A/N: Given the current state of the world, I thought everyone might need a little pick-me-up right now, so I got this chapter ready a little early. I hope you all take care, stay safe, and enjoy!
Chapter 11
Prompto and Noctis were quiet as their chauffeur drove them to a newly built harbour not far from Galdin. Once they had made it across the ocean on a small cruiseship, they boarded a train that would take them to Accalia. Noctis did his best to make conversation, but Prompto remained silent for the most part. There was a solemn air about him, and Noctis wasn't completely sure of the cause—whether it was the idea of him meeting a room full of potential brides, or whether it was the things that had been said during the meeting the day before.
Noctis had let Prompto take a window seat, and Prompto sat with his face turned to watch the scenery, his chin resting in his hand. Noctis sat calmly beside him, stealing glances every now and then as he tried to figure out how to fix things. There were so many possibilities of what could be wrong, and Noctis figured they were all plaguing Prompto's mind at once. That half-sad, half-stoic look on his face had been there since the night before.
Noctis reached for Prompto's knee, palm wrapping around it tenderly, his thumb brushing over it with care. Prompto flinched, his gaze flickering to the hand and immediately away with a look of indifference.
"I'm sorry. On top of everything else, this trip probably brings back some bad memories, huh?" Noct asked. Prompto shook his head.
"Nah, I'm fine."
It wasn't the train ride that was causing the knots in his stomach, even if the last train voyage with Noct had been less than amiable. If anything, he was just grateful that this train wasn't taking them to Gralea this time, glad their final destination wasn't anywhere near Niflheim. He didn't want to see where he'd come from. Right now, he didn't want any ties to it whatsoever.
"You sure? You feeling okay?" Noct asked, lowering his head to peek at Prompto, hoping to meet his eyes. To his surprise, he found what looked like fear in his expression.
"Y-yeah, why? Do I look sick?" Prompto asked, warily. He moved his hand from his chin to his cheek, feeling for a temperature. Noctis shook his head quickly, intending to put his worries to rest.
"You look fine. Just… weary, I guess?" Noct shrugged. Prompto let his fear fall away, stifling a sigh of relief. Weary was fine, he supposed—accurate, even.
He was tired of thinking so hard. He had gotten very little sleep the night before, with Ignis' words playing over and over in his head. The invisible weight on his chest reminded him that he should have dealt with this dilemma long ago, that he should have cut his ties to Noctis back then if he was going to wind up doing the same thing now. But here it was, the decision lay before him all over again, and this time, he couldn't ignore or prolong it.
If Noct had the chance to save Lucis from its current crisis, and find himself a relationship that the world would approve of—a relationship that would last longer than what time Prompto had left—then wasn't it the right thing to let him have it? If he tried to break things off, he knew Noctis would fight him on it. There was no doubt about that, but he didn't know if he could bear to let Noct throw away everything for him. He didn't know if his heart would let him steal Noct's chance for an easier life.
And after everything, Noctis deserved an easy life. He deserved a peaceful kingdom, a beautiful bride, a couple of children who adored him. If he stayed with Prompto, what would he get? A man who had been keeping secrets from him since the time they'd met? A man who couldn't even promise him a long, happy life together?
"Prompto?" Noctis asked, worriedly, when his companion remained lost in thought. Prompto blinked wildly, and shook his head in apology.
"I'm sorry, Noct," he breathed, turning his head toward the ceiling and rubbing his tired face with his hands. "I don't know what's wrong with me." It was so true, on so many levels.
"Maybe you're just nervous? You don't have to be. This ball's not going to change anything between us," Noctis vowed, squeezing Prompto's knee again, and Prompto lowered his hands, allowing his gaze to wander back to Noctis.
"Ignis was right about something, though, Noct. You shouldn't close any doors while you're there." Noctis frowned at the words, brows pulling deeply downwards.
"We're not seriously going to have this conversation, are we?"
"I think we have to," Prompto said, just as firmly, and it made Noctis' stomach twist. "Just keep your options open. I won't be offended if you think you or even Lucis would be better off with—"
"No," Noct insisted, his hand leaving Prompto's knee and coming into the space between them instead. His palm was flat, facing Prompto, halting him before he could say anything more. "We're not doing this. I spent my whole life being told what I should or shouldn't do. I'm finally in a position where I should be able to choose, and I don't want you of all people trying to convince me otherwise. I need you on my side."
