Chapter 17
It took about a month for Noct and Dolosus' new plans to get underway, but Noct was pleased with the progress they had made in a short time. They picked out some potential locations for building a new agricultural centre and farming district, and were in the process of discussing the pros and cons of each so they could make a final decision. There were still a couple of issues Noctis hoped they could tackle soon—the first being the recruitment of new glaives, the second being Prompto. He wanted Prompto to start sitting in with him on meetings that took place in the audience hall, and Dolosus saw no reason not to allow it, but Prompto himself wasn't making it easy.
Prompto had been standoffish since the night Noct had turned down his offer to be intimate. He'd decided to pick up the slack for the handful of glaives that had abandoned, which meant covering their posts and taking extra shifts. The result was more time where he was busy, and less time where he had to interact with Noctis. Their last real conversation had been painful, and Prompto certainly wasn't keen on having that awkward topic arise again.
Of course, Noctis wasn't keen on it either, but he still continued to do what he could to try and make Prompto come around—telling him he loved him, kissing him on the cheek whenever they crossed paths. He knew Prompto was hurt, knew that he had accidentally made him feel like he was toxic, but he hoped he would come to accept what he'd told him that night: that he was trying to protect him, and that he wanted to keep him in good health for as long as possible.
Noctis had thought hard about ways to make amends, knowing he didn't need to make some grand effort to apologize and prove his love, but still wanting to. It finally occurred to him that Prompto's birthday would be coming up very soon, so he got to work calling in a few favours. He was confident that he would be able to give Prompto a good birthday, one that he would remember fondly for years. But sadly, he couldn't devote all of his time to party planning, despite wanting to make it his top priority. On this particular morning, he found himself yet again in the confines of his study.
"Your Majesty, could we have a moment of your time?" came a knock on the door.
Noctis looked up from his desk to see Cor and Iris standing in the entryway, and he gave them a smile, waving them inside.
"Of course. What's going on?" He motioned to the empty seats in front of his desk, and the two sat down, giving him nods of gratitude.
"We finished the signs you wanted. For recruiting new glaives?" Iris spoke up.
"Oh, right. That was fast," he marvelled. "Is that them?" He stared at the papers that Iris held tightly against her chest.
"Oh, no, just something else I was working on. But, the posters? Cor and Dolosus told me the information to include, and I designed them. Do you want us to put 'em around town?" Iris asked.
"Yeah. I mean… as long as you don't see anything wrong with them, Cor."
The Marshall frowned, detecting the uncertainty in Noctis' voice; he was evidently terrified of making a mistake.
"I believe they're fine, Your Majesty, as long as you believe you have the funds to support more glaives. Housing is easy. We certainly have the room, but food might be more of an issue."
"I talked to Dustin, who's taking care of the finances, and he worked it into our budget. Said we should be okay for at least six months," Noctis explained.
"And what about after that?" Cor asked, sitting forward in his chair, hands resting on his knees.
"Well," Noctis sighed. "I'm just hoping we're able to access my father's funds by then. If not, then we'll have to hope that the other efforts we're making to create revenue for Lucis are enough to sustain us."
"Very well, Your Majesty."
Noctis flopped back in his chair, letting out another heavy breath. His expression saddened, his unfocused gaze falling to rest on his desk. His fingers curled around the armrests of his chair, tightly and uncomfortably.
"It's stressful, you know? Rebuilding not only Lucis, but our connections to all of Eos. Do you… both feel like things are going okay?" Noct asked.
"While I wouldn't say Lucis is in a stable position right now, I've seen firsthand your efforts to get things under control. Continue on like you are, and I believe our situation will improve," Cor replied, reassuring him with a small smile.
"Yeah, what he said, Noct. Things could always be better, but they started off a lot worse, too. The changes you and Dolosus have been working on make sense," Iris promised, and Noct nodded, relieved.
"Thank you. I think I needed to hear that."
"If you'll excuse us, then, Your Majesty?" Cor asked, getting up from his seat.
"Yeah, of course. Thank you, Cor, Iris."
Iris and Cor stared at Noct, waiting curiously for him to continue.
"If you start to notice I'm doing something wrong, just tell me, okay? I really don't want to mess this kingdom up," Noctis said, a small smile twisting up his lips, but his eyes were unmistakably sad.
Cor nodded, knowing how hard Noctis was trying to live up to his generous and powerful father, while still attempting to adapt the things that needed to change for his own unique ways of ruling. It was difficult, trying to rule as kindly as King Regis did while not losing people's trust the way he had during the war. It was hard to create new pockets of wealth when old ones had been destroyed. It was hard to be the hero who had brought back the sunlight when so many people hated him, King Noctis, who had disappeared when the world had needed him the most.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Cor bowed. He got to his feet and glanced back at Iris, who had risen from her chair, but didn't appear to be following him.
"Um, could I have a word with you myself, Your Majesty?" she asked, showing him the proper respect while in the Marshal's presence.
"Of course," Noct agreed, waving toward the chair again. Cor gave a nod to dismiss himself, and closed the door behind him, giving the two some privacy.
"Sorry to keep you from your work, Noct," Iris said, looking very apologetic.
"Trust me, I don't mind a break in the silence," Noctis laughed, and while he'd intended for it to come out warm and cheerful, it was instead filled with a longing that Noct himself recognized instantly. Of course, the silence was bothering him. He was lonely. How long had it been since Prompto had wandered into his study? The fact that he had no idea meant it was far too long.
"So, what's up?" Noctis quizzed.
"Well, this is about that other task you gave me. Prompto's parents? I actually found them."
"Are you serious?" Noctis gaped. "They're alive?"
"Yeah," Iris said, a little breathlessly. She took Noctis' enthusiasm as an invitation to elaborate, and she finally set down the papers she'd had clutched against her body. She lowered them to the desk, allowing the king to view her research.
"Apparently, they were not in Insomnia during the fall, which explains how they survived. They were on a business trip outside the city," the girl explained.
It made sense, Noctis supposed. Right before the roadtrip, he remembered Ignis telling him that Prompto had gone home to show off his Crownsguard fatigues, only to find the house empty. Noctis had sworn to Ignis that he wouldn't tell Prompto that he knew—knew that Prompto's parents had let him down again. That didn't stop Noctis from feeling horrible about it, though.
He'd always wished he could do something to fix it, that he could step in and yell at those horrid creatures for abandoning the child they had promised to care for and protect. Noctis had always been cautious whenever the topic of Prompto's parents came up, because he knew how much of a sore spot it was that they never took an interest in him—a sore spot that had probably grown ten times that day, that day that probably should have been the proudest of Prompto's life.
"Where are they now? Did you find out?" Noctis queried, energetically. Iris nodded, and flipped to the second page of her findings.
"According to this government database, they moved to Gralea after the fall, relocated to Lestallum sometime during the decade of darkness, and returned to Gralea again afterwards."
"Do you know exactly where they are?"
"Yep. Here's the address," Iris announced, turning back to the first page of her report and pointing to the line on the paper, underneath Mr. and Mrs. Argentum's ID photographs. Noctis took the paper into his hands and stared down at it, feeling elated, disbelieving, and scared all at the same time.
"Are you going to tell Prompto?" Iris asked, quietly, after Noctis was silent for a little too long. She had sensed the moment his excitement turned to unease.
