Chapter 18

Noctis tossed and turned in bed, trying his best to settle down his mind. Even though he was trying as hard as he could to put all the worrying thoughts away, they were still there. The thoughts climbed into his head, clawing their way through every part of his heart and mind.

Eventually his mind felt so clouded he didn't even know where his thoughts were trying to go. One thought about snuggling close to Prompto was interrupted by a worry if his illness got worse. Before that one could even finish another thought crashed in reminding him of the seriousness of the Starscourge.

When he opened his eyes he saw himself standing somewhere. It almost reminded him of home, with the tall walls of the Citadel, but everything seems just a little bit off. He started to wander around, trying to see if he could find anyone. All he could hear was his own footsteps echoing against the halls, leaving him a little unsettled.

Eventually he could hear a sound coming up. Picking up his pace he exited out into a garden. The sylleblossoms were everywhere, their petals floating around as the breeze blew by. Noctis wondered if he really had heard someone as he didn't see anyone right away. But then he noticed someone sitting in the flowers, someone with a very familiar bit of blond hair.

"Prompto!" Noctis called, feeling overjoyed to see him, let alone outside. He started to run, getting closer to Prompto, who had his back facing him currently. "Hey! Prompto!"

Slowly Prompto turned around to face him, and Noctis nearly skidded to a halt. Prompto looked pale, but Noctis could see his veins. Prompto's veins were black, reaching from his arms all the way up to his neck. They hadn't quite spread across his face yet, but they were slowly getting there.

"Noct…" Prompto gasped. "The… the Starscourge, it's… it's…"

Prompto nearly fell over, but Noctis was quick to catch him in time. His body felt cold against Noctis's fingers, and he could even feel Prompto's entire body trembling. He held him as gently as he could, trying to wrack his brain around what was happening.

"No… shit, this can't be happening," Noctis muttered as he carefully scooped Prompto into his arms. He needed to give Prompto some reassurance as he stared down at the poor blond's hazy eyes. "H-Hold on, okay? I am going to find s-someone! We're going to get you all better!"

Prompto muttered something incoherent as he buried his face against Noctis's chest. The black seemed to be spreading further through his body, finally reaching his face. As Noctis ran around, hoping that he would be able to find someone, he felt Prompto's body jerk.

Noctis staggered to a stop and looked down at Prompto, his gut tightening at the sight. Prompto coughed and hacked up some of the Starscourge, black ooze dripping from his mouth. His skin was already starting to pale even more than before, making the black veins stick out much more prominent in his skin.

"Come on, Prom!" Noctis shouted. "D-Don't die on me! P-Please don't die."

Noctis tried to run again, but he was met with the ground instead, dropping Prompto in front of him. His legs felt heavy and he could no longer move them how he wanted. He could only pull and drag himself across the ground to Prompto's limp body.

"P-Prom," Noctis whispered. He shook Prompto's body, but there was no response. Prompto's eyes laid open, vacant with the dark veins that had reached into Prompto's eyes. The whites of the eyes now turned as black as night, making his beautiful eyes stand out against them.

Noctis placed his hand on Prompto's chest, waiting to feel the heartbeat, but there was nothing no matter how long he waited. The black Starscourge just kept pouring from Prompto, now also from his eyes and ears as he laid there motionless.

"Fuck… no nonono, gods please no," Noctis cried as he felt his heart tearing in two.

Prompto had become such a prominent thing in his life in such a short span of time. He still couldn't explain the pull he felt, but he was drawn to Prompto. Someone who treated him just as a person, not as a prince. Prompto was just a kind and sweet boy who didn't deserve the illness that he was given. He deserved so much more and Noctis had been so determined to give it to him.

That was all gone now.

All of Noctis's hopes and dreams to be with Prompto crushed because he couldn't save him from a stupid illiness. His first person he ever loved and actually felt open in expressing it, he was gone from him, all too soon.

Noctis curled up against Prompto and began to sob, no longer able to contain the broken heart within him. Without Prompto he felt lost. He didn't know what he was going to do anymore, not without Prompto by his side.

Noctis's eyes suddenly opened and he was met with the darkness of his current room. His entire body was trembling as he tried to sit up. It took several deep breaths to calm his racing heart and tell himself that he was sitting in his bed at the rehab facility. He was there and not back home at the Citadel.

"Prompto…" Noctis shuddered. "It was just a nightmare…"

Grabbing his phone he clicked it on to see the time. It was 3:23AM. He barely had gotten any sleep at all, and now he knew that he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. The nightmare still was vivid in his mind. It all had felt too real in his mind, and part of his mind wanted to believe that it was still read. But he had to tell himself that it was, in fact, just a dream. Prompto only had a minor attack, it wasn't anything major otherwise Cloud would have told him.

