"What are you doing? You're going to break your neck?" Gladio wonders, watching the prince looks back and forth, side to side without a break, as they stand by the entrance greeting quests. Noct takes one last look at the people inside the ball, not spotting blonde hair. Finally the prince looks at his shield.
"I can't spot Prom. We invited her didn't we?" Noct asks, worried. What if they accidentally forgot? What if she decides not to come? Gladio smiles.
"Ignis went over to get her. To help her." he says to the prince. "For now focus on greeting the guests." he smiles with a slight nod to two people walking past them into the hall where the party is.
"Okay. Focusing." Noct lets out a breath, good to know she is in good hands. Ignis has been preparing her for this.
Ignis knocks on the door to Prompto's room. For protection the blonde is given a whole suit, bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen and balcony. Regis was going to give her something bigger but she of course wouldn't take it. She even said she was good with just a small anything, but the citadel didn't have anything small, besides the barracks but Prompto couldn't care for Astrum there. The blonde wanted to be able to take care of her baby by herself like she's been doing. So the suite it is. And it's not like they can't come over. Of course they give her more privacy, before they can blame it on her living in the princes apartment, now he can't. Sometimes it feels like she's pushing them away but they know it's not like that. She's just more use to doing things alone and not relying on anyone. "Prompto, we are going to be late."
Prompto opens the door, small present in hand, all dressed up. More so than what he's seen her in lately. A beautiful dark purple of the shoulder dress, stopping right above her knees, matching ankles wrapped close toed heels, with a small bow. Her hair up in a half do, purple flowers and butterflies decorate the up part of her blonde hair. She wore a matching necklace, and small earrings, and one bracelet. Prompto gives him a shy blush. Never having worn anything like this, worn anything so expensive. She's more than sure that if she were to sell the whole outfit, Astrums future would be secure, enough to take care of him into adulthood and even collage. Not that she actually would, how could she when she's just borrowing it. At least she thinks she is. Noct had invited her in front of the king, she was trying to turn Noct down gently, she didn't have the clothes, the know how of being in a fancy party, who would take care of Astrum because he is more than sure not going, maybe not the best idea she goes, not with the council out to get her (yes she is being dramatic on purpose).
Though, of course, the people of Lucis are good people, especially their king. He gifted her the outfit, jewelry and shoes included. Shocking both the blonde and prince. It's very precious, it belonged to Noctis' mother, queen Aulea. It was gifted to the queen after her marriage to the king but she only ever wore it once, saying it didn't really fit her. Beautiful as it was, it wasn't her style. After a look into her wardrobe Prompto had to agree, queen Aulea had a lot of flowy and long dresses, she didn't have anything skin tight or showing more than just her ankles and clavicle. She's a classy woman, if Prompto were to describe her fashion sense. She has also seen the woman in painting around the Citadel, classy would describe the way she looked too. This dress may not have been queen Aulea's favorite (which maybe why the king even let her use it) it is still her dress. So now that she has a dress it was time for Ignis to give her a royal party edicate 101 lesson.
"Is this really a good idea?" Prompto asks stepping forward as Ignis admire her.
"Too late to think about it now. Both Noct and King are expecting you." Ignis says leading her to the front door. Prompto following behind him slowly, really regretting giving in to saying yes, but she couldn't say no when Regis seemed happy to have helped Noct and the prince himself seemed really happy to have his father help. They had the same happy expression, like a cute dog waiting for their master to praise them.
She will be forever grateful to them all. Not only did they allow her to stay at the Citadel for free, but they gave her a whole suite to herself, (after trying to give her the biggest room they could) but they gave her a job, they are helping her go back into the crownsguard, helping with Astrum (though it seems like they just want to be around the baby, why wouldn't they he's adorable), they have gone far and beyond to help her. Her going to this almost feels like she's taking advantage of their kindness. She has no doubt they don't see it like that.
Noct frowns, all the guest are almost here, he doesn't care much for the ones that can't make it because something may have happened last minute, he just cares for one, the one he's excited for. And he still hasn't seen her. He looks at Gladio.
