Prompto awoke slowly, long eyelashes fluttering as the darkness of sleep subsided to be replaced by the warmth of the afternoon sun along his skin. How long had he been asleep for? He certainly wasn't due for a nap for another few thousands of years. Strange, how the feeling of wanting to take a nap had fallen over and encompassed him so easily. Perhaps it was worrying, but he felt to content to attempt to dwell on it.

He stretched, mewling happily at the feeling of soft blankets beneath him and a soft lump inside his arms. When his eyes finally opened all the way, focusing, he stopped, laying entirely still. Just next to him was Noctis, sleeping peacefully beside him. The prince was lying on his back, fingers entwined as his hands rested along his steadily moving chest with his quiet breathing. His legs were crossed at the ankles, head tilted towards Prompto only slightly, bangs falling into his closed eyes. Prompto almost forgot to breath; the man was so beautiful and serene. Brows even and smooth, not knit with confusion or worry. His dark lashes fluttered slightly as the prince dreamed. His body was lax instead of tense, not plagued with concentrating on hiding and caring for the Astral.

He wanted to get closer, to touch his skin and feel his warmth. He had been looking t the man from afar for so, so long. Finally, they were together, on dry land. It was almost too good to be true, once a dream, now a reality. Noctis had captured his attention unlike anything he'd ever known. He'd plagued his mind for years and years. Something was different about him. Something so, so lovely and absolutely wonderful. He wanted to be closer to that something, wanted to feel it beneath his fingertips.

Prompto nibbled along his bottom lip, heart racing with excitement as he inched closer slowly and quietly, careful so as not to wake Noctis up. He discarded the fluffy pillow in his arms to lean over the man and admire him further, bracing himself above Noctis with his hands on either side of the prince beneath him. His head quirked to the side, admiring his pale skin, unmarked and unblemished. Impossibly pale, even after spending his entire life under the sun, so unlike the Astral himself. With careful fingers, he traced his way down a cheekbone, smiling happily as the man sighed in his sleep, unconsciously moving into the sensation, lips parting and showing a sliver of white teeth and tongue. The Astral giggled softly, repeating the trail along the prince's face once more, only on the opposite cheek, finding it delightful how Noctis acted much the same, turning his head to face the tickling sensations, seeking to be closer.

It became a fun little game, Prompto touching Noctis with feather-light caresses, seeing how he'd react, until before he knew it, his cold fingers were grazing over a soft lower lip. Noctis hummed quietly, a small smile upturning the corners of his mouth. Prompto blushed, hearing the sound. He worried his own lip between his teeth as he repeated the action again, adding a little more pressure. Noctis' lips were so soft, so warm. He wanted to place his own upon them, if only for a moment.

Just a peck.

…

Noctis laughed happily, his little hands lifting the final mold. The wet, packed sand beneath stayed firm as the piece of plastic raised, revealing a perfect little sand tower to complete the corner of his sandcastle. "Daddy, look!", he beamed, standing and wiping the hard work from his hands.

The setting sun over Cape Caem painted the sand in pinks and oranges, the light warm against his clothed back as he ran over to his father who was sitting and resting happily on top of a large beach towel. The man opened his arms wide, allowing the little prince to embrace his midsection in a tight hug. He looked to the castle, saying, "My, my, Noctis! How nice! …What is it?"

Noctis crinkled his nose, smiling lopsidedly. "Can't you tell? It's Insomnia! Look!" He pointed to the structure and Regis laughed heartily in response. The sandcastle looked nothing like Insomnia, but he'd never tell his son that. The little boy's sandcastle was comprised of one, solidary tower in its center, standing tall. A wall surrounded it, four smaller towers at it's corners. On top of all the towers were sea shells, giving the structure a pop of color. Noctis had created a deep mote to surround the wall as well, in an effort to protect the castle from water damage from the surely rising tide.

Regis nodded, eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "Ah, of course it is! How could I have not seen before?"

Noctis' eyes sparkled, and he tugged on his father's arm. "Come on, look at it up close! It's super cool!"

Much to the little boy's disappointment, his father stayed firmly in place. "I'll be there in a bit, Noctis, I promise. The sun is setting and it's almost time to go home. I have to pack everything up."

Noctis frowned, his lips sticking out in a pout. "Aww, do we have to? I like it here…"

"I'm afraid so, my son… Insomnia can only go so long without their king… I have a nation to protect, remember?" Regis smiled down at his boy, his smile laced with regret. "…We'll come back soon, I promise." He ruffled his son's hair, hating the dejected slump of his little shoulders. "…Why don't you show your mother? I'm sure she'd love to see it."

Just like a switch had been flipped, the prince smiled widely, practically bouncing with excitement. "Okay!" He bounded off in the direction of his mother, leaving his father to begin packing up their picnic, along with all the fish the two of them had caught.