"I'm only saying—"
"Well, don't!" Noctis snapped, and Prompto's violet-blue eyes suddenly looked so fragile, his brows slanted up in surprise and unease.
Noct regretted his harsh tone, and stared solemnly at the empty seat straight ahead. After a minute or two of tense silence, he moved his hand to search for Prompto's, finding it on the seat beside him. Thankfully, despite keeping his gaze far from Noctis', Prompto didn't shy away from the gentle touch.
"I'm just not ready to give you up," Noctis whispered, leaning his head back against the seat and closing his eyes, preparing himself for a nap, or at least letting it appear that way so they could both cool down.
Prompto turned to look at him, watching his lips in hopes that they might repeat those words so he could see them for himself, but it seemed their conversation was over for now. It was endearing to know Noctis was willing to risk his reputation—risk everything—for him, and it made him once again want to just give in, be selfish, and keep Noctis for himself. That decision, however, would have to wait until they got to Accalia, once Prompto was able to meet these potentials for himself. The best decisions were well-informed decisions, after all.
Even after all the trips they had made to Accordo, not once had they ventured into any towns besides Altissia, until now. The small city of Accalia was comprised of white, intricately constructed buildings, dappled with vibrant green foliage, and vines weaving up and around windows. White-blue lights illuminated the streets, shrouding everything in a soft halo, and giving the place an almost ethereal air.
As he and Noctis sat side-by-side in the backseat of a cab, Noct quietly commented that it reminded him of Tenebrae, and Prompto hoped his obvious sadness wouldn't last. This was one of the most beautiful places Prompto had ever seen, a place he would have been happy to visit in his dreams. With the exception of Altissia, he had expected a place that had been taken over by Niflheim for so long to be eery, to bear more signs of destruction, but instead it appeared whole and perfect.
For Noctis, an eeriness remained in his heart as the chauffeur dropped him and Prompto off in front of the estate. They were ushered up two sets of large red-carpeted, white marble stairs, and led to an ensuite where they were invited to freshen up. Noct took the first turn in the washroom, and seemed to take far longer than was necessary to change into his formal attire for the evening.
Perhaps he was stalling, Prompto mused, but didn't allow himself to hope for that scenario. Noctis deserved to meet someone who could give him a future; Prompto couldn't forget that.
"Noct?" Prompto asked, softly, tapping a knuckle against the closed door of the bathroom. "I don't mean to rush you, but we're going to be late."
The door swung slowly open, and Noctis stood there looking dejected, eyes low to the floor.
"Sorry, I'm just... I'm angry."
"Why?" Prompto asked, tilting his head to the side. While Noct's words had been enough to diffuse Prompto's frustration on the train, it seemed the remaining voyage still hadn't been enough to calm Noctis' nerves.
"Because my council... my Crownsguard... should be on my side. They shouldn't be forcing me into some situation that I don't want to be in. I'm not a prince anymore. I'm the king. Shouldn't I have the final say?" Noctis met Prompto's eyes in question.
"I think, in this case, you do, Noct," Prompto replied. "But I also think... that maybe you're here because you think it's the right thing to do."
Noctis' eyes widened slightly, his weight shifting like the truth of Prompto's words was almost enough to make him topple over. Noctis bit his lip, considering. Maybe Ignis and Gladio hadn't learned their place yet, hadn't fully realized that Noctis was no longer obligated to take their advice. Maybe Noctis wasn't yet brave enough to put them in their place, to show authority over these men that had always been his friends and protectors. But maybe he was also here because he didn't want to make any mistakes when it came to the future of his kingdom. One way or another, he needed to earn Eos' trust.
"I guess... on some level, you're right," Noct sighed. "But you have to know how badly I want to be able to choose you. The fact that Ignis totally disregarded the fact that I love you just—" Noctis halted himself, fighting back a growl. "It bothers me."
"I know," Prompto nodded, feeling the familiar ache in his stomach that came with the sting of Ignis' words; yeah, it bothered him, too.
Pushing past the discomfort, and hoping to encourage Noctis enough to get him through this uncomfortable evening, Prompto reached out for his shoulders, the fabric of his formal suit soft against his fingertips.
"But it's only one night. If mingling with eligible maidens is what's going to make Ignis happy, then let's put on a brave face, and get through this, okay?" he smiled, meekly, rubbing small circles on Noct's shoulders with his thumbs. Noctis seemed to relax at the touch, allowing himself a moment to close his eyes and take it in. It calmed him enough to let go of his frustration, at least for now.
