Get Jiggy With It

Part 3

"Uh, Noct buddy... It's been like, a week." Prompto's unsure voice startled Noct slightly and he jumped.

"What?" He asked, confused as to what his friend meant. It wasn't until Prompto gestured to the small ring box in his hand that he understood. He chuckled a little and shook his head. "No. Don't worry." He reassured his partner, still looking at the box in his hand.

He sat down on the bed behind him and sighed, "I found it, when I was looking through..." He gestured around himself. They were in his dad's old room. It was one of the few that had survived mostly intact, and with the influx of people arriving to help rebuild Insomnia, they needed the space.

So Noctis had volunteered to clean it out.

"It was my mom's." He said quietly, flipping the box open and looking down at the two rings inside. He felt the bed dip beside him and Prompto joined him to look down at the rings.

"They're beautiful." He said quietly, his arm curling around Noct's waist in a quiet show of support.

The king leaned into the embrace, still looking at the jewellery in his hand. "I will, you know..." He said quietly, finally turning to look at Prompto. "One day." When Prompto raised his eyebrows in a silent question, Noct found himself looking back down at the rings, a slight redness growing on his face. "Offer them to you." He said quietly.

"Dude. Buddy. I love you. But we are going way too fast." Prompto said, but still, he didn't move away.

Noctis chuckled and nodded, closing the box with a snap. "Yeah." He agreed, bringing his arm around Prompto's shoulder. He tilted his head to rest it against Prompto's. "Good thing the council isn't here." He said, "Or I'd already have had to marry."

"You've been back like a week!" Prompto pulled back to look at Noct. "Why would you marry someone so quick?"

"Old laws." Noct said with a shrug. "The heir must be married by the age of twenty-two and have produced at least one viable offspring by the age of twenty-five." He quoted. "I'm thirty. Not married and have no kids. The council would be freaking out."

"Not like it was your fault." Prompto pointed out. "If things hadn't gone the way they had, you and Luna'd probably be on like, your fifth kid by now."

Noct snorted and shook his head, "We'd probably struggle for even one." He said. When Prompto gave him another questioning look he flushed darkly and gestured to his lap. "I- Well... It- It...doesn't work-" Before he could finish his stuttered sentence, Prompto let out a bark of laughter.

"Couldda fooled me." He said, "Seemed to work just fine last night."

Noct's face seemed to feel even hotter and he shook his head, "For women." He finally finished his sentence.

"You're gay?" Prompto asked and Noct just gave him a look.

"This surprises you?" He asked, "Pretty sure I proved that last night..."

"You know dude, it is possible to like both." Prompto pointed out, "And hey, I finally got in your pants, I sure as hell wasn't going to question it."

That caused them both to laugh and Noct brought Prompto back into a half hug, holding him at his side. After a while, he spoke, his eyes once again trained on the small box in his hand. "Seriously though." He spoke quietly, "I'm going to give up the throne, so really, I-we don't have to but... One day, I want to."

The room fell quiet for just a little too long, and Noct turned to look at Prompto, wondering if he had said something wrong. When he saw unshed tears in Prompto's eyes, his heart thudded in his chest and his mouth went dry. Had he said the wrong thing? Had he pushed things too far, too fast? He was about to backtrack, to assure Prompto that it wouldn't be for a while, not until they had both found their footing, when Prompto spoke again.

"For real?" His voice was just a whisper, thick with emotion. He was trembling and Noct suddenly didn't know what to do.

"Yeah." He said, swallowing the dryness from his mouth. "For real."

"You want... to marry me? As in, 'til death do us part'?" He sounded like he was going to cry, and Noctis was in way over his head.

"Well yeah. Eventually. I mean. It's something I thought about. For a long time. If things could've been different. I would've probably asked you by now. Y'know. If I wasn't the prince. And if I didn't sleep for a decade." It wasn't often that Noctis rambled. In fact, it was a very rare occurrence, but in this instance, he couldn't seem to help it. He wasn't sure who he was reassuring, himself or Prompto, but he was completely out of his depth and flustered. "I mean, we don't have to. I won't love you any less. I just thought it would be nice to, you know, be legally bound together."

Prompto was smiling now. A wet, tear soaked smile, but a smile none the less. "Noct," He said, voice still quiet, still somewhat broken. "Buddy, you need to stop fulfilling my dreams." He chuckled lightly, lifting a shaking hand to cover Noct's over the ring box.

"Never." Unable to move either of his hands to wipe away the tears streaming down Prompto's face, Noct did the next best thing he could think of and leaned forward, gently pressing his forehead against Prompto's.

"For real. I'll eventually run out. Then what'll you do?" Prompto asked, trying to put some levity into the situation.

