Chapter 19
After a four hour drive with a few stops along the way for bathroom breaks and snack food, they reached their first destination. Noctis had knots in his stomach as Prompto parked the car along the side of the road, just beyond the tunnel leading to Meldacio. He felt silly. His coronation had taken place in front of thousands of people, and the ceremony had reached millions more thanks to the media coverage. Meeting a few of Prompto's fellow hunters should have been simple, but it wasn't. He felt out of place, like he wouldn't understand what they had all been through together, like he would make things awkward, like he wouldn't belong when all he wanted was to belong in Prompto's world.
This was probably the exact same outsider feeling Prompto had struggled with all his life. A commoner trying to fit into a prince's life? Yeah, they had played it off like it was nothing, but Prompto had made it clear to him on that rooftop in Longwhythe that it hadn't been easy.
As Prompto turned off the ignition and spun to face Noctis, his expression changed to that of worry. Noctis was biting his lip, looking pale and nervous.
"What's wrong, Noct? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just…" He trailed off, and laughed softly. "I think I feel like you did when I was going to introduce you to Ignis and Gladio for the first time, and you were afraid my friends wouldn't like you."
It felt so trivial when he put it that way. He knew he had nothing to worry about, but he still felt better when Prompto reached for his hand and squeezed it gently.
"They're gonna like you," Prompto promised, resisting the urge to tease him because he knew why Noct was feeling this way. He had missed Prompto's hunting days, and it bothered him greatly; the topic had certainly surfaced on more than one occasion. "You're gonna be fine, trust me. Now, come on," Prompto smiled, gently.
He gave the king's hand one last squeeze before letting go and reaching for the car door. Prompto led the way up the wooden steps toward the store, waving to a few familiar faces as they proceeded. An old newspaper rested atop a cooler outside the shop, and it caught Noctis' eye. He halted where he was, leaning over slightly so he could read it better.
"This is all so surreal," he hummed, scanning the printed, black words in front of him. Prompto wandered to his side, and focused his attention on the bold lettering.
'The good men and women of Niflheim who have taken up refuge here are no different from you and I. They wish only for the same things as the Lucians: an end to this eternal night. These people want to join hands in our fight against the darkness—and knowing this is half the battle.'
The last time Noctis had been in Meldacio, such kind words would never have been said about those from Niflheim, but it made his heart light to know that people like Prompto no longer had to worry so much about being scorned for their origins. He loved the thought of everyone working together for the sake of the world they shared, and he was proud that Prompto had been a part of it.
"Yeah, it was weird for me, too, at first. Like I've said before, people's attitudes really changed while you were gone. Most people realized that working together for a safe world was much more important than bloodlines."
"You have no idea how happy that makes me," Noct murmured, looking up from the paper to meet Prompto's eyes.
"I mean, I know we still have a ways to go before everyone thinks that way, but those days definitely set us up for a good start. We just can't let people forget," Prompto said.
Noctis nodded, letting himself absorb that information as he followed Prompto into the shop. The dark-haired girl behind the counter stared at Prompto in disbelief as he entered with a wave, her eyes and smile growing wide with excitement.
"Prompto?!"
"Hey, Tink. How's it going?" Prompto smiled.
"'How's it going'? How long has it been since you've been out to these parts, partner?" she asked, reaching across the counter to give him a playful punch in the shoulder. Prompto chuckled lightly, rubbing his arm.
"Yeah, I know. It's been a while. Sorry, I've been busy," he said with a tiny shrug. The girl's eyes wandered to Noctis next, and it only took her a second before her inquisitive gaze transformed into a more certain look.
"Wait, are you—?"
"Noctis. Pleased to meet you," Noct smiled, reaching out a hand to shake hers. The girl shook it, eyes glassy like she was in an elated daze.
"T-the pleasure's mine, Your Majesty," she stammered out, and Prompto laughed wholeheartedly.
"You'll have to forgive Tink. She's got a thing for celebrities," he explained, and Noctis smiled as he ended the handshake.
The girl brought her hand to her chest, clutching and rubbing it in disbelief with her opposite hand. It took a second for Prompto's comment to reach her brain.
"Hey," she growled, swatting Prompto again from across the counter, making him laugh again in that jovial way that Noctis adored hearing. That sound reminded him that being here would probably do Prompto good—not only because it was an item on his list, but also because it gave him freedom. The change of scenery might allow him to forget about his condition and be his old self for a while.
"So, you weren't kidding when you told us you and the prince were buddies. Well, I guess if you've been hanging out with the king of Lucis, that explains why you've been so busy," she said, trying to keep her eyes off the drop-dead gorgeous royal in front of her.
"Yep. We've had a lot on our plate. But enough about us. Any hunts on the go right now?" Prompto inquired.
"Well, Dave's got a group out near Malmalam Thicket. Had some wildlife wandering all the way up to Old Lestallum, if you can believe that. We've been starting to think the animals have been having a hard time adjusting back to the daylight. The shift from the darkness seems to have compromised some of their cognitive abilities," Tink explained.
"Really? Never considered that before," Noctis hummed, pensively.
"I guess it makes sense, though," Prompto added, with a sideways nod of his head.
"If you're looking to tag along on a hunt, I think Castor is leading a group out to the Vesperpool a little later. If you wanted, you could probably grab some lunch first and then head out with him," the girl went on. Prompto and Noctis exchanged a glance.
"What do you think, Noct? Should we go on a hunt while we're here? Help these guys out?" It was more for old time's sake than anything, and he was pretty sure Noct caught onto that without it being said.
"Yeah, sounds good to me," Noct agreed.
"Before you go—" Tink bent down behind the counter, obviously searching for something. She poked her head back up shortly after, practically tossing a yellow, metal tin at Prompto, which he accepted eagerly, a look of surprised joy on his face.
"It's on the house," Tink assured him. Prompto grinned, tipping the box up slightly to read the red lettering, making sure he wasn't mistaken as to its contents.
"Thanks!"
"No problem. Careful on the hunt, you two. Drop in again before you leave. You wait too long between visits, Prompto," the girl winked, and Prompto smiled, tucking the box in against him.
"Okay, I get the message. Thanks again."
Tink waved as they headed out of the store, and Noct peeked around to try and get a better look at the tin Prompto had been handed.
"What is that?"
"Chocorific crunch. Only the best crunchy, chocolatey treat there is," Prompto sang, airily. "You're gonna love it," he grinned as they trotted down the wooden steps together, leading away from the shop. They headed for the white plastic dining table a few feet away, and a waiter was with them immediately, handing them a menu.
"Take your time to decide, sirs," he gently offered, and stepped away, giving them some space to look at their choices. Noctis remembered the smells and tastes of the food here from their journey, and he was thankful that there was a part of this place that was still familiar to him: Mama Ezma's Meat Pie, Meat and Onion Skewers, Hunters' Ragout.
"What'cha gonna get, Noct?" Prompto quizzed, holding the tall white and brown menu up for them both to see.
"Well, I know how much you always adored the meat pie here. Don't see how we can go wrong with that," Noctis smiled.
