Today's chapter is only on Silver/gold and mostly fluff/smut/h/c. I hope you'll enjoy. It's the last break before action, which should be coming up very quickly.

I hope you're all safe during these troubled times.

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Stranded

Chapter 25 – Past the scars

On the way to their own stop, Prompto was growing a little more nervous inside for a dozen different reasons. First, Cindy had referred to them as a couple, and although kissing was clearly allowed between them now, he had thought this official change of relationship would have been decided between the two of them, not thrown at their friends. Cindy could feel his unease and was squirming in her seat whenever she thought he wasn't looking.

"This is pretty insane, isn't it?"

"Being alone with me in a car?" she asked, her voice more high-pitched than she wanted.

"No, I mean, yes, I mean dang it! Cindy, what feels insane is how jumpy my heart is right now."

"Well, we're both crazy then. Aren't you glad we don't have to hear them tonight too?"

"Of course I am! I mean, all this and Noctis has not even agreed to tell me about his piston technique."

Cindy snorted, covering her mouth with one hand.

"Luna has… I suspect she recharges his stamina with her light every now and then. He's not a teenage boy and I don't think they're using drugs, but the way they go at each other…"

"For fuck's sake, Dee, if we're going to talk about them, might as well have stuck around for the whole show."

"I don't really like seeing people having sex. Hearing it is much better."

Prompto looked at her with his mouth gapping and Cindy wished she had her cap and could lower it on her eyes to maybe mask her blush. She was riled up, she had a right to be, he already knew all that, so why did he have to get quiet at times like this?

"I'm not taking you all the way out here for you to treat me like a broken thing, you know?"

"I… That was not… Talking about Noctis and Luna having sex is one thing, I mean, we've had to handle their antics for months already, but… If you tell me what you like and make it sound kinky, I will turn stupid, there's just no way around it."

She heaved a deep sigh, knowing he was half teasing her. A movement in the corner of her vision had her hitting the brakes, Prompto yelping as he caught himself on the windshield. While this car was newer than the last one, it lacked a seatbelt for the passenger seat.

"Everything okay?" he asked her.

"I just think I saw something running towards the road. We should still have a couple hours before sundown, but beasts can cross these roads, I don't wanna get us in an accident."

"We'll make it safe and sound. According to the road, there's parking half a mile from here. The car should be safe there."

"And then we go all guns blazing to find our camping haven."

"And we can have that cheese and salmon dish and pray for our arteries."

She laughed at that, her smile coming back, glad for the change of subject. She wanted to spend more time with Prompto. Nothing was ideal and she was a little worried it might look like she was throwing herself at him. No that he would ever blame her for it. Hell, Prompto had never been shown any love unless he'd paid for it. Just thinking of that, she wanted to reach out and hold his hand. She waited until they were parked and had thrown the backpacks holding their tent and food before laying her palm against his. Their eyes met for a few seconds, Cindy hearing the clicking of his gun as he took off the safety on it. She knew he was being cautious of animals and daemons on the way. But what her eyes registered was the fragile smile he gave her. He gave her hand a squeeze, Cindy sensing some of the weight on her chest releasing from its hold.

There would be no pressure. Not from him.

Their trek was short, yet unnerving and both of them were glad they only met a pack of Garula that minded their own business as the pair took the long way around their pasture grounds. The haven was glowing lightly and setting up camp was a bit of a chore. They'd borrowed the portable heater and made a quick case of the salmon, Cindy admitting she'd rather be in the tent as the stars started showing in the sky. The crackling sounds of otherworldly beings stepping into their dimension was terrifying and far too close despite both of them knowing they were safe as long as they stayed inside the haven's influence.

"To think it was one of Luna's ancestors who gave life to those things…"

"Now that's insane," Prompto chuckled. "To think Lunafreya's family has been looking out for us this far back in time."

"Yeah…"

A few minutes of silence stretched out between them, neither a wall nor a bridge, but something more comfortable than awkward. They had spent the past few months sharing a hotel suite with Luna, either avoiding each other or sticking together to keep themselves sane. He had never dared to be the one to sneak into her room but had always welcomed her with that shy smile and warm arms.

She ran one hand through her blond locks, wondering how much oil might have gotten on her hair.

"Say, Dee," Prompto cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head, not even realizing she was basically doing the same.

She dropped her hand and answered with a stuttering yes. Damn him for sounding so nervous!

