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

[ Dressed in all black, Noctis might look like some kind of thug, loitering around outside the apartment, leaning up against the wall with that intimidating sort of aura that only lightens once Prompto comes into sight. Because really, how could anybody not smile back at the sight of Prompto approaching with a smile? Noctis hasn't been able to pull off the stoic loner attitude since high school anyway. ]

It's a nice night.

[ He answers blithely with a glance up at the night sky because, yeah, he's totally been waiting out here. Nothing better to do. Not to mention the concern that something might happen to Prompto along the way, or even before‐ But also, it's a nice, clear spring night, like he said. Beautiful time to be alone in the dark after midnight. He nudges Prompto's arm playfully before turning and shouldering open the door, leading the way back inside. ]

Good thing you're quick.

[ ...silver. /rimshot ]

[ At least he's so used to Noct's familiar silhouette that it doesn't startle him. All those nights chasing around after him in the dark with nothing but a flashlight have accustomed him to it, and the sound of his voice cuts through whatever hesitations he might have had tucked deep inside, huffing out a light (almost) protest at that terrible joke. But things like that are their bread and butter, keeps them stuck together when the world feels as if it's falling apart, and Prompto reaches out to give Noct's shirt a lazy tug—much better to interpret than an eyeroll he might not be able to see. ]

Yeah, good thing. Couldn't wait to see you. [ There's amusement in his voice, keeping it to a soft murmur. Was anyone else awake? He has a feeling Ignis probably knows because he always does, and Lunafreya... Well. ] So... what's the plan? Anything I can do to make stuff a little less boring?

[ He has a list. A very small list that consists mostly of video games, but that all depends on how quiet either of them can be. Or how much they'd want to risk it since some part of his brain is thinking about other stuff too. Yet, that comes with a whole lot more of something like guilt he just doesn't want to think about right now, so he tries not to. ]

[ They all know what it's like to get caught up in their own heads. Talking through it may help the others get through it, but for Noctis... just being around them makes things better. There's really nothing compared to just having a best friend there to be awake with you, to joke and play around with. He smiles softly, feeling better alright. What they actually do with this stolen late night time feels secondary.

Except junk food. Midnight BFF time means junk food is definitely necessary. He leads the way to the kitchen, keeping his voice pitched towards the louder side of quiet. Already (always) on the same page, he answers before the question is asked. ]

Video games would wake up the whole house. No dart boards here yet. But I'm sure we can figure something out.

[ He opens a cupboard that's rarely used and there it is, hidden away: the promised land of cheesy, MSG snack food. He tosses a bag Prompto's way, then heads to the fridge. Nothing goes with cheetos like Mountain Dew. That sacred law of gamer fuel was written long before Noct's time. ]

[ Wow, Noct. What have you been doing with your life? No dart boards? It's not like Prompto wouldn't have known, though he sort of feels guilty for not paying as much attention to that as he should have. But how much time had he spent looking around at the rooms or figuring out what was missing before thinking he was the one who didn't belong? It's a dumb thought, one that causes him to nearly miss the bag Noct throws at him. A glance, and he almost laughs so loud it ruins their stealth; they're never going to sleep with all of this in their system, and honestly, he's surprised Ignis keeps it in the house. The idea that it could be (and probably is) contraband is amusing to him. ]

What about cards? Or... huh. Yeah, you're probably right. We can figure something out.

[ Honestly, it's late, and even if they don't sleep, getting riled up over some friendly competition isn't going to keep things on the DL. But it doesn't mean he's going to wait for Noct to direct him, following towards the fridge so he can drop his chin softly on his shoulder in just a way that it doesn't hinder him getting anything out. It's just a second to be close, an attempt at casual. Plus, he also wants to grab some water. (At least he's a tiny bit responsible.) ]

Next time, I'll come over earlier so we can hang out the whole night. [ Never mind it's said directly into Noct's ear. ]

[ Quiet activities, quiet activities... It's not like either of them is really the "sit and read together" type. But it's fine. Trying to keep quiet during friendly competition might be half the fun, anyway. A little casual rebellion has always been, to Noctis, the sweetest fruit. Right up there with cheetos and mountain dew. He shivers, the good kind, as Prompto leans against him and breathes right in his ear. ]

Or, next time could be the time you come over and never leave.

