Blessings of Eos
Chapter 13
Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy
"You're still coming over tomorrow, right?" Prompto double checked on the walk home from school.
"Yup. You sure your parents won't mind?" Noctis was sure that was a thing to check on.
"They had some time off last week for my birthday, but it's been wall-to-wall meetings for dad and surgeries for mom, so they haven't been home much this week, and probably won't be next week." Prompto assured him.
"Wait, it was your birthday last week and you didn't tell me?" Noctis was already familiar with the busy schedules of Prompto's parents and how it meant that most days Prompto just saw them when they poked their heads in upon arrival and departure.
Prompto looked at him confused. "It's just my birthday, dude. Not a big deal."
"How can your birthday not be a big deal? You know when my birthday is." Noctis questioned.
"Dude, your birthday has been a public holiday since you were like three. Everyone knows when it is, so your argument is invalid." Prompto retorted. "Before I was adopted by mom and dad, my birthday was just another day. Afterwards, I never really felt comfortable about having a party, since everyone already knew each other at school and for other reasons as I got older. They don't have any relatives still alive, so as long as I get to spend some time with them for my birthday, I'm fine with it, regardless of anything else. Though if you can get Iggy to make that chocolate lava cake for me…"
Noctis laughed at his hopeful look regarding Ignis's cooking. "How old were you when they adopted you?" He asked, slightly curious.
"Five-ish? Old enough to remember meeting them for the first time." Prompto shrugged. "They're great parents, but it would be nice if they weren't so busy."
Noctis opened his mouth to say something, but was distracted by a bark. "Pryna?" He blinked as the dog ran over, not to him, but to Prompto.
Kneeling down, Prompto laughed as Pryna jumped into his arms, licking his face. "Hey there Tiny."
"…Tiny?" Noctis sat down on a nearby bench, Prompto carrying Pryna over to join him.
Prompto blushed. "I couldn't think of anything better at the time."
"How do you know Pryna anyway?" Noctis had received the notebook from Luna several times since becoming friends with Prompto, but this was the first time she sent Pryna.
"I was walking home from school taking pictures one day near the start of sixth grade when I found her with an injured leg, so I took her home with me and patched her up. She stayed for a few days before disappearing. Never did figure out how she got out of the house." Prompto turned shame-faced. "I…kinda hoped that she wouldn't leave, or that her owner wouldn't look for her. I had never considered having a pet before. Though I guess it was for the best, since afterwards I learned both my parents are allergic to pet dandruff. It was a couple weeks later that I came home to find a letter from Lady Lunafreya in the mail box."
"How did she learn your name?" Pryna had migrated to Noctis's lap once she was done reuniting with Prompto.
"I bandaged Ti-Pryna up with a handkerchief that had my name on it, so it probably wasn't hard to find my address." Prompto was still slightly pink, and somehow Noctis's eyes were drawn to his freckles.
"I have a feeling our encounter came soon after that letter. I did apologize, right?" Noctis idly petted Pryna, remembering the encounter.
"A couple times now, dude. Don't worry about it; it wound up being the kick in the ass I needed, so it all worked out in the end."
The boys lapsed into silence. Finally, Noctis asked, "Do you want to write a letter to send back with the notebook?"
Prompto's blush returned full-force. "Are you serious?! She probably doesn't even remember that. Why would she want to hear from me?"
"Considering I've sent several pictures of us with the letters I've sent with the notebook? I think Luna wouldn't mind hearing from you. Especially since she sent Pryna this time; usually it's Umbra. And Luna never forgets anything relating to the dogs."
Prompto's face could have stood in for the stop sign. "…can I think about it? I don't know if I could write anything without coming across as a total nerd."
"Sure; it takes a couple days for me to write back. We don't want to run out of room in the notebook, so we usually exchange letters." Noctis told him.
Noctis checked the time on his phone. "I should probably be getting home now. See you tomorrow?"
"If I haven't died of embarrassment in the night, yeah. See ya!" Prompto's parting reply only contained a portion of his usual cheer, given how red his face still was.
Noctis looked down at Pryna, who appeared to have no intention of moving from his arms. "I'd send you home with him to visit, but I don't want to set off his parent's allergies. If you stick around until Monday Prom can spend some more time with you."
Pryna yipped in reply. Noctis guessed that Prompto was her third favorite human, after Luna and himself. Standing up, Noctis asked, "So I'm carrying you back with me?"
A tail wag was his only response.
Dinner was practically ready by the time Noctis returned to the apartment, Ignis adding the final touches. Shedding his jacket and shoes at the door, he headed to the table, only to come to a halt when he noticed in detail the file waiting for him. "What the hell is this?"
