Who knew one man snores could induce earthquakes? Laying on his side, Prompto counted the cracks in the dry wall hoping the repetitive action would eventually pull his eyelids down, casting the curtains of sleep. However, with every inhale Gladio took, the floor boards rattled from the immense vibrations.
Stupid rock, paper, scissors, Prompto complained though with no one to complain to.
Luck was never a friend of his, and she proved him right that night. While Prompto understood that they had to keep a low profile it would have been great if King Regis had given them just a bit more funds for a decent hotel and not this run down shithole somehow classified as a motel. The heater didn't even work. The desert weather of Longwythe was deceptive as hell – hot in the day, frigid at night – and the bare floors clung to the cold. Prompto rolled over to his stomach and observed Ignis sprawled over the couch, his legs extending over the armrest. Propping himself up on his elbow, jealous eyes roamed over Noctis's sleeping form – the winner of the bed. Oh the gloating that resulted when him clenched the victory in the game of chance. Round two was for the couch, which was the only other thing that contained soft cushions. The little full sized bed was not accommodating for a second person, especially with Noctis's habit of extending his limbs out to occupy the fill width of the mattress.
Another round of deep snorts tugged on Prompto's last nerves. The larger man was lucky Prompto didn't try to smother him. Even though Noctis had the reputation to sleep through anything, including the apocalypse, Prompto was unsure how the ever vigilant Ignis was not disturbed by the noise.
I'm not gonna to get any sleep like this.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Prompto gathered up his pillow and marched to the side of the bed.
"Noct," he whispered while gently pushing on Noctis's shoulder. Nothing. Suppressing his disappointed whimper, Prompto nudged him again. "Noct?"
"Mmm," he managed to respond.
"I can't sleep," Prompto whined softly, fearing of arousing either of the crownsguards, especially Gladio. The big brute had a way of overreacting to situations. Though being charged with guarding the crown prince's life had a way of making one insanely overprotective.
Noctis slowly half-way opened one eye and stared at his friend's pleading face. "What's wrong?" he muttered.
"I'm cold, the floor's hard, and Gladio's snores might have caused a zombie swarm. I'm going to be dead tired tomorrow." Prompto stopped short of begging to crawl under the covers with Noctis; he had some dignity.
"Just push Gladio a bit. When he switches to his side, the snoring will stop. And scoot closer to him; his body is like a freaking heater. You should stay warm that way."
Despite the sensible suggestions, Prompto refused to budge. Instead he stared at Noctis's disheveled hair pointing in various directions. Sensing Prompto's presence, Noctis's eyes fluttered open so that Prompto's sky blue eyes stared into Noctis's steel blue pair, which seemed to glow even in the dark. Prompto pushed out his bottom lip while his eyes softened like a puppy dog begging for attention. To hell with dignity.
Sighing, Noctis shifted his body over to one side and flipped up the blanket. The bed barely accommodated the two slim men. Prompto buried his freezing nose into Noctis's neck, earning him an annoyed groan but soon relaxed. Prompto wrapped his arms around Noctis, resting his hands against the middle of Noctis's back. Why Gladio gave Noctis so much shit about having a scrawny body was beyond Prompto. While built lean and long, Prompto felt the grooves of well chiseled lats. Strong biceps pulled Prompto against firm pecs. Noctis's right arm fit perfectly under the groove of Prompto's neck, giving him plenty of support. Heat rolled off of Noctis's body, instantly thawing Prompto's soul, yet he still shoved his hands under Noctis's shirt, which again induced a soft hiss of displeasure at being invaded by the icy appendages.
"So what is this really about?" Noctis groggily murmured. The only reason Prompto heard him at all was thanks to their close proximity. "Gladio would have made a perfect bedtime buddy. I can vouch on his behalf."
"But," Prompto began but then withdrew as if a turtle trying to hide in its shell. "He's a bit of jerk. He picks on me a lot…"
"He picks on everyone. You've seen how he mercilessly taunts me."
"Yeah but you grew up with him. I barely know the guy."
"You're being stupid. You've known him for five years."
"Only in passing. I saw him occasionally and each time it was to summon you to the Citadel. Not to hang out or anything. He so big and intimidating. I was never comfortable around him. I still get paranoid with him sitting directly behind me in the car. You know how easy it would be for him to get me in a choke hold and break my neck?"
Noctis rolled his eyes though in their current position with Prompto's head directly under his chin there was no way for Prompto to perceive his reaction. Instead Noctis ran his hand in small circles along the bottom of Prompto's back, just above his pelvis. Perhaps Noctis was making light of the issue. It has only been a few short weeks on the road – not nearly enough time for Prompto to truly develop a comfort level with either Gladio or Ignis. After all, even after a year friendship, Prompto even used to pull out of Noctis's embrace.
- Four Years Prior -
Despite the high intensity action of the movie, Noctis's attention was firmly trained on Prompto. From the corner of his eye, he spied Prompto practically curled up in a ball, pressing himself as much as possible into the corner of the sofa. For two guys sitting on a loveseat, there was too much space between them. Prompto's gaze seemed even more distant as he seemed to be peering past the television. How could someone look so dismal lounging around during winter holiday break? The tension was more than Noctis could tolerate. Grabbing the remote he paused the movie and shifted his body ninety degrees to face his friend. Prompto met his stare with his brows knitted together in confusion.