[ The fridge is closed, Noctis turned, and the words are out of his mouth with casual honesty all in an instant, but even after, Noct can't bring himself to regret it and take it back. He tenders the words with a fleeting nip of a kiss against Prompto's lips before ducking under his arm and heading for the living room, whispering loudly as he goes. ]

But I'll take what I can get.

[ He flops on the entirety of the couch after that, trusting Prompto to find space to join him anyway, and he cracks open the 2 liter and drinks from the bottle, and it's truly the sweet nectar he remembers from his last indulgence however long ago it was. Rebel without a cause, right here. ]

[ The kiss takes him by surprise, and maybe... yeah, that's probably the point. It's a good way to get him to shut up, not that he'd been talking indefinitely or anything, and the words themselves make him flush just slightly before he's shaking his head. He knows what he means, but he can't just move everything back in and pretend it's okay. There's not enough room as it is, and with Lunafreya living with them now, it'd be crowded. ~~plus everyone would go insane having three iris under the same roof~~

Whatever, it's fine. He's got his water, and it gives him a second to recover, springing into action and following after him. Prompto does find space to sit, mostly nudging Noct's legs out of the way to squeeze beside him. There's plenty of couch, but apparently, they have to be touching in as many places as possible. He fiddles with his bottle for a second or two before turning to face him. ]

You know... it's not because I don't wanna be here, right? Like, with you and everybody else? [ He's glad he tacked on that last bit. ] I hope you don't think that's why I left.

[ High school wasn't all that long ago in the grand scheme of things, but it's hard for Noctis to even remember what it was like before Prompto was coming over to his apartment and they were throwing themselves together like this on one couch, or Prompto's arm was around his neck as they walked to the arcade. If anyone asked before that, Noctis would say he'd rather spend his time alone. It still doesn't feel like he's changed so much as just that Prompto is an exception to everything. He's special. That's always been obvious. Prismatica's chroma is just a bonus, and a warmth Noctis is happy to lean into. Even if it's just his shins against Prompto's sides.

The bottle of soda's a useful prop, and Noctis thumbs at the plastic neck as he answers dismissively. ]

Nah, I get it. You're here right now because I'm amazing company to be with. If you didn't want to live with me, you'd be crazy.

[ He doesn't even taste the sugar when he drinks again, because he does get it. It's because Prompto doesn't even remember the photos on the walls that are supposed to be his. Not to mention Luna sharing with Noctis now, which they haven't talked about. Or how weird it is that they're living together at all, even though Ignis said it was alright, even though it's what feels right to Noctis these days...

But it doesn't feel right yet, with Gladio not here, with Prompto happier living in a place with a guy he acts like he's afraid of... ]

Truth or dare?

[ Noct asks suddenly, voice still low. Totally quiet game, right? Definitely won't end in disaster if either of them picks dare. ]

Yeah, I guess. You know me so well.

[ He means it sincerely, punctuating it with a partial smile and a nudge that says just about the same. There's a lot more to why he can't bring himself to live there, plenty of which he's sure Noct knows already, but voicing it out loud makes it feel much more real somehow. If they keep it quiet, much like whatever this is between them, then it's not a big deal. Prompto doesn't have to feel spectacularly guilty despite it never going away, and he's content to sit there in some companionable silence, fiddling with the bag that neither of them seem interested in opening and his bottle of water until Noct suddenly asks that. It causes Prompto turn a little, shifting so he can stare at him.

So, he wants to play that kind of game? He shouldn't be as surprised as he feels.