"Where are they?" Noct asks, unlike him who has been to busy greeting said guests, the shield has had time to check his phone, or earpiece to talk to Ignis or the other crownsguard in the area. Gladio looks at his prince and shrugs, he is also curious as to why they aren't here yet.
"They do know the party is starting right?" Iris asks standing behind them both, who jump in their skin, not knowing she has been there the whole time. She smiles at them, seeing their skin jump off their bones. She gives them an evil grin.
"Yeah, Ignis is with her. At least he should be." Gladio says turning away from his sister to the hallway, waiting. Iris forgets her evil grin and looks shocked, well if Ignis is with her where is the soon to be queen (at least Noct wants her to be)?
"Oh? Is that Ignis?" Iris says leaning a little forward, squinting her eyes to see a figure all dressed up in a suit, slicked back hair and glasses walking towards them. It had to be Ignis but the figure is still too far to see the detail. They wait in silence as said figure get closer. And when he did they stare in shock at what they found.
Ignis walking with a slightly angry expression, slung over his shoulder is Prompto, or they assume is Prom because all they can see is ass and legs. They wait until Ignis gets closer, stopping right in front of the three. "Are we late?" He asks, anger laced his tone, but not to much.
"No, there are two more guest not here." Gladio says, one of his eyebrows raised in curiosity. Ignis nods, satisfied.
"I'm calm now Iggy." Prompto says, voice behind Ignis. Gently the adivor sets her down on her feet. Prompto turn around to face Gladio, Noctis and Iris with a deep red blush and pout on her face. Noctis felt the corner of his lips twitch, threatening to grin at her. Prompto is so unbearable cute.
"What happened?" Gladio wonders.
"Someone wouldn't let the nanny go." Ignis says, eyes narrowing at the blonde. With her back towards the advisor she let her pout get more obvious, still not totally okay it would seem. "The king himself chose the nanny, the man is capable of taking care of the young, the very young prince." Ignis says firmly, eyes on the blonde.
"I have never met him before. I don't trust him." Prompto says.
"So you just stood there staring, making us late for the party?" Ignis wonders. "We are here now so let's enjoy." Ignis says, smoothing down his suit, wanting to look presentable in front of the guest today, and not wanting to get into another back and forth with Prompto.
"Yes. The party is sure to be fun with you here Prompto." Iris smiles, very happy with the blonde being there.
"You make it seem like I'm some rebel that doesn't follow the rules." Prompto says, no longer pouting. Now she's wondering what type of image Iris has of her.
"What's that in your hand?" Iris asks instead of making a comment. Prompto, and the others look down at the blondes hand so see a small present in her hand, wrapped in black and gold.
"Oh right. I bought a present for Noct." she answers, showing Noct the present, smile on her face, though it's still slightly red. Noct gives her a smile, because of course she got him a gift, he'll have to question how she got it because she's not suppose to have been outside but still, it makes him happy.
"Thanks," he says staring at it but... "most of my gifts are given in private before hand." He gives her a guilty look, he would love to open it right now, curious to what she got him.
"Oh," she looks down at the present, "...right." What's she going to do? Most of his birthdays he was at school so she just gave him her present. "I'll hold onto it until you can open it then." Prompto says taking back the gift, holding it close to her chest.
"Well, there is still half an hour until the party official starts so Prompto can wait out here with Noct for the last two guests while we go in and mingle." Gladio says, wrapping Ignis arms around his elbow, and placing a hand on Iris' back, "you look beautiful by the way Prompto." He says walking away. Ignis willingly while he has to push Iris forward, forcing her to walk away from the two.
"Thanks- huh? Wait, why me?" Prompto asks as they disappear into the crowd, getting further away.
Once they get far away Iris pouts at her brother. "I wanted to drag Prompto away." She tells her brother. He looks down at her ignoring her pouting.
"She's not yours to drag around. Leave them alone. They haven't gotten enough of that lately, now that's she living here." Gladio tells her. In response she sticks her tongue out at him.