"Mm, not yet. His birthday is coming up soon, and I want him to at least enjoy it before he starts worrying about seeing them again."
"I can understand that."
"But this is what he wanted. I don't know how he can forgive them for everything they put him through, but… I guess that's Prompto for you," Noct sighed, with a small smile.
"He is awfully strong, Noct. I can sort of see why you two leaned on each other all those years," she said, and it made Noctis lift a brow.
"Yeah?" he quizzed, hoping she would elaborate.
"Well, I think you both have strength in different places. Both different, but they work together. Kind of like your personalities," she smiled. Noctis nodded, knowing what she meant, and appreciating that someone on the outside could see such things, too—Prompto with his wide grins and glowing nature, Noctis with his more reserved smiles and soft-spoken words.
"Thanks, Iris. I'm really glad you get it. Maybe you could talk to Ignis about all this? Change his mind about us?" Noct smirked.
He had meant it jokingly, but part of him wasn't kidding at all, even though her words of persuasion wouldn't change anything. It wasn't their compatibility that they needed to convince Ignis of anyway; it was that being with Prompto wouldn't tarnish his reputation.
"I'm sure Ignis'll come around," Iris laughed, softly. "I know it isn't easy for the two of you to be stuck in the middle of all this political stuff, but… it'll all work out, Noct. Promise."
"I hope so," Noct said, pushing forth a smile.
It was a long, boring morning—so boring Noctis' eyes crossed and blurred as he stared at the documents before him, and even Umbra had fallen asleep, curled up on the rug in Noct's study. There was only so much work Noct could do without proper sustenance, so once he could no longer ignore his growling stomach, he hopped up from his desk and patted his hand against his leg, awakening the messenger.
"C'mon, Umbra. Let's get us some grub," Noct grinned. The dog was up on all fours in a second, and followed his king with perked ears and a wagging tail.
As they made their way through the halls, Noctis heard the familiar clink of a cane against the tiled floor. He paused, thinking he must have misheard, but he turned the corner to see Ignis proceeding through the lobby, tapping his cane out in front of him as he tried to locate the main doors.
"Hey. What are you doing here?" Noctis asked, softly, not wanting to sound hostile. Instead, his words came out apologetic and sad. Ignis halted and turned, listening, but Noct didn't take another step; he kept a few feet's distance between them.
"I apologize. I was only here for a brief meeting with Gladio."
"Anything I should know about?"
"No. It was merely old friends catching up," Ignis assured him. Finally, Noctis stepped forward, feeling confident that his former advisor wasn't about to bite his head off.
"Thanks for the stuff you sent on my birthday. Cupcakes were delicious," Noct said, with a mild grin, as Umbra sat proudly down at his side, panting.
"I'm glad they were satisfactory," Ignis smiled back, gently.
"They were more than satisfactory. So, uh, how are things? Where've you been staying?"
"My uncle has an apartment in town, so I've been staying with him. He's getting on in years, so I'm happy to be able to spend the time with him," Ignis explained.
Noctis replied with a small noise of understanding, wishing Ignis would recognize the similarities of their situations; they were both trying to make the most of the time they had with their loved ones.
"How is the new fellow working out?" Ignis inquired. Noctis regretted having to answer the question, but convinced himself it might put Ignis' mind at ease to know that things were under control.
"Pretty well, actually. He's on a trial run for a few months, but so far so good."
"What will you do once that period is over?"
Noctis stared at Ignis' expression, the way his brows were curved upward the slightest bit, in what was either trepidation or concern—perhaps both.
"I guess that depends. Have you changed your mind about Prompto?" Noct asked, folding his arms to protect himself from the harsh truth that was sure to hurt him.
"I'm… afraid not. My concerns are still painfully valid, in my mind," Ignis said, solemnly, turning his head slightly away from Noctis in regret. Umbra gave a low whine in response. Noctis' teeth dug into his bottom lip as he tried to get over the sting of those words, but even that physical pain couldn't distract him from it completely.
"Then I guess things will stay the way they are," Noctis sighed, but after a second or two, he confidently brought his gaze up to stare at Ignis' shameful expression. "I would prefer to have you as my advisor. You know that, right?"
The curve of Ignis' brows softened at the sound of those words, like he hadn't been expecting to hear them, or wasn't sure whether to believe them.
"Thank you, Noct," he uttered, gratefully.
"I mean it. I want you and Gladio at my side, always, but I have to put Prompto first right now. He's going through something huge, and I'm not going to let him suffer through it alone," Noctis asserted.
"I understand," Ignis nodded. Noctis fell silent after that, but even without his sight, Ignis could sense the hesitation in the air. There was more his king wanted to say.
"Look, I've been wanting to ask you... do you remember when Prompto first came back to the Citadel, and you said I should talk to him? You said that he'd been through more than I could imagine?"
"I do."
"Then you must have at least considered that once I learned the truth, the distance between Prompto and I might disappear."
"Yes, I had, but I can't say it crossed my mind that your relationship would ever reach a level where all of Eos would know of your rapport," Ignis admitted. Noctis nodded, taking in the information and letting it sink in. He wondered why it had to matter so much.
"Maybe if my dad were still here, and I was still just a prince, we could have kept our relationship a secret, but as a king, I can't lie to my kingdom. I want to earn my people's trust by simply being myself. And besides, Prompto and I... We've had to hide our relationship since the day it started," Noct explained, giving Ignis a small, defeated shrug that he hoped he could somehow perceive. He thought back to the media's rumours about him and Prompto, to the way they were forbidden from attending their prom as dates, or from holding hands in public during their days on the road.
"We're tired of hiding, Specs," Noct said simply, pushing forth a weak smile. He hoped the old nickname might soften Ignis' heart.
"Yes, I... I can understand that must have been difficult," Ignis sighed, considering.
Even back in their high school days, those boys had never been free. Every outing had come with a strict set of rules, every act of romantic affection had to take place behind closed doors, every text had to be hidden from prying eyes. And when they had so much as risked crossing those lines, Ignis had been ready with a scolding in response.
Despite Ignis not understanding what it must have felt like to sneak around, fly under the radar, and hide from the world, he did understand that those conditions had damaged Noct, had made him feel hurt and ashamed. They had probably done the same thing to Prompto. And that... that was truly unfair to both of them.
"I believe in the people of Lucis and Niflheim. All of Eos. I believe they have the kindness within their hearts to respect our reign together, if we decide to take that step. I want to give them the chance to accept us, just as I told Prompto. I'd love it if you would take that chance, too."
Noctis stopped after that, giving a soft chuckle as he realized how long he'd been talking. He shoved a hand through his hair, embarrassed and defeated.
"Sorry. I know none of this is likely to change your mind. I just wanted to say it out loud, you know? Anyway," Noct said, stuffing his hands in his pockets, and shifting uncomfortably. "Prompto's birthday is coming up, and I'm planning a surprise party for him. You'll come, right?" Noctis asked, his brows popping up in question, afraid Ignis would say no right off the bat, or make up some excuse as to why he couldn't attend.
In reality, Ignis was touched to be invited. He had feared that Prompto might have taken his leave of absence as an insult against him. He had even feared that Noctis might still be downright angry with him for doing and saying what he did. Contrary to his assumptions, it appeared that once the initial hurt and rage had died down, the feelings of comradery that he and Noctis had always shared were more important than any grudge.
