I Choose Hope

Raya woke up in a white room and her panic took over. "Nyx she's up get in here." She felt someone run in and softly take her hands in there's. She knew that sent and started to relax. "Nyx what happened? Where am I?"

Nyx pulled her into his arms. "Breath baby. You're in the medical ward. You were in bad shape." She glanced around the room. Then clinging to him buried her head in his chest.

Raya wouldn't let Nyx out of her sight when she was awake. Every noise made her jump or flinch. Nyx helped her get strength back in her leg. "Raya why don't we go to Galahad for a while?" she looked nervous but agreed.

Nyx held her close as they got off the boat. "Look mom came to get us this time." she looked to see his mom standing by a car. Just then the boat horn went off making Raya jump. He tightened his hold on her while softly rubbing her arm.

As they pulled into the driveway Nyx helped her out of the car. He could see she was in suffering and trying not to show it. "Raya don't suffer alone. This is when you lean on your friends and family sweetheart." Raya looked at Nyx's mom and tried to smile.

Nyx took her up to the bedroom so so could rest. He held her as sleep claimed her. "Nyx do you need anything?" He looked at his mom and shook his head. "Do you wanna talk about it? Your suffering to son." He let out a sigh he knew she was right.

Nyx looked down at Raya sleeping in his arms. "There was nothing I could do to help her. They wanted to break her but she wouldn't give in to them. Even though she couldn't move and was laying in a puddle of her own blood she still laughed at them. I was both terrified and proud of how strong she is. They threatened to do the same to me. She laid there choking and gasping for breath but she told them. You touch him and I will fucking kill you. She was dying in front of me yet the only one she was worried about was me."

Nyx touched the side of her face as she slept. "She endured it all so I wouldn't have to." Just then Raya let out a whimper as she moved pulling herself closer to him. Nyx didn't even realize he was crying in till Raya reached up with a shaky hand and wiped away his tears. "I would do it all again if it meant you were safe. I love you, hero." Nyx held her. "I told you once that you were the strongest person I ever knew. Every day you keep proving me right my enchanting Straight."

Raya sat up breathing fast. Raya got up and walked out on to the balcony. She held the ribbon from her armor in her hands. "I truly I'm the goddess of sorrow."

She looked down at the ribbon in her hands as her tears fell. When a hand gently lifted her chin up. "My sweet Starlight." Nyx softly wiped her tears away. "I will be your strength till you feel better. Lean on me Raya let me help you." Raya slowly put her arms around his waist than on his back as she laid her head against him.

Nyx held her as she did him. They both needed each other so they both could heal. "Raya I was so scared you were gonna die in front of me." When she looked up at him he saw her sadness.

They stayed there till Nyx felt her shift her weight off her sore leg. "Let's go sit down." He pulled her into his lap as they sat on the swing on the balcony. She had her head on his shoulder when fireworks went off.

Nyx felt her body tense up. She looked frightened as she tightened her grip on his arm. Raya's nerves were starting to make her feel sick. "Nyx" he heard her whimper. She was holding her head and stomach.

He carried her to the bathroom where he sat her in his lap as she threw up. She was so pale she hadn't really been eating since they got rescued. When she finished she had her head on him and her eyes closed as she cried.

Nyx felt her fall back asleep and carried her back to the bed. "My poor Starlight how I wish I could take this pain from you." He kissed her head and fell asleep hold her.

Over the next few days, they saw a change in Raya she was determined to heal and get better. She had a job to do. "I can feel bad for myself or I can use what happened and get stronger," she told Nyx one morning.

After that, she and he trained every morning then took a break at lunchtime. Train some more then go for a small run to help her leg. Raya was sitting outside one night while Nyx was rubbing her leg as they watched the waves.

There was a loud bang causing her to jump a bit but not as bad as it used to be. "Starlight are you sure we should return so soon?" she looked at him and smiled. "I will not live my life in fear Nyx. When I feel like breaking I look at you and see what I'm fighting for and my fear slowly leaves me."

A few days later and they walked hand and hand into the throne room. "Raya, how are you feeling?" Luna ran to her pulling her into a hug. "I'm better Luna thanks for asking. Still got some discomfort in my leg but nothing I can't handle."

Raya bowed to Noctis. "I was told that even the king himself came to help recuse us. I thank you, your majesty." Noctis came over and hugged her. "We are all like family her Raya. Your not just another glaive. Your family and have helped us all in one way or another. So it was a no question asked we all wanted to help." She felt so overwhelmed at how much she had.

"I never thought I would have so many friends and family. I'm truly thankful to you all. You are the reason I can keep fighting. I thank you." Raya bowed to them all.

Raya and Nyx went home and she looked around. "Come rest babe." she walked over to the sofa and sat down. "Want some tea?" she smiled. "That would be nice. Thank you." When he got done she moved so he could sit behind her.

"Starlight wake up." she opened her eyes and looked at Nyx. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Babe look in the mirror." Raya got up and went to the bathroom. "Holy shit now it all makes sense. How did I forget this moment?"

Nyx wasn't sure what she meant. "Nyx there is a memory I need to show you. I forgot about it till now. This will take some extra magic so be ready to catch me." he smiled.

*Memory*

Raya was in pain and covered in her own blood as she limped to the last spot she held Nyx. The land was covered in darkness there were daemons everywhere.

