Summary: Prompto feels left out when Noct comes back after being in the Crystal and barely says a word to him.
(Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Established Relationship)
"Noct, it's you. It's really you!" Prompto had hardly been able to contain the excitement and immeasurable relief in his voice as he moved forward to nudge Noct's shoulder with his fist.
"Is it? I hadn't realized," came Noct's sarcastic response.
He didn't reach out for Prompto after that. All they shared was a moment's glance, and that had been it. Noct had proceeded to pat Ignis on the shoulder, his hand lingering there long enough for Prompto to count the seconds. Prompto knew Ignis had lost the most during their journey, knew that Noctis probably still carried guilt with him from that day in Altissia, but still... It hurt to get nothing—no physical contact, not even a tender word, and Prompto's heart sank further as Ignis suggested they go inside, and Noct and Gladio followed without so much as another glance back at Prompto as he straggled behind.
"Easy, there," Gladio grunted as Prompto travelled from behind the counter at Takka's, barely managing the four mugs of beer as he carried them to their table and set them down. "How drunk are you planning on getting?" the big guy quizzed, eyeing the two already empty glasses at Prompto's spot.
"Come on, I'm fine," Prompto waved him off, scooting into the seat beside him. He pushed the glasses into the centre of the table. "Anyone else up for another?" he grinned.
"No, I think I've had my fill," Noct said from the seat diagonally across from Prompto, putting his hands on his stomach.
"As have I," Ignis agreed.
"And I'm cutting you off after this, lightweight," Gladio warned, as Prompto pulled his mug towards him and took a sip. He scowled at Gladio with a line of foam above his lip before lazily licking it away.
Prompto zoned out as the three continued to chat away. They'd already talked about Noct's time in the Crystal, and Ignis and Gladio's separate journeys while he was gone, and still, Noct hadn't asked about Prompto's time without him.
What would Prompto say at this point anyway? That he had cried himself to sleep almost every night for the first six months since he'd been gone? That every dangerous hunt he'd taken on, and every person he'd protected had been for Noctis? That he'd made his life purpose protecting the world his lover would later die to protect? That he'd spent years struggling to forgive Ignis for keeping the truth of Noct's destiny a secret because it was so damn painful, and as his partner, Prompto felt he should have at least had some warning? He was sure if he said any of those things in the state he was in now, he would slump over the table, crying his heart out in a wet and ugly mess of tears.
When he'd finished his drink, and the conversation still didn't turn in his direction—which he recognized was still probably for the best, but it wouldn't have killed Noct to show a little interest—Prompto stood up on unsteady legs.
"I'm turnin' in," he slurred. "Tired."
"Looks like we won't be fighting this battle against Ardyn tomorrow," Ignis lamented.
"Why not?" Prompto asked, looking offended—and utterly exhausted.
"Because you won't be on top of your game with that hangover. Besides, you won't be a happy camper when you're shooting off your gun with the splitting headache you'll have tomorrow," Gladio rolled his eyes, and Prompto grimaced with his hands on his hips.
"Guys, it's okay," Noctis spoke up to defend Prompto. Finally, he took note of his best friend's existence. "We'll rest in the caravan here tonight, and travel to a campsite nearer to the Citadel tomorrow. Even I could use a day to get my strength back," Noct said, staring at his stiff hand as he flexed it, working hard to open and close his fist after his decade-long slumber. All of his joints had been creaky since he'd awoken, as if made of wood that had been dried in the sun too long. Funny, how too much sun was the exact opposite of the world's current problem.
"See? It's fine," Prompto shrugged, before heading for the exit of the diner, one hand feeling for any nearby booth or wall to guide him outside.
He made it to the caravan and was in the middle of brushing his teeth when he heard a quiet knock on the trailer door. He didn't have time to react before it opened up and his dishevelled king stepped inside.
"What are you doing here?" Prompto asked through a mouthful of toothpaste before spitting it into the sink.
"Had to make sure you were okay," Noct said, simply. Prompto palmed around the dark counter until he found a towel and wiped his mouth with it. He tossed it aside and headed for the lower bunk. He plopped himself down on the edge of it, elbows on his knees, hands folded in front of him.
"Who knows," Prompto said, voice barely above a whisper.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Noctis asked, staring worriedly down at his dejected friend. Prompto looked so much older, so much sadder, and it wasn't only due to the darkness of the trailer; he'd looked equally weary and miserable under the fluorescent lights of the diner.
"Did you even miss me? Because I feel like I've been dying every day without you," Prompto admitted, the alcohol allowing him to speak the words he would have otherwise hidden deep inside. Noctis dropped to his knees before him, and reached out for his hands, cradling them within his own.
"Of course, I missed you," Noct said, firmly.
"Then why...?" Prompto's voice died before he could finish the question.