"If you'll have me, then of course. I would not want to miss such an important occasion in my friend's life," Ignis said, feeling the need to phrase it that way. He turned his head toward Noctis, trying his best to guage where he was standing. "Noct, please know that I hold no ill feelings toward Prompto, nor yourself. I merely brought up my concerns out of my love and duty for the Crown."
"I know," Noctis promised, giving him a smile that he hoped he would hear in his voice. "I get it. Even I worry sometimes that I'll let my dad or my kingdom down with my choices, but… I have to learn to trust my own judgement. No king can rule properly if he doesn't believe in what he's doing. So for now, I just have to follow through with the choices I've made."
To his surprise, Ignis offered him a tender smile in response. He actually appeared proud.
"That's very admirable, Noct. I sincerely hope that everything works out."
"Me, too," Noctis agreed, and Ignis gave him one last smile before heading for the door again. "Hey, I'll be in touch about the party."
"Looking forward to it," Ignis peacefully hummed. His mouth popped open in surprise when he felt a cold, wet nose against his hand. He let out a soft hum of laughter immediately after as Umbra lapped his tongue affectionately against his skin.
"Looks like someone misses you," Noct smiled. Ignis felt around for the top of the dog's head, and ruffled the fur between his ears. He couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than that.
As the weeks continued to pass, Noctis felt more and more confident that he was making good strides in Lucis. In late October, he and Dolosus visited an area a little ways outside Insomnia to view one of the potential lots for the farming district. Being pleased with its acreage, Noct decided to go ahead and make this the official spot. A small and somewhat informal groundbreaking ceremony was held a few days later, where Noctis shoveled the first bit of soil and planted the first vegetable seed of many to sprout from this new lot.
Noctis was relieved by the change this would bring about in his kingdom—construction workers could build barns and greenhouses, farmers could have their jobs back. Everyone could work together and create new friendships. Because the lot was so enormous, they could sell some of their goods locally while still having plenty for Noctis' workers to export to other places, bringing money back into the kingdom.
Despite how proud he was of his latest efforts, a part of him still felt defeated. It was Prompto's birthday, and with it came Noct's responsibility to tell him about his parents. He hoped it would be seen as another gift, something that would fill him with gratitude rather than dread, but he wasn't sure how he would react, especially when they had been so at odds lately.
He knew Prompto wanted to see his parents, but recognized that he felt uneasy about it, too. He wondered how much Prompto would tell them—whether he would let them in on the secret of his condition, or whether they would be left to find out after the fact that he'd passed away.
Noctis shivered at the thought and shook his head, trying to rid himself of it. His elbow rested against the window of the car door, his hand coming to pinch the bridge of his nose. He cleared his throat and closed his eyes tightly, doing anything he could to stop himself from sinking into despair.
"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" Dolosus asked, leaning forward slightly in his seat, trying to assess Noctis' pained expression. "Is this about the groundbreaking ceremony? Because you did a wonderful job."
"No, it's not that," Noctis said, releasing a small breath of laughter. He could see how his silence during the whole drive home from the ceremony could have given off that impression.
"I'm okay, it's just…" He hesitated before he let himself go any further. He'd often debated telling Dolosus of Prompto's condition, as it seemed word of it had never reached his ears; he had certainly never mentioned it. But maybe it was best not to go down that road right now.
"What is it?" Dolosus prodded, worriedly. Noctis opened his eyes and reached for the button on his car door, which triggered the partition to rise between the front and back seats. It gave them some privacy to talk without the driver listening in.
"Just some personal matters with Prompto. I recently discovered that his foster parents are still alive, and are living in Gralea. Prior to this, Prompto wasn't even sure they'd survived the fall of Insomnia," Noctis explained.
"Oh, my dear. His parents didn't have contact with him in all that time?"
"Let's just say, Prompto didn't have the best upbringing. It wasn't an ideal parent-child relationship."
"How unfortunate," Dolosus breathed, sitting back in his seat, drinking in the story with a troubled expression, fingers curled tightly around his knees.
"And yet, Prompto, being the kind of guy he is, still wants to go visit them. Said he wants to thank them for taking him in, despite all the shit they put him through," Noct said, tasting the loathing on his own tongue for those people, and yet, felt a little guilty about it. If Prompto was willing to forgive them, then he should be, too, but it was hard. They had hurt Prompto, and Noct had a hard time forgiving anyone who dared to cross that line.
"And is he? Going to visit, I mean?" Dolosus asked.
"Well, I haven't actually told him about this yet. But no, not alone. I would go with him," Noct said, meeting his advisor's eyes. "Sadly, it probably won't happen anytime soon. Not with the financial state of things at the Citadel."
"Surely we'll recover from this financial struggle before too long, and you'll be able to go," Dolosus said. He tried to analyze the look that appeared in the king's eyes. What was it? Fear? Longing?
"I was really hoping we could go sooner rather than later. I don't know what kind of health his parents are in, or anything," Noct replied, biting his lip. It wasn't a complete lie, even if he doubted they were in the same dismal position as Prompto.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," Dolosus encouraged, with a gentle smile. "I have a good feeling that this farming district will improve things for you and Lucis. As soon as the funds are available, we'll make sure you and Mr. Argentum get to Gralea."
"We... might be gone for some time. Do you think the council will approve?"
"Let me handle the council. We must simply make them see the situation as being beneficial to your well-being. If Prompto is worried about his parents, you will inevitably worry about Prompto, and therefore it's in both of your interests to make the voyage," Dolosus said, in a manner-of-fact sort of way. Noctis hummed pensively.
"You must have been quite the asset while in government, huh? You seem to know how to negotiate and spin any story the way you want it."
Dolosus chuckled, pressing a knuckle against his lips.
"You make me sound cheeky, Your Majesty."
"No. I know you're just trying to help, and I appreciate it," Noctis smiled, sincerely. "Hey, I'm having a birthday party for Prompto later. You're welcome to come."
"I'm grateful for the offer, Your Majesty, but I'm not much for parties. I'm sure you'll have a better time without my stiff personality."
Noctis laughed gently.
"Well, the offer's there, if you change your mind."
He perked up a little as they arrived at the Citadel gates, and was relieved when the driver finally parked the car in front of the main doors, for it meant he was home—and one step closer to Prompto. He parted ways with Dolosus and headed for his chambers. He was glad that he could finally put an end to this distance—an end to that horrible feeling of trying to make amends while Prompto brushed him off.
In some ways, it had made things easier to have a distance between them while Noctis worked out the details of the upcoming birthday party. If they had been spending more time together, Prompto would have become suspicious of all the private phone calls, and Noctis would have felt obligated to spill the beans. Noctis vowed tonight would be different, however. He vowed that by the end of this conversation, they would no longer be at odds, and as he made his way toward the bedroom, swore to make it so.
Inside the bedroom, Prompto was making use of the time to himself—his camera set up on the desk before him as he talked directly to it, documenting his tale the best way he knew how.
"So, yes, I was made to be an MT, but in the end, I'm only human." He paused when he heard shuffling outside the door, and he reached for the camera, shutting it off quickly and shoving it into the desk drawer. His eyes searched for something, anything to act as a reasonable decoy. When they lay themselves upon one of Noctis' old fantasy books, he withdrew it and flipped it open to a random page as the door opened.