But it's normal, right? This whole thing... they've done this plenty of times, back home or on the road, and it's weird to him that he'd almost be more comfortable playing some version of strip poker than opening himself up to things he'd have to admit. But if there's anyone he could have ever trusted, it's Noct. He always will, which is why he settles down into the sofa and tries to play it off nonchalantly. His only hope is that it stays mostly innocent considering, but he isn't going to hold his breath when Noct's competitiveness always rubs off on him and inevitably turns things into a disaster. ]

Uh... truth. [ Since it's safer. Sort of. ]

[ Considering where they come from, how they were raised and what's always been expected of them, you'd think that Noctis and Prompto could never get along, that they'd be too completely different people. And they are, but only in the good kind of ways, as far as Noctis is concerned. There's really nobody that gets him like Prompto does. He couldn't have asked for a better friend, would never settle for anybody else.

Which is why he knows truth or dare will be fun and easy. The dares are going to be great. And the truths... Noctis hums, thumb still tapping soundlessly on the bottle in his hands.

He should keep it lighthearted. Nothing too deep. That's what they both want. But, truth is, this whole thing is kind of eating him up inside, and as much as he's trying to ignore it, it won't go away. And there's really only one way to fix it, even though it's the way they both like the least.

So. Truth. ]

What do you really think of this Nero guy?

[ He's expecting something tame to start out with, but it's apparently go hard or go home, Prompto's movements freezing not so subtly at the question. Is it too late to pick dare? Probably not, though he thinks that sort of diversion would end up making it worse. Does Noct think Nero's some kind of monster? Considering the few times they've talked about him and the context he's been brought up in, Prompto can't help but think 'yes'. It's complicated though, like everything else, and he doesn't want to lie to his best friend.

Prompto turns his head to frown into the dark, conscious of the silence even as his fingers drop to brush Noct's leg. ]

A lot of things. [ Cheap start, but he pushes on. ] You know we were together in Duplicity, and being here's just made stuff weirder. But I... like him, you know? He's fun to be with, and most of the time, it's great. The last few weeks have just been off. It's not a permanent thing.

[ That still doesn't explain anything, but it feels like a decent non-answer all things considered. Prompto can't come clean about feeling more for Nero to someone he feels just as much for. He can't give Noct that truth when he thinks it's going to affect who they are together and how they've been since he'd shown up here. He doesn't want to go back to a time where they barely talked, where he doesn't have his best friend, and he doesn't want to go back to a time where kissing didn't feel natural. It's a selfish thing to want, but...

He deflates even further into the cushions, his hand gently gripping at Noct now. ]

He's not a bad guy. I think you'd like him too.

[ It isn't an easy question to answer, so Noctis can't be anything but grateful that Prompto does his best. Noct is silent and attentive as he listens, thoughtful through it all. From what little he knows about Nero, he's got zero reason to trust him.

But Prompto obviously does trust him. He's never been shy about defending himself from people he doesn't like. "He's not a bad guy." It may not be the whole truth about why Prompto would rather drift then settle with either of them, but it's enough truth for Noctis to respect the decision. Maybe he'll sleep a little bit better now with that reassurance. ...Probably not. But that doesn't mean he isn't grateful. ]

If you think I'd like him, then that's good enough for me.

[ He agrees, reaching over to set his bottle on the coffee table and then using the movement as an excuse to readjust his place on the couch, pulling out of Prompto's grip only to sit up, snake an arm around his waist and lean more against him, comfortably slouched into the couch cushions. In the interest of fairness, he offers. ]

Alright. Truth for me, too. Hit me with it.

[ He always worries he's going to be wrong about that. One day. Introducing his best friend to his boyfriend feels... odd. It's probably why he tries to keep things as separate as possible; if he didn't have those buried feelings for Noct, it would have been a lot easier to just come out with it, but he's always afraid of worst case scenario for some reason. So, silence is best, and it's even easier to sink into it when Noct moves to press against him, ditching the bag and his bottle so that they're effectively (sort of) cuddling.

There's a huff of a laugh just to prove how much he thinks that's true. ]

Dude, you've seen the shower. What's that telling you?

