#lunoct

His current plan was to dance with Iris, Gladio’s little sister. She was a good five years younger than him, but he’d rather dance with someone he counted as a friend, who wouldn’t get any ideas.

Though there was a part of him that still hoped…

Nope. Don’t think about it.

Instead, he took a deep breath, gaze sweeping the ballroom one more time as he straightened his jacket. Gladio was at his left side, Ignis on his right. Both were in formal wear just like him, but Noctis doubted they felt anywhere near as uncomfortable. Maybe because no one’s making them be the center of attention, he thought grumpily.

But he’d agreed to this, and there was no backing out now.

He was looking over the ballroom again, in search of Iris, when he heard a hush fall over the crowd. Even the music faltered, like the musicians had been struck dumb ever so briefly.

Noctis turned, followed their gazes down and across the room to the doors that had been flung open. Is that a Kingsglaive? What is he—

And then all other thoughts slipped away as he saw the young woman walking into the room.

She wore a ball gown that swept the floor, the very edges of the skirt deepest sylleblossom blue. The color seemed to seep up the skirt, fading to pale blue until it reached the bodice, where it shifted to pure white. Every step made the fabric shimmer. Her blonde hair was caught up away from her face, a silver necklace gleamed at her throat, and she seemed to radiate peace and poise.

Until she met his eyes. And then a flicker of emotion went over her face, along with a smile. And that was what galvanized Noctis forward, across a crowd of hundreds of people to reach her.

He heard whispers as he went. “Who is that girl?” “She looks like a princess!” “Probably a trick to win the prince’s favor.” “Don’t be stupid. That’s the Oracle of Tenebrae.” But none of it mattered. Nothing mattered until he was standing before her.

She’s taller. Which was a stupid thought, of course she was. After twelve years apart, much was bound to change. But Noctis still knew her.

“It’s you.” It sounded ridiculous as it slipped out, but it still made her smile.

“Just so, Your Highness.” And Luna curtsied in a sweeping gesture.

Stepping forward, Noctis caught hold of her hand. He had no idea how she was here, when it was all he’d hoped for for weeks. Years, really. They’d talked about her coming, but had known that the empire—to say nothing of Ravus—would never let her.

It didn’t matter. Not now. What mattered was her fingers curling around his, and the smile that made his heart leap to touch the stars. “May I have this dance?” he asked quietly.

“Of course.”

-bonus:

feesh 🎣