Ramuh's trial was simpler than Titan's by far. Noct followed the lightning strikes and absorbed the power in the runestones, feeling the magic crackle against his palms. He wondered how Luna was doing, whether Gentiana was keeping her updated on his progress. Two out of six was a good start, and if she was calling Leviathan, they'd have half the covenants soon.
Noct also wondered exactly what business Ardyn had left to take care of.
Empire business most likely, which wasn't necessarily good for them, but Ardyn seemed intent on helping him, so whatever it was couldn't be too bad.
Noct shook his head, concentrating on the fight in front of him. The cave the last runestone was located in was a maze filled with daemons that popped out of every crevasse. They'd already been startled by more than one group and Noct couldn't afford to be distracted.
There. The last runestone.
Noct placed his hand on it and felt the power flow through him. Ramuh's mark seared itself into his palm, branching lines curving down and over his wrist.
"And now to find our way back out," Ignis said, with an answering cheer from Prompto.
Noct agreed with the sentiment—some sunlight would be nice after traversing around the dark dank cave for hours, but he itched at his palm where the mark was still fresh and tender, wishing that Ardyn was around to rub the soreness out of it too.
It was serendipity then, that when they'd finally made their way out of Fociaugh Hollow, Ardyn stood waiting with his airship.
-
Ardyn swept a bow. "Ah, Noct. I see you've managed to quiet the Stormbringer. If you're still headed to Altissia, I offer safe passage."
Gladio put a hand over Noct's chest, stopping him from boarding. "Why should we trust you?"
"I have business in Altissia and room for passengers. But if you'd prefer to find your own way," Ardyn lifted his hands in a shrug. He turned away, meaning clear, and Noct shoved past Gladio, striding quickly up the ramp.
"We'll go with you."
The others followed him in, though Gladio made his unhappiness with the situation clear, glaring at Ardyn's back the whole way.
-
Noct got up once everyone had been settled in the barracks room Ardyn had showed them to. His hand still itched, and Gladio had made sure to keep himself between them the entire time, as if Noct was in danger from Ardyn.
"Where are you going?" Gladio asked, following him into the hallway.
Noct shrugged. "There's something I need to discuss with Ardyn."
"You can't trust that guy."
"I don't—" Noct started, but Gladio cut in again.
"You're just fucking him?"
Noct blinked. "What?" That was completely out of the blue, and wrong to the extreme. "No. And it wouldn't be your business if I was." Noct was done talking about it.
He stormed down the hallway, phasing ahead so Gladio couldn't follow him.
Noct wasn't sure he'd remembered the way right, and was relieved to find the familiar door with Ardyn's title emblazoned on it in fancy script. Noct pushed it open to the sight of Ardyn at his table reviewing a thick sheaf of papers.
"Noct." Ardyn put down the pages, looking genuinely pleased to see him. "How may I be of service?"
Noct held out his hand, palm up so Ardyn could see the new markings. "Could you—"
"Of course." He motioned for Noct to take a seat on the couch, and settled in next to him, taking Noct's hand in his own. The steady pressure of Ardyn massaging his palm lulled him almost to sleep, the tension of the day just draining away as Ardyn worked his way slowly up Noct's arm.
Noct sighed contentedly, leaning his head on Ardyn's shoulder, and gave himself over to it.
-
He wasn't surprised this time to wake up with a warm weight nestled against him. It was nice, and Noct almost wished the trip to Altissia would've taken another few days, just so he could enjoy this a while longer.
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timeasmymeasure
FILL: bend to your will 6/?
Date: 2017-01-03 01:10 pm (UTC)Noct also wondered exactly what business Ardyn had left to take care of.
Empire business most likely, which wasn't necessarily good for them, but Ardyn seemed intent on helping him, so whatever it was couldn't be too bad.
Noct shook his head, concentrating on the fight in front of him. The cave the last runestone was located in was a maze filled with daemons that popped out of every crevasse. They'd already been startled by more than one group and Noct couldn't afford to be distracted.
There. The last runestone.
Noct placed his hand on it and felt the power flow through him. Ramuh's mark seared itself into his palm, branching lines curving down and over his wrist.
"And now to find our way back out," Ignis said, with an answering cheer from Prompto.
Noct agreed with the sentiment—some sunlight would be nice after traversing around the dark dank cave for hours, but he itched at his palm where the mark was still fresh and tender, wishing that Ardyn was around to rub the soreness out of it too.
It was serendipity then, that when they'd finally made their way out of Fociaugh Hollow, Ardyn stood waiting with his airship.
-
Ardyn swept a bow. "Ah, Noct. I see you've managed to quiet the Stormbringer. If you're still headed to Altissia, I offer safe passage."
Gladio put a hand over Noct's chest, stopping him from boarding. "Why should we trust you?"
"I have business in Altissia and room for passengers. But if you'd prefer to find your own way," Ardyn lifted his hands in a shrug. He turned away, meaning clear, and Noct shoved past Gladio, striding quickly up the ramp.
"We'll go with you."
The others followed him in, though Gladio made his unhappiness with the situation clear, glaring at Ardyn's back the whole way.
-
Noct got up once everyone had been settled in the barracks room Ardyn had showed them to. His hand still itched, and Gladio had made sure to keep himself between them the entire time, as if Noct was in danger from Ardyn.
"Where are you going?" Gladio asked, following him into the hallway.
Noct shrugged. "There's something I need to discuss with Ardyn."
"You can't trust that guy."
"I don't—" Noct started, but Gladio cut in again.
"You're just fucking him?"
Noct blinked. "What?" That was completely out of the blue, and wrong to the extreme. "No. And it wouldn't be your business if I was." Noct was done talking about it.
He stormed down the hallway, phasing ahead so Gladio couldn't follow him.
Noct wasn't sure he'd remembered the way right, and was relieved to find the familiar door with Ardyn's title emblazoned on it in fancy script. Noct pushed it open to the sight of Ardyn at his table reviewing a thick sheaf of papers.
"Noct." Ardyn put down the pages, looking genuinely pleased to see him. "How may I be of service?"
Noct held out his hand, palm up so Ardyn could see the new markings. "Could you—"
"Of course." He motioned for Noct to take a seat on the couch, and settled in next to him, taking Noct's hand in his own. The steady pressure of Ardyn massaging his palm lulled him almost to sleep, the tension of the day just draining away as Ardyn worked his way slowly up Noct's arm.
Noct sighed contentedly, leaning his head on Ardyn's shoulder, and gave himself over to it.
-
He wasn't surprised this time to wake up with a warm weight nestled against him. It was nice, and Noct almost wished the trip to Altissia would've taken another few days, just so he could enjoy this a while longer.