"Wanna hit up the Crow's nest?" Prompto enthused as they got out all filed out of the Regalia.
He was seriously starving, for once Noctis was up at some ungodly hour in the morning. Like even Iggy and Gladio weren't even up yet and they were always the first up in the mornings. The sun wasn't even up yet and Noct was waking everyone and forcing them to pack up and head out, to a fishing spot he had found on the map. By the time Noct was done and they made it back to the car it was already past noon and by the time they got to the nearest out post it was three in the afternoon.
"If you wish to put on weight, certainly." Gladiolus jested in his best Ignis impersonation, reaching over an pinching his fingers in the skin just above hip. Causing him to yelp as he twisted out of the bigger man's grip.
"Stuff off." Prompto snorted back with a grin as he gave the prince's shield a good shove, not that his effort had much effect Gladio solid as a rock.
Noctis slung his arm over the blonde's neck then, leaning in on him with a smirk as he whispered. "Ignore him, you know what they say about brawn and brains."
"Hey! I heard that." The swordsman snorted, lazily swinging his hand in an attempt to bat the prince across the back of his head. Huffing as the two youngster's scurried out of his reach with a laugh.
Prompto's stomach let out an audible growl of hunger and gladio watched as the kid's face turned beet red as he tried to muffle the sound with his hands. Noct tugging him back with one hand as he pretended to shield his friend from danger.
"You guy's hear that?" He asked in mock concern, trying hard to stifle a laugh as he said. "Sounds like a an angry saberclaw."
Gladio burst into a thundering laugh as Prompto let out an indignant "Noct." Shoving the chuckling raven haired youth in the shoulder hard enough for him to stumble. The blonde shook his head at his friends teasing, though he couldn't stop the smile on his lips. Once the other two managed to calm themselves a little more Noct admitted he to was keen for a bite.
"Maybe we should grab a bite, I'm rather hungry myself."
"No time." This time it was Ignis, who was headed back towards them with a bag of supplies from the general store. "Our current hunt only comes out at dawn, we'll have to set out now and find a haven nearer to it or else we wont reach it in time."
Ignis shook his head at the collection of groans he was answered with in reply, as the other three trudged back to the Regalia. "Worry not, I've got plenty of supplies, I'll cook us up something when we get there."
As they all sat in there seats once more, one of Noctis's favourite tunes playing as Noct rested his chin on his hand watching the scenery roll past, Gladio nose deep in his book and Ignis focused on the road ahead. Prompto found himself unconsciously running his hand over his side where the shield had grabbed him.
It wasn't until the next day after they had just finished taking out the beast they were contracted to kill that his thoughts had begun to get the better of him. They were all in high spirits, the hunt had gone without incident and there was a nice breeze blowing. They were just strolling around exploring their surroundings a little , they weren't in to big a hurry to get back.
He and Noctis had been skipping about just goofing around as they often tended to do, Ignis make the odd remark about youth and endless energy, while Gladio let out a slight grunt each time one of them accidently knocked into him in their fooling. Noct dashed past poking him in the side as he went, bumping into Gladiolus as he turned to give the blonde a cheeky grin. The muscular man quickly wrapping an arm around their prince and pulled him into a headlock before calling to Ignis with a smirk.
"Well that's one under control!"
"Indeed." The other man replied, humour in his tone as he watched Noctis squirm in Gladio's hold.
Prompto once again found his hand holding his side. That was twice now, that Noct had poked him in the side that morning. Gladio had grab at him as he made his usually comment about gaining weight and now Noct keeps jabbing at him too. He hadn't gained weight, he was sure he hadn't, well almost sure but then again Iggy's food was delicious and maybe he had been eating a little more than he should.
Hearing Ignis call his name and realising he had dropped behind, he shook the thought from his head jogging to catch up with his companions. The rest of the day had not bee so fun, Imperial drop ships had dropped MT's on them three times. Once of which happened to be timed perfectly to make their lives hell as they had been in the middle of a struggle with two coeurl that had ambushed them from seemingly no where. And nothing screamed you are the weak link like two oversized cats solely targeting you. Honestly it wasn't fair they always seemed to target him.
So buy the time they all got back to the haven as the sun was setting everyone was exhausted. Ignis was preparing their evening meal and Gladio was sharpening his broadsword as Prompto flopped into his camper chair. Head rolling back so he was staring up into the ocean of stars twinkling above them as he groaned out.
"Man, I'm spent."
"Tell me about it. I never want to see another drop ship in my life." Noctis groaned from his right, he too was slumped in his seat. "I could crash right here." He yawned.
"You will stay awake until dinner is done." Ignis ordered from his spot by the cook pot.
"Aww, come on Iggy, let him crash in his chair. More room in the tent for the rest of us." The blonde winked from his spot.
"Indeed, then you can sleep next to Gladiolus instead." The bespectacled man quipped back watching the boy cringe.