It was an ordinary manila folder, sealed with the royal coat of arms that meant it was for his-or his dad's-eyes only. What incited the question was the name on it and the picture clipped to the outside. 'PROMPTO ARGENTUM' in bold letters and a recent school photo.
"Cor asked me to pass it on to you." Ignis answered, bringing only one plate to the table.
"Do you know what's in it?"
"Nothing beyond what is on the outside." Was the answer he received.
Noctis didn't know what to do. He just knew he really, really didn't want Ignis there right now. "Get out."
Ignis, sensing his mood, merely bowed and left. Noctis scarcely noticed the bow, something Ignis hadn't done outside a formal occasion in ages, let alone his departure until the click of the lock echoed through the apartment, suddenly cavernous.
Noctis hardly tasted the food as he mechanically ate. He wasn't really hungry anymore either, but he wasn't about to let that stand in the way of an Ignis-meal.
It was testament to how distracted he was that he actually rinsed his plate before leaving it in the sink.
Noctis sighed heavily as he sunk onto the sofa, eyeing the folder he had placed on the coffee table like it was something venomous.
The problem wasn't that the Crownsguard had researched Prompto. It was a matter of routine that everyone and anyone he came in contact with would be investigated. He would not be surprised if it turned out every conceivable person on his walk home from school and the arcade had been researched.
The problem was that evidently there was something they felt he had to know about Prompto. Something that Prompto wouldn't admit to. Which was bullshit. Prompto was a terrible liar. He may dodge the question and give only a vaguely-related answer, but he never failed to answer a direct question.
Somehow, the weight of royalty felt as heavy now as it had when it seemed like everyone was reminding him that his dad would die and leave him alone one day potentially very soon. Prompto never cared that he was the Prince, readily sympathizing with him when hearing about the galas and formal wear and the million and one forks he had to deal with during such events.
Prompto was not friends with 'Noctis Lucis Caelum'. He was friends with 'Noct'. And the only way Noctis would learn about him would be in the way everyone else learned about each other; through talking and sharing experiences.
It was a good thing he didn't have any pressing assignments due the next day, because his attention was shot.
It wasn't until later, staring up at the ceiling above his bed in an unheard-of bout of sleeplessness that it hit Noctis.
He didn't even want to read the file.
Noctis was still distracted the next day, his thoughts mostly on the file hiding in his bag, which gained like twenty pounds overnight with how heavy it felt. Prompto, naturally, picked up on his mood. "You okay? Something happen with His Majesty?" He asked over lunch, Noctis mooching food off of Prompto for a change.
"No. It's something else. I'll tell you when we get to your place, alright?" Noctis tried to smile reassuringly, but it was more like a grimace.
Prompto, still worried, nonetheless dropped the line of conversation, whipping out his phone to try and distract Noctis with cat videos.
It kind of worked, until lunch ended.
The sound of Prompto's front door closing sounded as loud as his own door had when Ignis left yesterday. Prompto, full of worry and sudden nervous energy over the modest living room, starting straightening the sofa cushions, which really didn't need it.
Noctis just pulled out the folder and set it on the coffee table.
Turning, Prompto paled, and idly Noctis noticed how his freckles stood out even more than when he blushed. Prompto sank into the sofa, sighing. He looked up at him, unbearably sad. Anxious to make the face go away, Noctis wound up speaking at the same time as Prompto.
"I haven't read it."
"So you've read—wait, what? You haven't?" Prompto just looked at him, full of shock.
It reminded Noctis of the face he had that first day, when he suggested walking to school together the next day.
"No; the seal hasn't been broken, and it's impossible to fix it back the way it was once it has. See?" Noctis pointed to the immaculate seal.
Prompto just looked between Noctis's face and the seal, stunned. "…why?"
Noctis scowled. "Cuz you're my friend. And the only way I want to learn about you, is from you." Prompto jumped as he slammed the folder onto the coffee table. "I don't give a damn about whatever the Crownsguard thinks is so damn important about you for me to know. You're not friends with the Prince; you're friends with Noct. And 'Noct' wants to learn about you the way everyone learned about everyone else regularly; by doing stuff together and talking." Noctis's face softened. "Whatever it is, you can tell me when you feel ready."
Prompto just stared at the coffee table, not really seeing it. "…I don't know if I'll ever feel ready. I've never…had to tell anyone before."
"Do your parents know?"
Prompto let out a bitter chuckle, a sound Noctis hadn't know he could make. "Of course; they're Crownguard."