"Okay," Noct breathed.
"Okay. Can I take two minutes in here?" Prompto asked, as the king's eyes drifted back open. Noctis nodded and moved out of the way, allowing him to enter the washroom.
"Of course. Need your uniform?"
"Yes, please."
Noctis grabbed Prompto's bag from its position on one of the room's elegant armchairs, and handed it to him with a ghost of a smile before Prompto disappeared behind the closing door.
Within minutes, Noctis found himself heading down a separate set of red-carpeted stairs, followed by Prompto, who was dressed in his Kingsglaive uniform, ready to stand watch for the evening. The secretary was waiting for them on the landing, clad in a purple skirt and blazer set, similar to the teal ensemble she'd worn on the day Noctis had met her.
"Welcome, Your Majesty. Pleased you could make it," Claustra said, her stern mouth twisting up slightly at the corners; Noctis knew it was as close to a smile as he was going to get. He offered a hand, and she shook it with a firm grip.
"Thank you for having me. This is quite the estate," the king remarked, glancing around at the spacious lounge area—the large windows, the huge potted plants that were a vibrant green, the gold chandeliers that must have cost a fortune.
"Yes, it's my niece's estate. I may have gone a little... overboard in my contribution to this place. But I'm sure you understand. Your father most likely doted on you in a similar fashion, making sure his son had everything his heart desired," Claustra said. Noctis' hand twitched at his side, just an inch or two away from Prompto's.
"Well, almost everything," Noct replied, closing his fist to resist the temptation to reach for him.
"Is your advisor not here with you? Mr. Scientia, was it?" Claustra queried. Noctis felt Prompto shift beside him, but he remained silent.
"No, he's not here. Why do you ask?"
"As you probably know, he had a hand in helping us arrange all of this. It's a shame he couldn't attend."
"Ignis helped you plan this?" Noct frowned.
"Yes, along with one of my government officials. Unfortunately, he's not here to see it either. He resigned a few short months ago to pursue other avenues," Claustra said, but the sad and distant look on Noctis' face indicated that she'd lost his attention somewhere along the way.
"But I won't take up any more of your time. Be sure to mingle with all of your guests, and don't forget to introduce yourself to my niece. She's the one in white. Let the guard know when you're ready to enter." She gave a wave toward the stairs, motioning for them to continue on their way.
They ascended the remaining steps, and met a man dressed in noble-looking attire, with a navy blue button-up uniform and white sash draped across one shoulder. He held a blade stiffly at his side as he stood guard at the top of the stairs, but offered the duo a small smile.
"Secretary Claustra said to let you know when I was here. I'm Noctis?" the king said, sounding unsure, which Prompto was certain was due to nerves.
"Of course, Your Majesty. One moment, please." The guard strode a few paces into the room, and straightened his posture as he bellowed.
"Could I have your attention, please? The guest of honour has arrived. I present to you... His Majesty, King Noctis Lucis Caelum."
Noctis balked at the sound of the applause that immediately followed, and he cleared his throat anxiously as he prepared himself for the next dreadful few hours. He must have waited a beat too long, for he felt Prompto's hand on his shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze.
"Hey, you got this," he murmured, and Noctis managed a nod, urging his legs to take action; they were somehow still strong enough to get him into the room ahead, where crowds of clapping women stood in vibrantly coloured gowns and sparkling white jewelry. Noctis gave them a smile and a courteous bow, conscious of the violin music that started to play—a tune fit for dancing, no doubt.
"One at a time now. In an orderly fashion," the guard announced.
After a brief and not-so-subtle bout of elbowing one another, one wavy-haired brunette was shoved a step forward, away from her large group of friends. She stared wide-eyed at Noctis, cowering in her long yellow gown as if Noct were a long-horned garula. The king swallowed his own fears and offered her a hand.
"Would you care to dance?"
The girl babbled an incoherent response before smiling weakly and letting her delicate hand fall into the king's larger one. Prompto nodded towards his liege before proceeding over to the right wall, where a glass door—which was accented with turquoise blue curtains—appeared to lead out to a balcony. He shifted his weight until he was steady and comfortable on his feet, then clasped his hands behind his back, ready for guard duty.
