Note: I have a headcanon about the curatives where they can mend wounds and heal broken bones, but people still have to deal with some subdued pain relevant to the severity of the original wound. Especially with being brought back with phoenix downs—that can't be pleasant on the body. You've probably noticed that coming into play throughout the story, but I just thought I'd note that here.

Enjoy the final chapter!

Chapter Four: Just Breathe

Prompto felt a mix of relief and trepidation once he and Gladio got back to the haven. On the one hand, he had never been happier to be within its protection, but on the other, it meant getting back to being face to face with what he had done to Noctis. Back to all the blood and the prince's new scar which would serve as a permanent reminder of that day.

Was he really ready to do this? Probably not. But he wasn't going to run from it again. Not when his boyfriend needed him—scratch that; wanted him.

Gladio lowered Prompto down when they arrived and the two made their way to the tent. He lightly tapped his hand against the canvas a few times like he was knocking.

"Special delivery," he called out, grinning and nodding his head towards the entrance as a signal for Prompto to go in first.

The blond took a deep breath and led the way.

Noctis was under a blanket and fast asleep. The intrusion didn't wake him and his chest steadily rose and fell with his deep breaths. Ignis was sitting beside him, looking at Prompto with palpable relief on his face despite the redness around his eyes.

"Oh, thank goodness," he said as Prompto crossed the small space to embrace him."I should have been paying better attention to you." He held on tightly, his hand carding through blond strands. "You should never have felt that you needed to leave us…I'm sorry."

"Me too," Prompto said, his heart aching at Ignis' tremulous tone. "I shouldn't have run off and scared you guys like that."

"You came back," Ignis said. "That's all that matters."

He tentatively pulled away, keeping his fingers softly curled over Prompto's shoulders. His brow crinkled with worry as he looked him over, seeing the remnants of blood that didn't belong to Noctis.

"You were hurt," he said, wilting. He brushed some of Prompto's hair off his forehead, trailing down to rest his hand against his cheek. "I'm glad I thought to toss some potions into the Armiger after Gladio left to find you; damn my system for now." He paused, searching Prompto's face. "Are you feeling unwell? You look peaky."

The blond smiled sheepishly. "It's just from the bleeding…m'okay now."

"I'm certain that you're not," Ignis said, sad and weary. In more ways than one, remained unspoken but clear with the hurt, sympathetic look in his eyes. He used his thumb to wipe away Prompto's tears that followed his words; they were all the confirmation he needed. He looked about ready to cry himself as he brought Prompto back into his arms and whispered to him. "Oh, darling, that's alright. But you're not alone in this. Just breathe. We have you."

Prompto nodded and let out a shuddering breath. He relaxed into Ignis' hold, content to stay there for a while in the comfort it provided.

From where he was, he could turn his head to see Gladio sitting on Noctis' other side. He was holding on to the prince's wrist, his thumb conspicuously pressed to his pulse point as he kept his eyes fixed on his pale, sleeping face. Noctis still looked pretty awful; transparent would be the best word for it. Like he was an apparition that could fade from sight at any moment.

Timidly, Prompto asked, "How's Noct?"

"Fine; he's resting," Ignis answered, pressing his cheek to the top of Prompto's head. "He tried very hard to stay awake until you returned, but his body had other plans…he's exhausted."

Prompto swallowed hard, allowing Ignis to let him go. Slowly, he reached out for Noctis. Guilt and the need to ensure the prince's solidity in this world warred inside him, making him hesitate.

"You can touch him, y'know," Gladio said, gaining the blond's uncertain, nervous look. He gestured to their sleeping boyfriend. "Go on."

Prompto's shaking fingers closed around Noctis'. He gasped, shocked by the chill he encountered; it felt like he had been dunked in ice water. He immediately clasped both his palms around Noctis' freezing hand, worriedly blowing his warm breath onto it.

"He's still so cold," he said unnecessarily. The others certainly knew that already.

