Prompto set his camera down and leaned back against the park bench. He closed his eyes against the cloudless sky, letting the sun warm his skin. The light breeze carried with it the sweet smell of spring blossoms. The quiet chatter of birds would barely be noticeable to passer-by's not taking the time to sit and listen.
With only three weeks of high school remaining, the blond was certain he was going to miss these lazy afternoon strolls home. This park was almost like his own personal haven. Well off the beaten path, his visits here usually afforded him the luxury of solitude. It was where he did most of his thinking, and not to mention taken some of his very best photos. When school ended, he would need to find a job. Things would get busy. There would be little time for afternoon walks, or spontaneous photo sessions at the park.
~Vroom, vroom~
Prompto's thoughts were interrupted by the special notification sound reserved especially for Noctis ever since the day his father had given him the Regalia as an early graduation gift. Noct sure loved revving that engine nice and loud before tearing asphalt out the driveway. King Regis was no doubt regretting his decision ever since.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, Prompto leaned over to afford himself enough shade to see the screen.
N: What's up?
P: At the park. Grabbing some shots on the way home. (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b You?
N: Not much. Asked Luna to prom…
P: And? What did she say?
N: Yes, of course.
P: Sweet! Congratulations man! So happy for you guys. ヽ(∀ )ノ
N: Meh, whatever. At least now Gladio will finally shut up about it. What about you?
P: I told you before, not going.
N: I can hook you up if you need a date. Iris maybe? Just tell me who.
P: Sooo not interested dude.
N: You know you have to. It's supposed to be the best night ever. And I need my wingman.
P: Trust me. Prom is best left to the popular crowd… and princes, of course. (･ω)
N: Common man, it's prom. If I have to suffer through it, you are coming with.
P: Nope, still not going!
N: Fine. Dropping it. ╮( ˘ ､ ˘ )╭
Prompto sighed and tucked his phone back into his pocket. He stood from the bench, stuffing his camera into his school bag and beginning the rest of his walk home. The blond stopped short in front of the candy shop window that taunted him every afternoon. Noctis was going to prom with Luna. With Luna. The blond imagined he should feel happy for his best friend. So why was there a tight knot forming in his throat? Pushing the feelings aside, he decided it was nothing a giant bag of candy couldn't fix.
Prompto offered a self-conscious "Hey," to the young woman behind the counter who had startled him with an enthusiastic greeting, and blushed, taking out his phone and fumbling through old messages in an effort to appear too busy for chit-chat. He knew that, had he been interested in going to the prom, chit-chat would have been the very least of the requirements in acquiring a date. But the fact was, whilst he could blag his way through life where absolutely necessary with smiles and jokes and acting the fool, it was quite frankly tiring. He sometimes wondered whether he managed to lose all that weight through the sheer exhausting effort of pretending to be happy-go-lucky for so long.
Deciding that he didn't need to pretend to text in order to look distracted, he thumbed through to Noct's message log as he cast a brief eye over the jars of brightly-coloured bon-bons and chocolates, and typed a few new words.
P: Noct, dude, order me not to buy these sweets before I regret waking up tomorrow as a fat little Garula.
N: Fat Garulas are cute.
P: Wow. Didn't know the prince was into that sorta thing.
N: What can I say? I'm full of surprises. (⌐■_■)
P: Ok your majesty, one giant bag of candy coming right up! ( ・・)つ-●●●
N: Better save some for me.
Two hours later, Prompto sat in front of his laptop on the verge of needing a doctor for his massive sugar overdose. His stomach was starting to protest as he had binge eaten all of his share of the sweets, as well as the prince's. He crumpled up the empty bags, tossing them in the trash so he wouldn't need to see them and feel guilty. There would be plenty of time for that at school tomorrow when Noctis asked him for his candy.
That one final biology assignment he'd hoped to crank out tonight was looking more impossible by the minute. Giving up, he closed his computer and rubbed his temples hoping to dull the migraine that was setting in. He wondered what Noctis would wear to prom. Certainly, he'd choose to wear black, and no matter what he wore, he would look great. Great with Luna.
And naturally, Noctis would end up as Prom King, no doubt. Regardless of the fact that he didn't really have any friends apart from Prompto (his own words), and that the few people who were brave enough to speak to him only wanted to get selfies with him or some sort of royal gossip, he would probably win the vote anyway. With Luna as his Queen, another obvious shoo-in with her perfect hair and skin and grades and popularity.
The thought of the flawless couple made Prompto's stomach wrench reactively, and he managed to feel even more queasy than before. He got up wearily and pushed open his window, ramming the swollen frame in just the right place to avoid it sticking, and sighed happily at the cool early-evening breeze that assailed him, making him shiver pleasantly. Feeling a little less nauseous, he pulled his phone from his jeans and tapped out another message to his best friend.
P: Gods save me from zygotes and chromosomes and ALL SCIENCE EVER ლ(¯ロ¯"ლ
The blond waited anxiously, staring at the screen of his phone for the prince's reply. He realized how pathetic he was, hanging on Noctis' every word like a starved puppy. He just couldn't ever get enough. Worse than an addict jonesing for another hit, he went to his photos and browsed through the ones of himself and Noctis together. There was that knot in his throat again, when he thought of how photogenic Noctis and Luna would be in their prom pictures.
