A Man Of No Consequence (Ardyn x Reader)

Callings

"Why are you here?" you insist, grabbing Ardyn's arm. He turns to look at you, his expression cold.

In the corner of your eye, you see the serpent plunge into the sea, while myriad watery imitations of itself fly around the vortex, wreaking havoc on the poor town.

"I should be the one asking that question," he responds wryly. "You have no reason to see this destruction take place."

"I wanted to see with my own eyes," you explain, "Lady Lunafreya, the Hydraean... Is this the job of the Oracle? To try and convince angry Gods to offer their pity?"

His eyes brighten as he all of a sudden seems fascinated by what you're saying.

"You understand..." he smiles.

"No I don't!" you respond.

"The Astrals. You can hear their words in your mind, can't you?"
"Yes..."

"Well, my darling..." he takes your hand, giving it a little brush with his thumb, "I'm sorry it had to come to this."

Before you have a chance to ask, you feel a cold steel lock around your wrist. He swiftly pulls you along and locks the other end on a seat next to an unresponsive MT.

"You're handcuffing me?!" you shout at him, trying to pull your wrist free, but soon discovering it's more painful than it is effective.

"Be a good girl, take a seat," he extends his arm. The ship shakes in the storm, and starts to descend slowly. Ardyn approaches the edge of the ramp, and as it touches on the ground below, leaves you sitting in the middle of the Imperial soldiers as he walks out and the ramp pulls back.

You stand up, trying to see down below, but it's too far from your seat. Taking a deep breath, you try to make your hand as small as possible, seeing if you could slip it through the steel bracelet. No use.

You sit still and try to listen for any clues of what's going on outside the ship, but the noise of the storm, the engine and the Hydraean roaring are too much to make out anything comprehensive.

The soldiers sit, motionless, as if asleep. You lift your hand and very carefully touch the one right next to you. The armor is smooth and surprisingly warm. You give the soldier's chin a little tap with your finger, knocking to see if anyone's home. The MT doesn't move.

The ship sways as it slides closer to the ground, and Ardyn's boot hitting the ramp almost gives you a heart attack. You turn around instantly, and see the ramp close behind him, as the ship ascends once more.

"What's going on?" you demand. "Are you helping Lady Lunafreya tame the Hydraean? Tell me what's going on!"

"Oh no, I'm afraid she's beyond help. You see, she's been stabbed."

He throws something at your feet, the sound of the object making a metallic clank. You reach over in your seat to see the floor. A dagger.

"What? How?"

By who? "By you?!"

The Hydraean roars and the whole vessel shakes, accelerating it's speed and taking more distance to the Astral.

"How could you? Why? Answer me!" you stand up, leaning as far as you can with your hand cuffed.

"What do you know? About anything?!" he roars, his face turning pale, his eyes glowing like fireflies in the night, with black liquid pouring out of the corners, down his cheeks.

Covering your mouth in shock, you fall back in your seat.

For a moment, you sit still, contemplating the situation.

"Please, is she alive?" you whisper.

Ardyn stops to look at you, his eerie foreign face slowly fading back to normal. You stare back at him, your lip quivering with sheer exhaustion and worry. He approaches you very slowly, and stopping right in front, looks down at you with pity.

"Look at you," he murmurs in his low voice. "What were you thinking."

Gently, he drops down to one knee, taking your wrist and swiftly unlocking the cuff. Rubbing on where the metal has left a little mark from all the tugging, he gazes at you from under his brow.

"It had to be done."

"Why?" you ask quietly. "Please, why?"

"What is the calling of the Oracle?" he asks, posing the question as if it's an exam.

"To commune with the Gods... to inspire the King," you repeat. Taking your hand to his lips, he nods, pressing his lips against your wrist.

"My dear, there is so much you still need to know," he whispers, pressing another kiss inside your palm.

"Is that... my destiny, too?" you ask hesitantly, feeling his warm breath against your hand, trying your best to not be hypnotised by his closeness once again.

He pulls you forward, leaning closer, placing his lips right under your chin, his touch making your body grow weak, begging to surrender. Tracing slow kisses on your neck, he stops above your collar bone, pushing his tongue against your skin, circling around like a serpent.

You force yourself to snap out of it, pushing him away. "No."

He glances around at the MT's, then tries to lean in again to kiss your neck. "They won't tell," he grins. "Don't deny me, my darling. Don't you want to inspire your King?"

Pulling you closer from your waist, he looks at you the way he does, with determination and desire, his gaze telling you he will get what he wants.

"No," you repeat once more, pushing him as hard as you can, making him fall back, only slightly.

"Tell me what my calling is," you insist, breathing heavy, tired of resisting him.

He lets out a surprised laugh.

"My darling, how can you be so cruel? Do you know what it does to a man, to be alone for centuries, to be denied the closeness of another? To be left alone with the darkness, to live and to never die, like I have..."

Leaning back on his arm, he shakes his head and his finger at you. "Being the Oracle of the Infernian, my dear, I should've known you have a cunning nature. Don't torment me," he sits up, coming on to his knees again, closer to you, pushing your back against the seat.

"Your calling brought you here. This is your calling. And your covenant, my sweet priestess," he laughs, "We forge the covenant every night. Every time we merge as one, you vow your loyalty to your master. And one day..." he places his thumb on your lower lip, rubbing it gently.

"One day you shall prove your loyalty, just like the faithful Lady Lunafreya has done today."

You know the meaning of those words. You know, and yet you can't turn away; you don't even know how to say no to him, you're unable. You don't want to. He pushes his lips against yours, this time you let him, you want him.

Anything to distract from this confusion, anything to bring that serenity, that peace in your soul again. You wrap your arms around him, and give in to the slowly growing flame again.

"Don't take it lightly," he whispers as he slides his hands under your clothes, "I shall remain at your service, until the end."