"Move it!"
Your left shoulder was pushed forward that made you open your eyes. The passengers were starting to move out the train so you moved onwards, filling into the crowd. After less than a week of trying to sink things in and getting over everything that happened, everything was all so different here from what you had been used to in Eos. You hopped off the train, the seemingly endless night that hovered over Edge mixing with the infinite noises of the city as you headed straight for Sector 7.
After passing through alleyways and taking a few turns, you finally saw the familiar signage of 7th Heaven, the letters emitting a neon glow at the top. You entered the bar as soon as you heard the faint voices inside.
"(Y/N)!" Marlene soon welcomed you; she was very excited she could not hide the joy in her face when she saw you. "You came to visit again!"
You returned a smile, seeing how much she had grown. The last time you saw her was very different from how she was now, remembering she was only seven five years ago. Marlene already began talking about a lot of things, starting from the rabbit she had not more than a month ago and how feisty it was for food to her sudden whisper of having a crush on the 'boy' who was always with Nyx and Luna, saying how she could have talked to him more if they didn't move to the next slums. Your ears perked up after you heard it that you couldn't help but tease her.
"Now what's the fuss all about? Did I just hear (Y/N)?" A certain dark haired female had just appeared from behind the counter, her eyes shifting from Marlene to you. "Oh my god."
You made a sideway smile. "Hey, Yuffie."
"(Y/N)!" She gasped, eyes widening and running towards you to crush you into a hug before pulling away, her face in pure shock. "Jeez, I never thought you'd come all the way here to pay a visit—after what happened in your planet—I—I thought you're really busy so—"
"But I'm here now," you said, glancing at Marlene. "How are you guys doing?"
"More than okay!" Her enthusiasm was somehow returning bit by bit and it made you happy. "We've been taking care of the remaining Insomnians, help them find their own living and get back on their feet. I know you guys are used to where you lived back then, but it takes time. You'll get used to it here." She smiled, gesturing for Marlene to go. The young girl waved you goodbye and went upstairs, Yuffie then turning back to you after watching her leave. "And oh! You see Denzel's not around. . . well, he's out with Cloud just a while ago."
You nodded, trying not to show such expression when she mentioned Cloud. "I see."
"How about you? How are you?" You were glad Yuffie did not divert the subject to him. She grimaced. "We've been worried about you, (Y/N). I mean, fighting off gods is already too much," she whispered. "We could've helped you out there, you know."
"It's fine," you looked down, "we handled it, even if I wished it didn't have to end like that." You repressed the tears that were forcing their way out of their eyes. "If only I could bring their lives back. All of those people who had nothing to do with the wrath of the gods, they're just innocent but they. . ." You trailed off, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. "I'm really thankful you came to help us back there, Yuffie. I know it's too much, but saving what's left in us is really a lot. I owe you anything."
"No, (Y/N). It's alright," Yuffie told you, setting a hand on your shoulder. "Things merely happen in a way we either expect or not. We just gotta do what we can to make it right."
She was not wrong. As much as it pained you of your home being gone, of Eos vanished along with its manifestations of evil and, devastatingly, innocence, you still felt grateful because the people you loved and cared for were still there. Maybe not all of them were here in this world, but those who sacrificed and those who died even if they took the wrong path, would always have a place in your heart. You were grateful you were able to save what was left in Eos—those people of whom did not deserve to be dragged into eternal doom and darkness.
"I guess I'll have to go now," you said out of the blue after taking a look at the nostalgic bar you had been used to stay in, the place where you and Cloud spoke to each other for the very first time. Everything looked different to you now. "I dropped by here after checking on the migrants. I guess everything's okay now, right?"
"Hm, I don't think so." Yuffie shook her head, a soft, playful grin etched on her face while crossing her arms over her chest. You raised an eyebrow, making her chuckle. "In the backyard." She gestured towards the doorway, wherein Denzel had just entered. His brown hues enlarged in delight when he saw you.
