AN: Just as a warning, this chapter contains vomit. Also, thank you to everyone who has reviewed/favorited this fic. You guys rock.


Time passed, and as he was around Prompto more, got to hold him in his arms and kiss him, the more aware of Prompto being trapped he became. If they wanted privacy, they had to seek it in Prompto's room because he couldn't go past the courtyard. If Prompto wanted to see Gladiolus, the blond would have to wait for him to come visit him. It was impossible for it to be the other way around. They couldn't go out to eat together. Any movies had to be watched in Prompto's room. Prompto's life was restricted to half of a courtyard and a a section of the palace cut off from the rest.

Yet, a part of Gladiolus mind that was high on love told him it'd work it. Somehow, eventually, he'd understand why Prompto was locked away, and then they could fix it and be able to experience life together, or if not, be happy with what they had.

He loved to touch Prompto. It didn't take Gladiolus long to learn where the most sensitive parts on Prompto's body were and what to do to make him gasp in pleasure. Prompto enjoyed climbing into his lap, pushing him down, and then tracing the shape of his torso with his fingers while kissing his neck. Prompto was also, oddly enough, modest when it came to his own body. Gladiolus had yet to see Prompto not fully clothed.

But Gladiolus never got to show Prompto his house besides pictures. He never got to introduce him to the other important people in his life.

Stella came and ate with him and Ignis like she said she would. Ignis had shared his surprise when Noctis introduced her as his girlfriend. Not Prompto, but Stella. Ignis didn't point this out.

Gladiolus got the treat of being able to see what kind of lover Noctis truly was. He lacked any of the jealousy he had assumed the prince had. He was kind, affectionate, and sweet. It was clear he adored Stella by the way he hung on to her every word. If there was any out of place emotion with him, it was fear. Noctis feared their relationship because it could fade. He feared she might find some facet of his personality obnoxious or hate the way his hair looked in the mornings and leave him.

For a bold, assertive prince and warrior, Noctis could be so shy. Gladiolus tried to help by prompting Stella to talk about their relationship. According to her, they met at a party Stella had attended while her family was vising the kingdom. Originally they came from Tenebrae, and her family had ties in their government. Noctis ran into her again in her home country while he was there for political purposes, and before they left, they called each other theirs. They hadn't been dating long; a little over two weeks. It would be long distance, but as the two countries were close and Noctis frequently left, they were sure they could make it work.

Now that Gladiolus knew about Ignis's feelings, he tried to look at his and Noctis's interactions in a different light. Was Ignis's fussing at Noctis for not eating properly because he was in love with him? Was that why he was always the first to run to Noctis's side when he was injured?

If it was because of his romantic feelings or their friendship, Gladiolus found it didn't change a thing, so it didn't need to change how he saw their relationship.

Ignis was happy for Noctis finding love. Gladiolus wished he could love so selflessly.


Today, he had managed to steal Noctis away from his life as a prince and bring him to a familiar lake. Ignis had been unable to come, and Stella was back in Tenebrae, leaving the two men alone. They sat on the dock overlooking a peaceful body of water. Each had a fishing pole in their hand. Noctis was leaning back on his free hand and letting his feet dangle over the dock. Gladiolus had his legs cross and was leaning forward.

They were well acquainted with the lake. Noctis, Ignis, and he had played in it when they were younger. Gladiolus had fond memories of the time they spent in it, acting like days didn't exist beyond the current one and the future was so far away its problems were irrelevant. Back then, the water had come up to their shoulders. Now, it only came to their waists.

Besides the sound of their breathing and the occasional call of a bird or their own conversation, it was quiet. The sky was blue and clear. Calm days like this one were gifts sent from heaven.

"I've started to date Prompto, Noct."

Though date was a loose term. To date, surely that required them to leave the palace.

"I know." There was no joy in Noctis's voice. If anything, there was sadness that Gladiolus couldn't explain. If Noctis didn't like Prompto himself, why be upset? "Prompto told me about it himself. Any chance I can convince you to distance yourself from him?"

There was a tug on Gladiolus's line. He reeled it in. The hook came back without fish or bait, so he put another worm on it before tossing his line back into the water.

"Not unless you give me a good reason." The exchange was heavier than Gladiolus would have liked.

"You know I can't, Gladio."

