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prompto argentum ⬤ final fantasy xv
residential district ⬤ level 2
moonblessing ⬤ iris

[ Honestly, he doesn't need the help; Prompto could blackmail himself by accident because he simply exists. Still, there's something a little apprehensive about all of this, though he isn't sure why he should be worried about it. Would he find something there that didn't make any sense or upset him? Maybe. That's just how his luck always goes. ]

yeah yeah
i'll see ya soon then

[ Not that he actually knows the address, which is something he should have clarified before heading out, but it's not that hard to ask and get pointed in a general direction before he's close enough that someone gestures to the right house. Easy. And he's made it in one piece with little trouble, so there's that too. ]

[ Considering it's Sanguis right now, making it anywhere without trouble is a huge accomplishment, and Noctis smiles at the door to see him, nodding as he leads Prompto inside. ]

Hey, come on in.

[ It's a decent sized place, three bedrooms with separate bathrooms, an open living room and sizable kitchen. The photos on the walls are all generic places in Lunatia, ocean views mostly, unchanged since they got there. There are vases of fresh-cut flowers, and of course the whole place is spotless, because Ignis may be blind, but he's still Ignis.

Once they reach the living room, Noctis pulls the barrette from the Armiger and tosses it to Prompto, then flops back onto the couch. Better to get that out of the way before he's distracted and forgets about it. ]

Here you go. One stat increase and hair super powers when you wear it with heels. Enjoy.

[ It doesn't do either of those things and Noctis isn't sorry. ]

[ He can tell it's nice the second he walks in—no tour necessary. Probably because Ignis also lives here, and that's an idle thought he tries not to overthink too much as he glances around. Silently, he thinks about replacing those sad photos at some point with something a lot nicer to look at, but... maybe it's an unnecessary addition since he doesn't live there himsel. Which spirals out into a bunch of other things he doesn't need to consider right now, nearly missing the throw and fumbling with the barrette before it's safely in his hands.

Is there something he should take from his best friend giving him something that sort of looks like jewelry? He hasn't got a clue. ]

Like I need more help with my hair game. [ But his quiet thanks is tucked between the words, toying with the accessory for a second or two before joining Noct on the couch. ] So... cool place. [ Why is he making this awkward? It's like when they'd first started hanging out in high school all over again. ] It's just you and Iggy here, huh?

[ Which makes sense for a thousand different reasons, but it had also been that way in Duplicity too. ]

[ Maybe it's because he's the prince of awkwardness incarnate himself, but Prompto's brand of awkward doesn't bother him. It's just nice to share his company again, honestly, when there aren't moonblessings or virtual reality games or killer lion gods or whatever involved.

Noctis leans back into the couch and does his best to keep his voice light and conversational. ]

For right now, yeah. Luna was here for a while. And Gladio. You were too, before you moved in with Alisaie.

[ That's a lot of people for three bedrooms, but it probably doesn't take much guessing to figure out how they made it work. Besides, the four of them spent months sharing a single tent, so like. Compared to that, this place may as well be the Citadel. ]

[ Light and conversational like they haven't shared more intimate moments together or faced worse things than talking about living arrangements. Prompto stares at his hands, rolling the barrette between his fingers as he tries to swallow the knowledge of what Noct says, and yeah... thinking about it probably wouldn't be hard to figure out if he wanted to. But he doesn't because it's a bunch of memories he doesn't have and probably never will, wonders how they'd all gotten along in this place and why he'd decided to leave to live with his girlfriend at the time.

That's not a hard conclusion to come to either, but more than that, he wonders if he'd ever move in again with them. (Doubtful when he hadn't even lived with any of them before in Duplicity, and some habits are harder to break than others.) ]

Sounds like a good time to me. Guess the idea of throwing a party is out though, right? [ But it's a thought for later since Ignis' birthday is soon, and he curls his fingers around the clip. ] Wanna show me around?

[ That's a pretty flippant answer considering that, yeah, there's a lot of unspoken history, remembered or not, between them. And involving the others, too. But that's just Prompto, isn't it? And as much as Noctis wants to point out the deflection and drag darker things to light, he's grateful for it, too. How can he even attempt to unravel the tangled mess their relationships have become? Things weren't better on Eos, but they were a hell of a lot simpler, that's for sure. Those thoughts are the reason the idea of a party catches Noctis even more off guard. ]

You want to throw Ignis a party?

