Chapter Text
The Citadel held a party for the coming of age of Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum. In the large banquet hall were tables and a dance floor as well as a small orchestra performing for guests to dance. In contrast to the regal decorum, a corner of the grand room was set up into a small arcade of rented machines to play at, a personal touch for His Highness.
A very welcome touch at that, as he was shy and didn't care much for the grand parties. The attendance list had been parsed down as much as was politically possible, but it was still more than he would have liked. He would have loved to get the greetings done and over with right away, but etiquette suggested he wait, and so wait he must. He was grateful that two of his best friends were able to make it that he had been unsure of. His advisor, Ignis, and guard, Gladiolus, were of course there, but that had never been in question.
His longtime and long-distance friend Lunafreya of Tenebrae had traveled far to be there with him on that day, and for some time after as well, with an adventure planned for them to set off on. And Prompto, his friend from high school, was there as well, though he had never been within the Citadel before. The group was gathered in the arcade area, mostly letting loose although they still had to put on some show of regality. It was only Prompto who was truly free, and even at that, he would realize he might have shouted too loud and curled in on himself in embarrassment.
Standing in front of a shooting game with Luna, Noctis grinned as he had the chance to explain the game to her, teaching her how to reload and giving a couple of tips on aiming before they began. She smiled at him with encouragement, glad to see him enjoying himself, and while she was uncomfortable with the gun controller in hand, she was happy to play with him.
"Nice shot, Luna!"
"That was me?"
He laughed at that and she couldn't say anything else as they were rushed suddenly by a wave of enemies in the game. A large monster suddenly appeared on the screen and she yelped, pulling the trigger quickly, though it wasn't enough. The screen turned red and displayed GAME OVER in large text. Disappointed, she set the gun back into place, "Sorry, Noctis... I had hoped to do better..."
Laughing again, he clapped her shoulder and turned her around to check out another game, "Are you kidding? You did great, Luna! Especially for the first time. But you look like you might enjoy something else a bit more, so come on, let's play this one."
When the time came for Noctis to make his rounds and thank everyone for coming, he knew he wasn't likely to be able to play in that corner anymore for the rest of the night. At least Prompto would be able to enjoy it, and Luna kept him company for most of the time Noctis was playing the social butterfly. Finished up with the last group of people to thank, Noctis turned back to the arcade corner, Ignis quickly appearing at his side to speak quietly, "It would be rude for you to disappear among the games again, Noctis."
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Noctis pressed his lips together in mild annoyance and glanced over, "I know that. I'm going to ask Luna to dance. Is that princely enough?"
"Of course. Although you may want to take a moment to calm down before then."
Noctis paused and reached out to take a glass of champagne from a waiter passing by, he sipped at it, careful not to appear as if he were drinking recklessly in front of so many people. "I just wish this didn't have to be made such a public deal of," he muttered quietly, and then he glanced down at the bubbling drink, twirling the glass flute slowly. "...Sorry."
Ignis watched him with sharp eyes and nodded graciously after a moment. "As am I, for assuming you had forgotten your duties."
Smirking wryly at that, Noctis raised the glass in salute, "At least I've gotten better."
"You certainly have, and what a relief that is."
"Hey, can't you be a little nicer to me on my birthday?"
"Perhaps you should turn to Lady Lunafreya, if you wish to be treated special on this day."
Shaking his head at the tease, Noctis handed his unfinished drink to his friend and headed back for where Luna kept Prompto company. She was watching him play a game, and Noctis came up just as the level was completed. She applauded him and Noctis took a peek at the score, whistling softly, "Nice work."
"Thanks! You ready to come back and play some more?"
"Sorry, unfortunately I can't keep hiding myself away. Ignis and Gladio can join you again though, now that I'm done with the official part of things." Prompto couldn't help but to look disappointed, and Noctis felt bad for how out of place his friend must feel. "If you want to head out, too, go right ahead. I wouldn't blame you. We'll have to do something with just the few of us tomorrow, anyways."
"Yeah, for sure!"
Nodding at that, Noctis turned to Luna and smiled, holding his hand out to her, "Would you dance with me, Lady Lunafreya?"
She laughed softly as he addressed her so formally, and smiled while slipping her hand gracefully into his, "I'd be honored, Prince Noctis."
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The next day saw the band of friends doing as promised and celebrating in a more private manner. Gathered in Noctis' spacious apartment, they were armed with drinks - both alcoholic and not - as well as snacks and a large order of pizzas sitting on the counter for them to eat whenever they felt like it. The television was simply background noise for the time being, as they sat around a game of Monopoly.
"Nooooctiiiis!" Prompto whined, waving a pair of cards in front with tears in his eyes, "Please buy my land... I'm begging you..."
"If I do that, you'll just lose in three turns instead of this one. No."
