Summary: Prompto has never had a Christmas quite like this one.
(Comfort, Cute, Friends to Lovers)

Noctis was no stranger to sadness. He had been taken to the graveyard at a young age to visit his mother's headstone, and he'd cried—even though he had no real memory of her—to the point where Regis had regretted bringing him along at all. He had gone through a deep depression after his encounter with the Marilith—watching his caretaker die before his eyes, recovering from an injury that made his father worry he would never walk again, and being treated with even more intrusive questions and awkward stares than ever when he returned to school in a wheelchair. And then there was the matter of his father's declining health, for which he often found himself shedding a few silent tears onto his pillow before he fell asleep.

Despite how much sadness he had experienced in his mere eighteen years of living, he wasn't sure he'd ever seen something that made him so utterly sad just looking at it, something that hurt his heart and tugged at his soul to fix it. Noctis had invited Prompto over to study, as usual, and Prompto had requested they swing by his house so he could grab the notebook he'd forgotten. That was when Noctis had seen it—the smallest, saddest, most bedraggled Christmas tree he'd ever seen, perched on the window sill of Prompto's bedroom.

As Prompto rummaged under his bed for his book, Noctis stood staring at the tree. It held no lights—only a few strands of tinsel that looked like they'd been used every year for the past century, and some coloured balls with scratches marring their once shimmering paint. Its artificial branches were bent and matted, some with far less needles than others. Even sadder than the tree itself was the fact that it was the only decoration Noctis had seen since they'd entered the house.

"Your folks... aren't a big fan of Christmas, I take it?" he cautiously ventured; the last thing he wanted to do was insult Prompto, but the boy just chuckled.

"They're never around for it."

"Never?"

"Mmm..." Prompto looked up at Noctis from his crouched position on the floor, brows furrowing as he thought. "Nope, don't think they were ever here for Christmas. They're usually gone on some business trip around that time."

And that's different than every other time of the year? Noctis bitterly thought to himself. He was glad Prompto had turned his attention back to his search after that, because he didn't want him to see the look of pure disgust for these people who, somehow, Prompto still cared for enough to call 'his parents'. Of course, he didn't exactly have anyone else to better fill that role. Aside from Noctis, he was very much alone.

"Where did you get the decorations?" the prince asked.

"Found 'em in a box in the attic. They were the only Christmas-y things I could find. O-oh! Here it is!" he beamed, tugging out a blue, coiled notebook with a bent cover. He got to his feet, proudly holding the book in front of him, ready to head back out the door, but Noctis caught him by the shoulders. Prompto looked up at him with timid curiosity, smiling slightly at the sudden look of intention on his friend's face.

"How would you like to stay with me on Christmas Eve? You could help me decorate the tree, we could invite Ignis and Gladio over for some snacks, and then you could stay overnight?" Noctis asked. His brows were curved upward in question, but also in what looked like sympathy.

Prompto watched Noct's eyes flicker to the tree in the window before fluttering back to him. That was when Prompto clued in; Noctis felt sorry for him. There were a lot of things he loved receiving from Noctis, but pity wasn't one of them.

"Oh, t-that's really nice of you, Noct, but I'll be fine on my own here. I usually make popcorn and watch some cartoons. Besides, you've probably got other traditions that you—"

"No, I don't," Noctis cut in, pushing forth a nervous smile. "I would rather be with you."

The confession was probably more honest than Noctis had intended, and Prompto couldn't suppress the heat rising to his cheeks. He sheepishly averted his gaze, but his smile grew.

"Okay, then. If you're sure."

"I'm sure," Noctis said, letting go of Prompto's shoulders before his own face burst into flames. "It'll be fun. And it's way better than us being alone on Christmas morning, you know?"

"You weren't planning to go back to the Citadel?" Prompto inquired.

"Nah, been there, done that. It's my first year in an apartment of my own, and I'd rather make new memories. So... you'll come?" Noctis asked, hands stuffed stiffly into his pockets.

"Yeah," Prompto grinned, and watched the tension leave Noct's face. "I'll be there."


When Prompto arrived at Noct's apartment on Christmas Eve, Noct was right there at the door, taking his snow-covered coat and scarf and hanging them up for him. He also took Prompto's duffle-bag into the bedroom before returning a moment later, watching with a soft smile as Prompto took off his boots. Prompto finally stepped off of the welcome mat and into the kitchen, his friend's apartment feeling like an entirely different world. There were no cluttered counter-tops and no dishes in the sink; the once unpleasant odors from days-old food was replaced by the scent of cinnamon, most likely from the candle burning atop the stove.

