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It was a rainy day when they met.
Noctis stood alone under the school's entrance, shielded by a simple awning that prevented him from getting drenched. He was kicking the pavement out of boredom as he waited for the weather to improve. Gradually, the chatter of other students had faded as they left for the day, leaving him all alone now with the soft patter of rainfall. The raven-haired boy sighed, staring hopelessly at the dark clouds that loomed in the sky. Earlier, he hadn't thought twice about the thick clouds that began to form as he sat in class. He knew he had his umbrella in his locker, but when he returned it was apparent that someone must have snatched it when he was away. He kicked another rock, harder this time. He was getting frustrated and tired of waiting. Maybe if he asked the Astrals nicely, they'd let the sun come back out.
Something like, Oh pretty please, don't make me walk home in this.
Noctis grinned to himself for a moment, then his smile dropped.
Yeah, like the Astrals could ever hear him.
He stepped forward to move down the concrete stairs and into the rain, but he was suddenly jerked backwards with force— his hand shot out for the nearby wall on instinct and he stared wide eyed as he turned to see who had yanked him. He froze.
Prince Prompto Argentum.
"Ah, wait, I didn't mean to tug you that hard, promise!" he rubbed at the back of his neck as he spoke, "It's just, you need an umbrella right? I can let you borrow mine, my driver is coming to pick me up anyways. Just, stuck in traffic I think." He beamed, hand outstretched with the black umbrella in his hand. It was color of the royalty.
No way. Noctis tried to remember how to breathe. The prince was speaking to him. A nobody. His mouth was agape, trying to speak but the words just wouldn't come to him.
"You don't have to say anything! Just take it okay?" he pushed the umbrella closer to Noctis, urging him to accept. They were standing closer now.
"Y-yeah." Noctis choked out, taking the umbrella. The thin handle lingered with warmth against his palm.
"I will see you later, take care of yourself, okay?" Prompto smiled to him, lifting his bag over his head as he rushed to a expensive black car that had just pulled up.
Noctis stood still for a moment as he watched that car drive away, barely processing what had happened. He opened the umbrella and held it as he began walking home. This had to be a one off thing. He was so lucky to be able to have spoken with him. It was a shame that it wouldn't happen again. It could not happen again. Why would a prince bother speaking with a simple commoner? He could feel his face heat with shame.
Prince Prompto probably only felt sorry for him.
yeah, that was it.
He kicked another rock into a puddle, the splash joining one of thousands as the rain continued to pour.
It wasn't the first time Noctis had really met Prompto Argentum. His actual first interaction with the prince must have been back in elementary school. He remembered being a small child and overhearing his parents speaking about how royalty would soon join and attend the same school that he did. Though, this school wasn't among the top schools in Lucis, the kind that the royal family could easily afford to send Prompto to. It did not make sense to him, so he shrugged it off.
The day the prince arrived was certainly memorable, he'd never seen so many kids crowd like they had. Everyone wanted to meet him, this legendary prince who was known for his cold expression and calm personality.
Noctis hadn't joined the other kids in greeting him, only staring from afar. The prince had chocobo blonde hair, fair skin and freckles that nobody else around here had. He was a little shorter than Noctis but didn't seem as grand as everyone else made him out to be. He was smiling but it was an awkward sort of grin, not genuine at all. More like he wanted to get out of there, actually.
So, from afar, all Noctis could see was a boy his age. He seemed normal and full of life. Wearing new shoes and hair styled clean and proper. He was a little jealous of that. But also, he noticed that Prompto's fabled cold personality was nowhere to be seen.
He turned to look out the window.
Noctis had unintentionally made it a habit to watch the prince, he didn't know why exactly. Prompto just stood out somehow. Like a shiny pendant in a pile of junk. It was nothing to do with his status. He'd been caught staring every once in a while, and then their eyes would meet across the class and time would stop. They sat in opposite spots in the classroom. Noctis in the back and Prompto at the very front. He was trying to memorize the exact color of Prompto's eyes. They were a blue-violet that reminded him of flowers, like beautiful gems.