[ Anyway, Prompto's already had enough of that conversation to last him a lifetime. Until Noct and Nero actually do meet, and then, he'd probably have a hell of a time trying to explain it all. But he won't think about that until it happens, dropping an arm around Noct and teasing at his hair. Like this, he would have been a little jittery, but it's late enough that he can find some sort of chill in the time, in the closeness of his best friend. He wants to lean on him more than ever, fingers sliding to lightly pull at the fabric of his shirt. ]

Truth, huh? [ He makes a quiet show of thinking, humming under his breath. ] Do you like it here? I mean, the way everything is and all that? So... do you like the way things are now?

[ If he keeps going, he might find the right question to ask, but it feels decent enough to leave it there. ]

[ The showerhead was badass. That Noctis can agree with. But he also saw the bruises on Prompto's hips a couple months later, and now he's still devoted to the guy but doesn't want to sleep in his own home anymore...

Anyway. Prompto said it's temporary. Nothing for Noctis to do but wait it out. And maybe invite Prompto over for snacks, and games, and impromptu cuddle sessions in the meantime. Can't complain about that. While Prompto thinks through his question and how to phrase it (does Noctis even fully understand what he's asking? Uh...), Noct leans into those fingers in his hair, and then gives up any pretense of preferring the couch cushion to Prompto's shoulder. His head falls heavy and his eyes close immediately as he exhales slow against Prompto's neck. Maybe he's more ready to fall asleep than he thought, now that what (who) he was worried about is settled. ]

Pretty much.

[ It's too simple of an answer for a complex question, but it's the truth. Nowhere else is like Insomnia. Eos still needs him, and all of them, to come home. Even here, things aren't perfect, with the way people lose their memories and then get them back, disappear and reappear, the thing with Ignis and Gladio, Prompto dealing with Duplicity and Nero, and Alisaie before that. The moonblessings are the least of what Noctis worries about. The make or break for Noctis has always been obvious, though. ]

You're here. And the other guys, and Luna, and Dad. Things aren't perfect, but I'm going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

[ It feels good to have this, like some stolen moment in time. Prompto knows he isn't always going to be able to keep it, not with the way things work here, and if he ever thinks of home, it's just a mess of emotions he's still never ready to deal with. But being at Noct's side, having him there, he'd face it all a thousand times over for just another few minutes of it. Which is why he doesn't fight Noct's weight against him or the fan of his breath – no matter how much he wants to squirm from it – and he leans into him, gaze drifting in the dark up towards the ceiling as he listens to him talk. It's something he'd attuned himself to early in their relationship, and now, with things just a bit more between them, it's even nicer to have.

If only he could say those things out loud to him. ]

Me too. I'm glad stuff's kinda normal even if it's not at the same time, you know? Doesn't seem like anybody's going anywhere... [ He's jinxing himself saying that. He just knows it. ] But, um. Your turn, buddy. I pick dare.

[ Because honestly? How bad could it get? And anyway, Prompto doesn't want to keep choosing truth and accidentally say something he can't take back or doesn't know how to explain. It's like he's allergic to the L-word, a very real fear considering how many times he's tried saying it or confessing his own feelings and watching the other person just disappear or go away and never come back. Duplicity's scarred him that way, and he hates it when he thinks they're always on borrowed time here.

Still, it is what it is, and he gently drags his fingers over Noct's shoulder, resting his arm around him as he leans into the sofa. ]

[ Whether that was the answer Prompto wanted to hear or not, he answers it back, which Noctis is grateful for. Once less truth to drag out of him. It's easy enough for Noctis to say that he's happy here when they both know what's waiting for him on Eos. But for Prompto, after all he went through back home, then on Duplicity, and now here... He's got a lot more reasons not to like Prismatica. If Noctis can help him remember the good things here too, then at least he can feel like he's doing something right. Prompto's given him so much happiness, been there for him so many times. Noctis wants to repay him, even if it feels like he'll only manage a fraction of it. He totally just jinxed them all by saying that, but it's fine. That's something to worry about later, too. Stupid dares for tonight. ]

Dare, huh.

