More than a Myth

Homesick

A little over a week had passed since guy's night. Lightning found that she didn't need her map as much now. She had gotten a little more familiar with the castle since then. She also spent more time with Prompto, Ignis, and Gladiolus. Noctis, of course, was around her as much as possible, between his work and duties. Lightning and Wen talked more often as well. The two got along quite well. It had been almost three weeks since Lightning's departure from her world. There weren't many moments when she wasn't thinking about how her friends must have been worried.
Lightning sighed as she stared at her breakfast. The other guys, minus Noctis and Solis, were eating and talking about whatever was going on in the kingdom. Lightning didn't care much for current events. She would much rather find out what was going on in her world. Ignis was the first to see Lightning's dazed state. He asked, "Aren't you hungry? Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."
Lightning turned her attention away from the plate. "I know, but I'm not in the mood for eating."
By now, Prompto heard of their separate conversation. "But you gotta eat, Light. No sense in starving yourself." Lightning thought it was strange how Prompto could be a complete lunatic most of the time and then become like Ignis later.
Gladiolus joined in, "He's right. It'd be best for your wounds if you kept your strength up."
Lightning wasn't in the mood for their care. The first week she was here, Lightning didn't feel so bad. But now the homesickness had absorbed her. She liked the guys, and of course Wen was included in her new friend circle here. But this wasn't her home. She couldn't just leave all of her other friends behind for this place. She knew she needed to find a way out soon. If only her wounds would heal faster!
Lightning told them, "I've just got a lot on my mind. I'm going to head back to the training center." She rose from her seat and left the dining room. The men watched her as she walked away from them. They could tell something was wrong. Neither her voice nor her attitude was a confident as it usually was. They all felt concerned for their new friend. She had finally accepted them, just as they did to her.
Gladiolus said, "She seems really bummed. Do you think she's homesick?"
Ignis looked to him. "It's a possibility. Being here for a week may not have been so bad at first, but three can make her lose hope of returning home."
Prompto intervened, "I guess so. But why is she so sad about it? If she lives so far away that it is too difficult to get back, then why did she come here in the first place?"
Ignis, as usual, found the best solution, "She was really confused when she arrived here. It is most likely she got lost or ended up here by accident."
Gladiolus agreed, "It looks like it. She asked a lot of obvious questions before, too, so that seems like the most likely option."
Prompto got a small grin on his face, "Do you think Noct has noticed?"
Gladiolus guessed, "Probably not. He hasn't been around all morning. His father said he hadn't seen him either."
They all looked to each other, having the same idea. It appeared that their prince had overslept.
King Caelum searched for Noctis while getting ready to meet with the council. The council was a group of advisors the king assigned in order to discuss business. The nobles met with him and Noctis a few times a week. But it didn't look like Noctis was coming this time. Where was he?
He almost bumped into Lightning when he rounded a corner. "Oh, hello Lightning. Good morning."
"Morning, Solis." As usual, she greeted him in the same manner she would greet an old friend.
"Have you seen Noctis?"
Lightning was surprised that not even Solis knew where his own son was. "No. He hasn't gotten up yet?"
"It doesn't look like it," He chuckled. "He was up late last night. He's probably in his room still." The royal wasn't mad at Noctis for staying in bed, but he had to get up soon. "If it's okay with you, Lightning, Noctis needs to wake up soon. I'm allowing him to miss a meeting, but he can't sleep all day. If you wouldn't mind, could you wake him up for me?"
Lightning thought it wasn't too much trouble. And she hadn't seen Noctis since yesterday. It couldn't hurt to see him now. "It's alright. I willl go check."
Solis noticed that she sounded a little sad at that last part. "Is everything alright?"
She shook her head. "Just thinking." With that, she walked away to go wake up Noctis. Solis was always happy to see Lightning. Lightning reminded him so much of her...
Lightning had to retrieve her map before finding Noctis' room. His quarters were located in a hallway where all of the council members, King Caelum, and Noctis slept, no one else. She never had a reason to venture down there; until now, of course. She found the door that the map said lead to the prince's chamber. She hoped he wouldn't get angry for her barging in on him. He could be awake already. Or worse: Changing into his day clothes. Lightning blushed at that. That would make their relationship extremely awkward.
She lightly knocked to make sure he was still sleeping. No one answered. She grabbed the knob, turned it, and entered the room. A large glass window faced her. She could see it lead to a balcony like hers did; only Noctis' was much bigger. She saw other closed doors along the walls, each one probably hiding an office, closet, etc. On the wall to the right, sat a big square bed covered with black sheets. It looked very comfortable. Lightning was half tempted to go and see how it felt. She couldn't if she wanted to. A sleeping prince was already on it, snoring slightly.
Lightning approached the bed, not making a sound. She wanted to get a closer look at Noctis. His expression was peaceful. He looked so vulnerable when he was sleeping. She almost didn't want to wake him up. But she made a promise to make sure he didn't waste his day away. She reached out to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. She carefully shook his arm, whispering, "Noctis. Noctis, wake up. Come on, I don't have all day."
Noctis wasn't sure who was interrupting his slumber until he heard that last part. It couldn't have been anyone else... But what was she doing in his room? Noctis opened his eyes. Once he saw Lightning leaning over his bed, he became so nervous that he sat up abruptly. She jumped back, avoiding his head as it came up. "Lightning? What are you doing in here?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Your dad asked me to wake you up. You're missing a meeting right now." She explained. Noctis felt foolish for sleeping in so long. He was even more embarrassed that his father, of all people, thought it was best to send a woman into his room while he was sleeping. Not that he minded waking up to see Lightning. She wore her usual outfit, just as every other day.