[ Like, seriously? Or is he just joking about it? It's not like the idea hadn't occurred to Noctis, but he wasn't planning on anything beyond just, like a cake and dinner together, and that doesn't exactly count as a party, if you ask him. Anyway. Noctis stands to lead the way, but doesn't actually go anywhere, just gesturing across from where they were sitting. ]

Uh, yeah. So, this is TV.

[ Noctis is an excellent tour guide. But no really, these TVs are awesome? It's a great place to start, even if it might not be what Prompto had in mind. ]

Dunno if you have one yet, but there aren't any console or controllers. The VR is built-in. The reality shows are basically what you'd expect from a place like this, though.

[ Moving right along. There's the kitchen, but that seems like a good ending point, so Noctis skips it, heading down the far hallway instead. ]

The bedrooms are upstairs.

[ He shrugs in response to the question, trying to leave it vague without really offering much. It could be fun to organize something like that, but he'd have to talk about it in length with Noct at another time. Planning would take some coordinating, and it's not like they were ever stealthy enough to hide things from Ignis before. They've still got several days before that particular day anyway, so he'll bring it up later when they're not distracted by everything else. Besides, as soon as Noct points at the TV, Prompto's already laughing about it. ]

Still don't know how I really feel about none of that being a thing here. [ But only because his hand-eye coordination is pretty decent when his fingers are attached to a controller. He follows after him without a hitch in his step. ] You got one of those things in your room?

[ Only asking because, you know, they could get lost playing games for hours and not take up any space in the living room. And if not, Prompto's just supplied him with more food for thought, though he supposes if Noct only uses his room to sleep in... He hums under his breath as they move through the place, fingers still wrapped tightly around the barrette. ]

And don't tell me you spend a lot of time watching that stuff. You could literally do anything else here. [ Like go to another planet or explore the depths of the universe. ] Or we could together. I mean, later if you feel up for an adventure.

[ Prompto has no idea what he's saying because he's just trying to fill the silence and how strange it feels to be wandering through a place he must have gotten comfortable in but doesn't remember. If he hadn't thought about it before, he thinks about it now: he hates being the new person in a strange place when he'd gotten so used to being the veteran. ]

[ Some other time, right. Well, they still have a couple of days to figure it out, and whether a party happens or not isn't a big deal. They'll figure it out, Noctis is sure. Even low-key, their birthdays have always been nice. Everyone's happy those days no matter how big a production it is or isn't. It's one of the few things he isn't worried about. ]

Something similar, yeah.

[ It's more like a projector than a real TV, but it's still VR and still connects to LmaO and Prisma's equivalent to the internet, so it's close enough. He's not thinking about why Prompto might rather play in his room than the living room, though. He shrugs, feeling weirdly defensive about how he spends his time. It's not like he even hangs out in the apartment much... Honestly, he kind of avoids it, a lot of the time. But not like he's going to talk about that. ]

Not a lot of time. At night, mostly. Just noise to fall asleep to.

[ Alright, so maybe the honest reason wasn't the best excuse, either. Not that Mr Narcolepsy has trouble sleeping, but. He just sleeps better with the sound of someone talking in the background these days. And he feels even more defensive admitting that, so he picks up his steps a little bit after and opens the door to his room, leading the way in as soon as he can. ]

Like an adventure to the arcade?

[ Instead of playing video games inside? An adventure fishing, which Prompto definitely doesn't want to do? He's also probably not talking about another kind of together, though Noctis can't helps his thoughts straying that way the minute they're in his bedroom, the bed just. Right there, taking up most of it, not other place to really sit.

He doesn't sit, but hesitates instead, just inside of the door, seeing it how Prompto probably does. The walls are painted like the night sky, and the bed fittings are blue and white to compliment it. There's another vase of flowers on the bedside table, and a red notebook beside it. The bed's unmade and there are also clothes and empty water bottles and energy drink cans around, because it's his room and Ignis never comes in here to trip over stuff anyway. ]

[ It should be strange that, even now, he can still pick up on when Noct is uncomfortable, but it's blazing in such bold colors that it would be impossible to miss. Is he making it weird? That's the constant thought in his head these days, biting his lip as he follows Noct into his room and searches for some segue into something not so awkward. What to do, what to do. He hums softly like he's trying to brush aside whatever routine he has to sleep, never having really questioned that before; it must be some habit, he realizes, that partially stems from traveling, the four of them crammed together in every sense of the word. (Prompto doesn't blame him for that because familiarity helps him relax too.)

