Either he’s going crazy or he’s lost all his ability to freak out over it, but Prompto wakes up the next morning feeling like he could fight the Archaeon and win. After his training with Gladio and his running around with Noctis afterward he fell into bed and slept like a brick. He feels great in spite of the tension in his muscles from his workout and his mind is strangely clear. He lies back and stares at his ceiling wondering just what it is that has him so giddy when the answer hits him like a ton of feathers, still a ton but way more pleasant to be buried under than bricks, he isn’t going to lose his friendship with Noctis at the end of senior year.
He’s been secretly dreading graduation for ages, ever since it occurred to him that as just some guy he’d never be allowed to hang around Noctis when school ended. They’d be pulled apart as Noctis had to take up more and more of the responsibilities associated with being the Crown Prince and he would be left behind in the dust. He’d accepted it to some extent, had even tried to figure out ways around it but it’d seemed impossible. Now it’s more than possible, it’s his reality, they’re going to do the whole growing old together thing he’d only ever allowed himself to daydream about on the worst days when he needed something. He feels like he’s woken up walking on air. Even the prospect of having to train with Gladio again and being tutored after school by Ignis for hours on end can’t begin to drag him down.
He floats between his classes in a happy daze and fills his notebooks with little doodles of arches and hearts and the Chocobo Bar chocobo mascot when he wasn’t staring at Noctis from the corner of his eye. He doesn’t pay attention in any of his classes, how could he even begin to bring himself far down enough from the clouds to focus on things like math when there’s so much already going on in his head. The day flies by peppered with stolen kisses and longing looks, entire conversations taking place in their eyes. At the end of it he hasn’t really learned anything except maybe how to kiss a little better than his first attempt.
“I got a call from my Dad earlier and he wants to meet you.” Noctis say his voice ridged in that odd faux casual way as he takes Prompto’s hand while they’re walking to his apartment. “I asked Ignis to pick us up, he’ll be waiting at the apartment if you want to go.”
Prompto’s heartbeat kicks up his chest panic licking like flame at his insides. The King, Noctis wants him to meet the King. He can feel the alarms in his head swing into full gear. He throws on a cool facade that he knows goes over as well as Noctis’ attempt. He feels too shaky, too jittery with nerves and feelings. “Are you sure that’s okay and all I mean he’s the King you know and I’m just,” He can’t even bring himself to speak it and it’s silly because Noctis knows and that means the King must know and it’s not like he’s being led into a trap or anything Noctis wouldn’t do that. The King wouldn’t need to be underhanded about this kind of thing anyway, if he had a problem with it he’d have taken care of it when he’d first approached Noctis.
“Being courted by the Prince.” Noctis finishes the sentence for him and it’s not what he thought he’d say at all, but it’s true.
“Don’t worry about it, my Dad won’t throw you out of the country or anything. We’ve talked about this and he actually likes you or at least he likes what he’s heard of you.” Noctis says squeezing Prompto’s hand in support like that kind of knowledge doesn’t go straight to one’s head, after all he’s got the approval of the King! Him! How does this kind of thing happen to someone like him!
“And actually, that reminds me of something. I had to ask if it was okay to have this made but Dad said it was alright so go ahead and open it. He’ll be disappointed if we show up and you’re not wearing it.” He let go of Prompto’s hand and dug around in his backpack pushing things around until he found what he wanted. He pulls out a black box with the insignia of a company he’d probably never be able to afford buying anything from on his own looking it over as if to see if it had survived the trip in his backpack alright. He hands it to Prompto his face lit up with an eager grin bouncing up and down a little on the balls of his feet like a kid whose just been given a present and has to wait for everyone to finish the birthday song before he can open it.
Prompto ignores how Noctis’ eyes burn holes into his face and takes the box his free fingers lifting the lid. The warmth returns settling in his stomach like a freshly banked fire. Sitting on a bed of black velvet is a black leather wristband emblazoned with the Royal Seal covered with silver studs and buckles. His lungs feel like they could combust if he breathes as he looks down at the band so he doesn’t until it feels like they’ll shatter apart without it. He slips his faithful white and green wristband off into his pocket feeling a surge of pride run through himself for keeping his cool and secures the new band onto his wrist pressing it against his knee to hold it on while he fixes the buckles. It fits snugly, covering over the ink with glossy black leather and silver studs. The inside of the band is a suede as soft as baby chocobo down in a matte black that compliments the outside of the band. He tugs against it fingers slipping into the spaces between the buckles and smiles to himself as it stays where it is.