Gladio sighed. "A phoenix down is some really intense magic to go through. Even for someone like Noct. Plus getting shoved back into your body after however long can't feel all that great either. It takes a toll."

Ignis placed his hand on Prompto's trembling thigh.

"Death…lingers for a while in those who have returned from it," he elaborated. "But not to worry; he will recover."

"You sure?" Prompto asked.

"Positive."

"Okay…"

Prompto held his and Noctis' joined hands to his chest. He took some solace in knowing that, while Noctis wasn't going to wake up any time soon, he wasn't about to suddenly relapse or anything. They hadn't lost him. He would be okay.

After about an hour, Gladio felt comfortable enough to leave and fetch a couple buckets of water which he warmed to the best of his ability via the campfire. He, along with Prompto and Ignis, took the opportunity to change and finally wash the blood from themselves, which unsurprisingly did wonders for their mental state.

They gave Noctis the same treatment. He didn't so much as twitch as he was cleaned, re-dressed into his sweats and a loose t-shirt, and tucked under a few blankets. Such a deep sleep wasn't out of the ordinary for him, but the events that had preceded it made them all continue to hover. He had nearly died, so clinginess was going to be the norm for a while. His deathly pallor and dark-circled eyes certainly weren't helping their concern.

Night had fallen before Noctis began to stir. It began with some light fidgeting followed by a low, weak groan and his hand moving to press over the right side of his chest. Everyone's attention was on him in an instant, all of them swiftly abandoning whatever they had been doing to keep themselves occupied.

"What's wrong, Noct?" Ignis asked.

Noctis' eyes remained closed as he hissed in pain. "S'just twinging a bit." He took a slow, deep breath. "I think…it'll go away in a minute."

"It will," Gladio said, lightly patting the prince's shoulder. "Just try to relax."

At his Shield's voice and touch, Noctis' eyes opened.

"You're back," he said, looking around.

His gaze found Prompto who trembled under it.

"Prom," Noctis breathed as he struggled to sit up. "Are you—?" He winced, allowing Ignis to assist him. "Are you okay?"

"Am I okay?" Prompto said, barely managing to pull back from hysterics. "You're the one who…"

He trailed off, unable to utter the word 'died'. It stuck in his throat as it tightened. Just when he thought he had cried his whole lifetime of tears already, more came spilling down his cheeks. He dug the heels of his hands into his eyes, sobbing wretchedly as he laid his grief bare before all three of his partners. Ignis gasped his name in a broken voice and it only made him cry harder.

Cold, gentle fingers wrapped around Prompto's wrists and pulled them away from his face. His breath left him, stuttering out as he found himself looking into heavy yet imploring blue eyes. It was hard to look at Noctis without the memory of those same bright eyes going dull surfacing violently. He remained stiff as Noctis, ever so slowly, wrapped his arms around his chest and tucked his head in under the blond's chin. But within seconds of feeling the prince's living, breathing body against his, Prompto was clinging to him like a lifeline.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed, crumbling into simple, desperate repetition. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault. Please don't carry that," Noctis said softly, distress leaking into his voice. If the words had taken physical form, they would be visibly saturated in potent, unmistakable forgiveness. "And don't run like that again…I need you. Not just now, but always. I don't want to do this without you."

"I won't…I'm staying," Prompto said. He held Noctis as tight as he dared; he had already hurt him in more ways than one. "Gods, Noct. I'm so sorry."

"Stop that. Don't be…just let us help you when you're hurting, okay?" Noctis said. He paused, sighing. "I'm fine, Prom."

"You're not," Prompto said as he felt the prince shaking with exertion from merely hugging him. "You're really not."

Noctis huffed. Despite his icy skin, his breath was warm. "That makes two of us…four of us…we're a mess."

"I'm gonna take care of you," Prompto said, still sniffling but resolute. He was going to make it up to him no matter what. "I'll be right beside you while you get better…I promise."