"You sure this is your apartment?" Prompto teased, ducking to avoid the contact when Noctis swatted at his head.

"You sure you were invited?" Noct smirked back.

"Pretty sure. My bestie requested my presence," Prompto sang airily, closing his eyes and placing a hand over his heart.

"Come in, then, you dork." Noctis waved him along, coaxing him to follow him into the living room.

There, in the corner of the dimly lit room, stood a tree that almost reached the ceiling, its fresh pine smell and visibly crisp needles letting Prompto know immediately that this was no artificial tree. It was already topped with a golden star, and strung with multi-coloured lights and gold ribbon, so neatly that it could only have been Ignis' handiwork.

"Wow," Prompto marvelled, softly. "How'd you get such a big tree all the way up here?"

"Having a really buff Shield comes in handy," Noctis grinned, admiring the look of awe on Prompto's face as he eyed the beautiful branches. "Gladio cut it down and hauled it up here for me."

"That's incredible."

Noctis wondered what Prompto might have thought of the trees they had in the Citadel—those that were at least twice as tall and three times as big around, all decorated with the finest glass icicles, gold and red shining balls, pure velvet ribbon, and hundreds of dazzling, white lights. He would probably be drooling and snapping pictures if he saw them. But thinking back to what scarce decorations Prompto had back at his home, Noctis decided maybe he shouldn't mention the ones in the Citadel; he didn't want Prompto feeling like he had missed out on something special all those years.

"It'll be even more incredible once you help me deck this thing out. What do you say?"

"I'm game," Prompto smiled.

"Great."

Noctis strolled over to his coffee table, where a few boxes were stacked on top of one another. He opened up the top one, revealing twenty or so shining ornaments with hooks. He'd brought some from home when he'd moved into his apartment, but he'd also purchased a few sets from the local shops so he could do just what he'd told Prompto: make new memories.

"You can start hanging some of these, if you want," Noctis offered.

"Sure!" Prompto picked up a little golden chocobo ornament with a feather for a tail, and proceeded over to find the perfect spot to hang it. Meanwhile, Noctis sauntered over to the entertainment unit and fiddled with one of the knobs on the devices to turn on the radio. Prompto hummed the last few lines of the holiday tune that was playing before the song ended.

"It's 6:01 here in Insomnia. Christmas Eve, folks. I hope you're all finished your holiday shopping, and are settling down to spend some quality time with your loved ones. We've got a playlist that you're going to love tonight, something to get you in the spirit!" As the announcer stopped speaking, another song began. This one was a more modern tune with cheesy lyrics about a guy who vowed to walk through the Glacian's ice to be with the girl he loved.

"Is this what you usually listen to back home?" Prompto asked.

"No," Noct chuckled. "At the Citadel, it's usually some slow instrumental pieces. I kinda thought the radio would be fun for a change."

"It's good with me," Prompto agreed, returning to the box for another ornament. Noctis followed his lead, picking out a wooden fish decoration that his father had had specially made for him a few years back.

"Aw, that's cute!" Prompto beamed at the fish in Noct's hand. Noctis met his eyes and smiled.

"Yeah," he laughed, softly. Together, they walked to the tree and hung their ornaments, making sure to space them out well, and leave room for plenty more.

Within a half hour, the tree was full of decorations, and the ornament boxes were wiped clean. Prompto flopped down on the couch, arms sprawling out on the back of it.

"Looks great!" he said, squinting to admire the sight, lights sparkling even more brilliantly with his eyes slitted the way they were.

"Yeah, I think it does," Noct agreed, hands on his hips. The dim light of the room made the whole atmosphere feel so cozy, the coloured lights a welcome and exciting change from the white lights they used to use in the Citadel.

"Hey, you want a drink or anything? I can boil the kettle for some hot chocolate. Or, Ignis is going to be here any minute, and he said he'd make hot apple cider."

"Uh, I'll wait for the cider, if that's okay. I've never had it before."

"Really? You're in for a treat," Noct smiled. He was about to sit down beside Prompto, but the doorbell rang, and Noct's eyes widened in surprise.

