ffxv_kinkmeme | Prompt Post

Entry tags:

prompt post

Prompt Post

Welcome to Round One of the FFXV Kink Meme!

CLOSED for prompts | OPEN for fills

Please have a look at the extended rules here.

The important rules in short:

Post anonymously.
Negative comments on other people's prompts (kink-shaming, pairing-bashing etc.) and personal attacks of any kind will not be tolerated.
One prompt per comment. Warnings for common triggers and squicks are encouraged, but not required.
Prompts should follow the format: Character/character, prompt.
Keep prompts to a reasonable length; prompts should not be detailed story outlines.
Fills should have the word "Fill:" at the start of the subject line.
Otherwise please avoid changing the subject line.

Please direct any questions or report any problems to the Ask a mod post.

Prompt, write, draw, comment, and most importantly have fun!

(You can also check out our Pinboard for Filled or Unfilled prompts)

UPDATE 12/30/16: I'm looking for some help! Details here. (I'm always looking for more pinners; this is an open invitation.)

I've added/clarified some rules to make life easier to my pinners. Please refrain from changing the subject lines except when filling or updating a fill. It makes it easier for us to keep track of what we've already looked at. Thank you so much!

UPDATE 1/28/17: We've opened up a Drabble Tree post! Go check it out.

UPDATE 2/21/2017: ROUND ONE IS CLOSED FOR PROMPTS. Please feel free to continue posting fills. Round Two will open for prompts and fills on 3/1/2017.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

-

The little shrine hasn't changed much. The fishpond had been installed as a memorial for Noctis, with a single stone lantern sitting in the center. Every year, students and teachers from Noctis' elementary school gather to pray for his safe return on the anniversary of the day he disappeared.

They toss coins and flowers into the water with their prayers. The older ones count the ripples and say that's how many more years it'll be before the Prince returns, and the ones too young to have ever met him do their best to cast their offerings without disturbing the water at all. The teachers pour glasses of wine and raise them in honor of the King, long may he reign, and the King, always in attendance, gives a little speech to thank them for remembering.

Regis tries not to linger on the faces of his son's classmates. There are fewer of them every year, and the ones that do attend are all so grown up now. He smiles, of course, and it's difficult to be anything but charmed by watching a noisy gaggle of little kids slowly becoming a crowd of young adults. Still, the persistent ache in his chest gets a little sharper when he sees them next to the portrait of his own son, forever frozen at ten.

Now, he's here, on the curb in front of the building. Part of him still half-expects the bell to ring, Noctis to come running out of the doors and dive into the passenger's seat. A greater part tells him to stop dwelling on it, to force down the stinging in his eyes; Noctis' destiny is still out there somewhere, he was never promised a place in it. It was his role to help bring him into the world and raise him to be the one who would save it, and so long as the Crystal reassured him that he would return one day to do that, Regis could be content.
His pace and bearing are practiced, poised as he walks, but his thoughts are elsewhere and he's only dimly aware that the rest of his entourage is nearby. He gives the speech with numb sincerity, thank you all for coming, for remembering; have faith, he will return, and the stars have not forsaken us. Saying it makes him believe it again, gives him another year's worth of hope.

It's hardest the moment he lights the lantern. A single spark of fire magic is all it takes to keep it lit the whole year round, but by the end of the ceremony, the sun is long gone and the water is a smooth, black mirror, with only a lone white flame to interrupt the darkness: the only light in a night sky that still appears when he calls.

Inside he can feel the Crystal and the Wall gnawing away at him. When he leaves the ceremony to return to the car, he tells no one, and drives away to find somewhere safe, quiet, and dark. It's the only place that feels holy enough for a king to pray in earnest, no matter how deaf the world is to his pleading, and the only place secluded enough for a father to weep, no matter how futile his pain.

--

"Holy shit, kid, what happened to you?"

"Oh, um. I got in a fight." Prompto drops onto the grass. His clothes are all but ruined, streaks of dry blood all over his hands and face, angry purple bruises everywhere. "But it's fine, you should see the other guy."
Ignis kneels down and lightly pats at the deepest cut on Prompto's forehead with a handkerchief. "You really ought to see a doctor."
"For this? Nah. Thanks, though, Iggy.. I'm sorry I missed it."

The ceremony's long over. The lantern is the only light on the grounds now, but it's bright enough to be pretty and atmospheric more than creepy or cold. The only people still here are the ones upholding another yearly tradition, this one smaller and less hopeful.

"What were you fighting about?" Gladio sits down, tips Prompto's chin up to inspect his injuries. "That'll be a nice shiner tomorrow, y'know."

"...He was complaining about the memorial service. Stupid complaints, too. I
couldn't take it anymore, so I hit him, and I got my ass kicked pretty hard, but he didn't walk away whistling either, so I'm counting it as a win for me." Prompto sighs. "But that's not important. Thanks for waiting for me, guys."

"Of course." Ignis puts the handkerchief away. "How goes your search?"

"Same as always, didn't find jack, squat, or shit." He reaches into his pocket and tosses Gladio a flash drive. "That's it for this semester, but I don't have any more pictures. Sorry."

"It's fine, it's not like there'd be any new ones anyway." He takes it and puts it away. "Thanks for keeping up with it."

"No problem."

They'd become friends on this very spot, years ago. The first memorial for the missing prince had been crowded and solemn, and most of the people attending were there to hear news on the investigation more than to mourn his assumed loss. The other boys and girls from his class stayed huddled close to their parents, not understanding why Noctis was missing but well aware that their mothers and fathers were scared.

Ignis and Gladio had stayed long after the ceremony ended, less because they wanted to and more because they weren't sure where to go. They were too young to take up other royal appointments, and without a prince to protect and care for, they had no course to follow. Returning to the Citadel meant confronting that reality, and neither of them were really prepared for that; the road they'd planned on taking had suddenly crumbled under their feet, so they stayed where they were.

The only other person left was a chubby little boy who'd come by himself. He waited for the crowd to leave, and when he thought he was alone, he spoke quietly to the picture of Noctis on his camera: I'll look for you. Maybe if I was braver I would have been your friend, and maybe I would have been there, and I could have.. well, no. Whoever got you would probably get me even easier, but at least you wouldn't be alone. I'll take good notes so you can copy them when you get back, but until then, I'm still going to look for you. Even if everybody else thinks you're dead, I'm gonna keep looking. I promise. So hang in there, okay?

Gladio had cried. Nobody mentioned it, of course, because if there's any boy in the world who isn't supposed to cry, it's a Shield-in-training, but the noise had startled the fourth-grader with the camera, and the secret was out. After that, they had no choice but to become friends, because that's the only way you can swear somebody to secrecy and expect them to keep their oath.

Since then, they meet infrequently. High school is demanding, and working in the Citadel is busy, but this is the one night a year when they can be absolutely certain that they'll have time to see each other. It's the same thing every year, like everything else.

Now, the three of them sit on the edge of the fishpond, watching the flickering reflections of fireflies and lantern-light. It's never a happy occasion, but at least it's comforting. Having to go through the motions is sad and tiring; with friends, it's still sad, and still tiring, but the added benefit of not feeling alone in a crowd goes a long way.

"I spoke to the King the other day." Ignis breaks the companionable silence with practiced, fine-edged ease.

"How's he doing?"

Gladio tries not to look bitter, and mostly succeeds. "A little worse every day. He says the Crystal doesn't draw on him as much since Noctis disappeared so he has more energy to devote to the Wall, but it's wearing on him. He's holding up pretty well, otherwise."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. He bounced a Niflheim ship last month. He talked the press into not making a fuss over it, but it was pretty cool. Turns out Magitek Troops just kind of roll down the side before the energy pops them, it looks a little bit like a beetle hitting a windshield."

