Author's Note: Hi everyone! Happy 2018! Hope you all have a great year coming up (so far so good for me...)

As always, thanks to everyone who's taken the time to read this, and to those who've followed and favourited it. I hope you all continue to enjoy it. Thanks especially to my reviewers for your thoughts and encouragement. I always enjoy hearing from you.

RRina: Yeah... took some time to get there. Noct is a bit more guarded in this one. Prompto definitely wasn't giving off the best impression in the early days. I hope you continue to enjoy this going forward.

Guest: Thanks very much. I'm glad you like the direction I'm taking it.

AD Williams: Yeah... the bit about duty-bound friends was pretty sad. Ignis and Gladio are definitely more than that to him, but like you said, it's easy to double-think things when you're feeling down.
Social awkwardness isn't something I'm hugely familiar with... I was a little shy in high school, but I had a large group of friends I felt comfortable around. We were the eclectic group... little bit of everything.
Yeah, Prompto's relationship with his family is kept pretty vague. I can't imagine a loving family situation where they're always so absent. After reading that Parting Ways story, I kinda got the impression that Prompto wanted to make them proud of him... or prove that he worth something, which doesn't hint at a good relationship with his adopted parents.

Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to read this and please let me know what you think if you can. And without anything further... I hope you all enjoy Chapter 5.

Strange though it was to him initially, after a couple of weeks spending time with Prompto just became... normal. As easy as breathing. He found that Prompto had the ability to completely ignore his position as Crown Prince and instead just treated him like an everyday citizen. Despite this, the blonde had developed a habit of – when his royal life was brought to his attention – teasing him about certain things, not least of which were Gladio's nightly training sessions and Ignis' penchant for cooking all his meals in an attempt to make him eat healthier.

Not that Prompto didn't have cause to enjoy that last one; his new friend had taken to finishing whatever it was that he'd decided not to eat for the day. Noctis had regaled the blonde with Ignis' glowing praise when he'd finished every scrap of the well-rounded meal he'd sent. Prompto had then expressed endless admiration for Ignis, and had suggested telling the man how much he appreciated the food.

Pointless, as the blonde knew very well that Noctis wasn't about to tell the man he was giving his vegetables to his new friend.

Truth be told – though Prompto was as yet unaware of the fact – Noctis hadn't told Ignis or Gladio about the blonde at all. He knew he shouldn't have kept the news to himself but knew too that if he told the two that he'd befriended the guy they'd likely worry excessively. And then probably subject the guy to one hell of a background check... probably bring him in and have someone question him...

Doubly so now, he thought, given how he'd shared his earlier misgivings about the guy.

Next time he was just going to keep his thoughts to himself.

Still, he wasn't too worried about Gladio and Ignis finding out. On those occasions when he'd share a class with Prompto at the end of the day the blonde always found some excuse to disappear back into the school. Noctis supposed he probably caught a ride home with his father, despite the blonde's obvious dislike of the man. Or else was catching up with friends he hadn't seen all day, given he now spent a lot of his time these days with Noctis.

The latter proved to be correct he found out one Friday afternoon when he made his way back through the school to retrieve a forgotten text book from his locker. Prompto stood in the corridor surrounded by his usual friends, enough of them that they blocked most of the hall and all of whom were... frowning darkly? Were they angry?

As he moved closer he saw one of the taller boys shove Prompto's shoulder angrily, and although he couldn't see the blonde's face he could tell that his friend didn't like it. Not wanting to interrupt but at the same time with no desire to be gone long enough for Ignis to come looking for him, Noctis had slowed his walk, trying to figure out how to slip through the group without disturbing them when he heard his name mentioned.

"What the hell is the problem, Cas?" Prompto spoke then, his clear voice ringing out over the rest; his tone revealing him to be incredibly frustrated. "You feeling neglected or something? How about you don't be such a fucking girl about it. What does it matter to you if I hang out with him? It's not like you don't have other friends."

The guy named Cas grimaced back at him darkly. "How about you try to remember that you have other friends too – your real friends, Prom – and stop sucking up to the guy just because he's the damned Prince of Lucis."

