The fire crackles softly between you, its amber glow flickering against the errant spikes of Noctis’s hair. Everyone save for you and Noctis had already retired to their tents, the Regalia parked nearby the campsite. Noctis can’t sleep, and neither could you, apparently, which led to you two meeting by the campfire. He sits close enough to you that he can see the wispy lengths of your eyelashes as you look up at the stars. Noctis feels like he’s always like this, always on the cusp of kissing you, yet always too fearful to try. There’s no way the feeling isn’t mutual at this point either.

Noctis huffs a quiet derisive laugh. “This is harder than I thought it would be,” he remarks, nervousness seeping into his words. His knee bumps against yours, just barely, but he doesn’t move away. He wonders how he went from being your friend from school to being so ridiculously in love with you. He finally looks at you, his gaze searching, uncertain. “Tell me if I’m being stupid,” he says. “If I’m wrong about… this.”