Chapter 16

The day had come where Noctis would be transferred to the rehab facility. He was going to leave the hospital and go to an entirely different place. No longer could he easily go to visit his new boyfriend. Now it would all be strictly texting and calling. It wasn't the worst at least, they would still be in the city of Insomnia, but just buildings away.

Still the thought of leaving Prompto saddened Noctis. They had started to really get along so well and he hated the idea of being apart. But he knew he had to do it. The sooner he was rehabilitated the sooner he could just come and visit Prompto as a visitor. It would be as best as he could do until Prompto got better.

Wheeling down to Prompto's room he rehearsed what he wanted to say over and over again. He knew what he had to tell Prompto and how it would go. He just hoped that Prompto would be able to handle that… scratch that, he only hoped he would be able to handle it.

When he got to the room he looked inside and saw Prompto sitting, reading through a book. He knocked on the door before he started wheeling in. Right away Prompto closed the book and got off from his bed. He grinned widely as he threw his arms around Noctis without any warning, though Noctis by this point had predicted it would happen. It was basically routine.

"Hey buddy!" Prompto beamed happily. "I was wondering when you showed up. Surprise visit as usual."

"You know it's more fun that way," Noctis replied as he hugged Prompto back. "But… I got something to talk to you about."

Pulling away from the hug Prompto looked at him slightly confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I'm being moved to rehab for my legs. I've healed up enough here and now I gotta go elsewhere to see if I can still walk normally."

"Oh… well that is important. But that means we wouldn't get to see each other."

"Yeah… that's what I came to talk about," Noctis said with a sigh. It looked like it wasn't going to be as hard as he thought.

"I get it. I mean it's for you to get better, right?" Prompto asked as he moved back to sit on the bed.

Noctis wheeled over to the bed, still trying to filter out his words so he could explain himself clearly. "Yup… I just… I know it's going to be hard not being able to see you everyday."

"We can still text and call each other, right? Shouldn't be too big of a problem. Plus once you are able to walk again you can come visit!" Prompto replied, trying to sound as cheerful as ever.

"Once I'm walking again, yeah. Sounds like we got a good plan." Noctis reached his hand out and placed it on top of Prompto's, rubbing this thumb gentle on the top of his hand. "I'll text and call as much as I can, okay?"

"Oh you better! Otherwise you will get a spam inflow of texts from me!"

Noctis laughed. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Oh also while I am gone, no flirting with any new patients, ya got that?"

Prompto snickered slightly. "Well I doubt I am suddenly going to be texted by another dreamy guy who just ended up in the same hospital as me. Even if I was I would have to tell him I was already taken."

Noctis gave Prompto's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad."

"And hey! Don't go finding any cute boys while at rehab! If I promise to be loyal you got to as well!"

"Of course! I wouldn't dream of looking at anyone else. I only got my eyes on one certain chocobo boy." Slowly Noctis's hand drifted upwards to cup the side of Prompto's face.

Prompto's cheeks started to have that light dusting of red that Noctis thought made him look extra cute. His face was still so soft and gentle, with a smile that lit up his heart. How he wanted to just hold Promtpo forever, running his hands through his hair. There was so much he wanted to do, but they were both stuck by limitation.

But in time… maybe that could change that. There was still time after all, and Noctis wasn't one to give up on things, not when they mattered dearly to him. He only hoped that he could hear from his dad soon so he could know what was going on.

"So how should we spend our last day?"

"Like how we usually do, you being cute and adorable while I cream you at games."

"I think you mean you getting all sour pouty cute while I cream you at games."

The two jokingly teased and bickered back and forth until they heard someone giggling from behind. Noctis turned to look and saw that Dr. Fair was standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

"Zack!" Prompto shouted. "Why are you now spying on us!"

"Cause I was passing by and heard you two being cute and adorable," Dr. Fair replied. "Man if I wasn't on the clock I would be taking pictures and filming you two to show Cloud."

"Zaaaaack," Prompto pouted. "Cloud already teases me enough! You don't gotta make it worse!"

Zack only smiled. "But you two are just too cute together! I know that you denied it before, but I agree with Cloud that you two were like us when we were young."

Noctis stared at Zack, seeing the fond smile on his face. He had never heard this story before, and now he started to wonder just what was being said . "So you really think Prom and I were like you and Cloud?"

Promtpo groaned. "Ahh don't ask him! We're nothing alike! Cloud was already messing around with me before but I don't agree with any of it!"

"Well it isn't exact piece for piece," Zack started to say. "But like ah I just don't know how to describe it. Maybe it's the teasing bit. I used to tease Cloud so much back in the day."

Prompto scoffed. "Back in the day?"

"Okay fine I still do tease it. It's just what I do. Anyways I do need to get back, I am on the clock anyways. You two have fun."

When Zack left the room Prompto let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry you gotta deal with him now, well more so than before."

"Hey you gotta deal with my dad, so I say we are equal," Noctis replied as he poked Prompto lightly in the arm.

"Okay you got me there. I guess we both have some weird family."

"Agreed. But I think that's far better than the boring type of family."

The two began to talk a bit more after that, just going from family talk to other things. Eventually they brought it back to gaming and started playing King's Knight. They played with one another until yet again they heard someone at the door. Now when Noctis looked he felt a little more nervous. Ignis was the one who stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and looking at the two of them with his normal neutral expression.

"Ah Ignis… um what are you doing here? Is everyone just going to be dropping in on us today?"

"I came to get yours stuff of course, or did you forget that you were transferring to rehab?"

