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[burstmodes]

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[raucous]

hey. got a sec?

[burstmodes]

yeah!
what's up?

[ Should this make him nervous? He feels nervous... ]

[raucous]

( maybe... )

not gonna make you look in a mirror today, but i want to hear something positive.

[burstmodes]

what now?!
why does it have to be right now
can't i tell you something later when i see you...

[ #stalling ]

[raucous]

you can tell me like this or i can call you now. your choice.

[raucous]

been thinking about something and i've got a deal for you.

( he realizes a minute after he sends that how it sounds. )

not a sex thing.

[burstmodes]

what kind of deal??

[ And even though he said "not a sex thing", he can't help thinking that it could lead to being a sex thing? His brain sucks. ]

[raucous]

( lol a beast has been unleashed!!! keep it in ur pants. )

since i'm teaching you how to use other weapons, why don't you teach me how to use yours? kind of like a trade, i guess.

[burstmodes]

[ Leave him alone!!! He can't help it!!! ]

i'd be so down for showing you that but um
i don't have anything here with me
maybe we could find something tho
i'll ask around

[brotrips]

smoe people can fly i thughtdt warping was okay but they fly and thats better

[burstmodes]

dude what are you even saying
warping is better than "okay"
i mean if i could warp and stuff i guess

.....................wait
who can fly???

[brotrips]

some poeple they have ninjas and assasadas here but i dont think they can fyl just the other poeple warping is only cool unltil you meet people who cna fly

[burstmodes]

[ As much as he wants to ask about ninjas and assassins – was that what "assasadas" was supposed to be? – he is a little concerned. ]

uh noct buddy
are you ok
bc yknow not that you don't seem fine or anything but...

you just typed assasadas and idk if that's code for something or quesadillas
tho i guess a flying quesadilla would be pretty cool

[raucous]

( he was innocently minding his own business. reading a book. as he does when he has free time. the text surprises him a little. then it instantly puts him on high alert. the ship is under attack??? shouldn't they make some sort of announcement???? why is no one saying anything? more importantly, why the hell isn't noctis answering him??? the book gets thrown to the couch as he jumps up and runs to prompto's room, texting ignis on the way. he doesn't even knock, just bangs the door open. )

Hey. Something's wrong.

[burstmodes]

[ Meanwhile, Prompt is just sort of minding his own business and kind of laughing his ass off at Noct's dumb drunk texts – and also maybe scrolling through some random social media on the station – when Gladio busts through the door. A really loud sound leaves him, flying off the opposite of the bed in surprise and hitting the floor with a low groan, and he scrambles up as quick as he can, trying to pull himself to his feet. His eyes are probably the size of saucers. ]

W–what do you mean? What's wrong?

[ Had he missed something? He doesn't think anything had been off... ]

[raucous]

( gladio probably should've waited until he figured out that noct is just exercising his right as a young adult to indulge in a little bit of alcohol induced fun. but, considering all the unknowns of this place and not to mention the fact that gladio doesn't have any real weapons here AND he's noct's shield even here...he'd rather act first and apologize later. he doesn't need a sword to taking things down, even if he prefers it.

he doesn't mean to startle prompto that much. and, he feels a little guilty for it. he strides over to help if he can, though doesn't leave his side. protective mode has been engaged. )

We're under attack.

( he's honestly worried about it, since he doesn't know any better. and, worse is that he doesn't even know where to go for safety. if anything, this has been a wake up call for him. over the next few days, guess who's going to figure out escape routes and emergency places to meet? this guy. )

So, we need to start making our way out to find Ignis and Noctis.

[burstmodes]

[ ...what.

Prompto reaches out to grip at Gladio's arm, mostly for stability because he's pretty sure he felt the station move under his feet just then. Under attack? The last time they'd talked about it, he'd really been kidding, but this is serious, isn't it? He doesn't think he's ever seen Gladio this worked up since they got here; in fact, he'd mostly seemed real cool about all the sex stuff. Of course that wouldn't bother him as much as the potential danger of a real threat. Prompto draws back, hand going to the device around his wrist. ]

Um. [ He bites at his lip. ] Noct is real drunk, so I dunno how much we're gonna get out of him. Have you heard from Iggy? Maybe he left a note in the kitchen...

