After their enjoyable dinner together, Noctis and Prompto spent a few afternoons together discussing their options and opinions before deciding they wanted to try and go to the Homecoming Dance.

They made sure to tell Ignis and Gladiolus as soon as they could to make all the security arrangements to try and make them comfortable, while also making shifts in their own therapies to find coping mechanisms in case they got overwhelmed by the memories.

Somehow, between the hard work of everyone involved in the process, Noctis was looking at himself in a semi-casual suit with the school colors on his tie and waited for Prompto to be finished getting ready for the school dance. He hadn't felt so excited since the previous gala, and his excitement was enough to drown out the near overwhelming fear.

There was a knock soon enough on his door. "Hey Noct?" Prompto asked from outside. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Come on." Noctis called, even as he took a few steps toward the door to greet Prompto.

Prompto smiled when Noctis opened the door. He also was dressed in a very nice suit that was a good style for Homecoming. "So... Homecoming. Nervous?"

"Definitely. Can't you feel it?"

"Just wanted to double check that wasn't just my own nervousness," Prompto laughed.

"We can do this. We've done everything we can to control the night, and, and, we deserve this," Noctis said as he pulled Prompto in for a tight hug. "Have I said how much I like this suit on you?"

"Lucian black looks good on me, doesn't it?" Prompto grinned.

Noctis moved back a little bit in the hold to get another good look at Prompto with a wide smile. "Yeah, it does. The plaid's a nice touch. Was that you or Iggy? or someone else?"

"Ah, it was a little of my own genius," Prompto boasted.

"It looks good on you. But, come on, it's time for me to show you off to everyone else," Noctis replied with a smile. He did take a moment to reach up and brush the skull earring softly before taking Prompto's arm to guide him toward the car taking them to the dance.

"Alright," Prompto breathed in as they headed closer to the car. "Let's do this and rock the dance floor."

"Let's do it. I can't wait to dance with you all night," Noctis squeezed his hand while they went to the car and settled in to drive to their school easily.

When they reached the school, Noctis got out of the car first to offer his hand to Prompto to guide him from the car and loop their arms together.

They could already hear the loud pop music blasting, a stark contrast from what they had heard at the gala. That didn't help dissipate any of the nervousness still twisting in Prompto's gut. "Can we really do this? I mean, go to a really loud and crowded dance?"

"We can try. No one will fault us if we leave early," Noctis said softly. He felt the same churning in his stomach at the situation, but he knew he should be brave and face the situation to make everyone know their prince was competent. "If you want to leave early, don't worry about me."

"What? But I'd never leave you alone! Not at a place like this!"

"But I don't want to make you miserable," he said softly into his ear as he pulled him in close. "I know I'm the prince. These kinds of uncomfortable moments are. . . sadly normal. You don't have to be here if you don't want to."

Prompto squeezed Noctis's hand firmly. "But I am your boyfriend. So I gotta stick with you."

"Alright, then, we're sticking together through this, no matter what," Noctis said seriously, squeezing the hand hard while they walked to the door to the dance.

Despite the nerves, the inside of the dance was the normal scene of any high school dance. Streams and balloon arches and loud cheesy DJ playing music for everyone. Most students danced alone even with their date. Still, the whole atmosphere was of high school romance and heat and terrible song choices.

"Little bit more crowded-feeling than the gala," Prompto muttered.

"A little bit, yeah, but yet, I don't feel as stifled," Noctis confessed. "Less rules."

"Less rules, but just as many eyes."

He sighed and held onto Prompto closely. "Yeah, that's pretty accurate. But, for now, I get to dance with you all night."

"We'll be the center of attention once again," Prompto nodded.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into all of this. I wish we could just. . . be normal high school students," Noctis confessed softly.

"I wouldn't trade it for anything in all of Eos. Not even for all the chocobos!"

Noctis laughed lightly at that. "Such high praise! Come on, let's dance!" He tugged Prompto onto the dance floor, determined to ignore the eyes and pressure of the evening for a little bit. Just to have a sensation of feeling normal.

He threw everything he could into trying to isolate his emotions to the here and now and being with Prompto. The moment he heard the loud, screeching feedback on the speakers, he felt his heart rise into his chest. He immediately reached out to pull Prompto into his arms and started toward the door.

Nothing would keep them from being taken again. He wouldn't allow it. Already a dagger was in his hands to get him to warp the two of them to safety.

Prompto clung to Noctis's side tightly. Tried not to let his racing heart get the best of him, but he could already feel his fears sinking in, plus the added worry from Noctis.

When no one else seemed to be reacting to the noise beyond groaning, Noctis took a moment to look around. He had to swallow to try and gather his thoughts and steady his racing thoughts.

"Not an attack?" He asked weakly.

"Just a sound error?"

"I think so." He took another deep breath before putting the dagger away. "I- that was awful."