"Alright. Two meat pies, please," Prompto called. The waiter turned around and strolled back to their table, accepting the menu back from Prompto.
"Coming right up, gentlemen," he smiled kindly, before retreating again.
"So, you don't think we'd spoil our dinner if we had dessert first, do you?" Noctis asked, innocently, his lips forming a small pout as if he were a child asking for candy.
"Ah, I see you're curious to try this stuff," Prompto laughed, reaching for the tin he had set upon the table.
He pulled it closer to himself and tugged the lid off, revealing a layer of chocolate-covered clusters of crisped rice and toffee, as described on the label inside the box. Each chocolatey mound was set in its own tiny, white paper muffin cup, every one moulded into a roughly rounded shape.
"Those look delicious," Noctis awed, mouth watering already.
"Here," Prompto smiled, taking one out of its cup and bringing it to his partner's lips. Noctis quirked a brow, slightly surprised, but pleased by Prompto's actions.
He opened his mouth for Prompto to offer him the treat, and he accepted it, lips brushing not-so-accidentally over Prompto's knuckles. He couldn't remember the last time they'd shared an act like this, but he treasured it.
"Wow," Noctis mumbled through the delectable melting chocolate.
"Good, right?" Prompto smiled.
"Amazing."
"They were my favourite thing in that shop, let me tell you. I may have eaten a few too many whenever I stopped by here," he smiled, sheepishly.
Noctis couldn't blame him; neither he nor Prompto had ever been above stress eating, despite how hard they'd tried to fight the urge. Back in the days when they used to hang out at Noct's apartment and were feeling down, it hadn't been uncommon for them to break out the chips and sodas.
"I know what you're thinking. Chocolate isn't a cure for loneliness, but it did make me miss you just a little less," Prompto winked, pinching his index finger and thumb together, leaving only a tiny space between them.
"Oh, is that how it was?" Noct asked, pretending to be hurt, but unable to keep the incredulous and amused grin off of his face.
"Maybe," Prompto smirked.
"Well, whatever. I now have a weakness when it comes to these things, too." Noctis coyly smirked at Prompto, and reached for another chocolate, popping it into his mouth.
"Two before dinner?" Prompto pretended to scold. Noctis gave a guileless shrug.
"They're good."
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," came a young man's voice.
The two looked up to see a man coming over from across the street. His hair was dark and mostly buzzed short, except for a long section that draped over one side of his face. Noctis recognized it as a hairstyle that glaives sometimes wore; he must have been in the service of the royal family at one point or another.
"Castor! Hey, how are ya?" Prompto greeted, hopping up from his chair. He reached out to grab the man's hand, and they pulled each other into a sort of hug, patting each other on the shoulder.
"Same as always. Gettin' by. You?"
"Been good," Prompto smiled.
"So, what's it gonna take to get you out in the field again? You sure knew how to handle yourself back in the day," Castor said, his lips curving into a gentle smile.
"Hey, you were quite the fighter yourself," Prompto said, nudging his shoulder with his fist. "But honestly, Noct and I were already thinking about joining you for a hunt today. Tink said you were headed for the Vesperpool?"
"Yeah, there have been some sahagins making their way towards Old Lestallum. They seem more confused than anything. They just wander off from where they're supposed to be. It's when the humans try to trap 'em or run from 'em that they start getting hostile," Castor explained. "We're hoping to stop any that seem to be heading in the direction of the town. You up for the challenge?"
"We're… gonna discuss it, for sure," Noctis cut in with a forced smile, and Prompto stared at him, wondering why all of a sudden this went from a definite plan to a mere possibility.
"Yeah. We'll just have our lunch first," Prompto said, not wanting his old friend to think them rude.
"Sure. We're leaving at thirteen hundred hours, so meet us at the gate if you want to come along," Castor smiled, gently.
"Thanks!" Prompto grinned, and Castor gave a wave as he dismissed himself and headed for the nearby arms vendor. The waiter brought their food immediately after, and it wasn't until he walked away that Prompto was finally able to give Noctis that questioning look he deserved.
"What?" Noctis guiltlessly shrugged, though Prompto's stare deterred him from taking that first bite of delicious meat pie.
"Why the sudden change? I thought we were all set to hunt." Prompto continued to stare at Noctis, his fork resting idly between his fingers as it was pressed against his plate, never moving to scoop up a bite.
"That was before I knew we were fighting sahagins. You do remember how sharp their teeth are, don't you?" Noctis asked, eyeing Prompto over the top of his fork as he finally stuffed in a mouthful. He could remember a few too many close calls with those alligator-type creatures, the way they had grabbed onto his leg and pulled him underneath them, vicious and eager to devour him.
"Come on, Noct. We've taken down tons of sahagins before, not to mention even more ferocious creatures. Besides, did you forget? Five star hunter here."
"Yeah, I know, but I... I want to make sure you're up for it," Noctis said, his voice small, but his eyes gave Prompto's form a meaningful once-over. Now it made sense. Noctis was worried about his health, and anything that might make it deteriorate faster.
"Noct, quit worrying, will ya? I've got lots of time before things go downhill. I feel perfect," Prompto tried to convince him with a confident smile.
Noctis pushed back a smile in return, before any of the surrounding hunters caught wind of their conversation and started to worry. Prompto had made it clear that he didn't want to involve them in matters regarding his condition; he simply wanted to enjoy his time with them like nothing had changed, while all of them continued to live in ignorant bliss of his tragic fate.
"We won't be separated or anything, right?"
"No, I can make sure we go to the same location," Prompto said, knowing this was Noct's reassurance that he would be able to keep an eye on him. He was fine with that, considering he had no desire to leave Noct's side either.
"You should just say yes, Noct. After all, you'll get to see me in my hunter clothes," Prompto sang. Noctis swallowed hard, the seductive quirk of Prompto's brows setting off something inside him, making him momentarily forget his worries.
"What does that mean? Are they... hot?"
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you'll think so," he smirked, and Noctis felt his temperature rise. He waved a hand in front of his face, trying to fan himself before someone as cool and collected as Castor caught him blushing like a beet.
"Well, at least if we do this, it'll give me an excuse to wear your old hunter t-shirt again," Noctis announced, diverting the attention to something other than his attraction to Prompto—which was getting harder to ignore, especially with the lack of action between them lately.
"What do you mean, again? You actually wore that old thing?" Prompto asked, recalling the brown, tattered garment that Noct had salvaged from the trash that day in his room, not long after his return.
"Of course, I wore it. I used to sleep in it all the time. But I got scared I was going to wreck it completely when the holes in the collar kept getting bigger," Noct admitted, his mouth almost pouting, as if he knew Prompto was about to tease him.
"And in all those months we were together, you never thought to bring it up?"
"Pfft, no, I wasn't going to bring it up. I didn't want you to know how badly I'd been pining over you," Noct rolled his eyes.
"I know now," Prompto grinned, devilishly, his eyebrows rising up and down in a playful manner as he took a bite of his dinner.
"Cut it out," Noct said in a low, warning growl, still flushing.
"I'm just kidding, buddy. So, what do you say? Can we go? I'll be super careful," he sang again, his pleading eyes something Noctis simply couldn't ignore.