Prompto sighed then, shaking his head. "Seriously, Cas, give it a rest already dude. He doesn't have anyone else to talk to at school. I just feel sorry for the guy, okay?"

Noctis stopped dead in his tracks, feeling a horrible cold washing down his spine at the blonde's admission. He felt sorry for him? All that time hanging out during classes at school – the hours playing videos games online at night – and Prompto was just doing it because he had felt sorry for him?

Was that how he saw him then? Some loser with no friends? Is that why he thought he'd made that incredibly awkward invitation to the arcade that first afternoon? It had felt so long ago only minutes earlier and now he remembered it as though it had happened yesterday. Prompto telling him – so easily too – that he didn't want to be his friend then suddenly changing his mind a couple of days later?

No one did that.

One of the others had noticed him standing there at this point, dark eyes widening a little in what looked like horror at the sight of him and Noctis had decided he'd heard enough.

Knowing he couldn't just leave the text book and suddenly not giving a fuck about what any of these assholes thought, Noctis elbowed his way through the group, ignoring the alarmed murmuring and especially the almost dismayed murmur of "Noct..." from the one familiar voice in the group.

He'd almost made it all the way down the hall when Prompto came after him – at a run, judging by the noise he was making. "Noct, hey wait! Just... hold up a second!"

A hand gripped his upper arm then and he whirled, gripping the other's wrist and twisting it away from him. He wasn't being gentle and saw Prompto wince a little as his familiar leather wristband pulled against his skin.

"Get your hands off me," he snarled, midnight blue eyes blazing with anger meeting the clear blue eyes of the blonde; Prompto flinching a little at the expression.

"Noct, I didn't... I mean I don't..." Prompto was floundering and it had to be the very first time he'd ever seen the blonde at a loss for words. "That wasn't what you think..."

"Hearing things, am I?" he snarled back at the blonde. "So you didn't say we were hanging out because you 'just feel sorry' for me?"

"No." And when Noctis' brows rose in disbelief, Prompto coloured a little, awkwardness radiating from him as he nodded. "Okay yes, but I didn't mean it."

Noctis scoffed. "Didn't mean it, huh? So what did you mean by that? Do you feel sorry for me because I have no friends? Or is it that for some reason you can't admit to your friends that you actually enjoy spending time with me?"

"I just..." It was clear that Prompto had no idea how to answer him and seemed to be having trouble meeting his eyes. Tugging his wrist free from Noctis' less than gentle grip, he rubbed absently at it a moment as he tried again. "I mean... I know you have friends..."

"I have one less now," he shot at the guy nastily, and some of his anger faded a little when he saw how legitimately sad the other guy appeared at that.

"I just meant here... you don't have any friends here and you seemed so lonely..."

"I don't need your pity!" Noctis growled at that. "I was just fine on my own."

Prompto sighed. "I know, okay? I didn't say it because I pity you, I said it because..."

"Highness."

The older voice interrupted their conversation and Noctis realised he'd taken too long. Ignis had come looking for him, the man hurrying over, his steps slowing just a little when he saw the anger in Noctis' eyes and the obviously awkward blonde standing with him.

"Hey Ignis."

Eyes shifting from one to the other, Ignis frowned at the pair of them; concern – and was it curiosity? – flickering through his gaze. "Is everything okay, Highness? You look... distressed."

Noctis shook his head, blue eyes shifting back to the blonde for a moment before turning back to his advisor. "Everything's fine, Iggy. Just got a little held up, but Prompto was just leaving."

Prompto looked up at that, shaking his head, his eyes almost desperate. "I wasn't going anywhere! I need to explain, Noct, it wasn't..."

"Like I said," Noctis spoke over him, ignoring the way the desperate look in Prompto's blue eyes made something twist deep inside... guilt. But he'd be damned it he let this... fake friend make him feel bad for being angry. He should be angry, right? This was a betrayal. Looking back at Ignis, his next words were meant almost entirely for the blonde. "We're done."