Part of him wanted to open his phone and call Prompto just to make sure, but he hated to call so late. He knew it wouldn't do any good if he woke up Prompto when he was still recovering. He needed to just wait, even if it was tearing him apart inside. So instead, he opened up his phone and went to his photo gallery. He clicked on the special new album he made labeled Prompto&Me and started to scroll through the few images he had. There weren't a lot of photos there, but there were enough to bring him some ease.

He wasn't really sure when he fell back asleep, but before he realized it, it was morning and his phone was almost dead. Sighing, he plugged it into the charger and sat there until breakfast was brought for him. Halfway through eating his phone pinged and he grabbed it quickly, nearly dropping his food from his other hand.

He stared at the message on the screen and began to smile a little.

Prompto: Hey dude!

Unlocking his phone, he almost was ready to pour out his sorrows and worries, but he knew he had to hold back. He didn't need to unleash that all on Prompto right away.

Noctis: hey

Noctis: how you doing?

Noctis: I mean are you okay?

Prompto: Yeah I am feeling better! Just needed some good rest and stuff!

Prompto: Sorry if I worried you though, Cloud told me about the call you guys had last night…

Noctis swallowed slightly. Did that mean that Prompto was upset that Noctis nearly panicked? Or was he more off-put that Noctis had done something like that. He tried to wrap his brain around what it could be, but he wanted to try and push away as much fear as he could.

"Pull yourself together," he thought to himself. "You can do this."

Noctis: no no!

Noctis: it's okay!

Noctis: I just you know…

Noctis: you don't have to worry about that

Noctis: I was just tired anyways

Prompto: If you say so… I just didn't want you to worry…

Prompto: I know my illness makes things hard…

Noctis: I still love you

Noctis: illness doesn't matter cause I love you

Maybe what he was saying was cheesy, but it was all he could think of. He truly did love Prompto no matter what. Illness or no illness he would love and cherish Prompto forever.

Prompto: Thanks man, it means a lot.

Noctis: yeah don't worry cause I am doing what I can do help remember?

Noctis: being a good boyfriend and stuff

Noctis: cause yeah

Noctis: I love you

Prompto: Aww thanks buddy!

Prompto: Love you too! 3

Noctis started to smile, feeling his fears fade from his chest. He could breathe normally again, knowing that everything was back to how it was. Though, there was still the slightest bit of unease within him. With a deep breath he started to type out one last thing that was on his mind. If he could get this out of the way, he knew things could finally calm down within his mind.

Noctis: could we call

Noctis: like a video chat and stuff?

Noctis: if you feel good enough for it

Prompto: Yeah! I can chat!
Prompto: I really want to cause I misssss yoouuuuuuuu!

Noctis clicked the video option and it began the call, with Prompto picking up right away. From what Noctis could tell, there were no black veins on Prompto's face or neck. He looked just like he did the last time he saw him. They began their talk and the last residual fears Noctis had melted away. This was his normal, just goofing off and talking with Prompto. This was what he was used to and what he enjoyed.

Regis was walking down the hall, several documents in his hand. As he read over them he nearly was on autopilot as he headed into his study. When he got there he looked up to see that Ardyn was looking through the bookshelves, humming some tune to himself.

"Ardyn," Regis cleared his throat. "Here for another one of your unexpected visits where you tell me some crazy idea you have for a law?"

"Not this time, dear brother," Ardyn laughed. "Today I have a different matter to discuss with you, one I know you probably have been waiting to talk about with me."

Regis had the smallest inkling of a feeling what Ardyn alluded to, but with Ardyn you could never be sure without confirming. "And by matter, which one? I can assume there are several."

"Why the one concerning my dear, sweet nephew. I am sure by now he's told you what is on his mind, correct?"

Regis nodded before moving to his desk. He sat down while moving his papers to the side. "Yes, Noctis told me several things as of late. Things you already knew about before me. Ardyn, thank you for helping him with his feelings. I can trust you to help guide him in the right direction, even if you are a bit much at times."

Ardyn smiled. "I shall take that as a compliment. But yes, I have done what I could to help Noct. I wished he could have opened up sooner, but these things we cannot rush."

"And that brings me to my second piece on this agenda; his boyfriend. I don't know how much Noct told you, but this kind hearted boy who loves my son is ill with the Starscourge. I have started giving more funding towards the research to cure it. I thought that would be of interest to you."

Ardyn's eyes drifted for a moment, his eyes hazy and distant. Regis waited, leaving his brother to be in his deep thoughts as long as he needed. "Of course, the research means quite a lot to me. As you know I already poured a good portion of funding into it."

"Yes, and now I am helping further it along. I'm sure something good will come from this, sooner than later I hope."

"Indeed," Ardyn replied softly. "Let us wish the researchers the best of luck. Hopefully the future will be bright for my son and his boyfriend."