Ignis looked over at Gladio with a hint of a frown on his lips as he listened to their conversation. Soon enough the pair were safely tucked away in Noctis's room for the night, Prompto already given permission to stay the night after the dance.

"I'm worried, Gladio," Ignis said softly as they walked together.

"What about?" Gladio asked.

"Is it not obvious?" Ignis asked while waving his hand. "How much Noct does or doesn't remember of the gala."

"Yeah... I figured it might have been that. The therapist hasn't brought up anything about it?"

"Not that I can recall from my reports. Though I know they try to keep most of it private for their sake."

"Well next time we see them we should at least ask. If Noct has suppressed memories from the event, they'll only come back to bite him if they aren't worked through properly," Gladio said quietly.

"My thoughts exactly. They've been working so hard to deal with everything, I would hate to see them backslide."

"The kids have been recovering, but I think Prompto is doing a bit better than Noct," Gladio said with a sigh.

"I think you're right on that. This might be the key to getting him further than he is now."

"Having Prompto help him remember?"

Ignis nodded to that. "Yes, but would that just be cruel to Prompto?"

"Depends," Gladio shrugged. "How does Prompto feel about the event?"

"I'm not sure. I would need to ask him about it."

"I'm no doctor or therapist, Igs," Gladio said, placing his hand on Ignis's shoulder. "But we can't have them afraid to be at dances for the rest of their lives. I think we need to act sooner than later."

"You make an excellent point. I'll speak with Prompto in the morning. Perhaps start to make a plan."

"If you think you got it handled," Gladio nodded. "Then go for it."

Ignis nodded with a little smile. "If I find I cannot, then I will consult with those who can handle it."

"Good. Remember don't try and do everything yourself," Gladio replied before pressing a kiss to Ignis's cheek.

"I'll do my best to remember that. I wish to see them do well and grow."

"We're all growing together," Gladio nodded.

Ignis smiled and reached out to take Gladio's hand. "We are. Come, I wish to enjoy your company before you have to go home. Tomorrow we can start with our plans."

"Sounds good," Gladoi grinned as he let Ignis guide the two of them to the bedroom.

The next morning Ignis smiled when he spotted Prompto returning from his morning run. "Prom, good morning. Did you sleep alright?"

"Yeah, it was really nice," Prompto nodded.

"I'm glad to hear that. I was wondering if I could steal a moment of your time."

"Oh. Sure? What's up?" Prompto asked as he stretched his arms a little.

Ignis took a moment to consider Prompto for a moment. "Tell me if you don't want to answer this, but, how much of the gala do you remember?"

Prompto's face loosened up a little. "Oh... can I ask why you want to know?"

"Of course. I'm concerned Noctis is suppressing that night and hurting himself because of it."

Prompto hummed as his eyes drifted downward. "I think you're right... sometimes when I get to spend the night with him, he mutters stuff in his sleep. I think it's about the gala, but when I ask him in the morning, he says he doesn't remember anything."

"Would you be willing to help him remember that night? I don't want to hurt you by doing this. I can ask his therapist to do it instead."

"I don't know what will happen if he remembers. He was so beat up the other day thinking that he didn't actually warp to try and save me. But he really did try, you know? He did what he could,"

Ignis reached out to take Prompto's hand and squeeze it. "I imagine he did everything he could to keep both of you safe. We need to help him remember that, so he doesn't feel like he failed."

Prompto nodded solemnly. "You know he actually... uh well, he actually went willingly with those... the guys who captured us?" Prompto's voice was wavering slightly as he spoke, but he kept on going. "He did it so they wouldn't... hurt me."

Ignis froze for a moment as he took that in. "That wasn't your fault either, Prompto. You were both in a terrible situation and did the best you could."

"I know... that's what I gotta keep remembering. But it just sucks Noct can't remember all he did for me."

"We can help him remember that though. So he knows what he tried to do."

Prompto nodded. "He'll probably ask me later why I feel so uncertain. I'm sure he can feel it even if he isn't awake yet."

"Does that ever bother you? Not being able to keep your emotions to yourself?" Ignis asked curiously.

Prompto hesitated before he answered. "I mean I can keep them to myself... but the last time that happened it was Noct who did it, and it only hurt more in the end."

"Do they only come back stronger after then?"

"Ahh... it's like a soda bottle. You know if you open it sometimes the pressure is a bit much? But if you shake it up, it really gets pressurized?"