His mother was some ways down the shore line, walking slowly with her shoes gathered in one hand, enjoying the crunch and grittiness of the wet sand between her toes. She looked out towards the ocean with a wistful, almost sorrowful expression, but smiled as she noticed her son running towards her on little legs. She giggled warmly as he stumbled a bit along the way, almost tripping over a small piece of driftwood before latching onto her leg, hugging her close. Her deep blue sun dress fluttered with the warm breeze, revealing pale skin, much like the rest of her. Her long, dark black hair fell in straight strands, all the way down to her lower back, tied off in a little bunch at the end. Her bangs fell into her eyes a bit, but she brushed them from her face easily as she patted her son on his back, smiling down at him with warm, deep blue eyes. "Noctis! Little One, what's got you so excited?"

Her voice was like honey, and it made Noctis feel impossibly warm as he smiled up at her, his face shaded by her large sun hat and his little hands bunched in her pretty dress. "I built a sandcastle, Mommy! It looks just like Insomnia! Wanna see?!"

The Queen cupped her son's cheek in her hand, and she smiled when he leaned into the warmth, closing his eyes and nuzzling. Her hands felt a little colder than normal, but Noctis paid it no attention, quick to oversee it in lieu of wanting to show off his hard work. "I'd love to see it, Little One. Just give me one more moment." She looked off to the sea, her smile turning into a knowing grin, eyes twinkling like there was a secret only she knew. "I was just paying your little admirer a visit."

Noctis furrowed his brows in confusion, looking towards the sea to try and see what the woman was seeing, but there was nothing. Strange. He pursed his lips. "…Admirer…?"

She grasped one of his little hands in her own, pulling him gently to walk along the beach alongside her. "Yes. I've seen him a lot when we go to the beach, recently. I wonder if he'll ever show himself…?"

Noctis kept trying, eyes scanning the horizon, but didn't see anything no matter how hard he looked. There were no people swimming in the ocean, not one person or creature in sight. He huffed. "I don't see anyone, Mommy... Are you going crazy?"

"Hmmmm." She laughed before lifting him up, holding him along her hip. The prince wrapped his little arms around his mother's neck, his head resting atop her shoulder. "Perhaps. I've always been a little odd, haven't I?"

"Yeah! For as long as I can remember! You're really good with a sword, though! Even better than Daddy!" Noctis gasped softly, hugging her closer. "Don't let him know I told you that!"

"Don't worry, Little One. I promise not to tell." They laughed and the queen continued to walk a ways further before reaching the dock. There, at the end, she put Noctis down. "I love the sea. Don't you, Noctis?"

Noctis nodded, dipping his little fingers into the water to twirl the ripples absently. Below, all sorts of fish could be seen swimming. A few of them even swam a little closer, trying to figure out if the prince's fingers were food or not. "Mhm! It's fun! I like fishing with Daddy."

She sat down and Noctis settled into her lap, sighing happily as she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him close. The sea brought in a nice breeze, cooling their skin, and they sat there for a quiet while, simply enjoying the view. "Noctis… You are so much like your father… You are so, so special. You attract the attention of lots of people, you know that?"

"Aw, Mommy…" Noctis grumbled, rolling his eyes. He wasn't any different from anyone else. Well, except for the fact that he was a prince and lived in a huge castle. He groaned when she pinched his cheek, putting on a playful pout.

"Noctis, Little One…" Their eyes met and Noctis was confused to see a twinge of sadness in them. "…One day, you're going to grow up and become a great king, just like Regis. You're going to be faced with many hardships, and come a across many people you'll need to protect…" She smiled at the uncomprehending expression on her son's face. "…There might be a time where you don't understand what's going on around you. You won't know what to do or how to solve your problems… But never lose hope. Always remember that your mommy loves you and that you have friends who care deeply for you… Even in places you wouldn't even think to expect."

Noctis blew raspberries, rolling his eyes at what was sure to be just quiet motherly dramatics. "Okayyy."

"Hey, I'm serious! Listen." The queen laughed, grasping her son's cheek gently with her palm once more. And once more, he turned into the warmth lovingly, nuzzling against her hand. "You may not have many friends now, but eventually, you will meet others. People you won't want to lose, people who may be against you at first... And perhaps…" She gazed out into the ocean once more, her eyes sparkling as a fish's tail flipped in the distance. "…Even someone you'll grow to love."

The little prince made a face of disgust. He was much too young to feel anything warm about the thought of growing up and marring someone. "Bleh! Love?! No way!"

"Yes way! You'll be grown up and everyone will be chasing you before you know it!" They both laughed, and when they settled down once more, she continued. "…I think your father was the same way, once. Most people are. They don't see their own feelings until it's staring them right in the face…"

Noctis played with the longer strands of his mother's bangs, wrapping the ends around his fingers. "Is that how Daddy fell in love with you? You stood in front of him?"

"Not quite… you see, it was Mommy who used to be blind to Daddy's love."

Noctis' brows raised. "Really?"

She nodded. "Mhm… Mommy used to live out in the forests of Duscae, in a cabin far, far away from other people…."

"…How come?"

The queen sighed, hugging her son tighter. "…It's a long story, Sweetie… Anyways, your Daddy was on one of his hunts with his friends, and he happened to find my cabin while he was badly injured. Your mommy fixed him right up and then tried to send him on his way, but he just wouldn't leave." She laughed lightly before delivering a kiss atop Noctis' head. "He said I was the prettiest woman he'd ever seen. I called him crazy and sent him and his friends on their way."