He hated that Prompto felt he had to ask his permission. He quickly decided that despite his worries, that wasn't the kind of boyfriend he wanted to be—one that was stubborn and controlling. He instead wanted to be supportive of Prompto, to walk alongside him instead of holding him back.
"Yeah, okay."
"Awesome," Prompto grinned, expression calm, but grateful. "Let's eat and go suit up."
Just beyond the main headquarters was a small camping area, where various tents were set up for visiting hunters. Castor led them to the one they could call their own for the night, and they transferred some of their belongings from the car to the tent. Noctis changed first while Prompto continued to make pleasantries with some of the other hunters. When it was Prompto's turn to change, Noctis waited patiently outside, obliging when Prompto told him, " No peeking. I want to see your jaw drop when I come out looking like a total knockout."
Just as he'd hoped, Noctis wasn't ready for the sight of Prompto when he emerged from the tent. Noct sat at a nearby picnic table, practicing drawing his sword from his magics, as it seemed less of a reflex now as it was in the old days on the road. He looked up to see Prompto shoving a hand through his hair absentmindedly; the simple gesture made Noct's heart flutter, and he wished he'd better prepared his lungs for this. He managed to take in the breath that had gotten stuck mid-inhale, and Prompto gave a smile as he noticed his enamoured gaze.
Prompto was dressed in a brown hunter's vest with a dark teal t-shirt peeking out from underneath. He wore a pair of tight-fitting jeans that were light in colour, but darker along the sides of the legs. A white belt adorned his waist, and a second belt sat slanted over it, coming down around his right hip and securing a pouch there. On his left knee was a black bracer, and his footwear consisted of a pair of short, black lace-up boots that came up over his jeans; Noctis knew from Prompto's old photos that he sometimes switched them out for Kingsglaive-issued boots.
"Wow, you look..." Noct trailed off, the words getting lost in his throat as Prompto approached him. Strong arms laced around his neck, and Prompto came to stand in the space between his legs where he sat atop the picnic table.
"Amazing? Stunning? Radiant?" Prompto asked with a teasing smile, tossing his head to the side.
"Incredibly badass," Noct finished for him. He lowered his head, while keeping his sheepish gaze locked with his partner's. "And also very sexy."
"Yeah?" Prompto murmured, weaving his fingers into the back of Noctis' hair as they pressed their lips together. Noctis reminded himself that he couldn't give into temptation, even though it was getting harder the longer they refrained from indulging in each other. Thankfully, Prompto put a stop to the moment before he had to do so himself.
"Oh, hey, before we head out, you wouldn't happen to still have my dog tags with you, would you?"
Noctis timidly lowered his head, and reached for the tags that had been hidden beneath his shirt.
"I'll be honest. I never leave home without 'em."
He raised the cord and unclasped it, handing it over to his companion, who gave him an endearing look; he was touched to know that Noctis still wore them so close to his heart, even after all this time. Graciously, he took them and laced them around his own neck.
"I promise, I'll give 'em back once we're done hunting. But just in case something happens out there—"
"Nothing's going to happen out there," Noctis quickly interrupted. He folded his arms, giving Prompto the sign that he shouldn't even consider arguing. "If there was even a chance that I thought we wouldn't make it back, I wouldn't have been nearly so agreeable," Noct smirked. "But you remember how we always used to have each other's backs in battle? I don't think we've lost that dynamic, do you?"
"I doubt it," Prompto smiled in agreement, lifting his hand and pulling from Noct's magics to summon his gun. He held it in his hand, looking over the now corporeal object and brushing a thumb over its metal.
"And I promise, I won't be an ass like I was in Accalia," Noctis said, and Prompto chuckled softly. Of course, he hadn't forgotten the way Noctis had tried to shut him out during that battle with the Zu, nor the way Noctis had tried to take on the man from the Relicta on his own, and ended up getting himself hurt. It was a mistake Prompto wouldn't let either of them repeat; they had to count on each other.
"Then I'm sure we'll be fine," Prompto smirked. He proceeded over to the main hunter's tent, with Noct at his heels. Inside, hunters were picking out rations, equipment, and healing items for the trek. At one table was a box of metal dog tags like Prompto's, but they were blank. He picked out two blanks for Noctis, and placed them in his open palm.
"You can engrave them on this machine over here," Prompto instructed, as he guided Noctis over to the outdated-looking machine, encased in yellowed and dark green plastic. He placed one piece of metal into the bottom tray, and pressed the letter keys to insert his information.
Noctis Lucis Caelum
Home Base: Meldacio
He pressed the start button, and the tray slowly moved inside the small, square machine. It was a bit noisy as it carved the words into the metal, but after a few seconds, it ejected the tray. Noctis picked up the tag and was impressed to see the letters he'd chosen, all neatly carved into it.
"What should I do for the next one?" Noctis asked.
"Well, you're definitely a five-star ranking fighter. And for your identification, you can either choose your own, or click 'Get Next Available Number'. But you have to memorize it, so keep that in mind," Prompto explained. Noctis pondered for a moment, then turned to Prompto with a curious expression.
"Is it alright if I use your barcode, too? Maybe just change a number or two?" Noctis asked.
"Um, sure," Prompto blinked.
"It's a number I remember easily, too. And it means something to me. So, if that's okay…"
Prompto gave him a tender smile, heart warming.
"Of course, that's okay."
"Okay," Noctis nodded, smiling back gratefully. He brought his index fingers back to the round buttons on the front of the machine, and watched as the letters, numbers, and symbols he selected appeared on the screen.
Fighter Rank: *****
Identification No.: 05953233
"There," Noct announced. "I'll just change that last digit to a three instead of a four."
"That works," Prompto said, as Noctis inserted the second piece of metal and pressed the start button again.
This tag came out just as perfectly as the last, and he retrieved it from the tray, eyeing it proudly. He looked up to see Prompto holding out a cord for him. He took it and slipped the tags onto it before fastening it around his neck. Prompto stepped in close, and reached for the tags, brushing his fingertips over the engraving of Noctis' name.
"There," he hummed, contentedly. "You're a hunter now, too."
"Yeah," Noctis breathed, watching Prompto's eyes travel over the engravings, fingers delicate against his chest. Noctis reached up to gently clasp his hand, holding it there.
"You were really brave back then, when you decided not only to use your barcode for your identification, but also when you wore that mark out in the open," Noct acknowledged.
"Well, like I said before, the world was kind of changing, and I realized life was too short to live in fear," Prompto shrugged, eyes locked with Noctis'.
"Yeah, but you still risked it. You still put yourself out there even though there was a chance you wouldn't be accepted."
"Uh, yeah, I guess." Prompto still didn't know exactly what Noctis was getting at, and he let him know with a quirked brow.
"Look," Noct started, slipping his other hand underneath Prompto's, sandwiching it safely between his own two. "I know what Ignis told you a while back made you scared of how the world might view us, but it's the same sort of thing. There's always a chance we won't be accepted by everyone, but it's still important to take the risk, don't you think?" Noct tried, hoping he would see the similarity. "You weren't scared when you were a hunter, so maybe you shouldn't be so scared now, either. Your origins haven't changed."