He took this moment to analyze the large room. To the left was the staircase where they had entered, the floor below still visible in the open stairwell. A golden banister wrapped around the circular perimeter. The floor was made up of cream and caramel-coloured tiles, which glistened under the chandelier lights, equally as shiny as the ballroom floor back at the Citadel. On the far wall across from Prompto was a small circular fountain, where water spouted up and trickled over two levels of stone. On either side of it were statues of the Tidemother, their bodies twisted in an intricate design and their heads resting against the fountain's edge.
Vases of greenery were dispersed around the corners of the room, and turquoise and cream-coloured ribbons were twirled and hung along the walls, up near the ceiling. Close to the fountain were several small, round tables, decked out with velvet table-cloths, red roses, and tea sets. Most tables were already occupied with two or three women at each, while a few cliques still stood on the ballroom floor, watching the dancing couple with looks of both intrigue and jealousy. On the same wall as the fountain stood a blond-haired violinist, who played alongside a man at a grand piano, both clad in formal attire.
The right wall was lined with three buffet tables, all holding copious amounts of ordeurvs and fruit and desserts that Prompto would have been dying to try on a normal day, but right now, he didn't have an appetite at all. Not with all those women gawking at the man that was supposed to be his. Not with Noct's hands on another person.
The crowd applauded as the song ended, and Noctis and the young woman gave each other a respective bow and curtsy before the girl took off towards her friends, barely able to contain her excitement. Another woman stepped forward—this one with darker skin and short black hair, dressed in an elegant purple gown with shimmering white straps. Noctis greeted her much like he did the first, and invited her to dance, while Prompto found himself suddenly yearning for a drink.
It wasn't until a few dances later that a thin blond woman in a royal blue dress approached Prompto with two champagne glasses in hand. Her hair was braided on one side and pulled back into a ponytail. Silver, triangular earrings hung from each ear, and her makeup was done to perfection, her lips a soft fuchsia.
"You look like you could use one of these," she smiled, softly, offering Prompto a glass. His curious gaze met hers before he hesitantly relaxed his stance and accepted the offer, taking a sip as a sign of his appreciation.
"Everyone's so excited to dance with the king. I hope it's not too brazen of me to say, but you're even easier on the eyes," she said, playing with the stem of the olive in her glass. Prompto choked a little on the champagne, before mustering a small, flustered smile.
"I appreciate that, but I'm currently on guard duty, so I'm afraid dancing's out of the question," he shrugged.
"But talking's okay?" the girl asked, lowering her head slightly, her flirting gaze remaining on Prompto.
"Uh, y-yeah, I guess that's okay."
The woman seemed satisfied with the response and took a sip of her drink, stepping a little closer to Prompto as they watched the king switch dance partners again.
"I'm Adeline, by the way," the woman introduced herself. Prompto glanced sidelong at her and pushed forth another smile.
"I'm Prompto. Nice to meet you."
"So, is this your first time to Accalia?"
"Yeah, it is. Beautiful place," Prompto acknowledged.
"It is, especially now that we're not under the empire's control anymore," Adeline nodded, continuing to play with the olive stem. Prompto felt something in his gut tighten.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, they just... made everyone so terrified with their strict ruling, and the way they hurt anyone who stepped out of line. A lot of people here had even closed up shop and gone into hiding, but..." The woman paused and sighed, her eyes falling closed for a brief moment, as if focusing on pushing those memories aside. "I'm just glad they're gone now."
Prompto shifted his weight, feet suddenly aching, and he took another sip of the champagne to dull the pain, but he could hardly taste it anymore.
"So... what'll happen if Noct— If the king marries someone from Accordo?" Prompto tried.
"Well, one benefit for Accordo is that we'll have a new figure head. We don't really have a monarch, so it would be nice to have a face to put on our gil, you know?" Adeline chuckled.
"There are other benefits, too, of course. After the Oracle died, the world lost its princess. A lot of young girls looked up to Lady Lunafreya, and I would hope that the new princess would be an inspiration to them, too. Seeing women in power can be really important. On top of that, uniting Accordo and Lucis would provide a feeling of safety for a lot of people."
"So, for the most part, the people here trust Lucis?"
"Yeah, from what I've seen, at least. Though, I hear there are some dodgy places in Altissia where people feel differently."
"Yeah," Prompto said, numbly, remembering that night in Altissia when Noctis had been so mercilessly attacked. "I've heard that, too." He took a much longer swig of his drink this time. The girl beside him smoothed a hand over the front of her long, straight gown.