"Find you new dreams." Noct had no idea what he was saying. It all sounded stupidly cheesy, but he meant it. "So there'll always be something to look forward to, together." Oh damn, that was super cheesy. It sounded like it came from a movie, and Noct would have been embarrassed about saying it, if it wasn't for the happy smile on Prompto's face. Apparently, it was the right thing to say because the next thing he knew, Prompto was kissing him, deeply.

"For what it's worth." Prompto said against his lips, breaking the kiss for only a moment to speak. "I'm not ready yet. But when I am -" He kissed Noctis again, deeply, passionately, "I'll say yes."

And they were kissing again, all of the passion and joy that they had found in each other expressing itself in a physical action. They sat like that, together, for a long while before Noctis pulled back. "Not here." He muttered, "Not in my dad's bed." To which, Prompto laughed and laughed before taking Noct's hand and leading him away.

– – – – – – – – –

"So. Whodda' thought it." Gladio said with a grin. They were sitting around the fireplace in one of the rooms that was safe to occupy.

"Hmm?" Noct questioned, sipping at his hot chocolate. (No matter how many times Ignis raved about it, Noct still hated the taste of coffee). It was just the two of them, and Noct was glad. He hadn't had much time to catch up with Gladio over the last week that he'd been back and it was good to be able to talk to his friend again.

"You're getting some ass." Gladio said with a laugh, pointing at Noct's neck.

With wide eyes, Noct quickly covered his neck, skin flushing red. He was going to have to have words with Prompto later. The King really shouldn't be seen walking around with visible love bites.

"Soooo..." Gladio was talking again, still grinning at him, "Who's the lucky lady?"

Noctis frowned at his friend. "How long have we known each other?" He asked.

"Countin when you were in the crystal?" Gladio questioned, "Twenty something years." He shrugged, not sure on the exact number.

"So in two decades, you never once noticed that I don't like women?" Noct asked, eyebrows almost lost in his hairline. It wasn't exactly something that he'd made public knowledge, but he'd never once actively hidden his sexuality from his friends. He knew that Ignis knew, and that Prompto knew (at least, now he did), so he'd just assumed that Gladio had known. "You do know I'm gay, right?"

Gladio just stared at him for a moment. "Huh." He shrugged, "I didn't know that." He admitted. He didn't seem upset or disgusted, so Noct relaxed a little. He didn't know why he was worried. It wasn't like something like that would actually make his friend leave, but there had always been some insecurity around it.

After a moment, Gladio spoke again, "So, who's the lucky guy?" He asked, his grin back in place.

Noct flushed again, turning his attention to the fire before letting out a laugh. "You know, for my sworn shield and vigilant protector, sometimes you really do miss the obvious." He was about to tell him when the doors behind them opened.

"There you are!" Prompto bounced in throwing himself onto the ground next to Noct. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Iggy's driving me nuts!" He seemed to notice Gladio's presence and offered him a wave. "Hey Gladio, 'sup?"

"Apparently Noct's getting laid." Gladio said with a teasing grin, probably expecting Prompto to pounce on him with questions or join in with the teasing.

Instead, Prompto laughed, "Duh." He said. "He's pretty good at it too."

"Prompto!" Noct would later be ashamed to admit that he actually squeaked out of embarrassment. This wasn't the sort of thing that was just talked about. Even if it was between friends. Gladio's loud laughter didn't help any.

"What? He's gonna figure it out eventually." Prompto said with a shrug and a grin, apparently loving Noct's flustered reaction. "Or were you planning on marrying me in secret? Whisking me away to Galdin Quay to elope?"

Gladio was looking between the two, amusement shining from his eyes. He didn't seem overly surprised. "You two are getting married?" He asked.

"Not for a loooonggg time." Prompto assured him, still grinning as Noct put his head in his hands, his hot chocolate all but forgotten next to him. "But it's on the cards." Prompto finished.

"A honeymoon in Galdin Quay would probably suit you guys." Gladio offered his advice, "But just remember that sand gets everywhere." He winked at Prompto who laughed.

"We'll just have to remember to pack a tent then." He said, "Or just keep it to the hotel."

Noct groaned, "Prompto, I love you dearly, but please, can we stop talking about this stuff in front of Gladio?" He whined.

"But he's the best one to ask for advice!" Prompto was definitely teasing Noct now, and possibly even Gladio, "He's got soo much experience with the ladies!"

Gladio laughed again, "Not sure I'd put it that way." He said, gently smacking Prompto on the back of the head, "And I dunno how it works between guys."

"Not much different." Prompto admitted, "Just gotta remember the lube!"

Noct was sure that his face was going to combust soon, it had never felt so hot before. "Prooommm..." He whined, embarrassed.

"You're right." Prompto said with a sigh, "It's not Gladio's job to give you advice." He seemed like he was going to drop it and Noctis gave a sigh of relief.

"Thank you." He muttered, apparently too soon.

"That's Iggy's job."