Noctis has been waiting for what feels like forever. He's been double and triple checked by the nervous EMT, re-bandaged twice, and had his vitals taken no less than five times. He attempted to sneak out when Gladiolus had come in to get his face looked at, but alas he was blocked by the second EMT who had stationed herself firmly by the back door. He even tried using his royal authority to get past them, to no avail. He is sitting on the gurney when the doors open again and Prompto boards the vehicle.
Noctis leapt to his feet when his best friend was finally in view, and he bumped the nervous EMT aside as he rushed up to the other boy. His elated expression soon morphed into one of sad concern, though, and the air between them crackled with timidity when the blonde wouldn't meet his eyes.
The apology that fell from Prompto's lips was a whisper that rang loudly in Noctis' ear. Heart in his throat, the prince reached tentatively forward to rest his hand upon the boy's left shoulder. "Prompto, you don't have anything to be sorry for."
The blonde stepped back out of Noctis' grasp, shaking his head as tears welled up in his eyes. "Of course I do! Don't you see? I fuck everything up, Noct—"
Prompto trailed off as Noctis reached out and held on to his shoulders, his midnight irises brightening under the sudden welling of tears. "You didn't fuck anything up, Prom," he said, voice catching on the other boy's name. "All I see is my best friend."
Prompto seemed to relax a little at that and he gave Noctis a shy smile before he glanced nervously over at the paramedic. He leaned into Noctis a little and whispered: "Do you think we could just go back to your apartment, or something? I'm sure Iggy will be ok enough to help me if I need it."
Noctis shook his head emphatically. "Uh-uh, no go, Prom. Let the nice man check you out." He waggled his eyes playfully, attempting to lighten the mood.
Prompto rolled his eyes at the quip, shaking his head and stepping back. "Gladio already gave me a potion. If you're ok, then can we please just go?"
The prince let out a breathy sigh, rubbing at the sore spot on the back of his head with his bandaged hand. "If you still look like that after a potion, then you need medical attention, Prom. You can either get it here, or you can go to the hospital. Your call."
Prompto worried his bottom lip as he weighed his options. Finally he nodded and maneuvered past Noctis, not looking at anyone as he gingerly boosted himself up on the gurney.
Noctis shuffled back to be closer to the doors, letting the other EMT start getting supplies together for Prompto.
Everything earlier had happened so fast that Noctis didn't have time to fully take in all of Prompto's injuries. Now, as the prince watched the other boy awkwardly remove his shirt, he wished he could go back to two hours ago and this time kill Mr. Argentum.
There were bruises littering Prompto's torso. From his right collarbone down to his hip, then across his lower stomach and down into still-clothed regions, blacks and purples and faded yellows painted his flesh in an abstract pattern of rage. What Noctis could see of his back showed signs of past abuse,
Suddenly dozens of little insensitivities Noctis had thrown the blonde's way over the course of their friendship came back to haunt him; how many times had he poked fun at his friend for awkwardly standing while everyone else lounged on the couch? (standing burns calories, duh Noct)
How many comments had he made about the blonde's shyness in gym class—how he always used the privacy stalls to change, and never used the group shower? (bro, I just don't want every dude in the world seeing my junk; that's for my future significant someone's eyes only!)
How many times had he jokingly implied that if Prompto kept staying over, Ignis was going to give him chores. (aw, man, your place is just so much cooler than mine! Plus, my parents aren't even home)
How many times had he brushed off Prompto's flimsy reasons for his injuries and chided the boy for his clumsiness? A storm of excuses assaulted his senses, and Noctis had to lean against the wall or risk being overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of memories.
"Oh, man, dude! I guess I was half asleep when I was heading down for some water last night, and I totally missed a step! How dumb am I?"
"Took the ole bike out for a spin yesterday; turns out you can forget how to ride one!"
"Bro, it's a long story involving ducks, cheetos, and an actual banana peel. Spoiler alert: I don't come out looking too bright."
"So, I was bending down, getting something out of a lower cabinet, and Mom was getting something out of the one above me, and I guess she left it open, and so then I stood up and ::BAM:: nearly cracked by skull clean open."
"How was I supposed to know that limb was down? I run that path every day, and I've never hit my face on anything before. I tell you, that tree had it out for me."
Noctis swallowed hard, bringing his focus back to his friend. The paramedic was gently prodding the boy's ribs, and Prompto was having a hell of a time not crying out in pain. Instead he turned his watery gaze on the prince and offered him a wan smile.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Noctis mouthed, not trusting his voice.