It was in high school when he decided to try making friends with Prompto, but each time he tried to approach, his nerves would shoot up and he turned away shaking. Like a dog with its tail between his legs. He hated how difficult this was, but it wasn't like he had very many friends in the first place. This school was again, not one of the top in Lucis, but it was one where his father struggled to gather the funds to allow him to attend. Each tear in his student uniform was repaired by hand. He even wore his shoes until they were in a condition he couldn't anymore.
The other teens often judged him, bullied him even. Likewise, education felt more like survival sometimes. But, he could not let his father down.
It was in their first period that Noctis was reviewing notes for a test later that day. Class wasn't scheduled to begin for another twenty minutes and students were only trickling in. Prompto was early everyday, while Noctis was either right on time or a little late. He did care about his education, but he was nowhere near a morning person. His teacher and classmates did understand that, however, it did still lead to some teasing comments here and there when he did show up late.
Prompto yawned before getting up and leaving the room, probably to grab something. Noctis paid no mind, trying to focus on the textbook open in front of him.
The girl who sat next to Prompto giggled, standing up as she held an item in her hands.
The prince must have left his phone behind. A few others gathered nearby as she scrolled through the contents.
Noctis sighed, tapping his pencil against the desk.
He needed quiet.
"Whoa.. Why does he have this?" The girl's eyebrows furrowed, tone shifting. "weird…"
"What is it?" her friend spoke up, trying to peek over the device screen. "I dunno! I guess he really likes taking pictures, haha look!" She lifted the phone screen up, and Noctis blinked at what he caught a glimpse of. It was a person.
He stood up from his desk and walked over to see.
The prince had taken a photo of him, his head turned to the window beside him. How did he even get this picture? He didn't remember being photographed at all.
She swiped and there it was again, another picture of him. Then some birds. Some fancy place in the capital surely. There were more but he tore his eyes away.
The group of kids all scattered when they caught the sound of his footsteps returning, she handed the phone to him with an unsuspecting grin and Prompto only raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks?" He sat back down, shoving the phone into his schoolbag.
Noctis couldn't pay attention in class for the rest of the day. His head felt underwater. Why would royalty be taking pictures of him? how had he never noticed? There seemed to be multiple and he'd bet his left shoe that there was more on the device. Did he think of Noctis as some animal? like an attraction at the zoo? He kept his head down all day, avoiding his few friends. It should better to keep this to himself, not that he wanted to cause trouble anyways.
Prompto would never want to be his friend if he got him punished.
It was weeks later, after school when Noctis walked past the courtyard, holding the strap of his backpack on his shoulder. Another tiring day. He sighed. This was his secret route to avoid everyone rushing to leave, nobody seemed to know about it.
"Aw c'mon, pspsps…" A familiar voice whispered nearby.
He hesitated before following the noise, but soon found the source. There was a figure standing by one of the schoolyard trees, he was on his tip toes, taking photos of a black cat sitting leisurely in the tree.
Now was his chance, he was going to make progress in befriending the prince.
Noctis stood behind him a distance away, lingering as his pace slowed. Prompto hadn't noticed him yet…
Noctis waited a little more, then joined him near the tree.
"I always see this cat around the school ground-"
"AH!" Prompto jumped in the air, almost dropping his phone. "D-didn't see you! sorry!"
"No, it's my bad…" Noctis took a step back, fidgeting with his fingers. "Your Highness."
The prince went quiet, then tapped a finger to his own chin. He didn't seem to enjoy what Noctis said, was he mad?
"No need to worry about titles, just call me Prom when you're with me."
Prom? He'd never heard anyone call the prince that before. It was always "Your Highness," "Prince Prompto," or, rarely, just "Prompto." Also, maybe a few other things that he couldn't quite remember.
"Okay, Prom." He gave a small smile.
Prompto held his phone out once more to take another picture of the cat, but the tree branches were empty. He blinked, a frown forming on his face. "Aw man. I wanted to take a few more, some of the ones I took just now are blurry."
Noctis gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder to reassure, when all of a sudden he felt something soft brush against his leg. The cat let out a loud meow as it gazed up at him, it's fur as black as night.