"Yeah, I guess that's true," Prompto said, considering, though he still wasn't sure why Noctis would bring this up now.
A loud buzz rang out through the camp, alerting the hunters that the next truck would be leaving soon. Prompto retrieved his phone from his pocket to check the time.
"Thirteen hundred hours. That's us. We'd better go."
Noctis reluctantly released his hand, giving him a soft and somewhat longing smile as Prompto put his phone away.
"You ready?" Prompto grinned.
"Yeah," Noct agreed, following him out from under the canopy.
Prompto did most of the talking as he, Noct, and the hunters travelled toward the Vesperpool in the back of the truck. Noctis added to the conversation with nods and polite smiles when someone would look his way, but he mostly listened intently to the stories from that time that still fascinated him.
The hunters seemed to enjoy both listening and contributing to Prompto's reminiscing of the old days, and Noctis tried to picture it all in his mind—the stories of Prompto saving children from burning buildings, rescuing families who had barricaded themselves inside sheds for safety, using the medical skills Ignis had taught him as he'd bandaged up the broken leg of one of his comrades. Noctis wished he'd been a part of it, that he could have seen that heroic Prompto in action, but he was grateful to be here now, as it made him feel like he wasn't so much an outsider to Prompto's past.
"Guess you don't see that kind of action these days, huh?" a hunter named Delilah asked, hands resting on her knees as she sat atop one of the crates in the back of the truck.
"Well, not so much in the Citadel, but I can't say Noct and I haven't been in danger a few times this past while," Prompto chuckled, eyes darting to Noctis, who gave a wide-eyed nod of agreement.
"Oh, hey, there's one! Action time!" Castor shouted, and he and the hunters barelled out of the truck, hands gripping onto the sides of the vehicle and hopping over onto the ground. Noctis watched them in surprise.
"These people are the toughest," Prompto grinned, as Noctis turned his shocked gaze toward him. Prompto stood and offered Noct a hand.
"We could always warp instead," Prompto continued to smile. Noctis accepted his hand and stood, smirking.
"Nah, I'm up for the challenge." He followed the hunters' lead, and pushed his palm hard against the side of the truck before hauling himself over. He landed hard on his ankles, but the pain didn't last long. Prompto followed after him with a proud grin.
"I knew you'd make a great hunter."
"Prompto, Your Majesty! This way!" Castor called, and the two men jogged to reach the spot where the others had landed. "You two head west, we'll take the east. Let's make sure to clear the whole road."
"Got it," Prompto agreed, as Delilah, Yura, and Castor took off running toward the sahagin they had seen from the truck. Prompto gave a wave toward Noct, coaxing him along as he took off at a jog down the gravelly path.
"Come on, buddy."
Noct followed obediently, jogging leisurely alongside Prompto, and breathing in the fresh air. The Vesperpool smelled like it always had—the natural scents of grass and trees, mixed with the scent of lake water. To the right of the path, Noct noticed the chocobo rental stand that they had used frequently during their journey all those years ago.
"Feels a little weird to be back here."
"Yeah. Like another lifetime, huh? But I guess it's even weirder for you than it is for me," Prompto said. It hadn't been so long ago that he'd been here with the hunters, but it still seemed strange to be back here with Noctis now. He could still remember following him around for hours as he'd tried to find every optimal fishing spot the lake had to offer.
"It is strange. Back then, Specs still had his vision, I was just a kid obsessed with fishing, you were still as carefree as always, snapping pictures," Noct said, brows pinched into a woeful look as he gazed out over the hillside to their right.
"Hey, I'll still snap some pictures, if you want," Prompto grinned, not wanting to let that sadness in Noct's eyes linger. "Maybe we could come back out here later. You could fish, I could watch and take some shots?"
"Yeah," Noct smiled, glancing to his left now to witness Prompto's cheerful expression. "That sounds nice."
"But for now, we'd better focus on scouting for sahagins. Gotta herd 'em back towards the lake."
"What do you mean 'herd' them?" Noctis asked.
Prompto reached for his pouch and withdrew a small stick covered in braided black leather. To Noct's surprise, Prompto waved it through the air in a downward slice, which made two more sections slide out from within it, elongating it into what was about two feet in length. Prompto then proceeded to unweave the thin cord that was wrapped around its end.
"What the hell is that? A retractable whip?" Noctis leaned over to investigate, watching as Prompto succeded in untangling the cord from the whip itself.
"Yep."
"You're going to whip a sahagin? That sounds like a great way to get bitten," Noct muttered, scrunching up his nose.
"You don't actually whip them. You snap it behind them, low to the ground, and they think it's a predator, so they move," Prompto explained, twirling the string in a quick circle before giving a flick of his wrist, making the cord snap loud enough to make Noctis jump a little.
"Wow, that'd be enough to make me move," Noct awed.
"Yeah. We don't actually want to reduce the population, so we try and get them back to where they're supposed to be instead of annihilating them. It doesn't always work, though, so if one of 'em does get hostile, that's when the weapons come out," Prompto said, raising his other hand to summon his gun.
Noctis closed his eyes to revel in the feel of Prompto borrowing from his power, enjoying that gentle tug as much as ever. When he opened his eyes, he took in the sight of Prompto staring down at his gun proudly. He looked so strong, so handsome, so healthy. Noctis swallowed hard.
"Come on. I'll do the herding, you be at the ready if things go awry, yeah?" Prompto asked, and Noct nodded, shaking any foreboding thoughts away.
He eagerly followed Prompto down the road until they were on the trail of a sahagin. Prompto crept quietly as they gained on it, and when he was just about on its heels, he snapped his whip just behind its tail. The creature gave a wild squeal before it hastened its pace, waddling hurriedly down the road. A sharp whistle shot from Prompto's lips, making the creature's four webbed feet travel even faster before the whip sounded again.
Noctis stayed close by, flanking it from the side, but far enough away that he didn't get caught in the sahagin's peripheral. They continued on like this for several minutes, with Prompto whistling that same short, shrill pitch, and keeping the whip cracking. Prompto suddenly caught sight of movement just beyond Noctis, moving too rapidly to plan any sort of pre-emptive attack.
"Noct! Another one!" Prompto shouted, and Noctis glanced to his left to see a second sahagin on his side of the road, its teeth bared and snarling as it launched itself at him.
"Nooooct!" Prompto screamed, the hoarse sound of it as familiar as it was during those days on the road with Ignis and Gladio. Noctis had always hated hearing Prompto so scared, so worried for him, even now as he was tackled to the ground by the sahagin. He let out a grunt as the creature tried to bite at his face, but he managed to get a leg under its belly and kick it hard enough to send it flying off of him, but not without a sharp pain shooting through his hip.
The next thing he was aware of was the sound of Prompto's gunshots, and by the time he'd clambered to his feet, Prompto had the thing stunned on the ground before him. Noctis glanced over at him, confirming that he still had his own sahagin under control. Of course, he did, even if the situation had shifted. It seemed Prompto's sahagin had grown hostile after seeing its kin being treated so violently, but Prompto had his whip around its neck, and a foot on its tail, keeping it immobile for the time being.
