The caravan was the place to meet once Prompto and Noctis finished looking around the fortressed Hammerhead. When they arrived, Ignis was already cooking a meal for them, and the smell was just as heavenly as he remembered.
"Ignis, you're really cooking like you used to," he stated before he dug into the meal.
Ignis nodded. "More or less. I can manage with far less help than I required before."
"Dude, that's so awesome!" Prompto cheered. "And it tastes even better too."
"My taste buds agree on that," Noctis chuckled.
It was good to see a grin across Ignis's face, smiling like he had long before Altissia. "Perhaps I've developed a culinary sixth sense."
"Oh em gee, that sounds so awesome."
"I'm glad that my culinary skills can still be appreciated."
As they ate, the conversations went on, with Ignis and Gladio doing most of the talking. They talked about their adventures through the years, telling stories of their highs and lows. There were a lot of stories, not enough to fill in one evening, but they told some of the best ones.
Including the fact that Gladio was apparently engaged.
"You're serious?!" Prompto gasped.
"Yeah, but we're waiting until the light comes back before any wedding plans. So hold your horses."
"And he's been so secretive that I haven't even met this mysterious woman," Ignis commented.
Prompto groaned. "So you're just pulling our legs? Come on!"
Gladio shook his head. "Not pulling anyone's. Just can't in good conscience leave a girl to worry while I rush headlong into danger. Once we save everything, then we can make plans."
"Right," Noctis sighed.
"And maybe once everything's over, we could make a double wedding out of it," Gladio chuckled.
Noctis stared. "What?"
"You're not going to go marry Prompto when we're done here?"
Heat burned across his cheeks as he tried to keep his glare at Gladio. "What the hell?!"
"It's been ten years, but I didn't forget the way you two were looking at one another back in the Zegnautus Keep. The two of you stared at each other like lovestruck idiots."
"And you think it's okay to just call us out on it?" Prompto asked, his face just as red as Noctis's.
"Why not? You two thinking of not getting together after all of this?"
"That's not–! Ugh, you can't just ask a guy stuff like that!" Prompto groaned.
Noctis stayed quiet, his thoughts swimming again. The aspect of marrying Prompto sounded nice. It sounded wonderful in fact, considering he had started imagining the idea back when they were in the Zegnautus Keep.
But even with the idea, he couldn't hold on to it. With the cost of his life being the price to pay to bring back the light, Noctis knew there was no point in dreaming of his future. He had no future after this.
"Come on, you two seriously can't still be pinning. You'd think-"
"Gladio enough," Ignis said, cutting him off. "Leave them be on the subject. If they don't wish to think about it now, then they shouldn't be pushed."
While thankful for Ignis's interruption, there was something about his tone that made Noctis curious. It almost seemed like he didn't want the topic brought up at all, shutting it down completely. Noctis was going to have to question him later on that.
"We don't have to leave right away, if you feel that you need more time to settle, we can take a day if you wish. One day in the grand scheme of things won't hurt," Ignis stated.
"I think… that would be nice," Noctis admitted. "Even after sleeping for ten years… I still feel tired."
Ignis nodded. "Take some time to rest then, come find us when you are ready."
Gladio and Ignis walked away, leaving Noctis alone with Prompto.
"Want me to go too? Or…?"
"Stay," Noctis whispered, grabbing onto Prompto's wrist.
Together, they walked into the caravan, heading back behind the curtain where the beds were. Upon sitting down, Noctis leaned against Prompto, taking in deep breaths.
"So, is now the time to talk, or are we just going to be relaxing?"
With another deep breath, Noctis slowly let his walls start to crumple. His voice became shaky as he started to cling to Prompto.
"This really sucks."
"Yeah… I hate it too."
"Prom, we slept for ten years!" he hissed. "None of this feels right."
"I know," Prompto replied, stroking Noctis's head.
"Last I remember we were twenty, not thirty! I don't feel like thirty, only that I'm more tired and full of magic."
Prompto nodded. "Me too. It kind of worries me when I'll have to look in the mirror."
"Gods, I don't even want to think about that," Noctis groaned. "I don't want to think about any of this."
"Wanna just lay down and sleep a little? Take your mind off it?"
"Maybe…"
Prompto pulled Noctis down to the bed with him, adjusting himself so Noctis could curl up against him. "Let's just take a nap or something. Just for a little."