Prompto laughs. It's a good sound, the kind that lightens the air around it. "Cool! Wish I'd been there to see it."

"Next time, you might." Ignis smiles. "I told his Majesty we've got options on a new recruit for the Crownsguard, so don't be surprised if you get a letter telling you to report to the Citadel sometime next month."

"Whoa, seriously!?"

"Sure. It's obvious, isn't it?" Gladio smiles and claps Prompto on the back. It only knocks the wind out of him a little bit. "It's basically not any different from what you've been doing this whole time anyway, right? And when you graduate, we'll get to hang out more."

"But.. I'm not.." Prompto fumbles the words a little, looking between the other two as if he half-expects it to be a prank. "You were both picked as kids, right? Don't.. doesn't that disqualify me, or something?"

"The only thing that really matters is dedication," Ignis responds. There's a note of gravity and seriousness in his voice that seems both deeply ingrained and a little desperate, like he's saying it more to remind himself than to convince a novice. "And you've got that in spades. You'll do very well for yourself with us, I think. If you want to, of course."

"Of course I do!" He beams, but it fades into uncertainty. "...Do you think the prince would be okay with that?"

"You did all his homework for him for six years. If he's not okay with it, I'll smack him upside his head." Gladio slings an arm around Prompto's neck.
"Then again, it probably depends on whether or not your grades suck."

"My grades are fine, thank you very much!"

Ignis chuckles; it's a mild sound that makes him seem much older than he really is. "Even with the searching?"

"Even with the searching! I usually make a point of getting detention a few times a week. Just to get some extra time in the library, not because I misbehave or anything."

"And the fistfight doesn't count because...?"

"Hey, we weren't on school grounds, so it's completely off the books. At least until his parents complain, but there's at least twelve hours until then so today, I still have a clean record." Prompto grins. "Hey, there's an idea. If I start studying now, I bet I could be the prince's lawyer by the time he gets back."

Gladio laughs, but Ignis shakes his head, and turns his attention quietly back to the lantern, and the silvery flame flickering in it. "...He'll have missed a great deal," he murmurs. "It's already been a long time. He'd probably be learning how to drive, about now."

"Ignis..."

"No. It's fine, you were right about one thing, at least." Ignis looks between the other two, and explains, for Prompto's benefit more than anything. "Gladio made a good point earlier today. Wherever Noctis is, he hasn't been getting the education he should, and although there's no doubt in my mind that he will return, we have no promise that we'll live to see it. What you've been doing up until now.. it's probably one of the best things anyone could do."

Gladio nods his agreement, and stands up, stretching. "When you think about it, that's true for a lot of reasons," he says. "You're right, Ignis and I got picked for this when we were kids, but it's been.. it's been a while. I don't think he'll need a lawyer when he gets back, but he'll probably need a friend his own age. Somebody who didn't... completely grow up without him, you know? Think you can do that, Prompto?"

Prompto nods, and he does his absolute best to pretend that he didn't just hear Gladio's voice crack, and if he did, it's only because his voice is changing and not for the same reason there's a brimming sheen across his eyes. "I can do that, absolutely. Forever, if that's what it takes."

Ignis pretends it doesn't hurt to see Gladio blink those tears away, completely solid as steel once more. A boy might be forgiven for crying, even a grown man might be, once in a while. But a Shield never breaks, even if there's nothing for him to protect.

--

Morning happens.

It seems like it's been a while. Not so long ago that he doesn't remember what a morning is, but long enough that he thinks the light streaming through the curtains is strange for being yellow and warm, rather than a cool, crystalline white.

Sunlight, he recalls. Right.

The marble floor is cold under his feet, but it's a good cold, alive and sharp and almost painful. Everything hurts at first, joints and muscles loosening from stone-stiffness, only just sore enough to feel utterly delicious once it fades. Part of him wants to go back to sleep, but the rest of him is too acutely aware of how small this bed is.

The voices of the Six are still fresh in his mind, though their words, not so much. He knows what he must do, and how it must be done, and what will become of him, but the stars won't be in their places for a few more years. There's time.

Gentiana's voice resounds from her place next to his window. Despite the warmth of the light pouring into the room, her presence leaves curling trails of frost crawling across the glass. "Shall I tell the Oracle to expect you, my king?"

Noctis wraps himself the bedsheet before he crosses the room to join her. Everything is exactly how he left it, save for the thin layer of dust everywhere. Stirring it leaves a soft, sunlit cloud in his wake. "You didn't tell her already?"

"She's never lost her faith that you'd return. I didn't see the necessity."

"Leave it, then. I'll send her our notebook."

"Very well." She smiles, the soft, coy amusement forever playing at her lips spreading like cold to the rest of the room. "What will you do first?"

The prince grins. His hair hangs in a loose, black-velvet fringe down his back, and there's not a stitch of clothing anywhere in his wardrobe that would even half-fit him; the skinny boy with rifle-hard limbs and wide, thoughtful eyes had been replaced with a young man, healthy, lean, and pale as the moon he hasn't seen in a decade.

In a few minutes, he'll meander down to the throne room, where his father will be sitting and taking court. He'll wait, quietly and patiently, because the last thing he wants is to cause an uproar, and he'll only have one chance to really observe King Regis on the throne in complete, objective secrecy.

He won't get that chance, because there'll be an excitable young blond man who has never gone a day without making a renewed promise into a dog-eared photo of those same night-blue eyes, who will run full-tilt for his bespectacled friend, who will insist on calling their very tall, very robust, very strong other friend to protect them from angry courtiers while they dive on Noctis with hugs and tears and drag him to meet his father, who will finally, after ten long, sad years, let a special silver lantern-flame burn out.

He knows all this. So he smiles.

"...Pants. I'm thinking pants."

Oooooh my god, this was so good and so sad, anon! Everyone will be so happy to have him back, ahhhh~~~

OP here!

Everything sounds fine to me! And I LOVE anything where Nyx is surprise alive. Really looking forward to this, thanks!!

Ahhhh this was beautiful

Noct is trying to enjoy his lunch break, leftovers from the meal Ignis made the day prior, but can’t as Prompto sits across from him and continuously waggles his brows in a suggestive manor.

“Oh my gods! If keep doing that, then so help me, I’m gonna shave off your brows after you pass out drunk tomorrow night.”

“Come on Noct. I’m just excited my bro has a boyfriend, and that I helped make it happen.” Prompto says and sighs contently. “Now I just have to come up with a best man speech for the wedding.”

“I think you’re jumping the gun there Prompto. We’re not dating and we only hung out like once.”

“Yeah, but he spent the night at your place and he kissed you.”

“He kissed my hand.”

“Which is part of you.”

Noctis runs his fingers over his knuckles, remembering the feel of the man’s lips and the scratch of his beard. A soft smile spreads across his lips and a dusting of red rosy his cheeks. Prompto chuckles and playfully fluffs his friend’s hair.

“Hey, next time you two see each other you should totally just grab him, dip him down, and kiss him. Let him feel your passion.”

“Yeah, while a flash mob dances and sings a cheesy love song in the background.” Noct says sarcastically as he rolls his eyes.

“It works in the movies.” Prompto snickers. “But come on man, be assertive.”

“Says the guy who still hasn’t said hello to the girl he’s been crushing on for over a year.”

Prompto pouts lightly at this. “Dude, that’s low.”

Noctis chuckles at his friend and returns to his meal as Prompto puffs out his cheeks and sticks his tongue childishly before returning to his meal.

