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It's not that Noctis never noticed before, it's just that he always had enough going on around him in the past that he didn't get much time to think about it.
Now, even though things have gone to hell and his kingdom has been invaded, even though there are dark shadows of grief he doesn't want to touch wrapped around every thought in his mind, this road trip has been surprisingly aimless. No meetings, no schedule, no galas. He would take them all back in a heartbeat and suffer every annoyance imaginable if it meant things could go back to the way they were, if it meant he could be on the steps of the Citadel one more time, looking at his father. But he couldn't do that, and it causes a hollow pain to crack open behind his ribs to think about how much he took for granted before.
So he tries not to think about it, and he throws himself into the present, fighting monsters, following Lunafreya's trail of divine guidance, and camping. And fishing. And trying all of the local diner delicacies. And playing video games late into the night in hotel rooms and RV campers.
And he's not happy. He's not. This isn't better than being able to go home. Every smile has an edge that hurts, every laugh widens the chasm in his chest. But he's also trying to cling to each moment desperately, afraid of what comes next. Afraid of what might be lost if he fucks up or fails or…succeeds. He can't turn back but he can't look forward, either, so he tries not to take anymore moments for granted. He watches the landscape roll by and enjoys the wind while Ignis drives peacefully, and he makes it his priority to find a ridiculously huge egg for Gladio's Cup Noodle obsession, and he stares at Prompto's eyes far too much.
It's not that he's never noticed just how beautiful Prompto's eyes are, it's just that he never let himself think about them before, and now that he's avoiding so many other thoughts, he can't stop thinking about how gorgeous they are.
The color is the most noticeable thing, of course. Wild-blue, like the sky just before dusk, still bright but softened with purple. Noctis has never seen a color like that before and he feels corny thinking Prompto's eyes rival the richest tanzanites he has ever laid eyes on, but they do. Precious gems are dull in comparison. Hell, the sky dulls in comparison.
But it's not just the color. Every time Noctis looks over at his best friend, he gets just a little distracted by the shape of his eyes, too. They curve gently from the inner corner and flare up just a bit toward his temples. The soft, sweeping shape of them combined with the sharp angle of his eyebrows give Prompto a dangerous look that he often covers with a smile and a cheerful comment.
And that's what makes Prompto's eyes the most alluring--how he uses them. Every expression is captivating to watch--every twitch or lift of his brows, every widened look of surprise, every wince of hesitation in the face of something unpleasant, every crinkle of laughter, and especially every rare, sharply focused gaze when that danger inside him is revealed and the mask slips.
The night on top of the hotel when Prompto had confessed there was more to him than he allows to show, that sometimes the smiles were an act, Noctis had been surprised. Not by the confession, but by the fact that Prompto thought Noctis hadn't noticed. He assured his best friend that he was enough as he was, yet his own words had felt flat to himself. But how was Noctis supposed to explain to Prompto that he asked him to be by his side forever as a Crownsguard because of the strength he had to smile in the face of everything? How was he supposed to say the cheerful armor and the hang ups were both things Noctis wanted from him? That he wanted the corny jokes and the chipper comments and the easy friendship alongside the unspoken thoughtfulness and the deep concern and the dark resolve he had to protect what he cared about? How could he say "that's what I love about you" when Prompto didn't even realize how much Noctis saw him? How much he looked to him in every moment of the day…
And now that they are on this trip and Noctis needs something to focus on that doesn't tear him apart, he focuses on Prompto even more. He's subtle about it, he doesn't think anyone notices how often his gaze drifts over, how he takes a little longer to respond to his best friend because he just wants to look at him for one more second, acts like he's distracted thinking about something else. And he is distracted, he guesses, but no one has to know by what.
At least, he believes he's being subtle until Prompto's thoughtful gaze lingers on him one night, too. It's just a moment longer than usual, but it's enough to have Noctis blushing and looking away sharply, which definitely is more suspicious than if he had just smiled or something. And after that first time, it happens more often, and Noctis really should stop staring at Prompto's eyes since he keeps getting caught, but he just loves looking at them. They're so fucking beautiful.