"OH! I think it likes you? This little guy is always running away from me." Prompto crouched down.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Man, don't you hear how loud this little thing is purring?" He reached to pet it, hand slow and deliberate. He didn't want to risk scaring it off.
Noctis chuckled, "Like an engine."
Prompto quieted, holding the feline up and glancing to and from Noctis. The wind pushing his bangs in his eyes for a moment," It kinda looks like you, Noctis. I think it's certainly got your eyes." He appeared to be thinking deeply about it. Was it that deep?
"You…"
Prompto looked up at him. "Hm?"
"You know my name?" He pointed to himself. Eyes wide.
The prince burst into laughter, loud and happy. Noctis wondered if it was a good thing as he had never heard him laugh like this before. Prompto stood beside him, wiping a tear from his eye. "We've been in the same class since elementary right? Of course I would know your name!"
"O-oh right…" He blushed lightly, eyes trailing down to his own feet. This was hard to finally say. No matter how many times he had practiced in the mirror, "To be honest, Prom. I was wanting to ask you a question if I could…"
"You mean two questions. Since you just asked one." He grinned, joking with him.
Noctis shyly nodded, "Would you wanna hang out with me sometime? Outside of school. I… I understand if you can't because of security reasons or anything, but. I don't know."
The following silence was deafening.
Prompto seemed to stare at him for a moment, "Well. I'd have to ask my retainer and my parents, but sure. If they allow me to. We could exchange phone numbers?" He closed the camera app on his cellphone, handing it to Noctis so he could put his number in, "Did you have a place to go in mind?"
Oh. He didn't think he'd get this far.
"Uhh… about that. What about the local arcade? It's close to the school." He entered his number, passing it back to Prompto.
"Oh! Perfect! I've visited before but well, only with my retainers. And they're like older than me and not interested in the games there. We're gonna have so much fun!" Prompto shoved his phone back in his pocket.
Noctis smiled, blushing lightly. "Yeah!"
Prompto had been allowed to hang out with Noctis after school at the arcade, under the circumstance that his handler Ignis be there to stand near and keep the two of them safe. He didn't seem interested in the bright flashing lights, or loud arcade games at all. Noctis felt a little bad for him. The man leaned on a machine, seated next to them as Prompto tried to excitedly explain the game they were playing. It was a shooter type and Prompto was incredibly good at aiming somehow. Noctis bet he'd probably had special training even if he was a natural.
They played even more games together. Noctis melted into the moment, laughing with Prompto like nothing else mattered.
Ignis had stepped away to use the restroom, and Noctis stared at the screen of the console. Bright red lettering flashed, "YOU DIED" while a skull villain cackled. He stilled, lowering his hands from the controls, glancing to Prompto who was on his phone in the seat next to him. They had been taking turns on this game console.
Prompto glanced up to see Noctis fidgeting with his hands, he raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Is something the matter?"
"Erm… It's…" Noctis swallowed, trying to still his nerves.
Prompto smiled reassuringly.
Noctis finally spit it out, head lowered "I had something else I wanted to ask, do you think... you and me could be friends?" Noctis had squeezed his eyes shut. "If that's okay! I know I'm just some pleb and all."
Prompto blinked and began to giggle. He placed his hands on Noctis's face gently, brushing his dark hair out of his eyes, "Noct, c'mon now. We've like, been friends?"
"Really!?" Noctis exclaimed, leaning into his touch without question.
"Mhm! Why else do you think I was so enthusiastic to come hang out with you? I like you man."
Oh.
"You like me?" Noctis spoke, eyes owlish.
Prompto blushed furiously, withdrawing his hands, he had them held up in surrender, "I-I didn't mean it in that way! b-but… Ah! Ignis, you're back!"
Noctis felt the heat rise to his face, how much had Ignis heard? He stood from the game console for Prompto to take over, "Sorry… I didn't mean to make it weird."
"No, it's not weird! It's okay man, I promise!" Prompto jumped into the seat, and gave Noctis a reassuring smile. Though the pink on his face did not fade away as he played, Noctis fiddled with his hands in his lap.