Several minutes passed with no response and Prompto felt his heart sink. Knowing Noctis, he had probably fallen into one of his epic naps and wouldn't be heard from for the rest of the night. Giving up, Prompto decided he would distract himself with some King's Knight. Maybe he could beat Gladio's high score if he tried hard enough. It would certainly be sweet revenge for Gladio's harassment of Noctis about taking Luna to prom.
Prompto was in the process of upgrading his weapons on King's Knight with the few coins he hadn't already squandered on his character's outfit (shallow, but he hated being generic…he felt that his pixelated little pseud mirrored him in that way…all show, and no substance).
He was thumbing through the equipment options, tutting quietly at his lack of funds, when his phone buzzed sharply. He was briefly irritated by the interruption, before he glanced at the top of the screen and read the fresh message notification.
N: Ur just freaked out by all the reproduction stuff ( • )( • )ԅ(≖‿≖ԅ)
P: Hey man, no fair! I'm not freaked out, just… inexperienced? Lol
N: Yeah, you could stand to learn a thing or two from this master.
They both knew what an all-out lie that was, and Prompto tried to tame his laughter.
P: Sure, master. Whatever you say! XD
N: Brb, Luna's calling.
With a sigh, the blond returned to his game of King's Knight, thinking this is probably what he had to look forward to from now on. Taking second place to the princess was going to take some getting used to. He realized this was just the beginning of the inevitable. He was a fool to ever believe Noctis could be his alone forever.
N: Shit. Luna just cancelled.
P: What? For real?
N: Yep. Said she hadn't checked her schedule b4… the date conflicts with the Fleuret family coronation…
Prompto suddenly found himself awash with emotions. Guilt, for feeling oddly relieved. Disappointment, on behalf of his best friend who was no doubt looking forward to prom for his first real date. Anger, that anyone would be senseless enough to turn down a date with Noctis, let alone a date for prom of all things. It was beyond his comprehension.
P: I'm sorry dude. Wanna take the Regalia out for a spin and talk about it?
N: Ur the only one I can talk to.
P: Dude, get ur ass over here and pick me up. Srsly.
N: You only like me for my car ( ； ⌣̀_ ⌣́)
P: Yeah... the Regalia is pretty hawt.
N: Bring your camera. I wanna use it.
P: Deal. Now hurry up and get here already!
Twenty minutes later, Noctis was scrubbing his eyes and fluffing his messy black hair as he halted his car with a thrumming jolt, satisfyingly noisy, outside Prompto's apartment. He pushed open the heavy door, taking a deep breath of the crisp, blue, breezy evening air before bundling himself out onto the narrow street, slamming the Regalia's door behind him. Feeling altogether too lethargic to go to his best friend's door, he sent a languid text.
N: Here.
Prompto was scrambling to get his things together when he heard the screeching tires outside, signalling Noctis' arrival. As his phone started going off, he went through his mental checklist before jetting out the front door of his building.
'Wallet? Check. Keys? Check. Charging cord for the camera, in case we run out of juice? Check. Hair styled perfectly? Oh yeah, baby!' he thought with a grin as he stopped for a second to look back at the glass doors to check himself out.
Noctis smirked as he leaned against the glossy door of the car, anticipating, through experience, his best friend's self-conscious, extended routine. He folded his arms before peering up at Prompto's apartment, thumbing instinctively a final text.
N: Get a move on. You look fine.
As Prompto made his way down the walk toward the Regalia, he saw Noctis leaning against the car looking as if he were a model belonging on one of the many billboards around Insomnia. His raven hair was shining in the light of the setting sun, the gentle breeze blowing his bangs ever so slightly in front of his eyes. Prompto tried unsuccessfully to quell the fluttering in his chest. He wondered how he got so lucky. Although he knew he'd probably have some work cut out for him to cheer up the prince after practically being dumped before his first date even got started, Prompto was still excited to spend time with his best friend. He decided to make it his own personal mission to ensure Noctis had forgotten all about Luna by the time he went home tonight.
"Hope you're prepared from some royal moping," Noctis chuckled, offering the blond a dry smile. "I wanna borrow your camera, too. Wanna take the wheel?" he asked, gesturing one pale hand towards the smooth wheel of the Regalia.
"Ok sure, but does this mean we can go wherever I say?" Prompto asked with a grin.
"...You wanna go to that city farm with chocobos?" Noctis asked, offering a sweet chuckle, and unfolding his arms.
Although the prince had totally called it, and Prompto was 100% guilty as charged, he moved quickly to Plan B. "Actually, there's somewhere else I'd like to show you."
Noctis' delicate features pulled into a playful, fond grimace, and he shrugged carelessly. "I leave it in your hands...famous last words," the Prince muttered, slapping the blond on his backside on his way to the driver's seat, sniggering.
Once inside the car, Prompto gripped his fingers around the steering wheel with excitement. It wasn't every day he was afforded the luxury of driving Noctis' new, pimped-out ride. Despite any royal moping he may be subject to from the passenger's seat, he knew this was going to be fun. As he turned the key, he gave the car some gas and listened to the engine roar. Shooting the prince an intriguing smile, they pulled away from the curb towards his chosen destination.
"So," Noctis uttered loudly, over the buffeting breeze that assaulted them, which flurried their styled hair and stole their breath as they sped along the quiet street. "Any clues?"
"It's somewhere you've never been before, but I go there all the time," the blond offered up.
"...So...a brothel?'" Noct chuckled, pressing his own knuckle against his lips as he amused himself with his teasing.
"Very funny," the blond replied, humorously rolling his eyes. "You'll see when we get there!"