"Yes!" she corrected herself, not missing the smile showing on his face.

"Relax. I just… I need to ask, and it will sound lame… When you said we were basically three couples. That was your way of telling me we could be more than just… comfort buddies?"

"Prom, I like you. I like you a lot," she managed, feeling the weight coming back on her chest.

"Are you going out with me?" he insisted, his voice cracking on the last word.

"I was trying to ask you if that's what you want," she said, blushing.

"And I'm making it awkward. I'm sorry for being such an insecure guy."

"I'd like to go out with you," she told him. "I'm just anxious because I've never tried this before…"

"It's new for me too. But you can relax. I just wanted to clear things up."

"I've had you walking on eggshells, haven't I?" Cindy tried making fun of herself, her blush intensifying as Prompto inched closer to her.

"It's okay. You're worth it."

His eyes felt like a warm blanket covering her and she held the hands reaching out for her, giving them a squeeze.

"I… Please don't say stuff like that…" she pleaded with him.

He tugged on her hands to pull her closer, worrying his lower lip nervously despite the smirk on his face.

"You make me wanna be cheesy."

"Cheesy's okay, I just… I don't feel worthy of any praise or…"

"Dee, please. If you have so little worth, where does that leave me?"

She let go of his hands to reach for his neck, her thumbs rolling up and down as she held his jaw to have him looking at her.

"You might curse like a sailor and be the most inappropriate guy I've met when around a freaking princess, but you're also adorable and approachable, and the first guy to make me feel safe without having to keep up walls. That's worth a lot more care than I've shown you. I don't want to make you feel like all you can get from me is me using you."

Prompto blinked once, very slowly, his eyes soft.

"That might be the right question to ask. What is it you want Dee? I mean… Tonight."

The sharp breath she let out was enough to make him even more self-conscious. But he trudged on, hoping the boldness would not abandon him.

"I'm up for anything. Talking, cuddling…"

"Getting naked?" Cindy heard herself whisper back, her voice hoarser than she wanted.

His arms pulled her closer at that, his eyes unsure but his body leaning towards hers, as though she'd opened the box where he'd kept his desire for her. He kissed her, hard, Cindy gasping and cupping his face to make sure he wouldn't back away. When he pulled away for the shortest time, she pulled him back in, his arms cradling her as he lied her down, following suit, focusing on the softness of her mouth and the salty taste of smoked salmon she was giving off.

"Prom…," she tried speaking up.

"It's okay to go slow, right?"

She nodded, holding back on a nervous laugh as she stroked his hair.

"Just don't make me feel fragile. I won't break," she added.

"You're so much tougher than I am," he confessed, kissing the corner of her mouth with a feather touch, his eyes closing as she massaged his scalp, a shudder running through him, his face hiding against her chest.

"Prompto?"

"Don't make me talk, I'll get lamer and lamer. Just keep holding me," he asked her, the shudder reaching his voice.

Cindy remembered what he'd told her about his own past experiences. How he'd always been rushed and treated like garbage when all he needed was a parcel of love. Her heart broke at the idea he might have never been held in such circumstances; her kisses fierce as he leaned into her, feeling greedy and unsure. Maybe his trauma was why she felt so safe around him. Even when his hands grabbed at her hips, to pull her closer, even as she felt his erection pressing into her stomach, there was no fear. Just the growing tension of potential release and the idea he wanted her.

As his lips moved to tease her neck, Cindy couldn't help feeling self-conscious.

"If I'm oily, I'm sor…"

"Shhh," he cut her off. "We can do this in a shower the next time, for now, I just want to taste you as you are. And I'm sure my hair's extra greasy."

"It's not so bad," she started, uttering a moan as his kisses turned into sucking a spot at the bottom of her neck. "Hey, that would leave a mark!"

"You can mark me back. I want to hear you moan some more."

"Then take my shirt off."

His left hand had already snuck under the fabric of her shirt, unclasping her bra so he could roam the skin of her back. Prompto could barely hide his excitement as he scooted back and helped her out of the tight black shirt she'd been wearing. Her undergarment came off effortelessly, Cindy arching her back, feeling a burst of pride for her assets, letting out a content groan as he cupped both of her breasts, applying gentle pressure as he discovered just how soft she was.

"You can squeeze then more than that."

His head shook the negative, yet his hands obeyed, a shiver running through him as she exhaled roughly, her breathing getting faster.

