The next day Prompto could easily say was one of the most bizarre of his life. And considering the past couple weeks...that was saying something.
He woke slowly, dawn casting him in green light as it filtered through the tent walls. It wasn't yet stiflingly hot, so he felt comfortable beneath his blanket and nestled against the warm body behind him. Halfway tempted, he almost allowed himself to slip back into dreamland, but no matter how groggy he felt there was something in Prompto that never quite let him do it; some inner desire to make the most of every waking moment.
Well, that was a craving he would never feel guilty about giving into. And was that breakfast he smelled? Definitely food, yep, what was he still doing in bed?
With a tiny grin Prompto wiggled out of his sleeping bag–Noctis was splayed out on top of it, dead to the world and trying his best to trap Prompto beneath him, but to no avail!–and scrubbed the sleep from his baby blues. Combing his fingers through his hair and wincing as it tugged with old hair gel, he surveyed the tent. And immediately bit his lip to stifle a loud bark of laughter.
"Pf. How even–wait, wait, hold on, I got this!" Scrambling to his pack, Prompto dug out his trusty camera, a longtime friend and companion. Taking a split second to adjust the lense for the dim lighting, Prompto snapped a photo. He lowered the camera, scooched closer, then snapped another. Gotta get it right after all. Before he could wake the two slumbering men and ruin it, he looped the camera's strap around his neck, grabbed his pack and climbed from the tent, tripping slightly on the way out.
Carefully zipping the tent closed once more, he hastily moved a few feet away, staring down at the little screen and biting his lip hard in an effort to keep quiet. Oh, yes, he was so using this for leverage later.
"Well now, you look bright and bushy tailed this morning." Ignis looked over the rim of his coffee mug, steam fogging his glasses somewhat as he regarded the excited blond from his relaxed position in his usual sling chair. Something fantastic smelling simmered on the stove not a few feet away, but Prompto didn't have any attention to spare for it at the moment.
"Ignis!" Prompto's smile only got brighter as he bounced over to his favorite cook. "You would not believe what I just got a shot of."
"Oh, I can imagine," Ignis smirked, bringing the coffee to his thin lips and taking a sip. Prompto faltered, momentarily distracted by that devilish expression. Iggy should really patent that look. With the stove in the background he set a pretty picture of one of those cooking magazines girls were crazy about. Without thinking too much about it, the blonde lifted the camera once more and snapped a shot. Shaking his head in amusement, Ignis deadpanned, "Did you get my good side?"
Prompto checked. Ignis looked a bit sleep mussed–days old clothes rumpled, hair disheveled artfully in that 'just ran his fingers through it' kinda way– and still managed to look like he walked off the cover of a magazine. He chuckled. "Iggy, you don't have a bad side."
Ignis's smirk twitched, the stoic man's expression threatening to turn into a true smile, but he held it back in favor of another sip of coffee. "So what was this photo you were so eager to show me?"
"Oh yeah!" Set back on track, the blond bounced the last few feet to the advisor's side and flipped back a couple images. "I'm pretty sure I've discovered Gladio's secret fetish." Ignis' small chuckle warmed Prompto from the inside out as the older man inspected the image.
It was no secret among the four that Gladiolus was a cuddler. Not only that, but he tended to shift quite a bit in his sleep. It would wake and annoy Prompto and Ignis at first–Noctis never noticed–but Prompto quickly became accustomed to it and even comforted by the little shifts. It made him feel safe to be reminded that Gladio was there. Many a night one or two of them inevitably ended up tangled in his long limbs in one way or another.
This though… this took the cake. Noctis lay in his usual sleeping position, flat on his stomach with limbs stretched haphazardly every which way, clinging to anything below him like a baby koala bear–in other words, Prompto's sleeping bag. He wondered if he would ever get that back. The prince's face was turned to the side, completely oblivious to all goings on in the world outside of his dreams. Prompto couldn't decide if he ever felt envious of Noctis' ability to sleep like the dead, or really, really not. There was nothing odd about that image at all, but Gladiolus was another story. Somehow he had managed to flip himself over so that he was facing the opposite direction. His body was sprawled longways across the tent, hips jutting backwards, but as usual he had gravitated towards the closest body heat, long arms holding Noct's leg captive. While ridiculous in itself, what completed the picture was Gladio's face, blissed out in sleep, resting on the sole of Noct's foot as if there was nowhere in Eos he would rather be.