"Talk about perfect timing," he said, as he wandered back into the kitchen. He opened the door to see Gladio and Ignis bundled up in jackets and earmuffs, each carrying a few trays of cookies in their arms.

"Whoa. You do know it's just the four of us coming tonight, right?" Noct smirked.

"Well, you know Iggy. He doesn't do anything in half-measures," Gladio rolled his eyes, kicking his boots off and setting his trays down on the island counter before returning to take Ignis' trays for him.

"Noct said Prompto would love to try my Christmas baking, so I whipped up all of my usual treats. Christmas only comes once a year, after all," Ignis said, defending himself.

Noctis looked beside him when he felt Prompto at his side. Instinctively, he put a hand on his back to let him know he was welcome, but felt himself blushing immediately after. He was pushing the boundaries of friendship again, wasn't he? There would be plenty of time for that later.

"Wow, Iggy. These look delicious!" Prompto marvelled, obviously thinking nothing of the contact—either that, or he was trying to play it cool. Prompto stood on his tip-toes to lean over the counter and get a good look at the treats beneath the plastic wrap: gingerbread men, shortbread cookies, candy-cane covered fudge, plum pudding, and some other goodies which Prompto couldn't even name.

"I hope they're satisfactory," Ignis said, finishing with his boots and hurrying to the sink. Quickly, he washed his hands before heading to the island counter and taking the plastic wrap off of the trays, allowing the boys to dig in and enjoy. Noctis reached for a gingerbread man and mercilessly bit its head off, before waving it in Prompto's face.

"Brutal, dude," Prompto smirked, before taking a gingerbread man for himself and munching on its leg. Ignis proceeded to the stove to prepare the cider, and Gladio took a peek inside the living room.

"Tree looks great, guys," he acknowledged.

"Mm, thanks," Noct said, through a mouthful of cookie. "I think Prompto's got an eye for this sort of thing. Probably his artistic skills coming through."

"He does take a mean photo," Gladio praised, wandering back into the kitchen, and snatching up a shortbread cookie for himself. He took a bite, then nudged Prompto in the shoulder, making the boy look up at him.

"If Noct had decorated it himself, it would have been a train-wreck," the Shield smirked.

"I'm right here, you know?" Noct grumbled, but his three friends only burst into laughter. He didn't care that it was at his expense; Prompto was smiling, and that was enough.


The evening passed quickly. The four huddled around the coffee table in the living room, playing a few rounds of cards, and sipping their cider with cinnamon sticks in them—Ignis' special touch that made Prompto feel like he really was living in luxury in a prince's apartment. Everything about the evening was so peaceful, so perfect—the baked goods, the soft glow of the tree, the scents of cinnamon and pine, the quiet tunes on the radio, his friends' laughter, the way Noctis' arm brushed against his own whenever he reached for another card.

Although Prompto had never let himself dwell on it, this was the first Christmas Eve where he didn't find himself longing for something. He could remember those nights on his own, in front of the TV, with a bag of popcorn all to himself. He had been lonely. The plain white walls, the cold and empty house, the fact that he wouldn't have even known this day was different than any other if it weren't for the steady stream of Christmas specials on the air.

Here, in Noctis' apartment, he had everything he needed—good company, a warm home, someone who cared about him. Noctis. His dear Noctis. He couldn't get that last one off his mind, not during the game of cards, not as Ignis and Gladio pulled their boots and coats on as they said goodbye, not as Noctis returned to the empty boxes of decorations and pulled out a small, leafy plant.

"We missed one," Noct said, reaching an arm up toward the door-frame between the kitchen and living room. "Give me a boost, will ya?"

Prompto hurried forth, cupping his hands so Noctis could step into them, and hoist himself up. He sat on Prompto's shoulder, and Prompto held him tight, making sure he wouldn't go anywhere. He manoeuvred them right where Noctis needed to be to pin the plant in place above the archway, before lowering him safely back down to the ground.

"What is that thing, anyway?" Prompto quizzed.

"Mistletoe," Noct said, eyes slowly coming up to meet his friend's. Prompto's heart leapt into his throat when he realized where they were both standing: directly underneath it. If this was Noctis' plan, it was certainly sly, and perfectly planned. If it wasn't, well, it was certainly a funny coincidence.

