So sorry for the short chapter, but the following one is longer. Besides, this story only has 10 chapters and I don't want to rush it :) Actually, let me know if you want me to update less often x)

The King and his wife, Corleonis and the four Kingsglaives were all sitting around a round mahogany table to discuss the latest reports filed in by the Crownsguards. It was only a matter of time before the Empire would strike an attack to claim their territory. Noctis, however, had other plans.

Prompto was trying his best to keep his concentration on the matter at hand, but sitting beside Iris wasn't helping. He still couldn't believe that, despite the girls he had had or could have, he wasn't capable of asking her out. Hadn't they agreed to go on a date anyway? And yet, he couldn't bring himself to actually invite her somewhere.

"…Prompto? Are you with us, man?"

The blonde was abruptly brought back to the present as Noctis's voice called his name.

"Wha-? Oh, sorry…" he said apologetically "I uh… had a pretty tough day yesterday."

"Well, whatever happens in your private life should stay out of this room, Prompto Argentum. You are a Kingsglaive, and your duty is to pay attention and protect your country" Cor reproved him with his usual stone face that made him blush.

"S-sorry, sir. It won't happen again, sir" he muttered sheepishly, feeling the eyes of the whole room on him.

"Let's take a small break" Noctis announced suddenly, standing up and nudging his best friend to signal him to follow the King outside.

Noctis led him to a quiet corridor and turned to face him.

"What's wrong?" he asked with a knowing look.

"N-nothing! Really…" the blonde lied, knowing full well that Noctis could see right through him.

The King did indeed raise an eyebrow, encouraging him to tell him the truth. Prompto sighed in defeat.

"I went out with Regine yesterday" he admitted.

"That girl from high school? I thought you were interested in Iris" his dark-haired friend was visibly surprised.

"I am" Prompto nodded "I just wanted to tell her I wasn't interested in dating, but things sort of… got out of hand".

"Don't tell me you guys…" Noctis hinted with a frown, but Prompto shook his head.

"No… I mean, we almost… did. But I couldn't. You understand, man? She's always on my mind…"

The King smiled warmly at him and crossed his arm "Just ask her out already".

"It's easier said than done" Prompto pouted "Why is it so difficult?"

"'Cause you really fancy her" Noctis chuckled "There's nothing to fear, buddy. She's gonna say yes. She already did, didn't she?"

"I… guess" Prompto wasn't really sure that conversation was taking him anywhere.

"Listen" the King dropped his arms and put one hand on the blonde's shoulder "Iris is over there, by the coffee machine. Go to her, get a coffee too, ask her how she's doing and if she'd like a salmon jambalaya tonight".

"A salmon jambalaya? Seriously, bro?" Prompto couldn't help but smirk.

"Heard it's one of her favorites" Noctis winked at him and started walking back to the meeting room "See you in exactly ten minutes".

"Ten?! C'mon dude, I need at least twenty!" Prompto protested as the King waved dismissively at him, disappearing behind the double doors.

Prompto took a deep breath and walked resolutely towards the coffee machine, where Iris was indeed sipping the dark liquid from a paper glass.

"H-heyaz!" he greeted, his voice sounding three times louder than he had intended.

"Hello there!" she smiled back at him, and he thought he would melt when they locked eyes. His heart had started hammering against his chest and he hadn't even started.

"Ehm… How ya doin'?" he asked a bit awkwardly, but determined to follow the guidelines provided by his best friend.

"Good! And you? You said you had a tough day yesterday. Hope everything's fine now" she replied with a worried tone.

"Oh… oh, no. I mean, yes. All's fine now" he grinned widely, his mind going into total confusion. What was he supposed to ask her now? Iris was staring at him expectantly.

"Ehm…" Salmon. Jambalaya. He could almost hear Noctis's voice whispering in his ear. "Would you… doyoulikesalmon?"

"What?" she asked blinking in confusion. He cleared his throat and checked the clock on the wall. He had been stuttering like a teenager for five minutes already. Why was time going so fast?

"I said… I mean, I wondered if you would like to have salmon jambalaya tonight... with me?" he rubbed the back of his head feeling heat rush to his cheeks.

"Oh…" she almost whispered, a look of sadness on her gracious face "I'm sorry, Prompto! I promised my friend Serena to go shopping with her in the evening. She's with child and needed some help with baby clothes and… yeah"

Prompto could tell she was genuinely sorry, and immediately reassured her it was fine.

"Maybe another time" he suggested with a forced smile.

"Yeah… maybe" she smiled back sheepishly.

It was finally Friday. The very first week-end off she had had after months. Cor had insisted they'd all agree to an extra meeting in the week-end to revise their war plan against the Empire, but Noctis had refused whole-heartedly, saying that his guards needed a break too if he wanted them to work efficiently.

Iris flopped onto her bed and checked the screen of her phone. No new messages, the latest being from Serena who had profusely thanked her for her support at the shopping center.

She automatically opened the chat box she shared with Prompto, frowning when she saw the latest conversation dating back to eight days ago, and they had simply agreed to meet outside the Citadel before their shift started.

She didn't like that sudden distance between them. Of course, they had been apart for ten years when she had lived a lonely and isolated life. She had been confident he had moved on, found someone else and was therefore incredibly surprised when, after her return, he was still single. She had been even more surprised when he had asked her out. Twice. And of course she had had other things to do.

Boy, she missed the adventures they had shared on their road trip all those years ago. It had somehow felt easier back when she was a teenager. She was almost thirty now, and still hadn't had any boyfriends.

She had obviously opened up to her newly-found friend Serena, and she had told her to simply send him a message asking if he was still interested in that salmon jambalaya.

She had thought it sounded easy enough, but somehow couldn't bring herself to typing those few words and sending them. It couldn't be that different than asking him whether he could wait for her outside the Citadel before work, right?

She took a deep breath to slow down her racing heart and began typing.

"Hey, Prom! You alright? :)"

She stared as his status went from "Active 14 minutes ago" to "Active now", her heart speeding up even more when she saw he was typing.

"Hey there, girl! I'm fine, you? ;)"

She smiled and bit her lip "I'm good!"

She hit the "send" button while she thought of the best way to ask him if he wanted to go out for a walk. When she finally started typing, she didn't notice he was too.

"Got any plans tomorrow?"

"Got any plans tomorrow?"

She stared at the screen, originally thinking she had sent the same message twice before realizing they had typed the exact same thing. She burst into laughter as he sent a new message.

"Great minds think alike! :D"

"Indeed. But yeah, I'm free as a bird tomorrow, so I'm up for a bite if you like :)" it was her turn to send a message.

"Pick you up at 5!" she read, and wondered what he had in mind. Most dates didn't start before 7.

"See ya then :)"

Her heart felt suddenly very light as she re-read their conversation smiling dumbly to herself. She could imagine Serena chuckling proudly with a "told you!"

"Now" she muttered to herself, opening her closet with a disapproving look "What to wear tomorrow?"

Next Chapter: Iris and Prompto are finally going on their first official date! Will it go as planned? ;)