Chapter 7: City Boys

"Ahh, this was really nice, Noct. Poor ol' Regalia was probably starting to feel rejected," Prompto said, raising his hands up and letting the breeze tickle his arms. It had been too long since they'd driven with the top down—two whole weeks, to be exact. A lot could happen in two weeks, as the boys had quickly discovered.

Lestallum turned out to be the perfect place for them. There were so many people, and although they were very welcoming, no one expected these town newbies to dish out their life stories. Even after the descriptions of 'the missing prince and his companion' had been released, they continued to live in Lestallum undetected. They weren't the only ones in the city who could have fit their descriptions, which kept them fairly safe; at the very least, the city folk were friendly enough that they felt safe.

After mingling with the people of Lestallum, trying their best to fit in, they'd been kindly informed that staying in an apartment there would be cheaper than staying in the Leville every night, so they did exactly that. They rented an empty apartment in one of the very furthest buildings from the city's entrance, and for the first time ever, they felt like a real couple.

They failed at making breakfasts together, woke up to morning kisses in the bed they shared, and fell asleep together watching television on the couch, or cuddling in bed listening to the music from the streets below. Inside the apartment, they had the best life that any young couple could ask for. Outside, they were forced to be more careful, and couldn't display their affections, just as Noctis had said, but it worked for them.

They loved the city, and the city loved them. The people were kind, and it was easy for them to blend in. That was all they'd wanted. In fact, they had begun to blend in so much, Prompto wondered if anyone from the Crown City would still recognize them at a glance.

They had bought new clothes to fit into the warm, Lestallum lifestyle, and Noctis had teased Prompto several times for becoming a little hippie. All that that really meant was that he wore more bold patterns, as well as an orange paisley bandana he'd bought to wear around his head, but he was fond of the bright garments, so he took the teasing in stride—not that Noctis really had room to make fun, since his wardrobe had become a lot more colorful over the past couple of weeks, too.

"I agree. This is nice," Noctis nodded, taking in the fresh air, and the lush forests on both sides of the road. "Still don't understand what Iris was doing in Lestallum, though. Talk about a close call."

"That was pretty funny, dude. The way you took off like that," Prompto laughed, thinking back to that afternoon. They'd been in the market, searching for some greens—yes, greens, because Prompto was going to make sure Noctis got some antioxidents into him if it meant hiding them in his morning pancakes. They had nearly finished shopping when they'd heard the girl's shrill voice.

"Noct?" Iris had asked, and Noctis had whipped around to see none other than Gladio's black-haired little sister, staring at him with such disdain, he thought she might be ready to beat him. It wouldn't have surprised him if she had, since she'd learned a lot from her brother, who probably would have done the same thing.

"Time to go," Noctis had said, whipping around as if he hadn't seen her at all, and hooking his elbow with Prompto's.

"Wha—? Duuuude!" Prompto had whined, as Noctis whisked him away from the merchant's stall. After that, they'd made a break for the Regalia, Noctis breathlessly filling Prompto in on the way. They dreaded the very idea of being caught, especially now that they'd made a life for themselves here.

"But I hope that doesn't mean Ignis and Gladio are in town somewhere, too," Prompto said thoughtfully, and Noctis leaned his head to the side as he considered it.

"Don't see why they would be. But then again, I don't see why Iris is, either." Noctis kept one hand on the wheel and shoved the other one through his hair, resting his elbow on top of the car door. He felt Prompto's hand reach over to touch his knee; that alone was progress, as Prompto still seemed to be having trouble accepting that he deserved Noct, and that Noct truly did care for him in ways far beyond friendship. Sometimes, he seemed shy to make the first move, but Noctis just made sure he was especially appreciative when he did.

"I'm sure she's just visiting. When we go home, she'll probably be gone, and everything will be fine," Prompto smiled, and Noctis switched his driving hand so he could pat Prompto's, the boy's lightly freckled fingers still resting on Noct's leg. Noct was still getting used to hearing Prompto call their little apartment in Lestallum 'home', but he loved the sound of it all the same.