"Mommy, that's so mean!"

She smiled wistfully, eyes scanning the ocean as she remembered. "…It was. I was different, before meeting Regis… Still, he came by almost every day, and it was always the same. He'd bring me a flower. One that only bloomed deep within the Malmalam Thicket. And every time, he'd offer it to me and propose… Finally, I got fed up with it and told him that if he could best me in a sword fight, I'd take his proposal seriously."

Noctis smiled. "Let me guess. Daddy won?"

She returned the smile, moving to stroke his hair. "Actually, no. He lost. It was possibly the shortest fight I'd ever been in. Mommy had a few tricks up her sleeve." She winked at him and he giggled. "I thought it would be over, but as he was lying on the ground, bleeding out, he proclaimed that I was even more beautiful to him now."

"Daddy's crazy."

"That, he is."

"So… How did you end up together, then?"

"That's a story for another time, Little One…" She laughed at the pouty face her son gave her. "In any case, my point still stands. Some time, far off in the future, you're going to meet someone you'll want to protect with your life. And when that happens Noctis, I want you to give it your all. Never let them go, and protect them with your life… And whenever it gets too hard, just think of me, and I'll be there. When you need me most. Always... Can you promise me that, Sweetie?"

"Yes, Mommy."

Regis walked up to them, his feet heavy along the faded wood. He stopped jut behind them, hands on his hips with a smile splitting his bearded face. "What are we talking about over here, huh?"

Noctis giggled, standing and walking towards his father. "Mommy told me about how she beat you up!"

Regis groaned playfully. "Aww, man! Amaryllis, did you have to?"

The queen rolled her eyes, standing up herself and grabbing for her shoes once more. "Hush, love. It was a long time ago. Besides, if it wasn't for me, our militia wouldn't be as strong as it is now."

"Right?!" Noctis agreed, smiling wide as his mother looked at the two boys. "Mommy trains them really good! She's, like, the best fighter ever!"

Regis chuckled, grasping his little hand in his own as his wife took Noctis' other. "Time to go, Noctis. The castle is waiting…"

The three of them walked on, until the sunset faded to white and the crows of the gulls and the ushering of the waves disappeared into nothingness.

…

Noctis' eyes opened slowly, sadness tugging at his heart as the dream of his memories from his childhood faded away. It had all felt so real, like it had happened mere minutes ago instead of years, and the memory of his mother's face, her gentle voice, it haunted him. For a moment, he felt hollow and empty.

But as the dream world faded away and reality replaced it, his eyes widened in surprise as he looked up at an equally surprised- and perhaps embarrassed- Prompto, hovering just above him, inches away from his face. For a moment, all thought was ripped from his brain as they stared at one another. Prompto's face was tinged with a light blush, face inches from his own. Cold fingers were pressed gently, carefully, upon his parted lips. He watched the way those violet-blue eyes danced, trailing over his features, hesitant to move, undecided on what to do next. Noctis just laid there, waiting with bated breath. The creature was so close that he could count every scale, cold practically see his own reflection in each one. The blonde hair framing his face as it fell around his head, disheveled and unbrushed from the bath.

"Noc…tis…?"

His name was a whisper on the Astral's lips, raw and gritty, but so, so beautiful coming from that mouth. Noctis blushed, his mother's words coming back to him once more.

'I was just paying your little admirer a visit… I wonder if he'll ever show himself? …Eventually, you will meet others. People you won't want to lose. And perhaps even someone you'll love… And when that happens Noctis, I want you to give it your all. Never let them go, and protect them with your life…'

Things were beginning to come together, like pieces of an intricate puzzle. Could it be…? Was Prompto the admirer from so long ago…? The man had said so himself, hadn't he? That he had been watching him for a long time, that he was beautiful. Even now, the thought brought heat to his face. Was it so out of the question to assume this? Did he want to assume this?

Without a word, Noctis grasped Prompto's wrist gently, startling the Astral enough that he backed up a bit, suddenly insecure about whether or not being this close was okay. Still, he could feel those cold fingers atop his lips. A cold, yet not entirely unwelcomed distraction. "…N-Noctisss…?"

It was strange. In his entire life, Noctis had only known a handful of people closely. Even then, he hadn't been keen on the idea of having any of them this close. Yet, here he was, with a man he knew next to nothing about, that wasn't even from the same world as him, and the lack of space between them felt… comforting. Welcome. It was easy to allow Prompto to be so close. So easy, that Noctis had to actively search his brain for a reason as to why it probably shouldn't feel this way.

He was having trouble finding it.

He couldn't deny that his heartbeat went into disarray at the slightest thing the man did- the flutter of lashes, the softness of a smile, the feeling of his hand within his own. Couldn't deny how handsome and ethereal he was, how attractive. Perhaps… this was the stirring of something? He didn't want to place too much thought into it. He could be wrong. It was actually probably entirely true that he was wrong. But maybe, just maybe, the late queen had seen Prompto, long before he had. Maybe, Prompto had been the one who had admired him all that time.

Maybe Prompto was the one for him.