“Looks good on you, and as a bonus my fingers can’t slip past this one.” Noctis’ hand finds its way back into his own his thumb tracing over the Royal Seal before he let their fingers tangle together. Warmth spreads from its place on his skin like sunshine heat and bubbles in his stomach like a fountain.
Ignis is already in the apartment when they arrive and it would have been easy to tell he was there simply from how clean everything looked. Ignis had obviously tidied up in their absence and nothing in the apartment was left untouched except the arch which had been left in its place of honor on the coffee table. Ignis looks up at them as they enter standing to his feet in a single graceful motion as he greets them.
“Hello Noctis, Prompto, I see congratulations are in order.” Ignis’ voice has a slight teasing lilt to it that has Prompto feeling like he’d walked into a surprise party for someone else.
“Hi Ignis.” Prompto holds up his hand in a quick wave his smile turned too wide by the sudden bout of nerves that claw at him as Ignis raises an eyebrow at him. His hand drops a bit too quickly and he curses in his head cursing the butterflies that have suddenly appeared in his stomach a riotous fluttering. “I heard that you’ve volunteered to tutor me.”
“Yes, I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other and to prepare you for some of the challenges you’ll face as a member of Noctis’ pack.” Was he just imagining things or was Ignis looking at him differently than he usually did? He could feel something weighty in that gaze and it makes his skin feel tingly, or maybe his scent is the culprit. Ignis always smells good but there’s something different in it today, something that’s slightly peppery and sharp and offsets the cooling richness of his usual coffee and mint scent.
Unlike Gladio who he’d only known through Noctis’ stories and complaints Prompto has met Ignis before though they never really talked much. Most of their interactions consisted of Ignis making dinner and pestering Noctis to do their homework before playing games or goofing off or Ignis driving them somewhere. Seeing him this time felt different, Ignis was always intimidating, always so well put together that it made Prompto feel self-conscious even in his best clothes. He knows that if Ignis had been the crown prince instead of Noctis he’d never have been able to work up the nerve to approach him. Somehow though he seems less stiff and more open than he ever had, he’s looking at Prompto like he’s really seeing him for the first time. He’s not sure how he feels about it, good probably, but he just doesn’t know for certain and it leaves him feeling more self-conscious than he usually feels around him.
Thankfully it’s not long before they head down to Ignis’ car and start their drive to the Citadel. The drive over is nicer than taking the train with Gladio had been but it’s still awkward to sit through. Only Noctis’ hand on his knee keeps his leg from bouncing up and down to the beat of the music that Ignis has playing on the radio. Ignis doesn’t talk while he’s behind the wheel and Prompto’s thankful for the silence even though he normally can’t stand it. They arrive at the Citadel and Prompto has to pull his badge from his wallet but it takes seconds to get in this time when it took almost a half an hour last time.
“I’ve got a few meetings to attend, but I’ll be ready to take you home once you’re ready to go home, so feel free to text me, even if I’m still in a meeting. I’m certain the two of you can find something to do until I’m done.” Ignis says before he leaves them on the stairs of the Citadel.
“Come on Prompto let’s go see my Dad.” Noctis says as he takes his hand leading him up the steps and into the building.
They walk through the corridors a comfortable silence between them that’s only broken when Prompto stops to ask a question about something that catches his interest or Noctis speaks up about something he thinks Prompto will find interesting. He’s almost disappointed when they stop in front of the doors of the Throne Room.
“These shouldn’t be closed right now.” Noctis looks at the closed doors his face scrunched up like he’s looking at a difficult math problem instead of a pair of really fancy doors.
“Maybe he’s in a meeting or something? We should probably just wait until he’s ready to see us.” Prompto says after a moment a tinge of fear in his heart at the thought of interrupting something important and ruining things with Noctis’ dad, he can’t think of him as the king right now or he’ll never get through this, before he even gets the chance to make a good impression.
“No, I’m sure it’ll be fine and if it’s not I won’t be able to open the doors anyway.” Noctis says as he turns toward the door and does something to it that makes it click and swing open. He starts to walk in and suddenly stops making a sound that Prompto’s pretty certain a human body should never make.
“Dad Holy Shit!” Noctis shouts his body springing into motion trying to slam the door behind him and failing even as he throws all his weight into pulling it closed.
The door remains stubbornly open his face contorting into a strange mix of panic and disgust, there’s probably a trick to closing it but whatever he’s seeing has definitely chased it out of his mind. Prompto can’t help but peek inside to see what on Eos could get Noctis so worked up. His nose burns as a wave of alpha pheromones hits him and his legs go wobbly as a haze tries to form in his mind. The scent is aggressive and territorial and something else that he doesn’t quite have the words for but it’s doing things to him. He pulls up his collar and presses his nose into the fabric filtering out just enough to keep his brain from drowning in it.