Ignis didn't seem bothered. He sat next to Noctis, giving him a small nudge. "To be truthful, I feel relieved to see the young prince be close with another teen his age. Especially as you stay a good influence on him, I trust?"
"Yes sir." He nodded his head. It was true that he did get decent grades, though hopefully Ignis didn't know about how he often showed up late for class.
"Iggy, don't you dare scare my friend off! Noct is super chill, and I'm keeping him forever!" He teased.
Ignis smiled at that.
They spent about another hour at the local arcade, and were walking out of the building to the black car that Ignis drove them here in. "Wait! Let's totally take a pic!" Prompto tugged onto Ignis, struggling to stop his stride. Noctis stalled, and they stood together near the entrance, by one of the advertisements posted outside. "Okay, I'll take it on three." Prompto held his phone up, flipping the camera to the front view. He looked determined to get a good one.
"One. Two… Chocobo!"
Noctis gave a smile as he looked at Prompto's phone camera, his keychain dangling and catching the light from outside. He felt fuzzy inside, a good kind of feeling that he didn't know what to name. Today had been very fun, especially since it wasn't like he could afford to go to the arcade very often.
He shoved his hands in his pockets as they got in the car, Prompto sitting next to him. He was scrolling through the images he'd just taken.
"GAH! Iggy, you blinked in like, all of them!?" He face palmed.
"…My apologies." Ignis spoke from the drivers seat.
Noctis giggled.
The first time he'd held Prompto's hand was half a year later, they were hanging out in Prompto's bedroom and playing mobile games together. Noctis was sitting on the floor and Prompto laid sprawled on his bed, one of his hands dangling as he played using the other, focused and body relaxed against his mattress. Noctis reached up impulsively, their fingers brushed, yet neither pulled away. Prompto gripped his hand quietly. Noctis smiled, the prince's hand was warm and inviting against his skin.
"What's your score right now?" Prompto asked, eyes still down at his screen.
"Thirty-six. You're close to catching up."
"Really now?" He grinned.
Noctis stole a glance up at him.
Prompto had no idea how attractive he was. even now, with his hair unstyled and sticking up wherever it wanted to, his sun-kissed freckles, that silly smile he made without realizing. Noctis wanted to kiss him so badly.
Prompto won the round, it had nearly been a tie.
He let go of Prompto's hand, turning his phone screen off. His lock screen had flashed for a moment, a photo of him and his dad on a fishing trip.
Regis had approved greatly of Noctis making a new friend, he'd expressed how it ached his heart to see his son so lonely. His dad was busy with work most of the time, but he urged Noctis to keep this friendship close. After their talk it made Noctis realize how much he cherished the prince, of course it still confused him why Prompto picked him, but he would shove those thoughts aside when he could.
"That's a good photo." Prompto spoke.
Noctis jerked his head up, he hadn't realized Prompto was looking. He responded with a hum, and stood up, jumping onto the bed to lay next to Prompto. It was getting late but Noctis didn't have to worry about getting home on time, they were having another sleepover. It was something new but increasingly reoccurring.
"Thanks. We haven't been able to go fishing lately, I'm really itching to go honestly." He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
Prompto had propped himself up on an elbow, "I wish my dad had time to do stuff like that with me. Fishing, camping, baseball …hell even council meetings, like, anything." He frowned.
"Is he busy too?" Noctis looked to him, blue eyes meeting blue-violet.
Then Prompto nodded, sighing. "It must suck being the king, I know I'll have to take over for him one day but. Well. He does not get to have friends, any time to play video games or even hang out with his son. It's always been like this. I know that he loves me, I just wish… things could be different."
Noctis reached for his hand again, taking it in his own and interlacing his fingers with him. Prompto sat up a little more, eyes gone wide as he looked at their interlocked hands.
"At least you have me?" He gave a tiny smile.
Prompto grinned.
A moment passed as Prompto went back to his game, before he paused it and leaned closer to Noctis. "Hey… would it be weird if I asked if you had any more pictures of him? You've talked about him some, but I've never had a face to put with the name."
