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[How terrible indeed. He doesn't really like admitting it still, but if it's something she too needs reminding of, he can... well, at least try to do better.

He makes a quiet, agreeable noise at her confession, recognizing the truth of it as well as her very valid fear.]

I noticed you. Kind of. My perception's been like... [He makes a non-committal, wobbly hand gesture.] But I caught you checking in when I was half-asleep. [That same hand slides up to curl around hers at his chest.] Were you worried things would get worse, instead?

[He doesn't know how much fussing she's done while he was unconscious, but he's noticed little signs here and there. How hesitant she's been to touch him without invitation when he wakes up, how she's spoiling him and forcing smiles. She's not okay, either.]

I--.... Yes.

[ No use in hiding it, but she feels far more secure with his hand clasping hers upon his chest. ] That you wouldn't walk again. Or that you would disappear. [ Her hand tightens in his. ]

...I saw you vanish, Noct. I thought that was it. [ Despite the gravity of her words, she can't help but give a wry smile at the end. She should have checked his pulse right away, even if she had been under the assumption that it had been his soul that had shattered.

She recalls when he first gave his magic to her, that with that same magic he had granted her the ability to heal him through touch, giving him an added boost. She never had that ability before. His magic is miraculous to her, but in that moment when she had held his soul-form and it shattered, it wouldn't have helped. ]

....And I thought I could bring you back.

[He can't answer for a little while, only burying his face against her hair and closing his eyes. He can imagine the fear she must've felt to witness it, and to watch and worry. He's left people waiting at his bedside watching him far too often for his liking. And here he is again, in poor condition and worrying his loved ones due to his own reckless behaviour. He can't even promise he won't end up like this again, helpless against his own urges to fight for others, to save and protect. A noble cause until the aftermath when others have to suffer for it.

He wishes there was a better path he could more easily tread. If he was better, if-

With a sharp exhale, he cuts that thought off at the head. That's not right, either. Not a good answer to offer. Instead, he focuses on what she's said.]

I don't understand.

[Bring him back? He thought she couldn't heal, though. What does that mean?]

With my crystal.

[ Upon his chest, her hand shifts slightly right of the apex of his heartbeat. Her touch now firmly centered, the location is exactly where her crystal sits upon her chest. ]

I could bring you back.

[ Her fingers curl into a loose fist. ] When you were gone, I thought--- for a moment, to do so. [ Her eyes slide shut. ]

But I wasn't sure if that would be what you wanted. So many of your family has suffered for lingering after their initial deaths... without choice. [ In one form or another, again, without choice. Granted, Noctis would be actually alive and well, not in some immortal form or spirit, but it's the principle of the matter. ] I couldn't bring myself to do the same to you.

[He pauses at that, tension passing through his body like a static shock- there at once, but slowly easing the more she elaborates. He admittedly hadn't given that much thought to her offer yet, mostly since he'd had no further incidents as far as the memories go, and they'd been awfully preoccupied with other things so both were easy to push to the back of his mind. Now she's saying her crystal can not only potentially redirect memories, but also revive the dead?

He's... stunned. It's bizarre to envision - on Eos in most cases, dead is dead. Phoenix Downs create something of a grey area, the Lucian kings linger on in spirit form, and the ancient crypts of Solheim are full of undead daemons, but otherwise once a soul leaves its body that's it, they're gone for good. If that shattered form in his armory really had been a version of him that could die, there wouldn't be any coming back. But she'd had a way around it, and...

He inhales, exhales, slowly. It's... a lot. It didn't happen, but it's definitely a lot.]

That's... [A LOT, IT'S A LOT, PYRA.] I mean. Thanks, for... letting me decide. That's huge, right?

[He shifts a little, glancing down at her to try and catch her expression. Not just to let him choose, but to let him go, if it came to that. Considering all of the things they've talked about, months of believing that what was best for their worlds is what mattered most. Here, she'd... put him first, even if that meant letting him die. And it's not like he wants to die, but at least he'd have the agency to be allowed it. That's so much more than what many have granted to him.]

[ She blinks in surprise, lifting her head. It feels strange to be thanked for what essentially amounts to her letting him die. How could she bear to face Ardyn or Regis ever again, if she did? Willful inaction, Era had said. This would be it, a moment in time where she would have simply let him pass from the world and out of her hands...

