Hello all! Time for the next chapter!
Thank you for your patience; I apologize for my sporadic updating.
Please enjoy! I own nothing but the plot.
Trusting You
Chapter 3: Caution
When Prompto awoke the next morning, Ignis was standing over the oven of their shared caravan, taking down some things and adding personal seasonings from his own collection on the tiny countertop. Prompto closed his eyes again, trying to recall exactly why he and Ignis were sharing a room together- wasn't it supposed to be him and Noctis?
And then that strange vision returned. He bolted straight up, and caught the chef's attention.
"Prompto? Are you alright?"
Prompto took a few deep breaths and felt his heart racing out of his chest. He nodded once, trying to reassure himself and Ignis that he was fine, that it was some freaky dream, and that things were about to go back to normal soon.
'It was all just a dream... right?'
He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice Ignis giving him something, until a hot, very hot thing was carefully cradled in his hands.
He glanced up into Ignis's face, who was displaying his usual sense of calmness, as he helped him hold a cup of what he realized smelled like tea. "I think you will find this quite useful in soothing your worriedness, Prompto. Drink it carefully, now."
Prompto nodded and gave Ignis a small, appreciative smile. Ignis took the memo and got up once he felt Prompto could hold the cup on his own. Prompto stared into the cup of warmth. The tea was a clear golden color with green leaves floating in it- Prompto quickly figured out the some of leaves were mint. Past that, he couldn't figure out what he was drinking. But as he took the cup to his lips and took a sip, he decided that he didn't really care what the tea was. It felt good going down, and true to the chef's word, he was slowing calming down.
"Now... care to explain what happened last night?" Ignis' voice spoke. Prompto looked at him, then back at the cup. What happened... that was a very good question. Frankly, it was the same question he'd been asking since they all first met Ardyn.
"I assume it has something to do with Ardyn?" Prompto winced-damn, was it THAT obvious? 'I don't do a good job hiding these things from them, do I?'
"H-How did you- oh, who am I kidding. It's YOU, Iggy. Of course you figured it out." Prompto said with an embarrassed groan, taking a long sip of tea to occupy his thoughts.
The spectacled man chuckled lightly at his friend's 'compliment' of sorts. "While I am touched by your compliment, it was not I who observed this behavior. Quite frankly, I am surprised that I didn't notice it sooner, but I'm glad it was brought to my attention."
At that, Prompto stopped drinking his tea, but swallowed what he had in his mouth a little too sudden. It flowed down the wrong tube, nearly choking him as he heard the shocking admission. As he sputtered, Ignis rushed over and slapped his back in order to help him get the tea out of his esophagus. It took him a moment, but he finally took in a deep, dramatic breath and laid back, panting.
"T-Thanks... Ig-Iggy..." he wheezed. Ignis chuckled in amusement and collected the cup. There was about a third of the cup remaining, so Ignis simply threw it down the drain.
"So about last night?" Back to business, per usual. Prompto groaned.
"Come onnnnn, Iggy! I almost died! Can't you cut a man a break?!" Prompto rolled onto his side and coughed, still feeling the sting of the tea in his throat. "I'll tell you sooner or later-"
"Well, it's either that or I call Gladiolus now and he'll make you talk. Would you want to deal with a grouchy giant such as himself?" Ignis was looking at Prompto with a michesvious glint in his eye, already opening the door. The blond scrambled upright.
"S-Seriously? I-Iggy, that's just plain mean, even for you!" Prompto sputtered as he fell out of the bed with his usual grace. Ignis smirked.
"But at least I got you out of bed. So talk."
Prompto, realizing he'd been duped yet again, gave in to his friend's demands. He sat cross-legged on the floor and chuckled nervously. "This is... kinda awkward..."
"Oh?" Ignis was sitting down next to him, holding a hot cup of something- Prompto assumed it was Ebony, steamed. "How so?"
"I mean... ugh, I might as well say it." he fought with himself before he shyly looked at Ignis.
"Y-yeah, to be honest, Ardyn bugs the heck outta me. Like, a lot. Since day one, really, but... I didn't know I was causing trouble for you guys. I'm sorry..." His head lowered in shame as he finished speaking.
Ignis placed a hand on the blonde's scrawny shoulder, and gave it a light squeeze. "Prompto, there isn't a need for apologies. We were concerned because you have been sleeping less and it shows in our battles. We need you just like you need us, but we cannot help you if you don't speak."
"I- W-well, yeah. You're right..." He finally admitted in defeat.
"So answer me this. Has this been an issue since we first began travelling with him?"
Prompto nodded sheepishly. Ignis made a noise and then took a sip from his mug. "Why have you not spoken until now?"
"We have too many other things to worry about, Iggy. I just... I thought he'd go away... but its like... its a nightmare." He answered quietly. "I mean, I know Noct isn't the biggest fan of him either, but... oh, I don't know."
Prompto knew that last part was a lie. He knew exactly why he felt so uneasy around Ardyn, and it had something to do with a bit of information he never shared with his friends- and was hoping he would never have to share, either.
Ignis finished his Ebony and set his mug down before he patted the blond on his shoulder. "Prompto, listen. If something about him is troubling you that badly, please don't hold onto those feelings. It can affect you in more ways than one, and we need all of us on high alert until whatever business Ardyn has with us is finished."
Prompto nodded and finished the tea, which had gotten a bit cold by this point. Ignis took his mug and his own and went off to wash them. "We need to depend on you, Prompto. We need to know you can watch our backs, and we can watch yours. Do you understand?"
Prompto mumbled something Ignis didn't bother asking him to repeat. He took that as a yes and about to clean up their dishes, leaving Prompto to his thoughts. 'Iggy... you don't understand. You don't know how much this hurts, not saying anything. I really, really wish I could tell you the truth. I wish I could tell you all the truth! But... what if it makes things worse doing so? What if.. what if I end up losing all of you... or what if you all...hate me...'
"Because of who I am... I'm a monster..." Prompto painfully whispered to himself, wiping away some stray tears before they fell. Luckily, Ignis didn't notice or hear him. He took a deep breath to steady himself, slapped his cheeks to wake himself up, and forced himself to look a bit more normal. Just in time, too- Ignis had turned to him, and did a quick once over before he jerked his head towards the caravan door.
"Come along, Prompto. Let us see how our King and Gladio are doing." Prompto was so glad to be done with the conversation, he hopped off the bed and jogged after Ignis, ready to face his other friends with a fake smile on his face.
'I don't know how much Ardyn knows about me. I don't know why he is even here! But at least we can all agree on thing.'
Gladio waved to Ignis, who was half tugging a still very sleepy Noctis behind him. Prompto laughed to himself, but his joy at his best friend's sleepy suffering was short lived when the sick, honeyed- tone voice called from across the caravan. Prompto felt his insides tense up and his nerves go on overdrive, but did his best to keep his face neutral.
'We can all agree... that we REALLY don't like this guy.'
And done! I've had this chapter sitting around for months, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to add more to it or leave it as is. Finally, I re-read it over and decided to leave it like this, even thought it's short. I'll make the next one longer to make up for it.
Anyways, please let me know what you think! I really shouldn't have to say this, but no flames or trolls.
Until next chapter!