"How sensitive are you?"

"Very?" she answered, smiling as he experimentally teased one of her nipples. "How about you, Prom?"

He was still wearing his own shirt and she decided to touch him through the fabric, grazing the contour of one nipple while she lightly pinched the other. Prompto jumped, his voice a soft whimper, his hands mimicking on her what she was doing to him. Her shivers were growing longer, her back arching a little more so he would hold more of her in his hands, and he wanted to bend forward to take one in his mouth, while also wishing he had more hands to touch her everywhere at once.

"Take off your shirt," Cindy told him.

"You just gave me new toys," Prompto protested childishly.

Her face changed, the gunman biting his tongue, regret and apoligies showing up, but Cindy shook her head at him, only half forcing her smile.

"You like them this much?"

"I love "em. And the fact they're just a little paler than the rest of you. I love their pink" he insisted, giving them a tweak, planting a kiss at the spot where they started. "Their shape…"

His lips went all around the curve of her right breast, Cindy barely holding back on panting as she wanted to press his head to the center.

"Pull on them. Not too much, just…"

He did as she asked, raising his head and meeting her lips, her following moan burying themselves in his mouth.

"So you like it rough?" he mused.

"Shirt. Off." She insisted, grinning back to him as he obliged her, her hands grazing inside from the waistband of his pants to the top of his ribs. He was pale, but not quite scrawny, nothing but muscles under his soft, scar-marked skin.

"Tell me, Dee,"Prompto begged her, bringing her back between his arms, pulling flush against him in a movement that wasn't quite gentle, her cheeks looking even more flushed now.

"I do like it rough… Is it weird?"

"No, I just want to know what… what's off limits and what isn't. I… My experiences were always very straight-forward and… kind of a rushed business too."

"Am I corrupting you?" she tried teasing him, Prompto chuckling, holding back on his urge to kiss her again.

He had no idea how wild he could be, how could she when he himself had no idea?

"You can ruin me all you want, Dee," he encouraged her, giving her ass a squeeze.

"Let me see you."

Her hands got to work on the buckle of his belt, Prompto swallowing as he wondered why there was a knot building up in his throat.

The tent was too small for either of them to stand up, so he lied back down to shimmy out of his jeans, Cindy pulling his boxers down, her nails lightly pinching his hips in her rush. As soon as the pieces of clothing were thrown in a corner of the tent, her green eyes focused on him, Prompto raising himself on his elbows only to be pushed back down.

"Let me do some spoiling, you've been patient enough."

"Wh..what?!" he croaked.

Her hands traced the inside of his thighs, discovering just how much paler and softer his skin was there.

"You've got freckles everywhere," she noted, her smile gentle, eyes bright with something Prompto had never seen before. Not when people were looking at him.

"Dee, stop, this is…"

"I like being in control," she said, sounding almost apologetic. "And seeing you hard for me is…"

Her hands cupped his ass, Prompto unable to hold his hips from jerking up as she lowered her head to the plane of his stomach, kissing a path from his tightening abs to his hipbone. Her hair stroked his erected cock, the very sight pulling a moan out of him.

"Cindy, you don't need to…"

"Your hairs's damp down here," she cut him off, her fingers toying with the rough and blond curls, her fingers teasing his cock with light touches. She kissed his inner thigh, pushing his legs open, convincing him to follow her lead just by saying his name.

"Dee, this is too one-sided, let me…"

"How about you lift yourself up just enough to see what I'm doing better?"

"Oh fuck! I'm… I'm extra pent up, I have no idea how well I can handle…"

Cindy looked at him as though he'd just given her an amazing gift, her hand closing on him, her thumb teasing his tip.

"How pent up?"

She only mnoved her thumb over him, covering it in his precum, her tongue darting out to lick the base of his shaft, Prompto's arms shivering. He was entirely exposed and she wanted to shed more light on his vulnerability and yet, he couldn't say no.

"All my fucking life?" came his breathy answer.

Cindy retorted by giving him a squeeze, her lips kissing him, her thumb pressing harder while she gripped to his butt a little rougher.

"Ever played with your ass?"

"Damn! You do stuff like that?"

"Only when the guys are into it," she told him, rubbing his full length in a rough stroke, Prompto gasping, then struggling to catch the hand still below him.

"Not today, not if we can't have access to a shower and real soap."

"Such a gentleman. You have a right to be scared of it."

"Never said I… wasn't!"