Then one night in the tent, Prompto lays facing him, which isn't that strange, really, they typically sleep side by side when they choose their spots for the night, but this time, Prompto keeps his eyes open after he settles, looking at Noctis silently and if Noctis looks away, it's going to be way too obvious--it's not like he can just roll over suddenly and not have that be fucking awkward. So he mumbles 'night' and closes his eyes for a really long moment before opening them again, only to find Prompto still looking at him quietly in the glow of the blue haven runes that filters through the tent fabric.
They stare at one another in silence--or relative silence. Gladio is snoring softly and there are some frogs croaking just outside their tent and Ignis murmurs incoherently every once in a while, but in the space between all those sounds, Noctis and Prompto are silent and serious.
"What?" Noctis mouths, glad at least that Prompto can't see his face flushing. Prompto bites his bottom lip and Noctis is entirely distracted by that until he feels socked toes nudge his bare foot, a tiny touch that kicks his heart into overdrive. His eyes widen and his breath hitches in his chest, but he doesn't move away and Prompto searches his gaze for several heartbeats before he shifts as if to get more comfortable, tucking one arm under his head and managing to move closer to Noctis, his other hand falling between them too casually.
Noctis swallows hard as he scoots a little closer under the guise of getting more comfortable as well. His hand falls beside Prompto's, not touching, just…close. Prompto's fingers twitch and he mouths "you okay?" to Noctis just before he strokes his fingertips along his pinky.
A snap that feels like magic energy shivers down Noctis's arm as he hesitates a second before daring to curl his fingers and graze Prompto back, then repeats the motion. He holds back a sharp inhale when Prompto cautiously weaves his fingers in between his. The touch is light enough to almost tickle, so Noctis strokes his fingers against him firmer to soothe the sensation, though it does nothing to calm his wild heart. He hears Prompto inhale shakily and his eyes, almost electric blue in the soft light, are wide and serious and cautious. And searching, Noctis realizes. Hoping. His eyebrows are pinched together, insecure, and as much as Noctis finds that expression adorable, he hates the worry behind it.
Noctis inhales slowly, hoping, too, that he isn't reading this wrong (gods he doesn't know what he'll do if he's wrong, probably die of embarrassment), then turns over his hand and interlocks their fingers again, holding Prompto's hand palm to palm. Intimate. Undeniable.
Prompto's lashes flutter immediately, his gaze becoming hooded as he exhales, relief obvious in his expression. And his relief is contagious. When Prompto slowly swirls his thumb over Noctis's palm, Noctis scoots his foot forward and brushes against Prompto's ankle, feeling stupid and brave and scared all at once, then those emotions amplify when Prompto slides his whole leg against Noctis's. The smile on Prompto's face is contagious too, but Noctis ducks his head to hide his until he hears Prompto breathily chuckle. He glances back up at the near-sound and finds his favorite expression of all, Prompto's eyes crinkling at the corners, his eyebrows pinched in happiness. His best friend mouths the word "Hi" and Noctis shyly returns the silent greeting, huffing a quiet laugh.
They both sober a little as they study each other again and when it seems obvious neither of them are going to freak out, they relax, falling into the familiar comfort of each other, only now it comes with a flushed warmth filling Noctis's whole chest. His heart is still stuttering, but he's weak against sleep on a good day and lately there haven't been many good days, so as they stroke their fingers together--the sweet sensation feeling so good, especially every time Prompto presses his thumb a little harder into the muscle above his wrist, massaging sore places he didn't even know needed attention--Noctis is embarrassed to admit he's starting to fall asleep. Prompto knows him though, and the gentle, affectionate smile on his face is so beautiful, for a few minutes Noctis let's that be the only thing that exists in his thoughts. No shadows, no grief, no fear. They're not gone, but they're silenced, just for a full blessed minute, and Noctis sinks into that peace and let's himself revel in how beautiful Prompto is without reservation, gazing into his eyes as his own drift shut to sleep.