"You sure you can't spare a moment to dance?" she asked, eyes hopeful.
"I'm sorry," Prompto replied, mouth twitching into a bittersweet smile.
"Well, I'll be around if you change your mind," Adeline nodded, expression warm even as she left Prompto and headed for one of the tables across the room. Prompto let out a sigh, but he didn't feel relieved until he saw Noctis end his dance and head his way.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Just having a five minute break while the musicians take a breather," Noct said, coming to stand beside Prompto, close enough that their arms brushed. It wasn't much, but it was contact they both needed to make it through the rest of the evening.
There was tension throughout Noct's body. Prompto could feel it, standing as close as they were.
"This is exhausting," Noct whispered, helplessly. Prompto didn't acknowledge Noct's discomfort, knowing that it would only make Noctis even less willing to face this night with an open mind.
"Hey, isn't that—?" Prompto started.
Across the room was a girl who stood out from the rest, with a white knee-length dress and long blond hair a shade or two darker than Luna's, which came down in soft waves to the middle of her back. She was chatting with a group of women who stood near the centre of the dance floor.
"That her? Claustra's niece?" Prompto asked, recalling the brief description the secretary had given them.
"I think so," Noctis nodded, as they both continued to stare—in awe of her beauty, and in fear of what this meant for them.
Prompto felt his gut tighten again. Something felt so wrong about this, the way she was dressed like Luna, from her white dress to her high-heeled shoes. Was Accordo playing to Noctis' weakness? Or was this girl innocently trying to win the king's heart, just like everyone else here? Prompto didn't want to wait and find out.
"I'll be close by," Prompto promised, heading for a buffet table where he could discard his empty champagne glass. He clasped his hands behind his back after that, and returned to his spot by the balcony door where he could stand and observe.
He watched as Noctis waited for his chance to duck in and meet the lovely lady in white. When he finally caught her attention, her eyes lit up, and she gave him a smile.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Are you enjoying your evening?" she asked, taking in the sight of the man clad in his elegant attire of black and dark teal.
"Yeah, I am. Thanks," he fibbed.
"It's such an honour to have you here. Though, I'll admit, I'm still having a hard time believing my eyes. The king in my own estate. Are you sure you're for real?" she grinned.
"As real as I get," he shrugged.
The young woman looked to the violinist, then to Noctis with a hopeful expression. Noctis nodded, giving a bow before her and offering a hand, knowing that if he did this, he could at least return to Ignis with a report he would like to hear, and not have to lie about it. One more dance wouldn't change anything; its purpose was only for keeping up appearances.
"Sorry, I don't think your aunt told me your name."
"It's Lila," she said, with an amused smile, and accepted his hand as the music started up again.
Prompto couldn't help but watch as they moved in towards each other, hands falling on shoulder and waist as they began to dance. He wondered if he and Noct had looked that good together when they'd danced the night of their prom. The other women Noctis had seen tonight didn't hold a candle to Lila; they hadn't given Prompto that feeling where he could picture them ruling together, but Lila was different.
She was stunning—he'd give her that. It was no wonder Ignis thought it would be ideal for Noctis to marry her. Such a gorgeous young couple was exactly what the public would want to see in a royal wedding. Lila was beautiful like Luna, the image of what a queen should be. That's what the world was looking for, not someone like him.
Prompto felt his thoughts wandering to an even darker place, and part of him wanted to regret running to Noctis' room all those months ago. If he hadn't sought comfort in him that night, then maybe they wouldn't be together now; maybe Prompto wouldn't be in the way of what was best for Lucis—what he'd known was best all along. Ignis and the council would get what they wanted, Noct would get the bride he deserved, nations would unite, Lucis would be at peace; all Prompto had to do was step aside.
His stomach twisted uncomfortably, and he found himself in desperate need of air. He nearly knocked a girl over as he hurried over to Noctis, who had finished his dance and was continuing to chat quietly with Lila. Noct turned to look at him when he tapped him gently on the shoulder.
"Are you alright on your own for a minute? I need to step outside for a sec," Prompto said, rather urgently, looking pale.
"Sure. Are you okay?" Noct asked, reaching for Prompto's shoulder, but Prompto took a step back, avoiding his touch.
"Oh yeah. Just a little stuffy in here."