And speaking of...

He slips around Noct and makes a beeline for the bed and all its unmade glory, dropping down onto the edge of it like it's just another day and there's nothing between them but their friendship. His index fingers and thumbs form a rectangle after he tucks the barrette beneath his thigh, angling it towards Noct like he's snapping an invisible picture to remember the moment, and he peers over his hands with a soft smile. ]

Yeah, sure. We could always go right now if you wanted. [ It's not like he's doing anything important. ] Or, uh... is there something else you wanna do?

[ What trouble could they get into? What could they explore?

It's much easier to think about those things and not the pull of tension that's settled in his gut because... he still has no idea what they're doing. Are they sort of dating? Casual hangouts? Prompto feels guilty for not coming clean about half the things in his life, but he figures Noct wouldn't want to know about any of that, not when has nothing to do with them as they are right now. Much like half the things that have happened to him in the past year, so it's easier to pretend it hadn't happened at all. ]

[ It's something Noctis has always been able to count on: he's kind of great at making things more awkward than they need to be, and Prompto's always great at diffusing that and making things fun again. So Noctis shouldn't be surprised when Prompto ducks past him, snaps an invisible picture between the frame of his fingers, enters Noctis' bedroom and sits down like he's been here a million times, like it's the most natural thing in the world to do. Like he's comfortable. Like he belongs here.

Prompto does belong here. It's hard for Noctis to look at his own bed and see anything but Luna smiling back at him, but he doesn't want to be miserable over losing her again when she isn't really gone. And especially not when somebody else he cares about is right there in front of him, asking what he wants to do.

It's not "go to the arcade," or watch a movie, or anything like that. Not really. It's a way deeper kind of trouble that has Noctis offering, instead of answering the question more directly. ]

You can stay here, if you want.

[ In the span of time it takes Noct to answer, Prompto's already distracted himself with looking around the room to take in the things he hadn't upon first glance. Some parts of it are similar to the one he'd had in his apartment in Insomnia, but there are obvious differences too, things that are simply a choice based on what's available here rather than anything else. At least, he thinks? He can't be too certain about that, and he snaps his head to look back at Noct at that comment, expression twisted a little in confusion. ]

You mean, like, sleeping over?

[ And it's not as if he's playing dumb; he legitimately isn't sure what Noct is implying here. Stay as in live? Stay as in... what? He can't tell, doesn't know. It's a little embarrassing asking for clarification, especially when the direction of this conversation is unclear, and he's back to biting his lip again, fidgeting a bit with his fingers before tucking them beneath his thighs and feeling the press of the barrette against the side of his hand. ]

I don't see why not. I mean, it'd be like before. Right? Just you and me and the whole night to do whatever. [ He keeps it light and soft. ] There's plenty of stuff we could do...

Right.

[ Noctis acknowledges without breathing, the word tight in his throat, the next words tumbling out before he lets himself think it over any more than he already has, all the time, ever since that first day Prompto held his hand and walked him back to an empty, government-assigned apartment. ]

Or you could move in and we could do that stuff all the time.

[ Even though Noctis still hasn't moved from the doorway, he can't bring himself to. He brings a hand to one hip and forces himself to breathe at least, trying to be more casual than he feels. It's not a big deal, right? Sure, they didn't live together in Insomnia, but they did here, for a while. And they spent months living out of a car together before that, which was way more intimate. Wasn't it? ]

I know you've got a place of your own, and a roommate and everything, but there's still a room here next door to this one that's always been yours. I talked to Ignis, and he wants you here, too. So if you feel like it... You can stay here. Come live with us.

[ ... oh. So he had meant that.

