Oh, the world is dark

[berriedmemories]

WHO: The XVs mostly
WHAT: figuring out timeline bullshit and living arrangements
WHERE: A set of cottages by the river
WHEN:end of 2024
WARNINGS: blanket CW for depression (Noctis), suicidal ideation (Ardyn, Cor, Ravus), and general PTSD from a bunch of men that've been through hell. See subject lines for specifics

SUMMARY: The gang's all here and then some! Now what? What do you mean you don't remember..... anything I expect you to? Bahamut did what now?

Comments

[errant_knight]

"As if she needed any further ammunition to be bull-headed with me." Ravus exhales a long sigh, almost at the edge of exhausted humor. But there's a tired sadness in it too. Hope hurts more, yes, but sentiment even more so. The loss is so fresh, it's impossible not to keep clawing blood from the wound. At least, Ravus thinks, he is used to the ache of cuts so deep they will scar. The pain of loss is familiar, only on a grander scale now.

It's exhausting. Everything is exhausting, really. Strange, it was almost a kinder stress on his body and mind when he couldn't afford to stop. Now that he's slowed to a crawl, dragged to relative safety and been ordered to rest, it's almost worse. The debts he's paying his body, coupled with the warm weight of the other prince in his lap, aren't something he can ignore. Which means that after a moment of quiet, Ravus makes better use of the couch, and slumps down across the cushions. He drags Noctis with him so that he can lay on his front, and Ravus can let his aching body have some semblance of horizontal comfort.

[berriedmemories]

That solemn exhaustion is something Noctis knows all too well. It's been a lifelong companion, ever-present even when he was just a boy. Something that Ravus may even remember plaguing him when he was small and in his family's care. A bone-deep tiredness that had nothing to do with his injuries and everything to do with the cruel tricks his mind played on him. Maybe especially then, dealing with the first time someone had died for him in so spectacular a fashion. At least that he could clearly remember.

Noct follows Ravus' movements easily enough. It never takes much encouragement for him to lay down, even on the best of days. Snuggled close to someone he cares for when they are both hurting so deeply? The barest implication would be enough. He only pauses long enough to tug the blanket off the back of the couch, slinging it out around his shoulders so that it drapes over the both of them when he settles down atop Ravus. Without all the layers of armor and buckles and such Noctis can't help appreciating how comfortable he is to lay against. The swell of his chest beneath Noctis' cheek cozy and warm, the thrum of his heart steady beneath his ear.

"She'd be even more bullheaded about you sleeping in the woods than me." He mumbles, one hand lifting to poke Ravus in the ribs. It's the sort of place that most people would be ticklish but he doesn't expect much of a reaction. Even as a teenager Ravus had tried so hard to be stern with them, collapsing into a tickle fight would have been too childish for a fifteen year old.

Pity... He could really benefit from laughing more.

[errant_knight]

"I know it. She..." If they'd had this argument once, they'd had it a thousand times. Because there were far worse thing Ravus put himself through than a few nights in the woods. Things she yelled at him for. Things she cried into his shoulder for. "Well, I'm sure you were privy to many of her frustrations with me."

When he's poked, Noctis at least gets some reaction. It's a long huff of breath where he's clearly trying not to make any other sound. He may no longer be a teenager, but he has to keep some semblance of dignity. Only he's too tired to keep that entirely stone expression he used to be so good at.

"Stop that." Said with so little authority.

[berriedmemories]

There's a glint of wicked satisfaction in those blue eyes when he glances up at Ravus, though the silver probably can't even see it. Noct's hand hovers where it is for a moment, a smirk tugging his lips that is audible in his tone.

"Make me."

[errant_knight]

He doesn't see it. But he hardly needs to. This brat-

"Noctis," he grumbles in warning, accidentally playing all the bit of the poked bear. "Behave yourself. Or I will make you."

[berriedmemories]

"Mmmhmmm" How one small sound can convey so much sass is difficult to say but it does certainly convey the impression of rolled eyes and a dismissive smirk.

For all the sass in that sound, though, he settles in against Ravus chest and sighs contentedly. The loss of Insomnia, his home, his kingdom, Luna... it all weighs heavily on him. Heavily enough that today is the first time he's gotten out of bed in days. Heavily enough that, now that he has the reassurance of Ravus safety and the warmth of his presence and the steady thrum of his heart beneath his cheek, Noct begins to doze quickly. But the fingers of one hand curl tightly in Ravus' shirt, as though worried he'll wake up again and find the man gone. And so he murmurs one word, soft and more afraid than he'll admit to later. One quiet plea as his eyes droop shut.

"Stay?"

[errant_knight]

Ravus doesn't know what will change come tomorrow. He doesn't know what will come an hour from now. His world's off its axis, and it's hard not to slide with it. But here, like this, amidst the stillness of the sleepy prince against his chest, and the warmth of a home; it's enough to find his footing, however temporary.

"Rest easy. I will be here when you wake," Ravus promises, only ever willing to say what he knows and what he means. As much as he'd like to stay here, like this, until the ache in his heart stops, he can't. But for now, they can be like this, and Ravus settles his arms loosely around Noctis to keep him close as he dozes.