DISCLAIMER: FINAL FANTASY XV & CHARACTERS © SQUARE ENIX. ALL ORIGINAL CHARACTERS © DAUGHTER OF KYNE. TAKES PLACE DURING "UNBECOMING".

A/N: This idea came to me while I was goofing off on the Royal Vessel and exploring Altissia. Since I'm in desperate need for some PromRay, I decided to write this little drabble/oneshot to go along with my story, "Unbecoming". Please, enjoy! Please note that there are two parts. I didn't want it to be obnoxiously long, given the first part is already pushing 3500 words.

Warning: Contains swearing, adult humor, and gross amounts of corniness.

~IN TOO FAR~

It felt strange being back at Medacio. I hadn't really been here since I had left the Hunters after they had saved my life shortly after I had left the Crown City. Still, it had been nice seeing Mama Ezma again — and Dave. He always looked out for me whenever he saw me out and about.

I knew that I needed to get moving, but motivation had been low. I knew the reason, too — I just didn't like thinking about it. Honestly, I didn't like thinking about him. But there he was, creeping up in my thoughts and always causing me to lose focus.

Luna needed me. I shouldn't be messing around as I had been. She had entrusted me to watch out for Noctis. That meant protecting him from the horrors of my own past.

Maybe then, Luna and I could be together again. Maybe then, I could finally be over the girl-crazy dork who would never notice me in a thousand years. Everything about Prompto's and my relationship was complicated. That was why I hated being around Iris. She looked at Noctis with the same longing — I caught myself looking at Prompto the same way. Especially whenever he went on and on about Cindy. Or Aranea. Or even Iris. It was as if he had only eyes for every woman who was completely disinterested in him. He didn't even notice me — other than a "Heyaz" and "Oh look, it's the stray I took in when we were kids". To him, I was probably just some kid sister. Just like how Iris was to Noctis...

Freakin' dorks. All of them.

Today was starting off shitty. Great.

Annoyed now, I sat up in the small bed of the caravan, raking my fingers through my long hair before finger-combing it and pulling it back into its usual high ponytail. The faded ribbon I used to tie it back probably needed to be replaced — but I had a weird attachment to it. Dunno why.

Once my hair was pulled back, I grabbed my shorts and pulled them on along with my ankle boots. I then grabbed my black varsity jacket, taking in the sylleblossom stitching on the back before closing my eyes and holding the jacket to my chest for a moment.

It still smells like her…

I didn't have the heart to steam clean my jacket. Even though it had been so long since Luna had worn it, her scent still clung to it. Sighing, I opened my eyes and then pulled the jacket on, freeing my ponytail before I grabbed my satchel, dagger, and the magic flasks that Dave had given to me. I hadn't really mastered elemancy yet, but it gave me an advantage against the daemons whenever I was traveling on my own.

It wasn't like I could just keep following the boys from outpost to outpost. Gladiolus already thought I was stalking them, given how often I ran into them. I really wasn't — swearsies! I just apparently had a weird habit of running into the boys, no matter which end of Lucis we were in. From Leide to Duscae, all the way to Cleigne. Without fail, I had run into them, over and over again.

Wasn't helping me get over Prompto — that was for sure. Not to mention it was hella distracting. I needed to keep my distance from them. It wasn't safe for them to be around me. At least, not with Mother still out there. I had to stay away — even if inwardly it killed me a little bit with every hello and goodbye we shared.

The last thing I wanted was to drag Prompto and the boys into my shit show. Especially with how psychotic my mother had proven to be over the past decade.

"Need to see if anyone has seen her…"

The last bit of intel I had on her had been back in Duscae. The trail had gone cold since. It was beyond infuriating — especially since I had to avoid the Imperials at every turn. Couldn't risk him finding me again. I had narrowly avoided him in Galdin Quay a few weeks back — before the ferry had been closed down.

I made a meager breakfast of toast and fruit, shoving the toast in my mouth as I opened the caravan door and went to step out. Just as I did, I was immediately greeted with the last person I wanted to see — and also the one person I wanted to see as well.

Feelings made everything contradictory, okay?

"Heyaz,"

Brain. English. Words. Speak.

I opened my mouth. And there went my toast. Right in the dirt.

Awesome.

"Why the hell—?"