Okay, that was surprising, but Noctis pushed on. "Does whatever it is endanger your life?"
"…not to my knowledge?"
"Then I'm not gonna press."
Prompto still looked uncertain. "What if I'm never ready to tell you?"
"Then it's obviously not as big a deal as it's being made out to be."
Prompto looked ready to argue the point, but decided against.
Quiet stretched between them, the only sounds those from the neighborhood outside. "…What do we do with it?" Prompto finally asked.
"I can't just give it back. I don't want temptation hanging around, but all the appliances at the apartment are electric and there's no candles or matches. And the fire alarm goes off if the guy two units down burns dinner." Noctis glared at the folder, wishing he could set it on fire with his glare alone.
"I'm sensing a story here." Prompto commented, beginning to return to normal.
"…there may have been an incident involving me, matches and candles, and an antique rug when I was ten. Even though Dad admitted that the rug was butt-ugly and no real lose, I'm still not allowed around fire starters." Noctis just looked up at the ceiling, a faint blush gracing the bridge of his nose.
"We have a grill in back." Noctis looked at Prompto. "Well, dad calls it a grill; it's really just a big metal bowl on a tripod. But there's a grill rack in it…and charcoal from summer left."
On the same wavelength, the boys grinned at each other.
"It's not booby-trapped, right?" Prompto questioned, after filling the grill with charcoal and kindling, and adding some lighter fluid.
"You've been playing too many video games." Noctis retorted, matches in hand. "As long as I'm the one actually putting it in the fire, we'll be fine."
Prompto didn't look entirely convinced, but said nothing as Noctis lit a match to start the fire. After waiting for the flames to build up, he tossed the folder into the fire.
While it was satisfying to watch it burn, it did get boring after a few minutes. "So what do we do while it burns? We can't leave it alone." Noctis asked.
Grinning, Prompto just pulled out a bag of marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. Grabbing to convenient sticks, he stuck a marshmallow on each. Passing one to Noctis, he held his own over the fire, toasting the marshmallow.
"Why are we toasting marshmallows?"
"What, you've never had s'mores?" Prompto asked, jerking his marshmallow out as it caught on fire to blow it out.
"S'more?" Noctis asked, confused as he watched Prompto stack half a chocolate bar on a graham cracker half, pulling the marshmallow off the stick between the chocolate and other graham cracker half.
Holding his creation out to Noctis to try, Prompto proclaimed, "See? S'more."
Taking a bite, Noctis immediately saw the appeal and began toasting the marshmallow on his stick. "You can do them in the microwave if you nuke it for like five seconds, but why waste a perfectly good fire?" Prompto admitted.
After several s'mores, and poking the folder to make sure it all burned, Noctis turned the conversation to the official reason he came over. "So. Research report on chocobos. Where do we start?"
Prompto pulled out his phone. "I know someone who can give us a starting point."
"This isn't gonna turn out like when you had me interview Cor for that Crownsguard history report, right?"
"Hey, they never said we couldn't use a person as a source. Well, before we did it. There was nothing about asking someone knowledgeable on the subject about where to start." Prompto retorted as he flicked through his contacts before finding the number he was looking for.
Hitting the call icon, it didn't take long to be connected. Prompto put the phone on speaker as the person on the other end picked up. "Prompto, for the fiftieth time, I am not sneaking you into the lab to see the dwarf chocobos we're working with." A female voice said in lieu of a greeting.
"Hello to you too Chrissy." Prompto greeted the woman. "I promise this isn't about me begging to see them, okay?"
'Chrissy' sighed, "What is it?"
"I've got a school research project on chocobos, so I was hoping you could give me a good starting point?" Prompto gave the phone puppy dog eyes despite the impossibility of Chrissy seeing them.
"I thought research projects were about finding the information yourself?" Came the amused answer.
"There is absolutely nothing against asking someone for a starting point." He protested.
Noctis could practically hear the eye roll over the phone. "Start with 'The Mahoujin Chocobo Guide'. It's fifty years old, but practically everything on chocobos will lead you back to it."
"Is there a more recent edition?" Noctis asked.
"Nope; the Mahoujin clan was wiped out when Yamato was fire-bombed. If there were any survivors, they wouldn't have published under that name if they continued in chocobos." Noctis could hear the rustle of papers. "You have dad's number right? He might know of something more recent; my focus is more on the biology and genetics, not behavior. And you owe me dinner."
"Why do I owe you dinner?" Prompto asked.
"Because you promised to buy me dinner for my birthday and that was three months ago?" Chrissy reminded him. "Though if you bring food made by that one friend you have that works too."