"Take this one out?" Noct called, drawing his sword immediately, and meeting Prompto's gaze for permission.
"Yeah, can't save that one! Go!" Prompto instructed, and Noctis warpstriked forward, pinning the sahagin as it struggled on its back. He felt a little sorry for it as its waving limbs went still beneath him. Slowly, he withdrew his blade, and got to his feet, staring at the poor creature as its carcass began to fade back into the earth.
"A little help here?" Prompto called out, and Noctis hurried over to him, sword at the ready, and Prompto lifted his foot off of the thing's tail. Immediately, it launched forward, but nearly choked itself thanks to the whip around its neck.
"Get ready. This could turn ugly," Prompto warned his companion.
"I'm ready."
In one slick movement, Prompto crouched over the creature, hands reaching out for the whip, and the sahagin began to squeal and snap like it was being tortured. As if completely unfazed, Prompto whistled again, this time holding the note the entire time as he unwrapped the cord from around the creature's neck. The sahagin stayed completely still until the cord was gone and Prompto stood again. As soon as he ceased his whistle, the sahagin's eyes seemed to light up with anger, but Prompto merely snapped his whip before the creature even considered turning on him.
The sahagin took off running down the road, and Prompto ran after it at a dead tear, snapping the whip when it so much as turned its head to try and look at him. Noctis watched in amazement as it skittered down the path to the Vesperpool, Prompto chasing after it for a few more strides until he was confident it wouldn't return. He gave one last loud whistle as a warning before proceeding back up the gravel path to reconvene with Noctis.
"Um, wow. I don't even know what to say. You handled yourself like a pro," the king marvelled, gazing at Prompto with a seriousness in his eyes, but there was obvious amazement, too. Prompto smiled, lowering his head and chuckling sheepishly.
"It's all part of the gig. I got pretty used to it back in the day." Prompto wiped his forehead with a swipe of his arm, and Noctis watched him with intrigue, like he was seeing another side of him. He'd known Prompto was strong, strong in so many ways, but to see him in action like this was breathtaking.
"What's with the whistling?"
"They can't stand the frequency. They'll run from it to protect their ears, but if they're too close to the sound, it sort of just paralyzes them for a while," Prompto explained.
"You're amazing," Noctis murmured, the words escaping him before he'd had time to think them. Prompto's mouth popped open in gentle surprise, then he smiled. He took a step closer and reached for Noct's waist, only to be shocked by a dampness.
"A-and... You're bleeding!"
Noctis glanced down with as much shock as Prompto had, and noticed the dark red stain that swept across the front of his abdomen.
"I... I didn't even notice getting hurt," he assured Prompto, who was already on a mission to make this better. Prompto tugged Noctis' shirt up to see the injury. The blood had smeared enough to make it look worse than it actually was, but even at a glance, Prompto could see where the wound originated.
"It's your wound from Accordo. The sahagin must have scratched you, and it opened up a little. Here. Hold this, will you?" Prompto asked, keeping his eyes on the injury, never bothering to look up.
Noctis did as he was told, and held the hem of his shirt up out of the way so Prompto could do his work. He bit back a sigh; so much for wearing Prompto's old hunter shirt. This time, it probably couldn't be salvaged. He supposed he would just have to steal another one.
"Prompto!" Castor shouted, and Prompto leaned over to glance beyond Noctis, seeing his hunt leader hurrying towards them. "Heard the ruckus. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine!" he hollered back as he reached into his pouch again, retrieving a small medical kit. Noctis flushed slightly as Castor reached them. The hunter's eyes travelled to the king's bloodied abdomen, then back and forth between the two men.
"An old wound," Prompto clarified, carefully slipping his bloodied hands into a pair of sterile gloves from the kit.
"Your Majesty, perhaps you would be more comfortable over here," Castor offered, gingerly resting a hand on Noctis' back and guiding him over to one of the rocks along the side of the road. Noct did a quick check for sahagins before letting himself relax and rest his back against one of the rocks.
"Thank you, Castor," he hummed, as Prompto knelt before him.
"I'm just gonna clean this. It might sting a little," Prompto said, glancing up at Noct with apology before pressing an alcohol swab to the top of the cut. Noctis closed his eyes tightly and bit back a curse.
"Sorry," Prompto whispered, as he wiped away the blood. Hoping to distract the king from his discomfort, Castor folded his arms and stepped to the side.
"Say, did Prompto ever tell you how he got his scars?"
Noctis pried his eyes open to see the timid look Prompto was giving him before his eyes flickered away again. His mind raced back to the long, thick claw marks that marred Prompto's torso.
"No, I'm afraid he never told me in detail," Noct said through gritted teeth, as the sting of the alcohol sunk into the wound. He clearly remembered Prompto telling him a coeurl had been the cause of those marks, but he'd never been given the full story.
"Heh, we don't need to get into that," Prompto laughed, grinning shyly. He set the swab aside and reached back into the tiny kit on the ground.
"Is that a needle?" Noct asked, wide-eyed.
"'Fraid so," Castor said.
"Then hell yeah, tell me the story. I'm gonna need a distraction," Noctis insisted, as Prompto threaded the needle and knotted the end.
"It's only gonna be a few stitches, just so it can heal," Prompto promised, but Noctis practically glared at him. He trusted Prompto, but he couldn't say he was all that keen on finding out how good his medical skills were.
"You sure a potion can't take care of this instead? Or some healing magic?"
"Those things come after. For a cut this deep, it's better to sew it up first, and then use curatives to help the skin mend itself back together. You know that," Prompto smiled. Castor nodded in agreement before the pager in his pocket beeped. He dug it out quickly and scanned it before hurrying toward the road.
"It's the others. I'll be back to check on you!" he called, running off to help the other half of their crew. Prompto drew his gaze to Noctis' nervous face, not daring to proceed until Noct was ready.
"When you feel comfortable, can you lie down for me?"
"O-oh," Noct stuttered, both anxious and flustered as he pushed himself away from the rock and lowered himself to the ground.
He felt so vulnerable lying there on the side of the road, with his shirt pulled up to his chest, and Prompto hovering over him, but he reminded himself that Prompto had probably done this a hundred times over during his time with the hunters. Hell, judging by the marks on his stomach, he'd probably been on the receiving end of this treatment, too.
"You want to take my pouch for under your head? Probably softer than the gravel," Prompto offered, with a small smile.
"It's fine," Noct shrugged. He'd had worse pillows—metal park benches, the cobblestone paths in the Citadel gardens, all the places he'd accidentally fallen asleep and probably shouldn't have. Despite his answer, Prompto still unclipped his suede pouch from his hip, and eased it under his head; it did feel a lot better.
"Just relax, okay? I promise, it won't take long."
"Don't rush, either," Noct muttered, not wanting Prompto to make any mistakes when needles were involved, but Prompto merely chuckled, the sound of which put Noctis at ease.
"I won't."
Prompto's touch was gentle as he pressed a damp, gloved finger to the top of Noctis' injury, and Noct could feel the cool rush of a potion, the tiny dose of healing just enough to numb his skin. After a moment, he felt the pressure shift, and he felt the small prick of the needle, but it was bearable; the potion had saved him from most of the pain.