“Oh hey, have you thought about when you’re going to tell Ignis about your beau?”

“Hmm, maybe when he’s good and drunk.”

“Oh don’t be like that. I’m sure if you tell him what a great guy he is and invite them both out to dinner to meet, Ignis will be okay with it.”

“I don’t know, he’s been outta sorts lately. I was thinking maybe running the café by himself since his co-manager was on her honeymoon was becoming stressful but he when I asked him last night, he said he was fine. Another thing I noticed is that he’s been on the rag about this neighbor of his, and I mean like he has a seething hatred. He was white knuckling the steering wheel yesterday while bitching about this guy and was even late picking me up because he stopped to yell at him.”

Prompto raises an eyebrow curiously. “Sounds to me like Ignis may be dealing with his own crush in a very bad way.”

“I doubt it, I seen how he gets when he crushes on someone and its nothing like that.”

“Don’t know what to tell ya then.”

Noctis just groans and the two return to their lunch. They finish eating and giggle about the fun they will have the next night before saying goodbye. Noct returns to work and waits patiently for his next clients to arrive. They do eventually and Noctis inwardly squeals at the young couple’s pet hedgehog. He gently handles the spiny creature so as to not hurt himself or it as he treats it for a minor case of mites. Three more patients come and go, including the father and son from the week before to pick up their Labrador. Noct snickers to himself when the boy eagerly shows his own cast, that he acquired after attempting to climb a tree, and asked the doctor to sign both his and his dogs. He finally leaves work and arrives back to his apartment, gingerly making his way up the stairs but stops and stares at the man leaning against the balcony by his doorway.

“Hey Ignis, what’s going on?” he asks, slightly unnerved especially when he notices the cigarette between the man’s fingers.

The brunette turns his head to the side to look at him and forces a smile while picking up the plastic bag at his feet. “Just finished up at the Café. I knew you would be getting done around this time so I collected some of the leftovers and thought I would stop on by to have a meal with you.”

“Oh, uhh sure. Just give me a minute to put Bass in the bedroom and open the windows.”

He quickly darts into his house and makes the necessary adjustments to help keep his friends allergies to a minimum, but it doesn’t help much as his nose stuffs up and his eyes water anyway. They decide to move their dinner to outside at one of the poolside picnic tables and try to have a chat over the loudness of the children playing.

“Noct, do you think I’ve been too overbearing lately?” the man asks bluntly and Noctis all but chokes on his sandwich.

“What brought this up?” Noctis questions as he hits his chest and coughs.

“Well I,” Ignis begins and clears his throat. “made one of my employees cry today.”

“Really Ignis? You made someone cry?”

“She kept messing up the ganache that I showed her how to make countless times before and I got so frustrated after the third mess up I shooed her away and did it myself. I then complained how unkempt and aloof everyone has been lately and that I seem to be the only one who cares about the place. She then started sobbing, apologized for not ‘being up to my standards’ and then left.” the man sighs and removes his glasses, rubbing his eyes. “Weskham is stopping by next week for a review and I just want it to go perfectly, to prove that I can do something right.”

‘And there it is’

“Come on Ignis, you’ve done a lot of things right.” Noct tells him and receives an incredulous look. “Okay, so I didn’t follow with the life plan you and my father set for me, but you stuck by me anyway and helped me prepare for vet school. You read my reports, helped me study for tests, and even took me back and forth when my car broke down. Without you I wouldn’t have succeeded as well as I did. And don’t forget how you helped Prompto prepare for his interview with Vyv. You helped him pick out the right clothes, practiced what an interview would be like, and cleaned up his puke after he got sick from nerves in the back of my car.”

The man’s face begins to soften. “I guess so.”

Noctis reaches over and places a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Plus you gave a warm and loving home to Meringue after he was dumped at the shelter with a broken wing, and in my book that’s one of the best thing you could have ever done.”

“He is a good bird.”

“Okay then, so stop stressing yourself out. And did you by chance call and apologize to that girl?” he asks but the brunette looks ashamed and shakes his head. “Okay, then call her and do it. Also call a meeting with all your employees and explain to them what’s going on next week. That way they can help you prepare so you’re not killing yourself due to stress, you need to learn to not micromanage everything on your own Iggy.”

Ignis looks to his friend, a smile on his face. “Well look at you, giving me advise.”

“Well I learned from the best.”

Ignis chuckles lightly and returns to his meal. Noctis gives him a small smack to the shoulder before returning to his own.

“So is everything else going okay?” Noctis asks and immediately regrets it when the man’s face contorts into a scowl.

“Oh, you would not believe what that irritating neighbor of mine did today. He found the tiniest pair of shorts possible and took a jog around the block while all the neighborhood mums were out having their morning gossip group. I swear he did it on purpose because he laughed and flexed at them when they started cat calling. Truly disgraceful, and he even had the nerve to call me a meddlesome mother hen when I told him to put a shirt on.”

Noctis sighs and rest his face on his palm. “You know Iggy, I think you should visit the gym and take some of that frustration out on a punching bag or something.”

Aah oh my gosh, I just found this yesterday and loved it so much I had to reread it as soon as I woke up today! I love the group dynamic and I love Ignis and Gladio's relationship and I love how Cor and Gladio still feel a pull to each other. Great stuff!!

Oh.
My.
God.

OP here, you've spoilt me with this.
Grinding on each other with the WHOLE family right there watching? Lmaoo I love it!
I love granny as well, basically telling everyone to get over it and get the duck out the house to leave them to it.
This fic is crazy, thank you for writing it and I hope to see more!! :D

Author Anon here:

I'm so happy you enjoyed it! <3 And I'm ecstatic that you feel spoiled~

In all truth, I went through so many drafts and each one I did not like. I read your post probably 10+ times trying to keep to what you asked. It was the teasing bonus that made me worry a lot cause I didn't want it to become a crack fic or for Ardyn or Noctis to be OOC or for it to not have some kind of realism in it. I first made them half-brothers, but then I felt it wasn't enough. And I made them full blooded brothers. :P

But with the final draft I felt satisfied and Noctis completely went differently to how I previously portrayed him. He just went off the chains.... :X And poor Ardyn trying to stay focused while his Omega is trying to get that Alpha D!

Granny was probably a side character I liked because, well, old people don't care what other people think. My grandfather is the same way. In my mind, granny probably heard of her great-great grandmother and her brother being ostracized by the entire family and how they were disowned because of something they could not control. Then around her adult years there was a court ruling thing going on for those whom this circumstance happened and now in current times those Bonds are seen as not taboo anymore. *shrugs* Cue granny protecting her precious grandchildren from the same injustice of the past!!!

Hello! Writer!Anon here. Strap in because this starts slow but when it gets going it won’t stop. This is a wild ride. Long too. I apologize for that. Updates will be irregular though I’ll try to get them once a week.

What to expect: Angst, Drama, a lot of Mixed signals and unreliable narrators. A happy end. A bit of soul searching too. A weird focus on fate (because of course, this is still FFXV) and dreams. Nyx being alive. People commenting that Ignis is a great catch (it’s more of a running gag at this point, I apologize). Prompto not realizing people think he’s a good catch. The most awkward conversation ever. Regis/Prompto as A Thing That Happened, up to you to add which level of dub-con it was on when we reach there.

What not to expect: A Beta reader. Non-con. Ardyn having bad touched Prompto. A tragic End. Character bashing (well except for that one stuffy council member, but that’s also a running joke)
---

Sometimes Prompto dreams of warmth. Of floating on a soft surface. Of being held lovingly, like a child, like something precious. Of holding too, of winding arms around slim but strong bodies. Of whispering words, of words being whispered back. Sometimes he doesn’t want to wake up, in them, he feels complete, at peace, refreshed and safe.