"(Y/N), you're back!" he exclaimed, giving you a hug that made you laugh. You wished you could bond with a him a little longer but Yuffie told him that you needed to go, so Denzel hugged you once last time and headed upstairs. You slightly sent her a glare, but she shrugged and patted you softly on the back before following after Denzel.
"He wants to see you. Don't let him wait long enough."
She was gone right after, leaving you standing before the doorway. You took a deep breath and darted outside.
He was standing there, exactly where he stood back then, only now that it was at night and you were the one to approach him. How ironic it was, you stepped the thought aside and walked towards him, his back turned to you.
"Hey."
He turned his head over his shoulder. Even though days had passed, his Mako eyes still glowed and outshone the peaceful night as they stared at you with sincere intensity. He was wearing a casual outfit this time which was new to your eyes. You wanted to compliment him about it, but he had the pokerface on that you thought, Never mind.
"How are you?" you asked.
He turned away. "Good."
You were not surprised at him being short-spoken. It was just him. Cloud Strife. He was looking away from you which was better, although you kind of missed him talking to you during those days in the Labyrinth especially that moment in the forest. You knew it was downright selfish, and that he did not deserve for his feelings for you to be rejected.
"I've been trying to get my memories back," he said all of a sudden. "Get to know of who I really was. But I guess it's time for me to just. . . move on." He exhaled. "I really don't know what I did before, who I knew, or what I came to be. Maybe Etro reviving me and removing my memories was a good thing after all."
You stared at him. "Why do you think so?"
"Because I met you," his voice went soft, "like being with you when times were rough. Fighting with you, saving you from danger. . . I don't regret any of it."
You couldn't help but feel sorry for him, but saying the word "I'm sorry" was not the right word for it. You set a hand on his shoulder which then stiffened. "Thanks for being there for me, Cloud." His hand went to place down on yours; it was soft and cold but it didn't bother you. "I know. . . deep inside you kind of hate me for not loving you back. You wished it was you and I. But things. . . Things are meant to be the way they are.
You'll find someone who'll love you more than how much you love me, Cloud. And you deserve to be with that person."
He remained silent, but after a moment he finally turned to face you, making your heart throb. His eyes were filled with tears, and the moment you saw them, the tears you had been suppressing a while ago rolled out of your eyes in an instant. You didn't know what you felt after seeing him like this. Happy because he was human after all, that he was capable of expressing such emotions, and sad because he was crying, of which the reason was you.
"I love you," his mouth barely opened that the words seemed like they could not be heard, the tears streaming down his cheeks relentlessly as he brought up his hand to hold your face and his hand that was placed on yours holding it tight. He looked into your eyes deeply, stifling a sob. "I hope you're happy with him."
You nodded as you wept softly, closing your eyes. He did the same, and before saying his last words to you, he pulled you closer to press his lips on your forehead.
"Not goodbye, though." He pulled away with a smile, stepping back and turning to the side. "The Crown King is waiting for you."
You turned to where he was looking at.
Down the hill, there stood Noctis, his blue hues standing out in the dark under the tree as he was leaning against the trunk. You turned back to Cloud and returned a smile before finally letting go of his hand and walking down the hill, not looking back as you departed from him.
°
"He's got some nerve," Noctis surmised after the two of you visited Luna and Nyx. At last, you were alone with him as you reached home. The place was not too far from Edge, but it was peaceful and few people had moved here. You chuckled at Noctis and shook your head, about to head to your room, but you felt him taking your arm. You thought he was going to act all jealous again, but when you saw his face, it seemed like he was not. "Can we talk?"
"Talk about what?" You felt nervous.
He grimaced, looking away and sighing. "I think you're tired right now. We did a lot of things today so maybe tomorrow—"
"No, it's okay," you cut him off. "What are you gonna tell me?"
"Well," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "about Cloud. . ."
Oh, not again, you thought while rolling your eyes playfully. "And what about it?"
