*Trigger warning - There is a brief allusion to sexual abuse the second scene of this chapter, so please skim over it if you need to. Thanks!


Chapter 9: Man on a Mission

Noctis had forgotten how beautiful the city of Insomnia could be, all lit up at night. Dots of purple, yellow, orange, red, and blue burned brightly in the distance, lighting up the silhouettes of buildings and homes that the king himself had helped rebuild with money from his own pocket. He was thankful for the money his father had put aside for him, for the job he'd had as a teenager that helped build his wealth, for the hunts he and his friends had taken on during their journey to earn that little bit of extra cash. It all added up. It all helped.

Noctis brushed the curtain a little further aside with the back of his hand, holding it there and tilting his head to rest against the window. He couldn't ignore that unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach that had come during his earlier meeting with Ignis and Talcott, and had never since left. What would he do now that he had run out of his own funds, and couldn't access his father's? There were still homes, and buildings, and bridges that needed to be rebuilt. There were still parts of the Citadel itself that were under construction. Would he even be able to finish paying the workers?

He hated the thought of having to raise the taxes on the land. The people of Insomnia had lost everything all those years ago, and all Noctis wanted to do was make their city safe and comfortable for them. How could he make them feel welcome when their homes basically came with giant price tags? The hunts he was about to send his glaives on wouldn't come near covering what he needed to finish rebuilding Lucis, nor the other parts of Eos that were still recovering from the past ten years of damage. And yet, at this time, what else could he do?

The hunts. The glaives. Prompto. This predicament was making Prompto leave again. His heart wanted to dwell on this painful fact, but he wouldn't let his mind linger there. He was sick of thinking about the falling out with Prompto, was sick of the aching hole in his chest and those nagging feelings of hurt and disappointment. He had to put it all to rest. Yes, maybe rest was the best thing he could do for himself right now. He couldn't solve anything when he was overtired and nauseated from the constant worry.

With a sigh, he let his hand fall, and the curtain drifted back into place, covering up the sparkling city. He wandered over to his bed, switched off the lamp on his nightstand, and lifted up the covers. He sat down with one leg bent up campfire-style, and the other stretched out straight, maintaining the position as he lay down against the headboard, hands resting on the back of his head as he stared up at the ceiling. He breathed in deeply and let it out, remembering all the things his father had taught him when he was having trouble keeping his cool. He repeated the process, making himself focus on taking in long, steady breaths.

He was interrupted by a rather frantic knock on his door. Noctis' eyes widened slightly at the noise. Who would be rapping on his door so loudly at this late hour of the night? There weren't that many people who had clearance to be on his floor. Of course, it was probably just Ignis coming to tell him more bad news about the money or the kingdom. Or Gladio coming to growl at him for doing or saying something stupid earlier that day.

"Who is it?" Noctis groaned, deciding that if it was either one of them, that he would send them away until morning.

"It's Prompto," came a weak voice.

Noctis shot up in the bed, sitting there stunned for a moment as he tried to replay what he'd just heard. Was his mind playing tricks on him? He couldn't risk ignoring this if it wasn't.

Hurriedly, he got up and crossed the room to open the door. He was startled as he pulled it open, only to be gripped by shaking hands that curled around the backs of his shoulders. Prompto scooted inside the door, and leaned back against it to close it, pulling Noctis helplessly along for the ride. Noctis' brain struggled to keep up with what was happening as one of Prompto's hands rose to the back of his neck, and tangled itself in his long hair as Prompto pulled their lips together—hastily, desperately.

Without needing to think, Noctis kissed him back, his hands falling instinctively upon Prompto's waist, and despite his confusion, he allowed his thumbs to stroke his sides gently. If nothing else, he hoped the small action might slow the urgency of the moment long enough for him to figure out what was going on.

"I lied," Prompto tearfully whimpered, between kisses. "I never wanted you to go to Accordo and find someone else. I never wanted us to be apart. I love you, Noct. I love you."

Noctis shushed him gently with a soft voice and a finger brushing delicately against his lips. Despite the closed curtains and lack of lights, the city still managed to illuminate the room with a dim, blue glow, and it was enough to allow Noctis to search Prompto's features for clues as to what was happening. He analyzed the shimmers of tears on Prompto's lower lids, the downward twitches that took over the corners of his mouth, the sorrowful look of pain and regret in his entrancing eyes.

Prompto tried to remember how to breathe. Noctis' response was taking forever, his stoic expression impossible to identify... until he really let himself focus on his eyes. Noctis' eyes had always spoke volumes even when he struggled with words. He wanted this moment as much as Prompto did—he could see that look of longing, of love—but why was he hesitating? Because of all the stupid things Prompto had said to keep him away? Because he had to earn back his trust?