So, she's surprised that he's thanking her of all things. ] Inaction on my part... Noct, this means that-- I would have let you die.

[ And she did, in those few fleeting moments before his voice called back to Mythra.

She knows that so many of his family have suffered for being kept after their deaths. And, his choice is important. She's realized that before, they've talked about how important it is to him before. She had chosen not to begin the process of bringing him back (something that would have been unnecessary), believing that she'd harm him less. Yet, he would have died.

But would it have been right to have kept him alive?

(She's still shaken by this dilemma.) ] You're...you're not upset about that?

[His expression twists a little, looking conflicted.]

I dunno. It feels like it'd be unfair to be mad about that. You offered me your crystal before, and I kinda said no already. ["I'll think about it" is basically "no for now".] Plus you gave it some thought- like, your reasoning checks out. It's not like we're ever really allowed to die. Hell, if I died I might've just ended up a ghost in the ring with the rest of them.

[His hand around hers squeezes gently, and an edge of grim humour enters his tone.]

Maybe it's easier to say because it was a big fakeout- I didn't die, so it didn't matter in the end. But I don't think you were wrong when you were looking at the big picture instead of just... you wanting me to live at any cost. Does that make sense?

[ Putting it in such reasonable terms makes her pause. He's correct, they truly don't know what would happen if he were to die, if his soul would be in the ring or not-- if he is allowed to die at all. That, again, is a "choice" taken from him.

He's not upset. He's not mad.

After a moment, she nods, and her lips part. ]

....If... you are going to die. Or to live.... I didn't want to hurt you. [ Didn't want to hurt him further by bringing him back alive, specifically. ]

That choice-- it should be yours.

[ She looks at him curiously. Why is he not as bamboozled as she is? ]

Right... yeah.

[He nods slowly, rolling the words over in his head like it's a puzzle. It's never really been his choice, like many things. People have died for him, sacrificing themselves to shield or hide or protect him, all because the gods and bloodline deemed him more important in the grand scheme of things. Many have sacrificed all, Bahamut had said, and it was true. He'd been spared so that he could be sacrificed as recompense for their suffering when the time came. It's... weird, and kind of grimly exhilarating to be on the other side of things, to be allowed to risk all for someone who matters so much to him. He kind of understands better now, how others might have given up so much to save him.

At the same time, though, Pyra's struggling with the weight of her choice, and it shows. So after reasonable consideration, he smiles faintly and leans in, pressing his lips against her forehead and leaning on her once more.]

It is my choice- so I'll let you know for next time... it's okay. If it comes down to me dying or you sharing your crystal, then I'll take whatever you want to offer me. [He's so not scared of being bound to another crystal that he'll take death as a preferred alternative. He trusts her. ...Although, with the caveat,] As long as it doesn't hurt you worse to do it.

[ She bows her head, allowing his lips to reach her forehead for a kiss. Quietly, she exhales against his neck.

"As long as it doesn't hurt you worse to do it." ]

It wouldn't hurt me. I just worry about hurting y-- [ ....She stops herself then. How many times has she said this before? He already knows. With another sigh, she finishes her sentence. ] ...you.

[ And his family. She worries about hurting all of them, all of those that danced with him at the party, that remain here caring for him, that love him. If she can face them with the knowledge that she would have let him die, but he isn't upset at her for it-- rather, grateful that she had considered him making his own choice before it all-- then... it's not all that terrible, is it?

...It is troubling, however, that he's grateful for that at all. Him making his own choices should be the default, but such luxuries were scarcely afforded to him both from his upbringing and the fate looming over him. This is how novel it is to him, he's thanking her for something that should already be his. Even now--

"then I'll take whatever you want to offer me."

--he's going a roundabout way of pushing his choice back to her, and with such an important thing as his life itself! Baby steps, perhaps, but...

Her hand drifts from the center of his chest to his cheek. ] ...That... choice-making. Let's make it the norm.

So. I want to hear it, Noct. Don't make it my choice-- [ One step further. He can do it. She brushes her thumb beneath his eye tenderly, softening her tone in a way she hopes is encouraging. ] Make it yours. What would you want?

[He blinks at that- it's an angle he hadn't considered. Giving him her crystal is still her choice to make, her gift to offer, and she can retract it any time, so he'd intended to leave it more open-ended. It hadn't occurred to him how that might come across.]