Sometimes he is aware of the mirage, and so, he stops, forces himself to wake up and not fall in the tempting embrace. His bed is empty, for good reasons; his parents are dead (his adoptive ones, he knows he’ll never think –never call- whatever the things that birthed him as such); he has friends, but the dreams touch boundaries they won’t ever cross.

But there is light, so there is hope. He’ll get there, eventually.
Sometimes Prompto has nightmares, and he remembers that just like dreams, nightmares can become true. He knows. He’s seen them.

Ardyn’s ghost grip lingers. Firmly buried and locked but still there. Whatever peace he could get whatever closure he could have, delivered. Sometimes though, when he sees Noctis and Luna being happy together, when he sees the destruction of Nilfheim, of Eos, during the three Years of Darkness, when he sees a baby being born, a child laugh, he can almost hear his voice, feel his hand and the ice through his veins.

(Feel his insides twisting out, empty and cold –like the monster he can be but his skin won’t allow)

Some days are harder to breathe. That’s all. Less frequent now with the restorations more than halfway through.

And if everyone else can go on with their lives after the tragedy, if his friends can go forward through their loss and grief and sacrifice, he won’t be any different.

(He can’t be)

(Oh but you are. Aren’t you, boy?)

Prompto wakes up blinking, muscles tense but with no recollection of what he dreamt. A quick glance at the clock lets him know it is barely 4 am. He rolls back under the covers on a futile attempt to go back to sleep. It has been three years since sunlight came back properly and he still can’t manage a decent sleeping schedule. On his defense, habits gained during stressing times are difficult to leave behind, but he would have loved to have been able to sleep in today.

He went drinking with Cor last night. Technically. In reality, he had barely arrived at his home in Insomnia after his trip from Nova Nilfheim when the bell rang and Cor greeted him with a familiar stern gaze and two bottles of hard liquor.

Prompto only needs one.

He never gets plastered, getting drunk is renouncing control and he’s already forced to do it seven days each year because his body demands so. He was so close of losing it completely during that nightmare in Nilfheim. His life is about deciding and cherishing the control he has over it.

So no. A bottle might be able to inebriate him, but one shared offers no risk greater than getting overly contemplative during their talks. It’s a tradition that started during the Years of Darkness, and one that neither (he hopes) wants to break three years after sunrise came back to its normal cycle.

He had asked for some delivery, finding it distasteful to offer ration bars to the man who was practically his father figure, and sat down on the sparsely used living room after it arrived. They had talked about life then. About his journey, the reparations of Nova Nilfheim –not much because their conversations are not exactly heavy on the protocol and information they can read on a report- the life on Insomnia, the headaches caused by the stuffy council, Cor’s worry at having seen a white hair and then punishing the squads of glaives in training after finding out it was a prank. He had laughed, and shared stories about the mishaps he’d suffered as well during Altissia, when confusing pollen with golden sugar while making tea, of the pranks Biggs and Wedge did on him while he was verifying the supply lines and the new railroad.

He doesn’t share the fact that those two are still searching Gralea archives for the MTs registration program.

“What do you want to do?” Cor had asked during a lull in the conversation. Light reflecting the glass, and for a moment Prompto had thought this man hailed as immortal looked very human and approachable. He had felt like seventeen again, the seventeen very nearly eighteen, when he had first been asked that. That time he had answered with his determination to follow the path of the gun.

He remembers having answered last night with a cheerless shrug and a soft I don’t know. Cor had only studied him for a moment before nodding and briefly placing a hand on his shoulder. He had expected a reproach, a bit of judgement, a bit of guidance. His only words had been something along the lines of consult that with your pillow. Prompto had hoped for a miracle, but the new morning greets him with the same sense of disorientation and unease as the day before. It’s a little pathetic, all this time, at twenty six, he is still unsure.

Sometimes he envies Gladio and Ignis for a minute (or ten): they both know what they want from life, they had known since childhood what they wanted to be, what they would become; the expectations and talents. He would like a bit of that certainty and self-assuredness for himself.

His only childhood dream was to become Noctis’ friend then Gladio’s and Igni’s, but at this age he knows it is not enough. They all have their own lives, and he can’t fixate his own life, have it be determined, by his relationship with other people.

(He had tried it during the years of darkness, to find a purpose for himself and of himself. Last time he had decided to do so was on Insomnia, when he choose training and a gun. It had felt right and proud… until realizing years later to have been bred for that exact purpose and worse.

It should have been different during the Years of Darkness. With nothing more to hide about himself, it should have been easier to draw the line between friendship, need and closeness. To find a space for himself while doing something he chose to do and help. Yet instead of lessening the attachment to others and taking it back to himself, he cheated and moved some to Lunareya.)

He needs to find a life of his own, a purpose of his own, a path and a choice.

He doesn’t want to estrange himself from his friends, he wants to go around the world; he wants to remain a Crown citizen, he wants to connect with the survivors of the country that should have been his home; he wants to help rebuild Nova Nilfheim, Altissia and Insomnia; he wants to go around taking pictures of whatever he fancies, he wants to be on the hunt protecting people; he wants to live on a Chocobo ranch, he wants to remain in the replica of his adoptive parents house, he wants to live at the Cita–.

He can’t do them all. He can’t choose them all. He’s an adult too; he doesn’t have the luxury of time. There are responsibilities he must bear. And choices entail sacrifices.

“Say, do you know what you want to do tomorrow? You could always join us in Nova Nilfheim, you’ll be welcomed”

He’d just have to choose what sacrifices he’s willing to make.

(He can’t shake the feeling that something is missing.)

For barely living in there, Prompto’s house is quite big. After the retaking of insomnia, he finally had the chance to see what had been of the home he had grown in. It was horrifying to find that his parents had been home when the city had fallen. His heart was broken for weeks after that. He knew what he could find; he had known the chances of his adoptive parents being alive were slim even before the Years of Darkness. Yet none of that could have prepared him for the confirmation.

He had wondered for weeks if he had been a good child for them. If he had said thank you enough times to the man and woman who had taken and adopted a cursed child like him. It was a sorry state of affairs all around.

His only solace, as macabre as it was, was that he was not the only one who lost a family member. There was obviously Noctis and Luna, but Gladio too had lost his father, his mother, and his youngest brother a baby barely a year old.
Luckily Ignis had been saved for that heart ache; he had lost and sacrificed enough already.

Anyway, the house he grew up in was partially destroyed, but there were furniture and objects that could be salvaged. There was a tapestry of pictures among them, and the photo album of his firsts shoots. They were filled with moments he shared with his parents and childhood too. There was even a picture of Pryna that he had given to Luna as a present.

He had found a purpose in the pictures, a desire to have another tapestry filled with pictures of his journey, of the things he had encountered, of his friends. A reminder that life could go on, and joy was around the corner. That he was not alone, that none of his friends were ever alone.

(A reminder that he had lived if the worst happened and he was no longer in this world)

The house he’s in is similar in build to the one he grew in. However, aside from having the same furniture (repaired and lovingly cared for –when he’s there), there is nothing similar. Some of the walls are cluttered with framed pictures, or a big tapestry with the pictures he has taken throughout the journey, and his subsequent journeys for the rebuilding efforts. There is one his friends helped create and compose.

It probably looks like a crazy stalker’s house for the outsiders. But for Prompto, its home.