"I mean. . . The kiss."
"The kiss?" You raised an eyebrow, forcing yourself not to laugh when you saw him avoiding your eyes in embarrassment as you remembered Cloud kissing you on the forehead a while ago.
"It's. . . really passionate, you know—"
"Really, Noct?" You chuckled in amusement, taking his hand but he looked at you with a frown. "Hey, listen. It's his way of saying goodbye. Don't think too much about it."
He sighed, making a soft smile. "Kidding."
You poked his arm playfully while shaking your head, about to leave when he took your arm again and pulled you towards him that surprised you. Your eyes widened when he wrapped his arms around your waist. He rested his chin on your shoulder as you patted him softly on the back, smiling.
"I'm happy," he said, hugging you tight.
"Me too."
"Wanna know why?"
You paused. "Yeah?"
"Cause you happened."
You laughed softly, pulling away a little to lock eyes with his. "And what if I didn't happen?"
Noctis made a goofy grin and leaned closer, the distance between you lessening bit by bit. "That defies the laws of nature."
A laugh escapes your lips as you looked away for a moment, feeling surprised of how funny he was before looking back at him again. You had not been this close for a while that it made your heart beat so fast; you could not resist to sneak a glance on his lips. "Hey, Noct?"
"Hm?" His eyes were half lidded. He was also staring at your lips as if he couldn't resist either.
"Would you. . . Would you ever love someone else?" Your voice softened. "I mean. . . If I were gone. . . Would you love another girl?"
He stared at you for a few seconds, and then broke into a sincere smile. "Of course."
Your heart sank, feeling surprised. You had been together with him for so long that you did not expect him to respond that way. And yet of course. . . Of course he would. It was his right to love someone else if things could have happened. As long as he was happy, right?
"Of course I'll love another girl. . ." He leaned in to whisper right next to your ear. "And she'll be the most beautiful daughter you'll ever have."
Before you could say anything else, he kissed you passionately and held your face. It almost took forever that he was not letting go. He held the back of your head to pull you closer and deepen the kiss, the both of you closing your eyes. Your mind was burning of uncontrollable temptation, of undying love. Soon he was kissing you aggressively that you pulled away for air, only for him to place down kisses on your neck, making you inhale sharply as his hands travelled down your body.
Your eyes opened, surprised that Noctis had warped himself and you inside your room as you felt your back lying on the soft, comfy bed, his body hovering on top of you. His eyes were burning with lust, staring into yours before he lowered himself just right above your stomach.
"Close the door."
・・・
DID THAT BECAUSE THIS STORY LACKS PROPER ROMANCE. LMAO. I WAS LITERALLY HEARTBROKEN WRITING THE FIRST HALF OF THE CHAPTER AND THEN YEETING AS I FINISHED THE LAST PART. OH MY GOD. I CAN'T GUYS, I'M REALLY SORRY.
ANYWAY, this epilogue is really, really the best ending I have ever done in my entire life even if it appears to be cliché and neutral to some of you. I mean, this story is overall dark, even the first book! Like, take a look at book one's ending, you get my point?
And finally! After so many months of torture from writer's block, Crown King: Return of The Labyrinth is now finished! I'm not making another book of this because I'm honestly contented of how this story has ended. No open-ended scenes—except for Tifa (note/ please don't think I'm hating on Tifa. She's the best female FF character, don't @ me. I just did her character like this for the sake of the plot).
Now you have reached the end, I'd like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to have you entertained as you read the story. Again, the storyline is NOT based on the original plot of FFXV. This is the world of fanfiction.
I'm happy to share my talent in writing, but I apologize for at times it went confusing and complex. Hope you understand. I've tried my best.
Thank you for the reads, votes and comments. I appreciate it. Honestly, I felt guilty since my updates are too slow and I'm aware of how you guys must have been annoyed with me. I'm really sorry.
Again, thank you for supporting this book. It means a lot to me. I love you all!
Signing off,
—abel