The structure in the center of the room draws his attention first, it’s a few feet taller than he is and it’s beautiful in a dangerous way. It’s a broadsword that is designed so that it looks like it’s been thrust halfway to the hilt into the ground. It stands tall and sharp crafted from strong looking wooden poles that were flexible enough to be bent and weaved together. Shields form the fuller of the blade and swords are woven into the poles to form the sharpened edge. The grip is formed from twisted poles woven so they swirl to the top in a design that brings Noctis’ arch to mind. The pommel is a round shield surrounded by the woven poles in the same woven pattern that forms the grip. The rain guard that divides the hilt from the blade is almost the same a shield as the focal point around which twisted poles form the outside but the twisting poles jut out from the center to form the cross guard.
It's awe inspiring and a lot more complicated looking than Noctis’ arch but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to tick all the boxes in his head that Noctis’ had. Something about the simple sweeping arch had tugged at something inside him, but this sword is just pretty and really sharp.
The low sound of growling suddenly rings out scraping nails down his spine and his eyes follow the sound his whole body flaming as he locates its source. Two alphas are at each other’s throats teeth bared and arms locked together in a contest of strength, but their faces are lit up like Insomnia after dark. They bite at each other nipping at necks and ears with growls that roll playfully around their chests, it’s almost like they’re wrestling for the fun of it because there’s nothing dangerous in their growls or the snap of their teeth. Like a lightning bolt hitting the ground it suddenly occurs to Prompto why Noctis looks like he’s going to crawl under the nearest rock and stay there until either death or insanity takes him. He knows who those alphas are, you’d have to have been loving under a rock not to recognize Cor the Immortal and King Regis and honestly the word Dad was a pretty big clue.
A hand on his shoulder pulls him back and he stumbles into the hall Noctis finally managing to pull the door closed behind him with a loud slam that rings through the corridor like a gong being struck.
“Did we just walk in on your Dad?” Prompto’s mouth runs away with him sending regret clenching at his stomach like a vice as his own inner voice chides him for his stupidity as he watches the flush on Noctis’ face darken to dangerous levels.
“Not really but it’s still not something I want to think about.” Noctis says his face slowly returning to its normal color. They stand there in silence for a long moment with a red flush on their faces trying not to think of Dads doing that. After a too long awkward moment Noctis huffs and turns gesturing for Prompto to follow him as he shoots a look that’s more confused than angry at the door. “Let’s just go hang out in my room for a while.”
Re: Fill: Courting Disaster 4b/?
He’s been secretly dreading graduation for ages, ever since it occurred to him that as just some guy he’d never be allowed to hang around Noctis when school ended. They’d be pulled apart as Noctis had to take up more and more of the responsibilities associated with being the Crown Prince and he would be left behind in the dust. He’d accepted it to some extent, had even tried to figure out ways around it but it’d seemed impossible. Now it’s more than possible, it’s his reality, they’re going to do the whole growing old together thing he’d only ever allowed himself to daydream about on the worst days when he needed something. He feels like he’s woken up walking on air. Even the prospect of having to train with Gladio again and being tutored after school by Ignis for hours on end can’t begin to drag him down.
He floats between his classes in a happy daze and fills his notebooks with little doodles of arches and hearts and the Chocobo Bar chocobo mascot when he wasn’t staring at Noctis from the corner of his eye. He doesn’t pay attention in any of his classes, how could he even begin to bring himself far down enough from the clouds to focus on things like math when there’s so much already going on in his head. The day flies by peppered with stolen kisses and longing looks, entire conversations taking place in their eyes. At the end of it he hasn’t really learned anything except maybe how to kiss a little better than his first attempt.
“I got a call from my Dad earlier and he wants to meet you.” Noctis say his voice ridged in that odd faux casual way as he takes Prompto’s hand while they’re walking to his apartment. “I asked Ignis to pick us up, he’ll be waiting at the apartment if you want to go.”
Prompto’s heartbeat kicks up his chest panic licking like flame at his insides. The King, Noctis wants him to meet the King. He can feel the alarms in his head swing into full gear. He throws on a cool facade that he knows goes over as well as Noctis’ attempt. He feels too shaky, too jittery with nerves and feelings. “Are you sure that’s okay and all I mean he’s the King you know and I’m just,” He can’t even bring himself to speak it and it’s silly because Noctis knows and that means the King must know and it’s not like he’s being led into a trap or anything Noctis wouldn’t do that. The King wouldn’t need to be underhanded about this kind of thing anyway, if he had a problem with it he’d have taken care of it when he’d first approached Noctis.