[ Look at him doing his best not to panic. He's really trying his hardest to keep it together, but there's a subtle sort of shiver that runs through him that's hard to miss. ]

guess who's turn it is for a late night text???

[raucous]

( he could just peek into prompto's room, but. he's being somewhat nice. )

you awake?

rude af 😤

[burstmodes]

[ Good thing he still doesn't know how to sleep properly (sometimes). ]

yeah
what's up?

deal w it 😎

[raucous]

( he almost feels a little dumb asking this. but, he has some things on his mind that is making it really hard to sleep rn. )

mind some company?

no never 🙈

[burstmodes]

[ He doesn't know what he's expecting, and for some reason, such a simple question gets his heart racing. Why is it always like this now? Prompto rolls over in his bed and sits up. ]

nah of course not
the door's unlocked

[raucous]

( this is a disaster.

noct is gone, and gladio's racked with guilt. by now he thought he was strong enough to keep him protected. seems that's not the case. once again he's failed. loss tears at his insides like a hungry coeurl, forcing him to face his fears. he doesn't like it.

he's aware these things can happen. he's heard people talk about it. he should've prepared himself for it. yet, it still feels like it's his fault that noct is gone. some shield to the crown. can't even keep him in his sights. can't even protect those he cares so deeply about.

gladio doesn't stay in the room. he doesn't want to deal with anyone while he's in this thunderous mood. even like this he knows he doesn't need to subject prompto or ignis to his sour grapes. there's no set destination, but he walks around for a while. eventually takes his frustrations out at the gym and breaks more than his fair share of practice weapons.

why does he keep losing? it feels as if his world is falling apart, breaking down at the seams, and gladio's doing what he can to keep himself stitched together. noct being gone throws everything back into perspective. reality is an ugly, ugly mistress. what's he supposed to do now? how is noct going to accomplish anything back in insomnia with the rest of them here? how is he going to survive it alone? they were supposed to return together.

by the time he's nearly forced from the training area, he's exhausted -- physically and emotionally. he showers at the gym before deciding he needs to go back to the room, to his friend and his...something. whatever prompto is to him. he's spent time thinking about that today, too. how could he not with the continuous loss shoved in his face? he's held back and kept things to himself, and...that's cowardly. that's not how gladio does things. this shouldn't be any different. still...he doesn't want to ruin what they have. but, prompto's important to him in a brand new way, and he's noct's best friend. no question he's hurting, too.

so, gladio returns and leaves some things in his room before he crosses over to prompto's door. it's late enough that he might be sleeping, but gladio knows he's likely still awake. if he's even in his room at all. gently he raps his knuckles against the door before he just slips inside. there's a prompto sized lump on the bed, so. there's that, at least. gladio doesn't even hesitate before climbing in bed with him and curling around him. he wraps an arm around prompto to just...hold him close. as close as he can. for a bit he tucks his face against prompto's hair, and it tickles his nose. all gladio can do is breathe him in and selfishly take comfort from the warmth of his body. when he finally speaks, his voice is a low, rumbly murmur. )

Hey.

[burstmodes]

[ he can't seem to focus on anything.

not that he's ever paying attention to important things a lot of the time, but this is something he should have noticed. he could have been a better friend, maybe scheduled more things to do with noct so he knew... knew what? that he cared? that he could do better? all this stuff is just messing with his head, and in the first few hours when he really knew noct was gone, prompto couldn't breathe. he nearly has a panic attack out in the middle of one of the busier parts of the station, and he locks himself in some restaurant's bathroom to cry. at least there isn't any urge to actually scream, though the feeling continues to build and build in his chest. (later, he might remember wandering around for another hour or two, lost in his own head.)