"Iris, you will be able to get her alone. She can't stick to Noct the whole night." Ignis adds, trying to help. Gladio lets out a gruff chuckle.
"He can try." Gladio says, Noct would do that. Iris and Ignis let out a sigh, they can see it clear as day, Noct dragging Prompto around not caring what the others are saying.
"We'll just have to remind him." Ignis says as they stop and look back at Prompto and Noctis standing next to each other.
"I don't think I've ever seen Noct act as overprotective as he does with Prompto." Iris points out.
"He's just afraid Prompto will disappear on him again." Ignis says.
"So he acts like an overprotective husband?" Iris wonders. Gladio laughs at the accurate description. Ignis gives a smile.
"I'm a little worried about the same thing. Even before she just stopped seeing us. One day we saw her, then not at all. Now we know why but at the time it brought a lot of questions and just the same amount of doubt and worry. It hurt, I can see why the prince is scared of her disappearing again." Ignis expresses.
"Do you really think she will though? If anything I think she's stronger now than before. She's not going through as much as she was before. And sure it's not all fixed but it's a little better." Iris says.
"True." Ignis says.
"Why don't you go mingle with the other little kids?" Gladio says trying to shoo her away, to be alone with Ignis. Iris just frowns at him, for interrupted Ignis and her conversation, though, it seemed kind of done.
"Why would I? This is why I wanted Prompto, she isn't two faced. They think I can't tell when they are lying but I can. They are so boring." Iris says like the teenage girl she is. "I'm going to go stalk Prompto and Noctis for an opening." Iris says walking away.
"Have fun." Gladio says. All he gets is a hum of agreement. Ignis pushes his glasses up. "What?" Gladio wonders, Ignis looking at him like he just made a mistake.
"You just let your sister watch Prompto and Noctis who are alone... together... alone." Ignis points out, at least trying to. Gladio just shrugs.
"What can they do?"
"The last time they were left alone a baby came out of it." Ignis says. Gladio just smiles, then shakes his head softly.
"That was then. How long has she been back? I don't think Noct has been able to even hold her hand. Plus, look where we are. They have to many eyes on them, I don't think sunshine would let anything happen." Gladio says, grabbing a small plate of food.
"Now you have point." Ignis says grabbing something to drink, not realizing how parched he is. Having to argue with Prompto then dragging her away was quite the ordeal and it has made him rather thirsty, and tired.
Noctis looks at Prompto from the corner of his eye. They were now waiting for the last guest, or is it guests? "Gladio is right, you are very beautiful." Noct says with a slight blush, that took almost all of his courage to say out loud. It helped that they weren't facing each other so he didn't have her beautiful eyes on him.
"I'm not beautiful usually?" She wonders facing him. He snaps his head towards her, face paling because he did not see that coming.
"No." He says then realizing that didn't make it right, she could take it the wrong way. "I mean, of course you beautiful usually I was just saying you look more beautiful now. Extremely beautiful now. If there was a word for it then you'd be that." Noct stops rambling (something the blonde is more known for) when Prompto lets out a laugh. He could feel his ears burning.
"I was just messing with you. I know I look totally different in this. Like a different person. Couldn't recognize myself in the mirror. You looks very handsome in your suit. I've never seen you in one before. You look like the prince are." Prompto says, blushing herself, looking forward, also not able to face Noct who she can feel staring at her. Her eyes focus on the three figures walking towards them hurriedly.
"Thanks... um... I'll see if I can open the gift... when I can." He says smiling.
"If that's okay." She says looking at him with a smile.
"Prince Noctis." the last guests says. It's the whole family. The parents and child. All three bow for the prince who steps up to shake their hands and welcome in. All three eyeing Prompto, who bow to them silently. Noct turns to Prompto, actually excited for this party, for the first time in his life.
"Ready?" He asks. Prompto smiles.
"No, not really but I can't hold it off. Ignis might carry me inside." She says stepping next to Noctis as he laughs.
Noct smiles as he walks in with Prompto next to him. As it should be.