"That's... that's the stuff people are supposed to kiss under, right?" Prompto chuckled, nervously, his arm darting up to rub the back of his head. Noctis nodded, his expression unreadable.

"I wouldn't have even known that if it weren't for what we learned in school. In fact, I might never have known Christmas was even a thing if it weren't for the crafts we used to do in elementary, and all the stuff in the stores, and—"

"Do you want to?" Noctis cut in, eyes flickering up to the mistletoe and quickly back down to meet Prompto's gaze. He looked serious, but there was also a glimmer in his eyes that appeared shy, or even fearful. Prompto leisurely glanced up at the plant above them, its green leaves and white berries looking so innocent for something that had put them in such an awkward position.

"You want... to kiss me? For real?" Prompto asked, smiling nervously.

"Yeah, I... I really want to," Noctis replied, face still serious.

Prompto somehow got his head to fall into a nod, and as Noctis reached to cup his face, he rested his hands on the sides of Noct's neck. They moved in before they had time to reconsider, and lips met, both shaky and uncertain, but as they settled into it, Prompto felt himself breathing a sigh of relief. Noctis met the sound with a soft noise of contentment, his thumb brushing over Prompto's cheek before he pulled away.

Both red in the face—especially Noctis—they gave each other a shy smile before gazes darted away. Prompto took a minute to breathe, to think, to make sense of the past twenty seconds. He stepped back and rubbed his head again, leaving a good foot or so between him and Noct now.

"So, um... Have you been thinking about doing that for a while, or—"

"Kind of," Noct admitted, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile. Their eyes met again, this time lingering. "I, uh... I hope I don't ruin everything by telling you this, but... I really like you, Prompto. I really—"

Prompto leaned in again, the distance between them disappearing in a second. This time, hands fell upon shoulders and waists, the contact more of an embrace this time around. Noctis closed his eyes and enjoyed the fact that Prompto was kissing him back, that he must somehow reciprocate the feelings Noctis had been bottling up inside for months. Prompto was the first to pull back this time, and he stared at his prince, who smiled at him before getting down on one knee.

"N-no, too fast, dude!" Prompto panicked. As thrilled as he was about having kissed his best friend, he was not ready to say yes if this turned into an engagement proposal.

"No, I'm not going to ask you to marry me, you doofus. I mean, not today, anyway," Noctis said, bashfully, before his smile returned. He took Prompto's hand, and Prompto stared down at him with what still looked like frightened curiosity. Prompto's free hand was clasped over the side of his mouth, trying to cover his shock of whatever this moment was turning into.

"But would you want to, um... Do me the honour of courting me?"

"C-court?" Prompto stuttered out.

"You know... go out with me?" Noct shrugged. Prompto grinned, his hand falling away from his face, and wrapping around Noctis' neck instead as he knelt down on the floor with him.

"I know what it means, dummy," Prompto chuckled, voice muffled as his face pressed against Noct's shoulder. Noctis allowed him to sink into his arms and reciprocated the embrace. He closed his eyes again and soaked in the feeling of Prompto's warm face pressed into the crook of his neck, absorbing the smell of sweet apple cider that clung to his blond hair.

"So? What do you think?" Noct asked, hoping he already knew the answer.

"Yes," Prompto replied, a squeak of excitement filling his voice. Noctis hugged him tighter, and felt the warm breath of laughter against his neck.

"Noct? Thanks for all of this. I mean, I know you're gonna laugh and tease me about how you're the best gift I could ever ask for, but... Honestly, this is the best Christmas I've ever had," Prompto whispered, suddenly overcome with the disbelief and gratitude and pure joy.

This night had been wonderful, this moment was wonderful. He clung to his prince like he was the one thing keeping him on the planet, the one thing keeping him grounded when all the excitement made him feel like he might float away. He couldn't describe the comfort he felt, knowing Noct was holding onto him just as tightly.

"Yeah," Noct agreed with a smile, affectionately ruffling Prompto's hair. "Best Christmas ever."


A/N: Happy December, readers! It has been a super crazy year for all of us, but I wanted to make sure I had a little something to upload for the holidays (especially since it appears I haven't updated this story since May! Ahh, the shame!). No matter what you're celebrating (or not celebrating) this holiday season, I hope you all enjoy this time of year, and have a safe and wonderful New Year! Take care, everyone! And thanks for reading, as always!