"Yeah," he smiled, squeezing Prompto's hand tenderly, and feeling slender fingers twitch underneath his own. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Prompto's face light up with a warm smile.

"You know, Noct, while we're out anyway, we could always stop by that location for Vyv. Snap a few shots? Whaddaya say?" Prompto asked. Noctis nodded eagerly, as he could hear the pride and excitement in Prompto's voice.

Vyv was a journalist who had approached them after seeing Prompto taking shots from the lookout in Lestallum. He'd first asked some questions about Prompto's camera, and was blown away after seeing some of his shots. Noctis would never forget how much Prompto's confidence had been boosted that day, how much more he believed in his photographic talents after receiving such praise from a real publisher.

Vyv had hired Prompto after that as a photographer for his articles, giving him payment for each shot, which helped pay for his and Noctis' rent. Noctis had also started doing his part, driving to the nearest fishing spot and selling his catches to the vendors at the Lestallum market.

"Sure. Disc of Cauthess, right? Shot from the north?" Noctis asked.

"Wow, you actually paid attention?" Prompto marvelled, giving Noct a grin that was both amused and a little flattered.

"Well, it's fun to impress you," Noctis smirked, brushing his shoulder off proudly, and Prompto let out a cheery chuckle.

They continued driving, catching the refreshing scents of oak trees and long summer grass. Prompto leaned his head back to stare up at the bright blue sky, painted with puffy white clouds.

"Hmm," he mumbled a moment later.

"What?"

"That's odd. Another imperial ship on the move," the boy noted, eyes on the giant airship above. It was at least the third one they'd seen since that morning; one had been heading in the direction of Lucis, and two in the opposite direction towards Tenebrae.

"Great. Yet another thing to worry about," Noctis sighed. "First Iris, now imperials."

"Noct, pull over," Prompto instructed. Noctis didn't bother to ask why; he simply obeyed, knowing Prompto always had a reason for whatever he did, even if it was just a small act of kindness. Noctis parked on the side of the road, turned off the ignition, and faced Prompto expectantly.

"You're wound too tight, man. Come here," Prompto smiled, softly, hand motioning for Noctis to spin around in his seat. Noctis understood what he wanted, and he obeyed, turning toward his door, allowing Prompto access to his stiff shoulders. Prompto reached over and began to knead out the knots, earning a few noises from Noctis that were a little too pleasant.

"Damn, you're right. Didn't realize how stressed I've been until now," Noctis groaned, sucking in a sharp breath as Prompto pressed on a particularly painful spot.

"Aww, does that mean life with me stresses you out?" Prompto pretended to sulk.

"Of course not," Noctis shook his head, chuckling softly.

No, Prompto was the part of his life that kept him sane. As much fun as it was playing house, there was always the constant worry that they might be found. Noctis didn't like to bring it up, but Prompto now knew the dangers as well as he did; Prompto was the one who kept them both going with bright smiles and unfaltering optimism.

"You know what you need? A night on the town!" Prompto sounded delighted with his idea, and Noctis felt himself smile.

"Might not be a bad idea." He stretched his arms out in front of him, and Prompto ended his massage. Noct took in a deep breath and sensed the last of his tension working itself out as he exhaled.

He and Prompto had spent so much time settling into their new place and buying the necessities that didn't come with the rental, they hadn't had a lot of time for date nights—not that date nights could be all that involved when it wasn't safe for them to even hold hands in public. When they wanted to be together, they usually just curled up in bed and watched a movie on Prompto's phone, taking turns holding the phone above them so their arms wouldn't tire. Of course, neither would ever complain about the coziness of that setting.

Noctis turned back around to sit properly in his seat again, and his hand reached over to find Prompto's. Prompto allowed him to take it in his own and lace their fingers; Noct looked like he needed the small comfort. His head was flat against the headrest, his eyes on the road ahead, but his gaze appearing unfocused.

"You okay?" Prompto asked, softly, stroking the back of Noct's hand with his thumb. Noctis nodded against the headrest, still staring straight ahead.

"Just a little worried. If Iris is in Lestallum, she could always tell Gladio where we are."

"You sure she knew it was you?"