"Please..." Prompto whispered, brows slanting even more in fear and sorrow. "Tell me I'm not too late."

To his surprise, Noctis smiled softly, and shook his head. The hand that was at Prompto's lips travelled back to cup his jaw instead, and Noct ghosted a thumb over his cheek. Prompto released a sob at the mere motion.

"You're not too late," he promised, and leaned in to capture Prompto's lips, earning a whimper that was full of both pleasure and relief, both joy and pain.

Prompto tilted his head back against the door, allowing Noctis to move in closer, lips moving together quickly in a mass of quick, meaningful kisses. Prompto's hand curled a little tighter around the back of Noct's neck, while the other found the curve of his back, fingers rubbing tenderly. Noctis dared to push Prompto's kingsglaive-issued tank up the slightest bit so that his thumbs could graze over skin, rather than fabric.

He moved in a little closer and Prompto released a muffled sound against his lips as more sensitive regions brushed together. Noctis let out a heavy breath in response, and moved against him again with a little more pressure. Prompto panted and tilted his head to part from Noct's lips.

"The bed," he whispered, eyes fluttering open to meet Noctis'. "C-can we?"

Noctis gave him a nod, and lips met again, hands keeping their bodies in place as they traversed the room. Noctis sat down near the head of the bed, and Prompto followed him. Lips continued to meet as they undressed themselves and each other in a frenzy.

Once all of their clothing had reached the floor, Prompto shimmied forward on his knees, his legs on either side of Noctis' thighs. He tangled both hands into the back of Noctis' hair as he lowered himself down to brush their groins together again. The noises they released at the contact this time were much louder, much more hoarse and desperate. Noctis' hands were on Prompto's lower back now, but he allowed one to travel further down, and fingers circled his entrance teasingly. To his surprise, he felt Prompto lean back against them, his back arching as he tried to coax them inside.

"Prompto, wait. It will hurt like that," Noctis murmured, pulling back from their kisses with worried eyes.

"I don't care."

"Just wait, okay? We've got time."

Noctis removed his hands and reached for his nightstand, retrieving the bottle of lubricant and coating his fingers with the substance. Once he was ready, he quickly set it aside and resumed his previous position, holding Prompto steady with a hand on his back as fingers began to push inside him. Prompto released a noise that was somewhere between a whimper and a sound of relief.

Noctis made sure Prompto looked comfortable before he closed his eyes again and resumed their kisses. Prompto's breaths came out heavy as Noctis moved his fingers inside him, adding another one whenever he felt he was ready.

"Y-you now, okay?" Prompto asked, weakly, between kisses.

"Okay," Noctis whispered, moving his hand from Prompto's back to his face, and grazing a thumb tenderly over his cheek. He carefully removed his other hand next, earning a soft moan from Prompto as his fingers retreated.

Prompto continued to straddle Noctis as he coated himself with the lubricant, his hands threading gently through the back of Noctis' hair as the man did his work. Finally, they were ready, and Noctis pulled Prompto in against him, manoeuvring them both towards the head of the bed, and kissing Prompto down to the mattress below him. He reached back, tugging the covers over them as Prompto raised his legs, and ever so gently, he pushed himself inside.

Both of them released soft sounds as they eased into the connection, both staring into each other's eyes to soothe them, and confirm that everything felt the way it should. After a minute of letting themselves get used to the sensation, Noctis pulled back slightly before pushing back in. Prompto let out a shaky breath, and a nod of approval before reaching for the back of Noctis' neck again, and pulling him in to kiss him. Noctis eased a hand under Prompto's back, and moved again, beginning a gentle rhythm.

It wasn't long before Prompto ended the kisses, and instead settled his head in between Noct's neck and shoulder as Noct continued to move. His nose brushed against Noct's collar, his arms weaving tightly around his neck, fists pressing into the backs of the king's shoulders, clutching him like he was about to lose him. Noctis' heart swelled at the familiarity of it.

He had always found it so adorable the way he did that, the way Prompto had always clung to him like a barnacle, never letting go until long after the height of the moment was over. He'd always recognized how vulnerable Prompto was in that state. He was letting his guard down completely, and trusted Noct enough to know he wouldn't be rejected. And as the only soul who had ever loved and been loved by Prompto this way, Noctis felt blessed—blessed beyond belief.

Before long, Noctis could feel the heat in his stomach, and knew that his limit wasn't far off. Prompto whimpered blissfully as Noctis reached for his length, stroking and pumping him along with his thrusts. The end came all too quickly for both of them, filling the room with a last bout of mewls and moans, and they remained there in that position, Prompto clinging to him like he was the last man on earth as they slowly caught their breath. Finally, Noctis pulled out, and Prompto let his head fall back onto the pillow. Noctis leaned in to press a few last kisses to Prompto's swollen, wet lips, meeting them slowly and tenderly now; they were his final attempt to make sure Prompto knew how extraordinarily much he was loved.