somehow, he ends up back in the room and locks the door to his own. he doesn't want ignis seeing him like this, and he definitely doesn't want gladio to see. and for a while, he sits on the floor and clicks through the pictures on his camera. things from back home—a bunch of them in the regalia, noct and kenny the crow at some dinner, noct at camp. noct, noct, noct. he cries for the second time with his arms wrapped around his legs, face pressed to his knees, and he's so worn out that crawling up into his bed feels impossible. prompto does leave once to wash his face, but then, numb all the way through, he slips under the blankets to sulk, smothering the soft, little sounds he makes into his pillow.

maybe he falls asleep. everything's so hazy, it's hard to tell.

but when he feels gladio's arms around him, he immediately presses back into him. just for a second, just to concentrate on something that isn't the huge empty space in his chest, and it's such a relief to know that he hadn't been left completely. he bites at his bottom lip until it almost stings. does he want to say anything? should he put that on gladio when he knows he's probably as upset as he is? he thinks he must be handling it better though; there's no way he can tell gladio he's cried enough for everyone here. but he's weak, and prompto rolls over, pressing his face into his chest. he wishes he was just... better. at everything. ]

What are we gonna do? [ it's the first thing he's said all day, and his voice hurts. his eyes hurt, his heart. ] I don't know what to do.

[raucous]

( he's not expecting prompto to turn over to face him, but he adjusts and gets a better hold on him this way. his arm will likely go numb soon, but it's fine. it's better this way. gladio immediately pushes his hand under prompto's shirt to lay flat against his skin. that contact of skin on skin is something he needs. the comfort of someone else, the warmth of someone he cares about penetrates him to the bone. he thinks it might help prompto, too. even just a little bit.

gladio can tell he's been crying just from the sound of his voice. it makes him feel guilty that he stayed away for so long. gladio needs time to process things, knows ignis doesn't like to show when things really bother him, but prompto isn't like them. he requires an entirely different sort of support system. )

We'll get through it. One step at a time.

( really not the best advice, but he doesn't want prompto to feel like the situation is hopeless. because it's not. )

Look...

( he trails off, unsure of what to really say. gladio struggles in silence for a few short moments. there's no way to make any of this better right away. one day at a time is what they have to do. )

It's not easy when you lose somebody you care about.

( his tone is still low, but it rasps a little bit. he feels that vice around his throat and can't stand it. gladio swallows, breathes, moves his hand up to gently pet prompto's head, fingers threading through his hair. just can't think about his own losses now, he's got to focus on prompto. )

It hurts, I know. We'll get each other through it.

[burstmodes]

[ it's the way he says those things that jar prompto back to reality. he's talking like noct is... like he's really gone, and prompto can't stand it. he doesn't want to think about what a world would be like where noct isn't in it, and it just reminds him of all the other things they still have to do back home. how he isn't working hard enough to get them there. that's not something he wants to think about with noct not being here anymore, and he swallows the lump in his throat, sucking in a breath and hoping to find some steady calm in this storm that's brewing over them.

even gladio's touch doesn't feel comforting, but he doubts that's really for him. he's searching for something, and prompto wants to give it to him, pressing into the touch before dropping his hand down to gently cup his arm. he isn't looking at him, isn't brave enough to do that just yet. ]

You care about him too. [ it's the first time he's said something like that aloud, wonders what gladio will do now that it's out there. ] But you know how he is. Always gotta do somethin' first... [ his voice is even softer, tilting his head to nuzzle against him. gladio's always so warm. ] You think he made it back okay?

[ not that he wants to talk about this either, but he figures it'll help. he doesn't know what it's like when people disappear from here, though he's heard a couple of things. the messed up thing is that he could even come back again, and prompto doesn't know if he wants that or not. at least, if he was home in eos, he could be doing something. just... hopefully not getting into trouble. slowly, prompto shifts to get even closer, wanting to sink into gladio and stay like this for as long as he'll let him. ]

Um – d'you think we'll be next? [ prompto's fingers stroke up his arm, pausing before he speaks. it's the one thing he fears above almost everything else. ] I don't wanna forget any of this.