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Noctis had no idea how he should catalog this day. He was being completely bored, with nothing to do. He didn't want to have to review paperwork or things of the style; As long as he could get rid of something like that and Ignis didnt fulminate him with his eyes and ask him very patiently (although almost on the verge of getting firm) to pay attention to him and focus, he preferred to be sitting and letting time pass until Noctis had enough spirit to gets up and goes to look for something else to entertain himself.
It was a real pity that Prompto was not there at that time. Perhaps they would do nothing but become pampering or Noctis would lie on the lap of the blond so Prompto can caresses his hair... They could not even be talking (which would be unlikely because Prompto loves to talk about any nonsense) and yet it would be much better than doing anything, of course.
Noctis wanted to call him, he wanted to ask him to tell to his boss and say that on the orders of the Prince he required that Prompto must to come back. But he knew that would be too conceited and perhaps the blond would be annoyed with him a little... or maybe not.
Noctis was about to fall asleep on that comfortable sofa until he heard the door being opened and a sound voice saying "Hey!" He startled a little and looked at the door. Maybe the gods heard his prayers and sent Prompto to his rescue from boredom.
“Hey. You came back early from your job... Why? " Noctis asked, a little nightly, while looking at his boyfriend approaching to him and leaving a bag on the table in front of him.
Prompto was working in a part-time job in a photo store. They took pictures, framed it, edited it... And many other things which were knowledge that Noctis lacked but admired. He admired Prompto's work actually.
"Yep. It seems that the boss has a problem with his family and wanted to close the store for today. I told him that the store could be open and he can give the key to me, but he didn't want to hear me. ” Prompto shrugged, giving no importance to the matter and then sat next to Noctis. "Looking positively, at least I can see you earlier" and he smiled.
Noctis' heart warmed when he saw Prompto smile. It was always a gift to see him like that.
Noctis approached to his boyfriend and touched his nose against Prompto's cheek. He was sure he couldn't say how much he loved him. Neither what he liked the most because... Well, everything about Prompto liked to Noct a lot. He knew Prompto sometimes became a bit insecure about the relationship because Noct was a prince and he was... Dating with the prince? That's crazy. Because of that, Noctis always insisted on making him feel loved and reminding Prompto that he means a lot to Noctis and he wouldn't change him for anything or anyone.
"Ah by the way I went into a store and bought something." Prompto took the bag that he had left on the table and from there he took out a box of cupcakes decorated differently and with different colors.
Noctis opened his eyes on surprise.
"B-But this is expensive... You shouldn't..."
“Shh it's too late, buddy. I just wanted to make you happy.”
Ah there was that blush again that Noctis loved a lot. He was so adorable that Noctis wanted to kiss him. But now he was more worried about Prompto's money that was spent than anything else. If Noct had known that Prompto wanted to buy something like that, he would have preferred that Prompto tell it to him and he would buy it himself. In any case, there was no use complaining to him because Prompto wasn't going to listen to him and Noctis didn't want to ruin Prompto's happiness and his good intentions either. So Noctis approached and hugged him, thanking him for the gesture he had made. And of course Prompto hugged him back.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, enjoying each other's warmth and closeness. But it didn't last long because Noctis felt Prompto holding him tightly by his shirt and started screaming. The blonde was trying to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth but incoherent babbling and Noctis couldn't turn around because Prompto was holding him tightly.
“It's a cockroach!”
Noctis again made a surprised expression and shifted in his place trying to get out of his boyfriend's grip which, after a few seconds of great effort, he was able to do. Noctis and Prompto had their feet up on the couch as they stood frozen staring at the bug. This one was about three meters away from them, standing still, doing absolutely nothing.
“Step on it, Noct!”
"Are you crazy? You must step on it.”
"Of course not. And what if the cockroach attacks me? I pass."
Noctis rolled his eyes. However, it was true that he didn't want to go closer to killing it either. It was a shame that neither Ignis nor Gladio were here to take care of the matter.
“I think we should come up with a plan.” Noctis suggested while he still was frozen, without moving a single finger and staring at the cockroach.
"Run out?"
Noctis turned to look at him with a frown. It was clear that running was a solution, but that wouldn't help them to be calm in anywhere else. They even couldn't sleep in peace until the matter was taken care of.
Prompto screamed and he was about to get up from the couch and run away but Noctis didn't let him because he was grabbing Prompto's arm. Noctis didn't want to be left alone in front of that thing either.
“What if we bring the insecticide?” The blonde suggested while he was trying to remove the grab from Noctis.
“I don't think that will kill it, Prompt. I think you should be a man and kill it. Save your prince.”
Now it was Prompto's turn to glare at him. Noctis was playing dirty now, taking advantage of his royal benefits. But of course Prompto wasn't going to listen to him.
He wasn't going to face that insect. Not even if someone paid to Prompto a good amount of Gil.
At that moment, the cockroach turned towards them. Both boys held their breath and stared at the insect, trying to see what its next move would be. It was obviously not good because it began to advance rapidly towards them. Prompto screamed and Noctis let go Prompto and he started pushing him off the couch. The blonde, as he could, got off from the furniture and began to run away from the insect. Noctis followed him too and they both stood half-embracing at a distance that was safe to be.
“Noct… I lost sight of the cockroach.” He spoke in a worried and scared tone.
"Me too. Is it under the couch?”