Noctis held his phone up, "Well. I can show you more. It's nothing fancy or royal though." He smiled to him, opening his gallery app.
They leaned close enough for their shoulders to touch, scrolling through the photos Noctis had taken of him and his father. Many were ones that they had both smiled and posed for, but there were a few more candid shots that Noctis kept. Moments such as Regis watching TV and unaware of the camera, his face scrunched mid-laugh, driving while Noctis sat passenger, even one where he was napping during a fishing trip. Prompto's eyes lingered like he was trying to memorize it all. The blonde absent-mindedly leaned his head on Noctis's shoulder, "You know, I like to take pictures too, especially of stuff I really like."
"Is that why you keep pictures of me?"
"I— how do you know?" Prompto stared at him, and Noctis thought he saw the faintest shade of pink.
"It was before class. You left your phone behind and a classmates picked it up." He fiddled with his hands, "Sorry, didn't mean to snoop or anything."
The prince groaned, flopping onto his back and covering his face with his hands. "Man, that's so embarrassing! You weren't supposed to see them. I'm like, on the yearbook committee this year!" He glanced at him through his fingers, lowering them slightly, "But… Maybe it's fine if it's just you." The yearbook thing was probably an excuse.
"Why?" Noctis blurted out without thinking, "Why do you even like me?"
The blonde went still at that.
"Well.. You're you?" Prompto began, then stopped himself. He winced like the words had recoil. "Okay, that sounded cooler in my head." He then moved to sit up on his bed, facing Noctis properly, "You're genuine, Noct. You make every day so much brighter even when it's slow or gloomy, like ten times better. I miss you when I'm alone in my room. You don't treat me like I'm a prince, you just talk to me like I'm normal… and that's all I ever wanted. To be normal."
Noctis blinked. His chest felt tight.
Prompto then looked down to their hands again, still close despite not touching anymore. "Most people pretend to like me for my status, because of who my dad is, y'know? or they're scared of me for it. You never did that. I knew you were nervous but you really tried. You worry if I'm sleeping okay or feeling well." He laughed softly, reaching to hold for Noctis's hand once more, "You remember the things about me that nobody else bothers to ask."
"That's just what… friends do, right?"
"I mean yeah, but it means so much more coming from you. I like you, Noct. You aren't just the guy who sits at the other side of the classroom, you're… you." He offered a tender smile.
Noctis swallowed, heart pounding hard in his chest. "Could I try something?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Prompto looked startled, "Uh. Sure? I mean, it depends on what it is, but. I guess. Yeah."
Noctis reached out, fingers trembling as he gave Prompto's hand a squeeze. He leaned close enough to see every freckle on his face, admiring them like they were the stars in the sky. "If you don't like it, you can just push me, okay?"
And before he could think himself out of it, Noctis closed the distance between them and pressed a quick, gentle kiss to Prompto's lips.
It was clumsy and ended before Prompto could acknowledge it. Noctis's face burned as he pulled back. He was expecting to see confusion or regret on Prompto's face. But, the other only stared at him in return, mouth agape and face tinted pink all the way to his ears. Slowly, the blonde smiled again.
"I..." Prompto breathed, "... don't wanna push you away, that's certain."
Noctis sighed in relief, "Okay, good, just checking."
Prompto then brushed his lips against Noctis's knuckles, kissing them as he looked up at his dear friend. "By the way, that's another reason that I like you. You always give me a choice. I love you Noctis."
"Prom, I..." He admired the boy across from him, blushing hard as his knuckles were kissed again. "I don't know how to do any of this. If there even is a right way to." He confessed. The ache in his chest was almost painful now, "The... romance thing, or whatever." He kept his gaze downcast.
Prompto gave him a light pat, "That's alright, Noct. We can figure this out together."
Noctis nearly tackled him to the bed at that, hugging him even closer. Prompto kissed him this time, peppering his face with his lips. Noctis leaned into the action while giggling.
They stayed close after that, tangled together on the bed and trading kisses.