Prompto had never been particularly good at hiding the way he feels, and now, it's probably a lot more amplified than it usually is, aware of the pressure that had been soft in his chest sinking down heavily into the pit of his stomach. Suddenly, everything's a thousand times more awkward than he could have ever imagined it being between them, glancing at Noct, who hadn't moved from the doorway, and down at his feet like he expects them to have an answer at the ready. More than anything, this is what he'd wanted all that time ago, when he'd first realized how much he felt for his best friend, and now, it isn't anything he wants to deal with. Because every time they discuss it or casually mention it, it's like he doesn't belong again.

He's a fake, not real. The one Noct hadn't spent all that time with before, the one who will never have those memories. ]

I – [ This isn't hard. He can do this. ] I don't know. I'd probably just get in the way, and it's not like... [ There's a helpless shrug, having clearly already made a mess of his attempt at trying to explain. ] I guess I'm just worried it'd be weird if I stayed with you guys. I haven't really lived with anyone else for a while.

[ And before that, before the road trip, he'd just had that empty house to himself since his parents were never around much. Slowly, he crosses his arms over his chest and tries not to look like he wants to crawl out of his own skin. Prompto swallows sharply. ]

You'd really want me here?

[ The hesitation and the way Prompto shrinks in on himself seize Noct's heart like a vise, but he really only blames himself for that. He shouldn't have hesitated. Maybe if he's just invited Prompto over that first day he was back, insisted on it, he wouldn't even be questioning if he's wanted now.

Or maybe he would still, anyway. A lot has changed between them, and they've both changed a lot in different ways, but they're still them. Prompto's always felt that way, which is why it's easy for Noctis to reassure him, just like he always has. ]

Yeah, I do.

[ His arm drops, and he doesn't bother with the door, but he walks over to the bed and sits down next to Prompto, close enough for their shoulders to touch. The way Prompto hasn't put that barrette in his pocket or something yet has been driving Noctis a little crazy, so he takes care of that now too, tugging Prompto's arms uncrossed and peeling the barrette out of Prompto's fingers, then pinning it into his hair over his ear, making that decision for him, since he can't make the moving in one. But he can reassure him about that, too. ]

It'll only be weird if we make it weird. The moonblessing thing is the weirdest part, and it's not like we haven't already dealt with that once.

[ He pushes aside Prompto's bangs beneath the barrette, and his thumb traces a scattering of freckles across Prompto's cheek, remembering the rainbow they'd made last Iris. He leans in to brush their lips together in a kiss, telling himself it's alright, that this is allowed, that it's the new normal now. ]

Think about it?

[ It feels pretty weird now, but maybe that's just him. He's trying not to make it a big deal, that this is normal despite it not actually being really all that normal, and he can't help the way his eyes fall shut at the touch of his hair and the press of the barrette, the sweetness of the moment and how much he wants to cling to it. He could be reading into the gesture too much, but the graze of his thumb and the pressure of Noct's mouth on his says way more than that. Still... ]

Yeah. [ His voice is thick, and he pauses, trying to let it settle a moment. ] I mean, I'll think about it. It'd be cool to spend more time with you. [ And Ignis, his brain supplies seconds too late. ] You know though...

[ He trails off, trying to let his body language speak louder than half the things he might be able to say as he reaches out to rest his palm on Noct's thigh. If anything, he could easily make it something casual, but had there ever been anything casual for him after all that time in Duplicity? Even the moonblessing stuff didn't bother him that much, trying not to overthink the fact they're both in Noct's bedroom and sitting on his bed—an easy in to making out if he pushed a little more. There's a soft exhale, and Prompto tilts his head to nudge their noses together, offering a familiar smile. ]

Never mind. It's not that important. [ As if he could ever admit the truth so boldly. ] But I promise I really will think about it.

[ Noctis lives in a constant state of weirdness, so he's not really the best judge. But he's stubborn, too. What the four of them had in Insomnia was good. Being out on the road together was different, and there was a lot of bad, but it was even better somehow, too. And now there's this place, and things are different again. Harder to figure out, but it's fine. If there's one thing Noctis knows, it's that he needs his friends. They all need each other, and he's not going to let moonblessings or sex or whatever get in the way of that.

