It only took a few days before Prompto was finally free from the IVs and able to walk around. His muscles still ached, but he had healed up enough to properly explore the Batcave. Noctis showed him all around, pointing out various items that came from previous battles had he gone on with his dad.
Some of the really cool ones, however, were the older ones from Regis's early days of fighting crime. There was so much history stored in that cave, and Prompto was having the best field day ever.
But, aside from exploring the cave, the past several days gave Prompto and Noctis a chance to explore their relationship with one another. For once, Prompto could snuggle up against Noctis without any fear that Noctis would react poorly.
It felt good to have his heart open for once about these feelings. He figured Noctis felt the same, as he hadn't stopped smiling since they had their second kiss.
Prompto still got giggly about it, whenever it crossed his mind. His first two kisses had been in the most unconventional ways and places, but they were special. They were with Noctis, the one he loved more than anyone.
He knew it was going to take time to properly develop their relationship, but he was ready to do whatever it took. For the time being, they stayed in Noctis's room, snuggled under the covers of his bed.
"Prom?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I ever tell you that your freckles are beautiful?"
Prompto chuckled. "You told me yesterday, like, three times."
Noctis grinned, his fingers brushing over Prompto's face. "Well, it's true."
Blushing from the gentlest of Noctis's touch, he let himself relax further. "Thanks. Glad my odd traits are good for something."
"You're not odd, you're beautiful."
"And you're a cheesy romantic," Prompto replied, poking Noctis's forehead.
"Can't help what I feel."
Just as Noctis was leaning in to kiss Prompto, they heard someone clearing their throat.
"Ahem. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Feeling the heat rise in his cheeks, Prompto nearly threw the covers over his head. A moment later, Noctis nudged his shoulder and he peaked out from the sheets.
"Yeah?"
"You don't have to hide from Ignis… even if he should've knocked."
"I can assure you that I did, but it's clear that you two were far too lost in each other's eyes to notice."
Sitting up alongside Noctis in the bed, Prompto looked at Ignis carrying over a tray of food. Amongst learning Noctis was Nightwing, that also meant learning that Ignis was more than just Noctis's advisor. He was Nightwing's tactician, helping him train and plan how to defeat his enemies.
"What's for breakfast?" Prompto asked.
"Pancakes. Plain and chocolate," Ignis replied, setting the tray on the nearby dresser.
"Thanks, Iggy. Can you give us some time alone then?" Noctis asked.
Ignis folded his arms, his lips stretched into a thin line. "I've done more than enough of that the last several days. I think it's time we finally have a talk about this."
Prompto could see the smallest bit of worry in Noctis's eyes. Ignis hadn't said or done anything to oppose their relationship, but there was always a small bit of fear that something could change. Something could be brought up that would prevent them from pursuing what made each other happy.
The last thing Prompto wanted was to be separated from Noctis indefinitely. It was an unlikely chance, but that didn't stop the doubt in the back of his mind.
Noctis huffed before asking, "What's there to talk about?"
"It's about you and Prompto, of course, and how you two are going to choose going forward."
"Choose?" Prompto squeaked.
"A relationship of the prince and his commoner friend, or a relationship of two superheroes. It's inevitable that you two will start to show more affection towards each other as time goes by, and the public will take notice. So, a choice must be made.
"You mean… We have to choose which of our identities the public gets to see in a relationship?" Prompto asked.
Ignis nodded. "Yes. We can't very well have it both ways. Even with your secret identities well kept, being open on both sides runs the risk of people connecting the dots."
"Who says we can't do both?" Noctis replied snappily.
"Noct, you know I'm not trying to stop this. In fact, I'm very much the opposite. I want the two of you to be more open to one another. But, either choice will lead to a reaction from the public. If their prince comes out as gay, people would talk. Now, if Nightwing as well as Spider-Man were to do the same, the reaction may differ, but the public would still talk."
Noctis crossed his arms. "So? What does it matter?"
"Noct, if you show public displays to Prompto on both sides, people may make the connection."
"They won't."
Prompto looked back and forth between Ignis, practically feeling the tension that was filling between them. He wanted nothing more than to slip away and get put before the fire started, but he couldn't move. He felt as if he were glued to his spot, being forced to watch the possibility of Ignis and Noctis breaking out into a huge argument.
"You can't assume they won't, Noct. It's too risky of a chance."
"Maybe people will think Nightwing was inspired by "the prince" and decided to pursue his own relationship," Noctis retorted stubbornly.
Ignis sighed. He pinched the arch of his nose and closed his eyes. "Maybe in time we can figure something out for you to have it both ways, but for right now, there can only be one. I'll leave it to the two of you to decide."
Before Noctis could say another word, Ignis left, closing the door behind him. Once it was just the two of them, Noctis let out a long agitated sigh.
"Can you believe him?"
Prompto scooted closer to Noctis, wrapping an arm around him. He wasn't sure if he had the right words, but he knew that he needed to help. He had to be there for Noctis, boyfriends or not, he would always help him.
"Yeah…"
"Who does he think he is, telling us how we can be in public!"
"Well, you are the prince," Prompto followed carefully.
"Pff, like that's stopped me from doing stupid things before."
"Like the time at the arcade when you joined in that random breakdancing party?" Prompto asked.
