AN: Riku: We already have had a lot of angst throughout this story... will there be more?
Be aware this chapter will have some angst and tension.
A few days after the last time they were together, a few men came into the hallway to get their attention. "Alright, time for us to take a field trip, for both of you!" the taller one said happily.
"Come on, we don't want to take too much time."
"Huh? Where are we going?" Prompto asked.
"Not far, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot," the man said as he stayed near the open cell door.
Prompto glanced at Noctis, not ready to move just yet.
"Please, I can't move," Noctis confessed softly from where he was safely perched.
The taller man sneered. "What was that? Little princy too lazy to get off his ass?"
Noctis scoffed at that and forced himself to his feet. He bit his chapped lips as he used the wall to get to his feet despite the pain lancing through his body. "See, I'm good to go, where're we going?"
The men started dragging the boys along by their arms, through the hallway and to the room that was usually used for video recording. This time the set up looked a little different.
The chair was still set up in the center but in front of it was a small chest that was usually used for storing items or clothing.
"What is that?" Noctis asked. He felt a cold, sinking sensation at the sight of the chest in front of the chair, sure it would be terrible for both of them.
"Just a little fun," someone laughed as he pushed Noctis forward. "You guys like fun, right?"
"Yeah, I'm sure they'll get a good laugh out of this, hah!"
"A hilarious moment!"
Noctis nearly fell to the ground as he was pushed toward the chair. "I don't- I don't know if we have the same definition of fun," he muttered.
"Well, take a seat, and let's find out," Livius said as he stepped into the room from the opposite door.
He shot a look over at Prompto as he went over to the chair and sat down. He could see his heart start to pound in horrified anticipation.
Drusus followed along shortly after. His grin was sickening as he stepped near the boys. "So, little princy and his chocobo. Are you ready for our grand surprise?"
Noctis did everything he could to not make a move as Drusus came close to him. "What kind of surprise do you have for us?" He asked softly.
Prompto stayed quiet, staring with his fearful eyes. Drusus just laughed, stepping a little closer. "Just one I know you'll hold dearly to your heart."
"What? Why would you do this?"
"Because we grow tired of waiting. It's time to up the stakes," Drusus said as he snapped his fingers.
Several of the men suddenly went to grab Prompto, dragging him closer to the chest.
Noctis surged forward to try and grab Prompto again, but several men forced him back into the chair. "No! No! Please, stop!" he begged.
"Uh uh," Drusus taunted, waving a finger. "Remember our agreement."
His breath caught in his throat as he nearly vibrated. "Please," he said weakly.
"'Friad I don't listen to prince requests," Drusus replied.
Prompto was still struggling against the men. He was closer to the chest, just above it as the men kept trying to push him in.
Noctis tore his eyes away from Drusus to watch Prompto get shoved into the chest.
"You know," Drusus said as he wrapped an arm around Noctis's shoulder. "You may want to tell your chocobo to cool it. I'm not in a very patient mood today."
The arm around his shoulders made Noctis jerk in surprise and stare up at Drusus for a moment then back at Prompto. "Prom-" he said, voice cracking on the word.
Prompto's eyes widened, the fear rising throughout every part of his face and body. In the moment he stalled the men were finally able to push him into the small chest space and slam the lid closed, locking it down with its' clips.
Immediately Prompto began to bang on the chest from inside, screaming as loud as he could. "Let me out!"
Noctis felt betrayal fill him as he could only hear Prompto trying to get out of the chest. All of his energy fell out of him and he buried his head into his hands.
Prompto's screams grew louder as he slammed on the chest from the inside. His voice was already breaking as his screams tore at his throat. "I can't breathe! Please just let me out!"
"You had your fun, please, let him out," Noctis said when he finally looked up from his hands. "He's done nothing to you!"
"Told you I don't do prince requests. Nothing you say will make me change my mind. Well..." Drusus paused as he began to chuckle. "Almost nothing. There is one thing that could save your little chocobo."
"What do you want?" Noctis asked and did his best to not feel a stab of hurt with each scream from Prompto.
"Oh, it's such a challenging request," Drusus said as he began to walk around the room. "I don't know if you'll honestly be able to handle it."
Noctis scowled at that. "I need him out of the chest, what is it?"
Drusus smiled, tracing his fingers over the top of the chest that Prompto was still screaming from. "You seem to have your confidence back. Guess when it comes to the chocobo, you'll really do anything."
Drusus moved away from the chest and neared Noctis. "So... let's see how far you are willing to go."
"What does that mean? Just- just tell me," Noctis replied, leaning back some to get away from Drusus.
"I think... the only way that I'll let him go is if," Drusus laughed, seemingly enjoying pausing at every given second. "Is if… you tell him something that is precious to your heart."
"What? You want me to tell him- that?" he asked as he felt the blood leave his face.
"I would think so. Wouldn't you say it's romantic? Saving your precious chocobo by declaring your feelings?
Prompto's screams had already died down and had been reduced to sobs. He still slammed the chest, but they were growing less frequent. Noctis looked between the chest and Drusus, unable to get any words out at the time.
"Knew princy would be a coward. Just like always," one of the men taunted, voice pitched just loud enough to get over the sobs.
"Aww, now that's just too bad."
"Completely pathetic."
"Can't even have a gay prince who is brave enough to say it."
"Guess he doesn't care for chocobo as much as he thought."
All of the men taunted and laughed at Noctis. Their words swirled around him, sinking deep into his mind. The words made Noctis sink into the chair and hang his head.
"At least he knows how much he's failing his dear chocobo."
"He'll never get out of that chest."
"Too bad," Drusus said as he moved back to the chest containing Prompto. "Guess you don't have what it takes to save him."