Prompto seemed to consider the question before mouthing back that he didn't know.
Noctis nodded, biting his lower lip hard. He put his back to the wall and slid down to the floor, hugging his knees to his chest. He did his best to ignore Prompto's whimpers as they paramedics continued their work, but it was hard.
How could he call himself a friend when he'd not seen that Prompto needed him?
Two months ago, at a prestigious gala event that Noctis was forced to attend, Prompto and the prince were doing their best to be quiet little wallflowers until a particularly inebriated guest decided to intervene and ruin their perfectly good time.
"For Six sake." Noctis muttered and rolled his eyes, attempting to shrink down even more than he already was, despite Ignis' almost audible glare from across the room.
He and Prompto were posted up at the farthest corner table they could manage in the ballroom. This was the blonde's first black tie event, and Noctis was not at all surprised at how well he was doing. He knew his friend just needed a little confidence boost now and again, and he was ready to take on nearly any situation.
Unfortunately, Lord Nauswessle was heading their way to test this theory, and there was no time to escape the greasy, hawkish man.
"Oh, young Prince Noctis! I've been looking for you all evening." Nauswessle smiled wobbly down at him, pointedly ignoring Prompto. "You know, my dear boy, I've sent multiple invitations to you join myself and my children for dinner, and none have ever been replied to." Here, he cast a snide glance towards Ignis, who stood chatting up a socialite from Tennebrae. "I'm supposing they simply were lost in transit."
Noctis gave the man his best royal smile, shaking his head. "I assure you, Lord Noseweasle (this was immediately snorted at by Prompto, who quieted quickly under the drunk man's stare), I received each of the invitations. I simply declined to acknowledge them."
The inebriated man regarded him momentarily, seemingly trying to decide if he had heard the prince correctly. "My apologies, Your Highness, but it's pronounced Nahz-westle. Nauswessle. I don't understand how so many people have trouble with it. It's a good Lucien name." He shook his head, muttering under his breath. "At any rate, I do hope you decide to take us up on our kind offer. I also have a Tennebraen servant; he's not quite as good of a cook as yours, but he does alright." He sent another smirk Ignis' way, this time catching the eye of the adviser, who frowned politely.
Noctis's eyes went stormy, and he straightened up and leaned forward in his chair. The unfortunate noble seemed to not notice the atmosphere around them change, and continued oblivious to the prince's anger.
Lord Nauswessle turned his bright, beady gaze on Prompto, mouth quivering at the edges in a barely-there smile as the boy sunk lower in his seat. "And we certainly don't attract the kind of Niflheim riffraff the Citadel seems to—"
Though still considerably shorter than the noble before him, Noctis loomed at the man as he stood, a bit of his royal shadow giving him a substantial bearing.
"This," he intoned, "is Prompto Argentum, guest of the royal family. You will speak to him and of him with respect, do you understand?"
A hush fell over the surrounding tables, and behind the old man Ignis was breaking away from his conversation to head over and hopefully prevent a scandal.
Lord Nauswessle sputtered indignantly at the young royal. "I beg pardon, Highness, but we are at war. Perhaps you are too young to understand the implications of your cavorting with a Niflheimian rat, but the rest of us do." He pointed at Prompto, who had gone pale and was staring at the floor blankly during the man's tirade. "The prince here may think you're worth more than you are, but the rest of us wouldn't mind seeing the entirety of the Niflheim blight snuffed from existence."
Noctis put himself between Prompto and the drunk noble. The room around the two of them darkened just a little at his slow advance. "You," he began, voice low and menacing, "insult my adviser, spew racism at my friend, and have the audacity to allude to committing genocide during a social event? What is wrong with you?"
A light went off in the older man's eyes that had not been there before. Some of the inebriated cobwebs cleared as the prince's words sunk in.
"I, uh, no, Your Highness…" he was visibly sweating, now, and attempting to back away. "It was not my intention to…genocide, no of course not…"
"Perhaps you'd like an escort from the premises, Lord Nauswessle?" Ignis, smooth as ever, took the man by the elbow and lead him from the table, ignoring the whispering that rose and ebbed in his wake.
"What an asshole." Noctis grumbled, plopping back down in his chair. Next to him, Prompto relaxed minutely, taking a sip of water.
"Yeah," he replied quietly, and didn't speak more than two sentences for the rest of the night.
In a perfect world, only people who loved and cared for children would get to have them.
But we do not live in a perfect world.