"…Prompto…" The words captured the other man's attention like nothing else, the blush upon the Astral's scaled cheeks blossoming and coloring his face further, and the only thing Noctis could think was 'Beautiful…'. Prompto moved to sit up, to put space between them, afraid he had made the wrong move. Noctis could tell by his expression that he must think that he had made the prince mad. Hurriedly, Noctis sat up a bit as well, keeping the creature close as his hand still encircled a cold wrist. "Hey… It's okay, I'm not mad." The way Prompto nibbled at his bottom lip unsurely, eyes looking bashfully away, was absolutely adorable, and it made Noctis feel light.

Was it wrong? To begin feeling something for a God?

Maybe… Just maybe…

Slowly, tentatively, Noctis brought that wrist to his face, delivering a light kiss within the Astral's open palm. He heard a small hitch of breath and locked eyes with Prompto, who's eyebrows were raised, and mouth parted in surprise. Noctis smiled into the pale skin, his lips grazing over it as he spoke. Softly, like a whisper on the wind. "…Is… Is this okay, too?" In an instant, Prompto was nodding vigorously, his whole face turning bright pink, all the way down to disappear beneath Noctis' borrowed t-shirt. The prince smiled, again feeling Prompto's hand fully touch his cheek, cupping it. He could feel those cold fingers trembling with nerves. "…What were you doing, earlier, if you don't mind me asking?"

The blonde looked off to the side, and at this point it even seemed like the scales along his skin were beginning to turn pink as well, possibly reflecting the color on his skin. Noctis watched on patiently as the creature swallowed a few times, gathering himself. "I-I… was… jussst… t-touching…"

Noctis quirked his head to the side, smiling a lopsided smile that made the Astral's heart do summersaults. "Just touching?" Prompto nodded again, a little more calmly but just as nervously. The prince could feel the heartbeat in his palm against his face. How absolutely, utterly, undeniably dorable. "…That's fine, then. Go ahead." Prompto perked up in surprise, watching as Noctis sat still, hand releasing his own and moving to his lap. The prince's eyes drifted closed, waiting. He shrugged. "Touch away." Prompto was curious. It was understandable.

Prompto just sat there, still as a statue, trying to wrap his head around and comprehend the words. He hadn't been a nuisance? He hadn't been a bother? His exploration was welcome? Slowly, ever so slowly, he began to relax, gathering his courage. "O-o…kay…"

He started with the hand already along the other man's cheek, trailing it down his jawline, ending at his chin. Then he moved it to his bangs, feeling the silky softness of the strands and moving them out of Noctis' face a little. He let out a soft laugh when as soon as he was finished, they fell back into place, covering Noctis' eyebrows and a lot of his eyes once more. He watched as Noctis smiled as well, eyes still closed as he sat perfectly still, allowing Prompto to explore. The Astral set his other hand into motion as well, dragging cold fingers through Noctis' hair, ruffling it at the back and brushing the long wisps of bangs that framed his face behind his ears. He giggled, thinking it made him look a little silly, but no less handsome. Feeling satisfied with his hair, Prompto placed both hands on the prince's broad shoulders, carefully feeling the toned muscle beneath. Next, his neck. He could feel Noctis' pulse beneath his fingers, and it made his fading blush return when he noticed how surprisingly fast it was. Biting his lip, he wriggled closer to him, wanting to see him more up close once more. With both hands resting on Noctis' neck, he could feel the bob of his adams apple as he swallowed.

His hands travelled up that neck, to cup both of his cheeks, and he smiled as Noctis smiled, letting out a small laugh that was like music to his heart. "You like touching my face, don't you?", the prince teased.

Prompto let out a pleasured sigh and nodded, enjoying watching the man's lashes flutter as his thumbs grazed over his bridge of his nose, earning him another laugh. "Yes."

Noctis enjoyed the light, careful touches Prompto administered, his heart beating rapidly in excited nervousness. He said it was okay for the Astral to touch, but he was genuinely surprised by how okay it actually was to him. Before he knew it, those hands were pulling him forward, until he could practically sense and feel the body heat radiating off of the other man. "Me too." He opened his eyes, staring into impossibly beautiful blue-violet ones, and his heart faltered before feeling like it would leap out of him entirely. He was overcome with an urge to lean forward, to close the distance, and the thought startled him, shaking up feelings within his gut.

He'd never kissed anyone before. Not a true kiss, not one meant for lovers, anyways. And in the span of not even a day, here he was, contemplating it seriously. He probably shouldn't kiss what was basically the equivalent of a God. It probably wasn't the right thing to even think about doing. And by the look on the Astral's face, flushed and hesitant but not drawing away, he was probably thinking close to the same thing. But, Gods, he found himself wanting to.

"…Go ahead…" He watched as Prompto blinked, second guessing whether or not he had really heard it. He smiled, closing his eyes once more, figuring it would help. "…It's okay…" But was it, really? He was so confused. He barely understood himself. Barely understood the man in front of him. But he wanted to. He wanted to learn everything there was to learn about him.

…Was this love? Or just infatuation? Perhaps both? Maybe this was all a whim, sprung on by his mother's memory.