"I can't believe you're so mean! To your best friend!" Looking around the others, he knew immediately to not even try with Gladio or Ignis, and instead turned to Luna, eyes wide and entreating, "Please...?"
Smiling gently, she reached out and took the cards from him, "I believe it's time for the bank to repossess these."
Laughter filled the room at how harshly Prompto had been shut down, and he hung his head and sniffled dramatically. Doing a sudden turnabout, he lifted his head and laughed, "Ahhh, alright, alright... I guess Noct had a point, anyways..."
"Why don't you come help me manage the bank?"
"Thanks, Lady Lunafreya."
For all his bravado in front of Prompto, Noctis didn't last much longer, as he and Gladio were both eliminated between Ignis and Luna's gauntlet of high priced spaces. The game continued on, and Noctis watched the two run each other down, taking in all of their strategies while the others played video games nearby. In the end, it was a string of lucky rolls for Luna, and unlucky ones for Ignis, that made that game come to an end. Shaking his head at how seriously they had taken the game, Noctis grinned as they shook hands and packed away the game.
A fighting game tournament came next, a break to watch a movie while eating and drinking, more board games, and more drinking filled the evening. Just buzzed enough that he gleamed with sweat and spoke a little too loudly, Gladio grinned and pointed over to Prompto as the boy drank a beer while making a disgusted expression at the taste. "Hey, he's not twenty yet, right? Shouldn't I be taking that from him?"
"Ah, relax, who's gonna bust the prince's friend?" Noctis laughed, sitting on the floor and leaning back against the couch beside Luna's legs. "Besides, not like he's goin' anywhere. Wasn't that the whole point of doing this here? No one's gonna know."
Stubbornly finishing the drink, Prompto set it down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and he laughed quietly, "Yeah, I'm not gonna cause any trouble! Think 'm done, anyways... That stuff is gross, how can you drink it?"
"Like this," Gladio answered, puncturing a hole in his can and tipping back, swiftly draining the beer much to Prompto's disgust and Noctis' open amusement.
"Yo, Gladio, show me that again."
"Noctis, I'm going to have to ask that you don't learn that...," Ignis sighed, shaking his head as he felt he was babysitting the three of them.
Luna was right there with him, patting Noctis' shoulder and looking down at him with a soft smile darkened with concern, "Please, Noctis, you haven't drank before, right? You need to be more responsible than that."
"Mm, but I'm not drunk or anything. Can't be that bad, right?"
"Famous last words."
"If the moms say no, I'm gonna have to decline, Highness," Gladio grinned and teased. "Maybe another time, when you know your limits."
"Gladio..."
"Come on, not like it's a big deal if he only does it like this. I don't think he's gonna be shotgunning beers in the public eye, he's not stupid."
"Thank you!"
"People will know if we have to bring him to the hospital for alcohol poisoning."
"That's why I agreed with you."
"Please stop fighting...," Prompto whined, looking half asleep as the beer he drank too swiftly settled in.
"We're not fighting."
"I think it's time everyone switch to water," Luna interrupted with a light clap, her smile gentle but her gaze inviting no quarrel.
Noctis finished off his own drink, setting it down on the table right where Ignis had just cleaned up. Leaning his head back, he looked up at Luna, yelping and jumping away when she unexpectedly tapped his nose. "What was that for!?"
"You have a perfectly functional pair of legs, Noctis. Help clean up, don't make a bigger mess."
Wilting at the scolding, Noctis nodded and got up to help clean, ignoring as Gladio and Prompto laughed at him. It came as no surprise when she spoke up again to them, and Noctis grinned at the words, "That goes for the two of you as well. If we all help, we'll be cleaned up that much faster."
"Ah, o-of course, Lady Lunafreya..."
"As you say."
When things were almost finished, Noctis slipped away to clean up for the night, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. Staring at the wall in the bathroom for a moment, he realized that the drinks he'd had throughout the night were hitting him now at last, and just when he was about to go to bed. Shaking his head, he leaned over the sink to wash his face and brush his teeth.
Luna was waiting for him on the other side of the door, a large plastic tumbler filled ice water in hand. She smiled to him and reached out to lightly grab hold of his arm, "Come on, Noctis. I saw it on your face, it's settling in, isn't it?"
"Sorry, Luna..."
"It's fine. You really weren't unruly or unreasonable at all. It affects us all differently, though. So, here, let's get you to bed."
She escorted him to his room, setting the water down on his nightstand first so she could use both hands to help him into bed. His hands moved faster, though, and he gripped her waist gently and pushed her to the bed. He wasn't forceful, she was simply caught off guard, and she fell onto the bed and looked up at him in surprise. His expression seemed annoyed, and she realized immediately it was at himself and not her. "It's not that...," he mumbled, and it took her a moment to realize he meant that he wasn't coming onto her, he just simply couldn't find the words he needed in his drunken haze. "You take the bed... I'll sleep out there, with the others."