“Being courted by the Prince.” Noctis finishes the sentence for him and it’s not what he thought he’d say at all, but it’s true.
“Don’t worry about it, my Dad won’t throw you out of the country or anything. We’ve talked about this and he actually likes you or at least he likes what he’s heard of you.” Noctis says squeezing Prompto’s hand in support like that kind of knowledge doesn’t go straight to one’s head, after all he’s got the approval of the King! Him! How does this kind of thing happen to someone like him!
“And actually, that reminds me of something. I had to ask if it was okay to have this made but Dad said it was alright so go ahead and open it. He’ll be disappointed if we show up and you’re not wearing it.” He let go of Prompto’s hand and dug around in his backpack pushing things around until he found what he wanted. He pulls out a black box with the insignia of a company he’d probably never be able to afford buying anything from on his own looking it over as if to see if it had survived the trip in his backpack alright. He hands it to Prompto his face lit up with an eager grin bouncing up and down a little on the balls of his feet like a kid whose just been given a present and has to wait for everyone to finish the birthday song before he can open it.
Prompto ignores how Noctis’ eyes burn holes into his face and takes the box his free fingers lifting the lid. The warmth returns settling in his stomach like a freshly banked fire. Sitting on a bed of black velvet is a black leather wristband emblazoned with the Royal Seal covered with silver studs and buckles. His lungs feel like they could combust if he breathes as he looks down at the band so he doesn’t until it feels like they’ll shatter apart without it. He slips his faithful white and green wristband off into his pocket feeling a surge of pride run through himself for keeping his cool and secures the new band onto his wrist pressing it against his knee to hold it on while he fixes the buckles. It fits snugly, covering over the ink with glossy black leather and silver studs. The inside of the band is a suede as soft as baby chocobo down in a matte black that compliments the outside of the band. He tugs against it fingers slipping into the spaces between the buckles and smiles to himself as it stays where it is.
“Looks good on you, and as a bonus my fingers can’t slip past this one.” Noctis’ hand finds its way back into his own his thumb tracing over the Royal Seal before he let their fingers tangle together. Warmth spreads from its place on his skin like sunshine heat and bubbles in his stomach like a fountain.
Ignis is already in the apartment when they arrive and it would have been easy to tell he was there simply from how clean everything looked. Ignis had obviously tidied up in their absence and nothing in the apartment was left untouched except the arch which had been left in its place of honor on the coffee table. Ignis looks up at them as they enter standing to his feet in a single graceful motion as he greets them.
“Hello Noctis, Prompto, I see congratulations are in order.” Ignis’ voice has a slight teasing lilt to it that has Prompto feeling like he’d walked into a surprise party for someone else.
“Hi Ignis.” Prompto holds up his hand in a quick wave his smile turned too wide by the sudden bout of nerves that claw at him as Ignis raises an eyebrow at him. His hand drops a bit too quickly and he curses in his head cursing the butterflies that have suddenly appeared in his stomach a riotous fluttering. “I heard that you’ve volunteered to tutor me.”
“Yes, I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other and to prepare you for some of the challenges you’ll face as a member of Noctis’ pack.” Was he just imagining things or was Ignis looking at him differently than he usually did? He could feel something weighty in that gaze and it makes his skin feel tingly, or maybe his scent is the culprit. Ignis always smells good but there’s something different in it today, something that’s slightly peppery and sharp and offsets the cooling richness of his usual coffee and mint scent.
Unlike Gladio who he’d only known through Noctis’ stories and complaints Prompto has met Ignis before though they never really talked much. Most of their interactions consisted of Ignis making dinner and pestering Noctis to do their homework before playing games or goofing off or Ignis driving them somewhere. Seeing him this time felt different, Ignis was always intimidating, always so well put together that it made Prompto feel self-conscious even in his best clothes. He knows that if Ignis had been the crown prince instead of Noctis he’d never have been able to work up the nerve to approach him. Somehow though he seems less stiff and more open than he ever had, he’s looking at Prompto like he’s really seeing him for the first time. He’s not sure how he feels about it, good probably, but he just doesn’t know for certain and it leaves him feeling more self-conscious than he usually feels around him.
Thankfully it’s not long before they head down to Ignis’ car and start their drive to the Citadel. The drive over is nicer than taking the train with Gladio had been but it’s still awkward to sit through. Only Noctis’ hand on his knee keeps his leg from bouncing up and down to the beat of the music that Ignis has playing on the radio. Ignis doesn’t talk while he’s behind the wheel and Prompto’s thankful for the silence even though he normally can’t stand it. They arrive at the Citadel and Prompto has to pull his badge from his wallet but it takes seconds to get in this time when it took almost a half an hour last time.