It helps in days like these when he barely has any energy. The full length mirror in the hallway is framed with pictures on the upper right corner. In the pictures he’s smiling and happy, and in the mirror he’s not. He’s pale, a bit wrung out, there is sunburn on his cheeks and shoulders, his hair is a mess too and his breath leaves a lot to be desired. Prompto sighs. He deserves a nice long bath, and he will get it.

Maybe he is just a bit out of his funk, he muses lightly while getting comfortable in the bathtub after thoroughly brushing his teeth and scrubbing himself pink and clean. Usually it is not this bad. Not like, it is bad at all or always. There are more good and great days than bad.

It’s the breathing thing. Some days are good some are tiring. Like anything in life. Casual? Casual.

It’s probably Aranea’s suggestion before leaving that got him like this. He should seriously consider the offer sometime soon. The schedule for his last trip is for the end of next month. He still got time. Prompto stretches a little with a groan and winces when he hears some of his bones pop. This growing older thing is not as pleasing as advertised.

(Cor would chastise him for being overdramatic. He can picture it: “You still haven’t grown hair on your face and yet declare yourself old”)

(For the record, He has, just one or two. He had to cut them out of cheer embarrassment. Did normal MTs have facial hair?)

He’s back on Insomnia and almost like a tradition after his greeting with Cor, is calling Ignis to see if he’s up for a visit. He’ll talk to Gladio later, if he’s not ambushed by iris first. There are spices he has brought with him. Organic, carefully handled and stored. He wouldn’t say fastidious but his friend is very insistent about the quality.

That evening he’s in front of Ignis flat, right on the dot and doesn’t even have to ring the bell before his friend opens the door and ushers him inside. He’s always surprised by the range and accuracy of Ignis hearing sense. He’s amazing, and a tad bit scary.

“Pardon the informality” he begins, and he notes there is a tiny hint of a new accent on his studied voice. Had he been involved in international treaties recently? “These last few days were eventful” Oh that explains it.
Informality by Ignis, of course, means he’s either not wearing shoes, or a jacket. This time is both, so he takes both off as well before going to the kitchen and giving the container with spices.

He receives them with a tank you, hand immediately going for the handle (no longer needing to waddle first to reach it) and turns around on his territory. Prompto leans on the counter, happy to chat and watching him work and fuss on the new spices. Like old times, mostly.

Being here is how it starts to sink in that he’s finally back in the city; into familiar territory.

(Shouldn’t Nova Nilfheim be familiar too?)

The flat smells of Ignis, faintly on the kitchen, but stronger in places where he frequents more and uses less spices. There is a scent of Ebony that permeates the living room, and well used chaises with matching pillows too. There is a coffee table, a mix of carved wood and clear glass. No books under it anymore, every single one had been replaced with Braille and moved to the shelves on the walls, re classified from most used to less used.

…Which reminds him of a little project he put on hold. Better do it now that he was back with some time on his hands.

His interrupted out of his musing by an offered glass of juice. He takes it and after making sure He’s momentarily alone, examines the contents. It is blue, with shiny parts. He discretely took a picture of it. Prompto knew better than to ask. Drink first ask second was the unspoken rule after he threw up on the carpet that one time he learned the juice had anchovies in it.

Way before their journey Ignis had started the trend of nutritious brewages by mixing different fruits, vegetable nuts or spices and Prompto had been more than glad to be used as a guinea pig. It had understandably gone out of control by the time Noctis was officially crowned King. Gladio had complained once of being a terrible enabler and then washing his hands off the problem. He had no shame about it.

Especially when Iris sent him a picture of Gladio looking vaguely green.

It’s always good to hear Ignis go on a rant. Not only because he’s learned that’s the alpha’s way to unwind –which cool, and he’s glad to be of help-, but because Ignis’ on a rant can be scathingly savage. The greatest source of entertainment. He’s heard the greatest burns (and puns, let’s be honest) in the world from Ignis going on a rampage.

It also helps that tonight he’s thrashing the Honorable Noble Houses of the Council. He recognizes one of the names as the fatty with a balding head that was sniffing all the time about how ‘improper it was for Regis Droit du Seigneur to attend His Majesty’s wedding and be allowed a place of Honor’. He had turned red and purple when Luna had declared that Camelia Claustra (an omega) would be the one to walk her to the altar. Never mind that she’s pretty much the Regent of Altissia and one of the most badass people he knows.

“…for a famed literate, it’s a pity his words were most inopportune”

“Does that mean he couldn’t read the atmosphere?”

“Certainly enough to be sentenced”

Prompto dissolves in laughter and after a while Ignis unwinds enough to move onto what’s happened on his journeys.

“She’s going to steal one of us away. Either you with a ring or me.” He admits cheerfully after a long enthusiastic tirade about Nova Nilfheim’s new engagement laws. Once upon a time he had a silly crush on the dragoon. It pretty much died when she began asking him about his ‘bespectacled friend. You know, tall thin, knows how to handle his spears?’ It was pretty much buried when he caught sight of a faint blush on his friend after relying a message. Gladio had let a good catch go, sucks for him, Ignis deserved better than to be second fiddle to Lady Whatever Whatnot.

“I’d be cautious of the belief of her doing the taking.” Ingis hums conspirationally, looking very ominous with the faint smoke of recently made ebony.

Prompto snorts.

“Try to take her away from Nova Nilfheim Ig, see what happens.” Aranea was protective and proud of her City. Like a true dragoness with her treasure. Nova Nilfheim, despite its name, was less of a recognized empire and more of an established colony. A couple of buildings compared to Lestallum. Certainly a century or so to go before going somewhere close to the size of Gralea. But it was theirs, it was Nilfheim, it was home.

It was sustainable too. Bursting with sturdy people that did not shy away from hard work and dreamt big and hopeful.

There is a premeditate pause before he asks “Would you take their side?”
That was more than an innocuous question. Prompto wonders just how many people know about her offer. Ignis he could understand, now that he thinks about it, Cor most likely knew too.

“I don’t know. Did you take Iris side when Gladio was against her courting Cindy?” he deflects mildly, and slurps his smoothie. Whatever the fruits Ignis chose tonight, this is a killer combination.

“You didn’t either. Though I remember your reasoning to be frivolous,” Ignis concedes blandly. There is a little quirk on those thin lips and a familiar jab, but Prompto knows Ignis doesn’t mean it to be cruel. He’s able to read his cues and nuances pretty well after years of being together as friends.

“I didn’t want to help the competition.” He points with false indignation.

If snorting wasn’t so beneath Ignis station he would have done so by now. “Figures. I will tell her not to invite you to her wedding”

“Wedding?!”

So there was not going to be a wedding (thank the Six) but the courtship was a thing now that Iris was of age to actually pursue Cindy lawfully. However, it was enough to bring to his attention how much he had missed since his task on the rebuilding efforts.

How long has it been since he saw them? Two months? Three? It brought things to perspective. He had called, some daily others weekly, and he had sent pictures too. But it was nowhere near enough as to having them close –and this was just Ignis. He expects it to be worse with Gladio. He’s pretty sure he would not want to leave the room if he ever gets an afternoon with Noctis and Luna together.

He had missed this closeness, the scent of Ignis and his banter. The coziness of familiarity, the sound of footsteps of his flat, the sight and sensation of the leather chair, and the cool tiles of the kitchen counter.

Would you take their side?

It is harder to find the resolution to go away now that he’s back. Prompto closes his eyes for a little, losing himself in the smell of Insomnia, the sounds of the city bustling around him so unlike the open fields and constructions in Nova Nilfheim or the sound of waves and water in Altissia. Something whispers home in the smog and the rush of the city that never sleeps.

It is easier to bury miles away from it, but impossible to deny while in it.

