Title: Scoping babes
Genre: Friendship, humor
Summary: Prompto learns something new about their latest addition to the team.

Chapter 5: Scoping babes

"You think she would be my type?"

Luna turned her head casually, pretending to admire the decorations on the wall while subtly eyeing the waitress Prompto had pointed out.

"No. Too concerned with her looks."

"You think? How can you tell?"

"She wears a shirt two sizes too small and wears awfully lot of trinkets for such a hygiene sensitive job."

Prompto leaned his chin on his hand and hummed. "So she'd be the type to ask me every morning if a dress makes her look fat." He was still clearly admiring the waitress's rather obvious curves. Luna went back to reading the menu.

"On top of that she will most likely expect you to shower her with expensive gifts. Better go hunt more behemoth horns before you try your luck with her."

A long disappointed sigh followed by an almost incoherent mumble. "One Dead-Eye was enough for me." He turned to eye a lone woman sipping wine on a nearby table. "What about her?"

Luna took out a hand mirror from her handbag and turned it until she could see Prompto's next target.

"Taken. You can clearly see the imprint of an engagement ring on her ring finger. She's wearing a nurse's uniform underneath her civvies and her job obviously doesn't allow any loose objects, which explains the lack of a ring." She made a show to fix her makeup before putting the mirror away.

"Hey, you're pretty good at this. Ever considered becoming a detective?"

"I am a politician, is that not close enough?" she smirked.

"Do they teach you that stuff or do you learn as you go? I might join the club." Prompto grinned, his focus on the menu long gone.

"You might wish to reconsider. With your attention span you might accidently vote for the removal of chocobo industry. What would become of you then?"

Prompto tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Nah, I think I would snap to attention the second someone mentioned chocobos", he nodded as if agreeing with himself.

Luna giggled. A very short laughter that barely escaped behind her hand, but it was definitely there. When was the last time she had giggled? Prompto's grin widened. He ran his hand through his unkempt hair in smug self-satisfaction. She was finally opening up.

Luna saw Noctis, Ignis and Gladiolus enter the restaurant from the corner of her eye. Noctis strolled next to her and leaned over the table.

"So what did you two order for us?"

Prompto clasped hands behind his head and leaned back with his chair. "Nothing yet."

Noctis frowned. "What have you been doing the past hour, then?"

"Scoping babes", the freckled youth replied easily. Noctis pushed one of the lifted chair's legs subtly. Prompto lost his balance and fell with a surprised cry.

"Do try to act in a suitable fashion", Ignis chided and helped the flustered blond to his feet. Gladiolus took Prompto's seat and ignored his protests while Ignis took a seat next to him.

"Wasn't like you were gonna order anything anyway", Gladiolus flicked the younger man's forehead and picked up the discarded menu. Prompto scowled and took another chair from a nearby table. Noctis sat down between Luna and Gladiolus.

"So, what we having?" he leaned over to read the menu with Luna, arm resting on the back of her chair.

"Something that doesn't give Ignis gas", Prompto snickered. Ignis pointedly ignored him and concentrated on studying the menu.

When it was time to order, the waitress Prompto and Luna had been discussing earlier came to them, her many bracelets chiming on her slim wrists as she wrote down their orders. Prompto's gaze remained glued on her chest until she turned and left. He sighed wistfully.

"Give it up, she's way out of your league", Gladiolus ruffled Prompto's hair who in return swatted the offending hand away.

"Yeah, so I heard."

"Oh, you actually hit on her?"

"Naw. Our secret 'girlfriend material'-expert gave me a thorough analysis", Prompto winked at Luna. Gladiolus turned to her in surprise.

"Really? I might need to borrow your expertise one of these days."

"Cindy's not into you", Luna said and sipped her glass of water nonchalantly.

"Oww, buuurned!" Prompto cackled.

Gladiolus shrugged and leaned back in his seat. "Of course, experts are known to be mistaken from time to time."

"Of course", Ignis agreed dryly.

"Forever in denial", Noctis muttered under his breath.

Luna raised a brow. "Cindy or Gladiolus?"

"Both", he chuckled.

Their food arrived. The meal was eaten in a comfortable silence.

Luna couldn't help but feel at home surrounded by these four men. She felt like she finally belonged somewhere. She glanced to her right and saw Noctis devour his meal as if he had been starving for days. To her left Ignis was slicing meat to smaller bites. Always so keen on manners and etiquette, she mused. As a complete contrast Prompto was eating his steak with the grace of a famished behemoth. Gladiolus wasn't much better, but he had the good sense to use a napkin to at least appear civilized.

Who was she kidding? They had been eating rations and camp food (which mostly consisted of wildlife meat) for weeks. She ought to throw her manners out of the window and answer her stomach's angry demand for food. She took a breath; mentally preparing herself to do something she had no previous recollection. She dug into her food greedily in a very unladylike manner. She noted Ignis stopped mid bite to openly stare at her.

Once she was done, she daintily wiped her lips with a napkin and pushed the plate away from her to signal she was done.

"Had I realized the Lady was so hungry, I would have hurried with our errand earlier."

Luna waved her hand dismissively and shook her head. "When you do something, best to do it right. Rushing will force you to backtrack which results in double amount of time wasted."

"Sounds like something Cindy told us once", Gladiolus commented as he chewed his food thoughtfully.

"Sounds like you need a girlfriend to get your head back in the game. Your thoughts are lands away in Hammerhead's garage", Noctis quipped.

"Don't have room for one on the car when yours has taken the last seat", Gladiolus trailed off when he noticed Noctis freeze and Luna stare blankly at him.

Awkward silence ensued.

Ignis cleared his throat, Prompto shuffled his feet restlessly.

"I mean no disrespect, Luna", Gladiolus finally managed.

"Of course not", her face was carefully neutral, but Noctis could see a mischievous glint in her eye. "But you owe me a fencing match."

"Sure you're up for it after the last time?"

"This time will be different. I learn from my mistakes."

"…Right."

Prompto nudged the older man's side. "Look at it this way; only real friends beat the crap out of each other and then toast their strengthened friendship with a hi-potion."

"You offerin'?" Gladiolus casually wrapped a heavy arm around Prompto's slim shoulders. He in return laughed nervously and tried to wiggle his way out of the stronger man's grip. "W-we're still on our way to 'real friendship-hood'."

"All the more reason to seal the deal. Like real men."

"You could start with Noct?"

"Fat chance", deadpanned the prince.