"Obviously coming to Insomnia has done you good." Prompto said, licking melted chocolate off his fingers.
Why Noctis's eyes were tracking his tongue he didn't know.
"Turns out I just needed to get out of my twin's shadow; just didn't realize it. You got that long weekend coming up right? Let's meet up one day, alright?"
"Yup! Talk to you later!" Prompto said.
"Bye Prom. Bye, royal friend I'm not supposed to know about." Prompto squawked as the call ended.
Sensing the question, Prompto spoke. "That was Chrissy. Her dad runs a chocobo rental business in Duscae. She came to Insomnia for the biology program at the university."
Noctis chuckled. "I should've known you'd know anyone and everyone involved with chocobos." He poked that the charcoals. "I think it's all burned up now."
"Looks like it. So, why don't we look up that book she told us about while we eat?" Putting the fire out, Prompto lead the way back into the house. "Cheesesteaks work for you? There's this great little place like three minutes from here."
"Sounds good."
Noctis groaned, hugging onto his pillow. Why was Ignis bothering him? "Noctis, it's almost noon. On Saturday. You have training in twenty minutes."
Noctis shot up as the words sunk in. "SHIT!" He fell onto the floor as he tried to scramble out of bed, taking Prompto with him as their legs were tangled together.
Well, that explained why the pillow breathed.
Ignis made a disapproving noise at his profanity, but neither Prompto-rudely awakened by the fall-, Dr. Argentum-standing in the door with Ignis-, or Mr. Argentum-rubbing his eyes, drawn out of bed by the commotion-, seemed to notice. "Tell me you weren't up all hours of the night playing Kingdom of Hearts."
Dr. Argentum covered her mouth as she yawned. "They were out when I got home at three. Michael?"
Mr. Argentum shrugged. "The light was still on at 1:30 AM when I got in. Did you use the grill yesterday Prompto?"
Prompto, processing the scene in his room as Noctis scrambled for his things, just said, "Maybe?" Attempting an innocent look.
"You forgot to empty the charcoal out. Why were you using the grill at the start of November anyway?" Mr. Argentum chuckled.
"Noct's never had s'mores before." Prompto climbed back up into bed.
Dr. Argentum just looked bemused. "The microwave not good enough anymore?"
"Not for the first time! Have to get that burnt marshmallow experience the first time!" Prompto pulled Noctis's phone out from under him, the screen filled with text notices and reminders from Ignis.
Grabbing the phone, all of Noctis's stuff was together barring his shoes at the door. "See ya Monday Prom. Thanks for letting me stay Dr. Argentum, Mr. Argentum." He said as he bid goodbye to the household.
"Not a problem. Have a good day?" Dr. Argentum tentatively said as she followed Noctis and Ignis to the door.
"You as well." Ignis replied, elbowing Noctis into repeating his words as he ushered him out the door.
Locking the door, Eleanore went back upstairs, where her boys were sitting on Prompto's bed, leaning into each other half asleep. "What was the paper in the grill? It couldn't all have been kindling." Michael asked when she returned.
Prompto sat up straight, remembering yesterday. "He got my file. He got my file and didn't read it. Never crossed his mind." His voice was full of wonder, still not quite believing it.
"So you two burned it?" Eleanore asked.
"Well, he did. So it's not technically destroying Crown property?" Prompto scratched the back of his head.
The parents chuckled. "No, it's not if he did the destroying. Did he ask about it?" Eleanore sat down on the other side of Prompto.
"He asked if you guys knew and if my life was in danger because of it. He…just said I could tell him when I was ready. And if I was never ready, then it…it wasn't as big a deal as it was being made out to be." It was sinking in now, what had happened yesterday and what it meant.
Eleanore and Michael smiled softly at his amazement, hugging him between them. "I'll be doing lasagna later today, okay? For now I'm going back to bed."
Prompto nodded as his parents got up, his mom kissing his cheek. The forehead was reserved for Miss Aerith, and Eleanore never contested. "Make sure you empty the grill before the end of today, yeah? I'm gonna…do something. Since I'm awake." His dad said as they exited.
"Hey, Mom? Dad?" They paused at the door. "I love you."
"I love you too Prom." His parents said together, smiling as they closed the door.
Prompto flopped back down on the bed, absently grinning up at the ceiling. It was hard to believe that Noct had actually done that yesterday. Having him destroy a chance to learn about his past when it was handed to him on a silver platter? Priceless. He knew the folder and the contents were only copies, but it still left a warm and fuzzy feeling, now that the action had fully sunk in. Picking up his own phone, Prompto texted a reminder about asking if Ignis could make that chocolate lava cake to Noct. He wasn't sure why Chrissy called Ignis his friend, but he wasn't in the mood to quibble over details at the moment.