Her mouth was wrapped around his head now, and he couldn't look away, gritting his teeth as she stopped his hips from bucking with her nails digging into his thigh. Prompto knew he was done for then, as she rolled him around with her tongue, her hand pumping up and down as quickly as she dared.

"Cindy…!"

She pulled away, halting all her ministrations, looking up at his breathless face and back down at his swollen cock.

"Was that just in time to make sure we can keep going?"

"Oh my gods… Are you for real?!"

She dried her mouth on her forearm, flushing as her mind processed what was coming next.

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, that's still more action than my little buddy and me see usually…"

"Prom," she started.

"Is it my turn?" he asked her, his mouth still hanging open.

Her nod was barely finished that he was on her, kissing her mouth, laying her down, tasting his sweat and precum on her tongue, giving her breasts a good minute of obsessive attention, before kissing her stomach as he opened her shorts and started pulling them down. By this point, Cindy was so worked up, she was welcoming every gesture helping to the quivering build up of heat in her lower stomach.

"Red panties?" he couldn't help commenting.

"I don't have access to my full wardrobe, sorry if they don't match my…"

Prompto's nose poked at the fabric as he situated himself between her legs, stroking her thighs and encouraging her to sling her legs around his shoulders.

"Prom, Prom, it's okay, you shouldn't…"

"Surely enthusiasm can make up for a lack of experience?" he told her, licking his lips and Cindy feeling a quiver going through her very core.

"I… I'm scared," she managed.

Prompto looked up, his lusty daze clearing up as worry took over.

"You can… give me directions? I want you to feel good, Dee. I want you to like this more than…"

"I already like it because it's you, Prom. Come back where I can hold you."

"I need you to cum at least once before we… How about you show me what you do when you're alone?" he punctuated his question with a kiss along her panties line, Cindy feeling herself arching up desperately.

"I,,, I don't like when… I edge myself a lot," she confessed, covering her mouth with her hand as soon as the words were out.

Prompto wrapped one arm around her waist, smiling to her before pulling her upside down and into his lap. Cindy gasped as she felt beyond exposed despite still wearing underwear. She could feel his cock in her back, her neck already hurting as she had to bent it awkwardly to keep looking at him. Her legs dangled over his shoulders.

"Edging, huh? That's very hot."

He held her securely in place, pressing one hand against her flat stomach, which felt rock hard under his touch.

"You can hold yourself to me with your knees. And you don't like this, we can…"

Cindy swallowed, realizing how badly she wanted to feel his lips against her. This wasn't something she'd ever tried, she wasn't quite wild when it came down to her being spoiled. And while the position was both awkward and embarrassing, she loved the way he was looking at her. The way his fingers touched and stroked to give her shivers while her body was held up, nearly suspended. She looked at herself, noticing that her breasts looked even bigger and she felt so wet, she was afraid he'd made a comment on the smell.

"You won't drop me?"

"I won't," he promised, his grin turning cocky. "Anyway, my dick is doing half of the…"

She shut him down by tugging his head forward, his nose pressing against her labia once more, her hips jerking as his warm breath reached her through the fabric. Prompto experimentally probed and kissed along her mound, Cindy guiding him to her clit, moaning softly as he drew a circle around it with his tongue. The fabric drove her mad already, but Prompto seemed encouraged by the fact it was there, and she wouldn't deny it helped temper her fear.

He teased her slowly, clearly taking pleasure from every little sound she made, shifting the pressure as he genuinely tried to learn what was good and what wouldn't even earn him a rough breath.

"Can I suck on it?"

"Oh gods, no!"

"Why not?" he nearly whined. "Let go of my thighs, get your hands in here. We'll edge you together."

A broken sound make it out of her throat, Cindy barely managing her protest, "No, if we do that, I might actually…"

He repositioned his hold on her, pulling her higher, his tongue lapping a the exposed skin where her inner thigh ended.

"Tell me, don't be shy."

"I… Prompto, stop for a bit, I can't… think…"

He pulled back, his lips so red and swollen, she wondered how long he'd been teasing her.

"I don't go over the edge," she admitted. "It scares me."

"Oh Dee, that's… You're telling me you don't climax? Like ever?"

She wanted to hide herself now, but there was simply no way, so she offered him a self-derisive smile.

"Pretty pathetic, huh?"