Gladiolus raised an eyebrow. "You can't even tell me that? Seriously?"

"Sorry."

Of course. Prompto was filled with secrets. Even answers just led to more questions.

"Can you at least tell me why you have to keep him locked up?"

Because lately he'd caught Prompto staring longingly pass the locked gate. Noctis's frown grew longer. With a sigh, he laid back. He kept the fishing pole in his hand and used the other to block the sun.

"No. Just accept it. Wondering about it won't change anything."

Noctis's advice was sincere, yet it did nothing to satisfy the burning curiosity in Gladiolus's chest. Why? Why wouldn't anyone tell him anything? What was so secretive Noctis couldn't even tell him? The continuous refusals to answer any of his questions were beginning to frustrate him.

"Seriously? You won't tell me anything, not even give me a reason?"

"Gladiolus. Drop it." Noctis's voice slipped into its more authoritative, powerful tone.

And with that, the conversation was over. Gladiolus couldn't persist against that, not without sparking aggression or conflict. The muscular man pursed his lips and recast his line once more. "It's not right, Noct. Prompto tells me he hasn't left the palace since he got here."

"I know," Noctis replied, words heavy with defeat. "I know."

Yet he made no move to change it. Gladiolus became lost in his thoughts as he pondered Prompto's situation. The peacefulness of the lake and the nice day only encouraged him to. There had to be some way to find the answer, some hints the prince or the blond had given him while they talked that he had missed. He was taken out of his thoughts when he felt a force against his back, pushing him. He caught the sight of black hair and a mischievous grin as he fell over the dock. Gladiolus pulled Noctis down with him.

The two men hit the water with sounds between devious snickers and startled cries. Noctis surfaced laughing. Gladiolus stood and shook what water he could off of himself, then he tossed his jacket to the dock.

"You ass!" Gladiolus yelled.

Smirking, Noctis splashed him. Now laughing himself, Gladiolus splashed him back.

Days like this were a gift from heaven.


On this visit, Gladiolus wasn't greeted by a kiss from Prompto or a brief exchange of small talk. The first thing Prompto did was ask him a question.

"Will you take me to see a chocobo?" The blond stood before him with eyes full of hope.

It was the first time Prompto had made any move to go beyond the courtyard.

"You want me too..." If Gladiolus knew anything about Prompto's situation, it was that the blond stayed behind the locked gate. So much so that Noctis preferred him to come here instead of Prompto leaving. He crossed his arms. "Look, I don't know if I can. Not that I don't want to, but Noct said not to, and his say comes before mine on stuff like this."

Noctis was the prince. Noctis brought him in here. Noctis was the one who made the decision. Gladiolus just fell in love and took what he could scavenge.

Prompto grabbed his arm. "Please," he begged. "I've never seen them before, and Noctis told me he's going to spend the night in another town. He doesn't have to know."

From the way he clutched Gladiolus to the way he spoke, Prompto was filled with desperation. It was like he was a dying man begging for food. Gladiolus couldn't help but be overcome with sorrow at the sight. Prompto deserved it. It was cruel to forbid him to leave the courtyard. Surely, he thought, one trip would do no harm.

But that would be betraying Noctis, someone he loved like his own brother.

Yet Prompto was just asking for a small thing. Fresh air. To escape for a few hours.

The blond's pleading eyes won the struggle. Gladiolus sighed. He understood what Noctis meant when he said that Prompto was hard to refuse.

"Fine. The closest ranch is half an hour out of the city. We'll take my car."

"Yes!" Joy lit up Prompto's face. He pulled Gladiolus's face closer to him and kissed him. "Oh man, I'm excited! This is going to be great!"

Gladiolus knew he was going to regret taking Prompto away, but the way the blond reacted made it worth whatever trouble he'd caused. "Save your energy for the ranch." He opened the courtyard gate. "Come on. My car's out front."

Prompto exited the courtyard, doing a playful bow to the man holding the gate open as he passed him. He looked like a kid on his birthday. Prompto was amazed at the world around him. The wonder flickered and disappeared. He took Gladiolus hand in his own.

"To your car, chauffeur," the blond said.

Gladiolus made sure to intertwine his fingers with Prompto's smaller ones before leading Prompto to where he had parked.

