AN: *Looks at demo* *Looks at story* *Nervous laughter*

Ahahahah well, that's what I get for writing a fanfic about a game that hasn't even come out yet. Oh well.


The explanation came in the afternoon. Noctis visited his home while the larger man was watching television. The prince arrived without warning and his appearance was sloppily put together. This relaxed appearance came form him being able to be at ease around Gladiolus instead of a sign of laziness. The previous anger had disappeared from him.

Gladiolus's anger had not, however. The foreigner Noctis so treasured appeared in his dreams last night. The sore exchange with Noctis still lingered fresh in his mind.

Noctis appeared to want to make amends. The prince wrapped his arms around Gladiolus and pulled him into a hug. Gladiolus was hesitant to return the hug, because the man had ordered him and shoved him a mere twenty-four hours ago.

"I'm sorry," Noctis apologized.

He was genuine. Gladiolus could hear a familiar and too long absent ting of happiness and companionship in his voice. The war had snatched those emotions from Noctis for too long. It softened the giant of a man. He returned the hug.

And they stayed like that, longer than he was comfortable with. It was as if Noctis was trying to cement his presence onto Gladiolus.

"Um, Noct, would you mind...?"

"Yeah."

He was released. Noctis sat down on Gladiolus's bed. The owner joined him.

"I apologize for what happened yesterday," Noctis said.

His voice and body only half-way agreed with his words. Gladiolus grew up with younger siblings looking up to him. He knew how to read others, how to tune into them and pick up the truth woven between words that tried to hide it.

Gladiolus listened.

"But I do not regret it. You cannot visit Prompto again. Understand?"

Gladiolus crossed his arms. "What's going on, Noct? You've been acting strange lately."

Doting over a foreigner like he hung in the moon in the sky and even yelling at a treasured friend. Noctis was normally a kind, loving person. He treasured his friends and desperately sought to keep them safe from harm, not boss them around and be aggressive towards them.

Noctis sat up straighter. "I suppose I have, but don't look into it," he answered in a firm voice. "I can't tell you most of what's going on. Blame politics."

Gladiolus grew even more agitated at Noctis's actions. His lips turned downward into a frown. "So politics are why you've smuggled a person into Lucis?"

A hand came to rest on the large man's arm. The differences between him and his prince were strange when fully considered. Here was Noctis, a gentle body and smooth skin, and Gladiolus, whose appearance bluntly told of his physical strength, yet it was the former who had took more lives.

"Gladio, don't make me lie to you. Please."

Noctis offered the other a pleading smile. Gladiolus saw the boy he grew up with in those eyes instead of a proud warrior-prince. The gesture was an apology. It said please, forgive me, trust me, and don't hold this against me. Noctis's frequent changing from projecting authority and power to being his raw self at the drop of a hat always impressed Gladiolus.

Gladiolus sighed, then ruffled his hair. He cared for Noctis too much to not accept such a heartfelt plea, and he did trust him. He would trust Noctis with his life if the prince asked for it.

"Alright. I'll trust you on this one, buddy."

Noctis laughed. Gladiolus treasured the sound.

It was then he noticed the prince's eyes were red instead of blue. He was drawing upon the Crystal's power.

Gladiolus decided not to mention it.


For the next week, Noctis became like Gladiolus's shadow. Wherever the larger man went, Noctis would be there as well. His presence was filled with touches. He would wrap his arms around his shoulder in friendly teasing and lean against him on the bus; there were plenty of longer than normal embraces, too. Gladiolus didn't question it. Since the war, time with Noctis was a rarity. Perhaps he was starved for a friend's touch, even with a new lover. Too often meet-ups were canceled because King Regis Caelum demanded he travel to one of their enemy countries to butcher people like livestock. A lover couldn't replace friends.

And yet, there was Noctis at breakfast with his red eyes and cereal in hand. There were teases exchanged that had been absent for too long. Noctis relaxed. The weight of the world's burdens was lifted. Ignis even joined them. Gladiolus almost forgot they were struggling to get by so their kingdom could murder.

Noctis's eyes never faded from red back to blue. A part of Gladiolus wondered what had caused Noctis to go from seemingly obsessing over Prompto to him, but this rekindling was like a blessing from Etro. To question such a gift would be risking it being snatched away, and it was such a precious thing.

Nevertheless, Noctis still visited Prompto, he assumed. Despite what he seemed to be attempting, the prince couldn't possibility be by Gladiolus's side constantly. Some time they did spend apart.

Then their king called Noctis to rejoin the war. Gladiolus had been with him when he received the news. His heart broke visibly.


Twelve days passed before Noctis appeared before Gladiolus again. The prince appeared cold, distant. The change from a laughing, joyful youth to a stoic, distraught, stressed prince failed to surprise Gladiolus. It was common.

Before he could attempt to comfort and cheer up the future king, a key was pressed into his palm. The key was made of brass, and the head was composed of two wires twisted together in a loop. He looked from the key to Noctis.

Noctis answered his question before he could ask it.

"It's for the door in the courtyard," he explained, "so you two can meet without Prompto picking the damn lock every time."

Gladiolus raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Weren't you just telling me to keep away from him?"

The joke failed to entertain Noctis. If anything, it served to irritate him further. His lips tightened. "He said that he get's lonely, and his requests are hard to refuse."

Gladiolus was tempted to point out that he had observed this, but he refrained out of fear of further annoying his already troubled friend. His heart went out to Noctis. How he wised he could say some magic words and wipe away all the trouble he had to deal with. Sadly, all he could do was offer his presence, and he couldn't even offer that outside the kingdom. Noctis had made sure he was forbidden from joining him in battle.

He closed his hand around the key. His heart leapt at the idea of seeing Prompto again, seeing his blond hair and his playful attitude. The emotion brought with it a small pang of guilt. He pocketed the key.

"I'll pay him a visit," he promised. "But later. Ignis is cooking tonight. You should come eat with us, Noct."

"I promised my father I'd report back to him. Maybe next time."

Before Gladiolus could convince Noctis to go with him instead of going to his father, Noctis's image flickered blue and vanished. He wondered where the prince's protectiveness went, or if Prompto's grip on him was so strong it overcame the desire to keep him for Noctis and Noctis alone.

At least his eyes were blue again.