Author's Note: Thank you for reading my first Final Fantasy XV adventure, inspired by a Let's Play of Final Fantasy XV, several Promptis fics on archiveofourown, and a newborn love of the series' most adorable critter, Prompto Argentum.

Warning: Noctis is out-of-character here, a little more talkative than he is in the game and definitely more than he is in Brotherhood. If you believe fanfiction should stick strictly to canon, I suggest turning back now, as this adventure won't delight you at all.

This pokes at Prompto's backstory, highlighted in his Brotherhood episode. If you haven't seen the episode, read about his background. His childhood. You need to.

I haven't seen the episode yet, but I'm afraid to because I'm afraid it'll be really sad.

No monarch could have ever given him what he discovered, the moment they met.

The moment they locked eyes was the moment he found a world far outside his own, a story in which infinite possibilities beckoned him, pleaded with him to leave the world he was forced into. In the second their eyes remained on each other, time stopped and allowed him to breathe, to believe in something other than titles, rules and regulations.

It was in that second he found vigor, electricity and life, gifts sorely missing from the existence he was forced to carry. The gifts were hidden beneath a white-hot fear of the unknown, but he felt it, sensed the need to grab life by the horns and dive right in. The kind of energy sorely missing from the agenda he had to shoulder. The one responsible for breathing life into Noctis' tired lungs dusted off their first meeting, acting as if a certain timid, portly student never even existed, but the prince held onto it. Held onto that first glance, their first words exchanged, hallmarks that forever changed his life.

Prompto reminded him to breathe whenever he wanted to forfeit his claim to life, with no small amount of hesitation. The least he could do was attempt to bake a (somewhat decent) batch of Choco Puffs.

The bus ride through a snow-kissed palace ended. Thoughts of his friend continued to kiss every crevice of his mind, as he stepped off the public transit among throngs of fervent admirers. Wishing a certain blonde had come with him, as a reminder to keep himself from asking Ifrit to burn down the kingdom, Noctis stormed through the snowy clouds, groceries in arms. It wasn't long before his much-needed sanctuary came into view, calling out to him, promising him the world would be silenced the second he set his hand on the doorknob. With a deep breath, he set his hand on that very doorknob, anxiously waiting for the fruits of that promise. Familiar serenity instantly greeted him, prompting him to exhale, but a rather surprising sight also greeted him.

Noctis set down his groceries. "Ignis. Mind telling me what you're doing?"

As expected, his sweet-as-pie caretaker returned the serve. "Would you mind telling me what you're doing, shopping at the local market?" he asked, forever stern, conducting yet another symphony in the kitchen.

"I already purchased a sufficient amount of nourishment. I thought I made that quite clear."

"You make everything 'quite clear', Your Highness," the prince huffed, part aggravated, mostly playful. He swept his groceries back into his arms and plopped them on the nearest kitchen counter, eyeing the ever-vigilant chef. "You always do. I just thought I'd do something myself for a change. You know, for Prompto's party."

The younger man lifted an eyebrow at Ignis. "There. I told you what I'm doing. Now it's your turn to share."

The amount of focus Ignis put into every task rivaled the focus a monarch instilled into battle. "Creating our contribution for the occasion," he replied, hands storming through another recipe as if he were crafting a new world, executing every step with such iron-clad precision it was divine.

Noctis scowled at him. "Our contribution?"

The chef eyed the prince as if he had just suggested defacing an ancient monument. "Yes, because the last time I checked, you were incapable of boiling water. And I believe that was proven to me just yesterday."

Noctis was never known to back down from a challenge, great or small. "That was an accident," he retaliated, imagining himself burning holes through his caretaker's skull.

"I witnessed the last twenty two 'accidents', Noct. Accidents they were not."

"Well, then, you're about to witness my first triumph. We're going to Prom's party and I'm not about to skirt by on you making something for both of us. It's about time I take a stab at whipping something up. Besides. Everyone's expecting me to rule someday. If I can't bake Choco Puffs, won't I just be the failure everyone's expecting me to be?"

When it came to his duties as the Prince of Lucis, Noctis didn't have too many favorable opinions. As in, none at all. Ignis had a few things to say on that matter, as in enough to fill twenty tomes, but the prince's guardian always remained silent. Instead, he moved onto the subject that put smiles on both of their faces. Ignis kept his smile hidden, of course, but it was mutual light nonetheless. "So you're going to incinerate the kingdom whilst baking your friend's favorite treat?" he asked with a condescending tilt of the head. "Charming. Your father will be thrilled."

Ignis' fearless rival made his way into the kitchen, unloading vanilla and flour. "My father's not thrilled by too much of anything, so no worries there. I was going to work my magic without to cheer me on, but since you've decided to grace my presence, why don't we go at it together? After you finish whatever you're doing now."

"Peppery Daggerquill rice. If you haven't been paying attention to me thus far, you have no business in the kitchen."

"Yeah, yeah," the prince sigh, rustling his friend's hair with a quick hand. "I know."

Noctis made a temporary retreat from the battlefield to wash up, wanting to get rid of the grime from the outside world. The familiar melody of Ignis crafting another symphony wafted through his home, the chopping and dicing calming him like a lullaby. The water he splashed over his face and chest erased the outside world's noise and the clamor inside his mind, bringing him off the throne and into a world of gentle sound. Memory. Warmth and kindness. Ignis didn't offer his friendship freely, unlike a certain blonde that had just invited everyone to a Christmas party, but his friendship was welcome all the same. Needed, like the light coursing through Eos' veins. Like the warm, familiar serenity streaming through his apartment.

If Ignis had to choose between standing with him or his father, he'd probably choose the latter. But his caretaker's friendship would remain an even greater treasure than any jewel, as long as it was given.

Shelving the end of Ignis' comforting presence, placing it alongside his responsibility of taking the crown, Noctis withdrew from his aquamarine sanctuary. In mere moments he returned to the battlefield, where a certain crafty brunette was putting the finishing touches on yet another magnificent bed of rice. The prince cocked an eye at the sight of the dish. His dishes are always delicious. The least he could do is be, I don't know, a LITTLE excited about them. Smile, even. Nah, asking too much.

The chef of the house eyed him, as though he were an errant child returning to class five minutes late. "So. Feeling better, I take it?"

"You take it well, sir. And I take it you'll need a break, before we start the Puffs?"

Noctis swore he caught a glimmer of a smile. "Not at all."

"Right. You could do it all day if you had to."

He snatched some of the rice with a spoon, taking great care not to upset the colorful masterpiece's delicate balance. He fell silent for a moment, mind and heart returning to a certain blonde waving three men off, smile warmer and far more radiant than any treasure Eos could cook up. "That was the first time, you know," he said, speaking not only to Ignis but to himself as well.

"The first time he's ever invited anyone to his house. I haven't even been there yet."

He thought. Thought of the one that was once so afraid of stepping outside, yet was so eager, so desperate to taste life and all of its riches. Thought of the one that rescued him, healed him, liberated him from a world that knew only the title his father was about to hand him.

Ignis settled a hand on his shoulder.

"Well then, all the more reason for me to keep an eye on you this afternoon. We can't have you taking your friend's life on this grand occasion, now can we?"