Noctis grumbled. "And maybe we'll wake up and this will all be a dream."
"Would be nice… I kind of would've liked to live out my 20s."
Wave of uncertainty suddenly struck Noctis. An overwhelming flood of emotions decided to conquer his brain as he began to cry.
"Noct?"
"S-sorry…"
He didn't want to cry in front of Prompto. Even when he felt he could be more honest and vulnerable, the last thing he wanted to do was show how weak he felt inside.
"No, don't be sorry. It's okay. Let it all out."
"But I…"
"You gotta cry when it hits you, holding it back makes it hurt later on. Trust me, I know."
Shuddering, Noctis held himself tighter to Prompto. "Why did Bahamut make this happen? Why do I have to go away for so long only to come b-back to die!"
"No one said you're going to die," Prompto replied quickly.
"Bahamut did, remember? It's the prophecy… The world can't be saved unless I f-fucking die for it."
Now, Prompto was running his hands up and down Noctis's back. "There has to be another way. Maybe you only need to spill some blood? Or maybe die is just metaphorical and it's the 'royal Noctis' that has to die and you can become just 'regular Noctis'."
"Don't think that's," he paused as he choked on a sob. "That's not what Bahamut w-wants."
"Well, screw what he wants. Why does he get to decide your fate?" Prompto huffed.
"Because it's the prophecy," Noctis muttered.
"That's a stupid reason."
Noctis tried to say more, but his mind decided it was better if he sobbed instead. He couldn't stop himself as his tears soaked up Prompto's shirt.
Prompto didn't pressure him to talk after that, only rubbing his back as he let all of his emotions pour out. He cried until he had no more tears left in him, though his heart and mind still burned with plenty of pain to spare.
He had calmed down enough that he could properly cuddle Prompto on the small bed.
"I really hate this."
"You said that already."
"Well, I'm going to keep saying it. Cause I hate that I was forced against my will to let my home fall to a decade of daemons and darkness… away from everyone."
Prompto sighed. "Hmm, yeah… I keep thinking about that too."
"Maybe you shouldn't have followed me," Noctis said. He didn't actually believe what he was saying, but part of him did wonder if Prompto was regretting his choices.
Prompt stopped rubbing for a moment, letting out a discontent grumble. "What? And then what? Have me suffer ten years all awake and on my own without you? No thanks, I'd rather not."
"But are you really okay with the fact you were stuck with me in the Crystal for that long?"
"Never said I was okay with that part. It wasn't in your control anyways. But being with you? I'm not regretting that choice one bit."
Noctis looked up at Prompto, seeing the fierce determination in his eyes. "Prom…"
"I love you, Noct. I'll stick with you through everything, even if it is some stupid so-called prophecy given to us by an Astral."
"But even after I-"
Prompto shook his head. "You're not going to die. There has to be another way."
"If only…"
"Didn't Bahamut say getting all your powers would make you more powerful than the Six? What if we just… you know…"
"I'm in no mood to take on an Astral… even if it does sound promising," Noctis muttered. "We have to save Eos, and that means going along with what 'has been preordained'. I can't let everyone go any longer in this darkness."
Prompt chuckled. "Still trying to sound kingly I see."
A small attempt at humor was enough to make Prompto smile. "Even if I'm upset about all of this, I have to try to be mature, right? Gladio and Ignis probably would expect that of me."
"I like when you act mature, looks really good on you."
"Thanks, Prom. And, if we can find a way, I'll try my best to live."
Prompto leaned his face in closer, giving Noctis a long stare. "You better. I don't want our confession and one single kiss to be the only romance we ever had."
That was something Noctis had ignored thinking about among many other things. To him and Prompto, their confession only happened a day or so ago. It was still fresh in his mind from the moment he confessed in the cave to the kiss they shared at the Crystal.
All of it still felt fresh and new to him, and he still craved more.
"Guess we need to make up for lost time," he said before he gave Prompto a small kiss.
Prompto looked at him in shock. "R-right now?"
"Better now then never. Made the mistake of waiting five years before I confessed, now we lost ten years when we could have had something… So why not?"
"Well, if you're sure, then guess there's nothing to lose," Prompto replied before giving his own kiss in return.
Giving each other soft kisses, Noctis was able to fall into a small pocket of bliss. For a little while, nothing around him mattered. The only thing that mattered in that moment was Prompto, and expressing the love he had for him.