Could he really follow through and accept Aranea’s offer?

He can stay in Lucis. He can even go to the reconstructed Altissia and drop by Claustra. The brand on his wrist just reminds him of somewhere he’s needed the most.

Alright that’s it. Enough of Ardyn things for the day. For the month. Promise? Promise.

He’ll have to talk about it with Noctis too. Maybe see if he can be an exchange envoy of goodwill of sorts for a few years if he decides to go. He’s not aware of all the bureaucratic procedures that must entail, or the nobility diplomatic nonsense he’ll have to learn and do. If Prompto were meaner, he would seed some suspicion about how opportune it was that more than half of the noble houses of Lucis had a few survivors from the siege of Insomnia.

It’ll be fine though, Ignis can get it done –and if Noctis decrees it with Luna’s approval no one will complain. (To his face at the very least) The problem would be convincing Gladio it is for the best, but manageable. He did that before when he had gone to the frontlines while Gladio stood behind to guard Luna alongside Nyx and Ignis decided to train and become stronger in Lestallum during the Years of Darkness.

He’ll just have to convince himself first if that’s something he wants to do. But that’s what a choice is all about anyway.

Prompto doesn’t know what to think when he gets the opportunity to be with Luna and Noctis and alone. It was never on his plans, not because they would say no (hopefully), but because they are busy people. He knows he can drop by (to the horror of some stuffy councilors) unannounced with no issue, but finding them both at the same time took more than just luck.

(Of course, if you visited at night the probabilities were higher, but he’s not an idiot. Or indecent, no matter what stuffy councilors think)

Or in his case, a proper invitation sent by Pryna herself for tea tomorrow afternoon. She’s waiting for him after he returns from Ignis, mail ready and expecting a treat. It’s not the first time he’s met her in curious circumstances. It was almost commonplace during the Years of Darkness, but it did not stop completely after Ardyn’s defeat. That Pryna now expects a treat in return is entirely his fault though.

He gives it to her while reading the letter. Usually, when he gets invitations through her, they usually show the place they’ll meet in Insomnia. This time it is in the Citadel. The first time ever, especially because he’s heard Luna complain before about copped places and privacy and not wanting to feel trapped in a castle to do what she wants anymore.

Curious.

He still goes, of course, using the secret doors and hallways he knows got get inside. Nobody will think of stopping him at the entrance and wherever he goes, but habits die hard. Also, it was a message sent by Pryna, so really, he thinks a bit of discretion and stealth is appreciated.

There, at the end of the hallway, is Nyx. The war hero doesn’t seem surprised to see him practically appear from nowhere; instead he only raises an eyebrow and motions at his nonexistent clock. He still has a few minutes, thank you. Gladio is not there, which means either Noctis told him to get the day off (unlikely) or he’s warping to the sitting room under his shield’s nose (likely).

He greets Nyx, Luna’s unofficial shield with familiarity (he’s still a fan boy. He can’t believe he’s talking to the war hero on the same you-you level. This is the guy that everyone and their cats know Gladio worships and he just greeted him casually. His life is great) before going inside.

The sitting room is big and spacious and private. It is also near enough to the Royal Chambers and he’s sure they choose that on purpose to have a kick at the council on the next meeting. He remembers vaguely from Ignis rant that someone had insisted on the importance of heirs and that Noctis had succinctly slammed it with the fact that he was conceived five or so years after his father had married.
It would be a skyward scream when they learned they had a private tête-a-tête with him. Someone better record that, he wanted to enjoy every single minute of it. Actually, he could go to the council meeting and enjoy the show from the first row.

There was an idea.

Noctis and Luna were already there. Not in the same sofa, which was weird, but had this thing where they incline their heads on sync and smiled fondly before touching each other’s cheek. It was terribly private and he felt both an intruder, and blessed for being close enough to witness such acts of pure love and bask in the warmth.

There had been a bit of a trouble during the first months after the marriage. He didn’t know how to act around them while maintaining the ‘propriety and decorum demanded by his station and deference for his Royal Couple’. There had been weeks of restraining himself a little, of consciously detaching himself from the instinctual flow of hugging, ruffling hair, and elbowing either Noctis or Lunafreya. There had been nights he couldn’t sleep while thinking about how a certain act could be misconstrued by either Luna or Noct as an attempt to steal their mate. Alpha pairs were supposed to be very possessive of their own. Worse, how would the media react to any of it?

If there was a working branch that always flourished quickly, was the gossip media.

Thankfully, by now everything is fine. Mostly. It seemed that the old good rule of thumb of ‘outside doors public, inside doors private’ was still in effect. That and Luna always teases his friend, her husband, about how she’s stealing him away whenever he sits next to her and not Noctis. For a King, his friend still hasn’t been able to get a decent comeback.

(Prompto would be lying if he said that’s not part of the reason he likes to sit next to Luna)

So it is still good to do what feels natural to him. So he kisses Luna on the cheek as a greeting and half hugs Noctis with a smile. He sits on the nearby ottoman stool though, feeling that if they are not sharing the sofa, neither should he, missing the shared look of concern between his friends.

They start with a small talk while drinking tea (he’s not a fan, he rather wants Ignis’ weird blue shiny shake) and eating pastries (those, he likes). There are some stories shared, Noctis complaining that Umbra was starting to acquire bad habits, Prompto denying having anything to do with them and instead gushing about the new photos he took and the lime-green cactuar he saw. There are also some enquiries about how the repair efforts were going in Altissia and Nova Nilfheim and greetings from Aranea and I will have the report by next week, I promise.

Noctis laughs mildly. He pretty much knows that he’s a mess for filling formats. In his defense, the formats do not have enough room for him to explain everything he deems important.

Luna just shakes her head and they enjoy the silence for a bit. Prompto is about to go on another topic when Luna asks “Have you wondered what you are going to do tomorrow?”

Uh that was familiar. Did Aranea say something? Because that was mean. Did Gladio know it too?

However, before he can rouse some plausible deniability (just in case) she continues “How do you feel about kids Prom?”

A bulb lights up.

“Kids…? No way are you guys?!” Prompto is now on his feet, chair long forgotten. Kids! His friends were going to have kids. As in, more than one. Twins! How cool is that?

“Prom–“

“Have you thought about a godfather yet?” he complies, sitting down again. Next to the expectant mother. Because that is the nice thing to do. Not because he wanted to peer and see if he had ignored the baby bump before or anything. “Because I wanna–"

Luna giggles a little at his enthusiasm and pats his head like a child. Six! She’s going to be a great mother. He can see it.

“No we aren’t having kids. Not yet. But I’m glad you feel so strongly about them.”

“Kids are cute.” He admits bashfully and a bit disappointed. What can he say? He knows this couple in Nova Nilfheim that just gave birth. The baby didn’t stop wailing for days and it kind of became a neighbor effort. Not that anyone minded; it was the second baby in the city, a very joyful occasion all around. She was the cutest thing he’d ever seen, and her wrist would never be branded. All right Prompto, enough about that, no more Ardyn stuff for today or this month. You promised.

Luna and Noct share a look that is equal part fond and happy. There is no doubt their kids will be cute. Ah, he would like to nanny them a bit. Ignis or Gladio will complain about being a bad influence, but he has more experience. Well, maybe not more than Ignis, what with him tutoring Noctis since he was a kid. But he definitely has more expertise than Gladio.

Recent too!

“We are glad you think so, because Prompto…” Luna says, holding hands with Noctis who looks at him expectant. This is it, Prompto thinks somewhat smug, I am going to be a godfather!

“We would like you to have our children.”