Well, that was rude, mouth. Awesome.

Prompto moved his hand from where he had been about to knock on the door to rub the back of his neck. "Hehehe. Surprise?"

"Dude, it's like… dawn."

"The big guy and Noct went to have a mortal struggle between man and fish down at the Vesperpool. Iggy needed more spices and I heard from a little birdie you stayed here last night."

Damn you, Mama Ezma. That old crone was gonna be the death of me — whether by tryna work her matchmaking ways on Prompto and me or with a hunt. One of the two. Either way, the old broad was going to end up getting my ass killed.

"You okay? You seem kinda… off. Lately anyway."

Oh, you mean since I saw you ogling not just Cindy, but Aranea too? I wonder why, jerkface.

"I'm fine," I replied shortly, kicking my toast under the caravan and shutting the door. "Got shit to do. Ya know, my own epic sidequests and shit."

Prompto frowned now, reaching over and snagging the sleeve of my jacket as I tried to walk past him.

"Whoa, hold up. C'mon, Rayne. We've known each other for how long?"

"Seven years, technically," I answered without missing a beat. "Though after this past year of not speaking, not too sure you and I really know each other anymore. I'm not the stray sleeping on your couch anymore whenever your parents are out-of-town or the girl you snuck into your room when they were home."

"You needed a place to stay, Ray. That's what friends do. Besides, shouldn't we talk about why you left?"

"Hard pass."

"Ughhhh. At least look at me!"

I wanted to — but I knew how weak I would become if I dared look at those beautiful, clear blue eyes. Gods, those eyes. They unraveled me anytime I looked into them. And yet there he stood, Captain Oblivious to the things he made me feel. It was enough to want to punch him in his stupidly perfect face.

"What?" I managed, somehow not stammering as I finally looked at his face.

Cue my knees going weak.

"Are you mad at me?"

At you? No. At the way that you tugged on my heartstrings and made me your hopeless marionette? Hell yeah.

Were all twenty-something guys this oblivious?

One look over at Ignis, completely unaware of the girls checking him out while he shopped confirmed this.

"No, Prom. I'm just… stressed."

"Still tryna find whoever it is?"

"Yup."

"Well, you know what they say — a little break always helps!"

"I don't really have time to take a break, Prompto. I need to—"

"C'mon! Live a little on the fun side! You're always so serious, Ray!"

I felt my cheeks warming unpleasantly as I looked down at where Prompto had grabbed my hands before I dared look up at his face and then back at our hands.

"I — wh-what exactly do you… want me to do?"

"Well, the guys and I were thinkin' 'bout taking the Royal Vessel out for a spin — to Altissia."

"N-No way! We've been wanting to go there since, like, middle school!"

"Wanna be my plus one?"

I stiffened.

"Shouldn't you be asking Cindy?"

"W-What? No way. There's no way I could ask Our Goddess of the Gears like that."

The temptation to deck him was strong now.

"Pretty sure you're askin' the wrong girl," I muttered, pulling my hands free.

Yeah, I was jealous. Could you blame me? Have you seen Cindy? She was a freakin' bombshell! Smart, independent, and one badass woman. Yeah, she had six years on me — but seriously, I felt incredibly inferior to Cid's grease-monkey granddaughter.

Though technically, I really didn't need to feel jealous. Unlike the oblivious dorks, I knew a little somethin'-somethin' about Miss Cindy and the big musclehead. Accidentally catching them having their romantic little rendezvous behind the garage had been scorched to my mind. I just had enough decency and respect to keep my mouth shut about those two.

I had the feeling Prompto and Gladiolus fighting over Cindy would not be reasonable — especially since their job was to protect Noctis. Girls, women, romance? Nothing more than a distraction.

Didn't stop Gladiolus though. The man was a woman magnet. Honestly, I think I was the only woman alive that was immune to the big dork's charm and bulging muscles. Like seriously, I was half tempted to throw a shirt at him half the time. Why did he feel the need to run around half-naked all the time?

"Pretty sure I'm not," Prompto replied, grin in place as he folded his arms behind his head "C'mon. C'moooon. Have a little adventure with me!"

I could feel my resolve breaking, little by little, as my lips twitched into a small smile.

"Alright, alright. You win. I'll go with you."