Is that even what Prompto's trying to say with that look and how he touches his thigh before leaning in and sighing? Noctis has no idea. But he knows Prompto wants to be here, and he wants to be with him. That's all that matters to him. Even if Prompto decides he'd rather keep living on his own for whatever reason, he's here now, and that's what counts. Noctis nuzzles back, his closer hand covering Prompto's on his thigh, and he links their fingers together before Prompto gets wise and takes it back. Then Noctis leans back again, but not far. Just enough to watch at Prompto's expression as he asks. ]

You're really gonna leave me hanging?

[ Obviously there's something important there, and if it's standing between Prompto moving in and all of them being close again... Noctis wants to hear it. ]

[ It's like being caught, like he's being reeled in by Noct's everything – his touch, his voice, his closeness – and there's not much he can do about it, glancing down at their fingers and searching for some other excuse than the truth sitting in his throat and causing his chest to feel tight. What he wants to say— he's only ever admitted it to Noct once, and even then, he didn't think he got just how much he meant it, how it had everything to do with Noct accepting him and being there for him and always as equally encouraging. How he can't stop thinking about him whenever they're together and how amplified it is when they're not. If Prompto moves in, the ability to separate all of that will be nonexistent, and on top of that, he would be leaving Nero alone. ]

I guess... [ Another breath, and he realizes he needs space despite the conflicting reassurance of Noct's presence. ] There's still a lot of stuff I haven't told you, and I wish I had the guts to say it right now. But I'm glad we're together. [ Is that enough? It doesn't feel like enough, and his fingers squeeze at Noct's like a lifeline, hoping it will all make sense before one of them disappears again. ] You– it means a lot to me.

[ Which will probably be as close to a confession as he ever gets right now, ducking his head to hide the way his eyes threaten to betray him, and rather than pull away, he pushes forward to tuck his face against his shoulder. It's almost exaggerated, like a show of falling into him as a tease, but the contact settles the slight race of his heart, mouth pressed to Noct's shirt in a gentle sort of kiss that only translates the warmth of the action rather than the raw expression of emotion he feels. The words are almost muffled when he speaks next. ]

You askin' means a lot too.

[ There's not really anything Noctis can do about what he doesn't know, but if Prompto's not ready to tell him, he's not going to push for it. Even if it worries him, especially when Prompto squeezes his hand back tighter. Even if he doesn't want Prompto to carry any kind of burden on his own. It's not like Noctis hasn't been guilty of the same thing. There's nothing he can do but accept it.

Well, accept it and also reassure him, as much as words can. Luckily, Noctis doesn't just have words in his arsenal anymore. He squeezes Prompto's hand back and wraps his free arm around Prompto's shoulders, his face dropped to Prompto's nest of blonde hair, voice lowered in deference for the confession, however unfinished it was. ]

Whatever you haven't told me, it won't change how much I care about you. So when you're ready to talk about it... You know where I live. You're welcome back any time.

[ He doesn't know if that's true or not, if his feelings would or wouldn't change, but he'd rather not overthink that when Noct is so close and there's still a chance to keep this. It's always a risk, with such limited time that neither of them know when it might come to an end, and he pushes his face a little firmer into Noct's shoulder before turning his head into his neck. Why waste this? What good would it do? There's a lot he needs to sort out, but he's never questioned his feelings or his loyalty to Noct, braving the consequences of it to press his lips to his throat, the edge of his jaw. It's not exactly a shy gesture, though the hesitance is still underlying when he moves back to look at him. ]

I know. [ His smile is watery, but at least it reaches his eyes. ] That's why you're the best.

[ And before he can second-guess himself, he tips forward to kiss him square on the mouth like it's the most natural thing in the world. A bump of their noses, and he can't help laughing at how ridiculous all of this is, wishing it was easier to confess everything to him like it had been when they'd been teenagers. Now, he realizes, they're not even close to the same age, and that's... well, it's sort of weird. ]

Maybe we could do a trial thing. Me staying here? See how it goes. [ Maybe that will kick him into wanting to tell him, whispering it in the dark when neither of them can't sleep. ]

[ The press of lips to his neck is unexpected, and Noctis shivers, reminded once again by the gesture that they're already in his bed, that it would be easy to...

Prompto leans back and Noctis forces himself to relax, to nod, to come up with some kind of answer, move things along since what else needs to be said? Things aren't perfect but they're good enough that Noctis doesn't want to screw them up. Just keeping things the way they are, with Prompto here (and... whatever else they're doing that they haven't really put a name to), it's fine with Noctis.