[ He smiles against Prompto's neck, eyes still closed, loose and lazy. A dare where neither of them has to get up? He can manage that. ]

I dare you to send the last picture on your phone to the first person in your contacts without an explanation for it.

[ He's got a lot more reasons to not like home too, most of which have more to do with Noct than anything. It's such a selfish thing, wounded deep by the events of Duplicity and how much Noct had first accepted his fate as something that had to happen. He thinks it changed after a while, but that day on the beach... Prompto squeezes his eyes shut and leans into him for a moment before those words sink in, and he just laughs. It's quiet, obviously, something almost like a snicker, but it means he has to squirm and shift to get it free, flipping through his contacts to find the first one and then the most recent pic in his camera roll. ]

Hmm. I guess Alisaie is getting a nude then. [ Which isn't actually what he's sending because he saves those somewhere else. It's really just a pic of Shadow. ] Just kidding. I met her a while ago though. Did I tell you that? She seems okay, I guess.

[ He thinks he could see why he might have been with her, outside the fact she's pretty, but they would've had to have met under different circumstances. Prompto's feelings for everyone else in his life are too complicated to wonder about past things he doesn't remember, and once he sends the pic, he settles down and nudges Noct gently before tilting enough to press a chaste kiss to his hair. He doesn't know why he does it, just that he does, and there's no taking it back once it's over. So, he has to live with it. ]

[ Okay, so Noctis was expecting an embarrassing picture to a hot friend, but even he was expecting it to work out that perfectly. He sits up, eyes opening in surprise.

Hook, line, and sinker. Prompto really got him, and Noctis huffs at how easily he fell for it, keeping his eyes open and his head up just long enough to watch Prompto send off the real result of his dare (Is that a panther moonblessed, or...?) before dropping his mouth and chin back comfortably into the crook of Prompto's neck, eyes closing again automatically, even as he murmurs with sleepy curiosity. ]

Just "okay"?

[ Noctis had heard from Alisaie that they'd met, and then... That had been the end of it. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. They'd spent like a year or whatever in The Circle before coming here, and this time, neither of them remembered any of that. Noct's all about defying fate, so he can't really blame them. But there's just something sad about it. Missed chances, or whatever. Like wondering if he and Prompto hadn't met in Insomnia, but met here instead, if they'd be friends at all.

The pressure of the kiss sends a warm thrill through him. This is nice, isn't it? The same as they've always been, but better? If only everything around them weren't so complicated. If only every night could end this way. Noctis opens his eyes again and leans back, adjusting on the couch not to move any further way, but to look at Prompto right where he is, comfortably crushed together on the couch. ]

Dare.

[ It's a little funny, at least for the few seconds it lasts, and Prompto's smiling when Noct flops back on him, leaning enough to drop the device onto the floor so he's free of it. While he would have usually spent countless hours through the night flipping through the network or reading things, he doesn't need any distractions right now. Noct's more than enough of one on his own, tilting his head to meet his gaze briefly. ]

I mean, she's pretty, and I think we can be friends. [ Never mind the other stuff that had happened. ] That's about it? I dunno.

[ Is that weird? Should it be weird? He thinks they should be comfortable with the idea of talking about things like this, and for the most part, he is. They'd sort of gotten over discussing worse things, so he figures anything else is small in comparison. The benefits of being best friends, though Prompto really should work on being a lot more honest. Would Noct ever be upset with him if he told him the truth about his relationship with Nero? Why is he even thinking about that right now? He forces it away with a sigh, humming purposely loud as he thinks. There had never been a time he'd been particularly good at coming up with creative dares; that's all Noct, usually, and anyway, it's late enough that he doesn't care about being lame.

A thought pops into his head, and it's like his pulse decides to amp up with it. ]

Kiss me. [ What kind of friend is he thinking about that now? Oh well. Go hard or go home. ] Anywhere you want, but you can't use your hands until I say so.