"Yes, I think I can understand that. Interesting. But, does it bother you?"

"No. I mean the keeping feelings from one another does, but not the fact that Noct and I can sense the emotions. It's... I don't know how to explain it, but it makes me feel closer to him."

Ignis smiled at that and nodded. "I could see that. I'm glad you two have made it work so well."

"Thanks Iggy. I'm glad too."

"You two are good for each other. But, enough of me taking your time. I'll let you get back to enjoying your day with Noctis."

Prompto grinned. "Thanks Iggy. And I'll let you know if anything happens."

"That's the most I could ask for. I'll talk to Noctis later about finding those memories again."

With another nod, Prompto headed back to Noctis's room. He was still asleep so it gave him plenty of time to shower and freshen up. The thoughts still danced around in his head though. He had no idea if Noctis was going to remember the gala, but he was going to have to try.

Noctis woke up later in the morning and took a moment to enjoy the slow morning. He sat up when he felt the trickle of emotion from Prompto. He moved over to the other room to look him over carefully.

"What's wrong? You alright?" He asked.

"Ah, I just had some heavy talks with Iggy earlier. Lots of stuff about what's been happening."

"Yeah, I guess you have a point there. Do you want to talk about it?"

Prompto nodded. "It's about the night of the gala."

Noctis tilted his head to consider that. "What about that night? Did you have a nightmare about it last night?"

"No it isn't that. Noct..." Prompto looked at Noctis with his gentle eyes. "It's about what happened."

"About what happened? We know what happened. It was a nightmare."

"Yeah but..." Prompto placed an arm on Nocits's shoulder. "I just feel like there's something that you may be forgetting about it."

"Yeah? I guess I might be, but I don't think it's that big a deal," He said, trying to remain calm, though an undercurrent of worry rushed through him. "It isn't that important, right?"

"Well... it's just yesterday you said you didn't remember trying to warp us to safety. I know it was pretty chaotic, but you don't remember?"

Noctis's eyes widened a bit at that. "No, I don't. Is that a big deal? There was- a lot was happening that night, right?"

Prompto nodded. "We were trying to escape, and you said we were going to warp to get somewhere else... but then..." Prompto shuddered.

"I didn't get you somewhere safe? I failed you. I'm sorry." Noctis said weakly.

Prompto's expression wavered. "Noct... don't you remember what happened after? Where we ended up?"

Noctis froze for a moment before stepping back from Prompto. "I don't. Is it important?"

"We... Noct we were," Prompto swallowed as he tried to speak. "We ran right into Drusus's men."

He raised his hand to cover his mouth to hide his gasp as the memory tried to surface. "No- no, I didn't-" he took a step back, breaking the connection between them. "I didn't take us straight into danger," he whispered while looking betrayed at his own actions.

"N-No! You didn't take us straight into danger!" Prompto said as he raised his voice, trying to reach out to Nocits.

"But I did! I delivered us right to them! I'm the whole reason for us being taken." He cried as he moved further from Prompto. "Why don't you hate me?"

"It's not your fault! Please Noct! I don't hate you. I could never! Plus you protected me!"

Noctis shrank a bit against the wall, covering his face. "How can you say that? I betrayed you. Sent you into hell," He cried as he curled up into a ball.

"We needed each other," Prompto said, feeling the pain and guilt from Noctis. "How would I have felt if you were the only one taken?"

"Scared but safe," Noctis said softly. "I would have liked that."

"But Noct..." Prompto flopped down in front of him. "I could never rest easy knowing you were taken and I was left. Even if it is shitty, we were there for each other. We... we wouldn't have found out how we feel otherwise..."

"I- I guess you have a point." Noctis said softly from his curled up position. "I'm so glad we're together. But I didn't want to hurt you. I can't- what if I do it again?"

"You'll never hurt me. You never did, Noct," Prompto said as he attempted to reach out once more to Noctis.

Noctis couldn't help but watch Prompto for a moment but allowed him to reach out and touch him. "I'm scared," he said weakly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Prompto slipped his arms around Noctis, holding him tightly. "You did everything you could to protect me. You saved me, Noct. I know you'd never do anything to hurt me."

"I would do everything in my life to keep you safe," Noctis whispered softly in Prom's ear.

"And you have," Prompto whispered back. "And I know you will keep on doing that."

Noctis clung tightly to Prompto for assurance. "I don't know if I can do that."