"Is anyone looking at us?" Prompto asked quietly as he ducked his head down.

Noctis took a look around and shook his head. "Not that I can tell."

"Okay..." Prompto breathed out slowly. "We'll head back in then?"

"Do you want to? I don't- I don't know if I can."

Prompto shook his head quickly. "I don't think I can either."

"Then, call Iggy?" Noctis suggested.

Prompto gave a nod. "Yeah. Let's do that before anything else happens. Probably should find one of the guards too."

"Want to call Iggy while I find one of the guards?"

"Stay with me," Prompto whispered. "I'll go with you first."

"Okay, I've got you." Noctis twined their fingers together as they went to find one of the guards to escort them out to the sidewalk to make a call to Ignis.

"I guess we weren't ready," Prompto muttered when they were outside.

"But we tried. And, it was fun until that happened," He replied as he leaned a little against Prompto.

"Yeah, we got to show off our incredible fashion skills," Prompto laughed.

Noctis laughed at that. "You do look pretty amazing. Don't get rid of this look, alright?"

"I'll keep it around for the next time we try and venture to a dance, okay?"

"Sounds great. I can't wait till I get to see it again."

"I mean, you could just see it anytime you wanted. Just gotta ask."

That got Noctis to smile and pull Prompto in by his hips to give him a soft kiss. "Such a treat for me."

Soon enough the car pulled up to the sidewalk, with Ignis as the driver. He rolled down the window. "Are you two sure you are ready to come home tonight?"

Noctis looked over at Prompto to check on how he was feeling, and remembered the scare they had with the feedback. "Yeah, yeah, we're pretty sure. We can- we'll explain in the car."

The guard that was with them opened the door and let the two sit in back while they sat up in the passenger seat. Once situated, and Ignis started to drive away, Prompto curled up next to Noctis.

"We had- we thought we were ready," Noctis explained to Ignis while he wrapped his arm around Prompto to pull him in close. "But then a speaker had feedback, and all we thought of was the gala."

"I can understand," Ignis nodded. "Sudden jarring sounds or events still can spook you. I'm sorry that you were unable to continue your evening at the dance."

"Thank you Iggy, for being so quick to get us. I'm- I'm glad we tried. We did something brave, and even if we didn't make it the whole night, that's a good thing to try, right?"

"Yes, I agree it was very brave of you two to try this. School and arcades are one thing, but an event much more closely tied to what caused you stress is different," Ignis replied lightly.

"Specs. . ." Noctis asked softly, looking at his advisor closely in the mirror. "Will we- do you think we'll ever be able to enjoy a dance?"

"That..." Ignis's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "I cannot be certain. Traumatic stress is different for each person, but I am sure in time there is a good chance the two of you can recover."

"For real?" Prompto asked.

Noctis tightened his hold on Prompto as he kept looking at Ignis to see the honesty in his expression. "We'll just. . . we can keep working on it. This won't stop us. We're stronger than this. It'll just take time."

"Yeah," Prompto agreed. "We can be stronger."

Noctis forced Prompto to look at him, even if he still was a bit shaky from the evening. "We are stronger than this. Don't doubt that," He said softly.

"I know... it's just hard. I want to be better sooner..."

Ignis took the moment to look over his shoulder at them. "You are improving quickly from your trauma. Allow yourselves time to continue to heal." He said softly before the light changed.

Noctis looked between his advisor and Prompto. "I guess. . . why is Iggy always right?"

"Cause he's Iggy," Prompto replied.

The laughter came easily, if a bit soft at that moment. "Thanks for coming to get us. I don't know what we would've done otherwise."

"I bet you would have warped us all the way home," Prompto laughed.

"The thought crossed my mind, I won't lie." Noctis confessed. "But, I've never tried to warp with you, so. . . didn't want to hurt you then."

"Huh? I thought... we did warp..." Prompto said, lowering his voice. "I thought we did."

Noctis paused as he looked at Prompto carefully. "Did we? I don't- I don't remember most of that night," he confessed. "Please, tell me if I did," He begged.

"We did for one moment... I only remember everything being loud and chaotic..." Prompto muttered, his shoulders shaking slightly. "We were trying to get somewhere and you said we were going to try and warp."

Noctis pulled Prompt in a bit closer. "I'm sorry I failed you," He said softly. "I must have tried at some point."

"You were trying, Noct. You tried and that's... that's what is important."

"I'm sorry it wasn't enough. I don't even remember trying." Noctis said softly.

"It's okay," Prompto replied. "Don't beat yourself up over it."

"Prom, that's not so easy. I feel so guilty about pulling you into all of that mess." Noctis said honestly, if softly.

"But I'm still here. We're here, together, right?"

"I'm not giving you up so quickly. They can fight me."

"And they'll have to fight me too," Prompto replied.

"I know you will. You're a fire sprite."

"Thanks, Noct."