A/N: Haaaaa...this has been almost completely written since I posted the first bit. It just took me forever to finally get around to typing it out. ^^;
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Prompto has daydreamed about this trip since the moment Cindy first brought the idea up. They've ranged from goofy and romantic to ridiculous and x-rated and just about everywhere in between. What he hadn't expected, however, was for it to end up, exactly as Noct had said, to be just another really long car ride.
The vast expanse of desert flies by them, nothing but the faint tones of the radio and the swishing wind in his hair to fill the silence. The conversation had died over an hour ago, leaving him bored and restless. One leg bounces against the floorboard and his cheek rests against his fist where his elbow is propped against the door. He can't help but steal a glance of the back seat through the mirrors.
Noct, of course, is sound asleep, head lolling with the slightest shift of the car, but Gladio's head is leaning against his own hand as he buries his nose in his book. Wedged between them, Cindy scribbles away in a notebook she'd brought along. Her head lifts, and Prompto swivels his eyes back to the scenery before she can catch him staring. He gives it a few minutes before he deems it safe enough to look again. He really can't help it. All the really nice views around are way off the roadside, but Cindy's right there. And he's still kind of in awe of that.
It may not be the exciting trip he'd hoped for—not that he even knows what that was exactly—but it's only just begun, and he has at least managed to learn a little bit more about her. He still can't believe that Holly of all people is the aunt she'd mentioned. Not a blood relation or anything, she'd said. Just that she and Cindy's mom had been really good friends when they'd both worked at the power plant together. In Lestallum. Where Cindy had apparently been born and raised before Cid had taken her in.
It's a small world.
There's still camp tonight, though, and the hotel tomorrow, too. So he has plenty of time to get the chance to interact with her. Preferably one-on-one for some part of it. They're going to be camping up near Alstor for the night, and yeah, sure, there are some really swampy and crummy places around the lakes there, but he knows a few spots with killer views. His favorite just so happens to showcase one of the most spectacular sunsets he thinks he's ever seen. The way the sun dips between the Duscaen arches, those molten hues leaking around stone and casting any catoblepas nearby in silhouette against the horizon leaves him breathless every time. He's got the pictures, but they don't do the real thing justice as far as Prompto is concerned. It makes the muggy atmosphere and admittedly somewhat slightly precarious climb worth it.
Prompto's still thinking about it by the time Ignis finally pulls off the road. It's as close as he can get them to the trail head without risking damage to the car. The haven is about two miles out through a dense thicket of trees and brush, the path that leads to the clearing on the other side well worn thanks to constant visits from Hunters and travelers alike. He thinks Cindy will like it.
He hops out of the car, stretches out his arms, and twists side to side a few times to loosen up his cramped muscles while Ignis moves to pry a still drowsy prince from his seat. Cindy climbs out after Gladio and is halfway through hoisting a backpack from the trunk and onto her shoulders when she frowns down into the car. "Am I missin' somethin' here, or do you boys not need any kind of tent or nothin'?"
Prompto's cheek twitches at her words, and Gladio lets out a good natured laugh of his own. The blond sidles up next to her and sees what she sees: that the trunk is devoid of any bags other than her own. He knocks his elbow into hers. "It's all part of Noct's freaky prince powers."
"It's not freaky," Noct bites back. It's hard to take him seriously, though, when he's just barely able to stand without Ignis' assistance and raises a hand to rub the sleep out of his eyes. It's all Prompto can do not to laugh.
"Dude. Maybe not to nobles and the royalty born to wield them. But to us plebs," he gestures a hand between himself and Cindy who still looks bemused at the whole exchange, "it's kiiiiiiiiiiinda freaky."
"I don't even know what you boys're talkin' about," she tells him with a laugh.
"We keep our supplies stored within the Armiger," Ignis offers. "We can do the same for yours, as well, if you'd like."
"The what-i-what?" She blinks, her face taking on a puzzled expression that Prompto can't help but find cute.
Ignis opens his mouth, but Gladio pushes passed him in the direction of the trail. "Well, you could have the long, drawn out, boring version if you want. But it might just be easier for Prince Charmless here to show you."
Still half asleep, Noct mumbles something that probably isn't even actual words, but he holds his hand out and complies. There's a flash of blue sparks, and the bag that stores their tent appears out of thin air. The look of awe that comes over Cindy's face has him melting just the same as her last.
"Whoa," she says after a minute. "That there's a pretty handy trick." She slips her shoulders through the straps anyways and adjusts the pack onto her back. "Think I might just go ahead and keep ahold of mine, though."
Prompto looks her over and frowns. "Really? You sure?"