"I'm calling it 'Gladio's Spiritual Awakening: Foot Fetish Edition'," Prompto quipped, rewarded by Ignis' half choked chortle. Ah, it was the little things in life; making Ignis laugh, taking humiliating photos of his friends, blackmailing them later...yes, the little things.
"What's so funny?"
Fast as lightning, Prompto's camera was behind his back, innocent smile plastered on his face. Gladio looked between the two of them as he stepped away from the tent, leaving it open in the vain hopes that Noctis would wake on his own. With no answer forthcoming, either from Ignis as he moved to check on the food, pointedly not looking in Gladio's direction, or the goofball who could not stop grinning at him while he bounced in place, Gladio decided he was too groggy to care. With a shrug, he rolled his bare shoulders in the early morning chill and dragged his bag from the small tent, rooting around to grab a pair of jeans and a tank top. As he pulled them on, jumping slightly to get those tight pants over his considerable thighs, Prompto made a strategic retreat behind the tent to change into his own clothes, small giggles threatening to burst forth at any moment.
He was just pulling on his favorite red shirt when a tap to the shoulder startled him. Turning abruptly, he came face to face with Gladio's...chest. He looked up directly into a scowling face, and took a slight step backward. "Hey, big guy," Prompto stuttered, nervous at the frown turned in his direction. At first he thought it might be about the photo, but something serious in the larger man's eyes belied that thought.
Gladio shifted, crossing his large arms over his chest, and regarded Prompto's nervous shuffling. "You doing alright?"
"What do you mean?" Prompto forced himself to look into the other man's eyes. His face flushed as he remembered the day before in the Balouve Mines, how he had gotten distracted instead of doing his duty. And Gladio yelling at him. Yeah, that wasn't fun. Prompto's smile faltered and his eyes flickered away, good mood draining right out of him.
A heavy sigh made him flinch infinitesimally, and before he could react, Gladio's big hand was ruffling his hair roughly. "Wha–hey!" Prompto protested, swatting Gladio's hand with a laugh.
"That right there, is what I meant," Gladio rumbled. "It wasn't just yesterday. You've been down since we left." Prompto grunted, trying to get his hair back into some semblance of order. Not that it had been any good for days, but Gladiolus's impromptu hair styling didn't help matters much. "You know you can talk to us about anything right?"
Prompto paused in his fussing, giving Gladiolus a long look. If that earnest expression on his scarred face was anything to go by, the man had been thinking on this for a while. Prompto and Gladio hadn't known each other as long as the others, but that didn't make their connection any less strong. And with the shield's overprotective nature as it was, Prompto couldn't help feel equal parts flattered and uncomfortable to be within the man's intense regard. He settled on being flattered for the time being and gave him a smile. "I know that," he said, and he did. It's just. Well, he tried to talk to Iggy and Gladio before about all of this strangeness, and they had acted like nothing at all was going on. Maybe they were just messing with him...but no. Prompto would like to think that he knew these three better than anyone else, just as they knew him. If they weren't noticing anything, then it meant that they really weren't.
Which meant talking about it would help...absolutely nothing. Prompto just resolved to hide it better. He felt a familiar pang of loneliness in his chest, the one he always felt when he added to the ever growing bundle of secrets he held, but pushed it away.
Several seconds passed as Gladio continued to stare, and with a jolt, Prompto realized he was waiting for him to answer. "Ah! Um–so, you need some extra weight for your reps, bug guy?"
Gladiolus pursed his lips, but thankfully didn't pursue it any further. "Nah, I think I'll take a run this morning."
Inwardly, Prompto sighed in relief, though he didn't allow it to show on his face as Gladiolus walked away towards the edge of the haven and down the side. Usually, he would have offered to join him, as running was one of his favorite pastimes besides Kingsnight and hanging with his best buddies. But he was feeling a little shaken by the exchange. He wasn't quite sure he could handle any more of Gladios concern at the moment. Still, he couldn't help but feel just a little warm inside, that small giddiness bringing the smile back to his face. Being cared for was nice, and still something Prompto found himself getting used to, even after all this time.
Mood restored, Prompto slung his bag back inside the tent, gleefully ignoring the startled grunt from his still snoozing best friend, and sauntered back over to Ignis, who was just putting the finishing touches on breakfast. "Hey Iggy, whatcha making? Smells great!"
Ignis turned off the grill and stirred the contents of his cooking pot once more before beginning to shuffle around the camp dishware. Without looking up, he responded, "Just a basic stew, I'm afraid. We've rather run out of fresh ingredients, so we'll have to stock up at an outpost soon."