He swallowed his nerves down, only to make room for more, as he felt his face being pulled once more, until their noses brushed, and he could feel Prompto's breath along his face and his hair brushing his forehead. For a moment, time stopped.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Hey, Princess, you guys still in there?!" It was Crowe, back with the finished outfit. Had it really been that long already?!

The hands were ripped away from his face faster than he could comprehend, and without the support, Noctis fell forward, catching himself with laggy arms, too full of adrenaline to cooperate with him before he got a face full of pillow. At the same time, a resounding 'thud!' could be heard, a sharp yelp shortly after. Opening his eyes, Noctis looked around, trying to ignore the sound of the blood rushing in his ears as he searched for the missing Astral. His head snapped all over, but he couldn't seem to find the man. 'What the fuck?!'

"Hey! What was that noise? Everything okay in there?"

Noctis scrambled out of the bed, continuing his search. Where had Prompto gone? "Uh- yeah! Everything's cool! Prompto…? Prompto, where are you? I'm guessing the clothes are finished?" He called while walking around his bedroom, looking under tables and glancing in the bathroom. Still nothing. He was beginning to panic. How the hell could he lose an Astral? 'Is he under the bed?' No. No such luck.

"Correct. You gonna let me in, or what? I aint got all day. You aren't the only one who has to go to this formal dinner, Noctis!"

Noctis put on a laugh as best he could, trying to seem normal and sound like nothing was off. "You? Getting all dressed up? Prompto, come ON, don't do this! Come out! I can hardly picture it." With an exasperated sigh and a hand tugging at the roots of his hair, he turned back to the bed. Right before his eyes, Prompto appeared out of nowhere, like a magic trick, huddled up and sitting on the floor next to the bed. He was rubbing his backside with one hand, wincing in slight pain, face still holding the remnants of a blush. "Really?! Invisibility?! Since when could you- Actually, hold that thought." He helped the Astral stand before going for the door, hoping that his face wasn't red as well. Now he had even more questions. But all of them would have to wait until after the dinner.

"I'm gonna give you something to picture if you don't open this door right now, Princess. Should I go grab Endymion? Perhaps he can sway you into compliance? Hm?"

Noctis groaned loudly as he swung the door to his room open, letting Crowe inside. "Gods, please, anything but that…"

The Glaive snickered, a stack of large, black boxes decorated with silver bows and ribbon in her hands. "That's what I thought." She looked over the two of them a moment, a thin eyebrow raised. "…You plan on going to a ball with that bedhead? I guess nap time really is 'anytime' with you, isn't it? Geez…"

Noctis rolled his eyes, shrugging. "Whatever. Show us what you got."

"I thought you'd never ask!" Crowe sat the boxes down on the coffee table in front of Noctis' couch with a dramatic wail, acting as if it had taken her everything just to get it all there. The prince knew better. She was much, much stronger than he looked. But the acting drew a small giggle from Prompto, so he smiled as well, enjoying the look on the man's face. "Okay, Prince Noctis. Out."

Noctis started, giving the brunette an incredulous look. "Wait, seriously?"

She shoved a few of the large boxes into his arms, ushering him towards his bathroom. "Yup. You know how to dress yourself. You're a big boy. I got some work on my hands with this one." She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, pointing it at the Astral, who was holding and shaking a box curiously. "He needs a girl's touch. I can't leave him in your uncapable hands. He'll look ridiculous!"

Noctis scoffed, but allowed himself to be led away. She wasn't wrong. "Uh! I take offense to that, you know!"

Crowe laughed, shutting the bathroom door behind him. "Come out only when you're looking your best! And no peeking!"

Left alone, Noctis rolled his eyes, placing his boxes onto the counter by his sink. "Sure, I get it. Whatever! Geez…" With a small huff, he opened the boxes and began getting to work.

…

Noctis gave himself one last look in the mirror, turning his head in each direction, making sure his hair looked okay. It took a good amount of brushing a more than a little styling gel, but finally the strands were in place, sticking out a bit in the back, like he enjoyed having it. He turned his body, inspecting his attire. It was only a formal dinner, not an event where he had to be out in the public and give formal addresses, so he was getting off easy tonight. He wore a simple suit. Black, with silver pin striped running vertically down the suit jacket and pants. Sleek, freshly shined dress shoes with silver buckles adorned his feel. His dress shirt beneath his jacket was white, with a deep blue tie, done up the best he could on his own. Overall, he looked pretty good, he had to admit.

With a small sigh, he rolled his shoulders. The suit was pretty snug, not leaving much room to move or breath as he'd like. Perhaps he had grown much more than he realized since the last time he had to wear it? He'd need to tell crow that it needed some tailoring after tonight.

Speaking of, he wondered if Crowe was done dressing Prompto. How long could it take? It didn't take Noctis this long to dress him in his car.

His cheeks flushed as he remembered it, and he had to actively keep his eyes on his bathroom door so as not to cut them towards the clothes hamper, where those damned pink panties laid. Clearing his throat, he used his knuckles to rap on the door. "Hey, you guys done in there?", he called.