"Then I vote Gladi sleep out side." Prompto quickly changed his mind. The prince backing him up with a "hear, hear."
"Oh come on I'm not that bad." Gladio huffs in reply.
"You are like sleeping next to a snoring behemoth, the whole tent rattles." Noct retorted.
"Says the brat who could sleep through a Dual Horn stampede." Gladio points out with a roll of his eyes.
"Which is exactly why his highness, sleeps wedged between you and Prompto." Ignis adds in.
It had taken a bit of trial and error before finding the best sleeping arrangement while crammed in the tent together. Noct hadn't been lying when he said Gladiolus snored like a behemoth, and Ignis had found out the hard way that young Prompto was just as active in his sleep as he was during the day. Luckily Noct was a heavy sleeper and was not bothered by the loud snoring and the blondes flailing. Ignis could deal with sleeping with an earplug in one ear, it sure beat having a hand up his nose of knee in his groined every hour or so.
Everyone was quick to line up once he was done cooking, he'd wiped up one of Noctis's favourites tonight. Mother and child rice bowl, Prompto had thought it a horrible name when he fist announced it. Noctis on the other hand thought it was brilliant. Having filled both Gladio's and Noct's bowls already he started on Prompto's, raising an inquisitive brow as the freckled youth reached out his hand to stop him adding more. The bowl was only half full.
"I- uh, I have a bit of an upset stomach, I don't want to further upset it." The blonde offered with a half crooked smile.
He watched the kid for a moment with masked concern -Prompto usually had quite a health appetite, before giving there youngest member a smile. "It's probably just exhaustion, we had quite a taxing day. If you decide you'd like more we have plenty to go around."
He watched Prompto head back to his seat by the fire before, filling his own bowl and heading to joint the others.
_
Prompto let out a sigh, this was so stupid. Sure he was a bit on the heavy side once, who was he kidding he was fat, but that was like all the way back in primary school. He shed that weight, by high school and everything has been chill since. So why was his stupid brain trying to convince him otherwise now.
It was dark outside despite the fact it was only one in the afternoon, thick dark clouds blanketed the sky releasing a seemingly endless heavy downpour that had Ignis's eyes glued to the road ahead. Prompto was glad he wasn't driving, not that Ignis would ever let him drive again after that one time he forgot to check the gas and water tank before they set out. Not to mention he really had a hard time staying focused on the road. He could barely see through the downpour, only glimpses of the road every time the wipers swished past. The view blurred again only seconds latter as water flooded the windscreen once more. The radio was off, likely to help Ignis focus and both passengers in the back seat were fast asleep so he had little to keep himself entertained, to keep his mind from lingering.
To stop his hands from pinching at the skin on and around his belly, because that's all it was skin. Right? Cause everyone has pinch-able loose skin, it was normal. Just skin, definitely not pudge. He needed a distraction, something to busy his hands. He couldn't take any photo's the scenery was to obscured by the rain, he wouldn't get any good shots. He was just about to dig into his pocket to try and distracted himself with his phone when he thought he glimpsed a blur of yellow. He squinted as he focused out the windscreen not even sure he had seen anything to begin with and then there it was again a flash of yellow among fuzzy green and brown surroundings.
Was that a chocobo? He turned to his window wiping his hand across the glass to try and get a better look. No good he couldn't see through all the water running down the glass, he was almost certain it was a chocobo thought, so he wound down the window for a better look.
"Prompto you're letting water into the car." Ignis chided from his side, but he ignored him to busy with trying to find the yellow creature. Suddenly there it was, dashing out of the shrubbery just meters away, wings flapping and feathers flying everywhere as it ran for it's life, a pack of Voretooth hot on it's heals.
"Pull over!" He shouted half launching out the window to watch were the bird was headed, he had to help. "Iggy stop the car!"
The car lurched to a halt as Ignis slammed on the breaks, Prompto was out the door before the car had even stopped moving and he knew Ignis would lecture him on the dangers of doing so later. But right now he had a chocobo to save, ignoring the confused shouts behind him as the other sprung from the car he took of in the direction it had run.
Ignis had almost jumped out of his seat as the young blonde beside him suddenly yelled for him to stop and judging by the thud in the back followed by a grumbled curse Gladio had. He had no idea what had gotten into the kid, one minute he was sitting silently in his seat the next he was half out the window. Ignis swiftly stood from the car making sure to wind the passenger window back up as the two in the back followed suit.
"Where the hell did that idiot run off to?" Gladio growled out still rubbing the top of his head as he looked around them.
Noctis simply gave a grunt as he begrudgingly followed the two older men around the car. It was obvious the youth was not impressed with being rudely awakened form his nap like that and forced out into the torrential downpour.