When he retreated for a breath, he caught sight of a stiflingly sad look on Prompto's face. His chin trembled like tears weren't far off, and Noctis wished with all his heart that those were tears of joy, but his expression seemed to indicate otherwise.

With worry in his eyes, and the utmost tenderness, he reached for the side of Prompto's face, his thumb brushing tenderly over the freckles that had faded with time. Carefully, he searched for those eyes to guide him. He needed to know what Prompto was thinking, needed to know why there were tears clouding those beautiful shades of blue and violet.

"What's wrong, my love?" Noctis whispered.

The words were quite foreign to Prompto, but he was touched by the man's confidence to call him by such a name, and his ability to be so gentle with him, even after everything Prompto had put him through. Hearing that Noctis loved him in that moment was enough—enough for Prompto to push aside that nagging reminder of the story he owed Noctis, enough for him to believe they could make it through whatever was to come… even after the truth came out, even after Noctis knew their time together was short.

Maybe he was a liar, maybe he was keeping Noct in the dark, but maybe everything would turn out okay because Noctis loved him. He believed in Noct. He believed in them.

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong, Noct," Prompto assured him, finding his smile; it was small, but it was there, burning bright like a flicker of the sun that had always been enough to put Noctis at ease. Prompto lifted his head to meet his partner's lips again, promising him his feelings were sincere.

"Everything's perfect."


"Ah, I've missed this," Noctis sighed peacefully. His hand was laced with Prompto's in the small space between their bodies, atop the soft sheets. There they lay on their backs, side-by-side, so calm, and relaxed, and happy, and Prompto could only think about how he could get used to this again—waking up with Noct's nose nestled into the back of his hair, bodies pressed flesh together, and Noct's arms holding him like he would never let go. Prompto never would have left that position, either, if he hadn't wanted to kiss Noctis good morning so badly, but the best way to fulfill that desire had been to roll over and face him.

"Me, too," Prompto agreed softly, inching his head over until it could rest against the king's shoulder. They both stared up at the ceiling, still in disbelief of what had happened the night before, but it was a blissful, wonderful feeling.

"Really didn't think it'd take so long to get you back into bed with me, but, hey... Better late than never, right?" Noct teased, smirking as he turned to press a kiss to Prompto's slightly mussed hair.

"Maybe I just wanted to drive you crazy first," Prompto chuckled, revelling yet again in the feeling of Noct's nose against his hair, enjoying the closeness of it all.

"Well, you certainly did a good job of that," Noct said, failing to hide the lingering ounces of irritation that Prompto had caused him over the past several months.

There was a sudden tension in Prompto's body, and Noctis realized that statement might have hit him a little more harshly than he'd intended. Wanting to immediately right the wrong, he rolled onto his side to face Prompto, and gave the man's hand a squeeze.

"I did tell you that you were well worth the wait, didn't I?"

"Mm, not sure if you mentioned that," Prompto hummed, feigning an innocent smirk, meeting Noct's eyes now as the king leaned over him, lips hovering just inches above his own. He was certainly fine with Noctis reconfirming his worth, as many times as he so desired.

"Well, you were. You are," Noct smiled.

Eyes closed as lips finally met, both feeling a sense of relief as they connected. Prompto curled a hand into the back of Noctis' hair, tugging him closer, and knowing as Noctis' arms moved in against his waist that he was exactly where he was supposed to be—where he wanted to be. Noctis loved him, and they deserved this chance for happiness, despite how short it might be.

He would tell him the truth eventually. He knew he had to, for he couldn't let Noctis get any unrealistic notions in his head as far as their future was concerned, but telling him could wait; this wasn't the time, nor place. This morning was all about enjoying the fact that they were finally together.

Prompto blinked as Noct pulled away from the kiss, but the coy gleam in the man's eyes made it clear that he was far from done with him. Noctis manoeuvred himself to hover over him, his legs situating themselves on either side of Prompto's as he eagerly leaned in to kiss his neck and jaw. Prompto tilted his head back to allow him more room, his breath quickening and hitching whenever something felt particularly good.

Noct travelled downward, his fingers grazing Prompto's sides as he slid the covers down, revealing more skin. His lips followed suit, and quickly discovered unfamiliar territory. He halted abruptly, head pulling back to gaze upon a sight that was extremely disheartening to him.

"You got hurt? When... did this happen?" Noct asked, gently, his dark brows curving upward in worry.