Noct could feel a slight tug, and then another small stab, but he kept his eyes focused on Prompto's face—on his concentrated but gentle expression; on that strong, firmly set jaw that made him look like he could take on any hunt and come out on top.
"So, that story about your scars? Are you gonna tell me?" Noctis tried, keeping his eyes on Prompto's lips as they curved into a smile.
"You're really that curious, huh?"
"I'm letting you stick me with a needle right now. You owe me."
Prompto laughed heartily before letting out a sigh.
"Fae tells it better."
"That's okay. I wanna hear it from you," Noct assured him, with a soft smile.
"Alright then," Prompto started.
"You sleep okay last night?" Fae's voice broke the silence, thankfully interrupting some very dark thoughts. Prompto looked up into bright green eyes, worry written all over the young girl's face as she watched him. They sat in the back of the truck that would transport them to their next mission. The few glaives that accompanied them had been talking amongst themselves pretty much since they'd left Lestallum.
Prompto had been drifting in and out of sleep, as he was completely exhausted from a night of horrid dreams, but even now when he closed his eyes, visions of those dreams resurfaced—visions of Noct stuck in the crystal, screaming to be let out, broken and in pain; visions of Prompto finding his cold, dead body once the crystal set him free , too late for any curatives to save him.
"Not really," Prompto shook his head, but he forced a smile for Fae's sake. The girl could certainly hold her own, and he knew she was tough enough that he didn't have to hide any harsh truths from her, but still... she was only fifteen. It didn't seem fair to burden her with his troubles.
" You know, you can sit this one out if you need to. The other guys and I can handle a few coeurls," the girl offered.
"Nah, I'll be fine."
Fae nodded, and averted her gaze, watching the road ahead as the truck drove onward. Prompto was thankful to have found a friend out here. He'd hit it off with a lot of hunters he'd met, but he'd developed quite a soft spot for this young glaive whose situation reminded him of his own; they'd both experienced a lot of loss.
He'd taken her under his wing, not because she needed the protection, but because she had given him a sense of purpose that he'd been missing ever since he'd lost Noct. He'd needed that sense of purpose to keep going, especially on his darkest days when continuing the fight seemed futile.
It wasn't long before the group arrived at their destination, and the glaives poured out of the truck. They trotted up the hill towards the archway outside the Tomb of the Tall, and the monsters emerged almost immediately. Giant felines leapt out from behind bushes and from within tall grass—growling, roaring, pawing and biting. They were ferocious and hungry, and the glaives were careful not to turn their backs on the creatures as they fought to strike them down. They were prepared to borrow the king's magic at the drop of a hat, switching weapons and warping themselves out of harm's way.
Fae stared down a coeurl, both of them circling warily around each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. The coeurl was the first to finally attack, and it launched itself at the young girl with a violent growl. Fae warped to the side, and the cat tossed its head in fury when it realized it had missed its target. The girl warped back in just as quickly, giving the coeurl a good whack with her shield.
Prompto was busy fighting alongside one of the other men, shooting one of the coeurls and stunning it enough so that it couldn't zap them with its lightning magic. The man took advantage of the opportunity and kept a close range, jabbing and swiping with his katana.
They heard a cry from somewhere else on the battlefield, and Prompto looked to see another glaive was badly wounded. He was on his knees, clutching his opposite shoulder, which was shimmering with a thick coat of blood. Prompto ran to his aid and stuck his arms out to the sides, feeling the cooling sensation of healing magics take over. This new and foreign healing magic was something no one had been able to use before the king had vanished.
He watched the green glow flood from his hands and into the the surrounding earth, reaching the wounded glaive and mending some of the damage. The man nodded a thank you and clambered back to his feet. Prompto gave him an extra dose of healing just to be sure he was okay, then watched him run back into the fray.
It didn't take long for the group to see that they were unevenly matched. There were far too many coeurls for the glaives to hold off on their own. It became more and more difficult to keep from being attacked from behind, and the number of painful bites and scratches were adding up. After a long while of fighting and having more coeurls emerge, the warriors' stamina faded.
"Should we retreat?" Yura called out.
"No. They would follow us, and we'd be putting the driver in danger!" Nelly called back, nodding toward the truck still parked waiting for them at the side of the road. Prompto almost wanted to make them reconsider. He was really beginning to feel faint.
A holler for help was heard in the distance, and Prompto paused to listen. Another call followed, and his eyes travelled in the direction from where it had come. "There are people trapped inside!" Prompto called out, voice panicked as he charged toward the royal tomb.
As he reached the door, he was disheartened by the sound of a child crying, and the voices of a man and woman trying to calm her.
"I'll get you out as soon as it's safe! Try not to panic," Prompto yelled through the door. He knew he couldn't risk rescuing them until the coeurls were taken care of, but he wanted them to know that help was on the way. How did Noct used to open these things? He'd had a key, right? That was probably long gone by now. Prompto would have to use his lock pick.
"Prompto!" Fae shouted, and Prompto let out a cry as he felt a deep pain tear into his side. The coeurl had come from somewhere to his right, and he was pushed to the ground in an instant.
He remained on his side as he fell, his body still frozen and in shock as he lay there, the coeurl still on top of him with its claws curled into his gut. He coughed out a weak noise, and wished he could remember how to use his arms to push the damn creature off of him, but he couldn't.
Footsteps charged towards him, and Yura grabbed the coeurl around the middle, pulling it backwards off of Prompto, and falling to the ground with it. Prompto tilted his head back with a quiet gasp of relief as the pressure of the coeurl's giant paw was released. He could hear the fight continuing on, with its clinking of metal and swishes of magic.
He soon heard more footsteps, and Fae dropped to her knees beside him, reaching gently for his shoulders, holding him still while she got a better look at the damage. Prompto's eyes were glassy and distant as they stared up at the sky above him.
"Prompto," Fae murmured, eyeing the three long slashes in the man's hunter's vest, his pale white hand pressed against what looked like the deepest section of gashes.
Blood seemed to emerge with each beat of his pulse, and Fae promised herself she wouldn't get sick—at least not until Prompto was out of the woods. She glanced at his unfocused eyes, but could tell he wasn't in a state to meet her gaze. She wasn't even sure if he could hear or feel her there, but she had to at least try to let him know he wasn't alone.
"Prompto, I need to move your hand so I can get a better look, okay?"
Prompto blinked, Fae's request barely reaching him, but he knew she needed something from him, so he tried to oblige—until he realized what that something was. He felt a hand on his, trying to lift it away from where the pain was radiating, but he resisted to the best of his ability, feeling like he might just fall apart if he didn't hold his skin together. He was too weak, however, to fight Fae for long, and she removed his bloodied hand, placing it gently at his side. She pressed the back of her hand to her lips at the sight of the injuries, but reminded herself not to let this sight get the better of her.
She pushed her arms out to the sides, summoning her magic, only to find that she was still drained from her last few spells. She tried again anyway, and groaned at the feeling of strain on her limbs; there was no magic left in her.