[ Whether Prompto realizes it or not, "friends" is a good enough answer for Noctis to feel reassured. If he and Alisaie were both here and didn't get along, or were avoiding each other then yeah, that would've been a tragedy. But Noctis of all people knows the value of friendship. The romantic side of love is just a bonus, as far as he's concerned. They still have each other, even if things are different. That's nothing to be worried about. The thought drops right out of his head, easy to dismiss in favor of the timbre of Prompto's voice as he hums, and the dusting of freckles over his nose that are always more pronounced up close, and his pretty blue eyes.

"Kiss me" is the exact right dare. Obviously Noctis has super powers, because he just shoved that thought right into Prompto's head. Nothing to do with how he's already half on top of him, perfectly in kissing range. All psychic ability. He smiles smugly, leaning in immediately, ready to claim his victory... And then the rest of that dare sinks in, and he pauses, breath ghosting over Prompto's lips.

So that's how it's going to be, huh? That's the kind of challenge Noctis can rise to. He leans back again, mostly to readjust his weight on the couch so he doesn't actually fall on top of Prompto when he puts his hands behind his back (although lbr, falling might still totally be in his future), before he gets distracted and completely forgets the challenge. Leaning back's not so bad, anyway. It gives him a chance to look Prompto over, like he's deciding just where he wants to kiss him. Like the answer isn't "everywhere," the same as it's been for months, maybe longer. ]

Anywhere I want... Let's see.

[ Obvious and easy, he goes right for that spot his face was already pressed to, the warm crook of Prompto's neck, all warm, bare skin, ripe for the open press of his lips. It's surprisingly awkward, not using his hands for balance, or just to, you know, touch, like he normally would. But Prompto's neck is really kissable, from his ear and throat, all the way down to where the collar of his shirt gets in the way, and the only thing that really stops Noctis from just spending an infinite amount of time there is the kind of sickly reminder that hickeys on Prompto probably aren't a good idea. Is that a baseless fear? He's probably being stupid.

Anyway. The thought has Noctis moving down, nuzzling more than kissing his chest, before finally just butting him with his head and demanding, before his stomach cramps up from bending double this way. ]

Lie back.

[ It's almost easy to forget the circumstances of where they are and why when it's like this, and for Prompto, because he can't get his brain to shut off sometimes, he clings to it. He can barely read the expression on Noct's face when he gets close enough, just feels the heat of his breath before it disappears. Maybe he should have been a little less specific about the dare—more "let's make out" and less "kiss me" since that implies just one time. But Noct, as always, doesn't disappoint, and Prompto purposely uses his own hands to create an anchor at Noct's shoulders as that mouth finds his neck. The sensation of it almost tickles, biting his lower lip to smother a laugh even as he tilts his head to make room for him there. And even if it is awkward, Prompto helps to balance him until he slides a bit further down.

That's when his breath catches. ]

Does this mean the game's over?

[ A ridiculous question to ask because Prompto's not actually thinking about that, already doing his best to maneuver more comfortably down onto his back to accommodate Noct's weight over him. It brings back a lot of familiar moments between them, though usually in reverse. Just a Noct thing probably, since he'd never liked all that attention focused on him, and it's why half of Prompto's pics of him have to be taken via stealth. Anyway... his hands are smoothing over his shoulders like they don't know the shape of them already, curling into the edges of his sleeves and grazing along the warm skin of his arms as a distraction. The heat from their moonlacing is always something special too, something intense and welcome, and Prompto squeezes his eyes shut, trying to get himself to focus. To stay quiet. If they got caught like this – ]

Hey... d'you think we should be doing this out here? [ Whatever "this" is. Maybe it's just innocent kissing and cuddling; it is late, and they'd both been tired. Right? ] What if somebody sees us?

[ He can just imagine that look on Ignis' face, and if Lunafreya found them... It's a weird sort of anxiety that he can't quite swallow, shifting where he lays and wordlessly making an attempt to encourage Noct to give up on the game &ndahs; if they're really not playing it anymore – and just kiss him for real. On his face. On the mouth. Then, he wouldn't have to think, since a lot of stupid comes from him when he does, and they'd both be distracted enough to forget pretty much everything. ]

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