Noctis watched in concern as Prompto turned and headed for the door of the balcony. His eyes lingered on the glass even when the reflections of the ballroom's lights made it difficult to see his partner through the pane.
"Was that your guard?" Lila asked, from behind Noctis.
"Yeah," Noct mumbled, his expression still crinkled with deep worry. He felt the girl come to stand at his side, staring after Prompto as well.
"Is he okay?" she asked, a touch of sympathy in her expression; Noct caught the look as he glanced at her.
"I… I think so," he said, with bated breath.
Lila pushed forth a smile, and turned to Noctis again, reaching for his hand with both of her own. "I'm really glad you came here tonight, King Noctis. Like I said, it's truly been an honour. Why don't you and your guard stay a few days in Accalia? You and I could get to know each other better, and I could show you the sights."
"Nn, I appreciate the offer, but—"
"This is your first time in the city, correct? It wouldn't hurt to get to know it better, right? Especially since, the way my aunt tells it, you really want to help any regions you can."
"I, well, yeah, that's true," Noct admitted.
"And besides, Lady Lunafreya would have wanted you to," Lila said, softly, expression suddenly pained.
"What? Y-you knew Luna?"
"Yeah. Don't you remember, ten years ago, she was here in Accordo? My aunt was keeping her safe. That's what I was told, anyway. I was also told to keep her company, and we spent a lot of hours just talking."
"What did she say?" Noctis asked, slowly, hesitantly.
"She talked about her brother, and about you. I told her a lot about Accordo. She spoke very fondly of you, King Noctis, and said for me to give you the grand tour of our city if you were ever to visit," Lila smiled.
Noctis paused a second to take it all in. He could tell by her face that she was telling no lie. Besides, the events all fit. Luna had been in the secretary's care back then. It made sense that she and Lila could have met. Declining this offer, if it truly was Luna's wish, made Noct's insides crawl.
Even apart from that, there was a benefit in staying. It wasn't a bad idea to get a lay of the land, to see what state the city was in so he could at least see where his efforts were most needed. And besides, the longer he stayed, the more it would appease his council. At the very least, it might keep Ignis off his back for a while. If he went back home and declared he wasn't interested in seeking out any potential brides, he had still completed his mission to 'not close any doors' while he was here.
"Please, Your Majesty?"
"Well, alright. I'll have to make sure we can secure accommodations first, but—"
"Don't be silly. You're both welcome to stay here," the girl said, with a wave toward the balcony where Prompto still stood.
"That's very kind of you, but it's not necessary."
"I know it's not necessary, but accept it, okay?" she playfully grinned.
"That's..." Noctis sighed. "That's very generous of you. Thanks."
"Miss Lila?" came a voice from behind them. "Your aunt is downstairs, wondering if she may have a word with you," said the guard who had introduced Noctis' arrival earlier.
"Of course, she may," Lila agreed, with a small nod at Noctis to excuse herself. Noctis didn't bother to watch as she descended the stairs, but rather started for the balcony himself.
He found Prompto in solitude, his arms resting on the golden railing, his hands clasped together, head low in thought. Noctis moved in against his side, close enough so that their shoulders brushed. He stared up at the night sky, one hand on his hip, admiring the stars as he spoke.
"She asked us to stay for a few days so she could show me around Accalia," Noct announced, and Prompto slowly turned his head to look at him, worry gleaming in his purple eyes that reflected the stars. Noct immediately got caught in them, mesmerized by their beauty.
"Don't worry, okay? This doesn't change a thing." Prompto turned away, his eyes travelling back to the stars.
"It should," Prompto whispered.
"Why?" Noct tested.
"There was some talk in there, about what happened when the imperials took over Accordo. My people sure did a lot of horrible things, huh?" he asked, weakly.
Noctis leaned his head forward, pushing it into Prompto's line of view so he couldn't possibly ignore him.
"Since when is Niflheim 'your people'? I mean, sure, you were born there, but you're a Lucian," Noct said, frowning.
"And proud to be a Lucian. But Niflheim… It's a part of me, too. And it's not something I can just forget," Prompto said, before turning to properly meet Noctis' eyes. "And it's been bothering me ever since that meeting, Noct... what you said. Any union between us would be considered to be between Lucis and Niflheim."
"I—" Noct started, but quickly found himself hesitating.