Prompto hummed, inhaling the delicious scent in delight. It wasn't anything he recognized, looking like just a bunch of random stuff they had left, but if Iggy had a hand in it, it was probably delicious. He wasn't surprised they would have to stock up, really. After all, none of them had expected to get stuck out here for so long. "I'm sure it's great!"
Wordlessly, Ignis handed Prompto the dishware. "I'm going to try and wake the prince. Do make us a serving, would you?"
"You got it, boss man." Prompto cheerily did as he was told as Ignis turned to go do just that.
"Ah," Ignis paused.
"Ugh, Prompto, your bag reeks. Did you have to throw it at my face?" Noct's dulcet tones came from the direction of the tent and Prompto snickered into his task. Looks like Iggy wouldn't have to wake Noctis after all.
"That so counts as my turn," Prompto declared, keeping his eyes on the ladle as he served himself an extra large helping of stew, referring to the way the guys took turns waking Noctis each day. It wasn't an enviable task by any means. A disbelieving snort was all Ignis replied with, and somehow Prompto was certain it would still be his turn the next day.
"Not likely." Yep, that's what he thought.
"Aw, come on Iggy, it worked, didn't–" Prompto froze, halfway turned towards Ignis. Several expressions crossed his face at once as he took in the sight of his best friend. Noctis was standing by the tent, shoulders slouched and blinking owlishly into the bright morning. Still clearly half asleep, he stumbled over towards his favorite camp chair and slumped into it with a sigh, not having noticed Prompto's abrupt halt. He didn't even look up as the bowl of stew Prompto held clattered to the ground, spilling all over the place.
Ignis, however, did. He peered into the younger man's face, concerned. Prompto barely spared him a glance, too shocked to do much to hide his reaction. A half laugh, half strangled whine was pulled from Prompto's throat as he covered his eyes with one hand and then looked up quickly again, as if trying to make sure what he was seeing wasn't some sort of illusion. Ignis looked between the blond and the prince, brow furrowed in confusion. There wasn't anything notable about Noctis' appearance this morning, and yet, Prompto's face cycled between hilarity, concern and what looked alarmingly like nausea. "Prompto?"
"Ah, um," Prompto swallowed hard, expression not quite deciding between a manic grin and outright panic. "Ignis, is...is Noctis wearing a sombrero?"
Ignis' eyebrow climbed his forehead slowly until it rested somewhere between the roads 'This Person is Insane' and 'It's Too Early in the Morning for This'. He scanned his liege, seeing that, yes, he still was wearing a baggy white t-shirt and filthy jeans, and no, he did not have a sombrero on his head. Prompto's mouth seemed to be working overtime, opening and closing like a fish out of water, but no sound other than a strangled whine made its way past his lips. Then, "Youuuuu don't see it, do you."
A statement. Yet Ignis answered regardless. "I'm afraid not." When Prompto didn't move for several more seconds, Ignis gently guided the young man over to his usual seat and handed him some breakfast. With a sympathetic pat to the man's shoulders, Ignis handed his dozing Highness his own bowl before grabbing the other and wandering to the edge of camp, where Gladiolus lounged after his short run. Whatever was bothering Prompto, he hoped he would come forward with it soon. His stress was clearly making him see things.
Prompto didn't notice Ignis leave the immediate area because he was freaking out. The only thing he could see was his best freind in front of him wearing a full mariachi uniform. A mariachi uniform. With a little red sash and a jacket and everything. And a sombrero! And Ignis couldn't see it.
Noctis, for his part, was completely oblivious to his friend's turmoil. His black lashes finally fluttered open when the heavenly smell from the bowl balancing precariously on his knee made its way into his awareness. He grabbed the spoon from the liquid and began picking through it, selecting only the parts he liked. A small smile made its way lazily to his the prince's thin lips when he snagged a piece of meat. He blinked and met Prompto's eyes for the first time. He blinked again, spoon still hanging from his mouth, frozen in place.
Oh gods, Prompto thought frantically, I am totally insane. Ignis has to be having a go at him, there's just no way–cutting off his own ramblings, he jerked around for his camera and snapped a shot faster than Noctis could react. Prompto stared down at the screen. Then stared at Noctis. Rinse and repeat, and yet, the image still didn't change. The Noctis in the little screen was definitely not wearing a giant flamboyant hat, and yet...Yep, the Noct in reality most definitely was. Reality? Pft. What's that? Prompto wasn't sure he knew anymore.