Time flew by as they made their way outside the city. Gladiolus didn't spare a single thought to Prompto's status as a fugitive. Noctis had brought him here. That would be enough for him to be protected anywhere inside the kingdom. Said fugitive kept his gaze on the passenger window as they drove. Every apartment complex, museum, or even office building they passed amazed him.

"My home town wasn't a big, urban place like this," Prompto confessed while they waited at a traffic light. Despite being shown a green light, backed up traffic prevented them from crossing the intersection. "Noct didn't let me look around when we first got here either. Insomnia is amazing."

Gladiolus attempted to start a conversation a few times, but Prompto would always get distracted by a store or a landmark that they passed. The conversation would then shift to a comment about the structure. When they finally got out of the city, he decided to try again. The landscape changed drastically outside the city. In the place of buildings there was little besides plains and road.

"You know, you remind me of a chocobo."

He glanced at the blond out of the corner of his eye. He was holding his head like it hurt him, and the previous excitement had faded.

"I do?" He perked up a bit at the comparison.

Gladiolus nodded. "You've both got the blond hair thing going on, and you can sound like one when you're startled."

"Oh really? Well, there are worse things to be compared to. You could've said a Tonberry. Chocobos are nice."

"Got that right. Some people think they may be smart enough to understand languages beyond their own. They're cute, too."

Despite the corniness of the comparison, Prompto's reaction made it worth it. The fugitive grinned to himself.

"You know, they remind me of you as well." Gladiolus assumed the blond was going to mention his tattoo. "Especially around the rear."

With an annoyed look, Gladiolus playfully shoved him. Prompto laughed. The sound, though beautiful and made his heart flutter, was weak and faint, like the blond was fighting against exhaustion dragging him into sleep.

"If you're tired, go to sleep," Gladiolus suggested. "There's not much to see until we get to the ranch." And he knew how much Prompto slept.

"It's not that. I just... feel a bit under the weather, that's all." He winced. Suddenly his expression went from lethargic to panicked. He leaned over and clutched his stomach. "Shit."

Concern flared in Gladiolus's being.

"Prompto? You alright?" He briefly took his gaze off the road to check on the passenger. Prompto was terrified.

He shook his head. "We need to turn around, Gladio," Prompto ordered. "Now. Damn it, why today of all days..."

"Prompto?" There was a gas station coming up. He'd turn around there.

He reached over to touch the blond's shoulder, but Prompto slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" He hissed like a wounded animal.

Something was wrong. Though he didn't know what, Prompto's reactions were too strange for something not to be horribly wrong.

"What's wrong? Tell me what it is and I'll help-"

Prompto's body answered for him. He puked.

Yellow vomit covered his seat and his clothes. When Prompto noticed what he had done, tears began to form in his eyes. He covered his mouth as if the gesture would somehow undo the past few seconds. Gladiolus finally found a gas station to turn around in. The state of his boyfriend worried him more than his car or their trip.

"Shit. Oh shit, oh Bahamut, oh shit. I'm sorry, Gladio. Je suis désolé. Je suis désolé," Prompto rambled. "Pas aujourd'hui. Se il vous plaît, pas aujourd'hui."

I'm sorry. Gladiolus understood that phrase. Not today. Please, not today.

He spotted the turn off for the gas station, and the road hadn't appeared a moment too soon. He pulled in and parked.

"It's alright. Calm down. We can clean up the mess, and then we'll turn around." In an attempt to offer comfort, he placed his hand on the back of the man's neck. He ignored Prompto's attempts to push him away. "Etro, you're burning up!" The skin was hot to his touch

Prompto was sick. His puking wasn't just car sickness or a reaction to a bad meal. He had to do something to help. He grabbed spare napkins he kept in the back of his car and began to use them to wipe up the vomit on Prompto.

The blond tried once again to push him away. The action was so weak Gladiolus effortlessly stayed in place.

"Call Noct, please," Prompto pleaded. "Bahamut, I'm so sorry, Gladio."

As he wiped away the vomit, he caught sight of red bumps on Prompto's chest beneath his shirt, and it then occurred to Gladiolus that Prompto was more than just sick. The blond whimpered as his hand brushed his skin.

I'll kill you, Prompto had said.

That was why he was locked up. That was why Noctis couldn't stand the thought of them being together.

Prompto Argentum had the plague.