He'd let his dreams and messages from the Astrals decide things for him. He had taken matters into his own hands, figuring out the best way to make the world accept them. He'd been strategizing, analyzing, perfecting, but that wasn't fair to Prompto. It wasn't fair to play his origins to his advantage when marriage was something they'd hardly ever discussed.
"That was only for political reasons. And only if you're comfortable with it. You're a Lucian in both your heart and mine," Noctis assured him, but Prompto still seemed perturbed. He looked so sad, and was keeping so quiet.
"Is this about Lila?" Noctis tried, softly.
"It's about everything. You two... You looked good together. Like you and Luna would have," Prompto smiled, meekly, looking absolutely exhausted.
"I didn't love her, Prompto," Noct reminded him, brows twisted in concern.
"No. But you love your kingdom. And a union between Lucis and Accordo would be a really good thing. You've already got people from Niflheim relocating to Lucis because they trust you. A lot of Niflheim trusts you, Noct, so it's probably way more beneficial for you to earn back the trust of Accordo, especially after Leviathan," Prompto explained.
Both fell silent after that—Prompto waiting for an answer, and Noctis refusing to give one. There was nothing he could say right now that was going to convince Prompto otherwise; he was too upset.
"Are you feeling okay, Prom? You don't seem yourself," Noctis murmured, reaching for Prompto's bangs. He brushed his fingers lightly through them before pushing them aside, and feeling for a temperature. Prompto seemed to have paled even more at the question, but he remained still and calm under the feel of Noctis' skin.
"I... I'm sorry, Noct. I'm just tired, I guess. It was a long trip," Prompto breathed. Noctis supposed he could understand that. It felt like forever ago that they had left Insomnia—even forever ago that they had gotten off the train.
"Okay, well, we can turn in, if you want. Since Lila's keeping us here for a few days, there's no need for me to mingle any more tonight," Noctis offered.
Part of Prompto wanted to tell Noctis that he should continue mingling anyway, because maybe he and Lila—or even some other girl—would hit it off, and they would get their fairytale ending. The sad and lonely part of him very much preferred the idea of Noctis pressed up against his back as he fell asleep. Still, he sided with the more 'rational' part of his brain.
"Claustra said to be sure to mingle with everyone. Wouldn't want to leave a girl out when a dance with the king could be the highlight of her life," Prompto shrugged, in defeat.
Noctis slowly lowered his hand from Prompto's forehead, and checked in his eyes once more for any undiscovered signs of what was bothering him. When he found nothing but the fatigue Prompto had expressed, he gave a small, tender smile.
"You head back to the room and get some sleep, okay? I won't be long."
"But what about—?"
"I've got the Armiger at my fingertips, okay? I'll be fine on my own for a little while," Noctis assured him.
Prompto really did look like he needed the rest; he was like a dead man walking. Noctis would rather have him on top of his game to guard him when they went out on the town tomorrow, as it seemed far more dangerous than the current ballroom scene. Prompto still appeared hesitant.
"Don't worry. I won't tell Ignis or Gladio that you let me out of your sight," Noct smirked.
"Fine." Prompto let out a heavy breath, and spun to head for the door, but Noctis caught the cuff of his sleeve, making them meet gazes again.
"Hey, I love you," Noctis reminded him, eyes full of tenderness and commitment. Prompto lowered his head.
"I love you, too," he whispered, voice barely present.
There had been a lot of days that Prompto wished he could forget—the day he'd fallen flat on his face in front of Noctis as a kid, the day he'd gotten his Crownsguard uniform and discovered his parents weren't even home to see it. Of course, the days spent in Zegnautus Keep took the cake, but these days in Accalia were a close second.
For three days, he followed Noctis and Lila around, hardly saying a word. He was like the awkward third wheel on a date, guarding Noctis while he and Lila were supposed to pretend he wasn't even there. It was frustrating and awful to watch Noctis chat with her, laugh with her, converse over a bowl of gelato with her.
He knew Noctis wasn't his territory. He didn't own him, but the words to tell Lila to back off rose into his throat and had to be swallowed back down on more than one occasion. He tried to tell himself that this was what he wanted—a normal life for Noctis—but it hurt all the same.
When they retreated to their shared room at the end of the third day, Prompto was noticeably quiet. He sat on the bed, reclining back on one hand, and avoiding Noctis' gaze as Noct puttered around the room. It didn't take long for Noctis to come and kneel before him, his hands reaching out to massage Prompto's knees, and drawing his hesitant gaze towards him. Prompto was slightly surprised to see such worried grey eyes staring up at him.