"Please- just let him out," Noctis said softly. "What is the point of all of this?"
"I told you. The only way I'll let him out is if you tell him the truth."
Drusus then knocked on the chest, causing Prompto's screams and sobs to come to a halt. "You hear that chocobo? Princy here has something he wants to say... or should I say, may attempt to say."
The quiet seemed to ring in Noctis's ears for a moment. He needed Prompto out, but he was so scared of what he needed to say. Still, his friend needed him, which would have to give him the strength he needed.
"Prompto- I- I've been meaning to tell you how much, how much I really care for you." He said weakly.
"Gotta do better than that," Drusus sneared. "Tell him the whole truth."
"Prompto," he felt his head spinning at all of the people watching him do this. He licked his lips and stared at the chest to try and ignore everyone else. "Prompto, I love you."
There wasn't any sound in the chest at first. The air was dead silent. Drusus waited a moment before kicking the chest, causing Prompto to squeak.
"I think he needs to hear it again. Little louder and clearly this time," Drusus replied.
That got Noctis to look up at Drusus in shock. He had to suck in a breath to try and get his mind to work. "Prompto, I love you," he said louder, even if his voice still shook.
Drusus smirked before snapping his fingers. The men holding on to Noctis moved to the chest and unlocked it. When it was open they pushed it up, causing Prompto to tumble out of it. He laid there, his chest rising deeply and quickly as he stayed crumpled up on the floor.
Noctis scrambled from the chair to fall to the floor next to Prompto. "You're okay, you're okay. I'm right here," he said softly while putting his hand gently on his shoulder.
Prompto's sobs returned, his entire body shaking uncontrollably. He couldn't even lift his head to look at Noctis.
All of the men around them shared with cold grins, with Drusus's being the biggest. "Well, looks like he had it in him after all."
"Fuck you," Noctis snapped as he pulled Prompto into his arms to let him sob against him. He wrapped him up to try and shield him from the looks they were getting.
Suddenly he was pulled away from Prompto. In a instant his face flooded with hot pain as Drusus's hand collided with it.
"You little brat. You want to lose your privileges? I could easily put him back there and throw you back in the cell. Would you like that?"
Noctis felt his body tense, ready to fight back again before he heard Prompto sob more. Then, he sank back to the floor and hung his head. He couldn't be the reason why Prompto was forced back into that box. "No, I wouldn't."
"Good boy. Since you've been so well behaved other than that one moment, I'll overlook it. You'll get plenty of time with him now."
He didn't bother fighting the men who grabbed him to take him back to a cell. He was more focused on pulling Prompto close as soon as the door was closed to try and calm him down.
Prompto still hadn't spoken a word since he let out of the chest. His sobs had died down mostly on account of how ragged and sore his throat sounded. He didn't even bother to open his eyes at all.
As the sobs slowed down, Noctis eased them down to a lying position so he could gently comb through the greasy hair and whisper softly to him.
"Prom- I- they've known about- about me since we got here," he said softly. "It's their favorite thing to hold over me."
"Hold what?" Prompto asked, still not looking at Noctis. "I just don't get it."
"My feelings for you. They knew about how much I love you, and they've been... it doesn't matter," Noctis said as he closed his eyes tightly.
"I don't believe it..." Prompto muttered rather blandly.
Noctis's eyes flew open at that, and he pulled away in shock. "You could've just said you weren't interested. You don't- you don't have to be cruel about it," he said while moving closer to the bars.
"It's not... that. I just don't know if I can believe you." Prompto grabbed one of the blankets and wrapped himself up tightly.
"Fine, fine. I'll just, I'm sorry," Noctis said softly.
There was a pause before Prompto spoke again. "I guess it really didn't matter."
Noctis felt his eyes water, and he squeezed them close. He kept hearing the jeers from all the time he was alone with Drusus in his mind. He wondered how much they were really right about him. And now it would end up costing him Prompto completely.
That thought alone made a sob escape his lips as he curled up against the bars.
Prompto tensed up, still unable to look at Noctis. He eventually turned the other way, staring at the wall. He didn't say anything more and he laid completely still.
Noctis stewed in silence for a long while, trying to figure out how to make Prompto believe him.
"I forgot to tell you something about the cufflinks," he said softly. "Giving a royal symbol to someone as a gift, it's usually the first step of courtship."
"So when were you planning to actually tell me? If it's true, why didn't you start with that?"
"Because I was scared to lose you. You're my best friend, and I would rather have that than risk losing you if I accidentally hurt you. And then- the gala happened, and you mentioned girlfriends, and I just- even just a little bit, I wanted to show the world what you mean to me. Because I was jealous of some imaginary girl!"
Noctis covered his face and tried to keep his emotions. "I'm sorry I'm a coward. I'm just- I'm sorry."
"How can I know you're telling the truth!" Prompto snapped suddenly as he faced Noctis. His eyes were still so red and new tears were already falling. "You already basically submitted yourself to being obedient to Drusus! How can I tell if this is genuine or just doing what he says to prevent further damage! How can I trust anything you say is true anymore!?"
Noctis jerked like he had been slapped. He took a breath but felt that he couldn't release it yet. "I guess you can't," he replied flatly. He used the bars to help stand and walk slowly to the other end of the cell to leave Prompto alone.
Prompto frowned, averting his eyes from Noctis once more. He sighed before turning the other way, completely with his back to Noctis.
The time passed between the two of them until the men came to split them apart, though Noctis left the cell with little protest as Prompto kept ignoring him. Then, he immediately curled up and tried to sleep away the pain.
-
AN: GG: Um, sorry?