"Well, I didn't get a great look at her, so it's possible she didn't confirm it was me, but... It doesn't seem likely," Noctis sighed.

"Don't worry, okay, Noct? We'll figure this out. If we need to run, we'll run. But for tonight, let's just have some fun. We'll hit up the market, try some new foods..." Prompto suggested, and Noctis couldn't deny that the escape sounded good. He let out a relaxed hum of agreement.

"You do sell the idea pretty well," Noctis smiled. "But what about Iris?"

"Forget about Iris! If she spots us again, you can just warp us outta there, right?" Prompto asked, thrusting a fist out in front of him, imitating the way Noct moved when he used that kind of magic.

"Yeah," Noct chuckled, somewhat monotonously. "'Cause that's not gonna draw attention."

"It'll be fine, Noct. Trust me," Prompto grinned, looking over at Noct, who finally turned his head to look back. Noctis relaxed at the sight of those gentle eyes, and he let out a comforted sigh.

"I do."


"No sign of them," Ignis sighed, walking the long boardwalk from Galdin's resort with Gladio at his side. Gladio grumbled in response.

"How can a damn prince be so hard to find?"

"He's always been good at hiding," Ignis replied, grimly.

He could remember days in the palace when Noctis was younger and wanted to dodge his responsibilities—training, meetings, even meals when he knew he would be served something he didn't like. He'd discovered every nook and cranny in the palace, and would hide for hours. Now, he had the whole world as his playground and millions of locations at his disposal; who knew when and where they would find him.

Ignis was brought out of his thoughts when Gladio's phone rang with a familiar victory tune. Gladio stopped his trek along the boardwalk, motioning for Iggy to hold up.

"Hello?" he asked, giving the phone a swipe and holding it up to his ear.

"Gladdy?" A female voice rang out on the other end.

"Iris, hey! Tell me you're safe," Gladio rushed to sputter out.

"I'm fine, Gladdy, and so is Noct," Iris assured her brother. Ignis overheard the news, and stepped closer to Gladio, who lowered the phone so Iggy could listen in a little better.

"Where is he?" Gladio asked, urgently.

"I saw him this morning in Lestallum. I'm pretty sure Prompto was with him."

"Sounds about right," Ignis mused.

"Are you in the city, too?" Gladio asked, as Ignis waved him along, coaxing him back in the direction of the car. They jogged along the boardwalk now, feeling the need to follow their lead on the prince before the trail went cold.

"Yes. I'm staying at the Leville with Jared and Talcott," Iris told him.

"Alright. Stay put. We're on our way," Gladio said, ending the call as he jumped over the door of the car and swiftly into the passenger's seat. Ignis slid into the seat beside him and pulled his door closed.

"When I find Noct, he's gonna get the whoopin' of his life," Gladio growled as Ignis started the car. Ignis, ever level-headed, remained calm as they pulled out of the lot and hit the open road. He certainly didn't want to push much past the speed limit unless Gladio absolutely insisted.

"Remember, we don't know for certain why he's running. Let's not make him feel threatened."

"Hmph, don't hold me to that promise," Gladio huffed, his chin falling into his hand as they drove.


"Alrightie. The fun begins here!" Prompto announced, stepping into their apartment and kicking the door closed behind him. He was holding a big, brown grocery bag, his face pulled up into a huge and devious grin. Noctis was lounging on the bed, resting on his elbow, skimming through a fishing magazine while the news played through the radio. He'd had the urge to check in and make sure they hadn't been caught yet, even though Prompto had specifically told him not to stress himself out like that.

"Where did you even go?" Noctis queried in amusement, enjoying the sight of Prompto's mischievous smile. Prompto suddenly frowned at the sound of the news reporter's voice, which was currently messing with their place of zen.

"We've just received an update on the horrible tragedy that, just yesterday, devastated the city of—" The reporter was cut off as Prompto elbowed the power button, earning a frown from the prince on the bed. "Hey, I was listening to that."

"Thought I told you not to worry yourself today." Noctis shrugged uncomfortably; he couldn't argue with that.

"So, where did you go again? You didn't answer before."