Ignis hesitated a moment, looking from the miserable Prompto to Noctis and then back again. Eventually he nodded his head. "Very well. Let us collect your text book and get going. I've left Gladio in the car and you know how he can get."

Noctis nodded, turning away from the blonde, refusing to look at the other as Prompto just stood there in silence and let him go.

It wasn't until after they were long out of hearing range when Ignis spoke, his words careful, as if he didn't want to upset him. "Are you okay, Noct? That looked... difficult."

Noctis nodded with a sigh. "Yeah I'm fine. No big deal."

"I might point out that it doesn't look..."

"I'm fine, Ignis. I promise. Now let's get this damn textbook and get the hell out of this place."

Ignis just nodded, clearly still bothered by what he'd seen but choosing not to bring it up.

Walking together in silence to his locker and then back to the car, Noctis tried not to look for his former friend, but found himself disappointed despite himself when he didn't see a trace of the blonde anywhere.

The message was waiting on his phone when he finished training with Gladio. He was wiping sweat from the back of his neck with a towel when he glanced at the phone's screen, seeing the innocently blinking light that indicated he had a text. When he unlocked the phone and saw the name on the notification he frowned.

"Something wrong?"

Noctis looked up to see Gladio paused at the door of the training room. It was clear the Shield in training had been about to leave when he'd caught the expression on his face.

"No nothing. Just... unexpected. Go home to Iris. Tell her hi from me."

Gladio paused a moment, as if unsure whether to believe his assurances and it was clear that Ignis had spoken to the other man. Eventually however he nodded. Whether he sensed that Noctis didn't want to talk or else just didn't want to get involved regardless, he wasn't sure, but he was glad.

Gladio had never been the most sensitive guy in the world.

Taking a breath and steeling himself for whatever might ensue, he opened the message.

Prompto (5:33pm): I'm sorry, okay. I didn't mean it like I said it. And I'm not ashamed of being friends with you. I just... I didn't want to have to explain it all to the guys. They wouldn't understand.

Noctis (6:46pm): What part of 'we're done' did you not understand?

Prompto (6:47pm): I get it, okay? You're pissed at me. And you should be. I just... I need a chance to explain. Please.

He thought about that for a moment, wondering if there was anything at all the blonde could say to make any of this better. Looking at it from every side he could think of he just couldn't see a scenario where Prompto's words were okay. Either he legitimately felt sorry for him, or else he didn't want his friends to know he actually enjoyed spending time with him. So he was either a charity case or an embarrassment.

Noctis (6:52pm): Confess to the Six if it makes you feel better. I'm not interested.

Then before the blonde could reply and suck him in again with the guilt that was slowly eating at him for the abrupt dismissal, he blocked Prompto's number from his phone and tossed it back into his bag. After all, he'd lived this long without a friend at school so it definitely wasn't going to kill him to go without a while longer. He definitely wasn't desperate enough to be friends with someone so... fake. He didn't need anyone; sure as hell didn't need Prompto, so would he just stop feeling so damned sorry for himself already?

Annoyed, he threw his bag over his shoulder, making his way through the Citadel to the garage where Ignis waited patiently, book in hand.

"What're you reading?"

Looking up in surprise at the question, Ignis shook his head a moment, glancing at the book and then back again. "The latest recipes from Chef Pardúe. I was looking for some inspiration for new flavour combinations." Marking his place in the book, Ignis rose gracefully to his feet. "Are you ready to return home?"

"Actually I figured I'd just crash here tonight. I've gotta be here in the morning for that luncheon anyway. May as well save us both a trip, right?"

Ignis nodded slowly, accepting the explanation and Noctis wanted to sigh aloud when he spoke. "Noct, is this about that boy at..."

But he didn't want to hear it, shaking his head. "It's nothing," he assured the other guy, knowing that by speaking as abruptly as he did... well he wasn't being altogether convincing. "I'm fine."

"That may very well be the case, but in case even some very small part of you wanted to talk about it, I'm here."

Noctis couldn't help but smile at that, nodding his head. "Thanks Iggy. Maybe tomorrow?"

Ignis nodded with a smile. "Of course. Goodnight Noct."

"'Night, Ignis."