"Hey," Noctis greeted.
"Hey. Didn't expect you to be back so soon," Prompto said, with nary a smile, somehow managing to not act suspicious. At least his words were truthful; it had been a while since their schedules had actually aligned.
"Finished work early."
Prompto closed his book casually, as if he'd been reading it the entire time, and headed for the dresser to dig some sleepwear out of his drawer. Noctis took a seat on the edge of the bed, hands resting patiently on his knees.
"Look, I know you're still mad at me for the last time we were alone like this, that night when you tried to—" Prompto's gaze shot up immediately, expression startled. The surprise only lasted a second, before Prompto lowered his head, shoulders curling inward. He looked so withdrawn, like the last thing he wanted was for Noctis to talk about that painful incident.
"And I get it. I never meant to make you feel like… like I was repulsed by you, or like I didn't want you because you were sick, or…"
"Great talk," Prompto breathed, in a bitter laugh. He sauntered into the bathroom, the conversation already making him feel worse than before. Noctis followed him, and put a hand out to stop the door from being closed in his face. Prompto strode toward the mirror, hands falling hard against the edges of the sink, head low as he viewed his own heartbroken expression reflecting back at him.
"Prompto, listen. I love you, okay? And the only reason I stopped you from going any further that night was because I was scared of hurting you. I just... I never want to be something that makes you worse-off," Noctis said, his eyes full of emotion, voice low and calm.
Prompto's gaze darted from the mirror in front of him to glance at Noct in the corner of his eye; it stayed there a moment, then drifted back to the mirror. Prompto pulled open the medicine cupboard and reached for his moisturizer, squeezing some of it out of the bottle before slapping it onto his face, making sure to rub a little extra under his eyes.
"I've always wanted to protect you, and I know you were eager to join the Crownsguard because you wanted to protect me, too. It's just something that's ingrained in us, I think. So please, don't be mad at me for wanting to keep you safe," Noct went on, and Prompto turned to give him another glance.
"But if we're not close like we were, then what's the point?"
"The point is, we keep you here as long as we can, Prompto. And maybe it won't be the same, but... we can still be close in other ways." The words were meant to bring comfort, but they appeared to only make Prompto sadder as his gaze drifted down to the sink before him.
"I don't want to act like some depraved jerk about this, it's just that I... I miss being close to you, Noct," Prompto whispered now, that weak and solemn sound summoning Noctis to him like a magnet. Noct was behind him in an instant, hands reaching out for his shoulders and massaging them gently.
"I know, and I feel the same. But like I said before, once we know more about your condition, maybe we can be close like that again."
"So, all those times when you'd stop me in the hallway..." Prompto trailed off, remembering those brief and tender kisses Noct had given him in between their meetings and guard duties. "That was your way of apologizing for that night?"
"Well, I didn't know what else to do," Noct said, with an honest shrug. "You never seemed like you wanted to talk."
Prompto lowered his gaze again. Noct was right about that.
"Prompto, I realize I can't protect you to the point where I'm smothering you. I know it's not fair to cage you like that, but I'm not going to stop fighting for your life, either. So, whether you want me here or not, I'm not leaving you to battle this alone. Okay?" Noct said, watching as they locked gazes in the mirror. After a minute, Prompto's eyes crinkled into a tearful look, and he spun to face his partner. They pulled each other into an embrace, heads resting on shoulders. Prompto released a shaky breath.
"I'm sorry I've been pushing you away."
"It's okay," Noct promised, his hand drifting between Prompto's shoulders, ghosting over the back of his shirt.
"I know we didn't want to waste any time where we weren't together. I know this whole issue dragged on all this time because of me. But it's only because I'm not used to feeling like this... feeling like I'm some sick and fragile thing that needs to be protected."
"And I don't want you to feel that way," Noctis swore to him. "That's why I really am sorry."
"Me, too. Forgive me?" Prompto asked, with a tilt of his head, tears glistening in his eyes as he pulled back to stare at Noct.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Noctis whispered, brushing a thumb over Prompto's cheek, tears disappearing as Prompto peacefully closed his eyes. Warmth enveloped him again as he was pulled back into his king's arms, and soothed by his words.
"Like I told you before, I just want to keep you healthy. I want to keep you for as long as I can. That's all."
"I know," Prompto nodded, feeling so much better than he had in weeks, all because of Noctis—the endearing tone of his voice, the warmth of his strong body, his unyielding will to keep him safe. "I'm still sorry. For shutting you out."
"It's okay. Honestly, I get why you did." Noctis pressed a long kiss to his forehead, earning one quiet sob from Prompto. "Now," Noct breathed, pulling back and reaching for Prompto's face again. He ran his thumbs under his eyes, grazing the freshly moisturized skin, so soft and smooth. "Will you do me a favour? Come on a little drive with me? Ignis and Gladio are coming, too."
"Oh no. Now I'm getting suspicious," Prompto frowned.
"Come on, you didn't think I forgot today was special, did you?"
"I was half-hoping you would." Prompto let out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a sniffle.
"Don't be like that," Noct playfully scolded, taking a step back and holding out a hand to Prompto. "Please?"
"Where are you taking me?"
"Secret."
"Ahh, Noct, come on. I'm tired. Can't you just tell me?" Prompto whined.
"The guys and I are taking you out for ice cream, okay, Birthday Boy? Jeez, do you have to spoil the surprise?" Noct teased. Prompto's eyes widened in slight sorrow at the accusation, but Noct merely widened his grin, and Prompto relaxed, accepting Noct's hand.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah, okay." Prompto wiped a hand over his face, drying any lingering tears. "Sugary goodness, here we come," he smiled, following Noct out of the room, the last of his despair forgotten.
"Wait, this is where we're going? Hammerhead's kind of a long way out for some ice cream, don't you think?" Prompto asked, leaning out the car window to take in the view of the familiar light-up signs, but his comment was ignored.
He'd been enjoying the company so much, he hadn't realized how long they'd been driving. It was so much like old times—Noctis at the wheel, Ignis and Gladio teasing him about his reckless driving from the backseat. Prompto was glad that Iggy had put aside his differences with him and Noct at least for tonight, for this celebration wouldn't have felt right without him. Prompto's exhaustion from the earlier conversation with Noctis had faded completely, now replaced by the excitement of getting to hang with the guys again, just like the old days on the road.
"Heh. This place almost makes me want to say 'home sweet home'," Gladio chuckled softly, as Noctis pulled the car into the familiar lot, parking the vehicle just off to the side of the gas pumps.
Even in the darkness, the street lamps illuminated Cindy as she waved wildly from her position inside the garage door. Cid got up from his chair in preparation to come and greet them as Noctis turned off the ignition. Ignis and Gladio eagerly got out of the car to say their hellos, but Noctis reached for Prompto's hand before he could do the same, pulling his curious gaze toward him.
"What's goin' on, Noct?" Prompto asked, eyes half-lidded and unimpressed.
"So, maybe I left out the part about celebrating with Cid and Cindy, too," Noct said, shrinking a little in his seat. Prompto eyed him with a stern gaze, but smirking lips.
"Yeah, well, I'd be mad except Takka's place does have some pretty awesome ice cream."