Except then Prompto is kissing him, and that's even better. Noctis leans into it, and when Prompto laughs, Noctis smiles. Maybe Prompto won't believe it, or can't, but after everything they've been through, everything they've seen, everything they've done... There's so much Noctis has had to come to terms with, and his feelings for Prompto have only ever gotten stronger. There's no way whatever he has to say could make Noctis feel differently. If only he could put those feelings into actual words, maybe Prompto would believe him.

He's grateful when Prompto speaks up anyway, even if it's not what he's expecting to hear. Noctis' eyebrows lift, and he leans back, frowning thoughtfully. Like having Prompto stay with him, even temporarily, is something he would even have to consider. ]

You mean, like, sleeping over?

[ His voice turns teasing as he echoes Prompto's words from before, but he leans in again right after to smooth over the joke with another gentle kiss. His hands slide over Prompto's arms and come to rest at his hips, and his voice stays quiet, breathing against Prompto's mouth, never really leaning far enough away that he couldn't kiss him again. ]

Just you and me and the whole night to do whatever. That's the kind of plan I could get into.

[ Having Prompto stay here isn't about being able to kiss him or touch him like this whenever either of them wanted, but... Noctis can't say he hasn't thought about it, or isn't thinking about it right now with each lingering kiss. They were teenagers in every way except the way that involved dodging responsibility and making out in bed instead. Better later than never, right? ]

[ It's intimate, intensely so, and Prompto flounders a little under all of it, grasping for something that isn't there to hold onto in case he's swept away. But it's much too late for that, huffing out a soft breath when they break apart after Noct's comment about sleeping over. That part is normal, the teasing, and he's grateful that whatever is between them hasn't compromised their friendship. Yet, with that also comes the ability to see through what Noct might – or might not – be alluding to, and his heart races faster as he tries to fumble for something to say that doesn't come out a garbled, awkward mess. He should be past that, shouldn't have to worry so much, but he can feel the heat of a soft blush creeping up his neck regardless. ]

Yeah, sleeping over. [ An idle murmur, and Prompto lets their lips brush. ] And I guess anything else you'd wanna do that's, uh, not sleeping?

[ He's not good at subtle, but the invitation is there anyway, conscious of the fact there's nothing like a moonblessing or whatever else helping this along. Prompto had never needed those things, not after struggling with his own feelings for so long and eventually accepting them in Duplicity, and so, he figures that if Noct has an issue with it, he'll tell him to knock it off or push him back. There's no way he could read that as real rejection when they'd been together before, but... His thoughts race even as he pushes forward to kiss him again, something soft and real and very much opening up to more.

His hand grips at Noct's shirt too, pulling him closer even while he moves forward. The movement's awkward for only a second, glancing at him as he tries to judge whether or not he should, and then, he's crawling into his lap, knees on either side of him so he can slide his arms around his neck and kiss him properly. No grazing slides of their mouths, nothing so innocent. He kisses him with the way he feels, body and lips sinking into it like it will convey every unspoken thing deep inside him, and his fingers push up into that dark hair, combing through the strands before lightly fisting at the ends like he's silently asking him to stay when Prompto's always been the one out of place. ]

[ The thing about having fair, freckled skin is that it makes any flush of color really obvious. Noctis feels a little guilty for that, how embarrassed Prompto is, though Noctis can't fully understand it. He kisses back warmly, eager and practiced. He doesn't just know how to kiss, now, he knows how Prompto likes to kiss. His hands slide from Prompto's waist to his back; it's easy to encourage the kisses and melt into the tug of his hands. After the iris moon, and everything, why wouldn't it be? That was a lot. What's left to be embarrassed about after something like that? Then again, Noctis starts to wonder if maybe that isn't exactly why. Prompto wasn't really himself for that, was he? And this is...

Prompto's looking at him with blue eyes that are clear and sharp, and then he's straddling him anyway. Noctis feels a shiver of heat rush down his spine as Prompto's weight settles into his lap, even before he's meeting him in another kiss, filthier than the ones before. It's different now, but Noctis can't help thinking back to that day in Prompto's apartment when he felt the same, when Prompto crawled into his lap just like this, but his skin was too hot and they didn't really have any choice except to get closer.

