pretty sounds.

And the man next to him was humming along to the very tune of the songs.

He looked at him, never having met another person who could hear the singing like him. Did that mean he wasn’t alone? That there was a reason he could hear the singing?

Ardyn glanced at the boy next to him and noticed him staring.

“Curious about my humming?” He smirked when Prompto seemed to realize what he was doing and turn red in embarrassment. But he nodded in response to his question.

“Well, its a special melody, not everyone can hear it. ” He seemed to be amused by his own words. “Not everyone gets a chance to hear it for long.”

“Is…"Prompto tried to figure out how to word it. “Is it special when you do hear it for a long time?”

Ardyn tilted his head, seeming to ponder the boy’s question.

“In a way, ” He started slowly. “There once was a time, that people knew of those who could hear the melody, many searched for those who could, but none could be found. Or rather, none wanted to be found.”

Prompto was now curious, not realizing that the singing grew louder, more possessive in a way.

“Why wouldn’t they want to be found?”

“They were very special. So special, the gods themselves were envious of them.For it was rumored that the songs they heard were connected to an entity that was more powerful than the combined power of the gods we worship today.”

“Woooow!” Ardyn chuckled at the look of amazement being shown by the boy.

“Indeed, But the gods were not pleased by the melody and demaned that no one listen to it again. Those that could, would not abandon the entity on the jealous whims of the six, so they hid, and the melody hid with them.”

“And no one heard about them again?”

“Indeed, lost to the seas of time and history.” Prompto couldn’t help but look down, thinking about what he heard. Why would they hide? Was it bad? Was a dangerous to be able to hear the singing?

“Oh no, They simply wished to be hidden, forgotten by the world.” Prompto blushed as he realized he spoke aloud.

“S-so that means no one could hear the singing anymore?”

“Well…not completely true. After all. I can.” Prompto perked up, the man’s face showing amusement.

“Really?’

"Of course, it would be useless to know of such people if I myself could not hear what they were known for.”

He could feel his heart pound heavily against his chest, because here was someone who could hear the same thing he could, that could tell him more about why he could hear them.

“I…”

“Hm…?”

Prompto was nervous, but his curiosity towards the subject was strong at this point.

“I…you..do you know how you can find out if someone can hear the singing too?” Ardyn stared at him, a moment of silence passed by them, Prompto fidgeting under his eyes.

”…Close your eyes” Prompto blinked in confusion, before doing so. After a moment of nothing, he felt of hand rest itself on his head.

“Huh?”

“Relax child.” Prompto took a deep breath and let it out, trying to do as he said.

He paid attention to the singing. listening to strange words that seemed so otherworldly.

He listened to them as they became louder than ever before.

Heard as the voices singing seemed to realize that they were becoming clearer to his ears. Felt as his being was flooded with their joy and pleasure at finally being truly heard.

So loud, the singing, it was as if he was surrounded by thousands and thousands of people, all wanting to be heard by him and him alone.

He never had anyone feel that way about him, not even his parents.

And here was this strange man, giving to him something he had wanted for so long in his short life.

He felt the hand leave his head, felt himself panic for a moment as the singing grew quieter, but immediately calming down when he realized he could still hear them clearly, still could make out different voices, and different words. So very different

but seeming to fit perfectly well within each other.

“Are you alright child?” He opened his eyes and looked at them man, gentle concern in his eyes. Prompto slowly reached up to touch his own cheeks.

They were wet, he had not realized he began crying, overwhelmed by such potent emotions.

“I’m glad I met you.” Was all he could say to the man, his voice hoarse as if he had cried greatly for hours.

“Oh?” The man seemed surprised at that, Prompto felt that he wasn’t surprised easily. But that didn’t matter to him.

“I’m not alone anymore.” He smiled at him, big and bright, and so very genuine.

“I can hear them now.” Ardyn didn’t seem to register what the boy was saying for a moment, having not felt this unaware in such a long time.

“I’m so happy. I could never hear them so clearly before! And it’s all because of you! All I want to do is sit here and listen to this singing forever!”

The man stilled at the child’s words.

“You can… hear them…truly.” But Prompto wasn’t paying anymore attention to him. Closing his eyes and focusing on the beautiful singing that was so wonderfully clear to him now, humming along to them, feeling the rush of joy that surged through him as the singing matched him tune for tune.

Ardyn watched the child slowly sway to the unheard song. A song no one else has heard since the fall of Solheim. Since he had walked down the path of immortality. He reached out. Gently grasping the boy’s head and pulling him close. Pressing his lips against golden locks with a tenderness that he had not used since those days so very long ago. When all that matter were him, his brother, and the future ahead.

“My dear, precious rarity.” He murmured quietly, closing his now bright golden eyes, the scourge exposing itself and listening alongside the boy to the songs and whispers of the daemons and souls beyond and within.

“The gods that damned me may not have planned for your birth, or for our meeting, but it seems Mother Eos and Lady Etro have granted me a gift i shall not take for granted.” He felt the daemons within, countless, separate from him yet all connected to one being, roar in what seemed to be agreement. As if placing claim on the boy themselves.

‘Somnus, if you could be here now.’ He thought, holding the boy close. ‘If you could be by my side and see this young child.’

“You won’t be alone Prompto.” He whispered in the language of old, the words slipping from his tongue as if he never stop speaking them. “Not anymore.“

—

(I would most certainly like if you told me what you thought of this. Please and thank you!)