"No, not pathetic. Unfair. You heard Luna, didn't you? It sounds like you ladies can really enjoy it. And I'm not saying it for you to fake it. Now I need to see how you do it and where you stop."

"Prom, please! I'm getting dizzy."

He lowered himself first so he could safely lay her back on their bed sheets, stroking her legs as he kissed her ribs, and her wrist, Cindy fighting against the trembling taking over her limbs.

"Better?"

She made an approving sound, tensing as he hooked his fingers around the elastic of her panties.

"If you want to stop here, we can…"

"No, no, take' em off, I'm just wound up on top of… everything else."

Prompto offered her a boyish smile, melting her heart a little as he apologized before exposing the rest of her. His eyes didn't stare between her legs for long, looking in her eyes as he stood there, taking her in.

"You're so beautiful."

"Oh no, don't say that."

"Why not? You are."

She held herself, trying to push the memories she didn't want away.

"This is why I barely ever talk through sex,… I'm sorry, I'm all over the place."

"Hey, hey it's okay. Here, give me your hand."

She did, gasping as he guided it to the left side of his chest, laying her palm flat against it so she could sense just how hard and fast his heart was beating.

"I'm really hoping you're not about to give me a heart attack," he said playfully.

'Gods, you're too fucking sweet."

She motioned to sit up, but he held her in place.

"How about we try it? Show me where you like it."

"But I can't…"

"If you want to fuck me with a strap-on, I'm in," he told her.

Her entire body clenched at his words, her flesh nearly quivering at the thought he'd conjured.

"If you want to tie me up and roleplay stuff, I'll do it. I wanna try everything you want. You're in control here, and we can share it, or…"

"Prompto, you don't need to go that far. I like you on top of me. I wanna share control like you say not just dominate you or act out on…" she closed her eyes shut, trying to muster the appropriate words to tell him how much she wanted to respect him back, like he did for her. "I want us to feel great. And to make Noctis and Luna jealous when we bang each other's brains out."

"Fuck. You want us to be that loud? Don't get me wrong, I'm fucking down for it. But you're telling me you still don't want to cum while we do it?"

"I don't know!"

Prompto lied next to her, wrapping himself to her side, kissing the top of her hair.

"I think you do, Dee. I mean, after all this time…"

She held his arms in place, snuggling to him as close as she could, wishing he knew less, but also wondering if getting everything out wouldn't free her of the weight perpetually weighing on her chest.

"If I enjoy it too much, won't that take me back to when that bastard used to tell me I liked what he did?"

"Oh… So even… You… Gods, I don't want it to sound bad," he defended himself for the senseless stuttering. "But to me, holding back on this sounds like… He gets to take yet one more thing from you. And I can't shoot him up, so what good am I then?"

"Prom… I don't need to be fixed.

"But I do. And don't take me wrong, I'm not trying to shove all my problems on your shoulders. What I'm really trying to say is… If you let me help you, then you're really helping me."

"That's not fair."

"How? We both win."

She wanted to object, but at the same time, she'd never met a man who actually cared enough to genuinely want to help her. And if she could somehow help him back…

"Look at me. But don't pull away, keep your arms around me."

They laid forehead to forehead, their noses nearly aligned, Prompto crossing his eyes on purpose to alleviate the serious mood, Cindy laughing with him, her heart swelling.

"I see you, Dee," Prompto whispered.

"I see you too. You're beautiful."

"Now you're kissing my ass."

"Only a little," she joined in his playfulness. "But I like you. All of you."

That effectively took his breath away, his throat suddenly too tight.

"I…"

His trembling gave birth to hers, Cindy cupping his head, wishing those simple words wouldn't carry so many burdens for either of them.

"It's okay," she comforted him as he hid his face in the crook of her neck. "Just hold me."

He held her tight, swallowing back on apologies. They just laid in silence, holding on, processing the fact there was someone looking out for them, someone who actually cared enough to just lie naked instead of pushing each other too far.

"Would it be okay if we stayed like this for the night?" Cindy suggested.

"Yeah. You're not cold?"

"You're warm," she assured him, snuggling even closer.

"I think it's thanks to you, Cindy. I'm warm all the way to my heart."

"You know, saying stuff like that should be illegal."

"Why? Are you flustered?"

"Very." She admitted.

He laughed, squeezing her close.

"Then we're even."

To be continued…

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Next chapter, raviris, group bonding, tension being set regarding the next few fights and Titan's introduction. 😊