Lightning could feel herself blushing. Noctis looked...cute in his current state. His hair was disheveled, he looked sleepy, and he wasn't wearing a shirt. Lightning looked away in order to keep herself from staring. She accepted that she occasionally had weird feelings for Noctis. She still didn't know why. She used to have small thoughts of how she liked his smile or something. Now she admired how handsome he was, how he tried to joke around with her, how he cared for all his friends. She almost didn't want to admit it, but she was developing some feelings for him. Or, at least, that was her best guess.
Noctis was aware of how he felt. He knew that he admired Lightning. He thought she was passionate, beautiful, strong, independent, but also kind... He could go on for a while. He thought she was amazing. But something continued to bother him: She reminded him of someone, but he wasn't sure who. He shrugged off the thought. He then noticed how he only had a pair of pajama pants on with no shirt. He blushed at scratched his head. "Uhh... Sorry. This is... a little... embarrassing." He said.
Lightning looked back to him. "Okay... I'll just go now."
"Wait." He requested. She waited for him to continue. "Thanks for getting me up. I appreciate it." Lightning simply nodded and walked out. Noctis found himself smiling again. He liked being around her so much, he felt empty when she wasn't around. He had to quickly change and go find her.
Noctis knew exactly where to look for her. She hung out at the training center a lot. Ever since her rumble with the soldiers, they never had a problem with her around. They actually had respect for her skill. Noctis even caught her helping out a few men before.
Noctis went down the stairs that granted access to the field, and sure enough, Lightning was there. She had her blade out, practicing a few swings with it. He progressed to her, having high spirits. "Hi again." He said to her.
"Hey." She responded plainly. Her tone was sad. Noctis was sure of it.
"Something wrong?" He asked Lightning that often. He was always concerned for her. Whenever she seemed upset, he automatically asked that question.
"I'm fine."
Stubborn, as usual. "It doesn't look like it." He said.
She glared at him. "I said I was fine."
"And I said it doesn't look like it." Lightning was about to walk away from him. She didn't want to talk right now. She only wanted to think. She began to leave, but her grabbed her wrist. She tried to pull it away. He had a tight grip, not prepared to let her go just yet.
"Let me go!" She growled.
"Not until you let me help you!" He countered.
"I don't need your help!"
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't."
Noctis was getting frustrated. He wouldn't have her going about while she was so down. As her friend, it was his duty to make sure she was happy. He attempted a softer strategy. "Lightning, I don't want to fight with you, especially not over something this silly. I want you to be happy. So, please, will you tell me what's bothering you?"
Lightning was speechless. Where did that come from? He got so sincere so suddenly. Was he really that concerned? "I don't want to talk."
"What if we go somewhere private? That way no one can eavesdrop."
"Like where?"
Noctis smiled. "I think you know."
Lightning did know where he was talking about. She pondered for a second. "Fine."
Lightning gazed out to the endless fields the watchman's post was near. Noctis stared at her as she was lost him thought. With no one around, Noctis thought Lightning would be more comfortable speaking her mind. "So, Lightning, can you tell me now?" She was sitting on the stone window's base, her back leaning against one of the pillars supporting the roof. He rested against an adjacent pillar, praying she would talk to him.
She was quiet for a moment, contemplating what to say. "I'm just..." She trailed off. She needed some reassurance in order to keep talking. She wasn't sure if she trusted Noctis with her inner feelings.
Noctis had to inform her that she could talk to him; that he was here for her. "I know we haven't known each other long, but I do care for how you feel. I want to help you. And I can't do that if I don't know what's wrong. If you can trust me, I can really help you."
Bad with words my ass, Lightning thought. But that did get her to speak. "I'm just homesick. I've been gone for a while. My wounds are healing slowly. How do I know my friends back home even care that I'm gone anymore?"
Noctis felt devastated for hearing that. After all, it was his idea to keep her here. Now she wasn't happy like she was a couple of weeks ago. "I'm sure they miss you. Just because you're gone now doesn't mean you're no longer important to them. If they really are your friends, then they will wait for you forever." Noctis paused, letting her soak that in. "I'm sorry."
Lightning looked at him. "What for?"
"I was the one who decided to keep you here. So it's my fault you're unhappy."
"Not necessarily. I feel like... I'm abandoning everyone back home." Lightning hated showing how weak she was.
"It's not like you're never going to see them again. Once you're healed, you can go home." Noctis's voice lost a little optimism at the end. He didn't want her to leave him. He liked waking up in the morning knowing he would get to see her. After she leaves, he wouldn't get to feel that way anymore. "But, you will come back...right?"
Lightning looked down. "I don't know. I don't even know if I can get back." Her voice shook. Lightning accidentally said aloud, "What if I can't get back to Serah..?" Noctis furrowed his brow. "Serah?"
"...My sister. I know she, of all people, should be worried sick. After all, we're all we've had for years."
Noctis couldn't share her pain. He didn't have any siblings to miss. He didn't even have cousins. But his friends were like brothers to him. How would he feel if he lost one of them?
Noctis wanted to give her more advice, but he was cut off by his phone ringing. He was needed back at the castle. He was pissed that he barely got to talk to Lightning. She had just started to open up. "I've got to go. Will you be staying here?"
"No," She hopped off the window. "I'll be heading back."