That done, Prompto pulled up the Kingdom of Hearts soundtrack in the music app before rolling back over, not quite ready to get up but not wanting to go back to sleep.
After training, Noctis brought up the subject with Ignis and Gladiolus. "Hey, I just found out Prompto's birthday was last week; what do you think I should get him? He asked if you could make your chocolate lava cake for him Ignis, but I'd like to get him something myself." Noctis asked.
"He likes chocobos, so what about something chocobo-related?" Gladiolus suggested.
Noctis hummed in thought and shrugged, still undecided.
"The folder I brought you Thursday didn't happen to begin a new life as ashes?" Ignis asked, already suspecting the answer but curious to see if Noctis would admit to it.
"The only way I want to learn about Prompto is from him. End of story, and any other files I get about him will meet the same fate." Noctis answered, scowling.
Ignis simply left things at that as Noctis left to have dinner with the King. "Do you think I should get the kid anything? I mean, you're making a cake and Noct is going to get him something." Gladiolus asked as he and Ignis headed to their own palace quarters.
"Prompto's interested in photography, so perhaps a book on photography?" Ignis suggested, already starting a list of what he would need for the cake. "I plan to also make the curry he enjoyed two weeks ago."
"Kinda weird isn't it? I mean, I know I'd call the kid a friend, but to him we're probably just guys who work for Noct." Gladiolus commented.
"I feel the same. I have the feeling, however, that Prompto may feel we only put up with him for Noct's sake. He's been quick to leave should both of us arrive, and when I overheard Noct addressing this with him, he said that whatever we had to do with Noct was more important than any plans he himself had with Noct. Noct was unable to fully banish the notice." Having arrived at Ignis's rooms, Ignis retrieved a slim binder from a shelf. "I've picked out Prompto from Noct's school photos; they've been attending the same schools since Noct entered public schooling." He flipped it open to a class photo from sixth grade, pointing to where he had circled Prompto in the group.
Gladiolus whistled. "Damn; puberty did the kid good. Didn't Noct say he runs?"
"He does. I don't have a good reason, but…I think Prompto is in for the long haul." Ignis admitted, frustrated that he couldn't pin down a specific reason.
"Noct didn't let those kids who just wanted to hang out with the Prince stick around for very long; if Prom was like that, he would've be gone before now." Gladiolus slung an arm across Ignis's shoulders. "Looks like we have a birthday party to plan."
"So you burned the latest file Ignis brought you?" Regis asked. It was a very causal dinner in the King's rooms. By very causal, there was pizza and just himself and his son on a sofa, an unheard of occurrence.
Noctis froze mid bite. Regis was amused to note he appeared to be going through every profanity he knew in his head. "…I thought Prom was being paranoid when he asked if the folder was booby-trapped."
Regis chuckled. "Truthfully, I didn't know you had until you just confirmed it." Noctis was definitely on a profanity recital in his head now. "I suspected that would be your reaction when Cor informed me he was giving you a copy of young Mr. Argentum's file. Did you even open it?"
Noctis scowled at his slice of pizza. "No way! Never crossed my mind. Anything else the Crownsguard thinks is so damn important about him will meet the same fate; Prompto can tell me himself. And if he's never comfortable with the idea, then it's not the big deal it's being made out to be." Setting down his pizza, Noctis slouched back into the sofa. "You remember that dream I told you about, after I fell unconscious after the daemon attacked, with Carbuncle and the blond kid? Promptos's that kid."
"No wonder you've felt such a connection with him. Does he remember?" Regis asked, curious.
"Remembered more than I did, since he evidently promised to put a chocobo on his school bag. I noticed it with a Carbuncle charm the first day of high school. I remembered the chocobo, but not the specifics. He tried talking to me in sixth grade, but for various reasons he waited until high school to try again." Noctis admitted. "I just learned his birthday was last week. I don't know what to get him though. He's into photography, but his parents got him a camera this year; he was showing it off last night. Gladio suggested something with chocobos but…I don't know. He asked if I could get Ignis to make his chocolate lava cake, but that doesn't really count." He explained, frustrated.
"I think it doesn't matter what you decide to give to him, since you're worrying so much over the choice." Regis told him gently. "And you still have tomorrow to get something, correct?"
"Yeah…guess you're right. Thanks Dad."
"You're welcome Noct."
Prompto's birthday has written itself in, since my original plan was not to have a big deal about. Sacrilegious, I know.