It was already sundown and Noctis wanted to actually have a night out for once without Ignis yelling at him to go to bed. To add, the nights were becoming increasingly longer for some strange reason, but it gave Noctis all the more reason to hang out with Prompto for once... and alone.

Without anyone else around with them.

"So, like, Prompto, do you remember that place we were gonna go to? I remember us discussing some video game convention, but I don't remember seeing anything like that in the Galdin Quay area. All I can remember is fishing and seeing a lot of cats around," shrugged Noctis as he folded his arms over his chest. "Shall we get something to eat first? We could always plan what we do afterwards."

Yeah, that's if he was good at being spontaneous.

As soon as the night time came around, the seaside town was in sight.

At first, Prompto was left speechless, "Uhhhhh-" This was a pretty bad idea, because of course Noctis was paying attention only to fishing and cats. He was a damn cat himself, and Prompto had the problem of running his mouth whenever he was focusing on his camera. He looked over at Noctis who was driving and gave a quick nod of the head.

"Sure, we can eat first. Yeah, whatever, sounds good," finally answered the blonde. Prompto found himself sighing while he turned his blushing face away. Quietly, he muttered to himself when he watched outside the window. A mountain of rocks were in view, even tall grass. 'Keep it up with all the affirmatives, Prompto, this won't make you seem like a nervous loser at all.'

As they rode up to the seaside restaurant parking lot, they just so happened to be in luck as the pier restaurant was holding the video game convention after all. "Huh...looks like our luck is turning around."

"Huh? Yeah, I guess."

Looking over towards the pier restaurant, Noctis gasped in surprise. Grey eyes observed the luminous lights up ahead, all kinds of vibrant colours. It was night already, and so the only sources of light came from the pier itself, and not only the lights on the small bridge that led up to the restaurant. The sounds of the sea and the rolling tide were overshadowed by a soundtrack from one of the latest games developed this year. And the crowd itself was practically massive. the two had no idea there would be this many people here.

"So, it really is all true?" Noctis checked, opening the car door. "Wow, I'm kinda shocked, but in a good way. I didn't really imagine this place would hold such an event. I just hope it's not a full house in there."

Letting out a sigh of relief, Noctis stepped out of the car. He turned back to look at Prompto before closing the car door.

"Maybe they're serving different meals here tonight. Well, probably. I hope so, anyway."

"Let's go!" Prompto shouted as he took the lead and started heading towards the restaurant.

"Well, someone's eager," snickered Noctis at the back.

Really, he was just glad something was panning out since they had clearly forgotten when and where the convention was going to be held. The lights on the pier that lead up to the restaurant were slowly changing colours intermittently going from a bright white to a deep magenta, an explosive cyan, and a vibrant green before turning white again.

"Oh wow," he remarked as his hands already moved towards his camera. Automatically, Prompto started taking snapshots of the restaurant. He rudely took photos of the people who came - some of them in costume while others were casual - and also of the images on the TV screens that showed live and pre-rendered game footage. That's when he remembered he was on a date. "Ah! We should probably get a table or something right? Check in?"

"Definitely get a table. I don't wanna sleep yet," snickered the ravenette. He folded his arms over his chest and closed his eyes for a moment. "And I'm just glad that Iggy isn't here to tell us what to do. I always feel like clawin' his throat out sometimes, you know?"

"Claw Iggy's throat out? That's definitely something a crazy cat guy would say..."

"Crazy cat guy? Oh, please."

Glancing over to the arcade machines, Noctis grunted when he noticed each and every one of them were in use. He gave a simple shrug of the shoulders, shortly before he approached the counter to order some food. He already knew every meal on the menu was going to be a fish dish - obviously - which he wasn't fussed about at all.

When he read over the menu, he snickered a sly comment. "Definitely somethin' that hasn't got vegetables in it," obviously. "What are you orderin', Prompto?"

Prompto rolled his eyes at Noctis's eating habits. Technically, Prompto loved eating vegetables... sometimes... more than Noctis did, that was for sure. "I'm getting this one," he voiced and pointed at one of the specials for the convention. "I think I can bend the rules and have an extra cheat day or two," he pointed down at the fish and chips that were on the menu.

"Cheat day?" Noctis glanced Prompto down and then up. "I suppose, yeah. But I always hear you wantin' to head to the Crow's Nest whenever we pass by it in the car." Noctis glanced over the menu one last time before actually deciding on what he wanted. "Yeah," he shrugged. "I'll just have the same as you."