Prompto hurried over to sit beside his friend, and reached into the bag that was still in his hands. Noctis' merriment returned as Prompto revealed a long, thin bottle of Lestallum's finest.

"To get this."

"Drinking? You? Don't you remember the last time?" Noctis asked.

He could have laughed at the memory of their graduation night, when Prompto had drunk like Gladio on holidays, except for the fact that Prompto had been so sick afterwards. It had been quite tragic, actually; Noct had never seen Prompto looking or feeling as terrible as he had that day. Noctis had stayed at his apartment to care for him until he no longer needed a bucket.

"Trust me, I don't plan to get that drunk. Ever again," Prompto said, holding a hand to his stomach in memory of the terrible incident. "Just thought you might need some help to loosen up."

"Oh, Prompto Argentum, you are full of surprises," Noctis sighed peacefully, pushing himself to sit up. He leaned his head over towards Prompto's and stared down at the label on the long, black bottle. 'Here's to the future that I wish to spend with you'.

"Prompto," he murmured, with a soft, adoring glance at his companion.

"Uh, whoa! Was that there the whole time?" he chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Didn't realize it said that."

"You sure?" Noctis asked, raising a suspicious brow. His mouth was quirked upward at the corner, looking almost hopeful as he stared at Prompto. Prompto couldn't lie to him, especially when the prince of Lucis, of all people, was flattered.

"Yeah, I knew," Prompto admitted with a shy chuckle. "Just didn't want you to think I'm a total sap, dude."

"Oh, I already know," Noctis smiled. "Come here."

Prompto willingly leaned in as Noctis reached for the back of his neck, and they kissed gently, but passionately. They pulled away hazy-eyed, and parted-lipped, and Noctis gave Prompto's neck a pat before letting his hand drift back down to the bottle. He took it from Prompto's hand, and held it out in front of him.

"To the future," he smiled.

"To the future," Prompto agreed, softly, as Noctis flipped the cork off with a loud pop.


Two hours and three tequila shots later in Lestallum market...

"Oh man, I need this!" Noctis said, pointing enthusiastically, elbow linking with Prompto's, which as a result, almost made Prompto fall forward. Luckily, he caught himself before it happened. Prompto stared incredulously at the item that Noctis was so enthralled with, and laughed.

"A tie? I thought you were running from a life of fancy clothes!"

"I am, which is exactly why..." Noctis trailed off, handing a sufficient amount of gil over to the merchant behind the booth, and taking the accessory off the table.

The long tie was navy with obnoxiously bright yellow and orange dots all over it. Prompto couldn't imagine the thing matching any of the outfits Noctis had ever worn in front of him, let alone the minimal selection of whatever he'd packed in his suitcase. Even the vibrant clothes he'd bought in Lestallum wouldn't be a good match for the colorful garment.

As the two stumbled a few steps away from the booth, Noctis unlaced his arm from Prompto's, and tied the tie in a perfect knot... around his head. Prompto raised a brow, mouth twisting into a curious smile, eyeing the tails that were hanging limply down the left side of Noct's face.

"I want to wear it like this," Noctis announced.

"Like a headband?" Prompto quizzed, his laughter coming out in a barely controllable giggle.

"Yep."

"You coulda' just bought one of these, you know." Prompto pointed to his orange bandana, which was still tied around his forehead, concealed only slightly by his blond bangs. Noctis, in his drunken state, couldn't come up with a good response to that, already forgetting that he'd been trying to make a statement against royalty and formal dress.

"Oh yeah," he admitted, letting out a snorting chuckle as he and Prompto doubled over in hysterics again.


"You sure you saw them head this way?" Gladio asked, eyes scanning in all directions for the boys in question. He followed close behind Ignis as they retraced their route to the market for the third time that night.

"I'm almost positive this time," Ignis replied, head spinning from one direction to another as he tried to spot their targets amongst the crowd.

"No offense, Iggy, but I'm not convinced," Gladio sighed, but was cut off by an urgent tap on his arm.

"Gladio, look there!" Ignis shot in a whisper. He tugged Gladio in against the nearest wall, still in view of the market, but less easily visible if the boys were to turn around. Prompto and Noctis stood at one of the item booths. Noctis, in particular, had an uncharacteristic sway to his stance.