"Hell yes! Cute girl, check. Date in the city of romance? Double check!"

"Did you just say date?"

"Huh? Nope. Totally didn't."

I tipped my head to the side, mouth opening to further question the blond before I felt Prompto's hand grabbing mine — immediately causing my sandpaper tongue to return and my brain to short circuit. All words were lost as Prompto dragged me over to Ignis and the Regalia. I could barely focus on my surroundings — or the fact I was pretty sure Ignis was talking to me. What did he say? Something about radishes?

Whatever it was, Ignis gave an annoyed sigh before climbing into the driver's seat while Prompto held open the door to the backseat for me. I climbed in, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Not only was I in the prince's car, but I was also in his spot. I could sense the edginess radiating all around me in the leather seat. And given the romance novel sitting in the floorboard of the seat behind Prompto, I decided sitting in Prince Charmless' seat was the lesser of two evils.

Gladiolus and I weren't on the best of terms, alright? Leave it be.

The drive to where the boys had set up camp at Capitis Haven was short. I wasn't a huge fan of the Regalia. Usually, I hitched a ride in the bed of Dave's truck between outposts if I didn't have the gil to rent a Chocobo from Wiz's Chocobo Outpost. I usually walked, otherwise.

I kept quiet as Noctis and Gladiolus returned from whatever the hell they had been up to — I didn't really get what Prompto had meant by a "mortal struggle between man and fish". Weird boy stuff, probably.

"Ready to hit the open sea?"

I didn't respond to Prompto's question as he twisted around in his seat once Noctis had taken over on driving. I slid into the middle seat, sandwiched between Ignis and Gladiolus. The big guy was side-eyeing me. I stuck my tongue out at him as Noctis pulled onto the dirt path, heading back toward the main road. Gladiolus simply rolled his eyes and focused on reading whatever lewd sex scene he was currently invested in. Goddamn pervert.

"Ebony?"

I shook my head, declining the canned coffee that Ignis had offered me. I focused on the drive — feeling the wind teasing my ponytail as Noctis picked up speed.

"So where exactly are we going?" I finally asked, shifting uncomfortably between the two men.

"Cape Caem is where his Majesty's harbor resides," Ignis responded.

"It's also our new home away from home," Prompto piped up. "You'll dig it, Rayne."

"Yes, Monica and Dustin have fared rather well in turning it into suitable accommodations until we are to reclaim the Citadel."

"They're Crownsguard, right?"

I remembered Prompto talking about them when he had been undergoing his own self-defense training with the Crownsguard — before I had left a year before he had. I didn't really have much choice. The moment he had found me had been the end of the dream.

No longer could I play up the role of a schoolgirl in love with the boy who had taken her in. At that moment, seeing his face — it had put everything into perspective for me. My past had come colliding back into me.

It had been the hardest decision to make, leaving Insomnia.

Leaving Prompto…

We had taken care of one another when we had no one else. Sure, Prompto had Noctis — the two of them spent every waking moment they could together, forgetting that Noctis was the very prince of the Kingdom we resided in. But when he wasn't with Noctis, Prompto was with me. His parents were gone all of the time for their jobs. Sure, it had been dishonest, letting me stay there during their absence and sneaking me in when they were home — but Prompto refused to let me sleep out on the streets.

He knew I didn't have a home. He knew I didn't have parents — not real ones, anyway. He knew that I had nowhere else to go. It had been that way from the moment we met when I was thirteen.

Luna had told me about the boy who had taken care of Pryna. She spoke of his kindness and sweetness. So naturally, I had felt drawn to him. Even more so upon our actual meeting. It had been awkward at first — him playing up the role that I was his foster sister, just so I could attend school. He had Noctis pull strings to forge my paperwork and citizenship.

I owed Noctis more than I liked to admit. If it wasn't for him, I would only have a child's reading level. He also let me stay with him and sleep on his couch whenever Prompto's parents were home and he couldn't sneak me in.

They had looked after me.

I owed them the world. Yet here I was, sulking over my ridiculous feelings for a boy who would never look my way.

I desperately wanted to get over him — but I knew the truth. I was in too far when it came to Prompto Argentum. I didn't know what to say half the time — but I was going to want him until the stars evaporated. Whether it was out of desperation or the only love I had ever known — hell if I knew. I just knew that no matter how hard I tried, I just wanted to hear him tell me to stay.