"You should have said that before, nerd," teased the blonde.

"Me, the nerd?"

"Who's idea was it to come out here, huh? That's right - it was yours."

"Sheesh, man, there's no need to be such a dick."

Shoving Noctis out the way, Prompto greeted the ginger-haired lady behind the counter with a wide beam that stretched from ear-to-ear. "Two fish and chips, please!"

"Well, thank you for your patronage! Just take a seat and I'll bring it over," stated the waitress. "Before I forget," she handed Prompto two paper pamphlets of everything going on around the pier tonight. "Make sure you spend as much money as possible!"

Unconsciously, Prompto grabbed Noctis by the hand and started to guide the ravenette along to the other side of the restaurant where there was an open and available corner booth - just perfect for the two of them. Prompto probably hadn't even realised he took the other by the hand, and when they finally reached their seats, his face turned beat red with a blush that was only magnified by the lights turning from white to magenta.

Like per usual, Noctis always pointed out the obvious. "Why's your face all red? Did something happen when I wasn't looking?" Noctis checked, looking in closer to Prompto opposite him at the table. "Maybe it's just really hot in here. There are a lot of people about, I guess," he assumed with a shrug. "Thanks for taking me here, too. It's easy to get lost in such a big crowd," he referred to the very recent hand-holding.

"My face - red? No, it's not," lied Prompto.

"But it is red, Prompto. Are you feeling alright?"

Prompto just gulped.

While waiting for the fish and chips to show up on the table, Noctis read over the paper pamphlet that Prompto gave him. He soon set it down onto the table and out of the way, not really interested. Sure, he was interested in the gaming convention itself, but only when the arcades were damn available. Really, the ravenette was more of an introvert and Prompto was usually uncomfortable in huge bickering crowds. He watched Prompto, observing the blonde as he laid back into his seat.

"You remember when we were up half the night playing King's Knight?" Noctis laughed, changing the subject. "I'm surprised we're actually awake tonight. Would you prefer it if we stay here for the night? I guess it'd be easier for us," he mentioned as he stretched out his arms. "Definitely make the most of it here. I don't remember this place ever holding any special events, to be fair."

"I-I guess, yeah!"

Feeling slightly startled, Prompto couldn't tell how he was feeling for the most part. Noctis's question about his blushing face were...like...was he even serious? Was this not really a date? Did Noctis read too much into things? Prompto was blushing like a freaking schoolgirl and Notcis was just...being Noctis. So freaking dense and obtuse, and here Prompto was being too damn nervous to actually voice how he felt. His eyes started to glaze over as he was lost in his own thoughts before he heard Noctis's question.

"Y-yeah, I remember. I'm actually surprised we haven't blacked out yet, but if you want, I'm totally down for staying here. We already know they've got rooms and stuff," smiled Prompto when he finally answered Noctis. "And I'm pretty sure there are other arcade booths down on the second level near the water. We could always go and check that out when we're done eating."

"Good idea."

Right now, Prompto just wanted someone to come in and put him out of his misery, which was exactly what happened when the waitress showed up. "Aw, you're a lifesaver!" Prompto blurted out, before he suddenly realised what he said. "Right? Because I'm so hungry..." It was a weak save but a good enough excuse.

"No trouble really," stated the waitress. "Just some flash fried fish and fries. I mean it's good, but it doesn't take forever to cook. Anyway, here you go and enjoy your meal."

The waitress placed the two plates down onto the small circular table that Prompto and Noctis sat at. And the best thing about being a former fat kid with a still voracious appetite was that no-one looked twice when Prompto impulsively reached out and grabbed food to eat. Yeah, really.

"Yeah, I wanna play around before sleeping, but I guess it's good to make plans ahead of schedule."

"Mhm," intoned Prompto with a mouth full of chips already.

Realising the food finally arrived at the table, Noctis simply held up a hand to the waitress as a simple 'thanks'. He then glanced down at his food and thought about something, and this something was completely unrelated to the meal itself, despite Noctis just tried to brush off what he thought. Well, he couldn't help how he felt, otherwise he would have never agreed to have a date in the first place. At this point, he didn't want to look at Prompto, and when he did, he scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"It's kinda funny, huh? Friends go on dates, right?" Noctis questioned the other, picking up his cutlery in the process. "When we were with Gladio and Iggy, it didn't seem nerve-racking at all. Well, at least Gladio isn't here to encourage us to go camping...again," he remarked. "Alone is kinda different. I really like it when it's just us," he put and that was it. That was probably a confession but Noctis didn't really think of it as one. He was just being honest, like usual.