“Yes!” he says immediately, before he catches up with the proposal and balks. His stomach drops, and he feels faintly sick. “Hold it. What? Why? Aren’t your kids going to be the Inheritors of Eos?” Gladio had started the joke, but there was a lot of truth in the statement. There is a painful smile on Noctis, the same one he had the first time Gladio said the joke. Now the blond wonders if maybe the pain was genuine and not just dramatics. “Your wedding was blessed by the Astrals and everything”

Why do you need me? He wants to ask too, but retrains himself from doing so. That’s not a topic he wants to dwell in as long as possible among friends that could read him like a book. Inside him, his blood runs cold. He can almost feel Ardyn’s fingers on his back. This is a terrible idea.

“In theory,” Noctis speaks, a hand ruffling his hair on a decidedly un-kinglike manner. “In practice? Not so much. We both are Head royals of our own countries, battered as they are.” He adds with an apologetic note while looking at Luna “That and we have our own divinely designated duties.”

Prompto is lost after that. Shouldn’t it actually be better that way? Kids from two powerful bloodlines would be even more powerful. Right?

“Ravus was supposed to take the throne of Altissia after we married so there was no issue.” Luna explains once she sees his face.

“So you can’t have children together because it would be troublesome to the succession line or something?” he summarizes. Not that he believes it is a good excuse anyway. But what does he know? He’s not a kingly expert. It also doesn’t explain why they are asking him.

“Or something.” Oh hello there annoyed arm-crossing Noct. Good to see years of ruling had not washed away your basic disdain for silly rules and norms. Oh, wait, so this is what the council was yapping about?

“Even without that is not as if we could anyway.”

“Could…?”

“My womb is sterile Prompto.”

“Oh,” it takes a moment to process the words at the sheer unfairness of it. They can’t have children. They love each other, they want children and they can’t have them. When he does, he follows with the only thing he can think of: holding her hand tenderly. “I- I’m sorry.” He says through the guilt in his lungs.

It was the stab. It had to be the stab. If he had arrived earlier he could have prevented that too instead of just barely saving her that time in Altissia. Not that he had really saved her; Nyx had ended up saving them both in the end. He had been more of a deadweight that day. He had gotten better of course.

Luna just shakes her head. There is a soft and enigmatic smile on her, but at least she squeezes his hand in thanks. It makes him feel a bit better. Only just a bit. He really wants to hug her, but that might be Noctis prerogative so he places a palm on her hand and presses reassuringly.

Again, he misses how Noctis looks at their joined hands and grimaces.

“So you want me to… uh surrogate?” he says after a while, trying to sound as professional as possible and dispel the awkwardness in the room. Because it was every day that your friends, royal friends, ask you to surrogate their babies. It was a bad idea on principle anyway, because he did not belong to anything related to royal blood, and his body–

“Royal couples don’t surrogate” Noctis clarifies with a wave of his hand seemingly annoyed.

“But didn’t you just say…?” Did he have to have the potential royal pup in secrecy or something? More fuel to the –admittedly- heavy load on the bad idea truck.

“Well yes” he starts, and if Prompto didn’t know better, he’d believe Luna was finding all of this hilarious. “It is a bit more complex Prom.”

Noctis sighs for a bit, but he knows the cues like a second skin and tenses in anticipation. Whenever Noctis got like this he was thinking how to drop the bomb more carefully.

“Have you thought about being an omega?”

There is a pregnant pause in the room. Luna blinks in a clear sign of embarrassed longsuffering.

“Uh, I am one?” he supplies completely lost, relaxing again. This was a cactuar on a chocobo ranch. Omegas weren’t something that you could ponder on becoming. You were born in it, just like Alphas and Betas. Just how more bizarre could this afternoon go?

“Let me correct myself.” Wow a floundering Noct, common species six years ago, very rare nowadays. He should have brought his camera to register and preserve endangered wildlife “How long has it been since you saw –thought- yourself as an omega?”

“Since my last heat?” he guesses tentatively but even the answer sounds weak to himself. It is more of a question than an answer. Not that he’s unaware. But the first thing that came to mind was not something he could say and then pretend to be fine about it. No sire, he could go through this bizarre conversation just fine.

“Prom…” Noct’s voice is exasperated, not unlike how he used to act after he realized he ate veggies during the trip. Not exactly dangerous, but he tries to lean away from any potential outburst. Something stops him.

Luna’s hand is now firm on his, grip resolute and unmoving. Preventing him from running away, or just going back to be on his chair and keep his distance. The air around them shifts to something that whispers small caution or maybe it was already there and he’s now just becoming aware? He admits he’s not acutely in sync with his senses while among friends, already used to only just zero on them out in the field. But this is ridiculous. There is something instinctual about letting her be, to sit down and not struggle. Well she’s an alpha through and through; it is a bit surprising to actually be reminded of that.

“Look.” He tries again, careful on not sounding too defensive. He’s with two alphas, he never thought he had to compute that with these two that way but here he was. “Just what brought this all up? We have never, y’know…” he trails off a bit at the end while looking at Noctis, because now that he thinks about it… Wasn’t it a hand waved topic between them? He distinctly remembers a painfully awkward conversation a month or so after that thing with Regis and –and his cheeks feel warm now. Great.

To his relief, Noctis looks equally mortified by it. All signs of the sudden exasperation gone. Which is good, because it is about time they let this topic drop and just go on other merrier ones. Then again, the previous topic was about surrogate royal babies. Well not surrogate, probably having them in secret? Maybe it is not wise to bid anything on the next topic being better.

“You haven’t?” Luna’s surprise is palpable and her grip relents for a moment while she looks at her husband. Prompto is not dumb enough to try and get his hand out. “Noctis!” she scolds lightly he looks properly chastised. The blond feels a pang of sympathy, and wonders if the ‘sleeping on the couch tonight’ also happens on royal couples.

“I see…” she begins and looks at him right in the eye, her hand a bit tight but mollifying again and Prompto chooses to just go with the flow. He sees nothing. There is always a first time to experience being an active part of a conversation he has no clue about.

“Prompto, I am afraid we started this conversation in the wrong order. I had thought you knew.” She explains, while tugging his hand and placing it on her knee. What? “I am not an expert of the subject, but I will do my best to explain the nuances between relationships”

He had never thought the Oracle would give him the talk at twenty-six. Maybe if he just tries to look at the nice ceiling really hard he can believe this isn’t happening. Huh, those were new lamps. Also Luna’s knee feels good and right, it fits perfectly on the palm of his hand and –Prompto we are not thinking that with her husband in the same room what is wrong with you?!

“Are we really having this?” he asks with just a thread of voice trying discretely to get his hand away from her knee. Not that Luna lets him anyway. From the corner of his eye Noctis has his face on his hands. A clear sign of denial and unwillingness to help. The traitor.

Luna keeps smiling placatory, almost motherly. He can almost see the don’t worry my child; I will take care of your doubts. There is no need to feel ashamed written on her face. Another time he would find it calming, he sure did during the Years of Darkness; right now however, he really, really doesn’t want the kind of solace she’s offering.

At least now he knows this time he’ll be able to leave them and go back home without regretting closing the door behind. A first, but apparently this is an afternoon of firsts as well.

This was the awkward afternoon. He expects tomorrow to actually be fun. He’s owed at least that much.

The silence works on his favor at least because Luna coos softly and leans a bit. She smells wonderful, he thinks idly before chastising himself again.

“It is fine Prompto. We don’t have to start today.” She’s caressing his arm understandingly and for the first time ever he flinches lightly. This really isn’t something he wants to touch. Ever. Much less with them. “We have time still. Don’t we?”

That actually makes him pause.