“I’ve got a few meetings to attend, but I’ll be ready to take you home once you’re ready to go home, so feel free to text me, even if I’m still in a meeting. I’m certain the two of you can find something to do until I’m done.” Ignis says before he leaves them on the stairs of the Citadel.
“Come on Prompto let’s go see my Dad.” Noctis says as he takes his hand leading him up the steps and into the building.
They walk through the corridors a comfortable silence between them that’s only broken when Prompto stops to ask a question about something that catches his interest or Noctis speaks up about something he thinks Prompto will find interesting. He’s almost disappointed when they stop in front of the doors of the Throne Room.
“These shouldn’t be closed right now.” Noctis looks at the closed doors his face scrunched up like he’s looking at a difficult math problem instead of a pair of really fancy doors.
“Maybe he’s in a meeting or something? We should probably just wait until he’s ready to see us.” Prompto says after a moment a tinge of fear in his heart at the thought of interrupting something important and ruining things with Noctis’ dad, he can’t think of him as the king right now or he’ll never get through this, before he even gets the chance to make a good impression.
“No, I’m sure it’ll be fine and if it’s not I won’t be able to open the doors anyway.” Noctis says as he turns toward the door and does something to it that makes it click and swing open. He starts to walk in and suddenly stops making a sound that Prompto’s pretty certain a human body should never make.
“Dad Holy Shit!” Noctis shouts his body springing into motion trying to slam the door behind him and failing even as he throws all his weight into pulling it closed.
The door remains stubbornly open his face contorting into a strange mix of panic and disgust, there’s probably a trick to closing it but whatever he’s seeing has definitely chased it out of his mind. Prompto can’t help but peek inside to see what on Eos could get Noctis so worked up. His nose burns as a wave of alpha pheromones hits him and his legs go wobbly as a haze tries to form in his mind. The scent is aggressive and territorial and something else that he doesn’t quite have the words for but it’s doing things to him. He pulls up his collar and presses his nose into the fabric filtering out just enough to keep his brain from drowning in it.
The structure in the center of the room draws his attention first, it’s a few feet taller than he is and it’s beautiful in a dangerous way. It’s a broadsword that is designed so that it looks like it’s been thrust halfway to the hilt into the ground. It stands tall and sharp crafted from strong looking wooden poles that were flexible enough to be bent and weaved together. Shields form the fuller of the blade and swords are woven into the poles to form the sharpened edge. The grip is formed from twisted poles woven so they swirl to the top in a design that brings Noctis’ arch to mind. The pommel is a round shield surrounded by the woven poles in the same woven pattern that forms the grip. The rain guard that divides the hilt from the blade is almost the same a shield as the focal point around which twisted poles form the outside but the twisting poles jut out from the center to form the cross guard.
It's awe inspiring and a lot more complicated looking than Noctis’ arch but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to tick all the boxes in his head that Noctis’ had. Something about the simple sweeping arch had tugged at something inside him, but this sword is just pretty and really sharp.
The low sound of growling suddenly rings out scraping nails down his spine and his eyes follow the sound his whole body flaming as he locates its source. Two alphas are at each other’s throats teeth bared and arms locked together in a contest of strength, but their faces are lit up like Insomnia after dark. They bite at each other nipping at necks and ears with growls that roll playfully around their chests, it’s almost like they’re wrestling for the fun of it because there’s nothing dangerous in their growls or the snap of their teeth. Like a lightning bolt hitting the ground it suddenly occurs to Prompto why Noctis looks like he’s going to crawl under the nearest rock and stay there until either death or insanity takes him. He knows who those alphas are, you’d have to have been loving under a rock not to recognize Cor the Immortal and King Regis and honestly the word Dad was a pretty big clue.
A hand on his shoulder pulls him back and he stumbles into the hall Noctis finally managing to pull the door closed behind him with a loud slam that rings through the corridor like a gong being struck.
“Did we just walk in on your Dad?” Prompto’s mouth runs away with him sending regret clenching at his stomach like a vice as his own inner voice chides him for his stupidity as he watches the flush on Noctis’ face darken to dangerous levels.
“Not really but it’s still not something I want to think about.” Noctis says his face slowly returning to its normal color. They stand there in silence for a long moment with a red flush on their faces trying not to think of Dads doing that. After a too long awkward moment Noctis huffs and turns gesturing for Prompto to follow him as he shoots a look that’s more confused than angry at the door. “Let’s just go hang out in my room for a while.”