"O-Oh yeah… I guess I forgot…"Nocits glanced between Ignis and Prompto, trying to figure out what else to say. He still had not told Ignis nor Gladio about being gay or that he was daitng Prompto. He had at least let Promtpo know about this, not wanting something to be accidently said. But now with Ignis staring down at the two of them he felt pressured and nervous.

"We shouldn't waste time though, please head out back to your room and make sure you have everything gathered. I checked the room twice but you should do the official final check."

"Right…"

Part of him wanted to hug Prompto goodbye, to tell him once more that he loved him, but Ignis was in the room. As long as Ignis stood there Nocits knew he couldn't express himself to Prompto, not properly at least.

"Text you later, Prom."

"Yeah, see you later."

Noctis started to wheel himself out of the room when he noticed Ignis wasn't following right behind him. "Specs? Something up?"

"Just go on ahead, I'll be just a moment. I haven't had the chance to be properly acquainted with your new friend."

Noctis swallowed slightly, tossing a quick look to Prompto. He had no idea what Ignis knew or what he was planning to say. He really did not want to leave Prompto alone with Ignis, but he had to put trust in one of his oldest friends. He knew Ignis did care and wouldn't be one to try and scare away Prompto, or at least he hoped.

While Noctis moved on ahead, Igins watched until he was out of sight, presumably heading back to his own room. Turning to face Prompto, he could see how paled and nervous the boy had become. It only had taken less than a couple minutes to go from laughing to complete and utter nervousness.

"So um like, you w-wanted to talk to me or something?"

"Relax, I only have a few questions and then I will be off," Ignis said as calmly as he could. The last thing he wanted to do was raise the stress levels on Prompto, knowing he probably already had been dealing with a lot.

"Oh o-okay, guess a few questions couldn't hurt."

"I know Noct told me his story, but I want to hear yours. How is it that you two became friends?"

"I was just on my phone and stuff when I got a text from an unknown number. He was asking 'Gladio' to play King's Knight with him and I had to argue a bit with him a couple times to convince him I wasn't Gladio. Showed him my face and stuff and then we just kind of talked."

"Just kind of talked…" Ignis repeated.

"Well yeah! That's what you do when you text people. You just start talking or texting or whatever and get to know one another," Prompto replied.

"And you know what kind of life Noct leads then?"

Prompto softly before answering. "Well yeah, I don't really read the news too often but I do know what goes on. It would be kind of stupid if I didn't know about the people who ran the kingdom that I lived in."

Ignis stared, his serious unchanging expression still analyzing the young blond. He could still see the tension and nervousness twitching in his fingers, but for the most part he was staying fairly calm. But that wasn't all Ignis needed to know. He had read the background information on Prompto and if it was true, he wanted to confirm it first hand. It was all to be safe after all.

"All right, one final question. Can you tell me where you were born."

Prompto's entire body went rigid, his eyes widening. But a moment later he breathed in and closed his eyes. "I… I'm… I was born in Nibelheim."

"I see," Ignis had his answers now, and for the time being he saw no further reason to question Prompto. If he had any other concerns he now knew where Prompto was staying. "That'll be all then."

He was about to head through the door when he heard Prompto speak up. "W-Wait! You mean that's it? I-I mean you have nothing else you want to ask me?"

"Nothing that comes to mind. Why?" Ignis turned around. "Do you have something that you think I should know?"

Prompto shook his head. "I just… you're not going to ban me or anything?"

Ignis raised an eyebrow. "Ban you?"

"Cause I'm a Niff," Prompto muttered, gritted his teeth as he spat out the words. "It's probably wrong for me to be friends with him."

Ignis could see the weariness in the boy's eyes. There was a deep sense of loneliness buried in there and then he recalled the information he had read on him. He was only ten-years-old when he lost his parents. His home had burned down and he had to move from a quiet town to the big city to live with his brother. When Ignis really put the thought into it, he could sympathize with Prompto, knowing how it feels to move from your home.

"You will not be banned. There has been peace between nations of Lucis and Gralea for decades now. But you must understand with Noctis being the prince, there are precautions that must be taken."

The look in Prompto's eyes deflated even more. "Yeah I figured…"

Ignis wondered if maybe he had used the wrong choice of words. Even if he had his usual thoughts on the subject matter, he wasn't ready to jump to action and block Noctis from talking to Prompto. He recalled the words King Regis had said about Prompto, how apparently he was making Noctis happier than he had been in years. Ignis had yet to see this truly first hand, other than the first encounter he had with Prompto, but he had to admit there seemed to be a truth to it.

"Prompto," Ignis said, making sure his voice was clear without hesitation. "You do not need to worry, I promise that you will not be banned from talking to Noct."

Prompto let out a huge sigh of relief. "Oh good. That's nice to know. Um thanks I guess. I'm glad I can still talk with Noct."

"Of course," Ignis nodded before he turned to properly leave this time. "Have a good evening Prompto, and thank you for your time."

"Y-Yeah, no problem!"

Ignis walked back to where Noctis's room was, trying not to let the saddened face of Prompto burn into the back of his mind. It was hard to imagine what the boy must had gone through over the past five years, living pretty much in the hospital. There barely seemed to be any confidence in Prompto, most of it consumed by anxiety and fear.

But he was Noctis's new friend, a friend who made him happy. If some random boy could make Noctis smile more than Ignis, Gladio or even Noctis's father could, then maybe there was in fact some merit to all of this. He would just have to see how it played out in the long run, keeping a close eye on both boys, especially since the plans to fund a cure had begun.

Hey I am back again with a new chapter! Still making progress along the way so I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter! Next time we are in for something fun, heheh.

And to the reviewer who asked about the Dr. Zack fanart, it is on my tumblr and twitter, I am Claire Firedragon on both sites. Just gotta dig back a bit to find the art.