"Prompto!" he burst out laughing, and Gladio and Ignis exchanged a perturbed look at his unusual behaviour. "They have 'bondage'!"

"Ohohoho! You got something you wanna try out back at our place, Noct?" Prompto teased, visibly amused, then he frowned as he gave the shop's item list a second glance. "Um, actually, Noct, it says 'bandage'," Prompto corrected. "Like, for wrapping wounds."

"Oh," Noctis said, dumbly, before they both broke out in a chorus of breathless laughter.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Gladio scowled, eyes wide, and face full of disgust.

"Hush, Gladio. Let us simply follow them for now," Ignis instructed, sticking to his guns. He didn't want to give Noctis any further reason to flee, and judging by his and Prompto's alcohol levels, they either hadn't heard about the news of Insomnia, or this was their way of coping with it.

"Fine, but you can't just unsee a drunken prince."

"I understand, but I still believe in Noct, and I am sure he has his reasons for behaving this way," Ignis spoke up. He knew at least one reason for sure—the one that the King had told him—but he wasn't sure Gladio was ready to hear it. "I will not let this change my perceptions of him," Ignis said, in promise to his future king.


Prompto and Noctis wandered the market, and explored the town 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at things to which they normally wouldn't give a second glance. They received a few comments like 'what a cute couple' and 'you two sure are adorable together' from the ladies in town, to which they replied with thanks before stumbling away laughing.

Prompto knew they were being utterly stupid, but it was the most he'd seen Noctis smile in a long time… since their time in high school, before he'd ever gone back to Insomnia. His giant grin and sincere laughter reminded Prompto of the good old days when they used to go to the arcade together, or hang at Noctis' apartment, playing King's Knight over a box of pizza. He never wanted this Noctis to leave him again. He never wanted Noctis to leave him. Period.

Prompto stared at the tie fastened sloppily around Noctis' head, his wide, goofy grin, and carefree eyes, and thought back to the goldfish story. Back then, all Noctis had wanted was to be normal, to have what everyone else had—nothing more. It made sense now why he'd dragged Prompto here. He still wanted to be normal, to experience life the way everyday citizens did. He just wanted to belong.

After a long while of wandering, and once their slightly aching heads couldn't take any more of the loud music and chatter, they made their way to the front street. One lone food vendor stood at his cart close down by the road, so Noctis ordered a couple more shots—both of which he ended up drinking himself—and Roll and Curry Plates, before settling down at one of the secluded tables close to the car tunnel.

Their dining entertainment was taken care of with a few games of cards. Noct had brought a deck along, swearing to Prompto that he would see him out of his pants even if it took a game of strip poker to do it. Prompto had just laughed it off, knowing Noct would be too drunk to remember how to do anything by the time he beat him at poker; Prompto was a surprisingly good bluff when it came to cards. Somehow, after a few games, they found themselves still completely clothed and in the midst of a game of charades instead.

Cards were scattered and forgotten against the wooden table, plates empty except for a few crumbs, and attention fully on one another. Noctis stared at the orange lamplight reflecting in Prompto's soothing eyes, finally intoxicated enough that he wasn't concerned about letting his gaze linger, even in the presence of others.

"Okay, okay, I know! I got a good one!" Prompto grinned, devilishly. He cleared his throat and sat forward in his chair, mustering a frown. He puffed his arms out and grabbed the fronts of his jacket with his fists, popping it forward slightly. When Noct gave him a puzzled look and shook his head, Prompto raised his arms and bulged his muscles.

"Oh, you're Gladio!" Noctis shouted, pointing at him wildly.

"Yeah. You didn't get it when I popped my collar like a big, tough guy?"

"No, because you didn't pop your collar," the prince laughed.

"Huh?" Prompto's hands fell loosely upon the front of his vest again where it lay open, looking up at his friend with questioning eyes.