One of his hands wandered from Prompto's waist up to the three thick, grey lines that ran diagonally across the man's stomach, the backs of his fingers ghosting over the raised skin so lightly it made Prompto shiver beneath him. Prompto stared up into tender, grey-blue eyes and swallowed hard as Noctis' hand continued to graze his sizable scars.

"Five? Maybe six years ago? A coeurl kinda got its claws into me."

"I'll say," Noct scoffed, eyeing the marks with disdain. He felt sickened at the thought of any monster digging into Prompto's slender body like that.

He wondered whether he could have prevented this, if he'd been able to fight at Prompto's side. They had always been so in-sync, always ready with a dose of healing whenever the other looked ready to drop. The injuries before him now didn't look like they'd been tended to in a timely manner, as they were thick like the one that adorned Gladio's chest. It seemed all of Noctis' Crownsguard managed to get into the worst scrapes when they were apart.

"How come you didn't notice these before?" Prompto asked, a smirk inching its way onto his face. Noct's expression twisted into some sort of embarrassed pout.

"I was distracted. By your lips... among other things," he rolled his eyes, and Prompto gave a hearty chuckle.

"Riiight."

"I'm sorry," Noct said, almost startling Prompto with how quickly his tone switched back to a serious one. His worried eyes returned to those scars, his fingertips running over the raised lines, while Prompto intently took in every move he made.

"For what?" Prompto asked, meekly.

"For not being there for you."

Prompto pushed himself up on his elbow and reached forward with his other hand, his fingers sliding in to cup Noctis' jaw.

"Hey, you have nothing to apologize for. Especially after the eight months of torture I just put you through," Prompto murmured. "I wasn't there for you, either. Call it even?"

He stroked Noctis' beard with his thumb, smiling softly. Noct reached for his hand and guided it towards his lips, pressing a kiss to his palm, his eyes closing as he did, emphasizing the passion behind his action.

"Maybe. Once I'm done making it up to you here," the king smirked.

He lowered his head again, and Prompto's hand slipped around to the back of his neck, gripping gently as Noctis began pressing kisses along the long lines of scar tissue. Prompto whimpered contentedly, his grasp on Noctis tightening a little. Noctis smiled against his skin as he felt Prompto's stomach muscles contracting under the movements of his soft lips.

Noctis was determined to make every bit of pain these wounds had given Prompto worth it in the end. Prompto was beautiful. These marks were beautiful, and they were proof that Prompto had fought to stay alive, proof that he believed in the future, whether or not Noct would return from the crystal, and Noctis was unspeakably proud of him for that.

"Noct," Prompto hummed, loving every second of this gift far too much.

"Tell me, did you miss me?" Noctis whispered, his breath tickling the sensitive skin of Prompto's stomach, making the young man's breath hitch again.

"Of course, I did," he exhaled, heavily.

"What sorts of things did you miss? What nasty little fantasies did you come up with while I was gone?" Noctis seductively purred, making it quite clear that he was willing to fulfill whatever desires Prompto had, but Prompto simply reached for the pillow under his head and tugged it out, pressing it over his own face in embarrassment.

"Dude, you're making it weird," came a muffled whine from under the pillow.

"You want me to leave you alone?"

"Yes, please," he squeaked, sounding so much like his younger self, it warmed Noctis' heart. Prompto felt Noctis pull away from him and resume his position at his side. Prompto removed the pillow to see Noct giving him a gentle smile now, and he leaned in to give Prompto a quick peck on the cheek.

"Whatever pleases you," Noct said, continuing to give him that tender smile. He gave his arms a good stretch above his head after that, giving Prompto some time to recover from the heat that had settled between his thighs and pinkened his normally pale cheeks.

He glanced at the clock. While 10:00am was late for most of the early risers in the Citadel, Noctis was a little impressed with himself to be awake before noon of his own accord. The excitement of having Prompto here with him was more than enough incentive to give up his slumber.

"Are you hungry?" the king asked, turning back to his companion. "I could go downstairs and bring us back some breakfast." Prompto turned his head from where he lay on his back, eyeing Noctis with a curious frown.

"Don't you have servants for that?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't know who's on duty this morning, and I didn't know if we should raise suspicion by asking them to bring enough food for two," Noctis explained, and Prompto nodded in agreement. Palace rumours probably wouldn't help when they were just beginning to mend their relationship.

"Then, yeah, if you don't mind going yourself."

"I don't, except..." Noct trailed off. His grey eyes locked onto Prompto's, his bottom lip curling inside his mouth as he pondered, and Prompto felt like he was suddenly under scrutiny.

"Except what?" Prompto dared to ask, voice monotonous.

"I'm scared to leave you. I feel like you'll be gone when I come back."