"I just got done putting on the finishing touches! Come on in!", he could hear Crowe call out in return, and with a bracing breath, he opened the door, stepping into his bedroom.

…

Prompto fidgeted, stealing glances at himself as Crowe and Noctis talked through the wall that kept them all separated. He looked… Different. Normal? Regal. The clothes felt foreign on his skin, the shimmery, sheer sleeves of his dress shirt fell to cuffs at his wrists, gold wrist cuffs accenting them. His torso was covered in a white vest, buttoned down with gold buttons and with a lovely vibrant violet-blue tie on to hold the collar together and bring out his eyes. The tie was a little tight, probably, but it wasn't entirely uncomfortable. As he moved, he could see the light catch his sheer sleeves, and when it hit just right, he was delighted to see the material do much as his scales did, shimmering an iridescent rainbow. His dress pants were white as well, a stripe of gold drawing down on each of the legs, down the sides. The shoes weren't nearly as comfortable as the ones Noctis had put on him earlier in the day, but he'd get used to them, probably. They were shining, like gold. His hair was styled, taming the little tufts of spikes he had grown to get used to seeing on himself. It made his hair seem a bit longer, but he liked it, and smiled brightly as Crowe stepped into the mirror alongside him.

"You look gorgeous, hun. Truly." She winked at him and he looked away, sheepishly, just in time to catch Noctis walking into the room.

His cheeks flushed and his heart raced as he saw the man, all dressed up and looking better than he ever remembered seeing him. His hands fidgeted by his sides as Noctis' eyes widened, color appearing on his cheeks as well as the prince looked him over. It was as if the world had stopped, and there was only the two of them. All they saw was each other. Silence stretched on for a long while, until finally Crowe let out a playful whistle.

"Hey, Prince, you alright? What, don't tell me I did a bad job? I thought he looked nice!" She folded her arms over her chest, giving the dark-haired boy a wry smirk. "Or… Perhaps I did too good of a job…?"

Noctis snapped out of his daze, shaking his head. "N-no! He looks…" Prompto watched as Noctis looked off to the side, scratching his cheek with a finger. "…Wonderful. You did a great job… T-thank… you."

Crowe grinned, standing tall and proud. "Well, you're welcome! Now, get out of here and go to the Dining Hall. The King is waiting. I gotta get all dolled up myself, you know!"

Noctis took Prompto's hand, and the Astral's heart soared, enjoying the warmth of his touch. "Got it. Thanks again, Crowe. See ya!" The blonde was led out of the bedroom and down the hall before being ushered into the elevator. A silence stretched on for a moment, only being broken by the prince's voice as he cleared his throat. "Um… She was right. You do look gorgeous…"

Prompto blinked, snapping his head up to look at Noctis, who was staring pointedly at the elevator doors and not the man next to him, his cheeks impossibly pink. The blonde smiled, clutching his hand tighter in his own. Noctis' hand felt sweaty. "T-thank… you…" He wanted to return the complement, to make the mad feel just as good about his own appearance, but the words wouldn't come, stuck in his throat.

Noctis nodded. "So… Um… Are you hungry?"

Prompto nibbled on his lips, thinking it over. Was he? He didn't know if he's recognize the feeling even if he was. Without an answer, he merely shrugged, watching as the numbers above the door dwindled down the closer they got to their destination. Noctis nodded again. "Okay. Well, they'll have plenty to eat, don't you worry. You don't have to eat if you don't want to, though. I don't even know what a God eats…"

"Nnnnneither do… I." They both smiled at each other, and in the next moment, the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival. Noctis tugged Prompto along, who followed diligently, only getting distracted occasionally by the interior décor of the hall leading to the dining hall.

"Well, I guess we'll find out, won't we?" Noctis' smile was dazzling, making Prompto feel weightless. Which was strange, because he couldn't fly. That was a different Astral's talents.

"Y-yes."

…

The Dining Hall was large, impossibly large, with many ornate tables, carved from fine marble and with chairs to match. All sorts of food lined the tables, a little bit of everything, and a glass of champagne sat at each chair, awaiting a guest. The guests and workers of the castle were all around, covering the floor in groups and chatting with each other, but all commotion stopped as the two men walked into the room. Instead of silence in it's wake, music filled the emptiness, a delightful tune that smoothed over how awkward it was to be stared at. After a small moment, the conversation slowly picked back up, but a lot of glances were still thrown their way as Noctis and Prompto made their way through the room.

They had stopped holding hands, but Prompto still clung to Noctis' arm tightly and kept close by his side as they walked, his eyes wide as he looked above them, admiring the chandelier. There were so many faces, so many voices, everyone saying something different. It was disorienting, but in the best way. He could smell delightful things by the tables, and his stomach tightened in reaction.

Noctis leaned in close to the Astral's ear, mouth almost brushing the shell as he spoke. "It's so noisy in here, right?" Prompto nodded, continuing to look at the beautiful flower arrangements that sat atop marble pedestals along the walls. "That's kinda what it sounds like when you talk to me." He was quick to clarify, when the blonde looked up to him with large, worried eyes. "I mean- you know- your Astral voice. Not the one you're using now. This one'd good. This one's… nice." He blushed, looking and nodding towards the guests. Prompto smiled to himself.