"All right, then," Noct grinned, straightening up again, relieved that he was out of trouble—at least for now. "In that case, you ready for this?" he asked, tenderly, rubbing his thumb over Prompto's hand. He wondered if Prompto might find it hard being back here with the others, for it would inevitably remind him of days gone by, but Prompto merely gave him a grin.
"Sure, I am!"
"Good. Tonight is all for you, okay? Enjoy it," Noctis smiled, leaning in to brush his nose against Prompto's, and Prompto stole a kiss while he was so conveniently close. They pulled back and exchanged another smile before reaching for their doors and getting out of the car.
"Hey, y'all! Good to see ya!" Cindy called out, waving her arm high above her head as Noctis and Prompto approached with linked hands. As they got nearer, Prompto couldn't help but take in the girl's attire. Instead of her standard mechanic outfit, she was dressed in a pink, v-cut tank top and white mini-skirt, but her Hammerhead ball cap remained perched upon her head.
"Hey, Cindy. Good to see you, too," Noctis greeted, as she pulled the two boys into a hug. When she released them from her embrace, Prompto gave her a once-over and a smirk, to which Noctis responded with a quizzical brow.
"You look great, Cindy. Good thing I figured out I'm a one-man kind of man, or I'd be doing some serious flirting," he grinned, earning a playful swat in the back of the head from Noctis.
"Just like old times, huh?" Cindy laughed, remembering how smitten Prompto had once been with her. Of course, the whole thing had been a huge, confusing ordeal for Prompto. He'd tried so hard to figure out whether he liked girls in addition to guys, and had tried to wean himself off of Noctis because he'd feared that once they got to Altissia, the beautiful, wonderful relationship that they'd had would be over.
Even through the years of darkness, he had struggled, but only because he knew by then that no one else could fill the void in his heart—only the man tucked away on the Isle of Angelgard, sleeping in his crystal until he was ready to face the world. It had only taken one drunken night for Prompto to spill his secrets about Noctis, and Cindy had listened, sympathetic to his grieving.
"You do remember your one and only man is standing right here?" Noctis muttered, teasingly. Prompto turned to him with a wily grin and squeezed his hand, still basking in the excitement of finally having made up.
"Oh, I could never forget you."
"Good," Noct said, with a satisfied little grin, closing his eyes and tossing his nose in the air in feigned arrogance.
"Alright, let's keep all those hormones in check," Cid gruffly announced, making his way over to the group, moving a little more slowly and creakily than the boys were used to. Even so, there was a joyful gleam in his eyes—maybe from teasing the youngsters before him, or perhaps from simply seeing them all alive and well.
"Cid, how're things? How's business?" Gladio asked, offering him a handshake.
"Back to normal. Place is bustlin' like it used to be. Honestly, some days we could use another hand or two," Cid said, and Prompto and Noctis exchanged a glance. Noctis gave him a nod, encouraging him to speak up.
"Really? I was actually telling Noct that I had an interest in fixing up some cars," Prompto said. "You think I could help out?"
"Well, sure. The more hands on deck, the better, so long as you know your way around a toolbox, son," Cid went on, wagging a finger at the young man. Prompto nodded confidently.
"Yes, sir. I do."
"Good. Anytime you want to drop by, feel free to give us a hand," Cid smiled.
"Alright, enough chatter, y'all. There's plenty of time for that inside. Takka's waitin'," Cindy announced, with a wide, toothy smile. She waved for everyone to follow, and together, they headed for the diner.
The circular building was lit up like it used to be, with red and white lights on the exterior, and a white glow emanating from the windows. They halted at the doorway, and Prompto gave his friends a suspicious frown as they refused to go any further. With a gentle nudge of her elbow, Cindy coaxed him to enter first.
"Surprise!" came a loud cheer, as people popped up from behind the bar counter and out of booths. The pop of a confetti gun sounded, and Prompto put a hand to his chest as he scanned the room, wide-eyed as pieces of sparkly, coloured paper drifted down before him. Balloons and streamers littered the diner's walls and ceiling.
Takka stood behind the counter with a smile. Hammerhead's arms vendors and shopkeepers stood at a table on the left wall. Monica, Cor, Dustin, Fae, and Talcott stood by another table on the right. Continuing along were Aranea and Iris. Everyone was smiling at him, cheering and clapping for him, and he had a hunch as to who had planned something to make him feel so special, so important, so loved.
"Wow, this is amazing! Thank you so much, everyone!" he grinned, before feeling his friends brushing past him, giving him pats on the shoulder and uttering happy birthday wishes as they went to claim a table for themselves. When Noctis approached, he lingered by his side.
"So, you lied again when you said it was only going to be Cid, Cindy, and the guys...?" Prompto started, and Noctis bobbed his head from side to side, playfully dodging Prompto's accusing stare.
"I may have bent the truth a little," he hummed. He met Prompto's eyes and gave him a smile, watching Prompto's scolding expression as it transformed into a smirk. "And now you know the other reason why I didn't patch things up with you sooner. I suck at hiding things from you."
"Yeah," Prompto nodded, still smirking. "That's true."
"Alright, come on, Birthday Boy. Time to mingle." Noctis gently raised a hand to Prompto's back, and coaxed him forward, allowing him to choose which group he would address first. He proceeded over to the vendors, giving them all handshakes and thanking them before wandering over to Takka and doing the same. Next, he found his way to Cor and the others, expressing his gratitude with a half-handshake, half-hug, before waving for Fae and Talcott to get in close beside him.
"Come on, kiddies. This'll be one for the books," Prompto grinned, reaching into his pocket for his phone, but Noctis stepped in, offering him his bigger, more professional camera model.
"Huh? Where'd that come from?" he asked, in surprise.
"The car. I know you well enough to know you'd be kicking yourself later if you took pictures on that thing instead of this," Noctis smiled, softly.
"You actually thought to bring it with us?"
"Of course, I did."
Prompto smiled, both at how thoughtful Noct was, and how proud he looked in that moment. Gratefully, Prompto accepted the LOKTON camera from Noctis and stuffed his phone back in his pocket. Now, Talcott and Fae leaned their heads in close to Prompto's, as Prompto held his camera out at arm's length to capture the photo, all three of them happily grinning.
"Say fuzzy pickles!"
"Fuzzy pickles!" the two cheered, with confused, but hysterical grins on their faces—Fae's eyes almost closed with laughter, Talcott's wide and joyful. Once the flash went off, Prompto brought the camera down in front of him to view the image, and all three of them chuckled at the sight of it.
"That's a keeper, for sure," Prompto beamed, giving each of them a proper hug before returning to Noctis' side. Iris ran in next, pulling Prompto into a hug.
"Happy Birthday, Prompto," she smiled.
"Thanks, buddy," he grinned. "And hey, Aranea, where's my hug?!"
Aranea rolled her eyes.
"You're not serious."
Prompto quirked his brows in an upward motion, his grin unfaltering, and she huffed as she stepped forward.
"Only for you, blondie. Don't tell anyone," she warned. Prompto chuckled, and Iris motioned toward his camera.
"Take one of the three of us, Noct?" she asked, voice chipper, waving the king over.
"Sure." Noct nodded his agreement, and accepted the camera from Prompto.
He took a few steps back to make sure he got everyone in the frame. Iris wrapped an arm around Prompto, and Aranea stood on the other side of him. Once the flash went off, they gathered together to view the photo, and laughed at Aranea's stiff smile.