It never should've been that way, even if it had to, in some messed up way, because without the moonblessings or drugs or whatever, they'd... Not that he didn't want it, but. Noctis had been afraid to push for more, to lose what they had. The more that happens, though, the less scared he is. Who he was, the role he was born and raised to play doesn't mean anything to him anymore. Who they are now is just who they make themselves into. Changing one thing means changing everything, and that's what Noctis has accepted. Things may get harder before they get easier, but they can only get better. He's lost Prompto already too many times to believe they belong anywhere but together. He'll make it happen.

But worrying more about the future doesn't mean he's got to stop living in the moment. If anything, it's just more reason to enjoy what he has now, which Prompto is making easy, dragging his hands through his hair and holding on tight, which Noctis only leans into, encouraging as he kisses him back with the same kind of devotion. His hands push under Prompto's shirt at the waist, feeling warm skin, and he hates that he might have to let go of him for even a second right now when all he wants to do is be closer, but Noctis forces himself to pull back and take a breath. Just long enough to meet Prompto's eyes, and ask gently. ]

Are you sure?

[ It sure feels like Prompto is, and Noctis really doesn't want to ask, but he's also never been able to ask before. And it's important. If whatever Prompto wanted to talk about has something to do with this... If he's just doing this because he thinks (correctly) that Noctis wants to... Noctis wouldn't be able to live with himself if he found out later it was something like that. ]

[ It's always so familiar in an unconscious ways—the settle of their bodies, the intake of breath that's exchanged between them, the heat of Noct's mouth. He's memorized everything, knows all the details because he's so oriented in capturing the moment and saving it for later, and again, those words are sharp on the tip of his tongue, begging to be said aloud. But Prompto's learned that they are a curse; any sort of feelings for someone in a place like this, where it could be ripped from them at any moment – can be swept away by something bigger than him, bigger than them – isn't worth the heartbreak no matter how many times he faces it. (Maybe it's just more proof that the gods are twisted and cruel and only playing with them.) So, he bites down on it and tries to convey the thought when their eyes meet, wanting to laugh at how ridiculous that question is.

He almost snorts in disbelief. ]

I'm sure. [ Prompto almost asks if Noct is, but considering where his hands are, he can tell. ] Never been more sure of anything, so you don't have to ask. [ His teeth bite at the tip of his tongue, and then, he shakes his head gently, fingers trailing through dark hair to cup the back of Noct's neck. ] I don't need moonblessings or whatever to know that I want you.

[ It's not even close to how he feels, but he thinks... Noct has to know. Doesn't he? He's not particularly good at keeping his own emotions locked away, just the secret ones that have nothing to do with anyone else, only himself, and Prompto tries to show his feelings through everything he does. Some part of him always wishes he'd made that leap into being Noct's friend even earlier than he had, that he hadn't wasted so much time chasing after a shadow like it would please Noct more. The more he'd come to know him, the more he'd realized that it wouldn't have made a difference as long as he'd been himself, and it's a hard lesson to swallow—even now. He'd loved Noct for so long, and visiting all these different worlds, in seeing so many different things and expanding his views... It's cemented in his head that their fates, at the very least, are too intangible to ever really be pulled apart.

So, he gives Noct's hair a teasing pull, and then, he's falling forward to kiss him, arm sliding around his shoulders to hold him there. The kiss isn't exactly gentle or soft, the slight bit of demand behind the touch of his tongue and the nip of his teeth, but it isn't drawn out either, breathing there against his mouth for a moment before leaning to the side and dragging them both a little further onto the bed. It reminds him of the handful of times he'd crawled under the covers with him in Duplicity, when he'd been upset about Ivy leaving, when things between them had started to get serious but neither of them had any real clue what to do about it because of where they were, and if he'd been that person before, he might have hesitated. But Noct is warm against him, real and not enticed by the moons or drugs or anything else that this place might do to them, and he lets his lips and hands wander, finding the curve of his jaw as his fingers slip under the edge of his clothes to stroke at the heated skin of his sides. An exhale, and this feels good, feels better and nicer than anything else. ]

I... think about this a lot. [ It's a softer confession, mumbled just against the curve of his neck. ]

[ Maybe the reassurances didn't really need to be said, considering their kind-of-date in Nevei and how Prompto acted then, what they'd said... But it still settles something in Noctis he can't really put a name to, hearing Prompto say he's sure, than the moonblessings or whatever aren't involved. Because they aren't. In some ways, that gives this even more meaning, and it should scare Noctis (and it does, a little), but he feels the same. And Prompto deserves to hear that, so between biting kisses that have his heart beating a little faster and his spine tingling with warmth, he answers quietly. ]

I'm sure, too. I want you.