"No, you're still doing it wrong. Here," Noctis instructed. Sitting beside each other—rather than across the table from one another—proved useful now as Noctis scooted his chair closer to Prompto's. They were both seated facing each other, and Noctis reached out for Prompto's collar, his soft hands brushing against the sensitive skin of Prompto's neck, making him shiver slightly. Noct didn't seem to see it, but Prompto was frozen, staring at his friend's face which was so close to his own. He watched the concentrated look on Noctis' face, his downcast eyes, and pursed lips.

A warning flickered in Prompto's head. They weren't supposed to be seen like this. What if Iris was still around? What if the Niffs were watching? What about Luna? But all of those questions were ignored when Noctis' hands skidded along Prompto's collar, making it stand upright, then Noctis gave it a gentle tug.

"More like that," he said, eyes rising up to meet Prompto's now, but Prompto couldn't reply with his breath caught in his lungs. Noctis looked stunning in this light, despite looking less put together than ever. His appearance was ridiculous for a prince, with his sweaty skin, dishevelled hair, and of course, that silly tie around his head. But the way the warm streetlights made his dark hair glisten with streaks of orange, and the way his smile was so soft and gentle… He was beautiful beyond compare.

Noctis' hands were still clutching Prompto's collar, and poor Prompt wasn't sure what to do. He desperately wanted to lean in, but this was first and foremost his best friend's reputation on the line. This was Prince Noctis, not his boyfriend with whom he shared an apartment, but a royal heir who couldn't jeopardize the safety of his nation for the sake of one person. Sure, they'd been playing couple in town all night, but kissing him out in the open? That was different.

"Prompt?" Noctis asked, voice low and cautious. His eyes were flashing with concern, probably due to the dumbstruck expression on his friend's face. Prompto just shrugged, and managed a tiny smile. He finally figured out how to release the breath he'd been holding just in time, before Noctis cut off his air supply again with his lips against his own. Prompto made a shocked noise before melting against him, his hands reaching out to brush against Noctis' arms.

In those few seconds, Prompto hadn't forgotten the importance of their privacy, or that the Niffs might make him their target if they chose not to hide. He just had too much alcohol in his system to care.

"Noct," Prompto breathed, and he could feel Noctis' hands on his waist, trying to coax him onto his lap. "Noct, not here."

"I don't care," Noctis huffed, sounding more saddened than anything. "I hate all this hiding. I just want to be with you."

Prompto pulled away from Noctis enough to see his desolate expression. It was clear he'd had enough—enough of the world's expectations for him, enough of keeping himself away from the one he loved, just because he happened to be born into a family that couldn't condone their relationship.

"I know, buddy, but not here. It's just not safe," Prompto said, trying so hard to obey the rational side of his brain.

"Prompto..."

Prompto shivered as Noctis blew warm air on the side of his neck, before leaning in to suckle at his skin.

"Let's go home, Noctis," he tried to insist, hoping that by using his full name, he might actually listen. It didn't work.

"They're acting like complete idiots," Gladio groused in protest, watching in distaste as the prince tried yet again to usher his best friend onto his lap. "That's it. I'm not letting the prince embarrass himself any more."

Gladio moved out from behind the wall that framed the city's main entrance, heading for the roadside tables where the boys sat, but Ignis grabbed hold of his arm with a surprising amount of strength. Thankfully, he was able to hold him back.

"I understand your concern, but you know they will not cooperate if we face them head-on. They will most likely flee."

"Like they could get very far in that state!" Gladio retorted.

"Doubtful, but nonetheless, I would like our first order of business to be discovering the prince's intentions in being here."

"Why? What good's that gonna do? It's too late for him to go back and apologize to His Highness, no matter what his reasons are!" Gladio practically shouted.

"I bloody well know that!" Ignis yelled in response, the emotional sting and harsh truth of Gladio's words too much to take.

Their argument distracted them from the goings-on at the table, and it wasn't until Prompto saw a flicker in his peripheral vision that he looked up from Noct's back. An odd, red beam of light shone out from inside the car tunnel down the road, and Prompto tapped lightly on Noct's shoulder to get his attention.

"Noct?" he asked, but Noct just groaned a response and continued his work on Prompto's neck. When a red-eyed gaze came into view behind the beam, Prompto's brain jumped to life again. That odd light was no longer a mere warning; it was a definite threat.