But then, Noctis averted to what happened previously, referring to the hand-holding.

"Prompto, why did you hold my hand anyway? Was it just to make sure we didn't get separated?" Noctis asked, idly playing around with his food using a fork.

"Huh?"

Prompto was, of course, floored to hear this. Because it sounded like Noctis was giving at least two different confessions from his point of view. As such, Prompto struggled to keep his jaw clenched and his food in his mouth. Instead, the blonde male opted to just give a strong swallow to his food and managed to not choke himself. Wiping his mouth with a spare napkin, Prompto looked a bit nervous and clueless at the same time.

"Uh...well-" Prompto brought up his fork, but not to eat, he needed something in his hands, something to distract him. "I mean, you said this was a date and everything and that's what people do on dates, right?"

'Weak! Prompto!' He chided himself for saying something so obviously stupid.

"I mean, I never would've agreed to come out here if you didn't ask, you know? I mean, just being able to spend any time with you, Noct, it's...it's just...ehehehe-" Prompto now felt like he was being put in some spotlight with only Noctis watching him. He never actually thought he'd have to explain what he was feeling, and especially to the ravenette himself. "I mean the truth is...the truth why I held your hand," he bit onto his lower lip. "And you know...coming out here with you..."

"Hm?" Noctis raised a curious black eyebrow. "Just spit it out, man."

This was slowly turning into a nightmare for Prompto. The blonde avoided eye contact with Noctis, he stuttered his words and his voice started to quiver. "I mean, I knew you weren't going to get lost, even though there are a lot of people here. I just held your hand because...you know...Noct, I-"

Prompto's throat started to feel tight, too tight and for once the truth started to hurt him.

"Well, I like you...a lot," he finally exhaled.

"Okay, no need to get so embarrassed over it," smirked the ravenette. Noctis wasn't the type of guy to get all uptight about anything, and if anything, he remained pretty chill. "Why else did I ask you out on this date? It's because I like you too, idiot."

"Are you serious?" Prompto questioned with a gulp in his throat. "I feel pretty dumb..."

Leaning back into his chair, Noctis ate the food on his plate, starting with the chips. He held his plate in his hand while he ate, rather than eating at the table like a normal person. To which, Noctis wasn't really normal to begin with, but compared to Prompto...he was pretty damn normal. He didn't say anything for a while, but he did start to talk again when the fries were cleared on his plate. He kept his gaze locked on his meal while he spoke.

"I mean, yeah, the gaming convention is here, but that's not the only reason why I dragged you along. I wanted to take you out on a date for this reason, you know."

Stabbing his fork into the fish, Noctis continued to eat.

"I knew you'd like it here, too."

"You've gotta be kiddin' me, you actually like me...too?" Prompto laughed, still feeling baffled and confused but he also felt relieved at the same time.

"Yeah," answered Noctis while he still ate.

"That's why you didn't freak out over me holding your hand?"

"Why would I freak out over that?"

Giving a nonchalant shrug, Prompto just huffed. "I dunno, okay? I just thought you would, that's all."

"...Someone's getting a little worked up over this."

"Huh? You really think so?"

"Yeah," snickered Noctis. "But it's fine. We both like each other, so yeah. No big deal, right?"

Placing his empty plate back onto the wooden table, Noctis glanced back at Prompto with a small smile painted on his face. He noticed that Prompto had also finished eating. The other male was too busy fiddling with his messy blonde hair at this point, most likely out of sheer embarrassment. But grey eyes still watched the blonde regardless, soon meeting with those cyan-blue orbs opposite him. Prompto's reddish blush was still stuck to his pale features, still concealing those cute freckles that decorated his face.

"What the heck, man? You're just staring at me," spat Prompto.

"I just wanted to ask if you're ready to play on the arcade machines..."

Watching the ravenette sitting in front of him, Prompto observed those dishevelled black locks that almost extended to Noctis's shoulders. Even when Prompto snapped at him in alarm, Noctis still smiled.

"Oh, right! Sure thing, pal."

And at this point it didn't even seem like a date, most likely due to Prompto being overly embarrassed. He merely wondered if him and Noctis were going to share a bed tonight, and that very thought also made him shudder with shyness.