Noctis laughed, leaning into Prompto's hold. "Yeah, stuff like that."
"But, uh, Ignis has a point," Prompto followed softly.
Noctis frowned. "Come on, Prom, not you too…"
"He's right though. We have our secret identities for a reason…"
"So what? We can't say 'I love you' to each other when we're on the job?"
Prompto shook his head. "I dunno, dude. I'm just… if people somehow did connect it, then people would know their 'Amazing Spider-Man' is a Niff, and that could ruin my whole thing."
He didn't want to think about those possibilities, but the thoughts already planted themselves in his mind. They dug deep, letting their little seeds of doubt plague him.
"I wouldn't let anyone try to do anything to you. No one's going to separate us." Noctis kissed Prompto's forehead. "Not now, not ever."
Prompto melted against the touch of Noctis's soft lips. It was everything he had ever dreamed of, and he was craving more.
But, he couldn't let Noctis's romantic gestures sway him. "I'm serious though, I think I can only handle one public relationship reaction."
He hated hearing the disappointment in Noctis's sigh, but he had to stand by his feelings. He loved Noctis so much, but he didn't feel ready for such a big step for both of his identities.
"So which way do you want it?" Noctis asked after a moment.
"Uh, personally? I think… this? Just us regular dudes' lives. We could hold hands and school and all that crap."
Noctis chuckled. "Heh, would really make everyone flip. Especially those assholes who pick on you. Wait… does that mean when Jackson and Aaron were…"
Prompto nodded. "Yeah, I could've easily beat them up on my own before you stopped them."
"Why didn't you? They deserve it for how they treat you."
"'Cause. I don't want to blow my cover. Can't go from pathetic wimp to super skilled without people questioning."
Hummed, Noctis laid back down on the bed. "Guess that makes sense. Never thought what it must be like to acquire powers."
Prompto laid next to him, snuggling up close. "So, you've really had them all your life?"
"It's been in the family for generations, but not everyone used it to fight crime. Some just never used their powers, but dad was determined to help keep the streets of the kingdom safe… ever since mom died."
Prompto had never heard Noctis talk about his mother. He wasn't even sure he had even heard a single mention of Noctis's mother before. All he knew was that Queen Aulea died when Noctis was young, and it took a toll on King Regis, with the king not having a single public appearance for almost two months.
"Can I ask?"
"There's not much to it. Mom died when I was five, shot by some hater against the Crown. Dad took it badly, but also took time to prepare a solution."
"The whole Batman thing?"
Noctis gave a nod. "Yeah. Rest is history."
Prompto draped an arm over Noctis's chest, adjusting himself so his head rested under Noctis's. "At least you weren't bitten by a really freaky spider."
"Seriously? A spider bit you and that's how you got your powers?" Noctis snorted.
"Dude! It was radioactive or some shit! I thought I was going to die!"
"Ha, at least you didn't start growing extra limbs or eyes."
"Don't even start! I had nightmares for weeks about that after I got my powers."
"Well, I'm glad you turned out just perfect."
Prompto blushed, burying his head further into Noctis's shirt. "Dude…"
"Hey, you gotta get used to this. I've had a lot of things I wanted to say… and I'm going to say them."
"Don't stop then."
Noctis leaned close to Prompto's ear. "I don't plan on stopping."
"Can we eat breakfast first?" Prompto asked quickly, trying not to get lost again in everything that was Noctis.
"Heh, yeah, guess we should. Don't want our food to get cold."
Though Prompto wasn't entirely sure what the future would hold for him, he now knew he had a new light to hold on tight to. His future going forward would have Noctis by his side, closer than ever, and he wasn't going to let it go.
Before long, enough time had passed and finally Prompto and Noctis were permitted to go back to school. Prompto could feel a rush of new emotions fill him as he was being driven to school alongside Noctis in one of the royal cars.
He had accepted this from the moment they began talking about it, but now that he was actually living the moment, he felt much more dread than he originally had anticipated.
He was returning to school after a grave attack on the Citadel, which left everyone thinking he had been stuck there for his own safety. That was the more minor aspect, with Prompto already knowing that people would stare at him now, wondering what it must have been like for him.
The other aspect however, was the fact he would be returning to high school now in a relationship with Noctis. They were going to go in together and they were going to make it known to everyone.
"So, we're really going to go right in holding hands?"
"Rather I carry you?" Noctis teased.
Prompto shoved Noctis's face away. "Dude, save it for prom or something."
"I am saving it for you," Noctis replied playfully.
"You know what I mean. Not me Prom, but the prom dance thing towards the end of the year."
"That'll be something to look forward to."
'It really will be… Man, I already went to a gala with Noctis, why does a school dance seem all the more terrifying?'
Even with his superhero life putting him into dangerous and scary situations, nothing seemed to top having to go to high school. There were no thugs or villains to stop, only the mundane studies and the occasional bully.
Noctis was there for him though. He had always been there before, but now things were different… things between them were closer. They would face this together, and come out stronger now that they could be by each other's sides.
"Ready to go?" Noctis asked as the car slowed down by the school gate.
"Ready when you are, buddy."
Noctis reached over, holding onto Prompto's hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze. "Then let's do this."
Opening the door, Prompto led as the two of them stepped outside, ready to face the dreads of high school together.