Noctis looked honestly worried now, and perhaps rightly so. It had taken so long to get Prompto back where he belonged, so long to get him to stop shying away, it was only natural to fear that their reunion might be short-lived, that Prompto would flee when given the chance and return to his old habits.

"I promise, I won't leave. I'm so done hiding from you, Noct," Prompto said, giving him a smile and reaching for his hand. He squeezed it affectionately, trying to further prove his vow, and eventually Noctis' stoic expression softened back into a smile.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Surprise me," Prompto grinned, and Noctis agreed by pressing one last kiss to his forehead. He pulled away very slowly, brushing his nose against Prompto's in a loving little manner, his lips still curved gently upward and his eyelids drifting lazily open.

"I'll see you in a few minutes," Noctis murmured, before finally pulling himself away. He dressed himself quickly, finding yesterday's discarded garments in various places of the room, then he exited the chamber, leaving Prompto still smiling to himself as he lay in the bed.

Prompto let out a peaceful sigh as he looked around the bedroom. It felt strange and a little awkward to be in this room that had once belonged to King Regis, but he hoped the former king would have been happy for them—for his beloved son, at least. He knew as well as anyone that King Regis had always wanted the best life for Noctis, and had wanted to see him happy even when it meant him leaving a life in the Citadel, and living as a 'normal' citizen of Insomnia in an apartment of his own.

The few times they had met, the King had been very kind and gracious towards Prompto, willingly accepting him into Noctis' Crownsguard, praising him for his loyalty to Noctis, and in private, thanking him for filling a hole in Noctis' life that no one else had ever been able to fill. He had been a kind man, so yes, Prompto had to believe he would have been happy about his and Noctis' reunion.

Prompto rolled out of bed and headed for the ensuite bathroom, finding a large, square shower with spotless glass doors, a giant soaker tub, toilet, and double-sink. He chuckled softly to himself, certainly not used to this sort of luxurious environment. Any old bathroom would have sufficed; he simply wanted to freshen up a bit, but he supposed he could let himself indulge in this just once. He'd paid his dues during his years as a hunter, not finding a decent shower for days, or having to bathe in questionable lakes.

He was about to strip down and take a quick shower when he caught a glimpse of himself in the long, rectangular mirror that hung above the sinks, spanning the entire length of the wall and countertop. Bright red was a stark contrast to Prompto's pale skin, and he frowned in dismay as he watched it dribble from his nose. Quickly he scrambled toward the toilet paper dispenser, and tore some of the tissue off, clumping it into a ball and pressing it to his nose, trying to stop the bleeding.

He hadn't had a nosebleed in years, not since he was a kid, and while at first he thought little of it, the longer he held the tissues in place, the more his brain tried to come up with reasons of why this was happening. His stomach clenched painfully. What if this was a sign of his body beginning to break down? What if this was the beginning of the end?

Reaching a hand out to guide him, he found the edge of the tub and sat down, continuing to hold the tissue against his nose. There was so much regret that wanted to creep into his heart. He had kept himself from Noctis for almost a year now, by his own stupid choice, and all of that was time they could have spent together. What if the estimations were wrong, and the most they got now was a couple of months? Prompto scoffed, and scolded himself for thinking of such dreary possibilities.

He decided he should spend less time regretting the past, and focus on what was upon him now. Even after all the reasons Ignis had given him not to be with Noctis, hearing Noctis say all those things yesterday about letting go had still broken his heart. Coming to Noctis' room the night before had been selfish, he supposed, but was he allowed to be selfish when he had limited time left? Was it still selfish to be with Noctis when Noct wanted to be with him, too? When Noct himself had voiced his concerns about how short life was?

In Galdin, Noctis had told him straight up that he didn't care how much had changed, that he would take him in sickness or in health, and maybe he didn't know just how important that vow had been in that moment, but Prompto still believed that whatever happened to him, Noct would stay by his side and help him through it. If he hadn't abandoned him when he'd found out he was meant to be an MT, then no way would he ever abandon him, especially in such a sorry state.

Maybe Ignis and the council wouldn't like it, maybe the world wouldn't like it, but it wasn't up to them; it was ultimately up to the king. And if the king wanted to be a little selfish, then maybe Prompto was allowed to do the same. Besides, it was only temporary. It could only ever be temporary.

"Prompto?"

Prompto gasped at the call of his name. He hadn't heard Noctis come back, nor had he any idea how long he'd been lost in thought. Quickly, he got up from the side of the tub and hurried to the mirror, lowering the tissue to check the amount of blood flow, and hoping to make a quick exit without Noctis ever needing to know about this turn of events. To his dismay, a thin red stream trickled from his nose, and he tossed the old tissue in exchange for a new one.

"You okay?" Noctis asked, appearing in the doorway. Prompto turned to give him a halfhearted expression.