"I'm out of MP!" she shouted. "Help!"
"We're out, too!" the other glaives hollered back.
Fae sucked in a terrified, trembling breath, and was thankful when even that bit of oxygen gave her the clarity she needed to weigh her options. She could try to help Prompto back to the truck, as they were both sitting ducks out here, but there was always the chance that they'd draw more attention to themselves if they tried to move. The coeurls would be on top of such slow-moving targets in no time. She could also try to drag him away from the battle, maybe behind a bush where she could try to recover her magic, but the animals would smell the blood. The only other option...
Fae glanced up at the archway a few feet away. It looked wide enough on top to support them, but what were the chances she could warp up there with Prompto? Would it be too much on him? She would also have to warp him back down, and she wasn't sure his body could handle it. And of course, she would still have to wait until her magic was replenished before she even tried to warp.
Prompto coughed again, and this time, blood trickled from his mouth, down his lip.
"No, no, no," Fae panicked. "Prompto, hang on!"
Her hands reached for his shoulders, shaking him gently as she tried to keep him with her, but his gaze was still skyward, his eyes hazy. Prompto could just barely feel the pressure of her hands on his stomach, frantically trying to staunch the bleeding. He could just make out the cries of his name as he was welcomed by unconsciousness. Noct, he thought to himself as darkness took him.
Prompto woke up a day later, canopied by the familiar canvas of his tent. He was about to sit up when the slightest movement sent a searing pain through his abdomen. He stifled a noise, and heard a gasp in response.
"You're awake!" He turned his head to the side to see Fae sitting in the corner of the tent beside him, one arm draped over her knee as it was propped up against her chest. Prompto frowned at the sight of her upper arm, which was bandaged in white cloth.
"Y-you got hurt?" he asked, startling himself with how hoarse his voice was.
"Barely," she smirked, moving to kneel next to Prompto, her hand pointing towards his injuries. "You, on the other hand..."
"The... coeurls?" he asked slowly, like he was having trouble remembering. Fae nodded. "After you passed out, reinforcements showed up. The truck driver saw that we were in trouble and called for backup. We managed to get you back here, and got you stitched up."
Prompto lifted a tired hand and reached for the sleeping bag that was resting along his waist. He pushed it down, discovering white bandages around his bare torso, from below his chest down to his hips.
"I'm sorry we couldn't do a better job. If we'd had any magic left in us, you probably would have gotten away without any lingering signs of damage, but I'm afraid you're gonna have some pretty nasty scars," Fae lamented.
Prompto let out a soft chuckle, his fingers grazing lightly over the bandage. He remembered how the ladies used to fawn over Gladio's old war wounds; there were worse burdens to live with.
"It's okay. Scars can be kind of cool," he smiled.
"And now you know," Prompto announced, hands reaching for the scissors and cutting the excess thread. Noctis blinked in surprise as he realized Prompto had finished his work, and he lifted his head enough to see the neat row of stitches. It seemed Prompto really did know what he was doing.
Prompto set the scissors back in the medical kit before grazing a gloved finger along the side of Noctis' scar. Noct gave an appreciative hum, breath hitching a little at the contact that was no longer intended for healing, but rather for pleasure.
"Scars can be kind of cool, huh?" Noct said, repeating the line from the story. Prompto smirked and leaned forward to meet his lips.
"You bet," he whispered. He pulled back, allowing Noctis to finally sit up again as he discarded the latex gloves and started putting away the rest of the supplies. Prompto handed him the remains of the potion before closing the kit.
"Here. Just in case it's a little sore," he offered. Noctis took the potion with a grateful smile.
"Thanks."
"You okay to keep going? Or you wanna call it quits?"
"I'm fine. I want to keep going," Noct assured him.
Prompto helped him to his feet, and they continued on down the road. By the time they finished scanning the end of their assigned stretch of land, Castor and the others returned to pick them up. They clambered into the back of the truck, sitting side-by-side, pressed together from their shoulders to their knees.
Prompto found himself thinking about their earlier conversation in the tent before they'd set out, still wondering what Noctis might have meant when he'd been talking about self-acceptance. Wanting him to know that he was proud of them, and that he did want him to belong in this part of his life, Prompto brazenly reached for his hand, where they remained clasped together in plain sight for the remainder of the drive.
"I think I'm out of shape," Noctis chuckled, as they stumbled into their tent that night. "A day of hunting used to be nothing. Now look at me." He collapsed on his sleeping bag, one leg staying awkwardly up in the air as he fell onto his back, his strained hip too sore to lower at the moment. Prompto gave a hearty laugh and zipped the tent door behind them.
After their initial hunt, they had driven to Old Lestallum and walked most of the way back to the Vesperpool, herding any straggling sahagins back towards their home. It had been a long, tense, and exhausting trek, and Noct was looking forward to taking a load off for a while.
"You are looking a little sore, dude. Not to mention grubby." Noctis frowned, and rubbed viciously at his face; he'd been suspicious that there was some mud caked onto his cheek earlier, but he hadn't found a mirror anywhere to confirm.
"It's cool. You look sorta cute with all that dirt on you," Prompto grinned.
"Oh yeah?"
"Totally. And don't think I didn't see you checking me out earlier either. What is it that you like, Noct? The rugged attire? The tight jeans?" he teased.
"I think 'Prompto the hunter' is kind of hot in general," Noct smirked.
"Really?" Prompto seductively mused, and he crawled into the tent, clambering onto Noctis to straddle his waist. Noctis let out a sharp hiss at the contact that was a little too good. Prompto's hands curled into the front of his shirt, and he leaned over to kiss him, the motion of which made Noctis squirm beneath him.
"Feel like I'm about to die happy," Noctis whispered, breathlessly, his hands wandering up to rest on Prompto's lower back.
"Don't you worry. Prompto the hunter won't shoot to kill. Only stun," Prompto teased, lips just inches from Noct's as they spoke, but the distance was closed immediately after. Prompto's heart pounded at the thought that something might actually happen tonight. Maybe the time apart was finally getting to Noct, too.
Prompto rocked forward a little, prying a desperate whine out of Noctis, who thanked him for the contact with a kiss against his neck. Prompto tilted his head back, giving him room to explore to his heart's content. Both made a disgruntled noise as Noctis' phone vibrated. Prompto was a little irritated when Noctis let go of him to dig the device out of his pocket.
"Just turn it off," he whispered, but Noctis looked at the screen, and shook his head.
"Sorry, it's Cor. I've gotta take this."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Noctis waved Prompto off of him, and Prompto obeyed, climbing off of him and sitting on the floor dejectedly as the king got up and hurried out of the tent to take the call. Prompto pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his elbows on them, burying his face in against his arms. He couldn't help but feel this was another convenient excuse to keep things from going any further. He wished it didn't make him feel so broken. Thankfully, Prompto didn't have long to dwell on those thoughts as Noctis returned, entering the tent quietly and zipping it closed behind him.
"What was that about?"
"He just had a quick question about the glaives. Nothing to worry about," Noctis said, as he came to sit down again. He turned off his phone screen and stuffed it back in his pocket. "Smells like they've got something good cooking out there. You want to grab a bite of supper before we turn in for the night?"