"Go and see."
There was that face again from Noctis. Did Prompto really think that he was going to go and check? He was crazy.
Both boys looked in all directions trying to locate the insect, but they didn't success. They didn't trust the cockroach to be gone and they didn't trust to going after the insecticide that was in the room in front of them. Because of course, that meant they must go through danger. They had to be cautious.
“Throw fire at it, Noct.”
“Prompto, I'm going to burn everything if I do that…”
They were both running out of good ideas and stepping on the cockroach to get it all over with didn't even seem to be an option. In the end they decided to go and look for the insecticide in the other room. Noctis was smarter and simply projected himself towards the place. He tripped over with few things due to the tight space, but he was fine. He took a quick look around the room and encouraged Prompto to come with him. The blonde flatly refused, but in the end he ended up doing it because Noctis was so fed up with having Prompto to go with him. Prompto inhaled and ran desperately towards his boyfriend but he tripped on the small table in front of him and moving it from its place a little. Fortunately he was fine.
While Noctis was looking for the insecticide, Prompto was in charge of guarding the entrance in case the cockroach suddenly appeared. However, nothing happened. Everything was very calm and the boys didn't know if get worried or not.
Once Noctis had found what he was looking for, both boys looked at each other. One would have to sacrifice himself for the good of the other but they both wanted to live. After arguing for a few minutes over who would go, Noctis suggested a rock, paper, scissors game. Prompto refused at first, but ended up accepting only because they had no other options.
And there was Prompto going, the loser, to sacrifice himself for the good of his prince.
"Will you miss me?"
"Oh, come on. You'll do it fine." Noctis grabbed his cheeks and gave him a tender kiss on the tip of his nose. "I'll be waiting."
Prompto inhaled and exhaled deeply. Thus, cautiously, he approached the couch where the cockroach was last seen. Prompto bent down a little to spray under the furniture when Noctis screamed in desperation.
So many things went through the blonde's head at that moment: that the cockroach was with Noct, that it was on the ceiling, that it was in front of him and he didn't realize it, that there were more than two. But in the end he came to a single conclusion that seemed the most rational considering Noctis' scream.
It was behind him.
Prompto screamed too and turned around to run in Noctis' direction, but the fear was stronger than him and he ended up falling on the ground and the insecticide flew away from both of them.
“Dude, get out of there now!” Noctis shouted more desperately.
Prompto couldn't still think clearly. He was so confused and dizzy from the cockroach and from Noctis' screams, that his train of thought was greatly distorted. Again many things went through his head: that the cockroach was next to him, that it had fallen on top of him...
He tried to get up but he couldn't. Prompto was enable. His arms and legs didn't respond, they failed to him. In the background he heard Noctis shouting and encourage him to run but the blonde just couldn't stand up. He didn't have much choice if he wanted to stay alive so he started crawling along the ground as fast as he could until he reached Noctis.
Noctis didn't know if get worried or laugh at the situation.
"Are you ok? Did you know that you were literally an inch away from touching the cockroach with your hand when you fell?”
Prompto turned pale. He was close to being killed by the insect, how horrible. However, he didn't have much time to worry about it beacuse his face changed to one of pain and he started clutching his knees. Noctis approached slowly. Now he was worried.
“I… I hit myself when I fell. I think I scraped myself or something.”
Noctis was closer to him. He was grateful that Prompto was wearing jeans torn at the knee to see him better. They were both red. Prompto had scraped himself and one of his knees had a slight cut. Poor Prompto. Noctis' heart broke seeing him like that. He should have gone to take care of the cockroach not Prompto.
Unfortunately they did not have medical supplies right there. They would have to go through the entire room again and now Noctis dind't want to leave Prompto alone. So Noctis steeled himself. He was going to take care of the insect, finally.
But Ignis and Gladio entered through the front door and found the sofa and table moved out of place. A Prompto lying on the ground and Noctis with a distraught face and disheveled.
“May I know what you two have been doing?” Ignis asked after mapping the room.
Noctis pointed in the direction where the cockroach was, still looking at Ignis.
Both, Ignis and Gladio followed the movement of Noctis' finger to find the cause of all the commotion. Gladio laughed and Ignis adjusted his glasses. That was already bad.
“All this trouble beacuse of a cockroach?”
“Prompto is hurt.”
Ignis thought that he was just exaggerating so he just reacted by putting a hand on his forehead. Gladio approached the cockroach and stepped on it. The problem was finally solved. With a sigh of relief, Noctis helped Prompto to stand up but he almost fell because the blonde couldn't bend his knees.
“I'll go to get the medicine.” Ignis said resignedly. He couldn't believe they would make such a fuss over something like that.
Noctis ran a hand down Prompto's back and helped him walk to the couch and lay him down there. Gladio was kicking the bug with his foot to get it from the place.
“Was I brave?” Prompto murmured.
"A lot. Thank you."
“You should thank me, little prince.” Gladio growled at him from the door.
Noctis was going to answer him, but he preferred to deal with how his boyfriend was feeling. So he knelt down and kissed Prompto on the cheek and then rested his head on Prompto's chest while he stroked Noctis' hair.
Perhaps it was not a normal day as Noctis would have wanted to, but he has to admit that, despite everything, he had a good time and this would remain as an anecdote to tell in the future. And also a reminder that one of the things they have in common is that they both hate bugs.