"Noctis, it's your bed, and I think you're going to need it tonight." She slowly got up from the bed, laughing softly and touching his arm to urge him around. "Come, Noctis, sit."
He stepped back and shook his head stubbornly, and while she had been patient with him before, she was losing it now. "Makes more sense this way. 'Sides, we're gonna be on the road for awhile... Enjoy the bed while you can..."
"Noctis," she was visibly annoyed now and exasperation clouded her voice, "I've been traveling with my mother for years now. You're the one who should enjoy it while it lasts, now stop fighting with me, and rest..."
"I know...," he mumbled, looking down at his feet and hiding his expression. "I know, but just... let me take care of you, like this... When it's not, getting in the way, when it's something silly... I know I can't... won't be able to, as much, out there... So just, let me..."
Sighing softly, she took a moment to relax, brushing her bangs from her face. Really, he was being silly, though at least he admitted it. The problem was he was too drunk to reason with, and she realized there was absolutely no way she was going to win this argument with him like this. She would propose they simply sleep next to each other, as his bed was plenty large enough, but she suspected that would just lead to another long argument made longer by his being drunk. "...Alright, Noctis. Since it's so important to you."
His shoulders fell with relief and he looked up to nod, smiling to her, "Thanks."
They stood there staring at each other for a long moment. Luna raised her brow in silent question, and his expression furrowed in annoyance, "I thought you were going to lie down?"
"Noctis, I still have to wash up for the night and get my things from the main room."
"...Oh."
"And you're in my way?"
"Oh!" He quickly stepped back and aside, his feet trying to do both at once and sending him falling to the floor.
Wincing in sympathy, Luna looked down at him and laughed gently, "Oh, Noctis... Are you alright?"
"...My pride is the most bruised part of me."
"Don't worry. We'll be spending so much time together, I'm sure this won't be the only or even the most embarrassing moment you'll have in front of me."
"I thought you were supposed to be good at comforting people..."
She laughed and helped him to stand, brushing his hair out of his face. "You're smiling now, aren't you? Come on. You need your rest."
"Not like we leave tomorrow."
"No, but we do leave the next day, so you can't be messing up your schedule now. We need to make the most of the daylight hours, you know that."
"Right, right, sorry, sorry," he drawled as she pushed him out of the room. The mattress laid out for her was the only one empty, and he crawled into it, pulling the blanket up over him as he lay like a large lump.
Setting his water down, Luna pulled the blanket right back off and pointed to it, "Drink water before you sleep."
"If he drinks too much now, he might wet the bed," Gladio teased from the other side of the couch.
"Shut up...," Noctis muttered as he sat up, hiding his expression behind the tumbler. Luna watched him drink down half of it before she was satisfied enough to stand up and leave him to it. He settled back in with the blankets pulled up, quick to make himself comfortable and even out his breathing.
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Sitting in his father's office, Noctis slouched in his chair, legs crossed, and he leaned heavily against an arm rest. King Regis finished signing and sealing the last document in the stack he had been working on, and he set the finished task aside to focus on his son. "Do behave yourself while you're out there, Noctis."
"Did you call me here to treat me like a kid? Come on, I've always been careful about how the public gets to see me."
"Mm. You have. But you can be a bit brash at times. I do hope you'll mind your manners more, being around Lady Lunafreya."
"She doesn't have a problem with who I am." Shaking his head at the pointless argument that was just going to sour things, Noctis uncrossed his legs and sat forward, giving his father a crooked smile. "I'll mind my manners and make sure not to bring shame on the royal line. Promise."
Regis softened at that and smiled, nodding. "Thank you. I'm sorry, if I sound like a broken record at this point."
"More like an echo, of everyone else."
"Mm. And with them there, I know I've truly nothing to worry about from you. Do see to it that Lady Lunafreya stays safe."
"Of course. As much as she'll let me, anyways."
He laughed at that. "She does have a very quiet but intimidating strength, doesn't she?"
There was a knock on the door before Noctis could reply, and they were informed that everyone had gathered for the official send off. Saying their farewells, they left the Citadel and went out to the car waiting for them. Though he had his own, it was his father's vehicle they were taking, the old car being larger and even having more features than the one presented to him for his birthday. Ignis behind the wheel with Prompto up front, Luna had insisted that since she was the smallest, she squeeze between Noctis and Gladio in the back.
"Everyone's ready?"
"Yup. Time to say farewell Insomnia, for awhile."
"Say, how long do you think we'll be traveling, anyways?"
"Already getting cold feet, Prompto?"
"That's not what I meant at all! I just realized, you've been pretty vague about it."
"Well, who knows? We'll come back when we have to, or when it feels right, and that's about all there is to it."