"Nosebleed," he sighed.

Noctis entered the bathroom with an air of both calm and grace, and stood beside him at the mirror, reaching for his back and rubbing gently. His brows slanted in concern. As he gazed at the two of them in the mirror—Prompto in naught but his boxers, and himself in a t-shirt and slacks—his attention wandered from their less than regal attire to Prompto's face, half-covered in white tissue.

"You feeling okay otherwise?"

"Y-yeah, why?" Prompto asked, meeting Noctis' worried eyes.

"You're just a little pale, that's all," the king replied, continuing the gentle motions of his hand against Prompto's back.

Prompto stared hard at his reflection, searching for any little sign that he was sick, and yet dreading finding any. He was lacking a little colour, he supposed, but it was probably due to his not-so-cheery train of thought.

"Probably just a coincidence. You remember, I used to get these dumb nosebleeds all the time in school. They're annoying, but harmless," Prompto said, with a meek chuckle, but Noctis couldn't help but note how it was anything but cheerful.

"Yeah, I remember," Noct sympathized, recalling the dozens of times Prompto had had to rush out of the classroom to tend to them, even going back as far as elementary school.

Noctis stared in the mirror at the sorrowful look on Prompto's face, and knew he was beating himself up over this unavoidable interruption. Wanting to lighten the mood, Noctis spoke up again.

"Huh? What's this?" he asked, poking at Prompto's side. "Have… Have you lost some muscle since we were last together? So much for gettin' them gains, huh?"

"What?!" Prompto's face jutted towards the mirror as he analyzed his shirtless figure. He couldn't really be going downhill this fast, could he? His body couldn't be failing him now—not now that he and Noctis were finally back together. Noctis waved his hands, stopping him before he went into a full-on fit.

"Geez, you nerd. I was just kidding," Noctis smirked, stepping behind him and slipping his arms around Prompto's waist. He pressed a kiss to his cheek, which was puffed out to emphasize his pout. "If anything, you're more toned than ever. And I'm finding you very, very attractive right now," Noctis murmured into Prompto's ear.

"Oh yeah. This bloody ol' tissue is making me really attractive," Prompto rolled his eyes. The mood was ruined yet again by his growling stomach, and Noct laughed softly.

"Alright, first things first. Let's get some food into your system. That might put some colour back in your cheeks," he added, pushing forth a small smile and pressing a much more chaste kiss on Prompto's face this time before pulling himself away.

Prompto nodded, and dared to lower his tissue again. This time, the blood appeared to have stopped, and he tossed the second tissue into the wastebasket beneath the sink. He turned on the taps and washed his face and hands before turning back to Noct, who had not yet left his side.

"Okay, sorry about that. If you still have an appetite after seeing me like that, then we can dig in."

"You really don't have to apologize. It's not like you can help it. Besides, it's gonna take a lot more than that to turn me off from you," Noct purred, taking him by the hands, and walking backwards as he led him into the bedroom.

They sat down on the bed together, sitting up against the headboard on their respective sides. Noctis reached for the tray that he had previously set down on his nightstand, and set it down atop their blanket-covered laps.

"I managed to snag us some pancakes. I got a dozen to split. Judging by how many I've been known to eat in a sitting, no one will ever suspect I grabbed enough for the two of us," Noct smirked, proudly, holding a fork upright as he offered it to Prompto. Prompto took it, meeting his coy little stare.

"Perfect." He pushed forth a smile that must have looked forced, for Noct continued to give him worried glances as he poured syrup over their breakfast.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Mm-hmm. Of course," Prompto nodded, so many times that he was starting to look like a bobble-head figure.

Noctis eyed him suspiciously, but the suspicion lessened as Prompto stuck a fork into one of the top pancakes and tore off a little piece, contentedly popping it into his mouth. He seemed happy enough. Maybe Noctis was just being paranoid.

Noct grabbed his own fork, and cut off a sliver of one of the pancakes. He chewed it slowly, his attention fixed far more on the man beside him than breakfast. As amazing as last night had been, today Prompto still seemed nervous, like he was holding something back. Was it the same thing that had kept him from Noctis all this time? Noctis didn't know what else could steal him from the bliss of being back together.

He didn't want to push too hard, but felt he needed to at least start prying a little if they were ever going to get to the root of the problem. Maybe Noctis never needed to know in full, but he didn't want to be so clueless anymore. Carefully, he chose a place to start.

"So, can I ask?" he started, cautiously, earning a curious glance from Prompto. That innocent look threatened to turn into a fearful one at the sight of Noct's small frown. Prompto had half a mind to hightail it out of there, but instead, he remained frozen.