“About that…” he doesn’t know how to continue because he thought they knew already? Ignis and Cor did, so how didn’t they know? Not that he’s decided already, but the possibility was there. He has their undivided attention again, there is the murmur of caution in the air too, but part of him is just glad they are dropping the whole omega thing.

He coughs for a moment, and it feels weird to not do it with his left hand. “Aranea suggested that I go to Nova Nilfheim permanently, and I–"

“Prom you don’t mean to say you’re leaving us…!” Noctis interrupts and there is something decidedly kingly, commanding, about his tone, his posture in general. Very disorientating.

“… I’m just saying. I haven’t decided something yet.” He tries to mollify, forgetting for a moment that one of his hands is still trapped in Luna’s and she won’t let go. She actually doesn’t look happy with the development either. Oh no.

“But you haven’t dismissed it immediately. Why?” Noctis presses on, maybe it is something in the light but Prompto swears he sees the alpha’s canines growing. There is a ghost of a snarl on his face too.

“Noctis–"

“You can’t just leave!” Noctis practically roars, standing up, ready to pounce, eyes light red. A shiver ran down his back at the sight, hairs standing on end, he could even hear his heart beat speed up. Shit he’s serious. And pissed.

“Even if that is what I choose?” he asked airily, lungs filled with indignation and faux bravery. It took everything to keep his face up, his neck was itching, his hands were certainly trembling in Luna’s, but at least his face was up. However, his sight was clearly focused on the floor. Good job at losing you assertiveness there Prompto, fantastic really.

“Gentlemen” Luna speaks, but the tension did not break yet, her voice is taut, like a rope pulled taut by a knife before giving in and cut. She tugs him back to the couch (when had he gotten up?) and adds “your spirits are ruffled. I suggest we keep this conversation for another afternoon.”

“Luna–"

“As you wish my Queen.” The answer was automatic, but Noctis turns around so fast that it clues in what he just said “No wait shit- I didn't mean it like that!”

“You are not due to leave for another six weeks am I correct?” Luna interrupts again, firmly, tight, like the grip on his hand. Prompto was surprised he could still feel it. He didn’t care if he lost it at this point. That’s one rule he broke, didn’t he?

“Yes.” He had a feeling Noctis wouldn’t let it be five weeks. Hopefully he was wrong, but he had the sudden suspicion that he won’t be able to get a foot outside of Insomnia anymore. At least not without being chased down by the Kingsglaive.

“Then allow us one afternoon each week. There are topics we need to talk about.”
It was a request but there was finality in her voice. It left no room to decline. Not that he would, because yeah, he had to apologize for that my Queen slip. At least by the looks of it, Noct wouldn’t be sent to the couch now. So yay victory for friendship.

It’s not like Luna could send him to the couch anyway, surrogates didn’t sleep with on the family bed. Especially potential ones that are actually going to refuse anyway.

“Prompto? Did you hear me?”

“Ah yes. Yes, I can do that, I can give you more days too, I’m not–"

“A day each week is fine. We don’t want to force you.” Luna interrupts lightly with an understanding and graceful air around her. Though by the looks of Noctis, he was very much against the idea. While at twenty he would have done his best to postpone anything embarrassing and bothersome, the years trapped in the crystal had apparently taught him to get through them as quickly as possible.

Prompto appreciates the sentiment even if something inside is still cowering at the unsolicited outburst.

“Understood” What else could he do? Well they were forcing him but he could go on and pretend they aren’t. The Six, he was going to talk about omega things with his best friend's wife. Now that he thought about it, with said best friend in the room too.

Oh and they wanted him to be a surrogate. And by his friends’ reaction, a No would not suffice.

His life is a joke.

That’s all for now *jazz hands* We are starting slowly. Next time we stray away from Prompto and get to know Noctis Lucis Caelum: mixed messenger extraordinaire.

OP here!!

Writernon you are a hero and I am B L E S S E D

I'm really feeling for Prompto here, mixed signals is right (the way his mind jumped straight to 'dirty little secret' when Noct said 'royals don't surrogate' was heartbreaking and also maybe Noct should have, like, written his points down beforehand or something). Not to mention he still hasn't processed everything that went down with Ardyn and ahhh

I love all the little details you added too like Ignis's new smoothie habit and Aranea starting and being fiercely protective of her new territory. It makes everything feel so fleshed out. And Luna is really going to have her work cut out for her going forward.

Thanks for writing and looking forward to more!

NOT OP BUT I'M HAVING A LOT OF FEELINGS AND MY HEART IS BURSTING

thank you for this, authornon, this was beautiful! Felt really true for all of them. If you wanted to write a follow-up about their reactions to his return in more detail I know I for one would read absolutely anything you wrote.

What a great start! Can't wait to see where you take this.

Op I dont know if you're still around but I'm filling this, I promise. I was hankering for some good Promnis smut and then you came here with your trans head canons and I was all aboard. I'll probably finish it like tomorrow or Monday （　´∀｀）☆

You’re welcome OP! I’m glad you liked it! I’ll try to get the next part out by next week. There will be more world building too, I hope you don’t mind. There will be more mixed signals all around.

I'm happy Prompto's immediate thought of "dirty little secret" packed the expected punch :D That's more or less the moment that conversation officially went in different directions for everyone.

But who says Noctis didn’t write down the talking points? Granted, it was more a general idea, he still floundered spectacularly. Because of Issues™. They didn’t even get to do all the talking points that afternoon. /hint: they had dinner plans!)

Prompto in regards of what happened with Ardyn and Nilfheim in general is like the meme of the dog in the burning house “I’m fine” which is a Problem™. Everything could be Ardyn’s fault and he wouldn’t be mad. Apologetic, maybe, but not mad.

Luna wants to help. She’s absolutely ready to. But Noctis isn’t helping and she ignores the extent of how much. Expect Noctis to sleep on the couch. Actually, expect some “Noctis sleeps in the couch” jokes at one moment or another.

Nonny, is ot4 okay?

I enjoyed reading this. Thank you so much for writing it! I love how happy and eager you made prompto during the whole thing despite him being tied up and teased by ardyn.

This is excellent! Looking forward to where it goes from here!

Here it is!
http://archiveofourown.org/works/10195331

Hope you enjoy, should you come back OP

first authornon here.

awesome! i've been writing mostly angsty stuff lately, so i'm happy to do something sweet finally.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 214 of 232

Prompt Post

Re: [FILL] -- Same Thing Every Year 2/2

Re: [FILL] -- Same Thing Every Year 2/2

Re: Luna/Noctis/Prompto, A/B/O

Re: [FILL] -- Same Thing Every Year 2/2

Fill Re: Noctis/Any, Veterinarian or Pet Store Owner Noctis (9/?)

Re: FILL 3/3 Re: Omega Gladio, mpreg, maybe Gladio/Ignis?

Re: Fill: Ardyn/Noctis - A/B/O, 2/3

Re: Fill: Ardyn/Noctis - A/B/O, 2/3

Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1a/?

Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1b/?

Re: Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1c/?

Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1d/?

Re: Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1e/?

Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1f/?

Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1g/?

Re: Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1g/?

Re: [FILL] -- Same Thing Every Year 2/2

Re: FILL: Gracious (Noctis/Prompto, slave AU) 2/?

Re: Ignis/Prompto - Toys in the Regalia

Re: Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1g/?

Re: Prompto/Any, Huge dick

Re: FILL: let's start over (3/3 - end)

Re: Fill: (To Decode) Mixed Signals 1g/?

FILL: Ignis/Trans!Prompto - Toys in the Regalia

Re: Noctis/Nyx, Bodyguarding