Clarus smiled as he sat at the table with his three children. He didn't get many of these evenings, but they were always precious. "Alright, who wants to tell me about their day first?" He asked curiously while passing one of the serving dishes around the table.
"I'll go!" Iris said as she raised her hand. "Today in art class we started working with clay! I'm going to get to make my own little clay bowl!"
Prompto was going to add to the conversation when he suddenly felt a heaviness weighing in his heart. He dropped his hands from the table and wrapped them around himself, hoping that he didn't bring too much attention to himself.
For a while he enjoyed listening to Iris talk about her art project before his eyes caught Prompto curling up at the table. "Prom? Are you feeling okay?"
Prompto lifted his head, sorrow filling his face. "I uh... I don't know..."
"What're you feeling? Do you need to lie down?" Clarus asked quickly, coming over to provide a grounding hand on Prompto's shoulder.
"I'm feeling Noct," Prompto answered softly. "His emotions... he was hiding them from me. He's worried... and anxious."
"Is it overwhelming you right now?" Clarus rubbed his shoulder to keep him focused on their conversation.
"N-Noct's just so worried," Prompto whispered. "He's hurting. W-Why didn't he tell me?"
Gladiolus leaned over to take Prompto's other shoulder. "Cause Noct thinks that he shouldn't make people worry more than they do about him. Getting him to talk feelings is worse than getting him to wake up."
"But we p-promised we wouldn't keep secrets from each other," Prompto said, doing his best to hold back a sob. "We're boyfriends... we can tell what the other's feeling. Why would he try and hide it?"
Gladio shot a look at his dad before wrapping Prompto into a hug. "Maybe he needed more information before talking to you. You'll have to talk to each other tomorrow," He said softly.
Prompto nodded, knowing what Gladio was saying was probably true. He clung on to his brother's shirt in the meantime, trying to calm his aching heart. "Just... what could be hurting him that he didn't want to let me know?"
"Do you want me to be honest here?" He grumbled while running soft circles on his back.
"I don't know..."
"The only times I've ever seen Noct tied up in knots, has been about you or his dad. Otherwise he lets it go or figures it out."
"S-So you think it has something to do with me? Or Regis?" Prompto asked hesitantly.
"Those are the best two answers I have. It could be something else, but from what I know of Noct, that's what tends to make him hide like this."
"I just hope he wants to tell me..."
"If he doesn't, tell me. I'll kick his ass for you," Gladiolus offered easily.
"Gladio, language at the table," Clarus groaned.
Iris was giggling while trying to hide her laughter, and in the end Prompto couldn't help but crack a smile. All the worried feelings he felt from Noctis were calming down anyways. "Thanks."
"Do you think you can eat now, or would you rather get some rest?" Clarus asked carefully. He wanted to see him eat some more, but would push the fact.
"I think I'll be good to eat. Don't want the food to go to waste," Prompto answered.
"Okay, we'll stop fussing so much then." Clarus replied easily. "Come on, Iris told us about her day. What about you, Gladio? Did your day go alright?" He asked, determined to get their dinner restarted.
Gladio nodded as he moved back to his head before talking about his day. With the family talking once more, Prompto loosened up a bit. He could also feel that Noctis's emotions were leveling out. Whatever was happening on his end must have had some resolve, but he was still going to have to text him after dinner.
When dinner ended, Gladio hurried over to Prompto's side. "You feeling alright?" He asked softly. "Want some company?"
"I don't know. Was thinking of calling Noct."
"Then you should do it. The worst that happens is you leave a message," Gladio assured him.
Prompto nodded as he moved back to his room. He flopped down on the bed and grabbed hold of his Noctis plush. He held it tightly before picking up his phone.
Prompto: Yo Noct!
Noctis: Hey there! What's up?
He was so proud he managed to stop shaking to manage a decent reply.
Prompto: Could we call and stuff?
Prompto: I'd feel better if I can hear you
Noctis: Yeah?
Noctis: Everything alright?
Prompto: Yeah just wanna talk
Prompto: please?
Noctis: call me
Noctis: I'm here
The phone started ringing Prompto holding his breath as he waited for Noctis to answer.
A moment later the call was answered. "Hey there. You alright?" Noctis asked softly.
"Yeah," Prompto said. "I'm feeling better than I had been."
"Yeah? Did I- did I make you dinner terrible?" Noctis asked.
"So you knew how feeling it could affect me..." Prompto muttered in reply.
Prompto could hear that Noctis got up from where he had been, and start pacing. "I thought I had it under control," he confessed. "I'm not good at this."
"Noct... why were you hiding it from me? Why were you keeping a secret?"
"Because I didn't want to hurt you! I thought I could stop it before you had to find out."
"But you hurt me because you weren't telling me! What was so bad that you thought you could hide it from me? Noct... please. You know you can trust me," Prompto pleaded softly.
Noctis stopped pacing and let out a sharp sigh. "They thought you're married to Gladio, and I'm just- a sordid affair." He said flatly.
There was a pang of uncertainty that Noctis could feel resonating from Prompto.
"So it was just more rumors? That's why you wanted to keep me in the dark about it?"
"Because I didn't want to bother you about them. I wanted to take care of it myself."
"But dude," Prompto's voice wavered. "We promised no more secrets. We promised we would be there for each other. You don't have to do this alone."
Prompto could hear that Noctis had flopped down onto his bed. "I'm sorry Prom. I just didn't know what else to do."
"Just talk to me next time... no matter what the issue is, you know you can always talk to me. Is... Isn't that still true?"
"Of course that's still true Prompto."
"Then promise me? Promise you'll talk if you're worried?"
"I promise I'll talk to you if I'm worried," He promised quietly.
"Okay yeah, that sounds good," Prompto said before sending more warming, calming feelings to Noctis. "But are you okay now?"
"Mostly, yeah. I was waiting to see you tomorrow to tell you what I was thinking of doing about all of this."
"You can tell me now if you want," Prompto offered.
"I mean, I think it's time to tell everyone about your adoption. If you're up for it. Then people will stop thinking you're married to Gladio. Because he's not allowed to marry you."
"Clearing that up would probably be good. Married to Gladio though? That would just be weird," Prompto commented. "Don't people know he's dating Ignis?"
"No, they're really good at keeping that quiet. According to Iggy, most couples aren't disgustingly obvious about their dating habits. I think they're boring."
Prompto started to laugh. "I guess that makes us the fun couple."
Prompto could sense a feeling of relaxation coming from Noctis. Perhaps it was his laughter that finally helped make his boyfriend calm down. "Of course we're the fun couple. Do you think those two would be more fun than us?"
"Nah, no way! We're the most fun! Do they have fan merch of them? I don't think so!"
"Prom, I just had a great idea for a gift for them. We should make some merch just for them."
"Oh em gee! That would be hilarious!"
"Imagine Iggy's face! We have to do this. Tomorrow- tomorrow we start to plan this."
"It's a date!" Prompto giggled.
"Great! I can't wait. I'll see you at school tomorrow?"
"Same place, same time. I'll be waiting."
"I'll be there. Night Prom."
"Night Noct. Love you."
"Love you too."
Prompto happily ended the call and felt like could finally get some good sleep for the night. He had a good sense that maybe things could finally get back on track for being okay.
Over with Noctis, when he hung up the phone, he covered his face, glad the conversation had at least ended well. He didn't want to make Prompto doubt their trust again.