Raya reached the spot and kneeled down. "Nyx I have kept my promise. I have kept them all safe. I miss you and I wish I could see you again. I can't live without you." she cried as she held his weapon in her hands.

Raya heard a noise and turned around to see a woman she was so enchanting her hair was like silver-blue. Her eyes were kind and hopeful. She had a red mark on her eyes as she smiled and reached her hand out.

Raya didn't know why but she took her hand it was warm and soothing. "Keep hope in your heart for the one you love is closer than you know. Always believe in your love and it will see you through."

Raya saw the lady move and there sitting on a sofa was Nyx and he looked happy and alive. "Choose hope, Raya."

*End Memory*

When the memory ended Raya fell against him. "Starlight you bridged time." she looked up at him. "I forgot all about this memory until I looked in the mirror. Then it all came back to me. I bridged time so I would know somewhere in my heart that you would return one day."

Nyx sat there holding her. "Starlight you always find new ways to amaze me." she nuzzles his neck as she kisses right below his ear. "As much as I would love for this to continue. You need rest." She looked at him frowning at him. Nyx kissed the corners of her mouth. "It won't work babe. Now bed." She looked at him. "No not like that. Damn, and they saw my mind is always in the gutter."

The next few days had her at home resting and doing some strength training in her leg. "Holy shit Raya what happened to your hair?" She turned to see Libertus and Crowe standing in the doorway.

"I don't know. Nyx woke me up to show me. My guess more of my powers are unlocking and my body is changing with it." Crowe was playing with her hair. "It looks good on you though." Nyx walked into the apartment with a bag.

Raya looked over to him and smiled. "You didn't?" When he nods. Raya jumps up and tackles him. "Thank you thank you thank you." She kisses him then takes the bag from him running the kitchen.

Libertus looks at his best friend on the floor. "Damn Nyx what did you get her?" Nyx stood up "Eclairs." The walked into the kitchen to see Raya playfully smack Crowe's hand when she tried to touch one of the eclairs. Making everyone start to laugh.

Raya was finally able to go back to work. As she walked out of the bathroom in her uniform she had just dried out her hair a little bit when Nyx came in and took her brush from her. "Thank you, baby." She said with a smile. Once her hair was done the two-headed into work.

She was in a meeting trying not to fall asleep when Gladio hit the table making her jump and fall backward in the chair. "What the hell shield?" Nyx was trying not to laugh. "Next time don't fall asleep glaive." She looked back up at the man. "Well don't be so damn boring. Listening to you talk makes me envy deaf people."

Everyone was trying not to laugh as the two went back and forth. Raya stood up just to slip on some water and fell back down. "Oh hell no not again. I'm not moving the rest of the day." Nyx couldn't help but laugh now.

Raya looked over and used her magic to blast him with ice. "Not so funny now is it?" This got Crowe and Libertus laughing. Raya and Nyx looked at each other and nodded. They both shot a water spell hitting there two friends.

Noctis looked at the four glaives sitting there having a water fight. "How is they are older than us but act more like kids then we do?" Ignis smiled. "They are just happy to have each other we are the same way when we go camping."

Once the meeting was done Raya walked over to Luna. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" The queen nods and takes Raya's hand. Once in the gardens, Luna sits down and Raya sits next to her. "Luna, what happens when you speak to the Gods?"

Luna looks at her friend. "Does this have to do with your calling?" Raya nods. "I know what I need to do. I wanted to talk to you before I told Nyx so I had all the facts." Luna nods. "Well as the oracle it can take its toll on my body. With you being a goddess though it may not have that impact on you." Raya looks at the water in the pond. "Luna I have to get all the gods to help aid me. I know where they all are except Shiva and Ifrit. After that, I'm not sure what to do."

Luna took her hand. "I think Shiva will find you when you're ready. As for Ifrit, I don't think he can be reached any longer. When do you plan to leave?" Raya looked up. "In three weeks. That will give me time to get stuff ready and talk to Noctis about Nyx coming with me." Luna smiled.

Raya and Nyx walked in their home and he could tell something was on her mind. She went into the kitchen to start cooking dinner. Raya made steaks mashed potatoes and corn. Once she handed him his plate she sat hers down and went and grabbed a couple of beers.

"So you gonna tell me what's on your mind?' She looked up at him. "I had to talk to Luna before I could tell you what I need to do next. I wanted to have all the information before I talked to you. In three weeks I and you will be leaving the city to go visit all the gods to get their aid in the coming battle. I wanted to ask her what it felt like to talk to them and the toll it took."

Nyx took a bite and listened to her explain everything while they ate. "So since I'm a goddess in a mortal body we don't know the effect it will have on me." She finished her beer and picked up there plates taking them into the kitchen.

Raya started cleaning everything up when Nyx stopped her. "You cooked baby. Go rest I will get these." Raya just moved and sat on the counter and watched him. "Starlight. Hey, you spaced out there for a minute." She looked up at him and smiled. "Yea sorry baby was in my own head."

Nyx moved to stand in front of her. She was still sitting on the counter. "Talk to me. What going on in that head of yours?" She looked up into his eyes. "Nyx I'm scared. I don't know what's gonna happen. What happens if I make the wrong choice?"

Nyx lifted her chin and kissed her. "You will have me at your side, Raya. I will stand with you no matter what happens. I have faith in you." Raya put her arms around his neck and kissed him.