"What brought you here last night? What made you change your mind about us?" the king queried. Prompto let out the breath he was holding. That answer was an easy one; he didn't even have to lie. He cut off another small triangle of pancake and swirled it around in the excess syrup Noct had poured onto their shared plate.

"All those things you said yesterday... They made me think I had lost you for good, and that really scared me," Prompto admitted. "I know I've been acting weird since you got back, but I swear, that's never what I wanted."

Noctis watched him continue to play with his food, and he took a bite of his own pancake in hopes that Prompto might relax and do the same. He pondered those words, feeling rather baffled by them. How could Prompto not want to lose him for good, and yet had constantly put up a barrier whenever Noct was around him?

"What did you want?" he asked, quietly. "And you don't have to answer that if you're not comfortable."

Prompto's eyes flickered sideways to meet Noctis'. Noct's head was low, his eyes timid and gentle as he peered up at him. Prompto was suddenly so grateful for this kind soul that was Noctis, this tender-hearted prince that—for some reason—fate had handed him.

"I don't know. For things to feel normal again?" Prompto shrugged. It was the best response he could come up with, and at least it held some truth. He did want to go back to when he didn't have to worry about his time running out, when he and Noct were just two silly teenagers in love.

"I guess I can understand that," Noctis nodded. "Being apart for so long, having to fight for your life, moving into the Citadel,... it's all an adjustment. I know you're worried about what kind of impact our relationship will have on the kingdom, but we don't have to announce anything right now. If things get serious, then we should at least tell our friends, but I want to take things slow until I'm sure you're okay."

"Huh? Until I'm okay?" Prompto asked, with a quizzical brow. Noct lowered his head a little more, looking rather timid.

"When I'm sure that whatever has been bothering you isn't an issue anymore," he explained. There was a look of deep care in his eyes, like he was vowing to take away those troubles that were plaguing Prompto's mind.

"Oh." Despite knowing that Noctis couldn't fix everything, he still couldn't help but give him a soft and grateful smile. Noctis seemed pleased enough to see anything other than sadness on his partner's face, and he continued to eat his breakfast with a smile, feeling Prompto relax at his side.

"These are delicious. Who made 'em?" Prompto asked, eyeing the bite that was currently on his fork before devouring it.

"One of the new cooks. Sadly, Specs is bogged down with more important jobs than preparing meals these days," Noct sighed, not wanting to get into the particulars of what those jobs were, because they would only depress him—particularly the one involving his father's money.

"Too bad. His were the best. But these are amazing, too," Prompto said, managing a grin now. Honestly, he was happy, and he wanted to be happy. He was here with Noctis, in his bed, sharing his food, both of them feeling so light and giddy and in love. Life couldn't get much better.

"So, listen… This is kind of hard for me to say. A-actually, it's probably even harder on you, but I want you to know…" Noctis halted, his hand resting on the side of the tray, his fork at a standstill, hovering over one of the pancakes.

Prompto swallowed hard, not knowing what to expect. He felt like Noctis was trying to get closer to his secret, and he didn't blame him, but he desperately wanted to enjoy this first morning of them being back together. Or maybe just the first week. Or maybe...

"I don't know what Ardyn did to you, and just because you were okay this time and in Galdin doesn't necessarily mean you'll be okay every time we try to—" Noct trailed off, eyes flickering meaningfully toward the bed, bringing all of Prompto's other thoughts to an abrupt end.

"Uh, what?" Prompto asked, confused.

"I mean," Noctis struggled, his face twinging as if he were in pain. "If he... touched you, then we'll work through it, okay?"

Nervousness was evident on his face, like he was afraid Prompto might flee at the sound of his words. Instead, after a second or two of looking surprised, Prompto smiled softly and leaned over to capture Noctis' lips. Noctis made a startled noise, but quickly settled into the kiss, revelling in every second of pure Prompto—Prompto's lips on his own, his hand grazing the side of his face, holding him gently in place as they kissed. He was sure he looked like a dazed idiot when Prompto pulled away.

"You're the best, Noct," Prompto murmured. "But honestly, he didn't do anything like that. He just... beat me up. Told me some things that I really didn't want to hear."

His stomach clenched at the memories, but he was thankful that Ardyn hadn't done anything worse. So, that was what Noct had thought was the cause of everything falling apart? He had worried that Ardyn had done things to him that only a lover should? Touched him in ways he'd only ever permitted Noctis to touch? Ardyn's harsh words and mild torture didn't seem so bad anymore; maybe he could actually consider himself lucky.

"Like what? Did he tell you we shouldn't be together?" Noctis tried, not letting out his breath of relief quite yet. Prompto shook his head, and leaned in again, brushing his nose gently against Noct's, his eyes half-lidded and dozy.