He'd always pictured their brief reunion to be a delicate thing. He'd spent years thinking about it—with Noctis being just as tearful as he was as they pulled each other in, as hands held them as close as they could be, as lips met lips and kissed wet cheeks. He'd imagined an exchange of words—loving words, words of devotion, and promises of forever, despite the fact that they would have to say goodbye. But no, he'd gotten nothing—barely even a meeting of their eyes. Noctis had been avoiding his gaze all night.
"You think I don't care," Noct observed, though his voice contained surprise, held confusion and anguish.
"Do you? 'Cause I'm starting to worry you lost your memories of us in the Crystal."
"Prompto..." The man only responded to his name when he felt a hand on his face. Noct's fingers curled gently under his jaw, his thumb grazing over his cheek. Finally, Prompto looked up to meet the saddest pair of grey-blue eyes he'd ever seen—sadder than when Noct had lost his father, more desolate than when he'd lost Luna.
"I didn't forget a thing."
"Then why?" Prompto pleaded again.
"Because. It will be hard, but I know I can say goodbye to the others. But saying goodbye to you?" Noct's voice broke as he came to the end of his sentence, and he clutched Prompto's hands a little tighter. "I don't even know where to begin," he whimpered, and Prompto watched as the first of Noctis' tears escaped with a mere blink of his eyes.
"So, avoiding me is just... easier?" Prompto asked, still hurt and irritated, but feeling himself gravitating toward Noct regardless. Noses met, then foreheads, and warm breaths mixed in the small space between them.
"No," Noct whispered, shaking his head against Prompto's. "I think avoiding you hurts more. Now I just... want to be near you."
Prompto didn't need to be asked twice. He leaned in to meet Noct's lips, quickly and fiercely, and Noct let out a tearful whimper. His hands travelled to Prompto's waist while Prompto threw his arms around his neck, clinging to him desperately as they shared those sweet, sorrowful kisses he'd been dreaming of. It didn't take long for Noct's lips to travel sideways to find his neck, and Prompto shifted his legs, allowing Noct to scoot in closer between them where he remained kneeling on the floor.
"Noct... Can we?" Prompto whispered, breathlessly craning his neck as Noctis kissed it, but the king pulled back slowly, meeting Prompto's hazy eyes. Noctis reached for Prompto's bangs—which were shorter than he remembered—and tousled them affectionately.
"Not when you've had so much to drink. Come on, let's just lie together, okay?" Noct murmured.
"Noct..." Prompto pleaded, shifting again in hopes of enticing Noctis, but it did no good. The king merely smiled softly, and stood up, waving for Prompto to scoot over and make room for him.
"I'm tired, too. Let's just rest," he insisted.
Prompto obeyed, and lay down on the bunk bed, easing himself over close to the wall, leaving room for Noctis to lie beside him. Once he did, Noct reached out an arm, and waved his hand, coaxing Prompto in against him. Prompto rolled onto his side, and felt Noct's gentle fingers coaxing his head onto his shoulder. Prompto gingerly slipped his arm up to rest on Noctis' chest, lifting his head to check for permission before letting his fingers curl into the fabric near his collar. Noct gave him a squeeze in his arms, letting him know he was allowed to let his guard down, and give into this precious moment of being together. There was no need for avoidance anymore; distance would only make goodbye more painful. That was clear to Noctis now.
There was something strangely intimate about lying there in the darkness, pressed together as they were. The way they listened to the sound of each other's breathing and the way fingers wove into clothing felt as equally intimate as if they had made love right there in the caravan. Tonight, they didn't need to. This was more than enough—a moment that was perhaps more tender than those they'd shared in the past, a moment so fragile that any awkward movement or muffled sound of pleasure would have broken the serenity of it.
"I want to hear all about your adventures, too, Prom. But tomorrow. When you're feeling better."
"Yeah," Prompto nodded against the king's chest.
"You're exhausted," Noctis whispered, catching Prompto's eyes staying closed longer with each blink. "You can sleep, if you want to."
"No," Prompto said, almost panicking. His violet eyes grew wide and scared as they stared up at Noctis. "You... you won't be here forever, so I just want to... be near you."
He'd intentionally repeated Noctis' words, and they brought a soft smile to the king's lips as he leaned in to kiss Prompto's forehead. And there they stayed in peaceful silence, long after Gladio and Ignis settled into the bunks across the room, and long after the streetlights grew brighter, signalling the beginning of the final dark morning before the sunlight returned.
A/N: The scene where Noctis returned to Hammerhead after being in the Crystal always bothered me because he honestly barely even acknowledged Prompto. And of course, my inner Promptis fangirl was screaming, "Why? Why?! Prompto is probably crying on the inside, you jerk!" So, of course, this oneshot was born as a way of making myself okay with that dumb scene. It's all okay, Square. I fixed it for you :)