"Or... we could continue where we left off," Prompto tried, though his attempt at a flirty smile fell drastically short. Noctis could see the regret in his eyes, and yet, he was torn as to what he should do next.
"I thought you might want to eat while your friends are gathered out there," Noct shrugged innocently. Not far off, the hunters were huddled around a campfire, sharing stories over drinks and a hearty meal.
"I'm actually a little more interested in you," Prompto said, giving a shrug of his own, his lips finally managing to twist into a tiny smile, but Noctis came nowhere near reciprocating it. He merely sat there rubbing his arm awkwardly, eyes on the floor beside him.
"Oh. A-alright then," Prompto said, numbly, averting his gaze. It was a little embarrassing, coming onto Noct so strongly, only to be turned away. Again.
"Prompto—"
"No, you're right. I'm hungry, anyway," he fibbed, failing to disguise the hurt in his voice as it broke. Noctis' hand shot out to grasp his own. Prompto stared down at the long slender fingers that gently brushed against the back of his hand.
"Prompto, let's just talk about this, okay?" Noct prodded, not wanting to leave things on an unsavoury note. Prompto didn't look like he wanted to talk, with his gaze pointed toward the floor and his expression stoic, but after a moment, he decided to open up.
"Alright, I just... I miss the way you used to be all over me," Prompto admitted, the corner of his mouth lifting up into a weak smile. "And you've been flirting with me all day, but it's kinda disappointing when you don't let it lead anywhere."
"But you know why, Prompto. It's not that I don't want you. Because, believe me, I do," Noctis tried to convince him. Prompto was silent for a moment while he gathered his thoughts.
"I just kind of feel like I'm getting mixed messages. On my birthday, you said you didn't want me to feel like I was something that needed protecting, and yet, here we are. You won't even get close to me, you're so protective of me."
"W-well..." Noct stuttered, abashed as he realized the truth of that statement. Prompto waved a hand energetically in the air.
"And don't get me wrong. It's endearing, but... It's not the way I want us to have to live."
"And... how would you have us live?" Noct carefully inquired.
"Well, after you first found out, you promised you would do whatever I wanted—whatever I needed. I need you, Noct. So please, just let me be close to you. We don't have to go all the way, if you're that worried. I just..."
"Prompto," Noctis halted him, voice firm, but caring. He wanted his full attention, and he got it. "I meant all those things I said. I did. But even if we didn't go all the way, I... I would still worry about putting strain on your lungs. Or on your heart," he said, the last part coming out in a feeble whisper as he reached out to trace his fingers over Prompto's chest, making Prompto settle under his touch. That was when Prompto realized they were both fighting tears—he could feel the tightness in his throat, could see the shimmer in Noct's eyes.
Prompto shivered under Noctis' touch, sending goosebumps down his arms and legs. Noctis didn't have to reassure Prompto that he was setting these boundaries out of love for him; Prompto could feel it all in that reverant touch, the way Noctis wanted to protect that heart, the way he wanted to keep it beating for as long as he could.
"I keep thinking of something we learned in biology class. Animals that were born as a result of cloning often ran into issues with their vital organs, and I... I know it might not be exactly the same, but I'm still scared for you," Noct admitted in a whisper.
"I know, Noct, but five minutes ago you were into me. Everything was fine, but as soon as you had a minute to clear your head, you didn't want to—"
"Because when it comes right down to it, Prompto... I actually get sick to my stomach because something doesn't feel right. I'm terrified of doing something to hurt you, and I don't know if I should fight against something that makes me feel that way," Noctis said, voice pleading. "You can understand that, right?"
"Yeah," Prompto whispered after a long pause, and Noctis smiled slightly in surprise and relief. "I get it, but... This is part of the reason why I didn't want to tell you the truth, Noct. I didn't want things to change. I didn't want you constantly worrying about me, and—"
"And?"
"It makes me wish I'd never told you." The words came out on impulse, and Prompto instantly regretted them when he saw the wounded look in Noct's eyes.
Noctis felt like he'd been caught in a field of ice magic, like in the old days when his allies would throw a spell in the middle of battle, and he accidentally got caught in the crossfire. His body was frozen, taken over by a numbing cold. Those words stung, almost as much as the truth of his condition itself.
"Don't say that. Please," Noct begged, eyes twitching with emotion. Prompto hesitated. Should he take the words back, or was it better to be honest? Was it better to let Noct know how truly damaging it was to be treated like he was already dying?
"If I hadn't told you, things would still be the way they were, right?"
"Prompto, please." Noct's vision was blurring even more now.
"I've already had to live ten years without you, without these hands," Prompto said, meekly, bringing Noct's hands down to rest between them, his fingers brushing lightly over the king's knuckles. He wished those hands would just reach out and touch him—rough and roaming, touching as if he wasn't made of glass.
"Without these lips," Prompto went on, leaning in, brushing their lips together so lightly, it felt like they'd been caressed by nothing more than a summer breeze. Noct still looked tearful, even as he pulled away. "And those times we were together... It felt so good to be close to you, that for a while, I could forget that anything was wrong."
Noctis felt like he could cry right there and then. It was devastating to know Prompto wanted something that he couldn't give him. It killed him to know that Prompto yearned for him so badly, and yet, all he could think about was the incapacitating fear that in the midst of their passion, Prompto's body might just give out. Noctis knew he would never be able to live with himself if somehow, in some way, he had made Prompto's time on this earth grow shorter.
"I wish I could give you what you want, but right now, Prompto, I don't even know if I could."
Prompto wasn't sure he wanted to know what that meant, so he merely shook his head. It was clear that, yet again, he wasn't going to win this fight. He gave Noct a bittersweet smile, and got to his feet.
"I don't want to keep having this argument with you, Noct. But I... I feel like I have ten years of loving you to make up for. And the time we have left? It won't be enough, Noct. Trust me, when the time comes, it will never be enough."
Noctis felt that icy sensation reach his heart as the first tears trickled down his pale face. Prompto probably had a point. He had experienced losing the love of his life, had lived with regrets of not doing or saying more. He knew what it was like to have chances taken away, to think he would never get another day with the man he loved. Maybe there was something to be said for seizing the day, even if there were risks involved.
"I'm gonna go get some food. You coming?" Prompto asked, voice breaking, and the king forced his head up.
"I just need a minute." Prompto gave a nod and left him in peace, recognizing that a minute alone was implied.
Defeated and guilt-ridden, Noctis lowered his head. Prompto's words continued to sting, and he knew they wouldn't be leaving his mind for a while. After all he'd done to try and make things easier on Prompto, after all his efforts so Prompto wouldn't have to suffer through his condition alone, had he only been making things worse? Did Prompto really wish he'd never told him the truth?
Noctis sighed and shut his eyes, needing to calm himself before he could even attempt to go out there and make pleasant conversation with the hunters. He knew he was in the doghouse for now, but the talk he and Prompto needed to have in detail couldn't be avoided forever, no matter how much he dreaded it.
A/N: Thanks to my best friend for letting me use her Comrades glaive, Castor, in this chapter! He is a cool dude!