Eventually, they walked along a wall that had many photos, all large and hand-painted with care, depicting many members of the royal family throughout the ages. Prompto's stepped slowed, eyes following every brush stroke, and Noctis slowed as well, allowing him to look at them to his heart's content. The blonde stopped entirely as he got to the one in the very center. The largest painting hung, framed in an intricate gold frame, depicting the image of what looked to be a vey young Noctis and his father. Regis stood tall and proud, his kingly raiment glistening in the light. He wore silver armor along his shoulder and one of his knees, a gold chain connecting his shoulder pieced across his chest, a long cape trailing behind him. Noctis stood at his front, wearing adorable little dress clothes with a little crown atop his head. Even in the picture, the painter captured his adorably pouty face, no doubt tired from needing to stand still so long for the portrait. It made Prompto smile. But then the smile faded away as his eyes roamed over the woman standing in the photo as well, behind Noctis and next to Regis.

His eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he gazed up on her, standing tall and looking equal parts fierce and beautiful. She wore an armored dress, the silver breastplate coming down to hug and cover her abdomen, spiking out along the edges like feathers, layering over one another and shaping her hips. Beneath it, her deep blue dress fell elegantly, almost covering her plated shoes. Her crown fell to frame her cheekbones, acting as a sort of helm., but her long, dark hair fell freely over her chest and down her back. In the hand that wasn't lovingly holding Noctis' little one, she held a sword by her side. She looked powerful and intimidating, but beyond that, she looked… strikingly familiar. Had he seen her somewhere, once before? Perhaps it was only with Noctis, all those years ago? Perhaps Noctis just looked a lot like her, and therefore, he felt like he knew her? There was an undeniable resemblance, after all.

Prompto tried to shake off the feeling prickling under his skin as he pointed up at the woman, eyeing Noctis curiously. The prince was looking at her as well, a sadness in his expression, though he tried to hide it coolly behind a smile. "Her? She's my mother…" His eyes met Prompto's and the blonde tightened his hold on the man's arm, seeing the depths of his sadness. "…She's gone."

He wanted to comfort Noctis, to say something to make it better, but was interrupted by a large hand on his shoulder, interrupting the moment,

"Ah! Noctis, my boy!" Regis suddenly appeared behind them. His voice was chipper, but as Prompto started under the weight of his hand, he noticed that same sadness in the older man's eyes, and frowned. At once, Regis realized what sort of moment he had interrupted; what sort of memories. "Ah… I see… You're interested in this portrait, Prompto?"

Prompto hesitated momentarily before nodding, unsurely. "W-who… Who issss she…?"

Both younger boys turned to face the king, who smiled at them warmly. "Her name was Amaryllis Oriana Caelum. Took my last name, of course, once we were married…" Prompto's eyes widened and he looked back to the portrait, eyeing the woman once more. 'No. It couldn't be… Could it…?' "Isn't she beautiful?", Regis asked, a fond wistfulness to his old tone. When Prompto nodded vigorously, looking back at him, he smiled. "I can tell you all about her at the table… Shall we?"

"Yeah, I'm starving!", Noctis whined loudly, possibly to try and change the somber mood that had fallen over the trio.

Regis laughed, leading the way to the largest table as others began to do much the same at their own tables. "Noctis, My Son, you're always something. Usually 'tired'. But I'd call 'hungry' a close second." They seated themselves, Noctis on his father's right side and Prompto to the right of Noctis. On Regis' left, his sworn shield, Clarus, took his seat. Endymion sat next to him, much to Noctis' well-hidden distaste. The glaives all lines up down the table accordingly. As Nyx took his seat next to Prompto, the man winked at the Astral, earning himself a small, shy smile. "Let me guess- Noctis fell asleep before our dinner?", the king asked.

Prompto's smile widened as he nodded, and Noctis rolled his eyes in response. "Hey! Prompto fell asleep before I did. I was only following the leader…"

…

Before anyone could eat, Regis gave a lovely birthday speech, thanking the royal cooks for their plentiful bounty of mouth-watering food, as well as the Gods for their continued safety and prosperity in their nation. Noctis also said a few words. How proud he was of his father, how he prayed for many more years to his life, and then finally how much he wished their mother could have been there with them. It was beautiful and heart-warming, and every clapped and praised their king and prince before digging in to their food.

Prompto looked at the dishes in front of him, noticing that one of the larger plates by the king was the fish Noctis had caught for the man earlier that morning. It made Prompto smile, remembering how he'd helped him catch them.

"So, Prompto… You wanted to know more about my wife?" Regis asked, munching around a mouthful of food.

Perking up, Prompto nodded before tentatively picking up as little tart and placing it on his plate. "Umm… H-how diddd…. ssshe… die…?", he asked, carefully, unsure of whether or not he was allowed to ask. He didn't want Noctis or Regis to be sad, but he had to ask. Something in him needed to know. Regis swallowed his food, taking a sip of champagne to wash it down. Was silent for a bit, looking at his plate. Prompto frowned, heart tightening in his chest. He had said the wrong thing again. "I-I'm… sssssorry. You d-don't hhhhave to… answer."