"Come on, he went this way." Ignis signalled as he started in the direction he had last seen the blonde. It wasn't long before they heard the first gunshot ring clear over the hissing rain and the group rushed through the thicket to find Prompto standing off against a pack of voretooth. Noctis let out a startled yelp, quickly dodging to the side as a chocobo almost took him out as it sprint back the way they had come and away from the predators.
"Well that would explain it." Gladio huffed out, springing into the fray as the freckled blonde jumped backwards to avoid an attack only to slip in the mud and land ungracefully on his backside.
The rain and mud made the whole battle a lot harder than it needed to be, beasts and men loosing footing. Which was how Noct had ended up on his back struggling to fend of an angry voretooth that was trying to maul him. Ignis started toward the prince to aid but was beaten by the blonde that put three bullets into the beast. Almost falling on his face as he rushed over to offer his best friend a hand up, a hand that the ungrateful ravenette slapped away as he pushed himself to his feet. Great, Ignis though, looks like the prince was in a mood again.
Meanwhile Gladiolus was taking out the last remaining vore, sending it flying with a heavy swing from his sword. The dead beast flying straight into Prompto's back he realised with a flinch as it slammed into the skinny blond forcing a yelp from his lips. The force knocking the kid straight into Noctis who had just finished righting himself and sending the two sprawling into the mud.
"Sorry Prom!"
Noctis let out a frustrated growl as he was knocked to the ground once more, landing in the puddle he had just got out of this time with his friend on top of him. Prompto was trying to right himself so he could stand but he wasn't moving fast enough, so Noctis snapped out, gave him a harsh shove, knocking him back on his butt. "Get off me Prompto, you're heavy."
"S-sorry." Prompto apologised as Noctis got to his feet and stormed off towards the car.
"Noct." Ignis admonished a the brooding ravenette stomped off, his feature softening as he turned back to the blonde. "Prompto are you all right?"
"Y-yeah, just a little bruising, I think I'll live." The blonde replied, rubbing his back as Gladio gave him a hand up, before suggesting. "I think we should try and find a place with a shower for the night."
"Indeed."
Everyone's mood seemed to have lifted considerably since arriving at their lodgings, while a motel would have been ideal, it seemed even the rented caravan was enough to lighten the mood. A nice warm shower was likely the reason for that, it was just what everyone needed. The drive to the outpost had been horrible a tense silence had fallen and as much as Prompto had wanted to break it and try to lighten the mood, he just couldn't work up the courage to do so. Especially knowing he was the main reason Noctis was in such a foul mood to begin with.
He had been the last in the shower, Ignis had offered to let him shower before him but he had turned the man's offer down. He was the reason everyone was cold, muddy and wet to begin with so it was only fair he went last. He was just thank full there had been some hot water left, with the glare that had been focused on the back of his head on the drive here he had half expected Noct to have used all the hot just to spite him. Argh, he hated it when his friend was mad with him.
Stepping out of the shower Prompto dried himself off before pulling on his pants and stepping in front of the mirror to get a look at his back. He hadn't been lying when he said he was bruised, the dark red and purple mottled skin on his back was proof of that. He hadn't known what had hit him at first, the big guy had already apologised twice now for unintentionally pelting a voretooth into him. Not that he was mad, after all it wasn't Gladi's fault he was unlucky enough to be standing in its path.
Turning sideways in the mirror he ran his hand over his stomach as Noctis's words from earlier echoed in his head. 'Get off me Prompto, you're heavy.' Heavy. The last time Noct had said that was when he was twelve. Back when he had made a fool of himself attempting to talk to the prince for the first time and tripped and fell flat on his face. Noct had called him heavy... Looking down at the waist band of his pants, Prompto wondered if they had always been that tight. Maybe he was getting pudgy he thought letting out a heavy sigh. That settles it tomorrow morning he was going for a nice long run.
A knock at the bathroom door startled him from his thoughts and he looked over to hear Noctis's voice call nervously from the other side. "Ah..Prom, you got a minute?"
"Ah, j-just a sec!" Prompto called back in a panic as he grabbed his shirt and pulled in over his head in a hurry, just incase his friend decided to open the door. Making sure it was safely hiding his stomach from view before stepping out with a lopsided grin as he said. "You're not planning to toss me back out in the mud I hope."
"I'm already an ass, I'd rather not be upgraded to complete doucebag." Noct joked back, rubbing the back of his neck as his eyes dropped to the floor before nervously coming back up to meet bright blue.
"Look Prom, about earlier, I was kind of a complete ass and I should have taken my anger out on you like that. Sorry."
"Nah, it's cool. Any one would be cranky having their nap interrupted like that." Prompto shrugged it off, before giving a sly grin as he said. "I'm actually surprised you didn't sleep through the whole thing."
"Shut up." Noct laughed back, letting out an amused huff as he shook his head at his friend. "You know Prompt, only you would be crazy enough to jump from a moving vehicle to save a chocobo in the middle of a rain storm. Now, come on Iggy has dinner ready."