"Noct, look out!" he shouted, shoving Noctis to the ground with him, their metal chairs tumbling along with a loud clang.

"Huh?" Noctis asked, eyes meeting Prompto's in a terrified frenzy, but Prompto wrapped an arm around him, shielding him as he reached for his gun... only to find no holster, and no weapon. How could he have forgotten to arm himself when he had a prince to defend?

Prompto's heart thumped hard against his chest, and he held onto Noctis tightly, inching them back from the approaching soldier. Thinking quickly, he hooked the leg of the wooden table with his foot and brought it crashing onto its side, acting as a shield for them for now. The noise brought Gladio and Ignis out of their heated discussion, and they turned toward the source of the noise. Three MTs were making their way out of the car tunnel to the left, toward Prompto and the prince.

"Noct! Prompto!" Gladio and Ignis shouted as they proceeded forward, but they were hampered by the food vendor running from his cart.

"It's the empire's magitek troopers! Run!" he shouted, nearly knocking Ignis over as he rushed past. Gladio caught his arm and steadied him with a giant hand.

"Come on!" he urged.

The MT closest to Noctis and Prompto pointed its red laser at the table protecting them, before releasing a bullet that shattered it. The boys huddled together with strangled noises as pieces of splintered wood rocketed past them.

"Run, you two!" Gladio shouted, reaching the two MTs at the tunnel, and wiping them out with a few swipes of his humongous blade. Ignis was on the sidelines, closing his eyes in preparation for a spell that would hopefully eliminate the boys' biggest threat, but it didn't look like he was going to be quick enough.

"No!" Prompto shouted, holding an arm out in front of him, as if it might stop the soldier's advance. He closed his eyes tightly, and buried his face in against Noctis' neck as the sound of metal-clad feet approached. Before he could utter his last three words, the ones they'd never even yet spoken to each other, Prompto felt a cool sensation wrap around his wrist and shoot down into his hand.

Noctis looked up, feeling the tug of his magic that took place when one of the Crownsguard borrowed his power for the first time. He'd first experienced it when Gladio had become his Shield, and summoned his broadsword for the first time. And now...

Noctis and Prompto looked toward the cause of the sensations—Prompto's outstretched hand was enveloped in purple and turquoise strands of light, and in his palm appeared his gun. His faithful Quicksilver, which had been back in the safety of their apartment, had found its way to him through Noctis' power.

"Prompto, shoot!" Noctis shouted, closing his eyes as Prompto pulled the trigger. The painfully loud sound of Quicksilver pierced the air. It released three consecutive bullets, and Prompto let out a breath of relief as his shots hit their MT target. Pink sparks flew from the soldier's neck before the being fell lifelessly to its knees. The panic was over.

Within seconds, Gladio and Ignis were at the boys' sides, pulling them upright and brushing them off.

"Are you alright? Where does it hurt?"

"Stop it. We're fine," Noctis snapped, pushing his friends away and dusting off his clothes for himself. He glanced at the ground where his silly tie lay abandoned. The time for fun and games had truly come to a close.

"Prompto?" Gladio asked, as Prompto opened and closed his hand a few times. His gun had vanished as quickly as it had come, and right now, Prompto didn't understand how either had happened.

"Wha—? Uh, y-yeah, I'm fine," he nodded, swiftly. He'd have a few bruises tomorrow, perhaps, but nothing major. Noct looked to be unscathed as well, and that was the main thing. He wasn't meeting Prompto's gaze at the moment, though, and it made Prompto's stomach turn. Was Noctis ashamed for running off? Or was he ashamed of him and what they were?

"You are a royal pain, you know that?" Gladio grunted. He'd called Noctis that plenty of times growing up, but all playfulness was gone from his voice as he said it now.

"Gladio, please," Ignis hushed, before turning his attention to the younger men. Noctis was flushed and appeared sickly from the alcohol and Lestallum's high temperatures. Prompto was clutching one arm nervously, eyes darting from Noctis to the ground.

"Come inside, boys," Ignis sighed, voice surprisingly calm. "We've much to discuss."