I'd stay here, I'd never go — but he didn't feel the same. I knew that. I wasn't stupid. There were lightyears between us. But his light conquered the darkness. He was the only sunshine I knew in my world. The only kindness I had ever really known besides Luna…

I wished I had a way to talk to her — to hear what she would have to say about all of this. But I hadn't seen Luna in seven years. Not since the day I had found her in Tenebrae and she sent me to Lucis.

"Hey, we're here. Move it or lose it, Rayne."

"Oi, don't order me around, Princey."

Noctis rolled his eyes, moving to head up toward the hill and in the direction of a lighthouse. I noticed an old house as well. Guess this was what they had meant by their "home away from home". Apparently, according to them, it was mine, too.

Didn't really know how to feel. The only home I had ever known had been Tenebrae. And even that home had been stolen from me.

Grimacing, I climbed out of the Regalia, moving to climb up the slope. Prompto was walking close by — Gladiolus had gone on ahead to greet Iris. I could see her standing on the porch, waving eagerly to the boys. The way her eyes lit up the moment she saw Noctis? Yeah. I knew exactly how she felt.

Especially since it was painfully obvious that Noctis was irrevocably in love with Luna…

"Rayne!"

I looked up, seeing Iris excitedly hurrying down the porch steps and then running over to greet me. I staggered a bit at the unexpected hug, unsure how to respond. I awkwardly patted Iris on the top of her head before she pulled back.

"It's 'bout time the boys found you and brought you home!"

I shot a glare toward Noctis.

"I'm just tagging along for a ride right now, Iris. I told you, I can't stay with Talcott and you. It isn't—"

"Safe, yeah. I know. I've heard it a thousand times since Lestallum."

I rubbed the back of my neck now.

"Sorry… you know I care about Talcott and you too much. If I'm around you guys for too long…"

"Vague darkness and dangers will come after us. Yeah, yeah." Iris teased me, winking. "But I noticed you're here. I take it a certain freckled, bubbly blond had something to do with that?"

"Iris!"

She giggled, dodging me as I made a grab for her.

"Get back here you little twerp!"

"Gotta catch me first!"

Thus our game of chase began — I heard Gladiolus snort as Iris dodged me, using her skills as a daughter of the Amicitias to evade me with ease. It didn't help she was smaller than me. I tripped, nearly ending up with a mouth full of dirt if it hadn't been for the fact I tripped right into someone else.

A certain prince, who caught me, immediately grimaced, and then dropped my ass onto the dirt.

Lowkey had a feeling that was payback from the stable incident when we were eight.

Ass.

"Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to drop a lady in the dirt?"

"The only lady I see around here is Iris."

"Say that to my face, stupid jerk!"

I pitched one of my boots at the back of Noctis' head, but he warped and dodged it, letting my boot fly through the air and land — you guessed it — right into a tree. Alas, my mortal enemy — heights. More specifically, climbing. Wasn't exactly my forte. I could get into the tree no problem. It was getting down that would be the issue.

"Oi, Gladio. Do me a solid and get that for me?"

"Little Miss Independent who don't need no man needs a man?"

"Shut your face, Prince Nauseous."

"Sorry, shrimp. You're on your own. Unless somebody wants to try his own prince charming act." Gladiolus smirked toward Prompto.

"No offense, Prom, you're not exactly cut out for this job."

"Rude! I didn't ask to be short!"

"We're the same height?!"

"Enough already! Your childish squabbling is merely wasting daylight."

Ignis had reached the tree, retrieving my boot with ease, before he handed it to me. I yanked it back onto my foot, brushing the dirt off the back of my shorts before I moved to head to the lighthouse. I wasn't so sure me tagging along on this little boat ride was the best idea. If I didn't watch my mouth, then Noctis would be using me as fish bait. That or Gladiolus was going to yeet me overboard.

Why did I agree to go with them again?

One glance over my shoulder and the answer was right there, snapping away candid shots of Noctis with the wind in his hair.

Ugh. I was hopeless. Completely and utterly hopeless.

"Time to go. Move it, Rayne, or you can stay here and babysit Talcott."

"I'm comin', I'm comin'!"

Worst. Decision. Ever.