Noctis sat up, still leaning into Prompto's space. "And you'll let us take care of you?"

What did I do to deserve people like you? Prompto thought to himself.

"I…I think I can do that," he said aloud.

Any tiny, albeit ambitious, sparks of doubt were chased away as Noctis kissed him softly. If only for a moment, Prompto's pain faded into the background, overcome by the fluttering warmth in his chest that sometimes came with his boyfriends' kisses—regardless of how long they had been together so far (there were days where their whole arrangement still felt like a dream). This one meant so much more than an act of affection; it was a soothing balm on Prompto's worry and a promise of a continued life together.

"I love you so damn much," Noctis said as he pulled away and rested his head on Prompto's shoulder. "Today didn't change a thing."

"I know. Gladio made sure I did," Prompto said. He caught the Shield's significantly softened eyes and received a knowing nod. "I love you too…all of you."

Ignis and Gladio, who had been quiet and holding back to give the two of them some space, moved in to sit close and wrap their arms around their smaller lovers. Nothing more than those simple, three words needed to be said for now. They sat there curled around each other, just breathing together until Noctis voiced his need to lay down in a slightly pained tone. Once released, he simply lowered his aching body down to rest with his head in Prompto's lap.

Ignis stroked his cheek. "Is there anything we can do for you, love?"

"S'there food?" Noctis asked.

"There can be," Ignis said, smiling fondly. Happy to finally have something he could remedy right away, he left the tent.

"I'm gonna get the fire going again," Gladio said. "Might help warm you up a bit, snowman."

"'Snowman'?" Noctis said, weakly lifting his head. "Pretty sure you mean 'chiseled ice sculpture'."

"Nah. Too adorable for that."

"M'not adorable."

"Of course, your Highness."

He kissed Noctis' knuckles and pulled a blanket over him before following Ignis out.

Prompto was content to just sit there keeping Noctis company, steadying his nerves by running his hand through his dark hair. They spoke in soft, idle conversation, talking about literally anything other than what had happened that day. Noctis almost dozed off until they were called out for dinner.

The meal was something simple for Noctis' currently unpredictable stomach and involved not even a whisper of vegetables—also for the prince. Ignis would probably pile them on for the next few days for nutrients' sake, but he seemed to be giving his beloved a break for the night.

Noctis sat in his chair, bundled up in a blanket despite his close proximity to the fire. His eyes held a far-away quality as the flames danced in them. He insisted on Prompto setting up his own chair as close to him as possible, and he laced their fingers together the second they were both done eating. It appeared the clinginess was going to go both ways.

The night was called earlier than normal as Noctis began to look more and more burnt out. The four of them didn't always sleep practically wrapped around each other, but it was no surprise that it was how they settled into the tent that night.

Prompto cuddled up to Noctis' side, his head on the prince's shoulder. He felt arms around his waist as Ignis pressed up against his back. Warm lips brushed a kiss onto his neck, making him grin. Gladio lay on Noctis' other side, his arm stretched over to rest on Prompto's hip.

Though it all was intensely comforting and made the blond feel safe, he still struggled to sleep. His mind wouldn't stop racing with the day's events. Every time he almost drifted off, the jagged fringes of an encroaching, blood-scented nightmare would shake him.

Unconsciously, Prompto's hand slid up to where the bullet scar was on Noctis' chest. He didn't realize he had done it until he felt the prince—who he had thought to be long asleep—take his hand and move it, pressing his palm over his heart instead. The gesture remained wordless, but feeling Noctis' steady pulse under his hand meant everything at that moment.

Prompto closed his eyes to the dim light, deeply breathing Noctis' scent. He knew he wouldn't be completely okay tomorrow, or even weeks from now. But he did know, without a doubt, that he was loved and that no adversity was ever going to take that away from him. Soothed and warm, Prompto allowed himself to sleep.

That's a wrap! Thanks for reading~!

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