The offer to carry it for her is on the tip of his tongue when she pats him on the arm. "I'm a big girl," she says before moving passed him to follow Gladio. "I reckon I can make it alright on my own. You four just pretend I ain't even here."
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The haven is empty when they reach it, which is always a relief to see. Sure, they've had the opportunity to meet some pretty cool people on the nights where they'd shared the space with others, but Gladio and Ignis always get super paranoid about it. Prompto doesn't blame them, what with Noct being wanted by the empire and supposed to be dead and all. That's not even taking into account the number of citizens in the outskirts of Lucis who had felt betrayed and abandoned at the king's decision to hand them over to the empire. So it's nice to know that they probably won't have to sleep in shifts or watch what they say or even worry about Cindy's safety.
Gladio starts on the tent while Noct sets their chairs up around the fire pit and Ignis pieces together his camp kitchen. Prompto hovers near the edge of the haven, feeling useless as he watches Cindy unload her own pack. He'd ask her if she wants any help, but he's pretty sure he already knows how that conversation will go by now. His eyes linger on the bunch of yellow curl that bounce against the base of her neck before drifting down to her shoulder blades and then even farther to the cinch of her waist. He runs a hand through the hair at the back of his head and turns away to face Ignis.
"I'm gonna go get some firewood," he says. "Be back in a bit." As soon as he receives a hum of acknowledgement, he hops over the shallow side of the haven and heads back out toward the tree line.
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He tests out a small branch, pushing it against the trunk of a nearby tree. When it splinters, he adds it to the pile in his arms, satisfied. What little bark is left on the outside is slightly soggy, but they should be able to get it dried out before their stash of ready to use firewood runs dry. He looks around through the mass of trees and frowns. There's still plenty of daylight left. The sky hasn't quite taken on the golden tones of impending dusk just yet. He's still got time to figure out how to ask Cindy about that sunset view.
The problem is that every way he thinks to do it, his crush comes off as super obvious, and the rest of the trip goes by in unbearable awkwardness after she realizes and politely turns him down. Maybe he's being paranoid again, but the more he thinks of it, the more he doesn't think a guy can take a girl to see a sunset and it come off as a just as friends type thing. Not that it's all he wants it to be or anything, but when—if—he ever lets her know how he feels, he wants there to at least be a slight chance that she might like him back.
Prompto tries to substitute any of his other friends in his mind and use that as a base, but it doesn't work. He'd drag Noct away against his will without even telling him why, but he's not close enough to Cindy to do the same. With Gladio the gay jokes would never cease and with Ignis? Yeah, he can't see that happening at all. He's pretty sure he'd just wait to show the pictures to the both of them later. He even tries subbing in Iris, a girl who's actually just a friend—practically a little sister to him—but it's too late, and he's been overthinking it too much for it to work. He's no longer sure if it's something he'd even ask her anyways, much less whether or not he'd feel weird about it, in the end.
He wedges his boot beneath a small log and lifts it from the ground. This one's more than just slightly damp, though, and it's still half buried in the mud, so Prompto moves on, playing out new scenarios in his head as he continues his chore.
He's thinks he finally figures it out. He's got himself convinced that things could work out by the time he trudges his way back to camp. The sunset thing is maybe a bit much. But if he plays it off as going to find some good spots to photograph and asks if she'd be interested in checking out the area with him and they both just happen to stumble across that particular rock when the sun makes it's final decline in the distance, well. Prompto thinks that'll be perfect.
His mood brightens despite the waves of anxiety rolling through his chest at the thought of actually asking her. The worst part will probably be the fact that he'll be trying to ignore his friends' knowing smirks while he does it. Even worse if they all witness his failure if Cindy isn't interested. But if she is, it'll all be totally worth it.
Prompto's planning out the entire trip in his head, how exactly to make sure they end up at their final destination at the perfect possible moment when he runs into Noct and Cindy at the base of the haven.
"There you are," Noct says, but his voice is somewhat strained, and he looks cornered.
Prompto looks from Noct to Cindy and back again. "Hey, guys," he says slowly. He's beginning to think he doesn't really want to know the answer when he follows it up with, "What's going on?"
Cindy's the one who answers. "The prince here was about to go off for some fishin', and I asked to tag along. Don't get to see mucha that out in the desert, you know."
Noct deliberately catches his eyes before saying, "I told her it'd probably be pretty boring, but she still wants to go."
Cindy shrugs in response. "It can't be all that boring if you enjoy it so much." And those words are all it takes to take the wind out of Prompto's sails. He gets it. He really does. He'd thought the fishing thing was pretty cool at first, too. It's new and it's different and he's sure that Noct is secretly excited that someone's finally showing interest in his favorite hobby instead of griping about how boring it is and do they really have to sit around and wait for him now?