"Let's not talk about this right now, okay?"

Noctis was disappointed to be shut down again, but he knew he shouldn't push too far. He had time now. Prompto wasn't going anywhere. Little by little, he would get closer to the truth, and maybe when he was close enough, Prompto might be ready to tell him on his own. Noctis leaned in, hands reaching for the back of Prompto's neck and squeezing gently.

"Okay," he said, with an exaggerated sigh. Lips met again in a few tender pecks, Noctis lingering in close when he whispered, "Can I ask you a favour?"

"Mm?" Prompto asked, wanting to hear the request before he committed himself to promises he couldn't keep.

"Don't go on the hunts with the glaives. Stay here, okay? I want to mend things with you, and I don't think we can do that at a distance," Noctis said, still so close that Prompto could feel his warm breath on his lips.

Prompto let himself relax. That was a favour to which he could agree; distance definitely wasn't what they needed right now. All he wanted was to stay close to Noctis, for that was his safe place—always had been.

"Yeah," Prompto breathed, leaning in to meet Noctis' lips again. "I can do that." They exchanged a few more gentle kisses before they pulled away and resumed their breakfast.

"So, what are your plans for the day?" Prompto asked, finally finishing his first pancake, after all the interruptions. Noctis gave him a sly smile.

"Stay right here in this bed. With you. All day." Playfully, he tapped his fork to the end of Prompto's nose, his pancake leaving a small dot of syrup in its wake.

"Hey!" Prompto pretended to grimace, but couldn't hide his grin as he wiped the syrup from the tip of his nose. Noctis leaned in to kiss it after that, his tongue darting out to taste the remains of the sugary substance, opening his eyes just long enough to see Prompto staring cross-eyed at him. He chuckled softly, meeting his lips in one more kiss before he pulled away.

"I forgot how cute you were," Noctis hummed, with a tilt of his head that made Prompto feel he'd forgotten how adorable Noctis was, too. He swallowed any embarrassment he was feeling, and gave him a grin.

"And I forgot how much of a sap you were," he teased.

"Well," Noct yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "This sap feels like he might be ready for another round. What do you say?"

His eyes wandered to Prompto, not nearly so fearful of Prompto's rejection anymore. Prompto raised his eyebrows, half in question, half in a seductive quirk. He lifted the tray off of their laps and set it down on the floor beside the bed, abandoning ten untouched pancakes that would probably be cold by the time they were of any interest to them again.

Prompto reached for Noctis' waist, and pulled him in against him, guiding Noctis under him ever so gently. His hand effortlessly found the skin that was peeking out from between Noct's shirt and waistband, and stroked his stomach tenderly, fingers tracing over taut muscles. Noctis reached for the back of his neck again, and pulled him down to meet his lips.

"Okay, but it's my turn to make love to you, buddy," Prompto grinned.

"You think I'm gonna complain?" Noct smirked back. Prompto met that statement with another smile, and a pair of roaming hands as lips pressed together once again.

There was something different about the way Prompto made love to Noctis this time—something subtle, but definitely there. He was still gentle, so genuinely loving, making sure to kiss and touch all the spots that used to make Noctis feel amazing, but he also exuded more confidence—his body stronger, thicker, and more toned than the young man he'd been in his twenties.

His hand remained securely under Noct's back the entire time, holding him in what was practically an embrace, even as they neared their end. He angled himself just right, remembering exactly how to get Noctis to arch his back up against him as they reached their limit, and as Noct released soft noises, Prompto leaned in to kiss his lips oh so tenderly. Noctis' body relaxed beneath him, and he stared up into those familiar eyes, knowing in his heart that this time, Prompto had loved him with everything he had. He had loved him like the world was ending.

Noctis reached up to brush a hand against his strong jaw, feeling a little confused to see that same kind of sadness in Prompto's eyes that he had found there the night before, but it didn't linger this time.

"I love you so much, Noct," Prompto breathed, and Noctis smiled, the relief of hearing his familiar voice in a moment like this putting his worries to rest. Maybe that sadness only came from their time apart, filling this reunion with power and passion and emotion.

"I love you, too," Noctis promised, lifting his head to meet Prompto's lips again. If the world was ending, then at least this was the best way to go.


A/N: Thank you all for reading, giving kudos, commenting, and showing your support! It means so much, and I love hearing from each and every one of you!

This chapter brings us to the end of Section 1 of this story. After this point, the parts I've written so far don't seem as solid to me as the first section, so it might take a little longer for me to update. I'm still going to try to stick to updating every two weeks, but it might be every three weeks, depending on how much editing needs to be done. I hope you'll all still stick around for what's to come, though, and I hope you're looking forward to Section 2 as much as I am! Thank you all again so much!