"I'll protect you then, just like I promised. I'll keep you safe, Noct."

"You shouldn't have to do that." He said softly. "I should be strong enough to protect you properly."

"And you are! But we still protect each other!"

"But I've failed you, so majorly so far. You shouldn't trust me." Noctis cried softly. "I can't keep you safe. I can't keep anyone safe. Not even the kingdom is safe. This whole event showed me that."

"Noct..." Prompto said, the tears trickling from his eyes, overwhelmed with his worry for Noctis but also feeling all of what Noctis felt. "We survived though. We made it, and we're okay. You didn't fail me at all."

Noctis looked up at Prompto's crying face to gently brush those tears away. "But I'm hurting you now. How is that. . . how is that okay?"

"I just want things to be happy," Prompto replied. "I know not everything can always be happy, but I'm still not mad at you. Please understand that Noct."

"You aren't? But- but, I brought you into all of this pain. If you weren't friends with me, if I wasn't in love with you, you'd be safe."

Prompto pulled back suddenly, his blood running cold. "Wh-What?"

Noctis looked at Prompto with a scared look. "I love you." He said softly. "But I want you safe. but, what if being with me is worse than being alone?" he asked softly.

"S-So you don't want to be together?" Prompto replied, his voice growing softer by the second.

Those words made Noctis move forward to wrap Prompto in his arms tightly. "No, no! Never! I could never lose you. Please don't leave me."

"B-But you said it would be better i-if I was alone."

"I wondered that. If you would- if you'd be better without me to drag you into danger. Then you'd never know this heartache."

"But I already knew heartache... being a-alone and thinking you'd never love me. That was a heartache I never want again," Prompto sobbed, trying to wipe away his own tears.

Noctis reached out to gently wipe the tears and looked confused. "Then, then- I guess, the ultimate question is are you alright with danger associated with me? More nights like the gala will happen? They could be worse. You could die. Is that okay?"

"I was willing t-to put up with all of that from the... from the very moment I befriended you. I don't ever want to leave you Noct. I love you and I c-can't... can't bear to be alone again."

For a moment, Noctis pulled back to look at Prompto in a mild terror he would leave. "I'm not going to make you leave, ever. You're mine." noctis promised. "I just. . . I have to give you moments to leave cleanly if you ever change your mind."

"Leave... cleanly?" Prompto asked with a sniffle.

"I don't know! I don't want to hurt you! Please, please don't make me force you into a life you hate!" Noctis nearly shouted as he pulled as much as he could from the hold.

"But I love you!" Prompto shouted back. "Even with the scary moments I wouldn't leave you!"

Noctis froze from the position he was in from getting up from the floor. "You do?" He asked softly. "I love you too. Please don't leave me."

"I promise, Noct. I'll never leave you. Ever at your side, remember?"

"I always need you at my side. And I'll always be at your side." Noctis sobbed while holding on tightly to Prompto.

The two let their sobs soak up each other's shirts, but they never once loosened their grips. They cried out all that they needed too until there weren't any more tears left in them. With a weary and sore throat, Prompto tried to clear it. "Uh hey... so maybe we could lay down? We've been sitting on the floor for a while now."

Noctis let out a soft laugh at that. "What's the point? We've been laying on the ground so long?" He teased, even as he sat up. "Come on, to bed, I bet, we can find a record for blankets."

"Oh you want a nap now?" Prompto laughed. "Didn't you just wake up not to long ago?"

"Dude, you made me deal with the terrible gala, I deserve a nap." Noctis laughed.

"Yeah yeah... sorry though I brought it up."

"It's okay, it's important." Noctis said softly.

"So we're still good?"

"We've always been good. As long as you're here, we're good."

Prompto rested his head against Noctis's and smiled. "Still ever at your side."

Noctis leaned against Prompto and sighed. "I thought everything would- would go back to normal when we go out. And yet, nothing is the same."

"But things also got better. We're dating and everyone's okay with it."

"Yeah, you've got a point with that. That's pretty awesome."

Prompto pulled him over to the bed. "I'm happier than I've ever been, Noct. So no matter what, this is the best life I could have."

Noctis curled up in the bed and pulled Prompto in close. "That makes me really happy to hear."

Prompto nodded. "I'm glad. Cause I like making you happy."

"That's good, cause I like making you happy too."

With a smile Prompto leaned forward and pressed his lips lightly against Noctis. The stresses from before melted away and they were able to find their bliss once again.