"What's going on?" Noctis demanded. Perhaps too harshly if Prompto's flinching was any indication. Maybe Specs was right about needing to work on my tone.
"It's nothing," Prompto brushed Noctis off but the falter in his voice betrayed his words.
Noctis crossed his arms stubbornly – his signal that he was putting his foot down. Tilting his head back, Prompto stared at the ceiling. The last thing he needed was a pity fest from his royal best friend. Prompto turned to read the clock on the wall – quarter to ten.
"They're not even the slightest bit worried," he muttered.
Noctis tilted his head slightly as he attempted to decode the cryptic remark. Quiet once again descended as Prompto made no attempt to elaborate. Awkward silence was not his friend as Noctis often struggled to find the right words. Diplomacy is going to be his worst enemy when he becomes king. Luckily for him, Prompto turned his head and proceeded to fill in the blanks for him.
"My parents ought to be home by now. Probably have been for a while. I didn't leave a note or text to notify them where I was. They would have arrived to an empty house, and they haven't bothered to try to call me."
Noctis mulled over Prompto's observation. Having people constantly standing over his shoulder, Noctis routinely wiggled his way out of the suffocation to find his own solitary refuge. Not having his father, or his attendants, constantly checking in on him was a breath of fresh air. Yet the reverse had his friend on edge.
Seeing the confusion on Noctis's face, Prompto continued, "It's just that I sometimes I feel like they don't even notice me. Like I don't really exist anymore. I get that they have demanding lives. Working multiple jobs just to make ends meet keeps them away a lot. But it seems like the older I get, the less present they are."
Prompto paused briefly as he reflected over the changes he mentioned. How his parents were growing into more like ghosts in his memories.
"My mom used to at least cook meals and left them in the fridge for me. Reheated food is not as great as fresh home cooking but at least she felt closer that way. For my birthday, they used to leave a little wrapped up gift for me but this year I didn't even get a card."
Noctis winced as he scrambled to remember when Prompto's birthday was. Was he really that shitty of a friend that he didn't know when to buy him a present?
"Sometimes I just wonder if I disappeared, ran away or something, if they would even notice."
The knife not only struck him deep into his heart, but agonizingly twisted around and around. Noctis just couldn't fathom how such parents would stop giving a damn about their own child. Sliding over, closing the gap between them, Noctis wrapped his arms around Prompto only to have the boy slither out of his grasp, landing on the floor with a thud in the process.
"Uh," Prompto raced to find his words as his face heated up. Pink began staining his face. "Um, Noct…wow…I, uh…I'm flattered and all. Honestly I didn't know you swung that way. But seriously, a pity fuck is pretty uncool."
"Whaaat?" Noctis's voice trailed off as his brain raced to catch up in processing what just happened. "What?! No! That's not what…that wasn't what I was trying to do. I was just trying to comfort you…because you looked sad…just wanted to show you someone did care!"
Prompto's face faltered, disbelief settled into his features. "Who the hell starts cuddling if they're not looking for sex?!"
"Normal people, you dumbass!"
Noctis suddenly wished he could take back his words when Prompto's face fell, hurt by the insult. Was the boy so deprived that even human touch was alien to him. Scooting himself to the floor, Noctis softened his features as well as his voice.
"When I used to feel down, being that I was sad or got hurt, my dad would pull me into his lap and rubbed my back while hugging me. When he wasn't around, Ignis used to do the same thing. It didn't matter how much I cried; they wouldn't let me go until I signaled that I was feeling better. It's reassuring to know someone is there for you…with no strings attached."
Genuine confusion filled shifty eyes. Prompto wrung his hands together uncertain of what to do next.
"Look, I won't force it onto you but it you ever need a hug, I'll always be there for you. Promise."
The warm smile must have hooked Prompto, like a fish catching the bait. While hesitant, Prompto slowly inched himself closer until he sat next to Noctis and waited. Carefully watching his reactions, Noctis embraced his friend. Prompto's muscles tensed but stayed put, allowing Noctis to pull him in closer so that his ear rested above Noctis's heart. The steady thumping was hypnotic, and the trance began pulling his eyelids shut. The minutes passed quietly as Noctis began running his fingers through Prompto's golden locks. Noctis was convinced Prompto had fallen asleep until a hushed voice broke the calm.
"Thank you."
"Anytime," he responded.
- Present -
True to his word Noctis could never turn Prompto away. Especially now that Prompto was beyond the walls of Insomnia for the first time in his life. The uncharted territory was a terrifying terrain of unknowns: strangers, crossroads to different destinations, wild animals, and who knows what else, all the while with war constantly looming over them. Noctis felt it too – a mixture of excitement and terror of not knowing what's around the corner. Honestly, he needed a hug as much as the man now fast asleep in his arms. Repositioning his head deeper into his pillow, Noctis soon found himself drifting off as if his spirit was leaving his body. All the while a sleepy crownsgaurd had stirred in time to catch Prompto infiltrate the prince's bedsheets though he feared it was best to confront the manner in the morning when there was not the potential to awaken slumbering neighbors.