"Thanks, ladies," Prompto grinned, appreciatively before he and Noctis made their way to Ignis and Gladio; the two were standing at the first table inside the entrance.
"Get over here," Gladio coaxed, with a loving, playful smile. He hooked his elbow around the back of Prompto's neck and tugged him into a hug. Prompto squawked, hands pushing at Gladio's giant arm to free himself.
"Watch the hair, big guy! The hair!"
"Alright, fine. No noogies tonight," Gladio said, heaving an exaggerated sigh. He released his hold on Prompto, who raised his hands to the swoop of his hair, just to make sure it hadn't been tousled in the slightest.
"Seriously, Happy Birthday, kid," Gladio smiled, before Ignis stepped up, pulling Prompto into an unexpected hug.
Prompto wasn't sure he'd ever been hugged by Ignis before—maybe because of the man's stiff demeanour and elite upbringing, or perhaps because the occasion had never arisen. After everything, he'd half-expected Ignis would be mad at him for continuing to live alongside Noct, but he certainly didn't seem upset. Perhaps this was his way of making sure he knew that.
"Yes, Happy Birthday, Prompto. I sincerely hope you enjoy this evening, and that you have many, many joyful years to come," Ignis said, as he pulled away from the hug. The words made Prompto feel a little sick to his stomach, but he tried to push past them; Ignis hadn't meant it as a reminder of what might happen, but rather as hopefulness for his future.
"Thanks, you two," Prompto said, pushing forth another smile as Gladio reached for his shoulder and pulled him in to stand in front of him.
"Don't we get a picture, too?"
"Of course, you do," Prompto chuckled, and Gladio and Ignis gathered in close. With a smirk, Gladio held two fingers up behind Prompto's head, like the immature kids used to do in elementary school.
"Bunny ears? Really? I can see that, you know," Noctis said, voice dull. Prompto spun his head around to catch the big guy in the act before he could whip his hand away. Prompto gave an amused shrug.
"It's cool. I can always edit it out," he said, turning back toward the camera with a grin. The three of them smiled, Gladio giving up his little game before the flash went off. Once they had a chance to approve of the photo, Noctis reached for Prompto's shoulder with a teasing smirk.
"Okay, I'm starting to get a little jealous here."
"I'm sorry, honey," Prompto sang. "I didn't mean to leave you out."
Noctis smiled contentedly as Prompto came to stand beside him, and they snapped two pictures—one of them smiling at the camera, and one of Noct pressing a kiss to Prompto's cheek as Prompto wore an exaggerated look of surprise. They reviewed the images on the back of the camera with soft laughter, before Prompto looked up, realizing something was missing.
"Hey, where did Cid and Cindy go?"
"Happy Birthday," came Cindy's singing voice, as she emerged from the kitchen holding a huge cake with white icing, and several vibrantly-coloured burning candles on top. The door to the kitchen swung open again behind her as Cid followed. Prompto watched in surprise as Cindy headed on towards him, while everyone else in the room continued to sing.
"Happy Birthday, dear Prompto…" They paused as Noctis gently nudged Prompto to sit down at the table with Ignis and Gladio, and Cindy stepped in to set the cake down.
"Happy Birthday to you," everyone finished, with a cheer and another round of applause.
"And many more," a vendor sang out, loudly and intentionally off-key, and everyone burst into laughter. Another twist in the gut for Prompto. He didn't want to think about time, or years, or what exactly having another birthday meant for him. He just wanted to forget.
The lights dimmed, and a hand on his back startled him back to reality; he hadn't even noticed Noctis sitting down next to him. He turned to look at his partner, the candles reflecting in Noct's eyes in a gentle orange glow.
"Make a wish, and blow 'em out," Noct reminded him, and Prompto nodded, blinking rapidly as he tried to refocus himself. He drew his attention to the cake, taking in the sight of the yellow chocobo neatly drawn on in icing, and the words 'Happy 32nd, Prompto!' written around the circular border.
His brain threatened to go into panic-mode. Thirty-two years old? Really? He hadn't let himself think about the number until now. That only gave him, what? Eight years? Maybe nine? And that's if he was lucky enough to even make it that far.
He thought back to the wish he'd made at the Tidemother statue. If he were to wish for Noct's peaceful reign again, would the universe cancel it out because he'd wished for the same thing twice? Or would it increase the chances of it coming true? Should he try for the impossible, and ask for more time? Was it worth it, or would it simply be wasting a wish that he could spend on Noctis instead?
"He's thinking hard," Noct nervously said to the crowd, not wanting to rush Prompto, but feeling the need to smooth over the abnormally long pause.
A chorus of soft laughter reverberated through the room, and Prompto blinked again. He was going to lose it, wasn't he? He couldn't take a panic attack. Not now, of all times and places. Another brush of Noctis' hand against his back grounded him, and he turned to meet those beautiful eyes that were tender, but filled with worry that he was trying hard to hide.
"You don't have to wish for anything if you don't want to. You can just blow out the candles," Noctis said, with a tiny shrug and a smile.
Prompto nodded, and turned back to the cake, taking in a breath and blowing out half the candles with one gust of air. He sucked in another breath, and blew again, extinguishing another group of flames. Two remained, and he fiercely blew at these, wanting them to disappear, and knock those two years off of his actual age as well.
Another cheer erupted as small wisps of smoke rose from the extinguished candles, but Prompto was deaf to it as Cindy leaned over the table. He watched blankly as she removed the candles, and pushed the knife through the icing and layers of cake.
"The birthday boy always gets the first piece. Here ya go, sunshine," she announced, slapping his slice onto a festive paper plate and setting it down in front of him.
"Thanks," he said, never hearing her words, but rather reading her lips to the best of his ability. Cindy continued to dish up, and the lights and volume level rose again as people began chattering.
Prompto picked at his cake with his fork, managing to consume very small bites every so often while listening to Gladio and Ignis' stories. Noctis stole glances at him, watching carefully to make sure he was okay. Whenever he started to really fear that Prompto was struggling, Prompto would jump into the conversation with a joke or witty remark, contributing to the conversation in ways that were so distinctly him—the carefree, lighthearted young man he used to be.
It wasn't until all other plates were empty that Noctis' worries grew again, for Prompto still had a good portion of cake left on his plate, his fork still pushing it back and forth. He scraped crumbs off the top, but never downed a bite.
"You feeling okay?" Noctis whispered to him, when Cor and Monica came over to chat with Ignis and Gladio.
"Oh, yeah," Prompto nodded, realizing he'd been caught, and he dropped his fork onto his plate, giving up his attempts to eat any more. "I'm still kind of full from supper. That was delicious, though."
Wanting to seek some sort of contact, Noctis reached for Prompto's hand under the table, where they linked and rested on Prompto's thigh until most of the visitors had left.
Once the party had died down, Noctis got to his feet to help with the cleanup, giving Cindy a few minutes to sit and catch up with Prompto herself. Prompto showed her the gifts he'd gotten from several of the party's attendees, and chatted with her, Ignis, and Gladio about the good times they'd had during the otherwise horrible years of darkness.
Noctis helped Fae, Talcott, Takka, and Cid gather up the cups and plates that had been left around the diner, before grabbing a broom and attempting to sweep up the confetti that still littered the floor. As he carried the dustpan outside to empty it in a nearby dumpster, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to smile at Talcott in a silent greeting.