Uh... okay, let's see.

[His brows furrow as he thinks over his wording. How to say it...]

If- if something bad happens and I kick the bucket, and if you still feel the same about it and are willing to share it, then... I choose to live. So as long as you're cool with doing it, then I want your crystal to keep me alive. [He tilts his head curiously.] Does that work?

[His meaning hasn't changed, but perhaps the rephrase makes it sound better on her part. A shared choice, rather than one or the other taking on that responsibility. He won't outright demand that she rescues him, but he won't make her stand by and watch him die either when she'd rather save him.]

[ There it is. ]

Mm... a hundred points. [ She smiles, lifting up her head to give him a small kiss. ] Out of a hundred. [ Before was only fifty!

She hadn't known how relieving it would be to hear him say it, "I choose to live," but with those few words spoken, her body relaxes against his. He'll live, and he'll get better. He'll walk again, he'll run, he'll warp. It will be okay. ]

[He smiles against her lips, pleased that he got it right- with a perfect score to boot.]

Haven't gotten one of those in a while.

[Final year, maybe? Aced the hell out of economics, mostly because it was expected of him and Ignis is an amazing advisor. As for the words themselves... he likes saying them, too. They'd danced around this before, the whole wants-versus-needs, how wanting to live doesn't necessarily coincide with being allowed to due to the cost required in exchange. Here, though? He's allowed, he can fight for it. He can choose her power or her crystal or whatever, he can stay alive.

He feels pretty good about all of that, turns out. And there's still time and space to decide.]

Well, if we're talking about what I want, then... mm...

[He sneaks his arm around her back, patting near the plate of cookies.]

[ And this is her completely forgetting that she had brought the cookies, thinking for a single, split moment that he's wanting to get frisky. She blushes quietly, feeling a small beat of warmth travel up her spine...

...And then she remembers that this is Noctis, and oh, right, there are cookies. She giggles, turning some to reach towards the plate herself, bringing a cookie to him. Eating in bed? It's fine, she'll wash these sheets later. ]

A one track mind.

[ Sitting up more, but remaining close, she holds up the cookie between them. ] Say 'ah'.

Not... entirely one-track!

[Come on, they just had a whole conversation where he was contemplating his own death, that has to count.

...He opens his mouth, though.]

Ah, as in "Ah'm due for a snacking."

[In his very best ~~Southern~~ Leiden accent.]

[ She places the cookie between his lips. All his to enjoy. ]

One cookie equals one less hour in stasis. Eat all twenty-four of them, and you might just be able to recover a day early!

Twe-

[Oops, cookie-mouth. Give him a few seconds to chew first.]

Twenty-four cookies. That's too much in one go, even for me.

[Even if they're homemade and delicious.]

Oh...?

[ A fake, inquisitive tone, a tilt of her head. ] I thought your magic ran on cookies. Have I been wrong this entire time?

Maybe a little wrong.

[But like, playfully wrong. Cutely wrong. Jokingly wrong.]

Sad to say, I've still got a normal-sized stomach.

You could have fooled me.

[ She says this as her hand drops from his shoulder to pat his considerably flat stomach. She's only teasing! ] I thought your armory was in here, it's much like a void for all sweets.

[Right now his stomach's well-padded in the most comfortable hoodie that could be dragged out of his closet, but it folds easily under her hand as he sucks in a little to evade those teasing fingers.]

Not all sweets. Only the really fancy and delicious stuff can be devoured to infinity. That's the secret.

[And her cookies are good, absolutely, but they're not tiny-gourmet-Altissian-chocolate good, which is a whole other level that even Ignis barely brushes up against.]

Really fancy sweets...?

[ She asks, innocently probing for more information, looking at him.

She's going to take this as a challenge. It's about time she added on a new hobby besides shitty gardening and tinkering with batteries on the side. ]

You know, like... little finger foods at expensive cafes. Altissia's full of 'em, but I don't remember what they were called. Ignis might.

[He shrugs, making a mental note to perhaps give it some thought when his brain is a little more up to snuff. He's still running on fumes here.]

[ She makes a mental note to consult Ignis. ]

Ah, I should have known that you have expensive taste.

[He shrugs, sort of in a noncommittal manner, munching through the next cookie.]

Perks of growing up a rich kid, I guess. Though I learned to appreciate the thrifty stuff after Prompto and I met.

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