Regis shook his head quickly, perking up. "Oh- no. No, it's quite alright…." It didn't seem to be alright, but Prompto nodded. "There was an attack on Insomnia. It was a long time ago, when Noctis was just a young boy… We were on our way back to the castle from Cape Caem when we noticed Niflheim air ships in the sky, heading towards the city…" Prompto's eyes widened, hearing the news. He looked to Noctis, and the prince was staring at his plate dutifully while he ate, his mouth pressed thin and brows furrowed. "…We got to the city just after the first strike had landed, breaching just past the wall. The old King of Niflheim, Ledolas, struck without warning, wanting to suddenly take Insomnia for himself. We got Noctis some place safe, with a few glaives of whom we trusted, and then Amaryllis and I sought Ledolas out to end the attack and his life for good…" The king paused, solemnly taking another sip of his drink. "…Amaryllis was a wonderful fighter. Far better than I… But still, she fell. She gave her life while protecting me and died upon Ledolas' sword. They had ran each other through, killing each other…"

Prompto frowned deeply, eyes reflecting the king's sorrow. "I-I'm…. sssssorry…"

Regis nodded. "It's quite alright… It was a long time ago…" He changed the subject, gazing at the young Astral with a warm smile. "Anyways, enough of sad things. What brings you to Eos, Prompto? What made you want to venture all the way out here?"

Without hesitation, Prompto replied, "I-I wanted to… see Eos. Be onnnn land."

Noctis swallowed his forkful of food. "And now he doesn't know how to get back."

Regis nodded. "Ah. I see… Well, was the Cosmogony any help at all?"

Prompto shook his head, finally choosing to bite into his tart. His eyes widened, irises sparkling as the sweet flavor of the desert filled his mouth. He couldn't help himself from stuffing the whole sweet into his mouth, chewing diligently before swallowing it, placing a mountain of more of them on his plate.

Noctis laughed. "Prompto, hey, slow it down! They aren't going anywhere. We have all the time in the world to eat them." The Astral smiled sheepishly, eating the next more slowly. Human food tasted so wonderful! "I'm not going to give up. We'll find a way to get him back, some way or another. Isn't that right, Prompto?"

Prompto smiled at them and opened his mouth to answer. "Y-"

BANG!

The calm, idle chatter and laughter of the room was cut to small gasps of shock and the clattering of silverware before dying down entirely as the large double doors to the Dining Hall busted open, giving entry to a group of Niflheim soldiers. They filtered in, guns at the ready, led by a singular man seemingly to not be much older than Noctis was, dressed in armor with a deep red cape trailing behind him. On his breastplate, he had the Niflheim crest and wore no helm. His hair was short and blonde, swooping over his forehead. The man eyed the three of them, a smirk playing on his face.

Regis stood up, his glass falling and clattering to the floor in his anger. "What is the meaning of this?!", he called, voice echoing throughout the room.

The armored man stopped and called his soldiers to attention. The lined up behind him, guns resting in their hands, pointing towards the ground. "The name is Loqi Tummelt. First Commander of the Niflheim Army."

Regis practically snarled, banging hi fist on the table. Prompto jumped in his chair, moving to hold Noctis' arm tightly. Noctis whispered assurances into the Astral's ear but kept his glared gaze firmly on the intruders. "I don't give a damn who you are. Why are you here?! What's the meaning of this?!"

Loqi snickered, flipping his bangs from his face before placing his eyes on Prompto. "King Ardyn sends me to deliver a message for Prince Noctis."

This time Noctis moved to stand, staring down the man with a threatening posture. "What does that vile man have to do with me?!"

"King Ardyn wants the man you found in Cape Caem. Hand him over, and no harm will come to your king or your city."

Regis grit his teeth. "And why should we? He belongs to no one. He is free to do as he pleases. Now get the hell out of my castle!"

Loqi clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disapproval. "Oh, King Ardyn won't like that response at all… Prince Noctis, what do you say to my offer?"

Noctis scoffed. Prompto watched on, eyes wide with fear. Who was this man? Why did they want him? "What 'offer'? All I hear is a threat."

"Be that as it may, it still stands…. What will it be?"

Noctis smirked at the man in armor, voice exuding confidence. "You can tell your king to go to hell."

Loqi scowled. "Fine…" He walked slowly along the room, eyes scanning over the wary and terrified guests. "…I see that I came at a bad time. For that, King Regis, I apologize…" He called his soldiers once more, commanding them to follow him out. Before exiting, he turned, facing the trio once more. "…Prince Noctis… You have until nightfall to make your choice. Hand the man over to Niflheim, or see your city burned to the ground… I'll be waiting on the opposite end of your bridge, just outside of Insomnia. You'll come to find I already have an army of Air Ships and soldiers at the ready…" His eyes met Noctis', and Prompto could feel the withheld rage of the man in his arms. "…You barely survived our last attack years ago, and lost your queen… Save yourself the sorrow of losing your king as well."

And with that, he left, leaving everyone shaken. Prompto swallowed, looking up at the two men from his spot in his chair.

What would he do?