"Is there something on my face?" Noctis asked slowly, starting to feel self conscious under his best friend's uncharacteristic scrutiny. He was wearing pants, right? He had remembered to put those on this morning? Yep, there they were. So why was Prompto looking at him like that?
Prompto slowly lowered his camera. Then he went a step further and flicked it off. "Noct, buddy, I'm about to ask you a very serious question. You have to be completely honest, or I swear I will lose my shit."
"...Yeah?" Noctis didn't think he'd ever seen Prompto this serious since that one time in high school when Noctis nearly got kidnapped as they left the arcade. His blond eyebrows were drawn together and everything.
"Are you...wearing a mariachi outfit?"
"..."
"..."
Noctis sat back with a huff that turned into a disbelieving laugh. "Astrals, Prom, you had me going there for a second. I thought you were about to tell me that you had a terminal illness or something."
A myriad of expressions crossed Prompto's face before he seemed to settle on a strained smile. "Ah...haha, yeah, I'm just joshing you, dude. G-good one, right? I'm just going to go...water my….lettuce...yeah." Prompto got to his feet and wandered away, leaving a confused prince to ponder just what the hell happened.
Prompto nearly made it, too, but a strong hand fell onto his shoulder. He looked up with listless eyes.
"Where do you think you're going, blondie?" Gladio asked, raising a brow. Ignis stepped up beside him and even Noctis abandoned his meal and approached.
"To water his lettuce, apparently," Noctis supplied dryly, not even trying to hide the concerned tilt of his chin. Ignis and Gladio exchanged glances over his head.
OOOOoooh geeze. Prompto could feel his heart racing in his chest as he found himself surrounded by the three. Forcing himself to take a deep breath, he narrowly avoided passing out like last time, but it was a close thing. Yay, anxiety attack. Just what he needed on top of everything else. Maybe he could blame it on the heat and just pass out for a little–no! No easy way out, you can handle it. It's okay, Prompto, you trust these guys more than anyone else in the world! Nothing supernatural is going on, it's all fiiiine. Watery blue eyes landed on Noctis, who looked very concerned underneath his ridiculous hat. Yup. Nothing weird going on at all.
With a look, Ignis sent the other two a few paces back. Gladio merely nodded, wordlessly beginning to pack their gear. "C'mon, princess. We've got to get a move on."
Noctis hesitated for a split second, wanting to comfort his friend, but really not knowing how. He always had been bad at this sort of thing. A small shake of Ignis' head was the final push he needed to back off, joining Gladio sullenly.
Ignis opened his mouth, brows already drawn together questioningly, but something in Prompto's face had him hesitating. Finally, with an imperceptible breath, he merely said, "After yesterday's trip into the mine, we have enough funds to pay for the car repairs. If we leave promptly, we should just make it to hammerhead before nightfall." He said it loud enough to make it clear he was addressing all three, but the gentle hand rubbing small circles into Prompto's lower back was all for him. The blond's face flushed in embarrassment, even as he felt himself calm. Luckily, neither Noctis or Gladiolus were looking in his direction.
"Got it," Noct responded.
"Finally. I swear it feels like we've been out here for weeks."
You don't know the half of it, big guy, Prompto thought. Ignis patted Prompto's shoulder once more as his somewhat labored breathing calmed, then ushered the younger man over to the stove to help him tidy up before they moved out.
-o0o-
An hour later and they were on the road once more. At that point Prompto had sufficiently pushed down all doubts and settled into a willing suspension of disbelief for his sanity, so he was quite capable of acting normal.
Even though Noctis was still wearing a sombrero. But hey, nobody's perfect.
With several smiles, cracked jokes, and forceful doses of 'I'm pretending this morning never happened,' he was able to convince the guys that yes, he was fine, and no, he's not certifiably insane.
Yet.
But even if Prompto was forcing himself to act as usual, Noctis, it seemed, had dropped all pretenses of being normal.
He started doing things. Strange things. Well, stranger than he had already been acting. It started small, like, as they were walking he would suddenly veer off and pick up some random piece of junk. Now, ever since they left Insomnia they've been trying to collect money and valuables they could sell, but a rusted nail? An old banknote that looked like a beast had chewed through it? A tiny feather? That can't be worth anything, and besides, Iggy just told them they didn't even need any more cash, so what gives?
Wait, was that a chocobo feather? Stop it, not important! Focus Prom!