Even so, it leaves him feeling hollow knowing that he'd finally gathered the courage to ask her to do something with him and the opportunity has been swept right out from under his feet. Knowing Noct, he'll fish until the very last second of daylight.
"You...wanna come with?" Noct asks, and he manages to look both apologetic and hopeful.
Prompto considers it for a moment but ends up shaking his head. Forcing a smile, he says, "Nah, dude, you know me. I'll just scare them all off."
When the duo finally leave, Cindy's excitement urging on the guilty looking prince, Prompto continues standing where he is for a few minutes. There's a hard knot of disappointment settled low in his gut, and once the urge to beat his head against the wall of enchanted rock at his side passes, all he can do is let out a dejected sigh and climb up to the plateau above.
He leaves his collection next to the fire pit, barely noticing Gladio's nod of gratitude, and digs out his camera. He doesn't feel particularly inspired or in the mood, but he needs a reason to go off on his own for a while—again—without raising the other two's suspicions. Prompto isn't up to dealing with being called out on his sulking right now. So he offers them both what he hopes comes off as a cheery wave and heads out to be alone with his thoughts.
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"Mind if I watch?"
Prompto's sitting cross-legged right outside the crackling beginnings of a fire. He's haunched over the screen of his camera as usual, but his eyes immediately flick over to Cindy at the sound of her voice. She's eyeing the ingredients on Ignis' prep station with interest, and Ignis, always keen to share his knowledge and talents, steps aside and gestures to the vacated space.
"Certainly," he says. Then with a warm smile adds, "Would you, perhaps, care to help out?"
Her expression brightens, and she's by his side in an instant. "Sure would," she chirps. She picks up something from the table. A tomato, he thinks, but it's hard to tell for sure in the dim light of dusk from where he's sitting. "Whatever you got goin' on here looks mighty fancy. Wouldn't hurt me to try an' learn somethin' other than the three or four recipes me an' Paw Paw cycle through."
"If you'd like," Ignis begins, and he kneels down to grab a cutting board and pan from the storage below, "I would be more than happy to make copies of a few of my recipes for you to try out on Cid."
"Really? If it ain't any trouble, that'd be great."
"Very well, then." Ignis sounds beyond pleased. "Feel free to go through my collection on the drive tomorrow. I'll make copies when we arrive at town in the evening."
"Thanks! So whaddaya want me to do first?"
Prompto turns back to his camera as Ignis begins to give instructions. His stomach flops about unpleasantly at the scene he's just witnessed. Because of course he's the one who'd wanted her here the most, and he's barely had the opportunity to interact with her.
He frowns down at the display in his hands. There isn't much there, and what is was part of a halfhearted attempt to take his mind off his failed plans. Prompto deletes each one he comes across with barely a glance. They're uninspired and not worthy of the memory space, but the next one to pop up gives him pause.
It's actually a beautiful shot no matter how much it makes the queasy feeling in his gut intensify. He doesn't even know why he took it, to be honest. He'd just been hanging out on that outcropping of rock trying to convince himself that things would turn out better tomorrow when he saw it, and he hadn't been able to stop himself.
The brightness of the sun and the angle of the light it casts on them makes it almost impossible to tell that it's Cindy and Noct sitting there on the dock out in the distance. The lake does it's best to reflect the colors of the sky back at it, but the water isn't quite clear enough, so the tones are murky. Nothing a little editing couldn't fix, really. He thumbs over the delete button with warring feelings of regret and relief.
"So. Got anything good from today?" Noct asks, plopping himself in the chair behind him. He tugs the camera from Prompto's grip without waiting for an answer.
"Not really," Prompto responds. There's nothing he can do to keep Noct from seeing it without causing a scene, so he rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"That's unlike...you." Noct trails off, and Prompto refuses to up look at him, choosing instead to watch the spray of sparks that flicker to life as Gladio stokes the fire from across the way. The silence stretches on, nothing more than the chirping of crickets, the licking of flames, and Cindy's and Ignis' soft voices in the background. Then Noct holds the camera back out. His voice is strained when he says, "Guess you weren't kidding."
There's a laugh from over by the cooking station, and Prompto's eyes dart that way again.
"Tried to tell you, dude," he grumbles, and with that, he clicks off the power and shoves it in his lap, safe from any more prying hands.
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A/N: So I always assumed that Cid must've had a daughter since he and Cindy have different last names. But months ago I stumbled across a conversation in Takka's where some guys were talking about how he'd kind of secluded himself away after his son's accident. So now it's my head cannon that Cid's son rebelled a bit and went off to the big city, met Cindy's mom there, and ended up taking her name when they got married because Lestallum. :P
Also, Holly looks like she's probably somewhere in her forties, so why not make her a sort of mother figure while I'm at it. XD