[ Like always, though, it's easier to act on that stuff than say it. Noctis is all too eager to tug Prompto a little closer into his lap as their kissing deepens, and when Prompto breaks away a moment later, the disappointed grunt he makes for it is automatic, and honestly a little embarrassing. Anyway, there's nothing really to be disappointed about since having Prompto slide off his lap just means having Prompto vertical in his bed, and that has its own advantages. He catches Prompto's neck and pulls him right back into the next kiss, and as much as their clothing feels rough and hot and too much in the way, it's nice not to feel like they have to rush to get it all off. Noctis feels content and lazy, just kissing Prompto like this, touching him just to touch with the destination still a way off. He rocks into the touch of Prompto's fingers gliding over his bare skin beneath his shirt anyway, pressing his thigh a little more firmly between his legs, one hand falling to Prompto's hips like it belongs there.

The words whispered against his neck, and the meaning behind them, take a moment to sink in, and his answer is slow and thick because of it, but automatic. ]

Really?

[ It's kind of mind-blowing to Noct that Prompto would think about him at all, never mind a lot when there are... Well, just name somebody. Plenty of other people, if you're going to be imagining anybody. If Prompto had said it louder, looking at him, Noctis would've been sure he was just joking about it. Even whispered like that, it's still had to believe. But being self-conscious isn't the most sexy look, is it? Definitely not what Prompto was thinking about, so Noctis tilts his head to offer more of his neck and hums to make up for the question, his hands slipping around Prompto's ribs to feel down his back, sliding up his shirt against to get to more skin, then pushing down the back of his pants, just barely. ]

What kind of things do you think about?

[ What is the destination? It's like aimless wandering, sinking into the heat of Noct's mouth and hands, and the longer this goes on, the more lost he becomes in it. Should he turn back? Could he take it all back and just stay friends the way they had been for so many years? Prompto only has a handful of seconds to think about it, choking down a soft sound at the skim of those fingers over his skin. Everything's warm and slowly beginning to overheat him, a faint flush spreading along the exposed parts of him—his arms, his chest, his throat. Even his cheeks are hot with the way his mind twists and falls over itself in an effort to answer the question without embarrassing himself.

But isn't that how it always is with him?

At least Noct would expect it, and at least he's far past the moments where he might have tried to lean back and accidentally butted him in the nose with his head. Those instances are long gone, a Prompto that no longer exists here, and quietly, he huffs out a similar noise along the curve of his throat, kissing a light path up beneath his chin before their lips are grazing and their noses are touching. This time, the sound he makes is almost thoughtful, fingers gently combing through the mess he's made of Noct's hair. ]

You really wanna know? [ It's hushed, like he expects an answer but moves on before Noct can say anything. ] Like... all sorts of stuff. Just us. Kissing you or holding your hand, but there's the not so PG version too. [ Most of it doesn't make any sense, not when he's not good with sorting his thoughts into any particular order and they just fall out of him. ] I think about the way you taste and how you feel when you fuck me, and I wonder if, maybe, you'd want to switch just so I could make you feel the same.

[ His entire face ignites then, ducking to bury it in Noct's shoulder, and yeah... that kind of disrupts the whole kissing thing for a while. But Prompto's hands stroke down to finger beneath the collar of Noct's shirt as he thinks it over. If he can't be honest with him, then what? That'd defeat the purpose of all of this, and as much as he wants to just make out with Noct and not think about anything else, he figures now is a good time to bring up his only hesitation as casually as possible. ]

You know, things like that. And that I don't want it to mess up what we've got 'cause you're my best friend first.

ic contact ( prismatica )

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