"Talk to me. I feel like I haven't heard your voice all day," Noct murmured, an undisguised longing in his tone. Prompto turned his head and lowered his eyes to the bed below him in what was probably either embarrassment or shame. Or maybe just pain.
"Prompto, I know these past few days have really sucked for you, but I promise you nothing's changed between us, and nothing will. Being with Lila further proved that," Noct vowed, his words reflecting both those of Prompto's best friend from high school and the eloquent king he'd become. Prompto slowly dragged his gaze back to Noctis, his eyes silently begging his partner for something, even though Noct didn't know what he should give.
Cautiously, Noctis rose to his feet, moving slowly as if Prompto were a frightened animal. Tenderly, he cupped the sides of his face, and leaned in to capture his lips. Prompto made a weak noise, but quickly settled into the kiss, enjoying the heat of their intermingling breaths. They continued to share a few more gentle pecks before Prompto pulled back slightly.
"You should choose her," he whispered, the shock of those words jolting Noctis like an electric current, almost making him let go of Prompto's face. Finally, he'd said something, but it was far from anything Noctis wanted to hear.
"I don't want to," Noct whispered back, still so close their noses touched.
"But you should."
"But you know you're my everything, right?" Prompto pulled back at Noctis' words, looking tearful, and Noct slowly let his hands fall from Prompto's face.
He found his hand instead, and kept it safe within his grasp. He brushed his thumb over the knuckles while he continued to watch Prompto's sullen expression, his downcast eyes and trembling mouth. How was he ever going to prove that Prompto was good enough? Was that horrible idea just ingrained in him for good? Or was there something Noctis could do to change it?
"Will you come outside with me?" Noctis asked, bringing Prompto's hand to his mouth, lips grazing over the skin in a soft caress.
"I'm tired, Noct. Can it wait 'til morning?"
"No, please? Just come with me?"
Despite how weary Prompto was, he allowed Noctis to pull him up from the bed and lead him to the glass door of their own private balcony. It was dark, the light emanating from the room inside illuminating their forms with the help of the moon. The view was even more incredible here than it had been from the ballroom below. They could just make out the forms of intricate rocks and luscious green vines that seemed to go on and on.
"Do you know how hard it is to pretend to pay attention to someone?" Noct asked, staring out into the black night. "Insanely hard. I thought I was gonna fall asleep at the gelato shop."
The corner of Prompto's lips perked upward at the sound of Noct's teasing voice. It did make him feel a little better to know their own gelato date six months ago had been more to the king's liking. It didn't surprise him either that Noct had been struggling to stay awake; he'd looked dozy and unfocused that day, and the conversation about different nations' politics had dragged on for far too long, in Prompto's opinion.
After another minute or so of staring out into the darkness, Noctis turned to Prompto, pulling both of his hands into his own.
"You are my everything, Prompto. No pretty girls, or even pretty boys, for that matter, are ever going to change that," Noctis promised him, with a small smirk. Prompto allowed himself a small chuckle through his nose, and lowered his head until Noct spoke again.
"I wanted to talk to you again... about the Niflheim thing. Look, I'm sorry if I put you in an awkward position the other day when I said that about our union being between Lucis and Niflheim. Sometimes, I get ahead of myself when I think about our future, but that's only because I want this to work so badly."
"I get why you did," Prompto nodded. "It was your way of earning Niflheim's trust. Of uniting nations. And that's a good thing, it's just... There are parts of me that... that still aren't okay with where I came from." Prompto closed his eyes as he felt a pang in his chest, the reality of his situation digging into his skin, trying its best to claw its way into his already aching heart.
"Then marry me as a Lucian. I don't care as long as you're with me."
"Marry you," Prompto repeated, incredulously, watching the look on Noct's face as it transformed from desperate to thoughtful to determined.
"Yeah. Marry me." Noctis paused, gaze flickering to the sky for courage before it returned to Prompto. Prompto gaped as the man got down on one knee, his heart lurching with pain as the claws made their way inside him, pulse racing.
"I never imagined I'd do this tonight, but..." Noct started.
Prompto was full of panic, full of dread, all for this moment that should have been the happiest of his life. Noctis continued to grasp his hands within his own, thumbs stroking them tenderly as he turned his gaze up to meet wide eyes.
"Prompto Argentum? Will you marry me?"