It was like his friend suddenly turned into a magpie or something. But that wasn't the only strange thing. Prompto wasn't sure if it was just him, but he could swear they were taking the long way around. He might not be the most directionally savvy dude to ever walk Eos, but he was pretty certain they were going too far east to even get anywhere near Hammerhead. And as if he was trying to make this journey take as long as physically possible, Noctis had gotten it into his head to challenge every beast that happened to cross their paths, whether it was self defense–like a sabertooth pack attacking–or just a few passing spiracorns minding their own business, eating grass or whatever. Oh, you guys wanted to munch on these bushes? Too bad! Prince Noctis is coming vaguely in your general direction and there's not enough desert for the both of you!
And if that wasn't enough, Gladio and Ignis were acting off their rockers as well. Because neither one of them made a comment, not one single word, about this nonsense. Not that Prompto was saying anything either, because he had just gotten Ignis to stop looking at him like he was about to spontaneously combust, but. Well, it was weird, okay! Noon came and went, and Iggy never called for a stop to get them all something to eat. Gladio didn't make a fuss when Noct jogged off in some random other direction yet again. The only comment either of them said at all was about the damn weather.
The sun beat down harshly on all four as the day went on, but it only seemed like Prompto was affected. His face was hot, he felt dehydrated, his feet positively ached from all of the constant running, but the other three seemed if anything, more perfect than usual. Even their sweat looked airbrushed on or something, and none of them looked as tired as he felt. Now maybe Prompto blinked a little too hard, but he was certain that none of them had even combed their hair an hour ago, much less washed and perfectly styled it.
The world started getting a little fuzzy around the edges, everything starting to look a little...off to the beleaguered blond. Okay. He needed some rest. And water. And most of all, he needed his friends to stop running. Still, he didn't say a word.
Finally, finally, Noctis halted. Prompto nearly collapsed where he stood underneath a nearby tree as the other three just kind of stood there like they hadn't just spent the entire day running around completely randomly. Something was roiling in Prompto's gut, something that was an awful mix of anxiety, fear and frustration, an entirely unpleasant mix. His vision was flickering, switching back and forth. For one moment, everything looked perfectly normal and as it should, and another it looked...off in some way he couldn't even define. With a tired whine, he forced his eyes shut and tried to breathe. This time, he wasn't even getting so much as a glance from Gladio and Ignis, who were just staring into the darkening sky like no one was at home upstairs. And Noct, he was just standing there staring at Prompto, just like he had in the Balouve Mines right before things went all pear shaped.
"The sun's called it day," Ignis said, and Prompto actually flinched in surprise. "Best figure out our lodgings for the night."
"WHAT!" Prompto wasn't quite sure, but he was pretty certain he felt something snap in his head. Probably his sanity. He spoke for the first time in hours, his voice little more than a high pitched rasp. "I thought we were going to Hammerhead?!" Ignis didn't respond. "Iggy? Ignis?!" He looked around into the completely featureless–and garage-less– landscape. "Gladio?!" No response.
Noctis was doing that thing again, that blank stare, and Prompto was done. There was a high buzzing in his ear, but he was too distracted by his own panic to notice it. He marched up to his best friend who he didn't think he even knew anymore, and took his shoulders forcefully to look into his glassy eyes. "Noctis! What is going on? Noctis? Buddy? Talk to me here!" But he only stared. The buzzing got louder, started to take on more tones in his head, almost like someone shouting, but Prompto shook it off in favor of slapping the prince in the face several times. Their pin lights came on automatically as the last sliver of the sun went past the horizon, but Prompto didn't notice.
"Come on buddy, this isn't you! The Noctis I know wouldn't lead us randomly into the desert, wouldn't fight innocent animals for no reason–" the buzzing was becoming unbearable and almost painful in his head, "wouldn't NOT complain about missing lunch–"
"–because I'm not Noctis!" Noctis screamed, face contorting and coming more alive than Prompto had seen it since that morning, expression twisted in frustration.
Noctis froze. Prompto froze. Dead silence was suddenly all Prompto could hear besides the two's labored breaths, the buzzing and pressure in his head completely gone. Several moments of shocked silence passed between them, Noctis bent backwards by the force of Prompto's grip, both of them gaping at each other.
"Wha–" Prompto finally uttered, but before either of them could move, there came familiar and terrifying sound of demons emerging from the ether. Both young men spun around, watching in dazed horror as two red giants and a handful of goblins climbed there way out of the ground.
"Oh," Noctis started weakly.
"Shit." Prompto finished.
-o0o-
AN:
Hey guys. That was some ride, huh? Hold onto your seats because it's only going to get weirder.