"Hello, Your Majes— I mean, Noct," Talcott corrected himself, earning an even warmer grin from Noctis. "I just wanted to say, it was very kind of you to do this for Prompto, and I hope you're getting along okay with... well, everything."
"Thanks, Talcott. Guess you heard, huh? Word of his condition seemed to spread pretty fast. But then again... You've known for a while, haven't you?" Noct asked, voice far more solemn now. Talcott watched the sad twitch of the king's mouth as he stood there under the white outdoor lights of the diner.
"Regretfully, yes. Back when you asked me about getting the engagement ring for Prompto, I'm afraid I had no idea that he'd never told you about his condition. I used to see Prompto in Lestallum from time to time, and he told me the truth one night over a couple of beers. I'm sorry I didn't realize—"
"It's okay," Noct promised. "I know now. That's the important thing."
"Right," Talcott nodded, voice quiet. "Did he like the ring, at least?"
"Well, he hasn't actually seen the ring yet," Noct half-smiled. "The proposal didn't exactly go as planned.
"O-oh. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'll try again at some point. When he's ready."
"Well, if there's anything I can do to help, just say the word."
"Yeah. Thanks, Talcott."
"Your Majesty?" Fae stepped cautiously down the steps from Takka's diner and rounded the corner, finding her king along with the polite young man named Talcott.
"What's up?" Noct greeted.
"Prompto is wondering if you were almost finished. He says he wants to head home soon, but he, um... He doesn't look that well, and I'm a little worried," Fae admitted, expression tainted with fear and dread.
"Alright, I'll check on him."
"I can stay and help with the rest of the cleanup, Your Majesty, if you want to take Prompto home," Fae offered.
"I'd appreciate the help, for sure, but Monica and the others already left. We'd be your only way back," Noct frowned, looking puzzled as he tried to figure out their best move.
"Are you going back to the Citadel, m'lady? I can drive you when you're ready, if you'd like," Talcott added, with a gentle smile at the girl. Fae appeared a little stunned—perhaps even a little flustered—before giving a wary glance at Noctis. Noct laughed warmly.
"Don't worry, Fae. You'd be in good hands with Talcott. He's quite a gentleman," Noct promised her.
"Okay," Fae nodded, slowly. "If you're sure you don't mind."
"Not at all," Talcott said, in reassurance.
"Is that good with you, Fae?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine," the girl agreed. "Just make sure Prompto's okay?"
"I will. Don't worry," Noct smiled, before heading back into the bright lights of the diner.
Once the party was over, the four drove back to the Citadel in the dark. Noctis and Prompto said their good nights, and parted ways from Gladio and Ignis. Prompto looked rather sick as they rode the elevator up to Noctis' room, and as soon as it reached the level, Prompto took off like a bullet, with a hand over his mouth.
"Prompto!" Noctis called out, tearing after him. Noctis followed at a dead run down the hall, finding the door to his chambers standing open, and Prompto nowhere in sight. The sounds of retching made the king freeze where he stood, before he forced his legs to move again and carry him to his partner.
He warily entered the bathroom to see Prompto crumpled on the floor, throwing his guts up into the toilet. Embarrassed, once he'd finished, he shakily reached for some tissues and wiped his face before tossing them into the toilet and giving it a flush. He sat back, looking worn and pale and defeated, and he peered up at Noct with regret in his eyes. Noctis was at his side in a second, kneeling on the floor with him and wrapping his arms around him, letting Prompto's head fall in against him, along with most of his weight.
"I knew something was up," Noctis murmured. "I'm sorry, maybe having that party was too much. We shouldn't have made such a big deal of your birthday."
"No, it's fine, Noct. I appreciate what you did, really. It's just… when I think about what it all means, it makes me feel…" Prompto didn't need to finish his sentence; he could tell he'd been understood by the way Noctis held him tighter.
Noct could understand how this could feel more like a painful blow than a celebration. Prompto was dying day by day, and anything that marked the passing of another year could only be seen as tragic. He was stuck in this web of fate, and as far as either of them knew, there was nothing they could do to change that.
"I know I said I'd made my peace with this, Noct, but when we're together, life is just so good that I don't want it to end."
Noctis remained silent, fighting to keep himself under control.
"But I'm actually really scared, Noct. I don't know how or when my body is going to break down. Whether it will be sudden or painfully slowly," Prompto admitted, fighting tears, and he immediately felt Noctis' body shaking as he fought to stop his own emotions.
"It's kind of ironic, isn't it? Did you know one of the main benefits of MTs was that they didn't fear death? And here I am. Terrified."
"I know. I know, Prom," Noct whimpered, sniffling. Prompto curled a hand around Noct's forearm and clutched it desperately where it rested around his chest, holding him so protectively.
"What can I do to help?" the king asked, softly, brushing his hand through Prompto's soft hair. "What do you need from me? Just tell me, anything you need."
"Just your love. And your support," Prompto said tearfully, pushing forth a weak smile that made Noctis hold him tighter still.
"I can do that," Noctis promised, pressing a kiss to Prompto's hair and waiting for the man to steady his breathing before he said anything more. "And right now? What do you need?"
"Maybe we could take it easy tonight? Put on a movie or something? Something where I don't have to think too much," Prompto said, pulling back enough to look at Noct's face for a response.
Noctis pushed forth a smile, and tousled Prompto's hair lightly—in a way that he never would have allowed anyone but Noct to do to his perfectly coiffed do. Then again, Noctis knew how much hair-mussing he could do before he got in trouble.
"We can do that, too," he nodded, and Prompto once again caught a glimpse of sadness behind his smile. Their eyes fell closed as Noct leaned in to press a kiss to his forehead. Once he pulled back, he rubbed Prompto's arm, comfortingly.
"You feeling alright now? You okay to get up?"
"I think so, but I might be a little shaky." Thanks to the adrenaline from his rush to the bathroom, and the discomfort of vomiting, he still felt a little weak.
Thankfully, the support of Noct's arms was enough to help him to his feet, and he leaned against Noct as they made their way to the bedroom. Noctis kept close to Prompto until he was situated on the bed, then he went to the wooden cabinet under the entertainment unit to search for a movie.
Noctis had recently moved most of his possessions out of his old room and into his father's chambers, and he was thankful now that he had brought along some of the old movies he and Prompto used to watch. He'd been tempted to leave them where they were, thinking that perhaps some things were better left in the past—he was King now, after all, and didn't have so much time for leisure—but it was those little things that made this place feel like home.
"What's your pick? We've got that photography one that you liked," Noctis suggested, wanting to steer clear of anything remotely upsetting tonight.
Prompto remembered this as one of his favourites—the comedic story of a photographer who overcame several unlikely, crazy obstacles to achieve his goal as a photojournalist. He'd thought Noctis had enjoyed it the first time they'd watched it, but after the next two times, the prince had admitted finding it a little dull.
"Do you mind?" Prompto asked, adjusting his back against the pillow, propped up at the headboard.
"Not at all," Noctis promised, popping open the case and inserting the disc before Prompto could argue about it.
He grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV, and joined Prompto on the bed. He skipped past the trailers, and started the movie; Prompto seemed eager to get lost in something besides the real world. Noctis moved in against him, his head resting on his chest, and his arm lacing around his middle. He tuned into the sound of Prompto's beating heart, content to treasure that sound for the entirety of the movie.
When it was over, Prompto reached for the remote and turned off the TV. He peered down at the man still resting against his chest. He had fully expected Noct to be asleep by now, but to his surprise, the man tilted his head to look at him, not appearing the least bit tired.
"Still think it was boring this time?" Prompto asked, brushing a hand over Noctis' hair.
"No, it was good, but, um…" Noct adjusted himself to sit beside Prompto, who could sense an impending conversation. "I have to tell you something, and I hope it doesn't make you feel any worse."
"What is it?" Prompto prodded, expression twisting into worry as he watched the man with intent. Noctis' lips twitched and pressed together; he looked unsure of whether he wanted to speak at all.
"I found out where your parents are."
"What?" Prompto's eyes widened, and Noctis could feel the tension in his body grow as they were pressed shoulder to shoulder. "Where are they? Are they alive?"
"Yeah, they're… They're living in Gralea."
"Gralea," Prompto repeated, numbly. It was weird to think that once again, the shattered pieces of his life were rooted in Niflheim territory.
"How do you feel about it?" Noct dared to ask, ducking his head a little to try and meet Prompto's distant gaze.
"I… don't know what to feel, exactly. Relieved, I guess. Happy. But confused, too."
"I get that," Noct sympathized.
"Well," Prompto breathed. "It's not like we're going to visit them right away or anything. I have time to think about this, right?"
"Yeah. And if you decide you don't want to go, that's okay, too," Noct said, assuring him of that.
"Right." Prompto seemed in a daze then, staring absently at the bed-covers, and Noctis wracked his brain for a way to salvage this night that was supposed to have been wonderful. Of course, the idea hit him immediately, and he couldn't believe he'd almost forgotten such an important detail of the night.
"Hey—" he announced, getting up from the bed and travelling over to his dresser.
He pulled open the top drawer and pushed aside multiple bundles of folded socks before he found what he was looking for. When he turned around, Prompto's eyes lit up with a soft look of surprise and adoration; Noctis was holding two small packages on top of one another, both wrapped in shimmering, gold paper.
"Happy Birthday," Noctis murmured, smiling warmly, before he made his way back to the bed. He handed over the packages, and Prompto eyed him with a curious smile before tugging at the ribbon that held the two parts together.
"Which one should I open first?"
"Maybe this one," Noctis said, pointing to the bottom parcel, which was the bigger and squarer of the two. Prompto unwrapped it to find a box with a picture of a camera lens on the outside.
"Wow, Noct!"
"It's one of those lenses with the filters you like. I think this one's got a vignette and makes everything look really soft, almost like a painting?" Noct said, leaning forward slightly to analyze the box. He couldn't remember exactly which one he'd ordered; there had been so many to choose from.
"That's amazing, Noct. Did you know I was looking at these?" Prompto quizzed.
"You may have left the tab open on your laptop one day," Noct smirked, and Prompto shook his head, still smiling in disbelief that Noct would buy him something so expensive, especially when money was tight. He supposed he should have been used to it by now. Noctis had always liked to play the prince card and spoil him with whatever he wanted.
"Thank you. So much." Prompto leaned in to kiss him, and Noctis accepted the gesture gratefully. Prompto was eager to take the lens out and play with it a bit, but he figured he should move on to the next present first, so he wouldn't keep Noct in suspense.
He set the lens box aside, and moved on to the smaller wrapped parcel. He tore it open to find a case with a disc inside it. It didn't have any official printing on it—not even a handwritten note to tell him what it was.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Hmm. Guess we'll just have to play it and find out," Noctis playfully mused. He took the case and got up again, heading for the TV. He popped out the movie disc and replaced it with the mystery one.
He hurried back to Prompto's side as it loaded, and Prompto glanced at him in curiosity as it started to play. Noctis rubbed his shoulder as he held him close, and smiled in response, giving a nod toward the television.
"Okay, make sure you get this, Noct. It's gonna be epic," came Prompto's voice over the screen. The camera jiggled around a bit before it focused on Prompto in front of the campfire with his gun pointed up to the sky.
"Alright, I'm ready when you are."
Prompto spun his gun around in his hand a few times before striking a pose.
"Prompto Argentum, master gunman!" Prompto shouted. "It's like this. A boom, and a bang, kaboom!" With each sound he made, he struck a new pose, while Noctis manoeuvred around behind the camera, making sure he didn't miss a beat.
"And for the grand finale…" Prompto ran a few steps and jumped, kicking his feet up in the air, but failing to execute a graceful landing. He hit the ground hard, landing on his backside, and rolling immediately over onto his stomach to hide his face in shame.
"Prompto!" came Noct's shocked call, before the camera jiggled again, and focused on the ground instead as he knelt beside his friend. "You okay?" he asked, rather calmly, voice hinted with amusement. The view was jostled again as he poked gently at Prompto's back. "Hey, are you actually hurt?" The jovial tone in his voice wavered a little as Prompto lay a hand on his back, kicking his legs against the ground behind him.
"Not really. Mostly just my pride," Prompto groaned, and Noctis chuckled softly.
"Good. Pride will heal."
The scene faded to black before the photo slideshow began, and the same song that Prompto had used in his video began to play. The first image was one of the two of them sharing a milkshake at the arcade in their school uniforms; the young Prompto held his camera out in front of him to snap the photo, their heads pressed together. Prompto figured it must have been from one of their early dates together, or maybe even before they had confessed their feelings.
The photo dissolved into a montage of new ones—them at Noct's kitchen counter, sharing the Tenebraen dessert that Ignis had made for them; Prompto kissing Noctis—who was clad in his work uniform and ballcap for the sushi restaurant—outside the building during his work-break; the two of them cuddled up in their hoodies in the backseat of the Regalia one evening when Gladio and Ignis had run into the store for camping supplies. There were so many pictures, so many memories, from their school days to the roadtrip to that last picture taken in Zegnautus, where Prompto had snapped the shot of the soundly sleeping Noctis who held him safely in his arms.
As the slideshow finished and the screen faded to black again, Prompto turned his head to stare incredulously at the sensitive and thoughtful man who had put this together for him.
"Noct… That was beautiful. How did you—?"
"Gladio showed me that slideshow you made for me. The one you played on my birthday when I was in the crystal. I don't know if you ever meant for me to actually see it, but it meant so much to me, I just… I had to make something similar for you, because these memories are always going to be what gets us through, you know?" Noctis said, and Prompto nodded, smiling gently.
"I'm mean, the editing's obviously not as good as yours, but—"
"How did you get all the pictures?" Prompto interjected.
"I went through a lot of your memory cards. Hope that was okay," Noct shrugged, innocently.
"Of course!" Prompto chuckled. "Most of the pictures were of you!"
"Yeah," Noctis murmured, reaching for the back of Prompto's neck. His fingers tenderly traced circles there, and Prompto leaned forward to touch their noses together.
"Thank you," he whispered, lacing his arms around Noctis' neck.
"Good birthday, after all?"
"Great birthday," Prompto said, kissing him gently. "Can't believe you went to all that trouble. Planning the party, finding my parents, making this slideshow..."
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Noct smiled. "You're no trouble at all."